UVa-Wise Residence Hall Association receives top awards at state conference

The Residence Hall Association (RHA) of The University of Virginia’s College at Wise walked away with top honors at the annual Virginia Association of College and University Residence Halls (VACURH) Conference for their recent achievements in residence life. The conference was held Feb. 22-24 at the College of William and Mary.

For the fourth consecutive year, UVa-Wise was honored at the conference as the School of the Year, and for the fifth consecutive year, the College won the award for Program of the Year, this time for the RHA’s “Mad Scientist Haunted House.”

“The Residence Hall Association is an integral part of community-building for our residential students,” said UVa-Wise Dean of Students Jewell Worley. “I am so pleased for our RHA’s executive board and membership that they have been recognized statewide for the excellent work they do.”

Clay Guynn of Woodlawn received the 2008 National Communications Coordinator of the Year Award. Grace Pilk of Falls Church received the First Year Experience Award for 2008, the third consecutive year that a UVa-Wise student received the award. Angela Lemke was named the 2008 Advisor of the Year.

The UVa-Wise Residence Hall Association was also awarded the Most Sprited Delegation and Best Roll Call awards. Four of the association’s programs placed in the Top Six Programs category.

Four-year service award pins were given to Alesha Allen of Roanoke, Toni Davis of Virginia Beach and Tim Matney of Haysi. Allen and Lemke also were elected to the state board of VACURH.

By bringing a network of schools together, VACURH creates an environment where students can learn to be more effective leaders through shared experiences with others, and where students and advisors may voice their opinions and concerns about issues regarding residence life.

The only branch campus of the University of Virginia, UVa-Wise is ranked among the nation’s top ten public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. UVa-Wise offers Virginia's only undergraduate degree in software engineering, among 28 other degrees and professional programs in the liberal arts tradition of Thomas Jefferson.

UVa-Wise received top honors for its residence life efforts at the recent VACURH conference at the College of William and Mary. Attending the conference from UVa-Wise were (front row) Clint Tipton, Daniel Hamrick, Alesha Allen, Grace Pilk, Lauren Cary, Leah Arthur, Helen Melshen, Brittany Phipps, Angela Lemke, (back row) Matt Grubb, Paula Frady, Clay Guynn, Danielle Woiteshek, Bruce Blansett, Sean Sedberry, Krista Huckaby, Ben Schenkkan, Larry Brown, Tim Golden, Brad Graboyes, Steven Allen and Toni Davis.

Posted March 18, 2008