Five UGA housing staff members were recognized by Georgia Housing Officers at the organization’s annual conference in October at the University of West Georgia. Receiving awards were Scott Nelson, Pattie Rennison, Evan Thrailkill, Ryan Burnette and Abi Aparajithan.
GHO is a state organization charged with representing housing professionals at both public and private institutions around Georgia.
Nelson, the coordinator for the Health Sciences Campus area and summer conferences, received the Excellence in Housing Award for his dedication to his position, his ability to positively impact the lives of students and staff and his contributions to the local, institution and housing profession through service at the state, regional and/or national levels.
Rennison, an administrative assistant for staff development and student conduct, received the Outstanding Support Staff Member Award, which is presented to an individual who is employed in a support role and who demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that students at his/her institution are residing in halls that are comfortable, well maintained, affordable and secure, all while providing great customer service.
The Graduate Assistant Award of Excellence was presented to Thrailkill, a graduate resident, for his work with Residence Hall Studios, Housing 12 and the Residence Hall Association.
Burnette, a residence hall director at East Campus Village, and Aparajithan, the residence hall director at Creswell Hall, received the Peach of a Program Award for their program “All Aboard the Social Change Train!” The program addressed the topic of social change leadership development. The pair took the social change model-service to the overall community and related it to their work in housing.
The winners of the Peach of a Program Award were selected by the average of all peer evaluations of those who attended the program. By winning this award at the state level, the pair has received an automatic bid to present at the SEAHO regional level, and GHO also has agreed to pay their registration costs for the conference, which will be held in the spring.
“These employees have done an outstanding job in their areas and were rewarded for their excellence, creativity and hard work in the field of housing,” said Gerard Kowalski, executive director of University Housing. “They have shown a dedication to University Housing along with a commitment to the mission of the department to provide comfortable, affordable and secure on-campus housing options in residential communities where the academic success and personal growth of residents are encouraged and supported.”
