UVa-Wise students, staff honored at VACURH conference - UVa-Wise named "School of the Year"

UVa-Wise students and staff received numerous awards during the recent VACURH conference. Pictured left to right are: front row: Jennifer Jenks and Holly Henley; middle row: Bonnie Shortt, Jade Nightstar, Julie Scott, the coordinator for placement and residence life, Kay Getahun, Mae Burke, Jessica Adams, and Chantell Phillips; and back row, Jeff Howard, UVa-Wise dean of students, Chris Madden, Tim Matney and Lelia Bradshaw, a counselor in the Office of Student Development.

Students and staff of The University of Virginia's College at Wise received several awards recently during the Virginia Association of College and University Residence Halls (VACURH) annual conference and UVa-Wise was named "School of the Year."

Members of the UVa-Wise Residence Hall Association attended the event, which was hosted by the University of Mary Washington and included representatives from most of Virginia's colleges and universities. VACURH is an association of the more than 45 colleges and universities in Virginia with residential students.

UVa-Wise was named "School of the Year" for the entire Commonwealth of Virginia in recognition of its programming for residential students and community service projects. Additionally, UVa-Wise was recognized as the "Most Spirited School" among colleges with fewer than 1,000 residential students.

"We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our Residence Hall Association and the student delegation that represented UVa-Wise at this year's conference," said UVa-Wise Dean of Student Jeff Howard.
Meredith Bogush, a junior from Leesburg, received the Program of the Year Award for her presentation on the Wise campus in the fall of 2004 called "Girls Gone WILDerness." As a resident advisor, Bogush planned an overnight camping trip for her residence hall and invited Campus Police Officer Nichole Davis along to provide self-defense training. The program, which also included a community service aspect, was attended by almost every resident of the floor.

UVa-Wise Dean of Students Jeff Howard was named Advisor of the Year. Jennifer Jenks, a senior from Lynchburg, was named Student of the Year for her contributions to Residence Life.

UVa-Wise students also were recognized "Best Display" for their table top presentation on Residence Life at UVa-Wise which incorporated the conference's Wizard of Oz theme.

Those attending the VACURH conference were able to attend dozens of programs presented by students and professionals from the colleges and universities in attendance. Four of the session presented by UVa-Wise students and staff were named to the “Top 10” best programs of the VACURH conference.

For more information, contact the Office of College Relations at 276-328-0130.