2022 Annual Kenneth L. Stoner Awards
Overview
The University of Kansas Student Housing has a long history of recognizing achievement. The 31st Annual Kenneth L. Stoner Awards were presented on April 14th. The Kenneth L. Stoner Awards historically are closely linked with the work of the National Residence Hall Honorary. These awards honor recognition and service throughout the KU Student Housing community which echo the two core values NRHH is founded upon. All undergraduate staff were also recognized for semesters of service to KU Student Housing and graduating staff were also recognized.
List of 2022 Awards
Complex of the Year: Downs & McCarthy Halls
Downs McCarthy Complex houses over 500 students with a mix of first-year students, upper-class students, and even some graduate students. The community started to take shape within the first two weeks of the semester, and events started strong by having a field day in the courtyard. Fall in Love with Downs included yard games, music, and food. Over 100 people were in attendance!
Downs McCarthy has worked relentlessly to build a community of high engagement, respect, and celebration. This has been achieved by significant contributions made by staff and Downs McCarthy residents.
Scholarship Hall of the Year: Watkins Scholarship Hall
Watkins is full of people who love to serve the community. Residents take initiative in Social Chair meetings. They come up with ideas for events and ways to execute them so that they will happen on time and that people have a wonderful time. Watkins residents recognizes the residents that step up within the hall. During each hall meeting they hand out awards for exec member of the month, cook of the month, and llama of the month (our hall mascot is the llama). Doing this makes the residents feel appreciated and strive to do greater things for the hall because they know they are valued, and people care about everything that they do.
First-Year Resident of the Year: David Matson (Downs/McCarthy)
David Matson is a first-year student, living in Downs Hall David is from Wichita, Kansas. David is majoring in Human Biology with a concentration in Biology and a minor in Spanish on the Pre-Med Track. Throughout David’s time in Downs this year, he has enjoyed the emphasis on community that is present throughout the building. He has made great efforts to get to know folks that are on the Downs Programming Board and his neighbors in his community. David is incredibly involved within housing, campus, and local community. David has served as the Logistics Chair for the Downs Program Board and made significant contributions to the group.
Resident of the Year: Sarah Schulz (GSP/Corbin)
Sarah is a senior living in GSP Hall this year. As a Senior, Sarah is majoring in sports management. Sarah has lived on campus since her freshman year and has called several buildings with KU Student Housing home, including Lewis, Jayhawker Towers, and GSP. One of the Corbin RAs, Mira Felzien, described Sarah on her nomination sheet as “the most optimistic ray of sunshine in this complex.”
New Undergraduate Staff: Maiya Schroeder (Stouffer Place)
Maiya is dedicated and passionate about her role as an RA. Maiya has dealt with many elevated conflicts this year and handled each situation with care and intention. Maiya also has such a strong presence in her community that she has often become the first person to be aware of elevated situations related to roommate conflicts, crisis response.
Maiya is not only there for her residents, but she also goes above and beyond to give a helping hand to her fellow staff members. Maiya also has a creative eye for creating eye-catching bulletin boards and she has offered her skills in helping staff with creating their bulletin boards. Maiya goes above and beyond to make sure her residents and peers alike are supported, connected to resources, and cared for.
Returning Undergraduate Staff: Favour Ologriegbe (Scholarship Halls)
Favour has been a staff member for KU student housing for 5 semesters now. She has gone above and beyond in by coming up with new ways to connect with residents and taking on more than her role requires with shifts. One thing she implemented at the start of spring 2022 was a donut hour. This event happens once a week on Sundays in the Sellards kitchen where both the UG staff within the hall have conversations with residents over doughnuts and ask them about their week. So far, they have been successful, and many students have been attending every week!
Exec/Programming Board Member: Hanna Brown (GSP/Corbin)
Hanna Brown is a first-year student at KU who lives in GSP Hall. In the Fall semester, Hanna applied to join the GSP/Corbin Programming Board as one of its chair members. One of the things that Hanna is most proud of is her work as the executive chair for the group. She commented “I try to create an environment where everybody feels welcomed and appreciated.” Hanna’s commitment to the GSP and Corbin community is seen in the amount of effort and work Hanna puts in to the organization.
Desk Assistant: Dylan Chavez (Lewis/Hashinger)
From the start, Dylan has been a committed member of the desk assistant team. Dylan was diligent with asking questions during the emergency procedures training, connecting with desk manager, and being detailed with his desk shifts. You can find Dylan at the Hashinger welcoming residents in, updating communication logs, organizing packages, and working hard to maintain the front desk.
Desk Manager: Luke Jackson (Lewis/Hashinger)
From the start of the year Luke has been committed to both the role and to the team. Luke began the year as a Desk Assistant and Mail DA but through their consistent dedication to the role and constantly going above and beyond, was asked to step into the Desk Manager role in the middle of the academic year. Luke has taken the transition into the new role with stride and continues to work diligently. Luke brings a wealth of knowledge to the desk and to other Das and does not hesitate to step up in order to help out. You can find Luke at the Lewis Desk welcoming residents in while also complimenting each person who walks through the door, organizing packages, updating communication logs, training new Desk Assistants and working hard to maintain the front desk.
Program of the Year: Sex in the Lobby (Downs/McCarthy)
During the Spring Semester, the Down’s Programming Board wanted to do an event that accomplished multiple goals. Additionally, the board wanted to have an event that educated residents on Health Relationships, Consent, and Safe Sex to go along with the theme of “Love” for Valentine’s Day. The idea of Sex in the Lobby was to create an attention-grabbing name that would peak residents’ curiosity.
Sex in the Lobby involved food, giveaway baggies, mini games, and a campus partner. Advisor, the Health Education Resource Office and Watkins Health Center they sent over a representative with a JENGA tower and Safe Sex and Contraceptives information.
Bronze Jayhawk: Osbaldo Gonzalez (KK Amini)
Osbaldo is a resident in KK Amini Scholarship Hall and has been for the past 4 years. Throughout his time in KK Amini, Osbaldo has been the Returning Resident Social Chair and has been crucial to the hall's navigation through and recovery from the impact of the pandemic. Returning to the position this year, Osbaldo made his intentions clear that he wanted to bring back all of KK Amini’s traditional events to make sure the residents were able to experience a true Scholarship Hall experience. Starting off right at the beginning of the semester, Osbaldo worked to plan the annual Romp in the Hay- a fall-themed festival open to all Schol Hall residents. This was followed by a new Trick-or-Treating event and a Friendsgiving Dinner between sibling hall- Margaret Amini.
Bronze Jayhawk: Gracie Ingalls (Scholarship Halls)
Gracie has been a crucial addition to Student Housing over the course of her three years in Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall. Gracie began her leadership experience in housing as the Loveseat of her hall (an executive board position that coordinates in-hall programming) and was soon after elected to be the Vice President. Throughout her time as Vice President, Gracie coordinated all Judicial Board-related meetings with the committee she oversaw and had constant communication with housing staff.
Gracie is a role-model to her residents and peer staff members due to the kindness and positivity she radiates. She has a clear passion for being a support system to her residents and making sure all her residents can live in a safe and comfortable environment.
Bronze Jayhawk: Nhan Huynh (Jayhawker Towers)
Nhan Huynh has been an undergraduate staff member with KU Student housing for the last ten semesters and has been a corner stone of the Jayhawker Towers team. He began working for KU Student Housing in Fall of 2017 as a Desk Assistant prior to being hired as a Resident Assistant in the Fall 2018. Nhan has served as an RA in both Towers D and C and has been responsible for approximately 75 residents each year. Nhan has continued to serve as a summer staff assistant, as well as serving over many of the academic breaks that occur.Nhan is a cherished member of the Jayhawker Towers team and has proven himself to be a foundational member of this complex.
Advisor of the Year: Christina Roehrig (Ellsworth)
Christina is an absolutely incredible advisor to the Ellsworth Hall Programming Board. During the month of February, Christina worked with the Ellsworth Hall Programming Board to create a program for the hall. This program got different floors competing with one another to find the hidden “frog” (a penguin in a frog suit). Overall, Christina is incredibly supportive and strives to do everything that she can to support the Ellsworth Hall programming board.
Professional Staff Member of the Year: Ebony Luster (Self/Oswald)
Ebony is an Assistant Complex Director over Self Hall, a first-year residence hall located on Daisy Hill. Ebony has truly helped Self/Oswald and Daisy Hill Commons run to the best of their ability. She is an amazing co-worker and brings her all into any space. She is a quick thinker and is always sure to keep in mind how our processes, policies, and more include inclusivity and enhance a sense of belonging for residents in Student Housing.
Social Justice & Inclusion: Alejandro Rangel-Lopez (GSP/Corbin)
Alejandro serves as a student senator representing the juniors and seniors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He is a member of the Social Justice Committee within Student Senate and is the former chair of that same committee. Alejandro has been a leader within senate specifically on writing DEIB and Sexual Assault awareness related legislation. Before becoming a Resident Assistant in the GSP/Corbin community, Alejandro served as the Diversity and Inclusion chair for the Stephenson Scholarship Hall Executive Board. While in this role Alejandro worked with the resident of Stephenson to ensure that the community was inclusive and a safe space to all residents. One event that Alejandro planned in this role was a Cocoa and Coco night. The hall got together to drink Hot Cocoa and watch the movie Coco, which focuses on family and memories in the Latinx community.
Bronze Pins
According to the NRHH and NACURH Policy Book, " A Bronze Pin is the highest individual honor given by the RHA or NRHH President. The pin shall be awarded to individuals who have provided leadership and direction to their campus organizations. The KU Bronze Pins for the 2021-2022 academic year were awarded to Ashlyn Windmiller (Rieger) & Josh Potratz (Stephenson) Carly Kerchen and Mitchel Davis.