Past Student Affairs Gatherings

Spring 2025 – Student Affairs Awards

Shout-Out to our Award Winners:

• Payton Wagner – Champion of Humble Service
  
  
  
• Maria Barrera – Service to Student Excellence
  

• Shelby Worthing – Outstanding Staff Teamwork
  

Congratulations and wonderful job to all of you!

Winter 2025 – Cancelled due to weather closure

Fall 2024 – FISH! Philosophy

Presentation slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1cQx_oNIXlxNXylXhOh30L3jRznC4lvcXUx72SOF4Ikc/edit?usp=sharing

 Spring 2024 – Student Affairs Awards

Shout-Out to our Award Winners:

• Tom Breyer – Champion of Humble Service
  
• Shondra Russell – Service to Student Excellence
• Sarah Lockwood: Outstanding Staff Teamwork

Winter 2024 – WOUcha Kucha

A Special Thank-You to Our Presenters:

• Augusta Edwards
• Maria Bonifacio-Sample
• Megan Habermann
• Jodi Reimer

Fall 2023 – Mindfulness Insights (presented by Beth Scroggins)

Presentation slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gpZkafORJOy0hxcAu4KElXTj9l-E3nmmAyceJGGtbgw/edit?usp=sharing

Spring 2023 – Student Affairs Recognition Awards

The 2023 recipients are:

Stacey Rainey – Champion of Humble Service

The Champion of Humble Service Award is given to an individual who works quietly behind the scenes for the good of students, Student Affairs, and the University. They go the extra mile and contribute immensely to a culture of care. While not always publicly celebrated, this individual demonstrates leadership through dedication and service.

Luanne Carrillo-Avalos – Service to Student Excellence

The Service to Student Excellence Award is given to a Student Affairs employee who has made a significant difference in the life of one or more students. They have consistent interaction and engagement with students; assisting them under varying circumstances. They foster students’ academic, personal, and professional growth, contribute to student success, and advocate for students.

Justin Sunada – Outstanding Staff Teamwork. 

The Outstanding Staff Teamwork Award is given to a Student Affairs employee who collaborated and worked closely with other division staff throughout the year. They treat colleagues with respect, consider the ideas and opinions of others, share information, are willing to accept responsibility, and promote the spirit of teamwork within their unit and the larger community.

Nomination & Selection Process: Any classified/unclassified staff employed in the Division of Student Affairs, anytime between July 1, 2022 to present, is eligible for nomination. Nominations should include a brief reason for the nomination. Any classified/unclassified staff employed in the Division of Student Affairs may nominate. The 2022 award recipients and the Student Affairs Leadership Team are the reviewing body. Recipients will be announced at the spring 2023 Student Affairs Gathering.

Winter 2023 – WOUcha Kucha

Fall 2022 – Responsible Employee Training

Presentation slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1SjFMGxVrSEzMwnR8dQt4vFwN1gMfO7Wu0K8junkCxt4/edit?usp=sharing

Spring 2022 – Student Affairs Recognition Awards

Employees in the Division of Student Affairs had great successes and challenges this past academic year. From spearheading large projects and program implementation, providing outstanding student support services, partnering with campus units, managing the challenges that COVID-19 presents, lending support in times of crisis, or simply performing position roles & responsibilities beyond expectations, just to name a few. Each one of us has accomplished so much over the academic year and their hard work and commitment to Western students does not go unnoticed. 

2022 Outstanding Staff Teamwork Award Recipient:

Antonio Castellanos, Admission & Financial Aid

The Outstanding Staff Teamwork Award is given to a Student Affairs employee who collaborated and worked closely with other division staff throughout the year. They treat colleagues with respect, consider the ideas and opinions of others, share information, are willing to accept responsibility, and promote the spirit of teamwork within their unit and the larger community.

2022 Champion of Humble Service Award Recipient:

Paula Verdegaal-Tyalor, ASWOU & Student Affairs

The Champion of Humble Service Award is given to an individual who works quietly behind the scenes for the good of students, Student Affairs, and the University. They go the extra mile and contribute immensely to a culture of care. While not always publicly celebrated, this individual demonstrates leadership through dedication and service.

2022 Service to Student Excellence Award Recipient:

Alicia Monrroy, Student Enrichment Program

The Service to Student Excellence Award is given to a Student Affairs employee who has made a significant difference in the life of one or more students. They have consistent interaction and engagement with students; assisting them under varying circumstances. They foster students’ academic, personal, and professional growth, contribute to student success, and advocate for students.

Nomination & Selection Process

Any classified/unclassified staff employed in the Division of Student Affairs, anytime between July 1, 2021 to present. Nominations included a brief reason for the nomination. Active employees within the division submitted nominations. The Student Affairs Leadership Team reviewed the pool of nominees and selected this years receipients.

Winter 2022 – WOUcha Kucha

Fall 2021 – #MMIW: Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women

Presentation recording: https://www2.wou.edu/nora/woutv.video.viewer?pvideoid=1678

Presentation slides: WOU slides MMIW

Spring 2021 – History, Context, Lived Experiences, and Impact of Anti-AAPI Racism

Winter 2021 – WOUcha Kucha

Fall 2020 – Not Racist Isn’t Enough: Creating an Antiracist Workplace

Spring 2020 – Virtual Scavenger Hunt (May 2020) & WOUrona? Hi! Sis (April 2020)

Winter 2020 – WOUcha Kucha

Fall 2019 – New Initiatives and Recruitment Landscrape, WOU Admissions

Spring 2019 – Questions, Persuade, Refer (QPR) presentation by the WOU CASA and Suicide Prevention Program, WOU Research Institute

Winter 2019 – Student Media presentation by Rhys Rinch, Student Media Adviser, Student Engagement