The end of the school year is an opportunity to recognize the excellence students have shown and the achievements that have taken place during the previous year. University Residences and Dining & Culinary recently recognized individuals who demonstrate a commitment to the Purdue community through their involvement in residence hall organizations, student employment, community service and learning. Honorees were recognized at end-of-year banquets.
Alexandria Bedard, a student manager in the Lawson On-The-GO! station, was recognized with the William “Bill” Rumple Residential Dining Head Captain Award. The award was established in honor of William and Tim Rumple, both of whom provided outstanding service to University Residences Dining Services as former head waiters at Fowler Courts and Cary Quadrangle. The award is given to a student manager or coordinator in residential dining services who has achieved distinction in leadership. Bedard is praised by professional staff for her leadership and ability to create a positive atmosphere. During her time on staff, she has created events and incentives that promote an inclusive and team-oriented atmosphere. Bedard also helped improve processes with signage and new systems. Beyond her role with Dining & Culinary, Bedard is a student ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Research, vice president of Beta Psi Omega and volunteers at nursing homes with the Brain Exercise Initiative.
Jarod Ball was named the Sarah Johnson Outstanding Student Employee of the Year based on reliability, quality of work, teamwork and contributions to Dining & Culinary. The award recognizes the contributions of Sarah Johnson, former director of residential dining for University Residences, who dedicated 37 years of service to students at Purdue and the National Association for Colleges and University Food Services. Ball learned and re-implemented a scheduling tool that provided valuable assistance to the team at Wiley Dining Court. He was also responsible for overhauling dish room policies and procedures at Wiley. His other extracurricular pursuits include serving as the balloon infrastructure team lead for Purdue Orbital.
Jacob Patty earned the Mary T. Wiltshire Award, established to recognize a student worker in Earhart Dining Court who exemplifies a standard of excellence. The honoree is selected based on cooperation, responsibility, motivation, respect, skill, work and citizenship. Patty joined the Earhart team during Jumpstart, a program that takes place before Boiler Gold Rush. He consistently volunteered to work extra shifts and sought opportunities to learn new jobs. He received praise from his nominators for his motivation, ambition and willingness to jump into a task whenever and wherever needed.
Songhao Wu received the William I. Bennett Courtier Achievement Scholarship, which was established to preserve the spirit of the Courtiers of Fowler Courts and to recognize William I. Bennett for his years of service. The scholarship is awarded to an individual who has excelled in academics, exemplified their hall spirit and contributed to their residence hall community. Wu held a position in either University Residences of Dining & Culinary during each of his eight years on campus as an undergraduate and graduate student. He served as a resident assistant five times, most recently in Aspire Apartments. Wu was also a student ambassador for Executive in Residence and a recruiter for UR Global.
James Phillips received the Lanny C. Wilson Scholarship, awarded to a student in University Residences who has achieved distinction in leadership while also employed in a student staff position. Phillips served as the student development supervisor in Wiley Dining Court and an RA in Aspire Apartments. He is lauded for his ability to make new residents and student employees feel welcome in each of his roles. The Lanny C. Wilson Scholarship was established to recognize the contributions of Lanny Wilson, former director of University Residences, for his years of service to Purdue students.
Ella Springer was named the UR Conductor of the Year, presented to a student employed in the Alumni & Guest Center who does an excellent job passing on the Boilermaker spirit. UR Conductors are students who help introduce parents, prospective students and guests to the University Residences community. Springer served as the team lead on the alumni committee at the Alumni & Guest Center. She worked tirelessly to create a new brochure on alumni traditions that highlights campus and will help promote the university to visitors for years to come.
Michael Atwood was recognized as the Rakosnik RA of the Year, given to a student staff member who has positively impacted their residents, been an integral part of the residential community and actively supported the mission of Residential Life. Atwood created numerous events for residents of the Honors College and Residences community, one of which attracted more than 300 participants. His commitment to his community began with the study of his photo roster to know all of his residents on sight when they arrived on campus. His efforts and mentorship have inspired a large number of residents to apply for RA positions.
Charles “Chip Stembler” was named one of two Rakosnik REAs of the Year, which recognizes a residence education assistant (REA) who has positively impacted their residents, provided guidance and wisdom, and been an integral part of the University Residences community. Stembler has excelled in his role while pursuing a double major in professional flight technology and aviation management as part of the John L. Martinson Honors College. This year, he planned and executed multiple trips for Cary Quad residents to visit cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville. He has impacted all RAs across University Residences with the creation of the RA Big Book, which has been implemented system-wide to help RAs track assignments, administrative tasks and resources. This resource will be used long after he graduates to help RAs stay organized.
Emma Zaicow was named the second Rakosnik REA of the Year. Zaicow leads the RA staff of Shreve Hall with energy, encourages staff bonding and rewards their excellence with praise. Her mentorship has helped multiple RAs earn promotion to REA. Zaicow led the planning of Volumes of Life, which brought in guests from around Purdue and the Greater Lafayette community to engage with residents. Her impact extended beyond Shreve with events that engaged multiple residence hall communities.
Jayla Wesley was recognized as the student winner of the University Residences Changemaker Award. Wesley has embraced diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as an REA in Winifred Parker Hall. She played a pivotal role in organizing the Tasting Culture Through Food event for the Parker halls. Through this event, students and RA staff had the opportunity to explore and appreciate a wide range of cultures through food. Her discussions on Pixar short films inspired thought-provoking engagement during RA staff meetings.
Kris Yambao was named the professional staff winner of the Changemaker Award. Yambao serves as the residence education coordinator (REC) in Cary Quad. He engaged the RA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee to host a variety of events, including Korean Thanksgiving, Diwali, Holi, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Black History Month celebrations. These events educated the Cary community while honoring the contributions and traditions of various cultural groups. He also helped more than 100 Cary residents register to vote and set up numerous tabling events to engage in conversations with Cary residents.
Eloy Bonniol, resident assistant, was recognized for his work in making Hillenbrand Hall 1 East the Hall Community of the Year. Bonniol received praise for his dedication to fostering a sense of community, inclusion and resident involvement. He held door decoration battles and birthday parties and included weekly jokes in a newsletter about the floor to foster a sense of community. He also helped organize and promote various events, such as a trip to Chicago and a Valentine’s Day event.
Emily Ponce-Alvarez was awarded the First Year Student Success Award, given to a first-year student who showed great potential for growth by being promoted or beginning the process of being promoted. Ponce-Alvarez is a supervisor-in-training at Hillenbrand Dining Court and is lauded for her work ethic, commitment to excellence and enthusiasm. Ponce-Alvarez also shares her passion for music in her free time, playing the piano at veteran’s homes during holiday seasons and in a band with friends.
Stephanie Colby was named the winner of the Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrators (MASEA) Employee of the Year Award. Students are nominated in the categories of innovation and technology, diversity and inclusion, community service, critical thinking and leadership. Colby excelled in her role as a student manager at Hillenbrand Dining Court. She was recognized for her ability to motivate her peers and foster a collaborative and inclusive environment. Colby also created a new student walk-through checklist, expectations, guidelines and welcome email. The initiative streamlined the onboarding process for new team members and set expectations for their roles. Another process she implemented contributed to the culinary development of student cooks.
