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Student Affairs’ Recognition

Of The Year Awards

At the end of each academic year, the Student Affairs staff are encouraged to nominate staff, offices, and programs for the Student Affairs' Of The Year Awards. The nominations are collected by the Chair of the Student Affairs Development and Recognition committee and provided the Student Affairs Leadership Team for selection.

Award Recipients

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    Program of the Year

    Academic Year 2023-2024: Sex in the Dark - Organized by Samantha Westwood, Residence Life & Housing

    Highlights from the nomination(s):

    "On April 16th, 2024 Residence Life and Housing sponsored the national educational program "Sex in the Dark" for all CSU Pueblo students to attend in the Life Sciences auditorium. During "Sex in the Dark", students have the opportunity to ask any sexual health related questions they may have anonymously to the nationally trained experts and in turn those experts/moderators will then answer those questions live during the program. In addition to providing information that students may find useful for their personal lives, "Sex in the Dark" also centered on inclusion and accessibility for all students by modeling inclusive, accessible ways of teaching and talking about sexuality during the program. As we all know, the consistency and quality of sexual health education for teens and young adults across the nation can overall lack important information that is absolutely necessary for a student's overall general health and well being, especially for folks of the LGBTQIA+ community. This program specifically helps us fill that educational gap for ALL of our students here at CSUP. I cannot state how important the occurrence of this program is when focusing on supporting all of our students general health and well being. Not only did the over 80+ students who were in attendance of the program report this program as educational with valuable insights on various sexual health topics, students also reported that they had a fun time while doing so with students providing outstanding positive feedback for the program with an average rating of 4.64 out of 5 stars!

    Additional Logistics: When students arrived at the event, incentives like glow in the dark swag items, popcorn, cotton candy, and soda were distributed to all students before entering the auditorium. Most notably, students were very excited for the chance to win the 10-15 prizes related to the program that had been donated from an outside vendor. Overall the program was hosted/conducted by the entire RLH Resident Assistant team with support from RLH professional staff members. For the Sex in the Dark event, Assistant Director Samantha Westwood contacted numerous professors within the College of Health Education and Nursing in addition to more traditional marketing strategies like texts blasts, flyer distribution, TV ads, etc. that were achieved through the support of SEAL and MCCR."

    Academic Year 2022-2023: FAB Family Day - Organized by Sherece Alaniz, Precious Molina, and Dra. Lucia Menjivar and the volunteer parent organization.

    Highlights from the nomination(s):

    "During finals week the Family Advisory Board was able to support the students during finals week with a sense of family orientation. Families brought ideas to the program and made it come to life with paint throwing, balloon throwing, free hugs, tie-dye and grab-and-go snacks."

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    Staff Member of the Year

    Academic Year 2023-2024: Lilia Myers Van Pelt, Student Support & Advocacy

    Highlights from the nomination(s):

    "Lilia Meyer's Van Pelt runs a small but mighty program supporting international students, but she welcomes ALL students. I don't think people realize the amount of time, energy, money, and effort she puts into our students. She does so out of kindness and her love of people and their cultures, she never asks for credit. She plans weekly adventures, ensuring our international students have the opportunity to experience Colorado - everything from scenic drives, the sand dunes, shopping, tiny towns, caves, museums, the list goes on and on.

    Beyond her advisor role, the impact Lilia has on students goes far beyond their time in at CSU Pueblo. She has students visiting her weekly... daily. She may have taught them last semester, or a decade ago. They come back to campus just to see her, to take her to lunch, to give her gifts, to introduce their families to her! She has a magical way of building relationships with people - She'd never brag about it, but someone has even named their baby after her! Her students' love for her says so much about the supportive and caring relationships she has with them!"

    Academic Year 2022-2023: Halle Medina, Residence Life & Housing

    Highlights from the nomination(s):

    "Halle Medina, the assistant Director of Walking Stick Apartments, stands out as an exemplary member of the campus community and deserves recognition as the Staff of the Year. Her dedication, kindness, and commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment have had a profound impact on residents and staff alike.

    Halle's leadership style is characterized by her unwavering kindness and courtesy towards everyone she encounters. She goes above and beyond to ensure that residents feel valued, respected, and supported in their living environment. Through her approachable demeanor and genuine concern for the well-being of others, she creates a sense of warmth and belonging that permeates throughout the community."

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    Supervisor of the Year

    Academic Year 2023-2024: Brenda Trujillo, TRiO Student Support Services

    Highlights from the nomination(s):

    "Brenda continues to find supportive ways to assist her team. She works diligently to provide opportunity for those in her area to lead and constantly strives to support them becoming better to help the students. Brenda is new to her role; but she continues to develop and grow. She has gotten team members on board with all she does and had to serve multiple roles as staff left throughout. She still continues to be a change agent and works continuously to support her staff and students."

    Academic Year 2022-2023: Carl Rodriguez, Residence Life & Housing

    Highlights from the nomination(s):

    "Carl exemplifies what it means to be an exceptional supervisor. With a keen understanding of his team's dynamics and individual strengths, he goes above and beyond to support and challenge them in equal measure. His leadership style is characterized by kindness, thoughtfulness, and a commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.

    One of Carl's greatest strengths lies in his ability to recognize the unique talents and potential of each team member. He takes the time to listen to their ideas, concerns, and aspirations, creating a space where everyone feels valued and heard. By acknowledging their contributions and providing constructive feedback, he instills a sense of confidence and empowerment within the team.

    Carl understands that growth often comes from being challenged, and he actively seeks opportunities to push his team beyond their comfort zones. However, he does so in a way that is encouraging and supportive, ensuring that they feel motivated rather than overwhelmed. Whether it's by assigning stretch projects, offering professional development opportunities, or simply providing guidance and encouragement, he helps his team members unlock their full potential."

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    Office/Team of the Year

    Academic Year 2023-2024: TRiO Student Support Services

    Highlights from the nomination(s):

    "TRIO Support Services continue to live its mission by providing support and access to students and families. During this academic year, they continued to go above and beyond by supporting students with FASFA preparations and by educating the Division of Student Affairs. They wrapped a bus to help all Puebloans learn about FASFA. Additionally, they also participated in First Generation - I am first generation."

    Academic Year 2022-2023: The Center of Student Support & Advocacy

    Highlights from the nomination(s):

    "Despite the competing areas within the Center, the staff continue to help and assist students through supporting GED participants, accessibility needs of students and case management. Additionally, they continue to support basic needs with the Pack Pantry and the partnership with CARE & Share."

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