Student Organization Advisor Recognition

Each year the Department of Student Life asks student organizations to nominate their advisor for outstanding advisor awards. These awards were established to highlight the importance of student organization advising at Missouri S&T by recognizing and rewarding outstanding advisors who voluntarily commit to assisting student organizations with reaching their full potential. An advisor's commitment to an organization is usually above and beyond his or her job responsibilities to the University. As such, Student Life wishes to honor individuals who not only dedicate themselves, but also surpass the requirements of those student organizations they serve.

 

Chancellor Schrader will be presenting awards in the following categories:

Outstanding New Advisor of the Year: Any Missouri S&T RSO advisor who has voluntarily served for two years or less. Responsibilities of an advisor may include assisting student organizations in making decisions that affect the organizations progress at the University through personal guidance, interpretation of University policies and guidelines, administrative counsel, and organization's goals. Nominations must be well written, address nominee's abilities and attributes, and be relative to his/her effectiveness as an advisor. Past winners are ineligible for re-nomination for advising the same organization.

Outstanding Advisor of the Year:Any Missouri S&T RSO advisor who has voluntarily served for three to five years. An outstanding advisor has significantly enhanced the organization's experiences by being readily available and demonstrating a genuine interest and concern for the overall educational experience. Outstanding advisors assist organizations to utilize appropriate resources and understand their goals, mission, and purpose that relates to the organization and university. A nominee must have shown long-term dedication to the organization by attending meetings and programs, take an active role in with the organization's leaders, promote organization to the campus community and serve as a historical reference for the group.  Nominations must be well written, address nominee's abilities and attributes, and be relative to his/her effectiveness as an advisor.  Past winners are ineligible for re-nomination for the same organization for the period of 3 years.

Distinguished Advisor Award:Any Missouri S&T RSO advisor who has voluntarily served for six or more years.  Nominee of this award must demonstrate exceptionally effective ongoing mentoring relationships with organization, maintain a caring and nurturing attitude toward organization, and possess relevant knowledge of policies and procedures, information sources and referral procedures. Distinguished Advisor nominees also facilitate improvement of students' self-management and professional development skills. Nominees must have made an extraordinary impact on the organization. Nominations must be well written, address nominee's abilities and attributes, and be relative to his/her effectiveness as an advisor. Past winners are ineligible for re-nomination the same organization for the period of 5 years.

Selection Criteria

The selection committee will consider evidence of mentoring, advocacy, and outstanding service to students in the following areas:

 Serving as a resource

  • Availability to organization
  • Knowledge of regulations, policies, and procedures pertinent to RSOs
  • Monitoring of student progress toward organization's goals
  • Proactive use and dissemination of information resources

Counseling and advocacy

  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Caring, helpful attitude
  • Cultivation of rapport and relationships with organization leaders
  • Assists organization leaders in setting goals
  • Engages in student advocacy

Mentoring

  • Conveys a passion for education and learning
  • Help organization link to appropriate resources
  • Encourages organization to strive for excellence
  • Help organization integrate their education, curriculum, and experiences into their overall    personal and professional journey
  • Demonstrates the ability to challenge and support student leaders

 Connecting to the campus community

  • Encourages collaboration with other student organizations and departments
  • Involved in programs and events within the campus and community

 

2017 Award Recipients


New Outstanding Advisor of the Year: Dr. Jossalyn Larson, The Missouri Miner Newspaper

Outstanding Advisor of the Year: Sara Lindeman, Blue Key Honor Society

Distinguished Advisor of the Year: Dr. Oran Allan Pringle, Society of Physics Students

Student Affairs Meritorious Service: Dr. Timothy Philpot, Steel Bridge Design Team

 

2016 Award Recipients


Outstanding New Advisor of the Year: Erika Garcille, Gamma Rho Lambda

Outstanding Advisor of the Year: Dr. Sajal K. Das, Department of Computer Science

Distinguished Advisor of the Year: Dr. Von Richards, American Foundry Society

Student Affairs Meritorious Award: David Hoffman, Engineers Without Borders

Student Affairs Meritorious Award: R. Mark Potrafka, Student Council 

 

2015 Award Recipients

Outstanding New Advisor of the Year: Jennifer Watson, Spectrum

Outstanding Advisor of the Year: Dr. Ivan Guardiola, American Society of Engineering Management

Distinguished Advisor of the Year: Dr. Steve Watkins, Eta Kappa Nu

Student Affairs Meritorious Award: Cynthia Guess, Society of Women Engineers.

 

 2014 Award Recipients

Outstanding New Advisor:  Stephen Tupper, S&T Student Veterans Association

Outstanding Advisor of the Year:  Heath Pickerill, Solar House Design Team

Outstanding Advisor of the Year:  Walter Bethea, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

Distinguished Advisor of the Year:  Dr. David Westenberg, iGEM - International Genetically Engineered Machine Team

Student Affairs Award for Meritorious Service:  Kevin Brady, S&T BBQ Club

 

2013 Award Recipients

Outstanding New Advisor: Tina Reagan, Toastmasters International

Outstanding New Advisor: Dr. Bonnie Bachman, MBA Association 

Outstanding Advisor of the Year: Dr. Mary Reidmeyer, Gaffers Guild

Distinguished Advisor: Janet Walker, Alpha Phi Alpha Inc.

Student Affairs Award for Meritorious Service: Dr. Doug Ludlow, Omega Chi Epsilon, Alpha Chi Sigma and Latter Day Saints Association

 

2012 Award Recipients

Outstanding New Advisor: Dr. Maciej Zawodniok, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

Outstanding Advisor of the Year: Dr. Rick Stephenson, Engineers Without Borders

Outstanding Advisor of the Year: Dr. Paul Hirtz, Delta Sigma Phi

Distinguished Advisor: Dr. Jeff Smith, Keramos

Student Affairs Award for Meritorious Service: Roberta “Birdie” Morgan, Saudi Student Association