October OTM Winners

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.


We have LOTS to be thankful for this November, including the great work of so many students and staff. Check out some highlights from our winning Of The Month nominations from October.

Leadership Education and Development (LEAD), Educational Program Of The Month - nominated by Justin Schuch

Andrew Tremper, First Year Student Of The Month - nominated by Alyssa Valach

Savannah Palmer, Institution Faculty/Staff Of The Month - nominated by Ciara Maxwell

Delta Phi Epsilon, Alpha Gamma Rho, Dental Hygiene; Organization Of The Month - nominated by Alyssa Valach

Schneider Hall Resident Assistant Staff, Residence Life Faculty/Staff Of The Month - nominated by Lauren Hosty

Jake Kreeb, Resident Assistant Of The Month - nominated by Paul Schumacher

West Campus Area Council, Residential Community Of The Month - nominated by Dennis Hoyle

Nightmare on Neely Drive, Social Program Of The Month - nominated by Lauren Hosty

Department of Communication Studies, Spotlight Of The Month - nominated by Ciara Maxwell

Graydon Baima, Student Of The Month - nominated by Paul Schumacher

Thank you to all who took the time to make recognition a priority by writing OTM nominations this month. Of The Month nominations can be submitted online at otms.nrhh.org 

September OTM Winners

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

Recognition is a part of our departmental culture here at SIU, and we like to regularly highlight the great work done by our students and staff. Check out the Of The Month winners from September!

Amber Woyak, Advisor Of The Month - nominated by Ashley Stegall

"Amber Woyak is the kind of advisor that understands it is okay to let student leaders take control and that we may stumble and make mistakes that we will learn from them and find the right direction that we need to take."

Kyla Jones, First Year Student Of The Month - nominated by Ciara Maxwell

"Though she is heavily involved on campus, she has not forgotten that her education is first. She remains in class every day and is seeking to join the military. She is even a good role model for people on her floor, even her upperclassmen friends that she brings along to events and activities she attends."

Kelby Rogers, Student Of The Month - nominated by Ambreeann Gilbert

"Kelby is the president of the SIU chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and she has done many great things lately. First of all she busted her butt all summer for the conference she was the head of and she made that a huge success. She encourages females in engineering all the time by showing how we can be great and do great things for the world. She encouraged a NASA engineer to talk at the conference she helped to head and helped to show that we can maybe someday work for our dream company and have encourage others. Kelby is a leader on campus and she pushes others to their own greatness."

Ashley Stegall, Executive Board Member Of The Month - nominated by Justin Schuch

"Ms. Ashley Stegall serves at the President of the Saluki Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) and has been a living example this month of seizing as many opportunities as possible for NRHH. September is littered with moments of Ashley’s leadership through her capacity of President of the National Residence Hall Honorary. Ashley has pushed the Honorary to new heights over the past month and given much of herself to ensure successful initiatives and new connections are created."

Thank you to all who make recognition a priority! To submit an OTM nomination, go to http://otms.nrhh.org/

Resident Assistant Spotlight - Shelby Rush

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

RA Spotlight - Shelby Rush of Schneider

What’s your name?
Shelby Rush

Where are you from?
Bloomington, Indiana, but originally born in Columbus, Ohio!

What’s your major?
Radiologic Sciences

Where is the best place to study on campus?
The library with headphones and a great new album!

What is your favorite book?
I'm really in love with the Divergent series, but any Hemingway book is a perfect book to curl up with.

What is your favorite food in the dining halls?
The ice cream!

What is your favorite local restaurant?
Quatro's, or S&B's the new burger place at the mall.

Why did you become an RA?
​I wanted to try something new, meet more people, and get more involved with the university than I already was. This has been the perfect opportunity!

What is your dream job?
Being a Radiation Oncologist for a big hospital system in a big city.

Best advice you would give to a new student on campus?

​Get involved, talk to anyone you can, and take as many opportunities as possible. College is the time to really experience everything the campus has to offer before you go into that one career for life.

Are you an RA and would like to be featured? Talk to your Hall Director about submitting your profile information.

Resident Assistant Spotlight - Dakota Justice

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

RA Spotlight - Dakota Justice of Mae Smith

The sign I'm making is for my fraternity - it's a phoenix.

What’s your name? Dakota Justice

Where are you from? Westmont, IL

What’s your major? Anthropology

Where is the best place to study on campus? The Library is easily the best, quiet and peaceful. Also far away from all my video games

What is your favorite book? Septimus Heap series

What is your favorite food in the dining halls? Stir Fry to order is the BEST!!! XD

What is your favorite local restaurant? Primo's easily

Why did you become an RA? I wanted to be an RA because I love helping people and being there for them. Everyone needs to have someone they can talk to, and I am always happy to be that person.

What is your dream job? My dream job is traveling to distant and strange lands where history is buried right beneath your feet, so an Archaeologist is my dream. 

Best advice you would give to a new student on campus? Do not conform so much that you lose who you are, yeah there is a lot of pressure to fit in but one would rather fit in the right place than try and force his way in to the wrong place.

Are you an RA and would like to be featured? Talk to your Hall Director about submitting your profile information.

Resident Assistant Spotlight - Alaina Howard

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

RA Spotlight - Alaina Howard from Warren Hall

What’s your name?
          Alaina Howard

Where are you from?
          Palatine, IL

What’s your major?
          Double major in Fashion Design and Merchandising with a minor in Marketing

Where is the best place to study on campus?
          I like to study in my floor's hallway or in my room.

What is your favorite book?
          Vogue September issue

What is your favorite food in the dining halls?
          It is a tie between their vegan steak fajitas or the veggie tacos.

What is your favorite local restaurant?
          Longbranch! They have the best homemade whipped cream.

Why did you become an RA?
          I like helping others, and I like being someone people can turn to for help.

What is your dream job?
          Either a costume designer for Hollywood movies or a buyer for a major company.

Best advice you would give to a new student on campus?
          Keep up on your studies and take as many credits now as you can to let your senior year 

          glide by.

Are you an RA and would like to be featured? Talk to your Hall Director about submitting your profile information.

Resident Assistant Spotlight - Joseph Cooley

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We are currently accepting applications for Resident Assistants for the spring 2015 semester. More details, along with the application, can be found on our website. Applications will be accepted until Sunday, October 5.

RA Spotlight - Joseph Cooley from Schneider

What’s your name: Joseph A. Cooley

Where are you from: I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago but I moved around so much that it would be hard to say one particular area. To name a few places, Summit, Justice, Bridgeview, Bolingbrook, and Berwyn.

What’s your major? Psychology

Where is the best place to study on campus? The library but I often settle for my room.

What is your favorite book? Right now it would be the Kaplan GRE prep book. No I do not really like this book haha but I hear it's going to help me get into grad school. In all truth I'm more of a movie buff. I love movies such as Quentin Tarantino films, The Professional, Star Wars, The Departed, Rocky, etc.

What is your favorite food in the dining halls: Grilled chicken and sweet potatoes

What is your favorite local restaurant: Thai Taste and Quatro's pizza

Why did you become an RA: I became an RA so I can serve as a leader and as someone who can guide lower class-men who are going through many similar situations that I have been through when I was a freshmen or sophomore.

What is your dream job: My dream job would probably be the owner of the Chicago Bears. However, I would settle for being a high school guidance counselor and football coach.

Best advice you would give to a new student on campus: My best advice to a new student on campus would be to take initiative and GET INVOLVED! I spent my first two years of college at a community college while also having a full-time job. It was a totally different atmosphere there. It seemed that like myself everyone else had a job that they were going to either before of after class. Not many students were interested in socializing and networking. When I transferred here I was so blown away on the social and professional networking connections I made. Not only is the social atmosphere great but there are so many great opportunities. I have joined clubs, I worked in two research labs, I'm an RA in Schneider hall, and I currently have the opportunity to teach as an undergraduate teaching assistant for Intro to Psychology. I can talk for hours about all the awesome things I have done in the 4 and half semesters I've been here. SIUC is a great school and I am proud to be here. I just think you have to remember school is what you make of it. So go out there and take advantage of your time here because college, like high school, only happens once and it can be the greatest time of your life if you allow it to be.

Resident Assistant Spotlight - Kaili Calderone

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We are currently accepting applications for Resident Assistants for the spring 2015 semester. More details, along with the application, can be found on our website. Applications will be accepted until Sunday, October 5.

RA Spotlight - Kaili Calderone of Mae Smith

What’s your name?
My name is Kaili Calderone. My first name is pronounced like Kylie. 

Where are you from?
I am from Crystal Lake, Illinois - it's about 6 hours straight north from SIU.

What’s your major?
Currently I do not have a major, but I would love to get in to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program here. It's the ultrasound program.

Where is the best place to study on campus?
The best place to study on campus would have to be Morris Library. My favorite spot there is in the rotunda on the third floor, its a round room and there are some really comfy chairs in there! Just make sure you don't fall asleep there...

What is your favorite book?
My favorite book of all time would have to be The Giver. I read it in middle school and I just recently saw the movie and I love them both!

What is your favorite food in the dining halls?
I'm not a picky eater, so basically anything there is good for me!
What is your favorite local restaurant?
When my family came to drop me off before the semester started we ate at Harbaugh's. Its super super super close to campus and it's great for breakfast! We actually ate there both days my family was here.

Why did you become an RA?
I wanted to become an RA because I saw how my friends didn't get along with their RAs at their own respective schools, and I wanted to make sure that my school would be a different experience for my residents on my floor.

What is your dream job?
My dream job would be going to third world countries and giving medical attention to people who can't afford their own medical care.

Best advice you would give to a new student on campus?​ 

Being a new student myself here on campus, the best advice I received was to get involved early on. The earlier you get involved on campus the better off you are. You make new friends from the start and it looks good on resumes!

Are you an RA and would like to be featured? Talk to your Hall Director about submitting your profile information.