Glamour and glitz at 2004 Residence Life banquet

And celebrate they did. It was all show biz, glitz and camaraderie Thursday, May 20, at the “Academy Award”-themed 2004 Residence Life annual banquet in Clayton Hall, honoring resident assistants and hall directors--the students who supervise life in residence halls on the campus.

UD President David Roselle opened the banquet by thanking residence life staffers for their service to the University. “You should feel proud of your service and accomplishments,” Roselle told them. “Albert Einstein once said, ‘Only a life lived for others is worth living.’ We’ve gathered to thank all of you who have served over the years. We called upon your leadership skills and you’ve responded well. UD is more than classrooms, and your contribution to our students’ education—and they to yours—has had an impact on everyone.”

Kathleen Kerr, director of residence life, led the audience in the traditional toasts to staff members who, she said, met the challenge to create a community of character by making tough decisions using good judgment; confronting residents and colleagues rather than avoiding them; being honest, fair and consistent; and taking chances and risks. “With tonight’s toast, I would like to recognize some staff members who have made excellent choices and taken the necessary chances,” she said. While Kerr called out their names, the audience raised their glasses and shouted, “Hip, Hooray!”

The “There’s No Business Like Res Life Business” motif set the tone for the rest of the evening with appearances by the Titanic, Zoolander, Shrek, J-Lo, Joan and Melissa Rivers (handing out Golden Hanger Awards), Michael Moore and G.I. Jane impersonators.

It was truly a red carpet night with no less than two red carpets covering the banquet hall, one complete with candy wrappers and footprints of Brad Pitt, Demi Moore, Mel Gibson and Lassie. Door prizes were donated by Newark merchants.

Kevin Tressler, a senior communication major, served as master of ceremonies, and he was assisted by Tywanda Howie, a senior English major, and Matt Huggins, senior information systems and technology major, all members of the banquet committee. They roamed the room critiquing faux celebrities’ outfits, performed a skit with American Idol choosing the nation’s leading R.A., presented a slide show featuring the types of jobs for which graduating seniors might apply and ended the event with a compilation slide show of moments in the lives of staff and students over the past three to four years.

The following resident assistants and hall directors were honored for distinguished service in programming; visibility and accessibility to students; community development; conflict mediation; crisis management; diversity education; Complex Community Council advisement; policy enforcement; overall administration; general attitude and enthusiasm; contributions and leadership within a hall, complex, or area; overall/general contributions to the Office of Residence Life.

Resident assistants: Danielle Geraci, AS senior; Allison Ward, BE senior; Megan Rector, CHEP senior; Jung Ha Park, AS senior; Heather Barber, AS senior; David Shaw, EG senior; Kevin Tressler, AS senior; Kaes Delgrego, AS junior; and Sena Tsikata AS junior.

Hall Directors: Michele Pino, AS graduate student; Nicole Vitelli, CHEP graduate student; and Jacqueline Winslow, AS senior.

Presenting certificates for outstanding performance in programming was a living “Oscar”—Morgan Randles, a senior biological sciences major, covered in gold. Fourteen programming category awards were given to the students for outstanding programs in support of:

Intellectual and academic skills—Renee Gorman, AS senior, for “Lunch and Politics”;

Diversity—Drew Hatton and Leslie Meyer, CHEP graduate students, for “Eminem’s Neighborhood”;

Socialization—Cori Chascione, CHEP sophomore; Frank Fernandez, BE senior, and Brett Townsend, AS senior, for “Smyth Open Mic Night Series”;

Relationships--Michael Katsimbris, BE senior, for “Hello, my name isŠ”;

Physical and emotional health—Sylvia Bullock, CHEP sophomore, for “Can You Taste the Difference”;

Community development—Bobby Hinkle, AS senior, for “Listen Without Prejudice”;

Long-term service or volunteer project—the Sussex, Squire and Warner Halls’ staffs for “Newark Senior Center”;

Short-term service or volunteer project—Kristyn Farrell, AS senior, for “30 Hour Famine”;

Life planning and career development—the Russell D & E staff for “Trading SpacesRussell Style”;

Faculty—Tressler for “Good Career ‘Lipp’ Service”;

Values and ethics—Jessica White CHEP graduate student and Peter Tadros, HNS senior, for “Who’s Living in Your Neighborhood?”;

Weekend or late night—the Rodney E & F staff for “Fear Factor”;

Responsible alcohol use—Tressler, Janeen Farrell, HNS senior, Sherol Chen, AS senior, for “A Body’s Worth a Thousand Words”; and

Passive—Gretchen Morgan, BE senior, for “Star Program.”

This year, for the first time, Residence Life honored resident students with leadership awards during Honors Day on Friday, May 7. The awards recognize the outstanding achievements of resident students and their involvement in their residence hall Complex Community Council. (Click here to download in PDF format UD’s “2004 Honors Day” booklet, which includes listings of all University awards and new honor society members. Note: Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded free from Adobe’s web site, will be required to read the document.)

Residence Life also has received honors beyond the University. Program staffers won national recognition at the American College Personnel Association annual convention on April 4. UD Residence Life received awards for Outstanding Residence Hall Program, long program; Outstanding Residence Hall Program, short program; Outstanding Undergraduate Student Staff; Outstanding New Professional; and Excellence in Service.

Article by Barbara Garrison
Photos by Duane Perry

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