5:51 p.m., May 2, 2007--Two staff members from the UD Office of Residence Life, Sami Nassim and Gordana Copic, were recognized for their outstanding work by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) at the ACPA and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) National Convention on April 3 in Orlando, Fla.

Michele Kane, assistant director of Residence Life, said she was proud to have two members of her staff honored.

Nassim received the Outstanding Experienced Staff Member award. He currently is the complex coordinator for the Russell, Lane and Thompson residence halls and has been with UD since July 2003.

Copic received the Outstanding Graduate Student Staff Member award. She has been a graduate assistant hall director since August 2005, working in the Dickinson Complex her first year and currently in the Russell Complex.

“Sami's dedication to education delivered to each student through the development of a residential curriculum, staff training and assessment efforts was highlighted in the nomination,” Kane said. Copic's “research abilities which she applies to the development and assessment of lesson plans used to educate residents and to further the assessment efforts of the department were highlighted in the nomination.”

Nassim and Copic said they were flattered to be recognized for their contributions.

“The nomination alone was an incredible recognition to me as I work with an amazing group of co-workers and professional staff members, who continuously support my initiative and my work for the department,” Copic said. “I just get passionate about all aspects of designing and delivering education to our students, and working with my staff and students here, who are ultimately the ones that make the job rewarding.”

“I think my ability to take our educational priority and translate it to sequential educational delivery strategies is what ultimately helped me win this prestigious award,” Nassim said. “I know that everyone else that was nominated went above and beyond, as well.”

Nominees for other awards from UD included junior Peter Mares, who was nominated for the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Staff Member award, and Mark Mankin, coordinator in Facilities, who was nominated for the Excellence in Service award.

Article by Lauren Steinhorn, AS '07