Award Descriptions
The Nominating Period for the 2023-2024 academic year has closed.
This student staff member or program advocates in support of members of residential communities. They create connection with residents from various identities and histories. They engage students on relevant topics, reach out to campus partners or other experts, and make creating a sense of belonging and respect a priority amongst the community and its members.
Commitment to Community Development
This student staff member brings community members together to take collective action and builds a sense of togetherness within a hall. This person implements programs that are thorough and purposeful through its planning, implementation, and follow-through. Nominators for this award should address ways in which nominees work to enahnce program attendance, utilize creative marketing campaigns, implement new ways to engage the community, innovatively use technology for information sharing, and/or discover ways to save resources.
This student staff member ensures that residents feel good about their on-campus housing experience. They work to create an environment where a student feels comfortable and successful. They help students to understand the benefits of living on campus, provide resources for scholastic achievement, and assists residents in accomplishing their goals for graduation and beyond the University of Houston(UH).
The student staff member excels at balancing student intervention meetings while utilizing the Mapworks software, as well as serving as an adviser to the Hall Council. This award is given to a Community Mentor, who consistently exceeds the minimum job requirements, has a positive attitude, supports their team, develops a strong sense of community, and supports department goals.
The Cougar Spirit Award recognizes the student staff member who best exemplifies what it means to be a “UH Coog." The individual’s school pride is demonstrated through a positive attitude, acts of university loyalty, engagement, and participation in the campus community. They take pride in being a member of the UH community and encourages others to be engaged across campus.
This award is given to a Desk Assistant, who consistently exceeds the minimum job requirements, has a positive attitude, supports their team, develops a strong sense of community, supports department goals, and provides Tier 1 customer service.
Dr. Thelma J. Douglas Outstanding Student Leader Award
The recipient of this prestigious award will be a student leader in Student Housing & Residential Life (SHRL) who excels both inside and outside the classroom. The awardee epitomizes a strong moral compass, demonstrating responsibility and unwavering commitment to their role in SHRL. The awardee is goal-oriented, contributes to departmental initiatives, communicates effectively - both verbally and in writing. Their confidence is coupled with humility, showcasing exceptional interpersonal skills. As a dynamic student leader in the SHRL community, the awardee serves as a source of inspiration for team members, motivates residents, provides guidance to their peers, and they value and dignify others as leaders. The awardee is often the “go-to” individual for residents and staff alike. Additionally, the awardee must be employed in good standing with SHRL for a minimum of one, full semester at the time of nomination.
This award is for the student staff member who deserves recognitio for their efforts, and dedication to the department, takes initiative, exceeds job requirements, has a positive attitude, supports their team and advances department goals.
Program that demonstates extraordinary creativity, innovation and impact on the residence hall community.
New Desk Assistant (DA) of the Year
This award is given to the DA who exceeds minimum job requirements, supports their team and community, provides Tier 1 customer service with one, full year of service to the deparment.
New Resident Advisor (RA) of the Year
This new staff member has completed less than two semesters in their current role with the department. They have demonstrated an ability to learn, grow, and take initiative in their first year. This staff member has been acknowledged by their teammates and supervisor for their hard work, persistence, and has shown consistent growth throughout their first year as an RA.
This award is given to an RA who consistently exceeds the minimum job requirements, has a positive attitude, supports their team, develops a strong sense of community, and supports departmental goals. They are concerned with the whole development of a residential community and resident. They challenge residents while supporting their whole-person success.
Residential Community of the Year
This award is given to the on-campus residential community who most clearly embodies the department’s focus on the educational success, holistic development of residents and leading with an ethic of care. This community excels in creating a safe and secure environment in which residents feel comfortable in spaces outside of their assigned rooms. The community engages residents in holistic education, pushing residents in social, emotional, and physical learning opportunities in addition to supporting their academic studies. This staff understands and embraces the concept of accountability, utilizing it as a learning tool to reach their highest potential. The community of the year goes above and beyond to make the residential experience memorable for the residents. The community of the year creates a meaningful environment which connects faculty, staff, and students to the residence halls; provides healthy challenge and support opportunities for the residents living within that community. They should be active in recounting the on-campus living experience in a positive manner, all the while helping to build a special affinity for the community in which residents are an integral part of.
Senior Desk Assistant of the Year
This award is given to a Senior DA who consistently exceeds the minimum job requirements, has a positive attitude, supports their team, develops a strong sense of community, supports departmental goals, and provides Tier 1 customer service.
This award is given to a Conference, Facilities or Marking Assistant Assistant who takes initiative, consistently exceeds the minimum job requirements, has a positive attitude, supports their team, develops a strong sense of community, and supports departmental goals.
This staff member shows exemplary customer service and is an excellent representative of UH and SHRL. They are knowledgeable about their community and the other services offered on campus. They consistently take any extra steps and are dedicated to being helpful to their peers, supervisors, and residents.