Orientation team honored for promoting creativity, energy
Rachel Brunson
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: News
Rich Watters, director of the Center for Student Leadership, and Lauren Sova, Programming Board member, were honored with leadership awards at the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) Region II Conference in Anaheim, Calif.
Watters was awarded the 2008 NODA Outstanding Orientation Professional Award, designed to give special recognition to those professionals who provide outstanding leadership to the orientation and transition programs within their region.
NDNU is a part of Region II, which includes colleges and universities in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii. Each year, one person is selected, awarded a plaque, and recognized in the upcoming NODA edition of the Orientation Review.
When asked how it felt to be the victor, Watters said, "It was a total surprise. But, it always feels wonderful to be recognized for hard work. I am very much appreciative to have been nominated. There are many great professionals in the region."
He also said, "Award or not, I always strive for perfection in our orientation programming. Orientation is my favorite time of year; and I, as well as my orientation team, always want to make the transition of our new students and their families the best it can be."
NDNU junior Sova was among the two students selected for the Student Leadership Award. Each year, one student of the region is chosen from a two-year institution, and from a four-year university. The winner receives a plaque and a $100 gift certificate.
Sova deserves praise for her creativity, energy and enthusiasm, the attributes that make up the "backbone of successful and dynamic orientation programs," said Watters.
To harmonize with the conference's theme, Oceans of Opportunity, Watters presented a workshop entitled "New Wave of Thinking." Sova also presented to the 400 attendees her workshop, "Making Parent Sessions a Day at the Beach."
Her presentation was about the revamping that NDNU did this past summer, intending to make the parent sessions more enjoyable.
They pulled ideas from past conferences, and received lots of good feedback after implementing them into their program.
"It was the first year Notre Dame has presented," Sova said. "It is a very selective process, and the fact that we are a really small school and two of us presented was a big deal.
Sova also revealed, "We all knew Rich had won already, and I was really excited for him. And then all of a sudden, they announced my name and I had no clue I had even been nominated."
Sova had nominated Watters and Watters had also nominated her for the award, something they did not know until after the conference.
"It's an added bonus since I've been on the orientation team and attended the conferences for several years now," Sova said. "It's nice to be recognized for all of your hard work."
Watters was awarded the 2008 NODA Outstanding Orientation Professional Award, designed to give special recognition to those professionals who provide outstanding leadership to the orientation and transition programs within their region.
NDNU is a part of Region II, which includes colleges and universities in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii. Each year, one person is selected, awarded a plaque, and recognized in the upcoming NODA edition of the Orientation Review.
When asked how it felt to be the victor, Watters said, "It was a total surprise. But, it always feels wonderful to be recognized for hard work. I am very much appreciative to have been nominated. There are many great professionals in the region."
He also said, "Award or not, I always strive for perfection in our orientation programming. Orientation is my favorite time of year; and I, as well as my orientation team, always want to make the transition of our new students and their families the best it can be."
NDNU junior Sova was among the two students selected for the Student Leadership Award. Each year, one student of the region is chosen from a two-year institution, and from a four-year university. The winner receives a plaque and a $100 gift certificate.
Sova deserves praise for her creativity, energy and enthusiasm, the attributes that make up the "backbone of successful and dynamic orientation programs," said Watters.
To harmonize with the conference's theme, Oceans of Opportunity, Watters presented a workshop entitled "New Wave of Thinking." Sova also presented to the 400 attendees her workshop, "Making Parent Sessions a Day at the Beach."
Her presentation was about the revamping that NDNU did this past summer, intending to make the parent sessions more enjoyable.
They pulled ideas from past conferences, and received lots of good feedback after implementing them into their program.
"It was the first year Notre Dame has presented," Sova said. "It is a very selective process, and the fact that we are a really small school and two of us presented was a big deal.
Sova also revealed, "We all knew Rich had won already, and I was really excited for him. And then all of a sudden, they announced my name and I had no clue I had even been nominated."
Sova had nominated Watters and Watters had also nominated her for the award, something they did not know until after the conference.
"It's an added bonus since I've been on the orientation team and attended the conferences for several years now," Sova said. "It's nice to be recognized for all of your hard work."
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