Residence Life Announces August/September Honorees
Published 10.01.2009
SuperlativeResident Assistants and events forAugust/September, chosen from among Pennsylvania College of Technology's campus housing complexes,have been announced by the Residence Life Office.
RA of the Month Honored as Resident Assistant of the Month was Marija G. Staznik, a hospitality management major fromHarrisburg and an RA in The Village at Penn College.
"The RA of the Month is a returning staff member who has proven to continue to go above and beyond," staff said. "Her strongest quality is her programming skill. When she develops a program, she takes the residents' needs and wants into consideration, and, because of the community she has already built, is guaranteed to have great attendance. The students in her complex know her very well, and she has already worked out several roommate and residence issues.
"She is determined to build a stronger Village community and a stronger staff, and she does so with a smile and a great deal of enthusiasm."
Rising Star of the Month
The Rising Star of the Month was Alonso L. Marchinski, of Mohnton, a first-year RA at Rose Street Apartments and an aviation maintenance technology major.
"This RA has had quite a first month on the job," staff wrote. "During training, he was voted Rising Star for his energy and his ability to forge relationships with his peers. He has taken it to the next level with his residents and has solved multiple roommate issues through ... mediation sessions. He has also taken the initiative and pushed fellow staff members to be the best they can be."
Staff also noted that Marchinski had to work with "a parent situation" and was able to resolve the issue favorably while setting healthy boundaries in the process.
Educational Program of the Month Honored as the most noteworthy educational program for August/September was "A Taste of the World,"planned and deliveredby three Resident Assistants in College West Apartments: Alyssa J. Giedroc, a technology management student from Howard; Brittany E. Davis, of North Apollo, a culinary arts and systems student; and Elizabeth T. Rutt, a pre-occupational therapy assistant major from Ephrata.
"This program incorporated food and fun, while, at the same time, finding a common ground around diversity," Residence Life staff noted. "The residents were provided with food dishes and sampling from four different heritages. The residents came back for several servings while asking, 'This is good ... what is this?'"
Staff said it was enjoyable watching the RAs explain their heritage in a way that was fulfilling for both them and the residents.
Social Program of the Month Honored as the month's outstanding social event wasthe "Creative Cupcakes" program presented by Tracy A. Garis, a dental hygiene student from Hellertown.
"The Social Program of the Month was able to gather residents and Resident Assistants together at the same time," staff said. "All residents were invited to bake cupcakes at the same time as RA staff development. In true fashion and form, this RA combined the effort and it worked out fantastically. The turnout was great and everyone enjoyed a delightful treat."