Syracuse University

Syracuse University was recently named "School of the Year" at the regional conference of the North East Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (NEACURH). The SU Residence Hall Association's (RHA) 15 delegates were among those from 40 schools at the organization's Mini No-Frills Spring Conference, held at St. John Fisher College in Rochester.

The award recognizes outstanding achievements on the campus level by a residence hall organization and associated groups, as well as contributions on regional and national levels. RHA has secured this honor five times in the past 10 years: 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005. RHA will now advance to compete for best school in the country at the National Association of College and University Residence Hall (NACURH) Conference, which will be held in May at SU. The University last earned national recognition in 2002. Other awards earned by SU RHA and its participants include:

• SU National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Chapter of the Year
  SU NRHH, RHA's sister organization under the Office of Residence Life, is comprised of leaders on campus and focuses on recognition initiatives around the University community. The NRHH Chapter of the Year (NRHH COY) of the year award is the highest honor a NRHH chapter can attain.
  
  
• Annie Hoffman and Tony Bartocci, Excellence in Programming Award
  Each NEACURH conference includes peer-facilitated and advisor programming sessions on a variety of topics. During this conference, more than 50 programs were presented. SU students Hoffman's and Bartocci's "We go together" program earned top-10 honors and an Excellence in Programming Award.
  
  
• Tony Bartocci, Distinguished Service Award
  
  

This award is presented to one student in the NEACURH region to recognize distinguished student leadership while serving NACURH, its affiliates and member schools over several years. The honoree is also inducted into the Alumni and Friends of NACURH, the alumni association for the organization. Bartocci will now compete on the national level at the NACURH Conference.

Students Michelle Stoller and Miranda Villei prepared the SU delegation for the regional competition. The following students and advisors represented SU through program presentations, boardroom involvement, networking initiatives and spirit: Seniors Craig Bair, Bartocci and Hoffman; sophomores Bradley Curthoys, Mike McDade, Carly Michel, Stoller, Andrew Spencer, Sarah Weiner and Jessica Whitlock; and freshmen Sara Covino, Ben Peskin and Villei; and advisors Jana Rempalski and Tina Tormey.

RHA provides educational experiences and acts as a resource to foster student leadership within the SU community.

NEACURH is one of the eight affiliates of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH). For more than 10 years, it has been helping to build better student leaders and improve the quality of life in the residence halls for all of our member schools. NEACURH represents approximately 60 member schools. As an organization, it has four major focuses: programming, recognition, leadership, and communication.