|
Appalachian graduate student wins statewide award |
|
|
|
Thursday, 16 November 2006 |
by HEATHER SANDERS
News Reporter
The North Carolina College Personnel Association awarded the Graduate Student of the Year to Appalachian State University college student development major Susannah J. Lawrence on Nov. 9.
“I was pretty excited and surprised,” Lawrence said.
Appalachian’s Director of Housing and Residence Life Dr. Jeff Doyle,
area coordinator Sarah A. Chapman and former area coordinator Mario
Rapetti nominated Lawrence for the award.
 Active Image | Jonathan Williams | The Appalachian
Susannah J. Lawrence, a second year graduate student and winner of the North Carolina College Personnel Association Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year for 2005-06, prepares English flapjacks for the study abroad program for the sophomore year experience community.
|
“She’s on top of her game,” Chapman said. “She’s organized and dedicated and aware of the greater impact of her actions.”
Lawrence, who received her undergraduate history degree from
Appalachian, is a residence director for Newland Residence Hall, as
well as a Campus Resident Student Association advisor and a member of
various Housing and Residence Life committees.
“She has stood out on most everything she’s done,” Doyle said. “She’s a
quiet leader that steps up when she’s needed, and she’s the glue that
holds everyone together to get things done.”
She is also one of five graduate students to be hired as a Freshman Seminar instructor.
“It’s a rigorous process,” Freshman Seminar Director Dr. Dan Friedman said. “Susannah was a no-brainer to hire.”
Friedman said Lawrence has a reputation of being approachable. He said
students are able to relate to her, and she helps them see their own
potential.
However, Chapman said it was Lawrence’s involvement in the Sophomore Year Experience Program that set her apart.
Chapman said Lawrence was able to see a need for sophomores to live and
learn together. Lawrence said she did research to show why the learning
community was needed.
Chapman said the program was created after freshmen showed a lot of interest in having a sophomore learning community.
Students in the program live in Newland Residence Hall and attend
meetings twice a month to discuss issues like resumes, internships and
advising.
“I just consider what I do as doing my job to the best of my ability,” Lawrence said.
Students nominated for the award must be enrolled in a graduate
institution offered by a secondary institution in North Carolina. They
must not be working full-time in a professional position.
They must have also made a contribution to a student affairs program,
research or related activity considered above the expectations of a
graduate student.
Trackback(0)
 |
News 
TrackBack URI for this entry
Show/Hide comments
