New awards reflect growing scope of student personnel work

Student Personnel Association President Tori Svoboda-Smith says this year’s SPA awards included two new categories — campus impact and team awards — to better reflect the scope of student services work at the university. SPA members have been planning them for several years to broaden the awards structure. she says.

“The Campus Impact Award recognizes emerging professionals for excellent service in a relatively brief time, and the Team Awards illustrate that exemplary service is often the result of collaboration,” she says. “I believe both new awards promote the ideals of teamwork, sharing and professional development.”

The 1998 recipients are:

Karen Stauffacher, assistant director and dean, Business Career Center, School of Business, Chancellor’s Award for campuswide leadership in serving students. More than 400 employers nationwide recruit for 5,000 positions through the Business Career Center.

Under Stauffacher’s direction, the center pioneered the use of desktop video conferencing for job interviews; she also developed the Resume Expert System database now standard at more than 100 colleges and universities.
Marian J. Laines, assistant resident life director for academic programs, University Housing, Norman Bassett Award for distinguished service and/or developing creative programs to meet student needs. Laines has provided training and development, counseling, discipline, supervision and educational enhancement to the residence halls for 32 years. Most recently, she has been instrumental in developing the Bradley Learning Community, Chadbourne Residential College and Elizabeth Waters’ Women in Science and Engineering program. She continues to act as a liaison between the learning communities and academic departments.
Mary Hillstrom, assistant director, Office of Student Financial Services, Norman Bassett Award. On the financial services staff since 1973, some of Hillstrom’s achievements have included the replacement of computer systems to accommodate compliance with the year 2000, implementing automatic renewal (rollover) of financial aid applications for continuing students, developing a voice response system that allows students to check on the status of their aid applications and more.
Roni Bodoh, Education Academic Services, School of Education, Frontline Award for serving students on a day-to-day basis. Often the first person a student encounters in the School of Education, Bodoh analyzes student records for certification and licensing as well as handling phone and desk reception duties. Students, faculty and staff in the School of Education applaud her extensive knowledge about the campus and its programs, as well as her exceptional interpersonal skills.
Rebecca Ryan, advisor, Cross-College Advising Service, Campus Impact Award for employees making a significant impact on their jobs in five years or less. In her three- and-a-half years with the service, Ryan has established the CCAS Exploration Center for Majors and Careers, which functions not only as a resource center but as a practicum site for graduate students. Ryan also helped create a self-guided approach to career planning, a Career Peer Program and several workshops on such diverse topics as choosing a major, marketing a liberal arts degree, study skills and more.
Team Awards for cooperative, cross-unit work to creatively accomplish effective ways to meet student needs. Winners this year include the Dean of Students research team to improve university services to students of color, the University Health Service Student Health Advocate team, the Associated Students of Madison bus pass subcommittee, and Cal Bergman and Gina Casalegno, residence life coordinators, University Housing.

Founded in 1956, the SPA promotes interaction between colleagues and professional development among those working with college students. Librarians, health care providers, residence life staff, academic and personal advisers, instructional technology specialists and other student service professionals comprise its membership.

The SPA is open to any student service professional. For more information, contact Tori Svoboda-Smith, (608) 262-3773.