March 13, 2024
For Immediate Release
Regional Award Winners Announced
In service to NODA’s mission of creating an inclusive community which enhances and elevates orientation, transition, and retention practices in higher education, the Association is pleased to announce the NODA regional award winners for 2024. The regional awards process helps elevate and highlight the outstanding work of our members. These winners were selected from dozens of different applications and nominations. Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees. Regional award winners were announced at the Region V Regional Conference in Iowa City, IA on March 9, 2024. All regional winners advance for consideration in the annual award process where award winners will be announced at the NODA Annual Conference in Portland, OR, November 11 -14, 2024
NODA is an international association providing scholarship and professional development for the areas of orientation, transition, and retention. Region V consists of the following North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois as well as Manitoba, Canada.
Outstanding Orientation, Transition, and Retention Professional Award
The Outstanding Professional Award recognizes outstanding contributions of a professional to the field of orientation, transition, and retention. Contributions should include development or enhancement of a model orientation, transition, or retention program that meets the varied needs of students; leadership within NODA; and/or other significant contributions to the field. Recipients must have five or more years of professional experience in higher education.
The 2024 Region V Outstanding Orientation, Transition, and Retention Professional is Brandon Cash, Director of Student Activities at the St. Olaf College.
Outstanding New Orientation, Transition, and Retention Professional Award
The Outstanding New Professional Award recognizes outstanding contributions of a NODA professional to the field of orientation, transition, and retention. Contributions should include demonstrated commitment to and promise of becoming a leader in the field of orientation, transition, and retention; innovative contributions to the individual’s institution; active participation in NODA; and/or other significant contributions to the field. Recipients must have less than five years professional experience in higher education.
The 2024 Region V Outstanding New Orientation, Transition, And Retention Professional is Emily Klesner Platt, Assistant Director in New Student Enrollment at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Outstanding Student Leadership Award
The Outstanding Student Leadership Award is designed to give special recognition to students for their creativity, energy, enthusiasm, and outstanding abilities, which are the backbone of any successful campus programs. This award will recognize one undergraduate student leader and one graduate students leader.
Undergraduate Student
The 2024 Region V Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader is Lizzie King from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Lizzie serves as a office manager and is studying education.
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Innovative Program Award
The Innovative Program Award recognizes a program or unique approach to a challenging situation or a specific campus need. This award seeks to recognize innovative and effective approaches in three categories with awards for Innovation in Orientation, Innovation in Transition, and Innovation in Retention. It is the opportunity to highlight good administrative practices that meet the changing needs of an institution and its students. These innovative programs help generate new knowledge and best practices within the field of orientation, transition, and retention.
Orientation Program
The 2024 Region V Innovation in Orientation Programs Award is presented to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for their program Life of a Husker created by the office of New Student Enrollment.
Transition Program
The 2024 Region V Innovation in Transition Programs Award is presented to the University of Illinois Chicago for their program First Year Flames Abroad (FYFA) created by a partnership between New Student and Family Programs (Student Affairs), the Office of Study Abroad (Global Engagement), and the College of Education.
To learn more about NODA membership and programs, visit www.nodaweb.org or reach out to noda@umn.edu.
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For questions or comment, please contact Joyce Holl, NODA Executive Director, holl@umn.edu.