Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

-A hero in
Disguise...
National Residence Hall
Honorary Chapter Member of the Year
IRHA 2012
DePaul University
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Secret Identity ………………………………Page 2
Campus Involvement……………………….Page 2
A Hero’s Dedication …………………….Page 3
Heroic Contributions ………………………..Page 4
A Generation of Res. Halls……..Page 4
League Involvement……………………… Page 5
Heroic Approvals…………………...Page 6,7,8
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The Secret Identity:
Just as Kolby looks like a regular college student on campus, Clark Kent
looked like an average reporter in Metropolis. Like all superheroes,
Clark Kent continued to fight for social justice, save lives and protect
the people of Metropolis without formal recognition. It is time that
the Red Storm Chapter of NRHH at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s own superhero, Kolby Spiker, be unmasked and recognized
as Outstanding NRHH Member of the Year.
About the Hero:

Hometown: Teutopolis, IL

Major: Biological Sciences

Favorite Rock Star: Miley Cyrus

Favorite Color: Green

Fun Fact: Cardinals Fan
Getting

Occupation: Resident Assistant/Student
dirty at
NRHH Mud
Volley Ball
Campus
Involvement

Resident Assistant for three years.

Spring Board Leader: Two week Summer Program that welcomed first
year students to SIUE, and educated them about Campus Involvement.

Student Ambassador: Leading campus tours and organizing fun interactive
activities. Attending High Schools and sharing their experiences with students
Attending School and Community Expos.

Participating in SIUE’s “Box City”
Biology Mentor and Tutor.
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A Hero’s
Dedication to
NRHH:

Dedication to
NRHH Cont.:

Kolby Spiker has embodied the four pil-
ing plan and participate in the Chapter’s
lars of NRHH whole heartedly this year.
first annual philanthropy event, Big Red
As a Biological Sciences major, a double
Volleyball, which aimed to raise money and
minor in Forensics Science and Chemistry,
awareness for Heart Disease in the spring
Kolby focuses his super powers on his ac-
semester. Last spring he also assisted the
ademics and successfully role models the
campus’ RHA in preparing for the annual
“student-first” philosophy of University
philanthropy Mud Volleyball Tournament.
Housing during the day.

Kolby has served the community by help-
At night, the super hero within demonstrates incredible leadership skills and
encourages the leadership of others;
through the Resident Assistant position
and filling the role of co-adviser of the
Commitment to IRHA:

Kolby demonstrated his own personal
area council in the hall he lives in, and
leadership ability by presenting
even worked as a student leader for the
“Building Those Molecular Bonds: True
freshman orientation program, Spring-
Colors” at GLACURH 2010 and winning
board to Success.
Top Ten Program at the regional level.
Through some service opportunities of
the Red Storm Chapter of NRHH.

For this years IRHA 2012, Kolby has
used his Super Powers to motivate and
inspire members of NRHH to help out
with “Open Books Chicago”. Members
have donated up to 100+ books.
NRHH Members Volunteering at
Gardens!
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Heroic Contributions to NRHH:

Kolby was inducted into the Red Storm Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary in the Spring of 2010 for his
outstanding contributions to the residence hall system at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. His passion for
recognition began when he volunteered to serve on the OTM Committee of the Red Storm Chapter that spring and
continues to do so.

In Spring of 2011 Kolby embodied the powers of NRHH Vice President and Recognition.

Heroic Duties included: Chairing the chapter’s Recognition Committee and submitting OTMs to GLACURH, and overseeing operations and administrations of NRHH.

Kolby has been exemplifying the recognition pillar since his induction, but he embraced recognition with a passion, took
matters into his own hands, and flipped recognition of the University Housing department and the NRHH Chapter upside down...
“Housing Community of the Month”
- A new Generation of Res. Halls

A new Generation Continued...
A new, department-wide program, developed


Kolby initiated to motivate student leaders
full-time, professional staff members, and
and professional staff alike to submit OTMs
Kolby sought out their experience and in-
for their community and others who have
sight into the exceptional work of the Uni-
been outstanding every month.
versity Housing employees and leaders
Every community is eligible to compete for
each month by proposing that they write
Housing Community of the Month, and have
an OTM for a community every month.
purchased by the hero himself) displayed in
versity Housing department and encour-
their community as bragging rights.
aged OTM submission.
Better Improving
The housing World
(NRHH and IRHA:
Since Kolby has taken lead and created a
spin on to give recognition the number
OTMs summited ever month are always
OTM’s Will Never Be The Same:

Making SIUE #1 in the state of Illinois
for OTM submission and winners.

Making SIUE #4 in the GLACURH region
tional level.

Multiple regional winners and one national
winner!
Having written a national winning OTM for Organization of the Month in March 2011,
Kolby aimed to encourage and challenge OTM nominators to submit quality OTMs.

All OTM submitters at SIUE now receive an email with a guide to educate and empower writers with the knowledge of how to improve quality-even the best submitters can use a refresher now and then!

Kolby created this document from scratch and strives to continue educating the
department on recognition.


All OTM submitters at SIUE now receive an email with a guide to educate and empower writers with the knowledge of how to improve quality-even the best submit-
for OTM submission.

OTM submissions are great for every campus, but Kolby knew that recognition sparks
motivation and pride among leaders when it continues at the state regional, and na-
at a record HIGH!

Kolby has truly reached out to the Uni-

a Sandwich Board (designed, budgeted, and

The Leadership Committee is made up of

by Kolby.
ters can use a refresher now and then!

Kolby created this document from scratch and strives to continue educating
the department on recognition.
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League involvement :

IRHA 2010-Delegate

NARCURH 2010– Delegate

GLACURH 2010– Delegate, Top 100 Program

NACURH 2011– Delegate NRHH CC
IRHA 2012:

Even though Kolby is not attending
IRHA 2012 he has however, contributed a great deal to the conference and delegation.

By collaborating with RHA’s CC for
the conference, Kolby has used his
powers to motivated and rally others in NRHH and Housing to collect
“pop” tabs for the delegation.

Also getting others to give back,
and donate to “Open Books Chicago”
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January 28th, 2012
To the members of the NRHH Member of the Year Selection Committee:
It is with great pleasure that I submit a letter of recommendation for Kolby Spiker from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for the IRHA 2012 NRHH Member of the Year. I have known Kolby since August 2008 and have worked
closely with him in a variety of roles within University Housing.
I first interacted with Kolby as his University 112 Freshman Seminar instructor during fall semester 2008. Kolby was an
outstanding student in the classroom and an exceptional leader within the residence hall community. It was no surprise
that he quickly became involved in his hall’s area council and then was hired to be a Resident Assistant. Kolby is currently serving his third year as a Resident Assistant and has been an exemplary staff member. In addition to his RA role,
Kolby is also the Associate Director of Recognition for NRHH.
I am a former advisor to NRHH (at another institution), so I have a thorough understanding of the mission and goals of
the organization. Inspiring an organization and student population to recognize the efforts of their peers can be challenging. Kolby has met this challenge in a variety of ways. The items below outline Kolby’s contributions to recognition
and the overall NRHH organization.
Kolby single-handedly implemented a new departmental-wide recognition program called “Housing Community of
the Month” which encourages quality OTM submissions. The winning community gets to display a giant, professionally made and designed sandwich board in their community.
All OTM nominees receive a copy of their nomination, including the nominator. Kolby encourages them to thank
the nominator for taking the time to recognize their contributions.
Kolby has been diligently working to review the NRHH Constitution in order to achieve the status as a recognized
campus organization. This includes working with SIUE’s Student Government through many constitution revisions and justifications.
Prior to becoming the Associate Director for Recognition for NRHH, Kolby was an active member of the NRHH
recognition committee.
Kolby assisted in revamping the NRHH induction ceremony to include a social activity for inductees and their
guests.
A how-to guide for writing quality OTM’s was written by Kolby and distributed to the University Housing department. In addition, Kolby attended several Resident Assistant and Desk Manager meetings to discuss the importance of recognition and assist his peers in writing quality OTMs.
Under Kolby’s leadership, he assisted NRHH achieve a new record for the most OTMs submitted in one month for
SIUE.
One of the most impressive things about Kolby is his ability to balance his busy college career. Like many other college
students, Kolby is very busy with his classes and other activities. However, unlike many other college students, he is
able to handle the stresses of class work, his leadership role in NRHH and his staff position as a Resident Assistant with
complete ease.
Kolby is a recognized student leader in University Housing and is deserving of the admiration he receives from his
peers. Simply stated, students like Kolby are the reason we in Student Affairs choose this career path. I highly recommend Kolby as NRHH Member of the Year. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Amanda Stonecipher
Assistant Director of Residence Life
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
[email protected]
618-650-4627
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February 1st, 2012
Dear IRHA Awards Selection Committee,
I am happy to write a letter of support for the IRHA 2012 NRHH Member of the Year for Kolby Spiker. I
have known Kolby for approximately three years as a student leader on the SIUE campus.
I first met Kolby during the RA interview process where he has been a Resident Assistant for three years.
Kolby has continued to flourish as a leader by taking on roles as an orientation leader and involvement in
NRHH. This year Kolby has been selected to the Executive Committee for the NRHH chapter on the SIUE
campus. The following are some of the contributions that Kolby has made to NRHH:
1. Implemented a new department-wide recognition item, Housing Community of the Month, which encourages quality OTM submissions.
2. Reached out to OTM nominees by communicating the nominator and the actual OTM.
3. Has been an active Board of Directors member by working to revise NRHH’s Constitution and achieve
campus organization status through student government,
4. Was an active member of the recognition committee in 2010-2011.
5. Added a social aspect to inductions to include families and to stimulate discussion between members
of new inductees immediately.
6. Wrote a guide for quality OTMs and distributed to entire housing department.
7. Created a new recognition item within our general assembly.
8. Set a new record for the most OTMs submitted in one month for our campus chapter.
9. Finally, Kolby attends RA, Desk Manager, and Area Community staff meetings to discuss quality OTMs
and the importance of recognition.
Kolby is a deserving recipient of NRHH Member of the Year. If I can be of any further assistance or answer any questions regarding my support of Kolby, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Michael Schultz
Director of University Housing
University Housing, Box 1254, Edwardsville, Illinois 62026-1254, 618/650-4628
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Red Storm Chapter of NRHH
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Campus Box 1258 | Edwardsville, IL 62025
618.650.4623 | [email protected]
February 1st, 2012
To the IRHA NRHH Communication Coordinators:
I am writing this letter in support and recognition on behalf of Kolby Spiker for the National Residence Hall
Honorary (NRHH) Outstanding Member of the Year award. I have had the chance to work with Kolby on both
a personal and professional level over the past four years. Kolby exemplifies what NRHH stands for throughout University Housing and SIUE.
Kolby served on the recognition committee of SIUE’s NRHH Chapter for the 2010-2011 academic year. He
voted on OTMS as well as generated new ideas on how to promote OTMS. Along with being involved in the
recognition committee, Kolby helped with Fall and Spring NRHH Inductions. Kolby was both active in Resident
Housing Association (RHA) and National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) general assemblies.
Last year Kolby attended GLACURH 2010, at the University of Illinois, representing our school by presenting a
program which won Top 10. Kolby also attended NACURH, at Western Illinois University in 2011.
At the conclusion of the 2010-2011 school year, Kolby stepped up to become the Associate Director of
Recognition. He immediately started generating new ideas on how to promote OTMs. Kolby created a new
internal housing recognition program called “Housing Community of the Month.” Each community is awarded one point for writing a quality OTM and awarded two points if it is the campus winner. The community
with the most points receives a sandwich board to display in their lobby for that respective month. This program has already increased the number of OTM submissions for SIUE.
Kolby has made it his goal to increase awareness of OTMs and how to write a quality OTM. Kolby does this by
sending out monthly e-mails to members and housing staff reminding them to submit an OTM as well as links
to previous OTM winners.
I highly recommend Kolby Spiker for Outstanding NRHH Member of the Year. Kolby takes time out of his busy
school and RA schedule to dedicate time as leader and build the SIUE chapter of NRHH for years to come.
Sincerely,
Allen Stout
Director of NRHH 2011-2012
NRHH Vice President 2010-2011 9
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