National Winner
Month: April 2012

NACURH, INC.

Student of the Month

School: Pacific University Region: PACURH
Nominee: Shelby Hoppe Nominator: Chris Mikulic

On-Campus Population: 950 Chapter Size: 15

Please explain the outstanding contributions of the nominee during the month of nomination

Before diving into Shelby’s contributions in the month of April, I’d like to first tell you Shelby’s roles at Pacific University. Shelby is the founder of the Pacific surf club, the first surf club to be established at Pacific University, she is a representative for her residence hall on the College of Arts & Sciences Student Senate (CASSS), works in the residence hall late on Friday and Saturday nights in the front desk, and is a Voyages leader, where she provides opportunities for new students to explore Oregon’s natural environment and see what vast adventures Oregon has to offer. She has not only been a leader and support for bettering Pacific University’s sustainability, but especially in the month of April.

In the beginning of April, Shelby took a group of students to go surfing on the coast of Oregon. The students also helped clean the beach while they were there and had about three pounds of garbage properly disposed from the Oregon coast. Shelby was also a huge contributor to CASSS using $1000 towards Pacific’s sustainability organization. Lastly, Shelby helped out with eco-friendly projects during earth week by recycling numerous bags of plastic water bottles and encouraging others to do the same, so they did not end up in landfills. Shelby is very passionate about the natural environment and also a student’s social and academic environment.

Earlier in April, Shelby helped with a video documentary on a course called first year seminar (FYS). Shelby was an FYS mentor herself and provided uncensored and unbiased feedback towards what FYS should improve on and what was effective. Shelby also provided two surfing trips and led one sea kayaking trip in the month of April. Shelby knows that having an escape from school and being immersed in a natural environment can not only be an escape, but a stimulating environment for critical thought. Also, Shelby helps me, as a resident assistant, out personally, by helping connect the residents of fourth floor McCormick and building an interdependent community. At one point, she directed a student in need of mental health services to our counseling center and later checked on the student’s improvement.

Lastly, Shelby has been approved to pursue anthropological research in Australia next year. Shelby will study the culture of Southern Australia and report back to Pacific for future students to gain more knowledge about Australia. Shelby has been involved in numerous Pacific affairs her entire career at Pacific. In the month of April alone, she helped pass a motion to improve Pacific’s effect on the surrounding environment, gave students an opportunity to see Oregon in its natural habitat, helping to improve classes for future first year students, and is going to study a new culture for further knowledge. Shelby is altruistic and has helped me throughout April by showing up to programs, supporting resident assistants in their endeavors, and keeping a positive attitude the entire time. I just want to recognize Shelby and her contributions to not only me, but the university by making Pacific a better place academically, environmentally, and socially.

Word Count: 511


Date of entry into database: 2012-05-06 21:11:48

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