After spending April busily preparing for Roth Regatta, Toscanini Hall Council wrapped up the month by winning Best in Show for the second year running. This did not give us time to relax, however. We had also spent the whole time planning for the second annual Toscanini/Honors College Ball, an event that would have been absolutely impossible without Kathleen’s help. Last April, we won a Campus Residences Diversity Grant, which we intended to use to help fund the Ball. Kathleen served as a go-between for us and Campus Residences, figuring out exactly how to spend that money, and placing multiple online orders for our invitations and decorations. She also spoke repeatedly with Allison Aldrich, interim director of the Honors College, to finalize the funding they would be giving us.

The final week before the Ball was a whirlwind of planning and shopping. While this was all going on, Hall Council held another program, Bingo for Bettas, where residents could play Bingo to win Betta fish. Kathleen and I went to PetCo to buy the fish and tanks, and a mere two days later she had to go back out with our Vice President to buy the final batch of decorations for the Ball. To facilitate our 1950’s theme, we wished to have a milkshake bar, and Kathleen helped us coordinate with FSA and the Tabler Center to have an ice cream cart available, as well as arranging for Mike Blackman, RHD of Sanger, to store ice cream and milk for us. By the day before the Ball, we had supplies in our classroom closet, in Kathleen’s office, in Kathleen and Mike’s apartments, and in the Tabler Center itself. Despite helping to run the Tabler Block Party the same day as the Ball, Kathleen was constantly popping in and out of the Black Box to make sure setup was running smoothly and to see if we needed help with anything.

While I obviously have more knowledge of Kathleen’s role as Hall Council Advisor, I would be remiss not to mention the amount of work she has also put in as RHA Advisor. Transitioning between e-boards is an emotional, and time-consuming, task for any club, and I know Kathleen spent countless hours in May working with RHA’s old and new e-boards to ensure a smooth transition. Soon after their elections, however, came Toscanini Hall Council’s elections, where we elected a new President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. While three of the four new officers have experience in other roles, all four are holding new positions for next year, a daunting and exciting position to be in. Kathleen has been busy ensuring that this transition goes smoothly as well, and I know the new e-board is very excited to be working with her next year.

Despite the time commitment these programs and transitions entail, Kathleen was still always available during the last weeks of school. She took the time to make finals goodie bags for all the RAs and e-board members, and her door was open throughout the day for residents to talk to, whether it be to ask questions about move-out or just to vent stress over finals. She was always working with a smile on her face, and truly deserves to win Advisor of the Month for May.

Word Count: 593