Several student leaders at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette were recognized during the National Orientation Directors Association’s regional conference earlier this month in New Orleans.
NODA’s focus is orientation, transition and retention practices in higher education. Its Region VI Southern Regional Orientation Conference offers professional development, educational sessions and symposiums for administrators, faculty and staff members, and students.
A group led by UL Lafayette’s Office of Orientation were among participants from nine states who attended the three-day conference. Several of the University’s student orientation leaders were recognized.
- Sean Myers, a junior majoring in public relations, earned the NODA Region VI Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award that is given to one student each year;
- Talik Johnson, a junior majoring in chemical engineering, and Grayson Kervin, a junior majoring in accounting, claimed the Best Overall Award for the Undergraduate Case Study; and,
- Aliya Darby, a senior majoring in early childhood education, and Talik Johnson placed second in the Outstanding Undergraduate Educational Session.
As a whole, the University’s 48-member Student Orientation Staff, including its seven-member leadership team and six-member parent orientation team, helps to welcome several thousand incoming students and parents to campus each academic year.
As a group, the students volunteer over 15,000 hours yearly, said Lauren Sarver, director of the Office of Orientation. “Our Student Orientation Staff is essential to our office’s – and the University’s – ability to support incoming students as they transition to college life.”
“They help incoming students learn how to navigate campus, introduce them to academic and extracurricular opportunities, provide information about campus resources and, most importantly, put them at ease,” Sarver added.
Learn more about the University’s Office of Orientation, and its services, programs and resources. Learn more about the National Orientation Directors Association.
Photo caption: UL Lafayette student orientation leaders, from left to right, Talik Johnson, Aliya Darby, Sean Myers and Grayson Kervin were recognized during the National Orientation Directors Association’s regional conference earlier this month in New Orleans. Photo credit: University of Louisiana at Lafayette