Uncw Otm Award Spotlight Russell Craze

OTM Award Month and Year: February 2009 Nominee’s School: UNC Wilmington Region: SAACURH Category: Spotlight ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nominee: Russell Craze Nominator: Scott Busiel Address: 601 S. College Road Address: 601 S. College Road Phone: 920-238-5177 Phone: 910-962-5821 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------On-Campus Population: 3,100 Chapter Size: 31 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Description of Contribution: Russell Craze has been an outstanding leader and friend, especially in this busy month of February. During this time, he has gone above-and-beyond what was expected of him and has been able to offer a great deal of support and advice. And while he may be the Advisor based on his position, Russell has stepped outside of that role and has helped me on a much more personal basis, earning him this Spotlight OTM. As the Assistant Residence Coordinator for the Tri-House community at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Russell works with a variety of resources within the area. He serves as the Advisor to our local hall government and helps in planning meetings and programs to get students involved. Another responsibility he has is helping to staff the front desks in Cornerstone and International House. He has done an outstanding job with these groups, creating relationships between the Desk Receptionists (DRs), Area Chapter members, and the RAs. This past month, he planned a program for the DRs and RAs titled “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?” He grouped us into teams as we were asked various science, geography, and history-related questions that an elementary school student would know the answer to. It was extremely successful, and a large number of DRs and RAs attended the program. On a more personal basis, Russell has been a great leader and friend to me during this past month. As part of the Graduate Assistant Recruitment Committee and team, Russell traveled to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to find graduate students for the upcoming year. Throughout the Oshkosh Placement Exchange, he was asked to sit through numerous interviews to find exemplary candidates for the positions available at our university. I registered for the conference as a candidate, and I was overwhelmed throughout much of the process. After I finished registering in the middle of February, Russell took time out of his night to help me formulate my biography for the webpage. He spent at least an hour out of his time helping me find the appropriate wording and positions to include.

This meant a lot to me, as I knew he had a busy schedule and was getting ready for the conference himself. As I was the only candidate from my school traveling to the conference, Russell helped me in coordinating rides from the airport to the hotel and conference center. He offered and called a number of his close friends and family from the area to ensure that my travel plans were solidified. In the end, he ended up waiting in Milwaukee for fourteen hours and drove me to the hotel himself. Russell quizzed me along the way with potential interview questions and helped to prepare me for the busy weekend. The greatest impact, however, probably came when he introduced me to his friends and family. While I am one of his RAs and we work on the staff together, he introduced me as his friend. It meant a great deal to me that he took this time to help me along the process and make me feel comfortable in Wisconsin. I know that I would not have been as successful as I was at the conference without Russell’s help and support. Russell Craze is a great leader, role model, and friend. Throughout the month of February, Russell has exhibited all of those traits. He successfully programs and lends his support to those in need. This staff and campus is a better place due to his selfless and caring nature. I honestly don’t know where we would be this year without him. Word Count: 599 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------