With the fall semester wrapping up, University Housing Services (UHS) is pleased to announce this term’s recipients of the Resident Assistant (RA) Scholarship. This scholarship is presented to RAs who exemplify success in the classroom and the RA leadership role. This semester, five $500 academic scholarships were awarded to exceptional students.
A stellar leader and compassionate resource, scholarship recipient Kathleen Lyons was an excellent candidate for the RA Scholarship.
“It has reduced a ton of stress,” Lyons said. “I am funding my education on my own, so I am known to be a bit of a workaholic between all my jobs and school. This will allow me to refocus some of that time and energy into my studies and building a better community for my residents.”
Described by her supervisors as attentive and engaging, Lyons recounted her freshman year as her incentive for fostering a community between her residents.
“When I was a freshman, I knew no one with my major which made it harder to find my place on campus,” Lyons said. “Now I get to build a safe space for other aspiring scientists! I still get excited seeing the friendships and community that has grown over the last few months between all my residents.”
When asked about advice to give to new RAs, Lyons mentioned kindness as a key element to being successful in the position.
“As an RA, you are probably one of the first people your residents will meet on campus. Being a friendly face and resource for your residents can make a huge difference in their college experience, especially when they are on their own for the first time,” Lyons said. “Also, be kind to yourself. This internship comes with a lot of responsibilities. It’s important to be patient when learning all these new skills and processes.“
Financial awards such as the RA Scholarship are made possible by the generous support of our community. Check out Giving.IllinoisState.edu for information on how you can contribute to student success.
