Michael R. Zsido, adviser to the Residence Hall Association (RHA) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, has been named adviser of the year by the Wisconsin United Residence Hall Association (WURHA), and the UWSP National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) chapter received the Building Block of the Year award.

Also at the organization�s recent annual meeting at UW-Whitewater, Zsido and Joseph Totman, assistant director of UWSP Residential Living, were inducted into the Alumni and Friends of WURHA . They were nominated by the RHA for their continued support and guidance of student leaders on campus and their commitment to the residence hall community. WURHA is a statewide organization of about 20 schools that promotes, coordinates and assists residence housing communities on its member campuses.

Zsido was nominated for adviser of the year by UWSP administrators, staff, and students Amanda Foegi and Jodi Weber, plus several other RHA members. An adviser to the UWSP RHA for six years, Zsido has committed extensive time and energy beyond the normal expectations to his work as an adviser, according to Bob Mosier, director of Residential Living.

"He has helped to promote strong communication between RHA and other areas within Residential Living and on campus with other organizations, including the Student Government Association," Mosier said. "He has demonstrated his support of RHA activities and events through his presence at many programs, events, conferences and meetings, as well as his belief in and support for student governance."

"I�ve spent two and a half years of my four-year college career around the same table as Mike and I can definitely say that he has always been a quality adviser," says Foege of Watertown, a junior communication major. "As assistant director for Building Services, Mike has really listened to student concerns about safety in and around residence halls."

The Building Block award is given to the one Wisconsin chapter that shows how its members have built upon NRHH and excelled and improved over the course of the year. One representative from each affiliated Wisconsin school votes on which chapter best demonstrates growth and quality.

The purpose of NRHH is to provide recognition for those individuals who have been of outstanding service to, and who have provided excellent leadership in, the advancement of the residence hall system at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and to provide a means by which these leaders can continue to develop other leaders.

NRHH members decided to focus on the areas of service and recognition. This group has introduced new monthly awards aimed at recognizing diverse groups of people and in-hall activities, held a campuswide cleanup, planned a hallwide leadership team appreciation reception, rang bells for the Salvation Army, and received a regional award for outstanding NRHH chapter of the month for December. The group also sponsored UWSP campus activities during National Recognition Week in February.

"The NRHH serves as the students� �building block� as well as a �building block� for strengthening our campus climate for all students," Chancellor Thomas George said.

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