University Housing Hosts Annual Golden Eagle Awards

May 10, 2024

Georgia Southern University Housing presented their annual Golden Eagle Awards at both the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. This year’s event recognized over 40 students, graduate students, professional staff members, valued campus partners, and three residential programs for their significant impact in Georgia Southern’s 10 residential communities. Twenty-one awards were presented to winners who were selected from over 200 nominations  submitted by peers within the University Housing team and other University partners on campus. The recognition committee included graduate and professional staff within University Housing in addition to representatives from the Division of Business & Finance, Division of Academic Affairs and Division of Student Affairs. These members reviewed 90 pages of nomination materials before selecting the final winners. 

The Golden Eagle Awards highlights the hard work done by the over 200 University Housing staff members and campus partners in the residential communities. The event not only showcases the leaders within University Housing, but is also a reflection of their continued focus on their motto: “We Care, We Engage, We Educate and We Strive for Excellence in All We Do.” Congratulations to this year’s Golden Eagle Award winners!

Advocacy Award Recipients

Divine King, Resident Advisor for Windward Commons (Armstrong Campus); Hannah Madsen, Resident Advisor for Apartments (Armstrong Campus);  Lauren Perkins, Resident Advisor for Centennial Place (Statesboro Campus); and Ruth Rogers, Resident Advisor for Apartments (Armstrong Campus)

Complex of the Year

Eagle Village (Statesboro Campus)

Helping Hands Award Recipients

Courtney Dowdy, Resident Advisor for Windward Commons (Armstrong Campus); Daniel Cain, Assistant Director of Residence Education (Statesboro Campus); Denisa Wilson, Graduate Resident Director  for Windward Commons (Armstrong Campus); Divine King, Resident Advisor for Windward Commons (Armstrong Campus); Jamie Azar, Resident Advisor for Apartments (Armstrong Campus); Jordan LaBell, Resident Advisor for Apartments (Armstrong Campus); Laura Davis, Resident Advisor for Kennedy (Statesboro Campus); Lauren Perkins, Resident Advisor for Centennial Place (Statesboro Campus); Maria Jenkins, Resident Advisor for Freedom’s Landing (Statesboro Campus);  Max Besselman, Resident Advisor for Eagle Village (Statesboro Campus);  Mya Williams, Resident Advisor for Kennedy (Statesboro Campus);  NaDeJa King, Graduate Assistant for Eagle Village (Statesboro Campus); Nadiyah Louder, Resident Advisor for Southern Courtyard (Statesboro Campus); and Tyriq Day, Resident Advisor for Freedom’s Landing (Statesboro Campus). 

Jeanne McGowan Campus Partner of the Year for the Statesboro Campus Recipient

• Steve Bartels, Community Outreach Specialist with the Division of Business & Finance | User Experience & Engagement

Jeanne McGowan Campus Partner of the Year for the Armstrong Campus 

• Fire & Life Safety

Legacy Award Recipients

• Anna Grace Bazemore, Desk Assistant (Armstrong Campus);  Chyna Anderson, Graduate Resident Director for Windward Commons (Armstrong Campus);  Kaitlyn Van Dyk, Resident Director for Centennial Place (Statesboro Campus);  Maria Jenkins, Resident Advisor for Freedom’s Landing (Statesboro Campus); Mason Doss, Resident Advisor for Eagle Village (Statesboro Campus); and Melanie (Lani) Russell, Resident Advisor for Apartments (Armstrong Campus). 

Lollipop Moment Award Recipients

• Aamaria Bennett, Resident Advisor for Windward Commons (Armstrong Campus); Alexis (Lex) McGarvey, Resident Director for Eagle Village (Statesboro Campus); Jibola (Jay) Fagbamiye, Resident Advisor for Southern Pines (Statesboro Campus); Katie Fester, Associate Director of Residence Education (Armstrong Campus); Kellianne (Kell) Mungwena, Resident Director for Apartments and Windward Commons (Armstrong Campus); Parker Daniels, Resident Advisor for Southern Pines (Statesboro Campus);and Trinity Morris, Resident Advisor for Apartments (Armstrong Campus). 

New Resident Advisor of the Year

• Boluwatife (Bolu) Ariyo, Resident Advisor for Centennial Place (Statesboro Campus)

Pat Burkett Returning Resident Advisor of the Year

• Kennedy Williams, Resident Advisor for Freedom’s Landing (Statesboro Campus)

New Student Administrative Staff Member of the Year 

• La’Fredrick Gilchrist, Desk Assistant (Statesboro Campus)

Nicole Hilliard Graduate Staff Member of the Year

• Chyna Anderson, Graduate Resident Director for Windward Commons (Armstrong Campus)

Program of the Year for the Armstrong Campus

• Academic Excellence Week (Armstrong residential community wide program lead by Chyna Anderson, Graduate Resident Director)

Program of the Year for the Statesboro Campus

• Shark Tank (Centennial Place program lead by Kaitlyn Van Dyk, Resident Director)

Resident Director of the Year

• Alexis (Lex) McGarvey, Resident Director for Eagle Village (Statesboro Campus)

Resident of the Year for the Armstrong Campus

• Kai Lafollette

Resident of the Year for the Statesboro Campus

• Samuel Rogers

University Housing Employee of the Year

• Emily Chavez Nunez, Assistant Director of Residence Education

Residential Learning Community Award Recipients

RLC Experience of the Year 

• Industry Dinner (Innovation RLC)

RLC Partner of the Year

• Kathy Shepherd, Advising Center Coordinator, Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering & Computing Advising Center (Innovation RLC)

RLC Student Leader of the Year

• Makala (Logan) Collins, Resident Advisor (Honors RLC) for Centennial Place (Statesboro Campus)