Jay Wylie, a student at Southern Arkansas University recently received the Gene Ward Outstanding Student Leader Award from the Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers at the group’s conference held in Little Rock.
This award recognizes students who have contributed significantly to residence hall living and to the university community on their campus. Only four of these awards are presented each year. Two students from Texas and one each from Arkansas and Oklahoma are recognized.
Wylie was nominated to receive this award by J Courson, dean of student life at Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia.
“Jay’s desire to be involved and to contribute to student life was very evident,” said Courson. “Jay was elected SGA freshman senator, and he has been involved in the activities on our campus for the last four years.”
No one would have predicted Wylie’s involvement with residence living when he first arrived on the SAU campus.
Despite concerns about living in a “dorm” and sharing a community bathroom, Wylie moved into the residence halls and found a whole new world.
“Much to my surprise, after opening my door and getting to know people on my floor, I learned that living in the halls was fun,” said Wylie, a senior health, kinesiology, and recreation major. “Not only was living in the halls fun, but it also opened up many opportunities for me while at college.”
Wylie met the resident assistants in his residence hall, and they helped him get involved with hall programs and the hall council.
“Through the hall activities I quickly became involved with the Student Government Association as a freshman senator,” said Wylie. “As a senator I worked with many of the student leaders on campus and saw how fun college life is when you get involved.”
While at SAU Wylie has been involved with many organizations and activities including Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Phi Alpha Delta, Student Government Association, homecoming committee, leader at Leadership Academy and Mulerider Round-up, Residence Hall Association, Talbot Hall Council, being a resident assistant, National Residence Hall Honorary, and a University committee.
“My knowledge gained in housing while at college has been as important as my knowledge gained in the classroom,” said Wylie. “The great part about housing is all the people I have met and all the friends I have made. Working in the housing department was the best decision I made at college.”
Wylie will graduate in May from SAU. He is a 2000 graduate of Norphlet High School and the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Wylie of Norphlet.
