Thank You
June 13, 2018
It’s been an honor to serve as Social Vice President for ASWWU this year and to be part of an incredible team. I want to start by saying a huge thank you to each and every person who helped to make our social events happen this year.
Around 15 months ago, I ran for office and never expected to experience as much support as I have. Through the year, we had over 300 people volunteer at our hundreds of events and programs. I am truly thankful for all the support we recieved.
In addition, I am thankful for the leaders of each ASWWU Department who partnered with us on events such as Barn Party, the ASWWU Olympics, and Block Party and who supported us through marketing, documentation, and advice.
Thank you Adam Hagele, Omar Alfaro, Matthew Cosaert, Anna-Marie Vargas, William Johnson, Daniella Silva, Alex Aamondt, Danny Rexin, Jared Jamieson, Karissa Ing, Ryan Rabello, Tommy Moen, and Trevor Hernandez. I truly appreciate you and your team’s help to make our events memorable.
Additionally, I’d like to thank the University staff and faculty who advised and supported my department through this year. Thank you Hilary Catlett for all the support you have shown to my team and I. Your advice and help on so many occasions are greatly appreciated.
Thank you to all the building managers who worked with us to provide venues for our various events. Your accommodations are greatly appreciated. Thank you Risk and Safety, Facility Services, Records, Security, Campus Sound, Student Life, University Marketing, and University Administration for all your support to our various functions. Each of your departments played a critical role in the success of our events.
Finally, thank you to all my friends, family, and teachers who have encouraged and supported me in this role. It has meant the world to me.
There are so many people who I’d like to affirm, but with limited space to write, I’d like to especially recognize the individuals who have dedicated time this year to be a part of our Social Department staff. The following thirty people put dozens if not hundreds of hours to turn your voice to your events.
Alyssa Dorland served as my Executive Assistant and in addition to doing everything and anything, she cared about each person on the team, listening and encouraging each of us during the busiest days.
Rachel Kibukevich served as my Senior Advisor and provided valuable perspectives when I was faced with tough decisions.
Lynnette King served as my Advisor for Transition and helped to prepare our departmental manual, Creating Campus Connections. The E-book is available at here.
Ashley Lee served as my Administrative Assistant and helped ensure that dozens of daily emails were responded to and that major events like Barn Party flowed smoothly from start to finish.
Natalie Schmidt served as my Director for External Relations and recruited hundreds of volunteers, clubs, businesses, and more. She made everything happen regardless of how hard it was.
Kiel Yabut, after serving on the events team, succeeded Natalie as Director of External Relations continuing the hard work that Natalie began and fulfilling a huge behind the scenes role for Block Party.
Michaela Paulson served as the Recruiting Manager which means that was tasked with recruiting and retaining hundreds of event volunteers.
Simon Bakhsinia, Patrick Lambeth, and Skylar Evans served as recruiters and always made cold calling fun and effective.
Allison Melgar Gomez served as my Business Relations Coordinator and worked with dozens of businesses to acquire hundreds of gift cards and prizes for events.
Ellie Springer served as the Halftime Manager and oversaw all the entertainment at athletic games this year.
Cameron Bierwagon served as the Director for tWWUnes before traveling abroad this quarter. He literally can play 5 instruments at once.
Cameron Penaflorida and Juice Marpe served as the Co-Directors for tWWUnes in Spring quarter and hyped everyone up for half priced smoothies and great music.
Thacia Stirling served as the Director of the ASWWU Fitness program and provided professional fitness advice to students, faculty, and staff alike.
Moving on to my events team, Brooke Thompson served as an events director overseeing functions such as Cultural Heritage Night, the Snowball, and Family Feud. She was wonderful at connecting with people about events!
Mari Smith served as an Assistant Events Director for Brooke and always brought great ideas to our planning meetings.
Lauren Parfitt served as an Events Director overseeing functions such as the Valentines Event and Escape Rooms. She was diligent in getting quality projects done from start to finish and convincing her friends to always help out!
Alexandra Duncan served as an Assistant Events Director for Lauren, and in addition to literally helping at nearly every event, she always seemed to find the good in every situation.
Stella Lee and Emily Beaver served as Assistant Events Coordinators and were continually willing to help wherever they could.
Hope Heaton served as an Events Coordinator and oversaw functions such as Laser Tag and Pie Night.
Alex Chase served as an Events Coordinator and oversaw functions such as Glow in the Dark Dodgeball and Midnight Mayhem.
Savanna Pardo served as an Events Coordinator and oversaw the creative aspects of events such as the ASWWU Races and ASWWU Olympics.
Hannah Wood and Kristina Filippello served as Events Specialists and worked with the team on events such as Block Party, Midnight Mayhem, and Spring Jam. Their work during the last stretch of the year brought enthusiasm to the team.
Ben Selby served as the Director of Inventory and led a team of volunteers to clean up after every event.
Ethan Edwards served as the Assistant Director of Inventory and always worked to keep the team motivated during the long nights.
Last but not least, Sabrina Smith served as the Assistant to the Inventory Director and worked tirelessly to recruit volunteers for events.
I have just shared a brief affirmation for a group of individuals who worked tirelessly to turn your voice to your events. There are hundreds of others who volunteered for specific events and dozens of departmental staff and University employees who have supported us in various ways. All these people have been critical to the success of our events.
As my team worked cohesively this year, we explored the possibilities and potentials of campus events. My team worked tirelessly to create over a hundred major events as well as five departmental programs. Each of these people dedicated early mornings and late nights so our year would be memorable. With a departmental vision centered on the constituent, I am proud of my team for working together to turn your voices to your events.
Thank you students, faculty, and staff members of Walla Walla University for giving me the opportunity to serve as your Social Vice President. I have been humbled by the experience.
Around 15 months ago, I ran for office and never expected to experience as much support as I have. Through the year, we had over 300 people volunteer at our hundreds of events and programs. I am truly thankful for all the support we recieved.
In addition, I am thankful for the leaders of each ASWWU Department who partnered with us on events such as Barn Party, the ASWWU Olympics, and Block Party and who supported us through marketing, documentation, and advice.
Thank you Adam Hagele, Omar Alfaro, Matthew Cosaert, Anna-Marie Vargas, William Johnson, Daniella Silva, Alex Aamondt, Danny Rexin, Jared Jamieson, Karissa Ing, Ryan Rabello, Tommy Moen, and Trevor Hernandez. I truly appreciate you and your team’s help to make our events memorable.
Additionally, I’d like to thank the University staff and faculty who advised and supported my department through this year. Thank you Hilary Catlett for all the support you have shown to my team and I. Your advice and help on so many occasions are greatly appreciated.
Thank you to all the building managers who worked with us to provide venues for our various events. Your accommodations are greatly appreciated. Thank you Risk and Safety, Facility Services, Records, Security, Campus Sound, Student Life, University Marketing, and University Administration for all your support to our various functions. Each of your departments played a critical role in the success of our events.
Finally, thank you to all my friends, family, and teachers who have encouraged and supported me in this role. It has meant the world to me.
There are so many people who I’d like to affirm, but with limited space to write, I’d like to especially recognize the individuals who have dedicated time this year to be a part of our Social Department staff. The following thirty people put dozens if not hundreds of hours to turn your voice to your events.
Alyssa Dorland served as my Executive Assistant and in addition to doing everything and anything, she cared about each person on the team, listening and encouraging each of us during the busiest days.
Rachel Kibukevich served as my Senior Advisor and provided valuable perspectives when I was faced with tough decisions.
Lynnette King served as my Advisor for Transition and helped to prepare our departmental manual, Creating Campus Connections. The E-book is available at here.
Ashley Lee served as my Administrative Assistant and helped ensure that dozens of daily emails were responded to and that major events like Barn Party flowed smoothly from start to finish.
Natalie Schmidt served as my Director for External Relations and recruited hundreds of volunteers, clubs, businesses, and more. She made everything happen regardless of how hard it was.
Kiel Yabut, after serving on the events team, succeeded Natalie as Director of External Relations continuing the hard work that Natalie began and fulfilling a huge behind the scenes role for Block Party.
Michaela Paulson served as the Recruiting Manager which means that was tasked with recruiting and retaining hundreds of event volunteers.
Simon Bakhsinia, Patrick Lambeth, and Skylar Evans served as recruiters and always made cold calling fun and effective.
Allison Melgar Gomez served as my Business Relations Coordinator and worked with dozens of businesses to acquire hundreds of gift cards and prizes for events.
Ellie Springer served as the Halftime Manager and oversaw all the entertainment at athletic games this year.
Cameron Bierwagon served as the Director for tWWUnes before traveling abroad this quarter. He literally can play 5 instruments at once.
Cameron Penaflorida and Juice Marpe served as the Co-Directors for tWWUnes in Spring quarter and hyped everyone up for half priced smoothies and great music.
Thacia Stirling served as the Director of the ASWWU Fitness program and provided professional fitness advice to students, faculty, and staff alike.
Moving on to my events team, Brooke Thompson served as an events director overseeing functions such as Cultural Heritage Night, the Snowball, and Family Feud. She was wonderful at connecting with people about events!
Mari Smith served as an Assistant Events Director for Brooke and always brought great ideas to our planning meetings.
Lauren Parfitt served as an Events Director overseeing functions such as the Valentines Event and Escape Rooms. She was diligent in getting quality projects done from start to finish and convincing her friends to always help out!
Alexandra Duncan served as an Assistant Events Director for Lauren, and in addition to literally helping at nearly every event, she always seemed to find the good in every situation.
Stella Lee and Emily Beaver served as Assistant Events Coordinators and were continually willing to help wherever they could.
Hope Heaton served as an Events Coordinator and oversaw functions such as Laser Tag and Pie Night.
Alex Chase served as an Events Coordinator and oversaw functions such as Glow in the Dark Dodgeball and Midnight Mayhem.
Savanna Pardo served as an Events Coordinator and oversaw the creative aspects of events such as the ASWWU Races and ASWWU Olympics.
Hannah Wood and Kristina Filippello served as Events Specialists and worked with the team on events such as Block Party, Midnight Mayhem, and Spring Jam. Their work during the last stretch of the year brought enthusiasm to the team.
Ben Selby served as the Director of Inventory and led a team of volunteers to clean up after every event.
Ethan Edwards served as the Assistant Director of Inventory and always worked to keep the team motivated during the long nights.
Last but not least, Sabrina Smith served as the Assistant to the Inventory Director and worked tirelessly to recruit volunteers for events.
I have just shared a brief affirmation for a group of individuals who worked tirelessly to turn your voice to your events. There are hundreds of others who volunteered for specific events and dozens of departmental staff and University employees who have supported us in various ways. All these people have been critical to the success of our events.
As my team worked cohesively this year, we explored the possibilities and potentials of campus events. My team worked tirelessly to create over a hundred major events as well as five departmental programs. Each of these people dedicated early mornings and late nights so our year would be memorable. With a departmental vision centered on the constituent, I am proud of my team for working together to turn your voices to your events.
Thank you students, faculty, and staff members of Walla Walla University for giving me the opportunity to serve as your Social Vice President. I have been humbled by the experience.
