Dan Sayles
Staff Writer

La Verne’s Residence Hall Association members took home three awards two years in a row over the Nov. 10 weekend.

The awards they received at the Pacific Affiliate College of Residence Halls conference included “Top Ten Programs,” “Best Display,” and the prized “Most Spirited,” making it the second consecutive time that the association won these three awards.

This year’s theme was, “Leadership in the Fast Lane.”

“It felt really good,” residence hall association president Matthew White said. “Not just for me, but for our school.”

White was also awarded the Regional Resident of the Year award last year at the same conference.

Last year, the University won an unprecedented three awards, both for “Best Display” and “Most Spirited,” and for “Best Banner.”

The award “Most Spirited,” comes not only from costume, dress and attitude, but also for community interactivity and work ethic, leaving favorable impressions on the other students, according to White.

“You get it for being helpful… and not just being the loudest,” White said.

The display was also honored by earning the award at the meetings, earning La Verne “Best Display,” in which the RHA members were working on since the third week of September.

“They looked awesome,” White said.

The La Verne Residence Hall Association plans to go again next year, with a few adjustments to make the trip even better.

“We’re going to start earlier,” sophomore Naomi Padron said.
“There were a few moments where push came to shove…and we’re already joking about starting now.”

The awards given to La Verne were also extraordinary due to the finances La Verne had compared to the competition.

“We’re going to have some fundraisers,” Padron said. “With the larger schools, they can afford to send more people.”

“Really, it was more about them than me,” Eugene Shang said, advisor to the team that was sent to the conference.

“I’m proud of them that they were able to achieve this… ULV is a small school, and the fact they accomplished this is great.”

Dan Sayles can be reached at dsayles@ulv.edu