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Residential Assistants Celebrated in RA Appreciation Week

Mar 6, 2024
For RA Appreciation Week. Several students sit at a long, thin table, where they're playing jenga, a block-building game. They're being honored as part of RA Appreciation Week.

Residential Assistants enjoying games and prizes as part of RA Appreciation Week.

From March 4-8, Westfield State will be honoring Resident Assistants (RAs) for their unwavering and continuous dedication in ensuring a warm, inclusive environment at campus residence halls . RA Appreciation Week will include in-house activities highlighting RAs and their hard work, including prizes, sweet treats, and a movie night screened in the University Hall Multi-Purpose Room.

“Thank you all for the countless hours of support and adoration you provide our residents,” Sydney Maiden, Area Coordinator of Residential Life said. “Thank you for your attention and open-minded thinking, creativity, and for your readiness to always lend a helping hand!”

In addition to being student leaders, RAs help build and maintain communities in the resident halls. They also act as a bridge between students and campus resources such as Public Safety in the event of a crisis. Being on duty every night and at the forefront of the residence halls, “RAs are the lifeblood of the Residential Life Department,” says Christina Willenbrock, Director of Residential Life.

As part of RA Appreciation Week, a room full of Res sit at thin tables while being recognized for their efforts. A table with a black tablecloth holds prizes in white bags for each RA to celebrate them. An open laptop rests on a podium at the front of the room.
Celebrating RAs.

 

A white tent outside next to University Hall. Residential Assistants sit at a table under the tent and hands out prizes and goodies to RAs who attend the celebration. Two students stand in front of the tent, while there students sit inside of it.
As part of RA Appreciation Week.

“They’re an integral part of the residential experience,” Willenbrock added. “We have a community of 50 RAs across six residence halls this year. Next year, we anticipate having 55 RAs across seven residence halls. We encourage members of the campus community to join us in thanking them for all they do to enhance the residential student experience.”

John Zocco, Associate Director of Residential Life, agreed with Willenbrock. “Our Resident Assistants put in many hours over the course of the year to help build community in the residence halls and to provide support to our residents,” he said. “Their actions every day help to make a difference in the lives and experiences of students in the halls and across campus. The goal of our RA Appreciation week is to show our gratitude for all that they do.”

According to the most recent campus survey, students were asked what they enjoy most about living on campus. Many responses celebrated the independence, community, and access residential halls and their RAs provide.

“I like having access to an RA who is available and has a good response time,” one student wrote. “It’s nice having support away from home from an RA who cares."

“I really like the sense of community here at Westfield State,” another student said. “I have no complaints about living in the residential halls.”

One student praised the way residential halls operate in relation to events and community-building activities offered by their respective halls. “I like that there are RAs you can go to on all floors if you have an issue with something,” they answered. “I like that some events get hosted in the building, so it’s a chance to hang out with people and a great way to make new friends. The RAs in my building are very nice and understanding, and they try to get to know people.”

Fun fact: Famous celebrities who were RAs during their time as a student include Hillary Rodham Clinton, Katie Couric, Sheryl Crow, Donald Glover, Wesley Snipes, and Kerri Washington.