Virginia Tech student leaders coordinate statewide conference

BLACKSBURG, VA. Feb. 21—Two Virginia Tech students gained valuable experience in leadership and planning at the 2007 Virginia Association of College and University Residence Halls Conference, hosted on the Virginia Tech campus February 9 through 11. Student conference co-chairs Jeyfe Sucgang, a junior biology major from Virginia Beach, and Meagan Callihan, a senior biology major from Virginia Beach, organized the event with the help of faculty advisor Yolanda Avent. The student-run conference welcomed 125 delegates from colleges and universities across the state.

Sucgang and Callihan wereresponsible for coordinating meetings, organizing the philanthropy fundraiser, reserving rooms, leading the VACURH conference staff team, recruiting volunteers,reserving hotel accommodationsand writing the bid for approval to host the conference, among many other tasks.

“I truly could not have asked for two betterconference co-chairs,” said Avent, assistant coordinator for the Residence Hall Federation and the Hillcrest Honors Community at Virginia Tech. “They were dedicated, energetic, responsive andawesome leaders.Students really enjoyed the conference and had wonderful things to say about everything from registration, hospitality, and food to accommodations.”

Conference attendees raised $800 dollars for Heifer International, a humanitarian aid organization that provides livestock for program participants in more than 125 countries. They also supported the conference philanthropy by collecting 80 books and $200 in donations to distribute through the Blacksburg library for children of the New River Valley community.

The VACURH conference is hosted annually at different schools to bring together residence hall leaders to participate in leadership development activities, conduct business for the organization and award prizes for the best programs, advisors and delegates. It also features presentation seminars led by association members and competitive events designed to encourage displays of school spirit. The conference culminates in a banquet for all attendees and a dance and swap shop held on the last night.

This conference was sponsored by Residence Life and other departments within Virginia Tech’s Student Programs. Next year the VACURH conference will be hosted by the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

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