The Shorthorn - Honor society wins 2 awards

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Honor society wins 2 awards

Written by Katie Van Over

Wednesday, 28 November 2001 12:00 AM

The Pi Alpha Alpha president and the adviser attribute the national honors to the chapter’s members and their community involvement.

Some say organizations don’t do much.

But Urban and Public Affairs honor society Pi Alpha Alpha won two awards this year for its active role in public administration.

The chapter and its adviser received awards of excellence from the National Association of Public Administration and Affairs. Adviser Guisette Salazar, who started the chapter five years ago, and President Sharon Hill attribute the wins to the chapter’s involvement in community service and the School of Urban and Public Affairs.

When Salazar won the award, the first given to an adviser, she said it was a “complete surprise.” The chapter is exceptional because of the creativity the members show in their ideas and the continuous membership growth, she said.

The society is for graduate students, so most of the members also have full-time jobs. Salazar said the members show dedication by taking time out for the organization. The award is a big achievement for the school, she said.

Victoria Gillette, the school’s communication director, said the school is proud of the chapter.

One of the chapter’s responsibilities is to meet students’ needs. To do this, the members raised money for a small library about urban and public affairs.

“I have more books in my office [on the subject] than they do in the Central Library,” Salazar said.

The members plan to make goody bags for students during finals week to help relieve pressure.

“We want to let them know we are here, and we do care about them,” Hill said.

The chapter also formed a dissertation support group because writing a dissertation “can be frustrating,” Hill said. The group is held once a month, and a guest speaker comes to advise students.

Hill, an alumna, is now a trainer for the Texas Department of Human Services. She said her experience brings the practical notions of work to the theoretical concepts learned in school.

Another aspect of the chapter’s work is community service, such as a recent toy drive for Toys for Tots. Hill said the chapter has more activities, more participation and is more financially stable than any other of the 100 or so chapters in the nation. Last summer, Hill worked on a project in Virginia with the association to paint a building that once served as a place to hold slaves. She and other members have served on panels at conferences for the association, which helped give the chapter exposure.

“We’re setting an example for other chapters,” Hill said. “Other schools were impressed. We will always be remembered.”
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