Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Meet the Roadrunner of the Month

Torrie Jackson

Many students toil away trying to work for their diplomas, and most of their peers see this as a typical life for a college student. But a handful of students have taken advantage of their college life in a different way. Every month, the Student Leadership Center honors a student with the title “Roadrunner of the Month.”

The Roadrunner of the Month program is still relatively new to UTSA; therefore, many students may not be familiar with the program. More importantly, students may not be fully aware of the benefits that can come from being “Roadrunner of the Month.”

Director of Student Leadership Development Yvonne Pena explained that the Roadrunner of the Month program was established at the same time the Student Leadership Center was created in the fall of 2010—Jennifer Preza being the first student to hold the title.

“Student Leadership Center wanted to create a recognition program that highlights students who exhibit outstanding leadership contributions and qualities at UTSA,” Pena said.

The Student Leadership Program recently named junior Torrie Jackson as the Roadrunner of the Month for December/January. Jackson—who was nominated by Pesha Mabrie, UTSA Coordinator of Housing and Residence Life—is a psychology major and a resident assistant at Chaparral Village. Jackson was described as being an excellent leader, and according to Mabrie, she was a mentor to many new resident assistants and assisted them by making sure everyone knew the proper procedures at the front desk.

Certain criteria must be met for nomination eligibility. Students must be full-time UTSA undergraduates or graduates and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher at the time of nomination.

Students must have also demonstrated excellence in leadership “above and beyond typical expectations.” Nominations can be made by a member of the faculty, staff or another UTSA student and must be for purposes that positively benefit and impact the UTSA community.

The winner’s picture is displayed on a plaque on the Legacy of Leadership Wall in the University Center near the ballroom. The committee contacts the winner’s high school about their victory, so that the high school may do a story about their own alumni.

The nominating committee is comprised of both staff and students. The application process is “blind,” so the committee members are not aware of the nominees’ names. Nominations can be made directly at the Student Leadership Center, which is located in the University Center, 1.002. Nominations can also be made online through their website, www.utsa.edu/slc/

“When other students pass by the wall, many of them want to know how they can get on the wall; they want to know what their fellow Roadrunners did to achieve that honor,” Pena said. “It serves as a great incentive for students.”

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