TJC’s Apache Chiefs took top honors in the National Orientation Directors Association’s Region IV Conference held in Dallas last weekend.
Apache Chiefs, the College’s orientation leaders organization, was awarded the “Spirit of NODA Award,” the conference’s highest honor for an institution. In addition, Apache Chief Chris Williams, a freshman from Tyler, Texas, took the conference’s highest individual honor as his work received a perfect score and won “Overall Best Undergraduate Case Study.”
The goal of the NODA conference is to help professionals and students in the fields of orientation, transition, and retention to better their institution’s programs. There are also opportunities for students to participate in various activities and competitions while attending.
The “Spirit of NODA Award” is presented for spirit, leadership, sportsmanship, and service as recognized by the conference committee as well as other institutions. This is TJC’s first time to receive the award and joins the ranks of other recipients including University of Arkansas, Texas A&M - Commerce and the University of Houston.
Apache Chiefs Carlos Salazar and Jade Marth participated in the Regional Orientation Leader Institute (ROLI) – a selective program designed to empower second-year leaders to function more as paraprofessionals during the development and execution of New Student Orientation. These students are the College’s first-ever participants in ROLI.
As an organization, the Apache Chiefs recorded 48 service hours throughout the weekend as they volunteered time before each day’s events began and at various times throughout the conference.
Coordinator of New Student and Family Programs Murphy Turner said, “This is the first year the entire Apache Chief organization was able to attend and we are very proud of how they represented our institution. The training they received will help improve TJC’s New Student Orientation program and recruit higher caliber students seeking professional growth opportunities.”
Apache Chiefs (and hometowns):
BJ Anderson, Dallas, TX
J'Bria Christopher, Dallas, TX
Jazzimine Crist, Rusk, TX
Yemile Flores, Lindale, TX
Anthony Green, New Orleans, LA
Ebony Griffin, Rusk, TX
Alice Huang, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
Kendall Land, Mount Vernon, TX
Haleigh Latham, Tyler, TX
Paige Leavelle, Mineral Wells, TX
Lily Lemus, Van, TX
James Loya, Tyler, TX
Shelby Mallard, Tyler, TX
Jade Marth, Houston, TX|
Marly Murphy, Austin, TX
Jackie Nateros, Tyler, TX
Jade Pearson, Mesquite, TX
Jaleen Pickett, Houston, TX
Carlos Salazar, Tyler, TX
Courtney Slider, Canton, TX
Patrick Smallwood, Tyler, TX
Dyamond Taylor, Tyler, TX
Kandice West, Tyler, TX
Chris Williams, Tyler, TX