Cal State San Bernardino student Megan Gutierrez received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader Award at the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) Region II Conference recently. Gutierrez was nominated because of her leadership as a student orientation coordinator and student assistant in the CSUSB Orientation and First Year Experience office. Gutierrez, one of two recipients recognized at the conference last month, was honored for her contributions to orientation, transition and retention programming in NODA Region II, which consist of California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii.

“There are so many undergraduate students doing amazing work for their orientation programs, so to be recognized with this award is a huge honor,” said Gutierrez. “It is incredibly rewarding for my work to be acknowledged in this way. I am so proud of my contributions to our orientation program at CSUSB, and I am so grateful to have worked with this program for the last few years.”

The Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader Award was designed to give special recognition to students for their creativity, energy, enthusiasm and outstanding abilities, which are the backbone of successful and dynamic orientation programs. Two students may be selected from each region per year: one student from a four-year institution and one from a two-year institution.

Graduating in the spring with a degree in health science, Gutierrez has been a member of the Orientation and First-Year Experience office in the division of student affairs since October 2014.

Working with Gutierrez for the past three years, Brian Willess, director of CSUSB Orientation and First Year Experience, witnessed firsthand the contributions she has made to his department, which led him and program coordinator Megan Johnston to nominate Gutierrez for the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader Award.

“Over the past 19 years of professional student affairs experience, I have worked with a number of dedicated and outstanding student leaders, and Megan stands out as being one of my most talented, professional, giving, smart, focused and determined student leaders I have encountered,” said Willess. “I feel that Megan’s biggest strengths are her dedication to student concerns, critical thinking and organization, attention to detail, care for others and overwhelming positive attitude to get things done.

“I am very confident that Megan will succeed in everything that she does — that is just the kind of person she is and I look forward to one day hearing about all the amazing work that she has done within her field,” Willess said.

“Upon her graduation in June, CSUSB and Orientation and First Year Experience will most definitely feel the loss of an incredible student, leader, mentor and friend,” Johnston said.

The Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader Award is given out annually at the NODA regional conferences. Professional and graduate staff members of NODA can nominate candidates from their region. An awards committee comprised of members of the region review all award nominations and make its recommendations to the conference co-hosts, who submit winners to the NODA association office. Each award recipient receives a plaque, recognition at the annual Conference Awards presentation and a $100 campus bookstore gift card.

NODA is an international association comprised of professional administrators, students, faculty and related organizations. Its mission is to provide education, leadership and professional development in the fields of college student orientation, transition and retention.

Visit the NODA website for more information on its programs.

Also visit the  CSUSB Orientation and First Year Experience website.