Resident + IHP Highlights
2012-2013 RAAC Staff
Top row , left to right : Xin Liu ( Penn , Netherlands ), Mariam Naeem ( Penn , Pakistan ), Melisa Kabilizya ( Temple , Zambia ), Michael Beachem ( IHP Associate Director Resident Life ), Sheng Mao ( Penn , China )
Bottom row , left to right : Yoon “ Steve ” Ho Chang ( Penn , South Korea ), Jessica “ Oriana ” Grant ( Penn , USA ), Sojung “ Lindsey ” Lee ( Penn , South Korea ), Ufuoma Abiola ( Penn , USA / Nigeria ), Min Wang ( Penn , USA / China )
The Resident Advisory and Activity Center commonly known as The R . A . A . C . continues to provide a wide variety of support to our residents during their stay at International House . Our aim is to take care of the social and support needs of residents to enhance their academic endeavors . We do this through content specific programming , one on one and group counseling and leadership opportunities .
The spring term began with an eventful and well attended Welcome Back program at the end of January . The following month of February was our busiest . Many of our residents were able to enjoy “ American ” football together as we watched the XLVII Superbowl in the Student Center Café . Residents were able to express their love for the house during Valentine ’ s Day with hand written shaped hearts that were hung in our lobby . Each resident wrote a few words about how they appreciate the house as they enjoyed holiday sweet candy from around the world . Lunar New Year filled our Ibrahim Theater to capacity with wonderful cultural performances . The month concluded with an Academy Award Oscar Party that attracted guests from the community . International House plans to make this an even larger event for the community in the future . Traditional movie nights were held once a month allowing residents to view recent features on the big screen of the Ibrahim Theater from the comfort of home .
Our Resident Hall Council ( RHC ) continued to grow this year , lending a residential voice to business of the house . We will continue to nurture this program to allow for more students involvement and leadership development . RHC held weekly hot chocolate / tea gatherings and a final end of the year social in the Berwind Student Center .
Our Resident Advisors this year hailed from a variety of nations such as Zambia , Pakistan , Nigeria , China , Netherlands , South Korea , and United States and each helped support our residents in a variety of ways . They held numerous house meetings to allow for small social interactions amongst the
house suites . The RA staff counseled and intervened to help with conflicts and concerns . They offered guidance to resources provided in the house , through the city and at partnering colleges and universities .
Resident Advisors were charged with offering complimentary social and educational programs that ranged from : Learning about Karate , Applying to Medical and Dental School , Safety and Security Self Defense , Cake Making , and Japanese Tea ceremony .
We honored a number of our residents at the annual Farewell Party and Awards Ceremony . President and CEO Tanya Steinberg , Director Glenn Martin and Associate Director Michael Beachem offered parting words of appreciation to these residents that went above and beyond and now join the ranks of our esteemed alumni . Our awardees this year included : Resident Leadership Award , Kalbillah Galmai ; Most Involved Resident Award , Farah Azhar and Lokesh Prabhu ; Resident Ambassador Award , Kevin Bass . Two of our Resident Advisors were awarded for outstanding contribution and dedication to IHP , Sojung “ Lindey ” Lee and Yoon “ Steve ” Ho Chang .
We continued to welcome students throughout the summer with a well attended 4th of July barbecue of over two hundred attendees and look forward to a productive start of the Fall term in August .
IHP Resident Awards :
Resident Leadership Award – Kalbillah Galmai , Chad Most Involved Resident Award – Farah Azhar , Pakistan Most Involved Resident Award – Lokesh Pabhu , USA Resident Ambassador Award – Kevin Bass , USA Recognition of Outstanding Contribution and Dedication to IHP – Sojung “ Lindsey ” Lee , RA , South Korea – Yoo Ho Chang , RA , South Korea
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