Welcome to Loyola College’s NRHH Chapter:
Ridley-Hartley Residence Hall Honorary

“We spruce up Loyola!”

National NRHH History

In 1964, the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH), Inc. found itself with financial difficulties. Jim Tschechtelin, NACURH Chair, began investigating possibilities for potential revenue sources and grants. Grants were found, but there were two requirements: a central NACURH office had to be established, and the member schools needed more services rendered. Thus, the National Residence Hall Honorary was put forth as an answer to the second requirement.

During the preliminary organization, the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) focused on the incorporation of old into new. Campuses with existing honorary organizations were contacted and coordinated into the NRHH structure. The preservation of chapter identity was primary, as it was incorporated into the NRHH structure, and as each campus is aware of its own individual needs. The primary focus of each chapter became the recognition of the residence hall leaders on its campus.  This helped sustain a consistent membership in on-campus organizations as well as on the regional and national levels within NACURH.

The years between 1977 and 1987 were years of growth for the NRHH. Pins and certificates were produced to recognize the members of the Honorary, the tradition of regional and national receptions during conferences began and formal recruitment and affiliation packets were produced. Regional Recruiter (now called Associate Directors) positions on regional boards were also established. Many awards were established including Program, National Communications Coordinator, Advisor, Student, and Resident Assistant Of The Month Awards as well as Outstanding Chapter of the Year.

Today, over 170 chapters are affiliated with the National Residence Hall Honorary National Office. Activities of the chapters vary from campus to campus. Some simply induct new members at an annual recognition banquet this year, thus, an honorary chapter. Others are extremely active on their campuses and in their communities, coordinating leadership retreats, conferences, socials, hall or campus wide programs, fund raisers, and a whole host of other events. Still others have found a middle ground which suits their campus. Membership selection is conducted by each individual chapter. The chapter members represent the top 1% of the student leaders on campus and are those who have contributed extraordinary amounts of personal time and energy in order to make the residence halls more than a "dorm." (NACURG.org)

Local NRHH History

Loyola College in Maryland began its journey to starting an NRHH chapter in the Fall semester 2005.  Cecilia Watson ’08, the former Loyola College in Maryland - Resident Affairs Council (RAC) National Communications Coordinator (NCC), learned about NRHH through her position and decided that the Loyola community would benefit from its own NRHH chapter.  Miss Watson worked extremely hard to complete the necessary background research to bring a NRHH chapter to Loyola.  Towards the end of the 2005-2006 school year, Miss Watson presented the information to the RAC executive board that approved the movement to begin a local chapter.  RAC approved the proposal and preparation began to have a founding chapter of NRHH at Loyola College starting in the Fall of 2006.

During the months of September and October Miss Watson and Mike Puma (Associate Director of Student Life) work with NRHH’s Graduate Advisor, Karen Seavers to promote and recruit founding members for the chapter.  With the help of various Student Development employees as well as the President and Advisors of all of the student organizations on campus, the group had a list of nominees for its chapter.  Applications were sent to these nominees and upon review of the completed application, Loyola College in Maryland inducted 13 founding members into its NRHH chapter.  These 13 members are: Alexis Aloi, Brittany Conahan, Paul Cubita, Rich Fogal, Bridget Hanahan, Nick Hawkins, Alex Hollis, Jessica Ann Koontz, Cen-Bi Liu, Kristen Moriggia, Lauren O’Connell, Greg Pace, and Cecilia Watson.  Cecilia Watson took on the responsibilities of being President for the Fall semester and upon her departure to go abroad, Alex Hollis became Loyola’s NRHH’s second President.

The 13 founding members focused their sights on gaining recognition on campus as well as providing recognition for outstanding Loyola Community members through their “Of the Month” awards.  At the conclusion of each month, Loyola’s Ridley-Hartley Residence Hall Honorary will chose winners in categories including, but not limited t Advisor, Community, Organization, Spotlight, Educational Program, Social Program, Diversity Program, and Community Service Program.  In addition to “Of the Month” awards, Loyola’s chapter hopes to present at the various leadership conferences on campus and create an annual banquet for all “Of the Month” recipients.  In future years the group will maintain the chapter’s mission to “Spruce up Loyola” by providing recognition to students and employees who go above and beyond to make Loyola a better place.