On Nov. 17 and 18, four of the Department of Residence Life’s student leaders attended the Southwest Affiliate of College & University Residence Halls Regional Leadership Conference (SWACURH RLC) to represent Texas A&M University. This year, the event was hosted virtually and was held as a joint conference with the organization's Northeastern affiliate, allowing on-campus student leaders to join online from Texas to New York and even parts of Canada to represent their individual schools. Through keynotes and breakout sessions, they were able to connect with one another and learn about the many exciting programs and initiatives happening throughout their two regions.

For three of the four Texas A&M students, this was not only their first conference experience, but they had been newly elected to their leadership positions. Both Christian Carr (Electrical and Electronics Engineering ‘24), president of the Residential Housing Association, and Riley Pritzlaff (Economics ‘26), the chapter’s national communications chair, were elected mid-way through the fall semester. Likewise, Genevieve Snider (Communications ‘25) had only been onboarded in September as the Vice President of Recognition for the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) before being elected to take over as the chapter’s president to start in the upcoming spring semester. The current president, Kendall Cunningham (Biomedical Sciences ‘23) was also in attendance but ceded her executive status to Snider for the conference.

Despite being new to their positions, each of these students rose to the challenge. Justin Majors, Residence Life Coordinator of Leadership and Engagement and advisor to both student organizations spoke highly of their conduct and contributions. “They were consistently engaged in the virtual setting,” he said, “and they brought interesting perspectives and unique observations to the proceedings."

In addition to the general sessions, Carr, Pritzlaff and Snider also participated in boardroom, a series of meetings where Residential Housing Association (RHA) and NRHH executive representatives from attending schools discuss and vote on initiatives, programs, awards and organizational legislation.

“I was proud to exercise my voice in the process and represent Texas A&M,” says Pritzlaff, who also currently serves Texas A&M as an on-campus student senator, “Once in boardroom I started to feel more comfortable. As a two-term student senator and a veteran of UIL Congressional Debate, the parliamentary style of discussion and voting was something that I was used to. It was interesting to see the different programs and communities at the conference which gave me ideas to take back to Texas A&M.”

Their participation and engagement at the conference garnered attention from the regional leadership and two of the Texas A&M attendees received individual recognition. Snider received a golden duck and Pritzlaff received a silver feather pin. Both are awards given to representatives who demonstrate leadership and engagement during the conference and especially during the boardroom process.

“To have received such a distinction at my first conference was a genuine honor,” says Pritzlaff, “All I have tried to do this semester is fulfill my duties to the best of my ability and to represent Texas A&M and RHA in the best way possible.”

“Both of them were first-time attendees as well as brand new executives elected late in the semester,” Majors spoke proudly of his students, “but they were able to be insightful and gave such impactful responses that they received awards from these nationally recognized individuals who have been in these spaces for years.”

The awards are some of the highest honors an individual can receive from the region. These students demonstrated what it means to be an Aggie through their leadership, character and engagement.