“Snowmaggedon 2014” is what the news dubbed the snowstorm that rocked the Raleigh area last February. Pictures like the one above filled newspapers across the country. If you may recall, one of the largest snowstorms to ever hit Raleigh, happened to hit right before Recruitment Weekend last year. Recruitment Weekend (RW), a weekend of networking and interviewing for prospective students of NC State’s Higher Education Administration program, could have very easily ended up being remembered as something along the lines of what the picture illustrated, a complete disaster. Instead, the weekend became an apt and wonderful snapshot of what our program is really about (a group of dedicate and passionate colleagues and friends who can accomplish anything they put their minds to).

Looking back at last year’s Recruitment Weekend, I honestly don’t know if I would have changed anything (well maybe a little less snow). As I look ahead to this year’s RW, I am excited about the opportunities that await me in the role of Vice President for Recruitment. As a second year student in the program, I realize the importance of leaving a legacy and the taking our program to the next level of achievement. Recruitment Weekend is just one of the many pieces that fit into the bigger puzzle that makes our program a success. I am honored to be at the helm of Recruitment Weekend and to be able to envision the many possibilities that we have to showcase our unique and exciting program.

With the snow stranding many of our prospective students and making travel to interviews difficult for partner institutions, the pressure was on for the RW executive board to salvage what we could of the many events and activities we had planned, along with the incredibly important assistantship interview process. I cannot recall another time (in my limited professional experience) that I had the opportunity to work with people in a crisis situation where all parties pulled through and went out of their way to make something complicated so simple (it was the stuff that legends are made of). From professors to students, everyone eagerly banded together, willing to brave the brutal weather, to make RW a success. We could not have done this on our own. I cannot tell you the number of times that I heard from candidates how impressed they were with the professionalism of HEA, in the way that they handled Recruitment Weekend through the craziness of the storm. Flexibility became the motto for last year’s VP for Recruitment (Patti Baynes), RW executive board, RW volunteers, and myself, as we all attempted to navigate the uncharted territory of rearranging almost every single detail of RW at the last possible moment. I tell you all of this because I think this has influenced the way that I handle situations as a leader and to give you an example of what our students here in HEA can do when they put their minds to it.

Now you may be thinking, where can I fit in? Well let me tell you about an awesome opportunity that all of our first-year students have. Each year, first-year students have the opportunity to run for the Vice President-Elect for Recruitment position (only one of two positions available for first-year students on the HEA Executive Board). This position is heavily involved in the planning process of Recruitment Weekend and will get the chance to work with me in creating and implementing new initiatives to promote our program to prospective students throughout the rest of the year. If you really think about it, there are only 170 days until we have a new batch of candidates making their way to NC State to take a look at what our university, department, and program have to offer. So, it is never to early to start the planning process.

Elections will be held for the two open first-year positions, including VP-Elect for Recruitment, after our first HEA Meeting on Monday, September 8. If you have questions about this position feel free to email me (jdelmor2@ncsu.edu). Looking forward to working with you all!