A&M-Texarkana Campus Activities Board Advisor Takes Top Honors at Regional Conference

Michael Stephenson with the Texas A&M University-Texarkana Office of Student Life has been named Advisor of the Year by the South Central Region of the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities.

According to a press release, Stephenson received the honor Saturday at the Fall South Central Campus Activities Planning Conference in Houston. He will compete against award winners in four other regions of the United States for the National Advisor of the Year Award, which will be presented at the National Campus Activities Planning Conference in February in Orlando, Florida.

Originally from Alexandria, Louisiana, Stephenson came to A&M-Texarkana from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where he served as APCA’s vice president of operations. As coordinator of student life at A&M-Texarkana, he oversees new student orientation, student organizations and Greek life. He also serves as a co-advisor to the Campus Activities Board.

Since arriving at A&M-Texarkana in September 2016, Stephenson has realized an impressive record of accomplishments.

Last spring, he planned and executed the university’s first Big Event day of community service, securing more than 200 campus volunteers who performed more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service in both Texarkana, Texas, and Texarkana, Arkansas.

He also expanded Spotlight on Texarkana, a showcase of local businesses during fall welcome week, into the largest in university history, and he re-designed the student organization funding process so that was equitable and transparent.

Earlier this semester, he launched the university’s first-ever formal Greek recruitment week, and he is currently working to create a new tradition at the university – Mr. and Miss A&M-Texarkana, as well as to revamp online orientation for online and nontraditional students.

He was elected vice chair of the A&M-Texarkana Staff Council for 2017-18 and selected as Employee of the Month for March 2017.

Stephenson graduated from Northwestern State University’s School of Business in May 2013. While attending NSU, he was involved in many co-curricular activities, which fostered a passion for student affairs in higher education. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Adult and Higher Education in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education at A&M-Texarkana.

In addition to the Advisor of the Year award, A&M-Texarkana’s Campus Activities Board won first place in graphic design for its 2017 Glow Run T-shirt.

This is the second time in the past two years an A&M-Texarkana Student Life team member has received the South Central region award. In 2016, Director of Student Life Celeste McNiel went on to receive the national honor.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled for Michael, the Campus Activities Board and our Student Life team,” said Dr. Emily Cutrer, president of the university. “Student life is such an integral part of the fabric of our university. No president could ask for a better team, and it’s an honor to recognize Michael and the Campus Activities Board for their outstanding achievements.”