Sami Schwanke/Winonan

Small acts of kindness and appreciation are getting Winona State University some recognition—both statewide and nationwide.

This year, Winona State won both regional and national awards for OTMs, or Of the Month Awards.

The National Residence Hall Honorary OTMs are a way to recognize someone from the Winona State community.

Bethany Stavran is a junior organizational communications major with a film studies minor and is also the OTM manager this year. Although Stavran described OTMs as short, simple recognitions, she claimed they could change a person’s experience at Winona State.

“They are 200-600 word recognitions honoring anyone in the WSU community, so it can be written by or for any person, group or organization,” Stavran said.

Winona State has been doing OTMs since 2003 and is part of the national organization that many other university campuses are included in. There are 15 categories, each with regional and national levels.

“The winners of the OTM categories go on to be judged and chosen in the whole Midwest Affiliation of College and

University Residence Halls region,” Stavran said. “The winners from there go on to join winners from seven other regions, and national winners are chosen.”

Winona State has been doing very well this year, especially on a regional level, according to Stavran.

“Winona State has had one to three regional winners every month since August, and one national winner, which is huge,” Stavran said. “There are literally hundreds of OTMs per category each month, so winning on either level is a phenomenal honor.”

This year’s regional winners were the Sheehan Hall staff for Residence Life Faculty/Staff, Carly Kramer and Kaitlyn

Mecozzi for Desk Assistant, Grady Friedges for Executive Board Member, Tom Nalli for Institution Faculty/Staff, the “Skivvies Go Green” program for Passive Event, the “Get Wet!” program for Community Service Event, and the

“Battle of the Sexes” event for Diversity Event.

The “Stairs Challenge” was a national winner for Passive Event in December 2013, ranking Winona State among OTM champs nationwide.

In spite of success with OTMs, few students are aware of the program at all.
Stavran said she has made it a goal to make sure OTMs are more promoted this year with the help of the WSU

Update, Facebook and club outreach.

The message she wants to send: anyone can be nominated for an OTM.

“They [OTMs] have become centered around residence halls on campus, but the reason we have categories is because they should be open for the whole community,” Stavran said. “Once people know about it and how it’s so simple, it’s not something you have to do every month. It’s just a simple thing.”

Although Stavran describes them as small gestures, OTMs are a great community builder and a reason to be excited, she said.

“I really just like them!” Stavran said. “They’re such a simple way to give recognition. I like simple things that anyone can do.”

Stavran told a story about two recent OTM recipients working in the cafeteria. The simple gesture of nomination, she said, meant the world to the two women who received the awards.

“A girl wrote one for two cafeteria workers, and they cried, and it was this beautiful moment,” Stavran said.
Some recently-picked recipients are Nicholas Lemon for Resident Assistant, Pyxis House for Residential

Community and Jane Erickson for Custodial and Maintenance.

OTMs are due on the fifth day of every month by midnight for the previous month, but can be written at any time.

For example, February OTMs will be due March 5 at midnight.

According to Stavran, it’s amazing what one small gesture can do.

“The impact they have is an inspiration,” Stavran said. “Just recognizing one person that doesn’t know they’re being noticed helps spread the word like wildfire. It changes their experience at WSU.”

For more information contact Stavran at [email protected]. Stavran also presents to club meetings to spread the message of OTMs.