“Our Royal Pride” is an occasional series celebrating 草莓社区’s undergraduate students who聽 contribute to campus life in extraordinary ways in addition to their academic pursuits.聽These students enthusiastically create their own niches, constantly re-defining what it means to be an EMU Royal student 鈥淟ike No Other.鈥� Nominate a student with an email to lauren.jefferson@emu.edu.
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In two years, sophomore Nicole Litwiller has used her artistic worldview, psychology background and creative problem-solving skills to carve out her own niche at 草莓社区. When the major came here from Sarasota, Florida, she only knew a handful of people on campus.
鈥淚 remember the first week or so feeling really lost. Once I started getting involved, I kind of found my stride. And that鈥檚 how I knew this place was home,鈥� says Litwiller.
Litwiller is extending that sense of belonging to other students through the 鈥�,鈥澛� a campus-wide competition designed to increase student involvement and foster team camaraderie.
Housing-based teams 鈥渃heck in鈥� to campus events, which are assigned different point values. The team with the highest percentage of involvement at the end of the year will receive a trophy and special celebration during Springfest. This semester is the 鈥減ilot program鈥� of what would ideally be an annual, year-long event explains Litwiller, whose Maplewood Dorm team is currently in the lead.
The Cup grew out of brainstorming sessions in the (SGA), where Litwiller is a senator.
鈥淚 love Harry Potter,鈥� says Litwiller.
The Royals Cup is based on the 鈥淗ouse Cup,鈥� which is awarded to one of four 鈥渉ouses鈥� (dormitories) in the magical Hogwarts School. 鈥淭hat inspired me to think about it in a way that the EMU campus could benefit from, whether you鈥檙e a 鈥榤uggle鈥� (magic-less human) or a wizard,鈥� she jokes.
Lead Residence Director Scott Eyre, Director of Student Programs Rachel Roth Sawatzky, Professor Kirsten Beachy and Rachel Holderman,聽SGA vice president of marketing, have been the other primary organizers behind the competition.
Litwiller is also part of the and . She鈥檚 also joined the planning committee for the Inauguration Gala, a formal event April 7 to celebrate the of Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman as EMU鈥檚 ninth president.
Litwiller鈥檚 artistic spirit informs her involvement in each of these.
鈥淎rt is just something that鈥檚 always been a part of me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t is how I observe things, and how I look at the 鈥榣ittle beauties鈥� 鈥� that helps me to look at things a little bit differently than someone with a more scientific or mathematical mind might think of things.鈥�
Litwiller says that, besides art, participating in Odyssey of the Mind in high school 鈥� a youth competition which fosters creative problem-solving 鈥� has informed her approach to college. Her liberal arts concentration in psychology helps Litwiller consider individual and group wellbeing within the many organizations she navigates.
Music, good conversation, and reflection keep Litwiller energized for this work. 鈥淕et involved in the things that give you the most energy, but also make sure to take times for things that restore you,鈥� she advises.
Nominate a student with an email to lauren.jefferson@emu.edu.