SVSU’s Kasper, students honored at regional conference

July 14, 2025

SVSU's Kasper, students honored at regional conference

Saginaw Valley State University students and staff were recognized for their outstanding leadership and innovation at the NODA Region VII Conference, which took place March 29-30 in Waterloo, Ontario.

Gabe Kasper, the SVSU assistant director of orientation programs, received the Outstanding Orientation, Transition and Retention New Professional Award. The honor recognizes passionate professionals who demonstrate significant contributions and leadership in orientation, transition and retention efforts. Kasper will be considered for NODA's annual awards, which will be announced at the NODA Annual Conference in October.

"Orientation has been a staple of my collegiate and professional experience and played a major role in my development and success while an undergraduate student at SVSU," Kasper said. "I am so lucky to have the amazing team, students and coworkers that I have that make this job truly one of a kind."

SVSU's orientation programs office conducts events to introduce incoming students and parents to SVSU and the services and resources that will help them succeed in college. SVSU students serve as orientation leaders, serving as a new student's first connection to the campus community.

Eight SVSU students attended the conference with Kasper and Tyler Hanna, assistant director of SVSU's Academic Advisement Center. Six of the students made presentations at the conference:

Azalee Almond, a public health major from Saginaw; Emma Beiser, a professional and technical writing major from Midland; and Megan Zaiter, a teacher education major from Bay City, were named runners-up for the Undergraduate Showcase Award for their session "FamOLy Matters: Strategies for Effective Team Bonding."

Zaiter also earned runner-up honors in the Case Study Competition, in which she worked with student leaders from other schools across the region.

Other presentations by SVSU students included "Student Engagement: The Connection Starts with You" by Lugracianna Taliercio, a health and physical education major from Shelby Township, and Katelyn Engels, a graphic design major from Lupton, and "Take a Chance on Belonging: Inspiring Students to Achieve Belonging to Their Campus Environment" by Jaime McArthur, a criminal justice major from Madison Heights.

In addition to the students who presented, Philip Hilmon II, a communication and theatre education major from Lenox, and Kamen Jackson, a psychology major from Clio, also attended the conference.
The conference was hosted by NODA, the Association for Orientation, Transition and Retention in Higher Education brings together student leaders annually from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Ontario. This conference is a professional development opportunity for both students and staff in higher education.