Outstanding Sponsors Named

Outstanding Sponsors Named

RICE NEWS OFFICE
Rice News Staff
May 28, 1998

The Office of Student Activities announced Hannes Hofer, sponsor of the Rice
Rowing Club, and Nancy Rowe, sponsor of the Rice Young Democrats, as the winners
of the 1998 Outstanding Club Sponsor Awards.

The award recognizes the hard work and dedication of a faculty or staff sponsor
of a student organization. Nominations were submitted by members of the organizations.
Because these two nominees each made such outstanding contributions to their
organizations, both were named recipients.

Hofer, the maintenance planner and coordinator for Facilities and Engineering,
has served as the head coach of the Rice Rowing Club for nine years.

Hofer "willingly takes time out of his busy day and away from his family
to go well over the call of duty for the Rice Crew team," said Brian Green,
president of the Rowing Club, "In addition to coaching, Hofer supports
the club by attending all of their regattas, transporting the team and their
equipment and aiding them with repairs."

Nancy Rowe, a member of the Facilities and Engineering grounds crew, has been
involved with the Rice Young Democrats for the past two years.

"Her enthusiasm for the club, its purpose, and its students is inspiring,"
Club member Mark Covey stated in his nomination letter. "[Rowe] actively
participates in every event organized by the club," and "she has been
a tremendous force behind our success."

In addition to her involvement with the Young Democrats, Rowe also works closely
with the Women’s Fast Pitch Softball Team and PRIDE.

Hofer and Rowe will each receive a certificate of recognition from the vice
president for Student Affairs, and dinner for two at the Boulevard Bistro. The
Rowing Club and the Young Democrats will also receive an award of $25 each to
be used for supplies or an end-of-year function.

Special honors also went to eight other Outstanding Sponsors. Jones School
Dean Gilbert Whitaker of the Management Consulting Club and School of Social
Sciences lecturer Donald Ostdiek of the Policy Studies Society were named Rookie
Sponsors of the Year. The two were first-year sponsors of newly formed organizations,
and both were cited by their nominators as playing a large role in getting the
organizations off the ground.

Sarah Nelson Crawford, director of Student Activities, created these Outstanding
Sponsors awards as a means for the students and administration to show their
appreciation for the extra effort taken by these individuals.

"The willingness of these folks to spend time guiding and supporting students
outside the classroom or office setting is what makes Rice such a special and
rewarding place to be," Crawford said. "We just wanted them to know
how much they are appreciated."