Posted 3:57 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012
[caption id="attachment_12041" align="alignright" width="432" caption="Thomas Harris, '01"]
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This year the Rada Distinguished Alumni Award went to a strong advocate for diversity and social justice, both on campus and in the community.
The award, which recognizes UW-L alumni making exceptional contributions to their professions and communities, was presented to Thomas Harris, assistant director of Multicultural Student Services. Harris accepted the award during the Alumni Awards Reception & Ceremony Friday, May 11, at UW-L.
“Long ago, I was taught to always remember where one comes from and to give back to improve my communities,” says Harris.
His dad’s last words, spoken on his way to the hospital when Thomas was 8 years old, taught him what having an influence meant.
“Get your education, take care of your mother and be a good boy,” his father told him.
He lived by those words not only taking care of his mother and eventually earning a graduate degree from UW-L, but also becoming a leader at UW-L and in the local community.
Harris came to campus as a graduate student in 1988 and was hired as a hall director in 1990. After three years, he moved into the Office of Residence Life.
Retired Assistant Director of Residence Life Ruth Kurinsky says Harris quickly became highly respected by students, colleagues, administrators and community members.
“People actively sought opportunities to work with him and learn from [him],” she noted in a nomination statement.
Harris, ’01, became the assistant director of Multicultural Student Services in 2003, where he has provided support to students of all ethnic and economic backgrounds through advising and leadership. Harris says he strives to “guide students so they can make good decisions in their lives and be good citizens.”
Harris oversees seven multicultural student organizations. He is an adviser for the Asian Student Organization (ASO) and Students for a Free Tibet.
[caption id="attachment_12048" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="When Maurice O’ Graff Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Robert Arnhold, ’80, told the story of Chancellor Joe Gow calling him on the phone to tell him he was this year’s recipient, Arnhold was sure it was his friend, Garth Tymeson, pretending to be the chancellor. Arnhold proceeded to spend several minutes in their usual banter mode until Gow was able to convince him that he really was the chancellor. The crowd laughed at story. From left, Corey Sjoquist, UW-L assistant director of admissions; UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow; Betsy Valentine; Betsy Morgan, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs; Bob Hetzel, vice chancellor for Administration & Finance and Greg Reichert, assistant chancellor for University Advancement."]
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In the early 1990s, he was selected “Advisor of the Year” for UW-L’s residence halls for three consecutive years. An award, the Thomas Harris Monetary Leadership award, was established in his honor. It is given annually to an emerging student leader. In 2000, Wisconsin United Residence Hall Association (WURHA) renamed its Advisor Award the “Thomas Harris Advisor of the Year Award” after witnessing Harris’s dedication to assisting students.
Harris helped organize and promote numerous cultural events on campus and in the community. The Distinguished Lecturer Series has brought speakers such as Robert Kennedy, Jr., and Maya Angelou to UW-L. Harris also created the Multicultural Leadership Development Weekend, giving students the opportunity to interact with people of other backgrounds and improve their leadership abilities. He also transitioned a Martin Luther King, Jr., Day event from a campus-wide to a community celebration.
[caption id="attachment_12053" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Genette Banks, '78, accepted the Parker Multicultural Alumni Award (posthumously) for her husband, Gregory Banks, '81."]
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Former La Crosse Mayor John Medinger calls Harris a friend, as well as a key contributor to the betterment of the community.
“He has influenced and made life better for countless individuals over a long period of time,” notes Medinger. “He continues to do that today.”
Harris’s involvement in the community has ensured that La Crosse is a place that values and nurtures diversity, according to Kristin Koepke and Kate Poppe. Koepke and Poppe worked alongside Harris to host the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) in 1999. Harris is founder of the 7 Rivers Region Diversity Collaboration Initiative and co-founder of the La Crosse Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). These organizations, among the many others he works with, continue to make La Crosse a welcoming environment for all people, according to Jerry Kember, retired superintendant of the School District of La Crosse.
“In the end, it is the relationships formed, nurtured and treasured through life’s times of sadness and happiness, challenges and successes, and betrayal of trust and forgiveness that will continue to shape me who I am becoming,” says Harris. “It’s the care, courage, collaboration, making the best decisions, following-through, and standing-up for humanity and justice by giving, doing and impacting that are instilled in me.”
[/caption]
This year the Rada Distinguished Alumni Award went to a strong advocate for diversity and social justice, both on campus and in the community.
The award, which recognizes UW-L alumni making exceptional contributions to their professions and communities, was presented to Thomas Harris, assistant director of Multicultural Student Services. Harris accepted the award during the Alumni Awards Reception & Ceremony Friday, May 11, at UW-L.
“Long ago, I was taught to always remember where one comes from and to give back to improve my communities,” says Harris.
His dad’s last words, spoken on his way to the hospital when Thomas was 8 years old, taught him what having an influence meant.
“Get your education, take care of your mother and be a good boy,” his father told him.
He lived by those words not only taking care of his mother and eventually earning a graduate degree from UW-L, but also becoming a leader at UW-L and in the local community.
Harris came to campus as a graduate student in 1988 and was hired as a hall director in 1990. After three years, he moved into the Office of Residence Life.
Retired Assistant Director of Residence Life Ruth Kurinsky says Harris quickly became highly respected by students, colleagues, administrators and community members.
“People actively sought opportunities to work with him and learn from [him],” she noted in a nomination statement.
Harris, ’01, became the assistant director of Multicultural Student Services in 2003, where he has provided support to students of all ethnic and economic backgrounds through advising and leadership. Harris says he strives to “guide students so they can make good decisions in their lives and be good citizens.”
Harris oversees seven multicultural student organizations. He is an adviser for the Asian Student Organization (ASO) and Students for a Free Tibet.
[caption id="attachment_12048" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="When Maurice O’ Graff Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Robert Arnhold, ’80, told the story of Chancellor Joe Gow calling him on the phone to tell him he was this year’s recipient, Arnhold was sure it was his friend, Garth Tymeson, pretending to be the chancellor. Arnhold proceeded to spend several minutes in their usual banter mode until Gow was able to convince him that he really was the chancellor. The crowd laughed at story. From left, Corey Sjoquist, UW-L assistant director of admissions; UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow; Betsy Valentine; Betsy Morgan, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs; Bob Hetzel, vice chancellor for Administration & Finance and Greg Reichert, assistant chancellor for University Advancement."][/caption]
In the early 1990s, he was selected “Advisor of the Year” for UW-L’s residence halls for three consecutive years. An award, the Thomas Harris Monetary Leadership award, was established in his honor. It is given annually to an emerging student leader. In 2000, Wisconsin United Residence Hall Association (WURHA) renamed its Advisor Award the “Thomas Harris Advisor of the Year Award” after witnessing Harris’s dedication to assisting students.
Harris helped organize and promote numerous cultural events on campus and in the community. The Distinguished Lecturer Series has brought speakers such as Robert Kennedy, Jr., and Maya Angelou to UW-L. Harris also created the Multicultural Leadership Development Weekend, giving students the opportunity to interact with people of other backgrounds and improve their leadership abilities. He also transitioned a Martin Luther King, Jr., Day event from a campus-wide to a community celebration.
[caption id="attachment_12053" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Genette Banks, '78, accepted the Parker Multicultural Alumni Award (posthumously) for her husband, Gregory Banks, '81."][/caption]
Former La Crosse Mayor John Medinger calls Harris a friend, as well as a key contributor to the betterment of the community.
“He has influenced and made life better for countless individuals over a long period of time,” notes Medinger. “He continues to do that today.”
Harris’s involvement in the community has ensured that La Crosse is a place that values and nurtures diversity, according to Kristin Koepke and Kate Poppe. Koepke and Poppe worked alongside Harris to host the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) in 1999. Harris is founder of the 7 Rivers Region Diversity Collaboration Initiative and co-founder of the La Crosse Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). These organizations, among the many others he works with, continue to make La Crosse a welcoming environment for all people, according to Jerry Kember, retired superintendant of the School District of La Crosse.
“In the end, it is the relationships formed, nurtured and treasured through life’s times of sadness and happiness, challenges and successes, and betrayal of trust and forgiveness that will continue to shape me who I am becoming,” says Harris. “It’s the care, courage, collaboration, making the best decisions, following-through, and standing-up for humanity and justice by giving, doing and impacting that are instilled in me.”
The award
Emeritus professor Ron Rada and his wife Jane established the Rada Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001. It recognizes UW-L alumni who are in the early to mid stages of their careers and making exceptional contributions to their professions and communities. The award includes a $2,000 scholarship given in honor of the recipient to a campus department for a student scholarship.Thomas Harris’ words of wisdom
- Assess what’s missing, then use your courage to create what’s missing while realizing the potential benefits and consequences. Courage is the most significant attribute actually lacking.
- Find ways to impact everything you do with positive energy also thinking of the longevity in the results of your actions.
- Always ask for help and perspective. Only act alone if you absolutely must.
- Own up to your mistakes and move on, so others can do the same.
- Always expect the unexpected.
- Genuinely thank and recognize.