2. 1
Table of Contents
Letter from the Peer Programmer ............................................................................................... ………2
Year at a Glance..................................................................................................................................3
Timeline of Major Events ....................................................................................................................4
Events: Descriptions and Purposes.......................................................................................................5
Floor-Centric Social Events*.............................................................................................................6
Floor-Centric Academic Events*.......................................................................................................7
Floor-Centric College Connection and Professional Development Events*..........................................7
Community Events*........................................................................................................................8
Event Budget and Attendance.............................................................................................................9
Looking Forward...............................................................................................................................10
Appendix……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….11
3. 2
Letter from the Peer Programmer
To whom it may concern:
This year as a peer programmer has been an absolutely awesome experience. I have made
so many valuable connections with residents, staff members and supervisors, and I know
that many of these friendships will carry on for the rest of my life. In this role I saw myself
improve as a leader and make a lasting impact on others, and I am truly proud that I could
make a positive difference for so many students.
I started out this year unsure of what to expect from my floor. I was coming from the
extremely tight-knit Barrett Agave community, and I really didn’t know anything about
how to build community in Sonora. I was presented with many challenges from the
beginning. For starters, my CA Martha was absent during training, which prevented us
from being able to plan events together and work out a game-plan for how to approach the
year. I also lived on the fourth floor while my residents lived on the third, which was
difficult when trying to establish an “open door policy” with all of them (they would rather
go see Martha with their problems, since she only lived a couple doors down). One of the
main ways I thought I could build community on my floor was by creating a Facebook page,
but none of my residents bought into the idea. I really had to adapt in order to still reach
my residents and plan events they were excited to attend.
I noticed that in order to get to know my residents, I had to make a conscious effort to
knock on their doors and talk with them as much as possible. Before every event, I would
not only advertise with posters on their doors but physically go to each room and remind
everybody about the event. This made sure that they knew who I was and were informed
about the events that were going on. My fellow peer programmers and I also realized that
doing events in the lobby of Sonora forced people who were walking by to stop and see
what was going on. Once residents made it to events, it helped build community and get
them informed about professional development.
My favorite part about being a peer programmer was the friendships I built with my floor. I
love that I can see my residents out and about and that we can stop and talk about school,
life, etc. It took a while, but a lot of them have reached out to me with questions about
school and registering for classes, and I am so glad that I got to be a resource for them.
Many residents on the third floor met at events that Martha and I have planned, so it’s cool
to watch them form long-lasting friendships with one another as well as with us. I believe
that these friendships will last throughout college and beyond, and I hope that they still
come to me if they need help, even though I’m no longer their peer programmer. I am so
grateful for the opportunity I was given with this position this year. I will never forget the
experiences I’ve had, and I hope to use the leadership skills I’ve gained and apply them to
other positions in the future.
Sincerely,
Jenna Haagen
Peer Programmer 2013-2014
4. 3
Year at a Glance
Sonora 3rd Floor, Rooms 300-309
Residents: 29
Out of State: 13
International Students: 8
Peer Programmers: Jenna Haagen
Community Assistant: Martha Castro
Events Reported: 14
Total Attendance: 482
Average Students/Event: 35
Budget: $1500
Academic Overview: 2.8 average floor GPA (1st semester)
Residents notreturning: Financial reasons, changes of major
5. 4
August
Student leader fall training
Door Decs
Attend Camp Carey as facilitator
Move-in
Fall Welcome Assembly
W. P. Carey Fall Welcome Event
Schedule recurring weekly meetings
“Do ‘UNO’ your floor?” event
September
Football games
Family Weekend
Dunkin’ Donuts for connection surveys
“Coffee Chat” event
October
Midterms
Homecoming
Devils on Mill
Halloween Decorating
“Get the Scoop on Business Trends”
event
“Tanktops and Tie-dye” event
November
Recruit PP/CA applicants
“Some Business, Some Burros” event
December
Finals bags distribution
Christmas Break
January
Spring Training
Spring to Success
“Glow to the Game” event
February
Glow to the Game
Gear up for the Game
Sonora Olympics
March
“Spring Don’t Break the Law” event
“The Price is Right” event
Spring Break
“Sonora March Madness” event
Midterms
April
Final RC meeting with current staff
RC banquet
“P.F Change up your Resume” event
Sonora Laundry Drive
May
Finals
Say Goodbye/Hand-written letters
Timeline of Major Events
6. 5
Events: Descriptions andPurposes
Peer Programmers planned at least 2 events for their floor each month. I got to plan a variety of
events that students could benefit from both socially and academically.
Social events were planned as needed and with respect to the individual floor needs. My most
memorable event in this category was: Do “UNO” your floor?
This was my first event, and I was really proud of it! I got lots of UNO cards and played the
game with my residents. The purpose of the event was community building, and it was
awesome to see my residents exchanging numbers and getting to know each other. I really feel
like this event was a great kickoff to the school year (and it had a very clever name ).
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Academic events were themed around the freshmen year calendar. My most memorable event
in this category was: Coffee Chat with an APP
This event was planned at the perfect time. There was a math 210 test after our event, so
residents got their last minute math questions answered by the APP that was present (Claire). It
was also great because we got to provide breakfast for students, and on test days it’s especially
important to eat a good breakfast. Residents were very thankful, and we also got to know them
better while hanging out and eating delicious bagels.
_____________________________________ _______________________________________________
College connection and professional development focused events were planned throughout the
year with the timing of some being very strategic. My most memorable event in this category
was: Some Business, Some Burros
This event had a lot of components, which made it very fun and informative. Students got to
learn about LinkedIn, proper online ettiquite, and even have professional photos taken by
Brooke Marcella. I even got my own professional headshot done! One student Penny was really
excited about his headshot, and said, “I’ve never seen myself look so good!”
___ ________________________________________________________________________________
Community-wide events were designed to bring residents from an entire area or the whole
community. My most memorable event in this category was: Glow to the Game
I planned this event first as a floor event, but people in Sonora thought it would be great as a
community event. I think this event got people excited about going to the basketball game, and
it also gave students the opportunity to talk and eat before heading out to the game on the bus.
The glow-sticks and Q’doba got the attention of people passing by, and they were eventually
convinced to go to Wells Fargo for the game.
____________________________________________________________________________________
7. 6
Description of Events
Floor-Centric Social Events
Do UNO Your Floor?
Event Description: The event was at 12:30pm in the Sonora 5th floor lounge. Several tables w ereset up
with UNO decks at each of them. Instead of a traditional gameof UNO, each number card represented a
different fact somebody will stateabout themselves. Food from Jimmy Johns was alsoprovided.
Purpose: This event allowed my residents to get to know each other in a relaxed, fun environment.The
activity of"getting to know you UNO" served as an ice breaker among students on thethird floor, and
united the business community from the very beginning of the year.
Dunkin’ Donuts for Surveys
Event Description: In order to get residents to fill out their college connection surveys,wewent to each
door on our floor and passed out Dunkin’ Donuts. The donuts served as a “thankyou” for the residents.
My residents were the first toturn in 100% of their surveys in Sonora!
Purpose: The purpose of this event was to motivatestudents tofill out their surveys before the deadline.
It also allowed us to get to know the residents better,and thereforebuild community.
Get the Scoop on Business Trends
Event Description: This event was initially planned as a business trends/cultural event,but at the last
minute theCA was unableto attend and get the food for it. We watched The Social Networkin the first
floor lounge, and therewas an ice cream bar set up for students to build their own sundaes. It was a fun
atmosphere,and a lot of residents stopped by.
Purpose: The Social Networktaught students about business trends and the importanceof networking.
More than anything,theevent helped build community amongresidents, and weended up just hanging
out and eating ice cream for a couple hours.
T-shirts and Tie-dye
Event Description: We had shirts madethat say "SONO 4 LIFE" and then had 6 buckets of tie dye along
with rubber bands and had the residents customizetheir very own Sonora 4th floor shirt however they
wanted to.
Purpose: Lindsay had connections that allowed the 4th floor to get tank-tops.This was a fun way for the
4th floor to bond, and since I lived on that floor I was ableto get to know these residents better as well.
Students got to build community with one another whilecreatingtheir shirts,which was cool to see.
The Price is Right
Event Description: At this event, students gathered in the Sonora first floor lounge to play “The Price is
Right.” They all got a chance to guess the prices of popular grocery items/hygiene products,and the
resident who guessed the closest price got to keep the item. This event was planned for February but
moved to the first week of March due to more students being able to attend.
Purpose: This event built community among multiplefloors, and was a fun way for students toget
acquainted with budgeting. A lot of them areliving off campus next year,and so this event showed them
how much different grocery items cost. Everybody truly enjoyed this event, and a lot of students got
excited when they won an item.
8. 7
Floor-Centric Academic Events
Coffee Chat
Event Description: We partnered with ClairetheAPP and had Einstein’s coffee and bagels to help
students meet more people in the business community (APPs, CAs and Peer Programmers)as well as
bringtheir questions about academics and the college experience to people who have first-hand
experience. The morningwe did the event was also before a MAT 210 test,so students wereable to get
last minutequestions answered and relax with coffee and bagels before their exam.
Purpose: This event promoted academic success within the community becausethe students wereable to
get tutoringand learn more about thetutoringresources availableto them. It also helped in particular
with their MAT 210 test which is a course most business students struggle immensely with.
Finals Bags Distribution
Event Description: Before finals, we got a lot of bags, candy,and school supplies, and put together little
bags with study tips inside. We delivered them to residents theweek of finals.
Purpose: The purpose of this event was to keep students motivated and wish them good luck on their
finals. It was the first college finals for them, and we wanted to give stop by and check in before the end
of the semester.
Floor-Centric College Connection and Professional Development Events
Some Business, Some Burros
Event Description: We catered Some Burros for the residents and also had Brooke Marcella take
headshots of the residents whocame. We just had them put on a professional shirt/tieor blouse on for the
pictureand had head shots taken for their LinkedIn profile. We explained what a LinkedIn was and why
it was important and had a couple staff members LinkedIn s up on a screen for students tolook around
and play with. This event was a huge success!
Purpose: The purpose of the event was tohelp the business community obtain moreknowledge on
LinkedIn and its purpose. A lot of students were learningabout LinkedIn in their WPC 101 class. It
helped residents whodidn’t haveone createa profile, and for those who already had one the event
helped them better their existingprofiles. It developed them professionally as well by giving them
another tool for finding jobs or internships in thenear future.
P.F. Change up Your Resume
Event Description: This event was held in the Sonora lobby.As peer programmers webrought several
copies of our current resumes, and gave students a chanceto ask questions about resumes and how/when
to update them. Many students alsobrought their own resumes for us to evaluate. We purchased a lot of
P.F. Chang’s, which was a huge hit!
Purpose: This event was meant to get students ready for their future careers by havinga professional
resume. They were encouraged to highlight their leadership skills on their resumes as well. All 3 of us
(Josh, Katie and I) havegone through the internship huntingprocess,so we were availabletoanswer
questions about leadership, interviews,job applications,etc.
9. 8
Community Events
Glow to the Game
Event Description: Before a men’s basketball game, we had a lot of Q’doba and glow -sticks in the lobby
and encouraged students togo to “neon night” at Wells Fargo Stadium.
Purpose: This event promoted Sun Devil Spirit,and got people excited about going to the basketball
game. After eating and getting glow-sticks,they got to ride a bus from Sonora to the Stadium to watch
the game.
Gear Up for the Game
Event Description: We had Taco Bell and blankposter boards with an abundanceof different colored
sharpies.We encouraged residents totake a tacoand make a poster for the game that night.For the
residents whoweren’t feeling very creativestaff was therewith pre-madeexamples to encourage
creativity and design ideas.
Purpose: In order to encourage students to go to the women’s basketball games we had a Gear Up for the
Game to encourage students togo. A lot of students didn’t even know the game was that night,so the
event encouraged people to go and watch thewomen’s basketball team.By having the residents make
signs it also gave them something to bringand cheer on their fellow Sun Devils with prideand spirit.
Spring Don’t Break the Law
Event Description: For this event we had a wrecked car from a drunk-drivingaccident,beer goggles and
a cop to answer questions,Mario Cart for the residents to play with beer goggles, and W.P. Carey towels
along with different snacks. All these things wereused to encourage safe decisions on Spring Break.
Purpose: The purpose of this event was to serveas a warningtoresidents for small, irresponsible
decisions and the major effects they can have. The car was thereto serve as a reminder of what havinga
few drinks and drivingcan ended up looking like. The beer goggles and Mario Cart werethere to show
residents exactly what different stages of alcohol consumption look like and how impairingit can be to
their vision and movements. The cop was there as well to monitor thebeer goggles and answer any
questions the residents haveas well as provide tips for stayingsafe over break. The springbreak event
was a huge hit,not only was it factual but fun and interactivefor the residents.I think a lot of the
residents took away useful information for their springbreak vacations.
Sonora March Madness
Event Description: For this event we had a lot of Sal’s pizza and March Madness brackets for students to
fill out. Each student turned in their bracket and thestudent with the bracket with theleast errors won a n
ASU jersey.
Purpose: This event encouraged students toget together in the lobby and make brackets for March
Madness, which built community in Sonora. Every day we updated a large poster -bracket sostudents
could see how the games had gone and see how their brackets wereholding up. All in all, it was a lot of
fun and really popular with theboys in Sonora.
Sonora Laundry Drive
Event Description: We put boxes in all of the laundry rooms,along with signs telling students to donate
old/ unwanted clothing.Since people are packing up and leaving, they probably haveclothingthat they
no longer want.
Purpose: This event made an impact in the community,as all donated clothing will be given to The
Sojourner Center for families affected by domestic abuse.
10. 9
Budget/Attendance Information
*Social Events*
Event Name Expense Total Attendance Cost per Student
Do UNO Your Floor? 108.06$ 16 6.75$
Dunkin' Donuts 16.23$ 60 0.81$
Get the Scoop on Business Trends 13.25$ 20 1.33$
Tank-tops and Tie-Dye 125.56$ 35 10.76$
The Price is Right 42.29$ 19 $ 6.68
Total 305.39$ 150 26.33$
*Academic Events*
Event Name Expense Total Attendance Cost per Student
Coffee Chat with an APP 46.64$ 61 3.06$
Finals Bags Distribution -$ 30 -$
Total 46.64$ 91 3.06$
*Professional & College Connection Events*
Event Name Expense Total Attendance Cost per Student
Some Business, Some Burros 42.23$ 41 5.15$
P.F. Change up Your Resume 195.17$ 42 13.94$
Total 237.39$ 83 19.09$
*Community Events*
Event Name Expense Total Attendance Cost per Student
Glow to the Game 252.54$ 60 4.21$
Gear up for the Game 49.70$ 33 3.01$
Spring Don't Break the Law N/A N/A N/A
March Madness 88.62$ 65 4.09$
Laundry Drive -$ N/A 0
Total 390.86$ 158 11.31$
Total Spent on Events 980.28$
Average Cost per Student Per Event 4.27$
Total Attendance 482
Average Attendance per Event 34.43
11. 10
Looking Back & Moving Forward
As a peer programmer, I have definitely learned a lot. If I could go back to the beginning of
the year, I would definitely want to procrastinate less when planning events. I know some
peer programmers who were very good at having their events planned at the beginning of
each month, but I wasn’t always good at doing this. Although I feel that I put on a lot of
great events and got good attendance, I also was more stressed because I didn’t schedule
them in advance. Planning is not my strong-suit, but I think I could have done an even
better job this year if I would have thought ahead.
One piece of advice I would give to future peer programmers and CAs is to start off strong
by getting to know residents at the beginning of the year. It is hard to get them out of their
rooms and out to events halfway through the year if they haven’t previously been
attending. The first two weeks are crucial to setting the tone for the rest of the year. This
means that a student leader should really go out of their way to knock on doors and get on
a first name basis right from the start. This isn’t easy, but it is really worthwhile later on.
For my peers and members in the Business Community, I would say that it is important to
take advantage of opportunities at ASU and through WP Carey. I know that my experience
at ASU would be completely different if I hadn’t joined clubs or taken leadership
opportunities, and I am so thankful that I have! The Business Community should continue
to stress the importance of getting involved, and peer programmers and CAs can act as role
models for their fellow students.
My most significant take-away from this year is that I should never underestimate the
difference I can make, no matter what role I am in. One of the coolest things about working
with such dedicated student leaders is that they challenge me to improve myself. As peer
programmers and CAs, we all had an amazing opportunity to improve the freshmen
experience for so many students. I hope to always put my signature on whatever job I am
expected to do. I am just one person, but I have seen firsthand the impact that I can have on
others.
I am not coming back as a peer programmer next year, and although I will miss this role, I
am excited for what the future holds. I will probably start working on my honors thesis
while also staying busy with classes. This summer I will be interning at Konica Minolta and
focusing on marketing. I will be engaging with a lot of new people and conducting business
to business sales. There is a possibility that I will be working as an intern part-time next
semester as well in order to stay occupied. I also plan on volunteering as a youth sports
coach again for the following academic year, which is an awesome opportunity for
leadership development. I will always remember this sophomore year as a truly awesome
experience. I am thankful for this opportunity, and can’t wait to apply the skills I’ve
acquired to different roles.
