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K-State Today

December 9, 2016

Taggart-Kagdis honored at Association of College Unions International regional conference

Submitted by Tyler Samuelson

K-State Student Union logo

Audrey Taggart-Kagdis, K-State Student Union director of marketing and community relations, was awarded the 2016 Association of College Unions International's William H. Smith Outstanding Professional Award at the Region II conference at the University of Houston in early November.

The association is dedicated to assisting members to make significant contributions to the total campus environment for learning and to the development of community through education, advocacy and the delivery of services. The association now has more than 500 member institutions, and more than 2,900 professional members.

The William H. Smith Outstanding Professional Award, established by Region 11 in 2004 and adopted by Region II in 2014, honors one of the association's most influential regional leaders. Smith spent 46 years as a staff member in a college union on the campuses of West Virginia University, the University of South Dakota and our very own Kansas State University. He spent 30 of those years serving as director of the Campus Activities Center and the Rhatigan Student Center at Wichita State University. Smith also served as regional director for Region 11 from 1991-1994. He attended 44 of the association's annual conferences and 47 consecutive regional conferences.

The award is designed to honor and recognize student union or student activities professionals of Region II member institutions who have made exceptional contributions and demonstrated a significant commitment to the student union/student activities profession on their campuses within the Association of College Unions International.

Nominees for the award must have a minimum of five years' professional experience in a student union or student activities position and make a significant contribution to the development, education and welfare of the philosophy and activities of the association by demonstrating strong involvement and leadership on a regional and/or national level.

Taggart-Kagdis is currently in her eighth year at K-State where she began as marketing manager and has since transitioned to serve the Union as director of marketing and community relations as well as the advisor for the Union ambassadors.

She has held eight roles in the Association of College Unions International, including Region 11 web and social media coordinator from 2011-2012, Region 11 Graphics Competition Committee in 2011, Region 11 communications coordinator from 2012-2014, Region 11 Graphics Competition coordinator in 2012 and 2013, Region II communications coordinator from 2014-2016, Region II Conference communications coordinator in 2015, and national committee member to rebrand the entire association since 2016.