WMU human resources student chapter wins fifth national award

Contact: Stacey Markin
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WMU students Dana Pingatore and Kaitlin Ragotzy

KALAMAZOO—The Western Michigan University chapter of the Society for Excellence in Human Resources again has received national recognition from the Society for Human Resource Management in Alexandria, Va., for the fifth time in six years.

The society honored the WMU chapter with a Merit Award, which comes after four consecutive years of landing Superior Merit Awards from the society. The WMU chapter racked up Superior Merit Awards in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. All of the awards, including this year's Merit Award, recognize the chapter for an exceptional job in providing opportunities for growth and development of its student chapter members as well as partnership with the society, support of the human resource management profession and professional operation of the chapter.

The student chapter received a commemorative certificate of merit to display at the University and will be recognized in the society's publications and at society conferences throughout the year.

"The student chapter provides an outstanding opportunity for students to network with other human resource management professionals and to supplement their classroom knowledge and skill development," says Dr. Kyle Brink, assistant professor of management and chapter advisor. "Earning the Merit Award signifies that the chapter is among the society's top student chapters in the country and reflects the hard work and dedication of all WMU chapter members. The leadership of chapter president, Amanda Klage, and the advice and guidance over the past few years from the chapter advisor, Paula Eckert, have been particularly instrumental in attaining this award."

About the society

The Society for Human Resource Management is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management. Representing more than 250,000 members in over 140 countries, the society serves the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests of the HR profession. Founded in 1948, the society has more than 575 affiliated chapters within the United States as well as subsidiary offices in China, India and United Arab Emirates.