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BACCHUS Turns 40 with a dynamic General Assembly

November 24, 2015

The BACCHUS Initiatives of NASPA just wrapped up another successful gathering of student peer educators and professional staff advisors. General Assembly 2015 was held in Reston, VA, drawing around 550 attendees. This year was a particularly special one, as it marked 40 years since the inception of the first BACCHUS group.

Sharing Our Story

To honor the 40th anniversary of BACCHUS and to help a new generation of peer educators understand the history of the group, we hosted a “History of BACCHUS” special lunch presentation. Founders Dr. Gerardo Gonzalez and NASPA Board Past President Dr. Tom Goodale graciously shared their experiences during the formative days in 1975 at the University of Florida.

In addition to respecting the traditions of BACCHUS’s 40 years of peer education, the BACCHUS Initiatives staff incorporated feedback from previous General Assemblies to enhance the program. Several students participated in a Certified Peer Educator training as a pre-conference workshop.

During the conference, campuses were encouraged to reflect on and harness the energy of their conference experience by participating in a strategic planning session, incorporating SMART goal development and “next steps.”

Finally, in an effort to accept as many of the well-qualified programs that were submitted, a number of campuses were able to co-present in “showcase sessions” – 15-minute dialogues about their on-campus events. This year also featured the return of the #SATrack – a dedicated track of sessions focusing on student leadership and development, intended to introduce peer educators to the world of student affairs.

Scholarships, Awards, and Student Leadership

To continue the celebration of 40 years, we offered several vintage items, as well as a variety of campus and health-related swag at the silent auction. Thanks to the generous donations from attendees through both the silent auction and raffle, we raised $2,145 for future General Assembly Scholarships. If you’d like to help make General Assembly a reality for future attendees, consider donating to the BACCHUS Fund through the NASPA Foundation.

A number of schools applied for the various awards presented by the BACCHUS Initiatives. 21 distinct awards were presented in the categories of Outstanding Peer Education Group, Outstanding Program, Outstanding Student, and Outstanding Advisor.

We are also excited to announce the incoming Student Advisory Committee Directors elected were Shawn Schutt from Saginaw Valley State University, and Enriqueta Rodriguez from Bradley University.

Volunteer Opportunities

The 2015 General Assembly also marked a time of transition. Attendees were introduced to their new NASPA Region groups, switching over from previous BACCHUS “areas.” In addition, several regional volunteers are exiting their regional leadership roles. We thank Michael McNeil (Columbia University), Eric Davidson (Eastern Illinois University), Starr Wharton (University of South Carolina), Scott Tims (Tulane University), Regan Johnson (University of Cincinnati), and Marianne Luther (Rhodes College) for their time and dedication to peer education.

With these transitions, there are volunteer position openings within the BACCHUS Initiatives. Two regions have BACCHUS Regional Consultant openings, and many states have vacant State Coordinator positions. We will begin accepting applications in December. Keep an eye on Volunteer Central for these tremendous leadership opportunities.

A Bittersweet Closing

After celebrating the outstanding work and accomplishments of our member groups, Dr. Ann Quinn-Zobeck closed the awards banquet with her retirement announcement. The respect and adoration for her was clear, based on the crowd’s reaction. After 27 years in peer education as a campus advisor, national volunteer, and BACCHUS staff member, Ann will retire in early February. Her passion for student leadership has helped elevate the profile of peer education and has brought many new people into our extended family. Congratulations, Ann! We wish you the best in your retirement.

Return to the Midwest

We are pleased to announce that, after several years on the East Coast, General Assembly will return to the middle of the U.S. for 2016. Kansas City, MO is our next destination. Full details will be announced soon. At this time, we are taking suggestions for a conference theme. Click here to submit your ideas.

We hope to see you and your peer educators in Kansas City next November!