The Residence Hall Association received the Large School of the Year and Commitment to Diversity awards at the Great Lakes Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls Conference last weekend.

The conference was held at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wis. The RHA executive board attended the conference with its adviser, Excell Lewis, and 12 other student delegates.

The conference theme, Life in the Fast Lane, offered activities including leadership trainings, self-motivation programs and relaxation programs.

“The conference opened our eyes to how great our RHA is compared to other schools,” said Hayley Thrasher, RHA’s national and Illinois communications coordinator.

“We were able to network with other schools, and we brought back different ideas from different presentations that we can implement here on campus.”

RHA also received an award for raising the most children’s books for the surrounding shelters. The group raised 1,556 books from the residence halls’ book drive.

It also made the top 10 with its swing dancing program presented by Jon Dolieslager, RHA secretary, and Julie Heniff, RHA treasurer.

RHA will hold a version of an “American Idol” contest called RHA Idols from 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Douglas Smart Classroom. For more information, call Alanna Pautsch, RHA programming vice president, at 753-1090.

Gallery applications for students interested in displaying their artwork at the Holmes Student Center Gallery for the spring semester are due at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Campus Activities Board office, located at the Campus Life Building, Suite 160.

Student galleries are available to anyone who wishes to apply.

“Basically, they get to display any type of art in the glass galleries of the student center, and we help them set it up and promote it,” said CAB public relations coordinator Lydia Feliciano.

After students apply, the visual arts committee will look at pictures or slides of their work and see if it is good enough to present.

“Sometimes, people will set up their gallery in a group if they have similar pieces or a common theme, but other times we just do single shows,” Feliciano said.

The galleries tend to fill up quickly, she said.

“It is required for many art majors to have a senior show,” Feliciano said, “but we can only fit so many galleries into our budget.”

This past semester, CAB chose enough for nine galleries.

At the grand opening, teachers, family and friends can view the artwork. There also is a guestbook where people can write comments.

Coordinators try to display different media of art every week.

“We might have oil paintings one week and sculpture the next, so we can mix it up,” Feliciano said.

Past galleries have included ceramic vessels and slabs of clay, 3D terra cotta bowls and metal pieces.

For more information on the galleries, call 753-1580.