Recent graduate and future Master of Communication and Media (MCM) student Danielle Raabe ’17, who majored in communications at SC&I, was awarded the Spirit of Rutgers Award at the Chancellor’s Student Leadership Gala on May 3, 2017.  This award recognizes students who show commitment to the values, traditions and missions of Rutgers.

Raabe said, “I was actually blessed enough to be nominated by two important people in my Rutgers journey: my adviser for the Rutgers Dance Marathon, Director of Major Events and Programs, Carey Loch, and Emily Crosby, my boss at the Rutgers Visitor Center where I work as a Scarlet Ambassador.”

The Spirit of Rutgers Award is important to Raabe for many reasons. But above all, she said, “I love Rutgers. It's not perfect, but it's home. I am very proud to have been a student at such a historic, fun, diverse, inspirational, and innovative school. To have won the Spirit of Rutgers Award is truly humbling.”

Raabe earned this award by dedicating herself to Rutgers culture through various organizations. She discovered the Rutgers Dance Marathon her freshman year when two RUDM representatives came to speak at a Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) meeting. Since then, she has grown with the event, eventually becoming Director for Dancer Relations. RUDM, which raised over $1 million for Embrace Kids Foundation this year, has increased dancer participation since Raabe’s term. By creating a marketing and presentation plan, she was able to recruit dancers within Residence Halls and Student Organizations.

Despite the great amount of effort her position required, Raabe believes it was worth it. She said, “Rutgers students that have never participated in RUDM before were my motivation. I wanted to share this larger than life event with as many students as possible!”

Additionally, she worked as a Scarlet Ambassador for three years recruiting prospective students to the university. She said, “What inspires me the most about the job is how much of an impact I have on prospective students and their families… Seeing students that were on my tours walking the campus as Scarlet Knights months later is a feeling impossible to describe. Talking about how much I love Rutgers didn't even seem like a job and I will miss it so much!”