NRHH is an organization of student leaders within housing who recognize and serve the community. Vision Statement As an integral component of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls, Incorporated (NACURH), the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) strives to recognize the top 1% of student leaders living in college and university housing at NACURH member schools. NRHH encourages the development and continued commitment to leadership within the areas of recognition, community service, and scholastics on the local, regional, and national levels. Mission Statement The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) is the premiere honorary supported by the leading national organization advocating for the interests and welfare of residence hall students, while also providing opportunities for their personal growth and development. NRHH strives to provide recognition for individuals who have contributed to the advancement of college and university housing. It ensures the advancement of member chapters through resource sharing, programming, and leadership development opportunities to contribute and support the vision of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls, Incorporated.
Our History
As far back as our records show, San José State University’s NRHH Makoto Ushihara Chapter has been established for at least 18 years. Receiving its original name from a former residential life manager, Makoto Ushihara in 2000 for his support of student leaders and the community, NRHH had a viable history on the SJSU campus but lacked the stability and consistent backbone to keep it going.
The Spring of 2005 brought a hopeful revival of NRHH with seven students who had completed their application and volunteered to serve in any capacity they could to complete the duties of the executive board. Unfortunately, administratively, they did not have an established advisor and had little knowledge of what to do to efficiently aid the organization in its progress and forward movement. Fall 2006 brought SJSU’s residential life many new changes. Since our coordinators, directors, and students were all adjusting to modifications being made across the board, it was difficult for NRHH to receive the attention it deserved. However, with only one semester under his belt, one of the new administrators, Kenrick Ali, who at the time served SJSU as the Assistant Director for Staff and Leadership Development shared his passion for recognition and student leadership with the entire student staff. His help and dedication brought upon an amazing change in our chapter that would establish NRHH as a fixture in our campus community.
The years 2007-2010 were great years for our chapter. We had a group of dedicated student leaders who helped revive this organization and helped bring about three consecutive years in which the Makoto Ushihara Chapter won NRHH’s Outstanding Chapter of the year for the PACURH region. Since then, our chapter has grown from a four-member executive board to a six member executive board, and from thirteen active members to twenty-eight. In the past there was little to no participation by chapter members, no one willing to be on the executive board, and irregular chapter meetings. However, throughout the past year the Makoto Ushihara Chapter has tightened up its constitution, created incentives and leadership opportunities for members, and has become a well-known student organization on the San Jose State University Campus.
In fall of 2016, the chapter was formally renamed the Matthew R. Jones chapter of National Residence Hall Honorary in an effort to honor the Assistant Director of Residential Life, Matthew Ryan Jones. Matthew Jones displayed immense support for the chapter, student development, and the community throughout a few years of difficulties the Residential Community of the SJSU campus faced. Despite the hardships, Matthew Jones exemplified the type of leadership NRHH values, and never failed to prioritize NRHH.
Our Accomplishments
Of-the-Month Awards National 2012-2013:
August 2012 Diversity Program of the Month: Gender Bender Bingo
November 2012 Organization of the Month: Makoto Ushihara NRHH Chapter
National Awards 2013-2014 PACURH NRHH Outstanding Chapter of the Year 2013-2014 Outstanding Organization Member of the Year, Emily Pierce 2010 SJSU Student Involvement Member of the Year 2010 SJSU Student Involvement New Program of the Year 2010 PACURH NRHH Chapter of the Year 2010 PACURH NRHH Outstanding Member of the Year 2009 PACURH NRHH Chapter of the Year 2008 PACURH NRHH Chapter of the Year