Week three of our Student Hero Contest is already here! The contest lasts until April 2 and, if you participate, you could win up to a $500 tuition scholarship simply by making new friends or telling us about the ones you already have.

If you’d like to participate, but you aren’t sure what we're looking for, here’s an excerpt from an entry that’s already been submitted. This comes from Argosy University, Online Programs student Amanda Mayew.

“My student hero is Monika Vasquez-Johnson. I was drawn during our first course to introduce myself to her. I have not met her face to face, but it does not matter. I was completely unaware of the changes that would occur in my life as well as my education due to my relationship with this woman, who has become like a second mother. She asked if I would mind helping her, and of course I said yes. It has turned out to be a mutual relationship of one helping the other.”

[…]

“I share my experiences, hope, and book knowledge with her. She shares her family and her heart with me. Together we are a team, and share our unconditional love for other people. Monika Vasquez-Johnson is my best friend, and my student hero.”

To read Amanda’s full story and to nominate your own hero, visit the Student Community Group in Connections. Here’s how to get there:

1. Log in to your Campus Common from this link. It will open in a new tab.
2. Enter Connections. It will show up in a new window, so your pop-up blocker will need to be off.
3. Click on Departments in the main navigation.
4. Select the Student Community group. (Look for the green H next to the group name.)
5. Click on Forum in the side navigation.
6. Find the Student Hero discussion and click the question “Who is your hero?” to see all student entries or submit your own.

See the full rules for the Student Hero Contest here. We look forward to finding out who inspires you!

Many of you, our students, have chosen careers that involve helping others. You will affect many people with your work in psychology, business, education, health sciences and criminal justice, but you can start by helping your own peers here at Argosy University, Online Programs. Here are just a few ways that our classmates can help each other.

1. You can overcome many of your challenges and concerns together. Do you get overwhelmed by your responsibilities for school and for work? Your peers might have advice on managing busy schedules, or maybe you can share your own tips. Not sure how to use the online classroom? A classmate can help. Are you nervous about taking online classes? Find another classmate who had the same fear; they might now be excelling in their studies.

Sometimes, just knowing that someone else is battling and overcoming the challenges you face can inspire you to do the same.

2. You can hold each other accountable. If you are friends with your peers, you’ll feel more connected to Argosy University, Online Programs and be more likely to stick with it through to graduation. Plus, one of you will notice if the other person hasn’t been around in a while. You can encourage each other to hang in there and to believe in yourself. You came to school to achieve your goals, but sometimes you might need someone to remind you that.

3. You can have interesting, in depth conversations about your studies. Your friends and family may enjoy hearing about what you are studying, but they may not have the time or the knowledge to discuss the theory behind it or analyze every sentence of the article you just read. With your peers, you’ll be able to talk about your common interests and share your opinions on the topics you’re studying.

4. You can serve as professional resources for each other. You can discuss research ideas and theories and receive constructive feedback and support. Your peers might also introduce you to an industry resource or group with which you aren’t very familiar. It never hurts to know other professionals in your field, especially when you are working to advance your career.

Join the Student Hero Contest today to start experiencing the value of peer relationships for yourself!

With our Student Hero Contest up and running, here are a few hints on where and how to find and connect with other online students.

Connections: Connections is an exclusive community for faculty and students to interact. Here, you can participate in the community chat, upload photos and videos, and join student groups and organizations. Go beyond introducing yourself – start asking questions and get a conversation going!

Here are some areas on Connections where you can get involved:

1. Departments: Stay connected with faculty and students from your program and department in this area of Connections. Career Services, Counseling Department and Student Community groups are located here, as well as program specific groups. 
2. Organizations: Get involved in student chapters of professional organizations as well as groups organized by Student Affairs. You’ll be growing your professional network and making new friends at the same time. 
3. Lounges: Create your own group in the lounge area based on anything from your location to your specific interests outside of school. Or, join one of the many student-created groups that already exist.

Facebook and Twitter: Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to find out which of your friends from Connections are also interacting on these social media sites. Get involved in our conversations or start your own!

Skype: We talked about Skype earlier this year on the blog. It’s a great free tool that allows face-to-face communication and can be used on a computer or a smart phone. Plus, Connections now allows you to display your Skype user name on your profile and to see the Skype names of your friends.

LinkedIn: Connect with fellow students on this professional networking site. This could come in handy for future job searches! Plus, your peers might be willing to give you recommendations or endorsements on LinkedIn, which could make your profile stand out to potential employers.

Connecting with your peers will give you the opportunity to develop a support system for school, build lasting friendships and grow your network of contacts in your desired industry. Click here to see the rules for our Student Hero contest and to learn how to get involved. What are you waiting for?

Join the Student Hero Contest and have a chance to win a $500 scholarship!

Some days it can be difficult to get motivated. You are busy, and getting to a computer with internet access isn’t always easy. You have a hundred other things to do, and your studies can slip to the bottom of your priority list. Plus, being an online student can occasionally feel lonely or overwhelming, especially if you’ve been out of school for a long time.

If this rings true for you, creating a support system can help! You probably already lean on friends or family for encouragement, but what about your classmates? Many of them face similar challenges in juggling their personal, professional and academic lives. It’s good to have someone who understands what you’re going through, and you may be surprised how much you can learn from each other. To encourage our students to start interacting, we created the Student Hero Contest.

How to Join (Read the full contest rules here to learn more.)

1. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
2. Set up a Connections profile (if you don’t already have one).
3. Find students with similar backgrounds or interests.
4. Interact regularly with your new connections for one month.
5. From now until April 2, 2013, nominate your hero in the Connections Student Community Group by posting their name and picture along with how he or she has inspired you.

To find the Connections Student Community Group, first log in to the Campus Common. Then, go to Connections, select Departments in the top navigation and go to the Student Community Group.

If you're not sure how to start interacting, try asking your peers how they manage their time, why they chose their program or what made them decide to pursue a degree. Or, share your own story, advice or favorite inspirational quotes.

Contest Prizes

All participants will earn a virtual badge for their Connections profiles, and you, along with your Hero, could be a winner if your entry is selected as one of our favorites. 

• One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 tuition scholarship. Their Hero will also receive a $500 scholarship OR an iPad if he/she is not a student.
• Two (2) Runner Up winners will receive a $250 tuition scholarship. Each of their Heroes will also receive a $250 scholarship OR, if they are not students, an iPod Touch.

Best of luck, and happy connecting!

The Office of Student Community recently hosted “Student Activities Week” at Argosy University Online Programs with the goal of engaging students in activities outside of the classroom.

On Wednesday, August 24th, Aileen Dillon, Argosy University Online Programs’ Assistant Director of Student Affairs – Student Community, hosted the “Student Activities Night” webinar featuring a variety of clubs, organizations and honor societies that students may join. The list of organizations included The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Future Business Leaders of America, Student Veterans of America, and American Criminal Justice Association.

Students who missed out on the event can view the recording here!