One of the biggest residence events of the year is set to take over Lowenberger Dining Hall later this week.

The 36th annual Residence Awards Dinner will transform the space for the much-anticipated year-end gala on Friday, April 6.

Often attended by more than 200 people, the event honours students who made residence an enjoyable place to live, while also recognizing the commitment and achievements of students who took on work and volunteer roles, including Residence Life staff, the Residence Action Council, Living Learning Communities peer mentors and service desk staff.

With more than 100 awards up for grabs, the evening creates a fun atmosphere for students and allows them to unwind before the arrival of exam season.

“We appreciate the opportunity to recognize our students annually for all of their various contributions to residence,” said Amanda Ziegler, Brock’s Manager of Residence Life. “Seeing the students all dressed up and engaging with each other is awesome, and it’s important to let them know that they have left a legacy in the residence community.”

Among the honours up for grabs are the prestigious Residents Committed to Excellence awards, which are presented to only a handful of students who made a significant contribution during the year, as well as the much-sought-after Marriott Cup, which is presented to the top house, hall, court or block of the academic year.

For Ziegler, part of the fun of the evening comes from seeing the reactions of the award recipients.

“I think seeing the surprise on some of our students’ faces when they realize they have been nominated for an award and won can be quite heartwarming,” she said. “For many of them, it can be quite unexpected, and their happiness is contagious.”

The Residence Awards will run from 4:45 to 7:30 p.m., beginning with a brief mix and mingle followed by dinner at 5 p.m. and the awards presentations at 6 p.m.

For those unable to attend, the Residence Awards Dinner will be live streamed on BrockTV.