Mid-Hudson Human Resources Association Recognized For Support of Students

The School of Business at the State University of New York at New Paltz has recognized the Mid-Hudson Human Resources Association (MHHRA) for its support of the New Paltz student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Management Association (MA). MHHRA has been recognized for enriching and strengthening the business programs at New Paltz, in particular for supporting the MA. In addition to offering internship opportunities, professionals who lead workshops and company visit opportunities; MHHRA has offered generous support for the MA to participate at the annual Northeast Regional HR Games and funding for the annual HR Leader of Tomorrow New Paltz Scholarship. "MHHRA’s investment in the Management Association enables us to carry out important activities that the college cannot afford to support on its own," said Kristin Backhaus, Associate Professor of Management at New Paltz and Advisor of the Management Association.

HR Games Sponsorship

MHHRA has helped sponsor the MA to participate and attend the Northeast Regional HR Games and Student Conference. In March, MHHRA sponsored six MA student chapter members to attend the event held at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. The HR Games is a game show tournament between students of various SHRM student chapters throughout the Northeast Region. "Competing in the Games provides students with both HR knowledge and the experience of interscholastic competition. The Games are challenging and exciting," said Backhaus.

The competition is a fun way to prepare students for Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. The event enables students to represent New Paltz and MHHRA, as well as the opportunity to demonstrate their HR knowledge to practitioners and other students from colleges throughout the Northeast Region.

Scholarship Donation

MHHRA also funds the HR Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship for a New Paltz student. Alexandra Curiale was the recipient and is an undergraduate School of Business student majoring in Management. Her career goal is to pursue a human resource management position in the healthcare field. She also aspires to attain her Masters degree at New Paltz.

"The HR Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship has helped to lessen the impact of rising college costs for me. Scholarships lend students a helping hand toward reaching their goals and this scholarship was no exception," said Curiale.

"The scholarship provided by MHHRA helps students pursue the education and training necessary for a successful career in human resources," said Backhaus. "We are so grateful to MHHRA for their continued support of the School of Business and our students."

Win-Win Relationship

Nancy Couse, President of MHHRA, believes that it is mutually beneficial for professionals to support students who will serve as the future of the business world. "It is of great importance and satisfaction that MHHRA and local professionals support the student chapter members from the New Paltz Management Association. It is a win-win situation for both groups," said Couse.

MHHRA is an organization, affiliated with SHRM, based in Dutchess and Ulster counties of New York State for HR professionals. The association is dedicated to the advancement of the HR profession and the development of HR professionals in the community. MHHRA is the sponsoring professional SHRM chapter for the New Paltz Management Association. This affiliation provides New Paltz students with an opportunity to explore the field of human resources (HR) as a career and to learn more from HR professionals about the HR function in business. For further information about MHHRA and its affiliation with the Management Association, please visit its web site at http://midhudsonhr.shrm.org.