Best Student Leader Rayve’n Grimes

Being a college student is stressful. You have to juggle your social spheres, academic obligations and clubs. If you have a part time job, this balance becomes even harder to keep.

Where is there time to sleep? To relax? What if you took on a few leadership roles in addition to these already straining tasks? It may seem impossible to find a balance between all of these things, but one student has shown that it is more than achievable. and my orgs.”

Accounting junior Rayve’N Grimes, was voted Coog Choose 2021 Best Student Leader by students. She is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council as well as the president of UH’s NAACP and the chapter president of her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho.

Time management, in her situation, has become paramount. But her role in her organisations is just a snapshot of how she spends her time, especially with the quarantines that had taken place in the last year. In her spare time, she enjoys being in the kitchen.

“I want to make a food TikTok when I find the time to get good with a camera,” Grimes said. “Cooking is one of those passions that just stuck for sure.”

Grimes started out the same way that most students did in their first year of college, but what helped her thrive was the fact that she didn’t let the preconceived notions of what a leader was hold her back.

For some, the idea of holding a leadership position is anxiety inducing, not because of time constraints, but because of the “type” of person that people perceive should have those roles.

Rayve’N is an example of how getting involved in leadership roles not only allows you personal development and growth, but also gives you skills for the future.

“It really allows for me to build those experiences now so that in my career, I can move quickly to leadership positions in the future,” Grimes said.

Managing all of these responsibilities, however, does come at a cost.

“It definitely gets a little overwhelming at times,” Grimes said. “Especially, because I’m balancing my full-time job

“Don’t doubt yourself,” Grimes said. “You’re never gonna be ready for things you don’t think you’re ready for.”

When people look at Rayve’N and everything that she is involved with, it’s worth noting that it’s not an easy feat to accomplish, but don’t get caught up in how hard it is. Focus on the fact that it is an achievable goal that can be worked toward.

“Not to be cliche and use the Nike slogan but that’s what I did,” Grimes said. “I kind of just went well, why not? Why not me?”

By Cynthia Isabel Zelaya Ordones |

Best RA

Arwa Hasnain

WhenArwa Hasnain decided to become an RA at CV2, she was certainly motivated to apply because of the free room and board, but what really made her pull the trigger was remembering an inspirational RA she’d had as a freshman.

A hard-worker with an excellent sense of humor, she is the poster child for attracting the energy you project.

Unlike other RAs, she has no horror stories of exploding microwaves or catty behavior amongst her residents. They treat her and their home with the same respect she treats them. If anything, she’s had a significant amount of positive experiences.

She recalls one late night in particular, wandering into one of the lounges to find a group of her residents (all theater majors) working away at a project. Unprompted, she decided to wander back to her dorm and bake them cookies as a pick-meup. The students were touched, thanking her not only for the cookies, but for being one of the best RAs they’d ever had.

She understands the power of community, acknowledging how much she depended on older/ wiser mentors to get through as an underclassmen, inspiring her to become that figure for those that came after her. She encourages people to join an organization and stick with it, trusting that your found family will guide and support you so you may pay it forward later on.

If you want to become an RA, go for it. Arwa notes that everyone goes in with at least a little bit of imposter syndrome, but the important thing is having an open mind and being prepared.

Best On Campus Place to Work

M.D. Anderson Library

Everyone knows that M.D. Anderson library is one of the best places to study on campus, but did you know it’s also a great place to work, at least according to students.

Voted Best On Campus Place to Work by students

the chill vibes carry over from studying students to the students who work there. Whether it be helping students find books, displaying their knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System or using down time to study, look to see if the library is hiring if you’re looking for a place to work on campus.

Best Professor Aaron Corsi

Along-time favorite of students, student publications, and Houstonians alike, Aaron Corsi has been voted this year’s best professor.

A UH alum himself, it’s only fitting that he would come back to teach at the same campus he walked during some of his formative adult years.

He’s a busy man between teaching and serving as brewmaster at the Houston staple 8th Wonder (to which he is also a co-founder). And yet, he’s still found time to begin to pursue his doctorate in Molecular and Environmental Plant Science at Texas A&M.

In other words, he still knows what it’s like to be a student. The court of public opinion agrees, seeing as few students complain about excess work, frivolous expenses on materials, or overlycomplex lectures. Corsi boasts a healthy 4.8 on RateMyProfessor.com and a 2.0 on difficulty.

Although his classes won’t leave you tearing your hair out in rage or considering dropping out of college to pursue a YouTube career, you do have to show up to class. Be present, participate, pay attention, and do what you’re asked. The rest is all about having fun and learning something new. And boy, is there fun to be had when classes include Beer Appreciation and Alcohol Production.

Students see him as inspirational, relatable, and easy-going. So if you’re looking for a class to fill a hole in your schedule, consider Corsi’s, the UH student body highly recommends it.

Best Bar or Pub 8th Wonder Distillery

Coincidentally, the 2021 Coogs Choose Best Bar or Pub was none other than 8th Wonder Distillery, which was co-founded by Best Professor Aaron Corsi.

Founded in 2018, the distillery is located at 2202 Dallas Street and has a wide selection of Houston based beers. The distillery also offers herbal and hard seltzers that they created.

8th Wonder offers beer to-go 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. everyday and is open noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.