Tips on Writing OTMs 

• Write down the things you see throughout the month. I can’t stress how important this is! You may only remember the last 3 amazing things s/he did, when really there were close to 10 great things.

• Don’t be afraid to ask others of things they have seen. Realize that you can only see so much, but your staff may have caught many things you missed from this individual, so ask around!

• Set up the OTM well, and the rest will follow. Much like your old English teacher taught you, it is difficult to write great with a weak beginning. Use your first paragraph to set up a theme or to talk up your nominee. If you are going to explain 5 great things they did for the month, mention each one in the introduction.

• Creativity. Believe it or not it is important. Writing OTMs shouldn’t be a chore (that’s why they are not mandatory), so make it fun and exciting! The more fun you have, the more the reader will have (and that is a good thing!)

• Use your words. While any OTM can win, it’s difficult for a 200 word OTM to win simply because it is lacking detail. You don’t have to use all 600, but make sure you explain yourself.

• Explain. Explain, Explain, Explain. Most people on campus may know of this person and their achievements, but not everyone. Don’t be afraid of over explaining, the more the better!

• Month Specific. Information not within the specific month can not be considered. Furthermore, it takes away from your word count which could be providing important details.

• Ask an NRHH member. We love when people write OTMs. We would be more than happy to read over one for you and make suggestions. Utilize your resources!