The Residence Hall Association elected its new executive board members for the 2012-2013 school year on Thursday.

Eddie Hillman, current RHA secretary, was elected the new RHA President.

Hillman has been a part of Thomas Hall council and said his passion for RHA is the main reason he wanted to become president.

“I love RHA, I really want to make a difference next year and I will,” Hillman said. Hillman said he plans to organize campus-wide sporting events, in which all residence halls will be able to participate.

There were two candidates running for vice president, Nick Allen, a freshman business major and Amanda Krch, a freshman special education major.

During the open discussion on the two candidates, the voters were skeptical on Allen’s ability to balance his role in Interfraternity Council if elected as vice president of RHA.

Krch was elected to the position of vice president.

Krch said her prior experience as both chair of Social Justice and Diversity Committee and Lawson Hall’s Publicity Chair for the 2012 spring semester will help her be a strong leader as vice president.

Krch said she will make communication between RHA and other student organizations a main priority.

“It is very important to have communication between all the committees to have our organization run the right way,” Krch said.

Michael Eckert, former member of the Community Development Committee, was elected as the new treasurer for RHA.

Eckert said he plans to spread the word about care packages and to organize the budget in a more affective way next year.

“I want to be more organized for next year to avoid last minute budget issues that may pop up,” Eckert said.

Eckert said he will make a great treasurer because he has excellent organization skills.

Dawn Howe, a senior elementary education major, was elected as the new RHA secretary.

Howe said she was honored to be nominated, and viewed this victory as an opportunity to show her leadership.

Howe said she is dedicated to RHA and residence halls.

Each newly elected member said they were extremely passionate about RHA and were excited to enter into their new positions.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or asoto2@eiu.edu.