Oklahoma State University Foundation Scholar Blog

Making a Difference.

2010-03-17T15:24:00Z

March 17, 2010

Witnessing examples of those who give back to others, their community, or their alma mater over the last two years has had a major impact on my life and my long-term goals. Donor dinners, like the one I attended Monday are prime resources for this type of influence. With the OSU Student Foundation, I have been afforded these opportunities and truly learn and grow from each experience. We met with Yancy and Christina Wright, young donors and alumni from OSU who came all the way from their current residence in Iowa. All in attendance were delighted by not only their knowledge and passions, but simply how they reminisced on their life at Oklahoma State. Here is a picture from the dinner.

Tuesday evening StuFu celebrated the members’ hard work during Cowboy Spirit with a special reception and meeting at the President’s House! Burns and Ann Hargis both were present and provided words of encouragement and support. The scholarship recipients from last year’s Cowboy Spirit were also invited and three joined us at the celebration. The scholarship fund was able to award eight $500 scholarships; this year, due to the growth of the event, 10 $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Since scholarships are the sole reason I am attending this prestigious university, I cannot begin to express how awesome it feels to be even a small part in making that difference in someone else’s life!! Here are a couple pictures from the evening.

With a test out of the way and my application for Student Foundation turned in, I was ready for a break!!!! The week was almost over. J

Thursday evening CKI met and had guest speaker Sara Boland from Stillwater’s Domestic Violence or Wings of Hope. She works as the program coordinator but it was obvious that everyone at the organization, due to low budget funding, works together to help people and families in need. There are a vast number of services that the organization provides that I was completely unaware of, such as free daily classes open to anyone. Also the materials, such as food, clothes, furniture, etc., that they provide to families when they depart the facility is truly incredible. Wings of Hope, the new name being implemented due to the sometimes negative connotation with Domestic Violence, is always accepting donations, such as the aforementioned or toys, toiletries, etc. As mentioned in previous blogs, CKI has made many fleece blankets; we presented them to Sara at the meeting. Although abuse does occur, people like Sara provide hope! Here’s a picture from the meeting.

Although I do not have any major plans over spring break, I could hardly contain my excitement to return home and relax for a short period. Unfortunately upcoming projects and tests will keep me pretty busy, but I’m sure it will be an enjoyable break nonetheless!

GO POKES!

Tomorrow is Another Day.

2010-03-12T20:50:00Z

March 8, 2010

After returning from the CKI convention, the week began with a swift start. Monday brought two meetings and plenty of drawing to catch up on. In the morning, Jessi Fernandes-Flack, the president of STUFU, and I both were happy to attend the team meeting at the OSU Foundation to announce the exciting Cowboy Spirit results! Being towards the end of the agenda, it was really neat to hear about the great things that are occurring within the Foundation and to be a part of that harmonious spirit even just for a short time. Later that afternoon, I returned to the Foundation for a Cowboy Spirit follow up meeting. Every year after Cowboy Spirit, the advisors, executive board and prominent donors Mike and Anne Greenwood convene to discuss all aspects of the event, inside and out, what needs improvement, and what we felt had a positive impact. We have results from the surveys given to STUFU members about the event and detailed monetary results as well that assist in this process. We are very excited about this year's event, but must analyze our actions to grow the event even more! I'm already looking forward to next year!

Tuesday I had a Merchandise and Apparel Design Association meeting that featured designer Claire Kennedy! She truly provided a wealth of information and inspiration. Based out of Oklahoma City, Ms. Kennedy is a one-woman show; she designs, fits, and sews custom wedding and debutant dresses. Having been in apparel design for a year it is easy to see that this is where her passion lies due to all the work those processes entail. The information that she shared about how her business came about and the niche she formed for her business was very interesting. Also, she mentioned many strategies in maintaining customers and explained in detail the reasoning for her contracting procedure. Most notably, she discussed how important it is to discover your passion not matter what field you study. She stated that regardless of the work load that may arise it's always fun because it's what she loves! It's reasons like that that I feel organizations like MADA are so important; they bring in people who are experiencing their dreams and can divulge how they accomplished their journey.

Wednesday after drawing, I had an AIGA meeting in the computer lab for the purposes of the topic. Online professional databases, or portfolio-type websites were discussed in detail. It was extremely informative and I am so glad to know that there are opportunities such as this to showcase one's work. Behance, Linkedin and Vimeo were among the top sites that were explained in-depth. It's an easy way to not only get your work out there, but to see what others are producing as well. Being aware of how to setup these sites will become very beneficial to me as an art major.

My second exam in marketing was Thursday, followed by a Student Foundation executive meeting and a Circle K International meeting. The STUFU exec meeting was a bit more exciting than usual with the celebration of Abby Fox's birthday, which was the following day. The execs surprised her with a cake and warm wishes, although it would be difficult to do anything that could match the appreciation we hold for all that she does to support and encourage us!

The speaker for the CKI meeting cancelled last minute so we improvised by making a few more blankets to give to domestic violence next week. We also played a few entertaining ice-breakers!

The Lew Wentz scholarship deadline was Friday, so after an exam, I made a few final adjustments and dropped the envelope off at the Student Union. I believe that was my last scholarship deadline, for a while anyway!! After I submitted my monthly CKI secretary report to the district, I was off to OKC for some live music! That evening I saw Needtobreathe, Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, and Graham Colton; what an incredible concert! The affect that live music has on my spirit never ceases to amaze me! All my worries disappear and I just take in the wonderful talent before my eyes. The exceptional gratitude of all three bands for our support was really neat too! Here are a few pics from the awesome night!


Me with Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers!	Needtobreathe!

Graham Colton!

On Saturday I woke up and got dressed to impress for the Kiwanis Governor's Visit. Throughout the year the governor of Kiwanis visits all the divisions within the Texas-Oklahoma district, this is very similar to CKI. There are many Kiwanis clubs within a division, so people from different parts of OK traveled to Stillwater to attend Saturday's event! Three members of CKI also attended; these events are always a lot of fun! Kiwanians are such a great group of people to be around! Here are a couple of pics from the afternoon.


	Chuck Rager, President of the T-O Kiwanis Foundation!

Throughout the course of the last week or so, some extremely unfortunate events have transpired that have been very difficult for me to confront. In a number of past blog entries I have mentioned my summer plans to study abroad in Italy; working over the Christmas break, applying for scholarships etc. Well I was very honored to receive the Provost Scholarship and to be selected as a finalist for the Bailey Scholarship. About the time I received notification of the Bailey finalist information, it was confirmed that the Landscape Oil Painting: Tuscany course was cancelled. Although I truly pride myself on thinking positively, it was difficult for me in this circumstance. I was not aware of the possibility that the class wouldn't make and truly had my heart, soul, and mind set on the trip, having already begun lots of research into the region, etc. I met with the study abroad office to discuss the possibility of other options. They were extremely helpful and although there were many programs, I have a summer employment commitment that ruled out a number of them and others were substantially more expensive or just not quite what I had my heart set on. With reluctance I notified the appropriate contacts of my decision and thus declining the Provost and my interview for the Bailey scholarship. One of my mottos is and always has been, “everything happens for a reason.” I believe that sometimes we don't understand why things occur, but we still have to have faith that there is a reason. This mindset gets me through any difficult time, however, it has taken a lot of prayer and support from my family to realize that waiting a year to try again is what was meant to be. I will definitely be trying again next year though! Every day is a new day, full of new opportunities and experiences!!

GO POKES!

Branding Success!

2010-03-03T15:30:00Z

March 1, 2010

My week began with monotonous tasks like making calls and sending e-mails, and ended with a monumentally historic event and an annual convention centered around leadership, fellowship, and service. Although every week needs balance, I would prefer the excitement that the end of this week brought on any day of the week!!

Tuesday evening was the general OSU Student Foundation meeting; the announcement of the Cowboy Spirit results got everyone pumped up! Increasing extensively from last year we raised $33,000 for the student scholarship fund! I am so grateful to all the sponsors who donated, all who bought tickets, and to all the STUFU members who worked diligently throughout this endeavor. The effort spent and money raised truly affects people lives! It's so awesome to be a part of such a wonderful event! Becky Endicott, senior director of marketing and communications, and Jonathon McCoy, assistant director of marketing and communications, also attended this meeting to discuss the upcoming campaign events! The internal launch for the OSU Foundation would be held on Thursday, the actual campaign launch on Friday, and announcements and giveaways at the OSU v. KU basketball game on Saturday! I was more than anxious to hear the exciting news of the campaign

Thursday, I was happy to help out at the internal campaign launch at the foundation and got to stay and listen to the program! The efforts and vision of this campaign really started to come alive to me as Kirk Jewel, president and CEO of the Foundation, Burns Hargis, president of the university, and Ross McKnight, co-chair of the campaign, spoke more intimately about the campaign's effects, why we needed this monumental campaign, and the level it's going to elevate OSU to when we reach our goal. The story of Evan Townsend and many other students is what truly inspires the accomplishments of this remarkable campaign. There were still a few specifics that I was eager to learn but that would all come the following morning! Here are a couple pics from the internal launch.

Rebekah Spaulding, STUFU member, and Jessi

Fernandes-Flack, STUFU president, cutting the

strings on the banner to reveal the campaign logo!

Kirk Jewel, president and CEO
of the OSU Foundation.

Friday at the heart of the campus, the Student Union atrium, the unforgettable campaign launch for “Branding Success” transpired. As the OSU band played and people continued to filter in all tiers of the atrium, it was definitely a wonderful sight! Burns Hargis spoke powerfully about the mission of the campaign and the meaning of “Branding Success.” Then came the announcement of the campaign's ultimate goal of 1 billion dollars - the crowd erupted! Shortly following was the declaration that we were already nearly halfway to our goal! My mouth dropped open as I was clapping! What an awesome scene to be witnessing. The university, 'my university,' that I am so passionate about is striving toward heights never before reached to allow the education of more students, compensation of faculty, and the betterment of facilities and programs. I feel so completely grateful to be given the opportunity to attend a university that has goals of this nature and such impeccable leaders at the forefront. As the event proceeded, more exciting news came with the announcement from T. Boone Pickens of 100 million dollars! - on top of what he has already committed to the campaign and what he will match. Cheering filled the union and as Burns Hargis yelled “GO POKES,” confetti shot into the air from all directions, hundreds of balloons fell from the ceiling, the band was playing! It was so incredible! Afterwards STUFU members, including myself, handed out tons of giveaways, the main item being a “Branding Success” t-shirt. I love to see the smiles on peoples’ faces when you give them free stuff, haha. Honestly, I am grateful just to have been a small part of the historic event that occurred Friday; I will never forget that day! If you weren't able to attend or haven't seen the great happenings of that afternoon, I encourage you to visit www.witnessosuhistory.com where you can watch the video of the campaign launch! Here is a picture of the action from the event!

As the giveaways diminished, I hurried back to my room to grab my already packed bags. I was on my way to 56th annual District CKI Convention: Highway to Service, in San Marcos, Texas. Although the 9 hr drive didn't get us there in time for opening session, we still arrived in time for the candidate's speeches in regional caucuses. After hearing the platforms of several people, our division then elected a lieutenant governor, since this task had not been done at Spring Rally.

Saturday at the convention brought a full schedule beginning with House of Delegates at 8am. This is where we vote, by way of Robert's Rules of Order, on proposed amendments to the District bylaws of CKI. Then there are 3 great sessions of workshops, which all have a variety that one can choose from. After a break for lunch we were back at the conference center for a 4 hr Salvation Army disaster relief training! I was truly surprised how in depth the training was; allowing us to work through specific scenarios and learning inside and out the services that the Salvation Army provides! I am now certified to go onto the site of a disaster whether local or international and provides services for those in need!!

During this training I did have to leave momentarily for my scholarship interview that was held during that time. Applicants submit their application at a deadline prior to convention, but must be present at the event to interview and receive their award. After the training we all returned to our rooms to prepare for the Governor's Gala, the semi-formal awards and dinner portion of the weekend. There are many outstanding individuals and chapters in our district and it's always a joyous night of celebration as awards for recognition and achievement are granted. From Oklahoma State, Allison Prisco, won the Outstanding Impromptu Essay Award, for an essay she had composed earlier that day in a timed session; Rachel Heick, was awarded a $1000 scholarship; and I was honored to receive a $1500 scholarship! The weekend was definitely a success. Overall, however, the aspect that I enjoy most is with out a doubt reuniting with all my friends and the Kiwanis family. Almost everyone in attendance I have been fortunate to meet at a prior event and it is always so much fun to catch up with all these truly wonderful people! Also, many of the Kiwanians I have known since my years in high school in Key Club, and they continue to support me in all that I do. The generosity and kindness of these individuals never ceases to amaze me!

Sunday was the second portion of House of Delegates where we elected our governing officers for the 2010-2011 year. In the Farewell session, the governor made a farewell speech, the 2009-2010 officers were retired and the newly elected were installed! After a few pictures were taken we were back on the the road! Here are a couple pics from the event!

Although this weekend was definitely full of excitement, near or far, I never lose sight of the Cowboys. Winning against Kansas - no. 1 in the country, was such a great victory!!

Go Pokes!!

Working Toward the Future

2010-02-22T19:49:00Z

February 22, 2010

Although a little worn out from Sunday's schedule, Monday left no time to spare, with my first American History test the following day. The grade in the course consists solely of 3 tests including the final exam, so I knew I could not take studying for this test lightly.

Wednesday added excitement to my week, with an American Institute of Graphic Arts meeting that focused on construction and binding methods. A student kindly demonstrated how to stitch in binding for a typical project. He discussed different threads that can be utilized and some do's and don't's in order to achieve the best outcome. Also, the comparison between stitches, screws and staples was made. The student also brought some of his work that functioned as a series; it was excellent in quality and design! Then the president, Rachel Goetzman, discussed different types of paper that can be beneficial to certain projects based on their texture, weight, etc. The professors that were present added in helpful tips as well! Although the information still seems somewhat overwhelming, having not been exposed to much of the like, I can only anxiously anticipate my future in the graphic design program at Oklahoma State. Information sessions such as this can help me begin to focus on the projects that lie ahead.

The OSU Student Foundation met at the Murphy House for our executive meeting to recap Cowboy Spirit and to move forward with plans for the upcoming months. I felt it was an exceptionally productive meeting with plans for a new, improved agenda, and gearing up for the welcoming of new members in April. The second biannual Thank-a-thon, and other donor appreciation events are also approaching - very exciting!!

After STUFU, I arrived at the weekly Circle K International meeting and was looking forward to learning about the Share the Wealth program. Two students, who are currently enrolled in a Share the Wealth course were generous enough to come speak to us about different health trends and provide valuable facts. We engaged in numerous ice breakers and an intense game of Health Jeopardy! After the meeting, the officers and members attending District Convention discussed some final details. It's hard to believe that time of year has come already - for all CKI'ers in Texas and Oklahoma to convene and share a weekend of service, workshops, elections, and celebration of the year! Next weekend, five students, including myself, will be traveling to San Marcos, Texas, to represent the Oklahoma State University chapter.

Friday after class, I was off to Weatherford, to work on and complete a major scholarship application. Scholarships truly are the reason I am able to attend this prestigious university and especially the reason I am able to be involved in so many wonderful opportunities that have honestly made me the person I am today. Service is my passion and I am so utterly grateful for the funding I receive because without it, I could never dedicate the time and effort that I do currently. All scholarships take time and preparation to obtain however, some totaling 10 pages, plus an essay and multiple letters of recommendation required. Although having some school work to catch up on, completing an application such as this relieves a lot of stress.

What a great weekend for the men's OSU basketball team with a 82-75 point win over Baylor!! Unfortunately the outcome for the Cowgirls wasn't as favorable but I still expect both teams will be headed to March Madness!

Here's a pic from the Men's game.

Photo courtesy of Newsok

GO POKES!

Keep On Keepin' On.

2010-02-16T15:39:00Z

February 16, 2010

That phrase was needed to help me maintain my drive several times during the very busy happenings of this last week. Realizing that you must persevere when circumstances may seem tougher than others can help you stay motivated to achieve your goals.

As Stillwater woke up to huge snowflakes falling to the ground Monday morning, I made my way to my art history exam. Afterward I went to the Student Union to promote Cowboy Spirit at the OSU Student Foundation booth. When traffic picked up between classes, I attempted to pass out fliers and spread the word about the awesome philanthropic event.

Tuesday morning I had the second portion of my math test, which was shorter than the first, so it wasn't too bad! That evening consisted of the last StuFu meeting before the big event! We all turned in our tickets and picked up t-shirts to return to those who had been a part of the first 200 to purchase a ticket. After composing thank-you notes, two of the committees, including Donor Relations, met on campus to chalk and spread awareness about Cowboy Spirit! Then I headed back to my dorm to begin a full night of drawing. Although having worked on the assignment a majority of the previous weekend, I had a significant amount left to accomplish. I try to avoid pulling all-nighters, but inevitably they happen once in awhile. Luckily another classmate was also working on the project and it made the night more fun.

With the assignment complete, although I was tired, the day went well. I worked at the Cowboy Spirit booth again in the afternoon and got to bed early that night!

Thursday evening provided a full schedule, but was extremely rewarding. Dr. Mary Jo Self, associate professor from the College of Education, was generous enough to speak at our National Society of Collegiate Scholars meeting that evening. In honor of Integrity week, that was the topic of discussion. Her talk was truly thought provoking and ‘hit home’ in many ways. Dr. Self used several specific instances to describe integrity and its importance. Also stating that in the work place there's much else of equal prominence. The personal experiences she shared, along with her views on integrity really allowed us to witness her character and I respect her greatly. She recited a top ten list from the book “The Integrity Advantage: How Taking The High Road Creates A Competitive Advantage In Business” by Adrian Gostick, Dana Telford, and Mitt Romney. Then she ended with an inspiring quote, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters; if you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.” Here's a picture from the meeting.

After NSCS was over, Circle K International had a big meeting planned. Officer elections were held for the 2010-2011 year. We conducted Robert's Rules of Order and as candidates gave speeches, we voted on each position. I will be happy to serve as Secretary again next year! Here's a picture from the elections.

Friday finally arrived and I was very anxious for the Battle of the Bands to get underway! Passing out fliers in the afternoon by Chi-O Clock hopefully attracted a few more people to the event that night. When the time came to go out to the Tumbleweed, everything really came together. All the bands were great and attendance was more than double from last year's event. Beside the main attractions we had a few other special announcements; we were very fortunate to have Burns Hargis, president of the university, make an appearance and announcement at the event. Then Keith Anderson, special performer of the event, signed an OSU guitar that was given by a donor. The guitar will be auctioned off in the fall and all proceeds with go to the Cowboy Spirit scholarship fund! We were very grateful to have so many people come out and support such a great cause! Here are some pics from the event!

Saturday was spent studying for a major test at the beginning of next week. Due to my commitment for Sunday, I knew I would need to get as much done as possible on that day. Of course I had to take a break to watch the victorious bedlam game though!!! Go Cowboys!

Sunday I had a full day ahead of me as I went to Oklahoma City to work a wedding and reception with Jody Reed of J Reed Designs. In hindsight, due to adequately preparing for my test on Tuesday, I might not have worked the event, but the day was fun nonetheless. Not getting home until 1 a.m., the 13 hour day was hard work, but the money is always needed.

The week was definitely a test of my endurance, but there were great lessons and fun times that I will always remember!

GO POKES!

Live To Serve, Love To Serve.

2010-02-08T16:49:00Z

February 8, 2010

The week began with a major scholarship deadline. The Bailey Scholarship is awarded to Arts and Sciences students applying for study abroad programs. Although I had prepared the application prior to that afternoon, I needed to deliver it to the appropriate office on time.

Tuesday was the first Merchandise and Apparel Design Association meeting of the semester. As usual, the speaker provided an abundance of information. Brad Jackson, from Jackson Jewelers in Stillwater was generous enough to speak to us about his career, their business, how they got started, and what to look for in a diamond. The Hearts On Fire diamonds which Jackon's carries, has the world's most perfectly cut diamonds. Now, I will admit that I'm not exactly the most giddy person when it comes to the topic of marriage, but discussing what makes a diamond shine the way it does was pretty neat! Fifty percent of a diamonds value is due to the way it is cut. This becomes important when shopping for a diamond, which may seem easy, but as I found out can be an extensive process. Although, with the CAD (Computer Aided Design) systems available in many jewelry stores, you can see the exact ring you want from all angles before purchasing it. In the short time that we listened to Mr. Jackson speak he also had a chance to tell us many delightful stories he has experienced with couples throughout the years, having been in the jewelry business since he was born. I don't know when I will be in the market for a ring but when I am, Jackson Jewelers seems like a very friendly and helpful environment!

Thursday was a stressful, but exciting day consisting of two tests, two meetings and class in between. Both tests were luckily on the easier side and I had studied earlier in the week, so I wasn't too worried. The OSU Student Foundation Exec. meeting brought more planning and reminders for Cowboy Spirit which is approaching so soon!! I'm really looking forward to this year's battle of the bands! Circle K International followed shortly after, in the Student Union, where we began by discussing upcoming events. We were all looking forward to hosting the District Spring Rally on Saturday! Then we started cutting and tying blankets that we will give to DHS. Here are a couple pics from the meeting.

Saturday morning came with lots of enthusiasm due to all the Circle Ker's who were on their way from different parts of Texas and Oklahoma to meet for the Spring Rally. I love district events with CKI because almost everyone has been a friend from a previous CKI or even a Key Club event! So in a sense these events are an excuse for friends from long distances to get together and perform service projects - what could be better?! We all met at the Renaissance Living Center in Stillwater and decorated the residents' doors for Valentine's Day; they were so happy to see so many smiling faces. Builder's Club also met us there so we had plenty of help ensuring that the doors were wonderfully decorated for the upcoming holiday! After finishing, the CKIer's met at the Student Union and had lunch. An interactive ice breaker got everyone going and really made the afternoon entertaining. Then the business of the day was conducted. Normally, the purpose of Spring Rally is to elect the division's next Lieutenant Governor, but due to predicted weather the Governor of CKI couldn't be present; therefore, the election was postponed to the District Convention. It was a great afternoon of service, leadership, and fellowship nonetheless! Here are a few pictures from Saturday.


CKI & Builder's Club!	The ice breaker at the Student Union

When Sunday arrived I was headed to the library for the duration of the day. Another two tests next week doesn't leave room for much down time. Luckily friends were texting updates on the Super Bowl haha. Congrats Saints!

This week brought good times and challenges, but without the work what are you really achieving? I truly believe more each week that attending Oklahoma State brings opportunities and challenges that help me grow in ways I could do nowhere else!

GO POKES!

Snow Days. Yes Please!

2010-02-01T17:30:00Z

February 1, 2010

Between meetings, Cowboy Spirit preparation, scholarship deadlines, snow days, and Cowboy basketball it was another exciting week at Oklahoma State University!

Tuesday during a break between class, I delivered a Cowboy Spirit t-shirt and tickets to a donor who generously aided in our fundraiser for student scholarships. Then I mailed a scholarship application, and bought large bristol paper for my next art project. I've learned that in order to get everything accomplished, you really have to utilize any spare time wisely. Later that evening, there was a general OSU Student Foundation meeting, with Cowboy Spirit remaining at the top of the agenda! After we broke up into our committees and composed our thank-you notes, we were dismissed with posters in hand, ready to tackle the campus with Cowboy Spirit advertisements.

Wednesday, also during a break between classes, I visited local businesses down Hall of Fame and asked if they would agree to advertise Cowboy Spirit. Most happily obliged and I was on my way to do a little grocery shopping before the impending snow storm. I wasn't alone. Walmart was overflowing with people stocking up in preparation for the worst. I tried to maneuver my way around, get what I needed, and was on my way back to campus for my last class. The concrete had already been salted all over campus; I was really impressed!

As expected, Thursday brought bitter cold air and freezing rain. Luckily I only had to go to math lab in the morning; most of my classes were after the 1 p.m. time that the campus closed. The weather certainly caused cancellations of some sort in most people's schedules. That evening, I was planning on helping with the Rt. 66 Tour event, hosted by the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Special Guest speaker Jullien Gordon was going to discuss “The 66 Things A College Student Must Do Before Graduation.” They're hoping it will be rescheduled in sometime in May. The Thursday night CKI meeting was canceled as well, but it's always better to be safe!

Friday brought snow, snow, and more snow. The snow days and the weekend gave me much-needed time to get ahead on everything and catch up on my sleep! Here are a couple pictures from outside of my dorm.

Although men's basketball wasn't what we hoped for this weekend, they played a great game against Mizzou who have a tough home winning streak. Our Cowgirls, however, had a monumental victory over the No. 8 Aggies at Texas A&M!

GO POKES!

There's Never A Dull Day

2010-01-25T20:20:00Z

January 25, 2010

As the second week of the semester comes to a close, normalcy has returned and I hit the ground running once again. The spring semester always seems to be more of a challenge between balancing scholarship work and school work and with the summer season rapidly approaching, it can be hard to stay focused. Although still in the beginning of a semester, things are exciting and I look forward to each day in class.

Wednesday was definitely full new experiences, starting with a 4:30am wake up call to wait in line in hopes of receiving a study abroad scholarship. The Provost (SAO) Scholarship application is a first come-first served scholarship opportunity for students who plan to study overseas for short periods, like spring break and summer, or longer periods, like a full semester. I have heard there is a lot of competition for this cycle that includes the summer scholarships. I arrived at the union at 5:10 a.m. and was about 25th in line. As the time slowly passed, more and more students trickled in and the aroma of coffee filled the basement as we all occupied ourselves until 8:00 a.m. rolled around. Then one by one we went into the office, turned in our application and that was it!

Although somewhat drowsy throughout the day, everything went well. I had an adviser’s appointment to discuss a letter of recommendation I had requested and was looking forward to the first AIGA meeting of the semester. When I got out of my drawing lab at 6:20 I conveniently walked up stairs to the AIGA meeting, scheduled for 6:30. I'm very thrilled the meetings are on Wednesday nights this semester; last semester they were on Thursday nights, and I was not able to attend. We started out with a great game that dealt with common labels of products, food, clothing etc., and then discussed all the upcoming events. There are always great opportunities available, like contests to enter and places to go to have your work reviewed. Although I feel I may not be at that point in my degree yet, I think it's great to hear about what's out there. Also, there's a department-wide event coming up, a career weekend in Dallas, Texas, and a resource page for OSU graphic design students to utilize in the works - all very exciting!!

I always say, “there's never a dull day,” and Thursday was no exception! A productive Student Foundation executive meeting centered on Cowboy Spirit started the evening off. It's really getting to the “crunch time” phase with this awesome philanthropic event, and I can't wait until Feb.12th!! There's still a lot to be done, but I think each year we're learning more, working together as a group, and I have no doubt it'll be a successful night!

After that, I rushed to the union to make it to the first Circle K International general meeting of the semester. It was great to see some new faces! We discussed all the upcoming events, informed them that they still had a chance to go to District Convention and played a fun ice breaker. The room was full of laughs that evening as we played a mixture of Catch Phrase, charades and Password. Everyone wrote a person, place and thing on 3 separate sheets of paper; then we split into 2 teams. A person on team 1 drew from all the papers and that team guessed, like in Catch Phrase, as to what they were. When time ran out it was the next person's turn on team 2 and this continued until the papers were gone. The next round all papers went back into the box and the same process was done but with charades and then the 3rd round was similar to Password. Acting out Burns Hargis, Las Vegas and a paper clip got quite entertaining haha.

When Friday finally came around, I decided it would be best if I went home due to the amount of progress I needed to make on scholarships, not to mention homework. It's not that I don't have a conducive work environment here, but I felt if I separated myself from any social possibilities (haha) and really focused on what I needed to get done, I would get the best outcome. I completed 2 scholarships and most of my homework so it was a pretty worthwhile weekend. If it wasn't for Cowboy basketball though, it definitely wouldn't have been an exciting weekend! “How 'bout them Cowboys!” It was a great weekend for Oklahoma State basketball with the boys win over Kansas State at Manhattan and then the girls win over Colorado!! The guys getting a record-setting win at that; first win on the road against a top 10 team since 1958! Now that's impressive. Here are some pics from this weekend!


Photos courtesy of Newsok

GO POKES!

And The Fun Begins

2010-01-19T22:05:00Z

January 18, 2010

Life was as busy as ever the first week of school, and I happily jumped right into my normal routine at OSU. New classes, fresh faces, and the same incredible Oklahoma State atmosphere made for a great first week of the semester!

Monday was filled with last-minute activities such as purchasing my books at the overflowing Student Union bookstore, getting my insurance ID made for my study-abroad trip, running to the bank and buying all the art supplies needed for my Drawing II lab. Also, I had some important tasks to complete for a couple of the approaching scholarship deadlines.

With Cowboy Spirit just around the corner, Tuesday brought a special OSU Student Foundation Exec. meeting and the general meeting that followed. There are so many exciting projects going on right now with STUFU and the Foundation; I’m very grateful to be a part of such a truly philanthropic organization. We were fortunate to have Becky Endicott, the senior director of marketing and communications, and Jonathan McCoy, the assistant director of marketing and communications, of the Foundation speak at meeting that evening. The news that they delivered to us about the upcoming campaign launch on Feb. 26 was so incredibly compelling I could barely contain my excitement. Experiences I’m sure witnessing or hopefully being involved in this monumental campaign will bring prove to me why OSU is such a unique university. I’m so lucky to be afforded the opportunities to participate in such life-changing events.

Thursday was definitely full of excitement as well, with the reception for Benjamin Harjo Jr. in the Gardiner Art Gallery. If you haven’t had a chance to see his incredible pieces displayed on the first level of the Bartlett Center, I would highly recommend it! Every piece is so wonderfully mesmerizing and unique, yet somehow cohesive with the next. I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Harjo and share my appreciation of his talents. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to attend the lecture due to a conflicting meeting, but I was happy to mix and mingle with his supporters. Here is a picture from the event.

After the reception, I went to a CKI exec. meeting, which will be our last meeting that is formatted in this way. This semester we have decided that for member recruitment purposes, it might be more effective to have slightly shorter meetings every Thursday, instead of only on alternating Thursdays. We will have an exec. meeting following each general meeting. We’re hoping that this gets members more involved! We also discussed many upcoming events, such as Fall Rally, which we were chosen to host here in Stillwater and the annual District Convention that is quickly approaching.

Friday arrived and it seemed like it had been almost two weeks, haha. Needless to say, despite my awesome week, I was ready for the weekend. It was a great one; I got to see some friends that came from Texas who hadn't been to Stillwater before. Let's just say, when it comes to talking about OSU and Stillwater they came to the right person! Haha. We went to “Joe’s” the first night and I think they really enjoyed the rest of their time here. Since this weekend is longer than most, I’ll have a chance to get ahead on a little homework and make sure I get plenty of rest for the upcoming week - a very rare occurrence!!

Go Pokes!

A Busy Holiday Season!

2010-01-12T16:50:00Z

January 11, 2010

This winter break, although different than usual, was just as enjoyable and seemed to fly by as quickly as most. The highlight for me was definitely working, which kept me occupied from the beginning to the end of the four weeks. Fortunately, due to the holidays, I got to spend a couple long weekends with my family!

As mentioned previously, I feel extremely fortunate to have been hired on at Uptown Marketplace in Weatherford for the duration of Christmas break. It was a great learning experience and honestly just a lot of fun! The people that I had the pleasure of working with were wonderful and so welcoming. Also, growing up in Weatherford, it was nice to see many familiar faces that frequented the store. As a college student, money is always helpful; however, it was particularly pertinent that I obtain a job over the break in order to help finance my upcoming study-abroad trip in May. I am applying for scholarships to assist in funding as well, but the recipients are not informed until after full commitment to the program has already been made.

On the subject of scholarships, numerous deadlines are rapidly approaching and preparation for most of them is not easy. So I spent as much time as I could when not wrapped up in holiday festivities trying to organize the needed information for the respective scholarships.

In addition, I had a couple opportunities to work at catered Christmas parties. These are always fun for me because I love interacting with people. Also, it's a pleasure because many of the guests are familiar faces!

FAMILY: what I think the holidays are all about! My family definitely makes every holiday more wonderful than the last. This year was certainly no exception - minus a little deterrence due to the weather that covered the state of Oklahoma. A majority of my family still arrived to celebrate Christmas at my grandparents, but my uncle was unable to make the trip from St. Louis due to the hazardous conditions. We’d much rather have our family safe, but it wasn’t the same without him there. Luckily, he arrived the next weekend and we had a great time. Also, it was very nice to spend time with my brother over the holidays! Especially since he didn’t make it home over Thanksgiving this year, the 10 days that he was here were a blast. Although we still have sibling rivalry in all the games that we play, haha, it’s all in good fun! He had so many stories about his life in California; I want to visit him! It was a white Christmas and Happy New Year for me in Weatherford.

A couple things Santa brought me...I think he likes OSU too! haha.

Cowboy football season came to an end in a well-earned, respected bowl game. Although the outcome wasn’t favorable, the successful season gave all OSU fans high hopes for the future. No matter the circumstances, Oklahoma State fans are ever-present, exemplifying orange power!

Photo courtesy of Newsok

Although the breaks never seem quite long enough, I am always ready to return “home” and become immersed once again in the life that I am so passionate about: the life of an Oklahoma State Cowboy. Just pondering my opportunity-filled future remaining at this prestigious university, motivation kicks in to press on into another promising semester!

Go Pokes!

Crunch Time.

2009-12-15T14:52:00Z

December 14, 2009

The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice. - George Eliot.

Finals week had arrived at Oklahoma State University this time last week. Long hours of studying, little sleep, and stress accompany this period of exams each semester. Some semesters are better than others, this semester, however, might have posed the hardest finals schedule I have yet encountered. Mainly due to the days the tests were scheduled, last week was quite stressful for me. When all was said and done though, everything went well. When I completed my finals on Thursday, I felt like the world had been lifted off of my shoulders!

Wednesday served as a much needed break point in between the beginning portion of my finals and my remaining one on Thursday. I was extremely honored to be invited to a lunch at Mike and Anne Greenwood's home. Anne had prepared a wonderful afternoon for a few guests that were fortunate enough to view her extraordinary Christmas decorations! With the numerous beautiful and meaningful Christmas trees, and warm wassail, I don't know who wouldn't feel right at home It was a very pleasant afternoon and I was so grateful that I was able to enjoy it with such wonderful people!

The rest of the day, continuing into the night was spent studying for my remaining final - Art History. I was so relieved to be finished on Thursday. Although I was a bit on the tired side I was happy to fulfill a commitment that evening that I had made a few weeks prior. A friend had asked if I would help cater an event in Oklahoma City on Thursday evening. I knew I would be done with finals, and a little extra money is always needed; it turned out to be fun, I'm glad I had that opportunity! We left at 4pm and returned to Stillwater at 11pm - I definitely slept well that night!

I had been looking forward to Friday all week because my good friend from Texas A&M was coming to spend the weekend with me! We've known each other for a long time so it's always great to reminisce over old times and make new ones! Saturday night, we spent in Bricktown with another friend and I left from there to go back to Weatherford!

Seeing my family and my puppy is always wonderful, but this break I have something else to look forward to! I was fortunate enough to get a job for the length of Christmas break, which I wasn't sure was possible. Some may not find that appealing, but I'm always looking for a change of pace or something new and challenging! I'm working at a local home décor shop in Weatherford, I start the 14th, so I'm not quite sure what my duties will entail but I'm really looking forward to the job! I found out for the first time last Christmas break that a month is a very long time to not have a steady schedule and I enjoy staying busy. So I'll be sure to update on how it goes, I'm sure it will be great.

Another sensational semester at OSU has come to an end. It seems like just yesterday I was composing my first blog!

'Tis The Season!

2009-12-07T21:52:00Z

December 7, 2009

Well, where to begin with this past week? I definitely don’t understand why it’s known as “dead week.” I’m quite sure it’s one of the busiest weeks I’ve had in awhile, haha. Keeping the end in mind, knowing that this was the last leg of the race, of this semester anyway, I kept my motivation high. Although I would’ve liked to accomplish a little more on the studying side, it was an overall productive week!

Tuesday evening was the last Merchandise and Apparel Design Association meeting of the semester at the Beadery, downtown. These meetings are always a lot of fun because it gives the members a chance to socialize and browse around a really great boutique. Not to mention, the owner generously offers a discount to all members who attend! After catching up with a few people I had to meet with my 3D Foundations group to finish our final project. Needless to say, we didn’t leave the Visual Art Annex until the middle of the night. The project counted as our final though, and we were very pleased with the outcome.

After a full day of classes on Thursday, I changed into my tacky Christmas sweater and reindeer antler headband and made my way to the OSU Student Foundation Christmas tree decorating party! Tables were set up for the Adopt-a-Family gifts that members had signed up to bring, dozens of orange and black ornaments and presents, and another that was full of food Christmas cheer was definitely in the atmosphere! The Greenwoods, who are such avid supporters of STUFU, generously donated a new Christmas tree to the Foundation last year and they are always there to help decorate it as well! Here are a few pictures from the party.

Upon leaving this wonderful festivity, Circle K International also had its last meeting of the semester at Hideaway Pizza. Once we were done with the meal, we had our meeting, and discussed upcoming events and district conferences that we might host next semester. Then, I returned to my dorm to attempt to catch up on some drawing before exhaustion set in, haha. Here’s a picture from the meeting!

The remainder of the weekend consisted of studying, drawing, studying, drawing, and a little more studying. This very “action-packed” cycle was luckily broken up briefly on Saturday morning. One of my favorite events with CKI is decorating residents’ doors at Renaissance Assisted Living Center; we usually do this for Valentine’s Day and Christmas. It never ceases to amaze me how much a small act like that can mean to someone. They’re so happy just to see a new, smiling face! I truly enjoy participating in events like this, that’s why I love CKI! Another reason I love this event is because we decorate with the Builder’s Club - the elementary level of Kiwanis. The K-Family is comprised of K-Kids, Builder’s Club, Key Club, CKI and Kiwanis. Now, I was very active in Key Club in high school, but to be in elementary school and already have a desire and passion to serve, that is so great! I really admire those kids! Here is a pic of a member of the Builder’s Club decorating a resident's door.

It’s hard to believe that the semester has come to a close, but I’m more than ready! Finals and Christmas break, here I come!

GO POKES!

A Time For Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T15:11:00Z

November 30, 2009

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year; I love spending time with family, and the large amounts of delicious food certainly doesn't hurt I had only been home once since summer, so Tuesday couldn't come soon enough!

Monday, my Nutrition test that I had been worried about for weeks prior was finally out of the way! A final paper for that class was also due. So after my classes on Tuesday, I packed and was on the road, headed home!

I was greeted with open arms, a super excited dog, and a home cooked meal! I honestly think I forgot what real food tasted like, haha. My grandma spoils me so much with her wonderful cooking. This Thanksgiving happened to be quieter than most years, with 5 of the family members whom are normally a part of the festivities unable to make it to Weatherford. The amount of food seemed to be the same, however, which meant a lot of leftovers!! You can't beat a turkey sandwich on a homemade roll. Saturday morning, I went over to my grandparents house to help put up her beautiful Christmas tree that has about 11 layers of branches, but the finished product is aways worth it! Here is a picture of our amazing Thanksgiving feast and of the Christmas tree - without the ornaments.


And this doesn't include dessert!

As we were finishing up the tree, the Bedlam game was about to begin!! I will say that my hopes were very high for this year’s rival match-up. Obviously the outcome was far from what many of us expected, but I don't feel that that changes anything about the successful season the Cowboys have achieved. One thing that did surprise me was all of the extreme comments about the game from the Oklahoma State fans in regard to how our team performed. I feel that a true fan is proud of their team - win or lose. Personally, I am thankful to the coaching staff for all they have done this season and to the players for their hard work when faced with adversity and injured teammates. Regardless of their Win-Loss record as a football team, I will always cheer them on as a proud Oklahoma State Cowboy.

Cotton Bowl here we come!

Here's an action shot from the game!

Photo courtesy of Newsok

GO POKES!

Study. Study. Study.

2009-11-23T15:05:00Z

November 23, 2009

Those words seemed to replay over and over in my thoughts and were reflected in my actions throughout this entire week. I have enjoyed my nutrition course, and have truly learned a lot; however, to be honest, I feel like I'm majoring in nutrition this semester, haha. The last test is this upcoming Monday and I have been attempting to study as much as possible throughout the week. Although, I had to take my focus off of nutrition in the middle of the week to prepare for my Art History test that was Thursday. My involvement in activities continued as normal, which although filling my schedule, always keeps me going!

Tuesday there was an OSU Student Foundation general meeting, scheduled on an alternate week due to Thanksgiving break. Cowboy Spirit, which will be February 12, is definitely fast approaching! There is so much involved in planning this event, but I'm so thankful to be a part of a group that truly has been working together toward raising funds to support students’ futures! The OSU Foundation itself has been so helpful as well. I don't know how the marketing/design team produces all that we may need on top of their other duties. I am sure this exciting battle of the bands will be here before we know it; it's a night you won't want to miss!

Due to the Thursday night game, my Circle K International executive meeting was on Wednesday night. We are also planning numerous upcoming events which include decorating for Christmas at a nursing home and ringing bells for the Salvation Army. Our major district event of the year, CKI District Convention, is the last weekend in February. It happens to be in San Marcos, Texas, this year, which unfortunately isn't exactly in economic driving distance from Stillwater. We're trying to figure out flight prices, etc. Luckily with club funds and an extremely supportive Kiwanis club, the price for the members attending should be significantly lower than the actual cost.

Thursday, the Cowboys faced Colorado in a very exciting game! It was a little “too close for comfort” for me, haha, but with the teamwork and leadership that are present on our team, OSU came through victorious! The adversity that the Cowboys have overcome this year is truly incredible! I'm so proud to be a student at Oklahoma State and to cheer on the team every week! Here's a pic of the Cowboys in their special black uniforms from the CO game.

OSU Student Foundation twice in one week?! “Yes please.” Also due to the game, our Thursday evening executive meeting was moved to Friday afternoon....in the Murphy House!! It was the first time that the exec team had gotten a chance to see the newly renovated space across from the Foundation! The board room was perfect for our meeting and we continued planning and preparation for Cowboy Spirit, as well as upcoming Christmas themed events!

On Saturday morning, Kiwanis was hosting a Flapjack breakfast at Applebee's that I was more than happy to attend. Kiwanis, as mentioned so frequently, supports our CKI chapter in so many ways! So we try to help in any way that we can to express our gratitude! It was a great morning, the Kiwanians are always so extremely sweet and cheerful . The pancakes were delicious too! Here's a picture from the event!

After the breakfast that morning, I planned on visiting the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art in Shawnee to obtain my last two possible extra credit points for Art History. Unfortunately, when analyzing how much studying and drawing I had to accomplish that day and the next, I felt like I couldn't afford that time commitment. So the remainder of the weekend consisted of lots of studying...and daydreaming about turkey

GO POKES!

For It Is In Giving That We Receive.

2009-11-16T15:25:00Z

November 16, 2009

Another week full of exciting events and informational meetings was kicked off with the OSU Student Foundation Thank-a-thon on Tuesday. This event was one of my favorites last year, so it was definitely a privilege to be heading the committee that was in charge of planning this evening of donor appreciation. The Thank-a-thon is an event that STUFU coordinates twice a semester in order to personally thank donors for their generous gifts. Members utilize the Cowboy Caller stations, key pads, and headsets as they call away thanking numerous donors! As a treat for our dedicated members who were calling, we gave away four gift cards to local businesses at the end of the evening. The night was filled with fun, food and celebration of the many donors we are so grateful to have supporting OSU; it doesn't get much better than that! Here are a couple pictures from the evening.


	Dennis Rudasill, last year's Scholar Blogger, excited about contacting donors!

This was a pretty crazy week as far as school goes. My six-week Drawing I portfolio was due, I had a Philosophy test, and a six-page paper for Art History, but adequate sleep or not, haha, everything seems to work out in the end.

Thursday, Circle K International was fortunate to have Detective Kyle Bruce from the Stillwater Police Department as the guest speaker at our meeting. He discussed his job and many other important situations that involve college students and the police. Detective Bruce is a part of the Special Projects Investigation Team, or SPIT. His discussion was very informative and down to earth. Here's a pic from the meeting.

When the weekend finally rolled around, and people were filing into Stillwater for the Texas Tech game, it was time for one of my very favorite events. The President's Club Event is one of the few times that OSU has the opportunity to thank such a large number of donors at once. Eleven hundred donors RSVP'd to this year’s event! I am so thankful that I was given the chance to interact with so many kind-hearted people that truly love OSU. Participating in events similar to this one through STUFU honestly makes me so proud to be a Cowboy; I can't wait until I can give back too! Being in a room as large as this, one completely overflowing with orange pride, is really awesome, and I'm glad I got to be a small part of that. Kirk Jewell, the president and CEO of the OSU Foundation, and Burns Hargis, our university's president, delivered inspirational words that made the Cowboy spirit in the room grow even more! Here are a couple pictures from the President's Club event.


Getting everything set up for the event!	STUFU members anxiously awaiting the donors’ arrival.

After this event, everyone was pumped up to go watch the Cowboys play Texas Tech. As always, Boone Pickens Stadium was packed and we cheered our team on to victory! That definitely wrapped up another great week at Oklahoma State University!

Go Pokes!

Overcoming Obstacles

2009-11-09T15:35:00Z

November 9, 2009

If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. - Frank A. Clark

This week presented me with a fairly large barrier. It's hard to understand sometimes why events occur in the way that they do, but I try to remember that obstacles are a part of any successful journey. The most important thing is how you deal with those deterrences and continue to strive toward your final destination. In the end, someone who has had to make decisions or persevere through rough times is most likely going to be stronger from overcoming such hurdles.

Monday started off with a deadline for a major project in my 3D Foundations class. After lots of out-of-class effort, I was glad to have this project completed.

Tuesday there was a Merchandise and Apparel Design Association meeting! The manager of The Buckle clothing store in Stillwater came to give a denim fitting demonstration and discuss the company's career options. As always, the meeting was extremely informative. I had been to the denim demonstration at the Buckle last year with MADA but all the career information was so interesting. She discussed their intern opportunities and an intern was actually a student present at the meeting. Since one of the options is interning part-time while going to school, the girl that is interning with the Buckle currently, shared a lot of personal insight and experience about what her position entails. The program that they offer is great! The company has not only survived the economic downturn, but continued to flourish throughout it. And of course, the manager brought the most amazing jeans to help her demonstrate appropriate sizes for body types! Did you know The Buckle will set up jean fitting/ personal shopping appointments for you?

I've had chronic headaches and occasional migraines since I was in grade school, but through lots of searching over the years I have found relief for my daily headaches and can usually keep my migraines under control if I don't let them get too bad. Wednesday morning I had a bad headache, went to my morning lab and my nutrition discussion, but I knew if I didn't take my migraine medicine that things would get worse. Unfortunately for the medicine to be effective, I have to sleep after taking it - not exactly convenient in the middle of a school day. But it's better than the alternative. When I woke up, late afternoon, however, there was little/no change in the headache.

So to summarize everything, it lasted through Thursday and then started to progressively get worse. My mom came from home - I have such a wonderful mom! - and I got through Thursday night, but when my migraines get to that level and have lasted multiple days we've found that only one thing can break the cycle. So Friday morning I went to University Health Services and got a pain injection that knocks me out. Migraines are definitely an obstacle in my life, I feel that they limit what I can do sometimes, but as I mentioned before; it's all how you approach the situation. I am so grateful for all I am blessed with, and for my good health - most of the time, haha. So many people perform the tasks that we do everyday suffering conditions so much worse.

Due to the events of Friday, sadly I did have to miss participating in the Library Event with OSU Student Foundation and Into the Streets on Saturday morning with Circle K International.

The weekend was still full of excitement though! Saturday I went to both the Philbrook Museum of Art and the Gilcrease Museum of the Americas. Talk about a beautiful day to go to two gorgeous estates! I needed to visit both in order to fulfill a particular assignment for my art history class, and I was glad. They were both unique and charming in their own ways. It would be difficult to discuss the breadth of art that I had the pleasure of viewing that day; both museums have extensive collections. The Philbrook Museum, which used to be an actual home, really appealed to me in that the interior spaces correlated with the art that was exhibited in that particular location. It seemed to evoke a stronger mood from the artwork because of the surrounding environment. Almost as enjoyable as seeing the numerous incredible works of art, was spending time outside both museums. Each had captivating landscapes that truly made my experience on Saturday a great one! Here are a just a few pictures, I took a lot

The Gilcrease Museum!

The Philbrook Museum!

Two wins for the Cowboys this weekend and I was fortunate enough to attend one of them!! Saturday night when I got back from the museums, OSU was playing UCO at Gallagher Iba Arena. Thanks to STUFU I got to attend. I had never been to a basketball game at Oklahoma State before so it was a big treat for me! Not to mention that the seats were practically on the court; it was really great. Also, we got to cheer on the Cowboys with Mike and Anne Greenwood! Here's an action shot from the game.

GO POKES!

WOW!

2009-11-02T18:56:00Z

November 2, 2009

The weeks are definitely becoming busier and busier as this semester comes closer to an end. Thankfully, I am able to participate in events throughout the week and on weekends with the organizations I am a part of that keep my spirits high and my determination strong. The opportunities that I'm allowed through the few organizations I'm in are the experiences that have made college at OSU such a blast! It's just hard to pick and choose what organizations to be involved in on a campus that has as many philanthropic activities as Oklahoma State.

There's a lot going on in OSU Student Foundation right now, so Tuesday's meeting was full of brainstorming and planning. We're really kicking things off with Cowboy Spirit, which is a large-scale process that involves every member in some way. “Students raising scholarships for students!” it doesn't get much better than that . I love STUFU.

Thursday, OSU was lucky to have a representative from Prismacolor give a presentation. As each person entered the room a variety of pens and pencils were offered to us - for free! I was truly thrilled with the video and explanation given of all prismacolors products and their uses. We watched a video about how the colored pencil is made, starting at the pigment fragments, until it is in the pencil and must go through a series of color tests. Next, we viewed a slide show of all their products and examples of corresponding art work. I have used and loved prismacolor colored pencils for a long time, but I was unaware of the company Sanford's large breadth of art products. I learned a lot about the marketing process of their products, as well as manufacturing. At the end there was a very generous prize drawing of the prismacolor products we had just been educated on! Also, the representative had all the products and lots of art work with her. She offered everyone the opportunity to try out these great tools! Unfortunately I was running late for my 7 o'clock meeting, but I gained a lot from attending!

At the Circle K International meeting we worked on two small-scale service projects after we went over the general meeting information. We made more linus blankets to add to the collection we plan to give to the local Police Department and the second project was an idea we brought back from the Fall Retreat. We took old t-shirts, cut them into strips, took three strips, tied a knot at one end, braided the fabric, and tied another knot. Then voila! you have a perfectly good dog toy. They are simple and easy to make and are great for donations to animal shelters.

Halloween spirit was present at OSU on Friday at the Student Union Atrium! The annual Halloween Carnival is always a great time for community members to come and have a safe place to bring their kids for fun and games! Since both CKI and MADA (Merchandise and Apparel Design Association) had booths at the carnival, I worked one booth half of the time and one the other half. It's actually more fun for me that way because I got to draw fake wounds on kids with lipstick and eyeliner, and I got to help kids color miniature pumpkins - all in one night, haha!

Saturday was a big day in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with two shades of orange visible throughout the campus; I was looking forward to helping at a STUFU donor event before the game. The National Campaign Committee meeting was held at the newly renovated Architecture building. Eight Student Foundation members helped by either greeting the attendees and handing out name tags, or passing out water, etc. It was a wonderful event, and I had never been inside the architecture building since the renovations; it was extraordinary!

Although the outcome of Saturday's game wasn't what we hoped for, I know I was standing in Boone Pickens Stadium until the alma mater played, swaying arm in arm with my friends. Regardless of what the scoreboard displays, OSU's spirit rivals all others!

GO POKES!

Enlightenment of The Mind, Giving From the Heart, And Service For Others

2009-10-26T14:05:00Z

October 26, 2009

The highlight of this week began on Wednesday with “Landscape Painting in Tuscany” Information session. Images about what this trip would entail have been running through my head since I first heard about it. Well, those ideas were far exceeded during this meeting led by professor Marty Avrett. The three week long, on site, intensive landscape painting opportunity based in Spannocchia, Italy, promises a truly unique experience. I would earn 3 hours of credit toward my degree, while living on an estate that is home to the Etruscan Foundation. Also, the weekends are considered our free time, which would allow me the chance to tour other parts of Italy! I could continue with many more exciting details; I'm sure my eyes were wide open with enthusiasm as Mr. Avrett spoke. Now, it's obviously not cheap to study abroad, but this program in particular is significantly lower in price than some I've looked into. In order to fund this journey, I am applying for numerous scholarships and on the hunt for more. Unfortunately, I won't know the results of those applications until after I've commited to the class, but I'm hoping it's a risk that will pay off. Nevertheless, I will be returning May 31st, so I will have the remainder of the summer to work. An experience like this, which truly combines everything that I love is something I feel I cannot pass up. I'm going to do what it takes to make it work!

Thursday, the OSU Student Foundation held a Donor Dinner, one of my favorite type of events! We wanted everyone to have an opportunity to get to know two of STUFU's greatest supporters, Mike and Anne Greenwood. I personally learned a lot about some exciting new service opportunities for the organization, and always enjoy the conversation in general, at these events. At the end of the dinner, the Greenwoods made an incredibly exciting announcement: they were going to be Cowboy Spirit's very first donors and they also offered to help with start up costs. If I haven't reiterated this point enough, Mike and Anne are honestly two of the most giving people I've had the pleasure of meeting. They give because they love to help others, but it's more than that; something about their acts of giving, whether small or large, come from their heart, mind, and soul. I know I speak on behalf of STUFU when I say that we are thankful to the Greenwoods for all that they do. Here's a picture of some of the STUFU members that attended.

On Friday after class I was off to Denton, Texas, for the Circle K International Fall Retreat at Camp Copass. Truthfully, in the beginning of the week I was stressed out because of all the projects I have due this next week, and being gone from Friday to Sunday isn't conducive to large amounts of homework. Although, when we got to the camp and I saw so many familiar faces that I rarely see, and started meeting tons of new people, my worries faded. Throughout the weekend we participated in numerous team building workshops, two group service projects, raised over $250 in a contest for the Six Cents Initiative, choreographed an original dance, wrote warm fuzzies, and had a costume party - quite an eventful weekend! There were students from CKI chapters all over Texas and Oklahoma. Now I'm looking forward to District Convention in February so I can reunite with all my new friends! One thing I enjoy the most about these events is the service; it re-inspires my passion for service. I love the excitement that was present during the service projects. Helping others is so much fun and on occasions like this weekend that's what everyone is all about! Here are a few pictures from the weekend


My team at Fall Retreat!	Costume Party! I was OSU's #1 fan. Ok, so I didn't really have to dress up, haha. Kidding. And a fellow OSU CKI'er as a scarecrow!

One of the workshops about the dangers alcohol abuse.

GO POKES! 6-1! Look out Texas, here we come!

“Branded For Life!”

2009-10-19T14:26:00Z

October 19, 2009

“Wow, what an orange powered weekend!” Homecoming 2009 didn't fall short of the nation's expectations, delivering once again: spirit, dedication, philanthropy, family, friendship, and football! The week leading up to this annual celebration was filled with preparation and hard work that paid off in every way, as thousands of people flowed into Stillwater Friday to enjoy “walkaround.” Saturday brought a star-studded, victorious football game to all the fans! What more could any Cowboy ask for?

Homecoming week is a wonderful time to be an OSU student! Spirit is abundant all over campus; even the rain couldn't dim the bright orange fountain at Edmon Low Library. Tuesday, I had an OSU Student Foundation meeting, which brought exciting news. People of Stillwater and the surrounding areas, get pumped because Keith Anderson is performing at STUFU's annual Cowboy Spirit this year!! We will still have a battle of the bands, but he will be performing at the end! We are all very thrilled and fortunate that he has agreed to attend. After the meeting, we needed to label all the candy that would be passed out at the parade, but with everyone helping it didn't take long. Here is a pic of a few members labeling candy.

Wednesday I was fortunate to be able to attend the Marching Band Appreciation event, coordinated by incredibly generous OSU donors, Mike and Anne Greenwood. Our band puts in so much time and effort; I'm glad that I was given the chance to tell them thanks! Water, and a wide variety of snacks were provided to the band during an outside practice on a cold, muggy day - they all seemed very grateful! I look up to people like Mike and Anne so much because they're not only ever-present when support is needed, but they also seek out opportunities to help others in any way they can. I feel very lucky to have gotten to know them through the OSU Student Foundation.

Thursday, Circle K International (Kiwanis) had an extra long meeting in order to bake all the food we were going to sell at our booth at walkaround. Although, close to half of what we needed was homemade and brought by Kiwanians; I don't know what we would do without them! So at our meeting that night, we baked cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and wrapped and labeled everything. I don't know if I've seen that many sweets at one time, haha. Here's a pic from the meeting and one at our booth at walkaround!

Saturday afternoon arose to a “Sea of Orange,” with the annual parade in full swing. I met quite a few fellow STUFU members at the OSU Foundation a couple hours before the parade to pick up the lovely orange and black carts we would be driving! Last year it was one of my absolutely favorite events, and this year was no different. Once the parade began, we were on the move with candy and banner in hand, striding…ok jogging between the carts. One thing all kids love - is candy! It's always fun to pass out candy to all the little kids waiting anxiously. After the parade was over, we were still pumped up with Cowboy spirit. We honked and cheered, “Go Pokes” and “Orange Power” to all the tailgaters as we headed back to the Foundation, it was a blast! Here are a couple pictures from the parade!


	All of us waiting for the parade to start

This homecoming, despite the usual, was especially exciting for me because I got to spend the weekend with my brother, Clay! He is a 2008 OSU graduate and is currently a mechanical engineer for 3M. So starting in June of 2008 he moved to Hutchinson, Minnesota, a little far from home . He recently acquired a new position within the company and is moving to Irvine, California. I would be lying if I said I'm not looking forward to visiting him at Hunting Beach!! I'm so proud of my brother, I've always looked up to him. His last day in MN was Thursday, so he was very happy to make to back for homecoming. We had a great time!

Weekends like this make me sure that I will truly be “Branded For Life” - an Oklahoma State Cowboy.
Here are some more pictures from this weekend!


my brother and I

GO POKES!

Home Is Where The Heart Is.

2009-10-12T14:07:00Z

October 12, 2009

Compared to last week's test schedule, just working steadily on projects throughout the week seemed to provide a little bit of break for me.

Tuesday, was the monthly Merchandise and Apparel Design Association meeting, which are always both informational and fun! We learned how the local bridal and dress shop, Black Velvet, got started and how it developed its own niche within Stillwater. The useful entrepreneurship information that was discussed in the meeting could be helpful to people of any major. Black Velvet not only caters to the bride's dress selection, but they coordinate entire weddings. The meeting was intriguing and inspirational. It's always good to hear from people who have made their dreams come true, especially in the middle of a school week or even a semester. It enables you to take a look at your own goals and keep your determination high, when sometimes we get in a routine and forget about the things that are important to us on a bigger scale. Also, the owner, who attends fashion markets four to five times a year and plans weddings, majored in Aviation at Oklahoma State University. This reiterates something I feel is very important; your degree in no way limits you to what you can do in life. Although it may be beneficial to study what you would like to pursue a career in, I believe if you follow your dreams and have a passion for what you do, anything can be achieved.

A quote that I've always said is, “if it rains on your parade, break out the slip n' slide.” Although that may be figurative, I could have literally had a few slip n' slides out on Thursday, haha. Despite my efforts to keep my belongings dry, quite a few of my things were affected by the downpour, but “it happens.” By mid-day, I was soggy and ready for fall break to start!

Thursday after class, I was on the road, and on my way to Weatherford, OK for the first time since summer! Now, I'm not the type that ever gets homesick, but I am still very close to my family. Needless to say, I was very excited to spend a long weekend at home with family. My mom and my grandparents have been extremely influential throughout my entire life, and continue to be so on a daily basis. Jane, my mother, is a single parent, school teacher, and has raised me to be the person I am today. She, as well as my grandparents have instilled the values and morals that help make up my character. I am truly grateful for everything thing they have given me, from love, to advice, support, and so much more. On the subject of families, I would say I'm the luckiest girl in the world . Did I mention that my grandma is an amazing cook! Yay for homemade food, haha. “Gram” is also a bigger college and pro football fan than any guy I know, so it was a fun-filled Saturday of football. The highlight being the Oklahoma State game; I'm proud of our Cowboys!! It was also wonderful to see my dog, Gretchen. I miss her so much while I'm at school. Fall break went by too fast. Here are some pics from Sunday after church.

GO POKES!