FAU Student Works to Save the Owls

You might have noticed recent construction along the backside of FAU's campus. That is home to a few of FAU's most current development plans. Along with a long awaited football stadium, they intend to build new housing for upperclassman, and a parking garage with a row of shops below.

But what about our mascot, the burrowing owl. If my memory serves me right that same land was once the home of a number of burrowing owls and now a "species of special concern," the gopher tortoise. Unfortunately as the school continues to grow, they continue to build. FAU senior Dan Rowan is determined to make a convincing case to protect what is left of the preserve and that doing so would be of equal prestige as any building.

To read more about Rowan and his efforts to protect the last few inhabitants of the FAU nature preserve read the original article at The Palm Beach Post.

Here are a few of FAU's efforts to preserve the environment around campus:

FAU Journalism Student Gets a Head Start

Most students enrolled in college have one common fear, graduating. Some students go through their entire college carear without having a single internship or even experience of any kind. FAU, senior, multimedia journalism major, Neil Schonfeld, refused to just be another statistic. Schonfeld told me he believes it is important to intern before he graduates, because like most seniors, he is nervous about finding a job in not only a "dying field", but a weak economy as well.

Schonfeld has always been told that he had the perfect voice for the radio, naturally it sparked his interest as a profession and among other interest, fell in love with sports. So when he began attending FAU, he decided to being hosting his own radio show, Power Sports Hour on Owl Radio (a student run radio station).

Power Sports Hour doesn't just talk about sports, but a little bit of everything. Schonfel said, "I try to bounce around." Recently on the show they discussed a website called guyism, and their information titled "10 things guys lie about to get with girls."

Schonfeld has also been interning at ESPN 760 and believes he has learned a significant amount on the job. Neil told me, "I've learned how to cut sound, do promotional events and how to interact with people." Schonfeld believes that the most valuable advice he has received was to always be on the look-out for potential partners and connections.

FAU Student Host "Up Till' Dawn"

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research center for one very major reason, its free, well at least to the over 5,000 children that come to St. Jude's every year. FAU senior, Shannon Burke, saw a very special place in her heart for what they do everyday.

Burke decided to host an event for the FAU community called, "Up 'Till Dawn." This event takes place at colleges around the country every year and raises thousands of dollars. This past month was the first time that the event had ever been done at FAU. Burke told me, "I decided to start this event because I saw a chance for greeks and non-greeks to find a common cause to come together and celebrate over a great cause."

Up 'Till Dawn takes weeks of preparation from all participants. The concept is to get as many addresses from friends and family as possible. You can spend part of your night addressing letters requesting donations to the hospital, the rest of your night is comprised of fun games and activities.

"For the first year, it was very successful. From day one I have measured the success of this event not by money donated, but rather the awareness raised to St. Jude's and the event itself," said Burke. Up 'Till Dawn had two side events that raised $350. According to Burke the entire event raised a total of $800, but the number has been changing as donations are being sent in on behalf of the FAU community.

FAU Greek Opens Boca Greek Store

If you are involved in Greek Life at FAU you are likely familiar with how inconvenient it is to drive down to the very bottom of Miami just to buy your "Greek Life items", but your only other option is to buy online. Most students in Greek life buy shirts, make paddles, and decorate their cars and rooms in all sorts of paraphernalia. FAU senior Business Management major, Jacob Guerra recognized this niche and is now the owner of his own business, GO GREEK.

According to Guerra, "The GO GREEK store will provide an assortment of Greek Life items previously unavailable in this location combined with competitive price and conveniently located near FAU's campus." The store will offer big/little paddles, jerseys of all kinds, general apparel, birthday and graduation presents, screen-printing and embroidery services to all student clubs and even local organizations.

Guerra has had previous experience in managing a profitable start-up company and stressed that he prides himself on making ethical and efficient business decisions. He told me, "throughout my time at FAU I have become widely known in the Greek community and believe I have developed into a dedicated entrepreneur."

This ambitious plan has made it to the final round of FAU's 2010 Business Plan Competition. He will be displaying his plan for the final round on April 16 for a chance to win $60,000 or more. The store is expected to open on August 1, 2010.

FAU Student Vounteers in Israel: Alternate Spring Break in the Middle East

While most FAU students spent their spring break in tropical destinations bathing in the sun. FAU senior, Kevin Wyne spent his break hanging out with Ethiopians and learning more about the Jewish culture.

During Wyne's week in Israel he painted a housing project for Ethiopian immigrants, made benches out of mud (pictured below) for an Ethiopian absorption center in Israel, planted over 200 plants at a government-funded rehabilitation center, picked grapefruits for people who needed food, and cleaned a local picnic area.

"My favorite part was the amount of time that we were given to speak and work with the children (of Ethiopia)... they need positive role models and to know that someone does care about them," said Wyne when I asked about his most treasured memories of the alternate vacation.

When asked why he decided to participate in such an unselfish spring break he said, "I believe that it is our responsibility as human beings to leave the world in a better condition than it was when we entered it." Wyne saw this trip as a great starting point for his future goal to help the world around him and is determined to continue to take part in similar service in his own community.

To find out more about how you can participate in trips like this contact FAU's Hillel here.

FAU Student Promotes "Going Green"

If you take a walk around FAU you might notice a common theme, "Go Green." Despite FAU's valiant effort, one student is still not satisfied. Leonardo Calle, a senior ecology major and president of SEEDS, an educational program of the Ecological Society of America. According to their website, their mission is to diversify and advance the profession of ecology through opportunities that stimulate and nurture the interest of underrepresented students.

Calle and the rest of his organization work to spread the word about the importance of doing our part, as students, to preserve our future. For this semester Calle has prepared events such as the Key Biscayne Biblitz, meetings with younger students around the area, volunteering at local nature centers and even meet with other departments to try and get funding to build an "Earthship Structure" made of can and bottles.

To learn more about SEEDS and how you can get involved try these links:

• FAU SEEDS Facebook page.
• National SEEDS website.
• Or contact Leonardo Calle here.

FAU Student Works to Teach Life After Engineering School

Florida Atlantic University has made substantial progress as a University over the last few decades. FAU's College of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering is one of these programs. The program has just celebrated their 40th Anniversary and is among seven programs nation-wide of this kind, ranking close to the top overall.

Joanna Ames is a Senior majoring in Ocean Engineering and President of SNAME (Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers). SNAME is an organization that invites speakers who discuss what life is like after you graduate from the program. Ames invites speakers who are in the area and typically either ocean engineers, mechanical engineers or even Naval architects. Ames says, "We have trouble getting people to come to the meeting so I always try to entice them with free food."

Recently SNAME participated in the Wave Energy System Competition. Ames traveled with a group of three other ocean engineering majors who represented FAU to a group of 20 students from Stranahan High School. At the event she worked to promote engineering to young students. "There is a lack of engineers in our country. So we want to promote and get them interested in engineering, not necessarily FAU," said Ames.

Ames, with the help of the rest of the SNAME organization began building an AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle, pictured below), but was forced to post-pone construction due to lack of funding.

To find out more about SNAME and how to get involved try these links:

• Facebook
• Head Quarters Site
• or contact Joanna on Facebook

FAU ROTC Student Wins Prestigious Award

On Friday, April 9th an FAU, ROTC student Marcus Nielsen, received one of the most prestigious awards given to a student, the ROTC Medal. This medal is awarded by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution National Defense Committee. It is presented to a graduating ROTC student who has demonstrated academic excellence, dependability, good character, adherence to military discipline, leadership, and a fundamental and patriotic understanding of the importance of the reserve officers training corp.

Nielsen is in his last semester of college and majoring in political science. Among Nielsen's many impressive accomplishments he has been the President of the FAU College Democrats and the FAU Cadet Club, Student Government elected representative, a member of Phi Kappa Phi honorary society and liberal arts math tutor. He was also awarded the FAU Gatlin Award as well as a study abroad scholarship from ROTC which he used to study abroad in China and learn Mandarin and Chinese political theory.

This outstanding student began his Army career after enrolling in the US Army Reserves during his Senior year of high school. He then went on to enroll in Army ROTC at FAU and after only one semester was awarded an ROTC scholarship. Since then he has been named captain of the FAU ROTC branch and in charge of 55 other students, attended US Army Airborne school and was ranked in the top ten percent of all ROTC cadets.

When I asked Nielsen why he joined ROTC he said, "I wanted to be a lieutenant instead of a private and I would also like to get paid to live in Europe." When Nielsen graduates in May he plans to travel Europe and then return to be an ROTC recruiter at FAU before leaving to be an infantry officer.

To find out more about ROTC go to GoArmy.com.

FAU Student Kicks Her Way to Giving Back

Students Advocating Volunteer Involvement or SAVI might be an organization you haven't heard of yet, but they certainly should not go unnoticed. SAVI participates and co-ordinates more community service than any other organization on FAU's campuses. This month is no exception to the work of Mariana Ortigosa and the rest of SAVI's tireless work.

Ortigosa, an FAU nursing major, is director of SAVI and chair of Kickball for Caring. SAVI's newest project is a kickball tournament to raise money for Hearts and Hope, Inc. According to the article written in FAU's University Press, "This is the second time SAVI will be hosting the tournament. In 2008, SAVI donated $906 to the center... this year they hope to raise at least $2,000."

According to their website, they are a non-profit organization that provides young children who have lost their families with a safe place to share and experience loving support while making it through the grieving process.

To find out more about the tournament and how to get involved read "Kick for care" written by the UP's Monica Victor or call (561) 297-3607 or visit SAVI's website. To find out more about Hearts and Hope, Inc. visit their website.

FAU Campus Aliyah Fellowship Member Holds Event to Honor Comrade

While the large majority of college students are fortunate enough to go through college without loosing a friend, others  are not. Meira Kreuter, a senior at FAU, was not as lucky.

Kreuter is an active member of an organization called Campus Aliyah Fellowship whose purpose is to find Jewish students. According to their website, they work to build the state of Israel by bringing 3 million Jews home, to Israel, and secure a successful integration. Aliyah Fellowships currently has 17 "fellows" across the country.

Kreuter was recently informed of a former Aliyah fellows death after a recent visit to South Florida. Kreuter's friend, Avi Schaefer, had been killed by a drunk driver while walking home from a party at Brown University.

Schaefer was no ordinary friend of Kreuter's. Schaefer decided to join the Israeli Army in a Combat Unit and eventually he became a counter terrorist instructor and served for three years. Later he moved to Providence, RI to attend Brown University where he became a stand-out member of the Aliyah Fellowship.

Prior to his death he made a huge impact on many of the students he met and was always working to promote living in Israel. Kreuter said, "He was an inspiration to all of us. We work to get other Jewish students to move to Israel and he had already done it. We all looked up to him."

Shortly after his death Kreuter held a benefit at FAU named "Seek Peace and Pursue It," a quote, from the book of Psalms, found on his dorm wall after his death. This event was intended to continue his dreams of creating an environment on campuses that promotes peace in the Middle East and coexistence.

The event was primarily a discussion of what we, as FAU students, could do to bring a more positive atmosphere on campus regarding issues in the Middle East. The event also helped raise money for the Avi Schaefer Fund. Kreuter said, "The fund will help continue his dreams of raising awareness on campuses and also help other lone soldiers in the Israeli Army."

To learn more about these people, try these links:

• Brown University News Paper Article
• Schaefer Facebook Memorial Page
• The Avi Schaefer Fund
• Campus ALIYAH Fellowship
• More about what Aliyah does...