FAU Singer: Jennifer Lauren

As I promised, I will be bringing you students at FAU who are doing interesting things. Jennifer Lauren is one of those people. Lauren is a junior at FAU and the creator and performer of her very own YouTube channel.

Lauren is a self-taught singer and guitar player that honed in her skills after moving to New York City for a summer internship and moving in with a roommate who also had her own channel. Lauren says she has been singing since she can remember, but only picked up the guitar this past summer by watching YouTube tutorials.

Lauren has over 30 videos, 1,544 subscribers, and 21,364 channel views.  Most of Lauren's videos are cover songs, but some answer viewers' questions and others are easy tutorials so viewers can learn songs, too. Lauren said, "This has been a dream come true for me. I never would have imagined I would get so many subscribers. Hopefully, I can eventually get a recording contract!"

You can visit Jennifer Lauren on:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• BlogSpot
• Learn2Strum.com

FAU Intern Displays Art at Hible Museum

If you haven't heard of Michael Metzner, you are about to. Metzner is a sophomore at FAU's Honors College in Jupiter and also an intern for the Scripps Research Institute, Department of Metabolism and Aging. According to the TC Palm, Metzner's photographs were the featured attraction at an exhibition at the Hibel Museum of Art (at FAU in Jupiter).

The exhibition opened on Feb. 25 and is titled "Perceptions of Beauty: An Artistic Photographic Expression of Antique Fans." According to Metzner, "the exhibit looks at how society has a flawed sense of what beauty is and how we do not appreciate the beauty that is found in our everyday lives."

This is Metzner's first solo exhibit, but he hopes it won't be his last. "I think that this project is the best work I have done thus far, but I think the best is yet to come," said Metzner.

Metzner has always had a passion for the arts. "I got my first camera in 2007. I love capturing moments where I can see the true personality of my subject. My goal is to capture the details, not only in the people's personalities, but in all the objects that I photograph," said Metzner.

He is double-majoring in biochemistry and the visual arts. Metzner told me that he believes photography is a great form of stress relief and will take advantage of any doors it opens, but his career goal is to become a pediatric surgeon.

 

FAU Mascot: Owlsley Burrows

As some of you may know, FAU has had its fair share of ups and downs when it comes to finding the perfect mascot. First it was a big-beaked, half-yellow, half-blue mascot that only seemed to resemble an owl.

Then FAU unveiled a slightly better version that seemed to barely resemble a mascot. It was a man in a football uniform with wings over his arms and a giant angry owl head.

FAU finally got it right when it picked the Owlsley Burrows of today. But did you ever wonder who is behind all that school spirit? According to FAU, that information is highly classified. Fortunately, I was able to sit down with the man under the suit.

The current mascot is quite an entertainer. This dancing machine said he got his start when a few FAU cheerleaders saw him dancing. The student behind the mask said, "A few friends of mine knew I could dance and suggested to the cheer coaches that they check me out. They saw me dance and offered me the job on the spot."

After being the mascot for only a year, he went to compete in a nationwide competition against hundreds of other mascots in Tennessee. Owlsley's skills were put to the test against other school mascots who had been doing it for three or more years. "The competition tested creativity, humor, enthusiasm, as well few others. I was rated superior in all categories and even placed third overall."

Compliments of FAU Owl TV, here is a blooper reel of Owlsley giving a campus tour.

According to FAU here are some facts about Owl Spirit:

• Colors: Red and Blue
• Mascot: Burrowing Owl (fun fact)
• Alma Mater
• Fight Song
• Shula Bowl: Traditional football game played every season against rival team, FIU.
• Spirit Group: The prOWLers (football) and the Dirty Birds (basketball)

FAU Hoops for Haiti Charity Game: Celebrities Give Back

While Haiti may not be in the news as much as it was a month ago, FAU Student Government President Tiffany Weimar knew that she had to find some way to help. Weimar decided to plan an event to benefit the victims of the  Haiti earthquake, by working with Lynn University students and the Konbit Kreyold, to put on "Hoops for Haiti". 
 

"Hoops for Haiti" was a benefit basketball game that featured the renowned Harlem Ambassadors vs. a team of celebrities from South Florida. Some of these celebrities included: Santonio Holmes, Cris Carter, Evan Cohen from Channel 5 Sports and ESPN 760, as well as some FAU and Lynn faculty and student government members.

The event was free, but donations were gladly accepted. Weimar said, "We were hoping to recieve donations of canned goods, water, hygiene products, and even monetary donations. Our goal was to raise $12,000 or 12,000 pounds of food." The official total isn't available yet, but Weimar could not have been happier with the turnout. 

Here are a few videos taken at "Hoops for Haiti" from FAU Owl Access and UP TV 4 FAU.

For more information on the event, try these links:

• University Press: Fun on a Serious Note
• Palm Beach Post: FAU, Lynn Sponsor Basketball Game to Benefit Haiti
• Sun Sentinel: FAU and Lynn Universities Present Hoops for Haiti