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...

FAU Blind Student, Sees Everything in Her Own Way

If you go to FAU, chances are you have seen a girl using a guide stick to make her way around campus. Her name is Annmarie Bedard, a junior at FAU. Bedard was born 17 weeks premature and diagnosed with retinopathy at 2 months causing complete blindness in her left eye.  Although doctors had little hope for her when she was born, she is now a self-sufficient student that requires very little help.

If you weren't already impressed you can read more about Bedard and her struggles at the Universty Press Online and their article title "Success Beyond Sight."

FAU Musician Releases New Single "Go"

Jamal Bonaparte, also know as Dheft, is an FAU sophomore and a recording artist. Dheft was discovered after displaying his talents in a local singing competition.

According to Dheft's  website, he is a solo artist who expresses his own vibe through instruments, including piano, viola and guitar. Dheft began singing at an early age. "Coming from a family of musicians it was a very easy transition from initial speech to melodic vocals," said Dheft. 

Dheft has performed in clubs all over South Florida, including Miami, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. He has also performed in locations like Tennessee, Naples, and Key West.

You can keep up with Dheft's music at these sites:

• Facebook: Search Dheft
• Official Website
• MySpace
• Twitter

FAU on MTV

The popular TV network MTV recently came to FAU. It wasn't to feature FAU, but FAU sophomore and business major Kristy Myer. Myer was on a show called "Is she Really Going Out With Him?" The show was inspired by the popular website "Hot Chicks with Douchebags."

According to MTV, "the show aims to tear down the mystery behind pop culture's unexplainable phenomenon: beautiful and innocent who fall for overly tanned, self-absorbed douchebags."

Kristy started on this show with boyfriend Vinny Nocera and a cast of mutual friends. Nocera was titled a "Gamecock" because he seems to have a fixation with with being like a peacock.

Myer spent the episode arguing with Nocera over the common relationship problem, his friends. Myer told me that she had a great time filming the show. "Having cameras follow us around was fun and it was really cool to see ourselves on TV," said Myer.

Her episode aired once in January and is set to air again on Mar. 1, at 6 p.m, on MTV.
To check-out the full episode click here.

FAU Tennis Player Find Succes on YouTube

A popular trend in the collegiate sport world is to post YouTube videos of yourself demonstrating your talent. But what sets this athlete apart from the rest is that she has been given a scholarship to play tennis at FAU.

Dominique Wimmer is a sophomore from Guntramsdorf, Austria, and started playing when she was around 6. Wimmer has won a number of International Championships, but that wasn't enough for coaches in the United States. Wimmer said, "Coaches search for videos there, and all the coaches I spoke with wanted to see a video, so I posted them on YouTube instead of sending in a hard copy."

Wimmer said she has really enjoyed this experience and considers this a great opportunity. "We don't have a University system in Europe, with athletic scholarships, like the U.S."  Wimmer finds Florida to be the perfect place to play tennis and even finds her classes interesting. 

To watch videos of Wimmer, click here.

FAU goes Old School: Ballroom Dancing

FAU is full of many clubs that most students don't know about, but FAU senior Amanda Aandalen still managed to find a club that was perfect for her. Aandalen is the current president of the FAU Ballroom Dance Club. This club was founded in the Fall of 2006 by Jennifer Gonzalez and Kira Hays with dedicated support from sponsors Pat and Sharon Talerico. This a social and artistic student organization that works with the Department of Theater and Dance. The club currently has about 20 members and hold practices twice a week.

Aandalen got involved with the club after attending its Valentine's Day fundraiser and shortly after became the President of the club. Aandalen recently worked to put together the Polish Club Fundraiser.

The event was on Feb. 20, and raised about $400 after expenses. Aandalen said, "The event was for the club's costumes and other various expenses. We have sponsors, but we don't like asking them for money."

You can learn more about the club and its events by e-mailing Amanda Aandalen or visiting their website.

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

FAU Owlettes Playing Football

The Women's Flag Football Club is a recent addition to FAU thanks to the hard work and passion of junior Jannean Burke. Burke said that her dad has been training her to play football since she was young. "My dad wanted a boy, instead he got me and ever since he has tried to make me great at football."

Burke decided to start this club after hearing that other schools also have teams outside of intramurals. "I played on my sorority's team, but we just had intramural games, I wanted to play with girls who were better than me. I wanted to take it to the next level," said Burke.

The club played in their first tournament at the University of North Florida this last fall and have also been invited to also play in the University of Florida "Swamp Bowl"
Flag Football Tournament. The club had try-outs on Jan. 23 and 15 girls show up, one in particular being deaf. "Its a club, so everyone gets to make it," said Burke.

The teams Facebook page says that they are "dedicated to the promotion of flag football for women throughout FAU and their goal is to advance opportunities for equality on the fields by taking a leadership role in administering game play, through education, and training of the game."

Burke told me that "It was really nice to be the creator of something that was the start of a tradition. Other teams have been around for over 15 years and this is the first year. It is just really exciting to be involved in something that allows women to do something that is typically dominated by men."

The team has practice every Saturday and offensive practice on Thursdays. If you are interested in joining  the team contact Jannean Burke here.