A Day in the Life of an SMSU Student

Greetings!

2012-02-10T10:25:00.006-06:00

I cannot believe how quickly time is flying by! Before I know it I’ll be student teaching, graduated, and applying for jobs…SCARY! This semester I have been placed in a classroom about fifteen minutes away from campus. I pay a visit to my fourth graders every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning and afternoon. This placement is part of the education department’s elementary methods field experience. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I have learned from my fourth graders! Typically one field experience consists of fifteen hours in a certain subject, a majority of the time is spent observing and helping the teacher with different tasks they may have. This experience also includes opportunities to teach a lesson you have created to the students while the classroom teacher observes. It may seem nerve wrecking to some, but I can say that every time I have taught a lesson I’ve had a blast! You don’t even notice the classroom teacher half of the time because the students will be sure to keep you on your toes! The best part about spending time in the classroom however is just to hear some of the students’ comments and discussions. You can’t help but laugh because they are so sincere! I’m not looking forward to the end of the semester when I have to say so long to all of my fourth graders, but until then I’ll enjoy spending time with them!

As most of you know from previous posts I am a member of the SMSU Dance Team. After break the team had been working very hard on a jazz and hip hop performance for the infamous Hawaiian weekend. I have to give each team member a lot of credit! Those couple weeks of practice were tough, it even hurt to laugh! But we pulled it off and each performance went splendidly! Our next performance is on February 17th (Country-Western Night) with a boy girl dance and we will end our 2011-2012 season with our dance camp on February 18th (Pink Zone Night)! Here are a few pictures from our hip hop routine and a link to our Jazz Performance on Facebook!

Bertina Miller
Senior-New London, MN

The Last SMSU Home Games

2012-02-10T09:43:00.004-06:00

Country Night

Well kiddos, another week has gone by and the excitement of Hawaiian Night has passed. For all you love birds out there, Valentine’s Day is coming up but so is Country Night (Feb. 17) and Pink Zone (Feb. 18)! Get yourself decked out in your country/western gear for Friday night and then for Saturday night, wear all the pink you can for Breast Cancer Awareness!

Pink Zone

The cheerleaders are pretty excited for both nights. Country night, we have a routine ready for everyone and of course it’s to country music! We also have a routine getting ready for Pink Zone, but the part we’re getting excited about…one of our cheerleaders will be among others to cut her hair. And like any other girl would be, she’s nervous, but really excited to do it. I personally did it last year during the game. We were to donate 10 inches, but I donated 12 and still had hair just past my shoulders! I miss my “mane” but it went to a good cause and it’s growing back.

Be sure to come out and support the Mustangs!

Rebecca Lockwood
Sophomore-Fenton, Iowa

SMSU's Annual Airplane Toss!

2012-02-09T11:35:00.003-06:00

SMSU’s Annual Paper Airplane Toss was a success on February 3, 2012!

Since 2003, The NCAA Division II has established a partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to assist in granting wishes through fundraising efforts. Over 1,900,000 dollars have been raised over the past nine years; the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening diseases, providing opportunities to enrich the human experience.

Every year the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) makes it a goal for each institution/university to raise 1,000 dollars for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is in charge of the fundraising efforts on each campus. Throughout the year we put on multiple fundraising events where all proceeds go directly to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. One of our most well-known and well-liked fundraising events is The Paper Airplane Toss.

The Division II’s Week of Wishes is February 18-26, 2012; however, because our Annual Paper Airplane Toss always takes place on the Friday before Hawaiian Night, we got an early start! Local businesses and companies, along with the SMSU athletic teams donated gift certificates, merchandise/apparel, and other prizes—this year we had over 130 prizes available to win! Paper airplanes are then sold at the game: 1 airplane for $1, or 7 airplanes for $5; we have pre-folded airplanes available, but some people prefer to fold their own. At the halftime of the Men’s Basketball Game, SAAC members distribute paper plates (each representing a prize) faced down all across the basketball court, where fans who purchased the planes are invited to gather around the perimeter of the courts to throw their planes. The plane that lands closes to each plate/prize wins!

This year’s Paper Airplane Toss raised just under 400 dollars, which puts SMSU over our goal of 1,000 dollars raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As the president of SAAC, it is so rewarding to see the community of Marshall and everyone on campus take part in our efforts to support the DII and Make-A-Wish Foundation partnership. Not only did the Mustangs pull out a few impressive victories this past weekend, but as a collective whole, SMSU was able to win big with our collaborative efforts to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Kelly Fitzgerald
Senior - Marshalltown, IA

Aloha!

2012-02-03T13:06:00.003-06:00

This weekend is traditionally one of the biggest weekends at SMSU. It is called Hawaiian Night. It is the winter/basketball version of homecoming. Saturday night the RA facility will be overflowing with fans to cheer on the Mustangs against the Augustana Vikings. It should be a good one. Go Stangs!

Also, we are just finishing up the 3rd week of the semester and really getting into full speed. Professors are giving out quizzes and exams again. We are having an incredibly mild, nice winter so far. Hopefully we can stay lucky.

Until next time,

Tony Schwebach
Junior-Dell Rapids, SD

Winter Meltdown

2012-02-03T08:26:00.003-06:00

Hey all! Being that this week is Winter Meltdown week, there are a TON of activities here around campus. Winter Meltdown week is an SMSU tradition that was started in order to help beat the winter blues. So far this week students have had the chance to participate in activities such as making leis, listening to comedians, the nearly naked mile, and getting a haircut and/or massage during Spa Day. While those activities were a blast, the upcoming days are full of even more promise. Tonight we have a dance in the Conference Center Lower Ballroom at 9 p.m., and tomorrow night both the women’s and men’s basketball teams take on teams from Wayne State at 6 and 8 p.m. Finally, to bring the exciting week to an end is the Hawaiian night during the Saturday night basketball games against Augustana. Though I have never experienced Hawaiian night, my friends and I are all very excited to see what it’s all about and to get a chance to cheer on our mighty Mustangs.

Go Stangs!

Kaelyn Turner
Freshman-Sartell, MN

RUNNING nearly NAKED!

2012-01-31T11:10:00.001-06:00

On Wednesday, February 1st at 8:30 pm, students of SMSU will have the chance to lace up their running shoes and participate in the annual Nearly Naked Mile. This event is just what it sounds like-running a mile nearly naked. That means that students will wear shorts, t-shirts, etc. around campus, outside, in the dark. Luckily the weather has been in the upper forty’s all week, so hopefully the runners will not get frostbitten while running.

All students are encouraged to take part in this event. Students can participate for free, and all runners get a free t-shirt as well. This event is a race, and the first runner across the finish line will receive the grand prize. Prizes will be given out all night at the event. The main reason for this even is to raise money and clothing for families in need. Students participating in the event are encouraged to bring gently used clothing to donate. The more clothes you donate, the more prizes you will receive.

I have been training for this event all month long in hopes to win the race. It will be a lot of fun for students during Hawaiian Night week. Take a break from your studies on Wednesday and come out and support SMSU and have fun running a mile with your friends! Go Mustangs!

Tyler Glynn
Sophomore-Jordan, MN

Winter Warm-Up!

2012-01-30T15:07:00.001-06:00

Hawaiian week is finally here! This is my favorite time of year, when the students of SMSU prepare for the Basketball game on Saturday night AKA Hawaiian Night. At the game everyone will be decked out in Hawaiian gear, for example people will have shorts, tank tops, sandals and some brave souls in just their bathing suits. So this week will be spent preparing by looking through your summer clothes, making a leis in the student center and lots of other fun activities going on on-campus like the spa day and the comedian. It’s always really cold out when you are in just your Hawaiian apparel but once you get in the RA gym you will see the bright colors of summer, a packed gym with fans there to cheer the mustangs on to victory. Hawaiian night is something the students at SMSU look forward to each year, and I am sure this year will be no different.

GO MUSTANGS!!

Andrea Hanson
Senior - Monticello, MN

In the Kitchen with Katie!

2012-01-27T12:13:00.003-06:00

Back to school means back to a routine. My routine changed a lot from last semester; more classes and less free time! I am majoring in Culinology, food science mixed with culinary arts, and have started my first culinary class on Monday nights. The seven hour class is only held once a week. For our first assignment, I had to create a savory recipe using chocolate. It could not be a dessert dish. At first, I had no idea of what I wanted to make, but after a lot of thinking and researching I came up with a chocolate curry sirloin spring salad tossed with raspberry vinaigrette. Sound pretty fancy, huh? Since I have class all day Monday, I decided to prep for my dish on Sunday. I cut the sirloin into small strips and saute them until slightly brown. As they were browning, I added curry spice, molasses, and unsweetened chocolate. When the meat was browned, I added orange juice and diced tomatoes to the mixture and set it simmer for a hour. The end result was delicious! I put the chocolate curry sirloin strips on a spring salad and drizzled it with raspberry vinaigrette. The raspberry paired perfectly with the chocolate in the meat. In class on Monday, we had to taste test every one’s chocolate savory dishes and use our scents to describe the flavors, smells, textures, and taste. It was a fun experience and I can’t wait for next Monday to see what we will be doing in class!

Katie Langel
Freshman - Remsen, Iowa

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

2012-01-26T11:23:00.003-06:00

We are now three weeks into the second semester of the year. Winter break was too short for some and to long for others. However, most students were ready to come back and see their friends from college. My first class of the new semester started at 8:30 on Monday morning, it was a change to get up early after being on break. But now a few weeks in, it is starting to become routine. With a new semester of classes and a different schedule, I now have to figure out when I can eat with my friends and what days we can hang out after classes and just relax. It has been an enjoyable few weeks back to school. When we first got back from break, there was no snow and the weather was beautiful. It felt like a cool spring day, but not long after we got back it snowed and was more like Minnesota weather in the winter. We probably have around 3 inches of snow right now and that does make it cooler in the mornings on the short walk outside, from my room to the academic buildings. But the white snow is a nice change; it covers up the brown grass. Personally though I would have liked to have some snow on Christmas morning and during break, so I could have went sledding. Good luck to everyone in their second semester of the year. I hope everything goes good for you!

Go Mustangs!

Shawnalisa Reed

Freshman - Bruce, SD

Activities On and Off Campus

2012-01-25T15:39:00.002-06:00

Coming back to campus with 50 degree weather was a pretty good way to start out a new semester! Now, a few weeks in, it has finally started to feel more like winter which is necessary because Winter Meltdown week is just around the corner. This week consists of all sorts of activities that are aimed at getting us students out of the cold weather blues. Ultimately the last, final hoorah of Winter Meltdown week is Hawaiian Night. Of course I am excited for this, as with most SMSU students it is safe to presume. With this unpredictable weather lately, maybe wearing a swimsuit and a Leigh outside won’t be too bad (unlike the -10 degrees it was last year).

An organization I am personally involved with on-campus is Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). I became a member this past fall and was willingly thrown right into projects and activities. One of the projects is called Faith’s Pen. Faith’s Pen is a small town located in the mountains of Jamaica. Our SIFE team volunteered to help revive the town and make their location a destination spot in Jamaica. The first group of members went to Jamaica in October and scouted out what exactly we could do for this town. Then, in December another group went down for ten days to make a difference painting, training, and educating on entrepreneurial skills. I was a part of the December trip and had one of the best experiences of my life! I love helping to make a difference in other people’s lives, and through our SMSU SIFE team I know I can.

Laura Johnson
Junior - Maple Lake, MN

Walking in a Winter Wonderland?

2011-12-06T13:04:00.001-06:00

It is almost to the middle of December, and Marshall has yet to have a snowfall this year. Where the heck is all this snow!? I remember this time last year, there was a good two feet of snow on the ground before Thanksgiving. Multiple times last year, I would have to dig my car out of the parking lot because there was snow all the way up to my windows. Although I like the snow, thankfully I have not had to dig my way out of anything so far this year.

I realize that the winter season is still getting underway, but I keep hearing meteorologists on the news saying that the snow is coming. Well, where exactly is this thing called snow, because I have yet to see it in Marshall. I am hoping that when I return home to the cities for the holiday season that there is at least some snow to cover the ugly brown grass outside.

I like the snow. I like going snowmobiling, skiing, and sledding during the winter months. I do not mind when the temperature starts to drop if there is snow on the ground. However, if there is no snow on the ground outside, like right now, then I hate being cold. If it’s going to be cold, then there should be snow! I am hoping that by the time Christmas rolls around, that there is a good few inches of snow on the ground because after all, Christmas is just not the same without the snow!

Go Mustangs!

Tyler Glynn
Sophomore-Jordan, MN

Doughboys

2011-12-05T10:23:00.003-06:00

First of all, you are probably wondering...what does doughboy stand for? The doughboys are my intermural basketball team name that I play on. Secondly, you might wonder how we came up with the name. Well that’s easy….we went to WalMart one day before powderpuff football this fall and were looking for a team shirt. What did we find? We found purple doughboy shirts for our team and we decided instead of just wearing them that night we would wear them for basketball too. The intermural basketball season is about 3 weeks in. The doughboys got there first win on Thursday December 2nd and it was an exciting one! The doughboys are a group of all freshman girls: Chelsey, Olivia, Jelly, Annie, Emily, Anna, Cassie, and me. We have a couple on the team that played basketball all through high school, some that only played in middle school, and some that have never played before. We might not be the most talented team on the court, but we sure do have a lot of fun playing together and getting to know each other even better! :)

Shawnalisa Reed
Freshman-Bruce, SD

Finals

2011-12-02T08:35:00.000-06:00

Wow! This semester has really gone by fast. It is hard to believe that we only have two weeks of classes and a week of finals before winter break! Thanksgiving break was last week and it could not have come at a better time. The long break was a great opportunity to get away from the stress of final papers, projects, and tests and just focus on catching up with friends and family. Also, for the ambitious few, it was a nice opportunity to get ahead on some homework! Although it’s kind of sad to see certain courses come to a close, the thought of a new schedule is really exciting! Good luck to everyone during finals week!

Go Mustangs!

Kaelyn Turner
Sophomore- Sartell, MN

Deck the Halls!

2011-12-01T09:00:00.000-06:00

The garland is strung, stockings are hung, and the Christmas lights are up—it’s finally here! My roommates and I have been decorating our place like crazy, in fact, it kind of looks like Santa threw up all over our living room! Last year we got a real Christmas tree, and even though the scent was absolutely delicious—the needles were an awful pain, and it was so darn thirsty all the time! We decided to go with the artificial route this year, so we bought pine air fresheners to create the allusion that everything was real! This weekend we’re planning on driving around Marshall to look at Christmas lights, while singing carols and drinking hot chocolate—‘tis the season!

It seems absolutely CRAZY that we only have two and a half weeks left in the semester, but this change in season definitely helps with the transition. Looking back on each of my fall semesters, they have just gone by faster and faster each year! Even though I’m starting to feel the pressure of Finals Week and all of the other final projects I have due, I’m still able to work some fun into my schedule in order to stay sane. My friends and I go to open skate nights at the ice rink in town, and a few of our other buddies play pick-up hockey too. As much as I wish I could play hockey, it’s just not working out for me; instead, I go and watch and throw out quotes from The Mighty Ducks series, which makes it completely worth while!

One big event on campus that I’m really looking forward to is the annual Casino Night put on by the Residence Life Association. Casino Night will be held December 8, from 8:00pm to Midnight. Food and drinks are provided, and there are a plethora of different games to play—depending on your gambling preference! I personally enjoy doing the horse races, roulette, and bingo! This year there is a Harry Potter theme to the night, so they will be incorporating a lot of new games into the night! There are a ton of prizes and chances to win things, plus a lot of faculty and staff run the games, so it’s a really neat environment to let loose and have some fun!

I’m excited to finish strong in these next few weeks, and I hope you are too!

Merry Christmas—God bless!

Kelly Fitzgerald
Senior-Marshalltown, IA

SMSU Travels

2011-11-30T13:00:00.000-06:00

Although I enjoy going home to see friends and family for Thanksgiving, I am very happy to be at school again. These next three weeks will keep every student on campus busy as the semester comes to a close. For me, I am especially excited to wrap-up the semester for one reason. On the last day of finals, myself and five other students along with some professors are flying to Jamaica. All of us are part of the on-campus organization called S.I.F.E. (Students In Free Enterprise). S.I.F.E. has been working on a project for this project for awhile now and has already sent one group to Jamaica in October. Our project is to help a rest stop holding about thirty cook shops, all serving Jamaican cuisine, become more profitable. We are teaching them basic hospitality management skills, better cooking techniques, and an overall better way to address tourists. With our help we hope that they will have a stronger income in the future and be able to live more comfortably.

For you future Mustangs, if this perks your interest then you should come to SMSU and check it out!

An event happening in the more recent future is our SMSU Men’s Basketball team hitting the road to South Dakota to take on Augustana on December, 2. If you don’t know, Augustana is one of our biggest rivals in basketball and so to give our boys all the support they need, there is a fan bus set up for students. Our mustang fans are always willing to travel to cheer! I will definitely be traveling to this game as well as many others I predict. I am excited to see one of the first games of the year!

Laura Johnson
Junior-Maple Lake, MN

Where Did the Fall Semester Go?!

2011-11-30T09:00:00.001-06:00

Wow, college is flying by, it seems like yesterday I was just moving into my dorm and meeting new friends. Before you know it, winter break will be here in two weeks! With being a freshman, I’m not really sure what to expect with finals but I’m sure not excited to take them. I will be very happy when they’re over and I’m able to go home and spend time with my family and friends!

Go Stangs!

Kayla Stenzel
Freshman-Wells, MN

Ugly Sweaters and Holiday Gatherings

2011-11-29T09:00:00.001-06:00

Hey Again,

I hope you all had a relaxing Thanksgiving and got some good deals on Black Friday, without any injuries! I can’t believe that Thanksgiving break has already come and gone, but that just means winter break is three weeks closer! This time of year on campus is always really exciting. Many students who have recently graduated come back this way to visit their families and usually stop by campus or spend some time down town meeting up with friends. I have three very close friends all coming back to Marshall soon and I can’t wait to see them! My house will be hosting our annual Christmas Party in a few weeks! All of our guests come dressed to impress, with a dish to share, and a ten dollar gift(usually a funny one). Last year there was a huge snowstorm, so everybody showed up in snow pants, boots, mittens, hats and a dress! It made for great memories! I look forward to seeing what is in for us this year! The SMSU Dance Team is getting ready for their first basketball performance which will take place at the Ugly Sweater game on December 10th. I found the perfect ugly sweater at a garage sale this summer and I can’t wait to bust it out. ! Well I suppose I should start putting together a few of those field experience portfolios on my to-do list! We’ll see if I can actually get anything done with all these holiday movies on TV. That’s all for now!

Bertina Miller
Senior-New London, MN

Nearing The End of Fall Semester

2011-11-28T08:44:00.001-06:00

To me this semester flew by! After a wonderful long weekend off for Thanksgiving, I am back at school for two more weeks then one week of finals. These next two weeks are going to fly by because of all of the last minute work needing to be done and all of the studying having to be crammed in before finals. I look forward to a month off of not having to worry about any homework and to just focus on hanging out with family and catching up with friends I haven’t seen since I left for school in August. I am excited to finish this semester up and to have another semester of college behind me! I am looking forward to next semester as I finish up with my generals and start taking my major courses!

Good luck on finals!

Kassi Hague
Sophomore-New Ulm, MN

Holiday Plans

2011-11-22T09:44:00.001-06:00

This week is Thanksgiving break that means we only have two days of school, so on Tuesday everybody hits the road and heads home to spend time with family. This year I’m going to my aunt's house where every year we have the traditional turkey and lots of homemade candies (my grandma's specialty). Once the meal is over, the Black Friday ads are brought out and the planning begins. Participating in Black Friday is a tradition in my family; it is strategically planned out and is so much fun! I hope that you all have a great Thanksgiving! Go MUSTANGS!!

Andrea Hanson
Senior-Monticello, MN

Turkey Day is Upon Us

2011-11-21T15:46:00.000-06:00

Well folks, Thanksgiving is finally here! It’s probably my favorite holiday. As always, I will be getting together with my dad’s side. While their house usually smells of delicious turkey and other mouth-watering food, there might be a lingering smell of hogs this year. Lucky me gets to go home and load out hogs early Wednesday and Friday morning. So no Black Friday shopping for me; oh well, instead of spending money, I’m money!

The best part of Thanksgiving this year….it’s supposed to be almost 60 degrees back home! Who’s excited? This girl!

Hope everyone has safe travels and a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Rebecca Lockwood
Sophomore - Fenton, IA

So Much to Do, So Little Time!

2011-11-17T09:00:00.000-06:00

With the end of the fall semester just around the corner, campus is buzzing with excitement and anticipation. With less than a week before Thanksgiving break, and just over a month before Winter Break, students are scrambling to finish final papers, projects, and exams. The few weeks right before finals always seem to be the most busy and chaotic here at SMSU. Even through all the hustle and bustle of homework and finals, SMSU still hosts an assortment of fun activities. For example, we had a bingo night last week, a speaker called “Big Money” last night, and tomorrow is the opening night of the one act play, The Bald Soprano. There is also a Rave themed dance scheduled for Thursday evening. Oh, and not to mention supporting our Mighty Mustangs at the basketball games this season. As you can see, there are so many options! My friends and I love to go to these activities because they are a chance to hang out with friends, meet new people, and get your mind off of homework for a little while. It’s so strange to think that we are already about half way through the 11-12 school year! Go Stangs!

Happy Holidays!

Kaelyn Turner
Sophomore- Sartell, MN

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2011-11-16T13:00:00.001-06:00

It has been a very busy and eventful school year so far. I can't believe it is nearly Thanksgiving Break, and before you know it everyone will be studying for finals. I guess time flies when you are having fun. I have been keeping very busy with school, work, and all sorts of extra-curricular activities. I recently attend the Late Show, SMSU's annual basketball kickoff event. The men's, women's, and wheelchair basketball team all scrimmaged. There was also a 3-pt contest and a dunk contest. This week our volleyball team starts the Region Playoffs at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. GO STANGS!

Tony Schwebach
Junior - Dell Rapids, SD

'Tis the Season!

2011-11-15T08:54:00.001-06:00

Projects and tests and homework, oh my! Walking around campus, you can totally tell that the end of the semester is near. Students are running around campus scrambling to get their projects and final tests completed. This is always the busiest time of the semester on campus. While all of this school work is becoming a hassle and students are feeling stressed, there are a few things to look forward to... Thanksgiving and Christmas break, which in my opinion are the best two holidays of the year!

Thanksgiving is about a week away; so many students will be going home to see their friends and families one last time before the long Christmas break. I plan on going home to spend time with my family and enjoy the true means of Thanksgiving. I am thankful for so many things in this world, and I always like to take this holiday to reflect on those.

Once Thanksgiving break is over, students will return to campus for a few weeks to finish up all of the school work due for this semester. Finals will then be over, and students can all breathe a sigh of relief and pat themselves on the back for a job well done throughout the first half of the year. Christmas break will be about a month long before classes start again in January. Hopefully the snow will be falling soon so that it begins to look like Christmas, because Christmas is just not the same without the snow.

With the end of the semester nearing, students will continue to work hard and be successful this semester. To all you students out there, we can do this! Keep up the GREAT work! Go Mustangs!

Tyler Glynn
Sophomore - Jordan, MN

Secret Santa

2011-11-14T14:17:00.001-06:00

There is literally about one month of school left before the end of the semester, and I must say the time has just flown by. Between homework and projects, Accounting Club, work in the Admission Office, and time spent with friends, Fall Semester 2011 is almost behind me. With this being said, the Holidays are right around the corner.

As the Holidays inch nearer, so does the spirit of giving. Since the friendships made my freshmen year, traditions have begun to form themselves. And one tradition in particular is “Secret Santa.” Each year around Thanksgiving time, my friends and I draw names out of a hat for a Secret Santa. Between this time and the end of the semester, we drop little hints that either give clues to who we are or turn our potential Secret Santa in the wrong direction. It is always fun to steer them towards someone else. At the end of the semester, we get together and exchange gifts with our friends, guessing who had us as a Secret Santa throughout the past month. We all bring a dish to pass and reminisce about the past memories we have made throughout the semester and years behind us. We have definitely made plenty of memories that will not be forgotten.

This may be our last Christmas of having a Secret Santa or exchanging gifts but it will not be the last moment we have to make lasting memories here at SMSU.

Happy Holidays!

Amanda Schmitz
Senior - Sleepy Eye, MN