Gopher Blog

First year experience

When I got to college, I had no idea what I wanted to study. I liked to write, but I did not want to study English or become a journalist. I liked art and being creative, but an art major wasn't right for me. After taking a class called Major and Career Exploration through the College of Liberal Arts my freshman year, I discovered that I wanted to work in public relations when I graduate.  The University of Minnesota offers many courses like Major and Career Exploration to help students decide which major is right for them and their career goals. When Brittany Lynch came to the University of Minnesota she had her mind set on becoming a neurosurgeon. Read about how she reconsidered what she wanted to study after taking the College of Education and Human Development's First Year Inquiry course: http://www.cehd.umn.edu/people/profiles/lynch/

August 17, 2010 in Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Land of 10,000 Lakes

Beach

Friends at Lake Calhoun

It’s hard to believe that in less than a month I’ll be back in school! I’m excited for my senior year to start, but I’m not ready for summer to end. I plan to spend the last weekends of summer at the beach swimming and enjoying the sun…because before we know it, the leaves will be changing and then snow will be on the ground.

 

There are plenty of beaches from which to choose in the Twin Cities. My personal favorites are the beaches on the Chain of Lakes, which consists of Brownie Lake, Cedar Lake, Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, and Lake of the Isles. It is located on the Grand Rounds, which is a well-known National Scenic Byway.

 

The Chain of Lakes is surrounded by beautiful homes and natural scenery. In the distance you can see the skyscrapers of downtown Minneapolis. Two of the lakes (Calhoun and Isles) are located near Uptown, one of Minneapolis’s most “happening” business districts, filled with many unique shops and restaurants.

 

There is so much more to do at the lakes than bask in the sun. You can play beach volleyball, rollerblade, bike, or jog on the Grand Round paths. There are several spots that rent kayaks, catamarans, and sail boats. People even enjoy the lakes during the winter! When the city puts hockey rinks and warming shacks on Lake of the Isles, members of my intramural hockey team and I go there to play pick-up games!

 

 



August 11, 2010 in Fun Stuff!, Hilary's Life, Twin Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The U of M is in Twins Territory

Twins game

I am a huge fan of the Minnesota Twins (our major league baseball team) so naturally one of my favorite things to do in the Twin Cities during summer and fall is go to Twins games. A couple weeks ago I went and saw the Twins beat Cleveland six to nothing! It was awesome seeing the team playing under the stars at the brand-new stadium. Target Field just opened in May and has been buzzing with excited fans ever since. It is located in downtown Minneapolis and is only a 10-minute bus ride or a 20-minute walk from campus.

On Wednesday nights, it is common to see University of Minnesota students catching a bus from campus in their Twins gear for Student Night at Target Field. With a college ID, students can enjoy a ballpark hotdog and watch Joe Mauer hit a home run for just $10! Other specials that I enjoy are Dollar-A-Dog day and Dairy Queen's Sensational Saturday (a free blizzard with ticket purchase).

Go Twins!



August 09, 2010 in Around Campus, Hilary's Life, Sports, Twin Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

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A New Building on Campus

I love the variety of architecture on the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus. One of the newest additions to our beautiful campus is the Science Teaching and Student Service Building (STSS). I can't wait to have class there! Check out this article from the Minnesota Daily about STSS: http://www.mndaily.com/2010/08/04/new-stss-building-opens-its-doors.



August 05, 2010 in Around Campus, Hilary's Life, Science | Permalink | Comments (0)

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A trip to the U of M Farmers Market

Hello readers!  

Yesterday I was walking around campus on my lunch break and stumbled upon the U of M Farmers Market. Every Wednesday, rain or shine, vendors line Church Street to sell their produce. The market is full of locally grown vegetables, fruits, and even beautiful flowers from the University’s Landscape Arboretum. The food is so delicious and very inexpensive! Yesterday I came home with a huge head of lettuce, onions, peppers, and cucumbers, which cost me a total of $5!

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One of the vendors is Cornercopia, the U of M’s student-run organic farm. I talked to a student who was working at the Cornercopia stand, and she said they grow 100+ fruits and vegetables throughout the year. The farm is located on the University’s St. Paul campus and is tied to an organic farming class offered through the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences  that teaches students how to plant and grow their own gardens.

Farmers Market 001 
In addition to the wonderful food and flowers, the Farmers Market is a great place to get health and wellness advice. Representatives from Boynton Health Service (the campus health clinic) were available to give nutrition advice and free stone massages.  University Dining Service and Campus Club prepared lunch with foods found at the market. I had a ton of fun and can’t wait to go back next week! 


July 29, 2010 in Around Campus, Food and Drink, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Calling All Cyclists

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Washington Avenue Bridge  


With all the nice weather we've been having lately, I have been able to bike back and forth from work. There is a bike trail that stretches all the way from my house in St.Paul to the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis. Six miles is a long ride to campus, but I enjoy the beautiful trail on East River Parkway, spending less money on gas, and getting my exercise for the day! During the school year I bike a lot too. It's nice to hop on my bike when I'm running late for class and get there right in the nick of time.

I am not the only person that is taking advantage of the trails in the Twin Cities. Bicycling Magazine recently named Minneapolis the "Best Bike City in America"! While reading the article, I was surprised to find out that 8,200 people bike to work in Minneapolis during the summer. Here are some more fun facts about biking in the Twin Cities from Bicycling Magazine and Nice Ride Minnesota:

  • Minneapolis and St.Paul have 84 miles of bike trails and 44 miles of bike lanes. Forty additional miles will be built this summer.
  • There are 50 bike shops in the Twin Cities (one of those is Erik's Bike Shop, located on the U of M campus).
  • Minneapolis is ranked second in the nation for the number of people who commute to work by bicycle. Census data shows that approximately 4,500 Minneapolis regularly commute to work by bicycle.

The Twin Cities just got even more bike accessible with its launch of the Nice Ride bike sharing program. Bike kiosks are scattered around the city, where you can pay to rent a bike for a couple of hours or up to a year. Eleven of the sixty kiosks are located on the University of Minnesota campus.

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Williamson Hall Kiosk

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Kolthoff Hall Kiosk 

Being able to bike just about anywhere in the Twin Cities is one of my favorite benefits of going to the University of Minnesota!

Biking blog 001 


July 15, 2010 in Around Campus, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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My Good Friends, the Admissions Ambassadors

If you have ever had a campus tour at the University of Minnestoa-Twin Cities, you have probably met an Admissions Ambassador. Admissions Ambassadors  assist the Office of Admissions by leading tours and sharing their unique experiences with prospective students and families. They represent the University of Minnesota to the public.

You may have thought that being an Admissions Ambassador was a campus job, but it is actually a student group.  The Ambassadors not only lead campus tours, but are an active campus organization.   They participate in fundraisers like the Relay for Life, March of Dimes, and hold special events for members.

Admissions Ambassadors Coordinator, Natalie Winters, said, “our Ambassadors have tremendous school pride and are very dedicated to the University.  We all come from various majors and colleges, and we originate from various states and countries.  We unite to represent the University of Minnesota and each member provides a unique perspective and campus experience.” The Admissions Ambassadors are a cherished asset to our University.

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Ambassadors give tours, rain or shine!

To learn more go to http://www.sua.umn.edu/groups/directory/show.php?id=1007.  

July 01, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (30)

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One Busy Gopher

I thought I was busy until I read about Casey on UMNews. He runs his own business and is a double major!

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Business in his blood

U student rides entrepreneurial spirit to commercial success

By Rick Moore

Every day is like the middle of finals week for Casey Profita.

When school’s in session, he devotes the time necessary to stay afloat as a double major in Asian languages and literature and economics. Most of the rest of the day he’s dedicated to making his burgeoning business Gophermods a success. So he goes to bed at about midnight and gets up at 5 a.m. to start all over again.

“Lots of coffee, lots of 5-hour Energy,” Profita says, smiling. “My brain’s always on, it feels like, so there’s no down time where I’m procrastinating. I know I have to be doing something. Otherwise, I’ll be behind.

As real as it gets

“I’ve never had a real job; I’ve always run my own businesses,” says Profita. “Not being the boss was never in my plan. I don’t want to work for anyone.”

The 21-year-old Profita employs five people at Gophermods, a business that fixes video game consoles and iPhones out of a 500-square-foot space in the UTEC building just off campus. Profita has always tinkered with things, and he picked up the technical know-how from an acquaintance back home in Salem, Wisconsin. He launched a website for Gophermods in March 2009 and worked at home in the early days, converting his bedroom into a workshop.

Profita distinguishes Gophermods by offering a 24-hour turnaround for repairs, competitive pricing, and impeccable customer service. To date, there’s been only one negative review, and most of his business comes via mail order from states like California, Texas, Florida, and New York.

He projects $500,000 in revenues for 2010.

Connecting course work with commerce

Profita began buying products from China and reselling them on eBay at an early age, and that spawned the desire to major in Asian languages and literature.

“I realize if I pay attention in class it’s going to translate well in business, because I’m working with my suppliers (for Gophermods) and getting great deals that my competitors can’t get because they probably don’t know how to communicate with [Chinese business contacts],” Profita says. “They really need to get to know you before they want to work with you. It’s called guanxi. And you need to have good guanxi with them. Otherwise, they’re going to give you some lousy service and not the greatest prices.”

Although Profita admits that it’s tough for him to give up the reins on anything, he did take a week of vacation in May. But that’s just a dusty tail on his entrepreneurial comet.

He’s pondering a new home for Gophermods in the UTEC building that would be triple the size of his current space. He wants to work more with smart phones and computers, and he’s also eager to get cracking on a new, separate business venture. Plus, summer classes start in a couple of weeks (he claimed a 3.5 GPA this spring), and he’d still like to pack in a trip to China for networking sometime this summer. So the next figurative midnight is just around the corner.

“I know I don’t want to just be focusing on Gophermods,” Profita says. “I just don’t want to sink down into one area. I want to get multiple things going.”

He may need to find a better fix than 5-hour Energy.

June 24, 2010 in Hilary's Life, U of M News | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Good Eats on Campus

I have lived in the Twin Cities for only three short years, but in that time I have experienced some wonderful cuisine. I love going out to eat and am somewhat of a restaurant connoisseur. Most of my favorite restaurants are right here on campus. At the U of M you can find anything from Chinese food to Mexican food and fast food to family style restaurants.

I put together a list of my favorite places to eat around campus on a Google My Map.  It is an interactive map so that you can find restaurant locations, view pictures, and read information.

View Google My Map

 If you ever come to campus for a visit or you’re just in the neighborhood, I recommend checking out the following establishments:

  • Village Wok – I used to eat at Village Wok all the time as a freshman because it was right by Territorial Hall, where I lived freshman year. I could not get enough of their delicious Chinese food and student-friendly prices.
  • Stub and Herb’s–Whenever my parents come to visit, they want to visit Stub and Herb’s. It was a favorite hangout when they were students at the U of M (and it still is today!).
  • Al’s Breakfast – Rain, snow, or shine, if you visit Dinkytown at 6 a.m. on a weekend, you’ll see a line forming outside of Al’s Breakfast. Al’s is a tiny breakfast joint with a big reputation. It’s been around since 1950 and is a favorite for breakfast lovers near and far.
  • Loring Pasta Bar – The interior of the Loring Pasta bar is definitely something to see, with its ornate and eclectic décor. It almost feels like you are on a movie set, especially on Friday nights when there’s free salsa dancing!
  • Annie’s Parlour – You can never go wrong with a classic burger and malt at Annie’s.
  • Mesa Pizza – Mesa serves unique pizza combinations and toppings that you can’t find elsewhere, such as mac & cheese pizza, quesadilla pizza, and buffalo chicken pizza. My personal favorite is honey mustard chicken pizza.
  • Purple Onion – Not only do I love Purple Onion’s coffee and grilled cheese, but it is also one of my favorite places to study.

 

June 17, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (2)

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Golf with Goldy

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Golfing is one of my favorite pastimes and with the weather being as nice as it has been lately, I couldn’t wait to go play a round of golf. Fortunately, the University of Minnesota has its very own course! The Les Bolstad Golf Course is an 18-hole course less then five minutes away from the University’s St. Paul campus. This is where the U of M men’s and women’s Big Ten teams practice and host their home tournaments.

I went and played yesterday for the first time this year. Even though my game was a little rusty, I had fun making my way through the beautiful course. Golf is usually an expensive game but with the discounted rates for U of M students, I don’t have to worry about it hurting my pocketbook. I went during twilight hours and it only cost me $13, which is an absolute steal!

If you love to golf like I do, the Les Bolstad Golf Course is the perfect place to spend a Saturday afternoon. For more information about the course go to http://www.uofmgolf.com/index.htm.

 

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June 10, 2010 in Around Campus, Gopher Sports, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The New Girl

Hi! My name is Hilary and I am the new Office of Admissions student blogger. I am excited to tell you all about my wonderful experiences here at the University of Minnesota and in the Twin Cities. 

First, I will tell you all a little bit about myself. I am a true Minnesotan, born and raised in the small town of Grand Rapids, which is about three hours north of the Twin Cities. I am a junior studying strategic communication (public relations) in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a management minor in the Carlson School of Management. I have always been a huge Gopher fan and enjoy watching any of our Division One sports.

 

I am pretty involved on campus and have a very busy calendar! I am in a sorority, I play intramural hockey, I’m a member of Public Relations Student Society of America, and I serve on the Homecoming committee. When I am not busy with those activities or studying, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, playing golf, and being outdoors.

 

Speaking of the outdoors, I cannot wait for summer to start! After conquering four finals, three papers, and a project, I am ready for relaxation and sunshine. I plan on spending my summer at the beach, exploring the Twin Cities, and sharing it all with you. I'd also love to get to know my readers and answer any questions you might have. What do you want to know about being a student here? What do you like to do? Click on the comments link to share your thoughts!



May 27, 2010 in Admissions, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Graduation!

After four years at the University of Minnesota, I can say I’ve reached my goal—I am an official graduate!

Trisha Graduates!

Here's a picture of me and my family!

Trisha's Family

Here's a picture of me and my roommate Christi. She's been my roommate for the past year.  

Trisha and Christi 


On May 22, 2008, I posted my first entry. Over the past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to give you the inside scoop on my life here as a student at the U of M. And while not every post may have tickled your fancy, I do hope that some did—and I hope that you have a better understanding of the great opportunities that the U of M can offer to students like you.

  • You traveled with me on my study abroad trip to Cape Town, South Africa where I learned about leadership with fellow U of M students. 
  • You experienced countless Gopher football games—including the return of football on campus at the TCF Bank stadium.
  • You got a taste of Big Ten tradition through blog posts about Homecoming and on-campus sports like volleyball.
  • You got a first-hand look at the Twin Cities as I blogged about the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, Uptown, the world-renown Guthrie Theater, the Minnesota State Fair, and Minnesota History Center.
  • I’ve shared what a typical day is like for me. And of course, I wrote about all about my classes. You know about my experience living on campus in Centennial Hall and in my sorority house in the Dinkytown area.
  • You know a little bit about what the is like on campus as I’ve shared about my life in sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. From formals, football, and philanthropies, my involvement in Kappa Alpha Theta and other student organizations on campus has created the small, close-knit community that has made the U of M my second home.
  • And this spring, you’ve followed me on the home stretch to graduation as I attended the job and internship fair, wrapped up my final classes, participated in Relay for Life, and announced my exciting after-graduation plans at Fairview Health Services.

As in many aspects of life, all good things must come to an end. Tomorrow, I start my full-time internship with Fairview Health Services and the next chapter in my life as a University alumna. I’m leaving the U of M having achieved my goals with a quality education and the out-of-classroom experiences to enhance it. Who wouldn’t be proud of that? When it comes to college, I couldn’t imagine having been anywhere but the U of M.

It’s been an honor.

For the last time,

~ Trisha


May 17, 2010 in Admissions, Around Campus, Events, Fun Stuff!, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Last Week

Happy May Gopher Blog fans!

This week marks my last as an undergraduate student and as of today, I have only…

  • one University class,
  • two presentatations,
  • one term paper,
  • one 5K run,
  • one group project, and
  • three finals

... left and then I will be ready to graduate. Let the celebrations commence! Okay, maybe not yet. As you can see, I’ve still got some work ahead of me before walking across the stage at Northrop Auditorium.

My  two biggest projects this week are my term paper for my Communication in Marriage and the Family and a group project in Persuasion Theory class. My term paper just needs a good round of editing until it’s done. And the group project involves writing and performing a skit during class on Friday. We wrote the lines to the skit at our group meeting last week and this week we will be working on a 4-7 page group paper about our topic. My responsibility will be gathering each group member’s contribution to the paper and putting it together into one seamless paper for Friday. I was happy to have this part of the project since I like editing, but I won’t be getting everyone’s contribution until later in the week. So, my chance to start editing might not begin until the night before.

On Monday, I went to my last formal dinner and chapter meeting at my sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. It’s one of my favorite meals, chicken parmesan with penne pasta and marinara sauce, and the entire chapter will be there to share in our last meal together before the seniors graduate. Then, each senior gets to share her wisdom with the chapter about life in college. I know it’s going to be a night that I won’t forget for a long time. It’s just another sign that one chapter of my life is closing and another is beginning! 

~ Trisha

May 05, 2010 in Admissions, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (4)

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Big News!

I’ve got some fantastic news to share! But first, let me give you a quick update on what I’ve been up to lately.

Graduation will be here in just three weeks. My final weeks as an undergraduate are going to be hectic, especially the last week of classes. During that week, I’ve got two presentations, a group project, an exam, a term paper, and the final exam for my Beginning Running class—a 5K run!

When I was planning the classes for my senior year, my goal was to make my final semester as light as possible when it came to schoolwork since I knew that much of my time would be dedicated to finding a job. In reality, there just no such thing as “senior slide” in college. Between two internships, projects, writing papers, studying, class time, and my involvement in the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and my sorority, I have been busier than ever!

So, considering my busy schedule, you might wonder how I’ve found time to focus on my number one priority—finding a job. But amidst all of the busyness, I have indeed secured a full-time job which I will be beginning after graduation!

Here’s the story: in January, I started a communications internship with Fairview Health Services. It’s been a great experience and I think that the health care sector could be a great place to share my passion for helping people through communication. Recently, the manager of internal communications consultants approached me about staying on with them for a full-time internship position after graduation—of course I said yes!

I begin soon after graduation and can’t wait to get started. I’ll be working with clients north of the Twin Cities as well the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital and writing for multiple e-newsletters. It’s such a relief to know that I’ll be doing something I love and putting my education and internship experience to good use after graduating. Plus, the Fairview health care system is highly respected in Minnesota. It’s an incredible opportunity!

In just 26 days, I will be walking across the Northrop Auditorium stage with a University of Minnesota diploma and soon after starting a new chapter of my life—something I’ve worked for since my first day on campus. Who wouldn’t be excited by that?

 ~ Trisha


April 21, 2010 in Admissions, Around Campus, Events, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Dean's List Dinner

Last Thursday, I was invited to a Dean’s List dinner hosted by the Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council, the governing bodies of the sororities and fraternities on campus. The dinner was held to honor all the Greek students who made the Dean’s List last semester. (To make the Dean’s List, you have to earn at least a 3.67 grade point average). This year, the dinner was held at Annie's Parlor in Dinkytown and Greeks on the list could stop by during the day for a free meal and malt. I went with a couple of my fellow Thetas, and we had a blast! 

Here's a picture of the famous Annie's malt; my personal favorite is Oreo cookie.Oreo Malt 
 
In other news, I’ve been hard at work getting things together for graduation and working on a big project due next week. It’s a creative project for my New Media Culture class in the Journalism department. I decided to create a social media logo collage that reflects themes from a book I read for class called The Cult of the Amateur by Andrew Keen. The nice thing is, each student in the class had free reign on what he or she wanted to do for the project to allow us to delve deeper into the course material that interested us the most. It’s a lot of work, but I think it will make an awesome statement when it’s complete.

Hope you all are enjoying April! Have a great weekend!

~ Trisha

April 16, 2010 in Admissions, Around Campus, Fun Stuff!, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Journalism 4551: New Media Culture

How has the Internet affected the way we communicate?

In today’s society, we can do a lot on the Internet. From shopping and research to watching television and chatting with friends, the Internet has changed the way we spend our time. And with social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, it’s not uncommon for people to be on the ‘Net for multiple hours each day. What are the impacts of these tools? How can you use them to your advantage?

Journalism 4551: New Media Culture attempts to answer these questions and how other new media tools will change the way we communicate in the future. Professor Shayla Thiel-Stern brings her experience from various media organizations like cnn.com, washingtonpost.com, and The Chronicle of Higher Education to this course. Her extensive knowledge and passion for teaching encourages students to get involved in new ways.

For example, Professor Thiel-Stern encourages students to use Twitter.com during her class. If students learn something from class material that they find interesting, they can post an update (also known as a “tweet”) to their personal Twitter accounts and interact with fellow classmates in real-time.

This class features innovative technology and presentations in combination with guest speakers who are top professionals in the fields of journalism, advertising, and public relations.

So, if you’re curious about how “tweets” and other new media culture affect your world, this is the class for you!

Want to learn more?

  • Visit the School of Journalism and Mass Communication website
  • Learn more about a major in Journalism
  • Discover the Institute on New Media Studies
  • Read more about Professor Thiel-Stern

April 05, 2010 in Admissions, Featured Class, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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A Surprise U of M Performance

While April Fool's day may be over, people are still talking about the stunt performed at a local grocery store by U of M student actors from the School of Music.  They burst into a song called, "Mealtime Hero" in the middle of the store! Check out the YouTube video below:

Also, read an article about the performance from local news source, Kare 11, here. Audience members definitely enjoyed it!

~ Trisha

April 02, 2010 in Admissions, Fun Stuff!, Hilary's Life, Twin Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Sunny Skies

We’ve been having some glorious weather lately! Today it was a whopping 70 degrees, so I decided to check out one of my favorite places on campus—the Northrop Mall—to see how my fellow Gophers were enjoying the weather. Students are definitely taking advantage of the nice day… check out the photos below!

Studying outside makes homework infinitely more bearable
Studying Outside

On warm days, it’s common to see members of the U of M Juggling Club practicing their awesome skills:
U of M Juggling Club

Here’s a photo of students playing a game of Frisbee—a great study break!
Playing Frisbee

All in all, it’s a great day to be a Gopher!

Students on the Mall

~ Trisha

March 26, 2010 in Admissions, Hilary's Life, U of M News | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Spring Break in the Twin Cities

The weather in the Twin Cities has been beautiful this past week—just in time for spring break! I decided to head home to Brooklyn Park, Minn. to spend time with some extended family that I haven’t seen in a couple of months.

While many students do choose to take a trip to places outside of Minnesota, there are plenty of ways to vacation in the Twin Cities:

  • Head over to the Walker Art Center for free gallery admission on Thursdays.
  • Check out the Science Museum of Minnesota and its latest exhibit, the Dead Sea Scrolls.
  • Enjoy warming temperatures and sunshine with a jog or walk around Lake Calhoun on the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes.
  • Get a healthy dose of retail therapy at the Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in America.
  • See a play at the world-renown Guthrie Theater.

I'm pretty low-key when it comes to breaks from school. And since last week was hectic for me, I'm just glad to have a chance to slow down and enjoy spring!

~ Trisha

p.s. The Gopher Men's Basketball team kicks off their run for the NCAA Championship this Friday at 11:25 a.m. Go Gophers!

March 17, 2010 in Admissions, Hilary's Life, Twin Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

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An Update from Minnesota Miles

Good morning Gopher Blog fans!

I recently saw this YouTube video featuring "Minnesota Miles." He gets the inside scoop about some new technology available at the University Recreation Center which is pretty neat. Not to mention, the facility is expanding in 2013. So, for all you future Gophers out there, it's something to look forward to!

Check it out below!


~ Trisha

March 15, 2010 in Admissions, Around Campus, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Last of the Midterms

Given the time of year—mid-March—my mind should be prepared for midterm season. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been keeping up with homework and studying this semester, but I’ve concluded that midterms always seem to come “out of the blue.”

This week, I’ve got two midterms and a test for my Communication Studies major. The first is in Interviewing and Communication, my Tuesday-night class. This class has turned out to be one of my favorites. The instructor is hilarious and makes class both interactive and fun. Plus, the coursework is 100 percent relevant to what I hope to be doing after graduation, so I look forward to class each week. My other midterm is for a class called Communication in Marriage and Family. My professor, Dr. Ascan Koerner, is well-versed in the field but sometimes the coursework has been challenging to understand. This means I’ve really got to buckle down and study! Lastly, on Friday I have a test in Persuasion Theories, which shouldn’t be too difficult.

These exams, along with reading a book for New Media Culture in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, equal an academically challenging week. You’d think I’d be a bit more stressed; however, I can’t help but smile. Why? Spring break is next week, which means warmer weather and a temporary reprieve from classes. Not to mention, these midterms are the last of my undergraduate career!

Who wouldn’t smile at that? :)

~ Trisha

March 10, 2010 in Admissions, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Story of King Arthur: English 1172

The legend of King Arthur and his Round Table

Of all the stories familiar to the Western world, perhaps none have had a greater influence on literature, art, and music than the legend of King Arthur and his Round Table. Although thousands of years have passed since the earliest versions of King Arthur’s story appeared, audiences have continued to enjoy the stories and their beloved characters, like Arthur, Merlin, Lancelot, Guinevere, and Tristan.

In The Story of King Arthur: English 1172, students study adaptations of this legendary story to understand how writers and their audiences have recreated it over time to fit specific historical contexts. In this course, students explore connections between the story of King Arthur and contemporary works such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Camelot.

Students also study the legend of King Arthur through books and engaging lectures. In addition, students are put into smaller groups called “learning communities.” In these small groups, students connect with their classmates and delve deeper into course concepts.

Want to learn more?

  • Learn more about the English department.
  • Find out what it means to be an English major.

March 08, 2010 in Admissions, Featured Class, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Making a Splash

Good afternoon Gopher Blog fans!

There have been some great articles featured on the University of Minnesota home page in the past week! Check out this article about Kelci Brant, a member of the U of M Swimming and Diving Team. (She's also in my Interviewing and Communication class!)

Diver Kelci Brant finds a new home—and makes her mark—at the U

By Rick Moore
Diver Kelci Brant 
Before coming to the University of Minnesota, Kelci Bryant competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing in the springboard synchronized 3-meter with then-partner Ariel Rittenhouse under U diving coach Wenbo Chen. The duo finished fourth at the event. In Bryant's first season at the U, she has been named Big Ten Diver of the Year.

Photo: courtesy University Athletics

A year ago at this time, the University of Minnesota was hardly on Kelci Bryant’s radar.

Sure, the Illinois native had competed at the U’s Aquatic Center a couple of times, but she was fresh off a semester at the University of Miami, and before that she had dived in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, placing fourth in the synchronized 3-meter springboard event. “Ski-U-Mah” was not in her vocabulary.

But when her U.S. diving coach, Wenbo Chen, became the diving coach at the University of Minnesota last spring, Bryant decided to bring her considerable talents to Minneapolis to remain under his tutelage.

It wasn’t exactly a 3-meter leap of faith, but it was certainly a journey into the unknown.

“I definitely didn’t know how to get around when I first got here, but I knew the pool and I knew where the Radisson was, because that’s where I always stayed,” Bryant laughs. “And I love Jamba Juice, so when I found out they had it [on campus], I was excited.”

She has brought another level of excitement to an already strong Minnesota swimming and diving team. The 10th-ranked Gophers recently finished second in the Big Ten Championships. Bryant set a Big Ten Championship meet record with a score of 348.20 in the finals of the 1-meter event, and she was named the Big Ten Diver of the Year and of the Championship.

Her next step is the NCAA Zone Diving competition March 12-14, the competition that qualifies divers for the NCAA Championships the following week.

International waters

While Bryant has both feet planted firmly on the springboard at the Aquatic Center, she also has her eyes on the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

“Right now, I think the main thing is balancing training for both the college meets and the international-level and national-level meets for diving,” she says.

Does she feel less pressure diving in a Big Ten meet, far removed from the Olympic spotlight?

“There’s actually more pressure, I feel,” she says. “Maybe it’s just because it’s something new, but at Big Tens I wasn’t just competing for me, I was competing for my team.”

Despite her international diving resume and Olympic experience, Bryant says she was especially concerned with finding her place among her new Gopher teammates, a task made more daunting with her self-proclaimed initial shyness.

“It was weird because all these girls were my age but they already had their group of friends, and I just felt really intimidated by it. I felt like I missed out on the first two years I should have bonded with them.” But, she adds, “They’ve definitely welcomed me with open arms.”

Nowhere was that more apparent than at the recent Big Ten Championships at West Lafayette, Indiana, when Bryant’s teammates stuck around well after their swimming events to watch her perform. One particular moment—as she was introduced before the diving finals—stands out.

“I have my [teammates watching] across the pool, and Paige Bradley, one of the swimmers, starts this cheer they call the Hawaii Cheer,” Bryant says. “I had the whole swim team and a lot of their parents in the stands and they were doing that cheer. And I’ve just never felt like I’ve had that many people behind me, supporting me."

March 08, 2010 in Admissions, Fun Stuff!, Gopher Sports, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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U of M Job and Internship Fair

Last week, the U of M held its annual Job and Internship Fair downtown at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Since I’m graduating in May and looking for employment, it was the perfect time for me to scope out job opportunities. Representatives from over 200 companies and organizations were there to meet with students and answer questions—from Target and Cargill to Land O’Lakes and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)!

Since I am pursuing work in the field of marketing and communications, I researched employers that are hiring students in these areas on the U of M Job and Internship fair website. Then I sought out those particular companies at the fair and had conversations with their recruiters. I learned about some exciting opportunities at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and Padilla Speer Beardsley, a marketing and public relations firm in downtown Minneapolis. Some employers took resumes, while others handed out information on how to apply for jobs online.

Because the fair is so large, going in with a plan definitely helped me have an enjoyable and productive experience. The recruiters were helpful and gave me some tips to help my job applications stand out from the crowd. I’ve already applied to one internship that I learned about through the fair, and plan to apply for more in the coming weeks.

Until next time…

~ Trisha

March 05, 2010 in Admissions, Around Campus, Hilary's Life, Twin Cities | Permalink | Comments (1)

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A Smashing Time

Hey, Gopher Blog readers! Check out this article about four U of M undegraduates working on one of the world's biggest experiments, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Four U students help design the world's biggest particle collider

By Deane Morrison U of M Undergraduates working on one of the world's biggest experiments

When they walked in the door a few years ago, they didn't know the first thing about how to put together a real-life physics experiment.

But today, from the University of Minnesota's Tate Laboratory, they're working on one of the biggest: the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Geneva, Switzerland, designed to recreate the conditions that existed just after the Big Bang.

Quite a transformation for four undergrads, who now find themselves in company with some of the world's top physicists, seeking to learn how our universe came to be and what it consists of.

And their interest in hands-on work delights their adviser, assistant professor Jeremiah Mans.

"One thing I've enjoyed since coming to Minnesota [in 2005] is the quality of undergraduates, especially their level of interest in experimental work," he says. "I was a graduate student and postdoc at Princeton, but most of the students wanted to be string theorists, not experimentalists."

Needle in haystack

The students are helping prepare an experiment at the LHC, which smashes beams of subatomic particles called protons together at nearly the speed of light. The collisions produce sprays of particles; a few might be eagerly sought items like dark matter, believed to account for 80 percent of the universe's mass; or the Higgs boson, thought to endow other particles with mass.

But of the billions of particles born in the collisions, almost all will be junk, not jewels.

"Particle physics is like looking for a needle in a haystack, but the hay straws outnumber the needles by ten trillion [10,000,000,000,000] to one," says senior Nathan Mirman.

He programs and tests a device called the trigger; its job is to decide which few particle "births" are significant and should be recorded for analysis. And it has only 25 nanoseconds between collisions to do it.

One way the trigger tells junk from jewel is to look at the energies of particles produced by a collision, says junior Martin Schroeder.

"If the energy spectrum matches what we're looking for, we keep the data," explains Schroeder, whose forte is laying out and assembling circuit boards to handle the job.

Super opportunity

In a future upgraded LHC experiment, the beams will contain several times the number of protons as today. That prospect generated a project junior Brian Walstrom has just completed.

"I was looking at how good the signal will look under the greatly increased amount of debris," he says.

Also simulating the upgraded experiment is senior Tanner Prestegard, who searches for the best way to tell when collisions have produced electrons. Finding those particles could mean a collision has also produced something interesting, such as a dark matter particle.

Through their work, the students have tasted the thrill of scientific inquiry, and it shows no sign of wearing off. Mirman, Walstrom, and Prestegard have their eye on graduate study in particle or high-energy physics, while Schroeder leans more toward medical school or medical physics. And they all hope someday to visit the LHC and see the behemoth that has occupied them so long.

But most of all, they're unanimous in praising their mentor Mans.

"He's definitely one of the smartest people I've ever met," says Prestegard.

March 03, 2010 in Admissions, Around Campus, Hilary's Life, U of M News | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The U of M Jazz Man

Hello Gopher Blog fans!

At the U of M, students are always on the move. A convenient aspect about being a student with a busy schedule is the fact that we can always rely on free transportation via the Campus Connector or Campus Circulator busses that run all day, all over campus during the week.

In addition to simple convenience, sometimes riding the bus on campus comes with a little jazz. Check out this story about the U of M Jazz Man, a beloved bus driver spreading his passion for jazz all over campus.

~ Trisha

March 01, 2010 in Admissions, Around Campus, Fun Stuff!, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Giving Back to the Global Community

Recently, I took some time out of my busy schedule to volunteer with an organization that my sorority works with each semester. Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a non-profit organization that strives to provide nutritious food packages to starving children all over the world.

In my sorority, each member completes at least five hours of service every semester. Members look forward to volunteering with Feed My Starving Children because it’s a great way to give back to our global community—making a big difference in an easy way. Plus, the shift times easily accommodate the schedule of the typical college student.

I had never volunteered with FMSC before and was looking forward to this experience. A group of us went on a Thursday evening and had a great time!

Here’s a picture of me and my sorority sister, Becky.
Becky and Trisha

Including the group from my sorority, there were between 30 and 40 people packaging meals. With everyone’s combined effort, we made over 12,900 meals. Plus, the meals we packaged were specifically donated to Haiti earthquake relief. Having a great time for a great cause…I’d call that a night well spent. :)

~ Trisha

February 08, 2010 in Admissions, Featured Class, Hilary's Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Let's Get Involved

This past Wednesday was the first meeting of the semester for Public Relations Student Society of America or PRSSA. It’s a student group dedicated to helping students gain experience in the public relations field through networking, event planning, and more. Being a member of the organization has been a great way for me to meet new people and network with professionals in my chosen field.

The meeting was fun; we unveiled our new website that some members of the group have been working on since August 2009, plus each member could have a sandwich from Erbert and Gerbert’s (who doesn’t like free food, right?). That’s another part of the student group that I like—members gain experience that they can tell employers about in job interviews. And, as a senior in the job search process, having things that set me apart from other candidates is essential.

Actually, the abundance of student groups at the U of M turned out to be a hidden treasure and one of the best parts of being a student here. During my freshman year, I was a member of my residence hall’s student council and also involved in a mentorship group through the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence (MCAE). And, as you may know, I’m also an active member of a sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta.

That’s what’s great about the U of M! With over 600 student organizations from Black Student Union and EcoWatch to Students Today Leaders Forever and U Skydiving Club, you’re bound to find something for you. Check out more of the University’s student groups here.

Happy Friday!

Trisha

January 29, 2010 in Around Campus | Permalink | Comments (0)

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