Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Meet Jessica Overturf

Hey Everyone!  My name is Jessica Overturf and I’m a 2011 Hixson Scholar from Warren County.  In this post I’m going to share with you guys about living in the residence halls and working for ISU Dining.  


So, by now I think you all should know where you’re living in the fall and hopefully during your orientations you were able to tour the hall you’re moving into next month so that’s exciting!  When I thought about living in the dorms all I heard was that they were small and cramped and you’ll have no room, but it’s really not that bad.  You guys will be fine as long as you don’t cram too much stuff into that little room!  There are plenty of opportunities to meet new people through living in the dorms.  If you’re the type of person that likes to be president of something or really get involved, they will have those opportunities on your floor and your CA will talk more about it after you move in.  There will be various get-togethers that your whole hall will do too, like my freshmen year there was an area for people to make tie-dye t-shirts and other activities but it was a lot of fun and a good activity for you and your new friends to do together!  Living in the residence hall was one of the best experiences I had at Iowa State my freshmen year.  My random roommate is now my best friend and I’ve met the most amazing people from living there.  You’ll make many great new memories with everyone you meet and have a great experience here!  Now some of you will have a job on campus your freshmen year, if that is so make sure that you’re filling out applications now online if you haven’t already done anything so if they still have spots open they’ll be able to fit you right in.  I’ll put a link for those of you who want to look into working for ISU Dining.  It’s a good experience working for ISU Dining. They’re very accommodating with your class schedule and if you need time off to study for an exam for the most part if you warn them ahead of time you’ll be fine!  There are plenty of different locations you are able to work for on campus, you’ll see the different locations on the link.  If you have any questions, I think most of them can be answered on the page, choosing a location to work at, your starting wage will be $8.65, and you get to pick how many hours you want to work.  Just a tip, watch the amount of hours you work compared the amount of hours you are in class.  You don’t want to take on a heavy class load and a lot of hours at work, you’ll tire yourself out quick.  I would advise you to start small and if you want more hours I’m sure you can talk to your supervisor or just pick-up shifts when other people aren’t able to work them. Here is the link for the ISU Dining Employment page, http://www.dining.iastate.edu/employment/student-employment

I look forward to meeting all of you in the fall, I hope you have a great rest of the summer!

Friday, July 12, 2013

Meet Coreen Robinson!

Hello 2013 Hixson Scholars! My name is Coreen Robinson and I am a 2011 Hixson from Plymouth County double majoring in journalism/mass communication and history. I cannot wait to get to know all of you as I serve as one of your peer mentors in the fall!

For this post, I will identify some campus resources that you may find useful in the fall as you begin your adventure as a Cyclone!

One of the very first resources you encounter on campus will be your community adviser, or CA. This upperclassman will live on your floor and will be able to help you answer any question you might have about residence hall life and beyond. Your CA will be a resource in your very own building that you can approach at any time.

When it comes to classes, one of the most important resources is your academic adviser. I highly suggest going to meet your academic adviser early in the semester and getting to know them. This person will help guide you in choosing your coursework and fulfilling the requirements for your chosen major. Advisers can also help you network for more involvement in clubs, organizations, and internships and jobs!

The one-stop spot on campus for all of your academic questions is the Academic Success Center, located right next door to the Hixson office in the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center. Whether you have questions about classes, need a tutor, or want to seek academic counseling, the Academic Success Center is the place to go!

For questions regarding financial aid, loans, AccessPlus, and more, the Student Answer Center located in Beardshear Hall is the place to go! I found the entire AccessPlus system confusing as a first-year student, but a stop at this center will put you on the path to understanding!

Last but not least, the Thielen Student Health Center on campus is the place to go in the event you become ill or even if you need a prescription refilled. The health center is a great on campus resource that can help you avoid commuting off campus in the event of an emergency.

Perhaps most important of all, we as peer mentors and staff are resources for you! Please feel welcomed to ask us any question any time, because there really is no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to transitioning into college life! We’re here to help you make that transition a huge success! My email is coreenr@iastate.edu, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions before classes start!

Since there are truly innumerable amounts of resources at your fingertips on campus, the following PDF can give you information on more campus resources that I don’t have the space to explain here! http://www.admissions.iastate.edu/orientation/after/pdf/resources_and_services.pdf


I am sincerely excited to meet you all in just a few weeks! Enjoy the rest of your summer and GO STATE!

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Meet Katie Osterman!

The Traditions and History of Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Hi 2013 Hixson Scholars!  My name is Katie Osterman and I will be one of your peer mentors for the upcoming fall semester.  I am a 2011 Hixson from Wright County, majoring in history education, with endorsements in coaching and all-social sciences.  I look forward to getting to know everyone better as you “Choose your Adventure at Iowa State!” I'm the one not in the prom dress in the photo! 

In this post, I highlight some of the history and traditions of Iowa State.  Iowa State has a rich history of nearly 155 years and several traditions that all Iowa Staters take part of!

Iowa State University of Science and Technology was created on March 22, 1858, by the legislature of the State of Iowa as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm.  The Farm House was erected as the first building on campus (and still stands today).  In 1862, the Iowa legislature voted to accept the provisions of the Morrill Act, officially establishing Iowa State as a land grant institution, renaming the college Iowa Agricultural College and in 1898 becoming Iowa State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts.

The first class entered in 1869 and the first graduating class of 24 men and 2 women graduated in 1872.  The nation’s first state veterinary medicine school was created at Iowa State in 1879.  In 1959, Iowa State was officially renamed Iowa State University of Science and Technology.  The current enrollment has reached over 31,000 students.

Iowa State is known for its advancements in the fields of agriculture, design, engineering, and research science.  Iowa State is one of the top research-institutes in the nation. 

DID YOU KNOW…
                  Did you know that Iowa State played a significant role in the Manhattan Project (the top-secret government program that developed the atomic bombs that were used during World War II)?  Iowa State, through the Ames Laboratory, perfected a cheap and effective way to purify uranium that was used to make the bombs.  During its time with the Manhattan Project, Iowa State purified over 2 million pounds of uranium using the Ames Process.  The Ames Process is still widely used today in industry because the process is so effective and cheap compared to other processes.

                  Did you know that Iowa State invented the first digital computer?  Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff and his graduate assistant Clifford Berry created the first automatic electronic digital computer between 1939 and 1942 and was known as the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC).  However, credit for this discovery did not go to Dr. Atanasoff until a federal court ruling in 1973, declaring that Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff was the first inventor of the automatic electronic digital computer.  A working replica of the ABC is housed in Physics Hall.

                  Did you know that the “Cyclones” were created in 1895?  Iowa State became the Cyclones after they leveled Northwestern in 1895.  On September 29, 1895, the Chicago Tribune noted: Struck by a Cyclone It Comes From Iowa And Devastates Evanston Town.  “Northwestern might as well have tried to play football with an Iowa cyclone as with the Iowa team it met yesterday.  At the end of 50 minutes’ play, the big husky farmers from Iowa’s Agricultural College had rolled up 36 points, while the 15-yard line was the nearest Northwestern got to Iowa’s goal.”

                  Did you know that Jack Trice Stadium is named after ISU football player Jack Trice?  Jack Trice was the first black athlete at Iowa State and died after injuries suffered during his first college game in October 1923.  The stadium was officially named Jack Trice Stadium in his honor in 1997.

                  Did you know that all members of the freshman class had to wear red beanie caps?  From 1916 until 1934 red “prep caps” or “freshmen beanies” were required attire for freshmen class members.  In the spring, the caps were burned in a bonfire during a “moving up” ceremony, when the freshmen officially became members of the sophomore class.

Iowa State has many traditions that have developed over the years.

The Zodiac
Students and faculty alike walk around the zodiac in the north entrance of the Memorial Union.  If you step on the zodiac, you will fail your next exam, but this can be reversed by throwing a coin into the Fountain of the Four Seasons.

Homecoming
Homecoming is a big tradition, with celebrations lasting throughout the week.  The first homecoming was in 1912 and this past year (2012), Iowa State celebrated its “Cy-Tennial” with 100 Homecomings!  Homecoming traditions include Food on Campus, Campaniling, Yell Like Hell, Lawn Displays, Fireworks, and of course, the big football game. Go State!

VEISHEA
VEISHEA began in 1922 and has become the one of the nation’s largest student-run college festivals.  VEISHEA stands for: Veterinary Medicine Engineering Industrial Science Home Economics Agriculture.  VEISHEA includes traditions like Stars Over VEISHEA, Campaniling, Cherry Pies, Canoe Races, Intramurals, and  a host of other activities throughout the week.

Hilton Magic
“Hilton Magic,” the power of the Coliseum faithful to produce unexpected victories, was first recognized by Des Moines Register sportswriter Buck Turnbull.  On a February 14, 1989 showdown with No. 3 Missouri, the Cyclones conjured up the spirit of the Hilton crowd to produce a stunning 82-75 victory.  The following day’s headline read “Hilton Magic Spells ‘Upset’ One More Time.”

In the article, Turnbull called for more “Hilton Magic” in the Cyclone’s upcoming bout with Oklahoma State, which had pummeled ISU 102-74 just three weeks earlier.  On cue, “Hilton Magic” displayed its powers, as the Cyclones defeated the Cowboys, 90-81, marking a 37-point reversal from the season’s prior meeting.

Campaniling
A student officially becomes an official Iowa Stater when he or she is kissed under the campanile at the stroke of midnight. 

Lake LaVerne

It is said that if you walk around Lake La Verne three times in silence with your significant other, you are destined to be together.