The Cougs are Traveling West

This weekend Cougar supporters will be travelling to Seattle to support their team against Stanford at Century Link Field.

Background music provided by Laurent Sarrote; Natural_Brass_RTIDF_Savigny_15_09_07 at www.jamendo.com

Education Abroad: Getting Started

The semiannual Education Abroad Fair took place on August 31st and gave students a chance to meet with representatives from all types of programs and learn what they have to offer.

Tables were set up on the Glenn Terrell Mall with signs, posters, fliers and sign-up sheets from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 500 people stopped by to explore the variety of available options.  Students had the chance to sign up to receive additional information from programs that interested them and were welcome to take informational brochures.  The fair is a good opportunity for people to start to narrow down their choices or serves as the first exposure to the idea of studying abroad for others.   

Over 20 program providers were present at the fair with opportunities to study or intern in over 40 countries.  Students of all majors were encouraged to speak with Washington State University faculty directing programs abroad, program representatives and exchange students to learn more about the options available.

Senior Adriana Tejeda, a public relations major, said the fair was helpful.

“I learned that the traveling opportunities are life changing because they give you another perspective on things and teach you how to appreciate what you have.”

Tejeda said she attended the fair during the hour long break between two of her classes at 11 a.m., which was when the fair received the most traffic. She enjoyed hearing from representatives of the CAPA International Program, which caters special opportunities for communication majors.

Mary Yoest, a senior studying psychology, shared her interest in studying abroad.

“I want to study abroad to help solidify my Spanish language skills for my minor and to experience a new culture,” said Yoest. “The world is so much larger than the United States and I feel that study abroad programs are a great way to experience it.”

Yoest said she passed by the fair on her way to class but did not stop to talk with any of the various program representatives.

If you also missed the chance to talk to a representative, the study abroad office located in Bryan Hall room 108 is full of the same material and pamphlets handed out during the fair. Students can meet with a Global Services international student adviser on a walk-in basis for general quick questions or make an appointment for more in-depth discussions.

If you are interested in studying or interning abroad, get in contact with a Global Services adviser and start learning more about the process. You can visit their website at: http://ip.wsu.edu/students/index.html or give them a call at (509) 335-4508.

Keeping the Tradition Alive

Wave the Flag is a tradition like no other at Washington State University. Ol’ Crimson, the WSU flag, has flown at 134 consecutive ESPN GameDay shows. For 134 Saturdays straight, the nation has seen the Cougar logo flying in the background, held up triumphantly by Cougar faithful.

            

The 133^rd consecutive appearance of Ol’ Crimson on the show was extra special for three WSU students.

            

WSU seniors Kevin Massimino, Jared Powell and junior Justin Shiver drove from Pullman to Auburn, Ala., to see WSU take on Auburn on August 31. ESPN GameDay was live from Clemson University in South Carolina that day, and Massimino, Powell, and Shiver had the honor of driving Ol’ Crimson to Atlanta, where they met up with a WSU alumni Tyler Witthun, who drove the flag the rest of the way and flew it proudly on GameDay for the 133^rd straight week.

           

These three students were honored to be a part of the tradition that started in 2003.

            

They launched a Facebook page for the event on August 1, and gained more than 2,800 likes. Through statistics displayed to the admins on the page, they were able to find out that with just 2,800 likes, there were more than 4,500 people talking about it and more than 100,000 people were reached.

            

“It reached a lot of people,” Massimino said.

            

Massimino, Powell, and Shiver documented their 5,979 mile road trip through social media and posted video updates and pictures daily for their followers to see.

            

Their trip kicked off on Tuesday, August 27 with a send off event outside of Bohler gym. Through their social media outreach, they were able to connect with several Cougar alum throughout their trip and stay with some of them along the way.

            

The trip was also fundraised through their social media outreach. They fundraised to pay for gas and food. They were able to get a $500 Chevron gift card as well as a $500 McDonalds gift card through Coug IMG, which works specifically with college athletics. They also raised $3,200 through alumni, $2,500 of which they were able to donate to the Ol’ Crimson Booster Club because of how much money they raised through other sources.

            

“This will allow the tradition to continue for at least two years,” Massimino said.

            

The Ol’ Crimson Booster Club funds the flag being shipped to each GameDay.          

            

On the Facebook page for the event, Massimino, Powell, and Shiver wrote, “the three of us love Washington State University. The Cougar experience is much more than what simply happens in the classroom, and we want to tap into the massive amount of energy and Cougar Pride around the country.”

            

Powell and Massimino described the Cougar pride they felt throughout their trip as “amazing” and “unbelievable.”

            

Massimino said he thinks part of it might have been a “by product of the flag—it attracts positivety,” but he also noted that he thinks they would have received the same warm reception without the flag.

            

They also described the Auburn community as “ridiculously welcoming and genuine.”

           

Massimino and Powell said they appreciated the Auburn fans and community a lot and hope that WSU fans will always show the same hospitality and friendship to visiting fans.

            

Through this trip, they were able to gain and following and enjoy a once in a lifetime experience.

            

“Thank you to all the Coug fans who supported us,” Powell said. “It was a good time regardless of the outcome.”

Massimino and Powell left with a promise. They hope to be able to fly the flag themselves at a College GameDay sometime, but with their platform established, it’s a guarantee they will be back.

            

“Be looking for us to return in some way in the next year.” 

Wave the Flag Road Trip Facebook Page

A collection of some of the photos taken by Kevin Massimino, Jared Powell, and Justin Shiver on the Wave the Flag roadtrip. Photos used with permission.

What to Do with a Three-day Weekend?

What to Do with a Three-day Weekend?

The Palouse is home to lentils, rolling hills, and Washington State University. This unique location means many students will have to leave the comfort of their family home and move to Eastern Washington.

On three-day weekends however, many will pack their bags and head back to where they came from. However for many students this is more than a weekend, it is a small vacation.

Why do so many students make the long drive when they have to return for classes the following Monday? For Hailey Chirstopherson, 18, it is because of her family. “I decided to surprise my parents at dinner. I was most excited to see their faces and reactions when I walked through the door.”

For many students the majority of their belongings are here at WSU. Any long road trip requires careful packing and strategic planning. When you are travelling over a weekend it is important not to forget something and also not to over pack.

When speaking with Marissa Cuevas, 20, she agreed that for her she always makes sure she has enough clothes to last while she is gone!

Sadie Shattuck, 20, took her packing a step further. She knew she was planning on camping over the holiday weekend and didn’t want to be held back because something was forgotten. For this trip her top priority was closed toed shoes so that she could explore the ice caves.

Not all students can or want to make the trip. What about the ones who choose to stay? For Hannah Petersen, 20, she says she loves the change of pace that comes along with a long weekend, “It’s a good break from the craziness of classes and what happens on the weekends. A perfect time to stay in and watch Netflix with your roommate!”