Hey All!

I can’t believe how fast this semester has gone. Seems like just yesterday I was moving in and enjoying all of the new freshmen being on campus for Orientation weekend. Time has flown by though and now it’s all study, study, study for final exams coming up next week. I have successfully submitted my final papers and presentations and now 4 finals stand between me and my Christmas break.

Amanda and friends enjoying the snow!

As for me, I am enjoying this weather. This past weekend, Marshall received around 14 inches of snow and we were under blizzard like conditions. Campus wasn’t opened until 10:30 on Monday due to all of the snow. Many professors that travel to Marshall cancelled their classes that they had in the afternoon so there were a number of students, including myself, that didn’t have classes at all on Monday.  My friends and I definitely took advantage of the weather and played outside in the snow..and of course took many pictures!

Tonight and tomorrow the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams will be playing Minnesota State University and Concordia St. Paul. Tonight’s game against the Mavericks will also be, ‘Merica night. Students will be proudly sporting their U.S.A. gear. Tomorrow the Mustangs will be taking on the Golden Bears and the fans will be in their Ugly Sweaters! Get away from studying by cheering on your Mustangs and get a little creative with your outfit!

In closing would like to wish the best of luck to all of the students taking their finals next week; You’ll do great! I would also like to send my thoughts and prayers out to all of the people affected by the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut.

As always, Go Mustangs! And Go Pack Go!

Amanda Brunner
Sophomore - Arkansaw, WI

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the snow falling down!

This week has just flown by; seems like yesterday was really Monday. Last week we started our indoor intramural volleyball team. We play every Monday and Wednesday night. Our team name is, “I’d Hit That.” The team consists of Brittany Gatzke, Katie Kienitz, Kayla Van Grootheest, Sydney Ristau, Josh Spreiter, Nathan Fransman, and I. Regardless if we win or lose; we always have a good time. I think it is safe to say for the whole team that we enjoy playing indoor volleyball better than sand volleyball. So this week we played on Monday night and had a bye on Wednesday night. But we definitely had something to do on Wednesday as the West End Residential  Assistants hosted Casino night. Casino night is the biggest non-athletic event on campus throughout the year. The event was hosted in both the upper and lower level of the conference center. There were many different casino games, including a human slot machine. Students that got there early, dressed up in pirate theme clothes, or brought in a perishable food item, received extra chips to gamble with. Every student was able to enter their name for a door prize when they arrived. Once you got $5,000 in chips, you could enter your name in for a grand prize at the end of the night. Some of the grand prizes were a Kindle and an iPad.

SMSU Casino Night!

 As for me, classes are still going well, but the stress of finals is starting to hit. One presentation is complete, my theater play is over, my research paper is well underway, and studying for tests is, well….. a work in progress. I cannot believe how fast this semester is going. My countdown until home is only 11 days away. I am excited but at the same time I don’t want to leave all of my friends! I have made many great friends that I know will stay with me for the rest of my life and being away from them for almost a month is going to be hard.

This weekend there will be perspective students here on campus so be sure to say hi if you see an ambassador giving a tour to a family. Good luck to the Wheelchair basketball team as they travel to Nebraska this weekend to compete. The Men’s and Women’s Basketball team will also be traveling to Nebraska as they take on Wayne State, so good luck to them as well. Also a good luck goes out to the Wrestling team as they head to Iowa for a tournament. Not only good luck to all of the Mustang athletes and coaches competing this weekend, but also safe travels as the snow continues to fall today and this weekend.

As always, Go Mustangs, and Go Pack Go! :)

Amanda Brunner
Sophomore - Arkansaw, WI

Welcome Back!

To start off, I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving break and got to spend a lot of time with your friends and family. I had a great break home spending time with family and friends and also hunting. I got home on Tuesday around 2:30 and had the hunters dream knocking down a perfect symmetrical 10 buck around 4:20. My family had a great hunting season with my dad shooting a 7 pointer on opening morning, myself getting one on Tuesday, and my sister on Wednesday. With all the venison though, we still had room for turkey on Thursday.

Reality came back though on Sunday night as I made the trip back to Marshall. It is always a good drive knowing that I have great friends to come back to. Then Monday hit and classes started back up again. You see more and more students in the library, including myself, trying to get a head start on their final projects and presentations.

Basketball is starting for the season. Be sure to stop by the games on Saturday in your white clothes for, “White Out,” versus Sioux Falls at 5:00 and 7:00. Congratulations and good luck to the volleyball girls who are advancing into the semi-finals today. Wrestling will start their season this weekend, so good luck to them. Also this weekend we will be having many perspective students on campus for a campus visit day so be sure to say hi!

As for me, I am busy working on final projects and presentations, memorizing a play, and gathering information together for final comprehensive exams. This weekend my Sweetmates and I are going to Brittany’s home for the weekend in Hitchcock, SD. We are looking forward to a great weekend and a break from school work for a little while.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and don’t worry, I’ll be sure to be wearing my Packer jersey on Sunday for the Packer and Viking game and hopefully a victory so I can wear it on Monday! Go Pack Go!

As always, Go Mustangs!:)

Amanda Brunner
Sophomore - Arkansaw, WI

Christmas and Basketball

In my past three years at college, we have never had fall semester go right up to the week before Christmas, until my now!  There are definitely some mixed feelings on campus about whether or not this is a good thing.  I think it is beneficial because we have three weeks to finish final projects for all of our classes instead of the normal two.  However, that also means that we only have a couple days after finals week to get home and settled for Christmas.  Oh well what can you do besides adjust, which happens quite often in college!

Speaking of Christmas, it has definitely taken over for the campus of SMSU!  Personally, my house has been in the spirit since October because one of my roommates is absolutely crazy about Christmas.  At the school, the big tree is up in the student center, holiday music is always playing, and I have even started to see some ugly Christmas sweaters.  Although I do I have a friend that wears one all year long so that does not surprise me at all!

This Saturday is the first NSIC play for the men’s and women’s basketball teams.  The theme for this game is White Out. I am excited to see everyone getting into the basketball spirit!  I will let you know next week how it went!

Laura Johnson
Senior – Maple Lake, MN

Rolling into the Homestretch...

We are rolling into the homestretch of the fall semester after a much needed Thanksgiving break. There are only 3 weeks of classes left, then finals.  It seems like just yesterday men around campus were starting Movember with little more than stubble on their upper lip.  Now it is already the last week of the month, and mustaches and beards are in full flourish.  Although this time time of the year can be busy with homework, projects, and finals, it is still a very fun and exciting time at SMSU.  The volleyball team has won the NSIC championship and has moved on to the regional NCAA DII tournament.  The basketball teams are starting up another promising season as well.  Next week will be our annual Casino Night on campus that is sponsored by several large groups with a lot of great prizes to be won.  But I better get  back to my homework so I can partake in some of these great events to come. 

Tony Schwebach
Senior - Dell Rapids, SD

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving Break sure was a nice break from all the commotion at SMSU! It was at the perfect point just before things start really buckling down here for Academics. With three weeks of this semester left, things are really starting to pick up here at SMSU, classes are coming to an end and people are finishing their last big papers or projects. Finals are only two weeks away! While things are getting serious for the academics, Intramurals are just getting under way for basketball and indoor volleyball. We also have our Men's, Women's and Wheelchair basketball games to attend and our 2012 Volleyball Tournament Champions to entertain us also. With so much going on here on campus its hard to stay focused, that's why my favorite place to be on campus when I need to do my homework is the 4th floor in the library. It is super quiet, and has plenty of space to spread out and crack out a paper.Here on campus you will always find something to do and a great place to relax with some buddies. Tonight we are hosting a comedian and I can not wait to have a good laugh with some great friends. It's nice to break away from the studying for a little while.
Until next time!

GO MUSTANGS!

Katie Salden
Freshman - Cokato, MN

Buck Fever Has Officially Hit!

With a nice long weekend and a four day week, I can’t believe that today is already Friday. This week has just flown. Not only that, but Thanksgiving break is next week. Some students on campus have their schedules worked out to where they can go home today and not come back until after break. For me though, I have a couple tests on Monday along with work and important classes on Tuesday. Also this weekend is, “A Day at SMSU,” which is a big visit day for perspective students. All student ambassadors are required to be there and give tours. I am opening up my room in Sweetland Hall this weekend for a show room so the students will get the chance to see both residential options that the University provides. A few of my friends and I decided that we are going to have a movie marathon this weekend.

This week was full of music around campus. On Tuesday night XY Unlimited performed in the lower conference center and on Thursday night Kris Allen and Eric Hutchinson performed a concert in the Recreation Athletic Facility. The XY Unlimited show was free for students, but the Allen/Hutchinson concert had a fee of $15.00 for students with their Mustang ID, $20.00 for general admission, and $25.00 if tickets were purchased on the day of the show. There were many students and general members that attended the concert. On Thursday night there was also a home men’s basketball game. They had a hard battle against Michigan Tech and were just 8 points shy of a win.

As for me, I am busy getting final projects pulled together. Career Services has been a great reference for me this past week. Part of the criteria for a class is to get your resume analyzed by a trained professional. What a better place to go than on campus to Career Services. They were very helpful and honest with what I had and I now have something I feel proud to turn in not only to the professor but as well as in the future when I am job searching. Getting together with my group members has also been fun. Listening to other’s thoughts and ideas is rewarding because it opens up your own mind to new ideas as well. We are working on managing social media in the workforce; something that our generation is fully aware of and will have to deal with when entering a job. Because it is so relevant, it is fun to work on and research. We look forward to presenting our information we have gathered to our professor and to our other colleagues.

I would like to wish all the Wisconsinites the best of luck and safety this weekend during gun opener. Being the hunter that I am, I can’t wait for break to come and hopefully knock down a big buck one of my own! I would like to share this picture of a nice Wisconsin buck that my uncle shot with his bow.  Congrats again Terry! :)

Amanda Brunner
Sophomore – Arkansaw, WI

Things are Happening at SMSU

Hello again!

I hope everyone had a great week with classes and you are all looking forward to a great long weekend and a four day week next week. I know I am! With Veterans Day on Monday remember we don’t have classes :) With the semester over half way done, we are all working on those final projects as I mentioned in my recent blog. Those along with homework of our own, this is a busy time of year for students. Before we know it Thanksgiving will be here, then finals, so don’t put anything off for last minute (from previous experience, it isn’t fun if you do).  My final projects so far include: a group project, a final presentation, a 10 minute play, and pulling study material together for comprehensive final tests.

Both Tuesday and Wednesday morning, around 20 ambassadors gathered in the lower level of the conference center to valet park cars for the Schwan’s conference that is held at SMSU. Students, including myself, were greeting people as soon as they stepped out of their car. We were their first impression on the campus that day, and we hope that we made a lasting impact on their thoughts. When Schwan’s employees pulled their car up, a student would hand them a number to keep for the day. This number was also placed on their key ring as well as on their dash board in the car. Then the student would go and park their car in the designated lot. At the end of the day, we then got all the cars back down to the conference center in numerical order so when the conference was done, all a member had to do was give us the number and then we could direct them to their car right outside of the door. This is not only a convenience for the Schwan’s employees but also quite the experience for students like me. How many times do you hear of college students valet parking cars? It is something that I brag about to my other friends back home. The ambassador program awards scholarships to ambassadors within the program. This is a fundraiser we do to raise money for these scholarships. We have also been around the football games selling hats, headbands, mittens, and scarves. The money we raise from them will be put towards the scholarships as well.

Wednesday brought all SMSU students advising day. This means that the only classes that were not canceled that day were those after 5:30. This gave students the opportunity to meet with their academic advisors and discuss and sign up for the classes they are going to be taking for spring semester as well as their academic plan as a whole. This is an awesome asset towards earning your degree. Getting that extra information and direction just is another factor in my reassurance that our professors and counselors here at SMSU truly care about what the future holds for each and every one of us on campus.  Wednesday night the men and women basketball teams started their season off with a home opener on campus in the Recreation Athletic Facility. For any sporting event on campus, students get into all of the games/matches for free with their Mustang Student Identification. This is a great way to go out and cheer on all of our Mustang Athletes.

I would like to thank all of the Veterans that have served our country. Without you, we would not be where we are today. You are all a true inspiration of bravery, generosity, and selflessness. Often times we don’t stop and think about it, but take the time this weekend to thank those who have served or are serving for this place we call home. A big shout out and a thank you to my best friend Brian Tolonen for currently serving as a United States Air Force member.

Hope you all enjoy your weekend! Until next time, Go Mustangs! And Go Pack Go! :)

Amanda Brunner
Sophomore - Arkansaw, WI

Busy Weekend on Campus

Last week was another busy week for me.  I started a new job and had some big projects due. The extended weekend provided me an opportunity to catch up a little bit.  SMSU did not have classes on Monday in honor of Veterans Day.  (Thank you all who have served our country.)  One of the over 100 student groups on campus is the Veterans Club.  They are a very active group who always has great fundraising events (especially the walking tacos).  Although it was a 3-day weekend, the SMSU campus was very busy.  We hosted some high school playoff games.  Volleyball had games on Friday and Saturday.  Football played on Saturday. Wheelchair basketball had games on Saturday and Sunday. I attended a little of each on Saturday.  There was also a local craft fair on campus.

Tony Schwebach
Senior - Dell Rapids, SD

SMSU Athletic Round-Up

Some super exciting news has been happening for the Mustang volleyball team this year.  They were recently named No. 1 in the nation!  This is the first time any sports team at SMSU has been named No. 1 in our school’s history!  So it is safe to say that games lately have had even more people at them to support the team!  The energy and atmosphere in the gym has definitely gone up in intensity and competitiveness!  The team doesn’t have many more games of the regular season left and then its playoff time!

As for the football team, it doesn’t matter how good or bad the team is, there is always student body support and plenty of cheering!  After a thrilling win this past weekend, the team now holds a record of 4-6.  It was also camo day at the game and there was a bunch of blaze orange and camo!  Even though its cold, true Mustang fans always find time to tailgate!

Since it is now getting cold out, it seems like the transition from fall to winter sports is happening quickly!  I am so excited for winter season sports, but also very excited for playoffs for the fall sports!

GO MUSTANGS!!!!!

Laura Johnson
Senior – Maple Lake, MN

Full Steam Ahead...

Classes are definitely moving at full steam.  This week (more than previous weeks) I have had to buckle down and finish homework, projects, and study for exams.  Thankfully there are many resources at SMSU that provide students opportunities to succeed.  The library has seen me quite a bit this week.  Other resources on campus are the Academic Commons, tutoring, counseling and testing, and the writing center.  Of course, professors always have office hours in which they are more than willing to help their students.

Also, many faces on campus are starting to see a fuzzy addition in the spirit of Movember.

Tony Schwebach
Senior - Dell Rapids, SD

Another Week Has Flown By...

Another week has flown by here at SMSU. Last weekend, my dad, mom, sister, and grandma came to visit me. It was exciting to show them around and have them see what I do on a daily basis here on campus. Now, when I call and tell them about things that I am going to, or things that happened, they can visualize where I am on campus! They also spent some time in my dorm and watched the Packers beat the Jaguars. After 9 hours on the road though, they had a long day and were tired when they got back. In the end though it was a day well spent with my family and I was sad to see them leave; But Thanksgiving is right around the corner and will be here before I know it.

Also last weekend the Fine Arts building saw many faces over the course of the days for their play, “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.” The theater was open for free student night on Thursday and had showings again Friday and Saturday. Being an usher for the theater department, I along with the other ushers greeted people as they entered the theater tearing tickets, handing out programs, and helping patrons to their seats. The play is very , very good! If you like a laugh and a little mystery at the same time it is definitely for you. There is still a chance to catch the play as it wraps up its production this weekend with showings on Friday and Saturday night along with a matinee showing on Sunday.

This week on campus there were high school athletic events going on. Minneota and Dawson-Boyd battled out three games in the Recreation Athletic Facility for sub-section volleyball. Today in the Regional Event Center high school teams are playing to see what football team will advance on their journey to the state tournament. This just goes to show that campus isn’t only available for SMSU students. Marshall Community members and other local schools get to experience the great things that SMSU has to offer while they are still in high school.

This week brought a few tests for me and with the semester past the half way point, final projects and group work is starting. For me, I like group work because I feel that is what the real world is going to be like. Depending on and trusting others to do work that you are a part of is something that is going to happen in the work place on a daily basis. I believe that working in groups is a great learning experience for any college student. Also this week I made a trip to Brookings, SD (my 3rd time visiting the state) with my Sweetmates to watch the SDSU vs. Black Hills basketball game. My Sweetmate, Brittany, has a high school classmate that starts on the Black Hills team so we went to support him. It was fun to experience another college setting, but it just made me reassure myself that SMSU truly is, “Where I Belong.”  As mentioned earlier, this weekend brings the play for me. Also we have a volleyball game against Augustana on Saturday as well as a football game against Condordia-St. Paul.  Good luck to both of the teams and I can’t wait to see you all there supporting the Mustangs. This weekend we will also have perspective students on campus. On Saturday the ambassadors will be out and about giving tours to those students so be sure and say hi.

I hope all of you have a great weekend! Good luck to all of you Minnesotans that will be out in the woods hunting for the big one!  Be safe and don’t let the buck fever get the best of you! :)

Until next time, Go Mustangs, and Go Pack Go!

Amanda Brunner
Sophomore - Arkansaw, WI

Snow in October? Yes Please! :)

The weather here in Marshall, MN sure has taken a turn. I woke up Thursday morning to find snow on the ground. Granted, most if it is already melted, but what got piled up is still along the sidewalks. For me it was a great sight, but for others there was a lot of groaning. Call me crazy, but I love the cold weather and the snow.

The football game against Upper Iowa last week was a very exciting game. The Mustangs pulled off a win in the last few minutes! It was a great game and the crowd had a big turnout as well in their pink clothes to support breast cancer. The men’s basketball team started their season off by hosting an exhibition game on Wednesday against Waldorf College. The Mustangs won 88-75. On Saturday, they will be having an alumni game in the RA. All of the proceeds from these games will be going to the Post family to help out with their daughter’s medical bills for chemo therapy. Thoughts and prayers go out to the Post family. To read more about the story here is the link: http://www.marshallindependent.com/page/content.detail/id/536670/SMSU-men-s-basketball-steps-up-for-former-player.html?nav=5021  SMSU Wheelchair basketball is also starting off their season today and tomorrow against the University of Illinois men’s and women’s team. The volleyball team continues to be ranked Number 1 in the nation and they are on the road this weekend to Winona. Good luck to all of the sporting teams competing this weekend.

Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As more me, classes are still going great, and things around campus are always in full swing. We hosted a college fair on Tuesday, November 23rd. There were over 80 reps from different colleges and institutions on campus in the RA facility as well as many students and parents. Being in the ambassador program, we helped out. I directed the reps to designated parking lots. Others checked them in, helped them to their tables, and were there answering any questions anyone may have had; just another great way to represent our University. Wednesday night a group of friends and I went and watched the movie, “Ted,” in the lower level Conference Center. Here they have a big projection screen that the movie is played on as well as bean bags and comfortable chairs that students can lounge out in while enjoying the movie. Thursday night was the opening show for, “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” the play put on by students on campus. It was also student night so students were able to attend for free. Being in Theatre class, I am required to help out and be at all of the plays, but it is another fun thing to be involved in. Seeing the entire behind the scenes work that gets put into the play makes you appreciate it even more. It was a great play and the actors and actresses did a great job performing to a full house. Shows are again tonight, tomorrow, and next weekend, so I will be busy with that!

It has been another great week here in Marshall. If I could tell those students that attended the college fair on Tuesday it would be, “You can look and be interested in many different colleges or institutions, but know that SMSU truly is Where You Belong!”

Have a great day and until next time, Go Mustangs, and Go Pack Go! :)

Amanda Brunner
Sophomore - Arkansaw, WI

MinneSNOWta

This past weekend I gave a tour as an SMSU Ambassador for one of our visit day programs.  It was also Family Day at SMSU where families of students were invited to come to campus and check out different events.  After my tour, I watched the volleyball team beat Minot State 3-0. Then I attended the football game where the Mustangs came out on top over Upper Iowa 38-37.  This week was a slower week for me.  I didn't have many meetings for groups and didn't have too much homework.  That's something that can always be appreciated.  There was also a Powder Puff football tournament on Wednesday night, and Thursday we received our first snow of the year!  Campus looked beautiful.  It came a little earlier than normal, but they do call it MinneSNOWta. 

SMSU Campus

Tony Schwebach
Senior - Dell Rapids, SD

A Week Full of Athletics!

Hey all, happy Friday! Things are going great here in Marshall! Our athletic programs are the big hit around campus this week. Big news from the volleyball team and wheelchair basketball team as well. Congratulations to the SMSU volleyball team for being ranked #1 in the Nation! Tonight students will be wearing red to the game against the University of Mary for RED-OUT in support of heart disease awareness. The first 500 students will receive a free t-shirt! Get their early to claim yours! Another congrats goes out to wheelchair basketball’s head coach Lew Shaver. Lew has been named the head coach for the United States Men’s Under-23 team that will compete in Turkey in 2013. What an honor Lew! On Wednesday night all three of our basketball teams performed in the, “Late Show.” A show where students and Mustang fans can get a sneak peak of the basketball teams as they put on an inter-squad scrimmage; things are looking good! A slam dunk contest was also put on by a few of the men’s basketball players. Tomorrow, the football team will take on the Upper Iowa Peacocks. Look forward to seeing all of you Mustang fans at the games!

Currently the University is hosting Mustang days. Perspective students come to learn about campus and get a tour by one of our Ambassadors. Being a part of the Ambassador program, I gave a tour to six students yesterday, and will be giving one today as well. It is a great program to be involved in. I love our University and am honored to get to show of the beautiful campus that we have here in Marshall. Tomorrow will be full of tours for me as well; a tour for our Mustang Saturday students and a tour for football recruits before the game! 

As for me, classes are going well and as you can tell I keep pretty busy! I enjoyed being home and spending time with my family during fall break, but got right back into the swing of things here on Wednesday morning. A group of my friends went to Paranormal Activity 4 last night! Crazy stuff I tell ya! For the most part, all of us enjoy watching scary movies and just like we did last year, we will be having a scary movie marathon in our dorm rooms leading up to Halloween!

Once and a while my friends and I crave a home cooked meal so the other night we rented (for free) pots and pans from the RHA program through residence life, went and bought groceries, and cooked. We had a spaghetti supper and a fun night in Sweetland kitchen! Mmm Mmm Good!

Cooking up some fun in Sweetland Hall!

 I hope everyone has a great weekend and continued luck to all of the bow hunters out there!

As always, Go Mustangs and Go Pack Go! :)

Amanda Brunner
Sophomore – Arkansaw, WI

Being Active on Campus... and off!

As an active senior on campus, I am blessed with so many wonderful opportunities at SMSU.  One of which is being a part of the organization Enactus which stands for Entrepreneurs, Action, Us, and being able to travel to Jamaica! One other student, two professors, and myself traveled to Jamaica to assess the needs of a children’s home with the hopes of returning in December to also be part of the solution.  The children there were wonderful to interact with and it was great to be a part of their culture for awhile.  After a full day at the Children’s home we had tons of information to bring back to the team and start preparing for the next trip!  We will provide environmental and agricultural assistance, as well as educational tools.  I am excited to make a difference in the children’s lives and improve their standard of living.

Although the goal of the trip was to help the Children’s home, we also got to have a little playtime of course!  We spent half of one day on the beach, which included a lot of snorkeling and plenty of sunburn as well!  We also got a chance to kickback at Margaritaville with some fresh fish and Jimmy Buffet music.

After five wonderful days in Jamaica, I am still glad to be back at SMSU! Its Where I Belong!

Laura Johnson
Senior – Maple Lake, MN

Fall Happenings at SMSU

WOW! It’s already October 15! In a few short months, the semester is going to be over! Here at SMSU it has been so busy, I hadn’t noticed how much time had already passed! Being on campus these past few weeks have already exceeded my expectations of SMSU. The atmosphere has been so welcoming and I love all the friendly people! Homecoming was a phenomenal time! I am so happy to say that our Mustang Football players won the Homecoming game! What a feeling! There was such a great variety of activities to get involved in and I am sure happy I did! The new SMSU logo has been announced and I love it!  I can’t wait to start wearing all the new gear for sale at Barnes & Noble on campus!

I have made so many new friends these past few weeks and such wonderful memories. Next up is Family Day, then Halloween, the Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, and then the SAC Concert with Kris Allen and Eric Hutchinson. These next few weeks are going to be a lot of fun and I am so excited to get them all rolling!

Until time next time Prospective Mustangs!

Katie Salden
Freshman - Cokato, MN

Weekly Updates!

Another week has flown by.  Homecoming week was a blast.  Saturday wrapped up the week with tailgating and a big win by the football team.  There was also a big announcement that the Mustangs will have a new logo.  Students are excited for the fierce, new look.  I went to the National College Fair with Admission staff, several professors, and several other students.  We were there to recruit students and answer questions about SMSU.  It was good to see so many future Stangs.  Thursday it was back to class and started the day with a midterm.  Crazy to think we are already at midterm with Fall Break on Monday and Tuesday next week.  On Thursday and Friday next week, we have Mustang Days.  It is a visit program for prospective students over MEA days.  More future Stangs will be on campus!

Tony Schwebach
Senior - Dell Rapids, SD

What a Great Weekend!

Amanda (far right) and friends at SMSU Tailgating!

Hello all! To start off, way to go Mustangs! :) Homecoming 2012 was a blast, and it was enjoyed by many students both on and off campus. Tuesday night the PE gym bleachers were filled with students watching the hypnotists. Around 20 people were hypnotized during the course of the night, and they put on a great show. It was a continuous laugh for those watching the students who thought a party was getting busted. They even rode horses, and so much more happened. Wednesday night we attended Mustang Karaoke Idol where we watched 11 finalists perform their designated songs. They were all very talented singers and again put on one heck of a show for the audience. Shout out to my friend Nathan Fransman who rocked the song Hallelujah! In the end though, only three could win and the audiences texted their top choice. Thursday was the coronation and Homecoming dance. Congratulations to King Tony Ross and Queen Brooke Burmeister and all of the other royalty who were chosen. Friday night was the volleyball game where the Mustangs had another big victory over Winona State 3-1. Also on Friday night was the University Gala Ball. I helped check in and out coats to guests that attended. The University raised over $40,000. Thank you to all of those who helped make this possible for us. Saturday morning was the Homecoming parade, followed by tailgating, and then the football game. Many students showed their Mustang pride, but it was a little chilly so we were dressed warm. The football game was very exciting and the guys had a great game and an awesome win over Wayne State; Congrats guys! Throughout the week, SMSU Today stated that they were going to make a surprising announcement during the football game. During halftime, our athletic director made the presentation of a new logo for the Mustangs! Check it out! My friends and I all enjoyed Homecoming and found ourselves a little drained on Sunday.

As for me, I am still pretty busy with classes and other things around campus. Being in an Introduction to Theatre class, we are required to help with the play that gets put on every year. This year, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 will be performed. I am on the publicity team, so hanging up posters is part of that duty. Look for them around campus and spread throughout town, and I hope to see you there. I am also on a sand volleyball intramural team. We play every Monday and Wednesday nights. Playoffs are going to take place next week, so we better bring our A game! It is fun being involved in intramurals, especially if you were an athlete in high school. I am on a team with my friends, so that makes it even better. Soon indoor volleyball will start and you can find us on a court there as well.

Fall break is coming up this weekend and a lot of students are planning on going home. I will be heading out Friday afternoon and coming back Tuesday night; as I am sure most students are. It will be nice to go home and spend time with my family, and bring back some winter clothes. The weather sure has taken a change here in southwest Minnesota. Winter is right around the corner. Bring on the snow

Would like to give a Happy Birthday shout out to my Mom! I hope you have a great day!

Wishing everyone a wonderful fall break!

Until next time,

Go Mustangs and Go Pack Go!

Amanda Brunner
Sophomore - Arkansaw, WI

Preparing for Homecoming

Another week has flown by at SMSU.  Fall is here. The weather is great, and the trees are changing colors.  On Tuesday, over 1,000 high school students from the region attended Career Day 2012 at SMSU. They were able to explore career options with representatives from SMSU, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, as well as many private businesses and organizations in the region.  SMSU Student Ambassadors also gave tours of campus to these students.  I also kept busy with classes this week.  Staying ahead will be important going into homecoming next week.  There will be a lot of events throughout the week.  Everyone is getting excited already!

Go Mustangs!

Tony Schwebach
Senior - Dell Rapids, SD

What a Beautiful Day in Marshall!

Another week has flown by here in Marshall. This past weekend I visited Raymond, MN with my SweetMate, Katie Kienitz. With harvest in full swing down here in southwest Minnesota, her dad was busy combining corn fields around the farm but still had one standing for us to get a few pictures in. We visited the farm and went to a high school football game. We made it back in time on Saturday to watch number four SMSU volleyball defeat number three UMD in a three game sweep! Monday night we went down to the Marshall 6 movie theater for student night, discounted tickets for $6.00, and watched, “Trouble with a Curve,” starring Clint Eastwood. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend you watching it.

Amanda & Katie helping with the harvest!

 Homecoming kicked off on Wednesday with a faculty and staff lunch held in the Alumni Plaza. The final royalty was announced as well. Around campus, clubs, organizations, and students are preparing for Homecoming. There are many planned activities for students to participate in. Move it Like a Mustang, Mustang Karaoke Idol, and a Hypnotist, to name a few. Residential Halls are busy decorating their lobbies to show their Mustang Spirit as well as faculty and staff decorating their doors. I can speak for most students and say that we are looking forward to all of the fun events that will take place on campus and can’t wait to watch some Mustang volleyball and football!

As for me, classes are going strong and I have already had a few tests under my belt as well. The leaves are changing and fall is finally here. My favorite time of the year and what a beautiful place to watch it all happen here in Marshall, MN; My home away from home!

Thanks guys! Until next time Go Mustangs, and Go Pack Go!:) (Despite what happened last week!)

Amanda Brunner!
Sophomore – Arkansaw, WI

Happy Friday!

As my summer drew to a close, I couldn’t wait to come back to SMSU and be a part of the wonderful Mustang family that I have made here in Marshall. With a full month of fall semester underway, this year has already been off to a great start. Orientation weekend came to a close and I was sad to see it end. It is a program that I am proud to be a part of.

Even though we are only a month into school, everything here on campus is in full swing; athletics, clubs and organizations, and house programs, to name a few.  The Mustang’s football game had a great crowd for their home opener against Minnesota Duluth and during Ag Bowl students dressed in country clothes to show support for agriculture. The clubs and organizations fair had a great turnout of freshmen and other students getting involved on campus. Resident Advisors are providing opportunities for students to meet and greet their neighbors in their residence halls.

Amanda and friends at the SMSU Ag Bowl.

 As for me, classes are going well, and my schedule is busy busy. Just like last year, all of my professors already know my name and I know each and every one of them really do care about my success. I am excited to see where this year takes me and I know it is going to be a great year!

Have a great day and until next time, Go Mustangs, and Go Pack GO!:)

Proud to be a Mustang,

Amanda Brunner
Sophomore – Arkansaw, WI

One More Year

With this being the start to my final year here at SMSU, I definitely have some bittersweet feelings.  I have been a part of the Mustang family for three full years now.  I am excited to have one more year to make memories, although getting anxious to put all of this knowledge I have acquired to the test in the real world. 

In any case, all of the events here at SMSU are in full swing! We have already had a couple football games with great attendance as well as the first home volleyball games kicking off this week!  One thing I have noticed this year, that is different than any other year I have been here, is the amount of excitement throughout the student body.  The involvement with on-campus activities and just the overall social atmosphere at SMSU is in full force and it is great to see!  This year will be one of the best, I can tell already! Until next time…….GO MUSTANGS!

Laura Johnson
Senior - Maple Lake, MN

The First Few Weeks...

My first few weeks of college have been wonderful! I have had such an amazing time getting to know everyone and it has definitely exceeded my expectations already.

Orientation weekend was an absolute blast and was such a great way to meet people before classes started. The various activities such as Mud Volleyball, Good for Gary Concert, Jello Jam and the street dance have made these first few weeks a really great experience.

There is always something going on on campus that suits a wide variety of people. Being in the Mustang Traditions house and being a Mustang Maniac I get front row seats at all the home games and am expected to be wild and crazy. I love being a Mustang Maniac because I love showing off my school pride and being silly with so many others.

Getting involved in different clubs has been fun like STAT (Students Today Alumni Tomorrow). This past weekend the STAT, Mustang Maniacs and Mustang Traditions all got together for road/ditch clean up which was a great way to kick off AG Bowl.

Meeting my professors has been a great experience also, I truly feel that they all care about my success. There are so many ways on campus to get help with homework whether its meeting upperclassmen that are majoring in my field, getting a group together in class to study together or going to the tutoring sessions down in the Academic Commons, everyone here is so willing to help me succeed. Coming to SMSU has been the best choice I have made so far in my life, I really feel like this is where I belong.

Katie Salden
Freshman - Cokato, MN

SMSU Happenings

This weekend was Ag Bowl.  There was great food and fun activities for everyone.  I attended but wasn't lucky enough to win the raffle.  Maybe next year as an Alum I will have better luck.  The football game was well attended, and the Mustangs played a tough game against the U of Mary.

This week the volleyball team has 3 home games. There should be some exciting matches.  SMSU also has a special guest all week.  Dr. Thomas Jackson, an SMSU alum, will be meeting with different groups to discuss his experiences with student matters as the VP of Student Affairs at Louisville, KY.  It will be another busy week here in Marshall."

Tony Schwebach
Senior - Dell Rapids, SD

End of the Semester Scramble

It is getting to the end of the school year and that means summer is just around the corner.  For most of my classes we are working on final projects and presentations.  The end of the school year also brings a lot of different activities.  Student Senate is having their student elections this week.  One exciting item on the ballot is a referendum to renovate Old Mattke into a track stadium.  This project could be completed by summer 2013 and would allow for an SMSU track team! S.I.G.M.A. (Southwest Investment Group and Management Association) is opening an Investment Research & Trading Center (IRTC) that will allow for students to learn and use trading software.  This weekend is going to be a very busy one: SMSU Ambassadors is hosting a Mud Volleyball Tournament; the softball and baseball teams have games; and the football and volleyball teams have scrimmages.  There is always something to do around here!

Tony Schwebach
Junior - Dell Rapids, SD

Tornado!

Sunday afternoon a tornado watch/warning hit Marshall. The sirens went off twice and everyone in my dorm was freaking out. A few friends and I stood outside for a bit then the windy instantly stopped and the clouds rolled in darker and lower. At that point we knew we had to get inside and stay away from windows. My RA was rushing around knocking on everyone's door to tell them to get to safety in the first floor hallway. My roommate and I grabbed our computers and headed down to the hallway. We stayed in the hallway for about 30 minutes waiting for the storm to pass. Soon after the clouds lifted, the sun came out and it started to lightly rain. I thought there would be a rainbow, but I didn't see one. It was an eventful Sunday!

Katie Langel
Freshman - Remsen, IA

Registration!

The time is finally here for seniors in high school and transfer students to come and register for classes at SMSU. Registration started on Friday for transfer students and this Monday the 16th for incoming freshmen. As a University Ambassador, I get to help with some of the registration events. On Monday, I helped with Fun & Games. At this time, the incoming freshmen played ice breaker games to get to know each other better. I also got to join in on the fun and meet some of the students coming next year. Today, I get to eat lunch with the students and answer some of the questions they may have. I can remember coming to registration last year and wondering if I would know anyone, once I got here I did not recognize anyone. But by the time registration was over, I definitely got to know some of my new classmates for the next 4 years.

Go Mustangs!

Shawnalisa Reed
Freshman – Bruce, SD

April Registration Days

Exciting things are happening during the final weeks of the school year at SMSU! This week and next week are registration days for incoming freshman and transfer students. This is an all-day event that allows incoming students to spend a day on campus with their families and register for classes, find out their roommates and sign-up for clubs and organizations, as well as meeting the rest of the freshman class.

The admission staff has been working very hard all year for this event, and their hard work is seen being paid off when all of the new students arrive on campus to get ready for fall semester. Ambassadors also help out with this event, and it is always a lot of fun to relive freshman year and tell students how much fun they are going to have for the next four years of their college career.

Current students are busy wrapping up their classes and studying for finals. In just a few short weeks, the 2011-2012 school year will be complete. It’s crazy how fast time flies! Spring sports are still going strong, and both the softball and baseball teams are fighting for a playoff spot. This only thing missing form making this the best time of the year is the weather. Where did the 70 degree weather go, we want the March sunshine back!

Stay strong through the next couple of week’s mustangs, and have a TERRIFIC summer!

Tyler Glynn

Sophomore-Jordan, MN

Summertime

The end of spring semester is quickly approaching and that means making plans for the summer.  For the past two years I have always gone home over the three months to enjoy the warm weather.  This year though, I decided to stay in Marshall and enjoy the benefits of this town while not having to attend classes.  This will be my first summer not living at home and I am excited! 

One activity that is always fun is to go floating down the Redwood River.  A group of us get together, buy $2 floaties from the Dollar Tree and just drift right through the middle of town.  It is always a good time, especially when the humidity is high.  Another event to enjoy in Marshall over the summer months is attending A’s games, the amateur baseball team.  They are pretty good and it’s nice just to keep in touch with everyone at a social event.

While it is nice to think about summer and plan for warm days, the reality of it is that we still have three weeks of school left.  We have our Fine Arts Festival going on throughout the month of April and into the first week of May.  At this showcase, there are different features from poetry readings, senior portfolios, plays, and concerts.  I am excited to attend a couple of these to support my friend’s hard work throughout this past year.  I would like to attend more, however, at this time of the year it is crunch time for final projects and I have plenty.  I hope the spring months are treating you well! GO MUSTANGS!!

Laura Johnson
Junior – Maple River, MN

One Month Left...

Hey All,

It’s really hard to believe there is only a month left of the semester!  I’m ready for summer but I’m not so sure I’m ready for all of the end of the semester course work! Yikes! 

Campus has been pretty busy as always.  This past weekend I traveled to Nebraska with a few members of the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) on campus.  We had a blast attending the No Compromise conference and had the opportunity to listen to Paul Washer and Ron Brown.  Both had a ton of passion and a really great message to share!  Their messages will be up for all to view at the nocompromisenebraska.org soon!

All of this week and next week Elementary Education students in their methods (junior/senior year) will be preparing for clinical.  Clinical is an opportunity for the elementary education teachers of Marshall to take a few days off while the SMSU education students take over their classroom.  We are in teams of two or three per classroom.  As a team we decide on a theme, redecorate the entire classroom, and plan lessons for each subject all around the theme.  So far it’s been a lot of work, but also a ton of fun!  Personally, I really enjoy being able to apply my education course knowledge in a real classroom environment. Clinical will be held on April 23rd and 24th, I wish all of the teams the very best!

Wishing you all a great week,

Bertina Miller
Senior - New London, MN

Easter Weekend

This past weekend for Easter, I went home and spent some much needed time with my family. It was great seeing all of my brothers and cousins again. But with every weekend, it went by way too fast! Also, when I left on Friday I took a bunch of my clothes and other stuff from my dorm room home with me. So now my room is kind of bare. That’s alright though because campus is starting to look pretty with the fresh flowers and green grass.  It’s crazy to think there’s only three weeks left of my freshman year!

Kayla Stenzel
Freshman - Wells, MN

Mustang Baseball!

My favorite time of the year is finally here, spring! Along with the beautiful weather, and everyone being in awesome moods, baseball is among my favorite part of this season! This week is the Mustang’s first home game of the season in which we will host Augustana. Augustana’s record is 15-10 and the Mustang’s record is 16-9. After the Mustang’s 25 away games to start out the season, the first game, which is a doubleheader, is on Wednesday the 11th at 1:30.

Go Mustangs!

Kassi Hague
Sophomore – New Ulm, MN