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