Curious George + Engineering = So much FUN (:

Happy Friday Readers (: 

I’d like to comment on the ridiculously GORGEOUS weather we are having today in Foggy Bottom. The environment on campus is definitely thriving today. I got out of class today and the Panhellenic Conference Council got an ice cream truck to give free ice cream to everyone on campus (free ice cream + gorgeous weather = happy Alyse). The Panhellenic Conference is the umbrella organization under which the social greek sororities on campus fall under if they are not under the Multicultural Greek Council umbrella organization or are a Professional Fraternity.  Social fraternities that are not professional and that do not fall under the Multicultural Greek Council are apart the umbrella organization called the Inter Fraternity Council.    

Wait... but my Friday gets even better-- the engineering org Engineers Without Borders was having a BBQ with footballs and nerf guns and a kiddie pool in Kogan Plaza (should have snapped a photo-- it was very dope sorry!). Although the food wasn’t entirely free, my gworld balance is definitely looking rough and I will take a $2 meal any day. Yep, today’s a good day.

Now back to the point of my post: so this past Wednesday, the engineering school (SEAS) hosted about 300 three to five year olds for a big Curious George event. With the help of a lovable student dressed up in a Curious George concert, we taught the kids about the various engineering disciplines through hands on activities in the Smith Center and then we ate lunch with them. It was an all around really fun event and fun day and everybody involved had an awesome time. I was on the planning committee since the event was run through the office I work at (Undergraduate Advising Office in SEAS) so I definitely had an awesome time because (a) I LOVE children and (b) I LOVE planning events. So it was a win win situation. I was looking for pictures to post for the event but everyone in the office is gone for the day and cameras have gone M.I.A. but once I find them, I will definitely post them up (: 

Until next time: if you have any questions, comments or just want to chat-- always remember I am only an email away! anstone@gwmail.gwu.edu

Stay Classy Colonials,

Alyse

Just a quick hello!

My name is Amy and I’m a sophomore in the School of Business concentrating in International Business.  I’m originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  At GW I am involved with the District Youth Empowerment Program as well as various volunteer opportunities offered throughout campus.  The District Youth Empowerment Program (DYEP) tutors at an elementary school in the area as well as The School without Walls, a high school located on campus.  We also host events on campus and bring some of the elementary school kids we tutor to campus.  I also live with a group of sophomores who are all in the Business School. 

This weekend, GW hosted The Clinton Global Initiative University.  The Clinton Global Initiative is an organization the President Clinton started after he left office.  It began with world leaders coming together and promising to make the world a better place by the same time next year.  If they didn’t, they weren’t invited back to the following year’s conference.  This program had such an amazing result President Clinton started a version of his initiative at a college level.  Each year it is hosted at a different university.  Throughout Friday and Saturday students from all 50 states and many countries worldwide were on campus talking about their plans to make the world a better place and talking to people in similar field to make their ideas even better.  There were four large discussions that all guests of the program were invited to attend.  I worked at all of these events.  On Friday night all 250 volunteers were invited to take a group picture with President Clinton.  I was lucky enough to sit one person away from him!  I promise to post a picture once I have a copy of it!

The best thing to me about GW is the wide array of events they host and all of the opportunities available as students.  There is always something going on and by getting involved there is so much to learn… and it’s a lot of fun too!

Until next time.

2011 White House Easter Egg Roll

Yesterday I was up at the crack of dawn to volunteer at the White House Easter Egg Roll for the second year in the row.

This year I was a exit directional volunteer, so I guided all of the guests to their wooden eggs (see picture below.)

It was great to see all of the kids in their cute dresses or suits with smiles from ear to ear.

Some of the guests were Colbie Calliet, Elmo and the Cast of Sesame Street, Cody Simpson, Greyson Chance, and many more!

The first family made an appearance in the morning celebrating the holiday and urging everyone to GET UP AND GO!


Despite the rain the night before, the sun quickly dried up the lawn and was beating down throughout the day!  I unfortunately got a little sunburned, but nothing a day or two won't cure...

Everyone that volunteers for the Easter Egg Roll is always super excited to be there, despite the early morning wake up call. There are some volunteers that have being doing it for decades! (I hope to continue my volunteering for as long as possible!)

Today is the chalk in!  Hopefully I will take some pictures and post them here!  Also the Battle of the A Capella Bands is Thursday (my favorite event ever!!!) so I will be sure to post  a video or two. Oh and the Admissions end of the year party is Wednesday! So much to do so little time!  I will be sure to keep all of you updated on my happenings!

Email me!!!!

Kim

"Alternative" Winter/Spring Breaks

"The mission of the GW Alternative Breaks Program in the Office of Community Service is to empower and challenge all students involved to understand their relationship with the global community through direct service, education and reflection, while encouraging personal growth, social awareness and active citizenship."

Participants of GW Alt Breaks

Alternative Breaks are a great asset to our community. While many campuses have them, the variety that we have here at GW is amazing and the trips are super popular. That said, I know freshman and sophomores going on them this year- it's not hard to join the programs if you are excited and passionate about them! To give you an idea, here is where trips are going this year!


Winter Break:

Jungle Conservation in Puerto Rico
Green Construction and Education in Guatemala 

Education and Youth Empowerment in Honduras

Environment Education and Green Construction in Panama

Construction and Youth Empowerment in Costa Rica

Reconstruction and Education in New Orleans, Louisiana 

New Orleans reconstruction

Spring Break:

Rural Poverty Issues in Appalachia (Pipestem), West Virginia 

Education and Urban Poverty in Atlanta, Georgia
Native American Cultural Issues and Education in Cherokee Nation (Tulsa) Oklahoma 

Reconstruction and Education in New Orleans, Louisiana
Environmental Sustainability and Reconstruction in Greensburg, Kansas

Veteran and Troop Support in Washington, DC

LGBTQ Youth Empowerment in New York

There is also a yearly spring break trip through Hillel, this year they are going to El Salvador!

Hope that information is helpful! Let me know if you have any questions marisaw@gwmail.gwu.edu

- Marisa

AIDS Walk Washington 2010!

I participated in the AIDS Walk Washington last weekend with my professional foreign service sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon. It is a 5K fundraising walk and timed run benefiting the Whitman-Walker Clinic, a non-profit community-based health organization which provides dependable, high-quality, comprehensive and accessible health care to those infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Getting ready for some powerwalkin'

Some stats:

• The CDC now estimates that more than one million Americans are living with HIV. Up to one-third of them do not know they are HIV-positive.
• It's estimated that one in every 20 adults in the District of Columbia is infected with HIV.
• DC has the highest rate of new AIDS cases per 100,000 people in the United States -- a rate that is 12 times the national average.
• In DC, African-Americans account for eight out of every 10 cases of AIDS.

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

It was a sunny walk down from Freedom Plaza, around the Capitol, and back! The walk raised more than $700,000 for the clinic. My professional sorority was not the only GW student organization to participate- we had representatives from GW's Student Global AIDS Campaign, Voices for Choices, the Generic Theater Company, the Multicultural Student Services Center, Alpha Phi Omega, and Alpha Epsilon Phi! We definitely cheered out Georgetown, American, Howard, and UMD.

What's coming up next on my list of DC events? Stay tuned for my next post.. :) And keep those emails coming! marisaw@gwmail.gwu.edu.

- Marisa

Working at Commencement Ceremonies

Good news, everyone!  I got the job to work at GW’s Commencement!  I’ll be working at Commencement itself, as well as the many events leading up to the big day on May 16^th.  I’m super excited that I get to make some money before summer, and that I get to stay in DC for an extra week!  I’ll be leaving the 16^th or the 17^th, so when I’m not working, I’ll have a bit more time to explore the city, without the burden of school work or exams!

Along with that, MICHELLE OBAMA IS SPEAKING AT COMMENCEMENT!  I’ll be taking a million zillion pictures, and if I’m able, I’m totally going to finagle a handshake from the First Lady.  If that means getting tackled by the Secret Service, so be it.***

So I’ll be making money, living in DC an extra few days, and doing loads of manual labor in the hot DC sun!  Wooooooooo!  I really am excited though.  I’m all about that stuff.  Moving sets of chairs and heavy objects and all that jazz—I’ve done loads of volunteer work involving just that in my day, so getting paid and seeing the First Lady for the same kinda work?  Ah-mazing.

And in case y’all didn’t know, it’s because of community service that we have this opportunity!  GW students participated in 100,000 hours of service work to meet Michelle Obama’s challenge, and we certainly did rise to the challenge!  I'm proud of you, GWU!  You made it possible for me to maybe meet the First Lady!  Maybe.

Also, I really really do enjoy emails from y'all!  ShireenS@gwmail.gwu.edu

*** THIS STATEMENT WAS PURELY FOR COMEDIC VALUE, I HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF PARTAKING IN ANYTHING THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY THREATEN THE SECURITY OF THE FIRST LADY OR WARRANT TACKLING BY THE SECRET SERVICE. 

MLK Day of Service

"The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example -- the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King's character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit." 

--- Coretta Scott King on the Meaning of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Today, Martin Luther King, Jr. day has been re-branded as a day not only to remember and admire one of our nation's most notable heroes, but also to promote his legacy of service for the greater good.  As a result, thousands of us worldwide took part in service projects throughout the country today, making it "A Day On, Not a Day Off."

GW played a large role in this effort within DC, planning special community service events for students to participate in throughout the day (in a similar manner to our Freshman Day of Service held on 9/11 each year).  Here's the site from the Student Activities Center on today's events.

Maybe I should have told you guys sooner so you could get involved if you didn't know already?  Oh well, you'll get 'em next year!  And besides, you don't need any special day to give back!  Though the significance of today is surely more motivation to do your part for the community in which you live--and beyond!

As always, email me with any questions or anything at all at shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu.  I've also got some 'gonnections with service organizations in the area, if you're looking for some volunteer work to sink your teeth into!

~~~ Shireen

A Call to Service...

As some of you may have read, Michelle Obama has given the GW Community a huge challenge. She has offered to be the 2010 Commencement speaker IF we complete 100,000 hours of community service. The First Lady has been a huge advocate for service around the country promoting the Serve America Act and all forms of service. Last year, the GW community completed over 65,000 service hours not including service by student organizations. I hope we will be able to go above and beyond the call of service from this distinguished woman to prove that GW is committed to improving the greater DC area.
You can read the GW Hatchet article by clicking THIS link.
We have also gained national attention from the US News and World Report. You can read that article HERE.



Kim