Networking, Networking, Networking

Here at Western New England, phrase you are going to hear is “you should be networking and making connections with professionals.” This could not be truer for me. Last month, I started an internship with the Springfield Armor, a team in the NBA Developmental League. I am the Game day Operations Intern for the team, which is the affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA. This opportunity was presented to me by one of my professors last year, who brought in Eli Perlstein, the Director of Marketing for the Armor, to talk to our class. This was the first time I was able to meet him and I was able to introduce myself to him. While I did not apply for the internship last year, I knew I wanted to have some experience, and this connection was critical in my search. I sent Eli a message over the summer asking what the internship entailed, and I told him I would be interested. He then sent me an application for the internship.

While I was filling out the application, I needed some help, so I turned to other students that have interned with the Armor in the past as well as the Career Center here on campus. These resources were so helpful that I was hired for the internship. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be with the team. My roles with the team vary, but for now I am working in the audio room playing music for the team. This internship would not have been possible if I had not met the people who I have, and that would not have been possible if I did not come to Western New England.

They Say it Goes by Fast

Its truly hard to believe next semester will be my last. I find myself reflecting more often than not on some of the great experiences I have had thus far in my collegiate career. Recognizing that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and never regretting what happened in the past.

As i prepare myself for the opportunities I have gained, including my internship next semester with Hockey East, I can be confident in my mindset and consistent work ethic and be able to apply what i have learned to my internship,and to my new challenges I have set out to conquer.There are several people here who I have been able to rely on for help and guidance. Their support has helped me mature and develop my skills to become a more well-rounded person.

I cant wait to see what is in store for me next and I am excited for the last ride

The End of an Amazing Beginning

The two numbers swirling around my head today are five and thirteen. Five more days of classes and thirteen days until I go back to Rhode Island. It is so difficult to believe that my first semester of college is almost over. It has been a crazy ride and an amazing three and a half months here at WNE. College is everything I expected it to be and more. I have made great friends from all over America and the world! I have done better with my school work that I ever have before. I have learned so much about engineering from my classes and my engineering mentor and I cannot wait to come in January to learn even more. I am excited to go back to Rhode Island to see my friends and family and to relax. The holiday season is just a beautiful time and I am glad I get to spend it with my favorite people. While I am away from school, however, I will miss it. I will miss the walks to and from class and around the campus. I will miss being surrounded by my friends at every moment of the day. And I will miss the beautiful campus and the amazing people here. But it will only be twenty-nine days.

Until January,
-LyndseySJ

Midnight Madness

Every college and even high school has their own traditions and Western New England University is one a campus full of many traditions. Last weekend was Midnight Madness which is one of WNE’s class pride tradition. It is held in the gym from 9pm until 11pm and each class, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors are given a section of the bleachers that is their territory. When you enter WNE as a freshman you are given a class color that you will have for the next four years, next year the class color for the entering freshmen will be red. I am a sophomore this year and my color is blue, so for Midnight Madness each class gets decked out in their color and cheers on those in their grade as they compete in dodgeball, three-legged races and other challenges. Each class council also prepares a dance and performs it for the entire campus at Midnight Madness, which is beyond entertaining. The cheerleaders perform along with the dance team and martial arts team. It is a great event that brings your class together and creates a little healthy competition. Every year a class wins based on the games played and who wins along with spirit points which are easy to gain because the DJ keeps everyone on their feet. This year the seniors won Midnight Madness, but you never know maybe next year it will be you and your freshmen class 'repping red who win but you’ll have to beat my junior class first! 

-Liz

Spring Semester Already?!

It’s hard to believe that by November, WNE students already have their spring semester schedules picked out. Schoolwork has been the main focus for the past two weeks. It always gets very hectic around the end of the semester. I have research papers and exams and more homework than ever.

A week ago, some friends and I went to the Eastfield Mall to see the movie Wreck it Ralph which was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. It was one of those movies where the trailer gives away absolutely nothing about the movie. It was definitely not a movie that appeals only to kids. We also found out that there is a student discount at the theater that reduces the regular adult price from $10.75 to $7.75. Just show them your college ID and they will give you the discount.   

This week, I had my first meeting for the Alternative Spring Break program. I met with my group and group leader for the first time. I am very excited to start fund raising and planning out the details for our trip to Virginia.

Next week is only a two day week, which means no labs! Then we have Thanksgiving vacation! I am going home for the first time since July. I’m bringing my boyfriend and one of my WNE friends with me so that should be a fun, relaxing time.

I’ll check in after the break,

Brandi

Raking in Midnight Madness

This past weekend was one to remember. It all started Friday night with my first ever Midnight Madness! Every class had their own color: seniors were red, juniors were yellow, sophomores were blue and freshmen were green. The gym was filled with balloons, streamers, and spirited students in their respective colors. The excitement grew as each class council entered and the competitions began. There was trivia, relay races, dance offs and more! The freshman even came in second behind the seniors in the shootout. It was a really fun night to hang out with all my friends and cheer on our class. I did not participate in an event this year, but I am definitely doing one next year. I cannot wait!

The good weekend continued on Saturday and Sunday with SWE (Society of Women Engineers). We did a leaf-raking fundraiser in the mornings. We had really beautiful fall days to do it, too. We split up and went to the houses of some professors and raked their yards! Despite the hard work involved, it was really fun and a great weekend to bond with some of the upperclassmen engineers. This weekend we are having a movie night, so I am looking forward to that.

The final memorable thing to happen recently actually did not happen on the weekend. On Monday afternoon I had my first encounter with Health Services. I hurt my finger pretty badly at Frisbee practice and decided that I should probably get it looked at. Health Services actually closed at 4pm and it was about ten after, but they ended up letting me in and looking at my finger. The nurses are unbelievably nice and intelligent. My nurse was just about to leave, but she took the time to give my finger a splint and tell me what to do until the next day.

I ended up breaking my finger. The same nurse called me today to tell me what the x-rays said and plans to meet with me on Monday. Although having a broken finger on my dominant hand is definitely going to be a challenge, I am really impressed by our health services, and I know they will do all they can to get me better!

Until next time,

-LyndseySJ

 

P.S. We had our first snowfall this week!

 

Another Halloween Vacation!

            As devastating as the storm was in some areas, it gave us WNE students a relatively calm mini-break the week of Halloween. This mirrors the one we got last year when the big snow storm hit us. Because we had Tuesday off, I went with some friends to see Cloud Atlas at the Rave Cinema in the Eastfield Mall. As I mentioned in a previous blog, all movies are $5 a person on Tuesdays. It was a very long, complex movie but still held your interest until the very end.

            On Halloween, I dressed up as a zombie. Campus was very festive and many students had on costumes too. On the first floor common room in Commonwealth, there was a little Halloween get-together. There were nachos, cookies, candy, and apple cider. There were also Apples to Apples, bobbing for apples, Halloween trivia, mummifying contests (where you wrap your partner up in toilet paper), and king-sized candy prizes for the winners. Even the dining hall had a themed dinner with foods like “bloody eyeball pizza” (meatball pizza) and “fried maggots” (rice stir-fry). Some of the staff members dressed up in costumes and the whole area was decorated. Though I was unable to attend, there was also murder mystery dinner held in Rivers and tickets were only $3. It was a fantastic Halloween on campus!

            As a side note, I was selected for Alternative Spring Break! Hopefully I’ll be working with low-income families in Radford, Virginia with the “Rice and Beans” project during spring break in March. I’ll let you know when I hear more details.

Catch up with you later,

Brandi

Rock the Open Mic

Here's another clip of some Western New England University students at our recent Open Mic Night held in the Campus Center during our Late Night at the Rock series. This is a very popular event here at WNE and I hope you enjoy the footage!

Johnson

Clips from Friends and Family Weekend

Enjoy my video of the annual Friends and Family Weekend here at Western New England University. In this clip, you'll see one of the biggest traditions at WNE, Bed Races! Hope you like it!

 

Johnson

Home is Where the Heart is

So here I am, halfway through my first semester of college. I adapted to college life really well, but now it truly feels like home. They say “home is where the heart is,” and my heart is definitely here at WNE. I am officially settled in and I love it. Within the past few weeks I joined the Ultimate Frisbee team and I am so glad that I did. It is not recognized by the school as a sport, but the team goes to tournaments on certain weekends, and we play for two hours every day outside of the new CSP (Center for Science and Pharmacy) building. I have made so many new friends and it is a great way for me to stay active and have fun every day. I was really impressed by how good everyone is at the game. I am probably the least talented person on the team, but when I go back to Rhode Island I am going to be a superstar! Haha!

I also met with my academic advisor to get my mid-semester grades. I am very happy with my grades so far and if I can keep them up for the end of the semester I will be really excited. :) I am doing so much better than I expected to. I guess I need to raise my expectations for myself! I found out another exciting thing about academics within the past week, too. In less than three weeks I am going to be picking my classes for second semester! The schedule went up yesterday and I already know which classes I want to be in. I just hope my schedule next semester is as good as the one I have now!

-LyndseySJ

Falling Into a Golden Opportunity

The leaves are changing colors and the weather is reverting to the typical New England autumn weather.  Just walking around campus seeing all the different colored leaves on the ground shows how time has flown by.  It feels like the semester started last week, but it is already Halloween! Time just seems to fly by here at Western New England but as they say, time flies when you are having fun! 

I have learned so much this semester and have gotten to experience so many new things.   Just last week we had a speaker, Rick Burton, who spoke at WNE.  Mr. Burton previously worked for the United States Olympic Committee and now teaches at Syracuse University.  Professor Curt Hamakawa was able to bring Mr. Burton in to talk with students and the general public about his career in sports.  I had the opportunity to be invited to attend a dinner with Mr. Burton after the presentation.  I was honored to be invited even though I am only a student who is still mulling over my own future.  To be able to have dinner with such a distinguished guest was something I will never forget.

Working with the Admissions Office has been another amazing experience.  I have been able to give tours to many prospective students.  I have learned more about the school on each one and have enjoyed showing the school to close to 100 people thus far, with many more taking tours with other students. I hope to see you on one of my tours in the near future!

-Jason :)