...Of the UNI Varisty Mens Glee Club Christmas Variety Show

Hello future Panthers!

This past weekend (on Friday and Saturday) the UNI Varsity Men's Glee Club held their annual Christmas Variety Show. It is a fantastic show full of entertainment that will put anyone in the holiday spirit! I hope that you all will enjoy my video and the random pictures it contains from this weekend :)

As you saw in the video, this year Panther Palms (our American Sign Language Choir on campus) was asked to interpret the show. Last year at the Glee Club Show, while Dr. Wiles, the director of the Glee Club, was in the lobby he encountered a family using American Sign Language to communicate. It was at that moment he realized that this show was not as inclusive as it could be. After that experience, he connected with Katie O'Brien, an ASL instructor here at UNI, and they began working on a revamped Christmas show that included interpreting during each act. It was a blast working with the Glee Club and we hope this may become a new tradition.

Now I know this post is a little late to notify you about the event, but if you are interested in joining the Glee Club or Panther Palms I strongly suggest you do! They are both groups full of wonderful people doing the things they love.

Peace.Love.UNI

STAR Olivia

...Of an Intramural Volleyball Player!

Hey Future Panthers!

Are you nervous to try out for one of the sports teams here at UNI, or maybe even the club teams? Have no fear! We have intramurals here! While I was in high school, the only sport I played was tennis. I wasn't really involved in sports because I wasn't really the athletic student; I enjoyed the arts. My roommate really wanted me to go to the Wellness and Recreation Center (WRC) with her but I really didn't want to. She motivated me to make the trek over there, and I enjoyed it once I was there! When you become a Panther, really be sure to utilize spaces like the 

WRC because they have an amazing facility!

Many of the girls on my floor wanted to get a volleyball team started because we were not good enough to play for the actual team or club volleyball! We just wanted to play for fun, so we tried out intramurals! Luckily, they have two different levels of competition: A and B league! A league is more competitive than B league so since we were just playing for fun, we chose to play in the B league! This was definitely the best choice because we only won our first game! 

As people say, the game is not about winning; it is all about having fun! Our team definitely reinforced this saying! Even though we didn't win and were not very good, our team definitely would have gotten Best Team Spirit had there been an award for it! We were just excited to get the serve over the net or when our score reached the double digits! After playing every team, they each told us that we were so funny and they enjoyed playing against us. All of the referees enjoyed reffing our games because they would just crack up laughing at us! We even had a game close to Halloween and came dressed as characters from Winnie the Pooh!

Back Row L-R: Kanga (yes, that is me), Pooh, Tigger
Front Row L-R: Eeyore and Piglet

If volleyball is not your thing, there are many other intramural sports you can join, like flag football, racquetball, tennis, swimming & diving, disc golf, and even CANOE BATTLESHIP! It's pretty cool! If you have a chance, check out their video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axh8rZFBVIc 

I strongly encourage you all to at least try playing intramurals! They are so fun and especially if you play with your friends! As much as I didn't know what I was doing, 

I had a great time playing with my friends and made so many memories!

Until next time,

~STAR Hannah

...Of Getting in the Holiday Spirit!

Hi there future panthers!


The holiday season is upon us, and when you are away from home for the first time getting into the holiday spirit can be hard! Here are some tips and ideas to get in the holiday mood!

~STAR Eliza

...of Decorating for Christmas in the Residence Halls

Getting ready for holidays in college is so much fun. Back in October, I posted about decorating for Halloween, and in continuum, I've decided to show you all how my roommate and I are preparing for the Christmas season! 

We wrapped our door with ribbon and wrote a little "to and from" card to resemble a present, and we had a lot of fun cutting paper to make our own snowflakes. It's quite therapeutic, you know.

We brought a little throw rug to occupy our TV and kitchen area, as well as strung up some pretty lights to illuminate the loft.

We made little craft owls, hung up some garland, and strung up more lights over our vanity/sink to brighten the area and bring some Christmas cheer.

 Don't forget the ornaments!

And, last but not least, our Major Award is visible from the window to all who care to see its beauty from outside Hagemann Hall! But be careful - it's fragile (must be Italian)!

-STAR, Lauren

.....Of a Panther Palms Member

Hello, beautiful people!

Are any of you interested in Sign Language or know someone whom is Deaf? Through my experiences with the Deaf Community I have grown a passion for Sign Language. Couple that with my love for music, and I am a proud member of Panther Palms, our American Sign Language choir here on UNI's campus. Our director, Katie O'Brien, is a wonderful ASL instructor here at the university. We are made up of a variety of majors, ages, and ASL knowledge. I love being a part of this group and getting to know other people who have a passion like mine. While we are still a newer group on campus, we have performed at a variety of different events and have performed a variety of music (O'Brien is always willing to take requests). November 8th was a particularly busy day for us. We signed the Alma Mater and National Anthem for the UNI vs. NDSU football game and then drove to Waterloo to perform for an AIDS benefit! Our final performance of the semester will be the first week of December, when we perform during the Varsity Men's Glee Club Christmas performance. Hopefully you will all be attending to see Panther Palms signing over 10 Christmas songs and even interpreting a very fun skit the boys wrote. It will be a hoot! :)

Me and a group of us before the football game

Until next time,

Star Olivia

of a Sherman Resident!

Hey future Panthers!

 

Are you nervous about living in the dorms? ...getting to know new people?

Well, your Resident Assistant on your floor knows how to solve these problems! Along with the help of his or her house council, they plan activities to get to know the people on your floor! I live on Sherman floor and am a member of our house council. After the majority of our house completed a survey called "MapWorks" (it simply asks questions about your transition to college), we received a $50 house party! We decided to spend the money on a pizza party!

We had a mandatory house meeting and voted to watch "She's the Man" with Amanda Bynes! We used the $50 to buy 9 pizzas from $5 Pizza, which fed all of us that attended! We gathered downstairs in the rec room, pulled all of the couches and chairs together around the TV, brought our pillows and blankets, and had a girls night full of pizza, snacks, and "She's the Man!"

 

If you're nervous about the transition into college, the RA on your floor makes it so much easier by planning fun house activities to become better friends with the people on your floor! Our movie night was a success and cannot wait to have another one!

 



We destroyed the pizzas!

 

~STAR Hannah 

of surviving the cold weather!

Hey, hey, hey Panthers!

It is that time of year again, when we need to start bundling up, curling up in a warm blanket, and sipping hot chocolate to stay warm.  Winter has struck, and it is really cold for November.  I don't know about you, but I hate wearing winter coats, so last year I had the goal to not wear a winter coat until January 1st.  I achieved that goal, and you might be wondering how I was able to attain that goal when I have to walk from class to class on a college campus.

Here is your survival guide for staying warm on UNI's campus during the winter months:

1.  Know your shortest route to class-  Luckily for you, UNI's college campus is already very compact and only takes about 10 minutes from one side to the other!  However, during the Fall, I figured out which routes would be the shortest to get from one building to the other!

2. Find ways to get inside during your walk to class-  A lot of times there are buildings that you might be able to walk through to get to another building on campus.  Even if you can warm up and be inside for a few minutes while you walk through the building, it can sometimes be enough to give you the motivation you need to make it to your final destination. 

3. Warm up with a warm beverage of your choice- For me, that is hot chocolate, but for you, that might mean coffee, lattes or other warm beverages.  These drinks warm your soul and can remind you of the warmth that you receive during the summer time!  UNI has great coffee shops to choose from located all over campus: Biscotti's, 23rd St. Market, the Book Bistro, and Chats!  

4. Wake up early enough to shower so you don't have wet hair- If you tend to oversleep and miss your alarm like me, you might rush through the door with wet hair.  After one minute of walking outside, your hair is frozen and all you can do at this point is try to Let It Go.  For real though, walking outside with wet hair is going to make you colder compared to if you had just woken up a few minutes earlier and had time to dry your hair before walking outside!

5. ENJOY the Weather-  You know as well as I do that we can't control the weather, and sometimes, when life gives you lemons, you need to make lemonade.  In this situation, life is giving us snow, so let's make a snowman?  Go outside and enjoy spending time with your friends.  Make a snowman or snow fort, go sledding, but most importantly, make memories with the people who are most important to you at UNI!

These are just a few things that helped me to survive the cold weather months, and hopefully, these can help you too!

Sincerely,

STAR Sarah

...Of Getting Ready for Second Semester

I will not lie. Getting ready to start your second semester as a college freshman can be stressful. You ask yourself, "What classes do I have to take to meet requirements?" "What if I don't like my professor?" "What if all the classes I want are taken and I get stuck with an 8a.m.?" "I'm freaking out!"

Well, fear not. UNI has many resources everywhere you look to find ways to plan out your schedules even before you officially do so. MyUniverse, the online database for every UNI student, has an Academic Planner outlining every required credit for each specific major. Also, every student has an advisor specific to what college he or she is a part of, and each student gets to schedule an individual meeting with the advisor.

If a student clicks on his or her Student Center in MyUniverse, everything needed to plan for the Spring semester is right there! How convenient is that?

My meeting is coming up this week, and in all honesty, I'm a tad bit nervous! This is my first time planning my own college schedule with intents to study abroad next year, wondering whether or not I desire to take summer classes, discerning which plays I want to try out for, and what clubs and organizations I want to get involved with. I'm both excited and scared to be moving so quickly through my collegiate journey, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds!

-STAR, Lauren

...of a Big Panther Win!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LtLYxD3tQc

On Saturday, the Panthers beat North Dakota State University! The game was so much fun, and I had an awesome time making new memories at the game!

-STAR Emily

...Of the Pride of Panther Nation!

What's up, Panthers?

The University of Northern Iowa's Panther Marching Band is known as "The Pride of Panther Nation."  This couldn't be more true!  Panther Marching Band (PMB) is one of the many great things happening at UNI and watching them perform gives me the goosebumps every time.  

There are more students in Panther Marching Band this year than any other year in UNI's history.  The record breaking 330 member band also has a great time together and is a great way for students to make connections at UNI and help them to feel that UNI is their home away from home!  Unfortunately, I never got the chance to be involved with PMB but all of my friends who have been in PMB or are currently in the band love their experience!  They have made great friends and had a blast playing at all the home games as well as traveling to The University of Iowa or Iowa State University to perform.

.

This past weekend, the Panther Marching Band hosted "Panther Band Day".  This was a day where high school students could come to UNI for the day and play with PMB on the field during UNI's home football game.  There were almost 500 high school students who attended this event which meant that there were about 800 total band members performing on the field! 

If you are thinking about joining the Panther Marching Band, I would definitely encourage you to do so!  You will get the chance to be part of community that loves UNI, loves each other, and loves to play music together.  YOU can have the wonderful opportunity to be part of the Pride of Panther Nation.

Sincerely,

STAR Sarah

...of dancing away at the Wellness Recreation Center

Hey there followers,

STAR Grace again with a fun video from the University of Northern Iowa's Halloween Zumba event! :)

 

Last week I, along with my roommates and lots of other students, attended a FREE Zumba class at the Wellness and Recreation Center (WRC) to celebrate Halloween! Enjoy the video!

...of a Coffee Run with TC & TK!

Enjoy our video!
-STARs Sarah, Emily, & Grace

...Of Prepping for Finals

Hey there Future Panthers!

Here is a video that shows what it is like to prep for finals! #RodLibrary #Livepurple

~STARs Hannah, Olivia, and Eliza

...of Rod Library

Hi there future Panthers!

Sometimes when you need to buckle down and study, your room isn't the place to be. Noisy neighbors, friends stopping by, Netflix, the list goes on and on. Now what are you supposed to do? Give up and hope you can absorb the information through osmosis? No way! For a fun place to study with tons of information, I just head on down to the Rod Library!

Front of the Library at night! (It's open til Midnight most nights!!!)

I think the library is the perfect place to study for everyone! It has four floors with varying levels of noise allowed on each. The first floor (also known as the basement level) is labeled the "medium-noise floor." This is where you can go to study with a friend or work on group projects! The second floor (which is also the floor you enter on) is the "high-noise floor" this is a place to go if you have a high level of concentration or need to print something off. The third and fourth level are labeled as the "low-noise floor" and the "quiet floor." Here is where students who need to study in absolute silence go to prep for their exams or to get through some reading. 

But don't worry the library isn't only a serious school place, they also have lots of really fun and interesting things. For example if you need a break from all that studying, just head on down to UNI's museum, which is now conveniently located on the first floor! Or if you're in the mood for a wake-me-up, you can head over to the new Book Bistro. There you can get anything from coffee to gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.

  

It's open from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM every Monday-Friday

The library also has a lot of fun and interesting activities that they host on campus, such as guest speakers and my personal favorite the UNI Mini-Comic Con! These events are a great way to meet new people with similar interests and a way to get a much needed break from school work.

So if you are there to cram for a final or are just there to look for a good book to read in your down time, UNI's Rod Library is a pretty great place to spend your time!

Until next time,

~STAR Eliza

....of a Pumpkin.

Hello Y'all!

This year, my boyfriend and I decided to grow a pumpkin. We went to the store, planted some seeds and waited for all of our pumpkins to grow. We were so excited and thought that our porch would turn into a pumpkin patch, full of plump orange pumpkins.....but that's not exactly how it happened. The vines began to grow and flowers bloomed, but within a few days of bloom, the bright orange flowers shriveled up and fell off. So we did the only reasonable thing, Googled "How to grow pumpkins". Surprisingly there are a lot of pumpkin growers out there who blog about their orange friends. We learned that pumpkin plants bloom male and female flowers and that we would have to self pollinate our flowers because we did not have a large bee population to naturally pollinate them. So we got out some Q-tips and got to pollinating! While it was a little weird at first, you get the hang of it ;) And guess what?! IT WORKED!

We grew one baby Pumpkin!

Pumpky at 45 days old

All grown up!

Finally, this past weekend we picked our little guy and carved him! :) He now lights up our porch and I can't wait for Trick-or-Treaters to see him!

-Star Olivia

...enjoying the Presidential Suite!

Check out this video from the STARs during the volleyball game from the Presidential Suite!

-STAR Hannah

...of feeling safe and secure on campus!

Hey Panthers!  

Many people have questions about safety when they go off to college and the UNI Police Officers work hard to keep The University of Northern Iowa safe and secure for all of the students on campus!  Watch this video blog for some ways the campus is being kept safe!

Sincerely,

 Sarah, STAR

...of Family Weekend!

This last weekend at UNI was Family Weekend. This is a yearly tradition when
families are encouraged to visit campus, go to the football game, and be involved in
different activities on campus. I was so excited for Family Weekend! My parents were able
to visit me, and they brought my sister and my best friend with them (who is pretty much
like family). Many families were able to visit on Friday, but my family came on Saturday. My
sister and cousin also go to school here, and we all got together before the game to hang out
and tailgate! My aunt and uncle were here, and they made the most delicious hot dogs! I
loved being able to spend time with my family, and it was so good to see them. After we ate
our food and played bags, we went to the game.

Even though the Panthers lost, they put up a really good fight! I loved being able to teach my little sister and my friend different cheers and traditions at the football game, and they had a really good time too! Their favorite part of the game was halftime because they absolutely loved our band! I
was able to show them around campus too, and I was so excited to show them how
beautiful campus is in the fall! We saw so many families around campus last weekend, and
it was awesome to see all the support students here have. Overall, Family Weekend was
wonderful, and I loved sharing UNI with my awesome family!

-Star Emily

...of a Fun Night with Friends in Cedar Falls

Hey again guys, Star Grace here to talk about some fun and great deals in this college town!

This past weekend my friends and I decided we wanted to rent some scary movies, so we headed to Family Video in Cedar Falls, and with their recent updates and renovations we were able to snag a deal.

Last year a new pizza place called Marco's was built right next to Family Video, and they have a great deal for college students! If you buy a pizza they will give you a free movie next door at Family Video!

Marco's Pizza is delicious and has lots of great toppings and sides. Like Papa John's, they put garlic sauce on the side, but you can also have the sauce infused in the crust FOR FREE! It is delicious; my personal favorite is pineapple and ham pizza, but their sausage and cheese pizzas are delicious too! After buying the pizza, they handed us our receipt which we brought over to Family Video, and we were allowed to pick out our free movie! 

Since it is October, we decided what better way to celebrate than with a spooky movie?! It took us a long time to decide which movie to pick because Family Video has hundreds of great movies, and at such great prices too!

                    


Overall, Family Video and Marco's Pizza made for a great Friday night, and lots of fun memories with friends. It's always fun to explore different things to do on and off campus!

Until next time,
STAR Grace

...of an all nighter!

Picture this. It is a Wednesday night and you are about to go to bed...when all of a sudden you remember you have a test the next day! So now you have to heave yourself out of your warm bed and crack open the books. Now maybe you won't find yourself in this exact situation, but it is one of the many ways that will lead to your experience with the dreaded all nighter! (Cue ominous music) Even though you will be staying up all night, it doesn't have to be that bad. Here are some tips that will help you survive the night.

Iowa Cycles sculpture at night (right outside of the Union)

Tip # 1: Turn off all distractions! While a little bit of light music can help you focus, Netflix, Facebook, Snapchat, and others are not your friend when it comes to studying. A simple cat video can throw your whole study plan out the window.

Tip #2: Open a window! I know that we live in Iowa and it gets really cold here (and I do mean really cold), cold air is probably one of the best things that can keep you awake. Don't believe me? Think back to those long nights when you just can't get to sleep. I guarantee it, your feet aren't warm and cozy.

Tip #3: Get moving!  Now after a while, your feet and legs will probably get pretty sore from sitting. The best thing to do is to get your blood moving by doing some sort of physical activity (i.e. walking through your dorm or running in place.) You can keep on studying by writing some questions down on note cards and taking them with you. 

Tip #4: Reward yourself with a treat! To keep your mind focused, you can always reward yourself every so often with a snack, which you can get from Biscotti's or the 23rd Street Market. Keep in mind, there are good snacks and bad snacks for studying. For example, some good foods would be fresh fruit (which is packed full of complex carbohydrates and natural sugars), sandwiches and other foods that are high in carbs and proteins.  Also don't forget to drink plenty of water to keep your brain and muscles hydrated.

 

 Biscotti's (aka where the snacks and coffee live)

Tip #5: Don't forget to breath: I know a college schedule can be overwhelming and things can sneak up on you, but it is something that everyone experiences. As long as you follow these tips and don't let the work get to you, you'll do great! Just take a deep breath and tell yourself you'll be fine.

~Star Eliza

...of Halloween in the Residence Halls

Halloween is approaching, and the residence halls are really getting into spirit!

-Lauren, STAR

.....Of Purple and Gold Chairs

Ever since President Bill Ruud has been on campus, there have been changes and improvements around every corner. The most noticeable as you frolic through campus you might ask? It's the purple and gold chairs! These chairs have added a great place for students to meet between classes, study for the upcoming exam, or a great place for a photo shoot.

While I had a great time taking pictures for fun, there have been alumni and even newly weds spotted taking some great photos with the glorious purple and gold chairs. While I enjoy the chairs, they are not the only thing Dr. Ruud has brought to campus. He has created a dynamic library with different environments for student learning. From the open floor plan that promotes collaborative learning and conversational volume, to the silent floors and private study spaces, there is a place for everyone to get their study on! Dr. Ruud has also made social improvements, as he can be spotted at most all university events and even walking his dog through campus.

Me and President Ruud

at the Homecoming game

Dr. Ruud and his wife even pass out cookies to the students during finals week. Who doesn't like a cookie or two to distract from the daunting task of studying?! Something that started with purple and gold chairs has really turned into a great experience for all students on campus! Thank you Bill Ruud!

-Star Olivia

...of a Concert Lover's Dream

Hey Followers! Lots of exciting things are happening at Gallagher Bluedorn and on campus lately, one of which I was able to experience for a very reasonable price! The Pentatonix concert!!


For those of you that don't know, Pentatonix is an acapella group that sings covers of popular songs and some orignial songs as well! This past week I attended the concert with my boyfriend, Skylar, and not only did I enjoy the show but my fellow STARs: Hannah, Diann, & Joslyn did as well!

This was my view during the concert! 

The concert was awesome, the crowd created such a fun environment, and Pentatonix even had someone from the audience get on stage and serenaded her.  And they also had us help them sing along for one of their songs. The group performed lots of their well known covers and even a few awesome original songs!
Overall it was a night I would never forget; they put on a great show and coupled with my great seats at such a low price I couldn't complain about one aspect of that night! (Be sure to check out my links below for some links to Pentatnix's music!)

 If there is anyone who really couldn't complain about their night it would be my fellow STAR, Hannah, she stayed around after the concert waiting in the freezing cold to try to catch a glimpse of the members of the group, and oh boy did it pay off! Hannah and her roommate not only got a better look they also got to take pictures with the members of Pentatonix! Below is a picture collage of Hannah, and her roommate with every member of Pentatonix!! How awesome is that?!

Skylar & myself before the concert

For those of you who are not huge fans of Pentatonix, you might be thinking, "What other bands has/or will UNI host and who coordinates them?" That is a wonderful question!! These awesome concerts are normally coordinated by the student group, CAB, otherwise known as Campus Activities Board, these wonderful students are in charge of selecting bands/musicians to perform on campus. The campus hosts these concerts all over campus, whether its Nielsen Field-house,  the UNI Dome, Gallagher Bluedorn, and McLeod Center! the past UNI has hosted: Luke Bryan, Rodney Atkins, Hoodie Allen, All-American Rejects, and many more! In the near future another acapella band, StraightNoChaser and TimeFlies will be performing!

Many of these concerts allow students to purchase them before the public and at a lowered price, now how awesome is that!?

So future Panthers be sure to be on the look out for awesome events in the future, and current Panthers be sure to keep on your "A" game to hunt down these awesome deals on campus.

Here are some links to Pentatonix's songs and videos on Youtube! Be sure to check them out, you wont regret it!

Royals Cover

Evolution of Music

I Need Your Love Cover

and my personal favorite (if you love Queen B), Evolution of Beyonce

P.S. Be sure to stay tuned everyone, in the near future there will be another post about other great things happening in Gallagher Bluedorn!

Until next time,

-STAR Grace

...of a DM Foam 5K Runner!

Last Thursday, Dance Marathon held a Foam 5K that I ran with my roommate.

A brief summary of Dance Marathon:

Dance Marathon is a movement involving some high schools,

but mostly colleges all across the country that fundraise money year-round

for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals all around the country.

The year concludes with "The Big Event"

which consists of essentially a 12-40 hour dance party.

This is also where the total amount of money raised for the kids is revealed!

So with that being said, the people that want to run the 5K register and pay to run, which most of the money goes into that grand total amount raised for the kids. Dance Marathon (DM for short) decided to put a twist on the average 5K - a foam 5K. While running the 3.1 miles, there were many different "stations" around the route on campus. After running through the tunnel, we got pelted with water balloons. I did not get very wet at this station because I dodged the balloon thrown at me, but my roommate got more wet than I did. After running for a bit longer, we came across a tent-like structure that had a foam machine inside. The volunteers inserted soap into the machine and it spit out bubbles that built up from the ground! This was my least favorite part because it got my shoes dirty but it paid off. Why? The next station was the best: a tarp laid out on the Campanile lawn and was wet and soapy! My roommate and I dove head first onto the tarp and got soaked! We were able to dry off a bit as we ran to the next station; there were volunteers that had hoses and sprinklers on the route! We ran some more and found another foam machine, so we ran through that tent and then we were done with the foam part but still had a little bit more running to do! We sprinted to the finish line-- a tunnel of other runners' arms--which was pretty exciting! I felt a huge sense of accomplishment after running the 5K. I had never ran one before so I was a little scared when it first started! The most rewarding part of the night was actually seeing the kids that we are raising money for. They were so excited to be running/walking with us!

This was a great experience and I cannot wait to raise more money for the kids!



-STAR Hannah

...of the Botanical Center!

When ever I feel stressed at school I like to go the Botanical Center on campus to relax. Today I took you all with me!




STAR Eliza~

...of How Things Change

Do you ever think about how strange it is that in such a short amount of time, things can change so drastically? One day you think your major is going to be Theatre, and next thing you know, you're studying Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Spanish Teaching. One day your hair is long and brown, and in less than a year, it's become a short blonde pixie cut. Life's abrupt changes are crazy to think about.

Timehop is one of my favorite apps because it shows you what you've posted online on a certain day years before. It really can put your life into perspective! For instance, a year ago last week, I posted:

and, lo and behold, calling prospective students and reminding them about upcoming opportunities is one of my jobs now as a STAR! I absolutely love what I do, and I find it startling to think that just a year ago, I had no idea what a STAR even was.  Look where I am today!

A year from last month, I was complaining about not being able to find a roommate, when 5 days after that tweet, I found the girl I am currently rooming with on Panther Picks, UNI's sort of "online dating site" for roommates. I had no idea I would be so fortunate, and today she is one of my best friends here on campus.

These are somewhat silly examples, but it really is interesting to see how much things can change for the better, especially when you have no idea what the future holds. Life is a mystery and looking back on how much it has developed is intriguing. So don't be afraid to branch out and try new things - you could end up finding something that helps you to change for the better!

-STAR, Lauren

...of being a fully prepared student teacher!

Hey Panthers!

I am currently completing my Student Teaching experiences!  I am an Elementary Education major and a Special Education minor and I am in my first of two 8 week placements in a K-2nd grade Special Education classroom.  During student teaching, there comes a time where you get to be the "official" teacher for at least two weeks.  This means that you are teaching all of the classes, you are making the lessons, and you are the students go to person if they need something.  I started being the "official" teacher this past week, and let me tell you, it is so wonderful!  Being in student teaching has made me think back to my time at UNI and think about how prepared I have been throughout my student teaching experience so far!

So, enough about me, I want to tell you a little more about the College of Education and the opportunities you could have out in the classroom before you start your career as an educator.  There are so many teaching opportunities for you to take advantage of during your time at The University of Northern Iowa if you are apart of the College of Education.

As a part of UNI's Education program, you will have a Level 1 field experience.  This experience allows you to be in the classroom, observing, interacting with students and maybe doing some teaching.  The Level 2 field experience builds upon the Level 1 experience.  For your Level 2's, you still get the chance to observe how other teachers are having success with their teaching strategies, interacting with students and you get to teach a few lessons.  Throughout these experiences, you have a UNI faculty member coming out to the schools, watching you teach and providing feedback as well as encouraging you as you teach!  The semester or two before you go out to student teach, you will complete your Level 3 Field Experience.  Your Level 3's are a week of teaching and you get to be in the same class all day for those five days.  By the end of the week, you get the chance to teach all day and "be the teacher".  For your Level 3 Field Experience, you can get the chance to do that experience in Texas, Chicago, Arizona, rural areas of Iowa and a few larger cities in Iowa.  Finally it gets to Level 4, which is Student Teaching.  As a student teacher, you get the chance to student teach abroad, in a different state, or right here in Iowa.  All of these experiences build upon each other and can help you to gain confidence as an educator as well as seeing many different settings and environment which helps you to be a stronger teacher!

But wait! There's more!  One of the greatest things that I love about UNI's College of Education is the fact that most students get to have more teaching experiences on-top of the required field experiences which I talked about above!  Many classes also have field experiences within them.  For example, I took my Math Methods course and some days instead of meeting on campus for class, we would meet at a local elementary school and teach a lesson to a group of students.  This lesson was something we had been learning how to teach in class then got to apply it in an authentic setting!  I had many classes at UNI that had those types of experiences within them.  As educators, we love being with students and what better way to learn how to be a teacher than being out in the classroom practicing our craft!

Overall, I have felt very prepared while I have been at Student Teaching.  I definitely owe that to the great professors I had who instructed me within the College of Education, and to the authentic experiences I got to have in classrooms throughout my educational career at UNI.

Sarah, STAR

...Of the Homecoming parade!

After 6 years without a homecoming parade, it returns..but with a twist. Golf Carts! :) During the week of homecoming, students, faculty, alumni, and staff members of the University were allowed to decorate one of the donated floats. This was a fun, carefree event for all ages to show off their creativity and Panther pride. Then, on Saturday morning, with candy in hand, all 87 floats lined up! We twisted and turned through campus, through tailgating, and made a final stop at the McLeod center where the judges waited with awards! It was a great tradition to bring back and I can't wait to do it again next year!

-Star Olivia

...of an ice cream lover!

Does ice cream have it's own food group? The answer..? YES. Especially in Cedar Falls! There are many places in Cedar Falls that ice cream is available! Don't have a car? No worries! There are also many places on campus to find ice cream! In fact, that's where it all begins!

On our campus, there are two dining centers: both equipped with ice cream! There is soft serve ice cream and Blue Bunny ice cream! (There are also other desserts but we'll save that for another blog!) The soft serve ice cream comes in vanilla, chocolate, and twist. You can choose to put it in a regular cone, sugar cone, mug, or a parfait container! My personal favorite is twist in a regular cone! As far as Blue Bunny goes, I have too many favorites to choose from! The options change depending on the day, but just to name my favorites: white chocolate caramel cluster, peppermint stick, birthday party and many, many more choices! These as well can go in any of the four containers/cones! These are hardly ever out at the same time so I have never had to choose, but I like all 3 in the sugar cone! If you so choose, there are also ice cream condiments to put on the ice cream, such as butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, sprinkles, and a few other toppings.

Another place on campus for ice cream is the mini fridge right inside of your dorm room! When I was shopping for dorm appliances, I had to make certain that I got a fridge with a freezer, not just the little ice box so that I could have ice cream! Being from the Quad Cities, I was used to having Whitey's so I needed this freezer! You can also buy ice cream from little convenience stores on campus, like Biscotti's in the Redeker Center.

As far as off campus, there are a few options close to campus! My roommate's favorite is Coldstone Creamery, so we visit there quite often! At Coldstone, you are able to choose your own kind of ice cream, like cake batter, chocolate, and other flavors. After you choose the ice cream, you can add mix-in's, like cookie dough, brownies, strawberries, sprinkles and so many more options! Another delicious ice cream shop is 4 Queens Dairy Cream! At 4 Queens, they have shakes, flavor burst, snowstorms, and other fancy ice cream treats! My favorite from 4 Queens is Black Cherry Flavor Burst! It is vanilla ice cream with a burst of black cherry within! If you have not yet tried it out, I advise you to do so! You will not regret it!

-STAR Hannah