...of a Movie Addict on a Budget

Hey Future Panthers!

STAR Grace here with another awesome deal for you, especially all you movie lovers out there!

Just a couple miles from campus is College Square Theatre! This movie theatre has all the same great movies showing all over the country, but they have some special deals for us college students and for the Cedar Falls residents as well.

The great deals they offer for college students are available on Thursday: admissions to any movie is only $5 and a small popcorn is free! :) This is a really fun activity for you and friends or as a quick study break! 

Not only is there a sweet deal on Thursdays for college students there is also one on Tuesdays for everyone! The movies on Tuesday are $5 as well, plus free popcorn, $2 candy, and $2 hot dogs! 

Last week I saw Cinderella with a drink and popcorn for only $8.00 total! Normally its about $7 just for admission. 

Be on the lookout for great movies while on campus because the deals are great, and after all that studying, you'll definitely need a break! 

P.S. Be sure to checkout the the College Square Theatre website for deals when you're here!

Cant wait to see you on campus! 

-STAR Grace

...of an Elementary Education major!

Hey future Panthers! STAR Hannah here!

As some of you may know, I am an elementary education major! The returning students are starting to register for classes, so I thought I would give you guys some insight on what typical classes are in the schedule of an elementary education major!

I started out the fall semester of my freshman year taking mostly Liberal Arts Core classes. The good thing about being an elementary education major is that a lot of the LAC courses are also major courses, like Math Reasoning for Teachers I and any of the Inquiry into Life, Physical, or Earth Science classes!

I registered to take my Level 1's during this Spring semester. If you are not familiar with this terminology, it is short for saying "field experience." There are 3 levels of field experience, and then the fourth "level" is student teaching! Level 1's is usually two classes. One of them is called Dynamics of Human Development. I am currently in this course, and it is very interesting! It goes through the development of humans, beginning with the fetus--a course perfect for elementary education or early childhood majors! The second course is Level 1 Field Experience: Exploring Teaching. This is the class where you talk about what goes on while you're in the classroom in a surrounding school district. My field experience placement is in a first grade classroom at Orange Elementary in Waterloo! I am loving it so far! I have to be in the classroom for a minimum of 30 hours. At the end of the semester, I will have gone for at least 3 hours per week for 10 weeks. On Monday, I had the pleasure of teaching a short math lesson, and I had a lot of fun interacting with the students! It was like being the teacher for five minutes! I am currently working on a lesson plan to teach a mini-lesson about the story Chrysanthemum!

 Some of you may remember this from your childhood!

The best part about our College of Education here at UNI is that they make sure you get out into the classrooms before Spring semester of your second year! This creates a very hands-on experience since the classroom is where we are able to learn best from other experienced teachers. The video on the College of Education homepage (uni.edu/coe) is a great summary of just how awesome our program is! You can also find many helpful tips and resources on that website as well. Feel free to explore it a little bit!

Have a great week, future Panthers! :)

~STAR Hannah

...of UNI Now!

If you are a student planning on attending University of Northern Iowa, have been accepted, paid your acceptance fee, completed your housing contract, will submit your final transcripts when you graduate and have a summer orientation date scheduled, congratulations on your becoming an official member of the Panther family!

When you attend your orientation session, you get to stay on campus overnight, meet your new classmates, learn more about your major, register for classes, and attend the Pantherpalooza to play games, relax, and just have a great time. If you think that sounds pretty fun, just wait to see what else we have in store.

UNI has something brand new and exciting coming up this summer! Incoming students, after they attend their orientation, can come to campus for the new UNI Now program on August 19th and move in early! This will give new students the chance to get acclimated to the university, get to know their peers, and participate in fun activities put on by our admissions Cat Crew!

“How do I register?” you may ask. Well, you can do it easily online at http://www.uni.edu/orientation/uni-now! If you think orientation and its accompanying activities are fun and you can’t wait for your college experience, you haven’t seen anything yet! 

- STAR Lauren

...of Going Home for Spring Break!

Hey Future Panthers!

Spring break just ended and it's back to work and classes! Before, during and after spring break I heard a lot of people complaining about having nothing to do. So, I decided to put together some tips of fun things you can do over spring break even if you aren't going anywhere!

Have a great rest of your week F.P.'s!

~STAR Eliza

... Of Preparing for Midterms

Hey Future Panthers!

At UNI, midterms are approaching, which means a ton of homework, projects, and tests.  This is also the time where most students are either relieved or overwhelmed… 

Here are some tips to avoid feeling so overwhelmed about midterms during your time on campus!

·       Make to do lists or keep a planner

Lists are a great way to manage your activities, homework, and deadlines.  It is also a great feeling when you are able to cross items off your list!

·       Turn off Netflix

Many of us are guilty of binge watching Netflix, but when midterms are coming up, it is a good idea to either turn it off or minimize how much you spend your time watching it.  Instead, use this time to be productive by studying, completing projects, or doing homework

·       Find a study spot

Personally, I find it difficult to do intense studying in my room or house’s lounge.  Find a study spot that is quiet, not too busy, and without lots of distractions.

·       Study a little bit every day

Pretty self-explanatory; studying a little bit every day helps make the workload seem a lot less intimidating!

·       Don’t procrastinate

In the moment, procrastination might seem like a great idea, but do not do it.  The all-nighters, last minute study sessions, and panic about if you will finish a paper on time is not worth the stress.  Like I said before, get a little bit done every day.  Set little daily goals and this will help reduce the amount of stress that comes with procrastination.

·       Get plenty of rest

It might feel like you are constantly on the move, so be sure to get lots of rest to keep your energy up for the next day!

·       Exercise

Exercising is a great way to keep endorphins going!  It is also a great way to relieve stress while staying healthy!

·       Do something fun

This can be anything!  For my roommate, she has decided that a nap is what sounds the best right now.  I volunteered at Special Olympics with my friends.  Do something that will just make you relax, laugh, or be happy.

Sydney and me with our buddy Mark at Special Olympics

 -STAR Courtney

...Of a Winner!

Hello friends,

I have created a video for you guys about my experience volunteering for the Special Olympics last Sunday. I hope you like it and that you get involved with things like this in your community! :)

Peace.Love.Special Olympics

-Star Olivia

...of one of the STAR sisters!

Hello future Panthers!

Some of you may have figured out that two of the STARs members look very similar! That is because we are sisters! :) If you hadn't figured it out yet, no worries! Some people see it right away, and others do not see it at all!





Working at the UNI booth at the State Fair!

When deciding which college to attend, I was very unsure about attending the same college that my sister, Diann, was at. Turns out, it was the best decision I have made. After a lot of thinking and reconsidering, I decided it wasn't as big of a deal as I was making it seem. I love having my sister right there when I need her the most!

It comes in very handy when I am alone and just want to be with somebody. Diann will come eat with me at the Piazza, invite me over to her house to watch Netflix and do crafts, and attend football games with me!

FOOTBALL GAMES!!

Amazing Race Traditions Challenge

Eating in the Piazza with friends!



After the Pentatonix Concert

Being at the same college as my sister has helped make the transition run a lot more smoothly than it would have otherwise! She invites me to events held by the university that I would have never known about, attends shows with me by using our free tickets, and is a great mentor to me! She has shown me most of the ropes that are necessary for a sister to do, and I could not be more proud of how much she has helped me not only to make Cedar Falls a comforting place, but, more importantly, UNI a place I can call a home away from home! Love you, sister!

~STAR Hannah







...Of places to eat around campus!

Hey, future panthers! If you are anything like me, one of your favorite things is food! I heard good things about the food here at UNI, and I was not disappointed. There are two dining centers on campus. The Rialto is in the Towers Center, and the Piazza is on the other side of campus in the Redeker Center.

What new students might not know is that there are a variety of places on campus to use your dining dollars. At all these places, so many different foods are served, and you can check what foods are served on the UNI app, MyUNI, which can be found in the app store. This way, you will never miss your favorite food! With this many options offered, there is something for everyone on campus, even the pickiest eater!

All these places are perfect for those on the go, and there are so many places to get food other than the dining centers!

Enjoy the video, where you are able to see all the different places you can get food on campus with your dining dollars!

Until next time,

STAR Emily

...Of an Aware Student

Hey Future Panthers,
Last week the University of Northern Iowa, among other schools, colleges, and work places recognized National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, lasting from February 22-28th.

The University had many events going on around campus to raise awareness and educate students/faculty about the seriousness of eating disorders.

On Monday almost all the bathrooms around campus were covered with positive sticky notes! :)

Besides the sticky notes, the Wellness and Recreation Center had events throughout the week; check them out through this link . I had the chance to attend the eating disorder awareness panel and hear more about the types of eating disorders and how to help loved ones and learn the signs of what an eating disorder may look like. I learned that eating disorders do not discriminate, they are not all the same, and a person struggling with an eating disorder does not have to have bones sticking out to struggle with one. Lots of other important information was spoken about, and some inspirational stories were told. I definitely encourage all you future Panthers to check out these events when you come to campus!

Not only does UNI help inform students during National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, but UNI also has some great resources year-round that can help students struggling with this issue.

Our campus provides FREE counseling in the Health Center (next to Schindler Education Center), and our campus also has a professor/Health Educator who helps individuals with eating disorders among other issues such as Violence Intervention: Joan Thompson. Her office is in WRC 104.

These resources are free and so important to those who need them; don't forget or take for granted how much this university can offer students! I personally have struggled with an eating disorder, and I am happy to say that all the help I received from members of the UNI Family has allowed me to be happy and healthy again!

If you care to learn more about eating disorders, feel free to check out the National Eating Disorder Awareness Website!

And to all the future Panthers out there, please remember how beautiful and special you all are, and remember to be kind to all and let others know how beautiful they are too. You could really make a difference in someone's day, or even their life! :)

See you on campus someday,
STAR Grace

...Of surviving homesickness

Hey Future Panthers! 

Going to college can be extremely nerve-wracking.  For most people, it is their first experience of having true independence.  A common emotion to feel in the beginning of the year is homesickness.  

Being homesick is different for everyone…  Some people love to go home frequently, and others like only to go home occasionally on breaks.  Either way is totally okay!  Don’t worry about how much you may or may not go home!  Of course, we want you to enjoy your time on campus, so here are a few tips to help you survive homesickness! 

Tip #1: Make new friends!

My friend Rachael and I at the UNI Homecoming game

Making new friends can be intimidating, but it really helps with missing your family and friends back home.  In the first couple of weeks of college, there are many welcome activities- go to them!  This is a great way to meet other people in your hall.  Making friends comes naturally the first week because everyone just wants to get to know each other.  Some of the people I met the first week are my best friends at college; I know I can go to them whenever I am upset or excited, and they will listen and offer hugs, tissues, or even lame jokes to help me feel better.  Keep your door open, smile at familiar faces, and don’t be afraid to introduce yourself…  Chances are that you will meet plenty of wonderful people!

My friends and I went to the Pentatonix concert at UNI together!

Tip #2: Get involved!

Getting involved is a great way to feel more at home on campus.  UNI offers a huge variety of different ways to get involved.  Check out our involvement website at: 

 http://www.uni.edu/involvement/

I joined music ensembles and a few clubs relating to my majors, which has helped me stay busy, meet new friends, and make connections within my field of study.  Staying busy will help keep your mind off things that may be happening at home because you will be busy making memories at UNI.

UNI Choir members

I miss my family- especially my little sister; she is my best friend

Tip #3: Call home!

Don’t be afraid to call your family or friends from back home.  Even after being here for almost two semesters, I will still talk to my mom, sister, or friend from high school a couple of times a week to just let them know how I am, what I’m doing at UNI, and even to just vent about stressful situations.  Sometimes, hearing a familiar voice is all you need to help calm yourself down and not worry about being away from home. 

But Skyping friends from high school is helpful

Tip #4: Relax

Classes, activities, social events, etc. can all be very stressful.  We encourage you to be involved and enjoy the entire college experience, but don’t forget to take time for yourself.  Whether this is spending some time watching Netflix, painting your nails, playing video games, knitting, or whatever you love doing, be sure to remember to do something that helps you feel comfortable and less stressed.  I like to paint my nails and read occasionally; it helps takes my thoughts off home, college, and any other stressful matter.  I am able to just relax and focus on being in the moment.  So don’t forget to relax, so you can fully enjoy every other experience at UNI! 

Rachael chooses to relax by playing guitar

Overall, being homesick will happen at least once during your time at UNI, but you will survive!  Remember, don’t compare life at UNI to life at home- they will be two completely different experiences.  Avoid sitting in your dorm room thinking about home constantly.  Instead, take a chance- go meet people, get involved, and enjoy the experience!  

-STAR Courtney