Interim Adventures!

It was an adventurous interim for the Residence Life family! Check out what your fellow staffers were up to...






Fellow Hoyme Junior Counselor Will Carlson and I went on a Classics trip to Greece! Our class studied the ancient Greeks and Romans. We supplemented our studies with visits to archaeological sites in cities such as Athens, Corinth, Sparta, Olympia and Delphi. Here we have climbed to the top of Wolf Mountain in Athens, which overlooks the entire city! -Alexandra Garrett, Hoyme














Here I am at the Gateway of India in Mumbai, which I felt that over the course of my interim abroad I was able to cross over into a deeper understanding of the culture in India as I visited sacred sites and learned more about the many religions in India. -Hannah Trumm, Hill-Kitt









Over interim I went to Ecuador! The class I took was called "Social and Political Transformation in Ecuador." We got the chance to learn about the new Constitution Ecuador has and how it is affecting the people there, along with what social movements exist and what type of work they are doing to help facilitate change in Ecuador. I got to stay with an amazing family and it was a great opportunity to not only improve my Spanish but to learn first-hand about a different culture and build a relationship that I know will last forever! We got to visit indigenous communities and learn about the indigenous lifestyle and how discrimination has made political action difficult at times for these groups. We also spent time in the Amazon rain forest and did lots of hiking to experience the amazing biodiversity Ecuador has to offer. This trip was one of the best experiences I've ever had and my cultural perspective has really broadened - I definitely plan to go back in the future and live "el buen vivir" in Ecuador! -Lindsay Kubina, Mohn




I stayed very busy with wrestling this interim, and I am having a fantastic year so far! As far as class went it really wasn't my favorite, but I survived and now it's on to 2nd semester! This is of one of my wrestling matches in Skoglund.
-Ryan Timmerman, Larson






Ian Peppel from Ytterboe went to Hawaii with a class...

The Hill Kitt staff cheered on the Ole mens' basketball team as they defeated the Gusties! UM YAH YAH - right Ali?! Ali (our AC) and Charlie Potts were cheering for the Gusties but unfortunately for them, they did not prevail. Oh well...




This is a picture of my JC partner/roommate/best friend, Megan Mcgovern, and me on a boat on the Sea of Galilee. I went to Israel/ Palestine for a religion class called "The historical geography of the holy land of the Bible." We visited many holy sites to learn about Jesus' life and ministry, and we also learned about the political situation and the conflict over land in Israel/Palestine. It was an amazing experience that helped me to better understand the Bible in the context that it was written in. -Amelia Stonesifer, Hoyme

During Interim, I was in India, studying the art of sacred sites, including Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Buddhist, and Christian sites. This picture was taken at the Taj Mahal in Agra. I had a wonderful time, and I miss the food already! -Jenny Nygren






Over interim this year I ventured to Israel/Palestine and Jordan for the Historical Geography of the Bible in the Holy Land program. The trip was led by Jim Hanson (Religion prof.) and Andy Willis (former pastoral intern) and included visits to pretty much every site you would ever want to see in Israel/Palestine! We saw it all: from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Dome of the Rock to Galilee to the abnormal amounts of cats that roamed the Old City of Jerusalem. We also explored some of the historical roots of the political conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and experienced the situation firsthand. The trip was an enlightening, incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I really hope to go back someday! The picture is of my awesome JC partner, Amelia Stonesifer, and myself on the Ramparts with the backdrop of the Old City and the Dome of the Rock. So great! -Megan McGovern, Hoyme

If you have a picture you still want to share...just send it our way! :)

RA/JC Applications Available Now!

Interested in being an RA or JC during the 2011-12 school year? JC candidates must be in the class of 2013 and RA candidates may be either class of 2012 or 2013.

Check out the Residence Life homepage for more information and applications! Apps are due on Wednesday, February 23, 2011.

Res Life staff serving the world!

Oles participate in volunteer opportunities all the time, and it's great when our residence life staff gets involved! The Hill Kitt RA/JC staff formed a team to participate in putting together meals for Feed My Starving Children on campus on Friday, November 12.

The Hill Kitt staff raised almost $400 and packed enough meals to feed 152 kids for a year! These specific meals were sent to the Philippines.

Thank you to ALL of the Oles who participated and a special thank you to any and all res life student staff members who helped out!

Program Award Winners!

Congratulations to the Residence Life Student Staff Program Award winners for Session 1!

There were lots of great programs across campus.... but these programs were selected as some of the best this session.

Best All-Hall Programs of the Session

• Amanda Kreun & Megan Makeever (Mohn) - "The Paula Abdul Dance Moves 80s Work-out Video" (Healthy habits)
• Anna Fulton, Andrew Belsaas & Dan Anderson (Ellingson) - "Carniv-ELL!"
• Erik Burton, Lauren Bartelt & John Broadway (Ellingson) - "Thirsty Thursday" alcohol education program.

Best Bulletin Boards of the Session

• Eliza Snortland (Larson) - "Northfield Flooding information and resources"
• Maria Ward & Jackie Scott (Kildahl) - "What does Julia Child have to do with espionage?"
• Kayla Gronli & Dana Goetsch (Hill Kitt) - "The Human Puzzle"

Best Elective Programs of the Session

• Andrew Belsaas & Zac Rakke (Ellingson) - "Sexual Health Scavenger Hunt"

Sophomore Leadership Institute

The Sophomore Leadership Institute started at St.Olaf this fall and the group has had a great first month of meetings!

The Sophomore Leadership Institute - or "SLI" - is a group of 16 sophomores interested in developing and enhancing leadership skills and talking about issues around student leadership. The group meets formally about once a month.

September's meeting was focused on defining leadership and talking about what it means to be a sophomore and a student leader at St.Olaf. October will be devoted to working with the Center for Experiential Learning on personality traits of leaders, as well as exploring civic engagement possibilities and ways to incorporate others sophomores into what the group is doing.

The 2010 (and first EVER) Sophomore Leadership Institute group...

Front row (L to R): Lauren Kramer, Patricia Garcia, Patrick Faunillan, Kari Swanson, Serena Xiong, Rachel Pauley.

Middle row (L to R): Elizabeth Harness, Mackenzie Wolter, Hannah Burson, Alisha Kasparec, Kong Vang, Sarah Moon.

Back row (L to R): Ashley Menzel, Ben Olsen.

Not pictured: Emily King and Maia Selkow.

Area Coordinator Spotlight!

Jessica Pena

• Hometown: I grew up in Rochester Minnesota but most recently would call my hometown in West Olive, Michigan
• Undergraduate institution: I graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a Major in Sociology and minor in Social Work.
• Grad institution (and program): I attended the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I received a Master's of Science Education in Professional Counseling and Student Affairs and Higher Education.
• Organizations I was/am involved with include… American Counseling Association, Association of Christians in Student Development.
• Favorite places to visit: My parents' cabin in Northern Minnesota.
• Favorite food: Italian and Mexican.
• The reason I work in res life is…I am very passionate about working with college students and seeing them in all aspects of their lives and watching them grow emotionally, academically, physically, and spiritually as Freshmen coming in and then seeing how they are when they leave as Seniors.
• My favorite thing about St. Olaf is….The community of St. Olaf and how nice everyone has been to my husband and I since arriving.
• What do I do in my free time: I like being outdoors going on walks, rollerblading, kayaking on a lake...but i also enjoy a good movie night as well.
• One thing students should know about me…I am spontaneous

Jessica is starting her first year at St. Olaf. She's the Area Coordinator in Ellingson & Larson Halls. She lives in Ellingson with her husband Moses. Jessica has office hours in both Ellingson & Larson. You can reach her at pena@stolaf.edu or 507-581-2078.

Area Coordinator Spotlight!

Glen Lloyd

• Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia
  
• Undergraduate institution: Catawba College (in North Carolina), majored in Communication Arts
  
• Grad institution (and program): Bethel University, currently in a master's degree program in Organizational Leadership.
  
• Organizations I am involved with include… St. Olaf Football (assistant coach), noon basketball, Young Life
• Favorite places to visit: Charleston, South Carolina
• Favorite food: Southern cooking/comfort food
• The reason I work in res life is…to be a resource to residents to build a healthy, holistic life.
• My favorite thing about St. Olaf is….the spirit behind UM YA YA.
• What do I do in my free time: I watch movies and read John Grisham novels.
• One thing students should know about me…relationships are best built around meals together.

Glen is starting his fourth year at St. Olaf and his first in Residence Life. He's the Area Coordinator in Mellby & Hoyme Halls and is an assistant football coach. He lives in Mellby. Ross has office hours in both Mellby & Hoyme... you can reach him at lloyd@stolaf.edu or 507-581-1934.