Calilujah!

We at Utah State take our vacations seriously...that's why whenever we leave the state we always remember to pack three very important items:
sunscreen
our cameras
and a giant tub of whey protein
Our muscles aren't getting much fuller, but are memories are getting a lot fonder.
So squirt on some sun back and join us, as we take you on a wild ride through California for a glimpse of a true blue spring break...the Aggie way.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10206733705405278&pnref=story

Love is in the air...and so is a huge bottle of soda!

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

We at Utah State believe that activities should be themed, and should somehow incorporate an element of danger. What a fitting opportunity seeing as Valentines Day is just around the corner. We, the ambassadors, held our own activity just yesterday containing both. I'm pretty sure you can figure out what the theme was...and a word of advice...Mentos/Soda rockets a very real thing. Don't try them at home....or do

Star-Crossed Lovers

Yoda hung out with Kelsey pretty much all night...

First insert the Mentos

Then run for your life

That smile though

Tony with the long bomb

TD

If some don't go as planned

Then you just toe-punch that sucker!

Happy Star Wars.....I mean Valentines

40 minutes of driving = HOURS of Ski Heaven

Just 40 minutes from legendary Logan, Utah we find the magestic slopes of BEAVER MOUNTAIN. Whether you're a lifetime skiing pro (like every one of my friends), or one of those kids who should be skiing while tied to another adult (like me), Beaver is the perfect resort for anyone! So pull up your big-boy snow pants, rent some gear, and hit the slopes with the Aggies!

Jed, Sam, and Beaver

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mike Hendricks

A job well done

Crepes and Karaoke...easy on the Pepsi

We Aggies take pride in TWO things over the holiday season:
1. Filling our bellies with festive hors d'oervres
2. Spreading Christmas cheer....and anyone who's anyone has seen the movie Elf, and knows quite well how that's done.

My dear friend, Gavin Salisbury, hosted his 3rd ever Crepes and Karaoke event this weekend at what we call "The Stache"! I would give you all the details, but I have the sneaking suspicion that there's talk of a 4th...so I suggest you attend it yourself. I will say this, however: Our crepes were filled with delicious condiments, our ears were filled with catchy sing-alongs, and our night was filled with holiday joy.....Just don't miss the next one....you dig?

The Crowd watches as the Karaoke melts some faces

I record as Mason is serenaded by his hoard of young ladies

Ugly Sweaters and beautiful faces

That's how we do

Ambassadors..here to serve and protect...but mainly...SERVE

These ambassadors aren't just equipped to give tours, they are also big believers in a little something called "SERVICE". Recently, a great member of the Utah State family (Hailey Evans) was in a car accident, and was immediately life flighted to a Provo hospital. She is still recovering, but remains in critical condition. Upon hearing the news, the ambassador program took on the mission to raise money for Hailey, by going door to door asking for donations, performing service, and shouting carols to a number of local neighborhoods. We love you Hailey, and the entire ambassador program is praying for you. Come back to us soon! Here are just a few images of the glorious night of service that took place just days ago:

Ready to hit the doors

Caroling for Hailey

(Hailey Evans) Keep her in your prayers. If anyone would like to help/give please contact Samantha Burrows at: sburrows@aggiemail.usu.edu

Bubble Soccer!!!

Who doesn't love playing a wholesome, safe, non-physical game of soccer. It's like making sweet music with your feet. Now take away the "safe" and the "non-physical", and stick each player inside a massive beach ball body suit. It's like watching human-sized lollipops kicking a ball around a soccer field, and leveling each other. My roommates and I experienced the mayhem first-hand for business week....take a gander!

The REAL bubble soccer: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153446144604057&set=vb.662594056&type=2&theater

The Last of the Mohicans

Roommates, the stuff of legend

Nightmare on 13th!!!

I'm not one to get scared easily...unless I watch a scary movie, visit a haunted house, get surprised around corners, get stuck in the dark, hear something from the shadows, or see a wild animal. Besides that, I'm the man! However, I will say I wasn't the MAN this weekend as I nearly had to change my shorts after a visit to Nightmare on 13th in Salt Lake City (Just an hour's drive from NICE, SAFE Logan). If you want to relive all of your favorite scary movies (Scream, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Ring, Texas Chainsaw)...this place is your JAM! But before you go, let me inspire you further. Here are my TOP 3 REASONS TO LOVE HAUNTED HOUSES:

 

1. As long as you're faster than your friends you'll never get cornered

2. It's the only time you can latch on to a girl's arm like a racoon and have it be socially acceptable

3. You can let out high pitched screams shattering every window in the house, and you still get to keep your man card.

We make Parading look GOOD!

Utah State Homecoming is one of the most legendary events in this city...no wait, let me change that...one of the most legendary events in this state! Aggie pride is always high, but during homecoming week things really reach a new level of "true blue pride". At the end of an intense week of student activities we finally bring the entire city together for one final shakedown before our big game. The tiny ones enjoy their hoards of candy, the alums rise from their camping-chairs to sing the Scotsman, and us...well, we lead the cheers, rep our clubs, and sport our Aggie swag. I guess you could say we do what we do best. We roll down the street makin' Utah State look good...I mean REALLY good. 


























Ambassador Float...so hot right now

The Mr. USU Experience

I never thought myself to be much of a pageant goer, let alone a pageant participant. I've had the chance to be involved in some pretty incredible things as an Aggie, but last night I may have reached an all time high. Over the past few weeks I've had the chance to work with these fine gentleman as a part of the legendary Mr. USU Pageant. An individual is selected to represent each college and larger organization on campus, and those chosen few are asked to show their stuff and (when needed) SHAKE their stuff in honor of the group they represent. Who would have known that so much talent, grace, charm, and rugged good looks could come from an 11-man team. Well, now Utah State knows. I love every single one of these guys, and learned so much from them: How to look good in a loin cloth, how to celebrate the Lion King and Katy Perry in one big festive dance, and how to build each other up despite our nerves and fears of the big stage. You guys will always be my brothers. Thanks for adding another chapter to my book: "Why Utah State is the Greatest Place on Earth". You 10 noblemen are living proof of this university's splendor and legend. Love you guys...and thank you.

Surprise Surprise

If there's one thing I love almost as much as Christmas, it's a surprise birthday party! The reason: Because you combine the joys of a birthday bash with scaring someone from the shadows...and who doesn't love that. Last night we rocked my roommate Jed Decamp's world with a surprise party of the ages...and afterwards we incorporated 2 things every birthday merrymaking needs:
-Ice Cream
-And a model shot around the table
Gotta love my Aggies...and their ability to conceal themselves in a dark room.

No Aurora, But StIll A Great Show!

The big news of the week was the epic Aurora Borealis that was planned for Friday night. It's a sight that, in this case, could only be seen in certain parts of northern North America. Incredible enough, Logan was just within viewing distance! So obviously, everyone was jacked!

We spent about an hour looking for the PERFECT spot with JUST ENOUGH open sky. We looked....and we looked.....and then we looked some more. I don't know which scientist drew the Aurora boundary lines, but they may have been a little generous when rounding off the bottom end. The only big light I saw was from the flash when we took this picture. But hey, when you're surrounded by beautiful Utah State people you could care less about a fancy light show. One thing to remember about us Aggies: When things don't go as planned, we improvise. With plenty of warm bodies to go around, we managed to turn an Aurora no-show into the cuddle of the century. The northern lights might only be seen every several years, but a cuddle that good only occurs every century. So TAKE THAT Mr. Borealis!

Top 3 Things I LOVE About Aggie Football Games!

 There's obviously a million reasons why I love college football...I mean, what's not to love?! Where else do you get intense rivalries pummeling each other in an organized setting, while thousands of crazed fans cheer them on? It's one of the greatest things on this earth! As an Aggie, I've discovered three things I love most about being in OUR stadium, with OUR fans, watching OUR team dominate the gridiron.

1. Our Cheers - You'd think after three years of going to almost every home game the magic of our student body chants would have worn off...nope. Every time we stand up and scream "I believe" those goosebumps just come right back. It might be how perfectly in sync our voices are, or maybe how loud those bleachers get as we start jumping up and down, but there's definitely something spiritual about those moments. I could sing the Scotsman in my sleep...and to be honest...I probably do.

2. The Cannon - As if it isn't already exciting enough when we score, some brilliant individual decided to add a canon shot after every one of our touchdowns. Remind me to thank that person if I ever meet them. Talk about the icing on the cake! There's an incredible play, followed by the eruption of the crowd, and it's all topped off with a beautiful cannon blast. You could be in the farthest corner of the stadium bathroom stall, and thanks to the explosion, you'd still know your Aggies just scored.

3. Agreeing to Disagree - I feel like most college fans do this, but if they ranked universities in this category...we'd be #1. Whenever a flag is thrown against our team, it doesn't matter if it's the most indisputable call in the world, you'd better believe every Aggie in that stadium is going to make their displeasure known. I didn't think it was possible for booing to sound so synchronized, but our fans pull it off. We definitely have some of the kindest people in our bleachers, but when it comes to yellow flags being thrown in our general direction, we tend to take it personal.

Brandon & Julia Hike the Wind Caves

A 12 minute drive from USU campus, the Wind Caves is a moderate 3 plus mile hike. Up and back in 2 hours with breathtaking views the entire way.

Labor Day Weekend

Here in the sweet land of Cache Valley, the outdoor possibilities are endless...Literally, Endless! Imagine you've just finished your first week of class after putting in some pretty hard work. You want to reward yourself right? Well, what better way than to immerse yourself into the vast wilderness of beautiful Logan Canyon. There's rock climbing, hiking, fishing, camping...a huge world of wonder lies at your finger tips. This weekend, however, my friends and I went with something a little more intense, Slingshot Paint-balling!  All we needed were three things: slingshots, safety glasses, and as many paint-balls as we could get our hands on. We drove through Logan Canyon to Right Hand Fork, hiked to a spot with decent tree cover, split up teams, and away we went! I'll be honest, there are fewer intense moments in your life than when you have to nervously reload your sling in the middle of a paint-ball crossfire. I felt like a mix between a green beret and Tom Sawyer! It was pretty hardcore! So next time you go paint-balling, don't waste money on guns and co2. Just throw on your coveralls, slip your slingshot in your back pocket, and become one with the forest. I know I did.

Cheers to Utah State...we're back!

My first week of school is in the books, and I gotta say, I sure missed this campus! There's definitely a certain energy to Utah State that you can literally feel as soon as you take your first step off the shuttle, or open those TSC doors. I never watched the TV show Cheers as a boy, but if everyone really DID know your name life would be pretty epic. And I'd say from all the greetings I get on campus, USU is about as close as you can get. I've had some great years here, but I've gotta feeling this one will top them all. It's GOOD to be back, and it's a GREAT time to be an Aggie!