While my friends were under the sun or on a boat during Spring Break, I was learning. It may seem weird to “learn” during Spring Break, but it was the best Spring Break I’ve ever had.

I’m in a class this semester that covers the Italian Renaissance in Florence and Venice. To complement the in-class portion of learning about the Renaissance, we got to go to Florence and Venice over Spring Break! With ten other students in the class, we flew to Italy and stayed there for the whole week.

Liz Blumberg, Liz O’Neill, and Brie Strickland, three other Ambassadors, went on the trip and made it that much better! We visited the most historic sites of the Renaissance and learned about a period in history that was filled with art, intellect, and innovation.

 From going to museums and old palaces to eating pizza like it was the last thing left on Earth, I honestly think I only slept a total of 35 hours the whole trip.  Seeing the cities late at night after all the tourists had gone to sleep was definitely the best part of the trip. It’s crazy how different everything looks and feels in silence and with only a few people there where thousands were just hours before. Sleep is overrated, especially in Italy.

Who has time to sleep in Venice and Florence? I’m never going to look back on my Spring Break in Italy and tell myself, “Man, I really wish I slept; I was so sleepy that night.”

Thanks to SMU for the greatest Spring Break ever.

Pony Up!

SMU is a unique university. Our university’s administration welcomes suggestions and ideas from students regarding university improvement and policy change. One venue in which students are able to voice concerns and ideas is through the Dining with Decision Makers event. Held annually, this event is coordinated by the University’s Board of Trustees and allows students the opportunity to meet and speak with current board members. The Board of Trustees exists to guide and direct the university to further our mission statement, budget for future growth/capital improvement, and improve the student experience. During this event students are treated to a formal dinner with trustees. This dinner allows students to speak candidly with board members, thank them for their contributions to the university, and discuss student needs. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend Dining with Decision Makers 2013. Undoubtedly, this has been one of my favorite SMU memories; I had the opportunity to speak with engaging board members and glimpse the future of our university. While SMU is focused on the past and present, we place a heavy emphasis on where the university can be in the future. I can truthfully say SMU is heading in an exciting direction and incoming student leaders (future Mustangs) have the opportunity to work with the university’s administration and board members to shape this future.

I still remember the day the Miami Heat signed Shaquille O’Neal. It was one of the greatest days because my parents jumped at the opportunity to get season tickets. Fast forward eight years and I’m get a late afternoon phone call from a friend asking if I’d like to go to lecture with Dr. O’Neal. Yes you read that right- the NBA powerhouse also has a PhD from Barry University in Miami.

As I settled in my seat in the intimate O’Donnell Auditorium on SMU’s campus, the crowd suddenly went silent. Ducking to fit through the doorway was Shaq himself, escorted by a five foot tall female cop. Couldn’t Shaq serve as him own bodyguard?  Nonetheless, he sat down and as he did his presence immediately consumed the room. I’ll be honest, I was not expecting much. I figured his PhD was on free throw physics, even though it didn’t seem to help him during his career. Instead, I discovered that his research was in humor and organizational leadership. An interesting combination coming from the man that brought us the 90s cinematic classic, KAZAAM.

At the end up the lecture of humor communications, the floor was opened to the students for Q&A. I was called on and when I mentioned I was an Anthropology major, Shaq used his famous wit to make an Indiana Jones remark. At the end of the program, Shaq made his way to his car surrounded by security and his small entourage. Luckily, my car was parked in the same direction and I got to snag a picture with one of my basketball heroes. The picture really sums it all up because, at a little over five feet tall, I barely reach his elbow. What an amazing way to spend a Friday night at SMU!

On this #ThrowBackThursday, I reflect back on the days at SMU way before Twitter and even (gasp) “The” Facebook.  Coming to SMU from Manhattan, Kansas in 2004 was, let’s say, a change of pace.  Apparently, and I still don’t believe this, jean shorts and calf-high socks with sandals were not “in style.” 

Despite my supposed fashion no-no’s I still found a place at SMU.  Living in the Virginia-Snider honors residence hall was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.  Not only did I get to tell my football teammates that I was living in the Honors dorm and thus cooler than all of them, but I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people that are some of my best friends today.  Whether it’s Varun from Plano, Texas (groomsman in his wedding), Thomas from Pearland, TX (groomsman in his wedding) or Hunter from Rutledge, Georgia (best man in his wedding), these friendships were all built at SMU and are life-lasting.

Some pretty amazing things happened to me during my time at SMU.  Former President George W. Bush held a political rally on campus, I met Tony Blair, I had four internships for top-notch marketing firms, we beat TCU in football, and my mother and I were flown to the White House in recognition of SMU getting named the site for the Bush Presidential Library and Political Institute.  All of these opportunities may happen at other schools, but it is so rare that all of them would happen at a school the size of SMU and to person like me that didn’t know anyone prior to coming to SMU.  Whether it’s a big-time internship that you seek or an intimate conversation with a world leader, SMU gives you the chance to actually experience these things first-hand.  I can honestly say that I would have been happy at a lot of different schools, but the opportunities for me to have incredibly rare experiences at SMU were unmatched.

As an incredibly proud Co-Chair of the Class of 2008 5-Year Reunion (I’m officially old), I can’t help but marvel at what lies in store for future Mustangs.  With the opening of the Bush Presidential Center, 5 brand-new residence halls to accomodate sophomores, and the move to the Big East with a brand new Moody Coliseum, SMU is just an unbelievable place to be a part of right now.  These massive construction projects are just the tip of the iceberg.   Who knows what phenomenal speakers SMU will bring to campus during your years at SMU or what exciting changes Dallas holds for the future. 

All I do know is this. It is an incredible time to be a Mustang at SMU and I couldn’t be more proud of my alma mater or of being a life-long member of the Mustang family.  Pony Up!

The scariest time frame for any high school senior is the one in between submitting an application and the fateful day when a specially marked envelope is delivered. For those accepted there is a great sigh of relief until they realize they are not 100% sure on a school yet. Luckily, for accepted SMU students there is Destination SMU, better known as #DSMU in the social media realm. Destination SMU is two-day, overnight program that gives accepted students a greater look into the life of a SMU student. Special events includes “Taste of Dallas”, a lunch time event catered by some of my personal favorites- all of which are located within walking distance of SMU. Students are even given the option to stay overnight in one of the residence halls. The first event this year ended with ice cream sandwiches and a photo booth outside of Dallas Hall!

[Pictured: SMU Student Ambassadors Devin, Brie, Ramon and Phillip with newly committed Mustang, Joey Caruso]

Destination SMU is always one of my very favorite events of the spring because so many students commit to SMU right on the spot after this final visit. It reminds me of just three short years ago when I was a wide-eyed and enthusiastic high school senior. It’s funny to think that I’ve come so far since that time and how my love for SMU has only grown. I can’t wait for the next Destination SMU when hopefully even more accepted students will realize that SMU could be their new home!

Pony up!

What is being a hipster? I’ve always wondered, is it just not being mainstream? Going against the flow? Is it having a meager lifestyle?  Or just living life and acting without fear of judgment? In my opinion, hipsters don’t want to be categorized into social groups or norms; nonetheless there is a name for them (or us). One thing is for sure, hipsters exist and we all live together in harmony.

When I got to the states, two years ago I was starting a new era in my life. I was entering a world with different habits, customs, and culture. I became friends with people from different backgrounds (the Northeast, the West Coast, Asia, Europe). I basically encountered a clash of cultures.  I was immediately intrigued by the hipster philosophy.

A friend once told me, “Hey Ramon, let’s go study to this hipster coffee shop I know in uptown.” I agreed on his suggestion. I’m always willing to get to know new places and explore Dallas. We arrived to the location, and from the outside it just appeared to be an old house in the neighborhood with white walls. When we walked into the place, I noticed that the front steps were crooked and the door did not have a lock. My friend pushed it and we crossed the threshold into a new ambiance. Alternative music was playing and the fashion of the frequenters was totally novel to my eyes. I would say that there was a feeling of independence in the air.    It felt good, the room was unaffected by judgment. I got my iced coffee, sat in a wobbly stool, and studied with my friend for three hours. Time went by so fast, and I was able to get so much done. I was hipsterized.

Going to college is going to be a change in your life, and I strongly encourage you to explore and embrace your randomness (obviously making safe decisions). I believe that we need to take advantage of the opportunities that arise when the clash of cultures occur. At SMU, I have found people from all walks of life, and honestly it has helped me become the person I am today.

SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering is unique. One of the many ways the Lyle School distinguishes itself is the Innovation Gymnasium. Located in Caruth Hall, the Innovation Gym is a place for students to work as consultants for companies throughout the Dallas metroplex. Corporations bring their challenges and problems to Lyle’s engineering students. Working in teams, students brainstorm to create new technologies, intellectual property, and solutions to real world problems. The Innovation Gym also provides students with networking opportunities that can lead to internships. During the last ten days of winter break I participated in an Immersion Design Experience (or IDE) sponsored by Frito Lay. Our team was tasked with the challenge of automating a process that is currently completed manually. Throughout this project we had to consider space, cost, equipment needed, and specifications/dimensionality for new innovations. The ideas my team came created could potentially save Frito Lay millions of dollars. The Innovation Gym is a fun place as well; our work days were filled with snacks, jokes, entertaining YouTube videos, late night ice cream trips, and lots of coffee. IDEs not only give engineering students real world experience; it allows them to see how different engineering disciplines come together to solve problems.

By Kevin Hess

One of the groups that I’m involved in on campus recently had the opportunity to hear a “VIP Guest Speaker” before we all went to go see Sanjay Gupta give a Lecture as part of SMU’s Tate Lecture Series. We all showed up anxious to see who this mystery person would be. We were then surprised as a member of SMU’s Board of Trustees introduced President George W. Bush to our small group of 60-70 students. We were then treated to about 45 minutes of simply question-answer conversation with the former president. After this, we headed to a banquet hall where I shook Dr. Gupta’s hand before dinner and hearing his lecture. It was the night of a lifetime and an incredible opportunity that SMU made possible for me. These kind of nights truly show how much SMU cares about their students and making us better—Pony Up!

“One of the perks of being a college student is getting 5-6 weeks off for winter break.  It’s substantially longer than any time off you had in high school, in fact, it’s long enough to take a whole class!  SMU has a program called J Term where you can get credit for taking a class in only 10 days.  This is similar to summer school only it happens in January before normal classes resume.  This year, 40 different courses are being offered.  Each school (Meadows School of the Arts, Cox School of Business, etc.) is teaching some classes, so no matter what your major is you can take advantage of J Term.  Taking a class in January enables students to double major or add a minor with more ease.  Some of the classes even have a travel element to them.  I know one girl who is spending J Term in Jamaica with her class to assess geological hazards.  Sounds like an interesting (and warm!) way to spend part of January!”

I will never forget my first summer school accounting class that I took as a freshman. Never had I imagined that I would actually want to take summer school, but it was a great way to get into the business school early, so it seemed like a no brainer.

As soon as I walked into the classroom, there stood my accounting professor that gave off the vibe of a Russian drill sergeant. Then she spoke with her European accent and with almost no introduction began teaching. I remember almost feeling overwhelmed by her intense passion for accounting and spouting off her future famous phrase “Scholar of mine!”

I was always to afraid to ask her questions or go to her office hours. I felt that she would be mad at me for not following exactly what she did in the classroom. However, it was not until after my first exam, which I didn’t do so hot on, that I actually went to see her for help.

She sat down with me and went over the entire first test. She even bought me a bagel because it was lunch time. She had gone out of her way to make sure that I understood everything on that test. Her name was Lilliana Hickmann-Riggs and she would soon become my favorite professor ever.

By going to her office hours, I had the chance to actually get to know her and understand how simple her teaching style was. One time I even went to office hours and she told me her whole life story, which went on to inspire me to be an accounting major. Her stories always filled me with motivation and made me psyched to be an accounting major.

Professor Hickman-Riggs and I still keep in touch and I always try to see her at least twice a semester.  Anytime I see her in the business school’s bagel shop, she sits me down and buys me a bagel so we can catch up. She has been an invaluable asset to me over my college career, giving me much needed advice and writing me over a dozen recommendation letters.

I guess the moral of the story is always be open minded about the professors you get in college. You never know if they might become your favorite professor so far.