3-Day Weekend Fun

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Cherie

For our curious potential freshman I will be answering a question today: what do you do on a three day weekend in Prescott? Well, you are in luck as I happen to know the answer.

Unfortunately, part of that answer is homework but, there are fun things that you can do with your free time in Prescott, AZ. For example, take a walk downtown, there are so many amazing little shops and places to eat should you get hungry while you wander. One of my personal favorite places to stop in and get a quick bite is Shannon’s wraps and cheesecakes. The restaurant is a small family place and located just off the square; they have the most amazing cheese cake I have ever eaten!!

If you’re not the downtown type then take a stroll through the dells which are located just across from campus. That’s actually what I did this weekend, take a look at some of the amazing views from the top of the dells!

And, if you are not the hiking type then the movies may be a good place to go. At the Picture Show movie theater a few minutes outside of downtown you can get discounted tickets and relax in comfy adjustable leather seats. Additionally, not so far from the theater is the mall with numerous stores to walk around and neat little places to eat.

About 20 minutes away from the mall is Prescott Valley, there is another theater there and tons of other interesting stores to visit. So whatever you like to do for fun, you can find it here in Prescott AZ. Don’t fear there is plenty to do other than homework when you attend Embry-Riddle.

Spring Semester Update

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Cherie

We are now officially two weeks into the Spring Semester and so far it seems to be going well (fingers crossed!). So here’s an update on what I’ve been up to so far: homework, meetings, phone calls, work, ROTC, grocery shopping, hanging out with friends, and cooking. Obviously, its been a busy two weeks but it hasn’t been all that bad.

Oddly enough, living and working where you go to school is actually pretty fun. You get to meet all kinds of interesting people who have similar hobbies. For instance, I was not very much of a cook when I was in high school but now that I am living on my own I have come to actually enjoy cooking. Because I live on campus I have been able to meet tons of other people who enjoy cooking too.

The same is true for classes and ROTC. In all the different courses/activities that I am involved in I have met tons of interesting people that make learning/leading fun even when under stress. My favorite course is Structures partly because I love the topic and also because the people I work with in study groups are awesome to hang out with.

Because of the culture student of Embry-Riddle even the stressful times can be a lot of fun. That is why the past two weeks of the semester haven’t been bad, even though they have been loaded with work and trying to handle an new schedule. So, for our potential freshman class of 2015, please take the student culture into consideration when it comes time to accept your college offers this semester. Thanks for reading everyone!

It’s a White Tuesday!

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Cherie

So today we were all pleasantly surprised to see some snow! It wasn’t snowing when I went to PT this morning but, it sure was when I headed off to class this morning! Take a look at our gorgeous campus in the snow!!

Snow Falling in front of the AXFAB in central campus

Central Campus

My view from the upperclassman dorms this morning.

It usually snows anywhere from one to six times during the winter here in Prescott and its the first time that quite a few of our students get to see some snow! With that said, when you are thinking of attending our University take the climate into consideration as well. We have relatively mild winters and fantastic summers with the average temperature in the high 80’s. If that is something you would like then Embry Riddle Prescott is the place for you! Sign up to take a tour today!!

Things I Wish I Knew Going Into College

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Chelsea

As a graduating senior, I am looking back on some of the most transformative lessons I’ve learned during the greatest four years of my life. I probably was told these things prior to stepping foot on the ERAU Prescott campus, but it’s kind of one of those learn for yourself type deals. Here’s what I came up with:

Be a yes man (or woman)

In high school I would’ve considered myself judgmental and a cynic. It wasn’t long after I moved into my first room in our Mingus dorm complex that I realized my cynicism was embedded in fear. I became a much better person with a more convincing idea of who I am once I committedly opened up to new experiences and new people. College is the easiest time to make new friends because suddenly you are introduced to hundreds of new faces and most of them probably have similar interests to you. So say yes to joining clubs at the activity fair, going campus events put on by BCA, and eating lunch in the Union because before you know it, your college friends are your family. They will be there for you. They will take that lower-level general ed class with you. They will be there for the late nights and early mornings. They will agree to last minute coffee dates and even last minute road trips. So say yes because at worst, you’ll have a new story to tell.

Don’t forget where you came from

The friendships that you develop in college are wavelengths different than the ones you made growing up. You and your friends from high school share a bond that you won’t find with anyone else because you survived a nightmare together. They are the ones that knew you when you had braces and coordinated rubber band color to the upcoming holiday. They knew you when you dated that jerk but he just looked so cute playing that blue guitar. They knew you when you had a terrible sense of fashion and bleached your hair. They knew all these things about you and they still liked you, so they are worth keeping around. And trust me, when you go home for the holidays, you aren’t going to want to hang out with your family the whole time. In today’s modern world, there is no excuse not to stay in touch with someone. The friends you meet in college are going to be amazing and radical and filled with innovation ideas but your past made you who you are, don’t lose sight of the important people from it.

Your undergraduate love life is not a romantic comedy

Bradley Cooper is not going to spend hours a day practicing a dance routine with you and Anna Kendrick probably won’t make out with you after her stunning a Capella performance, and that is just the reality of it. Here me out, you do not need a counterpart in college. We can sit and agonize over the fact that our latest crush hasn’t texted us back and our best friends will sit there and say things like, “I’m sure his phone is dead” or “He’s probably swamped in homework” and all of these are better than realizing that he is not texting you because he doesn’t want to. But your reliable friend will keep feeding you these excuses because most likely, it has happened to her at some point as well. And by the way, sending him a text at midnight of a kissing emoji won’t suddenly remind him of how much he is in to you. The only thing that will do that is his own desire to do so.

There are no exceptions to this. And that goes for you too gentlemen. Stop bombarding that cute, outspoken girl in your English class with texts and Facebook messages. More often times than not, she’s not reciprocating because she doesn’t want to, not because she’s a “bad texter.” Don’t get hung up on one person if you can help it because there are thousands more dying to meet you! (Cliché, but it’s the truth I swear). College is the time to find the simple joys in being alone. It is when you stop searching and become comfortable with the idea of independence that the right person will come along.

First Day of Classes!!

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Cherie

First Day Selfie!!

Welcome back everyone! Hope break was great for our returning students and for our prospective students. 🙂 We are all very excited to be coming back to classes for the Spring semester (although another week of break would’ve been awesome). I will give you the low down on the Spring Semester in college, so if you are interested in Embry Riddle you can get an idea of how it all works.

Spring is usually better. I’m not really sure why but, most people have better schedules and have a lot more fun during the semester than in Fall. It may just be because of Spring Break but, there are also more off days during the Spring Semester due to other random holidays. This semester is actually going to be an interesting one for me due to my ROTC jobs, courses, and work. I have a pretty good school schedule but I will be spending 8+ hours a week preparing the Honor Corps for our competition at SCIDM (Southern California Invitational Drill Meet). If you would like to know more about the drill meet please keep following my blog, I will post some cool pics when the time comes! You can also comment below and I will be happy to answer any questions 🙂

Honor Guard, one of the three teams in Honor Corps

So one last thing, I am curious to know what everyone did over break? I just went home and hung out with my family, nothing too fun.

LOL. Comment below to share your break with us, we would love to know what you got to do!

Being a Summer Programs Coordinator

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Chelsea

Embry-Riddle offers a large variety of summer camps during the months of June and July. Overnight, day, athletic, you name it, we got it. These camps are designed for high school students who are just beginning to explore their college options or making a final decision. I had the pleasure of working with about a dozen other ERAU students and our wonderful Summer Program’s Department in making sure the summer of 2013 was the most enjoyable for all attendees. Being a Summer Program Coordinator is an ideal job for students who are taking summer courses, flying, or just want a steady pace job during the summer months. Before our first group of campers even got to campus, we had spent months preparing. This meant tons of paperwork, organization of supplies, coordination with our professors, moving into the dorms where the campers would be staying, and of course, becoming CPR and First Aid Certified.

The first couple weeks were hectic but my team of coordinators and the campers made it all a little bit easier. I was shocked at how eager and bright the high school students were. I mean, when I was 15, I definitely would not have been able to tell you every detail of a UAV. I learned very quickly that this was not the type of summer camp where parents drop off their kids like a day care. These students wanted to be here and they were ready to learn as much as they could in the week. I think that living in the dorms with the counselors made the campers comfortable and made their experience more enjoyable. However, when living in the dorms, as incoming students will learn their first year, stuff gets mixed up easily. Like, say if your name is Adam White and you work an entire shift as Jeffrey Boudoin.

This kind of thing happened often but there’s nothing wrong with a good long laugh. We honestly might have been having more fun than the campers at times. Our team was made up of pilots, CFI, GSIS majors, engineers, and me (the lone physicist) which made for a creative environment. The different mind processes brought innovative ideas to the table every week during our meetings. This diversity also helped with our wide range of camps that we offer which can be found here, http://summercamps.erau.edu/camps/index.html.

For many, an Embry-Riddle Summer Program was a camper’s first experience away from home. That being said, it was part of our job to make it as much fun as possible outside of the classroom lectures. This included trips to Sedona, Ghost Tours in downtown Prescott, dinners, movies, camper vs. counselor kickball games under the lights, hikes though the Dells, and anything else we thought they would enjoy. Activities varied from camp to camp because of the different types of students.

The end of the summer came much too quickly as most summers do. I was sad to see it was over but I also felt a sense of happiness. I had just spent the prior months encouraging younger students to become inspired, to follow their dreams, and to keep exploring things that they don’t understand. I had created a entirely new group of friends on campus through working with Summer Programs and the campers even stayed in touch with me via Facebook, Instagram, and yes even Snapchat. I received many messages like this one,

and the coolest part of it all? Now that I am a senior, I see so many underclassmen on campus that attended the camps and they look happy here at Embry-Riddle, which means I did my job.

Getting in the holiday spirit is easy in Prescott

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Chelsea

After hiking Humphrey’s peak in Flagstaff, my friends and I hurried back to Prescott to catch the last half of Acker night. Every single business, or close to it, has a least one musical performance. You could hear Joy to The World on a banjo, Silent Night by chorus, or rock out to Jingle Bell Rock. Just look at that schedule of events!

The streets of square are lined with good food, group dances, and even pyrotechnic performers. Once the festivities came to an end, we grabbed a delicious dinner at the well-known local favorite, Bill’s Pizza. Prescott has an incredible sense of community similar to Embry-Riddle as seen through this great production.

Acker Night is just one of the many events that take place in the square. This one just happens to be extremely popular because who wouldn’t want to look at that beautifully lit up courthouse! They don’t call us Arizona’s Christmas City for nothin’.

What is Acker Night? Acker Night is produced solely by volunteers and was originally created to achieve the goals of benefactor and Prescott resident, James S. Acker. Mr. Acker first moved to Prescott in the early 1900’s. He was a proprietor of a general store which provided a variety of school and music supplies for the children. In the 1930’s he ran a real estate company where he began to gather parcels of property throughout the community. He left a number of those parcels of land to the City of Prescott to be used for parks and music programs when he passed away in 1955. Along with being a fun tradition, Acker Night combines participating downtown businesses with the support of hardworking musicians who donate their time and their talents. The mutual goal is to keep music alive and thriving for the youth of Prescott. All of the funds raised on Acker Night provide scholarships for music lessons, instruments and local youth performing arts programs.

Softball is all about Community!

Posted on December 23, 2014 by athletics

Eagles Softball is all about giving back to the community of Prescott. Every month we organize some form of community outreach event with our accountability partners, which is the teammate that we are accountable for the rest of the year. Accountable as in we make sure that both of us are always on time and if one of us is not going to make an event we will notify each other. At the beginning of the season, we created a list of events to accomplish throughout the school year. Some months contained two events in order for all of the accountability partners to have an event.

September: Shoelace Fundraiser for Pediatric Cancer

September: Wild West Mud Fest- Boys and Girls Club of Central Arizona

October: “The Spot”

November: Canned food drive

December: Toys For Tots

January: Help the Troops

February: Blanket Drive

March: Habitat for Humanity

April: Relay for life

As you can tell, our outreach events help others from a variety of ages. Some events are donations; however, others are interactive such as the Wild West Mud Run, the shoelace fundraiser for pediatric cancer and the most recent, creating care packages for troops.

What was my event? My accountability partner and I had the month of November. We figured with Thanksgiving being in November that we should have a canned food drive. We collaborated with Fry’s Drug and Food Store and had every teammate donate at least five cans of food. From our team alone we donated at least 100 cans of food. We also asked others if they wanted to donate and we delivered all of the cans to Fry’s.

What was my favorite event? There are two candidates for this. The first one was the Wild West Mud Fest sponsored by Crossfit Prescott, local radio stations, and the rest can be found here http://www.wildwestmudfest.com/read-me-1/. For the mud run, we were all required to ask for two $20 donations for our registration, and all money raised was donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Arizona. The reason why I enjoyed it so much is all the obstacles throughout the 5k run and we were helping others by participating in the event. The run started with a wall that we had to climb over and it was a bit difficult to do it alone so we helped each other up, over the wall, and a few feet from the wall was a two-foot pool of water and mud mixture. Most of the obstacles were outdoors, however the obstacles created by Crossfit Prescott were inside Tim’s Toyota Center. At the end of the run there was a mud obstacle with netting a foot or two above the ground and we had to crawl or military crawl (like I did) through the mud. By the end, all of my teammates and I were covered in mud from head to toe! After we completed the 5k obstacle course, we stayed until the end of the last wave to cheer people on at designated obstacles. It was a bit exhausting since we were there for five extra hours, but it was worth it since some people thanked us for supporting them through the obstacles.

My second favorite event is the most recent one, which was making care packages and writing holiday cards to the troops. This event was definitely one of my favorites because I know that there are soldiers who are not able to be home with their families for the holidays and anything they receive will make their day a little better. My teammates or the coordinators of the event asked to donate items such as ground coffee, cross word puzzles, books, packaged foods, and toiletries for men and women. We also used this website http://booksforsoldiers.com/ to gather books that soldiers requested.

As shown in the picture, we had a large number of donations from all of the players and other students around campus. To make things a little more festive we filled up holiday bags with a few items we donated and holiday candies such as candy canes.

After we boxed everything up, we moved on to the cards. It was wonderful being able to write to the troops for the holidays and I made sure to thank them for everything they do for our country. By the end, we were able to ship 15 packages to the troops!

Our next events will include a blanket drive, Habitat for Humanity, and Relay for Life. So be on the lookout around campus with flyers if you would like to support any event!

Unique Final Exams That Prove My Learning

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Vishra

Gather all of your notes, homework, class work, tests, and quizzes for your classes. Make a pile for each class. You should have papers going back to August. For each class, put the papers in chronological order by the date they were given to you or were completed. THIS IS WHAT STRESS FEELS LIKE DURING FINALS…

But that’s NOT the case with some of the upper level business finals. For instance, all students in Dr. Greenman’s Social Responsibility and Ethics class were given the opportunity to volunteer for the Sky Kids event. Sky Kids provides a very unique opportunity to experience FIRST FLIGHT to children with special needs or disability that are within the age range of approximately six through eighteen years of age. I volunteered as an airplane loader in which I was assigned tasks to safely load an aircraft with the Sky Kids participants and their parents and/or guardian. Not only did Sky Kids gave me an opportunity to practice social responsibility in a professional aviation related environment, but knowing that I helped make the life with a special needs child even more special put a smile on my face.

While in my Airport Management class, taught by the author of The Administration of Public Airports Dr. Sobotta, my final project was in teams of three. My teammates and I were presented with a unique opportunity of conquering a final project, which focused on a common airport topic/specialization in which we chose San Diego International Airport. Our topic was Passenger Processing Technology Management. Essentially, I got an opportunity to interview the Terminal Manger at San Diego Airport and learned about the airport’s use of technology (i.e. mobile boarding passes, automated boarding gates, common use passenger processing systems, etc.) and its role in making the circulation of passengers and aircraft more efficient. Collectively, our team compared all the three airports on the topic of Passenger Processing Technology. I want to be an Airport Manager, so this experience gave me a glimpse of what I can experience as a Terminal Manager.

Professional Consulting final gave me an opportunity to articulate a descriptive image of professional practices. In a small group, my teammates and I analyzed Synergy Airs marketing concepts from a business perspective. We also collected consumer data through primary sources, such as surveys and focus groups. Along with that we prepared recommendations for ways that they can effectively market Synergy Air to their target market. We were treated like experts by Synergy Air and as professional marketing consultants and we strived to improve efficiency and quality for them.

With the right course, I was able to show off exactly what I had learned in my classes this semester. Our professors at Embry-Riddle enable us students to gain practical knowledge while taking the course rather than throwing us under the bus without any prior experience in the real world. These unique final exam alternatives will benefit me and my fellow classmates long after graduation. It can benefit YOU if you take business courses at Riddle too.

Winter Break is Here!

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Cherie

Thursday of this week is the last day of finals and then the semester is officially over!! For those of us who are going home over the three weeks I have some tips on how to get a head start on the next semester and how to fight the winter boredom. For others, like many of our international students, the dorms will be “home” for Christmas. It is common for some students to stay although some buildings, like the dining hall will be closed, the campus will be a nice quiet place to relax or prepare for next semester.

For students who are headed home, enjoy those first few days but, when the boredom sets in balance your preparation for next semester with fun. For example, find those books you need online so you can have them early in the semester rather than two weeks in after the first homework is assigned. The campus bookstore website has all the books listed for each course, all you have to do is enter the course number and section to find what you need. When you are done searching the web for books then go have fun in town, shop around, see old friends, check out the awesome Christmas lights, etc.

Another good way to prepare for the next semester is to arrange your schedule early so you know how it will flow throughout the week. This makes it easier to schedule study times in between work, classes, and extracurricular. Also, if you can, read up on some of the courses you will be taking or get in touch with professors so you can start asking questions.

For our Air Force ROTC second semester Sophomores, its time to start studying your manuals!! The second semester of Sophomore year is a critical time for cadets as it is their semester to prepare for Field Training and go through selection boards for Field Training. Field Training is probably the most important event for cadets as it determines if they can continue in the ROTC program to become Air Force Officers upon graduation. Hopefully, some of our readers will be competing for Field Training in the future!

So, I hope you have a wonderful winter break! Have fun but, remember to prepare for the upcoming semester as each semester puts you one step closer to an awesome career in whatever it is that you choose to pursue.

If you are a prospective freshman please ask any questions you have below and I will get right back to you 🙂 I will even write answers to your questions in blogs if you like!!