They say that a picture is worth 1,000 words. It is true there are some things in life that you can’t describe in just words, it is a feeling or experience that leaves you speechless and the only way to capture the moment or sight is through a picture. That is what if felt like today. Today was the grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony that opened up the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex here at St. Thomas. It was AWESOME!!! So I thought for this post I would share my experience of the new complex in mostly pictures. But If I do the math correctly there are over 13,000 words in this post. That is a lot of words. Enjoy the picture tour.

There is something everyone here at the AARC. For the runner, the dancer, the swimmer, the weight trainer, the varsity athlete and everybody in between. 

 

 

The complex is open tomorrow morning starting at 6am. See you there!!! OK maybe not 6am, but I am definitely going to go work out there tomorrow!!! Good luck to all of the students moving in this next week. GO TOMMIES

This summer has been great for me: I have been to DC twice, I have seen a few concerts, had a few bonfire’s spent a few days out on the lake, hung out with friends and much more. Sumner has been jam packed with activities.  Looking back I had a lot of fun but I have also been working a ton. This past week I worked 60 hours. It was crazy to say the least, I am exhausted. I made some good money but boy am I tired. I work for a Landscaping company and at a bar and restaurant called Gus’ Mexican Cantina. I have worked both of these jobs since I was in high school so a little bit over three years each.

Don’t get me wrong I have a lot of fun at work and both of my employers have been very good to me over the past few years with this economy and everything else I have always had a job, I am grateful for that. I have met a lot of cool people working at both of these places. During the day it is nice to be working outside. It keeps me in shape I get some pretty awesome tan lines, and it is something new everyday. I also get to plow and shovel for them when I am home over winter break. It is hard work but I enjoy it.

The restaurant is fun as well. When I started working there it was a bunch of friends of mine from my high school, now the staff is a little different but it just as much fun. I like it when it is really busy at night because I can make some great tips, but I have also enjoyed working slower nights where I might have a few people sitting at the bar or at a table that are regulars and want to chat, or a couple that is just friendly and wants to talk. I have had some great food and met some great people while working at the restaurant.

Working this summer has been fun and it has allowed me to do all the great things I have gotten to do this summer. But I am definitely ready to head back to the twin cities and to UST. I have almost all my bags packed class schedule is set and I am ready to go. Bring it on Fall Semester. I can’t wait. I also am definitely looking forward working out in the new Anderson Athletic center!!!! to Hope to see everyone in the quad soon!

Well hello there. I can tell you after about 2 weeks of sleeping in a tent I can tell you I have never been happier to sleep in my own bed in my own air conditioned house. However sleeping in a tent without a lot of the comforts of home was defiantly worth it to be able to see and do all that I have done the past two weeks.

These past two weeks I was able to: go scuba diving, trap shooting, meet Tuskegee airmen, build a wooden hammer, meet  a medal of honor recipient, go to mass with bishops presiding,  here the Secretary of Defense, shake the hands of a three star general, see Switchfoot, Mike Rowe and Shaun White, learn about conservation, forestry and the Marines Corps, see Mount Vernon and meet and talk with scouts and scouters from 38 States, 6 countries and many other things. It has been a blast. I can’t believe it is over.

There were two arena shows that open and close the Jamboree. The key note speakers included, Miss America, Defense Sec. Gates, Mike Rowe, Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca and Alex Boylan fellow Eagle Scout and winner of the Amazing Race, and Burton Roberts from Survivor. There is nothing quite like sitting in a arena with 70,000 people and having hundreds of American flags marching in, Army Special Forces Troops parachuting in and a howitzer artillery get shot all while singing the national anthem! I had never felt more patriotic in my life.

I was glad I was there to celebrate Scouting’s 100th Year! I can not wait to see what the next 100 years are like. I am proud to say that I am an Eagle Scout from Troop 596 in Greendale, WI and a Vigil Honor Member of the Order of the Arrow. I was so very impressed and very humbled by how many accomplished scouts and scouters that were there. NESA  or the National Eagle Scout Association had many intresting speakers and authors there to take about their trails to Eagle and how they make the values and morals that scouting teaches to be successful professionals, politicians, astronauts and many other things.

If you know an Eagle Scout make sure the next time you see them pat them on the back and if you are an Eagle Scout congrats! If you know a scout leader make sure you thank him or her for volunteering and if you have friends that are scouts encourage them to get their Eagle. Here is a break down of 100 boys that will join scouting based on statistics: 12 will receive their first time religious contact,5 will earn their religious emblem,2 will enter the clergy,18 will develop hobbies which will last a lifetime, 8 will enter a career based on Merit Badges work, 17 will become Scout volunteers,1 will use Scouting skills to save the life of another person, 1 will use Scouting skills to save his own life,28 will continue lifelong hobbies started in Scouting. Two out of every 100 boys that join scouting will attain the rank of Eagle. Some other Eagle scouts you may know include: Sam Walton, James Lovell, Hank Aaron, Gerald Ford, Steven Speilberg, Mike Rowe, Michael Bloomberg, Kirk Chambers and many others.

Scouting has helped me in just about everything I have done this far in my life. I know that with the skills Learned in scouting and the the education and experiences I continue to get at the University of St. Thomas I know that things are looking bright in the future.”America would be a poorer place without the Boy Scouts, So Congratulations on a century of merit.” From the August 2nd edition Wall Street Journal. Happy Birthday Boy Scouts of America!

Hey there folks. It has been a great summer so far for me. However as all good things do, it is coming to an end. This weekend is the big incoming freshman send off for all of the UST students coming from the Milwaukee area, I can’t believe it. This summer has flown by!!

It is weird until this year, I have never been to Washington D.C. and this year alone I will have been in D.C.  3 times! This time I was with the Boy Scouts of America. Eleven other adults and myself took 130 Boys to D.C. It was a blast. We were able to go and see the Holocaust museum and all the other usual tourist attractions and monuments. We were also able to go to Mount Vernon, the air and space museum annex and the Marine Corps museum.

It was hot! When we arrived there about two weeks ago the heat index was 115. It was hot and humid to say the least. The first day we were there it was less sight seeing and more running from air conditioned building to the next. It was cool seeing the streets of D.C. filled with other boy scout groups from across the nation touring and seeing all the different sights. It was fun. We were all on our way to Fort AP Hill in Virginia for the 2010 National Jamboree to celebrate the 100th Year of Scouting in America.

As I got older scouting became less and less “cool” It was hard for me to stay in scouting in high school and even stay in scouting until this day. Over my years in scouting I learned how to be a better leader, learned about nature, camping and wilderness survival. I learned how to always be prepared and to do a good turn daily. I have also learned that there must be a lot of “uncool” people out there because there sure are a lot of people that are or were scouts. Here are some interesting facts. Did you know that the Boy Scouts of America Alumni include: 63% of all Air Force Grads, 68% of West Point Grads, 70% of Annapolis Grads 72% of Rhodes Scholars, 85% of all FBI Agents, 71% of Football Team Captains, and 80% of Junior Class Presidents. It is also true that 26 of the first 29 astronauts were Boy Scouts. 11 of the 12 who walked on the moon were Scouts. 108 of 172 astronauts were Boy Scouts. Over half of the 108 Scout Astronauts attained Star, Life or Eagle ranks. I am glad to be one of those “uncool” people!