I may not be the next Jordan Sparks and the judges may not be Paula, Simon, and Randy, but Mount Aloysius sure knows how to run a singing competition! Haha!

Last night, my friend JP ran the Mountie Idol competition in the Cosgrave Student Center. Our celebrity judges consisted of Dr. Jane Grassadonia, Ms. Anne Volk, Mr. Larry Brugh, Mrs. Sue Brugh, and Coach Kevin Kime. Anne played the role of Simon a little too well. :o) Larry was a great Randy and Dr. Grassadonia was a very politically correct Paula Abdul. A lot of students took a turn at singing karaoke and it was great watching some of them work their magic on the crowd and judges. I sang Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations while Becky and Bobb sang back-up. They weren't too in to the whole karaoke thing but ended up having a blast anyway.

They gave out three prizes, two for the top two performances and one for the worst performance. Some of the students were trying to win the worst category so they were pretty hysterical. Cory Wonderly and Josh Wilson won for the top two and Jonathan Kiral won for the worst. Jonathan's was definitely a performance to remember! :o)

Well, I am going to head to dinner with the girls, so will catch up with you later!

Laura

Posted by Laura Deely at 5:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mount Aloysius held its annual Semi-Formal this past Friday. We all love to get dressed up and have a good time! This year's theme was a Masquerade. Everyone who attended received a mask of their choosing and a picture keychain, complete with a mask charm, to go along with the theme. We had a great turnout! My friends and I made up the dance committee and worked on the decorations, food, and music. My favorite part was definitely the chocolate fountain. There is nothing better than chocolate covered strawberries, pretzels, and marshmallows. I guess spending a night dancing and hanging out with my friends was great too. Haha :o)

On Sunday, my friends Becky, Bobb, and Ashley came down to Altoona to have dinner with my family and I. We started this tradition last year when I had to pick Becky up at the train station and it seems to have etched itself a permanent place on our calendars. The tradition involves my parents making a taco spread for dinner. They are amazing cooks! But, I think I have mentioned that before. :o) This year I tried my hand at making non-alcoholic Strawberry Daiquiris and was pretty successful according to my friends and my sister, who also joined us for Taco Night. The only thing that we didn't keep up with this year was playing air hockey. Bobb was looking to get some revenge on me from last year. Haha!

The year is winding down and finals are just around the corner. I have a couple of projects to get finished as well. So, now would probably be a good time to get started! Talk to you later!

Laura

Posted by Laura Deely at 7:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The events of the Virginia Tech massacre have sparked emotions of grief, anger, and sympathy among the nation, as well as those in foreign countries. Today, the Mount Aloysius College community held a candle light memorial service for all of those lost to this act of violence, as well as the entire Virgina Tech community. A banner was draped across the wall for all to sign with words of condolence and prayers. The entire upper level of Cosgrave was filled with solemn hearts and tear filled eyes as 33 candles were lit in remembrance of the victims. We also listened to a reading from the Book of Isaiah, an address from Sister Mary Ann Dillon, and Father John Slovokoski, who then opened the floor to any students, faculty or staff wishing to share their feelings about the events that occured on April 16, 2007. My friend Erikka and I were among some of the students who expressed the roller coaster of emotions that we were all riding.

This event has hit closer to home than any other event for our college community. The fact that this took place on a college campus, has united all college/university campuses around the country. Normally separated by rivalries, our school colors, and our mascots, all of the barriors have been broken down. We all are, for a time, Hokies wearing maroon and orange. For those of you who are familiar with the website facebook.com, if you were to sign on today, you would find newly created groups honoring the victims of VT, events advocating the nationwide Maroon and Orange Day, and student profiles displaying the Virginia Tech logo.

We have all bee truly affected by the events that occurred earlier this week. It is times like these where we find it hard to find the good in life. I can tell you where to find it. You will find it in all of those wearing maroon and orange tomorrow, in the prayer/memorial services being held, and in the lives of those who make a difference by taking strides to end school violence.

VT in our thoughts and prayers.

Laura

Posted by Laura Deely at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It all began with a beautiful Survivor luncheon. My parents, grandfather, grandmother, and great aunt were all in attendence. Both my grandfather and great aunt are cancer survivors and it was great to be able to share this event with them. We then made our way up to the Health and Physical Fitness Center, the site of this year's event, and awaited the opening ceremonies. With our opening ceremonies, the teams and all other participants line the perimeter of the track as the Survivors start off the opening lap. This is always very emotional for my family and I because we know so many people affected by cancer.

We started off the festivities with a great DJ! Among the many activities we had planned, I really enjoyed the Family Feud tournament...probably because I actually played it with my family. My parents, my friend Becky and I formed a team and won t-shirts out of the deal. Fun times! :o) All of the teams were enthusiastic about the event and really brought the spirit of Relay For Life alive.

My favorites from the Relay include the Luminaria service, the Absolute Attitude Step performance, (which everybody loved by the way!!!) and our random karaoke performance. During some of the later hours, I played a large mix of 80s classics. Kelley Sable and Heather Low, from Enrollment Management, teamed up with Sue Brugh for an improv karaoke session. Let's just say that it was the best time I have ever had. :o) It really got the blood flowing and helped several of us make it through the night.

Overall the event was a smash!! Everybody had nothing but good things to say about it. I even had several students and staff approach me during the event to discuss being on the committee next year!!! That definitely had me smiling. :o) Trust me, smiling is kinda hard to pull off when you've had only 4 hours of sleep in a 40 hour time period. With all of the prep before Relay and the event itself, I didn't get much sleep. (I have caught up on it though...in case you were wondering!)

By the end of the event, we had raised $20,715.00. Wouldn't you say that it was a success?? I definitely thought it was! I would like to thank everybody who came out and supported Relay For Life: the teams, the committee, and especially the survivors. Without the survivors, we wouldn't have an event.

I am looking forward to next year!! Maybe you can be a part of it too!

Laura

Posted by Laura Deely at 7:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today is Friday the 13th...not exactly the best way to start out, but I'm not very supersticious. Now if a black cat walked in front of me, which would be incredibly weird because I am sitting in the Admissions Office, I might get a little worried. :o)

John and I are in the final stages of preparation for Relay For Life 2007. We have been working around the clock on schedules, entertainment, activities, decorations and a pretty intense music selection. I think I have seen more of Cosgrave than my own room in the residence hall!! We made skyscrapers, a Statue of Liberty, a sign for Radio City Music Hall, a billboard and even a NY taxi from large sheets of cardboard donated by New Pig Corp. The music selection I mentioned is going to be amazing because we are doing a tribute to the 70s, 80s, an 90s. My favorite is going to be the 80s!! There is no way I can fit all of my favorite songs on one CD. It just won't happen. :o)

This year's Relay For Life is going to be located in the Heath and Physical Fitness Center. I have a feeling that it might be our best Relay yet! We have a DJ and comedian scheduled for Saturday among other activities which include bingo, a Family Feud tournament, a late night, campus wide scavenger hunt, fun laps, a Texas Hold'em tournament, etc. I'm bouncing in my chair just thinking about everything my friends and I are going to be doing. Of course, the best entertainment for Relay will be the Absolute Attitude Step Team performance. (Can you tell I have no bias??) We are doing a black light performance!! The campus community has no idea what they are about to witness. :o)

This weekend is also going to be exciting because we are having our Spring Visitation Day on Sunday, April 15th. Prospective students and their families will get a taste for the true Mount Aloysius College spirit when they see all of the Relay for Life participants and the community working together for a wonderful cause. If you are in the area this weekend, make sure to stop by for all of the excitement!! Hope to see you. :o)

Laura

Posted by Laura Deely at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)