Letters for the Troops.

Last night, junior Kayla Ersboll organized a letter writing campaign to create cards for deployed troops. A friend whose older brother is in Kandahar, Afghanistan, sophomore Teri Corbett, supplied the list of approximately 13 individual names from his Battalion. Along with the 13 cards for his unit, the small group also produced nearly 40 extra letters to random soldiers in Pakistan, collected monetary donations and gathered practical donations of toiletries, gloves, socks, canned food, etc.

The program was prompted by an email sent to a friend of Ersboll’s mother. The long connection through friends of friends shared a story of heavy casualties and incredibly poor living conditions. The men in the Battalion are moving increasingly close to dangerous enemy territory and spend their nights in fighting holes and open-air buildings with no roof.

Corbett explained that participating in events such as these and collecting donations to send to those who would most likely not receive many gifts this season really puts things in perspective for college students stressed about finals.

If you’re interested in donating, please contact Kayla Ersboll at kersboll@gmail.com for more information.

Exit 247 B Flat Project.

What you missed last night at Operation Santa Claus…

For more videos of Operation Santa Claus performances, check out my YouTube channel.

1100 backpacks and a lot to learn.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students.

According to the World Health Organization, 25 percent of all people will develop at least one mental disorder sometime in their life.

Also according to the WHO, suicide claims nearly 3,000 lives each day.

1,100 college students commit suicide every year.

In April 2010, Active Minds, Inc. received a $50,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project to complete a 10 city college tour of Send Silence Packing. The demonstration exhibits 1,100 backpacks representing lives lost on college campuses due to suicide. Active Minds, Inc. continually collects backpacks and personal stories of loved ones lost to raise awareness on the issue. Send Silence Packing is not just about lowering suicide statistics on college campuses, though, it’s about saving lives.

Senior psychology major Abby Rucker has learned a lot from her involvement as President of the JMU chapter of Active Minds.

“It helped me decide what I want to do later in life,” Rucker said. “I want to be more active in the community and want to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. I want to open up a forum for people to talk about it.”

Rucker, along with her organization, strives to put a face to these suicide statistics. According to the club’s Facebook group, Active Minds attempts to “raise students’ awareness of mental health issues and symptoms of mental illness, serve as a liaison between students and mental health community, target the entire college community with large-scale educational campaigns and events such as discussions, movie screenings, and benefit runs.”

Active minds is present at at lease five other universities within the state of Virginia including University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Through her participation, Rucker had to “learn to delegate.”

“I learned a lot about communication and staying on top of people to make sure they get their job done. I learned the value of having great membership.”

Active Minds continues to provide information about mental illness and how to detect signs. For for information on dealing with mental illness, please contact the  JMU Counseling & Student Development Center.

“Get involved. Find what you’re passionate about – it will make your overall experience better. It’s helped me develop as a leader, but also helped me find my best friends.”

Operation Santa Claus raises over $3000.

Last night, the Student Ambassadors hosted the 11th annual Operation Santa Claus at Grafton Stovall Theatre to benefit Harrisonburg Social Services. OSC committee heads seniors Claire Austin and Kaitlyn Kilduff hosted the event with MCs juniors Jack Hareza (The Business Major), Ben Suber (The Townie) and Jessica Ashley (The Fitness Instructor). The full house raised over $3000 and collected toy donations to take to Social Services. Performances included Madison Project, Exit 245, Into Hymn, The Overtones, The Bluestones, Noteriety, Low Key, Lad in Battle, Casey Cavanaugh Band, Mosaic Dance Team, Madison Dance, The Chinese Lion Dancers, New and Im’proved and Exit 247 B Flat Project.

The SA OSC committee worked all semester to develop this year’s theme Operation Find Santa Claus – making the night a kidnapping mystery. The MCs produced short films to present between acts that left clues to help the audience while also introducing the next act slated to perform.

The four hour event ended when the kidnapper was identified as a member of Exit 247 B Flat Project. Sophomore Ryan Platt was tackled and tickled on stage until he gave up Santa’s whereabouts. Apparently Santa had been tied up, and was sitting in the back of the theatre. He was invited up on stage to present the last act, Exit 245.

OSC hosted some of the most talented performance groups on campus while campaigning for a great cause.

For more videos of the OSC MCs, check out the Operation Santa Claus YouTube channel!

Covers Monday.

Watch Casey perform Pyro by Kings of Leon on YouTube!

Casey Cavanagh Band opens for Cartel.

“Since seventh grade, music has been a huge part of my life. Coming to JMU and meeting the right people has really enabled me to take my music to a new level,” junior Casey Cavanagh said.

Cavanagh is the face of the Casey Cavanagh Band founded at James Madison University in 2009 with band mates John Giardinere, Sam Gillett, and Jeff Pober. Cavanagh is lead vocals and also plays guitar.

“It taught me how to be a leader,” Cavanagh said. “I don’t just play, sing and write –  I book, manage, etc.”

The band is an eclectic mix of folk, pop, alternative-country and rock to create an energetic sound. In the past year, they’ve played a majority of the local venues including Blue Nile and Clementine, rocked Open Mic Nights in JMU’s own TDU, opened for Cartel, performed in Kappa Alpha Theta’s annual Madison Idol, and have produced music on iTunes.

The band also produces their own Covers Monday. At the start of each week, Cavanagh uploads a new video to the Casey Cavanagh Band Facebook fan page, his own profile and their YouTube channel. Covers include Augustana’s “Stars and Boulevards,” Ryan Adams’ “Come Pick Me Up,” and The Damnwells “I Am a Leaver.”

Cavanagh also incorporates covers into his shows. When I saw the band live at Clementine in September, they performed Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” and “All the Small Things” by Blink 182 – crowd favorites.

“His concerts are electric,” junior Alyssa Viars said. “There’s this one song where he jumps really high with his guitar in his hand – epic. Note to Woody Harrelson: white men can jump.”

Cavanagh says he’ll wait and see where playing with these people will take him before deciding on the future of his music.

“You never know what the next door will be like when you open it up,” Cavanagh said.

Sophomore Matt Wisneiwski feels like he can be the change.

I first met Matt in the spring of 2010 at the annual Leadership Summit – a one-day conference distinguishing students involved in JMU organizations. The program helped recognize leaders on campus and helped empower organizations to work together. Although he was only a freshman, Matt Wisneiwski was not a participant – he was my small group facilitator.

When I then found out that I was working alongside Wisneiwski as a 2k10 FrOG, honestly, I was intimidated.

“Matt’s enthusiasm inspired me and kept me going all week,” Wisneiwski’s FrOG partner junior Jenny Ludwig said. “He was excited to get things going every morning and genuinely cared about each one of our first years.”

In addition to “frogging,” Wisneiwski serves on the Student Government Association’s (SGA) executive board acting as the Director of Membership Development. Through such, he holds new member meetings every Wednesday; tracks group dynamics; helps schedule bonding activities; and contacts speakers including Dr. Mark Warner, The Center for Multicultural Student Services, alumni, etc.

“I like being informed about the events going on around JMU,” Wisneiwski said. “I feel like a more integral part of the Madison community because I can voice my opinion.  I feel like I can be the change around JMU.”

Wisneiwski’s resume also includes Make Your Mark On Madison with Leadership Counselor Danny Lampton, the JMU Honor Council, community council president for Wayland Hall in 2009-2010, intramurals, and Outriggers for a year.

“I’ve realized I started to gravitate toward clubs that welcome in new people,” Wisneiwski said. “It allows you to compensate for someone else’s discomfort with your own confidence and enthusiasm.”

Given his impressive involvement on campus, it’s ironic to think that he nearly didn’t come to JMU at all.

Wisneiwski was close to becoming an officer in the Air Force. To do such, a perspective student needs a Congressional nomination and needs to be granted acceptance to the school. He received a nomination from the President of the United States to the US Air Force Academy. After being declined by the Academy, however, he found JMU.

“I like that it’s small where I’d not know everyone but am still not just a number,” he said.

Wisneiwski is an engineering major with an environmental focus and a math/business minor.  According to Wisneiwski, the engineering program tries to build people who have brains, but also have the ability to communicate their thoughts and make a connection to the consumer. JMU is also one of the highest ranked schools nationally for environmental consciousness.

In my opinion, aside from his outgoing personality and inspiring involvement, one of Matt’s most distinctive characteristics is the purple JMU baseball cap he always wears.

The hat was a pass-down from 2010 graduate Andy Gibson.

“Andy was a great friend,” Wisneiwski said. “At a time in my life that I had a big transition from high school to college, I was looking for the person that I wanted to be and he stepped in. I didn’t try to become him, but the experiences we had helped me become a more connected citizen to the JMU community.”

In my first post, I mentioned Rachel Scott’s challenge to start a chain reaction of kindness. She writes: “I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will stat a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go.”

I believe that Wisneiwski is a testament to the idea of continuing the chain.

“You could see the impact he had on each one of them as they began to really look up to him and respect him as both a leader and a friend,” Ludwig said.

Senior Lucy Madden leaves her mark on Madison.

As a Communication Studies and Disorders major, senior Lucy Madden also serves as one of the two Student Directors for the Make Your Mark On Madison (MYMOM) leadership development program.

According to the Office of Student Activities and Involvement website, “the purpose of the MYMOM program is to gain insight into your own personal values, leadership styles, facilitation techniques, and decision-making through a semester long leadership program. MYMOM is designed to be a springboard into authentic involvement at JMU.”

As a past participant myself, I’ve been fortunate enough to work very closely with Madden. In MYMOM, the approximately 120 participants are separated into councils led by two upperclassmen Leadership Counselors (LCs). Madden was one of mine.

She’s also the reason I applied to be a Student Ambassador.

As a MYMOM Student Director, Madden signed up for a one-year commitment starting in the spring of 2010. She advertised for and hired 16 Leadership Counselors, planned and taught training sessions for the fall with co-director Sarah Sweetman, was a TA for HRD 475 (a class for all of the new LCs), interviewed potential participants, contacted speakers, put together programs, organized councils, and so much more.

“She was in my MYMOM council when I was an LC, was an LC when I was Student Director and I’m also blessed to call her a great friend!” 2009-2010 MYMOM Student Director Nicole Ferraro said. “I’ve watched her grow and she has watched me do the same. She is motivated, organized, creative and most importantly, passionate about growth.” 

MYMOM is a program designed to focus on an individual’s personal strength and use it to help him grow as a leader. Councils meet Monday nights for a two-step program starting with a guest speaker then followed by a breakout session with your council. In the past, speakers have included Dr. Mark Warner, VP of Student Affairs; Kevin Gibson, Assistant Director of Chapter & Volunteer Management; Dr. Dave Herr, professor of Exceptional Education; and President Linwood Rose.

Aside from her MYMOM commitment, Madden has also participated in three trips to Nicaragua with the Nicaragua Project for spring break 2009 and 2010, and in May 2009.

“It opened my eyes to a completely different side of the world that I’ve never been exposed to,” Madden said. “It’s easy to look at pictures of what someone does or doesn’t have. It’s a lot harder to see it firsthand.”

Madden returned to Nicaragua for her second trip just two months after the first, this time with a personal mission statement and a better understanding of herself. Madden believed herself to be more grounded in her values and reflective in her learning.

This growth stemmed from what she learned in MYMOM as a student participant and an LC. Madden was more aware of strong leadership styles other than her own. She could more easily recognize these qualities in others because she’d spent so much time figuring herself out.

“If people see you’re grounded in yourself, they’re much more open to personal growth and reflection in themselves,” Madden said.

Madden calls it a humbling experience – it’s difficult raising the money, planning the trip, leaving your impact on a nation in need – an experience that has no doubt helped her succeed as a leader and role model.

“While she often focuses on the growth of those around her and is an INCREDIBLE mentor and encourager to so many, she is always aware and mindful of personal growth,” Ferraro said. “She understands that we are forever made new and there is always more to learn and more ways to flourish and be better. That kind of humility and understanding of self is what makes Lucy such an amazing leader and beautiful person!”

Boat Shoes.

Check out sophomore James Orrigo’s official Boat Shoes music video on YouTube!

Sophomore James Orrigo is the Lad in a Battle.

James Orrigo suffered two back-to-back concussions in the first half of a lacrosse game as a high school sophomore. After being cross-checked by an opposing player then later running into the blunt end of that same opponent’s stick, Orrigo found himself unable to move.

Post game, doctors diagnosed Orrigo with severe post-concussive syndrome. PCS is a complicated disorder resulting from mild traumatic brain injuries. It is known to cause headaches, anxiety, loss of memory, slowed processing speed, depression, personality change, etc. Orrigo was unable to walk or talk.

A year and a half later, though, he was back to his normal self – this time with a guitar rather than a lacrosse stick.

Eight years ago, Orrigo’s mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only 12 months to live. Despite the gloomy prediction, she’s still fighting today. Orrigo would attend treatments with her – saying one of the hardest parts was seeing kids in the infusion room.

“We’re allowed to hang out here on the Quad doing nothing, and they’re in there suffering,” Orrigo said.

Thus, Lad in a Battle was born.

Lad in a Battle “serves as my music/causative movement to encourage people to do positive things.”

For Orrigo, lad stands for Life Above Alcohol and Drugs. It provides an alternative to peer pressure and drinking by encouraging positive actions. Given his typical bubbly and optimistic demeanor, Orrigo complains many people mistake him for being drunk or high. His mission reminds people that you can be positive and have fun without being under the influence.

However, Orrigo’s message involves far more than just an anti-drug campaign. It involves a battle. Personally, he’s chosen to battle stereotypes.

In 2009, Orrigo added another element to his positive movement. He started selling Lad in a Battle t-shirts to benefit the Make-A-Wish (MAW) Foundation. The first shipment of 150 American Apparel shirts nearly sold out – leaving Orrigo with a hefty $1000 donation. His goal is to make one wish come true by raising $6000 for the foundation.

According to Orrigo, the t-shirts act as your amour in battle. They give you courage. They help you stand out. Once purchasing a shirt, the wearer is required to take a picture of himself doing a good deed and post it to the Lad in a Battle Facebook page.

“Seeing that people actually care, going out of their way to make a difference – it’s a really cool feeling seeing other people in their [Lad in a Battle] shirts,” Orrigo said.

Lad in a Battle’s next undertaking is getting an official backing from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Orrgio wants to expand this endeavor to include teenagers currently involved with MAW.

“When little kids get their wish granted, they are so happy,” Orrigo said. “But when teenagers get their wish granted, it makes them feel like they have nothing to live for anymore. They’ve gotten what they wanted, and that’s it. I want to open up Lad in a Battle to them so they have something bigger to be a part of. They aren’t just an illness.”

Orrigo’s influence reaches far beyond his involvement with MAW, though. Following his injury, he toured the state of Massachusetts with a neurosurgeon and a professional wrestler warning against the danger of concussions and injuries resulting from contact sports for the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts.

In addition, he was a member of the State Advisory Committee and the Student Ambassador for Austin Preparatory for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. He was also the Section 1 recipient of the 2009 National High School Spirit of Sport award for the National Federation of State High School Associations. Orrigo also attended the Youth Sports Concussion Conference in 2007.

Orrigo is currently in the process of getting his music on iTunes – he’s written 61 songs in two years. As a freshman, he won JMU’s “Madison Idol” with his original song “Boat Shoes.” Catch his next performance Friday, October 1 at Block Party in the ‘Burg at 4pm.

“Get involved. Don’t be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone. You may need a little help sometimes, but it’s all about taking that first step. Don’t be afraid to lead – if you know what you’re doing is right, people will follow.”