Today I'd like to put the spotlight on a great opportunity for students who are interested in a career in advertising: the U of M's National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) team, Chariot. Chariot recently won first place at the NSAC District Competition on April 13th, which means the team will be representing the University of Minnesota at the national competition in Phoenix this year! Read on to learn more about NSAC and how you can get involved.

What is the National Student Advertising Competition?
Each year corporate sponsors give the same case study to NSAC teams around the nation. The case studies relate to the company's product or service and advertising situation. The corporate sponsors are often big name companies--past sponsors have included Coca Cola, JC Penney, State Farm, and Nissan. Within each school's team, students are then responsible for researching, developing, creating, and pitching an advertising campaign to a panel of judges at a district-level competition. 

District competitions are held each spring in 15 districts throughout the U.S. The winners of each district then get to move on to the national-level competition and pitch their advertising campaigns to judges and the executives of the sponsor company. We're wishing the best of luck to Chariot when they compete at Nationals in June. Way to represent the University of Minnesota!

Getting involved at the U of M
Joining a student group can be one of the best ways to make your college experience a great one. If you're interested in advertising, joining Chariot can help you make friends and connections with other advertising and marketing students, network with professionals, gain relevant advertising experience, and make a difference in the advertising strategies of real companies!

Chariot doesn't only limit its members to students majoring in advertising. The club currently has students interested in marketing and graphic design as well. If you think you'd be interested in joining Chariot, you should definitely check out their website at http://umnsac.com or email them at nsac@umn.edu.

Do you have a dream to someday write and publish your own book? Perhaps you are a fan of local authors? The First Books Reading and Discussion may be an event for you!

On Thursday, March 14, three MFA alumnae of U of M's Creative Writing Program will be speaking at the Weisman Art Museum on campus, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Here's the best part: all three of them have recently published their own books! At the First Books Reading and Discussion, the three alumnae will be reading excerpts of their books as well as speaking about their paths to publication. 

The event is free and completely open to the public, so bring some friends! Since you'll already be here, you can even schedule a campus visit, or just explore on your own to get a feel of what campus life at the U of M is like.

This is just one of many cool events offered on the U of M campus that cater to students' diverse interests. Click here to learn more about this exciting event and to read bios of the authors who will be there.

What? It's the end of summer! How did this happen?!? Sadly, I guess it's my time to say farewell as your Gopher student blogger. 

Throughout the summer I've had the opportunity to work closely with amazing colleagues that have taught me about about good work ethic, teamwork, and dedication (especially to all things maroon and gold). I have never been more proud to be a University of Minnesota student as I have been this summer. Seeing high school students touring campus (and giving my very first campus tour!) brought back the excitement that I had just four years ago when I first stepped foot on Gopher territory.

I could give you a plethora of advice as you embark on your college journey, but instead I will stick to a few essential bits of advice to help you succeed as a student...

1) Never take anything for granted. Every class you have and every person you meet will shape you over the course of the next four years. Some of my closest friends today are people who I thought I had nothing in common with. Friends are like leaves, some fall away and some stay on the branch, but either way, the more you rake up, the more fun you will have! (Who doesn't love jumping into leaf piles? Right?)

2) Take pictures. I feel like someone told me this just yesterday as I began my college career, but college goes by way too fast! Take it from a soon-to-be-graduating senior who feels like she just moved to the U of M. (At least I'll always have this great photo of my Welcome Week experience!)

3) Take advantage of your surroundings. Step away from the screen you're looking at (only after you have read the rest of this post...obviously) and remind yourself that you're in the Twin Cities! Anything you could ever want is at your fingertips! Go to the zoo, go to a Twins game, sip coffee on West Bank of campus, shop until you drop at the Mall of America, rent paddleboards on Lake Calhoun, and so much more! Students at the U of M truly have a great location to take advantage of. 

4) Always remember that dreams DO come true! This summer I lived my dream by going to a movie premiere in Hollywood, California. The U of M has given me infinite opportunities to grow as a student, a young adult, and a working professional. Take advantage of these opportunities. Whether it be through extracurricular clubs, internships, or volunteer positions, the U of M has the resources and opportunities that can help you achieve your goals and dreams too! 

5) Most importantly... don't spend all your Flexdine at Starbucks! Your funds will dwindle faster than you can say "orange mocha Frapuccino." But seriously, live like a college student now so that you won't have to later. There are many free and discounted opportunities for fun on and off campus, so you can have fun and not break the bank.

With that said, I will give you a digital tip-of-the-hat and hope that your college career unfolds as beautifully as mine did.

Ski-U-Mah!

This summer, I have not only been working as the Communications Intern here at the Office of Admissions, but I have also been interning at Allied-THA, a film promotions company in the Twin Cities.

Back in June I was partnered with another Allied intern (and recent U of M graduate), Brianna Morel, to compete in a nation-wide contest. For the contest, two interns from every Allied office (23 total) worked to promote the upcoming film "The Campaign" in the most effective and creative ways. The prize was a trip to Hollywood, CA, to attend the premiere of the movie. The film, starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, is a comedy about two politicians--Marty Huggins and Cam Brady--competing for positions in Congress.

Our promotional adventures included holding up Cam Brady signs at a Twins Game and getting on the big screen (3 times!); distributing promotional materials to restaurants and shops around Dinkytown; hanging up posters on campus; handing out shirts at the Minnesota Aquatennial; staging a "protest" on Nicollet Ave downtown; visiting The Dave Ryan in the Morning Show in the KDWB studio; and holding promotional banners over Interstate 394 during rush hour.

Our hard work paid off! During a conference call with fellow competitors, Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis told us we had won the contest and would be flown to Hollywood! One week later, I was on my way to Hollywood. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a fellow U of M graduate named Lisa, who works at the Allied office in Los Angeles as the Warner Bros. publicist.

We explored the city including the Hollywood sign, Walk of Fame, and the world famous Grauman's Chinese Theater, where we attended the premiere of The Campaign. We also stayed at the amazing Lowes Hollywood Hotel and had the opportunity to tour Warner Brothers Studios where we walked on the set of True Blood, Heart of Dixie, and Pretty Little Liars.

I have dreamed of going to a Hollywood movie premiere since I was a little girl, and I have been watching Will Ferrell since he was a Spartan cheerleader on Saturday Night Live. This experience was one I definitely would not have had without everything I've learned and all the opportunities that I've had as a student the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and the amazing internship possibilities that come along with living in a major metropolitan area like Minneapolis. Dreams do come true!

Join us for a College of Liberal Arts Sneak Preview this summer and get an inside look at the University of Minnesota! 

Summer Sneak Previews are designed especially for future freshmen and their families, to give you the opportunity to learn more about the great academics and opportunities at the U of M. 

At a College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Sneak Preview, you will hear from current College of Liberal Arts students about their college experiences, meet faculty and staff, and attend a freshmen seminar. An optional tour of our historic Big Ten campus and state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities will be offered at the end of the day.

College of Liberal Arts Sneak Previews

July 27 and August 3

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

RSVP Now!

Whether you're interested in the social sciences, arts, humanities, and natural sciences--CLA offers 60 majors for you to choose from, in a variety of interest areas. U of M students also have access to a wide selection of great opportunities to enhance their experience both in and out of the classroom, including undergraduate research opportunities, study abroad, career services and more!  Learn more about these great academics and opportunities at a CLA Sneak Preview this summer.

To RSVP for a College of Liberal Arts Sneak Preview, 

please visit http://z.umn.edu/sneakpreview, 

or call our VISITLINE at 612-625-0000 or 1-800-752-0000.

Just one year after her graduation, University of Minnesota alumna and former Office of Admissions intern Daisy Giles is putting her U of M education to work with her very own show at Homewood Studios, a gallery designed for local artists to display their contributions to the vitality, self-image, and coherence of community.

Daisy's exhibition opened June 1 and will run until June 27. It will display paintings and prints for sale, including a dozen that never-before-seen pieces that she created specifically for this exhibition. 

Daisy's story is definitely an inspiration to me as a current student. I hope to grow through my experiences at the University of Minnesota, like Daisy has, and pursue a career that I love once I graduate. After speaking with Daisy, I've realized that no aspiration is too small, no goal too far, and no dream too big.

Learn more about Daisy's art at http://www.facebook.com/daisygilesartist.

Whether it's a five minute bike ride to your class or a five minute bus ride to your internship, transportation options are abundant and easy at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

While most classes are within walkable distance of each other, the free Campus Connector bus system connects the West Bank, East Bank and St. Paul campus to make traveling from class to class easy and convenient. Travelling on a three mile stretch for public transportation, emergency vehicles and bicycles, the bus connects students from the West Bank to the St. Paul campus within about 30 minutes. The Campus Circulators, including the East Bank Circulator and the St. Paul Circulator, each cover their respective campuses - getting students to any part of campus they need.

For those who bring a bike to campus, bike lockers are offered at various locations on each campus. For just $84 a year students can store their bicylces away from the elements in a sheltered locker. If you'd rather rent a bicylce, the new Nice Ride program offers students a quick and easy way to pick up and drop off bikes across the Twin Cities.

One of the great benefits of the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is its location. Living and learning in the heart of a large metropolitan area gives students have great ways of getting connected to the Twin Cities community through jobs and internships, volunteer opportunities and recreational activities. To help students get around the Twin Cities, the University offers U-Passes, discounted bus passes through the Metro Transit. For just $97 a semester students can ride any Metro Transit bus or light rail as many times as they like! The city-wide bus system gets passengers nearly everywhere in the metropolitan area. The Hiawatha Line light rail travels from downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America, with stops at both terminals of the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport.

A new and exciting development to the Metro Transit system is the addition of the Central Corridor light rail. The new light rail line will run through the heart of campus and connect downtown Minneapolis with downtown St. Paul. Construction began just a few weeks ago, you can check out details about the project at the Central Corridor Web site.

The month of May brings great changes to the University of Minnesota. Students have finished their classes, taken their finals and our Class of 2011 has officially graduated and moved on to new and exciting opportunities. This summer also brings new change at the U of M. President Robert Bruininks will be retiring from his post and returning to what he's always enjoyed most; teaching. Eric Kaler, who earned his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1982, will succeed President Bruininks as the 16th president of the U of M. Next year will be a very exciting time to be a Golden Gopher!

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the 2011 Annual Alumni Association Celebration. The program kicked off with a reception at the Carlson School of Management. Alumni old and young gathered on the West Bank to mingle, reminisce, and celebrate the University of Minnesota.

The main event of the evening was the Alumni Program, which reflects on and celebrates the previous year. The program was was held in Ted Mann Concert Hall, a facility that hosts an array of campus events throughout the year, including our School of Music's student concerts. During the program, U of M Alumni Association representatives presented highlights and videos of the University's research and mentorship programs. Current student groups, such as the 7 Days a capella ensemble, showcased their talents between presentations. However, the highlight of the evening, by far, was President Bruininks' address to commemorate his nine years in office.

Hearing some of the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and alumni was inspiring. Students that graduate from the U of M are part of a strong alumni community that consists of over 375,000 people; people who serve in all industries from government to entertainment and everything in between. Alumni of the U of M have founded over 19,000 companies that employ over 1.1 million people. I'm proud to be a Golden Gopher, and I hope that someday you will be too!

Whether you're craving a slice of mac & cheese pizza at Mesa Pizza, or snacking and studying at the Purple Onion Cafe, you can find your perfect restaurant only a brief walk from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus.

Dinkytown, the neighborhood just north of the part of the East Bank of the Minneapolis campus, is always alive and bustling with students and faculty. The neighborhood features all the amenities a person could need: you can get a hair cut, grab some great food, take in a concert at the Varsity Theater, and even salsa dance at Loring Pasta Bar on Friday and Saturday nights.

Chilly Billy's, a recent addition to the Dinkytown landscape, is a great place to cool down during the summer. Located on 15th Avenue north of Folwell hall on the ground floor of the new Sydney Hall, Chilly Billy's offers self-seve frozen yogurt with great toppings. Last week, some members of the U of M Office of Admissions stopped in to enjoy a frozen treat and celebrate the beginning of summer.

So, the next time you are on campus don't forget to check out Dinkytown as well!