So how exactly does Thank U work?

Participants meet at Northrop Plaza to go out in teams and work together on different community service projects. There are a variety of projects to participate in - both indoors and outdoors, and some requiring more strenuous work than others. But all in all, these projects are about coming together to build "One community, one U."

Anyone in the community can propose a project, so if you have a project idea that you'd like to see as a part of the Thank U event, submit your proposal to Matt Ramirez at Homecoming@umn.edu. The deadline for submitting a project is coming up quickly, so make sure you get your proposal in as soon as possible.

That's all for now Minnesota! Make sure to visit the Homecoming website often for the latest updates on Thank U and all of the Homecoming 2012 events.

Martha will be in her junior year this fall at the U of M. She is a Human Resource Development major with a minor in Management and Sustainability Studies. Martha is from Edina, MN.

A fun fact about Martha is that she absolutely loves camping and biking. She had never tried chocolate milk until her first year at the U. Her favorite food is the Jimmy John's number 12 sub, and other favorite things of Martha include penguins, flowers, and swimming.

Kirby Schmidt

Kirby (aka Kirb-Stomp) is a junior at the University of Minnesota majoring in Agricultural Education. He has a passion for education, agriculture and service that began on the small farm he grew up on just west of Marshall, Minnesota.

Kirby is known for bustin' a rhyme, and dropping a beat while in traffic, on road trips, or in the shower. Tommy Boy and Dumb & Dumber are his two favorite comedies, and his most frequent nightmare includes getting eaten by dinosaurs. (He may have watched Jurassic Park a little too much as a kid!) Kirby has traveled the country judging cattle, sheep, pigs and goats for the University of Minnesota Livestock Judging Team. By the time he is 30, Kirby hopes to have stepped foot on each continent. So far he's been to South America, North America, Australia and Europe!

Bronwyn will be a senior this fall at the University of Minnesota. She is from Eden Prairie, MN and has a deep love for old school Nickelodeon shows, theme parties, and any (and every) form of carbohydrate. After arriving back on campus from studying in Ecuador for the full 2011-2012 school year, Bronwyn couldn't be more psyched about once again having her classes taught in English, going to football games instead of futbol games, and being surrounded by maroon and gold!

According to Bronwyn's friends, she has a mysterious knack for attracting awkward situations. She also has a talent for memorizing song lyrics, and has received more than one standing ovation after her Salt-n-Pepa and Jay-Z karaoke performances. Bronwyn once planked on the Equator, and she is known to often propose the Warhead Challenge to unsuspecting strangers. She is incredibly excited to be representing the U on the Homecoming Court!

Vincent Phan

Vincent is in his junior year at the U of M with a double major in Accounting and Management Information Systems. Although he was born in St. Paul, at the age of one he moved to Germany, where he stayed for 14 years of his life - which is why he has such an awesome German accent!

Vincent is a proud member of Sigma Pi and the Greek Community at large. When he's not busy with school or work, he shares his passion for Minnesota with prospective students, parents, and distinguished alumni through the Carlson Ambassador program. He is also a co-founder and board member of the Undergraduate Consulting Club, as well as a consultant in the Carlson Venture Enterprises. Vincent loves to travel, and has one big passion in life: food!

Growing up in cozy Alexandria, MN made Meg a true Midwestern girl. At an early age she began her passion for Journalism, and currently she is a senior at the best school she could possibly imagine. Her love for writing has drawn her to become a Professional Strategic Communications major within the School of Journalism, and she is interested in all things public relations. Meg also has a Leadership minor.

Since 2009, Meg's heart has held a spot for non-profit organizations, specifically tailored to prevention of human-trafficking. In the future, she would love to be an advocate for creating possibility for the hopeless, and is looking forward to post-college-life after a rewarding college experience at the U of M.

Meg finds inspiration in anything and everything, and listening to people and encouraging their possibilities is her 'energizer bunny' on a day-to-day basis. She loves embracing her geekiness, while pouring through books in her free time. Meg is honored at the opportunity to be on the U of M's Homecoming Royalty Court, and can't wait to be involved in every minute of it.

Colin Burke

Born and raised in Apple Valley, Minnesota, Colin excitedly staved off the influence of his Badger and Wildcat older brothers to stay home and become a Gopher. Colin is entering his senior year at the U, majoring in chemical engineering and minoring in Spanish.

At the U of M, Colin has been involved with student government, having served as the vice president of the Minnesota Student Association, and within the Greek community, having served as president of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Colin has enjoyed making lasting friendships while playing drums in the University of Minnesota Jazz Combos and, his freshman year, tossing the disc around with University of Minnesota club Ultimate team, Minnesota Grey Duck.

In his spare time, Colin is an avid backpacker, with the Grand Canyon and Grand Tetons a couple of his favorite treks under his boots. He loves listening to (and looking like) John Mayer, learning about his Irish-American heritage, and eating any kind of fruit.

Outreach Coordinator Matt Ramirez is a double major in Chemistry and Art History. This is in his second year here at the U of M. Matt's Homecoming responsibilities will include tackling the Gopher Fest, the Food Drive, the Blood Drive, the 5k, and the Thank-U events. Throughout Homecoming, Matt is looking forward to engaging with students and the greater university, as well as the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul community as a whole. His top three favorite things (in no particular order) are hippos, guacamole, and bubbles.

Event Logistics Coordinator Blaire Hoven is in her third year at the U of M. She has a double major in Public Relations and Dance. A fun fact about her is that she had the opportunity to visit New Zealand and hike the Franz Joseph Glacier last summer. This year Blaire will be taking the lead on the Homecoming Parade and Competitions, and she can't wait to see how the parade comes together!

"It is a long process with many details and I can't wait to see the outcome of everyone's hard work. I am also looking forward to the Pepfest/concert. Both are always a fun time and it is cool to see students, staff, alumni, and U of M supporters come together to celebrate Homecoming," she said.

First up is the Programs Coordinator, Ashley Kaser. This is her fourth year as a University of Minnesota student, but she's lucky enough to be here for a total of five. She's a Psychology major at the U, and a fun fact about her is that she's ambidextrous. During Homecoming, Ashley's main responsibilities will be taking charge of royalty, as well as the pep rally and concert. What she's most excited about this year is meeting the Homecoming royalty court.

"I can't wait to see who our court will be and what they bring to the table," she said. "They'll be in parades, at the State Fair, at football games, and so much more, and I'll be right there with them."

Next up is Marketing Coordinator Karly Wallack. This is her third year in school, but only her second at the U of M. She's an Advertising major in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She loves to read, and her favorite books are the Harry Potter series.

During Homecoming, Karly's main responsibilities will be the Scavenger Hunt and working on the overall Homecoming marketing campaign. She can't wait to find out what the Homecoming 2012 theme will be, and she's looking forward to creating awareness for all of the exciting events we have planned!

That's all for now Minnesota. Check back next week to meet our other two coordinators!