Famous Wampus Cat in our Midst!

Hess Hall RA, Aeron Glover, is embarking on an exciting entrepreneurial adventure!

mtvU and NYSE teamed up to launch Season 2 of Movers & Changers, a nationwide challenge to uncover the country’s next young entrepreneurs who want to make it big with their innovative ideas for a new business. From D.C. to Tennessee to Cornell, three finalists each believe their business idea will change the world.

University of Tennessee junior’s Aeron Glover and Kaliv Parker are finalists in this competition and have a strategic plan to ease the search for college housing in the states and abroad with their website http://www.Howstheliving.com. The site allows students to give quantitative and open ended feedback about their host family, residence hall, and apartment. They hope their site will be a student's one-stop spot for everything student housing.

The last two episodes of mtvU's "Movers & Changers" program, including the announcement of which team wins the grand prize, will be available online Dec. 15.  http://www.moversandchangers.com/

Aeron's international experiences in Europe and China and his nearly two years as a resident assistant helped him realize the need for reliable, student produced housing information for studying at universities in the United States and around the world.

Howstheliving.com is very impressive!  You should definitely check it out!

Way to go, Aeron!   

Reimbursement/Advanced Funds Deadline - 5pm on Tuesday, November 30th

Reminder:

Reimbursement and Advanced Funds Requests must be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday, November 30th, for you to receive the check(s) before the end of the fall semester.

Be a timely Wampus Cat and turn in your Reimbursement/Advanced Funds Requests in by this deadline, so you can get your money before you leave for Winter Break!

Image from Google Images

Blue Orange Blood Drive

Hey Wampus Cats!

This week is the annual Blue Orange Blood Drive!  This is the 23rd Annual Battle of the Orange and Blue—Blood Drive Competition between Tennessee and Kentucky.

For donating blood you will get lots of free give-aways!

You will get a coupon for a free pint of Mayfield Ice Cream!

Yummy Mayfield Ice Cream!
Image from Google Images.

You will get a coupon for a free regular size original Petro!

Delicious Petro's!
Image from Google Images.

You will also get a free t-shirt!
 

Free Medic T-Shirt!
Image from MedicBlood.com

The blood drive runs Monday, November 15 through Friday, November 19—give blood at any blood drive location:

Tuesday, November 16:
UT University Center, Suites 225-228............................................................................9am to 5pm

*MEDIC Regional Blood Center, Ailor Avenue........................................................... 8am to 6:30pm

MEDIC Regional Blood Center, Farragut, 11000 Kingston Pk.................................. 9am to 7pm

Wal-Mart, Sevierville, 1414 Parkway, Bloodmobile...................................................10am to 6pm

Hall’s Salvage, Alcoa, 130 S Caulderwood St., Bloodmobile ...................................10am to 6pm

Wal-Mart, Newport, 1075 Cosby Hwy, Bloodmobile ................................................10am to 6pm

Petro’s Chili and Chips, 7500 Kingston Pike ................................................................11am to 7pm


Wednesday, November 17:

UT University Center, Suites 225-228............................................................................9am to 5pm

*MEDIC Regional Blood Center, Ailor Avenue........................................................... 8am to 6:30pm

MEDIC Regional Blood Center, Farragut, 11000 Kingston Pk.................................. 7am to 5pm

Lowe’s, Athens, 1751 S Congress Pkwy, Bloodmobile...............................................11am to 7pm

Wal-Mart, Jacksboro, 2824 Appalachian Hwy, Bloodmobile...................................10am to 6pm

Kroger, South Knoxville, Bloodmobile.........................................................................11am to 7pm


Thursday, November 18:

UT University Center, Suites 225-228............................................................................9am to 5pm

*MEDIC Regional Blood Center, Ailor Avenue........................................................... 8am to 6:30pm

MEDIC Regional Blood Center, Farragut, 11000 Kingston Pk.................................. 9am to 7pm

Wal-Mart, Lenoir City, Hwy 321 North, Bloodmobile................................................10am to 6pm

Wal-Mart, Morristown, S Davy Crockett Pkwy, Bloodmobile..................................10am to 6pm

West Town Mall, corner of Morrell


Friday, November 19:

UT University Center, Suites 225-228............................................................................9am to 5pm

*MEDIC Regional Blood Center, Ailor Avenue........................................................... 8am to 6:30pm

MEDIC Regional Blood Center, Farragut, 11000 Kingston Pk.................................. 9am to 7pm

Methodist Medical Center, Oak Ridge, Ridge Room.................................................10am to 6pm

Wal-Mart, Morristown, S Davy Crockett Pkwy, Bloodmobile..................................10am to 6pm

Wal-Mart, Rockwood, 1102 N Gateway, Bloodmobile.............................................10am to 6pm

West Side RA of the Month for November - Vincent Charlow

Congratulations to RA Vincent Charlow of Hess Hall for being selected as the West Side RA of the Month for November!

Let's here what Vincent's nominators, the Hess Hall Head Staff, had to say about why Vincent is deserving of this honor:

As a head staff we have decided to nominate Vincent Charlow as RA of the Month for October. Vincent has done an excellent job all year, but he really showed us why he was such a great choice for our staff in October. The month of October started off with the flood on K 4. Vincent was one of the first RAs to report to the floor and made one of the first attempts at plugging the sprinkler. Due to an equipment malfunction he was unsuccessful; however he knew exactly what to do and responded accordingly. Once he completed his attempts at plugging the sprinkler, Vincent was very instrumental in clear the 4th and 3rd floors of the K section. Finally, Vincent was the one who identified the two students that were responsible for the flood which allowed us as a head staff to hold those students responsible.



For some reason Vincent has been called to respond to several very sensitive student situations. In October he responded to a situation that required the utmost care, and he handled it with grace and maturity. Especially considering that the student that was involved was in serious need of help and attention. Vincent stepped in, made the right calls, and got the student the necessary help and kept a cool head through it all.


Finally what was most notable about Vincent in the month of October was his organization of the program “Two Hands, One Sandwich”. Vincent organized this program to help Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries. Vincent petitioned URHC for funding to get enough bread, meat, cheese, peanut butter, and jelly to make over 400 sandwiches to feed the homeless here in Knoxville through KARM. He set up a table in the lobby, provided hand sanitizer and gloves, and encouraged residents to stop and make one sandwich. Vincent set up the program to last from 10 am to 3 pm, but due to the overwhelming response all the sandwiches were completed by 1:45pm. “Two Hands, One Sandwich” was an amazing program that made a difference not only in the lives of our residents but 400 homeless people around the city of Knoxville.

For these reasons, and many more, we feel that Vincent is more than deserving of this honor and we nominate him without reservation for Area RA of the Month!

Here are the other awesome West Side RAs nominated for RA of the Month in November:
Beka Patton - South Carrick
Megan Cusick - Humes
Tyrone Beach - Morrill

Way to go Vincent, Beka, Megan, and Tyrone!!!! 

Morrill Hall Acoustic Night

On Thursday, November 4th, Morrill Hall hosted an Acoustic Night program to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.  Morrill Hall's Habitat Honchos, RAs Kelsey McCoy and Sarah Gregory, organized the event along with MHRA.  The event was held in the Humes West Multipurpose Room. 

There was some great advertising to lead residents to the event:

There was awesome attendance at this program!  The place was packed with residents enjoying the relaxed, mellow atmosphere and musical performances by some AMAZINGLY talented residents.  Seriously, these students have skills!

There were yummy, coffee house-esque refreshments available:

Some of the Morrill staff showcased their awesome musical talents as well:

By charging a $5 suggested donation for admission, over $300 was raised for Habitat for Humanity!  Way to go Morrill!

Morrill Hall Halloween Decorations

Morrill Hall had some AWESOME Halloween decorations displayed for their Halloween Decorating Contest.  All of the floors were great.  Here on the Wampus Cat Blog we will highlight the top 3 as selected by the Halloween Decorating Contest judges. 

3rd place went to Sarah Gregory's floor:

Amazing!

2nd place went to Kate Whitehead's floor:

Spooky and fantastic!

The 1st place winner was Bethany Houghton's floor:

Fabulous!

Wonderful job Morrill RAs and residents on your Halloween decorations!  Your decorations were so creative and elaborate! 

Hess Program - Two Hands, One Sandwich

On Thursday, October 28th, Hess Hall hosted a fantastic program entitled "Two Hands, One Sandwich."  Hess RA Vincent Charlow planned and coordinated this program.  Several Hess RAs and Head Staff stopped by throughout the program to support and help out. 

Residents passing through the lobby were offered the opportunity to make sandwiches that would be distributed to homeless individuals through Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries.  This program was well publicized and held in a well chosen location, the Hess Hall Lobby, that allowed a lot of residents to participate.

Many residents stopped by and lots of sandwiches were made!

Oh no, is that Fainting Goat Jeannie Hopper in this photo?!  Love how the Hess Staff is able to "reach across the aisle" and work side-by-side with a Fainting Goat in the interest of helping others.

So many sandwiches!

This program was a wonderful way to engage residents in helping out members of the Knoxville community.

Excellent job, Vincent!  :)