ECU Ski and Snowboard Club Sports Team Competed in National Championship

Congratulations go out to the East Carolina University Ski and Snowboard Club Sports team for taking on the best in the country at the USCSA National Championships held March 1-6, 2010 in the mountains of Maine.

The ECU team did a solid job at the biggest competition the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) has ever hosted. This year, more than 700 competitors rolled into the mountains of Maine and Sunday River Resort, to compete for National collegiate titles in alpine, cross-country, and snowboard events.

Everyone loved us,” said Dino Maglić, ECU Ski and Snowboard Team President. “They could not believe that someone from the Carolinas would send a team.”

Members of the ECU Ski and Snowboard Team at the 2010 USCSA National Championships in Maine

They competed against several major schools in the nation in events such as halfpipe, slopestyle, boarder cross, and giant slalom. ECU’s Corey Monaghan, who won first place overall in the Southeastern Regionals in combining slopestyle and giant slalom, placed 16th nationally in giant slalom.

As for the snowboard competition, this year was the biggest in the USCSA national championship history as far as the field size. And even though East Carolina University isn’t considered a ski and snowboard powerhouse, the support from others was strong.

“The field was very competitive on the slopes, but the participants couldn’t have been more supportive of us,” said Maglić. “We don’t have the same luxury as many other schools up north that get to practice as a team, but we are very proud of how well we represented ourselves.”

There are 28 members on the ECU Ski and Snowboard Team and if anyone is interested in more information or joining the team, please contact Dino Maglic (dm1227@ecu.edu). Also, for more information about the USCSA National Championship, please visit www.uscsa.com.

ECU Pirates Take the Lead at the NC LEAD Conference

East Carolina University students took center stage and dominated the North Carolina LEAD Conference. Nearly 100 ECU students spent a Saturday in February on North Carolina Central University’s campus in Durham. This is the third straight year that ECU’s contingent at the conference outnumbered any other school in attendance.

LEAD, which stands for Learn, Explore, Accomplish, Discover, is a one day conference filled with numerous leadership sessions. The sessions are presented by students to more than 350 of their peers as well as leadership staff from college campuses across the state.

Nearly 100 ECU Students participated in the LEAD Conference on Feb. 20th

“I was personally motivated to attend the LEAD Conference to enhance my inner leader,” said ECU sophomore Thomara Hamilton. “To me, a person’s inner leader will allow them to become a person of distinction, prose, and positive influence and this conference enhanced my perception of what a true leader is and allowed me to understand leadership in its entirety.”

Six of the 23 sessions held during the LEAD Conference were led by ECU representatives

There were 23 leadership sessions held during the conference, nearly 25% of which were led by ECU student and staff presenters. The students who attended said they learned something valuable in every session that will help them to become a better leader.

“With the interactive presentations, they all kept attention even into the later part of the day,” said Cassie Hundertmark, an ECU freshman. “When probably some people would be ready to go back to campus I was hoping that it could last longer.”

The LEAD Conference, which is sponsored by the North Carolina College Personnel Association (NCCPA), is a state-wide leadership conference that is a great opportunity for the ECU students to interact with peers from other campuses. NCCPA is the state division for American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and sponsors various other opportunities for new and seasoned student affairs professionals, administrative personnel and graduate students.

“It was a good experience for me,” ECU senior Crystal Williams added. “It allowed me to network with other people, helped me to get a better sense of the type of leader I am, and the type of world we live in.”

In addition to being well represented at the conference, East Carolina University was presented with the Honorary Eagle Award, which is given to the school with the most participation and presenters and the group with the highest level of influence at the conference.

Charlie Brown, Director of ECU’s Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, said this experience is a great statement about our students’ commitment as well as the university’s commitment to leadership.

“Chancellor (Steve) Ballard is driving the leadership initiative at East Carolina University and wants it ingrained in every facet of our student’s college experience,” Brown said. “These types of opportunities to learn about leadership and collaborate with fellow students will serve these Pirates in the short term on campus and long after they graduate.”

For more information about the NC Lead Conference or ECU’s Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, please contact Charlie Brown at (252) 737-2091. For information about the NCCPA, please contact Krista Wilhelm at (252) 737-2271.

Chelsea Phipps Took ECU’s Intramural Message To an International Stage

By: Paul Isom, ECU Director of Student Media
Chelsea Phipps’ interest in intramural sports began when she joined a basketball team that needed an extra player.
Her love of “playing intramurals with strangers” led to a stint as an intramural official and a degree in physical education in sports management at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton. That led to graduate school at ECU, where she’s pursuing a master’s degree in recreation and park administration.

The 22-year-old’s journey through recreation sports recently took her back to Edmonton where she presented a session on intramural sports at the Western Canadian Campus Recreation conference. Conference attendees learned how ECU utilizes student intramural officials and left impressed with both Phipps as a presenter and the program she represents at ECU. Without Them, It’s Just Recess: The Importance of a Strong Student Officiating Program Chelsea Phipps WCCRC 2010

Her presentation – the first solo presentation in her young career – dealt with the benefits of utilizing students as officials to referee intramural games and was titled “Without Them It’s Just Recess: The Importance of a Strong Student Officiating Program.”
She said most presentations at campus recreation conferences center on intramural student athletes. That ratcheted up interest in her perspective on the other students involved in intramurals – those who work as officials.

“The student officiating program is strong at ECU,” Phipps said in the intramural sports office in the Student Recreation Center. Campus Recreation and Wellness, part of the division of Student Affairs, operates ECU’s intramural sports program. “Essentially, I did a case study of the setup at ECU, like tips on training and recognition. It was neat to present about what’s going on down here.”
In her presentation, she noted 119 students worked as intramural officials in the ECU program in the fall of 2009. She led the conference attendees through steps to recruit, train, evaluate, recognize and retain student officials. She also noted the many benefits to those who participate as officials, including the development of their leadership, conflict resolution and time management skills.

The ECU model was new for many Canadian schools at the conference, where officials are often out-sourced from external and community organizations, or officials aren’t utilized at all.

The presentation “went over well,” she said. “People were taking it in. I got a lot of good complements and people have been in touch since for advice.”

Phipps chose ECU’s graduate program after considering similar programs at Iowa, North Texas and Western Illinois. When she came to Greenville to begin her graduate assistantship, she was amazed at the facilities of the Student Recreation Center as well as the North Recreational Complex and the Blount Sports Complex. “I walked in and my jaw dropped,” she recalled. “Western Canada has nothing compared to this.”

After graduation, Phipps is willing to move anywhere for jobs in university recreation. Changing scenery isn’t new to her as she grew up in the Cayman Islands before moving to Edmonton. She’d like to work in intramurals, club sports or with fitness programs and ultimately, would like to be a director of campus recreation because she “loves university life.”

According to Nance Mize, interim associate vice chancellor for Student Services and director of ECU Campus Recreation and Wellness, Phipps will be a good one. “She is well on her way to being a director one day because of her outstanding work ethic, continued initiative and competitive team spirit,” Mize said. “Her professionalism and initiative have been outstanding. When she took the initiative to submit a presentation for this conference, we knew we (Campus Recreation and Wellness) would be represented in a quality manner and she would get her name out there as a quality professional in our field.”

Wherever she ends up, Phipps will take a little part of ECU with her.

“ECU is good at offering what students want,” she said. “I’m happy to get to experience something like this. It will help me going forward.”

ECU student media members win four awards including College Journalist of the Year

GREENVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 17, 2010) – East Carolina University students have won four awards from the Southeast Journalism Conference, including the coveted College Journalist of the Year.

The students from ECU’s Office of Student Media were among winners recognized at a SEJC annual meeting held Feb. 11 to 13 at Southeast Louisiana University in Hammond, La.

The College Journalist of the Year Award went to Carlton Purvis for his work at The East Carolinian, ECU’s student-run newspaper.

Purvis was a copy editor and news editor at The East Carolinian. After graduating in December with a double major in journalism and anthropology, Purvis is a multimedia journalist at the Morning News in Florence, S.C. He is a Clarksville, Tenn., native who served in the U.S. Marines from 2004 to 2006.

Purvis received a $1,000 prize for the award, which the SEJC panel of media experts gave based on journalistic ability, leadership skills, appreciation for journalism’s ethical and legal responsibilities, and potential for future success, among other attributes.

Current news editor Samantha Hughes won second place in the SEJC on-site competition in the News Rewrite category. Hughes is a sophomore communication major from Fayetteville.

Editorial cartoonist Adrian Parhamovich placed fourth in the Best News-Editorial Artist-Illustrator category. Parhamovich is an art major with a concentration in animation and interactive design.

Expressions, ECU’s student-produced multicultural magazine, won sixth place in the Best College Magazine category. Chaunte Rucker, a business administration major, was 2009 general manager of Expressions. The winter/spring 2010 edition was printed and released this week.

This was the first year ECU has entered the SEJC competition. ECU was the only N.C. school to win awards at the conference. Hughes and Katelyn Crouse, editor of The East Carolinian, attended the conference, which included journalism workshops and discussions with more than 200 students across the Southeast.

The SEJC strives to encourage interest in student journalism and create closer ties among journalism schools in the Southeast United States.

For more information about these awards or about ECU’s Office of Student Media, please contact Paul Isom, Director of Student Media and TEC editorial adviser at (252) 328-9234.

ECU drum major puts on a show for Tramway students

This article was originally written and printed by Caitlin Mullen of The Sanford Herald on February 5, 2010.

SANFORD — At Tramway Elementary Thursday, fourth grader Tyjon Snipes tucked in his shirt to be just like Tremayne Smith.

Smith, a senior and the head drum major for the marching band at East Carolina University, spoke to students Thursday at Tramway Elementary about staying positive and being motivated.

And the students he talked to were in awe, hanging on his every word and asking him about his favorite color and his time in school.

Many of the children recognized Smith if they’ve attended football games at ECU with their parents, said Lynda Cummings, classroom curriculum coach at Tramway.

Smith, who has been the drum major for three years, toured the school and introduced himself to various classes. Most had seen video during their music classes of his work as drum major and requested that he show them his signature backflip.

Smith obliged and did multiple backflips for the different classes, grinning and laughing as he saw the happy looks on their faces.

“I still think I’m more excited than they are,” he said.

Smith also spoke at the Southern Lee High School Marching Band banquet Thursday night. When Tramway administrators heard he would be in town for that, they asked if he’d be willing to talk to the elementary students during the day.

For Smith, giving back feels natural.

“It’s important because a lot of the opportunities I’ve gotten were from people who took time out of their time and invested in me and my school,” he said, adding that he told God “if you let me get to that position, I’ll do the same.”

Smith said he’s amazed at how much the children look up to him. One student said he’s Smith’s biggest fan.

“This is a reminder that you’re touching people and don’t even realize it sometimes,” he said. “There’s so many ways to give back.”

As he stopped in different classrooms, Smith talked to the children about their future. Some of the students wore ECU t-shirts or purple and gold bows in their hair.

“You’ve gotta go to college, you’ve gotta make good grades,” Smith told a group of first graders.

He also taught different groups what to do at ECU football games when the team scores, putting a hand over one eye like a patch, making a “hook” with one finger and yelling, “Arghhh!”

“Oh, we’re having a ball. This is my field day,” Smith said, smiling. And the children got a kick out of him, too. Children shouted “Hi, Tremayne!” when he stopped in the cafeteria and they “ooh”ed and “aah”ed when he mentioned being a college student.

Judy Spivey with the Southern Lee Band Boosters said Smith is a strong role model for the students.

“It’s just motivational for them to see a young person set goals and meet them,” Spivey said. “He’s a good, positive role model in today’s world.”

Kindergarten teacher Sarah Slate agreed.

“I think it’s good for them to see people doing positive things with a positive attitude,” Slate said. Since the children had been learning about Smith for a week before he came to the school, they were amazed to see him, she added.

“It’s like seeing a celebrity to them,” she said.

ECU Set to Host 13th Annual Flatlander’s Fling Climbing Competition

GREENVILLE (2-3-2010)¬¬–East Carolina University’s Campus Recreation & Wellness Adventure Program is gearing up to host the 13th Annual Flatlander’s Fling Climbing Competition Feb. 20. The event will be held at the ECU Student Recreation Center with registration beginning at 11 a.m. and climbing kicking off at noon.

The Flatlander’s Fling will form the first leg of the Eastern Edge Climbing Series, a two-day climbing series showcasing some of the finest climbers in eastern North Carolina. The second event will be the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s Seaside Scramble on Feb. 21.
“ECU and UNCW serve as the host sites, but our goal is to promote a supportive climbing community, as well as to educate climbers on climbing access privileges,” said Pam Andrae, a CRW student staff member.
The Flatlander’s Fling is open to all climbers, regardless of ability level and will feature bouldering and top rope climbing, along with a point system that will determine the winners. Prizes and giveaways will be awarded to participants in all categories. Each year, the goal is to raise awareness about the benefits of climbing.
“The series allows climbers to challenge themselves and challenge each other in a lively, exciting but friendly atmosphere,” said CRW student staff member Kyle Slosek.
Organizers say the excitement is not just restricted to those climbing in the competition.
“It is such an entertaining competition so we expect to see many returning climbers,” said student staff member Jamie Maniscalco. “Even if you’re not competing, the event is a lot of fun to watch, plus there is free food and great people taking part.”
Sponsors of this year’s event are Beat the Book Store, Cape Fear Piercings, Chaco Footwear, Cloudveil, Crystal Connection, East Coast Video & Music, ECU Adventure Program, ECU Campus Recreation & Wellness, First Ascent/Eddie Bauer, Fusion Surf & Skate, Great Outdoor Provision Company, Kroger, Lowe’s Food, Mad Rock Climbing, Marathon Restaurant, Mike’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Moose Jaw, Mountain Hardwear, Osprey Packs, Panera Bread, Pita Pit, prAna, Rock and Ice, Salsarita’s, Triangle Rock Club, and Winslow’s Tavern.
The Flatlander’s Fling registration fee for all college students, as well as ECU faculty and staff with a valid university ID, is $15. For the general public, registration is $20 for adults and $15 for students under the age of 18. Spectators are welcome. Transportation is offered to those who wish to venture to UNCW for the Seaside Scramble competition. The cost of travel to UNCW is $10 and must be paid in advance to ECU Campus Recreation & Wellness.
For more information contact the ECU Adventure Program at 252-328-1560, adventure@ecu.edu, or go online at www.flatlandersfling.org.

2010 ECU Greek Life Banquet a Major Success

East Carolina University’s Office of Greek Life hosted its 4th Annual Greek Life Banquet on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 inside the Murphy Center. The banquet is a chance to recognize the tremendous achievements during the 2009 year from all three major councils: the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and the Panhellenic Council.

“Many people think our fraternities and sororities are just a place to party and have fun,” said Keith Tingley, Assistant Director for Greek Life. “However, these young men and women have focused on East Carolina University’s motto Servire, which means to serve. They spend thousands of hours each year serving the Greenville and Pitt County communities and this banquet is our way of honoring their work and efforts.”

Awards were handed out in numerous categories recognizing accomplishments as a chapter, an adviser, and individually as well. Furthermore, special awards were given for Outstanding Service/Philanthropy Project, Outstanding Educational Program and the Highest Chapter Grade Point Average.

Diane Spry Straker Guest Speaker

Diane Spry Straker served as the special guest speaker for the evening and treated the more than 250 honorees and guests to a highly engaging, motivational speech where she discussed the importance and rewards related to Greek Life and service to the community. Straker, who was in the Alpha Phi sorority, attended ECU from 1968-1971 before being accepted to the Sino Soviet graduate program at George Washington University as an undergraduate.
Straker shared her some professional and personal advice, “Volunteers need to contribute both time and treasure to the organizations they work for and personally we should help ease the paths of others not as fortunate.”

Here is a list of those who won awards at the 2010 Greek Life Banquet:
NPHC Awards
• NPHC Chapter of the Year Zeta Phi Beta
• NPHC Highest GPA Alpha Kappa Alpha
• NPHC Outstanding Community Service/Philanthropy Project Delta Sigma Theta
• NPHC Outstanding Educational Programming Delta Sigma Theta
• NPHC Outstanding Scholarship Program Kappa Alpha Psi
• NPHC Chapter Advisor of the Year Sherra McMillan – Zeta Phi Beta
Alexa Morris – Sigma Gamma Rho
• NPHC Faculty Advisor of the Year Latonya Gaskins – Zeta Phi Beta

IFC Awards
• IFC Chapter of the Year Pi Kappa Alpha
• IFC Highest GPA Phi Gamma Delta
• IFC Outstanding Community Service/Philanthropy Project Pi Kappa Alpha
• IFC Chapter Advisor of the Year – Leonard Reaves Kappa Sigma
• IFC Faculty Advisor of the Year – Ed Crotts Sigma Phi Epsilon
• IFC Chancellor’s Cup for Intramurals – Division I Sigma Alpha Epsilon
• IFC Chancellor’s Cup for Intramurals – Division II Chi Phi

Panhellenic Awards
• Panhellenic Chapter of the Year Kappa Delta
• Panhellenic Highest GPA Chi Omega
• Panhellenic Outstanding Community Service/Philanthropy Project Kappa Delta
• Panhellenic Outstanding Scholarship Development Program Alpha Delta Pi
• Panhellenic Outstanding Educational Programming Zeta Tau Alpha
• Panhellenic Advisor of the Year – Tracy McLendon Alpha Omicron Pi
• Panhellenic Faculty Advisor of the Year Dr. Doug Schneider – Alpha Delta Pi
• Panhellenic Chancellor’s Cup for Intramurals Alpha Xi Delta

Individual Awards
• 2009 Greek Man of the Year P Patrick Sebastian – Delta Sigma Phi
• 2009 Greek Woman of the Year Tamette Farrington – Zeta Phi Beta
• 2009 Laura Sweet Award Taylor Williams – Alpha Omicron Pi

Greek Hall of Fame Inductees
• Taylor Williams – Alpha Omicron Pi
• Tamette Farrington – Zeta Phi Beta
• Juquon Whitaker – Kappa Alpha Psi
• Heather Ezzell – Zeta Tau Alpha
• Earl Boykin – Lambda Chi Alpha (Alumni HOF Member)

Pirates Prepare for 2010 Polar Bear Plunge

GREENVILLE (1/12/2010) – The 14th Annual “Polar Bear Plunge” is set for Thursday, January 21, 2010 beginning at 7:00pm at the East Carolina University Student Recreation Center. All ECU students, faculty and staff are invited to soar into the icy waters of the outdoor pool.

The first 500 jumpers will receive a free t-shirt and students are entered into a drawing for a variety of prizes including the Grand Prize of a $150 Student Stores Gift Certificate. All jumpers are encouraged to bring a canned food item and “Feed the Bear” with all donations going to the North Carolina Food Bank. Those jumpers who bring a canned food item with them will receive an additional raffle ticket to double their chances of winning prizes.

The event started in 1997 as a part of the grand opening of the Student Recreation Center. That first year 35 students took the plunge and it has grown significantly each year. The number of jumpers surpassed 500 in 2008 and closed in on 600 in 2009. Organizers fully expect a greater number of participants this year.

Following the jump, food will be available for all jumpers on the Student Recreation Center Concourse. This is also when the prizes will be given out. ECU’s campus radio station WZMB-FM will be broadcasting live from the event. Students will also get a chance to learn a great deal about the many programs, activities and organizations at ECU through the “Get A Clue” involvement fair which will be held on the basketball courts inside SRC.

Registration begins at 6:30 PM on SRC Court #1 and all participants should bring their ECU One Card to sign up. Prize drawings are expected to begin at 8:15 PM. The event is sponsored by Campus Recreation & Wellness, Campus Living & Dining, and University Unions.

For more information call (252) 328-6387 or stop by 128 Student Recreation Center. You may also view pictures and video at our Facebook event “ECU Polar Bear Plunge.”

What: Polar Bear Plunge
When: January 21, 2010 at 7:00pm| Registration Begins at 6:30pm
Where: East Carolina University Student Recreation Center
Who: All ECU students, faculty and staff are invited to participate
Contact: Student Recreation Center – (252) 328-6387
Benefit: Jumpers asked to donate a canned food item to benefit the NC Food Bank

A Decade of Thanksgivings in the Big Apple

It’s safe to say Thanksgiving is Aaron Lucier’s favorite holiday. It’s not because of the turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. The ECU Director of Housing Operations says the real reason is Spiderman, Kermit the Frog and Shrek.

Spiderman Float at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

They are among the dozens of gigantic floats soaring through the streets of New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Aaron has had a front row seat for the last ten years.

“It’s the energy,” said Lucier. “Some say you get a better view by watching on TV, and it’s generally warmer, but there is nothing like seeing it live. The crowd and the kids’ reactions to the balloons are wonderful. You always hear ‘Mom- look it is Mickey!’ or ‘Look! Look! It’s Sponge Bob!’ I love it.”
For Lucier, growing up in New Jersey and going to New York or Philadelphia was always part of the holiday plans. So when he arrived at East Carolina University and there was annual bus trip to New York, he jumped at the opportunity. Now it is an annual tradition.
“My family does not even ask where we are going for the holiday anymore,” Lucier joked.

Aaron Lucier at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

He added that each trip involves much more than the holiday parade, such as visiting Times Square, attending Broadway shows and of course, seeing Rockefeller Center decked out for Christmas. His trips have also included watching NBC’s TODAY show from start to finish, attending an outdoor Eurythmics concert and having dinner with Chef Robert Irvine from the TV “Dinner Impossible” at Bobby Flay’s restaurant. (By the way, Bobby called to check in with the party during dinner).
So will this annual holiday tradition continue?

“Absolutely!” said Lucier “I would encourage folks to consider breaking away from the Thanksgiving table one year to travel together. And New York City, Times Square and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a great example of how to make that holiday very special.”

Join the club: ECU Club Baseball gives students chance to compete beyond high school

More than 40 million children play organized sports today, and fewer than 5 percent who graduate from high school will be good enough to play a varsity college sport.

No major revelation there. Some kids are college athlete material and some aren’t. But that doesn’t mean their love of the game dissolves at the end of high school.

Anyone out there who has loved sport is aware of the disheartening odds of making it to the college level. But college students have the opportunity to continue playing the game they love through club sports such as ECU’s club baseball program.