Dishing Out Love to Donors This Week

There are many different types of people who support Utah State monetarily: alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and more. We love every group for the unique ways in which they affect USU’s success:

• As alumni, you give back by donating time, money or experiences to our university and its students. In addition, you give Utah State a good name by using the marketable skills and knowledge you developed while in school at your workplaces and in your homes.

• Faculty and staff have dedicated their careers to teaching our students and providing opportunities for them to succeed. They've spent countless hours preparing and producing quality curriculum and programs for students.

• Students can give back through the True Blue pledge. More importantly, USU would not be the great institution it is without hardworking, devoted students who use their ingenuity and intent to acquire well-earned degrees.

• Parents support their students as they learn and grow at USU. They can support systems like the Merrill-Cazier Library, which serves as a valuable learning environment for every student on campus.

We recognize that many Alumni fit into several of these categories. Because of your unfailing support of this institution, we would like to say thank you, once again.

The relocation of the Block A was made possible by USU donors

This week, February 25-27, is Love-A-Donor week. Every day we thank a different group of our supporters:

      

February 25th - Celebrate Faculty and Staff - Send words of love and appreciation to faculty members who go above and beyond the call of duty! The Student Alumni Association will also be giving a small gift to these wonderful individuals. 

February 26th - Celebrate Alumni - Say thank-you to those who have come before! On this day, the alumni population will receive a powerful video via email from our student population saying thank you for the generosity of all our giving alumni.

February 27th - Celebrate Students - Many students give of their time, talents and treasures to USU. On this day, the Student Alumni Association will recognize all of those types of donors. If you have given the True Blue Pledge stop by the Alumni House from 11 – 1 PM for your swag, “A” license plate waiver, (if you have not already done so) and a cookie! If you haven't participated in the pledge, please stop by if you'd like to become “True Blue” yourself.

You are also invited to participate in a campus-wide social media competition during Love-A-Donor week. During the week, we encourage you to post pictures of yourself thanking a donor. You could write a note to a professor who donates, cook dinner for an Aggie alumni family member, or do the dishes for your roommate who has given the true blue pledge. Show your appreciation however you would like.

Be creative, and use the hashtag #usugivesback. At the end of the week, Alumni Association staff will examine the entries and the winning photo will be recognized on many Utah State University social media channels. The winner will also receive one use of the David B. Haight Alumni Center, free of charge.

Whichever group you're a part of, know that we love and appreciate you. Thank you!

A Man's view: 5 Ways to make the most of the game, with kids

I vividly remember our first USU basketball game as a family. It was a chilly, snowy day in Logan.  I dropped the family off at the Spectrum and had to drive quite a distance to find a parking place.  I parked the car and nearly floated to the Spectrum in excitement. As I neared the Spectrum the electricity could be felt from the HYPER fields. However, after finding my family the excitement diminished. Three of my four kids looked quite bored. In fact our oldest daughter (six at the time) never even looked at the court the entire game.  She sat sideways and had a blank stare.  I knew then that something must change. To get the kids ready to love USU sports we did the following things:

Tradition: We started in 1888 and highlighted the 1940s when their great grandparents attended USU and cheered for the Aggies, the 1960s when their grandparents attended and cheered for the Aggies, and the 1990s/2000s when their parents cheered on the Aggies. A favorite story we tell the kids is how Amber and I would meet at the Merrill Library and study together. We have a memorial brick from the library that sits on our bookshelf and reminds us of the beginnings of our family.

Pageantry: Taught them "The Scotsman." Need I say more.

Legendary Moments: Shared stories about memorable Aggie sports moments. For example, one of my favorite basketball memories happened on March 4, 2000. I was in the Spectrum with a capacity crowd to witness the Aggies defeat Boise State and go undefeated in league play. A magical moment.

Aggie Blue: For the next Game we all wore Aggie Blue. For Christmas that year we bought all the kids Game Day T-shirts. The kids were delighted to dress up in their T-shirts for the next game. This definitely helped add to their excitement level.

Bribery: On the way up to the next game we got pizza and ate it on the way up. The kids couldn’t eat the pizza until they practiced yelling out cheers. This definitely made an impression. The kids yelled so loud that game they could hardly talk the next day. Our three-year-old screamed “GO AGGIES” so loud she had everyone sitting by us energized.

Taking the family to Aggie sporting events is a great way to bring up the next generation of Aggies and to relive some of the fun moments from our days as students. Go Aggies!

What works for your family?

Post provided by guest writer and USU alumnus, Kade Minchey '01 

A woman's view: 5 Ways to get the most out of the game, with kids

As my family and I have attended USU events (sporting and otherwise) I have learned through out each event how I can make it better/easier/more enjoyable with and for my kids.  At USU sporting events it is hard to miss families getting along and enjoying themselves.  So, I try to observe for a few moments how these families are “getting along” with their kids at the events.  I try to see what is making it work for them (food, activities, personal attention) so that I can hopefully use it sometime or immediately with our family while we are out.  These are a few things that I have come up with:

Bring plenty of Snacks/Treats with you to the event - Food is always a good way to entertain, distract, and make people happy!  Especially Kiddos!  Easy snacks to bring with you to a game would be: bottled water, little juice packs, fruit snacks, granola bars, dry cereal in a baggie, string cheese, pretzels.  Basically anything that is easy and light for you to tuck in your bag.  Make sure you follow the rule: “pack out what you pack in”.

Make sure you wear your Aggie Gear - Our kids LOVE to have anything “Aggie” to wear at any time of the week.  We especially like to make sure we wear our Aggie gear to the games that we attend.  I love getting ready for a game and our kids are running around the house searching for their shirts and making sure the other sibling has found their own shirt to wear.  Wearing “Aggie Gear” also helps the kids to feel like they are a part of the game and they will want to participate more with cheering and enjoying their time.

Talk to them about the game before hand - USU is a big part of our lifestyle between education, sports, volunteering, and being an Alumni…so it is not unusual for us to have conversations with our kids or at least in ear shot range of our kids about USU and what is going on with it.  Our kids know when/where/what we are doing when we are heading for a game or an event with USU.  They have been prepared for the fun & excitement of the event.  We also place expectations on them….they know that we are all at the game to watch and listen to it.  They know that we are going to try and stay the entire game, and they know that we will cheer and support the USU team playing.

Cheer Loud & Enjoy Game - With all the time that was needed to prepare to get to the game (planning, driving, food, etc)….you need to make sure that when you are there you are enjoying it!  When we are excited about the game/event we are attending our kids are so much more excited about attending it with us.  We also tell our kids that this is a place where they CAN be LOUD!  We are always telling them to talk more softly….NOT AT THE GAMES THOUGH!  We encourage them to be very loud.  It’s fun to hear/see them cheer loudly.

Have a Love for USU - We have found as long as we are excited and have a true love for something…it can become contagious.  Our kids already LOVE USU and they love any event that we participate in with USU.

I hope these suggestions will help you get your kids/family up to a USU sporting event soon!  It is a great way to create “Future Aggies” and family memories.

What works for your family?

Post provided by guest writer and alumna Amber Minchey '01

You might be a helicopter parent if...

Have You Been Cleared for Landing?

It goes without saying that every parent wants the very best for their children.  Although we all want to believe we are good parents, sometimes we simply need to look ourselves in the mirror and ask if we are perhaps a little too involved.  When our kids are young, we want to be involved in their lives, help them learn to make decisions, and assist them with life’s obstacles.  But when they become adults are we still there to make their decisions?  Do we still try to protect them from the important lessons to be learned? 

We asked a fellow Aggie and noted Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist Dr. Bruce Johns (Ph.D. ’85) to help evaluate this problem of Helicopter Parenting – those parents who hover too near their grown children.  This is a Litmus Test, of sorts, for parents to evaluate themselves and their relationships with their grown children.  See how you do.

You might be a helicopter parent if…
    

You ask your college attending son or daughter about his or her homework.
You help write your son’s or daughter’s college papers or complete them for them.
You have ever given negative feedback to one of your children's bosses or college professors.
You have called your son or daughter, who is not living at home, to make sure he or she makes it to work or school on time.
You have attempted to restrict the amount of time your college-aged child plays computer games or hangs out with friends.
You have argued with your college age son or daughter about whom he or she is dating.
You have ever told your son or daughter that his or her apartment or dorm needs to be cleaned up.You have ever joined an argument between your son and daughter and a roommate or friend just to settle things down.
You have ever required that a reluctant college-aged child show you his or her checkbook or credit card statement.
Without first being asked, you have suggested specific clothing for a specific occasion to a college-aged child.
You insist on a curfew for your college-aged child or you remind them what time he or she should get to bed.
Your college-aged child asks you what classes they should register for, what job they should apply for, or whether they should go on a date with a given person.
You find yourself as anxious about your college-aged child's success as you were when they were in middle school or high school.
You feel like your college-aged son's or daughter's success or failure is a reflection on you.
Your college-aged child asks you to bring him or her the homework that was forgotten.

You are likely NOT a helicopter parent if…
You understand and can apply the following saying: "as a building goes up, the scaffolding must come down.
You see yourself as a consultant to your college-aged child rather than a manager.
You listen and empathize with your college-aged child and provide reassurance that you trust him or her to make good decisions.
You are willing to let your college-aged child experience life lessons that may be painful.
You help your son's or daughter's dates feel welcome and accepted, regardless of your personal affinity for them.
You encourage adult children to tackle things they may not be comfortable with.
You understand that your son’s or daughter’s problems do not automatically become yours to problem-solve for them.

Well, how did you do? 

Dr. Johns says, "it's not that parents should not stay involved with their kids as they become adults. Warm, caring parents stay involved. They just don't treat their adult offspring as children. Asking how things are going generally, what their classes are like this semester, who they're dating, why they might be so tired, whether work is going well, or how they're feeling spiritually, is all legitimate. You might ask all of those things of a friend of yours who is in school or who started a new job. The line is crossed when a parent is not willing to let an adult child struggle and work out solutions. An inadvertent message can be sent that this child, who is an adult in all other ways, is too immature or incapable to survive without parental assistance."

I am pretty confident in saying that we all probably found something to work on in our parental role.  It certainly takes work to be an effective parent, and it is never too late to begin afresh if needed.  It has been said that our children are the best expressions of ourselves, and with guidance and advice from caring parents they can become the adults we wish them to be.   

Written by Scott Olson

11 ways to avoid an awkward college send-off

Life as a college newbie has its challenges. For many, the adjustment to foreign surroundings, unfamiliar friends and a new diet of Top Ramen and Pop-Tarts gives them enough time out of their comfort zone to last a lifetime.

As parents, it’s our responsibility to help make that transition as smooth, or as awkward (depending on your preference) as possible. Should you choose to try and make life easier for your child when you drop them off for their first day at college, here are 11 things to remember.

     1.       Saying “hi” to everyone you see can be more than just a friendly gesture. It doesn’t matter if you’re a naturally friendly person. Outwardly greeting every living thing within a 20-yard radius of you and your family is not a great way to start off your son’s new life as a “cool” college student. In fact, it can be (gasp) embarrassing. College kids are social creatures, but they like to socialize on their own terms. You don’t need to do it for them.

      2.       Put the pet names on hold. Nothing says, “my parents still treat me like a kid” more than a pet name. Buddy, Baby, Sport, Champ, Sweetie. Whatever you call your son or daughter at home (unless it happens to be their real name) isn’t going to cut it on move-in day. You’re welcome to try, but if your child stops acknowledging you, don’t say you weren’t warned.

3.       Keep the hugs and kisses out of sight. This is the cardinal rule of parting with your children. Hugs and kisses from Mom and Dad start losing their “cool” factor as early as preschool.  By the time your kids are in college, a farewell kiss has reached the equivalent of a social life assassination. Save the X’s and O’s for a private setting or the next time your kid comes home to visit.

4.       Let them handle the introductions. As much as you’d like to choose who your daughter befriends, you can’t. Anyone you introduce her to during the minimal time she has to move in will most likely not end up becoming her friend anyway. But don’t worry, she’ll develop strong, meaningful relationships with others. In fact, she’ll probably do it more successfully without you by her side, sharing stories about how it seems like just yesterday she was spitting out her peas and smearing them all over her hair.

5.       Don’t ask where the “smart kids” hang out. You may not mean it this way, but asking where the “smart kids” hang out is code for “my kid is not that smart, and could really use some help.” Not a good first impression for your son to make on his future comrades, especially the ladies. If you find yourself tempted to ask a question like this, try starting with something less blatant, like, “can you show us the library, please”?

6.       Remember, they can take care of themselves. “Don’t forget to make your bed, buy deodorant, and take your pills twice a day.” Those are haunting words for a teenager on the brink of college independence. They tell her friends that she’s not responsible enough to take care of herself. She still needs mom to do everything for her. And let’s face it, if they can’t remember to take care of the necessities by the time they reach college, you may want to start worrying about other things; like how they’re going to survive the next four years on their own.

         

7.       Questions about curfew should be saved for later. One of the most exciting things about moving away from home is not having a curfew. Your son is thrilled to have finally graduated to a level of independence that allows him to decide when he goes to bed. Although that can be difficult to accept, it is an unfortunate part of life. Sure, he is going to pull some all-nighters. And they won’t all be spent cramming for an early morning exam. But what would the college experience be without those extra late nights? Asking about curfew does nothing more than embarrass your kid by making him feel like he is still a teenager at home.

    

8.       You’re no longer your child’s personal decorator. Understandably, it would be nice for your daughter to have a clean, cute, and inviting room. And maybe she will. But it is her room, and although you may be paying for it, you’re not the one living in it. Which means it will ultimately end up looking the way she wants it to look. So, as hard as it may be to repress your inner interior designer, move-in day is the time to do it. Your daughter will appreciate your self-control. She’ll also be glad to have a room that represents her, not her parents.

9.       If they leave something in the car, send it later. Once you’ve said your goodbyes and pulled out of the dorm parking lot, your child’s focus shifts. For them, it is time to move forward. Time to finish unpacking, rearranging, and getting acquainted with their roommates. With that said, it can create an awkward situation when you come knocking on the door in the middle of your daughter’s first conversation with her new roommate announcing that she left her favorite pajamas in the car. Unless it is something they absolutely cannot do without, like their favorite pair of jeans, than sending it with a box of goodies when you get home may be a better option.

10.   Go home. When it is time to leave, do it. That time varies for everyone, but most of us have the ability to tell when we’ve over stayed our welcome. Cutting the apron strings can be difficult for some, but if you’re one who struggles with separating from your kids, just be grateful for cell phones and family plans.

  

11.   There is a better time to “hook them up.” Possibly one of the greatest temptations of being a parent: playing cupid. It seems to be a natural human instinct to want to be responsible for matching a loved one with their “soul mate,” especially when that loved one is your own child. Please resist. Your son or daughter will likely find people to date without your years of wisdom or your keen eye for the “keepers” out there. Other opportunities to set your kid up will come. This just isn’t one of them.

So next time you find yourself dropping a child off at college for their first time, remember; you were once a freshman, too. And if you’re tempted to do, or say, anything that just might embarrass your kid, pull this handy list out of your pocket and save both yourself, and your child, from an awkward college send-off.