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The 2002 WASFAA Summer Institute is a unique experience that we were all glad to be a part of. |
WASFAA Happenings ... Well, the day has finally arrived, the 2002 WASFAA Summer Institute. My day begins at 4:30am. Wow is that early! I didn't sleep well and I think most of the WASFAA participants didn't either. I know for me I was nervous that I wasn't going to get to the airport on time, a little anxious about flying... wondering if I forgot anything and just having a feeling of uncertainty of what the week will hold. This year I was one of the lucky ones to win a scholarship to the conference along with three other women from Arizona. We met on the plane, my new "WASFAA buddies" as one of them said are Susan Young, Kathaerine Johnson, and Katie Shock. We arrive in Reno, get to the new residence hall and check in. I get to my room, which is better than I expected, and get settled in. The first things on our minds is "when are we going to eat?" and "do we really have to carry these huge binders around?" With our bellies full, we head off to the first of many sessions. We are introduced to the faculty, do an icebreaker, and Doug presents module 1 and 2. We also meet in our small groups and we are all a little shy at first. I guess that I should mention that I am in Addalou's group. Tonight's festivities begins with game seven of the NBA playoffs between the Lakers and the Kings. After much screaming, yelling, and nail biting, the Lakers are victorious again. Well, with that, what else is there to do but to head downtown? A group of about 15 of us head downtown to the Silver Legacy. It was a great time and a great first day. Day 2, June 3rd Another big day begins and the agenda looks packed with information. My roommate and I head over to breakfast with my WASFAA buddies. This is a day that we (Kathaerine, Katie, Sue and I) are given our new name by Leonard, the "Arizona Girls". Guest speaker, Jack Millis, AKA Verleen, gives the first session of the day. I think that this was everyone's favorite session; actually, I'm not sure I'd call it a session. It was more like the JACK 2002 SHOW. He was great and the blue hair was perfect. Jack gave new life to the application process. The day has been full of information, which leads our small group to have great discussions. Now that we are feeling more comfortable with each other, we begin to discuss the financial aid process at each of our institutions. This to me is very interesting, learning how each school is unique in their daily operations. Also, this allowed members in my small group to gain new perspectives and new ideas that they may want to implement in their office. Time to head back the "3 times a day-buffet" for dinner. On the menu tonight is Shepard's Pie and Vegetable Stir-fry. Hey, it could be worse; at least it wasn't liver and onions! After dinner, a group of us decided to head down to Circus Circus. We played a few of the carnival games and watched the trapeze act. On the way back to residence hall, we stopped and JimBoys, or as Jennifer (one of Andy's angels) calls it, "Taco Pete's". Turns out it was a great place to eat. Now that we have had our bedtime snack, off to our rooms we go. Day 3, June 4th Opening session kicked off with Addalou singing "O Lord, Won't You Buy Me A Mercedes Benz" and then a little financial aid rendition of the song. In my small group we discussed educational allowance and came up with our group name, "PHAT". This stands for Pretty Hot Administrative Team. Today was mainly focused on Federal mythology. This session was helpful in that it allowed us to really gain an understanding of what goes into the EFC calculation. Having to do the hand calculation gave all of us a new appreciation for the formula. The last session of the day was on diversity, presented by Marsha Dupree. With the events of Sept 11th, the concept of diversity is more on the forefront of our minds. The participants of this conference are diverse, but from day one, I have seen all of us celebrate our diversity and embrace one another as individuals. I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to spend the week with all of you. With Harry Potter being retired for the duration of the conference, the movie selected for tonight was Legally Blond. Tonight was definitely a low-key night for the Arizona Girls. We played cards in the fourth floor lounge area with Irma, who also is from Arizona and in my small group. I think that Sue and I were a little tired from the hour and a half walk we did with Doug and Leonard. When I think of Nevada, green grass, blooming flowers and ponds don't come to mind...but this campus has all those things and more. Time to hit the rack. Tomorrow is field research day!!! Day 4, June 5th The day we have all been waiting for has arrived...Field Research Day. Most of the participants seem a little tired and worn out this morning, but we all become very excited when Leonard announces that it is time to vote on the best group name…and the winning group will receive backpacks. The stakes are high and to competition is steep. The group names are read one by one, and the un-biased judges make their decision. They decide there is a tie between NOVI and PHAT (personally, I think that PHAT cheered louder). Each group had to send a representive to the front of the room, and whoever could name more people in the group won. Frank named nine members and Pattie only named four. So, NOVI won. The remaining sessions focused on awarding Pell grant and loans. This allowed us to get in groups again and go into the trenches using our pens, pencils, and brains to do the calculations. Before Paige presented on loans, she did a great exercise with us. We created a thunderstorm by snapping our fingers, patting our legs, and stomping our feet. It was cool! Paige reminded us of the importance of community and that if we all work together, there isn't anything we can't accomplish. Now that the work is out of the way, it's time to go play! Some decided to play golf, others decided to take a drive up to Lake Tahoe, others just vegged out in front of the TV, and I think a few went shopping. It was a day well spent and well earned. Day 5, June 6th Well, this is the last full day in Reno. The day's events started earlier than most expected. After some investigation, it is believed that the 7th floor T.P. party began after 12:30am or so. It has been reported that Leonard headed up to his room around that time after finishing his tacos down in the lobby. I do believe that he left a mess! At this point, no one has confessed to this heinous crime. Many are speculating the UCLA girls "Andy's Angels", but they say they didn't do it. The Arizona Girls were even thought to be in on it, but they all check out with concrete alibis. This just might remain a WAFSAA Summer Institute Mystery. Today's presentations consisted of packaging and award notification and professional judgment...presented by Sgt. Stevens, who actually presented in a suit and tie. And who could forget our friend R2T4 in Sue's presentation where we actually got to have a change of scenery to a lecture hall with padded seats. Today was the last day of meeting in our small groups…I know that our group exchanged business cards and ate cinnamon rolls. Pattie brought in 4 boxes for redemption for losing the best name category. Hey, you win as a team…and you lose as a team…BUT those rolls sure were good! Frank also took up a collection for the party "at Paige's crib" to be held after the banquet. The day ended with the infamous FERPA video with the flashing green slime. We were all looking forward to the banquet. I think mostly looking forward to it for the change of food. I think that Christopher's cadets left a lasting memory in all of our minds when one of them gave Christopher a great big bear hug and picked him up after receiving his WASFAA certificate. Where's the party at? Off to Paige's backyard we go, and let me tell ya, there were a lot of us. I think that this was obvious due to the fact that police showed up not once, but twice. The second time, the two nice young men posed for a picture with all the ladies. Overall, I know that everyone had a wonderful time. The 2002 WASFAA Summer Institute is a unique experience that we were all glad to be a part of. So many new friends and such an amazing amount of knowledge was gained at this Financial Aid extravaganza. I felt like we were all back at our first week at college. Historic moments occurred during this year's Summer Institute, but 2002 is the year of the Lizard, as the Green Lizard was returned to the once heart-broken Verleen. By the last day, many of us are ready to get back to our cozy homes and our less than sand paper toilet paper. Many memories were created and many tummies were filled almost to the extent that the University of Nevada at Reno has been ranked in my mind to parallel Willy Wonka's Cafeteria Food Factory. |
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