Recording of the On-Line Training

Here is the link to the recording of our on-line training session for the South Region:

http://byui.na6.acrobat.com/p37508837/

Andrew and Sara Hyde - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

You won't find a more "PRO BYU-IDAHO" couple than us. We both graduated from BYU-Idaho, Sara in 2005 in Health Education and PE and Andrew in 2006 in Health Science. During our schooling at BYU-Idaho Sara was the intramural director from 2002-2003, Andrew was the fitness director from 2005-2006, we managed women's housing, and Andrew served in an on campus singles ward bishopbric.

Andrew is currently in his 2nd year of graduate school at Nova Southeastern University getting a doctorate degree in physical therapy. Andrew LOVES soccer and college football, anything to do with Brazil (where he served his mission), personal training/eating right/working out, playing with out kids, and building things (from decorative mirrors to entire houses). He is the vice president of his physical therapy class and at church he serves as the ward mission leader.

Sara (that's me). I fell very lucky/blessed to be able to stay at home with my 2 adorabel kids. I love to craft and have my own store on etsy called cutie patootie where I sell handmade baby and kids accessories and clothing. I love to make handmade gifts, read mystery novels, blog, anything chocolate, warm weather, and listening to my kids laugh. I currently serve as the 1st counselor in the Young Women's Program.

Gabriel is our outgoing, sweet smiling, spikey haired, 3 1/2 year old son. He loves swimming, cooking with his mom, making crafts, dots to dots, and wrestling with his dad. Gabriel is in sunbeams this year and loves singing and wishes EVERY night was family home evening. We usually call him Gabriel and not just Gabe, or his nick names are "My dude", "Homey G", or "Buddy".

Kenzington is our bright eyed, red haired, intuitive, daughter who just turned 1 in February. She loves to take all the cushions off of the couch (with help from Gabriel-her partner in crime) and to crawl all over them. She also loves to play patty cake, taking baths by herself (don't we all), red grapes, and dancing to "kenzi, kenzi bo benzi...". We call her Kenzi for short or her nick name: "fruity".

We love being able to be a part of this program that provides an outlet to help students with questions about BYU-Idaho as well as for us as alumni to be able to share our experiences, insights, and testimonies about the school and the gospel. We live in a predominently low income, part member/single member families, but high converting area (our ward goal is 44 baptisms this year) and this program is a great help in stearing new high school and college age converts to higher education.

Thoughts on the Heber J. Grant Program (from Christine Velasco, Regional Rep for the West Region)

Heber J. Grant Scholarship
Hello fellow BYU-I Alumni Ambassadors! I am Christine Velasco, your regional representative. I started just like each of you--with a desire to share the excitement about BYU-Idaho to those who live in my area and now we have the privledge of getting a polo shirt and some pass-along cards to make us look more official! :)

Today I had an "Aha! Moment" and thought I'd pass it along to you. Today's plug is for the Heber J. Grant Scholarship at BYU-Idaho. Please check it out at www.byui.edu/heberjgrant. This scholarship seeks applicants who:have low income,whose parents who didn't graduate from college,were raised in a single-parent home,whose parents are not active LDS members,were raised in an area where few attended college,or have overcome other long-term disadvantages.

The "Aha! Moment" came when I realized that anybody as young as 13 years old can apply for this scholarship. What a brilliant idea! Once these young students are accepted for the scholarship, they are eligible for individual advisement in admissions, financial aid, and contact from current students, alumni (like you and me), until they are old enough to actually apply to BYU-Idaho. They still have to apply and be accepted to BYU-Idaho, but imagine the difference this can make in a teenager's college planning knowing that they already have a scholarship waiting for them IF they keep their grades up, continue attending seminary, etc.So my PERSONAL VISION FOR 2009 is to find FOUR youth in my stake and help them apply for the Heber J. Grant Scholarship.

I have typed up the HBJ essay questions on a separate word document. If you would like them, simply email me at losvelasco@gmail.com and I will pass them along. This way the youth can prepare their answers before actually going online and applying for the scholarship.We have a unique opportunity to be sharing the excitement of BYU-Idaho with these youth.

Now, more than ever, we need to be enlightening them on the benefits of having a solid education to back up their marketable skills.Sincerely,Christine Velasco, San Jose, CA

Thought I would Share

BYU-I is great to give cute bibs to our new babies! Here is our little Emma modeling a bib. As I understand you can let the alumni office know of those alumni that have had babies and they will mail a bib to them.
Have a great day!
Cyndee

Resources for Alumni Ambassadors (from Audrey Martinez Midwest Region Area Rep)

In the process of learning what our roles are as Alumni Ambassadors I have come across some valuable resources that might help make your job more effective. First, if you are planning to host a BYU-Idaho event in your stake, whether it be an information night, fireside, etc, please contact the BYU-I Admissions Office Area Representative for your state. Your representative has access to the official printed materials, pamphlets and catalogs you might want to use at your event.

To find the Area Representative for your respective state please click here. They also enjoy knowing what is going on in each state and how BYU-Idaho's name is being received. Also, if there is anybody in your stake even remotely interested in attending BYU-Idaho please direct them to this website: http://www.byui.edu/prepare/. This is new website developed specifically for prospective students trying to get a feel for what BYU–Idaho has to offer them. Finally, there are BYU-Idaho Student Ambassadors assigned to your area, who are current BYU-I students that have volunteered to connect with prospective students and help them get a student’s perspective on BYU–Idaho.

You can contact your Admissions Area Representative to find out the name and contact information for these student and how they can help you in talking with prospective students. Some of us haven't been on the BYU-Idaho campus recently and this might be helpful in informing potential students what Rexburg and BYU-I are like today.

An Idea form the Midwest Region -- Pass along your Scrolls

Derek and Audrey Martinez, AA Regional Reps in the Midwest Region mentioned that they pass along their weekly copy of the Scroll to youth in the ward and stake who may have some interest in BYU-Idaho. What a great way to bring up BYU-Idaho in conversations with young people and to get more mileage out of your weekly Scroll mailing.

Thanks Derek and Audrey

The Sunshine State

I technically graduated from BYUI in August of 2006, although I left the good campus grounds in July to go traipsing around South America as a foreign exchange student. So I walked the semester before and got to hear from Elder Russel M. Nelson at the graduation speech. I actually started school the same semester that Pres Hinckley announced the change from Ricks to BYUI and was also able to participate in the Innauguration of Pres Clark. I do consider myself lucky. It was fun to watch the changes. I spent a lot of time with Activities (Bro Shaum, Sis Lovell, Bryce, etc etc) and also worked with the choirs and music dept.
Before I left Rexburg, I spent a year teaching there as a vocal coach/professional accompanist. It was such a great experience to work with the students and share in something that I love as much as they do.
I moved to Orlando on Sept 10 of this year. I now work in management for American Eagle and plan on keeping that job as I work through Grad School; UCF is on the horizon for me starting this fall and I will be studying Social Work. (You are most likely reading this random assortment of jobs and interests and wondering just what I am really interested in. I will tell you, it has been hard to narrow things down to one major for Grad School.)
What I love about Florida-- the sunshine, the temple, the beach, the Disney parks, free entrance into said parks, the ward, the BYUI alumni, and my roommates/house. What I don't love about Florida-- the fireants and the drivers. Cheers!