A thousand a day...4

I'm in the warm Pendulum office again with my darlings Rachel, Alexa, Sunshine and Pam, and the moon and snowflake lights outside are just perfect for the cold and near-snowy atmosphere we're experiencing at Elon today. I put off my photo of the day until now, which gives you an idea of how insanely busy this pre-finals week is going. I'm going to try to do better as soon as life calms down. Thanks to my Sunshine with helping me decide on a photo again...the pretty snowflakes just outside the office.

A thousand a day...3

I traveled to Durham this afternoon to visit the Scrap Exchange, a nonprofit reuse center where people and corporations can donate their crazy and random items to be reused and purchased to create art. It was an amazing place to visit - you could get lost in the store just looking at every detail in every crevice.

A thousand a day...2

I came across this puddle between the pavilions and the Truitt Center when I was on my way to get Pam and Sunshine for our "family dinner."

My final Luminarias

To complement my first "thousand words" post, here are a few other photos from tonight's Luminarias...my final one. It's one of those things I love so much I would consider coming back to Elon just for the Luminarias every year.

A thousand a day...the first

In the Pendulum office this morning, my friend David Wells decided to launch something called "A thousand a day..." where he takes a photo each day. He asked Alex Trice and I to join him on this project to motivate one another, so we all decided to make this a special new addition to our blogs. We're bringing photography back to what's most meaningful in life, not setting out to take award-winning photos, but trying to capture the single moments that say a thousand words.

My first photo is from tonight's Luminaries, one of my favorite Elon traditions. I thought this particular photo would be appropriate for our new project since this is one little light among thousands.

Demon Deacons beat the "Fighting Christians"...but I still had a baller time

We may have lost to Wake Forest last week, but I still had an incredible time. The stadium was amazing - SO big. And the Pendulum people I was with made it even more enjoyable.

I went onto the roof to shoot video during halftime and the view, as I suspected, was breathtaking. I love the top of Rhodes Stadium, but this is even higher in the air.



And as soon as Pam, Sam and I got back to campus, I put together a highlights reel. I was ready this time and finished it quickly thanks to taking timecode notes on my phone any time I saw an awesome play.



It took me several hours (most of Monday's production night) to edit the bigger all-encompassing video, and I decided to try a voiceover. I may need to work on my sporty voice, though:



The best part: I'm slowing starting to understand football. It will probably take a few more games for me to feel like an expert, but I'm definitely starting to grasp some concepts.

I am SO proud of Pam and Sam for all the hard work they are putting in to The Pendulum's football coverage. They tweet and blog throughout the game in addition to keeping stats/play-by-play notes and preparing the big overall stories. They never cease to impress me and they really have taken Pendulum sports to a whole new level this semester.

Before the game started (we began the trek to Wake at about 2:30 so we could get our bearings), we hit up the Elon tailgate and interviewed some students, alumni, and my personal favorite, Dr. Danieley:



Can't wait for Georgia Southern during Family Weekend on Saturday!

Rubber Ducky, you're the one...of 7,000

This past Sunday, I got to cover a Meals on Wheels event that raised money for food for the elderly. It was a race that consisted of 7,000 yellow rubber ducks. Yes, it is true. And yes, it was amazing. Before I set out on this story, I was picturing a few people sticking their ducks of various shapes, sizes and colors (though predominantly yellow), into a pool to push or blow along to the finish line. But I was very, very wrong. I arrived at the YMCA in Burlington with Melissa, a freshman reporter who came with me to write the story and learn how to shoot video. And when we got into the pool area, we were faced with at least a dozen tubs filled to the brim with what we soon found out were 7,000 rubber ducks.

The tubs were dumped into the pool on the count of three and sprayed to the finish line with hoses. It was an awesome sight, and rightfully so for such an awesome cause. I was blessed to be a part of it, and to be working with Melissa - it's always a joy to teach someone about something I love, especially when they are so enthusiastic about it.

Here is Melissa's story, and here is the video I shot and edited with Melissa:

Fighting Christians vs. Demon Deacons

OK, so we're not the Fighting Christians anymore, but how cool would it be if that was still our mascot and we were facing the Demon Deacons tomorrow? Answer: Really cool. Even though we're the baller Phoenix now, I'm stoked to be going to the Wake Forest game tomorrow. I've said it before, but I am SO excited about sports this semester. I don't know where/when it really started, but I think some of it is rooted in my internship at The Washington Post this summer. I only got to edit a couple sports videos myself, but attending the AT&T National and taping/producing Washington Post Live every night must have set off some sporty trigger. And I am so glad.

I am headed to Wake Forest for our big game tomorrow with Pam, Sam and David. And we have press passes, something I am LOVING. It's only my second game shooting video, but after our Davidson game a couple weeks ago, I've been looking forward to this day for a long time. And THIS is the stadium we're working with:



It's a whole different ball game from those in Rhodes Stadium, and the other awesome aspect to this game is that Wake Forest is the second Football Bowl Subdivision team Elon has played in its history. (Pendulum: http://www.elon.edu/pendulum/Story.aspx?id=2546). Wake Forest is 1-1 and we're 2-0. I sure hope tomorrow turns out to be a win for the Phoenix, because not only do I get to witness it, but I get to report it.

My New Touchdown

This semester, I am shooting video at all the home football games. I have always loved watching football even though I never really understood it, but now I'm REALLY in love with it. I'm slowly but surely learning all the rules and I'm having a blast standing on the sidelines and shooting.

I am becoming a sports person. I'm truly surprised at myself. Last weekend, we played a great game against Davidson and I cannot wait until the next game. We play at Wake Forest on the 19th, so I'll get to travel for that game and get my next shooting experience.

My favorite video so far was a feature I did on Terrell "T-Mobile" Hudgins and Scott Riddle, two stars of the team...Batman and Robin as Terrell says. I had a great time getting to interview the guys with Pam Richter, the sports editor:





The scrimmage I shot for the Terrell/Scott feature was great practice for my next football video from the Davidson games. I did a "Scene In" Rhodes Stadium, game highlights reel, and highlights from the press conference after the game:















I absolutely cannot wait until the next game and I'm stoked to learn more about football! Getting to go up in the Rhodes Stadium press box with Sam, Pam and David is really great - the view is amazing. An even better view is from the very top of the press box. It's breathtakingly cool.

New Student Convocation: Class of 2013 charged with years of discovery, self-reflection, growth

This morning was the first of many hard mornings to come this year - I'm a senior and people keep reminding me of it. I went to convocation this morning and covered it for the Pendulum...and I definitely cried several times. There's nothing like a Leo Lambert speech to bring on my waterworks. Everything about the morning, down to the overcast sky, was bittersweet for me.

Here's my story (photo courtesy of the lovely Lindsay Fendt):

As the triumphal procession music began, the cloth backdrop of the podium in front of West dormitory was parted. From there emerged George Troxler with the Elon mace. Following him were the robed and rainbow regalia-clad faculty members. Under the Oaks sat the members of the class of 2013, transfer students, family and guests. Thus was the scene of New Student Convocation the cloudy and cool morning of Aug. 29.

Troxler, rather than having to organize this year's convocation – as was his usual job – was bestowed with the honor of bearing the mace. Troxler passed his torch as dean of cultural and special programs when he retired last spring.

In another new position was Phil Smith, who gave his first invocation as associate chaplain and director of religious life, a task usually set to Chaplain Emeritus Richard McBride.

The ceremony begins with a minister, Smith said, because when Elon's founders stood beneath the grove of oaks where the class of 2013 now sits, they envisioned an institution where mind, body and spirit would be enhanced and transformed. The spiritual dimension of life is celebrated and honored at Elon, as is the quest for finding a purpose and meaning in life.

To the "God of new beginnings," Smith led a prayer for the students to discover and develop their true selves during their time at Elon, and for the parents and loved ones to "find a deep sense of comfort."

"May the years ahead be filled with the joy of discovery for each and every one of us," Smith said.

Justin Peterson, Student Government Association president, welcomed the class and took a quick photo of everyone from his podium view. He told the students to create a mindset to "enjoy your time because it goes faster than I can explain."

Peterson had student athletes raise their hands and pointed out that one of them would score a winning point. The scholarship recipients were asked to raise their hands. And then the students who thought they might not make it into Elon received the same request. To that group, Peterson said one of them may become the next student body president, because he belongs to that group.

"You are now a voice on campus," Peterson said. "And as the freshman class, you are usually the loudest."

Vice President and Dean of Student Life Smith Jackson presented the class of 2013 to Steven House, provost and vice president for academic affairs. The students come from 39 states, the District of Columbia and 28 countries.

"This class will enrich Elon University," Jackson said.

House welcomed the dynamic new class and introduced them to the 340 faculty members sitting with them Under the Oaks.

"The Elon faculty are truly remarkable and devoted teachers, mentors and scholars," House said. "They will stretch you and challenge you more than you can even imagine."

In what President Leo Lambert called "one of the most meaningful occasions of the academic year," he announced it would be "the first of many goodbyes parents will say to their college-age children."

"In a parent's mind, remembrances both big and small come into clear focus on mornings like this one," Lambert said. "I can identify with the tear in mom's eye and the lump in dad's throat. ...I know how proud they are and what a privilege it's been to help you reach this day."

Compared with the billions of people on Earth who live in poverty, suffer from HIV/AIDS and are illiterate, Elon students are among the most privileged people on the face of the Earth, Lambert pointed out. And as such, students must ask themselves, "What am I going to do with the gift of an Elon education?"

In the middle of one Elon tradition, Lambert announced another that the class would now witness.

"You're going to hear a train go by," he said, "and I'm going to grab a drink of water. Justin, you want to grab some more photos?"

The moment of hilarity was a jolt and break in the tenderness of his message that members of the Elon community are caring above all else.

"You will be changed in ways you can now not imagine," he said.

Donna Van Bodegraven, associate professor of foreign languages, explained Elon's four pillars of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect, and Chuck Griffith, father of 2010 graduate, Katie Griffith, reflected on his time as an Elon parent. Everyone he has come in contact with simply loves Elon University, he said. And it's an institution where everyone has the ability to make a difference.

In his traditional message to the new class, Lambert said, "You will leave Elon some day, but Elon will never leave you."