Each year, Honduras Outreach International sends hundreds of volunteer groups to rural Honduras to better the living conditions, economic resources, and education system of the local villagers near Rancho El Paraiso in Olancho, Honduras. In the spring, a group of business and community leaders make an annual visit to the ranch to assess the recent projects and make recommendations to sustain the work that has been started in the area. In 2006, I was honored to be invited to be a part of this consulting team.
This team of 40 
divided itself into three smaller teams to best tackle the challenges in the allotted week: Commerce, Healthcare, and Education. 
As part of the Commerce team, we visited an existing commercial village who has honed their wood-working skills as a viable trade. Our challenge was to transfer their, successes into a model that could be used to start various cottage industries throughout the region. We focused on the village of Las Delicias where a group of 10 women had taken interest in pottery. With a Spanish fluent potter on our team, we were able to transform their elementary skills into commercially marketable pieces. Their dedication resulted in a one-day profit of over $300--well over the average annual family income!
When we weren't busy with business plans, we also poured cement floors, cleaned out sheds, demolished deteriorating buildings, and, of course, found some time for fun. Check out the photos of the Wilderness Team 2006 trip via Shutterfly.
SMSU Student Activities Council
hypnotists,
caricature artists, game shows, and more. The council served approximately
30,000 students over the 2001-2002 academic year through various events. I was
responsible for semester proposals for planned events, contacting agents and
performers, negotiating performance fees and travel expenses, publicity, and
volunteer recruitment for events. Some events were co-sponsored by other campus
organizations, and it was my duty to maintain effective communication between
involved groups.
As part of this position, I was elected to attend the National Association for Campus Activities national conference in 2002. At this conference I attended educational sessions on programming, publicity, and other useful tools. I also had the opportunity to meet agents and interact with performers. This trade-show like atmosphere was very beneficial to my position at SMS because agents were able to distinguish me from a random name and then seemed more willing to accommodate our campus requirements.
I traveled with the SMSU Entertainment Management Association to volunteer at the NFL Experience in New Orleans, Louisiana for SuperBowl XXXVI. This was an absolute amazing experience. I learned a lot about motivating volunteers, staffing, risk management procedures, guest
relations, and event
management. Being in the atmosphere
of such an upsetting SuperBowl game was truly a unique experience in sporting
event operations. The heightened security due to 9/11/01 was impressively
scrutinizing. Combining New Orleans with SuperBowl excitement was a combination
that will remain etched in my mind for many years. That's a picture of me
"working hard" at the NFL Experience. I think I'd make a great wide receiver,
eh? (click the photo to enlarge)
As Chair of the first-ever student-led Homecoming Committee, I was responsible for all 2002 Homecoming Events. Some of the events included: Banner & Window Competition, University Happy Hour, Canned Food Sculpture, Pep Rally & Concert, Royalty Elections, and the Parade. Additionally, we hosted inflatable games, a mentalist, a free movie, and a free craft project throughout the week's festivities. The game entertainment included parachuters delivering the game ball, a 100-yard American flag covering the football field for "The National Anthem," and more. I worked heavily on publicity and volunteer recruitment for all of these events as I supervised the committee heads throughout the planning process.
Having been selected as a Presidential Scholar at SMS, I had the opportunity to serve on the annual interview panel for incoming applicants. Over 400 prospective students apply for the four-year tuition, room, & board package each year, but only 40 scholarships are awarded. Over 150 make the selection for interviews, and it is the responsibility of the student-faculty panel to reduce the numbers to 40 qualified students. I saw this as a great opportunity to meet members of the incoming freshman class each year, as well as have a hand in selecting the best of the best for the future of SMS.
Entertainment Management Association also volunteers to staff the concession stands at SMSU basketball games as a fundraiser. Having never worked concessions before, this opportunity exposed me to the inventory, food handling processes, and money handling procedures of a sporting event venue.
SMSU MOA Commission
I was selected to represent Student Activities Council on the budgeting committee to allot funds from the general university budget to the programming board for the following academic year. I was responsible for justifying the $250,000 request from Student Government Association and the Plaster Student Union board. I worked with the SGA President and the Dean of Students to negotiate this budget.
