Team Forest at the Kitchen 5K

The Student Council elections came up roses for me and I along with an awesome team of officers were elected to take the reigns for the coming year. Our first major event was raising money and participating in an annual 5k run that benefits the local homeless shelter. We raised funds for 10 members of the Forest Institute community to participate in the run, I was lucky (or maybe unlucky depending on how you look at it) enough to be one of those participants. The following is the original email we sent out to the school after the event. By the way my time wasn't the best ever but not bad for it being the first time I ran all year- 31:30)

Team Forest arrived bright and early Saturday morning outside the City Utilities Building just adjacent to the starting line of the 16th Annual Kitchen 5K Fun Run. Uniformly clothed in our new Team Forest tee-shirts we were ready for a nice jog through the heart of downtown Springfield.

With the side-line support our trusty Student Council Secretary, Amy Duncan, we were certainly in a perfect position to do our best in this race that included over 600 other participants.

Our 10 person sponsored team included Brent Anderson, Emily Abel, John Weems, Kiri Tesnar, Polly Vandenburg and her Fiancé Bob, Renae Courtney, as well as Student Council 3rd Year Representative Andy Huls, Student Council Vice-President Dana Sweatt and Student Council President Adam Batchelder. With our sun glasses or iPods in place we were ready for the 5K ahead.

We each found our desired pace and then put our treads to the road in an effort to support this most noble cause.

At the completion of the race we each felt much better, better for helping the cause, better for our fitness, or simply better because we could finally rest, regardless of the reason we felt better.

We know that each of us gave our very best but one amongst us was recognized for their most impressive diligent efforts.

We are most pleased to announce Polly Vandenburg's 3rd place victory for her age category!
A BIG CONGRATS out to you POLLY of Team Forest!
We wish to thank all those who made this Student Council sponsored event a reality, the FIPP Administration, those who donated or purchased items at the bake sale, and especially those who got involved and participated in the event. Thank You!

Great Work Team Forest!!!

Sincerely;
Student Council

Reason to Believe #10

This was my follow-up email I sent out to maximize the number of students who would actually vote before the polls closed after being open for an entire week.

In light of the past two U.S. Presidential elections I wish to offer my pledge that "EVERY VOTE WILL BE COUNTED" there will be No Hanging Chads or long lines at the polls. In fact I provide my promise that this STUCO Presidential election will not be decided by the courts but by the students of this fine institution of higher learning. Every Casted Vote WILL Be A Counted Vote!

I hope that this pledge will put your minds at ease and build confidence for the great majority of YOU, the student body, who has hesitated to vote. The future of your Forest Institute is in your hands. Exercise your RIGHT TO VOTE, the polls close at 5:00pm this Friday, visit the polling booth at the library and LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

Remember the lessons we have learned from Florida & Ohio "Every Vote Counts"

"Reason to Believe #10"

Reasons to Believe in Adam B.

The following was my first campain email I sent to my fellows students at Forest Institute. Wish me luck!

As many of you are aware, the current Executive Student Council Officers have decided to not run for re-election. Rather their reasons for stepping down are related to some so-called "Evil Alien Agenda" or for personal reasons it matters not. Having worked closely with them for the last term as a Class Representative I have been inspired by their "Flippin' Sweet" spirit of innovation and improvement. I am therefore compelled to run in their absence in hopes that I might be able to pick up their torch and carry on the legacy.

The following is a list of
"Reasons to Believe in Adam B."

Many efforts have been initiated to obtain proper student representation in different aspects of our academic experience. These areas include the Board of Trustees, the Comprehensive Exam Committee, Direct Representation with the CEO, Student Housing Committee and the Academic Committee. I Believe these efforts have been worthy and most appropriate but it is now time that a renewed dedication be issued by the elected members of student council and that it be the highest priority in realizing this representation.

During this last term we have secured sponsorship from 3 area businesses including, McAlister's Deli, Village Cleaners and Wal-Mart. This is only the beginning, I Believe their is much more opportunity for the community as well as the student body to benefit directly from local area business sponsorship.

With the recent change in housing management many concerns have been raised regarding the future quality of life for those residing in student housing. I Believe that our student housing should feel like student housing, not some private apartment complex coincidentally located near the academic building. The many suggestions have included extending the Wi-Fi from the academic building to student housing, partitioning an area in the nearby field for gardening, property management/maintenance turned over to designated residence in return for rent reductions, improved efforts in maintenance and up keep of the grounds and the implementation of community meetings to voice concerns. These are not only appropriate suggestions but very feasible.

The most important aspect of a graduate program is student morale. Low morale equates to low achievement. I Believe the single most effective way to improve student morale is through functions hosted by the school. Such functions could include a return of the winter formal dance, organized discounted outdoor activities (horseback riding, skiing, camping, hiking, organized school sponsored sporting teams, concerts), and social events. Fostering an environment where bonding and comradery occur is the essential element of this effort.

Forest Institute has always fostered a reputation for unwavering service for the residence of Springfield and the many surrounding areas. I Believe that we must maintain this standard in order to continue to elicit the respect that has been established by the members of this community for Forest Institute and it's graduates.

Despite the many years that Forest Institute has been a member of this community there appears to be very little awareness of our presence by the general local population. I Believe that fostering increased community awareness will result in a drastic increase in the community outpouring of support for Forest Institute initiatives, be it community service projects or efforts to directly benefit students. One way this may be accomplished is through a Forest Institute extension being added to the Ozark Greenways Trail system which runs on the property in front of the academic building.

In the age of obesity, all organizations should promote good physical wellness. I Believe that it is Forest Institute's duty to lead in this effort to promote fitness to all of it's faculty, staff and student body. This effort requires very little organizationally, yet the benefits can truly save lives.
There are few experiences that can match that offered by military service. I am honored to have served a 5-year enlistment as a Navy Medic assigned to the Marine Corps. It was my privilege to serve alongside the finest men and women of this country. I Believe that those experiences have prepared me well to foster the leadership and motivation needed to serve loyally as an elected student body officer.

My abduction last Fall was by far the most intense education I have ever received. I Believe that everyone should apply their diversity training and overcome their fear of the unknown and embrace our extra-terrestrial allies by hosting a DIPI to discuss this very misunderstood culture.
-Thank you for your time and consideration-
Adam B. for STUCO President

Neleha: Photo Assistant and Forest Institute Celebrity

My little Neleha tagged along with me one day as I was taking some promotional photographs for the school. The Admissions Department was updating their website and I volunteered to shoot some photos around the school and the clinic. Neleha and I had a blast walking around the campus and taking pictures. The best part was of course taking pictures of her.

Every time I would begin to take photos of another area of the campus she insisted on being in at least the first one. She was a wonderful model!

It really made her day when we went to the clinic and she got to pose for an actual promotional photograph. We needed a kid for a photo of our play therapy room and she served very nicely as our newest Forest Institute Celebrity. In fact she was a little upset when it was time to go.

To see all the photographs, including the one above of Neleha in the play therapy room, on the Forest Institute website just go to: Forest Institute Virtual Tour

Dynamite Fashion Show

Ever year the Forest Institute Financial Aid Office hosts a fashion show to promote their "No Default" program. This program is essentially to teach people how to pay off their school loans efficiently and more importantly entirely. This fashion show is very unique simply because of the spending limit models can use to purchase their attire. What the Financial Aid Office does is give each volunteer model $25 for which to purchase their entire runway attire, and that is the limit. They also throw in the proper motivation to buy the nicest stuff you can find for such a limited amount of money by offering prizes for different categories.

When I heard about it back when I was first interviewing for the school I knew this was right up my alley. I don't know too many other guys that love to shop at thrift stores as much as I do....well with the exception of my favorite movie character Napoleon Dynamite. So to honor my favorite character I got my $25 and headed to Goodwill, Disabled American Vets, and the Salvation Army thrift stores to buy some threads to make me look like the man without a plan.

I found a 3-piece suit, clip-on tie, brown leather shoes, and glasses for less than my limit. I was in business. We were allowed to supply our own accessories so the additional wig and numb-chucks topped off my presentation. I edited a track from the ND soundtrack for my runway song, it was the suit-walk, it work perfectly! I put on the best show I could as did my best not too embarrass my sweetheart who was watching from the audience, but I think I failed in that effort.

My runway performance included me quickly pulling my clip-on off and throwing it in the crowd, swing around a pair of numb-chucks, and pulling out some tater tots from my pocket and eating them. It was so fun but to be honest I couldn't see a thing the entire time. The glasses were actually +3 reading glasses which made everything blurry beyond recognition. Fun times indeed!

In the end I was awarded the honor of having the most complete outfit, 'HECK YES I DID'. Better than that however Kristy ended up winning the big door prize which was a very nice over-night suit case on rollers. We had some seriously sweet luck!