Huntsman School 2014 Whitesides Scholar Athletes

Congratulations to this year's Huntsman School of Business Whitesides Scholar Athletes.


Nikolas Allred, Football, Business

Trevor Andersen, Men's Track & Field, International Business

Jarom Baldomero, Football, Accounting

Kaitlyn Betts, Gymnastics, Business Administration

Michael Bills, Men's Track & Field, Accounting

Parker Bluth, Men's Track & Field, Business Administration

Spencer Butterfield, Men's Basketball, Business Administration

Paul Clark, Football, Accounting

Ben Clifford, Men's Basketball, Finance/Economics

Sara Cobb, Soccer, Accounting

Brennan Coburn, Golf, Business Administration

James Croasdell, Men's Basketball, Economics

Kyle Davis, Men's Basketball, Business Administration

Joseph Gough, Men's Track & Field, Marketing

Austin Groll, Men's Track & Field, Business Administration

Cole Lambourne, Men's Track & Field, Business Administration

Bryan J. Larsen, Football, Business Administration

Trent Loveless, Football, Accounting

Jeff Manning, Football, Business Administration

Alexander Marsaw, Football, Business Administration

Daniel Mosman, Men's Track & Field, Finance

CJ O'Neal, Men's Track & Field, Business Administration/Marketing

Michael Okonkwo, Football, Finance

Travis Parrish, Football, International Business

Fredrick Peterson, Men's Tennis, Business Administration

Jennifer Schlott, Women's Basketball, Marketing

Travis Seefeldt, Football, Management Information Systems

Nick Steingreaber, Men's Track & Field, Finance

Annie Thomas, Softball, Business Administration

Andrew Whiting, Men's Tennis, Business

Connor Winters, Football, Business Administration

Michelle Yasukochi, Gymnastics, Accounting

A True Huntsman Experience

By Steve Mortenson, 2013-14 Business Senator 

When I realize that my time at the Huntsman School is coming to an end, I am hit with a rush of conflicting emotions. Sure, I am a little sad to be leaving Logan, but I am very excited to enter the real world, and when it comes down to it, I feel quite prepared.

This feeling of preparedness is thanks to countless professors, advisors, deans and other staff members who have donated time out of their busy lives to benefit my education. My professors have done more than just prepare lectures. They have spent time in their offices with me, emailed back and forth at all hours of the day and helped me understand my potential and dreams. Dave Patel, assistant dean of students and external affairs, has taken valuable time to teach me lessons of leadership and how to motivate others to find their dreams. My academic advisors have surpassed expectations by really getting to know me. Every time I meet with them, it is like catching up with an old friend.

The Huntsman School also has many programs that have helped prepare me for my future. I have been on several career exploration trips that have helped me clarify my goals and understand the different options available in my field of study. I have also been involved with the business council, which is a group of very passionate students willing to serve. The council has worked hard to help students find their niches and get involved around the school.

The Huntsman School has also given me numerous opportunities to go beyond the classroom. This semester I am part of a group that has been tasked to help Pepperidge Farms remove waste from their production lines at their facility in Richmond, Utah. In my sales class I have had the opportunity to shadow a sales professional and reflect on their tactics of selling. This model of real world experience holds true for most of my classes, especially thoseI have taken my senior year.

I cannot think of a better place to have completed my undergraduate education. The opportunities I have had while studying at Utah State are second to none. I am so grateful for all of the hard-working individuals who have made my experience a true Huntsman Experience.

Becoming Friends With Professors is a Key to Opportunity

I tell my younger sister that the most important thing you should do in college is to become friends with your professors. It is no secret that professors at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business are incredible at research and at teaching. But they are also incredibly friendly and helpful. 

Jeff Parker
Business Senator

Professors can be the most invaluable resource to students. If you know a professor personally, they will introduce and suggest opportunities to you. These could be scholarships, programs, internships, jobs, or research opportunities that are incredibly vital to your education. 

One way to make friends with a professor is to make sure that your professors know you by name. How do you do this? Give intelligent comments in class, ask questions after class, or visit them in during office hours. Having a professor as a friend will make your education phenomenal. 

However, this is a two-way street. I would also recommend that professors make an effort in learning student’s names. Use your vast knowledge and networks to introduce them to education enhancing experiences. You could influence a student's mind for the better. 

As I was thinking back on my time at the Huntsman School of Business,  this is one of the reasons that I started to take advantage of my education. As a sophomore, I was floating through classes, sitting in the back. For some reason, I must have thought of a good question or given a comment because Professor Diana Thomas called after class. After talking for moment, she recommended that I applied for Koch Scholars. From that point on, she knew my name, and I was toast. Every time I would zone out or nod off in class she would call on me. I would startle back to reality and maybe stumble through an answer. It was pretty annoying at the moment but I am really grateful now. 

Although I was never accepted to the Koch Scholars, that initial two-minute conversation was my catalyst for engaging in my education. I switched my major to economics. I applied for study abroad, which I discussed with Professor Thomas during her office hours. I was researching scholarships for the trip when I learned about the Huntsman Scholar program. I applied and connections there lead me to an internship. Friends I made in the program encouraged me to run for Business Senator. Everything has snowballed from that one moment when Diana gave me some friendly advice. I have talked to many students with similar stories. Professors are the channel through which students learn about these vital opportunities. 

I invite professors to recommend to students all of the fantastic opportunities here at the Business School, and I highly recommend to all students the same advice I give me sister: make sure the professors know you by name. 

— Jeff Parker
     Business Senator
    Jon M. Huntsman School of Business 
     jeffrey.parker@aggiemail.usu.edu 

The Final Year of College

In just days I will be entering my final year of college. I have been going to school since I was five and cannot imagine how it will be to not go to school next fall. With this thought comes a minor panic attack. Am I ready for the work force? How do I apply for a real job? Is there anything else I can do in my senior year to prepare me?

As I was asking myself these questions, I found a great article on quintcareers.com, a website dedicated to empowering job-seekers. On this site they gave a few suggestions I found incredibly helpful and comforting. Here some of my favorites.

1. Start your job search early. My first impression of this advice was that I have nine months to find a job, why start now? The article advised that your senior year flies by, and it's always best to prepare ahead of time instead of scrambling to get things done at the very end. “We can almost guarantee that the earlier you start, the more job-search success you'll have,” the site stated.

2. Gain work experience. This takes sacrifice. I experienced the battle of taking the internship that barely pays the bills, versus working the part-time job to have a little extra. The article emphasizes that “it's especially vital to gain experience at this point if you've neglected to obtain any before your senior year,” and once you have the experience to “then articulate the key transferable skills you acquired.”

3. Consider developing a job-search portfolio. I had not really thought about this, but rather than just mentioning amazing projects or articles you’ve done, consider compiling your projects and job-search documents into a career portfolio.

4. Use all available job-search resources. This article mentioned again and again how important networking can be. It also advised to make a list of employers you wish to work for and go directly to those companies' career centers and search available openings. And while it’s good to post your resume on sites such as careerbuilder.com or collegerecruiter.com, the old-fashioned method in which you send targeted cover letters and resumes to a select group of employers can be very beneficial.

5. Follow up all leads. Once you have submitted a resume and application, the process has just started. “Following-up with employers shows your continued interest in the position and the organization,” the article reads.

This article gave me great insight on what I can be to prepare today. I hope these words of advice will help you and me both, receive our dream job in nine months. Good luck seniors.

Klydi Heywood

Father of Three Goes to Graduate School

Father of Three Goes to Graduate School

In 2010, Bryce Huff quit his job of five years at a bank, sold his home, and decided to further his education. First, he went to Oregon to obtain a master’s in conflict resolution, but after finishing there, Bryce came to the Huntsman School to earn his MBA.

“When I came through that door, I knew I wanted to be involved in everything I could,” Bryce said.

With his wife pregnant with their third son, Bryce endeavored to make the most of his MBA experience. He became the account manager for The Agency, an internal, student-run marketing group. It was because of his position with The Agency, as well as his involvement with the Entrepreneurship Club, that Bryce landed a full-time job when he graduated.

Bryce Huff

At a weekly lecture that Bryce helped to organize with the Entrepreneurship Club, Mike Glauser invited Jackie Butler, owner of Med Quest Pharmacy in North Salt Lake, to speak to the students. Med Quest is an innovative company that takes a scientific approach to prescribing important health-supporting supplements.

“I sat next to her at the dinner and really reached out to her,” Bryce said, and after a recommendation letter from Dr. Glauser, Bryce was offered a position with the company.

Because he was so involved at the Huntsman School, “things are really starting to fall into place,” Bryce said.

Huntsman Hall will serve solutions for the hungry

As I have visited business schools across the country, I noticed one thing that nearly all of them have in common – they offer their students a place to get something to eat. The only exception was a business school that was right next door to the university’s student union where there were several places to get food. And the buildings were connected by a tunnel.

Ken Snyder

We discussed this with our student building committee. The students unanimously voiced their opinion that they want to see some sort of student café as part of the new building.

So Huntsman Hall will have, right next to the student commons area, a café. I have some ideas about what I’d like to see in that café that were sparked by what I observed at other business schools. The approach I’d like to see is all about offering variety and efficiency at the same time.

Imagine this: you walk in the door and immediately there is a counter where you can order a sandwich or something hot. One need not stand there waiting, however, because just beyond that would be a convenience store of sorts where you could buy fresh fruit, candy, yogurt, granola bars, drinks, ice cream and all matter of prepackaged foods. It would all be designed so you could go in, quickly pick out what you want, and then head to the cash registers to get checked out. And yes, I did say cash registers, plural. The basic idea is that there would be offerings for those craving a more substantive sandwich and there would be a wide variety of food available for those on the run. Think of it as a convenience store and a Panini café all rolled into one.

This café will be about 1,400-square-feet. It will be next to the student commons area so that teams of students who wanted to meet together and grab a bite to eat could do so. The café can double as a student team meeting area. Our students say they really hate leaving the business building to try to find some food somewhere else on campus. Our new café should not only provide them with a source of food, but also satisfy some of the need for team meeting space as well.

- Ken Snyder

- Ken Snyder

Ignoring distractions

For Christmas, I got an iPhone 4S. One of the most hyped-up features of this device is Siri, the voice recognizing and talking assistant. The phone also has a “reminder” app, so I can either manually type in reminders or tell Siri to take care of it for me. Siri has made it easier for me to keep and respond to a “to do” list.

According to Peter Bregman, a strategic advisor to CEOs and their leadership teams, there is one other list I should think about: an ignore list. Bregman wrote a post for the Harvard Business Review Blog Network titled, “Two Lists You Should Look at Every Morning.” The two lists he talks about are your focus list and your ignore list.

Connor Child

I know it may seem silly to write a blog post about another blog post, but this is just what I needed to hear. As the new year approaches, many of us will make resolutions about what we will do in the coming year. My resolutions will be more about what I will stop doing in the coming year. For instance, do I really need to read the comments below a YouTube video? Odds are that I’m already not making productive use of my time by watching said video; what could I possibly get out of reading what ragtag57 has to say about it?

Bregman says the “ignore list” should contain distractions. What types of things are getting in your way? I can’t speak for everyone, but I can say for myself that there are several distractions that have limited my academic progress. With the internet and social media networks, the number of distractions out there is limitless. As I near the beginning of the final semester of my undergraduate career, I have made a commitment to eliminate or reduce the timewasting activities that have gotten in my way.

But not right now. I just got a cool new smartphone and I want to play with its lightsaber app for a little bit.

- Connor Child

Should Nintendo skills go on a résumé?

On Halloween, I spend the evening applying for jobs and playing a little 8-bit Nintendo.

I spend 4 hours filling out 5 job applications and 1.25 hours saving the princess. Guess which activity I felt better about when I went to bed?

Paul Lewis Siddoway

Nobody will argue that it's easy to find a job. Especially in this market. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools and plenty of advice on the subject.

One blog I found, "Thoughts on Teaching," comes from the stand point of a professor from the University of Florida.

Julie Dodd, a professor in UF's communications department saw an article in the New York Times about new graduates waiting for their careers to begin, and she suggested a few things to do.

Obviously, while I'm looking for a foot in the door to the big-boy job world I'll keep the job I have, but Dodd also suggested freelancing. One guy I work with got paid $50 for one hour of consultation. Brilliant.

There are other ways to make good use of that 40-hours a week I may not be using, too. And I'm not just talking about traversing the underworld and slaying monsters. I found Dodd's blog because I decided to start my own blog. It may not be about accounting or finance or marketing, but it is about music, because that's one of my passions. And maybe someone else who's into music will read it. And maybe, just maybe, they'll want to talk to me about something else, like a job. It's worth a shot, right? If nothing else, I'm developing another marketable job skill.

I've already talked about networking, but Dodd recommends always carrying business cards, just in case. Even if they aren't that professional, as long as they have a way to contact you, that's enough. Ideally, I'd like to give everyone I meet a copy of my resume, so they can give it to someone else they know and I will be handed a job on a silver platter.

And speaking of resumes, do you think beating a golden action-adventure game from the 80s is resume-worthy? What demonstrates your work ethic better than the infinite amount of hours you’ve spent on problem-solving a single, dedicated task with no form of reward other than the satisfaction of completion?

At least, that's how I justify it to my wife.

- Paul Lewis Siddoway

The Fourth Class

I used to not be a big fan of change. Now, that’s not to say I didn’t like improvement or growth. I’ve just always been a firm believer in the idea that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” And there are many aspects in my life that don’t need fixing as they do fine for me.

Rob Goates

A couple weeks ago, my wife and I had a beautiful, healthy baby. Now, for those unaware of how college life is separated at USU, there exist four classes. There are freshmen, single students, married students and students with kids. They don’t generally mix, except for class projects, and if they do, it’s because either party doesn’t know of the other’s situation; when they do, thus ensue two situations, the awkward “How’s that treatin’ ya? Do ya like it?” conversation or a comment like “Cool,” with a looming silence afterward. I’m now in the final class; from this point on I am that guy with a kid.

Anatole France, a French novelist, said “All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.” Those who read that might think a small part of my “married student” life “died” when we had our baby and, in some essence, you’d be right. Life has become less spontaneous and more prearranged. Do I regret it? Not a chance.

A person with a narrow perspective longs for and wishes to continue living the experiences of a previous class, looking towards their peers there and imagining of how much more fun they must be having (except for freshmen to single students, that is a change where many don’t look back). But adulthood is a fickle beast that hides itself and waits to descend upon the most unsuspecting, whether it is in the first meeting with your future companion or the two lines on a pregnancy test, it waits.

As the degree of responsibility increases, so does the potential for joy. I have lived them all and can say, unequivocally, the most joy, and the most stress, is found in the fourth class.

Now, with a baby, there is change every day, and I’m okay with that.

- Rob Goates

The most wonderful time of the year

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

I’m not talking about Christmas, although I like Christmas. I’m talking about now. Fall. When the weather cools and it’s time to retrieve heavier clothing, my heart grows fond of the opportunity to sip hot chocolate and, this year especially, seek shelter under the ribs of my umbrella.

Rob Goates

Thomas Hood, the English poet, said “I saw old Autumn in the misty morn stand shadowless like silence, listening to silence.” How often is that noticed? Our homes are left, in the early morning, and one pauses to feel the crisp, cool silence present in “old Autumn.” The animals are gone; wintertime hides herself and waits to descent upon the unsuspecting Utah State students and faculty.

Many literary minds pay homage to this time of year. Albert Camus, a French philosopher, stated that “autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” Those who have had the opportunity to drive or hike through any canyon in Cache Valley are well aware of the eruption of color that bursts from every tree and shrubbery from the surrounding hills. To smell the earthy, damp scent rush with the wind. To feel the crunch of dried leaves underfoot.

Utah State athletics have the feel of autumn throughout the whole year. Most of those in attendance don’t realize the significance of the seats, believing the “nauseous” colors are indicative of the era in which the arena was built. However, when the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum designer worked on the building before its dedication on December 1, 1970, he decided to immortalize the feeling we experience now at every event by creating those same colors found in Sardine Canyon.

There is a harmony in autumn not seen nor heard through the summer, then vanished in winter, when nature herself orchestrates the beginning of a long, emotionless rest. During that time, it is, in my opinion, the most wonderful time of the year.

- Rob Goates

Honesty at the Last Dash Relay race

A group of runners compete in the Last
Dash Relay Race during Business Week

On Tuesday I went to the Last Dash Relay Race that the business school put on for Business Week. I thought about running in it, although I had to work late, so it's probably a good thing I decided not to, because I didn't get there until about 17 minutes into the race.

The course was set up along a 5K route, which people had to run twice. If they were on a relay team, they switched off at the halfway point. It turned out that not everybody ran it. There were some people on bikes and a couple were on roller blades.

I knew I got there about 17 minutes in, because that's when the first guy hit the halfway point. Actually, he was the third guy to hit the halfway point. Two guys came in about 30 seconds before him. By the end of the race, he had passed both of them. When they were giving out the prizes for the top three finishers in each of the categories, at least one of the runners came forward and declined his prize because he had missed a section of the race.

Nobody would have known. He could have just accepted his prize, but he didn't.

It's nice to see people being honest. It kind of restores my faith in humanity when most of what I see on the news gives evidence that you can't trust most people. And just like running, it feels good and in the long run it's better for you.

Paul Lewis Siddoway

Organizational uses of social media

I’m a sucker for strongly worded critiques. If an author says things like, “The food at the restaurant was abysmal to the point that I intentionally threw up in my mouth to get rid of the bad taste”, sign me up.

So when I came across an article on Forbes.com titled “Skittles’ Stupid Social Media Trick”, it took me all of a nanosecond to click on the link. And I have to say, reading Laura Burkitt shred the marketing tactics of my favorite candy brand was sweeter than the figurative “taste of the rainbow” that Skittles claims its product delivers.

Connor Child

Skittles didn’t want to lag behind the rest of the industry with its social media efforts, so its marketers got rid of the traditional home web page and put in its place “a collage of content from social networking sites.” Their main error was including a live, unedited Twitter feed. It didn’t take long before anonymous, attention-seeking Twitter followers began directing “scalding” comments to its feed containing profanity. Because Skittles didn’t use a social media aggregator that would allow them to moderate comments before they were posted, the offensive language was displayed on their website for everyone to read.

Burkitt doesn’t fault Skittles for experimenting with Twitter on its website. She criticizes them for not using a social media aggregator, such as FriendFeed or Plaxo, to “view comments and moderate them before they are posted.” Companies now have the liberty of doing this thanks in large part to PepsiCo. FriendFeed never had this feature until Pepsi requested that they make the service available only to Pepsi, but they added the option for all companies.

Now I want to shift from a company that didn’t get social media to one that excels at it: the NBA.

In April of this year, Maria Burns Ortiz wrote an article for ESPN.com titled, “The NBA’s social media explosion”. She mentions several facts and figures illustrating the NBA’s dominance over its competitors in the social media realm: “The NBA has positioned itself as the top sports league in social media – No. 1 on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube in terms of respective followers, likes and views.” At the time this article was written, the NBA had 10.5 million users who like and follow its official Facebook and Twitter page; the NFL, which is easily the most popular sports league in the United States, had yet to crack 5 million.

What has this done for the NBA? It has engaged fans in an unprecedented way. They can get to know their favorite stars on a much more personal level than ever before (approximately half of the NBA’s players are on Twitter). League and team officials can also monitor relevant trends and see what the fans are talking about. This allows them to gain valuable consumer information for marketing and public relations purposes.

I am baffled as to why the other professional sports leagues haven’t followed the NBA’s lead on this. Perhaps the NFL doesn’t view the NBA as a viable competitor (indeed, revenue for the NFL dwarfs that of the NBA). But didn’t we just spend a summer listening to NFL owners say they weren’t making enough money? Instead of trying to convince us that you aren’t getting your fair share of revenue, please spend more time getting to know your consumers and delivering us what we want.

- Connor Child

Are there too many A grades given out in college?

My boss keeps telling me I should write a blog about how there are too many A’s being given out in college classes these days.

Paul Lewis Siddoway

I haven't yet taken his advice. Obviously. Until now, kind of.

With the new school year, there comes new students, new classes and new teachers. One of these new professors teaches one of the lower division classes in my major and has declared that his class will be graded harder. He said most kids will get a “C”, the same amount will get a D as will get a B, and very few will get an F or an A.

In statistics, this is normal. Actually, according to all the grading standards I’ve ever heard of, this is normal. I was taught to expect a C if I met the expectations, a B was for exceeding expectations, and an A was for being outstanding.

It seems as though in my grade school days a D was a passing grade. It wasn’t a good thing, but it was acceptable. You got credit. Frankly, I was a B student. That doesn’t really sound that great, but it was 10 or 20 years ago. It was better than most. Now it’s just okay. Now it seems that most people who read and bother to show up for the test can get at least a B. Statistics says that 13.6 percent of people should get a D, and the same should get a B. But things have shifted. Now you don’t pass a class if you get a D.

I don’t disagree with that, but I think that when you raise the bar like that, you shouldn’t lower your expectations for the other grades. Now everyone expects to get an A, where before only about 2.3 percent got an A.

Growing up I was told that college was going to be harder than high school. I think it’s easier to get an A now then it was back then. In fact, after about the 2nd grade the only 4.0 GPA’s I’ve ever had were in college.

Growing up I was told that college was going to prepare me for real life and a big-boy job. Mostly it does, but only because I chose a major with classes that are based more on my skills and that really train me to do my general profession. However, if students had to compete against one another to get good grades, it would be more like real life. If there were only so many openings for graduates, it would make us better. Either that or we would drop out.

Growing up I was told that college was going to expect me to write in cursive. Now everybody types everything, and it mostly looks like cell phone text shorthand.

So there’s my soapbox, and my hope that my boss will stop suggesting the same thing to write about.

Paul Lewis Siddoway

Huntsman School's Campus-Wide Text Messaging Club

Many of you may have noticed these green ads in various locations throughout campus. The Huntsman School is developing a campus-wide text messaging club where students will get updates on major university and Huntsman School of Business events. This will help improve communication between the Huntsman School and its students.

When students send a text to the number 88222, their phone numbers are entered into the text messaging club, and they become eligible for the drawings. In mid-September, the Huntsman School will randomly select two individuals who have entered the drawing for the awards. One student will win a $500 gift card to USU's bookstore, and another student will be awarded Aggie Ice Cream for one year.

Rev Up Your Career

The Huntsman School has stated its purpose is "to be a career accelerator for [its] students and an engine of growth for [its] communities, the state, the nation and the world." These aren't just empty words; the Huntsman School has real, tangible programs to help students gain valuable experience and launch their careers.

This week is "Rev Up Your Career" week. A number of activities have been planned to help raise students' awareness of said opportunities at the Huntsman School. Below is a schedule of what's planned ahead. All events will be held in the business building lobby. Drop by, have fun, and learn about the great opportunities Huntsman students have at USU.

- Sterling Morris

The Element

Ken Robinson is a guy worth listening to. He spoke at TED in early 2007, and his speech has become the second most viewed video of all time on TED's YouTube channel. (I've posted the video to this speech at the end of this post.) He's funny, he's dynamic and he places a lot of value on creativity. He recently wrote a book entitled The Element that looks at the importance of finding your passion and pursuing it in your life.

I'm writing from New York following the first day of the Huntsman School's Career Exploration trip. Huntsman students who are interested in finance, marketing, entrepreneurship and other subjects have the opportunity to visit various places including The Big Apple to meet with alumni and other professionals to network and to get a feel for the industry, the city and the opportunities available to them. 

Brittany Packham at Times Square

I decided to combine my experience on the Marketing and PR focused visits with reading The Element. Robinson describes "The Element" as "the place where the things we love to do and the things we are good at come together." In this book, he emphasizes the importance of talent and interest exploration; when an individual finds something she or he is both passionate about and good at doing, that person will excel in that field. 

Tyler Spurlock at USU alumni event

On Wednesday, we visited Bloomberg and saw how they perform their broadcasts. We then visited Coltrin and Associates and got a unique view into the PR world as we met with their professionals, many of whom are Aggie alumni, and asked a variety of questions surrounding the PR industry. We also sat down with an insightful PR professional in a cafe who gave us insight into the event planning world. We ended the day by attending a USU alumni event where nearly 100 Aggies gathered. The common thread I noticed throughout these visits is the fact that the professionals seemed to have found their "Element." They were excited, happy and passionate about what they do -- something that can make anyone's career more rewarding and successful. 

This is really quite an incredible experience for Huntsman students who want to get their foot in the door. Huntsman students can explore their interests and talents, meet with executives and professionals that otherwise would be hard or impossible to get in front of, and start their careers with good firms, doing work they want to do. 


- Sterling Morris

Ken Robinson on education and creativity

Networking and the six degrees of Kevin Bacon

Paul Lewis Siddoway

In December, I’m planning on graduating, which means that really soon I’m going to have to start looking for a “big boy” job, where I have to wear slacks and a shirt with a collar. And maybe even a tie.

Obviously, I’ve been talking to some of my professors to get some of their insight on the industry. One professor said that less than 10% of his students come in for that kind of advising. One thing that comes up over and over is networking -- who you know, and who they know.

There’s this idea that anybody on the planet is linked to anybody else on the planet through at most six other people. It’s the ultimate networking game.

I have always hated looking for jobs. There’s just something about wading through job boards, filling out countless applications that all ask for the same information, and then not even hearing back from the company. And it’s even harder in a college town, where half the population are all competing for the same handful of jobs.

When I moved to Logan a couple years ago, I had enough money saved so I could pay rent and buy food for three months. I didn’t have a job, and I had that long to find one. I had been keeping an eye out in the newspaper and on the USU job boards, and I got called back for quite a few interviews, but nothing seemed to work out. A week before school started one of my roommates said there was an opening at his job in Brigham City. So I interviewed and got the job.

Over the next year or so, I came to realize that 90% of the people working there knew someone. Not every applicant with a connection got a job, but it was obviously an influence.

As I think back on the various places I have worked, two thirds of the jobs I’ve had came from networking.

So now that I’m going into the “real” world, I’m trying to talk to everyone I know for tips or suggestions on where to apply. My mom has a cousin (I say cousin, but I don’t actually know how we’re related) in Georgia who is very well connected who said he’d let me know if he hears of any open positions.

Luckily for me, Kevin Bacon and I are only separated by one person. If only that could help me get a job in the business world.


Paul Lewis Siddoway

Seattle Day 2 (Thursday, July 21st)

In front of Pike Place Market

This morning we had a great time enjoying the wonderful city of Seattle by going to Pike Place Market, one of the most famous farmer's markets in the world. Although this activity was a fun break, it was still fascinating to see a different aspect of business with hundreds of little businesses selling a variety of knick-knacks. The market had a distinct smell of fresh flowers and, of course, FISH!

It was amazing to see so many different flower vendors and the beautiful bouquets that they were selling. We were also able to see the famous fish throwing and as several of us discussed, we realized there are only a few people in the world who can be considered a tourist attraction, but the fish guys at Pike Place Market clearly fall into that category.

Pike Place Market

A few of us ate a delicious lunch at the “Athenian” this great diner looking out over Puget Sound. For those of you who lived through the '90s or love romantic comedies, you’ll know that this little restaurant is one of the locations where Tom Hanks is filmed eating in the movie, “Sleepless in Seattle.” I ordered a delicious crab cake sandwich that was very tasty.

In the afternoon we met with Phil Bussey who was the President of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. It was really interesting being able to realize the role the Chamber of Commerce can play in the business world. The Seattle Chamber of Commerce has done a lot recently to keep up with the innovative feel of Seattle by implementing some really key programs.  

Crab Pot

Brent Meacham

Later in the evening, several of us went to Crab Pot, another famous Seattle restaurant. I ordered a slew of seafood and after devouring my full Crab, lots of mussels, shrimp, and other food I realized that I prefer the deep fried seafood covered in batter…with the exception of the crab…it was DELICIOUS!!!

It was a fun day experiencing the culture of Seattle. I’m excited for the fun visits we have coming up tomorrow and I can hardly believe our exciting week is coming to an end tomorrow! I guess I'll just have to live it up until then.


Brent Meacham

Do college graduates remember what their student experience was like?

Whether you’re a recent grad or recent retiree, we all remember those long nights and longer study sessions spent cramming for that ever-so-important exam. We juggled a swinging single social life or caring for kids, working 20 to 40 hours a week, an internship and not to mention what seemed a more-than-full time school schedule. Yep, it was a wonderfully busy time (emphasis on the wonderfully, though, right?). Now, some of us have moved on into the real world. Hopefully we will get to use that degree we worked so hard for, and hopefully we can continue to dare mighty things. The question is, “Do we remember what it’s like to be a college student?” Things may have changed, so we’ve supplied a quiz to give an idea of where you might fit on the scale.

Rob Goates

How do you relax?

1.       Night on the town, cruising Main Street, spending time with the apple of my eye.

2.       Drive up Logan Canyon, pay Old Juniper a visit (rest assured, he hasn’t changed).

3.       You’ll find me in the front row at the Spectrum, losing my voice.

4.       Stay inside, hanging with the roomies, watching that flick or TV show we just can’t get enough of.

5.       Speaking of can’t get enough, I need to study, back to the library!

What do you eat?

1.       I’m poor, the only thing I can afford has noodles in it, i.e. ramen and cup of noodles (and we loved them!).

2.       Don’t have time, eating is a luxury, grab that energy bar and get to class.

3.       Go with my sweetums out to that restaurant that we love, no matter the price.

4.       Marketplace, Sky Room, Junction and the Hub, every meal, every day.

5.       Live off the land, thar’ are turkeys in them hills.

What do you drive?

1.       Honestly, anything that gets me from point A to point B.

2.       I don’t need to drive, I live on campus.

3.       I wouldn’t say I drive it, but it does look good in the mechanic’s shop. Luckily, Cache Valley Transit is free...

4.       Are you kidding? Cycling is the only way to go, come rain or shine.

5.       Sports car, enough said.

How is your sleep?

1.       I sleep better when it’s not raining because my lean-to shelter I call “home” gets wet.

2.       I sleep better when it’s not raining as well but because our ceiling leaks so badly.

3.       Excellent, the house I own is top-notch.

4.       Study now, sleep later. I can sleep when I’m dead.

5.       Dead asleep; the Howl last night was so much fun.

Now count your points!

How do you relax?  1 = 5 points, 2 = 2 points, 3 = 4 points, 4 = 1 point, 5 = 3 points

What do you eat?  1 = 1 point, 2 = 3 points, 3 = 5 points, 4 = 4 points, 5 = 2 points

What do you drive?  1 = 3 points, 2 = 4 points, 3 = 1 point, 4 = 2 points, 5 = 5 points

How is your sleep?  1 = 2 points, 2 = 1 point, 3 = 5 points, 4 = 3 points, 5 = 4 points

5-7 points, Congratulations, you definitely remember what it’s like to be a student! You may consider yourself “economically-friendly,” but when it comes down to it, you are POOR. But deep down inside, you look back on it with fondness and look forward to those experiences for your kids.

8-10 points, Congratulations, you definitely remember what it’s like to be a student! Taking advantage of the beautiful landscape that Logan has to offer is one of your fortes. You may have skied the Beav or fished at Second Dam, but you were there, enjoying every minute.

11-13 points, Congratulations, you definitely remember what it’s like to be a student! You were a studying machine with the drive of a jet engine. Working those all-nighters and running on empty, you’re hopefully now enjoying the fruits of your labors (and remembering your alma mater J).

14-16 points, Congratulations, you definitely remember what it’s like to be a student! What a socialite you are, you make events successful and work hard to get the most from what’s offered. Because of you, the traditions that make Utah State great live on.

17-19 points, Congratulations, you definitely remember what it’s like to be a student! While you weren’t the wealthiest, you still enjoyed many comforts during your college years and knew how to take advantage of what was given you.

20 points, Uh, you definitely DO NOT remember what it’s like to be a student! If you are in this group, I wish I were friends with you. You are one of the very select few that really enjoyed a plush lifestyle in college.

Rob Goates