Last Day

This is short and sweet but I just had to share my excitement.  Today is the last day of school as undergrads!!!!!!!!! We graduate a week from tomorrow and I couldn't be more thrilled!

Easter

So I absolutely love coloring eggs so since it was Easter season I had Ryan color eggs with me. I think I enjoyed it more than he did but at least I got it out of my system for another year. This year I tried a new coloring technique and made a rainbow egg. It took a long time but I think it was worth it. I'll probably end up making one of these every year now.

Robins Awards

The Robins Awards (to learn about the history click here) are like the Oscars for Utah State.  There are a variety of different categories (Scholar of the Year, Athlete of the Year, Researcher of the Year, Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, etc.) and all of the nominees are invited.  No one knows who is going to win before going.  They just read the category the nominations and then open an envelope with the winner. The winner then comes up to accept the award and gives a short speech.  The whole event is very well done and everything just looked so classy.

This year I was nominated for Scholar of the Year and Undergraduate Researcher of the Year.  I was lucky to have family there with me.  Of course Ryan and my brother came, but my Dad was able to fly in from Indiana, and Ryan's parents were able to drive up with the twins.  It was so fun to have every there.  The third category was Undergraduate Researcher of the Year.  I was so nervous as they were reading all the nominations and to my surprise my name was inside the winning envelope.  I couldn't believe I'd actually won a Robins Award. (For the news article about the award click here and if you would like to read the bios about the other nominees click here)

Hair Cut

On Saturday I decided to cut my hair.  It was something I had been wanting to do for awhile I just needed to get of the courage to do it.  I cut a total of 9 inches off and I LOVE it!  My head feels so much lighter and my hair is much more healthy. 

Undergraduate Research Day

Last week, Utah State University held the Undergraduate Research Day.  On this day undergraduate students presented their research and were awarded for their work.  I won the award for the Undergraduate Researcher of the Year for the College of Engineering.  This award nominates me for the award for the Undergraduate Researcher of the Year for the University.  The results will be announced this weekend at the Robins Awards.

Dr. Joyce Kinkead (VP for Undergraduate Research), me, and Dr. Ron Sims (Biological Engineering Department Head)

The Undergraduate Researchers of the Year for each of the Colleges with the Peak's who sponsor this award.

Winter Update (In April)

It snowed all day yesterday.  Yes, SNOWED! It looks like a winter wonderland outside and it is April.  I know April showers bring May flowers but what does April snow bring?  I've been wondering that every year that I've been in Logan.  According to one of the professors that I work with it means deer coming down and eating all of your tulips. 

Now this post wasn't just to talk about the weather (contrary to what you may be thinking at this point) I do actually have some exciting updates.  First, Ryan received a research assistantship at U of W.  This will cover the cost of tuition and provide a monthly stipend.   We truly are so blessed to have the cost of graduate school covered.  However, Ryan did not get the NSF fellowship.  We think he will have a good shot next year since the only reason he didn't get it this year is because they thought he changed projects too much.  Obviously they don't realize the purpose of undergraduate studies is to figure out what you are most interested in so you can have a defined course for your graduate work. 

We really enjoyed conference weekend.  On Saturday Ryan planned a potluck for our ward in between the general sessions.  It was fun to get together with our friends from the ward and enjoy some good food.  I'm so glad he implemented this activity that he observed on his mission.  During the Saturday sessions we primed Ryan's old boss's basement.  It was fun to have a job we can work on together and to get a little messy!  We will paint the ceiling this weekend and then in two weeks we will do the walls.  Ryan's dad and brother drove up to Logan for the Priesthood session.  After the Priesthood session we met for dinner at Chili's.  I continued the tradition of getting there early to get us a table before the after conference rush started.  I found out that they were offered tickets to go to the Sunday afternoon session but Ryan and my brother declined because they wanted cinnamon roll french toast.  So on Sunday we enjoyed a day in pajamas and good food.  We had the requested breakfast and then a lasagna and bread sticks for dinner.

Lastly, there are only three more weeks of classes and then finals.  Which means four more weeks until graduation!!!!! For those of you who are interested in coming.  Graduation is at noon on Saturday May 7th at the Kent Concert Hall at USU.