It takes all kinds of minds: Dr. Temple Grandin sheds light on autism at USU

Dr. Temple Grandin

Dr. Temple Grandin will soon visit Utah State University. She’s coming to discuss animal handling, a field she’s revolutionized. She’ll also talk about Autism Spectrum Disorder.

She’s on the autism spectrum herself, and her life experience gives her a refreshing, insider’s approach to the topic. On November 2 she’ll deliver a free public lecture: “All Kinds of Minds Need to Work Together.” She speaks at 4 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center ballroom.

If anywhere needs more frank discussion about autism, it’s Utah. Nationwide, one in 110 children is diagnosed with ASD. In Utah, the rate is one in 77. That means that two of every 150 babies born in the state will experience the significant challenges in communication, behavior and getting along with others that come with ASD. The cost of treating autism can total $3.5 million over a child’s lifetime, according to a 2006 Harvard study—including medical care, prescriptions and intervention.

USU Students Break Kissing World Record

Students at Utah State University broke the world record for the “longest kissing chain” in the late evening of Friday, Sept. 23. The previous record of 303 participants was set at a school in India earlier this year. The Aggies set the new world record with 1,450 participants.

Kissing has played an important role in student traditions at Utah State. The long standing "True Aggie" tradition—a title given to those receiving a kiss on the "A" under a full moon at midnight by somebody who is already a "True Aggie," or on Homecoming—is a right-of-passage for many students. At one time, USU held the record for “most couples kissing at the same place at the same time.”

“I thought we could organize another world record pretty easily,” said graduate student Michael Wilkey. “We’re Aggies; we can do anything when we’re united!”

Wilkey, with the help of the USU Student Alumni Association planned and carried out the event.

“Now we will just wait to hear back from the officials at Guinness World Records,” said Wilkey.

To help ensure that the record would be considered by Guinness, Judge Jeff Burbank and Representative David Butterfield were enlisted to act as judicators.

The world record was held in conjunction with the Utah State University 2011 Homecoming Week which will conclude with the homecoming football game as the Aggies take on the Rams of Colorado State, at 6 PM, Saturday, Sept. 24.

USU Bookstore: No Border To What It Can Do

See the bottom of this post for a FREE SHIPPING promo code!

By its name, obviously the USU Bookstore provides all the books necessary for student coursework. Though textbooks are just one of the products it provides. From Aggie apparel to computers and school supplies, if you need it, chances are the Bookstore can get it for you.

Here are just a few of the new products and promotions available to students, alumni, and fans alike.

USU is a Princeton Review “Green College”

For two consecutive years Utah State University has been named a Princeton Review “Green College.” Ranked in the top 80^th percentile of more than 700 schools surveyed, the university wears her green badge with pride.

But what does “going green” even mean? Besides the fact that Utah State has more green space than any other college or university in the state, it’s all about critical thinking, which means always challenging conventional ways of doing things. From the preservation of natural environments to new innovations reducing energy consumption, USU is a major player in the sustainability movement.

The "A" Gets a Facelift

If you've walked past the "A" recently, you may have noticed that it rests on the sidewalk, a few feet from where it normally sits. But don't worry, this is just the first incision of some landscape plastic surgery. The 2011 senior class wanted to leave its mark by beautifying the area that has held so many True Aggie Nights. 

Graduating seniors donated over $5,000 to refurbish the area surrounding the most recognizable icon at Utah State. The "A" will now sit on a concrete pad, which will stop it from sinking into the soft dirt near the quad. Also, five feet of paver bricks will surround the "A", keeping the area from turning into mud during Homecoming, A-Day and other True Aggie Nights. 

“It is our responsibility, as Aggies, to give back to this University," said Tessa Goodall 2011 senior gift chair. "The Senior gift can be our way to show gratitude for the experience USU has provided us.”

For more information about donations contact Elizabeth Bare,     elizabeth.bare@usu.edu, 435-797-0863.

Photo Courtesy of Isacc Brekken/AP

When thinking about your dream university, does it include incredible athletics? If so, then look no further, USU might be the place just for you. The Aggie’s just finished up, yet another incredible basketball season! On March 12th, the Aggie’s finished up their regular season by winning the WAC Championship in Las Vegas, NV against Boise State! Final score, 77-69! Congratulations to Tai Wesley who received the “WAC Player of the Year”! Also, a huge congratulations to Head Coach Stew Morrill for winning “Coach of the Year”. Can you believe it’s his 3rd straight win! The Aggie’s had an incredible season with a record of 30-3 and 15-1 in the WAC Conference.

So that means, the Aggie’s are going dancing! The Aggie's will take on Kansas State on Thursday March 17th , 7:55 MST. Good Luck Aggies! Future Aggies, it’s NEVER to early to join in on what ESPN calls, “One of the Smartest Student Sections in the entire country” So, put on your Future Aggie shirt and cheer on the Aggies! And if you don't know any of the cheers yet, don't worry, here's a video to help you out. Start with the most popular USU chant! I believe that we will win....I believe that we will win....

Home Stretch....3 short months to go!

Can you believe it? Seniors you are on the home stretch, the final 3 months of your entire high school career! What a huge milestone; one you should be very proud of. Hopefully, this is just the beginning. T he majority of you have settled into making one of the most important decisions of your life. Where to attend college! You’ve gotten your applications in {if not, it’s not too late! www.usu.edu/admissions/applyonline} and now you are sitting back weighing the pro’s and con’s for each institution. Don’t worry, that’s exactly what you should be doing right now. For those of you that might need some help, here’s just a few of the pro’s of attending USU:

*A GREAT SIZE: At USU we have 15,000 students that attend our main campus. You will be getting the best of both worlds. You will be getting the benefits of attending a big university {Division 1 Sports, 170+ majors, 2nd Oldest Undergraduate Research Program} mixed with the benefits of attending a small liberal arts college {A faculty to student ratio of 17:1, Average class size 20-29, 10 of the last 16 Carnegie Professors for the State of Utah teach at USU}.

*A GREAT LOCATION: You know what the say, Location, Location, Location! Ask any fellow Aggie and then will tell you that there’s nowhere on the planet quite like Logan. Logan is a 2 minute drive to Logan Canyon, an hour drive to 4 ski resorts and a days drive to 7 National Parks! Also, with Logan being the largest residential campus is Utah there’s always something going on on our campus. No wonder AIER College Destination ranked Logan as the #13 Best College Town! Still not convinced? USU also has over 200 clubs for you to get involved in, 12 intramural sport programs, and 7 fraternities and sororities to get involved with!

*AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES: Have you always dreamed of “Running with the Bulls” in Spain? Ever wished to pass the Eifel Tower on your way to class? Or take a weekend trip to see the Great Wall? If so, USU just might be the place for you! Our Study Abroad program has over 150 locations to choose from, it might be tough choosing just one! You can follow one of our students, Dexter Summers’ incredible study abroad experience online at www.usuabroad-dexter.blogspot.com

We would absolutely love for you to come and see what Utah State University has to offer you in your future. It's not too late to take a look at USU. One of the greatest ways for you to find out if USU is a great fit for you is to come and visit our campus. We offer campus tours Monday-Friday at 10:15 and 1:15 daily. You can sign up for them online at www.usu.edu/admissions/campustour As always, if there’s ANY question in your mind regarding Utah State University please do not hesitate to get in touch with your representative {http://www.usu.edu/admissions/territory/}

As always, GO AGGIES!!!

Aggie Basketball...what's all the buzz about?

You've heard about Aggie Basketball at USU right? But, have you actually experienced it? There are still four more opportunities to attend an Aggie basketball game this season! Sign up today!

For two of the games, we are hosting our popular “Bring-A-Date to Utah State!” The cost is $20 per couple and includes dinner for two, famous Aggie Ice Cream, two game day t-shirts, two “A” beanies, and two tickets to the game. We will meet at 5:00 pm for dinner and game time is 7:00 pm. The dates are, Thursday, 20 January 2011 or Saturday, 12 February 2011

The other two games are being broadcast on ESPN so expect a Spectrum atmosphere at its finest! There is no charge for either of these games. We will meet at 7:30 pm for the distribution of tickets and game day t-shirts and, of course, some famous Aggie Ice Cream. Game time for both games is 9:00 pm. The dates are: Saturday, 22 January 2011 or
Wednesday, 2 February 2011

Sign up at the following site: http://www.usu.edu/admissions/freetickets/. Any questions, call Tad Sorenson at 435-797-1378.

We hope to see you there! GO AGGIES!!!

When should I start thinking about college?

One of the many questions we receive in the Admissions office at USU is when should a prospective student start thinking about college.  Our answer to this is NOW!  It’s never too soon for a student to begin the process of researching their future at a college or university.

A common misconception for many prospective students, is that the college selection process starts sometime in their senior year of high school.  While it’s never too late for a student to begin his or her higher education journey, those who begin early have an advantage.   Scholarships usually follow parameters that vary little from year to year.  If a student is aware of what is required for a scholarship well in advance (even two and three years before they apply for admissions), then there is time to prepare for those parameters.  This pertains to students who wish to apply for both academic and involvement scholarships. 

Students, who also start looking at college and universities early, can easily eliminate schools that they aren’t interested in and spend time doing their homework on institutions that interest them.  This added time will allow them to visit campuses, research academic programs, and taste the social life of specific schools.

It’s never too late!  If you are a 10^th grader still figuring out high school, or a 12^th grader suffering from senioritis, get in contact with the schools that interest you, and we’ll be here to help you decide what’s best for you.

Did I Miss the Deadline?

Applying for admission to colleges and universities can be very stressful. There are several dates and important deadlines that applicants mustn't miss. It can get particularly tricky for students applying to several institutions. Here are a few important dates/deadlines at USU:

Admission Deadline (Fall Semester): April 1st

• Incoming freshmen need to have completed everything on the application checklist by
  this date if they plan on attending Fall Semester of 2010.

Scholarship Deadlines: -Priority December 1st, -Final Deadline February 1st

• Academic scholarships at USU are based off of an Admissions Index for both Resident and Nonresident students. Students who meet the parameters according to the index, and apply for admission to the University before the Priority Deadline, will be guaranteed their earned scholarship.
• Awarding of academic scholarships for those who apply after the Priority Deadline will be based on available funding.
• Academic scholarships will not be awarded to students who apply after the Final Dead Line.

These are some basic deadlines that students should keep in mind. Other deadlines to track include those of Financial Aid and Freshmen Orientation. Most importantly, check your email! Most departments will let students know of upcoming deadlines via email. By checking his or her email regularly, a student can almost always be well informed of important dates on the horizon.

GO AGGIES!!!