Archive for March, 2011
A Petrel Lands with the Atlanta Hawks
Posted by: | March 28, 2011 | Comments
Sporting the red & black: Arthur Hamilton '11 was an official member of the press during last week's game against the Detroit Pistons. The Hawks won 104-96. Photo: Rachael Alston, GSU '11
Last week’s Atlanta Hawks game against the Detroit Pistons was especially exciting for Oglethorpe senior Arthur Hamilton. Though an admitted Hawks fan, Hamilton was actually there covering the game on assignment. He was chosen by the Hawks to experience the NBA game as a professional journalist—interacting with Hawks staff members, sportswriters and broadcasters along the way.
Did you know? In 1979, the Atlanta Hawks held open practice in the Oglethorpe University Field House.
“Overall it was a great experience,” said Arthur, a former basketball player himself. “I got to see all of the backstage media guides and production. My favorite part of the whole day was…during the postgame press conference. We got to have a 15-20 minute Q&A interview session with [Hawks Coach] Larry Drew.”
The communication and project management major currently interns at Turner Sport’s NBA TV, and hopes to work with them and NCAA.com after graduation. With five sports-related internships under his belt, Arthur felt comfortable working in the Philips Arena press box.
“It was good to see a new perspective and experience the media questions and backstage production,” said Arthur. “Everything I learned through my experience on Sunday furthers my desire to [seize] opportunities in my career path. I hope that the contacts I met and networked with will develop my…career opportunities in the near future. Sports have always been my passion, so why not do something…that [I'm already] passionate about?”
OU Lacrosse Picks Up First SCAC Win, Moves Up League Scoreboard
Posted by: | March 25, 2011 | Comments
Oglethorpe's Maseo Brown makes a move at an early season game.
The Oglethorpe Men’s Lacrosse team picked up their first SCAC win Sunday afternoon by topping Millsaps College 12-7 here at Oglethorpe. The Majors jumped out to an early 2-1 lead but the Petrels rattled off three straight goals spanning into the second quarter to take command and go on to notch the historic victory.
According to official conference standings, the newest team in the conference is now fourth in the SCAC with an overall 2-3 record.
The Petrels made their home debut last Wednesday against the Redmen of Carthage College, giving fans the historic opportunity to witness the first varsity contact sport on this campus since the legendary football teams of the 1930s.
Petrels Lacrosse will travel to face Birmingham-Southern tomorrow, Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m. They return to their home field on Friday, April 1 to face Sewanee at 3:30 p.m.
Oglethorpe’s Mobile App Debuts
Posted by: | March 21, 2011 | Comments
Want to know what’s going on at OU’s campus? Well, as with everything these days—there’s an app for that. Really, there’s an iPhone/Pad/Pod (or Blackberry, or Android) application for that.
With the new MOX Mobile Access, now you can stay connected to Oglethorpe with a smart phone application created specifically with the Stormy Petrel in mind. With MOX Mobile Access, you can access all the important information you need—maps, events, news, telephone numbers and more—right in the palm of your hand.
In addition to Google maps of the university, the MOX app allows users quick and up-to-date access to the university’s official events calendar, important contact info for campus offices, and displays news from the OU Blog, Stormy Petrel Athletics, and our live Twitter feed.
The MOX mobile app is available for Blackberry, Android, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users. To download MOX, visit the MOX webpage and click the link appropriate for your mobile device. After downloading the app, select Oglethorpe University from the university list. This will load all of the information specific to Oglethorpe.
For further information about MOX Mobile Access or for technical assistance, please contact the Oglethorpe University HelpDesk via email at help@oglethorpe.edu or call 404-364-8518. Check for any updated information on the OU MOX webpage.
OU’s Stacia Kingston Loses–and Wins–on A&E’s ‘Heavy’
Posted by: | March 14, 2011 | CommentsAs a theatre enthusiast, OU’s Stacia (“Stacey-a”) Kingston never minded an audience. And tonight, she very well might face her largest audience ever. On Monday, March 14, at 10 p.m., Stacia will be featured on Heavy, an A&E docu-drama following 22 obese people as they strive to return to a healthy size. The TV show documents their incredible transformation throughout a six-month treatment program. [UPDATE: Watch the full episode online.]
Stacia, an Office Manager for OU’s Evening Degree Program, lost 150 pounds while filming, and has lost 200 pounds since January of last year. This morning on Q-100′s “The Bert Show,” Stacia explained that for her, losing weight had become more than just a cosmetic concern, but a medical and practical one. Her weight had gotten so out of control that it began to hinder her from engaging in everyday activities.
Follow Stacia's journey on March 14, at 10 pm/9C on A&E's Heavy. The show even follows her back to Atlanta for a "reveal party" following her six-month leave for the show.
“I woke up and I was 470 pounds…,” said Stacia. “I could not walk 10 to 15 feet without having chest pains. It was hugely affecting my life on a day-to-day basis. It felt like I was going to die every night when I went to bed.”
Now that she’s back home, Stacia is working on writing an original musical, but says her weight-loss journey is not over. She is currently training to compete in her first sprint triathlon, one that includes a 500-meter swim, a 10-mile bike ride, and a 5K run.
“…Health and fitness is my number one focus,” said Stacia. “…it’s so unbelievable that I’m going to be doing [the triathlon.] A year ago I couldn’t walk 10 feet without chest pain, being out of breath, and feeling like I could die. I have a completely new life, one that I never even dreamed was possible!”
Congratulations, Stacia!
[UPDATE: Watch the full episode online.]
‘Get Active OU’ Brings Fun & Wellness to Campus
Posted by: | March 14, 2011 | Comments
OU's Weston Manders '13 is ready for the yoga class on Tuesdays. Photo: Nicole Kang '12
Every Tuesday, at 7 p.m., groups of Oglethorpe students can be found in Grenwald, working up a sweat in order to “find their Zen.” Thanks to Get Active! OU, started by a small group of health-conscious students, Petrel Pass holders can now take yoga classes on campus for free.
“[My friend] Erin Fowler ’11 approached me about putting together a weight-loss program for the students,” explains Chad Smith ’13, Oglethorpe’s Intramurals coordinator and one of the organizers of Get Active! OU.
“The program started out as a Biggest Loser-style contest and quickly progressed into an overall wellness program. We all decided that we did not want to focus on just weight loss alone. So we brought in new classes for students that were free, in hopes of getting students more active. We brainstormed about yoga, kickboxing, Pilates, P90X, zumba, and Dean Hall told us about her boot camp that she helps instruct. The name was taken from a program that Justin Sabree ’12 had already started, Get Active Oglethorpe.”
Recently, it became especially important to the students of Get Active! OU to get the program off the ground. One of the group’s original organizers was the late Erik Downes, who was known around campus for his enthusiasm about health and fitness.
“After Erik passed away, I made it my personal goal to get things moving with haste,” said Chad. “We want to work on some memorial in the gym since that was his second home. He definitely wanted the program to be centered around wellness–not just physically, but also mentally, and that’s why we have yoga and kickboxing classes. We’re working on Pilates, P90X and Zumba..I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Yoga classes are held on Tuesdays and kickboxing classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays, at 7 p.m. in Grenwald in Emerson Student Center.