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Posts tagged ‘summer’

Summer News Update: Lots Of Renovations!

It’s been about a month and a half since most of us have set foot in Proctor, or desperately attempted to reveal some semblance of a tan on the shores of Lake Dunmore, or hiked Snake Mountain, or struggled to find a working printer in the library, etc. etc.

Just because those not speaking English greatly outnumber those who are speaking English on our bucolic campus, it doesn’t mean that the college isn’t already prepping for the 2012-2013 (or just 2012, if the world ends…) academic year. Here’s a quick run-down of what’s happened and what’s changing…

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Unofficial end-of-summer checklist for language students & student workers

Language schools are wrapping up their 6, 7, or 9 weeks by this Friday, and MiddKid student workers are slowly trickling off campus, too. In light of these happenings, MiddBlog brings you a tribute to student researchers, summer workers, language schoolers, and important world events alike: The Unofficial End-of-Summer Middlebury Checklist.

  1. Complete your last papers and exams, or finish your last hours at work. Try not to flip out, despite the obvious stimuli. Your credo: Must. Get. Everything. Done.
  2. Break the language pledge at long last, and notice that you still experience an instinctual tinge of guilt when you speak English – language students and summer workers alike.
  3. Squeeze in a last, late afternoon Lake Dunmore trip (with obligatory detour through A&W on the way back).
  4. Say au revoir to language faculty from abroad who you might not see again.
  5. Arrange a carpool to Burlington, or book transportation to the airport with Middlebury Transit.
  6. Oh snap. Forgot your plane ticket? Consider JetBlue!
  7. Reconsider JetBlue.
  8. Realize that you want to stay to see NPR head Vivian Schiller (Russian M.A. ’85) speak at Language Schools commencement tomorrow, August 13.
  9. Since you do love NPR, rebook flights, carpools, etc., repeating steps 5-7.
  10. Turn in your room key, and bid farewell to Summerland, Vt.

To all those leaving Middlebury for the summer, MiddBlog wishes you safe travels. And really, try not to tick off your flight attendants…

Bee, Jules, and Seth: Alumni ON THE ROAD

In case you haven’t been following the ON THE ROAD life after middlebury team/crew/ladies, here’s a sampling of their latest videos. You want s’more? aftermidd.com.

AfterMidd.com

You know how it’s done: blasting some tunes, rolling down the windows, breaking out the road map GPS. Ashley Tyner, Stephanie Preiss, and Salen Andrews (all class of 2011) are rockin’ the summer road trip. But with a twist. They are reppin’ Middlebury nationwide this summer as they drive across the country (and back) interviewing Middlebury alumni everywhere from New York City to Austin from Los Angeles to New Orleans.

They are chronicling their travels at: aftermidd.com.

The inspiration behind the project comes from asking the question of where Middlebury takes its graduates? With the Class of 2010 just bidding Middlebury farewell and entering a tough job market, it’s a legit question. But in trying to answer the life question post-graduation, these seniors are hitting at the big kahuna question for prospective students and their eager parents: why even attend a liberal arts school?

Not to worry, it doesn’t get too heavy in content because… it’s summer. Among their first round of interviews with Middlebury alumni in New York and DC: Will Dana ’88 who is Managing Editor at Rolling Stone Magazine, emerging DJs Jake Moreno ’07 and Aifuwa Ehigiator ’07 , and the talented Veracity Butcher ’08. But don’t look for their full-length interviews now. The videos will be produced at the end of the summer with editing and production.

With cool snippets of mermaids and the Awakening, who isn’t jealous that they are on the road.

Summer Fellowships/Scholarships

Crowded Proctor lines? New Febs? Sounds like Spring! Which means think of summer:
If youre looking for advice for those hefty fellowship applications, listen to the wise words of my own colleague: “sometimes it’s not about who has the most extravagant or unique idea. It’s about working within your range, doing things you know you can do, and working on something you love.” So despite your distinguished sense of collegiate cynicism, don’t check your idealism at the ivy gates for good. Here’s a list of interesting fellowships and grants to get your dreams a soaring’

Parapsychology Foundation
$3,000 to study ALIENS!!
http://www.parapsychology.org/dynamic/040200.html

Ayn Rand Institute
$10,000 for the best essay on the Fountainhead
http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=education_contests_index

The Writers/Illustrators of the Future Contest
http://www.writersofthefuture.com/

Van Valkenburg Memorial Scholarship
$1,000 if your last name is Van Valkenburg.
(On a side note, I petitioned Budweiser to fund my education due to my last name “Beer” and they have yet to reply. Pfa! I guess a rose is just any other rose. Unless you are a Van Valkenburg)

http://www.navvf.org/scholarship.html

Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
Submit terrible opening sentences to imaginary novels such as “it was a dark and stormy night.” The prize for this? Prestige. Write that on your resume.
http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/

A great collection of fellowships/scholarships:
http://blogs.middlebury.edu/sfas/tag/fellowships/

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