Tag: community

There is no better way to celebrate one of the hottest months on record than Olin’s annual Ice Cream Social.  More than 100 attended the July 31 event in The Atrium including faculty, staff, and their children. A reported nine gallons of ice cream were consumed along with 200 chicken skewers! Pretzels, nachos, toasted raviolis, fruit and spinach artichoke balls were also on the menu for those who chose to eschew the frozen treat of the day with innumerable toppings!

There was a Cake Walk contest with prizes from “Nothing Bundt Cakes.” A balloon artist, face painter, bubble machine, and music rounded out the entertainment.

And at the risk of putting a damper on the joy of gluttony, Emily Paige, Employee Wellness Manager was on hand to present a prize. Ben Cox, facilities staffer, was recognized for earning 2nd Place in the University-wide WashU Moves walking challenge. Congratulations, Ben! You inspire us and deserve an extra scoop of of ice cream!!

Thanks to the  Staff Committee who organized the event and to the Aramark staff for creating and serving the sweet summer feast.

Committee members: Konnie Henning, Katie Wools, Earl Banez. Sherri Whaley, Amanda DeBord, Rachel Shelton, Kim Miller, Shante Redden, Stacy Pearson

Enjoy the photo gallery. All photos by Sid Hastings, WUSTL Photos.

The Aramark staff invites you to participate in its 2nd annual Push for Pencils Campaign in conjunction with KidSmart, a 501c3 non-profit. 90,000 children in the St. Louis region go to school each year without the basic school supplies. KidSmart collects the supplies and distributes them to the children in need. The Aramark staff will be collecting items from July 27th to August 17th. Collection boxes will be located at Starbucks and in the Knight Center, see below for details.

Diana Zeng, BSBA ’14, thought she would explore St. Louis during her four year degree and then head back to Boston. The first didn’t happen. And luckily, neither did the second.

After moving to the United States and growing up near Chicago, New York, and Boston, Diana was looking forward to getting to know St. Louis while studying business and art at Washinton University. Quickly though, she became immersed in campus life and rarely explored the city.

Founding member and CEO of Full Circle – Diana Zeng

“The campus bubble is simultaneously lovely and enclosed. There are endless organizations to get involved in, so without a channel to explore St. Louis, it can be easy to forget that an entire bustling city exists outside of WashU’s campus. When I did manage a rare glimpse, I was charmed by the character of the city.  After a summer internship in St. Louis through the Skandalaris Center, I was introduced to the entrepreneurial energy and incredible people making an impact here. I didn’t just want to get to know the city anymore, I now wanted to be a part of it!”

Post-graduation, Diana transitioned from working at a tech startup to leading a nonprofit start-up called Full Circle. The organization’s mission is to connect young talent to St. Louis and build a more economically vibrant and inclusive city in the process. She is the founding Executive Director but gives credit to her team and numerous community leaders for believing in this larger economic development effort to make St. Louis a hub for young talent.

“Our founding team consists of WashU, Saint Louis University and Illinois College alums from four countries – the United States, United Kingdom, Indonesia, and China. In a lot of ways, we represent the potential that can be captured here. There are many missed opportunities when we don’t connect young talent coming from all over the world to this city and its people. Through Full Circle, we can offer young people a channel to explore St. Louis and a community of peers to be energized by. Additionally for students, getting to know people in their mid-twenties shows them what making a life in St. Louis could be like.”

Modeled after successful efforts in Philadelphia and Baltimore (which has increased student retention from 29% to 51% in the past decade), Full Circle aims to uniquely highlight St. Louis. Their programs and events introduce young talent to professional, social, and civic opportunities in the city while putting a fun and funky twist on networking to help form genuine relationships.

For example, CITYTREK focuses on exploring local events and hidden gems in the city while Beef And A Toast, held in partnership with Venture Cafe, focuses on discussing “beef” (issues) within St. Louis and toasting to being part of the solution.

Student interest from Washington University, Saint Louis University, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and University of Missouri – St. Louis has also encouraged Full Circle to roll out a campus ambassador program for all of the regional colleges and universities.

“Recently, a WashU sophomore emailed me stating, ‘Full Circle is an organization that I have been trying to find to get involved in.’  That meant the world to us!  The economic benefits are substantial but hearing from an individual about how much we matter to them, that moves us to keep going. I love St. Louis and am proud to call it home, so being able to connect people through Full Circle is extremely fulfilling. Investing in people becomes a direct investment in St. Louis as well.”

If you want to get in touch with Diana to learn more, or support Full Circle, you can reach her at diana@fullcirclehq.org.

Written by guest blogger, KC Friedrich, Senior Associate Director for Development, Olin Business School.

Saidah Anderson, PMBA 40, has been a part of the Olin/United Way Board Fellows program this past year and shares her experience in this blog post:

The Olin/United Way Board Fellows program has been one of the most valuable leadership experiences I have had. I chose to partner with the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House over the past year because I really liked their mission, which is to “empower individuals and families to move out of poverty and achieve self-sufficiency.” I am a firm believer that educating the community is the foundation to improving current conditions and aiding a better community.

Saidah meets a representative from the Lessie Bates Davis organization at Olin.

As a new resident in the St. Louis area, I was unaware of the poverty conditions across the river in East St. Louis. When I volunteered, I was able to observe firsthand the conditions in which the community lives. It let me know that Lessie Bates is a pillar in the community and is a much needed nonprofit in the area. Much of the community relies on Lessie Bates resources, so it was a great feeling to be able to give back to a community similar to my upbringing and really interact with the families.

As a corporate professional and future leader, I believe I have a responsibility to give back to my community and to be the change I wish to see. The Board Fellowship program has allowed me to have a valuable role in community leadership and has taught me valuable skills about being in leadership that impacts the lives of thousands of people. It has taught me that with power comes great responsibility and it must be used appropriately.

Saidah and other board fellows present an update on projects.

The Board Fellowship has been, hands down, the best real world experience thus far in business school. No amount of case studies could have prepared me for being in the board room as the Board Fellows Program has. This course was connected to my passion and purpose in life, something I don’t think I could get from any other course.

The Olin/United Way Board Fellows program, students learn about nonprofit
board governance first-hand while growing their professional network. The program lays the foundation for building lifelong passions and becoming a better citizen. Learn more on the Center for Experiential Learning website.

Thurtene, the oldest student-run carnival in the United States, returns this weekend to Washington University in St. Louis with a new attraction: a replica Busch Stadium, complete with turf, outfielders and pennants. This stadium, however, plays host not to Major League Baseball players but tomorrow’s whiffle ball champions.

Children are invited to take a whack off the tee and wait for the roar of the crowd — in this case the members of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and Pi Beta Phi sorority who built the stadium.

“We wanted to do an activity for kids, and a lot of us are huge baseball fans,” said senior Alex Altieri of Alpha Epsilon Pi. “Kids will be able to come in here and hit a home run and feel as if they are at the stadium.”

Thurtene kicks off today, April 15, and runs through Sunday, April 17. Thousands of students, alumni and employees are expected to attend, as well as members of the St. Louis community. Click here for more information: thurtene.org

In addition to classic carnival rides, highlights include a visit from Team Fredbird of the St. Louis Cardinals,  a cappella performances and mini golf. Members of Alpha Chi Sigma, the chemistry fraternity, will demonstrate how to make Dippin’ Dots from liquid nitrogen. And the famous Zeta Beta Tau fry booth is back. Carnival goers can try one of the booth’s fried candy bars or bring any food they would like dunk into a hot vat of oil.

This 80-year old annual Washington University tradition is organized by the 13 juniors of Thurtene Honorary.

This year’s community partner is Ready Readers, a leading local nonprofit that inspires children to love books. Ready Readers volunteers read to thousands of low-income preschool students in school every week. The organization also gives students new books to take home.

The fraternities and sororities who build facades also support local charities. This year, Alpha Epsilon Pi and Pi Beta Phi hope to raise $7,000 for Operation Food Search, which feeds hungry St. Louisans.

Typically, facades are four-sided buildings in which students stage wacky productions. But the replica stadium is a first. Altieri said the fraternity decided to try something new this year because plays take a lot of time to write and rehearse and full facades cost a lot to build, money Altieri would rather give to charity.

Another reason: the brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi love whiffle ball. On any given afternoon, they gather for a pick-up game in the backyard of  their apartment.

“It’s a good way to spend time with friends,” said Altieri, a fan of the New York Mets. “And honestly, at this point, when the real world is coming in fast, it makes you feel a little younger again.”

Guest blogger: Diane Toroian Keaggy