BYU MPA Association 2010-2011

Buy your tickets for a KILLER closing social!

2011-04-13T22:33:00.000-07:00

This year's closing social is gonna have it all: lots of good food, a slideshow of memories, music and dancing, fun awards—all wrapped up in a murder mystery! Tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased from Heather Chewning in TNRB 760. The fun starts Friday, April 15th, at 6:30 p.m. in W408/W410 of the Tanner Building. Be on time... you won't want to miss a thing!

Merry Christmas 2010!

2010-12-24T10:59:00.000-08:00

Hello friends and fellow students,

We just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. We hope you are enjoying a safe and happy break from school, and are able to spend some time with those you love. Here's a particularly powerful quote from President Monson, given at the recent First Presidency Christmas Devotional:

"There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ... Let it be a time of prayers for peace, for the preservation of free principles, and for the protection of those who are far from us. Let it be a time of forgetting self and finding time for others. Let it be a time for discarding the meaningless and for stressing the true values. Let it be a time of peace because we have found peace in His teachings. Most of all, let it be a time to remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the Wise Men. My brothers and sisters, may the spirit of love which comes at Christmastime fill our homes and our lives and linger there long after the tree is down and the lights are put away for another year."

As Tiny Tim would say—God bless us, every one! :)

2010 MPAA Ugly Sweater Christmas Party

2010-12-02T13:28:00.000-08:00

With good food, seasonal songs, and outrageous outfits, this year's Ugly Sweater Christmas Party was a smashing success. Everyone had the chance to relax and chow down on sandwiches and cookies while listening to some Christmas classics. We even had live entertainment by Justin Bieber... or Eric Nay. :)

Then came time to show off the sweaters! We had seven wonderful contestants: Shawn Metcalf, Karleen Watson, Matthew Harvey, Garrett DaBell, Morgan Shaw, Rachel Finley, and Richard Rowley. After a round of cheering to determine the finalists, Shawn, Matthew, and Richard were selected for the ultimate competition: an ugly sweater WALK-OFF!!!

To the tune of "Santa Baby," each had the chance to strut their stuff in front of the audience. All three made quite an impression—Richard pulled out some disco-era moves, Matthew had a GQ-like expression to complement the giant cat face on his chest, and Shawn shimmied his way across the floor.

In the end, Richard received the ugly sweater cookie grand prize. Congratulations, Richard! (Did you really borrow that sweater from your mom? LOL) A big thanks to all who came to join in on the fun, and GOOD LUCK during finals. Remember, Christmas—and a two-week break—are just around the corner! As Richard said in his acceptance speech: "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

P.S. Ikani announced an MPAA t-shirt design competition at the party. Check here later for a posting of the guidelines.

Mustache Monday 2010

2010-11-29T07:41:00.000-08:00

The lounge was full of mustached men Monday morning with this year’s Mustache Monday competition.

Congratulations to the following fuzzy participants:

“Subtle Awesomeness” — Garrett DaBell
“Best Police Mustache” — Chris Workman (yes, that's black leather)
“Slightly Creepy” — Andrew Grover
“Quickest Grown” — Richard Rowley
“Burt Reynolds Protégé”— Brent Friess
“Most Imperial” — Jared Hale

After an incredibly rigorous and formal voting procedure that involved shout-out nominations and a raise of hands, the “Best Overall Mustache” award went to… (drumroll, please)…

Brent Friess!

Congratulations!!! ☺

Happy Mustache Monday, everyone. We hope you had a great Thanksgiving break.

Sugar Cookie Sweetness

2010-11-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

Last week the MPA lounge was the scene of some simply amazing sugar cookie sweetness!

A pictures is worth a thousand words...

Special thanks to Liz Logan for making the delicious frosting!

International Potluck

2010-10-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

Friday's International Potluck was so much fun! The cultural hall of the ELC was filled with first-year, second-year, and even some "third-year" students who came back to visit. A sampling of attendees included:

Faculty, both real and impersonated. (Lori Wadsworth=real. Eva Witesman=a lovely impersonation. :)
A shark (yay for aquatic diversity?)
The Gray family dressed for an Indian wedding
A couple of friendly elk hunters
Nicole, dressed in a traditional Saudi Arabian abya

We spent the night enjoying delicious food from all over the world—including someone who brought Hot 'n Ready pizza to represent the States—learning to dance, rolling sushi, and singing karaoke.

Thanks to everyone who participated! I think we all walked away with a deeper appreciation for how rich our classmates are in culture, experience, talents... and costumes.

Quote Board

2010-09-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

Please note the new quote board to the right on the blog. Carlene Watson, second year MPA student, suggested we should add a quote board to the blog. Feel free to leave a comment with quotes you'd like to have posted.

I do retain the right not to add quotes that are unseemly. :)

MPA Opening Social

2010-09-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

The MPA Fall 2010 Opening Social was held Friday, September 10th at Lion's Park.

Highlights included

Great luau food
Beautiful Hawaiian singers
Tug-of-war between the first and second years

AND

A rapping Ikani Taumoepeau

To see the now popular video of our MPA students on youtube, go to this link.

(Thanks Liz and Alisi).

Thanks to everyone who planned, participated in, and enjoyed the Opening Social.

Stay tuned for our other MPAA activities throughout the semester!

Back to school . . .

2010-09-02T20:18:00.001-07:00

Welcome back to school!

The MPA Program welcomed the new 1st year students almost two weeks ago with orientation classes, activities, and socials.

Just a day after team introductions, the 1st years headed to Provo's CLAS ropes course to learn lessons in teamwork. The new students learned quickly to encourage their fellow team members as they experienced the rigors of the ropes course!

Fears were realized, experienced, and overcome. (Well, for most students anyway).

Highlights included (but were not limited to):
1. A pregnant Bethany Hansen requesting to be thrown in the air via the trampoline blanket.
2. A blindfolded Richard Rowley depending on his teammates to guide him as he crossed thin beams of wood.
3. A gleeful Professor Thompson smiling as he rode the giant rope swing.

Of course, orientation wouldn't have been the same without the wonderful 2nd year "Sherpas."

While the ropes course was just the second day of orientation week, it was definitely memorable.

Stay tuned for other MPA events throughout the semester and good luck with classes!

2nd Annual Mustache Monday

2009-11-19T14:19:00.000-08:00

Alright MPAers and MPAettes,
The time has come. Time to flash the stache and show what you can grow. That's right, in just over a week we will all bask in the awesomeness of the 2nd Annual Mustache Monday. I recommend you stop shaving, now. Keep in mind the BYU Honor Code which states that "If worn, moustaches should be neatly trimmed and may not extend beyond or below the corners of the mouth." That means you can safely grow a pencil or trash stache, but your should probably avoid the handlebar and horseshoe (see here for what not to do). There's still plenty of room for creativity, as Quincy can attest.

Last year's prize categories included Creativity, Size, Fullness, Do You Wear the Mustache or Does the Mustache Wear You?, Color, Never Ever Again, Celebrity, Must Keep, Baby Face/Peach Fuzz/Is That Even a Mustache?, and Cecil's Choice. MPAettes, if you'd like to judge the competition, comment below with a brief statement of your qualifications by next Wednesday, November 25. Below you can see some pictures from last year's smash-stache event.

To sum up . . .
When: Monday, November 30, 7:30 a.m.
Where: W410
What: Mustache Monday competition, donuts, muffins, and juice provided
Why: To express masculinity and celebrate the honor code

Interesting Article

2009-10-01T21:42:00.000-07:00

For those MPA students who have an interest in international development and poverty alleviation, this NY Times article about women in the developing world is very thought provoking. I highly recommend reading it.

Click here to visit the article.

MPAA Opening Social Time!

2009-09-10T10:39:00.001-07:00

Hawaiian Barbeque!!

Where: Lion's Park (1280 North 950 West, Provo)
When: Friday, September 11 at 6:00 PM
Who: MPA students, faculty, staff, and families

Let the island tunes take you to a place far away from the Tanner Building. Come feast on a Kalua Pig, BBQ chicken, and grilled pineapple catered dinner. You can also challenge your favorite professor to a hula hoop or limbo contest!

Sponsored by the MPAA and the Romney Institute of Public Management, this event is for all MPA students, faculty, staff, and their families.

DIRECTIONS:

Coming from the North:
Go south on State Street in Provo, turn west on 740 West, then turn south onto Columbia Lane. From Columbia, turn southwest (right) onto 800 West. Immediately turn right onto 1400 North. Follow this street as it turns; the park will be the first place you can turn right.

Coming from Campus or South:
Drive west on Bulldog Blvd (the street that runs next to the Tanner Building). At the intersection of State Street and Bulldog, continue straight (Bulldog turns into Columbia). From Columbia, turn Southwest (left) onto 800 West. Immediately turn right onto 1400 North. Follow this street as it turns; the park will be the first place you can turn right.

Link to MapQuest