Financial Planning Association Delta Mu Delta Est. 2010: Row 1: Z. Xiaxin, X. Adela, J. Li, J. Zhao, H. Felix, J. McManus, D. Fields, J. McAlister, M. Hernandez. Row 2: E. Sloan (sponsor), R. Guillen, K. Moran (sponsor), J. Chavez, S. Ejakpomewhe, R. Tuneberg, J. Rucker, X. Zhang, J. Stevens, A. Finley, A. Men kin. Est. 1971: Row 1: M. Woods, D. Misas, K. Bickham, D. Rojas, A. Cojom, C. Roberts, A. Calloway, M. Gao, T. Landuyt. Row 2: B. Daniel, W. Wolmers, C. Rodenzo, K. Morris, P. Morales, D. Smith, S. Greninger, P. Jones. Row 3: F. Gutierrez, R. Guillen, J. Harrington, H. Mejia, M. Lanier, C. Krug, B. Burks (sponsor). COOKOUT CONNECTIONS Business Information Technology students gather at Heber Springs for food, friends and fellowship Sixteen members of the Business Information Technology Students club attended their annual retreat as part of the Management Information Systems activities. The students and sponsors of the,club spent the night at Heber Springs in fellowship Sept. 21-22. The students learned more about each other while they shared a bonfire, food and good conversation. The MIS students shared classes and common interests, but they built lasting friendships at events such as the retreat. The retreat's objective was to create connections with people who had either recently changed majors or just started as freshmen. MIS was established as a major in 2001, and BITS as a club was fairly new compared to most organizations in the College of Business Administration. As a result, the BITS network expanded every year as new students entered the business department and heard about the club. Faculty and the organization's committee recognized the importance of BITS activities such as the cookout in connecting faculty, alumni and students. "(The retreat] sounded like a good opportunity to meet people of the same major, and it was free," sophomore Heath Church said. The retreat took place at the home of Dr. Debbie Duke, professor of mathematics, where members cooked burgers and spent time relaxing. They also walked to Greers Ferry Lake, where they enjoyed the view, the perfect weather and a devotional. "This was the highlight of the two days for all people, myself included," senior Landon Hodnett said. "We went down to the lake at night [with] stars and everything out there just above the lake, and we had to build a fire." Exhausted by a full night of fun activities, the MIS majors went to bed, only to be awakened by a surprise in the middle of the night. Around 4 a.m., senior Emily Ford, Hodnett's fiancee, woke him because she heard noises coming from a closet. Surprisingly, a baby squirrel was inside. When the door was opened, the scared squirrel started running through the room and waking people up. "That statement of 'Don't freak out or anything, but I think it is going to be a squirrel running through here,' that line is going to be used lots, lots and lots," Associate Professor of Business Dr. Reet Cronk said. "We tease one another terribly." Finally, Hodnett and other students were able to open a window and the squirrel jumped out of the house. After surviving the shock of the baby squirrel and enjoying the weekend retreat, the students were excited and motivated to continue with the school year. "The BITS retreat [helped us to make friendships]," junior Kolton Thomas said. "There were people that were sitting in my MIS class, and I just knew their names. It moved us from just acquaintances to actually feeling like we are friends; now, I can see them and start talking to them." MIS students loved their career choice because it prepared them to do more than deal with computers in an office alone. It was about building relationships with people while using technology to fulfill an important role in the work place. Henry Gonzalez Business I 231
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