Education: M S. Digital Marketing, M. S. Educational Psychology, B. S. Physical Education; all from NIU!

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Favorite Trip:  I love every experience outdoors, some of my favorites are paddling the Boundary Waters, scuba diving in Fiji, and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

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Fun Fact: I am a Marine Corps Combat Veteran. I have been on campus since 2005 and have two dogs, a lab named Cooper and a golden named Banks.

Education: Pursuing his PhD in Physics

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Favorite Trip: The backpacking and camping trip for Wind River Range, Wyoming. It was my first long trip and the views were amazing! OA gives a chance to learn and experience a wide variety of activities. I joined OA to learn skills that would help me explore and experience nature in the best possible way.

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Fun Fact: I study how the Universe is evolving over time.

Major: Recording Arts

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Favorite Trip: Any of the snowboarding events! It’s a new skill but it’s been so fun learning and teaching!

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Fun Fact: The first time I went to New Mexico was with OA for my New Leader Trip! It was an amazing learning experience.

Major: Anthropology

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Favorite Trip: I am a fan of climbing trips to  Mississippi Palisades. I'm newer to rock climbing, so when I am able to scale a rock face I feel accomplished. Being able to belay other climbers means a lot to me because I often witness their first time climbing.

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Fun Fact: My favorite outdoor activities are hiking, cycling, and paddleboarding. My other hobbies include cooking, playing the drums, piano, accordion, and creating art!

Major: Music Education

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Favorite Trip: I really enjoyed learning how to snowboard at Tyrol Basin. I joined OA to help other people enjoy the outdoors.

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Fun Fact: I'm in a band!

Major: Art & Engineering

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Favorite Trip: The beginner backpack and Mississippi Palisades climb. It was my first time backpacking and it was so fun! We played campfire games,  sang songs, & I slept in a hammock. We started as strangers but by the end of the trip, we bonded in this cool way. The climbing trip is so much fun. It's rewarding when you get to the top and get to look over the Mississippi River.

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Fun Fact: I’ve been a skier for about 15 years!

Major: Anthropology

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Favorite Trip: Our XC Ski Day Trip because it was my first trip that I co-led. It was a great time all around, and everybody learned a lot from the experience.

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Fun Fact: I have backpacked for a week at Yosemite.

Major: Human Development & Family Sciences

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Favorite Trip: The Colorado trip because I learned to snowboard, and it was my first time visiting this state. I had fun with the people who went and had a memorable time.

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Fun Fact: I love water skiing and learned how to when I was 10.

Major: Mechanical Engineering

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Favorite Trip: Snowboarding because I love the views of the mountains!

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Fun Fact: I have raced in national championship events for three disciplines of cycling: mountain, road, and cyclocross.

Major: Sports Management

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Favorite Trip:  The Beginner Backpacking Trip because it was the first trip with my coworkers and a quick beautiful getaway!

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Fun Fact: I have two dogs named Rocky and Koda, and a ferret named Wrigley.

Major: Psychology

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Favorite Activity: I like hiking! I go on hikes a lot with my friends in ROTC about twice a week. It’s calming but can get competitive with friends because we like to race sometimes.

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Fun Fact: I play the guitar!

Major: Finance

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Favorite Trip: Our caving trip! I have never done it before my first trip. It was really fun! I joined OA to get outside more.

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Fun Fact: I am from Alaska.

Graduate Program: Political Science with Comparative Politics & International Relations subfields

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Favorite Activity: Backpacking, going to the beach, river, or anything along those lines because I love the sound of the waves! It is quite relaxing.  

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Fun Fact: I am a homebody, but I love traveling. I am usually down for every trip invitation with almost a 100% acceptance rate, whether far or near. I also accept grocery shopping trip invites! During trips, I am the happiest, and after the trip, I continue talking about how fun the trip was. I have enjoyed every trip I have been on so far!

 

Major: Sports Management

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Favorite Activity: Hiking and kayaking.

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Fun Fact: I am a huge Green Bay Packers fan!