Graduation. It is a time to reminisce, a time to be joyous, a time to cherish and a time to be sad. Graduation is a time when students leave a part of their lives behind in order to embark on the next journey in life, whether it is to go to college, to get a master’s degree or to find a job.

This year, at Auburn University, students will have a graduation like none before it. The May 2011 graduating class will be walking to get their diplomas in the Jordan-Hare stadium. This will leave many people with more special memories to recall, considering the Auburn football team won the BCS National Championship this year.

In past years at Auburn, commencement was held in the old coliseum. Two different times were held for commencement to take place to ensure that families and friends who came to see their loved one graduate would not sit for hours upon hours for that loved one to walk across the stage.

However, this year commencement will be one big ceremony.

This will guarantee students to be able to bring more family members and friends to graduation. It will also require a more fast-paced ceremony as it will more than likely be hot outside. In case of inclement weather conditions, the ceremony will be moved into the new basketball arena, and graduates will only be allowed to have two family members or friends attend.

Patrick Martin said, “I heard at one point that instead of having everyone walk across the stage to get their diplomas, the colleges would be called out one at a time and would stand up to be applauded.”

While many may be happy with this bit of information because of the heat and time it would take to call everyone’s name in a single ceremony, many others were not happy to hear the ceremony could possibly be held this way.

Martin said, “I don’t think they could get away with holding the ceremony that way. Too many people sign up to walk in order to have their name called and their picture taken. Families would be really disappointed.”

The debacle over commencement has not been discussed in much detail; however, it is approaching fast. Students are preparing in the last week before finals in order to graduate. Commencement will be held on Monday, May 9 at 9 a.m. If graduates wish to have a portrait taken, they are now taking appointments.

A simple but profound mission is that of Sozo Children International’s.


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Sozo’s mission is to “glorify God by interceding on Christ’s behalf to save children in need, build community, and connect individuals to all experience the love of Jesus Christ.”

Their goal was created through an immediate need to provide a safe shelter for the homeless children of Kampala, Uganda. Their objective is to provide food and shelter for these children, while also providing funding through individual, community and church donations.

Kristi Megahee, a senior at Auburn University, found a deep interest in this organization and connected with it immediately.

“After graduating in May, I plan on moving to Uganda to live there for a year and work in an orphanage there,” Megahee said. “Also while I am there, I’ll be teaching English in schools and having Bible Studies with the orphans.”

“Sozo International is a somewhat new program that is based out of Birmingham, Alabama,” Megahee said. “Right now, we are in the process of opening orphanages in Montana, Costa Rica, Uganda, Haiti, Kenya and Papua New Guinea.”

Sozo is actually a Greek word that means “to save, to keep safe and sound, and to rescue from destruction.” This is exactly what Sozo Children International aims to do. They strive to provide for orphans in different parts of the world so that they can live in a Christian environment with people of their own culture.

Megahee will be an intern and representative for Sozo Children International in Uganda for the entire year. She is currently in the process of raising money so that she can travel to and from Uganda with no worries.

Megahee has expressed that she knows she is meant to go to Uganda and make a difference in these children’s lives. She is excited to spread God’s word and share His love in the orphanages, and she cannot wait to bring back her memories that will take place in Uganda.

“I want to be someone for those children who can spread God’s word to them and provide for them,” Megahee said.

She is also currently in the process of trying to find a used MacBook computer to take with her to Uganda. Considering that she will be gone for an entire year, the only way Megahee will have communication with her family is through Skype.

Any and all donations are appreciated and will be put toward a good cause. Megahee’s email address is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). If anyone is interested in contributing to this cause, or has any questions or comments, she would love to hear from you!

On Saturday, March 5, four men were honored with the most prestigious award given by Auburn University. This award is known as the “Lifetime Achievement Award.” The Auburn Alumni Association takes nominations and votes on whom they believe to be the most deserving of this award and title. It is given to those people who have not only achieved much during their lifetime, but have affected others in a way that will never be forgotten.


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The four recipients of this award were Dr. Neil Christopher, Ken Mattingly, Forrest McCartney and Wayne T. Smith. These men were honored for different reasons, but as a whole they represent something similar. They represent the qualities that Auburn University hopes for its students to achieve.

Dr. Jay Gogue, president of Auburn University, spoke at the ceremony. He stated, “I am beyond proud to call these recipients ‘Auburn men’. They have exceeded all expectations and are being rewarded for that tonight.”

Dr. Neil Christopher is a veteran of the Vietnam War and received a Bronze Star during that time for meritorious service. His family grew up practicing medicine, by which he stays true. Among his efforts, Christopher helped lobby for state legislation, which established the Alabama Family Practice Rural Health Board in 1990. Christopher was also inducted into the Alabama Health Care Hall of Fame on behalf of his service and loyalty to rural medicine.

Another man honored was Ken Mattingly on behalf of his achievements with NASA. Mattingly was a member of the Apollo 13 crew, in which he helped return the spaceship to safety after an in-flight explosion. Mattingly also served as the command-module pilot on Apollo 16, and is a recipient of the Ambassador of Exploration Award given by NASA along with being a member of the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Other men honored for this award were Forrest McCartney and Wayne T. Smith.

McCartney is honored on his achievements with NASA as well. He graduated from Auburn with a degree in electrical engineering and received a master’s in nuclear engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. McCartney is a member of the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame, and was director of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida after the explosion of the Challenger in 1986.

Smith serves as chairman, president and CEO of Community Health Systems Inc., which is the largest publicly traded hospital company in the United States. He decided to continue working in the health care industry after being discharged from the Army where he served in military hospitals and got his master’s in health care administration. Smith has been named “100 Most Powerful People” in his industry by Modern Healthcare magazine and is also known as the top health care CEO by Institutional Investor.

While many families and friends gathered together during the weekend in celebration of this outstanding achievement, Christopher’s family hosted a brunch the morning before the ceremony. Food was catered and many people showed up in support of Christopher during this special time.

When asked about what Auburn means to him, Christopher responded, “It’s really a genetic thing… my love for Auburn. My father came out of the woods of Choctaw County in 1917 and was the founder of Auburn Agriculture Experiment Station System. I was actually born in the Sand Mountain Experiment Station.”

“It just progressed from that,” said Christopher. “Hearing about Auburn and knowing about Auburn as a child, attending school at Auburn, and then continuing my involvement with the Alumni Association and with anything Auburn in Marshall County, or in Guntersville where I live.”

“Whether it’s working with the local club, working on scholarships, or recruiting students or anyway I can facilitate anything for Auburn, that’s what I try to do,” Christopher said.

The 2010 football season is officially over, and Auburn has won the national championship. The current players are in the middle of off-season workouts, while the seniors have completed their time in the workout room. While many of these seniors are finishing up classes in order to graduate, a few others have already moved on from college and are training for the NFL.


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On Saturday, February 26, many of these seniors gathered in Birmingham to cook out and spend time with their friends and family. The Christopher family hosted the party, and everyone plus their families showed up to partake in the celebration.

Since the end of football season, Ryan Pugh has been living in Atlanta training for the NFL with Lee Ziemba. Neil Caudle is finishing up his last few hours in order to graduate from college and move on to find a job. Wade Christopher is preparing to graduate and go to medical school. And Philip Lutzenkirchen is still in school and participating in team workouts. While they all have different events taking place in their lives, they continue to stay close friends. These guys make time to see each other, and enjoy every minute that they can get.

“All of our families were there, so it was great. We were able to interact and have a great time of fellowship,” said Ryan Pugh. “We ate approximately 160 pounds of crawfish and four bushels of oysters.”

The back yard was decorated with pictures of the guys and their families, along with an open bar, a ping pong table with a bracket for a tournament, a table for shucking raw oysters, and a table full of crawfish. When Pablo, the man hired to help with the food, brought to the Christophers’ attention that the crawfish were not moving, a bunch of people pitched in with rubber gloves moving the crawfish around to see if there was any chance that they would come back to life. The crawfish had appeared to be too cold on top of the ice, and once they started moving everyone was able to relax again.

“The amount of cayenne pepper put on the crawfish was outrageous!” said Pugh. “When the second batch was brought out, we told Pablo to not put near as much spice on it. There was enough spice left on the table from the first batch to season the second batch perfectly.”

“Everyone had a great time,” said Pugh. “Once the crawfish were brought out, my dad didn’t leave the table for about an hour and a half.”

As she runs around the yard, jumps and plays, Ella doesn’t realize the danger she is putting herself in. Ella is a puppy. She is a white, miniature schnauzer. She is full of energy and beyond playful; therefore, she must be watched at all times.


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Morgan Johns and Bart Eddins had wanted a dog for as long as they can remember. They would have bought one sooner, but Johns is allergic to dogs. Once Johns discovered that she had no allergies to schnauzers, she found Ella.

After only a week and a half of living with Johns and Eddins, this puppy has shown her intelligence. She is potty-trained and recognizes everyone around her. She whimpers when she needs to be let out, and she can’t go to sleep without being near Eddins.

“I can’t believe how smart she is and how big she’s gotten,” said Johns. “We have only had her for a week and a half and she’s already gotten bigger.”

“I think Ella has doubled her size already,” said Eddins, “and she’s only seven and a half weeks old.”

While Eddins and Johns are lucky to have such a great pup, not many college students land a dog like Ella. It is great to have a pet and companion, but having a dog in college requires a lot of responsibility. Someone must be with the dog almost every other hour to let it out, unless it is trained to use the doggy door. The owners must also take the dog on vacation with them unless they decide to pay for a sitter or boarding.

“I think having Ella has taught us much responsibility,” said Johns. “I know we have only had her for a short time, but if we want to go do something together, we have to ask the neighbors to watch her.”

Not only must the owners pay for the dog, but they must also acquire the money to keep the dog happy and healthy. The puppy must have its routine shots and check ups, and if necessary, it may need to be neutered or spayed. None of these procedures come cheap; therefore, before caving in and buying a dog one must consider the level of responsibility needed to do so.

“Ella whimpered all night and I’m exhausted,” said Johns. “That’s just another part of having a puppy though, I guess. I’m going to have to take a nap today, for sure.”

Some people hunt as a means for food. Some people hunt with friends and family as a bonding experience. Some people hunt for the peace and tranquility of being out in the woods. Some people hunt to help control the animal population. And finally, some people hunt for the experience.


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While there are many answers to the question of why people hunt, it can only be determined by the specific hunter. Wade Christopher, a senior who is majoring in Biomedical Sciences at Auburn University, hunts for a purpose. He enjoys deer hunting, squirrel hunting, duck hunting, and quail hunting. He recently got involved in turkey hunting when his good friend Bailey Cates invited him down to the farm during Spring Break of 2009.

“There are numerous reasons why I like to hunt,” Christopher said. “But the biggest reason is because I get to spend time with my friends and family. It’s not about the actual killing of the animal, it’s about the experience with friends and family and getting to connect with nature.”

Christopher started hunting when he was “literally in the crib.” His family even has pictures of him being toted around their hunting camp when he was in a stroller. From the time he was able to walk, Christopher has always spent time in the woods. It has been a life long experience that he has participated in, and he jumps at the opportunity to be out in nature.

“It is a great way to escape the busy life that we endure every day,” he said.

Christopher has spent his time at Auburn University studying and playing football. He was a part of the 2010 National Championship team, which demanded most of his time. Whenever given the opportunity to hunt, he takes advantage of it.

“Hunting is something that if you’ve never done it you can’t really appreciate it,” Christopher said. “It is going in the woods, and experiencing nature, and being in a completely different environment that you don’t get to experience every single day.”

Christopher’s father, Dr. Reid Christopher, taught him everything he knows about hunting. He taught him the “tricks and the trades” of hunting. He taught him how to identify different trees, make his way through the woods, and identify different types of animals.

“I’m very thankful that I was exposed to hunting at an early age,” Christopher said. “It’s really shaped me into the person that I’ve become.”

Challey Legg, a sophomore at Auburn University, is the definition of passion. Not only is she passionate, but she is also talented. Whether it is in the Kappa Delta chapter room on Preference Day during rush, Bourbon Street Bar, or sitting in the dorm with her friends, Challey is singing. She even records songs on the computer and posts them to her friends’ Facebook walls.


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Challey has always enjoyed singing, but she is so passionate about music that she was determined to learn something new. About five years ago, Challey sat down and taught herself how to play the guitar.

“I can’t pinpoint a moment that I got into it, but it wasn’t until recently that my friends noticed I could sing,” Challey said.

During Spring Break of 2010, Challey’s friends noticed that not only could she sing, but she was good at it. They started constantly asking her to play songs for them, and they fell in love with her voice. Now, all of her best friends and sorority sisters are front row for every concert that she opens for.

A friend of Challey’s plays at Bourbon Street in and asked her to open for his band one night. Since then, Challey has had many opportunities with other groups to perform. She has had the privilege to open for bands such as Ingram Hill, The Odettas and The Grand Magnolias, formerly called Hightide Blues. She has played at bars not only in Auburn, but in Birmingham as well.

Challey likes to perform popular songs written by other people, but she also performs her own music. Challey has written seven of her own songs, and occasionally when playing covers, she will throw in a few of her own.

“I used to be really shy about,” said Challey.

Her friends have described her as sounding like a mixture between Colbie Caillat and Michelle Branch, along with Hanson and Justin Bieber.

Challey has her own Facebook page where viewers can click “Like” and be able to listen to twelve of her songs. She posts photographs from recent events, along with information about upcoming events. For those interested, be looking out for Benji Davis. There are no dates set yet, but it has been said that she will be opening for them in the near future!

While some people prefer to be open to the public, others prefer to keep it private. Some push for more attention on the subject, while others don’t say much. We are not talking about sexual orientation. We are talking about Twitter.


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Twitter is not just a place to post thoughts and opinions on certain subjects. It is a way to collect valuable or invaluable information from various sources. Celebrities and athletes often push for more followers whether it is for publicity or pure competition, while others use the site to simply browse topics of interest.

One major use of this social media is when organizations create Twitter accounts in order to update their publics about upcoming events or opportunities to get involved. Companies also can use Twitter to inform their clients on new products or services that are in the making or have recently been released.

Mary Baker Maund, a senior majoring in Marketing at Auburn University, uses Twitter for various reasons. One of those reasons includes following news stations in order to be updated on breaking stories. She also follows popular celebrities to see what is going on in Hollywood as a form of entertainment.

News programs, such as CNN, post tweets on breaking news stories. Since a tweet is limited to 140 characters, CNN may list the story as “Colombia mine blast kills 23,” and include a link to the story. As far as celebrity gossip goes, E! News has a Twitter account where links to stories are posted on the latest drama in Hollywood. Magazines such as US Weekly and InTouch also use Twitter for stories on celebrity gossip.

Mary Baker states, “It (Twitter) is like a big text message to all of my friends, and I constantly know what they’re doing and what’s going on in their lives. It is a fast, easy way for our generation to get information across to each other and to take in different information.”

While people use Twitter to gather information on what is going on in the world, they can also use it as an aid in job searching. For instance, PR major Kaitlyn Parsons follows a Twitter account that lists available internships and jobs around the U.S. in the public relations field. Many accounts are created that are similar to this, and people follow them in case any jobs become available.

Whether it serves as a replacement for a gossip magazine, a news channel, job searching, celebrity insight or keeping in touch with friends, Twitter can be used for a variety of reasons. Twitter can be used to inform followers about a company product, or it can be used to inform them on products in the making. Twitter keeps people connected with the world through computer or telephone. A simple application allows people to access information that has the power to change their lives.