The Women’s Hope Medical Clinic annual 'Walk for Life' will take place on Saturday, April 30, at 9 a.m.

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The walk starts and ends at Women’s Hope, located at 820 Stage Road in Auburn, and is one mile through surrounding neighborhoods.

Everyone is welcome including children and pets. Bring your bikes, wagons, skates or whatever you choose.

There will be face painting, a moonwalk and food provided at the event.

Walkers are sponsored with a pledge. Walkers do not have to collect the money; women’s hope will contact the sponsors after the walk. A sponsor form is available at local churches and at Women’s Hope.

All donations go straight towards funding the services Women’s Hope provides.

Women’s Hope Medical Clinic is a Christian ministry dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those facing an unplanned pregnancy. It also promotes the sanctity of human life and the benefits of healthy relationships and sexual integrity.

Some of the services provided at the clinic include pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections testing, limited prenatal and ultrasound care, parenting education programs, fatherhood programs and sexual integrity education. All services are free and confidential.

Bethany Garth is the publicity and event coordinator for Women’s Hope.

“We are a non-profit so we run solely off of our fundraisers and private donations,” Garth said. “The 'Walk for Life' is one of our two major fundraisers each year and it brings in about 20 percent of our annual budget.”

Garth said fundraising events are important for non-profit organizations.

“Because we provide all these medical and support services absolutely free of charge for the client, our fundraising efforts are particularly important and that is why the 'Walk for Life' plays an important role at Women’s Hope,” Garth explained.

For more information on the 'Walk for Life,' or any of the services offered at Women’s Hope, contact Bethany at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 334-821-2112.

The Chick-Fil-A at Village Mall in Auburn is offering a promotion for the month of April. Inside the mall there is a brand new 2011 Tahoe stuffed with mini Chick-Fil-A cows.

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Whoever can guess the number of cow stuffed animals inside the car will win free Chick-Fil-A for an entire year.

Lindsey Robinson is the marketing director for the Chick-Fil-A at Village Mall.

“I decided to do this promotion because it is a fun way to get our customers involved and to give them a chance to win free meals,” Robinson said. “We appreciate our customers and want to give them exciting promotions.”

To guess the number of cows all you have to do is get an entry form. Getting a form is easy, come to Chick-Fil-A at Village Mall, upgrade any meal combo and you will receive an entry form.

The person who guesses closest to the number of cows is not the only winner. There will be other random drawings for winners throughout the month.

The drawing for the number of cows in the car will take place at the beginning of May. The other drawings will take place throughout the month of April.

Chick-Fil-A also has many other promotions going on also. Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. is milkshake hour. Small milkshakes are $1 and large milkshakes are $1.50.

Robinson explains about college night.

“Also, on Monday night we are having college night,” Robinson said. “With a valid college I.D. we are having buy one get one free meals from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Chick-fil-A is the second largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United States with more than 1,440 restaurants.

Privately held and family owned, Chick-fil-A is recognized across the country for being a pioneer in quick service mall food.

The Chick-Fil-A at Village Mall is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.

As the month of March comes to an end, graduation is rapidly approaching for this semester’s seniors. With a little more than a month until graduation, it is time to squeeze in the last minute events, parties and trips as a college student.

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The past four years of college have all led up to this moment, and now it is close to a month away.

What should I be doing to prepare? What have I not done during my time here? What should I do before I leave Auburn? These are all questions from the upcoming graduating class.

Before the real world hits you like a slap in the face, it is important to get everything in that you wanted to accomplish as a college student. Here are a few last minute ideas to maximize you time before graduation.

Take one last weekend road trip with your friends. Visit another friend’s campus or travel to a place you have never been before. The beach also makes a great weekend getaway, and it is only three or four hours from Auburn.

Throw one last party with all your closest friends and roommates. There is no better time to celebrate than classes ending and the accomplishment of making it through four years of college. Plus, enjoy your time living in a place surrounded by college students who stay up late and enjoy the same things you do.

Eat at all your favorite places you have grown to love while living in Auburn.

Take pictures at all the historic places in Auburn such as Toomer’s Corner, Samford and the Auburn University sign.
Auburn senior, Lindsey Robinson is planning out her last month as a college student.

“My friends and I have started doing a dinner club every Wednesday night,” Robinson explained. “We pick our favorite restaurants we have been to throughout the semester and make sure to go back to each one. We really want to cherish our time together.”

Robinson is making sure to spend as much time with her friends and eat at all her favorite restaurants at least one more time.

“One thing I have always wanted to do was go find wet cement in Auburn and stick my hands in it so one day I can come back and show my kids this is where I was when I was in school,” Robinson said.

Whether it is road tripping, going out to eat or finding wet cement around Auburn, this semester’s graduating class is making the most of their time.

For some students, spring break does not always mean a break from hard work. Some people choose to spend their week off of school helping others.

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Allison Smith is a girl who cares more about serving the people that are less fortunate than lying on the beach for a week.

Smith is traveling to Port St. Joe, Fla., the week of her spring break to serve in the community there. She will be participating in anything from construction of a ramp to just talking to people on their front porches.

The trip, Amplify, is hosted by the college ministry of First Baptist Church of Opelika. The team consists of about 200 college students that are divided into a construction team and a community outreach team.

The construction team will participate in projects such as painting houses, repairing window screens, pulling weeds or building wheel chair ramps. Most people in the community are elderly so they cannot maintain their homes by themselves.

The community outreach team will walk the streets of the neighborhood or knock on doors to find people to strike up a conversation with. Their mission is to build relationships with people in the community and to love on them. This team also takes the kids to the park to entertain them when they get home from school.

At the end of the week the teams come together to host a block party for the entire neighborhood. Food, inflatables and games are set up in the park for the children and families. Everyone gathers in the gymnasium for a time of worship as the day ends.

Allison Smith is a senior at Auburn University and a member of the college ministry of First Baptist. She is attending Amplify for the second year in a row.

“I love being able to minister to the parents and their children to see where they are at in their life so I can pray over them for certain things they might be dealing with,” Smith said.

The college ministry has been taking this trip during spring break for a few years. All of the students and volunteers stay in houses near the neighborhood they serve in.

The students also have worship time and are a part of a small group when they are not working in the neighborhood.

The college ministry is going to do a long-term mission trip to Port St. Joe, Fla. this summer. For more information visit the website at http://college.fbcopelika.com/

The spring semester is well underway and students are itching to fill their weekends. Football season is over, now there is nothing to fill Saturdays with quite like the experience of a home game weekend.

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This free time also holds great opportunity for students. A weekend road trip, a day at Chewacala State Park or laying by the pool is a perfect way to spend the weekend, especially with the beautiful spring weather approaching.

Other students use this free time to go home and spend time with their families they may have neglected during the entire football season.

However, if you grew up and in Auburn and your family is right down the street, you may need some more creative ideas. Kasey Bodine is a junior at Auburn University who grew up in Auburn.

“Now that football season is over, I have enjoyed going to my lake house with some friends, going shopping in Montgomery, or going out to dinner in Columbus,” Bodine said.

The weekends in the spring are not the only prime time for traveling, spring break is one of the biggest weeks college students use to vacation with their friends.

Some of the most common spring break destinations among Auburn students include the beaches of Florida such as Destin, Seaside, West Palm or Miami. Others choose to make an extravagant trip out of their week off school and go on a cruise to the Bahamas or Cozumel.

Spring break usually falls around the second week in March. Students get the entire week off, and if they are lucky, no homework due or tests the week after.  

“Some of my best memories from college are from my trip I have taken with my best friends on spring break,” Bodine said. “A week off is the best time to relax and get away from school responsibilities.”

Since students are not lucky enough to get a week off all the time, it is important to take advantage of the weekends.

Chewacala is another favorite among Auburn students. As soon as the weather gets slightly warm, you can find people setting up their hammocks, hiking or swimming under the waterfall.

Chewacala is only a few miles from campus so it is easy to take a day trip with friends. It costs $3 for adults to enter the park.

Even though football is over for the next few months, make sure to take advantage of the free weekends to get away! 

Last spring two Auburn University students decided to bring their passion for freeing sex trafficking victims to their campus. GraceAnn Hollis and Hannah Flayhart began an organization called Auburn International Justice Mission to make Auburn students aware of this worldwide tragedy.

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Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.

The organization holds meetings every other week in the Student Center at 7 p.m. and prayer meetings in the Alpha Delta Pi chapter room on the days the main meetings are not being held.

“We pray over the weekly emails that IJM send us on updates on the work they have going on around the world,” Kelli Hoggle said.

Hoggle is a junior at Auburn University that has been a member of the AU IJM organization for a year.

AU IJM hosts events to raise money for the victims including "Jog for Justice," movie screenings that focus on slavery, festivals and walks.

IJM is a human rights agency, founded in 1997 by Gary Haugen, which secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.

IJM investigators and professionals work with local governments to ensure victim rescue, to prosecute perpetrators and to strengthen the communities that promote public justice systems.

The professionals work in 12 countries including Asia, Africa and Latin America to protect national laws against sexual slavery and exploitation.

Their purpose is four-fold: to provide relief for victims, to keep perpetrators accountable for their actions, aftercare of victims and structural transformation.

“I joined IJM because I have a passion for the justice of the victims of human trafficking," Hoggle said. "I agree with everything they are promoting and want to join the cause to help raise money for victims of trafficking.”

Being a part of the AU IJM organization sparked an even bigger passion, which led Hoggle to use her summer to work for this cause.

“I did an internship in Atlanta with a ministry called 'Night Light.' We ministered to prostitutes and children at risk of being drawn into prostitution,” Hoggle said. “I also did an academy with 'Not For Sale' in San Francisco for two weeks and worked with their campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking.

This year Hoggle will have more opportunities to help the cause through the AU IJM organization.

“IJM has gotten me involved in going to the global prayer gathering in April in Washington D.C., it is a whole weekend of joining with people who have a passion for trafficking as well and the justice of trafficking,” Hoggle explained. “We are going to be praying over everything going on across the world that IJM is doing.”

For more information visit the IJM website at IJM.org or join the group on Facebook for Auburn’s chapter of IJM.

The War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen are the official hosts and hostesses of Auburn University. They serve directly under the President in conjunction with the Auburn Athletic Department and Auburn Alumni Association.

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Some of their responsibilities include attending meetings, assisting at Auburn University sponsored events, support of athletic programs during the year and working cooperatively with all students, faculty, staff and the Auburn community.

Football season is one of the most recognized times for the War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen. They are required to attend all home games and to be present in uniform with the entire group.

The group consists of 12 men and 12 women plus the reigning Miss Auburn as an honorary member.

Do you think you have what it takes? There is an opportunity coming up to prove you could be the next War Eagle Girl or Plainsmen of Auburn University!

Interviews for members of the 2011-2012 War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen will be Monday, Feb. 21, through Friday, Feb. 25.

The group is chosen through a process consisting of two interviews, the first reducing the selection to 25 women and 25 men and the second resulting in callouts of 24 new members, 12 women and 12 men.

The steps in the interview process include turning in an application, signing up for an interview time, studying the information sheet, paying the interview fee and lastly, the first round of interviews.

Anyone interested should attend the information session held at 6 p.m. in Langdon Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

All hopeful members must be in good standing at Auburn University and hold a maintained cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Candidates must be undergraduate students that have been enrolled at Auburn University for three semesters, not including summer term.

“As a War Eagle Girl I have been able to work with alumni which has been really cool to let them see what students are like at Auburn today compared to when they were a student here,” said Auburn student Lauren Ketron.

Ketron was a member of the War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen for the 2010-2011 year.

“I’ve been blessed to be a part of a great group this year, they are all great Auburn men and women who love the university," Ketron said. “Getting to experience our national championship season with them was amazing.”

For more information visit the website at http://www.auburn.edu/student_info/war_eagle_girls_plainsmen.

Are you looking for a way to spend your summer? Are there places you have always wanted to visit? Auburn University is hosting a study abroad fair that can answer all your questions!

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The 2011 Study Abroad and Passport Fair will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 16 in the Haley Center lobby. Guests will include Auburn professors that will be leading trips and affiliate university representatives that are providing programs. All guests will be available from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

All of the representatives will be able to answer any questions about studying through Auburn Abroad. The U.S. Department of State representatives will also be in attendance and will be able to help students apply for a passport.

The fair is an opportunity for Auburn directors and provider companies to display their programs. It is also a great opportunity for students to get an idea of what programs are available to them.

“I would recommend going to the study abroad fair because they can inform you on how to get your passport and hear about other study abroad options,” Katie Bishop said.

Bishop is a student at Auburn University that studied in Spain last summer through one of the Auburn Abroad programs. She said she learned a lot from the experience.

“I learned a lot from being immersed in the Spanish culture,” Bishop said. “It gave me a better understanding and appreciation of the language and now I can almost always understand what people are saying.”

While in Spain, Bishop received six credit hours by taking two intermediate level spanish classes throughout the summer.

“I completely recommend studying abroad through one of Auburn’s programs because I got the opportunity to meet new people, travel to France, go to a bull fight and watch the World Cup when Spain won,” Bishop said.

Financial aid, scholarships and PACT can all be used to help fund any of the Auburn Abroad programs.

Any students interested in studying or interning abroad for class credit should plan to attend a 30-minute information session. Orientation sessions are held every Thursday at 3 p.m. and Friday at 11 a.m. throughout the year in 242 Foy Hall.

The session will cover the forms required to get class credit, selecting a program, funding through scholarships, PACT, an overview of pre-departure and more. It is required for each student to attend no matter which university the program is through.

Come check out the Study Abroad and Passport Fair if you have any interest in studying or interning abroad in the near future!

For more information visit the Auburn Abroad website at http://www.auburn.edu/academic/international/oie/auburnabroad/

Emilee Williams was crowned Miss Auburn University 2011 at the Miss Auburn University Scholarship Pageant on Friday, Jan. 28. The pageant took place in the Auburn University Student Activities Center.

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Williams was not only awarded the title of Miss Auburn University, but also in-state tuition for a year. She will go on to compete in the Miss Alabama pageant held June 8-11 at Samford University.

The show featured 23 contestants all competing for the title of Miss Auburn University 2011. The categories of the competition included a private interview, on stage question, lifestyle and fitness in a swimsuit, talent and evening wear.

The pageant was open to all full time undergraduate and graduate students who met the age requirements and other conditions set forth by the Miss America Organization. Each contestant has to complete paperwork, raise $100 for the Children’s Miracle Network and be able to attend each meeting and rehearsal regarding the pageant.

Some guests and entertainment during the event included Miss Auburn University 2010, Rebecca Hart, Miss Alabama, Ashley Davis, Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen, Scarlet Walker, AU Singers, Tiger Paws and Aubie.

The Miss Auburn University Scholarship Pageant provides scholarship opportunities for young women to assist in furthering their education.

“The program is committed to promoting scholarship, highlighting talent and serving others,” Michelle Murphy, the pageant’s director, said. “All the contestants gain confidence, stage presence and many new friends.”

Last year’s winner, Rebecca Hart, has had the opportunity to make more than 100 appearances as Miss Auburn University 2010. She represented Auburn at the Miss Alabama Pageant this past June. Hart has also been able to speak, perform and assist with a variety of campus and community events. Some of these events include pep rallies, Downtown Trick or Treat, PTA meetings, visit to local elementary schools and Big event.

Hart is very active in promoting her personal platform for the Children’s Miracle Network, the national platform partner of the Miss America Organization.

“Miss Auburn University is a preliminary to Miss Alabama in the Miss America system, the largest scholarship resource for young women in the world,” Pamela Hammett said. Hammett is the secretary of the pageant.

The pageant was hosted by Auburn University’s Student Government Association.

Anyone interested in requesting Miss Auburn University for an appearance can contact Michelle Murphy at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).