Meet the Diversity Ambassadors

Meet Abby: ammille6@butler.edu

I am a Junior English Literature major. On campus, I am part of Dawg Pound (a.k.a. the COOLEST student section ever created) and I am part of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Through those two organizations I do a lot of stuff around campus and Indianapolis such as Butler Sports activities and philanthropy events. For fun I spend time with my friends doing anything that seems fun around campus or simply just hanging out and watching movies together.

Abby's advice to you:

One piece of advice that I have is to keep your head on your shoulders, but remember to relax. The year can be stressful, particularly around midterm and finals, but for the most part, time flies and so there's no reason you can't have a good time. Also, DON'T let your dishes or laundry pile up for weeks on end… it just becomes gross and you run out of things to eat off of or wear to class. :)

Meet Andrew: aterhune91@gmail.com, aterhune@butler.edu

This fall I will be a Junior at BU studying pre-pharmacy and Spanish.

In the past I've been involved with FAB, which stands for Fall Alternative Break. FAB is an annual service work trip during Butler's fall break where a group of students gets to help out people in need and have a lot of fun doing so. I'm an officer for Butler's chapter of the Lilly Scholars Network, an organization that does volunteer work for the Indianapolis community. Finally, I served as a diversity ambassador last fall so I'm familiar with international events in the community and other fun events put on by Butler. Outside of school, I like to participate in volunteer events that include everything from nursing home visits to cleaning up parks.

In my spare time I really love to travel with family and friends. I think it's awesome to see new places and meet different groups of people from around the world. I also really enjoy hiking and the outdoors; luckily Indiana happens to have some great state parks. When I'm indoors and looking for something to do, I like playing video games and listening to music with friends.

Andrew's advice to you:

First, I encourage incoming students to be open to trying new things, even if they seem out of your comfort zone. This is when we usually discover new hobbies and interests! Also, if you are having trouble adjusting to the U.S. and Butler, please be OPEN and HONEST about it from the very beginning. I am ALWAYS available if you need to talk and are having a difficult time, and if you need to talk to someone else I can connect you!

Meet Kevin: Kcavanau@butler.edu

I am going to be a junior accounting major. On campus I am a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and the Dawg Pound.  For fun, I really enjoy playing tennis and golf.  I also enjoy hanging with friends and am generally up for anything!

Kevin's advice to you:

One piece of advice I have for incoming students is to take advantage of every opportunity presented to them while they are abroad.  Essentially, just say "yes".  Take complete advantage of this awesome experience that you are about to have!

Meet Kevin: kawolf@butler.edu, kawolf315@gmail.com

Hey guys, I am a Senior and am studying Economics, Math, and French. I am extremely busy around campus; I am in a fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, I am a math tutor and am also a member of the Student Government Association (SGA). I also tutor privately and whenever I have time try to help out at the Salvation Army across town in their afterschool program for kids. For fun, I love to do anything outside (soccer, football, Frisbee, volleyball) and on rainy days I am always up to watch a movie or play some video games. Sunday is devoted to football and homework for me, which is a nice way to make homework more fun, unless my team, The Chicago Bears, is losing.

Kevin's advice to you:

Some advice for all of you: be organized. I just got back from studying abroad and there is so much to do that if you're not organized, you may miss out on some awesome opportunities. I am more than willing to help out with any organization questions or anything in general. Feel free to reach out to me on Facebook, e-mail, or however you feel like it (no one writes letters anymore - change that!). I hope to be able to make your time at Butler as amazing as it can be. I love going to school here and I hope you will too!

Meet Heidi: hnbarker@butler.edu, heidi.nicolette@gmail.com 
 

I am a senior (4^th year) International Business and Marketing double major with a minor in Spanish. iViva la español!

On campus I am in the academic business fraternity AKPsi, I am on the committee for Spring Sports Spectacular (a volunteer/philanthropic organization), and I am also a part of the Lilly Scholars Network, SABL, and CRU.

On a more fun note though, I love shopping, travel, going to the beach, soccer (i.e. football to most everyone in the world), hiking, eating new and exotic foods, hmmm…as well as watching movies, listening to music, dancing, karaoke, oo and parties!! In my free time I enjoy reading, singing to the radio (and in public randomly), :) anything arts and crafts-y really, and all the other things I mentioned before this. Really I am up for anything new and exciting, so I hope you can all teach me fun cultural things!  

Heidi's advice to you:

My advice to you is to get as involved as you can on campus and in the community-so many fun things happen at Butler. In so saying, try and branch out past just the exchange group. I know how easy it is to forget to socialize with the local students as well-been there done that. Hopefully I can help with the socializing bit though! Another word of advice, if you can manage it, take a light load for the semester because exchange is so much fun, aka you don't want to be doing homework all the time. Oo and try to get Fridays off on your schedule as well…three day weekends are the best! Besides that, come with an open mind and be ready to have an awesome semester!!! I can't wait to meet you all :)

Meet Hayley: hljones@butler.edu

Hey guys. My name is Hayley Jones and I'm a Junior Biology major. I really enjoy the sciences, but I'm still really unsure about my specific career path. I have a passion for Biology but this past year was a struggle so this semester I am taking a variety of classes in all different fields to try and narrow down my interests and understand what I want to study and the things I would like to do for the rest of my life.

For fun I like to practice yoga, sing, travel and grow as a person. Many of my personal goals are directed towards learning and experiencing new people, places, and customs that will stay with me and help me gain new knowledge. At Butler, I am involved with a weekly program called College Mentors for Kids, where I am a college mentor for a 3rd grader from the inner-city schools in Indianapolis, who I built a trusting and fun relationship with over the course of a semester while participating in activities with her along with other Butler mentors once a week. Also, I am involved in Fall Alternative Break or FAB which is a leadership and service orientated trip over Fall Break to a worksite. Each fall, which about 20-50 Butler students, ranging in all ages and majors, take a bus and stay and work within the community. This past fall, I was lucky enough to travel to Maryville, Tennessee and work on a Cherokee National Indian Reservation which was an extremely rewarding and moving experience. I encourage all of you to apply to go on the trip! :D

Hayley's advice to you:

One piece of advice that I could give an incoming student would be to keep an open mind and use the opportunities you have to experience as much as you can. Although in many ways it is probably daunting but also thrilling and exciting to be in your position, there are individuals and offices here at Butler to help make that transition even easier Butler, like the Learning Resource Center, the PuLsE office and the Efroymson Diversity Center. The events offered by these offices, among many others, are vast and happen regularly so take advantage of the programs right at your fingertips! So although there will inevitably be rough times there will also be many, many fun times and while you're here you can only make the most of it and grow through all the lifestyles, people and events you will experience!

Meet Erika:  eocampo@butler.edu

Upcoming sophomore! Unfortunately, I have five more years to go since I am a double major-Pharmacy and Spanish. My second major switches back and forth between business and Spanish, but at the moment Spanish. Jaja!

Other than being a diversity ambassador… I'm a busy bee. I'll be president of A.S.I.A. this coming fall with big plans and intentions on making A.S.I.A. a prominent club on-campus. I will be on the REACH Executive Board, and REACH is the part of student government in charge with promoting diversity. I was on grants committee last school year, and the purpose of grants committee was to allocate the funds to different clubs and organizations on-campus. I also work at the observatory on-campus, so stop by on a Friday or Saturday night to look at the stars through the massive telescope Butler has! With the free time I do have, I try to volunteer through the Volunteer Center during the weekends. This summer I am a volunteer at the Alivio Clinic as an interpreter. I'll also be training to be a pharmacy technician at Kroger. Did I miss anything? :)

For fun, I guess you can say besides working and volunteering I LOVE LOVE LOVE to sleep, hang out with my friends, read a good book, eat delicious food, and play with my doggies. I also like to blog through Tumblr, tweet every now and then, and eventually I'll get a Pinterest this summer.

Erika's advice to you:

Make sure you take advantage of what Butler has to offer! Go to events hosted by SGA or the PuLSE office. There are always free events that occur almost every weekend. For example, during the Spring Semester I was able to go to Chicago for free through the PuLSE office, and all I had to do was to sign up. During that daytrip to Chicago, I indulged in free Giordano's pizza, roamed the city a little bit, and watched a spectacular play called The Race.

Don't forget to have fun while you're learning at Butler. You only live once, right?

Meet Laura: lmhoffma@butler.edu

I am a Junior Elementary Education major. I have tried out accounting and realized it is not for me so I am trying out a couple of the different majors in the college of business trying to figure out which one I like the best.

Well I had never been rock climbing really before last year so I joined rock climbing club and became their representative for the Student Government Association (SGA) which is in charge of spreading out information to all of the clubs on campus. Besides that, one of my dear friends and I are in the process of starting a new club called BAFA (Bulldogs Advocating For Africa). It is just a club that is supposed to raise money throughout the year to help out different organizations geared to the improvement of life in Africa. Besides those two clubs I am mainly involved in my sorority, Delta Delta Delta! We are required to go out and get service hours and to go to certain events which for me are probably one way that I have some of my most enjoyable fun! If I am not running about from studying to an event though, I usually just really enjoy baking some new dessert or kicking my shoes off, curling up in a blanket, and watching a feel good chick flick with my girl friends. Nothing beats a bit of down time : )

Laura's advice to you:

My one advice to incoming students is do not be afraid to try something new or be a fool. You have come all this way so why not live it to the fullest! Don't let time pass by or second guess yourself! And most importantly..never be afraid to ask for help. We might all be Bulldogs at heart but we don't bite!

Oh! And go to as many basketball games as possible! They are fantastic : D

Meet Dakota: dspeck@butler.edu 

Hello, I'm Dakota and will be a sophomore at Butler in the fall! I am a biology (pre-health) major with minors in chemistry and Spanish. I absolutely love Butler and am sure that you will too. On campus I am involved in intramural volleyball and soccer, Men's Club Volleyball, and Help Heal Haiti. Next year I will also be a part of Butler University Dance Marathon which raises money for a children's hospital here in Indianapolis. In my free time I like to run, swim, draw, and hang out with friends. I also like being outdoors, taking pictures, and traveling.

Dakota's advice to you:

As an incoming student, I advise that you try to open up and take any opportunity to get involved that you can. I've found that it is the clubs, friendships, and organizations that you get involved in that make college memorable! I am very excited for you to join the Butler family and look forward to meeting you in the fall!

Meet Selom: skugbe@butler.edu

I am a senior, double majoring in biomedical engineering and chemistry.

I am part of the engineering club and ASIA on campus, as well as the society of women engineers. I also participate in activities organized by the volunteer center.

I like cooking, reading and listening to music for fun. I enjoy riding my bike along the canal that goes through Butler and shopping, of course :).

Selom's advice to you:

Don't be shy; ask when you don't know without worrying about what others think. The most important thing is for you to enjoy your time at Butler and in the USA. The role of the ambassadors is to help you adjust to the culture and be there when you need help.

Meet Steph: spost@butler.edu

I'm going to be a Senior! I'm so old! My major is finance.

I'm in the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta on campus and am very involved in Greek life events in general. I love to go out to eat around Indianapolis and try new places. I love sushi.

Steph's advice to you:

Don't be shy! Ask questions! The worst thing for an incoming student to be is confused! Those of us who have been here for a couple of years know Butler University and the city of Indianapolis inside and out and our information is at your disposal!