Event Recap: BEAT Rutgers T-shirts

     Each year, Scarlet Guard gives away a limited number of BEAT shirts before 4 home conference football games. This year, we made a slight change. There were two football BEAT shirts, and next semester there will be a basketball BEAT shirt and a softball/baseball BEAT shirt.

     Last Friday, SG Board of Directors members handed out our first-ever BEAT Rutgers t-shirts.

Scarlet Guard members lined up hours in advance in front of the Nebraska Union on City Campus to await the BEAT shirt giveaway. While waiting, some visiting Rutgers fans even came to say hello and complimented the shirts! Over 130 Scarlet Guard members received the t-shirts and they must've brought the Huskers some good luck- we beat Rutgers 42-24!

     This year's BEAT shirts were designed by this year's SG Vice President of Communications, Sean Johnson. Sean is a senior Art major from Columbus, Nebraska.

The Scarlet Guard Board of Directors

    

     The Scarlet Guard Board of Directors is the governing body of SG, comprised of approximately 35 students. Members of the board are chosen through a selective application and interview process in the early spring semester each school year. Board members help plan Scarlet Guard events, promote the organization, provide member benefits and serve as the link between the student body and the alumni association. All Board of Directors members are required to attend bi-weekly meetings, participate in various planning committees, and help at all Scarlet Guard events. 

     Board meetings are completely student-run. All agenda topics are led by members of the Executive Team, committee directors, or students who serve as connections to other organizations on campus. At each meeting, one Board member who has gone above and beyond since the previous meeting is given the "Support Award", a tool belt that the recipient decorates with something that symbolizes them or their experiences with Scarlet Guard.

     As part of the new Board of Directors/Executive team structure this year, for the first time ever, there are four freshman included on the Board of Directors. In the past, BOD spots were held exclusively by upperclassmen. Because most of Scarlet Guard's general members are freshmen, the organization decided it was important that we gave the freshmen a voice at our Board meetings. 

     Once one is accepted onto the Board of Directors, their spot is secure for the rest of their Scarlet Guard membership, pending they meet all BOD attendance and involvement requirements. Board members can run for Executive team positions the year following their acceptance on to BOD.

     While the Board of Directors is comprised of hardworking leaders that focus on event planning and programming, it is also a very tight-knit group of friends. Members like to organize "Board Bonding" outings after meetings and events. The relationships built with fellow Board members is just as much of a perk as the real-world professional development experience.

To read bios of the 2014-2015 Board of Directors, click here.

SG Spotlight: Kallie Speltz

     Kallie Speltz is a senior Pre-Medicine/Finance major from St. Joseph, Missouri. She has been a member of Scarlet Guard since her Freshman year at the UNL, and has served on the Scarlet Guard Board of Directors for three years. Kallie is currently serving as the Vice President of Alumni Relations on the Scarlet Guard Executive Team. 

     "My favorite memory [of Scarlet Guard] would be going on the bus trip to Chicago for the Northwestern game two years ago," Speltz recalls, "It was so much fun to spend a weekend in Chicago with other SG members and cheer on the Huskers!"

Kallie Speltz (center, seated) with other Scarlet Guard members at the 

Spring 2014 professional development event, Life 101.

    As for her proudest accomplishment, Kallie has lots of real-world experience to choose from. She spearheaded all of Scarlet Guard's social events in the 2013-2014 year, has been involved in numerous committees during her time on Board, and was in the running for President for the 14-15 school year. 

    "My proudest accomplishment would have to be being chosen as the 2013-2014 Outstanding Board Member," says Speltz, " I was the Third Thursday Social chair and put a lot of time and effort into planning all of the events and doing my part to make SG an even better organization! The board is full of amazing leaders and it was an awesome feeling to be the one recognized."

It is no question that Kallie is one of the most influential, positive, and dedicated leaders of Scarlet Guard, and that she will continue to impress after she graduates from UNL this May. After receiving her undergraduate degree, Kallie plans on getting her Masters in Business Administration or Masters in Healthcare Administration (or both) and work in the healthcare industry to eventually become a chief officer at a hospital.

Meet the 2014-15 Scarlet Guard Executive Team

2014-15 Scarlet Guard Executive Team (from left to right): Michaela Niemeyer, Emily Murtaugh, Sean Johnson, Cale Kaiser, Kallie Speltz, Travis Eubanks, Emily Shoening, and Betsy Hardin.

    For the first time ever, the UNL Scarlet Guard Executive team includes 8 outstanding students. In previous years, the exec team consisted of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations Director. In an effort to maximize each exec team member's experience and move towards Scarlet Guard's goal of being a totally student-run organization, the exec team structure has changed and now mimics a more corporate structure. The new positions and the students who hold them are as follows:

President - Emily Murtaugh: The President is responsible for presiding over BOD meetings and acting as a liaison to the Nebraska Alumni Association (NAA. The President will also sit on the NAA’s internal SG team and on the NAA Advisory Council. They will be held responsible for compiling an end-of-year report for both general members and the NAA.


Vice President of Records - Betsy Hardin: The Vice President of Records is responsible for taking attendance at BOD meetings and attendance of BOD members at SG-sponsored events. They will be responsible for producing and distributing meeting minutes of all Executive Committee and BOD meetings. In addition, they will revise SG files as necessary, maintain attendance records, handle general SG correspondence, and become familiar with Hyena technology.


Vice President of Internal Relations - Cale Kaiser: The Vice President of Internal Relations is responsible for researching campus awards and distinctions (Franco’s List, Alumni Awards, Outstanding Junior Award, Student Involvement Awards, etc.), planning and coordinating BOD social events, and building camaraderie among BOD and general SG members.


Vice President of External Relations - Travis Eubanks: The Vice President of External Relations is responsible for promoting SG throughout UNL and greater Lincoln community, working with campus and community partners for event collaboration. They are also responsible for helping increase diversity within SG membership, serve as a SG representative and ambassador through a number of speaking engagements and presentations.


Vice President of Alumni Relations - Kallie Speltz: The Vice President of Alumni Relations is responsible for working closely with NAA staff and serving as an NAA liaison for the following programs and events: Scarlet Scoop, Alumni Masters Week, College, Career, and Life Advice, All Stressed Out, GradFest, Young Alumni Academy, Nebraska Women’s Leadership Network, and Nebraska Legends. They will work to develop a strong connection between graduating SG members and the NAA.


Vice President of Communications -  Sean Johnson: The Vice President of Communications will work with NAA staff to create online, print and video media communications. They will work with BOD Directors and the Vice President of Social Media to help create and event and marketing plans and see them through to fruition.


Vice President of Social Media - Michaela Niemeyer: The Vice President of Social Media will work with the NAA Social Media Strategist to develop a social media strategy for SG, assist in producing, scheduling and posting social media content, and elevate our social media presence.


Executive Delegate - Emily Schoening: The Executive Delegate will work closely with Exec and BOD to assist with special projects, actively contributing ideas and providing feedback to Exec, BOD and the Adviser.

The Ultimate Cornhusker Compass Competition

On October 4, Scarlet Guard members competed in our first-ever Ultimate Cornhusker Compass Competition. It was an Amazing Race-style event open to all UNL students (not exclusive to SG members), where teams raced across both City and East Campus to complete various Husker Tradition-based challenges. The first place team included Erin Lyons, Ashleigh Blecha, Scott Mulholland, Patricia Krause and Jacob Simnitt. They won BEAT Rutgers t-shirts, a VIP tour of Memorial Stadium, and the chance to be part of the BEAT Rutgers tunnel walk! Second place winners received BEAT Rutgers t-shirts and the chance to be part of the tunnel walk at the Spring Red and White game. After all teams completed the competition, competitors and Nebraska Alumni Association staff ate Dairy Store ice cream and socialized. Look below to see pictures of the event!

From the Desk of the SG President, Emily Murtaugh

            

     When I was a freshman in college, I really didn’t know much of anything. Sure, I graduated at the top of my class, got a 32 on my ACT, and made it into the University Honors Program, but outside of intelligence, I really knew very little. At that time, I was a Biological Sciences/Pre-medicine major. I’d sit through biology lectures, one face of one hundred and fifty, banking on the hope that years down the road, when I had my doctorate, it’d all be worth it. I originally joined Scarlet Guard for the Official Tradition Keeper’s medal-not necessarily because I was excited about the traditions, but because I knew a medal at graduation looked good on applications.

            It has been two and a half years since I first joined Scarlet Guard, and I can’t believe how different things are now.

            Things really began changing in fall of my sophomore year. I had been selected to join the Scarlet Guard Board of Directors, and was helping out on the Homecoming committee for the second year in a row. The theme was “Once Upon a Homecoming”, and I took it upon myself to paint a banner of Memorial Stadium as a castle for the parade. The week before homecoming, the basement of my house became my studio, painting took priority over bio homework, and I loved every minute of it. The excitement I felt for this one painting project left me to contemplate the question...What do I really enjoy enough to do for the next 40 years?

            The answer wasn’t medical school, surgery, or biology. The following semester, I enrolled in a design class for non-Art majors that covered graphic design, photography, and visual literacy. I was excited by just looking over the syllabus. After many meetings with my professor and looking at my options, I finally made the switch. I was now a Textiles, Merchandising, and Fashion Design/Communications major.

            By that time, Executive team nominations for Scarlet Guard were taking place. My closest friend on board nominated me for Public Relations chair, and I accepted. In the days before elections, I prepared answers to questions I thought I’d be asked and crafted a perfect and diplomatic answer to why I wanted to be PR chair. The day of, I didn’t use any of my practiced material. I remember walking in front of the Board: my role models, peers, and friends. I told them I wanted to be PR chair because “it’s what I do. I’m not running for President or Vice President or any other position because PR chair is the one I’d love”. It wasn’t an organized or well thought out answer. It was simply the truth. All of the opportunities and responsibilities of the PR chair really excited me, just like reading the syllabus for that first design class did.

            A few minutes later I was told I had been elected as the public relations chair.

            The following year, I’d been able to demonstrate my passion for design and communications through many different facets of Scarlet Guard. Over summer, I led the design and execution of Scarlet Guard’s first-ever clothing line. During the year, I managed all of Scarlet Guard’s social media accounts and produced multiple promotional designs and pictures for our events.

I loved what I was doing, and didn’t make it halfway through the semester without asking for more. I met with Jenny Green, our former adviser, and began helping at the Alumni Association communications offices once or twice a week to work with their graphic designers to produce posters, handouts, and cover photos for Scarlet Guard.

            Spring came, and it was time for Executive Team elections again. I ended up running for President alongside an absolutely stellar Scarlet Guard Board member, Kallie Speltz. The day of elections, I felt surprisingly calm. I wanted very much to continue to be elected and to continue to grow Scarlet Guard, but knew that no matter who was elected, Scarlet Guard would be in good hands. That’s my favorite part of Scarlet Guard; it’s full of so many ambitious, passionate, and hardworking students. 

            After the election process was finished, I remember calling my mom as soon as I got to my car. I started laughing and crying at the same time. I was very excited, but mostly humbled. To this day, I can’t believe that such an amazing group of student leaders put their faith in me. I now know something I was completely unfamiliar with when I came to the University of Nebraska; I know what that excitement is. It’s passion. It’s a love for something you do.  I see that passion and drive every day in the Scarlet Guard members I am fortunate enough to call my friends and role models.

     While I love the University and am passionate about Scarlet Guard, my one, unyielding goal for my time as President of Scarlet Guard is to help the Scarlet Guard Board of Directors and general Scarlet Guard members achieve their goals. I read once that being a good leader means leaving your organization in better hands than yours when you leave. With the incredible talent, drive, and passion that I see every day in the students I work with, I have no doubt that Scarlet Guard’s future is more promising and bright than ever.

             

Setting Our Sights High

     On Saturday, October 4, the 14-15 Scarlet Guard Board of Directors had their annual Fall retreat. For the first time ever, the retreat was held at UNL's Outdoor Challenge Course. The BOD participated in a number of team building and trust exercises before heading to the Alpine Tower, a 50-foot tall wooden hourglass structure. BOD members belayed, climbed and encouraged each other every step of the way. At the course, we were able to identify our strengths and weaknesses as a group. During the team building exercises, we were all very dedicated, driven, and eager to achieve our goal, but at times our organization and communication were lacking. Making note of these issues will help us be more effective leaders and have more efficient Board meetings.

     After taking advantage of the challenge course, BOD members met back at the Wick Alumni Center to eat lunch and discuss the mission, purpose, and future of Scarlet Guard. It was the group's first chance to really brainstorm without limits, and the results were fantastic. During the time at the Challenge Course and again during our more formal meeting, BOD members who had previously kept to themselves emerged as leaders and produced innovative and effective ideas. No opinion was shot down. Instead, input from others was used as building blocks to achieve a common goal.

     With a new internal structure and new interim adviser, the Scarlet Guard Board of Directors has deemed this year a "building year". We want to take this year to step back, look at things from the 10,000-foot-above level, and lay the foundation for where our group will go in the future. After seeing the dedication and encouragement from the BOD members as their peers challenged themselves to climb the Alpine tower and achieve the group's goals, I cannot wait to see how we all improve individually, as a Board, and how that makes us rise as a strong student organization.

So what is Scarlet Guard?

     Scarlet Guard is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Student Alumni Association. The group is currently the largest student organization at UNL, boasting over 1,450 members during the 2013-2014 school year. Within the general membership, Scarlet Guard is run, organized and led by a student Board of Directors, which is made up of 35 individuals from all colleges, grades, and various majors. Among that 35 is the Scarlet Guard Executive team: The President, 6 Vice Presidents, and an Executive Delegate. A member of the Nebraska Alumni Association staff acts as the group's adviser.

     The mission of Scarlet Guard is to engage students with their University and provide them with the most authentic and ultimate Husker experience. This is accomplished through a heavy focus on campus traditions that can be found in the Cornhusker Compass, a traditions book that is given to all members at the time of their registration. The Cornhusker Compass highlights 65 "campus traditions" that vary from attending a Husker football game and participating in the balloon release or the Kissing Columns on UNL's City campus. Once Scarlet Guard members complete 25 of the 65 traditions, they are deemed a "Knight" and are invited to an exclusive networking event every year for the remainder of their time at college. If members complete 50 of the traditions, they are recognized as Official Tradition Keepers, are given a medal to wear at graduation, and are invited to the exclusive Alumni Awards Banquet with distinguished alumni.

     The Scarlet Guard Board of Directors plans and executes events for general members to assist them in completing their Cornhusker Compasses. These events are both social and professional. Social events include free t-shirt giveaways for home conference games, an Amazing Race-style competition that features challenges related to campus traditions, and dodgeball in Memorial Stadium. Events that promote networking and professional development include Alumni Masters Week, which gives students the opportunity to network with distinguished alumni. Another is Backpacks to Briefcases, which provides students with knowledge and resources that will help them maximize their college experiences and launch their careers.

    However, most valuable part of Scarlet Guard isn't the events. The part of Scarlet Guard that inspires, encourages, and impacts students the most is the connections that are made with alumni and fellow students. These relationships, much like the memories one gains from college life at Nebraska, last a lifetime.