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.

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.