AUBURN FUTURES
Fall 2012 Edition
Hello! My name is Scott Kelley, and I am a public relations major at Auburn University. The following pages are filled with content I helped write and create over the fall 2012 semester at Auburn. The articles were originally written for The Corner News and Auburn Family. I called this magazine Auburn Futures because each article is about a future event or opportunity that a student took to further their education or career. I felt it was important to capitalize on what a great school Auburn University is, as well as the types of students it helps create.
Enjoy! ii
Table of Contents: Graduate Brings the Bow Tie Back
pg. 1-2
Auburn Goes to Africa
pg. 3-4
Creepy Wonderful Critters Creeps Back
pg. 5-6
Bringing Auburn to LA
pg. 7-8
OktoberFest Toasts to Auburn
pg. 9-10
AUtumn Nights to Hit Toomer’s Corner
pg. 11-12
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graduate brings the bow tie back Are you ready to rock a new look? ow ties are back in style thanks to
b
it comes to accessorizing and topping off your
Lorenzo Lane, an Auburn University
look,” Lane said.
marketing and international business
This lack of options furthered the creation of L.
graduate.
Bow Ties in Lane’s mind.
Lane has gone on to create his own bow tie
Despite his passion for adding something
company, L. Bow Ties.
new to the fashion industry, the road to
L. Bow Ties does not offer just any regular
launch L. Bow Ties was not an easy one.
bow ties, but one-of-a-kind options that are
“It started with a lot of research. I had my idea
handmade from Lane himself.
and just kept talking about it with people. That
“I try to set apart my business with unique
helped make it come further into existence,”
aspects like bold colors, fabrics and being
Lane said. “I also had to learn how to sew,
custom made,” Lane said. “And once it’s sold,
and I had never sewn before. I had to get my
that’s it.”
business license, too.”
choice for Lane.
Project to Runway fashion show. He tied for
“I had never actually worn a bow tie before I
best accessory. “The most extreme bow tie I’ve made is
1
Despite this, Lane wanted to create something
probably the one I made for that show. It was
to provide more choices for men when it comes
two different materials that were orange and
to getting dressed every day.
blue,” Lane said. “It had rhinestones on it.”
“There’s not a whole lot of men’s options when
As for the future, Lane is keeping his
options open.
“If you’re not excited about what you’re doing,
”I want to continue to learn and eventually be
you shouldn’t be doing it,” Lane said. “I
in stores, or maybe have my own store,” Lane
recommend you share your interests in what
said. “I’m not in a hurry to outdo myself, though.” He is also open to the idea of expanding his brand into other types of fashion. “I love clothes, so that’d be
“If you’re not excited about what you’re doing, you shouldn’t be doing it.”
for myself,” Lane said.
you want to do, and if you keep talking about it, you bring it about and can make anything happen.” Bow ties from L. Bow Ties can range from $25 to $35. The cost of a custom bow tie varies depending on what the
Lane is hopeful that he can set an example for
customer desires.
others who are considering starting their own
To purchase a bow tie, or learn more, visit www.
business.
lbowties.com.
Lorenzo Lane, creator of L. Bow Ties, shows off one of his latest and most popular bow ties.
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Auburn Goes to Africa A summer away from
M
ost students view the summer months as a
time for summer classes,
home...
vacation or a time to just relax. AnnaKay Winford, an apparel design major at Auburn University, spent her summer on a mission trip in Uganda, a dream of hers since she was young. “I went with a guy from my church, Wayne Daniel. Him and his wife started an organization in Kenya 23 years ago, then moved to Uganda,” Winford said. She jumped at the chance to join him on the trip. “I have wanted to go ever since I learned about Invisible Children,” she said. “Getting a glimpse into what is going on over there, it really sparked my interest, and I just had to go.” And after raising enough money, Winford got her wish. “While I was over there, I pretty much hung out with kids all day,” she said. “I helped them out with their English. They don’t really learn much
3
AnnaKay Winford spent her summer teaching Ugandan children how to speak English.
about it until a later age.” Winford volunteered in other ways as well. “We helped build a house for a family who will live there permanently and do mission work,” she said. Winford got the chance to try new foods, like her favorite, matooke, which is made from steamed banana leaves, as well as visit the game park and see lions, giraffes and elephants.
The new culture was exciting for her,
take a warm shower that day,” she
and she got to see the world
said. “The schools were really
with a different outlook.
packed as well. There would be
“The people there are just
90 kids in one tiny classroom.
really cool. They are always
I’m sure it has to make it hard
happy, despite some of the
to learn.”
conditions they live in,” she
And despite being back in
said.
America, she has not forgotten about
One morning, Winford woke
what she learned in Africa. She is starting
up feeling sick. It was then
a clothing drive to collect dresses
that she learned she had contracted
for those that need them back in
Malaria.
Uganda.
“I was taking preventatives for it, so
“The women there are not allowed
I didn’t have it that bad,” she said.
to cover their legs, and of course
“The biggest difference I noticed was how we take things forwoke granted America.” so positive. Winford up one here in in the beginning stages of starting
a majority of donations are and then I would be back to
pants,” she said. “Those are
feeling awful the next day.
great donations, but I want to
Fortunately, I got medicine
focus on collecting dresses.”
to take care of it.”
And now that she has
Within hours, she was
returned to Auburn, Winford is
feeling better.
hopeful that others will follow in her
Regardless of the setback, the
footsteps.
experience, overall, was eye opening for Winford.
students should go and experience
“The biggest difference I noticed was how we take things for granted
There’s no way I won’t.”
here in America. In Uganda, if the sun wasn’t out, you didn’t get to 4
Halloween spirit, the Louise
I
Wonderful Critters, each year having a
Kreher Forest Ecology
different theme.
Preserve’s Creepy Wonderful Critters
“We’ve done alligators, snakes and last
and Leaping Lizards! may be the event
year we did creatures of the night, with
for you.
bats and owls,” said Jennifer Lolley,
Creepy Wonderful Critters and Leaping
outreach administrator of the Louise
Lizards! is taking place Saturday, Oct.
Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve.
13 at the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology
This year, the theme is lizards.
Preserve’s amphitheater. It gives the
“We are hoping to have 15 to 20
community a chance to learn more
different lizards. There will be lots of
about the misunderstood species we
different kinds of iguanas, geckos, a
consider creepy.
Gila monster, which is a venomous
f you are ready to get in the
Creepy Wonderful Critters Creeps Back
Get in the Halloween spirit
5
lizard, and our native lizards, too,”
feature snakes for the participants to touch and hold, as
Lolley said. Lolley is hopeful that the event will open the community’s minds about nature. “We want to get families and Auburn
“One of my big goals is to stop the killing of the snakes and spiders. They have an important role in our ecological system.”
well as a bone yard, with bones and skulls on display. “We put web every where and hang bats. It just makes it fun and gets
students to come out, and encourage them to look at
people in the spirit of Halloween,”
the outdoors, the living creatures and
Lolley said. “I think the adults have
learn more about them,” Lolley said.
just as much fun as the kids do.”
She is also optimistic that exposure
Tickets cost $4, and children 3 and
to the creatures will stop people from
under get in for free.
mistreating them.
Free admission will also be offered to
“If you teach people about them, then
those who sign up for a membership
maybe they won’t be so afraid of them,” for the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Lolley said. “One of my big goals is to
Preserve.
stop the killing of
The Louise Kreher
the snakes and
Forest Ecology
spiders. They have
Preserve is located
an important role
in Auburn at 2222,
in our ecological
North College St.,
system.”
near Highway 280.
The event will
For more
start around 10
information about
a.m. After, the pavilion will remain
memberships or Creepy Wonderful
open, with the entomology department
Critters, please visit www.auburn.edu/
bringing in bugs.
preserve.
Creepy Wonderful Critters will also 6
Bringing Auburn to
LA
P
From small town to Hollywood hoto shoots, models and
all worth it.”
Johnny Depp. These are a
Winford drove from Alabama to Los
few things most students can’t
Angeles. The drive lasted three days,
say are part of their daily life. For Sarah
consisting of a 32-hour car ride.
Winford, an apparel design and production After her first day there, Winford gained management major, it was a surreal reality.
internships from both interviews.
“It’s just the perfect place for me.” Winford lived in Los Angeles this past
“I interned for two fashion designers. One
summer to complete her internship
was Brian Lichtenberg. The other was
required to graduate.
Geren Ford,” Winford said. “Both are
When deciding on where to go for her
women’s designers out in LA.”
internship, the choice was obvious.
The chance to work for two companies
“I have always loved LA. It’s very laidback,
allowed Winford to gain different
it has beautiful weather and the people are
experiences in the fashion industry.
a lot more friendly,” she said.
“Brian Lichtenberg was more out source
But the journey to Los Angeles was
operations. I would shop at all the fabric
anything but easy.
stores and go to the factories,” she said.
“For the longest time, my parents told me I “At Geren Ford, they produced everything
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couldn’t go. About two weeks before I left,
in China. Therefore, we did mostly spec
I pretty much told them I’m going whether
packaging.”
they like it or not,” Winford said. “It was
Spec packaging is a tedious task that
all very last minute. The day I got to LA, I
involves measuring every part of a garment
had two interviews and no place to live. It
to make sure the measurements, among
could have been more organized but it was
other things, are perfected. They are then
Sarah Winford (left) poses with a co-worker by the Hollywood sign.
sent overseas. Winford also got a taste of life in front of the camera.
to Auburn.
“The coolest thing I did was participate in
“It was hard to adjust. I love my friends
photo shoots all over the city,” she said.
here, but it was definitely a culture shock
“To help with the models was a great
coming back,” she said. “The hot weather
experience. I was even able to model in
here was so depressing.”
one of the photo shoots.”
Despite the weather, Winford was excited
After gaining both internships, Winford
to return to Auburn to finish her last
found a place to live. It was located near
semester. She will graduate at the end of
Hollywood Boulevard, where celebrity
2012.
sightings were not a rare occurrence.
“I would love to go back and live in Los
“It was really entertaining and different,”
Angeles,” she said. “I would like to be a
she said. “Ke$ha looks and acts exactly how designer one day and have a label with my you would expect Ke$ha to look and act.”
sister. I kind of want to pursue music too.
After an eventful summer in a new place,
It’s just the perfect place for me.”
the hardest part for Winford was returning 8
served, a gourmet food item will accompany each beer to make the experience a true feast. “It’s a very interactive, fun event,” said Hans van der Reijden, managing director of The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. “You get live music, it’s out by the pool, you get to meet the brewers and get to meet our chefs.” Featured breweries include Avondale, Blue Pants, Bells, Back
OktoberFest Toasts to24 beers, Auburn could you handle it?
T
he Hotel at Auburn University
Forty, Founder’s, Good People, Heavy
and Dixon Conference Center
Seas, North Coast Brewing, Oskar
is preparing for the 2nd
Blues, Straight to Ale, Sweetwater and
annual OktoberFest to celebrate beer
Yellowhammer.
connoisseurs and the nearing of the fall
The event is not only about having fun,
months.
but also about bringing the community
OktoberFest, which consists of 12
together and showcasing what Auburn
regional breweries, each bringing two
has to offer.
different beers, will take place on Friday, “With the thriving home brewing
9
Sep. 28.
community here in Auburn, we thought
Along with the 24 different beers being
it would be a really cool thing to look
at the quality improvement in Alabama
percussion, but in a really cool, lounge
brewing,” said van der Reijden. “It’s
kind of way,” van der Reijden said.
something to be really proud of and we
“They are incredibly talented.”
really want to showcase it.”
The AUHCC has held three other similar
The event will take place in the terrace
events, two AprilFests, which take place
room of the hotel, the same place where in April, and one previous OktoberFest, OktoberFest was successfully launched
which was held last year.
last fall.
According to van der Reijden, previous
The Terrace will provide a fun
events have been huge successes, and
environment near the pool that
this year is no different.
also features a fully organic herb
Tickets can be purchased in advance for
garden that was created with Auburn
a discount price of $39, which includes
University’s College of Agriculture.
gratuity and tax, at http://www.
“It’s a nice way for us to show that
auhccoktoberfest.brownpapertickets.
partnership with Auburn,” van der
com.
Reijden said.
Tickets will be $45 at the door.
“With the thriving home brewing community here in Auburn, we thought it would be a really cool thing to look at the quality improvement in Alabama brewing.”
OktoberFest begins at 5:30 p.m. and will serve beer and food until 8 p.m. Afterwards, guests are invited to the Piccolo Lounge where the band, Roman Street, will provide musical entertainment. The musical trio consists of two Auburn graduate students whose musical style is perfect for the event. “They play Spanish guitar and
Attendees toast before trying one of the beers provided at Oktoberfest. 10
A new tradition
AUtumn Nights to hit Toomer’s Corner
A
Utumn Nights is a new event sponsored by the AuburnOpelika Tourism Bureau, the Auburn Chamber, Auburn University Athletics, the City of Auburn, Auburn Downtown Merchants Association and the Auburn Alumni Association to get the community excited about the kick off of Auburn’s first home football game of the season against LouisianaMonroe. The event will take place Friday,
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Sept. 14 at Toomer’s Corner and will consist of a performance from the Swingin’ Medallions as well as appearances from Aubie, the Auburn cheerleaders and more. Jennifer Fincher, vice president of communications and marketing of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, is hopeful about the event. “We wanted to create a game day experience for the whole weekend, not just that Saturday,” she said.
The event is set to be the city’s first just nice to bring campus and the event since it created its entertainment community together,” Fincher said. district. The entertainment district The Auburn Chamber of Commerce allows for alcohol to be taken outside hopes to accomplish this by hosting of bars and restaurants during the event where campus and approved events, as long as they are downtown meet, Toomer’s Corner. in shatterproof “It’s our containers. traditional However, the gathering place, event is meant so of course to be more than it seemed like just an extended the natural tailgate party. place to have it,” Fincher said. “But The overall goal of AUtumn Nights is also because we wanted to support to have everyone our downtown in the community merchants.” together, creating Fincher is hopeful a better game day the community will experience for the welcome the event city of Auburn. and make AUtumn “We want everyone Nights a tradition. to feel at home here, “We’re here to even the visiting support business, fans,” Fincher said. so if people want it, The Auburn we’re happy to do it,” Chamber of she said. Alexandra Delong (left) and Krissy Delong (right) pose with Aubie at Commerce is AUtumn Nights kicks AUtumn Nights. encouraging the merge off at 6 p.m. and will of students and residents as well. last until 10 p.m. “We love campus events, but it’s
“We’re here to support business, so if people want it, we’re happy to do it.”
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Scott Kelley scottlkelley.com