Grundfos opdatering (Grundfos update)

For anyone interested-- I'm pretty sure my mom mostly, I've found some updated photos from the Grundfos challenge last week on their Facebook page.   There was also an article on the Grundfos site here about the challenge.  

Here's a few of my favorite pictures:

We noticed the camera guy creeping, but we continued our discussion about the presentation

After being announced as winners moving on to the next round, we got our picture taken with the judges and our plaques :)  

Now everyone enjoy your Thanksgiving with family, food, friends, and in my case, papers.  :)

DENMARK!

For the past two days, I have been competing in a nationwide competition with water pump manufacturer Grundfos.  I first learned of this competition through a class- EC 3400- Developing World: Econ, Politics and Culture.  We were given the option of a few different volunteer options and then split up into different teams.  Some of the options were working with St James Place, helping with the water relief initiative in Haiti, or attending the Peace Colloquy.  The final option was attend this Global Grundfos Challenge.  The company facilitates a challenge between competing business and engineering groups, each given the same case regarding a current water issue.  There were about 6 students involved in the preparation process for the challenge through the class.  We did as much research as we could about different water challenges over the past few months and didn't find out about the challenge until Thursday morning at 9.  Therefore, it was such an educational experience all the way around!

Grundfos paid for the three participants from each school (pictured above is our Rockhurst team in front of our 'tent' workspace) to stay in a hotel, and covered all of our meals for the two days.  We were put in a room at 10 am on Thursday with the challenge information.  We left the Grundfos headquarters in Olathe at 8 pm, where we returned to the hotel to continue working on the case.  The following morning, the bus departed at 7:30 to return to Olathe, when we were given a few hours to do final changes and practicing on the case.  Friday was full of presentations and stress about who were chosen as winners of the case.  It was such an incredible opportunity to work with two other Rockhurst students on a particular issue and meet other business students from schools such as Fresno State, KU, Mizzou, Purdue, and K-State.  Additionally, the number of Rockhurst alumni working for Grundfos was inspiring to see!  

Friday afternoon, we found out that our group was in the top two and....

I AM GOING TO DENMARK FOR A WEEK IN MARCH-- ALL EXPENSES PAID BY GRUNDFOS!!!!!  

Anyway- that's enough for tonight.  I'm hoping to post the press release that will be coming out next week also!

Networking

Election week this week proved to keep me entertained all Tuesday evening, (while studying for a test, of course).  The news commentators always have the funniest thing to say whether it is in error or on purpose.  The speeches by both Governor Romney and President Obama proved to be worth the wait, since it was necessary to stay up late to enjoy.  My favorite site is this map of how the states' votes were divided-- whether you are Republican or Democrat it is fascinating to see how people voted in different areas.

Wednesday was our annual event, Dinner with the Industry.  What started five years ago as a chance for business students to interact with professionals has continued to grow and make it possible for medical students, law students, and business students to talk to professionals regarding med school, working in a law firm, and all areas of business.  Students were encouraged to talk to the professionals about anything in the professional world, and gave students a chance to have dinner in a professional setting since it was catered by Sodexo.  Freshmen who were just looking for experience all the way to seniors looking for internships were welcome and gained many beneficial skills through this experience.

The following day, I had a luncheon with a professional for a possible summer internship- so I could say that three years of Dinner with the Industry has been good practice for interviewing with a meal involved!

November already??

Where do I even begin with this week??  I can proudly say that I have successfully navigated my way through two tests (in my most difficult classes), two papers, and two very big events for Student Senate.  And I'm still standing!

Student Senate held our bi-annual Town Hall forum on Tuesday.  This event (which I was responsible for last year) is a chance for students to get to hear from the President and various departments throughout the university about current issues.  Students are then given the opportunity to direct any questions to the panelists (we had staff from 8 departments) that they may have about university affairs.  It was a success, even with a change of venue- so I hope that students can say that it was helpful for them to learn about the university!  I know I was excited to hear that our new academic building should begin the first stages of construction next fall as long as the donations fall into place.  

The other big event on Tuesday involved several organizations across the campus, including Senate, Relay for Life/ Colleges Against Cancer, ASA, and ADG (I apologize if I missed any!).  This was a Bone Marrow Donor Drive that was held all day.  This drive gave students the chance to sign up as bone marrow donors on the national registry.  An alumnus of Rockhurst, Dr John Murry, approached us and asked if we would be willing to have this donor drive.  He has four grandchildren with a disease called Diamond Blackfan Anemia, which requires them to have monthly blood transfusions-- but if a bone marrow donor is found, they can cease receiving these transfusions.  Therefore, Dr Murry has made it his personal mission to increase the number of possible donors in the registries.  I could not believe the turn out of students--we were just shy of our 500-person goal on Tuesday, and we should (with the help of two very committed students) be able to reach this goal by the end of the week!