Meet the New Aggies

Each fall semester, Utah State University welcomes the incoming class of freshmen and transfer students to campus. The numbers are impressive, if ever-changing. As of the first week of classes, more than 2,700 freshmen were enrolled. The number of transfer students equals that of last year, with approximately 1,000 transfer students joining the campus community. The energy of these new Aggies adds to the vibrancy and diversity on campus. Utah State Today talked with three students who are new to campus, providing a look at the lives of USU’s campus family.

 

Though she’s not a newcomer to Cache Valley, freshman Elaine Taylor is excited about her recent move onto the USU campus. The spring 2007 Logan High School graduate began her introduction to university life with last week’s Connections program.

 

“I’ve made so many friends already,” Elaine says. “It’s good to get out of the high school bubble and meet new people from so many different places.”

 

A Quinney Scholar, a Dean’s Scholarship recipient and an Undergraduate Research Fellow, Elaine has selected environmental studies in the College of Natural Resources’ Department of Environment and Society as her major and is already considering several research projects. “I’m interested in how recent wildfires have affected public opinion in Utah,” she says. “I’d like to explore the human aspects of environmental management and policy.”

 

Environmental study has been of interest of Elaine’s “forever,” she says. “I was active with the environmental group at Logan High and I’ve helped plan the annual Utah Bioneers Conference for several years.”

 

Beyond academics, Elaine looks forward to conversing with fellow Aggies in German. During her high school years she spent a year in Austria, where she attended a secondary school in the small town of Rabenstein.

 

“The Austrian and American school systems are very different,” she says. “The Austrian system was very academically rigorous, emphasized testing and the homework was more difficult.”

 

Elaine chose USU for its emphasis on academics, undergraduate research and “its wonderful natural resources programs.”

 

“I think Utah State is where you can get a good education for the money,” she says.

 

 

He’s been on campus less than a week, but Dylan Isaacson knows all about a certain campus tradition and says he is ready to be a True Aggie. In fact, he has his sights set on the first full moon of the semester for the successful completion of that goal.

 

“I heard about becoming a True Aggie when I toured campus in July,” Isaacson said. “But I knew about the tradition before that. I’m going to be a True Aggie.”

 

Setting goals comes easily to the freshman from Baker City, Ore., and recent graduate of Baker High School. A career in music seems a certainty — performing or as an educator are options. His musical interests and talents might come through his genes — he’s the son of a high school choir director. He participated in music activities in high school, even performing as Eliza Doolittle’s father, Alfred P. Doolittle, in the musical production of “My Fair Lady.”

 

“Music is my passion,” Isaacson said. “I love recording, being on the road, teaching — there are many possibilities and my options are open.”

 

First up is mission for his church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the focused young man. He plans to complete his freshman year at USU then leave for his service mission in the summer of 2008.

 

“I came to Utah State University because of its great guitar program,” Isaacson said. “I love the campus and Logan. People on campus are friendly and open-minded. When I took part in Connections last week, I was very comfortable, but I was with a large group of students who were all freshmen. We were in the same boat. Now, with everyone on campus, I’ve found all the students on campus to be warm and welcoming — there’s no attitude of ‘you’re a lowly freshman.’ There are good people here, good classes. Everyone’s attitude is great.”

 

It’s the campus environment that makes Isaacson comfortable and will help him prepare for his mission, he said.

 

Isaacson studies at Utah State with support of a Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship, a program that pays up to 80 percent of his out-of-state tuition.

 

“I heard about the scholarship from friends in high school who said I should apply,” he said. “I was in Sweden visiting relatives when I heard I had received the scholarship. I was so excited because I knew I could attend Utah State University.”

 

Isaacson is also the recipient of the Leo Adler Scholarship, a local scholarship in Oregon. And while he is not working this year, he’s looked into part-time employment and says that it would really help out.

 

So, Dylan Isaacson has his immediate future planned, and he has promised to return to USU following his mission. When he returns, look for him around campus. Who knows? He might front his own band by then.

 

 

Among USU’s new transfers is Yalemi Morales, who previously attended University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A native of Havana, Cuba, she moved with her family to the United States when she was about 11 years old, subsequently graduated high school in Las Vegas and earned the International Baccalaureate diploma.

 

When asked why she chose to transfer to Utah State, Morales responds that “USU chose me.”

 

“My boyfriend is an alum and we went to a (USU) open house in Vegas just to eat some famous Aggie ice cream,” says Morales. “The USU admissions representative saw my records, spoke with me about my studies and I was offered an out-of-state Dean’s Transfer scholarship.”

 

“The two things that really made the difference in my decision were the great scholarship and USU’s great programs in undergraduate research,” she says.

 

Morales is the first transfer student to be selected as a USU Undergraduate Research Fellow. A biochemistry major, she says she’s considering a double major because she enjoys working in molecular biology.

 

Morales spent the summer as a research intern at the Nevada Cancer Institute, where she investigated ways to subdue cancer cells. She looks forward to new research challenges at Utah State.

 

 

To gauge varied preferences — that likely reflect those of the entire 2007-08 freshman class and incoming transfer students — we asked the new Aggies to offer their gut reactions to the following choices:

 

The Bourne Ultimatum or An Inconvenient Truth?

 

Elaine: “An Inconvenient Truth”

Dylan: “The Bourne Ultimatum” — a great movie!

Yalemi: “Sadly, I haven’t seen “An Inconvenient Truth” yet, so definitely “The Bourne Ultimatum.”

 

 

Elaine: “Barak”

Dylan: “Rudy”

Yalemi: “Neither. I support Hillary.”

 

 

Elaine: “Aggie Blue Mint. I don’t like lemon.”

Dylan: “Aggie Blue Mint.”

Yalemi: “Aggie Blue Mint.”

 

 

Elaine: “Can I answer ‘neither’? I don’t like Nickelback and I’ve never heard of Nickel Creek. I like classic rock and underground hip-hop.”

Dylan: “Neither. I don’t know Nickel Creek and I don’t like Nickelback.”

Yalemi: “Nickelback. … I don’t know Nickel Creek!” [ Honestly, Elaine, Dylan and Yalemi didn’t compare or collaborate on their answers.]

 

 

Elaine: “Someone with passion for education.”

Dylan: “The true-blue, kissin’ on the ‘A’ person, or more traditionally, a graduate of an agriculture school?”

Yalemi: “I’ve been in Logan just one week and everywhere I see outstanding amounts of school spirit. Everyone is just so proud and happy to be here. I think that’s who an Aggie is, someone who is extremely proud to be here.”

 

So that’s it. Welcome to campus Elaine, Dylan and Yalemi. It sounds like you’ve already joined the Aggie family. Good luck for a successful year.