Tap-Out Spotlight: Kelly Bahng

Our next tapout spotlight is Kelly Bahng! Kelly is a Fall ’10 weenie, majoring in Public Health. Although she isn’t planning to graduate until Fall of 2013, Kelly is tapping out now, so that she can study abroad in Paris in the fall and complete her Archer fellowship in D.C. (hopefully working on the healthcare reform) in the spring. We will be so proud to call Kelly a Texas Spirits’ alum as she does all of these great things next year!

            Kelly’s favorite memory with her Fall ’10 loves was PJrama when all of the weenies were just getting to know one another. And she says her favorite Spirits tradition is “wearing out lovely scarves to games and other UT events. It makes us stand out as to who’s a Spirit and it embodies all that we represent: Spirit, Love, Service and Friendship.”

            Kelly knows she will take with her after tapping out, all of her precious memories from weeniehood, dear friendships she’s formed with well rounded young women and the confidence she’s gained from being surrounded by other confident and accomplished Spirits. She leaves behind this advice for current Spirits:

“Never be scared to branch out, explore, and try things you won't be able to do post-undergrad. UT offers resources and opportunities not found elsewhere and being in Spirits, you have even more connections and the best part is, EVERY SPIRIT is so accomplished and wonderful. Also, one thing I love about Spirits is how diverse everyone is. Take the time to get to know girls who aren't in your pledge class, too. Reach out and take advantage of your time here, because before you know it, you'll be tapping out and you want to feel that you've done everything you've wanted to do. Make sure you won't look back and regret.”

            We love you Kelly and wish you nothing but the best in all of your adventures next year!

Parents Day Duck Tour

Parents Day was a perfect, sunshine day for an outdoor adventure with our Texas Spirit parents. The group was taken on the Austin Duck Tours, which was quite the experience. Jessie Neuendorff said “The duck tours were really fun. I wouldn’t have gone on one if there wasn’t a reason to, and I was glad I got to do it with my mom!” She also commented that even though there were no ducks around, it was fun to “quack” at other people.  

Not only was the duck tour entertaining, but having the parents meet everyone made this day most memorable. Erin Crandall said “My parents said that Spirits were such a cute and welcoming bunch of girls.”

To say the least, Texas Spirits Parent Day was a true success! Thank you Special Project Haunts!     

Weenie of the Week: Hannah Roberts

Meet Ms. Hannah Roberts, our next Weenie of the Week. A recent transfer to The University of Texas at Austin, Hannah had the choice to join many organizations, and we are proud to say we have the privilege of having her in our Spirits family! She has been a large part of our service efforts and played on the intramural indoor soccer team. Hannah also showed her Texas spirit by cheering on the Longhorns at baseball, basketball and softball games, and continuing on our drag paint tradition. This girl has done it all! But there is still one thing missing in her life: a man who can keep up with her skills on the soccer field and Longhorn pride! To all those Bachelors out there, hit up her digits! 

But before you do, here’s 5 tips for a successful first date:

1.   Call her Hannah upon introduction, but keep these nicknames in check: Hannah Banana, Banana, Han

2.  Put on that swagger! Inside scoop: win over her weenie momma, Carly Colville

3. Be prepared for her favorite study food: beans on toast (it’s an English thing!)

4. Personality: Social butterfly; enjoys a dash of sarcasm

5.  Her favorite spirits event to date: Destination Unknown... and she didn’t even get to go! So gentlemen, what does this mean? Help make her dream come true of not having to wait another whole year and whisk her away for a surprise adventure somewhere in Austin!

Tap Out Spotlights: Rachel Platis and Nicole Dietze

Meet one of this semester's Tap-Outs, Rachel Platis. When asked about her favorite Spirits memory she responded, “Gosh there are so many, I can't choose just one! Something hilarious and weird has pretty much happened on every single date event I've ever been to (I tend to pick winners!) I love thinking back to Weenie semester and loving on each other at Weenie Roast and Initiation. I also have really good memories of face painting before home games.”

Rachel participated in endless spirits events, but her favorite event of all was Weenie Beanie because she got to meet the youngest generations of her ghoulfamily! She says that she “feels so blessed because I have the best gfam in the world. We all have gorgeous hair and squinty eyes and I am so proud to be the matriarch of such talented and beautiful women.” It’s amazing the bond that ghoul families have. However, she did mention that she was also a huge fan of DU and boat parties! 

Rachel’s parting words of wisdom to fellow Spirits is to “Stay in Spirits through your senior year!” Why, you ask? She said, “that's when all the magic happens! (I'm not giving any secrets away, you'll just have to take my word for it.” To prospectives, she says to “Get involved at UT. There are so many wonderful and amazing organizations on this campus, and I include Spirits among those. Be sweet, be genuine and be yourself. Know that all choices lead you to experience and places for a reason, even if it's unknown at the time. Be thankful for all blessing and take advantage of all opportunities! These are things I continue to strive to do everyday.” 

Nicole Dietze is another one of our stunning Spring 2012 Tap-Outs. Nicole, a member of the Fall ’09 weenie class, is a Psychology major who plans on going to grad school for social work. This summer, she will be taking her last two classes (exciting!) and will be on a hunt for a much-earned job!

Nicole has experienced many great things through Spirits, and when I asked her what her favorite memory was, she replied, “I have had so many great memories in Spirits. Freezing to death with my weenies at initiation, being glued at the hip to Gaby DeLeon weenie semester and pulling all nighters every Thursday night before weenie meetings, being paired with my ghoulfriend , SIERRA, and being the best ghoulfriend pair of the semester, watching my ghoulfamily of 2 grow so big, being on GC 2011 and working so closely with Ana, BAND JAM 2011, and attending the Wish party this semester with Ana, Amy, and Alex.” Her favorite event is initiation, and her advice to fellow Spirits is to “keep reading dings!”

Spirits has impacted Nicole’s life, just as she has impacted many of us. Nicole, we all wish you the very best for your future, and we cannot wait to see what life has in store for you!