Cowboys & Indians - Texas Iron Spikes Mixer!

Think Texas Spirits are too old to get a kick out of playing dress-up? Think again! On Thursday, February 25, Texas Spirits teamed up with the Iron Spikes at their “Cowboys and Indians” mixer. Attendees enjoyed dancing and costume-scoping as Weenies, Rookies, and Spirits and Spikes actives sported cowboy boots and moccasins, Stetsons and chief headdresses.

 “People were busting out dance moves like ‘the dougie’ and two-stepping!” sophomore active Simone Schroeder said. “It was a good bonding experience with the new Weenies.”

The party was a great success as Spikes and Spirits yee-hawed and danced the night away. Thanks special project haunts Nancy and Gaby!

Dance Marathon

On Saturday, February 19^th, a group of Texas Spirits along with many other dedicated students gave their day to help others by participating in Dance Marathon. Dance Marathon is a fundraiser at The University of Texas that benefits the Dell Children’s Medical Center. This philanthropy event asks dancers to pledge to stand for 12 hours representing the kids that can’t stand for themselves.

One attendee, Lauren Means, said “Dance Marathon was a great experience. Some families that the marathon was benefitting came and spoke to everyone. A little boy of one of the families sang to the crowd. It was beyond adorable and made me feel good about helping the cause.” 

If you couldn’t attend this year you’ll have to sign up next year to break out your dancing shoes and help a really great cause. 

BIG 12 Championship – Texas Swim & Dive

This past week, UT hosted the Big 12 Championship for swim & dive at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.  Texas came out victorious in a huge way—both the men AND the women’s teams won the conference title!  For UT women’s swim & dive, this conference title is their first since 2009, and for the men’s team, it is their 32nd consecutive conference championship and 15th Big 12 title.

There was an excellent turn out of Spirits over the course of two days to support both the men & women’s teams.  It was the new Weenies’ first game credit opportunity and many of them jumped on this chance to wear their newly earned Spirit’s traditions t-shirts they had just received at Tap-in!  We extend a huge congratulations to the UT Men & Women Swim & Dive teams, and we were all happy to see the tower lit up orange in your honor!

Tap-In

On February 16th the latest Texas Spirits Weenies were tapped in. This is a tradition we have had since we were founded in 1941 and we continue to do many of the same traditions today. Photos from the event are below:

New Spring 2011 Weenies

Fall 2008 Pledge Class

Tap-In Ceremony

Fall 2009

Spring 2010

New Weenies and Their Spirit Haunts!

Congratulations new Spring 2011 Weenies!

Spirit of the Week!

The February 23rd Spirit of the Week was Maysie Ocera! Check out her bio below:

Hometown: Crosby, TX (Grass farm capital of Texas...boy, I tell you what)

Major: Plan II/Cultural Anthropology/Rhetoric & Writing

She can't go a day without: Adventure. And smiling.

Animal you feel you most resemble/would want to be: Some of my friends call me Fat Mouse. Or chinchilla.

When she walks into a room, she wishes Rill Rill- Sleigh Bells would start playing through the walls. (Look it up and tell me you can't jam to that.) 

Favorite male actor: Harrison Ford (especially as Han Solo and Indiana Jones)

One word to describe Texas Spirits: Classic

Next time you see Maysie ask about her GOING BALD.

Ask about our new Weenies!

Congratulations to the Spring 2011 Weenie Class!

Alexa Pawlowski

Alysse Fisher

Amy Conto

Ashley Wallace

Ashley Hsu

Cara Bessom

Catie Higbie

Chelsea Demel

Christine Hak

Emily Murray

Jacqueline Watson

Jenna VonHofe

Jenny Feng

Julia Bunch

Katarina Schirren

Kendall Connolly

Lane Follmar

Lauren Gray

Mayté Salazar

Miranda Rudy

Molly Bates

Rebecca Wellmann

Sarah Seymour

Supriya Misra

Veronica Seng

We are so proud of you ladies and we truly believe you are all going to be fantastic assets to our organization. FIRE UP! 

Spirit of the Week!

Last week's Spirit of the Week was Lauren Means! 

This Fall '10 Weenie has contributed so much already this semester! Lauren got involved early on in Recruitment Committee and was part of the skit performed during recruitment at Second Reception. She then signed up for Dance Marathon and raised $150 in ONE night! Her love and heart for service have shone through all the hard work she has done for Texas Spirits this semester.

Lauren's Bio:

Hometown: Allen, Texas

Major: radio/television/film

Can't go a day without: my computer.... it's bad.

"All I Do is Win"  by dj kahled, should play as she enters the room. 

most resembles/would want to be: a golden retriever 

fave actor: Gerald Butler, yummmmy.

one word to describe Texas Spirits: myfavoritegroupofgirlsinthewholeentireworld

Ask Lauren about STONE CARTER next time you see her.

Tap-Out Spotlight!

Each semester Texas Spirits holds a tradition called "Tap-Out" in which we honor members who are graduating from Spirits. We present them with a black scarf to signify their alumni status. This week we want to introduce you to Tap-Out Hannah Stewart. Hannah was a Weenie in Spring 2008 later going on to serve as Vice Haunt in 2009 as well as being on alumnae reunion planning committee, recruitment committee and newsletter committee during her time in Spirits.  She is a Corporate Communication major, Vice President of the University of Texas Italian Language club ‘Il Circolo Italiano’ and has interned in public affairs at the JHL Company as well as in non-profit marketing at the University Neighborhood Preservation Association in Syracuse, New York.  After graduating in the Spring she intends to “Attend law school, write a book, open a restaurant, move to Italy and conquer the world.”

Hannah’s last thoughts on the impact Spirits has had on her college career? “I was able to meet my best friends and constantly surround myself with fun, intelligent, and driven women. Spirits really are the best girls on campus (in my humble opinion) and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this organization. Spirits was founded with a pillar of friendship, and more than anything that's what it's given me.”

Thanks for all of the hard work and dedication you have put into being a Texas Spirit Hannah, we know you'll carry the tradition of Texas Spirits with you always. 

Texas Spirits at Disney World

One of our very own Texas Spirits, Tiffany Yep, is accomplishing one of her lifelong dreams by spending her Spring semester in Orlando, Florida at Disney World! Tiffany was accepted into the Disney College Program over Christmas break and thinks applying was the best decision she’s ever made. At Disney World, she works at Casey’s Corner, the Bakery, and the Ice Cream Parlor which are all located in the Magic Kingdom park.  She said that it’s a very fast-paced environment with lines going out the doors sometimes!  Check out the cute outfits Tiffany gets to wear while working:

When asked how the Disney College Program has contributed to her college experience, Tiffany said that the program has shown her “how to interact with people in a really big business atmosphere that offers hundreds of jobs.” Although she has three great jobs working at Magical Kingdom, Tiffany is also hoping to audition and get the role of a Disney Park Princess! 

Tiffany said another great thing about working with Disney is that she has gotten to meet so many wonderful people to share her experience with. But don’t worry girls, although she’s enjoying every minute of being in Florida, she really misses all of her Texas Spirits friends. She also wants everyone to know that Florida is an awesome place to spend your time over Spring Break. J

Many of us Sprits knew how bad Tiffany wanted to participate in the Disney College Program and we can’t express how happy we all are for her and we hope that she is having the time of her life!

If any current Spirits or Spirits Alumnae plan to go to Orlando this semester, make sure you stop by Disney World to find Tiffany - maybe she can even give you a personal tour!

To get updates on all of Tiffany’s exciting experiences while in Florida, visit her blog here.

Fun fact: While at Disney World, a little boy thought that Tiffany was Brenda Song from the Disney channel series, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.”

SURE Walk

Ever scared to walk home from the FAC in the wee hours of Wednesday mornings? Don’t be! Every Tuesday night from 10pm-2am, you will always find Texas Spirit Ladies seated at the ITS desk in the FAC ready to walk you home!

Volunteering for SURE Walk is always great fun. When we’re not helping our fellow Longhorns return safely to their apartments or dorm rooms, we’re catching up on homework or watching silly Youtube videos waiting for that SURE Walk phone to ring. We find SURE Walk is a great way to give back to the UT community and ensure campus safety, all while creating lasting friendships with our fellow Texas Spirits in the process.

If you ever find yourself at the PCL or the FAC on a Monday through Thursday night with no one to walk home with, give SURE Walk a call at 512-232-9255 between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. and you’ll definitely arrive home safely! 

Spirit of the Week!

This week's Spirit of the week was SHARILYN STONE!

Hometown: Nacodoches, TX

Major: Elementary Education/Child's Psychology

She can't go a day without: CHAPSTICK
As she enters a room, she wishes ELVIS would start playing through the walls.

If she were an animal, she would want to be a KANGAROO.

Favorite actor to watch act: Jack Nicholson

Favorite actor to look at: James Franco

Next time you see Sharilyn, ask her about her obsession with the JFK assassination OR her coin collection. 

This Fall '09 weenie has contributed a lot to this semester's recruitment process. Sharilyn served as our Recruitment Committee's skit chair and was instrumental in bringing back a long lost tradition. As skit chair, she was in charge of coordinating the songs and dances performed at last week's second reception. The skit showcased familiar songs from the movie, "Grease,"  and it was quite a show! Oh, those Spirit nights! 

Thank you to all of the girls who participated and performed in the skit. Great job, ladies! (you too, Georgia Spiropoulos!)

Spring 2011 Prospective Service Event

 Last Saturday, February 5^th, Texas Spirits wnet out to Pease Park to do a little community service. It was a perfectly warm and sunny day after Friday’s snow day. With almost every prospective spirit in toe, the park was filled with girls ready to help out the community. About half of the girls ventured down to the creek to pick up trash. One girl said that they found an entire closet consisting of, “a sweatshirt, a pair of pants, and a t-shirt”. Together, the actives and prospectives collected a few bags full of trash.

 Just across the park, the other half of the attendees were rolling up their sleeves and doing some dirty work. Another Austin organization (The Austin Parks Foundation) was doing a community service project. In an effort to make the park even more beautiful, they were lining the trees with sod with the intention of planting bluebonnets and other wildflowers. Some girls were digging away with shovels while others were raking out the sod to make it even. With Spirits' help, the Austin Parks Foundation accomplished even more then they had planned that day and Pease Park looks better than ever!

UT Men's Longhorn Basketball (3) vs. Texas Tech

This past Saturday, February 5^th, Spirits went out to support the Men’s Basketball team in their match up versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders.  Our men’s team is currently ranked third in the nation, has gone 8-0 in the Big 12 conference, and has given us a lot to be excited about this season.  The Horns came out victorious with a score of 76-60, leading throughout the entire game.  

Since so many students have been coming out to the game, many of the girls were worried they weren’t going to make it in.  They stood outside in line for a while (luckily the freezing weather is over!) and eventually made it in to the game to see UT clench a victory.  The Longhorns will travel to Norman, Oklahoma this coming Wednesday to play a rough game against our rivals at OU.

Spirit of the Week

This week's Spirit of the week was Dana Holmes!

The Fall 2010 All-Around Best Weenie has taken an active role on Recruitment Committee through the speaker circuit. Dana also volunteered at the Micah 6 service project and has committed to continue coming back every week to continue to serve the Austin community. Her charitable heart and bright smile will not only be appreciated at Micah 6 but also treasured throughout all her help in Texas Spirits as well.

Spirit of the Week Profile:

Hometown: Atascocita, Texas

 Major: Rhetoric and Writing; Pre-Law 

 She can't go a day without: Smiling

 When she walks into a room, she wishes

All You Need Is Love by The Beatles would start playing through the walls. 

Favorite male actor: Liam Hemsworth

 One word to describe Texas Spirits: Love

Next time you see Dana ask about: H2O! ORRR.. hot yoga! :)

Texas Spirits Spring 2011 Recruitment

As the semester begins, so does our recruitment process! Spirits tabled the first two weeks of school to get the word out about our organization to interested girls. The Recruitment Committee also worked hard posting flyers throughout campus and in local businesses and restaurants. These recruitment efforts as well as many others including a Pluckers profit-share the night before First Reception, helped us to receive 186 applications this Spring - and what a great pool of girls they are!

First Reception was held in the Texas Union Ballroom (photos below) where interested girls learned more about the try-out process, got some background history about our organization, and received their applications.

Following First Reception was a Starbucks Social and an Austin's Pizza meet-and-great the following Thursday night. 

Second Reception was held Wednesday, February 2nd for those girls who passed through to the second round. This semester, Texas Spirits brought back an old tradition and performed a skit during the reception to better explain what we are all about. The skit was absolutely fantastic - thanks to all of the dedicated Spirits who helped put it together, you were awesome! 

Following Second Reception another meet-and-great was held at Juicy Tart (yes, even in the 20 degree weather!) where girls got to mingle and sing along to karaoke! It was a blast for all the girls that came out and was a great way to get to see a more fun side of everyone!

Congratulations to all of the girls going through our try-out process - we know how much hard work it is and we are looking forward to getting our new Weenies soon!