Spirit and Weenie of the Week: Ghoulfriend Edition

 Ghoulfriends at Weenie Beanie

Ghoulfriends at Initiation Brunch

Juli Scamardo

Major: Environmental Science

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Sugar Land, TX

What does Texas Spirits mean to you?  Texas Spirits is a home. These girls are the ones who are the first to congratulate me in the good times, pick me up in the bad times, and inspire me to keep trying harder and to keep reaching towards larger goals. To me, Texas Spirits means making a difference, and whether that’s here in Austin or halfway around the world, there is no doubt in my mind the things these girls can achieve! 

What is one of your biggest accomplishments?

My week in Quebrada Grande, Costa Rica. I keep trying to narrow it down to one thing, but I learned enough Spanish to speak with my host family, conquered my fear of heights, steered a two person kayak through class IV rapids, and painted a mural in the local school. The best of all of those is probably the mural, though, because when we finished, a bunch of the kids in town came racing into the school courtyard to see it. Seeing how painting a gray wall with color could light of the faces of those kids was incredibly heartwarming.

If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be and why? Amelia Earhart. She followed her passion more ardently than I could imagine. She would not take no as an answer when it came to things that mattered, and she inspired other women to do the same.

What's your favorite memory in college? There are so many, too many! But amid all the concerts and hikes and good food, I’m going to have to be cliché and say Spring 2014 Tap In. I was excited, overwhelmed, on the verge of laughing and crying wondering what I had just got myself into. Buut I realize that without that day, college would be completely different. There would be no waking up at 4am to volunteer, no spontaneous sunrise breakfasts at Mt. Bonnell, no jumping around and singing our own remixes to songs, and nobody to dance in the stands with at football games. The amount of memories that have been made because of that day is incredible, and I wouldn’t trade these bonds for anything.

Melissa Tolle

Hometown: Round Rock

Major: Communications 

Fall '14 Weenie 

To me Texas Sprits means: Always being able to count on a group of girls to be there with me through thick and thin and to inspire me to be the best that I can be!

The number one thing on my bucket list is: to ride an elephant! 

If I was a candy I would be... an m&m because I'm tough on the outside but sweet on the inside! ;) 

Congrats you two!!!

Initiation Brunch 2014

                                                 "You've been scarved!"

Here at Texas Spirits we like to have brunch as a family. At the end of every semester we enjoy brunch at Iron Cactus to celebrate some special members of our organization. This is when the newly turned JIs receive their scarf from their ghoul friend, signifying their status as a Texas Spirits active. By getting their scarfs, the JIs have show a dedication to Texas Spirits by completing the requirements of their Weenie Semester. 

With the end of the calendar year also comes a new board of officers called Ghost Council. This year marked the passing of the torch from GC'14 to GC'15. At Initiation Brunch the newly elected officers were scarved by their respective outgoing officers. 

Also at brunch some outstanding members of Texas Spirits were recognized!

Congratulations to...

Best All Around Active- Berkeley Mashburn        

Best All Around Weenie- Liz Schasel

Best Spirit- Gabby Garza                                        

Best Spirit Weenie- Jacquelyn Clark

Best Service- Kat Halisey                                       

Best Service Weenie- Ali De Jong

Best Friendship- Mason Lanch                               

Best Friendship Weenie- Brooke Chambers

Best Love- Morgan Barnhill                                   

Best Love Weenie- Jen Tan

Social Butterfly- Amy Woodhull                            

Social Butterfly Weenie- Riddhi Patodia

Biggest Fan- Nisha George                                     

Biggest Fan Weenie- Helena Castle

Golden Paintbrush- Emma Martin

Best Ghoul Friends Pairing- Haley Qualman and Michelle Stockton

                          Thanks for a great year GC'14 and congrats JIs!

SOW: Brook Chambers

Brook Chambers

Hometown: Austin, TX

Major: Social Work

Fall '14 Weenie

What does Texas Spirits mean to you? To me, Texas Spirits means acceptance and inspiration. The incredible women of this organization never cease to amaze me in the way they love each other and serve the world around them. They pick me up on my bad days and always push me to be the best person I can be.

Who are some people you’d like to meet someday? Besides the obvious (Matthew McConaughey, of course), I would love to meet Jimmy Fallon, Emma Watson, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

What accomplishment are you most proud of? My proudest accomplishment is being chosen for the 2016 Texas 4000 team. It is an absolute honor to become a part of such an impactful organization, and I can hardly wait to kick cancer's butt on the way to Alaska next summer!

SOW: Rachel Heath

Rachel Heath 

Hometown: Pflugerville, TX

Major: Management Information Systems

Spring '14 

What does Texas Spirits mean to you? Honestly, when I think of Texas Spirits I think of a home away from home. I know I will always have someone to fall back on, laugh with it, and tell horribly awkward stories to. Texas Spirits has awarded me the chance to be surrounded by accomplished women who inspire me everyday and college would not be as wonderful (or fun) without this experience.  
Who are some people you’d like to meet someday? Okay I would really love to meet Mia Hamm because I was obsessed with her growing up as a soccer player. I heard she sometimes shows up at the UT soccer games sooooo I’m coming for you Mia. I would also really love to meet Benedict Cumberbatch (because why not), and Khaled Hosseini. Oh and Sheryl Sandberg!

What accomplishment are you most proud of? I am most proud of my involvement in Texas 4000 and how I have raised over $4500. Also I just got an internship with TI which I'm pretty excited about.

SOW: Nikita Ahuja

Nikita Ahuja

Business Major

Hometown: Came here from Plano, Texas, but my heart will always be in my main MESQUITE

Spring '14 Weenie 

What does Texas Spirits mean to you? Man this question is so loaded. I never thought it would have made such an impact on my life, but spirits really means so much to me. It's more than an organization, more than a group of friends - like everyone says, it's a family. Spirits has helped me pave my path and inspire me ever since I've been involved in it, and it has just meant the world to me.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? It's funny - when I was younger I never said I wanted to be a "painter" or a "figure skater" or a "singer." I always said I wanted to be a "part time Pablo Picasso, Michelle Kwan, and Britney Spears." I also went through a phase where I wanted to be a rapper and even got cornrows.

If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you say? Don't dress in yellow if you want to dress in gold. (Inspired by Hilary Duff, and one of my favorite pieces of advice of all time.)

SOW: Kathryn Lewis

 

Kathryn Lewis

Hometown: Harlingen, Texas

Major: Speech Pathology

Spring '14

What does Texas Spirits mean to you? Texas Spirits means waking up at 5 a.m. to feed the homeless. It means having pledge class movie nights with endless pizza and cookies. It means game days with the loudest cheering (and best dressed) girls in the whole stadium. Texas spirits means getting the incredible opportunity to spend 4 years with the most diverse, loving, ambitious, and best friends that anyone could ever ask for.
If money was no object, what would you do all day? If money was no object, I would book the soonest flight to Haiti and spend the day on the beach with the coolest kiddos on earth.
Who would you want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island? One of my two childhood best friends, Alex Margolies or Sofia Lopez. Ryan Reynolds would also be okay.

WOW: Jacquelyn Clark

Jacquelyn Danelle Clark

Hometown: Dallas, TX/ Natchitoches, LA

Major: Corporate Communications 

Fall '14

What does Texas Spirits mean to you? Being a Texas Spirit means opportunity and tons, I mean TONS, of love for one another. I have been blessed to befriend such talented women who share my dedication to schoolwork, my enthusiasm for UT, and my compassion for helping others. I couldn't imagine these next four years without this family.

If money was no object, what would you do all day? EASY, with money as no object, I would travel to new places all day. Getting to see every corner of the world is such a big dream of mine!

Who would you want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island? My first thought was Bear Grylls, the ultimate survivor guide, but to be honest here, Logan Lerman. He's so gorgeous, and I'm just so fascinated with his life and acting abilities. Plus, he'd have to marry me, duh!