From Gettysburg to Mechanicville

Well, for those of you who read my last blog, let me just say my trip to the Gettysburg was amazing. The battlefield today is covered with monuments most of which would be meaningless to the average tourist. Luckily, we Siena students were accompanied by John Vallely, professor of military history here at Siena. Mr. Vallely did an excellent job of making the monuments "come alive" through the stories behind them. On the right is my favorite monument that I saw; it is a memorial to all the North Carolinians who fought at Gettysburg. The monument, which depicts five men forever marching toward Union lines, is meant to evoke the valor of those men who engaged in Pickett's Charge.

Although the trip was very enjoyable, I have to admit that I was exhausted upon my return, and was glad to have a short week of class at Siena. I am now recharging my batteries at home in Mechanicville, happily sleeping away my vacation! Happy Easter!

Until Next Time,

Mike DiSiena

Easter is here!

Hey everyone....hope all is well. Easter is fast approaching, and I'm not going to lie, I'm definitely ready for the break. The late nights of homework have crept up on me and run me down. I've been sick for the past few days, so a little rest is much needed. Campus is starting to get excited once again. Even though basketball has come to an end, were all getting pumped up for the upcoming Siena Fest. I'm not really sure what the festival entails, but from what I've heard from my buddies of the upper class it’s an amazing time. Prizes are given out and events take place across campus. Two bands are coming: Red Jump Suit Apparatus, and Second Hand Serenade. I'm not much of a music buff, but from what I hear the two aren't that bad. I've never been to a legit concert, so at this point any band live sounds like it’s going to be a blast. I'm sure I'll fill you in with the details after all is said and done. This event is all I've heard about since I've become a student here. I know it’s going to be one of the most memorable times of my freshmen year. As I sit and think, it's hard to believe that my freshmen year is nearing the end. I can remember the first day I arrived, how nervous and worried I was to be away and now I'm signing up for fall classes tomorrow and looking toward my sophomore year. College is definitely the best years of your life. Just appreciate the time you have. Before you know it the years creep by and you’re another year closer to graduation.

Take it easy everyone...Josh Baillargeon

SIRA!!

Hi Everyone,

How are you? I hope all is well!

Tomorrow is a huge day for me! If you recall from an earlier blog, I am involved in a club called SIRA. The Siena Investment and Research Association is Siena's newest organization and I am Vice President of this club. I am also Chief Accountant of our Accounting and Business Ethics division. I head up four people in my division and we truly are a great team. I have two Corporate Ethics Officers, one Financial Accounting/FASB Officer and one Personal Financial Specialist. 

We are investigating the Bernie Madoff scandal. We are investigating his financial information and how much his top clients lost. We are researching Madoff's FASB violations and how he acted unethical. 

The reason why tomorrow is such a big day for me is because we have our first annual SIRA Networking Dinner. I am giving a five minute presentation on some of our findings and the purpose of my Accounting and Business Ethics division. We have about fifty of our club members attending, three professors and eight business advisors. Our business advisors are from companies such as Goldman Sachs, First Investors Group, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and members of Siena's Board of Trustees.

Today we filmed a short promotional video with the college's television station!

I am the second speaker in the video. I speak about what we are researching as a club and I also have the last line in the video.

Let me know what you think!!!

Enjoy,

Patrick

http://www.sienatv.org/article.php?id=48

Here is the link in case the video inserted above doesn't work

Crossing off somethingon the things to see before you die list

Well, this coming Friday I will be off to do something I have always wanted to do, that is, go to Gettysburg. I will be doing so through the generosity of the History Club here at Siena, as students taking the course U.S. Military History will be journeying to the famed Civil War battlefields. We will be accompanied by two members of the History Department faculty as well as a professional tour-guide detailing the events of the four day battle. I've always found the Civil War era the most fascinating part of American history and I am excited about the opportunity to finally get to go see, first-hand, the grounds where Lincoln spoke these famous words:

Now we are engaged in a great civil war....We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures for you guys upon my return!

Until Next Time,
Mike DiSiena

Busy Busy Busy...

It has certainly been a while since I've written last. My apologies. I have been swamped with work! Last I wrote, I believe I talked about my Bhangra Competition, a north Indian style of dance. I'm on the team here at Siena and we had a competition last weekend. We didn't place, but we had a lot of fun! Here's a picture from the show:


Now that the competition is over, we only have to perform at relay for life at Siena, and Expose which is a multicultural show our Black and Latino Student Union puts on. We haven't had practice this past week which has certainly cleared up my week. I have been focusing on catching up on my classes which I had been neglecting.

I am currently in the process of trying to decide what to write my Honors Thesis on. I think I am going to end up exploring Leadership development in youth, specifically high school students. I would focus on programming and how certain activities help build leadership skills. I am considering conducting a survey of what leadership programs are out there and breaking down the different components of their programs. In order to do this, I must find a faculty mentor, which is what I have been doing. I have been meeting with various professors in the social sciences and speaking to them about my research. Ultimately, I am looking for someone who will work with me next year to actually write my thesis. It's a lot of work, but its very exciting. At the end of this experience, I will have my very own published work!

Well, I suppose I should get back to work now. I've got a whole stack of library books to sort through.

Until next time,
Indira

P.S....

How could I forget?!?! I HOPE YOU ALL WATCHED SIENA MAKE IT TO THE 2ND ROUND OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW!!! it was awesome here. Such a great atmosphere. One professor had a party last week because Ronald Moore is in the same class as me. We were so close to the Sweet 16!!! Oh well. Next Year! We are really making a national name for ourselves in basketball! Could be pretty fun if you come here!!

Smooth Sailing

Hey everyone. So I know it's been a while since my last post, but that is primarily because of how busy I've been. So here's what's been going on...I just finished my production of Doubt: A Parable. You may recognize the title since the play was recently made a movie with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep. I played the priest (I think I may have told you all this already). We had 6 shows over 2 weekends and it was awesome! All the reviews have been great. One professor even said that it was the best college or university production he has EVER seen. Most of my family came up to see it, a lot of friends and professors on campus came. It really was an excellent show. In fact, I just saw the movie of the first time last night, when they showed it for free on campus!

I went home this weekend (Hartford, CT) to help my best friend with some work, get some free food, do a little job networking, go to a hockey game, and of course, do all my laundry. It was a lot of fun, and now that the play is over my weekends are much more free than they used to be! So the rest of this semester looks like pretty smooth sailing. Midterms are done, they went very well. Now I just have a few final papers and projects to look forward to.

So I'm beginning to realize how much I'm going to miss college. CHERISH IT. If any of you are Juniors coming to Junior Jump Start Day, I will be there. I hope all is well for you guys. Talk to you later this week!

Another week passes by...

Hi Everyone,

How was your weekend? I had an amazing weekend with my friends. We played a round of golf already! It was amazing getting back out there, I'm still trying to find my swing! For my birthday, my parents bought me brand new Taylor Made clubs! What a difference! 

Our last day of classes is May 4 and I finish for the semester on May 11! It's already practically April and now the work is coming on full force. I register for next fall's classes this thursday, I'm almost a junior! That's depressing. I just can't believe how fast the time here goes. I would actually love to trade places with you guys! I'm jealous.

Also, I am giving a speech on Wednesday, April 22 in Park Ridge, New Jersey! Anyone attending?

I met some awesome families from my last speech on Long Island. 

Any shadow day students coming up soon?

Let me know,

Patrick

Living it up....

Hope all is well. Haven't posted anything in a while and I apologize, but these past few weeks have been a blur. Between hockey and catching up on the homework there has been little time to breathe. First of all, Siena hockey has just ended last week. The team and I traveled to Michigan for the week to play against schools from across the country. We had a sort of disappointing loss in the semi-finals against Florida Gulf Coast, but the team still managed to place a respectable 3rd in the nation. (The best the hockey program has ever finished since it started) The loss was disappointing because we knew we deserved to be in the finals. Next year the team should be getting even better. A national championship is right on the tip of our fingers; we just got to keep working in the off season to get it. This last Friday, like all other sports at Siena, the team held it’s formal. For ours, we ate at a local restaurant with the coaches, teammates and dates, and then had a little get together with the team at a local place in Albany. :) It was a blast. We all have such a great time together. Now that hockey is over I'm living the college dream. No practice after school, so when I get my homework done, I don't know what to do with myself with all the new free time on my hands. I should be totally caught up on work by Monday, which will be an extremely nice feeling. The only thing I have to worry about is keeping up with my grades and playing a little roller hockey with the team on Fridays and Sundays. One of my buddies on the team started an intramural roller hockey league so all of us are having a ball on the weekends passing the time shooting the puck around and making ourselves look foolish on the black top. The spring time is going to be without a doubt the best time of my freshman year. I love it already and Siena Fest hasn't even come around yet! :) I can't wait...

Keep it real....Josh Baillargeon

Che Bel Sole!! [What Beautiful Sun]

Ciao Tutti!
This week in Siena, Italy, has been absolutely beautiful. Every day has been sunny and gorgeous with everyone sitting out in the piazza!


And also, I am SOOO excited for this weekend because I'm going to Paris! My friend is studying there so we're going to meet up. I can't wait!!
Arrivederci!
-Gregorio