The 2009 Student Coordinators

Chaney Austin

1787 Co-Coordinator

Goochland, Virginia

Majors: Media Arts and Design & Communication Studies

Year: Senior

Favorite Song: "One Sweet Love" by Sarah Bareilles

Quote to Live by: "Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles, and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident, and more and more successful." ~Mark Victor Hansen

Words of Advice: Keep an open mind.  Realize that you don't have to become involved in everything, but step out of your comfort zone and try new activities until you find something that's right for you.  Remember, you can't knock it until you try it.

Tyler Conta

1787 Co-Coordinator

Richmond, Virginia

Major: Media Arts and Design

Year: Senior

Favorite Song: "The Sea" by Carbon Leaf

Quote to Live by: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  ~Lao Tzu

Words of Advice: Find your way to make JMU your JMU:  Start an intramural sports team with some random people in your residence hall.  Invite people to go grab a meal with you even if you don't know them that well.  When you're there, leave your room door open, more people stop and say "hey!"  Never walk around campus with headphones in, you never know who might be saying "hey!" again.  Find something that interests you and get involved with it.  Be open to new things and new experiences.  Rappel down the side of Eagle Hall.  Go for a walk and experience downtown Harrisonburg.  Try community service, on and off campus.  Sign up for classes that have nothing to do with your major if they interest you.  So what I'm trying to say is to find your own way to get involved and make this your JMU!

Patrick "PK" Keeney

Student Orientation Coordinator

Roanoke, Virginia

Major: Music Industry

Year: Senior

Favorite Song: "Yesterday" by The Beatles

Quote to Live by: "Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true." ~Leo Joseph Suenens

Words of Advice: Two other quotes come to mind when it comes to dreams and success. One is from an unknown author that says "Some dream of success while others wake up and work hard for it." The other is from one of my professors who told me that whenever people would say that he was "lucky" and was "in the right place at the right time" for his success, he agreed with them, saying "I know. It's really strange, but I've found that the harder I work, the luckier I seem to get." So, in a nutshell, don't just have dreams. Be willing to work for them and to make them real. You won't regret it.

Aishah McNeil

Student Orientation Coordinator

Reading, Pennsylvania

Majors: Communication Studies & Justice Studies

Concentrations: Organizational Communication & Global Policy

Year:Junior

Favorite Song: "Right Now" by Sweet Honey & the Rock

Quote to Live by:  "Life is not about finding yourself; it is about creating yourself." ~Unknown

Words of Advice: We as people are limitless. Know who you are, what you want, and how to get there. Everyone that you cross paths with is here to help you along your way. Life is a journey of creation, take nothing for granted, dedicate your all, and remember that you have the power to make your dreams a reality.

Lindsey Mitchell

Operations Assistant Coordinator

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Degree: B.A. in Psychology

Graduate Program: College Student Personnel Administration

School Transferred from: University of Mary Washington

Favorite Song: "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros" by Flight of the Concords

Quote to Live by: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover." ~Mark Twain

Words of Advice: View everyday as a new experience.  The time you spend at JMU will fly by and you'll want to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.  Get involved!  The networks you make today will be invaluable in the future.  Try things you never thought you'd try, expand your horizons and meet new people.  College is more than just classrooms and textbooks; it's up to you to make your college experience the best it can be.

Adam Sutphin

Student Orientation Coordinator

Newport News, Virginia

Major: Kinesiology

Year: Senior

Favorite Song: "Q&A" by Cartel

Quote to Live by: "The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Words of Advice: Every set of goals you make for yourself should end with having fun. If you aren't having fun in whatever facet of life your living, reconsider what you're doing. JMU is a fun place to be; work hard, learn new things, challenge yourself mentally and physically... but always have fun!