April 2021 – On The Lawn

April 30, 2021

What is a Student Recruiter?

Well, I am so glad you asked! Being a Student Recruiter at Auburn (STUD for short) was my favorite thing I was a part of during my undergraduate years, and the main reason that I am in my current job. Being a part of Student Recruiters at Auburn changed the trajectory of my time at and after college. So, what does it mean to be a “Student Recruiter”?

Student Recruiters are the official tour guides of Auburn University. As a prospective student coming to visit Auburn, your tour of campus will be guided by a Student Recruiter. They are the backbone of Auburn University’s recruitment team. Being a STUD entails giving tours, helping with prospective student visit days, meeting with students one-on-one, and other recruitment activities.

From rigorous knowledge tests to learning how to walk backwards successfully, many different things go in to being a winsome Student Recruiter. One thing is common between all Student Recruiters and that is a deep love for Auburn and an even deeper love for prospective students. Our group of Student Recruiters consists of about 60-70 undergraduate students from all different parts of campus and all different kinds of majors. These students are skilled leaders, public speakers, and some of the most passionate students you will come across on campus.

I was a Student Recruiter from the Fall of 2018 to the Spring of 2020 (cut short because of COVID-19). Being a STUD provided me with friends that I would have never met outside of being a Student Recruiter. It confirmed and strengthened my love for Auburn University, and having the opportunity to share that love with incoming students was such a joy.

The job of a Student Recruiter is not an easy one. These students are juggling taking classes and preparing for tests, and on top of that, they come to give a tour for students from all over the nation twice a week. Our Student Recruiters do a great job of focusing in on the tour group and the time they have with the students. Nothing else matters during the hour and fifteen minute walking tour that they lead. This is one of the most important walks prospective students will do during their life, so we expect our Student Recruiters to always bring their best.

For prospective students reading this, know that when you visit campus and get to meet one of our Student Recruiters, they want to help you with your college decision making process. You will receive a handwritten postcard from your recruiter thanking you for coming to campus and those postcards will have your Student Recruiter’s email on there. Reach out to them! Ask them any questions that you might have about college life and specifically, Auburn college life. I speak from personal experience when I say that hearing from a student after a tour brings much joy and delight.

I love Student Recruiters. I think they have one of the best volunteer jobs in the world, walking around a beautiful campus like Auburn and sharing their love of Auburn through facts and rankings and personal stories of their own. “Auburn’s campus sells itself. I am just here to navigate you through the beauty of it all,” is something I would often tell my tour groups. Please come visit our beautiful campus and meet one of our Student Recruiters. I promise you will not regret it.

April 23, 2021

Get Outside – Auburn’s Most Loved Parks

“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” Laura Ingalls Wilder

If you are wanting to get outside in Lee County, look no further. As the weather gets nicer many students find themselves wanting to spend their time in the great outdoors. Here is a list of the best parks in Lee County and two bonus spots within an hour drive.

Left to Right:
Advisor Katie Morgan’s puppy Maddox enjoying Town Creek Park.
RahRah White (Undergraduate Admissions Advisor) hiking Chewacla State Park with his son, Elliott.
Grace (daughter of Associate Director Allison Saggus) crawling in front of Samford lawn.

1. Agricultural Heritage Park

620 N Donahue Dr, Auburn, AL 36832
30 acres at the southwest corner of Samford Avenue and Donahue Drive
Ag Heritage Park has an open-air market that operates every Thursday from May to August at the Edward L. Lowder Red Barn

2. Chewacla State Park

124 Shell Toomer Pkwy, Auburn, AL 36830
696 Acres with a 26 acre lake
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Website: https://www.alapark.com/parks/chewacla-state-park
Park Map: https://www.alapark.com/sites/default/files/2019-02/Chewaclacampgroundandcabinmap.pdf

3. Davis Arboretum

181 Garden Drive, Auburn AL 36849
13.5 acre botanic garden on the corner of campus
Hours: Every day from sunrise to sunset
Website: http://www.auburn.edu/cosam/arboretum/index.htm
Map: http://auburn.edu/cosam/arboretum/images/driving_map.jpg

4. Kiesel Park

520 Chadwick Lane, Auburn, AL 36832
Kiesel Park is Auburn’s largest park.
Hours: 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Website: https://www.auburnalabama.org/parks/facilities/kiesel-park/
Kiesel Park is home to Auburn’s annual CityFest. For more information visit www.auburncityfest.com.

5. Kreher Preserve and Nauture Center

Photo from City of Auburn – Parks and Recreation Website

2222 North College Street, Auburn, Alabama 36830
The 120 acre park was donated to Auburn University’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences by Dr. Louise and Frank Allen Turner in 1993.

Bonus Day Trips:

Lake Martin

Tuskegee National Forest

April 16, 2021

AU Traditions: A-Day

By Kali Tucker

A DAY

A Day is Auburn University’s annual spring football game! It is a time for fans near and far to come and get a glimpse of what the next season may look like.

A Day ticket prices are typically around $5 for the general public allowing anyone and everyone to come and take part in the fun day.

Auburn Cheerleading on Twitter: "It's always great seeing the Auburn Family at Fan Day! #WarEagle… "

Sticking with tradition on this day our players still enter the stadium through Tiger Walk, the eagle will do its traditional pre-game flight, and Aubie and the cheerleaders are on the sidelines getting the crowd fired up.

After the game, the grounds crew works quickly to line the field with tables where just about every sports team on campus will sit to sign autographs and take pictures with fans!

Fans are all allowed to bring one item in to get signed and are able to get up close and personal with their favorite team members.

It really is such a special day for Auburn athletes and fans to come together and experience a fun Auburn tradition together!

April 9, 2021

The Auburn Creed: VIII

“And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it.”

Auburn, Alabama and Auburn University were not even on my radar until the end of my junior year of high school. I was looking at schools outside of Texas, but not in Alabama. My parents graciously took me on a college road trip after picking me up from summer camp before senior year. It was evening when we reached Auburn, and the sun had almost set. I vividly remember the moments I saw the Welcome to Auburn sign and then the library off of College Street. Something inside me stirred.

The next morning, we woke up and headed to campus for a tour. The tour confirmed what I had already started to feel the night before. Auburn was where I was meant to be. I felt it. I knew it in my heart. I was 100% certain. I didn’t say anything to my parents until after the tour, but once it was over I let them know that this was the school for me. I think they were shocked that I was so certain. We had visited over 10 schools during my high school years. My search was finally over.

I met my best friends at Auburn. I grew up. I learned what it was like to be far away from home and not feel homesick, but at the same time develop a greater appreciation for my family. The sense of community at Auburn is so strong and the bond created was so deep that I truly feel like a part of myself remains in Auburn. Auburn is a special place and what they say is true: “You never really leave Auburn, because Auburn never leaves you”.

Over the past seven months, some of our admissions advisors have shared the first seven stanzas of the Auburn Creed with you and what they mean to us. Let’s recap:

The Auburn Creed, handwritten in 1943 by George Petrie

George Petrie not only wrote the Auburn Creed but was also Auburn’s first football coach and a faculty member for almost 55 years. This creed, written in 1943, is timeless and truly embodies the Auburn spirit. Mr. Petrie believed in Auburn then and I believe in it today. I am proud to be a member of the Auburn family and will forever strive to carry the values of the creed with me wherever I go.

April 2, 2021

Auburn’s Recreation and Wellness Center

By Ryan Cole

Located at 601 Heisman Drive, Auburn’s Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) provides championship-level fitness and recreation activities for all University students, faculty, and staff. This space offers opportunities for Auburn’s 30,000+ students to live out the fourth line of The Auburn Creed each and every day: “I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities.”

Since its opening in August 2013, the Recreation and Wellness Center has been a highlight of students’ experience here at Auburn. On a normal day, approximately 4,000 students, faculty, and staff visit the RWC. Students receive membership to the RWC at no additional cost during their undergraduate career at Auburn. Immediately upon entering the facility, guests are welcomed by a friendly staff and state-of-the-art design encompassing 240,000 square feet. The most striking feature you notice when arriving at the RWC is a 1/3-mile indoor track with a corkscrew design (the longest of its kind when constructed) available for walkers and runners alike. This, however, is just the beginning – fitness opportunities abound in every corner of the facility and beyond!

Regardless of the type of recreation and fitness activities you enjoy, there is truly something for everyone. Here are some of the highlights of the RWC:

130 pieces of cardio equipment
Weight training areas
Group fitness spaces for classes on yoga, cycling, barre, HIIT, Zumba, and many more!

Game room featuring foosball and table tennis
Personal Training Studio
Eight regulation-sized basketball courts

Multi-purpose courts for soccer, badminton, and volleyball
Racquetball courts
A wide array of workout equipment that is replaced every 4 years; each Auburn student will have brand new fitness equipment during their time on the Plains

PGA Tour Golf Simulator with 40+ courses from across the world (my favorite stop in the RWC!)
Outdoor leisure pool
A tiger-paw shaped hot tub

Club and intramural sports are also a great way to participate in competitive activities and meet students from across campus. Team sports include basketball, flag football, soccer, kickball, and volleyball. Golf, tennis, and swimming are offered as individual sports as well. No matter your skill level, all students are welcome to compete in intramural sports leagues! Auburn has over 20 club sports teams that compete against other colleges and schools across the country. Some club sports include ultimate Frisbee, rugby, and lacrosse. RWC Connect is a great way to learn about upcoming group fitness classes and events, as well as to join intramural and club sports teams: https://recreation.auburn.edu/.

Auburn’s brand new SportsPlex , which will re-open this fall, is an exciting new addition to the RWC. This project has been years in the making, and will serve over 10,000 students, faculty, and staff who participate in intramural and club sports each year. Check out a drone tour of the new facility below:

For those with a desire to explore the great outdoors, Auburn Outdoors is the place for you! Whether you are a seasoned adventurer or just beginning your journey, Auburn Outdoors provides ample opportunities for students to explore Auburn and surrounding areas. In the RWC, two 50-ft rock-climbing towers and a bouldering cave lets members develop their climbing skills without ever leaving campus. Auburn Outdoors also provides camping and water equipment rentals at daily, weekend, and weekly rates for students wanting to get gear for an affordable getaway. The Auburn Outdoor Bike Shop in the RWC is a one stop shop for all your bicycle rental and repair needs, as well as free resources to help you prepare for your next biking adventure!

With all these features and so much more, it is easy to see why Men’s Health named the RWC as one of the “Coolest College Recreation Centers in America.” Athletic Business has also recognized the center with its “Facilities of Merit Award.” In 2016 and 2017, Auburn’s RWC was named as the top recreation center in the entire country; back-to-back national championships, if you will. I have no doubt that once you visit the Recreation and Wellness Center for the first time, you will see why this location is one of the best of its kind in the entire country.

Interested in learning more? Make sure to follow the RWC on Instagram (@auburncampusrec) and like their page on Facebook (Auburn University Campus Recreation). Also make sure to check out their “Be Well” blog for more information on fitness, outdoor life, and wellness tips here: https://www.bewellauburn.com/.

While not currently open for in-person tours, the RWC staff has created a great virtual tour to allow you to get a better sense of all that the facility has to offer. They look forward to your visit this fall!