How UP filled their summer days

By Amanda Blas

Summer is finally over! It's back to school, with a little bit of socializing, a whole lot of procrastinating and some studying here and there. But as UP gets back into the swing of things, there's one thing everyone is dying to know: what did you do this summer?

"I went to London for the business study abroad program," junior Rosy Boggs said. For five weeks, Boggs took summer classes, went on tours and attended business meetings. She also went to Alicante, Spain and Paris, France, and not to mention spent a week in New York and a few weeks in Alaska to work in a fish plant.

"The best part of my summer was all the traveling I had the opportunity to do," Boggs said. "I love traveling so I had an amazing summer."

During her time in Ghana, junior Torri Ishihara taught English, math, art and songs to sixth graders at a local school. She also participated in several cultural activities.

"I hiked the tallest mountain in Ghana, I learned African dance and drumming and I got to feed monkeys," Ishihara said. "It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life."

"I saw a lot of friends before we went our separate ways," freshman Ethan Davis said. "Some of us were going off to college and others of us were going off to the Army or Navy."

Davis spent his summer this way because of what was up ahead for him. "It's the best thing to do before going to college," Davis said. "Knowing high school is over and the next step is beginning gives you a feeling that you have to see people before you leave."

Senior Frank Ohmes hung around UP for the summer.

While he worked for Physical Plant, Ohmes helped paint several buildings around campus.

"Paint crew is the very best," Ohmes said in describing his summer experience.

Sociology professor Bryan Rookey spent a lot of time on sociology this summer. He submitted two articles to academic journals, prepared for his upcoming sociology classes and went to an American Sociological Association conference. But Rookey's summer fun did not end at his sociological pursuits.

"I also painted the interior of my new house," Rookey said. "And the best part of my summer was definitely going to the Organic Brewers' Festival at Overlook Park."