twinkleA COLLECTION OF STORIES THAT

MAKE AUBURN TWINKLE

what makes auburn twinkle?

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Auburn University Dance Marathon Pledges $500,000 to Local Hospital

Watch Auburn vs. Kansas St. on the Biggest Screen in Town

“Sister Act” is Singing its way to the plains

Wood Duck Heritage Preserve's First Open House

Auburn vs. Georgia Away Game Guide

Auburn Art Students Showcase Their Work

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About the Author:

Morgan GambleMorgan is a current senior at

Auburn University with a major in Public Relations and a minor in International Studies. She will be graduating in May of 2015 and is

pursuing a job in public relations and event planning. She would love to

have a job where she can contribute creatively.

Morgan considers herself a small town girl with big dreams. It has been a lifelong dream of hers to travel all over the world, and she started her journey, this summer, living in Italy for three months. Morgan hopes, one day, to be able to say that she has

been to every continent and she would love to do that through her career. Morgan has greatly enjoyed her

time at Auburn University developing a passion for public relations and

event planning through her classes, involvement and experiences. She is very excited to see what the future

holds.

Enjoy!

A STUDENT-RUN ORGANIZATION'S MAJOR IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY

Auburn University Dance Marathon

ne of Auburn University’s own student-run organizations is making a big difference in the lives of many families across state borders.Auburn University Dance Marathon has pledged $500,000 over a five year span to the Children’s Hospital at Columbus Regional Health at Midtown Medical Center in Columbus, Ga. and is being recognized with a permanent plaque in their honor.On Friday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. EST, the hospital is hosting a ceremony to unveil the plaque written in AUDM’s honor to be permanently placed in the pediatric emergency department lobby. “We are so excited for this opportunity to be further involved in the support of The Children’s Hospital and the countless families whose lives will be forever changed by it,” said Amelia Schuyler, AUDM’s vice president of outreach.With over 250 Dance Marathons nationwide, fewer than ten Dance Marathons have had

the opportunity to have something named on their behalf at the hospital they support, according to Sarah Kelly, AUDM’s current president.At the lobby dedication and reception, The CEO of Columbus Regional Hospital and Auburn University grad, Scott Hill, will be in attendance along with Dr. Bobby R. Woodard, Associate Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs at Auburn University. Also in attendance will be founder and past president of AUDM, Casey Stein, past president, Will McCann, current president, Sarah Kelly, and other Columbus Regional Health and AUDM staff.“One of the reasons that we chose the pediatric emergency department was because it really embodies what Children’s Miracle Network hospitals are all about in that they are about treating children no matter what they need,” Kelly said. “So it is not just terminal illnesses, it is not just kids that are frequent flyers at the hospital,

$500,000PledgedTo Local Children's Hospital

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by: MORGAN GAMBLE

it is kids who fall off their bike and have a broken arm and come to the emergency department and it’s kids that come down with the flu. We chose the pediatric emergency department lobby because it is just a really great way to represent what Children’s Miracle Network hospitals embody.”AUDM is a year round fundraising event that culminates in a 12-hour Dance Marathon to celebrate the money raised.Since it was founded, three years ago, AUDM has raised over $350,000. With the supports of Children’s Miracle Network, 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to the Children’s Hospital at Midtown Medical Center at Columbus Regional Health. This hospital aids over 21 counties, including four in Eastern Alabama, one of them being Lee County.“One of my favorite things about AUDM is that we have the opportunity to be directly involved in the difference that we seek to make,” Schuyler said. “Having been a part of AUDM for the past three years, I’ve had the privilege to see the life changing effects

of our contributions to The Children’s Hospital at Midtown Medical Center at Columbus Regional Health firsthand.”Thanks to AUDM, Auburn University will be making a lasting impact at Columbus Regional Health for years to come.“This is a legacy that is going to continue long after I am gone from Auburn and the freshmen that come to Dance Marathon this year are gone from Auburn,” Kelly said. “Having a plaque in our honor is a really cool, permanent fixture of Dance Marathon, of our mission and what we stand for.”

“One of my favorite things about AUDM is

that we have the opportunity to be

directly involved in the difference that we

seek to make,” Schuyler said.

Students atteNding Auburn University Dance Marathon

watchAUBURN vs. KANSAS St.on the biggest screen in town

ant to watch this Thursday’s Auburn football game on the biggest screen in the city? Auburn’s Church of the

Highlands is opening its doors and 70-foot screen for the ultimate game-watching experience.ONE College Ministry at Church of the Highlands is hosting a tailgating and viewing party for the Auburn University vs. Kansas State University football game on Thursday, Sept. 18. The tailgate will begin at 6 p.m. and the game begins at 6:30 p.m.

The ultimate game watching experience at The Church of

the Highlands

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by: MORGAN GAMBLE

the church of the highlands

ONE at Church of the Highlands is a college ministry that has weekly gatherings for worship and outreach such as community nights and on-campus events. Thursday night services usually have over 600 students that attend weekly, according to ONE Events Coordinator Taylor Cornelius, The tailgate party is a ONE Community Night specifically for Auburn students. ONE hosts Community Nights every semester to bring Auburn students together for nights of fun and camaraderie.The viewing of the game will be held inside the church on their big screen, according to Cornelius.The tailgate party will have free tailgate foods 30 minutes before and throughout the entire screening of the game. Grill

Master Tristan Madden will be grilling hot dogs and hamburgers for the event, according to Cornelius.Madden is “the best grill master in town, he is phenomenal on the grill,” Cornelius said.Throughout the tailgate, they will also have games such as corn hole, football and Frisbee to play.At half time there will be a surprise treat for all of the game viewing attendees.

ONE tailgates have been held for two football games and one basketball game

previously. The ONE team will continue to have Community Nights one or two times per semester and they hope to continue having sport viewing parties, as those have been very successful previously, according to Cornelius.The ONE team is expecting a large amount of attendees for this Community Night, according to ONE campus representative Emily Gaines. “We are so excited for Thursday night, and we can’t wait to welcome all of the students to cheer on our Auburn Tigers,” Gaines said.“I think it is a blessing that we have an awesome facility where people already come on Thursdays for worship,” Cornelius said. “We can spend the evening just getting to know one another and doing something that we all enjoy, like watching a game.”

“WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR

THURSDAY NIGHT AND WE CAN'T

WAIT TO WELCOME ALL OF THE STUDENTS TO CHEER ON OUR

AUBURN TIGERS,” GAINES SAID.

the church of the highlands in Auburn

"Sister Act" is Singingits way to the

plainset your dancing shoes on and your singing voices ready because the Broadway musical, “Sister Act,” is coming to Opelika.The national tour of “Sister Act,”

hosted by East Alabama Arts, is performing at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.“Sister Act” is a musical comedy featuring Motown ‘70s funk music from eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken. Menken also created the music for other popular musicals such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast,” according to Courtney Davis, marketing manager at Troika Entertainment, LLC.In “Sister Act,” Deloris Van Cartier has an abrupt life change when she witnesses a murder, according to Davis. Detective Eddie Souther puts Van Cartier in a convent, undercover, to hide from the mobsters. Little does she know; the nuns from the convent would change her life forever

through music and friendship.“It’s a heart warming story,” Davis said. “I actually saw the show and as the curtain call was going on there was an older couple holding hands and dancing leaving the venue. It was fantastic.”The musical was created originally as a movie, which starred Whoopi Goldberg, and then came to Broadway in April of 2011, according to Davis. The musical then toured nationally for the first time in October of 2012 to June of 2014. “Sister Act” is now on its second national tour, which opened in Delaware in October of 2014.According to Lamont O’Neal, who plays detective Eddie Souther in the national tour, the movie and the musical are very similar to each other.“It is very funny and the musical numbers just add more to the storyline,” O’Neal Said.“Sister Act” is O’Neal’s first national tour. “I enjoy traveling and doing the show everyday, it’s really fun,” O’Neal said

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by: MORGAN GAMBLE

“The cast is fantastic. Everyone is just so professional and I have really enjoyed working with them all. We are a family.”O’Neal’s character, Eddie, is “a determined guy who is really trying to save the character, Deloris,” O’Neal said. “Eddie is sort of awkward, very funny and he is also very sweet.”O’Neal recalled that one of his favorite

songs from the show is called “Raise Your Voice.”“It’s just a spectacular number,” O’Neal said. “The singing is incredible and the energy of the whole number is what kind of makes the show, really.”The show will feature many different musical numbers that are sure to get people dancing.“There are a few surprises, but I don’t want to give them away,” O’Neal said. “You have to come see us. I can guarantee that you will leave the theater smiling because if we haven’t done that, then we haven’t done our jobs.”Shows like “Sister Act” are able to come to Opelika because of East Alabama Arts.“We try to cover all of the different art genres and mix them up as a variety series each year so that everybody will find something they like and something they can discover,” said the director of East Alabama Arts, Phillip Preston.After seeing “Sister Act” in New York, Preston knew that it would be great for East Alabama Arts. “This show is just hilarious and it’s inspirational, too,” Preston said. “It’s a scream.”“I am most excited just to get a new audience every night and get their reactions

from the product we created,” O’Neal said. “Come out and see it. We have so much fun doing the show.”

“This show is just hilarious and it's inspirational, too,” Preston

said. “It's a scream.”

Lamont O’Neal as Eddie Souther and Kerissa Arrington as Deloris Van cartier

Kerissa Arrington as Sister Mary Clarence and the SISTER ACT Company in “Raise Your Voice”

Maggie Clennon Reberg as Mother Superior and Kerissa Arrington as Deloris Van Cartier in “Here Within These Walls”

All Photos by © JOAN MARCUS

Wood DuckHeritage Preserve's First

open house

he Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail is hosting an open house of the Opelika Wood Duck Heritage Preserve and Siddique Park.

The event will begin at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. The open house is free and open to the public.The open house will be a first for this preserve and it was created for the community to become more aware of the local Wood Duck Heritage Preserve.“We want to bring attention to the site and its volunteers,” said Joanne Ninesling, chairwoman of the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail and independent contractor for The University of Alabama’s Center for Economic Development. “We wanted to do it during fall migration where the chances are good to see some non-traditional birds.”The open house will consist of an approximate two-mile tour of the Wood Duck Heritage Preserve. This includes exploring the different trails, buildings and

bridges, some of which local Eagle Scout candidates have built.Weather permitting; the Opelika Wood Duck Heritage Preserve will also be hosting a raptor release by the Southeastern Raptor Center, according to Ninesling.This will mark the first raptor release at this preserve. Before preparation for this event, the raptor center was unaware that this reserve was available and, according to Ninesling, “they were just ticked to death to have another site to release birds to.”“To be close to something that wild almost takes your breath away,” Ninesling said of the raptors released by the Southeastern Raptor Center.The tour of the 73-acre preserve will also be a bird watching experience. Alabama Birding Trail conducted a bird count this past weekend between 9 and 10 a.m. and counted 41 different species of birds. “Having that many birds here is just stunning to me,” Ninesling said.

JOIN THE PIEDMONT PLATEAU BIRDING TRAIL AT SIDDIQUE PARK

by: MORGAN GAMBLE

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Volunteers Gene Hunter and Roger Johnson will be helping to identify birds along the way.“They can just be walking down the path and can hear a bird or see one fluttering and they can tell by the way that it is flying or by the sound it makes what kind of bird it is,” said Ninesling of Hunter and Johnson. “They are so knowledgeable.”Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller will also be in attendance to assist in welcoming the community of Lee County with a few words at the beginning of the event.Any visitors participating in the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail photo contest are invited to take pictures throughout the event as, according to Ninesling, this would be a good time to get the winning shot.The photo contest began in May and will continue until Oct. 31. It is open to amateur

photographers that are adults or children up to the age of 15. The photo can either be of a bird at one of the birding trails or a picture of one of the 34 birding trails in Alabama. “We are very excited to be able to have the event and we welcome everyone that would like to come and visit with us,” Ninesling said. “We want people to enjoy the birds’ fall migration.”

“To be close to something that

wild almost takes your breath away,” Ninesling said of

the raptors released by the Southeastern

Raptor Center.

Blue Jay at The Piedmont Plateau Birding trail

Away Game GuideAUBURN VS. GEORGIA

DiningBlind Pig Tavern 485 Baldwin St. 706.548.3442

www.blindpigtavern.com

f you are looking for a casual and family friendly environment, visit Blind Pig Tavern, a neighborhood bar and grill. Here you can grab a quick meal or stay and watch the game. Blind

Pig Tavern offers a variety from burgers and hot dogs to award winning wings, barbeque and more. Prices range from $6 to $25. One reviewer said, “It’s a great, low key dive spot that is really a hidden gem.”

Last Resort 174-184 W Clayton St.

706.549.0810www.lastresortgrill.com

For a nice yet moderately priced meal, head to Last Resort Grill. Prices range from

$11- $30. Menu items include unique dishes such as fried green tomatoes, horseradish crusted salmon and the Gaucho, a tender hanger steak, dry rubbed and chargrilled. “This is definitely the place to go to get a taste of the artistic culinary talent of Athens,” a reviewer said.

The National 232 W Hancock Ave.

706.549.3450www.thenationalrestaurant.com

The National offers a grand culinary experience and was made to be similar to European cafes and bars. The Mediterranean style food, along with a wide variety of wines, is served for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. until. The National also has a bar that is open throughout the day with drinks and snacks. A review said, “Tapas and appetizers were amazing from the olives to the home fries, but the sauteed shrimp and the okra with chick peas were amazing!”

If you're headed to Athens, Ga., to watch the Tigers play, stop by one of these local hot spots

before you leave. by: MORGAN GAMBLE

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NightlifeGeorgia Theatre

215 N Lumpkin St. 706.850.7670

www.georgiatheatre.com

The Georgia Theater is a great place to listen to live music and have a good time with friends. The theater also offers a rooftop bar where they serve food and drinks from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday night, Minnesota will be performing his “Mind Machine Tour” starting at 10 p.m. Get your tickets online before the show.

Magnolia’s Bar of Athens 312 E Broad St. 706.543.0797

Magnolia’s is an open two-floor space with a hardwood bar. The renovated space is usually filled with people and has a southern college town vibe. With regular specials and a happy hour, it makes a great

bar to hang out during and after game day. Magnolias is open from 2 p.m. t0 2 a.m.

Boar’s Head Lounge 260 E Washington St.

706.369.3040

Boar’s Head Lounge offers indoor and outdoor seating with live music. The bar is a local favorite and is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Boar’s Head is also referred to as a dive bar and is a great place to watch the game.

AUBURN VS. GEORGIA

“In Athens, there is something for everyone,

from local dives to fun bars,” said Athens local Marisa Gonzales.

GeorGia Theatre Courtesy of Yelp.com

AUBURN ART STUDENTS

ShowcaseTHEIR WORK

AUBURN'S PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES CLASS OPENS “STRANGE ASSORTMENTS”

by: MORGAN GAMBLE

Gaines’ collective collegiate Photography work

he Professional Studio Practice class of Auburn University’s Department of Art is holding an art exhibition called “Strange

Assortments” on Thursday, Nov. 20.The exhibit will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Baggage Depot in downtown Opelika and refreshments will be provided.“This is a collective exhibition of works from members of our class,” said Emily Gaines, Professional Studio Practices student. With the help of professor Wendy Deschene, the 13 students in Auburn’s Professional Studio Practices class get to showcase a few pieces of the artwork they have done while they have attended Auburn University.“There is a range of art concentrations within the class, therefore there will be a variety of artwork represented,” Gaines said. “From ceramics, painting and photography, to sculpture and print making; we have it all.”Deschene chose The Baggage Depot for the art exhibit to show that any space can be turned into a gallery, according to Gaines.The Baggage Depot is a converted space that used to be a train station and the art exhibit will be held specifically in the room where luggage used to be stored.“The purpose of the class is to help develop our skills before we embark on our creative careers,” Gaines said.In the class, the students also create a website featuring their portfolio and information about the student and their work as an artist. Creating a website allows

the students to showcase their talents and allows their work to be seen by many people.Also in this class, the students have video conferences via Skype with professional artists from different areas of the country. The artists usually show a presentation of their work and artistic style and then the students have a question and answer session with the artists after, according to Gaines.“One artist that we talked to created the mural at the Facebook headquarters in San Francisco,” Gaines said.Now through displaying their work at the Strange Assortments exhibit, the students get to show off their artistic style like the professionals that they video conferenced. “It forces you to put yourself out there and the more you risk showing off what you do as an artist, the bigger the reward,” Gaines said. “Making something and investing in it and then getting any kind of feedback is good because it helps you grow and it helps you learn. It also just feels good to have a tangible reward for your hard work.” “We would love to see as many people as possible at our exhibit,” Gaines said. “We worked hard and we are very proud of the products of our hard work.”

“It forces you to put yourself out there

and the more you risk showing off what you do as an artist, the bigger the reward,” Gaines said.

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Go forward in life with a

twinklein your eye and a

smileon your face, but with

great purpose in

Public Relations

heart- Gordon B. Hinckley