University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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yV-grams founder Rishi Moudgil works with two itudents from a local elementary school on their fall jroject. K-grams, short for Kid ' s Programs, spon- ;ored a variety of programs for children this year. hoto courtesy of K-grams Front Row; (Catherine Tang, Andrea Sethi, Xiao Huang Row 2: Carrie Downes Kristen Dama, Anna Phillips, Sarah Osmer of McGrath Studic Front Row: Vicki Ha, Sandhya Krishnan, Jennifer Anderson, Sam Lahidji Row 2: Jessica Schmid , Aaron Kaufman, Elizabeth Meyer, Jigar Shah, Sarah Shumaker photo courtesy of McCirath Studios embers of USAC debate new game strategies while at Rock and Bowl. USAC held a number of social Invents for it members to lighten the mood. Iphoto by Heather Caddell University Students Against Zancer (USAC) was a student-run, aon-profit organization which strove to promote cancer awareness pn campus through various means. LJSAC sponsored fund raisers that jenefited research programs for all ypes of cancer in both children and idults. Every month, USAC sent vol- inteers to interact with terminally 11 children at Mott Children ' s Hos- sital in Ann Arbor. Other special ;vents included promoting breast cancer awareness, and distributing sunscreen before spring break to alert vacation-bound students of the hazard of getting a serious south-of- the-border sunburn. Economics senior Bill Pullano explained, USAC interested stu- dents an opportunity to become as involved as they would like. It is better than clubs that require a cer- tain time commitment from their members, because really passionate people with lots of time constraints can still be part of USAC. Front Row: Himani Patel, Julie Blaszak, Jennifer DeCapua, Katie Warren, Sheila Krishnan, Michelle Tulla Row 2: Erin Mullally, Carly Sarna, Carolyn Eichenhorn, Deborah Horning, Christina Wiles, Pamela Reid, Nicole Wood Row3: Lauren Gudritz, Will- iam Pullano, Gene Yu, Jennifer Lessens, Daniel Lis, Julie Hartoin, Andrew Valiquett photo by David Wolfe CO 5 o n G. O - i CQ CO n TJ CD Q c n E to Q (D n Q Organizations 367

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Although University students dominated, there were always sightings of rambunctious kids anxious to play on the Cube or enjoy an ice cream cone at Stucchi ' s. Up until the summer of 1 998, the University students did not repay these visits by playing on jungle gyms at local elementary schools. However, Rishi Moudgil began K-grams because he saw a need for establishing an ongoing relationship between University students and the rest of the Ann Arbor community, according to sophomore mechanical engi- neering student Elena Marin. As the operations director of K-grams, Marin maintained the internal structure of the program, and it continued to prosper beyond preliminary expectations. K-grams grew most visibly in size alone, in Marin ' s opinion. With 1,1 50 students involved, elementary schools we re impressed by the members ' dedication to reaching out to the community and answering children ' s questions. Marin explained, The kids ' responses are heartwarming. Every time University students visit the schools, they are inundated with smiles, cheers, and just overall excitement. to E o I 5 1 D O .y u 0) I Front Row: Ashley Scott, Neha Shah, Helene Yen, Sonia Liu, Amy Kirsch Row 2: Lacca Curtis, Catherine Docherty, Bethany Killian, Amy Christiansen, Jennifer Bess Row 3: Danielle Bean, Eugenia Edmonds, Vanessa DeSousa, Elena Marin, Catherine Ong, Heather Munsche Row4; Scott Ottolini, Rishi Moudgil, Catherine Keinath, Lee Ann Benkert photo courtesy of McGrath Studios The kids themselves have said how much their pen pa means to them, and that alone is the backbone of K- grams. Generating spirit that carried over personally into the community, as it was delivered through sensitive and lighthearted letters, this pen pal program bridged groups seemingly worlds apart, and helped them discove how close they could become. In turn, elementary students were invited to the Univer- sity for the first annual Kids Fair. Student groups wer asked to set up tables with crafts for excited elemental- students. From the Greek system to the Undergraduat English Association, there was an array of diverse group with equally distinct activities. A viable network of stu- dents promoted the program through a stunning web page that engaged those who chose to browse electronically for their lifetime experiences and may have missed the visu publicity around campus. Marin celebrated that K-gran hasn ' t looked back since the progress moved forward. Whether involved or merely interested, students eagerl 1 looked ahead and awaited K-gram ' s next step. Front Row: William Conner, Benson Propst, Kelly Slay, Meean Bonshansky, Sedika Franklin, Tracyjamssens, Nancy Cha.Javauehn Perkins, Olumiji Jones Row 2: James Chang, Larry Williams, Jeremy Singh, Yoshmobu Kamihara, Erin Gardner, Christine Kryscio Danny I ambourhs, Nirav Shah, Nikul Gavan, David Vanecek, Irian Callaghan, Cheuk Chau, Uko Udobot Row 3: Jared Jeffers :t Sheth. Rebecca Swain. I aurin Gracey, Destinv Faust, Mat- i a Wilson. Bernard Drew, Erin icia Williams, ' ki Hilmon, young pen pal gets her face painted by her older pen pal at the 1999 Kids Fair. Kids Fair was the highlight of the year for K-grams and served to bring together all of the different programs from the year. photo courtesy of K-grams

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t.llen DeGeneres answers questions from the studio audience prior to the filming of an episode guest-starring DeGeneres ' real-life girl- friend. Anne Heche. Laughtrack was part of a cooperative effort that brought DeGeneres to campus during the ' 98-99 school year. pholo courtesy of Touchstone Television ,j- aura Harris, Jon Stewart, and Elijah Wood react after Stewart is bitten by the mystery creature in Robert Rodriguez ' s The Faculty. Laughtrack had high hopes to bring Stewart to campus this year. photo courtesy of Dimension Films -fi Front Row: Carolyn Seggerson, John Machiorlatti Rebecca Sanke, Row 2: Joan Smith, Emily Renda Rachel Arfa photo by Liz Mauck is