James Madison University - Bluestone Schoolmaam Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

Page 271 text:

mu5ic to tfi6 ears by Joey Gundrum Exit 245 uses talent and hunnor to attract enthusiastic crowds time after time Exit 245 was an all-male a cappella group that enthralled audiences with its amazing beat-box and singing abilities. The group ' s songs ranged from all- time favorite Disney classics such as A Whole New World from Aladdin to Fix You by Coldplay. The men of Exit 245 came across as an easygo- ing group of guys. Many of the best friends I made at JMU have come from this group, said senior Mike Cordingley, president of Exit 245. It is incred- ible to watch the group dynamics change over the past four years, but one thing has remained constant and that is the friendships formed through the group. Another incredible thing about being in Exit [245] is that we work our butts off rehearsing, learning new music, touring up and down the east coast and it all pays off when we get the response we want from a crowd because they like what they hear and how we perform. The responses to Exit 245 ' s performances proved that all the members ' hard work really did pay off. Exit 245 was placed on the 2007 Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) album, produced by Varsity Vo- cals. Its cover of Fix You was selected for the album. It feels amazing to be selected to be on ' BOCA ' 2007, said Cordingley. We have worked extremely hard as a group and to be receiving that kind of recognition makes it all feel worth it. It is such a great honor to be selected to be a part of something as well respected as the ' BOCA ' compilations. Exit 245 participated in concerts for programs such as Operation Santa Claus in which the profits were contributed to a variety of causes. On Dec. 8, the group performed at one of its biggest concerts of the year, the Exam Slam Cram Jam, an event organized with the hope of providing students with an entertaining way to wind down before final exam week. At the concert, which was performed to a full house, four new songs were premiered. The event featured a full lighting rig and professional sound system. The crowd went wild over the hilarity of Exit 245 ' s intermission video, which featured the group members ' transformation from geek to sleek. The event also gave the group the opportunity to honor senior James Minnix, as it was his last concert of his four years with the group. We are also hoping to record a new CD next semester to be released in the fall of 2007, said Cordingley. A consistent goal in Exit is to continue to push the envelope with the caliber of our perfor- mances and our music. Eta Sigma Gsimma The goal of Eta Sigma Gamma was to enhance student knowledge and appreciation of the health disci- pline. The group sponsored Stack- ing Up Against Hunger, a week- long event dedicated to collecting canned food for local food shelters. Front row: Melissa Carrithers. Laura Higgins. Chrysta Terenzi. Ashley Roberts; Second row: Kristi Schoenfelder, Meagan Stanford, Jennifer Bock, Michelle Solomon; Back row: Joseph Signorino, Katelyn Pennisi, Anne Blair, Kristen Flanagan. Exit 245 12671

Page 270 text:

■exit 245 K M E 1 H Kllftk. Vw H IHfcr ' n » fl HMUUfe ' Hr IB H LP Bi M lHi r Performing a solo, senior i k it sings at the A H pif: Cappella-Thon during family weekend, Minnix had been a K m member of the group since F r H i H his freshman year. Pholo by ■l l IB! Mindi Westhoff IH bIv Harmonizing, senior ■Hj K. Nathaniel Bal ' ■ and junior H 3 HHB. J ke Odm.j perform a H Hf cover of Fix You by Cold- HHPMtf play during Operation Santa KKFmSw Claus The song was featured BsHf on the Best of College A HH K Cappella album for 2007, Photo by Mmdi Westhoff Front row:Jdkc Udmai k, Jt.tlin llciiici. BJ Griltin, Jaiiicb Miiinix, Ucniiv Noi lis. Mikt Cording[e : Second row: Adam Spalletla, Doug McAdoo. Sieve Anzuini. Bobby Kim. Matt Beck: Back row: Seth Doleman. Kyle Huchison. Nathaniel Baker. Mattliew Dun Chris Talkv, Jasun Itam. Pelta Epsibn Chi Delta Epsilon Chi was a professional organization and the local chaptei- of DECA Inc. The organization fostered an appreciation of the American free enterprise system and provided leadership and career- oriented opportunities to develop future leaders in marketing. Front row: k.iiir ( ohict. Fariba Babaeizadeh, Am.iiul.i Kri iis. Krisiin |(ilinsun; Second row: Lauren Carlson, Stephanv Barber. Mary-Colleen Mmijlu, Antlu)n KiMer; Back row: Rex Bradford. John Beltrane. Bobby Flook.Joe Rishell. 1 266 I Organizations

Page 272 text:

■fencing meet yo U r Kvn I by Stephen Brown Fencing Club members duel it out while forming lasting bonds. The Fencing Club offered its members plenty of opportunities to play a unique sport and meet new and interesting people. Merriam-Webster ' s dictionary defined fencing as the art or practice of attack and defense with the foil, epee, or saber. A student-run organiza- tion, the Fencing Club epitomized the virtues of fencing. Junior and Vice President of the Fencing Club Duncan Bell said, There ' s something very cool about the concept of fencing. The clubs practices varied, but followed a basic outline. Foin training and instructional sessions were held each week, two for beginners and two for ad- vanced members. Conditioning drills and proper stance practice would usualK ' open a training session, followed by the actual application of learned technicjues. Although the sport of fencing retiuired great skill and footwork, the club was open to anyone at any experience level, from both the imiversitv and Harrisonburg communities. In fact, it was not unusual to have two people of vastly different age groups fence with each other. The only criterion for match competitions was the respective skill level of each participant. The club participated in various tournaments throughout the year, which were sponsored by the United States Fencing Association (USFA), the governing body for American fencing. Tt) partici- pate, interested participants registered with USFA and paid a $50 fee that allowed them to partici- pate in tomnaments for up to one vear. The club held two tournaments in February and March, bringing a high level of competitive fencing to the university community. Some of the club ' s members were tjuite profi- cient, with five members ranked by USFA. USFA used an A to E ranking scale. An A constituted Olympic-level fencers. Three club members earned a D and two earned an E. The onh ' way to get ranked was to win. not just place in, a tournament. All of our success as a fencer is through you, and so are all of your failures, said Bell. Members also participated in several teambuild- ing and social events. In the spring, the club held a social that brought members together outside of a fencing atmosphere for a night t)f dancing and fiui. The club also orchestrated video scavenger hunts, where objectives ranged from buving 37 cents worth of gas to swimming in Newman Lake. These events encoiuaged tighter relationships between members and bridged the gap between beginners and ad- vanced members. The future of the Fencinij Club looked brisht, although mostly at the expense of the university ' s varsity team. The team was placed on the chop- ping block due to Title IX requirements, and so the Fencing Club prepared for the increased ecjuipment and funding that would accompan)- the team ' s disappearance. Expected ecjuipment in- cluded a renovated practice room, new sabers and padding and sensors that detected when a blow was landed on an opponent. The Fencing Club forged strong friendships throughout the ear that kept members coming back. Sophomore Sarah Ta lor said, Even if stab- bing my friends for fun wasn ' t entertaining enough, I would be compelled to keep coming to practice just for the people. Fashion Pesign Club The Fashion Design Club began in 2003 and its purpose was to keep up-to-date with the latest fash- ion trends while giving students a chance to design and showcase their own work. In 2006 the club held its first annual Spring Fashion Sho v. Front row: Nicole Brii ai liaiui. I..mrt ' n llill. Aiiml.i Anioako. Jessica Sgucglui. l..iin Robbins: Back row: Laiircn M.iwii, I ' .iisa Tlionipson, l. ' ndsav Hooper. Jennitci Ross Emily Mai t)n. 1 268 I Organizations