Ah the Oscars… One of the most famous awards ceremonies for film on the planet.  Almost everyone has heard of this ceremony before, but what exactly is it? What is the history behind this event? When is the ceremony happening this year? Continue reading for more insight into this star-spangled extravaganza!

In 1929 the very first Academy Awards were given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in order to honor all aspects of the film making industry.  This magical night commences on the red carpet with the arrival of the famously talented actors and actresses, film producers, directors, and others associated with the making of movies. Attendees don their best evening wear, drawing the attention of fashion fanatics from all over the world. Over the course of the night, the Academy presents 24 awards, including Best Picture, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Actor/Actress in a Leading Role etc. Originally, the winners of the Academy Awards were announced before the event, but nowadays winners are announced at the ceremony via a sealed envelope that is given to the announcer at the time of the reveal. This suspense is all part of the allure of watching the Academy Awards.

Everyone who receives an Academy Award gets a gold-plated statue of a man, called an Oscar. This is why this awards ceremony is nicknamed the Oscars, because of all of the Oscar statues presented. One of the great mysteries of the film industry is how the Oscar got its name. Sure, there are many stories and theories circulating all claiming to be the real reason this tiny statue is called an Oscar, but the truth is, nobody knows!

If you want to see if Leonardo DiCaprio will finally win an Oscar this year, tune in on February 28^th at 7pm to watch the 88^th annual Academy Awards Ceremony live on ABC.

Register for Summer Classes!

 Are you interested in taking a summer course? If so, registration for summer courses is now open for degree – seeking students! To see what courses are available, look on the Registrar’s page on the Millersville website

http://www.millersville.edu/summer/courses.php checking that the correct subject, year, and semester are in the search box. Make sure you have the required prerequisites for the course you would like to take and chat with your advisor to see if this class is a good fit for your course of study. May 9^th is the last day to add or drop a summer class, so if you are interested, sign up soon!

February Fun Facts

 Everyone knows that Valentine’s Day is in February, but what else happens in this month (besides snow)? Here are just a few facts about the month of February:

February is the month when Americans celebrate Black History Month, a time to remember all of the important events and people of African descent.

• Groundhog Day took place on February 2^nd. Legend has it that if the groundhog comes out of his hole and sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring. This year, the groundhog did not see his shadow, so we can expect warmer weather soon!

• International Mother Language Day is February 21^st. This day is set aside to promote the diversity of the world’s many languages and the cultures that are connected to them.
• George Washington was the United States of America’s first president, and we celebrate his birthday on February 22^nd.
• Leap Year occurs in February – every four years an extra day (February 29^th) is added to the year.

Snow Tubing

ime to Introduce Yourself to Professors

Hey Students! Now that the semester is officially in full swing, now is the time to get to know your professors. Introducing yourself to a professor can be a bit intimidating at first—especially if you’re not used to doing so at your home university—but the results are definitely worth it! Many professors appreciate when students are willing to go above and beyond.

Here are some ways you can get to know your professor better:

• Make sure to introduce yourself first! Whether your class is small or large, it shows initiative when you are willing to put yourself out there.
• Mention that you’re an international student. Many professors are interested in learning more about different cultures and learning environments. This will allow them to have a better understanding of you as a student.
• Come to class a couple minutes early and stay after a minute longer. This shows that you are willing to go the extra mile and the added time you have is great for striking up a conversation with your professor.

Throughout the semester, being on good terms with your professor can make the class a better experience.

So what are you waiting for? Get to class and introduce yourself!

How to Survive the Winter Weather

If you’re reading this: Congratulations! You survived the first big snow storm of 2016!

(Picture from: http://lancasteronline.com/beforeafter/snow/)

27 inches of snowfall is not at all common at Millersville, but that doesn’t mean this is the last snow we’ll see this winter!

Here are some tips to keep in mind as the winter weather continues:

• Don’t forget to stock up on food! While dining services is open even when the university is closed, making the trip from your room to Gordinier can get a little tricky. A microwaved bowl of ramen is a lot more pleasant than slipping on a patch of ice.
• Make sure you have proper winter wear! Jackets, gloves, hats, and scarves—it’s important to layer up when the temperature drops.

Are you signed up for MU Alert yet? It’s a great way to get information about university closings and delays sent straight to your phone and e-mail. If you haven’t signed up yet, here’s how:

1. Go to mualert.millersville.edu
2. Select new user
3. Fill out the page with your information, including: name, e-mail, and which devices you would like to have receive MU alerts

You don’t have to be bored or stuck inside during a snow day. There are plenty of things to do! To name a few:

• Have a snowball fight! There are many open fields in and around campus that you can claim as your battle ground
• If fighting isn’t your thing, build a snow man!
• If you prefer to stay inside, find a friend to burrow in with. Snow days are a great opportunity to meet and hang out with your neighbors.
• Make some homemade hot chocolate! And if you have additional ingredients, it might be a good time to try out that recipe you saw going around on Facebook J
• If you’re feeling productive, snow days are a good time to catch up on any work that you haven’t gotten a chance to do

What Americans do on Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day (or Singles Awareness Day for the more cynical) is a holiday celebrated many different ways around the world. In the US, the holiday has become highly commercialized. During the month of February, it’s very common to see red and pink heart everywhere you go. Many Americans, however, still see the holiday as a day to spend time with their loved ones.

Looking for ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day like an American? Here are some ideas:

• Buy some chocolate! It’s almost impossible to go to a convenience store or grocery store without seeing an entire stand of Valentine’s Day chocolates and decorations.
• Or if you like shopping on a budget, wait until the day after Valentine’s Day to find some great deals on cheap V-Day sweets.
• Want to get a gift for your significant other that’s not chocolate? Flowers and stuffed animals are also traditional gifts.
• Whether it’s to a significant other or to a friend, many people exchange cards. You can purchase some at your local store or you can make your own!
• Going out to eat at a restaurant is considered a typical Valentine’s Day activity. If you’re planning to go somewhere nice, though, you may want to consider making reservations first!
• There is plenty to do on campus during Valentine’s Day weekend. For example, the Campus Grill is hosting a Valentine’s dinner Saturday, February 13^th at 5pm and 7pm. To make a reservation, call 717-871-5275.