The Forest earns the "Sycamore Experience Award"

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SycamoreLynch

SycamoreLynch

The Varsity Level
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Just shared the news with Jason via Facebook but thought you guys might all be interested in this as well.

Last night, Student Activities & Organizations held 5th annual Sycamore Leadership Awards. This ceremony recognized individuals and organizations going above and beyond as students at Indiana State. I was grateful enough to earn the Most Outstanding Junior Male but this post isn't about my personal awards.

The Forest was recognized with the "Sycamore Experience Award." This award is presented to the student organization that in and of itself excels in these criteria or sponsored a program or event that excels in the following criteria:
  • Contributed to student success by creating a positive Sycamore Experience for those in attendance or members of"
  • Contributed to the retention of Indiana State students
  • Strives to meet institutional strategic goals of providing attendees or members with a meaningful and intentional co-curricular experience
  • A measure of success in reaching these goals must be reported

I coped that list straight from the description but the fact of the matter is I am beyond excited to see all the hard work we in SGA have put into the Forest this year. It's exciting to be at this point in the year and get to go back and think of the goods and bads from the year...with the goods heavily outweighing the bads. Looking back in the past year, I would have never dreamed the Forest would have been at this point after only one year.

I want to also take this chance to say thank you to all of you who have been supportive this year. I've got the chance to meet a few of you this year and talk with most one way or another. I'm excited to be in this position and to have the support from so many, including all of you.

Thank you, GO SYCAMORES!!

SycamoreLynch
 

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As I posted on Facebook, the awards were definitely deserved, both individual and for the group. My only two pleas to you is 1) push harder this year and continue the growth and advancement of the Forest and 2) start grooming your successor now. I'd hate to see everything you've busted your ass for go up in smoke when you graduate.

I'm currently looking into getting some Sycamore Pride logo stickers made. If/when I do, I'll be shipping you some over.
 
I send out my ATTA BOY / ATTA GIRL to you SYCAMORELYNCH and the others that helped make this possible. You and your colleagues do GREAT WORK. I can tell you're a mover & shaker and that's what it takes to make these things possible and that's exactly what it takes in life outside the college experience. Thanks for all you do! GO SYCAMORES!
 

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Jason Svoboda said:
As I posted on Facebook, the awards were definitely deserved, both individual and for the group. My only two pleas to you is 1) push harder this year and continue the growth and advancement of the Forest and 2) start grooming your successor now. I'd hate to see everything you've busted your ass for go up in smoke when you graduate.
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I will be directing the Forest again this coming year. We have all began setting SMART goals for next year. Our new SGA President is very excited about the Forest and I think he is going to bring some great ideas to the table. I can guarantee that we will be pushing just as hard, if not harder this coming year now that we know what works and what doesn't. We are also working on recruiting some other undergraduate students to form smaller committees under me this coming year in order to have students step up when I graduate next year.
 
SycamoreLynch said:
I will be directing the Forest again this coming year. We have all began setting SMART goals for next year. Our new SGA President is very excited about the Forest and I think he is going to bring some great ideas to the table. I can guarantee that we will be pushing just as hard, if not harder this coming year now that we know what works and what doesn't. We are also working on recruiting some other undergraduate students to form smaller committees under me this coming year in order to have students step up when I graduate next year.
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I did a ton of research into these organizations a couple of years ago for the athletic department. The one major, recurring theme I found was that if a student spirit organization is run by students, it's life expectancy is about four years. This was because of student turnover. The person, or people, who found the group are very gung ho and really get the thing going well, and then once the founders leave, it's not quite as big a deal to those coming in afterwards. They generally let it wither and die, because they aren't willing to put in the effort that the founders did. That is the reality that you have to deal with next year.

You need to (imho, of course) start grooming people from each class (gotta include freshmen - get 'em while they're young and impressionable!) so that there is a consistent pipeline of leadership for The Forest that knows its history, goals, challenges, and the necessity of having such an organization. You can beat the odds, but think looooong term for setting up "succession." Once you're gone, you want to make sure you have several years of leaders to take your place.

You've done such an outstanding job with The Forest, Tommy. It's hard for me to imagine what you've gone through, the road blocks that you've had to overcome, the apathy from both students and staff, and, oh yeah, the losing. I have to remember, you're not just dealing with the current season, you're also having to fight the battle with the past 30 years hung around your neck. What you have accomplished is nothing short of a miracle at ISU.

Keep up the good work. We're ALL proud of you!!!
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
SMART goals as opposed to DUMB goals of is that some acronym. Not to be a SMART or DUMB ass just curious.
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SMART goals!

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely

Somebody in the Forest must be an education major! I know they probably have some variation of this in the business world, but these have become big in the education field.
 

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Bluethunder said:
SMART goals!

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely

Somebody in the Forest must be an education major! I know they probably have some variation of this in the business world, but these have become big in the education field.
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I was an Education Major for 2 1/2 years before switching to Comm this semester. That is where I got the idea from.
 
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