Fall Highlights 2024

Another fall semester has come and gone, and I'm very much enjoying some downtime here at the start of winter break. Here's some of what we've been up to:

Teaching

This fall, I had a nice schedule with only two preps, and all classes on Tuesday/Thursday. Very streamlined, but those teaching days were also pretty intense! My three sections of WRIT 1110 (the first of the two-semester sequence in first year writing) went well. My other class, ESOL 1010, a writing class for undergrad international students, was a bit more of a challenge. I hadn't taught that class since Fall 2019, so it needed some fairly significant updating. There were some other issues too, but in the end, we made it through. I'm supposed to teach that class again in Fall 2025, so I'll need to do some thinking about what I might be able to do better. 

one of my classrooms...lecture halls aren't ideal,
but at least this one was smaller than last fall's!

another classroom: I like having some windows!

scratch off map in my office, where I track countries
I've had students from. I had some new ones this fall!

selfie in campus office after last final

FMB

Mark's been hard at work with the Falcon Marching Band. This year's band was the largest ever in BGSU history (and one of the largest college marching bands in the country). There was a lot of extra press this year because of that, and the band had a very busy schedule with football games, performances at high school band competitions, and other events. The drumline was bigger, too, with 36 students (after a super competitive audition in the summer). 

There are lots of great photos on the FMB Facebook page, along with the Sounds of the Stadium concert. The first halftime show of the season, Epic!, is on YouTube (the others should eventually be posted as well...not sure why they're delayed this year). Marketing made a nice promo video (as part of a fundraising campaign for the band). 

The drumline performed for the first time at a big annual event on campus called ArtsX. Toward the end of the semester, we continued our tradition of inviting the drumline over to celebrate, and they seemed to enjoy the extra time together (along with the food :-). The band banquet just before finals week was a nice culmination of the season, too. 

But...the season isn't quite over because part of the band is heading to Mobile, Alabama for a bowl game on December 26. 

marching band on the field

Batman segment of halftime show

Star Wars

band performing at Rally BG downtown

before Homecoming game, the band (with alumni)
performed with country music singer Phil Vassar

selfie at the game

Latin-themed halftime show with guest artists:
Boston Brass & BGSU's samba group

ghostbuster cart made for
Halloween halftime show

drumline performing the cadence at Sounds of the Stadium

selfie at another game

halftime show

Prof. Waters and drum majors in the BG holiday parade

drumline (and Mark!) in the holiday parade

some of the food we served the drumline

more food

hot chocolate bar

drumline performing at ArtsX

selfie with Mark at the band banquet

drumline group photo at the band banquet
(it's always hard to say goodbye to the seniors!)

Friends & Fun

Something about this fall seemed extra busy, but there were a few things we did outside of work. Here are some photos:

the main stage at Black Swamp Arts Festival
(Mark was out of town; I went with a couple friends)

chalk art at the festival

I was home sick with Covid...but we were
extra careful, and Mark stayed healthy!

BGSU volleyball game with Mark

harvest festival at the Toledo Zoo

Mark with some harvest artwork

seeing the zoo's baby snow leopard

baby & momma elephants

beautiful fall flowers (still at the Zoo)

watching Balloon Fiesta Live from the couch

I invited some friends to the Halloween game!

Benny, one of the BGSU Paws therapy dogs

group photo at Common Meal

Thanks for coming along as I looked back over the last few months!