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UPDATE: Supper Club employees determined to save it from closing

(04/10/15 12:22am)

John Brandt, owner of the War Eagle Supper Club, announced the bar will be closing after 78 years because of an increase in rent prices. Since this admission, frequenters and employees of the War Eagle Supper Club have shown how they feel about it on Facebook, particularly the page Anna White, employee at the War Eagle Supper Club, made called,“Save the War Eagle Supper Club.”

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2015/04/war-eagle-supper-club-to-close-after-78-years

Auburn students named finalists for prestigious scholarship

(03/11/15 1:41pm)

Sara Rains, senior in nutrition and wellness, and Jessica Adams, senior in microbial biology, were named finalists for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, the most competitive public service award for undergraduates in the nation, according to Paul Harris, associate professor and associate director of the University Honors College.

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2015/03/auburn-students-named-finalists-for-prestigious-scholarship

Golloway hopes 'Alabama Trio' will lead baseball

(02/23/15 10:31pm)

A strong bullpen led by sophomore Keegan Thompson and new pitching coach Tom Holliday could provide some cushion for the offense, but a cohesive outfield is what the Tigers might find themselves leaning on in 2015. Junior right fielder Jordan Ebert, junior left fielder Sam Gillikin and sophomore center fielder Anfernee Grier could be as valuable for keeping runners from crossing home plate as they will be for driving runners in this season. Head coach Sunny Golloway calls the Foley, Hoover and Phenix City natives the "Alabama Trio." "I've said going in that the Alabama Trio will be the starting outfield," Golloway said. "It's a pretty neat thing, pretty special." The Trio has shifted positions this year to upgrade Auburn's defense. Ebert moved from left to right field to take advantage of his strong throwing arm. Gillikin moved from right to left field and Grier, who played on both sides last year, will learn the walls at center field. "We feel like they settled in to where they are at now," Golloway said. "They feel more comfortable in those positions." The team is looking for another great year from Ebert, who led the team with a .351 batting average last season. The SEC's top returning hitter could have tried his hand in professional baseball, being draft eligible, but decided to take another swing at Auburn after going 28-28 last season and missing the SEC Tournament. "(Ebert) had a really good year last year," Gillikin said. "He's going to have to be a guy that steps up and wins games for us, and he knows he is that guy." Gillikin, who hit .214 with five doubles, four RBIs and was perfect in 30 outfield chances through 24 games as a sophomore, may have as much potential as anyone on the team, according to Golloway. "(Gillikin) is someone that professional baseball has talked a lot about," Golloway said. "He's got no ceiling. The sky is the limit for him." Grier missed 16 games last season after injuring his hand in the Missouri series. Sitting on the bench with his hand wrapped dealt a huge blow to Auburn's offense, but he returned strong and hit .255 with one home run and 11 RBIs to finish the season. Golloway has preached "Omaha" since he was named Auburn's 17th head baseball coach June 14, 2013. The Tigers did not even reach the doorstep of a championship last year, but the "Alabama Trio" has the potential on offense and defense for a turnaround season. "Our expectations are try to get to 40 wins and get to postseason," Golloway said. "That is what it is going to take to get to Omaha. We got an Alabama trio out there and they all need to step up and play well, and potentially they can."

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2015/02/golloway-hopes-alabama-trio-will-lead-baseball

Cooper kicking sophomore slump to the curb

(02/24/15 5:04am)

Infielder Kasey Cooper is known around the country for her impressive freshman year with the Tigers. In her first season, Cooper was named SEC Freshman of the Week twice, National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar Athlete and NFCA National Co-Freshman of the Year, not to mention her participation in the SEC All-Freshman Team, All-SEC Second-Team, NFCA First-Team All-Southeast Region and Second-Team All-American. She finished her season with 77 RBIs and 18 home runs, setting the single-season record for Auburn freshmen. "It was a learning experience," Cooper said. "Whenever there was any pressure or any doubt or anything on my mind, I could always go to the coaches or any of my teammates and they would help talk me through." After their first year on a college-level sports team, nearly a third of athletes in the NCAA quit, because they are unable to efficiently manage their time, they suffer an injury or have personal issues outside athletics. "Coming through fall your freshman year, you had to grow up quick," Cooper said. "We had workouts six days a week and practice and school. It was just a little overwhelming to begin with." Head coach Clint Myers said he doesn't believe in the sophomore slump for his athletes. "I think the sophomore slump is a fallacy," Myers said. "Kasey Cooper is a better hitter now than she was last year. The sophomore slump is only something if you buy into it ... none of us here do." Junior infielder Emily Carosone said a large part of avoiding the slump is time management. "You just gotta be mature about it, you gotta know what you gotta do, you gotta get it done, can't procrastinate," Carosone said. Carosone also said Myers emphasizes a school-first mentality. "Anytime I had a free time, I was doing homework and trying to get ahead because we had practice everyday," Myers said. "Whether you're going to your English class ... or coming out here to the softball field, the mentality's gotta stay the same, 'I wanna be the best I can be.' I expect them to have the same greatness in the classroom as they do out here." As far as Cooper is concerned, this season will only help her to improve. "Defensively, I want to have a better first step," Cooper said. "Offensively, stay more consistent, stick with quality at bats and just get the job done." Myers said he believes Cooper will come out strong this season and has no worries about her falling into a slump. "We anticipate Kasey having another great year because of who she is and what she represents," Myers said. "It's not about numbers, it's about us winning and Kasey is going to be a big contributor to all of us."

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2015/02/cooper-kicking-sophomore-slump-to-the-curb

OPINION: They're not just trees, they're tradition

(11/19/14 7:06pm)

I remember everything about the news. I came in from school one afternoon as a 15-year-old to my mother crying in front of a computer screen. She told me the iconic Toomer's Trees have been poisoned and are projected to die within the year. The same trees that have been rooted for what was 80 years at the time that my sisters and I grew up throwing toilet paper in ever since we could remember. As a strong, defensive Auburn alumna, my mom, as well as every Auburn fan I knew, held the trees close as a reminder of the traditions we hold as an Auburn Family. All of the sudden, they were gone. Every Auburn fan knows the name Harvey Updyke and they shutter to hear it, remembering the phone call to the Paul Finebaum show that gloomy afternoon. But with the announcement of the trees making their long-awaited comeback this month, I can't help but want to explain what the trees really symbolize for Auburn. Some speculate that the trees hold a conspiracy for last year's football season. Two trees equal two miracles in Jordan-Hare; the Georgia catch tipped to Ricardo Lewis' hands for the winning touchdown and then the 109-yard punt return by Chris Davis to win the Iron Bowl. Once the trees gave us their two, we lost the national championship. The biggest tradition Auburn is known for is rolling the trees after a football victory, but that's not all the trees are for. Last year, the Auburn Family faced the loss of one of our most beloved tight ends, Philip Lutzenkirchen. We honored his life the best way we knew how; we rolled what was left of the trees at 4:30 p.m., representing his jersey number. Of course without these trees in place, the city of Auburn had to provide an outlet for fans to celebrate, or in Lut'z case, commemorate happenings in the community. In my opinion, I think they did a great job. There's not much that could be done, but the addition of wires strung over the Magnolia and College Street intersection illustrated a beautiful image when covered with toilet paper that hung down and brushed the streets. But to me, and everyone else who is as passionate about Auburn tradition as I am, knows that the trees mean so much more. I can't count the times I've heard "What's the big deal? They're just trees." Here's the big deal: these trees symbolize everything we are as a university: Strong, ever-growing, progressive, deeply rooted, spirited and connected with our community, and their comeback will be a refreshing reminder of these traits.

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2014/11/opinion-theyre-not-just-trees-theyre-tradition

Equestrian rider finds passion in taking photos of the team

(01/27/15 7:00pm)

At just about any Auburn equestrian event this year, there is a brunette running back and forth between the rings or crouching under a fence trying to capture a good angle of the competitors with her camera. She is wearing the same tall boots and uniform of the Western riders. Her name is Danielle Long, and she wears the boots and attire because she is an Auburn equestrian rider, as well as the team's photographer. Long took on the extra role of taking her teammates' pictures her sophomore year, and the only time she puts the camera down is when it is her turn to compete for the Western team. Long found her passion in art and photography approximately the same time she got her first quarter horse at the age of 8 years old. Growing up around the horse-riding industry in Alaska, Long said she knows what to look for in her photos, which will eventually make their way to the teams' Facebook page or the Auburn athletics website. "Her photos are great," said head coach Greg Williams. "My wife says she could take a hundred photos of the same thing Danny takes one of, and Danny's is always better. Not just the quality, but Danny has a way of always seeing an angle, a light, something different. It's just the eye of a photographer." Long's passion for photography stems from a condition she has called autism spectrum disorder. ASD is classified as a neurodevelopment disorder, which is impairment of the growth and development of the brain or central nervous system. People are usually diagnosed with ASD in their early childhood. People with ASD can have a wide range of symptoms, which can include deficits in social communication and repetitive patterns of behavior. The senior majoring in fine arts was diagnosed with ASD her freshman year after extensive tests were performed through Auburn's psychology department. Many people who have ASD use their creative abilities as a means of communication and find it to be therapeutic, according to Long. "It is a very meditative and stress relieving thing for me," Long said. "I look for certain things. I love just being able to capture these random moments." Jennifer Delman of the hunt seat team said all her teammates try to get in Long's photos. "It just kind of brings us all together," Delman said. "That's kind of a role that no one before her had and she kind of created it on her own and took initiative. It's something we really enjoy." Delman said she fills in as the photographer when it is Long's turn to ride in the events. "We always have a joke about how when she puts pictures up on Facebook you can always tell which ones I took and which ones she took because hers are always so much better," Delman said. "I know after meets I'll keep checking Facebook to see when Danny is going to put the pictures up because they are so nice to look at." Long said her favorite equestrian moment was taking photographs when Auburn equestrian won the National Championship in 2013. Long was taking photographs at the other end of the arena in Waco, Texas, when former teammate Cheyenne Cracraft sealed the championship against Georgia in a ride-off competition. Long said candid is her favorite type of photography now. She enjoys it because people have no idea she is shooting them. "One of my favorite things is to see people be happy about something I took and noticed about them," Long said. Whether this season ends in another national championship or doesn't go the way the Tigers want it to, the Auburn equestrian team will have Long's photographs to look forward to at the end of the meets.

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2015/01/equestrian-rider-finds-passion-in-taking-photos-of-the-team

Alabama Oyster Social to take place at Acre Restaurant

(01/26/15 5:00pm)

Oysters, beer, bourbon, fresh foraged foods and scholarship money will all be on the table Jan. 30 at the Alabama Oyster Social. Acre restaurant staff is partnering with the Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory to host this event, and the proceeds will benefit the laboratory. "We're donating the money in the form of a scholarship for the professors at the shellfish laboratory and the students going into the studies of stable shellfish harvesting," said David Bancroft, chef at Acre. The event will have six different chefs, Caleb Fischer, Jason Stanhope, Adam Evans, Rob McDaniel, Wesley True and Bancroft cooking oysters in different ways. They will prepare fried oysters, chargrilled oysters with garlic and parmesan, oyster stew with chickweed and smoked ham, poached oysters with ham hock broth, a raw oyster bar, different condiments, catfish from Auburn University fisheries and shrimp. "After, obviously, Katrina and the amount of oyster farmers that were struggling, (we were) seeing the progress that they've made over the last few years and watching them with their sustainable oyster research," Bancroft said. "(I was) speaking with a few other chefs, and everybody just really agreed that it was something we wanted to highlight, such an awesome resource to have off the coast of Alabama." Bill Walton, associate professor in the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, said that they will use the money for student research so they can focus on the questions that oyster farmers have. They have been looking at what is working in other places for oyster farmers and developing their own methods for better oyster farming. "Because our waters are so productive, the oysters grow fast, but so does everything else and so baskets that you're raising the oysters in will get covered up with seaweed and barnacles," Walton said. "You're spending so much time keeping them clean ... that you just weren't going to make any money." Walton said they recommend growing oysters by taking them out of the water to dry for a period of time because the oysters will survive but the things growing on them will not. Each of the oyster farmers providing oysters for the social raises their oysters in different waters and has oysters with a different taste. "Oysters, they take on the flavor of where they're grown," Walton said. "Even though they're all Alabama oysters, they're grown in three different locations. They're going to get a variety of taste." Cullan Duke, oyster farmer off the west coast of Dauphin Island, said there is a historical difference in oysters from different regions of the country. "The best part is just kind of seeing what everyone has going on in Alabama and realizing we can produce world class oysters right here in Alabama," Duke said. "What we're doing that's different is having individually named oysters from specific different kinds of microenvironments that have different tastes." They will also have drinks from Back Forty Beer, Cathead Distillery, Sazerac Bourbon, International Wine and Pinnacle Imports. The event will start at 6 p.m. and are $57.92. "My grandfather is a fish farmer in Alabama with Auburn University, and I have a brother who is a graduate of the fisheries program," Bancroft said. "Working with Auburn University fisheries has always been something important for our family."

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2015/01/alabama-oyster-social-to-take-place-at-acre-restaurant

Alabama's Mr. Football is versatile addition to Tigers' recruiting class

(02/24/15 12:40am)

With senior running backs Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant graduating, Auburn's stable of playmakers in the backfield seemed to be running dry -- that is, until the Tigers knew they would be getting the best player in the state of Alabama to call the Plains his home for the next few years. Kerryon Johnson. A name that has stricken fear into the hearts of high schools across the state for the past four years will more than likely elicit the same reaction across the SEC and possibly the nation. The star tailback from Madison Academy (Madison) committed to the Tigers in April 2014 and hasn't wavered since. He was named Mr. Football in the state of Alabama recently, and with his commitment, Auburn will have the past three Mr. Footballs on the roster for 2015 in Johnson, Roc Thomas and presumed starting quarterback Jeremy Johnson. Johnson played on the varsity squad at Madison Academy for five years, blazing a trail through the high school ranks during his career, one that saw him capture three consecutive state titles, the last of which the Mustangs claimed in December 2014 in Auburn. His high school coach, Eric Cohu, said he thinks Johnson has a chance to be special. "(Johnson) is a lot like the guy you give the basketball to for the last shot of the game to win it, and so he's going to be the guy -- if used properly -- that will really change the dynamic of the team because he's a mismatch nightmare for defenses," Cohu said. "He's really a different-style player, one that just comes along every now and then." Johnson played multiple positions in high school, spending time at tailback, slot receiver and even on defense as a safety, which he was positioned at during the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 2. Regardless, the coaching staff at Auburn has been set on Johnson playing offense during his time on the Plains. "He's a guy that could probably play four or five positions, but in this offense, I think he's a guy that fits perfectly as a guy that can play tailback," said Jason Caldwell of AUTigers.com. "He can play as a true running back, but he has the skills to play wide receiver, so he can give you a lot of different options on offense, and that's probably going to be his strength." This season Johnson will vie for playing time with two talented backs in front of him in Roc Thomas and Jovon Robinson, but Johnson may simply be too talented to keep on the bench. "I think Kerryon is a special player, and I don't think you can keep special players -- special talents like him -- on the bench for long," said Rivals.com's Bryan Matthews. "I definitely think Kerryon's going to play as a true freshman, and if he plays and plays well, I think he'll earn more playing time as the season goes on." As Signing Day rapidly approaches, plenty of recruits are deciding which school they will spend their next few years at, but Johnson has been solid to Auburn, never reconsidering his commitment. "Kerryon's smart, savvy, efficient," Cohu said. "I think his early commitment was based on him making a decision, and wanting to focus on his senior year of high school and not have as many distractions. After his pretty thorough look at several unofficial visits to four or five schools, he made a decision based on what he felt like was the best thing for his career for the future." If everything goes according to plan, Auburn's coaching staff will sleep easy as well. The same can't be said for Auburn's future opponents.

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2015/02/alabamas-mr-football-is-versatile-addition-to-tigers-recruiting-class

Auburn's connections to Paris shooting

(12/24/15 6:55pm)

"Je suis Charlie," French for "I am Charlie," has become a slogan around the world to those showing solidarity with Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine in Paris whose staff was attacked by two masked gunmen Jan. 7. Isabelle Kallenberg, senior in French and microbiology, said she was studying abroad in France during the attack. Kallenberg said she arrived back in Paris from Germany approximately two hours after the incident. "It definitely shook me up," Kallenberg said. "We didn't want to go out, and I didn't feel safe going to public places." On Jan. 9, Kallenberg and her sister were at a coffee shop as victims were held hostage at Hyper Cacher, a kosher grocery store, approximately five blocks away. She said she heard police sirens outside. Despite the attacks, Kallenberg said the support for France was a breath of fresh air. "I think I was really in awe by the fraternity you could see in (France) and the support that they received from adjacent nations and the United States," Kallenberg said. "Despite all the horrible things that go on in the world, it was really nice to see the other side -- the silver lining." Samia Spencer, professor emerita of French and former honorary consul of France in Alabama, said the incidents in France were a wake-up call. "In a way, it's tragic, it's awful, but, for many, it's not totally unexpected," Spencer said. Spencer was also in France when the shooting took place. Spencer said she was about to leave the house to meet a friend when her friend called, sobbing, and said, "They murdered my friends." Spencer's friend knew some of the cartoonists and writers at Charlie Hebdo. Evelyne Bornier, French professor, said French people tend to provoke to ellicit a reaction out of others. "It was extreme to publish this when you know you're putting your life at risk and putting other people's lives at risk," Bornier said. "By the same token, freedom of speech is freedom of speech. You should be able to express yourself." Spencer said the cover of the latest issue of Charlie Hebdo sent the right message. "There's nothing offensive about the cover," Spencer said. "It's actually quite the opposite. It shows the Prophet crying that people are using his name to commit murder, so he is sad that he is being used to kill. Furthermore, he is claiming, 'All is forgiven,' and carrying a sign saying, 'Je suis Charlie,' to express his support for freedom of the press." From a French culture perspective, Bornier said French people are resilient in difficult times. "If you stop living, then the terrorists get what they want," Bornier said. "By remaining stern and keeping your head up, you show them that they don't win, that you're strong."

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2015/12/auburns-connections-to-paris-shooting

Four Badgers not named Melvin Gordon to know for the Outback Bowl

(02/25/15 6:19pm)

With 2,336 yards, 26 touchdowns and a Heisman ceremony to his name, the talent of Melvin Gordon is likely no secret to Auburn fans. Gordon receives just under 24 carries per game and will most certainly be priority one for interim defensive coordinator Charlie Harbison and the Auburn defense. But the Big 10 runner ups aren't a one-horse show. With the Outback Bowl lingering just a few short days away, here are four other Badgers Auburn fans should keep an eye on: Joel Stave 2014 has been a bit of an enigma for Joel Stave. A productive starter a year ago, the junior quarterback's season got off to a rocky start when he was benched prior to the Badgers' opener against LSU with a case of the "yips." A "mental block" cost Stave four games before he regained the starting job from Tanner McEvoy in Week 5 against Northwestern. Even after he regained the starter's job, the junior quarterback has struggled, completing just 53.6 percent of his passes and failing to top 225 passing yards in a single game this season. Each of Wisconsin's losses with Stave under center saw the quarterback toss three interceptions (Northwestern, Ohio State). Despite the initial struggles, Wisconsin won its final seven games of the regular season with Stave at the helm, and the junior threw just one interception in that span. With the dynamic backfield of Gordon and Corey Clement at his side, Stave is clearly the secondary option in the Badgers' offense. If Auburn can jump out to an early lead, it could force Stave into uncomfortable situations, and possibly more turnovers. Michael Caputo The Badgers spent a large portion of 2014 ranked in the top 10 in most major defensive categories. A 59-0 drubbing against Ohio State in the Big 10 Championship Game did damage to those statistics, but the consistency of players such as junior safety Michael Caputo helped make this a top 16 unit in all four major defensive categories (scoring, passing, rushing and total defense). Caputo leads the Badgers with 99 total tackles on the season and is considered a "glue" guy in the Badgers secondary. The Badgers' secondary has just four interceptions on the season, but solidarity from Caputo and the rest of the defensive backs has the Badgers ranked No. 5 nationally in pass defense, allowing just 164.3 yards per game. Derek Landisch One of the biggest question marks facing Wisconsin coming into the season was replacing 2013 Big Ten defensive player of the year Chris Borland. While it may not be possible to replicate Borland, senior linebacker Derek Landisch has stepped in admirably in 2014, leading the team in sacks with eight. Landisch also sits just a half tackle for loss shy of the team lead at 15. The Badgers will be faced with the tough task of stopping the SEC leading rusher Cameron Artis-Payne alongside the dynamic Nick Marshall and Corey Grant. Last time out, the Badgers allowed Ohio State to rush for 301 yards as a team. Landisch is certain to be a key to Wisconsin if they plan to regroup. Vince Biegel It's difficult to choose between Biegel and fellow linebacker Marcus Trotter for the final spot, but we'll give the edge to Biegel for his more than memorable hair. Biegel's already impressive mullet has been accented with the Chevrolet logo ahead of the Outback Bowl. But this linebacker is more than just the hair flair.

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2015/02/four-badgers-not-named-melvin-gordon-to-know-for-the-outback-bowl

Year in review: December

(12/31/14 4:30pm)

1. Johnson fired, Muschamp hired December was a month of change for Auburn football, as defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson was fired one day after the team's 55-44 loss to Alabama. Following several weeks of rumors about Johnson's replacement, former Florida head coach Will Muschamp was announced as the team's new defensive coordinator. This will be the third Auburn coaching job for Muschamp, whose resume includes defensive coordinator at Texas as well as working under Alabama head coach Nick Saban during his time at LSU. 2. Auburn to play in Outback Bowl Following an 8-4 regular season, No. 19 Auburn will take on No. 18 Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl in Tampa. This will be the fourth time Auburn and Wisconsin face off. The game will air Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. on ESPN2. 3. Freshman football player killed at Tiger Lodge apartment complex Auburn football player and freshman Jakell Mitchell was shot and killed at the Tiger Lodge apartment complex Sunday, Dec. 14. Mitchell died at East Alabama Medical Center after suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to Lee County Coroner Bill Harris. The Auburn Police Division arrested and charged Markale Hart of Camp Hill with Mitchell's murder Sunday, Dec. 14. The apartment complex is the same complex where Desmonte Leonard shot and killed three people in 2012, including two Auburn football players. 4. Coates to enter NFL Draft Wide receiver Sammie Coates announced Monday, Dec. 15 he will forgo a final year of eligibility and declare for the NFL draft. Coates had four touchdowns this season and is rated as the overall No. 40 prospect and seventh-ranked wide receiver in his class, according to NFLDraftScout.com. Coates graduated Saturday, Dec. 13, and said he would have stayed to play another season for the Tigers if he had more classes to take. He will play for the Tigers in the Outback Bowl against Wisconsin. 5. Dismukes named first All-American team by AP Auburn center Reese Dismukes was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press Tuesday, Dec. 16, and the Associated Football Coaches Association Wednesday, Dec. 17. He is the first Auburn football player to be a consensus All-American pick since 2010. Dismukes will also received the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the country's best center, Jan. 11 in Lincoln, Nebraska. A four-year starter for Auburn, Dismukes will play his final game for Auburn in the Outback Bowl against Wisconsin.

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2014/12/year-in-review-december

Former NASA astronaut Jim Voss named 2014 commencement speaker

(12/12/14 1:00pm)

Jim Voss, 1972 graduate and former NASA astronaut, will be sharing a lifetime of wisdom and experience with the class of 2014 Saturday, Dec. 13. "Jim was an astronaut of the shuttle era when there was more science in that program than there had been in earlier programs," said James R. Hansen, aerospace history professor and author of the Neil Armstrong biography "First Man." "He's an engineer and his passion was for flying, like most astronauts. They come from a background in aviation and, through their engineering work, Auburn's had an outstanding aerospace engineering program." Voss grew up in Opelika before coming to Auburn, where he studied aerospace engineering while in ROTC. A mission specialist on board the space shuttles Atlantis, Endeavor and Discovery, Voss conducted experiments inside and outside of the International Space Station. After retiring from the NASA astronaut program, Voss started a second career as a teacher, even instructing a few aerospace engineering classes at Auburn, Hansen said. Hansen said he suspects Voss, his friend and former colleague, will focus on the importance of education in his speech. "Auburn is still a part of his life," Hansen said. "He clearly has a message about a boy who grew up in Opelika, Alabama, who dreams of going into space and gets to go to the International Space Station. There will be an emphasis on education. Without Auburn, Jim Voss wouldn't have become an engineer, wouldn't have become an astronaut. Just what Auburn did for him in terms of education, maturing and becoming a professional." In the past, Tim Jackson, Bo Jackson and Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey have shared their experience and wisdom with graduating students. Director of Campus and Community Events Teresa Whitman-McCall said the graduation committee looks for someone who can provide a charge of action for the graduating students. "A large majority of our graduates are about to walk into a job for the first time and some are still looking," Whitman-McCall said. "More than anything, we just want them to offer up that great piece of advice that perhaps they got when they were at Auburn, or in their lifetime, that would inspire that graduate to become an even greater person than they already are." Commencement speakers are compensated for travel expenses through the graduation committee, but the figure for Voss' trip is unavailable, Whitman-McCall said. "The trend is to get a graduate that's done something people can appreciate," said Jackson Pruett, SGA executive vice president of initiatives and senior in political science. "An Auburn man or woman sharing their experiences from the University. Someone who's very accomplished and has a unique background that's going to provide share some wisdom for these recent graduates."

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2014/12/former-nasa-astronaut-jim-voss-named-2014-commencement-speaker