Thursday, April 25, 2013

Happy Birthday Jacqueline Saile!!



Name:  Jacqueline SaileStudent’s Name: Todd TroxellStudent’s Graduation Year: 2016Your Birthday: April 25th 1985LinkedIn Link: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jacqueline-saile/4a/5a4/a37

-Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I grew up and lived in Cincinnati, Ohio my entire life.  I graduated from the University of Cincinnati's DAAP (Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning) Program in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design.  Upon entering my last year of the program, I began creating, what would blossom into a life long vision.  Almost 5 years later, I continue to work on developing my own line of women's scuba diving performance apparel.  Launching the initial collection via the web, my goal is to eventually own a dive center and research facility where the collection would also be available.
Todd and I met at UC in 2008.  Todd was actually the one who introduced me to scuba diving my last year of school which completely changed my life.  Todd and I have a 15 month old son namedTryden.  We have been engaged for about 5 years.  Prior to entering medical school Todd was in a bad car accident that left him with a broken back, foot, hand, and many other injuries.  He spent months in a wheelchair and had to learn how to walk again.  Once we completed that chapter we found out we were pregnant with our son.  One would naturally assume, what better of a time to finally have the wedding?!  Since we had spent so long holding out for what we had initially planned (a small, destination wedding) we decided to wait until we could have what we had been waiting for.  Which brings us to now: in medical school, even less money, and no time.  So the point to this story is....I think we are just permanently engaged?!?!

*What is the craziest thing you've ever done?  
I went canyoning in Interlaken, Switzerland.  We hiked up the Swiss Alps and came down via the canyons that were created between the mountains.  Jumping off cliffs, thru waterfalls, repelling, sliding, everything and anything you had to do...there was only one way down!!

*What was the best job you ever had?
Ironically I didn't even get paid....it was a volunteer position that was very hard to obtain.  I was a volunteer scuba diver at the Newport Aquarium.  This was such an amazing experience.  We had to learn everything about the aquarium: facts about the tanks and animals, how to prepare all of the food, and what each animal's mandatory diet was. We had to learn how to dive each tank, feed all the animals, interact with them, and then clean the tanks.  Each tank had its technical challenges with the environmental props and the constant awareness of what was all around you while you were working in the space.  Each tank had its own personality. It was fun to get to know the individual animals but also to learn how to interact with them as a group and making sure they were all fed properly.  After feedings we would interact with the animals and then clean the tanks.  Todd and I became the go to "fish extractors" and we wrangled a huge Pacu to the surface who had "popeye".  The eye was removed, a marble put in its place and returned to the tank happily.  Another morning on our walk thru of the aquarium I noticed some very tiny baby fish huddled in a corner.  We had to go in and rescue as many as possible otherwise they would have been eaten.  It was an amazing privilege to have had this opportunity and I miss it dearly.

*What is one thing most people don't know about you?

I went backpacking with a friend across Europe.  In three months we officially stayed in 12 countries and 30 cities.  Traveling primarily by train we saw much of the European countryside.

*Where is the most amazing place you've ever been?

So hard to answer this question, so many come to mind, for different reasons.
A small, Greek island called Naxos was literally a paradise I will never forget.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Happy Birthday Jackie Hood!!



Name: Jackie Hood        
Student’s Name: Blake Hood
Student’s Graduation Year: 2014
Your Birthday: April 16
Blog: http://jackieandblake.wordpress.com/
-Tell us a little bit about yourself:
          I grew up in Milwaukee, WI and went to college at Saint Louis University where I met my husband Blake.  We got married in June 2010 and moved to Kirksville in July.  I teach a full day pre-school at the Early Childhood Learning center and I love it! Giraffes are my all time favorite animal.  We have really enjoyed staying in Kirksville for rotations and I am super excited to be on the board next year! 

What are your top five favorite things to do? Run (especially on trails), hang out/chat with friends and family, read, bake and I’m learning to play the guitar which has been fun.
What is the craziest thing you've ever done? Get a tattoo (shamrock on my foot for Irish Dancing)
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Ireland, all of my ancestry can be traced back to Ireland (100% Irish!) and I have never been, when I do go I plan on exploring the whole country.  After that I would head to Africa and stay in a hotel where giraffes peek their heads in the windows and say hi. This hotel really does exist and it is on my bucket list!  
What is your favorite movie? When Harry met Sally OR Finding Nemo – I could literally watch either one over and over again and never get sick of it! (I am so excited for Finding Dory in 2 years!!)
What was the best job you ever had? My current job! I love teaching and spending my day with children. 
What was one of your favorite vacations? Our honeymoon, it was so relaxing spending every day on the beach!
What is your favorite holiday and why? Thanksgiving, the most fun holiday to teach about (do not have to be worried about being politically correct) and it’s a fun family holiday without the pressure/stress of gift giving.  A close second would have to be St. Patrick’s Day, however it was more fun back when I was still dancing.
What is your favorite season and why? The inbetween seasons – fall and spring, the best seasons for running outside!