Lynn iPulse Student Newspaper

Maha Haddioui, junior, is taking small strides toward her dream of playing professional golf on the Ladie’s Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour. By holding the number one spot on the Lynn women’s golf team and several wins under her belt, she shows no signs of slowing down.
Haddioui, originally from Agadir, Morocco, had never touched a golf club until the age of thirteen. With the constant requests by professionals at the golf course where she and her parents would have lunch every Sunday and a final urge by her mother, Haddioui began to play.
“It wasn’t until I started to work with my swing coach, Jean-Marie Kazmierczak, when I began to realize what I really wanted to do with my life,” Haddioui said. “I then knew that I had a talent and my coach didn’t want me to waste it.”
Haddioui came to the United States with a desire to play golf and fulfill her education.
“America is the only place where you can do both things at once,” Haddioui expressed. “My parents wanted me to go to school in France, however I wouldn’t have been able to play golf there. I went online and found Lynn University; so I called the coach (Courtney Bibby) and I really liked her. When I moved here my freshman year it had been my first time in the country.”
Haddioui’s most memorable moment was last year when Lynn beat Florida Southern College in a team playoff.
“This is the first time I am a part of a real team.” Haddioui said. “I love everything about it and all the great team spirit we have on trips. We’re always rooting each other on and want one another to play well.”
After graduation, Haddioui would like to pursue a career on the LPGA tour and with three strong wins last year she is confident in her future.

STUDENTS ARE JUST ABOUT KIDS
Students Participate in Organization Tutoring Children

By AMY LYUS
Staff Writer

Just About Kids (JAK) is a student organization in which any students who wish to be involved take the time to tutor kids at a local elementary school and are involved with projects such as Fall Festival coming up on Monday, Oct. 27.
JAK is a great organization for students who love spending time with kids, and have some spare time on their hands. When it comes to helping others, this organization is a great way to get started in the field.
Fall Festival is an event in which all the kids that are being tutored will come to the campus and activities will be held to entertain the children. Such activities will include: face painting, temporary tattoos, decorating pumpkins, balloon animals, as well.
For more information on getting involved in JAK, contact Ashley Royce at (203) 216-0895.
This is a great opportunity to show creativity and help the local community. It is never too late to join JAK. Meetings are held every other week on Wednesday and ideas for events are discussed at the meetings.

WOMEN’S SOCCER MARCHES ON
Women’s Soccer Keeps the Ball Rolling Towards Victory

Lynn women’s soccer team photo for the 2008 season. LU Photo.

By GENE PROUSNITZER
Staff Writer

So far this year, the Women’s Soccer team is continuing to have a very strong year, with an overall winning record. In fact, the team is having such a great year, they moved into a top-25 ranking for the first time in four years.
“When I saw the team reached a number 20 national ranking, I felt that might have been a little low based on how well I’ve seen them play,” said sophomore Jesse Kopp. “I think they have played at a level higher than I’ve seen most soccer teams play at before.”
Melissa Ortiz is leading the team in goals scored (14), assists (7) and shooting percentage (31.8%). The team is fourth in the league with 2.55 goals per game, third in goals allowed per game with 0.82 per game, third in saves with 50. Ortiz is also leading in the Sunshine State Conference in points (35), points per game (3.18), goals (14) and game-winning goals (4). Goalie Natalie Feller is second in the conference with a save percentage of 84.2%. Feller is third in the conference with 48 saves, and second with 4.36 saves per game.
“Melissa Ortiz is playing lights out,” Kopp said. “I think she’s stepping up big for a freshman. I think she’s pushing for an all-conference selection, as is Natalie.”
The women are starting a three-game home stand, starting on Oct. 18, before playing in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament, which starts Nov. 4.

ON THE ROAD TO TRUE SUCCESS
Stuart James Hayers Star on the Soccer Field and in the Classroom

Stuart James Hayers takes charge in a game. LU Photo.

By MEGAN MANGONE
Staff Writer

Stuart James Hayers, graduate student, is not only a stand out soccer player, but also a dedicated student in the classroom. He is working toward his master’s degree while finishing out his soccer career at Lynn.
The Watford, England native has been playing soccer since the age of 9. Introduced to the game by his father and grand dad, it soon became the ticket to his education.
Hayers first attended the Welsh Sports Institute in Cardiff, Wales. Here he studied sports coaching until an opportunity presented itself to come to America and play competitively for Lynn University.
Hayers finished his bachelor’s degree in business last spring. He is now continuing his education to obtain his master’s in business with a specialization in financial management.
“I still had one year of eligibility left to play soccer and this year we have such a strong team and a really great group of people,” said Hayers. “We also have a new coach this year who has given me the opportunity to be an assistant coach next year while I finish out my master’s degree.”
Hayers has tremendous expectations for his future.
“I would like to play soccer at the highest level possible and make some money doing it,” said Hayers. “After I’ve achieved this I would like to establish myself in the business world and become an executive to a global entity.”
Hayers has a bright future ahead of him and with the dedication and effort he puts forth, it is no question that he will succeed in whatever he chooses.

FROM CONCEPTION TO REALITY
Raquel Baez’s The Bench Diaries Comes to Life on Stage

Raquel Baez reviews her play before meeting with her cast. Staff Photo/Renee Ingrassia.

By RENEE INGRASSIA
Staff Writer

After three months of writing The Bench Diaries, Raquel Baez’s dream of seeing her own play in lights is coming true.
“The Bench Diaries” is a story about five people that reveal different parts of their life while sitting on a bench in a park. The revelations that these people face are revelations that make people think about real-life situations.
“My inspiration for the play came from human emotion and some of the situations we deal with,” said Baez.
Baez’s theater experience began with acting classes when she was 12. When she came to Lynn she participated in the 24-hour theatre project followed by some roles in a few independent films by students. Baez is also participating in this semester’s Broadway performance class.
“The reason I decided to write my own play is I thought it would be wonderful to see my writing come to life and have the freedom to direct it exactly how I want it.”
The Bench Diaries stars Suzie Mcombe, Shannon Ray, Daniel Kaufler, Daniel Telusma, Ryan Gum and will be performed on the cafeteria stage on Oct. 16 and 18 at 8 p.m.
“For me, theater is the culmination of expressing human emotion in the rawest form. It’s one of the hardest challenges an actor faces, to be able to make the audience experience what you are portraying.”
Baez will be graduating in December with her degree in communication and a minor in drama.

RELAY FOR HOPE AND LIFE
A Personal Invitation to Participate in Relay For Life

Students at previous Relay for Life on Lynn’s Campus. LU Photo.

By TARYN HAMILL
Special to the iPulse

Hello Members of the Lynn University Community! It’s that time again! The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is being held on the Intramural Field on April 3 to April 4, 2009. With a Disney theme this year, we hope to raise $35,000 through the efforts of 35 teams.
We need faculty/staff teams to lead this cause into fund raising records unseen by the community; because we have more passion for life and giving than people can fathom. We need this unparalleled altruism to reach this year’s goal, and the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
Here’s what it is all about: Relay for Life is a life-changing event that brings together more than 3.5 million people to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer. The strength of survivors inspires others to continue to fight.
Remember loved ones lost to the disease. At Relay, people who have walked alongside people battling cancer can grieve and find healing.
We relay because we have been touched by cancer and desperately want to put an end to the disease.
It is so easy to participate! Simply access Lynn University’s personal Relay for Life website, www.relayforlife.org/lynnuniversityfl and register your team of 8-15 members. After providing the registration fee donation, all instructions will be given for how to participate in the event.
With your support and commitment, Lynn University has raised more than $60,000 for the fight against cancer over the last two years and we know that we will continue to relay until we find a cure.
Why does Lynn University relay? Because cancer is a word, not a sentence, and when you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope. We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight. The most important thing in illness is never to lose heart. Never, never, never give up because, you gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another, and the human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.
Confidence and hope surpass the physical, and once you choose hope, anything is possible.
We relay for those who cannot.
I am simply blown away by the amount of change each of you make in the lives of students, others, and each other every day. We simply need you.