FAST 2013
APPLY HERE
Informationals: Tuesday and Wednesday
Rudder 302, 8-9:15 pm
Applications Due Friday at 5 pm in Koldus!
Pictures by Orin Optiglot
ABOUT
Our Purpose
To develop leaders among freshmen through teamwork, communication, planning, delegation, and responsibility while placing an emphasis on Aggie Traditions. It is the goal of this organization that these freshmen will go on to spread the Aggie Traditions by taking leadership roles in organizations on campus that have this same desire to share the Aggie Spirit.
What is FAST?
Freshmen Aggies Spreading Traditions (FAST) is a medium sized FLO which accepts 54 freshmen members and is run by 3 Junior Directors and 15 sophomore staff members. We are large enough to make a big impact on campus, but small enough that each member has the chance to get to know their fellow FASTers on a more personable level. In FAST we focus on building freshmen leadership through tradition spreading and service events. FAST also serves as a support system which aids in the acclimation of freshmen into this great university.
What we do
FAST has weekly meetings on Mondays at 6:30pm in Rudder 308. These interactive meetings are composed of insightful speakers which engage our members in exciting and knowledgeable topics, and keep everyone updated on the various FAST activities that go on throughout the year. Once in FAST you will be placed into one of six subcommittees:
Traditions
Service
Big Give
Conference
Social Affairs
Enhancement
Each committee is in charge of their own specific freshmen organized and run activities throughout the year. Some of the big events that we do every year include a Spring Break trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama, Rock the Ring Program where we raise money and give away Aggie Rings, Fall/Winter/Spring Retreats to various places, Shack-a-thon, Relay for Life, and many other fun and exciting events.
Why Should I Join FAST?
There are many reasons to join this amazing FLO. FAST is a great way to develop leadership skills and learn how to work well with others in all types of environments. FAST is a great way to meet new people and instantly make 54 great friendships and network with a diverse group of students from all different colleges and backgrounds. In FAST you will have the chance to spread A&M traditions and spirit in new and exciting ways. If you decide to join FAST, you will have the greatest time of your life!
STAFF
Director: Jordan Fernandez
I am a Junior Honors Biology major from Lewisville, TX. My absolute favorite sport is Baseball, but I love playing any and every sport. I am a huge movie fan and collect all of my ticket stubbs; I think Im up to over a 100 now! If Im not playing sports, watching a movie, or hanging out with FASTers, Im most likely in my room or on the 5th floor of Evans Library studying. This past summer I took the MCAT and studied about 350 hours for it! I just about lost my mind. Lol. My favorite A&M traditions are Silver Taps and Muster because I think the way we honor our fellow Aggies is truly incredible. My goals in life are to get into medical school and become doctor (not sure what kind yet), oh and marry a beautiful, smart, funny, athletic Fightin Texas Aggie Woman (Whoop!). As director this will be my 3rd year in this amazing organization, and I cant wait to meet and work with the new freshmen of FAST 2013!
Assistant Director: Melissa McDonald
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Major: Communication w/ a dance minor
Music is my life but above that I love to dance. Im a bit crazy and I never know the volume of my voice. I love Mexican food or well tex-mex and I will never move out of Texas for that reason. I love people and love to be with people all the time. I'm living with three guys, this could be interesting. I love jammin out in my car but it's pretty painful for the people around me because I'm a terrible singer. And last but not least my favorite phrase... "Live, Laugh, Love, Dance"
Executive director: Jeremy Horstman
Hometown: Southmayd, TX
Major: English
Minor: Theater?
I love teeth. Don't ask me to mow or do the dishes... I hate it! I think cat pee is the worst smell in the world. I have a HUGE sweet tooth. If I were a Disney character, I'd be Woody. I LOVE queso! My cat, Tabitha, is my baby. My favorite movie is "Dumb and Dumber." I really like scary movies: my favorite is "The Hitcher" with Sophia Bush. My favorite book I've had to read for school is, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian." The best book I've read for fun: "The Art of Racing in the Rain."
Counselors:
Alix Weaver
Major: Accounting
Hometown: Austin, TX
I live in nike shorts. I was Elle Woods in a different life. Dr. Pepper is my one true love. If you grill me a steak,you'll be my favorite person ever. "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." Psalm 34:14
Arturo Lee
BORN: MEXICO CITY
HOMETOWN: THE WOODLANDS
MAJOR: GENERAL STUDIES
Im an albino Mexican, that used to race cars (go-karts), loves scary movies (and most cinematic experiences, has gotten his foot stuck inside an escalator, and is TERRIBLY scared of eyes...(its called ommetaphobia kids! )p.s. I love to draw, look at artwork etc! if i wasn't attending A&M i would probably be studying art.
Billy Martin
Name: William (Billy) Edwin Martin IV
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Martial Status: Single
Hobbies: Djing, Skimboarding, and being involved
Favorite Quote: "No brains, No headaches","Everybody Wang Chung Tonight"
Major: Biology
RandomFact: I have cracked my head open twice and been to the ER 4 times B)
Blake Ferguson
Born: Fort Worth, TX
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Favorite Sport: Diving!
Favorite Tradition: Muster
Celebrity Crush: Zooey Deschanel no questions about it
Inspirational Quotes: I have not failed. Ive just found ten thousand ways that wont work. Thomas Edison
Perhaps the greatest of men are those who never seek greatness at all, but who personify the virtues which posterity calls great.Anonymous
Favorite FAST 2012 memory: Fish Bowl Mishaps (ask me)
Brittany Graf
Hometown: Las Vegas/ Colorado Springs/ Rockwall, TX
Major: General Studies
Im awkwardly social if thats at all possible. I love to laugh even if its at myself. Im pretty much the clumsiest person youll ever meet. I enjoy an espresso in the morning and Im obsessed with peanut butter honey sandwiches. My family and friends mean the world to me. I pretty much cant get enough of them. I have the ability to misplace/lose everything. One week I accomplished to simultaneously lose or rather misplace my id, credit card and cell phone. I recovered only two of the following items. One time I flushed my keys down the toilet, but got them back a week later. I still have the clicker on my key chain dont judge me.
Brooke West
Born:San Antonio,TX
Major: Marketing
If you were a superhero/villain who would you be: Im gonna go ahead and say that Harry Potter is a superhero.
If you were a disney character who would you be: Belle...she's smart, gorgeous, and courageous, and she knows it's what's on the inside that counts (and then she gets lucky when he turns into a hot hunk).
Favorite song/artist/type of music: This is tough! Depends on the day and the mood. The only stuff I don't really do is the hard core rap and rock.
Inspirational quote: A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could. ~ Unknown
Bryan McCollum
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Favorite Sport: Baseball
If I was a superhero I would be: Mr. Fantastic
If I was a disney character I would be: Alladin
Favorite tradition: Muster
Celebrity Crush: Leighton Meester
Favorite Song: Fix you by Coldplay
Favorite Quote: "Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise; risking more than others think is safe; dreaming more than others think is practical and expecting more than others think is possible." -Anonymous
Favorite FAST 2012 memory: My favorite FAST 2012 memory was our spring break trip to gulf shores!
Favorite food:Steak
Derek Bien
What doth it do? Im Derek. I was born in Ft. Worth. My favorite sport is Rock Band 2. Im a general studies major focusing on industrial distribution. If I could be a superhero I would be Master Chief. On the other hand, if I were a villain I would be Darth Vader. If possible to be a Disney character I would be Zac Efron. My favorite tradition is Howdy! hands down. Reese Witherspoon is my celebrity crush. However, Mark Hoppus is my infatuation. If I had to choose a favorite song I would most likely go with Not Now by Blink-182. Blink is also my favorite band of all time. I really enjoy any music with a guitar. My favorite FAST 2012 memory is crashing girls night with my civil war painted on beard. If I had a million dollars I would create my own tv show.
May the Force be with you Ben Kenobi
Bond, James Bond J.B. himself
Those quotes inspire me to be the best I can be everyday,all day.
Emily Stefano
Born: Houston,TX
Major - B.S. in Psychology with a minor in neuroscience
Favorite childhood memory - One time my friends and I filled a carved out pumpkin with gasoline and shot it with a shot gun. It was an awesome Halloween...
If you were a superhero/villain who would you be -Poison Ivy... she can makes plants grow and seduce men and stuff.
If you were a disney character who would you be - Pocahontas... she can sing with all the voices of the mountain and she can paint with all the colors of the wind.. which is pretty impressive.
Favorite tradition - pulling out
Celebrity crush - Shia LaBeouf
Favorite song/artist/type of music - anything Jack Johnson-ish
Favorite FAST 2012 memory - During Big Give in Galveston... running around the abandoned school we stayed at and clearing a house with a jungle in the backyard... we found some interesting things among the foliage...
Favorite food - peanut butter, diet coke, and parmesan cheese... although preferably not together..
Kirstin Heyen
Born:Bradenton, Florida
Hometown:Flower Mound, TX
Major:Education (wellasap!!)
Favorite sport/ activity: Volleyball and Theatre
Celebrity crush: Matthew McConaughey
Inspirational quotes: I guess if you dont jump, youll never know if you can fly
FavoriteFAST 2012 memory: Spring Retreat scavenger hunt!!!!
Favorite food: Chicken Fingers and French Fries with Honey Mustard
Morgan Henry
Major: Engineering?
Hometown(s): McKinney, TX/St. Louis, MO
I can rank chicken tenders from any restaurant. I'm a fourth generation AGGIE! My closet is color coded. I can make a FRIENDS reference out of anything. Team Edward. I believe in love at first sight. Flamingos are my favorite. I never take showers, only baths. And I think ketchup should be extinct.
Stevie Rodriguez
Home Town: Sabinal, Tx (near San Antonio)
Major: Not sure yet lol
Born: Jesus Esteban Rodriguez on July 31,1989 at Uvalde, TX
Fave Sport: Football
Fave Childhood memory: Every Friday night when the lights came on at the football stadium. As a kid it was magical knowing that any given night anything could happen.
Superhero: Superman, duh ha
Disney character: Aladdin cuz he gets Jasmine
Fave Tradition: Silver Taps/Muster
Celebrity Crush: Megan Fox, hands down!
Favorite song/artist/type of music- New Divide- Linkin Park; Also like Lil' Wayne
"Friendship is like peeing your pants.........Everyone can see it but only you can feel its warmth!!!"
If you had a million dollars what would you do- Buy a date with Megan Fox lol
Class Agents:
Erik Gutierrez
Hometown:Huntsville, tx
Major: General Studies/Information Systems
Hey! My name is Erik and I love FAST! I am a half-cuban with absolutely no tan. I own many guns but my favorite would have to be my AK-47. Huntsville is in the country so I hunt and fish often. Some of the best times in my life have come when I have been around a fire with my friends. I freaking love ice cream, especially any kind with cinnamon in it. I like movies but I don't got to the movies as much as I'd like. I was a counselor in Fish Camp, Session A Kane. Can't wait for the fish of 2013!
Ryan DeSalvo
I'm a sophomore Chemical Engineering major from Tyler, Texas. I am a huge fan of Aggie football, yes, even now, and I have been my whole life. Game day is my favorite day of the week, and my favorite season is football season. I have also played soccer since I could walk, and it is one of my favorite things to do.
Sarah Babin
Hometown: Beaumont, Texas
Major: Business (Finance)
I love to eat but I'm a terrible cook. I absolutely adore Texas A&M and all of its traditions. Very rarely am I ever unhappy, and I'm a sickeningly cheerful morning person. I love playing volleyball and soccer and absolutely cannot wait to meet FAST 2013!
COMMITTEES
Kirstin & Stevie
The Big Give Committee is responsible for a weekend long service project in the Spring and will also hold several other small service projects throughout the year. It is the newest addition to FAST. Events they plan include "The Big Give," and other minor projects. The Big Give Committee represents the integrity star of the Aggie Ring.
Led by Brittany & Blake
The Conference Committee is responsible for preparing for the annual FAST-track to Aggieland Conference for high school sophomores and juniors. The Conference Committee represents the shield of the Aggie Ring, which symbolizes the protection of the good reputation of Texas A&M.
Led by Brooke and Arturo
The Enhancement Committee's most important job is making sure FAST is the best organization that it can possibly be. They organize all FAST fundraisers, conduct evaluations, Parents Weekend Brunch and plan the FAST Spring Retreat. Enhancement represents the mind star on the Aggie Ring.
Led by Morgan & Bryan
The Service Committee plans all FAST outreach. Events they plan include an annual softball tournament to raise money for Lupus research, participating in Relay for Life, participating in Shack-a-thon for Habitat for Humanity, and other freshman led service projects. The Service Committee represents the body star of the Aggie Ring.
Led by Alix & Derek
The Social Affairs Committee plans and hosts all FAST social events and is also responsible for working with the other 11 FLOs as well as coordinating events with the rest of campus. Events they plan are FAST Holiday Parties, FLOlympics, FLO Crush Party and a Spring All FLO Event. The Social Affairs Committee represents the Emotional Poise star on the Aggie Ring.
Led by Billy & Emily
The Traditions Committee represents the spirit star on the Aggie Ring. TradComm plans events to spread traditions and raise awareness of lesser known tradtions. Also it is responisble for the Rock the Ring program meant to help a fellow Aggie purchase their ring.
Contact: Jordan Fernandez
Phone: 2147704567
Email: jordan2011_tamu.edu
