Troy Heffron, Alan Jones, Will Damian, Robert Dolecki and Jon Rusch are the top five nominees for this year’s Homecoming Male Ambassador. One of the five will be voted by students and faculty members as Gold ambassador, to be announced Friday.

The five were first nominated by registered student organizations or campus organizations. They then filled out an application and were notified last May they had made top eight. Following was an interview process where five judges determined the top five.

“It’s neat seeing how we all came from different areas of campus and unique experiences,” Heffron said. “It’s a great honor to be able to represent CMU and be part of this tradition.”

The Greenville senior was nominated by the Volunteer Center’s Alternative Breaks program for which he is chairman.

Heffron said the program has helped him grow, understand diversity and increase his knowledge of social issues.

He is also involved in the Sports Management Association and is a resident assistant in Saxe Hall.

Jones was nominated by Kappa Alpha Psi. The Detroit senior said Kappa has been his outlet to do everything he has done in life and looks forward to the annual Homecoming festivities.

“Being Homecoming Ambassador is what I value and what I’m all about,” Jones said. “I am able to represent CMU and Homecoming to the level that it deserves.”

Jones also dedicates his time to Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates, is a RA in Herrig Hall, and is a part of Leadership Camp and Word Hammer.

Damian is the only non-senior nominee. The Holland native is in his third year at CMU.

He came into Leadership Camp as a high school senior and said the experience solidified his decision to attend CMU. He was chosen to be a facilitator as a freshman, and said his experience has influenced all his other involvements.

Damian was nominated by Larzelere Hall Council. He is a second-year RA for the hall and said he is grateful for the opportunity the hall has given him.

“To me, this means being able to stand up and say thank you to all the people I have interacted with here at CMU because they have all influenced me in some way,” Damian said. “I want to let them know their influence has real, tangible results.”

Dolecki, often introduced as “Rockin’ Robert,” is a senior from Farmington Hills. He is a Fabiano/Emmons/Woldt Hall Council nominee.

He is part of Sibs Weekend, for which he is PR co-chairman, and Leadership Safari, which he has been part of since being a participant freshman year. He also participates in various Alternative Breaks and hall council events.

“CMU has been a roller coaster experience with a lot of ups and downs,” Dolecki said. “I think it’s important for a Homecoming ambassador though, because it shows that once they’ve been knocked down, they haven’t stayed down.”

Reusch was nominated by Sigma Alpha Epsilon, of which he is president.

In addition to his fraternity, he dedicates his time to College 101, an alternative education program on campus. Reusch is also a Leadership Safari guide, a campus ambassador and is becoming a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.

“It’s just a blessing that we are all put in the position to be Homecoming ambassadors,” Reusch said. “I’m not any more special than any other person and I’m just rooting for all of us to have a good week.”

Voting for golden ambassador will be opened until Friday at vote.cmich.edu.

“I took something specific from each speaker,” Destine said. “For example, the speaker who overcame Tourette’s (Syndrome) message was tolerance and to live and let live.”

Destine said another speaker’s message taught the power of choice, while slam poets Kirk Nugent and Judea Archie-Walker taught about love. Destine said his experiences at Leadership Safari taught him a lot of things he never thought about before coming to college.

Sponsored by the Office of Residence Life and supported by the Leadership Institute, the 15th annual Leadership Safari started Saturday and is featuring more than 30 events, activities and performers. Included is the award-winning National Association of Campus Activities’ Entertainer of the Year Dave Coleman, comedians Eric O’Shea and Jessi Campbell, obstacle courses and picnics.

More than 1,800 students spent the week attending activities for the program.

Marine City freshman Emily Ward said the week-long activities at Safari made for an awesome experience.

“Everyone is so nice, works together and isn’t scared to get involved,” Ward said.

Ward’s favorite activity was the trust fall, despite feeling scared initially.

“I’m happy I did because it brought us all closer,” she said. “It makes you realize we’re all here for the same reason and can trust each other.”

Adrian freshman Haley Dunbar said she first decided to sign up for Safari to have a fresh start and meet new people.

“It’s been awesome — at first I started to get home sick — but everyday just gets better than the (last),” she said.

Dunbar said she also enjoyed the team games “sproom” and “ride that pony”, as well as her excursion.

“I love to dance, so my excursion, the hip hop hustle, was my favorite activity because we learned a dance routine,” she said.

Escanaba freshman Sara St. Ours said Safari was a good way to learn about campus and make a lot of friends. She said she also enjoyed the slam poets.

“The slam poets were really good,” St. Ours said. “I’ve never seen anything like that before, so it was really cool.”

All three of St. Ours’ roommates also participated in Leadership Safari.

“Leadership Safari was great,” Destine said. “Everyday is a dance party. We’re all a little tired in the morning, but it’s always a crazy party and crazy fun because there are just cool people here.”

Sponsored by the Office of Residence Life and supported by the Leadership Institute, the 15th annual Leadership Safari started Saturday and is featuring more than 30 events, activities and performers. Included is the award-winning National Association of Campus Activities’ Entertainer of the Year Dave Coleman, comedians Eric O’Shea and Jessi Campbell, obstacle courses and picnics.

“Too much excitement” caused Walled Lake freshman Dan Striks to lose his voice.

“Leadership Safari has been a blast so far,” he said. “It’s all about starting new, getting out and an endless amount of people.”

Dundee freshman Alyson Beland said she heard about Leadership Safari while attending Leadership Camp at CMU this past May.

“I love the big group feel, the openness, the positive attitudes and that there are no ‘Debbie downers’ here,” Beland said. “Leadership Safari is not just a way to meet friends, but to come out of your shell and show people you’re not afraid to step out of your comfort zone, too.”

Dani Hiar, Leadership Safari Coordinator, said Safari is a better way to kick-start a new experience and get people connected right away.

“It’s like a rite of passage,” Hiar said.

Leadership Safari is not just for freshmen. Hiar said 230 CMU students guide the freshmen throughout the week.

“Ninety percent (of guides) are doing it because they love the program, love CMU and want to give back,” said Hiar.

Saline senior Breana Boyer is in her fourth year of participating in Leadership Safari. Boyer spent her freshman year on the Bearded Dragon team, her sophomore and junior year guiding the Whooping Crane team and is behind the scenes as a staff assistant this year.

Boyer said she does Leadership Safari every year because she wants to give someone the same empowering experience she had as a freshman.

“If you want to create a foundation on campus then Leadership Safari is for you,” Boyer said. “It’s the way to meet the most people in the shortest amount of time and get to know CMU.”

CMU Student Government Association President Vince Cavataio welcomed the freshmen at the Safari Welcome and Kick-Off event Sunday evening.

“Leadership Safari is incredible — It’s the largest freshmen leadership event of any in the nation,” said Cavataio. “I recorded them all screaming  ’fire up Chips’ on my Blackberry. These freshmen are very excited.”

“I thought everyone was crazy and now I’m one of the crazy ones,” Wagner said.

Wagner, a Gaylord senior, helps coordinate Leadership Safari by leading 11 different guides and helping them facilitate events.

This week, the 1,700 incoming freshmen who chose to participate in the 13th Leadership Safari experienced a constant stream of motivational speakers and excursions held on campus, including “extraordinist” speaker and performer Craig Karges, slam poets Kirk Nugent and Mayda del Valle, a boot camp and a competitive challenge course.

“You get to meet a lot of new people and it helps you fit into CMU right away,” Grand Rapids freshman Peter Konyndyk said. “I’ve had a great time with my leader, we’ve laughed a lot and the activities are a lot of fun.”

Leadership Safari gave Holt freshman Donny MacPhail a first taste of college life.

MacPhail said the program gives freshmen a way to transition to college and meet new people on the way.

“My favorite part is just joking around with new friends and looking forward to seeing them throughout the year,” MacPhail said. “I’d recommend this for all incoming freshman.”

Farmington Hills senior Robert Dolecki guides “Team Hippo,” which is comprised of transfer students.

He has wanted to guide transfer students for a long time because, unlike many incoming freshmen, the transfers personally chose to attend.

“Overall, this is a great experience,” Dolecki said. “I can’t start my school year without Safari.

Dolecki has been a guide since 2008, a year after he first attended.

“Safari has changed me into who I am today,” he said. “It’s not just a camp, but a life-changing event.”

The participants will have gone through nearly 30 events by Safari’s end, each one designed to help develop leadership skills and encourage a sense of community among students hailing from different hometowns and backgrounds.

Many of Rochester senior Chelsea Belote’s best friends came from her experiences at Safari. She is now a Leadership Safari staff assistant.

“(It builds) stong connections that will allow them to feel comfortable and realize they can be who they want to be and grow into themselves instead of following others,” Belote said.

Will they be prepared for their classes? Will they get along with their roommates? How will living without the constant support of parents, siblings and old friends go?

Freshmen Kaylee Boos and Amanda Green of Shelby, Carla Raymond of Coldwater and Shelby Miller of Union City are largely optimistic on all counts.

“I’m not really nervous,” said Green, a May graduate of Shelby High School along with Boos. “Just meeting new people is what I’m looking forward to. And not failing any classes would be nice.”

Green and Boos are rooming with Raymond and Miller, who graduated together from Union City High School, in Wheeler Hall Room 102.

“Amanda and I were kind of good friends… and we really didn’t know what to expect picking roommates, so we decided to live together,” said Boos, who is planning to study political science.

The two pairs of girls found each other on the Internet and became acquainted over the summer.

“We met up over the CMU Web site and then Facebook, and Carla and I stayed with them for a few days in their hometown, so we’re pretty much already friends,” said Miller, a member of the marching band’s color guard and a prospective graphic design major.

Living together

Living in Wheeler provides the girls with the specific challenge of sharing one bedroom between the four of them. So far, though, they are all optimistic about the living arrangement.

“I thought we’d be way more cramped than what we are,” Boos said.

The girls did mention closet space is at a premium, and Raymond especially brought a large amount of clothing.

Miller and Green both moved in to the room early: Green to attend Leadership Safari and Miller to practice with the color guard.

Green said she enjoyed moving in to her room, because her parents did all the heavy lifting.

“(Moving in was) wonderful,” Green said. “I didn’t have to do anything.”

Boos and Raymond moved in Thursday. Boos was accompanied by her mother, stepmother and father, and Raymond was assisted by her mother.

“My mom’s kind of used to it,” said Raymond, who is planning a major in international business. “I was the last one to live at home, so I guess she was sad. She cried yesterday and today. I was sad, but I’m excited for a new chapter in my life, I guess.”

Far from home

Although Raymond has spent a large amount of time in Germany with extended family, most of the girls have yet to spend an extended amount of time away from home.

“I just got back from Hawaii,” Boos said. “I was there for two-and-a-half weeks, and that’s the longest I’ve ever been away from home. I’m looking forward to having my independence, but I’ll miss my sisters, and knowing everyone (back home).”

Miller said she is looking forward to the freedom and new experiences.

“I’ve spent time away from my family, but never a whole year,” she said. “It’s not really sad for me. It’s kind of exciting.”

The girls are optimistic about the beginning of year and classes, although not sure exactly what to expect.

“I’m kind of nervous about finding my classes on time,” Boos said. “I don’t know how that’s going to go, ten minutes to walk across campus.”

Check cm-life.com throughout the semester for updates on the girls of Wheeler 102.

Oxford freshman Jessica Pyke knows this first hand.

When Pyke arrived at CMU one week ago, she only knew five people at the school. She had not even met her roommate, whom she found on Facebook.

Oxford freshman Jessica Pyke waits for a teammate to fall into her arms Monday afternoon in the Indoor Athletic Complex. During Leadership Safari, groups did "trust falls" where one member stands on a platform and falls backwards into their group members' arms. (Chris Bacarella/Staff Photographer)

But all this changed after she became a “yellow jacket.”

The yellow jackets was her Leadership Safari team and from last Saturday to Wednesday night, she was one of thousands of incoming freshman who took part in the program’s leadership-building activities.

“I’m definitely glad I got out of the house and did Leadership Safari,” she said.

Her team of a dozen people spent the week involved in many activities including an obstacle course, mock rock and various trust-building activities.

Pyke got more involved than she expected from the program — Leadership Safari starts at 8 a.m. and lasts until 10 p.m.

“Leadership Safari is fun, but long,” she said. “I thought we were just going to have one speaker a day.”

She became fast friends with her team and made many new friends throughout the week.

Holland freshman Raissa Permesang was in Pyke’s team and said the group clicked right away.

“(Leadership Safari) was hard at first because we didn’t know each other, but we hit it off right away,” she said. “Jessica added a lot of humor to the group.”

Troy senior Matt Campbell served as the safari guide for the yellow jackets, and said he was amazed by Pyke’s performance in the group.

Oxford freshman Jessica Pyke plays a team building game to pass the time while waiting for her next Leadership Safari activity to begin Tuesday after lunch. The game is one of many that Safari participants play to pass the time throughout the day. Chris Bacarella/Staff Photographer

“Jessica is doing really well,” he said. “She’s very mature for her age and is also positive and has good things to say during group discussions.”

Now that the program is over, Pyke has a lot to look forward to as an incoming student.

This semester, she will take 14 credits to work toward a sports medicine major.

She also is considering joining a sorority.

Pyke also is getting along with three roommates at Beddow Hall.

“This is a fresh start for all of us,” she said.