Lynette Simmons
Eagle’s Eye Coordinator and Advisor
1320 WSC, Provo, UT 84602
I grew up in Yakima, Washington and came to Brigham Young University (BYU) as a student. I was later employed full time in the Dean of Student Life's office, completing my bachelors and masters degrees while working full time. It has now been over twenty-four years that I’ve enjoyed working at BYU.
In November 1997, I joined the Multicultural Student Services (MSS) team as an Academic Advisor and Publications Coordinator. My advisement assignment is with students whose last names begin with F-K. I also have responsibility for the Eagle's Eye magazine.
| Justin Ritter
Email: eagles_eye@byu.edu Phone: (801) 422-5877 | Biography: I was born in New York, but raised all across the United States. At a young age, my parents instilled in me a pride for both my Polish immigrant and Mormon pioneer heritage. They also taught me to respect and embrace the cultures of others, and made sure I had the opportunity to experience a variety of them. Spending much of my childhood in the southwest, I often celebrated Cinco de Mayo with my Latino classmates; walked the crowded streets of Juarez, Mexico; and wandered the hills near a Native American reservation in search of pictographs. After high school, I served an LDS mission in Poland, where I not only gained a better understanding of my own heritage, but also the beautiful Jewish and Roma cultures. Ink flows in my veins just as much as my Polish and pioneer blood does. Right now, I am majoring in communications with hopes to become a print journalist, and eventually, a columnist. It is my hope that I can give something back to this beautiful, diverse world that has given me so much. | |
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| Mark Walus
Email: eagles_eye@byu.edu Phone: (801) 422-5877 | Biography: I was born in Hayward, California, and grew up in a town nearby called Fremont. As children, my older sister and I were oblivious to the fact that we didn’t live in the most comfortable of circumstances. To us, our neighborhood was a place where we could have all sorts of adventures. More importantly for me, it was also where I had my first contact with other cultures. I’ll never forget the first time I saw my Vietnamese neighbors kill a live chicken. I’ve always loved diversity and learning about my own Polynesian and Polish heritage. When I was thirteen, my family moved to Highland, Utah. Choir, tennis, and golf were all activities I picked up during high school that helped shape who I am today. Striving for excellence in music and athletics has always inspired me to be better in the everyday aspects of my life. Today I’m a manufacturing engineering technology major at Brigham Young University. I look forward to graduating and applying the theory I’ve learned here. I hope to never stop progressing physically, mentally, and spiritually so I can be ready to face the challenges and opportunities that come my way in life. My ultimate goal is to make myself ready to become a caring and capable husband and father. | |
| Pete Bird
Email: eagles_eye@byu.edu Phone: (801) 422-5877 | Biography: Experiences with language have cultivated a deep appreciation in me for the multifaceted fabric of our society. I truly believe that, in order to understand a people, we must first seek to understand that people's language and culture. My time at Eagle's Eye has afforded me the opportunity to learn about other cultures in a way that I otherwise would not have been able to do. Serving a mission in Hungary opened my eyes to how much I enjoy learning about language as a medium for understanding the rich culture and history of former Soviet Satellite states in Eastern Europe. I plan to graduate in April of 2010 with a BA in linguistics and a minor in communications. After graduation I hope to gain a master's degree in Eastern European area studies. Eventually, I would like to work abroad in foreign service for the US State Department. Aside from academics, I enjoy photography, playing guitar, and going snowboarding. | |
| Samantha Cope
Email: eagles_eye@byu.edu Phone: (801) 422-5877
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| Stephanie Gerber
Email: eagles_eye@byu.edu Phone: (801) 422-5877 | Biography: I was born in Petaluma, California, and moved around the states until the 6th grade when my family decided to settle in Springville, Utah-which I now call home. My parents have always been very supportive of me, especially when it comes to education. My mother came from a poor home in Mexico but moved to northern California to attend school, and there she met my dad. She taught herself English and taught my brother and me Spanish. Growing up in a multicultural home has helped me appreciate what I have and understand and value the lives of others who come from situations different than my own. I know there is great importance in embracing the diverse cultures of the world and learning from them so that as a human race we can rise from being barely tolerant and easily provoked, to welcoming and progressive. My major is English and I'm minoring in music and Spanish. I love learning about the quintessential leaders of history, such as Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill, and how they used their writing skills to positively shape the world. My goal is to go to law school and learn all I can about the founding principles of this nation, so that I too can use my writing skills to make a difference. |
