The Benefits of Theater Programs for Students

World languages and business student at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, Zoe Reardon received a four-year scholarship known as the Second Century Scholar award to attend the institution. Before beginning her studies at SMU, Zoe Reardon taught theater skills to school children at the Alliance Theatre summer camp in Atlanta, Georgia.

Participating in a theater or drama program provides many benefits for young people, including enhancing their academic performance. One study showed that students engaged in dramatic performance coursework or extracurricular programs perform significantly better on the SAT standardized test, scoring an average of 65 points higher on the test’s verbal component compared with students who don’t participate in performing arts.

Also beneficial for overall reading comprehension skills, theater participation not only improves students’ understanding of the work they perform but also other forms of literature as well. Other research has found that drama activities are correlated with improved school attendance, increased school engagement, and reduced high school dropout rates.

How to Plan an International Mission Trip

A student at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, Zoe Reardon is a graduate of the Atlanta International School (AIS). During her time at AIS, Zoe Reardon participated in two mission trips, one to Nepal and the other to Mexico.

If you are interested in completing a mission trip abroad, there are several points to consider during your planning stage. First, you must decide where to go. Getting involved with a local church or humanitarian relief organization is a good first step to finding a mission trip to get involved with. Look for a mission trip program that not only fits your schedule and interests but also your skillset and physical or emotional limitations.

After you pick a destination and begin to plan your trip, you will need to obtain a passport, if you don’t already have one, to travel to an international destination. In addition, you will need to book your airfare and any other travel logistics, if the group you are going with doesn’t take care of this for you. Also, don’t forget to get updates on any vaccinations you may need before traveling to your destination to stay healthy during your trip. Lastly, publicize your trip with your family, friends, school, and church and ask for their support. Taking an international trip costs money, so allow your networks to support your humanitarian efforts.

Cox School of Business Receives $50 Million Gift

A Second Century Scholar at Southern Methodist University (SMU), Zoe Reardon earned a four-year, merit-based scholarship to attend the University. A member of the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society for first year students, Zoe Reardon is majoring in world languages and business.

A private Methodist research university, SMU offers a world-class business education at the Edwin L. Cox School of Business, which recently received a gift of unprecedented size from Carolyn L. and David B. Miller, who graduated in 1972 and 1973, respectively. By donating $50 million, the Millers intend to support continued innovation in education at the Cox School.

In thanking the Millers for their generous support, SMU President R. Gerald Turner said the $50 million gift will not only fund Cox’s strategic plan, but also help upgrade its facilities, attract top-notch faculty, and expand its programs. Reflecting on the value his education at the Cox School of Business has brought to his life, Mr. Miller said he was proud to support Cox’s forward-looking approach to advancing business education and cultivating the skills of future business leaders.

How to Properly Cool Down a Hot Horse

An amateur photographer and student, Zoe Reardon is attending Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Texas on an International Baccalaureate Scholarship and Second Century Scholarship. Before enrolling in college, Zoe Reardon was a professional horseback rider for 13 years and won several ribbons at regional competitions.

Regardless of how fit a horse is, there is always a possibility that it will suffer from heat stress after a competition, strenuous exercise, or an equestrian event. Fortunately, the owners of horses can save them from problems with overheating by ensuring that they are properly cooled off after any exertion.

To do this, owners must understand a horse’s natural mechanisms for cooling down, such as evaporation. This is the best method a horse has for staying cool. As a horse sweats, the moisture on its skin cools the surface, while evaporating sweat draws heat away from the body. Since keeping tack on the horse can impede this process, it’s important that all tack be removed to increase surface area for evaporation. Owners can also help with this process by pinning up a horse’s hair.

Convection and conduction are two other ways that horses stay cool. Convection refers to the process of cooling a horse down by blowing air on it. This occurs because the air cools the warm blood that has circulated to the surface of the body. Meanwhile, conduction happens when the horse is sprayed with cool water and it absorbs the heat.

In addition to aiding the horse’s natural mechanisms for keeping cool, owners must also make sure that the horse has access to plenty of drinking water. When horses are dehydrated, they cannot cool themselves as effectively.