Mat Kearney

wow. 

First, let me start off by thanking all the amazing people that helped out on this event. Kaila, my event lead, and I started planning this event back in August and have been so excited for it ever since. Her amazing committee helped out so much in getting things together during the planning and implementation processes too. I am so proud and grateful for her leadership throughout this whole thing! Thank you to Hayley, my VP, for being there to help with everything as well and for all her support. Another huge thank you to our coordinator, Laura, for signing everything, troubleshooting everything, and being a huge support. There were also a ton of campus and off campus entities that helped out: moving, risk, custodial, scheduling, campus life design, guest services, EMT, AV, OIT, and Backbeats. We could not have put on the show without them doing the nitty gritty! Also, a huge thank you to the BYUSA coordinators and office members who helped out on the night of. Finally, thank you to all who came and enjoyed the experience. Seeing y'all's smiles as you watched the incredible Mat Kearney is what made it all worth it for me! 

I almost forgot a thank you, but realized it's already implied by this post! Thank you to Mat Kearney, his band, and his crew! Setting this up with them over the past few months definitely started out as a little intimidating, but they are great people who absolutely love what they do. I am so impressed by the wholesome and uplifting environment they created with their music and their work. I am so grateful that they felt at home at BYU and that they had a good time performing for us! 

This was my biggest event of my event planning career to date. It is events like this that reaffirm by love for this path I have chosen and encourage me to work even harder to continue forward. BYUSA has been a catalyst to this passion since the beginning and it is bittersweet to be leaving, but even sweeter knowing that I will be able to come back in 18 months and jump right back in. Being an executive director has been an incredible experience and I am so grateful for this past year and the opportunity I have had to serve with the amazing A-Team and the rest of the office. BYUSA is home and is my family and I am full to the brim with gratitude for a year I will never forget. 

Until 2018! 

xoxo, 

Lyds 

Hello Goodbye

Middle school throwback anyone? I honestly only knew maybe 3 songs, and even then I still struggled with knowing the actual lyrics...

I think my favorite part of this event though was the meet and greet. It was late, we were all so tired, and you could tell the band was as well. We all shuffle into a room to see them and they proceed to sit down on the floor in a big circle with us and just chill. Almost like a kumbaya moment. Strange yet so awesome.

If you ever get to come in contact with this band they really are the coolest guys I know. Did I mention half of them performed barefoot? (that's against the honor code @hayley)

Rachel and her event lead really put on a tight show. It was so fun to be a part of this event and watch and learn how big concerts really work here at BYU. next concert: Mat Kearney and this one is actually under my watch *gulp* wish me luck!

xoxo,

Lyds

Let's Rally

Campaign season: when three candidate pairs run for President and Vice President of BYUSA. Each has their own team of students helping them campaign and spread their platform. I was lucky enough to be a part of Aidan and Malorie's campaign to Make It Count! 

They asked me to be their events manager for the campaign and I gratefully accepted! I had the awesome job of putting on a campaign rally for their team at The Wall! Now, if you haven't been to The Wall, make a trip down to the basement of the Wilk. It is my favorite venue on campus! The management was so great to work with on this event and really helped us throw the best and biggest party! 

We had participation from different clubs on campus, including Hip Hop club, Abracadabra club, and the Footlights. They all were incredible. We also had a much needed and always wanted Photo Booth, free fries and drinks, a dating raffle, and a surprise video from Aidan and Malorie's families. It was such a fun night for everyone involved and my team did such an amazing job keeping me sane! 

Even though Aidan and Malorie did not win the vote, I am still so grateful that they were willing to put themselves out there and advertise BYUSA even more. They are such an energizing pair with Christ-like attitudes that anyone who comes in contact with them can feel. I know they both have amazing things in store for them!

xoxo, 

Lyds 

High Stakes Bingo

Student choice activity #2 was originally what this event was called, so thank goodness I ended up with the most incredible event lead and her committee, because they came up with a brand new event that filled up with 500 people before the event even started! That's right, we reached capacity in 10 minutes. 

High stakes bingo, except the students did not buy in with high stakes. BUT what was at stakes were some pretty amazing prizes! Spikeball, doughnuts, penny board, movies, chick fil a coupons, goPro, and not one but TWO apple watches. 

We played 5 rounds of bingo with 4 table games in between so that there could be a total of 40 winners that night. Pretty awesome, right? 

Best part? This brand new event set such a great precedence that the activities area is going to do it again next year! 

xoxo, 

Lyds 

ReTREAT x2

I think my favorite part of BYUSA, besides the people, are retreats. Not just the treats at retreat, but all the other fun things that happen at retreats. 

This retreat was just for the executive directors and the VPs. Our last big shindig all together before the year is over. We definitely made the most of it by keeping with tradition with signs, #ballislyfe, and late night talks. I also loved hearing the testimonies of the people I have been serving with this whole year and I am so grateful for the friendships and family I have in the office. 

I am dead serious when I say that the BYUSA office is the best place on BYU's campus. So make sure you stop by sometime. You WILL find a home there. 

xoxo, 

Lyds 

*shout out to Rachel's leg 

Y-Ball

Married and engaged ball. #onlyatBYU

Basically Prom for those who are on their way to exaltation. Y-Ball is the best free date night a poor, young couple could ask for! Free dinner, free dancing, and free photo shoots for all! 

Our crew had a fun night getting dolled up and dancing alongside the happiest and most in love people on campus. That is until Hayley literally took Silento seriously and broke her leg... 

We only ended the dance 10 minutes early, but our crew ended up in the ER with our VP in a hospital bed with a dislocated knee! She was so brave and we were out of there by 2am! 

Our night went in ten million directions, but it was so worth it to give all those BYU couples a night to remember (HSM 3 anyone?)

xoxo, 

Lyds 

ReTREAT

I am so happy we went on retreat to Springhaven with the lovely clubs area. This retreat was all about volunteer appreciation and a little bit of training, but mostly appreciation. Everything we do in BYUSA is volunteer! All the events, the clubs nights, and campaigns. Every person that walks in the door is willing to give their time to help create experiences for the students of BYU. And they are amazing. 

You can't spell retreat without treat so you know treats were on the menu for the entire night. Retreats consist of staying up late playing basketball in the indoor court, pool in the treehouse, murder in the dark in the scariest cabin, lots of signs to memorize, and late night talks with incredible people. 

If you want to meet the greatest people at BYU come to the BYUSA office. Every person there has the most willing heart and they want to help everyone they talk to! Much love to my A-team and always got love in this club for clubs!

xoxo, 

Lyds 

Final Chill

Put every meme from Elf ever right into this post.

This event was the most chill event. You could come and go. Come play some reindeer games. Get in the photo booth with Santa or get kissed by Santa in the photo booth ;) Eat some popcorn, enjoy some hot chocolate, or eat yummy donuts. Watch Elf, cause what other movie screams Christmas like Elf?

All in all, I absolutely loved worked with my event lead on this event. Amy is one of the sweetest girls who truly has an elf affinity like me for all things sugar, christmas caroling, and event planning.

Time for finals! But I am so grateful I got to *chill* before the craze.

xoxo,

Lyds

Freeze Fest

Christmas and Ice Skating. What more could you need in life? 

The holidays are quite honestly my favorite time of the year because Christmas sweaters are life and everyone is so happy!!! Not one person at this event was frowning. Well, except for the freak accidents that seem to happen...but even as I drove a few to the ER they were still happy!!! That big, jolly man has got a hold on us.

This event was at the Seven Peaks Ice Arena and we rented out the whole place! There was ice hockey, ice skating, gingerbread house making, photo/picture taking, giant twistering, and dodge-balling. Seriously something for everyone!

So mark your calendars for next year cougars.

xoxo,

Lyds 

GoProvo

Now presenting the latest and greatest scavenger hunt: GoProvo!!!

Tbh this event started out wanting to partner with Questival, but through the twists and turns of life, we ended up with an even better event that was all and only about BYU! Items that won you points were hanging out with President Wirthlin or taking a picture riding the cougar by the stadium. While we all waited to hear who won, we even had a huge dance party. It was one heck of a day.

Best part? The winning teams won a Go Pro! Get it? GoPROvo?? Our advertising was pretty clever.

xoxo,

Lyds

HOCO 2015

I have always loved homecoming. Forever and ever. My high school friends can attest to that. So, doing an even bigger homecoming is, well, my dream come true! It is also the most tiring week I have to endure each fall on top of everything else. So homecoming week truly is a feat for everyone involved.

We started off the week with my FIRST OFFICIAL EVENT! The Homecoming BBQ out in Brigham Square. We serve over 2000 people, in less than an hour, AND ran out of food. The marching band came and kept up the pace and Cosmo had a flipping good time pumping up the thousands of people in the line. The volunteers and my event lead were incredibly willing and had high energy, so the event really was successful!

Next up! Homecoming noon-days! Every single day at noon in Brigham Square there was an event that correlated with the Homecoming theme, "Make Your Mark." The Diva Alex put together this amazing, huge chalkboard that everyone could come write on. And Ty is legit an artist and he put up some amazing art to advertise the rest of the week. Incredible.

On Wednesday was my next official event, True Blue Foam, aka the most fun event that we do. (my opinion) We set up huge slip'n'slides that have tons and tons of blue foam running down them. The oh so amazing Cooper Brown DJed the event and we had blue snow cones to match. My event lead and his crew truly kept this event smooth sailing and it had a huge turn out from the students!

Friday was insane. We do three different dances so that we can accommodate as many students as possible with their many different tastes. We do a formal, semi-formal, and a casual. I heard the other two were amazing, but the event I was over was the casual! AKA the biggest, most sick dance BYU has ever seen! It was black light themed with tons of sweet lighting from DJ Cooper Brown, a photo booth, a black light VIP lounge, and glow in the dark drinks. The room was packed. full. of people jamming out all night long. At the end, we threw out tons of balloons and people went craazzyyy. Seriously the coolest event I have ever seen or been a part of. My event lead and all her volunteers worked so hard that night and it really paid off! We sold out on tickets! just incredible.

Finally, the big finale! Saturday morning was the Homecoming Parade where we do a pancake breakfast for the viewers. Cute blue pancakes and lots of tired smiling faces were shared on that early morning after the dances. I may have burnt myself a few times flipping some pancakes, but it was totally worth it. Had to finish HOCO week strong!

xoxo,
Lyds

Fall Fest

Shout out to Rachel Housely for working so hard on this event with her event lead! A lot of things fell through, but the event still ended up being a blast and the event did not feel empty at all. There was a photo bus, a dunk tank, the Dunk Team, ComedySportz, DJ Cooper Brown, and tons and tons of Famous Amos cookies and assorted chips! Dude. Tons and tons. As in we have a floor to ceiling wall covered in cookies and chips. 

Throwing it back and kicking it back was a great way to start off the year. way to go buggs!  

xoxo, 

Lyds 

Welcome Back Week BBQ

All during the first week of school there were activities of some kind at noon right in Brigham Square. This was actually a comms event BUT it was great practice for the homecoming BBQ that activities actually puts on. And my two best friends were in charge of it so I basically was required to be there. 

Best part of it all was manning the grill and making hot dogs to perfection. and don't forget the JDawgs sauce. #flawless 

xoxo,

Lyds