Editor's Message - Fall/Winter 2006

UConn Traditions

Volume 7, Number 3 - Fall/Winter 2006

Classroom Lessons that Lead to Success

One of the major student Homecoming events is Lip Sync, the talent showcase in which student groups and organizations take the stage and perform before a full house at Gampel Pavilion.

Kenneth Best This year’s top performance was provided by the Asian American Cultural Center, which used a dazzling display of showmanship, costumes and pounding music to win out over 14 other groups that designed programs based on a theme — UConn’s 125th Anniversary.

The enthusiastic participation of both performers and audience makes Lip Sync a highly anticipated part of Homecoming for students and alumni who attend the event, which is organized by the Student Union Board of Governors (SUBOG).

But more than having a good time, Lip Sync offers an opportunity for students to put into practical use much of what they have learned in the classroom.

With the requirement of a common historic theme, each group had to conduct research and make decisions on which aspects of UConn history to showcase and present.

Most groups used period music and costumes as they moved through all or part of a century of history.

Dance routines also were choreographed using the styles of each historic era.

Hours of rehearsals with as many as 40 people took place as each group worked to perfect individual routines that were keyed to a pre-recorded soundtrack that typically takes several hours to record and edit into final form.

Along the way, each group established its leaders, planned and organized assignments, worked through various decisions and kept on schedule to be ready for its presentation.

If that sounds like a good foundation of skills to help build a successful career, there may be no better example to note than Doug Bernstein ’85 (CLAS).

A former SUBOG president, he formed a toy company in 1988 with his wife, Melissa, that has grown into the nation’s leading designer and manufacturer of educational toys under the “Melissa & Doug” brand.

The Bernsteins have made the largest gift to the Division of Student Affairs to endow an annual student leader training summit at UConn.

During Homecoming ceremonies, the University dedicated the Douglas A. Bernstein ’85 Game Room in the renovated Student Union.

Doug noted that he uses the same organizational skills he learned as a UConn student leader to lead his company which has more than 1,000 employees worldwide and offices spanning Connecticut to the Far East.

Letters to the editor
must be signed and should be no more than 300 words.

They will be printed as space allows and edited for style, grammar, typographical errors, content and length.

Send letters to:

UConn Traditions
1266 Storrs Road,
Unit 4144,
Storrs, CT 06269-4144

Email: uconntraditions@uconn.edu

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	UConn Traditions

		Volume 7, Number 3 - Fall/Winter 2006 Classroom Lessons that Lead to Success One of the major student Homecoming events is Lip Sync, the talent showcase in which student groups and organizations take the stage and perform before a full house at Gampel Pavilion. This year’s top performance was provided by the Asian American Cultural Center, which used a dazzling display of showmanship, costumes and pounding music to win out over 14 other groups that designed programs based on a theme — UConn’s 125th Anniversary. The enthusiastic participation of both performers and audience makes Lip Sync a highly anticipated part of Homecoming for students and alumni who attend the event, which is organized by the Student Union Board of Governors (SUBOG). But more than having a good time, Lip Sync offers an opportunity for students to put into practical use much of what they have learned in the classroom. With the requirement of a common historic theme, each group had to conduct research and make decisions on which aspects of UConn history to showcase and present. Most groups used period music and costumes as they moved through all or part of a century of history. Dance routines also were choreographed using the styles of each historic era. Hours of rehearsals with as many as 40 people took place as each group worked to perfect individual routines that were keyed to a pre-recorded soundtrack that typically takes several hours to record and edit into final form. Along the way, each group established its leaders, planned and organized assignments, worked through various decisions and kept on schedule to be ready for its presentation. If that sounds like a good foundation of skills to help build a successful career, there may be no better example to note than Doug Bernstein ’85 (CLAS). A former SUBOG president, he formed a toy company in 1988 with his wife, Melissa, that has grown into the nation’s leading designer and manufacturer of educational toys under the “Melissa & Doug” brand. The Bernsteins have made the largest gift to the Division of Student Affairs to endow an annual student leader training summit at UConn. During Homecoming ceremonies, the University dedicated the Douglas A. Bernstein ’85 Game Room in the renovated Student Union. Doug noted that he uses the same organizational skills he learned as a UConn student leader to lead his company which has more than 1,000 employees worldwide and offices spanning Connecticut to the Far East. Letters to the editor must be signed and should be no more than 300 words. They will be printed as space allows and edited for style, grammar, typographical errors, content and length. Send letters to: UConn Traditions 1266 Storrs Road, Unit 4144, Storrs, CT 06269-4144 Email: uconntraditions@uconn.edu Issue Home
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