This week started off with a three mile hand cart trek, led by President and Sister Call (counselor to the mission president). Many inspirational pioneer stories were shared along the way. The students had a great time pulling the carts through the streams, mud and prairie fields.

BYU Communications students win big at world’s largest advertising competition

The first week in Nauvoo for the International Folk Dance Ensemble was full of activities, performances, visiting historic sites and making new friends.

This weekend, a TV spot produced by a team of BYU students won the Addy Judges Choice Award at the AAF's National Student Advertising Competition in Phoenix, Arizona. The team of students, Dallin Cerva, Michelle Brodrick, Bri Hepworth, and Kasey Ahlstrom, produced the Phillips TV spot in Chris Cutri's TV production class.

BYU dance faculty Nathan Balser performed in the opening number of the TONY Awards last night, June 9, on CBS. Balser performed in the Radio City Music Hall as one of the core dancers and singers in the show.

The Brigham Young University School of Music will present the popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera “The Pirates of Penzance; or the Slave of Duty” Wednesday through Saturday, June 12-15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre at the Harris Fine Arts Center.

The Brigham Young University School of Music will host a special CD Release Concert for composer Steve Lindeman featuring BYU Synthesis directed by Ray Smith with master of ceremonies Steve Williams, host of KUER 90.1 'Night Time Jazz.'

For three years the BYU Ballroom Dance Company has been planning, preparing, practicing, and finalizing plans to participate again in the British Formation Dance Championships, in Blackpool, England. This is something the teams participate in every three years, and 2013 was the long expected next competition at this prestigious and world-recognized event. The competition occurred this past week, and was an amazing experience for all involved.

The BYU Museum of Art's annual Family Art Festival is coming soon on Friday, June 14, 10:00 a.m—3:00 p.m. The festival will be held in conjunction with the MOA's current Shaping America exhibition.

The tour for the International Folk Dance Ensemble began as the group traveled to O'Fallon, Illinois, near St. Louis on June 3. They were warmly welcomed by the parents of Amber Shepherd, a dancer in the ensemble. The group arrived just in time for a major storm to hit the area. The airport closed down just a few hours after their arrival. As the group members met their host families at the O'Fallon stake center, the weather turned dark and eerie, and soon the tornado sirens were going off.

The second week of tour for BYU Synthesis in Brazil was packed with concerts, festivals, and outreach. The group even played in front of a crowd of people that reached as far as the eyes could see in the Rio das Ostras Jazz and Blues Festival.

BYU Illustration Student Alyssa Scott was recently awarded grand prize in a Warner Brothers’ art contest held in conjunction with the release of “The Great Gatsby.” The director of the movie, Baz Luhrmann, selected two grand prizewinners to receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City and tickets to the film’s premier on May 1. The other grand prizewinner was Anthony Ithurralde, from Salt Lake City.