Anthony Camardi

Anthony is a senior sport management major from Canaan, CT, who is interested in sport broadcasting; thus, he is looking forward to seeing the Olympics up close and personal to compare against what he previously has been only able to watch on TV.

Lauren Silvis

Lauren is a junior marketing communication major and is one of three students on the travel squad from Ellington, CT. She will serve as the group's chief of protocol while in the U.K., so it will be her job to ensure that there are no "international incidents" involving any delegation members.

Jason Titelbaum

Jason is a sophomore sport management major from Peabody, MA, whose desire is to see and understand what it takes to put on a major sporting event . . . like the Olympics. Memo to Jason: Wish granted.

Ryan Coseo

Ryan is a junior majoring in accounting, so I guess he will be in charge of the delegation's finances! Perhaps more importantly, though, this resident of Ballston Spa, NY -- just a stone's throw from the racetrack at Saratoga Springs -- is looking forward to seeing the Olympic equestrian events at Greenwich Park.

Dan Colton

Dan is a sophomore sport management major and is from the place in Massachusetts -- Plymouth -- where the Pilgrims landed in 1620 (and where there is a really famous rock to mark the spot). Attending an Olympic Games is on Dan's bucket list, so he will be able to check that one off as early as this summer.

RJ Suhre

RJ is a sophomore sport management major from West Harrison, NY, and among other things, he is passionate about baseball. Memo to RJ: FYI, baseball will not be on the program at the London Olympics.

Laura Madaio

Laura is a two-sport student-athlete (field hockey and softball) who could not otherwise travel abroad during the school year, so this junior sport management major from Paxton, MA, decided that going to the 2012 Olympics in London was her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Nick Varney

One of three delegation members from Ellington, CT, Nick is a sophomore sport management major who has a connection to the Olympics via his uncle, who has been a coach for the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton team.

Dennis Rinaldi

Dennis is a sophomore sport management major from West Harrison, NY, and is another enthusiastic conscript in the University's London 2012 delegation. So much so, in fact, that he has been assigned the task of leading our "down-time" social activities.

Maria Francese

A sophomore sport management major from Dalton, MA, Maria Francese hopes to witness a medal-award ceremony at the Olympics with a U.S. athlete atop the medal stand and the American flag being raised to the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Emily Savino

Emily plays basketball at the University and was pumped to learn that we have tickets to women's basketball at the Olympics. This junior sport management major is from Ellington, CT, and her summer highlight will be (wait for it) . . . becoming an aunt for the first time!

Lydia Lefevre

Lydia is a sophomore sport management major from New Hartford, CT, and seized this opportunity to travel to London because of her longstanding desire to visit Europe. Hopefully, the Olympics thing won't be getting in her way!

Jenn Mears

Jenn is a junior majoring in marketing communication, and together with Heather, forms the first sister combo in Seminar Abroad program history. All parents are due a huge debt of gratitude for their support -- financial and otherwise -- but the Mears are doubly due with two on board!

Heather Mears

Heather is a junior management major from Amherst, MA, and has been so anxious to begin her Olympic experience that we assigned her the task of keeping track of the countdown to the Opening Ceremonies (now, how cruel was that!) . . . which as of today is 135 days to go!

Marisa Harris

Marisa was the very first student to let me know that she was "definitely" interested in going to the London Olympics . . . even before the announcement of the University-sponsored trip was made! Marisa is a junior marketing communication major/MBA candidate from Wethersfield, CT.

Seminar Abroad 2012: London Olympics!

This summer, 15 Western New England University students will be going to the Games of the XXXth Olympiad, which is the formal reference for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Sport Management Professor and Department Chair, Dr. Sharianne Walker, will accompany me as lead faculty chaperone. Much more will be written in the weeks to come, but for now I'll start with successive posts of the Fab 15 roster "reveal."