One student finds a “cool” way to make money while other individuals are seeking summer jobs.

Mariana Garcia, electronic media junior, will be taking a different path to pay her bills this summer by investing in an ice cream truck.

“I learned about being in the ice cream truck business when I was eight, because my family owned one,” Garcia said. “I used to drive it when I was 16, but it was never mine.”

Steve Wilson, English professor, writes Irish poetry inspired by experiences during his summers abroad in Ireland.

One student has taken a stand to prevent human trafficking after learning it is not only prevalent overseas, but in neighboring cities.

Abigail Breeden, communication studies senior, was motivated to create an organization in San Marcos to help human trafficking victims after attending an international conference on the matter.

“It was an issue that grabbed my heart, because people are using other people to degrade them to the lowest level,” Breeden said.

Abdominal exercises, calf raises and plyometrics are only a fraction of the full-body workout regimen that accompanies hardworking sweat and personal trainers at Str8 Gym.

Co-owners Patrick Porter and Muhammed Weusi said they opened Str8 Gym, located on E. San Antonio Street, because they wanted to provide affordable hands-on training in San Marcos.

The gym provides instruction for women who are unacquainted with proper form while using exercise fitness equipment and free weights.

The Platypus Workshop brought together a collection of professional still photo journalists from all over the United States to study video journalism.

The program, held Feb. 13 to Feb. 19, is composed of two parts set in 12-hour days. Students are taught high-definition digital shooting, editing, cinematic storytelling, multimedia and Apple’s, Final Cut Pro.

David Leeson, Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist, was one of the workshop instructors.