[media-credit id=7 align=”alignright” width=”201″][/media-credit]With the 2011 fall semester coming to a close and finals just a week away, some students at Weber State University are glancing ahead to the activities scheduled for the anticipated break.  Eight students share how they expect to spend their time away from campus.

Kassidee Dunford, a freshman studying electronic engineering, will complete her first semester at WSU when finals are over.  She said she can’t wait for the time off.

“I’m way excited and so stoked,” Dunford said.  “I plan to go snowboarding at Snowbasin and am excited to spend time with my family and not worry about homework.”

Cale Thurgood, studying athletic training and art, is another freshman who said he has decided what his plans are for December.  He said they consist of vacationing in Seattle and spending time with his son.

“I’ll take my son out and teach him how to snowboard,” Thurgood said.  “He is 19 months, and we’ll have to see if he enjoys it or not.  When I go out on the mountain, I see kids fall, and they just laugh about falling.  It looks like they are having a blast.”

Kasandra Hernandez said she plans on going home to Idaho to spend time with her family.

“I’m going to help my dad install wood floors and a chimney,” Hernandez said.  “Then, I’m going to chill like a villain, play video games and wait for my birthday and Christmas.”

Brittney Jenson said she will also stay busy over the break, with many activities to accomplish.

“I’m working at the gym, and I want to work out more,” Jenson said.  “I actually want to choreograph a dance piece for my high school.  I also need to get ready for the next semester and go ice skating at the Ice Sheet sometime.  I have talked about it with my friends, and we want to try out the rink.”

Isaac Thomas said he plans on spending more time with his video game console.

“I am going to be playing an insane amount of NBA Live 2003,” Thomas said.  “That’s it.  I have championships to win.  I’ll also be going to every single men and women’s basketball game.  It’s going to rock pretty hard.”

A memorable vacation is scheduled for Zach Baker and his family, he said.

“We are going to go to Costa Rica for a week because my sister had a brain tumor, and she qualified for the make-a-wish program,” Baker said.  “The organization gave her and my entire family the free trip.  It will take a week, and the rest of the time, I’ll be at home.  I won’t be in Ogden for too much of the time.”

Volunteering and family parties are on the agenda for Teal Nelson.

“Usually around Christmas time, my family does service activities,” Nelson said.  “Last year, I went to the Boys and Girls Club to help with Secret Santa.  I think I’ll try and do that this year because it was a ton of fun.  Around Christmas time, we go to my grandma’s and have a Christmas party with all of our aunts, uncles and cousins.  That’s really fun.”

Family parties and visiting with family members are what Audrey Salas said she intends to do over the break.

“I am going to staying home and go to family parties on both sides of my family,” Salas said.  “My brother is coming home from D.C., and I haven’t seen him in six months.”

The four week break is quickly approaching, and these and other WSU students will be using some of the time to get away from academia and kick back until spring semester comes.