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Show Friday, Oct. 14, 2011 Page 4 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com Utah's hottest bachelor brings sexy back BY ALLEE EVENSEN assistant features editor Four years ago, the last place Chris Thompson thought he would end up was in the center of one of the largest magazines in the country. The 25-year-old USU alumnus opened up to The Statesman recently about his experiences in Logan, what he loves in a woman and being nominated as Cosmopolitan's Utah Bachelor of the Year. Utah Statesman: First off, how in the world did you end up being one of the 50 sexiest men in the United States? Chris Thompson: A girl at work submitted me. She took some pictures off my Facebook and sent them into the contest. So-and-so at Cosmo called and told me I had won Mr. Utah. I thought it was a joke — or a prank. US: She didn't tell you she nominated you? CT: She mentioned before that she nominated me for some bachelor thing. I just laughed. US: How was it being in a Cosmo photo shoot? CT: They flew me to L.A., and then we went to a place in Malibu for the shoot. It was kind of weird, but fun. I'm somewhat shy when people first meet me, so it was different. US: If you win the contest, what will you do with your $10,000? CT: Man, it would be so awesome. I would go to Hawaii with my roommates. I would just want to get away. US: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? CT: Urn, that's hard to answer. Like I said, I've never been to Hawaii. There's probably some place cooler than that though — some exotic island. US: You graduated from USU in marketing, what are you doing now? CT: I'm a store manager at Hollister, but I'm not too proud of it. US: If you weren't managing the store, what would your dream job be? CT: Something in sports marketing. US: Why did you choose marketing as a career? CT: When I first got up to Utah State, I was undecided. I thought marketing would be fun so I just did it. US: Why did you choose Utah State? CT: I had heard lots of good things about USU. I knew that I didn't want to go to the U., and I had some friends up there, so I came. El To vote for Chris Thomspon scan here US: Any favorite Logan eateries? CT: Me and my friends went to the Bluebird every once in a while. And after basketball games we would always go Village Inn. US: When you were a freshman, did you ever see yourself doing something like Cosmo? CT: I never did. I was kid of a late bloomer, just a little guy. I would have never seen anything like this coming. US: Every 18-year-old freshman girl is dying to know, what do you look for in a woman? CT: I look for cool girls that have a good sense of humour. I like active girls. Not necessarily in shape, but active. Like a girl that enjoys going to the gym, skiing and wake boarding. US: Your roommate calls you "humble and modest." What do you stereotype yourself as? CT: If I'm just meeting somebody, I'm shy. After a few minutes I open up. is something people wouldn't guess from looking at you? CT: I love skiing. Ever since I could walk I've been skiing. I love sports — playing and watching. I think that's one of the biggest things about me. I also love music. US: If you had to listen to one band for the rest of your life, who would it be? CT: Ever since fifth grade I've loved Blink 182. It would have to be them. US: When all of this contest is said and done, would you ever consider a modeling career? CT: People have told me I could do it, and it would be good money, but I don't think so. US: Is there anything about you we should know? What US: Anything else we should CHRIS THOMPSON WAS nominated to be Utah's Bachelor of the year for Cosmopolitan magazine by a co-worker. The USU alumnus now competes for $10,000 against one bachelor from the other 49 states. Photo courtesy Cosmpolitan magazine know about you? CT: I love to be outdoors. I love wake boarding and active stuff. Oh, and I love California. I would love to live there. I love the beach and the palm trees. And I love sunsets. - allee.evensen@aggiemail. usu.edu Jazz it up at improv night with Caine Combo BY AUDREY MOULTON staff writer Bravery, improvisation ability and knowing how to play popular favorites come standard when jazz artists get together to play at Citrus and Sage every last Wednesday of the month. From 7-9 p.m., these sessions rock the house and give performers and jazz fans alike a place to kick back and relax. Greg Wheeler, current director of jazz studies, runs the Wednesday night jazz ensembles. "This is exciting, (and) it's something for me to have fun with," Wheeler said. "It's a great experience for the kids and provides some experience of playing a small combo in a live setting." However, Wheeler said students who are planning on joining in should have a talent for improvisation. He said they also need to know a few of the jazz classics such as "Fly Me to the Moon." "They play the melody through and then improvise until the cows come home," Wheeler said. Jon Gudmundson, former director of jazz studies, organized these jazz ensembles in 2005. He said he has been running them up until this year but is now taking sabbatical for a year. Wheeler has taken over and said he enjoys it. The first hour of the night a guest performer is invited to come in and play some tunes while USU's n Caine Combo plays as backup. Each guest is from Cache Valley, and Wheeler said the guests are often fairly notable, such as jazz sax player Joe McQueen who was featured during the last school year. Wheeler said he is expecting to bring in some topnotch performers next year including sax player Todd Goranson and trombonist Harry Watters. After the guest artist has finished, anyone with an instrument and knack for jazz improvisation is encouraged to get up and show their stuff, Wheeler said. "It's kind of like an open mic for our jazz students, for the second hour," Wheeler said. With the Caine Combo acting as the rhythm section, students are invited to bring friends or come alone. The guest artist stays for the entire two hours to help students with their "licks" and drop a few friendly pointers. Genevieve Borrego, proprietress of local coffee shop Citrus and Sage, hosts the monthly sessions. She said she loves music and art and enjoys listening to the students perform each month. "I like supporting people's passion," Borrego said. "It brings out the locals that just want something to relax and listen to." Wheeler encourages Jazz students to practice playing in front of an audience to help improve their technique and get a feel for the live setting. "That's crucial for your training as you're playing clubs and gigs," Wheeler said. Gudmundson agreed and said the real way for students to learn and become better is to perform in front of people. "When you play in front of people it forces you to do it right," Gudmundson said. "It makes it real." Gudmundson and Wheeler originally played See IMPROVING, Page 5 Getwith50% off one combo pass purchase of one regular combo pass. Combo pass includes corn maze, castle hay jump, giant slide, & Haunted Hollow. Limit one coupon per duo. American West • neritage Center „1 LT CORN MAZE Mon-Thurs 10AM-9PM Fri/Sat 10AM-10PM Haunted Hollow Fri/Sat 7:30-10PM 4025 S Hwy 89-91 Wellsville, UT 84339 435-245-6050 www.awhc.org Located a few minutes south of Logan, west side of the highway. 4-0 |