Amarillo College's News Source Since 1930 Volume 91, Issue 6
AC loses first employee to COVID-19
acranger.com
Leaving the nest
Graduation speaker prepares for the next step By ALISSA SPANGLER Staff Reporter
COURTESY PHOTO
By CAYLEE HANNA Page Editor
Dr. Theresa Da Costa, 65, an Amarillo College English instructor, died Dec. 6, 2020, due to COVID-19. Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart notified the staff in an email. “I am heartbroken to report that our friend and colleague, Theresa Da Costa, passed away today. She was fighting health concerns complicated by COVID. I will miss her friendship and partnership.” Dr. Daniel Ferguson, the chair of the English department, said he learned Da Costa was in the hospital with COVID-19 on Nov. 23. Da Costa had been teaching three online English classes this semester, which another faculty member has now taken over. “Our goal is to work as much as we can to ensure student success,” Ferguson said. Becky Easton, the dean of liberal arts, said that Da Costa had an amazing impact on AC and that she had an astonishing background. “Dr. Da Costa made a huge positive difference at Amarillo College,” she said. “She was born in Uganda, went to high school in Italy and came to the United States to become a translator for the United Nations. She was fluent in six languages. Then, she realized that her heart was in education. Obviously, she was an expert in English, but English was not her first language. She knew firsthand what it’s like to be an immigrant and to create a fulfilling life for herself in the United States. Her life experiences, along with her hard work and love of learning, made her a role model to students, especially those who were born outside the U.S. or who speak other languages at home.” Ferguson said that Da Costa was funny and always found a way to make him laugh. “Dr. Da Costa liked to visit and had such a dry wit,” he said. “But she also had a goofy side. She would come to my classroom door and See DA COSTA, page 3
December 10, 2020
Sewar Ali is counting down the days to graduation. “I like to go above and beyond just because I know that I can, and I have the potential. Setting goals way higher than I expect myself to accomplish is what keeps me going,” the 2020 Amarillo College fall graduate said. This day is not only special because she will be graduating, but Ali has also been selected to be the commencement speaker for this year’s virtual ceremony. She said this accomplishment is only possible because of the connections she has made. “I didn’t realize how crazy networking can be and making connections. There are so many more people that go to Amarillo College that deserved to be speakers, but I had connections like Lesley Ingham, advisers, SGA and PTK. I was able to get to know President Russell Lowery-Hart and talk to him often,” she said. Being selected as the commencement speaker was not Ali’s only accomplishment. She was a part of the Presidential Scholars, Phi Theta Kappa and served as secretary for the Student Government in 2019.
FALL 2020
GRADUATION
CEREMONY
“I love AC, I ride for AC. The college has just done so much for us, and not every college will do that. I’m sad that it is not a four-year university, but I’m excited to leave the nest,” the future graduate said. After AC, Ali plans to transfer to Texas Tech University to obtain her bachelor’s degree in biology. When finished with her bachelor’s, she plans to go to medical school. While Ali has had many great accomplishments during her time at AC, she said she had to overcome her fair share of struggles. “The last few years I’ve struggled with depression after losing my grandma and my uncle. It was really hard to overcome that, but once I got a good therapist and a good support system it all helped a lot.” “I’ve been working to make monCOURTESY PHOTO ey for myself so that I don’t have to ask for money from my parents. I’ve just been working my butt off since my junior year of high school. Juggling work and school and gym and everything else has continued to be a struggle for me,” she said. The coronavirus pandemic has affected many things in Ali’s life, but she had some advice she wants everyone else to hear. “Just keep going, the world will not stop for us. We have to keep going.”
DECEMBER
18
at 7 PM
Complete schedule of viewing opportunities can be found at www.actx.edu/graduation.
Leading through a pandemic By BETHANY FOX Staff Reporter
This semester has been an extremely difficult one, especially for Amarillo College’s president, Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. Challenging decisions have been necessary in order to keep our campuses and community safe. In return, the college has been able to manage COVID fairly well, Lowery-Hart said. The president says his top priority is the safety of people on campus. In order to do that, the college continually evaluates the active cases. “If our rates start mirroring
our communities, we then discuss different responses,” Lowery-Hart said. “So far, our plan has kept our numbers well below the region and state.” The most burdensome decision Lowery-Hart said he has made was when he chose to allow staff and limited students to return to campus in July. “That was the toughest for me because it was the most uncertain and I was worried people would wear masks and we’d have an outbreak and people would die,” Lowery-Hart explained. “We make important decisions about the direction of our college and
community, but I’ve never had to make decisions that could be life or death.” Even though this transition was scary, Lowery-Hart said he trusted the science. “Science told us that if we wear masks, socially distance and wash our hands — we could work and stay protected. There is no secret code to leading and managing in this pandemic so we followed the science, picked our path and then monitored the numbers to ensure that it worked.” While leading the college through this pandemic, Lowery-Hart has recognized the toll it has taken. “I’ve really, really struggled personally
and professionally and I’ve not managed the burden well,” Lowery-Hart said. In order to stay positive, he said he has found some practical ways to alleviate the burden. “Reading helps – even if it’s just for fun. Staying virtually connected to faculty and staff has also helped.” Lowery-Hart encourages students and staff to remain vigilant. “It looks like a vaccine is coming in the spring, so we just have a few more months of diligence — and we must remain diligent until we can move beyond the pandemic,” Lowery-Hart said.
December 10, 2020
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ATHLETICS RETURNING TO AC? MARIAH HOLLIMAN
Photography “I think it’s a good opportunity to get people in. I do hope they include [men’s] basketball. I hope that it’ll just grow and we can get some people to come here and just enjoy playing sports and going to school.”
KHALILA STEVENSON
Biology “I think it’s awesome. I used to be an athlete, so that’s right up my alley… There’s a lot of athletes that don’t go and play college sports and I think it’ll be a helpful way to get people involved on campus.”
Illustration by DANIAR ONOZ | The Ranger
AC aspires to bring back the excitement of sports
CADENCE HAMLIN
EDITORIAL
Psychology
“I think it’s a good idea. It opens up many opportunities and it shows how much Amarillo College is growing. AC is pretty cost-efficient, it will bring more students here.”
Be good to each other Kindess goes a long way OPINION By RAYGAN LOPEZ Staff Reporter
At the beginning of the school year, students nor teachers knew what to expect. No one knows what to expect out of the remainder of 2020. It’s obvious though that this year has been a drag and the upcoming year needs to come faster. There is no doubt that 2020 has been difficult for a lot of students. The late policies, the extra credit, the limit of people in a room, the virtual learning, the overall pace of classes, a stressful 2020 school year any way you cut it. The show must go on however and COVID-19 can’t restrain our lives any more than it already has. College is hard nonetheless. At first, the majority of teachers showed empathy for students, whether it was their first year or graduating year. However, some teachers graded as firmly as ever, didn’t offer extra credit, were less lenient on late policies, or kept a fast work pace with little empathy. Regardless of college life needing to continue, some students had rougher COVID-19 experiences than others. Extra shifts at work to cover bills, quarantining, varying reactions to the virus, losing family members too soon, and
Online Editor Alyssa Fant
Page Editors
Joey Pantoja, Bridget Ulloa, Taylor Burton, Caylee Hanna, Jessika Fulton, Pierce Lawson
Design Manager Shawn McCrea
the stress of not knowing what’s in store for upcoming semesters added to the fog. Virtual classes had so much potential, but college kids are mentally drained. Teachers seem just as tired. So much work has been placed in their laps in order to adjust to the pandemic. Making their in-person classes hybrid, not being able to gather for lectures, managing Zoom and in-person meetings all add to the increased challenge. Teachers deserve some empathy and patience as well. They have a personal life too. Teachers have always been more than just teachers, and quite frankly don’t get paid enough for the levels of stress they deal with. The truth is, everyone is physically and mentally drained. It’s almost over though and a new year awaits. With the little amount of time left in the year, take a look around and have more compassion for others. Be kind to one another because you don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes. Be patient and have empathy. Wear a mask, social distance, don’t hoard at the grocery store, take care of quarantined friends, call a family member or friend. Be good to one another, it's a small thing that can mean everything.
Staff Reporters
Arine Garin, Raygan Lopez
Columnists
Emma deGrood, Ruth Martinez
Graphic Designers
Sidney West, Daniar Oñoz
Photographers
Brandon Belflower, Zach Quiros
The Amarillo College board of regents recent vote to reinstate intercollegiate athletics programs represents a positive step for the college that all students, staff and community members should support. This decision is rooted in the desire to attract local students who may not otherwise choose AC, and to offer a more traditional school experience that includes a competitive sports component that fosters a sense of community and excitement. Naysayers, although few, bring questions about budgets and attracting quality athletes. Opponents of the plan have stated that a barely funded athletic program will not fosterimprovement or growth in the programs over time. These concerns are unfounded. The particular sports the regents have adopted happen to
be chosen due to their affordability and success in the local high school arena, thereby promoting high interest by quality athletes looking for more college options and easing doubt on funding capabilities. AC wants a successful athletics program after all. AC stands to gain a surge of enthusiasm and school spirit from the student body, which will be highly beneficial. As transfer students can attest, colleges with sports programs see more engagement from students and actively foster more of a sense of belonging and fellowship with exciting causes to rally behind and feel a part of, a feeling that can be difficult to create currently at AC. AC is a great school that has helped students from all walks of life succeed, yet with an untraditional environment it can sometimes feel like a
“business” only kind of environment. Many students come to class, talk to no one, then leave campus. For those who crave a more engaging and fulfilling college experience, bringing back sports may be part of the answer. Sports programs offer an option for athletes, they offer a sense of community for students and alumni and, perhaps most importantly, they offer a new way to involve the greater Amarillo area in promoting the college and embracing higher education. We all need to feel included. We all need something that encourages us to be a part of something bigger. We all need someone to cheer for. In order for AC’s upcoming sports programs to succeed, we must choose to cheer them on. That is sports. That is college. That is us.
It's not political: wear a mask OPINION By ALISSA SPANGLER Staff Reporter
Many aspects of the Coronavirus pandemic have been turned into political debates that have divided the country. yet one thing that experts have unanimously decided is that masks help prevent the spread of Covid-19. There are many people who try to use the Constitution as an argument against having to wear a mask. However, the Constitution says that our freedom ends when we begin doing harm to others. The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control along with many top medical schools have provided research that shows that wearing masks will certainly prevent a substantial percentage of people from succumbing to the illness. As I write this, the United States has 274,000 deaths
from the virus, trending at 2,000 per day. That may not mean much to some, but imagine if it were affecting you. There are so many heart wrenching stories every single day of deaths. Imagine if someone you loved died because you gave them a virus that they were not strong enough to fight because you refused to wear a mask. If the deaths are not enough to make someone change their behavior, maybe the strain on our health care system will. The smallest ways we can combat the virus are by mask wearing and social distancing, but health care workers are pushed to their limits every single day caring for COVID-19 victims on top of regular patient care. Hospitals are pushing their capacity and resorting to airlifting patients to hospitals thousands of miles away. It is not often that I see
someone protesting having to wear a shirt into a grocery store. It is not often I hear someone complain about being required to wear shoes when going into a restaurant. The argument that you do not have to wear a mask because “it is not a law” holds just as little weight. If you believe it is your personal freedom to not wear a mask, you are right. However, if you refuse to wear a mask you should stay at home where the only person you are putting at risk is yourself. There are some valid medical reasons for not wearing a mask, but if you have a breathing problem that barring masks, maybe you should not be in public during a pandemic in the first place. Everyone should be wearing masks in public, it should not be a political argument.
December 10, 2020
Students deal with semester burn-out By BRIDGET ULLOA Page Editor
As the school year slowly comes to an end, students face head-on the burnout, stress and finals that come hand-and-hand with the end of the semester. The way students deal with these common college problems varies, but the goal in the end is always the same: to pass their classes. “I don’t deal with burnout, I let it get to me,” said Pedro Hernandez, a biology major. “But only to a certain extent because I don’t want to fail and have to retake my classes. I guess I just try to remember what my end goal is and that if I want to have a good job after university, I have to make sure that I do well in my classes and push through.” Having to deal with the lack of motivation toward the end of the year leaves some students struggling to stay focused for their finals as well as other responsibilities that they have other than school. “I feel like this year has really made me feel a bit more drained,” Samantha Rodriguez, a theatre major, said. “But to get myself to study for my exams I try to limit my distractions and study for a specific amount of time and then take a break and then get back to studying. I think that limiting your distractions is really important because even though it can be hard, it’s worth it when you get a good grade in the end.” Leslie Martinez, a criminal justice major, said that
there’s so much work to get done for her classes when the semester is about to end and having to go to work, she can’t help but feel overwhelmed. “Everything just keeps piling up and the list of things that I have to do for school and my responsibilities outside of school keeps getting longer,” Martinez said. “But at least I know that I am so close to fin ishing that I just have to take a deep breath and work through everything that needs to be done. It helps when I step back and realize how far I’ve come so I can get some motivation for these last couple of weeks and finish up the semester strong.” Though it may be hard for some students to be motivated while feeling burned out or stressed as the school year ends, some students remain positive that these negative emotions will eventually pass. Rodriguez said that even though she does struggle with trying to keep herself motivated especially when it comes to the end of the year when classes are about to end, she tries her best to reorganize her priorities and limit her distractions to hopefully end the semester well. “I like to also remember that this isn’t a forever type thing and that taking finals won’t be something that I have to do for the rest of my life,” Rodriguez said. “It’s almost over so I just have to put some of my stress aside to just get things done.”
Photo Illustration by SHAWN McCREA | The Ranger
Badgers wrap up 2020 school year with positivity By FLOREYA QUINTERO
It’s that time of year again: the festive season of final exams, and students are wrapping up a semester blemished by exceptional challenges. While most of the learning was virtual, the struggles were extremely real. “This semester, I have struggled the most with the actual classroom experience,” Abni Rivero, a drafting major, said. “Especially in my speech class, where the point of that class is to be a better public speaker. It makes it hard to learn that skill when you can’t stand up in front of a classroom to really do that.” Though Rivero said it’s tough to learn virtually, he
stays motivated by keeping his focus on his grades and doing well in all his classes. “The thing that has helped me the most this semester is my professors,” Destine Dominguez, a business administration major, said. “They’ve all been very understanding. We’re all trying our best, and I’m just thankful I have had good support along the way.” Dominguez is set to graduate this Dec. 18 and is happy with all help she has received from Amarillo College and the faculty. She said that it was possible to prioritize her health with all the accommodations made by the school even though it meant to give up class in-person. “This semester was tough. I got COVID and have had
to quarantine twice now,” Megan Dickenson, a nursing major, said. “Despite that though, I’m really looking forward to the spring semester. I’m more accustomed to online learning, and I want to learn more about my major.” Dickenson also said that this pandemic has hit everyone hard, especially the people in the medical field. Dickenson said she is motivated now more than ever to continue with nursing. Winter break for Badgers begins Dec. 19 and classes for the 2021 spring semester will begin Jan. 19. “If there’s any advice I could give to students during times like these, I’d say to keep going no matter what,” Rivero said. “And wake up on time for your Zoom classes.”
been really hard for her, but serves as a reminder to follow the correct guidelines for this pandemic. “I would be heartbroken if anyone in the AC family died, but Dr. Da Costa’s death hit me particularly hard because we have known each other for so long and enjoyed each other’s company,” Easton said. “I miss her. On a less personal note, though, I hope that our loss serves as a reminder of how important it is to protect each other by following the guidelines of maintaining a social distance, wearing a mask on
campus and washing our hands often. Fortunately, most of our students, faculty and staff are not at a high risk of dying, but if we are not vigilant, we may be inadvertently spreading this horrible disease to someone vulnerable. No one loves a mask, but wearing one and giving each other space isn’t too much to ask if it may save someone’s life.” “Dr. Da Costa’s death should remind us all that we need to protect ourselves and each other,” Ferguson said. “She was afraid of the virus and she took all kinds of precautions. She took it
seriously. It just brings the issue that much closer to home. It makes me worried about my own family.” Ferguson said that even while being at the hospital dealing with COVID-19, Da Costa kept up with her work because she loved her job. “Dr. Da Costa taught many students over her career, and that was her passion,” he said. “She loved teaching. One of her sons told me that she was in the ER the night she would be admitted, and there she was grading papers. That is dedication. That was Dr. Da Costa.”
Staff Reporter
DA COSTA: Reflecting on professor’s legacy Continued from page 1 dance in the hall to try to distract me. She got me every time. She was so funny.” He added that Da Costa was liked by her students and was a great professor. “Many times, Dr. Da Costa had the same students for comp two that she had taught in comp one,” he said. “That doesn’t always happen. It showed me that even though she was tough, the students liked her. I saw it as high praise for her as a professor.” Lowery-Hart described Da Costa as having held him
and AC to a high standard. “Theresa had a sharp wit, a keen insight, a powerful personal story and a deep love for students,” he said. “She had strong opinions about our college and world. I always learned from our conversations. The most important thing I learned was how smart, thoughtful and insightful Teresa was. She held me and us to the highest standard. Yet, she always held herself to an even higher standard as a colleague, educator and person.” Easton said that dealing with Da Costa’s death has
December 10, 2020
Fall 2020 Graduates English AA Daniel Gray Sage Johnson Chloe Squyres Art - Graphic Design AAS Katelyn Brown Amber Green Caleb Hodges Cassandra Neal Daniar Onoz Jr. Daniel Rodriguez Kassandra Sanchez Sidney West Associate Degree Nursing AAS Whitney Adame Maria Alvarado Sadie Anderson Yesenia Arambula Leticia Arreola Meagan Baca Nikeol Bartosiewicz Dawn Baughman Brandon Biviano Randa Brown Misty Connelly Ana Cruz-Urioso Tiffany Danner Liliana De La Pena Jessica Delgado Dayla Dempsey Elizabeth Deregules Sarah Diseker Makenzie Dunning Adrian Estrada Yissell Feliu Jamie Fletcher Monica Flores Tosha Foster Tanya Fuentes Bethany Garcia Greggi Gardner Joshua Gilmore Viktorya Granado-navarro Casey Grange Randi Grant Lisa Grisham Madison Guerrero Michael Gundlach Teisha Helms Brenda Hernandez Yomaira Hidalgo Cierra Higgs Ashleigh Hinton StacyJaimez Brandon Jones Susan Kirk Erika Lachiewicz Kelsea Lancaster Zelina Lee Jessica Lopez Sherry Lunn Sara Luther Haley Macina Elizabeth Marquez James Marshburn Daniel Martinez Meagan Mclaughlin Katie Miesner Itzel Montoya Sierra Moos Audra Mullins Mariah Neumann Kevin Olvera Erika Perez Calvin Pham Kimberly Pickard Morgan Price Morgan Rector Ricky Reyna Marina Rivera-Garcia Haleigh Rodriguez Andrea Rodriguez Mariel Rodriguez Steven Russell Erica Sanning Triston Sherwood Angela Soto Kalee Speed Makenzy Starks Michael Velasco Yasmine Venzor Katie Wallace Elizabeth Williams Automotive Technology AAS Juan Lara Jr. Brian Vega Christopher Zuniga Aviation Maintenance Technology AAS Drew Carman Jacob Ives Cassandra Meers Amanda Motes Thanh Nguyen Business Management AAS Aldo Bocanegra Edward Butler Richard Carter Diana Claire Naomi Cortez Cody Cowart Anahi Gomez Chrystal Gonzalez Alicia Jackson Marley Juarez Madison Kellerman Angelique Martin Skyler Olivas William Waldrep Business Technology AAS Sherry Lovett Kimberly Vinson Erica Williams Child Development - Early Childhood AAS Remington Black Micah Cordova Kyra Jackson Natasha Jimenez Vicky Lewis Erin Young Computer Information Systems AAS Samantha Fulce Kyaw Nyein Andrew Slaughter Margaret Ynojosa Computer Networking/ Cyber-Security AAS
Beau Bellatty Nicholas Foster James McClenny Criminal Justice Law Enforcement AAS Esgar Castro Christopher Sheffield Michael Sims Diesel Technology AAS William Raban Drafting AAS Christopher Bradford Zachery Glasgow Chantal Rodriguez Emergency Medical Services Professions AAS Brayden Taylor-Hardie Industrial Technology - Electromechanical AAS Mauro Cervantes Abdisalam Hassan Adrian Martinez Cardona Industrial Technology Instrument and Electronics AAS Jonathan Aaron Brandon Campbell Victor Cardoza Tony Castillo William Garrison Camron Kelley Peyton Mcwhirter Francisco Rivera Jessika Trevino Industrial Technology - Wind AAS Ivan Arreguin Marco Flores Arnoldo Moncada Robert Westbrook Legal Studies AAS Yvette Alvarado Amy Bonner Abrianna Castillo Alma Duran Currie Kelln Christina Osborne Alexandria Palms Machining Technology Abukar Sheikey Kristopher Vallejo Mass Media AAS Logan Canada Enrique Martinez-Guerrero Ivy Soto Medical Assisting AAS Bailey Forbes Kristin Hayes Sa Htoo Elawdia Kler Sadie Morris Bianca Nava Sofiya Niyubuntu Htee Paw Lah Paw Thalaw Wah Mortuary Science AAS Hayley Leeper Tracy Stone Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS Quetta Green Photography AAS Teresa Kuri Rodriguez Zachary Quiros Radiation Therapy AAS Oniel Campbell Surgical Technology AAS Ashli Cano Welding Technology AAS Jon Trey Clark Amber Jones Joshua Nichols Education - Elementary Specialist AAT Angelica Regalado Education - Secondary AAT Rhonda Daniels Rosalinda Hernandez Brandy Lee Art AS Erica Campuzano Trinity Deluna Natasha Gerardo Ryan Haisten Biology AS Sewar Ali Nathaniel Conde Sarinity Frazier Francisco Hernandez Natasha Ojeda Darshana Ragha Leonardo Villegas Business Administration AS Jami Allison Christian Aragon Madison Archer Khayla Atchley Christopher Bachman Alexis Boatright Luke Boyett Shaun Brooks Alan Bueno Stephen Bunney Alvaro Campos Rachelle Canada Marissa Cardenas Estefany Castanon Gregory Chester II Reese Chilton Jessica Clark Makenna Collier Caleb Correa Gina Cox Kristen Cox Jackson Crain Kristi De Carlo Melissa Deluna
Abbey Diggs Destine Dominguez Jenna Downs Whitney Fernandez Alejandro Fierro Alicia Flores Matthew Foster Gilda Franco Cornelio Nolan Gimpel Sydney Goodson Kelsi Graham Daniela Gurrola Nicholas Hall Hayden Harp Zachary Hartman Carrie Henard Jonathan Ingle Leah Johnson Raven Jones Nathaniel Kendall Ty Knight Brooke Lacey Caren Leal Ferrah Maes Aaron Marquez Lindsey Martinez Ramon Mejia Eimy Mendoza Adam Mendoza Mario Mendoza Johnnie Messer Jeanie Miller Perla Molina Paula Montoya Hayden Obrien Victoria Pickard Sheandra Polk Davis Azucena Quevedo Abygail Rangel Aubrey Robinson Crystal Rodriguez Victoria Rosillo Erika Rubio Joshua Ruiz Ruby Saenz Bethany Saldana La Tosha Sanders Cory Schnaufer Phew Soe Avry Thelander Javier Torres Jr. Lisa Trejo Brooke Van Noy Angela Warren Kinzey Wilson Gabriella Young Criminal Justice AS Sai’tavian Austin Brandy Blount Roy Burnett Jason Driver Christain Evans Diana Fontes April Guthrie Anthony Gutierrez Morice Jackson III Saul Jordan Keisha Julian Larissa Lowrance Claudia Ramirez Nohemi Rodriguez Denise Rubio Crystal Sanchez Adrian Serna Dylan Smith Johan Soto diaz Engineering AS Ruben Chavira Kevin Flores Dannon Gomez Ryann Kimbley Brandon Perez Christyn Trevino Engineering Computer Science AS Nicholas Biera Teagan Jewett Domenica Sigala Nicholaus Witt General Studies AS Marisol Alvarado Ryan Apodaca Abigail Aranda Sandra Arroyo Macy Banda Emily Barber Makenzie Bates Kenneth Belfield Wendy Berber Jacquelyn Blalock Juan Bravo Brook Brookhart Jose Carrillo Erik Carrillo Miguel Castellanos Alison Christopher Andrew Claggett Libby Cummings Madison Deaver Marcos Drube Aylyn Duarte Julio Duran Jr. Ana Duron Brandy Ezell Marisol Flores Jackie Gama Madison Garcia Nicole Hartman Melissa Henderson Mishane Hightower Nelly Jimenez Castina Jowers Timothy Kearns Johnny Kiser Jordan Klein Logan Koch Tyler Lewis Andrew Luangrath Michael Mcgregor Victoria Meeks Krystan Merrifield Austin Monteiro Maria Montes Daniel Morrow Brooke Murdock Kristeen Ornelas Alondra Ortiz Marco Ortiz Jr. Shey Patterson Destini Phillips Keegan Plumley Floreya Quintero Jackie Ramirez Shiloh Reel
Valerie Reyes Isaiah Rocha Christina Rodriguez Madison Seay Christopher Sinclair Collin Smith Zachary Soliz Cailin Spencer Kyle Stricker Ryan Taylor Lesley Vargas Isaac Vela Alejandro Velasco Jason Wilkins Stephanie Young Darnell Young Monica Zubia General Studies - Education AS Olivia Alvarez Hannah Archuleta Jo Barbosa Ashley Blackwell Reagan Blackwell Courtney Brunet Audry Bye Cheryn Cotter Joy Delossantos Kali Diaz Ericka Doblado Coral Enriquez Mirelda Garcia Brittany Harris Jessica Hernandez Susana Ines Kaylee Kastning Kristi Keys Hannah Lookingbill Michelle Loya Hannah Moon Gabriella Navarro Ashley Pena Deondra Sharp Olivia Springs Kelsi Webb Bryar Welps Kendra Wilkerson Mass Media AS Kaden Bryant Monica Chavarria Bridget Ulloa Mathematics AS Nicholas Crowley Marissa Difederico Kevin Flores Jesus Hernandez Adam Ochoa II Music AS Anna Bahn Physics AS Jesse Putman Pre-Nursing AS Larissa Acosta Rosha Ainsworth Anjanie Allen Savanna Amphay Xasia Benavidez Heather Bichsel Cierra Burnett Alexia Childs Lisette Contreras Emilee Cunningham Cindy Davis Vanessa Davis Autumn De Los Santos Gloria Flores Parastoo Ghulam Nabi Itzel Gutierrez Guadalupe Guzman Haylen Hall Paloma Jaime Tamron Johnson Audrey Jones Ariel Mcdaniel Beulah Moran Masha Paw Fatima Rangel Erica Rivas Maira Rivera April Rojas Elizabeth Ruiz Jailin Saenz Samantha Sanchez Samuel Sharp Tyler Simmons Dalia Torres Melody Verde Rosana Wheeler Psychology AS Elizabeth Addington Audra Beatty Keyondra Bell Jamie Borum Michel Delgado Madelyn Eatley Mario Figueiras Eveidi Flores Hannah Gonzales Alicia Gonzalez Aundrea Graves Alicia Havens Guadalupe Hernandez Amber Johnson Olivia Latimer Med Line James Lusk Jaclyn Mayo Savanna McPherson No Mi Amy Moncayo Jeree Morris Tracy Morrow Ihudiya Ohuonu Erin Stephens Jill Stephenson Felicia Valero Jheri Williams Social Science AS Roman Fox Laura Geiger Jessica Johnson John Kelly Stephanie Mitchell Jenny Ratsaboud Social Work AS Azalea Barron Luz Betancourt Zachary Flores Esmeralda Herrera
Tashara Lewis Vicky Longoria Micah Mcclendon Lynette Plasencio April White Theatre AS Zoe Escalante Administrative Medical Assisting CERT Bianca Nava Advanced Business Management CERT Tammy Baumgardner Diana Claire Naomi Cortez Meliea Cox Anahi Gomez Alicia Jackson Marley Juarez Angelique Martin Anissa Salas Advanced Diesel Technology CERT Henry Cazares Andrew Chado Brett Green William Grisham III Nicholas Jackson Juan Palacios William Raban Omar Ruiz Tayte Trice Ronnie Yanacsek Advanced Machining Technology CERT Adrian Cordova Trevor Fillip Trenton Knight Tanner Nail Juan San Martin Dela Advanced Welding Technology CERT Kairo Mendoza Toby Mitchell Juan Olmos Jr. Art - Graphic Design CERT Rhiannon Jines Gabriel Walton Automotive Collision Technology Advanced CERT Jason Barrera John Logan Austin Montgomery Automotive Collision Technology Basic CERT Alex Caddell Maria Garza Roberto Montano Jr Wade Trost Cristian Venegas Michael Zepeda Automotive Collision Technology Intermediate CERT Alex Caddell Roberto Montano Jr Cristian Venegas Automotive Technology Advanced CERT Christian Evans Juan Lara Jr. Arr Pee Brian Vega Christopher Zuniga Automotive Technology - Basic Automotive CERT Shwe Ai Caden Cooper Sa Din Christopher Zuniga Aviation Maintenance Technology - Airframe Mechanic CERT Giovanny Chacon Jacob Ives Terrance Moore Thanh Nguyen Ryan Reynolds Basic Business Management CERT Kara Aragon Autumn Captain Bobbie Cole Lyndsey Counterman Amanda Garcia William Hill III Arianna Howard Joshua Lawrence Blaine Littau Michael Sullen Brayden Wilhelm Basic Diesel Technology CERT Jonathan Coe Jaime Gabriel David Long Brandon Murillo Dylan Sanders Braden Teltow Business Technology Foundations CERT Kimberly Vinson Sherry Lovett Tessa Moore Shawna Nichols Krystal San Miguel Kimberly Vinson Business Technology Systems CERT Sherry Lovett Kimberly Vinson Erica Williams Child Development - Early Childhood Administrator CERT Micah Cordova Vicky Lewis Erica Pina Erin Young CIS - Web Developer Specialist CERT Alma Marquez Kyaw Nyein Coding and Design CERT
December 10, 2020 Chima Ozuah Computer Cyber Security CERT Beau Bellatty Nicholas Foster Computer Digital Forensics CERT Lucas Mosqueda Erineo Pedroza III Charles Reed Chris Ward Computer Game Design CERT Saul Chacon Michael De Los Santos Nathaniel Worthington Computer Network Administration CERT Beau Bellatty Pablo Chavez Calvin Hubbard Tiffany Lafleur James McClenny Lucas Mosqueda Henry Stratton Jr. Chris Ward Computer Network Essentials CERT Gabriel Anderson Alexander Arce Jose Bela Pablo Chavez Tiffany Lafleur Sam Ly Jacqueline Pascacio Mason Stewart
Brayton Reimer Willy Sipes Drafting Technician CERT Colton Junell Thomas Nichols IV Michael Rios Adrian Serrano Full Stack Development CERT Christopher Coffee Ryan Ivy Christopher White Industrial Technology Helper - Electromechanical CERT Mauro Cervantes Alejandro De Santiago II Abdisalam Hassan Noah Penn Arturo Zuniga Industrial Technology Helper - Instrument & Electronics CERT Alex Barraza Brandon Campbell Camron Kelley Francisco Rivera Jessika Trevino Industrial Technology Helper - Wind CERT Erwin Chavez Marco Flores John Rose III Robert Westbrook Trevor York
Computer System Support CERT Michael De Los Santos Christopher Jesko Chima Ozuah
Industrial Technology Tech - Electromechanical CERT Mauro Cervantes Alejandro De Santiago II
English AA Sarah Forbes
Emily Garcia Aide Gonzales Haley Perry Bryson Richardson Brittany Wilhelm
Abdisalam Hassan Industrial Technology Tech - Instrument & Electronics CERT Brandon Campbell Victor Cardoza Tony Castillo Andres Chacon Camron Kelley Jessika Trevino Edgar Trujillo Jr. Industrial Technology Technician Wind CERT Marco Flores Robert Westbrook Intermediate Business Management CERT Tammy Baumgardner Ornelas Richard Carter Diana Claire Naomi Cortez Cody Cowart Meliea Cox Trinidad Faure Anahi Gomez Britney Griffin Alicia Jackson Marley Juarez Navid Khamisi Sobbi Skyler Olivas Alyssa Rodriguez Legal Studies - Paralegal Professional CERT Abigail Gonzales Leah Stroud Logistics Training - Truck Driving CERT Lindy Beattie
Chase Burgess Fernando Castillo Esperanza Cervantes Omar Chacon William Gallegos Luz Hernandez Nicole London Fabian Lujan Alberto Ordunez Keenan Pfeiffer Jason Phetluangsy Colleen Reynolds Steven Rueda Hugo Soltero Donquinn Swift Cody Waide Medical Assisting CERT Bianca Nava Medical Data Specialist CERT Emmeri Elliott Mortuary Science CERT Jared Cookston Myiesha Fields Patricia Hall Misty Hill Djuana Jones Celestina Moreno Dhuha Qazi Misty Rendon Online Marketing CERT Bethany Fox Jenna Gibson Pharmacy Technology CERT Alexis Cervantes Vocational Nursing CERT Sandra Aguinaga
Summer 2020 Graduates Automotive Technology AAS Justin Haddock Aviation Maintenance Technology AAS Hunter Doty Business Management AAS Joshua Carr Hannah Johnson Jaqueline Salgado Ailene Sanchez Child Development - Early Childhood AAS Aleisha Dickson Criminal Justice Law Enforcement AAS Bryan Bacon Chylo Graham Jerri-Lynn Ortega Diesel Transportation Technician AAS Shawn Saker Legal Studies AAS Yelena Flores Kayla Perkins Carlos Thomas Medical Assisting AAS Brandi De Leon Sandra Quintanilla Desiree Vasquez Medical Laboratory Technology AAS David Alvarado Michelle Carrasco Laura Gonzales Jennifer Graham Shannon Ibarra Danella Ioor Anisha Rivers Renette Schlett Taylor Sheldon Jessica Trejo Mortuary Science AAS Michael Garcia Darlene Lopez Jemeliah Perkins Christian Willingham Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS Stephanie Hoffman Respiratory Care AAS Lidia Fernandez Edyth Flores Linda Guzman Andrea Juarez Abbie Marchman Myra Marquez Chelsea Pehl Surgical Technology AAS Rudy Cantu Victoria Carrasco Jade Cordova Jessica Diaz Belia Guerrero Mya Harvey Daryenne Johnson Monica Maxam Olivia McDonald Kristeen Ornelas Daisy Reyes Jamie Valero Amber White Welding Technology AAS Levi Plummer Education - Elementary Specialist AAT Jennifer Carreon Maria Pena Education - Secondary AAT Rodrigo Pena Karissa Schacher Art AS Mariah Aytch Biology AS Ashley Ausbrooks
Business Administration AS Karen Arce Alexandria Arriaga Tammy Carrasco Hector Casanova Oguer Chavez Eric Dominguez Xenia Franco Orozco Lacy Gainey Benjamin Glover Kylie Hall Kristal Hernandez Brenda Hernandez Rex Herndon Jillian Horner Lizbeth Martinez Michael Martinez Emily Martinez Hannah Miller Serena Mincey Leanna Pinnell Aaron Ray Amber Salinas Shelby Scheets Melissa Seale Skylar Shelley Hannah Steelman Jessica Tarango Catlynn Townsend Javier Trevino Natalie Velasquez Kerri Walker Criminal Justice AS Sandra Alvarado Odessa Brown Vaughn Michelle Diaz Valerie Estrada Rafaela Garcia Jacob Guerrero Rhett Harden Ashlynn Heinsohn Aireanna Hernandez Cheyanne Jones Jorge Montoya Gracie Morris Blake Palmer Carlos Ramos Garcia Nicholas Wolleat Engineering AS Stuart Edwards Paulina Fernandez mendoza Trevor McNabb Daniel Morales Engineering Computer Science AS Skylar Adams General Studies AS Taylor Allen Luis Alvarez Colton Amerson Julia Badillo Karyss Betzen Ileana Bonner Caleb Bort Autumn Brown Mariela Castanon Aylin Castillo-Flores Brenna Davis Marcos De La Cruz Rhonda Denman Sabrina Emmert Kimberly England Isaiah Fennell Nicole Fisher Matthew Flores Ashlyn Garton Hayley Graybill Rebecca Harmon Lizbeth Hernandez Monica Hernandez Audrey Hernandez Faith Hurd Taylor Hutchison Anita Koch Madison Lafont Devree Mallory Brianna Mendoza Brenda Montoya Berta Alysia Ornelas Maecee Porter Blake Rios Kayla Sadegur Jennifer Sizemore
Kathlyn Srader Mckenzi Weaver Caitlyn Woody General Studies - Education AS Amye Aviles Tori Bennett Alyssa Bray Steven Buckler Megan Cano Xavier Jiminez Cheryl Luther Cassey McDonald Mariah Reyes Alicia Sneath Darby Taylor Dalila Velazco Mass Media AS Tatheana Finney Colton Schwalk Massage Therapy AS Ashley Sanders Physics AS Elijah Earnest Pre-Nursing AS Shantel Benson Michaela Corona Tristen Gillispie Khristian Ledbetter Chaney McCuistion Joel Pena Joshua Perez Joanna Powell Micaela Reynoso Hannah Rogers Karina Romero Gabrijela Sain Lexi Schellhamer Shaylee Scott Mackenzie Wilson Raven Wright Pre-Physician Assistant AS Kenni Duong Psychology AS Christine Baker Kyndal Bell Synthia Box Sylvia Cruz Zendra Hall Michele Howe Addison Jones Mirna Maldonado Alesandra Medrano Cheyenne Miller Victoria Monreal Alexandria Perez Colton Reed Brenda Salas Tedi Seibel Camron Shelton Leandra Spear Jack Thurmond Jennifer Troncozo Tali Tyme Yazmyne Williams Social Science AS Michael Appel Benjamin Woolley Social Work AS Mari Alonzo Nicki Davis Sierra Flores Alexandria Garcia Madison Jordan Rochelle Spencer Jessica Stokes Theatre AS Clayton Pearson Allison Pritchett Administrative Medical Assisting CERT Ellen Chavez Brandi De Leon Bailey Forbes Kristin Hayes Advanced Business Management CERT Joshua Carr Johnny Turner Advanced Diesel Technology CERT
Brandon Owens Aerospace Manufacturing CERT Thanh Nguyen Basic Business Management CERT Aracely Acosta Taylor Aduddell Larissa Bernal Meliea Cox Daniela Flores Sabrina Gomez Jordan Humphrey Hien Huynh Marley Juarez Navid Khamisi Sobbi James Lower Cheryl Markley Elizabeth Meraz Aimee Rendon Alyssa Rodriguez Efrain Sanchez Basic Diesel Technology CERT Daniel Jungmayer-Green Child Development - Early Childhood Administrator CERT Aleisha Dickson Child Development - Early Childhood Provider CERT Micah Cordova Aleisha Dickson Melissa Fisher Kyra Jackson Maria Monardies Sabra Myers Erica Pina Yuritzi Rodriguez Erin Young Computer Digital Forensics CERT Jacqueline Pascacio Computer System Support CERT Tiffany Lafleur Blake Wathen Criminal Justice Law Enforcement CERT Miguel Alamillo Chad Black Corey Cude Lorenzo Emillio Shaun Guevara Clare Hinkle Isai Lara Ramirez Zach Peters Eric Quiroz Abril Rivera Giana Rodriguez Reese Smith Matthew Wadsworth Drafting Technician CERT David Galvan Gentri Zgadzaj Brayan Zubiate Industrial Fundamentals CERT Rogelio Almanza Jett Black Kenneth Braden Brandon Campbell Mauro Cervantes Erwin Chavez Jose Chavez Alejandro De Santiago Marco Flores Abdisalam Hassan Camron Kelley Peyton Mcwhirter David Metcalf Noah Penn Francisco Rivera John Rose Evan Thongvanh Jessika Trevino Toby Weschke Robert Westbrook Arturo Zuniga Industrial Technology Helper Instrument & Electronics CERT Roberto Castillo Andres Chacon Rodrigo Gonzalez Brandon Olivas Juan Roach Jonathan Rosales Edgar Trujillo
Jessica Alvarado Lenny Blanton Cortlyn Callery Gabriel De la Rosa Alexis Duby Chassity Gillilan Jacquelyn Hatley Cherish Heflin Isabelle Heredia Amanda Hernandez Priscilla Hernandez Stephanie Jacobs Keshia Johnson Regan King Asten Lopez Brittany Luna Darlene Mendoza Terry Mendoza Nancy Montenegro Kenda Mote Cierra Ochoa Denisse Padron Rachael Parden Alejandra Patino Paris Perez Monica Rangel Ashley Rico Cassie Vasquez Racheal Watkins Welding Fundamentals CERT Ryan Cash William Henderson Talyn Kuster Justin Moore Steven Sosa Eric Squires Ethan White
Intermediate Business Management CERT Joshua Carr Hannah Johnson Ailene Sanchez Logistics Training - Truck Driving CERT Joseph Bargeron Angela Garza Ethan Jenkins Ramona Miller Ernest Ochoa Shawn Saker Machining Fundamentals CERT Adrian Cordova Trevor Fillip Trenton Knight Tanner Nail Juan San Martin Dela Cruz Austin Wheeler Massage Therapy CERT Hilary Brandt Kori Fielding Kristi Gauna April Hazelwood Jennie Landry Benny Luna Iesha Trevino Medical Assisting CERT Jackelyn Alvarez Ellen Chavez Brandi De Leon Bailey Forbes Kristin Hayes Elawdia Kler Sadie Morris Sofiya Niyubuntu Htee Paw Sandra Quintanilla Desiree Vasquez Thalaw Wah Medical Data Specialist CERT Erin Powell Mortuary Science CERT Mark Bunch Christopher Eubank Cynthia Foster Isaac Giddens Brittney Kilgore Jill Lambert Palmer Gabriela Leal Harold Morton Alexis Purcy Javariah Qazi Barbara Washington James Yates Pharmacy Technology CERT Elizabeth Monarrez Surgical Technology CERT Rudy Cantu Victoria Carrasco Jade Cordova Victoria Dean Jessica Diaz Xujing Ding Lorri Egan Belia Guerrero Mya Harvey Daryenne Johnson Monica Maxam Olivia McDonald Cody Morgan Kristeen Ornelas Eunice Rangel Daisy Reyes Jamie Valero Amber White Vocational Nursing CERT Janeth Valenzuela Welding Fundamentals CERT Elian Arana Jon Trey Clark Kyle Curio Derrick Neusch Robert Wilson
December 10, 2020
COURTESY PHOTO
$90 million bond brings new construction By EVAN STATON Staff Reporter
As the semester nears the end, work is beginning on a nearly $90 million construction bond that has kick-started a large number of projects and opened new ground for expansion at Amarillo College campuses. Over the next few years, AC can expect new buildings, renovations and upgrades as part of what is called the Master Plan. “Many improvements to accommodate people with disabilities have been addressed at all our campuses,” said Joe Wyatt, AC communications coordinator. “The college also has selected architects and management teams for renovation
projects at Russell Hall, Carter Fitness Center and at the Downtown Campus, which is now known as the Innovation Outpost,” he said. A portion of the bond will be used to restore and update older buildings, said Wyatt. As the college grows in enrollment and expands in its departments, the buildings will need updating to accommodate the future students and staff. Wyatt said the college has also hired someone to coordinate the projects. Danny Smith was chosen to be the master plan program manager in February. “At the time I was hired, five projects had already been through the architect selection process, but no design was being performed except on the innova-
tion outpost,” Smith said. In addition to the Innovation Outpost, which will house the new School of Cinematic Arts, the following projects are now active: Carter Fitness Center improvements, Student Service Center “HUB” renovation and addition, the First Responders Academy and HVAC infrastructure replacement. “These projects represent over $44 million of the Master Plant Project total of $90 million,” Smith said. The college will be holding informational Zoom meetings about the Master Plan to give students a chance to share their opinions. Each phase of the plan will have its own meeting where there will be open discussion about details, goals and construction schedules.
Students are invited to attend informational mettings about Amarillo Colleges Master Plan! These Mettings wil be heald over Zoom during the following dates. Carter Fitness Center Thursday, December 10, 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82994592086 Russell Hall – Student Services Monday, December 14, 12:00 p.m.-12:45 p.m. Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82315541223 Student Services building first floor for Student Life Wednesday, December 16, 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82281955156 Art Department: Basement of the CUB Wednesday, January 20, 12:00 p.m.-12:45 p.m. Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82563558081 First Responders, JC Penny’s building Thursday, January 21, 12:00 p.m.-12:45 p.m. Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82002463719
If you have questions or are unable to attend and still want to share your opinion, email us at studentlife.actx.edu!
Infographic by SIDNEY WEST | The Ranger
Illustration by SALVADOR GUTIERREZ | The Ranger
Illustration by CAYLEE HANNA | The Ranger
December 10, 2020
COURTESY PHOTO
New album is ‘Dynamite’ REVIEW By CAYLEE HANNA Page Editor
Bangtan Sonyeondan, also known as BTS, recently released an album that encapsulates what living life is like during the COVID-19 pandemic. The songs range from happy and upbeat to sad and slow, showcasing the rollercoaster of emotions that many people have been experiencing. I think that creating an album with the theme of healing and hope during the pandemic was a great idea since people are able to relate to it as well as find comfort in the tracks. The tracks on the album
perfectly describe what a pandemic lifestyle is like and are incredibly addicting. There are seven songs in total on the album as well as one skit. The first track on the album is ‘Life Goes On’ and it has an underlying meaning that everything is going to be OK and that even throughout this new normal that we have to deal with, life still goes on. One of the first lines of the song is “One day, the world stopped without any warning,” and it made me tear up when I first heard it because it’s the way that I felt at the beginning of the pandemic. The song gave me hope that one day this will all be over and everything will
finally be OK again. The third track is ‘Blue and Grey,’ which is characterized as an acoustic pop song and a ballad, and let me tell you this song makes me cry my eyes out. When V described what the colors blue and grey meant to him, he said that they represent depression and anxiety. The lyrics talk about being lonely, wanting to be happier and having a feeling of everything not being OK. I greatly appreciate the way BTS incorporated the mental aspect of dealing with a pandemic in the album because mental health is incredibly important right now. The final track on ‘BE’ is
‘Dynamite’ and it is always going to have a special place in my heart since it is the first song that the group released completely in English. This song is so good that it even went on to get number one on the Billboard charts. The song has a disco vibe to it and I listen to it on repeat every single day. The packaging of ‘BE’ the deluxe edition is minimalistic and beautiful. It is solid white with black text on it. The album includes a photo book, a behind-the-scenes book, a polaroid photo card, eight photo cards, a CD, a photo frame, seven postcards and two posters, one being a lyric poster and the other being a poster of the members.
On the Target website the price of the album is $50, which, in my opinion, is a reasonable price since you get so many items along with the music. Overall, the album was beautifully made and all of the members took part in creating it. I highly recommend listening to this album because it shows the audience that, although we may not be experiencing the exact same things during this pandemic, there is still hope and that they can find healing through this music. I love BTS with my entire heart and I hope you can find comfort in their music as well during this crazy year.
‘Animaniacs’ gets rebooted REVIEW By JESSIKA FULTON Page Editor
COURTESY PHOTO
‘The Queen’s Gambit’ captures audiences REVIEW By RUTH MARTINEZ Staff Reporter
“The Queen’s Gambit” has become an enormous hit for Netflix. The show takes place in the 1950s and 60s. The cinematography is astounding. I love the way the show recreates the time period with clothes, cars and even the food choices. The acting also really stands out as the actors fully embody their characters. The limited series focus-
es on an orphaned girl who grows up striving to become a grandmaster at chess. The main character, Elizabeth (Beth) Harmon is sent to an orphanage where she becomes addicted to tranqulizers, which eventually leads to her addiction to alcohol when she grows older. At the orphanage, Harmon learns the game of chess from the janitor, Mr. Shaibel. At first, Shaibel isn’t fond of Harmon, but as the months go by, he recognizes her tal-
ent, which is something I love so much about the story. During the 50s and 60s, women did not play chess, but there she is, proving every man wrong while defeating them all at the same time. One thing that bothers me personally about the series is the sexual content, which did not seem necessary to the overall plot. All-in-all, the show has been liked by 98 percent of its viewers on Netflix. The show has seven episodes, each an hour long.
In an era full of ubiquitous reboots and ever-evolving animation, it was only a matter of time before another classic was given a transformation. And that’s exactly what Amblin Television and Warner Bros. Animation did with the well-known cartoon series, “Animaniacs.” “Animaniacs” was first produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. It was aired from 1993 to 1998 on FOX and then The WB, resulting in 99 funpacked episodes. Hulu first premiered the reboot in mid-September and received instinctive feedback from viewers on allusions of the witty remake. This amusing remake features the same beloved Warner siblings, Yakko, Wakko and Dot, who use Episode 1 of their own reboot to make scathing commentary on the evolving trend of reboots. Which was the perfect way to prepare the audience for the plentiful of jabs throughout the series. This reincarnation of “Animaniacs” is dedicated mostly to the reflections of the alterations of society
since the Warner siblings last surfaced from their water tower in 1998 and the change in culture that resulted in their release. Of course, an “Animaniacs” reboot is not complete without also reincarnating its comedy sibling, “Pinky and The Brain.” This adds even more nostalgia to the remake and enjoyability of the series. As someone who has watched the original series, I was overjoyed to see a 2020 remake of an amazing classic. The jokes in the reboot were relevant to Gen Z and millennials, not so much for kids under the age of 16. Meaning its demeanor was geared toward older audiences that would understand the political and controversial jokes. For example, in one of the first episodes, they used a cyclops that resembled President Donald Trump as a form of punishment. The segment was filled with tons of jabs at Trump’s personality and his form of authority. To me, it was quite enjoyable and was funny enough to make me cringe and become speechless. This reboot is perfect for anyone who loved the original series. It is also perfect for viewers that like cute cringey jokes about relevant 2020 topics.
December 10, 2020
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Where to see them?
Illustration By PIERCE LAWSON | The Ranger
Winter break is coming
You can find this interactive map at thebullamarillo.com
1
Candy Cane Lane
2
Botanical Gardens
Students break the ice about their holiday plans By CAILEY DINGA Staff Reporter
The holiday season is right around the corner and so is finals week. With the end of the fall semester next week, students and staff are beginning to plan for their winter breaks. Lillie Blankenship, a dual credit student, is planning to spend the winter break with her friends and family. Blankenship said she is looking forward to spending time with her siblings. “COVID didn’t affect my Christmas plans because we usually don’t travel in December,” Blankenship said. She said she is hoping that during the time off from school, she will have time to pick up a
new hobby. Joshua Ruiz, a business major, said he plans to work throughout the winter break. He also plans to hang out with his family. Ruiz said that COVID-19 has changed his holiday parties by bringing his normal gatherings of 50 or more people down to less than ten. “I am still very excited to spend the holidays with my family and enjoy some time with them since my siblings and I are all living on our own now,” Ruiz, said. Ryan Haisten, a fine arts major, said he will be relaxing during his winter break. Despite the issues that COVID-19 has caused this school year, Haisten said he is still on track to graduate this month.
EVENTS
“I enjoyed the time I spent doing what I love with the people that I’ve met.” Haisten, said Sandra De La Rosa, the director of secondary partnerships and dual enrollment, said she plans to stay home for the majority of the winter break. De La Rosa said she also plans to visit some family on Christmas, but she will spend time with fewer people than she usually does during the holidays. De La Rosa said this semester’s difficulties have made her appreciate what really matters, which has changed her approach to the holiday season. “This pandemic has taught me to save and not waste on things. We don’t need material things to make our holidays special,” she said.
3
Located off of I-40 and Coulter It begins on Gainsbourgough drive and lasts several blocks.
Nov 28th - Dec 20 Thursday, Friday and Sundays 6:00 - 8:30 PM Saturdays 6:00 - 9:00 PM Tickets $5, kids 5 and under are free
The Bis hop Hills
Christmas lights are from Sunday through Thursday 6:30 - 10:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 6:30 PM - midnight
4
Amar illo Zoo
700 Comanchero, Amarillo, TX 9:30 AM - 5 PM every day
AROUND AMARILLO *COVID-19 may affect some of these hours and dates. MAXWELL’ S PUMPK IN FARM NOVEMBER 27 – DECEMBER 23 12908 BELL ST, AMARILLO, TX KIDS 2 AND UNDER ARE FREE, ADULTS $13 ONLINE
WINTER WONDERFEST ART SHOW FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11TH, 5:00 – 9:00 PM TEXAS ROUTE 66 VISITOR CENTER 1900 SW 6TH, AMARILLO, TX
I T ’ S A WONDERFUL LIFE FRIDAY DEC 11 – SUNDAY DECEMBER 13 ALT ADVENTURE SPACE 2751 CIVIC CIRCLE, AMARILLO, TX CALL (806) 355-9991 FOR TICKET INFORMATION
THE PETERSENS, A “ BRANSON ST YLE” CHRISTMAS CONCERT SUNDAY, DEC 13, 2:30 – 4:00 PM THE CHURCH AT QUAIL CREEK 801 TASCOSA RD, AMARILLO, TX TICKETS ARE $10
AARON WATSON, RANDALL K ING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, DOORS OPEN AT 8 PM AZTECA MUSIC HALL 500 FM 1912, AMARILLO, TX TICKETS ARE $40 COURTESY PHOTO
H A P PY H O L I DAYS !