Count Down To Graduation: 10 Days Jerrika Lopez-Wilson Editor-N-Chief This year we have taken a look a little deeper into the people of our community. The Purple Press staff has interviewed the Mayor, David Lansford, The four councilors at CHS, Mrs.Winn, Mrs.Cornelison, Mrs.Dobbs, Mrs.Penland, the vice principals at CHS, Mr. Wiseman, Mr.Rutledge, and Mrs.Mendoza, the principal at CHS, Mr.Marshall, the superintendent Mr.Balch, the librarian at the Clovis Carver Public Library, Ms.Hinchie, the head football coach, Coach Roanhaus and the Athletic Director Dale Fullerton, the principal of choices, Mr. Morris, Santa Claus, Rick Richardson. For our final interview of the 20142015 schoolyear we interviewed our very own seniors, Denicia Aragon, Kyle Dunning, Dannelle Kirven, and Maya Mack, on our staff about their experience in high school and what they have not experienced yet. Q: How would you describe your high school experience? A: Denicia- A great learning experience, in not only the classroom, but in life and leadership lessons as well. Kyle- I’d say my high school experience was great. I have no regrets and I enjoyed every year! Dannelle- My high school experience was like a roller coaster. It started out really slow with freshman, sophomore, and junior years. Then, all of a sudden, it hit its peak and the fall (senior year) happened. I can’t believe senior year has come this fast, but it really has been my best year at Clovis High.
You Could Be The Greatest... You Could Be The Best Q: In three words describe your time at Clovis High School. A: Denicia-Become my own teacher (four words) Kyle- Way too long. Dannelle- Three words to describe my time at Clovis High are dramatic, fun, and memorable.
Maya- I started high school in Misawa, Japan and that was honestly one of the coolest experiences of my life now that I look back on it. My junior year I transferred to Clovis High School, which was a big change, but I honestly enjoyed it. My high school experience was definitely a roller coaster and I’m more than happy that it’s finally ending
Q: What colleges are you accepted to?
Q: How long have you been waiting to get out of your parent’s house? A: Denicia- Since I was 14 but I’m still not ready for it
Maya- Eventful, Q: What did you do to advance from a freshman to sophomore, from a sophomore to a junior, and a junior to a senior? A: Denicia-Going through each grade, I learned something about myself each year. Freshman to sophmore I learned I didn’t need to stay quiet anymore. Sophmore through junior, I realized I needed to be choosy with the people I put my trust in, and junior to senior I learned life doesn’t usually go your way, but if it did all the fun out of life would be taken away with it Kyle- When I was a freshman, I had long hair, dorky features, and I wore tennis shoes. I was a pretty awkward dude. As sophomore year came along, I started wearing normal clothes, and I even bought my first pair of Vans! And a couple years later, here I am, cruising through senior year.
Denicia Aragon A: Dencia-I have been accepted to Texas State University, West Texas, and University of New Mexico Kyle -I have been accepted to the University of West Florida and that’s where I’m going. Kyle Dunning Kyle- Ever since I started high school. I even once asked my parents if I could rent out my room and pay for living there so I could be “independent”…and so I wouldn’t have to clean my room so much. Dannelle- I actually haven’t been waiting to get out of my parents house. I’m actually a daddy’s girl so getting out of the house is really going to be bitter sweet. Maya- TOO LONG! Just kidding. The only time I really want to leave my parents house is when they start asking me a bunch of questions that I don’t feel like answering.
Dannelle Kirven
Maya Mack
until the last minute because you’ll be rushing to get it done your senior year. Junior to Senior- Enjoy your senior year as much as you can! Do whatever makes you happy just try not to get into any mishaps
May 12, 2015
Dannelle- The one significant thing I did to advance from one grade to the next was freshman year. I completely changed my group of friends and the new group of friends I joined really helped me discover my true self (Shout out to my girls +Fred). Without that change there is no way my high school experience would have been as crazy fun as it has. Maya- Freshman to Sophomore-learn your place! Sophomore to Junior- definitely get started on your college stuff and taking your ACT and SAT. Don’t wait
Q: How do you feel about college? A: Denicia-I have never had a doubt in my mind that I would be attending college right after high school. I think college will be a great new experience. Kyle- Excited! I can’t wait to start the college experience and have a blast. Dannelle- I feel like college is going to be a fresh start in a new city with new people. It is going to be AWESOME. I can’t wait to experience college and maybe learn a few new things about myself. Maya- College cannot come soon enough! It’s not like I’m trying to rush through life or anything. It’s just that college seems like a much better place to be and also more enjoyable. It’s always good to be ready and excited for upcoming changes.
Dannelle- I got accepted to Northern Arizona University, Eastern New Mexico University, and the University of New Mexico. I will be attending the University of New Mexico. Woof. Woof. Maya- I got accepted into the University of New Mexico and Georgia State University, but this fall I will be attending the University if New Mexico. Q: Is there anything that you wanted to do in high school that you didn’t? A: Denicia- I wanted to get at least top 3 at state, but I am still proud of my last dance and wouldn’t take it back for the world Kyle- Uh…probably not. Everything on my high-school-bucket-list has been crossed off. Except for my senior prank…but that’s for May 18th. Stay tuned! Dannelle- I’ve done just about everything I wanted to do here at Clovis High except get good parking, but that’s nearly impossible :D Maya -Not that I can think of, maybe to not sweat the small stuff. There is nothing I would do differently because I would not want to have to think of doing high school all over again. We congratulate all of the graduating seniors. You finally made it, after all the years of staying up until 3 a.m. just to finish your homework, after all of the stress the teachers piled on your shoulders, and after all the expectations your parents have held for you. You finally get to walk across the stage, looking at the crowd and thinking to yourself, “I did it.”
2 Purple Press, May 12, 2015
Let's Talk-
50 Things To Do To Prepare For College
Dannelle Kirven Maya Mack Staff Writers We seniors are on our countdown to summer and graduation. While that’s going on we are also preparing to take the next big step in our live. This step comes with tons of things that we need to do in order to be ready for this journey. Here is a list of a few simple activities, sentimental and necessary things you should do before college: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20)
Leave behind inappropriate nicknames. Donate all old clothes. Attend your last Smoke on the Water. GET RID OF YOUR PROVISIONAL AND GET YOUR FULL LICENSE. Take your CHS parking sticker off your car. Visit the Clovis Zoo. Get your last Foxy’s Fixin’. Walk up and down the hallway we call a mall. Learn how to be classy. SAVE YOUR MONEY. Clean out your car. Clean up all social media websites or just make a new one. Make sure you have Microsoft apps on you laptop, you’ll be using it a lot. Take your parents out to dinner. Take a surprise trip with your woes. Buy $50 worth of candy. Savor a Greenchile cheeseburger at Taco Box Do something no one would expect you to do. Write a letter to yourself for the end of your freshman year. Binge watch That 70’s Show.
Christa Lemmons Staff Writer
21) 22) 23) 24) 25)
26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38)
39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50)
Get your snapchat game up. Steal a street sign. Make a scrapbook. Update your iTunes playlist. LEAVE THE CUPID SHUFFLE AT PROM, HOMECOMING DANCES, ETC. Go cliff jumping/diving. Go Karaoke. Got o the Clovis County Fair. Get a haircut. Go to Castleland. Stop trying to handout your mixtape. Use a Polaroid camera or gopro. LEARN HOW TO PARK. Buy a copy of your favorite album. Save as many coupons as possible. Figure out how to do your own laundry. Make sure your little siblings know how much you love them. Make sure your parents know you appreciate the little things that go unnoticed. Register to vote. Go dirt biking. Go paintballing. Buy your High School yearbook. Feed the ducks at the park. Visit Jerika the Giraffe. Take a picture with Danni Williams. Send Facebook friend requests to all your favorite teachers. Expand your sense of humor. Make plans and then expect them to fail. Make a video hitting the whip. Make a few more memories to last a lifetime.
Is Respect Earned or Given?
We live in a give and take world. Our generation is known as one of the most disrespectful if not the most disrespectful known to man. I believe that every living thing deserves respect, adults, teenagers, plants, animals. Even though I do believe in equality, I can say that I do believe that some people who do not deserve respect demand it. I am not going to say that it is okay to disrespect our elders; of course, it isn’t. Times have changed. Some individuals want respect and act absolutely immature and impossible if they do not receive it. I come from two types of families, two very proud, very blunt, people. I grew up with many different types of influences. I was taught never to be disrespectful but to rather always stand by my opinion and stand my ground. I was also taught things that should be respected and others that should not. People will be people, and everyone will be who they are. Just because you are thirtyfour doesn’t mean that you deserve respect even though the younger generation always should be respectful regardless. Respect is
earned and is what we are all striving for. When people demand things that they do not deserve, that is what causes conflict. Own up to what you are. If someone doesn’t do wonderful in school, but they try; you know what, I can respect that. Someone goofs off and never does work but cries and whines when they do not Ace the class; that I do not respect. It is all in our demeanor, if someone is rude and arrogant, expect for others to act that way towards them as well . It is always good to remember that demanding and earning are two different terms and both have two very different outcomes. The two terms perfectly define the two types of people in the world, the ones who demand, and the ones who earn. Respect should never be thrown around to everyone, because, once people gain respect they stop trying to earn it, which gives the wrong impression as to what we should all want. The respect that my peers have for me was not just given. I had to do something that made them take a second look and want to give me that respect. Now children, I am not saying that it is okay to walk into your classes and never listen to your teachers. They
are taking time out of their day to teach us, and give us knowledge. I know that sometimes we all have a hard time getting along, but remember that if it weren’t for the teacher you would not have an education. Look in the mirror and remember that you as a person do deserve and have the potential to be respected, but you have to in turn do something that can potentially be respected. As Raquel Cepeda says, “ I have never bought into the idea that blood is thicker than water. Love and respect are meant to be earned from our children, our spouses, our families, and our friends.” Mackenzie Credle Layout Editor Ever since I was a little kid I have been learning about respect. It starts out with “The Golden Rule” and as we get older we learn more about what it really means. To me respect is an instinct. You walk up to someone and greet them as sir or ma’am, and you give them the appreciation that they deserve. Now as a teenager I have looked back at how I personally show respect, and I have to decide, do people automatically deserve respect? Personally, I feel like everyone and everything
deserves respect. Whether it is a tree or a human being, you should never treat them with anything but respect. Respect is defined as esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality, or ability. Politeness shows you are not taking people/things for granted. When you forget to tell someone that they are important and needed, they feel like you don’t care, and may just walk out and leave you in a sinking ship. Something should be said for respecting family, because it can ruin a family if you really mess up. Everyone has people that they look up to in their families; mine are my parents, grandparents, and siblings. But when these people you are close to let you down it really affects you. My mom always says “It is sad how we can treat strangers on the street better than our own families”. They should automatically get respect because they care about you, and will respect you back. Having respect for authority is important, especially in today’s day and age. Authority almost always gets respect over anything else. Living in Clovis, we tend to see people that are in the Air Force, Army, Marines, and Veterans and think about what they have done for freedom and to preserve
We have had so much fun writing our debates this year, and we are sad that we are not going to be able to write for all of you for the next three months. It has been amazing to know that people have been not only reading what is written, but actually enjoying
your rights, then you better come to the conclusion that they deserve the highest respect. It should always be an automatic thing. Even with my belief of automatic respect, I believe that you can lose it. A lot like your cumulative GPA, when you start your freshman year you have a 4.0, but you can lose it if you aren’t careful. When I get treated badly by anyone, even if they are related to me or by authority I lose part of my respect for them. That being said, you never lose respect for their life. The easiest way to explain respect for their being a human is what Jackie Robinson said. “I’m not concerned with your liking me or disliking me, just respect me as a human being.” Respecting people will get you further in life. Everyone wants to be respected, so treat them that way and you will be rewarded. “When we continue to hate, we continue to lose. When we amplify mutual respect and love, we have a lot to gain,” -Suzy Kassem. This quote is great to think about when you get ready to go out and face the world. You should always give people respect when you first meet them, and try to keep the respect of others.
See Ya! and looking forward to when the next paper comes out. Since this idea first happened to
now, we have been so happy to know that our opinions are out there for the world to hear. We hope everyone read and picked a side based on what we have written. See ya next year!
A Showcase To Remember
Purple Press, May 12, 2015
Holi Robinson Staff Writer This year on April 30th, students and parents at Clovis High School had a pretty amazing evening. The amount of people that showed up was satisfying for the organizers to see. The cafeteria held the main events. While walking around inside the Spanish Department had games you could play to win candy, and the Math Department was playing krypto. The CHS Jazz Band kept it lively with cool beats, (quite the crowd pleasers). On the opposite side there were art displays on the walls and the Marine, Army, and Air Force Recruters had their little tables filled with give-away items.
Denicia Aragon Staff Writer Senior year is full of last times and goodbyes. This will be my last newspaper for Clovis High School, and I just wanted to thank all those who read our work every other Tuesday, my staff for making my last year as editor worth all the work, and the Clovis News Journal for publishing our paper
Photos By Holi Robinson and Kenzie Credle
3
Outside, the AG Shop had a petting zoo that consisted of friendly goats, bigbellied pigs, and fluffy bunnies. As I observed, the families seemed to flock to the goats, kids
would stick their hands in the pins and be greeted with soft kisses that would make them giggle and laugh. With the many activities going on many got hungry, but
don’t worry the boosters already had that covered. They grilled hot dogs and gave out bags of chips and water on the side to satisfy attendees’ hunger needs. To finish the
night off the JROTC ended with a demonstration that showed how the military honors a fallen soldier. The demonstration also showed each cadets’ skill and patience with
the task at hand. The showcase this year proved to be a big hit with parents and students, and the expectations for next year are set high.
and including it in their paper as well. I am excited to see what next year’s editor Jerrika Lopez-Wilson and next year’s staff does with the paper when I am gone. I wish them best of luck and I hope I have taught them a few things while I was their editor. To the student body, I hope you enjoyed your school newspaper while I was in charge. It means the world
to my staff and I that our writing has an audience. The same goes to those reading it from the Clovis News Journal. I am honoured to say that being the first high school newspaper to be included in a city newspaper in New Mexico, we have set off a chain reaction. There was a board meeting set in Albuquerque. discussing putting all high school newspapers
with city newspapers, and they all agreed it was a good idea, all because of us. With saying that, thank you for reading, letting our words be read, and letting it be possible for all of New Mexico’s high school writers be read as well. Senior year once seemed so far away and now it’s almost over. I hope every senior the best in the next steps of your lives and hope high school will be a great memory for you as it was for me. For upcoming seniors, be ready for this next year to pass by you like no other year has, but enjoy every second of it. Your last year sticks
with you forever. All other students, don’t worry. As everyone says, senior year will come quicker than you think and no one is ever ready for it. High school has taught me so much more than just book smarts, including leadership and life lessons also come with during these four years and I’m so thankful for it. Sometimes you just have to let yourself be your own teacher. Please don’t take this time you have for granted. For sure the class of 2015 didn’t. From running across the football field, to having the best junior winter break ever,
including all of our round 2 and 3’s ,we have left so many memories during our time in high school. We will wear those cap and gowns with pride May 22nd, and know we lived these four years to the fullest. Thank you to Clovis High School and citizens of Clovis for reading the 2014-2015 Purple Press, and to my staff for electing me their Editor-in-Chief. You all taught me so much more than you could ever know.
Jerrika Lopez-Wilson Editor-In-Chief
saved us and has helped us on so many occasions. Many times when we thought we couldn’t fix a picture or thought we couldn’t finish typing a paper Dalton would come in and help us. Now, Denicia has passed on the baton that was passed on to her before. Now that I have the baton for the 2015-2016 school year. I hope I fulfill the shoes that Denicia has filled fully. I also hope I influence just as many people as she has. I want to start a tradition. The tradition will be that the next coming Editor-In- Chief will do the last paper and write about what to excpect for the next year. So to start this tradition, as EditorIn-Chief, Next year we will not only have articles about what
is happening in the school, but in the community as well. We do not only reach the students and staff at CHS but also students at The Freshman Academy,at Choices, located on the CHS campus next year, not to mention anybody who buys a Clovis News Journal also recives our paper as an insert. My goal is to reach every kind of reader out there. If you want to know whats happening at the high school, we will write about that, if you want to know what is going on in the community, we will write about that, if you want our opinion on something, we will write about that. Again thank you to Denicia and Dalton for training me to guide the Purple Press staff to succes in the 2015-2016 school year
The Final Bow
Sincerely, Former Editor, Denicia Aragon
The Pass of the Baton
Becoming the next Editor-In-Chief of Purple Press @ CHS is like running a relay race. I stand on the shoulders of literally hundreds of Journalism students of Clovis High School since 1910, when the first graduate, John Victor Bieler, passed the first baton. I want to congratulate Denicia Aragon our former editor-n-chief. She has accomplished 11 papers in the 2014-2015 school year. She has influenced us, the purple press staff, more than she could know. Her influence will continue to inspire us throughout the years we will be here and the others that follow after us. I want to thank the Jack-of-all-Trades, Dalton Kroeger. He has
New Leadership For NM-021
4 Purple Press, May 12, 2015
Kyle Dunning Staff Writer
The end of the year is coming and the Clovis High School AFJROTC is finishing up the year in traditional fashion. On April 29th, the Corps held their Change of Command (CoC) on their drill pad outside of C building. Cadets were called to attention, and after being promoted to their new ranks, they waited for the new leadership to be announced. The previous Top Seven
of NM-021 were seven cadets who served their Corps the best they could. Christian Masaniai and Emilio Ramirez were the two Squadron Commanders that kept A, B, C, and E flights in check. Andrew Butler ran the Logistics Squadron and kept everything from uniforms to cadet files in order. Jeanie Landry, the Falcon Guard commander, kept practices going for the Corps competition teams. Sam Michaels spent the year preparing the Corps for next year’s quad-annual inspection as
Inspector General. I, Kyle Dunning, as Director of Operations, kept the Corps together and served directly under Yvonne Sisneros, the commander of the entire Corps. The original seven gave up their seats to the following people in the Change of Command ceremony. Hector Ruiz and Carter Flemming took command of the squadrons and flights. Butler and Landry’s positions were discontinued due to lack of necessity for a Logistics and Falcon Guard Commander. James
Gurule started to train as Michael’s replacement as Inspector General. Dunning handed down the Director of Operations job to Christian Masaniai. Up-and-coming senior Billy Uhrig took control of the Corps as the Group Commander. With the seniors leaving any day now, they leave the Corps to the New Leadership, knowing that their successors will keep the Corps going and excellent. Good luck to the new leaders of NM-021!
Top Row: Mackenzie Credle, Christa Lemmons, Kyle Dunning, Holi Robinson, Maya Mack, and Dannelle Kirven. Bottom Row: Michael Lynch, Denicia Aragon, Jerrika Lopez-Wilson, and Mr. Augustine Martinez Purple Press is a Publication Vehicle for Student Expression The School Board encourages students to express their views in school-sponsored publications and to observe rules for responsible journalism. This means, expression that falls into any of the following categories shall not be permitted: any expression which is false or obscene, libelous, slanderous, or defamatory under state law; which presents a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts, violation of school rules or materials and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school, or which violates the privacy rights of others. Student editors of school-sponsored publications are responsible for determining the news, opinion and advertising content of the publication. The publication’s adviser is responsible for supervising the production of the publication and for teaching and encouraging free and responsible expression and professional standards of journalism. The views expressed in The Purple Press are not necessarily those of Clovis High School or the Clovis Municipal School Board of Education. Advisor:Mr. Augustine Martinez Editor-In- Chief: Jerrika Lopez-Wilson Co-Editor: Michael Lynch Layout Editor: Mackenzie Credle Staff Writers: Christa Lemmons, Kyle Dunning, Denicia Aragon, Dannelle Kirven, Maya Mack, Holi Robinson, Maria Hudson, Berta Sanchez Proofreader: Mr. Larry Poe Publisher: Clovis News Journal • 521 Pile St PO Box 1689 Clovis, New Mexico 88102
We apologize for any mistakes we may make, including punctuation, spelling, or any other errors you may find. We appreciate any and all comments that will improve our paper. We hope to give you the very best that our journalism class can offer.
Cover of 2015 Yearbook; Distribution date:May 13th, will also be selling on May 22nd, Graduation Day for $100.00