Crimson Jun. 2010

Crimson Chronicle Presents

Crimson

PRHS News Magazine

Model 12 graders at PRHS

>>Special Senior Edition

Super Seniors >>PAGES 10-14

Music | Movies | More

Senior Favorites >>PAGE 29

Two Kind of a

Tom Bernal

Bearcathlete of the Year >>PAGE 44

2010 VALEDICTORIANS - STEVEN PLESCIA and JESSICA LONG

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Going Somewhere?

Senior Destinations >>PAGES 21-22

From the editors: A new era deserves a new style. The Crimson Chronicle newspaper is delighted to introduce Crimson, our first ever news magazine. New look. Same nationally awarded content.

There's no better place to begin than with the Class of 2010.

// News June 11 marks the last day of the 2009-2010 school year and the final day for seven staff members at PRHS. Crimson is honoring the high school’s retirees as they tell their reason for retirement and share some last words about their time as a Bearcat.

—Ethan Baietti, Opinion Editor, Megan Boswell, Sci-Tech Editor and Andrew Chang, Sci-Tech Co-Editor What are your plans after retiring?

“Among my plans: a little writing, reading, fishing, shooting, archery, piano, bank robbery, maybe volunteer work , and lots of learning.”

What are your plans after retiring?

“My plans for retirement include spending quality time with my family and enjoying many activities that I have not had the time to enjoy prior to retirement.”

How have things changed since you have arrived at PRHS? “I have less hair and more wrinkles. The school has grown from1100 to 2100 plus people. I hope it has not become more impersonal.”

Logan Bertolette Years teaching: 38 Years at PRHS: 25

What are you going to miss about PRHS? “My students. They were a pleasure and kept my heart young. I don’t want them to remember much about me so much as to look beyond the words they read.”

Nancy Stuckey

Years teaching: 22 Are there any words you would like to leave with the Years at PRHS: 24 students?

“Life goes by quickly, so enjoy and make the most of it.”

19 years as an administrator (assistant principal for 12 yrs) Subjects taught: Business, Opportunity Class, and Work Experience

Subject taught: English

What are your reasons for retiring this year?

“I’m retiring to enjoy caring for our small vineyard and to make wine, travel, paddle a kayak or canoe over some of our great rivers including the Missouri and Colorado, catch up on a long list of chores, and to write if the muse will visit. Also to allow someone else the opportunity [to teach], and retirement was only possible because of the district financial incentive.”

Robert Ferguson

How have things changed since you began teaching here at PRHS? “When I began teaching English at PRHS, there was a much greater focus on teaching literature (and the love of it) at the heart of the English curriculum. In those days, testing was important, but today the importance of scores on mandated tests supersedes the importance of teaching reading and writing as keys to better understand self and communicate ideas.”

Years teaching: 22 Years at PRHS: 22 What words would you like to leave with students?

Subjects taught: Yearbook, 9, 10, 11, and 12 grade English and Honors English

What is your best memory from teaching at P RHS? “Laughing with my students. Young folks are the future, and if PRHS students are the example, then the future looks very bright indeed.”

Dan Murry

How have things changed since you have arrived at PRHS? “ I was a staff member when the high school was brand new. I taught at the old PRHS (Flamson) for one semester. The number of students went from about 600 to now 2200 and the teachers from about 30 to now over 100. The whole teaching staff could practically fit in to the teachers’ lounge. The Aggies use to bring their rifles to school mounted in the back window of their pick up trucks.”

Photos by Serina Lewis

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AP tests What are your reasons for retiring this year?

“I was planning to retire this year or next, and the financial incentive made it this year.”

Ralph Lewis

What are you going to miss about PRHS and what do you want students to remember?

“The students. I really do love each and every one of them. I did my best to make [class] fun. If you have to be here, you might as well have a good time.”

Where are you going to go after PRHS, do you have any

Years teaching: 22 plans?

Years at PRHS: 4 “I plan to travel, learn to play the ukulele, and write a book about public education.”

Subjects taught: Chemistry (at PRHS), 18 years teaching sixth, sixth, and eigth grade science at Flamson and Lewis middle school

Years teaching: 30 Years at PRHS: 30 How would you sum up your time at PRHS?

Subject taught: Special “It has been a great journey; I’ve been in room 403 longer than I have Education been in my last two homes, longer than my youngest child, longer than my last four cars, and longer than some of the youngest teachers at PRHS have been alive. I have children of some of my first students.

What a strange trip it has been!”

Are there any words you would like to leave with the students?

“Be true to your teeth and they won’t be false to you.”

Years teaching: 30 Years at PRHS: 22 Subject taught: Economics/Government

“I hope all of my students remember that there is an idea behind every story, novel, and author. I want them to remember that reading is not only their gateway to education, but that it will make them better friends, dads, moms, brothers, sisters, and lovers.”

What is your best memory from teaching at PRHS? “Having Greig Welch reading me the sports page every morning, seeing my students succeed, coaching Special Olympic athletes, the freshman, JV baseball, and the girls varsity softball teams (almost winning CIF). Overall working with a great bunch of people, past and present.”

Craig Stewart

What are you going to miss about PRHS? “I am going to miss our wonderful students, amazing certificated and classified staffs, and our very special PRHS traditions. I would like students and staff to remember that I feel extremely fortunate to have been a Bearcat for the past 24 years.”

What are you going to miss about PRHS? “Students, and many good friends.”

Yvonne Foltz

Years teaching: 30 Years at PRHS: 27 Paso Robles High School

Are there any words you would like to leave with the students?

“Never give up, your future is there for the taking.”

Subjects taught: RSP English and Paraeducator

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// News

Senior scholarship night

CROWD SUPPORT: Seniors, their friends and families, and Community people who were the givers of scholarships, gathered into the gym June 2 at 7 p.m.

CELEBRATE: Seventeen seniors, a part of the Academic Booster Blub, were recognized for their work with rummage sales in April that raised money for Scholarships.

Elaine Hagen headed the organization.

Photos by Natasha Wright

SUCCESS: 2009/2010 seniors gathered on the Gila Asa Gym floor where they were presented with scholarships by AP English teacher Aaron Cantrell. Over 150 seniors received more than $150,000 in total scholarships ranging from $100 to $13,000.

AP testing is finally over

184 AP students can now relax after the demanding tests in May

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Teacher Farewells

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by Monica Patel, Center Co-Editor From Monday, May 3 to Friday, May 14, 371 AP exams were taken by 10 freshmen, 12 sophomores, 81 juniors, and 81 seniors. As the dust cleared, they all walked out of Bearcat Hall with a load off their shoulders.

Thirteen different AP tests were taken at PRHS; 17.5 percent of the tests taken was AP Language at 65 tests, AP Literature at 16.9 percent with 63 tests, and AP U.S. History third at 15.9 percent with 59 tests.

Not all students who took the AP classes took the AP tests; some people didn’t even take the seminar class. For example, out of the 25 students enrolled in AP Chemistry, only 18 students took the AP test.

Crimson

The AP Calculus class had 50 students but only 28 students took the AP test. Out of 70 students enrolled in AP Economy and Government, only 30 students took the AP tests.

“Every class is going to be different,” PRHS’ AP Testing coordinator Chris Jones said.

A class with higher retention included the AP Language and Literature classes which 76 students signed up for—65 students took the AP Language test and 63 students took the AP Lit test from English teacher Aaron Cantrell’s AP English class.

Cantrell’s seniors’ pass rate was 88 percent for AP Lit. two years ago and 78 percent last year. “The pass rate tends to be in the 70s usually,” he said.

Next year a separate AP Language class for juniors will be added; beginning with the class of 2012 onward, the AP Language class, taught by English teacher Sean Pierce, will be offered junior year and the AP Lit. class, taught by Cantrell, will be offered senior year.

“It won’t have any effect on next year’s seniors. As it stands now we do both in one year and it’s just not the way to go because it’s just too much,” Cantrell said.

New to AP teachers and students was the third trimester seminar.

“I liked the seminar because we reviewed by taking tests and writing essays and just went back

Paso Robles High School

over everything,” junior and AP U.S. History testtaker Spencer Silva said.

“Seminar helped the kids who took it—the kids who didn’t take it though obviously weren’t helped by it. We just go to do more stuff; we had more time this year. I suspect that this year we’ll have more high scores but again the kids who didn’t take the seminar had less time than last year plus they had the whole time from late February to the time of the test in May with no AP,” Cantrell said.

www.crimsonchronicle.com

// News

CAHSEE got her scores back

Did your favorite class make the cut? Find out below. The following is the preliminary section count for a few classes in the first trimester for the upcoming school year compared to the 2009-2010 school year. All PRHS students except the seniors were able to register for their classes online for the first time from April 16 to April 23 for the 2010-2011 school year.

Eighty percent of juniors registered online, according to an email from Teacher Center Aeries specialist Arleen Suval. Due to the numbers, some classes might have to be cut due to the mandatory 25 students per class policy.

—Alicia Canales, Copy Editor

Increasing Enrollment

’09-’10

’10-’11

Ag Welding Tech

65

75

American Sign Language 2

32

65

ArchitctDrfting 1

29

41

Auto Tech 1

85

109

AVID 12A

30

41

Building Trades 1

26

81

Ceramics 1

184

250

French 1

84

104

General Art 1

333

345

General Art 2

184

250

Graphic Communications

36

53

March Band/Symphonic

52

52

Leadership

35

74

ROP Ath/HlthFld5

53

71

ROP CareersChild

42

114

ROP Culinary 1

53

131

Spanish 1

284

308

Studio Art

17

30

Trend h h h h h h h h h h h g h h h h h h

Decreasing Enrollment

’09-’10

Adv. Dance

30

American Sign Language 1

65

Beg. Peer Communication

94

Conert Choir

41

Drama 1

66

DrawingPainting 1

100

Floral Design 1

168

Intro Computers

100

Intro Dance

95

Intro HealthCare

107

Living Skills 1

269

Psychology 1

312

ROP Ag Welding Tech

146

ROP WebDesign

35

Speech Communication

99

Video Productions

54

’10-’11 Trend 28 6 0 6 81 6 26 6 55 6 75 6 162 6 57 6 61 6 60 6 236 6 189 6 140 6 14 6 42 6 46 6

*Preliminary number of students enrolled in first trimester

Nice TRY-mester this year

New schedule isn’t going away any time soon

by Emily Grandoli, Reporter Out of 150 students at PRHS, 98 believe the trimester schedule is worse academically. Out of 20 teachers, 18 believe it had a negative effect on their curriculum. But it is not a matter of better or worse, according to Principal Randy Nelson. It is a matter of change.

“It’s hard to define better. The new schedule is better in a sense that students get to sign up for 15 classes instead of 12. They get three additional classes compared to semester schedule,” Nelson said.

But does having more classes mean cutting back time for academics? Certain teachers believe this schedule prevented students from excelling in core classes.

“It’s hard to do 100 percent of your work when you only have 85 percent of the time,” English teacher Logan Bertolette said.

Many teachers can relate to Bertolette’s concerns.

“We couldn’t get through state standards even with the semester schedule. We have 14 percent less time to teach, and we have to cut back on a lot of activities and give more homework. We can’t do as www.crimsonchronicle.com

PRHS still under the reign of Program Improvement

by Madison Butz, Editorial Editor Hopeful Bearcat teachers and administrators simultaneously cheered and groaned on the morning of May 20, when the long-awaited and newly released CAHSEE scores fell into their waiting hands.

“Last year we had abnormally high numbers. This might have been just a very talented sophomore class, but the numbers that we achieved this year are higher than the three preceding years, which is a positive sign,” Principal Randall Nelson said, who is disappointed PRHS is still under the reign of Program Improvement (PI). However, he is happy PRHS met the target scores in most of the categorized subdivisions. The divisions are white, Hispanic, EL (English language learners) SED (Socio-Economically Disadvantaged) and SWD (students with disabilities).

Although the goals in SWD or Hispanic categories were not achieved, the school More News still did very well. One of the goals from ahead. the state was to meet a 56 percent pass “Fear rate for white students in English, and Factor PRHS tipped the scales with 75 percent. comes to SED students also passed math at a rate of PRHS. 59 percent when the goal was 52.

CAHSEE scores are not the only thing the state of California looks at when they decide whether schools are in PI or not— there are four categories of score, and the Bearcats passed three, which included a rise in graduation rates. The only one we failed was the CAHSEE, and even that was close.

But there’s a bright spot for PRHS. Even though we’re still under PI, which means we’re observed by governmental representatives bent on improving our school’s scores, we get some benefits from PI too. We have been given grants for textbook funds, which we will be receiving to replace the battered copies we are all used to.

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many labs, and that’s what chemistry is all about!” chemistry teacher Ralph Lewis said.

Despite varied opinions, Nelson feels the transition between schedules went fairly smoothly.

“It took San Luis Obispo High School 19 months to transition into the new trimester schedule, when it only took PRHS seven,” Nelson said. “It’s impossible for me to say if we have benefited from this schedule academically or not at this point. If our CST scores go up for the school, then there must be some success in the new schedule. If not, then we may need to rethink and reanalyze.”

Many students are asking the question, “Why not change back to the old schedule?” Nelson says that won’t be happening any time soon.

“According to Dr. McNamara, we are going to keep this schedule for at least three more years to see how and if it improves,” Nelson clarified.

Paso Robles High School

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Caught in a fishy situation Brave students volunteered for “Fear Factor”

by Alicia Canales, Copy Editor

Friday Night Live (FNL) presented their own spin on the TV show “Fear Factor” on Tuesday June 1 during lunch. Students gathered around to see their peers eat crickets, bob for trout instead of apples, dunk their head into whipped cream, and eat whatever was in a Food-4-Less bag (Scarf n’ Barf).

FNL’s message throughout the event was “How far are you willing to go to keep your friends safe?”

“The main goal of Fear Factor was to show that people do stupid things for money but that people do really stupid things for free like drinking or smoking pot, doing drugs. We just wanted to show there’s other things you can do. I’m not saying go out and get fish out of a bucket with your mouth every day of your life, but why do something stupid for free if it’s not going to benefit you. It’s not worth it,” senior and FNL member Justin Salazar said.

The Fear Factor concept was introduced by the club’s advisor Kim Mont. She helped the group plan a message to go along with each activity. The cricket event represented that nobody dies from eating a cricket yet people die from DUIs on a regular basis.

In the whipped cream event, gummy worms were hidden underneath a few layers of whipped cream along with an actual earthworm. Three volunteers had to try to find the earthworm. After time was up, the students found out there never was an earthworm. This symbolized that you’re never 100 percent sure that something is safe. Even though something, like a drink, looks okay, it might be laced.

The Scarf n’ Barf was a bag containing a cupcake, baby food, and anchovies. The activity showed it’s

not worth having to eat a bunch of garbage just to have one good thing.

Junior Nick Van Wiggeren went through the fish experience and the whipped cream and gummy worm event. “[The fish event] sucked. It was impossible to do, it was disgusting, and I smelled like fish afterwards.

I ended up taking three showers. I even washed my nostrils…The whipped cream and gummy worm one was fine, but I didn’t expect to dunk my head in a bucket of raw fish and fish water…[I] definitely regret doing it. I don’t think I’ll be able to eat fish for awhile,” Wiggeren said.

Salazar also participated in the bobbing for trout and the Scarf n’ Barf. Although he didn’t like biting into a raw fish, he stated eating anchovies was much worse.

“It was most disgusting thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. It was just like a ball of salt. I’ve had anchovies prepared and cooked and even then I didn’t like it. I threw up twice [after eating it today],” Salazar said.

However, Salazar believes all of his taste bud pain was worth it.

“People are talking about it. I mean, some people might say “oh my gosh, that Fear Factor thing was so stupid, it was a waste of time,” but they’re still talking about it. And when they’re talking about it, there might be that one kid who’s like ‘you know what, I’m going to change, I’m going to try being different, I’ll be the one who doesn’t want to drink but is willing to make a difference,’” Salazar said.

FEAR FACTOR: Nick VanWiggeren digs his teeth into some juicy fish at lunch on June 1.

Talent show goes off to great success

Photo by Alicia Canales

by Austin Ehrhardt, World Co-Editor

PRHS Talent Show participants wowed a receptive student audience Friday May 28. The show, which boasted 12 acts, included memorable PRHS Talent Show participants wowed a receptive student audience Fri. May 28. The show, which boasted twelve acts, included memorable performances by Thomas Grandoli and Scott Weller — the duo played an acoustic rendition of Third Eye Blind’s “Jumper” which had the entire crowd singing along— and David M’Voutoukoolou — the Swiss foreign exchange student flaunted his hip-hop dance moves.

“Overall it was amazing,” said senior Scott Weller. “The crowd was very into our performance. It was a good feeling.”

Forest Erwin, Tyler Dukes, Randie Schoepf, Thomas Grandoli and Ismet Ekiz also collaborated in playing a reggae version of “Bulletproof,” a popular hit by the English electro-pop band La Roux. Erwin’s upbeat guitar and Grandoli’s percussive display, incorporating the African djembe, gave the song an exotic, eclectic feel.

“I just love being on stage,” said Junior Forest Erwin, who performed vocals and guitar for the song. “It’s great to have an opportunity to play for all the students.”

Leadership students, happy with the success of what has become an annual event, say it’s sure to return next year.

TALENT SHOW: The Gruuv, featuring Randie Schoepf, get their groove on during the PRHS Talent Show May 28 playing a cover of the pop hit, Bulletproof by La Roux. Photo by Emily Cone

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Paso Robles High School

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// Editorial

the o t s e s i r 1 , 201 s s e k h r s e a p l ’s o 0 1 o c 0 Among 2 ith some seriously occasion w

by Madison Butz, Editorial Editor

Dedicated Teachers and Coaches Even though tons of pink slips have been given out this year, it’s encouraging that some teachers, coaches, and specialists have decided to stay on despite the pay cuts and, in some cases, no pay at all. Leadership and Journalism are just two classes whose teachers aren’t getting paid next year. “We’re all being asked to do much more with much less, with no relief in sight. I’m afraid that students will suffer with fewer class and extracurricular offerings, larger class sizes, and teachers burdened with increased responsibilities,” Leadership and psychology teacher Geoff Land said. Coach stipends are also cut, meaning coaches don’t get paid anymore, although more dedicated coaches may spend more time on the field than in the classroom. “It’s a sad situation, and there’s no simple answer. Luckily, there are teachers that really care about students,” football coach and math teacher David Schleppenbach said. But the good news is most coaches have chosen to stay, even though they may not get the same bonus.

“It’ll take more than budget cuts and layoffs to take the wind from our sails!” Land said.

AG GETS TO BRAG: a new field is being constructed over the summer for use by the agriculture classes at PRHS, just another bonus for new and returning students. Photo

by Kellie Kennan

Wireless Internet

Textbook Funds Program Improvement is a taboo term at PRHS, especially since after last year. Due to failing the CA standards required to escape, PRHS is still under the reign of Program Improvement.

Program Improvement means PRHS is now under scrutiny from the government, and is now involved in several programs to try to improve our school’s scores. But an unexpected bonus from being watched is we get funding for projects and equipment we were previously unable to afford. Teachers are appreciative of this new development in increased funding, including the fact that PI funds can go into buying new textbooks to replace the battered copies used in many classes. “I love new books!” junior Sheridan Cook said. “They smell good, and they make me happy when I go back to school. “

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Managing EditorOpinion Editor Senior Favorites Editor Senior Collage Editor

Our campus is getting wireless internet next year, due to a grant given to PRHS by E-Rate, a government-funded program that helps pay for technological advancements for high schools in California. “We’ll be able to handle greater data, voice, video and wireless technologies on our campus,” Scott Knuckles said, Director of Student Information and Technology for the PRPS district. Going wireless could be a big deal for students, letting kids and teachers alike access the internet while on campus. “The district’s goal is to have most or all new wireless access points installed and configured by the start of school,” Knuckles said.

Students should be excited about the access it provides too. It will allow all internet-accessing devices, such as cell phones and laptops, to be in contact with the school’s network.

Opinion: Way to ... go egaPPR txeas N seniors go to college

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The Crimson Chronicle is an independently funded, monthly publication of the journalism class at Paso Robles High School. We publish monthly newspapers free to students and teachers. Subscriptions are available for US mail delivery for $15. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the staff and do not necessarily reflect the views of Paso Robles High School, its faculty, administration, or students. The Crimson Chronicle is an open forum for the exchange of ideas. We welcome feedback in form of letters or emails. Letters must be signed but names can be withheld upon request. All stories, graphics, typesetting, and layouts are completed by Paso Robles High School students.

The staff actively pursues advertisement accounts but reserves the right to refuse those deemed overly controversial or aimed at illegal behavior.

The Crimson Chronicle is designed using Adobe In-Design and Photoshop and prints with North County Newspapers, Contributions: Atascadero, CA. Joe Macharia and Email: prhsjournalism@pasoschools.org Kim Bergin

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// Opinion

Paso To the Rescue:

$cholarships

Community aid helps ease college tuition pains

Sci-Tech Co-Editor

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“Our son Ryan just graduated from Pepperdine University. Almost half of his tuition was paid for in grants and scholarships, some coming from local community groups. This was my small way of helping to pay it forward.” Hagen said.

She credits the success to her many helpers.

“Paso Robles Self Storage donated space so we could collect things for five months. I couldn’t and wouldn’t have done the sale again without my coordinator, Jan Crimson

Photo by Aryn Fields

by Andrew Chang,

Let’s face it attending a four year university is not easy on the wallet, especially in these Editorial: economic times. The average cost of tuition Pokénames for a four year private university is $26,273 (4.4 percent more than last year) where as a public four year university totals $7,020 (6.5 percent more than last year), according to collegeboard.com.

Thankfully, over $160,000 in scholarships showered seniors last week at Senior Scholarship Night, thanks to community groups, banks, foundations, and local generosity like ABC (Academic Booster Club) and FFA, which help to lower college costs for seniors. ABC holds fundraiser events to raise money for the school, such as selling shirts or sweatshirts. They were in charge of the April rummage sale, which alone raised almost $8,200 for senior scholarships. Parents donated unwanted belongings that were sorted, stored, and transported by student volunteers.

“Although it was hard work, the rummage sale was my favorite [event] because we reached our goal and it all came together,” ABC president Zara Khan said.

“We had a small group of very dedicated students and parents so it all worked out in the end.”

Behind this fundraiser was Elaine Hagen, who knows first hand the pain of paying college tuition.

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FUNDS FLOW IN: ASB President Zara Khan sits bolstered by Paso’s strong community.

Top support for 2010 Walton Family Foundation Scholarship $13,000 Megan Boswell Paso Robles Rotary Club Scholarship $3,000 Katie Sheldon, Sandi Lee, Bailey McWhorter, Kyle Elliot, Denise Merkle, Tom Grandoli, Molly Wise, Karlee Anderson, Haydn Clement So. California Golf Association $3,000 Wes Levandusky Twin Cities Community Volunteers Scholarship $2,000 Araceli Diaz

Our son Ryan just graduated from Pepperdine University. Almost half of his tuition was paid for in grants and scholarships, some coming from local community groups. This was my small way of helping to pay it forward.”

Leitner, who was incredibly helpful. We had amazing kids and parents helping out with donation days and the sale,” Hagen said.

Other helpers include KPRL news station for broadcasting donation days, senior Alexis Fabian for gathering student volunteers, and English teacher Aaron Cantrell for encouraging his students to help.

Between the past two years, almost $15,000 have been Paso Robles High School

raised for scholarships.

Two $500 scholarships were distributed during the FFA banquet. This money was raised in events such as the sale of tri-tip sandwiches, jerky & membership/ sponsors. Some of the money was carried over from last year’s fundraising, but this year they were able to raise $500 from the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Arleen Silva, an employee of the Paso Robles Public School District’s warehouse, was behind many of the activities.

“We had a dedicated group of about six members, some of which don’t have students in school. The students also helped by holding signs for the tri-tip sandwich sales,” Silva said.

Ag Leadership and Communication teacher Mark Clement also supports the distribution of scholarships, as it encourages the students to attend college.

“We need future students in agricultural leadership. There is a shortage of people with college degrees in agriculture,” Clement said.

Silva agreed. “[Scholarships are important] so that students can pursue a higher education in agriculture and be given opportunities to find which part of agriculture to pursue. There is such a huge variety of subjects to pursue in agriculture.”

Thanks to these and other community raised scholarships, seniors and their families have the opportunities to lower the cost of pursuing a higher education. Hopefully, the amounts of money raised by our fundraisers will continue to rise. www.crimsonchronicle.com

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Paso Robles High School

crimson | 9

// Super Senior

Pika-Plescia has evolved into valedictorian

by Aryn Fields, A&E Editor

Steven Plescia has many different attacks, his specialties are math and science but also varsity baseball. As the valedictorian, Plescia doesn’t have much weakness. With a 4.55 GPA Plescia shows that he can master anyany thing.

One of Plescia’s special attacks is varsity baseball, he has been on the team for two years and was opening pitcher for a CIF game which was a great achievement for Plescia. The varsity baseball team won first in league this year with him as the key and starting pitcher.

However, the biggest achievement for Plescia is earning the title of valedictorian along with Jessica Long. Plescia has taken a total of six AP classclass es: AP English, Calculus, Government and Economics, U.S. History and Chemistry. In addition, Plescia has never received a B on any of his report cards. Plescia was also the valedictorian for Flamson Middle School.

“To me being the valedictorian means that everything I have ever done for the past four years, that everything every senior has done in the past four years, comes down to me making one speech in front of all their parents,” Plescia said. “But it means a lot to me to know that all my hard work paid off, I’ve been constantly busy for the past four years and now I have something to show for it.”

Plescia reports to being a true math and science student, even though English and history could be considered his weakness, AP English Aaron Cantrell said Plescia was one of his best English students this year.

“He is an absolute amazing student. Brilliant, excellent, and hard working. He is very diligent, and he cares about ideas, and he’s passionate

about them. He is one of the best English students, but he is a math and science guy...he’s called ‘the boss,’” Cantrell said.

Because of Plescia’s brilliant mind, he got accepted into the MIT of Colorado. He was accepted into the Colorado State of Mines in Golden CO and he’s planning on majoring and starting a career in petroleum engineering. Plescia has been planning on being an engineer since sixth grade but decided on specializing in petroleum just this year. Petroleum engineers clean up and prevent oil spills and other environmental hazards.

“It will be a new challenge for me. Mr. Serpa was a great math teacher and I had him for two years and he always told us we could do anything we wanted.

Because of his class I’m going into that math degree. And I like Colorado...the weather is super cold. It will be hard to not have the comfort of friends around, I’ve grown up with these kids, and it will be difficult to leave,” Plescia said.

Plescia has been a part of the Paso community since he was six years old and leaving will be hard for him to do. His counselor, Xelina Rojas, has seen Plescia’s evolution from freshman year to the few days before he walks away with his diploma.

“Steven stills carries himself with a mellow countenance which seems to be quite a contrast to being a baseball pitcher. I am sure he applies his serious concentration to his game as he does to his studies. He is a very conscientious student who does not sway easily from meeting his responsibilities,” she said.

Plescia has come a long way and has worked very hard to earn this very selective title of valedictorian. When Plescia makes his speech graduation night, expect great laughs and something to motivate you about future endeavors.

Photo by Maddison Coons

Fighting through the pain to become exceptional

Title Page: Super Seniors

by Maddison Coons, News Co-Editor

In 2003, Long was diagnosed with scoliosis, the side to side curvature of the spine, which affecs three percent of the world population, according to the National Scoliosis Foundation. Her scoliosis, named the “s-curve,” curved left to right from the upper to lower back.

Three in every 100 teenagers have a condition serious enough to require at least an observation, according to New York Times, Long’s spine required a lot more attention.

Her spine became worse, affecting her heighth , and she was placed in a night brace, a plastic corset like structure she wore for a year.

“It was hard to sleep and extremely uncomfortable. I was in pain after walking or standing for long periods of time. It wasn’t anything unbearable but it definitely got me a little stressed out,” Long said.

The curvature reached 72 and 68 and surgery was required at Stanford’s Children’s hospital where an eight hour operation inserted a titanium rod and several screws into her spine. Long expected to have a three month recovery, but was up and moving the first day after surgery.

“There are several Jessicas: a really smart introspective Jessica [and] a silly Jessica that doesn’t want to bother with AP. She’s a really good athlete, and a fierce competitor,” AP English teacher Aaron Cantrell said, who taught Long sophomore and senior year.

Long’s competitiveness and determination was evident when she refused to be bed ridden after surgery. Cantrell would visit her at home and bring her homework, as she requested.

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“She is fiercely competitive. She is going to be the best at it and she almost always is,” Cantrell said.

Long didn’t let the surgery keep her from being valedictorian.

Despite going through physical therapy for three months twice a week for an hour, being x-rayed at Dr. Carr’s office until November 2009, and surgery, Jessica overcame the curves while maintaining her GPA. “She relearned how to walk, use her muscles well, kept up with all her school work, and is still the top of our class despite missing so much school,” senior Megan Wookey said, whose known Long for four years.

She participated in track for three years on the Varsity level in the four by one, 100 sprint, and pole vault where she achieved her highest height of 10 foot six inches.

Her retraction from track and gymnastics came partly because of the condition of her back, but more importantly the need for time to focus on a demanding senior schedule. Never receiving a B in her middle and high school life, she looked to continue the streak.

In addition to flawless grades, Long was involved with the Academic Booster Club (ABC) club for three years, focusing on raising money for senior scholarships by participating in multiple rummage sales. Long, also a three year member of the Key Club, also tutored in all subjects senior year.

“It was difficult at first [to tutor students] because I had to find a method that fit their learning ability, but it taught me interaction with people,” Long said.

All her effort at PRHS paved a road for a bright future. “I see Jessica doing anything she wants to

do. I really believe that. Whatever gets her excited, she will be the best at. The only problem is she has to narrow down her many available options to her true passion,” Cantrell said.

“She’s got a powerful drive and is super determined. She deserves everything she has and nothing is going to stop her in achieving the best,” senior Angelica Shubbie said, Long’s friend since February 2010.

Cantrell pushed his students to apply to their dream school and this was UCLA for Long. She is one of the 57,000 students that applied to be accepted into UCLA and one of 50 incoming freshman to enter the most competitive program, nursing. Only three percent of UCLA applicants are accepted each year.

Cantrell contributes this accomplishment to her teachers, parents, but mainly Long herself.

“She has very supportive parents that love and push her. She posses an incredibly tenacious drive to be the best. I am only one of many who have helped her, care about her, and wish her the best,” Cantrell Photo b y Madd i Coons said.

Long applied and was accepted to seven California colleges: CSU Long Beach, Fullerton, San Jose, Irvine, Sonoma, North Ridge, and UCLA. Her interest in nursing was furthered by PRHS classes such as anatomy, and R.O.P health, where she worked in the E.R. at Twin Cities hospital.

Long learned how to draw an IV step by step, and take blood pressure.

Paso Robles High School

“She is humble about all her amazing talents. With s u c h a genuine heart, amazing drive, and incredible personality she deserves everything that she has earned and much more,” Wookey said.

Her multi faceted personality and persistent competiveness to do her best brought Long to be PRHS valedictorian. www.crimsonchronicle.com

// Super Senior

MTV:Mendoza takes videos

Finding the solution

Super senior has a passion for film

Super Senior Brian Barker battles Asperger and Dysthymia

by Alicia Canales, Copy Editor Senior Luis Mendoza was in his element during the sophomore/junior video project assigned by Honor English teachers Aaron Cantrell and Sean Pierce. While most students worried about, and disliked this assignment, Mendoza discovered his passion because of it.

“Since sophomore

year when we did the video project for English, I got into movies. After that, it started growing on me, and I became interested in making videos and movies. I want to get a job making music videos,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza directed his sophomore video, “P.A.T.H.O.S.: The Adventures of Hugo Vico and Lafanda.” It was about a detective organization called P.A.T.H.O.S. (Poets and Anti-Terrorists Helping Our Society) that must discover who murdered Nathaniel Hawthorne. He also wrote and directed his junior video project, “Pristine Revenge,” a modern version of “The Count of Monte Cristo.” After a winery worker is framed for murder and is released from jail, he takes revenge on his betrayers and tries to get his one true love back. “Pristine Revenge” won the Teacher’s Favorite Oscar.

This year Mendoza is in video production teacher Stanley Cooper’s Video Production class.

Even though Mendoza is a beginner, Cooper can tell he “really has a passion for film.”

“He’s way creative. When he gets an idea, you see this kind of far off look [on his face]… people, when they are really creative and in their element, seem to float above the ground a little bit, like gravity can’t hold [them] down. Not that he’s bouncing off the walls, but that he loves what he’s doing,” Cooper said.

Even though Mendoza doesn’t literally “bounce off walls,” he talks about videos 24/7, according to his friends.

“Whenever I go to his house, he shows [his music videos] to me, and when I’m not there, he talks about what ideas he has, how he’s going

www.crimsonchronicle.com

to incorporate things into it and everything,” Mendoza’s girlfriend and PRHS alumni Gloria Rivera said.

Mendoza is currently working on “Waving Flags,” a music video about the World Cup. The video displays students’ projections on who they think will win and a performance from the PRHS drum line and some PRHS dancers.

Cooper is planning on entering it in the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.

Mendoza decided to pursue music videos instead of documentaries or movies because he believes “it’s a lot less competitive…than [the] film industry.”

“When you listen to a song, it has a story, and it’s easier to make a video out of something like [that… with] movies you have to know people who know people to get in. Like if your story isn’t good enough, then you probably won’t make it. But if there’s an artist who needs somebody to make a video for them, [you have more of a chance,]” Mendoza said.

Mendoza is also a music fanatic, according to his friend of four years and senior Victoria Villa.

“I’ll just be sitting there and he’ll say ‘You have to listen to this!

It’s amazing!’ and I will and I’m just like ‘Ok, that’s alright,’ Villa said. “And he gets obsessed over a song; he just keeps singing it and singing it. I remember when I first met him he was obsessed with ‘Fergalicious.’ He kept on singing it every day. He sings it so much, he kills it for you. He kills songs for me. Ha ha.”

Along with the projects in Cooper’s class, Mendoza had made some music videos outside of class. When his fourth grade cousin, Guillermo Rendon, asked if they could make a video, Mendoza agreed.

“My little cousin, I guess, looks up to me and I want to be a role model for him,” Mendoza said.

Rendon chose the song “Somebody’s Watching Me” otherwise known as Geico’s theme song. The movie is basically Mendoza and Rendon “running around with a wad of money with googly eyes.” The video can be found on Mendoza’s Facebook.

Mendoza will be majoring in Film and Media Studies at UC Santa Barbara. UCSB has been Mendoza’s first college choice since his sophomore year. Despite an interest in Columbia University of New York during his junior year, he decided to stick with UCSB because he wanted to be closer to his family and loves UCSB. “It’s going to sound cheesy, but I guess deep inside my heart I didn’t really want to go [to Columbia.] I just wanted to go there for the prestige of it. I guess you could say that was my ‘dream school,’ but in reality my heart wanted to go to UC Santa Barbara,” Mendoza said.

Cooper and AVID teacher Ted Wagner agree that Mendoza will be successful in life.

“He can do all kinds of things. He might go to UCSB and go into something else or he will continue with the film industry and make blockbuster films. Whatever he chooses, he will certainly succeed,” Wagner said.

Keep your eyes peeled in the future during music video credits. You just might see Mendoza’s name.

by Ethan Baietti, Opinion Co Editor

Paso Robles High School

If high school were a game, senior Bryan Barker would have beaten it — and won with a disadvantage.

Barker was diagnosed at the age of four with a form of autism called Asperger syndrome, a social disorder making social interaction very difficult.

Looking people straight in the eyes or receiving a simple touch of the arm is at times over stimulating and uncomfortable.

Asperger syndrome is a neurobiological disorder that is part of a group of conditions called autism spectrum disorders. Spectrum disorders have varying symptoms and severities. Two people may have the same diagnosis but differ from symptoms.

C o m m o n s y m p t o m s of Asperger syndrome are difficulty in reading body language, having few facial expressions, and overly sensitive to stimuli, like light or fabrics.

“I get frustrated because I try to be social and fall flat,” Barker said.

What could have been a crippling condition turned out to be a victory as Barker overcame difficulties with family, friends, and school to find his calling in chemistry.

Barker was born on June 13, 1992 in Redondo Beach, CA before moving to Colorado.

He lived in Hermosa Beach for most of his life before moving to Paso Robles in the middle of his sophomore year at 16.

“Little kids are brutal,” Barker said. “There was more bullying in Hermosa Beach than here... I used to hang out by myself a lot.”

That changed when Barker met junior Austin Porter two years ago. Austin, like Barker, has autism, and in their predicament, they found friendship.

“We have the same problems, and we can make each other laugh,” best friend Porter said. “He has always been a great friend.”

Tragedy struck Barker 11 months ago when after an incident with his parents, he was diagnosed with dysthymia. Dysthymia is a chronic mood disorder which shares a lot of qualities as depression.

Although Barker is still battling dysthymia, he finds sanctuary in chemistry.

Barker found his passion for chemistry in chemistry teacher Mark Fairbank’s Honors Chemistry class during his sophomore year.

“He was struggling when he first arrived; he had a C from his other teacher since he came in November of his sophomore year... he had a little bit of a challenge fitting in,” Fairbank said, who taught Barker for three years in Honors Chemistry, AP Physics, and AP Chemistry.

Fairbank researched Asperger syndrome to prepare himself to better teach Barker.

Barker ended up with a “B” in Honors Chemistry and then proceeded to AP Physics where he earned a four on the AP test.

“He would always tell me ‘Mr. Fairbank, I don’t like [physics],” Fairbank said. “If he can get a four in a subject he doesn’t like, I have no doubt in my mind that he will get a five [on the AP chemistry test].”

Although Asperger syndrome may seem like a weakness, Barker has used it to his advantage.

“I don’t take things for granted, and I question more than the average Joe,” Barker said.

Barker is planning to attend Cuesta College for two years then move on to the University of California Berkeley for chemistry and intends to work in the chemistry field.

“He’ll show the world how smart he is,” Porter said.

Crimson | 11

// Super Senior

‘Chorale’ Delbar sings his way to the top

by Mae Bradley, Reporter Carl Delbar stands with the presence of twice his height, with a piercing gaze. In class, he withholds his participation until called on and always has an intelligent, coherent answer.

Delbar got his black belt in Tae-kwon-do, became an Eagle Scout, got an Honorable Mention at the Drama Teacher’s Association of Southern California (DTASC) competition, all while maintaining an impeccable “A” grade point average. That was just his freshman year.

But as multifaceted and multitalented Delbar is, it isn’t the extracurricular or the inborn talents that make Delbar unique, it is his mindset towards life.

Because of his natural talents, Delbar began high school just coasting.

“I never had to work for anything. I’d never had a reason to,” he stated matter-offactly. However, during his junior year, his mindset slowly began to evolve.

“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after high school and I was like, ‘Ehhhh– I could do this or that,’ but I didn’t really like any of my classes that much. And then when I joined choir, I thought, ‘I could do this for the rest of my life.’”

Delbar found a purpose in his life past the point of nonchalance, and choir gave him spirit. This convergence of life forces sparked D e l b a r ’s drive into an all-singing, all-dancing blaze of individual determination.

“I realized that just doing the minimum doesn’t really satisfy you, and I was never really happy with that… even getting A’s, I wasn’t really learning, just memorizing and taking tests,” he said.

“Life is better when you put in effort and you really try.”

His newfound efforts Super began to show in his Seniors work. He was invited Next to and joined Regional Page ...

Honor Choir and AllState Honor choir, was in multiple plays, and he and his team won a plethora of awards for their acting and singing in the video project, “The Hobbit: The Musical” (accessible on youtube.com for all interested parties).

by Mae Graphics

Bradley

A job Weller done

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B flat instrument, A plus student

by Paul Cleland, World Co-Editor While most students wake up at 7 a.m. each morning, senior Jacob Weller is already in room 904 playing his tenor saxophone. Conducting the band as the senior drum major, Weller took pride September through December in leading the marching band, each day setting the example.

As second period arrives each morning, Weller makes his way to his favorite class, Anatomy, which helps him learn more about the profession he wants to go into. Throughout high school, Weller’s two greatest passions have been music and science. Having to decide which he’d continue on into college and as a career was easy, with his practical decision of going into science.

“I’ve always loved science and music, but having to move around because of my dad’s job was never fun,” Weller said. “Finding a steady career in music is really difficult.”

Moving around as a child brought unusual conflicts into Weller’s life, but he found the positive, learning how to easily make friends. “[Jacob] can be reserved, but not after getting to know him. He pays attention to everyone in different, special ways,” senior Kelsey Kosin, Weller’s friend since freshman year, said. “He’s going to be a sweet nurse one day. If he saved my life, it’d be pretty sweet—best day ever! He’ll be the superman of nurses.”

Combining his best traits into a career, Weller plans on becoming a emergency room nurse. First, he’ll acquire his two year R.N. degree at Cuesta College and then his four year R.N. degree at Biola University. As a nurse, Weller will add on to the nine percent of males in the 2 million worker large field of nursing, according to bls.gov.

“I want to become a nurse because I want to help people but not have my work be the only thing I have time for in my life, like a doctor would have,” Weller said. “At my church’s winter retreat to Hume Lake, I realized that it is my job to love people; it is God’s job to change them. I try to remind myself of that everyday. I get joy from making people feel better, making them feel like someone cares for them.”

Weller ranked 12 in his graduating class and shows signs of a bright and unique future. His drive to be compassionate and help others, both friends and strangers, perfectly meshed with the right education will lead him down a life path truly worthy of a super senior.

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Paso Robles High School

www.crimsonchronicle.com

From livestock to scholarships

// SuperSenior

FFA fanatic turns farming experience into college success

by Serina Lewis, News Co-Editor When you Google the name “Haydn Clement”, the whole first page of results, other than The Musical Times online book, is about a successful, focused PRHS senior, who has been an active participant in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program for all four years of his high school career.

California is divided into several regions and Paso Robles FFA is a part of the South Coast Region, where Clement is the president, covering FFA Chapters from Campbell to Los Angeles. He is also president of the PRHS FFA Chapter. He has shown livestock at the California Mid State Fair for four years; his family raised him around animals his whole life. He described himself as passionate about his family for giving him all his morals and values.

“They’re a part of my past, they are a part of my future and even though I’ll be moving on, they’ll still be a part of my life,” Clement said.

Mark Clement, his father, has helped him discover himself along the way, and has nothing but positive words to say about his son.

“He’s very courteous and polite to everyone he meets, respectful to adults, and he has a strong passion for leadership and agriculture,” Mark Clement said. “I have witnessed and supervised FFA moments that I will never forget, and a dream of mine was fulfilled by teaching him skills in Agriculture ranch processing, and getting to share his daily experiences with him, through all the high and low moments.”

Being so actively involved has taught Clement a lot about life, and he has affected his many of his chapter officer team.

“He takes any bad situation and looks at the positive side of it. He puts everyone in a good mood with his funny personality,” sophomore Leah Gibson said, who is FFA vice-president for the PRHS FFA Chapter.

At this year’s California FFA State Conference, Clement was nominated for the position of state sentinel, the second highest rank a person can get next to the national level. Unfortunately, he did not bring home the win.

Chico State University will be home for him for the next four years after he graduates, where he will major in Agriculture Business with a minor in Viticulture. He was offered a “pretty sizeable” scholarship to Chico and will be starting on the livestock judging team as the only freshman. He is excited to get a new start and meet new people.

“I’m going into college with a different attitude than I did when I came into high school,” Clement said.

Along this windy path through high school, Clement has survived with his friends by his side.

“He inspires me to be more involved in the FFA (program) by pursuing his goals and being such a hard worker,” Clement’s close friendVincent Garcia said.

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Jumping through hoops

Ringleader Alexis Fabian the orchestrates high school circus

by Madison Butz, Editorial Editor

Graphics by Mae Bradley

www.crimsonchronicle.com

More Super Seniors...

Matthew Pridgeon and Cheyne Hayes

Alexis Fabian juggles. Not colored balls or circus clubs, but clubs of another kind. This super senior can often be seen darting across school campus for one activity or another “You’ll just see her in the halls with this huge stack of papers, or books, or posters, or something for all her projects and organizations and stuff. She’s superhuman!” junior Lauren Varian said, a friend of “Lexi,” as Fabian is affectionately known by fellow students.

Fabian is an avid volunteer and holds leadership positions in ASB and International Club. She is also highly involved in the Leadership class.

She can “barely remember” how many school activities she’s been involved with in the 2009-10 school year. And not because they blur boringly together either. It’s because she’s done so much. Senior week, class elections, Homecoming, prom: She’s the ringleader.

“I’ve been in Leadership for four years also, and that’s kind of given me connections to all the things I’ve been involved with over the years,” Fabian said.

“Alexis is incredibly passionate about service. She is involved in almost every realm of activity on campus, from student clubs to government, homecoming, senior scholarships, and academic programs,” Psychology and Leadership teacher Geoff Land said. Land knows Fabian through student government, leadership meetings, and planning activities.

“This year we’ve had so many fabulous ideas for things we’ve never done before in Leadership,” Fabian said. “I thought they were all so interesting that I kind of just happened to be in charge of most of them. I’ve never really been the type of girl who is hungry for power, I just have kind of been thrust into these jobs,” Fabian said, leaning nonchalantly against a rail in the sunshine.

But it’s not just clowning around: someone who spends most of her life in charge is amazingly humble about all the power she’s been entrusted with.

“It’s been a gradual process. Like when I first joined a lot of organizations as a freshman or sophomore, I wasn’t really wanting to get involved, but I kind of got drawn into it against my better judgment,” she laughed.

As if hurdling three AP classes (Government/Econ., English, and Calculus) all her Leadership jobs, plus the college search every senior goes through wasn’t enough, Lexi loves spending time with family and friends. “I try to keep all my academic and leadership stuff to during the week, so I can have weekends free to relax,” she said. “It’s so nice to have free time to spend with people who are special to me.”

Indeed, Fabian’s schedule is packed, from the homecoming floats, to taquito dinners for International Club, to singing grams during the holidays, to organizing school dances and budgeting funds for student clubs. “It’s always fun, but stressful. I’ve really learned to manage my time better and not to overwork myself,” she said. But the white-blonde head that is so often seen bobbing up and down through the hallways on business can just as often be seen with her large circle of friends, who race to gush about her “loving personality.”

“I remember this one time she was really upset because she didn’t have time to bake goodies for her friends, and she was genuinely upset over it. And I was like ‘Lexi! You don’t have to do these nice things for us every day!’ I think that really shows, you know, how much she cares about people,” junior Maggie Hernandez said.

“Different projects make different friends, and now it seems like I have at least one friend in every group on campus,” Fabian said. “I wouldn’t say I like everyone, just because I’m not perfect, and who is? But I like passion, and it always seems when I work on a project that I meet a lot of passionate people, and I want to help them.”

Paso Robles High School

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// Super Senior

Matthew Pridgeon drawing to success

by Caitlyn Curran, Fun & Games Editor Passing up papers in AP classes, the final heaps are handed to the teacher. Chances are Matthew Pridgeon’s papers grace the stacks and stand out. His name and indubitably well-crafted responses do not brave the pages alone, though; scattered on most of his school work are the cartoons and doodles he hopes to convert into a profession.

“I don’t really seriously draw as much as you’d think, but I sketch and doodle on almost all of my schoolwork so I get a lot of practice that way,” Pridgeon said, who has been drawing for as long as he can remember.

If doodling has affected his attention span in class, it isn’t reflected in his 4.3 grade point average.

“He is a top student,” counselor Xelina Rojas said. “There is another side to him: a very conscientious student, a character of high integrity, and humble. Even with Mr. Pridgeon’s GPA, he doesn’t brag. He’s quietly competitive.”

With an unfalteringly sound mind and indifferent tone of voice admired by those who work with him, Pridgeon has cruised his high school years being ‘the smart guy’--or to those Super Seniors! who don’t share a class with him: Alexis a mystery. All his life, however, Fabien and he has had a passion for doodling.

Haydn “I enjoy making my thoughts Clement and dreams visible on paper,” Pridgeon said, describing the inspiration for the

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activity that is both fun and gratifying.

Many newspapers and comic strips he’ studied since middle school have inspired his clean-lined and flawless style. The classic Calvin and Hobbes is his favorite. His cartoons

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can hold deep emotion and great satire while illustrating a point, an immediate and obvious talent.

“I see myself becoming a professional cartoonist or illustrator or animator,” Pridgeon said. Pridgeon is going to Cal State Fullerton on Aug. 18 to major in art with an emphasis in illustration.

A comic book turned in to English teacher Aaron Cantrell in sophomore Honors English brought Pridgeon’s skills to attention. Cantrell, now Pridgeon’s senior AP English teacher, showed the cartoons to Journalism advisor Jeff Mount, who was happy to enhance the Crimson Chronicle with his skillful graphics and editorial cartoons. Pridgeon has penned roughly 35 cartoons in the publication and left editors smiling at their layouts.

Pridgeon entered the June NSPA review of cartoonists nationwide. The journalism staff is confident he’ll be named as a finalist—or winner—at the fall convention in Kansas City in November 2010.

Pridgeon is well rounded in his interests, though. He has played tennis and the piano for over 10 years. As number one varsity singles player for two years, Pridgeon practiced tennis about 10 hours a week. His musical inclination has led him to play over a hundred different songs, and he’s even on the marching band.

On Jun. 2 at Scholarship Night, Pridgeon received the Bank of America Award for Fine Arts after earning the most nominations from the Art Department.

Junior varsity tennis coach Jan Dallons has seen him and his tennis skills grow since freshman year.

“We had to teach him to be mean!” Dallons laughed. “He is the nicest guy, he never says a bad word about anyone—we had to make him be aggressive.”

“You couldn’t tell if he is winning or losing; he never lets anyone get to him,” Dallons said about his calm, effortless demeanor.

Pridgeon has taken every AP or honors course available to him during his high school career, 10 altogether. Accomplishing an impeccable grade point average, accolades in auditory a n d visual arts, and e v e n an aptitude f o r sports, Pridgeon looks forward to a bright future and deserves the title of super senior.

Cheyne Hayes defied gravity

by Megan Boswell, SciTech Co-Editor

Standing at a staggering six foot four inches, he intimidates his basketball and volleyball opponents, but when you get to know the star athlete, you’ll find the dinosaur loving, intelligent family man known as senior Cheyne Hayes.

Hayes finds joy in sports for the different experience it adds to high school and the thrill of “bettering [his]self.”

“I like proving to myself that I can do things and it brings out my personality,” Hayes said. But this super senior knows that’s it’s not all about what happens on the court. “Athletics and academics are interlinked. You can’t care about just one , it doesn’t work that way,” Hayes said.

Hayes keeps his life in balance by excelling both in sports and the classroom.

He took three AP classes his senior year and their tests, all of which he believes to have passed, and he kept a GPA of 3.83.

Hayes’ inspiration to excel didn’t appear out of thin air. From a young age he looked up to his father, a former volleyball player and coach, and his sisters who were involved in sports. “Volleyball has always been a part of my life. Volleyball’s just kind of a family sport. My sisters both played in college. My older sister is playing professional beach volleyball right now, and my dad was their club coach.” Hayes also played on the PRHS basketball team after playing the sport for 13 years.

While Hayes is known to strangers and peers as the tall athlete, his friends know him as a nice guy who does a great dinosaur impression. Dinosaurs are animals that Hayes has been fascinated with since pretending to be one as a child. My friend and I used to wrestle at my house in this sandpit that I had; and I would be the T-Rex, and he would be the Stegosaurus, and of course I would always win and he would say he always won. It’s just kind of like a fantasy; I always thought they were cool,” Hayes said. “My favorite things in the whole world are dinosaurs.” His favorite to this day remains a T-Rex, the only difference is that he now knows more about their origins and evolution.

Hayes has powered through his four years at PRHS and is excited to go on to college at UCSD. “My first choice was Pepperdine, but I wasn’t going to be able to play volleyball there because they filled their roster and UCSD called and said they were interested in having me play for them,” said Hayes. “I first applied because the town, La Jolla, is a cool place, and I knew I wanted to stay in California, preferably southern California.” Hayes will start out as a walk on for the team and hopefully earn a scholarship.

Hayes is living proof you don’t need a definite goal to have a plan to inspire you and a good time in college. Hayes is instead inspired by his father and the success of his sisters. “I’ve always tried to imitate my dad, and Steve Irwin,” said Hayes. “I don’t know what I want to do; my plan now is to go to college and I’m going to be playing volleyball so I’m going to take some classes that interest me and just hope that something cool comes out. I’m always kind of envious of people that know what they want to do, they have a goal, but I know that I want to travel a lot.”

From sports to impressions and great grades to fun times with his friends, Hayes took full advantage of his high school career and truly deserves the title of a Super Senior for he is “hard to miss when you look around.”

Paso Robles High School

www.crimsonchronicle.com

//Senior Collage

r , o e i v n e e r s y y d r a e y v E

>> Next Page ...

Baby Photos of seniors

www.crimsonchronicle.com

Paso Robles High School

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Julian Acosta

Christian Akin

James Alarcon

“Ball”

Karlee Anderson

Sebastion Andrus

Senior Collage Next Page ...

Next page...

Jacob Anshen

“Hangel Burger”

Kyle Austin

Brianna Birks

“Dee dee land”

Alan Blevins

>> Heather Buckley

16

Crimson

Daniel Burgess

“Fruit Loops”

“Bobbi”

Randy Nelson

Jacob Bedell

Megan Boswell

Jacob Bourgault

Savannah Carlson Paso Robles High School

Michael Carroll

Thomas Bernal

“What’s that smell?”

“Mine”

“I wuv Lolo”

LaMar Bradshear

Cameron Conover

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Derek and Greg Dansereau

Carl Delbar

“I want my daddy!”

Ian Dingler

“Baboo”

Marcus Dixon

Zach Endeman

“No!!!”

>> Next Page ...

John Estrada

“Bahney”

Llesenia Gonzalez

Cheyne Hayes

Alexis Fabian

“Bubba”

Michaela Grocott

“Directionality”

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Patty Hernandez

Jasmine Galvez

Dylan Grois

“Tonta”

Ondrea Garcia

“Hold-u-me”

Trevor Howard

“No-wuf you“

Ava Gulovsen

“Why?”

Paso Robles High School

Alison Hutchinson

Baby Photos

Toby Godwin

Jessalyn Hawkes

“Da-da”

Kaleialoha Kalili

“Please mama!”

Crimson | 17

Cary Kamp

Zara Khan

Mitchell Kirk

Rebecca Kisch

“No”

Jessica Long

“Uh-oh”

David McKibbon

“ROAR”

Caitlin Morrison

“amilo”

Baby Photos

Alexis Lozano

Jessica Lundy

Eric Luth

“Dada”

Josh McGarvey

>> 1st Item Next Page ...

2nd item Luis Mendoza

Eric Myers

18

Crimson

“Let’s Race”

“Why?”

Gary Ochoa

Lindsey Merkle

“No!!!”

“noodle”

Mike Moore

Robin Osgood

Jacob Moore

“Dada”

Paso Robles High School

Mao Otake

“Cookie”

“Choudai”

Michael Pahler

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Kimberly Peckham

“Puppies”

Shauna Quaid

“Dada”

Matthew Ramos

“Cacheton”

Lauren Redberg

“Whotha?”

Kodie Redongo

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Charlie Reed

Terry Robbins Jr.

Tasia Russell

Justin Salazar

Angelica and Jessica Shubbie www.crimsonchronicle.com

Dylan Sinclair

Jeffrey Rollins

“Duck duck”

“Mama”

Eli Shoennauer

Hope Slason

“NO”

“Swim”

Christopher Rowe

“Fish”

Andi Russell

Dalton Setterquist “Mommommom”

Kati Sheldon

“Swing”

Paso Robles High School

Stacie Soto

“Mena”

“Pop pop”

Alyssa Spears

Baby Photos

“Grrrrr”

Crimson | 19

William Stark

“I do”

Kolton Stemper

Justin Swank

Brittani Taylor

Ben Thomason

Baby Photos

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Brandon Todd

“Ball”

Craig Tuma

“Tractor”

Tyler West

“My Nana”

Devin Upson

Kirsten Wabbel

Makenna Waterfield

Austin Zanini

Jeremy Zuck

>> Lonnie Watson Jr.

20

Crimson

“Ninnnnnnne”

Megan Wookey

Paso Robles High School

“Tywer”

www.crimsonchronicle.com

// Senior Topic

Alumni Testimonials What PRHS alumni have to say about their first year of college

by Emily Grandoli, Reporter Jairo Loranca, a 2009 PRHS graduate, recently moved into a new home, made new friends, adjusted from a small town to a giant city, and discovered college is a whole different experience than high school.

His first year at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts was a big transition from the everyday routine he went through in small-town Paso Robles, but he enjoys the culture Boston has to offer.

“I’ve had some pretty interesting moments in Boston so far. I jogged next to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes one day along the Charles’ River.” he said.

Cameron Schaeffer, student at UC Santa Cruz and 2009 PRHS graduate, had different tales of his experiences on this side of the nation.

“I like the fact that I get to set my schedule for when I want to sleep, eat, goof off, etc. and Santa Cruz is nice because of the beach being five minutes away, Natural Bridges State Park is nearby, and it doesn’t get as blazing hot as Paso does,” Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer is a proposed Marine Biology major and participates in intramural volleyball.

Schaeffer and Loranca share some similarities in their college lives, despite the distance between them.

“My favorite thing about college is the freedom I have.

Being far away gives me a lot of independence!” Loranca expressed.

Loranca plans on majoring in Psychology and is a member of both business and psychology clubs.

Many college students said there are certain necessities you just cannot do without.

“I wouldn’t be able to live without my laptop, for sure,” Schaeffer stated.

Loranca said his appliance of choice is either a blender for making shakes between classes, or a steamer to keep your clothes wrinkle-free.

Although many graduates from PRHS do attend universities at great distances, many choose to stay close to home and attend Cuesta College.

Jessica Madrid, PRHS alumni and Cuesta College student, said there are certain perks and downfalls of staying at home.

“It’s awesome in the fact that I don’t have to worry about bills or paying for food like other kids, but it sucks because I feel like an adult but my mom is still pretty restricting as to what I can do,” Madrid said.

Madrid said she would not be able to live without her parents’ money because although she still lives at home, she still has to pay for her daily activities.

“Having a job is definitely still important in my book,” Madrid expressed.

Madrid is majoring in Registered Nursing and is

www.crimsonchronicle.com

Local summer activities and jobs — Serina Lewis, News Co-Editor

TEEN VOLUNTEER CORPS:

Teens ages 13-18 may apply to work as a Children’s Summer Reading Program Desk Assistant. Activities may include helping at the desk during the summer reading program, distributing prizes, making crafts, and helping with programs.

FUN-GILITY – LOW-IMPACT AGILITY FOR DOGS:

Low-impact, low-stress agility (obstacle) training for your dog. This basic five week course will introduce you and your dog to the fun sport of agility. Have lots of fun teaching your dog to jump over jumps, Check run through tunnels, and teeter on the teeter totter plus many out other exciting obstacles. The class will also help you to brush senior up your dog’s obedience skills. Dog should have basic training picks! skills to attend, and you must bring shot records to first class.

Did your Location: Centennial Park BBQ Instructor: Kathy Kropp (237-9985) Ages: 13Y+ (Younger children with adult) Days: Tuesday Time: 6 p.m.—7 p.m.

Session 1: June 22—July 20 Session 2: Aug. 3—31 Fee: $87 ($70 for second dog – yours or friends)

favorite win?

>>

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT & SELF DEFENSE CLASS:

PUT TO THE TEST: Jessica Madrid and Jairo Loranca have learned the pros and cons of college. Both alumni have enjoyed their experiences. Photos by Aryn Fields

Maximize your chances of avoiding a sexual assault! Workshop focuses on improving your awareness and assertiveness skills, and will also teach physical techniques that can help you escape a dangerous situation. Open to women of all athletic abilities, ages 12 and up. Bring a friend or loved one for even more fun!

Please bring a $10 donation for materials.

Checks are payable to the Sexual Assault Recovery Prevention (SARP) Center. To register, call the SARP Center at 545- 8888.

Location: Live Oak Instructor: Jess Hawley Ages: 12Y+ Day: Monday Time: 6 p.m.—9:30 p.m.

Session: July 12 Fee: $12

hoping to get certified as a licensed vocational nurse before then.

Sending students to colleges as close as Cuesta College to as far as Boston University in Massachusetts, PRHS students have left a mark at universities across the nation.

Paso Robles High School

Crimson | 21

Senior Destinations 2010

Next Page ...

Photos

{

>>

22 | Crimson

Kyle Herrera Dylan Sinclair

Zach Endemen Tasia Russell Scott Sanders Makenna Waterfield Bobbi Young

{ Baby

WyoTech

Humboldt State

Western Washington University College of the Redwoods Izzy Allen

Valerie Lloyd

DeVry University

Washington State

Jesus Campos

Cecilia Filkins

Johnson & Wales Chansley Adams

U.T.I.

Ponciano Perez Jeremey Zuck

Paul Mitchell Bree Basinger Kristy Lara

Sonoma State

Brigham Young

CSU Chico

Heather Buckley Haydn Clement Gabriella Defusco

Wesley Levanduski

Fordham University Tyrian Khan-White

Colorado School of Mines Steven Plescia

Dixie State

CSU Sacramento

Kati Sheldon Angelica Shubbie Jessica Shubbie

University of Colorado

Carl Delbar

University of Kentucky Tom Bernal

Karlee Anderson

Derek Dansereau Wences Sanchez

Arizona State University Julian Acosta

San Francisco State Kyle Elliot Tyler West

Academy of Art University

UC Merced

CSU East Bay

Jasmine Galvez Holly Mondo

Jacob Bedell

UC Santa Cruz James Barrios Ian Dingler Bailey McWhorter

Reedley College Navil Ayon

Cal Poly

Dina Fahmey

Maria Martinez Terry Robbins Christina Robles Christopher Rowe Gerardo Sanchez Brandon Todd Victoria Villa

Allan Hancock College Porfirio Delgado Katialoha Kalili Justin McAffee

UC Santa Barbara Alexis Fabian Thomas Grandoli Saba Jahanzeb Luis Mendoza Michael Pahler Will Stark Kirsten Wabbel

Kaitlin Heely Jonathan Morrison Hope Slason Ben Thomason

Glendale College Katie Whipp

Salutes

Moorpark College Codie Rash-Elliot

Azusa Pacific EDGE Performing Arts Center Brittany Cecil

UCLA

Jessica Long

UC Riverside

CSU Northridge Laura Velazquez Lonnie Watson

San Diego State Chelsea Merrill

Point Loma Paso Robles High School

Teacher

Cuesta College

Amanda Doyle

Santa Barbara City College

Next Page ...

Brandon Stegall

Michaela Grocott

Beauty Institute of Pismo Beach

>>

University of Texas

Eric Bilderback Robbie Burbank

Cal Poly Pomona

Alan Blevins Megan Boswell Zara Khan Chelsea Lightfoot Eric Myers Ross Pellerin Jeff Rollins Megan Wookey

Kevin Boles Alejandro Corona Miguel Escomillo Nesenia Gonzalez Linda Jaimez Jessica Lopez Jessica Lundy Isabel Martinez

Lauren Redberg

University of Phoenix

CSU Fresno

Meghan Chambers Janice Flamm

Covenant College

Jacob Moore

Lulu Tseng

CSU Fullerton Jesus Aispuro Matthew Pridgeon

Vanguard University Justin Salazar

UC San Diego Cheyne Hayes Sandi Lee Sarah Park

James Alarcon Anthony Almaguer Karina Almaguer Liliana Alvarez Matt Anderson Sebastian Andrus Julie Antista Kyle Austin Bailey Baker Bryan Barker Brianna Birks Mae Bradley Tom Bralek Holly Brooks Daniel Burgess Erin Byford Cesar Cabrera Enrique Campoverde Mike Carroll Britney Clays Kimberly Cruz

Victor Delgado Marcus Dixon Ozzy Echevarria Victor Echevarria Sean Erickson Luis Espinoza Lupita Espinoza Mylissa Ey Megan Gearhart Francisco Gomez Dylan Grois Nayeli Guillen Francisco Guzman Tristani Harris Katie Hartman Lynne Heil Nicola Hiller Cheyenne Holman Jenna Holmes Trevor Howard Alison Hutchinson

Felix Johansson Maritza Juarez Cary Kamp Rebecca Kisch Jessica Knupper Ryan Langguth Trevor Lasley Brett Lively Alexis Lozano Eric Luth Maria Manzo Kindsay Martin Sarah Masters Josh McGarvey David McKibbin Tiffany McLaughlin Amanda Mills Caitlin Morrison Skip Moses Jaime Mucillo Amber Newlee

Michael Ojeda Robin Osgood Ryan Paasch Melisa Padilla Kimberly Peckham John Perry Kayla Peterson Stephen Plale Josh Plemmons Auellino Portillo Marissa Prado Haley Przybyla Shauna Quaid Matthew Ramos Kodie Redongo Charlie Reed Jake Richardson Kayla Ritchie Jennifer Rosekamp Jovany Salazar Marissa Sanchez

Elijah Schoennauer Megan Sherwin Randy Sjodin John Snead Hassan Soltero Stacie Soto Elizabeth Sturgess Justin Swank Marissa Tarango Brittani Taylor Nickolas Trujillo Julio Valdez America Vega Mariana Vergara Nicole Vogepohl Phoenix Wadsworth George Walker Travis Walters Scott Weller Jacob Weller Molly Wise

Total: 105

Military

Air Force - Anthony Byers Army - Felix Cruz, Dalton Setterquist Marines - Junior Rodriguez Navy - Donny Achterberg, Ruben Chechik, Kolton Stemper

www.crimsonchronicle.com

Trade School

Christian Akin Patty Hernandez Victoria Hernandez Andi Russell Danny Villagomez

Trends

Senior Destinations

2009 2010 263

218

students mapped

students mapped

49%

48%

attending Cuesta

8%

attending Cuesta

8%

attending a UC

attending a UC

10%

6%

6%

4%

going out of state

attending Cal Poly

going out of state

attending Cal Poly

Crimson | 23

// To the Grads

Teacher Salutes Mr. Nelson, PRHS Principal

Each year at this time thousands of students across our state of California and the nation will be marking a new transition in their lives, graduating from high school. You will be among those. Webster’s New ColleColle giate Dictionary denotes one definition of graduation as “to pass from one stage of exex perience, proficiency, or prestige to the next stage; usually a higher one.” That is a most important aspect to understand. GraduGradu ating from high school, for all the accomaccom plishment that it is, is but one stage of your life. One of many yet to be fulfilled, many yet to be imagined, yet to be surpassed. As you move forward toward your next stage of experience, proficiency, or prestige, please be humble in your accomplishments, thankful to those who have helped you make your way thus far, and willing to help others as they pass through the stages of their lives. My very best wishes to you in your future endeavors!

"Every Bearcat ...... Every Day" Senior Destinations

Michael Delbar, French To those of you who completed French classes— congratulations! Now you get to practice that French as you travel, see the world and experience new cultures. I encourage you to enroll in a study abroad program while you are in college. Or travel for at least one summer. These experiences will change your life. Best wishes.

Gregg Williams, U.S. History Dear Graduates: What an exciting moment in your young lives! I’m extremely grateful to have been a part of your high school years and wish you the very best in your many decades of life ahead. Having had recent surgery for cancer, allow me to be a bit more tender in my reflections for you.

1. Always treat people with respect and kindess; even those who make it difficult to do so.

2. Remind people how important they are to you, whether verbally or in a note or with a prolonged hug.

3. Celebrate the people around you with smiles and laughter.

4. Gracefully accept bad news, adjust to it, and determine to move ahead in a positive way.

5. Try to see things from other points of view. Empathy is an important concept.

6. Be considerate.

7. Accept people for who they are; reject any form of discrimination in thought or action. All prejudice is ugly.

8. Arrogance is also an unattractive characteristic.

9. Show a genuine interest in the lives of others. It’s not all about you.

10. You have friends around the world you haven’t met yet.

Enjoy your journey as you make a wonderful life for yourself. Lots and lots of choices, so make some good ones that will contribute to your happiness. Thank you for having been so important to my happiness.

Humbly, Mr. Gregg Williams

>>

Paula Peargin, Literature Bethany K., thanks for being the best TA ever; you’re kind, thoughtful and a wonderful person.

I anticipate great things from you. Hassani, I really enjoyed sharing “The Pacific” with you every Monday morning. Call me when you get the set so I can borrow it. Craig, wherever you go and whatever you do, you are sure to bring smiles and laughter with your presence. I thank you for bringing them into my classes and for always getting my little jokes—no matter how obscure. K.C.—see me and I will give you enough pencils to last the year.

Class of 2010, keep compassion and kindness in your hearts ALWAYS.

Dear seniors, It is my hope you will all become lifelong readers and lovers of books. I leave you with a quote from Mark Twain: “The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” Make reading a daily habit!

“At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold, that magic threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, for the better. It’s an enormous force for good.”—Barack Obama

Since our seniors are going out into the big bad world, they could use some advice. From philosophical views on life and inside jokes, to favorite quotes and wisdom, some of PRHS’s teachers and administrators share their goodbyes with the graduating seniors. Here are their salutes to the Class of 2010.

Photos by Mae Bradley, Emily Cone, Ethan Baietti, Lindsay Reed, Serina Lewis, and Emily Grandoli

24

Crimson

Paso Robles High School

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// To the Grads

Teacher Salutes A.C. Cantrell, English Dear and Beloved Class of 2010,

I want you to know two things: I love you and timshel.

Best wishes....I'm proud of you...

Mr. Bertolette, English

Good-bye my little duckies.

Denise Conte, Business Class of 2010: You are the kids I’ve known since 2nd grade; it will be so hard to see you all go!

I’m so lucky to have gotten to be part of your high school experiences as a teacher and as a mom. I feel like I have hundreds of kids!

Thanks for sharing your moments: happy, mad, confused, elated, falling in love, falling out of love, struggle, triumph. Thanks for letting me be the shoulder you cry on and the one you show your prom dress to (even if I think it’s a little skimpy!).

Best of all, I got to spend so much more time with Tasia. I feel like the luckiest mom on earth! I will miss the lunch money requests, the off-campus pleas, and just having her around in general. I’ll also miss all of her wonderful, crazy cohorts. Do me a favor, girls, and stay just a little goofy!

Class of 2010, have fun, be good to other people, and stay safe.

To my BQ – I love you! Make good choices!

Mr. Ferguson, English To the Class of 2010: On your journey (into your wild), remember to consider the roads less traveled.

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Mrs. Emrich-Keller, PRHS Assitant Principal Congratulations to the Class of 2010!

You have successfully completed 13 years of education; this is quite an accomplishment that you should be very proud of.

The sky is the limit and the future is yours for the taking.

Bearkitten Teachers!

Thank you for your hours of dedication, kindness, patience, love, and care you gave my daughdaugh ter. You have given her more than you will ever know. I feel very privileged that she was able to be a part of your life during your time here at PRHS. Thank you for helping to shape her life in such a positive way.

You have so much to offer, best of luck with all your endeavors. Thank you!

Much love and thanks, Lexi's Mom

Bearcats!

ASB/Leadership Seniors!

Way to go! You are amazing young leaders that accomplished so much this year.

I am so very impressed, proud, and thankful for all that you contributed to this school. You have set the bar very high for next years Senior Celebration! Go get'm You are amazing!

>> Next Page ...

More Salutes DiMaggio, Cooper

Mrs. Buck-Moyer, Counselor Seniors of 2010:

‘Doc’ (Dr.Kirk Weller), Music/Band To the Band & Choir seniors, I've enjoyed working with you and watching you grow (both physically & musically) during our four years here together. A teacher's first 'graduating' class is always something special and with Scott & Jacob there among you it has been even more so for me. May music always be a blessing for you as you find your way through life.

Paso Robles High School

Off you go! Your class has been through a lot of tumultuous and tough times together. These times you will remember with the good.

Congratulations to those of you who aimed high and got there.

One of my favorite quotes: "My will shall shape the future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny."

So forget about blame. You are the one person that is in control of your life.

You make the decisions. Without trying you will get nowhere, and when you do try you will move mountains. Just believe in yourself.

I have so enjoyed getting to know all my seniors this year and I hope to hear from you as you enter real life.

Remember, decide what you are going to do and do it. No one else will do it for you.

Have a great life, Bearcats!

Crimson | 25

// To the Grads

Teacher Salutes Stanley Cooper, Social Studies

More Salutes

Next Page ...

Cantrell, Buckmoyer

Seniors, you have often thought this school was about the teachers and the rules but it was re really about you and what you have contributed to one another.

Soon you will be out there, in Questionmarkland.

Remember to be kind to others and share your stuff. Respect others’ property, be good room mates, pick up after yourselves, and cook a little extra for friends who may be hungry.

It isn’t all about you, be good listeners. Be better friends. Be honest people, in all walks of your lives. You probably won’t remember much of what you learned here, it’s in your bones though, in your deep knowledge, it’s your tool kit.

We will miss you but we will have another set of seniors to teach and learn from next year. You are done with this.

One last thing, to quote my dear dead song writer friend Ben Staley who didn’t take his own advice: “Tapper lightly, tapper lightly Have your selves some fun but don’t OD Tapper lightly, tapper lightly When you satisfy your curiosity.”

Craig Stewart, Special Ed

I send my best and my congratulations to some very special seniors: Gordon Sturgess, Jose Texta, Israel Velasquez, Kirk Mitchell, Joselyn Contreras, Erandi Herredia, Kacy Santos, Jessie Rameriz-Stone, Marlen and Mabel Pinedo, Cary Kamp, Angel Garcia, Lacy Puckett, and Alejandra Pacheco. Thanks for all your help you provided in the stu student store and the hard work you did in class. I remember most of you as these little people coming to 9th grade, and in just four short years you are leaving as young adults to start your future. Always remember your years in high school but move on to bigger and better things. I will miss you all. I too am graduating. So you guys are special to me because we are all the CLASS of 2010. Good bye and the best of luck.

Heather Stover, English Dear 2010 seniors of PRHS, Congratulations on completing your public school career and good luck to you on your next venture in life. I remember feeling a mixture of feelings when I graduated from high school. First, I was really glad that high school was over. For four years I had been thinking about life after PRHS (yes, I too graduated from this high school back in 1986!). I couldn’t wait to get on with my life! But at the same time I felt anxious that I was going to have to get on with my life! That seemed kind of daunting. Whatever you might be feeling these days, just remember, it’s totally normal. Everyone has a range of emotions from elation to fear and everything in between. And that’s kind of what the rest of life is like. There will be doors that open for you and doors that close. And it’s not really about how you plan the journey. It’s about how you deal with the unexpected, how you handle your disappointments, how you revel in your joy. We cannot control what happens in life. We can only control what we decide to do about it. So, just remember, whatever comes your way you have a choice. You can take action or be a victim. You can let it go or be angry. You can take a chance or run away from a challenge. Your life is what you make of it. Art Linkletter just died the other day. You probably don’t know who he is. But at age 93 he wrote a book entitled “How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life.” My wish for you is to follow his advice and make the rest of your life, the best of your life. Congratulations PRHS graduates!

>>

Wally Ohles, PRHS VIP Seniors, Class of 2010: You are aware that school “classes” seem to go in cycles; some of you have gone to school together since first grade. You are aware that the Class of 2010 is an outstanding group of people, with varying talents and abilities. I have really enjoyed knowing and being associated with you. It has been a thrill to see you perform in your various activities. There are some graduating seniors with whom I have spent much of the last four years; the members of the Wrestling Team I have known, and loved, since you were 9th graders: Justin McAfee, Josh Plemmons, Jovanny Salazar, Justin “Salad-Bar” Salazar, Brandon Stegall, John Sandy, Brandon Ziltz, Ryan Paasch. . .Then there are Issac Aviles, Jeremy Scheiger, Eric Meraz. . .I have spent many happy moments around you. Robbie Burbank…you are one of my favorite people on this planet! Kolton Stemper. . .Jeremiah Vaughan. . . I will always have happy memories of each one of you. I greatly appreciate your friendship, throughout the years. Each one of the people I’ve listed has my utmost respect, and I thank you! You will be successes, wherever you go, and whatever you do. Thanks for the memories. Always be a “Bearcat!”

Elijah Schoennauer has been a very important part of our Swimming & Water Polo programs for all of his PRHS years; Miss Posmoga is a star swimmer; Christopher Rowe is a memorable person, for many reasons. He, and fellow “band” seniors, are to be congratulated for their years of award-winning performances. It is an honor to be able to say that I know many “band” members. Cody Krijakin is one of my most favorite people on this planet. He is a perfect example of what a “Bearcat” is, and should be; it is an honor to be able to say that he is a friend of mine. There are too many great people to list, and I mention these few, knowing that I am leaving out some outstanding people.

That’s just the way the members of the Class of 2010 are—outstanding—a credit to their families—a credit to their school. Thank you, each and every one! Best wishes and love to you all in your future endeavors! Thanks for the great memories!

26

Crimson

Paso Robles High School

Mark DiMaggio, Science To departing seniors I wish you all peace, hope and prosperity in the days and years to come. I hope you will find a way to make your life a statement of your deepest inner values. No matter what you choose to do with your life, no matter what career you pursue or what adventures you undertake, find a way to use your time, intellect, and talent to move our world towards a future of well-being for all people, and all other species. Someone once said that when we have made the world safe for all animals, we will have made it safe for ourselves. Indeed, everything is so interconnected, that what we do to other living things we do to ourselves....We have a narrow window of time to learn to live at peace with the natural world and with each other. I hope you may use your career to help keep that window open.

Salut! To Good Friends, Wild Places and a Lifetime of Adventure!

www.crimsonchronicle.com

// To the Grads

Teacher Salutes Mrs. Bedrosian, Dance I am one of the most tunate teachers on cam campus to get to watch my stustu dents grow over four years and become such amazing young people. CheerWhat a fantastic group of leaders you are. You are all strong women, don't let anyone tell you different!

Dance-You all pour your heart into every dance you perform.

You are talented and I have loved watching each of you grow and learn. Your support over the last few months has meant so much to me...you'll never know. Lots of love to everyone, stay in school, be good to yourself, I am proud of you, so one last time...Shine! Love ya, Mrs. B.

for-

ore lutes

xt Page ...

eller, antrell

Mrs. Lewis, Workshop To My Seniors — Lacey, Mabel, Marlene, Erandi, Natasha, Stacie, Dylan, Gordon, and Jesse: Wow! You made it! Some of you I have known since elementary school, some of you since your Freshman year, and others through years² of Algebra.

To those of you who were told you would never graduate with a diploma because you couldn’t pass Algebra, you have learned something much more powerful than finding x—You CAN do anything you set your mind to! Don’t forget that.

For those who had me as your case carrier — thank you for making the last 4 years the most memorable in my teaching career. Here’s to: Yearly meetings, Progress Report Checks, Tears and Laughs, Exams, Gripe Sessions, Deep Breaths, e-Mails, Text Messages, Notes, Classroom Passes and Workshop!

To those who were in my class at Virginia Peterson (when I was still taller than you) --- It has been fun watching you grow up and learn and become such great young men.

I’m looking forward to seeing each of you in your cap and gown at Graduation — the day we have talked about, argued over, and dreamt of (and no, I won’t forget my box of Kleenex). I am so proud of you all, Congratulations!

Mrs. Lewis www.crimsonchronicle.com

Mrs. Roberts, English/Yearbook

To My Awesome Senior Yearbookers! I will miss you all so much! I.A.-You are such a won wonderful young woman and it’s been awesome to see you grow up.

Your personality shines through with each and every one of your beautiful smiles.

Go catch some great rides! E.B.Always the quiet one (well KR too) but I so ap appreciate all you’ve done this year for the book. I could always count on you to follow through.

Good luck and come back and visit. Or maybe I’ll see you in SLO. A.D.- It was such a blessing to watch you mature into the strong independent woman you have become. You don’t stand by the wayside and let life happen. You go after what you want and that’s an awesome trait. I hope you keep your head up always and keep dancing. It makes life so much more fun. C.F.Thank you so much for being a strong and independent staffer.

I always knew I could count on you. Your quiet determination and beautiful smile made this a memorable year for me. Remember: the future is yours! M. J.-I will miss your amazing smile and your daily “Hey Robs!” I want you to know that I really missed you the last trimester. You always kept everyone in ther place with a joke and a laugh. Remember, your life is just beginning and I wish you all the best. S.H.- Thank you for being a rock this year. Even though things were sometimes tough, you were always there to make sure you got it figured out and done. Good luck in the Marines and your weight loss endeavor was inspiring to say the least. K.R.- You are one amazing you lady. Although you were so quiet, you were diligent and hardworking to the end. I am so ahppy I was able to share the last two years of your high school experience with you. Please keep in touch and don’t move to Perkins Lane. C.R-. I will truly miss you so much. To see you become the wonderful young woman you are has been an amazing gift. From that lil’ freshman girl in my first period class, you’ve beome and beautiful woman with a promising future ahead of her. Good luck in LA and come back and make me beautiful. K.S.- Congrats on making it out of here! You’re an incredible young woman and a great athlete too. I was sad when you left but you also left me with great memories. I don’t kwo what life has planned for you , but I’m sure it’s going to be a wonderful ride. N.T.- You’re an intelligent and beautiful young woman who has a lot to offer the world. Your inner strength is a gift, so don’t forget to listen to your heart. Thanks for all your hard work this year and you and CR saved my rear many a day with all your TA help. I will miss all of you tremendously. Good luck out there !

Paso Robles High School

Christine Rudman, English Dear Seniors, Justin, you’re a natural leader—I know you will be a force for good out there.

Hassani, keep your

kind heart and don’t grow up too much.

Greg (Texas Ranger)—Chuck Norris will envy your skills.

Lacey, everyone around here is going to miss you—you’re a student who makes a teacher feel successful.

Elizabeth, find a way to continue your education— you’ve got style to share.

Armando, whatever you do, I know you will have fun— the world needs your smile.

>> Photo Essay

Mr. Canaday, Construction

See Seniors on the next page.

Geez o Pete, aren’t you guys done yet! Not really, you’re just getting started. To this point in time, most of you have had someone to report to, answer questions, be accountable whether you liked it or not. There were immediate consequences to your actions (sometimes) and at other times you got away with things. Well, guess what – now it’s on you. No one is going to rescue you (most of the time). You will have to be accountable for your actions, and most of the people around you expect you to be accountable. When you’re not, they won’t care because they’ll just send you down the road and replace you with someone else.

All in all, life is going to come screaming at you full blast, so get ready and enjoy each day, one day at a time. If you knew exactly what the future will hold for you, you’d be scared.

So just keep moving and occupy. That is, make a plan, stick to the plan and see it all the way through. Even if the final outcome of that plan isn’t exactly what you wanted, you will have gained great insight for the next plan. That’s right there will be another plan, and then another, etc. That’s life, so get used to it, and enjoy your journey’s. To all my kids – SkillsUSA Kids. You have been a great group of Champions at Work. We had a great year. The journey has been fun, enjoyable, and hopefully educational. Eighteen of you will continue the journey to the National Conference. Get ready and finish well.

As for my ROP guys – I hope you have gained some insight to the future opportunities you have. Remember: Attitude, Character, Tenacity – get your ACT together and keep it that way. I love you all (most of the time) and hope for your future’s as entrepreneurial leaders of our country.

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// Photo Essay: PROM 2010

PRHS Prom at SLO Embassy Suites May 29, 2010

TENDER MOMENT: A couple shares a tender moment on the dance floor as they slow dance together.

Though very few slow songs were played, students still enjoyed the dancing.

PROM ROYALTY: Seniors Dillon Young and Mylissa Ey celebrate after they are crowned Prom King and Queen.

Young gives Ey a kiss on the dance floor after the crowning.

How was the 1st year of college?

>> GETTIN’ GROOVY: Bearcats enjoy the night while they dance the night away with their dates and friends.

PROM WAS SWEET: Located next to the ballroom were tables full of delicious desserts.

Photos by George Major

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ATTENTION PLEASE: Juniors Alix Gaspar and Reilly Newman announce Prom King, Queen, Prince and Princess.

MILLION DOLLAR SMILE: Junior Nicole Muehlhausen flashes a bright smile while she is having a great time dancing with her date (left).

Paso Robles High School

www.crimsonchronicle.com

// Senior Favorites

Senior

This year 211 seniors weighed in on favorite people, spots, and entertainment. Our PokĂŠmon friends are here to help share the results.

Favorites

Weezing

Golbat

Rappidash

>> Next Page ...

Senior Shout Outs from parents Dragonite

Machamp

Ditto

Snorlax

Bertolette www.crimsonchronicle.com

Jinx

Drowzee Cartoons by Joe Macharia

Paso Robles High School

Crimson | 29

// Senior Shoutouts

Crimson

Paso Robles High School

www.crimsonchronicle.com

// Senior Shoutouts

>> Senior Shoutouts

www.crimsonchronicle.com

Paso Robles High School

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// Senior Shoutouts

Senior Shoutouts

Next Page ...

>> 32

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Paso Robles High School

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C h n o r s o n m i i cle r C

// Year in Review

Review of the Year Front page Editor and Editor in Chief Karlee Anderson made this first front page of the year. And did a great job featuring Mrs. Neely. It really was more than just ‘Neely’ enough!

Sports

Front Page In-Depth

Center

>> Next Page ...

In-Depth Editor Katryn Wingfield & wanted to do a hard hitting page and Science Technology this page on animal rescue was just what she wanted. Her layout was very personable as well.

Sports Editors Torey Wise and Steven Plescia wanted to dedicate this sports page to Track for a job well done. To make the dominent art fit across the page they had to add lines to the PRHS track using Photoshop

Health

Opinion

Center Editors Monica Patel and Tyrian Kahn-White wanted to commemorate the teachers and show students they really did used to be like us.

A&E A&E Editor Aryn Fields wanted to compile the best of the decade and show it all on one page.

With the help of Ethan Baietti she was able to create this dynamic and creative layout

Health Editor Kellie Kennen, wanted to mix it up by slanting the dominent story “Living with a Disease,” down the page. She was able to pull it off with her helpful training in graphic design www.crimsonchronicle.com

Paso Robles High School

Opinion Editors Ethan Baietti and Ian Dinger knew that Interactive Notebooks were important to cover in the Chronicle. So they put their heads together and came up with this.

Crimson | 33

s o m z i G e g e l l o C

// Sci-Tech

The

4 essentials for college life

Necessities Backpacking through Zion National Park

by Mae Bradley, Reporter

Photo Essay: Prom

Next Page ...

The time to head out into a new adventure entitled “college” is rapidly approaching for seniors here at PRHS. With all the newest technology out on the market, how do you know what to buy for college? Here is a quick list of recommended gadgets to take to college—it’ll help your life run much more smoothly a hectic atmosphere.

one

aph Dict

Sit back, relax, and record. The dictaphone, the 21st century’s answer to the tape recorder, not only is it capable of recording college lectures, but can download podcasts as well. Maxing out at 68 hours of recording time and with a 30 hour battery, this high-tech tool is a must for college students. Price of Olympus DS-30 Digital Voice Recorder - $89 (http://gadgetophilia.com)

At 3 a.m. on Friday the 21st, a group of 30 seniors loaded into vans, complete with backpacks, about to embark on the journey that changed their lives.

By the end of the week, Group O, broke the record.

We hiked 63 miles in one week at 7,000 ft. of elevation, but more than that, we walked through one of the most awesome places in the world. Sheer cliffs of white stone, towering mountains that glowed like red-hot coals, and we were changed. There were Ponderosa pines that smelled of butterscotch, the freshest spring water I’ve ever tasted, and clean air.

I had to definitely earn my place in Zion, just like everyone else, and I did not make it easier on myself. The drive there was 10 hours and right outside of Las Vegas I shot up out of my seat and started freaking out—I had forgotten my hiking boots.

If we were taking a day hike I might have been able to manage in my ripped up, flimsy cloth flats, but we were to be hiking on sandstone, through snow and rain, and with 40 lbs on our backs. Thankfully, Gerry, the van driver, let me borrow her boots.

We stayed the night at a campground called Watchman, located in the main valley. This was our last night before we headed into the backcountry.

We woke up, separated into three groups. Group G, group E, and group O all went their separate ways for the

>>

Sara Schuerfeld

week to take their different hiking paths. We had to split mera College can go by in a flash—before you know up to reduce our impact on the park.

Digital Ca it, it’ll be over! A digital camera will capture So, properly grouped we began hiking. Our first day each moment whether it be a party, road trip, hiking I saw snow for the first time. Crossing a river, I or just a group project. You’ll catch yourself slipped on a rock and cut my chin. Eventually we all fell reminiscing over the documented photos one down; everyone had battle scars. We all pushed through day once your college days are over. Canon some interesting predicaments, from our 16 mile day, to Powershot SD1300 IS - $179.00 massive blisters, freezing night temperatures, mosquitoes (http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com) and hunger pains.

“Zion was dirty, it snowed, my tent collapsed, James [Barrios] left my shoes out in the snow, I broke my tent, hones ng Headp li e c n my fingers were freezing, I hate eating dehydrated food a C Noise now… but Zion was a good experience,” senior Cheyne Need to cram for college midterms while your roommates are Hayes said. throwing a party? The noise canceling headphones do just what you “I’ve never seen nature [trees] so big. At one point we think they would. Allowing you to shut yourself off from the world were completely surrounded by rocks and I felt so small in to concentrate on research or to listen to music quietly, this device comparison to something so huge. It’s as if someone were will definitely come in handy. Price of Panasonic RP_HP 500 Noise to see the ocean for the first time. You hear about things Canceling Headphones - $110 being really big but then you go there and it’s really big. It (http://gadgetophilia.com) was painful but it was worth it,” senior America Vega said.

I came back from Zion twice as tan, with five more tor pounds of muscle, and with scars and bug bites covering Protec e g r u A dependable surge protector is fundamental every inch of my body. I also have an overwhelming sense S when you go off to college. In many cases, if the of accomplishment, and an experience that I shared with power does go out, there is nothing worse than friends. having those power surges from storms damage Photos by Mark Dimaggio your electronic devices such as your computer. So Megan Boswell investing on a surge protector would be a great.

PowerSquid Surge3000 Calamari Edition- $80 Holly Mondo (http://www.powersquid.com/)

—Paul Cleland, World Co-Editor and Monica Patel, Center Co-Editor

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// Health

Living with a disease

Sophomore Claire Baldal’s brain surgery relieves pressure, builds maturity

by Aryn Fields, A&E Editor First her neck felt immense pain, then she felt like she had a constant mainly happy there migraine. At the emergency room, they told her that her brain’s was a solution to the migraines. cerebellum was pressing against the back of her skull. She was just “There were a lot of different emotions running through me,” Baldal diagnosed with a Chiari One Malformation, and she had to undergo said. “I was excited and nervous but mostly I was happy the pain would brain surgery to heal. This is what happened to sophomore Claire finally go away. I was never really scared. But I was definitely nervous Baldal, diagnosed with this condition in February 2009. that they would be going into my head.”

A Chiari Malformation causes the cerebellum to hang lower then Through this process, Baldal’s mother, Kelly Baldal, kept a vigilant it should which emits pressure on the skull, causing severe neck pain. eye on her daughter’s health. There wasn’t anything humanly possible Baldal’s surgery, called she could do to help her Chiari decompression, daughter through this is more common for a struggle; as Baldal’s mother neurosurgeon to handle, that was the most difficult but very rare to a general part for her.

I was excited and nervous, surgeon.

“It’s really hard when but mostly I was happy the pain The neurosurgeon’s your child is in so much would finally go away. I was never really scared. mission was to remove a pain and it’s really out of But I was definitely nervous that they small portion of Baldal’s your hands. But when we would be going into my head.” skull and extend the got to Children’s Hospital, Dura lining in the brain, we knew we had a solution, which relieved pressure so it was a great sense of on the skull and in turn relief,” Mrs. Baldal said.

—Claire Baldal, 10 Baldal’s neck pain.

Baldal was not lacking Photo by Alicia Canales Baldal’s journey didn’t in support. Along with start in the surgeon’s office. Many weeks before the surgery, Baldal lived her mother, she had one true best friend who stuck a normal life at school and with friends. However, there was nothing with her through it all. Junior Hadley Sowerby went the doctors in this area could do to help cease her pain. to all the doctor appointments with Baldal, and this “The overall pain affected me emotionally because it made me strengthened their friendship. angry. I was told by my doctor they couldn’t do anything, so I was very “I would do anything for Claire. She’s my best frustrated because normal medication didn’t make the pain go away, friend, and I am there for her no matter what,” Sowerby and I didn’t want to be on heavy pain killers all the time,” Baldal said. said. “So when we found out about the surgery, it was Physical activity also triggered her neck pain. This was when she really hard for her whole family, and I was just happy I finally decided to seek professional help at Children’s Hospital in Los could be there for her. But no matter what, it’s always Angles. hard seeing someone you love in pain.”

“They just watched [the malformation] for a while, and they told me Baldal has gained much from her recovery: her it was a mild case, but when I got more physically active it wasn’t mild relationships are stronger, and she has had zero neck any more... The headaches were severe and made me not do the things pain for five months and is healing perfectly.

I could [before]. I really like golf, and I couldn’t do that because any “[This experience] taught me a lot. I really grew a lot physical activity would make the pain flare,” Baldal said. as a person and matured a lot. I found out who my true Baldal’s family finally found a neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospital friends were and that my family would always be there in Los Angles. Dr. Krieger, the surgeon, led the operation. On Jan. 14, for me,” Baldal said.

Baldal was on the gurney, preparing to go into the operating room.

She returned to PRHS on Mar. 1 and is recovering Baldal said she was not scared of the surgery beforehand; she was beautifully. www.crimsonchronicle.com

Paso Robles High School

THE DOCTOR IS IN: Sophomore Claire Baldal is thankful for her neurosurgeon, Dr. Krieger. He extended the Dura lining in her brain which relieved the painful pressure on her neck. Photo courtesy of Claire Baldal

>> A&E up next!

VAPA awards 2010

Crimson |

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// A&E

Visual and Permorming Arts

Forty Bearcats shine in the spotlight

by Alicia Canales, Copy Editor & Aryn Fields,

A&E Editor

Give me a V! A! P! A! What does that stand for? VAPA! Now what does that stand for? Visual and Performing Arts. Students, parents, teachers, and school board members filled the Culinary Arts Academy on May 18 at 7 p.m. for the VAPA Awards Night.

Drawings, paintings, and ceramic projects were displayed throughout the room. Interspersed between the awards being passed out, performances were done by Jazz N’ Co dancers William Venturini and Pierre Halloy, Veronica Rodin performed a monologue, and finally the Jazz Band performed. The 40 students listed below were recognized with certificates for their constant devotion or vast improvement of achievement from the specific department teacher.

Anthony Byers Michela Cagliero Jessica Knupper Chelsea Lightfoot Margaret McCloskey Bethany Reninger Steven Schwab Brittani Taylor Danny Villagomez

Dance

Brittany Cecil Jessalyn Hawkes William Venturini

Vocal Music

General Art

Music

Ruben Chechik Maddison Coons Brandon Lam Natalie Perez Katie Quick Margaret McCloskey Gaelle Verbeke

Whitney Adams Isaac Andrade Alexander Cushing Phoebe Fairbairn Thomas Grandoli Cameron Holt Rebecca Kisch Rebecca Liberatore Sara Mason James McClenathen Lindsay Remigio Scott Weller

Ceramics

Desiree Bond Greg Dansereau Samantha Simon William Stark Benjamin Thomason Wesley True

Drama

Carl Delbar Veronica Rodin Andrea Russell Kathleen Whipp

Carl Delbar Thomas Grandoli

Health

Next Page ...

Story:

The Winners!

Advanced Art

Senior Thomas Grandoli

Living with a Disease

Won: Two VAPAs for his participation in Men’s Ensemble and Jazz Band Plays: Guitar, bass, piano, saxophone, hand percussion and dulcimer.

>>

“It felt good that I was recognized for doing music. I put a lot of work into both [choir and band]. I put everything into my music. My favorite part of music is that it’s the purest form of self expression.”

Grandoli was excepted into Berkeley School of Music, one of the most prestigious music schools in California.

Senior Jessalyn Hawkes

Won: One VAPA for her dedication to Jazz N’ Co Participated in: Dance Show, choreographed and starred.

“When I received a VAPA I felt very appreciated for all my hard work. My favorite part of dancing is performing and expressing emotion with movement.”

Senior Will Stark

Won: One VAPA for his talent in Ceramic arts.

Participated in: Morro Bay Art Show and 2010 Open House Art Show

“I felt so appreciated and honored to be receiving such a award I almost cried. But not really. My favorite part of ceramics is making anything better than Alan Blevins and playing card games when my work is all done.”

All Photos by Aryn Fields

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// World

“

an

h t d

” y s a e s i ’ n i v i el man New eilly R y b phic Gra

Summer vacation beyond our borders

>> Fun & Games

by Kathryn Wingfield, In-Depth Editor

For students around the world, summer can mean anything from city-wide water fights to unending videogame sessions, but one theme is common throughout: celebration. Although American vacations typically take place from June to August, the same summer traditions of fun and sun occur all throughout the year for teens from Thailand to Turkey.

In Thailand, the celebration is epitomized by the S o n g k r a n festival during the Thai New Year, according to Aekasitt Guruvanich, former Thai exchange student. “We celebrate the summer by playing around town and pouring water on people,” he explained.

“It’s a really fun and friendly festival.”

Thai summer vacations last from February to May and are full of “typical summer activities” such as going to the beach in the hottest month of April. “We do anything we can to keep cool. It gets really, really hot,” Guruvanich said. Temperatures can reach around 104 degrees with high humidity.

For 23 year-old Gu Ting from China, summer vacation begins Jul. 1 and ends Aug. 31. Those summer months begin with homework and additional optional courses and classes. “Besides study, [we] play ping-pong, basketball, soccer, go swimming or do other sports.

Some boys play video games on PC, XBox360, Wii, PSP, NDS,” Ting said. Some Chinese families travel in China and across the world, but others opt for quiet nights in. “At night, they eat watermelon and Chinese ice cream and watch comedies and TV dramas.”

China even has its own versions of Facebook, the recently renamed RenRen, and YouTube, called YouKu. Teens enjoy downloading music and movies — much like American teens — as well as chatting on the popular websites QQ , MSN, and Skype.

In South Africa, the school year lasts from January to December, with three three-to-four week breaks throughout the year, resulting in a total of 11 weeks of vacation, about the same as the American schedule. However, South African summer is in December, so while Amerwww.crimsonchronicle.com

ic a n s are aglow with holiday spirit, South Africans are out traveling and spending time with their families.

“Sometimes we traveled for fun and sometimes for work, but I think spending time with the family is a more common response,” senior Rebecca Kisch said, who lived and went to school in South Africa until 2002.

“Of course we would do things like American kids did during summer. We would have jump houses, pools, slip ‘n’ slides, and all that good stuff.” Kisch cited popular local fun destinations as the Randurg waterfront, malls, the movies, theme parks, and mini-golf courses. “It’s very similar to the U.S.,” she said.

Another country whose summers are nearly identical to those of America is Turkey. Senior and PRHS foreign exchange student Ata Bulgurlu cites favorite pastimes as going to the beach with friends, playing soccer, and videogames. With temperatures around 100 degrees in the summer months of June, July, and August, Turkish teens cool off by drinking iced coffee (Starbucks is the most popular go-to coffee shop) and eating ice cream with flavors from chocolate to coconut. Traveling is extremely popular, and it’s common for teens as young as 15 to travel the world with friends, funded by their parents.

But one favorite activity is not so similar. “We like to go out to bars and go drinking and partying,” Bulgurlu said.

Paso Robles High School

Senior “The drinking age Secrets is around 14 or 15 years KFC old, so it’s very casual and everyone does it.”

Despite the many languages of the world, a typical teen summer is one aspect that doesn’t vary. Fun in the sun, downtime, and laughing with friends are images teens across the globe can all relate to. Though the dates are different and traditions range from water fights to mosquito tents, the ideal vision of a golden summer will be in teens’ minds on every continent when school gets out and freedom rings.

Crimson | 37

This is the last KFC that will ever grace the eyes of my either avid fans or first time readers. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to constantly embarrass myself publicly for the last two years for the mere satisfaction of your laughter. Hopefully, anyway.

Congratulations to my graduating class of 2010, and thank you for supporting the Crimson Chronicle and my attempts at humor.

Look at what Next Page ... people around the world do in the summer.

Paso Robles is usually totally, completely, undeniably, inevitably, utterly boring. There’s the occasional lame high school house party that gets broken up in five minutes by Paso PD—not like I would know; there’s the intermittent sports event, and the occasional concert.

But one event draws huge crowds to this boring town: the California Mid-State Fair. It’s hands-down the highlight of the year for Paso Robles and my summer.

Before you judge me on this statement realize the Fair is competing only with family trips and summer jobs.

Fair 2010 will be one for the books. I will not only be competing in the pageant for Miss CA Mid-State Fair, but also showing a luscious, sweaty pig for my ninth consecutive year. Situational irony, I believe, is the phrase.

I stand 5’ 11” from the ground. That’s almost six feet of awkwardness, tripping, and liability to all those around me. Despite the common “Dang, you’re tall for a girl!” or the big feet jokes, I have fully embraced my height and shoe size—which really isn’t

even that big, thank you very much.

I give you this story not to simply embarrass myself, but so you can understand my experience as a contestant in the Fair Pageant thus far.

It was only the third meeting. Pageant Director Patti Lucas told all 13 contestants to bring heels. And I knew I was in trouble. I have confidence in public speaking, answering questions, selecting a platform in which I choose a topic that is important to me, interviewing, etc. But as I heard the instructions to bring heels so we could practice walking, I felt my heart sink.

I have never had a purpose for wearing heels. They look like daggers. I don’t need any more height, or any more clumsiness.

At the next meeting, all 13 contestants moved to the stage to practice their talent at walking in heels, and I knew I was in deep.

Deep water. Twelve out of 13 girls walked perfectly up the stairs in their daggers. Then came yours truly.

We were supposed to then speak about our talents. This was just the start of my alienation, pageant-wise, as we all began to talk. I realized something shocking: I am talentless. The day before, my parents, boyfriend, friends, and siblings could not suggest anything for my talent. Thanks, everyone.

Now truth-be-told, I am not completely untalented. I can write an article on a good day, play a little volleyball, and even have been known to rap. But a performing arts activity has never been something I was particularly drawn to.

And here I find myself in the spotlight. In heels.

I cannot tell you how the Fair Pageant will end. Either a disaster or a tiara is inevitable. Get your seats early on July 20. Just days after the possible crown, dresses, and jewelry, the season of dirt starts: animals and feces, though honestly I’m not 100 percent which I would prefer.

At your first glance of me I seriously doubt “aggie” stands out in your mind. Between the blonde hair, acrylic nails, and understandable dislike for anything dirty, smelly, or brown, a picture of

me in overalls, boots, and messy hair may be the furthest thing from your mind. But everyone who has ever shown and livestock at the Fair knows Karlee.

For nine days during the Fair you could bet money there will be dirt under my shiny white nails, something or another all over my legs, and inevitably the scent of pig feces that I now call familiar clouding the Chanel I usually enjoy.

A typical day during the Fair includes waking up at 6 a.m. to feed my pig. That’s earlier than school by a matter of two hours!

I can barely roll out of bed at 7 a.m., which can be proven by my almost impressive tardy count in my senior year alone. I roll out of my couch bed in the 20 square foot trailer my family and I stay in during Fair, put on my boots, and walk to the pig pens.

Arriving usually five to 10 minutes late, I face the ridicule of my leaders while they attempt to remove my sunglasses to see my puffy eyes while giving me the third degree about my activities the night before. No comment.

To paint a picture for you, imagine those cute little nine year olds girls with pig tails and the 4-H uniform of white pants and shirt and a green tie ... but imagine it now on me at 18. Adultness.

Not a pretty picture.

Both 4-H and my pageant experiences are hardly perfect, and possibly dangerous to my well being and to my reputation. But I wouldn’t change a moment of either of my CA Mid-State Fair experiences.

>>

SENIOR secrets..

—Ethan Baietti, Opinion Co-Editor

Shhh! These seniors shared those moments that they never wanted their fellow classmates to know. With only a week left, they bare it all —except for their name.

1. I put fake peace sign tattoos on my [butt] cheeks and went streaking.

2. I’ve always wanted to do a naked mile... I’ve always wanted to be in a big naked group of people and do something crazy!

3. I like to dance naked when no one is home.

4. Robin, as in Batman & Robin, used to be my imaginary friend, along with a cheetah named Flash.

5. I was walking to sign in for the ACT, and I was on crutches.

I fell up the stairs and three people I was with were already at the top; everyone was asking if I was okay.

6. Anonymously: I am Batman. Publically: I am Iron Man.

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“I have some bad news for you”

// In-Depth

U.S. History teacher is embraced with love when faced with cancer

by Aryn Fields, A&E Editor

by Aryn Fields, A&E Editor

SHINE ON: Williams is still smiling despite his colon cancer. Fellow teacher Wallace Ohles stated Williams’ sense of humor is one of his best attributes. “He is a one-in-a-million type of person,” Ohles said. Photo used with permission from Gregg Williams.

...Yet recently, Williams has been absent from Room 111 for about three weeks, due to a surprise illness.

On Apr. 26, Williams was scheduled for a routine colonoscopy appointment. When he awoke from the procedure, Williams was told there was a malignant tumor attacking his colon. Immediately, health care professionals kicked into high gear to cure Williams’ condition. On Wednesday May 12, Williams had a two hour surgery and a tumor the size of a small fist removed. The doctors also discovered cancer spots on his lung and liver. After recovering from surgery, Williams will meet the cancer specialist to design a chemotherapy plan to repair his lung and liver.

On that fateful April morning, Williams said the surgeon came into the room and bluntly said, “I have some bad news for you. You have cancer.” Williams stated he felt like a baseball bat simultaneously struck him on the head and stomach, and after that his memory blacked out.

“I have no memory of what happened next until I arrived at home.

I wept for a while and just hoped for the best. The hope was that the cancer had not spread beyond the colon. And the initial goal was to have a quick surgery, and then not have to face chemotherapy. That hope did not last long,” Williams said.

A few days later before the surgery, Williams received a telephone call from his doctor, who informed him there was another discovery.

A single cancer spot was found on his lung and multiple cancer spots found on his liver.

“I asked some questions, hung up, and angrily wept again. [I thought] ‘Damn, I just can’t get a break!’ This meant that we were facing chemotherapy after surgery,” Williams said.

Once Williams went through the surgery and temporarily halted the colon cancer, he was able to stay at home and recover.

Williams’ key stepping stone to this recovery is his son, Nathan, and his wife, Jennifer. They come visit twice a day to help Williams recover.

www.crimsonchronicle.com

Room 111: home base for the foreign exchange students and AP Government and U.S. History students. However the most important part of this room is the person who holds it all together—Gregg Williams. This is where the past 30 years and about 54,000 hours of his life have been dedicated...

“I try to focus on what needs to be done to recover. I have so much to live for. I don’t reflect too much on this significant challenge other than to smile when I realize all the support I have. I look forward to hopefully returning to a place that gives me immense pleasure: PRHS,” Williams said.

Williams has gotten great support from nurses and doctors behind the hospital doors and also from inside each classroom at PRHS. Many faculty members and students have sent words and letters of encouragement to Williams—and not all of them from this country.

“I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the words of support and encouragement I have received from colleagues and students!”

Williams said. “[I have gotten] wonderful messages from America, Germany, Sweden, France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, and Japan. I weep with a smile as I read and re-read their cards and e-mails.”

One of Williams’ most reliable companions is a teacher who has been working at PRHS the longest, Wallace Ohles. Williams and Ohles have been working together snice 1980. They became friends as soon as Williams showed up at PRHS to teach. Ohles reported Williams is constantly learning about and studying history and that’s what makes him a great teacher.

“His knowledge of the subject matter is amazing. His affection for students, and people in general, is sincere. When you are talking with him, you are the center of his attention, and he really cares about what you are saying; he respects everyone. His sense of humor is fantastic, in my opinion. He is a one-in-a-million type of person,” Ohles said.

Along with having faculty support, Williams has had the years upon years of support from the foreign exchange students. Whether it be alumni exchange students or current ones, Williams has gained their respect and love. Belgium foreign exchange student Pierre Halloy has spent many days outside of school with Williams as friends.

“I love how open minded he is about the world. He’s kind, energetic, and supportive. Mr. Williams is never in a bad mood,” Halloy said.

Paso Robles High School

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Another exchange student this year is Mao Otake from Japan who even though hasn’t spent much alone time with Williams, says he has still made a huge Check out In-Depth: impact on her life. “[If I could say anything to Mr. Williams], I would Is it too say, ‘Get well. You probably can’t come to graduation, late to turn but when I leave, I am going to wait for you to get your grades better. You are really happy and positive and sensitive. around?

And that’s what I like about you,’” Otake said.

The news of Williams condition has devestated PRHS, and now all that’s left to do is wait and hope he will safely return to Room 111 and continue teaching History. Williams currently is recovering at his home in Paso and hopes to return next year after gaining control of his cancer.

WORLD CLASS: As coordinator of foreign exchange students, Williams has received well wishes from countries across the world.

“I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the words of encouragement,” Williams said.

Photo used with permission from Gregg Williams.

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// In-Depth

‘F’ doesn’t always mean ‘Final Verdict’ How late is too late to turn your grades around?

by Kellie Kennan, Health Editor Rip! The progress report opens. Health? B+. English? B-. But you didn’t bring your game to P.E. or study for that Biology final.

Scraping low grades doesn’t feel too wonderful. Is the damage irreparable, or can you still survive next August when it all starts over again? To recover from a bad year, or continue on the right path, students have to know several things.

For some underclassmen, the future looks bleak, but according to Counselor Xelina Rojas and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) teacher Ted Wagner, sophomore year In-Depth: is the real turning point for success in high school, markWilliams ing the beginning of UC and CSU scrutinization for those is who wish to pursue a four-year college. diagnosed Whatever happened this year, Wagner recommends with cancer that freshmen make a fresh effort, if they haven’t already.

While sophomores certainly can as well, he states the process is far easier to pull off with time.

“If a student didn’t take the right classes both freshman and sophomore year, there would almost be no possible way to turn things around in just two years. I think you really need three,” Wagner said. “That’s been my experience. [If students] tried to turn things around by the end of their sophomore or junior year, it was just too late to really make up all the courses they needed.”

Wagner, who guides students to college success, said although freshman year is “crucial to get things started right,” it’s not essential to get straight As. “Freshman year can be a year that you make some mistakes,” Wagner said. “If you don’t necessarily take the right classes, or you don’t get all good grades, you can still turn things around during sophomore year.”

AVID senior Miguel Escamilla has experienced this firsthand, beginning high school only with the expectation of graduating.

“Freshman year, [I] was just getting used to things,” Escamilla said. He explained that only during his sophomore year did he really begin to question how to succeed in high school.

Rojas said in order to graduate, a student must meet the credit count requirements, take Algebra I, and pass the CAHSEE. (Ac-

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cording to Counselor Michael Moore, a current freshman must earn 280 credits out of 300 attempted.)

Students receive an overall GPA of 1.0 if they receive a D or higher in every class. Escamilla, with a 2.5 average, was set for graduation, something only two out of his 11 aunts and uncles had accomplished. However, his AVID friends were in higher-level courses, which inspired him to do the same.

“I said, ‘If they can do it, why can’t I?’” Escamilla said.

During his sophomore year, Escamilla began to take honors courses. While they were more challenging than previous classes, he believes it has been worth it.

“Harder classes just challenged me to get better grades because the reason I took that class was to pass it,” Escamilla said.

He accredited the AVID program and his friends for helping him through his more rigorous courses. His first language was Spanish, and at first it was difficult for him to pronounce certain words correctly or to write essays. But he “always had friends who helped [him] understand.”

Though Escamilla at first stumbled, he gained his balance and became the first person in his family to be accepted into college. He will attend Fresno State in the fall.

As far as universities go, counselors and teachers assert that while earning good grades in the A - G requirements, listed in the Counseling Office, is inessential for high school graduation, they are vital for colleges, especially UCs and CSUs. These requirements are intended to prepare students for MAKING GOOD MARKS: Miguel Escamilla works hard in AVID class to prepare for his college-level work, and Ds won’t cut it. future. “Harder classes challenge me to get better grades,” he said. “If they can do it, why “If there were an extreme case where someone can’t I?” Photo by Kathryn Wingfield. got a D in everything...they couldn’t even apply at all for a university,” Wagner said. older so they can return to PRHS as a senior without issue. HowevThe question is if a D or F in an A - G requirement er, they can remain at PRHS by taking a cyber-high or adult school spells doom and failure. It is certainly undesirable for class, as long as they have no more than four failed classes total. college purposes, but if it’s important enough to a stu“Depending on the number of Fs, they may get back on track dent, there are ways to fix the problem. and return to the high school or remain at Liberty and graduate Escamilla took AP U.S. History during his junior from there,” Rojas said. year. He earned a D in the first half and an F in the secWhether students shoot for the stars or just that cap and gown, ond. His solution was to retake the class at Cuesta, reEscamilla encourages them to consider life beyond PRHS while storing his GPA and his credibility. His previous grades they are here. no longer appear on his transcripts.

“Just think about what you’re going to do after high school,” EsAs for high school, Rojas said if sophomores have four camilla said. “You’re not going to stay here forever. You gotta do Fs, they may not graduate. She recommended Liberty what you gotta do.”

Continuation High School to these students age 16 or Paso Robles High School

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// Special Olympics

Special Olympics Students and athletes spend the day working together

by C.J. Prusi, People Co-Editor “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” These words, the official oath of the Special Olympics, were uttered by over 300 people on Friday May 7 at the Cuesta College South County campus.

Over 30 PRHS students, mostly from Leadership and Advanced Peer Communications, joined in the oath when they went to help out and accompany the Special Education county class that went to compete.

The day-long event included activities like running, bocce ball, basketball, and even swimming. Athletes were also encouraged to stop by “Tent City,” where several schools set up booths with free “goodies” such as spirit towels, foam fingers, and spirit shirts.

Leadership set up a bean bag toss and a face painting station where students made works of art on various faces.

“Special Olympics means a lot to me,” senior Alexis Lozano Belflower said, who was in charge of the PRHS booths at Tent City.

“When you get to Cuesta and it is Opening Ceremonies, it’s a whole new way of living life for them. The children and adults struggling from these disabilities really make you realize how happy you can be even with struggles.”

Lozano said she hopes to take classes at Cuesta in the fall to further her understanding of the Special Education program.

By the end of the day, the Paso Robles basketball team won the silver medal. The team was composed of almost the whole Special Ed. class and PRHS junior Natasha Wright and senior Brandon Todd.

Beyond the sports and games, the Special Olympics, founded

in 1968, puts an emphasis on friendship. A buddy program was used during the day, where Special Ed. middle schoolers and high schoolers get to accompany an athlete for the whole day.

“It was my first time volunteering for this so I was really nervous to meet my buddy, but we got along great,” junior Jordan Tews said. “I really loved it because I got to kind of be a little kid especially when we got our faces painted. We ran around, and he pretended to be an army man and I was a butterfly. It was awesome. I’m definitely going back next year!”

The SLO county division of the Special Olympics is part of the Special Olympics Southern California chapter, which has been separate from the Northern California chapter since 1995. The volunteers at the event are always excited to help out and look forward to the coming years.

“It’s not about the hurdles they are going through and living with,” Lozano said. “It’s about life and making the best of it.

Each and every one of them have smiles on their faces and are proud at what they have accomplished at Special Olympics.”

Check out Sports!

See Nextwho Page ... broke school records!

<< (LEFT) GETCHA HEAD IN THE GAME: PRHS junior Natasha Wright, senior Brandon Todd, two cheerleaders, and the rest of the PRHS basketball team pose with their silver medals.

They’re all smiles after their victory.

Photo by Geoff Land

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(ABOVE) SPREADING THE LOVE: The PRHS mascot attended the Special Olympics on May 7 to encourage students to try their best. She also gave away hugs to whoever wanted one. Photo by Geoff Land

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// Sports

New diver PRHS Record Breakers hurdles competition FOOTBALL: ROBBIE BURBANK — Karlee Anderson, Editor in Chief

Colby Thompson takes third in league in diving

by Emily Cone,

Junior Colby Thompson plunging right into the this spring, taking third in his first year of personal record of found diving is

SPLASH!: Junior Colby Thompson prepares for his dive as he jumps on the diving board.

Photo by Ana Torres

Special

Olympics Next Page ...

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People Co-Editor

had no problem competition place in league diving. With a 381 points, he where he makes the biggest splash.

Thompson has always been prone to jumping into the water—he’s lived at the lake since he was five. “I’ve jumped off of cliffs and docks at the lake so I kind of knew some of the stuff,” Thompson said, “but she [the coach] taught me form.”

Although diving competitively meant learning how to tuck and not break form, Thompson enjoyed it. “Practice was a lot of fun. Our coach made it fun, so it was worth it when we practiced.”

Apparently the practice paid off. Out of the divers attending the CIF competitions, Thompson placed third. “When we got to CIF, I was hoping that I just made it past the first cuts but I went all the way so I was pretty stoked,” Thompson said.

Thompson wants to earn a scholarship to college in diving, and he’s attending two diving camps this summer to improve.

Thompson dives off a one-meter platform, which stands about three feet over the water.

Although he is obviously successful there, he plans on practicing the three meter dive, which is nine or 10 feet above the water. With the diving season ending a mere three few weeks ago, Thompson said he misses it already. He is attending a diving camp at Cuesta starting the Monday after school ends.

Although diving falls under the looming shadow of the aquatics program’s volatility to be closed, Thompson said he’s talked to the school board and made arrangements. “They said since they’ve cut your sport, you could go to another school and play sports for them but still attend Paso High.”

With Thompson’s natural ability and love for diving, there’s no doubt he will continue to make waves in competitions to come.

Photos by Karlee Anderson

Record: Most rushing yards and touchdowns in a single game 395 yards and 6 touchdowns in one game

Frosh: 1 Year J.V.: 1 year Varsity: 2 years “I felt really good because I worked really hard in the off season, and it was a reward for all the hard work I put in. The offensive line did really well in blocking and giving me holes. It was just a good feeling knowing that something special was happening.”

TRACK: TESS ROUNTREE Record: High Jump

School record 5’ 6” previously 5’5” Varsity Track 3 years “Sophomore year I was really close several times, and junior year I finally got it. It was near the end of this season so it was really awesome. I’ve been at the point where I could do it for two years, and I finally did it. It was more of a mental block than anything. I felt really relieved. It was like ‘Wow, I did it!’”

BOYS WATER POLO: AUSTIN McCALL Record: Most goals in water polo in a single season School Record 82 previously 79 J.V. I year Varsity two years “I didn’t even know I broke the record because my coach didn’t actually tell me how many goals I had. He just kept telling me I had so many goals till I made the record.

He told me two games from the end of the season that I had broke the record, and I was totally stoked that I beat the record because my team helped me out a lot in getting close to beating the record and then beating it. “

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// Sports

Football: 11/14/09 8:05 p.m.

Varsity football players and juniors Travis Martinus and Peter Ravera agreed one of the best sports moments in football this season happened at the A-town/Paso game where A-town’s safety was biting on his run (coming up on his secondary position too fast) which caused our running back to miss his block. So when the safety broke through the line, they sacked PRHS’s quarterback Jacob Searcy right after he threw the ball. On the ground, Searcy could not see, but the pass went straight into the hands of PRHS’s wide receiver Elias Stokes for a touch down.

Coach Rick Schimke: “What was I thinking at the time?... It was a good play, our running back missed the block but we’ll take it.”

Quarterback Jacob Searcy: “My mind… was blank. I heard the crowd scream so I thought something good happened, and I looked up and saw Elias Stokes in the end zone.”

Bonus: All four people agreed that a side note highlight was the smash down they put on SLO 66-7. Schimke was especially pleased with this performance because “it was good to see guys who don’t get to play, play a lot and top players cheer them on, that was special.”

“We owned,” Martinus said.

DO YOU REMEMBER?: Travis Martinus (left) and Peter Ravera (right) work together to remember what their favorite football moment was. Photo by C.J. Prusi

—Torey Wise, Sports Editor

Girls Tennis: 10/1,27/09 3:30 p.m.

Team Captain Savannah Carlson of the Girls Varsity tennis team looks back on the second match against Arroyo Grande High School where her singles match determined the team’s win. It was not just a single effort because the whole team cheered her on where the spirit was high and the need for win was greatly wanted. The team went 15-3 and made it to the second round of CIF. Clowes will miss the graduating seniors very much and enjoyed the great times at practice, matches, and after match dinners at Firestone Grill.”

Coach Laura Clowes: “I felt beating Arroyo Grande twice was not only an amazing accomplishment that was a first in many years, but [it] really showed how the team could come together and play strong.”

>> Find out who is the Bearcathelete of the year!

—Maddi Coons, News Co-Editor

Cross Country: 11/14/09 : CIF

The cross country team made it to CIF this season. Although they ran well, they missed the qualification by a mere two seconds. The team also enjoyed growing closer together.

Coach Jon-Paul Ewing: Our highlight, I remember I took the JV squad down to Righetti and won that meet, and the varsity team went up with Ivan Huff to Stanford and played pretty well there. We had a successful weekend, and we came back and had a big pasta feed. So it was a pretty busy weekend but successful. Also going to CIF. Anytime you go to CIF is a good time.

Sophomore Zander Souza: Best moment of cross country the big cross country meet with all my friends; we like being out here and just hanging out and going on road trips. Usually we stop and get something to eat, at the hotels we just hang out and pal around, we’ll go to local places and go to malls and really get to know each other and be a little family. It’s cute.”

—Alicia Canales, Copy Editor

Boys Basketball: 1/13/10 9:00 p.m.

Seniors Lonnie Watson and Brandon Todd tag teamed to make a memorable win against A-town.

Brandon Todd: “We had the ball Lonnie passed it to me, I took two dribbles to the free throw line did a pump fake, then shot the ball and made it making the score 47-46.”

Lonnie Watson: “The ball was turned over to them, but then we got the ball. Our team called a time out. After the time out, Brandon threw me a long inbound pass and I dunked it to end the game (49-46).”

Brandon: “He bashed it in and the crowd went wild.”

Coach Scott Larson: “That was one of our best games of the season as playing as a team and playing well. I was really happy with how we played all game long.”

Brandon Todd (left) and Lonnie Watson (right) hold the basketball as they talk and re-enact their best basketball moment.

Photo by Torey Wise

—Torey Wise, Sports Editor

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Colby T.

BEARCATHLETE: Tom Bernal carries Bearcat red to Kentucky Blue

by Torey Wise,

Sports Editor

According to varsity football coach Rick Schimke, the question “You still got Bernal?” has been asked all four years of senior Tom Bernal’s high school career. Every year PRHS has proudly been able to answer “yes” to the question, but next year when the same query arises, the answer won’t be the same.

After four years, PRHS is losing Bernal, the top varsity football and baseball athlete of PRHS to University of Kentucky. Due to Bernal’s accomplishments as an athlete and a team player, he is the Crimson’s Bearcathlete of the Year.

His senior year was a mix of football injury and baseball victory, crowned with the diamond found at the University of Kentucky.

BASEBALL Bernal lead the varsity baseball team high with a .430 batting average, four home runs, team leading 3.83 ERA in 562 2/3 innings, and made all league and all county honors.

Out of all those accomplishments, Bernal felt his biggest achievement was winning PAC-7 league this year—compared to last season’s fourth place finish.

“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to first make play offs. From there it moved to league,” Bernal said.

Another team highlight for Bernal was “sweeping SLO [winning all three games], which we have never done before.”

His baseball coaches saw Bernal’s determination to help the team succeed. “[He] puts time into improving his skills but is also blessed with athletic ability, and that combined with improvement is a good combination,” varsity baseball coach Derek Stroud said.

On May 31, at the end of the season baseball banquet— where Bernal earned the top award First Player Pick, or MVP—Coach Bill Davis described Bernal as “loyal dedicated, true team player, willing to put individual accomplishments behind team. Team comes first.”

Teammates also recognize leadership in Bernal.

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“[He] always puts the team before himself. He contributes a lot to us,” varsity catcher Jason Brown said.

Bernal has been playing baseball since he was in third grade and was on the All Star team at age seven. He also played in the Babe Ruth league in eighth grade when he moved to Paso; he did not start football until freshman year of high school.

FOOTBALL Bernal’s senior football season was cut short. After the third game, a wrong tackle broke his foot. The injury healed and he came back. But five games later at the end of the season, he was out again with a torn ligament in his shoulder. These setbacks resulted in Bernal only playing five out of 10 games—or half the season—averaging at 116 passing yards per game.

Even though he was just on the side lines, Bernal thought “[it was] fun to be out there with the guys.”

Bernal is no stranger to football injuries. During his junior football season, he acquired three concussions during the Saint Joe, AG, and So Cal games. In his freshman year during the last minute of the first game, Bernal was about to make a pass but broke his hip as he was tackled.

Even though Bernal’s senior football season as an athlete was over, his season as a teammate was not: he helped encourage the players and added a helping hand by attending almost all the practices and games. He was especially helpful to the quarterback taking his spot, junior Jacob Searcy.

Bernal mentored Searcy even though “he did not have to,” according to Schimke.

“He just helped me be a good quarterback,” Searcy said. “He helped me with my skills; he is the guy I go to, look up to, and when I need tips to help me perform better.”

Schimke described Bernal as the “go to guy” on the team.

“He is above his years in the knowledge of the game; he is an extension of a coach, highly respected by peers,” Schimke said.

“I still had to help the team out and be a team player,” Bernal said. “I feel like some of the guys look up to me, and coaches expect me to be a leader; I like the responsibility.”

Paso Robles High School

COLLEGE Bernal committed to University of Kentucky for baseball and is “really excited.” “[He] talked about wanting to play in the SCC, so this is a great opportunity for him,” Stroud said.

“I don’t know if I could live without baseball,” Bernal stated in an interview with The Tribune. “I realized I could live without football, but baseball I have been living my whole life.”

As Bernal changes up and settles into the red dirt of a Kentucky diamond, he will be sorely missed back on his home plate on PRHS. “We’re going to miss him tremendously; he definitely left his legacy at this school,” Schimke said.

“It will be exciting to see how he does and follow his college career,” Stroud said.

As his coaches and teammates will miss Bernal, Bernal stated he’ll also “miss playing sports with the high school guys.”

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