His Story, Her Story, Our Story (Sept. 2012)

1962 - 2012

his her our 50 years of HISTORY at Mona Shores High School

About This This historical booklet was created by students from the Mona Shores High School newspaper, The Sailors’ Log, during the 201112 school year.

Newspaper staff members researched information from 50 years of yearbook and 50 years of newspapers to gain as much information as possible. Staff members were given certain school years to research, and from that research, each staff member chose one male and one female to interview.

When students completed their research, they had to compile three pieces of information for each school year, which included the following: OUR Story – This story included at least one highlight from the school year. Some school years, according to yearbook and newspaper research, had many significant events while others had only one or two. Again, students were given no parameters on what was significant and what was not – except we knew we had to include student and faculty deaths and athletic state championships. Essentially, students attempted to choose the most newsworthy event of that school year. However, either due to inadequate coverage in the researched school yearbooks and/or newspapers or 2011-12 students not seeing the same significance of an event as those students attending Shores during a specific school year, your idea of a significant event may differ than what is included in this booklet.

HIS Story – This story included a male who was attending Shores during the specific school year. Most times, the selected male student was a graduate of that school year. Again, Students were given no set parameters about how to choose these males other than they needed to find someone to represent that school year. With multiple names in mind, students used the 2004 Mona Shores High School Alumni Directory as well as the Internet to track down these males.

HER Story – This story included a female who was attending Shores during the specific school year. Most times, the selected female student was a graduate of that school year. Again, Students were given no set parameters about how to choose these females other than they needed to find someone to represent that school year. With multiple names in mind, students used the 2004 Mona Shores High School Alumni Directory as well as the Internet to track down these females.

Our Staff Editors-in-Chief Michelle Robinson Jonah Stone Editorial Editor Erinn Taylor Center Section Editor Mikayla Day Sports Editors Taylor Jones Rachel Swartz

Fine Arts Editor Franny Kromminga Feature Editor Kendal Brown Photo EditorS Cole Myhre Rachel Resterhouse Profiles Editor Emily Grevel Adviser Warren Kent III

Staff Jake Bordeaux Madi Deur Kayleigh Fongers Hailey Hrynewich Andrew Kromminga Carlin Rollenhagen Morgan Schwing Sydney Tharp Ashley Veihl Mandy Versalle Kelley Wheeler Shea Wilcox

Table of Contents School Year 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970-71 1971-72 1972-73 1973-74 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12

HER Story Nancy (Carlson) Albery Lee Fonstein Susan (Wright) Knauer Starr (Acker) Evans Ruth (Moseler) Malenfant Sandra (Boyns) Wagner Cynthia (Bates) Twining Judy (Albert) Hunt Dr. Susan (Melrose) Iovan Jane (Jalving) Schweinzger Bonnie (Baker) DuPrey Sheryl (Pedler) Abdelkader Pam (Richardson) Nason Susan Williams Cheryl (Ries) Ferris Holly (Cope) Jacoby Shirley Pasco Evelyn Weckerly Lori (Elwell) Barringer Paula (Wyn) Recknagel Kristi (Ulfsax) Eigenauer Carole (Scarbrough) Fisher Kris (O’Neil) McKinley Carla (Speier) Bassinger Julie (Aho) Rios Kelly (Hansen) George Amy (Troyanowski) Whalen Tracey (Bunda) Fritz Aimee Goff Mary Amy (Hornik) Bajt Leah Kern Karen (Blackledge) Pastor Pam (Poort) Mack Peggy (McKeown) Bamonte Shawn (Langlois) Heethuis Jessica Crawford Jen (Wolters) Cross Courtney (Doan) Leibrandt Kellie Grant Carly Jibson Amanda Matthews Laura Schelhas Megan (Lange) Gielow Annie Gawkowski Katherine DeVoursney Emily Blythe Holly Vanderlinde Kimberly Sorenson Katie Bultema Jennifer Bustard

HIS Story C. William Hanichen Robert Cohn Ken Polidan Tom Ryefield Mike Mack Dr. Thomas Glover David Wells David Ferris John Beyrle Norm Hosko Al Hogan Jim Bronsema Kevin Collier Ted Lee Brian Jones Brent Arnson Tom Smith Tom Wilson Todd Robidoux Steven Burmeister Keith Crandall John Brainard Gilles Chiasson Phil Brown David Bowers Todd George Vincent Hayes Mark Brininstool Eric Wahlberg Jason Olthoff Sean Greene Shawn Lawton Ben Bultema JD Ryznar Josh Heethuis Scott Volkmann Nick Bronsema Joe Black Jake VanKersen Kevin Klassen David Alpert Andrew Gabris Justin Abdelkader Brendan Gielow Russ Amidon Addison Brodrick Nick Lange Matt Peterson Kyle Pawlowski Kiron O’Brien

Year One (1962-1963)

our STORY School opens with 650+ students, 35 teachers When the doors to Mona Shores High School opened in the fall of 1962, the approximate 650-person student body consisted of just ninth and 10th graders. These students were greeted by 35 teachers and principal C. William Hanichen.

The dedication and open house ceremonies of the new high school took place Oct. 27, 1962. The $2.5 million building contained “53 teaching stations,” including a gym, a combination auditorium and cafeteria, a library, band a choral rooms, and wood and metal shops.

According to the 1962-63 yearbook, “the board of education members and school administration were looking for a way of providing an improved educational system for the students of their districts.

A Citizens Study Committee was

the result of much research by the superintendents of Churchill, Hile, Maple Grove, Lincoln and Little Black Lake school districts.” That committee then chose 10 people, with William Hanna as its chairman, for a steering committee to guide the direction of the study.

On May 8, 1959, the steering committee recommended the consolidation of the five districts into a K-12 school district. Little Black Lake withdrew from the recommendation; however, Mona Beach School District requested to be included and was accepted. The consolidation of those five districts was approved by a vote by the community on Sept. 14, 1959.

An interim board of education was created and included F. Jack Rose, Lawry Hermesdorf, Richard Livingston and Russel Anderson. William Luyendyk

was named superintendent. Later, a permanent board of education was elected and included Rose, Hermesdorf, Anderson, Otto Ross and Harold Dykhuizen.

On March 14, 1960, the bond for the $2.5 million high school was approved.

Soon after, the Warren Holmes Company of Lansing started architectural plans.

The Citizens Curriculum Committee, with Eugene Fisher as its chairman, was established to help decide the needs of the students before the building plans were drawn up.

On April 5, 1960, ground-breaking ceremonies were held, and on May 5, 1962, the corner stone was placed into position. Construction was by the Muskegon Construction Company.

Officially, the new Mona Shores High School was completed on Aug. 1, 1962.

– Warren Kent III, adviser

her STORY 1963 sophomore encourages students to find passion The year was 1964, and she was a junior at Shores.

She was exiting the “in” entrance of the parking lot after decorating the cafeteria for a school dance.

Suddenly, Albery with she, Nancy husband Steve Carlson at the time, noticed her mistake as her current boyfriend and future husband, junior Steve Albery, drove in, causing the two vehicles to have a minor head-on collision.

And just like that, a night to be filled with eating dinner and getting ready for the big night was altered.

“I was chagrined, but the evening was fun, and the

incident has provided for a few laughs throughout the years,” Nancy said.

Since Shores and the accident, Nancy Carlson, now Nancy Albery, went to Michigan State University, married her high school sweetheart, and moved to Waterford School District, where she and Steve both got teaching jobs.

Steve, who, since names were read alphabetically at graduation starting with the first male, was technically the first graduate ever at Shores in 1965, is now a lawyer after his teaching career was short-circuited by declining enrollment and obligation of raising a family.

“Steve still practices law, but I have been retired for four years,” Nancy said. “I

think what I most liked about teaching was the interaction with my students. I always enjoyed meeting their parents at conferences and attending some of their games and activities and following their successes. I so enjoy running into them occasionally and meeting their kids.”

Nancy also has three children of her own, which she considers one of the greatest achievements she has had since leaving Shores.

“Our three wonderful children have brought us so much pride and happiness,” Nancy said. “But another special thing that happened since leaving was being nominated Teacher of the Year of which I am very proud.”

Apart from getting into

accidents in the school parking lot, Nancy’s life after Shores has seen many successes, and she said she hopes to see Shores continue producing well-rounded individuals.

“High school students should find their passion and connect with that in whatever way they can,” said Nancy, who was a cheerleader, a debater, and a band member.

“One of my favorite memories from Shores was all the fun times we cheerleaders had. We had a great group, and we still stay in touch. Hopefully, students’ passion will lead them to a group of friends that will help them make their high school years more enjoyable and memorable.” – Michelle Robinson, editor-in-chief

Year One (1962-1963)

Carol Pulos, Chloe-Ann Bedwell A special education classroom

Mock United Nations Meeting

his STORY First principal reflects about beginnings at new high school “I remember a time when the dress code was challenged,” pondered Shores first principal C. William Hanichen.

“Boy, that was a mess.”

The year is 1963, and Hanichen was feeling Hanichen good about the opening and development of Mona Shores High School.

The teachers were happy with the school’s progress, new programs were moving forward, and students were content – for the most part.

“I started the open campus lunch tradition at Shores, and I felt pretty secure about it even though I was bombarded with questions about high school students not having enough responsibility to handle it,” said Hanichen, who was principal at Shores for 24 years. “But students need to develop selfdiscipline and have a right to make decisions. No trouble came of it, that is until some

students took off for the beach and never came back.”

At the time, students were restricted to wearing the clothes that were considered “office appropriate.”

But as at all schools, some students rebelled against the dress code by wearing shorts, the same students who skipped class to hit the beach.

“I suspended the students, not because they wore shorts, although that was a big no, but because they skipped class,” Hanichen said. “It made it to the news that they were suspended for breaking a dress-code rule. I’m not that harsh.”

Apart from student apparel drama, Shores was developing nicely. 1963 saw an enrollment of more than 650 ninth and tenth-grade students and 35 teachers.

“Yes, we were coming along well,” said Hanichen, whose effort was honored by having one of Shores’ gyms named after him. “The school song was chosen after the band came out at the first

football game and began to play ‘Anchors Away.’ Since then, it has gone down in history as the school song.

From there, the students picked a Sailor as our mascot, chose blue and white as our school colors, and followed with naming a school newspaper and yearbook.”

Also developing were Shores clubs.

“We formed a National Honor Society in 1964 so students could have a prestigious program on their resume,” Hanichen said. “We started a Student of the Month program, which other schools soon copied. Our speech department put on the first musical, ‘Bye, Bye Birdie;’ the sports were coming along well too; believe it or not, we had winning football and basketball teams.”

In fact, Shores was coming along so impressively President Kennedy visited.

“That was neat,” Hanichen said. “How many schools get to say they had a president visit their halls?”

A presidential visit, though, is not Hanichen’s favorite Shores memory.

“In the fall of 1963, we took students on a train to Benton Harbor,” Hanichen said. “The band marched, the cheerleaders cheered, and we got the whole school excited for the big football game. It was fun to unify the students in getting excited about a school activity.”

During Hanichen’s years as principal, a new school was created, a school that was unified and excited to get the ball rolling on what would one day be one of the best educational units around.

“Taking a new school and staff and pulling them together to build a strong educational program is something I’m very proud of,” Hanichen said. “But I had good help; one person doesn’t do that. I take pride in the people who worked hard by my side to help make one of the best schools around.”

– Michelle Robinson, editorin-chief

Year Two (1963-1964)

our STORY School focuses on ‘raising a greater generation’ The second year under the direction of principal William Hanichen brought a third class to the high school, putting a little more than 1,000 students in the building.

Hanichen said in the 1964 yearbook: “We have taken the second step on a journey that will never end – for man’s quest of knowledge transcends all measures of time. I commend each of you for your cooperation and fine example you have set for those to follow in your footsteps.

“The greatest job of this generation in not the development of atomic power or exploration of outer space – great as these achievements are. The greatest

job of this generation is the raising of a greater generation. Given that, all other things will fall into place. It still has to be demonstrated that man is capable of ruling himself. Let us make the demonstration; let us accept the challenge that man has the interest and capacity to govern himself.”

The yearbook also included a memorial to president John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated Nov. 22, 1963.

The Sailors’ Log reported on the death of freshman Rene DeBard, who was killed in an accident on Feb. 19, 1964.

According to the newspaper, DeBard was walking on Norman Street shortly before 7 p.m. when two Shores students

in a car stopped to offer a ride. As the car came to a stop, DeBard climbed onto the hood.

As the car gained speed, Debard signaled to the driver to slow down.

When the car reached about 10 miles per hour, he attempted to jump free of the auto but fell under the wheels.

Other news included the following: • The band, directed by John Butterfield, received new uniforms at a cost of $11,000. The uniforms were navy blue with white and Columbian blue.

• The Firebird Rocket Club was the only federally approved rocket club in Western Michigan. – Jonah Stone, coeditor-in-chief

her STORY Probate Court worker to students: follow your dreams Short shorts and tank tops are commonplace today, but they certainly were not in the 1960s as Lee Fonstein, a 1965 graduate remembers.

“The dress code was much different. Girls couldn’t wear slacks, jeans, or shorts,” Fonstein Fonstein said. “All the ‘popular’ kids got kicked out on a day near graduation when everyone wore Bermuda shorts.”

Her graduation in 1965 was the first in Shores’ history, and it holds a special significance.

“I loved being a member of the first graduating class,” Fonstein said. “Maybe it didn’t seem so important

then, but as an alumna, it is pretty special.”

Just like the dress code, a lot has changed in the world since the days that Fonstein describes, and Fonstein has changed with it.

“I’ve gained confidence,” Fonstein said. “I like myself, and as a teen, I’m not sure that I did.”

This confidence led her to Michigan State University, Ferris State University and Central Michigan University, whhere she received her master’s in 1980..

Along the way, she worked as a residence hall director.

Additionally, she was a medical social worker, an investigator at the Friend of the Court, and a case manager, therapist and administrator in child welfare for 14 years.

Presently, she owns a counseling business and contracts with the Probate Court as an investigator doing guardianships and adoptions.

“I loved helping staff learn new social work skills,” Fonstein said. “Now, I like the independence of being a contracted employee. The court staff is all so nice to work with, and the clients are interesting.”

Currently, Fonstein is planning the Class of 1965 reunion in 2015.

“It’s great fun to help plan (the reunions) and then to see everyone,” Fonstein said.

“The sad part is the number of class members who have died.”

Fonstein started a family at age 27, having been married for six years prior. She said

having her daughter has been “unequaled” by anything else as the best thing that happened to her after leaving Shores.

These experiences certainly influenced Fonstein’s life, and she said her experiences are a teaching tool for those just beginning their lives outside of Shores.

“Follow your dreams.

Work hard and see failures as learning experiences, not as a reason to stop what you’re doing,” Fonstein said. “I really wanted to be a nurse, but my high school counselor told me I couldn’t as I got a C in chemistry. Of course, I learned later when I was a medical social worker that my C would have been perfectly fine in nursing school.” – Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

Year Two (1963-1964)

Concert band, led by director John Butterfield, consisted of 39 freshmen musicians.

A math classroom. Shores offered Algebra I, General Math, Geometry and Advanced Algebra.

Wood shop students.

his STORY Former trombonist makes living as owner of furniture store A student’s time at school can often be difficult to remember.

Everything that happens in between then and now seems to fade away for some people.

This is true for Robert Cohn, a former civil engineer and current owner of Cohn’s Furniture in Muskegon Heights.

“I wish I could relate more to my high school Cohn day-to-day activities,” said Cohn, a 1965 graduate, “but time marches on.”

Cohn came to Shores as many others did at the inception of the high school: a transfer student.

Shores was a new school, and with it came new students from all across the county.

Cohn remembers his time in his new school with fond memories.

“It was a good time in my life; we were a new school at the time, and with that came growing pains,” Cohn said. “Technically, I wasn’t really from the area,

being implanted from North Muskegon, but neither were the other kids at the time.”

Those other kids came from schools like Lincoln, Hile, Churchill, and North Muskegon, but the adjustment did not take much work at all, Cohn said.

“It wasn’t that hard to adjust; adjustment can be fun, or it can be hard for a lot of people,” Cohn said. “I had a good time and made a lot of friends, but of course, being in the band helped with that.”

At Shores, Cohn played trombone for the band under the instruction of director John Butterfield.

Band was his main activity in school as he had played in the band at his elementary school and at Bunker Middle School in what is now the Muskegon School District.

Cohn’s life past his experience at Shores is where he found his passion.

However, it all started with his foray into the college life with his two years at Muskegon Community College and his eventual graduation from Michigan Technical University in civil

engineering.

“My first love was construction. That was my goal with that degree from Tech,” Cohn said. “After that, I did marine construction. I went to work in the offshore marine business as the project engineer and supervisor for Bultema Dock and Dredge.”

Through his job at Bultema Dock and Dredge and other engineering companies, Cohn traveled across the Midwest.

Cohn worked on many waterways, including the Great Lakes and on three rivers: the Tennessee, the Illinois, and the Mississippi.

“I loved it; it was fascinating. It was man against the elements,” Cohn said. “The equipment was unique, but you can’t really appreciate it because it’s underwater. You have to use your imagination and engineering principles and skills to finish products and projects. That was my work love; if I could do it all over again, I would have stayed in the business, but then again, we are always making choices in life.”

This choice came from

Cohn’s decision to leave marine construction.

Even though Cohn found his love in engineering, in 1979, he went to work at the furniture business his father started in 1953 to help his family.

Though it was not his original love, Cohn still enjoys his job at the family business.

It’s been beneficial to my family, and given economic times, we’ve seen high spots and low spots through our existence,” Cohn said. “Every day is a new experience. You do the best you can with what you’ve got.”

From his life experiences, Cohn gives high schoolers today some advice to live by when they graduate.

“Keep your mind open.

You have to be aware of your surroundings, be aware of what you want to do and what your family wants you to do,” Cohn said. “Life is not easy. Just coming out of high school, you don’t really understand anything, but you think you do; life is to be lived and learned.” – Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

Year Three (1964-1965)

our STORY First graduating class highlights school’s 3rd year With the name “Steve Albery” announced, the first graduating class in Shores history began its walk across the stage to pick up its diplomas.

Albery, who is now a Probate Attorney in Oakland County, was the first graduate in the history of the school.

“I was the first to receive the diploma on that Sunday afternoon, but I really shouldn’t have been,” said Albery, who was a teacher in Pontiac for 15 years before going back to school and getting a law degree. “I was the first male alphabetically, but there were four, or perhaps five, females ahead of

me alphabetically. (However, the class crossed the stage male, female, male, female, etc.) Paula Aardema has only recently forgiven me.”

The ceremony was held on the football field on June 10, 1965.

The school itself, under the guidance of Principal C. William Hanichen, held nearly 1,500 students, grades 9-12.

• The yearbook was dedicated to sophomore Billy Skipper, who died Jan. 20, 1965. According to the yearbook, Skipper passed away in his sleep.

• Since there were no alumni yet, the school held Anchor Day to create school

her STORY

spirit. Brenda Lynch and Bob Lytle were crowned queen and king, respectively.

Lytle also won the school’s “Ugly Man” contest.

• In the fall of 1964, Shores had a bomb scare. An unidentified caller contacted the Muskegon Heights police and said a bomb had been placed in the high school. The school was evacuated, but no bomb was found.

• The Alma Mater song was introduced to the school in the spring of 1965. Larry Gray’s sixth-hour Music Appreciation class created it as a term project. – Erinn Taylor, editorial editor

‘65 grad holds dream job with National Park Service in Baltimore Guam, Italy, Maine, South Carolina, Hawaii, and Maryland.

These are the places Susan (Wright) Knauer’s life has taken her since she graduated from Shores in 1965.

Although Knauer left Muskegon in 1968 and has not returned, she still remembers the lasting effect of her class on the future of the then brand-new high school.

“We were destined to be making decisions for the school that would last forever,” Knauer said, “In our individual junior highs before arriving at our new school as 10th graders, we voted on school colors, the school mascot, the name of the yearbook, and everything else that would last. When you think about it, you are all living today with the results of what we decided.”

Knauer attended Muskegon Community College after graduation until her 1968 marriage to 1965 Shores graduate Greg DeWeerd. She ultimately received a bachelor of science degree from New Hampshire University and a master’s of education degree from The Citadel.

She then left her hometown to travel the world as a military wife.

Even though her favorite teacher

Susan (Wright) Knauer has her “dream job” at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore. at Shores was literature teacher Mr. VanCamp, her first career was 19 years as a high school math and business teacher.

“My high school math teachers would never believe that,” Knauer said, “but I actually caught on to math in college and really loved teaching it.”

Part of the reason why she loved teaching was because it was the “ideal job” for raising a family. Knauer has two daughters, Wendy, who lives in Charlotte, Mich., with her State Trooper husband and two children, and Lisa, who is a special-needs adult and lives with Knauer in Maryland.

Although she loved teaching, Knauer

now holds her “dream job” as a Park Ranger with the National Park Service at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore.

“This particular park is the home of the Star-Spangled Banner,” Knauer said, “where Francis Scott Key wrote a poem later to become our National Anthem after watching the bombardment of Baltimore from a ship during the War of 1812.”

She has also worked at the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor in 1991 for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor.

Despite all of the cool work opportunities, Knauer says that the single best thing to happen to her since leaving Shores is Colonel Rick Knauer, a Vietnam veteran, whom she married eight years ago and now lives with in Middle River, Md. Although her life has changed since leaving Muskegon, Knauer has some advice to give to students. “(My advice is) to not be in such a hurry to grow up and get out of school as adult responsibilities are usually overwhelming,” Knauer said. “And do not get married until (you) are at least 30.” – Erinn Taylor, editorial editor

Year Three (1964-1965)

Bye, Bye Birdie, presented in the spring of 1964, was the school’s first musical. Jay Pearce played the title character.

The balloon that Joyce Thornberry, Mr. Chalres St. Louis, Brian Bates and Jim Swinehart are holding introduced the 1964 Hootenanny.

his STORY Breakaway Bicycle owner remembers ‘Bermuda Day’ beginning “Everything was new and fresh,” said 1965 Shores graduate Ken Polidan, reflecting on his high school years. “(It was the) epitome of expanding suburbia in the early ‘60s, kind of like California culture in Michigan.”

Everything was indeed new and fresh, including Mona Shores High School.

1965 was the third year the new school had been in operation and hosted a major landmark for the district: the first graduating class.

Polidan, who owns Breakaway Bicycles with three locations in Muskegon, Grand Haven, and Kalamazoo, was one of those first graduates.

What he learned at Shores proved to be important to Polidan in his “real life.” Polidan said he took classes such as metal shop, speech, French, biology, mechanical drawing, and art but not chemistry nor advanced math.

“I had a very high quality yet diverse education at Shores,” he said. “My education was more rounded and enables me to better deal with advertising, employee relations, mechanics, sales techniques and other real-life situations.”

After Shores, Polidan graduated from Western Michigan University in 1969 with a teaching degree.

“While attending grad school, I got a part-time job in a bike shop and have never looked back,” Polidan said.

Ken Polidan shows off a bike at his store, Breakway Bicycles.

Polidan opened Breakaway Bicycles in Muskegon in 1974. The Kalamazoo and Grand Haven locations were opened in 1989 and 1993, respectively.

Although his education helps him every day while running his business, school was not just about hitting the books for Polidan, who was a four-year varsity tennis player and a second-string wrestler. He also played the role of Mr. Webb in the 1964 school play, Our Town.

Another highlight was his victory in the district forensic contest for humorous reading.

“My prize was a hardcover dictionary with my name embossed on the cover,” Polidan said. “That was cool.”

He also remembers some spring-time shenanigans.

“Students were denied a request to break the dress code and wear shorts for one day,” Polidan recalls. “In semi-

organized defiance, many wore shorts anyway. I showed up in tennis shorts but missed whatever confrontation resulted because (the tennis team had) left on the bus for regionals. The outlaw students were suspended en mass. For the next couple of nice spring days, we attended half empty classes while the rebels enjoyed their suspension. I believe ‘Bermuda Day’ became an annual legalized event. Sure seems ridiculous now since pajamas and flip flops are acceptable attire.”

Polidan said he remembers a more somber event, the death of a president.

On Friday, Nov. 22, 1963, Polidan’s junior year, the shooting of President John F. Kennedy was announced over the PA system. He left school at the end of the day for a dentist appointment.

“I sat in the dentist chair with stuff in my mouth and listened to the radio with my dentist,” Polidan said, “We heard the announcement that he had died.”

Even with the sadder memories of his high school career, Polidan remains loyal to his alma mater. He and Sharon, his wife of 29 years, have three children, Kenny, Edie, and Cam. All three attended Shores kindergarten through 12th grade.

“Mona Shores High School has been a great institution for 50 years,” Polidan said. “Hopefully, that greatness will continue for the next fifty and beyond.”

– Erinn Taylor, editorial editor

Year Four (1965-1966)

our STORY ‘Viet Nam Kool-Aid Project’ won by class of 1967 With the Vietnam War in full force halfway around the world, the school held the “Viet Nam Kool-Aid Project,” which was created to send Kool-Aid to Viet Nam to the armed forces to improve the taste of the water. The class of 1967 won the event.

In addition to this event, Shores students, behind the leadership of student council president Paul Betts, participated in a plethora of activities.

• They raised money for school bulletin boards with funds raised from car washes, dances, and demolition of

cars in the parking lot.

• Sailor-Ympics took place Thursday, Jan. 20, after first tri exams.

• A bonfire pep rally was held before Orchard View football game.

• On the Dick McKay Show, 20 Shores couples were guests. Each day two certificates for a free pair of Red Ball Jet tennis shoes given away to guests.

• A Spirit Conference was started by social studies teacher Jake Funkhouser.

All area high schools of Muskegon were brought together, and the leaders

discussed ways to create all-around school spirit. Two topics discussed at the conference were school spirit techniques and brainstorming fall orientation ideas and planning • A Hillbilly Dance was held. Pennies collected determined a hillbilly prince and princess. Freshmen Mike Anthony and Jan Langlois won.

• The school hosted three exchange students: Detlef Aevermann (Germany), Gunnel Karlson (Sweden), and Herwig Kruse (Germany). – Taylor Jones, sports editor

his STORY ‘Third-year junior’ realizes how lucky he’s been in personal life As a “three-year junior,” Tom Ryefield finally got his chance to become a senior and graduate in 1966.

“It was strange that the Class of 1965 grads were virtually seniors for three years since (the school) only Ryefield started with freshmen and sophomores in 1962,” said Ryefield, who was a freshman when the school opened, “so that made us juniors for three years.”

Ryefield was a member of the football, basketball, track, and cross country teams, Varsity Club, and the Junior Classical League for enduring two years of Latin.

Being an athletic guy, Ryefield’s favorite class was gym as well as English. “(I loved) English, taught by Ms. Judy Root, a wonderful woman who was a polio victim, but a great teacher,” Ryefield said. “She

started me to look at writing critically.”

Ryefield’s favorite part about the school was the new basketball arena the most, but he said he also enjoyed the rest of the facilities the school had to offer. “(I liked) the great facilities (even the library),” Ryefield said. “It was brand new, and everything was top notch, especially the basketball arena, where I spent most of my time, instead of the library.”

Since Ryefield’s graduation year, he continued through college and started a career.

He said he “majored in parties” at Muskegon Community College for two years before joining the Air Force, where he served fourand-a-half years.

He then graduated from Michigan State University in 1976 after what he called his “10-year plan.”

In 1978, he left Michigan to begin his career. Along the

way, he lived abroad for 10 years, including two in Japan, three in Greece and five in Thailand. All told, Ryefield has visted 35 countries.

But he said the best thing that has happened to him since high school is that he became a father and a grandfather.

He married in 1968 and had a son.

Ryefield, who recently retired from the Defense Department and Intelligence Community as an Intelligent Analyst, lives in San Diego, Calif. and is the grandfather of twins, a boy and girl.

If Ryefield had the opportunity to return to high school, he said he would have stuck it out with The Sailors’ Log. “I started (on the newspaper), but my first assignment was to identify people I didn’t know, so I quit,” Ryefield said. “ I moved to Muskegon in 1962 after the death of my father, so I was a “newbie” or

whatever kids call them now.

Hence my departure from the staff of the Sailor’s Log, I didn’t know anyone. Later I became the Sports Editor of my agency’s biweekly newsletter. I also began as a journalism major at MSU, changing to Geography and International Relations.

Since Shores, Ryefield has changed to become more aware of his surroundings.

“I’m more confident, curious, and aware of the world around me,” Ryefield said. “I now realize how lucky I’ve been in life, and I treasure the friendships and memories I’ve accumulated over the years.”

Ryefield would like to give words of wisdom to current high school students.

“Do your homework, and don’t worry about what other people think,” he said. “Be kind. Be your own person; don’t do things just because everyone else does.” – Taylor Jones, sports editor

Year Four (1965-1966)

our STORY Dave Stein, Louise Haggerty and Tybo Wilhelms (far left) practice for the Winter Concert.

her STORY

George Drelles, Glenda Erickson, Linda Mayo and Dick Tuxberry (near left) decorate for the prom, which had the theme of “Poseidon Paradise. Prom was held Saturday, May 29, 1965.

Girls Athletic Association has special place in ‘66 grad’s heart You will always remember where you came from and carry that with you as you continue through life.

This has been evident for Starr (Acker) Evans who was a graduating senior in 1966.

Evans Evans was involved in GAA (Girls Athletic Association – “Girls’ sports were not available then, so we would meet after school and play softball, volleyball, and dodgeball,” she said.), and she worked on the yearbook and The Sailors’ Log staffs.

Evans said her favorite things about Shores were “all the wonderful teachers, staff, classmates, school spirit, and the opportunity to be the first students in the new school.”

She said she also remembers the train rides to Benton Harbor and bus trips to Traverse City for the away football games.

However, it is recent

changes at the high school that Evans is in awe of.

“OMG – a lot (has changed). The school now has three gyms instead of one, an auditorium, AP classes, the opportunity to take college classes while at MS, and girls sports,” Evans said.

With the school changes, Evans has changed as well.

“Physically, my body and hair color have changed as well as I have matured,” Evans said. “My former teachers will be happy to learn I don’t think I talk as much as I did in high school.”

Since high school, Evans said the best things that have happened to her have been a successful career, a loving family, college graduation and staying positive through lifechanging events.

She graduated from Muskegon Community College and Western Michigan University while working full-time at the original Sealed Power Corporation (also known later as SPX, Dana and Mahle) for

38-1/2 years.

While she remained single until age 50, when she married her husband, who passed away in 2009, Evans values her family.

“I have always been close to my niece and nephew, but with our marriage, I became a step-mom to three adult children, grandma to 16, and great grandma to 11 with one more due in June,” she said.

Shores impacted her career choice at first, but she changed her interests after a few years. Evans said she enjoyed her business classes with Mr. Lafayette and Mr. Mosley and her co-op experience during her senior year. This had her leaning toward a secretarial/ accounting position after high school.

“However, as I matured and strived for more responsibility, I enrolled in evening classes at MCC and later at WMU so I could become part of the Management team at SPX/

Dana. I enjoyed working with our sales engineers, customers and production team to ensure excellent customer satisfaction,” she said.

Looking back, Evans said she would not change a thing about her high-school experience – “except maybe a winning football season.”

“We had great school spirit, but we just couldn’t win a game our senior year,” Evans said.

Evans has some advice for current students.

“Always strive to do your best, look forward to each new day as a learning experience, and build highschool memories that you can cherish forever,” Evans said.

Evans has continued through life with all of her high school memories, and she said she always will.

“I have great respect for the education and experiences I had during my high school years at Mona Shores,” Evans said. “Once a MSHS Sailor, always a Sailor.” – Taylor Jones, sports editor

Year Five (1966-1967)

our STORY Victory Bell makes debut at athletic events Believe it or not, Shores used to have a Victory Bell.

The Key Club, whose adviser was Howard Clark, made this their main project in 1966-67.

The bell was rung at football games to count the score when a touchdown was made.

The following story was related by Judy Ross, who was a physical education teacher at the high school: “When North and South Junior High Schools were opened, the district closed down Maple Grove School (Henry and Norton). Bill and John Spring took their classes to Maple Grove to salvage all materials that could be used – this included the bell.

“The bell was then used at the high school as the Victory Bell. When Bill left Mona Shores to work at Muskegon Community College, the bell was being stored in a closet in the PE area.

“As the school had decided to throw the bell away, Bill took the bell to the college to use as a pattern. Dale Trumble saw the bell at the college – Bill had his pattern – Dale took the bell to his home.

The bell is currently in Dale’s backyard.”

Current athletic director Ryan Portenga is working on bringing back the Victory Bell to hopefully put an end to the “curse on the football program.”

In addition to the Victory Bell, the following highlights took place:

• The freshmen class claimed the title of the largest class in school history with more than 430 students.

• The class of 1967 presented an eight-foot high, 2,000-pound anchor, which was planted in a square cement cube with cement compass points.

“The anchor represents three years of hard work and class unity,” said Tybo Wilhelms, senior class president. “It’s not only a class gift, but a landmark.

There’s a lot of pride wrapped up in it.”

• The baseball team had a record of 21-4 and won the Valley Coast Conference title.

• Both the boys’ tennis and boys’ track teams finished first in the City. – Rachel Swartz, sports editor

her STORY Choir brings back fond memories of high school days at Shores Ruth “Marie” (Moseler) Malenfant was just like any other high school student at Shores, but what makes her different is the fact that she still enjoys one of her favorite aspects of high school.

“Choir was my favorite thing as I always loved to sing Malenfant and still sing at church, weddings, funerals, and special occasions,” said Malenfant, a 1967 graduate.

After high school, Malenfant graduated from Baker College, then married in 1968. Her husband was in the Navy and was stationed just outside Washington, D.C., where she made her home for two years.

After her first two children were born, they headed back to Muskegon.

“I stayed home until they were in school. Then, my first job was with Wolverine Trucking (accounts),” Malenfant said. “I worked for several years until they sold to another company.”

With her degree from Baker, Malenfant soon had other options.

“I then had an opportunity to get a job at USF Holland Motor (billing, inspection, secretary, customer service) until they chose to move operations into Holland,” Malenfant said.

Malenfant’s third child was born while she was working at USF Holland Motor, which gave Moseler a tough choice to make.

“With a young child at home, traveling to Holland wasn’t an option,” she said. “Fortunately, with my connections at USF Holland, a job at Brunswick Bowling

was available, and I have been there for 23 years. I am an Assistant Contract Manager and love it. I started in logistics, working my way up to my current position.”

When looking back on her high school years at Shores, Malenfant remembers having dreams about the school.

“I remember when I started my freshman year having dreams about getting lost in the hallways,” Malenfant said. “Every time I would turn the next corner, it just seemed to near the end. I always ended up at the office trying to get directions.”

Luckily, this never happened to her in real life.

“Fortunately, I never really got lost, but the school was so big compared to the grade/ middle school I attended,” Malenfant said.

After looking back, Malenfant had this advice to

offer to current high school students.

“Be sure to think about life after high school. Have fun in high school, but don’t lose sight of what will be needed to make your way in day to day life,” she said. “With all the programs available, be sure to get into some college; a college education is required in most businesses.”

Wisdom comes with time, and Malenfant was kind enough to share some of the things that she has learned.

“I can say that I definitely try not to sweat the small stuff. When you’re young, the small stuff seems to get in the way, so do your best and always remember to treat people as you would like to be treated,” Malenfant said. “Even the ‘loud’ people have a ‘soft’ side if you just give them the opportunity.”

– Rachel Swartz, sports editor

Year Five (1966-1967)

Sue Fisher, Carla Anderson, Jan Harmsen, Pat Firme, Sandy Greenert, sue Workman and Sue Hendricks strike a pose for the JV cheerleading squad.

Nancy Singler, John VanWyck and Debby Bluhm show their drum major/majorette pose.

Karen Kroes and Sally Schemel work on the senior section for the yearbook.

his STORY Graduate returns to Shores as coach, teacher, administrator “All of a sudden, there is this little girl over in the corner peeing her pants on the gym floor, and I said to myself, ‘OK big guy, what are you going to do?’”

For 1967 Shores graduate Mike Mack, this was the beginning of his career as an elementary gym teacher at Shores.

“I kind of laughed at myself and said, ‘You know if that’s the biggest problem I have got here then this is a pretty good deal,’” he added.

After graduating from Shores, Mack returned to his alma mater as a teacher and a basketball coach before retiring in 2007.

“When I got out of college, I had my choice of here (Shores), Grand Haven or Spring Lake,” Mack said. “And I took here because I wanted to coach, and I could coach JV boys (basketball) here.”

Although it was a tough transition for Mack to return to the school where he had once been a student, he returned to Shores as an authority figure.

“It was hard coming back because many of the teachers I had were still here, and then, I was in a situation as an administrator, where I would evaluate teachers,” Mack said. “So some of them I would go in to evaluate, and they were my teachers. It was kind of uncomfortable.”

When looking back on his high school career at Shores, Mack had nothing but

Mike Mack goes up for a shot. positive things to say about the school; however, there was one thing that he said, that if he could go back, he would change.

“When I was in high school, I started to date in 10th grade, and I dated the same girl for a couple years, and eventually, it ended, and I think to myself, ‘Gee you know, I shouldn’t have done that,’” he said. “At the time, it seemed fine, but I missed out on a lot of things because I was focused on her.”

Mack has this advice to give to students at Shores: “Be involved in as many things as you can, stay active in clubs and organizations and don’t be somebody that says when they’re done, ‘I wish I would have done this and that.’ I see too much of that. Just focus yourself in and enjoy your time and do as many activities as you can because the time just goes by so fast, and all of a sudden, you start and you’re a freshman, and then all of a sudden, you look up, and you’re in the beginning of your senior year, and you’re thinking, ‘Where did that time go?’”

Mack’s biggest question, however, was probably “What building am I in?” as he has worked in every teaching building in Shores.

“I am one of the few that has worked in the middle school, the high school, and every elementary building in the district,” Mack said. “There are people in the high school, the middle school, and the elementary schools who don’t have a clue what it is like in any of the other buildings.”

Mack loves what he does and looks forward to going to work everyday; in fact, for fourteen years, he did not miss a day.

If a girl peeing on the gym floor is as bad as it gets for alumni Mike Mack, he has a pretty good life. – Rachel Swartz, sports editor

Year Six (1967-1968)

our STORY King’s assassination big event of school year The biggest event that affected Shores during the 1967-68 school year happened many miles away in Memphis, Tenn., where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Additionally, the following events took place during the school year:

• The library was dedicated to former board president Harold Dykhuizen. A picture and plaque were dedicated on June 5, 1968.

• Sailor Olympics took place. Classes competed, and the winning class was put on a plaque. Events were arm wrestling,

tricycle race, wheel basket, three-legged race, malt competition, shuffle board, and a competition of the Yoretyme clubs.

Other booths were an ice cream parlor, malts and cookies, jail, jewelry, red lion pub, pizza parlor, and a flower booth.

– Mikayla Day, center section editor

his STORY ‘Big Kahuna’ leads students toward teamwork, leadership Dr. Thomas Glover, a 1968 graduate, was part of the wrestling team, the JV basketball team, and student council.

He was class vice president as a junior and class president as a senior.

While attending Shores, Glover pursued classes, such as biology, Glover mathematics, and chemistry, that eventually benefited him in his career choice – medical research and teaching.

When reflecting on his time with friends during his school years, Glover recalls a summer memory of his friends and a tree on the beach that he said is “a story that, in Hollywood vernacular, is base on actual fact, which means I that I take a large amount of literary license that is afforded by the 45 years since its occurrence.”

“Between our junior and senior year of school, we found a perfect little private beach near the Mona Lake Channel that was at the time property owned by Maranatha, and perhaps still

is.

“Somehow, the Maranatha people either tolerated us or did not know we were there, but we did not ask.

In any case, this became a regular meeting spot where we shared suntans, music on the transistor radios, and sometimes when they could get them, the boats owned by the families of the lucky kids who lived on the lake.

“One day when we came to the beach, we found a giant log that had washed up on the shore. This was no ordinary log, but was obviously once a tall and proud pine. It served for a while as a nice place to sit, and then one day, some creative person in the group had a great idea – make a Big Kahuna from it.

“We loved the idea, but the challenge was to raise it to stand up. We dug a deep hole for it to stand in but could not raise the Big Kahuna. We tried ropes and fulcrums and levers, to no avail.

“Then, Danny came to the rescue. He came roaring down the beach driving his brother’s jeep. With the help of the jeep, a few more ropes and lots of pushing, Kahuna was raised.

“Those more artistic than

me went about carving and painting, and soon enough, Big Kahuna was a reality,” Glover said. “We enjoyed and prized our Kahuna for some time until one day he was gone. There are many rumors about his disappearance, but no one really knows what happened to Kahuna to this day.”

To Glover, this event has plenty to do with his high school times – the group’s success required teamwork and leadership as well as putting into practice basic principles of many of the classes the students took.

“Moreover, that story, even if it is not all completely accurate, illustrates the friendships made during the time at Shores and the memories they created (even if they are not all completely accurate),” Glover said.

Now later in his life, Glover has used his interest in the sciences and has become a Professor at the University of Michigan in Human Genetics and Pediatrics, where he performs advanced research on human genetic disorders and teaches graduate students to become the next generation of scientists.

“My choice of human

genetics grew from my fascination with the molecular basis of human disease and subsequently our genes and DNA, and this was fueled by classes and research experiences in college,” Glover said. “Working in top laboratories and choosing the right questions at the right time, along with perseverance and some good luck, helped considerably along the way.

This is a fascinating career, and discovering something important that no one has found before has been really exciting and fun.”

Glover may not have known exactly what his career choice would be when attended Shores, but in the end, he said his time in high school prepared him well and affected him in many ways.

“We all grow up during high school and hopefully learn responsibility to ourselves and others, often time through trial and error,” Glover said. “It is also true that one never forgets the good times with friends, many of the teachers and classes, and the extracurricular activities.” – Mikayla Day, center section editor

Year Six (1967-1968) At an editorial meeting for The Sailors’ Log, editor-in-chief Sue Harrison (Clockwise from front left) meets with her staff, which includes activity editor Betsy Schulze, layout coeditor Joanne Marecek, sports editor Steve Perreault, layout co-editor Diane Buehrle, news editor Ruth Hansen, and feature editor Wendy Risk.

Two students “hang” out a the anchor while members of the choir practice for a concert.

her STORY Shores has always had place in heart of Homecoming Queen Sandra (Boyns) Wagner’s time at Shores was a special one since her class was the first group to enter the school as freshman, making it so they could start a lot of the traditions, such as Sailor Olympics, Wagner Ugly Man contest and pickle day, that continued on at Shores for many years.

Shores helped give Wagner the self-confidence, leadership, and decisionmaking skills, all things that

are valuable in Wagner’s life today.

While in school, Wagner went through The Vietnam “conflict,” the race riots in Muskegon, burning draft cards, and sit-ins.

Throughout it all, the entire Shores community influenced the students.

“We were guided by our teachers, secretaries, and even the janitors. They all cared, and helped us through the times,” Wagner said.

Even though the school was so new, students had a lot of clubs and activities to choose from.

Wagner was President of the Booster Club, Prom chairperson, Christmas Dance chairperson, Homecoming Queen and Miss Flame, and Secretary of the Senior Class, part of student council, choir, cheerleading, and started the Shipmates.

“My most memorable moment was being crowned Homecoming Queen since the whole school got to vote on it,” Wagner said.

After school, Wagner attended Muskegon Community Colllege, got married, raised a family, started as a part-time teller at

age 34 and then went to Baker to take classes in joining the work force again.

At that time, Wagner did better in the management and leadership classes than she did in typing. Making the skills that she developed at Shores came through for her.

“I progressed up the ladder because Mona Shores taught me to aim high,” Wagner said. “Now, I have a couple more years before I retire, but Shores still has a place in my heart. It was a very special time for me.” – Mikayla Day, center section editor

Year Seven (1968-1969)

our STORY Yoretyme offers alternative fun for school days One of the big events that took place in 1968-69 was the Student Council event called “That Was The Tyme That Was.” It was a take off of Chicago’s Old Towne. Yoretyme went “Gay Nineties” as booths were set up by the different

school organizations.

The seniors presented a flower wagon and jail; Unsinkables presented a mod shoppe; Yearbook presented a Tin-Type Shoppe, selling pictures; there was a fortuneteller, a soda fountain, pickle barrel, and kissing booth.

These were just a few examples of the many trademarks Old Towne offered.

The sophomores, with their go-go palace, had the best turnout in both the afternoon and night time “happenings.”

– Kendal Brown, feature editor

Tom Anderson, Debbie Coleman, Henri Laime and Cindy Shaefer were leads in the fall play, Tom Jones.

Jeff Chase breaks into the open for a Shores touchdown. Under the direction of Don Mosely, the Sailors finished with an 8-1 record, which is still the best in school history.

his STORY Former drum major makes his way through life without ‘a job’ With jobs ranging from attorney to arbitrator to mediator to scuba instructor, 1969 graduate David Wells has come a long way from being the school drum major.

“I do not have ‘a’ job,” said Wells, who, in the fall of 2012, will be a candidate Wells for Circuit Court Judge in Muskegon County. “I have many that never cease to be interesting, challenging and rewarding, both personally and socially.”

While he leads an exciting life now, his excitement from his high school days reflect upon marching band, especially performing at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University during Band Days.

“When I was in my senior year, Mr. Butterfield was

successful in negotiating a deal with the University of Michigan for the Mona Shores band to be the only high school band invited and to present, by itself, a postgame show,” Wells, said.

“What an experience it was to lead the Mona Shores High School band onto the football field at the Big House.”

Though his time at Shores was fun, he still reflects on the academic excellence.

“The education was no-nonsense. The quality of students was excellent.

One performed or flunked.

No grade inflation,” Wells said. “The available nonacademic student activities to choose from were numerous.

Integrity was a value that was taught, expected and rewarded. I was given many opportunities to develop leadership skills.”

While Wells found Shores as a place to learn and learn

well, there were some things he would have changed if he could go back in time.

“I would perhaps study more,” he said. “I was involved in many social/ organizational activities and had a job. My academic studies were fairly low on my priority list, and my academic achievement was nowhere near what it could have been. I believe I would have benefited from higher grades and the knowledge that resulted from the extra academic work.”

Wells said he could have performed better academically, but he worked hard to achieve success.

After graduation from Shores, he attended Muskegon Community College full time and worked 30 hours per week at Muskegon General Hospital.

“I learned what it takes to be successful in life: the

work that needs to be done, the sacrifices that need to be made and the dogged determination needed to succeed,” Wells said. “I earned both the grades and the money necessary for me to transfer to the University of Michigan.”

His hard work taught him the importance of playing a role in the community.

“I learned the importance of being involved with more than my family and my career,” said the father of two children. “Our society and the communities we live in are only as good as what we contribute to them. In order to have a high quality living environment, many people need to step up and contribute. Our volunteer activities enrich not only our community, but also our individual lives.” – Kendal Brown, feature editor

Year Seven (1968-1969)

her STORY Voice lessons teacher influenced by choir director Gray Shores choir has been a great beginning for many singers.

Voice lessons teacher Cynthia (Bates) Twining, who graduated in 1969, had her start here.

“High school, it’s somewhat of a blur at this age,” Twining said. “Suffice it to say, I went through the same agonies and angst that most teenagers did. My one salvation was choir and drama. Mr. Larry Gray, who was the choir director at that time, was my hero, as I’m sure he was to many choir students. He had a way of bringing the words on a page of music to life for us and allowed us to express many of those emotions that most of us work so hard to hide.”

As Twining was in the Allegros, which Mr. Gray created, her group traveled to Europe, specifically to England and Wales and performed at many exciting places.

“We toured a lot of different towns and sang every day, sometimes twice a day,” Twining said. “It was a very busy time. It was also the first time many of us had been away from home for any length of time. I remember being very homesick about one week into the tour, but by the end, most of us didn’t want to come back.”

As the same as today, the choir was talented.

“I remember Mr. Gray saying, ‘If you don’t tell kids that this music is supposed to be beyond their capabilities, they just do it,’” Twining said “At the time, I was very flattered, as he was talking

Cynthia (Bates) Twining gives a lesson to senior Ronni Bremer. to someone about our choir sounding like a college choir.

I’m still flattered and proud of what we accomplished.”

She said she remains close to many choir members.

“Our choir got together for reunions several times after our tour,” she said. “We were very fond of each other, and some of them are still my close friends today. If we see each other anywhere, the years fall away, and we seem young again. What an adventure to be the first choir out of our whole West Michigan area to travel overseas.”

In comparison to many students at Shores, Twining cannot find herself anywhere else besides in the world of music. As soon as she graduated high school, she knew exactly what she wanted to do.

“When I started school in the fall after high school, there was no question as to what I would do,” Twining said. “All I felt I was capable of was music, and all you

could do with a music degree was teach. I knew I didn’t want opera, and in those days, you didn’t run off to NYC because it was ‘sin city’ and you could get killed there.

I really enjoyed Muskegon Community College. It had a full music department then, and you could get an Associate’s Degree in Music, which I did.”

Though pursuing a career in music, actually finding a job was difficult for Twining.

“Finding a job in those days in your field was at least as hard as it is today,” she said. “There were no teaching positions, so you had to do what you could to survive. I taught kindergarten and music, worked at Kmart, a bank, taught piano, and worked as a waitress.”

Eventually, she found a career that she enjoyed and found passion in.

“One day a friend asked me to teach him to sing, so I started teaching voice lessons,” Twining said.

“I attended seminars and

conferences and found another passion...teaching people to use the human voice. By then, there was a new teacher doing choir at Shores who had asked me to perform for him several times, classically and in musical theater here in the West Michigan area, and he asked me to teach several of his students so he could get a better sound in his choir, and the rest is history.”

As a voice lessons teacher at Shores, Twining has helped produce tremendous talent in students that has gotten them far in the musical world.

“I have had great success in my teaching,” Twining said. “I have students with careers on Broadway, in the opera, Young Americans, jazz singers, blue grass and country singers, and even some pop singers.”

Twining owes a lot of her success to her choir teacher.

“As I look back over this wonderful, fun-filled, exciting career, I realize it all started with Mr. Gray, who never set limits for us, who never told us we were incapable of anything we set out to do, and who taught us that choir was where we were safe, where we could leave our troubles at the door and all get along even if it was for three weeks on tour or for one single hour each day in the classroom,” Twining said. “He has always had and will always have a special place in my heart as one of my most respected teachers. I can only hope that I’ve had one tenth of the good influence on my own students that he had on me.” – Kendal Brown, feature editor

Year Eight (1969-1970)

our STORY Sex education changes cause controversy As education responsibilities for public school expanded in the late 1960s, the topic of sex education within the public school system began to become an issue.

The issue was addressed by administrators and students alike.

“The high divorce rate, the large number of illegitimate births and the

spread of venereal disease are only a few problems that indicate a need for a better system of sex education,” Principal Bill Hanichen said. “The school has a definite responsibility to develop a sound program in sex education.”

This viewpoint differed from the view of Superintendent William Luyendyk, who said the responsibility should be in

her STORY

the hands of parents. Both of the men agreed that if the classes were taught, they must be instructed by experts in the field.

The curriculum eventually expanded to include this controversial topic which is taught to this day in health classes at the high school. – Jonah Stone, coeditor-in-chief

Current technology teacher identifies school spirit as a favorite Letters from soldiers in Vietnam, the first choir to go to Europe, and rampant school spirit.

These are what Judy (Albert) Hunt, a 1970 Shores graduate and a current technology teacher at the high school, remembers of the days when she was a student. “(My favorite thing about Shores was) the school spirit, the high academic expectations, and the choir program.”

Hunt said. “I would have become involved in drama and art if there’d been more room in my schedule.”

Since then, Hunt said, the biggest changes have been in the use of technology, the look of the building, and the dress code, which has become less conservative.

The rest of the changes have had mostly to do with memories.

“I love the memory of being in the stands at games and having Jake Funkhouser, a social studies teacher at the time, lead us in cheering on the team,” Hunt said.

“He’d wear a goofy pointed hat, bib overalls, and blow a horn – like one of those curly Christmas horns – to lead us in ‘CHARGE!’ We’d get re-

Judy Hunt (right) works with freshman De’Achia Childrey. ally fired up.”

Hunt attended Shores at a time when not only were dress codes somewhat stricter, but when other restrictions were perhaps less so. For example, her older brother’s band won the 1967 talent competition and got to perform on TV-13, despite having a controversial name.

“Their music was taken from a band titled Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass,” Hunt said. “Having said that, my birth name is Judy Albert.

So, the name of my brother’s band? Dave Albert and the Marijuana Brass Band. Yup. They got away with it.”

Larry Gray, Shores’ first choir teacher, was Hunt’s

favorite teacher. Now, she stands in a similar position, teaching at her alma mater. “(I like) the interaction with students, the friendships with fellow staff members, the variety of classes I teach, and applying technology in the classroom (most about teaching),” Hunt said.

“Re-activating my teaching certificate and moving back to Norton Shores with my husband to start life over as a high school teacher at Shores (was the best thing that has happened to me since leaving high school).”

Also since her high school graduation, Hunt has earned her master’s degree from Western Michigan University

and married her “absolute best friend ever.” All these new memories cannot obscure her favorite memory from Shores, however. “(My favorite memory was) as a senior, gathering in the girls’ bathroom – the one nearest the auditorium – with my friends before the start of first hour to read each other’s letters from guys in Vietnam,” Hunt said. “We’d all signed up to write to military guys – strangers – who were serving over there, and it was really fun to share the letters. One of my friends got a marriage proposal, and she freaked.”

Hunt said she was drawn back to her alma mater for her career as a teacher, and as such – and through remembering what it was like to be a high school student at Shores herself – has some advice for current students.

“Develop excellent study habits so you may secure a great career,” Hunt said. “Get involved in extracurricular activities; make lots of friends at Shores and stay in touch with them throughout your life. Ask your teachers for help – we’re here for you.”

– Franny Kromminga, fine arts editor

Year Eight (1969-1970) The 1970 yearbook contained no captions, just a bunch of poetry, so people in these pictures cannot be identified.

his STORY Drive to succeed leads 1970 graduate to bountiful life David Ferris, now living in Rochester, is a graduate of 1970, but when his experience with Shores was decisively over, his drive for an education pushed him onto college.

After graduating from Shores, Ferris atFerris tended the University of Michigan, where he got a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical

Engineering.

“After graduating, I went to work for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Automotive Lab, in Ann Arbor,” Ferris said, “because I believed that clean air was a noble goal.”

Then, life took over, and nobility lost the battle to obligation and love.

After marriage and two children, Ferris said money was a priority, so he left his job with the EPA for the opportunity to earn more money.

He then attended the University of Michigan once again, this time completing the requirements needed for a master’s degree in Business Administration.

“I spent a few years working for a small high tech firm in Troy, MI,” Ferris said. “But that company practically went bankrupt, so I moved on.”

Ferris moved on to General Motors as a Regulatory Engineer for more than 20 years.

He even instilled in his two

children a similar drive for education. His son graduated from the U of M Law School, and he is now working at a law firm in Detroit.

His daughter recently graduated from Wayne State’s Medical School.

Finally, although he is always learning, he is considering a rest.

“I am looking forward to retiring to northern Michigan in a few years,” Ferris said.

– Franny Kromminga, fine arts editor

Year Nine (1970-1971)

our STORY Benefit concert raises money for injured alumna More than 800 people attended a benefit concert in the gym for Gayle Vander Wier, who was injured in the gym in 1966.

He graduated and was preparing for the Marines when three of the vertebrae in his back were jammed together causing paralysis and medical expenses.

• Varsity Club was comprised of athletes who earned their varsity letters and had gone through the V.C. rituals, which included Day 1: Dressed up and told to do everything their masters command; Day 2: Must not talk from the time they arrive till school until the time they leave school; and Day 3: new inductees under command of all members of the Varsity Club.

• The first performance by the orchestra took place with more than 200 students involved.

• On Feb. 2, Shores became one of the first schools in Michigan to give 18year-olds the opportunity to register to vote during school hours. Forty of 109 possible students registered.

• In sports, the boys’ track team placed first at the City meet while the wrestling team won its fifth-straight conference titile (four in the VCC and one in the LMAC).

Students of note at Shores included the following: • Mark Zagaroli, a member of the Lansing Skating Club, placed third in the Eastern Great Lakes Regionals

and qualified for the Midwestern Championships.

• Allison Cornwell gained a first chair in the Norton Shores Community Orchestra.

• Doug Robinson, a radio announcer for WDRD, plays contemporary rock music from 5-11. He founded, built, and borrowed the station himself.

• Kathy Hepford was selected Shores’ Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow.

• Cathy Scheltema, who was was rated sixth in the nation by the U.S. Table Tennis Association, visited London, England, for “the World’s Junior Division Tournament.” She upset England’s fourth best player. – Emily Grevel, profiles editor

her STORY Physics teacher Bode impacted current anesthesiologist Dr. Susan Iovan is a long way from her high school physics class.

Formerly known as Susan Melrose, Dr. Iovan finds herself applying many of the things she learned in high school, to real life Dr. Iovan situations.

As an anesthesiologist, Iovan specializes in obstetrical anesthesiology.

After graduating from Shores in 1971, she went on to receive an undergraduate Bachelor’s of Science degree in Zoology from Michigan State University and a Medical Degree from Wayne State University.

“The best part of my job is the satisfaction of serving others in a compassionate, friendly, and skillful manner,” Dr. Iovan said. “In order to

be a good anesthesiologist you need intelligence, inquisitiveness, people skills, and technical skills. You need discipline and ability to work hard. It is always interesting.”

Her success in the medical field did not come without hard work. Her time spent in college was not all fun.

“College was fun, but not as fun as high school. I knew that I had to devote my time and energy to my studies.

Medical school was rigorous, internship and residency were challenging, but all work is challenging,” Dr. Iovan said.

“I figured I had to be doing something, I may as well be doing something worthwhile.

Medicine as a career is great.

The MD gets respect, you get to use your brain, help people and the pay is good.

The only downside is that for several years, while in training, your career has to be your first priority. But, once

established, you can do other things, like scuba dive, sing, paint, travel.”

Her work environment is far different from that of her high school classrooms.

Dr. Iovan recalls her favorite high school teacher: physics teacher Stan Bode.

“He would leave the room during a quiz so we could share information and with each other and learn from each other,” she said. “I thought that was smart and cool. He knew who truly knew the material. Physics was fun and challenging, and we students often studied together and had a fun time in the lab.”

Apart from working in the lab, Dr. Iovan also enjoyed the location of the school and the time spent with friends.

“I loved to drive town to the lake with friends any time of the year, day or night, after school. I love that our

name was ‘Sailors,’” Dr. Iovan said. “I loved the huge anchor in front of the school.

My favorite things about high school were my girlfriends, especially Kathi Grelewicz, Cindy Clifford, Louise Anderson, and Linda Janes.”

Friends were a crucial part of Dr. Iovan’s life. Still today, she is thankful for her high school days. Life has taught her about acceptance of others and achieving happiness.

“Try to make every day and every endeavor enjoyable. If you don’t especially like a subject or a person, think of one positive thing about that subject or person,” Dr. Iovan said.

“Life is full of challenges, and always will be. Your attitude determines your level of happiness. Have unconditional friendliness toward yourself and others.”

– Emily Grevel, profiles editor

Year Nine (1970-1971)

his STORY U.S. Ambassador to Russia credits drama, journalism with career Life on the stage was something 1971 graduate John Beyrle was comfortable with.

His love for language and acting was shown through his participation in numerous school productions, his study Beyrle of foreign language, and his role as a writer for The Sailors’ Log. Little did he know, his passion for the activities he was involved in during high school would guide him into a career with the United States government as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia.

“In high school, I really wasn’t into sports. I wasn’t a jock, and I skipped a grade early on. I knew I was never going to be on the sports teams,” Beyrle said. “Apart from my core classes, I studied mostly drama and journalism. My favorite were language (classes).”

French and German were classes that Beyrle not only loved but thrived at as well.

“French was just something I was good at. I barely had to work; my brain is just wired that way,” Beyrle said.

“My high school German teacher, Ed Anderson, really taught me that learning languages is not a hobby; it is a discipline. If you’re serious, you really have to work at it. It is a science you must devote yourself to. Good language teachers and instructors helped push me in the direction of the

State Department and foreign services.”

As the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, Beyrle has many responsibilities that encompass the world of languages. His responsibilities involve meeting with government officials, interviewing with reporters and newspapers, traveling the country, and talking to university students.

“I love talking about my job and relationships between Russia and the United States to university groups.

I get to hear what’s on their minds and what they think is interesting. I never fail to get a lot of interesting questions,” Beyrle said. “(This position) teaches me a lot about what I need to know to understand what is happening in Russia politically, socially, and economically, and report back to Washington. Our goal is to make the relationship between the United States and Russia more productive.”

At his 40th class reunion in the summer of 2011, Beyrle met with classmates and reflected on his high school years and favorite memories.

“I remember writing a satirical editorial for The Sailors’ Log. I made up a meeting where the student council petitioned the school to create different standardized tests for each individual student. We wanted more personalized attention from teachers,” Beyrle said.

“I created a situation where the assistant principal was arguing with us. Several teachers read it and believed it. It was amazing to me that could actually happen.”

One of Beyrle’s favorite high school memories revolves around life on the stage and his participation in school plays.

“I was really involved in theater. I was always involved in the plays.

My favorite memory as a senior was when we did a Shakespeare play called The Taming of the Shrew in the cafetorium,” Beyrle said. “I felt really proud that a bunch of high school seniors could do a Shakespeare play. We sold a lot of tickets, and a lot of friends came. It was something we really felt proud about.”

After high school, Beyrle went on to graduate from Grand Valley State University and join the State Department.

After taking the Foreign Service exam and passing an oral interview with the State Department, he was hired as a diplomat in 1983 and became a foreign services officer where he moved through the ranks and eventually became the U.S. Ambassador to Russia.

He was appointed

by President George W. Bush, continued working for President Obama, and recently returned to Washiington from Moscow at the completion of his assignment.

“I went through the Senate confirmation process with questions and a hearing.

The experience of learning new languages helped a lot,” Beyrle said. “Timing just worked out. It was luck being in the right place at the right time. It was kind of a seamless transition for me

that led to where I am now.”

Throughout all of his success, Beyrle’s most prized possession is his family. For him, his wife Jocelyn, and two daughters, Alison and Caroline, are his support system.

“There is nothing that compares to finding that person and getting married.

I was there for the birth of both of my daughters,” Beyrle said. “That is an indescribable experience. It is very gratifying having worked for Clinton, Bush, and Obama, but what matters most is family, friends, and the people who are closest to you. Jobs come and go; family stays if you’re lucky. Family is what matters in life. Never confuse a career with having a life. ” Beyrle’s days of acting in high school have long since passed. He may not remember the lines to the plays he acted in or the headlines of his features in the school paper, but he left the halls of Shores with a wealth of knowledge about the importance of being one’s self.

“I was not voted most likely to succeed. I was not voted to be anything at all.

I was kind of anonymous.

I worried about fitting in or not,” Beyrle said. “I wondered why I wasn’t a part of the group that was always focused on, like the senior class president or the prom king or queen. I shouldn’t have cared. I should’ve focused. Be who you are and be comfortable with that. I know it is hard. I look back and think that’s what matters in life.” – Emily Grevel, profiles editor

Year Ten (1971-1972)

our STORY ‘72 was a year of change for high school seniors Because the yearbook consisted of all poetry, here are some top stories collected from The Sailors’ Log. •The debate team traveled on its first debate trip.

•The Age of Majority law was passed; this allowed 18-year-olds to buy alcohol.

•Cindy Coble won the Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow.

•The bathrooms in the high school were used frequently for smoking.

This was met by tight restrictions on bathroom use by the administration.

– Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

his STORY Fire marshal recalls: a funny thing happened on the way to a fire Being one of the few in the 1972 graduating class at Shores to be in the coop program, Norm Hosko describes the school as “a respectable school that had great teachers and was just an (all-around) great school.”

Hosko An experience he vividly remembers from school actually has to do with his career as Muskegon’s fire marshal.

“I was 17, a junior in school and had just gotten off the probation period for the fire department,” he said. “We did not have pagers at that time, and one dreary day, I was going to lunch, and one of the volunteer firefighters was heading eastbound on Seminole Road with his red light on.”

Hosko jumped in his own car and proceeded to follow the firefighter thinking he was heading to a fire.

The two headed north on Henry Street, both with their red lights on.

“We managed to get the lights green, so we didn’t need to stop,” Hosko said.

“Plus, he was some distance ahead of me.”

The two then turned west onto Broadway Avenue.

“At that time, I am thinking to myself, ‘Where are we going?’” Hosko said.

The two then went down Roosevelt Road and south on Lake Harbor Road. Finally, Hosko caught up to him, and the two pulled over to the side of the road by Crestwood Lane.

“We both got out of our vehicles, and he asked me, ‘What are you doing?’”

Hosko said. “I said that I was following him to the fire call.

The other firefighter looked at Hosko and then realized that he had left his red light on from an earlier call.

“I wanted to hide from embarrassment,” Hosko said. “No one ever said anything to me about the incident, but I have never forgotten it.”

Aside from chasing out of school to follow imaginary fire calls, Hosko was involved in football both his freshman and sophomore years but wishes he had been more involved.

The graduate of Shores also remembers his favorite teachers, Harley Dyk and Bill Ross.

“Mr. Dyk was my electronics teacher and was

a great teacher in that area,” Hosko said. “Mr. Ross, or ‘Bill’ as I called him, was also a member of the Norton Shores Fire Department, so I knew him from there. I was Mr. Ross’s student assistant and learned a lot from his classes.”

One of Hosko’s favorite memories, like many young teenagers in high school, was taking driver’s training and obtaining his license.

However, much has changed for the Shores graduate since high school.

Hosko and his wife have a daughter, Stephanie, who is in the class of 2014 at Shores.

Before marriage and a daughter, however, Hosko spent four years in the Marine Corps and returned to work in the machine shop his dad started.

After his father sold his business in 1986, Hosko started working for himself until 1991 when he was hired as a full-time firefighter and went to college and received an Associate Degree in Fire Science. He now holds several Fire Service Certifications in the fire field.

Since high school, more than just a career and family, – “the best things to happen to him since Shores” – have changed for Hosko.

“I have become more open to those around me, not expecting them to be like me,” Hosko said. “We all have our own path in life to follow. I try to accept individuals for who they are and try to get alone with everyone. That is not always possible, so we bump paths and go our separate ways, occasionally bumping into one another moving in our own directions. I keep looking ahead as time gets shorter making the best of things.”

Hosko said his only regret looking back at his time at Shores was, “If I were able to change anything in my past experience, I would have liked to have been more involved in the sport activities more so than I was.

I started working on the coop program at the end of my sophomore year, so I didn’t have the time to play sports.”

Hosko’s words of wisdom to future graduates of Shores High are, “Enjoy your youth; time doesn’t stop for anyone. Don’t do something that will haunt you for the rest of your life. Be young while you can because we all grow up too fast and realize that life is too short.” – Madi Deur, staff writer

Year Ten (1971-1972) Social studies teacher Jake Funkhouse makes a point during class.

The boys’ basketball team, coached by Howard Clark, won the District title.

A Homecoming float declares, “Whale of a Class.”

her STORY Shores life spent in music room beneficial for future art teacher Jane (Jalving) Schweinzger remembers much about her time at Shores, including the fun times in performing arts.

Being active in the performing arts during her time, Schweinzger’s Schweinzger favorite memory was the 1972 choir trip to Europe her senior year.

“It was a once in a lifetime experience,” Schweinzger said.

In addition to the choir trip, other favorite memories in high school were working on the yearbook staff senior year, and “spending many hours in the art rooms.”

“Mona Shores was a great

high school to attend,” Schweinzger said, “with a super staff, terrific friends, super sports programs, and a wonderful fine arts program.”

Being in Girl’s Choir, A Cappella, and Allegros, Schweinzger spent a considerable amount of time with her favorite teacher, Larry Gray.

“I really spent the majority of my life at Shores in that music room. I can’t believe the support of the community to build that beautiful fine arts building,” Schweinzger said.

When not singing, Schweinzger was switching out her textbooks in the back hall.

“Having my locker in the back hall brings to mind one of the funniest things I remember about daily life at Shores,” Schweinzger said.

“One of our teachers was

blind and had her classroom near my locker. You always knew when she was coming down the hall with her cane because as kids jumped into their lockers to get out of her way, it looked like a wave.”

After the 1972 choir trip to Europe, she went to Muskegon Community College for one year, and graduated from Central Michigan University.

As an art teacher, Schweinzger met her husband while working in East Grand Rapids Public Schools, where she also taught second through fourth grades over her years in education.

She has two children and recently retired after 30 years to spend more time with her four grandchildren.

Schweinzger also has changed in other ways since

graduating.

“I would have to say I am a much more confident person now than I was during my high school years,” she said.

Schweinzger said her only regret in high school was being new to the school.

“If I could change anything about my time at Shores, it would be not having to be the new kid moving in my freshman year,” said Schweinzger, who moved to Muskegon from Holland that summer.

Her advice to present and future Sailors?

“Make and keep good friends,” Schweinzger said.

“It is so important to have someone to share the daily ups and downs of high school life with.” – Madi Deur, staff writer

Year Eleven (1972-1973)

our STORY Supreme Court Justice Rehnquist speaks Again, the 1973 yearbook consisted entirely of poetry, so information was difficult to find. The Sailors’ Log was of little help too.

With that said, here is what could be ascertained: • The biggest story of the year was Baccalaureate, not because of the ceremony but because of the speaker.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice William H. Rehnquist said, “Ambition for worldly goods and worldly achievement is necessary. All I’m saying is that it must be held in balance with other achievements.”

Rehnquist also told graduates that for every one who achieves fame that countless others will fail to achieve it.

“Some of those who have achieved fame have been successful at the expense of their home, health and family,” Rehnquist said.

• The boys’ golf team won the LMAC with a 12-0 record. Boys’ tennis and wrestling both won the LMAC. Wrestling also won the City tournament.

The baseball team won the City tournament.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist •The fall play was The Hobbit.

• Homecoming was held.

• In the fall, the presidential race of Richard Nixon vs. George McGovern took place. Nixon won.

• The winter dance was titled “Christmas in Camelot.”

• Jane Eyre was performed.

• Smoking was allowed in the boys’ room (and other places too).

• A talent show took place.

• Prom happened. It was called “Concert in the Park.”

• Something called the Spring Week of Madness took place. – Warren Kent III, adviser

his STORY Former student returns to his roots in Lone Star State “Back in the day,” Al Hogan would dress up on game days for football, basketball, and baseball games.

“Back in the day, we used to wear a coat and tie on game day,” said Hogan, a 1973 graduate. “I really enjoyed dressing up then, which Hogan is the opposite now. Crocs, shorts, and a shirt are all I need now.”

Hogan played basketball until his teammates passed

him in height, ending that career, and he played baseball until his shoulder went out.

He finished his high school career playing only football.

Hogan now relaxes in his casual wear in Texas, where he was originally from.

Before moving to Shores in eighth grade, he was born and raised in the Lone Star State.

“When I first moved to Michigan, all of the girls fell in love with my accent,” Hogan said. “They used to sit around and say to me, ‘Say something, anything. We don’t care just say some-

thing.’ It hasn’t worked quite that well since.”

Hogan recalls that one of his favorite teachers at Shores was social studies teacher Jake Funkhouser.

“Dressing up and impersonating characters and time periods,” he said, “(Mr. Funkhouser) was just a jolly round mound of education.”

Prior to high school graduation, Hogan enlisted in the Army. After three years, Hogan was honorably discharge.

Eventually, he moved back to Texas. He has been married for 26 years and has two

children.

But Hogan has not been back to the home town of his alma mater since his 15th class reunion.

He said, though, that if he could do it all over again, there are a few things he would do differently.

“I would take football a lot more seriously,” he said, “and probably study more. I would certainly strive for college rather than the military. Set your goals on college. Your college diploma is more like a high school diploma now days.”

Year Eleven (1972-1973)

In science class, students got to work with microscopes.

The drum major leads the band onto the football field for a performance.

her STORY Humorous band moment highlights ‘73 grad’s memories It was year 1973; all 250 band students were sitting so quietly that a pin-drop could have been heard.

Band director John Butterfield had just fallen off his podium while conducting.

When he finally left DuPrey the room, the tension was broken, and every student began laughing hysterically.

One of those students was Bonnie (Baker) DuPrey, a 1973 graduate of Shores.

While this is a funny moment that has stayed with

her, DuPrey’s other favorite memories were the band trips.

“One game, we went to Muskegon High School to play a football game, and there was about 6 inches of mud,” DuPrey said. “There were lots of dirty bottoms after that night from falling down, which didn’t look so great on white pants.”

Another thing that she realized she gained from Shores was the friends she made.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t kept the greatest contact with them,” DuPrey said. “There aren’t many people left in Michigan anymore.”

Although she isn’t doing

anything in music, she is still maintaining an occupation in Muskegon.

“I work as a buyer for a manufacturing company, but this is just my job, “ DuPrey said. “My passion would be anything that would make a difference for people in need.”

Because she attended Shores, she has gathered some great advice for high schoolers.

“Be passionate about something; it doesn’t have to be anything that is going to change the world, but make it something you love, and if it helps someone else along the way, all the better, “DuPrey

said. “You will be a happier person for it, and the world will be a better place.”

Today, DuPrey continues to work as a buyer for her company. She has a son who is 30 years old and is a teacher. She is living the life of a single gal, and she said she is hoping for grandchildren soon.

“I’m just happy to say that my son and I both attended the same high school and we both turned out OK,” DuPrey said. “Mona Shores is a great school, and we are both proud to call it our alma mater.”

– Carlin Rollenhagen, staff writer

Year Twelve (1973-1974)

our STORY Sports for girls finally introduced to high schools Girls’ sports took center stage, er court, as Title IX opened up the athletic field for females.

Girls participated in basketball, tennis and track with the girls’ basketball team winning the district title.

Also, there was a chill in the air as the administration followed President Nixon’s advice for turning down the thermostats. According to the yearbook, “classroom temperatures dropped from 70 degrees to 45 degrees in some rooms.

More and more students wore coats, and halls were kept in some darkness to conserve energy.

• National Honors Society raised its standards. Students must have a 3.2 average as a junior or a 3.0 average as a senior.

• The Debate team finished fifth in state finals • In boys’ golf, Kevin DuPrey and Jim Bronsema led the Sailors to a regional title. Shores just missed a state title,

Shores turned down the thermostats droping thew temperature from 70 to 45. In the first year of girls’ basketball, the “Sailorettes” won the district championship. Top scorer for the team was Marti Driza, who averaged 13 points per game.

losing by two strokes.

• Wrestling won both the City meet and the conference title.

• Boys’ tennis went 15-0 for the second year in a row while winning the City meet and taking first in the conference. – Hailey Hrynewich, staff writer

her STORY Goal setting important as ‘74 alumna becomes a nurse “Set your goals high and never give up.”

This is the advice that 1974 Shores graduate Sheryl (Pedler) Abdelkader had to share with current high school students.

They are Abdelkader also the words that she lived up to throughout her life.

“I knew that I wanted to be a nurse, but all of the nursing programs had several years waiting list,” Abdelkader said.

“I attended MCC for two years while waiting to get into a program, which I eventually did.”

Abdelkader attended Mercy Central School of Nursing and graduated with an RN degree. She is currently an operating room nurse at Mercy Health Partners.

Her life after high school was and is filled with success, whether it is her husband who taught at Reeths-Puffer, or her children who also graduated from Shores. Her daughter Jamie is a seventh grade science teacher in Greenville Public Schools, and her son Justin is a professional hockey player with the Detroit Red Wings.

“I am proud of our two kids, who have pursued their dreams and have

been successful in their employment,” Abdelkader said.

Abdelkader was extremely involved in her time at Shores, taking part in many things including Shipmates, which was a dance team that performed during boys’ basketball games. Although her time at Shores was great, there was one thing that she wishes she could change.

“I would have liked to have seen a PE class when I was a student at Shores,” Abdelkader said. “It was eliminated in the ‘70s because of budget cuts, and there were very few opportunities for girls in athletics.”

When asked to reveal a

story about her time at Shores she had one thing to say.

“My best friend in high school was Becky Dobb, and people thought we looked alike. They mixed us up all the time and called us the ‘Bobbsey Twins,’” Abdelkader said.

Although she graduated in ’74, Abdelkader still supports the school that she attended.

“It has been so fun going back to Shores and supporting the school I grew up at,” Abdelkader said. “We also enjoy attending athletic events when we can, as well as concerts and plays.”

– Rachel Swartz, sports editor

Year Twelve (1973-1974)

Skip Frizzell, the new music teacher, started the fall pop music program.

The Prom had the theme of Scarborough Fair. According to the yearbook, “Elegant couples passed through flowered arches into the colorful world of an old-fashioned carnival. An organ grinder and a balloon man moved to the music of a carousel with prancing white horses.

his STORY 1974 graduate uses golf as catalyst to life-long Shores memories Jim Bronsema, a 1974 graduate, was not only a student at the school, but he participated in many sports as well. The most known of these sports was golf.

“I definitely enjoyed my time on the Shores golf team,” Bronsema said. “Back then, we only had six guys Bronsema on the entire team, and we were all very good friends.”

Records show top players Bronsema and Kevin Duprey were both valuable players on the team and helped contribute to the team’s great

success.

The team beat the school record of 300 with a 293 and had an overall 6-1 season record. Confident after a first place win at regionals, the team went in as one of the top teams to beat at the state final; however, they lost by two strokes.

“It was tough losing by just 2 shots at states because we didn’t play our best, but it was still an overall great experience,” Bronsema said.

Bronsema not only played golf in high school, but he also played basketball, a sport he enjoyed greatly as well.

“Basketball my senior year was one of the greatest memories I have because

the team was full of great guys, and it was a fun team atmosphere,” he said.

After high school, Bronsema went on to bigger and better things.

“I went to Muskegon Community College for two years and then went on to work for TGW,” Bronsema said.

He now works for TGW as the director of distributor sales. On his down time though, Bronsema still finds a way to whack some golf balls around on the golf course.

“It’s nice just to get away from work for four hours and go out to play some golf with your friends,” Bronsema said.

“And there is always a little

fun competitiveness between us there too.”

There are multiple reasons why Bronsema enjoys golf, but most importantly, he said he does it for the love of the game.

“It’s really fun because of all the people you play with, and it’s something I’ve enjoyed doing my entire life,” Bronsema said.

Bronsema went on to include that he has maintained some of the same friends he had in high school.

“I still have many friends I went to school and graduated with from high school, which is very nice too,” Bronsema said. – Hailey Hrynewich, staff writer

Year Thirteen (1974-1975)

our STORY Art teacher paralyzed in swimming accident Lou Payment, then an eight-year art teacher, was injured in a swimming accident on June 6, 1974.

Payment was paralyzed from the accident, which took place in Lake Michigan, and spent time at both Hackley Hospital and the University of Michigan Hospital, where he had three operations.

In order to meet the expense of special equipment for his home and van, a Lou Payment Trust Fund was established. Four benefits were held during the school year to raise money.

A spaghetti supper, a chilli supper, a Tupperware sale and an art festival helped raise $9,400.

Payment, who was injured when he

was 34, died March 12, 2011.

• In other news, a curriculum overhaul took place as many classes were added.

A one-semester Spanish class, Calculus, Mythology, German and Latin were offered for the first time.

Additionally, students had the opportunity to take many “mini” courses, including Human Diseases, Astronomy, and Income Tax. Also, five home economic classes – Tailoring, Special Foods, Sewing Crafts, Sewing with Knits, Meals and Marketing – were offered.

The school bought a smoking booth, which caused mixed opinions between staff and students.

In order to allow more flexibility of

passing times, no signal bells went off during the day.

• In sports news, for the third year in a row, Shores captured the LMAC All Sports trophy with the boys’ track team leading the way. The squad went 6-1 and was conference and City champions.

Also, during the first competitive year, the gymnastics team finished 1-5.

• In club news, Brian Anderson, senior tuba player in Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, received honors as one of two Michigan participants to be in McDonald’s All American Band.

He had the opportunity to march on Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day in nationally televised parades. – Kayleigh Fongers, staff writer

her STORY Churchill kindergarten teacher relishes her ties to Shores Few people can say that they are blessed to work where they used to attend school.

Churchill Elementary kindergarten teacher Pam (Richardson) Nason, however, is an exception.

“I really Nason love my career choice,” said Nason, a 1975 graduate. “I was always proud to be a Sailor. School pride was my favorite thing about Shores. We had a great reputation as well as a great staff and students. I still love my classmates.”

After graduating from Shores, Nason went to Michigan State University and earned a BS degree in Early Childhood and Teaching. A few years later, she became a preschool teacher and then moved

on to teach kindergarten at Churchill as well as get a Masters Degree in Education.

“I was a stay-at-home mom for several years before working as a preschool teacher,” Nason said. “I started teaching when my youngest daughter started kindergarten and have been teaching ever since.”

Shores has definitely impacted Nason’s career because of its great staff and curriculum.

“If I could, I’d thank my parents for building their house in the Shores District,” Nason said.

Nason’s experience at Shores was filled with many fun (and humorous) memories.

“Going to the Homecoming football game during my junior year with my best friends Sally and Melanie was my favorite memory of Shores,” Nason

said. “Our float for the parade was just so-so, but Dana Rieckman stripped down to his underwear at the last moment and rode (what appeared to be naked) on our float. The crowd went wild, and we won the float contest.”

During her years as a Sailor, Nason was also a staff member for the yearbook.

“I was editor of one section of the yearbook in which we investigated what students did outside of school and did a little piece on each,” Nason said. “It was nice working with other students outside my circle of friends and in different grades. When I was in school, the grade levels didn’t mix much in classes.”

Being a part of the yearbook staff was an enjoyable experience for her..

“I liked having the freedom to go outside of school to shoot pictures for

stories,” she said. “It was more like having a job than a class.”

In order to have a positive high school experience like the one she had, Nason has some meaningful words of wisdom.

“Treasure your high school friends and classmates,” Nason said. “Make good choices and be a good friend.

You don’t have to be best friends with everyone, just be nice.”

Nason has certainly come a long way since being a student at Shores.

“I was so sheltered and naïve growing up. I was the youngest student in my class, so I’m sure I was really immature,” Nason said. “I probably still am, but since I teach kindergarten, it’s okay. You grow old, but you can stay immature forever.”

– Kayleigh Fongers, staff writer

Year Thirteen (1974-1975)

Mike Daugherty drives to the basket.

Members of the debate team pose with eight of their trophies.

his STORY 2 years as newspaper editor-in-chief lead to career as illustrator Kevin Scott Collier, a 1975 graduate of Shores, remembers fondly his time as “head honcho” of the school newspaper.

Collier, now an author, children’s book illustrator, and Art Director for the Grand Haven Collier Tribune began his impressive résumé with a two-year stint as editor-in-chief of The Sailors’ Log for both his junior and senior years.

During Collier’s time at Shores, The Sailor’s Log was published once a month, and the paper was brought to Rogers Printing Company in Ravenna, where it was printed offset on 11x17 inch pager

and folded into an 8.5x11 size.

Being a part of the school newspaper had an immediate effect on Collier’s life once he graduated from Shores in 1975.

“I went to Muskegon Community College (MCC) after graduating and worked on the Compass Points newspaper there,” Collier said. “It was my interest in newspaper in high school that eventually led to my career in newspaper.”

On June 1, 1981, Collier was hired into the Grand Haven Tribune newspaper as Art Director and has been there ever since.

This job helped him become an illustrator for more than 100 children’s books as well as write some, too.

“Most of my books are

picture books or chapter books for teens,” Collier said. “My wife and I have also been working on a line of books for the Tanked TV show on Animal Planet.

They will feature several aquatic characters that I have created.”

These books will be sold in Petco stores in 2012, Collier said.

Collier, as well as writing and working on the newspaper, creates graphics for the Tribune’s website.

“It’s my favorite part about my job,” Collier said.

“Computer programs just keep getting better for video editing and animation.”

This, as well as the other artistic aspects of his job, also stemmed from Shores.

“During my time at Shores, I also illustrated

pictures for the yearbook for two years in a row,” Collier said. “Basically, everything that I do now began with my connection to the newspaper and yearbook at Shores.”

For anyone else aspiring to become an author or illustrator someday, Collier has some helpful words of advice.

“Be good at what you do if you want to make a living out of it,” Collier said. “There are millions of writers and artists out there, so you have to have a unique style and stand out.”

Collier is living proof that the decisions that one makes during high school will definitely have an immense impact on his/her future.

“It all began at Shores, and it became my career,” Collier said. – Kayleigh Fongers, staff writer

Year Fourteen (1975-1976)

our STORY First superintendent bids farewell to district An era came to an end when Bill Luyendyk, the only superintendent in the district’s history, retired on June 30, 1976.

Luyendyk, who spent 41 years in education, was replaced by Gerard E. Keidel.

• The Michigan Association of Biology Teachers chose Deborah

Camburn as winner of outstanding biology student.

• The boys’ golf and the boys’ tennis teams both placed first in the LMAC and at City.

• The wrestling team won City for the fourth year in a row and the LMAC champs for the sixth year in a row. The Sailors also won the district title.

• The Sailors were first in the Greater Muskegon High School Hockey League.

• The boys’ track team was LMAC champs.

• Senior Charles Aardema flew a solo flight in his rented Cherokee 140 after only 8 hours of flying instruction; Both of his parents have private pilot licenses.

– Mandy Versalle, staff writer

her STORY

New York lawyer, who now consults, remembers Shores fondly For many, it may be difficult to name “the best thing that ever happened to me.”

However, for Susan Williams, a 1976 graduate, that answer is easy: her children.

I feel my children are just amazing,” Williams said. “I am Williams also very proud of their achievements as well as the way they treat and interact with other people. Children keep you on your toes and certainly keep/ make parents humble. They are often challenging, but then, I have also learned a lot from my children.”

Williams and her husband James N. Furey Jr. are raising their three children in New York state following her transition from Shores to Hillsdale College to Wake Forest University Law School.

Williams has now become a named partner in a law firm, and though she used to practice medical malpractice defense law for more than 20 years, representing mainly physicians and doctors, she

now only does consulting for the firm.

Williams said high school had an impact on her career path. As a sophomore, she was involved in debate.

“In the 1970s, society was changing, and everyone was questioning everyone else’s beliefs. I thought it was natural to question a lot of things,” Williams said.

Former English teacher Jean Laurin and former junior high English teacher Ms. Cudahy also had an impact on Williams.

Laurin helped her unveil her love of reading and writing while Williams, who chose to major in English in college, calls Cudahy “the English teacher who had the greatest impact on my choice of majoring in English.”

Williams also recalls chemistry teacher Don Hesling.

“I enjoyed his class and learned things despite my somewhat less-thanenthusiastic opinion of the subject,” Williams said. “Any teacher who keeps his wits about himself when a student allows her Bunsen burner to get out of control in a major fashion and then actually makes the student feel like

she is not an idiot gets a gold star in my book.”

Bill Hanichen, the principal of Shores at the time, also earned a great deal of respect from Williams.

“As a student, I never felt I couldn’t approach Mr. Hanichen,” Williams said.

“I always had a great deal of respect for Mr. Hanichen and was pleased to learn a gymnasium has been named after him.”

Williams said she has noticed a difference in the emphasis placed on grades and college.

“There is too much pressure placed on high school students these days,” Williams said. “Even though I did well in terms of my grades, I don’t remember my classmates worrying about where they were going to go to college, if they even wanted to go to college.

There was not the feeling that everyone had to go to college, had to go to college immediately after high school and, moreover, had to attend the ‘best’ college that accepted them.”

If given the option to repeat high school all over again, Williams said her answer is the same as most

others would be.

“I would have cared less about what people thought of me and tried to get to know more students,” Williams said. “When one is in high school, life seems so uncomplicated except for the social dramas which are never ending and often seem like matters of life and death.”

Her advice for students is that even when times get rough, remember that there is life after high school.

Williams said that there is no shame in asking for help, adding that it is one of “the most courageous things anyone can do at anytime in their life.”

Williams said guidance counselor Catherine Pierre was always willing to lend a hand to students. “(High school) is a phase of life, and there will be many other phases in life.

Life is not fair, but even the seemingly most popular, most intelligent, most talented have their own insecurities, especially, in high school,” Williams said. “Besides, being the ‘star’ in high school does not guarantee anyone success or happiness after high school is over.” – Mandy Versalle, staff writer

Year Fourteen (1975-1976)

his STORY Corporate law attorney remembers influential teachers Ted Lee, a two-time class president, Homecoming king, and the boy voted most popular for the 1976 class, is now a corporate law attorney in Houston.

“This may sound too optimistic to some, but I enjoy helping people realize their dreams for their business lives,” Lee said.

Lee’s job involves tasks from helping a highlycompensated money manager to helping an immigrant open his or her first business.

“While there is plenty of bad business behavior around to justify the skepticism of some, my experience has been that most business people try to do the right thing, and they work their hearts out trying to make their businesses successful,” Lee said.

Lee has served on many non-profit organizations’ boards of directors, an experience he calls extraordinary because of the organizations’ efforts to make the world a better place.

Lee has worked with organizations that help those suffering from chronic unemployment, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS to those helping improve child care in Houston and health care for the immigrant population.

“If you volunteer for any of these types of organizations and you make an effort to help, you will get back much more than you put in,” Lee said. “You will also get to meet some amazing people in your community.”

Lee said he loves his job even though he has had the same one since 1984.

Lee Reflecting on his memories from Shores, Lee recalls most of his favorites as those involving members of the Bicentennial Class of 1976, otherwise known as his graduating class.

“I remember having great, great fun in high school with so many friends,” Lee said.

“I still think my classmates were extraordinary, and I’m grateful for my time in high school at Mona Shores.”

Among his favorite teachers at Shores, Lee said that there were a number of them.

“Over time, I realized more and more how important and influential teachers were,” Lee said. “The best teachers, in the long run, were those who demanded excellence from my classmates and me.”

The teachers who helped him the most, he said, were the ones that actually pushed him.

“When a good teacher realizes that a student is ‘coasting,’ that teacher can often inspire or perhaps require a real effort,” Lee said. “Those were the teachers that helped me the most.”

One teacher who came to Lee’s mind was Ed Anderson, an English teacher who demanded excellence from Lee. Lee said the lessons he learned from Anderson still affect his writing today.

A second teacher who came to his mind was Jean Lauren, a literature teacher who was also special to him.

“Her passion for literature never ended, and I believe she was an initial reason that, later in life, I developed an interest in contemporary American art,” Lee said.

It is likely, Lee said, that neither of these teachers knew how much they affected him.

“There are things out there in the world that are worth learning about and pursuing, Lee said. “Ms. Lauren was one of the first who implicitly gave me permission to think about a subject like art so passionately, and Mr. Anderson taught me to pursue it using a disciplined and careful approach.”

Being a successful high school graduate, Lee offers advice to current students, inspiring them to take the more difficult path with more difficult courses, and most importantly, to follow their passions.

“Find the things that really interest you, the things you think about in your spare time without prompting by anyone.

Life isn’t about making lots of money,” Lee said. “I know lots of wealthy people, but they aren’t any happier than anyone else.”

One topic Lee said he feels strongly about is the topic regarding the recent “outbreak” of alienation high

school students are feeling.

“Often students feel alone. They feel that they are different from everybody else, that nobody understands them, and that their friends and family aren’t ‘there’ for them. Sometimes, it’s true,” Lee said. “I’m not really certain, however, if these feelings are more widespread today or if we’re just finally talking about this problem.”

Lee said there were times he experienced the same feeling of alienation when he was in high school.

“Sometimes, I felt very alone as though nobody understood me. The truth is that most of us felt this in high school at times,” Lee said. “High school can be a really lonely time.”

However, Lee promises that life gets better.

“The further you go in life, the more chances you get to come across people who understand you and who share your same interests,” Lee said. “You get opportunities to explore the things that interest you, and you get to do that in your own way, following your own path in life.”

The only bad part, Lee said, is the waiting period until those good times come.

Lee urges those who are struggling to take the leap and get help from somebody.

Others are likely feeling the same thing, Lee said, or have at least felt that way at one point in their lives.

“Most people want to help others,” Lee said. “Try to keep thinking ahead because it really does get better.”

– Mandy Versalle, staff writer

Year Fifteen (1976-1977)

our STORY H.S. welcomes first female administrator

Anne George became the first female administrator when she became the assistant principal in 1976-77.

Anne George, 29, became the first female administrator at the high school when she was named the assistant principal with a salary of $21,878.

Prior to coming to Shores, George was assistant principal at Charlotte High School for one year and a counselor at Williamston Middle School for two years.

Williams, who graduated from Michigan State University, also taught English and physical education for four years.

George was a 1964 graduate of Seaholm High School in Birmingham where she was active in basketball, soccer, softball, service club and served as a

senior class officer.

• Don Mosley was voted wrestling coach of the year in the state of Michigan by his peers as the wrestling team won the LMAC championship for seventh year in a row.

“This award is truly a great honor, and I’m extremely proud to receive it,” said Mosley, who was also a business teacher.

The Sailors finished with a 12-0-1 record and won the City tournament, captured a district title and placed second at regionals before finishing fifth in the state.

Mosley was the wrestling coach since its inception in 1962 until he retired after 39 years in 2001. – Morgan Schwing, staff writer

her STORY Bartender, group home supervisor finds jobs rewarding “Achieve what you can and never let anyone stop you from doing what you want to do. Be the person you are; people will like you for who you are.

We all have a lot to offer others.”

These Ferris wise words were said by Cheryl (Ries) Ferris, a 1977 graduate of Shores.

During high school, Ferris was involved in basketball and had many memorable experiences with her teammates.

“While on the team, a group of us hung out on the weekend and decided to take 100 firecrackers and let them off under one of our teammate’s window,” Ferris said.

Although Ferris enjoyed many harmless pranks with her team, she also remembers the fun discipline of being a part of the marching band.

“I enjoyed being in band, and on football games during halftime, we were awesome,” Ferris said. “Our band, led

by Mr. Butterfield, was the best. You never found any of us not in a straight line when performing.”

Ferris said she does feel that things have changed since her time and Shores.

“The school is not consistent in discipline and not even fair,” she said. “I have seen too many kids that do not attend school (many days), and there are no consequences.”

Despite this, Ferris still said Shores is an excellent school to attend.

Ferris attended college after graduating and then started working in a bar as a bartender, which she has been doing for 33 years.

Now, Ferris works full time supervising two group

homes for developing disabled people and has been there 28 years.

“My job is very rewarding because everyday I make someone else’s life special,” Ferris said. “Being able to make people laugh and go places they may never have had the chance to go before is fulfilling.”

Ferris said she hopes students enjoy high school and take advantage of every opportunity that confronts them.

“Have fun because the time goes by too fast,” she said. – Morgan Schwing, staff writer

Year Fifteen (1976-1977) Jim Grevel worked for his father, delivering Coca Cola, Band director John Butterfield serves up some spaghetti.

Jackie Homick and Mark Putnam take part in sanding pieces of wood at Junior Achievement to make a project their company can sell.

his STORY Former football player enjoys life owning sign-making company High school never ends; at least it does not seem to for Brian Jones, a 1977 graduate.

While in high school, Jones participated on the football team.

“I played Jones the tight end all four years of high school,” Jones said. “I had always

loved football so looking back that was definitely the best experience in high school.”

Aside from football, Jones also liked the subject math.

“Math was great because there is always an answer; it is concrete and does not change,” Jones said.

Jones also has some suggestions when it comes to high school romance.

“Date as many people as

you want to in high school,” Jones said. “I dated the same girl all four years, and that was a mistake. I never got to meet other people.”

Now, Jones lives in Texas, where he owns a sign-making company.

“I love my job because I have always liked to make things, and this allows me to do what I like and get paid for it,” Jones said.

Since attending Shores, Jones said he hopes that he has grown up and gotten more mature then he was in high school.

Jones would also offer advice to students currently in high school that will lead them to success.

“Stay in school, do your work and learn as much as you can,” he said. – Morgan Schwing, staff writer

Year Sixteen (1977-1978)

our STORY Blizzard 1978 closes school for three days The Blizzard of 1978 dominated the headlines as school was closed for three days.

According to the yearbook, “icicles hung from roof to ground snowbanks seemed like mountains, and everyone was walking, skiing or snowmobiling to where they had to go.”

• Before the school year began, senior Kevin Sullivan was killed in a car accident on July 12, 1977.

• Senior Diane Ferris won the state solo competition for baton twirling on May 20, 1978 in Grand Rapids.

• The girls’ tennis team won the LMAC and the regional title while placing

fifth at state.

• The boys’ golf team was regional champs and finished as the state runnerup.

• Wrestling won the City tournament for sixth year in a row.

• Girls’ track, undefeated in dual competition, beat Musegon Catholic Central by ½ a point in the City meet for the title.

• This was the first season for girls golf team, which finished with a 5-2 record.

• The boys’ tennis team was first in the LMAC. In the classroom, the school year saw co-ed gym classes for the first time.

– Andrew Kromminga, staff writer

Jeanne Pezet gets “cooled off” between classes.

her STORY Commercial real estate investments remain challenging The 1970s are a memorable decade for Holly (Cope) Jacoby, a 1978 graduate of Shores.

“The mid-70s were a fun time,” Jacoby said.

“There were wonderful friendships that I maintain to Jacoby this day, and we had both a good education and a good time.”

After high school, Jacoby graduated from Hope College with a degree in business and received a master’s degree in Management from Aquinas college.

She has been working as a banker at PNC specializing

in commercial real estate investments.

Jacoby said that working commercial real estate investment never gets boring because it’s interesting, always changing, and it challenges her mind every day.

She said she rarely feels bored or “stuck” despite the craziness of the last recession because she enjoys working in commercial real estate.

With a love of international travel, she said she tries to get out as often as possible.

Because of a trip that she took at the end of her senior year, she has loved traveling.

In May, she will be traveling to Portugal, and in December,

it will be Burma/Thailand/ Singapore.

“We went at the end of my senior year, and the experience changed my life,” Jacoby said. “It was an amazing trip, full of adventure, fun, and new experiences. I fell in love with international travel thanks to Mr. Butterfield and that experience, and I have traveled abroad many times since then.”

One of Jacoby’s favorite things in high school was Friday night football. Being in the marching band meant that she was at every home game. Then, there were 200250 students involved in marching band, one of the biggest in the state.

The music they played combined with the social fun of the game itself was a great atmosphere, Jacoby said.

“I recommend that you be kind to others, be brave, be yourself, and remember that the social status that gets created in high school doesn’t last,” Jacoby said. “You won’t always be categorized quite like you are in a large high school...you won’t always be the popular person, the jock, the brain, the nerd, the stoner...whatever categories others use to describe you.

You can be all of those things, and so much more. Don’t let the opinions of others limit your choices in life,” – Andrew Kromminga, staff writer

Year Sixteen (1977-1978) Senior Kathy Morris cheers on an athletic team as part of the “Super Sailor Team.”

Bob Banwell and Sue Mitchell enjoy a nice spring day.

Before the Christmas dance, Lisa Bard paints one of the “Winter Wood” trees.

During the play Tom Sawyer, Becky (Linda Harker) and Tom (Paul Lange) seal theri engagement with a kiss.

Senior Ron Stibitz enjoys his food at the farewell luncheon.

his STORY 1978 graduate finds fulfilling life in the world of taxidermy Taxidermy may seem like an odd job to many, but not to Brent Arnson, a 1978 graduate of Shores.

It has been his life for Arnson the past 31 years, and he has loved every day of it.

In his senior year, he

needed one more credit to graduate, and he was a little interested in how taxidermy worked, so he decided to go into biology teacher Roger Tharp’s taxidermy class.

Once he took that class, it became clear what his favorite class in high school was, and it helped him choose on what he wanted to do for a living.

“It seemed like a fun thing

to do,” Arnson said. “I guess something just clicked in that class.”

When Arnson was in school, he was the kind of boy who liked to interact with everyone. He went to football games, and he had a nice car.

He was also involved in sports, but he wasn’t one of those heavy jocks that just focused on sports.

But now, Arnson said he

realizes that the time he spent in high school was just about the easiest time of his life, and he had fun with his years that he spent in high school.

“Looking back, I didn’t really appreciate the time I spent in high school,” Arnson said. “But now, I realize that I really enjoyed that time.”

– Andrew Kromminga, staff writer

Year Seventeen (1978-1979)

our STORY Drinking age raised to 21; DECA adviser dies On Dec. 22, Prop D changed the drinking age from 18 to 21.

The proposal prohibited alcoholic beverages from being sold to, or possessed by, a person under the age of 21.

The battle for the drinking privileges of Michigan’s 18- to 20-year-olds was lost during the Nov. 7 vote.

The amendment passed by more than 400,000 votes, which was a fairly slim margin.

Some students, like senior Shelly Carlson, said the passage of the proposal will cause more harm.

“More young adults will try to sneak it and drink in their cars, and their will be more accidents,” Carlson said.

Athletic director John Nelson, who voted for the proposal, said it was important to make a change.

“I voted for it so it would eliminate the alcohol at an early age and keep it

out of the junior high,” Nelson said.

However, government teacher Jack Cooper said he was not in favor of the change.

“I was not in favor of it being 21,” he said. “I would rather see it at 19 because it would at least keep it out of the schools.”

• DECA adviser Bernie Vanderwall, 41, passed away on March 6, 1979, after a battle with cancer.

Vanderwall, who was a business administration instructor for 11 years, came to Shores in 1968.

Vanderwall was the founder of the DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) program at Shores. He also was “the mastermind” behind the Sailors Cove, which at the time of his death, had been running for six years.

Vanderwall was also an adviser of the National Honor Society and an adviser for the Key Club, a service club

organization for high school boys that no longer exists.

Principal C. William Hanichen said, “(Mr. Vanderwall was) one of the hardest working teachers on our staff. He was very dedicated. You could always depend upon him to do a good job in any endeavor he would undertake.”

Vanderwall’s colleagues also recognized his passion for Shores.

“He was certainly a man you could admire,” biology teacher Roger Tharp said. “He was truly a dedicated teacher.

His first concern was always the welfare of the student.”

Of course, his students, especially those involved in DECA, were saddened by his death.

“He would have done anything for kids,” DECA president Amy Vigeant said. “He made me want to be good – to work toward goals and achieve them.

– Sydney Tharp, staff writer

his STORY Local dentist relives memories of hockey, golf for the Sailors Shores has always offered great programs for its students.

Whether it is an opportunity to enjoy music, to perform in the arts, to be a part of clubs, or to participate in sports, the programs are Smith a great way to find a niche and to stay busy.

For Tom Smith, a junior in 1979, his passion was for sports, specifically hockey and golf.

“My favorite memory was beating the Muskegon Big Reds in hockey 6-0 when we lost approximately six really

strong players to a mandatory Skip Frizzel Christmas choir concert,” Smith said.

“Muskegon had some really good players and thought they had a chance to beat us when they heard many of our players were going to be absent from the game.”

Smith was also a member of Shores’ successful boys’ golf team, which was initially coached by Howard Clark and later by Tom Wilson. During Smith’s junior year, the team placed second at state in the fall of 1977, and three of Smith’s teammates were named All-State. “(On) my first trip up to Traverse City for an LMAC match, coach Clark decided to take a swim in a river on the

drive North,” Smith said. “I think he was trying to keep us loose because we had a really strong team that year.”

After graduating, Smith played golf for a short while at Michigan State University.

He then transferred to the University of Michigan his junior year and was accepted to their dental school after his senior year.

Smith graduated from dental school in 1988 and started practicing dentistry in Muskegon with Dr. Jack Mixer, but it was his days at Shores that he will never forget.

“My favorite thing about Shores is many of the friendships I still have today with former classmates,”

Smith said. “Some former classmates and teachers are now dental patients of mine just down the road on Seminole.”

In June 1989, Smith married 1982 Shores graduate, Jamie Taylor.

The two currently live in the district and have four children: Kyle, Lauren, Morgan and Meredith.

Throughout his life journey, Smith has gained much experience.

“Advice I would have for high school students today is to be yourself and be kind,” Smith said. “You should be friends with everybody, not just a certain group of people.” – Sydney Tharp, staff writer

Year Seventeen (1978-1979)

Joyce Pierson teaches French vocabulary to prepare students for college.

Jeanne Parks and Annette Bouchard (No. 2 doubles) had an undefeated season and led the team to seventh place in the state.

her STORY

1979 graduate made history on volleyball, softball teams 1978 to 1979 was an eventful time full of change and new beginnings at Shores. One of these new beginnings was the first ever volleyball team.

Shirley Pasco, then a senior, was a member of this new addition, which had to practice at 5:30 a.m.

Pasco because

Shores had only one gym.

“We would practice until 6:30 then hit the showers,” Pasco said. “While we were showering and getting ready for school, (coach Jeanne) Cooper would make us breakfast in the home economics room. We had so much fun together at practices and breakfast that we wanted to keep the early practices every year after that.”

Although Pasco made history as a member of the first volleyball team, she was also on the softball team. Her favorite memory occurred during her senior year when she and her team won the first ever County softball tournament.

“As the day went on, we had more and more fans, and the tension increased.

The final game was under

the lights with snowflakes flying,” Pasco said. “We went into extra innings. Every pitch was scary.”

The Sailors had to battle in the eighth inning to hold off their opponent who had bases loaded and no outs.

“We took it one pitch at a time and a few good throws home to get them out and win the game,” Pasco said. “It was tons of fun.”

Shores provided Pasco with the opportunity to fill her drive for sports, but it also provided her with a place she could feel proud of.

“My favorite thing about Mona Shores was the fact that the entire student body had school spirit, drive and determination,” Pasco said.

“Kids back then participated in everything.”

Pasco recalls the many opportunities that were available for student participation back then and sees them as positive aspects.

“Our band and choir were huge,” Pasco said. “They were known all over the state.

Our sports teams had tons of kids trying out for them, and our classrooms were filled with teachers who were creative and challenging.

When I look back, I remember lots of laughter and so much fun.”

For the most part, these positive features at Shores still hold true today, but some things have changed since 1979.

“We had gym class for one semester, and it had a session for every activity imaginable,” Pasco said. “We had to wear one piece blue gym uniforms we bought from the school.”

Other differences are that there were only grades 10 through 12 at the high school, the auditorium was the cafeteria, and being a part of the LMAC conference meant that some away games for sports were in Benton Harbor and Traverse City.

During her time at Shores, Pasco’s favorite teacher was Cooper, the volleyball coach who also taught social studies.

“Miss Cooper was very enthusiastic. She made you feel like you were traveling to all of the places we studied,” Pasco said. “I love to travel and meet people from other cultures, and I’m sure Miss Cooper played a part in that because of her teaching style.”

While teachers were there to support Pasco during high school, her family was supportive as well.

“I had a wonderful family

environment while going up,” Pasco said. “Our family has grown by leaps and bounds and every single family member is wonderful in his or her own way. I could not be more grateful for all the special people in my life.”

While it seems Pasco had a rich high school life, she still wishes she would have gone to more social events and has some advice for current students.

“Live every day in high school like it could be your last. Do everything you possibly can,” Pasco said.

“You will look back on these four years for the rest of your life, so make the most of them.”

After leaving Shores, Pasco attended Muskegon Community College and Grand Valley State University.

She now works for Plainfield Charter Township.

She said since leaving Shores what she enjoys most is traveling the state of Michigan by car, boat and bicycle and meeting as many great people as possible along the way.

“I have become more sure of myself and more outgoing,” Pasco said. “I know what I want and where I want to go. I have no regrets.”

– Sydney Tharp, staff writer

Year Eighteen (1979-1980)

our STORY Gymnast damages spinal cord in fall from bars While the gymnastics team had a successful 10-2 record, the season began tragically when sophomore Missy George fell during practice and damaged her spinal cord.

“It was a freak accident,” senior teammate Laure Herrala said. “She had been doing that trick all last year, and I don’t know how many times before it happened.”

On Jan. 2, 1980, George fell from the uneven bars and crushed six vertebrae in her neck.

Paralyzed from the chest down, George was taken to Hackely Hospital where she underwent surgery and was put in traction.

George returned to school in the fall of 1980 and graduated in 1982.

• Senior Mark Wright, who played the

Sophomore Missy George fell off the uneven bars and damaged her spinal cord. piano and organ in a band, fell out of the bed of a truck on June 2, 1979, and was paralyzed from the waist down.

When he returned to school for his senior year, Wright was in a wheelchair.

“The accident doesn’t bother me at all,” Wright said. “It’s life, I guess. It’s something that happened, and I have to

live with it.”

• Steve Leenhouts, who would have been a senior, died in August 1979, Leenhouts won the Student of the Year Award for woodworking as a freshman. According to the yearbook, he was also a good mechanic, learning the trade from his father.

“Steve was very good to get along with,” senior Rick Perysian said. “He liked working on cars and would help with anybody’s that needed work.”

• Two faculty members passed away.

Counselor Charles Miller, 50, who came to Shores in 1966, died Sept. 5, 1979 from a heart attack.

Stan Bode, 47, a math and science teacher, died March 11, 1980 from cancer. He began at Shores in 1966.

– Ashley Veihl, staff writer

his STORY Retiring business teacher once did double duty as police officer From June of 1967 to the same month in 1998, Tom Wilson, who was teaching business class during the 1979-80 school year, took on the dual role of teacher and a part-time police officer.

“I’ve just always had three things I want to be: a police officer, Wilson a teacher, and a lawyer,” said Wilson, who retired after 46 years of teaching at Shores at the end of the 2011-12 school year.

“I’ve been two out of three… and that’s pretty darn good.”

Although Wilson has retired from the police force, he keeps the memory alive by continuing to teach his law enforcement class. “(Being an officer and teaching law enforcement

is) so different but so alike because they both interact with people,” Wilson said.

However, while having personal knowledge of the criminal justice system may have aided in teaching a class on it, there were also some disadvantages to Wilson’s double life.

“It could get hard because there were some difficult situations with going into students’ home with family fights; I had to make sure the student wasn’t embarrassed because they knew me,” Wilson said. “Arresting students was one of the most difficult things, but it also gave me an opportunity to connect with the student.”

Does he miss his dual life as a police officer and teacher?

Wilson laughed and replied, “Yes, but I don’t miss

going without sleep.”

Wilson’s lack of sleep was due to his seemingly neverending workday. He would start his day teaching from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then, after a four-hour break, head to his job as an officer from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Another thing Wilson didn’t have a problem with letting go of was some of the disturbing situations he was put in as an officer. “(The worst cases I had to deal with were) things involving young people: child abuse – physically and sexually –, neglecting parents, things like that,” Wilson said. “That’s my personality.

I have no tolerance for doing something to an innocent young person. It’s despicable.”

Times have obviously changed in the past 40 years,

and Wilson had to adapt to each new teaching philosophy and law enforcing technology.

When he first started, Wilson entered his students’ grades in the book by hand and had to run to the nearest telephone to call dispatch when out on the front line.

He also went without tazers, pepper spray, and video cameras, all useful tools when catching criminals.

The society itself was also much different when Wilson was first beginning his career.

“When I was in high school, I didn’t know one person with a one-parent family, and now you see that almost more often than you see parents who are together,” Wilson said. “It’s tough on the kids, and now society expects teachers to do more parenting and disciplining.”

– Ashley Veihl, staff writer

Year Eighteen (1979-1980)

In the spring, the musical The Fantasticks took center stage with Paul Boelkins and Brian Smith dancing the tango.

Junior Paul Stevens is prepared for Clash Day during Spring Madness.

her STORY

Senior Todd Husmann was featured in the yearbook for his artistic ability.

Blind English teacher, now retired, adapts to new technology Evelyn Weckerly, who retired in 1992, served at Shores as an English teacher.

However, Weckerly has a special aspect to her – she’s blind.

Despite the inability to see, her career remained constant, teaching literature, grammar, and composition to freshmen students in her first year and 10th-12th grade students from then on.

Weckerly says these routines helped her help students.

“Working with the same students every day was an advantage once I got to know them,” Weckerly said. “As a teacher, one must know the students to know how to help them.”

Along with keeping dayto-day routines, Weckerly also had to discover her own ways of working around her disability.

“I spent a lot less time sitting at my desk,” Weckerly said. “I needed to be more hands on, especially during

English teacher Evelyn Weckerly listens to an English paper as student assistant Patt Blais reads it aloud. study time.”

While constantly buzzing around the classroom, Weckerly also made sure to put 100 percent into what she was doing.

“Sometimes when you’re a minority, you are faced with double standards,” Weckerly said. “You must work hard because you’re judged on a

higher standard.”

Of course, her disability, back when she was still on the work force, would have been easier to cope with had she had the technology she has now, in retirement.

Such technology consists of computers that have a Braille keyboard and an electronic barrel device,

which scans books and then reads them aloud.

“I’ve enjoyed having that stuff since, but it would’ve been nice to have it then,” Weckerly said.

In the times directly after the ending of her teaching career, Weckerly kept the educational spirit alive by meeting with retirees on Sundays for breakfast.

However, that has since fizzled out.

Now, in her days of retirement, Weckerly said she enjoys using the newfound technology to learn about computers, play the piano for her church, and catch up on some reading, her favorite being classical literature.

Weckerly said she has also been finding herself enjoying the extra time.

“I’ve been reading a lot more lately,” Weckerly said. “I’ve never read The Chronicles of Narnia, so I thought, ‘Why not?’”

– Ashley Veihl, staff writer

Year Nineteen (1980-1981)

our STORY Tennis coach receives kidney, keeps teaching Hope came for tennis coach Gary Harden when he underwent surgery to receive a new kidney.

Harden, 42, lost his kidneys about three years ago to a hereditary disease called polycystic kidneys. This causes cysts to develop on the kidneys with swelling as a result.

About a year and a half ago, Harden had an unsuccessful kidney transplant when his Harden body rejected the new kidney.

This second transplant took place Sept. 2, 1980, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids.

After the surgery, Harden was moved to a special wing of the hospital to keep him from being contaminated or introduced to any germ or disease that might cause him problems.

Medication has been given to him to lessen the possibility of his body rejecting the new kidney.

“Each day that goes by without mishap strengthens the possibility of a

successful transplant,” Harden said. “If everything goes well, I hope to be back in school sometime in November.”

Harden was back to teach Social Studies at Shores until his leaving in 1985.

• The 1980 presidential election – a three-way race between Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and John Anderson – saw the student body hold a mock election.

In both the mock election and the actual election Reagan was victorious.

Reagan won the popular vote with 51 percent and won the mock election with 59 percent.

In fact, the student body voted straight Republican, and all of the state proposals went down to defeat except Proposal B, which called for the lowering of the drinking age to 19.

• The smoking restrictions of the school were tightened making it against the rules to congregate for the purpose of smoking anywhere around the school grounds. Those caught would be suspended.

This was the result of increased health risks and a movement gathering

momentum across the country to make schools drug-free.

• The inventor of sockey (yes, sockey!) came to Shores on Sept. 19, 1980.

Dr. Dave Leonard visited gym classes to demonstrate the sport which combines the speed of hockey and the excitement of soccer.

•Sixty-nine-year-old trick basketball shooter Wilfred Hetzel entertained the student body on Nov. 19, 1980.

Hetzel, a bachelor (duh!), made 222 performances in 24 states in 1979.

• In sports news, junior Cathy Fitzpatrick won the state title in the 100yard dash. She also set the state record with a time of 10.8.

The girls’ tennis team won the City title for the fourth year in a row while tying with Traverse City for top honors in the LMAC, The wrestling team captured its 11th consecutive LMAC title, and The boys’ tennis teamtied for first in the LMAC. – Jonah Stone, co-editor-inchief

his STORY Owning own business allows freedom, time with family Everyone who has gone through high school has his or her favorite memories.

For Todd Robidoux, a 1981 graduate of Shores, one of his favorite memories is when he and some of his friends went to “nonRobidoux Prom.”

He got all dressed up for Prom and told people that he and his friends were going to Prom, but instead, they went elsewhere and had a better

time, he said, than they would at Prom.

Two other memories from Shores include his lifetime of friends from Shores and graduation.

Because of his memories, Robidoux has some advice to current students.

“Enjoy your time in high school,” Robidoux said. “It goes by way too fast.”

Robidoux said his favorite teacher was Skip Frizzell, the choir teacher.

Because of Frizzell, Robidoux loved choir class and his high school career.

He said he liked that someone would actually give him a chance to sing, even though he said he can’t sing, but also the chance to go to Europe while he was in the class.

Despite his positive memories, Robidoux said he would change a few things if he could go back. He said he would probably play football and be more involved in all of the school activities and sports.

Since Shores, Robidoux has become a successful businessman. He works for himself at his company TLR

Construction.

Robidoux, who is married with two sons, said the best part about working for himself is being able to adjust his schedule as much as he wants so he is able to attend his boys’ events.

Out of everything that has happened for Robidoux, he said the best thing that has happened to him since he left Shores would be his wife and kids. He said he loves spending as much time with them as he possibly can.

– Andrew Kromminga, staff writer

Year Nineteen (1980-1981)

her STORY

Sledding parties took the boredom out of winter, and sophomore Lori Troyanowski and her sister Patty, a 1980 graduate (above), take their turn on the hill at Beachwood Park.

Choir students, like sophomore Jon McEwen (far left), had to get passports for the group’s summer trip to Europe. Paris Studio took the passport pictures. Shores cheerleader Renee Chiasson (near left) is comforted by Muskegon Catholic cheerleader Kelly Kirk following the Sailors’ 7-6 loss to the Crusaders.

1981 graduate notices Shores commitment to education Lori (Elwell) Barringer knows the quality education that Shores has first-hand.

Not only is she a 1981 graduate, but her son Matt also graduated from Shores in 2011.

“Mona Shores not only excels Barringer in academics but offers students many choices as far as extracurricular activities,” Barringer said. “Overall, the students are much more

prepared for college when leaving the doors of Mona Shores.”

The first thing that Barringer noticed when she saw the school since she graduated was that the school was a lot bigger.

There have been some major additions to the school since she attended.

The other thing that Barringer said she noticed was that the students have a lot of different classes they can take.

She did not have AP classes while she was in

school. But the students now graduate high school with college credits and are much more prepared for college.

After Barringer’s high school career, she married her husband Len in 1988, and they moved to North Muskegon, where they raised two children who both attend Michigan State University.

Both her son and daughter attended North Muskegon, but only the daughter graduated in 2010.

Her son switched to Shores for his junior year and eventually graduated from

Shores last year.

Barringer has her master’s degree and works in Human Resources. She also teaches evenings at Baker College.

With nieces and nephews who attend Shores, she tries to make a football game or two each year.

“High school is a chance for you to prepare yourself for your next big step, college,” Barringer said. “Work hard and be proud of what you do.

Have fun. This will be one of the best times of your lives.”

– Andrew Kromminga, staff writer

Year Twenty (1981-1982) Jake Mueller applies the finishing touches to the senior float, Dumbo, which took first place.

our STORY Tharp wins science award Biology teacher Roger Tharp won the 1982 Outstanding Senior High School Science Teacher award, given by the Michigan Science Teachers Association.

The award singles out Tharp’s 23 years as a science teacher.

• The boys’ golf team won the LMAC championship and took first in the City tournament.

• The wrestling squad, won City and conference crowns before winning districts, tying for the regional championship and placing sixth in the state. The conference title was the team’s 12th LMAC

championship in a row.

• The volleyball team won the City meet.

• Baseball was ranked No. 1 in state for Class A and became the first area school to win 30 games in a season. Along the way, Shores won the County and conference titles • The softball team won the County tournament.

• Boys’ tennis won the LMAC title.

•Talent Show: Junior Brandie Smith sang “The Way We Were” in memory of her sister Kim, a senior.

– Mikayla Day, center section editor

her STORY 1982 graduate remembers high school as postive experience “When I was going to school, Shores was what I would call your typical, suburban, not too diverse high school,” said Paula (Wyn) Recknagel, a 1982 graduate.

“I didn’t recognize it as a privilege back then, but it truly was.”

Recknagel Recknagel would describe the setting of her high school experience almost like the movie The Breakfast Club, where everyone was categorized into the labels of popular, jock, burnout, and geeks.

“None of us were really all that different, but it being high school, we all saw major differences at the time,” Recknagel said.

During her high school experience, Recknagel was mainly involved with basketball and softball but

also participated in the school marching band for three years as well.

“Back when I was in high school, the marching band was extremely large, and we were given the opportunity to travel to Europe every three years,” Recknagel said.

But it is not a European trip that gave Recknagel her most memorable moment.

“My most memorable time in band was during a parade, and I lost the mouthpiece to my French horn prior to the parade beginning, so I had to march through the entire time pretending I was playing,” Recknagel said. “At the end of the parade, our director Mr. Butterfield asked the French horn section to play the fight song, but right before we started, he held up my mouth piece and asked which one of us would be needing it to play. Needless to say, the walk of shame up to the front to retrieve it was one I will

never forget.”

Recknagel’s experience with traveling in band sparked a love of traveling and the appreciation of other cultures, which led her to exploring both Europe and Asia and having a deep love for travel and learning new things.

During high school, Recknagel says her friends and she were not the most academically driven, but they all did take college prep classes that helped them to succeed.

“Back then, we didn’t have specialized or AP classes, we had college prep classes and regular classes – that’s it,” Recknagel said. “And if you wanted to use a computer, you had to go to what we called ‘the building out back.’”

While Recknagel said she looked up to most of her coaches and teachers, she said two stand out.

“My main role models were Mr. VanKamp and Mr.

Fielstra,” she said. “The two always had a way with connecting with their students and making them want to learn the subject they were teaching. I believe they are part of the reason why I wanted to go into the field of education myself.”

Recknagel ended up going on to receive a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and teaching middle school and high school English for seven years before deciding to stay at home to raise her four children. She now works in the field of academic testing for schools.

“My high school years ended up leading me to my decisions of what I do now,” Recknagel said. “It was a very positive experience, and I’m happy of where my time in school has taken me.”

– Mikayla Day, center section editor

Year Twenty (1981-1982) Blair Babcock (below left) gets help from his father Dennis, a math teacher at the high school. Also during the 1981-82 school year, no less than 11 sets of twins could be seen roaming the halls. And the school did not include freshmen. Below right, sophomore twins hang out at the anchor. Bottom row: Karen and Kathy Hutchinson, Dana and Donna Griffes, and Kelli and Kris Cody. Top row: Don Spring, Brad Rakowski and Dave Spring. Brian Rakowski was missing from the picture. The junior class had the Kloaps (Libby and Eileen) and the Lincolns (Jeanette and Jeannie) while the senior class had the Hoggs (Tom and Jim), the Siedleckis (Deanna and Laura), the Schimanskis (Mike and Jim) and the Roofs (Jerry and Terry).

his STORY ‘Most Bashful’ student took career to local Eye Care One He was not one of the Seven Dwarfs, but for some reason, Steve Burmeister, a 1982 graduate, was selected Most Bashful by his peers.

“I’m not sure why I was voted most bashful in my class,” Burmeister said. “I was involved in a lot of sports and knew a lot of people.

I was simply a quiet kid in school – that’s all.”

Burmeister was involved in many sports, such as baseball and intramural basketball, which was one of his most memorable experiences in High School.

“I joined the intramural basketball team my senior year,” Burmeister said. “I played with a group of my friends, and we were actually pretty good since we made it to the championship game.

Steve Burmeister (middle) is surrounded by his family, which includes (left to right) Ryan, Nikki, his wife Patty, Christi and Sammy, a junior at Shores.

I remember them yelling, Burmeister said his high ‘Don’t shoot’ at me even if school experience was an I had already made a couple integral part in making him of shots. Apparently, I didn’t who he is today, and thanks have a very good touch with his time in high school my shot.” for him meeting his high

school sweetheart and now wife Patty who was also voted most bashful in her graduating year.

“I was fortunate enough to make life-long connections while in high school,” Burmeister said. “I have a lot of fond memories from Mona Shores.”

Burmeister has been married to his wife for 25 years and has four children, one who is currently attending Shores like her parents did.

He is currently working as optometrist at the local Eye Care One in Norton Shores.

“Its nice to be able to see all the different families of people I went to school with when I’m working,” Burmeister said. – Mikayla Day, center section editor

Year Twenty-One (1982-1983)

our STORY Fashion plays role in ‘punks’ vs. ‘preppies’ Fashion ruled the 1980s, and the Compass Points featured a section about how teens dressed during the 1982-83 school year.

The yearbook staff labeled the students into two groups: “Punks” and “Preppies.”

“Punks” were identified as students who dressed with bandannas around their necks and safety pins in their ears.

Dog chains, pins, scarfs, purple shoes, neckties, and blue jeans were popular. So were Mohawks.

“Preppies” wore Oxford shirts, baggie

jeans (female), straight-legged jeans (male), dress pants, turtlenecks, sweaters, boat shoes, and or duck squashers (rain shoes). Alligators called Izods “adorn every article of clothing.” Blue, pink, green, yellow, and white are popular colors to wear.

• In Architectural Drawing Class, Paul Chick and Andy Sidock worked on 51foot mall layout.

• Softball had a 17-8 season. Anne Kelenske batted .580 and set two school records. Nancy Sechen set a school record with the most triples (6) and

finished with a .461 batting average.

• Girls’ track: Pam Gritzmaker set the school record in the 330 low hurdles.

• Boys’ track was first in the City meet. Tim Root set two school records.

• Baseball had 26-7 record and won the County tournament. Kip Southland led the team with the most doubles, triples, and RBI. • The first Winter Festival was held in February. New Wave Day, College Day, Nerd Day, Backwards-Inside Out Day and Valentine’s Dress-up Day highlight the week. – Emily Grevel, profiles editor

her STORY Current third-grade teacher bleeds Shores blue and white For 1983 graduate Kristi Eigenauer, formerly known as Kristi Ulfsax, parting from Shores was never an option.

“I completed 13 years of schooling and graduated from Shores,” Eigenauer said.

“I student taught at Hile Elementary and began my teaching career at Shores. My Eigenauer own children attend Shores. My blood truly runs Shores blue.”

Today, Eigenauer works as a third grade teacher at Ross Park Elementary. A lifetime at Shores has left her with numerous lasting memories.

“When I was hired to teach at Shores, it was really strange starting the year off at the staff orientation day,” said Eigenauer, whose two children Chance and Camden attend Shores. “The auditorium was filled with educators from all district buildings. I started hearing voices from my past years as

a student which seemed very strange.”

Voices from the past were a reminder of her time spent as a student at Shores.

“My favorite memory is Homecoming Week,” Eigenauer said. “We would have Powder Puff football games, build fantastic floats in people’s garages, and have flower sales for friends to receive during class. We would make banners for the football players, and during the middle of the night, we would hang the banners on their houses. It was fun.”

Aside from football games and float building, Eigenauer also spent her time participating in cheerleading, Foreign Language Club, and band. She also represented the senior class as Student of the Month in October 1982.

“If I could change anything about my high school experience, it would be to get more involved in after-school activities,” Eigenauer said. “I believe the more exposure to new things

when you are young will help you to be a more adventurous adult.”

Eigenauer said she is thankful for the teachers and mentors she has had along the way.

“The fantastic teachers I had at Shores impacted my career choice,” Eigenauer said. “I didn’t know it at the time; however, I am very thankful for the education they provided me during my elementary, junior high, and high school years. I have had many wonderful mentors.”

Today, Eigenauer assumes the role of mentor as she works to change the lives of students just as her teachers did for her.

“My job is different every day. I don’t know what to expect every morning when I come to work, and I absolutely love that about teaching,” Eigenauer said.

“My students make my job enjoyable. I love getting to know each of them and helping them learn. Each day is a new adventure.”

Many of the valuable lessons Eigenauer has learned over the years have been taught to her by her own children.

“The most rewarding thing for me as an educator was when my husband and I had our own children. I had been teaching for several years, and after my own children were born, I took on a new light as a teacher,” Eigenauer said. “My own children taught me many things, including patience, kindness and respect – all important aspects of teaching.”

Many school days have passed since Eigenauer’s role as a student; however, her love for teaching still grows with every passing day.

“I really don’t think I have changed that much since graduation,” Eigenauer said.

“My hair is much shorter and much grayer. I am a little smarter and wiser. I make more money. Last but not least, I still enjoy coming to school every day.” – Emily Grevel, profiles editor

Year Twenty-One (1982-1983) After 14 years of nonstop rejections of millage increase proposal, students said enough is enough. On March 28, 100 students (near right) trekked down Seminole Road and Henry Street in a silent parade. All three proposals passed on March 29, 1983.

Juniors Ron Howard and Brad Jensen tug during Snow-bound ‘83.

his STORY

Travel, research exciting for Brigham Young University professor Collecting crustaceans for research and studying island habitats in the Chilean Patagonia are a long way from Keith Crandall’s high school days of test tubes and biology assignments.

For Crandall, travel and research became an everyday experience after graduating from Shores Crandall in 1983.

As a professor teaching population genetics at Brigham Young University, Crandall continues his love of learning in a setting that gives back to others around him.

“The best part of the job is interacting with college students. They keep me young, fresh, and excited for the science and for learning,” said Crandall, who will begin his new job as the founding Director for the Computational Biology Institute at George Washington University in Washington, DC, in the fall of 2012. “I really enjoy teaching and interacting with these kids.”

Crandall knows the life of a college student well.

After graduating from Shores, he double-majored in math and biology at

Kalamazoo College before heading to Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., to earn his PhD in biology and biomedical sciences.

He also earned a master’s degree in statistics.

Afterwards, he headed for his post doctorate at the University of Texas, where he researched molecular evolution for three years before being offered a job at BYU. “I teach a couple of classes a semester, conduct research in biology and bioinformatics, and publish papers,” Crandall said. “I had the opportunity to travel around the world collecting crustaceans for my research. I’ve also spent a week a year for the last three years in Cozumel, Mexico, working with friends and colleagues from the Universidad de Quintana Roo.” The traveling doesn’t stop there. Before graduate school at Washington University, Crandall worked in the Peace Corps in Ecuador.

As part of his job at BYU, he has been able to participate in collaborative research with colleagues in Denmark, Australia, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Canada, Madagascar, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

“I was able to live for 6-8 months in Oxford, England;

and Auckland, New Zealand; as part of two different research sabbaticals,” Crandall said. “ For me, that’s the best part of the job.”

But Muskegon is never too far away for Crandall.

Every year, he ventures back in the summer to enjoy the community and Lake Michigan with his family.

“I married my high school sweetheart, Cindy. We met at Muskegon YMCA Camp Pendalouan,” Crandall said.

“We’ve been married 26 years now and have five kids. We’ve been through it all together. It is so much more fun to share life with a wonderful companion.”

Heading back to Muskegon brings back plenty of high school memories for Crandall who participated in numerous activities at Shores.

“I was nerdy and in the biology club and in the computer club. Now, I run the bioinformatics club at BYU which combines the two,” Crandall said. “I ran crosscountry, slowly but surely, and still run. I ran track too, but it turns out I only run one speed.”

Crandall said his time at Shores helped impact his career choice.

“I think (Shores) set me up well to be successful in the sciences. It helped me

find that interest in myself and explore it in a variety of ways – through the biology and computer clubs, and through excellent classes in computer science and math,” Crandall said. “I even had (Dennis) Babcock offer me an independent study in probability theory. He was willing and fantastic.”

Crandall’s passion for learning was discovered in his favorite high school class, computer science, taught by Harley Dyk. “1983 was really at the dawn for some pretty cool computing, looking back,” Crandall said. “Mr. Dyk really fueled that excitement and helped me pick up some great skills that keep coming in handy.”

Although the years have passed since Crandall’s days at Shores, his passion for learning is still strong. Years of experience have brought a different outlook on life from the one he had in high school.

“I tell you what, I have a lot more gray hair. I suppose I have a lot more experience too,” Crandall said. “I have a better handle on what is important and what is not.

I like to think, though, that I really haven’t changed a whole lot.” – Emily Grevel, profiles editor

Year Twenty-Two (1983-1984)

our STORY Learning Fair proves to be a popular event The Learning Fair was a success.

At the events, Lincoln Park contributed “computer capers,” student-made machines that distributed candy, Hile School showed classroomraised chickens, the junior high orchestra performed, Mike Voss held a career search, Allegros played for elderly visitors, computer students showed operative skills, Thespians displayed their theatrical talents, and

there was an aerobics demonstration showed by Kay Vanderwall with the varsity football team.

• Some new rules were instituted: anyone who is found distributing lookalike drugs, such as diet pills, may be suspended or/and placed on probation; students are not allowed to bring to school any radios, cassette players, Walkmans, or any other type of audio device. – Taylor Jones, sports editor

Two students stand next to the Candy Factory as part of the Learning Fair, which was held April 28 at the junior high.

her STORY Hair stylist uses lessons learned in high school in everyday life For some students, the lessons they learned in their high school career will carry with them wherever they go.

Carole (Scarbrough) Fisher was one of these exceptional students.

She was a graduate of Shores in 1984 and was involved in the choir.

Fisher “I loved the extra things we did in choir,” Fisher said. “Singing Christmas Tree was the first year my senior year. Who would have thought that it would be such a success?”

Fisher was also involved in vocational studies at Peggy White’s Hair School. She loved it so much she decided to continue it as a career.

“I got my license for hair right after I graduated. I opted to not go to Europe so that I could take my state board,” Fisher said. “I am still doing hair, and I love it. I love that I get to make people feel good about themselves. And that I get to talk all day.”

Although Fisher was involved with choir and

vocational, her favorite part of school was Mr. Vankamp’s class.

“I loved my class with Mr. Vankamp. Although at the time I would have never admitted it to him or anyone else,” Fisher said. “I used to think I didn’t like him and vice versa. We both liked one another. I met him in a store later in life, and he said that he kept up with what I was doing in my life. It made me feel bad for not admitting that I liked him when I was in school. He was a great teacher and very opinionated. He was a lot like me, probably why I had issues.”

Looking back, Fisher said she remembers the people who were most kind to her during her high school career. “(My favorite memory was Jack) Morgan, my counselor.

He was the kindest man, and I always went in to see him – usually because I was always late for class, and he would ask me if I lost my keys again,” Fisher said. “He was a terrific mentor. I still see him from time to time and feel very nostalgic when I see him.”

Fisher said she wishes she had tried harder while she was in school.

“I wish that I would have tried harder and that my teachers would have encouraged me as opposed to letting me get away with everything,” Fisher said.

Shores has done so much for Fisher that she said she knew it would be the place to raise her family.

“I knew that when I had a family that it is where I wanted to raise my family.

Shores has so much to offer and has a wonderful program for arts,” Fisher said. “I love being back at the school and helping where I can and feeling all the excitement of all the kids. It feels good to be around them and watch them grow up and excel.”

Fisher said she remembers the people who were always kind to her and wishes that others would follow that same path as Mr. Morgan and his kindness.

“What happens and what you do precedes you for the rest of your life, the good and the bad,” Fisher said. “If you were kind in school, people

remember this, as well as if you were mean. People don’t forget kind and mean words.

Be kind to all and stand up for the ones who are less fortunate. You never know if you may need them in your corner of life someday.”

Being kind in school and coming together as a community regardless of status is Fisher’s wish and advice to young high school students to remember and follow the rest of their lives.

“I can’t stress enough that no matter if you are popular or not it is so important as a community that we stand together and lift others and encourage one another. No matter how they dress, what they believe, how they look or their status in life,” Fisher said. “We all want to be accepted, and making a stand for others is the bravest and noblest thing one can do. School should be fun and a learning experience and prepare all for what is in the real world. A smile or kind word can make a world of difference for someone who is hurting inside.”

– Taylor Jones, sports editor

Year Twenty-Two (1983-1984)

Bryan Hughes uses an orbital sander on the top of his halfcompleted dresser.

Lori Tenbusch colored her face blue and white to show her Sailor Pride.

Senior Derek Reed wears his Def Leppard shirt proudly through the halls.

According to the yearbook, Quiet Riot and Journey were also popular.

Roger Morgenstern pecks diligently at the keys on a feature story.

his STORY Girls’ golf coach returns to alma mater with no more ‘fro Some people never want to leave where they have grown up and gone to school, which is exactly what middle school teacher and varsity girls’ golf coach John Brainard did.

Once Brainard graduated from Shores in 1984, he continued his education at Muskegon Community College for Brainard two years.

He then attended Central Michigan University for two and a half years and received his master’s degree from Western Michigan University along with 30 credits at Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University.

He is now teaching at

Shores in his 23rd year.

During his high school career, Brainard said he was influenced by one of his own teachers to become a teacher himself.

“Mr. Zaremba (influenced me) in sixth grade,” Brainard said. “He brought a personal touch into the classroom and lessons. I loved the music he would play for us from the different countries and cultures.”

While in high school, Brainard was involved in many extra curricular activities like, football (1012), basketball (10), baseball (10-12) and choir (10-12).

Although involved in many activities, Brainard said he wishes his choices of activities were a little

different. “(I would have changed by having a) break from the norm, trying an individual sport along with a team sport,” Brainard said.

Even though Brainard has never truly left Shores, many things have changed since he was a student.

“The buildings were elementary K-6, junior high 7-9 and high school 1012,” Brainard said. “My hair (has changed) – I still have it, just don’t have as much (and) no more ‘Fro.’” Brainard said he wishes to give advice to young students to get involved while they are still in school.

“Behave, work hard at school, and get involved in extra curricular activities,”

Brainard said.

Brainard’s favorite part about being a teacher in the Shores district is that he is now working with the teachers whom he once had when he was a student. “(My favorite part of teaching is) starting out being able to teach with my former teachers and now being able to teach with my former students,” Brainard said.

Shores is a huge part of Brainard’s life. It has been his school when he was a student, the school where he now teaches, the school where he met his wife, and the school that his children now attend.

Sometimes where one grew up truly is their home forever. – Taylor Jones, sports editor

Year Twenty-Three (1984-1985)

our STORY Band director steps down Long-time band director John Butterfield, who had been at Shores for 23 years, stepped down at the end of the school year.

To honor his retirement, each senior Band director John Butterfield stepped down after 23 years.

member of the Marching Band presented Butterfield with one red rose at the last home football game.

In all, he received 42 roses.

At the spring concert, the school board, band parents, alumni of Shores bands and current students honored him. He was

his STORY

also given a plaque to commemorate his retirement and the years of service he gave to the community.

• Shannon Brown, a member of the class of 1985, passed away due to heart complications on Jan. 29, 1985. – Warren Kent III, adviser

Graduate singles out quality performing arts program at Shores During his senior year 1984-85), one might have seen Gilles Chiasson in one of many places: on the lawn reading during second period, in the Allegros choir, or even at Denny’s with the school’s Breakfast Club. “(My favorite memory is) senior year.

Some friends and I created a Breakfast Chiasson Club, and we met at Denny’s once a month,” Chiasson said. “Back then, we had to raise money to be a club, so we collected donations around Denny’s and eventually donated the money to the American Cancer Society. We wound up being the largest club at school that year.”

This memory doesn’t reveal anything about what Chiasson achieved after high school, however, as Chiasson always had a desire to be onstage.

“When I got out of high school, I sold my stereo to my brother and bought a plane ticket to New York to rehearse

for my first show, just three days after graduation,” Chiasson said.

Chiasson’s list of accomplishments spans pages.

He studied musical theater at the University of Michigan and went to New York after college.

He was in the original cast of four Broadway shows, has performed in 38 of the 50 states and has written two musicals himself After moving from New York to Los Angeles, he ran a film & TV production company, where he worked on four TV shows (two of which made it to the small screen) and co-produced a film starring the Sprouse Twins (that was unfortunately never released), before taking over as Producing Director of the Reprise Theatre Company.

Now, he’s working at a place he compares to the Frauenthal – the new Performing Artss Education Centers of Las Virgenes.

“Now – it’s a little ironic – I left my previous job and worked at a high school for a school district,” Chiasson

said. “I’m now back in high school…it’s very strange.”

Chiasson’s life hasn’t all been his performing career. At age 45, he has a wife and two sons, Hugo and Beauregard.

Chiasson met his wife while they both were acting on Broadway in New York.

She was in a play, and he a musical at the same time. The two theaters were just a few blocks apart from each other.

“I courted her then; it was very romantic,” Chiasson said. “She’s the love of my life, and I’m very lucky.”

Even with all his success, Chiasson still cares for his alma mater, appearing in the Pop Go the Sailors: Home Again concert that occurred last October.

He also remembers his favorite teacher’s class vividly. “(Jake Funkhouser’s) class was amazing. We spent the first half of the year studying Muskegon as a way of understanding the world,” Chiasson said. “He never took attendance; he didn’t care if anyone showed up, but everybody did.”

Chiasson cites the arts as

what has changed most about Shores since he graduated.

The Performing Arts Center was built after his day, and he said that there is much more opportunity in the arts now, in part, he thinks, due to staffing.

“I am a huge fan of Shawn Lawton. I think he’s a great teacher,” Chiasson said. “He empowers students to believe what they imagine is possible.

Look at the alumni show: So many of Shawn’s former students now have careers in the arts. (Those performers) are all successful to some extent because Shawn said yes. Shawn’s gift is to inspire those kids. That rarely happens.”

After reflecting on his own experiences, Chiasson also has a bit of advice for high school students.

“Read books,” Chiasson said. “You can discover yourself if you pay attention to what you like and whatever way it captures your imagination. Also, find teachers who see who you are and are aware of helping you become even better.”

– Franny Kromminga, fine arts editor

Year Twenty-Three (1984-1985) Two seniors take plastic cups and create a pyramid during the Senior Breakfast, which was held Friday, May 31. The breakfast consisted of juice, ham, eggs and cinnamon rolls.

Jeff Correll, Rich Caffarelli and Don Speier were conference medalists for the boys’ cross country team.

As a team, the Sailors placed second at City and 16th at regionals.

In his second-hour physics class, William Thompson gives a demonstration on angular motion.

her STORY You can go home again: elementary teacher’s been here 22 years For some, Shores was just a place to graduate from and earn a basic education.

For others, however, it was regarded as an excellent educational experience that helped lead to success.

The latter was certainly the case for Kris (O’Neil) McKinley, class of 1985.

“Mona McKinley Shores has a great academic standard that just can’t be beat,” McKinley said. “Our teachers and classes were excellent. I feel that I had an outstanding

education at Mona Shores.”

McKinley liked it so much that she returned to Shores years later as a teacher and currently works at Lincoln Park Elementary School as a second-grade teacher.

She has been at Shores for 22 years.

McKinley said, “I will say that the staff is so young now that I’m an older teacher.

When I was a student, the teachers seemed older than the staff now.”

Regardless of all her extra years spent here, her favorite memory still comes from high school.

“I think that my favorite

memory was of graduation day.” McKinley said. “Our class of 1985 was just so close. We were all hugging everyone and in tears because we were so happy. I really loved high school and didn’t want to leave Mona Shores quite yet.”

Besides her teaching career, McKinley has been active in other areas of her life as well.

She has been married for 20 years and has two daughters, Kelsey and Kendall, who both attend Shores.

“The best things that have happened to me since

high school are meeting my husband and having my children,” McKinley said. “I love my whole family and friends.”

As a teacher and former student of Shores, McKinley has plenty to say to current students.

“My advice to high school students is to work hard in school to get the most out of your education,” McKinley said. “But, you should also take time to have fun and enjoy the people around you… I think that age brings wisdom and confidence.”

– Franny Kromminga, fine arts editor

Year Twenty-Four (1985-1986)

our STORY Community honors 1986 graduate in 2008 War has taken the lives of so many young men and women, but not many touch the lives of the Muskegon community quite like 1986 Shores Graduate Daniel Scheibner, a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army.

In 2008, a caravan including the hearse carrying Scheibner’s Scheibner body drove past Shores on Thursday, Sept. 6; Scheibner was killed in action in Al-Noor, Iraq, on Aug. 30, 2007.

Sergeant Scheibner died of wounds sustained when his Stryker vehicle hit an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).

The procession went from the Muskegon County Airport to St. Francis DeSales Church; it passed by Mona Shores High School to meet the solemn faces of students and teachers lining the roadside.

“I was overwhelmed when I saw everyone,” said Kasi Scheibner, Daniel’s sister-in-law. “Daniel’s wife Ann really struggled on the decision to bring him back here to Muskegon or just stay in Washington (where Scheibner’s family lives), but when we saw all the people supporting us, she knew she made the right decision.”

The concerned lining the street included Daniel’s former teachers, friends, and family. They remember him

fondly.

“I remember that he was a rascal, but Daniel always had respect for people,” business teacher Tom Wilson said.

“Maybe that’s why he was good in the military.”

Daniel joined the military at age 19 to serve his country and emulate his brother Dave.

War is really hard, but the people in the Army know the risks,” Kasi Scheibner said. “It’s just a big loss to us, but Daniel took his job seriously and always followed his orders.”

Daniel is survived by his wife Ann and son Tyler, a class of 2013 Shores student. –Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

her STORY Shores credited with providing catalyst for ‘great life’ For Carla (Speier) Bassinger, Shores was the catalyst for the rest of her life.

“I absolutely love my life,” said Bassinger, a 1986 Shores graduate. “Mona Shores was my start to this great life.”

After graduation, Bassinger went onto Michigan State University, where she was a merchandising management major.

“I hated my major that I chose for college,” Bassinger said. “It was a lot of work for little reward.”

College was also a culture shock for the new graduate.

“When I started my first year at State, I let my grades slip,” Bassinger said. “This is mostly because I spent too much time having fun and not enough time worrying about my academics.”

Eventually, she graduated from MSU with her merchandising management degree.

“Shores prepared me academically for school,” Bassinger said. “But being from Muskegon and being slightly sheltered did not prepare me for what entails living on my own.”

During her days in high school, Bassinger enjoyed playing basketball and running track.

“I loved basketball because I was good at it and because it was something I really enjoyed to do,” Bassinger said. “I also loved to run track because my coach was not only good at coaching but was always there to help me if I had any problems.”

Since graduating college, Bassinger met her husband in a surprising way.

“Well, my friend had an extra ticket for a camping trip in West Virginia, so I finally decided to go. While white water rafting, I met my future husband Kevin,” Bassinger

Bassinger said. “After keeping in touch, I moved to Ohio a year later, and a year after that, we were married.”

The two have two children, ages 6 and 8.

“They are so close in age

and are always entertaining each other,” Bassinger said.

“It is so good to see that as a parent.”

Since having children, Bassinger stayed home for eight years as a stay-at-home mother.

Then, two years ago, she took a step into substitute teaching, which she loves.

“As a mother, it allows me to see my kids more often, and I have the summers off,” Bassinger said. “I only sub for elementary students, and I love it because I get to watch them learn. It is really a fun age.”

Bassinger has advice for any who are just about to go out into the real world.

“Make sure to work hard but have fun as well,” Bassinger said. “Before you know it, you’ll be working the rest of your life. So enjoy it.” – Kendal Brown, feature editor

Year Twenty-Four (1985-1986) Brian Deephouse works on the keyboard during AP Computer class.

Mike Schanhals, who was the team’s MVP, was the champion at City, Conference and Regionals.

According to the yearbook, this was a “motley crew!” And not the rock band from the ‘80s. This group was showing the various styles at Shores.

Julie Olah shows her fashion statement through her shades.

his STORY Party life behind him, ‘86 grad blessed with ‘beautiful family’ According to Philip Brown, a 1986 Shores graduate, high school was one thing: a party.

“When I was in high school, it was a whole different world,” Brown Brown said.

“There was not as much going on the world as there is now. Everyone was more laid back, and everything was fun.”

Though Brown had fun in

high school, academics were not his favorite field.

“The academics were great at Shores,” Brown said. “I just never studied as much as I should have, and the teachers seem a lot more exciting now a days.”

During his freshman and sophomore years, Brown participated in track.

“I loved going to meets and competing. It was a great way to meet new people,” Brown said. “Unfortunately, junior year I got a job and gave up track for that reason.”

Brown worked at Circles, a Mexican restaurant, as a bus boy.

“Since I was younger, I loved working with older people who treated me like I was the same age as them,” Brown. “I also, of course, loved the money because I could spend it on cars.”

After graduating high school, Brown continued on to take classes at Muskegon Community College, and then at the age of 26, he got his current job at Sun Chemical.

“I like my job, but if I

had the option to go back and change what I chose, I would,” Brown said. “If I had my dream job, I would be a chef.”

Brown is now a father of three children: Kyle, Kendal, and Zachary and enjoys spending his time with his family.

“I have been blessed with a beautiful family. If nothing else, I always have them,” Brown said. “There is nothing I would trade for the life I have.” – Kendal Brown, feature editor

Year Twenty-Five (1986-1987)

our STORY First principal retires after 25 years Principal C. William Hanichen stepped down on Feb. 13, 1987, after 25 years at the helm of Shores.

At the time, Hanichen said, “(My retirement) will be good for the school district to have a change with new goals and new directions.”

Hanichen, the 1986 Michigan Principal of the Year, had spent more than 34 years in education as a teacher and administrator. He was the only prinicpal in the history of the high school.

According to The Sailors’ Log, Hanichen was going to use his retirement to spend more time with family and to pursue his own interests: traveling,

reading, writing and golfing.

Hanichen said he was proud of the past 25 years.

“I’m really proud of the students and the teaching staff for making Shores an outstanding school,” he said. “I feel like I am leaving the school in good hands.”

He was replaced by David Caruso, the principal at Fruitport High School who was previously assistant principal at Shores from 1971-81.

“I’m happy for him and the school,” Hanichen said. “He knows the school well, and he can carry on the excellence that the school has maintained for so many years.”

Caruso, a graduate of Central

Michigan University with a master’s degree from Western Michigan University, said he is excited to get back to Shores.

“I am excited at the prospect of being the principal,” he said. “I look forward to returning to Shores.”

• The girls’ tennis team and the wrestling team both captured the City title.

• The baseball team won the LMAC tournament and the County tournament.

• The boys’ tennis team was OK Red and City champs. The City title was the team’s third in a row.

• The girls’ track team was City champs. – Warren Kent III, adviser

her STORY Former cheerleader uses ‘keep on keeping on’ as motivation “Keep on keeping on.”

It was her motto in 1987, and today, nearly 25 years later, the motto continues encouraging her to just keep going.

“I guess my cheerleading blood from all those year ago still lies within me,” said Julie (Aho) Rios, a 1987 Rios graduate from Shores. “In 1987, we cheered for our school; we worked together as a team.

And now, I cheer for my three beautiful children to encourage them to continue moving forward and persevering.”

Rios’s children are not the only ones who are inspired by her optimistic attitude. Her graduating class voted her best personality.

“I wouldn’t change one thing about my high school

experience,” Rios said.

“Shores had a lot to offer – great staff, great facilities, and great students. I’m thankful to say I went there, especially now when I come home to visit. It’s neat to see the expansions and growth, particularly in the theater department, a place I spent much of my time in high school.”

The theater, though, is a place Rios never truly left.

“Yup, I chose drama over calculus,” Rios said.

“I went to Michigan State and studied theater, moved to New York in ’92, went to AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy), met my wonderful husband Christopher, and the rest is history.”

Rios and her husband eventually moved to Florida and then to Knoxville, Tennessee, before moving back to Florida in the summer of 2012, where they will

raising three children.

“I’ve since hung up the hat on theater to become a fulltime, home-schooling mom,” Rios said. “One day, I desire to get back into the arts; singing is something I will always love to do. But for now, being here for my family and watching them grow is what I adore.”

Twenty-five years prior, Rios’s adorations at Shores consisted of not only drama, singing, and cheerleading, but also senior senate, literature, and social studies in Jake Funkhouser’s class.

And in 1986, she was also a first runner-up at the State Finals for Miss Teen-All American, a beauty pageant that her mom told her about, and Rios said, “Sure, that sounds fun.”

“It was one of those life experience-type things,” Rios said. “I never wanted to continue on with pageants.

But I love meeting new

people, and I met many. It was different, a challenge; I learned from it and grew from it. I felt a boost of confidence after getting so far, but that was as far as pageants went.

Theater was where I knew I wanted to be.”

Since hanging up her blue and white pom-pons, pageant sash, and choir lyrics, Rios said while she has since grown up, she will always be the spirited, sociable, singing, cheerleader whose beginning centered around Shores.

“I’m very much the same person I was back then,” Rios said. “I love life, and I always try to be positive.

And I encourage current high school students to do the same. Don’t be afraid to take risks; you’ll learn and grow from them. But mostly, when your life gets tough as it often does, find the strength to keep moving forward – just keep on keeping on.” – Michelle Robinson, co-editor-in-chief

Year Twenty-Five (1986-1987)

Brent Ashcroft, who would go onto a broadcast career in west Michigan, loads film for his camera.

Elaine Ginman prepares for the state festival.

his STORY Marine uses background in track to maintain fitness level 1987 is a year that marked the first conference on artificial life, The Great Storm of 1987 in South England, and the first airing of The Simpsons cartoon.

But for David Bowers, reflecting on the year 1987 brings up entirely different memories.

“During our first week of track practice, we were sent to run the four-mile loop,” said Bowers, who graduated from Shores in 1987. “The seniors ran on ahead and hid in the brush along Forest Park Road and waited for the underclassmen. As they approached, we jumped out, grabbed them, and threw them into the swampy water. Then, we took off and ran back to the high school making sure we finished well ahead of them so we didn’t look too guilty but found it really hard to run while laughing.”

Bowers retired his running shoes after graduation but could never fully leave the sport; he has helped coached

David Bowers with his wife Lisa track at Shores off and on since 1989.

“I missed everything about track season once I left. I offered to volunteer my time and was taken up on it,” Bowers said. “After that, I went into the Marine Corps until ’94. Once we got back to Michigan, I volunteered off and on until I was officially added to the staff a year or two ago. I’ve maintained my fitness level

through the years, competed at college level and master’s meets just because I love the sport. It teaches discipline; you depend on nobody but yourself.”

Coaching track is just one of the many events that have unfolded after Bowers graduated. He left for the Marines in November 1990; married his wife Lisa, a 1988 Shores graduate, in February 1991 during a 10-day leave; and had one of his three children at the Navy Hospital in July 1992.

“Isaac was about two and a half when we moved back here, and the rest is history,” said Bowers, who registered all of his children into his alma mater’s school district.

“We had Eli in 1995 and Mia in 2003. Life has moved at a fast pace since my time at Shores. I think the thing I’m most proud of, apart from my wife Lisa and kids, is being a Marine. It was and still is the toughest thing I’ve ever done. But I learned a lot

about myself, my country, my family and what true friends look like. I’m extremely blessed.”

Having graduated from Shores, coming back to coach, serving as a Marine, and raising three children, Bowers reflects on his “glory days” with encouraging advice to current Shores students.

“Enjoy every minute that you can. Take pictures. Save your agenda book to look back at in a few years. Write in a journal,” Bowers said.

“There is a reason that so many of us old-timers refer to ‘the glory days.’ High school can be a tough time, but it’s so instrumental in shaping who you can/will become. Make the most of every situation and learn from all of them, the good and the bad. There is a really big world outside of high school; step up and be ready for it.”

– Michelle Robinson, coeditor-in-chief

Year Twenty-Six (1987-1988)

our STORY Students search for heroes in everyday lives In the midst of the Iran-Contra scandal and the infidelity of Gary Hart and other government officials, heroes were hard to come by.

A Sailors’ Log poll of 150 students revealed that 57 percent had a hero; however, only 30 percent said their hero was “very” important.

The 43 percent who did not have a hero said it was because the “world was too complicated.”

Charlotte McClain said, “I don’t watch anyone else – I just do what I feel is right, and I live how it makes me happy. I don’t follow anyone else.”

Those mentioned as possible heroes were mothers, fathers, basketball player Isiah Thomas, Martin Luther King Jr., Jesus Christ and John Bon Jovi. Yes,

from that Bon Jovi.

When looking for heroes, students said intelligence was the most important characteristic.

This trait was followed by underdogs who worked their way to the top, honesty, concern with improving society and a powerful personality.

In other Sailor news...

• The administration changed the library hours to better suit the needs of students.

Hours were extended before and after school to allow students the opportunity to take advantage of books, computers and other study tools to enhance their knowledge.

• At the annual canned food drive, Student Services collected 1,853 pounds

her STORY

of canned foods for the Salvation Army.

Throughout one week in the fall, students brought in canned food from home to benefit those less fortunate.

• The “Singing Sailors” traveled on a cruise through the Caribbean Sea. The group performed eight concerts, and enjoyed snorkeling, sightseeing, shopping, etc.

• The girls’ tennis team and the girls’ track team both won the City meet for the third straight year.

• Wrestling coach Don Mosley picked up his 300th career victory during the season and ended the 1987-88 campaign with a 311-59-2 record.

• The girls’ golf team won the conference. – Jonah Stone, co-editor-inchief

his STORY

Couple meets at Shores, marries, sends children to alma mater “We started dating our junior year of high school,” Kelly said. “It was October 31, 1986.”

Besides remembering that important Halloween, the former Kelly Hansen also remembers how the school has changed.

In particular, high school back then did not encompass the same grades as it does now. Back then it was only grades 10-12 whereas now it is grades 9-12.

Kelly Kelly’s favorite teacher was Dave Walker.

“He was a great guy who really connected with the students,” Kelly said. “Class was always interesting and fun.”

Every high-schooler has

It was the year 1986 when a couple had gotten together; then, they graduated together in 1988, and they happen to be married now.

This couple is Kelly and Todd George. embarrassing moments in their lives.

“My most embarrassing moment of high school was learning to drive a stick shift,” Kelly said. “I started out in reverse and kept stalling the car while all of the neighbors were outside watching me.”

Since she has been through her schooling, she has some advice for students.

“Enjoy high school while you are there instead of wishing it was over,” Kelly said. “It really is a great time for you before all of life’s responsibilities start coming your way.” – Carlin Rollenhagen, staff writer

Todd is now working in senior construction. He and Kelly have two girls, Logan and Rylee George, who are 17 and 15. Both also attend Shores.

Todd said he had a couple favorite Todd teachers in high school, one of them being Jason Loving.

“Mr. Loving was my favorite teacher because he was unpredictable and full of surprises,” Todd said.

To this day, Todd carries memories that left an impact

on him while in high school.

“A group of friends and I went up to Val Dukes Lakes to see Bon Jovi,” Todd said, “We camped out overnight and had a great time.”

Since high school, he has some good memories and some not so good ones. Others happen to embarrassing moments that happened to him.

“My most embarrassing moment was when I forgot to put my car in park and watched it roll down a hill into my neighbor’s living room,” Todd said.

“Fortunately nobody was hurt, but a fish tank shattered, and all of its contents ended up scattered across the floor.”

He has advice for students of today.

“Listen to your parents; they really do know more than you,” Todd said. – Carlin Rollenhagen, staff writer

Year Twenty-Six (1987-1988)

Junior Steve Linstrom tries to “liven “ up a mannequin at a local tourist shop during his cruise to the Caribbean.

Mike Gripton prepares gingerbread men for Christmas in Ms. Marks’ foods class.

Eric Ringelberg has his blood drawn at the annual Blood Drive.

Year Twenty-Seven (1988-1989)

our STORY Teacher strike results from contract dispute 1989 saw a large number of teachers from Shores protesting the inability of the Board of Education and Mona Shores Teachers’ Association to reach a resolution regarding teachers’ contracts and the attempt by the Board to put a cap on teachers’ insurance policies.

Nearly six months passed in the board room during negotiations before teachers decided to strike on Oct. 17.

The strike lasted for two weeks until the Board of Education and Teachers’ Association reached an agreement on a one-year contract. – Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

Sue Zack, Gail Whitaker, Mary VanderMolen and Judy Ross protest outside the high school where they voice their concerns.

her STORY Elementary teacher recalls community involvement at Shores Keeping shoes on in class may not seem like much of a big deal, but not abiding by this rule gave 1989 graduate Amy (Troyanowski) Whalen quite the experience in punishment.

“In Mr. Kieft’s biology class, he became very frustrated if you took off Whalen your shoes,” Whalen said. “One day, my friend and I took off our flip flops because it was so hot, and he took them and put them up on a ledge so that we could not reach them. He then made us stay after class to get them down, and not only were we late for class, but we had to go the whole hour without our shoes.”

What has this taught Whalen about shoes?

“As I look back, I wonder why I even took my shoes off,” Whalen said. “I make my second graders keep them on now.”

Keeping shoes on secondgrade students is part of the job as an elementary teacher at Churchill Elementary in the

Mona Shores District, a job Whalen loves.

“I love being a teacher,” Whalen said. “To make an impact on young lives, not only academically but socially, and to be able to teach them how to be kind, caring citizens as well as prepare them for the future makes it a very rewarding job.”

This love for being a teacher comes from a history of K-12 teachers that Whalen had; they all had a positive impact on her teaching career. “(My teachers) taught me how to be prepared and organized and how to make good decisions,” Whalen said.

Whalen’s time on the field with extracurricular activities, like softball, helped provide her with a high school memory.

“My favorite memory would be pitching a no-hitter in the season opener against the Muskegon Big Reds my senior year,” Whalen said. “It was a huge accomplishment as I was definitely not the fastest pitcher in the league and I had been sick the week prior.”

Her memory of success

in sports is helped along by her memories of the people at Shores and around the Shores community.

“My favorite thing about Mona Shores was the community involvement,” Whalen said. “I remember as a student during Homecoming week having a lot of parents helping with activities; being on the softball and volleyball teams, we always had parent and community support.”

After her Shores career, Whalen attended Muskegon Community College and later Grand Valley State University. It was through this education that Whalen received a bachelor’s degree in science with an emphasis on education. This led to her working at her alma mater.

“Mona Shores is a great district. It is filled with staff members that care for children and young adults,” Whalen said. “Every member of the staff puts forth an amazing effort every day.

I am reminded of this fact as I enter the lunch room at Churchill and see the smiling faces of the lunchroom supervisors and food service employees all the way to

the office, teaching and administrative staff. We are a ‘jewel’ among other districts, and I am very proud to be part of the Mona Shores family.”

This school district has changed quite a bit since 1989 with regard to technology.

“The biggest change I would say would be the technology. When I was in school, we did not have all the resources that the students do today,” Whalen said. “The one thing that sticks out was in eighth grade having this huge computer, and as I type this (interview) on my laptop, I think we basically programmed it.”

As a teacher, Whalen is used to giving advice to students.

“My advice to students today would be to tell them that it is okay to be different in a good way. This is something I tell my children and students all the time,” Whalen said. “If they are doing nothing wrong, then they should feel good about who they are and not try to fit into something that isn’t right for them.” – Jonah Stone, coeditor-in-chief

Year Twenty-Seven (1988-1989)

Matt Anderson gets past a ReethsPuffer defender.

Homecoming followed a theme based on the children’s show Sesame Street. The senior float (right) depicted Cookie Monster eating a windmill cookie, which represented the Holland Dutch.

A group of seniors (below) await the judges, who selected theri float as the first-place entry.

Seniors Jill Peters and Laura Anderson sit in fron of the billboard announcing Pop Go the Sailors with the theme of “Get Wet.” The duo performed in the specialty act “Octopus’ Garden.”

his STORY Blues musician gained beginning with Jazz Band, Allegros Getting the blues is often a bad thing, but not for Shores grad and local musician Vincent Hayes.

Getting the blues has been beneficial for this Muskegon native, and it all started when he attended Shores in the ‘80s.

“I remember being in the Allegros and playing both bass and bass Hayes guitar in the very first Jazz Band with Jack Adams,” said Hayes, who graduated in 1989. “I loved

Jazz Band; it was challenging and a whole new world of music to me.”

In addition to Allegros and the Jazz Band, Hayes also participated in drama and theater at the Shores and remembers those teachers that made his time there enjoyable.

“My old choir director (Skip Frizzell) and (Jack) Adams were great teachers,” Hayes said. “They really cared about the students, and they made an effort to make music enjoyable for us all.”

The blues musician’s favorite memories from

his time at Shores include being a part of Pop Goes The Sailors at the Frauenthal and performing in front of his fellow students.

“My band played at one of the dances,” Hayes said.

“Being a part of this party for my classmates was a blast.”

Hayes’ passion for music did not stop at the end of high school; in fact, it grew to garner him and his band, The Vincent Hayes Project, a 2011 Blues Music Award nominee for “Best New Artist Debut.”

Hayes went to college for music and eventually began to teach private lessons in

Muskegon.

“As a teacher, I became more knowledgeable; I began to understand music by conveying that to others,” Hayes said.

Hayes, because of his success, has advice for high school students as they depart from K-12 school.

“I think no matter what a person chooses, make sure it is what is right in your heart,” Hayes said. “Success is about how happy you are, not how much money you make.”

– Jonah Stone, co-editor-inchief

Year Twenty-Eight (1989-1990)

our STORY Boys’ golf wins school’s first athletic state title For the first time in the history of the high school, an athletic team won a state title.

The boys’ golf team, led by coach tom Wilson, captured the title after a 16-1 season, which saw the Sailors also win regionals and the City meet.

“This year’s team was characterized by the depth and talent spread throughout,” Wilson said.

Sophomore Jason Bricker won the individual state championship and was chosen to both the All-State and AllConference teams.

Senior Jon Barton was named All-A Super Team two years in a row. Senior Tim Taylor was All-Conference and AllState. Dave Sieffert and Brian Frisch were All-Conference.

Other teams had successful seasons too.

Cross Country: The boys’ team won the title of City champs.

Girls’ Basketball: The team had a 35game win streak, which began during their 1989 season. The only loss of the season was to Orchard View. They ended the season 19-1. They were Conference champs and district champs.

Members of the state championship golf team included (front row) Brian Frisch, Erik Welch, Jon Barton (back row) coach Tom Wilson, Jason Bricker, Ryan Zolman, Tim Taylor, Dave Siefert and Greg Elwell.

Wrestling: The wrestlers took first place in the County tournament and the team districts.

Boys’ Basketball: The final team record was 14-7, the best ever in Sailor history.

Baseball: The varsity won the County tournament.

Track: The girls’ team won the City meet for the fifth straight year.

• Senior Toby Bailey was featured in The Sailors’ Log for rescuing his 2-anda-half-year-old cousin from drowning in a pool and performing CPR to resuscitate

him.

• Both the novice and varsity debate teams captured state titles.

The novice team of Mandeera Wagle, Jennifer Hansen, Kevin Ayotte and Jason Boyden brought home the championship for the fifth time since 1982.

The varsity team, consisting of Jeff Kahn and Laura DeKoning, won the state title, making Shores the first high school in Michigan to win both novice and varsity in the same year.

• A millage increase proposal was defeated in the highest voter turnout in Shores history.

The proposal of 6.5 mills was turned down in all 13 precincts with the exception of the Norton Shores Fire Station.

The final total was 3,594 “yes” against 4,618 “no.” “Yes” votes were double from the 1989 vote.

The defeat caused cuts for the 199091 school year.

“Most ‘no’ voters do not want to spend more money,” Principal David Caruso said. “Education is not important enough to the people.” – Warren Kent III, adviser

her STORY First-grade teacher enjoys making connections with students For Tracey (Bunda) Fritz, a first-grade teacher at Campbell Elementary and mother of seven, her fondest memories from Shores came from being a part of the Marching Band.

“Community support was awesome as we would be welcomed home with police escorts after a top rating Fritz performance at the state level,” Fritz said.

“It made me proud to be part

of a great program.”

Although her fondest memories were from band, her dream was to act.

“I dreamt of a life on the stage when I left high school,” said Fritz, a 1990 graduate. “Even though I didn’t end up on a stage in some well known theater district, I have a stage everyday all to my own in my classroom. I absolutely love my job and most everything about it.”

Teaching is easily Fritz’s passion, and seeing things click in students’ heads

seems to be what makes to all worthwhile for Fritz.

“I love the daily connections I can make with my young students,” Fritz said. “Everyday I get the chance to instill in them a love for learning. First grade teachers get to be in on learning at the ground floor.

We get to see the light bulbs go off in student learning at the very beginning stages of reading and mathematics.”

Although teaching is what Fritz loves, it is not what she considers to be the best thing that has happened to her since

graduating from Shores.

“My amazing family is the best thing that has happened in my life,” Fritz said. “They give my days purpose.”

As a mother of seven, both biological and adopted, Fritz definitely has a full plate, but she took the time to give this advice to current students at Shores.

“Be involved,” Fritz said.

“Our school offers so many extra curricular options. Find something that interests you and just do it. Make the most of your high school years.”

– Rachel Swartz, sports editor

Year Twenty-Eight (1989-1990) The equestrian team was a new addition to Shores in 1989-90. Senior Joanna Prelesnik spends time with her horse. The teams competed in three meets with home meets taking place at Sunset Riders in Cloverville.

The debate teams, both the novice and the varsity, captured the state title. Varisty members, Laura DeKoning, Jeff kahn, Jason Balgooyen and Stacey Hachman, display the state title trophy.

Heather Hoeksema

his STORY 1990 graduate enjoys resurrection of Shores hockey program 1990 Shores graduate Mark Brininstool had this to say about his time and favorite memories from his time at Shores.

“My Brininstool favorite thing about Shores was the parent group that resurrected the

hockey program during my junior year and watching how the program has continued to grow and prosper today,” Brininstool said.

When looking back on his high school years, many things stood out, even things that Brininstool wishes that he had done differently.

“I would try to be more involved in activities other

than the sports which I played,” Brininstool said.

Due to the fact that he would do this if he could go back, he had this advice to share with the current high school students at Shores.

“Get involved in many things and meet many people, be generous with your talents and abilities,” Brininstool said.

After high school, Brininstool got his accounting degree from Michigan State University, and is a certified public accountant working on masters of science in taxation.

Brininstool is married with three children and is currently living in Grand Haven but also spent eight years working in Chicago. – Rachel Swartz, sports editor

Year Twenty-Nine (1990-1991)

Gymnastics team captures state title For the second year in a row, a Shores athletic team brought home a state title. This time, the gymnastics team did the honor.

The Sailors defeated Plymouth Salem by five points to win the crown.

“We were the heavy favorites,” said coach Sheryl DeWeerd, who was voted Gymnastics Coach of the Year by her peers. “I was relieved at living up to the expectations.”

Along the way, Shores won the conference and regional titles.

Freshmen Becky Swelnis and Heather Schneller led the team, placing first and second, respectively, in the all-around.

our STORY

Senior Aimee Goff, who was honored as the outstanding senior gymnast of the year, won an individual state title on the bars and was runner-up on the vault.

Seniors Danya Hewer and Erin Sander and freshmen Laura McCarthy and Sarah Flermoen also contributed.

• The defeat of the March 1990 millage had lasting effects.

The Board eliminated Spanish and French 3-4, and classes with under 20 enrolled were deleted.

Also, a program called Pay to Play was started. This forced athletes to pay to participate on an athletic team. – Warren Kent III, adviser

During an intramural basketball game, math teacher Bob Peterson looks for an open teammate.

his STORY High school football career hands down greatest experience Mona Shores Middle School Earth Science teacher Eric Wahlberg is currently living his dream.

“I wanted to come and give back to the school community that gave me so much throughout my childhood,” Wahlberg said.

After graduating in 1991, Wahlberg Wahlberg attended Grand Valley State University to play football, and he earned a degree in Earth Science/ Geology and Geography. He was inspired to pursue this field by teacher Ron White.

“His passion for Earth Sciences was obvious and contagious,” Wahlberg said.

Besides science, Wahlberg

was also involved in the football program while at Shores.

“Playing for (current social studies teacher and former Shores football coach) Dean Jewett is hands down the greatest experience and memory of my time at Mona Shores,” said Wahlberg, who eventually coached football at Shores for nine years and hopes to coach again some day. “He and his football program taught me more about life than any other experience.”

These academic and athletic experiences together led Wahlberg to his current teaching position at the middle school; he said the favorite aspect of his job is the kids.

“Working with kids is the best part of my career, in the

classroom and out,” Wahlberg said. “Although interests and focus points change with kids over time, kids still have all of the same wants and needs as kids 100 years ago. They all want to feel wanted, liked, appreciated, and important.

Without kids, my career would be pretty boring and unfulfilled.”

As the Homecoming King his senior year and an AllConference football player, Wahlberg had many positives during his tenure at Shores; however, there are still some aspects of his high school years that he would change.

“I would have been nicer to more people,” Wahlberg said. “Growing up is tough.

Teenage years are difficult while trying to figure out who you are and where you fit in.

It does not hurt anybody to

be nice to people who are less fortunate than you or who are different than you.”

The district has grown up along with Wahlberg.

He said he has seen many changes in the district, staffing-wise, but the quality of education at Shores has remained the same.

Wahlberg encourages current students to take advantage of all that Shores has to offer.

“We have so many great opportunities at Mona Shores,” he said. “I am sending my own kids here because there isn’t a district anywhere that has a diverse curriculum and the activities that we do. Take advantage of things while you are here. High school years go extremely fast.” – Erinn Taylor, editorial editor

Year Twenty-Nine (1990-1991)

her STORY Former gymnast opens health clinic, gymnastics center 1991 Shores alumna Aimee Goff never planned on being a businesswoman.

“If someone would have asked me when I was in high school what I would do when I ‘grew up,’ I would have said I would be a teacher until I was retirement age,” Goff said.

For 13 years, Goff taught just as she had always planned to.

She first graduated from Central Michigan University with a B.S. in Education and then taught in Texas for a year, after that, she moved back to Michigan and worked as a teacher in Grant.

After these 13 years, Goff decided that she needed a change in pace. She moved to Ludington, and with a partner, opened Lakeshore Whole Health (a nutritional clinic) and took over the Flipstar Gymnastics Center.

Goff’s current positions satisfy her passion for education.

“I still get my teaching ‘fix’ as I coach at the gym a couple nights a week. I also get to ‘teach’ people how to live healthy lives,” Goff said.

Her senior year, Goff was a key part of Shores’ gymnastics team’s victory at the state meet.

“Winning state meet as a team was definitely a highlight of my high school gymnastics career,” Goff said, “We were a very tightknit group that had trained together for many years.

We had competed together in club gymnastics and complemented each other very well making a strong team...(we) knew that this

Senior Aimee Goff, whol helped lead the gymnastics team to a state title, performs a pike jump during her beam routine. would be our year to shine as a team. Luckily all of our many hours in the gym paid off.”

Goff was the uneven bar state champion. She was also the state runner-up on vault.

Goff also received another reward at this meet that she recalls as her favorite memory of high school.

“There had been technical difficulties with the speaker system, so it was almost midnight and competition was just concluding,” Goff said. “Someone came over and stuck a microphone in my face as she handed me what looked like a personal pizza box. I was really confused and couldn’t figure out why someone was giving me a pizza. I remember saying, ‘I’m not hungry now.’ After someone insisted that I open the box, I did, and to my surprise, it was a plaque naming me ‘Michigan Gymnast of the Year.’ It was because the meet had run so long and it was getting so late that they had decided

to just present me with the plaque then, kind of on the side, instead of waiting until after the entire meet to make a big presentation. To make the moment even better, my coach, Sheryl DeWeerd, was awarded ‘Michigan Coach of the Year.’ So, she got a ‘pizza box’ too.”

Thanks to her stellar performance at the state meet, Goff qualified for the High School National Gymnastics Meet at the National Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Here, she experienced her “most embarrassing moment” in her high school career while performing her vault routine.

“The vault runway had a waist-high curtain that partitioned the spectator area off from the competitive area,” Goff said. “As I was running to do my vault I tripped, over nothing apparently, and fell flat on my face. To the audience, because of the curtain divider, I appeared to have disappeared.

I still have the video tape and

can hear everyone around my mom saying, ‘Where did she go?’”

Goff continued her gymnastics career at Central Michigan University and was a part of the Mid-American Conference Championship team her freshman and sophomore years.

Because of her involvement in gymnastics, Goff did not attend many social events during high school. This was one of her regrets as far as her high school years are considered.

“I don’t know if I would really change (not attending many social events),” Goff said, “because I loved gymnastics and I know that the time spent doing it is what lead me to championships.”

Although she did not participate in as many social events as she would have liked to, Goff still had plenty of time for academics.

“I had many wonderful teachers,” Goff said. “Each one taught me something about myself and lessons to use later in life. Math was always my favorite subject, so those classes were my favorite.”

As a high school senior, Goff did not know that she would one day own and operate two businesses.

Just as today’s high school students, she did not know what the future had in store.

“Set high goals and always strive to attain them,” Goff said, “Remember to always do your personal best. Do and enjoy what you love, whether it is academic activities, social activities or sports.” – Erinn Taylor, editorial editor

Year Thirty (1991-1992)

our STORY Two teams, three individuals win state crowns Two was the magic number for athletics in 1991-92.

The boys’ golf team captured its second state title in three years while senior Jason Bricker, while wearing his “lucky argyle” socks, won his second individual state title.

The gymnastics team made it two state championships in a row.

And the senior duo of Mary Amy Hornik and Deana Harper won the No. 1 doubles championship in tennis.

In golf, while the Sailors swept through the regular season, posting a 14-0 record, its tournament play was not stellar as Shores won just three. For example, the Sailors placed fourth in the City meet.

However, one of those three was the state finals behind Bricker’s medalist score.

Sophomore Heather Schneller played a key role in the gymnastics team’s second straight state title.

The gymnastics team did not think one state title was enough as it vaulted to its second straight state championship.

The all-sophomore team consisted of Sarah Flermoen, Laura McCarthy, Kam

Mitchell, Heather Schneller and Becky Swelnis.

In the finals, Shores defeated Plymouth Salem, the runner-up, by 4.60 points.

Schneller and Swelnis led the team, taking first and second, respectively, in the all-around competition.

Shores also swept the individual competition with Schneller capturing first place on the floor exercise, the uneven bars and vault, and Swelnis took top honors on the balance beam.

On the tennis courts, Hornik and Harper dominated the competition en route to their state title.

The duo, which won the No. 2 doubles title at City, led the Sailors to their eighth straight City championship and a 14-0 conference record. – Warren Kent III, adviser

his STORY Fine arts program launches Olthoff into productive career Among the graduates of Shores in 1992 was a man named Jason Olthoff.

He was an active member of the student body, participating in choir, band, jazz band, Allegros, playing almost every sport at least once, and even coaching fifth and sixth grade Olthoff basketball.

Of course, spending as much time in and around the facilities, Olthoff developed school spirit. “(My favorite part about Shores was) the support that the student body gives to the arts,” Olthoff said. “I always thought it was great that so many students and teachers would come to

performances.”

There was, however, one performance that Olthoff probably could have lived without having a huge audience for.

“Somehow, a buddy and I decided to dress in drag and sing ‘Stand by your Man’ at Pops one year,” Olthoff said.

“I’m pretty sure those photos would stop me from running for President.”

Nevertheless, Olthoff still enjoyed his time as a Shores student and graduated with few regrets.

Olthoff said, “Believe it or not, I had a great high school experience. I do wish I would have done a little better with grades in ninth and 10th grade. They weren’t horrible, but it all counts when you start applying to schools.”

After receiving his

diploma and tossing his cap in the air, Olthoff packed his things and headed west to California with the Young Americans.

From there, he toured and took classes until he got involved with a Super Bowl halftime show.

Next, his career was launched, and he went straight to the ‘96 Summer Olympics to do Opening and Closing Ceremonies. He was later involved with large stadium shows, TV, and other tours.

In 1999, Olthoff married Jamye Whitby, a ‘93 graduate and fellow Young American.

The two moved from L.A. to Muskegon to their current home in Chicago, where Olthoff is enjoying his title as the Vice President of Production Services for a

marketing agency.

“Every single day since I started my career in 1996, I have never had the same day twice,” Olthoff said. “I love to see people have a great time and be in awe of something I have worked on.”

Looking back on his career at Shores and how it has helped shape him into the man he is today, Olthoff has a piece of advice to all current or future students: “Don’t pigeon hole yourself in only doing one thing in High School,” Olthoff said. “Try as many sports, music and educational opportunities as you can. You never know later down the road when they will help you or help steer your interest toward your career.” – Ashley Veihl, staff writer

Year Thirty (1991-1992) Junior Jason Munford

Senior Tom rich entertains the Pops crowd with his imitation of the “King.”

Junior Natasha Baldwin

her STORY ‘92 graduate ‘pictures’ a life with a photographic opportunities When she was graduating from Shores in 1992, Mary Amy (Hornik) Bajt may never have pictured herself where she is now.

Fortunately, as a photographer since 2004, Bajt all she has to do is picture others.

“I love photographing people’s happiest moments,” Bajt said.

Along with landing a job as a photographer, Bajt also

got married and had three children since she has moved on from Shores.

Aside from her career and family, Bajt says she hasn’t changed too much since high school.

“I’ve just gotten a little bigger, softer, older, happier,” Bajt said.

An optimistic person, Bajt said she enjoyed her career at Shores.

“There was a lot of opportunity to try new activities there,” said Bajt, who was involved in choir,

Student Services and Student Council. “I loved playing sports.”

Her love of sports brought her to Southern Illinois University, where she ran track and graduated with a degree in civil engineering.

Following college, Bajt moved to Atlanta and worked as a professionally licensed civil engineer, which she did for seven years in both Georgia and Michigan before becoming a stay-at-home mom.

That move, staying at

home, led her to her creative outlet of photography.

“I fell in love with it,” Bjt said. “It’s been a great parttime business for eight-plus years.”

Since Bajt was an active member of the student body, she leaves advice to current and future students.

“Try new activities at least once – you might find that you like it… even later in life.” – Ashley Veihl, staff writer

Year Thirty-One (1992-1993)

our STORY Week spent making students aware of AIDS Shores dedicated a week to AIDS awareness with a goal to educate students and staff about the disease of the nineties.

The week began with viewing video tapes. Fliers were distributed, and time was allowed for discussion.

Two assemblies were also held.

A 16-year-old named Kristy shared her story about her brother who died from AIDS after being infected during spring break. Also present was a 28-yearold named Paul who discovered he had AIDS after a blood transfusion.

The second assembly included a panel made up of health-care workers, support group leaders, nurses and administrators.

They answered student questions and cleared up misconceptions that people

Mary Byers, Betty Zylastra and Tim Stine listen as Rob Olsen (right) explains the importance of educating students about the risks of sexually transmitted diseases. had about the virus.

• The Marching Band was second “The week was worthwhile. It made at state and was fifth at the Bands of us stop and think about how serious America Grand National Championship.

AIDS is,” senior Ben Hylland said.

• Sophomore Shawn Miller became • The millage passed in the spring of the first girl to play football at Shores.

1992 putting an end to Pay to Play for She was on JV. – Warren Kent III, athletics. adviser

his STORY Settling down in Muskegon area a no brainer for ‘93 graduate With twin girls, a lovely wife, and a little boy recently added to the family, Sean Greene realizes what he has to be thankful in life and how much one can take advantage of the high school years that flash by.

Greene, a 1993 Shores graduate, said he realizes the differences of being a Greene high school student and a father.

“I am nowhere near the person I was in high school,” Green said. “The wisdom that more than 18 years adds cannot be described and the confidence that I have gained in myself is immeasurable.”

Sharing the hallways with his fellow seniors, Greene remembers those rebel days his fellow classmates

exemplified while being the seniors at Shores.

“I remember watching Dave Truscott, Donnie bouge, Craig Liddle and others jumping the snow hills in their cars out in the parking lot and having parts come flying off of them and watching one of them do a smokey burnout all the way across the parking lot while Mr. Mack stood there watching,” Greene said. “That didn’t go over well.”

Not only did he remember his goofy classmates and their “smokey burnouts,” but Greene showed his remembrance of a certain teacher that he has at Shores.

“Mr. Wade was by far my favorite teacher,” Greene said.

“He would come up with new shop classes every year to keep the group of us down there in the industrial arts building, and by doing this, I

have no doubt that he kept me in school.”

Greene is now happily employed at Witt Buick.

Graduating from Shores, he could never find himself to travel too far away from his home.

“I stayed in the Muskegon area; I love it here, and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else,” Greene said. “I went to Muskegon Community College for a couple years to learn automotive and started working at Witt Buick in 1995. I am now an ASE Master Auto Tech with seven years of experience.”

He said he enjoys working as an Auto Tech because he loves the challenge and ability he uses to overcome an obstacle at work and out in the world.

High school was a great time for Greene, he said, but

he has now settled down on 20 acres of wooded land, and he said he loves spending everyday with his wife and children.

But if Greene could change anything, he would. “(I would) certainly (have been) more involved and enjoyed (high school) far more,” Greene said. “You don’t realize how special those times are until it is 10, 15, 20 years later and you can look back on them with a different perspective.”

For his word to current high school students at Shores, Greene said it is important to push through and get to where you wish to be in life.

He said, “Enjoy your time in high school, make as many friends as possible and be involved as much as you can,” – Kelley Wheeler, staff writer

Year Thirty-One (1992-1993)

Sophomore Erin Foley shows her hurdling form.

The building of the spaghetti bridges took place in Don Hesling’s physics class. Senior Phil Young begins his project.

her STORY 6th-grade teacher returns to alma mater after 6 years as trainer Highly involved in sports, extra-curricular activities, and helping the class of 1993 with class spirit, Leah Kern loved her four years at Shores.

Now currently teaching sixth grade at Shores Middle School, Kern just couldn’t stay away from the Shores district.

“I love the connection I make Kern with kids... whether it’s in the classroom, coaching sports or being a part of student congress,” said Kern, who teaches science, coaches track and volleyball and helps with Student Congress. “It’s a great feeling to know that you can positively impact students on a daily basis.”

Kern said she did not originally plan to come back to her alma mater.

“Teaching was not one of my top occupations after

graduation; actually, it never entered my mind,” she said.

Kern graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine. She worked in Bay City as a Certified Athletic Trainer for approximately six years.

“I actually got bored with that career, so I decided to go back to school for teaching,” Kern said.

Teaching at Shores is a constant reminder of Kern’s years there as a student.

Reminiscing on her senior year, Kern said she cherishes the happy moments at Shores.

“My class won the float building contest four years in a row… starting with our freshman year,” Kern said.

“We had great class spirit.”

Kern said math teacher Tom Fielstra had a great impact on her.

“My favorite subject was math, and it was due to Mr. Fielstra,” she said. “He made math fun, and he always

connected with students. I remember he was always around watching me play sports.”

Because of Mr. Fielstra, Kern said connecting with her student is a priority, and her students know she cares.

“She connects with us really well and teaches us everything we need to know in a fun way,” said Grace Vanarendonk, a student in Kern’s second-hour class.

Not only does Kern enjoy every school day with her students; her students enjoy her even more.

“I like how she teaches.

She is really calm and nice and doesn’t give very much homework,” Maura Wilcox said.

When not teaching or coaching, Kern said she enjoys traveling.

“I had great experiences traveling to places such as Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean and a ton of other great spots in the U.S.,” she

said.

Being a former student of Shores, Kern said she feels a connection now being the teacher even if it was never part of her plan.

“When I graduated from Shores, I never thought I would be back here teaching. Now, I am very blessed to be working in such a great school district especially since it is my alma mater,” Kern said.

From her experience and knowledge, Kern has advice for the students today.

“Get involved as much as you can whether it is athletics, fine arts, clubs, etc. You only live the experience once so take away as much as you can when you graduate,” Kern said.

Leah Kern is happy to be a 1993 graduate of Shores and certainly is glad to be part of the Shores community again.

– Kelley Wheeler, staff writer

Year Thirty-Two (1993-1994)

our STORY Freshman-to-be dies at summer band camp Freshman-to-be Ann Zierer died at the summer band camp in August of 1993 due to a severe asthma attack.

In honor of their lost friend, band members wore a purple ribbon on their shoulders throughout the whole season.

Purple was Ann’s favorite color.

According to the Ludington Daily News, Zierer’s mother, Cynthia, sued the Grace Youth Camp near Hart and Sally Grevel, a licensed practical nurse who volunteered at the camp. Zierer said the camp and Grevel failed to ensure treatment despite notice from the family and a physician of Ann’s asthma.

A $325,000 settlement was reached in 1996.

• School finances were at the forefront. Under a bill passed in July 1993, all property taxes designated toward school operations would be removed. Becasue of this, the Shores district would lose 97 percent of its funding. Therefore, Superintendent Ken Walcott was searching for ways to remedy this financial loss.

Also, Governor John Engler proposed a plan in October 1993 that would replenish roughly $6.67 billion of the lost money.

• The Marching Band won the state title.

• New choir director added the song “Siyahumba” to the already popular

Singing Christmas Tree.

• SEA (Students for Environmental Action) adopted a whale and sponsored an “auto-slam” where students could take a sledgehammer to a car for 50 cents to raise money for the whale.

• The girls’ basketball team finished the regular season 16-4 with an OK Black championship before winning districts and regionals. The season ended in quarterfinals with a loss to Flint Northwestern.

• The hockey, which finished 22-3, won conference, beating eight-year conference champs East Kentwood.

• Both track teams won the City meet.

– Warren Kent III, adviser

her STORY Mathematics career had its beginnings in classrooms of Shores To Karen Pastor, a 1994 Shores graduate, high school was a time of wonderful memories, great teachers, and no regrets.

“I would not have changed anything (about my high school experience),” Pastor said.

I learned through the tough times and the Pastor good.”

In addition to the tough and the good times, everyone has embarrassing moments, and Pastor had hers in the middle of marching band practice when she whacked a teacher with her flag.

“We were starting when Mr. Adams silently walked to my right,” Pastor said.

“Needless to say, my flag came crashing down on his head. At first, I felt bad, but after he left the room, the whole Color Guard laughed

about it.”

In addition to Mr. Adams, several of Pastor’s favorite teachers had lasting effects on her future in different ways.

“I had two favorite teachers when I was at Shores: (Don) Hesling (physics) and (Sue) Lorey (business/typing),” Pastor said. “Both of them truly cared about their students and went above and beyond to help out. Mr. Hesling gave advice on math that I still use today.”

While some may find it hard to believe, there is such a thing as having a passion for math, and Pastor proves an example of this as she went on to work as a math curriculum specialist at National Heritage Academies.

“I enjoy helping make sense of mathematics for teachers and helping them learn to teach it in their classrooms,” Pastor said.

“I also enjoy working with

math, thanks to Mr. Hesling.”

Not only did Pastor’s academic experience at Shores help lead her to the job she has today, she said she also gained a lot of essential skills from her extra-curricular experiences at Shores.

“I was elected to Student Senate, and I had never attempted to be a leader before, and we had to speak in front of the whole school to be elected,” Pastor said. “This was my first introduction to being in front of a crowd, and I have used the skills I learned for the job I currently have.”

Clearly, elections for Student Senate is one thing that has changed since 1994, but Pastor also notes some other changes that she has seen the school go through after her graduation.

“A lot has changed since I went to Shores,” Pastor said.

“For one, they remodeled the building. There is also

block scheduling now, and trimesters. Plus, students are allowed in the courtyards.

That never happened before.”

After graduating from Oral Roberts University in 1999, Pastor has married, had a daughter, divorced, and remarried, gaining three stepchildren in the process. She says that she is so thankful for all of her family.

“The best thing that has happened has been having my daughter and expanding our family when I re-married,” Pastor said. “My husband and step-kids are amazing.

Overall, my life has been pretty wonderful.”

Although her life has taken her away from Shores, the school will always be a special place for Karen Pastor, as she said best: “Though my children all go to Orchard View, I will always be a Sailor at heart.”

– Shea Wilcox, staff writer

Year Thirty-Two (1993-1994) At Prom, seniors Dan Alexander and Joan Franzese make a football play with their dates, graduates Carrie Smith and Mike Kreifeldt.

At the annual Sailor Pride Day, sophomore Jessica Walsh, senior Nicole Maffet, senior Kyle Killingbeck and freshman Kevin Foley experience what it would be like to be a firefighter inside a burning home.

During Homecoming spirit week, senior Brian Gerran, sophomore Chad Mixter and freshman Blair Eklund compete in a game of Twister.

his STORY Current choir director owes career at Shores on ‘serendipity’ Shores has “serendipity” to thank for its current choir director.

Little known fact: Shawn Lawton originally declined the position of choir director that was offered to him immediately after student teaching with Skip Frizzell, the choir director at the time.

“It was his last year teaching, and Lawton he wanted a student teacher that might be able to take over,” Lawton said. “That was in the fall. In the spring, things were going so well that they decided they

wanted to keep me.”

An offer like this is not a common opportunity for a recent graduate from college, but Lawton had a significant reason for turning it down.

“I was head over heels for a young woman named Molly Stark,” Lawton said. “She had just graduated from Western Michigan University and was heading off to Chicago to pursue a career in theater when we met.”

Lawton was faced with a decision: either he had to take the job and put his relationship at risk or ensure his relationship and give up this employment opportunity.

“Long story short, in the

end, I gave up the offer from Mona Shores to allow Molly to pursue her career in Chicago,” Lawton said. “Eventually, I moved there too and got a high school vocal music teaching position there.”

However, it would appear that some things are just meant to be, and three years later, when the person who ended up replacing Frizzell had to leave the job, Lawton and his now wife, Molly, were prepared to settle down and start a family. “(Principal) Dave Caruso called me up out of the blue and let me know that the job was available again,” said Lawton, who began at Shores

in the 1993-94 school year.

“Molly and I were ready to start a family and decided to leave Chicago and ‘come back home’ to Mona Shores.

Serendipitous!”

Serendipity, indeed.

Twenty years later, and the Shores program is still benefiting from the many changes this man has made to it. From introducing “Siyahumba” as the traditional Singing Christmas Tree processional song to transforming Allegros from a show choir to a yearly musical, Shawn Lawton has made a lasting impact, and it seems that Shores has “serendipity” to thank for that. – Shea Wilcox, staff writer

Year Thirty-Three (1994-1995)

our STORY Three bond proposals pass in March vote Bond. Passed Bond.

Three bond issues, which were on the March 20, 1995, ballot, all passed.

Proposal I provided improvements at all district schools.

Proposal II provided a new auditorium and auxiliary gym at the high school.

Proposal III provided for the improvements and additions to the athletic complex at the high school.

• Nine students were arrested March 9, 1995, during a drug bust.

Four of the nine students were arraigned as adults while the other five were charged as juveniles.

The nine, according to The Sailors’ Log, were pulled from class and arrested for delivering marijuana in the community.

The arrests followed a four-month undercover investigation by the West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET), the area’s drug enforcement team.

Superintendent Ken Walcott said, “The reality is that drugs are prevalent in our society today. No community or school is immune. We needed to hit this head-on.”

• Three students died during the school year.

Sophomore Mike Sciamanna was killed in a car accident.

According to The Sailors’ Log, Sciamanna was riding in the backseat of a friend’s car on Oct. 14., 1994, when the vehicle went off the road and rolled three times.

Even though Sciamanna was wearing a seatbelt, he was thrown from the car and died instantly.

Sciamanna was involved in orchestra, Jazz Band and wrestling.

Sophomore Jacob Swarts died Nov. 7, 1994. The official police report listed the cause of death as a “result of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

Swarts, who was at Shores for less than a year after transferring from Fremont, was involved in the Computer Club.

Sophomore Shaun Thomas died Jan. 4, 1995. The official cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Thomas was an avid baseball card collector and enjoyed sports.

• The debate about an ice rink in the school district was on-going.

The idea of a rink, which would be located east of the high school, was still up in the air.

“I thing there is still an outside chance

(that the rink will be built),” hockey coach Steve Habetler said. “At this point, I am still working on it. If I have to stay here 25 years and coach, I will, if I can, see my dream (of a rink) come true.”

As of 2012, the rink was still just a dream.

• Seven new classes were added: Advanced Placement (AP) English; English 10; Honors English 10; Functions, Statistics and Trigonometry (FST); Service Learning; World Studies; and Broadcast Speech.

• A new addition to the attendance policy was put into effect March 6, 1995: students who are dropped from a class because of excessive absences were placed in assigned study halls.

• Senior Stacy Piasecki finished fourth for Miss Michigan, whic is given annually to the top girls’ basketball player in the state.

Piasecki led the Sailors to a conference title before the team won both the district and regional championships.

Coach Mike Mack was named Class A Coach of the Year.

• The girls’ tennis team won the City championship for the 11th straight year.

– Warren Kent III, adviser

her STORY ‘Social teenager’ continues with career as cosmetologist Pam (Poort) Mack, who graduated in Shores class of 1995, was a social teenager who participated in school sports, school spirit, and had many friends that, to this day, she said she still stays in Mack contact with.

“Playing basketball and softball, and the bus rides were the most fun,” said Mack, who added that

building all of the floats was also memorable.

While Mack was at Shores, she said she had a lot of school spirit. She said she loved sports, or at least attending them, and loved how Shores showed pride and spirit for their school.

Many things about Shores have changed since Mack graduated – not only has the school changed, but so have teachers. She also noted the school has a new auditorium.

While at Shores, she said

that her favorite teacher was Mr. Tunis, who taught at the middle school.

Many kids who graduate high school have regrets or things that they wish they could of done differently, and Mack has some advice for students.

“Focus more on school work and studies, and take more years of Spanish,” she said.

Mack said her life has changed a lot since graduating from Shores. She now has a

family and has a career as a cosmetologist on the side and also cleans houses.

Mack said her favorite thing about her career is being social.

She said, “I talk to people everyday at my job doing hair and cleaning houses.”

Mack said her favorite things about her life now since graduating from Shores is the fact that she still gets to see some of her old friends she went to school with.

– Sarah Weathers, staff writer

Year Thirty-Three (1994-1995)

Surgeon General C. Everett Koop visted Shores and spoke about substance abuse.

At the Christmas Dance, senior Scott Waldo shows his best move.

During Halloween, teachers Joan Wiersma, Gail Whittaker, Gale DeKleine and Sue Zack dress up.

Sophomore Maria Rafferty, a member of the JV softball team, throws a pitch during a home game.

his STORY ‘Average high school kid’ says to do the best you can Ben Bultema, who graduated in 1995, said he was your average high school kid.

Bultema also said he was a big class clown and spent most of his time hanging out with friends.

He said they Bultema always had a lot of fun.

But it was a head-to-head match with wrestling coach Don Mosley that stands out.

“I told Mr. Mosley I could beat him in wrestling,” Bultema said. “He took me to the gym with the whole class.

He kicked my butt.”

When Bultema was not hanging out with his friends, he said he loved playing hockey for Shores and that it was his favorite thing about the school.

Since leaving Shores, he said he is not really sure what has changed.

He said, “But I do know it is a lot bigger. LOL.”

Throughout high school, everyone has those things they wish they could have gone back and done over again.

“I would have done better in school,” Bultema said. “So maybe I wouldn’t have to work so hard now.”

Since graduation, Bultema has come a long way. He said that his life has been challenging, but it has all been worth it. And he is thankful to have a good job.

He said that “having my

girls and meeting my wife” were important things in his life.

Through it all, Bultema has advice for students.

“My advice is do the best you can in school,” Bultema siad. “But make sure you make time for your friends.

Make sure you stick to your goals. Don’t let anyone change your mind and do what is in your heart.”

– Sarah Weathers, staff writer

Year Thirty-Four (1995-1996)

our STORY Marching Band places third at nationals

The Marching Band, 165 members strong, marched their way all the way to the national competition.

They competed against local school but eventually moved on to regionals (Toledo, Ohio sixth place in Flight II), State Championship (Pontiac first place in Flight II and second in Flight AA), and Nationals (Indianapolis third place in Flight and 15th out of 80 bands at the competition).

Band director Jack Adams said, “I think we will continue to improve and strive for success.”

• The girls’ tennis team won the City title for the 12th straight time.

• The hockey team had a girl in goal: Finnish exchange student Anna Jylha.

– Jake Bordeaux, staff writer Chad Mixter (far right) took the Outside Gourmet Cooking class for a new adventure on Sailor Pride Day. Sean Jazdzk (top) tries to win the pie-eating contest during Homecoming. Steve Meier (bottom) shows off his sumo wrestling suit during Senior Celebration.

her STORY Former Homecoming Queen pursues occupational therapist career Many girls dream of one day being elected Homecoming Queen, but for 1996 graduate Peggy (McKeown) Bamonte, that dream became a reality when she was elected her senior year at Shores.

However, this was just a bonus to her exciting high school Bamonte career.

“I have a lot of good memories,” Bamonte said. “I really enjoyed being a part of such an amazing group of people/classmates in the class

of 1996.”

Being an exceptional student, Bamonte not only pursued excellence in the classroom but also made sure to volunteer her time and resources wherever they were needed, even if it did not always work out very well.

“After giving blood, I passed out and vomited on a classmate/friend at the school blood drive that I helped promote my senior year,” Bamonte said. “It was very embarrassing and gross.”

After her time at Shores, Bamonte was able to continue her pursuit toward excellence.

Inspired by her classes and

teachers at Shores, her career goal was an easy choice.

“I liked AP Biology (Jennifer Holder-Adams) and business classes (Sue Lorey),” Bamonte said. “I have always liked science classes, and I competed nationally with BPA (Business Professionals of America), which was a great experience.”

Graduating college, Bamonte then put her skills to work. She began working at Kinetic Kids, Inc., where she helps others in the way she had always dreamed of.

“It (the medical field) is just a personal interest I have always had where

knowledge seems endless,” said Bamonte, who is a contracted staff member and assistant director at Kinetic Kids, Inc. “I love being able to help others, and it has given me a fulfilling career as a self-employed occupational therapist.”

Spurred onward by the loving community and atmosphere provided by the Sailor community, Bamonte is a primary example of the motivated, successful members of society that both a school and the community surrounding it cannot help but be proud of. – Jake Bordeaux, staff writer

Year Thirty-Four (1995-1996) At the Homecoming football game, seniors Steve Webb, Jim Pascavis and Steve Meier show their school spirit.

Junior Julie Heath concentrates on her video switching job during the morning announcements.

his STORY ‘96 graduate’s career has taken him to Los Angeles Over the years, thousands of curious students have inhabited the halls of Shores, each with his or her own hopes and dreams.

Many just hoped to survive the experience and make it through the adventure, but not 1996 graduate JD Ryznar.

As his junior year came to a close, he Ryznar decided he wanted to be remembered by his peers for years to come, so he “ran” for Homecoming King.

“I feel like my crowning achievement was running for Homecoming King,” Ryznar said. “No one runs for Homecoming King. It’s just a popularity contest, but at the end of my junior year, I tacked the announcement of my candidacy at the end of my Student Senate election speech. I promised to ‘rule the Homecoming kingdom with kindness and justice.’ The class loved it, remembered it, and elected me onto the Homecoming Court the next fall. Sadly, I didn’t get elected King.”

While he may not have been elected King, Ryznar still fondly remembers his time at Shores and all of the wonderful programs and

teachers who helped form the base of his adult life.

“I love the school’s emphasis on the performing arts,” Ryznar said. “I’m sure this is still the case, but back in my day, it was cooler to be in choir or band than it was to play sports. It was still super dorky to be in the theater program, but I still loved it.”

During his time at Shores, Ryznar was passionately involved in the theater and choir programs and could not forget the excellent instructors that led him, “We had the great Mr. F. Louis Payment as our director,” Ryznar said. “He was super tough and expected so much out of us. He got incredible performances out of high school kids, and the sets he designed and had us build were phenomenal. Then, of course, good old Shawn Lawton, the king maker. I was not a good singer and never landed a solo in my two years as one of his students.

But, like Mr. Payment, he recognized something in me and gave me the chance to write and perform comedic ‘stingers,’ sketches between the acts at the Pop Goes the Sailor’s concerts. Letting a 17-year-old knock it out of the park in front of 1,200 people at the Frauenthal is a pretty awesome way to reinforce a kid’s confidence.”

With entertainment as his calling, Ryznar has spent his life after high school moving from coast to coast in pursuit of his dream.

“Life’s been awesome,” Ryznar said.

He attended the University of Michigan and then moved to New York City for about a year and then to Los Angeles.

“I worked crappy jobs, running errands on basic cable reality shows for a while and then made the internet show Yacht Rock for Channel101.com,” Ryznar said, adding that everyone interested in making videos at Shores should submit to Channel101.

Ryznar was then signed to United Talent Agency.

Since then, he has had a few successes: he sold a script for a movie to Warner Brothers that has yet to be made, and he was on a sketch comedy show on VH1 called Acceptable TV. Most recently, he has written for the Spike TV show Blue Mountain State, which Ryznar describes as “a raunchy college football show.”

“I’ve had a ton of failures, too,” Ryznar said. “A ton. But that’s part of the biz.”

Out of the millions who made their way to California in pursuit of entertainment dreams, Ryznar is one of the few who made it.

“There’s a great deal of satisfaction in putting your heart and soul into something and have it be liked by a lot of people, even better when you get paid for it,” Ryznar said. “And it’s so competitive out here that when you get the smallest sliver of success, it’s the biggest thrill in the world.

And the fact is, I don’t know how to do anything else, so I have no choice but to like it.”

Among the glamour of Hollywood life, Ryznar still makes sure to make time for his loving family.

“My family is incredible,” Ryznar said. “I got married a few years ago, and we have a two-year-old son. We all have a ton of fun together every day, which is really what life’s all about.”

Even now, 16 years after graduation, Ryznar maintains his healthy sense of humor and is quick to share his fond memories of Shores with any he meets.

“I love that we’re ‘The Mona Shores Sailors,’” Ryznar said. “Dumbest high school name and mascot ever, and I take a lot of pride in that. I love sharing that info with new people that I meet.

Everyone’s school mascots are so tough, but I was a Sailor, and a Mona Shores one at that.” – Jake Bordeaux, staff writer

Year Thirty-Five (1996-1997)

our STORY Construction at high school kicks into high gear Construction at the high school continued as the $42.5 million bond to remodel school kicked in.

An auxiliary gym, a fitness center, band choir and orchestra rooms, a

multi-purpose room, new entry way and circle drive, new science labs, business classrooms, a high tech learning center, and a publishing lab were on the horizon.

• Principal David Caruso was

reassigned to help with integration of technology. Caruso was replaced by Bill Trujillo, who was previously principal at Lake Central High School in St. John, Ind. – Warren Kent III, adviser

her STORY Stay-at-home mother cherishes moments with family Shawn (Langlois) Heethuis’ career at Shores started at Campbell Elementary, where she met her husband, Josh Heethuis, in Ms. Belmonte’s fourthgrade class.

“I can still remember his striped shirt with red suspenders,” said Heethuis Heethuis, a 1997 graduate. “Josh and I remained great friends all through school. We went to Prom together as friends and didn’t start dating until our freshman year of college. We were extremely honored to have Mrs. Belmonte attend our wedding, and to this day, we enjoy exchanging letters and holiday cards with her.”

Heethuis recalls many memories, ranging from school projects to the many fine arts activities.

“Living outside of Muskegon as an adult, I have a deep appreciation for the fine arts program at Shores,” Heethuis said. “I learned quickly how well known Shores is across the state for its band and choir programs.

This is something I am very proud to say I was a part of.”

Heethuis’ favorite thing about Shores was the compassionate community

and loving friendships.

“While at Shores, parents, teachers and community members always seemed to take great care of Shores students, and the friendships I gained are still to this day some of my closest friendships,” Heethuis said.

“Some of these friendships have grown from elementary school days, through middle school, high school, college, weddings and the births of our children. It’s really remarkable.”

With all of the exciting times and wonderful memories she remembers from Shores, Heethuis says she would not change anything about her high school career.

“Every experience in life brings us to where we are today,” Heethuis said. “Every fall, every success, every laugh, and every cry has made me who and what I am today; and that, I would not change.”

Heethuis encourages students to take it all in.

“Don’t be in such a rush to grow up. Have fun in high school and make the most of every situation,” Heethuis said. “High school is the perfect time to build lasting friendships, to experience many different extracurricular activities, and to enjoy, appreciate, and embrace your

family life.

After Shores, Heethuis attended Muskegon Community College before transferring to Michigan State University, where she marched three years in the Spartan marching band. She then married Josh in 2003.

“The best thing that has happened to me since leaving Shores is marrying Josh and having our three beautiful children,” said Heethuis of Christian, Chloe and Claire.

“The life we have created together far outweighs any other experience in my lifetime.”

Heethius said she loves being a stay-at-home mom.

“I enjoy waking up to the calls of my children instead of an alarm clock,” Heethuis said. “I enjoy taking them to run errands and being able to experience the new world through their eyes. I enjoy volunteering in my older two children’s classrooms which allows me the chance to see firsthand how they interact with classmates. I love the people I work for; nothing beats being called ‘mom.’”

Although there have been some major changes in her life since leaving Shores, she said she does not feel she has changed as a person.

“The changes that I have noticed have come

simply from experience,” Heethuis said. “I have a clearer understanding of the saying ‘no one is guaranteed tomorrow.’ I have more of an appreciation for family and knowing how my parents felt as I was growing up. I strongly feel that life is a learning game. You live and learn.”

While her adult life continues in Lansing, many things at Shores have changed.

The “new” parts of the high school were just starting to be built when Heethuis graduated in 1997.

It may not be the same in its appearance and new renovations, but Heethuis knows that the community which surrounds and makes up Shores is special.

“In a world where fingers are always pointing at others, putting them down, it was nice to be part of a school system where I felt pats on the back were given instead,” Heethuis said. “From elementary school to middle school and to high school, Mona Shores is a district which I hold in high regards.

It is a district that Josh and I used as a model in looking for a school district for our children; and that alone speaks a million words.”

– Sydney Tharp, staff writer

Year Thirty-Five (1996-1997)

his STORY Educator proud to say he’s a Mona Shores alumnus Being an involved high school student, Josh Heethuis, a 1997 graduate, has many fond memories of Shores.

“I have so many favorites,” Heethuis said. “(Like) elementary kickball games at Campbell, Mariner Mania nights at the middle school, Sailor Pride Day, the great projects in (Don) Heethuis Hesling’s physics class, our multiple state championships in competitive marching band, my first Singing Christmas Tree, and touring with (Shawn and Molly) Lawton and the Allegros.”

Out of the many school days, one written critique assignment on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poetry in Bill Keur’s Honors English 10 class sticks out.

“At the time, I was not exactly impressed with Emerson’s work, and the thesis statement for my paper was ‘Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poetry is a bunch of crap,’” Heethuis said. “The day after I submitted this paper, I entered Mr. Keur’s class only to find my ‘crap’ statement written in bold print on the front board. I, of course, was terrified. To start class that day, the first words out of Mr. Keur’s mouth were ‘Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poetry is a bunch of crap,’ and I thought ‘Oh my God, what did I do?’

He proceeded to use my thesis as the basis of his lecture that day. To my surprise, his message was about the importance of using details

and examples to support your written claims. I am certain Mr. Keur did not agree with my thesis statement, but he was pleased with my ability to defend my claim.”

His favorite part about Shores is its tradition of excellence in the arts.

“It has always been a point of pride, but I have also discovered that our band and choir programs have a prestigious reputation throughout the state,” Heethuis said. “I always enjoyed the positive reactions I would get from my peers at Michigan State when I would tell them I was a graduate of Shores.”

While the arts was Heethuis’ favorite thing about Shores, Heidi Sunderhaft was his favorite teacher. She was his sixth grade social studies and homeroom teacher.

“Her enthusiasm for learning was contagious, but more importantly, she knew how to build positive relationships with her students,” Heethuis said.

“She also invested herself in the school community outside the classroom as a director of the middle school plays.”

After graduating from Shores, Heethuis attended Michigan State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education with minors in mathematics and theater and played the trombone in the band. He was hired by St. Johns Public Schools in the summer of 2002 and has been teaching there since. He is also the middle school student council adviser and one of

the directors of the annual spring musical. In 2006, he earned his master’s degree from MSU in Curriculum and Teaching.

“I have been incredibly fortunate to have some many wonderful experiences since 1997 – attending a prestigious Big Ten university, making new friends, traveling with the Spartan band, working with great co-workers and the wonderful families of St. Johns,” Heethuis said. “But the greatest thing by far is marrying my best friend, Shawn, starting a family and building a life together.”

Heethuis’ met his wife, in Mrs. Belmonte’s fourth grade class at Campbell Elementary.

They have been married for eight years, live in Lansing, and have three children – Christian (8), Chloe (5), and Claire (2).

“We became friends and grew closer during our middle and high school years. We shared so many fun memories together both inside and outside of the classroom, along with a common circle of close friends that we remain in touch with today.

While we did not start dating until our freshman year of college, there was always something special about our relationship,” Heethuis said.

“Despite being ‘just friends’ in high school, I always knew Shawn was the girl I wanted to take to our senior Prom.

And the rest, as they say, is history.”

Although many things have changed in Heethuis’ life after high school, his personal values and relationships have remained the same.

“In my career, I am now the teacher instead of the student, and as a parent, I now make the rules instead of questioning them,” Heethuis said. “I believe I have become a stronger person, a better leader, and a positive contributor to our society.

These were all goals I set for myself as a young student at Mona Shores.”

For advice for students, Heethuis stresses the importance of making the most of opportunities.

“In today’s world, academic success in high school is a critical first step to reaching your personal goals in college and beyond; however, high school is also a time to explore new activities and challenges,” Heethuis said. “As an adult, you may not have the time or the money to explore and experience these activities.

Furthermore, they provide you with an opportunity to build relationships with people and become a wellrounded adult.”

In his adult life, Heethuis looks back on Shores as a place that provided a strong foundation for his future.

“I was fortunate to grow up with a supportive family in a great community like Mona Shores,” Heethuis said.

“The family atmosphere, the beautiful lakefront scenery, the academic tradition, the excellence in the fine arts, and the opportunity to build relationships with great people have all made me the person I am today. I am proud to call myself a Mona Shores Sailor alum.” – Sydney Tharp, staff writer

Year Thirty-Six (1997-1998)

our STORY Students, faculty ease into new building Under first-year Principal Bill Trujillo, the students and faculty settled into the new building.

The learning center was finished in December 1997. The auditorium opened in May 1998. The cafeteria was finished over the summer of 1998.

In January 1998, it was acknowledged that “wise investments” allowed the construction to come in $1.5 million under budget.

• A new computer system, with highspeed fiber connections, was added.

• Superintendent Ken Walcott stepped down after eight years.

“The proudest and happiest moment for me was passing the bond issue on March 20, 1995,” said Walcott, who was

replaced by Mike Holmes. “It fulfilled a lot of people’s dreams.”

• Two students died over the summer.

Jamie Stevens, who would have been a sophomore, died at the beginning of summer after battling cancer.

Stevens was first diagnosed with lymphoma in middle school. Her cancer was in remission, but last year, she went into relapse.

Jerry Cook, who would have begin his junior year, was killed in a car accident two days before school started.

Cook loved dirt biking, racing in AMA motocross as No. 939.

• The Marching Band placed fourth at Nationals.

• A school-record eight students were

selected to the State Honors Choir.

• Senior John Prince won the Literary Arts category at the annual Showcase competition. Prince won for his short story “Heaven’s Forgotten.”

• Three athletes won state titles. In tennis doubles action, seniors Joe Infante and Dave Lassanske won state for a second year in a row. Last year, they won at No. 2; this year at No. 1. Senior Lamar Courtney captured a state title in the 400meter run a year after winning the state title in the 100-meter dash.

• Athletic director Jerry Fitzpatrick stepped down after 35 years while girls’ basketball coach Mike Mack and hockey coach Steve Habetler also retired.

– Warren Kent III, adviser

her STORY ‘98 grad finds working in women’s, children’s health rewarding Having a good time in high school is always an important thing to do. And that is exactly what 1998 graduate Jessica Crawford did.

One of Crawford’s favorite memories from Shores is when she was in AP English with Jacque Tomasiewicz.

What Crawford Crawford loved about that class was when they had free reading time; she and her friends would lay on the ground and read magazines.

“Ms. Tomasiewicz would come to our table and talk to us about how hard it is to quit smoking,” Crawford said. “It was silly, but I remember it very fondly.”

Crawford’s favorite thing about Shores is that people appreciated each other’s differences and talents.

“Everyone didn’t need to be exactly the same to be accepted and appreciated,” Crawford said.

Crawford’s favorite teacher at Shores was Tom Fielstra. He was her math teacher all four years, and she said she learned so much from him – about math and life in general.

“He was such a motivational person,” Crawford said.

“I always valued what he had to say.”

Crawford said she doesn’t think she would change anything about her high school experience. She said she can’t say that it was always easy, but at this point, all of her memories are good ones.

“I feel lucky to have always felt safe and valued at Mona Shores,” Crawford said. “I know a lot of people aren’t so fortunate these days.”

Since graduating from

Shores, Crawford has been busy.

She attended Michigan Tech and received her BS. After Michigan Tech, she went on to medical school at Michigan State Unviersity and went on to do Obstetrics and Gynecology residency in Wisconsin.

Now, she is in Houston getting additional surgical and clinical training in gynecologic issues specific to children and adolescents.

Crawford will also be getting married in October and will likely move to California, where her fiancé is from. She said she plans to work as a physician at an academic center in southern California.

“My career is fantastic because on any given day, I could be doing surgery, delivering a baby, or seeing patients in clinic,” Crawford said. “It is never boring, and I am constantly learning new

things every single day. It is very rewarding working in women’s and children’s health.”

Crawford said the best thing that has happened to her since leaving Shores would be meeting her wonderful fiancé.

She has also trained at some wonderful intuitions and traveled to amazing places. Crawford has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and she has hiked the Inca trail to Macchu Pichu.

And through everything she has done, she has advice for students.

“Have fun, but ultimately, take your education very seriously,” Crawford said. “I am lucky and have good job security, but I know a lot of people who are really struggling to get and keep work. It is a very hard job market, and it is really important to get a good education.” – Andrew Kromminga, staff writer

Year Thirty-Six (1997-1998) Math teacher Joan Wiersma portrays Cruella De Ville from the movie 101 Dalmations.

The dog was supplied by special education teacher Mary Vandermolen.

his STORY

Dave Martin entertains the crowd at a home football game.

Senior Brian Dutkiewicz gives a thumbs-up after diving into a bowl of whipped cream during Snowcoming week.

Middle school health teacher bleeds blue and white of Shores For 1998 graduate Scott Volkmann, it is the people he remembers most.

“I have always loved how Mona Shores has so many amazing people,” said Volkmann, who now teaches health at the middle school.

“From the students to the staff to the community members.”

One Volkmann of those amazing people is Volkmann himself – as the following story will attest While on his way to perform in the Singing Christmas Tree in his junior year, Volkmann found a wallet containing $900.

Instead of keeping the money, he contacted the police, and they were able to get the money back to its rightful owner.

For doing the right thing, Volkmann was in the newspaper, spoke on a radio talk show, and received about $600 in the mail from random strangers. He also received a new set of golf clubs from a local pro.

Playing golf in Volkmann’s

high school career is one of his favorite memories. He said he always went the extra mile to become better, always setting goals for himself and always reaching them.

In addition to playing golf, Volkmann said participating in Pop Go the Sailors is another one of his favorite memories.

While Volkmann looks back on his Shores career with fondness, there is one area that he says is now missing from Shores.

“One of the areas I would love to see improve is the school spirit,” Volkmann said. “The student sections at sporting events used to be huge. Students need to put down the Xbox and get to a game.”

One of the things that haw changed since he was in high school is curriculum.

Volkmann said schedules are much more demanding now, and students are thinking about the ACT scores and colleges way before he was.

Out of all of Volkmann’s teachers, two stood out to him.

One of them was social studies teacher Dean Jewett.

Volkmann said he remembers

Jewett being so funny and just an approachable man.

Volkman said Jewett is a great example of a family man and someone who has spent countless hours teaching and coaching.

Choir director Shawn Lawton iss also a memorable teacher for Volkmann. Lawton always demanded excellence and had high expectations for everyone in choir, Volkmann said. Volkmann said he respects that Lawton had built a nationally recognized program.

Volkmann’s advice for high school students is to be careful.

“There are so many drugs and peer pressures out there,” he said. “Surround yourself with good people. Just because it seems cool now doesn’t mean it is the right decision.”

Since Shores, Volkmann graduated from Saginaw Valley State University, where he was an education major and MVP of the golf team.

He was hired at Shores in 2005 and earned the “Teacher Excellence Award” in 2011.

In 2008, Volkmann was lucky enough to find and settle down with a wonderful

woman named Jen. Now, he has a 2-year-old son named Brady and another baby due in July. He also has a boxer named Snotz.

“The best thing that has happened to me since leaving Shores is meeting my wife Jen. She is the most amazing person I have ever met,” Volkman said. “A close second would be our son Brady. Look for him to be an all-stater in golf in about 2027.”

Volkmann said he believes that teaching is the best job in the world. He said he loves what he does. He loves that he gets to give back to the Shores students some of the life lessons he was lucky to get from the teachers he had.

“Mona Shores is a world class school,” Volkmann said. “I bleed blue and white.

I would challenge students to have as much school spirit as possible. If you see a student wearing another school’s apparel, find them some MS gear. Get involved in something you are good at – sports, choir, skateboarding.

If you have a passion for something, you won’t fall for anything.” – Andrew Kromminga, staff writer

Year Thirty-Seven (1998-1999)

our STORY Time capsule from 1962 opened in auditorium Nearly 100 people attended the Feb. 17 opening of a time capsule, which was sealed in 1962 when the school was opened.

“We chose to open (the time capsule) because it just seemed like the right time since in 1962, they had a brand-new school, and here in 1998-99, we have a practically new building,” Student Service adviser Tom Wilson said.

The ceremony in the auditorium began with C. William Hanichen, the school’s first principal, recounting the beginning of Shores – with no school colors, no fight song, no bleachers nor lights on the football field.

Other speakers included former principal David Caruson, current superintendent Dr. Mike Holmes and current principal Bill Trujillo.

The time capsule contained newspaper clippings covering the ground-breaking for the new school,

Seniors Nick Bronsema and Jodi Schrader help Doug Wood, class of 1965, open the time capsule. information on all the elementary schools, the directory of the staff, the first Shores yearbook and other historical items.

• Superintendent Dr. Mike Holmes stepped down and was replaced by Terry Babbitt.

• The Marching Band became a three-

time state champion on Nov. 7, 1998.

The band earned 89.85 out of 100 points and made a clean sweep of captain awards by receiving Best Music, Best Marching and Best General Effect in Flight III. The band previously won titles in 1993 and 1995.

• Five singers (Seniors Brielle Foelker and Gilana Alpert, and juniors Sean Closz, Brett Duiser and Gena Lack) made the State Honors Choir.

• Junior Mali Sridharan won the Literary Arts category at Showcase with her free-form poems “Mermaid,” “Bittersweet,” and “Adoration.”

• Two teachers ran for County Commission seats. Social studies teacher Jake Funkhouser retained his seat while social studies teacher Steve Morell lost.

• Freshman Derek Gray was ranked No. 2 in the nation in speedskating.

– Warren Kent III, adviser

his STORY Current Shores boys’ basketball coach strives for perfection Nick Bronsema, a kindergarten teacher at Ross Park Elementary, says his teachers at Shores are the ones who helped him decide to become who he is today.

“Teachers have the chance to make a difference, not all do, but they have the chance.

Teaching is the greatest occupation; there is Bronsema nothing better than helping a person,” said Bronsema, who graduated in 1999.

While at Shores, Bronsema was involved in many programs – Student Congress, Tom Wilson’s leadership class, golf, baseball, football,

and basketball.

But it is one moment on the basketball court that has stayed with Bronsema.

“We were down one point with .1 left on the clock in the last game of the season against a very talented Jenison team,” he said. “I stepped up to the line and made the first shot to tie the game. After the first make, they called a timeout to ice me.

“It was Mr. (Jeremy) Andres’ first year as a teacher and coach, and I remember him looking me in the eye and giving me all the encouragement I needed to make the second freethrow. I stepped up with confidence and missed the second one, and we lost the

game in triple overtime. I will never forget that moment; I really wanted to make that shot for my coaches and my teammates.”

Bronsema made it past that missed shot and is now the varsity boys’ basketball coach at Shores. He recalls the most memorable part of his coaching not coming from one moment in particular but from all the blood, sweat, and tears from the off-season.

“I have enjoyed every second of coaching; it’s an honor to represent my community,” Bronsema said.

“My goal is to have a positive effect on as many players in the program as possible, to live and breath the life of a person of great character. I haven’t been perfect, but it’s

what I strive to be.”

While at Shores, Bronsema had the opportunity to learn from many great leaders who affected him and others in many positive ways.

Among those leaders were Andres, who to this day still pushes him to be a better person, and social studies teacher Dean Jewett, who always made learning fun and interesting, but most of all spoke the word of character and brought meaning to it through his teachings.

“My high school experience was great,” Bronsema said. “Mona Shores is a wonderful place with great leaders all over the school.” – Mikayla Day, center section editor

Year Thirty-Seven (1998-1999)

her STORY Local business owner believes in giving back to community For Jen (Wolters) Cross, a 1999 graduate, Shores definitely affected her life.

Many of her choices, including the classes she chose and the friends she selected, influenced where she is now.

To this day, Cross who organized her class’s 10year reunion, Cross is close to and involved with the people in her class.

“When it looked like the reunion may not happen, I wanted to make sure that everyone that wanted to had the opportunity to connect in our home town again,” Cross said.

After graduating from Shores, Cross attended Western Michigan University, where several teachers from school and her parents had attended.

Following college, Cross got married and moved to Japan to teach English. When they returned to the United States, they had no house, no cars, no jobs, or no money and nothing to tie them down anywhere.

“We were able to move to any city in the world,” Cross said. “We decided to stay in Muskegon for many factors, including affordable cost of living, recreational beauty and activities, growth opportunities, and the need here to attract and retain young, educated people in this community for it to prosper.”

To this day, there is still one class that Cross still talks

Jen Cross opened Continuity, a casual eclectic shop, in the Third Street Business District of Downtown Muskegon. about – Marketing Principles class taught by Dave Walker.

She said Walker always focused on real-world skills, such as banking, typing, writing business plans, and learning how to run a business.

The students even got the opportunity to work and run the school store.

Walker was also the teacher who encouraged Cross to be involved in DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America). While in the program, Cross created an “Entrepreneurship Written Business Plan” that was a real-life proposal to start a restaurant. With her proposal, Cross won at the state level in competitions and had to opportunity to travel to Denver.

“My experience with DECA helped me to realize something I was passionate about and could be successful with,” Cross said.

Before deciding to start her own business, Cross

spent five years working as the Marketing Director for the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce during the midst of the beginning revitalization of Downtown Muskegon.

Cross finally decided she needed to “walk the walk” and started her own business called Continuity, which is located in the up-and-coming Third Street Business District of Downtown Muskegon.

“Continuity is an eclectic shop combining unique antiques, nostalgic vintage and one-of-a-kind up-cycled goods,” Cross said. “It is something different than the other businesses out there.

It’s fun, it’s fresh, and it’s affordable.”

In addition to DECA, Cross was involved in broadcasting, where she was an anchor on the morning news, and choir, where she had traveled to Europe.

On the side, Cross ran track, was a cheerleader, played tennis and participated

in ski club trips.

All those opportunities, she said, were because of her education from Shores.

“Our K-12 education years give us the foundation for who we are,” Cross said.

“We begin to discover our talents, our strength and our weaknesses. It is important, following high school, to go out and experience the world, get a college education and those real-life experiences, have traveling adventures, experience career and adult decisions, and see, meet, and get to know other people and cities. It is then that one realizes what we have in this community and will appreciate it. They can then come back when it is time to settle in more and raise a family and bring their knowledge, experience, ideas and assets with them back to grow our community.”

Her biggest regret is not getting even more involved.

Looking back, Cross admits that she wishes she had been an active member of Student Congress, Student Services, yearbook, and maybe even started or hosted a couple of clubs for marketing or promotion, something along those line.

“Looking back on my time at Shores, I have very fond memories,” Cross said.

“The people I met, the lessons learned, and the experiences shared have made me the person I am today. There were definitely ups and downs throughout high school. It was an adjustment growing up and learning to make good decisions.” – Mikayla Day, center section editor

Year Thirty-Eight (1999-2000)

our STORY Hockey dominates en route to state championship Shores won its first hockey state title with a 6-3 victory over Woodhaven in the Div. II championship game.

“When the game was over, we were all really emotional and the championship hadn’t quite sunk in yet,” senior goalie Ryan Rozycki said. “It was an unbelievable feeling that I can’t describe.”

Under coach Shawn Zimmerman, the Sailors finished the regular season 21-3 (9-1 as OK conference champs) before defeating their six play-off opponents by a combined score of 55-7.

Shores began the playoffs by beating Cadillac 6-0 behind a two-goal, twoassist performance by senior forward Eric Posthumus. The Sailors then defeated Gaylord 11-1, setting up a matchup with No. 1-ranked Sault St. Marie.

Shores blanked the Soo 10-0 before

shuting out Grand Rapids Christian 12-0.

In the semifinals, the Sailors beat Midland Dow 12-1 before taking on Woodhaven.

“We knew we could win. We wanted to win, and we were real confident,” said junior forward Kevin Jaeger, who scored two goals in the title game.

• Freshman Jared Satterfield, who had cerebral palsy, died after battle with pneumonia and a virus.

“He was an example to everyone,” said sophoomore Lindsay Satterfield, his sister. “With everything that he went through, he was still smiling.”

• A bomb threat forced evacuation of the high school on Oct. 20. No bomb was found.

• The Marching Band won the state title for the fourth time.

• Five Jennifer Johnsons could be found in the hallways.

• Three winter sports teams were all ranked at the same time. The volleyball team (No. 7), the boys’ basketball team (No. 9) and the hockey team (No. 3) were all ranked.

• After one mural was painted (by John McDonald) in the C. William Hanichen gymnasium, then whitewashed, artist Lisa KolosowskyPaulus paints a mural that finally meets approval.

• Sophomore Chris Ulrich returned to school after a 10-month battle with leukemia.

• Sailor Pride Day, a staple since 1992, was cancelled due to lack of student participants.

• Senior Sara Komosinski becomes first athlete from Shores to get a Div. I scholarship. She went to Western Carolina University to play volleyball.

– Warren Kent III, adviser

her STORY Reeths-Puffer Spanish teacher advises to enjoy every little moment High school was not only an exciting time for Courtney (Doan) Leibrandt; it also encouraged her to pursue a career in teaching thanks to her amazing teachers.

“There were so many great teachers that it’s hard to pick just one,” said Leibrandt, a 2000 Shores graduate. “I Leibrandt loved (Jen) DeBryun’s Spanish class because she always tried to make it fun. Orchestra with (Tim) Staudacher was always great, and writing for The Sailors’ Log with (Warren) Kent was the perfect balance between challenging and fun.”

After graduating in 2000,

Leibrandt has had quite the busy time.

“My life has been fantastic since I graduated,” she said.

She attended and graduated from Grand Valley State University and went on to Aquinas College to get her Master’s in Education. She has been a Spanish teacher at Reeths-Puffer for the past five years.

Additionally, Leibrandt said, “I am married to a wonderful man, Brian, and we own a home in North Muskegon, where we live with our two dogs.”

Leibrandt said she considers her life extremely rewarding.

“I have been so fortunate to experience tons of awesome things,” Leibrandt said. “Meeting new friends in

college, living and studying in Mexico, traveling to Spain, landing my dream job and of course, meeting my husband.”

Leibrandt said she loves her career as a teacher.

“I love watching my students get really excited about something,” Leibrandt said.” It reminds me to take time and enjoy the little things in life.”

Leibrandt remembers many happy memories as a Sailor.

“I have so many great memories,” Leibrandt said. “One of my favorite memories is going to the basketball games with my friends. We would decorate our T-shirts, go to the game, cheer our heads off and hang out at someone’s house after.”

If Leibrandt could change

anything about her high school career, it would have been to slow down a little bit.

“I would have told myself to enjoy and be present in every little moment because time flies,” Leibrandt said.

“I would have also taken the time to thank my teachers because I can now appreciate how hard they work.”

Considering her own happiness, she has some advice to pass on to younger generations.

“Enjoy the carefree time that you have right now with your friends and fellow students,” Leibrandt said.

“Follow your heart, even if it isn’t the easy thing to do, and make sure that you plan your future to find what you absolutely love to do.” – Kendal Brown, feature editor

Year Thirty-Eight (1999-2000) Freshman Jori Green practices her life-saving technique in Richard Nye’s health class.

Sophomore Charlie Jackson, senior Malini Sridharan and sophomore Hypacia Duncan vogue to show their unique fashion.

his STORY 2000 graduate takes time to appreciate life while working in Boston If there is one thing 2000 graduate Joe Allen-Black learned since high school, it is to appreciate life and not take it too seriously.

“I acted as though everything in the world was the biggest deal. I don’t think it would have been possible for me to be more tightly wound,” Allen-Black said. “It took Allen-Black years for me to figure out that it’s OK to laugh at myself and that it’s OK to relax.”

Along with learning the importance of enjoying life, Allen-Black also learned important journalism skills, which he credits Warren Kent for.

“My favorite class was newspaper, and my favorite teacher was Mr. Kent,” AllenBlack said. “He taught me the fundamentals of being a reporter/journalist in that class, which I still carry with

me in my everyday. Had I had a teacher who wasn’t of that quality, I may not have had the awesome jump start into a great career that I have. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”

One of Allen-Black’s favorite high school moments was going on a senior trip to New York.

“Toward the end of my senior year, the senior choir, band, and orchestra students took a trip to New York City,” Allen-Black said. “Since most everyone I knew was in those groups, it was a fantastic time. It really made me want to move to a large city later in life.

“Embarrassingly enough, we all took a trip to the top of the Empire State Building.

I was (and still am) deathly afraid of heights. I spent the whole time we were at the top in the gift shop. I refused to step out on the breezeway at the top, which has to be one of the greatest views of New York.

“After college, it was one

of my goals to go out there and see from the top of the building. I did, and it was great.”

After graduating from Shores, Allen-Black picked up and moved to Florida to start his life.

“Two or three days after graduating from Shores, I drove south and started school at the University of Florida,” he said. “I began working as a reporter there and got opportunities to intern as a reporter all over the country – including covering Congress one semester and the Florida Legislature twice.

He then worked for five years at The Florida TimesUnion, first as a reporter then as a web producer and then finally as a web developer.

Allen-Black was then hired at The Boston Globe as a web producer two years ago and was promoted to senior content producer for business about a year ago.

Along the way, AllenBlack met his husband in

Jacksonville about seven years ago. Both now live north of Boston.

“It’s going to seem cheesy, but I think the best thing to happen to me since leaving Shores was meeting my husband,” Allen-Black said.

“He’s mellowed me out a bit, taught me to appreciate the world a bit more, and made me realize that being a nice person is one of the most important things to be.”

After achieving a career, coming out and meeting his husband, and challenging his fears of heights, Allen-Black leaves one piece of advice to his peers.

“Be happy. You can wake up every day and remember everything bad, or you can wake up and focus on the good,” Allen-Black said.

“Why only think about what’s wrong? Life is much better when you let the bad things roll off your back, and you focus on being that much happier.” – Kendal Brown, feature editor

Year Thirty-Nine (2000-2001)

our STORY Wrestling coach Mosley steps down after 39 years Wrestling coach Don Mosley retired following the season which saw the Sailors win both a City title and a district championship.

Mosley, who had been the wrestling coach for 39 years, was the only coach in the school’s history. In his tenure, Mosley posted a 494-188-5 record.

“Wrestling has been such a big part of my life I have hated to give it up,” Mosley said. “I heard someone say, ‘Once you are dead, you are going to be dead a lot of years,’ so I wanted to do it as long as I enjoyed it.”

A special ceremony was held Feb. 8, 2001.

“He’s truly a legend,” athletic director Bill Andrew said. “He had meant all good things in interscholastic athletics.

He has been a wonderful ambassador for Shores and for the sport of wrestling.”

• The Sailors won the Div. I golf state championship by 15 strokes.

This was the golf program’s third state title (1989 and 1991).

Senior Steve Mogdis led Shores with a two-day 153 score. Seniors Nigel Hawryliw and Andy Ruthkoski tied for fifth with 156. Junior Ryan Skiba shot 160.

• Junior Eric Caruthers won the state championship in the 800-meter run with

a time of 1:53.92.

“It was awesome winning the state meet,” Caruthers said. “This has been my goal since the beginning of the season.”

He also was on two relay teams that placed at state.

• The Marching Band captured its third straight state title and its fifth since 1993.

• Fourteen students were suspended following a canine drug search, which took place April 16.

• Football coach Dean Jewett stepped down after 13 seasons. – Warren Kent III, adviser

her STORY Diverse backgrounds set Shores apart from other high schools Although popular movies like Mean Girls often portray high school as a dog-eat-dog world, 2001 graduate Kellie Grant’s experience at Shores proves that high school years can be a positive experience.

“My favorite thing about Shores was the fact that I was able to meet and become Grant friends with so many interesting people who came from different backgrounds and had really cool personalities,” Grant said. “The thing about high school is that sometimes you get caught up trying to ‘fit in’ and hang only with one core group of people who are just like you. My experience was just the opposite – I grew as a person because I had friends across different social groups and each one gave me great memories that I’ll always treasure.”

Grant was editor-in-chief of The Sailors’ Log her senior year at Shores, as well as a member of the yearbook staff.

“One of my great memories was being a part of The Sailors’ Log for so many years and helping the students have a voice,” Grant said.

“I met a lot of really great people around the country, and it helped me to discover my passion for writing.”

Although Grant remembers The Sailors’ Log as one of the best parts of her high school career, she also associates it with an embarrassing event.

“When I became editorin-chief of The Sailors’ Log, I had to interview a lot of school officials,” Grant said.

“One of the first interviews I had was Principal (Bill) Trujillo. I think I must have been nervous, but during the whole interview, I’m pretty sure I mispronounced his name as ‘Trujello’ at least four times. I hope he doesn’t remember that.”

However, it was experiences like these that helped Grant to come out of her shell.

“While I was at Shores, I’d just started to grown out of my shyness,” she said, “I think my time on yearbook staff and The Sailors’ Log helped me do that because I was forced to interact with so many people.”

This ability to interact with people has aided Grant in her career in advertising.

“I’ve really enjoyed it a lot,” Grant said. “I’ve gotten many experiences that most people my age would only dream about, and I’ve been able to work on some great brands and great campaigns in the last few years” Some of the highlights have included working on campaigns for beauty products companies Cover Girl and Olay, and Norwegian Cruise Line.

“I really like the problemsolving part of what I do,”

Grant said, “I have to figure out the best way to reach consumers beyond just the regular TV commercial. I’ve been a part of some really great campaigns and every day I learn a little more than the day before – especially about what makes people tick.”

Unfortunately, her career has not allowed Grant to return home to see Shores.

Even though Grant has not returned to her alma mater since graduation, she has been able to keep up with her classmates through social media like Facebook.

She also wishes the best for current students.

“It sounds really cliché, but it’s true,” Grant said.

“High school is an amazing time in your life, and it’s just the starting point for who you will become as an adult.

Don’t sweat the small stuff, and just enjoy it for what it’s worth.” – Erinn Taylor, editorial editor

Year Thirty-Nine (2000-2001) After the powder puff football tournament, senior Justin Meyers (left) celebrates his class’s title.

Senior Kyle Duiser (middle) shows his best Hawaiian outfit during Homecoming.

On her lunch break, senior Amber Rogers enjoys a Burger King soft drink with her senior friends, Lisa VanBemmelen and Lynsey Grimm.

his STORY

‘01 grad learns to be confident in strengths, appreciates weaknesses A lot has changed for 2001 Shores graduate Jake VanKersen since leaving Shores, but the most important change he has seen is in himself.

“I have become much more comfortable in my skin,” VanKersen said, “which is what happens as you grow and learn. You VanKersen learn to be confident in your strengths and oddly enough, appreciate your weaknesses.”

Another important change for VanKersen has been his move to Chicago, which he made in 2004.

“I really took to living in the city,” VanKersen said. “I have been there ever since and keep finding new things I love about it.”

Although he is geographically removed from the Shores community, VanKersen is still interested in Shoreline Broadcast News, which he was a part of during his high school years.

“From what I understand the Shoreline Broadcast News has come a long way,” VanKersen said, “which is

exciting. Back in 2001, all our gear was outdated. So to see that they are keeping up with trends is very cool.”

VanKersen remembers the broadcasting department as one of the highlights of his high school years.

“My favorite thing about Shores was how much they encouraged and nurtured the arts,” VanKersen said.

“For somebody like me, it really meant a lot that I could always find an avenue to perform, to write, or to entertain. The video department was just getting started as I was leaving.

(Adviser David) Droski was doing a lot with the little he had been given, and it was exciting.”

This passion for the arts has continued into the next chapter of VanKersen’s life.

He is currently working on building a career in filmmaking.

“As somebody that is pursuing the arts as a career (specifically filmmaking), the reward is in satisfying a passion or drive to tell a story,” he said. “I work a day job to pay the bills, but when I finish a short film or video and it resonates with people, that is the most rewarding

thing.”

However important filmmaking has been in VanKersen’s life from his high school years to beyond, he has other fond memories of his time in high school.

“The night I graduated, we went to Double J Ranch for the celebration,” VanKersen recalls. “Along the way, our bus was ‘pulled over’ by these actors dressed as cowboys and riding horses. They ushered us off the bus and really played up the whole robbing the stagecoach aspect. (Fellow 2001 graduate) Tom Kauffman looked at me, and we both knew how to play the moment for the greatest comedic value. We took off running into a field screaming, ‘Run for your lives’ or ‘Save yourselves’ as we were literally chased down by dudes on horseback.

I can’t imagine that was a common occurrence for many people in 2001.”

Although VanKersen enjoyed his high school years, there are some aspects of his career at Shores he wishes would have been different. “(If I could change anything about my high school years) I would have

cared less about what people thought about me, which is a cliché but true,” VanKersen said. “I graduated in a class of about 360, and now I only talk to maybe five of them on a regular basis, and those five are great friends. I would have cared much less about trying to impress people and more about having fun with a smaller group of great friends.”

With this in mind, VanKersen has some advice for current high school students.

“The most important lessons you will learn in high school are about your own character,” he said. “Yes, you are there to learn and study, and you should do both. But among all that is happening, you are learning who you are and developing your own character. In high school, you are just starting to figure out who you are, and it’s a crazy process. There is a reason why nearly everybody says they would never go back to high school – it can be rough.

So cut one another some slack and be cool to one another because you are all going through an awkward growing process.” – Erinn Taylor, editorial editor

Year Forty (2001-2002)

our STORY 9-11 remembered before football game Following the tragedy of Sept. 11, many candles burned as one on Sept.

14 before the East Kentwood-Shores football game.

Players, fans, students, and facility from both schools were given or brought their own candles to light in remembrance of the fallen Americans after the devastating terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

Prior to the game, the two teams

walked out as one on the field, hand in hand with a player from the opposing team.

On Oct. 11, Shores also brought in freshman Jenny Gardisher’s father, Joseph, to talk to students about his Pentagon experience when one terrorist plane hit.

Shores also raised about $2,500 for the American Red Cross disaster fund.

– Michelle Robinson, co-editor-in-chief

In remembrance of 9/11, Senior Dan Gaynor plays “Taps” before the Sept.

14 football game. Candles were given to the crowd and were lit while he played.

her STORY Performer finds career rewarding; warns others of difficult road Some have risked it all for their professions. This is particularly notable in the performing industry, where risks beget opportunities.

This was the case with former Shores student Carly Jibson, who was a Shores Sailor from ’98 to ‘02.

Unable to graduate due to illness and Jibson absences, she had the opportunity to go to New York and audition for the first national tour of Hairspray.

“So yes, I threw myself a fake graduation party, not only was I not graduating or receiving a diploma, but I also had no plans of college or doing summer school to be applicable for college in the fall….” Jibson said. “Thank God it all worked out because everyone kind of forgave me for that. Though I do regret not having a high school diploma to this day and would never recommend doing it that way to anyone else, it was my destiny... and I don’t question destiny.”

Since then, Jibson has been working on several projects.

She just released an album titled Carly Jibson—Best of Me (available on iTunes), is co-producing a tour this year with three other singer-song writers, and is participating in an MTV docu-series about her life, which is meant to air this summer. She is also in negotiations for the lead in an off-Broadway musical named Fat Camp, which, she says, “is just as hilarious as it sounds.”

Although Jibson has found her place in the industry, she knows just how difficult it is to be a part of it.

“Honestly, what I always tell people is this: you need to be serious about this. This industry is not a game, and it isn’t high school,” Jibson said. “This is a business, and in this business, like any other, you have to know how to brand yourself. You need to know what it is that is special about you, something you have above everyone else and hone in on that…. But most importantly, you need to be talented.”

Jibson and her mother

moved to the Shores district specifically for the benefits of the Shores choir. Even when financial troubles forced her and her mom to move out of the school district, Jibson continued attending in order to continue in Shores’ arts programs.

“I had such a great experience there and met some of the most amazing people I still am in contact with today.” Jibson said. “(Choir director) Shawn Lawton and his wife Molly single-handedly saved my life. They showed me a world where it was safe to be who I was, where not only was I accepted but praised for my individuality. It was a place of artistic freedom and selfexpression, virtues that I have carried with me throughout my life. That school, hell, that town doesn’t know how lucky they are to have them, but the ones whose lives they’ve impacted, and I know I’m not the only one, we are the ones who have been blessed to experience it, and that makes it special.”

Jibson said she hopes to see more Shores students in

her profession soon; however, she warns that it is a difficult road.

“But if you’re good, if you really got it, and there is nothing else you can see yourself doing, if you can’t live without it and you would be willing to go through periods of being poor, without health insurance, subletting from apartment to apartment, going to six auditions a day and booking nothing, watching everyone around you book work and wondering ‘why not me,’ constantly networking and playing the scene, not going home for the holidays, spending your last dimes on headshots and resume print outs and have your selfesteem crushed on a daily basis because for 90 percent of the people in the industry that is what it’s like…But, if at the end of all that you still can’t imagine your life any other way...then, we’ll see you when you get here!

That is why this isn’t for everyone, that strength and determination is what makes us special.” – Franny Kromminga, fine arts editor

Year Forty (2001-2002) Senior Craig Franklin practices during the dress rehearsal for Tree. Franklin was chosen to be “angel” although he was at the base of the tree.

Junior Brian Cook gives an impression of an ‘80s rock star during Halloween.

Drew Mann, Craig Antekeier and Steve Medema show their Prom style.

his STORY JV baseball memories remain front and center for ‘02 graduate In 10 years, a lot of life has changed for Kevin Klassen, a 2002 graduate, but Shores has remained, on the whole, the same.

“There have been improvements in technology and facilities since I have been gone, but I think a lot of the school culture has remained just as good as it Klassen always has been,” Klassen said. “I have been fortunate to stay in touch with a lot of people in the district and am able to keep up on the happenings in the district.”

Meanwhile, those 10 years of freedom have allowed Klassen to graduate from college, to get married, and to find a teaching job of his own.

However, he still remembers his best days at Shores vividly.

“During my sophomore year, (David) Droski was our

assistant baseball coach. He had this really old baseball bat that we would all give him a hard time about. It was called ‘The Whammer,’” Klassen said. “I swear that it must have been one of the first metal bats ever made.

I just remember everyone cracking jokes about it all the time.”

He also remembers teammate Ben Evans having an encounter with an animal.

“During a game, he was yelling stuff at a llama that was right behind the outfield fence in someone’s yard during a game at Grandville,” Klassen said. “I think more time was spent that game talking to the llama than focusing on the game.”

Despite the fond memories above, Klassen still lists graduation as his favorite.

“It was a little sad with that being the last year of having my friends together and being able to attend that school, but it was a kick-start for the rest of our lives,”

Klassen said. “Shores had me well prepared for college and really had a big influence on becoming a teacher myself.

I can’t think of anything that I would really change about my high school experience.

Looking back, I don’t really have any big regrets.”

For Klassen, life has been great after Shores.

He attended Muskegon Community College and Grand Valley State University, earning an Associates Degree of Science and Arts as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics.

He is currently attending GVSU for graduate school, working toward a Master’s of Education in Instruction and Curriculum.

He married his high school sweetheart, who went to Fruitport and whom he has been with since junior year of high school.

While they don’t yet have children, they have a puppy named Buddy. Klassen finished his fourth year of

teaching at West Ottawa Public Schools in Holland.

“I would say that the best things that have happened since leaving Shores would be getting married, graduating from college, landing a teaching job and purchasing a house,” Klassen said.

“We purchased a house in the district so one day our children will be able to attend Shores like I did, and they will hopefully have the same great experiences.”

Klassen looks back on his days at Shores with many smiles and satisfaction and in hopes that other students will get what he did out of Shores.

“Enjoy high school because it will go by fast.

Stay involved and don’t worry about what other people think about you,” Klassen said. “In class, ask questions as soon as you get stuck before it is too late. Take advantage of all the extra help that the teachers are willing to provide.”

– Franny Kromminga, fine arts editor

Year Forty-One (2002-2003)

our STORY Singers perform for First Lady in White House In December of 2002, a group of 25 singers were invited to perform at the White House.

While the entire Singers group traveled to Washington, D.C., only 25 were invited into the White House by First Lady Laura Bush. They were also able to meet Michigan Senator Carl Levin.

Members of Singers were able to go if they raised the necessary funds by selling CDs and other items. Fundraising paid off for the students, who were able to experience Washington, D.C. “I thought it was cool to get to meet senators and be in the White house and

sing for the First Lady,” sophomore Leah Olson said.

The group was able to visit the newly built Sept. 11 memorial in addition to the many monuments in the city.

“I was glad to see the Sept. 11 memorial because it is a part of history that will be remembered for all time,” senior Karen Zack said.

• Band director Jack Adams stepped down from his position at the end of the 2003 school year after 18 years at the position.

“It was a decision that had to be made this year,” Adams said. “I’ll miss the people the most because I’ve come in

contact with hundreds of nice, dedicated, hard-working, caring people.”

Adams brought the school five state championships for Marching Band in the past seven years. The Marching Band students were greatly effected by the loss; Adams was sorely missed.

“We are like a family in band,” junior Stephanie Decker said. “We support each other, and it’s really sad that a part of our family is gone.”

• The school also received a great amount of new equipment in the form of computers on wheels, or COWs, and new computers for the learning center.

– Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

her STORY Teachers impacted 2003 graduate by making learning fun Something that teachers always hope to do is make an impact on their students.

Teachers can rest easy knowing they succeeded in this way with 2003 graduate Amanda Matthews.

“The teachers (choir director Shawn Lawton, newspaper Matthews adviser Warren Kent, English teacher Connie Bruce, social studies teacher Steve Morell, English teacher Dave Droski, social studies teacher Jason Crago and English teacher Brent Green) I had in my four years at Shores were wonderful,” Matthews said. “All of these people have taught me so much and made learning FUN, which really does make all the difference in the world.

Nine years after graduating, I still remember these people and look back on them fondly.

That says something in and of itself.”

But, as Matthews explains, the teachings of these educators, especially Kent and David, did not stop in the classroom.

“I was on the staff of The Sailors’ Log with Mr. Kent and took Broadcast Speech with Mr. Droski,” Matthews said. “Both of these wonderful people encourage their students to express themselves and their creativity, giving them outlets to do so. They have both encouraged me, supported me and pushed me. I truly believe they have helped shape me into the person I am today.”

Her being on The Sailors’ Log staff gave Matthews an experience in high school that she will never forget.

“While on the highway, my car just...stopped. Mr. Kent had to rescue me by pushing my car from the offramp into a nearby parking lot,” Matthews said. “Turns

out, I completely killed the engine in my super cool station wagon because my service light didn’t work and I was completely out of oil.

Mr. Kent, for the next TWO YEARS, never let me forget that one! It was the constant crux of jokes that centered around me.”

Amid the jokes regarding that moment were times in newspaper that kept the 2003 staff close and continue to do so.

“From staying late to finish our layouts in time for the newspaper to go to print (and eating so much pizza), to our hours-long editors’ meetings and our trips to MIPA in Lansing (where we walked away with Spartan Awards every year), we all came together for a common goal and created something amazing.” Matthews said.

After Shores, Matthews attended a trade school and is now a licensed cosmetologist, but her job requires much

more than just cutting hair in a barbershop.

“The three years I spent working with Mr. Kent and Mr. Droski in their different fields of communications has greatly helped me in what I do,” Matthews said. “I am more than the barber that stands behind the chair. I am a therapist, a sounding board, a friend, a teacher, an artist, and a student who is continuously learning and evolving.”

In her job, and in her life, Matthews feels accomplished.

With her two daughters and a job, Matthews is always busy, but that preoccupation has brought her success.

“I have been well prepared, as much as one can be before being thrown into the real world, and am navigating life successfully,” Matthews said. “From my family, to my job, and every other aspect in my life, I am succeeding and that is a great feeling.” – Jonah Stone, coeditor-in-chief

Year Forty-One (2002-2003)

Freshman Jimmy Chick “pimps” out in English class during Halloween.

Freshmman Nick Haak holds a “baby” during his Personal Living class.

his STORY From Shores to Broadway, director finds career path How do you get to Broadway?

For David Alpert, a 2003 graduate, the journey began on Seminole Road.

Shores prides itself on its performing arts tradition, and why shouldn’t they when alumni like Alpert, a Broadway director, are continuing the legacy of the performing arts.

“As anyone who has been involved with a show at Shores can understand, there’s something awesome about theater,” Alpert said. “This extracurricular activity has become my full-time job, and working on Broadway is truly a dream come true.”

That dream led Alpert to directing numerous plays and musicals, including assistant directing the Broadway play The Best Man. Alpert has also set up the “Living for Today” concert series in New York which raises money for the Gilana

David Alpert, 2003 graduate Shira Alpert (his sister) fund with the help of Broadway performers.

Alpert moved to New York City in 2007 and has been working with the skills Shores taught him to make his plays come to life on the stage.

“There are so many opportunities at Shores, and a chance for each student to really get out there and do their thing,” Alpert said. “I rarely take no for an answer; I find an opportunity to create

my own path. When finding my way through an incredibly competitive field in one of the toughest cities in the world, this skill has become invaluable.”

The opportunities that Alpert was able to have made up some of his favorite memories of Shores and his classmates in 2003.

“My favorite time at Shores was the end of my senior year, especially doing Pop Go the Sailors for the last

time,” Alpert said. “It’s like we all knew this would be the last time we’d be hanging out as a group of friends, and we made the most of it.”

Having the experience from years of finding his own way in Broadway, Alpert stresses the importance of being yourself.

“Being myself is OK. I don’t think I figured out until senior year that I didn’t have to fit into any mold or change the way I dressed or who my friends were,” Alpert said.

“It’s sometimes tough when you see the same people for 13 years of your life and you keep trying to be ‘the cool kid’ or to fit in, but when you enter the ‘real world’ after graduation, that uniqueness, that individuality will be the greatest asset you can have.”

Utilizing that individuality has allowed Alpert to succeed in his job and become a success in New York. – Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

Year Forty-Two (2003-2004)

our STORY Music program wins second Grammy The Shores music program was recognized as a Grammy Signature School.

This was the second time they won the award, the first being in 1999.

“I was happy when I found out because we hadn’t heard anything and assumed we weren’t chosen,” said band director Jason Boyden, who led the Sailors to their sixth state Marching Band title in the fall. “I didn’t even know we were selected until I went to the website a half an hour before our Collage Concert and saw our school name listed.”

Shores was one of 40 schools in the

nation chosen for the award. Shores received a $1,000 grant.

I was both thrilled and honored,” choir director Shawn Lawton said. “It was nice to see the department receive the recognition and it makes me proud to come to work.”

• Principal Bill Trujillo left after Spring Break for the Cassopolis School District in Southwest Michigan.

He accepted a superintendent position at this K-12 district with 1,400 students.

Trujillo was at Shores for seven years.

“I feel very protective of my students and the staff,” Trujillo said. “This staff

is one of the best that I have worked with; there is such a sense of caring and closeness that is here. This kind of atmosphere is so unique, and the kids are so great.”

Twenty-year veteran assistant principal Dennis Vanderstelt became the fourth principal in the history of Shores.

• Junior Justin Abdelkader was named Michigan’s Mr. Hockey of 2004. “(The title) is not really about Mr. Hockey,” Abdelkader said. “It’s about my teammates, my family, my coaches, my school, and the west side of the state.” – Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

her STORY Chemist implores students to challenge themselves At present, it would appear that there are a number of high school students who simply strive to survive their four years at Shores.

However, for 2004 graduate Laura Schelhas, aimlessly sauntering through her high school career was not an option.

In fact, Schelhas some of her most cherished memories of Shores were made when she most challenged herself.

“My favorite memory would be the first time I broke the school pole vault record,” Schelhas said. “I worked really hard learning how to vault so that was really gratifying for me.”

Schelhas said she also remembers French and AP Chemistry classes.

“I really enjoyed French with (Judy) Blackledge,” Schelhas said. “I had her all four years I was at Shores, so

it was really fun for me to get to know a teacher so well, and we really had great times in her class. Also, AP Chemistry with (Chad) Martin (was fun).

I really started to understand the material, and Mr. Martin once electrocuted a pickle for us, and that was an exciting day.”

Another memory that sticks out is the year her Honors English participated in a canned food drive, and her class made T-shirts for the GCFC (Green Canned Food Committee).

“We drove around one weekend and gathered cans, and it was just a really fun time,” Schelhas said. “We didn’t actually win the canned food drive though because we combined our class with another so they said we were ineligible, but we didn’t care.

It was just fun gathering the cans.”

At the end of her high school career, it came time for Schelhas to put all of her hard work and dedication into a

calling. However, this calling didn’t end up being quite what she expected.

“I first went to college at (Michigan State University) in 2004, and graduated with my bachelor’s in chemistry in May 2007,” Schelhas said. “I went to college with plans to major in chemistry but eventually go to medical school. That changed after having a few chemistry labs and doing some research with Professor Dantus at MSU. My career as a chemist has allowed me to meet some really interesting people and move across the country.”

So with this new aim of chemistry in mind, Schelhas needed a school that would allow her to greater pursue this dream. This call was answered in the form of UCLA in Los Angeles.

In June 2007, she moved to L.A. to start her PhD program.

“Life has been very busy with non-stop school, but now that I’m in graduate

school, work and school are all together,” Schelhas said.

“Currently, I’m in the last bit of my program, so I am no longer taking classes but only doing research.”

She occasionally teaches chemistry courses at UCLA and is involved in a tutoring program called PEERS. She is also involved in a high school outreach program where they develop labs involving nanoscience and teach them to high school teachers so they can include them in their curriculum.

Truly a paradigm for a success story, Schelhas still fondly remembers her roots and offers some advice for current Shores students.

“Take as many advanced classes as you can to prepare yourself for college,” Schelhas said. “You will be much happier to have free time in order to have fun in college because you put the work in while you were in high school.” – Jake Bordeaux, staff writer

Year Forty-Two (2003-2004) Senior Rachel Drelles puts the finishing touches on a painting. Her painting Feed my Lambs, Take Care of my Sheep was chosen for Showcase.

Sophomore Alex Wade (above) bench presses during the football team’s lift-athon fundraiser.

Sophomore Kurtis Barno and junior Joey Cordo (left) decorate a cake in Career Skills.

his STORY Career decision allowed ‘04 graduate to experience new things With the recent oil spill and big oil companies “skating on thin ice,” the majority of people might not be overly interested in a career with these companies.

However, for 2004 graduate Andrew Gabris, “big oil company” Chevron offers many exciting and life-changing opportunities.

“Working Gabris at Chevron has provided a challenging environment and allowed me to experience a lot of new things,” Gabris said.

Branching out from his

small-town Muskegon roots, Gabirs followed his dreams wherever they dared to lead him. However hard he might try though, he cannot forget the influence of his time at Shores.

“I moved to Houston for two years with Chevron managing gas station environmental remediation projects in the Eastern U.S.,” Gabris said. “I’ve currently been in New Orleans for about one year as a Safety and Environmental Engineer with Chevron supporting our offshore platforms. I keep up with my running (completed the Houston marathon last year), play a lot of soccer,

and I enjoy events such as the Houston Symphony or just stopping in jazz clubs in New Orleans.”

Not only has his education given him a stable job, it has also presented the opportunity to join Engineers Without Borders, where he is able to help those less fortunate in other parts of the world.

“Engineers Without Borders has given me a chance to meet new people, experience new cultures, and make an impact on people’s lives in another part of the world,” Gabris said. “I recently returned from a trip to El Salvador, and it was an incredible, eye-opening

experience.”

In the face of all of these incredible experiences, Gabris still fondly remembers all of the places and people that helped shape him into the successful man he is today.

“Shores has impacted me in too many ways to count.

I’ve been in the Shores system since fourth grade,” Gabris said. “Shores has an excellent teaching staff. Tom Fielsta (now retired) was my (favorite). I didn’t fully appreciate it as much at the time, but they really helped lay the foundation that helped me to get to where I am.”

– Jake Bordeaux, staff writer

Year Forty-Three (2004-2005)

our STORY Social studies teacher leaves to combat terrorism Social studies teacher Steve Morell left his teaching job to join his fellow Marine Special Forces in the small African nation of Djibouti to combat international terrorist groups there.

He estimated being away for 10 months; he came back in 2010.

“I feel very strongly of the cause,” Lt. Col. Morell said. “This war is about our very existence, and I consider it an honor to serve. I think that everyone should serve their country somehow, and this is just my way of doing that.”

Morell taught AP Government, AP World History, and AP European History before he left the school.

Social studies teachers Jason Crago, Shannan Conrad, Dean Jewett, and eventually Jeremy Miller took on these classes.

Morell said it was difficult leaving his daughters, 4, 14, and 17. He missed the graduation of his oldest. He was sorely missed at Shores in his absence as well.

“Steve Morell is more than one of our truly gifted educators,” Jewett said.

“He is a true friend, and one of the staff members that we have here at Shores who is admired by our students. Our

Social studies teacher Steve Morell left Shores to join his fellow Marine Special Forces. school will most certainly feel the effects of losing such a respected educator.”

• For the first time in more than 40 years, a sitting President visited Muskegon. President George Bush came to the city on Sept. 13.

Several Shores studnets were among the 2,000 people who arrived at the Muskegon County Ariport to welcome him.

“President Bush delivered an excellent forum on health care,” said

senior Anne Barkett, who added that she shook the President’s hand. “His ideas and plans for health care will certainly help the American people when he gets elected in November. It was so exciting to see him in person.”

Bush won the election in November over John Kerry.

• Juniors Andrew Rowe and Travis Paeth were selected to play for the USA Midwest team which won the gold medal at an international hockey tournament in the Czech Republic.

Rowe and Paeth were also members of Shores’ state runner-up team last year.

• Brendan Gielow was chosen as 2004’s Mr. Golf, a title that he would keep for another year in 2005.

“My main goal was to go out and have fun,” Gielow said. I just wanted to play my best, have fun, and help out the team.”

Behind Gielow, who also sported a 4.0 GPA, the Sailors placed third at the state finals.

• Pay to Play returned as high school students had to pay $50 to participate on an athletic team. – Jonah Stone, coeditor-in-chief

her STORY ‘05 graduate enjoys passion in owning photography business “Be nice to every classmate. Break cliques and clichés. Enjoy the present, but prepare for the future.”

These are the words of advice that 2005 Shores graduate Megan (Lange) Gielow had to share with current students.

Gielow is currently residing in Gielow Charlotte, NC, with her recently wed husband Brendan Gielow (class of ’06).

Gielow graduated from Syracuse University in 2009 with a degree in Photojournalism and Psychology.

Gielow quickly moved up the ladder and now owns her own photography business, Lime Green Photography.

Her company focuses on weddings, portraiture, and freelance photojournalism.

“I love that I get to be my own boss,” Gielow said. “I get to choose my own hours, assignments, clients, and locations. I also love that I get to pursue my passion day in

and day out.”

Although Gielow loved her experience at Shores, there were a few bumps along the way. “(Social studies teacher Steve) Morrell was known for playfully embarrassing his students, and everyone looked forward to his class because of it,” said Gielow. “One day, I forgot my assignment in my locker. He told me I had 10 seconds to run and grab it. I threw off my shoes and ran to get it. Of course, my shoes where gone when I returned.

I was told that he threw them

outside. After walking around barefoot outside, I came back to laughter. Apparently, they had been in the closet the entire time.”

Overall, it was not the school that made Gielow’s experience amazing, but the people within it.

“My favorite thing about MSHS was the people: my friends that I met 10 years ago are still my best friends; my peers are doing amazing things; the teachers always pushed us to succeed.”

– Rachel Swartz, sports editor

Year Forty-Three (2004-2005) In Sculpture 2, junior Alicia Carlston (left) gets “fired up” to make some glass beads. Below, the Skipper (senior Chris St. Amour) and Gilligan (senior Eric Durnell) dress up for Halloween.

Senior Hunter Rogers puckers up for a fetal pig before dissecting it in his Human Anatomy class.

his STORY Detroit Red Wing living dream of playing professional hockey It is no surprise that Justin Abdelkader’s most memorable moment has come on the ice. “(My favorite memory from hockey was) winning the national title (at Michigan Abedlkader State University) and scoring the winning goal,” said Abdelkader, Shores’ most

famous 2005 alumni.

For those who don’t remember this clutch goal in the final seconds of the Frozen Four tournament, they may recognize the name Abdelkader from the Detroit Red Wings hockey roster.

“It is pretty awesome to play for a team that you grew up watching and dreaming to play for,” Abdelkader said.

When thinking back to where it all began, Abdelkader had many fond

memories from his years at Shores.

“For Mock Rock, all the guys dressed as girls, and the girls dressed as guys for the song ‘These Boots are made for Walking.’ We took first place,” Abdelkader said.

“Also, the school spirit made you proud to be a Sailor.”

He also had this advice to share with high school students.

“Always follow your dreams and work 100 percent

at them so that you have no regrets,” he said.

Playing for the Red Wings has not only allowed Abdelkader to follow his dreams by playing in the NFL, but it also has a few other perks. “(Playing for the Red Wings has) given me the opportunity to travel the world and meet many unique individuals,” Abdelkader said.

– Rachel Swartz, sports editor

Year Forty-Four (2005-2006)

our STORY Gielow wins Mr. Golf again, team wins state title The boys’ golf team captured the state title in fall of 2005.

After being undefeated in all of their dual matches and winning 11 of 13 tournaments, the golfers excelled at state with a final, two-day score of 582.

Senior Brendan Gielow won his second Mr. Golf title and also became the first high school student to be named to the state’s Super Team for four years.

• A contract dispute between teachers and administrators began in the fall of 2005; this, however, was not like other disputes in that a strike did not occur.

This was in part due to a law passed in 1994 that penalized teachers one day’s pay for every day of a walkout; there would be no strike akin to that of 1989.

This forced teachers to remain on the job benefitting students who were able

to learn from their teachers while the dispute continued.

“I don’t think anything changes within the classroom,” social studies teacher Jason Crago said. “When it comes to meetings teachers are having with the administration, tensions are definitely rising because teachers feel we are being mandated as opposed to negotiated with.” – Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

his STORY ‘06 graduate ‘driving’ toward getting his PGA Tour card Eat. Sleep. Golf. Repeat.

For 2006 graduate Brendan Gielow, the rigorous task of perfecting his golf swing, hitting endless buckets of golf balls, and competing on challenging courses has become an everyday occurrence.

As a professional golfer, Gielow’s days of math assignments and Spanish Gielow quizzes have long-since passed. Still today, he carries his high school days with him both on and off the course.

“My golf career at Shores had a huge impact on my career choice. I played very well my junior and senior years of high school, which allowed me to get recruited to play golf for Wake Forest University,” Gielow said. “I was able to hone my skills as I prepared for a career in pro golf. I would say that my success in high school really gave me the confidence I needed so that I could play golf at a great college like Wake Forest. Without that success, I may have never

been recruited at Wake and would have never gotten to the point where I am today.”

Gielow also values many other experiences he had while at Shores. He said his favorite memory was winning the Mr. Golf Award both his junior and senior years. He also valued the great teachers he had as a student. “(Spanish teacher Jen) Ashby was my favorite, but I had so many other great teachers too. I had so much fun in (Ashby’s) classes and when I was one of her student assistants,” Gielow said. “She is crazy awesome. She has always been so supportive and encouraging of me. (The teachers) were the ones who made my high school experience so great.”

After graduating from Wake Forest University in May 2010 with a degree in religion and a minor in mathematics, Gielow didn’t waste any time in pursuing a career as a professional golfer.

“My college career was highlighted by my selection to the 2009 United States Walker Cup Team. In June 2010, I began my professional golf career and currently play

on the Nationwide Tour,” Gielow said. “It has been my dream to play professional golf ever since I was a little kid. When I was only 4 years old, I would say I wanted to play like the ‘real guys,’ the guys on the PGA Tour; now, I am really close to achieving that dream.”

Gielow continues to pursue his dream as he works his way through the PGA Tour Qualifying School in hopes of earning his PGA Tour card.

“My favorite part about being a professional golfer is that I get to do what I love,” Gielow said. “The great thing is that I get paid for playing the game that I’ve loved since I was only 2 years old.

Every day, I go to the course, whether it’s practice or a tournament, and that is my job.

Not many people get to have their passion as their occupation. It’s a huge blessing that I get to pursue my dreams in a game I love while getting paid at the same time.”

Apart from golf, Gielow also has a special connection to the relationships he formed while in high school. On September 17, 2011, Gielow married Megan Lange, a 2005

Shores graduate.

“We actually had a speech class together in high school, but we never dated then,” Gielow said. “We reconnected when I was a senior in college, and it has been awesome ever since.”

Gielow is also excited for the future of the Shores golf program. His sister Britni, who will graduate in 2013, plays for the girls’ varsity golf team.

“It has been very special to see my sister Britni and the varsity golf team win three consecutive state championships in the past three years,” Gielow said. “Their team has revived my Sailor school spirit. Next season, they will go for a record fourth straight state title.”

There is no doubt that Gielow has been successful both on and off the golf course. He encourages others to work hard to achieve their dreams.

“Work extra hard at the things you love,” Gielow said.

“And always dream big. You can never dream big enough.”

– Emily Grevel, profiles editor

Year Forty-Four (2005-2006) In her Contemporary LIterature class, senior Hayden Ahrens works on her reading questions for the book Catcher in the Rye.

Junior Lauren Anderegg shows the plaque The Sailors’ Log received for making the MIPA Hall of Fame. In order to be in the Hall of Fame, a newspaper must win the Spartan Award, the state’s top honor, nine out of 10 years.

her STORY ‘06 alumnae dedicates life to making a difference, serving others 2006 graduate Annie Gawkowski is making a difference.

Since her high school days, where she was involved in community service clubs, youth arts programs, three sports, the school musical, debate team, and Student Senate, Gawkowski Gawkowski has been dedicated to serving others.

“Shores allowed me to have a ‘if you can think it, you can do it mentality,’” Gawkowski said. “I had a lot of crazy ideas during high school. I always found support to grow and be creative at Mona Shores.”

Today, Gawkowski is the National Political Assistant for the largest candidate-affiliated Democratic PAC in Washington D.C. She said she gets the opportunity to take part in the 2012 election and affect it on a daily basis.

“I leave work knowing that what I did that day will contribute in some way or another to the outcome of the 2012 election,” Gawkowksi said. “That’s an incredibly empowering feeling.”

Gawkowski said her passion for public service was found during her time at Shores, thanks to a desire to help people and inspiration

from her AP Government class taught by Steve Morell.

“At Mona Shores, I found my passion: public service.

Through a variety of experiences I was lucky enough to have at Mona Shores, I realized that the one thing that I wanted to do is use the skills I have to help others,” Gawkowski said. “I grew an interest in public affairs while in Steve Morell’s AP Government class and also two close-up trips to Washington, D.C. I went into college very focused on getting myself back there and working in public affairs to help others.”

After graduating from high school, Gawkowski attended Albion College for four years.

Not long after graduating from college, Gawkowski packed up and headed to Washington, D.C. “I moved to Washington D.C. three days after I graduated and have been here for almost two years now,” Gawkowski said. “I still sing.

I am a professional acappella group in D.C. I’ve worked for political consulting firms, on campaigns, and now for a member of the Democratic leadership. I still don’t know exactly what I want to do when I grow up. I’m only 24, but if I have it my way, the husband and the family aren’t far off.”

Gawkowski has close family ties to her time at Shores.

Her father, Assistant Principal Walt Gawkowski, had a huge impact on her and her success throughout life.

“My dad was never my teacher, but he worked at Shores for the majority of the time I was there. It was ‘Take your daughter to work day’ every day,” Gawkowski said.

“My dad is my hero and my best friend. He didn’t teach me at Mona Shores, but he’s taught me more about life and who I want to be as a person than anyone. He was a big part of my time in high school.”

Gawkowski also has lasting memories from the many activities she was involved in at Shores.

“My favorite memory from Shores was singing ‘Defying Gravity’ from the balcony at Pop Go the Sailors my junior year,” Gawkowski said. “I sang it with a girl I barely knew, who will now be the maid of honor in my wedding.

We sounded awful, but it was one of the best memories and fondest moments of my life.”

For Gawkowski, her time spent in choir had an influential impact on the person she is today. She said she is thankful for choir director Shawn Lawton and his dedication to the program.

“I wish I could summarize how this man, his family and the choir department impacted my life, but I simply

cannot,” Gawkowski said.

“Mr. Lawton created a program and an environment that allowed me to develop my passion for people, for music, and for performance that will never leave me. I went to school at Shores, but I grew up in that choir room and on that stage. My best, worst, most challenging and trying, most fulfilling and emotional memories were an extension of Mr. Lawton. I look up to him, admire him and will always be thankful for the music he helped us make.”

Gawkowski’s days of singing on the Pops stage have long since passed. Whether she’s taking part in the 2012 election or performing in a professional acappella group, Gawkowski has a never-ending passion for making a difference and making an impact on the world around her.

“I still see the world around me as a place I can impact,” Gawkowski said.

“I see problems, and I want to fix them. I desire to be involved and fight for the things I love, and ‘no’ is not a word that I, for better or worse, even try to understand.

Remember that life isn’t about what happens to you; it’s about how you react to it.

Never back down if you know you are right, but always admit when you are wrong.”

– Emily Grevel, profiles editor

Year Forty-Five (2006-2007)

our STORY Marching Band wins national championship The Marching Band won the Div. V national title at the USSBA Nationals Nov. 11 in Annapolis, Md. “I could not be happier for our students,” band director Jason Boyden said.

“The best part was looking into their eyes as they exited the field. They knoew they had nailed it and had theier best show of the season.”

By the end of the trip to nationals, the band came home happily with a prestigious trophy.

“I will remember this because there is a lot that happens in high school,” senior Andrew Krispin said. “Winning nationals does not happen often.”

• For the first time, the singing Christmas tree moved from St. Francis DeSales Church to the Frauenthal Center for the Perfoming Arts. This was also the first year that the top of the tree featured two seniors, Krystal Wagner and Becca Greer in the place of the usual single person.

Sophomore Rachel Vandervere gets excited before the band’s final performance.

“I selected them because both epitomize what I think every student in choir should be,” Lawton said. “They don’t necessarily get everything they audition for, yet they never have an attitude about it. They come back the next day like nothing ever happened.”

When she found out she was selected,

Greer did not anticipate being given the honor at all.

“I was tripping,” Greer said. “I was surprised and I didn’t expect it at all because I’m just ‘Ho-hum Becca.’”

Wagner was equally excited when she heard the news.

“Once it had sunken in, I ran out to my car to call and tell my parents. When I got home, I was literally jumping up and down because I was so excited,” Wagner said. “Dramatic? Probably, but being chosen is such an honor; how can you not react like that?”

Although the thought of sharing the honor would be disheartening to some, this is not the case for Wagner and Greer.

“It’s the first year there have been two angels, and I am glad to be one of them,” Wagner said. “Becca is a great person and Mr. Lawton couldn’t have picked anyone better.” –Jonah Stone co-editorin-chief

her STORY Americorps program offers opportunity to give back to students Moving onto bigger and better things is usually what people strive to achieve once they graduate from high school.

That is exactly what 2007 graduate Katherine DeVoursney wanted for herself.

After graduation, DeVoursney attended Albion College, DeVoursney where she graduated in May 2011 with a degree in art history concentrating on public policy.

She is also a part of the Americorps program called City Year Detroit where she works one-on-one with students in a Detroit area

school to tutor, to mentor, and to have after-school programs with a goal of drop-out prevention.

Looking back, DeVoursney said choir director Shawn Lawton is her favorite teacher. “(Choir) was an experience unlike others,” DeVoursney said. “There is such a strong arts program at Shores. I still brag about the Singing Christmas Tree and our choir about how we had 500 people compared to other schools 50 people. Choir has taught me to appreciate all music.”

DeVoursney’s favorite thing about Shores is the atmosphere of learning from the other students.

“For most part, everyone was willing to learn,”

DeVoursney said. “There was a sense of curiosity. We also had kindness. There was no tension or hostility like other schools.”

After high school, DeVoursney has changed with her confidence level and her perspective on different opinions.

“I’m more confident with the more life experience I’ve had,” DeVoursney said.

“I’m not afraid to stand up for myself and learned that just because someone has a different perspective than you doesn’t mean they are a bad person. When I was a senior, I was super liberal; then, I went to a conservative college and saw that it was OK to be different.”

With DeVoursney’s experi-

ence come great words of wisdom for other seniors in high school.

“Never be afraid to be smart because education is important,” DeVoursney said.

It is your ticket to freedom.

Also, people at Shores should realize what a good education they are getting and what a great community they live in. I took it for granted until I was exposed to the other side of the coin. You don’t know what you have until it’s gone, so value what you have. Take the tools that Shores gives you and do something good with it. Pay it back to the world; you can do something awesome for the world.”

– Taylor Jones, sports editor

Year Forty-Five (2006-2007) Sophomore Allison Wolffis (right) helped lead the Sailors to a 16-7 record. Freshman Kaitlyn Duffey (below) flies through the air.

Senior Kim Bylund lays in the various clothes collected for the annual Canned Food and Clothing Drive. Students collected more than 5,000 items.

his STORY Sports, especially basketball, impacted future of ‘07 graduate Although Shores is known for its fine arts department, there are other opportunities that the students strive in and love participating in.

For 2007 graduate Russ Amidon, that other opportunity was athletics.

“I played football my freshman year, but I decided to focus on basketball for Amidon the remaining three years of high school,” Amidon said. “Even though I was very successful as a basketball player, I would suggest playing multiple sports.”

Since Amidon played in the Hanichen gym, there have been new changes in the athletic wing. “(What changed about Shores is) the Sailor Center

was constructed,” Amidon said. “I would have loved to play there. The current players are extremely fortunate to play in such a nice facility.”

Amidon was highly involved in the sports, but he wishes he were involved in BPA. “Even though I was currently active in athletics, I would have joined BPA,” Amidon said. “Now that I am in the professional world, it would have been a valuable experience.”

After Amidon graduated from Shores, he attended Hope College and earned a degree in management.

Currently, he is working at Western Michigan University in their athletic department while finishing up his master’s degree in sports administration.

Although Amidon knows what he wants to do now, be-

fore, he had no idea what he wanted to do after college.

“Honestly, I did not know exactly what I wanted to do after college,” Amidon said.

“The teachers and coaches at Mona Shores did prepare me to succeed in college though.

(Teachers and coaches) Jeremy Andres and Kevin Terpstra were great role models who taught me life lessons on and off the court.”

He said business teacher Kristin Sailors was also an important teacher.

“My final semester my senior year, I had her fifth and sixth hours,” Amidon said.

“She deserves some kind of medal for putting up with me for that long.”

Looking back, Amidon would give advice to other high school students to challenge themselves while in school.

“Challenge yourself by

taking difficult classes,” Amidon said. “If you neglect studying in high school, college will truly be a struggle.”

Amidon said he appreciates everything Shores has done for him to help him prepare for his future.

“When I attended Shores, I loved the students, teachers, and coaches,” Amidon said.

“There wasn’t a day I dreaded going to school. I have no complaints. I really appreciated my time at Shores and always enjoy visiting.”

But for Amidon, everything comes back to sports, specifically basketball.

“My favorite memory has to be winning a district championship against Muskegon,” he said. “We beat a great Muskegon team in a sold-out environment at Reeths Puffer.

It is something I will never forget.” – Taylor Jones, sports editor

Year Forty-Six (2007-2008)

our STORY Sophomore chosen for State Jazz Band Sophomore Becky Haines was chosen to play in the State Jazz Band after auditioning at the State Jazz Festival. She was chosen out of a pool of 900 musicians who played solos to qualify for the honor.

“Usually, Mona Shores only sends seniors to the state Jazz Band, but this year was a special occasion,” Jazz Band director Rod Schaub said. “I was really shocked and happy when I found out that (Becky) had been chosen. Being chosen is an amazing accomplishment, and it doesn’t happen to too many sophomores.

Becky is a really talented player, and she deserved to go 100 percent.”

Two weeks after she played, a letter

came in the mail that brought the good news.

“While being there, I was able to meet a lot of people throughout the state who have the same interest in jazz I do,” Haines said. “I felt comfortable with all the people, and just being there in general.”

•Senior Courtney Clark honored with 2008 DECA Nationals Marketing Education Honor Award.

•The school made a switch to a trimester system; the yearbook theme “Just Try” was built off of this new system.

With this new system for academics came a switch in schedule for many sports as well. The volleyball team

switched seasons from the winter to the fall, girls’ basketball went from fall to winter, and the golf teams switched seasons so that girls play in the fall and boys in the spring.

•This year was the first time in history that a high school Destination Imagination team from Shores competed at the international level.

The team consisted of freshmen Maggie Barnard, Jamie Barnes, Laurel Burgam, Ki-Joo Sung, and Kendyl White (along with middle school student Rebecca Avila). They finished 24th out of 44 teams at the three-day Globals held May 21-24 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

– Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

her STORY University student excels in biochemical research field One look at the successes in 2008 graduate Emily Blythe’s life is sufficient enough to warrant a great amount of awe and amazement.

And it all started on the Shores debate team.

“At one tournament, my partner and I were debating Blythe a really arrogant team,” Blythe said.

“Before the round, they were sitting around and talking instead of preparing, commenting about how they knew that we were going to be presenting a case about DDT to combat malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and that they were prepared. Little did they know we were about to debut a brand-new case about training midwives,” Blythe said. “It took them at least three minutes of our first

speech to realize that we were presenting a different case; one of them got a shocked look on his face and quickly, loudly jumped out of his seat to begin to fish out different files to debate our new case.

We won that round.”

That winning began to trend; it eventually led Blythe to being where she is today: researching at the best research university in the world: Caltech.

The sciences make up a great part of Blythe’s life, and it started at Shores.

“While at Shores, I became very interested in the sciences, particularly biology and chemistry,” Blythe said.

“Something about those subjects and the interplay between the two really sparks my curiosity. I had great experiences with (science teachers Chad) Martin and (Jen) Adams while at Shores, and their AP classes definitely made me want to continue

studying chemistry and biology in college.”

This interest has led to Blythe majoring in biochemistry at her current college, Grinnell College in Iowa, and has led to her going to Cambridge University in the United Kingdom for her master’s degree in biochemistry next year and Caltech for her PhD after that one-year program.

“I’ve always been fascinated by both chemistry and biology, and my major is a mix of the two. I’m interested in studying the chemical basis of life,” Blythe said. “It’s important for high school students to find something they are passionate about, be it an academic subject or an extracurricular activity, and pursue it in high school and beyond.”

College is the current plan for Blythe, who is not entirely sure what she wants to do after she leaves Caltech, but

she plans on further pursuing biochemical research. This program at Caltech, where she has previously researched, will continue her biochemical research career.

“I enjoyed my work at Caltech last summer the most,” Blythe said. “I investigated the interactions between the pharmaceutical varenicline (aka Pfizer’s Chantix for smoking cessation) and a protein in the brain. We were interested in examining the effects of the medication on proteins other than its target. It was great to work in a collaborative environment with enthusiastic scientists.”

What has this college experience given Blythe?

“I’d like to think that I’m more aware of what’s going on in our country and in the world,” Blythe said. “College has given me a wider perspective.” – Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

Year Forty-Six (2007-2008) Seniors Megan Mangione and Chris Lewis (left) look at their first take of their film. Junior Brett Dame, and seniors Molly Wiener and Morgan Gravlin (below) perform at Coffee House.

Junior Marie Roof sketches an outline of junior Megan Susterich for their anatomy class.

his STORY ‘Most Likely to be Famous’ still doing everything with pride In June of 2008, Addison Brodrick walked across a stage, was handed a diploma, and threw his Shores blue cap into the air.

That’s when the pressure began – not really.

Brodrick was voted “Most Likely to Be Famous” by his peers, and he jokingly said that this added pressure for him Brodrick to make his name known.

“I can’t let my voters down,” Brodrick said.

However, fame and recognition haven’t exactly been long-distant friends of Brodrick. He had an interview for an internship with the Late Show with David Letterman,

which was, if nothing else, a great experience.

“I didn’t wind up getting the gig, but I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything,” Brodrick said.

Along with the internship interview, Brodrick has spent his time away from Shores living in Grand Rapids and studying for his major in Media/Film, which he will graduate with from Cornerstone University in 2012.

Brodrick’s degree comes as no surprise; he spent a large portion of his four years in high school with broadcast teacher Dave Droski, watching (in Critical Aspects of Film) and starring in (Broadcasting) videos.

Brodrick clearly remembers the first opener he did. “(It) involved me run-

ning down the hallway with a light saber as I screamed at the top of my lungs, “I AM A JEDI!! I AM A JEDI!!!”

Brodrick said.

However, this opener is not only remembered as being his first.

“At the end of the clip, some ‘hilarious’ fellow from afar yelled a rather insensitive remark to me that I’m sure made himself feel incredibly witty and respected for once in his life,” Brodrick said.

“Since the remark wasn’t incredibly noticeable (unless you were listening for it), I left it in, and it aired for the whole school to watch. Nobody suspected a thing.”

Brodrick wasn’t only focused on fun and games, though. He also reflects on a more sentimental piece of his

high school career.

“During every broadcast of the daily announcements, we always said the phrase ‘This is Sailor Country, and we do everything with pride’”, Brodrick said. “I don’t think I realized it at the time, but there is a lot of truth to that.

There is a true community aspect of our school that really takes pride in being Sailors, and as an alumnus of that community, so do I.” With that pride, Brodrick also leaves behind a piece of advice for current and future students.

“Enjoy your days in high school while you can because though it may seem like it, life hasn’t actually started yet,” Brodrick said. – Ashley Veihl, staff writer

Year Forty-Seven (2008-2009)

our STORY 1993 graduate killed in real estate shooting Troy Vanderstelt, 33, a 1993 Shores graduate, was murdered in July of 2008.

Troy Vanderstelt was a Nexes Realty real estate agent who was killed by a former client over issues involving the declining housing market.

The killer, Robert Arnold Johnson, 74, walked into Troy’s office and shot Troy with a pistol.

“After news of Troy’s death became public, it became apparent to us that the emotional impact of this tragedy was felt far beyond the realm of our immediate family,” said Dennis Vanderstelt, Troy’s father and former principal at Shores (2005-07). “Troy touched many people in his short life, and his senseless death greatly touched our community.”

The tragedy led to the creation of

the Children of Troy Vanderstelt’s Educational Trust Fund. This fund’s sole purpose is to help support his children.

“The community support has been overwhelming,” said Matt Peterson, Troy’s stepson and 2010 graduate. “I can only imagine what Troy would do if he were here to see how much everyone has love and cared for his family.”

Johnson died of a heart attack on April 17, 2012, while serving his life sentence without parole.

• High school counselor and JV volleyball coach Rick Kesteloot, 53, died of a heart attack Sept. 26, 2008.

Kesteloot had that night coached his team to a win; he passed away only a few hours after he returned home.

“Nothing was ever half-hearted; he

was all or nothing,” said Steve Wilson, Kesteloot’s best friend for 40 years, during the funeral services, which were held Tuesday, Sept. 30 at St. Francis de Sales Parish. “He jumped into life with a little rebellion.”

His love for education and coaching led Kesteloot to Shores, where he ended his career as a coach and counselor.

“Every time I step onto the volleyball court, I think of him and his love for the sport. It can sometimes get difficult, but I always try and play my hardest for him because I know that is what he would have wanted me to do,” 2008 graduate Lauren Schuiteman said. “I don’t think the pain ever fully goes away, but playing in honor of him makes it a little better.” – Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

her STORY GVSU student proud to call Shores yearbook adviser ‘friend’ Students have favorite teachers, but not many can say they consider those teachers friends.

This is the case with 2009 graduate Holly Vanderlinde and her yearbook teacher Warren Kent III. (Mr. Kent) was the most real, fun, caring individual Vanderlinde who really cared about his students learning and succeeding in life,” Vanderlinde said. “He was like a friend, and when I have a teacher that is like a friend, I learn more and engage in the classroom setting. He truly made the experience that much better.”

From yearbook and high school, Vanderlinde went on to Grand Valley State University where she

is attending the Seidman School of Business majoring in Human Resources and minoring in Hospitality and Tourism.

“The things I liked most about my college experience were attending Grand Valley, and going in blind my freshman year,” Vanderlinde said. “I was extremely nervous rooming with someone I didn’t know, but I am so glad I did because I met so many new friends, and I am still friends with them my senior year of college.”

Her time in college gave Vanderlinde many great opportunities including her current one which is a Community Outreach intern at the Van Andel Institute, a cancer research facility in Grand Rapids.

“I have met so many people, and the experiences that I have gone through have

taught me so many lessons in life,” Vanderlinde said. “Our program (at the Van Andel Institute) is called ‘Purple Community – 100% Hope,’ and our mission is to engage communities across the state and ultimately across the nation to join VAI (Van Andel Institute) in the fight against cancer and Parkinson’s through events that raise funds and awareness. I would hope that one day I could bring this program to Mona Shores.”

With the new work and school environment, Vanderlinde said she is staying busy.

“I enjoy working out, hanging with my friends and family, and reading,” Vanderlinde said. “I still make my way back to Muskegon sometimes and head to the beach, but other than that I am staying busy.”

Vanderlinde’s experiences did not come without effort, however, and she incorporates this in her advice to current students.

“Get involved and volunteer. I can’t stress enough how important experience in anything is in college. People that are hiring look for students who have had experience in anything and want those students over those who haven’t done anything,” Vanderlinde said.

“Another thing, just go to class in college…it’s not hard, and you will do fine in college if you go to class.”

Even with her newfound independence in college, Vanderlinde still keeps in touch on Facebook with her former teacher and friend Mr. Kent. – Jonah Stone, coeditor-in-chief

Year Forty-Seven (2008-2009) Justin Abdelkader, Red Wings hockey player and 2005 graduate, returned to his hometown and school with the Stanley Cup after his team won it the previous year.

Senior Rachel McHenry, a first-time voter, casts her ballot for the presidential election which pitted Barack Obama against John McCain. Oh by the way, Obama won.

Senior Kevin Dillon brings the ball upcourt against Muskegon.

his STORY It’s all Greek to him: ‘09 graduate loving fraternity lifestyle Even though it has only been a few years since his graduation, 2009 graduate Nick Lange feels as though a lifetime has passed.

“I can’t believe I graduated high school so long ago,” Lange said.

“I feel like an Lange old person.”

This “old person” feeling comes from a number of experiences in and out of Shores, but mostly from Lange’s time at Grand Valley State University, where he is now entering his senior year to continue studying psychology.

“I can’t believe it’s almost time for grad school already,” Lange said. “GVSU has been the perfect collegiate destination for me.”

Though his life has changed, Lange is still himself behind a foundation of newfound confidence.

“I feel like I used to be a pushover in high school. Life experiences since Shores have made me grow a backbone, so to speak,” Lange said.

“Besides that, I am the same person who loves to be at the beach, play sports and hang with my friends.”

Part of what makes his college experience so memorable is Lange’s membership in the Alpha

Sigma Phi fraternity at GVSU, where he has been since his sophomore year. As Lange says, Greek life is no laughing matter.

“So many people think that being Greek is all about partying, but what people don’t know is what Greek life does for the community,” Lange said. “My fraternity has raised over $12,000 each of the years I have been in (it) for Canine Companions for Independence, which is an organization that trains helper dogs.”

Encouraging students to embrace the opportunities presented to them is a part of Lange’s philosophy. One aspect of this encouragement

is a participation in the Greek system in college.

“Check out Greek life; It will amaze you with what it has to offer,” Lange said.

“Greek life has easily been my favorite part of GVSU.” Lange’s encouragement extends not just to college, but to all facets of life.

“Don’t ever pass up on an opportunity because before you know it, you’ll regret it, and you won’t be able to go back and change it,” he said.

These opportunities may give those that take them a chance at being the “old person” with a wealth of experience that Lange feels he is. – Jonah Stone, co-editorin-chief

Year Forty-Eight (2009-2010)

our STORY Construction begins at h.s.

Construction on a new gymnasium, renovated football field entrance, and new additions to the interiors of classrooms began to fulfill a previously passed $3 million bond initiative.

These renovations were finished in early 2011 and have been available for public use since the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year.

• The girls’ golf team won Shores’ first Div. 2 state title; this was also a first state championship win for a girls’ team in any sport since 1992 when the gymnastics team won backto-back state titles.

Senior Brooke Adamczak led the Sailors with a fourth-place score of 161 at the two-day finals.

Freshman Hailey Hrynewich placed fifth overall with a score of 162 while freshman Morgan Smith finished sixth with a score of 163.

– Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

Mike Vansolkema (above) , a Dokoe Drywall employee, puts some finishing touches on the new gymnasium. The girls’ golf team (right) displays their state championship cake at a special assembly for the team. Freshman Britni Gielow, senior Brooke Adamczak, freshman Kelsey McKinley, freshman Hailey Hrynewich, freshman Morgan Smith and coach John Brainard led the team to victory.

her STORY Stage adrenaline keeps alumna working with theater students Kimberly Sorenson graduated from Shores in 2010.

Although she has graduated, she hasn’t strayed too far from the days of high school since she now is part of the staff at the middle school.

Sorenson is the assistant director for the middle school’s musical theater Sorenson program and is also the assistant director for the high school.

Sorenson is still taking classes at Muskegon Community College as she continues her quest for education.

Although Shores has a “newly renovated gym and football field, it’s still a performing arts school,” Sorenson said.

Her fondest memories were performing for the Allegros, Players, and many other performing arts activities.

“The adrenaline and feeling of being completely alive when on that stage with my fellow students is what I remember most,” Sorenson said.

Although she is now extremely involved, there is one thing she wishes she would have done differently during her high school career.

“The only thing I wish I

would have changed about my high school career would’ve been my freshman year,” Sorenson said. “I wish I would have gotten involved more because by senior year, I felt like I had so much I wanted to do.”

Of course, her best advice to all high schoolers is to get involved.

“You’re young. You don’t really have too many responsibilities yet, so this is the perfect time,” Sorenson said.

“Go to dances, try out for sports teams or the Players shows, whatever it is that you kind of want to try.”

Not only does Sorenson work for the school, but she

also works at Biggby Coffee.

But what she most prefers is to work with her students. “(I enjoy) watching them work hard and learn what it takes to make a great show,” Sorenson said.

She also enjoys being back at the school, which most people would avoid doing.

“It’s pretty neat being able to work where I’ve grown up and think that I was on the stage and look how far I’ve come,” Sorenson said. “I want to give every kid the same wonderful experience I had there and see how far they can really go.” – Carlin Rollenhagen, staff writer

Year Forty-Eight (2009-2010)

Before a home football game, junior Anika Abiade, who was a member of the Color Guard, puts her flag at rest as the Marching Band plays the national anthem.

2010 graduate Rachel McCoy spies on Mrs. Savage and her children in the Shores Players production of A Curious Savage.

Senior Zach Pena

his STORY ‘10 graduate continues to pursue fine arts through choral music Graduating in 2010, Matt Peterson was another choir kid, and now, he has gone onto pursue a career in education in this field while studying opera.

While attending Shores, Matt was involved in the arts program.

“It was a natural fit for me Peterson because I loved music so much,” Peterson said.

But not only did he decide to push himself in the arts, he also excelled in advanced placement classes.

“I took as many as I could fit,” Peterson said, “ One time in AP chemistry, I exploded a well plate by mistake.”

By far, being in the arts is the most memorable part of his career.

“My favorite memory would have to be Pop Go the Sailors senior year,” Peterson said. “It was the last time I had the opportunity to perform with some of my best friends.”

His life after high school has become an even better change for him.

“After Shores, I went to Chicago to study choral music education at North Park University,” Peterson said. “I

am currently a member of the North Shore Opera Hour, and I am a paid singer at a Catholic church on the north side of Chicago.”

He also has attended many events to sing at because of this great choir he is a part of.

“This group of 12 singers works together to train for professional-level singing, and we have performed at many events in Chicago,” Peterson said.

Looking back on his high school career, he has realized that there are some things he would have done differently, but he has also taken note that he himself has changed as well.

“As a freshmen, take AP courses and take AP tests,” Peterson said. “They have helped better prepare me for college-level work and also saved me so much money through scholarships, and I didn’t have to take a lot of my generals.”

After attending Shores, he has realized that he will always look upon it highly.

“I think Shores has an incredible arts program,” Peterson said. “It helps cultivate students’ curiosity and ability in music, dance, acting, and any of the performing arts.”

– Carlin Rollenhagen, staff writer

Year Forty-Nine (2010-2011)

our STORY Homecoming voting causes controversy Controversy surrounded Homecoming 2010 when transgender senior Oak Marshall Reed, who was listed on school records as a female, had votes cast for him for Homecoming King denied by administrators.

According to the administration, Michigan law dictated that schools must recognize each student as their anatomical identity when it comes to formal events like Homecoming.

“I had no choice but to nullify the votes,” principal Jennifer Bustard said.

“One has to look at the entire student

body when decisions are made.”

• Before the school year began, senior Lindsay Bilka drowned in Lake Michigan. During the school year, various benefits were held for her family.

• The girls’ golf team won the Div. 2 state title for the second year in a row.

Sophomore Hailey Hrynewich led the Sailors by finishing second overall with a two-day total of 164. Sophomore Britni Gielow had the third lowest two-day score of 176.

• Construction on a new gymnasium and football field entrance was complet-

her STORY

ed in 2011. What followed lost Superintendent Terry Babbitt and Director of Finance Michael Schluentz their jobs. The school was victim of an alleged ponzi scheme committed by Dante DeMiro, founder of MuniVest Financial Group.

DeMiro stole millions of dollars from Shores’ $3.7 million in bond proceeds, as well as from other investors in Comstock Township in Kalamazoo County.

DeMiro was indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts of bank fraud and two counts of wire fraud. – Jonah Stone, co-editor-in-chief

Former newspaper editor-in-chief remembers excellent school As students entered the building on seniors’ last day of their high school career in 2011, they were shocked.

It’s a senior tradition to plan a class prank.

But 2011 graduate Katie Bultema said while it was funny – putting live chickens in the courtyard, in the Bultema classrooms, and even in the ceiling tiles – students may have gone a little to far.

“By first hour, some of the chickens had died. So for the chickens’ sake, the prank went too far,” Bultema said.

“But it definitely is one story I will never forget. Walking into the last day of my senior year of high school with chickens placed throughout the school was an unforgettable and hilarious memory to share with my class on our last day together.”

And it is her class that she misses most about high

school.

“I miss seeing all of my friends during passing time and knowing everyone in my classes,” Bultema said.

“When you leave high school, you lose ties with a lot of people, and it’s really bittersweet.”

Apart from being in the class that strategically placed farm animals throughout the school, Bultema was more appropriately co-editor-inchief of The Sailors’ Log newspaper when they won their 14th Spartan award in a row at Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA).

This award is given annually to the top newspapers in the state.

“I can’t even describe how I felt when our newspaper was announced,” said Bultema, who shared editorin-chief title with Kaitlyn Rabach. “It was amazing. It’s a great feeling to know that all the hard work done throughout the year really paid off, and The Sailors’ Log staff was able to continue on with a

long-standing and prestigious legacy.”

In the 2011-12 school year, Bultema’s senior class saw more articles written about their school in the Muskegon Chronicle than most years will ever see.

Those include the administration being robbed of $3 million through a Ponzi scheme, a transgender student who was denied Homecoming King, and the infamous chicken incident.

But Bultema takes pride in her alma mater.

“I think it’s important for students who attend Shores to know that overall they are apart of an excellent district, despite the recent negative press it has gotten,” Bultema said. “It’s a great community with involved parents and hard-working teachers. Take pride in it and embrace everything it has to offer.”

It is her newspaper adviser whom she said had the greatest impact on her as a person while at Shores.

“I had a lot of great teach-

ers, but out of them all, I would have to chose Warren Kent,” Bultema said. “He treated all of his students as equals. He pushed me to never settle for average and always do my absolute best.

He’s one person I will never forget.”

Bultema, though, did not go on to become a journalist. She is currently attending Grand Valley State University and pursing a degree in Occupational Therapy.

“I plan on getting my degree, marrying a fifthly rich doctor, and having three kids,” Bultema said. “It’ll be a good life.”

Since leaving high school, Bultema said while she is basically the same person she was a year ago, college has changed her.

“I have become much more responsible and independent,” Bultema said. “I have come to realize that I alone am responsible for my own successes and failures.”

– Michelle Robinson, co-editor-in-chief

Year Forty-Nine (2010-2011) Behind Fricano’s on Muskegon Lake, senior Tom McPhail completes a backflip into the frigid water during the annual Polar Plunge.

Seniors Maggie Barnard and Kaitlyn Rabach prepare their “home” for Cardboard Village for Amnesty International.

his STORY 4.0 GPA catapults ‘11 alumnus to U.S. Naval Academy For many first-time drivers, driving in a snowstorm can be a frightening experience, especially when trying to speedily exit Shores’ slippery parking lot and head home.

Just ask 2011 graduate Kyle Pawlowski.

“We were not able to beat the traffic rush in the school Pawlowski parking lot, so (2012 graduate Matt Nowak and I) had to inch our way to the road with the rest of the traffic,” Pawlowski said. “Finally, it was my turn to pull out of the parking lot, so I pulled up to the line and waited for it to be clear. I saw my chance and stepped on the gas like usual.”

But nothing happened.

“I tried it again but all that happened was the straining of the engine,” Pawlowski said.

“Already all the cars behind me were getting impatient

and honking. The ice that had been made smooth and slick by the cars before me now made it impossible for my little rear-wheeled truck to make it up into the road.”

After a few seconds of arguing with Nowak to get out of the car and push, Nowak finally did. But the truck didn’t budge.

“Now, the angry cars behind me were blaring their horns,” Pawlowski said.

“Finally, some good Samaritan walking home decided to help. And still I stayed. Then another person came and another one, and then there was about 10 people trying to get my stupid little truck out of the way.”

Eventually,” the little truck that could” made it out of the parking lot, and after four years of National Honor Society meetings, wrestling matches, football practices, and cross country meets, Pawlowski too made it out of high school with a 4.0 GPA. Today, he can be found at

the prestigious United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

“I had thoughts about going into the military but never really believed one day I would be,” Pawlowski said.

“It was only after my junior year that I really learned about the military and the different ways to get into it. I realized that regular college would be fun and all, but I wanted something more exciting.”

With excitement came structure. Pawlowski said his day consists of waking around 5:25 a.m., then a workout, chow calls (involving random calling out of memorized commands, officers’ names or positions, etc.), and breakfast.

First class begins at 7:55 a.m., more chow calls given throughout the morning, lunch at noon, more classes or speaker presentations after, sports period, dinner at 6:30 p.m., more chow calls, study time, and finally bed at 11 p.m. The next day, it begins

again.

“The opportunities are the best part of the Academy,” Pawlowski said. “During the school year, there are hundreds of chances to see established speakers and to learn about their experiences to broaden my view of the world.”

Pawlowski will not need four-wheel drive for his next mission; after graduation from the Academy, he said he hopes to become a pilot for the Marine Corps.

“This lifestyle has changed me,” Pawlowski said. “Being exposed to all the different cultures that come from across America and even some other countries has allowed me to grow and mature into a more well-rounded person. But being away from home made me realize just how much my family and friends mean to me. With every trip home, I appreciate them more.” – Michelle Robinson, co-editor-in-chief

Year FIFTY (2011-2012)

our STORY Choir accompanist pleads guilty to CSC Former choir assistant Michael D’Oyly plead guilty to criminal sexual conduct on March 26, 2012, and Shores choir students dealt with the news by singing.

“I think the reason (the choir family) is getting through this is because we are all keeping extremely busy,” choir director Shawn Lawton said. “We had things that needed to get done before this happened, and we have things that need to get done now. And we just keep moving forward.”

D’Oyly, who was let go from Shores district on Jan. 11, 2012, for inappropriate sexual conduct with male students, plead guilty to two cases of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, which is pun-

ishable by up to 15 years in prison, and one case of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, punishable by up to two years.

For pleading guilty, D’Oyly was released of two smaller counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

“Cobbs Hearing,” a hearing where a circuit judge will set a minimum sentence limit if a defendant pleads guilty, was also agreed for D’Oyly’s case.

This hearing ensures victims of the incident will not have to testify in court, bringing an early end to D’Oyly’s case.

D’Oyly also renounced initial examinations on two cases against him, which include one count of second-degree

criminal sexual conduct and one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

– Michelle Robinson, co-editor-in-chief • The girls’ golf team won its third straight state title by dominating its competition.

Shores won the championship by 27 strokes at the state finals, which were held Oct. 14-15, 2011, in Rochester.

Junior Morgan Smith paced the Sailors with a two-day score of 160. She was followed by junior Hailey Hrynewich (163), junior Britni Gielow (171), senior Ashlee Taylor (171) and junior Kelsey McKinley (172). Senior Rachel Swartz was also on the team. – Jake Bordeaux, staff writer

her STORY Current principal loves resiliency, compassion of Shores Seeing teacher after teacher being submerged in the dunk tank at their last pep assembly was not enough for the class of 2012.

They began to shout for their fully clothed principal to go in.

“It’s little moments like that that I remember most,” fifthyear Shores Bustard principal Jennifer Bustard said. “I can’t sum up my time at Shores into one favorite memory; it’s all the memories together that make my time here unforgettable.”

Another unforgettable experience for Bustard was seeing the construction of a 15-year dream completed during the bond campaign, a movement that reconstructed the high school, beginning with the 2011-12 school year.

“No one thought we were going to do it,” Bustard said.

“The economy was going through a rough patch, but we persevered. We designed rooms, took out rooms, and after it was all said and done, had a whole new school.”

The new school consisted of a re-designed science wing, a community accessible fitness area, and a new gym and football arena.

“When I give tours to families thinking of joining the district, the first thing I recognize is our outstanding facilities,” Bustard said.

“We honestly have something for every student. Not many schools can say that. There are 64 clubs and activities here, and most have been created by student initiation.”

It is watching students perform in those activities that Bustard said she finds much pride in.

“I love to go and see what our students are capable of,” Bustard said. “You can just see the passion they put into their work spread to their

face. They celebrate their successes, try harder to overcome their failures, and I am just in awe.”

Bustard said it is the failures that show who Shores students truly are. One such downfall she said is an incident this year where choir assistant Michael D’Oyly was fired and brought to trial for having inappropriate sexual conduct with male students.

“The choir was close with this man; the community was close to this man,” Bustard said. “It affected us all. And you’d think an incident like that would tear us all apart.

But (choir director Shawn) Lawton and the rest of the choir crew set an example for what our school is really all about.”

And what Shores is all about, she said, is perseverance.

“Sure, we got knocked down,” Bustard said. “But we got right back up again. The experience changed the whole

school – but in a positive way. Despite the hardships our choir was going through at the time, they came in everyday ready to begin working. They outshined the failures. They didn’t let that one instance define them; they defined themselves.”

Bustard said she hopes Shores next 50 years is filled with students with the same passion and determination she sees today and hopefully continue her days at Shores in dry clothes.

“The world is changing,” Bustard said. “Just in the few years I’ve been here, I have seen so much change for the better. I hope we continue changing, keep bettering ourselves, and continue accepting people for who they are. This community is driven by compassionate individuals, and there’s compassionate individuals in the making right here behind Shores’ doors.”

– Michelle Robinson, co-editor-in-chief

Year FIFTY (2011-2012) A year after a performing group won the Showstopper award at Showcase, this group took first place in the Performing Group category. Members include seniors Shea Wilcox, Rachel Miller and Kendal Brown (front), sophomore Ragen Cooper, juniors Megan Boerema and Katie DeBruin (middle), junior Trevor Boukamp, and seniors Cody Munford, Carlin Rollenhagen and Kiron O’Brien (back).

Junior Kelsey McKinley (below) swings for the green.

his STORY ‘Mischief-maker’ reminds students to enjoy high school years “The world isn’t ending; we’re just takin’ over.”

Kiron O’Brien’s year of graduation (2012) marked the rumored Dec. 21, 2012, end of the world.

Their class slogan mocked this day, but O’Brien said the saying wrapped up his high school days all too well.

“My friends and I O’Brien were always causing mischief,” O’Brien said. “We had blown up a port-a-potty; we had saran wrapped someone’s car. The list is probably endless.”

But O’Brien does not only wish to be remembered as class mischief-maker.

“I hope to be remembered

as the guy who knows how to have a good time, be funny, and be spirited but also knows when to buckle down and be serious and do work,” O’Brien said. “The past four years have changed me in so many ways. I have become more open-minded and not as ignorant. I have become more involved and have become less uptight.”

Getting involved for O’Brien included joining the JV golf team, the varsity soccer team, the hockey team, and Singers. He also played roles in two Allegretto Notte plays and danced in two Showcase pieces.

And it is performing in the latter two that O’Brien recalls as his favorite recollections.

“My favorite memory from junior year would be getting

Showstopper in Showcase.

The past four years, Shores had either gotten first-place or Showstopper, and I was a part of the group that won two years in a row,” O’Brien said.

“I also enjoyed performing in the Beauty and the Beast play.

There is something about singing a song in front of a lot of people that just makes you feel excited.”

O’Brien, though, is not planning to pursue a degree in performing. Being born in South Africa, he plans to study international relations at Michigan State University and one day work for a corporation in the Middle East. “(I got a tattoo on my shoulder of Africa) to remind me where I came from,” O’Brien said. “It symbolizes home.”

Hopefully, the world does not end anytime soon so O’Brien will be able to accomplish these goals. But if it does, O’Brien advises current Shores students to not dwell on little high school problems.

“My favorite thing about Shores is that there are not the stereotypical cliques.

So many people are intertwined in so many activities that you can be cool around almost anyone,” O’Brien said. “Shores feels like a big place at first, but really, it is so intertwined, and everyone is really nice. But when there is drama, don’t get caught up in it. In a couple years, you’ll realize how stupid you were and how trivial those matters are.” – Michelle Robinson, co-editor-in-chief