Photo by Anja Harriss
Page 2
Tyler Sell Qualifies for National Rowing Competition On May 22, senior Tyler Sell qualified to compete at the USRowing Youth National Championships. Sell placed second in the men’s varsity single event at Northwest Junior Regional Championships with a time of 7:56.06 for a 2000m course. Sell, who competed at the National Championships last year, will fly to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on June 8, accompanied by his parents, Judy Blickenstaf and Mark Sell, and his coach, Corinne Lombardi. He will compete from June 10-12, at Melton Hill Lake.
Noah Yaconelli Wins Mr. Grizz
Steffi Garrard: AHS Grad on Broadway
Steffanie Garrard was a household name at Ashland High School by the time she graduated in 2005. “Steffi”, as she is called, performed in 12 plays with the AHS Theatre Department before she moved on to bigger and better things. Over the course of her four years at AHS, Garrad played Marian in “The Music Man,” Elsa in “The Sound of Music,” Abigail in “The Crucible,” Hope Harcourt in “Anything Goes” and Mame in “Mame.” Now, at age 23, Garrard is starring as Mary Poppins in the Broadway production of “Mary Poppins.” The show will begin performances in New York City in October 2011.
June 3 2011
Debate Members Head To Nationals by Michaela Anderson The debate team at Ashland High School has always been renowned for its standard of excellence. Each year, it hardly seems as though the current team could live up to the preceding year, but somehow they pull it off. This year is no exception. From June 12-20, five members will Nathan Ostovar (jr.) Tenaya Kenner (jr.) travel to compete against thousands of other high school debaters at Nationals. This year, the national competition will take place in Dallas, Texas. Senior Dante Toppo, juniors Tenaya Kenner, Maureen Page, Nathan Ostovar and sophomore Alexander Barnes are the five Ashland team members who qualified to compete at this level. These students will represent AHS in four different events: Humorous Interpretation, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Extemporaneous Alexander Barnes (soph.) Speaking and Original Oratory. “We’ve put in a lot of work this year and we are all excited,” junior Nathan Ostovar commented about the trip. “We conquered the competition at State and we are going to do the same at Nationals.” The team will be fundraising extensively until they leave, because they need to fund for the trip themselves. Each student needs to pay a few hundred dollars to cover Maureen Page (jr.) tournament fees, lodging, food, airfare and other miscel- Dante Toppo (sr.) laneous expenses. Be sure to wish the debaters good luck When: June 13-18 Photos by Anja Hariss and before they leave!
Where: Dallas, Texas
Photo by Anja Hariss
On May 20, eight Ashland High School boys competed in the Mr. Grizz Pageant to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Nate Carver and Noah Yaconelli (freshmen), Braedon Bell and Michael Skidmore (sophomores), Ian Smeenk and Julian Jones (juniors) and Talen Heater and Dante Toppo (seniors) competed for the title. To start the night, the boys performed a dance choreographed by Yeruti Estigarribia and Hanna Winters. Audience members then met the candidates through videos, talents and demonstrations of the careers they dreamed of as kids. Contestants also selected an inspirational person to bring on stage. Each canidate had two impromptu questions to answer and also had to respond to “What is the greatest threat to society today? To conclude the night, Yaconelli was crowned Mr. Grizz and Toppo stole the title of having raised the most money at $900. In total, the event raised approximately $7,000. You can check out Noah’s winning video at theroguenews.com
Rogue News
Laurel Sager
Dana Rensi Awarded Fulbright Scholarship by Olivia Fidler
Recently, Spanish teacher Dana Rensi accepted a Fulbright Award in Teaching. The Fulbright Award in Teaching is an honor that recognizes accomplished primary and secondary teachers. It gives them the opportunity to study abroad for six months at a research center or university. This coming fall, Rensi will travel to Guanajuato, Mexico, for the first semester of the school year to study at the University of Guanajuato and teach technology to teachers in the city. Rensi plans to study the methodology of teaching the English language and how to set up a self-access learning center at AHS. “I want to prepare myself with better skills to come back and help with the future of educations at Ashland High School,” Rensi said. This center, once established, would be a place for
students to come and receive support in their self-directed learning battles. Rensi has already worked in a center at the University of Guanajuato, supporting students who are in online classes, working on large projects and are having a hard time finding ideas for such projects. “These learning centers are very important because they are the future of libraries. It is important to learn how to set them up and how to support students in self-directed learning,” Rensi explained. “I am hopeful that the center will be community based with open hours allowing for integration of AHS students and the community.” Throughout her exchange, Rensi hopes to “bring Ashland to the world and the world to Ashland by expanding the horizons of our virtual exchange program for students and teachers here at the high school.”
June 3, 2011
Page 3
Rogue News
The choice is yours
We jumped through all the hoops and agreed to the educational expectations high school set out for us. All Senior Project presentations, credit requirements and college choices are now over and done. On June 3, we will become graduates of Ashland High School. With our diplomas, the power to decide our futures will be handed to us. Freshman year, high school offered an abundance of opportunity. Instead of being confined to our middle school halls, we got to interact with all of Ashland students our age and older.
We were allowed to travel off-campus for lunch and could sit in the high school bleacher section at basketball games. Soon, we discovered that the upperclassmen weren’t interested in engaging with the “annoying little people,” Safeway was the only low-budget eatery within walking distance and that three years of math were a must. Suddenly our sunshine attitudes clouded over. Goaded by our parents, we begrudgingly completed the tasks set before us. By Senior year things hadn’t really changed
by Grace Riley-Adams
(pity party for 255?). However, what has changed is our confidence in our capability to confront life’s challenges head on. We have an idea of what it will take to live in the “real world” and are ready to make our own decisions. Once we move out of the house and away from our parents, we will create our own reality. We will decide whether to sustain ourselves with Top Ramen by the box or daily greens, to challenge ourselves to numerous all-nighters or to turn in early. Every thought and interaction will be exactly our own. Welcome to your world.
It was the best of times, It was the worst of times
Dante’s Inferno
Angelic Messages Photo by Laurel Sager
by Angelica Florio
I write this final piece with an extremely heavy heart, weighed by the fact that I must graduate and leave high school forever. There is no doubt in my mind that high school is the best time of our lives, and that I am now preparing for a life filled with misery, loneliness and sorrow. In reality, a “life” after high school really isn’t a life at all! It is merely the pitiful falling action following the climax of the story of our lives. The future is unclear to me; I have many questions, like, who will motivate me to not spill water on my books if not Megan? And, will I ever find glorious one dollar chocolate chip muffins again? It really is the little things that we
by Dante Toppo
seniors will miss after high school, like freezing our tuchuses off on the Quad in mid-January and apparently in mid-May as well. To quote the Beatles, “there are places I remember” such as, the dungeon, the science parking lot, the main office and who could forget the ever so classy Britt Ballroom (where it all goes down when we dress up.) I think we have all had some good times in these locations, and I urge everyone to cherish their steps in these hallowed halls of stone, for they are numbered. Yes, life at Ashland High School is about as good as it gets and I am sure I am not the only one who seriously considered failing my required classes to prolong my stay. However, the time has come for the class of 2011 to go off into the big, bad, mediocre world and have their only source of happiness lie in their memories of AHS.
Editorial/Designer Board
Editors-in-Chief................................Hannah Sayles, Taylor Patterson ...................................................Grace Riley-Adams, Elias Opgenorth Front Page......................................................................Hannah Sayles News Page.............................................Michaela Anderson/ Ian Wurfl Opinion Page.....................................Zach Marchovich/ Dylan Molnar Important Dates Page............................Sarah Kasiah/ Rhianna Terrien Teacher’s Farewell Page...........................Sadie Shelton/ Annika Hearn ...........................................................................................Nayeon Kim In-Depth Map....................................Elle Swarttouw/ Jasper Raynolds Con-”grad”-ulations Page......................Olivia Fidler/ Elias Opgenorth International Page......................................Caytie Seigl/ Megan Ganim Clash of the Classes Page.......................Anya Ludwig/ Hannah Miller Sports/Backpage Page..................................Jony Mills/ Zack Hartman Online Editor......................................................................Dante Toppo Managing Editor...............................................................Sadie Shelton Photography Editor...........................................................Laurel Sager Business Manager…….…..…..........................................Talen Heater Chief Designer............................................................Taylor Patterson
Ladies and gentlemen, high school has been the absolute worst years of my life. Freshman year I waltzed onto the Quad nervous, bright-eyed, bushytailed, basically resembling a rodent. I was positively breathless with anticipation, and my expectations were as high as many of my peers’. Compared to middle school, I was certain high school would be a non-stop actionpacked thriller, rated R for strong language and graphic sexuality. I was sorely disappointed. Sophomore year was worse, because it maliciously demonstrated how much easier freshman year had been. I actually selected my classes, which gave way to more disappointment because, turns out, those classes were hard. How I longed for freshman English, where my only worry was cramming as many muffins into my face as possible. Honestly, I can’t remember junior year. I don’t know if it was my chronic lack of sleep at night, or chronic sur-
Rogue News Rogue News is published by the newspaper classes of Ashland High School, 201 South Mountain Ave., Ashland, Oregon 97520. (541) 4828771 ext. 195. The editorials written by the Rogue News express the opinions of the editorial staff on issues relevant to the staff, the school and the community. Personal columns do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire staff and are written as the opinion of the individual author. Letters to the editor, which should be under 250 words, are encouraged. They can be dropped off outside of Room 202, put in Mr. William Gabriel’s box in the main office or emailed to theroguenews@gmail.com. No letters will be printed without a verified signature. Letters received in the second week of production will not appear until the next issue. The Rogue News staff reserves the right to refuse to print any potentially libelous or obscene material, anything that would invade the privacy of others or anything that could cause a disruption of the school environment.
Photo by Laurel Sager
plus of sleep during class, or that Mr. Wolff ’s final forced me to repress an entire semester, but I cannot recall a single thing from junior year. So I assume it was horrible. But, by far, senior year has been the worst yet. Juniors, if you think you have Senioritis, you know not of what you speak. That disease holds horrors beyond your most twisted nightmares, and leaves a lifeless, decrepit husk, like the cardboard box even the addicts won’t sleep in. Worse still, college apps, scholarships, job applications and staring maturity right in its terrible eye, have left me so stressed that I have actually gotten grey hairs…in my beard. But the worst part of Senior year is that very soon I will leave behind all the teachers, classmates and friends I’ve grown with for the past four years for something terrifyingly new. All I have to face it with is the memories of the worst best years of my life. But somehow, I think that might be enough.
Important Dates Rogue News
Page 4
June 3, 2011
JUNE
Bonnaroo Music Festival in Nashville Redding Water Slides Open
1 Sha kespeare Festival Opens “The Pirates of Penzance”
Ashland High School Graduation
3 2
4
5 6
Last Day of School (Half Day)
8 7
9 10
11
1
2
3 4
9
15 16
18 20 21 23 24 27 29 30 17 19 22 25 26 26 28 Emigrant Lake Water Slides Open
JULY
Oregon Country Fair
7 8
14
Britt Festival begins
Shakespeare Festival Opens “Love Labor’s Lost”
6 5
13 12
Premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
10 13 14 15 11 12 16
Jackson County Fair
23 24 26 21 29 30 19 17 18 20 22 25 27 28 31 Katy Perry performs at the Rose Garden in Portland
Ashland Traditional 4th of July Parade Downtown
AUGUST Mt. Ashland Hillclimb Run
1
2
3 4
Lollapalooza Music Festival in Chicago
6 5
7 8
9
Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco
10 13 14 15 11 12 16
Slayer/ Rob Zombie perform at Rose Garden in Portland
AHS Football Team hosts Japan for the Pacific Rim Bowl
Fresh Start Counselor Retreat
Fresh Start Retreat 1 Fresh Start Retreat 2
23 24 26 21 29 30 19 17 18 20 22 25 27 28 31
Josephine County Fair
Freshstart Retreat 3
Senior All-Night Sponsors Accounting Plus Adroit Construction Alchemy Botanicals Alex’s Restaurant Albertson’s All About Air Apple Cellar Ashland Automotive Ashland Bike Ashland Community Hospital/ Mark Marchetti Ashland Construction Ashland Directory Ashland Elks Ashland Food Co-op Ashland Homes Real Estate/ Ted Banke Ashland Insurance Ashland Kiwanis Club Ashland Lions Club Avista Barry Katzen DDS Bead Studio Bi-Mart Big Town Hero Blue Feather Products
Bodyworks Breadboard Britt Festival Butler Ford Cash & Carry Chuck Taubner Coldwell Banker Pro West Craig Chow MD Craig S Mather MD Costco Dan Jackson DDS Deborah Gordon MD Farmers Insurance/Paul Volz Gateway Real Estate/Ali Ross Gateway Real Estate/ Karen Drescher Gepetto’s Giseppi’s Pizzeria Gold and Gems Greenleaf Great American Pizza Co. Hair City Harfst and Associates Hatsetera Heart and Hands Hersey Health Care
Houston’s Framing Ignition Gallery Human Bean Inti- Imports Jackson County New Car Dealers JC Penney John Muir School John Sager MD Joseph Cochran DMD Kellems Construction Ken Cairn Landscape Architecture Kixx Lilly Baty Louie’s Bar and Grill Mane Attraction Market of Choice Martolli’s Pizza Michael Henneman DDS Mix Mt. Ashland Ski Co. Munchies Murphy Financial Partners/ Liz Murphy CFP Noble Coffee
Northwest Pizza Oil Stop Omar’s Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church Paddington Station Papa Murphy’s Pasta Piatti Patina Soul People’s Bank Pete Schwarzer DDS Pita Pit Real Estate Depot/ Roger Murray Reinholdt and O’Harra Retirement Planning Specialists Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Ross Johnston Tires Royce Real Estate/Sandy Royce Safeway Salon Juliette/ Shirley Remington Scentsy Wickless Candles Scienceworks Scherr Consulting/
Cynthia Scherr Shop-n-Kart Shuldberg Orthodontics Southern Oregon Family Practice Standing Stone Starbucks Coffee State Farm Insurance/ Brian Conrad State Farm Insurance/ Jon Snowden Stone Medical Subway Ashland St. Subway Avery St. Sunshine Salon/Kim Matthews Tamara Hald DDS Tibet Treasures Waterstone Spa Wendy Schilling MD Wild River Pizza Woodchuck Cabinet Shop Yellow Submarine Car Wash Zoey’s Café
June 3, 2011
Rogue News
Bill Street
Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in. I drink at it; but while I drink I see the sandy bottom and detect how shallow it is. Its thin current slides away, but eternity remains. I would drink deeper; fish in the sky, whose bottom is pebbly with stars. I cannot count one. I know not the first letter of the alphabet. I have always been regretting that I was not as wise as the day I was born. -Henry David Thoreau
”
To see things in the seed, that is genius. - Lao Tzu
“
Tomorrow is a dream that leads me onward! - John Skinner
”
Leaving AHS will be a moment to reflect on the experiences I have had while holding the position of Dean and then Counselor for 43 years. I will treasure the friendships I’ve had with the students as I have observed their maturing from the ninth grade through their senior years and beyond. My challenges to the students here of AHS are always to maintain honesty, loyalty and integrity, terms to live by. Honesty to yourself and others, loyalty to your friends and the school and integrity, following through on your actions, principles and values. I will miss the staff members with whom I have developed a close
Illustration by Kailey Cockell
Linda Barnett
“
John Skinner
I have been reading these words for 40 years and still find great pleasure in doing so. They puzzle me, challenge me and comfort me. They ring true for me. May they ring true for you. I have also been teaching for 40 years. Sometimes I feel like I know less than when the day I began. Teaching is like that – you are always learning, facing new challenges and busy being born. May you be “busy being born” (Bob Dylan). And now I say goodbye. I plan to travel far and wide. Thank you for all that you have shared. You’ll always be with me.
Photo by Caitlin Stacy
relationship. Their support has made being here a pleasure. I challenge you all, students and staff, to keep the ship upright and on a steady course of success.
Illustration by Kailey Cockell
Jane Claussen
“
”
Well, I am about to retire – just as many of you are getting ready to graduate or move up to another grade! I have had a great time here at AHS through the years and I have many of you to thank for that. I am quite sure I will always remember you. The thing about being a teacher is seeing that you are all in the beginning stages of your life. It has been exciting to see how you grow into marvelous human beings. One of my students who refused to take pen to paper in freshman year turned into an eloquent travel journalist as he made his way across the world. What a happy irony! Teachers never know how the
Do you imagine the universe is agitated? Go into the desert at night And look out at the stars. This practice should answer the question. -Lao
Photo by Caitlin Stacy
“seed” will grow – but it is fun being part of the process. Thanks for letting me be part of your lives. You may be the actor on the stage at OSF or the opera diva I see at the Met. Wherever you go, whatever you do, I wish you much aloha!
Illustration by Kailey Cockell
Tzu
“
“
Photo by Laurel Sager
Page 5
I have taught in the Ashland School system for twenty-eight years and feel extremely fortunate to have worked here. I have collaborated with generous, intelligent and kind colleagues. I also appreciate my students who have made my job the envy of most of the other teachers in the state. I have learned as much as I have taught, but the lesson I am walking away with that is closest to my heart can be found in a quote from the Buddha that was articulated over a millennium ago: “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our
Photo by Laurel Sager
thoughts we make the world.” Thank you for making my world a brighter and better place. I have exceptionally good memories that I am taking with me. My wish is that each of you leaves this institution feeling as joyful and grateful as I am.
Illustration by Kailey Cockell
Ashland School District Retiring Staff Judith Anne McBride.................Willow Wind, Elementary Teacher Jody Bradley……….............................................................….AMS, CDS Gail Buettner……....................................................….Helman, Grade 1 Ed Chapman…..................................……..Transportation, Bus Driver Nancy Daniels.…….................................................…Helman, Reading Terry Karlin………............................................................AMS, Grade 6 Craig Martin……….......................................Bellview, Kdg/Math Spec Cathy Murphy……...................................................…Bellview, Grade 5 Heidi Parker………..............................................................School Board Pat Scalo…………...........................................….John Muir, Elementary
Cecily Verloop This year has been a hurricane for me! I had a difficult time leaving midyear as I have loved my 11 years here at AHS and will always look back on them fondly. Thank you for giving me such a rewarding aspect of my life. The students and staff at AHS are hard to compete with. I hope that you all place your personal health as a priority. Remember, many people sacrifice their health to create their wealth, only to spend their wealth trying to regain their health. In health and happiness!
-Cecily
Where in the World is the Class of ? North Seattle Community College
Portland Community College Taylor Patterson (GAP Work) Lyric Tucker-Leeds
Eric Walcher
Western Washington University
Tyler Sell
Chad Bernard
Antioch University
Melodie Chouard (GAP: Leap Year Program -- India)
Linn-Benton Community College Reed College Alan Adams
Justin Skillman Sabina Pfutzenreuter
College of Southern Idaho Brady Thomas
Twin Falls
Rexburg
Seattle Allesandra Geffen Ikaika Cecil University of Puget Sound Grace Franckowiak Tara Borgilt (GAP Travel: Costa Rica, Spain) Tay Smith Joshua Franckowiak Lewis & Clark College Caitlin Stacy Tacoma Isabelle Chatroux Willlamette University Tanner Hebert Kayley Abrams Anya Ludwig Charles Bass Eugene & Surrounding Area Kara Wells Alison Claypool-Conrad Hayley Johnson Oregon Coast Culinary Institute John Crutcher
Montana State Honors College
Brigham Young University, ID
Hannah Ewing
Colorado Mountain College
Kevin Schilling (Travel: Idaho, Tahoe, Japan, Utah, Mt. Hood)
Colorado College
Hannah Sayles Sophie Javna (GAP Travel: India, Nepal, NY)
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Samuel Cowan
id C ity
New Hope Christian College
Central Oregon Community College
Elle Swarttouw
Rap
Amy Senestraro
Hannover
University of Vermont
Columbia College
Maxwell Anderson Lillian Hedges Pierre LaPierre II Leland Dodds Austin Huerta Zachary Miller Nicholas Geiger Pierre LaPierre II Angus Stewart Talen Heater Zachary Miller
George Fox University
‘11
Zachary Markovich
Walker Sultzbach
Lane Community College
Portland & Surrounding Area
Tosh Evans (National Guard)
Lucas Ebnother Colin Haug Noah Kileen Mackenzie Nichols Kayla Reynolds
Nathan Johson Dylan Fuller (GAP Work)
Bowdoin College Jasmine Terry-Shindelman
Brunswick Dartmouth College
Southwestern Community College
Colorado Springs
n
Portland Art Institute
Burlington
Franklin & Marshall College Grace Riley-Adams
Cres to
Michaela Anderson Zachary Hartman Lyric Randall Yeruti Estigarribia (Nursing School)
Boz ema n
Talia Cohen
University of Portland
Bellingham
Art Institute of Portland
Lancaster
Carnegie Mellon University Pia Marchetti
Pittsburgh
College of the Holy Cross
Ashland Institute of Massage United Bicycle Institute
Bend & Surrounding Area
Thomas Latham
Abdill Career School Summer Healey
Ashland & Surrounding Area
Oregon Institute of Technology
Sadie Shelton
Chicag o
Laetitia Guillet Maximilian Hartley
alls th F a m a
Smith College Malia Charter
Fordham University Aurelia Grierson
Kl
Hannover & Surrounding Area
Danit Hubbell
Redding & Surrounding Area
University of Bridgeport Neil Presicci
Shasta Community College Seattle Pacific University College of the Siskiyous Kelsie Henderson-Weaver
Brent Hegdahl
Rose Marston
New York University Kysa McSky Ian Murray
San Francisco & Surrounding Area Regenerative Design Institute Stanford University Jeremy Byrd
Wagner College
Amelia Farber
University of San Francisco Katherine Pearson
Oskar Kubicki
Menlo College Maile Raymond
New York City Washington DC George Washington University
Los Angeles & Surrounding Area
Angelica Florio-Roberts
Fullerton Community College Juliana Neufeld Los Angeles Pierce College University of Southern California Occidental College Rachel Blazinski California State University Christopher Calise
Benjamin Baden Point Loma Nazarene University Morgan Carne
Pomona College
Elon University
Claremont McKenna College
Hanna Winters
Dante Toppo
Oakwood Gainesville State College
Pitzer College Laurel Sager
David Skinner
University of San Diego Lauren Hoffman
Northern Arizona University Kayin Johnson
Mesa
Fla g
University of Redlands Leland Owens-Oas Willie Michiels Kai Dowding (GAP Travel: Ecuador, Peru, Mexico)
ff
Sierra College
Samantha Boehnke Anna Murphy
sta
Ashley Hoe
Mesa Community College Jacob Scarminach
Map designed, typset and arranged by Wyler McAninch-Rünzi and Jasper Raynolds.
Brigham Young University Joshua Harris
LDS Business College Braden Cluff
All locations submitted by AHS Seniors; any and all potential mistakes are the fault of the student.
Hogeschool Rotterdam
Work
Richard Azzopardi (Travel) Jordinn Ballard Jackson Bangs (Job Corps) Alexandria Barsekian Vincent Brinegar Alexander Burt Katira Chase Bryan Crispino-Taylor (Travel) Madison Day Michael De Los Santos William Derry Max Estes Tanner Fenderson (Job Corps) Aaron Gibson Adrian Groth-Accetta Jacob Hagert Mica Harding Eliza Littleton Weylin Lockwood (Job Corps) William Markling (Travel) Deven McCoy Rodney McDaniel Bryson Mills Tarika Reddy Alicia Rendall (Job Corps) Logan Rothgeb Makenzie Smith (Travel) Bella Storie
St. Louis Washington University
Salt Lake City
Lisette de Jong
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Tulane University
New Orleans
Kathryn Reynolds
Savannah Kahn
Manoa & Surrounding Area Kapi’Olani Community College Melanie D’Amato
University of Hawai’i -- Manoa Elizabeth Gambee Lena O’Brien Katelyn Walker
Travel
Armed Forces Undecided Bernard Hertz (US Marshals Academy-Georgia) Cory Otis (Military Police) Trevor Perry (Marines) Dustin Standish (Marines)
Olivia Bacon (4 year, GAP) Anita Loban (4 year) Jared Georgianna (Community College) Kaitlin Megarit Trent Zeitler
Dylan Adams (GAP: Japan) David Erhun (Work: London) Christian Morrison (GAP: Mojave, Mtn. Tops) Ariana O’Malley (Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia) Tabalitha Oddo (Snowboarding) Dylan Schink (GAP) Natalie Tesluk (GAP) Yuval Zonnenschein (GAP: Israel, Portland, NYC)
Francesco Amarotico (GAP: Travel/Work) Katelyn Barnes Dana Bogdanove Kyla Dammann Alexa Kandaris Melissa Lema Sundaure Lithman Tatiana Mattos Nathan Thurow (Honors)
Kailey Cockell Ian Ellingson-White Molly Harney Shea Henthorn Laurel Ransom Cody Remington (GAP Work) Bryce Shumway Teague Teece (+Linn-Benton CC) Nicholas Temple (+Linn-Benton CC)
Derrien Burns Kirsten Ericksen Jacob Harris Rebecca Lipton Kaylin McAnany Eoghan McDowell Holly Nienhaus Rihana Piddington Matthew Reeder Victoria Russel Sean Savard Cathryn Siegl Amber Stewart Athena Storm Luke Tamminga Derek Tarnawa Eilene Wasche Sybanna Wilson Christine Wines
Justin Aziere Kyle Burgdorf Mikaela Chase Simon DeFrisco Kiera Dittmer Brenda Fernandez Morfin Azure Ginsberg Jay Hall-Schnurrpusch Athena Johnston Noon Kanjanakaset Alexander Lane Ian Larive Joseph Mellini Nicholas Paramo Catherine Ramirez Lillie Rhorer Brianna Serna Allyssa Siebold Tracie Starrett Rachel Thornton Victoria Ward
Meris B Austin Baker Ryan Bellinson Ginger Blackwell Miles Bortman Alexander Bowland Stephen Dickey Kiley Graham Wesley Hitchko Emalie Kamrath Mariah Keller Sierra Kistler Mark Knudsen Christopher Landt Ryan Mills Emily Minasian Clara Munro Thomas Murphy Emily Pew Zane Pindell Mackenzie Richardson-Conroy Miguel Salgado-Gonzales Elizabeth Scott Eva Siegel Riley Smith Samuel Taylor Cal Thomas Mackenzie Tully Jackson Volz Uriel Wolfe-Blank Dakota Wolff Clark Honors College Annika Hearn Nayeon Kim Madison Knox Jonathan Mills
Con“Grad”ulations! Rogue News
Page 8
Keynote Speaker ‘81
Ron Blair Class of ‘81
‘11
AHS’s first African American graduate returns to speak at the 2011 Graduation ceremony
Photo courtesy of The Rogue, 1981
In 1981, Ron Blair became the first African American to graduate from Ashland High School. This month, Blair will be welcomed back, after exactly thirty years, to give the commencement speech at the 2011 Graduation. In an interview, Blair remarked, “I was honored [when asked to speak at the 2011 graduation], and I felt that it was perfect timing for me being that I graduated from AHS thirty years ago.” Blair was born on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, where he resided until he was 13 years old. Due to financial situations he and his older
“A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches isn’t so sure.”
photos by Anja Harriss
was one of my most defining moments as both a student and a man,” Blair said. After graduation, Blair traveled to the east coast and was accepted into the theater program at Boston University, but dropped out after the first semester because of lack of funds. For his sophomore and junior years, Blair enrolled in University of Oregon where he studied Theater Arts. Student loans eventually built up and caused Blair to leave Eugene at the end of his junior year. Desperate to make money, Blair traveled to Olympia, Washington, where he worked for two years as a professional actor in various theater companies. Blair then moved to Los Angeles where he started working for Propaganda Films as the head of West Coast Sales
Graduation Ceremony STUDENT SPEAKERS
Michaela Anderson* Jonathan Mills* Kysa McSky* Angelica Florio-Roberts* Dante Toppo & Mack Conroy
STUDENT PERFORMERS
by Laurel Sager brother were put into foster care. Their cousin sent them a $75 check for a Greyhound ticket to move to Ashland. Blair and his brother enrolled in Ashland High School. They were the only African Americans in the student body. Although there was some bullying in the beginning, the Blair brothers were treated no differently than the rest of the student body. After the first school year at AHS, his brother and cousin moved back east, but Blair stayed behind with his good friend, David Fincher. In high school, Blair was involved in the theater program, was the first male cheerleader and became the first teenager to be admitted into the State Ballet of Oregon. “Although my experience at Ashland High School was somewhat challenging, it
June 3, 2011
Photo courtesy of Ron Blair
for five years until opening his own company, Ron Blair Represents. After some time at RBR, Blair returned to U of O in 2003 for his senior year and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2004. Today, Blair lives in Long Beach, California, and works in L.A. as a casting associate for commercials. Over the course of his career, he has been in over thirty commercials, two movies (“Se7en” and “Spontaneous Combustion”), and a television series (“Twin Peaks”). He is a court appointed special advocate for foster kids.
Sophie Javna* Coco Amarotico* Lee Owens-Oas* Kathryn Reynolds*,Lauren Hoffman* & Kai Dowding* Amelia Farber* & Ashley Hoe
*Valedictorians
For the students not giving speeches or performances during the graduation ceremony, but still want to perform, there is a green show from 5:15-6:00 for those who auditioned.
New Class Officers
Sophomores:
President- Sadie Kasiah Vice President- Ashlynn Tapp
Juniors:
President- Allan Moore Vice President- Gladys Vasquez
Seniors: President- Marley Schwartz Vice President- Hannah Miller Secretary/Treasurer- Hannah Loop
Fond Farewells by Coco Amarotico & Kathryn Reynolds
There comes a time in every presidential reign when one must look back on one’s ruling years and also look forward to the times to come with new leaders and new ideas. We, Coco and Kathryn, have come to that point. Thinking about the past year, we find ourselves filled with gratitude for the patience, trust and acceptance for change that we have found in the student body, faculty and community of Ashland High School. With new leadership from the top down, the school has begun a journey into a proactive and high-achieving future. Change often brings reaction, and we appreciate the grace with which our community has embraced the myriad of changes presented to them. To
create a new dance policy, a more upfront drug and alcohol policy, and increased integrity among students takes a lot of energy and is a more ambitious agenda than what most high schools would be able to achieve; however, AHS has taken this all in stride. It has been a fun year and we can almost say we’re sorry to move on, but we know we’re leaving the future of AHS in capable hands. Nick and Megan are fortunate to get to participate so fully in the exciting changes that have begun this year and will come to fruition in 2011-12, though they will also be moved to work diligently. The new Advisory sytem, along with the Student Senate over which Nick and Megan will help preside, will allow
for a much more fluid conversation between students and the administration. Student Senate will also provide for students to give direct feedback and to play integral roles in the further betterment of our high school. And of course, thanks. Thank you to the administration: Michelle Zundel, Juli DiChiro, Reed “Big Dog” Sorensen and all the other teachers and administrators who helped make this year run smoothly. Thank you to our peers and the leadership class of H-37. Thank you to our rocks, Lulu and the Brit. Thank you to our mothers and our families. Thank you to the endlessly supportive and generous community of Ashland. And, of course, a big thanks to the Academy. We’ll see y’all out there in the real world.
“Keep it simple AHS.”
Page 9
Rogue News
June 3, 2011
Foreign Exchange
CLASS TRIPS 2012 by Halie Haynes Photo by Laurel Sager
Destination: Finland
Destination: Argentina
(RN) What are you looking forward to most? (JT) I’m looking forward to meeting new people and most of all learning a new language. (RN) Do you recommend the Rotary Exchange program for people wanting to go on exchange? (JT) Yes! The meetings you go to before the trip are super fun and they provide a lot of useful information. You also get to meet people from around the area that also are going on exchange.
(RN) Why did you decide to go on exchange? (RH) I needed a change from Ashland and I wanted to experience a new culture and way of life. (RN) Where are you going and are you excited about it? (RH) I’m going to Bariloche, Argentina and I’m really looking forward to it! Ir’s a ski town so I am super excited for the snow.
Destination: Chile (RN) Have you met your host family? (LL) Yes I have and they’re super nice. I have three brothers and one sister. My family will be hosting a Brazilian girl who will be going to AHS next year. (RN) Do you recommend the rotary exchange program to people wanting to go on an exchange? (LL) Yes, absolutely, because its way cheaper than other exchange programs and the process was easy.
Rosa Heningson
Jane Takeda
Lucy Lefkowitz
(Guanajuato)
by Sofia Harrison
It is time again for the annual sister city exchange to Guanajuato, Mexico. Seniors Savannah Kahn and Jasmine TerryShindleman are getting ready to embark on a cultural experience of a lifetime. The girls were selected because of their passion for Spanish and their admiration of the Latin culture. The girls are gone from June 14-24. They will be spending their time in Guanajuato learning about and getting acquainted with Mexican traditions and way of life. Until they depart, the girls will undergo a tough regime with Senora Chela (the guru of Spanish and the founder of the SOU Sister City Exchange Program). “Jasmine and I have put in a lot of work to prepare for this trip and we are super excited to be a part of the Mexican way of life,” Kahn says.
by Caytie Siegl Every year for 22 years, the Ashland High School football team and the Japan Allstars have visited each other for over a week. One summer, the AHS team travels to Japan, and the other summer the Japan Allstars travel to Ashland. This summer the Japan Allstars will be in Ashland and will stay with AHS football players’ families. At the end of the visits, the two teams play each
Orchestra Trip •On June 14, 2012, Gerry Pare, the AHS orchestra teacher, will chaperone a trip to Italy •35 students will attend •The trip costs around $4,000 per person •The orchestra students held fundraisers such as selling pizza and Italian sodas and held a car wash at Les Schwab •The students return June 28, 2012 French Trip Ashland High French students are planning to take a two week trip to France in the summer of 2012. Madame Johnson, choir and French teacher at AHS, will accompany the French students on the trip along with additional French-speaking chaperones. Students are required to have successfully completed French 2 by June 2012 in order to be qualified to attend the trip. In September of 2011, monthly meetings will be held to teach the French culture and gain speaking skills needed to travel to France. The trip includes four days in Paris, four days touring the south coastal region and a six-day home-stay near Toulon. During the home stay each AHS student will live with a different French family, all located within one or two adjacent towns. Within a week after the last day of school, the group will depart for their trip. “All the AHS students will commit to do their best to speak only French during the entire trip!” Johnson said. The trip is still in the early planning stages, and there is a maximum number of 32 students allowed to go. Interested students or parents can contact Mrs. Johnson by email at Holly.Johnson@ashland.k12.or.us
Japanese football team comes to A-town other in a highly attended game. The tradition began when Jim Nagel was the head coach of the football program. When the current head coach, Charlie Hall, was hired in May 2005, the team had trouble funding the exchange. Hall was determined to make it happen; no matter what it took. Now, Hall still continues the exchange. “I believe it’s a great cultural exchange…it’s important to me
personally because I’m half Japanese.” Hall said. “It was awesome to have two Japanese kids stay at my house. We had a lot of fun and I got to know them really well. It’s all based around the football game, but it’s really much more than that. It’s a great cultural exchange, but it would be nice for the Ashland boys to get a win this year,” Senior Jake Scarminach said.
This year’s game will be July 29, 2011, held at Walter A. Philips Field. “I’m super stoked to play them again. Last time we played them we were sophomores and this time we’re seniors. I want to show them how much we’ve improved,” Junior Ronnie Moriarty says of the anticipated game, “It’s our turn to share our culture with them.”
The Juniors by Michael Skidmore (Sophomore) Every morning when I walk onto the quad I have to pass the juniors. They stand near the half-moon in an impermeable clump and pretend to belong there. But, I’ll never see a junior actually ON the half-moon, because this would require an act of bravery so large that the last time it was seen was D-Day. The junior class floats through the sea of school, relationships and life in general as if there were nothing after high school. Unfortunately, that might actually be the case for the Class of the Apocalypse. Mayan calendar notwithstanding, this herd of buffalo could very well be endangered after high school. It seems this brigade of bros, or “brogade” if you will, has caught an early onset of senioritis, and expects to groove their way through the real world, with nary a care for anything resembling responsibility. Turns out “chillin’” doesn’t pay the utility bills. I predict that if these lads and lasses are going to navigate the unforgiving, shark infested straights of life after high school, they’re gonna need a bigger boat.
The Freshmen by Dante Toppo
The Seniors by Elias Opgenorth (Junior) When writing about the senior class of 2011, I am hesitant to talk ill of them in fear that it may come back to bite me when one of their kind is filling up my gas tank next year. I find it additionally difficult to write a story bashing the senior class because, until this article was assigned to me, I was unaware that there even was a senior class. I knew very well there were kids at the school who were older than me, randomly dispersed into awkward cliques and groups who declared “Seniority!” in the line at Giseppi’s in order to receive their double, (courtesy of this newspaper) 13 seconds before the rest of the customers. But as far as a class goes, as in, “a collection or division of people or things sharing a common characteristic, attribute, quality or property” I can see no such connection within the fourth years. The only common ground I see between these students is literally the common ground on which they stand. Like penguins, huddling together for warmth, they step on each others’ toes, push their friends and dominate their peers in order to bathe themselves in the glory that is the Half Moon, like Achilles bathed in the river Styx. At this point, it would be impossible to teach the senior class unity and direction, much like it is impossible to teach an old dog a new trick. One must simply watch as the senior class wanders away from their precious Half Moon into the real world, like an uncared-for ship drifts out to sea, to be forgotten by the world and prepare to welcome the titanic boat that is the Class of the Apocalypse!
(Senior) I’m going to come right out and say it; freshmen aren’t people. I’m just speaking the truth. Don’t start crying, it won’t help your case. To be a human, metaphysically speaking, three things are required: autonomy (free will), language and individuality. Freshmen have no free will; they can’t make decisions using higherlevel brain functions. Like any other animal, they rely purely on biological impulses. Every freshman decision is dictated entirely by their hormones. It’s just science. Any freshman, much like a hyena scavenging for a carcass, acts on instinct alone, constantly searching for that proverbial “some.” Freshmen also lack the capacity for human language. The process of stringing together sounds to form a coherent meaning seems to have eluded ninth graders. Have you ever heard one use words? From the male specimens, some grunting and howling can be heard; from the females, a high pitched whine. But nothing that can be classified as actual communication. Finally, individuality: no freshman is distinct enough from the overall pack to be considered an individual. I’m not saying all freshman look the same, I’m saying all freshman ARE the same. They survive based on a hive mentality: a flock of beanies and flannel, or a gaggle of spaghetti straps and jeggings, awkwardly migrating across the quad, their movements crippled by absurdly sagged jeans or impossibly short skirts. God forbid a straggler can’t keep up, or the collective will probably forget they exist and leave them behind. Like a baby water-buffalo, most freshmen won’t survive if separated from the herd. But there’s hope: eventually the species might develop into something more evolved, like a banana slug.
The Sophomores by Gabe Young (Freshman) I find it a bit ironic that the most socially exclusive, “cliquey” class at AHS is also the least original. By this, I mean the sophomores; the class of 2013. Coming to the high school this fall, I was relatively unaware of the characteristics of each class. What I soon found out is that the sophomores had completely modeled themselves after the grade above them. Is there any part of the junior class that has not been re-created by their younger Illustration by Tabilitha Oddo counterparts? The sophomores have even positioned themselves on the quad in a spot close to the juniors (a prime position for observing traits that can later be used in an attempt to be “cooler”). Specifically, I am referring to the females. Out of the little respect that I do have for them, I will not mention the names of anyone that this is directed at. Looking at the junior girl group, I could pair each of them up with a sophomore girl who is no doubt striving to be their successor. While the spread of creative expression can be good, this gaggle of girls has taken it to a whole new level. The line between borrowing and copying is a fine one- one that was crossed long ago by these girls. On another note, a big shout-out to the sophomore boys, for not only receiving the torch from the junior boys, but also winning the trophy for most run-ins with Glenna and/or the rest of AHS’s administrative body.
Most Likely to be the Next Man/Woman vs. Wild Zane Pindell & Malia Charter Most Likley to be Seen on ESPN Brady Thomas & Riley Smith Class Dad/Mom Miles Bortman & Lyric Randall Class Clown Stevie Dickey & Kara Wells Become a Billionaire Charlie Bass & Ashley Hoe Most Likely to Find a Cure for Cancer Jony Mills & Sadie Shelton Biggest Flirt Jake Scarminach & Anya Ludwig Best Hair Ryan Mills & Grace Frankowiack Best Laugh Lee Dodds & Melodie Chouard Best Smile Bryce Shumway & Sam Boehnke Best Eyes Neil Presicci & Caitlin Stacy Best Dressed Eric Walcher & Lena O’Brian Cutest Couple Thomas Latham & Rihanna Piddington
Best Dancer Ian Murray & Savannah Kahn
Most Likely to Win a Purple Heart Brent Hegdahl & Kaylin McAnany
Best Friends Forever “Bros” & “H-Girls”
Most Likely to Join the Nav’i Clan Josh Frankowiack & Elle Swarttouw
Best Catch Sam Cowan & Lizzy Scott
Most Likely to be President Tosh Evans & Kathryn Reynolds
Most Pleasing to the Eye Mark Knudson & Bella Storie
Most Likely to be on the Bachelor/Bachelorette Ikaika Cecil & Sierra Kistler
Most Likely to be in a Sorority/Fraternity Jackson Volz & Meris B Most Likely to Fist-Pump Their Way Through Life Christian Morrison & Summer Healey
Class Flower
Red Rose Class Color
Turquoise Class Song ONE DAY by
Most Likely to be a Teacher at AHS Dakota Wolff & Michaela Anderson Most Likely to be an Olympian Tyler Sell & Hannah Ewing
Most Likely to Get Famous Through YouTube Talen Heater & Rihana Piddington Most Likely to Join the Peace Corps Yuval Zonnenschein & Kyla Dammann Most Likely to Thank the Academy Tay Smith & Aurelia Grierson Most Likely to Save the World Dylan Schink & Tara Borgilt Most Likely to be the Next Steven Colbert Dante Toppo & Pia Marchetti Most Likely to Travel the World Mack Tully & Ari O’Malley
Disney Prince/Princess Cal Thomas & Teague Teece
Most Likley to Live Happily Ever After Miguel Salgado-Gonzales & Madison Knox
Most Likely to Win a Grammy Ben Baden & Sophie Javna
Most Likely to Break Every Bone in Their Body Kevin Schilling & Clara Munroe
Most Likely to Start Their Own Clothing Company Nick Geiger & Derrien Burns
Most Likely to Move Abroad Chad Bernard & Melanie D’Amato
Most Likeable Coco Amarotico & Grace Riley-Adams
Most Likely to be on the NYT Best-Seller List Aaron Spanier & Allesandra Geffin
Most School Spirited T.J. Murphy & Olivia Bacon Most Addicted to Facebook Angus Stewert & Hanna Winters
Never Gets Caught Award Chris Landt & Yerutí Estigarribia Most Likely to be in a Rodeo Kyle Burgdorf & Kailey Cockell
Cutest Couple that Hasn’t Happened…yet Jony Mills & Laurel Sager Most Likely to Fight Death Eaters Austin Huerta & Lauren Hoffman Most Likely to be a CEO Tanner Hebert & Alison Claypool-Conrad Most Likely to Get Rich or Die Trying Rodney McDaniel & Ali Kandaris
;-)
Most Likely to Rule a Small Country Zack Markovich & Mackenzie Nichols
Most Likely to Have Their Art Featured in the Louvre Max Estes & Tabby Oddo
The most physically impressive or effectively used body parts of AHS athletes have been combined to make
Right Hand: Billy Hansen
“Superstar” saved the Grizzlies with his clutch jumper last season, nailing a dramatic gamewinning three-pointer against conference rival, Eagle Point.
Brain: Kirsten Erickson
Erickson’s elite IQ sets her apart in the pool.
Right Arm: Jake Scarminach
This varsity quarterback’s cannon is 15 inches in circumference and has compiled 3,400 passing yards and 24 touchdowns during his high school career.
Eyes: Ian Murray
Thanks to his vision and creativity on the pitch, Murray dished out 10 assists as the primary distributor for the boys soccer team last fall.
Left Hand: Rose Marston
Marston smothers opposing offenses with her outstanding fielding and dependable glove.
Left Upper: Adam Good
This kid’s pecs appear to be chiseled in marble by Michelangelo himself.
Right Upper: Samatha Boehnke
Left Arm: Matt Hedges
Boehnke’s strength and flexibility propelled her to become Ashland High’s “Queen of the Court.”
Core: Tyler Sell
You could clean your clothes on this crewman’s core.
Hips: Sam Cowan
Cowan’s powerful posterior forces his opponents into submission.
Right Leg: Sam Jackson
2010 800m state champion- ‘nuff said.
Heart: Josh Harris
This pin-seeking freshman phenom could help Tiger Woods with his stroke.
As a child, Harris overcame a complicated open heart surgery to become the unquestioned “heart and soul” of the boys tennis team this season.
Left Leg: Joy Harpham
Harpham has hops, clearing 5’2.00” in the high jump this spring.
Left Foot: Teague Teece
Teece’s left foot stabilizes her in the stirrups on her trusty steed.
Right Foot: Riley Smith
Ashland’s only NCAA Division-I committed athlete, thanks in large part to her reliable right boot.
Grizzenstein Staff Designer.............Zack Hartman Concept............Jonathan Mills Assistant................Neil Presicci Photographer......Laurel Sager Photographer.........Anja Harris Stitching..........Obsidian Dawn