Get Your Kicks with the Class of One-Six
Toodles, Teachers! Tell
by Zaida LaRose
Years at Ashland High School: 1 Subjects taught: Algebra 1A, Algebra 1, and Geometry for Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors. Future Plans: He is going to see if his hobby of brewing beer can become his career, sparked by some major life changes this year and the desire to “switch things up a bit.” He will be interning at a brewery in Ashland called Swing Tree.
Upon the conclusion of Ben Tell’s first year teaching at Ashland High School, the student body will undoubtedly fondly reflect upon his impact on our community both academically and extracurricularly. Throughout the year, Mr. Tell’s friendly personality and charisma have grown notorious throughout the student body. Early on in his experience at AHS, Mr. Tell took on the role of Rock Climbing Club advisor for the small group of participants that made up the club. Not only did he encourage the members to stretch their limits athletically, he also made an effort to get to know each individual as both a student and a climber. In the classroom, Mr. Tell’s relatable and approachable take on educating encourages students to take up arms against math with him, rather than taking up arms against math and him. This perspective has allowed his students to conquer the majority of their yearly challenges with unparalleled enthusiasm. In regards to his personal experience at the High School, Mr. Tell adds, “AHS is an awesome place to learn and grow from. Compared to my high school, Ashland is awesome! I really enjoyed my time here this year, meeting staff members and students alike!” As Mr. Tell continues on to his next adventure, it is certain to all that have had the pleasure of encountering him that he will make the most of wherever his life takes him next.
McKinnon
Years at Ashland High School: 18 Subjects taught: 10th and 11th grade English, Global Studies, American Studies, AP Government, Government, Economics, Govenomics, World Cultures, Street Law, Political Forum and more he cannot remember. Future plans: “Have my time be my time, not be on a schedule.”
Cate
by Ellie Stanek
Years at Ashland High School: 26 Subjects taught: Global Studies, all English 9, 10, 11, 12, American Studies, American Literature and a variety of English selectives. Future plans: Travelling with his wife overseas and camping.
Mr. Cate has been teaching for almost four decades. Throughout his years at Ashland High School (AHS), he has served as more than an English teacher: he has been a friend and a role model to countless students who have passed through AHS. Mr. Cate provides rich pieces of literature that high schoolers are interested in. For instance, several of his students were moved by the book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Fuller. “It’s a pretty complex novel for a lot of kids. It’s very satisfying to take a challenging text like that and make it work with sophomores and have that kind of lasting remembrance of a novel well-read and well enjoyed,” describes Mr. Cate. After leading compelling discussions and activities, his students develop a clear understanding of challenging material. His quick wit and jolly character establishes an entertaining classroom environment, and his brilliance is inspiring. Additionally, Mr. Cate encourages his students to express themselves through writing and assists them in discovering their strengths and weaknesses. “What gives me the greatest satisfaction is when I help a student understand their capabilities and maximize their capacity as a learner - getting them to realize things about themselves that they didn’t give themselves credit for,” explains Mr. Cate. Through building up his students’ selfesteem, Mr. Cate provides them with a realistic picture of their full potential. Students of Mr. Cate are very lucky. He will go down in history as one of the most valued and influential teachers that AHS has ever had. Ashland High School appreciates all that Mr. Cate has done, and will miss his warm heart, words of wisdom, and funky dance moves.
Sobotka
Years at Ashland High School: 8 Subjects taught: Statistics, Algebra 2, Algebra 1A Lab by Skylar Zundel by Payton Onesti Future plans: Going to SOU to become a professor. Inside jokes, lots of laughter, and genuine enjoyment describes what Ms. Sobotka’s class is like in a nutshell. This energetic math teacher can make any task enjoyable. She embodies sunshine on a cloudy day and hope of success right before a chapter Mr. McKinnon has always been a betest. One of the many things that is loved teacher at Ashland High School. His admirable about Ms. Sobotka is teaching career is now old enough that it can her enthusiastic teaching and buy cigarettes, lottery tickets and vote. Mr. her ability to make everyone McKinnon has been fearless in his classroom feel at home in the classroom. by holding an open forum where debates are In her classes, no one gets left welcome. He encourages informed opinbehind. Most students even end up ions the focus of his classes have always been in application to the real developing a friendship with Ms. Sobotka, for her humor and ability to connect world. He understands that his class is a part of your life, not the whole with kids makes it beneficial to have her as an instructor as well as life mentor. of it. Mr. McKinnon’s favorite part of teaching has been the “interactions with The Ashland High School community is saddened upon her leaving, but is also students where they are truly engaged and excited.” excited to see the great things she will contribute to Southern Oregon UniverMr. Mckinnon came into teaching as a sort of accident. He never intended to teach, although his father and three of his four siblings are teachers. As a lawyer sity. The impact she makes on her students is remarkable and undeniable. She he was dissatisfied with the intensity of stress and conflict he dealt with in court. has made each and every one of her math students have a strong desire to learn, He saw how satisfied his family members were as teachers and decided to make even if it’s how to draw and shade a standard normal curve or combine functions. Thank you for the laughs, Ms. Sobotka! a change. “We all get caught up in the day to day grind of what we’re doing and we lose our focus a little bit and every once in a while I’ve just had to stop and photos by Spencer Hills reflect how lucky I’ve been to teach in this community and be a part of Ashland High School and everything that it stands for.”
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by Liv West and Tia Wilhelm
‘Twas the first day of high school And all through the halls, The teachers were planning For the masses to crawl.
They took AP classes They struggled with tests, Tried twerking and working Sophomores knew best.
They worried and fussed Over which classes to pick, Stats, Calc and Econ Is it all just a trick?
Now comes time to graduate And dear friends depart, What stories will they tell? They are a work of art.
The freshmen were coming Filled deep down with fright, The seniors were thuggin’ With college in sight.
The wise fools kept on Through first times and dares, Come end of semester Bad grades were repaired.
They traveled in summer To places they’d live, Searching for that moment They’d be determinative.
With guaranteed beach balls To celebrate their leave, Russ Johnson pops them all Seniors’ last chance to deceive.
It was two thousand twelve And the world was ending, They saved up their cans For a crisis impending.
One more senior class split Strong friendships remembered, The months flew too quickly They were back by September.
They had made it to the top But came back to the jail, They knew who they were Would they make it to Yale?
Each graduate looks their best Like they did on their first day They’ve grown up a lot And they sure don’t want to stay.
In that year they grew They changed and they morphed, They tried everything new And old ways were dwarfed.
Every class seemed to matter More than ever before, Psych, Comp, and Theatre On the desks they might snore.
The year was nostalgic With endless turmoil, People passed left and right Restless blood was a-boil.
They go out with a bang Leaving everyone in awe, Off to new memories… All that binds them is the law!
From Mrs. Anderson’s math class To the dreaded P.E., The class learned to maneuver Figured out how to be.
Each struggle was real They hardly got breaks, They broke down a bit more Every test they would take.
They treasured each minute Yet desperate to get away, They skipped countless classes Live it up e’ry day!
Just like that it was summer They said final goodbyes, To the graduating seniors Then started to rise.
These juniors were stressin’ No free time to spare, Jealous of the seniors Who didn’t give a care.
Tanned from vacation With hot bods to show, The sophomores came in Completely a-glow.
Feature TQ’s Big Comeback by Colin Timmons TarQuin Daley was a three sport athlete throughout his high school career. He starred in football, wrestling and baseball. Daley’s senior year was undoubtedly a roller coaster. Late in Ashland’s first football playoff game, Daley went in for a tackle and lost his helmet in the process. He was then hit in the head a second time, resulting in a concussion. Unconscious for a few seconds, Daley was taken off the field via ambulance. He was unable to finish his final high school football season. In addition, despite high hopes for his senior wrestling season, his concussion prevented him from participating. It was especially hard on him since he’d been wrestling since the seventh grade. On April 25, Daley was driving home after baseball practice. Out of nowhere he was hit head on by an intoxicated and uninsured driver, totaling his car and breaking his leg in three places. Daley’s phone was out of reach, but luckily, a bystander called 911. While the healing process has begun, he is still in a full leg cast. “The injuries took me not only out of sports, but also my schooling,” Daley said. This accident brought on a wave of supporters as the community rallied and began donating to Daley’s GoFundMe page to help pay for his medical bills and a new car. So far, 98 people have donated nearly $7,500, with hopes to hit their goal of $10,000. On the bright side, Daley’s senior year had some positive highlights, including being voted onto the prom court. “I wasn’t expecting to get prom royalty, but I’m glad everybody voted for me,” Daley said. Daley also had a blast at the beginning of every sports season and was able to cheer on his team from the sidelines in the state football championship game his senior year. He was also able to excel in his academics despite his misfortune. Daley reflected fondly on his time at Ashland High School, saying, “I will always remember my high school years.” Daley has a way of inspiring those around him through his words and, more importantly, his actions. He sustained multiple serious injuries throughout his senior year of high school, but he never let them get the best of him. “Stay positive and never give up,” Daley says. During his four year journey, he learned valuable skills which will prepare him for the future. Daley will use these skills in college and they will help him to reach his goal of becoming a firefighter and a personal trainer. Daley now has a clear plan for the future, with prospects to play base-
ball for South Western Oregon Community College. Going forward, Daley will bring his positive attitude anywhere he goes, not only for himself but for everyone around him.
photo courtesy of TarQuin Daley
https://www.gofundme.com/TarQuinDaley
AHS Climber Reaches New Heights by Mouminatou Thiaw Ashland High School is full of grizzly competitors who push their physical limits time and time again. Senior Dakota Nidalmia is not just any athlete; he is a rock climbing prodigy. Those who have seen him climb can only describe it as “other-worldly” and “insane,” his strength and capability resembling that of a spider monkey. His agile and superbly developed skills can be attributed to a lifetime of climbing. Nidalmia first began climbing seven years ago when he was just 12 years old, but his love for the sport came a while later when he joined the Rogue Rock Gym in Medford and started training. It became his passion when he experienced the power it gave him: power to do the amazing and to push his mental and physical limits. It’s a sport that creates a unique sense of pride and strength and one where you are your biggest competitor. “That is a really amazing feeling,” Nidalmia expressed. There is not a large number of climbing competitions in the Rogue Valley, but Nidalmia competes in almost every one. This year he was especially successful. He competed in Regionals in Portland against other 17 and 18-yearold rock climbers in the state of Oregon. A rock climbing competition for him typically consists of four routes, each with an allotted time of four minutes during which the climber can repeat the climb for fastest ascent. Climbers are then judged and scored by analysts based on only the furthest and fastest climb on each of the four routes. The climber who goes the farthest in the shortest amount of time receives the highest score. At Regionals he placed second, therefore qualifying him for Divisionals which was held at the same gym as Regionals. In Portland, Nidalmia competed against the best climbers in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and parts of California and ultimately won third place. His rank at Divisionals brought him all the way to Nationals, which was held in Maddison, Wisconsin. There he competed in his age division against the best rock climbers in the U.S.A. Nidalmia is now ranked 24th in the youthjunior division. Since he is a senior, Dakota has outgrown the youth-junior division and will now continue his rock climbing career in the open division alongside professional climbers. On August 25 he will start school at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, pursuing a major in Psychology. He plans to then go on to OHSU for a degree in Nursing. While at Lewis and Clark he also intends to seek a job as a route setter at the Circuit Bouldering Gym so he can continue to follow his passion for climbing.
photo courtesy of Dakota Nidalmia
Dakota’s talents and his outstanding accomplishments over the past year certainly deserve recognition, especially since they helped spark renewed admiration and pride for the art of climbing and its respective community in the Rogue Valley. As Dakota goes on to begin his own life, the route may be rocky at times, but the future is chalk full of good things to come.
What will you miss about AHS? “The great friends that I have gotten to know.” -Jeffrey Simmons
“Being the coolest person, by far, in a mile vicinity of campus.” -Garrett Baxter
“The athletics and community. I’m going to lose the sense of community at a larger campus.” “The sun, because I’m going -Lars Filson to Washington.” “The tennis team, all of the guys [on the team]; getting to do that was a lot of fun.” -Mischa Kirby
-Lilli Patton
“The theater program and all of the amazing directors.” -Rebecca Wasche
“How friendly the staff is.” -Dede Oliva “The security. Like when you mess up, there are people that will help.” -Hannah Hayes
Rogue News asked the Class of 2016 What are you looking forward to? “Starting my life.” -Rain Morrissey “Getting away from home and going to school for what I want instead of being forced to take English.” -Nick Hawes
“Getting to know myself.” -Ryan Hoe
“Being the coolest person by far in a mile vicinity on a different campus.” -Garrett Baxter
”Being able to make someone smile by saying ‘hi.’” -Sarah Mitzel
“The unlimited food at the cafeteria” -Olivia Rooney
“To travel and go back to the motherland for a period of time, and follow my passions.” -Ferruccio Lemley
C
University of Puget Sound Western Washington University
Cassidy Magrath Walker Shibley-Styer Lilli Patton
Aidan Locklin
Gonzaga University
Hannah Barchet - University of Victoria
Mikaela Perry
George Fox University
Pacific University
Caleb Bell
Kory Swanson
Makayla Bellis
Ashland Institute of Massage Eden Bova
California
Mason Dow Davidson Honors College
Aidan Peterson
Phagans’ School of Cosmetology
Inspire House
University of Montana
Boise State University Payson Collins
Brigham Young University Jeffrey Nagel Emmaline Hassell
University of Colorad
St. Mary’s College
Long Beach City College
Madeline Hunkele
Olivia Rooney Athletic Scholarship
Luke Abell Vincent Wright
Front Range Community Jonathan McCann
California Polytechnic State University Karen Bach Raymond Impara
Soka University of America
Sophia Birch-Bridges Rosabelle Heine
Arizona State University
College of the Siskiyous
Allayana Darrow Barrett Honors College
James Hutchings Kasydie Winner
Occidental College Skylar Zundel Sarah Lasoff
Loyola Marymount University
Madisen Doty
Riverside City College Shashimani Penn
Taft Community College Karlie Richardson
Santa Monica College Jonathan Clarke
Military/ International
Oregon
Drew Freiheit - Coast Guard Aaron Scott - Navy
Rogue Community College Thunder Atchley Gabriel Bancroft Noah Bodden Emily BuntenWhite Cailyn Caldwell Tyler Clary Joseph Clough Emeline Culhane Sheila Dickens Ashley Dumont Julian Feldman Amanda Fremming Emily Haptonstall Azhray Harris Brenden JossBentley Ananda Lockheed Daniel Lopez Corrine Maddox Trevor Mejia Beth Nash Elizabeth Oliva
Angelique Ostmo Paul Pruitt Marcos RamirezMartinez Mariah Rible Jonathan Ruvalcaba Chance SpurgeonCourard Meadow Sylvan Marshall Treacy Rebecca Wasche Liam Weston Jamel Wilson Michael Wilson Anastasia Zukowski Richard Felker Collin McGuire Alexander Reyes Anna Brown Jared Lindow Myles Marcus
Nora Newman - Army
Central Oregon Community College Ava Altig Taylor Barats Noah Catropa Dino Cellini Harper Connor Karter Cox Aurora Dachen Lucien Farrow Lars Filson Emma Gelino Jett Hamik Jackson Lemhouse
Ocean Lubreras Morissa Parliament Trueda Pollard Justin Robinson Dannae Stewart Cassidy Walters Mitchell Werner Michael Loop Sarah Mitzel Koa Freedman Mareayne Morrissey
University of Oregon *Clark Honors College Garrett Baxter Cadaxa ChapmanBall Tracy Chargualaf Cole Compeau Nina Compeau *James Edson Azoline GaudinDalton *Nicholas Hawes Sierra Lambert
Keeley O’Dougherty *Payton Onesti Simmy Penn-Kout Karynne Prud’homme Smith Audrey Roden Loren Trottman Kai Weston Kyle Weinberg (ROTC) Jackson Risner
Oregon Institute of Dominic Meads
Portland Community College Portland State U Alana Aquino Stenley Graham Jeremiah Hasskamp Ethan Jones Luna LiningerSalazar Emma Muck
Kenji Nagareda Nora Newman Palie Brewer Jasmine Benson Jacob Scheppler Sarah Mitzel Miles Wilson
Willow Bays Hannah Bellinson Abigail Conte Rosemary Oliva Alexis Santos Ruby Tidd Morgan Graham
El Te Ia N Si Ze Bo
Class of 2016 University of Maine
Noah Falkner
Smith College
Shoshana Werblow
Lawrence University
Ellie Dicker
Michigan State University
Northwestern University
Chloe Brown
Ceili Widmann
Oberlin College
Austin Ellison-Meade
Christine Impara
DePaul University
Swarthmore College Ethan Carrier
David Lee Emma Durbin
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Mount Holyoke College Jahiya Clark Parsons School of Design Marcello Romano New York Institute of Technology
American University
Gillian Mullane
y College
Hollins University
Lauren Hammond-Pereira
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina Taylor Burkholder
University of New Orleans Emma Hickman Athletic Scholarship
Bryce Auguston Malakai Davis Rain Haywood Wyatt Ireland Jessica Johnson Molly Mazza Willa Moen Jennifer O’Connor
Technology Baylin Stich
University
lias Froehlich ereza Scott anthe BalbuenaNedrow idney Gomezeroll owie Levick
Spencer Hills
Liam Atkins Miriam Alba-Ochoa Zane Beasley Nathanial Conklin Melchisedek Shalom Emerald Hayes Angela Henty Suriel Hess Percy Holtzman Hannah Johnson Joseph Keroles Mischa Kirby Ferruccio Lemley Samantha Lilley Jakari Limahi Brighton Litjens Ember Mann
Keiyana Parker Christopher Radley Sophia Rowan-La Belle Roxy Schultz Asante Talbert Robert Thompson Mariah Throop Michael Born
University of Portland Emily Davis
Mount Hood Community College Gianni Pippa-Baker
Oregon State University Olivia Butler Ellie Case Ethan Croyle Ryan Hoe Stephanie Kutcher
Devon Lancaster *Lewis Loutzenhiser Jacob Roggema September St. John Carlee Conner
*Honors College
Zoey Petrone Ellen Stanek Ethan White
Keltain Reece-Sullivan Lillian Rider Rebecca Scherler Amelia Sorensen William Stewart Gavin Thompson Keely Yant Chance Swenson Kaleb Trunnell Lucas Sanders Jennifer Nicol Karleen Martin Leroy Hollensteiner Caylee Haydock Isabel Lowery Spencer Walker Eden Arias
Southwestern Oregon Community College TarQuin Daley
Southern Oregon University *Angeline Love Ewan McCarthy Alyssa Moutsatson
Elijah Olsen
Work/Travel
Undecided
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Full Sail University
Matthison Flynn
Western Oregon University Hannah Hayes Michael Pruitt - Athletic Scholarship
Lane Community College Madison Crook Marley Eggertsen Jeffrey Simmons Calysta Susu-Mago
Emma Meenaghan Lewis and Clark College Gavin Montgomery William Sutherland Alexander Welden Helena Loftus Dakota Nidalmia
Sayonara, Seniors!
Salute to Seniors
Senior Suckage
by Charlie Burr, Rowan Dearborne, Laila Borden & Claren Shields
by Gemma Coster, Avery Snipes, Amani Mussell
Ashland High School has had a long time tradition of playfully poking fun at each class. This year, the Rogue News decided to put a new spin on the old practice. Toward the end of the year, seniors feel pride for what they’ve accomplished and satisfaction with the foundation they’ve built themselves. The graduating class deserves a dose of acknowledgment and a hint of praise. Seniors are essentially at the top of the food chain. They are identified by their ownership of the half-moon, their scurrying to submit their college applications, and their stress over the future. At this stage of their lives, they are either reminiscing about how fast high school has gone by, or excited for the chance to leave their nests and go into the world, or a mixture of both. Leaving the comfort of home is not easy, but the willingness of these seniors to step independently into the real world warrants recognition. Criticism of the seniors in previous “Clash of Classes” have focused on divisions between classes and a lack of effort and personality in their final year of high school. These arguments can be made, but completely disregard the collaborative and healthy relationships within the classes. For example, underclassmen depend upon upperclassmen for rides to lunch or sports, entry into exclusive events such as prom, and knowledge of the inner workings of our school in social and academic aspects. Seniors are the wise sages of our school. They have the cumulative knowledge of high schoolers before them. The senior class of 2016 can be appreciated for their contributions to Ashland High School over the past four years. Their various involvements through clubs, sports, theatre, art, work, volunteering, will leave a lasting impression. They will be missed for who they are and what they represent, but the students, teachers, and the community of Ashland send them off with the hope that they will continue to achieve bigger and better things in life. Senior counselor Glenna Styles says, “I have loved working with the seniors, I know they will do great things and make a difference in the world.” So for all you seniors out there: so long, farewell, auf weidersehen, goodbye.
The seniors of Ashland High School (AHS) do not fall into the typical teenage stereotypes. When compared to Hollywood portrayals of this age group, our school seems to be in a completely separate realm from the world of those mediocre clichés. Don’t get us wrong, AHS seniority definitely exists, but not in the “cool way.” No way; our seniors fit in a category of their own. These lazy, loud, giant babies will complain about anything academic thrown at them. That is, if they even show up to class. On top of their laziness, they are incredibly arrogant. They rule over the school with their shades and designer sweatpants, glowering down from the height of the “half-moon” upon the underclassmen with cocky superiority. Goodness knows how they are going to survive in the real world outside of our “Ashland Bubble.” What will they do when they can’t drive to the Co-op during lunch to get their salads and low fat smoothies made with every green thing you can think of? Who will be there to listen to them ramble about the vegan life? Let’s just hope they don’t try to make a career out of Vine and YouTube without even attempting to go to college first. If seniors had a YouTube channel it would be called something unintelligent like 7SecondHomeworkAbs or SuperGamerguy123456789. Honestly, can anyone believe some of them are legally considered adults? I don’t think any of them can even grasp the concept, although they try to prove they do to the rest of us. One example of this attempt is growing unruly wizard-like beards that they either refuse, or are simply too lazy, to shave. Be careful what you say to them, as they might curse you with their wizard-beard magic, though most of the inarticulate mash of slang and memes that they call sentences could only be decoded through magic anyway. Don’t even get me started on their driving skills! We should have a tally for how many times a senior cuts someone off while driving. They seem to think that a vehicle is not complete without a few dents and scratches. There are only two types of cars in Ashland: rich Californian BMW’s and high school seniors’ cars. As they approach the end of the school year, it seems like these seniors are machines that run off of coffee, Netflix, and convenience store junk food. Hold it together you Starbucks addicts; only a few more days left and you’ll be on your own. Love, the Underclassmen
editorial by Zaida LaRose and Mouminatou Thiaw Ageism is defined as “prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person’s age.” This is undoubtedly something that most of us have experienced. Whether it’s an elder unfairly assuming that someone young (being from an age of technology) would have no interest in anything other than social media, or a young person accusing older generations for having made the world the confused and complicated way it is today. This seems to be an unshakable human quality to attempt to simplify and categorize the greatly diverse and unpredictable world. The problem with this? It is suffocating. Ageism builds walls and borders which many feel they must be confined to. It creates false identities and unrealistic ideals about how certain people should be. Ageism, like any other “ism”, generates these social restrictions. In the City of Ashland, despite our commonly accepted identity as an unprejudiced community, we are only human, and it cannot be helped that prejudice (more specifically, on the basis of age), permeates the minds of most. A prominent example of ageism is the recurring circumstance of older people telling younger people that they don’t know anything about the real world because we live in “The Ashland Bubble.” This unfair assumption is being embedded into the attitudes of many youth. Such a proclaimed confinement becomes a mentality that threatens to restrict us when we leave “The Bubble.” The concept has become an inescapable part of the mindsets of young Ashlanders, and how could it not be? We are reminded every day that the real world is nothing like the town we have the privilege to grow up in. In the “real world” people will take your bikes, they will take credit for your life’s work without a second thought, and they will take advantage of you because you’re passionate and optimistic beyond reason… we will continue to perceive the world is out to get us, unless we can adapt to its vastness and ruthlessness. But what if we changed the world instead? What if we were sent off to live our lives with the mentality that we could make a difference, not despite growing up in a “bubble,” but rather, because of it? It’s true that we live in a very special place. You hardly have to leave it to see that only 11 miles away lies Medford, or as some have called it, “Dreadford.” But would it not be more prudent for the elders of our community to help the youth utilize such a unique upbringing by supporting the application of what we learn to our lives once we leave? And would it not be more effective still if the youth would take to heart the mistakes of their elders and not repeat them? “The Ashland Bubble” should cease to be a term used by the older generations to tell the young generations what they don’t know. It should become something that the youth of our community can bring to the world to change what is not right with the confidence to be resilient and resolute.
Erin Schrode is a young woman who is trying to make that difference in the world. She is a citizen activist, environmentalist, advocate of social justice and public health, and a community leader who is running for United States Congress in California’s District 2. She is also 24 years old. When one looks at her age alone, it becomes easy to discredit her abilities. However, when one takes into account the fact Schrode has already co-founded the non-profit organization “Turning Green” for the advocacy and teaching of environmental sustainability, has been honorably recognized for her environmental activism by countless news corporations, and has been elected by Participant Media as one of the top ten Inspiring Climate Leaders (along with Al Gore and Bill McKibben) it becomes clear that she has lived a more fruitful and impactful life that many twice her age. Despite her incredible accomplishments, Schrode still receives substantial prejudice for her youngness. She is viewed as naive and incapable by those who are too short-sighted themselves to recognize her skill, simply due to her age. It may elicit some surprise from those who doubt her credibility that one of her coined phrases is “eco consciousness forms the lens through which I view my entire life,” rather than something along the lines of, “my admittedly youthful physical situation forms the lens through which I view my entire life.” Yes, believe it or not, Schrode’s age is not a measure of her passions, ambitions, or her ability to spark change in our society. Bernie Sanders is an extreme on the opposite end of this ageist spectrum, as a 74 year old presidential candidate that receives constant prejudice for his perceived “dotage.” Were he to be elected as President of the United States, Sanders would be the oldest person in history to hold that title. Concern has arisen in regards to whether or not his “feeble” stature would allow him to truly succeed in the Whitehouse. According to the Chicago Tribune, any “sensible” person can see that “Sanders is way past his presidential sell date,” and that “the job is too important to entrust to a 75-year-old man,” regardless of his countless abilities, skills and morals that make him more qualified for the job than the average person. Perhaps if we entrusted the role of President to the pro wrestler John Cena- someone more youthful and burly than senator Sanders, our country can be lead to a stronger place (literally). Let it be recalled that many middle-aged politicians have made poor decisions in their roles as leaders in the past; that neither brawn nor gentle physique, youth nor post-pubescence, holds any correlation to cognitive cultivation; that physical age is no indication of one’s capabilities, but rather-as eloquently stated in Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre, “your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.”
ASB Presidents: Millian Welcomes Kamelia Dear Ashland High School, As summer approaches, it’s hard not to think about the school year that will follow those blissful days lying in the sunshine. The 2016-17 school year looms over us like a threatening thunderstorm, and as your ASB presidents we will (somehow) embrace and harness all that electric energy and channel it into positive change, genuine improvements… and a plethora of puns. (Seriously. Brace yourselves.) If you don’t already know us, our names are Amelia Zeve and Kate Joss-Bradley, and you all made the unfortunate awesome choice of electing us as your ASB Co-Presidents. Like many hopeful politicians, our campaign was overflowing with cheesy humor and promises of change. We want to make the school more of a community, an uplifting place for our teen years… but, hey, those things aren’t important. What’s important is the fact that your Commander-in-Chief Amelia Zeve will be shouting underwhelming dad jokes into the microphones at assemblies until your ears bleed - the other stuff will come later. Next year, we hope to ensure that Ashland High School is great enough to get a five star rating on Yelp and at least a 60% on Rotten Tomatoes (or, at the very least, this school is gonna be more exciting than the Angry Birds Movie.) We have been at AHS for three years now, and the three ASB Co-Presidents who have come before us have left some big shoes to fill. Nick Chouard and Noah Yaconelli brought their humor and entertainment to the school year; Brielle Preskenis and Jackson Richmond shared with us their intelligence and passion for change; and Gillian Mullane and Mason Dow did a really good job of showing up late to leadership class every other day (Amelia did a good job of that too). But, regardless, we will be sure to stuff the toes of those shoes with as much toilet paper as possible and head into next year with our giant floppy clown slippers awkwardly bouncing up and down on the sacred pavement of the half moon - and it will be good, don’t worry. That’s one thing we can truly promise. Love and puns, Amelia and Kate
Dear Ashland High Schoool, As the year comes to a close, we would like to thank the entire student body for making this such a dope year, bro! We extend our deepest appreciation to all those who showed support, care and kindness to all their fellow students and peers. Like seriously, wasn’t this year savage?? From fresh start to football games, AHS students consistently went above and beyond to show extraordinary effort and passion in all that they participate in. We will be forever grateful to all the staff and faculty who made both our school and ASB experience so fulfilling and meaningful. A very special thank you also goes out to our leadership class, who have allowed us to grow and learn as leaders, and to our exalted lumberjack Samuel Scharf (sorry we were tardy, our bad fam). As far as next year goes, we are sure that our school is in the best of hands. I mean, those hands are those of Amelia and Kate. We are sure they will be alright presidents. Fortunately, we have made it pretty easy for them, having done a stellar job this year. It’ll be so smooth, that it makes a lot of sense for Amelia and Kate to take our place. At least it will make more sense than some of Amelia’s failed puns. We are sure they will both continue our newfound tradition of arriving slightly late to a majority of classes, and we hope they will be able to avoid the clutching grip of senioritis. Truth be told, we are more than confident in Amelia and Kate’s ability to lead this school in the upcoming year. They are incredibly capable students with an incredibly capable support system. Our thanks go out to all those who have made our high school careers the amazing journey they have been. We would like to remind you to all wear your shades to graduation on June 3rd to avoid being blinded as we ride off into this glorious sunset. Gillian and Mason out. Pictured: Amelia Zeve (left), Kate Joss-Bradley (right). Center: Gillian Mullane (left), Mason Dow (right). Photos by Lauren Pauli
Adios Editors
Generations of Rogue News editors have passed through room 202 as eager-faced freshmen, and left as confident, capable editors of newsprint. Rogue News has always focused on giving students interested in journalism the tools to become great writers, photographers and bearers of news. As the 2015-16 editors look into the new chapter of their life, they reflect here on their Rogue News experiance. The past four years in Rogue News have been the ultimate adventure. As a staff member I discovered a passion for writing, editing, designing and presenting news. As an editor I developed and refined my leadership and communication skills and decided to make my passion for journalism a career. After the hours of exhausted laughing, fine tuning and endless deadlines, I am ready to leave Rogue News in the hands of my friends and staff and embark on my next adventure with a love, passion and appreciation for this craft. Bon chance, Allie. I began Rogue News September of sophomore year. It was love at first write. Before finding journalism, I planned to fulfil my childhood dream of being a rockstar, but I’ve had time to rethink my old dream. Today, my dream profession is to pursue a creative path in journalism, like creative director of a magazine. I loved every moment of Rogue News; it has taught me priceless lessons that I will carry with me throughout my life and professional career. And to Jamie Hirsh, who had this year’s Rogue News class as her first test-run teaching
Rogue News: shout out, I’ll miss ya girl. You did a fabulous job. Peace and blessings, Ia. I have had a lot of great memories in the Rogue News room over the years. From having submit/dance parties to having end of the year picnics, the Rogue News Team has always been a family. And as a family, we pass on our knowledge and journalism skills to the next generation, making friendships and bonding all the while. Ultimately Rogue News is about creating a platform for student issues and news geared to the student body and community. By engaging in dialogues in class, participating in community events and finding newsworthy stories all around us, Rogue News has helped all of us editors grow as people and journalists. I will always remember the great times I’ve had in this class, as well as the professionalism it instilled in me. Chop Chop Wiggy Wiggy, James. In the four years that I have been on staff, there have been three advisors: Mr. Gabriel, Ms. French and Ms. Hirsh. Each came with their own idea of how things work, and each brought their own unique direction. Rogue News provides a space where young minds can collaborate in an effort to voice their opinions and concerns. I am so thankful to have met the people I did through this outlet. The Rogue News has shaped my high school journey and in many ways my future. Peace out suckas, Skylar.
photo by of Spencer Hills
How are you?
by Lili Smith and Lauren Pauli 1. You have to walk to Lithia Park after school to meet your friends. What shoes do you wear? a. Chacos b. Birkenstocks c. Converse d. Heeled Boots 2. As you walk by the Ashland Springs Hotel, you catch a glimpse of the schedule for the next week. What are you interested in? a. “A Taste of Ashland” b. The Independent Film Festival c. Oregon Cheese Festival d. Pass! 3. You see the Green Show about to start and you hear music. What do you do? a. Take off your shoes and dance! b. Go watch but call no attention to yourself c. Eh... you’ll just catch the next one d. What’s the green show? 4. Because of the ever-changing weather, it starts to rain. What do you do? a. Keep on goin’ b. Grab a rain coat and carry on c. Get out your umbrella and be cautious d. Rain?! Take cover!!
5. You’re parched and stop for a drink at mix. What do you get? a. Yerba Mate b. Chai c. A smoothie d. Orange Fanta 6. Last day of school! What class are you most interested in for next year? a. AP Environmental Science b. Theater, Art, Jewlery Design, or Fiber Arts c. Virtual Enterprise d. Algebra 2 7. It’s Prom Day! You get together with friends and go take pictures. Where do you go? a. Lithia! The Fountain! Duh! b. Lithia, but maybe not the fountain because it gets so crowded c. I’m not going d. Just someone’s backyard
Mostly A’s: You’re very Ashland! You’ve probably lived here most of your life or at least adapted mighty quick. You’ve been to countless plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and enjoy the occasional prank on a visiting family member by making them try Lithia Water. Mostly B’s: You have aspects of Ashland in you, but you’re definitely not a full throttle Ashlander. You appreciate this little town, but wouldn’t mind heading off for college, or continuing your life in a new place. Mostly C’s: You probably judge those who embrace the Chacos and Kombucha on a daily basis. You’re looking forward to the day you can leave and definitely would not be disappointed if you missed out on things like First Friday or The Homecoming Parade. Mostly D’s: You despise the typical “Ashland Hippie” on the streets of the plaza. Their banjo and washboard playing makes your ears bleed. The simple task of going downtown gives you chills.
Con-GRAD-ulations! by Maisie Roberson
Across: 1) Secondary Education 4) a place students may go for two or four years after high school 5) AHS was __________ in 1890 6) an option some students take after high school: this is a deferment of post-secondary education 9) the ceremony at which a diploma is received 13) this event is sometimes thrown for graduating seniors in celebration of their achievements 15) some people do this after high school, especially if they chose to take a gap year 16) this is on graduating students’ caps 17) Ashland High School 18) the season after school ends 19) these may be worn at graduation as a recognition of activities students have participated in 20) it is tradition for students to wear a _____________ (3 words) at their graduation 23) like college, but has graduate programs as well as undergraduate programs 24) this is the place in Lithia Park where the graduation ceremony is held 25) graduating high school is the end of one section of this, and the beginning of another 27) the first names of our new class presidents (3 words)
28) the landmark where start the graduation procession 29) this can be found on the back page of our graduation edition papers Down: 2) students in their last year of high school 3) definition: a formal public occasion celebrating a particular event 5) most Americans spend this amount of time in high school (2 words) 6) our mascot is the ______________ (2 words) 7) graduation ceremonies can be considered a type of ________ (3 words) 8) another word for graduation ceremony 10) students receive this certificate when they graduate 11) an end is just a ____________ (2 words) 12) the _______ of 2016 14) students in high school are ______________ 19) the teen years are a time of ___________ (3 words) 21) definition: a student who graduates with a 4.0 GPA 24) this featured senior made it to nationals in rock-climbing 26) this featured senior competed in baseball, football and wrestling during his time at AHS
Answers: Across: 1.High School 4.College 5.Founded 6.Gap Year 9.Graduation 13.Party 15.Travel 16.Tassle 17. AHS 18.Summer 19.Cords 20.Cap and Gown 23.University 24.Bandshell 25.Journey 27.Kate and Amelia 28.Fountain 29.Grizzenstein Down: 2.Seniors 3.Ceremony 5.Four Years 6.Grizzly Bear 7.Rite of Passage 8.Commencement 10.Diploma 11.New Beginning 12.Class 14.Teenagers 19.Coming of Age 21.Valedictorian 24.Dakota 26.Tarquin
THE ROGUE NEWS HAS CREATED A MONSTER...
The most impressive and effectively used body parts of exceptional AHS sutdents have been combined to create
THE ULTIMATE GRIZZLY Senior Mischa Kirby was a four year member of the tennis team and has been the number one singles player both of the past two years. This year at the state tournament, he advanced to the quarterfinals as the fourth seed.
Senior Hannah Bellinson has been a part of Ashland swim team for all four years of high school. As captain of the swim team, she led the girls to a win at districts this year.
Senior Dominic Meads won districts in discus and got second place in shotput, qualifying for state in both. Meads placed sixth in discus at state.
Senior Olivia Rooney started rowing crew her sophomore year, and was quickly noticed for her excellent talents in the sport. She was contacted by many colleges and decided to sign to row with Saint Mary’s College in California.
Senior Noah Catropa placed ninth at the state skiing championship individually, led the boys team to a fifth place finish, and was a major contributor to the boys and girls team placing first place combined.
Senior Chloe Brown is known for her brain. Brown took calculus as a junior, is the president of Mu Alpha Theta, and has qualified for state twice as part of the math team. In addition she was a National Merit Scholarship finalist.
Senior Sophia Birch Bridges is known for her art and is a part of the National Art Honors Society.
Senior Gillain Mullane will be attending her third National Speech and Debate Tournament this summer and was ASB Co-President for 2015-16. Junior Nick Sanderson is a left-handed pitcher and first baseman for baseball. He was first team all-conference as a first baseman. Nick Sanderson leads the team with four homeruns this year. Senior Shibley-Styer is not only known for his achievements in football, but also in basketball. He received first team allconference honors in basketball and was all-state as a wide receiver in football.
Junior Joanne Lemley is a member of the wrestling team. Even though she was out for half the season she persisted and made it to state where she placed second in her weight class.
Junior Laurel Tappert is cocaptain of the girls water polo team. Tappert was listed as an honorable mention at state, where she and her team took fourth. She was also first team all-conference.
Senior Stenley Graham was not only Player of the Year for his conference in soccer, he was also got noticed by ESPN for his three quarter shot in a basketball game.