June 2017 (Graduation Edition)

designed by Frankie Mora

News/Senior Features Pages 2-3

Mindful Alumni Page 5

The Senior Map Pages 6-7

Life is Serene with the Class of ‘17

Clash of the Classes Page 4

Farewells Pages 8-9

Issue XIV. Vol. XI June 2, 2017

Senior Reflections/Poem Pages 10-11

AHS Race

Team Ignites

by Jackson McRae

As an overall learning experience, one highlight was that for the most of the construction, students needed to learn to use an assortment of new fabrication tools.

The mechanics class at Ashland High School has been well known for constructing a variety of things, most notable, the cars they work on year round.

AHS mechanics teacher Richard Britt and a group of students meeting after school have built something unique to their repertoire: a racecar. With a couple of races already under their belt, the team of about ten students has shared experiences in both building and racing their cars.

The process for making a car race viable is not simple. It starts with taking a street ready car and removing all of the unnecessary components. This includes the radio, every seat except for the driver’s, and anything else that would weigh down the car, all in the interest of extra speed. In addition, the team needs to install a safety cage inside of the car, which turns out to be the hardest part of the process according to Britt. Since removing the roof of the car isn’t an option, the team is forced to maneuver it through the door, and this can prove a major challenge.

On the other hand, there were a lot of positive moments for the team. As an overall learning experience, one highlight was that for the most of the construction students needed to learn to use an assortment of new fabrication tools. For Britt, this was a high point of the experience.

As far as races go, they’re not quite what most people think of when they hear “car races.” For example, professional races are generally 200 to 300

photo by Jackson McRae

photo courtesy of the AHS Mechanics Racing Team

hundred laps, and driven on asphalt. The races done by the AHS racing team aren’t nearly as long, and are instead driven on dirt. The dirt itself dictates the maximum speed of the car, and also changes how one gets an edge in the race. Since the team knew that the cars would be racing on dirt, a large part of the design itself was making sure that each car could turn corners quickly and easily, which proved the easiest way to shave off time in a race.

Unfortunately for the team however, the actual driving time each student gets is small. Since there are 3 to 4 people working on each car, they have to

alternate between who drives each time. This means that it can take several races before each person has a turn driving, and considering that the team has only done 3 races so far, not everyone has had experience behind the wheel. The team hopes to find a better way to alleviate this problem. Luckily, they plan to continue racing in the summer, and this should offer more opportunities to get behind the wheel. They still have yet to place first in a race, but given more time and experience with these cars, the AHS mechanics class will be poised to take home a trophy.

Shake It Off For Luke

by the Los Angeles Fire Department who filmed a video to support a young girl with cerebral palsy. Hogan saw the video and reached out to the community with the hope to recreate it. The fundraiser seemed like was a perfect fit for Luke, who has a passion for dance and music. “Whenever I am trying to get Luke to calm down, I put on Taylor Swift and he dances until he is more relaxed.

It is the best kind of therapy because it puts him in a good mood,” says Hogan.

Hogan filmed the video with help from a family friend and videographer.

She contacted the Ashland fire department with her proposal and the firefighters were eager to accept the challenge, responding with a unanimous ‘yes.’ Before the video was filmed, Luke got to meet all the firefighters who let him ride around on the fire truck and try out the gym equipment. “Filming the video was so much fun and I was so honored to be a part of such an amazing fundraiser,” says AHS freshman, Taiga Sherman, who participated in the event.

Julia Laurenson, Luke’s sister and Project UP creator, described her appreciation for the fire department. “I’m so incredibly grateful for everything that’s been done for Luke. It continues to amaze me and it gives me so much hope for our town and for this world when people are willing to come together for a cause.” In the music video, which will be released in the next few weeks, the Ashland firefighters challenged the Grants Pass and Medford Fire Departments, as well as the Ashland Police Department, to film their own music videos to help Luke. Grants Pass has already accepted the challenge, and with any luck, the Rogue Valley officials will all be getting down in support of this year’s Sparrow student.

Donate to the fundraiser:

by Ava Hearn

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Project UP Volunteers: Grace Pruitt, Taiga Sherman, Julia Larenson, Tessa Buckley, Maya Elder-Hammond and Preston Mead with Luke.

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Luke using the exercise equipment with help from Ashland Firefighters, Daniel Caples and Matt Stewart.

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Luke with Ashland Firefighters, Daniel Caples and Captain Marshall Rasor.

-doctors didn’t believe that Luke would be able to walk, they didn’t think he could ever talk and they told me he would have to be institutionalized. He keeps proving everyone wrong.

Jane Hogan

On Saturday, May 7th, The Ashland Fire Department teamed up with Ashland High School’s Project UP Club, to “shake it off ” for a good cause. Project up is a club that provides performing arts opportunities to high school students with disabilities while also giving them a chance to interact with students from the wider school community in a comfortable and fun environment. In their latest project, they filmed a music video to Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off to help raise money for 12-year-old Ashland Middle School (AMS) student, Luke Laurenson.

Luke was born with Dystonic Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy and Speech Dysarthria. In third grade, Luke was adopted into the Sparrow club, a nonprofit organization of school based clubs that empowers students to help kids in medical need. Luke is now the Sparrow student at AMS. Luke’s mother, Jane Hogan is optimistic about Luke’s prognosis. “When Luke was first diagnosed, doctors didn’t believe that Luke would be able to walk, they didn’t think he could ever talk and they told me he would have to be institutionalized. He keeps proving everyone wrong. Luke is now attending middle school, he can speak and through his therapy, he is learning to walk on his own,” she says.

Luke relies on a type of Neuromotor movement therapy called the Anat Baniel Method. While the therapy is very effective, it is also expensive and requires regular trips to Portland and the bay area.

Hogan has set a up a Youcaring Fund and hopes to raise $34,000, which will go towards Luke’s medical expenses. The idea for the music video was inspired

youcaring.com/lukehoganlaurenson-757279

Roads to Success

by Bella Mannray, Nicole Mullen, Uma McGuire photos by Henry Cook

Cedar Taulbee

“It feels about time,” sighed Cedar Taulbee about graduating this year.

Her obvious impatience is magnified by the exciting opportunities just on the horizon for this budding artist and young adult. Taulbee has enrolled at Portland State University (PSU) with the intention of majoring in both Graphic Design and Fine Arts. In 2015, Portland State was named the number 6 school in the nation for graphic design, and nestled in Portland’s burgeoning art scene, the school offers wide possibilities for the artistically inclined. Taulbee has harbored impressive artistic talent since taking her first art class as a sophomore at Ashland High School (AHS), and with the mentorship of numerous art teachers, including Sam Scharf, both her love of art and her skills have only grown. In 2017, Taulbee was one of few AHS students featured in the Best of the Best art show where she exhibited her stunning line and watercolor cartoon images. Taulbee’s vibrant art translates beautifully to illustration, a career path she hopes to pursue at PSU. In addition, Taulbee hopes to expand her artistic range and opportunities by taking, “any weird or unique art classes,” like photography or digital media, all experiences and skills that will help her to form an impressive portfolio. A career in the arts is a notoriously difficult path to pursue, and Taulbee acknowledges this. “There are definitely more stable jobs I could have chosen,” she says, but Taulbee stresses her desire to pursue a career where she will enjoy herself. Taulbee explained that for her, one of the largest attractions to art is the “mindset” the artist adapts when creating art. “It’s instinctual,” she remarked, “you don’t have to think about it too much.”

Amora McConnell

After searching for a school that mixed the rigorous collegiate environment with a hands-on liberal arts approach, Amora McConnell decided she will be attending Barnard College. Barnard is a private, all women’s college, connected to Columbia University, nestled in the heart of Manhattan. “I’ve been thinking about college for a very long-time and wanted a school that would challenge me a lot,” McConnell stated.

Throughout her high school career, McConnell has valued settings where activity is just around the corner, and people around her never lose energy. This sort of stimulus is easily accessible in New York, and she is looking forward to a community where anonymity allows you to be yourself while simultaneously pushing your boundaries. As the first person in her family to attend college, she values the resources she had access to living in Ashland, such as the ASPIRE program, which helped her family and her understand the process and financial implications of attending college. McConnell doesn’t have a definitive major planned out, however she believes she wants to study cinema along with architecture and civil engineering. She said the combined focus demonstrates a mix of her interests paired with a paradigm of bettering the world. “I love logical stuff, and I love artistic stuff.” The combination of an urban landscape and Barnard’s dynamic academics creates the perfect palette to accomplish her goals of mixing her interests. As McConnell takes on the next stage of her life, she is looking forward to living in a community “where women teach women and take care of women.”

Chrisopher Jossy

In a field of high school students with ambiguous aspirations, there stands a small minority of students who have, for the most part, discovered their true passions in life. For Christopher Jossy, this path and passion lays within the world of technical theater. “I was on the honors track for math and science, I really wanted to be a chemist or a physicist, but once I started falling in love with theater, I lessened my aspiration because I loved this more,” states Jossy. One major job of theater technicians is the duty of “figuring out a way to light the characters that will further the story.” Jossy has participated in the behind the scenes action of theater throughout his high school career and has even had the opportunity to serve as technical director for two Ashland High School plays. Taking on the job of technical director meant that Jossy was in charge of making sure all elements of the backstage operated in a symphonic manner, such as organizing the unison movement of props, lighting, sound, and stage management. Holding this position is something that takes strong leadership skills and reliability, two attributes that have given Jossy the success to move forward with theater after high school. Next year, head of Ashland High School’s theatre department Betsy Bishop has asked Jossy to come back as a paid Technical Theater Director. He will also be attending Rogue Community College for general education purposes. While Jossy doesn’t have a specific dream for the rest of his career, he has expressed interest in pursuing technical theater at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and possibly moving to Las Vegas. Overall, Jossy credits discovering his passion for theater to resources in Ashland. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival and AHS have had a strong 23-year relationship that has helped students like Jossy, and as Jossy says, “boosted me in the direction I want to go.”

Jesse Carroll

Jesse Carroll leaves June 26 for his new home in Annapolis, Maryland, across the country and away from Ashland, where he has lived for the past 15 years. “It feels surreal, honestly,” Carroll sighed when pondering graduation and his life after high school. Carroll will be attending the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy, a top 4-year universitiy in the nation in science and engineering. It is also one of the most difficult schools in the country to get into with only 9% of applicants accepted, according to U.S. News and World Reports. The military offers a rigorous training regimen, uniformity, stability, and a predictable schedule, which were all aspects that attracted Carroll to the career path. “As I’ve grown up, I’ve realized that I thrive when things are known,” Carroll remarked. In addition, the Naval Academy offers exceptional financial stability, an increasingly desirable trait in an era of skyrocketing education costs. All undergraduates will have all expenses paid including tuition, room and board, and trave, as well as receiving a $1000 stipend each month for personal expenses. At the end of Carroll’s academic career, he will go on to serve in the U.S Navy as a commissioned officer. Some might consider the obligation to serve a burden, but Carroll stated that he has “always had a passion to serve my country and others,” and the Navy lies close to his heart. Carroll’s grandfather served in the US Navy in World War II and was killed when Carroll’s father was 13. Though Carroll was born long after his grandfather’s death, the memory of his grandfather and his service has given Carroll a connection to the person he was never able to meet.

Design Board Editors-in-Chief.............Maisie Roberson, Zaida LaRose, Frankie Mora, Lili Smith, Karl Moeglein, Lucas Searcy Front......................................................................Frankie Mora Racecar/Fundraiser.............................................Charlie Burr Senior Features...............................................Madison Fung Clash of Classes......................................................Lily Annen Mindful Alumni............................................Sophia Wiencek In-Depth...............................................................Lucas Searcy ASB/Editor Goodbyes.............................. Frida Graumann Goodbye Teachers..................................................Kiara Hills Senior Reflections........................................Lillian Witnauer Graduation Poem...................................................Raisa Rich Grizzenstein........................................................Garrick Kosct

Nate McLennan

Nate McLennan’s high school experience can be encapsulated by the lessons that he’s learned from playing sports throughout his high school career: family values, responsibility, and the brotherhood of being a part of a team. McLennan will carry these lessons with him as he transitions out of AHS, and into further education and training for his future career as a firefighter. Athletic endeavors and personal aspirations have inspired him to pursue firefighting. McLennan noted, “I wasn’t always the best student in high school, so the bulk of what I’m taking away is what I was taught by my coaches.” McLennan has played across the spectrum of sports offered at AHS, including soccer his freshman year and baseball and ski team all four years. While McLennan plans to work his way up, he acknowledged that his path won’t be as traditional compared to others, he reveals that he might be “ski-bumming it” for a while by, “skiing in the winter, rafting in the summer, and making money.” This will be accompanied by taking classes at Rogue Community College and Central Oregon Community College with a goal of a degree in paramedicine and fire science. The ability to stay active and to help people has motivated McLennan to pursue this dangerous but rewarding career. “I can’t sit at a desk. The fact that I’m up and moving and helping people really drives me forward.”

CLASH OF THE CLASSES Roasts of the Classes by the Classes

Freshman

Juniors

roasted by Leah Aaronson

roasted by Jade Bromley

I’m supposed to write an article bashing the freshman class, but honestly, there’s nothing to bash. Obviously we are the coolest, trendiest class at Ashland High School. The hippie tie dye leggings paired with black and white Adidas trend? Nailed it. The drinking Yerba Mates and pretending to be upperclassmen fad? Yes, we are just that cool. The freshman class is one of the most wannabe, basic, trend-following classes. We are so tryhard, we would follow any trend just to get the upperclassmen to look at us.

Also, can we mention the lack of maturity in the freshman class? Some of it can be blamed on the fact that we are freshmen, but surely freshmen aren’t supposed to be THIS immature. We still have the vocabulary of sixth graders, using offensive and demeaning words to describe everything. It’s not like we use the words once, learn from our mistakes, and then never use them again. It’s a daily thing. And the fact that we think that everything that bothers us slightly makes us “triggered.” Calm down. I know that since we are mediocre at everything we need to make up for it with our word choices and personalities, but no, calm down.

Ok, I’m getting “triggered.” That’s enough. Freshmen, take this with a grain of salt, chill out, and realize that you are not that cool.

Sophomores roasted by Uma McGuire and Bella Mannray There is something quite exceptional about us sophomores. We hail from the beginning of the 2000s putting us in the grey zone that has left us on the outside looking in at classes before us that had the privilege to claim themselves “90s kids.” People say that we avoided the negative effects of Y2K but instead we got something much worse: 2000s kids. We can be traced back to the first group of third graders with iPhones excitedly singing to Justin Beiber and the Black Eyed Peas.

We have brought similar attributes with us to Ashland High School as we fail to integrate into a unified class and stay friends with the same group of people we’ve known since elementary school. Our squads are on full defense at all times, never talking to one another while at the same time complaining about not knowing that one person from Snapchat who seems so nice! “We definitely should have lunch sometime!”

Since we refuse to socialize with each other, we try to fit in where we just don’t belong; dating, befriending, and joining upperclassman anywhere we can find them. If we can’t walk with you, we’ll drive next to you with our newly bestowed license breaking our 6-month rules as our friends creep into the back seats. But no matter how fast we can get to lunch, we still will bring our food and drink into class ignoring the fact that we might be interrupting because “this class is a joke and we have an easy A.” We’re a nervous group of wise fools. We often charge against the world with the idea that we most certainly can run the school better than the administrators or the teachers if given the chance. We try to claim that we’re all passionate and unique individuals when in reality, we are clones of whoever we’re around. In the end, the boys will continue to high-five for no reason except that they’re existing and the girls will continue to roll their eyes and sigh. We’re so close, almost there, give us 3 months, and we’ll try again.

The junior class is not the top of the school, but we sure act like we are.

With the uncomfortable amount of arrogance oozing from the junior class, you’d think that we were actually seniors. We have walked the school like we own it, even though the senior class is still here for the entirety of our junior year. Every annoying school event is headed by juniors, eager to revel in our new-found upperclassmen status, and our school spirit is sickening. Juniors detest the sophomore class, seeming to think that they walked straight out of some horrid pre-teen Disney movie and should be quarantined for their crimes (being underclassmen). Ironic, since juniors were sophomores just last year. We seem to think that because we’ve made it out of the underclass that we are practically adults, and we may look like adults (when we’re not wearing ridiculously trendy clothing), but we manage to be the most annoyingly immature class. Of course, juniors have the heaviest class load but that doesn’t stop us from all loafing about the quad during passing periods. How do we do that? We only have seven minutes, and yet there we are, hail or boiling heat be damned. Not to mention all the sports and clubs we’re in to look impressive to colleges; it’s a wonder we make it to class at all. All that and we still find time to have obnoxiously public social lives where everyone is in everyone else’s business. The juniors spread themselves into sleep deprived shells of people armed with caffeine drips and an arsenal of excuses to get them out of their numerous activities. You’d think we’d give something up for the sake of sleep.

Seniors

roasted by Karl Moeglein

“What Does the Fox Say?”, twerking, and using goats in Taylor Swift songs all came to light in 2013. The year also brought us the senior class in the form of wide-eyed freshman. Like these viral sensations, we are annoying, irrelevant and even though we are all different, we can collectively be summed up as that meme that makes you unfriend someone on Facebook.

As underclassmen we failed to have enough people to play both powderpuff football and volleyball in the same year. By our senior year, powderpuff has died because the senior class has continued to show that we are the least spirited class in AHS history. This attitude extends to everything we do. “Not mandatory” is code to seniors for “not happening.” If our class had a motto it would “somebody else will do it,” or if we are being honest “Amelia Zeve will do it.”

Seniors are the most argumentative class on campus. While healthy debate is good, no one gained anything from a three-month battle about if our senior song should be the Russian National Anthem or a song from High School Musical. People chose sides in a meme war that illustrated just how pointless our arguments are. Neither song won. This can be attributed to how indecisive the senior class is. We have large dreams and proceed to change them on a weekly basis, meaning that we never actually figure out how to achieve our goals, and, realizing how hard those goals are to achieve, promptly decide that being a federal judge is the only realistic career option for us.

Our sarcastic nature was easy in the bozy confines of Ashland, but now we have to go to the real world where we will see what happens when we send a meme as a reason we won an argument and walk into the UN and ask for a job after a year of traveling Europe to find our true selves.

artwork by Lily Annen and Kip Parowski

Mindful Alumni How Former Grizz Are Changing Course With Ashland High School seniors preparing to graduate, the pertinent question of what they will do in the next stage of their lives is all they can think about.

While some will settle on one decision, many will alter their plans and re-evaluate their dreams along the way. Because going to a prestigious college is highly stressed at AHS, other options are often overlooked. Students should be encouraged to explore their own passions and follow what they think will bring them happiness. Often, their passions will change but continuing to embrace them is vital to a fulfilled life. The following stories are from former AHS grads who have changed their priorities and chosen new paths.

Morgan Graham

by Mumi Thiaw

A year ago, Morgan Graham was prepared to go to Portland State University. Like many people starting college, she didn’t have a major she wanted to focus on, and in her case perhaps that contributed to the realization that she needed to change things up.

“I figured out that college wasn’t for me very early on,” admitted Graham. She explained that college seemed like a waste of her time and money. Graham is one of the 45% of college students who move back home to change their plans, as taken by a 2011 census for The Atlantic. She is now an aspiring tat-

too artist and plans on attending Captain Jack’s Tattoo School in Portland. From there she hopes to apprentice or get a job at a tattoo shop.

For now, she is working full time at the Co-Op and saving money so she can do what she loves. artwork by Morgan Graham

Allayana Darrow

by Ana Ferguson

Looking back at her pre-college life at Ashland High School, Allayana Darrow realized she was looking at colleges for all the wrong reasons. “I wasn’t concerned with environment, location, atmosphere; any of the important considerations for choosing a place to spend four years. I was concerned with prestige and title, what school I wanted to say I graduated from.” Arizona State was the school she set her sights on but after being there she soon began to realize it wasn’t the fit she had hoped for. She returned home to reprocess and decide exactly what she wanted her

post-high school life to be. She came to the realization that life is worthwhile when it is spent living rather than planning for the future using a formula.

“I know I have to acknowledge life as it is happening right now, not wait for what I think is a sign of success to approve my decisions,” Darrow wrote. This inspirational story proves that the first choice is not always the best. Gaining different experience and expanding your horizons can create new opportunities for the future.

Wyatt Thompson-Siporen

photo courtesy of Allayana Darrow

by Mumi Thiaw In the spring of 2015, senior Wyatt ThompsonSiporen had just finished an incredibly successful track season, had achieved academic success and was ridiculously excited to start college at University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). His expectations were very high and one thing he was looking forward to most was meeting new people that were different from the ones he knew, having lived in Ashland all his life. Life at UCSB, however, was much different than he’d expected. He found that the campus atmosphere the school had advertised and promoted and which he had been so drawn to was much different from the school’s reality. It soon became clear that he didn’t want to stay there so he photo courtesy of Wyatt Thompson-Siporen

changed his plans. Now Thompson-Siporen is attending Lane Community College in Eugene, getting his Associates Degree, running track and taking time to figure out life. He revealed that it’s hard to say whether or not he is on course to get where he wants to be in life because it’s always changing. “19 is a big transitionary period for a lot of people. It’s a time that lots of people are reevaluating what they want to be doing.” Thompson-Siporen isn’t under the impression that he has to make one choice to determine his life after high school. He knows that it’s more important to make the choices that are best for him along the way.

Pacific University Alec Meyers Kyle Rodden Julia Senestraro

C

Pacific Northwest College of Art Nicole Sagal Portland State University Portland Community College Sophia Larive Maiya Ramirez

Reed College Calin Grimm Kacey Ottenbacher

Lewis and Clark College Hannah Hilden Katie Crocker (GAP) Max Morrish (GAP) Mt. Hood Community College Abood Rizk

Western Oregon University Myla Norvell

Lane Community College Akkerer Nadine Clara Ireland Jeremiah Sherrynewby Annelise Snyder Angelina Padilla (RCC) University of Oregon

Central Oregon Community College

San Rob

California L Kleya Dhen

Rogue Community College Southern Oregon University

Sofie Bogdanove Kailey Breiholz Swafford Zephyr Fox Joviel Gallagher Kaylyn Kraft Kyler Norman Jasmine Risser Lilly Schehen Shayne Sills Laurel Tappert Vanessa Vizcaino Addison Mallory (RCC)

Maxwell Dawson Kevin Fletcher Sarah Ford Ryan Freheit Kara Hakes Rebekah Higgins Nicholas Morris Evan Mouledoux Josephine Rawlings Miguel Roggema Eliana Kenner (Honors)

Alex Burgdorf Micheal Burt Kyler Christy Elliana Cochran Viktoria Ffitch Shay Gander Nicole Gardener Isaiah Graham Zackary Haldane Jineva Hargrave-Radford Soleil Heller Jamin Hutchings Christopher Jossy

Loden Donahoo Peyton Fuller Lukas MacMillen Daney Meads Gabriel Ruiz Nellie Strong Terra Morrison (GAP) Sofia Baldridge (Clark Honors) Gracia Dodds (Clark Honors) Genevieve Dorrell (Clark Honors) Francis Mora (Clark Honors)

Eve Kempe Boroka Marton Nate McLennan Rachel Porter Isabella Ruikis Jorge Sierra-Oldham Kuma Steingberg-Spann Colin Timmons Callysta Welch Anna Werthaiser Nick Popp (GAP) Will Nichols (GAP)

Torrin Acker Taylor Amarotico Christopher Buckley Benjamin Burkholder McKane Ellis Timothy Ferreira Jacob Heckerman Gabriele Livni Tate Scarapi Kaden Swart Hunter Tilley

Viviana Banda David Duncan Liam Keith Aja Rayburn Maya Roe-Bauer Lucas Searcy Ayla Marsden (GAP) Mayla Sumner (Honors) Cedar Taulbee (Urban Honors)

Lauryn Baily (Cascades) Dawson Hollingsworth (Honors) Drew Kutcher (Honors) Sam Sagal (Honors) Matthew O’Donnell (Linn Benton CC)

CLASS OF 2017 Evergreen State College Leilani Sukles

Seattle University Amelia Zeve Whitman College University of Montana - Missoula Erin Beaudoin Ezra Bloom Brayden Preskenis Carroll College Kate Joss-Bradley (GAP) Erik Oline Montana State University - Bozeman Bryce Rollins

Northeastern University Elijah Cobb Syracuse Karl Moeglein Barnard College Amora McConnell Hesperus di Properzio Nassau Community College James Benson

St. Olaf College Curtis Hills

nta Clara University b Stallman

Lutheran University nin

Colorado State University Oliver Warren

University of Nevada - Reno Eryl Kenner Stanford University Isaac Bevers California Polytechnic State University Kyra Smith Marina Tacconi De Anza Community College Elliot Mellon Northern Arizona University Stella Bungay Prescott College Hannah Hackett (GAP)

Azusa Pacific University Grace Pruitt American Academy of Dramatic Arts Isaiah Brown University of Southern California Tessa Buckley University of California Santa Barbara John Ropp University of California Irvine Scott Stover Santa Barbara Community College Emily Carlson Santa Monica Community College Sarah Kaufmann Emma Richmond Pitzer College Kayla Fennell Carson Barry (GAP) Chapman University Bryce Ennis

Northwestern University Jonathan Connolly University of Chicago John Almaguer

Purdue University Claire Elsbree

University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Kaya Van Dyke (GAP)

U.S. Naval Academy Jesse Carroll Davis & Elkins College Nicholas Sanderson

Washington University - St. Louis Halle Lowe

Universal Technical Institute Neo Archer

Rice University Nikolas Lindauer

IMG Academy - Florida Shea Scott

Honolulu Community College Tucker Atteberry University of Hawaii - Manoa Honora Johnson

artwork by Nicole Sagal design by Lucas Searcy

University of Edinburgh Conlan Ellis UniversitĂĄ Delga Studi Firenza Joanne Lemley

Undecided Micah Bylsma Medeleine Collins Che Contor Fern Davis Ocean Doyle Skyelar Gibbs Jasper Gonzalez Daisy Guardado Alexandre Herrera Isaac Hyatt Quinn Lineberger-Scholl Madison Mathews-Martin Cristina Meadows Henry Mercer Majerle Mustard Rebeca Navarrete-Lopez Chelsey Nelson Miles O’Hara-Brown Peter Ruette Jadon Sanderson Axel Schneider Dimitre Sleeuw Andrew Stark Brady Straub Dorian Verducci-Will

Work and Travel

Air Force Christian Hill Nicky Weinberg Army Nathan Wilhoit Marine Corps Cedar Barnes Karan Johnson Jerrod Reichart Alexander Savage

Dove Ainsworth Martin Anema Leif Beebe Eva Berg Brandon Bernard Miles Catropa Aedan Craner Leah Dacus Sylvia Davis Owen DiRienzo Isaac Farrow Alana Foley Nikki Foster Dale Fulton

Sequoia Gartnerway Finn Griffin Jake Hansen Severin Hassell Rebecca Hebert Temple Holtzman Neilah Jolly Elias Lawson Zephyr Melchizedek Aria Miller Miykael Moore Jordan Narramore Elijah Palombo Kieran Phillips

Malik Pippa Sydney Porter Taylor Porter Parker Richmond Dorateya Salvatore-Harris Lennart Schaaf Elke Schneider Dimitri Talbert Nicholas Thompson Mila Trampe Hannah Wallace

ASB Co-Presidents: The Old and The New Dearest AHS, Hear Ye Hear Ye The time has come to set aside The yerbs of Kate and the puns of Zeve Two new presidents have arrived We’ve got big plans so it’s high time you leave Fueled by adrenaline and bagels from La Baguette We plunge into the new year With no fear or regret The sound in the gym Has had its last chance We will communicate to you through interpretive dance photo by Liam Dunleavy

Dear Kip and Ellie, Before you all get caught up in the excitement and thrill of being ASB Co-Presidents, allow us seasoned veterans to offer a word of advice: 1. From the middle of the large gym, 1000 pairs of eyes glaring down at you can feel quite nerve-racking.

2. Students may complain about your “dictatorship….”

Silence them with your iron fist.

3. The Russian National Anthem is the “song-that-mustnot-be-named” and must be avoided at all costs.

4. Expect pulling all nighters to finalize homecoming court ballots, senior most likelies and more. You will need coffee. Lots of coffee.

5. Your favorite tunes may be vetoed from the senior barbeque playlist, but don’t fret. Hijack the AUX cord and play them anyways. You rule this class.

6. When in doubt, pun it out.

7. Organization and timeliness is key! There is a 100% chance that the student body will rely on you for knowing every schedule change and assembly time for the entire school year.

We are sick of Green Day While you walk down the aisle Graduation next year will be Set to Gangnam Style The data may not be there But we’ve got a hunch Productivity would increase With a two hour lunch When all is said And when all is done We hope you look back and think We’ve had some fun Your New ASB Presidents, Kip Parowski & Ellie Carter artwork by Kip Parowski

8. Having Erika Bare’s phone number is a privilege you get as ASB Co-Presidents, not a right. Do not abuse those privileges and send any late night memes.

9. Being ASB Co-Presidents is an experience we will never forget. Be ready for more stress than you’ve ever felt, more late nights finishing work for Leadership than you’ve ever imagined, more last minute assemblies than you could ever plan for – but also, plan for more gratification than you could ever expect could come from a leadership position. Running everything for the school is at times a thankless job, but always a necessary one. Be prepared to be the Clark Kent of Ashland High School – expect to save everything in the last second as Superman, but act as Clark Kent and masquerade as a normal student and get absolutely no credit. There’s a reason you’re a superhero, though – this school depends on you guys. And we couldn’t feel more confident in passing the torch to such a wonderful team.

Good luck – we believe in you!

Much love,

Amelia Zeve and Kate Joss-Bradley

photo by Charlie Burr

I joined the Rogue News, a class dominated by seniors, as a timid, reserved sophomore. I wasn’t shy, however, I was just hesitant to overshadow everyone with my talents. But I should have known that this was inevitable as my propensity for perfection lead me to become the most well-rounded editor this year. Not only have I been a devoted designer and an inspirational writer (as evidenced by the four articles total that I’ve penned over the past three years), I have also been a flawless leader. Never once have I made debilitating mistakes like accidentally erasing entire page designs or failing to maintain reliable and consistent communications with others. I would never. I will admit that I was late to a weekly Monday editor meeting once, maybe twice, but that was only because I was attending Catholic Club and praising Jesus.

Sure, every Rogue News member has demonstrated their intelligence through mediums such as sophisticatedly written articles and delicately configured design-work. However, none of their impressive minds could hold a candle to my massive, swollen brain. It’s, like, huge. Despite their inferiorities, I can genuinely say that each and every single one of these simpletons hold a special place in the cold and bitter depths of my heart. Never in any other setting have I seen such a diverse group of people commingle so beautifully. Their friendship and encouragement has pushed me to better myself both as a person and a leader.

No longer am I timid and reserved. I am more open with my blatant superiority.

Farewell, the Rogue News. I will truly miss you, but Beyoncé had to leave Destiny’s Child at some point, right?

–Frankie Mora

photo by Lucas Searcy

At first, I treated Rogue News more as just part of my grand plan. My aspirations in sports broadcasting are known by many, but I took that for granted that Rogue News was the place I got to express that dream most directly. I put myself about the collective good of the team. I argued with every editor and advisor who came through Rogue News in my four years.

It took me until my time as editor to realize the importance of picking my battles because I used to fight not to lose. It was my own way of posturing. I was trying to prove my supreme expertise in everything in the class that best encapsulated what I wanted to make my life. This year I learned how to fight for what I truly want to win. I can feel good about myself all I want by continuously picking fights, but only when I am pushing for the things I truly care about can I have a genuine impact on the people around me.

After four years, I have figured out that what I care about is here in Rogue News. The people here have been key in shaping who I am as a journalist. I am thankful for all the experiences I was able to have over my four years. I am thankful for the people I worked with and the lessons they taught me. Even if I thought that it was simply a stepping stone to other things, Rogue News has left a permament mark on my future.

–Karl Moeglein I have worked, played and prayed my way through Rogue News: worked the long nights to submit the final paper, played along with friends during lengthy class periods and prayed during the days when all of hell came for a visit. The class itself is difficult; it is not easy. I have learned to be passionate about the tasks I take on. The product will not be successful or as beautiful as I wish it to be if I do not have passion towards it.

Being a part of the Rogue News Editors isn’t just a hat that puts me in charge.

It is a responsibility to be accessible and approachable if others have questions about their design or their story. This responsibility makes me a more knowledgeable leader who helps the team move the payload, not dictate and micromanage. The skills I have learned in Rogue News have helped me in my real time job as well as my role as a student. Time management plays a huge role in the submission of a newspaper. Rough drafts, page placement and final submission are all key steps in producing an excellent paper. These are also steps towards a successful livelihood. Planning and organizing my life with a similar stencil will help with keeping all of the variables of life in check.

What I will remember the most from this class are the people. These are extraordinarily talented people from various backgrounds participating in many different activities all coming together to produce one paper: one paper that sums up each month of our ongoing school year. Our diverse class is unmatched when it comes to creativity and passion. They create something that they are proud of, and I am happy to see that as my parting contribution.

–Lucas Searcy

Teachers Saying Goodbye to AHS

by Sequoia Snorgren-McGinnis, Dylan Kistler, Colin Timmons, Gemma Coster, Liv West and Jade Bromley photos by Henry Cook

Charlie Hall Since 1998, Charlie Hall educated Ashland High School (AHS) students on a variety of subjects, including Physical Education, Sociology, and Driver’s Ed. The well-loved coach and teacher was offered a job as the Head Football Coach at SOU earlier this semester. His speedy transfer took place soon after the job offer as it required him to begin immediately.

Hall stated that his time at AHS helped him “appreciate the growth of both students and athletes.” In addition, he was inspired in a significant way by the late Dave Kitchell. “His legacy of creating a culture of toughness, accountability and love is something that I apply in my current job,” Hall stated. He reminisced about his days at AHS: “I will miss the diversity of the students. I will miss walking with my Lifetime Fitness class and talking to students about their future. I will miss [Advanced Conditioning] classes and watching students accomplish things they never imagined.” Hall decided that what he needed was a challenge and to focus his “passion and skills” on being a college football coach. Charlie Hall will be missed by staff and students alike. He is being sent off by AHS with well wishes as he enters the new chapter of his life at SOU.

Russ Johnson

Perhaps there is no other AHS faculty member who commands a greater presence among the student population than our Dean of Students, Russ Johnson. Throughout his time at AHS, Johnson has mainly been an administrator, but he has also taught Global Studies/Humanities, Foods, School to Work/Internships and has had the last say on Senior projects. Additionally, Johnson educated students through alternative education programs such

as Thoreau and Sage.

It has taken ten years to come full circle, but Johnson’s aspiration to return to teaching elementary school is finally becoming a reality. His departure from AHS is simply a shift in career and one that has him “excited to teach kids again, have [his] own classroom, and be responsible for helping fifth graders explore and discover.” The source of this ambition started in 1989, when Johnson received his teaching credential and began teaching at the elementary level.

These 10 years have given Johnson an awareness of how “everyone’s story is fascinating,” and it’s the journey of discovering each person’s story that has made it worthwhile. Although his path at AHS ends here, he has “had the pleasure to interact with thousands of students in varying capacities and [he] will genuinely miss the campus, the flexible schedule, but most of all, the students and teachers.”

Rob Bingham & Nikki Thommen Nikki Thommen and Robert Bingham are taking a one year leave of absence from the Ashland School District to travel to Brazil and teach in an international K-12 school. In addition to Brazilian sun, this international school is supplying Thommen, Bingham and their kids with an apartment to stay in. Though both teachers are excited to see what the future holds, they did grow attached to AHS and this small community. “We will miss Ashland. Nikki did grow up here, but we do plan on coming back eventually,” Bingham says.

Thommen and Bingham have a combined ten years at AHS, but also had a teaching careers in Eugene prior to settling here. They both have taught a variety of classes and coached the debate team.

Bingham was the AHS debate coach for three years prior to this year and Thommen has both coached and assistant coached over the years. The pair are also English and History teachers, Thommen notably teaching freshman Humanities, AP Psychology, and this year, Creative Writing, while Bingham took on sophomore English and Politics and Literature for the last two years. Many seniors and juniors remember their passionate and insightful lesson topics and always have enjoyable stories from their classes. This year they also had adjoining rooms, allowing them to walk freely between the two classrooms.

The pair plan to return to AHS after they complete their contracted time. This isn’t the last AHS will see of Ms. Thommen and Mr. Bingham.

Karen Green Throughout the lifespan of students at AHS, Karen Green has been teaching at AHS. Since 2000, she has taught a wide array of courses such as Intro to Business, Virtual Enterprise/Economics, Journalism, Yearbook, Foods 1, 2, 3 and Basic Computer Skills/Applications, as well as serving as a teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA). Green originally started out as the technical services coordinator in the book depository and has since assumed the role of Internship/Independent Study Coordinator.

Green was a mid-life career changer who saw the value of education and how much of a difference it can make in peoples’ lives. She wanted to become a teacher because she “likes working with young adults and getting them to be ready in the real world.” Green saw the opportunity as a chance to have a positive influence on each student’s life, plus she says, “I get to learn every single day and hang out with cool kids and educators.”

Her decision to retire from AHS was largely to have more flexibility in her schedule as well as to spend more personal time with family and friends. Green plans to stay involved in education by mentoring new teachers, possibly substitute teaching, as well as doing state level policy work. Her presence will be sincerely missed at AHS as will her willingness to go above and beyond to help students achieve their goals and thrive in the world.

Mary Ann Perry

This year AHS says goodbye to Mary Ann Perry, who has worked in the SKILLS program as a special education teacher. Although her position at this school was always intended as a temporary situation, she became a part of the AHS community and her year of teaching here has had a lasting impact on her and her students. Perry helped to support her students academically, socially and in life, through SKILLS. Perry brought stability, consistency and predictability to the SKILLS program, a fact and legacy which she can be proud of. AHS showed her that taking care of herself will help her to take care of her students, and she learned what it “truly means… to put students and families first in education.” Perry is excited to pursue her other passions which all include helping people, like working in Hospice and with family-directed home funerals. However, Perry says that she will miss the SKILLS family and all of the experiences that she got to share with her students that will help them grow as people. She appreciates the passion and patience of the educational assistants in SKILLS who helped her to make the program as successful as possible. Her time at AHS will stay with her as she embarks on other paths in life.

Holly Foster For the last 16 years, Holly Foster has brought terrific energy and a diversity of talents to teaching at AHS. Foster took on three levels of French language curriculum, and before that taught special education classes for six years. She also imparted her love for music through instructing multiple choir classes, Guitar for Fun, and most recently, AP Music Theory.

Of all these subjects, choir was Foster’s personal favorite, exemplifying a passion reflected in her active contributions to the community’s music scene. Foster regularly gives private piano and voice lessons, and additionally performs with various professional choral groups.

Besides continuing with these artistic interests, she looks forward to having time set aside for traveling. Of course, after a career invested in educating youth, it can be difficult to leave all that behind. Foster says she “[has] learned a lot about the different ways kids can be” and over time became “much better at finding students strengths and making the most of those strengths,” a skill she wants to keep sharing through substitute teaching when time allows. Even as her contributions transform into part of the school’s legacy, Foster hopes efforts to expand funding for music education will live on to bring joy for the arts to thousands of Ashland’s future youth.

Tim Duryea Tim Duryea, the renowned front man of the band Impulse Control, shall soon be leaving AHS and chasing his dreams in another land. Duryea has lived in the Rogue Valley for 7 years. He and his partner plan to move to Oakland, California, to get a taste of the big city life and pursue some opportunities that may be in store for Duryea’s career in music. He will still be working full time as a teacher down in California. Duryea has 3 years of teaching experience under his belt, two of which were at AHS. He has taught mainly in the humanities department, specializing in 9th grade Humanities, Economics, Writing Lab, Grizz Academy and Senior Seminar. He believes that the time he has spent at AHS has shaped the way he teaches. This will serve him well in the future and help him to have a more significant impact on his students. He says that the atmosphere of AHS has been a joy to work in; he felt support from the students and the teachers alike. Duryea will miss the students the most. He states that they “make his days more memorable” and show him why its worth it to put in so much work.

No doubt, the students will miss him too - or at least his exotic dance moves.

Senior Reflections

With the school year coming to an end, seniors are preparing to say goodbye to Ashland High School. Here are some of their most notable AHS memories...

Question: What is Your Most Notable High School Memory?

During my freshman year finals week I got the flu pretty bad. I still wanted to take my final because mama didn’t raise no quitter, and I ended up going, but I was sweaty, I had a fever, I looked terrible. I was walking on the quad, everyone was in passing period and I threw up everywhere. Chunks flew everywhere, and everyone was looking. Everyone either laughed or wanted to throw up themselves or kind of just didn’t know what to say.

Then I took the final, and passed it – but I should have stayed home.” – Clara Miller-Ireland

In my junior year we had a really tough Water polo season and we were playing a districts game that everyone thought we were going to lose but we ended up tying with the team.

[We went] into double sudden-death overtime and one of my teammates made the winning shot in the last second. That was definitely one of my favorite memories from high school because it was just so exciting – everyone was crying, and we got to go to state on a year that nobody thought we could.” – Amelia Zeve

Last year at the very end of the year in biochemistry we had a bunch of seniors in that class and they had all graduated. So, somebody had a guitar and then we all started playing and singing Taylor Swift songs because we were all sad that the seniors were gone. It was so much fun because I love High School Musical and that was my moment where it was like High School Musical is real! I mean it wasn’t – but it was in that moment! It was great.” – Halle Lowe My freshman year when there was a huge celebration for Cinco de Mayo, we brought my donkey, we brought balloons, we played games, we had Mexican music, Jaritos – that was probably the funnest [memory].” – Angelina Padilla

My favorite memory from high school was meeting my best friend Aria. We met in gym class when neither of us could find a partner and we didn’t know each other at all. We met and just spent the next hour and a half just passing a medicine ball back and forth and just talking about our lives. That’s how we became best friends.” – Sequoia Gartnerway

Some of my favorite memories have been during the spring and going after school with my friends to the lake and hanging out and jumping into the water. Usually, I like to watch my friends jump into the water because I am deathly afraid of heights and my friends decide it’s fun to push me in the water, so that’s not always the best. But being with them is super fun.” – Jazmin Risser My best memory was when I was voted homecoming court this year. Doing the skit and assembly was the most fun for me.” – Abdullah Rizk

The scariest day of my life was walking into my first class my freshman year of high school and meeting a very tall, very intimidating Lebanese man named Mr. Cornelius who roared at us to ‘sit down you little communists and look at [him].’ After which he began a very philosophical lesson.” – Jonathan Connolly

I like that the school allowed me to go to Nepal for my senior project but it really came back to bite me in the [butt] these days because I’m three weeks behind in school because I got A.C.L. surgery after that.” – Loden Donahoo

Meeting Tate Scarpaci.”

– Hannah Hackett

My favorite high school memory was probably going to Worlds with the robotics team.” – Max Dawson

Senior Most-Likelies Find A Cure for Cancer - Hespurus Di Properzio and Drew Kutcher Become President - Amelia Zeve and Chris Buckley Move Abroad - Hannah Hackett and Kaya Van Dyke Become an Olympian - Jeremiah Sherrynewby and Myla Norvell Win an Oscar - Tessa Buckley and Johnathan Connoly Break Every Bone in their Body - Kaylyn Kraft and Parker Richmond Become a NY Times bestselling author - Cedar Taulbee and Lily Schen Survive the Apocalypse - Cedar Barnes and Loden Donahoo Become the Next Avenger - Colin Timmons and Addison Mallory End up on My Strange Addiction - Lucas Searcy and Nicky Wineberg Break a World Record - Bryce Rollins and Che Contor Become a CEO - Ben Burkholder and Taylor Amarotico Never Stop Complaining about Russian National Anthem Fiasco - Ryan Frieheit and Nathan Wilhoit Open a Five-Star Teahouse - Peter Ruette and Isabella Ruikis Be late to Graduation- Shayne Sills and Vanessa Alverado Class Clown - Scott Stover and Brayden Preskinis Most Changed - Evan Mouledoux and Ayla Marsden Best Laugh - Colin Timmons and Liam Keith Best Eyes - Erin Beaudoin and Eva Berg Best Dressed - Daney Meads and Jamin Hutchins Most School Spirit - Julia Senestraro and Kara Hakes Join Greek Life - Stella Bungay and Shea Scott

Become Dictator of a Small Nation - Elliott Mellon & Dawson Hollingsworth Win the Lottery and Lose the Ticket - Brady Straub and Carson Barry Become Social Media Famous - Kyra Smith and Joanne Lemley Be Seen with a Yerba Mate - Karan Johnson and John Ropp Become a Famous Artist - Alana Foley and Nicole Sagal Become Paul Huard - Isaac Bevers and John Almaguer Win a Nobel Peace Prize - Abud Rizsk and Rob Stallman Become an Evil Genius - Sam Sagal and Nikolas Lindauer Join a Traveling Circus - Sofie Bogdanove and Halle Lowe Never Grow Up - Tucker Atterbery and Chistian Hill Be sorted into Slytherin - Dove Ainsworth and Severin Hassell Be a secret agent - Jake Hansen and Max Morrish Get Rich or Die Trying - Malik Pippa and Jorge Oldham Class Parent - Kleya Dhenin and Angelina Padilla Best Friends - Soleil Heller and Stella Bungay Biggest Flirt - Jessie Carroll and Dale Fulton Best Smile - Aja Rayburn and Kate Joss-Bradley Best Hair - Tate Scarpaci and Sarah Kaufman Cutest Couple - Julia Sensetraro and Kyle Rodden Cutest Couple that Never Happened - Karl Moglein and Nikolas Lindauer

Graduation Poem

by Liv West

We gather here in chorus on this lawn To celebrate thy wit, prowess and brawn These seniors who together have come far These grown children who too soon shall depart Thou art the class of twenty-seventeen There’s so much already ye teens hast seen There has’ been opportunities amuck For grief and pain: bad dreams in which thee stuck Go fight on like brilliant rays of sunshine Illuminating through yon clouds, yon pines Thee certainly shan’t throw away thy shot Go on: spread joy, spread love and keep it “tot” Maybe you’ve learnt something within these walls About yourself and how one can stand tall You’ve spoken out and thou hast made it known Nothing can bring us down, not word nor stone And so for all that may have happen’d here Perhaps thy class will shed one faithful tear For friendships old and new may quickly fade Experience will one day come to aide Hereon don’t let Russ quell thy beach ball fun Thee made it so far, yet so far you’ll run Now do away with jocks and nerds and hate For now, this moment’s yours: let’s graduate.

comic by Kip Parowski

artwork by Nicole Sagal

Grizzenstein Jonathan Connolly Throat:

His prominant voice has been critical to the success of the theater program this year.

Rhythm Winicour Right Hand:

Wincour’s strong arm and athleticism as an outfielder made him part of the baseball team’s strong defense.

Aja Rayburn - Right Forearm:

Rayburn’s intelligence, flexibility and athleticism have allowed her to climb to the top of rock climbing competitions throughout the year.

Eric Oline - Right Bicep:

Oline’s water polo stardom is almost certainly due to immense strength, which he has used to power through the pool.

Jeremiah Sherrynewby - Core:

An all-around athlete, Sherrynewby went to state in the triple jump, and placed fourth.

Soleil Heller Left Hand:

Heller and her doubles partner, Sarah Kaufman, were the top doubles team for the girls tennis team.

Kara Hakes Left Forearm:

Hakes was a leader on the softball team.

She combined talent and dedication to boost team morale.

McKane Ellis - Left Bicep:

Ellis, who also plays football, was honorable mention All-Midwestern League as a center for the basketball team.

Maiya Ramirez - Heart:

This leader’s passion for cheer has helped raise her teammates to new heights.

Cedar Barnes - Hips:

Barnes led a squad of four Grizzles to the boys state wrestling championship, and was the 12th seed in the 170 weight class.

Myla Norvell - Left Thigh:

Nicky Weinberg - Right Thigh:

An exploive offensive weapon, Weinberg was All State as a wide reciever and also played a key role as a sprinter on the track team.

A strong volleyball player, Norvell also experienced success in track and field. She finished fourth at state in javelin.

Claire Pryor - Left Foot:

Bryce Rollins - Right Foot:

Rollins’ coordinated footwork and undeniable speed helped the boys soccer team to a top 10 place in the OSAA rankings.

Pryor was a leader for a senior-less cross country team that advanced to state and promises to continue to find success.