Stagg Line Senior Edition
May 16, 2014
Back inmyday
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KOHL KIDS: FOREVER CONNECTED dellaniraalcauter
Justin is the troublemaker. Grady is the cool one. Gordie is the shy one. Emilio is the smooth one. Alejandro is the smart one. Nate is the mediator. Brandon is the calm one. Brian is the athletic one. Michael is the interesting one. Nowadays, it is a rare thing when a group of friends sticks together since kindergarten. Over the years, people tend to drift apart or meet new people and forget about the friends they’ve had for a long time. To have a group of friends stay together seems like something that would only happen in a cheesy Hollywood movie. But for Justin Galvan, Grady Brim, Gordie Burnett, Emilio Torres, Alejandro Cruz, Nathaniel Cardenas, Brian Walker, Michael Bishop, and Brandon Yu, it is anything but. They all went to Kohl Elementary. They were placed in the same kindergarten class. Since they were the majority of the boys in the class, they were naturally led to talk to each other. Once they got to playing, there
was no separating them. “We always have arguments about who met each other first,” Cruz said. As they reminisced on their childhood, you could see the energy bouncing off of them, revealing the characteristics they each contribute to the group. “I was Kohl Kids chasing Alej,” Torres said. “It was an intense game of tag and he ran to the rock box and tripped and he fell face first.” “When he got up, he had a rock in the middle of his forehead.” Although Burnett is the quiet one, when Torres told the story, you could see his expressions come to life as he bent forward and grabbed his stomach from the intense laughter. “I don’t know why I’m shy, but Grady and Nate introduced me to other people.” They all help each other in any way
they may need it. “When you spend a lot of time together, you get to know someone really well,” Torres said. Since Kohl had such a small number of students, they all felt comfortable around each other. In an effort to branch out and become famous they made a series of web videos calling themselves “The Loozers.” “We were the gang that ran Kohl and we did stupid stuff and put our videos on YouTube,” Brim said. “We thought we were doing parkour (stunts), but I guess we weren’t.” Most of the videos they made consisted of them free running. “We have a Christmas special where we were all standing on the wall and the eighth graders chucked the balls at us and we took it,” Brim said. “(These videos) made me who I am today.” Now that senior year has come, they aren’t scared as to what will happen once they graduate. They’ve made it through a lot together. Cruz
said, “Whether it’s the loss of a family member or a loss of a significant other, they’ll cheer you up.” “We take it one day at a time,” Torres said. “We’ve done so many cool things and we’ll keep doing cool things as long as we’re friends.” Galvan wishes they could go back and repeat their eighth grade year. “It was the first year we were all together since kindergarten.” Eighth grade year is a memorable year for them, especially now that time has come to endeavor in a new chapter of their lives. Yu and Walker are both leaving for college next year. Seeing the reality of this statement hit, Yu shares, “I don’t think I’ll be closer to any group of people than my Kohl friends.” As the reminiscing came to an end, they all agreed that although they might not be physically together next year, their friendship will not die. “Every kid fits in a piece of the puzzle.” Galvan said “It’s like taking apart the puzzle. With two pieces missing, we’re not complete.”
photo by Dellanira Alcauter
Brian Walker, Justin Galvan, Gordie Burnett, Emilio Torres, Grady Brim, Alejandro Cruz, and Brandon Yu return to Kohl’s playground and reminisce.
Pursuing dream to help others
photo by Dellanira Alcauter
Mitchell Woodbury examines a fish mitosis slide in an anatomy lab.
michaelbishop in the family interested in the same things.” Normally, it would be very unusual for a dead Currently, Woodbury is considering what kind frog and a human family to have even one thing in of surgeon he wants to be. common. He has contemplated being an emergency room But for Mitchell Woodbury, they do have some- surgeon, since patients in life-threatening situations thing in common. After all, they both gave him the will need the immediate help, especially if the availdrive and inspiration to become able staff is short-handed. a surgeon. “If you have more people The frog in question was the willing to help out, there’s probably subject of dissection in Woodgonna be less of a wait to get to the bury’s freshman anatomy class. more serious cases quicker,” he said. “I was like, ‘Holy cow, this is That said, Woodbury is a Catholic, awesome. I wanna try it more,’” and with Catholics there are issues as he said. to the boundary line between what Mitchell Woodbury He discovered that seeing humans can handle and what God can how living organisms work on take care of. the inside was “fascinating.” “Personally, the way I see it, as a good person Woodbury was given the task of dissecting the you’re supposed to do everything you can in your frog as the main operator. Under the watchful eye of power to do things right,” Woodbury said. “Then, the projector’s document camera — and his teacher, once it’s out of your power and you can’t do anyMr. Sherman — Woodbury had to cut open the thing else, you just have to let it go.” frog’s body and keep it pinned open as he displayed So how does this play into Woodbury’s choice every organ they’d been studying inside. of career path? “We had to show the egg sac, then move that “My thoughts in being a surgeon is: I can do as aside, show the liver — all the stuff,” he said. much as I can. I can operate as much as I can. I can That’s not to say that this was his only infludo anything I can to help the person,” he said. ence. His family was another factor for his choice. “But, if there’s something beyond my power, I “My uncle is a doctor, and my brother was also can only hope that God, or — if there isn’t a God, interested in the medical field,” Woodbury said. “So, even — that someone will help, so that I can try to I guess it helped a bit that there were other people save the person’s life.”
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Passion for baseball never dies
photo by Trisha Newman
Aaron Madrid plays both in front of the plate as a pitcher and behind the plate as a catcher.
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jessicamangili scouts in the area. He finds it more beneficial for Toddling behind his father through the thick Madrid to attend Delta in the fall because he has a uncut grass, his hands barely grasping his t-ball bat better chance of getting his name out to other coland mitt, Aaron Madrid began to fall in love with leges or being drafted. baseball. At first it was just something his father While he is most praised for his position as made him do, forcing him to follow in his passion catcher and his ability to read the game from behind for sports. His father continues the plate, he also stands strong at the to encourage him, but it is no plate. He has an overall league batting longer forced. average of .500 and a total of 20 hits for “I feel like it’s part of me, it’s the season. been part of my life for a while,” Madrid dreams of pursuing a he said. “I don’t know what I’d professional career, but knows realdo without it.” istically it might not be a possibility. Looking back now he is Yet that isn’t stop him from preparing grateful that his father pushed if the opportunity presents itself. He Aaron Madrid him by constantly taking him to is constantly working to increase his the park to catch fly balls and grounders. Through speed and perfect his fielding techniques for the the countless hours spent together he improved not next level. only his skills but developed a stronger bond with “(If given the chance) I would go so fast,” he his father. said. “I don’t want to stop playing baseball, it’s been “He really kept me in baseball, because he knew in my life for too long to give up on it. I want to go I had the talent to go somewhere,” he said. “He as far as I can.” always pushed me – it was always about baseball.” If he never reaches his goal, he looks forward to His father isn’t the only who sees Madrid’s pursuing a career in criminal justice as a cop. While potential. his future is uncertain he knows that baseball will “Aaron has the tools to play at the next level,” always be a part of it. baseball coach Tony Angelo said. “He could be a D-1 “Even if I don’t make it anywhere I will conplayer one day.” tinue to play baseball in pickup games,” he said. According to Angelo, the fact that he has not “It’s too much a part of my life and me to just throw been looked at by a college is due to the lack of it away.”
Becoming ‘that’ teacher Talent creates options adriannaowens Currently, she lives with an Her icy blue eyes widen and a infant, which she looks over, and has smile crosses her face. Her whole company from an 8 year-old cousin presence lights up as she talks about fairly often. She helps her cousin with one thing she loves the most: office homework, and babysits as well. supplies. Roaming the halls of Office Watching her daughter interact Max is where this with the children, her soon-to-be elemenmother thinks the tary school teacher career path “fits” her finds solace. because she “always For most teenwant(s) to be around agers, living with kids.” siblings or younger Omstead said that family members her love for teachBrooklyn Omstead can be a bother. For ing students didn’t Brooklyn Omstead, just stop with playhowever, it is what shaped her future ing “school” with her neighbors, but career plans. deepened when she would stay at her “I want to be an elementary elementary school’s after school proschool teacher because I love workgram. What started off as just a place ing with kids,” she said. “I’m always to stay while her mother worked late around kids.” ended up being one of Omstead’s When she was just 7, her father favorite places to be. passed away, leaving her with a single “Because (the program) was short mother and a home filled with young- staffed at my school, I would look over er cousins. the younger adults,” she said. “HavDespite these difficulties, she ing to be a leader at such a young age, plans to continue on her path of I am more prepared now and know teaching, which started at a young how to handle those situations.” age. She grew up in a household and Also strengthening her love for neighborhood that always seemed to the career is her own experiences as a be filled with children. youth, and the teachers that noticed “I used to play ‘school’ with the her potential. little kids in my neighborhood,” she “When I was younger I struggled said, smiling. in school,” she said. “I know what it Whereas most children play feels like to be confused. But it took make-believe, Omstead was building that one teacher to come along and her passion for teaching from an early help me. That’s what I want to do for age. kids, be that one good teacher.”
fevalencia the jazz band his junior year. He He was only 4 years old when performed at concerts, lunch time it all started. It followed him everyactivities and football games. Joseph where. It was there when he watched Updegraff, music teacher, says his TV, and even there when he rode in presence provides positive energy for his seat in the car. Music was just others. always with him. “Anthony is full of enFrom the moment ergy all the time,’ UpdeAnthony Ceesay graff said, “I don’t know could talk, he could where he finds it but sing. “I sang evit’s good we need that.” erything I heard,” Another quality UpdeCeesay said. graff said Ceesay has is As he grew up, his dedication to play. He Anthony Ceesay he was introduced describes many people in to a new way to proband not to have the same duce music, not only with his voice. desire to play. But for Ceesay that’s Ceesay picked up two wooden sticks not the case. and a drum set and fell in love. He “He actually wants to play. Other was taught how to play by his friend people I have to convince, but with in San Jose, where he grew up. He and him if he had the chance to play all his friend would meet after school at a day, I seriously think he would” Upnearby youth center where he played degraff said. for the first time. Ceesay takes these experiences “The youth center had the nicest and applies them when he performs in drum set. I saw it and was like oh my his band named Before Her Eyes. His gosh, I want to learn to play that. He band just started and is in the process taught me everything.” of making songs and recording them. When Ceesay moved to Stockton “It feels awesome. I get to make he began to teach himself. He started music with my best friends, hang out out with the simple things like 1-2with them and work on music as a 3-4, he said as he imitates playing team,” Ceesay said. the drums. Ceesay is inspired by his Ceesay plans to attend Delta favorite band Fall Out Boy. College in the fall and hopes to have “I’ve come a long way. I was, really his first show with his band in the bad,” Ceesay said, “I practiced every winter. “I love it. Music is life. You chance I had. I worked on things like can’t go a day without listening to stick control, then got into harder something that came from music. It’s stuff and techniques.” Ceesay joined magical to be a part of that.”
photo courtesy by Brooklyn Omstead
photo by Fe Valencia
Brooklyn Omstead poses with the Junior Delta Kings cheerleaders before Anthony Ceesay takes Jazz band where he is the lead drummer. Ceesay also enjoys singing in his spare time and drumming in his band. a game. Omstead is an assistant coach for the team.
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A
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Past
A look into Stagg’s history from our freshman year until now
freshman year
in every “ Sleeping class in sophomore
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Small Learning Communities Back in the day, individuals had these cool colorful lanyards that were based on their career interest and determined their class selection. Freshmen Academy was used as an introduction to high school.
Sports ,
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Pacific Law Academy takes over the S-wing
junior year Andre Phillips joins the administration team as the new princpal
senior year
Football defeats St. Mary’s
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The football field is newly built
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MESA wins Nationals for the solar power wind energy competition
The swimming pool is newly built graphic by alyssa rojas
Childhood back in my...
movies
1. “Space Jam” 2. “Toy Story” 3. “Home Alone” 4. “High School Musical” 5. “Cheetah Girls”
TV shows
1. “That’s So Raven” 2. “Zoey 101” 3. “Teen Titans” 4. “Animaniacs” 5. “Rugrats”
3, 2, 1, take off! We’re going back to the past with these movies, TV shows, music and toys that our generation grew up with.
music 1. *NSYNC 2. Backstreet Boys 3. Spice Girls 4. Britney Spears 5. Mariah Carey
toys 1. HitClips 2. Moon Shoes 3. Tamagotchi 4. Bop It 5. Polly Pocket
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Advanced Via Individual Determination
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From the childish TV shows to the ever-popular Polly Pocket, this is what we grew up on. Back in our day, we didn’t have to stress about what we wore or studying for finals. We worried about when our next playdate with our best friend was going to be. These are some of the memories that keep us young.
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Looking back...
SLC lanyards are given to all students based on their class choices
sophomore year
Advan ced Class AVID
Classes Journalism Graphic Design & Photography Yearbook
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Academ y graphic by yesica ibarra
images from creative commons graphic by adrianna owens
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Marching to the same beat
Senior works to carry on tradition despite loss
photo by
Adrianna Owens
Ana Ortiz teaches a routine to a group of younger drummers at a practice for the Banda de Guerra.
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the drums and uniforms for the bands imported from Mexico. She suits herself up, does the same Ortiz sees the importance of keeping for her drum, and then walks into line. the band alive, not only to keep her Serious face, serious time. She can feel father’s legacy but also to keep the the scorching heat take over her body, tradition. “When my dad passed away, without even a drink to keep hydrated. it was just me teaching everyone how to For as long as she can remember, play the drums,” she said. Ana Ortiz has been playing the drums She and her mother are the ones who in a Mexican Banda de Guerra (Military organize everything for the parades. “We Band). Though it is fundraise a lot (to get something that requires money for uniforms discipline and may be and traveling),” she difficult, especially in said. the heat, she does it in Though she is not memory of her father sure where she wants who passed away last to go to college, Ortiz year. knows she wants to “My purpose was keep playing. “I want to Ana Ortiz to know where I came be a registered nurse in from, my roots, and (my dad) gave me prison,” she said. Her dream school is La that,” she said. Her father fought very Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara. hard to promote the Mexican culture in One of the factors holding her back is the U.S., and he felt that through these that she doesn’t like how the band would bands, he would be able to show people be in Mexico. “Even though there’s a small piece of Mexico. bands there, it won’t be the same,” she In older times of war in Mexico, said. “We fought so hard to get all the these Bandas de Guerra would march instruments and materials here and in along with the soldiers, giving them Mexico it’s so easy. It’s hard here, but we commands. Now, they are kept more as make a point through it.” a form of tradition. If Ortiz does not go to the university “My mom always said he wasted so in Mexico, she will attend Sac State. She much money on it, but he wanted to do doesn’t want to leave the band behind. “I it,” she said. “He had so many dreams don’t want to stop the band, it was what and this is the one that’s working.” me and my dad did,” she said. “When he Her father invested all of his time passed away, it became harder, I’d look and money into the bands. “All of his to my left and my dad wouldn’t be there money went toward the 35 drums and anymore.” 16 trumpets we have.” He had all of
Making a commitment to service alyssarojas
Salvador Pasillas is known on campus for his debates about communism, terrorism, and other governmental issues. He jokes around daily about how he worships Joseph Stalin and other various totalitarians and dictators. Influenced by his love for control, he’s decided to join the Marines after he graduates later this year. His goal in doing this is to eventually become a commanding officer, and pursue a full career within the military. His passion was forgotten for a period of time. “When I got to high school, I kind of forgot about that (wanting to join the Marines); I was focused on going to college and getting those good grades.” His desire was rekindled when he was introduced to the world of history. Pasillas remembered the love of playing with his toy soldiers, the love of watching documentaries on the History Channel with his mom, the love of war and the need to experience it. Some may deem his love for war as absurd, but to him, it’s everything. “War is nasty, but it’s something I want to experience. I think it’ll enlighten me,” he said. He also introduced the life of a Marine to Samantha Gonzalez. “He basically sold it to me, and before you know it, his recruiter’s calling me and I’m suddenly on board for all of this.” Gonzalez has always dreamed of becoming a FBI agent. After doing some research, she found herself realizing that
joining the Marines is a possible gateway by the U.S. government, after they to becoming one. complete their service. “The FBI likes However, Julian to have experienced Hernandez has decided agents,” Gonzales said. to put his education She has dedicated first by obtaining an herself to her goal associates degree at of becoming a U.S. Delta College, then Marine. transferring to the U.S. So dedicated, in Air Force where he will fact, that at physical become a military pilot. United States Military training, where they “All of the branches condition all the cadets into shape and of the government are ‘withdrawn’ right prepare them for what’s to come in the now, meaning they don’t want too many upcoming months, that she has taken applicants. College is a backup in case on a leadership role as a junior commanding officer of sorts who tells the cadets what exercises to do. “Even if the whole FBI thing doesn’t work out, I still have a chance of gaining a career within the U.S. military.” She also said that if a person was to work within the military, or any branch of the government, for more than 20 years, no matter what the combination is, that the person will be paid for the rest of their lives. Meaning, an early retirement, a steady paycheck, and health insurance. Those who join the military have the option to attend college, paid
the military doesn’t work after all.” Hernandez’s uncle is the one who inspired him to go into the Air Force, having been a man of the military himself. With his uncle passing away when Hernandez was just five years old, he left a big impact on Hernandez. “Anything he did, it was for good. I’ve always wanted to be like him.” Hernandez, like the others, is ready to start his life pursuing his career in the military with the motivation that is needed to do so. In doing so, not only will they be making their families proud,
photo by
Adrianna Owens
Marine recruits march in unison before beginning their physical training.
SeniorEdition Sport inspires greatness for life past high school
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yessicaibarra
photo by
Dellanira Alcauter
(Top) Davon Gillum looks to the scoreboard in a game against St. Mary’s. (Right) Gillum shows his muscles in a photo from pop warner.
Growing up with football inspires some student athletes to play in the NFL and be great like Jerry Rice or Peyton Manning. But for senior Davon Gillum, or “Peanut” as others know him, football isn’t an illusion about fame or simply a fall sport, it’s his escape from reality. “Once you hit that field you’re in a different world,” Gillum said. Since he was 9, his young world revolved around watching football and playing outside all day. He didn’t play for a football team until the beginning of eighth grade. His mother finally decided to sign him up for football and from there, he began playing for the
South Stockton Vikings. Playing as free safety and occasionally running back
Davon Gillum in his high school career, Gillum has proven to be a successful student-athlete as he graduates with a 3.0 grade-point average. “Football made me want to be somebody,” Gillum said. “I was part of a team filled with people I trusted -- a family.” His mother provided him with what he needed, a roof over his head and food on the table. Gillum’s dream of football matured him into the humble man
Spreading the faith
brianwalker
The road beyond high school is one that has endless paths. The path one chooses most likely reflects one’s interests and opportunities. Most students would ideally want to go to college and work to get a degree in the profession they will work the rest of their life. Others might choose to jump straight into the corporate world and get a job or have fun and enjoy their youth while it lasts. However, there is one unconventional path that is rarely followed. It is a one that only the truly dedicated and selfless can follow. It is the path of faith. Jonathan Zavala didn’t always want to be a priest for his Mormon religion. “My dad has always been into the religion. It wasn’t until my baptism when I decided church
was something I wanted to be serious about.” After his baptism at age 13 he started to take a more active role in his church and become more spiritual. “Before, I considered myself agnostic and confused but the bishop
Jonathan Zavala at the church helped me and I decided that this was a path that I wanted to take.” Sixteen is the age for young men to start training to become priests and Zavala humbly accepted the opportunity to become one and help others become further enlightened to his religion. As of now he has been a practicing priest of the Mormon religion for
photo by
Dellanira Alcauter
Jonathan Zavala reads his favorite verse from the bible.
over two years. With his title and commitment come duties and responsibilities to his church. Zavala facilitates priest meetings with other high members of the church, reminding those who have not visited church in a while to come and bless the Holy Sacrament. He has been doing this a couple times a week ever since he started his priesthood. After graduation he plans on going on a journey almost all Mormon priests take at one point their life called a mission. “You send an application and if they accept you, you go away and live somewhere else for two years.” The goal of these missions is to spread the Mormon faith to foreign places and expand the religion. Missionaries feel by spreading their faith they can spread joy and enlightenment to those who are confused and lost in what to believe in. These missions can span from anywhere in the United States to other continents. Now, there are more places a missionary can be sent to. “If I could go anywhere for my mission I would want to go to China.” Zavala has gained a newfound happiness from his faithful path and wants to spread that happiness across the globe.
he is today. “You learn how to work hard and never give up when things get rough,” Gillum said. He believes that God puts the strongest people in the worst situations such as family issues and financial difficulties because he knows he will make it through. Living up to his
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morals, Gillum knew he had the ability to beat St. Mary’s or score an 80 yard run against Beyer during the first playoff game. These are memories that he will carry with him to Sacramento City College, where he will attend this fall and receive a business degree. The best part -- he will be playing football for them as well.
photo courtesy of
Davon Gillum
Drawing out a better future
jessicacervantes
For some students, life is known to be filled with patches of gray in every corner. Feeling the rough clouds pull you down to the hard pavement, there is no escape. Only those with the eyes of creativity would escape this world, taking each brush stroke of color to bring life a new meaning. This is the way Cristian Lara perceives the world. His brush held high, Lara has the light shining upon him, expressing all inside him through his art. It started off with little Lara in the waiting room, a bleak afternoon in foster care with his brother, expecting another visit from his mother. Coloring book in one hand and a crayon in the other, he waited. “She would visit me, being pulled out of jail just to visit me and my brother,” he said. During these visits, a mother-son bond forms, all through the simple act of paper and crayon. “She showed me how to color to make things look pretty. Since then I thought about drawing 24/7 because it looked cool.” His mother, being an artist herself, is one of the few people to introduce
Lara how it feels to add color in a grey life. When Lara entered high school, he went to after school art classes his sophomore year for credit
Cristian Lara recovery, where he met teacher Raoul Mora. Mora not only taught Lara how to find his true passion, “but also taught me to observe, to analyze and take interest to whatever subject was at hand, and this has twisted in with my insanity to help make me... I don’t
know... Me.” Lara wants to pursue his passion after high school. He wants to become an animator, or anything that has to deal with animation. “I want to inspire and teach people how to adapt to adult life, and to teach people how to love each other.” Although art is a form that Lara cannot live without, he is planning to double major in animation and field biology. “I love to learn, to see the evolution of all living things, the love of nature.” There is always a splash of color on the canvas for Lara, and that is how he wishes to live -- happy.
photo by
Fe Valencia
Cristian Lara shows off one of many pieces of art in his sketch book