The Flare
Features
Special Edition FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2013
SECTION
B
A mother’s
ambition Student strives for a better life for herself and daughter
L
Tory Van Blarcum / THE FLARE
Thompson’s daughter is her motivation
JORDAN BAIRD Staff Writer
istening to Leila Thompson talk about her ambitions and goals – not only for herself but for her daughter – she does not sound like the type of person who spent eight years in prison. Thompson grew up in a poor household and was never truly taught right from wrong, she said. “My mother didn’t take care of me as she should,” Thompson said. After misbehaving while attending Longview High School, she was sent to a girl’s home in San Antonio at the age of 15. At the age of 27, Thompson was sent to prison for criminal behavior. She stayed in the Texas prison system for eight years. She missed the most crucial parts of her daughter’s life, who was only 3 at the time of her incarceration. “Everything is taken away from you,” she said. Prisoners cannot pick and choose anything. Everyone was dressed alike and you are taught discipline, she added. Thompson met many women, mothers and teachers while in prison, who proved influential in helping her get on the right track. After Thompson’s release, she was determined to turn her life around. She has worked two or three jobs while going to school. She was asked by a Bridges Poverty Steering committee member to help him out. Expecting to help with a board meeting, Thompson agreed to this proposal. Later she discovered the member wanted something much more than that. He wanted her to tell her story about coming out of generational poverty. Thompson also took a class with Partners in Convention called Getting Ahead. This class had a 16-week criterion and after graduating she became a circle leader. She was involved in recruiting other leaders and supported other people in the class. Thompson and her daughter live with her mother, who is now 75. Her daughter is now a junior in high school and plans to take dual-credit classes to get a head start on college. Her daughter was her biggest inspiration to turn her life around. Thompson said her mother did not raise her like she was supposed to, but she holds no hard feelings. “It wasn’t her fault,” she said. “She might not have gotten the proper raising.” It was Thompson’s choice to grow up and take responsibility for her own life. “I’m a mother and that’s my job,” Thompson said. Thompson is a KC sophomore and plans to go to a fouryear college after graduation to major in behavioral science. She said in the future she plans to help people, mostly children, try to change the way they do things. “Our kids are our next generation,” Thompson said. Besides being a full-time student, Thompson continues to talk about her efforts to pull herself out of poverty. She recently spoke to more than 350 people at a poverty conference held in Longview. “The hardest stuff is what you go after. Anything easy is not worth having,” Thompson said.
Building relationships New Student Relations director wants to enhance recruitment service, student relationships at KC CHRISTINE RITTER Staff Writer
Sonia Garza / THE FLARE
Chris Gore began working for
Chris Gore started working for the International Students and Admissions office here at KC on Jan. 2. KC merged international student services and recruitment services in December 2012. He was hired during the merge. Gore has been working in recruitment and admissions since 1994, but this is his first time working in an office where international students are the main priority. Gore said he predominantly worked with domestic students in the past, but he has had some interaction with international students before. “There’s a lot to learn, and it’s been an enlightening experience,” Gore said. Gore graduated from Sam Houston State University with a degree in history and geography. He enjoyed his college experience and knew he wanted to work in the college environment. His career in admissions allowed him to do just that. “I never thought I wanted to get into recruitment; I stumbled into it,” Gore said, “I never knew there were people who do the things that I do.” After completing his master’s degree, also in history and geography, Gore looked for a job and found a position at Navarro College as the school relations officer. He was interested in the job because it sounded like something that required a badge. He found out later that it was much more than that.
Gore said recruitment is much more than marketing. There is also counseling, promoting and visiting high schools involved. “We have to identity the strengths of the institution,” Gore said. Gore finds his job enjoyable. He has always been interested in what attracts people to certain things. “You travel and talk to students about higher education,” Gore said, “It’s talking to students who are trying to make the best and most informed decision about their future. It’s great to assist them in their process.” Gore tries to stress what KC has to offer and how it can help students be successful, regardless of their goals in life. Gore hopes to develop an aggressive recruitment plan and build stronger relationships with the service area base, students, and parents while he is at KC. “I want every prospective student that I meet with to know that we have their best interest at heart,” Gore said, “We want to provide them with the information and specific tools to make the most informed decision about their academic future.” While he is not at KC, Gore is an active member in Christ the King Roman Catholic Church. In the past he has served as a Sunday school teacher and usher. “I’m still new the church here, so I’m just getting to know everybody and getting involve gradually,” Gore said. “I volunteered at the big Fall Festival and served as an usher on occasion.”
2B
FE ATURES
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013
Curtain Call
Theatre department head bids farewell to KC after 25 years CHRISTINE RITTER Staff Writer
K
Shelbi Crews / THE FLARE
Kathy Barber looks forward to
athy Barber will be retiring this semester after 25 years at KC. “There’s not one reason,” Barber said. “I’m ready for new adventures and I want free time for them. I want to travel, learn new things, meet new people and spend time with old friends.” Barber will not be completely gone from KC; she will come back next semester to teach a class and assist Micah Goodding as he serves as her temporary replacement for the Spring Semester. Barber has been working with plays most of her life. “When I look back, I used to play dress up and direct little plays I wrote,” Barber said. What she loves most is the creative process of putting on a play. She likes to sit down and think of designs and the best way to portray the playwright’s message. “The theatre seemed to be a natural path, but I didn’t consider it as a profession until high school, where my passion for the theatre grew more passionate,” Barber said. Barber received her associate’s degree at KC, and then transferred to Sam Houston State University where she got her bachelor’s. She did the coursework for her master’s degree at Stephen F. Austin State University. She did not graduate, but instead took a job in New York City. She directed three Broadway shows during her seven years in New York, as
well as three operas at the Lincoln Center. “I learned so much in New York and received a broad range and well-rounded of information that I continue to use in the classroom.” Barber said. Right before she began working at KC, Barber got her master’s degree at SFA in a year by taking full course loads. Barber directs two plays per semester, but her favorite plays did not always make the best productions. Instead, she loves the plays that send a message of hope. “We try to find the empathy and love in the play, and there’s always a lesson to be learned.” Barber said. Despite her love for the plays, Barber does not watch the performances. Instead she sits in the hall during the play. She started to sit outside in the hall 10 years ago because of late arrivals. “We’ve tried security guards, although what I found works best is if I sit in the hall, and invite them to come another night,” Barber said. After she leaves, Barber is going to miss her colleagues and the students. She said KC has an impressive group of people, and she will treasure the friendships she has made, but the most enjoyable thing is the exchange with the students. “There’s nothing more rewarding than watching students understand theories and ideas.” Barber said. As for the future, she is interested in joining the Peace Corps, but isn’t sure what she could do since she cannot do many physical jobs. She might consider teaching people how to read. “I’m a person who needs to feel like a help to others,” Barber said. “I also look forward to getting a lot of sleep.”
show must go on The
Theatre director Micah Goodding steps into spotlight CHRISTINE RITTER Staff Writer
M
icah Goodding will take over as the theatre department director in the Spring Semester after Kathy Barber retires. The position will be temporary while KC searches for a full time replacement. Goodding does not plan on making any changes to the theatre department. “Personally, as I step into this role I don’t feel the need try to change things,” Goodding said, “I see the kind of atmosphere she’s established and the kind of song she’s singing, and it’s the same song I want to sing.” In the past, Goodding worked in children’s theatre, and taught for public high schools and for professional theatre companies. This is Goodding’s first time teaching a college class, but he has taught workshops in different universities and here at KC. Goodding said the biggest difference between teaching high school and college is a stronger sense of identity and purpose to one’s education at a collegiate level. Right now Goodding is working on five different projects. Since he’s working part-time here at KC, he has to supplement his income by doing other things. While Goodding is teaching at KC, he is also directing a touring production. He also designed a set for a production. “So I’ve gotten to explore all of those different things,” Goodding said. “I end up doing a lot at one time, which is I think is great for anybody in the
theatre.” Goodding got into theatre his senior year in Hallsville. He was standing in the hallway and a teacher walked up to him, put her hands on his shoulders and told him that he had a good voice and she wanted him to audition for a part. “I was a very shy kid until that point, and nobody ever paid me a compliment in high school. But she told me she wanted me to audition,” Goodding said, “Just the idea that anybody wanted me for anything was such a profound experience for me.” He did not get the part, but he stuck with it and got the part for the next play. “The next thing I knew I was auditioning for scholarships,” Goodding said. From high school, Goodding went to KC for theater. He went from being in the bottom fourth of his class to joining Phi Theta Kappa and making the President’s list. After he got his associates degree, he received degrees in theater and drawing at Stephen F. Austin State University. “All that started with human contact with a stranger,” Goodding said, “I try to be that for other people, but I still have a connection with her and she’s retired now.” He auditioned for graduate schools after SFA and had 10-12 callbacks, with several different offers. University of Essex, a university in London, gave him an offer right away and he took it. He studied in London for two years while performing. “I learned as much from my peers as I did from my tutors. I studied alongside folks from Korea, China,
Japan, Brazil and Africa,” Goodding said. Goodding has traveled many times before and believes traveling creates a broad understanding of the world. He said the world is becoming more globalized and one has to be well informed about what is going on to make one’s work more reliable. He also said if people experience what they always experienced, they will always produce the same thing as anybody else. Because of his experience at KC, the college was the first place he thought of as a long-term career. He thinks having students working in every aspect of the theatre is a good thing. Goodding noticed every student wants to do different things. Most want to do directing, designing and theater management, and these fit into KC’s entire theatre program. “That gives them a liberal education in which they can explore every spot in the theater, so they can choose what side they want to get into,” Goodding said. Goodding said most actors do something alongside their acting career and as they become more experienced they fit these skills together. He said he is always been drawn to teaching so he’s exactly where he wants to be. “I think I have one of these personalities that welcomes a certain amount of change. I think I would get bored very easily if I was behind a desk all day and that’s a good thing about being here,” Goodding said. “If I were to hopefully have this job for the next 50 years every show would be something different.”
Kristopher Dobbins/ THE FLARE
Micah Goodding will serve as the interim replacement for the theatre department head while KC
“
I see the kind of atmosphere she’s established and the kind of song she’s singing, and it’s the - Micha Goodding, theatre instructor
FE ATURES
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013
YouTube dunking sensation
Tall Order
Tory Van Blarcum / THE FLARE
Tom Bush Wamukota, a Kenya native, signed with Wichita State University Wednesday.
7-foot sophomore crosses ocean to play ball
A
MILES MARABLE III • Staff Writer
t 7-feet in height Tom Bush Wamukota clearly towers over the KC student body and is the tallest player on the KC Ranger basketball team. Wamukota, who goes by Bush, is a Kenya native who did not start playing organized basketball until his senior year at Maaseno High School in 2011. Before that summer, Bush was 6-foot-3 inches tall and had played soccer his entire life. In the summer of his senior year Bush hit a growth spurt and sprouted 9 inches. With his increase in height Bush decided to play basketball. In Kenya, Bush said a sign that someone is ready to dunk is if they have a visible vein on their calf muscle. Bush worked day in and day out with a soccer ball made of paper as a basketball and a homemade basketball goal made of wood. “You couldn’t dribble the ball, so I just worked on getting that vein in my calf so I could dunk,” Bush said. “Once I got the vein in my calf muscle I knew I was ready to dunk.” After graduating in December 2011 Bush left his home country and
moved to America with his mother and sister to attend Wiley College in Marshall, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school. “It was hard leaving my family and friends behind,” Bush said. “But at the same time, I’m doing better for myself and my family.” After a year at Wiley, Bush was determined to play Division I basketball and knew he could not do that attending an NAIA school, so he transferred to KC. There are many advantages to having a 7-foot player on your team, and Head Basketball Coach Brian Hoberecht hopes to get the most out of Bush. “He’s got great length, and he’s got great mobility and agility for a 7-footer,” Hoberecht said. “He can rebound and defend his position at just about any level right now. Offensively he’s developing and he’s growing. He’s learning what impact he can have and how he can score. He’s got good hands, good feet, and a good passer. As those things continue to keep maturing and he continues to get more experience. his game will continue to flourish. He’s going to be a fun one to watch grow up as the year goes by.” Through three games with KC, Bush is averaging 8
points, 9.6 rebounds and has two double-doubles. Bush officially signed with Wichita State University Wednesday, a Division I school that made it to the NCAA Division I Final Four last season. “I really liked their coaching staff,” Bush said. “They showed me love and showed me that they really want me to be part of there team.” Bush has already made an impact both on the court and off with his teammates and his coaches. “Bush is a really good person,” Hoberecht said. “He’s got a very good head on his shoulders. He’s bright. He’s articulate. I think he works really hard to be a good student. He is somebody that has made a really quick impact in our program because of the way he treats people and because he’s really good about how he interacts on the court and off the court with his teammates and with the coaches.” Bush says his only goal for this season is to help bring a national championship to KC. “All I want this year is to win a national championship,” Bush said. “I know we have what it takes to go all the way, and hopefully we can do just that and get that ring.”
3B
Tory Van Blarcum / THE FLARE
Stefan Moody, Florida native, signed with Ole Miss Wednesday.
KC guard Stefan Moody has a 40-plus inch vertical leap MILES MARABLE III Staff Writer
A
t 5-feet-10 inches tall Stefan Moody is the shortest starter on the Rangers basketball team–but with a 40-inch plus vertical leap that has brought him numerous followers on YouTube watching him dunk, Moody stands tall on the squad. Moody is mostly known for his high-flying ability and thunderous dunks which are showcased on YouTube with almost 300,000 views for his Stefan Moody Official Mixtape Vol 1. Video. After graduating in May of 2012 from Poinciana High School, Moody continued playing basketball at Florida Atlantic University. Moody earned Sun Belt Conference freshman of the year honors, posting averages of 15.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game for the Owls. He is also the first Parade All-American in FAU history. Unfortunately, due to academic issues, Moody was dismissed from FAU, resulting in his landing at KC. KC Head Basketball Coach Brian Hoberecht said he signed Moody in hopes of getting him back to playing at a Division I school. “He still has to get used to the college academic environment,” Hoberecht said. “He is a very mature person, has a great head on his shoulders, has a great demeanor on and off the court. He’s a great team player, and really wants to succeed.” Moody’s expectations for the 2013-2014-basketball season are simple. “I just want a ring,” he said, in referring to
a national championship ring. Moody has been playing organized basketball since the sixth grade and there is one play he thinks about to this day. Moody missed the game-winning shot against Troy University which would have advanced FAU to the second round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament. It was his last game in a FAU uniform and to this day he uses that shot as motivation to get better. “When I missed it, I felt like I let my team down,” he said. “I just told myself, ‘never again.’” Moody attended Liberty High School in Florida, in the school’s first year and was the only freshman on the varsity basketball team. After his sophomore year, Moody transferred to Poinciana High School for his junior and senior year. As a senior Moody averaged 27.9 points per game while helping Poinciana to a 20-10 season. He led Poinciana to the Florida Class 7A Regional Semifinals and was ranked seventh out of 100 Florida high school players in the 2012 Source Hoops Final Player Rankings. He was named to the Florida Class 7A All-State Team and the Orlando Sentinel All-Central Florida team. After three games as a KC Ranger, Moody is averaging 20.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.3 assist per game. He officially signed with Ole Miss Wednesday to continue to play basketball in the 2014-2015 seasons. “I chose Ole Miss because it was really the coaching staff, and how much effort they put in in trying to recruit me,” Moody said. “The opportunity that I got to play over there just seemed better for me.”
4B
FE ATU
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013
Photo Gallery
Kristopher Dobbins- Portraiture II
Shelby Ragland- Photo II
Paulin Libebele- Photo II
These selected photo
URES
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013
ographs represent interpretive expressive images from the Portraiture and Photography II classes
Sara Holmes- Portraiture II
Shelbi Crews - Portraiture II
Sonia Garza- Portraiture II
Stormy Scott - Portraiture II
5B
6B
FE ATURES
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013
Heart for the game Dominick overcomes obstacles DEVIN BROOKS Sports Writer
T
hroughout life people often face hardship. One true measure of a person is getting back up and keep moving forward. Lady Ranger freshman Pre’Franz Dominick is an example of that. Dominick grew up in Deridder, Louisiana and attended Deridder High School. She said she had a very rough childhood and had every reason to give up, but she did not. Dominick lived in a small house with her mother, aunt, uncle, sister and many cousins. “I wanted to prove to my family that I could make something out of myself. I wanted to be somebody,” Dominick said. Dominick didn’t have much growing up, but said she wasn’t ashamed about it. She might did not have all the flashy clothes and accessories that the other kids had, but as long as she had clothes and food she said she was all right. Dominick had many people supporting her as she grew up. “My aunt would always help me out and be there for me when I needed her. I’m extremely grateful for her,” Dominick said. “I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me, and I did not want to be a burden to my family. I know that God has our back, this is just a test and it will pass” Dominick said. She didn’t have enough money to pay for a cap and gown for her high school graduation, but somehow was able to get one and receive her diploma. That is all the mattered to her. “I graduated and that is enough for me. I did not care what the others kids had; as long as I walked across that stage and received my diploma I was happy,” Dominick said. Dominick didn’t start playing basketball until she was in the
sixth grade. She was scared to play at first because she didn’t know what to expect. When she first started, she didn’t get much playing time. The coaches just used her because of her height. “I had a lot of heart for the game of basketball. I just didn’t know how to play, but I was ready to learn,” Dominick said. A man named Reggie Hoard gave Dominick her start. He introduced her to AAU ball and she quickly became a better basketball player. Once Dominick found her comfort zone on the court, she wanted to commit the rest of her life to the game. “It doesn’t matter where I’m at, I can make anything out of myself. Nothing will stop me from achieving my dream”, Dominick said. When she was a freshman in high school, she had what most people consider a career-ending injury. She tore her meniscus and her ACL and had broken bones in her legs and knees. Surprisingly, she didn’t have surgery on her legs until her junior year of high school. “I had no clue my injury was that severe until the MRI revealed what had happened,” Dominick said. The timetable for her return was scheduled for eight months, but Dominick returned back to the court in one month. “I just had that passion and drive for the game. Nothing could keep me away from it,” she said. Dominick was the starting post on her high school team, and she was named the best post player in Southwest Louisiana during her senior year. She also received AllDistrict Honors in Division 4A. Dominick ended up in Kilgore by way of chance. She had numerous Division 1 offers, but her grades hindered her from playing at the level for the time being. KC coaches found her and signed her on the spot.
Shelby Ragland / THE FLARE
Lady Ranger freshman Pre’Franz Dominick never gave up on her dream of playing basketball. Dominick is majoring in kinesiology. She wants to be a physical therapist or an athletic trainer in the NBA. “I love dealing with sports medicine, and I want to help others achieve their dreams and help them do what they want to do. I want to be a part of sports until I die,” Dominick said. Dominick’s ultimate dream is to play Division 1 basketball and get drafted to the WNBA. She has
often been told that she couldn’t do it, but she believes in herself and she belives that God will take care of her situation. “I am happy with being at Kilgore College. It’s not the best college in the world, but I’m doing something productive and I am happy about it”, said Dominick. Lady Ranger Head Coach Roy Thomas is happy that she is at KC as well.
“She is a great young lady with a huge future in front of her. She is a great asset to the team and a great student athlete,” Thomas said. “She is a big-time likeable person, and she has no bad character. She is a great person to have around.” Dominick believes that with God all things are possible, and she is very thankful for where she is right now. She wouldn’t want it any other way.
The Sideline General DEVIN BROOKS Sports Writer
T
hroughout the years, great coaches have made their job look easy. Lady Ranger Coach Roy Thomas does just that. Thomas has had a long and prosperous career as a coach. He played basketball at Tyler Junior College during his college career. He also was a member of the Gillette All-Stars team that traveled all over Europe. After his playing days were over, Thomas decided to become a banker. He soon realized that he missed being around the game of basketball, and he didn’t really like being a banker. So he returned to basketball as a coach. “I just had the passion for the game, and I wanted to be around it again,” Thomas said. Thomas was a graduate assistant for Baylor University’s basketball team from 1973-75. He said he loved being an assistant. He was able to travel all around the globe recruiting players to play for Baylor. After the 1975 season, he was promoted to the head assistant coach at Baylor, which he held from 1975-80. During that time Thomas brought in two future NBA stars — Vinnie “Microwave” Johnson, who averaged 24 points per game the two seasons he was at Baylor, and Terry Teagle, who averaged 20 points a game during his four-year career at Baylor. Both of these players had successful careers in the NBA. “They were both prolific scorers; they knew how to put points on the board,” Thomas said. Following his coaching career at Baylor, Thomas coached at NCAA Division-2 Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville) from 1980-83. He had a brief stint there, but he said that it was a fun coaching experience. He then went on to become the head men’s coach at his alma mater, Tyler Junior College. He was at TJC from 1983-94. Thomas led the Apaches to one national tournament appearance in Hutchinson, Kansas during his 11-year coaching stint. Tyler was ranked fifth in the nation that year. In 1994 Thomas took a headcoaching job at North Carolina A&T. He spent five years there. In the 1996-97 season, Thomas led his team to the NCAA Tournament.
Sara Holmes / THE FLARE
Lady Ranger Head Basketball Coach Roy Thomas has been the head coach for eight seasons and is determined to take the Lady Rangers to the national championship.
“
I am a very blessed man. I have no regrets in my entire coaching career. I appreciate everything that has happened in my life and I thank God for it”.
They went 15-13 overall and won their conference that year as well. Thomas led his team against future San Antonio Spurs star Tim Duncan and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. They lost the game, but Thomas was happy with the accomplishment of his team just being there. “Tim Duncan was a beast in the post, but I’m just glad that we were able to play on the big stage,” he said. In five seasons at NC A&T, Thomas’ overall record was 61-79. He had one conference tournament title and one national championship appearance. He was 51-46 in conference games. In 1999, after his coaching stint in
- Roy Thomas Lady Ranger Head basketball coach
North Carolina, Thomas returned to his hometown of Kirbyville to be with his mother after his father passed away. “I had to be there for my mother,” Thomas said. “She had been married 55 years to my father and now he was gone, so I had to take care of my mother.” Thomas took three years off from coaching to be with his family. In 2002, Thomas returned to coach at Kirbyville High School. In 2006 Thomas was offered a coaching job at KC after the women’s basketball coach left. Thomas took the job on the spot. “Kilgore College wasn’t far from my home, and I really liked the facilities that they had here so I
just couldn’t say no,” said Thomas. Thomas has been the Lady Ranger head coach for eight seasons. He is 106-79 with five Region XIV playoffs appearances during his tenure at KC. He has yet to take a women’s team to a national championship. “I have taken a men’s team to a national championship before,” he said. “I’m looking to take a women’s team to the big stage as well. That’s the only thing I’m missing.” Thomas hopes to have a chance to take his Lady Ranger team to the big stage this season. Freshman post Pre’Franz Dominick said she loves her coach. “Coach Thomas is a great, and he has a very unique coaching
style. He brought me here and I’m thankful for him,” Dominick said. “Sometimes he is hard on me, but that is just because he is trying to bring the best out of me. We all love Coach Thomas.” Thomas is a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco, and he believes that he could coach in the WNBA or at a top Division 1 College. Thomas is currently in his 17th season as a coach, and his overall record is 323-174, a winning ratio of 63 percent. “I am a very blessed man,” he said. “I have no regrets in my entire coaching career. I appreciate everything that has happened in my life, and I thank God for it.”
FE ATURES
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013
7B
Kristopher Dobbins / THE FLARE
Cathy Beckman, dance instructor, speaks about her life growing up with a father studying photography and painting.
Lifetime of dance Dance instructor describes childhood in New York City with artist parents
C
KASSIDY TAYLOR Web Editor
athy Beckman, dance instructor, was born in what was then known as Czechoslovakia and is now called the Czech Republic. Beckman moved to New York City when she was 2 years old. “It’s home. It’ll always be home. I grew up there,” Beckman said. Beckman goes back to New York every summer to visit her hometown. She moved to Texas to work at KC, but before moving, she taught at several studios in New York. She danced professionally with small groups in New York. Some would travel, leading her away from her home in New York. “I’ve loved dance since I was little,” Beckman said. “But I didn’t actually start studying seriously until I got older, because my parents were in the arts and I did a lot of that kind of thing.” Beckman attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts for art. She graduated from Columbia University. “At some point I realized I wanted to get back to dance,” Beckman said. Beckman studied modern dance, then later added some ballet training. “I realized I needed some ballet training to get stronger, better technique, and I started taking classes and fell in love with it,” Beckman said.
Beckman enjoys modern dance and ballet equally. “I like the modern because we do a lot of creative work, and I like ballet because we emphasize correct body-use and technique, so it’s a real nice balance,” Beckman said. “They satisfy different things,” Beckman said. “But I always knew I wanted to teach, which may have been because both of my parents were teachers.” Beckman’s parents met at The Bauhaus, a fine art school in Germany that was later closed by the Nazis. Her father continued on to teach at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and Dartmouth College, while having his paintings and photographs displayed at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum as well as other museums. “My mother went in to teaching early childhood,” Beckman said. “But she continued and did some wonderful sculptures so she kept her interest in the arts.” Beckman’s father studied photography in Vienna, Austria with her mother. Her father later became a photographer and did that for a living in Prague, Czech Republic. “He was a wonderful photographer,” Beckman said. “He loved stage design. If he had stayed in New York, he might have done that.” Beckman finds that seeing dancers improve and seeing them learn about themselves and life through dance is the most gratifying part of teaching dance. “The most challenging part of teaching dance is that the dancers need to be very focused and think long term,” Beckman said. “But dance is something that helps you in
every way. The discipline, the understanding of a healthy body, and dancers do well in different fields they go in to because of that discipline and focus.” Beckman was hired as an extra for the World Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera in New York when they were on tour. Beckman is also interested in yoga because it is very helpful in every aspect. “It’s also interesting to see the relationships between yoga and dance,” Beckman said. “And sometimes I even incorporate a little yoga in to my dance classes as a kind of therapy when the kids are sore or tired.” “Dance is never wasted time. Dancing always has something to offer everybody,” Beckman said. To see more of Hannes Beckman’s artwork visit: http://www.dhallfineart.com/gallery_modern/ beckmann/102909-009.html
“
The most challenging that dancers need to be — Cathy Beckman, dance instructor
Aspiring rapper, producer hosts sessions Houston freshman turns Stark Hall dorm room into recording studio JEFFERY JAMERSON II Staff Writer
“H
-Town’s in the house! Scratch that. H-Town’s in the dorm. Armon Starks, Houston freshman, aka MacKane, has taken the studio from his house and brought it to KC’s very own Stark Hall. Starks recently released his third mix-tape, featuring collaborations with residents of Stark and the Quads. In Starks’ mix-tape “It Was Only Time,” the music may remind listeners of Drake’s emotional rapping and Big Sean’s silly, gowild rapping. “It was a long process. I had to put pieces of it together,” Starks said. “Like, I was giving out pieces of it to my friends to see what they think about it, so they kind of helped me put the track list together.” Starks said the inspiration for his music came from his experiences back home. “Before I came to college, I was going through the struggle in Houston,” Starks said. “I learned a lot from that and used it in my music. Just being inspired by my mom, other people, my peers and rappers that I look up to.” Starks hopes to get clients soon
for his dorm room studio, whom he charges $20 an hour for studio use. Starks said one recent summer, he made $3,000 in a month-and-a-half of rental time. “I needed to keep myself occupied while I was in college, to keep myself out of trouble,” Starks said. “I’m not a trouble-maker, but trouble finds me, just because of my personality.” Starks is pursuing a degree in prelaw and plans to go to law school. If he becomes a lawyer, he plans to start his own practice instead of joining a law firm, because he believes that he can make be more successful in that manner. “I feel like I can make more money doing things myself,” Starks said. “Music for example; the label pays for your time. Why should I have a label pay my studio time when I can do my own music, get my own producers and I can make profit off my own stuff ? I can get my own beats, work on my own time and take my time on what I want to do.” Beside rappers like Kayne West, Drake, Big Sean, and Kendrick Lamar, Starks sees himself as a role model. “I’m a strong guy. I look up to myself, too,” Starks said. Because at the end of the day, I’m the one that looks myself in the mirror.”
Maegan Mitchell / THE FLARE
Armon Starks, aka MacKane, drops a beat and records portions of his new track in his Stark Hall room/studio using his own microphone and two computers.
“
Why should I have a label pay my studio time when I can do my own music, get my own producers and I — Armon Starks, Houston freshman
8B
FE ATURES
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013
Living the
Rangerette lifestyle
Shirley Arredondo unexpectedly takes on role as house mom in the Rangerette dorm JORDAN BAIRD Staff Writer
W
hile attending KC in 1967, Shirley Arredondo always wanted to be part of the world famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. Now, 44 years later, she is surrounded by Rangerettes every day as she plays the mother away from home for those 72 young women. After graduating from KC in 1969, Arredondo spent 34 years as an elementary teacher in Austin. Last summer she received a phone call from her mother, who was a Rangerette under the direction of Gussie Nell Davis, the creator of the dance/drill team and first director of the Rangerettes. Her mother told her she would be the perfect fit for the resident manager position, which had recently opened. She immediately knew her answer would be yes, if asked by Kathryne Heller Zwick to take on this position. Zwick is a lifetime member of the Rangerettes Forever and was a Rangerette from 1976-1978. Through the Zwick Foundation, she and her family have been key supporters of numerous projects at KC. The Zwick Foundation donated $3.5 million to fund construction of the Gussie Nell Davis Rangerette Residence in 2005 to honor Miss Davis, the residence in which Arredondo wished to work. “It was a very scary thing to take on,” said Arredondo. “I am a person who doesn’t like change.” The job of a house mom is considerable. Arredondo wakes up every morning to check and return emails, pay the bills of the
residence and make sure it is in its finest condition, because visitors come every day. She also has to schedule maintenance and repairs if there are any problems inside or out. The lessons she learned during her 34 years of teaching first and third grade in Austin, have carried over into her new role as house mom. “Teaching helped me to be fair and consistent,” Arredondo said. “It also taught me to mean what I say and never promise anything you can’t deliver.” One Rangerette praised Arredondo on her efforts to treat them so kindly. “She is really sweet and acts as our ‘mother away from home,’” Noelie Barbay, La Porte Freshman, said. Arredondo was not a member of the Rangerettes when she attended KC, but she was a twirler. Though she was not on a line and did not have the opportunity to experience Rangerette traditions, Arredondo looks at this as her second chance. “She is very supportive and is doing a good job at adjusting to the Rangerette lifestyle,” Kelci Bjornlie, Bedford sophomore, said. Arredondo’s favorite part about working in the residence is getting to see all of the different personalities of the six dozen young women, but of course there are downsides. She spends all of her time on call. “It feels like what a doctor feels like. I am always on duty even when I am not in the residence,” Arredondo said. “But it is neat to tell people that I live in a big house with 72 young women.” Working in the Rangerette residence is very exciting for Arredondo because her mother
Kristopher Dobbins / THE FLARE
Shirley Arredondo cares for the Rangerette residence and for the 72 women on the line. also works there, too. Her mother, Joanne Hankins, has been working at the residence for eight years. “It’s different,” Hankins said. “She’s the one telling me what to do. When she tells me to do something I do it… I love every bit of it.” Sometimes Arredondo’s job is hard, especially when it comes to enforcing the rules
of the Rangerette residence. Arredondo always makes sure the hallways are kept clean, everyone wears shoes in the common area and the Rangerettes vacuum on the correct days. She said it is hard for some to adjust, because they are not used to these types of rules even in their own household. “She takes her job very
seriously but still is very kindhearted,” Emily Diehl, Allen freshman said. “She is always there for us when we need her.” Arredondo hopes the Rangerettes know that teachers, adults and even their parents always have their best interest at heart. “We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t care,” Arredondo said.