the rider chronicle, may 2011

Chronicle www.theriderchronicle.comRider High School 4611 Cypress, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76310

The Volume 49

Issue 4

Did you know?

pg 20

Don’t forget to check us out online!Until 1996, the Rider Chronicle was called the

Round Up.

Raiders take the Polar Plunge pg 7

pg 15

VS

One family, one team

Students don't always understand all the work that goes into ensuring their safety. People such as the police force and Vice Principals, who work behind the scenes, not only keep students out of trouble, but also strive to protect them so they can focus on learning.

When new policies on security are put in place that interfere with the students' typical school day routine, they often complain, thinking of the inconvenience instead of their well-being.

"With society the way it is, people realize security can be annoying and inconvenient, but with events in the past such as 9/11, it's a measure we need to go to," Vice Principal Rebecca Hitchcock said. "It's always better to be safe than to have to learn from mistakes."

In fact, the schools constantly learn from accidents in the past and present by adjusting when tragedies like the Columbine shooting or 9/11 occur.

"When a national event has repercussions for the schools, it causes me to beef up the police protection and even to add private security at night," Director of Security and Chief of Police Karen Olson said.

Also, the schools have extensive emergency action plans that cover a wide-variety of possible situations from students rioting to a plane crashing into the school.

"We are prepared for anything, no matter how minute a chance there is of it happening," Hitchcock said.

Despite all the work that goes into purchasing cameras or assigning police to roam the schools, both Hitchcock and Olson believe the most influential factor on student safety is the students themselves.

"Common sense plays a huge role in the protection of the schools," Olson said. "Even students for the most part have good intuition. If your intuition tells you there's something wrong in a situation, you shouldn't put yourself in that uncomfortable position."

Likewise, a problem can't be addressed if the overseers of the school aren't informed first and foremost since they can't be everywhere at once.

"In the incidences of school attacks, we usually are notified before it happens, and a lot of attacks are stopped because someone found out about it and told the authorities," Olson said. "People have a lot of responsibility for their own security, and when their classmates are doing things, like building bombs in their basement, they should let someone know."

All in all, the main concern of those in charge of security is to grant students knowledge without them feeling vulnerable to the world outside.

"We're proud of Rider and want to keep it as secure as possible," Hitchcock said.

Behind barsby Kayla HolcombNew security measures implemented for student safety, prevent possible crisis

Fenced inThe fences were built to protect the students in case of an emergency. The school also has plans in case of emergency situations. Photo by Meghan Myracle

Issue 5

page 5

Staffer medals at state

Volume 49

www.theriderchronicle.com4011 Cypress, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76310Rider High School

page 16

Did you know??

The road to recovery

pages 10 and 11

Due to the rising country deficit, the Texas state education budget has been cut down forcing the district to lower their budget as well.

At Rider, six positions were lost, though some of those faculty members were just shifted around.

There were three phases in the staff reduction process. Phase one was simply the removal of low-quality teachers.

“We didn’t have to lose any teachers [in phase one] because Rider has all high-quality teachers,” principal Judy McDonald said.

Phase two was about class sizes. “The district says that all classes should be 10-15 people,”

McDonald said. “Since we’re still scheduling, those numbers are not accurate.”

Phase three came down to saving money.“Two positions had to be cut,” McDonald said. “They can be

restored if the budget turns out to be nicer to education.”To assist the district in reaching a solution to the budget crisis, a

26-member team was established. The Budget Action Committee met to discuss possible cuts to save money and submitted their report to the district. Among the possibilities were options from encouraging teachers to conserve electricity by turning the lights off more often to selling unused land.

Math teacher Stephanie Mullens is one of the members of the committee.

“I was happy to serve, but I knew it was going to be a tough job,” Mullens said. “It was heart-wrenching, we knew people were going to lose jobs.”

“26 people were chosen [for the committee],” Mullens said. “They tried to pick from all different areas: teachers, secretaries, maintenance.”

The committee was divided into five groups: curriculum and instruction, extracurricular, personnel, student support and support areas.

“My area was support areas,” Mullens said. “We looked at facilities,

busing, utilities, etc.”To help the committee with their recommendations, surveys were

sent to faculty across the district.“[They] could talk about their areas and what they wanted to

keep or cut,” Mullens said.While the committee was proposing the cuts, they had to divide

them into priorities and whether they were long-term or short-term.

“You can’t not fix roofs, but it might be put off for a year or two,” Mullens said.

McDonald believes that the cuts at Rider are over with.“The budget is balanced for this year, unless there is some

increase,” McDonald said. “We are preparing for a worst case scenario.”

Since about 12 phase three positions have already been reinstated, Mullens believes, “it doesn’t look like a worst cast scenario.”

McDonald doesn’t think that the students of Rider will see a major difference next year.

“The biggest would be increased class sizes,” McDonald said. “[Also] not offering some electives and combining similar classes. We would still have the classes, but they wouldn’t be as specific as we previously offered.”

In Foreign Language department head and Spanish 2 teacher Ethan Shaw’s opinion, bigger class sizes can negatively affect students’ learning.

“I have a class with 36 kids and 26 desks,” Shaw said. “We can’t get desks and that’s this year. It will be interesting to see the seating arrangement.”

Though the Budget Action committee made the proposals, it is up to the Board what goes into effect.

“Everything was strictly recommendations,” Mullens said. “We had no power. All cuts come from the Board of Trustees, not Dr. Kazanas or Dr. Powers.”

Tighten the beltBudget crisis hits WFISD, committee recommendations seen in decisionsby Jordan Campagna

Budget crisisTo balance the budget, approximately 135 employees were lost. Some that were fired during phase 3 could be reinstated if the worst case scenario doesn’t happen this legislative session.

2010 graduate Jeremy Boren

drew the Raider mascot used on the

newspaper.

check us out at www.theriderchronicle.com2 The Rider Chronicle. May 2011 Opinion

Dani Adams & Jordan Campagna

Alex AdamsChandler AlejandroEmily BurlisonAmelia DeverHolly FormanErin HagySarah HaleyMason Jones

Bobbi KazmierczakErica KlenkKyler NormanZane PollockKelsea RenzBrittany RobinsonEmma WhiteAlexander Yeu

Staff

Co-Editors-in-ChiefAdviser

Principal

ChronicleThe

A publication of Rider High SchoolThe Chronicle is a student-run publication. The content and views are produced solely by the staff and do not represent Rider High School or the WFISD faculty or administration. Kayla Holcomb

Feature Editor

Judy McDonald

Mary Beth Lee

(940)235-1077 ext 31061

We serve as the voice of the student body and encourage letters to the editor. Deliver letters to room 243 or email to [email protected] or [email protected]

Newsroom phone number

It’s hard to believe summer is just around the corner, it doesn’t feel like school has been in session long enough, at least not to me, yet here it is.

The last days as a junior, the last days as an Editor of The Rider Chronicle, the last days of confusing Pre-Calculus and 30 page long English packets and on to senior year and the new things it has in store, on to 5 AP classes, on to staying up all night doing homework, on to Senioritis, onto being a Rider Raiderette Senior Lieutenant.

Though junior year feels like a blur, it has taught me a lot not only about myself but also about life and the real world. I learned I just need to take a breath and that I can stop and have fun, it’s about the journey not the destination. I learned that life is a lot of hard work, nothing is going to come easy in the real world. I learned

how to push myself to be better. I discovered how to always find the silver lining. And most importantly I learned that in order to truly succeed in life one must above all stay true to the person they truly are.

I’ve come to realize that I go to the best high school in the nation. A high school where you can do it all, where teachers push you to succeed in life and school, where you’ll make lifelong friends. The high school with the real traditions, that is always up to date, the high school with the gold medal athletes and award winning programs.

High school may seem full of drama, heartache and too much school, but if you look past that you’ll come to appreciate high school. It’s some of the best four years of your life, so live it up while you can. Make friends, work hard, strive for greatness and above all be true to you.

Final Farewell End on a Good NoteCo-Editor-In-Chief says goodbye Try to find the positive all year, not just the endby Danielle Adams

Special thanks to our lifesaver

Meghan Myracle

You know that phrase about adults? How they are all, “working for the weekend.” Well, I think that phrase can be translated into high school students that are working for the summer. And you know what? People like me who become two steps short of giddy when summer rolls around can’t help but reminisce on the school year (which I thought was murderous at the time) with a smile and an occasional giggle.

Every year seems to be a bit harder, but you always look back on the previous year and think, “man, that was easy.” During the year, it seems that the only thing we focus on is how unfair that teacher was, and how we can’t stand that kid that sits behind us, and how on earth these teachers can give us so much homework without feeling like educational Nazi dictators.

But now the new perspective that the end of the year provides tells us not that the year was so terrible, as it seemed in the present, but that it was actually an enjoyable helpful experience.

As we all reminisce on the teachers we had this year, you’d think we would only remember the negative things that

filled our mind during the year. But actually, for some strange reason, these negative thoughts become secondary. Now that our workload is lightened, and these teachers no longer represent homework and tests, those quirky attributes that each teacher uniquely possesses finally appeals to us as funny.

So it always makes you wonder, why do we get so huffy during the year when we always end it on a note of optimism? Well, that phenomenon might not be explainable by logic or science, but the one thing this writer can offer to the cause is that there’s always next year to correct the attitude.

Perception is reality. Whatever we think of the year will appear to be how the year really is. Even if it is one of the busiest, hardest years ever, an end-of-the-year attitude, in which we don’t see teachers for the homework and the class they represent, but rather for their humor and service to youthful people, the year won’t seem so terrible. The entire year might feel as giddy and enlightening as the last week of school feels now. –Guest writer junior Jon Lanford

check us out at www.theriderchronicle.comThe Rider Chronicle. May 2011 3Feature

Fear, the thought of losing everything in the blink of an eye, and fire, the destructive force behind fear. In the fires that began Friday, April 15, fear and fire became one and the same. As people were forced to evacuate their homes, a large number having to leave behind valuable items, beloved pets that couldn’t be found in time, and many irreplaceable memories behind to escape the fire in time, all they knew was fear and sorrow. Many students at Rider either went through it themselves or had family who did. But one student went out of her way and into the threat of the fire to save her childhood home. That student was junior Samantha Syptak, and this is her story. “I was coming home from school and heard on the news that Holliday and Highway 258 should get ready to evacuate,” Syptak said. “My dad and the home I grew up in is on Highway 258, so immediately I was concerned, and I called my dad. He was at work in Oklahoma, so I was a little relieved, but I love that house for the memories within it. I remember when I was little, my brother and my dad and I would watch wrestling WWE every Monday, and we would run around the couch in the living room and my dad would try and hit us with a pillow as we ran by... the laughter and

smiles that came every Monday night at 8:00 p.m. alone were worth trying to save the house. So my mom suggested that we go out there and spread water all over the roof and the yard. I could see and smell the fire just miles away, and I knew there was nothing else to do, so we left to protect ourselves. Due to the grace of God, my house is still standing. Sam was one of the lucky ones that didn’t lose anything to the fire, and she was very grateful.

“I felt blessed and tired and thankful to the men who fought endlessly until they extinguished all the flames,” Sam said.

Many students however, like juniors Brittni Cain, Jordan Campagna and Cici Gossett, could only hope and pray for their families that were fleeing their homes and both the fires around and in the Wichita Falls area, and the Possum Kingdom fire that consumed approximately 150, 000 acres after it merged with Hohertz fire in Palo Pinto. Brittni was on her way to Boston during the incident and could only wait for news, hoping her dad and their many farm animals would be able to escape the fire’s grasp. Later that she heard good news, because luckily the wind shifted and they had been spared. “I was scared for my family and for all the animals, and I’m glad that the fire didn’t get us.” she said

Fear and Fire Parched weather conditions cause wildfires to engulf homes, grasslands across Texas by Mason Jones

207 of the 254 Texas counties are currently reporting burn bans. Since Nov. 15, 2010 Texas fire departments have responded to 9,679 fires that have engulfed 2,380,710 acres.The Texas Forest Service is currently working on seven major fires that span over

586,624 acres.

Drench ashes in water before throwing them out. Throw them out where there is no chance of starting a fire.

Refuel gasoline powered equipment only after the engine and mufflers have cooled.

Avoid rocks and other materials that may cause sparks.

Park vehicles so that the exhaust pipe doesn’t come in contact with dry vegetation or flammable liquids. Information from: txforestservice.tamu.edu

Wildfire Situation Wildfire Prevention

Fire at Possum KingdomTop: A helicopter gets a load of water from the lake to aid in fighting the fires.Bottom: A building that has been destroyed by the fire. Photo by Tanner Ralbert

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Passing the time(Top) Juniors Christina Hastings, Delaney Goerig, Jordan Campagna and Julie Nicholson work on homework and read books after their events ended. Photo by Mary Beth Lee.(Bottom) Carlee Craig reviews her results with Mrs. Scheller and Mrs. Preston after competition is over. Photo by Mary Beth Lee.

Sophomore Kayla Holcomb placed 5th in headline writing at the State UIL academic meet.This was Holcomb’s first year on the journalism team, and she had never planned to even compete in

headline writing.“Before district, I had originally planned to do only feature writing, but someone dropped out of headline

writing and Mrs. Lee needed an alternate so she wrote my name down,” Holcomb said. “Then I got told a week before that I was going to be competing and I am not the kind of person to show up unprepared so I put a lot of time into studying the rules and practicing.”

All the time and effort Holcomb put in before her first competition at District worked. She ended up placing third.

She continued the streak at Regional’s where she placed second to move her to the state level.

“I was shocked,” Holcomb said. “We had been waiting for the results and we were the last group to receive our scores, and Mr. Pearson walked up to us and said “I have a headline for the headline competition, headlines lost.” At first I thought he meant that neither Jordan Campagna or myself had placed, then I realized he was talking about the headlines being lost.”

While a little joking was a great way to get her mind off the scores for a minute, that was the only minute she had until her scores were posted.

“About a minute later, Mrs. Lee walked up and placed a hand on my shoulder and she said. “ Well you tried really hard and it was your first year” and then she paused and said “and you got a silver,” Holcomb said. “My brain did not click on that, and then I noticed Mrs. Lee’s smile, the biggest I had ever seen, and I heard her say I was going to State and I was in complete shock.”

Holcomb had a little luck on her side along the way, though.“ At district the headline that was the one point decider against third and fourth

place was the headline I wrote that was “Case of Strum Luck” which got me third,” Holcomb said. “ And at Regions, the headline that I wrote was ‘Luck of the Draw,’and that got me second. Mrs. Lee and I have decided that my word is ‘luck’ and when I am at State, I am hoping I will be able to include it somewhere and maybe I’ll do well.”

This is the seventh year in a row for Rider to take someone to State on the journalism team. Rider has placed at state, but not in the last two years. Rider has been eight total times in 16 years, the first in 2000.

“ I feel really special to get to carry on this tradition and it has not kicked in that it is actually me,” Holcomb said.

Holcomb is not going alone. Junior Jordan Campagna is also headed to Austin as alternate. It is her first trip to state, too.

Holcomb wanted to thank Emma White for supporting and helping her prepare and learn, and Mrs. Lee for everything she has done to help her.

The Luck of the IrishSophomore medals at first state UIL academic competitionby Erin Hagy

Things to do if you make it to state

• Go to Amy’s Ice Cream

•Eat pancakes at Kirbey Lane

•Visit the Capitol, and if you’re lucky, sit in on a House session

• Go see a movie at Barton Creek Mall

• Fear for your life...if Mrs. Lee is driving!

District Results: • Accounting: Adam Sinclair- 4th; Clayton Boone- tied for 5th; •Computer Applications: Alirio Melgar- 1st; Sam Dunaway- 5th; Gunner Mitchell- 6th • Computer Science: Alirio Melgar-6th; Team- 2nd • Current Issues: Amy Brister- 2nd; Cameron Liss-3rd; Team- 1st • Feature Writing- Sam Syptak- 6th • Headline Writing: Jordan Campagna- 2nd; Kayla Holcolmb- 3rd; Emma White- 4th • Informatice Speaking: Lindy Larson-3rd; Muneeb Zaidi- 5th • Journalism: Team- 3rd • News Writing: Jordan Campagna- 5th • One Act Plays: Team- tied for 1st • Science: Greg Gaskey- 4th; Team- 3rd •Social Studies: Josh Baskin- 2nd; Cameron Liss- 3rd; Amy Brister- 4th; Team- 1st • Spelling and Vocabulary: Team- 3rd

check us out at www.theriderchronicle.comThe Rider Chronicle. May 2011 5News

check us out at www.theriderchronicle.comThe Rider Chronicle. May 20116 50th

The man that started it allS.H. Rider named after beloved WFHS Principal

Stephen Hendrix Rider was a Principal at Old High in the year 1919. Later on, Rider High School was named after him. He was an inspiration to many students at WFHS.

"In spite of the fact that school started late, in spite also of the crowded conditions, this school year has been a success,” the 1919 WFHS yearbook stated.

And it was all due to Rider.He was yes, very business-like, but he never went throughout the halls without

a smile on his face. His enthusiasm for school spirit was so upbeat many students joined sport teams because of his encouragement and positive attitude.

Though he left after his first year for an illness, he returned all smiles and was happily welcomed back. Everyone at WFHS wanted Rider to stay.

Throughout Mr. Rider's 27 years as principal, he was a positive attribution, and that was one of the reasons for naming S. H Rider after him.

He eventually moved to Hardin Junior College In 1938. He was also the Principal at Hardin Junior College as well and had a great impact on them as well as WFHS.

--information provided by Mrs. Annetta Reusch, WFHS yearbook adviser

LutherEOrrick

Principal from1961-1961

LeonParish


ThomasJames


PerryGoolsby


NewmanYoung


JackRobertson


MarionTaylor


Randy Byers


Nat Lunn


Stephen Hendrix Rider Judy McDonald

Wichita Falls High School Principal Rider is named after, very charismatic and always was helpful to the students. He was never a principal at Rider.

Has currently been principal since ‘09. She is the first female principal Rider High School has had. RHS has been a recognized school every year since she has been principal.

•Luther E. Orrick was the first principal at Rider High School. He was called into service with the rank of Brigadier General in October of 1961. He was only principal for three months.

•Thomas James moved from assistant principal to principal after Mr. Orrick was called into service in 1961.

•Perry Goolsby was the next principal and it was said that he was the “essence of Raider spirit”.

•Leon Parish was Rider’s principal from 1972 to 1976. Ms. Brown was a student here while he was principal.

•Newman Young was always seen at every assembly, all of the pep rallies, football and basketball games, and all other school activities.

•Jack Robertson was always there to cheer on the Raiders. Whether it was a football game, or any other activity, he was there.

•Natt Lunn was principal from 2000 until 2009. Mr. Lunn first started here at Rider as a basketball coach and a history teacher. He left Rider but then came back to become principal in 2000.

•Randy Byers followed Taylor as principal from 1993 until 2000. He was principal when block schedule was instituted and also when the technology wing was built. He is still a Raider at heart. Byers and his wife are still seen at many games throughout the years.

by Bobbi Kazmierczak

Info gathered by Carly Holmes

Principals through the years

•Marion Taylor was known for always being in the halls. He knew students by name, and teachers say he

was tough but fair.


Full of prideOne Family, One Team. The motto created by Coach Garfield for Rider’s 50th anniversary

unifies the school and gives everyone pride to be Raiders. Mrs. Martin really buys into the motto because she is “very much a Raider at heart.”

“I grew up being a Rider fan, going to Rider games,” Martin said. “It’s a part of my life.”Being a part of the 50th anniversary celebration is a special thing for Martin.“I was there at the 25th and now the 50th,” Martin said. “And hopefully I’ll be here at the

75th.”The other teachers have become like an extended family to Martin throughout the years.“I’ve been taught by many of the faculty members and now I am a teacher to many,” Martin

said. “It’s just hard not to be a family.”One of Martin’s greatest memories from her teaching experience at Rider was when the

senior class named her Honorary Raider.“I have that cowboy hat locked in plastic and wear it on Round-Up week,” Martin said. “There

is a lot of pride that goes with it because not everyone has one.”To Martin, Raider pride always lasts.“I hate bumper stickers that say ‘Coyote Forever,’” Martin said. “We’re Raiders for four years;

we’re Rider alums forever.”

How to be a ‘True Raider’

Martin known for extreme Rider spiritby Kelsea Renz

Super spirit(Top) Martin showing her decked out door that supports the Rider Raiders.(Left) Martin mixing a solution for her AP Chemistry class.(Right) Martin teaching her students about the solution she created.. Photos by Alex Adams. List by Mrs. Martin

You have an intense aversion to the color red before the first Friday in November.

You keep your eyes closed while driving near an Old High advertising billboard and perfectly executing appropriate driving skills despite hav-ing your eyes closed.

You look forward to being champions in the future (and present) rather than backward to former glory.

You plan to stick around for the whole football game because you know that your team will still be in the lead at the end of the fourth quarter.

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check us out at www.theriderchronicle.comThe Rider Chronicle. may 2011 9Feature

A tall figure sits at the front of the room. His booming voice with a hint of cheerfulness echoes through the tired faces that sit before him. It’s only morning and he’s full of energy, ready for the day that has been laid out before him.

Jim Henson hasn’t always been an art teacher, nor did he think of becoming one early on. However, since he was young, art seemed to flow through his veins.

“I was always interested in the fine arts, music, acting and certainly painting,” Henson said.That interest was encouraged through the years.“Christmas and birthdays, I would always get art supplies,” Henson said.Henson wasn’t the only one in his family who took a great interest in his art. His family’s

interest also influenced him in his work.“My dad was somewhat of an artist himself growing up,” Henson said. “He did drawings and

western styled things. My mom drew local things, [she was] more interested in crafts.”When Henson graduated from high school, he had no intention of ever returning.“I absolutely refused to be a teacher,” Henson said. “I never wanted to be in an educational

institute again.”However, Henson ended up going to MSU with an interest still deep in art.“The whole first year I was in college, I only took elective courses,” Henson said. “Art,

music, and drama.”Despite his previous refusal to be in a school again, Henson took his newfound knowledge

and went into teaching. “I was in Holliday for seven years,” Henson said. “I taught English and I was mostly the

theater director. I was also the first person to put in an art class over there, as far as I know.”Sharply dressed and roaming the halls of Rider, Mr. Henson can be seen all through the

halls.“It’s my third full year [at Rider] and I’ve been in the WFISD system for 10 years,” Henson

said. “I’m [also] a part time director with the UIL One-Act plays here.”Henson isn’t all work and school. Outside he still keeps up his own social life.“I have a lovely wife and two boys, both grown,” Henson said. “I spend a lot of time outside

working on my yard. I enjoy eating at family owned restaurants, going to museums and hanging out with family.”

Henson’s life may seem busy but it’s also very accomplished as he “always gets the job done.” His talent doesn’t stay with locked within him as he eagerly wants others to take up an interest in art and show that interest off.

“I’m a very competitive person so I try to encourage my students and the people that I work with to enter contests,” Henson said.

A Life Of Art

Passion for artMr. Henson teaching his 7th period, Art 1 class, fully energized and ready to go for the day. Photo by Holly Forman.

Quotes from Mr. Henson“Never give up, Never surrender.”

“If I need a correct answer, I ask Muneeb Zaidi.”

by Holly Forman

“6th period made me into a better person.”

“Where’s Kirkland?”6th period motto

Teacher’s passion, opening student’s eyes to fine arts, has been instructing the classes 17 years

Piece of artArt teacher Jim Henson stands beside students Casey Wissinger, Kendall Pennington and Jacobie Genus who are showing off their art work which are displayed in the art hallways. Photo by Kyler Norman.

After a car accident that left senior Chase Curry in criti-cal condition and put him through months of rehab, many people, including his doctors, questioned whether he would be back at Rider or not.

The answer: yes.Curry retured to school April 5.“His whole story is a miracle,” junior Megan Lamberth

said. “Seeing him a couple days after the wreck, we had no idea how long it would take before he’d be awake or be able to talk or walk. Now he’s playing tennis every day. It’s amaz-ing.”

Chase surprised everyone by making a full recovery and coming back to school.

“Nobody thought that he’d be back at school, going to classes,” tennis coach Ryan Gillen said. “I think he shocked a lot of people, and for him to do that just shows his charac-ter and what he’s made of. It will probably be pretty emo-tional when we see him walk the stage at graduation.”

Immediately after the accident, Chase’s friends were al-ways thinking of him and trying to hear about his progress.

“I’d check his uncle’s Facebook every day,” senior Malorie Miller said. “I was like ‘what’s going on? Please update!’ Every time I read it, I got another leaf off my shoulder.”

Chase’s brother Connor said he knew that Chase would be fine.

“I was thinking for Chase to be home soon,” freshman Connor Curry said.

The tennis team was greatly affected by the accident.“We realized that tennis isn’t our number one priority

in life,” Miller said, “and that anything can happen in a split second. We did realize that as a team. I think we grew a lot stronger as a team. We matured all together at the same time.”

Coach Gillen says that strong team is seen in results.“If you look at our results at district, we’ve got six players

going to regionals now,” Gillen said. “I thought the fact that Chase was back and everybody knew he was okay and could physically see him, talk to him and hug him played a big role for the team. We went out in district and had one of our best tournaments of the year.”

When Chase returned, his friends were ecstatic.“I was getting (to tennis) early to get my ankle taped. I

was walking up the stairs and I heard someone say ‘Well look who it is’ and I looked up and it was Chase,” Lamberth said. “It was unreal because he hadn’t been at school or tennis in months. I gave him a big hug and it was like he was completely back, he was the same.”

Lamberth wasn’t the only person excited for Chase to return.

“I walked into the locker room and Megan said ‘Mal, Chase is here,’” Miller said. “I hadn’t walked by the courts yet and I said ‘are you serious? Oh my gosh!’ I started shaking. I just got so excited. I was really nervous because I hadn’t seen him since I had gone to see him when he was in the rehab hospital and I went up to him and said ‘Chase!’ and he kinda looked around and I was like ‘what are you doing?!’. He gave me and everyone else a hug. He was totally just himself. It was crazy how exactly the same he is, though.”

Lamberth says when Chase came back, the team was the same again.

“It feels like he never did leave and it’s crazy how fast his recovery was,” Miller said. “It went by so fast. I’m not a patient person. I want things done now and he did amazing. He is still doing amazing.”

Seeing Chase playing tennis with the team amazed every-body.

“I was just shocked because when we started warming up we ran our two laps and he ran with us, and I was like oh my gosh,” Miller said. “I didn’t see him when he was walking and stuff. I just saw him when he was sitting in his wheelchair. It was amazing. A Total transformation.”

Gillen says he watched Chase progress from the begin-ning.

“I saw him the day after the accident, and it wasn’t good,” Gillen said. “I saw him a couple weeks later, it got a little bet-ter and now to this point it’s amazing. He walks, talks, does everything just like Chase used to do. I (saw him) once at the hospital and a few times at the rehab place. (I saw him) probably four times and every time he was a little bit bet-ter. It just brought a smile to my face to see Chase getting better. It’s a miracle. It really is after seeing what he’s gone through and now him functioning and talking to me like before Thanksgiving.”

Many people in and around Wichita Falls helped Chase and his family in any way they could.

“I truly think all the thoughts and prayers, from every-body in this city played a really big role in how quickly he recovered,” Gillen said. “I’d like to say to everybody, Chase’s family, my family, the whole tennis team, I just want to say thank you to everybody that had been thinking about him and praying for him and donations and all that kind of stuff because it made a big difference. I know his family is truly grateful as well as I am.”

Prayer, hard work and a desire to return to friends and family.

Senior Chase Curry says those three things contributed more than any other to his return to school this year when so many thought that it was impossible.

Throughout Chase’s recovery he says he had many struggles.

“Sometimes (rehab) was a little stressful, but most of the time I knew it was going to help me so I had to work hard and get through it,”Chase said. “I had my family with me the whole time and I prayed every couple hours and that helped me a tremendous amount. And that’s the biggest thing.”

Chase said that he was always wanting to be home.“Coming back home, it felt like coming back to every-

thing I know and everybody I know, and everybody I like,” Chase said. “I know that things where I was at in Dallas helped me a lot but here it helped me a lot more, tennis wise, family wise and definitely friend wise.”

Chase says that things in school sometimes seem a little more difficult than before.

“Math was the easiest subject for me,”Chase said. “I had like a 95 in there (math). I missed so much school for ten-nis and other stuff and it was easy for me. Now it’s hard for me to grasp. I still get it, it just takes a little longer.”

He says that the accident has made him a better person and more of an influence.

“Everybody was like ‘hey Chase. how are you? I’m so glad you’re okay’ things like that made me feel just like a star,”Chase said. “Some things, definitely most things, I wish they didn’t happen, some I’m glad they did and some things we’ll see how they turn out in the end. My attitude after (the accident), I could’ve been negative and just sat there, (now) I’m pretty happy about everything.”

Chase says he’s ready to get back to where he was play-ing tennis again.

“Once I get back to where I was before, tennis wise, it’s going to be awesome,”Chase said. “Before the accident, I was going to play number one doubles and four singles and I was going to be really good, so hopefully I’ll get to play doubles my first year [at college], we’ll see.”

Chase has no memory from the accident or until the middle of January, but he regards the first thing he remem-bers as one of the best days of his life.

“The senior vice president of the Texas Rangers comes into my hospital room,” Chase said. “Best day of my life. It’s

gotta be. He says ‘Hey. My name is Mr. Miller. I’m the senior vice president of the Texas Rangers. Is Chase Curry in this room?’ I said ‘Yes. I’m Chase Curry. I’m a huge fan of the Texas Rangers. I love the Texas Rangers.’ He says ‘Yeah I’ve heard that. The Texas Rangers are also a huge fan of you.’ I’m like wow! That’s the biggest thing I’ve ever heard. Then he has a big bag full of Texas Rangers stuff and he gives me that. Inside of it there’s a World Series ball signed by Josh Hamilton, and it had a hat and a shirt and a Neftali Feliz card signed by him, too. I mean it’s just sick. That’s the day I remember. That was amazing. I’m never going to forget that day. May 28 I graduate and also on May 28 that night (after graduation) there’s a Rangers game and I’m going to it and the tickets are free from the senior vice president from the Texas Rangers,” Chase said.

After all Chase has been through in recovery, he says he doesn’t regret a minute of it.

“I know there’s a reason for everything,” Chase said.

Supporting the ‘Chase to recovery’Curry returns to campus leaving friends and teammates amazedby Emily Burlison and Kyler Norman

Curry OnSenior Chase Curry fights to recover from life changing accidentby Emily Burlison and Kyler Norman

Thanksgiving 2010-Chase Curry, Connor Curry and their sister are involved in a car crash leaving Chase in critical condition

February 2011-Jay Miller, Senior Vice President of the Texas Rangers, visits Chase in the hospital

February 2011-Chase leaves hospital

April 5, 2011-Chase returns to school

May 28, 2011-Chase to graduate from S.H. Rider High

Curry On Curry On shirts were designed and sold by OSTC. 60% of the proceeds went to the Curry family to help with medical expenses.Photo by Emily Burlison

Start where you

are. Use what you have. Do what you can. -Arthur

Ashe(Quote on

back of Curry On shirt)

“ “Reck ‘Em TechSenior Chase Curry signs a letter of intent to play tennis at Texas Tech University on November 10, 2010. Less than a month later, on Thanksgiving night, Curry was in an accident that left him in ICU. Doctors weren’t sure if Curry would survive. Curry was in the hospital for months. In April of 2011, about 5 months later, Curry returned to S.H. Rider High to finish out the school year and graduate. Curry has started playing tennis again and plans still to attend Texas Tech. Curry is hoping that he will be able to play tennis at the col-legiate level. Photo by Erin Hagy

Road to Recovery

check us out at www.theriderchronicle.comThe Rider Chronicle. May 201112 News

With this school’s hidden hallways and classrooms, there is no doubt that many miss the artwork along the art hallway. Among these pieces are the murals painted on the wall just before entering the dance hall and theater.

“Students painted the murals about 12 years ago,” art teacher Nancy Kizis said. “The students’ art teacher was Judy Lattray at the time. They used a projector to copy the art pieces onto the walls. The significance of the murals is to allow the students to see famous art work in their school without having to go to a museum.”

The other art pieces along the walls are done by fellow students here now.

“I feel good when I walk by my art work in the hallway,” sophomore Erica Bourland said. “I don’t think people actually care about my art though.”

Many may forget and not take notice of what is in the hallways.

“During school tours, ones who pass

through the art halls take notice of the murals and other art pieces and may wonder about them,” Kizis said, “but over time, they forget and overlook them. The art should be cared about though because if you notice, we use art in our daily lives anyway. The music we listen to, the cars we drive, our houses, they were designed by an artist. Even the clothes we wear are designed by an artist.”

And even as some may not care about the art work along the halls, student artists still take pride in their art work.

“I really don’t care if people don’t look at my art,” Bourland said, “I spent almost three weeks on it and I feel accomplished and that’s all that matters.”

With the murals and art work by students, the halls are alive and Rider pride is expressed.

“It’s important to have art in public places because it enriches our lives,” Kizis says.

The biennial tour took choir to Boston this year where ACAP members took in the sites and made the trek to sales-tax free New Hampshire for shopping and a five-hour trip to Maine for a special dinner.

While the choir was in Boston they toured sites,went to different churches,counted 137 Dunkin’ Donuts in Boston along with 37 Starbucks. To get to Boston they fund raised $400 each and the rest of the 26 students that went on the trip had to pay.

They took a bus to Dallas then flew to Boston.While in Boston choir studnets say they learned a

lot and had fun. They also sang at Fenway Park on The Green Monster, in Maine and on the Duck Tour as well as at Plymouth Plantation.

“We had a really cool bus driver named Steve,” junior Morgan Doughtery said.

“He taught us how to speak Boston,” senior Kelsea

Renz said.The driver wasn’t the only highlight of the trip.“We saw street performers in Quincy Market while

we ate lunch,” Renz said.Historical tours were part of the trip.“We would take a lot of tours around downtown

Boston.,” Renz said. “We were on the harbor, and they would tell us history about Boston.”

The trip came two weeks before TAKS and three before AP testing leaving some questioning the timing. However senior Amory Beckam says the learning that took place on the trip made it worth the time.

“We really learned about the history and Paul Revere,” Beckam said. “It was definitely a learning experience. Especially if you love history.”

“I had time to study for my AP stuff,” senior Chris-tina Mucker said. But Mucker said a later trip would

have made it easier for the tests. Beckam believes that the teachers shouldn’t be mad.

“Sometimes the choir can’t work around everything to prevent conflicts,” Beckam said. She does under-stand however that some students didn’t get their work before leaving.

Mr. Mayfield, the choir director, hadn’t heard about any teachers being upset about the choir going three weeks before AP testing and two weeks before TAKS testing. “No one has said anything to me,” Mayfield said.

Though they missed school, the trip was educa-tional.

“We learned a lot of historical stuff because we went down to the historical part of Boston,” May-field said. “ [We] went to Plymouth Plantation. They learned and had a lot of fun, too.”

Art of the school

Sing, sing, singby Rianne BusbyAcapella choir travels to Boston on biennial trip, approaching tests force students to study

Painted murals in hallways provide culture in schoolby Amelia Dever

Hallway artPaintings throughout the art hallway are anywhere between 12 years old and new. The above photo was painted by using an overhead projector to shine the design on the wall to trace. Photos by Kyler Norman.


After two years at Rider, Percussion Director Matt Filosa is ready to move on to a “brighter opportunity.”

Starting next school year he will be a percussion teaching assistant at Florida State University.

“I’m going to be teaching and writing for the drumline,” Filosa said.

Filosa came to Rider with ample education under his belt.

“For my bachelor’s degree I went to the University of Florida,” Filosa said. “Then for my master’s degree I went to the University of North Texas.”

He will continue to work on improving his education and career in his new position.

“I will also be working on my doctorate [at Florida State,]” Filsoa said.

The University of North Texas is where Band and Orchestra Director Loy Studer found Filosa two years ago.

“Loy’s got connections to UNT and the job at Rider opened up,” Filosa said.

His students say Rider Percussion has excelled under Filosa’s direction. The Percussion Ensemble received a 1 rating (the highest possible) at State Solo and Ensemble last year.

“He’s made us better players,” sophomore Percussionist Jackson Poole said about Filosa. “He’s made us more known to the public and created Electronica.”

Filosa has been the two-year director of Electronica, an up-beat production featuring his best players.

Filosa is thankful for the time he has had at Rider.“Being here has taught me a lot about teaching

in general and I’ve learned a lot over the past two years,” he said. “And I’ve had some very interesting experiences that will definitely help me in teaching throughout the rest of my career.”

Moving on will be a hard thing to do, but it is for the best.

“I’m going to miss the kids,” Filosa said.

Time to move onPercussion director Matt Filosa takes job at Florida Stateby Emma White

In order to prevent another teacher from losing their job, science teacher Deborah Gregg resigned from her position.

Though she was already going to leave due to her husband receiving a job in Denver, Colorado, she at first didn’t want to resign because she owned a house here and could keep her job here if she couldn’t find one in Denver, but then things changed.

“It was kind of a long drawn out thing,” Gregg said. “Three colleagues of mine are on probationary contract, they’re in my lunch group. They knew about my husband and we talked about what would happen.”

As time passed Gregg leaned more and more towards going ahead and resigning.

“Living without my husband since Feb. 23 with just my boys has made me realize staying here isn’t a viable option,” Gregg said. “[We] need to move to Denver.”

Although circumstance took part in Gregg’s final decision, she says God played the main part.

“I felt very led to give up the position,” Gregg said. “It was a God thing, like He was saying get out of the way, it’s time for me to bless someone else.”

Putting Others FirstScience teacher resigns to keep others from losing jobs due to budget cutsby Danielle Adams

Wind pressing up against her face, cleats deepening into the ever-green turf as she dribbled up the white chalk side line, players racing her way. Sophomore girls varsity soccer midfielder Michelle Brosam took the ball and headed up the sideline when one of the Denton Ryan players took her out from the side, sending her rolling out-of-bounds. It was an April 1 playoff game, and the Lady Raiders were fighting for a chance to advance closer to State Championships.

“One of the Denton Ryan players came at me from the other side of the field mauling into my side which sent me flying and tumbling onto the ground making me land on my neck wrong,” Brosam said. “After I hit the ground I went to throw the ball in and fell back down to the ground in pain.”

Gradually becoming numb, Brosam’s whole right became paralyzed.

“Almost the whole time I was real worried about my jersey because they were gonna cut it off me and I just kept thinking I need it to play,” Brosam said.

Soccer soon took a back seat to the fact that Brosam didn’t know how long she would be paralyzed.

“Having my friend Karine Tonnu who’s practically my twin, and my family around has helped so much,” Brosam said.

Brosam is better now, but she’s not sure if she’ll be able to return to soccer.

Taking a backseatSoccer put away after paralyzing accidentby Sarah Haley

check us out at www.theriderchronicle.comThe Rider Chronicle. May 201114 Feature

Saving pets, saving lives

They hoped to become heroes for pets, instead they became heroes for a human. National Honor Society (NHS) members, Kristin George and Bailey McCreary had done this many times already: walked up to the next house, knocked on the door, and delivered their spiel to collect money for Pennies For Pets. However this time was differ-ent.

The woman who opened the door was red-faced and swaying. Both girls originally thought she had been working out. It proved to be far worse than that.

“It was pretty intense,” George said. “You always hear stories about that happening, and you’re like oh that could never happen to me, but it very well can, and it did. She was incredibly disoriented the whole time, and couldn’t function normally. You could tell she was in pain and that something was wrong. She just wasn’t herself.”

All of a sudden, the woman blurted out that she needed to call 911 and ran for the phone in her living room. Mc-Creary and George overheard the conversation as she told the operator that she’d had an allergic reaction to her antibiotics.

When she returned to the girls, she called them inside the house, asking them to find the box that the antibiotics had been in.

“I was panicked and shocked,” McCreary said. “Kristin was the calm one because her mom is a nurse. She had a better idea of how to handle the situation. I just knew she was in a fatal condition, and we had to help her.”

George ended up locating the box in an American Eagle bag in the garbage can outside and was able to give it to the EMTs when they arrived.

With the exchange of this important information, the two honor students were able help save the woman’s life.“They were invaluable to those paramedics,” NHS sponsor Dyann Kramer said. “Without them, they wouldn’t

even have known what to give her. We were very proud of how they conducted themselves. They handled it much better than many adults would. We just thought it remarkable that two girls so young could show the maturity and keep their heads about them to deal with the situation that they did. I would have been a nervous wreck, if it had been me.”

The pride of their teacher carries over to the girls.“I felt accomplished,” McCreary said. “I felt that Kristin and I were meant to be there, as if it were fate or some-

thing. I was proud.”

Students save woman’s life while collecting Pennies for Petsby Kayla Holcomb

Pennies for Pets

First row (left to right) Leslie Raygosa, Meghan Lamberth, Ashley Nuffer, Lauren Haley, Maddie Holmes, Brooke Deason Second row (left to right)Sarah Nauman, Leigh Martin, Katy Broadwell, Christina Mucker, Bailey McReary, Simon MartinezThird row (left to right)Sarah Harmer, Kristen GeorgeFourth row (left to right)Thomas Canan, Cal Johnson, Zachary Dickey, Christien Sager, Drew Willaims

•There were approximately 140 Rider students involved.

•The Humane Socicety recieved around $9000 of the total amount raised.

•P.E.T.S. (Preventing Euthanasia Through Sterilization) received about $13200 •Information from NHS sponsor Mr. Kramer.

Family business

Mr. Kramer has sponsored NHS for around 15 years, and his wife, Mrs. Kramer joined him as co-sponsor seven years ago. They have been working together as sponsors for eight years. 2010-2011 was their last year as the sponsors. They have now passed the roles onto librarian Sally Mroczkowski and Spanish teacher Lisa Williams. Photo by Kendall Pennington.

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check us out at www.theriderchronicle.comThe Rider Chronicle. May 201116 Entertainment

Schism of perceptionCharacter’s trip from death back to life

A wise person once said, “People fear what they do not understand.” Some people fear life, some fear death. Some fear the dark, some fear the light. Yet there are those who get creeping chills up their backs, and those who breathe heavily and whose hearts pound from the words of a book.

Fracture*, by Megan Miranda has such an effect within its pages. It is the story of a girl who lived after receiving incredible brain damage despite scientific evidence that she should be dead. Her life after the accident that should have killed her is haunting to herself and those she loves most. She must live with the knowledge that she can’t help those who are dying when she was kept alive.

Miranda shapes an incredibly different perspective of life in her novel. It is puzzling and terrifying at the same time. This is a book that keeps the reader guessing, and Miranda plays with her imaginative readers, nudging them to take the presented ideas to extreme fictions, which makes the book even more intriguing. This novel is exceptional. While final changes have yet to be made to it, the novel can only get better.

*This book is not yet published. Be sure to look for it when it comes out in Janu-ary 2012. Thanks to a contest on TeenReads.com, I was able to read a manuscript of Fracture and give the author my reactions and feedback about it.

Wildfire Incredible book series catches on

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins is mind-blowing. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK, READ IT TODAY. This is the story of Katniss, a girl trying to care for her family in amidst the starvation and cruel life of District 12, one of 12 districts in the country of Panem which circles around the Capitol in a region once known as North America. Every year there are random selections of children from each district chosen to participate in the Hunger Games, a fight to the death in a fabricated arena shown on live television and a reminder to all of the Capitol’s authority.

Several themes encompass this book: adventure, action, rebellion, cruelty, fear, deception, strategy, and the cherry on the top of any sundae: a bit of romance. This book is gripping and suspenseful and exciting. Collins is a true genius with words. The detail with which she has written and created her world makes the setting of the book seem irrefutably real. It sucks the reader into the story.

Words to the wise- do not check out The Hunger Games without its two sequels Catching Fire and Mockingjay. You won’t be able to wait to read them! Also, the movie comes out in June of 2012.

by: Emma White

by: Emma White

SNAPSHOTS

Frac The Hunger GamesTitle

Author

Rating

Suzanne Collins

A++B

ture

Megan Miranda

No currently revealed cover art.

YESNO

HAVE YOU READ ‘THE HUNGER GAMES’?

Out of 100 polled.

ALSO READ CATCHING FIRE and MOCKINGJAY!

13%

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check us out at www.theriderchronicle.comThe Rider Chronicle. May 2011 17Photo

Both the girls and boys track teams both had successful seasons that for two athletes is still going.

Six girls and five boys advanced to Regionals with both Taylor Stolt and Dylan McDorman advancing to the State Track Meet in Austin on May 13.

"The Boys Track Team had a really successful 2011 track season,"Boys Track Team Coach Bill Mercer said. "The Team won three meets that included the Burk Medaly Relays, The Mustang Relays in City View and The Hawk relays in Iowa Park. The team had an overall 4th place finish at The District Meet."

The girls track team also had a very successful season, resulting in them placing 3rd in district.

"Advancing 6 kids to regionals is a highlight to me," Girls Track Coach Lounette Decker said. "Any time in the season a kid has a personal best, it means they meet goals they've set."

With one member per team going to the State Track Meet both coaches have high hopes for the outcome.

"Taylor advanced to state," Coach Decker said. "Hopefully she will bring home a medal."

Two is better than oneStudents advance to state competition

Freshman Skye Catletti polevaults at the McNiel Coaches invitational meet. Photo by Meghan Myracle

(To the left) Taylor Stolt jumps for her long jump. (Below)

Korey Wilburn practices hand offs with his teammate. Photos by Meghan

Myracle

(To the Right) Adam Dobson gets a running start to polevault. (Below) Baley Hodgkins warms up before the track meet begins. Photos by Meghan Myracle

Story by Zane Polluck, Design by Meghan Myracle

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Hey Juniors...•Don’t forget Sr. Ads next year are due Oct. 1. You can buy yours online @ yearbooksforever.com!•Senior Yearbook Pictures must be taken by LifeTouch by Sept. 15. Call 692-9691 to make an appointment.•Seniors: Pick up your baby ad photos from the newsroom.•If we still have yearbooks available, they’re $97. 43 now.•Covers: $3 Pages: $3•You can buy next year’s book @ yearbooksforever.com starting June 15.

“Going to State for the second time in Rider history,” is what senior Kyler Ritchie sees as the most memorable moment of his four years of Raider baseball. Seniors Gage Green, Ben Smith and Matt Montague all agree, the journey to the State Tournament in 2010 has marked the most memorable moment of their Rider baseball career. As for this season, the Raiders have earned the title of District Champions and advanced to the second round of playoffs, with a two game victory over the Dumas Demons, 8-5 and 6-2. Montague says that his goal for the rest of his senior season is to “make it back to the state tournament.”

Playoff appearances are part of the baseball experience.

“The adventure of playoffs and do or die situations that we went trough week in and week out,” are among some of the most memorable moments in his past four years of Rider baseball, Ritchie says.

“All of the good times we have had during games,

bus rides, and practices,” are what third baseman Montague hopes to never forget, and the memories wouldn’t be the same without Coach Bobbitt according to Smith.

The players have put in 20 hours a week on average during the season, beginning practices in the fall, and committing to summer workouts. Through this time commitment they have learned many lessons through baseball, on the field Green says he has learned to, “be a team player, whatever you do o n the field, do it for your team not yourself.” Center fielder Ritchie believes the lessons he has learned will help him in other aspects of life, “If you’re going to do something, commit to it one hundred percent, and work at it as hard as you can.”

Despite having their last season of high school baseball on their mind, many seniors will be carrying their talents to the next level, such as Green, who says he really looks forward to playing baseball next year at Oklahoma State University. Smith also will

play at the college level for Costal Carolina University, and says that baseball has taught him to, “work hard and do my best at everything, I can do anything that I set my mind to.”

Senior baseball players say that they have learned many lessons and hope to use the lessons they have learned to their advantage in the future, yet as for what they take away from their baseball careers as a whole vary from player to player. Montague and Ritchie hope that the friendships they have developed with teammates will last a lifetime, and Green says that, “Our work ethic we have developed here at Rider,” is what he aspires to incorporate into his forthcoming opportunities.

Overall, the Raiders feel confident about the events of their baseball careers at Rider, saying that there’s not a thing they would change about the hard work they have put into the last four years.

“Everything in the past has led to our success,” says Green.

check us out at www.theriderchronicle.comThe Rider Chronicle. May 2011 19Sports

Senior baseball players: Cameron Allen

Isaac AlstonBen Bates

Blake BurrusBen Cummings

Gage GreenJon Jones

Matt MontagueKyler Ritchie

Chrisiten SagerBen Smith

by Brittany RobinsonOn the road to State

Lady Raider softball on the playoff march!1) Morgan Lewis jumps to catch a ball to gain an out. Photo by Meghan Myracle. 2) The batter takes off running after hitting the ball. Photo by Cici Gossett. 3) Taylor Beeman rounds third base to go home. Photo by Meghan Myracle. 4) Sammi Hislop catches the ball in hopes to give the other team an out. Photo by Cici Gossett. 5) Bailey McCreary swings to try to gain a run against Petrolia. Photo by Meghan Myracle.

1)

2) 3)

4) 5)

Baseball advances in playoffs;senior depth gives team strength, hopes for championship

check us out at www.theriderchronicle.com20 The Rider Chronicle. May 2011 Top 10Fighting EndsClass of 2011 Ranks Revealed

After four years of accumulating credits and GPA points, this school year’s seniors have been placed in the ranks. The list is in and the fight is over.

On May 28 Bianca Rodriguez will make her speech as Vale-dictorian of her Senior Class. Christien Sager will follow with a Salutatorian speech.

It has been a long journey, and all seniors anticipate its end. The question is though...What comes next? Some people will move on to colleges and universities local and national. Others will simply move out of the house and look for brighter hori-zons. Yet these top 10 students have proven that they are on a quest for greatness.

Rodriguez will be graduating with the GPA of 5.14. She will be attending Cornell University to major in Industrial and Labor Relations.

“I have pushed myself to do more academically,” Rodri-guez said.

Sager also recognizes the value of doing his best. He’s proven himself with a GPA of 5.07149 and will go onto Oklahoma State University after high school to major in Electrical Engi-neering.

“I must continue to work hard [because] it pays off,” Sager said.

While they do continuously work hard, both this year’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian realize that they have to give themselves a break every once and a while. Sager takes his mind off his studies by playing sports and spending time with family. Rodriguez goes shopping.

“School has always been a big priority, but it doesn’t con-sume my life,” Rodriguez said.

Still, these two seniors will be proud to sit on the stage on May 28 and graduate with the rest of their class.

“I am blessed to have received such an honor,” Rodriguez said.

Top Ten Seniors1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Bianca Rodgriquez

Leigh Martin

Abigail Levell

Hannah Huezo

Kelsey O’Hearn

Christien Sager

Will Huddleston

Zach Brown

Cameron Berg

Lindy Larson

by Emma White

10

1

4

5

2

3

7 8

6

10

GPA- 5.14Cornell UniversityMajor- Industrial and Labor Relations

GPA- 5.07149Oklahoma State University

Major- Electrical Engineering

GPA- 5.071429Texas A&M UniversityMajor- Chemical Engineering

GPA- 5.071Dallas Baptist University

Major- Accounting

GPA- 5.07Texas A&M UniversityMajor- Ocean Engineering & Civil Engineering

GPA- 4.95Texas A&M University

Major- Civil Engineering

GPA-4.95University of Texas at AustinMajor- Petroleum Engineering

GPA- 4.93Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Major- Geographic Information Science

GPA- 4.89Texas A&M UniversityMajor- Chemical Engineering

GPA- 4.878Texas Christian University

Major- Political Science

Who: Class of 2011What: Graduation!Where: Kay Yeager ColliseumWhen: Saturday, May 28@10:00 AM

YOU’RE INVITED!

the rider chronicle, may 2011

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