File - Altus High School

Volume 11 Issue 2
What’s Inside
Bulldog Nation
September at a Glance:
· Football Home vs Vernon
Tonight
· Sept 3rd Softball vs
Ardmore
· Sept 5th No School Labor
Day
· Sept 6th Softball vs
Lawton Ike
· Sept 8 FCCLA meeting
The Collar Staff
Advisor: Mrs. Sherman
Senior Managing Editor:
Payton Sirmons
Senior Editor:
Addy Hughes
Junior Editors:
Yasmine Becerra
Chloe Cox
Allie Goodpaster
Jaycee Herring
Lynsey Sellers
Staff Writers:
Jayla Bain
Michayla Cheney
Madison Cook
Lindsay Detwiler
Emily Kelley
Brianne Loe
Kinsey Wilmes
September
Top Dogs
Senior Itzel Flores
Junior Nia Hill
Sophomore Ethan Hastings
Freshman Bethany Garrison
September 2, 2016
That Altus Band 2016-2017
Altus High School Band 2016-2017. Photo by Shanda’s Shots Photography
Band season started early
this year for students involved
in That Altus Band. They began
practicing on July 25th. Now
that school has started they
start practice at 7:30 every
morning and soon will start
having Monday night rehearsals.
The band is directed by Mrs.
Mary Runyan, along with Mr.
Jeff Hastings and Mr. Blake DeLao.
Director Mrs. Runyan
states, “I think that people will
like our halftime show this
year. The students have been
putting in a lot of hard working
hours trying to make this the
best show yet.”
The students are working
towards perfecting their upcoming halftime shows. They
have to work towards getting
43 new freshmen, who have
never marched before, prepared to march with the veter-
ans. The theme of the half-time
show this year is Ascend. It is
about an angel ascending into
Heaven.
Senior Kayla Miller states,
“We’ve been working hard
since mid-July to get the
marching show ready and prepare for Hawaii. We’ve been
putting in a lot of work, and
I’m looking forward to having a
great senior year with That
Altus Band.”
The band’s competition
season officially starts on October 1st when they travel to
the Chickasaw Band Festival in
Tishomingo, Oklahoma. This is
a new competition that they
will be going to. In years past,
TAB has gone to the Tiger Palooza Marching Contest and
the OSSAA Regional Marching
Competition. The band’s AllRegion and All-State tryouts
will be held in mid-November.
That Altus Band is taking a
big trip to Hawaii at the end
of November. They will be
representing Oklahoma in The
75th Anniversary of Pearl
Harbor Parade.
Junior drum major Michael Mowdy states, “The
band has come along way
since our first practice. We’re
continually striving to be better. I’m excited to see what all
we’re going to accomplish this
year.”
The band has also been
working on their music for the
upcoming pep assemblies,
football games, and basketball
games.
Mrs. Runyan states, “The
2016 edition of TAB has
started off with a bang. With
all we have planned for this
year and our upcoming trip to
Hawaii, it’s going to be an
exciting year.”
September 2, 2016
STUDENT FEATURES
Summer Locon was born in
Southbend, Indiana. She moved to
Altus when she was seven and has
attended Altus High School since
she was a freshman and is now a
junior here.
She enjoys singing with the AHS
Bluharmonix, hanging out with her
friends, and being part of Homecoming Week.
Summer is a cheerleader here at
AHS. It is a huge passion of hers
and loves to see her team excel.
Summer lives with her parents,
her three sisters, Emily, and
Brianna, and her baby sister. She
also has two cats that she loves
very much. Summer’s family is a big
important part of her life.
After high school Summer plans
to attend college to become a dentist. She doesn't know why, but
she has always loved going to the
dentist and she thinks it is very
interesting.
Summer’s favorite thing about
Altus High School is the school
spirt and pride the students have.
She states, “My time at AHS has
Page 2
By Lynsey Sellers
Junior Editor
been amazing. I love the memories
I have made in high school and I
can’t wait to make more.”
Something AHS students might
not know about Summer is her
favorite food is Mac-N-Cheese. She
could eat it every day for the rest
of her life.
Summer’s family is what motivates her the most. She always
wants to do the best for them and
herself. Friends are some other
people that motivate Summer. She
states, “They are always there for
me and give me advice when
needed.”
Summer loves singing for AHS
and just in her spare time. Summer’s older sister, Emily made her
try singing and try choir when she
was younger. She has been singing
for years.
When she is not cheering, hanging out with friends, or singing, you
can find Summer working at
Braum’s.
Summer’s favorite quote is, “Be
somebody who leaves a mark on
every body.” -Unknown
By Chloe Cox
Junior Editor
Ernesto Rosas Jr. is a junior
here at Altus High School. He was
born and raised here in Altus.
Ernesto states, “Family is a huge
part of my life. I am very blessed to
be so fortunate.”
He lives with his parents Maria
and Ernesto Sr. and his three siblings, Victor who is in pre-school,
Rocio who is a 5th grader, and
Hernan who is in 8th grade.
Ernesto tries to be the best role
model he can be for his little
brothers to look up to.
His father owns and manages a
family lawncare company, Total
Lawn Care. Ernesto's mom is a
housewife.
Ernesto is part of the soccer
and football teams here at AHS.
Ernesto grew up playing soccer, so
he has always loved the sport.
Ernesto states, “Coach Reyna
signed me up for football last year,
and it’s probably the best thing
that’s happened to me.”
Although Ernesto is still undecided in what he wants to major in,
he wants to receive a scholarship
for soccer, football or academics.
Ernesto works part time at the
family business whenever he’s not
at football practice.
His favorite Bible verse is,
Proverbs 27:17 it states, “As iron
sharpens iron, so one person
sharpens another.”
Ernesto states, “ I love game
days, whether soccer or football,
the energy in the whole school
really goes up.”
Something different that most
AHS students might not know is
that he shaves the inside of his
right leg. He says that if he doesn't
then it bothers him when he
wears socks.
Ernesto's favorite thing about
AHS is definitely the Friday night
lights. He is very excited to be the
starting kicker and show everyone
all of the talent he has.
Ernesto's favorite quote is,
“You cant soar like an eagle if you
hang around a bunch of chickens”
-Coach Reyna.
People that motivate Ernesto
to be the best he can be are his
parents, coaches, his extended
family, and God.
September 2, 2016
Page 3
By Emily Kelley
Staff Writer
New Faces, New Places
Altus High School has two foreign exchange students this year.
Jiayuan Xu (Alan) from China is a
senior, and Julius Hallstein from
Germany is a junior.
Alan grew up in southern China
with his mom, dad, and twin
brother. Some of his interests include music, sports, math, computer games, traveling and spending
time with friends. Alan’s favorite
sports are soccer and table tennis;
he also enjoys playing the drums.
His favorite thing about AHS is
the environment and the enthusiastic and helpful classmates. Through
the foreign exchange system Alan
has made many friends from Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
After high school Alan wants to
attend community college in California because he likes the state,
climate, and the colleges' high quality of education. His favorite quote
is, “Chance favors only the prepared mind.”- Louis Pasteur.
Alan states, “My motivation in
life is my family. They allow me to
study in the United States, and I do
Alan
and
Julius
are the
new
foreign
exchange
students
at AHS.
Photo
By
Emily
Kelley
not want to disappoint them.”
Julius is from Frankfurt, Germany.
There he lives with his parents and little
sister. He is interested in architecture,
estate investment, basketball, and mixed
martial arts. He wanted to come to the
United States to learn about the culture
and improve his language skills.
Julius likes that there are so many dif-
ferent sports you can participate in at
Altus High School. After high school,
with the help of his dad, he plans to build
houses to rent out to people and make
extra money.
Julius says, “It motivates me when my
hard work pays off.”
Alan and Julius are both being hosted
by Yolanda Garcia.
AHS Offers Student Support Center
The last few years Altus High
School administrators and schools
across Oklahoma have been concerned about the increasing dropout
rates. To help lower the growing
number of dropouts, administrators
started looking around for new
ways to reach out to the student
body and help with their school
work.
Over twelve percent of the students are on the ineligible list already this year. That is over one
hundred students failing at least one
of their classes.
Administration desires that none
of the students fail a class. Failure in
a class statistically leads to ineligibility which can lead to a dropout by
sophomore year. Becoming ineligible
can prevent athletes from participating in their sport.
They are not just tutoring, the
Student Support Center is here to
help create a common place and
time for people to get tutoring,
meet their Link Crew leader, or get
together for a group project.
AHS Administration also hopes
that eligibility becomes higher be-
By Michayla Cheney
Staff Writer
Mrs. Garrison helps freshman Hunter Webb with homework in the Student Support Center.
cause of the help in the support center.
They want students to feel free to ask
questions and not be afraid to speak up if
they need help.
Mrs. Pearce states, “I hope more students stay hooked in school and get a
diploma.”
There will be teachers for math and
English every day in the east hall room17.
Teachers will also help students with sci-
ence and history in the center. The center is open Monday through Thursday.
The center is open in the morning from
7:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. and after school
from 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Administration looks forward to
teachers helping the students in different
subjects throughout the school year and
encourage you to take advantage of the
help that is being offered.
SPOTLIGHT/NEWS
Teacher Spotlight: Shelly O’Connor
September 2, 2016
Shelly O’Connor is new to
Altus High School. She has been
teaching for 33 years and of
those 33 years, she dedicated 14
years of teaching to Altus. Mrs.
O’Connor retired from teaching
this past year and took Mrs.
Mobbs’ job as the new AHS secretary.
She grew up in Altus, Oklahoma and has attended multiple
schools.
Mrs. O’Connor attended Wilson Elementary, Central Junior High, Altus High
School, Western, SWOSU, and
Oklahoma State University.
Mrs. O’Connor has one son
and two grandchildren she loves
very much. She is extremely
proud of her son because he
received a four year College
Rodeo Scholarship and is now a
three time World Champion
Team Roper.
Mrs. O’Connor states, “My
By Brianne Loe
Junior Editor
greatest accomplishment is raising my son and being able to be a
part of my grandchildren’s lives.”
Shelly O’Connor’s interests
include shopping, snow skiing,
swimming, spending time in the
sun, and spending time with her
kids and grandchildren.
Mrs. O’Connor says, “I’m
interested in whatever my grandchildren are interested in.”
She has travelled to many
places while following her son to
rodeo competitions. At the rodeo competitions, Mrs. O’Connor met many amazing people
she is friends with today.
Shelly O’Connor became a
teacher to create a difference in
student’s lives, inspire her children to further their education,
and create a bond with her staff
members and children. As a secretary, she still gets to create a
difference in student’s lives.
Meet the New Collar Staff
This is a great year for the
AHS Newspaper Staff! The staff
this year consists of Payton Sirmons, the Senior Managing Editor in her third year as a staff
member, and Addy Hughes, is
the Senior Editor
beginning
her second year on staff. Yasmine Becerra, Jaycee Herring,
Lynsey Sellers, Chloe Cox, and
Allie Goodpaster are starting
their second year on The Collar
Staff as Junior Editors. Madi
Cook, Kinsey Wilmes, Jayla
Bain, Brianne Loe, Lindsay Detwiler, Emily Kelley and Michayla
Cheney are all new staff members this year.
Mrs. Sherman has been supervising newspaper staffs for
16 years, and has been the staff
supervisor at AHS since 2005.
This is her eleventh year doing
the paper here.
Mrs. Sherman states, “I’m
really excited for this group of
girls to be a part of my staff!
They are all very hard workers!
I can tell this is going to be a
Page 4
great and productive year.”
The AHS Collar Staff are involved
in many different activities in the high
school. Jayla, Payton, Madi, Kinsey,
Lynsey, Chloe, Jaycee, Allie and Lindsay are all members of Link Crew and
helped welcomed the newest editions
to the AHS family.
The girls on the staff are very athletic as well. Addy Hughes, Kinsey Wil-
By Lindsay Detwiler & Kinsey Wilmes
Staff Writers
mes, Chloe Cox, Jaycee Herring and Lysney
Sellers all cheer for the high school. Lindsay
Detwiler and Brianne Loe are state swimmers. Jayla Bain, Chloe Cox and Emily Kelley
play tennis. Allie Goodpaster and Jaycee
Herring run in track and Madi Cook and
Payton Sirmons play golf. Yasmine Becerra is
a manager for the Lady Bulldog soccer team.
Look for big things coming from the
AHS Collar Staff!
BULLDOG SPORTS
12th Man Backs the Bulldogs
September 2, 2016
The 12th Man Club is an Altus
High School Football Booster
Club and is a 50(c)3 non profit
corporation that has existed
since 1998.
The 12th Man Club board
members are Kevin Marple, Brian
Bush, Jennifer Wilson, Diane
Beach, Perfecto Garcia, Victoria
Cleveland, and Deanna Jones.
There are also 20 more volunteers and 53 different sponsors.
Some different activities they
help with include: feeding the
team after away games, painting
the field the night before home
games; they bought food for the
senior retreat and also cooked
food for the camp in Mustang this
summer. They also sponsor the
football banquet at the end of the
season. The club is ready to help
with anything the coaches and
players need and are just glad to
help in a time of budget cuts.
The 12th Man Club has three
main fundraisers throughout the
year. The three main fundraisers
they have are the Sponsorship
By Payton Sirmons
Senior Managing Editor
Football
boys
delivering
Cunningham
Peaches.
Photo
Courtesy
of Diane
Beach
Drive, the Cunningham Peach sale, and
the Growl Towel fundraiser.
The 12th Man Club was very proud to
facilitate the State Championship ring
fundraising efforts after last season. The
club was very excited to see the community come together and support the Bulldogs by making donations and purchasing
merchandise which allowed the rings to
be paid for in full for every varsity player
and coach. Lynna Wilmes had a huge part
in that effort as well.
Treasurer Diane Beach states,”I really
enjoy volunteering through the 12th Man
Club which gives parents and other volunteers a way to be more involved with the
kids and in the good things that our football
program is doing. I love witnessing first-hand
the impact that our coaches and this program has on our young men’s lives.”
12th Man appreciates any help. For more
information contact Brian Bush at 405-4713869 or Diane Beach at 580-471-8061.
Crossin through the Country with my Woes
The Cross Country team has
been working hard to prepare for
their season this year. Many of the
runners have been practicing since
early this summer.
The team practices long distance running on Mondays and
Wednesdays by running anywhere
from three to six miles. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they practice
sprints and do a lifting workout.
Senior Skyler Ledesma states,
“My favorite part about Cross
Country is getting to be around my
teammates and getting to stay in
shape.”
They opened their season on
August 20th at Elk City. At the
meets, the teams compete in a 3.1
mile run. Nine out of the eleven
athletes that competed at Elk City
placed in the top twenty.
The senior runners this season
consist of: Chauncey Beckner, Itzel
Flores, Grace Hernke, Jovani Cordona, Gio Esmerado, Skyler Ledesma, William Chavez, and Jose
Reyes.
Page 5
By Jayla Bain
Staff Writer
The senior Cross Country athletes.
Some of the team’s goals this season
are to break their personal records and
to compete at the state meet as a team.
Freshman Bethany Garrison states,
“My dad inspires me to be a better runner because when I feel like giving up, I
think of him and begin to push myself
harder.”
The only home meet will be on October 11th at 4:30. It will be held at the
soccer fields. Come out and support the
Bulldogs.
September 2, 2016
Page 6
Bulldog Bites
By Jaycee Herring
Who is your
favorite
football
player at
Altus High?
Freshman Breckyn
Brewer says, “Hassan
Foye.”
Sophomore Carson
Pickett says, “Bito Bones
(Tito Jones).”
Junior Gracia Lewis
says, “Cameron Holt.”
Senior Spotlight: Chauncey & Harrison
Chauncey Beckner is a 17 year
old senior here at Altus High
School. She grew up here living
with her parents and her younger
sister Cayden, who is an 8th grader
at AJH. Chauncey’s mom is a 4th
grade teacher here in Altus and
her dad farms in Olustee.
After she graduates, Chauncey
plans to attend Oklahoma State
University during the fall of 2017
to major in Biology or Health Sciences. After that, she plans to
transfer to Physical Therapy
School.
Chauncey’s favorite thing about
AHS is everyone’s school spirit and
support of each other. She also
enjoys Homecoming Week and
getting to be apart of the student
section.
Some of Chauncey’s interests
are showing livestock, running,
doing pageants, traveling, hanging
out with friends, and making
friends from other places.
Something interesting about
Chauncey that AHS students may
not know is that she met Jesse
Metcalfe off of the movie John
Tucker Most Die, at a Rangers
baseball game. She has also had
iguana soup on the beach in Aruba.
Chauncey says, “What motivates me most in life is when I
see that my dedication and hard
work pays off.”
Her favorite quote is, “A beautiful day begins with a beautiful
mindset.”
Harrison Spooner is a senior
here at Altus High School. He
has attended AHS since his
freshman year.
Harrison’s favorite thing about
AHS is all of the kind people that
go to school here.
He lives with his mom, who
works at NBC, and his dad, who
works at the Altus Police Department as a captain.
Harrison’s interests include
basketball, swimming, and baseball. He chose to swim because he
Senior Caleb Morrow says,
“Of course Hunter Cleveland.”
By Addy Hughes & Allie Goodpaster
Senior Editor & Junior Editor
wanted to try something new and
he ended up excelling in the sport
and also enjoying it.
After high school Harrison
plans to attend Wichita State University to get his master degree in
criminal justice to become an FBI
agent.
Harrison has a job as a life
guard at the base pool.
He
earned a medal for saving someone’s life while on the job.
Something cool AHS students
may not know about Harrison is he
shot and made a free throw at the
Chesapeake Arena .
Harrison’s biggest motivators
are his parents. He also draws
motivation from sports movies.