A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NEWS
Transcription
A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NEWS
A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NEWS-REGISTER • Commercial • Industrial • Residential EMERGENCY CALLS 503.472.1730 CCB# 128036 DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT AT KONECT AVIATION • discovery flights • career path exploration Kids reflect community spirit in their own work By OSSIE BLADINE Of the News-Register • flight training Twice a week the News-Register publishes a newspaper. It’s almost a sure bet that each issue you pick up will have a report, feature or story regarding our schools. We know how much the communities of Yamhill County value the education of its youth. So we value reporting on that topic. We decided to produce this special section as additional consideration of some outstanding kids from the many area communities. The goal was to provide McMinnville, OR Phone: 503-376-0190 www.konect-aviation.com PUBLISHER Jeb Bladine GRAPHIC ARTISTS ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Ossie Bladine Kathey Sweeney PRODUCTION MANAGER Christy Nielsen ADVERTISING SALES Terry Conlon Janet Pilling Ashley McCreight Kelly Hyder Rebecca Garcia DANCE SKILLS ARE LIFE SKILLS CHEHALEM VALLEY DANCE ACADEMY 2 McMinnville • newberg 503.537.3902 • iheartcvda.com Outstanding Kids of the Yamhill Valley • February 2016 a snapshot of what the overall makeup of Yamhill County kids looks like. Of course, featuring nine out of thousands is quite the small snapshot. What this section isn’t is a college entry competition, a who has the highest G.P.A. or a who’s the captain of the football team. This is simply a somewhat random selection of great kids doing great things. Enjoy reading up on these local students. And, certainly, take note of the local businesses supporting this section. Once again, just a snapshot of the outstanding backing Yamhill County communities provide to the kids. WRITERS Starla Pointer Paul Daquilante PHOTOGRAPHERS Marcus Larson Starla Pointer Rockne Roll Teri Gunn Amber McAlary PRINTING Oregon Lithoprint Inc. The News-Register 503.472.5114 www.NewsRegister.com © 2015-2016 The News-Register Publishing Company P.O. Box 727, McMinnville, OR 97128 MCMINNVILLE - MCMINNVILLE HIGH SCHOOL MCMINNVILLE - DUNIWAY MIDDLE SCHOOL By STARLA POINTER Of the News-Register By STARLA POINTER Of the News-Register Stealing the show A calling to serve Asia Demars tears up the basketball court, taking any chance she gets to steal the ball and pass it to one of her fellow players. Or she accepts a pass, drives toward the basket and shoots. “I like to steal and I like to score,” she said. “I feel happy when I score, and I want to do it again.” McMinnville High School student Asia lives in Sheridan with her grandparents, Mike and Colleen Rentz. She plays on Mac High’s Unified Sports basketball team. She said she loves the practices, conducted during P.E. class, as well as the games. Although she thinks she has a natural talent for basketball, she said practicing is very important. She likes the physical activity and the chance to do something with her friends. “It’s all fun,” she said. When she’s not playing basketball, Asia is a student in Mac High’s Life Skills pro- gram for special needs students. Her favorite class is math, but she also enjoys cooking in her classroom and going on field trips. Asia likes reading, too, both in school and at home. Her favorite books feature cats. Not surprisingly, she has two cats of her own, Twitch and Dipstick. Both are boys. She has two dogs, Beethoven and Fred, as well. She enjoys playing with them after school. Like most teens, she also likes sleeping, eating and watching TV. She favors the Cartoon Network, which shows her favorite program, “iCarly.” Asia likes Mac High, but it’s a really big school, she said, so the hallways and classrooms sometimes get too loud. When that happens, she’s learned to take a deep breath, tell herself to calm down and focus on what she’s doing. That works on the basketball court, too. Her grandfather reminds her before each game: Stop, focus and take a breath before you shoot. Eighth-grader Gracee Dean not only considers the needs of others, she acts on them in a variety of ways. The Duniway Middle School student signed up for her school’s leadership class last year because she wanted to give back to her school, teachers and community. “They’ve done so much for me,” she said. “It’s my turn.” Now in her second year in the leadership program, she’s serving as a mentor for seventh-graders. She helps them learn to plan school activities and shows them how rewarding helping others can be. One of her off-campus causes is the Yamhill County Gospel Rescue Mission, an outreach for people who are homeless or otherwise in need. “What they do is awesome,” Gracee said. “It’s so important.” In addition to performing service work, she has participated in cheerleading and track at Duniway. She enjoys her classes, too. She developed a keen interest in science this year, thanks to teacher Robin Shaw. Outside of school, Gracee attends the Nazarene Church on the Hill. She takes part in Bible study groups almost daily. Her faith is very important to her, she said. Her parents have set a wonderful example for her and her younger siblings, Gracee said. She said her dad, Adam, and mother, Mechel, are great role models. Another of Gracee’s role models is the Rev. Jerry Moen, pastor of the church. She also looks to her leadership teacher, Dave Holmes. Gracee hopes to become a youth pastor someday. She said she knows how important it is for people her age to have the right kind of guidance. “Middle school is the time you need the most help,” she said. “And middle school is the time I’ve been closest to God and been impacted the most by Him.” Outstanding Kids of the Yamhill Valley • February 2016 3 MCMINNVILLE - SUE BUEL ELEMENTARY 1955 Cook Schoo l A love of writing 1953 M c M in Mc M 1953 i n nv H ig h igh ille H n v il le By STARLA POINTER Of the News-Register Sc ho ol hi ll H ig h 19 38 Ya m 19 38 H ap py Va lle y Sc ho ol Generations of School Days View, search and purchase historical photos of Yamhill County—from 80 years ago to today—at newsregister.zenfolio.com 4 Outstanding Kids of the Yamhill Valley • February 2016 Grace Barnes likes school, especially when she gets to write. A fifth-grader at McMinnville’s Sue Buel Elementary, she likes writing the answers to essay questions and summarizing her reading assignments. She also likes writing her own stories, especially fairy tales. Two of her recent stories are “The Princess Who Loved Christmas” and “The Dark Prince Who Loved Halloween.” The latter story, she explained, is about a prince who’s not very nice. “He starts to turn good, though, when he learns that Halloween is about walking around and meeting people and making friends,” she said. Not surprisingly, this young writer enjoys reading, too. She’s currently reading “Amulet.” She doesn’t mind math. But she prefers math exercises that take the form of games. Her teacher, Cassandra Kimura, uses games to make math and other subjects fun, Grace said. “Ms. Kimura helps students a lot,” Grace said. “She’s very encouraging.” Grace said her parents, Kami Rand and Gary Barnes, also inspire her. She has three older siblings, two sisters and a brother, and she calls her sister Erica her role model. In addition to learning from her family and teachers, Grace looks for ways to motivate and inspire herself. For instance, she recently realized she should work harder at her homework. “If I get my homework done, then I can do other things I want to do,” she explained. At Sue Buel, Grace is manager of her classroom’s student store. She and her fifth-grade classmates regularly spend time with younger students, for whom they act as reading buddies. After school, she enjoys going camping, playing on an Xbox with her friends, or spending time with her Siamese cats, Amy and Frankie. LAFAYETTE - WASCHER ELEMENTARY Teacher at heart By STARLA POINTER Of the News-Register LAFAYETTE — Angela Hernandez wants to be a teacher. “I like to help others be successful,” she explained. She’s already had some practice at that. She said her secondgrade teacher, Robert Whitaker, “lets us help other students when we’re done with math.” Whitaker and Angela’s previous teachers at Wascher Elementary School, Laura Kintz in first grade and Katherine Elstrom in kindergarten, all inspired her, she said. She loved them all. Her parents, Ricardo and Teresa Hernandez, are inspirations, too, as are her older sisters. One sister graduated from college last year, Angela said, and the other is still in college. Angela plans to go to college and wants to attend Linfield. For now, though, she’s concentrating on her second-grade studies. She likes math and reading, particularly mysteries and other chapter books. She enjoys recess, too. She likes playing on the climbing bars and kicking a soccer ball with friends. She also has a new interest — yo-yoing. A yo-yo expert presented an assembly at Wascher in midFebruary, and Angela and her friends were all eager to get their own yo-yos. In fact, Angela said she wants to get two, one for herself and one for her cousin so they can play together. In addition to yo-yoing, Angela likes riding her bike and scooter. And she enjoys watching the Disney channel on TV or using her electronic tablet to learn things or play games. She also plays with her dog, Bentley, a chihuahua and dachshund mix. Before heading home, Angela is happy to go to Kids on the Block, the after-school enrichment program. “KOB is fun,” she said. “We do four stations — recess, homework, science and crafts.” Sometimes crafts is her favorite station. “We make necklaces or paint or other fun stuff,” she said. specializing in cosmetic & general dentistry. BEAUTIFUL SMILES DENTISTRY Children and adults welcome. 503.472.7900 819 NE Baker, McMinnville • www.ingridviljak.com Don’t Just Live... Live to Excell Visit our website for a full list of our services and hours www.ExcellFitness.com 2 GREAT LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU Outstanding Kids of the Yamhill Valley • February 2016 5 AMITY - AMITY MIDDLE SCHOOL Defined by the drive to help others By PAUL DAQUILANTE Of the News-Register AMITY — Carlie Cares ... Carlie’s Christmas for Troops ... Carlie’s Kindness Campaign. They all define Amity Middle School sixth grader Carlie Steele. Carlie has spearheaded three community service projects in her community, and her mother, Melissa, couldn’t be prouder. “She’s one of a kind,” Melissa said. Carlie Cares is an offshoot of a television advertisement she saw for the Portland-based Children’s Cancer Association. It utilizes music, friendship, play and resources to create joy in the lives of families facCCB#48494 6 Outstanding Kids of the Yamhill Valley • February 2016 ing cancer and other serious illnesses, many of them lifethreatening. “What can I do?” Carlie asked her mother. She was determined to help in any way possible. The middle school and district as a whole bought into what Carlie was trying to achieve, and she raised $2,500. The money was used to purchase games and toys for the association. CCA officials were waiting to receive the gifts when they were delivered to the Portland headquarters. Not long after that, around Christmas time, Carlie expressed concern for the U.S. troops who were far away from home and their loved ones for the holidays. She realized they might not be able to enjoy a merry Christmas. Carlie set out to collect care package-related items for shipment to the Middle East, and this effort produced 18 large boxes of items. Carlie’s Kindness Campaign was the result of the word “retarded” being heard more often than she cared. So she set out on a mission to change people’s mindsets. The campaign she launched focused on “The New R word.” Suggestions included rad, radiant and respected. Leadership and film production classes at the high school, where Carlie’s sister, Allie, is a senior, got involved. A video was produced and Carlie gave speeches at both schools. Textile Graphics produced T-shirts that Carlie sold for $5 apiece, with the proceeds going to Special Olympics. Her mother said it’s not uncommon to still see students wearing their shirts. Carlie said she has some ideas for future service projects, but isn’t sure at this time which direction she wants to go. DAYTON - DAYTON HIGH SCHOOL A soon-to-be Dr. Benefits of PL AY Therapy: TREAT YOURSELF! HAPPINESS IS JUST A SPOONFUL AWAY Play therapy is a form of counseling which uses play to communicate with children to prevent or resolve psychosocial challenges. This helps them towards better: • Social Integration • Growth and Development • Emotional Modulation • Trauma Resolution To find a Play Therapist near you, contact the Association for Play Therapy at: www.a4pt.org By STARLA POINTER Of the News-Register DAYTON — Isabella Montelongo plans to add the title “Dr.” before her first name. The Dayton High School senior aims to begin pursuing a pre-med major at Oregon State University in the fall. After completing medical school, she wants to become a pediatrician. “I’ve always been interested in science, and always very interested in way the body works,” she said. “I love caring for people and I love being around kids.” Not surprisingly, she loves her science classes at DHS. Teacher Jason Nice has helped her learn about anatomy and other aspects of science that will serve her in her medical career. He’s very encouraging, she said. She’s gained additional insight into the medical field by volunteering at the Willamette Valley Medical Center the past two years. She cleans rooms, tidies up the kitchen, organizes the lobby, stocks supplies and tackles other tasks. She also did an internship at the hospital last year. “I followed the nurses around and asked a lot of questions,” she said. “That reassured me that medicine was really the right career for me.” Isabella is the daughter of Irma and Francisco Montelongo. Her sister, Micaella, is a freshman at DHS. The sisters played on the varsity girls’ soccer team together in the fall. Isabella also has been involved in leadership, serving as senior class secretary, along with the FFA and National Honor Society. Outside school, she enjoys fishing, hiking and camping with her dad. In addition to concentrating on academics, Isabella said she tries to be a good person and help others in her community. She volunteers at Dayton Elementary School and last year painted one of the wine barrels auctioned off at the annual Dayton Education Foundation fundraiser. Her role models are her mother and her grandmother, Laura Galaviz of Dayton. “I hope to be as strong as they are,” she said. Sponsored by the office of Dawn J. Williamson, LCSW CHECK OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OFTEN FOR CURRENT FLAVORS! • Individual Child & Family Therapy • • Licensed Clinical Social Worker • • Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor • Services/Appointments: 503-537-3927 211 SW 7th St. Dundee, OR 97115 503-472-4510 683 SW KECK DRIVE, McMINNVILLE MON–SAT 11AM - 9PM WEEKS WEEKS CONSTRUCTION, INC. BUILDER • GENERAL CONTRACTOR | McMinnville, Oregon Commercial • Residential • Design Build CONSTRUCTION, INC. wci@onlinemac.com CCB#159115 BUILDER • GENERAL CONTRACTOR | McMinnville, Oregon Commercial • Residential • Design Build BUILDER • GENERAL CONTRACTOR wci@onlinemac.com CCB#159115 McMinnville, Oregon Commercial • Residential Design Build WEEKS Robert C. Weeks, President Cell: 503-550-3136CONSTRUCTION, | wci@onlinemac.comINC. BUILDER • GENERAL CONTRACTOR | McMinnville, Oregon Commercial • Residential • Design Build wci@onlinemac.com CCB#159115 Outstanding Kids of the Yamhill Valley • February 2016 7 Y-C - YAMHILL-CARLTON HIGH SCHOOL A model citizen By STARLA POINTER Of the News-Register CARLTON — Nathan Vandewalle has a lot going on this year, his final one at YamhillCarlton High School. In addition to pursuing his academic studies, the Carlton resident is serving as vice president of Y-C’s FFA chapter, competing in soccer and wrestling, organizing a school chess club and participating in the environmental club and Boy Scout Troop 268, which meets at the Yamhill Latter-day Saints church. In Scouting, Nathan is planning his Eagle project — installation of a new set of bleachers on the Y-C baseball field. “I wanted something the community could see, that would last,” he said. Scouting has helped him build character, Nathan said. “Being a good, contributing citizen is a big part of being a Boy Scout,” he said. In addition to his Scout leaders, he cited soccer coach James Lyda as a major influence in his life. Lyda, a veteran, emphasizes fitness and kindness, both on and off the playing field, he said. His biggest influences, though, are his parents — his dad, David, an Eagle Scout himself, and his mom, Kimberly. They “raised me to treat everyone with kindness and to help people,” Nathan said. As a result, he was named Y-C’s Good Citizen of the Year. And in January, the Yamhill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored him as one of its top four Good Citizens, countywide. Nathan said another highlight of his year was working on the FFA’s Food for All program. He’s been involved for several years in the effort to gather excess produce from Oregon farmers and distribute it to needy people all over the state. Last year, he said, the program helped more than 4,500 families. After graduating in June, Nathan said he plans to attend Oregon State University. He may spend a year or two at a community college first. He Loves Reading His Favorite Book She Enjoys Sharing Time Together Together. At Vineyard Heights, we celebrate the exceptional talent that exists within us all. Whether pen pals, biography writers or artists, we know that sharing the experience changes lives. Let today be your day to share with a friend, and change a life! Vineyard Heights • Assisted Living and Memory Care 345 SW Hill Road • McMinnville, OR 97128 503-435-1000 vineyardheightsassistedliving.com Senior Living can be different…Let us show you how! Schedule Your Personal Tour Today Quality senior living for those who have reached the age of sixty-two. 8 Outstanding Kids of the Yamhill Valley • February 2016 Nurturing, Connecting, Succeeding SHERIDAN - SHERIDAN HIGH SCHOOL Happy to give back DREAM BIG designed by one of the students who works with LINCS. By PAUL Information DAQUILANTE Contact Of the News-Register spectators. LINCS is inspiring youth to dream big and try are five rows of bleachthings they wouldn’t normally try. WeThere are building es spread over a 27-foot span. relationships so that we can make a positive impact SHERIDAN — Principal Dean The We bleachers were in place for on the choices teens make for their life. are Rechguiding said he’s honored to have a few late-season games last them as they make big life decisions and as Sheridan High School juniorto adulthood. they transition from youth con- be available for the year.We They’ll Hunter a student. nectMichaelson them with theasresources they need in order entire 2016toseason, which gets work, play, and We are a positive voice tell“He’s a good kidlearn. who wants underway shortly. ing back them that theycommunity,” are unique, they are valuable, and to give to the Michaelson said he had to funLeading, are“He’s capablevery of great things! Rechthey said. involved.” LINCS Promoting Positive Youth DeveloPment bY WHAT WE DO: • OPEN GYM 7–10PM, SEPT.–MAY • SNOWBOARDING TRIPS (WE’VE INTRODUCED 100 YOUTHS TO THE SPORT SINCE 2010!) • COMMUNITY SERVICE • YOUTH VOlUNTEERS AT BRIDGE ST. COffEE HOUSE & kATHIE’S kOOkIES • insPiring • nurturing s bRIDGE sT, sHERIDAN PromotinglEADING Positive Youth Development 229 ConneCting • suCCeeDing 503.687.2629 | kat@onlinenw.com The LINCS mission is to promote by 503-560-1090 144 S. Bridge Street positive youth development through Sheridan OR 97378 draise to cover the cost, soliticMichaelson has been honored ing both monetary and in-kind Inspiring, education, recreation, and vocation. Every child has the right EIN: 93-1320252 inenw.com by the Sheridan Chamber of donations. Scout rules prohibCommerce as its Citizen of the toNurturing, BE SAFE. ited him from making any type Year. He stood out among all Connecting, of donation himself. the potential recipients for the “I had to raise between $4,000 Succeeding award because of his volunteer and $5,000, but the concrete work in the community. pad was donated,” Michaelson “It’s important to me,” Misaid. “That saved me a couple chaelson said of his volunteer of thousand dollars.” efforts. “I feel great every time I Brian O’Neil, whose wife volunteerAfor project logowhatever designed the by one of the students who might be. Giving back to with the LINCS.DeAnn serves as business manworks community makes me feel great.” ager for the Sheridan School District, donated the concrete. Michaelson, who moved to Sheridan from Georgia when he He owns a construction busiContact was 5, after his father tookInformation a job ness in Willamina. Providing a compassionate response to child abuse Michaelson has been a Relay at the Federal Correctional Instithrough prevention and intervention. for Life team captain in recent tution, received the Eagle Scout years. He’s also participated in For more information award earlier this year. It’s the and to support The LINCS mission is tous: promote Sheridan’s annual communityhighest Scout attainable.144 S. Bridge Street Phone: rank 503-560-1090 Juliette’s House wide cleanup day. positive youth development through He plays baseball for the SparSheridan OR 97378 E-mail: Child Abuse Intervention Center tans. As part of satisfying his “He does a lot of good voluneducation, recreation, and vocation. www.JuliettesHouse.org EIN: 93-1320252 kat@onlinenw.com Eagle Scout requirements, he teer work in our community,” 503.435.1550 built a bleacher seating area for said Superintendent Steve Sugg. Outstanding Kids of the Yamhill Valley • February 2016 9 r c o u m o n m i t r i ng k o p p id su fo ities r over un 150 years s Find more fun Yamhill County archival photos at newsregister.zenfolio.com 10 Outstanding Kids of the Yamhill Valley • February 2016 WILLAMINA - WILLAMINA HIGH SCHOOL Respect for all life By PAUL DAQUILANTE Of the News-Register WILLAMINA — Sarah Springer, a Willamina High School senior, has been an active participant in the district’s FFA program since she was in eighth grade. FFA has been a huge part of the Springer family, as her two sisters and brother have experienced the benefits of the program, as well. Springer said everyone gets along very well, from her advisor, Kurt Neville, to her fellow chapter members. She had a Christmas request last year that didn’t come as too big a surprise to anyone who is aware of her close association with FFA. She asked for a calf. Her mother told her she would have to wait until spring, which was fine with her. She doesn’t have a name picked out yet, but hopes to soon. Springer said there used to be a jersey steer named Bob in the family. It didn’t seem to like anyone but Sarah. She already has two goats, Mike and Minnie, and plans on breeding Minnie. She showed the goats at the county and state fairs when she was in fourth grade. She later showed lambs, which she purchased for show purposes. “She is known for her respect and helpfulness to all,” said Willamina superintendent Carrie Zimbrick. “Unsolicited, she often helped the bus driver on her regular route with the youngest students on the bus.” That was when Springer rode the Brown bus, which she used to take to and from home, off Gooseneck Road. Now she drives. “If there were kids misbehaving or needing more attention, I would go and sit with them,” she said. “We’d talk about how their day was, and I’d just try to keep them calm. I got to know the kids well.” Springer is working parttime at Vineyard Heights on Southwest Hill Road in McMinnville. She plans to go to college next year, maybe at Chemeketa. She’s interested in day care. Someday, she said, she’d like to have her own day care. Parenting is hard.We can help. • Family Mental Health Counseling • Parent Education Classes • Immigration Counseling & Citizenship Classes 503-472-4020 www.lcsnw.org/yamhill 617 NE Davis St. McMinnville 1714 Villa Rd. Newberg Support for families with kids from birth to age 5. • Home Visits • Parent Education Classes • Free Diapers & Clothing 503-472-4020 www.familyplacerelief.org 335 NE 6th St. McMinnville 1714 Villa Rd. Newberg Learn. Volunteer. Donate. Outstanding Kids of the Yamhill Valley • February 2016 11 McMinnville Parks & Recreation W WIM LESSO &S NS IM N IT Y C E NT E R U MM O C OPE N S ENRICHING LIVES; BUILDING COMMUNITY OR ALL AG F ES N U F & G AY PL ATION CL A SS ROUNDS E E CR KS ES R PA R SKA TE S RK PA O N , BIKE TRAI L KID S LO C K ST A MP & MO R P AR K RS YC DA AY PL A R 138 NW PARK ST. 503.434.7309 IN DO E! Aquatic Center TINY TOTS O Y EB TH PORTS S H UT O Community Center 600 NE EVANS ST. 503.434.7310 Senior Center 2250 NE McDANIEL LN. 503.434.7309