YHS Blue Print

Yosemite High School
Blue Print
June 4, 2004 - Volume 27 Number 6

Students receive $120,000 at community awards

Forensics students learn to use science to solve crimes;
many plan careers in field

Retiring staff members recall their YHS careers

Sports

Boys’ varsity track team wins League

SUBMITTED
Fred Worstein Fred Worstein (right) is shown with teammate Pat Wilder in the 400 relay. Worstein is in Sacramento today to participate in the state track meet in the 100 and 200 meter events after winning section in both.

The boys’ varsity track team took first place in the Sequoia Sierra Division this spring and the girls’ team placed third.

The boys took third place at the masters’ championship (valley) and the girls took second overall.

One of the YHS track team members, Fred Worstein, is at the state meet today, June 4, in Sacramento to compete in the 100 and 200 meter events. He won both of those events two years in a row in the Sequoia / Sierra Division.

At the awards banquet Worstein was named the most valuable player (MVP) for varsity boys in track and Shawn Long won the award in field.
Carmen George was named track MVP for varsity girls and Kim Montag was field MVP.

Junior varsity track MVP is Kyle O’Neil and field MVP is Aaron Wilkins.
“We had an absolutely amazing season,” commented Coach Walker Vaughn.

“We were CSL champs for the varsity boys and Valley runners-up for the varsity girls.”

Point leaders (total possible 128) for 2004 were Montag with 103 for the girls followed by George with 91; Worstein with 89 for the varsity boys followed by Colt Hardcastle with 66. Tyler Reist led the JV boys with 55 followed by Taylor Pludow with 48.5.

The following won individual league championships in 2004:

George, 100 high hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles. Mon-tag, high jump and 400 meters.

Hardcastle, 3200 meters; Long, discus; Cole McIntosh, 1600 meters; Chris Russell, 800 meters; Worstein, 100 and 200 meters; 400 meter relay (Alec Campbell, Jake Dodderidge, Pat Wilder and Tommy Marsh) and 1600 meter relay (O’Neil, Josh Nunes, Nathan Wilkins and Wilder).

The varsity men were team champions for the second year in a row.
George set a new school record in the 300 intermediate hurdles record; Montag broke the high jump record and the 400 meter relay team set a new school record.

Badgers bring home CIF title
DEREK KETNER
Jake Burns
Yosemite High School pitching ace Jake Burns is shown above pitching earlier this year against Chowchilla. Burns pitched a no-hitter in late May to win the CIF championship for the Badgers. This is the first time in the school’s history that anyone pitched a no-hitter.

Fans couldn’t have asked for a better finish to the baseball season. Yosemite High School Badgers’ pitcher Jake Burns pitched a no-hitter to defeat Kerman 9-0 to capture the CIF championship. This was the first no-hitter in Badger baseball history. This is the fifth CIF championship in the last 10 years.

Burns has been a great all-around player this year. He led his team in batting average (.405), runs batted in (21) and home runs (3). Burns’ pitching was even better. He had a record of 6-3, a 0.95 ERA and 67 strikeouts on the year.

During the game the Badgers quickly pounced on the Lions, taking a 3-0 lead on four hits. The Badgers exploded in the fourth, scoring four runs, giving the Badgers a 7-0 cushion. In the fifth, Blaine Alberta drove in two runs on a single. Alberta finished 2-2 with two runs and three RBI. Derek O’Reilly had three hits and Alex Cano also had two hits.

The Badgers blew away the competition they faced in the playoffs. In the first round the Badgers shut down Shafter 6-0. The Badgers then defeated Tehachapi 9-3 and then defeated Kerman to win the title 9-0.

Hansen praises young golfers;
sees bright future
CARMEN GEORGE

Yosemite High School Boys’ Golf Coach Eric Hansen says his team this year is a “very trustworthy group, with a good group of freshmen.” The team did a remarkable job this season, especially for being faced with the difficult drawbacks of injury and un-returning golfers, he said.

The golf team is composed of primarily freshmen, accounting for eight of the 12 who came out to play this year. “I have some freshmen pretty serious about getting better,” said Hansen. Even with the majority of the team being freshmen, the group took an outstanding victory over one of the teams usually taking second, according to Hansen.

“It’s been fun,” added Hansen, stating that “going out there and relating with the kids,” is one of the best aspects of being a coach.

Junior Ryan Thompson holds the team’s number one seat. “He’s a really nice kid,” said Hansen. Following Thompson in number two is Kyle Porter, one of the team’s exceptional freshmen. Third is Nick Schneider, followed by Kirk Lauterbach and Jayson Schrank. “Both Porter and Lauterbach were consistent freshmen that did well,” commented Hansen.

Agreeing to coach golf was the “Best yes I’ve ever said,” stated Hansen. Since Hansen first became the school’s head golf coach, he has had the opportunity to coach a handful of golfers who have gone onto the pro’s.
Hansen also stated that many local businesses have been more than generous in helping to provide money and advice, including the Men’s Club, Mike Butte and the Sierra Meadows Golf Course.

Hansen will be retiring this year, and is hoping to spend a lot of his free time golfing on the course beside his home in Arizona.

Hansen stated that, “watching them grow as a student and mature as golfers has been a good experience.”

Boys’ tennis doubles team
made it to Valley level
CASSIE HULTMAN

The boys’ tennis team finished the year with a 6-9 record. The number one and two players were Nolan Fitzpatrick and Tim Springer who were on a doubles team and went to the valley championship.

Although they lost that game, Coach Stan Lawrence said they did a good job to get that far.

He also says that this year had a good crop of young players who progressed quickly. There were about 20 players on the team this year, making it the biggest team in the league.

Next year they are going to have a new league with more teams for them to play.

Coach Lawrence is hoping to have a tennis night this summer so that all the kids can come out and play.

Coach calls softball team most successful since ‘97
MALISSA TRENHOLM

“This was the most successful Yosemite High School softball team since 1997,” said Matt Skeahan, the varsity girls’ softball head coach, “which was the last time we made the finals.”

The team’s overall record was 17-13-1, with a win against Dinuba (2-1), in the first game of the playoffs. In the semifinals, the team lost in the bottom of the seventh.

According to Skeahan, the top players this year include Kaelyn Yoder, Jillian Howard, Veronica Gordon, Sharon Barr and Colleen Hackworth. He also added that Barr and Gordon were titled first team all-league.

“With nine freshmen and sophomores this year, we should be a very strong team next year,” added Skeahan.

Senior staffers’ reflections

High school filled with wonderful memories
VANESSA FIERSTADT

Four years, didn’t it go by in a blink, I sit here and wonder where it all went, and all the memories I will have forever. I can remember my freshman year as if it were yesterday, the beginning of it all. I remember all of the friends I met, and to this day I still have connections with many of them.

I am glad to be graduating, and going on with my life, but, yes, still I am sad, sad to be leaving what I have practically lived for the last four years. I will miss the faces. All of the good times, all of the bad, and everything in-between. The teachers who have guided me through, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I cannot believe this is it, the end, and yet the beginning.
As I write this, so many memories are flashing by me, I remember riding the bus as a freshman, knowing who you would sit with once you got on, it seems so long ago. Eventually one by one we stopped riding the bus, as the excitement of getting our license came into reality.

Eating on campus, in the student park on “our bench,” to now, going off campus everyday. I miss it sometimes. The football games with the girls, going out and just having fun, the chilly winter mornings, bundling up, sometimes with much excitement to find we had a snow day.

I have learned so many things along this journey, so many situations, so many people, you learn who you really are, and you somehow morph into a butterfly without even noticing the changes, and then one day you look in the mirror and stand in awe of the splendor you are, and you just smile.

I don’t regret anything, I feel that we do everything for a reason, act upon what you truly want. I will remember my years here at YHS forever, for so much has happened to me along the way.

I will remember all of the teachers who had that certain aspect about them, making them so different. I will miss the newspaper, for it has been a great deal to me, and always will.

For those younger classmen, some of this journey will go by fast, while other times will drag on for what seems like forever, nevertheless in the closing stages it will seem like a glimmer.

I will never forget the hills, mountains, and rocks we had to walk to get to our classes; all in all it was somewhat like four years of a good work out. I hope to stay in touch with all of my acquaintances, many mean so much to me I can’t even express my feeling.

Although we are leaving YHS, we know that we will someday come back, but more importantly know that we will never forget. So much has taken place here, so many recollections, how could one forget. I will miss everything, and yet beginning a whole new existence. Thank you for the wonderful experiences, and memories. I loved it all.

Caring parents, teachers make all the difference
JESSICA FLIPPEN

I have learned to eat solid food, and am no longer a babe. God has matured me from a state of doubt and fear to the peace of confidence in Christ. I also grew as an individual while at Yosemite High School.

In Mrs. Ward’s journalism class, I learned courtesy and professional mannerism while covering stories, and the importance of respect on the job and in day-to-day life. I have taken up writing again, and because of her encouragement will pursue a career of technical writing.

Mr. Barnett made physics a fun experience. The simplicity with which he presented complicated scientific ideas is admir-able. His classes provide ample opportunity for hands-on experience, including measuring g-force with handheld meters on Magic Mountain’s supercoasters. We learned why green light is filtered in night vision goggles, and, while using an astronomy program, reconstructed the photos of nebulas, galaxies and star-clusters.
I also thank Mr. Skeahan for teaching me how to think independently, spur of the moment, without rehearsed speech or action. I enjoyed his culture day projects. I made a traditional Indian curry, and watched Mon-soon Wedding, a beautiful film rich with Indian culture.

Mr. Miller, enjoy your retirement. You are still one of my fav-orite teachers.
It’s difficult to say goodbye to all my friends in Lori Blate’s class. Just seeing them run out to greet me makes my day, every day.

I plan to go to Fresno State and double major in chemistry and journalism. After college, I hope to become a public relations specialist for a scientific company.

I couldn’t have succeeded in school without my parents’ constant support. What motivates me? It’s because they care.

High school will be over before you know it
MEGAN SPANGLER

Graduating from high school is something I have looked forward to my whole life. It always seemed so far away, like it couldn't get here fast enough. But now, sometimes I wish I could hold it off; make these last days last just a little bit longer, make that moment that I walk across the stage wait just one more minute even.

High school has gone by so fast. Each year has gone by just a little bit faster than the year before. Each year brought new friends and new memories. The friends came and went but the memories will remain forever. Maybe not in as much detail as they are now, but just the same, there will be the memories. That’s what you hold onto, right?

Sometimes, when I look back on the last four years, there are things that I wish I could change. There are things that I would have said or done differently. There are things that I regret doing and not doing, but you can’t change the past. You can only look to the future and know not to do those same things next time around if you get put in a similar situation.

Even though I have wanted to get out of this school since I was a freshman, I will definitely miss this place.

I will miss all the familiar faces. I will miss the teachers, even the ones that I really didn’t like for one reason or another. I will miss my friends, most of whom I will probably never talk to again.

Even more than missing friends, I will miss a couple of teachers and staff members the most of all. There are three or four who stick out in my mind; they pushed me from day one to be the best that I could. They gave me advice even if I didn’t always listen to what they were telling me, and they were always there for me when I felt like I had no place else to go.

So, to whoever is reading this, I am going to leave you with one piece of advice: Make sure that whatever you do, you know you won’t regret it. Make sure that you always have fun and make the best of high school. It will be over before you know it.

Wide variety of Senior Projects
KATIE WIGLEY

Senior Projects were completed this week with the last of the oral presentations. This year, the senior class had a wide variety of projects.

For his project, Nathan Barnes went to Mazzei flight school in Fresno, intending to become a pilot. He worked very fast to get his $10,000 loan to help pay for his license. He will have five licenses total after training. For all five, it roughly cost $50,000. Barnes says that the entire time he is up in the air flying a helicopter, he has a smile on his face. He says, “It’s an amazing feeling.”

Ashley Vetter took ballroom dancing lessons for 12 weeks at the Cynthia Merrill School of Performing Arts in Fresno. The class consisted of about 20 couples, all at about 70 years of age. Vetter says it was fun to be the only young person in the class. The class was every Thursday at 7 p.m. from September 17 to February 10. Vetter says that if she had the chance, she would definitely do it again.

Hollie Shreve gave the idea of Guide Dogs a new meaning. For her senior project, she went to another level with her pooch. Shreve and her mentor (mom) decided to take their dog to San Joaquin Gardens Convalescent hospital. The dog was about six months old, and had acted like she had done it every day of her life. She was calm and sat next to people in wheelchairs, walkers, and canes without getting in their way.
Shreve explained that it was a very good project for her and her dog because it taught them both how to act better around people with disabilities.

Khade’s Vengeance is a book written by Richard Batey for his senior project. The book takes place in the age where guns were slowly coming into play. However, throughout the era, people used swords, bows and arrows.

His main character was a young prince who was celebrating his sixth birthday when his kingdom fell under a brutal massacre. The king had died protecting his only son. Sixteen years later, the prince had become the Legendary Mercenary Khade of the Fireheart.

Batey has not finished his novel completely, but will be happy to lend the book to anyone who wishes to read it when he finishes.

Students receive $120,000 at community awards

JEANNE RATCHFORD
Many students in the Class of 2004 received community awards at the annual event held in mid-May. Approximately $120,000 was awarded by local businesses, organizations, clubs, schools, churches and individuals.

Community awards totaling approximately $120,000 were given to Yosemite High School seniors in May. These awards are given by service clubs, churches, organizations, businesses, individuals and schools.
Counseling technician Jeanne Ratchford is in charge of the awards program.

Donors and recipients for 2004 are:
49 Ears (Disney), Robert Ratchford.
Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), Mariposa / Madera Counties, Alexander Cano.
Barbara Banich Memorial, Marissa Martin.
Bass Lake Lions, Robert Ratchford and Kyle Howard.
Dakota Lea Nelson Bradford Memorial, Rosemarie Samuels.
William Beau Bushman Memorial, Laramie Rose.
Challenge Day, Rosemarie Samuels and Robert Ratchford.
E Clampus Vitus (Clampers) Danny Goldbeck Memorial, Jacqueline Hirahara.
Coarsegold Elementary School Teachers’ Association, Jodi Smith and Kevin Sischo.
Coarsegold Market, Janelle Moylan and Melinda Aubin.
Coarsegold Market employees, Cori Dooman, Kaelyn Yoder and Keryn Nicholson.
California School Employees' Association (CSEA) - Yosemite High School, Rosemarie Sam-uels and Robert Ratchford.
Darin M. Camarena Health Centers, Inc., Marissa Martin.
Dorsey’s Hallmark, Jessie Moore.
El Capitan Education Foundation, Nicole Ball, Kevin Sischo, Jessica Schiller, Brian Gearhart, Karey Franklin, Lacy Abbott, Destinee Murray, Melody Simon and Analyse Johnson.
Wilma Ely Memorial, Kira Martin.
Goldmine Jewelers, Anna Larson.
Grant Mercantile, Andrew Medley, Clay Russell, Evelyn Livermore and Kimberly Mon-tag.
Heidi’s 1 HR Photo, Kevin Sischo.
HOLIDAYS, Kristina Stork.
Dennis Jones, DDS, Marissa Martin and Hollie Shreve.
Kiwanis Club Key Club, Kyle Howard and Samuel Cabras.
Kiwanis Club Ag, Kaley Franklin.
Kiwanis Club Vocational, Amy Scott.
Kiwanis Club Open, Jessie Moore and Ashley Vetter.
Ladies of the Lake - Yosemite Lakes Park, Chelsea Adair, Brandon Wright, Amanda Hinkle, Kristina Stork, Andrea Mowrer, Jessica Muzychenko, Hollie Shreve and Chase Solaegui.
Lions Club (Devere Will-iams), Hollie Shreve.
Lions Club (Jesse Love), Melanie Johnson.
Lions Club (Red Havens), Kaelyn Yoder.
Live Oak Associates, Heather Plumb.
Madera Auto, Brian Gearhart and Amanda Canning.
Madera Auto - Spirit of Oak-hurst, Kaelyn Yoder.
Madera County Arts Coun-cil, Kristina Stork.
Madera County Farm Bur-eau, Heather Plumb.
Madera County Office of Education, Michael Cole.
Madera County Retired Teachers, Amy Scott.
Manna House, Samuel Cab-ras.
Marine Corps League, Ev-elyn Livermore.
Dave Nemeth, CFP, Burke Wardle.
New Community - United Methodist Church, Amy Scott.
North Fork Women’s Club, Jessie Moore.
North Fork Gerald Smith Native American Award, Jessie Moore.
North Fork Gerald Smith Memorial, Jessica Flippen.
Oak Creek Intermediate School, Kyle Mosher and Timothy Williams.
Oakhurst Elementary School, Garrett Tompkins, Zachary Presho and Samantha Hunt.
Oakhurst Sierra Rotary Club, Ashley Vetter, Marissa Martin, Alexander Cano, Karey Franklin, Kaley Franklin, Brandon Brown and Jacob Lownsbury.
Oakhurst Sierra Rotary Club - Sunrise, Andrew Medley, Timothy Williams, Amy Scott and Heather Plumb.
Oakhurst Sierra Rotary Club - Sunrise (Interact), Alexander Cano.
Our Lady of the Sierra Women’s Guild, Jessica Tucker and Hollie Shreve.
Pines Resort, Rosemarie Samuels and Ashley Vetter.
Positive Attitude Award, Damian Menear.
Positive Living Center (Ruth Ross Memorial), Evelyn Liver-more and Rosemarie Samuels.
Donna Pride, Damian Me-near.
Raymond Knowles Com-munity Association, Shayn Sam-bueso and Amber Dowling.
Raymond Knowles Elemen-tary, Britnee Grahlman.
Round Table Pizza, Matthew Stephens.
Eric Seger Memorial, Jillian Howard and Andrea Mowrer.
Service Organization of the Sierra, Brian Gearhart, Rose-marie Samuels, Alexander Cano, Robert Ratchford, Hollie Shreve, Jessica Stanphill, Brian Troutner and Jessica Tucker.
Sierra Ambulance, Nathan McLachlin, Hollie Shreve and Jessica Tucker.
Sierra Cellular, Kyle Mosher.
Sierra Telephone, Ivan Tom-azin.
Sierra Tel Business Center, Andrew Medley.
Sierra Tel Business Systems, Robert Ratchford.
Sierra Tel Internet, Kaley Franklin.
Sierra Tel Long Distance, Dylan Andrews.
Harry and Marie Baker Memorial, Ashley Vetter.
Sierra Tel Communications Group - Employee, Courtney Aiello, Melinda Aubin, Nick Flanders, Josh Herr, Danielle Kail, Heather Norman and Lauren Wagner.
Sierra-Yosemite Tennis Club, Brandon Wright and Kimberly Montag.
Gerald A. Smith Memorial, Jonathan Nickel, Timothy Springer, Jacob Van Meter, Jen-nifer MacLaggan, Kayce Jones and Casey Wolters.
Soroptimist International of the Sierras, Inc., Jacqueline Hirahara, Amanda Canning, Jessie Moore and Hollie Shreve.
Squirrel Cage Theatre, Cody Campbell and Robert Ratchford.
Swortzel Trust, Vanessa Fier-stadt, Brittany Gorman, Nich-olas De La Torre and Jessica Rybaczyk.
Swortzel - Hope Scholarship, Kyle Mosher.
Tenaya Lodge, Zachary Presho, Amanda Hinkle and Anna Larson.
United Way - Oakhurst, Hol-lie Shreve.
Vision Academy of the Arts - Music, Amy Scott.
Vision Academy of the Arts - Drama, Robert Ratchford.
Vision Academy of the Arts - Music / Drama, Analyse John-son.
Vision Academy of the Arts - Dance, Melanie Johnson.
Vision Academy of the Arts -Art, Katie Hartesveldt, Julie Ruddock and Kaelyn Yoder.
Billy Vukovich III Memorial, Marissa Martin, Alexander Cano, Matthew Stephens and Ivan Tomazin.
Wasuma Elementary School, Andrew Medley.
Watkins & Collings, Sam-antha Hunt.
Werner Family Limited Part-nership, Taryn Porter, Jessica Muzychenko, Nichole Perrin, Kaelyn Yoder, Jessica Flippen, Samantha Hunt, Brian Troutner and Andrea Mowrer.
Western Sierra Nursery, Ka-ley Franklin.
Wild Wonderful Women, Ashley Vetter.
Yosemite Bank, Zachary Presho and Ashley Vetter.
Yosemite Gateway Associ-ation of Realtors, Timothy Will-iams, Alexander Cano, Jessica Tucker, Hollie Shreve, Lacy Abbott and Marissa Martin.
Yosemite Leadership, Mel-anie Johnson, Jessica Muzy-chenko, Miles Church and Kaley Franklin.
Yosemite Teachers’ Associ-ation, Jessica Tucker.
Yosemite Youth Basketball Association, Jacob Dodderidge and Dustin Seib.

Forensics students learn to use science to solve crimes; many plan careers in field
SIDNEY MOE

For the first time this year, YHS offered a forensic class. Teacher Carole Calderwood said the class is mainly lab work such as blood splatter, ballistics, fiber and hair analysis, handwriting analysis and finger printing.
The main purpose of this class is for students to use science to solve crimes. The goal was to design crime scene for kids to solve on their own.

The class visited the forensic lab in Fresno State. Also, they had a district attorney work with them to show them how to collect evidence without making an illegal search and seizure and how to argue to have evidence admitted.

Calderwood says the class is very hands-on with students figuring out how to solve a crime and how to collect evidence.

Grades in the class are based mainly on participation. Because of the hands-on nature of the program there are not many tests.

Calderwood said the students got very involved in the class and many now want to go into the forensics field. Others are looking at how they could get into the FBI.

The teacher said she learned as she went along and she took a course through Duke University.

“It’s been a blast with the kids,” she said. She found DNA analysis “very neat.”

Some of her students did their Senior Project on some area of forensics.
Most of the students in the class this year were seniors and the rest were juniors. There are some required science classes before a student can enroll in forensics.

The class meets an elective requirement for University of California / California State University admission.

There were 25 students in the class this year but not enough signed up this spring for it to be offered next year, however Calderwood said it may be back in 2005-06 if there is a demand for it.

Retiring staff members recall their YHS careers

Eric Hansen was an original staff member when YHS opened in 1976
CARMEN GEORGE

Yosemite High School veteran teacher Eric Hansen will be retiring this year after teaching at the high school for 28 years. Hansen has been a part of the high school since YHS first opened in 1976, and is currently teaching biology and is the coach for the boys’ golf team. During his years at YHS, Hansen has taught nearly 8,000 students.

“I enjoy watching kids grow, achieve and go on with their lives,” said Hansen, adding that it is also rewarding as a teacher to bump into people who had previously been his students and to hear their gratitude. Nine teachers currently at YHS were Hansen’s students. He stated, “It has been fun to see kids go through our system and become successful.”

Besides teaching biology and golf, Hansen has also taught physical education, general science, math, astronomy, oceanography, drivers’ training and drivers’ education and photography and was the high school’s first football, wrestling and girls’ golf coach. He is also responsible for starting the league’s first girls’ golf program. After only three years of the high school being open, Hansen’s football team took Yosemite’s first championship; soon following with two other championships under Hansen’s coaching. His boys’ golf teams also took three championships.

Hansen first discovered his passion for teaching after returning from 13 months in Vietnam and was asked to speak to a classroom of children. “I liked the kids’ feedback and talking back and forth with them,” said Hansen. Although Hansen had not previously planned on attending college, that experience and his wife helped lead him to decide to enroll at Cal State University Long Beach. Once enrolled, he quickly made the Dean’s List and later received his Master’s Degree in education and his administrative credential. Hansen was the first in his family to go through college. “In becoming a teacher, my wife was a big influence,” stated Hansen.

Hansen and his wife, Beverly, have been married 38 years, and started out as high school sweethearts. Beverly, like Hansen, is also a teacher. Hansen has two sons, Eydin and Ryan, and two granddaughters, Lauren and Reilly.
Hansen’s oldest son, Eydin, is an aerospace physiologist, which was largely the result of Hansen’s own love of flying.

Hansen’s “love of the air” led him to get his pilot’s license in 1967, when flying quickly became one of his favorite pastimes. Hansen also enjoys sailing, riding his Harley and scuba diving, all of which he plans to enjoy during his retirement. Hansen’s scuba diving led him to rescue and retrieve nearly 30 boats that had sunk to the bottom of various lakes. Hansen also plans to spend a lot of time golfing, because he has a house in Arizona right on a golf course. He and his wife also plan on taking a trip in their motor home around the country and into Alaska soon, where they can enjoy their retirement together.

Hansen recalled his days of “football practice with deer at one end of the field,” and the “wall-less classrooms,” that he taught in when he first arrived as a teacher at YHS. “When the school first opened, there were only 72 kids in my general science class, and the classroom was completely open with no desks,” said Hansen, recalling the beginnings of the high school.

Hansen remembered the old policies of YHS, including teachers being called by their first names, smoking being allowed on campus, and the YHS basketball team practicing at Raymond. Hansen even re-called an airplane crashing into the football field, only one of his many experiences as a teacher at YHS. During his first five years he taught physical education and science with Valinda Clevenger.

Besides being involved in education, Hansen was in the military for two years, and during the 13-14 months he was in Vietnam he was also a military scuba diver. Hansen has also worked for U.S Steel, and at the McCulloch Corporation in Los Angeles. He has also worked in construction, and has done plumbing and pipefitting. Hansen recalled his rough start, working full time in a steel mill while his wife was pregnant with their oldest son in order to get them both through college.

“Mr. Hansen is the coolest, he’s the number one teacher, if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be the man I am today,” said sophomore Zack Howard, only one of the many students Hansen has impacted throughout his career as a teacher.

Clevenger says she enjoyed working with Hansen: “I have loved working with Mr. Hansen because he has such integrity and character, I am going to really miss him.”

A smiling Hansen gives some words of wisdom to all of the young people just starting out on their own: “Set your goals, persevere, and never give up.”

Melinda Boren’s co-workers will miss her cheerfulness and her smile
VANESSA FIERSTADT

One of the staff members who will be retiring this year is Melinda Boren. Boren has worked at YHS for seven years, her first three years as a receptionist and the remaining four years as a counseling tech, working with Bob Yohn.

Before she came to YHS, Boren lived in Carmel where she worked at a continuation high school for eight years as an administrative assistant. She moved to the mountain area nine years ago.

Boren states she likes YHS because she loves working with the kids, and she loves this area and “the uniqueness, the isolation of living in the mountains.”

Boren has two children, a daughter who is 22, and a son who is 29. Both have worked on the construction at YHS now for three years.

When Boren spoke about Yohn she stated “He has a great sense of humor and much dedication.”

As for a work schedule, she says “The kids dictate what your daily routine will be.”

“We are now registering the eighth graders, which is so exciting,” she said.
Boren will be leaving YHS to spend more quality time with her family, travel, and simply to “smell the flowers.” She hopes to indulge in her hobbies which include spending time with her grandchild, gardening, hiking, sewing and traveling. She hopes to travel to Canada and Alaska sometime in the near future. Boren said when her husband retires, they have hopes of moving to Maui.

When asked what she will miss most about YHS Boren said it would be the kids and the relationships of her co-workers, “Everyday we laugh in the office, always something new,” she said. She will miss the everyday pace of YHS and the people she meets.

Boren stated “Everyday you help somebody, there will be many memories.” She said her most memorable moment would be “Challenge Day, and the faculty follies pillow girls, it was great fun.”

She went on to say “I will miss Mr. Yohn, Mrs. Clevenger and Mrs. Ratchford. As a whole, we are a unit and a counseling team.” She also mentioned that she will definitely be seen at YHS again in the near future, possibly substituting within the classrooms, or working in the cafeteria.

Boren’s co-workers speak of how they have been so delighted to know and work with her over the years. “I felt so fortunate to work so closely with someone who has been a really good friend. I admire her courage and cheerfulness; she chooses to be happy regardless of what's going on in her life,” Ratchford commented, adding “her excellent whistling skills will be missed as well.”

Clevenger and Yohn both stated that Boren keeps everything so lighthearted. Clevenger said “Melinda Boren has been a sparkling ray of sunshine for students and staff alike, I will miss her humming, singing and whistling, as much as I’ll miss her radiant smile. She is a role model for me in terms of facing hardships and getting through them with grace and dignity.”

Yohn commented that she is an incredible baker, and that she is always upbeat, never failing to brighten up a room. “She is a great listener, she loves being around people,” Yohn said.

Bob Miller remembers challenges of “open space”
classrooms in beginning
BROOKE CATES

Bilbo Baggins Yosemite High will say good-bye to English teacher Bob Miller at the end of the school year. He has spent 27 years here teaching English and, for some years, coaching baseball and football.

When he first started teaching at Yosemite in 1977, he explains that the buildings didn’t have walls. It was called “open space.” Miller says that he got stuck next to a Spanish teacher so he had to listen to the students recite Spanish all day long.

Everyone who has had Miller as a teacher knows he hates poodles and how much he loves to make fun of them. He says the thing he will miss when he leaves Yosemite is “not having someone to tell my poodle stories to!”

He also adds that he will miss joking with all his students and “talking to Mrs. Tarr about her birds at her bird feeder.”

Miller has big plans after he retires. He says he wants to be an astronaut; he wants to join a program called the “First Poet in Space.”

Miller wants to leave the school with these last words:
“Go Badgers!”

Linda Robison loves seeing students get
excited about their capabilities
MALISSA TRENHOLM

“I love watching students solve problems, and seeing them get excited when realizing they have the capabilities to do it. I like seeing the energy and how solving problems engages students,” said Linda Robison, Yosemite High School EAST, web page design, computer technology, learning strategies teacher, and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) advisor.

After 20 years of serving as an FBLA advisor at Mariposa High School as well as at Yosemite High School, many years of teaching, and accounting and business work at different offices in Oakhurst, such as Sierra Online, Robison plans to retire this year.

Robison stated that some highlights of her teaching career are being able to teach with her husband, having her daughter as a student, taking students to national competitions held in Washington D.C., working with “fun people” such as Consuelo Mercier and Bob Collins, having a great FBLA group this year, and of course being awarded FBLA advisor of the year in 2004.

When asked what she thought has been the biggest change in education, Robison replied by saying the technology has changed. She also stated education “has gone from teachers delivering information to where students are more involved in learning, and there is a lot more interaction because students are now given the tools and asked to solve a problem on their own.”

A funny story that Robison recalls on her first day of being a teacher was that she had been late to class instead of her students. While in her classroom, Robison was reciting her lecture when she had noticed it was very quiet outside. After looking outside and not seeing her students anywhere, she went to her other classroom and saw the principal and her class there. Minutes later the principal said, “Mrs. Robison will now give you a lecture on why it is important not to be late to class.” Apparently Robison had not been warned the schedules were changed.

“There have been many memorable times during my teaching career, so choosing one most memorable is very difficult,” smiled Robison when asked what was the most memorable aspect of her career, “but I do know that I would not trade the time that my daughter was a student at Yosemite. It was great to be able to experience her high school years together, and what a joy it was to personally hand her diploma to her at graduation.”

Robison has been married for 36 years, has one daughter, Jennifer, who is married to Daniel Prescott. Mr. and Mrs. Prescott have one daughter whom Robison feels is “the best granddaughter around.”

Now that Robison is retiring, she stated her plans are to still work at YHS part time for one year. She will teach EAST, web page design, and advise FBLA. She also plans to do things around the house, visit her daughter, read, garden, enjoy her free time and “sit and daydream.”

Robison said the thing she will miss most about teaching will be the students. She said she loves the interaction and the fact that they bring a lot of laughs and amazement in her life. What she will miss the least is grading and the constant paperwork.

Robison would like to thank her husband for helping her get where she is today. “He always supported me and encouraged me to get my teaching credential.” She would also like to thank a principal she has worked with in the past as well as a doctor she had worked with because “they encouraged me to speak out and they let me know I had a lot of ability.”

Robison was the first student teacher at YHS and Steve Raupp was her master teacher so she would like to thank him as well as all “the great colleagues” she works with and has worked with in the past for being so supportive and encouraging. Finally, she would like to thank the FBLA students this year because “they have made this year a very special year,” she said. “They have been a group of students who want to be involved in the community. They are an inspiration to watch, and they made me have a great last year.”

Karen Price praised by peers for her “calmness and professionalism”
MEGAN SPANGLER

After 17 years, Karen Price is retiring at the end of this school year. In her 17 years at Yosemite, the biggest change she has seen is the requirements for the students, such as passing algebra to graduate.

She says her biggest highlight has been “seeing the progress in the special ed students.” When Price retires as a paraeducator at YHS, she and her husband will be living in Crescent City for six months out of the year. She will spend her time in Crescent City fishing, painting, doing genealogy and just enjoying life.

The other six months, Price will be spending here.

Before Price was an employee of YHS she was a volunteer. She volunteered two days a week for two years. She started volunteering because her foster son was having problems in school.

Price also worked in the library.

She started as a tutor for students who hadn’t passed the high school proficiency test. Then Price worked in the cafeteria for four years as well as helping in special education.

Price has spent part of her time in the classroom with students who need special assistance. Teachers have praised her for her patience and “her desire to help anyone who needs it, her support and her attitude.”

Price collects items from World War I and has shared them with classes.
Rebecca Hardison, who has had Price assist in her World History class, said she donated an antique sterioptican with World War I slides to her class and has also shared letters. photos and postcards.

“She has been a great help and role model for me this year and I have really enjoyed working with Karen,” Hardison said.

Another teacher mentioned that Price has the ability to calm students and to work well with them. The students respond to her caring attitude, the teacher said.

Her co-workers call her professional, efficient, calm and very caring.

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