ASH/Centric January 2021

JANUARY 2021

ASH CENTRIC MAGAZINE

ASH/CENTRIC MAGAZINE STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: MRS. DOWNEY A S S I S TA N T M A N A G I N G E D I T O R : A S H LY N N B .

2 0 2 1 I L L U S T R AT I O N : AY D E N T. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: AMELIA M. KARLEE K. HETTIE M. E M I LY H .

ELIZABETH D. COLIN M.

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY LEAD PHOTOGRAPHERS: J A C O B F. E M I LY F. COLIN M. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: J O S I A H W. ELIZABETH D. BETHANY R. EMMA B.

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CONTENTS

Getting Technical with Robotics Resolutions in 2021

Troydolls

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How Soccer is Kicking

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Mr.Babin: A New Chapter

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Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Stephen Caplan

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Football's Journey

Martin Luther King, Jr. Inspiration

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Happy New Year Illustration

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Soccer's Kickoff With the new year, boys and girls soccer teams have been playing fierce opponents and showing their tenacity. Their seasons wrap up at the end of this month, and the playoffs will soon follow.

Photos by: Josiah W.

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ROB OTIC S UPDATE T H I S C R E AT I V E G R O U P C O M E S TO G E T H E R S T R O N G E R I N 2 0 2 1 .

Problem Solving. Going from Point A to Point B. Building friendships around a shared interest.

These components are the driving forces behind the ASH Robotics Team. Mr. Scott Babin, who now oversees this club at ASH, is hoping that students find joy in the process of building and testing more than just focusing on winning a tournament.

For the new year, the first all-girls team from ASH competed in a tournament. There are only three returning members to the club, so this year will be one of new growth and development. “I joined the Robotics Team to gain practical knowledge since I’m pursuing a degree in Engineering at Louisiana Tech next year. I feel like I’m also exercising my brain,” senior Jacob Guerie said.

“Students are learning about torque, gear ratio, and mechanics,” Babin said. Moreover, students are able to explore engineering in a meaningful way.

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A NEW CHAPTER

M AT H T E AC H E R , M R . S C OT T B A B I N , E M B A R K S O N H I S T E AC H I N G J O U R N E Y. Written by: Ashlynn B. Photos by: Jacob F.

After dropping his five children off at their schools for the past several years, Scott Babin himself walks into a school building to serve as a teacher for the first time this semester. Babin, who is taking Ms. Julia James’s position is set to teach dual-enrollment Advanced Math courses and oversee the ASH Robotics program.

For the past 17 years, Babin has taken care of his five children as a stay-at-home dad. But as his kids grew up, he became interested in pursuing a new path. Babin was originally studying engineering, but while in school, he fell in love with the mathematical aspects of the field. He soon realized that math was a passion of his and wanted to share that with others.

In high school Babin states that he was never good at math and that he always thought it was boring. However, he later discovered “how cool and interesting it can be.”

“My hope is that students get over the whole stigma that math is boring” Babin said.

His students in his class can expect high standards but also an understanding teacher who is ready to help them achieve new goals.

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F O O T B A L L' S JOURNEY TO THE S TAT E CHAMPIONSHIP The Trojans persevered through a challenging season and rose to the top of the ranks in Louisiana football. On December 30, 2020, the team traveled to Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, La. to play in the final round of the playoffs.

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[Image 1] Coaches gather to pray prior to the start of the game.

[Image 2] The band, Troydolls, and flagline perform at halftime.

[Image 3] The band and flags perform to "All of the Lights" by Kanye West.

[Image 4] The Troydolls prepare for the halftime show during the State Championship Game.

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Players loaded buses and drove down Jackson Street where Trojan fans waved and cheered on the team.

CJ Kittling was named ASH's Most Outstanding Player.

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THE TROYDOLLS ASH's danceline prepares for their upcoming competition season.

By: Amelia M. The Troydolls have been working hard since August of 2020 on three dances that they plan to perform at competition. They will be competing in Nationals for American All-Star on February 13, 2021 in Baton Rouge, La. The danceline captain, Madelina Trevino, states,� The Troydolls have been working hard to maintain their winning tradition of excellence and are ready to finally get back to competition.�

They have been perfecting and learning these dances: Jazz, Hip Hop, and a Contemporary routine. The girls are hoping for a first place trophy to bring back to Alexandria Senior High School.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: DR. STEPHEN CAPLAN By: Elizabeth D. Stephen Caplan sits with his parents as a kid at a Rapides Symphony Orchestra concert; this is where his interest in music is ignited. Since his parents were huge supporters of the arts, Caplan finds himself in the audience frequently as a child.

While listening to the variety of different types of instruments, the oboe stands out to him the most when a visiting player and professor from LSU joins the symphony as a guest.

With not many local oboists to emulate, Caplan becomes more intrigued with the instrument. Eventually his interest in the oboe results in him practicing with the ASH Band in preparation for a trip to Austria, since the band needed an oboe player.

“I think I attended ASH for five years,” Caplan said jokingly. He began working with the band in 8th grade as a student at Brame Middle School. He continued to play music at ASH throughout his high school career.

Caplan graduated from Alexandria Senior High School in 1976 and attended Northwestern University in Chicago, a strong liberal arts college where he pursued music at the collegiate level.

After college, Caplan earned his doctorate from the University of Michigan. Caplan was encouraged to pursue doctoral studies there after taking lessons from a professor, whom he admired at the university.

Before finishing his degree, he was offered his first teaching position at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. As a professor at UNLV, Caplan was then hired as the Principal Oboist in the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

As a Principal Oboist and Professor, Caplan has earned many impressive credentials throughout his career. “Living and working in Las Vegas has given me lots of opportunities to collaborate with artists that I may not otherwise have the chance to meet,” Caplan said.

“Working with Ray Charles and Hilary Hahn have been some of the highlights. I’ve also been asked to play at the Vegas Star Trek Convention, which somehow always falls after the costume party. It’s a fun experience,” Caplan said.

Caplan not only is involved in the music industry, but he has also authored two books and a website that teaches people how to move their body properly while playing. In addition to his books and videos, he also publishes articles regularly.

“You must commit your time to learning, practicing, and perfecting the music,” Caplan says as he considers the best pieces of advice for a student pursuing a career in the arts. “If you love something you must commit to it and work with as many people as you can in that particular field.”

Caplan’s passion for music and commitment to education is evidenced in his large body of work as well as in the joy he exudes when speaking about his endeavors.

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[Image 1] Dr. Stephen Caplan practices the oboe as a student at Alexandria Senior High School.

[Image 2] Dr. Caplan serves as the Principal Oboist for the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

[Image 3] Dr. Caplan visits Austria with the ASH Band in 1972 under the direction of Mr. Jerry Payne.

[Image 4] The album cover of the ASH Band in Austria Concert Band & Jazz Ensemble Recording.

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