VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 8
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Deployed for Christmas PBA student vets urge others to give back to the troops this Christmas season with care packages. Page 4
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012 MONDAY, MONDAY,NOVEMBER DECEMBER 3, 5, 2012
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LOCAL NEWS Wellington’s Olympic sport
PHOTO BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON
Training grounds: “No one from Canada has done really well at the Olympic level for dressage,” she said. “But I would like to break that tradition.”
to 10 (exemplary). The score for each movement is based on the precision and quality of each movement.
PHOTO BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON
Meeting Jerry:“Even after having Jerry for two years, I feel a bit intimidated when I’m not on him because he’s so large and horses are unpredictable,” Geller said.
Dressage, an equine sport that reflects the altheticsim of the horse and rider, is widely popular in Wellington. By Nicole Saunders Staff Writer Esther Geller is greeted by a familiar scent in the stable: the combination of hay, horses, and leather. She begins by putting on the saddle and bridle, leads the horse outside, puts her left foot into the stirrup, and pulls herself up. In that moment, Geller is reminded of the team-like bond she shares with Jerry, her chestnut horse. “Even after having Jerry for two years, I feel a bit intimidated when I’m not on him because he’s so large and horses are unpredictable,” Geller said. “But the moment I’m hoisted on his back, we feel a connection; alone we’re just a rider and a horse, but together we’re a graceful duo having fun.” Geller is an active participant in dressage, now the basis of all equine disciplines that reflects the athleticism and dedication of horse and the rider. For six days out of the week, you can find Geller and Jerry, also known as Diamond Geezer during competitions, riding at Still Point Farm
in Wellington Fla., the winter equine capital of the world. During her time at a university in Canada, Geller would take her spring semesters off to train for and compete in dressage competitions in Wellington. Geller would later transfer to Palm Beach Atlantic University in order to be able to be a full-time student while training simultaneously. Learning the rules The United States Dressage Federation and the Federation Equestre International - the national and international dressage governing bodies - release a different standardized test every four years. The riders learn the written portion of the exam and then practices the expected movements with their horses. The three basic paces in dressage are a walk, trot, and canter, which are later developed into upper-level movements such as pirouettes and piaffes. During a dressage competition, the horse and rider perform a series of movements that vary in length and difficulty and are graded on a scale of 0 (incomplete)
Looking at the roots The traditions of dressage date back thousands of years to the ancient Greek historian Xenophon, a student of Socrates, who developed dressage as a method to train horses for battle. Choosing a horse Riders choose a horse they are most comfortable with, usually based on the rider’s and horse’s body types. “Choosing a horse that is not your style is like seeing a extremely tall man in a small car,” Geller said. “He may want to look and even think he looks good, but in the end the right mix is not there. Most riders aren’t given their horse, and even if they are the rider makes a conscious decision whether they want the particular horse or not, similar to how we pick friends. You have to get along well, of course not in a romantic way, but you have to find the right mixture; the horse is your friend and together you are teammates.” Geller’s horse was chosen by his original owners from Great Britain. “Usually if the father horse is a relatively famous stallion they keep a part of the name, either with a prefix or even just the first letter of the sire’s name,” she said. “His father’s name was Diamond Hit. In England, Geezer means flamboyant man.” Family talent “Most of the riders at the top of their game are at least in their late 30s or early 40s; it takes so long to gain enough experience to have enough self control to be a really good dressage rider,” Geller said. Geller took an interest in the
sport when she rode her mother’s semi-retired top-level horse. “I felt an instant connection to the sport,” she said. “I could do dressage movements you can only do at the upper level because the horse knew all the movements and I finally realized my true calling in the sport; I guess you could say I was a bit naturally predisposed to it.” This past winter season Geller took Jerry into the Young Rider Grand Prix, a top-level competi-
tion for riders under 25 years of age. “I chose to compete in it because it is an ‘easier’ Olympic level competition and I could get my feet wet,” she said. Geller has her sights set on the upper-echelon in dressage - the Olympics. “No one from Canada has done really well at the Olympic level for dressage,” she said. “But I would like to break that tradition.”
PHOTO BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON
Learning Dressage: The three basic paces in dressage are a walk, trot, and canter, which are later developed into upper-level movements such as pirouettes and piaffes.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012
Paddleboarding Palm Beach Originating from the Ancient Hawaiians, paddleboarding has made its way to Florida - with increasing popularity. By Cash W. Lambert Local News Editor In the global surf community, Florida is known as a peninsula that lacks consistent, surfable waves. Swell will pound the state’s sandbars early in the morning and dissipate by the afternoon, leaving the ocean calm and flat. Because of the ocean’s fickle nature, a new sport has exploded up and down the coast with popularity – stand up paddleboarding. “Florida is a state with the most coastline other than Alaska in the United States,” said Scotty Bumbalough, owner of Maui B’s Standup Paddleboards in Orlando. With so much coast, it was only a matter of time before paddleboarding hit Floridians.
Paddleboarding, just like surfing, began as an ancient practice in Hawaii. Paddleboards are essentially surfboards, except much larger. The most popular boards range from 9 to11 feet, and, just as in surfing, the bigger the board, the easier it is to balance on. Ancient Hawaiians would stand on the board and use a paddle for movement. Visit Hawaii today, and the locals, like their ancestors, are still using paddleboards for exercise, travel or surfing. Just like with surfing, the sport found its way to California, and then to Florida. “Years ago when I would paddleboard, it was common for a person to see me, stop their car, and ask me if I was standing on a kayak, canoe, or surfboard,” said Bumbalough. Bumbalough became infatuated with paddleboarding on a short stay in Hawaii, and moved to Florida to find that very few people knew what it was in 2006. “Once I stood up on a paddleboard, I didn’t want to lay back down on a surfboard,” he said. Bumbalough couldn’t find anyone to sell him a paddleboard in Florida. “I had already seen the sport in Hawaii and on the West Coast, and I anticipated that it would become big,” he said. Bumbalough created his shop in 2007 and watched as the sport caught on. “With paddleboarding, people
“Once I stood up on a paddleboard, I didn’t want to lay back down on a surfboard.” - Scott Bumbalough
“I started paddleboarding as an alternative to surfing,” said Rick Raymond, owner of Palm Beach Paddleboards. “To surf, you have to have waves. With paddleboarding, you don’t. You can do it on flat water.”
PHOTO BY CASH W. LAMBERT
Spending time on the water: Kyle Igneri, owner of Paddleboarding Palm Beach, meanders through docks near Singer Island. “Working out on a board increases stability, strengthens the core,” he said.
are finding out that you can do it anywhere,” said Raymond. Not only can you paddle on flat water or the ocean; several paddleboard shops have fitness classes where people perform workouts on the board. “It’s an alternative to going to the gym,” said Raymond. If paddling on flat water isn’t enough, customers in classes perform exercises ranging from yoga to core workouts. “Workouts on paddleboards incorporate land exercises, the board, and the water, all in one,” said Kyle Igneri, owner of Paddleboarding Palm Beach. “It’s low impact and high cardio. Working out on a board increases stability, and strengthens the core.” According to Raymond, older
Festival of Trees
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANN NORTON SCULPTURE GARDENS Christmas Spirit: Themed trees in past events included a Seseme Street tree, above, and a pirate tree, top, both from 2009. An ice cream tree was in display in 2011, right.
surfers have switched to paddleboarding because of health issues. “Some older guys can’t pop up on a surfboard, so instead they just stand. It’s an alterative form of surfing for them,” he said. “If there’s no waves, but you go out and paddleboard, you still get that great feeling of being nature and an endorphin rush that you get from surfing,” said Bumbalough. In Palm Beach, that endorphin rush can be experienced in the ocean, around Peanut Island or in the endless waterways created by mangroves in the Intracoastal Waterway. “Paddleboarding is part of the natural progression of watersports in the state,” said Bumbalough.
By Caroline Case Staff Writer During the first week in December, the tropical greenery of Palm Beach Island is replaced with tall evergreen trees. Crows will gather at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens for the Festival of Trees Dec. 1-9, which showcases an assortment of sparkly gold and dark green Christmas trees as an unmistakable scent of pine fills the air. “We’ll see over 3,000 people this year - It grows every year,” said Pamela Caruso, the community development director of the Sculpture Gardens, who is also in charge of the education programs as well as fundraising for the Gardens. “The Festival of Trees takes over 2,000 volunteer hours from students, performers, decorators, and supporters of the Gardens.” In past events, a wide array of visitors, from toddlers to retired adults, have come from Hobe Sound and Boca to view the trees. Prior to the event, companies or organizations sponsor a tree to be decorated. Top designers of the area volunteer their services to decorate the trees for each company. This year, the festival has 34 trees waiting to be prepped and pampered. Pop Physique is
PHOTO BY CASH W. LAMBERT Renting an adventure: Paddlebaords can be purchased or rented from many of the local shops.
the key presenting sponsor, and the theme of the trees this year in decorating is “A Musical Masterpiece.” Each sponsor picks a song or a genre of music for the tree that is to be decorated. Chad Renfro, a local interior designer in Palm Beach, who has been involved with the festival since its inception, will base a tree off of the song “The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy” from the Nutcracker. He plans to decorate his tree with candy and gingerbread cookies in order to create a delicious-looking Christmas tree. Other tree themes this year include the genre Bollywood, the songs “Love Shack,” “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Put the Lime in the Coconut.” “Designing is a timely process,” he said. “And because we’re in a tropical environment, we don’t get to see the sort of holiday things you might see in other areas with a winter climate.” For the nonprofit sculpture gardens, the event is a way to raise funds for the work that the Gardens does for Palm Beach County. “The Festival of Trees helps carve out a niche for ourselves,” Caruso said. According to Caruso, “It is magical, fun, and surprising. It is filled with holiday spirit.”
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CAMPUS NEWS
A little bit of home this Christmas to start a ministry to encourage the troops. “They are seeking that little bit of home to assure they are not forgotten,” said Zelner. Fritz said that care packages were a big help for him and the other men he served with for both personal and practical reasons. Though a small jar of peanut butter may mean an everyday snack for civilians, for Fritz, it meant a tastier alternative to the MREs. Baby wipes helped Fritz and others feel cleaner after weeks of patrolling and being at the remote station. The expensive cost of phone calls to the States and lack of Internet made receiving phone cards a great moment for the troops who could not call or contact home otherwise. According to Zelner, other practical items include coffee beans to chew on during late night patrols, Q tips to keep weapons clean and blankets for warmth during the winters.
Packaging God
PHOTO BY CARLEY AMAN
Veteran’s perspective: Rachel Johnson, vice president of the student vets club, takes in the scene at CityPlace, which bustles with shoppers. Johnson has served in Kuwait. “When you are over there,” she said, “you don’t care about Black Friday. You realize all this is just hype.”
Palm Beach Atlantic University’s student veterans are partnering with Forgotten Soldier Outreach, Inc. to prepare care packages for troops overseas. By Chris Hernandez Managing Editor This year, Walmart and other retailers opened their doors early for Black Friday shoppers looking to get in on the sales Thanksgiving Day. According to Deloitte. com, 26 percent of people surveyed said they were going to shop on Thanksgiving instead of on Black Friday. Commercially, U.S. spending has gone up 14 percent since 2010, reaching $9.7 billion in the first 20 days according to a Reuters poll. As people pitched their tents outside of Best Buy, hoping to get the best deals on electronics for the season, ready to splurge on the hottest item out now, U.S. infantrymen pitched a different kind of tent in places like Afghanistan. Remote stations are home during Thanksgiving and Christmas. These stations are
entirely self-sustaining, meaning that the infantry is responsible for its own security, patrols, and rationing its food and other necessities. Michael Fritz, a student at Palm Beach Atlantic University and president of the PBA’s Student Veterans Group, was one of those men when he was deployed to Iraq in 2007 and 2008.
Not your average holiday
Thanksgiving and Christmas were just ordinary days on the job. “When you are over there, you don’t care about Black Friday. You realize all this is just hype,” said Rachel Johnson, vice president of the student vets club. While the men stayed at the remote stations, they would live off of Meals, Ready-to-Eat, or MREs. From the way Fritz described them, the MREs aren’t anywhere near a turkey dinner. Since they would only go back to the main
base every two to four weeks, the men usually would eat only one meal a day. Personal hygiene was also an after thought at times because of the facilities not easily accessible out in remote locations. Usually the connection with others was deterred because of the atmosphere. Fritz said that being out at the remote stations could get depressing at times, saying that some men would contemplate suicide but would push through their feelings and focus on their duty.
A bit of home
This year, Fritz and the Student Vets of PBA are gathering supplies for care packages for the troops. The PBA group is teaming up with Forgotten Solider Outreach, which started as a small way Lynelle Chauncey Zelner could give back to her friend’s son, Sgt. Kristopher Knight. One day, her friend came up to her saying that she had finished talking with Kris who was really depressed and saying some dark things. She knew Zelner had a relationship with God. As Zelner prayed, she knew she would have
many people shared her faith, so she stuck to herself a lot. At times, she would feel a bit lonely and separated but she grew to cherish the times she would spend in the chapel, praying, reading scripture and singing. Even though most people didn’t share her faith, Johnson said some were receptive to it, which led to her leading a Bible study on scripture as well as theological debates on issues like evolution. Through the years since starting Forgotten Soldier Outreach, Zelner has heard stories of how the packages have not only encouraged the troops but have restored their faith in God. Though the organization remains religiously unaffiliated, Zelner sees the outreach as an extension of God and the mission he placed on her heart ten years ago. “This truly is God’s ministry. I truly believe it would not have taken off if it wasn’t for him. I’m
Today, what started out as five packages ten years ago has grown to over 250,000 packages sent to the troops through Forgotten solPBA Student Vets will be diers. sending care packages Today, Zelner also has a personal connection overseas and need help: to the cause. She lost her nephew, who was 21, when he was on his Items needed: second tour. When he > Granola Bars passed, she was given his personal journal that > Dried fruit documented his time > Canned meals abroad. Reading some > Cookies/Crackers of his entries brought > Cards or Letters Zelner perspective into some of the things the > Deodorant men and women serv> Toothpaste/brush ing have to go through. She still admits that she still cannot fully Look for donation boxes: fathom some of the > Greene Complex things she had read. “They are in real need of > Warren Library encouragement because > Campus Ministry many of them are losing their faith,” she said. “They see people dying Contact Michael at everyday and wonder michael_fritz@pba.edu why horrible things are happening. or Lynelle at lynelle@ “The biggest thing they need right now forgottensoldiers.org to is a morale boost,” she learn more. continued. “Some of them are on their sixth or seventh deployment and have just a servant,” she said. “Out of a gone back and forth from broken quarter of a million packages sent homes. They need to know that out, if we’ve reached just one perGod is with them the whole time son with God’s love, we’ve have and that he loves them.” done God’s work.” Johnson is a worship leader at Zelner says that beyond mateher church. In 2008, Johnson was rial necessities, letters from studeployed to Kuwait and served dents of all ages are items that end as a shuttle driver for her station. up meaning a lot to the troops. Though she worked at a station, Fritz and Johnson would love the realities of war and the depres- to see the students of PBA step up sion of fellow troops surrounded and step out in faith to help the her daily. Through it all, she main- troops in a similar way. tained a connection to her faith. “This is the season of giving,” “Kuwait was a good time for me Fritz continued. “It’s the time for and God,” she said. college students to think outside According to Johnson, not their lives and help out.”
How to get involved with care packages
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012 dents because Independent Beauty Consultants make their own hours and get half of all their sales. Flores spends an hour or less on Mary Kay-related work every day. “I get to make my own schedule and be my own boss and with that I have more time for my family and school work,” said Flores. Roberts agreed. “I have been able to pay for PBA without having to miss out on very much unlike my friends who always have to work,” said Roberts. Roberts became a Mary Kay director in the top two percent of the company, becoming the youngest director in the national area at age 18. Roberts had been interested in Mary Kay since the eighth grade when she learned about the company at a career fair. The Miami native has been a consultant for a By Kayla Viaud Staff Writer Evelyn Flores, a freshman at Palm Beach Atlantic University, recently hosted a Mary Kay party for the girls in her Baxter dorm. At a typical Mary Kay party, customers are given the chance to try Mary Kay products before purchasing them. Products include foundation, lipstick, blush, various eye shadows and mascara. Flores said her goal when hosting a party is to help the girls to feel confident in their own skin. According to Mary Kay, more than 36 percent of new independent beauty consultants in 2012 are from the Gen Y (18- to 30-year-olds) age group. Flores and Mary Roberts, a sophomore at PBA, see Mary Kay, a cosmetics company, as a way to earn extra cash. Flores has been an independent
beauty consultant for five months. The company was started by Mary Kay Ash in 1965. Its motto is, “God first, family second, career third.” “What helped me make my final decision is Mary Kay’s motto,” Flores, a freshman from Port Saint Lucie, Fla., said about joining the company. Flores says getting started in Mary Kay was a tough decision at first because she knew she would have to invest her money into it. “I had always loved the products but becoming part of the team actually never really crossed my mind,” Flores said. Consultants buy a starter kit for $100 which includes product samples. Also, there are no quotas, or minimum amount that must be sold. Flores has 25 regular customers in her hometown of Port Saint Lucie and has found customers in West Palm Beach. Mary Kay is appealing to stu-
year and a half. Mary Kay offers many perks to consultants including luggage sets, heels and jewelry. Roberts earned a 2012 Chevy Malibu. Through Mary Kay, Roberts has traveled to Dallas, Atlanta and Sanibel, Fla. For Roberts, much of her success at Mary Kay can be attributed to God. “Too often, we think too small of what God can possibly do because we put our limits of what we can do on God,” Roberts said. “If God has called you to do something, he will provide, but you can’t sit on your couch and wait, when He has already called you to act. “I love how Mary Kay has been a huge vehicle for outreach in ministry because when I’m a CityPlace, I can start up a conversation with someone and trade
business cards so that can continue to talk and my prayer is for a chance to share the Gospel with them,” Roberts continued. Last week, Roberts stepped down from her position as the youngest director and turned in the keys to her car so that she can go to Africa wholeheartedly for the Lord. Roberts says her heart breaks for those who live on less than a dollar a day and less than 2 percent are Christian, while Americans have such luxury, excess, and access to so much. “I have learned so much in Mary Kay and will still be a consultant so I can share the opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives and still supply people with product,” Roberts said. “My goal is for them to feel loved and beautiful, prayerfully with a chance to share Jesus with them.”
PHOTO BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON
Inside the beauty business: Sophomore Mary Roberts earned a 2012 Chevy Malibu as a perk for selling Mary Kay after becoming a director at age 18.
An editor’s farewell By Chris Hernandez Managing Editor There was a moment during my sophomore year at Palm Beach Atlantic University when I didn’t want to be a journalism major anymore. As I took more ministry classes, I thought for a small moment that God wanted me to become a pastor. Besides, I was getting the feeling that the only way to be successful in the journalism industry was to step on other people’s toes. I just couldn’t. I love people too much. So, I prematurely left my position as opinion editor (yes, an opinion section used to exist) and went home for the summer. I was reading John Ortberg’s “Faith and Doubt” when I felt God tell me to go back to journalism. I remember having a dream where I was hanging out with a group of homeless guys and audibly God said, “Tell their stories.” When I woke up, confirmation came through the illustrations present in Ortberg’s book. He used an illustration about a pastor who traveled and would give sermons about people in carnivals. I began to see that my favorite part of watching someone speak is the stories that person told. If the stories told were about
actual people who did amazing things that the pastor met, the pastor would definitiely have my attention. With that in mind, I felt God wanted me to write the stories of all kinds of people. I feel there is so much of God that I can’t find on my own when I explore His diversity in others. It’s like God transforms from a simple looking glass to a complex kaliedoscope. So, maybe one day God will call me to be a pastor, but, for now, I am enjoying exploring the many facets of his kaliedoscope. At the moment, the journey of learning about God’s people has already been extraordinary. I have had the opportunity to interview longboarders, musicians, bestsellers, breast cancer survivors, zombies and pastors. I would have to say that my most memorable piece, with exception of my pieces on Gaga, has been the work I have been able to do with the PBA’s student veterans. Last semester, I got to interview a guy as rain dripped in from a leaky ceiling over pizza. He had suffered injuries defending our country. After that moment, I look at everyone around me in a new light. The most average person sitting by him or herself outside of Einstein’s can be one of the most ex-
traordinary people you have met. I hope that you have taken at least that from my past three semesters leading the Beacon, especially with this semester. The best compliment I got was someone telling me that they were excited to see people they know on the covers and that it was cool to see us encompassing every different kind of person. It’s great to place Beacons out on a table and see how, no matter where we come from or what interests us, we can all love each other and respect those differences as brothers and sisters in Christ. In a way, it has helped me accept the complex personality that I am. I can’t fit in a box and actually no one can since we are all uniquely created to serve His kingdom. Although I will miss my Beacon family, I know it’s time for me to move on to the next thing God has in store. The next set of people God will have change my life. As I step into the journalism field, I am reminded of something a wise professor once told me, “Some people have to claw their way to the top, but some people get there by doing their job and doing it the best.” And that’s what I plan to do.
PHOTO BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON
Chris Hernandez: I can’t fit in a box and actually no one can since we are all uniquely created to serve His kingdom.
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Students rally for terminally ill prof. After hearing about adjunct professor Alicia White’s terminal cancer, her students created a facebook group to raise awareness and support. By Becca Stripe Staff Writer After three years of battling with breast cancer, in September 2012, Alicia White was diagnosed with terminal cancer. White has been an adjunct professor in the school of ministry at Palm Beach Atlantic University for three years, teaching classes mostly for students in the Christian Social Ministry program. “I was shocked and then became numb,” White said. “It hurt worse when I was diagnosed again recently.” She feels sad because she had found her place at PBA and had developed many relationships within the last three years.
Opening up about cancer
Senior psychology major Alyssa Osbron, minoring in Christian Social Ministry, has had White for five classes. “I think she is the best professor I have ever had,” Osbron said. “It’s one thing to be educated in your field, it’s a whole other thing to be experienced. The experience that professor White brings to the classroom is truly invaluable.” Osbron admires White’s authenticity and passion for what she does, going on to say that she has impacted and inspired many lives at PBA and that the lessons she has taught go beyond school work.
heroes because they are my future. I wanted to give them as much courtesy as I give my own family because that’s how I consider them, my family.”
Students stand by their prof
One student who has taken action in raising support for her professor’s cancer is senior Kareen Vargas, a Christian Social Ministry major. “When I found out about the news I almost immediately thought about cutting off my hair to show support for Mrs. White, though I don’t think people thought I was serious,” Vargas said. “So my reason for doing it was to support her in a special way and show her she is so loved.” Vargas and other students want people to get involved to show White that she is loved and appreciated, as well as to raise prayer and financial support. “I have been very grateful for the health insurance that I have,” White said. “The company is very good at facilitating paying for the treatments that I have.” Osbron said that “any money raised will be given to her and her husband as medical bills and treatment can be overwhelming and extremely expensive.” Recently Joe Lozano, one of White’s students, organized a potluck where current students of White as well as graduates gathered together in support of White. Vargas said, “An atmosphere of unmistakable peace and rest fell upon that room and it was a very special moment.” She is glad White was blessed by it. “God loves all unconditionally, and I hope she was able to feel this love from all her students,” Vargas said. “We are praying and invite all to join.”
“I am very excited to walk across that threshold and greet Him with open arms that I know thinking that he’ll greet me Terminal White explains that doctors no longer give specific time frames as far as how with.” - Alicia White long terminal cancer patients When White’s breast cancer was diagnosed as terminal, the first person she had to tell was her husband, Rob. “It was very hard for me to tell my husband the second time around because I knew the news would hurt him and the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt him, especially because of what it meant this time,” White said. Once White’s husband and best friend were made aware of the news, she allowed them to take part in telling other people, “which was cathartic for them because they were able to take some ownership in the process,” she said. Next on White’s list of people to tell was her students. Since she had been going through the physical changes such as losing her hair, she knew that her students would begin to soon notice. “I wanted to be honest and upfront with them from the beginning,” White said. “I wanted to let my students know that it’s their education that they’re paying for and that they deserve the most consideration because what was going on with me was going to be a direct impact on them. “I really do love them and admire them so much,” White continued. “They are my
have left, but they give patients a perspective as far as what statistical information says. With White’s case, she has been told that she has about one to two years left. The chemotherapy that she is currently going under isn’t curing the cancer or getting rid of it like before, but it is working at prolonging her life. “I haven’t had too much pain lately because the doctors have me on pain medication,” White said. White explains the phenomenon called chemo brain when the medication gives patients a hazy feeling, making them feel almost like they’re under water. “You can think fine,” White said. “It just makes you a little slower.” White and her husband have started the funeral arrangement planning as well as their wills. They are now in the process of going through her personal material belongings that she has collected over the years, distributing the things that are less important to her. “Ask any of my female students, and they will tell you how much I love purses as well as collecting them,” White said with a laugh. “I have a tremendous purse collec-
tion, so right now I am in the process of going through all my purses and giving them away to those who want them.” White said that she has always wanted to go to Europe, especially because that’s where her heritage began. She knows that it might not be practical for her to go at this time because of her current health. “I have done a lot of soul searching to see if I can get there,” White said. “What I really most want to do is travel and see what God has created.”
Trusting in God
Some advice that White wants to pass along is to be true to yourself and to God, own who you are, embrace your flaws, and accept your shortcomings. “As much as I don’t want to leave my husband and my friends, I am very, very excited about meeting the Lord,” White said. “I am very excited to walk across that threshold and greet Him with open arms that I know that he’ll greet me with.” Osbron knows that White is trusting in God no matter what the outcome will be. “She and her husband are hoping for the best but have accepted the worst as they know God is the one in control,” she said. “The students at PBA are unlike any other students I have ever met before, and I have been at many other universities,” White said. “Words don’t even come to describe how amazing and how blessed the people at PBA are because they not only talk the talk, but they embrace the walk. They truly are the most brightened future I hope to see for this world.” Vargas says that White is scheduled to teach next semester. “She, along with us students who are signed up for this class, keep saying we’ll ‘see her next semester,’” Vargas said. For more information about how to help, contact Kareen_Vargas@pba.edu. For more on White’s journey, visit aliciawhite.org.
Keeping a promise: On Oct. 31, Alicia White blogged about getting her haircut the prior Saturday. The haircut came after beginning chemotherapy. In September 2012, after battling breast cancer, she was told it had become terminal.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012
SPORTS
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Sailfish athletes earn 54 awards Even though Palm Beach Atlantic’s fall sports are winning awards, their reliance remains on God. Volleyball and cross-country reach a higher stage competing in the NCAA tournament. By Kent Berame Sports Editor The atmosphere in Palm Beach Atlantic University’s sports department is upbeat, positive and palpable. The players and coaches are all smiles. Jokes shoot back and forth between the men’s soccer office and the women’s volleyball office. The sports department is enjoying a successful fall season. Athletic Director Carolyn Stone reflects her joy for PBA’s sports. “The Sailfish are experiencing an unprecedented fall,” said Stone. “You feel it in the Rubin during a volleyball match and on the soccer pitch. Our athletes are performing at their highest levels resulting in winning teams and individual accolades galore. Each sport this fall - cross country, volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer- faced adversity and succeeded in - Faith Warren spite of it.” Fall athletes have won 54 individual awards this season. All four of the fall sports coaches have won awards.
of the Year and NCCAA Region Coach of the Year. Kenny Hogg leads the team with a myriad of achievements: Daktronics Region Player of the Year, Daktronics All-Region first-team, ICAA Player of the Year, All-ICAA first-team, NCCAA Region Player of the Year, NCCAA AllRegion first-team and CoSIDA Academic All-District first-team.
Sailfish volleyball makes history
The volleyball Lady Sailfish won their NCAA Regional debut over Rollins College last Thursday. The team has a 33-3 record and is led by a strong trio. Senior outside hitter Mariela Quesada was awarded with American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region, ICAA Player of the Year and All-ICAA first-team. Sophomore setter Becca Acevedo was awarded with AVCA AllRegion first-team, ICAA Setter of the Year and All-ICAA first-team and sophomore libero Melissa Buckingham was awarded with AVCA AllRegion honorable mention, ICAA Libero of the Year and All-ICAA first-team. Freshman middle blocker Rachel Jones could not have been happier being awarded with ICAA Freshman of the Year and making it on the All-ICAA first-team. Jones said that she was more surprised than excited for her achievement. “There are plenty of girls just on my team who deserved this award, but I feel so blessed with the Lord giving me these talents to be able to get this and for my other teammates to help me achieve it, because without them I would have never gotten it,” she said.
“When you truly love what you do, it is easy to work at it with all your heart.”
Men’s Soccer accolades
This was the first season under Coach Jose Gomez for sophomore defender Brandon Langenhan who made it to the All-ICAA first-team and NCCAA All-Region firstteam for men’s soccer. “Playing with this team is a great pleasure,” said Langenhan. “Surrounded by great guys, friends, and encouraging coaches with an impressive camaraderie is what makes this team special.” Langenhan is joined by six other athletes and their coach in achievements this season. Gomez was awarded ICAA Coach
PHOTO COURTESY OF LORI RICHARDS
Flying save: PBA goalie Austin Spagnola makes a critical save during a shoot-out in the final match of the NCCAA South Regional Tournament on Nov. 17. The Sailfish bested Southern Wesleyan to win the tournament, and went on to win their first game in the national tournament on Nov. 28. For the latest tournament results, see pbasailfish.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LORI RICHARDS
Volleyball honors: Rachel Jones was named ICAA Freshman of the Year. Jones also served an ace as the final point when PBA defeated Rollins College Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Regional Tournament. For the latest tournament results, see pbasailfish.com.
Lady’s soccer awards six
For the women’s soccer team, six athletes have been given awards while closing out the regular season undefeated in away games. Topping the list is junior goalkeeper Allison Fox who was named to the All-ICAA first-team and awarded NCCAA Region Player of the Year. “I am so thankful to have a great family support system,” Fox said. “My family has come down to see games and especially my mom who has been down to West Palm from Chicago once a month to see games.” “This season I really think our team has been the closest I have ever experienced here at PBA,” she continued. “I think our new assistant coach has also added some new positive dynamics to our team and our team as a whole has grown tremendously.” Fox is joined by two seniors, Ashley Shoaf and Juliet Waller, two sophomores, Karoline Harnes and Margaret Steward, and freshman Kasey Wyer for the AllICAA first-team. Shoaf, who was also named to the AllICAA first team, NCCAA All-Region team and CoSIDA Academic All-District, is thankful for her team, but will have a bittersweet ending at PBA since it is her last season. “I am blessed to be at a Christian school,” said Shoaf. “We are all close and we work well together on the field. I also have been blessed to have such godly coaches this year. Coach Kryger and Coach Ben are great men of God and inspire me to become closer and closer to Christ. I will miss everyone on the team so much.”
Cross country led by Faith
The women’s cross-country team has been led this season by ICAA Coach of the year Trish Butler. Senior Faith Warren, who is known to be an excellent student-athlete on campus, is a NCAA National Championship Qualifier, made NCAA All-Region selections and was awarded ICAA Runner of the Year. “When you truly love what you do, it is easy to work at it with all your heart,” said Warren. “Growing up, I was always told that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. Cross country has never been a burden, but rather a joy and a passion.” Three other runners join her on the achievements list with junior Katherine Harvey, senior Meghan Gilmore and sophomore Kourtney Sumner for the All-ICAA team. Gilmore won another honor over Thanksgiving, taking first place among female runners in the Palm Beach 5K Turkey Trot. Stone said that she could not be any more proud of the hard work and commitment that the student athletes put into their academics, departments and coaches. “A rising tide raises all ships, and I think that phenomena is what propelled us this fall,” said Stone. “To continue the success, we need to recruit well, motivate student athletes, get our X’s and O’s right and continue to build on the culture of love and accountability. All of that combined leads to creating Christian game changers - our ultimate goal. Winning the PBA way. That’s what it is all about.”
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012
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