April 1
Year 44, No. 9
Crusader www.crusadernews.com
2013
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Liberal, KS Permit NO.114
Liberal, Kansas
Tuition Grinding the rails rates Air Amado Style increase Student finds passion in skateboarding Giseelle Arredondo Crusader staff
Easter Egg Hunt — Page 1B
Xtreme Challenge — Pages 2B-3B
Saints Basketball Recap — Page 6
He yells. He grinds on rails. He fixes. Adrian Amado, a 19year-old freshman attending Seward County Community College/Area Technical School, is a dedicated skateboarder, enthusiastic yell leader, and passionate auto technician. Amado has been skating since he was 6 years old. It all started with rollerblading in Hugoton and when he moved to Liberal he bought himself a skateboard. His passion with skateboarding started there. “The first time I skated, I was going down the ramps sitting on the skateboard. After a while, I built the courage to stand on the board and go down a ramp,” recalls Amado, “I kept trying though ’cause you can’t get better at something without getting back up and trying again.” Amado found skating was a great way to meet people. “Heck yeah, that’s where I met most of my friends, and we would call each other up to go skating around town or at the park,” Amado said. At 8 years of age, Amado had the chance of participating in a skating competition. “The skate competition was pretty small and was only known by those who skated everyday. It was held at the Mary Frame skate park. I did let someone win,” said Amado. “Why? Shoot, I don't even know. Maybe because he was my best friend and he said we would split the money, so I let him win and guess what? I never got my split of the money.” As a kid, Amado would skate any chance he had. Amado would “skate until it got dark. Every hour. All day. Every day in the summer.” In high school, however, he had to put off skateboarding. “It got kind of hard to fit skateboarding into my schedule when I had sports, a job, and of course, maintaining my grades,” Amado said, “Now that I’m in college it’s fun getting back into it.” Amado enjoys doing tricks, such as front side 180, popshove it, and kick flip. “I don’t even know what the tricks are called,” he said. He also prefers to do ramps rather than street tricks. “I just feel like I can do more on ramps than I can on the ground. It doesn’t help that the cops are always after you if they find you street skating.” Amado skates “any warm day now because work and school
get in the way.” Amado has not had any injuries with skateboarding yet. He once cracked an ankle during football season his freshman year in high school. “I see skateboarding as an activity that kept me out of trouble and occupied,”Amado said, “I like skateboarding because it relaxes me but stresses me when I’m trying to learn a new trick. Sad to say, but skateboarding isn’t for everyone. If you are coordinated with your feet then I say, ‘Hey, give it a shot’.” As busy as Amado is, he still finds time to fit in being on the squad for yell leading. He was drawn into yell leading by his cousin, Jake Flores. “There’s nothing wrong with touching girls and getting free books out of it,” Amado said with a chuckle. Amado decided to attend SCCC/ATS because not only does it have a good auto mechanics program, but its also a cheaper alternative compared to $30,000 schools. “It’s really good. I like it,” Amado said. He will be attending another year so he can get his associates degree in applied science, and he will be looking into yell leading again. Amado likes yell leading enough that he is considering continuing it. “I wouldn't mind doing yell leading at another school,” Amado said. Besides skateboarding and yell leading, Amado also spends some of his free time playing Xbox, preferably Call of Duty or Halo, going outside and playing tennis, going bowling, and practicing jui-jitsu, which is Brazilian martial arts. “I wanted to do this P90X workout and my mom said she knew a guy from work that had it. I was told to go to his house at 8 and I did. Next thing you know I enter a shed in the back yard with a few guys in GIs. I thought I was at the wrong house for a bit. Talk about awkward. So I tried it out and it turns out that I liked it a lot.” Amado proudly said he will be playing for the Saints tennis team next semester. Amado wants to work for a year after graduation and then move to Tennessee and go to school in Lincoln Technical College, which is for high customized, high performance engines and transmissions that vary from turbos to superchargers, dyno testing. He then wants to move to either Texas or California and open his own shop.
Jose Medrano Editor Tuition and fee rates will increase next semester at Seward County Community College/ Area Technical School. The Board of Trustees approved the new rates March 4 that effect tuition, fees and student housing on campus. Tuition rates per credit hour for in-state residents have increased from $44 to $46, border state residents $60 to $65 and international and out-of-state residents $75 to $80. Seward County residents will not see an increase in their tuition per credit hour. Online credit hours have also increased for the upcoming semester from $80 to $90 per hour. The funds from tuition support the college’s facilities, instructors, staff, administration, resources and other services. The total tuition and fees for students will be as follows: Seward County residents $74, instate residents $78, border state residents $97 and for international and out-of-state residents $112 for the 2013-2014 academic year. The fee increase will go towards technology and expansion of the college, according to Board of Trustees report. Student housing rates also increased. Double occupancy dorms in the Student Living Center increased from $2,160 to $2,240 per semester, singles increased from $4,820 to $5,020 for the full academic year. Hale Court will see in an increase from $2,060 to $2,140 for double occupancy, singles will increase from $4,620 to $4,820 for the full academic year. “The two main factors behind the increase in housing cost are food services and utilities,” said Dean of Student Services Celeste Donovan. A 4 percent increase on food services and food is one of the factors. “It is hard to see an increase on our students, but we have pride in being one of the most affordable schools in Kansas. Even with the slight increase we are still a very affordable college,” Donovan said. The increase in tuition and fees will be implemented in the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
News Briefs Crusader photo/ Giseelle Arredondo
Adrian Amado performs an ollie over stacked skateboards on a ramp at Mary Frame skate park. Amado has been skating since he was 6.
Poetry Reading Contest — Page 5
Spring enrollment Enrollment for the summer and fall semesters of 2013 is currently under way. Students are recommended to meet with their advisers in order to select their classes. Enrollment slips and course lists can be picked up in the registrar’s office.
Astronaut visit APRIL 3 — NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams will be visiting and touring Liberal. At 5:30 p.m. he will be speaking at a free public session in the Green House.
All Saints Days APRIL 6 — The first All Saints Day of the year will take place on the campus for students who are enrolling or interested in attending the college. Pre-register at allsaintsdays.com For more information call 620-417-1100.
Children’s Art Day
‘Assassins’ Play and Cast — Page 4B
Crusader photo/ Giseelle Arredondo
Adrian Amado is a freshman at Seward County Community College/Area Technical School. He is a yell leader, skateboarder and auto technician.
APRIL 6 — Kylix will be hosting its Children’s Art Day. Children in between the grades of first through sixth can register. The fee for registration is $15. Parents can register children by calling Susan Copas at 620-417-1453.