N������� November 2018
www.MoonValleyTattler.com
VOL 38 No.11
Sauntering a Mere 2,650 Miles BY L I N DA J. W R I G H T Elizabeth Wright, a 2013 graduate of Thunderbird High School, recently accomplished something that few people can even say they attempted when she completed the entire Pacific Crest Trail on September 25, 2018. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a National Scenic Trail that travels from the U.S./Mexico border through California, Oregon, and Washington to the U.S./Canada border. This 2,650-mile trail runs through fortyeight wilderness areas, twenty-five national forests, six national parks, five national monuments and five state parks. Elizabeth decided to thru hike the PCT when she was a sophomore at NAU. Two of her college friends Nick and Charles agreed to hike
the PCT with her. They decided that the best time would be soon after they graduated in 2017. Official planning began in October of 2017 and they applied for permits in November of 2017 for a start date of April 9, 2018. They began their journey at the trail’s southern terminus in Campo, CA on April 9th. On day eighteen of their journey, Nick realized the PCT did not fit his ideal outdoor experience and ended his time on the PCT. Elizabeth and Charles continued on through the desert of California, the Sierra Nevada Mountains with a side trip to Mt. Whitney, through Yosemite National Park and onto northern California. Elizabeth did a 135-mile solo hike when Charles left the trail for six days to attend a friend’s wedding in Arizona. He met back up with her in Chester, CA near the midpoint of the PCT. After hiking 1691 miles they made it to Oregon on August 8th. Oregon is known for the “green tunnel” effect with a fairly constant enclosure of trees. The trail goes through Crater Lake National Park and by Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Hood. Elizabeth and Charles hiked two thirty-mile days while in Oregon and completed the 455 miles in less than a month. They crossed the Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks into Washington on September 1st. With 505 miles to go through Washington, they became concerned they would not finish
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Mountain Sky’s Mr. Perrone Named Arizona Educational Foundation Ambassador of Excellence BY CO DY J. A N D D U N C A N M . M O U N TA I N S K Y J O U R N A L I SM
It was near the end of last school year, Mr. Perrone had just been in a video production for Channel 10 about his STEAM class and the amazing work that his students were doing. He was approached by members of the Washington Elementary School District about nominating him for the Arizona Educational Foundation Teacher of the Year Award. Hesitantly, he said yes. This decision may have forever changed his life. Mr. Perrone is the 8th grade STEAM teacher at Mountain Sky. His career with the Washington Elementary School District spans 11 years. He was nominated because of his work with creating, developing and teaching Mountain Sky’s STEAM Program. Mr. Perrone actively supports his program by writing and winning numerous grants that so far total over $70,000. He has utilized grant money to purchase and provide his students with innovative technology and resources including multiple 3-D printers, filament, robotics kits, Chromebooks, salt water aquariums, electronics packages, monitors and laptops. All nominated teachers submitted a written application that was later reviewed by a panel of judges. Ten finalists were selected from the hundreds of applicants. As a finalist, Mr. Perrone, then had to complete and submit a fifteen-minute unedited video of him teaching one of his classes. This was followed by an “interview and an impromptu speech in front of a panel of educators and members of the business community”. From the ten finalists, five were named as semifinalists and the other top five were named as “Ambassadors for Excellence”. One of the five Ambassadors would be named the Arizona Educational Foundation Teacher of the Year. Along with the title, the winner will also receive $15,000, attend space camp in Alabama, and a trip to Washington D.C. Mr. Perrone was excitedly named as an Ambassador of Excellence. The Teacher of the Mr. Perrone helping Fadi M. & Frank L. with their Makey Makey Year was announced on OctoChallenge Project. ber 25th, during a special lunch with the top ten finalists at the Biltmore. Though Mr. Perrone was not selected as the Teacher of the Year, he was “thrilled to have made it this far.” Mr. Perrone will participate in meetings and conferences as part of his Ambassador of Excellence duties over the course of the next year.