December 2013

Page 1

A BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OPEN FORUM SINCE 1924

The

Red ‘n’ Green 222 Memorial Drive Berlin, WI 54923

VOLUME 46, ISSUE 4

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013

Follow us on Twitter @bhsrng

in This

Issue

- Step by step to wrap a scarf pg. 3

- Homelessness and the holidays pg. 4 - Swim strokes pg. 8

BHS wall designated‘Be proud, be inspired’ by

Payton DeMaster

At BHS, one wall was currently covered with inspiration. The inspiration is not quotes or photos of famous people, but rather past Berlin graduates that once made an effective, inspirational difference. The Historical Society put together a committee of five members to be in charge of the wall. “The idea of the wall was a way to recognize and feature people from Berlin who have excelled in their chosen fields and who could be an inspiration,” Historical Society member Bobbi Erdmann said. The high school seemed like an appropriate spot for the wall, because they wanted to reach out to students. “We chose the high school to locate the wall because it has the highest concentration of students, and those students are preparing their own futures,” Erdmann said. Ten nominees were selected by the Historical Society to start the wall. Every year, at least two more people will be added and members of the community will have the chance to nominate people. “It was difficult to decide who to put on the wall to start, so each of the five members brought a list of people they thought were eligible,” Erdmann said. “We then narrowed it down until we had ten.” The project was then brought to school board members. “The idea of honoring highly successful and inspirational former graduates of Berlin has been talked about for a number of years,” Superintendent Dr. Robert Eidahl said. “Bobbi Erdmann contacted me about the idea and the district agreed to help.” The school board helped with installing

Photos: L. Vang The inspiration wall, located next to the auditorium, displays multiple pictures and stories of inspiring Berlin graduates. the plaques on the wall, and tech engineering teacher Marty Wenig made a large display sign. The board also held a ceremony on Dec. 4 that unveiled the Berlinites featured on the wall. “The ceremony was attended by community members, and was short, nice and appreciated by all who attended,” Eidahl said. Money for the plaques and other materials the Historical Society needed were sponsored from the selectees on the wall and their families. The main goal of the wall is to inspire students to follow their dreams. “We hope that these people and what they have been able to accomplish will inspire today’s students to follow their own dreams and know that it can be done,” Erdmann said.

Brief Information about featured Berlinites: Alfred J. Treder: Worked various aspects of space and missile guidance and control for 50 years. Became Senior Principle Engineer and founded the ISS Pointing Accuracy Assessment team. Donald Lamont Brown: Early innovator of aviation. Became co-founder and president of the Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Co. Judith L. Labuda: Practices in state and federal court. Now is a district court judge in the 20th Judicial District in Colorado. Covell A., Fredrick R., Louis C. Peck: Were all involved in designing and managing the C.A. Peck Hardware Co. Connie Curran: Nursing and education advocate. She is the founder and CEO of “Best on Board.” She has received numerous awards.

Students, staff sign-up to save lives by

Sierra Klawitter

The Key Club sponsored the seventh annual Community Blood Center blood drive on Friday, Dec. 6, to help save lives in our local community. According to The American Red Cross, one pint of blood can save up to three lives. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. is in need of blood. The Community Blood Center has worked with hospitals in both Michigan and Wisconsin for almost 60 years to provide a reliable blood supply in hospitals. “The Community Blood Center comes to the high school once a year, in early winter for a blood drive,” Key Club advisor Sarah Gumtow said. “The Blood Center also goes to other sites throughout Berlin, like next door at Grace Lu-

theran Church.” Around 50 staff members and students signed up to donate at BHS, including first-time donor, junior Adam Hopp. “It was something I always wanted to do,” Hopp said. “I just want to help people.” Also donating was senior Ashley Hebbe, who donated last year as well. “Last year it didn’t go too smoothly,” Hebbe said. “I passed out during the blood giving process, but I still think it was worth it and it didn’t stop me from giving again.” At age 18, a donor can also decide to donate bone marrow and plasma instead of whole blood. “I would absolutely donate other parts of my blood,” Hebbe said. “People are always in need and it’s something I can give to help others.” The Key Club organized the

drive by setting up the registration tables and making sure both students and staff did not donate on an empty stomach. “Having Key Clubbers help throughout the school day is a great way to involve some of the students who want to help the Community Blood Center but are too young to actually donate blood at the drive,” Gumtow said.

Blood Drive Totals Students Signed Up: 40 New Donors Signed Up: 32 Total Donations: 30 pints Total Lives Saved: 90

James J. Carey: Spent three years serving in the U.S. Navy. Was elected Vice Chairman of Commission from 1983 to 1991. Major General William H. Blakefield: First commanding general of the Army Readiness Region II and deputy commanding general. Julie Good-Kruger: Has been an entrepreneur business owner since 1980. Started at Good-Kruger Dolls, Inc. Has received many awards for her business. David Doan: Has competed in 19 National and 16 world championships in bench press competitions. Thomas Klien: Successful sports and news reporter for the Berlin Journal and Oshkosh Northwestern. He covered Berlin sporting events until he passed in 2002.

Newsbriefs Jazz student makes way to college band

Junior Sam Olson and band teacher Ben Ruetten played with the Ripon College Jazz Band on Dec. 6. Ruetten has played with this group for the past 10 years. Olson has been practicing every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and during CIA in the practice rooms. “It’s been fun and rewarding. As a high schooler I’ve been happy to get the chance to play with a college band,” Olson said. There will be two more perfomances. The next performance will be Friday, April 25.

Students auditioned for ‘The Masked Musketeer’

Auditions were on Dec. 12 at 3:00 p.m. for the school play, “The Masked Musketeer.” The main character of this play is The Masked Musketeer, who is a woman. Along with the lead, there are other characters, The Three Lazy Boys, bandits and townspeople. Senior Valerie Sanchez auditioned for the lead role. “During the audition I was really nervous but excited. I tried to make myself stand out,” Sanchez said. The play will be on Feb. 21 and 22 at 7 p.m.

Human Spirit class travels for annual field trip

Students in the Human Spirit class visited an Oshkosh synagogue on Dec. 6. The class was seated in a large room and students were allowed to ask any questions at anytime. Mr. Louis, a religious leader in Oshkosh, was the spokesman. He explained various holidays and different aspects of Jewish life. The class focuses on three units, the first being the Holocaust. To learn more about the Jewish people, students are learning about Judiasim. “I think it opened a lot of peoples’ minds and everyone gained some knowledge,” senior Grace Kropp said.


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