Vol. 97, No. 3

ThePRAIRIE

April 15, 2015

Vol. 97 Iss. 25

Students support local causes by participating in races.

Read more on page 7

Design by Megan Moore

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Helping Hearts hosts first golf fundraiser

Students assist in Relay For Life efforts

Coach Kevin Blaskowski earns 700th win

‘Home’ provides young audience with life lessons

Photos from TIPA and NSAC competitions

2 NEWS NEWS

Buff News Briefs

Staff EDITOR Megan Moore ASSOCIATE EDITOR Alyssa Bonner ADVISER Dr. Butler Cain AD MANAGER Alyssa Bonner LAYOUT DESIGNERS Alyssa Bonner Megan Moore Russell Sanderson

Photographer Natalia Molina

The Prairie is a student-operated newspaper at West Texas A&M University. It functions to inform, educate and entertain readers accurately and responsibly. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the administration, faculty or staff. The Prairie verifies the legitimacy of the advertising appearing in The Prairie, but cannot be held liable for any advertising claim made in this publication. The Prairie has a circulation of 1,500 and is printed by the Amarillo Globe-News.

BP presents check to annual summer camp

Alumni Association names DAA Recipients

epresentatives at BP presented a $25,000 check to West Texas A&M University for its Summer Engineering and Computer Science Camp after hearing positive reviews from an employee’s grandson who attended the camp last summer. BP chooses a fundraiser each year and thought the camp would be a good fit. The company also plans to volunteer at this year’s camp. The camp is held for one week each June on the WT campus and gives students the opportunity to have fun while exploring the world of engineering and computer science. This year’s camp will be June 7-12 with a commuter Engineering Kids Camp for ages 6-11 and a residential Engineering Camp for ages 11-18.

est Texas A&M University and the WT Alumni Association will honor four winners with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

The newest class of award winners includes Woody Gilliland, retired Lt. Col. George “Sam” Hamontree III, Vernon Henry “V.H.” Harman Jr. and Shanna Peeples. Gilliland, class of ‘65, is currently working as the CEO of the West Texas Rehabilitation Center headquarted in Abilene.

Hamontree, class of ‘89, enlisted in the Army after graduation and was selected from more than 100,000 other soldiers as the best German-American soldier in Europe two times. Harmon, class of ‘54, endowed a scholarship at WT in his father’s name and is involved with the WT Department of Agricultural Sciences. Peeples, class of ‘97, was named the 2014 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year and is now in the running as one of only four finalists for the 2015 National Teacher of the Year to be awarded in Washington, D.C.

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COESS names Graduates of Distinction

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he College of Education and Social Sciences recognized five alumni as recipients of its 2015 Graduates of Distinction during a special induction ceremony Tuesday, April 7, on campus. The award is presented annually to honor distinguished graduates of the College who have demonstrated unselfish commitments to a lifetime of service while making significant contributions to their professions, families and communities. This year’s recipients, chosen by COESS faculty members, are Jimmy Adams, Barbara Bain, Clifford Baker, Pearlene Martin and Jane Stephens.

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BBQ cookoff to benefit Veteran’s Network

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he Veteran’s Network will host Smokers ‘N’ Cruisers: BBQ Cookoff on Saturday, April 18, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The event will be held in the First United Bank Center parking lot and will feature a car show as well an IBCA-sanctioned barbecue cookoff. General admissions is $15, students $10, veterans $5 and kids 10 and under free.

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April 15, 2015

It’s A Buffs Life

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April 15, 2015

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3 NEWS NEWS

Helping Hearts organizes inaugural tournament Kimberly Hancock Reporter

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EAD WT and Helping Hearts of West Texas A&M University sought to find a way for people to come together and raise money for the awareness of domestic and sexual violence. These organizations found a fundraising outlet through their first golf tournament held on Friday, April 10.

“Awareness is key and it’s the most important thing,” Meagan Brown, leader of LEAD WT, said. “I originally came up with the idea of the tournament because we needed a really good fundraiser for Helping Hearts and I thought it could allow us a lot of opportunities to network and really connect with people in the community. We have to be aware of what’s happening

around us and we have to care about others.”

In preparation for the tournament, Brown and approximately 30 other active student members prepared for the tournament and learned the different challenges of organizing a fundraiser.

“This event has really presented a nice challenge for us,” Brown said. “So much more work has gone into it than what I thought. It’s been great learning how to set up fundraisers, but I’ve failed a lot too. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot out of doing this, and my team feels the same way.”

The group started setting up the event at 10 a.m. the morning of by getting t-shirts, golf tees and golf carts ready for the tournament.

“I’ve been a part of LEAD

now for a full year and it’s great,” Landry Morren, LEAD WT member, said. “We have put on different kinds of fundraisers before, but nothing like this. We got out here around 10 to set things up like get the golf carts ready for the teams and just have all the tables out that we needed to get ready. We just want to raise enough awareness and money as possible.”

Tee off started at 1 p.m. and ended around 5:30 p.m. that night. Director of the Palo Duro Creek Golf Course, Casey Renner, said the event was impressive and was pleased with the cause the tournament was supporting.

“The tournament started out to a great start,” Renner said.

“It’s a great thing what they are doing, and I think that this awareness should have been

addressed a long time ago and should continue to be addressed even after this tournament. I think it’s good that finally they are helping out these people.”

LEAD WT and the Helping Hearts hope to host more fundraisers in the future.

“We usually get into groups of four and pick a cause which we want to raise towards like this one. Here in a few weeks we will be hosting a 5k run for another organization that we pick so that should have a good turnout as well,” Morren said.

Photo courtesy of Meagan Brown Helping Hearts and LEAD WT hosted their inaugural golf tournament at Palo Duro Creek Golf Course to benefit the support of women and others who have been affected by domestic and sexual assault.

4 NEWS NEWS

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April 15, 2015

Students team up for charity Mary Cage Reporter

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eginning April 17, a multitude of teams will participate in Relay For Life at the West Texas A&M University Buffalo Sports Complex. Many of these teams were formed by student organizations, including the Herdsmen Hearts, the Hispanic Student Association, the Residence Hall Association, WT Agriculture and several Greek Life organizations. The event is from 6 p.m. on Friday until 6 a.m. on Saturday.

Founded in May 1985, Relay For Life is an overnight community walk that raises funds for the American Cancer Society that go toward cancer research and services provided for cancer patients, such as accommodations, transportation and support programs. Canyon is a special location for Relay For

Life, as the first Relay For Life event to ever be held in Texas took place in Canyon on May 5, 1994. The event entails teams raising money and participating in the overnight walk, during which the groups camp out at the track. Included are various forms of entertainment, games and activities.

Relay For Life starts with the opening ceremony, welcoming all participants, before the relay begins with the Survivors Lap, during which all cancer survivors attending the event make the first lap around the track as other participants cheer for them. The second lap is known as the Caregivers Lap, as it gives recognition to caregivers of cancer patients. For the next lap, all Relay For Life teams walk together in what is referred to as the opening lap.

After dark, the Luminaria Ceremony is held, honoring

those who have fought or are fighting cancer. Throughout the night, participants continue walking until the Fight Back Ceremony rallies Relay For Life Participants to fight against cancer.

“It is extremely important to not only those of us who have had the experience with somebody who has battled cancer and lost somebody to it, but to those who have heard of somebody having been affected by this horrible disease,” Kelsey Wright, WT graduate and community manager for the local American Cancer Society, said.

The various student-led teams that have joined together to participate in Relay For Life and to collect donations for the American Cancer Society are moved by the meaning of the event and are dedicated to honoring and supported those affected by cancer.

Photo courtesy of Relay For Life of Canyon, Texas Facebook page The Canyon Event Leadership Team hangs posters around Canyon to promote the event.

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5 SPORTS SPORTS

Blaskowski strives to continue winning tradition

Dallas Harbor Reporter

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ny individual familiar with West Texas A&M University more than likely can recognize the success and prestige of WT’s athletic programs. In recent years, success has shined light on head coach Kevin Blaskowski’s WT softball program as they have established themselves as one of the more superior softball powerhouses in the country.

WT’s softball program is fairly new, following a 24-year absence when the program was revamped in 2004 with the hiring of Blaskowski. Within the last 10 years, the program has seen tremendous success by claiming a Lone Star Conference title, LSC Tournament Title, two South Central Regional Championships, a South Central Super Regional Title, and the 2014 NCAA DII National Championship.

As the 2015 season powers forward, WT has again showed their strength with a 33-6 record. Within those 33 wins, Blaskowski was able to mark his 700th win.

Being the head coach of the softball program is more than just a job for Coach Blaskowski, as he claims it as more of a passion.

“Growing up, I was always a diamond kid. I had a love for the game, and it’s something that has never left me,” Blaskowski said.

Coaching has always been a big part of Blaskowski’s life.

With 24 years of softball experience, as well as four years of basketball experience, he has justified himself as a veteran,

but according to Coach Blaskaowski, the benefits of coaching extend to greater elements outside of softball.

“Having the opportunity to watch the development of these student athletes is one of the greatest benefits,” Blaskowski said. “As a college coach, we try to create an atmosphere with high expectations. We want to encourage athletes to reach their full potential.”

A coaching philosophy is a key element to the success of any program.

“He [Blaskowski] pushes us to do our best on and off the field. He encourages us to give 100% no matter what the cir-

cumstances are,” Morgan Harrison, sophomore and infielder for the Lady Buffs, said. “He demands us to go into each practice with as much intensity as possible, he always preaches to not cut corners during practice to avoid cutting corners during games. I know I can go to him whenever I need. He’s dependable, and the team knows he’s there for us.”

Coach Blaskowski called winning the national championship the best achievement in his career.

“That’s something you work towards every year. So being able to finally claim that title is the ultimate reward,” Coach

Blaskowski said. “It’s something you get to relive when watching other championship games because you can relate to the way those coaches and players are feeling in those moments.”

Thus far in the season, the Lady Buffs have shown they are capable of producing the level of play equal to their championship team. As the season races towards the end, pressure is high to produce another championship year, which can be a lot for a team to handle.

“There is a lot of expectations, but at the end of the day you have to put it all in perspective. We have to establish our own identity. This is a new

team. The 2014 team is in the past,” Coach Blaskowski said.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time.”

The Lady Buffs softball team and Coach Blaskowski are now on the home stretch to continue their dominance in Division II softball. They have an eight game homestand to close out the season before likely hosting the Lonestar Conference Championship Tournament. The Lady Buffs are also likely to be the top team in the region and will likely host the NCAA South Central Regional Championships, where the Lady Buffs will look to continue their dominance and repeat as champions.

6 ARTS LEISURE ARTS& & LEISURE

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April 15, 2015

‘Home’ encourages young audiences to face fears Preston Thomas Reporter

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lien invasions are often a terrifying and dramatic event in film. Explosions, lasers and missiles fly as the valiant human heroes fight to protect their planet from the attacking aliens. In the case of “Home,” the latest animated feature from Dreamworks, things progress quite differently.

The invasion of the alien Boov, moving day to the film’s narrator, is frighteningly rapid.

Without warning, their whimsical bubble ships descend on the Earth, and within the span of five minutes, the whole of the human population has been vacu-

umed up and forcibly relocated to the idyllic suburb of Humanstown, Australia. The Boov, despite their advanced technology, are a race of cowards. The best at running away, according to the protagonist Oh, the Boov move from planet to planet fleeing a mysterious alien enemy. Oh, a misfit among his race played

by Jim Parsons of ‘the Big Bang

Theory,’ fame, decides to hold a housewarming party, but his Sheldon-esque personality repels his fellow aliens. When all of the other Boov avoid him, he decides to send an email invite to draw guests. Unfortunately, he accidentally sends the invite to the whole email system, which oddly includes the ship of the alien menace that keeps the

In getting to know one another, the alien Oh and human Tip learn more about themselves and their emotions.

Boov fleeing across the galaxy.

Oh becomes a fugitive and must flee his new home, but in doing so he bumps into the film’s other main character Gratuity “Tip” Tucci, and becomes embroiled in her quest to reunite with her mother.

‘Home,’ follows the etchedin-stone tropes of animated children’s movies, down to the adorable animal companion in the form of a cat named Pig, and the plot goes through the essential motions made familiar by other movies aimed at kids.

In getting to know one another, the alien Oh and human Tip learn more about themselves and their emotions. Oh, in par-

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ticular, comes to understand the concept of hope, foreign to the Boov who abandon any endeavor with less than a 50 percent chance of succeeding. By the end of the film, Oh gains the courage to face his fears and it wins him the love of his fellow aliens.

The film abounds with quickpaced action, quirky humor as the aliens misunderstand basic human technology and the bickering antics of Oh and Tip. The running joke of the Boov’s imperfect grasp of English does, however, become grating after a while and the broken yet understandable speech of the aliens detracts from some of the film’s more serious moments.

Behind the polished CG, diverse score and snappy jokes, ‘Home,’ does have a message to relate to its audience. Most of the problems in the film, from the Boov’s constant need to flee to the impending doom of the planet, are caused by refusing to deal with trouble and face down fear. When Oh begins to confront things that terrify him and deal with his problems, it not only saves the planet but also earns him the love and admiration of his species.

While there is a distinct lack of the kind of jokes that go over the younger audience’s heads, designed to give the parents a chuckle, they are still peppered throughout the film and with a star-studded voice cast, featuring Jim Parsons as Oh, Rihanna as Tip and Steve Martin as the alien’s leader, ‘Home,’ packs in quick, humorous dialogue, well crafted visuals and a positive message and plenty of heartwarming moments that are sure to make it a crowd pleaser.

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7 FEATURE FEATURE

Will power outweighs pain in running for causes Alyssa Bonner Associate Editor

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t was a cool spring morning, about 55 degrees. The wind wasn’t blowing, which is unusual for the Texas panhandle.

As the world was coming to life, the sky was painted in shades of red, orange and purple. There was a beautiful panhandle sunrise. Everything was still.

She prayed, “God, give me strength,” and pushed herself to fight through the pain. Her will power grew stronger with every step she took as she ran the course. At mile seven or eight, she told herself she was going to finish the race, and she did. Julia Greif, graduate student in Communication, completed the half marathon race of the 2015 Amarillo Marathon.

Despite the physical strain put on her body for 13.1 miles on an April morning, Greif persevered all the way to the finish line. She did not train for this race due to a back injury earlier in the year, so she relied on will power and faith to carry her through.

“I know my faith is a strong thing, and I know how painful it can be,” Greif said. “I just wanted to prove to myself that I could still do something like that. With faith, you’re going to have more ability. It’s 90 percent will power and 10 percent training.”

Greif, a former soccer player for the Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M University, has a passion for running, particularly in races for a cause. In the past, she has raced for autism and Down syndrome awareness. Greif most recently competed in a race

benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Amarillo with WT alum Seph Stiles.

Both Greif and Stiles are more likely to enter a race when the proceeds directly benefit a cause. Greif said it is an amazing thing when the registration fees don’t go to waste but rather to a charity or nonprofit organization.

“I enter the races because of the adrenaline rush that it gives me while running,” Stiles said.

“It is a great thing when 100 percent of the proceeds go to charity just like the Amarillo Marathon did.”

Despite the adrenaline it brings, running presents different challenges to each participant.

“I like to enjoy the scenery and my surroundings,” Stiles said. “The hardest thing [about running] is just finding time out of my schedule to go run.”

Races for a cause have various aspects that runners enjoy. The Amarillo Marathon followed a flat course, so the runners had the convenience of not having to run uphill, Stiles said.

For Greif, the best part of the Amarillo Marathon was the atmosphere and its energy. There were water stops every two miles throughout the race course.

Each station was maintained by various businesses and groups, such as Palace Coffee Company, Street Toyota, Happy State Bank and a biker gang.

At the stops, runners were given sports drinks, food, water and encouragement. The Ronald McDonald House had volunteers at each station cheering on the runners, expressing their gratitude for support their cause

and giving them motivation and telling them how proud of they were of the runners. Greif said they gave runners the motivation to keep pushing through and finish the race.

“It was one of the most encouraging parts,” Greif said.

According to their website, the Ronald McDonald House provides a temporary “home away from home” for families traveling to Amarillo to receive medical treatment for their children. All proceeds from the April 11 race went to aid in funding a new building for the Ronald McDonald House.

The Amarillo Marathon website stated, “Do something good for yourself. Do something good for others.”

When it comes to 5k, half marathon and marathon races, people are generally more apt to participate when the proceeds benefit a cause.

“You’re a part of something bigger than yourself,” Greif said.

“You don’t really do [it] for you, but for other people.”

Greif’s love of races sparked from her participation in the New Jersey Marathon several years ago. The adrenaline rush that came from crossing the finish line proved to be a very rewarding moment for her. Running has become second nature to her after playing soccer for most of her life. She enjoys longer distances because of the feeling of accomplishment she gets from finishing.

She tore both of her ACLs playing soccer and has had multiple knee surgeries. Greif has also suffered from other injuries, including a recent back injury. Her will power allows her to

fight through the pain and continue running. She never wants to be the person who makes excuses because of her injuries.

“I don’t think the word ‘can’t’ is in my vocabulary,” she said.

“The body is capable of so many more things than people think. I had knee surgery, and I’m a better person because of it.”

When Greif runs, she prays.

She says a prayer at every mile and asks for strength to make it to the next. For Greif, running is a lot like going through life. It’s tough, but as she continues, she finds the strength to keep pushing and the power to finish.

“You’re going to go through all these hardships,” Greif said, “but when you get to the end of them, it’s amazing.”

“It’s 90 percent will power and 10 percent training...The body is capable of so many more things than people think.”

-Julia Greif

Photo courtesy of Julia Greif Julia Greif participated in the half marathon race of the 2015 Amarillo Marathon benefiting the Ronald McDonald House.

8 PHOTOS PHOTOS

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April 15, 2015

National Student Advertising Competition & Texas Intercollegiate Press Association

WT’s National Student Advertising Competition team competed in the American Advertising Federation District 10 competition in Dallas last Friday. They won First Place, Best Media Plan and Best Promotions.

The Prairie, Eternal Flame and KWTS went to the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference in San Antonio last weekend and brought home 21 awards.

Crist went on a mission trip to Hawaii. “Not only e made it amazing, but being with the soft and kind d people in Hilo. There are no words for how amazing this trip was.”

Marinna Hernandez visited Ciudad Juarez with WT’s HSA and delivered toys to children and spent her free time getting to know them. “I was happy to have brought a smile to their faces.”

Brittany Milam went to Monarch, Colorado to ski first time with her best friends. She had an amazin but fell several times. “It hurts, but it’s worth i