Amplifier 2018-2019 Senior Edition (Volume 99-Issue 4)

Amplifier West Linn High School

West Linn, Ore. / Volume 99 / Issue 4 / Senior Edition

IN THE

SHADOWS

From the Chair Senior directors of 'Shorts 20' say final farewell

BY REMY GOTTSCHLING co-arts and culture editor

to direct plays,” Mor said. “Then I was able to apply to be a director for Shorts 20.”

The student directors, with approval, can select Every year, the theater department puts on the play that they would like to run, as well as having "Shorts," a collection of student-dia say in who is in the play. rected, single-act plays. Being al- “It was my first time “We were able to utilize the script most completely student-run, Shorts directing a show so it library and had the opportunity to gives an opportunity for actors old was really different. go online and look at a collection of and new to show off all of the skills there too,” Mor said.

I really enjoyed the scripts they’ve learned during acting elecShorts can act as a final farewell challenge so it made it for some of the seniors in the protive classes.

And while the show offers a fan- feel more memorable.” gram, and some like Mor worked to tastic opportunity for all actors, honmake this final production a mem-Thomas Mor ors students in the program get the orable one. opportunity to direct an act of their “It was my first time directing a own. Thomas Mor, senior, is one of the students show so it was really different,” Mor said, “I really who directed their own act. enjoyed the challenge so it made it feel more mem“Last year I took honors acting and learned how orable.”

ABOVE: Shorts allows actors to explore complex themes and form close relationships with other artists. Brett Mason, sophomore, portrayed Teresa in "The Shallow End," directed by Emma Fulmer. The show explores the rough water of bullying. "I really felt comfortable and at home and able to explore my character in so many ways," Mason said, "And my student director experience was phenomenal. She acccommodated for every need any of us ever had and made it an even tighter knit cast and group of friends." Photo by Andrea Secchi.

LEFT: Forced to wear a cow costume and perform other demeaning acts, junior Gwen Jeuris' character, far left, played Sunny in "Rat Court." The show, directed by Ashley Yablonsky and Lukas Montgomery, follows a group of girls who go through a humiliating initiation ceremony for a high school sorotity. It was Jeuris' second theatrical production at West Linn. "My cast was full of people taking on their first show and seeing their experience was super cool," Jeuris said. "Also, I loved working with student directors. It made everything very relatable, and their willingness to bounce ideas off of us was something I loved." Photo by Andrea Secchi.

F

BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

our years in the background. Four years as backstage tech crew, JV athletes, assistant editors, background figures. Four years of running clubs that the student body hasn’t heard of.

The senior class has been the lifeblood of our community for four years now--not visible to the naked eye, but still coursing strong. Now is their time to reap the benefits of their effort, energy, and passion. As the senior class prepares to move forward into their next stage of life, it’s their turn to rise to the occasion, and step out of the shadows, and step into the graduation stage spotlight.

Traditionally, the year’s final edition of the Amplifier focuses on the seniors, highlighting their achievements in sports, academics, and extracurriculars. But this time, we’re moving beyond that: we’re shining a light on the students behind the scenes. We wanted to recognize the seniors that haven’t received the same representation as some of their peers. Those whose work is quiet, sometimes unnoticed, and lost in the feverish activities within high school.

As the editorial board of the Amplifier we want to work toward equal coverage because, in a senior class of 392 students, everyone deserves to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight once in a while.

Spotlight Stories

Caleb Fanzen, senior

Pooja Jain, senior

Sarah Martin, senior

on the girls golf team

on the varsity baseball team

on orchestras accomplishments

on the Student Strike for Climate

Read more on page 3

Read more on page 3

Read more on page 6 Read more on page 7

Olivia Reynolds, senior

Kaitlyn McCabe, senior

Ashlee Muresan, senior

on her future plans

on the interact club

Read more on page 2

Read more on page 2

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PEOPLE

AMPLIFIER

SENIOR EDITION

Mind the gap (year)

BY DELANEY CALLAGHAN people editor As graduation nears and seniors finish up their final semester at West Linn, they prepare for the next chapters of their lives. For most students, the coming year means attending college, but some students, like Olivia Reynolds, senior, will be spending their first year away from West Linn in places far from home.

Reynolds will be spending six months in London next year, as well as three months in Austria. In London, she’ll be attending a bible school in Capernwray, and right now, she feels a mix of excitement and nerves.

“I’m excited for the next chapter of my life, but I’m kind of bummed in the sense that I won’t be home for six months, not even Thanksgiving or Christmas,” Reynolds said. “I know being gone for six months is going to be crazy, but I’m glad I’m doing it.”

For students preparing for the next step, there is a wide range of opportunities and experiences to choose from. In Reynolds case, she describes her choice to go to bible school in London as a sort of modified gap year.

“I know what I’m super passionate about, but I don’t know what I want to go to college for,” Reynolds said. “So it’s kind of like taking a gap year [in London], but obviously I’m paying to go.”

Similar to how other seniors are excited to explore their new homes, Reynolds is eager to explore a new culture different from the one of Oregon and the U.S. “I’m really excited to be outside the bubble of West Linn, and just be in a different culture, and a different country,” Reynolds said.

Going beyond the usual college route and taking a gap year is something that isn’t always talked about or celebrated. It’s estimated that around 30% of high school seniors even considered taking a gap year, according to a 2017 study by TD Ameritrade. For Reynolds, she said she saw taking a gap year as a way to learn about herself before committing to any future plans.

“I think it’s a good time to kind of take a gap year and just invest in learning about myself,” Reynolds said. “Just ask who am I? Who do I want to be?”

As she and her classmates prepare to leave the nest, Reynolds continues to feel confident in her decision. In Reynolds eyes, taking a gap year and going to bible school in London isn’t just about education; it’s about the experience, and growing as a person.

“Right now in my life, I don’t have any strings attached, and it’s the perfect time go and travel and experience the world,” Reynolds said. “It’s important to know that there are experiences other than your own, and you get that through seeing the world.”

GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE

Interact Club serves community members far and wide

BY ETHAN GILL co-arts and culture editor Clubs are a great way to get involved with the community, and with people who share similar interests.

But not every club is as well known as others. Some clubs just don’t get discussed much, despite the good that they do as an active part of the community doing volunteer work. Work such as a fleece blanket drive for the local women’s shelter, or a fundraiser for Kiva, an organization that gives out micro-loans to people around the world for their families or their businesses are projects helmed by the Interact Club.

Interact Club is a group that meets twice a month in Room D201, and is sponsored by Rotary International, a group of businessmen and women who organize community service projects. The group has been active for four years, the entire time that two time Club President Caitlin McCabe, senior, has been in high school.

“I got involved with it because community service

has always been very important to my family, as well as to myself,” McCabe said. “And so when I wanted

“I got involved with it because community service has always been very important to my family, as well as to myself.”

-Caitlin McCabe to get involved with a community service club in high school, I heard on the Roar that Interact Club was be-

ing created and they were looking for new members, so I decided to attend a meeting and I’ve decided to continue doing it ever since.”

Meetings in Interact Club involve one of two things: activities or planning for upcoming events.

“At the meetings, sometimes they’ll be an activity for us to do. So I might be putting together care packages, I might be writing notes that will be going to certain people, and other times we’ll have planning meetings, where we’ll be talking about what we have to do,” McCabe said.

This is McCabe’s final year in high school, and as such her last time as club president. However, McCabe isn’t worried about how the club will fare without her.

“We’ve already chosen our group for next year, and I am very excited to see what they will be doing,” McCabe said.

SPORTS

AMPLIFIER

SENIOR EDITION

3

GOFOR THE

GREEN Women’s golf team prepares for upcoming tournament

BY Gillian McMahon advice columnist Women have been golfing since the 1500s, starting with Mary Queen of Scots, and have grown to a reported number of 5.7 million golfers in 2017. West Linn’s varsity women’s golf team is a growing force, placing first in TRL championships and ultimately winning 3rd in State. For senior Ashlee Muresan, this is her last year to win big in golf.

“I joined the team my freshmen year,” Muresan said. “I played a little when I was younger, but I got into it four years ago.”

Despite Tiger Woods making headlines in the news as of late, he’s not the pro golfer that Muresan admires.

“I love Rickie Fowler,” she said. “I’ve always liked his playing style, just the way he came in being one of the young guys, and how good he is now. I admire his growth.”

Muresan is also a co-ed soccer player, but there are things about golf that keep her in the game.

“I like that golf is played individually, but you’re still in a team,” Muresan said. “You have people that rely on you, and you rely on them.”

“Golf requires a lot of patience, you don’t just hit ball after ball,” Muresan said. “You need to keep a steady pace, and your mind focused.”

It wasn’t always easy for Muresan though, sometimes she wanted to give up.

ABOVE: At the driving range, Ashlee Muresan practices her swings. With a tournament around the corner, women’s golf is trying to win big. Photo by Gillian McMahon.

LEFT: Talking with her team at the Willamette Country Club, Muresan takes a break from practice. Photo by

“This last summer, I couldn’t hit a good shot to save my life,” Muresan said. “I honestly wondered if I would play again.”

Through practice and focus, Muresan overcame that roadblock and went on to play for her senior year. This year she placed 10th in her league, even though it’s her first year playing on varsity.

According to Muresan, golf is changing, and the stereotype that only rich, older, white men play golf isn’t true.

“Our team raises on average $800 per player every year,” Muresan said. “We’re not rich.”

“When people assume golf is only for the rich man, it’s wrong.” Muresan said.

“Sure, there are rich people, but it’s truly a younger person’s sport. It’s in high school, it’s available for everyone.”

Even though golf has traditionally been a male-dominated sport, it’s changing for the better. There have been many spectacular female golfers, including Helen Hicks and Olympian Babe Zaharias. Like women everywhere who are paving the way for more girls in golf, Muresan can’t see herself ever giving up on the sport.

“I’ll always continue playing golf,” Muresan said. “Even though it’ll probably be recreational, I don’t want to give it up.”

Gillian McMahon.

THE WORK THAT GOES UNNOTICED

Athletes devote extensive time into their sports

BY GAVIN TURNER co-opinions editor Many high school athletes are acknowledged for their accomplishments on the field. However, fans often times only see the product that the athletes put onto the field. They don’t see the work outside that goes into the performances of the athletes.

Many athletes that receive college offers put in work that extends outside of the high school season. Pitcher Caleb Franzen, senior, not only played baseball for the school, but also participated in various tournaments for other teams.

Franzen also seeked out help pitching from experienced coaches. He started at a young age, and made his dream of playing at the college level a reality.

“I went to Kevin Gunderson for pitching I’ve been going to him since I was eight or nine years old. Randy Brack, the coach at North Marione, was the one that taught me how to throw, I think when I

was six or seven, and I went to him all the way through like twelve or thirteen.”

Franzen plays for the club team Baseball Northwest.

The time commitment is large and the team travels all across the country.

“It’s a lot of the summer,” Franzen said. “There’s a lot of tournaments, like I’ve been to San Diego and Arizona multiple times. I’ve been just about everywhere with Baseball Northwest. It really just showcases that get you out in front of scouts. And they kind of give you that experience of playing at the next level.”

Despite the huge time commitment, Franzen said the extra time he spent on the team ultimately helped him gain the college offers he has now. He also gives credit to the great desire he had to put in the extra work to propel himself to the elite level.

“It’s a huge help going to the tournaments,” Franzen said. “Going along with that, it’s kind of how bad you want to play because I can almost guarantee if someone wants it bad enough, it’s very doable

for you to do. If your route’s Juco or Division One or whatever it is, as long as you want it, there are places that give you opportunities. And luckily for me, Baseball Northwest, my summer team, and just playing here was an opportunity.”

Photos courtesy of Paul Franzen

Another aspect of the high school athlete’s life that goes unnoticed is the challenge of balancing school and the sport.

“It’s definitely just grades first,” Franzen said. “Senior year it’s a little bit harder to do that, because you just want

to get out and experience your senior year. But grades will always come first. So get the work in the classroom done.

Then I worry about baseball stuff because at the end of the day, your academics are more important than anything.”

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SENIOR MAP

AMPLIFIER

WASHINGTON 1. CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Jesse Anderson

2. EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Sofia Brandt

3. GONZAGA UNIVERSITY

SENIOR EDITION 2019

IDAHO

Nicholas Garofalo Keira Kramer Peyton Todd Kevin Wang

49. BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY

5. WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

George Ankeney Megan Brennock Lauren Craven Grace Maher

Estella Darrow Victoria Johnson

6. WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Abigail Minch

Andrew Brown Cole Goodheart

Logan Bianchi Mack Castañeda Andre Chenevert William Chun Casey Colley Kaenan Combs Sophie Conrad Alan Crandall Nathaniel Davidson Elijah Dodd Hailey Elliott Isabell Forster Sebastian Hardin Lucas Hockman Savannah Kerman Kira Kilstrom Isabella Kreske Parker Martin Kristina Mason Ryan Pascall Addison Peters Emily Peters Trevor Pool Noah Radcliffe Kiger Rhoades Isaiah Rodriguez Lindsey Royse Amirhossein Salem Anabela Splitstoser Mitchell Stewart Abigail Strobbe Samuel Sullwold Jacob Vu Alexander Wilson

Lauren Joscelyn Shelbi Neville

9. CLACKAMAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE Daniel Bernal Jacob Badger Kaelyn Cahill Isabella Cannelos Aylish Clayton Blake DuBurg Andromeda Glenn Miranda Kirby Maddy Khamphilavong Jacob Landstrom Skylar Lindstrom Shannon McCoid Anna Melvin Madorie Monson Ainsley Moody John O'Connell Jonathan Oliveras Eli Wall Matthew White

10. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY, WILLIAM PENN HONORS Collin Smith

11. LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE Aidan Whittemore

17. OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, HONORS COLLEGE

12. LINFIELD COLLEGE Brodie Corrigan Brian MacClanathan Kayla Moss

Parker Carlson Mia Graham Emily Henning Lauren Henning Audrey Minch Nathaniel Rice Logan Rower Wiley Weaver

13. LINN BENTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE Abigail Itschner

14. MULTNOMAH UNIVERSITY

18. PACIFIC UNIVERSITY

Tate Ward

Kayla Spain

15. OREGON INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

19. PORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Alyx Burkhartzmeyer

Mackenzie Bezio Courtney Ellery Emily Popelka Jenna Shanks Tarneet Virk

16. OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY Zach Ashcraft Kaitlyn Bossen

HAWAII

75. UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA Halle Blackmun

76 . BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY-HAWAII Nichole Eddington

Jamie Ittershagan

51. MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY BILLINGS

55. UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO SPRIN Connor Currey

MINNES

56. CARLETON CO Claire James

Douglas Allen Emmalyn Franz Gracey Hook Ty Luna Joseph McFadden Maia McNamara Wally Milner Lukas Montgomery Ethan Segal Ellie Snook Camryn Turner Andrew Wright Emily Yang

57. UNIVERSITY OF June Hohl

24

18 20 14 11 12 10 919

52

25 26

16 1713

21. SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY

2223

50

8

Faith Thompson Cameron Tucker

Gavin Brister Olivia Brodsky Jasmine Buursma Philip Chan Taylor Holm Devyn Jacobson Andrew Johnson Joshua Jones Victoria Laird Nicole Lang Carson Martus Dylan Mueller Ellison Naone Brooke Pene Kent Schoenborn Ethan Scott Andrea Secchi Sofia Siegel Shelby True Hannah Vedder Ania Viteri

51

49

21

22. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

15

46

47 45

54

34

55 53

30

38

23. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, CLARK HONORS COLLEGE

29 37

Mackenzie Cozart Jake Heinonen

36

27 28

35 31

33

44

42

32 41 39 40

24. UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND Bella Deeb

43

25. WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY Wyatt Haak

26. WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY Abdul Ali Z Friedman

CALIFORNIA 27. AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY

32. SAN DIEGO STATE Paige Mueller

33. UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS Kaitlyn R. Barbee

Olivia Anderson Emma Davey

34. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKLEY

28. CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY

35. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO

29. CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY

36. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

30. CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN LUIS OBISPO

37. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

Hannah Pries

Karen Partida Elizabeth Pearce

31. POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

38. WESTMONT COLLEGE

Sydney Steinberg 75

54. COLORADO S

20. PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

Erin Kelly

76

Hart Hancock

53. COLORADO CO

Rory Cheevers Sarah Martin Abigail Nelson Carissa Russell

Clint Berggren

8. CENTRAL OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Elliott Avery Cormac Duffy John Wetzsteon

50. MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

52. UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA

Megan Driggers

OREGON

COLORA

Hannah Hashbarger

7. WHITMAN COLLEGE

4. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

MONTANA

Rosie Dramov Jacob Groh Avery Sullivan

Riley Drullinger Eleanor Terner Davis Lee

Aubrey Wagy

ARIZONA

42. NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY

Antonio Comard

Maya Colman Caroline Frisch Sara Garci Gabrielle Gelinas Sheridan Rodich

39. ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY 40. ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, STARBUCKS COLLEGE ACHIEVEMENT PLAN Nicholas Bergerson

41. GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY Olivia Bell

Alex McCart

43. UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

44. YAVAPAI UNIVERSITY

Gavin Tinsley

SENIOR EDITION 2019

ADO

OLLEGE

STATE UNIVERSITY

F COLORADO AT NGS

SOTA

OLLEGE

F MINNESOTA

WISCONSIN 58. CARTHAGE COLLEGE Michael Stell

MISSOURI

59. UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI Sean Harman

SENIOR MAP

NEW YORK

BY PHILIP CHAN co-editor in chief

62. CORNELL UNIVERSITY

MICHIGAN

5

WHERE TO? AMPLIFIER

It's the end of high school and the beginning of a new chapter. After graduation, the senior class of 2019 is heading out all over Oregon, across the country and the world. We have compiled the future destinations of our fellow graduates in our the senior map.

Caleb Oltmans Madeline Sand

60. HILLSDALE COLLEGE

63. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

Dylan Leebrick

Haden Misra

OHIO

64. STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY

Aracelli Doescher

Hannah Burke

Wally Milner contributed to this report. Map template courtesy of Vexels.

Rachel Peters

61. CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY

65. UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

57 71

56

70 69

68 67

66

62 65 58

63 60

64

61

72

59

CONNECTICUT 73

66. UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD Anna Klose

MASSACHUSETTS 67. NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Max Jacobs

68. LESLEY UNIVERSITY Callista Masters

69. SMITH COLLEGE Nalini Oliver

48

70. UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Kristina Yoo

71. WILLIAMS COLLEGE Jenny Yu 74

MARYLAND

72. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY Cade Knutson Rishima Mukherjee

UTAH

45. BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Samantha Skloss

46. UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

WHERE ELSE?

QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY AT KINGSTON, ONTARIO CANADA

Halle McLoughlin

TEXAS

48. TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY Samantha Skloss

Olivia Reynolds

PUERTO RICO Carson Bradford

SOUTHEAST ASIA Alex Maher

U.S. NAVY

Rhys Brunetto

Bruce Kihleng

Dennis Tang

FLORIDA Avery Cook

LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND

U.S. MARINE CORPS

73. DUKE UNIVERSITY

74. FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Riley Cook

Olivia Roane

47. UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY

NORTH CAROLINA

Icon made by Freepik via Flaticon.

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ARTS AND CULTURE

AMPLIFIER

SENIOR EDITION

ORCHESTRATING THEIR FUTURE

BY CODY WHITE web manager

For certain seniors, classes like orchestra have defined their school experience. They have spent fourth grade to twelfth grade working with the same instrument, and have worked hard to evolve music into an outlet for creative energy. An outlet that will continue to have a lasting impact on their lives past high school.

Pooja Jain, senior, is one of these students. “I’ve actually been in school orchestra since I was in elementary school, so I first started playing in Cedar Oaks’ really tiny orchestra when I was in fourth grade,” Jain said.

Jain plays the violin, but for her, orchestra is more than just an instrument. “Playing in the community was always something I really enjoyed do-

ing. I’m just more of a community supporter type person,” Jain said. “We’ve gone to state a couple of times, and each time we’ve felt such a strong sup-

“I know that a lot of people don’t pursue music as a major, probably because they don’t think they are good enough.”

-Mackenzie Cozart port. We know we’ve got somewhere.

I think getting to those is amazing, we come together, and we can show people we’re serious about music.”

Jain has plans to continuing playing the violin once out of high school. “I

realized that in these last couple weeks preparing to graduate, I haven’t been able to practice that much,” Jain said.

“And I don’t feel like my best when I don’t. I feel like an itch to go and play, and it’s hard to make the time to play.

Not having it in college would be something that would devastate me. It was a part of me for all these years, through my high school career, why do I have to stop in college?”

Mackenzie Cozart is another senior who is planning on furthering music past high school. “It’s kind of like my one hobby,” Cozart said. “I really love playing the cello, it’s really fun. Making music with other people is also really fun and really cool. Also I think our orchestra is a good community.”

For Cozart the progression into college was a natural path to take. “It had sort of been kind of a thought for a

while, since I was a freshman probably.

I think I started really seriously considering it as a junior when I was looking at college, and I was like, what are my criteria for college? And I was like, you know what, I really wanna do music.”

Cozart encourages more students with an interest in music to think about doing it in college. “There is this big focus on majors, and I know that a lot of people don’t pursue music as a major, probably because they don’t think they are good enough,” Cozart said.

For students not going to college it’s important to remember there are always ways to pursue music, such as local community orchestras.

“I would love to keep playing [outside of college],” Jain said. “I was considering a minor in music, just because I want to keep doing something.”

Cozart also has ambitions past college, “I really hope I can keep it in my life,” Cozart said.

SINCERELY, AMBER

Headshot illustration commissioned by Kimi @sun.vitamin.

I’m scared to go away for college. I don’t know if I’m ready to leave home, and I’m questioning everything.

What can I do?

Sincerely, Leaving the Nest Dear Leaving the Nest, What you’re feeling is completely normal.

Change is terrifying, especially a change as big as this.

It’s like getting cold feet at your wedding. It’s not necessarily because you don’t want to do it, but because it’s scary

to do something new. Before the big day though, here are some things you can do: Spend some time with friends and family. It’s truly your last summer, enjoy it by making meaningful memories. Go on that road trip you always planned, or spend that day with your friend you haven’t seen in a while.

Spending your time worrying about leaving won’t help you, embrace what time you have left.

Stay organized. Make sure you have everything you need at the start of the summer.

Don’t let yourself be stressed a week before you need to leave, get it out of the way.

Additionally, bring your own mattress to college—the ones the school provides are gross.

Realize this isn’t the end.

Just because you’re leaving for college, doesn’t mean you’re saying goodbye. This is a new beginning to the rest of your life. Enjoy this expe-

rience, and don’t think of it as a goodbye, but more of a “see you later.”

Saying goodbye to the life you’ve known for 18 years is scary, but don’t cry. From the advice staff to you, you’ll be okay. You are going to do great, and everyone is believing in you. From the words of Winnie the Pooh, “how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

Sincerely, Amber

CURRENT EVENTS

AMPLIFIER

SENIOR EDITION

7

STUDENTS CELEBRATE MAY DAY

ABOVE: The Princesses show off their Disney-level dresses in the Court dances. They danced to two songs, both of which included choreographed twirling and dress-swishing so that the audience could fully appreciate those poofy skirts. “The hardest part about May Day was just feeling totally confident in the two dances,” Princess Peyton Todd, senior, said. “But I was lucky to have an awesome dance partner [Prince Harry Winsper, senior] who worked so hard to perfect them.”

ABOVE: The May Pole dancers mesmerizingly twirled their yellow ribbons around the pole, continuing the most famous tradition of May Day for another year. The May Pole dance began as a pagan fertility ritual. But in modern times, students participate because it is a fun tradition at the school. “It was a really fun way to meet new people, as well as a really fun experience,” Jenna Goodheart, one of the frehsman dancers, said.

“It’s also a unique way to be a part of May Day, in my opinion.” Photo by Kaleigh Henderson.

Photo by Kaleigh Henderson.

RIGHT: A royal coronation took place right here at the high school, when Prince Mack Castaneda and Princess Devyn Jacobson, seniors, were crowned the 2019 May Day King and Queen. Photo by Kaliegh Henderson.

ABOVE: The ringleaders of this year’s carnival-themed May Day were Masters of Ceremony Abdul Ali and Philip Chan, seniors. They entertained both the audience and the Court with funny anecdotes, quips, and even a few magic tricks. Photo by Kaleigh Henderson.

INTRODUCING A CHAMPION OF STUDENT ACTIVISM: SARAH MARTIN How one senior makes her contribution to the fight against climate change

BY MEGAN RIEHLE assistant photo editor On March 15 about 30-50 students joined together to stand against the inaction of the public and the government on climate change. World wide thousands of teenagers striked for this cause in unison on the same day. The architect of this movement was Sarah Martin, senior, a student activist and a seeker of social and environmental justice. This was not the first time Martin has taken on the mission of promoting environmentally friendly living though.

When she was in sixth grade at Horizon Christian School, Martin implemented a bottle recycling program, and when she was in kindergarten she asked her dad to help her build a worm bin so that she could compost.

The idea to stage this strike came to Martin after her teacher, Jim Hartmann showed her a video about Greta Thunberg.

“She [Greta Thunberg] is 16, 15 at the time. She stood up and gave a speech in front of global leaders and talked about how we need change. And she has been sitting every Friday outside of her Swedish Parliament since August, so she skipped school every single Friday. And it’s just striking because essentially, the idea is that we’re too young to vote yet, and we don’t have enough money to buy people’s votes.”

Martin found inspiration in the action of a fellow champion of the cause. “This was our way to

be heard,” Martin said. “And it worked really well, really fast.”

While Martin considered this day a success, not everyone was on board with these kids taking a stand. When Martin and her classmates gathered outside of Oregon City City Hall, a couple of people driving by yelled at them to go back to school.

“It’s not meant to be against the school system itself,” Martin said. “It’s meant to show that this is the only effective way we can get our government’s attention.”

However, this skepticism will not stop this young activist from fighting for their futures. “I did a sustainability fair for one of my other projects. And the posters I had hung up around the school all got taken down. But I think the people who don’t support me in this school are basing it off of political stuff,” Martin said.

While Martin has been an advocate for a better environment from a young age, she more recently noticed that she could make a living out of her passion. “When I was working out in the field, I realized I could do this for a career and that’s what sparked that idea.”

Martin will graduate in a month and go on to major in environmental studies at the University of Montana. “I hope to someday do environmental education, not necessarily in a classroom, but with a nonprofit or form like that.”

As Sarah Martin and her classmates stood outside Oregon City City Hall, many car horns honked in support, but a couple passerbys shouted at the students to “go back to school.” “I did get a little bit of backlash from some people that don’t like the idea of skipping school, because they don’t think that’s the best way to do it,” Martin said. “But that’s where I would disagree, because we are running out of time. That’s why we have to take these drastic steps.” Photo by Gigi Schweitzer

8

BACK AMPLIFIER/wlhsNOW.com VOLUME 99/ISSUE 4

Senior Edition Crossword

Across 2. Students who graduate with a higher than average GPA and service hours.

4. Groups for students to meet in during free time with similar interests.

7. A sport played to a tee.

9. Area to develop and process film.

11. An outdoor sport where you can’t move once you have the object.

13. What seniors started in 2006.

Down 1. A drink container as well as a position on a baseball team.

3. Graduating girls perform this at May Day. 4. The company responsible for creating AP tests and the SATs. 5. According to NASA, 97% of climate scientists agree this is a rising problem.

6. West Linn’s competitive dance team.

8. Time off between high school and college.

10. Alternative government work after high school.

12. West Linn’s 99-year-old spring tradition.

Comic by Riley Nyund

Answers

Amplifier West Linn High School 5464 West A. Street West Linn, OR 97068 503-678-7800 wlhs-amplifier@wlhs.wlwv.k12.or.us wlhsNOW.com

PHILIP CHAN co-editor in chief WALLACE MILNER co-editor in chief MATILDA MILNER coverage editor SKYLAR MOORE copy editor GIGI SCHWEITZER yearbook co-editor in chief RORY CHEEVERS broadcast co-editor in chief ANDREA SECCHI photo editor ZOE BARNETT mental health correspondent IRIS BRUCKER co-opinions editor REMY GOTTSCHLING co-arts and culture editor GILLIAN McMAHON advice columnist DELANEY CALLAGHAN people editor ETHAN GILL co-arts and culture editor KALEIGH HENDERSON current events editor MEGAN RIEHLE assistant photo editor PAIGE RODRIGUEZ blogs manager GAVIN TURNER co-opinions editor CODY WHITE web editor RILEY NYUND comics editor GLENN KRAKE adviser TWITTER: @wlhsamplifier @wlhsNOW FACEBOOK: @westlinn.amplifier INSTAGRAM: @wlhsNOW SNAPCHAT: wlhsNOW YOUTUBE: wlhsNOW

1. PITCHER 2. HONORS 3. SENIOR DANCE 4 across. CLUBS 4 down. COLLEGE BOARD 5. GLOBAL TEMPERATURE 6. DEBUTANTES 7. GOLF 8. GAP YEAR 9. DARKROOM 10. MILITARY 11. ULTIMATE FRISBEE 12. MAY DAY 13. KINDERGARTEN

The Amplifier is published quarterly by the West Linn High School Journalism Class.

Opinions expressed in commentaries and editorials represent only those of the writer, and are not necessarily the opinions of West Linn High School, its administration, faculty, staff or student body.

Letter to the editors

BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

W

ith graduation nearing, seniors are preparing for their lives beyond high school and the Amplifier’s editors in chief are no exception.

For four years they’ve worked in the background, spending late nights at school to work on deadlines and guiding the incoming leaders, but now is their moment to step out of the shadows.

Dear Phil, Thank you for your knowledge about absolutely everything. It’s kind of insane that you know how to answer almost every single question we throw at you, from little things like AP style marks, to wondering how to fix stubborn white space on InDesign.

But your knowledge goes beyond InDesign tips and tricks.

You understand how to offer instruction and guidance

in the kindest possible way.

Your sunshiny demeanor and witty humor diffuses tension effortlessly. Thank you for being someone that we can constantly look up to and learn from.

Dear Wally, We would like to thank you for the contributions you’ve made to staff. Not only your editorial policy and your political insight on Twitter, but also the support you’ve given to staff members over your time here. Your passion for real world issues is inspiring, and you teach us that our voices matter, and that we can make a difference in the world. Thank you for transforming the journalism room into a home, and making everyone feel like they’re part of the family. We will miss your guidance and leadership.

Current editors Wallce Milner and Philip Chan hold hands as they walk to Disneyland during their last journalism convention in Anaheim last April. Photo by Gigi Schweitzer.