O gan likes teaching at W .L .
by Janice McDonald
“ I try hard to put forth my best
effort and be positive. I’m always
falling a little short of what I want
to b e ,” says math teacher Tom
Ogan, when he was asked to
describe himself.
Ogan attended Madison High
School and was graduated from
the University of Oregon, where
he received his bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in physical
education in 1967 and 1970,
respectively.
At West Linn, Ogan coaches
wrestling, football, and teaches
math. He started at West Linn in
1970 and stayed until 1973,
when he left to take the varsity
wrestling job at Wilson High
School. “ W e won the division
championship in 1976 and
district dual meet championship
in 1977, going undefeated in
league dual meets.”
Leaving teaching after the
1976-77 school year, he worked
for a heavy equipment dealer.
He then went to work for a steel
fabricator,
building
specialty
equipment for mining and ex
cavation contractors.
In 1979 a serious accident
prompted his return to teaching.
“ Large steel beams fell on me,
crushing my right leg below the
knee,” stated Ogan.
In 1980 Ogan returned to
-West Linn.
Ogan says he likes to coach
because he feels sports “ Provide
valuable,
ed u cation a l
ex
periences to those who par
ticipate.” His most memorable
experience in coaching was back
in 1973 when the football team
Green leaves
West Linn
for trip
around
world;
Christensen nominated
to Naval Academy
by Kris Warner
Senior Paul Christensen has
been nominated to the naval
academy
in
Annapolis,
Maryland.
Interested in becoming an
engineer, Christensen feels that
Annapolis
Naval
A cadem y
would be the best school in
which to earn his degree. Not
only would his engineering
degree be highly respected, but
he would be paid to attend the
academy.
To be nominated for the
academy, a student must have a
high grade point average and ex
cellent SAT scores. Applicants
must be nominated by the con
gressmen of their state. “ I wrote
letters to AuCoin and Hatfield
explaining that I was interested
in attending a naval academy
and that I needed a nomina
tion,” stated Christensen. They
looked at my records and
nominated m e.”
TOM OGAN
photo by Greg Wahl-Stevens
had a 1-8 win-loss record the
year before. Then the next year
with most of the same kids they
turned around and had a 6-3
year.
Ogan likes teaching at West
Linn.
He
feels
it is an
outstanding school, with many
very fortunate students to teach
and challenge.
Living in Lake Oswego with
his wife and three boys, Ogan
likes to read, do calligraphy, play
tennis, and enjoys most any out-
door sports in his free time,
“ E xp erien ce
ou tside
of
teaching was valuable for me
and I may head in that direction
b y Heidi VonTagen
Imagine spending a full year
traveling to 47 different countries
around the world while visiting
and seeing places and people
much
different from
those
located in the United States.
World Affairs teacher Tom
Green will soon make this im
agined journey a reality.
The date is set. Beginning this
August, Green and his bicycle
will depart for the year-long trip
around the world. Green plans
to return sometime in June
1984, “ Or whenever my money
runs out,” he commented.
were much better at conveying
thoughts and ideas about the
people, sights, smells, food
tastes and cultures than any tex
tbook. The best way for me to
convey these thoughts is if I can
actually
ex p e rie n ce
them
myself.”
Although academies are very
prestigious schools, they are not
for everyone. Each year only
1,500 students are accepted to
the school, so only the very ex
ceptional students are can
didates. The students must have
not only a high GPA, but also
participate in athletics and show
leadership qualities. “ Employers
know what kind of people that
academies turn out so
a
graduate from an academy is set
for life. Show an employer the
degree
and
the
academ y
graduate has the job ,” exclaimed
senior
counselor
Ray
Swanstrom.
“ At the academy, students are
given the best possible education
money cannot buy,” com
m ented
Sw anstrom .
“ The
education, if it could be bought,
w ould
cost
approxim ately
$ 1 2 5 ,0 0 0 .” Students must earn
the education and work very
hard to keep it. They wear
uniforms, follow strict rules, take
part in a sport each term while
maintaining their grade point
average.
After graduating from the
academy, the student must serve
the government for five years in
the Navy or Marines. They enter
as commissioned officers. After
the five years, the officers then
may pursue a career outside of
the Marines or Navy or they may
continue to serve.
Christensen will be notified by
mail around May 1, informing
him whether or not he has been
accepted to Annapolis Naval
Academy.
again when m y children are out
of school. (Teaching) gives me
flexibility
and
c o n fid e n ce
because I don’t feel I’m locked
into it. I’m here because I want to
b e.”
Green plans to fly across the
ocean to Hong Kong for the first
part of his journey while his bicy
cle is being shipped to Istanbul.
Bus or other public transport will
reunite him with the bicycle,
which Green plans to use as a
major transportation system for
the remainder of the trip.
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N.
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plans to visit
47 different
“I have im ages of riding through beautiful
countryside in sunny warm weather.”
countries
A few of the continents he
plans to visit are Asia, Africa,
and Europe. Specific countries
he plans to see are Japan,
China, India, Nepal, France and
Austria.
The estimated cost of this
world tour averages $10,000
which will be paid for in part
($3,000) by the West Linn
School District as teacher’s sab
batical pay. “ I feel that this trip
will help me teach the courses of
World Affairs and Geography.
I’ve had guest speakers who
have com e into the classes and
Green sees his ideal journey
as, “ Riding past many small
villages. I hope to be able to stop
whenever I feel tired or hungry.
I’d like to talk to many people
along the way, get to know local
people and share their lives, im
pressions
and
ideas
about
America. I have images of riding
through beautiful countryside in
sunny warm weather. I plan to
stay away from most major cities
because they are so westernized.
It is the native people and their
customs I am most interested
in.”
ARMY
BE A U YOU CAN BE.
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PHONE 655-7575
WEST LINN, OREGON 97068
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