Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2006)
r 5 ----- 7 Should Americans come to the aid of those who are less fortunate in Africa? From All Hallow's Eve \6 Halloween: the Nstpry of Halloween revealed. - Page 6 m With a victory over Milwaukie, 36-21, the Varsity Football Team clinches a playoff spot. Check out all the upcoming concerts in the Portland area Hate iPods? iPod Alternatives reviewed. - page 14 page 17 - page 18 ____________ Official Student Publication of West Linn High School Published Since 1921 October 2006 - Volume 95, Issue 2 National Merit Semifinalists eniov fine arts L auren L evine Isaac C ohen co-Editor-in-Chief Every year, more than one million high school juniors across the country enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT. Of these students, the highest scoring entrants in each state are chosen as semifinalists to compete for some of 8,200 scholarships worth 33 million dollars in scholarship money. In order to become a National Merit finalist, students must submit an application which includes an essay, tell about participation in community or leadership activities, earn similar scores on the SAT to their qualifying score on the PSAT as well as having a recommendation by the school principal and an outstanding high school record. This year, nine seniors from WLHS have been named semifinalists, allowing them the chance to apply Future plans: Sailing away into the sunrise. Extracurricular activities: Fine Arts, Young Socialist Club Advanced classes: "That's not important." Jen n i D enekas National Merit semifinalists Marta Hanson, Heather Wallace, Isaac Cohen, Eric Nesbit, Alix Gerber, Christiana Cha, Audrey Riesen and Jenni Denekas compete for scholarships. The eight seniors were Photo by Cole Fiala among the highest scoring entrants in Oregon. for finalist status and the chance to win scholarship money. With the pool of semifinalists representing less than one percent of high school students in the U.S., many would say that being a semifinalist would be an honor. "I feel so honored," Marta Hanson, senior, said. But most of the semifinalists at WLHS agree that "it's just a standardized test/' Audrey Riesen, senior, said. "Achieving the finalist level would be more meaningful because it's more than just a (test) score," Eric Nesbit, senior, said. C hristiana Cha Future plans: Hopes to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. YourSpace gives students opportunity to personalize 2007 yearbook all color yearbook, students can express themselves by submitting quotes, memories, artwork, photos, or anything else that is meaningful to them. Students must submit their entry by Nov. 18. They can find the submission information by going to the yearbook website. Staff Reporter The idea came as a joint effort from the yearbook All students will have staff during yearbook camp the opportunity to include when they brainstormed their personal artwork, ideas to personalize the quotes or photos in the yearbook. They were yearbook. This area is doing this to include more YourSpace, a space where coverage that matters to each student can submit more people. The theme something personal that Y E A R B O O K : Your Space this year is "Best Year is important to them. Name (pfease print) £rc.>W "r.__________________ Ever." YourSpace is an area Grade lev Students and their that will be featured This is youf opportunity to submit a photo, artwork, quote or persona! memory for the yearbook. Each student will have a space in the yearbook parents are also invited throughout the to contribute appropriate materia! that is uniquely yours! The space below is yours. Submit by 11/18/06 to Room D102, or you may to submit candid yearbook at the bottom submit it electroninaliv to WLHS-yearbook@wlhs.wtwv.k12.or.us photos by e-mail to of each page. There will f* '* » ^ -fre-i/. pknhi f wlhs-y earbook@wlhs. be seven spaces to each t>Wl **!- rw K j wlwv.kl2.or.us or by double page spread and Vmk vutw’n j putting them in Breyne’s original submissions mailbox in the office. will be proportionally J Students can also add reduced to fit the space. Who. i* * A *■ their name, hobbies, "It is always a ** V k S ***» »u/Wkjfak , c ^ and activities on the challenge to get When. tt»^iU «* <£■ ip*- cover of their yearbook everyone in the WliSfO, V = s’’ for an additional cost. yearbook somewhere WhyrVv They can do this by besides their school •fi*1 How: visiting www.jostens. photo," Ann Breyne, com/yearbook/SP_ (Use the back if needed. Please submit on-line or return to Room D102.) Green and Gold Yearbook Adviser, said. YourSpace submissions are due Nov. 18. personalize.asp. Information is also available on the website, The deadlines for "Our goal is to give which can be accessed by clicking Activités/ senior photos, senior them more ways to be Clubs, and then Yearbook on the school ads, and senior quotes is in the yearbook." website. also Nov. 18. In this part of the u S ydney M ac N aughton r iS petiy 1 you wsurf Sa y x * to O si*», re to ld w * 6* »vaäfato far jét**© i» Room DKÖ t* Janwvy t$ ) Extracurricular activities: Varsity Tennis, Winter Track, Students of Support, International Club, Ecology Club, Amnesty International and Symphonic Choir. Advanced classes: Physics, Pre-calculus, French IV, AP Psychology, AP Chemistry, AP European History, Honors English 11, AP English 12, AP Biology and AP Calculus. Future plans: College; schools of interest include Whitman College, University of Puget Sound, Santa Clara University and Stanford University. Extracurricular activities: Cross Country, Track, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, International Club and Ecology Club. Advanced classes: AP U.S. History, Pre Calculus, AP Calculus AB, Honors Physics, Honors English, AP European History, AP Studio Art, AP English, Honors Humanities, AP Environmental Science. Natioiiai ffletit Scholars______ a continued on page 5 GATA: young club looks to make big difference H ill! ClAVARELLO Staff Reporter GATA (Global Awareness Take Action) was started by 20 students after listening to Bono, lead singer of rock band U2, give a speech at the Oregon World Affairs Council International Speaker Series in 2004. Since then, they have been bringing awareness to students and trying to create positive changes through several different projects. Their goals are to raise awareness about changeable conditions in Africa, raise money for a service project to Africa next summer, traveling with both students and staff, and to keep energy high. To raise awareness, the students have had booths at the Club Fair, made educational videos and took part in the 2004 World Affairs Council's Global Skills Competition, where they had the opportunity to reach more than 200 Oregon high school students. They plan to keep student interest high by having GATA members come up with issues they find most urgent. "The students have been incredible; Maddie Kiely, Michael Bemert, Kelsey Figone, just to name a few. They are completely inspirational to me and make my job easier," David Frick, adviser and history teacher, said. Last year they created Global Awareness Day, with speakers from Kenya, Tanzania and Nicaragua, to help students and the community learn more about global issues. In the future, GATA members hope to expand their vision to other students and communities that wish to help. Frick has been approached by other schools and organizations hoping to set up their own GATA club. He even jokes, "Franchise, baby!"
