4 _________ ___________________
Latino Leadership gathers for adventure
Wednesday,
May 13,1998
Co-A&E Editor
“I was afraid to do it,” said Meyer, “but at that same time I
was pushing myself.”
That is the purpose behind the outdoor challenge course.
Beyond just the physical obstacles, the course is set up to chal
lenge students mentally—to give them confidence where it
seems weak.
The high course ends with a hung pulley that slides down
ward from the tall tree to the ground below called a “zip
line.”
“That was the scariest part for me,” said Clackamas men
tor Alexander Lozano. Once the jump was made, though,
all screamed with excitement from the rush of adrena
line.
The classroom was very different for these students on
Saturday, and next time they go up, they will be the lead
ers.
The students in Latino Leadership are part of a program
through Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement (OCHA)
and the Oregon Leadership Institute (OLI). The OCHA stu
dents are mentors that are assigned Latino high school stu
dents in the effort of being role models and helping them
achieve goals, and most importantly, graduation.
“There is a 15.7 percent high school dropout rate for Latinos.
For Anglos it is only 5.9 percent,” said class advisor Ayde
York. “In college it is even higher—that is why the program
was started.”
York explained that the students and teenagers support each
other. The mentors are motivated to continue studies so stu
dents have someone to look up to. The teenagers in return
“My legs were like Jell-O,” said Vicky Aguilar after com
pleting the high course. “I was scared.”
Aguilar, along with 12 other students from the Latino Lead
ership class at Clackamas, spent Saturday on what could be
called a scary adventure. They participated in an outdoor chal
lenge course at Camp Cooper, which was located in the coastal
mountains by Willamina.
Most of the students completed the high course which looked
like a small-scale Ewok Village. High in the trees were raised
platforms, and between the trees were wires, thin bridges and
a narrow log. The students were clad in yellow helmets and
body harnesses called “rabbit cars”, to provide security in case
of a fall. They were to walk and climb through each obstacle.
Carmen Meyer stood on a high platform and waited with
fright in her eyes, trying to get the strength to cross the log,
high above the forest ground. The encouragement of a scout
leader helped her to take small steps across the slick log, until
she arrived safely on the other side.
Irene Carrillo cheerfully crosses a rope bridge
while navigating the course's formidable path.
Amelie Lambert hoists herself on a tire swing
in Camp Cooper's outdoor challenge course.
JARED BEZZANT
JARED BEZZANT / Clackamas Print
receive personal guidance and valuable information on how
to plan for the future.
“Many of the young students come from migrant worker
families and move a lot,” said York. “Some don’t even think
they can go to college.”
The high school students began participation earlier this
year on activities designed to build leadership qualities, team
work skills and communication ability. They have also received
advice on making goals and information such as college reg
istration and career ideas. On May 23, they will participate in
the same outdoor challenge course that their mentors did on
Saturday.
“We want the students to face problems they don’t know
how to handle,” said York.
And that is how some of the OCHA mentors felt at the camp.
They worked games that required strategy and non-verbal com
munication. They were blindfolded. They had to climb over a
tall wall as a group, which required planning and teamwork.
They had to help and encourage each other. Each activity taught
a valuable lesson.
Clackamas mentor Jessica Velazquez stood with her back
facing the edge of a high platform. She was to repeat her name
and promise to keep her arms straight and back stiff as she fell
backwards in hopes that the group below would catch her.
“Last time I did this I gave someone a black eye,” said
Velazquez. Her arms had lost control on the fall down. This
time she fell with grace and was caught.
Velazquez knows what it is like because she was once an
OCHA high school student, and has now graduated, moving
on to Clackamas. Two of the other mentors, Sophia Perez and
Shastina Solaita, are also living examples of the success of
the OCHA program.
These are the people that York hopes continue to come
through the program to be role models from the transition of
high school student to, college mentor.
“Now there is a negative cycle, we want to change that into
a positive cycle,” said York.
The Latino Leadership class is only in its second term at
Clackamas, and is the newest of five sites in Oregon. There
are hopes to expand to two more at Mt. Hood Community
College and Portland Community College by next fall.
The class has become a valuable learning experience for
the mentors who are doing hands-on experience with real
people and situations outside the classroom. This class pro
vides the opportunity to help other people.
. “I felt very proud of myself to finish,” said Meyer on comple
tion of the outdoor challenge course. And that is how these
mentors hope the OCHA students feel after graduation.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes: a students’ refuge
like the fellowship part about it,” while David Lemen explained
that “it’s kind of like an accountability group.” Jen Rogers
added that club meetings are “like a time to get away and
“A refuge.” “A fellowship.” “An escape.”
focus on the Lord.”
Not the average description of a Clackamas club, perhaps—
So what sets FCA apart from other Christian clubs? Fine
but Fellowship of Christian Athletes is no ordinary club. Its
answered that “there’s quite a few Christian groups on cam
members, when asked, all affirm that FCA is a special, peace
pus. One does Bible study [Baptist Student Ministries], one
ful place where they can take a break from life’s restless pace.
does evangelism [Campus Crusade for Christ], and FCA is
And as the group circled Clackamas’ flagpole and prayed last
the third part of the Christian faith: fellowship.. .There’s no
Thursday, it was apparent that their focus is unique.
study involved; sometimes there’s discussion, but that’s a form
“[FCA is] kind of a refuge, basically—because school gets
of fellowship. It’s just a coming together, just to be together,
stressful, and a lot of times you can lose your focus,” said
to support one another.”
FCA leader Tiffany Fine at Thursday’s gathering. The club is
Fellowship is more than just a pretty word to these students.
a focal point of Fine’s schedule. “It’s a good place to go to
It’s the core of their club’s philosophy, and the reason most of
just get renewed.. .1 look forward to every week.”
them were drawn to the group.
Other FCA leaders agree. Andy Purscelley stated, “I really
I got involved in FCA in high school,” related Purscelley,
“and that’s when I really started to be
lieve in what FCA can do. The philoso
phy of it I agree with: working on inter
personal relationships with not only ath
letes, but everybody.”
•Are 40 or older...
The word “everybody” is key, be
• Lack health insurance or have limited benefits...
cause it’s a common misconception that
• Have a total monthly income of no more than $1,644
the club is only for Christian sportsmen
+ $567 for each additional person...
and women. Not so; FCA welcomes all
into its ranks.
“We don’t exclude anybody;
everybody’s welcome,” Fine affirmed.
“You don’t have to be an athlete. You
don’t have to be a former athlete—just
^*°***>.
somebody who wants to fellowship.”
at
FCA strives to be a warm and friendly
Clackamas County Breast and
group, accepting both non-athletes and
Cervical Health Program
non-Christians.
FCA, its members testify, is of
Paid for by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Susan G. Komen Foundation
JOEL P. SHEMPERT
Feature Editor
Because your health is important...
If you:
You may be eligible for a FREE Women's
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Call Chris
(Wednesday, May 13, 1998
(503)557-6446
JOEL P. SHEMPERT / Clackamas Print
Tiffany Fine leads Clackamas’ Fellowship of
Christian athletes in prayer around the flagpole
outside the Community Center. The club has
been easing students’ burdens for nine years.
great value in their personal and academic lives. It helps stu
dents, claimed Lemen, to “let God’s love shine through us
and out into our community and our sports.”
Fine added that the club offered therapeutic relief from the
academic, workplace, and training pressure that athletes es
pecially face, and Rogers intimated that “it also helps a lot
with.. .concentrating on the right thing when I’m doing sports.”
FCA has been going strong at Clackamas for nine years,
and its continued success is evidence of its relevance to pres
sured students. But the strongest testimonial is from students
themselves. Why join the Fellowship of Christian athletes?
Simple—as Lemen said, “so we can stay together and keep
bonding, and help each other out in our time of need.”