Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2000)
Smoke Signals Young community member stands apart from the crowd 6 By Brent Merrill Grand Ronde Community mem ber Mickey Hoopingarner is a breath of fresh air. His ready smile and polite manner help to keep his constant enthusiasm in check. Like most young people, he is ready to go. Unlike many young people his age, 14, being re spectful and kind comes naturally to him. And, if you think being respect ful, makes him weak think again. Hoopingarner competes in the 100 yard and 200-yard dashes, the relay events and whatever else his track coach asks him to do. He does it will ingly and with results. He also finds time to play percus sion in the school band and took the role of a soldier in Willamina High School's production of Romanoff and Juliette. Despite all his extra-curricular ac tivities, Hoopingarner keeps his grades up. He has impressed every body he comes in contact with his old principal at Grand Ronde El ementary to his new principal at Wil lamina High School. "He is one of my favorites," said Grand Ronde Elementary Principal Kathy Sumners. "I think he is re ally interesting to talk to. He gets really involved in what he is doing. He is really committed to what he is doing and I think that is just such an important thing." Sumners said she appreciates Hoopingarner's sense of accountabil ity past and present. "Mickey has always felt like he needed to take responsibility for things," said Sumners. "He takes a lot of responsibility on himself." Willamina High School Principal Gary Anderson agreed with Sumners about Hoopingarner's work ethic and personal reliability. "He is a real hard worker," said Anderson. "He's heavily involved in band (he is Willamina's first fresh man lead percussionist). He was ac tive and involved in the drama pro duction that was done here this spring. At the same time he was in- ( fii) ' ;? - f J 1 w" I Grand Ronde resident and Willamina High School student Mickey Hoopingarner has grown up in Grand Ronde and become a vital part of the community. volved in track. He actually had three things going at the same time. He kept his head above water. "Mickey had to work really hard to do it," said Anderson of Hoopin garner's schedule. "There was a lot of demands on him. He is real ener getic. He is a real responsible young man. He is really anxious, I think, to get through school and get out and make his mark in the world. "He likes to work with people," said Anderson. "He has the ability to or ganize and direct people, my guess he is going to go into some aspect of business and probably some man agement function in business. I think he would do well in that - par ticularly, a people-oriented business. He is a very positive, real personable individual. Mickey is always look ing at the bright side." Hoopingarner's adopted grand mother, Tribal member Patti Hoopin garner, said she is so proud of Mickey it hurts. She grins with pride when his name is mentioned. She said the whole family is proud of him. "Great grandma (Tribal Elder Frances Ring) was up here for the play he did," said Patti. "She is very proud of him too." ( "Mickey considers everyone else's feelings first," said Patti. "He tells me not to worry. He wants us to be proud of him." Hoopingarner's late uncle, Monte Ring, was his traditional and spiri tual teacher. Mickey wants Monte to be proud of him too, said Patti. "Everything he does, he does it in honor of his uncle," said Patti of Mickey's devotion to the memory of his uncle. Like Monte before him, Hoopin garner touches everyone he meets in some way. His family describes him as quiet, shy and loving. "Everyday when I am at work ' A y " tl ' , 1 l 1 . .4 i t t, Photos by Brent Merrill ABOVE: Mickey at age four. Ten years later, his enthusiasm has not worn off. LEFT: Mickey's late uncle, Grand Ronde Tribal member Monte Ring, was his first spiritual and traditional teacher. Ring, who was a vital force in the Grand Ronde community, set an example that Mickey hopes to follow. right on my desk I have a statue, made out of St. Helen's ash, of a girl holding a kitten. Mickey gave that to me when he left Grand Ronde El ementary and every time I look at the statue I remember him," said Sumners. "Every time I look at it I think of Mickey." Sumners said she would honor Mickey by placing the statue on her desk at her new job in Salem. She said Hoopingarner is one of those stu dents that she will never forget. "In fact, I told him I would come back for his high school graduation," said Sumners. "There is no way I will ever forget him." Ti ; :; c ;-S XTt XWfy V:) ,r-X Grand Ronde Elementary's DARE program took 32 students to Salem to Pictured here are students from Grand Ronde Elementary's 5th grade attend a DARE rally. Crystal Glazebrook and Tryna Carroll of Grand Ronde class who graduated from DARE on June 6 Polk County Sheriff Deputies were selected by Healthy Choices, a program designed to help make bet- Curtis Pitt (back row, left) and Kevin Hayes take time to pose for the ter decisions against drugs, as winners for the posters that they made. camera with the students. Pitt and Hayes are also DARE officers.
