Conestoga High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Berwyn, PA)

Page 24 text:

Summarizing our past three years here at the Big C is a monumental task It is impossible to do justice to all the diverse activities, events, and personalities that played a role In our epic drama. Although each one of us could write Ns or her own unique history, there are certain moments that will be remembered by all. It all began back in 1962 when most of us were born. Then came fifteen long, boring years until we were united for the first of five hundred forty-three weekday mornings As eager sophomores, our first objective was to bolster our new-born treasury. wNch could not yet purchase one of those little celluloid things that fit on the end of your shoelace To rectify our desperate situation, a Car Wash was planned for early October. How- ever. due to inclement weather, the project was postponed several times until it had to be scrapped altogether. Our next fund-raising effort proved to be far more successful. The rock band Thrust invad- ed the auditorium with $600 worth of high- powered entertainment. The next project tackled was our Homecom- ing presentation. Under the theme of mov- ies, we chose the classic Peter Pan as the motif for our float and skit. The Class of 80 s first Homecoming Court was comprised of Pat Skadeland. Peggy Smith. Cindy Hess, John Hoyt, Mike Sullivan, and Alan Donatone. The football team defeated Lower Merion 40-21 in the Homecoming game, and ended its season with an exciting last-second win over the undefeated Tigers of Marple New- town. 16-14. On the dramatic scene, Sara Wingate starred in the Drama Club's production of Our Miss Brooks. When Executive Council elections were held, we were blessed with the sound leadership of President Mike Olson, Vice President Barb Ba- longue. Secretary Cathy Schlegal. and Trea- surer Chris Moon. The class was in good hands. In the outside world. Steve Martin released his first album. Let’s Get Small, and Generalissi- mo Francisco Franco astonished the medical world by winning Ns ongoing fight to stay dead. As juniors, we met new challenges with great success. For instance, the Drama Club's out- standing production of Arsenic and Old Lace starred juniors Maggie O'Leary. Jack Johnson, Gayle Monaghan, and Bo Fritz. Their spring production. M'A'S'H. included Gayle Monaghan, Cheryl Olmstead. Maggie O'Leary, Jack Johnson, Julie Wolfe, Dennis Marsico. Ken Horner and Scott Fixari. The theme was “decades, and we chose the 70's - the 1870's, that is. complete with Conestoga wagon and Wild West town. Pat Skadeland. Peggy Smith. Cathy Schlegel. Mike Sullivan, Alan Donatone. and Doug Sharpe were all elected to the coveted Homecoming Court. The football squad once again emerged victorious in the Homecom- ing gome. tNs time over Marple Newtown. 14-7. Under the calm, patient supervision of Rubel Montgomery. Cabaret was a masterful con- glomeration of song, dance, magic, and comedy. MCs Kathy Fleming and Mike Olson added their own unique brand of humor. (So unique, in fact, that they were the only ones to get the infamous “wheelchair joke.”) The dinner menu included roast beef sandwiches, potato salad, applesauce, birch beer, and apple p«e served by several ravishing wait- resses from the junior class. (You might say that some beautiful dishes were served by some beautiful dishes.) Notable perfor- mances included Brett ( Golden Throat ) , Johnson's With You. Peter Staley's all-male kickline. Randy Grass's double dose of good old-fasNoned rock ‘n' roll, and Joanna ( Golden Lipps ) Lipps's version of “Killing Me Softly. Heidi Spane and Barb Balongue teamed up to do a show-stopping rendition of “I Just Fall In Love Again that could have brought the Ayatullah to tears. A humorous Cabaret-related incident oc- curred when several class officers were trans- porting the birch beer from the Kunda Bever- age outlet back to school on the Friday afternoon before the show. The fun began when our driver. Chris Moon, ran a red light and was stopped by the heat. The officer seemed quite amused when we tried to ex- plain that the seven half-kegs in the back seat were filled with birch beer. (It's much funnier now than it was then.) Largely due to Barb Balongue's tireless ef- forts, the Junior Prom was a mind-blower. Held on April 20 at the Sheraton, the gala event featured the band Whale Although few were able to recall the evening's (and morning's) festivities. It was rumored that a good time was had by all. The night will hold special memories for everyone, some more special than others. The Middle States evaluation was highlighted by an epidemic of breezeway explosions. As the year drew to a close, a superb food fight was waged. Aside from minor stains, there were no casualties. The year ended on a humorous note when a VW Beetle was parked on the school roof- top. Most of us spent the summer at the shore and in gas lines. Under the supervision of Paul Vanderslice, Bill Doyle, and Patricia Bates. The Senior Variety Show was a whopping success. MCs Kathy Fleming and Mike Olson were begged back and did a professional job. This year Mike de- cided to astound the audience by remem- bering Ns lines. The Big C's tremendous talent was w.messed by sell-out crowds in acts like Tom Safford's 20 Elvis impersonation. The Bodies. Dave Wal- lace's one-man banjo show. The Public Eye jazz rock band. Jivin' Jay's Dance Fever, Clif- ford Cole's Rolling Thunder drum solo, gold- en oldies from Dawn Iff rig and Jamie Bolt, golden newies from Cherry Bennett and Susie Marion, and the modern dancing of Nancy Balen and Lynne McElhinney. and of Audrey McGann and Tracy Stewart Heidi Spane and Barb Balongue (already living legends in Big C entertainment) brought the house down once again with yet another flawless perfor- mance. The list is so long because the show was so good. Tough bunnies if you missed it. As usual, the Drama Club's production was a smash hit. Brlgadoon boasted the all-star cast of Dennis Marsico, Julie Wolfe. Jack Johnson, Brett Johnson, and Ken Homer. The highlight of the band's season was un- doubtedly its invitation to march in the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year's Day. It was an Nanor all the members truly deserved, be- cause they ore an extremely talented group that worked very hard for the opportunity. But, more important, they demonstrated real guts in continuing to peddle hoagies to a community that had already o-d'ed on the Italian staple several times over. Not only was the band featured as the cover story in the Philadelphia Inquirer's Today Magazine, but it was also seen marching on two major networks I personally preferred the cover- age of Channel 3, which opted to use the Goodyear Blimp's camera I enjoyed it be- cause it allowed me to view not only our beloved band, but all of North America as well. Nice job, KYWI In other SeNor news. Cathy Christman began a great Conestoga tradition of the future by being named the first Pioneer of the Month. followed by Greg Florence and Lau- rie Lubktng and Bo Fritz. Many Catholic students acquired notes to miss school and checked out the third Pope of 1979, live in center city. Many non-Catho- lic students forged phony notes and didn't. The pains of putting the Pioneer together began back in August, under the leadersNp of the inimitable duo, Grue and Some , closely followed as the year progressed by “Stilts, without whom senior copy would not exist. Because the Class History must be written long before the school year is over, space is provided below so you can add your own intriguing commentary on Career Elective, the Senior Prom. Baccalaurate. Graduation, and Senior Week. i We now took to the future with high hopes, but we will always cherish those wild and crazy days at the Big C. 10-4. good buddies -Mike “Rambling Guy Olson