Choctawhatchee High School - Tomahawk Yearbook (Fort Walton Beach, FL)

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Delegation Sees The Mountains 1. The fire of friendship puts warmth into everyone's heart. 2. Courtney Roberts, Lis Eatman, and Margaret McBryde, decide to take a break from the fun and sun of Blue Ridge. 3. Nancy Penny and friends show the love energized by the Blue Ridge Assembly. 4. The whole Blue Ridge bunch gets all dressed up for a final photo. 5. For over sev- enty-five years, high school students have looked forward to attending the Blue Ridge Assembly. 6. Kevin Stauffer, Paul Langston, Michelle Hartley, and Todd Turner all show off their finer attire. 7. Kristi Matthews dem- onstrates he singing talent at the Blue Ridge Assembly. 8. This scene depicts the beauty, pleasantness, and serenity of Blue Ridge. Is it any wonder that hundreds of high school stu- dents make sure that some fun time at Blue Ridge is included in their plans? BLUE RIDGE 15

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1 Fun With Friends Make Your Own Kind of Music was the theme of this year's summer High School Values Conference, which was held at Black Mountain, N.C. Sponsored by the YMCA, Blue Ridge, as it was com- monly called, centered its theme on help- ing young people through the decision process. Choctaw senior Todd Turner, a confer- ence vice-president, led a delegation of ninety-five from the Fort Walton Beach area to the conference. There each par- ticipated in a family of about fifteen people. Each member of a family devel- oped a deeper understanding of himself, his moral values, and his relations with others as a result of sharing with his family. Besides being a place for group discus- sion, role playing, and self-examination, Blue Ridge was a place for having a won- derful vacation. Way Out Games, square and round dancing, a Blue Grass concert, a Family Feud, and a carnival with a hot air balloon ride were just a few of the activities offered to the delegates of the conference. The last day at Blue Ridge was celebrated by a semi-formal banquet and dance. The evening ended with the traditional Fire of Friendship, a giant bonfire that symbolized the spirit and love that everyone shared during the conference. Planning for the 1984 Conference was well underway by the end of Blue Ridge '83. Choctaw senior Marnie Johnson was elected as the President of Blue Ridge '84. This conference was assured to be as great a success as the 1983 Conference, as Marnie was a dedicated worker who had attended Blue Ridge for the past three years. Other seniors who participated in the Blue Ridge Assembly were Kathy Kelley, Jan Buhr, Peg Gunnels, and Laur- ette Anderson. They and the other stu- dents representing Choctaw learned much from the experience while gaining new friendships and further developing their personalities. — Addy Robinson 14 BLUE RIDGE

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The Place To Be Ft. Walton Beach is a vacation center for many tourists who love the southern area. Many of these tourists were college students from Alabama, Louisiana, Mis- sissippi, and various parts of Florida. The main attraction was the beautiful, crystal clear water near the beaches for miles down the western side of Florida's coastline. The average temperature was 80° a year, so it is obvious that there were many beach days for both the tourists and the local to enjoy. The most popular spots were near the Ramada Inn, at Way- side Park, and near the Carousel. Walk- ing down the beach, and even just sun- bathing, people were sure to see their friends and classmates, cute tourist guys or girls, and family groups basking in the bright sunlight. A favorite beach pastime was surfing. Many times, teen- agers were seen waiting under piers, watching for good waves on which to test their balance, skill, and coordina- tion. Another favorite was sailing. The wind carried these boats through the sparkling water. People love to watch these beautiful, brightly colored canvas sails glide by. Another major attraction was Eglin Air Force Base. It is the largest Air Force base in the United States and is also the lar- gest employer in Ft. Walton. The Santa Rosa Mall was the hangout for many teens. On Friday and Saturday nights, they seemed to fill up the shop- ping center. There was always some- thing to do. For example, there are four cinemas, a record store, many clothes stores, fast food restaurants, and video game rooms. Three special areas of interest to tourists and locals alike were the Gulfarium, the Indian Temple Mount Museum, and the Camp Walton Schoolhouse. They were all intriguing to walk through and look at. Also, the Temple Mound and School- house contain a bit of Ft. Walton's histo- ry — Suzy Solomon 16 COMMUNITY