Morenci High School - Copper Cat Yearbook (Morenci, AZ)

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Mrs. Vandervort, ur Friend. .Arizona's Teacher of the Year Active in educational and local Mrs. Vandervort organizations, is a member of Theta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma and served two terms as president of the Mo- renci Education Association. Al- though living north of Duncan, Mrs. V. has retained her membership in the Morenci Chapter 39 of the Eastern Star and became Worthy Matron in January. Mrs. Vander- vort is also a member of the Dun- can Town Planning Committee. Named Biology Teacher of the Year in I966, Mrs. V. was hon- ored this year when she became Arizona Teacher of the Year . Students and fellow teachers alike crowded the library to watch her as she appeared on Today in Ar- izona , a state television program. Mrs. V. was nominated for this honor by the school's administra- tion, teachers, and student body. Mrs. V. will retire this year. Though Mrs. Vandervort will be missed very much, she will al- ways hold a special place in the hearts of her students, the faculty and all her many, many, friends. I 1 I l FACIAL expressions shown by former biology students indicate Mrs. V.'s teaching qualities. FORIVIERLY from the old hospital, Henrietta, one ofbtwo gift skeletons inhabits the biology lab. v , X SHEDDING TEARS of joy, Mrs. V. re- ceived the Biology Teacher of the Year Award in I966. BELOW: STUDENTS PARTICIPATE in Slave Day activities. if

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weqhe Ye-arbook-Staff Dedicate This Year's Bicentennial Copper Cat to. . it AT A GREENLEE COUNTY trischool council meet, Mrs. V. chats with a county advisor. g , 1 H X Q . L ,Q I This year's yearbook is dedi- cated to one of the best teachers Morenci has, Mrs. Ellen Vander- vort. Known by many students as Mrs, V. , Mrs. Vandervort has taught in Morenci for 20 years. After receiving her A.B. Degree from the University of Nebraska, Mrs. V. taught Botany at the U- niversity of West Virginia until coming here in September, 1956. ln her 20 years at Morenci High School, Mrs. Vandervort has giv- en and shown her teaching abili- ties and talents of understanding to many students. Whether disec- ting frogs, locating human bone structures on a skeleton or just reminiscing about early teaching days, Mrs. V. did not bore her classes, but made them exciting. Also a Student Council sponsor for many years, Mrs. V. boosted the meetings with her happy en- thusiasm and uplifted the faint in heart with her encouragements. With her sponsorship many acti- vities and special days have been added including Sloppy Day, Slave Day, and College Visitation Day. AFTER BECOMING Arizona Teacher of the Year , Mrs. V. was introduced to Mr. Jenkins, if Z President ofthe State Board of Education, by Superintendent of Public Instructions, C. Warner. Mrs. Ellen Vandervort

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Nineteen Hundred Seventy-six Celebrating the Bi-Millennium of the Southwest With our nationls two hundredth birthday here, it's time to reflect on our own area's history. Ar- chaeologists have determined that Arizona has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years. This makes Morenci's heritage rich and varied. The early residents of Arizona were nomadic hunters who entered this area in 9500 B.C. They e- volved into three distinct groups: the desert-dwelling Hohokam, the Anasazi, and the Mogollon in the White Mountains. By the 1500's, when the first Europeans arrived, there were fifteen separate tribes. After Spanish adventurers con- quered Mexico, opportunists be- gan to explore northwards. The first white man to set foot in Ari- ' .4 a 'VH - . V 6 f..,w..,,, ,V vf,h K '.,,,w , 4 W H , . , .. M W A .af , , , , .. .,.g .Q W , H 'Hf'-,',1 ' ., , V, g. .5 , H. ly ' ,.. w , . 3 f EARLY mining techniques included ore trains hauled by mules and horses from the mines. Colorado River begins to cut the Grand Canyon 2,000,000 B.C. First Inhabitants migrated from Asia 15,000 B.C. S3 .EQ ee 6 Q l B b 6 Slew zona was Fray Marcos de Niza in 1739. False tales of wealth led Coronado to launch a major expe- dition. He returned two years la- ter knowing much more about the Southwest. His expedition put an end to exploration for forty years. The next explorers were led by Spanish priests in 1609. The em- pire of Spain had begun to spread northwards. Father Eusebio Kino, one of Arizona's early pioneers, started a chain of missions in 1687 that spread to the Gila River. Af ter Kino died, Arizona was lected until the Jesuits came. friars of St. Francis were next 1767. All of the tribes except Apache, who came to be a received missions in The first years of Mexican pendence through 1830 were ful, because the Apaches had calmed. Land grants brought miners, ranchers, and During this period, mountain came to Arizona. These were advance guards of English-speak ing pioneers, who contributed t the impatience felt with the la Mexican rule. This growing dis content, as well as other factors erupted into the Mexican-America War in 1846. By 1848, the terri tory north of the Gila River wa the property of the U.S. The re mainder of the state was acquire in the Gadsden Purchase in 1854 Even though the Arizona are claimed to be southern sympathiz ers, Charles Poston was able t pass a bill in Congress to mak Arizona an official U.S. territory President Lincoln signed the bil on February 24, in the year 1863 By 1886, various governors had brought order and civilization t the territory. Postal routes, tel