ROWVA High School - Rovan Yearbook (Oneida, IL)

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Reputations While they may often have varying expressions, these are just three of our teachers who really do care about us. Randy Rylander performs his solo of the field show that the band won several honors with. Someone who really made an impression on us — Larry Daniel Another impression maker, Mr. Jim Post, spoke at an assembly about the horrors of prison and ways to stay out of prison. Though they may appear to be stumped, these students are the members of our successful scholastic bowl team. In addition to the scholastic bowl, some of them along with a few other students, represented us in a test competition held at Carl Sandburg College, where R.O.V.A. placed third out of several teams. Reputation 5

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Leaving Our Mark Im pression a ble Everyone likes to think that their school is the best in everything that they do, and here at R.O.V.A. we have good reason to believe so. As well as an excellent academic program, we have many other areas to be proud of, such as the fine industrial arts program, our fine athletic programs, and the band tradition. All over the state, our industrial arts program is looked up to as a model for smaller and larger schools. The time and dedication that is put into the program really shows in the annual Industrial Arts Show. How can a student not be proud to say that they were a part of the R.O.V.A. industrial arts program? We also have some very fine athletic traditions here at R.O.V.A. All teams had very fine showings this year: girls’ volleyball, basketball, and track and boys’ football, basketball, and track. It takes a lot of dedication to build a tradition, and we have certainly done our share. Our basketball program has been going strongly for many years, and this year was no exception. We rallied to win the conference title, but we took a hard fall to Monmouth in the final game of the regional tournament. Many team members gained experience necessary to continue this fine tradition, and possibly go even further next year. The R.O.V.A. band program is one of the best in the area and respected by many. Unlike some schools who may just have a good marching band, or maybe a good concert band, we have fine showings in all areas — marching, concert, and jazz. Dedication from the students and the director make this possible. Here at R.O.V.A., we are proud of our fine academic programs also. We feel we are offering the best and most diverse programs possible on our “limited” budget. And, of course a lot of dedication is needed to make things “click.” Each of the topics mentioned have something in common — dedication. It takes talent and an extreme will to do anything well, and that includes teaching. We are very proud of our staff because we feel that they possess that “little extra something” that makes people want to do well. They are always willing to go that extra mile and help out when a problem arises. They also want to be involved with the students. They care about what we do and how we do it. That is why we feel that the area we have the best reputation in is our teachers. They are really the ones who are responsible for molding us and shaping us and giving us the desire to better ourselves and our world around us. While at times it may have seemed as if we were running after the competition . .. We were actually reaching for the top . . And often achieved it. 4 Reputation

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During this school year there were many great moments — moments we will never forget. While it is difficult to touch upon all of the great moments that occurred during the 1981-1982 school year, we hope that this could be a reflection of your great moments, too. Homecoming this year was especially fun, because we spent almost every night that week doing something. We were always out late, working on the float or just running around with friends. There was a change in the Homecoming schedule, and that was fun. We hardly slept at all that week! — Beth Paul I must say the happiest day for me was the day of the Alexis — R.O.V.A. showdown. During sixth hour that day, the band marched down the hall playing the fight song. Since I am a cheerleader, I have always backed our teams. The excitement made me cry as the band came down the hall. My emotions showed how much I love being a cheerleader, and how much I love backing the teams. — Cindy Graves Winning the Farmington Jazz Festival was a great moment for me. R.O.V.A. had never won it before, and I was really excited when we made it to the finals. Winchester and we made it to finals, but they were rated higher than us. When we played at finals, we sounded the best we had all year. We all had hopes and we did win. It was great! — Amanda Asplund As a basketball coach, there are numerous memorable occasions that happen every year — some sad, some happy, some serious, and some funny. Winning a tournament is always a great moment, and the Orion Invitational Championship proved to be no exception to the rule. Probably, the greatest moment this year occurred when we clinched our first Lincoln Trail Conference Crown. After five years of “close encounters” and “upsets”, we were able to nail down that elusive title. It felt so good that I think we’ll try for a repeat next year. — Coach Meredith The day that I will personally remember as the greatest is the day of the Avon Relays. Competing against eleven other teams, we placed second, and I won both the 800 and the mile races. — Mike McMeekan Rem em bering The week of Homecoming and University of Illinois band contest begins, the day is Monday and I can feel the anxiety beginning to burst out of the student body. Today the football players begin their grueling training for the homecoming game on Friday. The band, just like the football players, spend many hours on the football field practicing for their marching contest on Saturday. The morning announcements are read while everyone shuffles in their seats, anxiously awaiting the start of the week. By Tuesday, the complexity of my anxiety creeps up on me, and begins to rub off on the students decorating for the dance, using the powers of imaginations to create the perfect atmosphere for the team after they win. Wednesday, the pressure is on as the freshman class hurry to finish their float, this is new to us, as we place pomps in the wire and wish we weren’t so naive as to what we are doing. Thursday, the day of coronation, is at hand before we know it, while stacks of homework never end, fortunately lunch is just around the bend. There are votes to tally, but the homecoming committees can hear the voices of success call them as the coronation ceremony begins. As the queen candidates whisper words of wisdom to the young crown bearers, the announcer begins the presentation of the royal court. We gather around the bonfire, seniors and freshmen alike, to watch as the fire teases the Toulon dummy with brilliant splashes of flame. No one knows what will come of the game tomorrow, but we are all ready. I go home, ignore my homework it’s a bore, by the end of the night my feet are sore. Finally quiet peace, and an emotional release. It’s Friday morning, and I’m early to school, but I drop my books and get an hour detention, for saying something I’d rather not mention. The football team is ready to go, after a vigorous work out with Lary Daniels. It’s time for the game, I’m ready, dressed in my flashy new band uniform. This is all so new to me. We march out onto the field into the midst of confusion of crossed wires. We win the game, the players are happy, and the dance is a success, but we have to leave early tomorrow for the band contest and the long journey to Champaign. Remembering the fun and the laughter of this week I go to sleep, knowing that I will keep this memory always. High school days are precious, but brief; the days are not measured in hours and minutes, but in smiles, laughter, and tears. — Tonya Laubach 6 Great Moments