Wayne High School - Sentry Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

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Discussing Charlie ' s condition Pro- fessor riemur an d Beth make un- sure conclusions of what exactly will happen to Charlie and Algernon in the future. Explaining the technicalities of surgery to Alice is one of the many jobs that Dr. Strauss has to do. Senior JefTCrabill played the doctor in the play Flowers for Algernon. Charlie (Dan Zimmerman) smirks at his own brilliance after making a narrow escape for Algernon at the convention while Professor Memur (Mike Qanaway) angrily knows of Charlie s plans to hide the mouse in the play Flowers for Algernon. Flowers for Algernon re-enacted During the spring, the drama department chose to reenact a play that they staged several cars ago. As it read on the back of the program. Flow- ers for Algernon is a very special drama. Even though the play has been presented before, this was the first year that an in-school perform- ance was allowed. The money that was raised dur- ing the school performance will go to back a musical in the fall or the spring of next year. The story line for Flowers for Algernon was rather sim- ple to follow and easy to get into. In the beginning of the play, Charlie Gordon, por- trayed by Dan Zimmerman, is used as part of an experi- ment to increase intelligence through an operation and the use of learning aids. During his learning time, Charlie is visited by his old teacher, played by Kim Wis- dom. Charlie learns many things through his lessons, but his emotions still remain on his previous level, leaving him unable to sustain a romantic relationship with his teacher. Charlie continues to learn and is brought up against a mouse who has had an oper- ation identical to Charlie s. At first, Charlie dispises Al- gernon, but goes on to be- come the closest of friends. Because of his increased intelligence, Charlie is kick- ed out of his menial bakery job for being too smart, and after this, Charlie begins to remember his terrible child- hood. Once Charlie reaches the top of his world, things begin to go wrong. Alger- non s brain reverts to the past state with Charlie di- rectly behind him. After Al- gernon dies dies, Charlie loses his intelligence and is sent back to the state home. During Flowers for Alger- non, the entire cast shows the audience the cruelties that human beings inflict upon one another as well as the joys and happiness that they can share if they try. The audience was able to follow Charlie through his pains and even shed a tear of sorrow for him at the end. Zimmerman did an excel- lent job taking Charlie to and through his date with destiny. He put on a strong performance, drawing the audience in with his changes in voice and intelligence. With the last curtain came the close of Zimmerman s acting career at Wayne. Four other senior actors (Jeff Crabill, Mike Qanaway, Jackie Miller and Kim Wis- dom) drew greatly on emo- tions during flowers for Al- gernon. They all kept the audience alive with their fighting, screaming, and tears. We all enjoyed the moving drama, and some of Wayne s all time best theatre people bid their farewell to Wayne s stage. SPRiriQ FLAY

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Getting into the Ctihstmas spirit, seniors Mima Suni and Renee Sullivan help decorate the commons for the Christmas dance. Rotrucks host exchange students ew experience discovere Coming to the United States to get a taste of a new culture, three for- eign exchange students attend- ed Wayne this year. Two of them, Mika Laakso, from flelsinki, Finland, and Axel Kravatsky, from Munich, Ger- many, reside with the Rotrucks. The Rotrucks have been hosting exchange students for fourteen years. They are members of Youth for Understanding, a non- profit exchange program, and have hosted nineteen students to date. Mika and Axel both agree that the Rotrucks are a great host family. Says Mika, They have a really good sense of humor and are really nice! Alex also adds that they are very funny and open. The reasons that bring these students to the U.S. vary. But for Mika and Axel, the perspective was the same. 1 came here to see more of the world, meet different kinds of people, and learn the English language bet- ter, Mika replied. Likewise, Axel quotes, T came here to broaden horizons and to learn and re- Playing his favorite sport, senior Mika Laakso waits for his opponent to retum the ball. Mika played tennis for the Generals this season. Caught by surprise, exchange student Mima Suni stops to smile for the photog- rapher in the cafeteria. spect other countries. This is the second time in the U.S. for both of them. Both students take plea- sure in the activities at Wayne. Mika enjoys tennis and soccer, whereas Axel likes basketball. Mima Suni, the other exchange student, comes to us from Kotka, Finland, which she says is not far from Mika ' s hometown. Mima resides with the Cause ' s. This is the first time they have had an exchange student. really like the family I live with, says Mima, We do many more things together than my fam- ily in Finland. This is Mima ' s first time ever in a foreign country. She finds the U.S. exciting. All of the exchange stu- dents admit that school is easier here, but there is less freedom. Mima comments that it is a lot stricter and Mika says, The school sys- tem in Finland is more open. There is 15 or 20 minutes passing time and about 3 or 4 classes a day. When asked if they thought they would come back to the United States, there was no hesitation be- fore they responded yes! EXCHAFiQE STUDEMTS la