West Valley High School - Aurora Yearbook (Fairbanks, AK)

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AMBASSADORS TO AND FROM WEST VALLEY RECEIVED AND PROVIDED MANY VALUABLE EXPERIENCES FNIIWEXVXSSXQTXD IDQDLQES I ' Rotary exchange student Vltorio Casarin shows an interest in West's science curriculum. , get 5 ., Sis 6 Y gn 1978 Stateswomen: Micky Schruf, Lory 1978 Boys State Representatives: Russ Talvi, Barsdate, Kristin Lloyd, Lenita Sheridan Erlc Rhude, Andy Holman, Toby Green, NOT PICTURED: Steve Spencer. , ,sys I1 I lxf: E x Nwwq F 5 5 I I -fe ,A 1 1 fQ ., 1 A W.,

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'54 is K E. it 4' aft Exciting, new experiences come with new territory as Hans Kok, a Rotary exchange student, from Holland discovers. The two legislators from Alaska display nervousness before debate on their bill starts on the senate floor at Girl's Nation. iinsertl Alaskan Delegates from Girls State, Lory Barsdate and Gina Zadra pose in the Lincoln Memorial. Over the span of their high school careers, through superior academic achievement and interest, a select few earn for themselves the opportunity to broaden their horizons and expand the quality of their education. Boys and Girls State, and the American Field Service are two such educationally expanding programs offered to West students. For five power-packed days during May 1978, five guys and four gals from West participated in Boys and Girls State. The guys traveled to Camp Carol via the Alaska Railroad while the gals winged their way South to Sitka. The program, which was nearly identical for both Boys and Girls State, allowed for an in-depth study of Alaska's State Government and how it operates. The participants gained insight into the operational intricacies of our state government through the establishment of a mock government whereby the students elected from among themselves a Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, and representatives and senators to comprise the legislature. The writing of bills and other legislative activities familiarized the students with the three branches of our state government. Political enthusiast Lory Barsdate, who was elected as Governor of Girls State, was also selected as one of two senators to represent Alaska at Girls Nation: an extension of Girls State. Barsdate flew to our nation's capitol and with her fellow participants, learned the ins and out of our Federal Government. Barsdate commented on the experience, . .it was more intense than Girls State really a high powered political scene. The girls also spent time touring Washington D.C.'s historical points of interest. High up on the list of educationally enriching topics are the various foreign exchange student programs. The faculty and student body of West Valley was extremely lucky to have become so well acquainted with two young men from overseas. Hans Kok and Vitorio Casarin visited Fairbanks and West Valley under the sponsorship of Rotary international. Kok, a Senior Senior graduated from high school prior to coming to West as a sixteen year old Senior and returned to Holland over the summer. Casarin, also a Senior, plans to remain in Fairbanks for another year before returning to Brazil, Two West students, Rachel Lindemann and Paula Barclay, were selected by a panel of American Field Service affiliates to take part in the AFS Foreign Exchange Program. Barclay left for Brazil at the start of the second semester, but Lindemann was uncertain of her destination until the last minute. For their proficiency at essay writing, West Juniors Ken Elbert and Karen Hilliard took an all-expense paid trip to Juneau as a result of winning in the Know Your State Government Contest. While at the Capitol, Elbert and Hilliard stayed with Elks Lodge members, met with State officials and attended sessions of the Legislature. Ambassadors from West visited points around the state and nation, and benefited from the variety of programs. West also benefited from the experience of sharing the school year with two Foreign exchange students.

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..-....---,.- K West Valley's versatile Wolfpack Band marches at football games, plays concerts, acquires musical fame through competition, and yes, every Spring departs on a magical musical tour of the state. The magic of the '79 band tour stemmed from the fact that West's musicians employed their collective musical talents to spread good will to communities from Fairbanks to Cordova. The band's '79 Spring Tour which spanned six days and included concert performances in four different communities, differed from past tours since it focused on Southcentral Alaska rather than Southeastern. Taking advantage of the Richardson Highway and the Alaska Marine Highway, the sixty or so band members played one concert in each of the following towns: Glennallen, Susitna, Valdez and Cordova. Most concerts were performed by combining the Stage and Concert Bands. On the return trip to Valdez from Cordova, the band was taken on a free side trip to see impressive Columbia Glacier that jutts out into Prince William Sound. On their return to Fairbanks, director Mr. Wiese, one of the band's seven chaperones, commented on another enjoyable tour and stated that as always, we were generally well received in the area high schools 1. ', ' is .Axel , ,,., Pi -----......,,Q.,:3 --xi .L Defying the laws of gravity, John Dempsey and Paul Milan spend some time clinging to waiting to boafd the ferry if' Valdez' b?nd poles- members take in the beautiful mountain backdrop. .,..., ..., . , N 1 N Underway, passengers aboard the ferry are . . . entertained b the Wolf ack band on the o Performmg m Valdez' the stage band gwes sea y P pen their audience a show to remember. CZ ,F