THE VOICE OF WILKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
VOLUME 21, NUMBER 3
WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
DECEMBER 14,1990
President’s
Message
Dr. Jim Randolph, President
Since coming to Wilkes County, I
have met many interesting people.
One person, however, stands out as
not only, but truly amazing. That
person is our own country-western
artist, Doc Watson. I am amazed,
first, by his musical talents and sec
ond, by his ability to overcome a very
restrictive handicap—blindness.
Thousands of adults in the U.S.
have a disabling handicap. Unfortun
ately, those of us without such inflic
tions all too often take our condition
for granted or fail to realize the prob
lems faced by those with disabilities.
The problems of the handicapped
became personal to my family with
the birth of my youngest son, Adam
Adam was born three months prema
ture. He weighed in at less than three
pounds and quickly dropped to
about two pounds. With its red
wrinkled skin, pug nose and miniature
features, any baby is a marvel in and
of itself; but a premature baby is extra
special. How small. How delicate.
How utterly inconceivable that some
thing so tiny can be human. Looking
into that nursery, both Caroline and
I were, in spite of our concern and
depression, in awe of the miracle of
life.
Adam went through a series of
blood transfusions, numerous medi
cal procedures and many close brush
es with death within the first few
weeks of his life, but he hung on and
began to grow. Other than being
small, Adam looked normal; how
ever, he was not. Adam had suffered
extensive brain damage.
As a family, we learned to deal
with the problems that face families
of handicapped children. At first, we
rejected any thoughts that our Adam
would be seriously handicapped. We
hoped that he would soon outgrow
whatever problem he had and be a
normal little boy. As he grew and did
not progress, we soon came to the
realization that we did, in fact, have a
handicapped child. Then, we were
full of anger. Why did this happen to
us? Were we to blame? Are we being
punished?
The anguish of parents knowing
that their child is not developing
normally is indescribable. The tear
ful concerns, the questions about
what the child will or will not be able
to do are heartrending. Soon, how
ever, we learned that we simply had
to be grateful for whatever develop
ment our child achieved. And, al
though we agonized over every little
development, we moved eagerly on
to the next.
Today, Adam is a little boy in a
grown man’s body. He is both
physically and mentally impaired.
We often wonder if, perhaps, Adam
\ I I
Christmas Wishes
Stephanie Shew - “I would like to
get an engagement ring, a spoiler for
my car . . . but most of all just to be
with my family.”
SamDavis - His best present would
be “completing college and being
home with my family in California.”
Renee Grant - Would like “for all
the people that has family in Saudi
Arabia to be together.”
Phylis Smith - V/ould like to have
her son, Robby, who is in the military,
to come for Christmas.
Angel Kyle - All she wants for
Christmas is for Bryan Jackson, who
is in the military, to get to come
home.
Karen Benge - “I want Santa to
bring reservations from a luxurious
ski lodge in Aspen, Colorado so my
boyfriend and I can go spend the
week where the snow will be so deep
we won’t be able to open the door of
our cabin.”
Linda Carlton - “I don’t celebrate
Christmas in the traditional sense, but
my wish for that day and everyday is
peace among mankind.”
Mary Ann Russell - “A new car!”
Jeanine Groce - “All I want from
Santa is a diamond tennis bracelet.”
Joe Ware - says that he would like
his present late this year. He is getting
married in April and would like “a
happy marriage” for his present.
Trena Lambert - “I want an ame
thyst ring, a nugget bracelet, and a
miUion dollars.”
Roy Severt - would like a four-
wheel drive pick-up.
Beverly Sturgill - “A new set of
snow skis, a leather jacket and to find
Mike Maher in my stocking wrapped
up in a big red Christmas bow.”
A bbyPage - “All I want for Christ
mas is to be accepted at Appalachian,
a new car, and to get a Jerry Bangle
degree because I’m the only sopho
more music major.”
Phillip Cothren - “All I want for
Christmas is to have as much fun as I
did last year and before. I also want
somebody to do my paper in a certain
class.
Crystal Minton - wants a “candy
apple red corvette and to make it
through Calculus.”
Mike Church - “I want an easier
schedule other than accounting, or a
brain to handle accounting. Either
one will have the same result . . .
nothing. I could use a car too.”
—Derek Ellis,
Kemp Kirk
Jacob’s (Buck’s) Ladder
To Physics
Physics is the ladder of scientific
knowledge used in everyday life. The
ladder has three basic rungs, which
include lecture, laboratory, and per
sonal time.
The lecture aspect of Buck’s physics
is unlike most courses. It requires
much attention by instructor and
student. Buck is willing to go over
every problem and thoroughly ex
plain the steps to the solution. The
class also creates an atmosphere of
enjoyment and constructive learning.
In addition, lecture also includes
videos for a better understanding and
different perspectives.
The laboratory aids in an informal
setting. Its interesting qualities of
group effort help its informal quality.
The lab is also assisted by its use of
physical application or hands on
experience. Finally, all of the labs
reflect on the lessons covered in
lecture.
The majority of time spent doing
physics is in the form of personal
time. This time is used reviewing
notes and applying material covered,
in both lab and lecture, to work
assigned problems. Physics students
also seem to work together and teach
each other outside of a class atmos
phere. Buck has also informed his
students that he will make himself
available to answer any questions at
any time.
The effort put into physics becomes
a valuable asset in future days.
Though the lecture, laboratory, and
personal dedication spent will clear
the way to a better understanding of
the world. Plus, Buck makes physics
fun!
—Derek Ellis
Kemp Kirk
Who Is
Jerry Moretz?
was not meant to be. He is not
normal, not perfect. But then, who is
totally without blemish? Is life not
worth living if it is not perfect? Do
not people with handicaps also bring
their own special gifts to life and to
others who are free from those
handicaps?
We have come to realize that while
those with handicaps cannot be mea
sured in the same way as others,
individuals with handicaps benefit
immensely from each accomplish
ment, no matter how small. They
bring to life a special gift of love and
understanding. Doc Watson, with
his songs and music, touches many
lives and so, too, does Adam. Adam
will never read Shakespeare, never
solve a chemistry problem, never
balance a checkbook, but the obstac
les he has overcome just to be able to
walk has already made him a success.
If Doc, Adam and those with physical
and mental handicaps can endure
and succeed, so, too, can we all.
Jerry Moretz
To us at WCC he is the ever smiling
maintenance man, to his audience he
is a delightful musician that plays the
fiddle, banjo, guitar, and bass. Much
to my amazement while attending a
square dance at ASU, I had the plea
sure of witnessing Jerry charm his
audience. He was the star fiddler that
won the hearts of the entire audience,
as we “swung our partners” round
the dance floor. Jerry, a fiddler of 27
years, recently won 7th place among
129 contestants at the 55th annual
Galax Fiddlers Convention. Jerry
plays regularly with the Bluegrass
Express, anyone that gets the oppor
tunity to hear them play will not be
disappointed!
Christmas Everywhere
Phillips Brooks
(Born December 13, 1835; died January 23, 1893)
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!
Christmas in lands of the fir-tree and pine,
Christmas in lands of the palm-tree and vine,
Christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and white,
Christmas where cornfields stand sunny and bright.
Christmas where children are hopeful and gay,
Christmas where old men are patient and gray,
Christmas where peace, like a dove in his flight,
Broods o’er brave men in the thick of the fight;
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!
For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all;
No palace too great, no cottage too small.
Dean’s List
Wilkes Community College’s
dean’s list for fall quarter includes
165 students.
To qualify, full-time students must
earn a 3.5 grade point average or
more out of a possible 4.0. Students
who qualified are as follows:
North Wilkesboro
Lisa R. Absher, Ruth C. Adams,
Lisa C. Baker, Audrey H. Belton,
Debra S. Berrong, Jeffrey S. Black
burn, Wendy D. Blackburn, James
A. Bledsoe, Dewey L. Call, Jr., Me
linda A. Cothren, Myrtle J. Eller,
Anna L. Forester, John E. Frost,
■ Donna D. Griffin, Tina J. Higgins,
Victoria E. Holbrook, Jeanne C.
Honeycutt, Crystal C. Huffman,
Tracy A. Huffman, Carol L. Johnson,
Lorie A. Johnson, Ernest L. Key,
James N. Kilby, Margie A. Lambey,
Sandra L. Lee, Rhoda D. Marcum,
Brian S. Massengill, Richard P.
McKevitt, Lance A. Miller, Marty L.
Nichols, Pamala S. Osborne, Teresa
M. Owings, Nancy T. Payne, Vicky
E. Riggins, Charles N. Shepherd,
Matthew J. Shockley, Pamela W.
Shumate, Heather J. Sloop, Phyllis
L. Smith, Carlotta J. Walsh, Sherri
L. Walsh, Summer K. Whitley-, John
P. Wiles, Sammi A. Wooten, and
Randall E. York.
Wilkesboro
Rebecca R. Bauguss, Tonya B.
Bottomley, Karen R. Brown, Vonda
J. Canter, Matthew R. Cardwell,
Jennifer H. Carlton, Amy M. Chap
man, Ana M. Galifianakis, Doris J.
Horton, Debbie E. Kilby, David J.
Mason, Michael C. McCann, Crystal
G. Minton, Cynthia R. Pardue,
James F. Pendry, Timothy J. Rey
nolds, Denise W. Saner, Christie S.
Saunders, April R. Shell, Pamela S.
Thompson, Timothy L. Tribble, and
Tracy J. Triplett.
Millers Creek
James D. Anderson, Rebecca J.
Montoya, Angela M. Nichols, Karla
G. Norris, Kimberly A. Pardue,
Melissa A. Rodefer, Jason R. Smi-
they, Jamie P. Tilley, and Thelma W.
Walker.
Hays
Kathlene D. Brown, Kenneth
Brown, Michael R. Byrd, Rita D.
Colbert, Penny L. Combs, Karalyn
C. Johnson, Teresa S. Shook, and
Melissa A, Stuckey.
Ronda
John D. Dalton, Nancy S. Jones,
James E. Mounce, Katherine F. Rey
nolds, Tracy E. Wells.
Moravian Falls
Cynthia R. Anderson, Janet R.
Brewer, Mary C. Gillette, Melissa L.
Tedder, Roger A. Tingler.
Roaring River
Sally D. Blackburn, Kevin J. Byrd,
William A. Dobbins, Janice H.
Mathis, Christopher H. McCann,
Michael A. Wiles.
Traphill
Wesley B. Bowers, Terry L. Chap-
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