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Page A2 Wednesday, April 29, 2009 The Pilot News i'S Bulldog Warrior Challenge hurts so good By Michelle Alwerdt Pilot staff writer Throwing hand grenades, dodging paintballs and jousting aren’t typical events that fill up a student’s week. However, through the spon sorship of the Gardner-Webb ROTC, students got to experi ence these activities Apr, 14-18 for the school’s second Military Appreciation Week. The Bulldog Warrior Chal lenge consisted of a different event each afternoon, and con cluded with a barbeque and awards ceremony at the end of the week. The events included a mock hand grenade assault course, rock climbing, a pugil joust tournament, a paintball tournament, the Audie Murphy physical challenge, and a tug o’ war. Teams consisted of four to six students and were both co ed and single sex. Three teams showed up every day to each event, while other teams came out for one or two of the events. The winning team for the entire week was an all-female team called the GI Janes. Winners of each individual event and the overall week win ners received military coins as prizes. Written on one side of the coins are the five branches of the military, and the other side had phrases like “Army Strong.” The planners and organiz ers behind the whole week were Maj. Brian Luti, Brian Arnold and student Julie Boudreau. Helping with the week was a graded project for Boudreau for one of her ROTC classes. “I really wanted to partici pate and I did what 1 could,” said Boudreau. “1 feel like ev eryone had a lot of fun and I was impressed that other branches of the military came out to support us. “They weren’t there to re cruit and so it was really cool to see other students interact with them. It went exactly as planned.” The week was by no means easy. For the grenade course, students had to run to different stations and throw grenades at certain targets, alt while being shot at by paintballs. The team that completed the course the fastest, with the least shots and most target hits, won. For the climbing event stu dents were timed on the rock wall at the Broyhill Adventure Course. At the jousting tourna ment, students were confined to circles with the task of knock ing each outside of the circle us ing pugil sticks. The sticks have a large ball of padding at each end. Extra points were given for hitting the other student in the head or stomach. The paintball tournament was a game of “capture the flag” with paintball guns and bunkers. And finally, the physical chal lenge consisted of push-ups, sit- ups and other such exercises. Freshman Kelsi Zaldivar said she only participated be cause her roommates asked her to, but said in the end she was glad she did it. “I have a deeper appreciation for those who serve in the mili tary now,” said Zaldivar. “My favorite event was the grenade course. It was pretty fun even though I was scared the whole time.” Jousting tournament winner Kayla Alexander bruised her finger so bad the doctors said it was almost broken. “It was painful but it was worth it. I’ll wear gloves next time,” said Alexander. Kali Fletcher, member of the winning GI Janes team, also en joyed the week. “My favorite event was the grenade course on the first day, it was so intense,” she said. “Jousting was rough though, my hands hurt. It was definitely a unique experience though. “I’m going to make all my friends do it next year,” Arnold came up with the idea week last year, and this year Arnold and Luti created the event. They are pleased with the outcome and plan on making it an annual event. “I knew the turnout was go ing to be small, with so many events and the times,” said Ar nold. “Also, people might not know what something was, so they might not want to come out. “After this year though I think word will spread about what everything was and how much fim it was. I’m very satis fied.” Luti also believes that the Bulldog Warrior Challenge has staying power, “I think we laid down a solid foundation for future events,” said Luti. “I don’t think we can improve upon the content or concept, but we can improve the finer details. “I am pretty happy with how everything turned out. I hope students who were apart of it this year will come back and that participation will continue to increase.” See p. 6 for pictures from the Bulldog Warrior Challenge. ‘Rapture of Canaan’ author ends gwu grad answers can to teach impoverished kids Brown lecture series on high note By Molly Phipps and Blake DuDonis Pilot staff writers The Joyce Compton Brown Lecture Series came to a close last Thurs day with Sheri Reynolds, author of the acclaimed novel, “The Rapture of Canaan.” The book was an Oprah Book Club selection and a New York Times bestsell er. It was required read ing for all Composition 2 students at GWU, almost all of whom attended the lecture on Thursday. “I am definitely an in troverted person, so this kind of experience is ex traordinary because so many people here have read one of my books,” said Reynolds. Gardner-Webb’s lecture series has been Reynolds’ only visit to a university this year. Reyn olds said she doesn’t get to speak at lectures very often because of her job. She teaches creative writ ing and literature classes at Old Dominion Univer sity. Reynolds currently lives in Cape Charles, Va. She has, however, done readings at book stores. “I teach and so I’m in front of classes a lot. And I enjoy being around people, and seeing their expressions, and hearing what they’re thinking,” said Reynolds. Reynolds was raised in Conway, S.C., where she lived until she moved on to Davidson College. Af ter graduating in 1989, she went to graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth. It was there that she took a novel-writing class and began her first novel, “Bit terroot Landing.” Three more novels and a play followed. By Pilot staff writers Seniors who are about to graduate took time to recall some of their favor ite moments as students at Gardner-Webb Univer sity. Stefanie Friend said that her favorite memories are the football games and also the picnics up at Lake Holly field. Laura Heath said that her favorites are the field trips with Dr. Jones, and dorm activities. Amy Elliott had sev eral to share; 1. Being in the plays “The Crucible” and “Laundry and Bourbon” 2. Celebrating after GWU beat the University of Kentucky in basketball 3. Intramurals 4. Sisters Ministry events 5. Watching “Friends’l re-runs with friends at midnight. “You realize this is the last time you will be liv ing 3 feet away from your best fnends ever again. Doing the mundane be comes very special.” Ezelis Sistrunk said: “It is hard to sum up four incredible years here at Gardner-Webb. It is hard to pin-point just one memory. I have grown in ways that I would have never imagined, traveled to places I would have never At the lecture, Reyn olds spoke a little about herself and her writing career. Her publisher, Put nam, let her go shortly after “The Rapture of Ca naan” was published, due to budget cuts and its ac quisition by another com pany. Reynolds was unable to find another publisher until seven months later, when Oprah Winfrey called to say that “The Rapture of Canaan” had been selected for her book club, and Reynolds was to appear on the show. The book sold more than one million copies in six •weeks. Her new publisher is Center Point Publishing. Reynolds also has an official Web site, sheri- reynolds.com, where visi tors can order or look up books, or simply find out more about the author and her works. In November her latest book, “The Sweet In Be tween,” was released. The author has been working on a new book. “I worked on it all last summer and then I just had to put it aside. About a month ago, I printed it off so that I could start peeking at it and gath ering ideas for it,” said Reynolds. “I’m looking forward to getting back to it. And I’ll start doing that in a few weeks.” Once she gets past the school year, Reynolds goes back to her writing, which she said is the main focus of her work. “My work is not to publish; my work is not to concern myself with how many copies I sell; my work is to do my writing,” she said. “The value is in the process.” The days that were: Seniors share top memories of GWU dreamed of, and made the best friends I could ever ask for. I discovered my true passions — and I am con stantly encouraged to do them through my Gard ner-Webb family — so I will. Just dare me.” Kevin Graybeal’s fa vorite memory? “Bobby Gastonia - what else is there to say?” Lauren Bilyeu said her favorite moment was the night President Bon ner’s Inauguration Gala was held. “Everyone came out to support Dr. Bonner. There was Big Band mu sic and swing dancing; it was so much fun.” Kayley Potter: “My favorite memory while at Gardner-Webb is the night my best friend Lauren and I spent in Nice, France, on spring break junior year. On this night, we met a 21-year-old boy and he showed us around the city, and we even ate ice cream from McDonald’s. That was an experience I will never forget!” Tim Jefferies said, “My favorite memory at Gardner-Webb was meet ing my future wife.” Kelly Bridges’ top memory of her time at GWU is conference track meets with the track and field team. “They were some of the best times.” By Christopher Shaver Pilot staff writer Students will show case their talent by jug gling, dancing, singing and playing the guitar during Gardner-Webb’s second annual talent show Saturday in Blanton Audi torium at 7 p.m. Jennifer Gray, the tal ent show coordinator, said she had nine acts sched uled to perform this week end. Gray said the students did not have to go through an audition process, though they were expect ed to attend two manda tory practices, “We have a mandatory dress rehearsal the day of the talent show,” Gray By Christopher Shaver Pilot staff Writer Gardner-Webb gradu ate Michael Mitteer has been accepted into the Teach For America pro gram and expects to spend two years teaching sec ondary English to smdents in the Mississippi Delta. “I’ve been thinking about teaching for a while now,” said Mitteer, who graduated in 2007. “It’s something I considered ever since I graduated. I kind of discovered I want ed to teach English.” Teach for America is an extension of Ameri- corps. According to the organization’s Web site, “Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportuni ties for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of part nerships with local and na tional nonprofit groups.” Teach For America is designed to get aspiring teachers their foot in the door, while making a dif ference in the lives of chil dren who live in impover ished areas of America. Mitteer, who double- majored in business and theater, said he thought the opportunity was too good to pass up and de cided to apply. “The area where I’m going to be teaching, the average living wages are about $12,000 a year. It’s an area where you can make a huge impact. What seems even better than getting to teach is getting to teach for incredibly un derprivileged children?” His next step is to fly to Houston, Texas, and go through a five-week “boot camp,” where he will be trained in classroom man agement and other aspects of teaching. In the second week of his training session, Mit teer will start teaching a summer school course. He will also have to pass the Praxis 1 and 2 certification tests in or der to teach in the public schools. Mitteer said he started studying for the exams a few months before he de cided to apply at Teach for America. “It’s the kind of test [Praxis 2] where even for people who graduated with English degrees, it’s even tough for them. Luckily, I have a head start.” Although Mitteer said he was nervous, he said he could not pass up an op portunity to help children advance in the world. “I’m sure there will be long days and it will be a long two years,” Mitteer said. “But it will be really fulfilling.” Mitteer was co-author of the play “Work In Prog ress,” which the GWU theater section staged in 2008. University centrai iocation of counties’ Senior Games Photo by Tyler Kucifer Members of the Joyful Hands choir perform dur ing the Deaf Talent Show April 17 in Blanton Au ditorium. The university-wide talents show takes the stage this Saturday in Blanton. Whose got talent? GWU said. “We just need to see what they’re going to do so it is appropriate for Gardner-Webb.” She said although there was not anything inappro priate in the past Student Activities still did not want to risk the chance of something slipping by. Gray said although the talent show was usu ally scheduled for Read ing Day, Friday, Student Activities was unable to reserve the spot. There will be prizes for first, second and third place winners, but Gray said those prizes were be ing worked out. “We’re just trying to get the word out,” Gray said. By Diana Palka Pilot staff writer Gardner-Webb Uni versity was the main hub of the Cleveland County Senior Games, which took place from April 20-24 at various locations across the county. The games are “recre ational and athletic com petitions for adults 55 and above,” according to the Cleveland County Cham ber of Commerce Web site. Deborah Ware, a pro fessor of physical educa tion at GW1J, said that the turnout for this year’s games was a lot bigger than last year. Part of the reason was that this year Cleveland County’s senior games were opened up to seniors in Lincoln and Gaston counties. Both counties lacked an adequate number of participants to have their own games. Richard and Sue-Jane Sides, 69-year-old Lin- conlton residents, partici pated in all but two of the more than 40 events. The couple said they are frequent skiers and hikers, yet they never par ticipated in any organized competition prior to the Senior Games. “We’ve always been active but we didn’t know anything about Senior Games,” said Richard Sides. This was only the sec ond time they had been part of the event, but the couple has already be come ambassadors to the North Carolina Senior Games. They travel to make speeches advertising the games, and to raise funds. “You’ve got to stay active... if you sit down, you’re gonna die,” Sides said. “One of my worst fears is going into a nurs ing home... ; This keeps me out of the hospital.” Ware wanted to give credit to the many GWU students who helped make the games possible.
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April 29, 2009, edition 1
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