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THE VOICE OF WILKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
VOLUME 18 NUMBER 3
WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
DECEMBER 16, 1987
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^What Does Christmas Mean to You?^^
“Christmas means Frosty Friends,
Christmas ornaments, Christmas
cards, and going shopping bundled
up, while carrying packages in the
‘cold’ winter air,” replied ‘bubbly’
Brenda Moore.
What does Christmas mean to
you? While questioning the faculty
and students, 1 found Christmas to
have a variety of meanings. Each
one, certainly, an appropriate re
sponse to his or her past experiences.
First there were those who consid
ered Christmas to be a time to spend
with others. Eric Bare saidi “Christ
mas is a time to see relatives that live
far away,” while Matt Cashion’s re
sponse was, “Christmas means going
home to Brunswick, Georgia and
spending time with family and old
friends.” Ann Moffett’s reply was,
“Christmas is a special time of the
year when I’m with my daughter for a
period of two weeks, and we have
lots of fun.” Wanda Hutchinson said,
“Christmas means friends, family, and
love,” while Donna Lyall said, “Christ
mas means family, friends, and being
together.” Lome Vidrine agreed by
saying, “Christmas is a time of year
that you want to spend with the
people that you care the most about,”
and Jenny Ray summed it up by
insisting that, “Christmas is a lime of
love, to share with ‘everybody’ . . .
not so commercial. . . and diamond
rings.”
Mark Watson suggested that,
“Christmas means two weeks away
from WCC,” while Donna Ham ad
ded, “Christmas is a time to show
what’s in your heart.”
Then there are those who put the
emphasis on gifts. For instance, Jon
athan Smithey said, “Christmas used
to mean lots of presents, but now it
dosen’t mean much,” while Randall
Miles suggested that, “Christmas
means a break from school and being
so broke that I can’t even buy my
‘poor ole’ mom something for Christ
mas.” Wade Collins got a little carried
away as he went on saying, “Christ
mas means a new watch, new shoes,
Santa Claus, Red and Green, Ru-
^ dolph. and Kris Kringle,” and Siv
Sov said, “Christmas, to me, means
Santa Claus, lots of presents, and
love.”
Then there were those who re
sponded to the more ‘traditional’
aspects of Christmas. A good example
is Diane Wagner, whose response
was “Christmas means decorating
the tree with my favorite Christmas
ornaments and seeing The Nutcrack
er,” while newly wed Frances Blevins
replied, “Christmas means mistletoe
and Ho, Ho, Ho!” Melissa Martin
reminded me of a few of the ‘Christ
mas Extras’ by saying, “Christmas
means lots of food, the Christmas
parade and going to my Grandma’s
house.”
Last, but certainly the initial cause
for celebration is the religious aspect.
Robert Walker subtly stated. “Christ
mas is the celebration of one of the
most famous birthdays. He didn’t
have much education nor did He
travel much, but He did enough to
make a name for Himself,” while
Charlie Earp insisted that, “Christmas
just isn’t Christmas until I’ve heard
the Messiah.” Nada Rowland replied
that, “Christmas is a very holy time, a
new beginning of life, as we receive
new gifts and renewal of friendships
with a basic concept of love. People
are ‘usually’ happy and pleasant, and
will often speak to those of whom
they ignore the remainder of the
year.”
While gathering this information
from these cooperative individuals, 1
ask this question of my children.
Jessica, age 10, said, “Christmas
means candy canes and eggnog,”
Paul, age 8, said, “Christmas means
Jesus being born,” and Patrick, age
4, replied, “Christmas means toys,”
while Christmas to me, means the
aroma of freshly popped popcorn
garlands, childrens ‘hand-made’ tree
ornaments, happy faces, colorful
blinking lights and a God who loved
us so much that He sent His Son as a
babe in the manager such that the
heavens and earth did rejoice. Dicta
tors have come and gone. Govern
ments have risen and fallen, but the
teachings of Jesus Christ have en
dured, according to the Prophet
Isaiah.
For Unto us a child is born.
Unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his
shoulder; and his name shall
be called Wonderful, Counsel
lor, The mighty God, The ever
lasting Father, The Prince of
Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
By: Pat Eskins
The Fall quarter was completed on
Caudill, John R.
Harrington, Brenda K.
November 2.^, 1987, with 131 students
Church, Gregory C.
Harrington. Quintina M.
making the President’s List. A student
Clark, Jeffrey H.
Hayes, Jennifer E.
must be a full time student and have a
Cloer, Tony W.
Hayes, Terry M.
grade point average of 3,5 to qualify
Combs, Debbie B.
Hincher, Jody L.
for the honor.
Crater. Rodney G.
Hutchens, Billy S.
The following students were placed
Crouse. Randy C.
Hutchinson, Wanda P.
on the list:
Darnell, Jeriann M.
Ingram, Patricia D.
Absher, Diane E,
Deal, David S.
Jarvis, Mary S.
Adams, Angela D,
DeCelle, Delos R.
Johnson, Barbara R.
Adams, Paul E,
Dehart, Mary E.
Johnson, Hunter L.
Alexander. Andrea D.
Dickerson, Alesia G.
Johnson, Michael L.
Bard, Janice H,
Dillard, Sherry P.
Johnson, Pebble I.,
Barker, Ray W.
Dollar, Tammy E.
Johnston, David A,
Barlow, Marlene G.
Duncan, Shirley M,
Joines, Martin M.
Barr, Melissa S.
Duval, Lyndell D.
Jones, Timothy Z.
Beshears, Rodney R,
Dyer, Lane H.
Joyce, Brenda T.
Billings, Marcella L,
Finney, Kendall L.
Keasey, Freda M.
Black, Carlos W,
Fowler, Carolyn S.
Kimmer, Laura L.
Blackburn, Mary Beth
Galloway, Roxanne A.
Lail, Steven D.
Blevins, Irene K.
Gambill, Lynnette K.
Lankford, Shirley H.
Blevins, Leslie R.
Garris, Donna K.
Latham, Donna S.
Blevins, Linda D.
Gibbs, Karen F.
Laws, Leesa L.
Blevins, Stephanie L.
Greer, Judy M.
Lee, Kim M.
Brown, Katherine A.
Grit, Penny B.
Lyon. Melissa A.
Brown, Neil C.
Groce. Marty R.
Mabe, Penny C.
Bullis, Edith D.
Hamby, Jodi D.
Mahaffey, Cyndi B.
Caldwell Rosie A,
Hamlin. Jamie L.
Cashion, Matthew D.
Harless, Janis C.
Conl'd on back
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Saint Nicholas Day
To a child, it seems as if Christmas
will never arrive. But, 1 was lucky—
my family kept a tradition that helped
carry us over until Christmas day.
That tradition is Saint Nicholas Day.
On the morning of December 6, we
would awaken to find our Christmas
stockings filled with goodies.
1 was always thrilled with this little
holiday and loved to share the tale
with my friends.
1 knew it was a tradition kept by
the German side of my family, but I
was not sure of the true origin.
At work. I got into a discussion
with a co-worker about St. Nick.
Actually, we were fighting over him.
1 swore he was German and she
claimed him to be Dutch.
As 1 went about my search for
answers, I found varying stories.
The most consistant story is the
following:
Saint Nicholas was a bishop in Asia
Minor around the 4th to 6th century.
He was known and loved for his
generosity. Legend says that there
was a poor man that could not afford
dowries for his three daughters. He
was going to leave them all to a life of
sin. However, the Bishop Nicholas
left three bags of money on their
doorstep—they were saved!
The legend goes on to say, St. Nick
left gifts to the good children on his
feast day, December 6th.
His tradition was kept alive by
children all over the world. A nd now
the former Bishop Nicholas, or Sinter
Klaus, is known to children as Santa
Claus.
. . . Helen Gunton
Thespians Among Us
At Wilkes Community College we
are fortunate to have the excellent
theatre facilities of the John A. Walker
Community Center. Even more im
portantly, the drama students at WCC
have the chance to study under ac
complished artists such as Bud Mayes
and David Reynolds, who bring to
the class room valuable first hand
experience in the realm of Dramatical
Arts,
Among the students presently
benefiting from the theatre program
WCC is Kevin Isenhour, Kevin is a
diverse actor who at the age of twenty
years played the role of sixty-five
year old Willy Lowman in the Arthur
Miller classic Death of a Salesman.
Kevin impressed Wilkes County the
atre goers with the dexterity with
which he handled the challenge of
playing such a complicated character.
Kevin plans to make acting his career
after completing his education.
Two more sophomore members of
the student drama group are Penny
Dillinger and Nicole Walsh. Penny
and Nicole, when not performing on
stage, have proved themselves invalu
able backstage working with props
and constumes. Performing on stage,
however, is where the girls shine.
Penny is a fine actress with a well
developed sense of characterization
and poise in the potrayal of whatever
character she is playing. Nicole too is
an accomplished actress and a top
notch singer. Nicole is attending
Wilkes Community College on a
Fine Arts Scholarship and will be
transferring to Appalachian State
University to major in music.
There are three new freshmen
members of the student drama group
at Wilkes Community College. They
are Steve Roten, Tammy Anderson
and Denise Johnson.
Steve Roten graduated from West
Wilkes High School this past spring
and is now attending WCC on a full
drama scholarship. Steve is a per
sonable young man who shows great
promise as an actor. He has already
proved himself on the Wilkes County
stage with excellent performances in
The Butler Did It and Death of a
Salesman.
Tammy Anderson is also a graduate
of West Wilkes High School and has
received a full drama scholarship at
Wilkes Community College too.
Tammy is a charming young lady
with an infectious laugh that has
become her trademark among her
friends. Her experience in theatre is
impressive for someone so young.
She has won awards from the North
Carolina Theatre Competition and a
$2,000.00 scholarship to Catawba
College.
Denise Johnson is the only member
of the student drama group who has
yet to grace our stage with her pre
sence. Denise has spent her time
backstage working with lights, sound,
set construction, properties and cos
tumes. Denise is a graduate of R.J.
Reynolds High School who is now
furthering her education in the Fine
Arts department at Wilkes Commun
ity College. We look forward to
benefiting from Denise’s technical
expertise in future productions and
maybe even coaxing her to perform
on stage.
The members of the student drama
group at Wilkes Community College
would like to extend an invitation to
everyone enrolled at WCC and mem
bers of the community to participate
in the community theatre. The student
drama group would also like to ex
press their gratitude to the college
and the community for the support
they have received in their theatrical
endeavors.
Martin Joines