THE VOICE OF WILKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
VOLUME 19, NUMBER 4
WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
FEBRUARY 14, 1989
‘^interfesi Queen Chosen
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Valentine
Crowning of Queen at
Winterfest Dance
Tamera Stokes, Winterfest Queen; and Tanya Stewart, runner-up
Nominations for Winterfest
Queen ended January 18th. On
January 24, the Winterfest dance
and crowning of the Winterfest
Queen was held in the John A.
Walker Community Center from
8:00 p.m. until midnight. The dance
was semi-formal and featured N.C.
number 1 top 40 band “North
Tower”. Tamera Stokes was
crowned WCC’s Winterfest Queen
for 1989, and Tanya Stewart was
runner-up.
At WCC Tamera Dawn Stokes
is a full time student in the College
Transfer program. She is a sopho
more and will graduate in May
with an Associate degree.
During her high school years,
Tamera was actively involved in
many activities. Tamera was ath
letically inclined. As a captain of
each, she participated in basketball,
volleyball, and softball. She was a
member of the Executive Council,
and Student Council. She was also
a participant in the Ski Club,
Spanish Club, SADD, Junior
Achievement, AFS, and the chorus
called Hi-Lighters. Her selection
into Who’s Who Among American
High School Students was an honor
given her. Among her achievements,
she received athletic awards includ
ing the Principal’s Award, Basket
ball Coaches Award, and Softball
Most Improved Award. Her aca
demic awards included a Journ
alism Award, Student Leadership
Award, and a Scholarship Award.
Pre-registration
Spring Quarter
Begins
February 14tK
Who’s Who
Finally, Church Youth Group was
also among her many involvements.
Here at WCC, Tamera’s activities
have been just as numerous. For the
year ’88-’89, she was elected Miss
WCC and also Winterfest Queen.
She is a member of the Executive
Council and SGA secretary. As the
reporter, Tamera is a member of
the Phi Beta Lambda Club. She is
a member of the college volleyball
and basketball teams which com
pete in the Uni-Four College
Tournaments. She is also on the
Yearbook and Newspaper Staff.
Among the honors given, Tamera
has been selected in the Who’s
Who Among National Junior Col
lege Students.
Tanya Renee Stewart was
runner-up Winterfest Queen for
1989. Tanya is a graduate of North
west Ashe High School. During
her high school years, Tanya was
actively involved in sports including
volleyball, basketball, and softball;
captain of the Rifle Corp.; Pep,
Travel, French, Fashion, Mono
gram, FBLA, FCA, and SADD
clubs.
Here at WCC, Tanya is a member
of the Volleyball Team, Ski Club,
and SGA’s Freshman Secretary.
She enjoys singing, dancing, and
spending time with Rodney, and
spending time with family and
friends. After graduating from
WCC, Tanya plans to begin a
career in the medical field.
History of
Valentine’s Day
Each February 14th, many of us
celebrate Valentine’s Day. Often
the ritual of sending flowers, candy,
or a greeting card to our loved one
is performed on this day. But what
is the origin of this special day and
what were some of the old customs?
According to the World Book
encyclopedia, Valentine’s Day
began in various ways. Some trace
it to the Roman festival called
Lupercalia. This festival was cele
brated on February 15th to ensure
protection from wolves. Young men
would strike people with strips of
animal hide. The women would
take the blows because they believed
that whipping made them more
fertile.
Another origin of Valentine’s
Day comes from the story of two
martyrs, both named Valentine, of
the early Christian church. It is
said that on February 14th these
two martyrs were beheaded. One
was reportedly martyred for secretly
marrying young couples, which was
in disobedience of a law made by
Emperor Claudius II. This law
forbade young single men from
marrying because the emperor be
lieved that single men made better
soldiers. The other martyr report
edly made friends with many child
ren. The Romans imprisoned him
because he did not worship their
gods. The children missed Valentine
and tossed loving notes between
the bars of the prison cell window.
In A. D. 496, Pope Gelasius named
February 14th as St. Valentine’s
Day.
Another origin tied to Valentine’s
Day comes from an Old English
tale of birds choosing their mates
on February 14th. In the 1300’s,
Chaucer wrote in Parliament of
Fouls, “For this was on St.
Valentine’s Day/When every foul
cometh there to choose his mate”.
Valentine’s Day was celebrated
in England as early as the 1400’s.
The sending of verses was started
by a Frenchman named Charles,
Duke of Orleans. He was captured
by the English during the battle of
Agincourt in 1415. On Valentine’s
Day he sent his wife a rhymed love
letter from his cell in the Tower of
London. Another old custom was
drawing slips of paper, with
women’s names on it, from a jar.
The woman’s name drawn by a
man became his valentine.
Cont’d on page 2
Front row (left to right): Janis Harless, Brenda Joyce, Shirley Welborn.
Second row: Jamie Hamlin, Ramona Burke, Jeff Clark, Matthew
Shaw, David Oliver. Third row: Janice Bard, Tamera Stokes, Andrea
Dawn Alexander, Albert McGee, Donna Garris, Diane Absher.
On Thursday January 12, 1989,
fourteen students were announced
to represent Wilkes Community
College in a significant honor. The
students were informed that they
have been selected to appear in the
national publication of Who’s Who
Among Students in American
Junior Colleges. The students were
selected by a committee composed
of representatives from the college
faculty, staff, and the student body
based on citizenship, leadership,
scholarship, college and community
activities, and future success.
Congratulations to the following:
Janis Harless graduated from Ashe
Central High School in 1979. She
is currently in the college transfer
program. Janis is the current pres
ident of Phi Theta Kappa, 1988
Chief Marshal at the Commence
ment exercises, and a recipient of
the Ron and Ennis Davis Scholar
ship as well as the Community
College System Scholarship. After
graduation, she plans to transfer to
ASU to obtain a Bachelor of
Science degree in English and
Secondary Education.
Brenda Joyce graduated from
North Surry High School in 1980.
Brenda is a college transfer student,
and her activities include Editor of
the Cougar Cry, Public Relations
Secretary of Phi Theta Kappa, and
1988 Commencement Marshal.
After graduation, Brenda plans to
transfer to ASU and double major
in Health Education and Athletic
Training.
Shirley Welborn graduated from
Starmount High School in 1968.
Her current curriculums are Ac
counting and Business Adminis
tration. Shirley is involved in the
Phi Beta Lambda and Phi Theta
Kappa Clubs. Shirley also placed
second in the State Competition of
Accounting and competed at the
national level in 1988. After grad
uation, Shirley plans to major in
Accounting with Gardner Webb
and pass the CPA (Certified Public
Accountant) exam.
Jamie Hamlin is a 1987 graduate
from Wilkes Central High School.
Jamie is currently in the college
transfer program. He is involved in
activities such as the vice-president
of Phi Theta Kappa as well as co
editor of the yearbook and a 1988
Commencement Marshal. Jamie
plans to transfer to ASU and major
in Graphic Arts.
Ramona Burke graduated from
Alexander Central School in 1987.
Ramona is in the Accounting cur
riculum. Ramona is president of
Phi Beta Lambda. After gradua
tion, Ramona states that she “plans
to continue her education, earn my
CPA license, and become wealthy”.
Jeffrey Clark is a 1987 graduate
of Wilkes Central High School.
Jeff is in Electronics Engineering
Technology. Jeff is a Phi Theta
Kappa member. He plans to con
tinue his education at UNC-Char-
lotte in Electronics Engineering
Technology.
Matthew Shaw is a 1987 graduate
form Starmount High School. He
is currently in the Hotel-Restaurant
Management curriculum. Mat
thew’s activities include the 1988-
1989 president of Ye Host, Ski
Club member, BSU member, SGA
Sophomore Treasurer, and em
ployed at J A WCC. Matthew states,
“I have learned so much, met some
good friends, grown so much, that
I feel college was worth every bit of
my time and money”.
David Oliver is a 1987 graduate
of Starmount High School. David
is in the college transfer program.
David has been a member of the
wrestling team for two years, SGA
senator for one year, and a member
of the Ski Club. After graduation,
Cont’d on page 2