High Life
GRIMSLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Friday, October 29,1993
GRIMSLEY HIGH LIFE
VOLUME LXX, NUMBER 2
Mr. Penland, the new man on camjpusr
Teacher Feature- GHS teachers reflect on their owr
high school years
pg. 3- Michael Jordan’s early retirement
pg. 6 and 7- Homecoming photos
pg. 9“ Men's soccer
pg.l2- Halloween fashion
“THone^end *}tMti*teeA
'pCelcU^ & Scta^ut
By Rebecca Green
Studies have always been a top
priority for Mandy Fields. Fields competes
with the GHS swim team, is vice-president
of the Speech and Debate Team, and is an
active member of her church. Fields said it
is her willingness to put the time and effort
into her studies that has enabled her to stay
at the top of her class. “I have always known
I want to do something important that can
truely help people. The best way to do this
is to get the best education possible,” Fields
said. She has always been interested in
UNC-Chapel Hill. “I feel comfortable there,
Carolina has a very diverse population,” she
said. As for the Morehead nomination, she
feels “it is a valuable way to meet many
different kinds of people.” “I feel it is
important to become acquainted ’vith many
different cultures, ideas, and opinions.”
Fields is al so applying to Duke and Davidson
College. She is interested in a career in law
or surgical medicine.
The student, man, and principal
By Erin Murphy
As the new students must adjust to the
new school year, so does the new principal,
Mr. Penland. "Fm still adjusting and learn
ing!” the principal said with a smile. How
ever, Mr. Penland is no stranger to change.
With his family, Mr. Penland moved to
Malaysia to teach science and math at a
school for missionary children, international
business children, and Malaysian children.
He and his wife, a teacher of English as a
second language, were under a contract with
a mission group from their church. A year
later, he became the principal of the school
in Southeast Asia. He later became the di
rector of the school, much like serving as a
superintendent.
“The ten years in Malaysia, I wouldn’t
trade for anything,” Mr. Penland said. "I
learned about different cultures and ex
change programs. Through my international
xperiences I have also seen how we are
competing with the world.”
In the principal’s eyes, Grimsley is “a
great place” and could be recognized na
tionally if it reached its potential. In high
school, where problems of racism and
voilence may be present, Mr. Penland said,
"They are products of society and do not
belong on our campus. We have to teach by
word and deed that civilized society does
not tolerate such behaviors.” Grimsley’s
competitive academic spirit and desire of
parental involvement impress the new prin
cipal, as well as the way the faculty yearns
to work as a team.
Today, October 29,1993, the students at
Grimsley are primarily thinking of what will
become a memorable Homecoming Week
end. Mr.Penland recalls some of his home
coming memories at Asheville Reynolds
High School by going back a “few” years- "I
remember that we lost the game and there
was freezing rain, but we had a good time.”
There are many other pleasant recollections
of high school for Mr.Penland: he main
tained an A/B average and was captain of the
basketball team before going on to college
at UNC-Asheville, Toccoa Falls College,
and, later, the University of Georgia. In his
first year of teaching in Georgia he taught
science and math and coached basketball,
areas in which he excelled as a student.
Presently Mr. Penland keeps active in his
church, plays golf, enjoys his four children,
andhasdonequiteabitoftraveling. “I have
been to every free country in Asia, to Eu
rope, North America, and to South America
twice for school visits.” He recently finished
his doctoral coursework at UNCG and is
working on his dissertation on cross-cul
tural sensitivity. Mr.Penland has an interest
in Grimsley’s International Club and Hu
man Relations Committee because, “We
need to celebrate human diversity.”
While Mr.Penland adjusts to his new as
signment with the Whirlies he shares his
philosophy openly. "I would like for
Grimsley students to know that I care about
them, I will try to be fair, I will try to help
provide a good school climate for all to
learn, and I will try to be an example to them
that they can be proud of by being a life-long
learner and caregiver.”
Susan Evans and Mandy Fields
Susan Evans is president of the
Jaycettes Service Club, Co-editor of the
yearbook, and plays GHS varsity soccer.
How has she managed to stay at the top? “It
takes a lot of hard work, time, and effort,”
Evans said. Her motivation comes from
herself and her parents. "I want to be the best
I can be, and my parents are very supportive
of me,” she said.
Evans is most interested in the sum
mer enrichment programs included in the
Morehead Scholarship. These programs
take a break from their studies.
include Outward Bound experiences, in
ternships with law enforcement agencies
and national business corporations, as well
as foreign travel. “These experiences involve
learning from the real world, things I would
never have the advantage of doing without
a scholarship,” Evans said.
Besides UNC-Chapel Hill, Evans is
applying to Duke, Wake Forest, and William
and Mary. While she is not sure of what
career she will pursue, she wants to do
something math oriented.