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Senior spotlight: Kinlaw combines hard work, compassion
By Mary Kathryn Ross
Reporter
The term “ well rounded” brings to
mind images of clubs, sports, commu
nity activities, and academic excel
lence. It is also one of the many posi
tive adjectives surrounding the name
Patrick Kinlaw.
This outstanding senior is ex
tremely active in our school’s social
activities, while still achieving aca
demic goals that seem out of many
student’s grasps. Kinlaw is a member
of the men’s tennis team and earned
his varsity letter. He also participates
in a recreational basketball team called
“ The Knights of Columbus,” which is
sponsored by his church.
As a Catholic , Kinlaw’s church,
Our Lady Of Grace, has been the cen
ter of several of his activities. He is
an Acolyte ( alter server) as well as an
active member of the Youth Ministry
Group. Governor Hunt appointed him
to participate in the North Caroli?ia
Standing Committee on Youth Voice.
Kinlaw has been even more in
volved at school. Over the years, he
has become an instrumental part of
Grimsley’s Speech and Debate team.
He has won countless awards for his
eloquence and quick thinking and now
serves as treasurer for the club.
As captain of the Knowledge Mas
ters team his Junior year, Kinlaw also
Kinlaw finds time for school aiidextraciirriculars.
won several awards. One of his proud
est accomplishments was receiving the
Rensselear Medal for Science and
Math achievement. He also attended
Governor’s School this summer for
math.
Kinlaw is president of the Latin
club, a member of Junior Jaycees, the
Science Olympiad team. National
Honor Society, and S.A.V.E.
Also a Junior
Marshall, Kinlaw
has proven to the
student body that
he is deserving of
this honor. He has
received Depart
mental Achieve
ment awards in
English, Latin,
Math, Science, So
cial Studies, Com
puter Science,
Band and Physical
Education. He was
also chosen by the
Greensboro News
and Record for
their Academic
Achievement
Aventphoto Team. He seems
to live according to his own advice.
He says, “ If you really want to suc
ceed, get involved in activities. You
don’t have to be brilliant to be suc
cessful; you just have to make a deci
sion to get involved.”
One might ask, “ Where does such
a wonderful student apply to college?”
Kinlaw is applying to six competitive univer
sities. He is still in the running for the
Morehead scholarship, which gives full m-
ition to the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill.. He is also applying to Duke,
Wake Forest, University of Richmond, Notre
Dame and Georgetown. He says, “ Ri^tnow
I couldn’t choose. It depends on how much
scholarship money I can get.”
After his decision is made, Kinlaw plans
to major in either math, history or classics.
He is looking at becoming a middle or high
school teacher after college.
Perhaps Dr. Frost, Mr. Saimders, and Mr.
McKinney, had something to do with his
career decision. "‘Tliey’ve exposed me to new
subject areas and made them all very inter
esting. They’re all very, very good teach
ers.” Mr. McKiimey said, ” Patrick is one of
the best smdents I’ve taught in many years.
He’s consistent, a natural engineer, a gifted
problem solver. He could teach the class/
He’s steady, compassionate, patient, a strong
leader and vety' well rounded.”
Kinlaw’s actions and attributes reflect his
values. Hesaid, “ Ivaluehard work and open
ness tire most. You have to be open to dif
ferent paths, ideas and ways of life because
tire only way to understand something is by
looking at all the possible angles and
ways of approaching it.”
Story behind Kwanzaa calls for unify within communities
By Nikia Jones
StaffWriter
«
What is Kwanzaa? Kwanzaa first began to form
in 1966. Kwanzaa, an African American cultural
holiday, has its roots in the turmoil of the 1960’s.
Beginning in August 1965, a riot began in Watts,
a predominantly African American community in Los
Angeles, California. People in the community were
angry about the crumbling houses, low-paying jobs,
and racism they faced day after day. As a result, on
August 11, the outrage and annoyance many Afri
can Americans were feeling came to a boiling point.
A riot erupted when police officers arrested
Marquette Frye, an African-American motorist.
Several witnesses thought Frye had been treated too
roughly by the police. During the typically long, hot
August night that ensued, bricks, bottles, and por
tions of concrete attacked police and other passing
cars. Some students do not realize Kwanzaa origi
nated from a riot. “If I were told Kwanzaa began in
a fighting manner, I would have to question how valid
the information was,” said Ursula Harper, a junior.
The riot continued for four days, with four thou
sand people arrested, hundreds injured, and thirty-
four killed. In some instances, cars were overturned,
windows were
broken, and
buildings were
vandalized and
then set on fire.
Police sirens did
not rest until the
riot ended.
When the riot
was over, many
sections of the
community con
sisted only of
ashes and
smoke. Hun
dreds were left
homeless. Bro
ken glass glit
tered on the
sidewalk. Sev
eral businesses
moved to other
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locations. Instead of appearing like a riot had just
occurred. Watts looked like a picture of a war zone.
In the aftermath of the riot, something began to
change in the community. In Watts and across the
entire city, African-Americans joined together to re
build Watts and make the community stronger and
better than it was before. “It is important for people
to come together, but some forget about other peoples
traditions and cultures, and that may be a mistake,”
said Fabiana Rievers, a junior.
Dr. Maulana Karenga was finishing his last year
of graduate school during the Watts riot. He felt his
people had lost touch with their African heritage, and
he began to study ways that African-
Americans could help themselves and each other. “If
people found out that there are so many ethnicities
in their ancestral background, then they wouldn’t be
so quick to judge the background of other people,”
said Lemira Judd, a junior. Karenga’s goal was to
imify his people and implant in them a sense of pride
in their culture. “Unification is extremely important.
Everyone should get along with one another and not
be separate,” said Alex Johnson, a senior. He felt
there should be a special time during the year set
aside for his people to show pride in their race.
“There should be unity within a race or group...but,
more importantly, there should also by unity within
a whole community,” said Greg Thomas, a senior.
He started researching ancient African harvest cer
emonies, and “first fruit” celebrations within vari
ous African tribes. Even though each tribe celebrated
the harvest festival a little differently, the festivals
had many similarities.
The harvest festival rewarded the tribe members
for their teamwork during the year. Seeds could not
be planted, fields could not be tended, and crops
could not be gathered unless the entire tribe worked to
gether as a group. Everyone, including the children,
had a job to do, and by working together, the entire
tribe had food to eat throughout the year.
The harvest festival usually lasted several days,
with the king/chief saying a prayer for the health and
wealth of each tribe member. The group filled and
passed around a special cup in memory of those who
had died. After the ceremony, there was feasting,
music, and dancing all night long. The African har
vest festival was a time for tribe members to remem
ber their ancestors, celebrate good fortune, and plan
for the year to come. “Kwanzaa makes a difference
in the African American culture. But other cultures
have special days to remind them of where theycame
from and their importance,” said Rievers.
In 1966, Karenga created Kwanzaa, a cultural
holiday based upon the ancient customs of Africa.
Now, on December 26, the day after Christmas, and
imtil the new year begins, many African Americans
celebrate Kwanzaa. Some observe Christmas and
Kwanzaa, while others only celebrate Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday or one that
honors any one person. It is not a holiday that is
celebrated in Africa, but is an original African-
American holiday. It is a time when most African-
Americans come together to honor the traditions of
their ancestors. As mentioned earlier, planning for
the preceding year and working to better the people
and community are important parts of the holiday.
Karenga hoped that the things that were studied
and practiced during Kwanzaa would guide African-
Americans all year long. “Unity is the first step towards
unity among all races,” said Judd. Kwanzaa cel
ebrates of the past, the present, and the future. There
is a proverb that is often expressed during the
Kwanzaa celebration: “I am because we are, because
we are, I am.”
The ideas, symbols, and ceremonies that are apart
of Kwanzaa celebrate the beauty of working together
as one for the good of the commimity. Harambee!