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ERT? IE Page 8B The Kings Mountain Herald | www.kmherald.com Senior tries « DAVE BLANTON dave.kmherald@gmail.com Some seniors’ final proj- ects serve as a perfect bridge between a longstanding in- terest and a future profes- sional path. When Mackenzie Smith was administering vaccina- tions for blackleg disease and giving dewormer medi- cine to cattle this spring, she found herself in a familiar setting, being around live- stock and other animals. Smith, who runs track and cross-country at KMHS, is pointing herself toward a career helping animals and farmers. She’s enrolling in Clemson University to major in pre-vet studies in the fall. In that program, she’s expecting a demanding workload of biology, chem- istry and math classes, and following her undergradu- ate years she’ll face intense i. competition to be accepted in one of the country’s few schools of veterinary medi- cine programs. Smith’s senior project had her volunteering at the local cattle farm of a family friend, Chip McGill, where she learned the ropes about what it takes to raise and care for cattle and get them off to market. She bluntly recounts how she used heavy rubber bands to perform castration of young male calves. She also recalls palpating the wombs of two pregnant cows on the farm, feeling the contours of newborn calves within with gloved hands. “Most people aren’t aware of how physically fit you have to be to work on a farm,” Smith said a few weeks before graduation. “I consider myself pretty physically fit, but I learned I wasn’t strong enough physi- Mackenzie Smith cally like for example to po- sition a cow’s head or even a calf’s head into a head gate.” In all, Smith puts in about 20 hours at the Kings Mountain farm, making four trips. Wednesday, June 3, 2015 “It was a great expe- rience for me, working alongside Mr. McGill and learning what I could,” Smith said. “I knew what a lot of the tools were, I just didn’t know how to use them all.” Smith said she plans to return to the McGill farm often, if for nothing else to help thin out the coyotes, which are a pest to livestock farmers. Smith says hunting and fishing are major hobbies of hers, pastimes she learned at her father’s knee. “We love to hunt when- ever we can,” Smith said. “That’s our bonding time.” In school, Smith kept busy and earned top-notch grades. In addition to sports, she was an enthusiastic member of the Future Farm- ers of America and president of the InterAct Club, a Ro- tary International sponsored school group. She was also ‘her hand at farm work a member of Beta Club and the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society. In fact, she did well enough in her high school biology courses to be ex- empt from having to take many of them in her fresh- men and sophomore years at Clemson. Nevertheless, her undergraduate advisors are suggesting that in order to have the best shot to get in veterinary school, she should take the college level biology classes despite hav- ing the credit to skip over them. Smith is taking it all in stride. “I plan on taking the freshmen bio classes even though I’m exempted from them,” she said. “It’s proba- bly the best thing for me be- cause I understand they are far more challenging than the classes I did well in high school.” Vittoria ELIZABETH STEWART + lib.kmherald@gmail.com Rome, Italy, is an amaz- ing city. Just ask Maria Vittoria, who returns home June 9 after graduation from Kings Mountain High School. “I'm anxious to go back home but this year has been great in Kings Mountain," said the pretty and viva- cious foreign exchange stu- dent. + What does she like best about Kings Moun- tain? She has made lots of friends and expects to keep the mailman busy with letters back and forth to them and to Kaye Jolly, her American “mom” with whom she has lived the ‘past school year. . Maria, 18, will be going back to high school in Rome and after graduation will return to the United States to enroll in college. “Everything's different in Kings Mountain," she says. The Eternal City, Rome, has a population of 5 million people. Kings Mountain has a population of about 11,000. In Rome she has a choice of five high schools to attend: a linguistic school where she will probably continue to focus on Spanish; and schools that focus on clas- sical, artistic, and scientific areas of study. At KMHS Maria has studied Spanish and she has been active in the Spanish club. She speaks English, French, and Italian fluently. returns to Italy MARIA VITTORIA "After another year of high school I may decide to major in Spanish in college," said Maria, the daughter of Vincenzo and Angela Vittoria. She has two sisters she has missed this year but she will have plenty to tell them about her visit in America and particularly Kings Moun- tain. Her Kings Mountain “family” has taken her to Myrtle Beach, SC and to the mountains. She loves Italian food and has found a real taste of sweet tea. She plans to take that rec- ipe to her Mom in Rome. | Has she met a special boyfriend in Kings Moun- tain? “I have been meeting wonderful people in Kings Mountain," she said. Can't-miss grad gifts Graduation season is a time for celebration as students pre- pare to face the next phase of their lives. Graduation parties are in full swing, and people may find themselves attending one or more of these festive occasions. Party guests and gradua- tion well-wishers may want to bring gifts for the guests of honor, and the following are a few ideas that newly minted grads may appreciate now or in the near future. Travel Graduates enter a time of transition between gradua- tion and their pursuits of a career or additional school- ing. The summer that follows graduation is filled with free time for many recent grads, making it a prime time to explore the world. If you know a new grad who har- bors a sense of wanderlust, put together a travel-themed present complete with air- line tickets, guide books, carry-on luggage, and some converted currency to use as spending money. You even can work with a travel agent to customize a trip you know your new grad will love. Congratulations Graduates! Davidson Insurance Agency CMS149a Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are offered in all states, Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information. 1205 Shelby Read, PO. Box 1457 Kings Mountain, NC 28088 davidsonins@charlotte.twehe.com 104-734-4810 Erie Insurance’ Saturday, July 18 * 10a-10p * Patriots Park All your hard work has paid off. Congratulations To Our Seniors! What's up next...the beach? Save your $88... the beach is coming to you! CityotkKM.com campers|” 2 in RV Charitable giving Philanthropic students may have spent their time as students helping others and supporting certain charities. If you are aware of a cause your graduate supports, think about making a donation to that orga- nization. Couple that gift with an offering to volunteer. It's a great way to spend time with the graduate before he or she moves on to the next phase of life.’ Professional wardrobe Recent graduates may have interviews lined up or even a job awaiting them upon gradu- ation, and such grads may need attire that is more befitting the business world. Suits, ties, col- lared shirts, briefcases, and the like will make thoughtful gifts for the budding professional. If you are unsure of sizes or style preferences, a gift card to a well-known retailer or spe- cialty shop is a safe idea. Automotive accessories Many recent grads use the months immediately following graduation to take a road trip, making automotive accessories great gifts. Increase the enjoy- ment factor of a post-gradu- ation road trip by treating the Family Owned Since 1966. grad to a subscription to a streaming satellite music ser- vice. This way grads can enjoy their favorite tunes no matter where their roads lead them. Relaxation School is not easy, so a gift to a spa for a massage or facial session can be a way to help your favorite graduate un- wind once final exam and term paper season has officially ended. Exercise is another way to unwind from the rigors of a school year, so consider a health club membership for new grads whose campus gym access is no longer available. Financial favors Cash is a graduation gift that will never go out of style. It may not be fancy, but cash certainly comes in handy for graduates facing repayment of student loans or the costs of secondary schooling. If giving cash at a party, write a check payable to the graduate rather than giving loose cash that can be easily lost. Some grads even may have a Go Fund Me or Paypal account to help offset schooling costs, and gift giv- ers can deposit money directly into such accounts if they so desire. Sales Parts = Service MON.-SAT. 9 AM-6 PM SUNDAY 12-5 to the (lass of 075 Explore America in your new RV at the Campers inn of Kings Mountain just off 1-85, Exit 8 615 Broadview Drive * Kings Mountain, NC (704) 750-7295
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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June 3, 2015, edition 1
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