Dedication best describes WUHS

Wheatland Union High School is a veritable garden of interests, with blooms ranging from the arts to music to sports and non-school-related activities such as hunting and volunteer work. Many of the school's students are intelligent, hard-working individuals who know what they want and go for it. The level of commitment some portray is amazing, dedicating their time and effort to school, class or the community.

Amber Vore, a senior, has been in the Girl Scouts for nearly 13 years. She is currently part of the group on Beale Air Force Base and is working on earning the Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouts.

Amber said she originally joined because of her mother, but stayed because of the great learning experiences and fun activities that come with it. Her favorite parts are the trips: to Spain, Italy; that she can be with people who share her love for scouting; and that everyone who is a part of it is connected, no matter where they are.

Many students take their enthusiasm onto the athletic fields, be it in football, tennis, basketball, baseball or our exceedingly large track team. Steele Severson, a senior and football player, is enjoying his first year on the team. He said he joined to lose weight and the chance to work in its team environment, something he enjoys.

So far, Steele said, things are going well and his self-confidence has soared, making all the time and hard work worth it. His teachers and friends are exponentially proud of him and his dedication to becoming someone he can be proud of.

Academics can be hard for some, while others fly by in the hardest courses. Aundrea Gibson, a junior, has been a straight-A student at least since she entered high school. Her drive is a good one; she said she simply wants to know that she is the best, which I find admirable and identify with. Because of her 4.0 grade point average, she has been on the principal's honor roll four times. Such intelligence paired with a lovely English accent!

Teachers are a fount of knowledge, but oft times their interests extend outside the classroom. Julie Winkel, a science teacher, started running marathons last year and is currently training for a half-marathon. She said she trains five days a week for 40 minutes on weekdays and an hour or more on weekends.

Winkel said she originally did the 5K for the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure because of encouragement from fellow teachers and personal feelings for the foundation. She continued running because she wanted to invest in and have something for herself.

This school's group of people are remarkable, many being worthy of praise, and I wish I mention them all. I love Wheatland High for many reasons, only one of which being the amazing people I have come to know here. This school has a bit to work on, but with its hard-working staff and students, I know it will persevere and become a truly excellent institution of learning.

Toni Bailey is a senior at Wheatland Union High School. Her column appears every sixth week in Education.