Brought to you by The Westerner Staff!



PHOTO BY GRETCHEN KRATOCHWILL

A big thank you to this year’s WDHS Westerner staff!  Back row, pictured left to right:  Emily Vaughan, Colleen Hoffmann, Brenna Wolfe, Abby Gloeckner, Erin Norton, Jacob Barnwell, and Bradley Prier.  Front, left to right:  Brooke Bockenstedt, Alicia Errthum, and Brittni Wendling.  Not pictured:  Breanna Reisen, Morgan Tomas-Klostermann, and Sarah Walsh.  This year the Westerner awards went to Erin Norton (Senior Editor), Alicia Erthum (Senior Editor), and Bradley Prier (Web Development).  Thank you to all staff members for your contributions this year—no matter how big or small, you helped make the newspaper a success! Staff members would also like to thank Ms. Gretchen Kratochwill for her brilliant job as our advisor this year!

And the Award Goes to…

BY ALICIA ERRTHUM

Academic and Artistic Achievement Awards Night is an event that recognizes Western Dubuque High School students who have reached extraordinary goals throughout the year, whether it be in band, math club, speech, art, writing, or GPA.  The invitation is sent out formally by mail with a letter inside informing parents of their student’s triumphs and encouraging them to attend the ceremony held in honor of students such as their own.  This event takes place on the evening of May 9^th.  From 6:00-7:00 p.m., the public may view the art projects on display in the WDHS Art Show, which is to be held in the north gymnasium.  Thereafter, at 7:00 p.m., the crowd will shift down to the old gymnasium, which is where the academic portion of the night takes over.  Teachers present the awards, and each student in the crowd waits with bated breath until his or her name is called.  As the night progresses, students proudly march across the stage to receive  awards such as the President’s Education Excellence Awards, Young Leader Awards, Student Council, Westerner Staff, Best in Class, and many, many more.  As the evening of splendor comes to a close, congratulations are exchanged, pictures are taken, and plaques are clutched with triumph as each young scholar makes his or her way back home. 

Noteworthy Bobcat of the Month: Alicia Errthum

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY JACOB BARNWELL

Grade:  12^th

Hometown:  Holy Cross

Parents’ Names:  David and Lisa Errthum

Involvement in Music:  I started playing the piano in kindergarten and picked up the saxophone in 5^th grade.  When I entered high school, I joined band and jazz band and annually participated in Solo Ensemble Contest as well as All-State auditions.  I made it as an alternate to All-State this year on baritone saxophone.  Over the past couple years, I have learned to play all four saxophones, as well as a little flute.  I have also participated in musicals throughout high school, whether it be in stage crew, chorus, or a larger role. 

What Do You Most Enjoy about the Arts Program at WDHS: My favorite thing about the arts program at Western Dubuque is the diversity.  We have a gigantic variety of programs offered: numerous art classes, 5^th Avenue show choir, Aristocats show choir, concert choir, band, jazz band, flags, dance/poms, speech, the fall play, and the spring musical.  Each and every one is a high quality program and is extremely enjoyable to be involved in. 

Other Interests and Hobbies:  Soccer, cross country, speech, plays/musicals, 4-H, art club, band, jazz band, the Westerner staff, and the National Honor Society. 

Wamac Art Show Pictures

PHOTO BY VICKI RECKER

Participants in the WaMaC Art Show from WDHS included the following students.  Front row, pictured left to right: Jamie Greve, Alicia Errthum, Katelynn Till, and Sidney Burds.  Middle row: Kaitlyn Wolf, Katie Bockenstedt, Dominique Simon, Paul Knipper, Josie Hollenback, Stephanie Knipper, and Anna Spoden.  Back row:  Ryan Christie, Megan Capek, Kirsten Anderson, and Nick Becker.  Not pictured:  Kylie O’Brien.  Award Winners this year were:  Kaitlyn Wolf, 1st place, for her digital photograph; Paul Knipper, 2^nd place, for his digital photograph; Katelynn Till, 2^nd place, for her self-portrait drawing; Jamie Greve, 2^nd place, for her mixed media sculpture; and Kylie O’Brien, 2^nd place, for her ceramic coil pot.

 

Pictured left:  The WaMaC Art Show’s first-place award winner Kaitlyn Wolf and her composition entitled “Craftsman.”  Wolf won overall in the digital photography category.  The judge appreciated her unusual subject matter and strong composition.   

WDHS Athletes in the Olympics

Western Dubuque Special Olympics State Qualifiers pictured from left to right: Lee Greenwood, Shaille Morgan, Brennan Koopmann, Shelby Heiderscheit, and Caleb Ernzen. 

BY BRAD PRIER

Track and field, bowling, cross country skiiing, and bocce ball are probably not sports you would expect the same person play in a single year. However, this busy and diverse schedule is exactly what the Western Dubuque Special Olympics team has been following this year. The team has competed in the area and state level in these sports. The mission of Special Olympics is “to provide year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disability...with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”
“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” This is the oath of the Special Olympics participants and serves as the motivation for these athletes. The Western Dubuque team consists of seven athletes currently and over 30 in the program’s eight-year history. The current athletes are Caleb Ernzen, Brennan Koopmann, Shelby Heiderscheit, Lee Greenwood, Shaille Morgan, Jeff Leibold, and Brandon Klein. The team just recently competed in track and field at the area level and the participants pictured above are those that have qualified for state.
They qualified as follows: Ernzen in 50-meter dash, Greenwood in shot put and 100-meter dash, Heiderscheit in turbo javelin, Koopmann in shot put, and Morgan in 100-meter dash.
Coach Laurie Fallon had this to say to the general public, “I am always looking for volunteers to help with the WDHS Special Olympics team and Dyersville team. After high school, many of these students continue to adult teams.”

Senior Spotlight

INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY ALICIA ERRTHUM

Name: Jacob Baumhover

Future Plans:  Going to Upper Iowa University for graphic design

Favorite TV Show: The Big Bang Theory

Favorite Song:  “Check Yes or No” by George Straight

Favorite Sport: Baseball or golf

Favorite Thing to Do: Being outdoors

If You Could Take a Trip Anywhere: Australia  

If You Won $1,000:  Take my girlfriend out

Most Prized Possession:  My shot glasses

Something You Want to Do before You Die: Scuba dive

If You Were a Car:  I’d be a Chevy Camaro.