Love,
Buckwild

“Move it!” that’s the sound of Bend High students pushing and shoving people out of the way. Well, maybe I am one of those people and maybe I’m not, but still, like everyone else, I want to get to class on time whether it’s to study or just have five minutes of talking time with my friends. So be aware if you want to get a face full of floor, wall, locker, or some stranger’s backside by someone who pushed you out of the way to get to class “Move It!”

Love,
Buckwild

For the months of September and October, seniors Kaitlyn Cockrum and Ashley Pennington from Bend High are being recognized by The Center Foundation as High Desert Heroes by the foundation Board of Directors.

Kate is on the Bend High culinary team and for the two consecutive years of 2008 and 2009, she has won the national championship awards in the Pro-Start Culinary competitions in San Diego, California. Because of her performance at the Pro-Start competition, Bend High School sponsored her trip to Chicago in May to the National Restaurant Show.  In the spring of her freshman year Kate traveled to the Dream Center in Los Angeles to work with a homeless shelter in downtown L.A.  She said that it was life changing.  In addition to her commitments to culinary and her academics, Kate has helped Bend High win two state championships in soccer.

President of the Honor Society, Ashley Pennington has made a huge difference in the outreach programs that she is associated with.  She has assisted with the Healthy Beginnings Program, Red Cross blood drive, Bethlehem Inn homeless shelter and the Jingle Bell Run. She also worked with the Salvation Army to put together gift bags for underprivileged families.  She is a hard worker and extends herself beyond the requirements of a task.

With both Cockrum and Pennington striving for more, Bend High takes pride in students like these who go above and beyond in his or her lives. For those of you other hard-working seniors, keep up the effort because it could be you next month!

High school seems to go by in a breeze and before too long you’ve got to start making plans to enter the workforce or pursue higher education through college. As we all know, college can be a financial pain. Well, scholarships have proven to be an excellent alternative to paying for school. There are thousands of scholarships in the area of academics and athletics and every year billions of dollars in scholarship funds go unspent. So, money is out there for people who need it and deserve it, you just have to know where to look.

            What people need to be aware of is that scholarships aren’t the easiest thing in the world to get; you usually have to put hard work into them in order to be competitive and have a chance of receiving scholarship funds. Many high school students plunge into a trend of procrastinating when it comes to applying for college scholarships. So, what these loose-minded students end up doing is applying for scholarships that seem too easy and have no required hard work to be done in the application process. This is the students’ desperate attempt at “easy money” after they have let time escape from them. For instance, a student applies to a scholarship, there was no work required in the application process, just a name and a $50 deposit, and a scholarship is guaranteed to follow.

Students beware. These scholarships are too easy because they’re scams created by scam artists who take advantage of people in desperate need of money. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t an actual scholarship. The following are the tell tale signs of scholarship fraud about which the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cautions students:

            Ÿ    “The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.”

            Ÿ    “You can’t get this information anywhere else.”

            Ÿ    “I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship.”

            Ÿ    “We’ll do all the work.”

            Ÿ    “The scholarship will cost some money.”

            Ÿ    “You’ve been selected by a ‘national foundation’ to receive a scholarship.”

            Ÿ    “You’re a finalist” (in a contest you never entered).

First off, a scholarship doesn’t require you to put money down or hold it to a credit card or bank account. Second, most institutions offer their scholarships through a variety of different ways, so the phase, “you can’t get this information anywhere else” wouldn’t apply for a real scholarship. Lastly, and most importantly, all scholarships require you to prove yourself a worthy candidate through your hard work and dedication. If you’re going to try to get easy money, avoid scholarships that are promoted in these fashions because they might be scholarship scams.

            Also, be careful when dealing with athletic recruiting services, as these, too, may be part of a scam. Often, legitimate recruiting services are required to collect a fee in order to help promote the student athlete, which means it is much harder to detect a recruiting service scam.

What several coaches and recruiters advise is that student athletes self promote to protect themselves the trouble of trying to detect a scam. To self promote, make sure you talk to your coach; most coaches are more than willing to help you out. Write a letter to the head coach of the school you want to draw attention from; make sure you address the coach formally and make yourself stand out. Also you should submit a video of your performance to try and draw the eyes of top recruiters. Once again though, self promotion requires a lot of hard work and dedication and isn’t something to be put off until the end of your senior year; start the self-promotion process as soon as possible.

            If you choose not to self promote, be careful and weary of whom you trust. The best solution is to do the work yourself and avoid these fake organizations from “doing the work for you,” because it could turn out to be a scam. Top recruiters can notice you; you’ve just got to put some hard work into it.

            Scholarship fraud and recruiting service scams are very real. Before anyone begins to apply for scholarships or invest in recruiting services, they should arm themselves with knowledge of what to look for; if a fraud is presented to a student, the student should know how to deal with it or avoid it. Don’t become another victim of scholarship fraud.

Red Carpet Carwash
Minimum age: 16
Contact: Franz or David
Job Title: Lube Tech or Gas & Wash
Description: Wash/gas cars. Will work around all school schedules.
Pay: $8.40 + tips
Application Process: Apply in person at 235 SE 3rd St.

Human Bean Coffee Hut
Min. age: 16
Address: 1041 NE 9th St.
Contact: Travis
Job Title: Barista (2)
Description: Customer service, make coffee drinks. Applicant must have great customer service skills, be outgoing and energetic. This is a part-time position for after school, weekends and on days when school is not in session. No experience required; employer will train.
Pay: $8.40 + tips once training is completed
App. Process: Drop off resume at establishment

Juniper Swim and Fitness Center
Min. Age: 15 for lifeguards, 16 for swim instructors
Contact: Rob
Job Title: Lifeguards and Swim Instructors
Description: Employer is looking to fill summer positions. If you are not certified they will be offering courses beginning April 20th for lifeguards and April 27th for swim instructors at a fee. Class information and applications are available online at www.bendparksandrec.org.
Pay: $8.59
App. Process: Available online at www.bendparksandrec.org and in the Future Center.

Pronghorn
Min. Age: 16
Contact: Adam Bowen, Golf Pro
Job Title: Golf bag and valet service, starters and player assistance
Description: Assistance customers with golf bags, carts, and valet service. Looking for individuals that love the game of golf and have knowledge of golf etiquette and/or past experience in the service industry. Neat appearance and enjoys working in a team environment. Approximately 10 positions will be available. Start date is May 15th and will continue through the end of the golf season.
Pay: $10.50 plus tips. Perks include free golf, access to the Athletic Center, discount on food.
App. Process: Send a one page bio with contact information addressed to Adam Bowen at abowen@pronghornclub.com. Include your name, address, and phone. Also designate the area or areas in which you are interested. List prior golf and/or service industry experience.

Fran Miller
Min. Age: any
Contact: Fran Miller
Job Title: Gardener Assistant
Description: Part time work as gardener assistant including raking, weeding, mowing lawn, and bagging debris. 2-4 hours a week. Looking for strong, motivated, energetic student.
Pay: $10/hr
App. Process: Call Fran at 541-317-1718

If none of these jobs interest you, be sure to head down to the Future Center in A hall to find out about the latest postings. More postings are added every day, so keep an eye out. After all, your future job may be waiting for you down at the Future Center.

As we all know, the state is in a bit of a budget squeeze and it is taking its toll on higher educational institutions around the state. Specifically, the OSU-Cascades campus has already made cutbacks on many of its educational programs. Tuition at the Cascades campus and Central Oregon Community College are set to increase by 5% at the start of the summer term to try and help makeup for the college’s budget shortfall. Now, there are rumors that the Oregon state legislature is considering shutting down the Oregon State Cascades branch. But, Cascades Campus Dean, Becky Johnson, has her doubts that the State Legislature would eliminate the campus because the campus is vital to many students in the Central Oregon area and it is impractical to abandon a large portion of the OSU campus at a time of economic struggle.

            The Corvallis-based campus has announced its classrooms are full, which is forcing many students who planned to transfer to the Corvallis campus, to stay in Central Oregon for at least another year. Currently the OSU-Cascades has roughly 500 students enrolled, and classes average around 24 students per class; whereas the Corvallis campus at times holds lecture halls that cram in 200-300 students at one time. Many students are happy to be staying at the Cascades campus for longer as it’s much easier to learn one on one from the teacher due to the smaller-class setting.

            Still, Bend continues to grow; so, how long will the Cascades campus be a “24 student per class” school? Not for long as COCC is already overcrowded and had to shut down admission and enrollment to new students this spring due to the hordes of students now attending. There simply is no more room at COCC, which averages 7000 students enrolled at some point in a given school year, and the OSU-Cascades campus, which enrolls about 500 a year.

            Many people around the community are wondering when the state is going to take the needs of Central Oregon a little more seriously. Should COCC/OSU-Cascades be bumped up to the university status where students can live at home and earn a four-year degree? Many people say yes; Central Oregon is ready to harbor a four-year university. As a matter of fact it’s probably hard to find someone in the entire Central Oregon region that wouldn’t like to see a university housed in Bend. Central Oregon has also been named by the Central Oregon Regional Advisory Board (CORAB) as “the largest area in the nation without a regionally sited university.”

            So, the Oregon State legislature is rumored to be debating whether or not to shut down the OSU-Cascades campus due to a budget crunch, but many Central Oregonians think the Oregon legislature should be considering the Bend region for a university status. The state legislature wants to downsize OSU-Cascades campus; on the other hand the Bend community wants to upgrade Central Oregon. One thing is for sure, the OSU-Cascades campus is vital to all students who attend and it would be very impractical for the state legislature to shut down an educational institute of this magnitude. It is even more impractical since the student enrollment is expected to grow over the next few years, proving its worth to people all around the Central Oregon region. 

Guys, it’s that time of year again! The time to grow your scruff and that dirty ‘stache’. It’s Mustache March!

The mustache, also known as Moustache, stache, nose neighbor, muzzy, lip fuzz and flavor savor, has a long history of how it’s worn. The ‘stache’ represents and stands for a person’s manly hood, their power and strength in the mustache.

Mustache March originated during the Vietnam War when a fighter pilot named Robin Olds grew what he called a “bulletproof mustache.” At the time mustaches weren’t allowed to be sported in the military, but Olds, who was far from home on a military base in ‘Nam, thought the stache defined his individuality, so he kept it. This occurred in the month of March 1965.

Once Olds returned home in April, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. McConnell, who wasn’t fond of Olds’s defiance, greeted him. McConnell walked up to him, stuck a finger under his nose and ordered, “Take it off.” Olds replied, “Yes, sir.”

Thus the roots of Mustache March were born. Air Force pilots now devote one month of defiance of the Air Force facial hair regulations as a way of good-natured protest, and pay to tribute to General Robin Olds.

Now if you are going to participate in Mustache March, you’re going to need to sport a stache for the occasion; even if it’s a stache that isn’t necessarily up to the standards of the average groomed mustache. The following are stache styles that are popular for Mustache March:

Natural (Business man)– Moustache may be styled but without aids such as a comb or mousse. The hairs are allowed to start growing from up to a maximum of 1.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip.

Hungarian – Big and bushy, beginning from the middle of the upper lip and pulled to the side. The hairs are allowed to start growing from up to a maximum of 2.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip. Very similar to the Gringo stache.

Dalí (abra kadabra)– Narrow, long points bent or curved steeply upward; areas past the corner of the mouth must be shaved. Artificial styling aids needed. Named after Salvador Dalí who was known to paint with the tips of his moustache.

English (Connoisseur)– Narrow, beginning at the middle of the upper lip the whiskers are very long and pulled to the side and slightly curled. The ends are pointed slightly upward; areas past the corner of the mouth usually shaved.

Imperial – Whiskers growing from both the upper lip and cheeks, curled upward.

Freestyle – All moustaches that do not match other classes. The hairs are allowed to start growing from up to a maximum of 1.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip.

Fu Manchu – Long, downward pointing ends, generally beyond the chin.

‘Pancho Villa’ moustache – Similar to the Fu Manchu but thicker; also known as a “droopy moustache”, generally known to have been worn by the historical Pancho Villa.

Handlebar – Bushy, with small upward pointing ends. Typical biker stache, may be associated with the shape of the handle bars of a motorcycle.

Horseshoe –The horseshoe was popularized by modern cowboys and consists of a full moustache with vertical extensions from the corners of the lips down to the jawline and resembling an upside-down horseshoe.

Pencil moustache (“special” movie star stache)– Narrow, straight and thin like a pencil, closely clipped, outlining the upper lip, with a wide shaven gap between the nose and moustache.

Chevron (Major)- Thick and wide, usually covering the top of the upper lip. NASCAR driver Richard Petty wears a narrow Chevron. Also known as the Major because of the trend of military officers (Majors) wearing them.

Walrus (trucker)– Bushy, hanging down over the lips, often entirely covering the mouth.

The sensation of Mustache March has grown over the years and now is a tool for charities across the nation. The Follicle Freedom foundation has a Mustache March charity for the Midwest Athletics Against Childhood Cancer (MACC), for which participants of Mustache March, who are willing to participate, collect and donate to the MACC fund. The fund supports research for treatment and a cure to childhood cancer. There are other notable charities across the nation that have also devoted to the Mustache March tradition as a way to raise money for people in need of help.

So, let that dirty fuzz grow and maybe take part in a charity. It’s all in good nature and is for a good cause. If you’re not going to participate in a charity, grow your stache anyway and support the ongoing tradition of Mustach

In August 2008, Bend and Summit high schoolers Aidan Contreras, Alek Louke, Justice Bender, and Dave Hansmann formed a band. Their band Mirf the Bing added Spencer Wirtz as their trumpet player over a year later in November, 2009. Mirf The Bing, which is basically “like Acuna Matata,” states Louke, is a mellow, reggae/dub/ska style of music. In a recent interview with the group, all the band members agreed that some of their most important influences are Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, The Expendables, Tribal Seeds, Sublime, and the Marley’s. When you listen to MTB’s music, you can hear a little bit of each, with Slightly Stoopid’s guitar and trumpet styles, and Pepper and The Expendables vocal styles. The young, but talented, artists write their own music. They take whatever is going on in their lives at the moment and turn it into a musical masterpiece. Though they are still a young band, they have played eight shows. Their biggest performance was opening for the B-Foundation, another reggae band from Arcadia, California. Practicing and working in the studio whenever they have free time, MTB just finished their first EP, which featured their song, “G Whiner”.

After studying MTB’s style thoroughly, it seemed to me they have branched off into a genre all their own. I asked them what they thought about this, and this was their response: “Our style is a little unique, so the possibility is there. We hope to influence as many upcoming artists as we can,” states Contreras, the keyboard player and vocalist. With several of the members graduating from high school this year, Mirf the Bing’s future is uncertain. For now, they hope to keep making music and enjoy the ride.

You can hear a song by following the link below:

G Whiner