Turning Nothing into Something

We all hear about those amazing life stories where the person comes from a poor, underprivileged family to making something of themselves, well this story is that and more.

            Robin Nigro, Head Golf Coach here at Avila and also owner of the Robin Nigro Golf Academy hasn’t always had the life she has now.  Growing up Robin didn’t live in the most stable household like a normal child.  When she was younger her parents ran away with her and her siblings, but not for long, soon after her Grandparents found them and raised her and her siblings as their own.

Robin and her husband Mark with the Men's team after
their second place finish at the Ottawa University
Invitational Tournament.
Photo Taken by Ashley Ratliff

            It hasn’t been the easiest road for Robin, but she has made it the best she can.  Born and raised in Kansas City, Robin has been known as one of golfs long lasting finest female athletes.  Qualifying for the Women’s U.S. Open in 1993, while qualifying twice for the finals of the LPGA School and finished fifth out of 200 contestants in 1996.  The most surprising fact about Robin, she didn’t take up golf till she was 23.

            After tour school, Robin made her way back to Kansas City to start the Robin Nigro Golf Academy and help local golfers perfect their golf game one swing at a time.

            Robin’s academy has been one of Kansas Cities finest golf schools for the last 10 years.  Helping players young and old with any problem they may have, for instance: putting, chipping, irons, or driving.  Robin and her team of top rated instructors by golf magazines can fix your swing in seconds to make it look like a pros. 

Robin with the Women's team after their third place finish
at the CMU Invitational.
Photo Taken by Colbi Howser

            Last semester was Robins first year as the Men’s and Women’s Head Golf coach here at Avila, and so far she has been doing an exceptional job.  Waking up early for tournaments, letting her players practice for free at her range, and recruiting new players are all new to Robin, and she has found them to be harder then expected, but she’s work on it.  All Robin wants is to be the best Coach to her players.

            Owning your own company, and being a full time Coach for both men and women can really take a toll on a person, but with the support of her loving husband Mark and all her employees at the Academy, Robin has made an impacted on every single golfer here at Avila, the team appreciates all the time and effort she has put into helping them become better more skilled athletes. 

The Start of a New Tradition (Athletic Band)

When you think of a football or basketball games you think of the players, the fans, and most importantly the game, but what some people don’t think of is the music.  The band is a big part of the game. Playing during time outs, half time, and before the game to keep the crowd interesting in what’s happening. Without a band the fans miss out on the whole experience of the game.  That’s why about 2 years ago Avila decided to start the Athletic Bands program designed to let students who have at least a middle school or beyond ability to join.   

            Second year Athletic Band Director Patrick McCarty would love a big pep band at Avila, but for now he’s being patient.  “It’s a new program, and we’re trying to get the word out to new students and upper classmen who haven’t heard about the program.” McCarty said.  Being a new program at a small school can be a tough.  With a small population of students it’s hard to find players who actually have the requirements to be apart of the group.

All members of Avila's Athletic Band program.
Photo taken by Patrick McCarty

            Like sports, many would think being in a program that plays at most of the home games for football and basketball, plus practice would take up a lot of time and be hard for the students to keep up with their schooling.  Not for McCarty’s kids. “This program, being new, doesn’t really take up that much time.” McCarty said. “I’m still working on my masters and I know how difficult it is when managing school and extracurricular activities, so I respect their time.” 

            Starting a new program can be hard, especially when you’re at a small school, but getting the word out and finding members who actually enjoy what they’re putting their time into can be very rewarding.  “I enjoy my time with the kids, and I’m pretty sure they feel the same,” said McCarty. 

Edge of Your Seat Drama

Scene from The Diviners.
Photo taken by Barbara Mammele 

           On the eve of February 23^rd, the late-night rehearsals and extreme dedication finally paid off for all of the students and faculty involved with the production of “The Diviners”. 

            Set during the Depression, a young Kentucky preacher named C.C. Showers finds his way to the small, fictional town of Zion, Indiana, where he stumbles across a young teenage boy, Buddy, who has a miraculous gift of finding underground water.  Buddy, surprisingly, has been afraid of water ever since the age of four when he and his mother fell into the river; his mother actually drowned while trying to save her son.  As time goes on the two become very close, and C.C. begins to feel like Buddy’s mentor.  While working on the farm as help for Buddy’s father, Ferris, the town learns that C.C. is a former preacher. The townspeople believe that C.C. can help the boy, who hasn’t touched water since the accident.  With the town pressuring C.C. to help, C.C. loses track of what’s right for Buddy and soon loses Buddy all together when he drowns in the river.

            Through the eyes of some of the actors this might not have been their favorite play but getting to perform in a show of this nature was a definite experience. “The fact that not a lot of people know about the show made us work harder to put on a fantastic performance that intrigued people to want to see it.” Max Mammele said.

Scene from the Diviners.  C.C. Showers and Buddy Laymen
pretending to be birds.  Photo taken by Barbara Mammele.

            Coming from the audience’s point of view many students thought the roll of Buddy Laymen was played very well. “I thought that Wil Andrews-Weiss did a very fitting job at portraying Buddy in the show,” attendee Jackie Wacha said. 

            All of the actors and behind the scenes workers have been working since January to make this show one to remember.  Night after night of perfecting each scene finally came through to produce a wonderful, on the edge of your seat show.

Presidents Don't Get a Day Off

            Growing up as kids we always enjoyed those three day weekends we’d get for special occasions like Martin Luther King Day or Good Friday, but as we grow older and move on with our education some of those holidays get bypassed.  Same for the President.

Honoring our state, nation and school by
raising out flags high.

            As the country enjoyed it’s national holiday with a day off, relaxing from the stresses off work, our nations leader was on the grind, passing bills and talking to legislators.  Many would think since it’s President’s’ Day the President should have the day off.  To many students here at Avila they think the same thing.  “The President doesn’t do anything on President’s Day because it a holiday meant to celebrate him, since he is a President,” Caleb Wells said.

1st grader Kolby explains what he would
do if he were President.
Photo taken by Emily Ryan

             Others say differently, according to Phil Gallagher in my interview with him, he said, “The President is never off work; he’s out there changing the world.”  And he is right, just because it is a national holiday celebrated for Presidents doesn’t mean President Obama gets a day off to run errands.  He might visit Mount Vernon where George Washington lived to honor him, but he still comes to work and conducts his business as usual.

            To some students they think the President doesn’t do anything, even if it is a national holiday.  When asked what she thought the President does on President’s Day, Emily Ryan answered, “Honestly nothing, I think he is a great delegator and a representative to out country, but being a president is all delegating.  His cabinet is full of people he pawns his work off to.”

             With many opinions out there about our President, there is still one solid answer.  Whatever day it might be, he is still in his office or around the world trying to make our country a safe, and enjoyable place to live.

My interview with Phil Gallagher

Paying it Forward

Everyone says your college experience will be one to remember, and they are right.  Being on your own, making your own decisions, and learning from them is what college is all about.  Don’t be left drawing a blank in the new year; instead, follow these tips on how to be successful.

            When starting the new semester, there are some things students should do to stay ahead of the game.  One important thing that will help you this year is to establish a study schedule.  Having a proper study schedule is the key to being successful in your classes.  Setting up a timeline to study each subject for at least a couple of hours per week will really pay off in the long run.  Set up certain nights to go to the library and work on your homework.  Even if it’s only 30 minutes, you are doing more than the kid that is staying in playing video games.  This will help you to become both a better and more responsible student. 

            In addition, having a yearly planner is very handy.  Writing down due dates for homework and readings at the end of each class will be helpful when you’re sitting in your room wondering what all was assigned. 

            Aim to get your studies finished early on, that way you can feel more relaxed and at ease.  All in all, your stress level will be lower.  When your friends call wanting to hang out, you will be thanking yourself for having gotten your work out of the way in advance.  Success is the result of thinking ahead and staying on top of things. 

Keeping your class work organized with binders and dividers can make life less stressful.

Freshman Rebekah Capeder checks out her planner to see what homework she needs to finish.  

Finding Your Full Potential through Creativity

A student intently working to make her blackout poem perfect.

            During an all day event on campus February 8, many of the art, theatre, and film and digital media majors were given the task to think outside the box, and be on the creative side.  The Creative Symposium was all about tapping into one’s full creative potential.

            During one of the many activities the students participated in.  The Interactive Stations really brought out the students creative potential with challenging and brain teasing activities.  Each station was five minutes long and full of brain busting creativeness.  Some of the stations were harder then others, while some only required your scribbling abilities. 

            Many of the student’s favorite station was, the Blackout Poem.  Each student at the table picked a random article from a pile and their task was to mark out all the words they didn’t find relevant and make a poem out of it.  The students really enjoyed this station because they found it to be the most challenging and noticed that once they started blacking out words the rest of their poem just flowed out like it was meant to be in the article.

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A student participating in the "Scribbling" station

            Another station was focused on being creative through coloring.  More like scribbling, each student had a piece of paper with random lines on it, and their job was to draw something from those lines.  It could be anywhere from a face to a bird, all that was required was that they used their minds to come up with their masterpiece.

            At the end of the day all the students left with a better understanding that creativity isn’t all that hard to come by, they just have to believe in it.  As art, theatre and film and digital media majors these students live off creativity.  From figuring out what voice level to speak in, to the camera angle of the shot, every student uses creativity because that’s what makes us unique.

Saving Our Youth's Education

Being a student in high school, kids should not be allowed to drop out.  Kids should not have the choice of skipping out on their education to stay at home and play video games.  Yes, school may be a drag for some high school students, but going to school and getting an education is what life is all about.

I agree with President Obamas decision to make every student who is enrolled in high school to graduate.  How do students who drop out expect to get a job?  If they drop out of high school there is a high chance they are not going to go to college?  In this economy, business owners are not looking to higher a drop out student from high school.

Getting your high school education really isn’t that hard.  Most high school students would say that high school was a breeze for them.  Getting up and going to class isn’t a hard thing to do, and you’re out of class in the early afternoon so you have the whole rest of the day to do what want.

President Obama’s plan should be enforced immediately to help save many kids lives that drop out of high school.  According to childtrendsdatabank.org the high school drop out rate has declined, but that doesn’t mean it won’t rise again.  Many young students who drop out of high school are unlikely to have minimum skills and credentials necessary to function in today’s society.

Photo Taken by: Doug Mills/New York Times

Photo Take by: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images