This past weekend was full of ups and downs. 
“Up” was the beautiful North Carolina weather. A definite “down” was the disappointing defeats for Davidson College (men and women) at the conference tournament in Chattanooga. And then there was the onset of Daylight Saving Time Sunday which was a mixed blessing: awfully dark in the morning but delightful long, light evening hours. Afternoon naps have never looked better!
Good friends, Donna Molinek (l) and Margaret Goode, enjoy working in clay and "throwing pots" - but not at each other!
Since the college was on Spring Break, many Davidson residents and students traveled to the Southern Conference to cheer the Wildcat women and men. Some stayed close to home like Donna Molinek who played in the snow, splashed in her hot tub, visited Margaret Goode to throw a few pots, do a little slabbing (plates out of clay) and yes, grade a few papers. This week Around Davidson brings news of an out-of-town ski trip for Wolfgang Christian, Homer Sutton, Merle Schuh and Ralph Levering, along with news of Dance Davidson’s 25th Anniversary Gala and North Meck’s successful Red Cross Blood Drive.
Hitting the slopes were (l-r) Merle Schuh, Wolfgang Christian and Homer Sutton (with Ralph Levering behind the camera lens!)
DAVIDSON COLLEGE SKI BUMS HIT THE SLOPES
They say that once you have skiied out west, the slopes of North Carolina never look as good. Merle Schuh, Ralph Levering, Wolfgang Christian and Homer Sutton certainly agree with that assessment. These professors (Merle being the only one retired) have an annual tradition of heading west the minute Davidson College’s Spring Break begins to get in some long runs on the Colorado slopes. Leaving Saturday, February 28, they skied at Keystone and Snowmass from Saturday to Wednesday, returning to Davidson on Thursday, March 5.
The men enjoyed good weather, good snow and great fellowship. Best of all, as Barbara Christian commented, they returned in “one piece!”
DANCE DAVIDSON TURNS 25!
Hard to imagine that Dance Davidson is 25 years old! What a tribute to Terilynne Knox that she has been “at the helm” since day one and that her organization continues to thrive. The 25th Anniversary Gala Program was also the annual winter performance held traditionally at the end of February. This year the gala recital was held in the Duke Performance Hall on the Davidson College campus at 2 and 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 1. Much to Terilynne’s relief, the snow held off long enough to enable all the dancers (except one) and their families to attend.
The dancing duo of David and Tilly Boraks.
Dance numbers for the show were remakes from pieces performed over the past 25 years. The show featured 350 dancers from age six to well into adulthood. Two of the audience’s favorite numbers were “Thank Heavens for Little Girls” and “Lullabye.” For the first, 18 dads danced with their six-year-old daughters; for the second, older girls danced with their dads including DavidsonNews.net‘s own David Boraks with his younger daughter, Tilly. (We all know that David can multi-task – but ballet on a stage? We are impressed!)
Other dads dancing with their daughters included Wallace Tarry with Peyton, John Sanchez with Hallie, Russ Sanders with Courtney, John Woodall with Abigail, and Brad Hearn with Sophie. There was a bit of nostalgia in the finale of the program when 25 alumnae of Dance Davidson took the stage. Included in this number were Aynsley Brockway, Beth Gardner Helfrich, Madeline Burgess, Johanna Burris Willaford, Haley and Amelia Mange, Amanda and Katherine Whitton, Karen Castoral, Joey Burgess and Jennifer Ellithorpe.
Hats off to Terilynne and her staff for another wonderful afternoon of dance and congratulations on 25 years of keeping so many in town “on their toes!”
A MOST SUCCESSFUL BLOOD DRIVE
Thanks to Davidson resident Bill Strong who sent us a news tip about North Mecklenburg High School’s blood drive last Wednesday, March 4. The school collected 214 pints, beating their previous record, and became the first school to have five Red Cross donation “buses” at a school blood drive due to the large number who signed up to give.
HOSA President Caitlyn Stokes rolled up her sleeve for a good cause
Around Davidson checked with student Caitlyn Stokes, president of Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) at the high school and HOSA advisor, Connie Wingert-Baker, to learn that North Meck holds two blood drives each school year in October and March. Those students who donate three pints or more during their high school years earn a multi-donor award and the right to wear a special cord with their cap and gown at graduation.
HOSA, whose mission is to prepare young people for careers in health fields, has a current membership of 78 students. This group has been sponsoring blood drives at North Meck for the past 20 years. Last week’s success is due in great part to senior Caitlyn Stokes who not only has chaired the Red Cross drive for the past three times but also received pledges from students and staff members as part of her “Senior Exit” project presented last November. As HOSA president, Caitlyn worked for most of February scheduling fellow HOSA members to work during the school day, arranging Red Cross donation buses, advertising and getting parent permission forms signed for 16 year old students. (This is the first year that age group was eligible to donate.) HOSA also had the task of providing snacks prior to giving blood; the Red Cross provided food following donation.
Hey! We just gave a pint!
Caitlyn was quick to thank school principal, Mr. Burch, for his support as well as Major Miller’s ROTC cadets, teachers and the entire student body. Of the 214 donating, 152 were first time donors and 17 were automated donations when red blood cells only are taken. What a nice accomplishment for the school and for Caitlyn who hopes to pursue a nursing career following graduation this June with hopes of working as an RN one day day at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Congratulations to you, Caitlyn, on a job well done.
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Have news for Brenda? Write to her at hbarger@bellsouth.net.
