Michael Jackson, Swine 09, Soccer Champions, Health Plan; Michael Phelps is smoking pot, Susan Boyle sings a lot, New Moon breaks a record, careful with your credit card; Mr. Vass bids school farewell, a second summer seminar, Carnival takes place inside, tennis sweeps the state in stride….. We didn’t start the fire.
2009 has been a year of firsts. The year started off with a history-making event: the election of America’s first African American President, Barack Obama. Right off the bat, he began making his mark on history and stirring up controversy by initiating his economic stimulus plan, kicking off his new health care plan, and lifting President Bush’s ban on federal funding for stem cell research.
There is something to be said for the state of the U.S. economy in 2009, boasting a 10% unemployment rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an all-time low for the first time since the Great Depression.
Speaking of breaking records, the second film in the Twilight series, New Moon, raked in $140.7 million, standing as the third largest film debut, second only to The Dark Knight and Spider Man. The movie made $26.3 million in midnight screenings on the first night. The series, written by a Mormon housewife, has the nation going crazy, boasting alliances to either Team Edward or Team Jacob.
Music-lovers spent weeks in mourning over the death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, on June 25. Many awaiting his enormous comeback tour, the news of his sudden death swept the nation in minutes, provoking rumors, and memorial dedications through every possible media. A staggering 1.6 million people registered to attend his memorial, and a mere 8,750 were able to be accommodated. The King was “denied his comeback, but not the spotlight,” according to YahooNews.
Memories of Jackson were not the only thing that swept the nation. H1N1, or the swine flu, thought to be first contracted by a boy in Mexico in early March, was declared a global pandemic on June 11, with 30,000 cases worldwide. By November, 4,000 U.S. citizens had died from the virus, although this number is hardly comparable to the 36,000 yearly deaths from a regular flu virus. The world was swept up in a whirlwind of panic and misconceptions, like the fact that the disease is actually transmitted by pigs.
2009 was a year for firsts in the world of Westminster as well. As previously reported in the Wildcat Roar, the boy’s soccer team won the first ever district championship in November, and the tennis doubles team of Lauren DeRousse and Christine Schlafly brought home a State Championship in October.
Carnival was held indoors this year, due to impending weather that never really came. It went smoothly, considering the Commons and Gym were filled with a maze of booths and tents. And the football team pulled an incredible upset victory against the undefeated MICDS Rams at the Carnival game this year.
A second summer seminar was also added to the list of summer opportunities this year; the group of 23 students traveled to Washington and Oregon in July to study beauty by design in God’s creation.
This year was also a record-breaking year for enrollment at WCA, totaling close to 900 students, which is remarkable in light of the economic crisis.
While some doors open, others regrettably close. Westminster will also be bidding a loving farewell to Mr. Bob Vass, sophomore English and History teacher, and Head of the English Department, who will not return next semester due to a degenerative eye condition. Mr. Vass has served Westminster for 28 years, wearing multiple hats, including directing the first fall plays at the academy, and coaching JV baseball.