May 3, 2007

2007 senior superlatives, the winners

Most Likely to be beaten down by ninjas - Drew Fish

Although senior Drew Fish pretends to be a ninja, those who are close to him know the tragic truth. When he was a young child he was taken down by an army of ninjas and has since masked his fear with a personal facade of ninjaship.

He sports a set of speedchucks and a ninja star but according to senior Ashley Halligan, “the only thing he can hit with the throwing star is his (large) armoire.” She says he calls it a dresser, but it's an armoire. He couldn't even get the cougar he ventured after earlier this year.

Senior Jessie Schmac has seen Fish cower behind friends, close to tears, when friends suggested renting the 1995 ninja flick Mortal Kombat. “At that point Drew didn’t have his ninja star to give him his false sense of security,” says Schmac “it was a pretty sad sight to see a grown man on the verge of tears over a movie.” So Fish spends his time watching UFC but is forever on the lookout for a ninja on the loose.

Most Likely to be famous - Nick Gehlfuss

Theatre student by day, rock star by night; the senior class definitely believe Nick Gehlfuss is going to be famous.

Gehlfuss’s ability to jump into outrageous character roles on stage and perform original and cover songs in front of crowds around Marietta is sure to lead him to a promising future in entertainment. But, he’s not set on being infamous.

“I would like to be an entertainer, whether that be in music or acting or whatever,” explained Gehlfuss. “I just love entertaining people.”

But the chance of him “Making it Big” may increase this summer he heads out to travel across America to make his name heard. “My trumpet player, Phil DeOrsey, and I are going on tour this summer. We’re going to hit every subway in the United States.”

Whether or not Gehlfuss makes it big and becomes famous from performing in subways across the country, we at Marietta College like to think that one day, he will be famous. But we can definitely bank on him always be infamous.

Most Likely to start WWIII - Rachel Long

Senior Rachel Long’s classmates feel that she would be the most likely candidate to be the instigator and catalyst for world war three. Long does not have any immediate plans for starting the next world war, however she does know that “the Krauts won’t have anything to do with it this time.”

Long would like to thank the Leadership program for winning this title. “I couldn’t achieve world domination without the leadership skills I acquired in the McDonough Program. I learnt a lot about tyranny and oppression,” says Long.

MC students who know Long could be perspective people for the history books. Marietta College could produce a future world leader. The Leadership Program may be doing its job all too well.

Most Artist - Andy Taylor

“I’m as obnoxious as my art, essentially.”

That may be the case, but senior Andy Taylor is noticeably one of the most artistic student to come out of Marietta College. He’s only been painting for six years, but you wouldn’t know it to look at his many self portraits.

His paintings are as corky as he is. You can tell he enjoys capturing his unique personality through brush stroke and onto a canvas. A collection of his self portraits are hanging in the third floor gallery in Herman Fine Arts as part of the Senior Capstone Showcase. If you stop in to check out the, chances are you’ll find yourself stopped in front of Taylor’s humorous and creative portraits. You won’t know whether to laugh, smile, or be frightened, but you definitely won’t be able to take your eyes off his work.

“It was a lot of ‘me’ time,” says Taylor, words from the Most Artistic senior from the class of 2007.

Best Smile - Kyndra Kephart

“I am a very happy person,” said Kyndra Kephart with a big, bright smile on her face. If there was a senior female who deserved to win Best Smile, it’s definitely Kephart.

Despite the grueling work that comes with being Biochemistry major, Kephart is a nonstop smiler. “I smile pretty often,” says Kephart. “I’ll probably end up with some pretty nice laugh lines when I’m older.”

She attributes her lovely smile to nothing extra special, just good hygiene. The usual brushing and flossing, plus an addiction to excessive chapstick use, have given Kephart the smile you’ve come to know and appreciate.

One thing is for sure, Kephart has a purpose behind her beaming grin. The main reason she smiles so much is because she believes it puts herself, and those around her, in a good mood. Then again, maybe she laughs and smiles so much due to her friends and their never-ending jokes. “We’re always laughing at something.”

Kephart is happy with the smile life has given her. “I like my smile for the most part, except when I smile really big; I think my mouth looks weird.”

Flattered to have been voted Best Smile, Kephart will continue to smile across campus at those around her. “I enjoy being around other people, which is usually what makes me smile.”

Best Smile - Mark Dean

When you think of a stereotypical Petroleum Engineering major, you probably think of a person who is 100 percent serious about academics; a smile would be out of the question. Well, that assumption would be wrong.

Petroleum Engineering senior Mark Dean’s smile has earned him the privilege of being voted the best. His giddy smile has been seen all over campus these past four years and has brightened the days of all those who know him.

Dean’s smile, normally accompanied by his signature laughter, makes everyone in close proximity feel like a million bucks...or at least a friend. To him, smiling is important - he even learned so in psychology.

“Well, as my psychology book states, the more you fake happiness, the happier you turn out to be,” explained Dean.

With a constant grin on his face, Dean thinks “it’s cool” to have been voted Best Smile. He likes his smile, even if he does have one regret about it. “I should have taken my ma’s advice to get braces when I was younger.”

Always finding humor in what he does, Dean says all it takes to make his smile shine brighter is another beer and thinking about the new Toyota Tacoma he bought. As long as that keeps up, those around him will continue to admire that special grin.

Most Likely to Succeed - Craig Sundstrom

“I think our peers are always our most honest critics,” said Craig Sundstrom. Lucky for him, his senior classmates have spoken highly of him and voted him Most Likely to Succeed.

Sundstrom has been a dedicated member of numerous organizations on campus since his arrival at Marietta College in the fall of 2003. He’s been a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, the Up ‘Til Dawn Executive Board, College Union Board, and MC Choir.

Most of the campus knows Sundstrom the most for his commitment as Chairman of Musical Entertainment for CUB. He’s helped bring in big names to Marietta like Megan Allison and Five Times August. Sundstrom’s involvement has made the campus organization a hit and proven him to be successful.

“To me, success is the ability of an individual to excel in an area one is passionate about,” said Sundstrom. “Success is not based on personal advancement alone, but also incorporates an ability to set or raise a standard for others to follow.”

He’s a hard worker and he’s determined to continue pushing to new boundaries after graduation on May 19. His sights are set toward a law degree and MBA, and possibly a career as a government official. This would lead us to believe that our selecting him as Most Likely to Succeed was one successful vote.

Class Clown - Ellen Doolittle

If you have ever met Ellen Doolittle, you’ve heard one of her infamous jokes or classic stories. Perhaps you’ve heard her favorite joke, “Why was the tomato blushing? Because it saw the salad dressing.”

Whether you have or haven’t heard one of Doolittle’s many jokes, her senior classmates voted her Class Clown. More than qualified for the role, she has been known to laugh at least once a minute; the keyword in that phrase was “at least.” In other words, this girl laughs a lot!

But her laugh is never boring; Doolittle alleges to have various types of laughter. “I have like five different distinct laughs, and my friends make fun of certain ones because they’re just so unexpected and they come out sounding pretty funny,” claims Doolittle. “The worst part is all the crying - I can hardly laugh for more than a second without tears streaming down my face. I’ve always contended it’s because my cheeks run into my eyes.”

Doolittle loves making people laugh and never worries about embarrassing herself. “The key is my brain works really weirdly, so I think of something silly and then I’m missing the whole gatekeeper that keeps me from verbalizing it, so it just blurts out and people are like, ‘Whaaaaaaat?’”

Never a dull moment with this one. Whether Doolittle is telling you one of her famous one-liners, relating a ridiculous story from her childhood, or recapping her weekend, one thing is for sure - she’s going to make you laugh. “I love making people laugh ‘cause it makes me giggle, and I love giggling. Giggling is my favorite.”

Class Clown - Tom Fogle

Fogle says it’s “having a good backing in English that is really instrumental to making funny jokes and observations.” Fogle also credits his creativity and imagination in helping him grab the title of class clown. “I’m not saying that being an English major makes you funny, because I was funny way before they even invented it, but being an English major enriches whatever existing sense of humor you already have,” claims Fogle.

A sense of humor is a large part of who Fogle is. “I like being funny because it is a major aspect of my overall authentic self, as Dr. Phil would say,” comments Fogle. His humor just comes naturally. “Crazy things just pop in my head, and that is where most of the funny comes from,” says Fogle; “it’s just the crazy crap swirling around in my mind at any given moment.”

Fogle is still debating whether comedy will become a part of his future or not. “Comedy writing sounds really fun,” says Fogle. “I’ve never been published, though, but I do have some crazy crap in my posts on Facebook, and those are just a taste of what I think I can produce.”

Most likely to be seen on reality TV - John Bokat

For many of his friends and those that voted for him, senior John Bokat would be an ideal candidate for any reality TV show. “He is ridiculous, and the insane ideas he comes up with should be implemented and televised,” says senior Mattie Unger.

Bokat feels he should be on reality TV for one important reason: “I am reality TV.” If Bokat had to choose what reality show he would star in, he says them all, but his number one pick would be MTV’s The Real World.

Bokat claims that he would not act any different if he was on television. “I would act the same way I do now,” says Boka.t “That is enough to make any TV show great.”

Best Dressed - Paige Burton

“I’m a shopaholic,” claims Paige Burton. The campus understands why, as we’ve seen her dressed to impress every day since freshmen year.

Voted Best Dressed, this Marketing major’s wardrobe revolves around her shoe obsession. Owning somewhere between 50-80 pairs, Burton loves to accessorize her outfits to suite her stylish feet’s needs. And if she can’t find the right set of snazzy shoes or outfit, she has no problem heading to the nearest mall, TJ Maxx, Shoe Carnival, etc. to find the perfect ensemble.

“I like shopping for shoes because I don’t have to take off the rest of my clothes to try them on,” joked Burton. “I see a pair of shoes I cannot live without, and I form an outfit to match my shoes.”

This avid shoe lover is also a big fan of turtlenecks, clothes from Express, and her collection of comfy sweatpants. She’s willing to buy whatever item she likes, as long as it suits her style. “For me, style is a form of expression,” said Burton. “My favorite thing about the way I dress is that I have my own style and feel comfortable about what I wear.”

Style guru Burton is surprised and honored to have been voted Best Dressed by her fellow seniors. She never imagined that her mix of fashionable shoes, outfits and relaxed sweatpants had caught the eye of so many students.“Most of the time, I only wear sweatpants to class, but I’m glad people thought my sweats were stylish.”

Best Dressed - Jeremy Kopp

“So Jeremy, how much money do you spend on clothes every year?”

“Enough!”

You’ve seen his unique style all over campus. Whether it’s his plaid bermuda shorts, bright orange blazer, or popped-collar neon polo shirts, you’ve noticed the unique style that Jeremy Kopp sports every day. He loves to look his best for the students of Marietta College. It’s rare to run into Kopp and see him wearing anything less than stylish.

Kopp contributes his preppy and funky style to his three favorite stores. “I shop at J. Crew and Kauffman’s a lot,” says Kopp. “I shop online a lot too, at jcrew.com and polo.com.” Wherever Kopp finds the pieces that make up his distinct wardrobe, it’s obvious that no one else’s style can compare.

His unique eye for fashion has made him the Best Dressed male among the graduating senior class. “I’m thankful for everyone who voted for me, and I’m happy I can look good for them every day.”

No one can deny, Kopp knows how to dress. Let’s face it, you can’t argue with plaid bermudas and a La Costa polo.

Best Couple – Lindsay Blazek and Joe Litke
(also winners of best eyes)

Seniors Lindsay Blazek and Joe Litke were picked for two categories by their classmates. Both Blazek and Litke won for best couple and for best eyes. Both Blazek and Litke have been together for about a year and eight months. After graduation, the couple is hopeful that they will remain together. “We will probably be in different places for the first year, but we are willing to do anything to make it work,” says Blazek, and Litke is in complete agreement with her.

“Joe and I pretty much just like to goof around all the time, which makes every moment we hang out pretty interesting,” and for Blazek this is one of the best aspects of her relationship with Litke.

For Litke, he enjoys the humor in their relationship. “We are able to laugh about anything, and I love her smile,” says Litke.

As for best eyes, Blazek likes her eyes because they sometimes change colors. “If I am wearing a green shirt, they are green, and if I am wearing a blue shirt, they are blue.”

Litke, too, likes his blue eyes, though he feels “sometimes I would like to try the color green out to see how it feels.” According to the couple’s fellow classmates, both Blazek and Litke were deserving of the two honors they received.

Best Car - Jordan Mueller

Senior Jordan Mueller is no stranger to being spotlighted in the Marcolian. His car was put in the limelight way before this issue. Mueller’s 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII has enough class and modifications to win him best car, as determined by his fellow senior classmates.

Mueller’s many modifications include a turbo kit, that gives him at least 500 horsepower for his car, and carbon fiber exterior accessories. Mueller’s favorite part about his car is its handling. “The handling is very precise given that it was intentionally designed for rally car racing,” says Mueller.

“It’s the transmission that seems to be the weak link in my car,” complains Mueller “It just cannot hold up to the power modifications that I have already done.” Mueller nevers plans on selling his car, so for those student looking to buy it, sorry.

“The only time I ever planned on selling my car was for a Toyota Supra Twin Turbo, but that didn’t happen so I am keeping the Evo for as long as it runs,” says Mueller.

Most Likely to be in the Olympics - Tim Roberts

Speedy Gonzales wishes he had the speed of track sprinter Tim Roberts. To look at Roberts, you probably wouldn’t think, “Hey, I bet that kid is fast.” But you would be wrong.

Recruited to run for the Marietta College Track and Field team, Roberts is known for flying around the track at the head of the pack. If you’ve been to a MC meet, you’ve seen and know how fast this kid is. As he sprints past fans alongside the track, gusts of wind almost knock over the spectators. Okay, well, maybe he’s not that fast, but Roberts is notably one of the fastest sprinters in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

As for the Olympics, Roberts doesn’t necessarily see himself making to the Olympic Stadium.
“Uh, I watch them every year.” That’s about all the thought that Roberts has put into the Olympics. But perhaps one day, we will see this soon to be Marietta Alum racing around the track, going for the gold.

For now, he’s just worried about finishing his final season as a Pioneer. His hard work has paid off the last four years thanks to his favorite quotation,“Dreams come true, not free. Champions pay the price.” It’s that drive, and his speed, that has earned Roberts the votes of his fellow classmates to be named Most Likely to be in the Olympics.

Most Likely to be in the Olympics - Fizzy Ramsey

If there was a female on this campus headed for the Olympics, it pole vaulting Track and Field star, Fizzy Ramsey. The Athletic Training major has been one of the top pole vaulting contenders in the Ohio Athletic Conference since she came to Marietta College as a freshman in the fall of 2003.

“I plan to continue vaulting in open track meets and aid in coaching our varsity team,” says Ramsey. By continuing her love and talent for flying high through the air, perhaps we will be seeing her standing on the podium at the Summer Olympics.

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t given the height or speed of a professional, but I hope to have the ability to still pole vault in my 50s,” said Ramsey. “ If an 85 year old man can do it (William Bell), I’m sure I could keep it up, and maybe even get a world record before I reach 80.”

Looks like Ramsey’s drive will take her to new heights as a pole vaulter. Even if we don’t see her gracing the Olympic arena with other athletes, we may just see her in the World Record Book for Oldest Pole Vaulter. Either would make her Marietta Pioneers proud.

Most Likely to Sleep through Graduation - Tyler Snell

Tyler was unavailable for questioning because he slept through the entire interview.

All we were able to get out of him was, “Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”

Best Hair - Mattie Unger

Her locks may be a little shorter these days, but Mattie Unger’s red, curly tendrils are unmatched by any other MC student, according to her classmates. One of Unger’s favorite things about her hair is “when you pull on the curls, they bounce back.”

However, some days, Mattie just wants her hair to be straight so she could wear it in a number of different styles. Another problem Unger faces with her curly locks is the weather. In hot, humid weather she just cannot make her hair do what she wants it to do.

“Mattie’s hair is beautiful, from the color to its healthy shine,” says senior Jessie Schmac, who voted for Unger to win the best hair category. Some students wonder if Unger’s hair is permed regularly to maintain the bounce of her spiral curls, but Unger maintains that her hair is one hundred percent natural. Some people are just born with the naturally good hair. Unger is one of those people.

Best Hair - Dan May

“In high school, ‘Best Hair’ was the only category I cared about winning. I won six out of 15 of the other awards, but I didn’t win ‘Best Hair.’”

Dan May, your dream of winning Best Hair finally came true.

May was born with curly, luscious locks, but he still works to maintain his attractive head of hair - a lot. It’s a fairly long process, but he considers it all worth it. Good hair is important to this Musical Theatre major.

“At night I take a shower and I tie my hair up in a towel until it’s dry,” explains May. “Then I sleep on my hair, which helps curl it up. Then in the morning I wet it all down again—I completely saturate it—and I put in a combo of leave-in conditioner and hair gel. I shake out the excess water and then lightly mist with hair spray.”

The dedication to having good hair is obviously there when it comes to May. You could even say, when it comes to hair, he’s “Shear Genius.”