A Service of The Arrow             Friday September 29, 2000

   Five FHS sophomores had an experience of a lifetime this summer—in Japan. They spent two weeks with a host family, all in different cities. It was a lot different than they expected. Voeltz says "My (host) Mom worked at a nursery…the kids were in awe of me. They would touch me and giggle." Brothers said "I felt very at home because it was a lot like America."

Jyndia Schaible, Erika Voeltz, Kitt Brothers, Megan Slater and Tiffani Wilson

Sean Nalty, 12, debater

   Sean Nalty got to attend debate camp in Washington, D.C. He received this opportunity after being selected by the members of Flathead state champion speech team, as the James Murphy Scholarship winner. Did he debate the entire time? No way! He visited the sites of the District—the Lincoln Memorial and Korean Memorial, and he strolled the mall on his one free day.

Denny Rowe, 12, national champ mountain biker

   Rowe won his age group at nationals for cross country mountain biking this summer. Rowe has won three State Championships, one each in Montana, Colorado, and Washington State. He also has won the gold medal at the Whitefish Summer Games. Rowe trains for at least three hours, five days a week. Way to pedal!

Kristen Smith, 12, Key Club member

   Disneyworld and leadership were a huge part of Kristen Smith’s summer. She attended the Key Club International Convention in Florida. The convention was half the fun - the other half of fun was traveling by bus through most of the United States to get there with her fellow Key Club members. They went to Dallas, New Orleans, St. Louis, and all points in between.

Katie Maker, 10 and Echo Nelson, 11 Taekwondo champs

   The Olympics are already over-for Katie Maker and Echo Nelson. The two girls got to compete against 4000 competitors in the 20th annual Taekwondo Junior Olympics in San Antonio, TX, this summer. Maker took home a gold in poom-se (forms), and in sparring. Nelson got second place in sparring, and a third in poom-se.

Jim Layton, Luc Polenci, Jami Bennett, James Watson, Geno Randono, Chad Fetveit, 12

   Several FHS seniors chose to spend their last school summer at boot camp. Layton, who went to Fort Benning, Georgia, says, "It’s a completely different story when you get there. It’s something I’d do over again." Diversity was also something new to the kids. Randono says, "One of my favorite things is all the different people that were there from all over the U.S. and the world."

Lane Anderson, 10, horse-back rider

   Anderson spent her summer doing something very different than most other kids. She competed in show jumping with her horse, Spycatcher. She won two reserve champions, three first places, and various other awards, jumping 3’6". Anderson says, "I’m happy I didn’t screw-up."

Steven Thompson, 12, world traveller

   Travel for adventure! This summer, Steven Thompson went to Cambridge, England, Grendalwald, Switzerland, and Salzburg, Austria. Flathead’s world traveler is always restless for adventure and fun; so this trip, lasting ten days, was special because his whole family came along too! "I enjoyed it a lot. It will endow me with skills possessed by the top debaters or at least move me toward that direction," says Thompson. Now, how many bags are you allowed to check in, Steven?

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