Science Club Hosts Guest Speaker

RCHS Science Club with Allyn Kaufmann. Photo by Wendell Gehman. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Science Club Hosts Guest Speaker

By Shane Star '13

On Monday, January 28th, all of Wendell Gehman’s classes were given a presentation by a visitor named Allyn Kaufmann. Kaufmann is a Native American from Oklahoma. He went to a 2 year college right out of high school and then transferred to the University of Kansas after those two years. He received a B.S. in Biochemistry and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. He currently is a chemist for the Fortune 500 company, Procter & Gamble. He sets expiration dates on certain products based on his knowledge of the products and the ingredients used to make it.

Kaufmann gave a presentation to the students about his experiences with education and his career. He told them about how he grew up on a low-income. He talked about how he found help to pay for college from scholarships, financial aid, and his tribe. He talked about the influences in his life and how they helped him succeed. Kaufmann also talked about his career right now as a chemist. He showed the students what he does on the daily basis at work. He examines ingredients in products,  creates new products, and tests the ingredients in those products to make sure they don’t affect each other or the product.

I interviewed Cully Pourier ‘13 about Kaufmann’s presentation. “It was very interesting," Pourier said. "It gave me an insight on how college and post college might possibly be like. It inspired me to pursue higher education because I want to be making six-figures like him someday. It also inspired me in a way because he’s a Native American and has succeeded. That gave me hope of succeeding also.”

Photo of the Day

Trees behind Red Cloud. Photo by Brent Herman '13. Photo courtesy of Viki Eagle's Multimedia class. 
Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

The "Warhorse" Making a Comeback

Christian "Warhorse" Phelps. Photo by Sierra Concha '13. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

The "Warhorse" Making a Comeback

By Sierra Concha '13

Star Running Back Christian “The Warhorse” Phelps received the worst possible news on a bitter cold day during the Red Cloud vs. Pine Ridge Football game last fall. During the first play of the game, multiple players hit him and his right fibula broke. Players nearby such as David Ledeaux heard a loud pop as Christian fell to the ground. In response to the tragic news, Christian said, “I was devastated. I never had an injury all throughout high school, and to have this happen my senior year was terrible.”

His main sport is basketball, and this meant he would be forced to sit out most of the season.  He took physical therapy and worked out as much as he could during basketball practices. Each day his leg is healing, and he continues to gradually get more playing time in the recent games. However, he doesn’t believe he’ll be able to play to his full potential this year. “At the beginning of the season I believed I could, but now that the season is starting to wind down, I just want to help my team as much as I can, and I’m going to be focusing on track soon,” he said.

Last year his relay team for the 4x4 broke the school record, and he plans on being his best during track season. Hearing news that would ruin a senior athlete’s basketball career could wreck their dreams, but Christian has overcome this obstacle with a positive attitude and motivation to stay in sports. We expect to see his name heard more in the upcoming basketball games and track meets.

Talking Hand Games with Phil Zimiga

Horse Clan Team. Photo by Phillip Zimiga '13. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

William Belt at Hand Games Club. Photo by Phillip Zimiga '13. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Talking Hand Games with Phil Zimiga

By Philip Zimiga '13

"Play hard and go all out. In the end there will be a winner." -- Red Cloud High School Hand Games Team

During the LNI T.W.O Powwow, there were a lot of teams, but the announcers were waiting for Red Cloud’s teams to show up. As soon as we came in the door, everybody clapped, not knowing what they were in for. 

There are two hand games teams at Red Cloud, Horse Clan and Native Tacoshas. The faculty supervisors are Roger White Eyes and Andrew Herman. The hand games club meets after school every day from 3-5.

At LNI, Horse Clan, the main team of Red Cloud, was looking all hard and the other teams were intimidated by them. Red Cloud won all the rounds up to the championship. The championship was double elimination against one of Pine Ridge’s teams.

Horse Clan lost the first round but played again and ultimately won the championship.  Horse Clan's captain is Phillip Zimiga and Native Tacosha’s captain is Mariah Poor Bear.

Cheerleaders Win LNI Title for Fourth Year in a Row

Victorious RCHS LNI Cheerleaders. Photo by Sierra Concha '13. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Cheerleaders Win LNI Title for Fourth Year in a Row

By Sierra Concha '13

"I was nervous. I was thinking that the music was going to start. I wanted it to be perfect, and that’s exactly how it turned out,” said Kylie I’atala '14 about the thoughts running through her mind right before the cheerleading team performed. The cheerleaders stepped on the court this past December, ready to win the LNI Cheerleading Competition for the fourth year in a row. Many people were expecting nothing less than greatness from our team, so the pressure on us weighed heavily on our shoulders as we performed.

The two co-captains (including myself) had never choreographed a routine in our lives, and creating a mix was foreign to us. The cheerleading team practiced six days a week for almost two months, crafting a routine to perfection. It was stressful and required a lot of hard work, but the performance resulted perfectly in sync with the audience going wild. After our team won the competition, we were ecstatic. Co-captain Kylie I’atala said, “I felt great! I was so happy and proud of my team. We worked so hard.”

The cheerleaders are well known for their impressive routines throughout the schools across the state. Many strangers would compliment our team on how good our performance was and that they loved our team. All the hard work paid off in the end, and now the cheerleaders travel to support both the boys and girls basketball teams. It has been a successful season for the Red Cloud Cheerleaders, and hopefully they will continue to create dances that impress the judges for the years to come.

Photo of the Day

Andrew Herman and Roger White Eyes. Photo by Phillip Zimiga '13. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

The Diaper Dandy: Kobey O'Rourke '16

Kobey Squared. Photo by Cully Pourier '13. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

The Diaper Dandy: Kobey O'Rourke '16

By Cully Pourier '13

Chants of “freshman, freshman” began to fill the Paul Dizzy Trout Memorial Field House as 9th grader Kobey O’Rourke made a nice move to slither through defense and put two points on the board for Red Cloud.

O’Rourke, who stands at six feet and one inch tall, is a freshman starting forward for the Red Cloud Crusaders. He is the first freshman to start for the team in the past nine years. O’Rourke graduated 8th grade from Red Cloud and dominated the middle school season, leading his team to a third place award at the Big-Foot Conference tournament. Kobey also won an all tournament award. His mother's name is Oma Perez and his father is Samuel O’Rourke Sr.

Kobey is grateful for his opportunities. “It’s something that not a lot of kids get to experience so it makes this opportunity even more special. Being a freshman, you have to work extra hard to earn a spot on this team," he stated. Kobey has earned a reputation as an excellent rebounder. On his role on the team, Kobey stated, “Getting rebounds, playing defense, and scoring when I have the opportunity to do so.” Kobey has big dreams and goals and has earned excellent grades in the classroom so far. “I would like to get the Gates Millennium Scholarship and go to a prestigious college and play basketball," he said.

DOMinating the Paint

Dom Pilcher '13. Photo by Christian Phelps '13. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

DOMinating the Paint

By Christian Phelps '13

  Heads turned in awe as he walked down the halls. He was used to it, though. Standing at six-foot-five, Dominic Pilcher ‘13 has been one of the standouts in a crowd. The brother of recent Red Cloud graduate Tayler Morgan ’12, Dom transferred to this side of the border from Chadron High School. Previously known to Red Cloud only for his buzzer-beater layup to beat our JV team last year, Pilcher came to our fair school in an attempt to relate more to his culture. He wanted to try something new before branching out into life after high school.

             

Dominic enjoys football and baseball, but gave up the latter over summer in order to help the Crusaders bulldoze the other teams in the summer league. He has now reaped the rewards of that decision, becoming Red Cloud’s starting Forward/Center. Using his size to work the paint, Dom has made a name for himself on the Red Cloud Crusaders team.

             

When he isn’t doing work down low, Pilcher has been found reigning over opponents in a completely different sport. He prides himself on his table tennis skills, known to be the only player to have ever beat Michael “Thunder Cat” Sunderland in a match. Other than that, you can find him online slayin’ dragons or kicking back with the homies.

              

Dom says he likes his decision to move to Red Cloud. He enjoys the change of environment and wishes he had made the transfer earlier.

Speaking on behalf of the school, Dominic, we wish so too.

Red Cloud Boys Basketball Receives Votes in State Poll

Red Cloud Basketball. Photo by Christopher Ives
 Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Red Cloud Basketball Receives Votes in State Poll

By Michael Sunderland

The Red Cloud boys basketball team (12-2) received votes in the latest South Dakota sportswriters poll for the first time this season. The polls can be viewed in the Rapid City Journal.

Red Cloud's upcoming schedule and past scores are on the SDHSAA website.

Photo of the Day

Christian Phelps '13, pointing to the Blue Out. Photo by David Ledeaux '13. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Q & A with Sierra Concha '13

Sierra, now and then. Photos by David Ledeaux '13 and Sierra Concha '13. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

  Q & A with Sierra Concha '13

By David LaDeaux '13

Q: What sports do you like?
Sierra: Basketball and Track

Q: What kind of student are you?
Sierra: A nerdy student.

Q: What's your favorite food and why?
Sierra: Sushi because I went to Japan as a child.

Q: What's your hobbies?
Sierra: Reading, working at Subway, running, working out.

Q: What kind of phone do you have and why?
Sierra: I-Phone 4S, because I like talking to Siri.

Q: What's your favorite cartoon?
Sierra: Spongebob because Patrick's my homie.

Q: What's your favorite movie?
Sierra: Breakfast Club

Q: What words do you live by?
Sierra: God doesn't say, "Get ready" he says, "Be prepared."

Q: Who is your favorite superhero?
Sierra: Batman- because he has a awesome car and he has a cool voice.

Q: If you could transform into any Red Cloud teacher, who would it be?
Sierra: Matt Campbell.

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day

Falcon Albers '13 working hard, with a basketball in hand. Photo by Brent Herman '13. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Weekend Sports Update

Photos by Christoper Ives
 Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Weekend Sports Update

By Michael Sunderland

It has been a busy weekend for Red Cloud High School sports. On Friday night, the boys basketball team hosted the Lead-Deadwood Golddiggers and prevailed 79-59. On Saturday night, the boys traveled to Alliance, Nebraska and won a hard fought game over the Bulldogs by a score of 74-63. This was their third game in as many days. Red Cloud is now 12-2.

The girls basketball team rolled over Lead-Deadwood by a score of 69-33 for their 10th win of the year on Friday night. They lost a tough game last night against Alliance, 64-55. The girls record is 10-4.

Meanwhile, Red Cloud wrestling hosted numerous teams for the Red Cloud Invite on Saturday, January 26th. Stay tuned for more updates on these contests later in the week.

Red Cloud Basketball Continues Win Streak

Red Cloud Basketball, in a game earlier in the season at the Lakota Nation Invitational. Photo by Christopher Ives. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Red Cloud Basketball Continues Win Streak

By David LaDeaux '13

Last night, the Red Cloud Crusaders dominated the Bennett County Warriors, as they prevailed with a final score of 75-35. Red Cloud's Falcon Albers (35), a 6’3'' senior guard, scored 18 points, including four three pointers.  Duran Richards (11), a 6’3 senior forward who was recently named Black Hills Athlete of the week, scored 17 points. Brent Herman, a 6’4'' senior center, scored 7 points and blocked 4 shots. Christian Phelps, a senior coming off the bench, provided one of the most memorable baskets of the game. Phelps is returning from a leg injury he suffered during the 2012 Red Cloud vs. Pine Ridge football game. He started his long road to redemption with a dramatic And 1 play near the end of the game. These were his first points of his senior season and they will not be his last. The Red Cloud Crusaders are now 10-2, with their only losses to Spearfish in the first game of the season and to the White River Tigers in the Lakota Nation Invitational championship game. The loss drops Bennett County to 3-9.

On Monday January 21st, Red Cloud prevailed against the Cheyenne Eagle Butte Braves. Falcon Albers scored an amazing 25 points and Duran Richards added 20 points. Shane Star knocked down his first 3 pointer of his senior season and Mato Hinton scored a 2 point buzzer beater that closed out the game for the Crusaders and Braves with a final score of 89-46. That was Red Cloud's biggest win of the season. 

Tonight Red Cloud will be hosting a double header against Lead-Deadwood. The girls varsity will be starting at 6:00 and boys varsity will start around 7:30. Tomorrow the Crusaders will travel to Alliance, Nebraska for another double header. The Lady Crusaders are currently 9-3.

Three Red Cloud Students Win Horatio Alger Scholarship

Justina Bagola, Shane Star, and Amanda Standing Bear. Photo by Michael Sunderland. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

 Three Red Cloud Students Win Horatio Alger Scholarship

By Michael Sunderland

Three Red Cloud High School 12^th grade students recently found out they were named Horatio Alger Scholarship recipients for the state of South Dakota. Justina Bagola, Amanda Standing Bear, and Shane Star received the state scholarship for $5000. There are twenty-five Horatio Alger scholarships given out each year in South Dakota. With these three recipients, Red Cloud High School had the most scholarships in the state of South Dakota for this year. Here is the link of all South Dakota recipients.

To apply for this scholarship, students had to write about adversities they have faced in their life and how they have overcome these challenges. Students must have a strong commitment to attend college, be involved in extracurricular activities, and demonstrate integrity and perseverance. Students must also demonstrate quality grades in the classroom. More information about the Horatio Alger Scholarship Program can be found here.

These three students have proven to be excellent leaders and students in our school. Besides her excellence in the classroom, Justina Bagola has also received many awards for her artwork and hopes to be a veterinarian.  Amanda Standing Bear is actively involved both in Sacred Heart Church in Pine Ridge and in the wrestling program at Red Cloud. Shane Star has earned the reputation as being one of the top students in the school in mathematics and is also on the boys’ basketball team. All three of these students have demonstrated integrity, leadership, service, and academic excellence.

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day

Matt Campbell and James Flannery working the boys basketball victory last night over Bennett County. Photo by Nakina Mills

Second Semester at RCHS

2nd Semester Hallway at RCHS. Photo by David Ledeaux

 Second Semester at RCHS

By David Ledeaux '13

It is the final semester at Red Cloud High School for the 2012-13 school year and we are taking off with a lot of new classes being offered for the students.

There are new electives that students can take in the English department. These include Theater with Ashley Boone, Film and Literature with Clare Huerter, and Mythology, Native American Literature, and Journalism with Mike Sunderland. 

In the Science department, there is Chemistry II with Wendell Gehman and Advanced Biology with David Waliser. Brother Mike Baranek will be teaching an elective on Applied Physics. For the junior and seniors, there is an Anatomy & Physiology class in which the students travel to the local IHS to job-shadow the workers of the hospital. Shannon McConnaughey teaches this class.

In the Social Studies Department, there is Current Events with Patrick McElwee, Entrepreneurship with Kayla Rockwell, and Psychology with Matt Campbell. Roger White Eyes is also teaching a course on Sociology.

The Lakota Studies department will continue teaching Lakota Language I with Denver American Horse, Lakota Language II with Pauline Wilson, and Lakota Language III with Philomene Lakota. Roger White Eyes is also teaching courses on Indian Wars and Lakota Singing.

For the Technology Department, there is a Video Production class and Advanced Multimedia class, both taught by Vicki Eagle. There will also be new Art classes on Photography as well as Sculpture.

Math is keeping it consistent with courses on AP Calculus, Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry.

Duran Richards Named Black Hills Athlete of the Week

Photos by Christopher Ives

Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Duran Richards Named Black Hills Athlete of the Week

by Michael Sunderland

Red Cloud High School senior Duran Richards was named the Black Hills Fox Powerade Athlete of the Week last night. Richards has led the Crusaders to a 9-2 record so far in the season. Richards is a 6'3'' senior forward and the leading returning scorer from last year's team. Red Cloud is coming off two impressive wins over Custer and Cheyenne-Eagle Butte. The Crusaders host Bennett County tonight and Lead-Deadwood tomorrow night, before traveling to Alliance, Nebraska on Saturday.

The link to the story on Richards and the video, which also features first year head coach Christian McGhee, is here.

Introduction

Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Introduction to our Blog

by Michael Sunderland

This is the first post of The Mahpiya Luta Times, the newest venture of Red Cloud High School's Journalism class. Our goal is to update our blog daily with new articles and photos detailing all of the events, stories, and news of Red Cloud High School.

Student journalists and guest writers will chronicle important events occurring at our school. We hope to provide news articles, interviews, profiles, feature stories, editorials, and more through this site. There is always something exciting going on at our school and it will be our mission to cover these events with our words and photos. From the latest sports game to the new student council project, we will be there, with our words, cameras, and voices.