Story# 6: A Man Named David DeWitt

A Man Named David DeWitt



            Winning Championships is great and fun, but it’s not the end all for David DeWitt, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

 




NJCAA Division

             A man named David DeWitt  travels the world as he is sailing out to discover his dreams. DeWitt had a dream from his middle school years and wanted to teach and coach. He started teaching and coaching as soon as he graduated from college.

        DeWitt  always enjoyed playing most sports. Basketball is what he loved playing and had success at.

                                                    

ARCC Women's Basketball

           ARCC Women’s Basketball winning its seventh national championship in NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Saturday, March 12 in Rochester is one of DeWitt’s successful journeys.  “Everything you do in life, if you do it well takes time, effort, and preparation. You are also constantly trying to get better at whatever it is you do. As soon as you think you’ve ‘arrived’ or ‘know it all’ it's time to move on,” DeWitt confirmed from his experiences.



           Coaching is nothing more than teaching. Teaching basketball to men or women is the same. Teaching and making a difference in someone's life is what really matters-not the gender. DeWitt is more concerned about making a difference than making a salary.  When he chooses something he loves, it doesn’t seem like work for money at all.

David DeWitt

If someone want to measure success in terms of Championships, DeWitt has had that on a number of occasions. Winning Championships is great and fun, but it’s not the end all for him. It’s the journey, the preparation, the getting there that really matters. "You have control over the journey. You don’t always have control over the destination. You need to find joy in the journey, not the destination. DeWitt sincerely suggested. 

In Dewitt's career, there has been lots of satisfying ones. As a teacher and coach, he feels there is nothing better than seeing an individual and team progress and improve over the course of a season or from year to year. It really doesn’t get more satisfying than that.

"The everyday people who go the extra mile to help someone who can’t ever or won’t ever do something in return for them, those are the real hero’s in today’s world. Be a servant leader and make each day your masterpiece. My wife would be a good example of that as well as my mother and father,” DeWitt admitted that he draws inspiration from them.


DeWitt has a wife and 6 kids.  They are kind of a basketball ‘junkie’ family. Just about all have or are competing in many sports, but specifically basketball in high school and college. Two of his children are embarking on coaching careers. DeWitt loves family and also does well on his favorite work. 


  “I’m a quiet and introverted person. Those that see me teach and coaches are quite shocked at my persona on the court if all they have known me from is my time away from the court,” Dewitt added his story with a calm voice and smiled.


On his journey, Coach DeWitt leads his team with

 inspiration and motivation.

Jenna Anderson

“I have a great experience with my coach and the team, and I really enjoy that," said Jenna Anderson, a Shooting Guard of the ARCC Women’s Basketball.



Tacita Gonzalez

 



Tacita Gonzalez, a Point Guard of ARCC Women’s Basketball team said, “Coach Dewitt is one of the greatest people I’ve met. This school year also he has change my life and helped me better myself as a person. I’m thankful to have had him as my coach this year, and I am very proud.”


Coach DeWitt has his dreams, and he continually moves forward. Nothing great was ever successful without enthusiasm. People can find the limits of the possible by going beyond them into the impossible. Coach Dewitt can prove it although it 's not the end all.








         

Story # 5 The Special Events for Students



The Campus Programming Board (CPB) at Anoka-Ramsey Community College on the Coon Rapids Campus set up ideas to provide entertainment and special events for students Tuesday, March 8 in SC 278



The Campus Programming Board



  

Joyce Traczyk, the director of Student Activities, started the CPB meeting  with board updates. Several club members showed up, including Complementary Alternative Medicine Club, Astronomy Club, Engineering and Physics Club, Magic: The Gathering Club, Billiards Club, Swing Dancing Club, Math Club, Psychology Club, and Running Club. Traczyk announced that the next schedule of the students’ activities would be Health Fair, sponsored by the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Counseling and Advising, Nursing Department, Red Cross, and employee Wellness Program that will be held on Wednesday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Cafeteria Coon Rapids Campus, Science Night on Thursday, Apr. 7, Student Appreciation Week from Apr. 4 to 8, Earth Day on Apr. 18 to 22, and Spring Picnic on Apr. 27. The advertisement will be posted around Coon Rapids Campus and inform students and employees on Internet.

Cory Rahn

The CPB encourages student involvement and the social development of the student body through music, speakers, films, and other forms of entertainment.

“Students, alumni and community members are welcome to take part in the variety clubs, organization and events. Everyone can help plan student activities and join the meeting on 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday or Thursday of each month in SC 278,” said Cory Rahn, an Astronomy Club and an Engineering and physics Club member. Rahn added that, "In every meeting, everyone will discuss  activities for students. The student activities designed to supplement students’ courses. There are Academic clubs, civic and social clubs and organizations, and other student activities, which are offered for optional credit, available. At the student Activities area, students can sit, relax, have fun, or meet friends. Everyone doesn’t need to sign in, but they need to show their student IDs for some games."

Valerie Lis, the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Club member,  said that, "The CAM club is very brand new for ARCC students on Coon Rapids and Cambridge Campus. Students are showing interest in the Club because we promoted the use of CAM Therapy. Many Americans used CAM in pursuit of health and well-being, so some technique will help students  stress less outside their classrooms.”

“I enjoy Billiards and game events, and I come here every day,” said Yeleng Lo, a Physical Therapist Assistant student.




Yeleng Lo (left) and friend

 

 

             “I like movies. When I don’t have class, I entertain myself with movies,” said Aleysia Lorer, a nursing student. “I plan to be involved with Swing Dancing Club. I want to learn it although I have never tried swing dance."

The Student Activities Office, Located in SC 173 on the first floor. Students who would like to form their own club are welcome to meet with the Director or Coordinator of Student Activities.



Student Activities Area







Story 4 Blog # 6 A News Story from a Interviewee: Simonne Starr

Making a dream to be an NHL scout

Simonne Starr and her best  friend

Simonne Starr, a 19 year-old ARCC student, favored in hockey and snowboard, had a dream to become a scout for the NHL.

        Ice hockey is a sport played on ice. A player should understand the basic skills and practice on skating and stick handling. Simonne Starr, 19, loves hockey. “I have been around hockey since I was just a little girl. My father, brothers, and sister have all played goalie,” said Simonne Star Thursday at 11 a.m. “I was hoping to become a scout for the National Hockey League someday in the future,” Starr added. She followed up her dream by traveling to many places for hockey games. Her best hockey memory had been being able to drive 26 hours to Boston, Massachusetts for a hockey tournament with her friends. “I was a very big hockey fan,” Starr told me with a happy voice. The Minnesota Owls, which is the local team, was her favorite team.  

Starr had a full time job at Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls, Minn. She was involved with ski and snowboard area for five years, and she shared her love for skiing, adventure, and fun with the great guests and super staff members at Wild Mountain.  “Hockey was my favorite thing in the world, it was my go-to when I was down, and it could always make me feel happy. Snowboarding was also something I enjoyed a lot. It gave me an adrenaline rush,” Starr added.

 Starr is studying at Anoka-Ramsey Community Collge to gain a career in sports management. NHL scout is her goal. She knows that this career is a tough field to get into. She has to learn more negotiation skills and legal experience.

Starr lives in Isanti with her family. She has one older brother, who is in the Marines, stationed in San Diego. She has two younger brothers and a younger sister. Her two younger brothers are both adopted, one from Hennepin County and one from the Philippines. “I also loved soccer, and I was in dance for 14 years,” she ended, expanding her other skills.

Simonne Starr's father and friend

Transcript for My Interview with Simonne

I sent my question to my interviewee, but she did not answer my questions on Monday, February 28, 2011.

She sent me an e-mail on Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Supaphan Sritunyalux,

 Sorry I couldn't get to you earlier, I have been moving houses and haven't had access to internet or a computer. Thank you for the questions, I will be sure to get back to you on them. Here is a list I have for you to answer.

 Thanks, Simonne Starr

However, I also thought my questions were too general to get information from her. I decided to write her story about her excellent skills in both sports. There are hockey and snowboard. I asked her more questions on Tuesday, March 1, 2011. and told me more to write my news story.

Starr told me more detail.

I have two hobbies I would like to share, first Hockey and second Snowboarding. Hockey is my favorite thing in the world, it’s my go- to when I'm down, and it can always make me happy. Snowboard is also something I enjoy a lot. It gives me an adrenaline rush.

I studied her detail on her blogspots.

Hello there, My name is Simonne Starr. I am 18, almost 19 and live in Isanti with my family. My family consists of my mom and dad, one older brother (He is in the Marines, stationed in San Diego), two younger brothers and a younger sister. My two younger brothers are both adopted, one from Hennipin County and one from the Philippines. I have an Olde English Bulldogge who is only eight months old, his name is Legacy, he's named after the NHL goalie Manny Legace). My family also has two other dogs and two cats. I do have a fulltime job at Wild Mountain and I have worked there for five years and love my job. I am going to Anoka Ramsey for my generals and am hoping to gain a career in sports management. I am a very very big hockey fan, In February I will be traveling to Anaheim, California to watch a Minnesota Wild game, I have traveled to many places for hockey games. I am hoping to become a scout for the NHL someday in the future. Along with hockey, I do enjoy playing soccer and I was in dance for 14 years. In my free time I enjoy reading, snowboarding, and watching movies with my dad. That pretty much sums up my life, thanks for reading this!
   

Simonne answers my questions on Thursday, March 3, 2011

Interview with a Classmate

Name: Simonne Starr

Gender: Female

Age: Almost 19

Location: Telephone Interviews and E-Mail Interviews

Topic: About family

Question: Where were your born? I was born in Maplewood Minnesota

Question: You live in Isanti. Can you tell me about your hometown? What the most you like?

I was actually raised in a city called Lindstrom. I just moved to Isanti in April and I have loved it so far. I like the new friends I have made the most.

Question: I know your parents adopt your brothers from Hennepin County and from Philippines.

Question: Can you tell me about them?

My 13 year old brothers name is Raimond. He has Fetal Alcohol Effect and Reactive Attatchment Disorder. Both are very severe diseases and he has a hard time living a normal everyday life. He cannot do many things on his own and will never be able to live on his own.

My 4 year old brother Maverick is a people person. He loves meeting new people and is very outgoing for his age. I can’t wait to see him grow into a young man.

Question: How did you get along with them?

I get along with them okay. It’s hard for me because I am like a mom to them. Both of my parents work fulltime jobs and so do I, but I get stuck taking care of them most of the time.

Question: How did you feels?

Question: You mentioned that you lived with your parents. How do you like to live with them? Do you plan to move out? Where do you like to move if you want to move out?

I don’t care to live with my parents. This next summer I am hoping to get an apartment with my best friend Miranda, who is in one of the pictures I sent you. I sooner or later would love to move out of state to either  California, Wisconsin, or Massachusetts.

Topic: College

Question: What are your goals after you finish at Anoka –Ramsey College?

Question: when do you plan to graduate?

Question:  Where do you like to study?

Question: What degree you plan to get?

Question: What a program are you interest in?

Topic: Work

Question: How did you get your Wild Mountain job?

My dad is the manager there, but I did have to turn in an application and do an interview.

Question: What parts of your job do you enjoy?

I love the people I work with, I have made a lot of friends with my coworkers.

Question: What parts of your job do you dislike? I strongly dislike the crabby people! I always seen to come across one, I just try to make there day better by being kind.

Topic: Hobby

Question: Do you still have pets? What do you have a favor story about them?

I do have 3 dogs, Miley, Darby, and Legacy. Legacy is my puppy; he is about 10 months old. I got him as my graduation present. He’s an olde English bulldogge, he is little, but man he can knock me over.

Question: You like Hockey. How long have you been interested in Hockey?

Since I was a little kid.

Question: Which teams that you follow?

I love the Minnesota Wild! I also like the Chicago Blackhawks and the St.Louis Blues

Question: Why you like hockey games?

I honestly don’t know. Hockey is something I have always been interested in. I love the speed of the game and the way it all works.

Question: You were in dance for 14 years. What the type of dancing do you do?

I have done ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. I did competition dance for about 4 years and I loved it.

Question: What do you feel? How long do you practice?

We would normally practice about two hours a night, two nights a week.

Question: What are other kinds of hobby that you like? Why?

Blog # 5 Story 3

Chapter 11 Exercise 2 Page 289

Marsha Taylor, an injured bicyclist, was released from the hospital Tuesday. A doctor said it was a miracle that she wasn’t paralyzed.

Marsha L Taylor, 37, was released from the hospital Tuesday after being injured in a bicycling accident. “I had a mild concussion, a broken neck, six broken ribs, a broken arm, and a broken pelvis,” said Taylor Thursday morning at home in Minneapolis. She sat on a wheelchair in a living room including her certificate of 2009 Minneapolis Bicycling Achievement Awards. She told me that a car that was driving struck her from behind while she was bicycling on 72^nd St. almost to southland Boulevard. The accident occurred after she finished the United States Cycling Tour about two weeks ago. She said when the car hit; she went flying off her bike. She was wearing a helmet that saved her life that time. The doctors said there were broken bones, and they were serious about the broken neck. One doctor said it was a miracle that she wasn’t paralyzed. Taylor added that she got worse first. After two weeks, she had been sent to rehabilitation facility. The doctor found she had some internal injuries. Her intestine was perforated; her liver and gall bladder were injured. She had to go back for rehabilitation three times a week.

            Taylor said about her cycling experiences, “I had ridden at least 3,500 miles. I started riding in college, and I got involved with a group of cyclists. In spring 2010, I rode in the annual Government Bicycle Tour, which went across the Minnesota State. Last fall I rode in a tour across the United States,” Taylor has lived in Minneapolis since 1995. She was a manager at McDonald’s, and she had worked there for 15 years. However, she added that she still wanted to ride if she could ride again. Bicycling was safe if bicyclist took precautions to ride.

Blog # 4 Write my own obituary

Jason Romeo Bainne, who had the best driver award of Hennepin City in 2009, died Monday at the age of 53. Bainne drove a school bus with 22 students to Hennepin High School District. Then, he had a heart attack while driving. He stopped the bus on the side of Lyndale Avenue. He died on the bus before an ambulance came. A student, Maria Fondez, who sat next to the driver seat said, “I thought he was asleep when he drove slowly and parked the bus. Then, my friends and I call him, but he did not respond.”  Linda Bainne, his wife, said, “He like his works and never used his vacation for rest. He worked this duty for 5 years and earned his award last year.”

Blog # 3 Story 2

The County Commissioner voted 5-2 against the sheriff’s request for funding for new vehicles and additional deputies

         On Thursday afternoon, The ABC County sheriff and County Commissioners met at ABC County to discuss equipment and personnel for the 2011 budget, and the sheriff requested for additional money for eight new vehicles to replace older ones and five more deputies . The Commission President Anne Chenn and four commissioners disagreed, but two commissioners agreed with the sheriff.
         As the heated discussion continued, Commissioners, Anita Shenuski and Raymond Laybourne said the country should spend more money on law enforcement rather than the programs for migrant workers. Shenuski believed migrant workers take jobs from “decent” people by work the next to nothing. However, other commissioners disagreed that workers were kind and hard-working; who work jobs that the local residents would not want to work. By adding migrant workers, opposing commissioners felt the economy would be increased.
         DiCesari said, "I can't buy anything. this is the first time in my 27 years as sheriff that the county hasn't allocated money to the sheriff's department to buy equipment." He also said letting the deputies drive the cars home decreased crime. Chenn suggested that deputies should not drive cars home to make cars more available and preserve mileage. Despite, Dicesari’s argument to request for new equipment was denied.