Bighorn news: Ellis Island; Oasis plays in Reno; and Senior Spotlight

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: LEVI JOHNSON

The relationships with fellow students and staff have been an important part of graduating senior Levi Johnson’s time at Oasis Academy.

“I started at Oasis Academy in third grade,” Johnson said. “That’s when I met one of my best friends to this day, Benjamin Utz.”

Johnson has two elementary school teachers he’d like to thank for making significant contributions during his education.

“Mrs. Shannon Windriver was my first teacher. She was my homeroom teacher and really got me into reading,” he said. “In fifth grade, I had Mrs. Christine Mori. She was really kind and caring, but also stern. She showed the students a lot of respect. I learned a lot during my elementary years.”

Johnson’s high school years were even more formative.

“High school was a huge change for me. I started to make a lot more friends and became a lot happier,” he said. “Classes got a lot easier, and I earned good grades. I’d like to thank Mr. Eric Grimes for introducing me to history which is now one of my favorite subjects. He made it a very enjoyable class. I’d also like to thank Mr. Evan Brandt and Mr. Andy Lenon. Mr. Brandt for showing that math can actually be fun and enjoyable and Mr. Lenon, for helping me through the hard times I've had at school.”

Johnson will graduate in May with his high school diploma as well as his Associate of Arts degree from Western Nevada College. After graduation he plans to work toward a degree in journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno.

“The advice I'd give to future students is don’t just focus on your grades,” he said. “Try to set a standard, but don't feel like your grades control you. For a long time, I was so worried about how my grades would affect me. But after a while I realized that my own happiness was just as important.”

BIGHORNS SET TO PLAY AT GREATER NEVADA FIELD

Bighorn baseball is headed to Reno to play on a professional baseball field on April 11. The Oasis Academy baseball team will take on the Pershing County Mustangs at 7 p.m. at the home of the Reno Aces, Greater Nevada Field.

The Aces graciously allow a few high school teams to play on the field a couple times a season. This year the Bighorns are getting the opportunity.

The opportunity includes full production of a baseball game. Players' photos and statistics will be displayed on the jumbotron at the game. Players will also choose their walk-up songs and hear them played on the stadium speakers.

Entry into the game is $5, and all proceeds benefit Oasis Academy and Pershing County baseball.

“We are very excited and appreciative that our team is going to have this amazing opportunity,” said Sean McNabb, Oasis baseball coach. “Our baseball program is focused on providing our players with unique opportunities and experiences such as this, creating memories that they and their families will cherish.”

THIRD GRADERS LEARN ABOUT IMMIGRATION

Third graders learned about what immigration was like through the annual Ellis Island project. For the project students were tasked with researching about the immigration process, being prepared for and then going through the immigration process.

The immigration process for the students included health checks, baggage checks, interviews, and being deported one time.

"Ellis Island is an engaging project for third grade students where they get to learn not only about their own family history (when, where, why, and how they became U.S. citizens), but also how those that immigrated felt while they were coming through Ellis Island,” Jolene Coverston said.

The students gained an understanding of what families went through during their journey to the United States.

“Third grade students have a better understanding of the struggles families felt and some of the hard decisions that had to be made, even before they got on the boat,” she said. “It is a highly engaging activity that brings past experiences into a real-life situation. All our students enjoyed the project.”

To finalize the immigration process, the class recited the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and were given American flags.