“Be True to Your School”

WAITSBURG -- ASB officers chose an unusual way to welcome fellow students to the new school year.

At a morning assembly on the first day of classes, the song "Be True to Your School" blasted over the auditorium's loudspeakers. ASB President Owen Lanning busted moves in a vintage letterman's jacket, and the vice-president, secretary, and treasurer performed a synchronized backup routine with pom-poms. The students in the audience laughed, perhaps caught off guard by the occasionally silly moves their elected officials executed. Now this, some had to be thinking, was how you started a school year off right.

The letterman's jacket, the pompoms - even the choice of song - all forecasted Lanning's plans for the ASB in the coming school year.

"The vision is pretty much to get kids into the spirit - to get kids to enjoy their time while they're at school and make it a fun, safe place," Lanning said in an interview.

And that catchy song at the assembly? Also part of his plans. "Our main theme (for the year) is 'Be True To Your School'," he said. That maxim is displayed on the sign that sits in front of the building, as well as in red-andblack paper letters stapled to a bulletin board in the classroom where the ASB officers meet.

This reporter was unable to attend a meeting of the ASB, as these are closed to other students and many of the items they discuss are special events whose details are meant to be kept secret from the student body at large. Lanning did say, however, that he was thrilled with the other ASB officers and that the four were an excellent team.

"Hannah (Grant) is vice-president. She's very organized," he said. "She and I are very close. We're always having great ideas."

Their partnership extends beyond the ASB, Lanning noted. This year, they founded two affiliated spirit clubs: Lanning's BRO (Boys' Rally Association) for young men, and Grant's GRRLS (Get Ready to Rally with Lots of Spirit) for WHS' female contingent. The two organizations attend sports games, coordinate events in support of the school's teams, and promote Cardinal pride among the student body.

"Caitlyn ( Jones) is our secretary. She always has really good ideas. And Mikala (DeRuwe) is our treasurer. She has great input. We all work really well together."

DeRuwe is also the Waitsburg FFA president. Given that the FFA is an important organization within the school and its members constitute a sizeable chunk of the student body, Lanning's glad to have her as a liaison on the council.

"It really helps that we can bring that in and have that as well," he said.

Lanning couldn't divulge many of the special surprise events the ASB has planned for the student body. He did note, however, that "we have a Halloween event planned this year."

He also noted that the ASB is having a fundraiser - selling the "Who Are We?" shirts that became ubiquitous within the school following WP's 2011 state championship title. This year's shirts are printed on heather gray and are available for purchase at Blue Crystal in Waitsburg. Lanning noted that he wants to include the community in his spirit-boosting plans as well.

Lanning plans to pursue a business degree at Lewis and Clark State College, Spokane Falls Community College, or Walla Walla Community College. He plans to run track while in college and is considering going into the restaurant industry after obtaining his degree.