By CALLA HAVILAND
Moapa Valley Progress
Jaylee Whipple is an outstanding Virgin Valley High School senior with many goals in life. After high school Jaylee plans to attend Dixie State University in St. George, Utah. She plans to major in Secondary Education so that she can become an agriculture teacher/FFA advisor. She also hopes to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Whipple was the drum major for the VVHS Marching Band. This was a role that yielded some of her best memories. One particularly fond memory occurred last fall at the rivalry football game against Moapa Valley, played in Virgin Valley.
“As Drum major it was my job to conduct the band in performances,” she said.
As the band entered the packed football stadium to the beat of our drum cadence Whipple climbed up on her 5 foot tall podium at the 50 yard line. Looking out at a sea of blue and gold on the other side of the stadium, she I called her band to attention and the drum line fell silent.
“I heard a booming voice say, ‘Jaylee Whipple is your band ready?’ I turned and saluted the roaring wave of green and proceeded to have what was the most memorable performance of my life,” she said.
“I had the incredible opportunity of experiencing something that not many people will ever experience,” Whipple said of this memory. “Nothing I’ve ever done in athletics or in the classroom could ever compare. I am so grateful for the band and our director Mrs. Graf. I love them and I love my school. Once a Bulldog always a Bulldog!”
Virgin Valley High School senior Sydney Ludvigson is a talented, smart, and athletic girl who has worked hard throughout all of her years of high school.
Sydney plans to go to Snow College for one year to get her associates degree. She then wants to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After completing her mission, Sydney plans to go back to school to get a degree in Elementary Education.
Sydney said that her most memorable moment in high school took place at the prom this year. A dancing train had been started and she and her friend went to joing in. The two girls started running across the room, all the while trying to stay clear of their formal gowns.
“I was trying to keep up while holding my long bright red dress,” Sydney said. “We got right to the line and I stepped right on my dress. In a red flash, I hit the floor fast and hard.”
Sydney recalled that the train just continued over her as she struggled to get back up. But she couldn’t because she was still wrapped up in the dress.
“I was quite the scene,” she said. “I was laughing hard and so was everyone else. It is something I will never forget and probably never live down.”
