Fun

Presidential Scholars aren't serious all of the time (or even most of it). National Recognition Week was a lot of fun, as conveyed by some of the following pictures and quotes. Granted, they may not all be understandable by everyone. But, at least the people involved (hopefully) know what they mean.

Fun Pictures

Pregnant Stef

Stef Schoenmackers. Presidential Scholar from New Mexico. Eagle Scout. National Merit Scholar. Expectant mother?

Actually, Stef was kind enough to try out the "maternity simulation suit" in the women's health exhibit at the Baltimore Science Center. Here he is before donning his maternity gown.

Upon seeing this picture, my principal Mr. Preheim shook his head and said, "I'm not even going to ask."

Here Daniel Haspel tests the self-soaking powers of a squirt gun. . .

 Daniel and the Pistol
Clinton Laughs

President Clinton's reaction on being told a certain Presidential Scholar from South Dakota wanted to be put in control of the military for a day. The idea seemed to be going okay until this unnamed South Dakotan suggested declaring martial law and moving armored divisions into the town of Delmont.

I know, this isn't that funny of a photo. Pictured are me (left) and Mr. Preheim, teacher/principal/exotic dancer (well, maybe only the first two). However, he was seen dancing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and his wife allegedly has the video tape to prove it.

 Preheim!

Quotes

A few noteworthy quotes came up during my stay in Washington, D.C. All are unembellished. Thanks to Mindy Klenoff and Anne Blackfield, my partners in crime who helped compile this list.

Andy--It's an honor, Mr. President.

President Clinton--Cool.

My (very) brief exchange of words with the forty-second President of the United States.

Andy--I'm from South Dakota, and I'm sexy.

What can I say? It was two in the morning, and several (here unnamed) girls had been making fun of my accent. So, I had to stick up for myself! It has a little more humor value if you exaggerate the "O" when you say it (Fargo style). Incidentally, these also happened to be my first words to Sarah Nichols.

Andy--"Mindy, are you okay?"

Something we all were frequently saying to Mindy. She had less than good luck with the walking thing at times.

Small child--"Mommy, look! That boy's a GIRL!"

This was said by one of the spectators watching Stef's remarkable transformation into Maternity Man (see topmost picture on this page). Anne Blackfield recollects, "Perhaps it wasn't so much the quote itself that was amusing, but the look of sheer terror on the kid's face."

Random speaker--"Let's give a hand for the Commissioners."

Perhaps the most oft-repeated phrase of the week. The Commissioners, of course, were the kind folks who selected us as Presidential Scholars.

Presidential Scholar--"Hi Laurel, have you seen Steve?"

The story behind this is our realization that Laurel and Steve, the two Scholars from Iowa, were actually the same person. Someone (I don't remember who) noticed that they were never in the same room together, and typically one would appear just minutes after the other left. We then figured out that it was something like the movie Mrs. Doubtfire. Innovative thinking like that is why we were named Presidential Scholars. . .

Pretty much any Presidential Scholar--"Where are you going to college? ...Oh wait... let me guess... HARVARD???"

Nine out of ten times this guess was right. . .

Anecdotes

I've collected a few anecdotes, objects and incidents that should evoke memories in at least some of us. Special thanks to Sarah Nichols for thinking up the bulk of these items. Laurel Eckhouse and Lauren Robinson also contributed.

  • Thai lettuce wraps. Food item consumed in Baltimore.

  • Sitting on the bus for hours while our driver tried to argue with the traffic cop to let him thru... and of course the air conditioning wasn't working that day. This happened on Sarah's bus. Luckily, I was a proud member of Bus 3, and therefore not involved.

  • Grace climbing in the overhead luggage bins. I missed this also.

  • John from Alaska's fun little gyro--that provided hours of fun. Another thing I (Andy) missed out on.

  • Backstreets Boys impersonators (complete w/screaming bra-throwing fans), the reading of Green Eggs and Ham, and of course I personally loved Randy's speech on "don't tell your roommate your SAT score". These nuggets of joy by Laurel "Has No Accent" Eckhouse topped her list of "great comedic moments".

  • After the Kennedy Center Performance, Jon Moon from Minnesota stole a lemon and a fork from the Kennedy Center. We threw the lemon around the bus for a while, actually hitting a girl with it. Then, when it started to leak juice, Jon cut it into fourths and we had a lemon eating contest. Lauren Robinson contributed this happening. It happened on Bus 1, described by many as the "fun bus". Mine, Bus 3, was the "nap bus", and Buses 2 and 4 were the "constantly missing" buses.

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