Rasmussen to continue work with disabled
By BRYAN BEER | Black and Gold Staff Writer
While some students plan from their freshman year to be on a college track, others choose to join the workforce straight out of high school. This is the case for Hunter Rasmussen.
“I’ve thought about college, but there’s a lot of good and bad things about it,” Hunter said.
Hunter decided to stray away from college to find work straight out of high school, though he plans to take online college courses.
“The online college would be for fashion and clothing design, something I’ve always been passionate about,” Hunter said when describing the courses he plans to take.
Hunter currently works in Adel at Advantages in Life where he helps the mentally disabled.
“That’s kind of from my family background, my mom does the same work, and my dad has been a police officer and also used to help people with disabilities,” Hunter said. He plans to work there for a year or two before he starts his online college courses.
“Outside of school, I play a lot of basketball and I do a lot of weight lifting,” Hunter said.
Hunter lifts weights and plays basketball almost every day, staying consistent with his schedule.
“I had an injury over the summer, and I had to work out to help it heal,” Hunter said.
After his injury healed, he stuck with his workout schedule and continues to lift six days a week.
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Arrasmith plans future as conservation officer
By JESLYN ORTEGA | Black & Gold Staff Writer
When looking outside, you may find Bo Arrasmith working as a conservation officer studying fish, game and parks.
“I would be a fishery biologist, forestry biologist or a wildlife biologist, ”Arrasmith said.
He had several thoughts about his high school career at ACGC.
“I have learned quite a bit throughout my high school career. It may not have been fun, and I would rather be working, but it is almost over and I know I will miss it,” he said. “I think the teachers have impacted me the most throughout high school because no matter if I needed help or wanted to learn more, they were always there to assist me.”
Throughout his high school years, Arrasmith participated in track, golf, cross country, baseball and speech.
“I would encourage everyone to try speech at least for a year because it has a contest for everyone,” he said.
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Solorzano plans to attend Simpson, Iowa State
By CAYDENCE BOALS | Black & Gold Editor
Anthony Solorzano is an ACGC class of 2024 senior. He has been involved in football, basketball and track throughout his highs school career and lettered in each sport all four years.
When asked what his favorite memory from high school was, he said, “My favorite high school memory would be experiencing the Bosnian War.”
Anthony’s future plans are to attend Simpson to play football and then transfer to Iowa State to finish his college education.
When asked what advice Anthony could give to underclassmen students, he stated, “If I were to give advice to a underclassman, I would tell them to take every opportunity they have to do something different and experience something new because that’s all what high school is about. It’s about finding out who you really are.”
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Schafer plans career in marketing
By JESLYN ORETGA | Black & Gold Staff Writer
Katelyn’s Schafer personality is outgoing and kind. She is involved in a lot of extracurriculars such as track, Leo’s Club, FCCLA, National Honors Society, DECA, soccer and cross country.
When asked for any advice, she states, “All of the team sports that I have been a part of, they teach you the value of hard work for self-improvement as well as how to put others before yourself for the benefit of your team.”
Schafer is planning on attending Iowa State University, majoring in marketing. Marketing is a career that promotes selling products and services.
Schafer’s favorite memory from her childhood was when her dad taught her how to ride a bike.
Throughout her high school career, her friends have had a big impact.
“I would say my friends have impacted me the most throughout high school because they have shaped me into who I am today and influence me to strive to be a better person.”
Schafer’s final thoughts on high school are: “It has been a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow and has adequately prepared me for my future.”
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Mahaffey plans future in music
By LAURIN DAVIS and ERIC COOP | The Black & Gold
Andrew Mahaffey, son of Karla and Alan Mahaffey, is planning to change the world, one music note at a time.
Mahaffey plans to attend Central College in Pella, majoring in music with a focus in composing and conducting music.
“It’s always been such a large part of my life,” he said. “This year, I was lucky enough to do an independent study with Mrs. Dinkla and Mrs. Babcock. With that, I was doing many projects through the year of writing music and being able to perform it and teach it to students, and I found that to be very rewarding, so I want to continue that and make it my life.”
Mahaffey will also run for the Dutch Cross Country and Track teams.
While at ACGC, he participated in marching band, serving as the drum major, concert band, vocal music, the school musical, ran cross country and track, and played baseball. He also helped complete the 2023-24 yearbook.
“I think everybody should do as much as they can right now,” he said. “One, we’re young so we have the freedom to do that. You won’t be able to play football, baseball or those other sports when you’re 40, 50 years old down the line. And, also, that’s the blessing we have with a small school. You get to be involved with so many different things and see success. You go talk to kids at Waukee or Johnston, and they’re focused on one thing and it’s an all-year-around thing, whereas we specialize in literally everything.”
Mahaffey said he would tell underclassmen that while they need to prioritize their academics, they still need to have fun.