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Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - Page 8 FEATURES Some of the unusual talents walking around campus KATIE CHAMPION Lyden has moved up to a level two. with plaques and awards. Grigsby is unable to compete in races, he Staff Writer He says his goals are to become an open- NCAA rules prohibit cash prizes to mi- plans 10 continue his weekend hobby and While our college is known for hosting level piper, the highest accuracy level for the nors, but do allow savings bonds and schol- raise his kids around the racetrack. a wide variety of talents, from athletics to instrument. This summer he will travel to arships. "Racing has basically paid for my academics, here's a look at some of the Scotland to compete in the world bagpiping first semester here," he said. Soaring to New Heights unusual talents you can find walking championships. Though he gets made fun of Onemo- Junior Jon Pearson, has al- around campus. ways stood out in a crowd. At 6 feet 9 inches tall, Pearson Bagpipes and Football has been an important part of While many Green the men's basketball team. Terror football playerS Towering over many, the have other interests than third year player has been a football. only one offen- leader to the team. sive lineman wanders the While most students look golf course sporting a up to him as a role model of multi-colored kilt in his athletic excellence, few know spare time. the extent of his talents. Just In his two years at last fall, Pearson received his Western Maryland Col- pilot's license. After logging lege, sophomore Dan over 90 flight hours includ- Lyden has become one ing a long-distance trip to of the more prominent Ecuador, he is certified to fly members of the Green single-engine planes. Terror football team. But don't let his size sometimes, he has decided to encourage his ment that Pearson comes from a fool you. This 278-pound offensive lineman children to play someday. stands out familyofflyers. "Mydadgot has a soft spot for music and kilts. Yes, kilts. "Oh my children will love the bagpipes," in his racing me interested in flying Like many students, Lyden came home he said. career is the planes," he said. "It's some- from school one day telling his parents he IHRA ban- thing that I really enjoy and wanted to start learning an instrument. They ''The Need for Speed" quet in Lou- can entertain family and never guessed in a million years it would be Not many college students can say they isviile, Ken- friends with." the bagpipes. are a world champion at anything. However, tucky when His girlfriend sophomore "They [the bagpipes] were always my I 8-year-old freshman Nick Grigsby can. The he received his championship ring in 1999. Kelly Smith, admits she was scared the first favorite part of the Fourth of July parade," communication major has been racing jun- ''The 'big guys' were all standing up and time he took her for a ride. "When we got Lyden recalled. "I don't really know why 1 ior dragster cars since he was 9 years old clapping for me," he said. "It was a thrill to off the plane, I literally kissed the ground," decided to pick them. I guess 1just thought when his dad bought him a race car for see my-role models recognizing my accom- she said. "He had to practice emergency it was something different." Christmas. plishment." landings by cutting off the engine and glid- While his parents are supportive of this "There is no bigger adrenaline rush than Off the racetrack, Grigsby competes for ing down. I have never been so scared in unique, loud hobby, he knows it can be an- going 150 miles per hour in a matter of sec- the WMC swim team. Always striving for my life." noying. onds," said Grigsby. "It's like being shot out excellence, it is no surprise that Nick is one While still learning a lot about planes and "My dad is very encouraging, my mom of a cannon." of the fastest swimmers on the team. flying, Pearson, a sociology and criminal jus- tolerates it," he said. As a member of the International Hot Rod "When I was young, we had a pool in tice major has set his sights high on places Practice is key to reaching his goal of Association, Grigsby has traveled up and my back yard and I would call all the neigh- he would like to fly. "I think it would be becoming a top-notch bagpiper. He has of- down the East Coast and to Indianapolis to borhood kids to come race me," said cool to be an Alaskan Bush pilot," he said. ten been spotted practicing in the Rouzer race. In 1996 and 1997, he won back-to- Grigsby. "I never got beat so I figured, what "It's very dangerous and Lwould get to fly Hall laundry room or roaming the golf back track championships and in 1999 he the hell, I'll go out for my high school team." people to remote places around the world." course. won the IHRA World Championship. Since then he has been setting pool For now, though he enjoys flying over The skill levels of bagpipes run from level Speed and fast times have been a major records in many freestyle and breaststroke Maryland and Pennsylvania. four to level one, the latter being the most part of Grigsby's life. Since he can remem- events. "Nick is a talented breastroker with So as the sun sets over Western Mary- accomplished. According to Lyden, many ber, his dad has been racing speedboats on unlimited potential," swim coach Kim land College and Dan Lyden's bagpipes can players practice their entire lives and are the Chesapeake Bay. Easterday said. "We look forward to hav- be heard over the hills of Westminster and never recognized as a level one. Since the Grigsby has an impressive trophy room ing his competitive athleticism around for Nick Grigsby races his car across Route 140, day he decided to take up the bagpipes dur- in his Calvert County home. Two walls are the next three years." look to the sky for Jon Pearson on his way ing his sophomore year of high school, lined with trophies while a third is covered While in college, hours away from home, to unknown places. Profile; Senior Maureen Mngola does it all with a smile LuLu LI after her cousin, who studied in SaTE, the called the cultural shock when she first ar- "It takes too much energy," she said. She Staf!Wriler chief medical school in Hungary, found out rived in the U.S and laughed, "One culture also performed a Kenyan folk dance with The last year of college is probably the about the school for her. She spent two years shock was the food in general. I was used to three other girls that was one of the evening's most critical time for college students. So in Budapest and was quite fond of the city eating hot spicy foods at home, so I found highlights. Afterward, she said she enjoyed why would Maureen Mngola wait until then life. the food here bland because it lacked sea- the event a lot, adding, " I like to organize to take one of the toughest jobs at Western Considering herself a very social person, soning." and working with people." Maryland College? Mngola welcomes learning about different Debbie V Leazer, coordinator of donor Not only has she gained experience and Mngola is employed as a Resident As- cultures. She can speak two languages flu- relations, supervised Mngola when she leadership skills from the RA job, she has sisrant and takes pleasure in her job. "It be- ently, Swahili, English, and is currently worked in the development office during her also learned how to manage her time, which came a part of me," she said. Being an RA learning French. During her two-year stay January internship in 2002. Leazer evaluated is the most difficult part of her job. As a RA, on Pennsylvania Avenue, she has her work in Budapest she become skilled at speaking Mngola's work performance. "She is very she has to participate in many different ac- cut out for her, but it's nothing that she can't Hungarian. She has many friends with dif- organized and thorough. People here like her tivities and attend lots of meetings. Some- handle. Shonda Wilson, one of the Resi- ferent cultural backgrounds, which has ex- a Jot," she said. times, she and other RAs have to organize dence Life Coordinators, feels the same way. posed her to a variety of customs and ways Last semester, Mngola was the only stu- programs together. "Being a RA in Pennsylvania Avenue is of life. dent her advisor, professor Joseph L Carter "We cooperate, and work very well as a very time consuming, but Maureen has done Mngola has also taken a keen interest in in the Economics and Business Adrmnistra- ream.vsaid Mngola proudly. Mngola enjoys her job in a professional way," said Wilson. traveling. "I hope one day r can travel to as tion department and the development office, her student life here. The moment that espe- Mngola puts her heart into organizing dif- many countries as possible," she said. invited to participate in the "Top of the Hill" cially impressed her on campus was Presi- ferent programs for her 39 residents, and she Mngola looks forward to exploring all that program. She made a presentation to alumni dent Joan Develin Coley's inauguration in values all of them. "They are wonderful and the world has to offer and is very eager to about her experience at WMC Budapest. 2001, which she participated in with other nice, and they make my job easy," she said see Europe. "They just loved her," said Carter recalling international students. "That's the history of delightfully. Like many other international students the program. WMC," she said. Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Mngola is the who transferred from Budapest, Mngola After gaining some experiences, Mngola She is planning to continue her educa- only child in her family. Before graduating joined the International Club shortly after her was one of the few people in charge who tion in Humans Resources after graduating. from boarding school, which was one of the arrival at the main campus in 2000. This organized the International Dinner this Working with others just comes naturally to best national high schools in Kenya, she ap- club is known for its promotion of diversity spring. She managed the money expenses for her. If she's surrounded by people and in- plied {Q many colleges abroad. Finally, in on campus as well as educating and expos- {he event and also helped with shopping, teracting with them, you'll always find a 1998 she decided to study in WMC Budapest ing students to different cultures. She re- decorating, and cooking. smile on her face.