What are you thankful for?
By: Claire Wasem
NORTHRIDGE - Thanksgiving is coming up, and people are getting excited about the holidays. One thing to think about this time of year is what you’re thankful for.
Sydney Koker (‘19) is thankful for her full ride to Ashland this season. “I really like the campus. It is super small and everything is within walking distance.” Koker continues to explain, “The farthest walk is around seven minutes between buildings.”
Koker likes the housing aspects of Ashland, as well. “The dorms are pretty small, but there are athletes’ rooms so people aren't in the dorms that much,” she says. When Koker went to visit Ashland she was accompanied by a freshman, junior, and senior volleyball player from the university, as well as two coaches. “They welcomed me with open arms and their personalities fit mine to a T.” At the end of her tour, Koker was offered a full ride scholarship to attend and play volleyball for Ashland University: “I’m going back to meet with the professor of major digital media and broadcasting this Thursday because I am seriously considering attending the school.”
Sara Vaughan (‘23) is extremely thankful for the opportunities she has been given this past year. This is Sara's freshman year and she has participated in volleyball and looks forward to cheerleading and travel volleyball. “I am so thankful for my support system. My family is always at my games, whether I'm playing or on the bench.” She continues by saying, “I have always felt encouraged when I needed it most and when I am at my highest points.”
Julia West (‘20) has gone through rough stuff this year with her grandpa having a heart attack. West says that she is, “Just thankful that her family is healthy and that [her] grandpa has recovered well in time to celebrate and enjoy the holidays with his family.”
It seems that, while athletes are grateful in this Season of Thanks for opportunities to play, they are also always pointing back to family and the support they feel. I know, coming off my last season of volleyball, that I’ve never been more grateful for the support I constantly feel from my friends and my whole family. No matter what you’re personally thankful for this year, don’t miss the opportunity to say “thanks” to the people you love.
- Claire Wasem (‘20) is assistant print editor of The Viking Vault. [email protected]
By: Claire Wasem
NORTHRIDGE - Thanksgiving is coming up, and people are getting excited about the holidays. One thing to think about this time of year is what you’re thankful for.
Sydney Koker (‘19) is thankful for her full ride to Ashland this season. “I really like the campus. It is super small and everything is within walking distance.” Koker continues to explain, “The farthest walk is around seven minutes between buildings.”
Koker likes the housing aspects of Ashland, as well. “The dorms are pretty small, but there are athletes’ rooms so people aren't in the dorms that much,” she says. When Koker went to visit Ashland she was accompanied by a freshman, junior, and senior volleyball player from the university, as well as two coaches. “They welcomed me with open arms and their personalities fit mine to a T.” At the end of her tour, Koker was offered a full ride scholarship to attend and play volleyball for Ashland University: “I’m going back to meet with the professor of major digital media and broadcasting this Thursday because I am seriously considering attending the school.”
Sara Vaughan (‘23) is extremely thankful for the opportunities she has been given this past year. This is Sara's freshman year and she has participated in volleyball and looks forward to cheerleading and travel volleyball. “I am so thankful for my support system. My family is always at my games, whether I'm playing or on the bench.” She continues by saying, “I have always felt encouraged when I needed it most and when I am at my highest points.”
Julia West (‘20) has gone through rough stuff this year with her grandpa having a heart attack. West says that she is, “Just thankful that her family is healthy and that [her] grandpa has recovered well in time to celebrate and enjoy the holidays with his family.”
It seems that, while athletes are grateful in this Season of Thanks for opportunities to play, they are also always pointing back to family and the support they feel. I know, coming off my last season of volleyball, that I’ve never been more grateful for the support I constantly feel from my friends and my whole family. No matter what you’re personally thankful for this year, don’t miss the opportunity to say “thanks” to the people you love.
- Claire Wasem (‘20) is assistant print editor of The Viking Vault. [email protected]
Thanksgiving Traditions
By: Darian Dick
Many families celebrate Thanksgiving in the comfort of their own home or close relatives’ homes, enjoying the meals that have taken hours to prepare. But the traditions are one of the main reasons the holiday is so memorable.
Claire Shank (‘22) says, “My parents host Thanksgiving every year and all my family comes for the day. We eat dinner and then watch some football before going outside to shoot guns. Then my sisters and I go Black Friday shopping every year once all my family leaves.”
Spending the holiday in a cabin in Wisconsin has been a tradition for as long as Hadley Stermer (‘21), has remembered. “My cousins and I all get to enjoy the road trip there and then spend the whole weekend celebrating and eating,” Stermer says.
Rachael Webb (‘21) is celebrating Christmas and Thanksgiving at once this year. “My family comes from Texas, so it’s easier to do both at once. We all run a 5K in the morning and then my family of around fifteen volunteers at a homeless shelter to help with their Thanksgiving. After that we all go back to my house for our dinner and to hang out.”
Spending the holidays with family volunteering is what seems to make it so enjoyable. Webb says, “If you have the chance to give back to others, you should take it. My favorite part is watching the excitement of them getting to eat while being with my family because it feels good knowing that they get to enjoy the holiday as well.”
- Darian Dick is a senior spotlight editor for the Viking Vault. [email protected]
By: Darian Dick
Many families celebrate Thanksgiving in the comfort of their own home or close relatives’ homes, enjoying the meals that have taken hours to prepare. But the traditions are one of the main reasons the holiday is so memorable.
Claire Shank (‘22) says, “My parents host Thanksgiving every year and all my family comes for the day. We eat dinner and then watch some football before going outside to shoot guns. Then my sisters and I go Black Friday shopping every year once all my family leaves.”
Spending the holiday in a cabin in Wisconsin has been a tradition for as long as Hadley Stermer (‘21), has remembered. “My cousins and I all get to enjoy the road trip there and then spend the whole weekend celebrating and eating,” Stermer says.
Rachael Webb (‘21) is celebrating Christmas and Thanksgiving at once this year. “My family comes from Texas, so it’s easier to do both at once. We all run a 5K in the morning and then my family of around fifteen volunteers at a homeless shelter to help with their Thanksgiving. After that we all go back to my house for our dinner and to hang out.”
Spending the holidays with family volunteering is what seems to make it so enjoyable. Webb says, “If you have the chance to give back to others, you should take it. My favorite part is watching the excitement of them getting to eat while being with my family because it feels good knowing that they get to enjoy the holiday as well.”
- Darian Dick is a senior spotlight editor for the Viking Vault. [email protected]
Generations of Pumpkin Pie
By: Megan Payne
Thanksgiving is coming quite quickly and with that comes the thought of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin decorations, and most importantly, pumpkin pie. The thought of the warm, spice filled, burnt orange pie makes me and everyone else in my family ecstatic for this time of year.
Every year my grandma makes around 10 pumpkin pies, and within three days of Thanksgiving celebrations, the pies are all gone. They are a huge hit every year, and I don’t think that we could have a family Thanksgiving without them.
The recipe was created by my great-grandmother almost 100 years ago. She was messing around in the kitchen around Thanksgiving time and looking for things to make for the feast. Her mother was sick at the time and her family didn’t have a lot of money, so they had to make dishes out of the ingredients that she already had at home. She whipped up this delicious pumpkin pie, and our family has never looked back. I know the readers will enjoy this special recipe from a couple of special women just as much as I do.
Great Grandma Elizabeth’s Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Makes 2 pies, each with 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
3 ½ cups of pumpkin
1 ½ cups of white granulated sugar
4 eggs
4 tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
½ teaspoon of ginger
1 teaspoon of nutmeg
1 teaspoon of salt
3 cups of hot milk
2 (9 inch) prepared refrigerated pie crusts
DIRECTIONS:
Line the bottom of 2 (9 inch) pie pans with the prepared crusts.
Mix together all of the filling ingredients EXCEPT the hot milk. Gradually mix in milk until filling is combined and smooth. Pour into the 2 pie crusts.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15-18 minutes.
Reduce the heat to 350 and bake for 30 more minutes.
Allow pie to cool before serving.
- Megan Payne (‘20) is the chief web editor for The Viking Vault.
By: Megan Payne
Thanksgiving is coming quite quickly and with that comes the thought of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin decorations, and most importantly, pumpkin pie. The thought of the warm, spice filled, burnt orange pie makes me and everyone else in my family ecstatic for this time of year.
Every year my grandma makes around 10 pumpkin pies, and within three days of Thanksgiving celebrations, the pies are all gone. They are a huge hit every year, and I don’t think that we could have a family Thanksgiving without them.
The recipe was created by my great-grandmother almost 100 years ago. She was messing around in the kitchen around Thanksgiving time and looking for things to make for the feast. Her mother was sick at the time and her family didn’t have a lot of money, so they had to make dishes out of the ingredients that she already had at home. She whipped up this delicious pumpkin pie, and our family has never looked back. I know the readers will enjoy this special recipe from a couple of special women just as much as I do.
Great Grandma Elizabeth’s Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Makes 2 pies, each with 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
3 ½ cups of pumpkin
1 ½ cups of white granulated sugar
4 eggs
4 tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
½ teaspoon of ginger
1 teaspoon of nutmeg
1 teaspoon of salt
3 cups of hot milk
2 (9 inch) prepared refrigerated pie crusts
DIRECTIONS:
Line the bottom of 2 (9 inch) pie pans with the prepared crusts.
Mix together all of the filling ingredients EXCEPT the hot milk. Gradually mix in milk until filling is combined and smooth. Pour into the 2 pie crusts.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15-18 minutes.
Reduce the heat to 350 and bake for 30 more minutes.
Allow pie to cool before serving.
- Megan Payne (‘20) is the chief web editor for The Viking Vault.