Summer Whillock is a sophomore at Stevens
High School in Rapid City. Her favorite sport
is volleyball but she is also active in soccer,
softball and basketball. She loves the outdoors
and anything that involves nature such as
snowboarding, water-skiing, hiking and camping
with her family. Summer likes to spend time
with family and friends. Summers' grandmother
was raised in Germany and this influenced her
decision to take this language in high school.
School is very important to her and she has
maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her first two
years of high school. Summer plans to study
chemical engineering in college. Summer was
honored and presented with a certificate at an
awards ceremony in her school on June 5 as the
1st place winner of the 2009 Black Hills Chapter
youth essay contest.
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Broken Promises
Catherine the Great had a tedious task ahead
For her husband was now cold and dead
She needed a way to feed the Russian cities
She didn’t need to look to her committees
For her German heritage now bled through
She had an idea, she knew just what to do
The German farmers were excellent at their skill
Her new idea gave her spine a tingling chill
She published a manifesto to spread the word
She didn’t want her thoughts to be considered absurd
The Germans had now been officially invited
The flame of success will hopefully be reignited
Catherine’s offer was enticing
Many responded in search for the icing
To frost their normal lives with
Their answers came forthwith
Soon enough they were on their way
The land up for grabs was quite a buffet
Freedom of religion was a piece of the puzzle
They didn’t want their religious views to have a muzzle
No taxes for a thirty year time
Their chances of success were starting to climb
No military service was required here
No longer foggy their visions were, crystal clear they appear
The first arrivals settled along the Volga River
They hoped her promises weren’t like a sliver
To be present for a little bit
And then taken out with little nit and grit
The move was risky
And the people grew frisky
All the hype didn’t last too long
The mood now was a soft gentle song
Catherine the Great was no longer in power
Her grandson took over the tower
All her promises were dead and gone
No easy lifestyle to dote upon
Many immigrated to foreign lands
They didn’t want to be given demanding commands
The few that stayed weren’t treated with care
They were drowning in a sea of despair
The Russian revolution was breaking them down
Many wished they would have fled town
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