The Eagles’ Volume 32 Mills E. Godwin High School Issue 7 2101 Pump Road March 10, 2014 Richmond, Virginia 23238 Eyrie Priceless INSIDE Two long-time Eagles to retire Elizabeth Dudley Assistant Editor-in-chief Godwin will be losing two familiar faces next school year. Longtime English teacher Mary Bruner and custodian Phuong Nguyen have declared their Fashion marketing, retirements and will not be to pg. 2 returning to Godwin next fall. Bruner has taught for 32 years. She previously worked at Highland Springs High School, St. Bridget’s, and Tuckahoe Middle before coming to Godwin in 1991, where she has stayed for 23 years. Her involvement in the God- win community has included a photo by Victor Macklin photo by Victor Macklin variety of activities. Bruner spon- Nguyen (l) says hello to Bruner (r) helps senior Virginia Lee with an essay in the sored the Battle of the Brains, junior Denzel Coleman. Godwin Writing Center. Forensics team, and the SCA. Poetry out loud, pg. 2 As SCA sponsor, Bruner had example of the right way to raise who helped me grow a lot as Nguyen was a lieutenant in the the responsibility of running the a family. an English student,” said senior South Vietnamese army. homecoming festivities- rain or She loves her children and Kate Tyre. In 1975, Nguyen was impris- shine. grandchildren and is a perfect With her retirement, Bruner oned in an infamous postwar Throughout her 16 years as leader of her family,” said Se- plans to spend time with her “re-education camps.” sponsor, Bruner helped her offi- idenberg. grandchildren and take up more He was kept there for almost cers seeks and gain permission Aside from being an active volunteer opportunities. seven years, separated from his to begin the Mr. MG Contest, part of the Godwin community, “I hope to stay involved with wife and daughter. sponsor the Spirit Week 5K, Bruner is a mother of three chil- Godwin and continue to teach After his release, Nguyen and originate the student-teacher dren. David, Jay, and Bridget are the SAT Prep Course at the his wife, Tuyed Ngo, immigrated basketball game, support the all Douglas Freeman graduates. University of Richmond and the to the United States in 1992. Saxon Shoe Drive to help “Teaching at Godwin offered Steward School,” said Bruner. Their daughter continues to live support the Salvation Army, a unique experience to the moth- Principal Beth Armbruster in Vietnam with her husband and and hold Powder Puff football er of three Freeman athletes,” said, “Mary Bruner is the teacher three children. games. said Bruner. I want to be! Every few years, Nguyen CiCi’s Pizza chal- After the passing of Godwin David, the eldest, attended “She is amazing in the class- returns to his homeland to visit lenge, pg. 11 senior Lucy Saladino in 2009, the United States Naval Acade- room, but her mark on Godwin his family. Bruner and the SCA sponsors my and is now Lt. Commander is much farther reaching than “The first thing I will do in my put together a Mini Marathon and ER doctor in the navy sta- those four walls. We will all truly retirement is to visit my family in Dance in honor of Saladino. tioned in San Diego with his wife miss her presence and influ- South Vietnam,” said Nguyen. The event raised several and two children. ence, and I will miss her advice Nguyen said he will miss thousand dollars which were Jay, the middle child, attend- and insight.” everything about Godwin: the donated in Saladino’s name. ed Virginia Tech on a tennis Another longtime Godwin students, teachers, and his co- Along with her other ex- scholarship. He now lives with staffer, Phong Nguyen will be workers. tracurriculars, Bruner helped his wife and three children in leaving this spring. “Mr. Nguyen can literally light coach the girl’s tennis team for Charleston, S.C. where he is He has been a part of the up a person’s day with his warm 10 years. the men’s tennis coach at the custodial staff for almost 20 greetings and kind words. “Mrs. Bruner is one of the College of Charleston. years and is always heavily “As a man who has literal- finest human beings I’ve been Bridget, the youngest, also involved in the Godwin com- ly survived some of the most around. I was lucky to have her attended Virginia Tech on a ten- munity. challenging of tribulations, he as my assistant coach because nis scholarship. She continues Nguyen can be found circu- has the model positive attitude Spring activities, pg. I learned so much from her. She to live in Richmond where she lating around the cafeteria at and is an example we should all 14 never took credit for the suc- now serves as the Administrator lunch time offering kind words to follow. We will truly miss him,” cesses of the team but always of the Richmond Tennis Asso- students and passing teachers. said Armbruster. directing it towards the players ciation. “I can always count on Mr. Eagles Eyrie will cover other or me,” said Mark Seidenberg, Bridget taught at Freeman’s Nguyen to brighten my day,” said staff departures later in the year. girl’s tennis team coach. Leadership Center for four year junior Laralin Roland, “His smile Table of Contents Bruner continues to partic- until she decided to remain at is contagious and he makes a See addtional ipate with the team even after home with her two sons. She will point to call students by their News.................2 retiring her position as assistant become a member of Freeman’s name.” story “English coach. Athletic Hall of Fame in May. A tradition for Nguyen is sing- Sports........4-7, 10 Once a year, after practice, “Those seven grandchildren ing at the Winter Assembly. teacher” on Center...............8 she rewards the team with home will hopefully play a part in help- Every year students and staff page 2 about Features..........11 cooked pasta and cookies at her ing me find fun things to do when are blown away by the perfor- house. I retire,” said Bruner. mance. “Ave Maria” is one of his Flair.................14 Seidenberg and Bruner re- Bruner was the first to teach signature pieces. Mary Bruner’s Opinion............15 main close friends and can be AP Language at Godwin. The “I have been singing at the additional out of spotted power walking together class began in 2007 and contin- Winter Assembly for about 10 Rearview...........16 during most fifth periods. ues to be a popular course for years. That will be something I school activities. “Mrs. Bruner has helped me juniors. miss a lot,” said Nguyen. be a better father by setting an “She’s an amazing teacher During the Vietnam War, PAGE 2 NEWS 10 MARCH 2014 Godwin fashion marketing students take classes at VCU years of age and own a porta- “Within just a few classes, I Margarreta Sackor ble sewing machine. was taught to sew a bag and I Staff Writer The class is open to anyone couldn’t even work the machine Students of an early bird who is able to meet the require- class at Godwin were recently ments and have an interest in Bacskocky provided the stu- invited to take classes at a fashion and sewing. dents with challenging projects local university. Junior Fatima Rodriguez such as making a handbag Business and marketing and senior Morgan Keller, de- and a dress by hand. During teacher Deborah Ross’ fashion cided to take up the offer. For the process, the students were marketing students were given $350, the students learned how taught to have patience while the opportunity to take sewing to professionally sew from an sewing garments. classes at the Arts Department expert designer. Bacskocky pushes the at Virginia Commonwealth The six weeks class was students to come out of the University (VCU). taught by Angela Bacskocky, comfort zone and grow as an The sewing classes were who starred on the TV show- artist. offered to Ross’ fashion mar- Project Runway season 13. Bacskocky allows the stu- keting class after their trip to “This is a great opportunity dents to appreciate the working VCU. The classes were held and I think that the students from Jan. 25 to March 8 on can learn a lot from Angela,” whenever creating a garment. Saturday mornings from 10:00 said Ross. The course is ideal for peo- to 12:00 p.m. Bacskocky has interned with ple already planning on attend- Not only does the class designer Alexander McQueen ing VCU for creative fashion or teach you how to sew, but it and has been featured in Teen fashion marketing. also teaches how to recognize Vogue. “This class has made me different patterns, and how to She has worked with many appreciate the construction make your own pattern and big names in the business and of garments just as much as photo Victor Macklin own clothes. even has her produced fashion Keller and Rodriguez were two students who participated Students who chose to take lines of her own, such as Nest clothing,” said Keller. the class must be at least 15 and Ghost. in the class this year. Godwin junior particpates in Poetry Out Loud regionals Madeline Bryson Henrico High School, George At the end of the compe- News editor Wythe High School, Open - On February 20, Virginia’s High School, Trinity Episcopal nounced. The only ones who Region 5B Competition with School, and Saint Christopher’s would continue forward from Poetry Out Loud occurred School.