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Landon Weimar of Glide, 16, is racking up numerous honors and accomplishments at Glide High School.He has been chosen to attend a leadership conference in Washington, D.C., if the family can raise the necessary funding.
So you know ...
Those wanting to help Glidestudent Landon Weimar attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., can contribute to the Landon Weimar NYLC Fund at Oregon Pacific Bank, 2555 N.W. Edenbower Blvd., Roseburg.
GLIDE – A phoenix might be a better mascot for the Glide Wildcats, given their tendency to rise up, whether it's from a fire at the high school or the lack of a strong arm on the gridiron.
This year, with construction continuing at the high school, a new leader emerged in Landon Weimar to take the snaps and help the eastern Douglas County school to its first playoff berth since 2005.
The 16-year-old high school junior passed for nearly 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for 10 touchdowns. He received second-team all-Sunset League honors for his performance this season.
More than a strong force on the field, Weimar is also a top student, with a grade point average of 3.89. He's also involved in student government and the school paper, plays basketball and makes time for volunteer activities when he can.
Recently, the polite, soft-spoken Glide boy and another standout Glide student were nominated to attend the National Young Leaders Conference, a weeklong congressional youth leadership event to be held in Washington, D.C., next spring.
His football coach, Jeff Freeman, said he hadn't heard about the opportunity, but he wasn't surprised either.
“He's an intelligent kid,” he said Sunday. “His GPA is just part of it.”
The coach said the young man is a leader on and off the field, but doesn't hog the spotlight.
“He makes sure the underclassman, the freshman and sophomores, feel part of the team, that everyone feels welcome,” Freeman said.
On Friday, Weimar talked about the opportunity, which brings high school students from around the country together to introduce them to the nation's capital, congressional leaders and journalists, and global and national issues.
“I just think it would be a good experience. Kind of see the government from a higher point than just Glide, be close to where all the decisions are made for this country,” he said. “It's the pinnacle of our government over there and I've never really got a chance to see anything like that, except to go to Salem.”
The students, who come in several waves, also get to practice what they learn about the political process when they hold a model congressional hearing.
Weimar has experience attending leadership events beyond Glide. While in the eighth grade, he competed in the mock congressional hearing, doing so well at the local school he went on to compete at the state level in Salem.
Weimar's father, Thomas Weimar, has been stumping hard for his son so that the young man can attend the conference. The Weimars estimate it will cost $2,200 for airfare and other costs to attend the conference; the total is beyond what the family can afford at this time.
Until November 2008, Thomas Weimar was a graphic designer at FCC Commercial Furniture. But when the company downsized, he lost his job.
The Glide man just completed getting licensed as a commercial truck driver, which he said is far outside of his field, but one of the few areas of the local economy that's growing.
“It's been a tough year,” he said, adding that his son's attitude throughout has been admirable. “He doesn't complain, he's one that makes do.”
Weimar credited his parents for fostering such an attitude in him.
“They taught me that if things are tough, you've got to move on,” he said. Whatever he can pick up, whether it's bake sales or odd jobs, Weimar is doing what he can to earn some money for the trip, too.
On Thursday, Thomas Weimar spoke with managers at Oregon Pacific Bank and was able to open an account to which donations can be made. The fund is called the Landon Weimar NYLC Fund.
“If I can do this for (Landon), I'll just feel like a great parent,” he said of helping his son garner the needed funds.
The Weimar family has to notify the NYLC organization by Dec. 18 and pay a portion of the participation fee if he decides to attend.
If he does get to go, Weimar is looking forward to seeing the Washington Monument, the White House and the many museums NYLC touts on its itinerary.
He'll also have a chance to meet members of Congress, and he's got a few questions he wants to ask them.
“I kind of want to know what their views are on the economy: Is it getting better or worse?” he said. “Even though we're a small community (in Glide), we're still being affected by what they're doing so far away.”
• Sports Editor Tom Eggers contributed to this report. You can contact reporter DD Bixby at 957-4211 or by e-mail at dbixby@nrtoday.com.
This year, with construction continuing at the high school, a new leader emerged in Landon Weimar to take the snaps and help the eastern Douglas County school to its first playoff berth since 2005.
The 16-year-old high school junior passed for nearly 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for 10 touchdowns. He received second-team all-Sunset League honors for his performance this season.
More than a strong force on the field, Weimar is also a top student, with a grade point average of 3.89. He's also involved in student government and the school paper, plays basketball and makes time for volunteer activities when he can.
Recently, the polite, soft-spoken Glide boy and another standout Glide student were nominated to attend the National Young Leaders Conference, a weeklong congressional youth leadership event to be held in Washington, D.C., next spring.
His football coach, Jeff Freeman, said he hadn't heard about the opportunity, but he wasn't surprised either.
“He's an intelligent kid,” he said Sunday. “His GPA is just part of it.”
The coach said the young man is a leader on and off the field, but doesn't hog the spotlight.
“He makes sure the underclassman, the freshman and sophomores, feel part of the team, that everyone feels welcome,” Freeman said.
On Friday, Weimar talked about the opportunity, which brings high school students from around the country together to introduce them to the nation's capital, congressional leaders and journalists, and global and national issues.
“I just think it would be a good experience. Kind of see the government from a higher point than just Glide, be close to where all the decisions are made for this country,” he said. “It's the pinnacle of our government over there and I've never really got a chance to see anything like that, except to go to Salem.”
The students, who come in several waves, also get to practice what they learn about the political process when they hold a model congressional hearing.
Weimar has experience attending leadership events beyond Glide. While in the eighth grade, he competed in the mock congressional hearing, doing so well at the local school he went on to compete at the state level in Salem.
Weimar's father, Thomas Weimar, has been stumping hard for his son so that the young man can attend the conference. The Weimars estimate it will cost $2,200 for airfare and other costs to attend the conference; the total is beyond what the family can afford at this time.
Until November 2008, Thomas Weimar was a graphic designer at FCC Commercial Furniture. But when the company downsized, he lost his job.
The Glide man just completed getting licensed as a commercial truck driver, which he said is far outside of his field, but one of the few areas of the local economy that's growing.
“It's been a tough year,” he said, adding that his son's attitude throughout has been admirable. “He doesn't complain, he's one that makes do.”
Weimar credited his parents for fostering such an attitude in him.
“They taught me that if things are tough, you've got to move on,” he said. Whatever he can pick up, whether it's bake sales or odd jobs, Weimar is doing what he can to earn some money for the trip, too.
On Thursday, Thomas Weimar spoke with managers at Oregon Pacific Bank and was able to open an account to which donations can be made. The fund is called the Landon Weimar NYLC Fund.
“If I can do this for (Landon), I'll just feel like a great parent,” he said of helping his son garner the needed funds.
The Weimar family has to notify the NYLC organization by Dec. 18 and pay a portion of the participation fee if he decides to attend.
If he does get to go, Weimar is looking forward to seeing the Washington Monument, the White House and the many museums NYLC touts on its itinerary.
He'll also have a chance to meet members of Congress, and he's got a few questions he wants to ask them.
“I kind of want to know what their views are on the economy: Is it getting better or worse?” he said. “Even though we're a small community (in Glide), we're still being affected by what they're doing so far away.”
• Sports Editor Tom Eggers contributed to this report. You can contact reporter DD Bixby at 957-4211 or by e-mail at dbixby@nrtoday.com.
