von Beringe - In The Zona
von Beringe - In The Zona von Beringe - In The Zona
Overseas&under-par! STORY AND INTERVIEW BY LEAH MOTZKIN JUNIOR - PHOENIX COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL W Konstantin von Beringe CrasePhoto hile faced with the difficulty of living alone and attending a highly academic school thousands of miles from his family, Konstantin has excelled as a golfer and a community leader. He has remained dedicated to his golf goals, working with coach John Stahlschmidt at PGA Tour Golf Academy at TPC Scottsdale. At school, Konstantin is the captain of the PCDS golf team and founder of the investment club. Konstantin recently sat down with his classmate Leah Motzkin to answer questions about his golf career, his move to America, his schooling, and his life in Phoenix. LEAH: At what age did you know that you wanted to be a golfer KONSTANTIN: I started playing golf when I was about four years old. My dad and I always practiced in the garden, hit over and below trees and tried to hit windows with plastic balls. When I was ten years old, I started to take golf more seriously and began playing tournaments. When I was fourteen, I decided to move to the United States to pursue my golf goals. LEAH: What do you love about golf KONSTANTIN: First of all, I like that while it is mostly an individual sport, if one wants to add the aspect of a team, then that works just fine, as well. Also, it is mentally as well as physically challenging and the thought of every shot counting adds stimulating pressure. And of course, I always enjoy being outdoors. LEAH: What was 20 • In the Zona! the hardest adjustment that you had to make KONSTANTIN: It was definitely hard to come to the U.S. without my parents. In the beginning I missed them a lot, especially when golf wasn’t going the way I wanted it to. But after a while, I got used to it. The language was not too hard for me, as I had already studied it. Though, the American culture is pretty different. The food, the way people behave—I had to adjust so I wouldn’t stand out too much. LEAH: On the same note, what do you miss most about Switzerland KONSTANTIN: Mostly my family, as well as my home. Also, I miss the different kind of food that is served in Switzerland. LEAH: Are you related to the famous Captain Robert von Beringe, who discovered the mountain gorilla KONSTANTIN: Yes, he was my great-grandfather. As of today, my dad is very engaged in the protection of the Mountain Gorillas and has even made a movie about Robert von Beringe and the Gorillas. I am planning on contributing to their protection as well. LEAH: Word around the PCDS campus is that you always have the best Swiss chocolate, is this true KONSTANTIN: Yes, definitely. Whenever my parents visit from Switzerland they bring over many pounds of chocolate, fresh from the factory. LEAH: Have you enjoyed attending PCDS PCDS Junior from Switzerland Born in Düsseldorf, Germany and having lived in both Austria and Switzerland, Phoenix Country Day School junior Konstantin von Beringe is a word-class golfer who came to Arizona to pursue his golf career. KONSTANTIN: Yes, it’s a great school, both academically demanding and filled with great people all around. For example, the teachers are very friendly, as well as helpful. LEAH: What do you like about PCDS KONSTANTIN: I enjoy the high level of academics and the small classroom sizes. Also, I really like our campus and think that the school has a great variety of courses to offer. LEAH: As captain of the PCDS golf team, how does the outlook seem for the season “I think we (PCDS) have a pretty solid team, similarly to last year. I am confident that we will go to the Team State Championship...” KONSTANTIN: I think we have a pretty solid team, similarly to last year. I am confident that we will go to the Team State Championship, and I am sure we have players that can compete for the individual championship as well. LEAH: You placed first at the 2A/3A Metro Region golf tournament in 2010. How did you feel after winning KONSTANTIN: It was a great feeling, especially since it was my first season on the team. I had two awesome days with the team and want to thank them, as well. The second round was especially exciting due to a 69 (3 under par), which made me very happy.
- Page 2 and 3: LEAH: Which are your favorite golf
Overseas&under-par!<br />
STORY AND INTERVIEW BY LEAH MOTZKIN<br />
JUNIOR - PHOENIX COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL<br />
W<br />
Konstantin<br />
<strong>von</strong> <strong>Beringe</strong><br />
CrasePhoto<br />
hile faced with the difficulty of living alone and attending a<br />
highly academic school thousands of miles from his family,<br />
Konstantin has excelled as a golfer and a community leader.<br />
He has remained dedicated to his golf goals, working with coach<br />
John Stahlschmidt at PGA Tour Golf Academy at TPC Scottsdale. At<br />
school, Konstantin is the captain of the PCDS golf team and founder<br />
of the investment club. Konstantin recently sat down with his classmate<br />
Leah Motzkin to answer questions about his golf career, his<br />
move to America, his schooling, and his life in Phoenix.<br />
LEAH: At what age did you know that you wanted to be a golfer<br />
KONSTANTIN: I started playing golf when I was about four years old. My<br />
dad and I always practiced in the garden, hit over and below trees and tried<br />
to hit windows with plastic balls. When I was ten years old, I started to take<br />
golf more seriously and began playing tournaments. When I was fourteen,<br />
I decided to move to the United States to pursue my golf goals. LEAH:<br />
What do you love about golf KONSTANTIN: First of all, I like that while<br />
it is mostly an individual sport, if one wants to add the aspect of a team,<br />
then that works just fine, as well. Also, it is mentally as well as physically<br />
challenging and the thought of every shot counting adds stimulating<br />
pressure. And of course, I always enjoy being outdoors. LEAH: What was<br />
20 • <strong>In</strong> the <strong>Zona</strong>!<br />
the hardest adjustment that you had to make KONSTANTIN: It was<br />
definitely hard to come to the U.S. without my parents. <strong>In</strong> the beginning<br />
I missed them a lot, especially when golf wasn’t going the way I wanted it<br />
to. But after a while, I got used to it. <strong>The</strong> language was not too hard for me,<br />
as I had already studied it. Though, the American culture is pretty different.<br />
<strong>The</strong> food, the way people behave—I had to adjust so I wouldn’t stand<br />
out too much. LEAH: On the same note, what do you miss most about<br />
Switzerland KONSTANTIN: Mostly my family, as well as my home. Also,<br />
I miss the different kind of food that is served in Switzerland. LEAH: Are<br />
you related to the famous Captain Robert <strong>von</strong> <strong>Beringe</strong>, who discovered the<br />
mountain gorilla KONSTANTIN: Yes, he was my great-grandfather. As of<br />
today, my dad is very engaged in the protection of the Mountain Gorillas<br />
and has even made a movie about Robert <strong>von</strong> <strong>Beringe</strong> and the Gorillas.<br />
I am planning on contributing to their protection as well. LEAH: Word<br />
around the PCDS campus is that you always have the best Swiss chocolate,<br />
is this true KONSTANTIN: Yes, definitely. Whenever my parents visit from<br />
Switzerland they bring over many pounds of chocolate, fresh from the<br />
factory. LEAH: Have you enjoyed attending PCDS<br />
PCDS Junior<br />
from Switzerland<br />
Born in Düsseldorf, Germany and having<br />
lived in both Austria and Switzerland, Phoenix<br />
Country Day School junior Konstantin<br />
<strong>von</strong> <strong>Beringe</strong> is a word-class golfer who came<br />
to Arizona to pursue his golf career.<br />
KONSTANTIN: Yes, it’s a great school, both academically demanding<br />
and filled with great people all around. For example, the teachers are<br />
very friendly, as well as helpful. LEAH: What do you like about PCDS<br />
KONSTANTIN: I enjoy the high level of academics and the small classroom<br />
sizes. Also, I really like our campus and think that the school has a great<br />
variety of courses to offer. LEAH: As captain of the PCDS golf team, how<br />
does the outlook seem for the season<br />
“I think we (PCDS) have a pretty solid team,<br />
similarly to last year. I am confident that we<br />
will go to the Team State Championship...”<br />
KONSTANTIN: I think we have a pretty solid team, similarly to last year.<br />
I am confident that we will go to the Team State Championship, and I am<br />
sure we have players that can compete for the individual championship as<br />
well. LEAH: You placed first at the 2A/3A Metro Region golf tournament in<br />
2010. How did you feel after winning KONSTANTIN: It was a great feeling,<br />
especially since it was my first season on the team. I had two awesome<br />
days with the team and want to thank them, as well. <strong>The</strong> second round was<br />
especially exciting due to a 69 (3 under par), which made me very happy.
LEAH: Which are your favorite golf courses in Arizona KONSTANTIN: My<br />
favorites are TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, We Ko Pa, and Whirlwind. LEAH:<br />
What spots in Switzerland do you recommend for tourists KONSTANTIN:<br />
Zurich is a great city, and anyone who likes skiing or snowboarding<br />
should visit the Alps. LEAH: What are your favorite bands KONSTANTIN:<br />
Queen, Beatles, and Steppenwolf. LEAH: What’s your favorite subject<br />
KONSTANTIN: AP Art History. LEAH: Who’s your celebrity crush<br />
KONSTANTIN: Definitely Taylor Swift :)<br />
Luckily for us, Konstantin wants to stay in the United States<br />
for college. He plans on playing college-level golf and will<br />
decide from there about going professional. His golf talent aside,<br />
Konstantin is a community leader who will undoubtedly make<br />
great contributions to our society.<br />
ZONA reporter Leah Motzkin<br />
Leah Motzkin, a PCDS Junior, is the editor-in-chief of the schools’<br />
student-run publication, <strong>The</strong> Active Voice, and the schools’ Spanish<br />
magazine, En Este Momento. On PCDS campus, she is also<br />
involved in Student Senate, PCDS’s literary magazine Daybreaks,<br />
and Cultural Dance. Leah works as a staff member for azTeen<br />
Magazine and as an intern at AGUILA Youth Leadership <strong>In</strong>stitute.<br />
Leah<br />
PCDS<br />
Sophomore<br />
“We shape our buildings,<br />
thereafter they shape us.”<br />
~ WINSTON CHURCHILL<br />
CELEBRATING<br />
years 50 of excellence<br />
Phoenix Country Day School<br />
<br />
Garron<br />
RODGERS<br />
PCDS Sophomore<br />
Garron Rodgers is a gifted student and<br />
graphic designer at Phoenix Country Day<br />
heidi s pease<br />
School. Only a sophomore in high school, photographer<br />
he already has plans to someday become<br />
480 540 2126<br />
a <strong>The</strong>med Entertainment Engineer. “<strong>The</strong>y<br />
are the ones that design themed parks, heidi s pease<br />
photographer<br />
rides, hotels, shows and more!” explains<br />
Garron. Turn the page to read more<br />
about this super-creative kid...<br />
heidipease@cox.net<br />
480 540 2126<br />
Mr. Creative -<br />
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heidi s pease<br />
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480 540 2126 • heidipease@cox.net<br />
heidi s pease<br />
photographer
1.<br />
Garron’s Work - 1. <strong>The</strong> “Active Voice” logo was designed in the summer 2010<br />
for PCDS’s High School newspaper: “<strong>The</strong> Active Voice.” 2. <strong>The</strong> “Our Town” poster<br />
was created in September 2010 for the Upper School fall play of “Our Town.”<br />
ZONA: How long have you been doing graphic design and how did you get<br />
started GARRON: I have been interested in design since I was in elementary<br />
school. I used to design posters and brochures for all of my presentations<br />
in school. I eventually took a graphic design class at PCDS in the summer<br />
with Mrs. Katie Zink where I learned how to use Photoshop and I learned<br />
the principles of layout. Ever since then, my interest in using graphic design<br />
elements and composition has been focused on creating the highest possible<br />
impact. ZONA: What computer programs do you use to do your design Which<br />
one is your favorite Are you a Mac or a PC guy GARRON: I am definitely<br />
a Mac guy. I appreciate the design of Apple’s products and the simplicity<br />
of their user interface. I also admire how Apple packages their products—<br />
each a work of art! I have a 15” MacBook Pro and the programs I can’t live<br />
without are Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and <strong>In</strong>Design. I use Photoshop to<br />
create and edit pictures; Illustrator to create vector images, logos, and poster<br />
elements; and <strong>In</strong>Design to put everything together. ZONA: Tell us about the<br />
projects you have done for your school and how you went about getting those<br />
projects GARRON: I have done many design projects for my school. One of<br />
my favorite things to design is posters and logos. I have designed an eagle<br />
logo for <strong>The</strong> Active Voice, PCDS’s student newspaper. I have also done posters<br />
for fundraisers, plays and T-shirts. I don’t normally seek out design projects,<br />
they tend to find me! People around campus will approach me and ask me to<br />
design something for them, knowing it’s something I enjoy doing.<br />
I am also the co-layout editor for the Phoenician, our school’s yearbook. We<br />
have a great staff and an excellent editor and we have all been working very<br />
hard on this yearbook. I hope the student body enjoys it! We’ve dedicated<br />
thousands of hours (and numerous Friday nights!) working on this project.<br />
We want this yearbook to be memorable, as it commemorates PCDS’s 50th<br />
Anniversary, so we are working extra hard to make it a special piece of work.<br />
3.<br />
Garron’s Work - 3. <strong>The</strong> “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” poster was<br />
designed in January 2011 for PCDS’s spring musical 4. <strong>The</strong> “Head in a Jar” costume<br />
was designed by me in October 2009. I used a backpack frame and cardboard<br />
to create the second body. <strong>The</strong> illusion is that the man’s head (my head) is<br />
dismantled from his body and he now carries it around in a jar. I won the “Best<br />
Halloween Costume” award.<br />
22 • <strong>In</strong> the <strong>Zona</strong>!<br />
2.<br />
4.<br />
ZONA: What do you plan on doing with your graphic design skills<br />
Where do you see yourself in 5 years GARRON: <strong>In</strong> five years I see myself<br />
in a college—but I don’t know which. I have just started with my college<br />
planning. When I am out of college, I eventually want to be a themed<br />
entertainment engineer. <strong>The</strong>y are the ones that design themed parks,<br />
rides, hotels, shows and more! I am really interested in creating themed<br />
spaces that transport the guests into different time periods and different<br />
atmospheres. I believe in this career, I can still use my graphic design skills<br />
and translate them to architectural spaces and attractions. ZONA: Where<br />
do you get your ideas What inspires you to do your designs GARRON: I<br />
get ideas from books, other artist’s work, and the internet. <strong>In</strong> order to come<br />
up with designs I usually have to brainstorm and draw my ideas. One of my<br />
favorite tools on the web is Stumble Upon. I use it almost every day and I<br />
enjoy seeing other people’s ideas and projects.<br />
“One of my favorite<br />
things to do is<br />
to find a new<br />
Photoshop tutorial<br />
and learn new<br />
techniques. I just<br />
get in the zone and<br />
find something fun<br />
to design.”<br />
–Garron Rodgers<br />
ZONA: Where do you do most of your designing Is there a special environment<br />
that makes you super creative GARRON: I do most of my designing at my<br />
desk during the weekend. One of my favorite things to do is to find a new<br />
Photoshop tutorial and learn new techniques. I just get in the zone and find<br />
something fun to design. I spend lots of time with my family in San Diego<br />
and my family enjoys helping me with my projects. A few years ago I filmed<br />
my cousins heads against a black background and then used my projector<br />
to project their faces on a 3D wig head. It created the illusion that the<br />
wig heads were talking. ZONA: Have you ever done any family Christmas<br />
cards, or anything like that GARRON: I have lots of fun designing cards—<br />
especially pop-up cards. I have many pop-up designs and I always find<br />
new ones to make. This Christmas I designed a card where a bouquet of<br />
poinsettias popped up when you opened the card. I can’t wait to design<br />
another card this Christmas.<br />
One of my favorite tools is the X-acto knife. I use it for everything, and when<br />
serious cutting jobs are required, I use my Graphtec Craft Robo. It is basically<br />
a printer, but instead of ink, it has a sharp knife that cuts the paper. I create<br />
the designs in Adobe Illustrator and then I send it to the Craft Robo and<br />
seconds later I have a perfectly cut intricate shape. ZONA: What’s your favorite<br />
work of art What’s your favorite advertising campaign on TV What’s the most<br />
annoying commercial on TV GARRON: My favorite work of art is the optical<br />
illusion water fountain in the “Wrong Garden” created by James Dyson. It is a<br />
water fountain where the water looks as though it is flowing up hill and over<br />
flowing. My favorite design commercials are from Apple. I like how classy<br />
they are. My favorite funny commercials are the Dorito’s commercials from<br />
the Super Bowl. <strong>The</strong> commercials that are the most annoying are the Geiko<br />
commercials. <strong>The</strong> first one was funny but the next hundred were not. ZONA:<br />
I heard you were working on a project at your home projecting images on water.<br />
Can you please tell us about that GARRON: Yes, I have been experimenting<br />
with water engineering. I am fascinated with fountains. I have seen many<br />
water screens, (mainly at Disneyland water shows) and I am trying to create<br />
a portable water screen system. A water screen is basically a vertical sheet<br />
of water that you can rear-project images and movies on to. It will appear as<br />
though the images are floating in mid-air. I have successfully created a water<br />
screen from a 180-degree sprinkler but I have yet to find a pump powerful<br />
enough to recirculate the water.