Tag: Issue 10

What’s New This Year at the Balloon Fiesta

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Story and Photos by Hilary Broman

Staff Reporter

Dawn patrol balloons take off before the rest of the balloons to make sure the whether is safe for flying.
Famous Darth Vader special shape balloon taking off during the mass ascension.
Cloud hopping is when a balloon doesn’t have a basket instead there is a small bench or chair for the pilot and riders to sit.

The 45th annual Balloon Fiesta is underway and this year there are some new events taking place, according to Balloon Fiesta media officials.

This year’s theme is Desert Kaleidoscope, which describes Albuquerque’s perfect hot air ballooning climate.

The theme was chosen by Charles Goodman from Florida who won the 45th Balloon Fiesta theme contest.

Seventeen new special shape balloons are scheduled to make their debut at this year’s Fiesta.

Some of the new shapes scheduled to appear include: The Flying Gator from Brazil, the Cathedral from Dominican Republic, Mr. Clown from Germany and Mr. Fish from the United States.

During the Special Shape Rodeo and Glowdeo the balloons are set to be organized into seven themed categories; Pirate Ship theme, Love theme, Sports theme, Fireman theme, Police theme, Space theme and Ocean theme.

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Over 500 balloons fill the Albuquerque sky during the mass ascension.

This is the first year that the U.S. Women’s National Championship is set to take place.

Sixteen women will compete in the championship.

The final flight of the championship is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 5.

This is the Dominican Republic’s first year participating in the Balloon Fiesta and they will be represented in the Flight of Nations on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 7a.m.

The 19 other countries that will be represented in the Flight of Nations include: Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and more.

There are multiple ways to travel to the fiesta.

A free valet service will be offered to guests who ride a bike to the park as well as entry through an easy access bike trial and a safe bike storage area that will be staffed by volunteers.

Guests can also purchase a park and ride ticket that will cover the entry fee into the fiesta as well as a ride from a safe parking location to the park.

Park and ride tickets can be purchased online and cost $15 for adults (13-61), $12 for seniors (62 and older), $7 for children (6-12) and are free for children 5 and younger.

Guests can also purchase Rail Runner Express tickets on the weekends which include an all-day Rail Runner Express pass, shuttle to and from the Rail Runner station and the Balloon Fiesta park, and Balloon Fiesta event admission.

Tickets can be purchased on the Rio Metro website.

Tickets are $25 for adults (13-61), $20 for seniors (62 & older), $12 for children (6-12), and children ages five and under are free.

Events that are scheduled during the Balloon Fiesta include; Kids day, laser light shows, chainsaw carving demonstrations, special shape Glowdeo, fireworks shows, and more.

For a complete list of scheduled Balloon Fiesta events click here.

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The Route 66 balloon was one of the first to take off during the mass ascension. Leading the way with an American flag hanging from the basket.

Editorial Issue 10 Volume 19 : Unwanted Degrees

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The whole goal and bigger picture of going to school is finally finishing and getting a degree or certification to be able to move on to a stable career or a four-year college for a Bachelors. Most students at community college never got to walk the graduation line in high school and most students look forward to being able to celebrate earning a degree.
Since Emily Sarvis (see front page story, Surprise, you’ve graduated) was graduated without her knowledge she lost her financial aid and has to pay out of pocket for the rest of her classes and books this year to be able to move onto a four year college in her field.
Sarvis unfortunately had the privilege of walking the line stripped away from her, without being notified until after graduation of this last spring semester. She is going to school for a degree in biology, and because she was forcibly graduated early, she will have a hard time this next year finishing her intended degree.
Sarvis could have attempted to reverse the degrees she was given, but said she would rather try to pay out of pocket for her classes than try to file for a financial aid extension, which can be tough to get because approval is at the discretion of school administrators.
To get a financial aid extension one has to file for continuing federal funds and grants, and usually must have impeccable grades or GPA to even be considered for an extension. Also students have to wait a considerable amount of time to be approved, and because it is up to the discretion of administrators ones fate at school can be taken away in the blink of an eye, and students who are not prepared cannot continue unless they can afford classes on their own, which is usually rare during this post-recession time.
The insensitivity displayed by the records department in these matters is an injustice to students that work hard to earn their degrees and deserve to be able to walk the line at graduation just like everyone else.
The student records department really needs to take into consideration how a forced graduation and unsolicited degrees that are not being applied for are going to affect a student’s goals in college, and if students are even capable of being able to succeed without the help of financial aid.
Walking the graduation line is the final leg of college that students most look forward to at the end of their careers as students, and if students are having that moment taken away from them by being forced to graduate it defeats the purpose of celebrating getting a degree altogether.
At the very least, there should be notification emails set-up for instances such as this, and students should have the option to get degrees in a chosen, specified field before being forced into graduation.
Students that go above and beyond, such as Sarvis, who is president of the executive council of students and was a STEM-up peer mentor for students, that are worthy of better treatment from the departments of CNM’s main campus.