[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”3_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.1″]<\/p>\n
\nH<\/span>aving graduated with the Los Encinos School Class of 2014, Tommy Wynne is now an entering senior at Sierra Canyon High School.\u00a0 Tommy\u2019s sister also attended LES, and his two brothers are currently enrolled at LES (one in second grade and one entering kindergarten).\u00a0 We caught up with him on campus where he\u2019s working as a counselor at Camp Los Encinos for the second year in a row.\u00a0 Below is the interview:<\/p>\n Alumni News: \u201cHow many years did you attend LES?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Tommy Wynne: \u201cI came here in fifth grade, so two years total.\u201d<\/p>\n AN: \u201cWhy did you start in fifth grade, and not kindergarten?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cLocation.\u00a0 It worked out better because Los Encinos is really close to my dad\u2019s house.\u201d<\/p>\n AN: Do you remember the transition when you came to school here?\u00a0 Did you feel welcomed as a new fifth grader?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cDefinitely, I was very welcomed.\u00a0 Of course, I remember being a little upset because I wouldn\u2019t see my old friends, but I made great friends here.\u00a0 I enjoyed the small class environment.\u00a0 It was less chaotic than my old school.\u00a0 Everybody here was nice.\u201d<\/p>\n AN: \u201cAre there any memories that stand out from your time at LES?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cI remember the Winter Show.\u00a0 And I remember we did the Colonial Village thing.\u00a0 I ran an old toy shop, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.12.1″ src=”http:\/\/losencinosschool.org\/alumni-page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/wynne-5th-yearbook.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.1″ saved_tabs=”all” text_font=”Georgia||||||||” text_font_size=”15px”]<\/p>\n (above) Tommy’s 5th grade yearbook entry<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.1″]<\/p>\n AN: \u201cDo you notice any differences on campus?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cThere\u2019s a bunch of iPads now, they weren\u2019t here before!\u00a0 We had 6th<\/sup> grade downstairs in what is now Mr. Beckmann\u2019s office.\u201d<\/p>\n AN: \u201cWhat are your interests today?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cI really like math and video games.\u00a0 This year, I\u2019ll be taking AP Calculus BC, and Honors Multivariable Calculus.\u00a0 Plus, I\u2019m on the math team that meets after school two or three times a week.\u00a0 We even went to a competition in San Diego last year.\u201d<\/p>\n AN: \u201cWould you credit Mr. Beckmann with your interest today in math?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cSure, I\u2019ll give him credit. \u00a0In 6th<\/sup> grade, I think we learned pre-algebra or algebra. \u00a0I remember Mr. Beckmann was a great teacher.\u00a0 Another big inspiration is my math coach, Mr. Tillman.\u00a0 \u00a0He\u2019s really enthusiastic about math and he makes it fun.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.12.1″ src=”http:\/\/losencinosschool.org\/alumni-page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/wynne-6th-class.jpg” url=”http:\/\/losencinosschool.org\/alumni-page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/wynne-6th-yearbook.jpg” url_new_window=”on” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.1″ saved_tabs=”all” text_font=”Georgia||||||||” text_font_size=”15px”]<\/p>\n (above) Tommy’s 6th grade class (click to open in a new window)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.1″]<\/p>\n AN: \u201cDo you think teachers have an influence on whether you like a subject or not?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cOh, yeah, a hundred percent. If a teacher is boring or mean you might not want to learn the subject, necessarily. But if your teacher is fun you have a much easier time learning. I had really good teachers at Los Encinos. I really enjoyed my time here.\u201d<\/p>\n AN: \u201cAnd what video games are you into?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cI play Rocket League. This past year we started the Sierra Canyon E-Sports team which gets together to play video games. About fifteen people joined and we have three different games. But Rocket League is the best. It\u2019s like soccer with cars.\u201d<\/p>\n AN: \u201cHow do you respond to people who say video games are a waste of time?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cWell, I disagree, of course. I think video games help with teamwork and communication. The higher up you rank in a game, the more you have to work with your teammates. If you play a game without coordinating well with the team, you\u2019ll lose for sure. It also helps hand-eye coordination. And it\u2019s opened me up to technology. I feel that I\u2019m really good with technology.”<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.12.1″ src=”http:\/\/losencinosschool.org\/alumni-page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/wynne-bw1.jpg” \/][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.12.1″ src=”http:\/\/losencinosschool.org\/alumni-page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/wynne-bw2.jpg” \/][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.12.1″ src=”http:\/\/losencinosschool.org\/alumni-page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/wynne-bw-3.jpg” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.12.1″ src=”http:\/\/losencinosschool.org\/alumni-page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/wynne-robotics1.jpg” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.1″ saved_tabs=”all” text_font=”Georgia||||||||” text_font_size=”15px”]<\/p>\n (above and right) Tommy helps campers at Camp Los Encinos program their Lego robots.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.12.1″ src=”http:\/\/losencinosschool.org\/alumni-page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/wynne-robotics2.jpg” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”3_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.1″]<\/p>\n AN: \u201cAt Camp Los Encinos this week, one of your classes is Lego Robotics.\u00a0 How do you think robotics benefits kids?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cRobotics is a lot of fun.\u00a0 It teaches really basic programming, not where you\u2019re writing out the lines, but you\u2019re putting instructions together to move the robot.\u00a0 It\u2019s trial and error with the controls because you make the controller, basically.\u00a0 It\u2019s really fun to build with the Legos and make a robot.\u00a0 It can be very creative, and I think it teaches teamwork and organizational skills, too.\u201d<\/p>\n AN: \u201cWhat kind of career do you think you want?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cI\u2019d like something math-related.\u00a0 Or maybe video game design, but I think that would be really hard to get into.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to take a college course on game design and see what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n AN: \u201cNow that you\u2019re about to be a senior in high school, what advice would you give to kids at Los Encinos School?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n TW: \u201cDo your homework.\u00a0 I\u2019m kind of a slacker and it starts to catch up with you.\u00a0 As you go up the grades, the homework gets more and more.\u00a0 So I would recommend getting it under control early!\u201d<\/p>\n Thank you, Tommy Wynne, for answering all of our questions.\u00a0 Best of luck next year and into college and beyond!<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.12.1″ src=”http:\/\/losencinosschool.org\/alumni-page\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/wynne-robotics-battle.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.1″ saved_tabs=”all” text_font=”Georgia||||||||” text_font_size=”15px”]<\/p>\n (above) Tommy referees a “Battle of the Bots” at Camp Los Encinos in the Makerspace Lab.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”3_4″][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”3.12.1″ title=”We want to hear your story!” saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n