THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 18, 1995 TAG: 9506170090
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Woody R. Fincham II, an 18-year-old senior at Oscar F. Smith High School, used computer graphic skills he learned in Frank Matthews' control technology class to create the colorful cover on today's edition of The Clipper.
Fincham's work was chosen from several computer-generated designs solicited from Chesapeake students for the front of The Clipper's annual high school graduation edition.
Other cover designs were submitted by seniors Wayne Heil, Antoine Hunt, Tim Ward and Jonathan White.
Fincham said he wanted his design to convey that feeling all seniors get when they know their high school years are ending.
``I wanted to design something that showed graduates looking to the future,'' said Finchem, the son of May and Woody Fincham. ``I wanted them to be looking at a new horizon, a new chapter in their lives about to begin.''
He said he was aided in his work by classmate and friend Robert Yeats, a senior and also a member of Matthews' class
After arranging the designs on computer, Fincham then had the task of selecting the right colors. That took the longest, he said.
``I played around with a lot colors and texts,'' he said. ``It was basically trial and error until I got the cover I wanted. It took me about three class periods.''
Fincham said he combined the skills he learned from Matthews' class and his journalism class, using the methods and techniques he used when he worked on designs for the school's Tiger Times newspaper.
Fincham thought the cover looked good on the computer, but didn't consider it extraordinary.
``I'm pretty critical of my own work,'' he said. ``I thought the stuff the others came up with was just as good, if not better. I was pleasantly surprised you decided to use mine.''
When Fincham isn't working hard at school, he's either behind his home computer, going out bass fishing, following the international soccer scene or playing fullback in a Portsmouth-based 15 and older men's soccer league.
But creating on the computer isn't Fincham's only skill. He can also create in the kitchen.
He works part time as a chef at the Upper Crust Restaurant in Hampton, turning out some mean dishes. Just ask his teacher.
``I went there with my wife when Woody was working and decided to order steak, to see how he'd do with that,'' Matthews said. ``Well, I'm very critical how people cook steak, and the one he made for me was one of the best I've ever eaten.''
Although accomplished in the kitchen and at the keyboard, Fincham still plans to attend Thomas Nelson Community College in the fall and later transfer over to Old Dominion University, where he plans to major in technology education.
Maybe, when he has his own class, he can point out to his students that the things learned at school can be put to use. All he has to do is show them the cover of the June 18, 1995, graduation edition of The Clipper. ILLUSTRATION: Color computer drawing on cover by Woody R. Fincham II
Photo
Woody R. Fincham II is a senior at Oscar F. Smith High School
by CNB