Student recognized for sportsmanship

Oregon Trail Games, which is hosting Wagon Con, a first-ever gaming convention in The Dalles in April, wanted to “highlight a kid in our community who is living the Wagon Con ideals of sportsmanship and positive attitude,” said Aaron Bowman, a convention organizer.

“Good sportsmanship and a positive attitude are not only gaming skills, but amazing life skills,” said Bowman, who presented the “Pioneer Award” to Spangle recently.

Bowman said he and Oregon Trail Games owner Chuck Webber asked Wahtonka Community School Administrator/Teacher Brian Goodwin for the name of a student with good attitude and sportsmanship.

Goodwin told them “Damon not only had that but also was hugely kind, giving and caring. He would also sacrifice his well-being for others at the drop of a hat,” Bowman recounted.

Goodwin added, “Damon Spangle is the kind of person that you want on your team. Kind, caring, creative, hard-working and fun to be around. There are so many times where we find him helping out other students on their work — be it constructing a complex machine, working on a new strategy game, rolling up his sleeves and preparing raised beds in the garden, you name it.”

Bowman said Wagon Con, to be held April 1-3 at the Civic Auditorium, is expected to draw from 50 to 120 people from outside the local area.

Students from Wahtonka Community School, an alternative school for students who have dropped out of high school, are also slated to help out at the convention itself, Bowman said.

“Gaming conventions are a great way to meet fellow gamers and try games you normally wouldn’t try,” Bowman said.

“There will be card games, board games, role playing games and dice games, as well as a miniature war game tournament,” he said.

“When people register, they sign up for specific events or can just go and do what we call ‘pick up games’ where they can just meet strangers and play any games they want,” Bowman said.

The event starts Friday, April 1 at 4 p.m. and will run Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Tickets for the event are available online through the funding website kickstarter, under Wagoncon 2016, or at Oregon Trail Games 421 E. 2nd St. Cost is $35 for all three days or a group rate of $25 per ticket. Kickstarter purchases also have swag goodies based on level of support.

Goodwin said, “To have two people like Chuck Webber from Oregon Trail Games, and his friend Aaron Bowman, who is an amazing gamer, who have the vision to bring the first ever gaming convention to our community, give Damon this award, makes it all the more relevant and important.”