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Pictured above:  Kyle Kimbrough (left) and Clay Ormon enjoyed outdoor activities such as horseback riding while working at 320 Guest Ranch in Big Sky, Montana.

Two New Albany High School (NAHS) graduates had the unique opportunity to experience the West this summer.  Kyle Kimbrough and Clay Ormon had summer jobs at 320 Guest Ranch in Big Sky, Montana from May 19 until August 4.  The ranch is located on the Gallatin River and is just a few miles from Yellowstone National Park.

Kyle had heard about this opportunity from a friend at Mississippi State.  The two applied online and were selected.  Kyle ran the fly fish shop on the ranch and gave fly-fishing lessons.  Clay was on the maintenance team and did landscape work, mowed, and built fences.  The two picked up odd jobs in construction after work to make extra money.

“The best part of the trip was just being out West where there are endless opportunities for an outdoors guy like myself to participate in,” Kimbrough said.  “We were able to go horseback riding, rafting, hiking, biking, fishing, and cliff jumping.”

“Montana is a beautiful state and sightseeing was around every corner,” Kimbrough added.  The two frequently visited Yellowstone and saw everything from Old Faithful to grizzly bears.  They also had the chance to see Little Bighorn and many Lewis and Clark sites. 

“The weather in Montana was great,” Ormon said. “When we got there in May, we were standing on a frozen Lake Yellowstone.”  He added that it snowed at the ranch on June 7.  “The best part of the experience was horseback riding in the mountains and getting to hike Yellowstone. Seeing the wildlife everyday was amazing.”

Kimbrough and Ormon are 2007 graduates of NAHS and are both juniors at Mississippi State University.  Kimbrough, the son of Gerald and Lydia Kimbrough, is majoring in Biological Sciences.  Ormon, a marketing major, is the son of Paul and Maria Ormon. 

Kyle is a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and serves as an Alumni Delegate and Student Director of Athletic Affairs.  Clay played two seasons of soccer at Itawamba Community College (ICC) where he served as team captain during his sophomore year.  While at ICC, Clay was initiated into Phi Theta Kappa.  He was recently named a National Junior College Athletic Association Academic All-American in the sport of soccer for the 2008-2009 year.

Note:  New Albany School District is proud of all its graduates.  If you know of a graduate who has received an honor, please e-mail Melanie Shannon, Public Relations at mshannon@newalbany.k12.ms.us .

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