It’s a new year which means new school supplies, new clothes, and new faces. World Geography teacher, Mr. Mewborne, arrived to the 2015-2016 school year with a freshly-shaved chin. Students and faculty at Chapin High School had grown used to seeing the tall man with what at he calls his “glorious beard” so it was a bit surprising to witness their transformed teacher.

It happened because of a bet that was made between Mewborne and his students. If 75 percent of the AP Geography students passed the AP exam, then he would lose the beard.

“I’m really really happy that so many students passed. However, that was a glorious beard and it was a shame I had to take it from the world,” Mewborne said.

He is on a mission to grow it back but he is happy with his new look. It has been five years since he was last cleaned shaved so this seems to be a change for him.

Alyssa Shepard, who was a freshman in Mr. Mewborne’s AP Geography class last year said, “Last year to get us motivated he brought the bet up and said if we got a 75 percent passing rate he would shave it and we got a 79 percent. ” The current sophomore also said “He looks weird without a beard.”

Trey Haselden, sophomore, agreed that Mewborne’s beard motivated him to study for the exam, coming out on top with a five, which is the highest score a student can get.

Mr. Mewborne’s co-workers also have their own opinions about the missing hair on his face. “With it, he’s like a 19th century U.S. president, without it he’s a 20th century U.S. president,” SAT Verbal teacher, Mr. Anderson said. “It’s probably not happy wherever it is.”

Other teachers like Mrs. Zokan, another Chapin history teacher, says that she likes his new look.

Although, this has been a change for not only Mr. Mewborne, but Chapin High School as well, he said he is proud of his students and he was rewarded with a clean-cut face.