The Eagle's Eye; Issue 5; Volume 17; Akins High School

The

“Everything that Concerns You”

Eagle’s Eye

W. Charles Akins High School Austin, Texas Volume 17 Issue 5 April 11, 2018 Keep up with our stories, photos, and more at akinseagleseye.com

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Opinions Page 2-3: Students Debate Gun Control

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In-Depth Page 4: new Security after lockdown News Page 5: Supply the teachers program

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Entertainment Page 6-7: pros & cons: Pubg and fortnite

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Life & Style Page 8-9: Colonel announces retirement

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Sports Page 10: Akins Track & Field successes Photo Essay Page 11: March for our lives in Austin

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Principal Brandi Hosack answers questions regarding ID badges, scanners, fences and tardies Bethany Bissell News Editor Following the lockdown in February, Akins has begun to tighten security. The Akins Eagle’s Eye spoke to principal Brandi Hosack regarding safety changes that will be implemented.

The Eagle’s Eye: What safety concerns were on your radar beforehand?

Brandi Hosack: (The concerns I mentioned before) have always been on my radar. I’ll just use this as an example: the STEM (Academy) wing, being able to get from STEM into the building and from the building into STEM. Prior to lockdown, you could just (come and) go. The safety concern that creates is that there’s not a checkpoint there. Now we’ve locked down both of those doors. We’re working on getting badges for each classroom so that if a student needs to go to the main building, they can take a badge with them, scan themselves and get in. We’re working on that right now.

But it’s frustrating for students and for teachers because those doors are now locked. Being able to go back and forth is not nearly as easy, but it is a lot safer because nobody can just show up to those doors and walk in. I have to err on the side of safety.

EE: ID’s are going to be a non-negotiable next year. What does that mean?

BH: They need to be visible. There’s 3,000 students on this campus and there’s close to 3,500 people total. There is no way to know every single face all the time. IDs are one of those things, especially at large campuses. We haven’t fought that battle. We’ve just chosen that that’s not that’s not the battle we’re going to fight thus far. Due to safety concerns, it has to become one of those issues that we do. It’s not my favorite thing to fight (because) it’s one more thing that I have to chase after students about, and that’s not how I play ball. I really don’t prefer to be the stickler like that. At the same time, there’s no other way for me to be able to say yes or no in a moment’s notice (if it’s) a student or (if it’s) not a student. It’s just the only way to go about it.

The same is true for staff. I have a lot of staff members that have become accustomed to not wearing their badge. We have to make sure that we are. It’s everybody.

EE: And what about badge scanners?

Your ID badge as a student won’t get you into the building. Those badge scanners actually costs like $15,000 a piece. We have all the work orders in and it’s just a matter of where the money is coming

from. We’re working on one for the cafeteria so that the portable people can (have access to the restroom). All we’re waiting for on the opposite side of that is badges for the scanners that are already installed at (the STEM and New Tech buildings). I’m waiting on the badges for those and I’m waiting for the scanner for (the cafeteria).

The badge itself will belong to that classroom. If you have a teacher in STEM and you’re supposed to go to the main office for something, they give you the badge you scan and you come do whatever it is you need do you go back;.

EE: We’ve heard that there’s going to be a fence by the STEM wing. Is that correct?

BH: I’m asking for that. Again, all of these things that I want are attached to money to pay for them. Badges could work just fine, but to be able to allow free flow between STEM and the main building, it would be really nice if I could get a gate right there and lock the gate much like we do (at the morning bus loop). Then I could keep those doors open. I would much rather have the gate so that we don’t have to deal with the door locking.

EE: At the front door in the morning, the tardy slips say “lunch detention.”

Is this a new implement or are the passes outdated?

BH: It was just old and it was just something that we needed to get so that you all had access to class. The new system that prints out; it also said lunch detention. It’s just something that we had to fix in the system. There is no such thing as lunch detention. Our tardy policy hasn’t changed. You get three tardies in a week, you have a Saturday School. That hasn’t changed.

EE: Is there anything you’d like to say or add?

BH: I just really want in this story for it to be told that I’m not trying to make life difficult. I’m really not. I wish there weren’t people doing silly things in this world. I wish that we didn’t have to worry about that kind of thing, but we do. It’s the world that we’re living in.

That being said I have to be able to control the flow of the campus (so that) I’m sure we’re safe. It’s not in any way shape or form to punish anybody or to make your life more difficult. It’s not my intention. My intention is to keep you safe. Sometimes safety requires us to go through some other stuff and it’s no fun.

I hope that students realize that it’s that it’s for everybody’s safety. That’s why we’re having to make these changes. That’s really what I want to make sure I drive home.

“My intention is to keep you safe. Sometimes safety requires us to go through some other stuff and it’s no fun.”

-Brandi Hosack

Opinions

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The Eagle’s Eye

Wednesday - April 11, 2018

An open letter addressed to another Eagles community The Eagle Eye of Parkland serves as beacon of strength and hope in a time of national need Annie

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EDITORIAL

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ear The Eagle Eye of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, As the editorial board of the student newspaper of Akins High School we are motivated to serve our community, peers, and families. We do this by writing about local and national issues to inform those we care about. Our end goal to use our abilities to move society forward.

We want to let the staff of Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ The Eagle Eye know that your work in the face of such adversity is something we truly admire.

After the shock of the tragic events of Feb. 14, the students of your newspaper got to work telling the stories of your community. They took matters into their own hands to show the world how revolutionary the voices of high school students can truly be.

The Eagle Eye, you’ve been influential to student publications across the nation. Your strength, candor, and refusal to falter in the face of slander and push back has inspired the hearts and minds of millions. As fellow students, journalists, and Eagles, we feel compelled to follow your example.

You have shown us that our articles and voices matter and can actually make strides towards making the world a better place and improving society as a whole.

You and the students you represent are an inspiration to the whole nation and are grace in the face of tragedy. Even though we cannot imagine what you are dealing with as you process this tragedy, we stand with you in solidarity.

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Student shares personal story of family’s drinking, driving accident Sibling was ‘basically like a grown baby’ after suffering traumatic brain injury from incident

every day.

Despite these grim statistics, people regularly take the risk of driving under the influence, putting their lives and the lives of others on the line. Some people do it so often that they believe that they just as good driving buzzed or drunk that they are sober.

That is not acceptable on any level.

I personally have had someone very close to me involved in an alcohol-impaired motor vehicle accident. My older brother Andrew was involved in a single vehicle car crash on November 1st. He was the one under the influence. Luckily he was by himself and no one else was injured. I know when my brother was leaving a bar downtown, he thought he would make it home safely because he had been going out to drink almost everyday. This night though, he was not so lucky. My brother survived this horrible car crash but not without suffering many physical and mental consequences.

I remember that day so vividly. I woke up on a school day at 5 in the morning and my grandma was supposed to take me to school because my mom had to go into work early that day. As soon as she woke me up, I knew something was wrong because she had woken me up early. “Britney, you and your sister need to wake up, we have to go,” she said with her voice shaking and indicating

Editorial Policy The Eagle’s Eye is the official student newspaper of Akins High School. It is published once per six weeks, for the students, staff and community.

The Eagle’s Eye is an open forum for student expression, not reviewed by school administration prior to distribution, and the advisor will not act as a censor. Content represents the views of the student staff and not

wouldn’t be going to the hospital if nothing was seriously wrong.”

My grandma, sister and I approach my mother and she gave it to us straight. “Andrew is in a coma right now and this can go three ways: he can wake up from this coma, stay in a vegetative state or he can pass away.” I was trying so hard to be strong, but as soon as my mom was finished, I bawled. My absolute best friend was in a coma, laying in a hospital bed. My first time seeing him after the accident was scary. He was on a breathing machine and had a tube in his head because he was diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury.

Three days passed and my brother finally woke up from his coma.

I was relieved, but I could tell he was different. He damaged his brain so badly that he forgot many things. He damaged his whole entire brain but the frontal lobe was suffering badly. The frontal lobe of the brain contains reasoning, language, long-term memory, impulse control, problem solving, emotions, motor function, initiation and social/sexual development. My brother was basically like a grown baby. He was no longer potty trained, he couldn’t control his emotions, he had to learn how to walk again. It took him two weeks to start speaking again and he couldn’t even do a simple task like bring a fork up to his face. My brother was released from the hospital a week after his accident but the next step was therapy. Andrew was in therapy for two months and is now still in outAnnie Ricotta patient therapy, which means he is now home but he has to go to the rehab center to do his therapy.

If you find yourself considering taking the risk of driving under the influence, keep in mind what happened to my brother and ask yourself if you want to take the same gamble.

The Eagle’s Eye

school officials.

The Eagle’s Eye will avoid bias and/or favoritism.

We will make our content meaningful, timely and interesting. Our articles will reflect our objective of reporting news and will be held to a high standard of quality.

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Please send any letters, articles, comments

Eagle’s Eye Staff Editor-in-Chief

In-Depth Editor

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Opinions Editor

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News Editor

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Staff Writers

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Bee Barto* Annie Ricotta* Bethany Bissell*

Alejandra Arguello*

Eliana Gutierrez*

Alex Castro* Ashley Sanchez* Ulysses Luna*

Annie Ricotta*

Basil Montemayor

See full list on website.

or corrections to akins.journalism@gmail. com or mail them to 10701 South First Street Austin, Texas 78748 or drop them off in room 223 with advisor David Doerr or an editor.

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Editorial board*

Every 51 minutes in the United States, someone dies from a car crash that involves an alcohol-impaired driver, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is 28 people

that something was wrong. I remember looking at her so confused as to why she woke me up an hour and a half before I needed to be awake. I could tell she saw the confusion on my face so she says “Your brother has been in a car accident, We need to go to the hospital right now.” I didn’t think much of it at first because my brother had been getting into a bit of trouble for a few years. As I got ready, my brain started racing and I thought to myself “We

* The members of the Editorial Board who contributed to the Staff Editorial are marked in asterisks.

Icon Credit:

britney gonzalez Staff Writer

All icons for kickers are found on: flaticon.com

Vol. 17, issue #5 Honors ILPC/UIL

Bronze Star Award 2007 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

TAJE

Superior Coverage 2005 2008 2007 - H.M. Sweepstakes 2010 - 2nd Sweepstakes 2011 - H.M. Sweepstakes 2016 - Best In Show

CSPA

NSPA

All-American - 2013 Nominated for Pacemaker - 2013

2011 - Silver Medal 2012 - Gold Medal 2015 - Gold Medal

Opinions potential

The Eagle’s Eye Page 3

Wednesday april 11, 2018 actions

Students debate the necessity of gun control in America Both writers agree upon common-sense firearm laws while still maintaining differing views Andy clay Staff Writer

Annie ricotta Opinions Editor

Gun control has become a very prominent issue in today’s news. Since guns have been available to the public, some citizens have wanted stronger laws or more control on the sale and possession of firearms because of recent mass shootings.

However, I think that many gun control measures are an unnecessary because it could contain numerous unwanted or unpredictable problems.

Many of the proposals for gun control could be found to be an infringement of citizens’ Second Amendment rights. And ultimately, I do not think that gun control would actually be able to stop some of the mass shootings that have happened in recent years.

Banning certain assault rifles, high capacity magazines and bump stocks could help reduce the massive casualty counts we’ve seen in these shootings, but it won’t stop them.

I think that banning these items now would have the same result as it did the last time there was an assault rifle ban. In 1994 to 2004 there was a ban on AR-15s and high capacity magazines. An article

by The Washington Post reported evidence that the ban had little effect in criminal activity although this may have been due to the ban’s various loopholes. The article said there were small increases specifically in the rate of mass shootings that began when the ban was lifted, but there has been no direct evidence between the ban and increases in mass shootings.

Though I am against most forms of gun control I do believe there is an appropriate level that could be enforced. I believe that limiting certain people on having firearms could help the problem. I also believe that increased and improved background checks could help prevent mass shootings. This would also require increased background checks and screenings for potential buyers of firearms.

I also believe there should be an age limit placed on purchasing a firearm as there is now.

The age limits do vary from state to state. The current age limit enforced in Texas is 18 years old for a shotgun or rifle (longun),and 18 for any type of ammunition.It’s 21 for a handgun, which I think is a reasonable limit. I think the age limit is reasonable because if people can join the military at 18 and use these weapons they should be able to use them domestically.

If an extreme form of gun control was implemented there would be severe problems. Guns would still be bought illegally and it could create even more problems. For example, the prohibition on alcohol in the 1920s created gangsters such as Al Capone and the proliferation of organized crime. The same type of black market could develop for guns if restrictions make it too difficult to buy guns. Guns can also be built by obtaining pieces from different sources so gun control would be ineffective.

Unlike other gun rights supporters, I do not agree with proposals to arm teachers to combat mass shootings in schools.

I believe that arming certain teachers would not help protect students. This would be a very difficult thing to place upon teachers. Teachers picked their job be- c a u s e they wanted to teach not carry guns. Training teachers to carry firearms would be not only timely but costly. There is also no guarantee whether a teacher would be willing to shoot another individual. I think that an issue could occur when teachers get very angry at students and there could be accidental shootings if a teacher had a firearm.

Gun ownership rights could be in jeopardy if gun control efforts go too far. I support much of the Second Amendment, including the individual right to own a gun. I think that there is an appropriate level of gun control that could be placed that restrict explosive weapons of any kind and fully automatic weapons which is0 already the current law.. I worry about overreactions which would restrict access to guns more than necessary or lead to a complete loss of gun ownership overall.

I think that the Second Amendment is outdated and could be modernized to fit current guns and gun laws and I am definitely open to increased background checks, a ban on high-capacity magazines, and a ban on bump stocks.

It does not say the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed except when it comes to dangerous or unusual weapons, national security, emergencies, reasonable regulations, or extenuating circumstances.

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I, and many others, feel that following the recent Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland Florida, that we desperately need some type of gun control laws.

Kids should be able to get an education without the overhanging threat of dying everyday. Kids should react to reports of others dying like “Oh, just another school shooting. At least it wasn’t here.” We shouldn’t have to keep brushing mass killings under the rug just because of arguments that gun control would somehow limit one’s ability of self defense or to hunt.

I’m not saying ban all guns, period, and take every gun in the United States away from everyone. All I’m saying is we need logical restrictions. Specifically, we need common sense limits on age and mental fitness. We need enforced and thorough background checks to make sure someone is fit to own a gun.

In Japan, before anyone can even lay their hands on a gun for hunting and sport shooting, they must attend classes and pass written and practical exams. They must then undergo psychological assessments to determine if they are fit to own a firearm. Police background checks are exhaustive and even extend to the gun owners’ relatives. I really do believe that this level of Annie Ricotta forethought and precaution is needed here in the United States given that 34 mass shooting incidents have happened up to February 21 of this year alone.

While there is an age limit to purchase a gun in Texas, the minimum age is 18 years old for a shotgun or rifle and 21 for a handgun. Federal law has no minimum age for long guns and their ammo. When it actually comes down to it it’s harder for an 18 year old to get a lottery ticket then it is to get a gun and that quite frankly is ridiculous.

A frequent argument used by gun rights supporters is that stricter gun laws will only make it harder for law abiding citizens to buy a gun, and the “criminals” will continue to buy them on the black market.

I’m not going to deny that the black market exists and people are crazy and yes there could be a Prohibition Era comparison that could be made. So yes guns will still be bought on the black market. However, to the Prohibition Era argument, alcohol is exponentially easier to make than an entire AR-15 with ammo, meaning it is easier to get alcohol out to a buyer than specialized ammunition.

Another alternative that gun rights activists propose is arming teachers. It is simply ridiculous to imagine that teachers would be able to successfully take down a shooter when it takes police officers on average 21 weeks to undergo that kind of training. This whole “good guy with a gun can stop it” mentality is toxic and is just a way to sell more guns. Arming teachers would only end up with more people dead or injured. Expexting teachers to be able to keep steady in an active shooter scenario and fire back with accuracy to kill or incapacitate is something out of movies. It simply doesn’t apply in real life, and even it it miraculously works out, the teacher is still going to be firing near students.

Even if we give teachers appropriate training where is the funding going to come from? The tree in the White House courtyard? No, it would come from taxes — our taxes. Millions of dollars are needed just to get the proper training to handle a gun, not to mention the cost of the guns themselves. This begs the question of what kind of gun a teacher would be armed with? Assault weapons? AR-15s?

Handguns?

We as a country can’t even afford to give teachers basic supplies like markers, paper and pencils. So how are we magically going to afford to train and arm teachers?

According to the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution, “a well regulated militia, being necessary to secure a free state, and the right to bear Arms shall not be infringed.” The first part of that is what is ignored.

Take one look at the history behind that statement when it was made in 1786.

Fresh out of the Revolutionary War it was illegal to band together and fight an oppressive government. The framers of the Constitution feared the government becoming too powerful with no way of stopping it without another Revolutionary War. T h e y wrote the 2nd Amendment to absolutely ensure that the people had the right to fight the government if it came down to it.

This isn’t about citizens owning guns for themselves; it’s about having the ability to organize a citizen led militia to defend ourselves if the government gets out of control so we could avoid the need for another revolution.

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New rules in effect after lockdown create concern in student body Administrators struggle to find a balance in security measures without being overly restrictive Jennifer Espinoza Staff Writer The school lockdown on February 22 put everyone on edge and has made everyone paranoid every time the intercom beeps before each campus announcement.

Although I appreciate the concern and the attention that the school has given to making the school safe, some of the obligations are difficult to understand or seem misguided.

First, requiring students to wait for school to start in the cafeteria in the morning does not make me feel safe. There are too many doors and windows, making it feel vulnerable if someone truly had intent to hurt students. It’s location next to Old San Antonio Road and the fact that students come straight to the cafeteria after exiting the busses also make it feel unsafe. I just feel that in the morning students should be allowed to be in the main building where they can move into classes if someone does come armed, or at least have more of a chance to run to safety.

Another issue is in the mornings that students are now strictly required to have a pass to go inside the main building. The idea of requiring passes is smart, but it is also problematic for students who genuinely need to see their teachers before school. It also brings up a few questions like: What is considered a pass? Would a message

on Remind work? Or would it have to be a piece of paper with a signature on it? What if a student was absent the day before and could not get a written pass from the teacher and thus can’t go inside the main building to ask for any work they have missed or a test they have to make up.

Students already had a limited amount of time for which they can come and get work done and seek help from a teacher. Now it seems they have even less ability to get their grades up as much as they can. Also, during lunch seniors get a 40 minute window to get lunch and come back on time for class. There are so many factors that can prevent this mad dash from going smoothly like traffic and long lines at restaurants.

I would instead appreciate for some of the stress to be released from the students by having a second opening for where they can enter through the door between the Fine Arts building and the main building and station a guard there to make the sea of seniors coming in from lunch less chaotic and dangerous.

The increased pressure to be back to campus and enter through the main entrance could also cause accidents because everyone is in a major rush to come back in time so they’re off-campus lunch

privileges won’t be taken away.

There is also an issue that happens in the morning with students who arrive late to school.

I have seen the long line in the mornings of tardy students who have been stopped at the front entrance. I have seen many upset students who were confused by the new procedure. I personally feel that the procedure puts students even more in danger because they are stuck outside of the building and someone can easily harm them while they are out there getting their tardy slip.

Although most students rate the portables to be the worst place to be during a security threat, I am glad to hear that the administration is working to improve security around the portable classrooms. Currently, the school has requested the installation of peep holes in the doors and an electronic pass that can be used to access the locked cafeteria during the class time so students have a closer restroom they can use instead of walking all the way to the New Tech wing bathroom.

Principal Brandi Hosack has said that students will have to wear their ID badges starting next school year. I have mixed feelings about this because I can see some good and bad with the idea.

“The school could have put in worse rules.”

-jennifer espinoza

First, ID badges can easily be lost or forgotten at home. Would students be punished if they forget or lose their ID? I can also see the benefits with having the IDs being enforced because other students can also easily identify another student and the ID can actually be used for something instead of just being a thing that we get in high school. I personally would not want to have my ID showing everyday for school because it would be uncomfortable for someone I don’t know, knowing my name. I would feel better to just having to have to take it out and show it and put it back in my wallet.

In all honesty the fight for having to wear them isn’t really in issue it’s a minor thing that is beneficial because everyone will have a job at some point and they will have to wear a badge anyways so it’s best to get into that habit now than later.

In all honesty I am willing to give up something as small as having to wear my ID badge if that is what it takes to be safer. The school could have put in worse rules. They are just trying to make everyone feel safer and more secure as much as they can.

It is very hard for an open and public place such as a high school to make everyone feel safe but not constricted. I am just glad the school did not just ignore something like the lockdown and are concerned for their students and are willing to do as much as they can to make sure everyone is safe.

In-Depth

page 4

The Eagle’s Eye

Wednesday - april 11, 2018

FORMER STUDENT THREATENS SCHOOL, SENDS CAMPUS INTO LOCKDOWN Bethany Bissell News Editor

Before Threat: Ariel Alex Ramirez-Navarro, a 17-year-old former student boarded a school bus on February 22 and made a threat to students on the bus.

When the bus arrived at Akins, Ramirez-Navarro entered the foyer and told students in the area that he intended to “shoot and blow up the school.” He showed the students ammunition and a magazine that holds ammunition in his backpack.

8:45 a.m.: Threat Reported A student who heard the threat reported the incident to a student resource officer on campus. The SRO called the Austin ISD police department, who began an investigation, and the school was put on reverse evacuation.

As the administration and Austin ISD police department received more information, the school went into lockdown.

9:52 a.m.: Lockdown Begins When the school went on lockdown, junior Tina Shield was in Jaramillo Zavaleta’s Spanish portable classroom.

She said that most of her class thought it was a drill, and one student even walked out of the class.

“A lot of kids were spreading rumors really quickly,” Shield said. “One kid said that someone came on campus with a rifle and another said that they heard shots. It just heightened the nerves for everyone, I think.”

Shield said that she was hesitant to tell her parents until she was positive something happened.

10:06 a.m.: Tweet from AISD Regarding Lockdown The district tweeted that the school was in lockdown as AISD police and city police search for a suspicious person. Senior Ashley Hogans said that everyone in Georgina Morell’s Creative Writing class in the main building began receiving texts from their family and friends. She said that she tried to call her mom a few times. “(I wanted) clarification on what happened and how much real danger there was,” Akins parent David Carter said. “I wanted to know if this was someone who was just goofing off or being silly or if it could’ve seriously taken place.”

10:35 a.m.: Suspect Found and Lockdown Lifted When Ramirez-Navarro was placed in custody, AISD sent out a tweet stating that the lockdown was lifted. He was eventually charged with making a terroristic threat, a third degree felony. Students still had to remain in classrooms as school officials searched for a backpack they suspected was his.

Shield said that she was relieved when the lockdown was lifted but she still felt a little nervous because she didn’t know exactly what had happened yet. Rumors were still circulating, and she said that made it hard to relax.

“It made it so hard to stay calm, and my family kept texting me to ask what was going on,” she said. “I kept thinking, ‘How am I supposed to feel safe walking around campus today?’”

10:50 a.m.: Police Conduct Search of Campus Even though they had already tweeted that the lockdown was lifted, AISD tweeted again that the lockdown would not be lifted until the police conducted a search of the campus. Hogans said that she was told an email was sent to teachers asking about a red Gucci backpack.

“When we found out about the bag, that was when I was like, ‘Oh, this was a real concern,’” she said. “Everyone was talking about what could be in the bag, like a bomb or something. It was crazy.”

When the search was finished being conducted, parents were allowed to begin reunification with students.

11:49 a.m.: Reunification Begins As reunification, the process of getting students to their parents following the lockdown, started, Shield said that people in her class were anxious.

“It was such a waiting game,” Shield said. “People were getting really antsy, and it seemed like everyone’s parents were waiting around too, which wasn’t making it any better.”

At first, AISD tweeted that students would only be released ten at a time. Hogans said that this frustrated some students in her class, but they calmed down as people were being let out more quickly.

Eventually, students began to be allowed out of their classrooms with proof that their parents were at school to pick them up. Students would meet with their parents in the foyer. School resumed for lunch at 1:45 with few students.

“I was really relieved when my mom showed up,” Shield said. “I just wanted to go home and relax. I was so shaken up.”

“I kept thinking, ‘How am I supposed to feel safe walking around campus today?’”

-junior tina shield

LOCKDOWN: A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE, IT REALLY MADE ME CONSIDER HOW YOU CAN'T EVEN TRUST PEOPLE YOU ARE AROUND EVERY SINGLE DAY, IN A PLACE WHERE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FEEL UNSAFE. -Sheyenne Riojas

we were all nervous and didn’t know how serious it was untill we saw that there were cops. Sitting in the corner of a classroom not knowing what is happening is scary. -Sophia Garcia

I was scared for my friends' safety and I was numb and in shock.

-betsy lozano

NEW RULES AND IMPROVEMENTS TAKE EFFECT

My class was quiet and there wasn't anyone making noise. i felt safe enough to the point where i wasn't freaking out. -Janette Navarro ▲ Taking new measures

All Photos By Eli Gutierrez

HOW STUDENTS GOT INFORMATION DURING THE LOCKDOWN

New security measures and improvements have been heavily enforced on campus. These new features include: a call box to regulate people entering the building; all gates around the perimeter of the school are locked at all times to further isolate entrance from various locations; and a security guard is stationed at a new front desk to visually authorize entrance to the building.

School District Messages Teacher

Student security suggestions: – more security guards – metal detectors at entrances – Increase in security around portables – require visible id badges for students Suggestions from student survey

Texting Social Media Other 0

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HOW EFFECTIVE IS RESTRICTING ACCESS TO THE BUILDING TO ONE ENTRANCE? 35.2% Not effective 40% Somewhat effective

8.8% I don’t know 16% Highly effective

I accidentally answered the phone, (my mom) was freaking out and you could faintly hear the terror in her voice and I had no choice but to hang up. I was so scared.

-aneesa Araujo

*quotes and data generated by an online survey conducted by The Eagle's Eye. 250 student responses recorded.

The Eagle’s Eye would like to thank AISD police, campus administrators and staff, and emergency response teams for their bravery and dedication to protecting students.

Page Layout and Design: Eliana Gutierrez

News

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 5

Wednesday - April 11, 2018 Supplies

organization

Supply the Teachers charity buys resources for teachers

Austin organization test pilots program that provides educators with items required in classes raidy zanjeel Staff Writer

Dry erase markers, cleaning board spray, hand sanitizer and tissues. These are just a few of the basic supplies found in Social Studies teacher Henry Perez’s classroom.

Perez, who has taught for 25 years, says he spends about $200 to $300 each year on these kinds of supplies.

“If I didn’t buy (the supplies) myself out of my own pocket, then they wouldn’t be there at all,” he said.

That’s why long-time Austin ISD volunteer Melinda McKenna founded Supply the Teachers, an organization that gives teachers across Texas the resources that they need, two years ago. She served on the Clayton Elementary School Campus Advisory Committee for more than 10 years.

She said that she saw firsthand the difficulties teachers encountered preparing and maintaining the supplies needed in their classrooms for their students.

McKenna said the lack of supplies is a big issue in Austin ISD because of school funding legislation. Texas has not passed any legislation that creates an allowance for teachers to purchase supplies with.

“The schools did not have the money to take care of them and I felt that was an unfair ‘custom’ that had grown too common,” McKenna said.

She said that she has known teachers who have spent hundreds of dollars out of pocket on supplies each year.

“We feel the community could help offset those costs by purchasing some of the basic supplies and having them delivered to the teacher of their choice,” she said.

Akins is one of the campuses that is test-piloting the program. Teachers choose from different types of boxes to be delivered. There is an EC-6 box geared toward elementary and early middle school classrooms, an 8-12 packaged intended for

Testing

middle and high school teachers, and a general education box meant to fulfill the common needs of each age group.

Packages include supplies such as dry erase markers, highlighters, printer paper, crayons and colored pencils, post-it notes, pencils and pens.

When a teacher wants a package, they order them through Supply The Teachers and the organization purchases the orders through Amazon to send to the teachers.

“Educators or teachers don’t have to do anything themselves to join our program,” McKenna said. “ We have all the information for all the teachers in Austin ISD already.”

Christine McKenna, science teacher and Melinda McKenna’s daughter, worked to design what to put into the packages for different age groups.

She and eight other teachers helped come up with the list of items for the packages. Christine McKenna and other teachers serve on the board of Supply The Teachers as advisors with a teacher’s perspective.

“We’ve been working on getting a new website up and running so that teachers can request a supply box that has predetermined things in it,” she said.

Typically, teachers don’t receive any kind of funds from the school district to purchase supplies. In Austin ISD, most teachers have to spend their own money to have supplies for students.

STEM academy assistant principal Michael Jung said that when he first started as a math teacher, the district he worked for gave teachers $100 a year to buy supplies such as pencils, binders, spirals, dry erase markers.

Jung said he thinks Supply the Teachers’ mission is vital considering the lack of funding available for teachers to purchase supplies with.

“Our teachers need all the help they can get,” Jung said. “I think any teacher would benefit from free supplies for their classroom because ultimately, it benefits the kids.”

Courtesy of Supply The Teachers

▲ Packed up

A box of supplies provided to a teacher by the Supply the Teachers organization. Along with other supplies, the boxes include washy tape and sticky notes provided by 3M, a Supply the Teachers donor. Supply the Teachers can be found at supplytheteachers.org

Scholarship

Students get recognition for above average PSAT scores

Six high scoring students receive national recognitions and possible scholarships after testing zeta Handy Staff Writer

▲ High achieving

Zeta Handy

Briefs

Senior Truman Byrd is a National Merit Scholar finalist. If he is chosen as a winner, he will receive a $2500 scholarship and other scholarship offers.

Six Akins students brought national academic recognition to the campus this year after five students were named National Hispanic Scholars and one student was named a finalist for the National Merit Scholar program.

The recognition programs, which are based on PSAT scores, require students to score among the very top of all testers throughout the country to receive the honor. The students who achieved these awards said they prepared for these exams on their own outside of regular classes to do so well.

Less than one percent of students who take the PSAT as 11th graders reach finalist status. Senior Truman Byrd is a finalist for the National Merit Scholars program. He is the only finalist at Akins, but he is competing with other students across the nation. If his skills, ability and accomplishments are evaluated highly enough, he and the other winners will be awarded $2500.

In addition to the $2500 dollars awarded by National Merit Scholars, winners will also be offered college- and corporate-sponsored scholarships.

“To help me study, I would use Khan Academy to take practice tests,” Byrd said.

Khan Academy is provided to Austin ISD students for free. When one

5K run to benefit Akins On Saturday, April 14, the Manchaca United Methodist Church will hold its third annual Spring FeAt Kids’ Dash and 5K Run to benefit Menchaca Elementary, Paredes Middle, and Akins High schools. Last year, the event raised more than $12,000 for the three schools.

It is $25 for adults and $15 for students under 17 to register for the 5K. To register a child 10 or younger for the Kids’ Dash it will cost $15. It’s also possible to support the cause by purchasing an event t-shirt for $15.

The 5K will begin at 7:30 a.m., and registration and packet pickup begin at 6:30 a.m. The Kids’ Dash begins at 8:45 a.m.

Awards will be presented to overall best male and female and the top three in age groups 1-10, 11-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 5059 and 60-99.

To register, go to tinyurl.com/2018feat.

takes the PSAT in their freshman and sophomore year, Khan Academy can be linked to create a personalized study program for them based on their score.

From there, they can take practice tests or do practice questions in specific areas they struggled with on the PSAT. When one takes the PSAT their junior year, the program can be used to prepare for the SAT. “When I found out I was one of the finalists I (was) excited,” Byrd said. “When I told my parents that I was a finalist, they were happy for me.”

In addition to Byrd’s National Merit recognition, five Akins students have been recognized by the National Hispanic Recognition Program as National Hispanic Scholars. Juniors Eric Ingram, Aimee Ornelas, Robert Sepulveda, Ivan Alonso and Katherine Ash received this title for scoring in the top 2.5 percent of testers.

Ingram was hoping to hit the top one percent. He would study and take practice tests for two hours a week.

“You can find different practice tests online,” Ingram said. “I wanted to hit top one percent (to be considered for) the National Merit Scholars.”

Ornelas said she also used practice tests to study for the PSAT about an hour or two every week or weekend. She said that preparing for the test was stressful but achievable.

“I could’ve done better, especially on the math section, but I’m happy with what I got,” she said.

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26. Jazz Band Benefit Concert 27. Coffee with Principal 28. Akins High School Food Drive

Entertainment

Page 6

The Eagle’s Eye

wednesday - april 11, 2018

Staff Picks

G A M E

F A V O R I T E S

Night in the woods

henry

Courtesy of Infinite Fall

Staff Writer

NITW is a great game to get into if you’re a story-driven gamer. The characters are full of relatable personalities and the real-life circumstances that some of them go through are sure to leave an impression. It’s a decision-based game, that I spent a good 10 hours playing and enjoyed every second of it.

silent hill 2

dee

Courtesy of Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo

Staff Writer SH2 is a survival horror game that’s roughly 17 years old but is worth playing because of the experience. It’s a window into the mind of James Sunderland as he delves deeper into the rabbit hole of Silent Hill in hopes of finding his dead wife. The controls aren’t the best but it adds to the atmosphere in a way as they make you feel slightly helpless.

rainbow six siege

andy

Courtesy of Ubisoft Montreal.

V I D E O

Staff Writer R6S is a tactical military style first-person shooter. It requires skillful movement and decision making to survive. The game can range from slow to fast pace gameplay depending on your situation and operator choice.

It includes a current count of 39 playable operators. I really enjoy this game because no matter how many times you play, every round is different. This game keeps you on your toes, you have to prepare for anything.

dragons age: origins

annie

Courtesy of BioWare.

Opinions Editor

DAO is an old game but a good one and the start of a whole series of games from BioWare.

It features a cast of likable characters that you can add to the party or kill off, lots of playstyle options from the classes and races you can play to dialogue options that affect how the story plays out and how others treat you.

pop culture

throwback

Ready Player One is for nostalgia fans

Book adapation filled with modern references, met with praise Ruben nava Staff Writer

Is it better to live in a virtual world or the real world when everything around you is depressing and terrible?

This is the primary question that Ready Player One seeks to answer. This sci-fi film directed by Steven Spielberg is set in the year 2045 in a place where most people live in “Stacks” of piled-up trailer homes. To escape their dreary existences, people strap on headsets and spend their days living in virtual reality.

The book and movie share the base story and setting —a type of dystopian future setting where the world looks barren and dead since everyone only cares about their VR world.

Characters in the story are obsessed with winning a challenge in the VR world called “The Oasis.” The winner of this challenge is promised to win half a trillion dollars and total control of the Oasis, which if looked at in the big picture of this world means power over the real world as well.

The protagonist Wade Watts wants to win this challenge so he can escape his impoverished living conditions in “the stacks” where he lives with his aunt Alice. Along the way, Watts has to wrestle with questions about the dangers of living primarily in a virtual world.

fortnite

Countering the bleak plot of the movie are all of the not-so subtle throwback references to American pop culture, especially 80’s movies and video games. Pop culture aficionados can spend hours searching for the hidden references to things like the Iron Giant, the DeLorean and Ultraman throughout the film.

I was slightly disappointed the movie strayed far from the book, but it still managed to be amazing. I would recommend the movie to people who are really into gaming and sci-fi movies, or people whose parents or someone older who also loved those older movies.

The movie does a good job of tackling the danger of people getting sucked into VR, making them almost forget the real world and not care about it. The idea of technology

Courtesy of readyplayeronemovie.com

having devastating effects on human lives is a common theme in sci-fi films.

It makes Ready Player One interesting and relevant today to explore what people would do if they forget the real world and turn to VR with no worries of real pain, and become anything or any species or gender.

Because general audiences might be mostly attracted to the movie’s nostalgia aspects, Ready Player One, might be most appreciated by those who know about pop culture and play video games.

Otherwise, you may find yourself confused as to why some people in the movie do a mini cheer or get excited when they see something.

But besides that I can say the movie was enjoyable and I would rate it a 4 out of 5 stars.

pubg

Battle royale of the battle royale video games Rival franchises go head to head to detemine which title is best Nathan Martinez Staff Writer

In the recent world of Battle Royale style games there are two sides: Fortnite and Playerunknown Battlegrounds (PUBG).

It seems that recently anywhere you find two gamers, there’s a debate bound to happen over Fortnite versus PUBG. Each game has very dedicated fans who will often list out reasons as to why the other is trash and why their game is better.

One of the most common complaints about Fortnite is that people say it looks childish or it’s too cartoony. Critics of PUBG say it’s buggy or it’s graphics aren’t any better.

However, they both have pros and cons.

Fortnite is a quick based Battle Royale game lasting about 15 to 20 minutes per match, widely known for giving players the ability to build.

PUBG is a slower paced game that although is more intricate than Fortnite (such as the bullet system) that averages about a 30 to 45 minute game.

Fortnite Battle Royale was released by Epic Games in late September in 2017 and had grown ite popularity quickly because it was rtn Fo f o released on PS4, PC, and Xbox sy te ur One. o C This gave it time to grow popularity on all platforms. PUBG, which was originally released in March of 2017, had only been on PC until they expanded to the

Xbox One in December.

Fortnite and PUBG’s main similarities is the overall concept. You start off in a main lobby with 100 players total. Go over an island and jump and land wherever you choose. You gather up weapons, ammo, and supplies and survive and eliminate players until you are the last one alive.

Fortnite’s popularity seemed to Cou be overshadowing rtesy of P UBG PUBG until both games released mobile versions in March.

The rivalry between these two games appears to be heating up again as the developers work to outdo each other with new features and overall performance.

PUBG was a little late to the mobile release, but has made somewhat of a comeback in popularity However, Fortnite maintains its dominance because of its multiplatform capability that PUBG simply cannot offer at this time.

The leveling system in Fortnite is fairly similar compared to PUBG. In PUBG, players level up and get Battle Points or BP. Players use BP to earn or to buy crates that give them a random cosmetic item. While in Fortnite players earn or buy V-Bucks that allows them to purchase a cosmetic item with-

out the randomness of PUBG. And with Fortnite doing updates to the game constantly players can buy a new cosmetic item almost everyday.

Another similarity that both games share is their gun systems. In Fortnite, the guns are based on what type of gun it is and what rarity its is.

In order of rarity the system starts with common (grey) and ranges up to legendary (gold). Plus there are a few different types of bullets that can be used in different guns. For example, bullets for an automatic rifle can also be used in a burst rifle.

And in PUBG it goes by what gun it is and there are a variety of different caliber bullets for certain guns. Such as a .45 ACP bullet can only go in guns that take that certain type of round.

Graphics is also another main part of the rivalry between Fortnite and PUBG. There is the realistic militarized graphics on PUBG and then there is the colorful cartoonish graphics on Fortnite. But it all comes down to personal preference.

For players that like the grit and realism like of Call of Duty WWII. you would most likely choose PUBG but if you like colorful and bright graphics like in Overwatch you’d most likely go for Fortnite.

PUBG: mobile fortnite:mobile pros: -High Quality, Smooth, pros: -building feature, kid realistic art.

friendly, free download.

con: -laggy, late detection, con: -too many daily updates, switching inventory is slow.

no hit registration, laggy.

Entertainment eccentric

wednesday april 11, 2018

The Eagle’s Eye Page 7

artist

A$AP Ferg sells out Emo’s, performs ‘New Level’ to crowd Mad Man Tour promotes the Still Striving album, featuring tracks like ‘Plain Jane,’ ‘Nandos’ alejandra arguell0 Entertainment Editor

Announcing his tour in December, A$AP Ferg kicked off the start of his Mad Man Tour in Philadelphia on February 28.

The highly anticipated tour hit Austin on March 10 at Emo’s venue.

Joining Ferg, were rappers Denzel Curry and IDK. Both delivered energetic opening acts, keeping the crowd excited for what else was to come. They will be joining him through the rest of the tour which wraps up in Ferg’s hometown of New York on April 14.

The doors opened at 8 p.m and the line had started hours prior because of people wanting to be closer to the stage with some even camping out. Others showed up to the venue in hopes of catching a resale due to the show selling out.

IDK, a rapper from London, started the show off, demonstrating his incredible lyricism and ability to deliver rhyme after rhyme. The crowd followed along energet-

important

ically. At one point the rapper brought up a fan who had been waiting outside of the venue since noon.

Denzel Curry came out next and hyped up the crowd even more. Curry’s delivery was flawless. He jumped around the stage and interacted with the audience. He finished his set off by performing one of his most popular songs called “Ultimate.”

Because the crowd was moshing so hard and everyone was jumping to the song, Curry decided to pause and brought out IDK for the second half of the song. The buildup to the chorus made the crowd lose their minds when it dropped.

When Ferg finally hit the stage, it was like the gates of heaven opening. Bright white lights surrounded him on the stage, illuminating his head to toe white outfit.

The first track off of his latest album Still Striving slowly built up and blasted through the speakers, causing the audience to erupt into a sea of jumping bodies.

Ferg expressed his excitement to be in Austin, again, thanking his fans for all the

love on his latest album. Ferg followed the show with songs off of the new record like “Olympian,” “One Night Savage” and “Aww Yeah”. He also added a couple songs from his past albums like Shabba and as well as a couple songs from A$AP Mob like “Yamborghini High” and “Hella Hoes”.

The show closer was “Plain Jane”, which quickly became his most popular song after he released it as a single. This song was what really made the crowds energy intensify, everyone was bouncing and screaming along.

Even after the song was over the buzz remained in the crowd.

After the show ended, the merchandise table was filled with people trying to buy shirts and hoodies. I was lucky to grab some before the show started.

Ferg’s ability to capture a crowd so effortlessly with his words is one of the reasons why his performances are so great. Coming from Harlem, Ferg has always done his own thing never really following everyone else.

His eccentricism has always separated him from the rest.

▲ Going Ham

Alejandra Arguello

A$AP Ferg performs “Trap and a Dream”, the opening song to his show. The song slowly built up causing anticipation in the audience to Ferg’s arrival.

music

Black Panther album is more than just the soundtrack to the film Music collaboration produced by Kendrick Lamar is as powerful separate as the movie itself Elijah Calderon Staff Writer

The Marvel movie Black Panther was a huge success. It immediately garnered a loyal following and made more than $1 billion internationally. Since the movie has been out for two months now and the hype has died down, another aspect of the Black Panther release can be more fully considered: the album.

The album is produced by Kendrick Lamar and other members of Top Dawg Entertainment, his record label. The tracklist boasts many excellent artists: SZA, Vince Staples, Khalid, Anderson .Paak and Lamar himself. Not only this, it is an album that can stand on its own, separate from the movie. Lamar and company were able to create an album to accompany a major film while also creating an individual vision and impact.

Here are a few of my favorite tracks: In All The Stars, the first single and most popular song on the album, Lamar covers a lot in a brief four minutes. He and R&B singer SZA sing about love and dreams. In one section, Lamar deploys his hallmark challenges and explores his upbringing as he raps “Tell me what you gon’ do to me/Confrontation ain’t nothin’ new to me/You can bring a bullet, bring a sword/bring a morgue, but you can’t bring the truth to me.”

In the track “X” performed by ScHoolboy Q, 2 Chainz and Saudi, the rappers produce a banger that is appropriate for both the movie and just getting hyped up. The urgent, fast-paced quality is

let

▲ Wakanda Forever

Courtesy of Aftermath Records.

Kendrick Lamar in “All The Stars” music video featured in the Black Panther closing credit sequence.

punctuated by Lamar’s repeatedly saying “Are you on ten yet?” It is a song guaranteed to get in the listener’s head. The track “I Am” by the singer Jorja Smith and a little feature by Kendrick Lamar is another popular track. This song is talking about love and opening up to share with others who you really are.

Another good track is “King’s Dead” by Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake, it has also been one of the fan favorites. The song has been on the top charts since the soundtrack came out and to this day it remains in the Billboard Top 200. It is one of the hype tracks on the soundtrack, the artists on it discussing everything from money to their own lives. This song is one of the more polarizing songs on the album, but the people who love it talk about it nonstop.

“Opps” by Vince Staples and Yugen Blakrok is yet another song on the Black Panther album that has blown up but still deserves more attention with Staples taking the lead verse and Blakrok closing it out. This song is very up tempo and intense in all the best ways.

Black Panther was unparalleled in its employment of black people behind and in front of the camera, and the album was no exception. This is significant for many reasons.

In Hollywood, black people do not always get the predominant hand in creating their own culture. Most importantly, however, the excellence of this movie and album demonstrates that black people can succeed in industries they were historically excluded from.

Black Panther: The Album is another field in which the Black Panther team is a masterclass in representation and inclusion.

down

South by South West festival does not meet the high expectations Interactive section of event is inferior in comparison to film and music, not worth $1300 price bee barto

Editor-in-Chief After growing up in Austin and hearing about SXSW for years, I had mixed feelings when I heard that I had earned a badge to attend. I was excited to finally experience this grand festival that has been part of Austin for so long, but apprehensive due to the way it has affected Austin throughout the years of its existence.

As a local, I have experienced all of the negative things that Austinites suffer through once a year: terrible traffic, hordes of hipsters overfilling the streets downtown and the overall feeling of our fair city being invaded by outsiders bent on making it even more boujee. However, I was hopeful that having a badge to the Interactive Festival would help me see the other side of SXSW that attracts so many to Austin every Spring Break. Sadly, I was still not impressed.

Our mentors with E4 Youth, a non-profit organization that helped provide the badges, encouraged us to opt for the Interactive badge because they thought that many of my interests aligned with that section of SXSW, rather than film or music. Also, many of the music and film events are restricted to those who are older 21 and older. Unfortunately, the interactive badge seemed very limited in what it offered or at least, not enough to be worth the $1,300 price tag.

In all fairness, I am not very familiar with the event so I had trouble navigating the schedule or finding out where stuff was. But what I was able to find, and what others showed me was underwhelming.

The art shows seemed more about gimmick-y technology than making cool impactful art. Nothing seemed to have a meaningful purpose. But maybe I’m extra cynical right now.

It seems to me if you are going to shell out $1,300 for a badge you should be able to get an “Express Pass” for music, film or other events, but alas, no. Because I had an interactive badge I could not get an express pass for any of the events that I did actually want to go to. At the festival itself, I simply did not see anything interesting enough at the Interactive Festival to use an Express Pass.

Overall, I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to attend SXSW at all. I just wished that an event that would have cost me more than $1,300 (had I had to pay for it), would be an event that is worth the money. Instead it was full to the brim with small indie companies trying to sell random gimmick stuff and rich hipsters flooding the city to experience a culture they’re helping kill.

Life & style

page 8

The Eagle’s Eye

Wednesday - April 11, 2018 platform

Inhibitors

Online video makers share stories of channel beginnings YouTube, Twitch content creators explain why they decided to share their ideas to the internet dee carreon Staff Writer

The assent of the “YouTuber” as one of the most commonly dreamed about career possibilities shows the high level of influence online video has on most high school students.

Because most high school students grew up watching YouTube videos, many at some point have toyed with the idea of starting their own channel or are actually doing it already.

Junior Angela Glass is one of these individuals. Her channel simply named “Angela Glass” consists of cooking videos called “Cookin’ with Angela,” but she’s planning on putting some more variety later on. It’s also fairly new, about four months ago, and already has 76 subscribers.

Unlike some other Akins students who post on YouTube, Glass said her channel did not start from an ambition to become famous.

Instead it started off after she posted a Snapchat video of her ordering takeout tofu. A friend replied as a joke “Wow! Cooking with Angela,” giving Glass the idea for the YouTube series.

“It started off as boredom, but then now it’s like a priority of mine,” she said.

For viewers that want someone who posts a lot of material on a daily basis junior Jaden Garrion lives up to his reputation for being prolific.

Garrion is probably the most well known out of the rest the YouTubers at Akins. His channel “FamousJaden,” has 224 subscribers and is about to hit 13,000 views. The videos he posts can vary from streaming Fortnite gameplay to reaction videos. He said that he edits his own videos and even makes his own thumbnails just to put a semi-professional touch on them.

Garrion said he was inspired to make his YouTube channel after watching his favorite YouTubers, including PontiacMadeDDG and Prettyboyfredo.

“They do vlogs, video games. PontiacMadeDDG is like what I do. (He) posts videos every day,” Garrion said. ”(My first video was)

teacher

my reaction to Kyrie Irving being traded to the Boston Celtics. That got 172 views.”

He said his goal “(is to) be successful, make money off of YouTube and live a good life” Musicians and singers like senior Larry Durden have found ways to expand their fan base using YouTube. Durden uses his YouTube channel to post the music that he’s made, specifically rap. He said he tries to post a song every week.

“I’m working on like an album type thing that I’m gonna post on SoundCloud,” he said. “I’ve kinda slowed down on posting (to YouTube) for right now ‘till I finish with that.”

Durden said he created his channel “Room 331” after friends recommended that he put his songs on YouTube after he initially posted them on Snapchat.

Beyond posting pre-recorded videos to YouTube, the latest trend for students to watch is live streaming. The platform Twitch is a popular provider of live streams for gamers because of its features to donate to favorite gamers.

Twitch provides several ways to support favorite streamers with money like paying for a subscription.

Freshman Brianna Cozzi has taken on the challenge of developing her own Twitch channel, which primarily focuses on her gameplay for World of Warcraft, Overwatch and Team Fortress 2.

She already has more than 700 followers on Mixer and has earned enough money to purchase a $2,000 gaming laptop to improve her streams. She’s currently in the process of transferring her audience to her Twitch channel.

Before Cozzi started Twitch, she built a following on Mixer, which is a streaming site made for the casual gaming demographic specifically on Xbox. It requires no payment and was a great place for Cozzi to begin her journey into streaming.

Cozzi started on Twitch knowing that it was going to be a hard to build a following on a new platform. She said it was disappointing at first because not a lot of viewers joined in to watch her play Overwatch even though she had reached the top 500 in the United

▲ Kitchen Time

Courtesy of Angela Glass

Junior Angela Glass cooks up a Lemon Pepper Chicken in one of her YouTube videos.

States.

“I knew in the beginning of streaming that it was going to be difficult but the reason I chose to stream is because I believed I am, myself, an entertaining person,” she said. “So I like to entertain people so I just make myself a fool at video games and let people laugh at me.”

“It’s hard because you have to find time on your school schedule to stream so your people can watch,” she said. Despite this she has recently been balancing her school and streaming life on a more manageable schedule.

Even so, Cozzi sometimes worries about playing video games feeling like a drag because of the work it takes running a Twitch channel. ”I don’t want to make my video gaming into a chore. I really do like video games,” she said.

style

Eagle Vogue: Exploring the fashion choices of Akins staff Daily outfits give students a glimpse into the personalities and personal lives of their teachers Ashley Sanchez Life & Style Editor

▲ Cyclist Style

Ulysses Luna

English teacher Ebone Zamarron showcasing her comfortable and affordable look, with trademark No Comply print jean vest, black jeans and pink Vans.

Clothing Items: -Shirt: Magnolia T-shirt -vest: gap/ Print no comply -Jeans: GAP -shoes: Vans

Students are naturally curious about their teachers, and they take notice when they wear something other than the typical khaki pants, button-up shirt or blouse.

Like most working professionals, teachers can get too busy to fret too much about the way they dress. However, that doesn’t mean that teachers have to wear bland outfits.

For example, English teacher Ebone Zamarron is known for her “cyclist” style, reflecting her hobby of riding BMX bikes with her friends.

Zamarron is often called a hipster because of the way she dresses, but she doesn’t see herself that way. Instead, her focus is on dressing to impress without breaking the bank.

“I dress in what’s comfortable and what I can move in and what makes me feel like myself,” Zamarron said.

Even though many kids would say she dresses as a hipster she could easy fit in what we call the Austin look.

“I look for affordability and just what goes with my personality,” Zamarron said.

Zamarron buys most of her wardrobe from the GAP and buys t-shirts that are around $5 to $10. She likes a lot of band t-shirt and outfits that are cute and cheap that really bring out her personality. One staple piece that she really likes is her jean vest with a print logo from the Austin skateboard shop No Comply.

Math teacher Derek Hamm said he also looks for affordability and what he calls “traditional styles.”

“I have a lot of free stuff. A free wardrobe is important,” Hamm said.

He also expressed that he doesn’t think his style is unique. He typically e wears a t-shirt and jeans. He said the most expensive item he buys are shoes. Hamm said the most he has spent on a pair of shoes is on his Chuck Taylor shoes, which cost about $50.

Hamm also shares that his tattoos and music do play a huge role in his style.

“Music has always been part of who I am and now with my tattoos that pay tribute to some of my favorite musical artists they’re part of my look as well,” Hamm said.

His favorite clothing item is his City Sports t-shirt which he got from Goodwill

▲ Traditional Look

Ulysses Luna

Math teacher Derek Hamm shows off one of his typical yet stylish looks with Mizzou t-shirt, jeans and boots.

Clothing Items: -Shirt: University of Missouri -Jeans: Marshall’s -shoes: chuck taylor boots -Tattoos: favorite Music artist

life & style influential

Wednesday April 11, 2018

The Eagle’s Eye page 9

person

Inspiring staff member retiring after leading students for 16 years JROTC colonel recognized by faculty, students for years of service he has given to community Kelly Polacheck Staff Writer

Col. Ronald Oliverio, considered a rock of stability for students in the JROTC program, will be retiring after 16 years of leading Akins cadets and training future leaders.

Oliverio, who started working at Akins in 2002, is known for arriving to work early and staying late while attending school events of kinds, especially those in which the JROTC’s honor guard presents the U.S. and state flags. His constant presence on campus will be missed by many who have gotten to know him over the years.

“He’s going to be sorely missed,” head football coach Humberto Garza said. “I will tell you that he’s been a fixture. He’s been here for years and he was like one of those guys that you knew was always was going to be here. It’s going to be different not having them around.”

Oliverio served in the Air Force as an officer from 1966 to 1996.

He then worked for a few years as a JROTC instructor at Lakeview High School in San Angelo before doing the same at Akins.

Many teachers have come to appreciate and rely on him for his wisdom and experience when it comes to setting up important events. He is well known for his straightforward, no-nonsense approach in everything he does.

Many people who know him say that he is a hard working leader who makes things happen, even at the last minute.

fighting

Oliverio is known for taking students to participate in special events like the annual Veterans Day Parade and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade in downtown Austin. And on campus, Oliverio made a point of honoring veterans, soldiers who died in battle and victims of national tragedies like Pearl Harbor and the attacks on Sept. 11.

Garza said he has known Oliverio since he started coaching at Akins, and has been impressed with his leadership of the JROTC program.

“He’s a hard worker, and people notice that he works hard and cares about the kids,” Garza said. “And you can tell that he’s sincere.

He wants to see everybody succeed.”

Corps Commander Brian Colmanarez said that Oliverio is also interested in students’ personal lives, as well, making it his own business to be there for his students whenever they need him or to simply be aware of any issues that they might have.

“He sure does go the extra mile to make sure we’re all doing fine and that we’re enjoying ourselves,” he said. “You know since school and or even before school starts he’s here almost every day without question.”

Colmanarez said he hopes whoever replaces Oliverio will follow in his footsteps. ”The new colonel would need to have that same attitude and have to be as outreaching to the cadets as he is,” he said.

▲ Making a speech

Michael Galindo

Col. Ronald Oliverio gives a speech at the JROTC Military Ball in 2015. Oliverio has announced he will be retiring at the end of the school year.

illness

Paula Palacios shares her ongoing journey from battle with cancer Student postpones expensive surgery after GoFundMe campaign doesn’t meet goal of $7,000 larry durden Staff Writer

Freshman Paula Palacios loves to play soccer, spend time with her family and friends, and run track just like her fellow classmates and soccer team members.

If you didn’t know her story, you would never guess that she recently has undergone two surgeries to combat a life threatening thyroid condition.

Palacios, who started at Akins last year after moving from Columbia and joined the girls soccer team last year.

Palacios has had hypothyroidism since she was 6 years old, and in 2016 doctors noticed a nodule in her thyroid. In September, they noticed the nodule had grown and were concerned about cancer.

She had her first surgery in December. She needs to have the second follow-up surgery but had to postpone it due to lack of funds.

The medical bills for the surgeries have cost more than $7,000 and her family is struggling to pay for it.

To help her family pay the bills she created a GoFundMe page, which has raised about $1,800 in pledges so far.

It’s not uncommon in sports for people to experience physical

reduce

▲ Fight The Fight

Courtesy of Alexandra Palacios

Freshman Paula Palacios poses at Burger Stadium before one of her soccer games. She is raising money for a surgery.

challenges, but typically they are things like broken bones, pulled muscles and concussions. Teammates are used to rallying behind hurt or sick players.

Teammate Cynthia Zuniga said Paula is so full of life that it’s hard to tell that she is sick.

“Paula is a really nice person, and I hope everything goes well,” she said.

Teammate Summer Shield said she hates to see Palacios experiencing this condition.

“She is very sweet, first off, and her personality is very welcoming,” Shield said. “When you speak to Paula and interact with her, most people wouldn’t be able to tell that she is going through something like this,” she said.

But despite her condition, Palacios is still very active with many dreams and plans for the future. She continues to participate in girls soccer and also has plans to become an architect.

“I’m typically the person on the team who encourages my teammates, because I know they would do the same for me,” she said.

Paula also goes on to say, “and I have dreams of becoming an architect in the future.”

And with being a member of a team, you build relationships with your teammates and coaches.

Her friends and coaches believe Palacios is strong mentally and physical because she balances soccer, school, while going through two surgeries.

reuse

Clubs selling eco-friendly bottles Chilled water fountain funded through sales Henry Dominguez Staff Writer

While everyone likes having cool, clean refreshing water throughout the day, the most convenient way to carry it around campus is one of the biggest culprits of litter in the world: plastic disposable bottles.

According to recent statistics in at study published in Science Advances, almost 91 percent of plastic bottles produced are never recycled, ending up in landfills or increasing the size of the Texas-sized Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the Pacific Ocean.

To combat this problem, the Akins Green Teens and Just Keep Livin’ clubs have a plan to sell reusable bottles that will help cover the cost of the installation of a chilled, filtered water fountain for the campus.

The idea to install the fountain was first proposed after a competition that took place based on a Citizen Science Contest. Science teacher Matt Stricklen said although there has been an increase in recycling efforts at Akins over the last few years, there is still much room for improvement.

Stricklen, who sponsors both clubs, said he hopes the water bottle plan will cut down on plastic bottle waste at Akins by providing high quality reusable water bottles to students and staff.

Their plan is to use the money to install a Brita Hydration Station where students and teachers will be able to fill up their own water bottles rather than use disposable ones.

“Everybody likes that water fountain in the STEM building because it’s always the coldest water, right? This will be the coldest water at Akins High School,” Stricklen said.

He said the idea for the water fountain also came from an “eco audit” in which students examined sustainability challenges at the school. They used the data they collected when applying for grants from a non-profit group called EcoRise, which gave the groups a total of $1,000 in grants.

They plan on selling a total of 300 reusable bottles along with a Just Keep Livin’ bracelet at $10 a piece. Students can also pay an extra $5 if they want a custom sticker with their name on it to help identify their bottle. The bottles will be available for purchase in room 220 Mondays and Wednesdays after school.

“It’s harmful to the environment,” Stricklen said. “And you know why not drink out of a reusable bottle 10,000 times than use 10,000 (disposable ones)?”

The location of where the station will be placed is still being discussed but once the decision is made final the BRITA Hydration Station will be ready to be put together.

“Having bottles a water bottle with a logo that can bring all the academy’s together and everyone together,” senior Torri Turney said.

Ashley Sanchez

▲ Reusable water bottles

Being sold in room 220, these water bottles are available Mondays and Wednesday.

The bottles are intended to fund the installation of a new, filtered water fountain.

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Sports

Page 10

The Eagle’s Eye

Wednesday - April 11, 2018 Soccer

Head Coach

Coach Williams to leave after working since school’s opening Boys soccer will start looking for new coach for first time before the 2018-2019 season begins Alex Castro Sports Editor

This year, Akins will be saying goodbye to computer networking teacher Bob Williams, who is one of the two remaining teachers at Akins that have been here since the school opened.

Williams will be moving to the Dallas area to reunite with his wife who moved there for another job. When he started at Akins, he taught computer applications classes and coached the JV boys soccer team. Before he came to Akins, Williams had coached basketball and baseball in Arkansas, but he never coached soccer.

In addition to his lack of experience with soccer, Williams also had to overcome language barrier with some of this players who only speak Spanish. This was a challenge because Williams doesn’t speak fluent Spanish.

Despite the language challenge, Williams said he has been able to work through it.

“A few of my best players, did not speak English… but we still talked,” he said.

Williams said Akins has changed a lot since it first opened its doors in August of 2000. One memory that stands out from the beginning of the school’s history is that it operated without late bells, creating a massive tardy problem.

“Every passing period there would be 600 or 700 kids late to class,” Williams said.

If someone wanted to know how Akins has changed throughout the years, Coach Williams will definitely be someone to talk to. He has seen everything throughout the years and the way

Basketball

Alex Castro

▲ Playoff Game

Coach Bob Williams talks to his players during half time as they were down 1-0 vs the Hendrickson Hawks at the Pfield Stadium is Pflugerville. This was also the last game he coached the soccer team after serving as a leader since the school’s opening in 2000.

akins has changed for the good.

He also said that the school used to be much smaller.

“The building wasn’t full. There wasn’t any por-

tables. The (New Tech) building we’re in wasn’t full. The STEM building wasn’t there so it seemed as the faculty knew each other more, but now there’s faculty members that I have very little con-

tact with,” Williams said.

The varsity soccer team experienced a strong season under Williams final year as the head coach. The team was ranked first in district for two weeks, helping the team advance to the playoffs.

The team lost against the Hendrickson Hawks in the first round of playoffs.

“I thank him for leading us to playoffs 3 of the 4 years I was in varsity,” said senior and center back Dube Ruvalcaba.

Williams said his favorite memory coaching the team happened in 2007.

“In 2007, that was our first playoff game ever.

We played the No. 1 team in the region, and we beat them 1-0 with 30 seconds left and 2 red cards.”

That game was the first time that Akins advanced to playoffs and beat the first round team.

That has also been the furthest the varsity soccer team has been in playoffs in school history.

Williams said the thing he will miss the most about Akins will be the students.

“I love the students at Akins, I have always loved the students at Akins,” he said.

Teachers will also feel the loss of friendships and memories that they built with Williams at Akins.

“I do not know what I would have done without Mr. Williams when I first came to Akins.”

Computer Science teacher Elizabeth Phillips said.

“Mr. Williams is known to be one of the most helpful and selfless teachers here. ” said Ms. Phillips who is right next door to Williams in the New Tech building.

College

NCAA Basketball crowns Villanova new champion in mens tournament 64 teams battle for the trophy with some important upsets throughout the month of March Spencer Seyfarth

loyola chicago

villanova

57

95

cinderella vs miracle maker

michigan

62

vs

villanova

kansas ncaa mens basketball champion

75

midwest

west

the favorite vs the powerhouse

79

michigan

69

east

south

Staff Writer

Alex Castro

▲ Final Four

Loyola Chicago, Michigan, Villanova and Kansas all battle it out in San Antonio’s Alamo Dome. Michigan and Villanova advanced to the championship game.

Track

The madness of March might be over, but the NCAA Basketball Tournament did not disappoint college basketball fans this year.

The tournament starts with 64 teams and gradually whittles down to the Final Four. It all culminates in a true national championship game against the top two teams in the country. Along the way, fans compete to guess who they think will end up the top slots although a whole bracket can get ruined with an unexpected win or loss.

The round of 64 was one of the best in recent memory with upsets left and right. For example the most significant upset was the 16 seed UMBC beating the first seed Virginia by 20 points. Then later in the round the 13th seed Buffalo Bulls beat the 4th seed Arizona by 21 points. Another upset was Mar-

shall beating the 4th seed Wichita State, which was a dark horse to make it to the Final Four. One of the last upsets, which was my personal favorite, was the Loyola beating Miami with a buzzer beater three-pointer from Donte Ingram.

The second round was just as exciting as the first round with a few great surprises.

One of my favorites of the tournament was win the Nevada Wolfpack came back from a 22-point deficit for a dazzling comeback over Cincinnati, which was a second seed team.

Texas A&M absolutely destroyed North Carolina by a score of 86-65. The Tar Heels were one of the favorites to win the championship this year.

Xavier was the favorites in its match up against the Florida State Seminoles, which pulled off an upset by 5 points.

The last upset of the round of

32 was Syracuse beating the 3 seed Michigan State Spartans in a close game with a score of 55-53.

Then Loyola Chicago, the “Cinderella team” that captured the hearts of those who root for the underdog, beat Tennessee with a wild shot from Clayton Custer with a few seconds remaining to win the game.

The Sweet Sixteen also featured several great games while The Elite Eight featured a fun ride with Duke and Kansas in an OT thriller.

Then the Final Four was set with a Michigan vs. Loyola matchup and Villanova pitted against Kansas. Michigan and Villanova ended up in the final championship game.

The first half of the final game of the tournament was close, but the Nova exploded in the second half, turning into a blowout with Villanova winning their 2nd championship in a 3 year span.

Record

Track and field relay team breaks numerous school records at meet Athletes strive to beat personal goals, competition at district meets to advance to next level Johnniece Walker Staff Writer

Every track and field athlete has their own personal goal to conquer.

Not only do they compete against other schools, they are competing against themselves hoping to break their own personal records.

Akins track athletes started off with success and broken school records. Kemaya Wyatt’s 34 triple jump at the St. Andrews Relays is just one example. The boy’s relay team also broke several records, including the 4x100, 4x200, and even setting a new record for the 4x800.

However throughout the season, the runners would not be able to accomplish these victories if they did not set the bar high for themselves with the help of their coach-

es. Senior Nevaeh O’Neal said the coaches pushed her to accomplish her goals to receive a scholarship this year.

“I’ve been striving for greatness this season especially with it being my last, I couldn’t be anymore thankful,” O’Neal said.

She also set a new goal to reach for herself by hoping to beat the triple jump record with at least 36 foot and to make state with her relay team.

As far as district has gone several Akins athletes have advanced to area such as KJ Robinson in high jump and long jump, Cassius Serf-Roberts and Matthew Quiroz (known as Q), for the 3200 meter run.

“I honestly don’t think I could have made it this far without my coaches and teammates striving for more than what I didn’t believe I could achieve,” Quiroz said.

With these people by his side he will

continue to work harder and strive for his new goal to make it to regionals, he said.

On the girls side, several athletes from the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 relay teams advanced, including Nevaeh O’Neal, Kemaya Wyatt, Zola Moore, and Kayla Ford.

“It feels good to have made it to area because throughout the four 4 years I have put in a lot of hard work, especially with my relay team,” Wyatt said.

The athletes said the journey has not been easy, but it has been worth it because of where the dedication has lead them.

Even though there has been tough competition, senior KJ Robinson said a big part of his success this year has been about building confidence.

“When you believe in your ability to compete against others, that is when you are able to succeed,” he said.

▲ On the Podium

Joey Saxe

Senior Cassius Serff-Roberts and sophomore Matthew Quiroz earn 2nd and 3rd in the 3200 meter dash, advancing to Area where they hope to do even better.

Photo Essay

The Eagle’s Eye

page 11

Wednesday - April 11, 2018

Bethany Bissell

▲ Enough is enough

Many citizens wave signs to show what they believe should happen to reduce gun violence in America at Austin City Hall before beginning the march to the Texas Capitol.

Thousands demand change Ulysses Luna Photo Editor

Emily Bellinghausen

▲ The March to the Capitol

Starting from the City Hall, through Congress and all the way to the Austin Capital. Was the March for Our lives.

Emily Bellinghausen

▲ Graphic Signs

A protester holds up a sign showing a gruesome message about why changes should be made to protect children.

▲ A Survivor with a Message

Bethany Bissell

Jack Haimowitz, a survivor from the shooting that occurred at Stoneman Douglas High School, attended the rally while he was in town to tour the University of Texas.

He spoke about the power of students to make a positive change.

▲ March of All Ages

Over 20,000 people showed up at the March for Our Lives rally in downtown Austin in late March to demand changes in laws to end gun violence especially in schools.

It was one of more than 800 similar rallies that were held across the country on March 24. On the same day, students who attend Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, where 17 people were killed by a mass shooter, held a huge March for Our Lives rally in which about 800,000 people attended in Washington, D.C. Some media outlets have said it was the largest student-led protest America has seen since the 1960s.

The Austin rally was organized by students who attend the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. It first started on as a Facebook event then blew up, becoming an statewide demonstration. Since the Feb. 14 shooting students at Stoneman Douglas

High School have demanded that lawmakers take action to pass laws that would restrict access to firearms by closing loopholes in background check process and banning assault rifles. They have also proposed prohibiting high capacity magazines and raising the federal minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21 on whoever owns and possess a gun.

Activists have also called for increased spending for mental healthcare programs.

In 2012, 20 children, six adults were killed at a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Since then there have been more than 1,600 mass shootings, with at least 1,862 people killed and 6,529 wounded, according to the Gun Violence Archive Speakers at the March For Our Lives rally in Austin frequently spoke about banning assault rifles like the AR-15 since it is the most common weapon used in deadly mass shootings such as the ones that happened In Parkland, Las Vegas, Orlando, Connecticut and Texas.

Bethany Bissell

▲ Student Leader

Kari Siegenthaler, a senior at Liberal Arts and Science Academy, uses a megaphone to direct demonstrators before they began their march from City Hall to the Capitol.

Emily Bellinghausen

A girl holds a handmade sign expressing her desire for change at City Hall during the protest. The rally was composed of people of all ages, from elementary children to mothers and seniors.

▲ Mayor at the March

Bethany Bissell

Mayor Steve Adler praised the young people who organized the March for Our Lives rally in front of the Capitol.

He called for “common sense solutions most people can agree upon” and advocated for stricter gun laws.

The Eagle’s Eye

NON PROFIT ORG PRSRT STD PERMIT NO. 16 ZIP CODE 78660

Akins High School 10701 S. First St. Austin, TX 78748

This page is advertising provided by the Akins administration.

Community The Eagle’s Eye page 12 Wednesday – April 11, 2018

Principal’s Message Dear Eagle’s Eye Reader: Happy Spring! It is hard to believe that it is already April! In less than ten weeks we will all be celebrating our newest graduates – the Akins High School Class of 2018. It seems as though we just said goodbye to last year’s seniors.

With that time-frame in mind, it is appropriate to mention how important this time of year is for everyone. Seniors are working hard completing college applications and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) with the help of Ms. Sarah Simmons in the College and Career Center. As of today, we are one of the area-wide schools leading the way with the number of applications complete – our goal is to have 100% of our seniors complete this process. For those of you unfamiliar with the process itself, it is quite simple and creates amazing opportunities/ avenues for students to receive all types of financial aid for college – including scholarships and grants. The CCC is always open and willing to help everyone complete this process.

For all other students, it is

End-of-Course Exam season.

Students enrolled in English I and II have just completed those exams, which are extremely long and rigorous.

Those students enrolled in Algebra I, Biology and/or US History are gearing up for their exams during the second week of May. I am incredibly proud of the focus and effort exhibited by both students and teachers in preparation for these exams – I am confident our scores will reflect that hard work. In addition to those exams, we will also have Advanced Placement exams occurring the first two weeks of May. As we plan ahead for summer, remember that it is an excellent time for current 10th and 11th grade qualified students to take free ACC classes. Students, please see your counselors about this awesome opportunity to earn free college credit!

I would like to personally invite families of Akins High School students to get involved with one or more of the many opportunities we have on campus - PTSA, Campus Advisory Council, booster clubs, etc. Also, you can stay tuned to the most upto-date information on our

Business student wins $5,000 in scholarships in competition

website and our Twitter (@ AkinsAISD).

I say it all the time, but it really is a sprint to the finish from here on out. The upcoming weeks are sure to fly by and there is still so much to be done. We will continue to not only rise to the tasks before us, but far exceed expectations. We truly have the best students, staff, and families – it is a sincere privilege to be able to work with you all on a daily basis at the #besthighschoolontheplanet!

Sincerely,

Akins Senior, Giselle Garcia won 1st place in our Startup Superstars finals at the Zach Scott Theater against the other AISD business programs.

She received a $3,000 scholarship and a Chromebook in addition to the $2,000 scholarship she won for the Akins preliminary competition for a total of $5,000 in scholarships.

Startup Superstars is basically like Sharktank.

Students pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges. Giselle pitched her idea for GGX Fitness, a gym with the goal of lowering diabetes rates within the Hispanic community.

We stepped it up ten-fold this year with tons of preparation from all our students, sponsors, volunteers, and mentors. The entire Business Man-

agement class stepped up their game big time.

They all improved their speaking skills immensely, gained a ton of confidence, and learned about entrepreneurship because of this competition. We will begin planning next years competition soon with a goal of even bigger scholarships, internships, and more publicity.

Thanks again to the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC), Rice Alliance, and the Southwest Angel Network for their time volunteering with students and monetary support for scholarships. Together our volunteers made a HUGE difference in these kids lives and giving them the confidence to pursue their dreams in business, careers, and life.

Lotería night Please join PTSA to celebrate a great school year!

Taco Dinner Plate and Tabla Card for $7 Celebrate Akins’ 18th birthday!

May 3 (Thursday) ◆ 6 p.m. ◆ Akins Cafeteria

Brandi Hosack Principal

Spring dance show set to debut The 18th annual Diamond Dazzlers Spring Show will take the stage on April 26-28, 2018 in the Akins theatre.

The April 26 performance will be held the last class period of the day. Tickets will be sold during A and B lunches as well as in the dance room (104) for $5.00. April 27-28 shows will begin at 7 p.m.

Diamond Dazzler Spring Show is choreographed and put together by the students.

The songs range from different genres of music, many which will include popular artists of today and the past. Students from every dance class will perform, with the highlight of the night coming with the Dazzlers individual and team dances.

Graduating members of the Dazzlers are honored Saturday night.

For more information please visit the Akins dance website akinsdance.weebly. com.

CSI

Roger Beasley Mazda partners with Akins When a family member of a student going to Akins purchases a vehicle from Roger Beasley Mazda South, the dealership will donate $100 to the Athletic Department in the name of the customer/family member.

Over $2,300 given back to AHS since August 2017.

Support your school and start earning today!

Find out how you and Akins HS can both earn up to 10¢ with every purchase when you use your A+FCU Akins debit card.

Get your A+FCU Akins debit card today at your campus A+FCU branch.

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