Tyro Senior Issue 2017

SENIOR ISSUE 2017

1 6 9 0 0 W. G E B H A R D T R D .

BROOKFIELD, WISCONSIN

VOL 64 ISSUE 6

Brookfield Central Tyro

Special graduation ceremony held for student battling cancer

Eugene Kim Editor-in-Chief

ALAN HERZBERG

ALAN HERZBERG

Andrew Wernicke and Principal Brett Gruetzmacher shake hands as Andrew recieves his diploma.

T

he graduating seniors of 2017 were able to try on their graduation caps a little early Thursday, May 25, during an early graduation ceremony held in the cafeteria. Many donned their blue caps in a show of solidarity for fellow classmate Andrew Wernicke (‘17), who would not be able to attend the June 11 ceremony due to a crucial treatment procedure in Georgia for his brain cancer.

The students and staff in attendance demonstrated their unity as they stood up to applaud Wernicke during his procession to the familiar

Andrew walks into the room as his diploma is presented.

“Pomp and Circumstance” played by the orchestra. Elmbrook School Board president, Kathryn Wilson, was also in attendance. Senior Class Liaison Caitlin Locante then began the ceremony with brief introductory remarks, which was followed by a powerful performance of “Rivers and Roads” by the senior members of the choir. Principal Gruetzmacher then presented a speech honoring Wernicke, touching on his positive attitude, personality, and outlook as several in the audience silently nodded in assent. “I can’t wait to see you back here as an alum,” Gruetzmacher

concluded.

A key highlight of the ceremony shortly followed when Mr. Bob Fuchs read aloud a letter to Wernicke from her sister Paige, who was unable to be in attendance. She spoke of positivity and perseverance, traits that many have associated with Wernicke.

After a slight mishap with the presentation of the diploma itself, Wernicke allowed Fuchs to humorously help flick the tassel to the right, ALAN HERZBERG demonstrating his levity as the crowd laughed with him and gave a standing Andrew Wernicke approaches the stage in his cap and gown amidst a standing ovation from his classmates, BC staff, and community members. ovation for one last time.

GRADUATION INFORMATION REHEARSAL: mandatory rehearsal Friday, June 9, 1:30 p.m. in the field house at Brookfield East High School (3305 N. Lilly Rd., Brookfield, WI.) No caps and gowns needed.

GRADUATION: 11:00 a.m. will take place Sunday, June PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Students walk the Purdue University campus on a sunny day. Purdue’s cost of attendance is $41,834.

Costs of attending universities continue to rise

Leslie Bonilla Opinions Editor

Nationally, 69.7% of last year’s high school graduates went on to college, and the number is likely higher for the class of 2017. But with the cost of college outpacing inflation by twofold each year, financing a higher education is more difficult than ever. According to the College Board, the total cost of attendance – which includes tuition and fees, room and board, as well as some personal expenses like books and transportation – was $1,405 for a four-year instate public school in 1971. In 2016 dollars, that number rises to $8,307, but still pales in comparison to the average cost of attendance in 2016: a whopping $20,892. The price of a private four-year university has encountered similar increases: from an inflation-adjusted $17,318 in 1971 to $45,365 in 2016.

For context, the average median household income in the United States was $10,290 in 1971, or $60,979.56 in 2016 dollars. In 2015, the latest data available, average median household income was just $55,775. In 2016 dollars, this is

WHAT’S INSIDE

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$56,478.91. Clearly, American incomes are worth less than they used to be, but college costs are still increasing. That average total cost of attending an in-state public university in 1971 was therefore about 13.7% of income. However, attending one of these schools now is on average 37.5% of income.

Why is total cost of attendance increasing so much? Reasons vary.

Though the number of full-time professors has decreased, the number of administrative positions has risen by 66% between 1993 and 2009, resulting in higher operating costs.

Additionally, funding for public higher education was cut during the Great Recession, by as much as 50% in some states. However, funding has mostly been restored since then.

Another influence on cost is simply that more Americans than ever before are going to college - The New York Times says that there has been a 50% increase in enrollment in all levels of higher education between 1995 and 2015. The funds are being divided over more students, resulting in less

per capita. A more controversial theory is that the increased availability of student loans has motivated colleges to raise tuition. Either of these would be a case of supply and demand. As demand for college increases, due to more financing options, supply of spots has stayed flat or only marginally increased. Therefore, price has gone up.

Is the cost of college sustainable?

The most expensive university in the United States, Harvey Mudd College, has a cost of attendance of $74,428 per academic year. Total college debt, owed by over 44 million Americans, was $1.3 trillion by Dec 31, 2016.

This means that average student loan debt in 2016 was nearly $30,000.

Meanwhile, the average starting salary in 2016 for new grads was $52,569.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, this was $9,886 in 1971, or $58,585.41 in 2016 dollars. Every indication shows that families are indeed paying higher college prices with fewer resources.

Only time will tell at what point the prices will plateau.

11 in the field house at Brookfield East High School Seniors must report to assigned areas by 10:15 a.m.

GRADUATION PARKING: Due to limited availability at BEHS, shuttles will be available at BC throughout the morning starting from 10:00 a.m. (in twenty-minute increments). Pick-up areas include the east event entrance to the new gym and the west entrance into the front parking lot.

NOTE: Graduates must leave all purses, backpacks, phones, cameras, etc. at home or with a family member.

PROJECT GRADUATION INFORMATION WHEN: Sunday, June 11 from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

WHERE:

Highlander Elite Fitness and Racquet Club (13825 Burleigh Road, Brookfield)

COST: $25 in advance through June 10, $30 at the door ACTIVITIES:

blackjack, raffle prizes, games, tennis, caricatures, food, swimming, basketball, and hypnotist.

ALICE ZHENG

SOPHIE BOHR

EMMA FAVILL

EUGENE KIM

MATCH TYRO SENIORS PG. 2

GRADUATION CAKE POPS PG. 6

WHAT TO BRING TO COLLEGE PG. 7

RANDOM ROOMING: WORTH IT ? PG. 8

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SENIOR ISSUE 2017

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

features

Kiessling: from Brookfield to Broadway MostInfluentialEducators Becca Yi Editor-in-Chief

Henning Mahn Reporter

B

illy Kiessling, a 2010 Brookfield Central graduate, has recently made his Broadway debut in Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812, which has been running since November of 2016. He’s worked incredibly hard to get to where he is, but he started small. In fact, he began by pursuing violin at Brookfield Central.

Eventually, his curiosity regarding the on-stage life was too much to bear, and he landed the role of Joe in The Pajama Game at BC, directed by none other than Mr. Tom Lueck. When asked what got him into musical theatre in the first place, he responded: “I think my first memory of wanting to be an actor happened in middle school. I was perform-

ing in the pit orchestra for The King and I, and I remember when we all came together, band and actors, I got to see up close what everyone on stage was doing, and I wanted to give it a go. The rest is history.”

Kiessling still plays the violin (as well as many other instruments including the viola, French horn, trumpet, piano, and ukulele) to this day alongside his Broadway career. He’s a man of many talents and he’s showing us that contrary to popular belief, the arts can in fact get you where you want to go in life. Kiessling encourages anyone who wants to follow in his footsteps to please do so.

When asked what it takes to better oneself as a performer to get to where he is, Kiessling insightfully stated, “if

you’re looking to make a career in the Broadway community, it’s essential that you surround yourself around like minded artists and people whose work inspires you not just to be a better performer, but to be a better human being.

The performing arts community is one of compassion, love, and acceptance to people of any gender, race, or sexual orientation, and for me, we need exist in a world where this lifestyle is the status quo worldwide.”

Kiessling is very excited about how far he’s come and he’d love for others to have the same feeling. If you’d like to keep up with Kiessling or contact him yourself, you can follow him on Twitter @buhbuhbilly or go to his website, www.billyjoekiessling.com.

Each year, the top fifteen students of Brookfield Central receive the opportunity to select one “Most Influential Educator” that has positively impacted their years from K-5 through senior year. Students are encouraged to choose any educator that has significantly shaped their educational pathway. Below are the top fifteen students (alphabetical) and their teacher selections.

Olga Boukhvalova ................................................................. Jeff Gryzwa Maximilian Casey .................................................................... Craig Keir Hema Gharia ........................................................................ Kathy Dubiel David Harmeyer ............................................................... Ryan Osterberg Claire Haynes ............................................................ Brett Gruetzmacher Sofia Khan ............................................................................ Daniel Paese Eugene Kim ......................................................................... Chris Demos Brian Li ........................................................................... Peggy Ordinans Aiyu Liang ............................................................................. Mary Mann Teja Pattabhiraman ................................................................. Sarah Scott Victoria Pipia .................................................................. Matthew Dapelo Chris Post ............................................................................ Susan Veeder Victoriya Tarakanova ............................................................... Greg Groh Rebecca Yi ............................................................................. Ronn Blaha Alice Zheng ............................................................................. Sue Kanies

BECCA YI

HEMA GHARIA

EUGENE KIM

SANCHI KALRA

ALICE ZHENG

VIVIAN WALBRUN

VALERIE YURK

MADISON HUMMEL

Can you match the TYRO senior staff to their baby photos?

Published throughout the year (no June, July, or August issue) by the TYRO staff of Brookfield Central High School, 16900 W. Gebhardt Rd., Brookfield, WI 53005-5199 and printed by American Litho Printing in Milwaukee, WI. Yearly subscriptions can be purchased for $20.00, payable to BCHS TYRO at the above address. This publication is a public forum. The policy of this newspaper is to inform the Elmbrook community of school and civic activities in a fair, accurate way, and to provide a vehicle for responsible opinions. Letters, columns, and cartoons incorporated within do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of all staff. Written submissions must be signed, are limited to 250 words, and may be refused and/or edited. tyronewspagmail.com.

Brookfield Central Tyro 2016-2017 Staff

Editors-in-Chief Eugene Kim, Vivian Walbrun, Becca Yi, Alice Zheng Business Manager Mariam Khan Editors Leslie Bonilla, Olga Boukhvalova, Sanchi Kalra, Rohan Ramachandran, Valerie Yurk

Cartoonist Emma Favill

Online/Social Media Editor Madison Hummel

Adviser Mrs. Ellen Linnihan

Contributing Staff Payal Ahuja, Sophie Bohr, Madison Hummel, Henning Mahn, Mia Manney, David Miech,

Contributing Photographers Leslie Bonilla, Alan Herzberg,Vivian Walbrun, Brooks Walls

Printer American Litho Printing

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

SENIOR ISSUE 2017

features

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Brookfield fights for childhood cancer awareness Becca Yi Editor-in-Chief

E

ncouraged by the clear skies and pleasant weather, runners of the Brookfield community queued up on Brookfield Central’s football turf, and the Fight Like a Kid 5K started on Katrina McCoy’s (‘19) signal over the PA system. Hosted by Brookfield Central’s Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy (CFALA) club, the race was organized to raise awareness for childhood cancer. As students have seen several of their peers affected by cancer, the CFALA planned this event to involve both students and community members alike for a cause greater than BROOKS WALLS itself.

Max Czechowski (’17), Senior Class President and member of the CFALA, was glad to see the members of the community support the cause.

BROOKS WALLS “We had a large number of participants who came from the school but also great support from the community,” noted Czechowski. “We wanted to create something that a lot of people would be able to come together and participate in no matter what.” He also explained, “We wanted to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer, because at the time of planning the event one of our fellow classmates fell ill again with cancer.”

The club chose to focus on the MACC Fund, an organization that BROOKS WALLS funds research facilities for childhood Top left: Mr. Hipp directs the 5K with a flag in hand, preparing to signal the runners. Top right: Chiemeka Chioma (‘17) and Jacob Vraney cancer and blood disorders. Whether (‘17) pose for the camera right before the race. Bottom left: Breck Duncan (‘18) loops the corner in the midst of the 5K race. Bottom right: A it be battling on the frontlines or supgroup of runners begin the race on the track at the BCHS football field. porting peers from the sidelines, many BROOKS WALLS

BROOKS WALLS

students have witnessed the impacts of cancer within the school and community.

Kevin Jacobson (‘19), another member of the CFALA, added, “This is so important to our community because everyone knows someone who has had cancer [...] It does especially hit home for our community because we have kids we see every day with cancer.”

The participants ran through the “Lancer Loop” course, along North Ave, Calhoun Rd, Pilgrim Pkwy, and Gebhardt Rd. With a time of 17:40, Breck Duncan (‘18) ended up taking home a first-place win. The cross country and track runner said, “The 5K was a great experience. I got to run with friends for a good cause.” Despite being off-season, Duncan commented, “It was a good time for not being in season. I’m happy with the time I got.”

Alongside the CFALA’s 5K, BC’s Key Club organized a pancake breakfast for the same purpose. Together, both clubs were able to raise approximately $3,650 to donate to the MACC Fund. Students from CFALA expressed immense pride in their accomplishment, and were glad they were able to organize such a meaningful event for the community.

After the event, Kevin Jacobson reflected on the day, “We know that we can’t single-handedly change the outcome [of cancer], but if enough people from the community bind together, we can make a real lasting impact.”

Second annual fashion show exhibits diversity on runway Becca Yi Editor-in-Chief

Hosted by co-founders Vivian Gross (‘17) and Victoria Lopez (‘18), BC’s Fashion Club displayed six different collections on the runway: the handmade, spring, world cultures, summer, Sarah Corlett, and formal collections.

Fashion Club partnered with BC Best Buddies to “bridge the gap between special education and the student body,” said Cassie Fosdick (‘17), Vice-President of the Best Buddies club.

Lopez also emphasized the club’s values of body positivity and expression of creativity while walking the runway.

1. Jennifer Blackburn (‘18) wears a traditional piece from Vietnam for the world cultures collection.

2. Kaleigh Smith (‘19) and Victoria Lopez (‘18) walk hand-inhand, modeling the formal collection.

3. Evy Doan (‘18) strikes a chic pose, wearing clothing from Sarah Corlett’s Virago collection.

4. Sammy Yahiaoui (‘17) sports a fusion of traditional clothing from Thailand paired with a casual shirt, jeans, and beanie.

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BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

post-graduation plans and scholarships

UNITED STATES ALABAMA

University of Alabama Olivia Warchol Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University Rahenya Anderson

CALIFORNIA

University of California, Berkeley Teja Pattabhiraman Loyola Marymount University Thomas George

COLORADO

Colorado School of Mines Elizabeth Macdonald University of Colorado-Boulder Nicholas Steigerwaldt United States Air Force Academy Olga Boukhvalova

FLORIDA

Florida Institute of Technology Gage Gosset Florida State University Julie Wolfla Kuxxix Yang University of Central Florida David Harmeyer University of Tampa Agathe Olier

ILLINOIS

Bradley University Emily Russell Columbia College Chicago Emily Jacobson Loyola University Chicago Gabriela Lammers Jovanna Kasabuske Moody Bible Insitute Faith Xiong Northern Illinois University Claudia Colla Northwestern University Leslie Bonilla

Robert Morris University Danyell Chupp University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Payal Ahuja Wheaton College Alexa Keane .

INDIANA

Ball State University Caitlin Locante Butler University Catherine Conlon DePauw University Elizabeth Busch Mia Manney Purdue University Jonathan Osman University of Notre Dame Connor Kuse Valparaiso University Emma Ossmann

IOWA

Central College Kathleen Wierzchowski Drake University Stephanie Jarecki University of Iowa Maclaren Krueger Kathleen Matus .

KANSAS

University of Kansas Alex Barbee Dawson Carnell .

MICHIGAN

University of Michigan Rebecca Yi .

MINNESOTA

Bemidji State University Jaiden Banda Bethel University Joelle Parfrey St. Olaf College Emily Borkowski

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Rachel Davel Crystal Jehly Kristina Kulpins Amanda Rian Shayna Seegert Victoriya Tarakanova Emma DiPiazza Vivian Gross Claire Haynes Michael Panagiotopoulos Ananya Rajaraman Sammy Yahiaoui University of Minnesota, Morris Derek Nicholas University of St. Thomas Caroline Hammond Sarah Pasternak Winona State Meredith Bowar Thomas Gibson .

MISSOURI

Saint Louis University Natalie Daniel Nathan Hilmer Kennidy Reid Washington University in Saint Louis Brian Li Lindenwood University Aiyanna Primer .

MONTANA

Montana State University Katrina Meyer

NEW MEXICO

University of New Mexico Alexander Lysonski .

NEW YORK

Cornell University Eugene Kim Manhattan School of Music Samuel Amore

OHIO

Case Western Reserve University Aedan Basel Sanchi Kalra Nam Lee Christopher Post Samantha Somers Miami University Megan Moretti

Xavier University Taylor Latona

PENNSYLVANIA University of Pittsburg Andre Sydnor

RHODE ISLAND

Rhode Island School of Design Aiyu Liang

Individual Student Scholarships as reported by BC seniors Samuel Amore – awarded by the Manhattan School of Music Bennett Antonneau – BBB Scholarship of the Arts Jaiden Banda – Athletic Scholarship (Bemidji State University) Alex Barbee – Generations Scholarship Aedan Basel – awarded by Case Western University Abby Behrens – General Merit Scholarship, Warhawk Exceptional Academics Scholarship Cameron Below – Academic Scholarship (UW-La Crosse) Ryan Bohr – Thermo Fisher Scholarship Sophie Bohr – Thermo Fisher Scholarship Leslie Bonilla – awarded by Northwestern University, The 1851 Scholarship, GE Star Scholarship Emily Borkowski – Academic Scholarship (St. Olaf), Theater Scholarship (St. Olaf) August Brunette – Vicky Lee Hirsh Academic Merit Award Elizabeth Busch – Presidential Scholarship (DePauw University) Alexis Canitz – Dean Recognition Scholarship Chiemeka Chioma – Merit Scholarship (St. Norbert College) Danyell Chupp – Academic Scholarship (Robert Morris University), Athletic Scholarship (Robert Morris University) Claudia Colla – Husky Scholarship (Northern Illinois University) Natalie Daniel – Vice Presidential Merit Scholarship (Saint Louis University, Athletic Scholarship (Saint Louis University) Rachel Davel – Pagel Graphic Arts Scholarship, Product Design Scholarship (University of Minnesota), Florence Goodrich Scholarship Pedro Delgado – St. Francis Parish Scholarship Brittany Dollhopf – awarded by UW-Milwaukee Stefan Eagon – Trustee Scholarship (Carroll University), Waukesha State Bank Scholarship Kelly Ells – Père Marquette Scholarship (Marquette University), Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS Youth Foundation Scholarship Emma Favill – Pagel Graphic Arts Scholarship,

Promising Student Scholarship (UW-Stout), Chancellor Scholarship (UW-Stout) Thomas George – Arrupe Scholarship Hema Gharia – Key Club Scholarship Thomas Gibson – Athletic Scholarship (Winona State University) Gage Gosset – Panther Scholarship (Florida Institute of Technology Caroline Hammond – Academic Scholarship (University of St. Thomas) David Harmeyer – Knight’s Achievement Award Claire Haynes – Presidential Scholarship (University of Minnesota) Nathan Hilmer – Dean’s Scholarship (Saint Louis University), Enhanced Merit Scholarship (Saint Louis University) Stephanie Jarecki – Presidential Scholarship (Drake University) Crystal Jehly – Educators Credit Union Scholarship Kailee Johnson – Athletic Scholarship (Alvin Community College) Jovanna Kasabuske – Presidential Scholarship (Loyola University Chicago) Angela Kaul – Charles Carroll Scholarship (Carroll University) Alexa Keane – Arthur Holmes Faith and Learning Scholarship Sofia Khan – Herb Kohl Excellence Scholarship, National Center for Women in Technology Scholarship, WI Letters and Science Scholar Achievement Award Kajal Khatri - Père Marquette Scholarship (Marquette University) Eugene Kim – Tanner Dean’s Scholarship (Cornell University) Victoria Kost – Powers-Knapp Scholarship Maclaren Krueger – Old Gold Scholarship Gabriela Lammers – Damen Scholarship Rachel Laska - Père Marquette Scholarship (Marquette University) Taylor Latona – awarded by Xavier University Michael Lemke – awarded by Marquette College of Business Administration Aiyu Liang – Elm Grove Women’s Club Art

Scholarship Caitlin Locante – Presidential Scholarship (Ball State University), Athletic Scholarship (Ball State University), White Memorial Scholarship, Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Elizabeth MacDonald – President’s Undergraduate Scholarship, Pell Grant Mia Manney – Presidential University (DePauw University) Kathleen Matus – Academic Success Scholarship (University of Iowa), UI Advantage Iowa Scholarship (University of Iowa), UI National Scholars Award (University of Iowa) Angel Mayo – Powers-Knapp Scholarship Katrina Meyer – Achievement Award (Montana State University), Helyn McGown Scholarship, Nancy Sellars Memorial Scholarship, Badger Meyer Scholarship Drew Miner – Père Marquette Scholarship (Marquette University) Derek Nicholas – awarded by University of Minnesota, Morris Agathe Olier – Minaret Scholarship Emma Ossmann – Presidential Scholarship (Valparaiso University), Foreign Language Scholarship (Valparaiso University), Olivia Paloucek – Père Marquette Scholarship (Marquette University) Geet Pandya – AF ROTC Scholarship, 1 Million 4 Anna Scholarship Joelle Parfrey – Royal Merit Scholarship (Bethel University) Sarah Pasternak – Athletic Scholarship (St. Thomas University) Victoria Pipia – Kemper K. Knapp Scholarship Aiyanna Primer – Athletic Scholarship (Lindenwood University) Ananya Rajaraman – Presidential Scholarship (University of Minnesota), College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Scholarship (University of Minnesota) Robert Ravanelli – BC Booster Club Scholarship Emma Richards – Non-Resident Aggie Scholar Academic Scholarship Casey Riener – Honors College Scholarship (UW-

Stout) Megan Rittler – Schools of Communications Scholarship Competition (Marquette University) Jamie Ronco – ACE grant Taylor Schalk – awarded by Carroll University Max Schroeder – ROTC Scholarship Dana Shudy – Chancellor’s Award (UW-Milwaukee) Cassandra Smith – Presidential Scholarship (Lawrence University) More Light! Scholarship Lawrence University Kiley Smith – Frawley Scholarship, Dorothy Marshall Scholarship (UW-Madison) Samantha Somers – awarded by Case Western Reserve University James Steinhafel – Père Marquette Scholarship (Marquette University) Andre Sydnor – Cathedral Prestige Scholarship Brandon Talaska – Athletic Scholarship (Alderson Broaddus University) Victoriya Tarakanova – Carlson School of Management Scholarship (University of Minnesota), Travel Abroad Scholarship (University of Minnesota), Honors College L&LC (University of Minnesota), WMC Scholarship Nathaniel Verhagen – Alumni Association Scholarship (UW-Madison) Megan Wagoner - Voorhees Scholarship, Courage to Grow Scholarship Vivian Walbrun - Père Marquette Scholarship (Marquette University) Jacob Wetjen – WE Energies Daughters and Sons Scholarship Kathleen Wierzchowski – Presidential Scholarship (Central College), Community Service Scholarship (Central College), Trustee Scholarship (Central College) Julie Wolfla – Presidential Scholarship (Florida State University) Rebecca Yi – Key Club and NHS Scholarship Valerie Yurk – Presidential Academic Scholarship (George Washington University) Alice Zheng – Père Marquette Scholarship (Marquette University), Academic Excellence Scholarship (Marquette University), GE STAR Awards

SENIOR ISSUE 2017

BCHS class of 2017

TEXAS

Alvin Community College Kailee Johnson University of Texas at Dallas Rahul Javalagi .

UTAH

Brigham Young University Kirsten Jorgensen University of Utah Allie Stuberg Utah State University Emma Richards .

WASHINGTON

University of Washington Hannah Ludwick

WASHINGTON D.C

George Washington University Valerie Yurk

WEST VIRGINIA

Alderson Broaddus University Brandon Talaska

WISCONSIN

Carroll University Katie Dobrzynski Stefan Eagon Angela Kaul Taylor Schalk Megan Wagoner Lawrence University Cassandra Smith Marquette University Maximilian Casey

Kelly Ells Kajal Khatri Rachel Laska Drew Miner Megan Rittler Emily Smith James Steinhafel Vivian Walbrun Alice Zheng Milwaukee Area Technical College Alexandra Pulizos Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design Alexis Canitz Milwaukee School of Engineering Samuel Roche Saint Norbert College Chiemeka Chioma UW-Eau Claire Cassandra Fosdick Ellery Nordling Alyssa Rohda UW-Lacrosse Cameron Below Layne Budzynski Grace Fox Samuel Kirchen Christopher Kyte Dhruv Patel Cole Shilobrit Joseph Wallner UW-Madison Phillip Akaishi Bennett Antonneau Arnav Bhat Ryan Bohr Sophia Bohr August Brunette Caroline Busch Mark Crowder Michael Elwing Maria Farrokhnia Katheryn Fields Matthew Flynn Jialuo Gao Carson Gehl Jane Gehringer Hema Gharia Madison Hummel Parker Jensen Emily Johnson John Kelley Sofia Khan Victoria Kost Zachary Kubinski Gurcan Kula Olivia Kurtz Ashlyn Mattes Angel Mayo

Amanda Miller Cody Moua Molly Nemcek Geet Pandya Matthew Peters Victoria Pipia Rohan Ramachandran Robert Ravanelli Katelyn Rossman Caroline Schreiner Maxwell Schroeder Livia Shi Kiley Smith Jack Steffen Shreyans Udani Nicholas Urban Alexander Uy Nathaniel Verhagen Jacob Wetjen Marissa Zepecki UW-Milwaukee Michael Anderson Trent Boldin Amar Clifton Pedro Delgado Nathan Denofre Brittany Dollhopf Brett Fong Kevin Fuller Rachel Gantz Michael Hinz David Horvath Tahmid Iqbal Lena Jensen Nicholas King Michael Lemke Jack Miller Jacob Ozlins Dhara Patel Savannah Randall Julius Schimmel Dana Shudy Makenzie Winchell Eliott Wucherer Katie Zanoni UW-Oshkosh Viktoria Blankenburg Brittany Powers UW-Platteville Michael Burzynski Benjamin Geibl Jacob Vraney UW-River Falls Jenelle Klingaman UW-Stout Emma Favill Kevin Peavler Casey Riener Evan Vraney

UW-Waukesha Leah Seror Esther Lewandowski Renee Thater Kaying Yang UW-Whitewater Abigail Behrens Kara Devine Baylee Goldsmith Nicolas Pederson Andrew Wernicke Clarice Wille Vicí Beauty School Madeline Ball Jamie Ronco Waukesha County Technical College Casandra Barron Isabella Brinn Fauste Christ Dominic Consolazione Maximilian Czechowski Stephanie Kolb Artemio Luna Alyson Mueller Kaitlyn Otto Brandon Pozorski Mikayla Restock Antonio Sferra Justine Zajac

EMPLOYMENT Austin King Elijah O’Brien Jacob Radmer

MILITARY

Abigail Andler Matthew Aulgur Olga Boukhvalova Gavin Gross David Miech Mitchell Selas

OTHER/GAP YEAR Ella Goche (STRIVE) Brianna Jaramillo Olivia Milton Kaitlynn Proite Ivan Saenz-Hernandez

INTERNATIONAL CANADA

Ontario Junior A Hockey League Adam Weiner

GERMANY Liam Brugger

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SENIOR ISSUE 2017

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

college

Bohr’s Bakery: how to make graduation cap cake pops Sophie Bohr Reporter

SOPHIE BOHR

Top: Your yummy cake pops are done! Bottom: Meet the baker, Sophie Bohr!

SOPHIE BOHR

Alumni give roommate advice to incoming freshmen Sanchi Kalra Activities Editor

Amritha Jayashankar (‘15, UW-Madison) “Be very clear about expectations before you both agree to live together. That saves a lot of time and confusion later.

Also, maintain your own circle of friends. It’s natural to feel a little scared and alone that first week and to stick exclusively with your roommate but after that, try to branch

Aaron Neustedter (‘16 Purdue University) “Don’t worry too much about having the perfect roommate, it’s really hard to get a feel for someone online. People in college tend to be pretty chill and it’s typically pretty easy to switch if it all goes south.”

out more. You want to meet as many people as possible and soon you’ll find a circle of friends that’s right for you.

Last (and most important) tip would be to communicate [...] Really talk through everything while filling that out, be open with each other.”

David Gunther Treis (‘16, Augustana College) “You have four years to have a great time in college. So if you miss a party one weekend for class, just do it. There will always be another party.”

Shreya Ravindran (‘16, Case Western Reserve) “When it comes to roommate searches, I would say try to find someone through social media who best shares your interests rather than fully going random. Also, college is a really big step from high school, and it’s easy to dwell in academics and extracurriculars all day long, but I would say that you should remem-

ber to take care of your health first. “The downside is that both of us had to be very considerate of each other. For example, we could not continue studying in our room when one of us is about to sleep, or we could not bring other friends into our room when one of us is studying, etc.”

#TBT: A timeline of our time in high school, 2013-2017 Eugene Kim Editor-in-Chief

SENIOR ISSUE 2017

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

college

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Things to do before graduating high school: senior year bucket list Madison Hummel Online Editor

H

ere it is: The End. No, this is not yet another one of those “end of the world” schemes. This is the end of your high school career (at least for all of you seniors out there). These past four years have gone by quickly, each year containing more stories than the last. However, now it is the time to say “goodbye” to these memories and “hello” to new adventures. Unfortunately, it’s hard to let go, and somehow you feel empty, unfulfilled.

That is why I’ve compiled a bucket list that you should attempt to complete before moving onto your next stages of life.

1. Get coffee with favorite teacher(s)

Okay, it doesn’t have to be coffee or outside of school, but hanging out with your favorite teacher could surprise you. Each staff member here at BC holds a life story, one that is filled with achievements, failures, and wisdom. Who knows? Maybe you could end up learning a few things that will be helpful for the future.

2. Get in trouble

Obviously when I say this, I’m not purporting that breaking the law is good. In fact, I highly recommend that you don’t do that. What I actually mean is that rules are flexible and are meant to be bent. Testing how far they can go is how this world has functioned in all of history.

Sure, getting caught sucks and possibly damaging depending on the situation, but it’s worth it to finally know our boundaries.

3. Throw an awesome going away party

VIVIAN WALBRUN

Graduating is a huge accomplishment, and celebrating that accomplishment will truly make you feel complete (maybe). After graduating, seeing all of your friends together in the same place will get harder and harder. People move away, move on, and move further from their current friends in an attempt to distance themselves from their feelings. So, if there’s any place to avoid these tendencies, it’s at an amazing party that you threw (or co-threw) for yourself. By the way, don’t worry: an awesome party doesn’t have to be exuberantly grandiose; a few snacks and activities are key ingredients to having a wonderful time. Friends are what make events memorable!

4. Leave Wisconsin (without parents)

We’ve all dreamed of the day we could run away from home without a care in the world and feel finally at peace with our surroundings - no rules and no boundaries. Unfortunately, school has tied us down, leaving us only week-long breaks to have a brief taste of life. Now, we see ourselves almost alone against the world, facing both an uncertain future and miles of barren roads. Out of everything on this list, I encourage this one the most, because only in true solitude are you able to find yourself. If you are shy like me, go ahead and bring a few friends along with you and enjoy the sights that this country has to offer. I promise that you won’t be disappointed with your adventures!

Madison Hummel (‘17) stands on a frozen Pewaukee lake, embodying the “free senior spirit”.

5. Say Goodbye

At the end of the day, the people that you have grown up with are the ones that really matter. They have endured your most awkward periods, greatest achievements, largest failures, and incommensurable struggles. If you plan on doing absolutely nothing this summer, at least do the bare minimum and wish your friends good luck on their own separate journeys and thank them for helping you on your own.

Albeit short, this bucket list is just a broadened view of the bare minimum you should attempt to accomplish. Sure, not everything on it is attainable, but knowing that you completed at least two items, whatever they may be, should be enough to fill the gaping void left in your heart by the bittersweet end of school. Now go on, seniors, and be the best at whatever or wherever you might be.

Six must-haves for college dorm life Emma Favill Cartoonist

Shower Shoes → Shower Shoes not only save you from the disgusting truths of sharing showers with a dorm full of other people, but they also provide a stylish shower experience… sort of.

Water Kettle → A water kettle comes in handy for a necessary late night cup of tea or bowl of Ramen Noodles.

Power Strip → No doubt you will want to plug more devices in than the dorm room outlets would permit. By bringing a power strip, you will be able to simultaneously charge more electronics.

First Aid Kit → A first aid kit is an extremely useful thing to have handy in a dorm room. This can not only be filled with items such as band-aids, but also handy grooming tools you don’t realize you use until you are without them.

Fan → Some of the dorm rooms are not air-conditioned. During the summer, a fan will be much appreciated - whether it be a window fan or a stand-alone fan.

Ramen Noodles → And, of course, the infamous Ramen Noodles which the stereotypical college student subsists on. Wouldn’t want to forget that now, would we?

Whether you’re thirty minutes or fifteen hours away from home, it’s always good to be prepared for whatever comes your way your first year of college.

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opinions

SENIOR ISSUE 2017

What I have (and haven’t) learned in high school

DAVID MIECH

David Miech Reporter

W

David Miech (‘17) at the Milwaukee Military Access Processing Station (MEPS). Miech will be entering the Army after graduation.

hat have I learned in these past four years?

You probably expect me to say “nothing.” Have you seen who wrote this article? Now you have.

The only thing I’m sure I really know is how little I know. But to all future students, I can certainly tell you that procrastinating didn’t help.

The extent of my academic advice is this quote from Christopher Parker: “Procrastination is like a credit card; it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.”

If you know me, you know that

I’m not a very dedicated student.

What’s the point of learning calculus if I’m never going to use it again? Why memorize a bunch of vocabulary words to regurgitate them onto a test and forget them right after?

Academically, I can safely say that I learned only what I was interested in and nothing more. For what one learns with dissatisfaction will soon be forgotten, but what is learned with pleasure will remain for a lifetime.

Often times, however, it is who has done the teaching that is more important than the material. I had

teachers that really took to heart this Einstein quote: “education is not the learning of the facts, but the training of the mind to think.”

There were some that went far above and beyond their traditional roles as educators. I can guarantee that every graduating student has a teacher to thank for their learning.

So, speaking on of behalf of the senior class, I want to say thank you to every teacher that really made it their goal to help someone.

The most important thing I have learned, however, is about to sound like the sappiest thing you’ve ever heard: be yourself.

I’m not going to change society anytime soon, nor the mindset of any influencers. Keep in mind, though, that your future should rest with your choices and yours alone.

If the whole world is telling you not to do something that you want to do, it is your duty to plant your feet and say, “stop me.” (Actually, if everyone in the world is telling you not to do something, you probably shouldn’t because it’s most likely idiotic.)

However, know that you have the will and strength to do what you want if need be. Good luck to the class of 2017!

The future, free will, and Dead Poets Society: thoughts on growing up Payal Ahuja Reporter

Recently, I read a book called Dead Poets Society by NH Kleinbaum, based on the movie directed by Peter Weir. It tells the story of students at an elite boarding school in Vermont who feel inspired by their English teacher to do something more with their lives.

I perhaps could not have read this at a better time in my life, as I, along with the rest of the class of 2017, am soon going to graduate high school.

Some of us are off to college, some of us to the military. For many of us, this is our first time away from home; others of us have moved frequently enough for graduation to be more sweet than bitter. Either way, we are all moving on to a different path than the one we’re currently on.

This led me to think: what now?

Of course, we’ll be doing something

Yes!

come September. But how do we know if it’s the best path for us? Is there such a thing as “the best path?”

And what are we actually working toward?

I don’t mean this to sound angsty or preachy or make everyone have an existential crisis. In fact, I find these questions as exciting as I find them intimidating. For the first time, we possess a greater influence as to how our lives are going to shape up. We are no longer bound by the predictability of high school.

I am aware of how idealistic this sounds, but I’m also confident that Mr. Keating, the inspirational English teacher in Dead Poets Society, would wholly approve. See, the phrase he swears by is “carpe diem,” or “seize the day.”

His students, at first loyal to their

routine and comfort zone, are unsure of exactly how to seize the day.

However, they eventually realize that making their lives extraordinary doesn’t require grand gestures, but rather little steps toward a much larger goal.

So whether it’s wooing a girl, taking part in a play, or learning to be less shy, the students understand their role in the world and are confident in pursuing it.

An aspect of this book that stands out and makes it more meaningful than some other teen novels is that there is no happy ending. In fact, there really is no ending.

Events throughout the book evoke joy, anger, and heartbreak. The end of the book is beautiful because although not all issues are resolved, there is some hope that they will be

eventually.

The students don’t magically solve their problems and live the rest of their lives happily ever after, but they do become mature and resilient enough to face their problems and stand up for what they believe.

So the ultimate lesson, fellow class of 2017, is that we are going to have infinitely more obstacles as we grow older and progress throughout our lives. But I’m confident that we have all grown up enough to overcome them and learn from them.

So, as Mr. Keating said: “Carpe diem, lads. Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary.”

LESLIE BONILLA

Payal Ahuja (‘17) gives a thumbs-up alongside her copy of Dead Poets Society. which she describes as “thought-provoking” and “coolio.”

Should you get a random roommate?

Nah...

Mia Manney Reporter

Congratulations! You’ve likely been accepted to college and from there chosen one to commit to! There are a lot more decisions to be made, so why not make life a little easier and have a roommate selected for you?

The “lottery” system isn’t just some algorithm that randomly pairs you with someone.

While each college is a little different, most take into account your personal habits and characteristics so that you are paired up with someone that you share some similarities with.

This system allows you to meet someone new and may allow you to experience situations outside of your comfort zone.

The randomization of it gives you an opportunity to have your own independence. You won’t be tied down to your high school life, like you would be if you were rooming with a friend. With that independence you have the opportunity to participate in the entire college experience.

Many people worry that they may not like their roommate if they decide to go random.

However, there is always a chance that they would be in that same situation if they had roomed with a friend. Being with your friend 24/7 can really test your friendship, especially if you’ve never shared a space like that before.

Not liking your roommate is becoming less of an issue anyway, as social media and technology are becoming more prevalent. Colleges assign roommates much earlier so that roommates can get to know one another and discuss hot topics such as who’s bringing the mini-fridge and what decorations are going to be hung on the wall.

Essentially, a random roommate is someone a college sets you up with so that you don’t have to waste your valuable time searching and trying to connect with other college-bound

Alice Zheng Online Editor-in-Chief

students in vain.

This process also takes care of the prospect of exclusion. The vast majority of students will be assigned a roommate and you won’t have to worry about artificial things such as looks or selling yourself. Colleges match you solely based on how well your personalities and habits match up with another’s.

At the end of the day, the experience is going to be what you make of it. If you enter into it regretting that you went random or that you procrastinated and didn’t have time to look for a roommate, you probably will go in with negative feelings.

On the flip side, if you trust the system, you should receive someone that is at least bearable. So cheers and remember that no matter what you only have to live with this person for one school year - less than 365 days!

SANCHI KALRA

Mia Manney (‘17) holds up a question mark to represent her roomate at DePauw next year.

There’s a common misconception that you must choose your best friend when picking a college roommate. In fact, when choosing a roommate, you don’t even have to pick someone you know! Choosing your roommate is about finding the happy medium - finding someone who you can mostly tolerate and who you know is not a serial killer.

On the spectrum of choosing roommates, it’s one step above leaving your fate to a computer algorithm and one step below picking your best friend.

Although it is tempting, living with your best friend may not be the best idea. You and your friend may hang around the same crowd and laugh at the same jokes, but your living styles may not mesh well. Your friend may go to sleep at midnight, while you may want to sleep at 10:00 p.m. Being around your friend 24/7 can strain your friendship.

Conversely, going completely “random” may be a little dangerous. A random roommate may disrupt your good habits and influence you to pick up bad ones. You do not want to be the next college student on the news for being found at the bottom of a river.

The best option is finding someone who you are not entirely close with, but have a mutual baseline of trust and understanding. This can be someone you found through social media or roommate matching programs after extensive “research” (aka Facebook/Twitter/Instagram stalking).

It’s easy to find your roommate. Many colleges utilize programs such as Roomsync or social media sites, like Facebook, to match roommates. It’s like Tinder, but for college roommates. You can select your sleep preferences, study habits, party schedules, hobbies, and many others to find your roommate match.

ALICE ZHENG

Alice Zheng (‘17, right) with her roommate Kelsey Cho (left) from Nazareth Academy, IL.

However, like online dating, potential roommates may put their best foot forward and not show their ugly side. This is where social media stalking comes in handy.

You have options. You can pick a person who is in your major or has a common goal, so they can push you towards success. Alternately, you could pick a friend in a different major to learn about new subjects and hobbies.

It really depends on what you want out of your college experience, but at least you will have control over it.

You know what to expect. If you are someone who likes to plan things out, choosing your roommate may be the better option for you.

Make planning the room easier. Who’s bringing the fridge? What’s the color scheme? You can agree on how you want to use the dorm as well - as a study space or a social space, or as a mix.

Going random is either a win or lose situation. Choosing your roommate is like the middle ground. It’s best when you go with the safer option, especially when you will be living in a space where you can touch both walls without fully extending your arms. College is a time for you to take control of your future. Why not start by choosing your college roommate?