The Tiger Print — October 2017

s e k a F g n i y f i t n e Id

Despite dangers, one-fifth of BV students report taking steps to obtain fake ID

| PHOTO BY KAITLIN YU

//THE TIGER PRINT

Blue Valley High School | Vol. 48 | Issue 3 | October 2017 | bvtigernews.com | Overland Park, Kansas

2 //october 2017 // contents

8

in this issue...

NATIVE AMERICANS’ CONTRIBUTIONS

11

DANCING TO A TRIUMPH

| DESIGN BY KAITLIN YU | PHOTOS BY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

RECOVERING FROM DISASTER Sophomore Emilio Yepez receives help after a flood took his home.

22 23 16 24 25

BIG CAT GALORE

Senior Jami Robben paves the way for a future in dance and choreography.

Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary has expanded their property and plan to improve it.

ASMR YOUTUBE CHANNELS

| PHOTO SUBMISSIONS BY JOHN DALE & JULIA SHYVER

17

WHAT DO BV STUDENTS LISTEN TO?

20

MAJORING IN LEADERSHIP LET’S CELEBRATE FALL

Get ready for dropping temperatures and leaves with this list of autumn activities.

Junior Karina Howey discusses the transition to being a drum major.

//TIGER PRINT THE

co-editors Julie Freijat Alli Williams Kaitlin Yu photo editor Melanie White

staff writers Allie Ament Courtney Brown Cassidy Carpenter McKenna Cole Kyle Elmendorf Lily Goodwin

Molly Holmes Maddy Kang Noma Kreegar Nick Lamberti Shay Lawson Grace Lutz Sadie Myer

Carley Sherer Lizzie Skidmore Claire Stein Victoria Wilson adviser Michelle Huss

TIGER TAILGATES BV seniors coordinate tailgates and bond over fun activities and grilled hot dogs.

23 27

“The Tiger Print” is an official publication of Blue Valley High School, an open forum distributed to all students eight times a year. This publication may contain controversial material. Kansas law prohibits the suppression of a student publication solely because it may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees may disclaim any responsibility for the content of this publication; it is not an expression of school policy.

Student authors and editors are solely responsible for the content of this publication.

Letters to the editor are encouraged for publication. “The Tiger Print” reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content.

Letters should be submitted to Room 450, emailed to thetigerprint@gmail.com or mailed to: The Tiger Print Blue Valley High School 6001 W. 159th St. Overland Park, KS 66085

news // october 2017 //

3

OFF THE RADAR

the news you didn’t hear

| WORDS BY JULIE FREIJAT | PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Microsoft goes rogue.

The Supreme Court is about to take on a case that will determine whether or not federal search warrants extend overseas in terms of retrieving data. A couple years back, federal investigators determined that a Microsoft Outlook email may have contained information regarding drug trafficking. They obtained a search warrant to retrieve this information. The issue — those emails were stored in an account in Ireland. Microsoft refused to hand over the information under the claim that a federal search warrant does not extend over international borders. The government claims Microsoft’s refusal is hindering federal investigation.

TECH HEALTH California is dealing with a Hepatitis A crisis.

California is currently in the midst of a state of emergency regarding a Hepatitis A outbreak. Hundreds of people have been infected and 19 have died as a result of the viral liver disease. The spread is mostly attributed to the lack of access to proper sanitation — those affected have been mostly drug users or the homeless. Nurses and government officials are racing to stop the disease but have been met with only a continual outbreak.

People are protesting the recent Somalia bombing.

Early this month, a bomb killed around 300 people in Mogadishu, Somalia. The exact death toll can’t be determined because some bodies could not be identified after the blast. Shortly after the attack, thousands of citizens took to the street to protest against those responsible for the attack. Police attempted to keep the demonstrators away from the bombing site by firing into the crowd, but they persisted. The attack has been blamed on al-Shabaab, a local terrorist group.

CONFLICT

4 //october 2017 // news | PHOTO BY MELANIE WHITE After her crowning, Homecoming queen senior Caitlin Fitzpatrick greets her friends on the sidelines. “It was an honor to be nominated by my peers,” she said. “It says a lot about what people think [of] you.”

| PHOTO BY MELANIE WHITE Pointing at the crowd, sophomore Averey Shaw dances in the fall choir performance. “No matter what you’re going through, [the choir family will] have your back.” she said.

NEWS IN PHOTOS | PHOTO BY MOLLY HOLMES Fist pumping, freshman Grayson Edmonds participates in the Homecoming parade. “ I built some of [the float] on a couple of Saturdays and painted it, too,” he said.

| PHOTO BY MELANIE WHITE Senior Mary Havens plays the cello in the Sept. 26 orchestra concert. Blue Valley Middle orchestra played along with the high school students. “The upperclassmen [got] to show them what high school is about,” she said.

| PHOTO BY KAITLIN YU Senior Nick Lester throws the BV Southwest Timberwolf on the fire.

Students in National Art Honor Society created the Timberwolf. “[This] is a great way to get everyone excited for the homecoming game,” Lester said. | DESIGN BY MELANIE WHITE

news // october 2017 //

#DefendDACA Imagine being one of 800,000 undocumented immigrants given the opportunity as a young child to achieve your dreams. Imagine knowing no other life besides in the United States, and suddenly being threatened to return to a country you can’t remember.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a program introduced in 2012 by former President Barack Obama to protect immigrants, also known as Dreamers, brought to the U.S. illegally as minors by their parents. The label Dreamer derives from a bill called the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, introduced in 2001 and has still not been passed by Congress.

Senior Juan Prats’ family is not a part of the DACA program, but his mother is an immigrant from Cuba who moved to the U.S. at the young age of 2, and became a citizen after 10 years of living with a visa.

“If I had to leave to go [to Cuba] it would be a huge adjustment mainly because they just don’t have all the technology available to them that we do here in the U.S., and lots of things are government controlled because it’s a communist country,” Prats said.

Children of immigrants, like Prats, can feel more connected to the country they’re raised in, rather than where their heritage is based, similar to Dreamers.

DACA has many contributing parts to it, but it mainly promises young, undocumented immigrants who meet the requirements and have no significant criminal record that they will not be deported for two years and grants them work permits in that same

| WORDS & DESIGN BY LIZZIE SKIDMORE

5

Trump administration threatens to rescind program that shields undocumented immigrants from deportation

period of time. Every two years, Dreamers can renew their application.

DACA recipients still participate in an American life, like paying taxes and social security, but they remain ineligible for federal benefits — Medicaid, financial aid for college and emergency assistance for some Dreamers who are currently facing damages from Hurricanes Irma and Harvey.

Two years after the program began, Obama introduced an expansion of DACA and the creation of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Legal Permanent Residents (DAPA) program, which was blocked in 2016 by a lawsuit filed by 26 states, including Kansas, that deemed the expansions unconstitutional.

After this decision, people began to question DACA’s constitutionality.

Ten Republican attorney generals wrote a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions threatening to launch a legal challenge against DACA through a lawsuit in federal court. They gave him until Sept. 5 to determine the program’s fate.

That day, Sessions and the Trump Administration announced its plan to end DACA in the next six months.

The final decision is up to Congress. Should they decide not to create a permanent plan to wave off mass deportations, 800,000 immigrants will lose their rights to work and live in the U.S. and be forced to return to a country they don’t know.

While being an immigrant who became a citizen and being an illegal immigrant are different experiences, Prats said he still notices the benefits of living here.

“The U.S. has been able to help [my mom] live a healthier lifestyle and a much more advanced one,” he said. “Freedom really is what it comes down to for her.”

| PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

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opinion // october 2017 //

7

who’s helping whom?

There are better ways to provide relief to struggling countries julie freijat co-editor in chief

When I was younger, I was taught that helping others was a duty we were all called to. I was told that it was our responsibility to take care of those who couldn’t take care of themselves. I felt blessed, saintly. I was beyond ready to take the advantages I had been given in life and use them to assist others. But something about this sentiment is troubling.

If you look at the world as it is now, there are hundreds of conflicts and millions of people in need of help. In our little bubble, these people seem so far away and so incredibly different. They seem to be in situations far worse than us — they need us. Right?

But the reality is not what it seems. Sure, these people do need help. The hungry need food, and the homeless need shelter. And an obvious way to get assistance to these people would be volunteer trips. But are these volunteer trips the most effective way to help? Or have we lost the original purpose of these missions within our own, fame-driven god-complex?

First and foremost, I am not writing this to criticize every single person who goes on a volunteer trip to a poorer country. In fact, a lot of those people have amazing intentions and do provide substantial help. But instead I’d like to suggest that, perhaps, we can do more.

We spend thousands of dollars flying ourselves to countries to make bracelets and take pictures with children who are struggling with problems more complex than our ‘kindness’ can solve. That money could be used elsewhere.

There are organizations whose sole purpose is to provide domestic assistance to people in conflict areas so we do not disturb the industrialization that needs to occur on its own. These organizations take donations from people and move them across the world to people who already reside and work in these conflict areas so they can instill solutions that are substantial, palpable and capable of evolving.

When we are driven by the urge to feel good about ourselves instead of the urge to help others, we fail in our attempts to assist. We need to stop looking at developing countries as places that ‘need us.’

It’s time we stop acting like our cards and bracelets change the world.

charities that pose domestic solutions from international contributions: preemptive love coalition The Preemptive Love Coalition is a charity spanning the Middle East and disaster-stricken areas of the United States. The coalition focuses on providing food and medical care to victims of war and other conflict through donations.

To find out more about their work, check out their website.

givedirectly GiveDirectly is an organization that allows individuals to send money directly to the poor in Kenya and Uganda. The charity ensures that the money is being equally distributed among those with low incomes in Africa and is supported by GiveWell, a charity review website.

| DESIGN BY JULIE FREIJAT | PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

8 //october 2017 // opinion

Uncovering

History

mckenna cole staff writer

give credit where it’s due Our history books have a tendency to direct all their praise toward European contributions.

As historian Howard Zinn said, “The history of any country often conceals the fierce conflicts of interest between conquerors and the conquered.”

The fact is, Native American contributions have shaped our modern day society, and it’s time we start acknowledging them.

According to Nrcs.usda.gov, Benjamin Franklin was inspired by the Iroquois tribe and their political styles. In fact, the idea of the federal government was borrowed from the system of government used by the Iroquois League of Nations.

What you may not know is Kansas, named after the Kansa nation, has a deep Native American history.

Our cities and districts are named after tribes such as the Ottawa, Wyandotte, Wichita and Shawnee.

Do you enjoy a bowl of popcorn with your movie?

Well, you have Native Americans to thank for that.

According to Scholastic, 60 percent of the present world’s food supply comes from the American Indians’ agriculture. Other foods include: avocados, chocolate, vanilla, chewing gum, potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes, maple syrup and many species of beans.

| DESIGN BY NICK LAMBERTI

The Kansas City Chiefs got their name when former Mayor Bartle founded the Native American-based honor society known as The Tribe of Mic-O-Say within the Boy Scouts of America organization, where he earned the nickname “The Chief.”

staff ed // october 2017 //

9

| CARTOON BY ANNA QUIGLEY

The Blue Valley District should step up to be proactive against gun violence as it becomes an issue in schools Most people don’t think it will happen to them. Most people don’t hear about a school shooting and actually think that it will occur at their school.

And it doesn’t truly hit them that it could happen this year, or this month or even this week.

On Sept. 29, Lee’s Summit North High School senior Gemesha Thomas brought a gun into the school and took her own life in the building.

This is an example of someone introducing a weapon into a learning environment without anyone noticing.

This easily could have been someone with harmful intentions toward others.

The Blue Valley district needs to acknowledge gun violence in schools by implementing tactics to prevent school shootings from occurring and prepare students for when they do take place.

School is the second most common place for mass shootings to transpire, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization

that advocates against gun violence, recorded 242 incidents of school shootings since 2013. Luckily, most of those aren’t as extreme as Sandy Hook or Columbine.

Some of them are unintentional firings, causing injury to the owner of the gun. However, other incidents involve injuries and fatalities.

Additionally, Kansas may be at higher risk for school shootings. A study featured in the academic journal “Injury Prevention” found that states not requiring background checks for a firearms purchase and with lower education expenditure generally had more school shootings from 2013 to 2015.

Since they only looked at three years, it must be said that it isn’t necessarily a strong indication of cause and effect.

However, it is a warning.

Kansas doesn’t require private firearms dealers to initiate background checks. In fact, many of its laws are lax. Kansas also spends less money on education per pupil than the U.S. total,

according to Governing.com.

Therefore, it becomes clear that the district needs to be proactive against gun violence at schools so that we don’t start fighting against it after something terrible has taken place.

So what should the district do to protect its students?

First of all, the district should allocate more time and money to mental health services.

Secondly, the district also should accept that many students have access to guns at home and should be lecturing on gun safety. The district should reconcile the issue of guns at school.

And third, the district needs to inform faculty on procedures if a live shooter appears — 40 percent of shootings are over before the police arrive, according to the FBI. Faculty need to know what to do if left on their own.

As principal Scott Bacon reminds us, our dream was to feel safe and have fun. We have plenty of fun. Let’s just make extra sure that we’re safe.

This staff editorial is the representation of the opinion of The Tiger Print staff.

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feature // october 2017 //

FLOODED WITH SUPPORT After BV student lost his home, others rush to help him | Yepez

| WORDS & DESIGN BY KAITLIN YU

11

VISIT TINYURL.COM/ SUPPORTYEPEZ TO DONATE.

DAMAGES: • Dried mud and dust everywhere • Drywall cut down to prevent molding • Foundation is soggy • Dad Emiliano Yepez’s lawn business equipment destroyed • Lost many personal belongings

TIMELINE OF EVENTS:

4 a.m.

Woke up, started trying up his dad’s commercial lawn mowers

H

4:30 a.m. 4:40 a.m. 11:30 a.m.

Went back inside to retrieve important papers and backpacks

urricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria — all of these massive storms left a devastating amount of damage in the United States. News stations captured footage of families waiting for rescue on their roofs.

Such catastrophes aren’t too foreign to the Kansas City area either, as sophomore Emilio Yepez knows now.

Yepez’s house is located near Blue River, where a record 28.22 inches of rain fell Aug. 21-22, according to the Kansas City Star.

As his house filled with water, Yepez thought about all of his clothes, the house and, most importantly, about how his parents would be impacted.

“My parents didn’t have a good education, so they came from nothing,” he said. “They came from southern Mexico. They were legit walking around with no shoes when they were younger, so that just got to me.”

For seven hours, the Yepez family awaited help on their rooftop until some friends with a large military truck picked them up.

“I was really hungry,” he said. “I didn’t really think much about anything except food and water. [When I was res-

Moved up to the rooftop, where the family waited without food or water

Rescued by friends

cued], I honestly felt the same because I knew the house was pretty messed up.”

Even now, Yepez said his parents are worried about the situation. “[My parents] have been stressed for the past couple of weeks, and they’re trying to figure things out, [like] what we’re going to do with the house,” Yepez said. “They’ve just been really busy, going up and down places.”

“[The Yepez’s] are the kindest people I have ever met. I could ask for the moon, and that family would try to find a way to get it for me. The feeling is mutual — I would do anything for that family.”

— BV parent Brenda Slead Yepez said he too is still impacted by the flooding.

“We still have to repair the house,” Yepez said. “I’m living around 20 minutes away, so it takes a while to get to school. We live by Shawnee Mission South [in] a temporary house that the [Sleads] lended to us.”

BV parent Brenda Slead knows the Yepez family through the soccer team,

which Yepez and his older brother Yahir Vanvollenhoven have been a part of. Vanvollenhoven and Slead’s son were on the same team, and that’s where the friendship between the families began.

“They are the kindest people I have ever met,” she said. “I could ask for the moon, and that family would try to find a way to get it. The feeling is mutual — I would do anything for that family.”

Yepez and his two sisters stayed with the Sleads for four weeks, while the rest of the family stayed in other homes.

“My family continues to help them get moved into temporary housing, collect donated furniture, clothing and supplies,” Slead said. “[We also] work on figuring out what they will do next with their home. It’s a work in progress.”

Yepez has also received monetary support through fundraising on GoFundMe and house repair help from the soccer team.

“We received a tremendous amount of [aid],” he said. “When me and my brother went to work, [the soccer team] came and did the drywall part. That really helped me out. It felt great — a little bit of the stress was relieved.”

12 //october 2017 // feature

Wait, Teachers Are Stressed?

Student stress compares to teacher stress

victoria wilson staff writer It’s a well-known fact that students are stressed. Specifically at Blue Valley, where as of last spring semester, 78 percent of the student body received a weighted 3.0 GPA or higher, which is what it takes to be on the honor roll.

In respect to that statistic, over half the school was on the honor roll. With that level of academic achievement there are bound to be some pretty stressed out students. Most classes that typical Honor Roll students take at BV are designed to be difficult and require more studying.

That’s because the teachers at BV work just as hard as the students — if not harder — to create lessons, make tests, and grade all of these assignments.

Similar to students, teachers are bound to be stressed as well. But, teachers work as hard as they do so that their students will be well-prepared to attain the same level of achievement in a university setting.

Spanish teacher Jill Gouger is one of many teachers at BV who works incredibly hard, in and out of school, to grade papers, read essays and create tests and homework that will challenge students, while keeping to a timely curriculum schedule.

Gouger said she typically spends five to six hours on

| DESIGN BY VICTORIA WILSON

‘homework’ every night.

That number doesn’t include the time and effort that goes into the five different BV clubs Gouger sponsors — National Spanish Honor Society, Gay-Straight Alliance, Gender-Equality Club, Dungeons and Dragons Club and Young Progressives Club.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m still here working until 8 p.m.,” she said.

Gouger’s workload is equivalent with, if not greater than, the workload of a typical, high-achieving student at BV. So wouldn’t it make sense that her stress is derived from the sheer amount of time and effort it takes to accomplish all these tasks, on time and done well? “[The stress mostly originates] not so much from the school work I have to do, but more from worrying about my parents health and how they’re doing,” Gouger said.

Teacher stress and student stress are also similar in those respects in that students, as well as teachers, stress about school, work and personal affairs.

According to a poll conducted by the Tiger Print, 92 percent of students said that they stress about their school work while 58 percent said they stress

about their personal lives.

Junior Kaitlyn Dehais is an example of what a typical Honor Roll student at BV looks like. She’s involved in over six clubs and extracurricular activities, takes majority AP and Honors courses and said she is stressed enough to forget to eat her lunch on some days.

“I take almost all high-level classes because I need to get into college,” Dehais said. “Getting good grades in those classes is the best way to ensure I’ll be accepted somewhere.”

But where students and teachers differ in the source of their stress, the physical tolls that their stress takes is all the same. According to the same poll, 76 percent of students said that fatigue is the biggest physical toll that their stress takes on them.

Gouger said stress makes her feel tired, caused by working for six hours after an already exhausting seven-hour school day. Dehais agreed in the ways that stress affects her physically.

“I’m fatigued all the time,” she said.

So, the next time you’re studying, and you’re thinking your teacher doesn’t have an ounce of stress weighing on their shoulders, just remember — they go to the same school as you.

But they’re the ones who design and grade all the tests, projects, assignments and homework that you do.

e S l a f NTITY IDE

feature // october 2017 //

AITLIN K Y B RDS | WO N BY NICK IG | DES RTI E LAMB

H

YU

igh school is the time for partying and trying new things — at least, that’s according to media portrayals in movies and TV shows. What often isn’t shown is how the alcohol or illegal substance is supplied, which is a question for some Blue Valley students. Many take bottles from their parents’ cabinets, and others ask older friends to buy them vapes. However, some students resort to buying fake IDs. The process of buying false IDs and using them can present risks and issues for BV students.

13

14 //october 2017 // feature Even as alcohol consumption and smoking decrease in teens, BV students are purchasing fake IDs

behind the FAKE:

*NAMES CHANGED TO PROTECT PRIVACY

For senior Summer*, fake IDs present an opportunity to hang out with her college friends more.

“A lot of my friends who go to KU are going to be going to clubs,” she said. “Since I’m probably going to be down there a lot, they were like, ‘Maybe you should just get one too since we’re all putting in an order.’

I went [to KU late September], I got my picture taken and I paid my $60, which is actually less because I know people who paid $80 for their fake IDs.” When prompted, she can rattle off all of the information on her fake, including her address and birthday. This isn’t her first time using a fraudulent ID — before she got her own, she used other people’s IDs. “Usually what [my friends] would do is borrow other people’s fake IDs, but that’s kind of iffy because it doesn’t really count as you — it’s a different picture and everything,” Summer said.

Although her primary reason for getting the fake was to go to clubs and bars with her friends, Summer said she may also use it to get into 18-plus concerts.

However, she |WORDS BY KAITLIN YU |DESIGN BY NICK LAMBERTI

said she will use it as sparingly as possible.

“I’m really, really scared [of getting caught], so that’s why I’m going to try to use it as [little] as I can because there’s a lot of consequences if I do get caught,” she said. “I don’t want to risk that, so I’m going to wait until I actually have to.”

She said she doesn’t want other people to know she has a fraudulent ID because people may ask her to buy alcohol for parties.

“First of all, that scares me, and second of all, I don’t want to be responsible for other people and their drinking habits,” Summer said. “I don’t know if I’m going to get that money back. If someone finds out they’re having a party and they get busted, they’re going to ask who supplied, and they’re going to say my name. I don’t want to be associated with that.”

Getting a fake ID can be difficult and risky for some. Anonymous senior Daniela* said she wanted to buy a fake for many reasons.

“I was going to use it this year [for] anything — getting into clubs [or] buying alcohol at restaurants and at liquor stores,” she said.

She was swindled out of money twice while attempting to buy IDs online. Daniela hasn’t ordered another one since because she doesn’t know how to do it on her own.

“Some of my friends were talking about getting one on a group order, so I was going to join in,” she said. “We got them from a website called CHFake.com but ended up getting scammed out of $50. After that, I tried to order one on my own from another site called IDGod.ph and was scammed out of $100.”

CHFake.com and IDGod.ph are still the top two results on Google for “fake IDs,” and IDGod.ph claims to be the number-one trusted site for fraudulent IDs. Despite all the dangers of possessing a fake ID, Summer said peer pressure contributed to her purchase.

“Three of my closest friends [have a fake],” she said. “A lot of people who I’m not close to have one. It’s like a thing now.”

feature // october 2017 //

Law 8-1327 states it’s unlawful to:

15

CLASS A

• Lend any identification card to any other person.

• Display or represent any ID not issued to the person as being the person’s card.

• Permit any unlawful use of an ID.

of bv students either have a fake id or are in the process of getting one

PUNISHMENT:

up to a year in county jail and up to $2,500 in fines

CLASS B • Display or possess any fictitious, altered or fraudulently obtained ID

of students with fake ids buy alcohol

PUNISHMENT:

up to half a year in county jail and up to $1,000 in fines

BEHIND THE sCAN:

of students with fake ids buy vapes

New Stanley Station Liquor is one of the closest liquor stores to Blue Valley. Store employee Tricia Crawford said she hasn't caught a false ID yet, but she has to follow a policy regarding checking them.

“Anybody who looks under the age of 40 needs to be [carded],” she said. “We have a blacklight, and if you put it in front of there — there's a bar emblem — it’ll show up. If that's not on there, then it’s a fake ID.” Crawford said if the store is caught selling to minors, it can receive a $2,000 fine, which can pass down to the cashier at fault. The store can also lose its license. “[If someone comes into the store with a fake ID, we have to] turn them away,” Crawford said. “We can't take the ID from them or anything. Even though that's what I would want to do, we can't. We just refuse the sale to them.”

Store manager Erin Gustafson said she has caught a few false IDs, but it doesn't happen very often. She said minors often stop by QuikTrip before coming to their store.

“Not everything is blacklight-capable — we look

THE FUTURE OF IDS:

Of the 190 respondents to the survey, two-thirds of students know someone who has a fake ID. This number may rise because of online websites that make getting a fake ID more accessible, as well as false advertising by the fake ID manufacturers.

“They sell them under different names and pretexts — they’re not calling it a fake ID,” student resource officer Nate Schmidt said. “They’re using other terms that make it legal now. It's the verbiage of the law, too. If

of fake id users use them to get into clubs

based on a poll of 190 students

for sketchy stuff, so if the corner is bent or if the lamination is off just a little bit,” she said. “Also, when they come to pay for it, they're really fidgety. They'll stare down at the floor, they'll look around, and a lot of [underage customers think the cashier] won't look at the photos.”

Both Gustafson and Crawford said the age limit for drinking and smoking are reasonable, especially with the recent smoking age limit change to 21 from 18.

“I think that your brain isn’t necessarily developed enough to where you can start drinking at 18,” Gustafson said. “[However,] I don’t think it's necessarily fair that you can sign up for the military, but you can't drink. Smoking is the same way [in] that 21 is a good age, but if [teenagers] want it, they're going to get it.”

I’m not using the ID for this, even though you are going to [use it for that], it makes it legal — just how they advertise it or sell it.”

Schmidt said minors using fake IDs is scary because the brain hasn't fully developed at that age.

“I don't like it, and if I can prevent it, I will,” he said.

“I understand it’s going to happen. With technology and everything changing, they’re going to try to upgrade the equipment to make the IDs better, but then, people making [fake IDs] are also going to upgrade their equipment, too — it’s always a cat and mouse game. I wish kids would just be happy with the age that they are.”

16 //october 2017 // feature

Dancing

QUEEN | PHOTO SUBMISSION BY JAMI ROBBEN | DESIGN BY CARLEY SHERER

Determination leads senior to success in advanced dance company, future as choreographer carley sherer staff writer

F

or senior Jami Robben, dance is more than a hobby — it’s a passion she has pursued since before she even took her first dance class five years ago.

“I really wanted to [take] dance, but my parents couldn’t afford classes, so I taught myself through YouTube tutorials and by attending conferences,” Robben said. “I eventually wanted to compete at dance competitions, so I decided to choreograph my own solo and even create my own costume.”

Through her own work and dedication, Robben placed third overall in her first-ever dance competition for her self-choreographed solo.

Seeing her potential, Vida Dance studio owner Lindsey Dinneen reached out to Robben before the studio opened in 2015 to invite her to dance in their advanced company.

“The first thing that impressed me about Jami was that she was a go-getter,” Dinneen said. “When I

met her, she was teaching herself and entering in competitions on her own — that takes guts.”

Dinneen said she recognized the kind of drive it took for Robben to pursue dance all on her own and knew that with classical training and professional mentoring, she could grow even stronger.

Robben said she believes that Dinneen saw the passion she had for the sport and how serious she was about learning dance.

“I think I reminded her of herself when she was my age,” Robben said.

“I know she wishes someone had given her the opportunities that she has given me.”

At the studio, Robben practices a variety of genres, from ballet to hip-hop, and choreographs not only for herself, but for her company as well. She choreographs and performs with her company 10 to 20 times a year at competitions, recitals and conventions.

“In the beginning, I was worried what I was envisioning wasn’t good enough,” Robben said. “[The other dancers] were so good about

[critiquing] me in a kind way. You have to get over feeling like you’re not good enough and realize that you’re improving yourself every day.”

Robben said she is treated as though she is a trained professional like the rest of her company rather than a 17-year-old dance apprentice.

“It’s nice, but it’s also a lot of pressure when I mess up or forget a dance because I’m carrying the company name on my back,” Robben said.

Throughout the years, dance has been an outlet for emotions and selfexpression for Robben.

“I feel the most like myself when I’m dancing,” she said.

In the future, she said she plans to continue performing professionally and hopes to choreograph for other dancers and studios.

“Dance has changed my life completely,” Robben said. “I’ve had to grow in maturity, discipline and creativity. It’s helped me overcome so many challenges life has thrown at me, and I’ve learned so much about myself through dance. It has opened so many doors for me.”

a&e // october 2017 //

17

GENRE BENDING |WORDS BY COURTNEY BROWN, NICK LAMBERTI & ALLI WILLIAMS

Although vastly different, music unites students on a spectrum Music means a lot of things to a lot of different people. For some, it’s an escape from reality, for others, it’s

simply something to play in the background of day-to-day life. Sometimes songs become associated with specific

What is it? Instrumental music, often

memories or eras of past selves. It’s no wonder different tunes and genres appeal to different people.

What is it? Songs from the

symphonic, great for background study sessions

soundtracks of musicals, usually including parts of storyline or character feelings

Tali Amjadi, 12

“I like classical music because it | Amjadi provides a lot of mental clarity for me whenever I need a break from the rap or pop music that I always hear. I started getting into it when my dad forced my siblings and I to listen to it in the car when we were younger. I originally hated it but grew to love it as I became more experienced on the piano. It makes me feel calm and more connected to what I am doing in the moment.”

CLASSICAL playlist

MUSIC IS CREATED WITH: piano, string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments

CAT’S PICKS COMPOSERS: Hans Zimmer, Wes Anderson SCORES: The Royal Tenenbaums, Drive

MOVIE SCORE What is it? Used as back-

ground music in movies and films, these typically instrumental intended to create a specific mood

Cat Simmons, 12

“I love [that] film and [movie scores] add a lot of depth to the story in a really unique way.

Hans Zimmer does a lot of work on Christopher Nolan movies, and his work is really beautiful.

I think a lot of the times, my favorite songs are the ones they put together to create a certain | Simmons mood.”

Grayson Edmonds, 9

“I started listening to show tunes around sixth grade | Edmonds when I first got into theater — I started with ‘High School Musical.’ I was always surrounded by a lot of theater people, and they all listened to them, so I was kind of forced to. They’re pretty catchy, and they always have a good beat.”

SHOW TUNES BROADWAY

4%

of students say it’s their favoite genre GRAYSON’S FAVORITE MUSICAL: Dear Evan Hansen | DESIGN BY ALLI WILLIAMS

18 //october 2017 // a&e COLOR KEY 25% of students listen to this 50% of students listen to this 75% of students listen to this

What is it? Created by blacks in

the ‘70s, rap is an insistent, recurring beat pattern used as the background for rhyming

Kellan Brown, 9 ELIZABETH’S PICKS “Ready For It” by Taylor Swift, “Attention”

by Charlie Puth

63%

of students listen to pop

POP What is it? Popular music in

mainstream culture, usually upbeat and catchy

Elizabeth Sutton, 10

“Pop music to me is an expression of feelings and the | Sutton artist describing emotions through the lyrics. I am a songwriter as well as a ukuleleist, and lyrics help create a mood whether the subject [you’re] writing about is happy or upset. I know this is me and this is what I love — nothing can change that.”

“I listen to rap because I think it’s creative, and there’s so many | Brown types. Rap music is just what I grew up with, it just stuck with me — I don’t find much interest in other types of music. ‘Black and Yellow’ by Wiz Khalifa is probably the first song I remember that really got me into hip hop — I was 6 years old.”

RAP KELLAN’S PICKS SONG: “Money Trees” by Kendrick Lamar ARTISTS: Kendrick Lamar, Lil Uzi Vert, Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky

KATE’S PICKS SONGS: “If I Believe You” by The 1975, “The KKK Took My Baby Away” by The Ramones ARTISTS: The 1975, The Ramones, Lana Del Rey

THE GREETING COMMITTEE

ALTERNATIVE What is it? A less intense version of rock and a more intense version of pop

Kate Oudejans, 10

“I always listen to this music when | Oudejans I’m happy — a lot of the songs are upbeat.”

19

playlist

a&e // october 2017 //

What is it? Traditionally includes What is it? Music played with

real instruments, not artificially made sounds

Zach Armentrout, 11

“My dad is one of my main inspirations. | Armentrout When I was younger, he played a lot of old rock.

Listening to newer music like Green Day and Blink-182 helps inspire me, too. I’m in a [rock] band called The Inbetweens. We sometimes write music and do covers. I play the bass.”

ROCK ZACH’S PICKS SONGS: “Carousel” by Blink-182 ARTISTS: Green Day, Blink-182

33%

of students listen to rock

5%

TAYLOR’S PICKS “Rivers and Roads”

by The Head and The Heart, “The Girl” by City in Color, “Kiss Me Darling” by Twin Forks

FOLK

a fiddle or guitar, sang with thick Southern accents about girls, trucks or the working class

Brady Rick, 11

| Rick “I started listening around three years ago because of my friends — whenever I’m in the car with them, it’s what we’re listening to — it’s always in the background. I like that it tells a story, it’s not so intense all the time — a little more laid back.

I think when people hate on country music it’s just because they don’t listen to it.”

What is it? Any music produced

COUNTRY

Taylor Nagel, 12

BRADY’S PICKS SONGS: “Austin” by Blake Shelton, “Dirt Road Anthem”

by Jason Aldean ARTISTS: George Strait, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton

and released by independent bands or independent record labels

| Nagel

“Over the summer, I went hammocking in Colorado. We stacked four [hammocks] up in these trees in a meadow. We listened to folk music on my speaker — it was great.”

of students say it’s their favorite genre | 190 BV STUDENTS SURVEYED

20 //october 2017 // a&e

FALL FESTIVITIES Have a b onfire

As the co this fall — lder weather star ts to app what bett roac bonfire. er to do th It’s the p an have a h erfect wa fall. Gath y to star t er some off this friends a hot dogs nd roast and mar s ome s h to celebr mallows ate the b est seaso for a fun night n of the y ear.

Tell ghos t stories

Test you r stor yte spooky ta lling skil ls with s les that w ome clas ill make the cover sic ever yone s with fe ar. Get yo hide und friends to er u r flashlig join in on ht and so cessful s the scar y m leepover e if you did fun. It’s not a su death wit cn’t scare h ghost s one anoth tories. er to

Camp in

your bac kyard

The fall te mperatu weather. re is perfe All you n ct campin ee blankets g , and you d is a tent and so me ’re good camping to go. Go grounds on or just h the ultim ead outs ate back ide for yard slee pover.

a&e // october 2017 //

21

things to do during this spooky season | WORDS BY ALLIE AMENT & GRACE LUTZ

HALLOWEEN

t h g i n r e v no Have am on h t a r a movie

s ler movie any thril he m T s “ a : h e r tc a sees tand wa s e u m m e e th a et,” nd unted ise. Som Elm Stre n Pick a ha t to sunr o e s e r n a u s htm is fun fall n from “The Nig , “Coraline.” Th ,” n as you ca e e w o ll cor n and “Hall ie of a amel pop r a Shining,” rifying kids mov c s a h uc ter snacks s the most ust, with m a is y activit s. ough bite cookie d

g n i h t y r e v de e r o v a l f in k p m u p Try Amery place in red r e v e if s da avo it seeme mpkin fl ar rived, ing — pu r lar e th u y b p r m e o v p te e as Sep get the avored r fl fo al in ’t k n o p As soon nd d pum ke it a go kin pie a ring, ma d selling p o l te v m ’l r a u u fl ta o p s , Y in a . d ic enu mpk brea on the m r tisement u like pu umpkin o d p y , te s If o la . e e s r e -r O tt in dve Spiced la g pumpk nother a Pumpkin ing and ever ythin l if the sight of a oa yth ach. ed this g to tr y an your stom ave reach h to u k o y ic s w kno s you kin make for pump

n e e w o l l a Try on Hes costum

, alloween up for H s s e to r g d in to o e too old at least g ink you’r can’t skip out on tumes. s o c y z If you th the cra en. You ll k to a ta n is o g m yin Walmar t you are re and tr es. From to r s tu n e ic e p w t a Hallo s for grea nd make you’ll have a It’s fun a s, stumes. ulous co n Expres Hallowee on the most ridic ing blast tr y

| DESIGN BY ALLIE AMENT & JULIE FREIJAT

22 //october 2017 // a&e

E

nvision this — exotic and wild animals like tigers and jaguars thriving in a space similar to their natural habitat, but in Kansas.

Or envision this — walking through a near-realistic rain forest and hiking along winding trails to a giant glass dome housing a self-sufficient aquarium.

And envision, at the end of the day, visiting a planetarium and learning about the stars.

These are only some of the crazy ideas that Steve Klein, the Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary facilities director, has thought up for the land expansion the conservatory is receiving.

Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary is a 22-minute drive from Blue Valley. The sanctuary rescues a variety of animals from private ownership and exotic trade. On Saturdays and Sundays, people can tour the property or see volunteers feed the animals.

Previously, Cedar Cove had only 11 acres of land, but through fundraising at the site and on GoFundMe, they were able to gather $150,000 to purchase an additional 129 acres of land. They signed the papers on Oct. 1. “[Conservationist] George Criswell, our neighbor, [owned] the property,” Klein said.

“Because of the layout, you would have to part it up and sell it to four or five different parties that would all have to be willing. [Additionally,] the land is not suitable for conventional agriculture. But for our purposes, it would be perfect. We also wanted to give George a long-overdue ‘thank you’ for donating to us.”

Criswell gave the original 11 acres to Cedar Cove. With the new land, Klein hopes to create extended habitats and emphasize the educational aspect of the organization. “[Right now, the tigers are] stuck in a 10by-20 foot space and get out once a week for a couple of days,” he said. “This isn’t even one-tenth of the space they need, and that’s why we’re expanding.”

Klein said the non-profit’s main goal is to educate visitors about the environment.

“We have a chance to impact people,” Klein said. “We want brains that we can infect with ideas and send out into the world, so these ideas can spread and catch hold.”

feline good | WORDS & DESIGN BY KAITLIN YU

+

Big cat sanctuary expands land, renovates assets | PHOTOS BY MELANIE WHITE

possible additions

glass dome aquarium

two-story house looking over the property expanded habitats with a clear viewing platform

planetarium & auditorium mini dams to create waterfalls hiking & nature trails

Read the full story on bvtigernews.com

a&e // october 2017 //

25

of halloween twentyseventeen Get into the spirit of Halloween by reflecting on its past

| WORDS BY SADIE MYER | DESIGN BY KAITLIN YU & SADIE MYER At some point over the years, you’ve probably wondered what the reason was for the holidays that we celebrate. Birthdays are generally self-explanatory, but why do we put wax sticks on a cake and light them on fire?

Every holiday brings up odd questions, but right now, it’s time to put pumpkins on

history

the front steps, avoid black cats and eat candy until we’re sick.

Why on Earth is it natural for us to do this during October? How did it become integrated into American life? What is the history behind such a strange holiday?

An ancient Celtic holiday is given credit for the roots of Halloween. This day wasn’t one the Celts ever looked forward to — in fact, they were scared of it. Halloween marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.

For some reason, they believed Halloween

was when a “bridge” to the world of the dead allowed spirits to come to Earth.

Clearly, over the years the connotation of Halloween has changed, and while some people are still easily frightened on this night, it has become an exciting and fun holiday for children and teenagers.

To prevent being cursed by evil spirits, Celts dressed up in whatever they imagined these spirits looked like. They hoped to blend in and never be noticed.

Celts would carve scary faces into all types of gourds in hopes that would scare off evil spirits.

While trick-or-treating stems back to many different cultures, today’s tradition didn’t start until the 20th century. Before getting candy, children were given more practical things like coins, toys or food.

24 //october 2017 // a&e

Your guide to the oddly-satisfying oddities of YouTube Have you ever heard a sound that sent a tingle down your spine? Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a sensation of tingling — However, not everyone experiences the feeling. At first, it sounds like someone just whispering into a microphone, but listening to ASMR can create different responses for individual people. Some say ASMR helps them sleep while others say the noises can help their anxiety. ASMR videos have recently started to appear all over YouTube. From cooking to soap carving, here’s a guide on the videos you should see popping into your subscription box.

PEACEFUL CUISINE Subscriber count: 1.1 million Peaceful Cuisine is an ASMR YouTube channel based off of vegan cooking. The channel was created by Ryoya Takashima in 2010. Their channel features how-to videos like “How to make Pumpkin Spice Lattes” and “How to make Cold Brew coffee.” This channel has a variety of ASMR videos and travel vlogs — the calming noises of cooking and a peaceful aesthetic makes this channel a relaxing asset to the ASMR community.

ASMRTHECHEW Subscriber count: 160,000

After her videos were shared all over Twitter, ASMRthechew rose to ASMR internet fame with videos of her eating various foods such as pickles, candy apples and pizza. Occasionally, she posts makeup tutorials. This channel uploads daily and with a new surprise every time. Whether she’s eating Chinese food or rambling about makeup products, she brings relaxation and comfort in an oddly satisfying way.

GIBI ASMR

Subscriber count: 470,000

Gibi ASMR features videos involving role play, makeup and even original characters. She creates videos based off of situations like tattoo consultations, or even something as simple as the sounds of her coloring. This channel has a wide range of options to choose from and caters to almost everyone in the ASMR audience. Be sure to check out what this channel has to offer.

| WORDS BY COURTNEY BROWN

| DESIGN BY NOMA KREEGAR

sports // october 2017 //

25

Tigers Tackle Tailgating Seniors break down preparationfor hosting successful tailgate

| PHOTO BY KAITLIN YU

maddy kang & shay lawson staff writers Tiger tailgates are unlike any other, according to the seniors at Blue Valley.

Tailgates usually precede Friday night Varsity football games beginning at 5 p.m., but not for tailgate expert senior Kyle Ruder.

“People usually get there around 5,” Ruder said. “But myself, [seniors] Alec Vobach and Drew Howard get there at 4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.”

Another avid tailgater, senior Morgan Judy said everyone laughing,

and having fun makes a tailgate successful.

Judy explains what fun activities occur at these tailgates.

“Everyone eats [and] listens to music. We play corn hole. We like to make it as fun as possible,” Judy said.

“We have people bring food, and we paint faces [and] bodies. We all pitch in and make it as fun as we can.”

Ruder stressed the importance of keeping the tradition of tailgating alive.

“Since the seniors did it last year, we decided it would be fun before the

game and have [an opportunity] to get together,” Ruder said. “It’s exciting to hang out before the game with no restrictions and just cheering all the time.”

Judy agreed and said being with her classmates during the tailgates before the game hypes everybody up for the game itself.

“Relationships [are strengthened] with the people in your grade,” Judy said. “You have the opportunity to interact with people you don’t usually hang out with on a normal basis, and that’s what I love.”

| DESIGN BY MADDY KANG & SHAY LAWSON

30 4 0 5 0 40 30 2

20 30 40 50 40 30

26 //october 2017 // sports

FANTASY FACULTY Staff describe competetive fantasy football leagues

kyle elmendorf & molly holmes staff writers Many students at Blue Valley participate in fantasy football leagues with their friends for both fun and competition. What most students don’t realize, however, is some of their own teachers have their own fantasy football leagues where they compete against fellow teachers for fantasy football glory.

Two of the teachers involved in their own fantasy leagues are math teacher Matt Shipley and science teacher Manal Siam. Both Shipley and Siam participate in more than one league.

Shipley is in two teacher leagues, while Siam is in one. Each participates in their own personal league with friends from outside of BV. They both share one common teacher league commissioned by social studies teacher Jason Dolezal.

Shipley has been playing fantasy football for 11 years, and he said in one of his leagues, commissioned by P.E. teacher Rick McNerlin, the players are pretty serious.

“The main one with McNerlin is for a little higher stakes, so that one is more competitive,” Shipley said. “The league

is [athletic director Matt] Ortman, McNerlin, [english teacher Ryan] Mahoney, [math teacher Jonathan] Jost and then some people who aren’t necessarily from the school like some of the other football coaches.”

Shipley said he checks his fantasy teams about two times a week and as far as strategy goes, he recommends drafting good running backs early. Shipley said as of right now, he hasn’t engaged in any trash-talk with his opponents, but he has not ruled it out for later in the season.

Trash-talk has also been underwhelming in Dolezal’s league, Siam said, which she participates in with Shipley. Siam said the smack talk in the league has been less than she has expected.

“The teacher league has been pretty mild right now,” Siam said. “I thought, especially with how serious about football some of the players are, that the smack talking would be at a different level, but right now it’s been pretty tame.”

Siam said she recommends checking the team a few times a week to make sure none of the starters have a bye week. She said when drafting, she tends

to focus on wide receivers and running backs in the early rounds, while waiting on defenses and kickers until the later rounds.

“This year, [Patriots’ wide receiver Brandin] Cooks has been my star,” Siam said. “[Dolphins’ running back Jay] Ajayi has been a little disappointing, but right now Cooks, especially last weekend, just went off and had a really great performance.”

Shipley and Siam each said they think social studies teacher Clark Winslow is the best fantasy football player on staff at BV, standing apart from the rest in Dolezal’s league. Siam said, however, social studies teacher Brian Mowry has made some good acquisitions through the waiver wire and also has a solid team this year. Both teachers declined to comment on who they think are the weakest players in their leagues.

Siam said what she enjoys about fantasy football is the opportunity to engage in friendly competition with her friends and colleagues.

“It’s fun to do something different,” Siam said. “It’s fun to be a part of something with a lot of people we enjoy spending our time with.”

AGUESTANDINGS MCNERLIN L

LE DOLEZAL

East Division

1 Ms. Siam 5-1 1 Ms. Huber 5-1 3 Mr. Mowry 3-3 3 Mr. Mann 3-3 5 Mr. Reeves 3-3 5 Mr. Dolezal 2-4 7 Ms. Neneman 0-6

| DESIGN BY MOLLY HOLMES

EAGUE

As of Oct. 19

West Division

1 1 3 4 5 5 7

Mr. Bien 5-1 Mr. Ruddy* 5-1 Mr. Baysinger* 4-2 Mr. Winslow 3-3 Mr. Mahoney 2-4 Mr. Williams 2-4 Mr. Shipley 1-5

1 2 3 4 5 6

Mr. Ortman 5-1 Mr. McNerlin 4-2 Mr. Olney* 3-3 Mr. Kreshel* 3-3 Mr. Jost 3-3 Mr. Paisley* 3-3

7 Mr. Mahoney 3-3 8 Mr. Rowe* 3-3 9 Mr. van Loenen*3-3 10 Mr. Hill* 2-4 11 Mr. Peres* 2-4 12 Mr. Shipley 2-4

* Teachers are from outside BV

sports // october 2017 //

27

Junior drum major, shares experience of directing the band Every morning, bright and early, the marching band can be heard and seen on the football field. Lead by the directors and students themselves, junior Karina Howey is one of the drum majors who helps prepare the band for their upcoming competitions and football games.

Howey said much of what goes into being a drum major is logistics.

“I have to plug in speakers and mics,” Howey said. “Later in the season, we warm up certain sections like the brass and woodwinds. A lot of it is setting up and tearing down, along with making sure everybody has what they need.”

The majority of drum majors are usually seniors.

“Sometimes there are juniors,” Howey said, “Our school doesn’t really care about what grade you’re in. It’s more like if you have the skill, you can get in.”

The audition process has multiple parts to it to make sure the one’s chosen are fit to lead, band director Avian Bear said.

“There is an extensive audition process beginning with the

musicianship strengths of each candidate,” Bear said. “Since the drum majors speak on behalf of the band, they are interviewed to see how they think under pressure and to see whether they are good communicators.

There is also a peer review so every band member can anonymously give feedback about the authenticity of each candidate.”

Bear said this year, the drum majors are working well together.

“All three drum majors are doing very well this year,” Bear said. “They each bring different strengths to the table and are learning daily from each other and about just how difficult leadership can be at times.”

Bear said individually Howey is working well by herself.

“Karina is a strong musician and a very articulate person,”Bear said.

“The band members felt she was very authentic and would be a strong candidate.”

Howey said there has been a big change in band since her sophomore year.

“I’m here a lot more,”

Howey said. “I’ve also gained so much more respect for the directors themselves. It’s cool to see how they work.

Now, I see myself as an older sibling.

There will be times after the show when I want to just talk, but I have to go help out.”

Howey said she can’t focus on any social problems that arise with band.

“As a drum major, you can’t really worry about drama,” Howey said.

“Within your sections, sometimes things seem so big, but you have to work it out by saying, ‘Let’s try this instead and see how it goes,’ to help encourage them.”

Howey said what she loves most about being a drum major and about band in general is the family aspect.

“Hands down, my favorite part is knowing every single person and working with them,” Howey said.

“They mean the world to me. They are all interesting individuals, and it’s thrilling to discover who they are as a person.”

“Hands down, my favorite part is knowing every single person and working with them” - junior Karina Howey

| WORDS & DESIGN BY COURTNEY BROWN

28 //october 2017 // sports ‘It’s not about the wins — it’s about growing, getting better and gaining confidence’

Coach wins award at Kauffman Stadium cassidy carpenter staff writer

Rose does for not only the students here but also her past students,” Truhe said.

In order to be nominated for the

Kauffman Stadium is a special place to thousands of baseball lovers throughout Kansas City, but on Sept. 11, it became the setting of an award ceremony that celebrates outstanding coaches in the area.

Peggy Rose, who has been coaching volleyball at Blue Valley for 37 years, was awarded the “Blue Cross Blue Shield Coaches in Character” award. The award is sponsored by Dayton Moore, the general manager of the Royals. Moore also runs a program called See You In the Major Leagues (CYITML).

“I got nominated by Caitlin Truhe, the trainer, and coach Alisa Morse Johnson, the Freshman B volleyball coach,” Rose said. “They wrote about some of the things I bring to the building and what I help out with.”

Truhe said she thought of nominating Rose because of the dedication she has to all her past and present students.

“I think of all the things that Peggy

| DESIGN BY CASSIDY CARPENTER & SADIE MYER

award, there are many characteristics that a coach must exhibit. “[The award] talks about character,” Rose said. “It is for people who try to do the right thing and who say they are going to do something and get it done. It’s for people who care about kids. It’s not about the wins, but it’s about growing, getting better and gaining confidence in themselves.”

Rose said the experience was exciting for her because she made her mother and brother, who are also coaches, extremely proud.

“I was like ‘Oh my!’ I knew I had been nominated but didn’t know that I had a chance to win,” Rose said. “[When] Caitlin found out, she was very excited.

It was very humbling because there’s so many great coaches in this building and in the area who should be there as well.”

Rose said she had a great time at the game alongside some of her coaching friends and overall the experience was extremely enjoyable.

“She brings a lot to peoples’ lives through athletics — a lot more than helping them be better athletes, but [also] human beings,” Truhe said.

sports // october 2017 //

29

KICKING THE COMPETITION Varsity kicker details his training, preparation

photo by Molly Holmes kyle elmendorf staff writer

A

s Blue Valley kicker Jackson Likens lined up to attempt the 27-yard game-winning field goal against rival BV North, the entire Switzer District Activity Complex was on edge. Most would have been nervous for such a high-stakes field goal.

Likens was one of the few exceptions.

“It’s a kicker’s dream to make it out to that point,” Likens said. “I had confidence in my teammates, and I had confidence in myself we could do it.”

Likens made the kick and finished off an immaculate Tiger comeback against the Mustangs.

Although he only takes the field a few times every game, Likens has one of the most important roles on the team. He spends hours in the offseason practicing for these moments by himself and with his personal coach.

“In the offseason, I’ll go up to the field and kick two or three hours a day,” Likens said. “I have five balls and it’s a lot of walking back and forth. I’ll have a jog in there, somewhere in the evening, to help my legs and then maybe around 9 or 10, I’ll lift and stretch for about an hour.”

Likens got his first kicking experiences from playing soccer, where

many football kickers get their start.

Although it’s commonly perceived soccer kicking and football kicking are very similar, Likens said there are some discrete differences.

“A lot of people think it’s like kicking a soccer ball,” Likens said.

“But you actually turn through, when you kick it and you really point your foot down so it looks like a golf club when you’re hitting it. It feels awkward going from kicking a soccer ball to kicking a football because although they’re similar, they’re two completely different things.”

Likens said when he’s kicking a field goal, he always tries to do the same motion regardless of how long the field goal is.

“A field goal is about staying calm and in control of your body all of the way through,” Likens said. “I tell myself the same things every time, ‘Relax, and swing through nice and easy.’ It’s like golf; the harder you try to hit it the more likely you are the mess up.”

Likens said another misconception about kicking is the amount of preparation kickers do. He said he constantly tries out all of the different kicking balls because minute differences, such as the air pressure in the ball, the width of the ball or the surface being kicked on can make a big difference

on a kicker.

“I watch the weather all of the time,” Likens said. “Even on the days where it doesn’t seem windy, when you’re down on the field, it’s windy when the ball is 20-30 feet up in the air.”

The Tigers’ opponent also can affect how Likens kicks and prepares for a game, he said.

“I watch all of the other team’s film,” Likens said. “I watch where their blocking is coming from, and I’m pretty prepared to avoid a blocked kick. In fact, I’ve had a few games where I’ve kick around players, for instance against Bishop Miege. I kicked around two linebackers to make an extra point.”

Likens said, however, he is still very dependent on his teammates for a good performance.

“I’m lucky,” Likens said. “There’s a lot of high school kickers that don’t ever get to kick field goals, mainly don’t have the line, the snapper or the holder to be able to get that rhythm.

But our team is really good at just getting it together regardless of where we are, or at what point of the game it’s at. I would definitely be a lot more nervous if I didn’t have my teammates out there helping me.” | DESIGN BY KYLE ELMENDORF

30 //october 2017 // sports | PHOTO BY MELANIE WHITE Running the ball, junior Alex Totta attempts to make a touchdown.

He said his goal in each game is “to do what the coaches tell me to do and trust my teammates to do their job.”

| PHOTO

BY LILY GOODWIN Dribbling the ball, freshman Kobee Austria attempts to outmanuever opposing players.

The boy’s soccer team played their last game on Oct. 19 against St. James.

| PHOTO BY MELANIE WHITE Junior Megan Nasche dances in the Homecoming halftime show. “I feel like as a team we’ve improved a lot,” she said. “It’s [nice] to see recognition from the student body [for that].”

sports // october 2017 //

31

| PHOTO BY CLAIRE STEIN Preparing to serve, sophomore Taylor Daurenheim competes in a match. “We’re all like family,” she said “We’re really close on and off the court.”

| PHOTO BY MELANIE WHITE Performing in the Homecoming half-time show, freshman Rachel Crawford performs an attitude leap. The color guard performs in every football half-time show.

| PHOTO BY MELANIE WHITE Cheering after a successful drive, senior Morgan Judy cheers during the Homecoming football game. “It was so much fun. Everyone was so hyped up,” she said. “I hadn’t seen that kind of spirit before.” | DESIGN BY MELANIE WHITE

TIGER TIGER TURF TURF

32 //october 2017 // news

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S E N I O R COMMUNITY S ERVI CE D A Y | DESIGN BY MELANIE WHITE

1. Scrubbing a window, senior Lily Cordes volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House. “We helped with a lot of housekeeping stuff, “ she said. “My favorite part was getting to see the volunteers help Ronald McDonald out. It was a really rewarding experience.” | PHOTO BY VICTORIA WILSON 2. Senior Logan Asbury pets a goat at Deanna Rose. “We played with [the kids] and made sure they didn’t get hurt,” she said. | PHOTO BY KAITLIN YU 3. Sweeping a driveway, senior Jessica Justmann volunteers at Vintage Park. “My most meaningful experience was talking in Spanish to a woman from Peru,” she said. “It made me

realize how little world experience I have.” | PHOTO BY NATALIE WALTERS 4. Senior Cody Zakeri assists in putting up a tent at the Down Syndrome Guild.

“We helped them clean the basement and get their stuff organized for an event they were having that night,” he said. | PHOTO BY HANNA BRADFORD 5. While volunteering at Iron Woods Park, senior Thomas Drosos rakes leaves.

“It felt good to be cleaning up the park, [especially] since I run there a lot,” he said. | PHOTO BY KYLE ELMENDORF

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