The Tiger Print — April 2017

THE TIGER PRINT

Stopping TRAFFICKING: Human trafficking epidemic prevalent in Kansas City area

Photo illustration by Melanie White.

Going Global International news explained

Burundi has seen several different outbreaks of violence since its independence in the early ‘60s. Opposite of Rwanda, Burundi experienced an oppressive Tutsi government that executed mass violence against Hutus — sparking a civil war. Eleven years after the end of the 12-year civil war, the country continues to struggle under political tensions. In 2015, the president illegally ran for a third term and won — in turn, violence and opposition increased significantly, leading security forces to kill supposed anti-government supporters and leaving over 200,000 refugees to flee the country. In January, Burundi began a release of what is said to be over 2,000 prisoners.

Burundi

Due to years of interference from neighboring countries and general instability, the country of Yemen has fallen influence to an insurgent group headed by the Houthis, a Shiite rebel group. In 2015, the rebels seized the presidential palace after failed negotiations, causing the president to step down. He later returned to presidency in September of 2015. Despite attempted intervention and assistance from the United Nations, the country continues to suffer from violence and political instability. Around 14 million people lack access to sufficient food and over 3 million have been displaced.

Yemen

Due to the political crisis in Syria, the country of Jordan has received over one million refugees since 2011 — compromising around 10 percent of the population. Over 650,000 of those who fled are now registered as refugees with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Only 2 percent of the refugees who ended up in Jordan left for Europe, the majority of them planning to stay for good. Currently, over 85,000 Syrians are stuck at Jordan’s northeast border, otherwise known as “the berm.” Humanitarian efforts have proven to be difficult in the area because of border closures.

Jordan

Brazil has experienced great amounts of public discontent with the government in the past few years due to a rather large corruption scandal. President Dilma Rousseff has seen her approval rating fall 70 percent since 2013. This can be attributed to what is known as the Petrobras scandal — the current biggest problem for the Brazilian government. Essentially, in the early 2000’s, top executives in construction companies pocketed profits obtained from inflated contracts which were then given to Brazilian politicians. The scandal has affected the public perception of the government, and the economy in Brazil is struggling.

Brazil

White House Happenings

Key points provide understanding of the president’s 100 days

Fast Facts

Donald Trump is the president of the United States. 45th

Immigration

Trump has been in office for days. 99

He has signed executive orders. 24

Who: President Donald Trump

What: Trump signed an order on Jan. 27 which banned travel from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia for 90 days. The order also suspended refugee admission for 120 days. Why: Trump said he established this order to prevent radical Islamic terrorists from entering the United States. Outcome: There was confusion on all sides; many airports were unsure of how to carry out the order due to its abruptness. Several federal courts blocked the order, thus it became ineffective.

American Health Care Act (AHCA)

Who: President Donald Trump, House Republicans

What: House Republicans published the AHCA on March 6. Along with other new regulations, the act would replace Obamacare subsidies with refundable tax credits based on age and income. However, the act would keep some aspects of Obamacare, such as protections for those with pre-existing conditions and allowing young adults under age 26 to remain on their parents’ plans.

Why: The AHCA was introduced to deliver on Trump’s campaign promise of repealing and replacing Obamacare.

Russia

On March 6, Trump signed a revised travel ban order. To learn more about the revised order visit goo.gl/9qePWy.

Who: President Donald Trump, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)

What: On April 13, the GCHQ provided “specific, concrete and corroboative evidence of collusion” for the ongoing FBI investigation into the relations between Trump and Russia. The evidence proves that discussions occurred “between people in the Trump campaign and agents of [Russian] influence relating to the use of hacked material.”

Why: If the accusations are proven true, it could be a violation of the Logan Act. The act makes it a crime for citizens to negotiate with other nations against the interests of the United States. Violation of the act is punishable by up to three years of imprisonment.

Outcome: To be determined.

NOTICE: This page was last updated on April 21st. Some of this information could be out of date.

Page designed by Marie Biernacki.

Stories by Marie Biernacki and Noma Kreegar.

Outcome: The bill was withdrawn on March 24 because Republicans failed to gain sufficient support to pass it.

BREAKING

APRIL 6: President Trump ordered a strike on the Shayrat Air Base in Homs, Syria — 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in retaliation to a chemical weapons attack that occurred on April 4.

APRIL 13: A “Mother of all Bombs” bomb was dropped on an Islamic State cave complex in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. This is where Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar of the 7th Special Forces Group was killed on April 8. Syria Homs

Afghanistan

Nangarhar Province

news briefs news briefs

Graphic novelist gives in seminar

writing advice

Gene Yang, author of “American Born Chinese,” was invited to come to Blue Valley April 12 to host a writing seminar with 30 students.

Yang received six awards for his novel, including the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.

The book focuses on three characters — a first-generation child of immigrants, The Monkey King and a white boy with a Chinese cousin. Its themes concentrate on racial stereotypes and identity struggle.

“I always [created] these AsianAmerican protagonists, but their cultural heritage never played a part in the story,” Yang said. “I wanted to do some story where that was the focus because that is such an important part of my own identity. It

was just the desire to explore my own cultural heritage.”

In his seminar, Yang discussed his writing and drawing process.

Although junior Ivy Daugherty doesn’t know if she wants to be a writer in the future, she said the seminar was helpful.

“[The workshop was] awesome,” Daugherty said. “The author was really nice, and he explained some things about writing I never thought of before.”

Yang’s main advice to aspiring writers is to practice writing and to join a community.

“I’ve always enjoyed meeting young people who are interested in telling stories,” he said. “I hope that at least one kid is going to be like, ‘I’m going to make comics now.’”

The Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI) will have their 29th annual Trolley Run on April 30.

The run is one of the largest timed four-mile runs in the United States. It will begin at 7:45 a.m. at 75th and Wornall and end at the Country Club Plaza.

The Trolley Run is home to several records, such as the men’s four-mile U.S.-best and the women’s four-mile course record.

It is the largest fundraiser for

CCVI and allows them to provide funding for the different programs they offer for blind or visually impaired infants and preschoolers. These programs consist of family education, specialized instruction and other various therapies.

After the run, at approximately 10:45 a.m., there will be an “After-Bash” celebration with entertainment and plenty to eat and drink.

You can register for the run at trolleyrun.org/registration.

1. At the 2015 Trolley Run, junior Sami Bamber hugs family friend Lois Toland. Toland accompanied their team. “Every year, [Toland] joins our team and supports [us] for the Trolley Run,” Bamber said.

2. The Bamber family crosses the finish line at the Trolley Run in 2015. Bamber said her family tries to support the run in any way possible. “My brother has special needs,” she said. “The race is a great way to give back to CCVI for helping our family.” Photos provided by Sami Bamber.

Page design and stories by Kaitlin Yu and Marie Biernacki. Photo by Claire Stein.

City tradition provides financial support for special needs programs

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SevenDays is an organization that supports diversity across race, religion and culture. There are various activities available to the community through the organization — one of them being an art contest.

Junior Juliet Holmes said that for her, SevenDays signifies peace.

“SevenDays means a week where we take away the details that define people, like sexuality, religion [and] race,” Holmes said. “We’re just participating in living together peacefully.”

The participants were told to create eight pin designs for the SevenDays themes — Love, Discover, Others, Connect, Go, You and Onward — and a general SevenDays design.

“My design that I got chosen for was a sewed background with a lot of textures and fibers because I love sewing and I like to implement it a lot into my designs,”

Students submit pin design ideas for contest, win to sophomore Holocaust survivor presents World History classes

As part of the SevenDays events, Holocaust survivor and speaker Sonia Warshawski visited Blue Valley to talk to roughly 300 Modern World History and AP European History students about her story.

She presented during the fifth hour period for the sophomores and any other student requesting to attend. Warshawski was 17 at the time when she and her mother were transferred to many different concentration camps. The same day she was liberated, she said she was shot but survived.

“Living in Aushwitz was the constant fear of whether or not I would enter the gas chamber every day,” Warshawski said.

Warshawski spoke on topics such as her experiences at the various concentration camps, how each camp

she said. “For the ‘Others’ category, I used people holding hands to resemble connecting with other people.”

It wasn’t just about the competition. Holmes said she was privileged to work with so many other talented designers and to have been awarded at the SevenDays kickoff celebration on April 18, along with junior Kaitlin Yu, the winner of the Discover pin.

“I was honored — it meant a lot to me,” Holmes said. “I love graphic design work, and I like the fact that it’s not just any regular art competition — it’s something that means focusing on the really great cause.”

varied and how hard it was seeing family and friends die in front of her eyes.

“I watched my mother walk to the left line to enter the gas chamber as I walked to the right, which was for hard labor,” Warshawski said.

Students said they felt very interested and impacted from the hardships of her story.

“The presentation was really eye-opening and you could really hear the emotion in Sonia’s voice as she spoke about her experiences,” sophomore Lexi Drosos said.

Warshawski said she was grateful for the opportunity to come to BV and share her story.

“I choose to present in front of students because you are the next generation,” Warshawski said. “You can change history.”

Stories and designs by Grace Lutz and Cassidy Carpenter. Photo by Caitlin Hoy.

PHOTOS NEWS IN

1. Reaching for ping pong balls, junior Steve Babcock plays “Hungry Hungry Hippos.” This game was played as a class competition at the spring assembly. “I wanted to help carry my grade and team to victory,” Babcock said. Photo by Claire Stein.

2. Helping to pie a teacher, senior Jordan King laughs at the turmoil she caused. Tiger Pride used the activity as a fundraiser. “I’ve gotten close with her on my last three years of cheer and we thought it was funny,” she said. “It was also low-key payback for all of those late night practices.”

Photo by Melanie White.

3. Preparing to drop a Connect 4 piece, junior Cat Simmons acts in Friday Night Live. FNL was on April 7. “I enjoy being able to do what is considered an extracurricular acitvity during the day,” she said.

Photo by Melanie White.

4. Watching the progress, junior Anna Quigley gives blood. The blood drive took place on April 18 to kick off the SevenDays events. “I’ve given blood since I was only enough to do so and love that I’m able to [save people’s lives] by giving so little myself,” she said. Photo by Melanie White.

Page designed by Melanie White.

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Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover America.

Abraham Lincoln wasn’t racist and freed all the slaves.

The United States warned the Japanese civilians about the dropping of the atomic bomb.

Your elementary school teachers probably taught you this information.

What your primary and secondary school teachers failed to teach you likely included that the U.S. government forcibly took culture and land from the Native Americans, or that Woodrow Wilson was prejudiced against blacks, or that America has made many, many grave mistakes.

These details were probably considered a little too “real” for early education.

The truth is, the misteaching and omission of history significantly affects young students and can create misconceptions.

Here’s an example.

Columbus is portrayed as a hero who discovered America and proved the world is round.

But, he’s not, and he didn’t.

And if eventually the students learn the truth, which most do, it’s too late — a misconception concerning Native Americans and Europeans has formed.

It’s not that every death, every atrocity and every injustice needs to be taught to young students.

editorial

the TIGER PRINT newspaper

co-editors

Courtney Carpenter

Megan Hegarty

photo editor

Isabelle Allen

news editor

Julie Freijat

opinion editor

It’s not that teachers need to traumatize children.

It’s that all parts of American history should be presented accurately — all being the key word. The omission of history has just as great a negative effect as the misteaching.

Similarly, the glorification of historical figures like “Honest Abe” and Gandhi doesn’t prepare students for reality — the reality that people, even presidents, aren’t perfect.

All together, the consequence of this kind of teaching is that America is portrayed as a nation without flaws.

And if it continues, then students can’t learn from history’s mistakes, and America will not be able to improve.

This misteaching doesn’t just occur in the early years of education. It also happens in high school.

In several Blue Valley social studies classes, our teachers go above and beyond the written curriculum in order to teach important history that is left out.

However, it’s not part of the job description for them, and it shouldn’t be their responsibility to do more than what is expected.

It should be the responsibility of the BV board of education to ensure that paramount information is included in the curriculum.

Otherwise, our students will continue to graduate prejudiced, ignorant and miseducated.

staff writers

Allie Ament

Talia Amjadi

Marie Biernacki

Courtney Brown

Cassidy Carpenter

McKenna Cole

Sarah Day

Tori Donnici

Kyle Elmendorf

Anna Gyori

Charlotte Rooney

features editor

Alli Williams

web editor

Emilee Holscher

photographers

Olivia Gurley

Meredith Halliburton

Claire Stein

Melanie White

Molly Holmes

Caitlin Hoy

Lauren Huck

Regan Kassing

Noma Kreegar

Nick Lamberti

Grace Lutz

Sadie Myer

Ifrah Sayyada

Kaitlin Yu adviser

Michelle Huss

“The Tiger Print” is an official publication of Blue Valley High School, an open forum distributed to all students at least seven 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

Cartoon by Kaitlin Yu.

Misinformation of history in the curriculum develops misconceptions, prejudice

The Tiger Print is FAKE NEWS

election.

But his usage of the word extends far beyond a simple dismissal.

juliefreijat news editor

In the last two years, among chaotic government affairs and a brutal election cycle, the United States has witnessed the chastising of its media. This scolding, while it may have been initially necessary in nature, has evolved into an attack on the freedom of the press and the innate principles of our republic.

Before I begin, let it be clear that the opinions I have will be affected by the fact that I am a student journalist. The opinions I have will be affected by my upbringing, my race, my religious or political affiliation, my age, my sex, my socioeconomic class and whatever else you chose to identify me with.

My opinions may be critical of you or your beliefs. You can dismiss what I write or say as untrue under any objection you have regarding the makeup of my personality and morality. Or, you can associate the entire staff of the Tiger Print with the opinions written in this article. You know, because we all wrote this — that’s why my name is on it.

This is the kind of disclaimer I find myself having to make every time I open my mouth or begin to write a story. Thanks, Blue Valley.

But in terms of the United States, the world of journalism has been and is under attack. Just recently, President Donald Trump has taken it upon himself to dismiss his critics as “fake news,” a term that gained popularity after the spread of propaganda and misinformation during the 2016 presidential

Freijat.

Attacking the media accomplishes nothing. The reason journalism exists is to give a voice to the common people. The media is the last defense we have against a government that won’t hold itself accountable for its faults. To attack true journalism is to attack the fundamentals that our country was founded on.

The media is biased. That is a truth accepted by many — including journalists. However, there are plenty of media sources in the world that produce excellent work, you just have to put effort into retrieving information from reliable networks. And often, you will receive information you do not want to hear. When our government begins lashing out against criticism, it says more about their problem-solving skills than it does about the media.

Calling national polls that prove a public disapproving of its president “fake news” is childish. And even then, I know children who would have the sense not to say something like that.

This is not to say we cannot be critical of the mainstream media — in fact, criticism can help build strong foundations and higher standards for our journalists.

However, the idea that “fake news” is whatever we don’t agree with is ridiculous. The idea that opinion articles can invalidate someone’s journalistic integrity is ridiculous.

“Fake news” is news that is not real. It is not news that is critical of you. It is not news you’d rather not hear.

It’s time we realize that, quite often, journalism is here to inform us. It is here to remind us that we can’t ignore the problem anymore.

how to spot REAL “fake news”

Dismissal of media is unnecessary, damaging

mckennacole staff writer

Bees. Just by the faint sound of their buzz, we are quick to run in terror, afraid to feel the wrath of their sharp sword-like stingers. Some people possess a deep hatred, while others have become slightly paranoid with the belief they are deathly allergic to the insects.

But in spite of any negative notions, research has shown that these creatures are in rapid decline, and it affects more than just their sweet honey.

On average, according to Greenpeace, a bee colony’s size will naturally decrease by 5 to 10 percent over winter, soon to be repopulated in the spring.

But in the United States, winter losses have commonly reached 30 to 50 percent, and in some cases even more.

What are the causes for such a

Three

dramatic loss?

Bees are dying from various, often human-inflicted factors, including pesticides, pollution and global warming.

By continuous urbanization, insecticide-coated crops and fluctuating climates, bees can acquire Colony Collapse Disorder, where a majority of worker bees in a colony leave a hive.

But why should we care?

It’s not like losing bees would make any difference in our lives. Wrong.

Did you know bees are responsible for pollinating many of the United States’ key crops?

Without our busy workers, we might have to say goodbye to favorites such as almonds, apples and strawberries.

Losing bees means losing 70 out of the top 100 food crops, according to Greenpeace. Without them we would struggle to sustain our global population.

With such inflation and no cross-pollination, we would be left with a financially draining task. Translation: your fruit and veggie prices would skyrocket.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to help save our friends, the bees. It doesn’t require special training or even going near them.

First, support your local farmers by buying organic honey as opposed to mass-produced brands. Organic farmers work without harmful pesticides, so just by simply taking a trip to your local farmer’s market, you are benefiting both the bees and your health.

Second, fill your garden with wildflowers and bee friendly flowers. Some ideal plants include lilac, lavender and hydrangea.

Finally, and most importantly, learn more about these captivating creatures. Many people don’t understand that unlike wasps and hornets, bees are not aggressive and will not sting unless they feel threatened — and they die after the sting. By learning how to act around a bee, you will avoid getting stung and need not fear them.

So the next time a bee is flying around your head, instead of panicking and reaching for the fly swatter, maybe you should be the one to “buzz off.”

insects make long-lasting impact Honey is the only insect-made food that humans consume

Bees perform 80% of the world’s pollination

types of bees in a hive: Queen, Worker and Drone

Shattered Expectations

Students should find balance between school work, relaxing

to do well. Students feel they need to live up to the reputation that this school has created, leaving many stressed under the pressure.

courtneybrown staff writer

Blue Valley is well known for its academics — we’re one of the best schools in Kansas and nationally ranked. Every year, we score high on state assessments and send hundreds of kids off to college. We have national merit and AP scholars. Our school has won countless awards from the National Blue Ribbon in 2012 to the Presidential School Award every year since 2000.

As you walk into the school these achievements are displayed for everyone to see.

With all these accomplishments, there’s a lot of pressure on students

I can’t count the amount of times I’ve heard someone be disappointed about finishing the semester with a B in a class, or that they missed two questions on a test when they should have missed none.

Students fill their schedules with AP classes leaving them with no time during the week for anything but homework. Even with Tiger Paws, there isn’t always available time for work since it’s also used for clubs, leaving some students with no time to get ahead on their homework.

The day before tests, students stay up until midnight studying for a good score.

School shouldn’t consume your whole life. You don’t have to be working on schoolwork the minute you get home till the minute you go to sleep. Your schedule doesn’t always

need to be filled with challenging classes.

It’s OK to not have straight A’s, and it’s OK to not get accepted into a school with an 18 percent acceptance rate.

These four years should be a time you enjoy without the constant stress. BV offers so many fun courses from Philosophy to Beginning Acting. Take a class you’re unsure about — you may end up loving it, and it’ll break up your day.

With that, there’s a time to challenge yourself. If you love science, take an AP science class. If you love reading, there’s AP Literature.

Especially with finals coming up, self-care is important. Don’t be too hard on yourself. I promise, getting a C won’t kill you. There should be a balance between getting your work done and enjoying high school.

High school sucks sometimes, but it’s up to you to make the most of it. It doesn’t have to involve all the stress.

1,564 Class of 2016

80% were on honor roll for at least two years

393 graduates 91% took the ACT 14% took the SAT

total students

Recognitions

• 2000-16: Presidential School of Service Award

• 1988-89 and 2012: “Blue Ribbon National School of Excellence” by U.S. Department of Education

• Named one of “Best High Schools” by Newsweek and “America’s Best U.S. High Schools” by U.S. News & World Report

Gearing Up

mollyholmes staff writer

The Blue Valley School District provides many possibilities for students to get a taste of future college and career paths through a vast array of programs. However, many students have interests in areas that lack academic opportunities.

This is why the Olathe Advanced Technical Center (OATC) is available to students wishing to pursue alternate occupational preparations.

“There’s not an automotive training program here in our district,” counselor Greg Curran said. “There’s a lot of costs involved. Olathe invites our students to come join them if we have students that are interested.”

The OATC offers hands-on learning in culinary studies, construction and early childhood teaching, along with their automotive technology and collision courses. Classes are held for three consecutive hours of the school day at the OATC facility.

“They train you in specialized skills and help you get certified,” Curran said. “Once you finish your training, you can get a job immediately out of high school.”

Senior Dallas Miller is a part of the OATC and said he recommends others enroll in the program to gain reallife knowledge on how to solve problems and work with mechanics.

“You get to know how to work on your own vehicles so you don’t have to worry about your own automotive problems,” Miller said.

Those interested in joining the OATC can talk to their counselor and then fill out an application. After that, students will go to the OATC and take a tour to assess if it is something they want to be a part of.

“[Administrators] really want to screen [stu-

Culinary Arts

Olathe Advanced Technical Center offers unique career training opportunities

dents] well because the spots they have are valuable,” Curran said.

“They don’t want to have a student take a spot and then realize they don’t really want to do it.”

Senior Chris Jones said he is enrolled at the OATC because of the love he has for cars and customizing them.

“I am in the automotive collision course [where] we work on body damage and painting,” Jones said.“It is a good course that gives you experience in the real world.”

This specialized learning system gives students the chance to pursue passions they will use well beyond their high school life, Curran said.

“Not everyone wants to be a welder, and not everyone wants to work on cars,” he said. “But for those that do, this is outstanding training for them.”

Programs

Auto-Collision Technology

Focus on painting, repairing and reconstructing car body parts

Automotive Technology

Students learn about the systems and parts in cars and how they work

Construction Trades

The class consists of repairing, constructing and maintenance of building and community projects

Welding Technology

Students learn how to cut and join metals to fabricate and repair parts

This program teaches all the aspects of culinary work including food safety and preparation.

Jones

Miller

Page designed by Molly Holmes.

call me kallie

call me kallie

student shares her unique coming-out story

nicklamberti & gracelutz staff writers

night, which is the Jewish Sabbath, we decided it was imperative that we go [to the synagogue].”

Following her announcement to her parents, Kallie said coming out to the other people of importance in her life was easier.

Haun

Standing up, sophomore Kallie Haun unfolds a letter she has regarding an important announcement she wants to make. After questioning her gender identity since she was young, Kallie came out as transgender to all seven of her classes.

“I’ve had feelings of something not being right my entire life,” Kallie said. “When I learned about gender around late middle school and early ninth grade, I started to get an understanding of it.”

Kallie said after exploring the boundaries of gender, she was still questioning where her feelings were coming from.

“I thought, because I have Aspergers and Crohn’s Disease, that the feelings were attributed to those, but I [later discovered] they weren’t,” she said. “It wasn’t until after the ninth grade that I figured out who I really was.”

Kallie said she first came out to her parents on Jan. 29 of this year and although her parents were surprised, they flooded Kallie with resounding love and support. Kallie’s mother, Shanna Haun, decided to post about her transition on Facebook.

“It was on a Friday that we came out on Facebook,” Shanna said. “By the end of the weekend, we had over 500 likes, [and] 200 positive comments. The response was so immediate and so positive that on Friday

“Coming out to [people at my synagogue] was actually a lot less stressful because I had my parents right by me to support me,” Kallie said. “I ended up receiving resounding support [from them].”

Shanna said she later had the idea of a special, unique way that Kallie could successfully come out to her peers and classmates at school.

“Together, we sat down and formulated a plan,” Shanna said. “I had an idea inspired by the Facebook [post]. I [told Kallie], if you be upfront and reintroduce yourself as [to] what’s going on, you know it’s going to be some-

thing so different than ‘it’s weird’ or whatever word [others] want to call it. You know it’s going to take everybody time, and all you’re asking is for their compassion and for their support, if possible.”

Kallie pitched the idea to assistant principal Mollie McNally and decided to write a letter explaining to her classes about her gender identity.

“My letter told everyone that I’m transgender,” Kallie said. “[Right before I came out], I was just thinking, ‘This is going to go OK; everything is going to be fine. I’m going to do well.’ I wanted people to try and understand it as much as they can.”

Shanna said how incredible it was to receive such compelling enthusiasm throughout the entire Blue Valley community.

“Mrs. [Manal] Siam, her first hour teacher, sent me an email after class saying that the students applauded after Kallie made her announcement,” Shanna said. “That’s what happened all day long, every hour — every class gave her a ton of support and applause and I was blown away.”

Shanna said she and her family are so fortunate to have made this transition in such an uplifting community, and she stresses the importance of being true to who you are.

“Life is all about living authentically,” she said. “No matter what you have going on in your life, if somebody doesn’t get to live their truth, they feel trapped, and that’s a horrible way to live,” she said. “As long as whatever we’re doing causes no harm to anybody else, we should all be able to live our truth. Kallie is an amazing human being to let us all witness and be a part of her journey. She inspires me and inspired us all to live our truth.”

“I hope [for] and would be so grateful for your support as I nagivate this new path.”

— Kallie Haun, 10

Different Kind of Olympics

BV Connections class participates in jobrelated competition

caitlinhoy and toridonnici staff writers

For the past 10 years, Blue Valley’s Connections program has participated in Job Olympics — an all-day event where students compete against other Kansas schools in job-related skills.

Laurie Rue, one of the Interrelated Resource Teachers, has been to Job Olympics for the past 20 years, 10 while she’s taught at BV.

“It is held at Johnson County Community College,” Rue said. “We go to [Job Olympics] in the morning, do our events, attend the awards ceremony and then we return around the end of a school day.”

Each room at JCCC has a different activity for different events.

“[The competitors] have a name tag with their events on it and the room

numbers they go to,” Rue said. “They can go to any event they want — you don’t have to go in order. It starts at 8 [a.m.] and goes to 11, and usually we finish way before then.”

After the participants compete in their events, they get a lunch break before receiving the medals at the awards ceremony.

“For entertainment before the awards ceremony, there is a neat group that sings and does sign language to the songs, and they really get the group going in the auditorium,” Rue said. “[Then,] it’s time to announce the medals. They give first through third, and there are three divisions.”

Junior Lily Huffaker competed in the Job Olympics for the second time.

“My favorite part is the awards ceremony,” Huffaker said. “They have music playing, you get to dance and it’s really, really fun.”

The Connections class puts in a lot of time and effort to get ready for Job Olympics, Rue said.

“During our Connections hours, we spend exactly two and a half weeks [preparing],” Rue said. “We used to practice [for] months, and that was horrible because the kids lost their motivation. Two and a half weeks before the event seems to be the magic time.”

Each competitor competes in three or four different events.

“You do jobs like bagging groceries, role play and interviews — the main one that everyone has to do,” Huffaker said.

With practice and effort, the Connections program hopes that competing as a team at Job Olympics will help the students be successful with their jobs in the future.

“We are a team, we compete and we are putting our best foot forward,” Rue said.

Brian Ainsworth, 10; Tyler Geiman, 12

Alex Kennett, 10; Jake Doebbeling, 10

Paulina Quattrone, 12; Nathan Kniss, 9; Sophie Zahn, 9; Erik Peterson, 9; Sam Hornsby, 12; Carson Simeroth, 10; Lily Goodwin, 10

Darby Thompson, 12; Lily Huffaker, 11

Joe Schuchardt, 12; Ella Palmer 10

In and outside of the classroom, sex trafficking isn’t a usual topic of discussion. Because of its taboo nature, the statistics are inadvertently ignored in our community. However, the problem still remains alarmingly present.

sex sales

Sex and human trafficking is when a sex act — prostitution, pornography or sexual performance — is initiated by fraud, force or intimidation and is exploited for profit.

Human trafficking abolitionist Rebecca Dunning said that many victims will be used not only for sexual slavery but to perform everyday tasks as well.

“[Victims are often] being held against their will and being forced to produce something, whether it’s domestic cleaning or sex trade,” Dunning said.

According to sharedhope.org, the most common age to become a victim of sex trafficking is 14 to 16, and about 20.9 million adults and children are sold each year in the global commercial sex trade.

Dunning said traffickers have a strategy for finding potential people to exploit.

story by mckenna cole & noma kreegar

“They look for [people] with low self-esteem,” Dunning said. “[They look for] those that have been abused in the past so they already have that fixation about them, and they’re just looking for love.”

Story continues on pages 16-17

Pages designed by Alli Williams.

Siddhali Shree, director and producer of “Stopping Traffic,” a documentary about the growth of the global sex trade market, said traffickers will often form a bond with the victim prior to forcing them into the slave trade.

“Traffickers now are approaching kids on places like Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter. It’s called grooming,” Shree said. “[If a trafficker] approaches a teenager online and they become friends, they form some kind of trust or bond. Then the [trafficker] will say, ‘Hey, it’s time to meet up now.’ In that case, the teenager trusts that person [and the abductor is able to] take them into trafficking.”

Dunning said one of the biggest misconceptions about sex trafficking is that the victims who are forced into prostitution are doing it willingly.

“They’re being told things like, ‘I’m going to hurt your family’ or ‘I’m going to beat your kid,’” Dunning said. “Sometimes they simply have them hooked on drugs.”

Transformation therapist Laurie Goddu said prior to entering her career, she didn’t know very much about sex

kc

trafficking in the U.S. However, through her work with the Elijah Rising Sex Trade Recovery Center in Houston, Texas, she discovered how prevalent domestic sex trafficking has become.

in kc traff i ing

“I think the biggest misconception is that it [doesn’t] happen [in the U.S.] and that it doesn’t come out of local communities,” Goddu said. “That’s just not true.”

In many circumstances, advertisements for prostitution are used as a cover for sex trafficking.

“You can turn to websites like Backpage, and basically there’s ads for prostitution,” Shree said. “Men and women browse these online sites, they look at a bunch of ads, and then they click around and order those services.”

Dunning and Shree both said the problem of sex trafficking wouldn’t be as pressing if there weren’t such a big market for it.

“If there’s no demand, then there’s no need to supply — so, for the traffickers, it’s merely a business,” Shree said. “It’s really unfortunate because now human beings are being used to satisfy [sexual] desires.”

WESTERN AUTO

The problem of sex trafficking exists nearly everywhere — the U.S., Kansas City, even in Johnson County.

“There’s actually quite a bit of sex trafficking in Kansas City,” Dunning said. “There’s a backdoor website, and that’s where most of it happens. In Kansas City, we actually have a really big foster kid problem — [many] kids [entering] the foster care system are in some form of pornography ring or slave sex trade.”

In 2015, a Topeka man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl. He admitted to taking the girl to a motel to be sold off to a customer who had seen her picture on Backpage.com. The customer was working undercover for the FBI and the Topeka Police Department.

Principal Scott Bacon said it was shocking to hear that the problem hits so close to home.

“Do I hear a lot about this here? No,” Bacon said. “Does that mean that it doesn’t go on in our community? Apparently it does.”

Goddu said the problem can be attributed to where Kansas City lies on the map.

“In any place where there’s a main highway [like I-29], it influences [the market],” Goddu said. “It isn’t about Kansas City being ‘dark’ — it’s about Kansas City being accessible. They want to move the girls [and boys] across the country quickly.”

There are many types of people driving the market for sex trafficking.

“It’s really all across the board now,” Dunning said. “There are teenage boys in highschool going on these sites and even high school coaches.”

Shree said in order for the problem of sex trafficking to be resolved, there needs to be more awareness about the dangers among youth.

“No place is safe,” Shree said. “It doesn’t matter your culture, how much money you have; it doesn’t matter your gender or your orientation. To the traffickers, you’re a potential product. It’s hidden everywhere in plain sight. The goal is to raise awareness.”

This March, an Overland Park man plead guilty to posing as a 46-year-old woman and distributing child pornography online. He is scheduled to be sentenced this July.

Bacon said many people don’t understand how bad the problem is, but when it’s put into perspective, it’s a lot more relevant.

“National statistics aren’t that surprising, but when you’re talking about Johnson County or a neighborhood that’s right down the road, it’s a lot more shocking,” Bacon said. “I think for anything that’s of concern to the safety and well being of families and students — knowledge is power.”

135 reports

61%

39% adults children

Volunteers educate others about the issue of domestic violence

nomakreegar staff writer

The Kansas City SAFEHOME organization is actively working to shed light on a growing epidemic that impacts communities across the nation — domestic violence and abuse.

Sophomores Haley Birnbaum and Valentina Diaz volunteer at SAFEHOME, where they aim to educate their peers about the problem of domestic violence.

“[We] work in a smaller volunteer group within the facility called CAPE [Coalition for Awareness through Peer Education],” Birnbaum said. “CAPE is centered around romantic relationships — what’s good, what’s bad — but we also touch on domestic violence [and] unhealthy friendships.”

SAFEHOME was in need of actors for performances about the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships called “The Outrage,” so Birnbaum and Diaz said they decided

to help out.

“[Every few weeks,] we do [The Outrage] at schools [where] we read a script and act it out,” Diaz said. “There’s not a lot of awareness about this [issue] because it’s sort of taboo.”

Birnbaum said her favorite part about volunteering for SAFEHOME is the unique opportunities she gets to educate others.

“It’s something I’ve been passionate about for a really long time, [especially] the child abuse aspect,” Birnbaum said. “I’ve never seen a lot of recognition for child abuse anywhere, which is a problem, because children are getting hurt by their parents. They’re getting silenced, and nobody knows about it.”

Diaz said volunteering for SAFEHOME is rewarding even though it’s a bit of a time commitment.

“It takes seven hours of your month, and you get to be around people you love,” Diaz said. “It’s amazing.”

The SAFEHOME organization will be selling donated art at the Crossroads Arts District’s First Fridays event in May. All of the proceeds from the event will go toward CAPE and helping victims of domestic abuse.

“We’ll be selling art pieces that have the theme of empowerment,” Diaz said. “All the money goes toward the shelter. It helps the people in the shelter get food and clothes, or it goes toward CAPE and helping us educate our peers.”

Birnbaum and Diaz both believe SAFEHOME has raised awareness about all forms of domestic violence in the community. According to SAFEHOME-ks.org, about 7,300 individuals receive support from SAFEHOME’s shelter and community services every year.

“The motivation to stop domestic violence and to stop domestic abuse brings you closer [to your community],” Birnbaum said. “This is such a raw and disturbing issue, but being able to make a change and help people is amazing.”

For more information on SAFEHOME, visit:

Birnbaum

Diaz

More than 20 percent of American teenagers have a serious mental illness, according to LiveScience.com. This number increases when less severe mental illnesses are added into the statistic.

The growing mental health epidemic in this country has seemingly been accompanied by too much silence.

Nearly 70 percent of U.S. teenagers with a mental illness receive counseling.

Junior Kate Hollingsworth began going to therapy during her middle school years. Throughout the past couple years, she has continued treatment and said she plans to continue until she is completely recovered.

“I remember, I was ashamed to tell even my mom,” she said. “I had to pass her a note that literally said, ‘Can I see a therapist?’ She tried to talk to me, but I told her not to worry about it. It’s something a lot of families

advocate the

Student discusses normalization of therapy, personal battle with mental illness

don’t talk about. Mental illness in any form is seen as being a failure or that you’re just not trying hard enough.”

After multiple suicide attempts and psychiatric stays, Hollingsworth decided to post her story on social media. She said she had reached a point where she could no longer hide that part of her life. She wanted to normalize treatment — beginning with sharing her experiences.

“Looking back, I was in a really bad place at the beginning of this year,” she said. “And through everything — my multiple therapists, my case manager, my psychologist and through Marillac — I think it’s made all the difference. If I never ended up reaching out for help, I probably wouldn’t be here today. That’s a scary reality, and it’s just another reason it’s so important to normalize therapy and seeking help.”

Hollingsworth said the stigma surrounding mental illness and get-

ting help is due to a lack of understanding and conversation.

“The root of people not asking for help is because no one talks about it,” she said. “That was the hardest part for me because I had never heard anyone talk about it — depression, anxiety or anything. People refuse [to discuss] it — it’s not there. A lot of people who haven’t gone through it think, ‘Just be positive. You’ll be fine — you’re doing great.’ That is so unhelpful.”

In Hollingsworth’s view, we need to create a community that fosters communication and help.

“Everyone has their issues — everyone has things going on,” she said. “Just having someone to talk to and having a support system around you is one of the most important things. If you’re just relying on yourself, and you’re in a really difficult situation — it’s really hard to get through it alone.”

Hollingsworth has been through extensive treatment, and though she has come far, she said she believes she has further to go.

“I wouldn’t say that right now I am fully recovered,” she said. “I would say that if 10 years from now I am able to see things from my past and hear about death or suicide, or see an object that I could hurt myself with, and not have a melt-down — when I can fully wake up and say that I am hopeful about my future, and I know that things will go well — that’s the point where I can say that I am recovered.”

According to LiveScience.com, half of all students who receive counseling for mental illness receive it from their school.

Psychologist Julie Seitter is an option for students who need someone to talk to.

“Mrs. Seitter is wonderful,” Hollingsworth said. “I’ve been seeing her for a long time. I see her every Thursday. I’ll just pop into her office, and we’ll talk for however long I need. She sees everything that goes on in the school, and she understands.”

Hollingsworth said she wants others to know that seeking help is

an option. For her, finally receiving the help she needed assisted her on the road to recovery.

“I suffered alone because I didn’t know how to ask for help,” she said. “When people tried to help me, I refused it because I felt like no one would understand what I was going through. Seeking help and going to therapy changed my life. Hearing other people’s stories made me realize there are so many people that have had to go through what I am going through. There is a way out of the pain you are feeling, and there is help in so many places.”

“You hope in the end that you’re going to get out of it, and you’ll be a better person for it, and you’ll make those changes, and see a change in yourself.”

— junior Kate Hollingsworth

Photos by Melanie White.

Story by Julie Freijat and Alli Williams. Page designed by Alli Williams.

Q: What influenced your work?

A: “I like to go outside of my comfort zone, so I’ve been trying to do more with people. My dad is a fireman, so I really wanted to play off that.”

Q: Have you submitted before?

A: “I’ve received Scholastic awards all four years of high school. It’s just something I’ve done every year since I’ve been doing art at the high school. It’s a good way to get your art critiqued and know where you stand.”

Regan Hamilton, 12:

scholarartists

Scholastic Art awardwinning students discuss their pieces

Q: How did you react to hearing about your awards?

A: “I was happy, but — this sounds bad — I was kind of mad. I made this other piece that I didn’t get an award for, [but] another one won that I didn’t think was very good.”

Q: What was your inspiration for your work?

A: “[For my Honorable Mention], I just wanted to make a tree. I had [this] idea where I would make little spouts and have wires coming out of it. I [only] wanted to do one, but[Art teacher Michael] Johnston was like, ‘You should have as many wires as you can.’”

Q: How did you react to hearing about your Honorable Mention?

A: “I was a little bummed because, last year, I got a Gold [Key], but I was still really happy that I even got in.”

Q: How did you compose and take your photos?

A: “I did a double exposure [of my sister] — I wanted to create a surreal idea. Then for my sunflower, I took it from the back. It showed a different perspective.”

Q: What inspired your works?

A: “When I was little, I really liked animals, and it was easy to draw [them], so it translated over to ceramics. In Drawing, I made little sculptures out of the kneadable erasers. That was why I decided to make one of the pots into an octopus.”

Q: What was the creation process?

A: “It took me three or four weeks to actually get the pot because I’m not very good at wheel throwing. After [that], I kind of wanted to put a little extra onto it and thought deer antlers would be cool.”

AV: One of five art pieces chosen for Best of Show

List of winners: GK: Gold Key SK: Silver Key HM: Honorable Mention AV: American Vision nominee

Multi Media:

Regan Hamilton, 12 — HM

Sculpture:

Alex Roberts, 12 — HM

Sofia O’Neil, 12 — HM

Amber Vollick, 12 — HM

Photography:

Lily Ehler, 11 — HM

Photography:

Jennifer Franey, 10 — HM

Sophia Nangia, 10 — HM, HM

Alex Roberts, 12 — SK, HM

Victoria Roggy, 12 — HM

Emma Stachowiak, 10 — HM

Shawn Stoneburner, 11 — HM

Kyleigh West, 12 — HM

Ceramics & Glass:

Regan Hamilton, 12 — GK

Parker Moore, 12 — GK

Madeline Mullinnix, 12 — SK, HM

Caleb Nelson, 12 — GK, AV, HM

Sofia O’Neil, 12 — HM

Amber Vollick, 12 — SK, HM

Digital Art:

Kaitlin Yu, 11 — HM

Page designed by Kaitlin Yu.

Sophia Nangia, 10:

Alex Roberts, 12:

Caleb Nelson, 12:

“When I was in high school..”

Alumni share advice, lessons for current BV students

What is something you wish you knew in high school?

“Have as much fun as you can and make memories with your homies because when college comes, you will be going in different directions.”

What should you not take for granted?

“Don’t take study hall for granted because it’s too easy to slack off when you have free time. Learn time management early on because, trust me, you will need it.”

What was your favorite part of high school?

“For me it was just meeting some of my best friends who will be there for me whenever I need them.”

What kept you motivated during the school year?

“Having a good group of friends around me and finding things I enjoyed doing motivated me when I got stressed or needed a break from school.”

What’s something you wish you knew in high school?

“I wish I had known not to sweat the small stuff or get into drama because none of it matters in the scheme of life, and there’s so much more beyond high school.”

What should you not take for granted?

“Everything, because life gets harder when you begin to take on adult responsibilities and harder school work, but if you actually try and put effort in, our school really will prepare you.”

How important are grades in high school?

“[Grades] are very important because if you are not striving towards pushing yourself in high school, it will create a bad habit and make it even harder to excel in college.”

What should you not take for granted?

“The personal connections you make with your teachers and the wide variety of snacks at home.”

What was the best part of high school?

“The amount of school spirit our district had — it made sporting games, events or competitions between schools very fun since everyone was really involved. It made it easy to have amazing friends I stay connected with even today.”

Freshman at K-State

Colton McCumber

Junior at KU

Aubrey Meyer

Hannah Valentine

Freshman at K-State

Garrhett Hurst

Freshman at San Diego State

out of

SPRING boredom

Warm-weather activities provide entertainment for upcoming months

Drive-inMovie

The Boulevard Movie Theatre

Price: $10 per person Take a different twist on your classic movie-going experience and go retro. Load up the car and hit the drive-in.

Color Run

June 17th

Price: $35

This popular 5K is filled with plenty of color. Experienced runners and newbies alike can enjoy this upbeat and vibrant race.

BERRY PICKING

The best type of fruit: fresh and picked yourself

SHAWNEE MISSION PARK

Price: Free but boat rental for $9/half hour is available.

Experience vast hiking and biking trails along with the 120-acre lake fit for paddle boarding and canoeing.

Blueberries: The Berry Patch at 223rd and State Line

Price: $2.90/lb

Strawberries: Benny’s Berries at Kenneth and Holmes.

fridays

Price: Free entry Discover unique artwork, cuisine, music and more from locals downtown at the Crossroads Art District during the first Friday and following weekend of every month.

Price: Free Perfect for a sunny afternoon to hangout with your pooch.

red bridge

Top Golf

10611 and Nall.

Price: $20/per hour per bay weekdays, $40/per hour per bay on weekends. This is a fun take on golf even a rookie will enjoy.

Between Holmes and Red Bridge Road.

Price: Free

There is no need to travel all the way to Paris to go to a love-lock bridge.

OLD 1ST GEOCACHING

Price: Free Grab some friends and go on a real life treasure hunt — just download the app “Geocaching.”

Pottery

Paint Glaze and Fire Ceramics & Coffee House

Price: Pottery pieces range from $5-$50 plus an $8 studio fee This is an eclectic pottery shop to paint your very own ceramics and grab a coffee.

Night at the K

Price: Ticket prices vary depending on seats but start off around $20. Every Friday home Royals game, hot dogs and peanuts are $1 at Kauffman stadium.

Information collected and page designed by Cassidy Carpenter.

LEAWOOF DOG PARK

“I did the Kylie Jenner lip challenge, and my lips wouldn’t go down, but my mom made me go to school the next day. I had to sleep with ice on my lips and go to school with my lips huge. I was crying because I was embarrassed to walk through the halls with my lips that big.”

—Jillian Hurst, 11

Students share humorous, comical situations

“Halfway through first hour, my friend pointed down at my shoes and then looked at me super confused. ‘What?,’ I asked. She told me that my Converse were two different colors. In my defense, they looked very similar — one being navy blue and the other black. She made it apparent to the whole class. I really didn’t want to wear them for the whole day, so before it could get out of hand, I texted my mom and had her bring me one matching shoe.”

—Kate

Anderson, 9

“Once I was at the store with my mom, and I couldn’t find her [for a while]. I thought I saw her so I went up and gave her a hug from behind but it wasn’t her so I walked away really awkwardly.”

—Brielle Murray, 10

“Sophomore year, I was sitting in French, and I turned around to get something out of my backpack. I don’t really know what happened, but my chair slipped out from under me. I hit my head and blacked out for a couple seconds — only to wake up with my classmates standing and staring over me.” —Kate Meinzenbach, 11

“I walked into Anatomy with my goggles and gloves on, completely ready to dissect my cat. Then I realized it was block day, I was in the wrong class, and there was a freshman biology class going on. They stared at me for [what felt] like five minutes.”

—Sophie Bell, 10

book.“IwasinELA,andweweresilentlyreadinga

whole class turned and looked at me. Ihadtogetupinfrontofeveryone andgetpapertowelstocleanitup.”

—PeytonAnderson,11

“I was in Anatomy taking a test, and the whole class was complete- ly silent. I went to turn my test in and fell flat on my face. Just to make the situation worse, I got a bloody nose.”

—Lila Kubas, 10

“I shaved off my eyebrows in 8th grade because girls didn’t like unibrows.”

—Caleb Alley, 12

Itookabigdrinkofmywaterandstarted coughingwhileitwasstillinmymouth.Itried swallowingit,butIcouldn’tbecauseIwas choking.Ispititallovermydesk.The

Double Header

Sophomore plays 2 varsity sports during spring season

sports.

“We look at the athlete’s schedule,” Siam said. “From there we try to match up what she can attend for track meets. If she has a really important soccer game but not a huge track meet, she’ll go play soccer, and vise versa.”

Despite the lack of free time, Herrin said playing two sports provides many positives, too.

“I’m in really good shape, I guess,” Herrin said. “It’s super fun because you just get to meet a whole bunch of people, and you’re really good friends with a lot of people from a lot of different grades. I think that’s a really good part about it.”

Herrin said playing sports during the same season has shaped her to be more organized and eager to get things done faster.

taliamjadi staff writer

Every student athlete knows juggling the time commitments of schoolwork and sports can be difficult, but sophomore Anna Herrin has double the workload of the average athlete.

Herrin plays both varsity soccer and varsity track and practices for both every day after school.

“Track practice starts at 3:15, and that usually goes until about 5,” Herrin said. “Then I go straight to soccer after that, which usually ends at 6:30.”

Herrin said she was trying to decide which one she wanted to pursue in high school but could not make a decision because she had an equal passion for

both.

“I did both of them in the past in middle school and for club soccer,” Herrin said. “I just really liked them and I couldn’t choose which one I would rather do so I just did both — and I am really glad I did.”

While playing two sports she excels at is fun, Herrin said there are some downsides.

“I am literally sore all the time,” Herrin said. “I don’t have a lot of free time to hang out with friends — the only time I have to do that is on the weekends, and I work so even then I don’t have enough time.”

Sprints coach Manal Siam said the coaches try to be as accommodating as possible for the athletes who play two

“Playing two sports has helped me be a better student because I’ve focused a lot more because I know I won’t have enough time,” Herrin said. “When I get home, I have to eat, do homework, study for any tests I have and try to get to bed at a decent time. It can be really hard to balance.”

Siam said she is proud of the athletes like Herrin who play two sports simultaneously.

“When a student athlete has the ability to play both sports they love and excel at, they have such a fun experience because that’s their passion,” Siam said. “It’s very rewarding to see as a coach.”

Herrin said she loves where she’s at right now with these sports and hopes both seasons will be great.

“Track and soccer have both just been so fun so far, and making such close relationships with all these girls and guys is awesome,” Herrin said. “It’s honestly my favorite time of the year, so hopefully I can get out there and win some titles.”

Photo by Melanie White. Page designed by Tali Amjadi.

Baseball pursues State tournament, attempts another postseason run

Last year, the varsity baseball team broke the school record for wins in a season and made it to the State semifinals. Senior pitcher Brody Allen said this year the varsity team is looking to make another postseason run.

“Varsity went 21-3,” Allen said. “They were the number-one seed going into the State tournament but ended up losing in the semifinals.”

He said playing on all of the baseball teams should help him be able to lead younger players.

“I’m one of the few who’s started on D team, C team, JV and varsity,” Allen said. “I’ve worked my

way up the ranks, so I could be a role model for the younger guys who may be in a similar situation that I’m in a couple years down the road.”

Allen played on the JV team in 2016, which went 16-2 and won the EKL tournament at the end of the year. This is Allen’s first year on any varsity team at Blue Valley, and he said he wants to enjoy his time on the team.

“I’m looking to go out and enjoy every time I get to play,” Allen said. “I look forward to playing in the cool games we have this season like Shawnee Mission East, Jefferson City and playing at the K.”

Softball team provides players with lasting relationships

Sophomore Paige Robbins is an outfielder on the softball team. She has played on varsity the last two years. She said she enjoys playing softball while showing others the pride she has for BV.

“My favorite thing about playing school softball is getting to represent my school while doing something I love,” she said.

Robbins said playing on the varsity team gives her the opportunity to improve by learn-

ing from the upperclassmen.

“School softball makes me better by getting to learn things from kids who are older and have more experience than me,” she said.

Even though the team consists of players from different grade levels, Robbins said the relationships are the main reason she loves playing BV softball.

“My favorite thing about the team is how we are all friends and how we have so much fun together.”

Boys Golf seeks second straight Regionals victory, hopes to build off last year’s successes

Golf co-captain senior Nick Beardslee said the golf team had a successful season in 2016.

“We actually finished pretty good for us,” Beardslee said. “[Alumnus] Griffin Mott led the team really nicely, and we got about six to State, and we won Regionals.”

This year, he said, they have similar expectations.

“Our main goal is to win Regionals,” Beardslee said. “Once we get to State, [we hope to] place in the top 10 or 15.”

Stories by Kyle Elmendorf and Olivia Gurley.

Beardslee is one of two captains, along with senior Kale Samber. Beardslee said his leadership role has changed since becoming a senior.

“I have played varsity all four years,” Beardslee said. “This year I’m actually more of a leader because I’m a senior and get to lead the team instead of just being led by other seniors.”

The golf team plays nine holes of golf every day, but Beardslee said he enjoys participating.

“It’s not tense or anything,” Beardslee said. “It’s just a relaxing game and a fun sport to play.”

Page designed by Kyle Elmendorf.

Girls soccer team builds new friendships, provides positive atmosphere

Varsity starter junior Madalynn Gill is a forward on the soccer team. She said she enjoys seeing her improvements throughout the course of the season.

“Playing high school soccer makes me better because it keeps me moving and practicing when I am not doing club,” Gill said.

She said her favorite thing about playing for the high school team is the relationships she acquires during the season.

“My favorite thing about playing school soccer is getting to build so many friendships,” Gill said.

Even though playing might get tough, Gill said she enjoys the team atmosphere on and off the field.

“[I love] how positive everyone is even if we lose and how much every person cares about each other throughout the season,” Gill said.

Girls swim and dive team provides students challenges, opportunities to improve

Junior Grace Euler swims for the girls swim team. She said that swimming is not an easy sport to stay devoted to.

“Swim is a huge commitment,” she said. “It teaches me how to persevere.”

With having two practices a day, one at 5:30 in the morning and one after school, Euler said the team is really close.

“My favorite thing about swim is my team and how fun they are to be around,” she said. “I’m truly blessed.”

Euler said she enjoys reflecting on her progress over the course of the season.

“[I love] seeing my improvement from the beginning to the end of the season,” she said.

Boys tennis brings students opportunities for fun experiences with friends

Senior Sid Hedge has been a captain on the boys tennis team since his junior year. He said his role on the team has changed since becoming a captain.

“My first two years I wasn’t a big part of the team, but last year I was a captain so that was a pretty big role,” he said.

Hegde said the team is training hard to prepare for meets.

“We practice every day after school,” Hegde said. “We do extra conditioning more than we did last year.”

He said last year the team had a successful season,

and they hope to continue their success this year.

“Last year we had one doubles team qualify for State,” Hegde said. “They ended up winning, so that was really good for us. We’ll build off it this year. I think we should at least qualify one for State this year.”

Hegde said he hopes to experience success this season, but he also enjoys getting to play the sport.

“It’s an enjoyable sport to play with my friends,” Hegde said. “I hope to play well, win most of my matches and keep everything competitive.”

Rapid Rehabilitation Rapid Rehabilitation

Senior overcomes two knee injuries to return to varsity sports

kyleelmendorf staff writer

When Dawson Krug qualified for State in javelin in 2016, he said it was because of a miracle throw. He said, however, the miracle extends beyond the one throw.

About six months earlier, his entire throwing season was in jeopardy when he suffered a horrific knee injury during a football game. After his surgery two weeks later, he was told he would be out six to nine

“I injured myself in my first varsity football start,” Krug said. “It was [the] second play of the game, and somebody went into the side of my knee, and I tore my ACL, meniscus and MCL.”

Krug said when he suffered his injury, he instantly knew the

“I heard a ton of popping in my knee,” Krug said. “I knew right then and there it was bad. I couldn’t put any weight on it. I tried to jump off the field, and I just fell.”

Krug said he was initially told by doctors and coaches his recovery would be prolonged, and his javelin season would not be worth returning to. However, Krug said his desire to return to competition was the main reason why he was able to compete so soon, after only four

“At first, I wasn’t making much progress,” Krug said. “I was ready so early because I just decided to start doing whatever I wanted. I started just dealing with it.”

Krug said he tried to speed up his recovery process as much as he could.

“I toughed it out,” Krug said. “I really pushed the doctor to clear me early and let me get my knee brace. I just really wanted to get back to throwing javelin.”

Krug said even though he was able to use his knee like normal, the pain persisted.

“Anytime I ran on any kind of curve, I could feel it,” he said. “If I ran for more than five minutes, I could feel it. I kept my mouth shut because I really wanted to get back.”

When Krug first returned to javelin he said he was throwing poorly — he barely made varsity. But as his knee recovered, he kept improving. Two weeks before Regionals, Krug was throwing 135 feet, which is 10 feet short of qualifying for State.

“At EKL, I kind of had a miracle throw and threw 142 [feet],” Krug said. “The week after that, I just wanted it so bad I threw 146 [feet] out of nowhere, which was just enough to go to State. I was the last person to qualify.”

Krug played football again in 2016 and was named second-team All-EKL as a defensive lineman. Krug said this javelin season, his knee feels good despite another partial tear to his meniscus in Feb.

“This winter, I worked out with [senior] Matthew Morris every day,” Krug said. “I would go up every other day and throw with no coaches or anything. It felt perfect. I was throwing really well.”

Krug said throughout his knee recovery process, he’s learned a lot about himself.

“I have more confidence in myself now,” Krug said. “It proved to myself I could do anything, and I can recover from anything.”

I heard a ton of popping in my knee. I knew right then and there it was bad. I

1. Ready to swing, junior Grace Garcia watches the pitcher. Garcia plays club and BV softball. “My favorite part is playing double headers on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” she said. Photo by Olivia Gurley.

2. Swimming butterfly, junior Audrey Hawn competes in a swim competition. She has been on the swim team for three years. “I like the team camaraderie and how it’s an individual sport but you also compete as a team,” she said. Photo by Meredith Halliburton.

3. Swinging a club, junior Michael Secrest competes in a golf tournament. He has been

on the golf team since freshman year. “I joined the golf team because I heard it was a good experience,” he said. “I enjoy playing it so I wanted to pursue my hobby and get better.” Photo by Hanna Bradford.

4. Rushing to keep the ball in bounds, senior Paige Moses sprints across the field. Moses has played since she was in kindergarten. “It’s the only sport I’ve stuck with and the one I’ve enjoyed the most,” she said. Photo by Melanie White.

5. Bracing for a pitch, senior Brett Ingram prepares to swing. The Tigers beat BV West

2-1 on April 18. “My favorite memory was the 2-3-2 triple play we turned against West,” he said. “It was probably the craziest play I’ve ever seen, and it was cool to be a part of.”

Photo by Olivia Gurley.

6. Warming up for practice, junior Garrett Menees completes a backhand swing. Menees competes on the JV tennis team. “Our focus is on learning and improvement,” he said. “The environment is all due to the first-class coaches who understand what it takes to have a first-class team.”

Photo by Melanie White.

Page designed by Melanie White.

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After Prom 2017

1. Sliding, junior Lindsay Barash goes head first down the end of the obstacle course. Students received fake money for participating in games and activities. “I liked racing my friends on the course and how we got paid for being active,” Barash said.

Junior Jenna Merry gets knocked over by the spinning foam arm on the inflatable. After Prom took place at BV from midnight to 3 a.m. “[All I could do was] hope for the best,” Merry said. “None of us knew what we were doing.”

3. Eating pizza, senior Austin McCarty plays a round of cards. The poker tables allowed students to earn the most cash. “[My favorite card game was] blackjack because it was simple and everybody knew how to play,” McCarty said.

4. Sitting in a chair, junior Tristan Rios gets a flower painted on her face at the face paint station. Students picked from a book of designs for their face painting. “I like having paint on my face. I got two face paints this year actually because I liked my first one and wanted to get another one,” she said.

5. Senior Jackson Lamm surveys the prizes. Students turned in the fake money they earned throughout the night to enter raffles. “The school did an excellent job on picking the prizes,” Lamm said. “I won a $50 QuikTrip giftcard. I’ve been able to get a good breakfast from QT every day.”

6. With her friends, junior Lydia Budz sits in a costume posing for the camera. The photobooth had props for students to use while taking their photos. “My favorite part about the photobooth was being goofy and having fun with my friends,” Budz said. Photos by Olivia Gurley.

Page designed by Olivia Gurley.

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