The Tiger Print — May 2017

THE TIGER PRINT Blue Valley High School — Vol. 47 — Issue 8 — May 2017 — Overland Park, Kansas

CLASS OF 2017

SENIOR ISSUE

2 senior stats May 2017

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Stats based on poll of 117 seniors. Page designed by Courtney Carpenter. Cover page photo by Meredith Halliburton.

May 2017 senior columns 3

“We’ve made our mark here at BV, but now we’re ready to make our mark on the rest of the world.”

Courtney Carpenter Dear Life After Blue Valley High, Hello! Please pardon me if I write anything strange in this letter. It’s just — our entire lives, I, along with the rest of the BV class of 2017, have been preparing for the time we would finally meet, so you could say I’m a little nervous writing this.

I hope this doesn’t come off as too strong, but we’ve all been dreaming about meeting you for years and years and years, this constant waiting and planning for the day we all would finally cross paths.

I decided you would be grateful for me to introduce you, Future, to the rest of my class before you meet us all in a couple short weeks as well. There are some very important things you need to learn about this group before we meet.

We’re a class of extreme diversity — although we live in the “Joco Bubble,” we all come from vastly different socioeconomic statuses, different religious backgrounds and varying family structures.

We have potential orthopedic surgeons, Broadway performers, pro athletes, biomedical engineers, teachers and educators, businessmen and women, graphic designers, journalists, financial

analysts, missionaries, nurses, makeup artists and so many others.

Do not try to lump us into one category — we are all extremely unique and passionate, vibrant people, and we will all approach you and change you in vastly different ways.

We are loyal and supportive — roaring and chanting at home sports games is where you could have found a majority of the senior class this past year. This group is one full of leaders, and we took complete charge of proudly projecting our Tiger support.

We went to the drama department’s incredible productions, whether they were the musicals or Rep shows. We laughed until we teared up at the hilarious and genius Fifth Wall improv, or we stood up proudly, our continuous clap-clap-clapping echoing off the walls of the PAC during the standing ovations we gave.

This class is dedicated and ambitious — our sports teams won Regional, Substate and State championships — not to mention a cheer National Championship. Our Scholars’ Bowl team is an absolute dynasty, our debate program is a force to be reckoned with and the

choir, band and orchestra programs are top-notch. We took home gold, silver and bronze keys for our outstanding artwork.

We are a class with rich community and strong family ties — we have each other’s backs. We have experienced horrific loss in our time here.

From freshman year after Reat’s passing to Coach Driskell’s passing this year, our community and class have supported each other through every step. Through these tragedies, we truly understood that love always does win.

We learned to “live life to the fullest and never give up,” and we strive to “live like champions” day in and day out.

We are a class of maturity and openness, and through our four years here, we have learned to rely on one another, a class united.

Let me tell you this, Future.

This group you are about to meet is going to change you completely. I know you’re going to be meeting a lot of new faces in the upcoming weeks, people from all over the nation, but mark my words when I tell you that you will struggle to meet a better group of students and people.

We are a people who push forward through difficult problems, difficult situations and difficult times. BV has prepared us by teaching not only grit but also the virtues we swear by — respect, responsibility, compassion, courage, perseverance, self-discipline and honesty.

So, Future, it’s only fair if you know what’s coming, and this class of 2017 is going to shake you to your core — so be ready.

We’ve made our mark here at BV, but now we are truly ready to make our mark on the rest of the world.

Study this letter as you think about our meeting in a few short days. We absolutely cannot wait to meet you, and we hope you’re as excited to meet us.

See you soon.

4 senior columns May 2017

“Don’t feel obligated to stick your plans just because it used to be something you were interested in.”

When I first started thinking about writing this senior column, I was incredibly excited. I couldn’t wait to share all the knowledge I’d gained over the course of high school.

But, now that it’s time to write it, I’m struggling. How am I supposed to condense everything I’ve learned as a Tiger into one 650-word column? So instead of boring you to death with a 10-page paper, I decided to pick the two most important lessons I learned at Blue Valley.

1. Don’t let your four-year plan define you.

My freshman year, I thought I had it all planned out. I wanted to be in acting — can you imagine me in Rep? I know I sure can’t. I had no intention of joining Newspaper, even though I excelled in 21st Century Journalism. I thought I was going to be a doctor, too.

But, life doesn’t always work out how you think it will.

I absolutely hated Beginning Acting.

And at the last second, I decided to transfer into Newspaper.

Here we are, three years later, and I’m writing my senior column as co-editor of The Tiger Print.

Newspaper has given me so many opportunities and done so much more for me than just making me good at writing.

I learned how to talk to my peers, think critically and be in charge of a group of people.

Outside of the Newspaper room, though I don’t leave 450 often, the best classes I took were not the ones I planned on.

Honors Principles of Engineering (HPOE), Field Biology and Sociology were definitely not in my four-year plan, but they were my three of my favorite classes in high school, besides Newspaper of course.

I took HPOE on a whim because I didn’t really want to take Spanish 4, but I ended up changing my career plans once I discovered how much I enjoyed all

Megan Hegarty aspects of engineering.

Let your high school plans evolve with your interests. As you grow up it's natural that they change. Don’t feel obligated to stick your plans just because it used to be something you were interested in.

2. High school is what you make of it.

Your four years as a Tiger can be incredibly gratifying or boring beyond belief. It all depends on how you spend your time at BV. If you come to school for your seven classes (none of which you enjoy), and then go home and watch Netflix all night, then yeah, you’re going to hate high school.

To get the most out of high school, you need to get involved.

I’m not saying you have to play three sports, join eight clubs and do the musical.

But if you like running, try cross country.

If you are interested in chemistry, join Science Outreach and go do science experiments for elementary schoolers.

If you like watching sports but not playing them, go to as many football or basketball or baseball games as you can.

There’s nothing quite like the Friday night lights, especially when the Tigers pull through with a win in overtime.

If you like to laugh, go to a Fifth Wall show or FNL — our State-championship caliber theater department certainly knows how to entertain a crowd.

In my time at BV, I’ve been a part of every one of those activities. I didn’t necessarily love them all — sorry, cross country — but I made friends that will last a lifetime.

It’s important to let yourself try everything BV has to offer you, even if it’s not something everyone else is doing.

This amazing school has so many opportunities that you can and should take advantage of.

Don’t let your preconceived notions of what you want to do take over your high school life.

Sometimes the things you least expect leave the biggest impact on your time here. I know it did on mine.

May 2017 senior columns 5

“The trust of yourself that only you attain is a matter of belief.”

Have you ever realized that trust is often likely to mean confidence in the same manner? Trust is the confidence you have in knowing someone or something is reliable. Confidence is full trust.

In my personal life, I find trust in many things. I find it at work, where parents trust me with their children. I find it in my planner, where I trust that I will accomplish everything on my to-do list. I find it in my friends, where I know that whenever we hangout we will always go to Noodles & Co. In all of these instances, I also see confidence. The confidence in knowing that their children will be safe, or all of my homework will be done on time or that I will always be able to enjoy a bowl of Riggatoni Rosa with some of my closest friends, are some of the small things that keep us sane.

The trust of yourself that only you attain is a matter of belief. Will I be wellliked? Is this essay good enough for an “A?” Can I make it before the light turns red? These are things we ask ourselves on a daily basis and are things some of us may or may not believe.

To those that don’t: I think you are really fooling yourself.

Not only can you learn and love to trust yourself, you can be able to be trusted. Stick to the promises you made to other people and, most importantly, to yourself. Be the kind of person you would be comfortable lending your car to or telling your darkest secrets.

For yourself and for others, the facts

Photo editor shares favorite photos taken while on staff

Isabelle Allen of you sticking to your word whether it be for you or a stranger, is a virtue necessary for success in many aspects of your life. Tell the truth, be sincere and be reliable.

To exude dependability, you need to — who would have guessed — be dependable. Be consistent and be authentic. Always do the right thing, and always do what you promised. Always be true to yourself, but help others however you can.

Being incapable to accomplish undertakings you desire often shows that you are lacking in will — the power to say something and stick to it. This attainment of trust permits you to be successful and be strong-willed.

So, to combat the figuring that you are unable to be trusted or a reliable

human being, learn to trust yourself first. You have to believe that your word is worth something and not just mumblings from your tongue.

I figure to myself that when I say I’ll go to the gym, I won’t. So, instead of continuing to tell myself that I will go to the gym after work, I don’t tell myself that I will go at all. Good for the physique? No. Effective? Yes. Trust encoded in yourself is the fundamental key in becoming a successful, fruitful and outstanding human being — isn’t this the kind of person you want to be?

Live your life with the confidence, and trust in yourself. You are a trustworthy person. You can accomplish anything you desire — all you need is the confidence in yourself.

6 senior columns May 2017

“The point is that everything will be different.”

High school has been a wonderful experience for me. I met my closest friends, figured out what I liked and was exposed to situations that made me who I am.

Senior year, though, was different than any year of my education. This was the first year ever I wouldn’t be going to school with my older brother, Alex.

Since elementary school, we walked to school, then rode the bus, then finally, junior year he started up the Blue Bandit every morning — and, most of the time, it turned on.

Alex graduated last May, joined the military last August and was deployed to Afghanistan by January. While I was starting my last year of high school, he was starting his life and embarking on what would become the journey of a lifetime.

Though it’s been extremely hard to have my best friend 7,230 miles away, it’s given me perspective.

Every time I want to complain, I think about how grateful I should be for everything I have and have the opportunity to do. I get to go to college. I have an amazing family and the greatest friends. I have so many people who love me.

Senior year was the year my future was solidified — something I’ve been waiting for since freshman year. Senior year was the year I had a job, realized what I wanted to do with my life and understood math.

This year, I’m starting up the Bandit every morning, and in the passenger seat is Eric, my younger brother. Most of you know him as the kid who yells a lot and carries around the Case-It binder.

Over the past year, Eric has gone from who I thought was the annoying little brother to the guy who sings along to my playlists and is always down to watch “Bob’s Burgers.”

Next year, the Bandit is Eric’s, and I’ll be driving some other beater around town.

Charlotte Rooney Alex will be coming home just as I’m leaving for college. He’ll be starting his next steps in the Army, and I’ll be starting my freshman year of college.

Senior year hasn’t been the best year of my life so far. I was stressed. Figuring out college was worrisome; I took AP Biology; Spin! customers weren’t always nice to me; and on top of it all, I couldn’t even hang out with my older brother.

But, the point is that everything will

be different.

No one had any idea Alex would be across the world, so who knows where my life will take me? I’ve never been more excited for the next steps in my life. Going to college and pursuing my different options makes me even more excited for the years to come.

Even though my high school years and the next four aren’t what I thought they would be, that’s just life.

May 2017 senior columns 7

“Thank you for adding some tradition to this non-traditionalist girl’s life.”

Ifrah Sayyada Dear fellow classmates, Ah, we’ve finally reached the final stretch.

This was the magical year where people bombarded us with questions about our future and when we tried to convince ourselves that this year would be the best year we’ll ever have.

But not me.

While others were taught to have fun senior year and cherish every moment — going to football games and doing things with their friends every weekend — I was taught to just run.

I was taught high school was just another step before I could actually start the best part of my life — college.

That doesn’t mean I was ever stopped from having fun. On the contrary, I took every opportunity I had to make some amazing memories.

But, I was just taught not to value high school as much.

You see, I’ve had one of the most nontraditional high school experiences — ironic, considering how much this

school values traditions.

I was frequently absent for health reasons, was loaded with coursework and the extent of my social life stretched to occasional hangouts with my friends where we would just watch shows or movies while eating food. So as you can see, I certainly wasn’t in the middle of the social network.

But while I may not have been the social butterfly, I still learned to cherish high school.

From late nights well spent with the evolving newspaper family to weekends talking through debate or forensics tournaments to free days eating my way through town, I solidified my friendships, discovered what I’m truly passionate about and made amazing memories.

The concept of tradition took a backseat to other issues and activities I was dealing with — whether it was my health or trying to balance school and extracurriculars — but I guess that was how it was going to be because tradition

never really fit into my life.

I don’t have one neighborhood where I grew up in or childhood friends I knew since birth — I was always the “new girl.” The girl who had to move around every year or so, who never understood the weird traditions Midwesterners had and who never felt like she belonged.

However, after moving to Kansas and coming to Blue Valley, I finally felt like I had a place I could call home. Being part of a class filled with bright, talented students who have stuck by each other through thick and thin, through the worst and through the best, all supporting each other is something I wasn’t able to find until moving here.

This care and support has given me a second home and has taught me to cherish even the small things and not simply focus on just running blindly.

I’m not going to lie to you — high school wasn’t the best part of my life and wasn’t the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me.

It was just high school. A school filled with peers — some I was friends with and some I still don’t know exist — where we went to classes and tried to understand how a lot of what we were learning would apply to our lives later.

It was fine. Plain and simple, fine.

My point is that the experience of traditional high school wasn’t what I would carry with me as I move on — it’s the people, the memories, the support and care of faculty and our peers.

So thank you all for making this seemingly normal place in this seemingly normal town a place I can call home.

Thank you for adding some tradition to this non-traditionalist girl’s life.

Because while most of you probably still don’t know who I am — and don’t worry, it’s likely that I don’t know you, too — just know that this place is not a place that should be written off easily.

That’s what I was taught, but in the end, I think I just might miss this place a little.

8 senior columns May 2017

“High school flies by, so cherish it.”

Sarah Day Here are 15 things I learned during my time in high school. I hope one or more of them speak to you or that you can learn something from these.

1. Being nice to people is crucial — you may be brightening someone’s entire world just by talking to them.

Nobody knows all the pieces of another person’s story.

2. Appreciate time spent with family and friends — something could happen in an instant that takes them away from you, so love them lots.

3. Pasta bar day is very important — this is by far the best school lunch ever, and I wish it could happen every week.

4. Your life goals will change, and that’s OK — this is part of becoming the person that you’re meant to be.

5. Contrary to what your English teacher might tell you, you can definitely succeed from only reading SparkNotes — I’m not saying you should, just that you can.

6. AP classes are only as hard as you choose to make them, and you should totally take them — it’s all about the

mindset, and you can earn more college credit than you might expect. You’re smarter than you think you are.

7. My school day has been completely changed by Tiger Paws — midday hammock breaks with friends when the weather is nice are a wonderful way to recharge. I wish we had been able to have this all four years I was here.

8. Teachers make more of an impact in your life than you may think, so give them credit for what they’ve done — I’m so grateful to all of my teachers for pushing me to be my best, even when I was unsure about what we were doing in class. I really appreciate the teachers who have put in the extra effort for me and who add more to the course than just the required material.

9. APES is the best class ever — it’s basically Field Bio, but with AP credit.

Honestly, what’s better than going outside, planting flowers and learning about the environment?

10. Senior year isn’t a blow-off year.

It’s still plenty hard, just in a different way — but it’s also a great time to partic-

ipate in everything you possibly can and take on leadership roles!

11. Opinions are only opinions — it’s unnecessary to argue about things that cannot be backed by facts 100 percent of the time, and it’s annoying to those around you. We should respect the opinions of others instead. Who knows, you might even learn something from the other person.

12. Gratitude, compassion and kindness can open many doors for you — giving back to the less fortunate is the easiest way to find out more about yourself and your gifts.

13. Be joyful in all things — it will make even the things that seem bad become tolerable.

14. High school flies by, so cherish every moment — one day you’ll miss even the things that used to frustrate you.

15. Most significantly, perfection is almost impossible — the most important thing is doing your best at all times and being content with what you have accomplished.

May 2017 senior columns 9

“I quite literally do not know where I’d be today without taking that chance on myself. And now I am living my dream.”

On the first day of my high school career, I got lost. Literally. I wandered around the senior hall looking for Room 205 because numbers are hard.

Eventually I ran into a sharply dressed middle-aged teacher whom I promptly asked for directions. He seemed to be slightly annoyed, which made me anxious, but he did end up giving me directions…to the band hallway.

Mistake? I don’t think so.

That man was Henry McGrew, the star athlete and most definitely not a teacher or middle-aged. I’m sure Henry is a stand up guy, and this is not going to be a roast. But, this experience serves as a nice little metaphor for my high school journey.

From that first rocky day, I was headed downhill fast. I went through something most of you have, too — the fracturing of friend groups.

I fell into the wrong crowd because I was desperately searching to belong. I was aching to find someone to understand me, and in my haste I forgot who I was.

Instead of the sense of belonging I craved, I found myself feeling isolated.

Anna Gyori So I did something pretty terrifying.

I left for a summer and cut off all ties with my friends. It was the biggest risk I’d ever taken and also the most consequential.

I quite literally do not know where I’d be today without taking that chance on myself. And now I am living my dream.

In less than four months, I leave to live in the city of my dreams to go to school at the college of my dreams.

I guess my message to you is that sometimes the greatest risks really do

create the greatest rewards.

It is vital to remember going forward that you are much greater than your worst day or even your worst year. You have a life full of opportunities that you would be out of your mind to let pass you by. Live it. And be you, no matter how different you are.

Oh, and I did end up finding Room 205 near the end of the hour, and it was my favorite class I’ve ever taken with the best teacher I’ve ever had. Just kidding, it was math class, and I hated it. But, after all, that was just a metaphor.

“I’m thankful for

Regan Kassing

I moved to Kansas in the seventh grade, and I’m going to be honest — I hated it. I missed all my old friends, and I was super angry with my parents for making me move. It took me a really long time to settle in and accept the fact that I was stuck living in the cornfield and tornado state for the rest of my adolescence. And even when I did, I didn’t so much embrace life here as resign myself to it.

At Blue Valley, that slowly changed.

I’m not saying this school is perfect. The temperature can change by 20 degrees or more in the walk from the senior hall to the freshman one.

10 senior columns May 2017

“Embrace new chances at happiness every opportunity you get.”

Home isn’t just a place where you lay your head at night or the address on your driver’s license. A home is created by the memories made there. Home is where you feel safe. Home is happiness and security.

In the middle of my sophomore year when I first stepped into the halls of Blue Valley, I was completely unaware of how much I would fall in love with this school.

I believe that every little moment in life happens for a reason, and the girl who walked into those glass doors two years ago was completely transformed — and I have to thank BV for a part of that.

The BV staff and students welcomed the apprehensive and introverted girl with open arms and have taken care of me the past two years — especially study skills teacher Kate Julian who was basically my second mom. It would be an understatement to say that I have met outstanding students and teachers alike during my time here.

Although I’m usually quiet, a little awkward and not everyone in my graduating class will recognize my name when it’s called to receive my diploma, I’m proud to call BV home. Moving to BV

Emilee Holscher is one of the greatest things I could have ever done for myself.

As much as Kansas and BV specifically have been my home, I’m ready to continue my journey elsewhere.

Next fall, I’ll be 1,000 miles away from these halls plastered with our signatures, and instead, my drive home from work or school will consist of orange-stained sunsets carved out by mountains and palm trees. Arizona is a 16-hour drive from Kansas, but it is an opportunity of a lifetime.

I get asked numerous times by people

who are aware of my decision why I decided to move. I still don’t have a straight answer, so I tell them, “I just decided I want to get out of Kansas and live my life.” I get strange looks sometimes, but I assure them I have set plans once I am there. In the fall, I will be attending Avalon School of Cosmetology in their esthetics and makeup artistry program.

It will be challenging and will require constant commitment.

There won’t be any snowfall in Arizona. I will only be able to see my family and best friend through a phone screen.

I won’t have a Christmas break to come back to Kansas and see loved ones, and I’m sure my bank account will be in the negatives in the first week of being on my own.

Arizona already feels like home, although I still feel a bit scared to be so far away.

I’ve learned it’s important to never be afraid of new beginnings and not shy away from new people and new surroundings. Embrace new chances at happiness every opportunity you get.

I’ll remind myself to remain determined and fight through feeling homesick and being overworked because my life is just beginning.

BV because it made me who I am today.”

I find a flooded toilet in the bathroom at least twice a week. It would be nice to have an actual building extension instead of an assortment of trailers for overflow classes.

And I wouldn’t complain if the hallways doubled in size and I didn’t have to navigate the traffic jam at the intersection of the 600 and 300 halls three times a day.

But even with all of its flaws, BV has played a huge role in shaping the person I’ve become.

In our school’s alternately freezing or burning hallways, I’ve met some of my closest friends, people who have been there for me through good times and bad. I’ve had the

privilege of being taught by amazing teachers who truly care about my learning.

I’ve discovered new hobbies and interests, and I’ve also faced new hardships and challenges. I’ve grown a lot as a person, and learned to love myself because of who I am, not in spite of who I am.

I’m thankful for BV because it made me who I am today.

It has provided me with so many opportunities to grow into someone I can be proud of.

And if you let it, it will give you the ability to do the same.

May 2017 senior columns 11

Photographer shares favorite photos from the school year

Meredith Halliburton

12 senior superlatives May 2017

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May 2017 senior superlatives 13

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14 post-BV plans May 2017

378 seniors off to 25 states ARKANSAS Henderson State University Abby Blackburn

John Brown University Sarah Day Ryan Jones Ashley Mercer Marianna Montgomery Zack Willis

PENNSYLVANIA

University of Arkansas Maggie Boeckmann Abby Boman Lydia DeBoer Sam DeVeney Meredith Halliburton Tiffany Milich Kirsten Rogers Amber Vollick Jonathan Wells Juliann Phillips

University of Pittsburgh Phoebe Huang

TEXAS

Baylor University Wesley Beyers Texas Christian University Nick Beardslee Michael Maffry Kale Samber Texas Tech University Lauren Stark University of North Texas Noah Patton

COLORADO LOUISIANA Louisiana State University Chance Holland

ALABAMA University of Alabama Maci Virgillito

Air Force Academy Cooper May Colorado Mountain College Megan Duggan Colorado State University Marissa Herzog

Cornell University Arslan Ali Lauren Stubbs

New York University Anna Gyori Alex Vasa

Fordham University Lauren Hembree

Pace University Emily Blackwell

UTAH

Brigham Young University Sammy Draper Maggie Draper Utah State University Jack Norton Utah Valley University Parker Moore

Page designed by Megan Hegarty.

NEW YORK

NEBRASKA

Creighton University Caroline Brumitt Cole Kaster Sydney Neal Ryan Schmidt

University of Nebraska — Lincoln Clay Christenson Brooke Hagel James Morrill Cooper Myers Marie Young

May 2017 post-BV plans 15

KANSAS

Baker University Hannah Kelly Jillian Hardeman Benedictine College Zach Gill Nathan Huber Butler County Community College Kenny Jasuta Emporia State University Myra Cassady Thaine Kavlick Fort Hays State University Skyler Jones JD Jones Johnson County Comunnity College Aya Albadawi Caleb Alley Evan Anderlik Jarred Barber Joey Bartsch Nick Bock Allen Bryant Joseph David Ryan Deppen Dalton Deweese Nina Dolasky Max Doran Brandon DuPree Jonathan Dykstal Kalina Flores Jay Goodwin Litany Green Tyler Hutchison Lilly Inman Tristan Jacobson Sydney Kitt Hannah Kjergaard Dawson Krug Braden Madison Hannah Maxwell Bryce Mayhugh Dallas Miller Joshua Moore Kaitlyn Morgan Parker Murphey Jackson Myers

Megan O’Connor Jacob Oliver Peyton Oppliger Liam Panther Paulina Quattrone Charlotte Rooney Kay Root Steele Ruelle Diego Sampaio De Wolf Nick Schuler Jake Svilarich Ashley Thompson Darby Thompson Regan Tridle Todd Weber Kansas City Kansas Community College Madeline Mullinnix Kansas State University Abby Bantham Nick Bernard Cole Bieker Connor Brandley Tessa Campbell Dane Cashion Ariana Cecil Jeremy Chenoweth Jordyn Clough Natalie Cooper Kelsey Crawford Matthew Dercher Adam Dundas Remi Dunlap Holly Dusthimer Chris Fitori Lauren Foley Nicholas Folkers Alex Frato Lexi Gahagan Dawson Gardner Ariel Gianni Cade Green Tyler Hanson Tilston Harrelson Hunter Hess Jacob Hettinger Carynn Hildebrand Kyle Hobbs Will Hobson Morgan Hoffman Emily Homolka

Sam Hornsby Karen Hughes Sampson Hundelt Grace Hunter Lorna Hurt Brad Jacobsen Jenny Karner Nicholas Kennedy Jordan King Kirrian Kirby Emily LaBelle Grant Lahr Michael Lane Dominic Legato Baker Lister Ryan Long Ryan Longwell Leah Lusker Kelsie McFadden Kailey Meacham Max Molitor Caleb Nelson Adam Owens Samantha Ozburn Joey Ragona Kenna Rambo Linnea Rimmer Maddie Rodriguez Matt Rodrock Brooke Rowland Gracie Salts Trent Schroeder Nathan Schuler Joe Stitt Anna Trickey Benjamin Walters Alec Wilson Halla Worgul Erin Younger Jacob O’Leary Chris An Sarah Weinand MidAmerica Nazarene University Joe Schuchardt Ottawa University Logan Whelan Pittsburg State University Carter Davis Tnyia Glynn Jillian Idowu

Madi Jenkins Chris Jones Kelsey Kinkade Jamie Mitchell Matthew Morris Danny Neustrom Lauren Schaffer Joe Welsh Ruth Wilkinson Sarah Wilkinson Sterling College Jack Jones Tabor College Taylor Drake University of Kansas Waseem Ahmad Brody Allen Bennett Austin Genevieve Austin Grace Bamburg Megan Behrman Sandy Bemiss Tanner Botts Alli Carrigan Alex Chamberlin Sydney Cott Emma Creamer Nick Dahl Ryan Daniels Ian Doolittle Jack Dreyer Abi Dronavalli Brian Ekis Malia Feliciano Colin Floyd Ashley Frost Tyler Gilmore Carlie Heffernon Daniel Hegarty Megan Hegarty Abby Helms Grace Hermes Ethan Hunt Brody Jacobsen Jack Johnston Ari Joseph Regan Kassing Connor Kinkade Ana Knops Abby Kranker Jordan Lane

Kelsey LaRoche JD Liechty Erika Lobo Maria Lydic Kyle Mabe Austin McCarty Tristan Meier Katie Miller Paige Mrla Andrea Mundakkal Brandon Murray Olivia Nichols Rachel Nienstedt Mallory Norris Danny O’Connell Michael Opole Savannah Ortiz Nick Platt Wynne Reddin Caitlin Riffer Spencer Rodgers Mark Rofail Ashkon Saravi Elizabeth Schrader Chris Sexton Karishma Shah Noorina Soofi Jack Steinhilber Brenna Stroud CJ Swimmer Jed Stitt Sydney Thomas Carter Tubbesing Brettell Urczyk Sydney van Ophem Yahir Vanvollenhoven Lauren Waldberg Evan Whited Meredith Wilcox Washburn University Rachel Cwach Will Evans Cooper Friess Tyler Geiman Witchita State University Joann Dugan Sam Forner John Pikus Serena Rodriguez

16 post-BV plans May 2017

OTHER

Workforce David Reeder Military Cameron Frank ­— M ­ arine Corps Andrew Olinger ­— Air Force Gap Year Jake Birnbaum Spencer Kawaguchi Nathan Niederhauser Amy Reglin Music Career Austin Fraser Brandon Yangmi

Other Milica Bozovic — home to Montenegro for senior year Saul Egido ­­— home to Spain Noah Janofsky — Virginia to play hockey Unknown Amani Benkhadra Essraa Benkhadra Caleigh Davis Timothy Harkins Alyssa Mahon Hunter Ryden Ross Unruh Michael Van Horn

IOWA

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May 2017 post-BV plans 17

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May 2017 features 19

Flying into the Future Senior pursues military career sarahday staff writer

Senior Cooper May said he has been interested in joining the military since his youth because his father was an officer in the Air Force as well. On March 15, he was officially accepted to the Air Force Academy.

“I was always interested in the Air Force from a young age due to my father’s service,” May said.

The Air Force Academy is known for its difficulty and high level of excellence.

“It’s one of the five service academies,” May said. “All of [the schools] are very selective institutions [and] all have a very rigorous nomination process.”

In order to be accepted, May had to complete more than what the average college application requires.

“The competition and application make acceptance quite difficult,” May said. “Class size is around 1,200 [students]. For anybody to get one of those slots, they must have a nomination from either their congressman, senator, vice president or president.”

May said the Air Force Academy offers the same

majors and minors as a traditional college but is different because of the primary focus.

“It is a military institution,” May said. “From the moment you arrive, you are preparing to enter the Air Force after you graduate.”

Although a challenge, May said his background in Boy Scouts gave him a leg up when it came to applying and preparing to enter the Air Force Academy.

“Scouts [was] a great way to experience a similar honor code,” May said. “[I also got to] speak with many retired military members about their experience. It offered me great leadership experiences.”

May will begin Basic Cadet Training (BCT) in late June alongside the rest of the class of 2021. BCT is the boot camp program for new members which focuses on the transition from civilian to military life, particularly in regards to the physical and mental demands of being a part of the Air Force.

In order to prepare for BCT, cadets are expected to participate in a pre-boot camp workout program three to five times per week that lasts 14 weeks.

“The workouts include

running, stretching, push-ups, sit-ups and weightlifting,” May said. “A lot of the training is done with intervals in order to help build stamina. I work out with a group most of the time because I play sports for the school, and the workouts overlap.”

Cadets wake up around 5 a.m. every day during BCT and must be in bed by 11 p.m. While there, they take part in learning weapon skills, completing teamwork challenges, improving physical condition and promoting character development.

In addition, cadets aren’t allowed to have their phones during BCT or the first three months at the Air Force Academy. Instead, they are only allowed to write letters and have two phone calls per week.

May said he hopes to enter pilot training after graduating from the Academy.

“I’m looking forward to pursuing my goal of becoming an officer in the Air Force,” he said. “[There are] amazing opportunities at the Air Force Academy [including] gliding, jump team and flying. These teams participate in different flying competitions.”

May will officially begin service after graduating from the Air Force Academy.

“Being able to serve my country is what I’m the most excited about overall.”

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Photo submitted by Cooper May.

20 features May 2017

ADVENTURE

AWAITS Senior plans to travel to Africa, Asia for gap year

meganhegarty and annagyori co-editor and staff writer

Each generation a new educational trend surfaces. A number of decades ago that trend was college — and it never left. Then came gap years, alternative options for the first year out of high school. For a while these gap years only consisted of either working or traveling. But, with a new generation, comes a new option for a gap year: mission work.

Senior Amy Reglin said she has chosen to follow this innovative and exciting path.

Even though the decision was made just this year, Reglin said she has been interested in taking a gap year since she was young.

“I probably first started considering a gap year in seventh grade,” she said. “I heard about a gap year program at [Kanakuk] Kamps. Since then, I’ve thought about not going to college [immediately] and taking a gap year.”

To help her outline this important time in her life, she turned to something she holds dearly — religion. In fact, Reglin said that she owes her decision and this opportunity to her faith.

“It was a lot of prayer trying to figure out what that would look like,” she said. “[But then,] this summer, I found a Kivu gap year program.

Through Kivu, their main thing is to have a customizable eight-month spiritual journey for your gap year.”

Although Reglin hasn’t officially received her location assignment

yet, she said she applied in hopes she would be accepted into specific programs.

“The first semester, I [think I] will be living in Denver in a home with eight other students of the gap year [program],” she said. “Second semester is broken up into two terms. So the first term, my hope is that I’ll be in the Middle East, which will be Jordan, Israel and Palestine.

After our time in the Middle East, my hope is that I’ll go to Rwanda and be there for about two and a half or three months.”

In Denver, Reglin plans to spend her time interning at a school, acting as a mix of a student teacher and teacher aide.

“Right now, I want to become a teacher and work in the inner city,” Reglin said. “I’m hoping after interning in Denver, I’ll have a clear sense of what I want to do, whether that stays teaching or not.”

While in the Middle East, Reglin said she will immerse herself in unfamiliar cultures.

“We do a five-week interpersonal relationship training class to learn how to relate to people of different ethnicities and submerge ourselves in the culture the rest of the time.”

Despite all the fascinating places she would get to visit, Reglin said her motives go beyond traveling.

“I just want to, through this gap year, become more intentional and live every day with a purpose and know that not every day is promised,” she said. “I can’t wait to go into the world.”

amy’s second semester plans Ride camels through desert, 5-week training on how to relate to other religions, visit the Holy Lands

Rwanda

Israel

Live in a village with a host family for 2.5 months & internship

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Tanzania

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22 features May 2017

24-hour

prayer hotline

daily website traffic is about

go to the website:

faith4allministries.org started in

December 2016

40,000 clicks

Senior starts religious nonprofit courtneycarpenter co-editor Last spring, senior Braden Pedersen started his online ministry Faith4All. He is the head pastor of the organization, and he has written and published three books as well.

Faith4All is a registered religious non-profit organization that is completely online-based — it is composed of its own website, app for iPhone and Android, and Faith4All online radio.

Through these electronic mediums — YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms — he said Faith4All “equips others to know Jesus better.” Pedersen said he originally started Faith4All as a Christian blog.

“I was gaining all of this Biblical knowledge really fast, and I wanted an outlet, somewhere to share that with others,” he said. “I started it actually just as a website — it wasn’t even Faith4All ministries, it was just Faith4All website. That grew so rapidly. I don’t know why — it’s completely God. I never tried to market it, but the website traffic just grew so rapidly that I was thinking, ‘Maybe God wants me to do something more with this.’”

He said he put together a group of people he felt would be able to help take the mission further.

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organization, affects thousands

“We sat down, and I said, ‘OK, what are our goals, what are our values and what is our overall mission — what are we going to do here?’” he said. “With the website as the main launching platform, we created Faith4All ministries.”

After incorporating Faith4All and getting official tax-exempt status in July, the ministry became a registered religious non-profit. Pedersen said the ministry is not an online church but is instead an online resource for other Christians and people to find out more about the Christian faith.

“Our number-one goal is equipping the church and the church as in the body of believers,” Pedersen said.

“The church isn’t a physical building but just Christians in general.”

Pedersoen has four part-time paid staff members working for Faith4All, along with volunteers who help keep the ministry going. Pedersen preaches live through Faith4All’s iHeartRadio station, which streams through the website as well. Faith4All also focuses on giving to other organizations.

After struggling with funds, Faith4All is now completely debt-free.

Pedersen said other organizations donated to this ministry, and he said Faith4All recently had the opportunity to give back to a church in Kenya.

“In a thunderstorm, a lightning bolt hit their church and completely

burned everything they had,” Pedersen said. “Another company was very generous to us and donated. It happened that right as that donation was given to us, that happened to that church in Kenya, and we were able to give a majority of that generosity to them. In two months, they’ll be able to move into their new facility in a small village outside of Nairobi, Kenya. It’s amazing to actually see how God is working through an organization that started in Leawood, Kansas, [and] how it’s impacting a group of people on the other side of the world.”

Pedersen will attend Moody Bible Institute in Chicago next fall and said he plans to continue as the head pastor of Faith4All. “Since this ministry is all online, I don’t think me moving to Chicago is going to affect our team at all, but my time is going to be more marginalized,” he said. “All I really have to do is preach on our radio, with responsibility all divvied up between my staff.

I could do this full-time as my job, or I could do something else in ministry and just use Faith4All as a teaching ministry. So, I don’t know. But I don’t need to know — this is God’s plan. I love what I do — I don’t know how this will play out or where I’ll end up, but God is reaching people, changing people and convicting people through Faith4All.”

May 2017 features 23

Never Been to theNetherlands

Senior plans to embark on 2-year mission

charlotterooney and ifrahsayyada opinion editor and staff writer

“There is a record book of all the places [participants] have been and people they’ve met, and that’s our main source of information,” Niederhauser said. “Otherwise you’re trying While some seniors are heading off the college or the to find people who are in need and serve them in whatever workforce, senior Nathan Niederhauser will be heading off capacity you can.” the Belgium and the Netherlands to participate in a two-year Niederhauser and the other missionaries will all live in mission. homes people open up to them.

Through the Mormon church, Niederhauser will travel to “Everything is by assignment,” he said. “You have a mission an entirely new place in order to serve others. president, and he assigns you to a partner and a home. It all “For the first two months, I will be learning the Dutch depends on what the mission [is].” language,” Niederhauser said. “The rest of that time [I Despite the $10,000 two-year cost, Niederhauser will] be in the field doing assignments.” said the experience is about serving others.

He said there are specific requirements in order “I’m really excited to be able to take what I’ve to be in the program, like medical and insurance learned here to a new culture and learn how I can paperwork. Additionally, boys have to be 18 and out grow my talents so I can better serve people and gain of high school, while girls must be 19. better abilities to reach out and develop more talents Niederhauser said there’s an interview process and abilities of service,” he said. through the Church of the 12 Apostles as well as local He said his relationship with God has allowed him and regional church leaders. to grow and have new opportunities.

Niederhauser “Whether [it’s] college or the workforce, [I want] “You have to be worthy, and those requirements are fulfilled through the interview with your leaders,” to be able to work on my own personal qualities and he said. “There’s a lot of requirements within the mission.” characteristics,” Niederhauser said. “There’s also fun things He said one of the requirements is a lack of contact. Parlike learning about different cultures, a different language, eatticipants are only allowed to email once a week and to make a ing food and visiting people and historical [sites] while going 45-minute call on Christmas and Mother’s Day. door-to-door.”

“It can be really hard for some people,” he said. “Family Niederhauser said he’s most excited to have the opportuniand friends are amazing, but they can get in the way, so it’s a ty to help others. necessity to make sure you’re focused on serving.”

“I want to be able to make a difference in people’s lives, and Niederhauser said he uses past records to help keep track this is one way to do that,” he said. “That’s one of my biggest of who has already been spoken to. motivations — going out there and serving people.”

Schedule:

6:30-7:30 am wake up, exercise, eat breakfast 7:30-8:30 am personal studies 8:30 am-9:30pm serve, teach, preach 10:30 pm bed time

Requirements:

19years old

for women

18years old

for men

1-2 months

to learn Dutch

interviews

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1-Alex Barnett.

2-Emily LaBelle.

3-Jonathan Wells.

4-Ruth and Sarah Wilkinson.

5-Micah Slagle.

6-Sofia O’Neil.

7-Waseem Ahmad.

8-Ariel Gianni.

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9-Ryan Longwell.

10-Natalie Outlaw.

11-Molly Franko.

12-Ben Golbach.

13-Lexi Palacio.

14-Ashley Mercer.

15-Azia Lynch.

16-Abby Blackburn.

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senior?

who’s that

24 snapshot May 2017