Th e Pony Ex press The student newspaper of Center Hill High School
May 11, 2018
Volume 1, Issue 7
Center Hill High School
Classof 2018 CHHS names Hall of Fame, Top 20 students
Photos courtesy of Roben Nobles/CHHS Yearbook
In photo at left, Cyle Paulino and Flannery Egner are Mr. and Miss CHHS. In photo at right, 12 seniors were named to the Hall of Fame. They are, front row from left, Amber Terry and Mary Catherine Miller; second
Twelve seniors were named to the Center Hill High School Hall of Fame for 2017-2018. The Hall of Fame was announced during the Senior Awards ceremony on April 24. New Hall of Fame members are Morgan Atkins, Madison Brandon, Chris Buford, Annie Chan, Flannery Egner, Jaci Kimble, Mary Catherine Miller, Niyah Odum, Cyle Paulino, Stephen Shol, Savannah Steen and Amber Terry.
row from left, Niyah Odum, Annie Chan and Stephen Shol; third row from left, Jaci Kimble, Morgan Atkins, Flannery Egner and Madison Brandon; back row from left, Cyle Paulino, Chris Buford and Savannah Steen.
Also during the program, Paulino was named Mr. CHHS and Egner was named Miss CHHS. Seniors named to the Top 20 were: 1. Savannah Steen, Valadictorian 2. Amber Terry, Salutatorian 3. Miku Richardson 4. Mary Catherine Miller 5. Madison Brandon 6. Jordan Riecke 7. Jaci Kimble 8. Haley Parker
9. Madalyn Sloan 10. Riley Hardin 11 Madalyn Messick 12. Stephen Shol 13. Savannah Downing 14. Morgan Atkins 15. Zach Halford 16. Cyle Paulino 17. Annie Chan 18. Lana Marshall 19. Connor Hutto 20. Sherrice Wright From staff reports
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Center Hill hosts first College Signing Day By Jonathan Tate Foundations of Journalism Seniors at Center Hill High School, who were offered a record $11,231,466 in scholarships, were treated to a College Signing Day in the gym on April 30. ?The purpose of this is to encourage students to continue their education and recognize our college bound seniors,? counselor Danielle Brown said. Zavier Guy will attend Northwest Mississippi Community College, where he plans to major in criminal justice. ?I enjoyed the signing day event because I get to do something that?s never been done in my family, and that is going to college,? said Guy, who received a leadership scholarship. ?It feels good to be recognized. I really enjoyed it because my mom came to support me.?
Photo by Kaitlin Moore
Thirty colleges and universities were represented at Center Hill's College Signing Day.
Madison Brandon will major in business analytics at the University of Miami. ?It?s great that everyone gets to be recognized for the college they?re going to,? Brandon said. Brown said 30 colleges and universities were represented at the event.
Seniors give advice, tell where they?re going By Josie Martinez Foundations of Journalism
So long, Class of 2018. As the senior class moves forward into a new chapter, they leave the rest of us with some of their greatest memories and experiences shared at Center Hill High School, as well as some advice to get us through the next years. ?My greatest memory was being on Homecoming my senior year, because it?s pretty cool that your classmates chose you to represent the school in such a great event like that,? Karina Prado said. Destini Dixon also has a memorable moment. ?My best high school memory is when we took the bus to Jackson to watch the boys basketball team play at the big house,? said Dixon, who also offered tips for students still in high school. ?My advice to underclassmen is to enjoy each year because your senior year will go by very quickly.?
Kevin Mendoza also shared tips for getting through high school. ?Some advice that I would give to underclassmen is make their high school experience unforgettable,? he said. Although he doesn?t know what he wants to major in, ?I am planning on going to either Northwest or University of Memphis,? Mendoza said. Mary Catherine Miller's college major dictated her decision to attend college close to home. ?Ole Miss has an amazing and highly competitive Early Entry Pharmacy program,? she said. ?The biggest perk for being in EE is that when it comes time to start graduate school, I automatically have a spot reserved for me at University Medical Center in Jackson.? Some of the Class of 2018 have decided to travel for college. Amber Terry is planning to major in mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. ?I chose Vanderbilt University for 2
the myriad of opportunities they offer in study abroad and internship,? she said. ?They also have time and staff for one-on-one teaching to assure that students understand information which stimulates students?ability to make creative solutions to problems, but most importantly they gave me the most scholarship money.? Connor Hutto will be farther away at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. He will major in government and minor in philosophy. ?I chose Dartmouth because I want to practice law at the federal level and I think the education I will receive at Dartmouth will be phenomenal,? Hutto said. ?As a first-generation student who is Ivy League bound, I?m still in awe.? For some seniors, college may not hold their attention right away. Bradyn Smith has chosen to join the military. ?I?m going into the Navy to follow my dream of becoming a Navy SEAL and to make myself a better person and to try to make the world a more peaceful place,? Smith said.
Perfection Sebastian Askew makes school's first perfect ACT score By Savannah Congdon Foundations of Journalism
Most teenagers would brag about a perfect score on the ACT, but Sebastian Askew isn?t boastful about his 36. ?I am really proud of Sebastian,? said Brenda Case, an assistant principal at Center Hill High School. ?It is unbelievable to score a perfect score and be so humble about it.? Askew, an 11th-grader, took the ACT for the first time in December and said he did not plan on making a perfect score. ?I expected a score anywhere from a 33 to a 35,? he said. Askew?s advice for students who want to do well on the ACT is to practice. ?Had I not taken any practice tests, my ACT score would have been much lower,? he said.
There are many ways to accomplish a perfect or close-to-perfect score. According to princetonreview.com, good tips to follow are not spending too much time on one question, working questions out of order, and looking for wrong answers. ?Multiple-choice tests offer one great advantage: They provide the correct answer right there on the page,? the website states. ?ACT hides the correct answer behind wrong ones, but when you cross off just one or two wrong answers, the correct answer can become more obvious.? Askew gave more insight on how he did so well, which was to take a nine-weeks ACT prep class. Case gave her input as well. ?It is helpful to have good test taking skills and to answer what you know before anything else and always
Photo by Sherrice Wright
For making a perfect score on the ACT, Sebastian Askew was given a dozen doughnuts at the honor roll breakfast in January.
answer all questions,? Case said. ?The small things make a difference.? In terms of scholarship money, Askew said he believes his score will be
extremely helpful. He plans to attend the University of Southern California to major in computer programming.
Yeoman named Coach of the Year By William Wright Staff Writer
Andrew Yeoman has been named the 2018 DeSoto County Soccer Coach of the Year. ?There is no way that I can take all the credit for winning this award,? said Yeoman, the head boys soccer coach at Center Hill High School. ?That credit should go to the
players.? The season included a district championship and a top seed in the state playoffs. The team?s district record was 6-0 with an overall record of 17-4. ?The reason I received this award is because I am lucky enough to have coached a team full of players that love
to play hard together and for each other,? Yeoman said. Keagan Massey, a senior on the team, had a different view. ?We couldn?t have done that without his trust in us,? Massey said. ?His trust in us gave us the best record in the district.? Andrew Yeoman 3
Don't drop the baby or you get a zero Students have mixed reactions to baby project By Chloe Orsburn Foundations of Journalism
Lost sleep. Inconvenience. Stress. These are some of the things students experience during the parent simulation project in Child Development class. ?It was annoying,? sophomore John Huggins said. ?I was grumpy because I lost sleep. The baby kept waking me up.? The project teaches students what a baby is like. When the babies cry, students must insert a key depending on what it needs. ?The purpose is for students to learn typical schedules of a newborn including feeding, diaper changing, sleeping and attention,? said Trudy Peden, who has taught the class for four years at Center Hill High School. ?Each baby has a control box that is powered by a nine-volt battery.? The babies, called Ready or Not Tots, weigh seven pounds each and cost $310. There are five babies and five students take one home on their assigned night. ?They don?t like it or they are horrified,? Peden said. ?Some never want a child. The most popular comment is that they are very annoyed and ask how can it cry so much? They say, ?Mrs. Peden, how could you do this to me??? Peden said the project is
Photos by Chloe Orsburn
Gage Metzger said the baby project in Trudy Peden's Child Development class taught him that he is not ready to be a father.
two grades, test and homework. On a form sent home with the students, they must write the times the baby cries and what its needs were. Students also must write what they were doing at the time and how they felt. ?It was hard on me sleeping wise,? sophomore Gage Metzger said. ?I only got three hours of sleep because it cried 15-20 times. It was rough because I was asleep and still had to write it down.? Metzger said the project taught him that he is not ready to be a father.
McKayla Beckmann, above, changes a Ready or Not Tot's clothes. Below, girl and boy babies are available.
?No, I?m young,? he said. ?And I would need a companion to help. I have a better sense of understanding of what my parents went through.?
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Mural adds color, recognizes performing arts Mary Catherine Miller Staff Writer
Art Society has added some much needed color to the performing arts hallway at Center Hill. ?It?s dedicated to band and performing arts kids,? said senior and AP Gifted Art student Savannah Downing, who designed the mural and has done most of the painting. The mural depicts a color guard member holding her f lag, which transitions into a music staff that winds its way over a curtain call on a theater stage and ends with a trumpet. There are also musical notes, sheet music and splashes of yellow, blue, green, pink, orange and red. Choir, band and drama students pass the mural every day on the way to their classes. Downing?s inspiration for the mural came from her friends who are involved in the performing arts. ?They don?t get enough appreciation at school,? she said. ?I want to give something to the school and them for being so great.? Choir member Amanda Reese appreciates the recognition. ?I believe the mural is a great tribute to the amazing performing arts we have at Center Hill High School,? said Reese, a senior who has been in Concert Choir for two years. ?My favorite part is the sheet music. The title of it is ?Some Day,? which is a number that is the first thing you learn to sing in choir.? Jaci Kimble, a senior and member of the Color Guard, also likes the mural. ?I think it?s amazing,? she said. ?It looks great and it represents all the fine arts really well.? Whitney Lantrip, who co-sponsors the Art Society with Liz McGaughy, said after the project was approved, Downing and Kevin Araya began to draw the mural on the wall.
Photo by Emily Merz
Savannah Downing?s inspiration for the mural she designed and painted came from her friends who are involved in the performing arts.
?After the drawing was complete, they, along with a select few Art Society students, started painting,? Lantrip said. With free labor and $30 for paint, the mural is an inexpensive way to brighten up the hall.
?Hopefully, this will inspire future artists to beautify our gray walls with more colorful images,? Lantrip said. ?I love it. I am proud to have one of our most talented artists representing the art program and her talent in our school.?
Photo by Sherrice Wright
The mural represents band, choir, color guard and drama.
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I ndoor Winds celebr ates inaugur al season groups that Center Hill could compete with. Still, sophomore Logan Ross said he was happy with the results and wants to compete again next year.
By Emily Merz Staff Writer A state championship gold medal was the cherry on top of an undefeated season for Center Hill High School?s first ever Indoor Winds group.
?I hope we have some more competition, rather than just us,? the tuba player said.
?It?s an indoor marching ensemble ? marching band on steroids ? with a higher demand in music, performance and pageantry,? director Jason Cole said. The show was called The Cloudmaker?s Fantasy, which Cole said was about dreams. Each movement was a different phase of a dream and included an entrance, a love sequence, a nightmare, and a dream of f lying. The group competed at various contests in the area. ?I thought it went very, very well,? Cole said. ?There was a tremendous amount of success.?
Although indoor winds is similar to marching band, Ross believes that it?s more difficult. Photo by Annie Chan
In its first season, Indoor Winds won a state title.
All of that success led Center Hill Winds to the Mississippi Indoor Association Percussion/Winds Championship, which was April 6-7 in Jackson. This competition was for indoor winds, percussion groups
and winterguards. Even though Center Hill Winds was the only group in its division, Cole said he believes the members still earned their champion title. Because indoor winds is relatively new to the area, there were not many other
?It?s more expressive,? he said. ?You?re not covered out there and there are less of you. It?s challenging stuff.? Cole has high hopes for next season, and he wants to travel to larger competitions around the country. ?I?m hoping to increase visual and musical demand in order to compete nationally,? he said.
Students take on the world By Maggie Gaines Foundations of Journalism 720 days. From freshman to senior year, Center Hill students are in high school for 720 days. You see the same faces every day for four years. You hear information about students and what they have accomplished inside of the school, but have you ever wondered where your classmates spend their time outside of school? Center Hill students have made marks around the country, continent and world. Some only travel an hour or two for vacations, while others spend hours in cars and on planes to get to their destination. ?I went on a Norwegian cruise called The Pearl to the Caribbean,? sophomore Alex White said. ?I was on the cruise for seven days. I went with my mom, my brother, my mom?s boyfriend and his son.?
White is not the only world traveler at Center Hill. ?I went to Australia in November of 2013,? sophomore Eli Ashley said. ?I was 12 years old. I was on a plane in total for 25 hours. I stayed a total of eight days, spending two in Sydney and six in Perth. Sydney is not even close to being as nice as Perth.? They had a great trip but there were a couple of roadblocks along the way. ?They lost our luggage because we had to go through LAX the day after the LAX shooting,? Ashley said. The sophomore and his dad did many memorable activities while visiting. ?I went to Scarborough beach three days in a row and it was beautiful,? he said. ?I got to pet baby kangaroos and koala bears and wombats. I ate kangaroo meat and it was disgusting.? White also had an unforgettable time on her trip. ?I held a sloth and a monkey on my 6
Courtesy photo
Alex White got to hold a sloth while on a Caribbean vacation.
head,? she said. ?I went snorkeling and saw a stingray.? For her unique vacation, Katie Payne traveled with her grandparents and brother to the Grand Canyon. ?I enjoyed sight seeing, f loating down a river, f lying in a plane over the canyon and riding on a train," the sophomore said.
Senior Shout Outs To: Maddie Messick From: Mrs. Jones Keep adding to the goodness and beauty in the world. Always believe in yourself.
To: Kayla Love From: Dest iny Smit h Chase your dreams and don?t give up. Go into the world and show them what you?re made of. I love you and I?m very proud of the lady you?re becoming.
To: Molly Read From: Mrs. Jones There is no limit to what you can do if you keep believing in yourself.
To: Charlandria W. Ambrose From: Dest iny Smit h No matter where you go, you?ll always be in my heart. I wish you much prosperity in life, much love!
To: Maddison Tubbs From: Mrs. Jones You were an awesome FCCLA president. Keep on exploring, growing and challenging yourself to be the best.
To: Haylee Hughes From: Maymee and Pappy You are an awesome young lady. Can't believe you are graduating. Remember, Deuteronomy 31:8. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you or forsake you. We love you muchel muchel! To: Class of 2018, especially our baby girl Haylee Hughes! From: Mom and Dad So proud and excited for your next chapter. Hotty Toddy!! We love you Boo! To: The GALS From: Carrington Kneeland Love y?all! Good luck in college. See you soon! To: Drew Ashley From: Eli Ashley It?s like you?re my brother. Have fun in college I guess. I like your pants. Your mom goes to college? . Wait we have the same mom. To: Allie Droke From: Chapman Droke I love you bunches. ?Oh behave? at college. Oh wait! Your mom goes to college!
To: Book Club Seniors From: Mrs. Jones May your next adventure be as exciting as the ones we read about.
To: Niyah Odum From: Trinit y Johnson I?m gonna miss you so much! Xavier is going to love you!! You?re so bright and friendly. You?re a great friend and a great person. Don?t forget me! Love you bunches! To: Lana Marshall From: Chapman Droke You?re the best photographer around. Don?t do drugs! Oh and ?your mom goes to college.? To: Sherrice Wright From: Mrs. Jones I am sure graduating will be only the first of many proud successful moments for you! You are a star! To: Connor Hut to From: Mrs. Jones May you always dare to do great things with your life.
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To: Mary Cat herine Miller From: Chloe Orsburn I love you! Have fun at Ole Miss! Spin your heart out! #HottyToddy
Senior Shout Outs To: Paul Paez From: Serenit y Scot t Don?t forget your signature!! To: Morgan Wilcher From: Serenit y Scot t Don?t forget about your favorite sophomore! To: Craig Irving From: Josie Mart inez Wish you the best! You?re so beautiful! I will miss seeing you after you?re gone, but it?s okay. XOXOXO Te quiero! To: Josh Simpson From: Serenit y Scot t I?ll miss seeing you around all the time!
To: Hailey Jones From: Chloe Orsburn I love you! Have fun at Northwest! Spin your heart out! #GoRangers To: Jaci Kimble From: Chloe Orsburn I love you! Good luck at Southern! Spin your heart out! #SouthernMissToTheTop To: MC Miller From: Et han Ratcliff Do great dood!!! Thanks for the past two years!!! To: Nyah Gaston From: Dest ini Dixon I can?t wait to be your future roomie at Southern Miss. Love you. To: Sherrice Wright From: Serenit y Scot t I?m gonna miss you next year!
To: Mat t hew Carlile From: Serenit y Scot t I hope you have fun in college!! See you later alligator! To: Shelby Edwards From: Wyat t Edwards Can?t wait to have my own room. Have fun in college. To: Riley Hardin From: Nancy Toche Riley, I?m so proud of you. You?ve come so far and accomplished so much. I know college is next but don?t forget to live a little. Any school would be lucky to have you! I love you! To: Jake Lankford From: Max Lankford I won?t miss you until you go to college. In all seriousness, I?m super proud of you and I know you will go far.
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To: Jake Lankford From: Kait lin Moore Keep your dreams in sight and never lose sight of who you are. I?ll miss you! To: Sherrice Wright From: Jonat han Tate Thank you for always showing off that amazing smile God blessed you with. Be sure to always show it off. To: Sylmia Shephard From: Jonat han Tate Thank you for always being so kind to those you hold dear to you. To: Hailey Jones From: Jonat han Tate Thank you for always laughing and for always being so kind. Never stop. I?ll miss ya!
Senior Shout Outs To: Senior Class From: Mrs. Wooten Congratulations to all the WON-DER-FUL seniors who graced my classroom with their presence. Best wishes!
To: The APES of C14 From: Mrs. Stanley My last four-year crew! Thanks for sharing the journey. XOXO To: Sherrice Wright From: The Shakespeare Nerds Had fun reading Shakespeare with you!
To: Annie Chan From: Mrs. Jones You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think! I can?t wait to see what the future holds for you!
To: MC Miller From: Sarah Claire Miller Have fun at Ole Miss! I love you and will miss you!
To: Amber Terry From: Mrs. Jones Believe in your dreams and know without a doubt you are made for great things. To: Choir seniors From: Mrs. Feazell Congratulations! We'll miss you! To: Sherrice Wright From: Mrs. Shikle Thank you for two amazing years of journalism together at The Hill. Best wishes and SMTTT! To: Annie Chan From: Mrs. Shikle Don?t tell MC and SC, but you?re my favorite! :)
To: 2nd block seniors From: Mrs. Shikle As you begin the next chapter of your life, I wish you much success and happiness in all your endeavors. I pray for guidance in your decisions and protection on your paths. Love and God bless you all! To: Mary Cat herine Miller From: Mumzie I love you big, Maypop! Thanks for always making me proud.
To: Keagan Massey From: Wyat t Edwards Dude!!! To: Mat t hew Weeks From: Et han Ratcliff Rule #1. Thanks bro!!! I?m gonna miss you. To: Jordan Riecke From: Et han Ratcliff Rule #1. Thanks bro!!! I?m gonna miss you.
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Girls tr ack team wins 5A state championship By Miranda Isable Foundations of Journalism
Hard work, dedication and a love of family helped the girl?s track team win the 5A state championship on May 5. The boys team finished fifth. ?Winning state was the best feeling ever, to bring home a state title along with the Mustang track family,? said sprinter Kyla Johnson, who was part of the first-place 4x100-meter relay team at state. ?We laid everything out on the line and went undefeated the whole season. The Mustang track family worked hard for what we wanted, and that was state.? Johnson said putting her track family first, as well as constant motivation from coach J.J. Downs, contributed to the win. ?We are not a team,? Johnson said. ?We are a family. Coach J.J. always says ?Never let anyone put a limit on what you can do.?So we took that statement and ran with it!? Rounding out the coaching staff are Austin Epting and Bruce Hall, and Valerie Dailey agreed that all three coaches were a big part of the championship season. ?Going undefeated the whole
season and going on to win state is a result of hard work and great coaching,? said Dailey, who finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles. In an email, Downs thanked parents and athletes ?for the best year in Center Hill High School track and field history.? ?I am one proud coach,? Downs said. ?Yes, the awards, medals and trophies are great but I am way more proud of the character that these young people have and all the hard work they put into becoming the very best the can be in the classroom, on the track and in the community.?
2nd place - Lee Sanders, pole vault 2nd place - Chris Buford, 800-meter 2nd place - 4x800-meter relay team of Bobbie Johnson, Chynna Lee, Sarah Claire Miller and Abigail Penfield 2nd place - Kaylen Johnson, 100-meter 3rd place - 4x200-meter relay team of Kaylen Johnson, Jada Crutchfield, Niyah Odum and Kennedi Webber 3rd place - Jada Crutchfield, long jump 3rd place - Camryn Terrell, high jump 4th place - Valerie Dailey, 100-meter hurdles 5th place - Cyle Paulino, pole vault
State result s 1st place - Camaryn McClelland, 100-meter hurdles 1st place - Camaryn McClelland, 300-meter hurdles 1st place - Camaryn McClelland, long jump 1st place - Camaryn McClelland, triple jump 1st place - 4x100-meter relay team of Kaylen Johnson, Jada Crutchfield, Faith Williams and Kyla Johnson 1st place - Jamyah Graham, pole vault 2nd place - Jessica Gibson, pole vault
ThePonyExpress The Pony Express student newspaper was established in order to keep Center Hill High School updated on the latest stories and events while promoting creativity, individuality and freedom of speech. Editor-in-Chief is Sherrice Wright. Advisers are Michelle Jones and Ginny Shikle. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @chhsponyexpress. We are online at chhsponyexpress.com.
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Are you a good writer? Yes - Join our staff of talented writers! No - That's OK! We'll help you. Do you want to go on t he sidelines of sport ing event s wit h a fancy camera, a notepad and a personalized Pony Express badge? Yes - These are some of the perks of joining our staff! No - You should reconsider. Nothing beats being on the gym floor during a pep rally! To join The Pony Express, see Michelle Jones or Ginny Shikle for an application.