Journalist of the Year 2013 Portfolio

Collyn Taylor Dutch Fork High School The Renaissance Journalist of the Year Portfolio

Resume Collyn Taylor collyn.p.taylor@gmail.com Permanent Address:

132 Misty Glen Cir Irmo, South Carolina, 29063

Objective:

To win the South Carolina Scholastic Press Association (SCSPA) Journalist of the Year

Education:

Dutch Fork High School, Irmo, SC, June 2013

Journalistic Experience:

The Renaissance editor-in-chief 2011-Present • Served as editor both junior and senior year • First editor to put out more than one issue in two years and first to print full color issue.

SCSPA Newspaper Representative

2011-2012 • Helped plan both fall and spring conferences during the 2011-2012 year • Taught two classes at the spring conference, “Group Hug” and “Eliminate the Flash Drive” Southern Interscholastic Press Association Vice President 2012-Present • Planned 2013 conference as member of Executive Board Key Club Secretary/President

2010-Present • Community service organization • Volunteer annually at Oak Pointe Elementary Fall Carnival and USC Special Olympics

Activities and Honors: 2011 Palmetto Award 2011 Shrine Bowl Student Correspondent Finalist 2012 Excellence in the Making Award South Carolina Scholars Scholarship 2012 Nominated to attend Presidential Inaugural Conference 2011 National Honors Society Member 2011-2012 Participant in the first annual Investigative Journalism Workshop 2013 All-Southern Award from SIPA

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Name: Collyn Taylor School: Dutch Fork High School City: Irmo, SC, 29063 Position: Editor-in-Chief, The Renaissance Phone: 803-348-5661 email: collyn.p.taylor@gmail.com Adviser: Amy Medlock-Greene Phone: 803-476-3427 Email: AMedlock@lexrich5.org

In this photo, I am working on editing stories that the staff turned in that day. The staff, divided into six groups, turn stories in each week. Every day, I spend about 40 minutes editing three stories turned in that day. I take the time to make sure that not only do the mistakes get fixed, but the reporters understand what they messed up on and how to fix it. I also write repeated mistakes down so I can teach the staff how to fix them.

This photo was taken by staff photographer Michaela Baker.

Personal Letter I

sat there watching the cursor blinking on my monitor, trying to find a way to start my essay. It was the first day of my Journalism 1 class and I had to write about my defining moment as a person. I sat and pondered.

Then I began to write.

I wrote about the death of my grandmother, a person who I spent summers and Christmases with; an influential role model in my life.

Now, in my senior year, I have created new defining moments in life as both a journalist and now an editor.

I started my sophomore year as a general reporter. I was thrown into an environment where I had to write, design and shoot photography and had to learn it on the fly.

I spent the first semester my sophomore year learning, crying and complaining before I hit my groove. After that, I began to write better, design better and shoot better. My work over the next two and a half years has defined me as a journalist.

At the Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) Conference, I won the Writing, Editing and Design Competition my first year as a journalist. I also became the South Carolina Scholastic Press Association (SCSPA) Executive Board Newspaper Representative.

As I prepared to expand my role on The Renaissance as co-editor-in-chief my junior year, I was ready to take on the challenges of a staff of only twelve and a newsmagazine that had only printed once in my high school career.

What happened under my stint as editor would help not only define The Renaissance, but my journalism career.

As editor, I set goals and reached them. I became the first editor at Dutch Fork to print a full color issue. I led a team that won not only a Superior rating at SIPA but the Palmetto Award for Best-in-Class Newsmagazine at SCSPA. With only a staff of twelve I managed to create a culture of hard work and dedication that led our staff to make the best newsmagazine in the state.

These satisfying accolades only fueled my passion even more to want to become a professional sports journalist.

These achievements defined what I want to do in life. I spent the next year working on my craft.

I strived to become better, because I was determined to continue to create defining moments.

I worked harder than I had in my entire life. Over the summer, while other students were sitting on the beach, I was working on the design for our magazine for the next year.

That extra preparation and time helped tremendously because our magazine won an All Southern rating at SIPA this year.

That award epitomized the work that we as a staff do on a daily basis. As an editor, I worked harder as editor than any of my other years on staff in an effort to create such a quality product.

That drive and determination helped to benefit me in my individual journalistic career as well, as I became the first Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas Student Correspondent finalist from Dutch Fork.

Journalism has helped me come out of my shell. I entered the staff as a quiet, timid boy and emerged as a man that isn’t afraid to speak his mind and talk out more. Journalism has taught me that everyone has a story to tell and that if I try hard enough, I can succeed in life.

My time with The Renaissance has made me eager to pursue a career in sports journalism and determined to succeed at it.

I plan on using that confidence and eagerness and determination I acquired to pursue a career working for a sports magazine. After creating defining moments in high school, I look to do the same in college and in the world of sports journalism. My goal is to hang my jersey in the rafters with other great sports journalists like Rick Reilly, Bob Ryan, Jim McKay and Mike Lupica.

I want to be in the top echelon of sports writers and scholastic journalism has given me the skills to do that. I don’t want journalism to define me, I want to define journalism.

Letter of Recommendation Jessica G. Thur Dutch Fork High School, English teacher 1400 Old Tamah Road Irmo, SC 29063 (803) 476-3300, ext. 3430 jgthur@lexrich5.org January 17, 2013 Dear Sir or Madam: Two years ago, I met Collyn Taylor. As a student in my English 2 Honors English class, I had high expectations for him. Not only did Collyn challenge himself with the fast-paced schedule and critical thinking required in my class, he also worked to succeed in many other honors and Advanced Placement classes. Not surprising for a student of Collyn’s intellectual abilities, he succeeded due to his perseverance and determination. Moreover, I was impressed

by Collyn’s work ethic. When he came to my class, Collyn already was an advanced student. However, Collyn never settled for being advanced. He learned how to express his ideas concisely and precisely, weaving his words together so that his distinct voice could be heard. It was evident to me then, as it is now, that his ambition to succeed is not to earn a letter grade; rather Collyn cares about authentic learning and its application. It is for this reason that I highly recommend Collyn Taylor for Journalistof the Year.

Collyn’s commitment to excellence can not only be seen in classroom, but in the Dutch Fork community. He has been an active member of our school’s newspaper, The Renaissance. In fact, he is serving his second year as the newspaper’s editor. During his tenure, Collyn successfully worked to increase the number of times the newspaper was published. Outside of Dutch Fork, Collyn serves at the vice president for the Southern Interscholastic Press Association and is an executive member of the conference committee. Last year, he also helped plan the SCSPA conference and taught two classes.

Collyn also is an active member of school community. He has been a leader in our school’s Key Club, serving as secretary and as president. Collyn’s work has earned him numerous awards, including the Palmetto Award and finalist for the Shrine Bowl award, as well as recognition by SCSPA and SIPA. Moreover, Collyn’s leadership extends to the community at large. He has volunteered for the Special Olympics and at a local elementary school. Collyn’s memberships in these clubs and his volunteer work illustrate his desire to give back to others. Truthfully, it does not surprise me that Collyn willing gives of his time because he is the type of person who chooses projects that will enrich the lives of others and then he works to complete them.

Overall, Collyn represents the best of Dutch Fork High School, and I hope strongly consider awarding him Journalist of the Year.

Sincerely, Jessica G. Thur

Letter of Recommendation To Whom It May Concern: It is my honor to recommend Collyn Taylor as South Carolina’s Scholastic Journalist of the Year. As Collyn’s journalism teacher of four years, I know his enthusiasm, love of journalism, and level of commitment to bettering scholastic journalism at the local, state and regional levels to be virtually unmatched by any student with whom I have worked.

Collyn’s dedication to scholastic journalism has been evident to me since his freshman days in Journalism I. From the first assignment during the first week of school (a “Defining Moment” essay and project), I knew I wanted him to join our newspaper staff. As a sophomore on The Renaissance staff, Collyn worked tirelessly to find his “niche” on our team and, even at that point, his desire to make our newspaper the best it could be was evident. That year, with a virtually non-existent budget and 12 students on staff, we decided to forgo printing and solely publish online. Collyn was instrumental in building our staff’s website and helping us make that transition to publishing weekly instead of monthly and working out the kinks associated with an online publication.

During his junior year, his commitment to succeed became even stronger. I made the decision to appoint Collyn as Co-Editor-in-Chief (even though that position is typically reserved for seniors). In his new leadership role, Collyn worked with his fellow Co-Editor to introduce yet another new concept to our staff: hybrid publication. We continued to maintain and update our website, but we also set a goal to publish a print issue each nine weeks. Although we fell short that year and only published three, we were still able to earn an All-State rating from SCSPA and took home the Palmetto Award for the best scholastic newsmagazine in South Carolina.

Collyn has extended his leadership beyond the walls of Dutch Fork by serving as the Newspaper Representative on the SCSPA board last year and, this year, as Vice President of the Southern Interscholastic Press Association. In these capacities, Collyn worked assiduously to ensure that our conferences at both the state and regional levels have been the best they can be. He has been an integral part of each planning committee and has also taught classes at both conferences, too.

Aside from his commitment to journalism, Collyn’s integrity and character make him worthy of this award. He is one of those rare young men who anyone would be privileged to have as a son or a brother. His grace, charm, easy-going nature, intellect and tenacity are only a few of his best qualities.

Collyn’s dedication to scholastic journalism, affable personality, unquestionable character and strong work ethic each contribute to my considering him one of the absolute best students I have taught. He is one of those incredible students who will be a tremendous asset to whatever college he chooses to attend and who will excel in whatever aspect of journalism he chooses to pursue professionally. Collyn Taylor is indeed worthy of this award.

Sincerely, Amy R. Medlock, M.Ed., NBCT, MJE Journalism teacher Newspaper/ broadcast adviser Dutch Fork High School

Letter of Recommendation January 22, 2013 Dear Sir or Madam: I am extremely honored to recommend Collyn Taylor for Journalist of the Year. Ever since I met Collyn one year ago as the advisor of our school’s Key Club, he has been an extremely productive hard working student. I was taking over that year and Collyn was the president of the club. As a new advisor, Col helped to manage and lead the club with composure and confidence. He conducted and led all of the new member interviews as well as directed all of our afterschool and dinner meetings. Collyn also showed creativity and initiative by creating service projects for our club to participate in as well as helped ourclub go to the regional Special Olympics in Columbia. He has continued that type of leadership as president during his senior year as the club continues to expand and do more with our school. He demonstrates many characteristics as president of our club and as the editor of The Renaissance that qualify him as Journalist of the Year.

Collyn has been committed to excellent leadership in not only as our president or leader of The Renaissance but as an executive board member of the South Carolina Scholastic Press Association and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association. He shows great leadership in helping teach our younger members about the importance of community service and fraternity. He takes the same types of leadership and teaching initiatives toward his staff. He takes that philosophy and really practices this with the newspaper staff. His philosophy has helped The Renaissance win a Superior rating at SIPA as well as a Palmetto Award at SCSPA. That success catapulted The Renaissance to an All-Southern rating from SIPA his senior year, the first time the newsmagazine won the award in five year.

His determination to succeed has brought not only himself success, but the organization he represents. He is determined to make any of his endeavors have a positive outcome. His determination to make our Key Club successful is the same grit and determination he takes to watching The Renaissance flourish. He tries his hardest to make sure that the staff and club he leads puts forth their best. That inspiration that he puts forth leads all those under him to want to do their best, which contributes to the success of both the Key Club and the newspaper staff.

Collyn Taylor is the ideal candidate to receive this award because of his unparalleled leadership skills, confidence, commitment as well as his determination. He wants to succeed at all facets of his life, from Key Club to The Renaissance. His want and need to thrive in his environment, whether it be at school or in the community, is what make him exemplary candidate to win the Journalist of the year award.

Sincerely,

William E. Robinson, Jr. MBA, NBCT Career and Technology Education Teacher Key Club Advisor Student Activities Director

Writing

Substitute teacher teaches students through his life story

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ach morning, Ibrahim Alassaad wakes up each morn- people with accents’,” Alassaad said. “This is discouraging when you know you have a degree and are well educated and ing thankful to be alive and well.

Alassaad is a district substitute that spends his time you see people who are in a high place discriminate against filling in for teachers that couldn’t come to school that day you because of your color or nationality.” and working retail at Dillards. Alassaad also has a major Alassaad has been through a lot in his short 49 years. disease called hydrocephalus and, to him, every day that he However, all of the discrimination and the hydrocephalus have not slowed him down. His rock throughout all of this wakes up is a blessing to him.

“Well I live day by day because I don’t know if this device has been his religion. is going to stop one day when I’m driving or while I’m walk- “I don’t worry about it [the discrimination] because I’m a ing; it might stop while I’m talking to you,” Alassaad said. “It Christian and God is going to take care of me. If you know is something that depends on God. I’m a believer and God you are strong and you are doing the right thing and you are has been watching over me. I’m 49 and if I make it to 50, that not breaking the law, you are always going to be successful,” Alassaad said. will be a blessing.”

“I don’t worry about it [the discrimination] His religion has prompted Hydrocephalus is a disease him to perform many charibecause I’m a Christian and God is going to where there is an over accumulation of fluid in the brain take care of me. If you know you are strong table acts, including helping that can cause vomiting and and you are doing the right thing and you are the handicapped.

“I did volunteer with the seizures. A person suffering not breaking the law, you are always going to American Red Cross with the from this disease must have blood drive, collecting blood. be successful.” a shunt put into his brain to I worked for the hospital at help drain the fluid, which is >>> Ibrahim Alassaad Fort Jackson I worked at the another health risk. optical lab cutting lenses. I learned how to cut lenses and “Its hard [living with hydrocephalus]. You don’t know put them in a frame and we used to ship them to all the other from one day to another if you’re going to stay alive or not. bases in the United States,” Alassaad said. “I worked with the They implanted a shunt and a battery in the brain. The doc- Commission for the Blind. We used to help a blind countor told me that the shunt might malfunction one day. It last- selor: read for her, collect her mail, do her paperwork and ed 35 years, which is surprising. Even the doctor was happy help her with her daily activities.” to see that it lasted that long,” Alassaad said. “After those 35 Now, with him moving to America when he was very years, the device malfunctioned and they had to go in and do young, he has noticed differences between the Middle East another surgery. The doctor who performed it, Dr. Thomas and America: from the school system, to the technology to Holbrook, saved my life two times.” the types of government. He is fascinated with the American Now, this life-threatening disease is not the end of Ibra- school system and says that it is vital for a successful life. him’s story. His father is from the Middle East and Ibrahim “Stay in school because your education is the basis for speaks with an accent. This has caused Ibrahim to be dis- your life. Without education, you can’t move an inch and criminated against, even though he has a degree in political working at McDonalds and Burger King is not going to get science. you anywhere,” Alassaad said. “The technology is advancing “After Sept. 11, I started having some problems when I to the point where you have to catch up to reality and make went to go apply for a job. I was called names and one place sure that you are ahead because if you don’t, people will think told me that they didn’t hire foreigners. I went to Wacho- you are uneducated because technology is the world these via Bank after I passed two exams and one oriental lady who days and if you don’t follow it, you will stay behind and socispoke broken English came out and told me ‘We don’t hire ety will not accept you if you stay behind.”

profiles

This story is about a man struggling through a brain disease and prejudice. This is a significant story because it shows not only the struggles of disabled Americans, but of middle eastern immigrants. This story was run on foxfusion. org in Nov. 2011.

All-American Alaina Coates recruited heavily

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6’4” frame with a smile a mile wide and a state title are heavily by a number of schools. only a few characteristics that apply to senior Alaina “It’s been crazy. It happened really early, since I was in the Coates. eighth grade. I’m glad it’s happening to me, I’ve just been Alaina, a forward for the girls’ basketball team, averaged blessed to have coaches actually want to come see me play,” 18.3 points per game (PPG) and 10.4 rebounds per game Alaina said. “Not to downplay anybody else’s talent, but I (RPG) as a junior. She helped lead the Foxes to a 27-3-0 re- didn’t have to worry about making sure certain people were cord, culminating in the winning of a state title, the first girls’ at a game. I didn’t have to stress hard during a game.” basketball title at Dutch Fork.

Alaina has narrowed her choices to the University of Ten “For one, we got to [win the state championship] again, we nessee, the University of Georgia, and the University of South have a big target on our back. It was an honor winning last Carolina. As of right now, she said, she would commit to the year because we were the first group in Dutch Fork history University of South Carolina because she “can accomplish a to win state,” Alaina said. “We are just trying to do the school lot on the court and in life.” proud and get another ring, go out with a bang.”

While the recruiting process can be challenging for any Alaina was a key factor in the winning of the title, being a high school senior, the relationship between both parents dominant player in the post and leading her team on and off and the coach can have a calming effect. the court.

“We have had a great relationship, almost like a mother “Alaina’s is what you call an impact player. With her size, daughter relationship. I think [the recruiting process] can she’s just blessed with all of get very overwhelming,” the skills. Some people have Norris said. “I think Alaina’s size but no skills, but she’s got “Alaina’s is what you call an impact parents have done a good speed, she’s got agility she’s player. With her size, she’s just blessed job keeping things under naturally strong,” head baswould say that with all of the skills. Some people have perspective. I ketball coach Marilyn Norris they had their guidelines and said. “With all of that, plus size but no skills, but she’s got speed, stuck to their guns. They she has learned to be a leader she’s got agility, she’s naturally strong.” took pressure off Alaina, off the floor; doing the right took pressure off me.” things not only in front of >>> head coach Marilyn Norris Many opportunities are me but when I’m not around. now opening up for female I think we got some young basketball players such as girls that play post that she took under her wings this sum- playing in college, playing professionally overseas or in the mer.”

United States, or even playing in the Olympics.

Alaina’s impact is not only seen by her coach, but to Alaina For Alaina, reaching her goals is not out of reach and to as well. She says that her team looks to her to be a leader and her coach, college is the place where she will improve to that she has “good communication with the girls and they reach them. know that my best interest at the end of the day is to get the “Going into her freshman year, you are going to see a lot win, which we all want.” of improvement out of her. I think that is going to bring it all According to ESPN.com, Alaina is ranked 28 on the high out,” Norris said. “She’s got a lot of stuff in there that hasn’t school basketball’s recruiting board, with an overall rating come out yet but the more she matures, the more it comes of 95 and four stars. Because of this, she is being recruited out.”

profiles

I chose this story because it shows my experience with writing sports stories as well as it profiling one of the best girls’ basketball players in the country. It shows the amount of range I have as sports journalist. This story ran in Vol. 21 Issue 1.

Trainers sustain wounded athletes

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rom fist throwing at the bottom of the pile in football, to just something I did. I tell people now that I didn’t make it as an errant elbow when driving the lane or even a cleat to a vet but I take care of athletes and they’re kinda like animals, the back of the leg in soccer, the athletic trainers have to so I guess it’s kinda the same thing.” be ready to deal with injuries at a whistles notice.

Even with the interest change, Harvey still takes his job seri The athletic trainers, headed by sports medicine teacher ously and spends time with every sport, healing athletes.

Mack Harvey, work with the athletic department to help heal “We’re here for every sport, we’re here for every athlete. athletes and get them back on the field.

If you play a sport, you’re going to get hurt, that’s just the “We’re here for everything bottom line,” Harvey said. that our football team does, “As a fifth grader, I wanted to be a vet- “When that injury occurs, really for all of our teams. erinarian, medicine was always an in- there has to be somebody Athletics nowadays has gotthere, besides the coach, ten to a point where you just terest. If there was a stray dog walking to take care of the athletes. never stop,” Harvey said. down the street and it looked like it had That’s really where we are “Football players are workand that’s the purpose we ing out 365 days out of the a hurt foot, I would get it and keep it for have for being here.” year, basketball players are a week to take care of it. My mom wasn't The athletic trainers are working out all year long. for all sports at Dutch very happy about that, but that was just there We’re here to manage the Fork and trainers help treat emergency care of our inju- something I did. I tell people now that I any of the players who get ries when they occur.” didn’t make it as a vet but I take care of hurt during the season, get The trainers, who work ting them back on the field with the football team over athletes and they’re kinda like animals, quickly. That timeliness is the summer and during so I guess it’s kinda the same thing.” helpful to all athletes. practices, start every morn Senior offensive lineman ing at 7 a.m. and provide >>>head trainer Mack Harvey Reid Elmore, a starter who physical therapy for any has been peppered with injuplayer that needs it. ries since his freshman year: including numerous high ankle Harvey, who teaches sports medicine to three classes, sprains and a four-year-long shoulder injury, spends a conhasn’t always wanted to be an athletic trainer; however, the siderable amount of time in the training room. passion for medicine has always been there.

“Coach Harvey’s kept me in the game. I was supposed “As a fifth grader, I wanted to be a veterinarian, medicine to be out for the season last year, but I came back in three was always an interest. If there was a stray dog walking down weeks,” Reid said. “Harvey did all the therapy; he was there the street and it looked like it had a hurt foot, I would get it at 7 o’clock in the morning, every day, [including] Saturday and keep it for a week to take care of it,” Harvey said with a and Sunday. He was there pretty much everyday I needed grin. “My mom wasn't very happy about that, but that was him.”

profiles

I wrote this story for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas Student Correspondent program. This story is important because it gives a behind the scenes look at the work that the trainers do.

Corey Wright brings defense, talent to Dutch Fork

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rom coaching in hot sweltering practices, to teaching in a large computer classroom, to compiling videos for students; defensive backs coach Corey Wright does it

to give your best.’ It should not be that you are giving your all on the field, and in the classroom you aren’t preparing yourself like you should for life,” Wright said. all.

Wright is not only supportive of students becoming suc Wright came to Dutch Fork in 2010, the year that numer- cessful off the field, he is concerned with on the field success ous coaches, including head coach Tom Knotts came as well. as well. Before his arrival, Dutch Fork had only beaten Irmo Wright has been part of a defense that has only given up twice in 18 years. Since his arrival, the Silver Foxes are 3-1 508 points over the past two years and has led the team to against cross-town rival. back-to-back 10-3-0 seasons. “[My biggest challenge] was in the first year here, just try Wright coaches the defensive backs and spends all week ing to get the kids to believe that they could win. They did preparing the defense for the upcoming game. not have a great focus on what we were doing on the field,” “We, of course, practice everyday. We do all kinds of drills Wright said. “When we were able to get them to believe that that prepare the kids for competition and making sure that they could win, believe that they could succeed with hard everything has a correlation to what we actually do on the work and a lot of effort, that was big. I think the biggest thing field,” Wright said. “In addition to that, I coordinate all of our was getting them to understand that they could have a sucfilms, so I create highcessful year.” lights for the students to “[My biggest challenge] was in the first year here, just And success send them out to colleg- trying to get the kids to believe that they could win. They Wright and his staff es and get them all-star did not have a great focus on what we were doing on the have had. Over the past recognition.” field,” Wright said. “When we were able to get them to two years, the Foxes Along with coaching beaten top-notch believe that they could win, believe that they could suc- have the secondary, Wright teams like Lexington also coordinates game ceed with hard work and a lot of effort, that was big.

High School and Irmo film and sessions for the >>>definsive coach Corey Wright High School. Dutch team and helps players Fork has also won the in the film room.

Region AAAA Champi “We have a program that we use on the computer that we onship in 2011. actually split each individual play during a game,” Wright “We knew coming in that we had a strong senior class and said. “If someone makes a great play during the game we just thought that we were one of probably two or three teams that go ahead and ‘tag; that play and create one file for that player had a legitimate shot to win the state championship. Our and put it all on a DVD with their best game and then we’ll focus the entire year was trying to do whatever we could to send it off to whomever Coach Knotts feels should be recom- win the state championship,” Wright said. mended for an all-star game.”

Even with the rampant success that the football program Wright teaches in the APEX lab at Dutch Fork and helps has had, Wright still believes in strong academic success and students get caught up in their classes. To him, teaching and translating that to success on the field. coaching spawn from the same tree, because they help stu- “One of the thing I’ve always told them is ‘If we [the dents get ahead in life. coaches] can trust you in the classroom to give all you can, all “One thing that I have always told my players is, ‘I want to you have to learn and soak up the knowledge,” Wright said, prepare for life, so when you’re in the classroom, I expect you “you’ll actually come on the field and give the same effort.”

profiles

This is also a story submitted for the Shrine Bowl competition. I wanted to tell the story of the hard work and dedication that assistant coaches put into preparing the team and all of the other work they do besides football.

KONY Moves to high school

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he lights dim and the slow boom from the video echos getting involved and trying to help,” Mirelez said. “Instead through the auditorium as the newest Invisible Chil- of having the traditional hierarchy of power and informadren movie trickles down to the hundreds of students tion, we are turning it on its head and rising up as the people sitting in the seats below. we are going to lead the world because we are all part of the The movie, Move, is being shown to high schoolers all world.” around the country, urging them to participate in a march The movie talks to children of the Millennium generation, on the White House in Washington D.C. The video is part people born after 1980. Move talks specifically to this genof the Kony 2012 campaign, which seeks to mobilize large eration, telling them that this will be their mark on society. groups of people to support “I think that if [Kony 2012] government leaders to capture “We work hard to get people to start pans out, if they do catch JoJoseph Kony, a military leader thinking in a global context, not just a lo- seph Kony, then I think this in central Africa, through vibe like our generation's cal or personal context. My hope is that it will ral videos. way we’ve proven ourselves,” “A lot of it is through aware- translates into the rest of the lives of these senior Ruel Williams said. ness campaigns. It’s hard for people who are getting involved and trying “Our generation isn't just a things to happen without the bunch of self indulged people, proper resources so getting to help.” that we do care about others people involved who do have >>project leader Valerie Mirelez and that we will group togethaccess to more resources, like er to help out a large cause.” the U.S., that helps. People wouldn’t have been involved with The tour culminates in a day long march in Washington [the Move campaign] if nobody had known about it,” Invis- D.C. and surrounds the White House. This is to show the ible Children team leader Valerie Mirelez said. “Through president that people in America want Joesph Kony stopped. tours like this, through awareness, sharing videos online, To do this, Invisible Children works mainly through Twitter millions of people around the world have gotten excited and social media: creating videos, tweeting and posting as about bringing peace to this region and they have told their well as adding things to Tumblr. government leaders that they want to see this happen.”

“Its been a huge impact. Most of the traction we’ve gained Move and Kony 2012 have 93,714,215 combine views on You- from this campaign has come from online sharing, from Tube. Invisible Children looks to “create films to document posts, people generating their own post. Good and bad techatrocities, introduce new audiences to the conflict, and in- nology has been what is fueling this movement. We’re here spire global action,” according to the group’s website. in person to make people feel like they’re apart of the move “We work hard to get people to start thinking in a global ment, because they are,” Mirelez said. “It’s not just somecontext, not just a local or personal context. My hope is that thing happening on the internet, it’s something happening in it translates into the rest of the lives of these people who are real life.”

news

I wrote this story when the Invisible Children group visited Dutch Fork. I wrote the story to show the impact that these groups and social media have on the millennium generation. This story ran as a spread in Vol. 21 Issue 2.

Students look to ‘cut-loose’ in first district-wide musical

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he flashing blue lights and Kenny Loggins music reminiscent of mounds of hairspray and tight spandex can mean one thing: Footloose.

The all-district musical opened last night at the Midlands Technical College auditorium.

The musical featured talent from every high school in the district and the lead female role went to Dutch Fork junior Jessica Aull.

Rehearsing for the play started in January and has gotten increasingly intense since then.

“At the beginning, we didn’t have many difficult rehearsals, but towards the end [of rehearsal], we’ve been going later, we’ve been doing more practices,” Jessica said. “The past couple of days we have been going to nine [o’clock], just preparing so the show is as good as it is going to get.”

Over the past week, the practices have gone almost two hours longer than usual, which has made rehearsing that much more difficult.

“Before, at the end of January and right before spring break, practices were only two hours, from 5 to

news

7 o’clock. But, in the last few weeks, they’ve been 5 to 9 o’clock. Having to practice more has been what’s made it harder,” junior cast member Brailey Johnson said.

This musical is significant because it is the first production that has included students from all over the district. The integration of these students has brought forward new opportunities and experiences for the actors.

“I’m able to compete against people that I don’t normally get to compete against at Dutch Fork. On top of that, I get to work with other people that I’m not used to working with, including our rivals [Chapin and Irmo],” Jessica said.

The performers have also had help from teachers at all three schools. The director of the play, Drama teacher Lyle Browne and the choreographer, Ginny Haynes, both teach at Dutch Fork.

To Brailey, who is in the dance department at Dutch Fork, having a teacher and instructor that they are familiar with makes the play go on smoother.

“Mrs. Haynes is my coach so I al-

ready have a good relationship with her, which was fun because she is an amazing choreographer,” Brailey said.

“Mr. Browne is a really funny guy, so it was nice working with him.”

Even with the help from the instructors and directors, students play the biggest role in the maturation of each performer.

“Those kids who have done plays before and are experienced with it, just the level of professionalism they bring to the craft, it inspired me to be better at it,” Brailey said.

The play opened last night and has showings tonight and Friday. For the actors, opening night is the “make or break” night for any performance.

“If the first night is amazing, then every show is going to get better after that. But, if it is bad, it is going to get worse. The opening night is, to me, more important than the closing night because this is what the audience sees first,” Brailey said. “If [the show] is good, then they are going to tell their friends to come and their friends are going to like it. If it is bad, no one is going to come see any other shows.”

I wrote this to show the comradery that thespians from all over district had making the musical Footloose. I show the fun and commitment that these kids took to preparing for their roles. This story ran as a spread in Vol. 20 Issue 3.

Annual softball launch spawns creativity

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rom swarms of construction workers to throngs of hip- they were the lumberjacks is because, “the main resource pies and Star Wars personalities running around, the that we used on the catapult was wood.” softball launch is home to different characters.

Another group that focused on the materials used in mak The annual softball launch was recently held and, as usual, ing the catapult was the tree-hugger group. groups showed up to launch softballs in incredibly peculiar “We were building a catapult out of wood, so we thought it costumes. would be smart to have a wood related theme [tree-hugger],” “Our original idea was a cannon and we thought; Chi- Shannon said. nese fireworks. So, instead on the last try, we made it [our Students that participate in the launch show their support catapult] dragon slayer instead, because we already built the for this event by dressing up, saying that it makes the entire dragon,” junior dragon-slayer group member Drake Strobel happening more interesting. said.

“Having these different themes and “It [the themes] make the Every year at the launch, launch more fun. It makes groups try and out-do each [people] dressing up in these different kids actually want to do it other with the crazy and inor- costumes allow for more variety to be in [the launch] and do their best, dinate themes that they come the competition, as opposed to just com- which just makes it better for up with. However, coming up ” Taylor said. ing out here and saying, ‘Oh, I’m going to everyone, with a unique theme has some The students say that these scientific benefits, according watch a softball.’” individual and unique themes to junior tree-hugger group >>>senior Mikhael Jordan help to break up some of the member Shannon Roberson. tedium of the event and set “First we had to think about what wouldn’t block the cata- groups apart. pult as we decorated it. We also had to think about colors “It [the themes] makes it [the softball launch] less boring. and costumes as well,” Shannon said.

Everyone would have one catapult, it would just be brown Other groups showed up in costumes such as Peter Pan and that’s it. But by having a theme it makes it [the launch] and as sailors. Some groups chose to mirror their group after better,” Shannon said. pop culture; from Star Wars, to Mythbusters, and to Disney The launch also attracts a large student following. Stumovies. dents from all over the school flocked to the softball launch “That was all up to Sonal [Patel] and Fatema [Baghat]. and sat and watched the unique and distinctive groups try They wanted to do a Disney theme, and I went along with it,” and achieve their goal of a 25 yd. launch. senior Aladdin group member Mikhael Jordan said.

“Having these different themes and [people] dressing up The materials used in making the catapult was also an in- in these different costumes allow for more variety to be in the fluential factor in deciding on a group theme. Senior lum- competition,” Mikhael said, “as opposed to just coming out berjack group member Taylor Fallaw said that the reason here and saying, ‘Oh, I’m going to watch a softball.’”

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This is a story about a long-time tradition, the physics softball launch. I wanted to capture that fun and tradition that comes along with the event. This story ran as a web story on foxfusion.org in February.

IP addresses catch online piraters

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ith SOPA and PIPA squeezing their way into the man Jarrett Cantey said. limelight, there are ideas about how the govern- These bills were brought about after the recent success of ment can see who is and who isn’t downloading websites like Pirate Bay and Limewire. music illegally, with things like an Internet Protocol [IP] ad- “Mostly it is a big thing for torrents, people are stealing. dress.

It’s a big deal because a lot of people are losing money and “If you could merge your social security number and your there is a lot of illegal things going on the Internet but there street address, that’s kind of what an IP address is. An IP ad- is a lot of things that can’t happen the way they go about it,” dress is assigned to each piece of equipment ever made that Dylan said. attaches to the internet and it These torrent websites, like tracks where the signal comes “It is supposed to stop online piracy, Beemp3 and Pirate Bay, are from, the computer that sends but it is as if you are trying to deal with websites that allow for mp3s that signal, so within reason, to be downloaded illegally. you can use those numbers to a lion escaping from the zoo, by burning With these two acts, there are track where the signal comes down the zoo. Basically, any site that has questions as to who is going from,” technology teacher a copyrighted image will be taken down to take on the burden of findBarry Lindler said. ing which websites are com With this set of numbers, because of the act. mitting these crimes. each computer has a log of >>> freshman Jarrett Cantey “Well SOPA and PIPA wont what exactly was done on it, actually do the tracking they and at what time. The use of want to put the responsibility these IP addresses is what the SOPA and PIPA acts are us- on the businesses that host websites, like some extensions of ing to see where these pirated movies and music are coming Amazon, Wikipedia and Google,” Lindler said. “They want from. them to do the work and block certain IP addresses, or sets of To junior Dylan Thiffault, this tracking is just the govern- numbers. It would be like blocking all telephone extensions ment “trying to have their hold on what the internet says, going to Verizon to stop that communication.” what is put out there.”

Even with the two acts getting discussed on Capitol Hill, The SOPA and PIPA acts are trying to stop online piracy many websites like Google and Wikipedia are protesting the by controlling websites that have harmful or pirated links or passing of them. On Jan. 18, both websites had protests for a pictures. full 24 hours. Many students at Dutch Fork are in protest of “It is supposed to stop online piracy, but it is as if you are these acts, and want the bill repealed. trying to deal with a lion escaping from the zoo, by burning “They are trying to fix things that they can’t really fix. down the zoo. Basically, any site that has a copyrighted im- They are trying too hard for things that they can’t protect,” age will be taken down because of the act. [Sites like] Face- Dylan said, “I think this bill is all politics and it is their way book and Youtube will be taken down because of it,” fresh- of saying that they stepped in and did something.”

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I wrote this story to give an update on how the SOPA bill passed in Congress would impact students. I wrote this story to showcase the seriousness of this issue as well as the student impact and response to it. This ran as an online piece on foxfusion.org.

The day I became a dad; student’s first week experience

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always pictured myself becoming a dad when I was in my late 20s, married and with a high paying job at ESPN. However, I had the honor of becoming a father at 17, during the timehonored tradition of First Week.

It was about 10:30 at night when I realized I was going to be a dad. It all happened really fast, and when it was over with, I was a father to two baby boys.

The birth didn’t go as I predicted. It only lasted about 10 minutes and by the end, I was a father to two boys.

Several years down the road, my children got into some marijuana and had a great time. We were visiting a retirement home during First Week and were right on the beach. They walked around for an hour trying to dodge beachgoers and sandspurs.

I was sitting on the beach while my children sat behind a dune and toked up. I felt left out, like my kids didn’t need me anymore. So I sat. And sat.

And sat. I sat for an hour waiting for my kids to stumble out and meet me.

On the beach that night, when they smoked it I choked and coughed the smoke out of my lungs, me being the responsible one. I decided that I didn’t want to go to jail, so I might as well man up and become my group’s dad.

Any dad would scold their kids, but

some don’t respond.

What happened next turned into the worst week of my life. There were very few moments where I can remember my children not acting up and not being completely irresponsible.

Where were all of the manners that had been taught to them? Where does all of the sense and intelligence go; does it vaporize and fly away with all of the weed?

There wasn’t a moment those kids were not smoking, thinking about, or talking about weed. They were obsessed with it like a teenage girl dreams about Justin Bieber. They couldn’t focus on anything else. They had no sense of social convention, but that was where I come in.

I got to stroll them around town and take care of two driveling idiots that had no clue where they were.

I spent the entire week having to be the voice of reason in my family, and it was a taxing job. But, in my week from Hell, I learned something.

I learned that it is not all about me. I lived in the shallow high school world where everything was about me. Now that I was a dad, I had to be responsible, because if anything happened, it was my butt. It was my fault. I was the responsible one.

This epiphany shocked me and I fi-

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nally realized that I had to grow up and become an adult at some point in my life, and that moment was now. There are consequences for those actions that my kids didn’t realize at the time, but they will.

For my kids, they were going to have to grow up at some point. That moment is a mile away and it is going to hit them like they hit it.

Now, I know this sounds very cheesy and like an afterschool special. I realize that I am being the most cynical person on the planet, but it is true.

When drugs come into the picture, they force a quiet, regular teen to grow up unreasonably quickly. They cause smart people to act dumb and become irresponsible.

As I continue on as a father to my group of friends, I now discern the fact that I am not looking out for just myself anymore. I have to look out for my friends. I have to look out for my kids.

Though I was a father for a short 96 hours, I got to experience the lows that parenthood brings the unbelievable responsibility of two, dim witted children.

When children go to First Week, they enter as young adults and leave as slobbering idiots, unaware of responsibility and respectfulness, becoming children all over again.

I wrote this after my first-hand experience with peer pressure and drugs. I wanted to write about moral dilemma that comes with friends and drugs as well as the negative effects drugs have on a friendship. This story also ran as a web story for CJI (cji2010.com/news) and on foxfusion.

Christmas sells out

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he smell of fresh trees and Christmas cookies floats through the air, except there is one problem- it’s Novem-

ber.

Christmas is the last major Christian holiday of the year and every year it seems, the Christmas season starts earlier and earlier. But why?

Businesses. The businesses want people to buy all of their goods, whether it be a car, clothes, or whatever else.

Now, these Christmas ads for Marshalls and Nissan have been airing even before Thanksgiving.

Have we as Americans forgot about what Christmas really is? Where is all the compassion? I have seen Nissan commercials on every channel; from ESPN to the Discovery Channel. But I’ve only seen the commercial for the Oliver Gospel mission once; on one local channel.

Everybody wants something Christmas whether it be an iPad, money, or clothes. But, what about the person that just wants to find a warm bed, or just wants their child to get out

of the hospital, or just wants to see their parent or just wants a meal? Those are the people that need it.

There are some things that people are doing to help out the less fortunate. They are collecting canned goods, they are collecting toys for children in the hospital.

Now, everyone has been asking for material goods (the iPad, the clothes, etc.) but what about family? There are some people that just look forward to spending the two weeks off with their family.

There are kids in the United States that don’t get to see their parents; maybe the mom or dad is in Iraq. Maybe the parent passed away. Either way, they don’t get to see them.

Christmas is a special time of year. The nip in the air, the decorations, and the food. But, businesses are trying to get people to buy their goods, which is fine, but people are forgoing Christmas for a car.

Getting gifts is fun and it is generous, but just remember, people out there are not having the same kind of Christmas.

I wrote this after seeing many product pitches for Christmas goods in November. This column show my range of column writing. I show I can write sarcastically as well as write about serious matters. This column ran in Vol. 20 Issue 2 of The Renaissance.

Nightmares go from Elm Street to movie screens

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ines twisted around the corner, auditoriums packed with hundreds of people and people screaming. Is this a Justin Bieber concert? No, it is the release of Paranormal Activity 3.

Scary movies are becoming incredibly popular in this society with over $9 million of annual revenue. That’s right, people are buying tickets to see Freddy vs. Jason ($82.6 million grossing) and Anaconda ($65.6 million grossing).

Movies like these tarnish great suspenseful movies like Jaws and the Poltergeist.

Paranormal Activity 3 made $54 million opening weekend, which is great for these little girls getting haunted.

However, this begs the question though: Why would someone pay good money for a ticket, food and drinks, to be scared so bad that they cannot sleep at night?

These scary movie enthusiasts would say they go to watch the peoples’ reactions. They say it’s funny.

So if they wanted to watch peoples’ reactions, they should

go to the mall and observe people, that’s free. And if they wanted to go laugh at something, The Smurfs is playing two theaters down, go see that.

Now, these plots and these characters in these movies.

They are the most typical, dry plots ever. There was a crazy mass murderer standing behind the door on Halloween, Friday the 13th and on Elm Street in 1985. In 2011, the same crazy mass murders are standing behind the same door on the same day or street.

When are these angst-filled teenagers gonna learn their lesson and look behind the door before running into a room?

Scary movies don’t have a place today. They just prey on people’s fears in order to get heart rates up and wallets fat.

There are other things that someone could spend their money on. Maybe they could spend it on food, or clothes, or pay their bills. No, they choose to spend $10 and two hours in a theater, watching a movie through their fingers.

I wrote this as a counter-point to a person’s claim that scary movies are quality movies. I got to have fun and be sarcastic with it and it helps to illustrate my talents writing columns and the fun I have doing it. This story also ran in the second issue of Vol. 20.

Minimum wage pays off

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ven with the constant threat of third degree burns all night shoveling supreme pizzas and cheese sticks into a from deep fryers or the impending insanity from 425 degree oven. Not realizing it, but this minimum wage hearing elevator music in a department store; teen job is helping him develop skills for a life of work. jobs pay off.

When this teen has to clean the table, put all of the in Whether it’s stocking shelves at Publix or taking orders gredients into buckets while the stainless steel containers at Zaxby’s, these kinds of jobs introduce teenagers to the are being washed, sweep the floor, wash his hands, all while “real world” and teach teenagers skills necessary for later Big Dinner Boxes are popping up on the order screen; he is on in life. learning how to multitask and accomplish all of the work When a teenager gets a job at a place like Publix, they before his shift ends at 11 p.m.. are introduced to a whole The teen is rewarded with new set of people, young or When a teenager gets a job at a place a free pizza when he shows old. Each person comes with like Publix, they are introduced to a whole initative and enthusiasm a different personality, differ- new set of people, young or old. Each when he cleans up before the ent work ethic, different skill asks him to. person comes with a different personal- manager set.

Now, these skills are slow When a teenager is thrown ity, different work ethic, different skill set. ing seeping into the brains into a situation like that, it inof teenagers everywhere; troduces that teen to a situation much like what he/she will whether they know it or not. Those positive rewards face at his/her job. At a job an employee must work cohe- earned by showing initiative or showing enthusiasm or sively with other members with those types of obstacles. even multitasking to get off on time, slowly have an affect These jobs also help with “real world” traits that benefit on how these teenagers see their job. teens.

These teens could be stocking shelves, taking orders for According to CareerBuilder.com, ability to work well fried chicken, or even making pizzas with anchovies and with others, ability to multitask, enthusiasm and initiative banana peppers; but they will see it. are some of the desirable traits that employers look for in So even though these teens are working long hours for an employee. $7.25 an hour, they are still getting the skills needed to Say a teen is working as a cook at Pizza Hut. He spends make $100,000 annually.

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This piece spawns from my experience in the job market. This piece is signifcant because it shows not only the extent of how I can write with columns but the range I can write about. This column ran in Vol. 20 Issue 2.

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Slam dunk After adding a state title to her reputation, senior Alaina Coates turns to the next chapter: college

story by collyn taylor photos by tracy glantz, the state

Senior forward Alaina Coates shoots a jumpshot in the Lady Foxes 61-29 victory over Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.

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This is an important spread not only because of the photos in the spread but of its flow. I wanted for the reader to see her impressive statistics as well as be able to be intrigued by dominant images. This is a spread that ran in Vol. 21 Issue 1.

sports

A

6’4” frame with a smile a mile wide and a state title are only a few characteristics that apply to senior Alaina Coates.

Alaina, a forward for the girls’ basketball team, averaged 18.3 points per game (PPG) and 10.4 rebounds per game (RPG) as a junior. She helped lead the Foxes to a 27-3-0 record, culminating in the winning of a state title, the first girls’ basketball title in Dutch Fork history.

“For one, we got to win [the state championship] again, [but] we have a big target on our backs. It was an honor winning last year because we were the first group in Dutch Fork history to win state,” Alaina said. “We are just trying to do the school proud and get another ring. Go out with a bang.”

Alaina was a key factor in the winning of the title, being a dominant player in the post and leading her team on and off the court.

“Alaina is what you call an impact player. With her size, she’s just blessed with all of the skills. Some people have size but no skills; but she’s got speed, she’s got agility, she’s naturally strong,” girls’ head basketball coach Marilyn Norris said.

“With all of that, plus she has learned to be a leader off the floor; doing the right things not only in front of me but when I’m not around. I think we got some young girls that play post that she took under her wings this summer.”

Alaina’s impact is not only seen by her coach, but to Alaina as well.

She says her team looks to her to be a leader and that she has “good communication with the girls and they know that my best interest at the end of the day is to get the win, which we all want.”

According to ESPN.com, Alaina is ranked 28 on the high school basketball’s recruiting board, with an overall rating of 95 and four stars. Because of this, she is being recruited heavily by a number of schools.

20/ dfr.sports.fall

Senior Alaina Coates celebrates after the Lady Foxes’ State Championship win.

“It’s been crazy. It happened really early, since I was in the eighth grade. I’m glad it’s happening to me, I’ve just been blessed to have coaches actually want to come see me play,” Alaina said. “Not to downplay anybody else’s talent, but I didn’t have to worry about making sure certain people were at a game. I didn’t have to stress hard during a game.”

Alaina has narrowed her choices to the University of Tennessee, the University of Georgia and the University of South Carolina. As of right now, she said, she would commit to the University of South Carolina because there she “can

accomplish a lot on the court and in life.”

While the recruiting process can be challenging for any high school senior, the relationship between the players’ parents and the coach can have a calming effect.

“We have had a great relationship, almost like a motherdaughter relationship. I think [the recruiting process] can get very overwhelming,” Norris said. “I think Alaina’s parents have done a good job keeping things under perspective. I would say that they had their guidelines and stuck to their guns. They took pressure off Alaina, [they] took pressure off

me.”

Many opportunities are now opening up for female basketball players such as playing in college, playing professionally in the United States and even playing in the Olympics.

For Alaina, reaching her goals is not out of reach and to her coach, college is the place where she will improve to reach them.

“Going into her freshman year, you are going to see a lot of improvement out of her. I think that is going to bring it all out,” Norris said. “She’s got a lot of stuff in there that hasn’t come out yet but the more she matures, the more it comes out.”

Alaina Coates’ statistics 2011-2012 18.3 Points per Game 513 total points 10.4 Rebounds per Game 1.9 Steals per Game 3.5 Blocks per Game 1.4 Assists per Game *all statisctics from maxpreps.com

Senior Alaina Coates is introduced at the championship game, greeting teammate Shelby Curtis on the court.

dfr.sports.fall/ 21

KONY Moves to high school story and photos by collyn taylor and eddie bates

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he lights dim and the slow boom from the video echoes through the auditorium as the newest Invisible Children movie flickers on the screen for the hundreds of students sitting in the seats below.

The movie, Move, is being shown to high schoolers all around the country, urging them to participate in a march to the White House in Washington D.C. The video is part of the Kony 2012 campaign, which seeks to mobilize large groups of people to support government leaders to capture Joseph Kony, a military leader in central Africa,

through viral videos.

“A lot of it is through awareness campaigns,” Invisible Children team leader Valerie Mirelez said. “It’s hard for things to happen without the proper resources so getting people involved who do have access to more resources, like the U.S., helps.

“People wouldn’t have been involved with [the Move campaign] if nobody had known about it,” Mirelez said. “Through tours like this, through awareness [and] sharing videos online, millions of people around the world have gotten excited about bringing peace to this

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region and they have told their government leaders that they want to see this happen.”

According to the group’s website, Invisible Children looks to “create films to document atrocities, introduce new audiences to the conflict, and inspire global action.”

And the organization has done just that: Move and Kony 2012 have 93,714,215 combined views on YouTube.

“We work hard to get people to start thinking in a global context, not just a local or personal context,” Mirelez said.

“My hope is that it translates

into the rest of the lives of these people who are getting involved and trying to help.

“Instead of having the traditional hierarchy of power and information, we are turning it on its head and rising up as the people we are going to lead the world,” she said, “because we are all part of the world.”

Move talks to children of the Millennium generation: people born after 1980. Move talks specifically to this generation, telling them that this will be their mark on society.

“I think that if [Kony 2012] pans out, if they do catch Jo-

For this spread I wanted to show the infatuation teens had with KONY and social media with the picture as well as provide information about Invisible Children with the graphic. The design is important because of the unity and use of color.

Invisible Children • 80 percent of LRA incidents were not reported before the existence of Invisible Children’s LRA Crisis Tracker.

• $7,306,980 invested in 216 school infrastructure projects at 11 partner schools currently benefiting 9,300 seph Kony, then I think this will be like our generation’s way [to show] we’ve proven ourselves,” senior Ruel Williams said. “Our generation isn’t just a bunch of self-indulged people, that we do care about others and that we will group together to help out a large cause.”

The tour culminates in a daylong march in Washington, D.C. and surrounds the White House.

The march’s goal is to show the president that people in America want Joseph Kony stopped.

Invisible Children work mainly through Twitter and social media: creating videos,

tweeting and posting, as well as adding things to Tumblr. “[Social media has] been a huge impact,” Mirelez said.

“Most of the traction we’ve gained from this campaign has come from online sharing, from posts, people generating their own posts. Good and bad technology has been what is fueling this movement.

“We’re here in person to make people feel like they’re apart of the movement, because they are,” she said. “It’s not just something happening on the Internet, it’s something happening in real life.”

students.

• 3,729,815 people pledged their support for Kony 2012 from 185 countries around the world.

• 8,750 people benefit annually from IC’s programs.

• stats from invisiblechildren.org dfr.life.winter/ 23

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This spread is a stand out because of the use of color connecting the headline with the pictures as well as the drop cap. This spread also stands out because of the photography and the splash of color throughout the pages.

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This page helps showcase my talent of designing pages with a large amount of text. The color helps to tie the two similar stories together as well as the red in the headline with the red in the cartoon. While the bottom of the page has the second point, the color storps with the headline.

life

Family’s dreams go up in smoke Family, community struggle to regroup after devastating house fire story and photos by collyn taylor and eddie bates

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This linear three-page spread is important because it too has unity with the infographic as well as compelling photos of the damage. I like it because of the color that pops on the pages. This spread ran in Vol. 21 Issue 2.

life

The Imholtes’ charred possesions sit on the front porch of their former home.

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lames reach towards the sky as sophomore Josh Imholte watches his home and its memories go up in smoke.

The fire started at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18 when the family’s computer suffered an electrical short.

Josh said he heard a popping sound and when he went into his living room he saw the fire. “[My first thought] was to get everybody out,” Josh said. “I felt like it was my responsibility as the oldest child to make sure everybody was safe.”

Josh acted quickly to get his

three younger sisters (14, 7, and 4-years-old) and his mom out of the house and safely away from the fire as they waited for the fire department to arrive.

“The first thing I heard was Josh scream that the computer was on fire,” Josh’s mom, Annie Hansen, said. “It was a nightmare.”

Josh acted swiftly, saving several personal items in the home.

“He actually went back in to get his band instruments and his mom’s purse,” Josh’s friend sophomore Kelsey Busch said.

The Imholte family lost most of its possessions in the fire,

leaving them with almost nothing to their name.

“I'm blessed to have so much and it breaks my heart that they lost everything,” English teacher Carol Jackson said. “I want to model to my students that giving back is more than a one time thing; it’s a way of life.”

Jackson turned her words into action and organized a clothing drive that was a great success.

The Dutch Fork community has also been very helpful to the family during this hard time, and each of the children’s schools has found ways to help.

Varsity football coach Tom Knotts and Student Council advisor Laurie Humphrey organized a donation drive during the lower state championship game.

“We are a family [at Dutch Fork],” Jackson said. “I told my students that if the same thing were to happen to me that I would receive the same assistance.”

Along with the school's donations, some of the Imholtes’ neighbors have also helped out the family. “[The community] has donated clothes for my family and

Tips for creating a fire plan

1. Draw a floor plan 2. Choose a meeting place 20/ dfr.life.winter 2013

(Left) Josh’s sisters’ burnt doll house; (Above) The backyard filled with debris from the fire

stuffed animals for my little sisters,” Josh said, “along with a whole apartment of furniture.”

Students are doing what they can to help Josh out through this difficult time.

“I have been there for him as much as I can,” Kelsey said. “[When I heard] about the fire my heart dropped.”

Teachers also shared in the family’s grief. In addition to Jackson’s clothing drive and Humphrey’s work with Student Council, the faculty contributed almost $1,000 in cash to help

the Imholtes get back on their feet. “[Student Council] put out two buckets at the playoff games, one [for] Carolina [fans] and the other [for] Clemson,” student body Vice President Rachel McAfee said. “All of the proceeds went to the family.”

The incident registers on an emotional plane with the faculty because Josh’s mom is a District Five substitute teacher and the Parent/Teacher/Student Organization (PTSO) president at H.E Corley Elementary School.

“I’ve gotten so many hugs

this week, it’s been unreal,” Hansen said. “The donations have been pouring in. I can’t find any words to describe it.”

Josh said the experience has not only given him and his three younger siblings hope, but also strength. “[The experience has] given me confidence in knowing that I saved [my family],” Josh said.

Josh and Hansen said the fire has changed their outlook on life.

“I’ve realized that everything is so vulnerable, and that things really don’t last,” Josh said with

emotion in his voice. “[I guess] the only thing that we can do is try and get back to normal.”

All of the family’s belongings remained on their front porch after the fire, charred and black with smoke.

Among the possessions are his little sisters’ doll houses.

“Love your kids and love your family,” Hansen said with tears in her eyes.

“This has brought my family closer together,” she said. “[If it weren’t for Josh] we might not be here. He is my hero and I will tell him that until the day I die.”

(according to the U.S. government)

3. Call the fire department 4. Practice escape dfr.life.winter 2013/ 21

Photography

photos

I got this picture after the Invisible Children group started to pass out signs saying KONY 2012. This photo shows the prominence that social media has on international causes like KONY. This photo was used in the winter issue of The Renaissance.

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For this photo, I saw the players taking extra measures in warm ups before the game, so I decided to capture that intensity. This photo helps to show how seriously the players, take a rivalry game. This photo was used on the website for The Renaissance.

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This photo helps to show the intensity of the game with senior guard Justin Tweito trying to heave up a shot. I took this photo to try and express that desire and passion of the game. This photo was featured on foxfusion.org.

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I wanted to capture our team attacking the basket and the overall intensity that this game had. This photo helps to show that intensity. This was also used on foxfusion.org.

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This photo of junior guard Sterling Thomas shooting a free throw helps to show the fatigue setting in for the players behind him as they stood, panting and sweating, waiting for Sterling to shoot. This photo ran in the second issue of Vol. 21.

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The atmosphere at the state championship pep rally was electric as the football team sped onto the field.

I tried to capture the electricity felt by the football team and the emotion of the pep rally. This photo was used in the pep rally story on foxfusion.org

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As senior running back Trey Gregg pumps up the crowd, a smile breaks on his face. This photo captures the joy and emotion that Trey and his teammates had as they celebrate a colossal milestone at Dutch Fork. This was used as an image on foxfusion.org.

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The team was sent off by the singing of the alma mater. I took this photo to show how much the students were invested in the pep rally. This photo was used on our website, foxfusion.org.

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At the site of a house fire, most of a girl’s belongings were on the porch. As I was walking around, the pink dollhouse stood out. The photo helps to show the amount of damage that the fire cause and the kind of pain that fire can cause when it ran on our website.

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This is an image of all of the debris from the fire. I wanted to capture the intensity of the fire; burning doll houses, searing wood, destroying containers and leaving nothing in its wake. I tried to get the majority of burned materials in the shot, trying to show how much this fire engulfed.

Open

logo

I deisnged this logo to go in The Renaissance, Dutch Fork’s broadcasting show The Silver Screen Report and the FoxFusion website. I wanted to create a bond between all three that gave them a sense of unity. This logo does that as well as it looks clean and asthetically pleasing.

Dutch Fork’s news nexus

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QR code

To get the word out about The Renaisannce’s online presence, I created this QR code to help promote foxfusion.org.

This QR code runs in every magazine to link students from the magazine to the website. I also designed an interactive quiz in Vol. 21 Issue 2 that connected to our website as well.

Fox Fusion

Fox Fusion is the website for The Renaissance and Silver Screen Report. It is called Dutch Fork’s news nexus. First established my sophomore year, I heplped take it to a simple, yet clean design that looked pleasant to students.

Twitter

My junior saw the emergence of Fox Fusion’s Twitter account, @affoxfusion. The account, manned by the editor-in-chief, is used to publicize The Renaissance as well as inform students of goings on at school, in sports and in the community.