2305 East Main Street League City, TX 77573
Pink Bow Classic pg. 23
How I Met Your Mother pg. 18
Choir sings at Astro’s game pg. 8
April 2014 Volume 90, Issue 6
Photojournalist creates COVR for iPhone 5 and 5s By Jasmine Garza Editor-in-Chief After finding difficulty in capturing “the moment” Thomas Hurst invented a new way to covertly capture the moment without losing the essence of the atmosphere around him. Inspired by the events in his life, Hurst created the COVR case for the iPhone 5 and 5s. Hurst was born in 1971 in San Francisco, California. Around the age of 21 as Hurst was attending college in Bay Area, San Francisco he encountered an inward struggle as he tried to discover himself. “I was struggling to know what it was to be a man. I thought war and battles shaped culture and society and I needed to go to a place of war to find the ability and courage of ‘manhood’.” Before the summer of 1992 as a feeling was rustling in the core of Hurst’s soul, he was driven to the outside of his professor’s office where he was looking through a Time magazine. As he was looking though the magazine, an article about Sarajevo, Bosnia captured his eye. He had a vision to go to Sarajevo and learn. Hurst sold his motorcycle, got a passport, made fake media credentials and borrowed a camera from a friend as a prop to prove his story. As he got to the airport he managed to convince the United Nations that he was a journalist, and his journey to Sarajevo soon began. Once Hurst arrived in Sarajevo one of the first guys he met was a photojournalist who immediately knew Hurst was not who he claimed to be. John Downing
however, agreed to allow Hurst to stick around as long as he did not get in his way. Hurst learned his basic skills in Sarajevo and he realized photojournalism was, in fact, a career. Hurst then decided war photography was what he wanted to do. “There were no eggs in any other basket,” Hurst said about choosing to have a
have his whole life of those last moments. I didn’t do anything to help stop it. I don’t remember having conscious thoughts; my mind seemed to shut down. It was an out of body experience.” After the eyes of Hurst captured such an explicit view, he took a vow to never stand still again.
Photo Courtesy of COVR
career in war photography. Constantly being surrounded by war was not an easy task to take on. The photographer is stuck between capturing the moment and changing the moment. Hurst soon figured out the struggles with humanity that came along with photojournalism. “I was taking a photo of a little boy caught by a mob,” Hurst said. “I
“I vowed I would never not try to help someone again, no matter the consequences. The ghosts never seem to go away, but before anything, I’m a human being first, photojournalist next,” Hurst said. A few years later in 1996 Hurst attended the Eddie Adams Workshop where he won the 1996 Dan Eldon Memorial Award. At the workshop Kathy Eldon spoke about her
experiences and the experiences of her son. “I remembered being tremendously moved. I was inspired deeply by Kathy’s ability to be poignant and stoic with such pride for her son, instead of mourning his death. Months after Hurst won the Dan Eldon Memorial Award, the Eldons offered to mail him a check. However Hurst did not just want to receive a check, he wanted to receive much more that money could not buy. Hurst asked if he could fly down to Los Angeles and get to know more about the Eldons. “The time was incredibly powerful and impactful. I had the chance to see Dan’s original journals that were about to go to the press, and was given one of Dan’s original t-shirts and bracelets that he used to sell in Africa.” Hurst said. The t-shirt given to Hurst has much sentimental value for him. It was not just a shirt, but a story as well. “I know when I wear his shirt I’ll be talking about Dan. One day I’ll have it framed, hanging on a wall with 20 years of memorabilia around,” Hurst said. With the money the Eldons gave Hurst, he was able to buy an airline ticket to Rwanda, where he captured two award-winning photographs. “Dan’s mother’s money bought me a ticket to the continent that Dan loved most. I felt Dan being Dan. I could feel Dan’s spirit from afar every chance I got.” Hurst said. Hurst finally reached the climax of his career. He was a photographer for the Seattle Times, he had reached all his goals and had Continued on page. 4
Culture Shapers comes to end with sponsor’s death By Jenan Taha Features Editor
Due to the recent death of the prominent leader and sponsor of Culture Shapers, Ernie Fitzpatrick, the Culture Shapers board has decided to dissolve the 501C3 organization which funds the art competition, and to suspend the visual arts and vocal divisions until further notice. Fitzpatrick was 70 years old. Fitzpatrick unfortunately passed at the beginning of March, in the middle of the Young Voices of Houston vocal competition, before the visual arts contest could take place. Because the vocal competition has been discontinued, the two finalists were both given $500 as a gesture of good will. All fees paid to the contest have been refunded. The Culture Shapers board chose to terminate the funding organization in order to give closure to Fitzpatrick’s family and enable them to move forward. The board believes there is no way to continue their competitions without their most significant organizer.
“This decision was made for practical, financial, emotional, and dare I say, spiritual reasons,” the board said. “We all believe that, while we are reluctant to take this path, it is in the best interest of all involved. Put simply, Ernie is irreplaceable.” Ernest Fitzpatrick, an Arkansas native, was both a real estate and business entrepreneur. He was also an active member of the First Baptist Church. After moving to Houston, he became the CEO of Century 21 of Texas and COO of RE/MAX and taught students management skills. Fitzpatrick also founded and became the president of the Liberty Revival Church. After his death on March 6, 2014, a memorial service was held in memory of his legacy at the Houston Family Art Center. “Ernie’s passions and drive were responsible for both the creation and sustenance of Culture Shapers and for the countless benefits this organization provided to young artists, their teachers, mentors, and families, and to the Culture Shapers family as well,” the board said. Many Clear Creek art students were
prepared to enter their pieces in the visual art contests, and were disappointed with the news that the contest would be suspended. “I understand why they had to cancel it, but it is really upsetting,” Ami Artiz, junior, said. “It hurts young artists’ opportunities to get scholarship money for their future careers.” Culture Shapers is one of the biggest and most competitive contests available for high school students, and the possibility of its permanent cancellation is disheartening for many students and teachers. “It was the only competition that offered kids a chance to be creative,” Mrs. Terri Foltz-Fox said. “It rewarded kids who took a chance, unlike Rodeo, which requests more conservative pieces.” According to Culture Shapers, many young artists have pursued art careers because of the confidence and financial aid they received from the contest. Other than the Rodeo Art contest, Culture Shapers offers the most prize money to Texas art students—a total of $83,000 a year. Without the opportunity to win scholarship money,
many art students may be discouraged from enrolling in art colleges, which are some of the most expensive colleges in America. The Culture Shapers competition was much less strict and traditional than other art competitions, such as VASE. It allowed students to enter all sorts of art pieces, some of which may have been too controversial for other contests. It was the only contest purely for high school students that let artists truly express themselves. Thousands of entries would flood in each year, also making Culture Shapers one of the most competitive competitions in Texas. The Culture Shapers board is deeply saddened by the loss of their leader, and honored his memory and legacy in a message posted on their website. “We may never know what is destined to bloom from the many seeds that Cultures Shapers has planted, but we can be sure that Ernie created the means for everyone associated with Culture Shapers to do good in the world,” the board said.