2013 May HiLife

2305 East Main Street League City, TX 77573

Water Polo pg. 19

Final Exams Schedule pg. 14

Summa Cum Laude pg. 12

May 2013 Volume 89, Issue 8

Seniors recognized at 57th annual Senior Awards

By Valerie Hellinghausen Editor-in-Chief

On May 21, 2013, parents, staff, and seniors from the class of 2013 filled the auditorium at Clear Creek High School (CCHS) for the 57th annual Senior Awards Night. At the ceremony, students received awards, scholarships, and other honors for their various achievements throughout their high school career.

After an opening speech given by Principal Scott Bockart, the ceremony started off by awarding corporate and foundation scholarships. For each scholarship, a representative from each organization briefly explained the history behind each award, and shared a little about each recipient’s accomplishments.

The American Legion Post 554 recognized runners-up Jesse Churchill and Delesandri at the awards night as well as American Legion Scholarship winners Claire Mitchell and Morgan Records.

Valerie Hellinghausen and Annelise Rickman were both awarded the Clear Creek Community Council PTA Scholarship. The Clear Creek High School PTSA Scholarship awarded four scholarships to Paige Figge, Valerie Hellinghausen, Annelise Rickman, and Alexander Wahl.

Mitchell Becker received the George Bruce Foundation Scholarship Award for his athletic, academic and leadership performance over four years.

The League City Garden Club awarded one scholarship to Madison Wright at the ceremony.

Lunar Rendezvous awarded one scholarship prize to 2012-2013 Lunar Rendezvous Captain John Thomey.

Shannon Ischy, Brandon Peters, and Benjamin Pilgrim were each awarded a scholarship from the League City Masonic Lodge #1053.

Kaila Thomas received the North

awarded to scholarship prizes to Phillip O’Toole and Madison Williams.

Micky Wooten, owner of South Shore Grille, awarded a $5000 scholarship to Alayna Pena-Mendez, who also received the Ladies Guild of Queen of Peace Catholic Church Scholarship later on in the evening.

Photo by Monica Jackson

Galveston Count Chamber of Commerce Award.

Benjamin Pilgrim, though not in attendance for the ceremony, was also awarded the Ray Joseph Hutchinson Scholarship, a scholarship founded in honor of CCHS alumnus Ray Hutchinson who died in combat while serving in Iraq in 2003.

The Rotary Club of League City

Three Honorable Mention certificates for the Texas Scholars Award were presented to Valerie Hellinghausen, Laura Holzenkamp, and Annie Pham.

Representatives from Space City Cruisers awarded the Vicki Harvey Gibson Memorial Scholarship to Phillip O’Toole.

In addition, Christopher Backus, Blaze Boyer, Kevin Chase, Andrew Kuhlman, Nicholas Leach, James Ortiz, Rafe Zamora, and Michael Sulkis’ names will all be added to the plaque in the auditorium lobby for achieving Eagle Scout status.

The second portion of the ceremony focused on the various awards and scholarships given by departments and booster clubs at CCHS. Awards were also presented to students in each core academic class, foreign language, sport, and extracurricular activities. Several of these awards recognize students who were nominated by the CCHS faculty and staff.

Sara Gerke and Phillip O’Toole were recognized as the Bauerschlag Faculty Scholars while Alexander Wahl and Casey Dervay received the Ralph Parr Award.

Senior class officers Hanna Cardinal, Carly Carsey, Jordan Cooley, Casey Dervay, and Madison Williams each received a Senior Class Officer Medallion Award.

Two James Glenn Memorial Awards were presented to Claire Mitchell and Phillip O’Toole.

The faculty also award thirty Goforth Medallion Awards to Gains Baker, Mitchell Becker Alexandra Bercich, Hannah Brinsko, Celeste Clary, Miles Dean, Regan Delesandri, Casey Dervay, Stephanie Ding,

James Driver, Paige Figge, Sara Gerke, Valerie Hellinghausen, Laura Holzenkamp, Shannon Ischy, Ty Jentzen, Dusty Maes, Matthew McCullough, Claire Mitchell, Marvis Nelson, Kevin Oram, Phillip O’Toole, Annie Pham, Benjamin Pilgrim, Blake Poole, Morgan Records, Andre Ross, Ashley Smith, Michael Stegemoeller, and Olivia Todd.

Booster club representatives also came to award several scholarships of varying amounts to students involved in everything from cheerleading to drama to volleyball.

Representatives from the U.S. Army and U.S. Marines recognized students who will enlist in the armed services after graduating from high school and also presented awards to students who achieved success both in athletics and academics: Mitchell Becker and Ashley Smith were recognized as U.S. Army National Scholar Athletes.

Anna Hamilton and Matthew McCullough were recognized by the U.S. Marines with the Scholastic Excellence Award.

Clarinet player Jacqueline Koonce and percussionist Michael Sulkis were awarded the U.S. Marines Semper-Fidelis Award.

Blake Poole and Olivia Todd were both recognized as U.S. Marines Distinguished Athletes.

As the ceremony came to a close, the 37 cum laude graduates and 18 magna cum laude graduates received their honors cords. The 22 summa cum laude graduates of 2013 received their honor cords as well as their summa cum laude medallions. The ceremony also took a moment to recognize the graduates who were recognized as four-time Superintendent Scholars. In addition to the honors awards, 95 students received their Distinguished Achievement Plan (DAP) medallions. All of these cords and medals will be worn by each honors graduate and or DAP graduate at the commencement ceremony on June 7.

In addition to these academic honors, the seven students who were selected as National Merit Commended and three National Merit Scholar Award recipients were recognized and will have their names added to the plaque in the A100’s. This year’s one National Hispanic Scholar, Celeste Clary, and Honorable Mention Jessie Trevino were also applauded for their achievements.

At the end of the ceremony, valedictorian Stephanie Ding and salutatorian and U.S. Presidential Scholar Award candidate Laura Holzenkamp were recognized for being ranked as the top two graduating students in the 2013 senior class.

Students who were unable to attend the awards ceremony can visit the Counseling Center to pick up any awards.

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Opinion : s r io

Sen

“Having to do my own laundry.”

-Mitchell Becker University of Texas

“No fear.” chy -Shannon Is ity State Univers n o st u o H m Sa “Not having Alex Wahl with me at college.”

-Miraj Patel Baylor University

What scares you the most about college? going to be a ’s It t. o n m I’ “ reat time and a g very exciting erience.” learning exp -Nikki Lloyd University Texas A&M “Not being a ble to see th e people you u sed to see ev ery day.”

-Austin Stro ike Texas A&M Galveston

esome “Being way too aw ” for everyone there. r -Clayton Egan-Wye Neumont University

ll Clarissa in a “Not having s to do all of of my classe me. Also hav r fo rk o w y m up and drive ing to grow far.” inez -Daniel Mart f Houston University o

“ I won’t have my parents or anyone to help me out. I will have to start fig uring everythin g out myself.

-Bethanie Edm onds Stephen F. Aust in University

“Knowing that no one will help me anymore. This is life. Where did the time go?”

-Austin Kiekel San Jacinto Community College

won’t be obli I t a th t c fa e “Th nd class.” gated to atte lazar -Clarissa Sa e unity Colleg Blinn Comm

“Not achieving my engineering degree because I get too distracted.”

-Taylor Curran Texas A&M University

“Being on my own and having to make my own decisions.”

-Erin Owen Texas Christian University

hool where I “Going to sc anyone.” don’t know on Tom McMah iv Un ersity Stony Brook “The responsibilities.”

-Zachary Leal Houston Community College

“Not eating right.”

-Laura Paige Brightwell Sam Houston State University “Meeting new people. It’s going to feel like freshman year all over again.”

-Kathy Chiang University of Houston “Nothing. I can’t wait.”

-Ian Wooldridge UT San Antonio

y own “Having to buy m itioner.” shampoo and cond -Amie Geistman niversity Louisiana State U

“Missing Grandmother’s cookies.”

-David Coble Texas A&M University

“ I’m afraid that I will say something stupid around a sketchy group of hoodlums in the wrong part of Houston and never be heard from again.”

-Ben Pilgrim University of Houston “I’m really scared that the inmates from the prison down the road will break out and kidnap me.”

-Miranda Spandein Sam Houston State University

y from Momm “Being away and Daddy.” ee -Jackie Hard te University Lousiana Sta dbye to my “Saying goo y dog.”

Mom and m art -Chase Stew University Southwestern

2012-2013

HiLife Staff

Principal: Scott Bockart

Advisor: Wynette Jameson

Proofreader: Jan O’Neil

Editor-in-Chief: Valerie Hellinghausen

Design Editor: Hannah Brinsko

Management Editor: Madison Williams

Features Editor: Leticia Suarez

News Editor: Arlen Addison

Teen Interest Editor: Kristina Koonce

Sports Editors: Greg Brotzman

Dylan Hill

Around Creek Editors: Lisa Nhan

Jenan Taha

Advertising Manager: Jasmine Garza

Photo Editor: Gabrielle Renwall

Online Editor: Monica Jackson Justin Behrens Breanna Jeffcoat Sydney Matthews Mallori Flanagan Hannah Gellman Audree Hall

Lilli Lara Shelby Lyles

Jessica Sieling Natalie Steele Rachel Wolfe

Published at Mirror Publishers in Texas City Visit us at: http://clearcreekhighschool.ihigh.com For ad rates call: (281)284-1889 Fax: (281)316-0587

“Figuring out how to manage my time.”

-Michael Stegemoeller Texas A&M Galveston

“Driving all over by myself.”

-Andrea Spagnuolo University of Houston

Editorial

By Valerie Hellinghausen Editor-in-Chief Over the past four years, I have risen in the ranks of this newspaper from a curious JI student to a shy reporter and first-time editor to a single editor-in-chief. When I first received the title of editor-in-chief, I came across an old guide buried in our computer server written by one of my previous mentors and editors-in-chief.

This guide detailed some of the key rules to leading this newspaper and the staff, and became extraordinarily useful in various difficult situations.

However, this guide did not prepare me to lead the staff in such a way that by the end of eight issues, they would feel not only a sense of accomplishment for their achievements, but a sense of commitment to a family of their peers. To all the future editors-inchief of this paper, I write my final editorial for the HiLife and my own final words of advice.

If you fail to plan, plan to fail.

In the world of journalism, there were always rules written out for me to be followed from an editing checklist to the standards of the AP Style book. However, there were no real written rules of using leadership to execute my vision. And so, at the beginning of the year in the weeks before school started, I committed myself to establishing a standard of practice that could easily be followed for each issue.

After all, we cannot hope to make good news out of bad practice. Eight issues later, this system that we established as a staff allowed us to build creatively upon a solid foundation. And so, as you accept the title of editor-in-chief, I urge you to create your own model and plan of action, whether you adopt parts of the system we used this year, or start completely from scratch. If you go into this year with no plan of action or vision, the staff will have no foundation to invest their confidence in, and the first issues will be that much more difficult.

Effective communication is just as important as effective action.

After a series of frustrating e-mails with counselors and teachers, it became clear that there was no way for me to be in all the classes I wanted and to be in the advanced newspaper classes. I spent two

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Senior Editorial:

Senior Editorial:

Valerie’s Voice

Madison’s Musings

hours each day running this newspaper behind the scenes in the editing room without seeing a single member of the staff. With no face-to-face communication with the staff, I had to adapt my methods of communication with written to-do lists, daily videos detailing the plan of action for the day, and a list of contact information on each staff member. While this was a less than ideal situation, it taught me to delegate the workload this newspaper demands to various roles on a day-by-day basis. The hardest lesson you will learn as an editor-in-chief is that you cannot run this paper single-handedly even if it feels like you already do. Invest your trust in the staff, especially your editors and the same trust will be invested in the other roles of this paper, and in you. There will be times where you will be unable to take action or work side-by-side with the staff, and in these situations you must rely on straightforward, uncomplicated communication in order to meet your deadlines and keep this ship of a newspaper afloat.

A l w a y s look for positive solutions not problems.

One way of looking at the role of the editor-in-chief is to see the position as “the Problem Solver.” In my earlier issues, I spent so much time looking for what was done wrong instead of looking at what we, as a staff, had done right. While a lot of editing is about pointing out errors, try to recognize what others have done well, and then help them find a solution to what needs fixing. In the end, the staff will reflect the positive attitude you helped establish, and the eight issues you have to print together will be far more enjoyable.

The key to a successful year is to take time to festivus with your HiLife family.

In the brief time we spend in high school, there are a million and one reasons to be stressed out. As editor-in-chief, the current state of the newspaper will often be one of them. Often the hardest part of this job is not the problems you have to solve, but finding a way to let those things go. There will be mistakes, misprints, and missed opportunities but you have to put all of that aside and give the staff some time to celebrate or “festivus” all of the good in each issue. While I am certainly proud of every paper the staff has put out this year, I am more proud of the familial bonds we created this year. In newspaper we learn that “the journey is the destination,” and that in the end, it does not matter how great those eight issues were; the experience and the memories we leave with at graduation are what matter. So take some time this next year to forget your worries, eat ‘fruit,” win some rounds of Logo, and enjoy your brief time with the staff.

“My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence.”

—General Montgomery

By Madison Williams Management Editor It’s time. Seniors are finally graduating.

The day is here and it appears to be time to rejoice. We are growing up and moving on, something we’ve only dreamed of up until it becomes our reality as we step across that stage. Our friends are moving around the country to go to school and on to bigger and better things. As we embark on this new phase of our lives, our values will grow and change as we do. So as my last editorial for Clear Creek High School, I would like to impart the wisdom that I have collected over my eighteen years.

Now keep in mind that I am not qualified whatsoever to give you advice of any sort but I am about to anyways.

• If high school was the best time of your life, you are doing it wrong. There should be no single span of time that exceeds the others. The best time of your life should be the moments that you collect throughout the long prosperous life that I hope you live.

• Don’t take life too seriously. As they say, no one gets out alive anyways.

Brush off those bad days and think about the good ones to come.

• If a street performer makes you stop walking because you’re listening, you owe him buck. You are in high school yes, but you are also a global citizen. It is time to become aware of this. Take notice of those around you and enjoy their company, in this case, their music.

• When entrusted with a secret, keep it. How many of you remember the kid who told your crush in elementary school that you liked him or her? These things stick with you. Be remembered for the right reasons.

• Hold your heroes to a high standard. Never lower your standards because someone lowered theirs.

• A suntan is earned not bought.

But really, you do not look good.

• Take a vacation from technology once a year. Americans get so absorbed in their technology. A break is required at least once a year, even if it is only for a day. You may go back to your Facebook stalking or you may realize that being on the outside and looking into someone’s life

purely based on photos is not the type of friendship that you want to cultivate.

• Do not pose for a picture with any sort of substance in your hands.

• When opening presents, no one likes a good guesser. Let the gift giver have his or her fun watching your face as you open their gift.

• Give credit when it is deserved and take blame when it falls on you.

• Forgive yourself for your mistakes.

People are hardest on themselves so learn to forgive yourself, because everyone else has already forgiven you.

• Learn how to cook one good meal.

You can impress anyone with this meal and you will know it by heart. We have to learn to cook eventually.

• In college, always sit in the front of the lecture hall. You will get to know the professor and come grad time that could be really useful.

• The opposite sex likes people who shower. If you have to question whether or not you smell, you smell. So just shower.

• Be kind.

Everyone has some sort of emotional baggage that they are dragging along with him or her.

• Buy the orange properties in Monopoly. You will win every time.

• Make the little things count because at times the little things are what matter the most. A small gesture is worth more than no gesture at all.

• There is a fine line between looking good to go out at night and looking down right promiscuous and ready for the red light district. As a common courtesy to everyone that you will come into contact with that night find that boundary.

• Showing off your body does not make you more appealing, at least not to the right people. There are plenty of thin girls or buff guys out there. You are not the only one, so remember that when you attempt to “flaunt it.”

• You are never too old to need your mom. She will forever be your mom; you are still allowed to be a child on occasion.

• Girls, if you make the decision to wear heels out at night, then make the commitment to keep them on and keep your mouth shut about how much they hurt. As soon as you open your mouth to complain, it ruins the appeal.

• Being old or young is not dictated by your bedtime.

• Make goals. They are essential to realize what you are working for and to not loose track of where you want to be.

I am sure there a million more things of parting wisdom that I could leave you with, but these are the ones that stood out the most to me. So as my final adieu to Clear Creek High School, I wish everyone who is and is not graduating the best and it’s off A&M University for me.

“I see it all perfectly; there are two possible situations - one can either do this or that. My honest opinion and my friendly advice is this: do it or do not do it - you will regret both.”

-Soren Kierkegaard

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Editorial

By Hannah Brinsko Design Editor One day in the spring of fifth grade, I distinctly remember my US History course being interrupted so that the school councilor could talk to us about the future.

My classmates and I all sat around and took personality quizzes that led us too suggested careers and college majors, then the teacher brought out books where we could flip through potential jobs and it would suggest which electives we should take, and what the top colleges are for the required major.

In eighth grade in the midst of Hurricane Ike, I had to take an elective with the rest of my friends at Westbrook Intermediate where we compiled resumes and wrote essays on what college we wanted to go to and why. I had been given copious amounts of copious amounts of prep work and advice for the future before I had even registered for my freshman year courses.

Then came high school, with a hundred different voices and fighting to have the greatest opinion and shouting that their point of view was the best. Teachers, counselors, parents, and classmates all force fed me information about AP classes, extra circular activities, SAT test prep, and the importance of volunteering trying to secure the most options for myself come next fall. I joined several clubs, and worked my way up to leadership positions over time. I volunteered to have something to write about in my college essays. I took harder classes, not for the sake of learning, but for the sake of pleasing my parents.

I toured several college campuses and gathered the letters of recommendation that the admissions counselors craved. I spent countless hours editing and reworking college admission essays and resumes.

But in less than three months, I move one hundred and ninety miles west to Austin to start over. It will not matter how many AP classes I took, or how many of the classes I got a ‘C’ in. It will not matter that I was an officer of the National Honor Society, or that I was demoted for receiving in school suspension−twice. It will not matter that I got into Fontenot’s fancy National Merit prep course, or how disappointing my SAT score was because despite my mother and

Senior Editorial:

Senior Editorial:

Hannah’s Hullabaloo

Dylan’s Diversions

Fontenot’s nagging, I still did not study much.

It is not my resume items themselves, but the experiences they served me with that I hope will prove useful next semester.

Maybe it won’t be important that I took AP US History, or the hours I spent studying for Gardner’s tests in World History. But the study skills I learned from taking four years of AP social studies courses will be advantageous during my freshman year economics class. And surely my Resident Advisor won’t care about my time I spent volunteering in Panama after my sophomore year of high school, or the several college admission essays I wrote based on the experience. But my time abroad has made me much more comfortable meeting new people and problem solving, skills I’m sure will prove useful moving to a campus of over fifty thousand.

I know several of my classmates describe us leaving for college as bittersweet. I don’t quite understand this. For my closest friends, who are attending A&M and Texas Tech, it won’t matter that our time at Creek is over, or that we will no longer live in the same city, I know that we will make the effort to stay in touch, no matter what our locations are. And while we are separating out and moving apart, in exchange we get to live on our own for the first time. We will get to move to new cities, and meet new people. We will get to tailgate and cheer in the student section. We will get to choose a major we like to work towards having a career when we graduate, and hopefully we will get to learn from some incredible professors.

For better or worse, my slate, along with everyone else’s will be wiped clean when we all start college. Everything we have done up to this point has been to get us out of high school and into college.

We go forward in life, graduating with stoles and cords that will be absolutely insignificant to our future professors and TA’s. For the next four years I will take classes, conduct research, work internships, and gain leadership experience to put on a resume when I am applying for my first job or to graduate school, only to have my slate wiped clean when I get there. But the friendships I hope to make in college, and the experience I hope to gain, will last much longer than the next four years at UT. And for that reason, not the resume, they are all worth building.

“There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

-C.S. Lewis

By Dylan Hill Sports Editor I have been in high school for four years now and I have played high school sports for four years as well. The main thing I am going to miss about high school is the sports I played. And of the two sports I played football will be the one missed most, from the different lessons I learned, to the friendships I made with the players and coaches, I have played football for six years, two years in middle school and four years in high school.

But the years that I will remember for the rest of my life are the ones played here at Clear Creek High School.

Coming in as a freshman in high school is scary at first, especially if you are playing a sport. The good thing about football is that you get to start knowing the coaches and older players before the school year even starts. Conditioning camp and two a days start at the beginning of the summer and gives the new players a chance to get used to everything before the season gets started. Once you start to settle in you realize it’s not as bad as everyone has led you to believe.

Don’t get me wrong, it is very hard and not for everyone but if football is what you love you will fit right in.

There was nothing that was more apparent to me than the bond you get with your fellow players and coaches. They are no longer fellow players or even friends; they are your family and brothers. You start to feel like the coaches are people you can tell anything to and they will listen. Out of all the football coaches there are two that I will always remember, Coach Hunt and Coach Head. Both of them were always there for me and listened when I needed to talk. Coach Hunt the first Varsity coach I ever talked to and got close to, was a great person. He could tell if anything was wrong or bothering a player and you could always tell him what it was. He was a hard coach there is no doubt about that. He knew how to push you and get you pumped for

practices and games. During game weeks he would always where who ever we were playing’s colors and mascot. There was no doubt that he cared for each and every one of his players and would put his players before anything else. He was and still will be remembered as a great man by his players and fellow coaches.

The other coach I will always remember is Coach Head. He is a great coach and cares for all of his players.

When you talk to him, you feel like you are talking to a friend instead of a coach.

Like Coach Hunt, he knew how to get you pumped and ready for football. When a good play was made he was the first to congratulate you on what you did. He wouldn’t just tell you good job he would go crazy, get pumped and go up for a chest bump, getting you more pumped and ready to get out there again. After our last game of the season he talked to us individually about letting us know that we had a great year and we will do great things with our lives.

They were both the greatest coaches I have had and will ever have. There is nothing like having one of your coaches as a friend.

Coach Head will be one of the few people I come back to high school to talk to and see how things are going.

High school football will always be apart of my life that I remember and Coach Head and Coach Hunt will be the two coaches I will tell my children about when they decide to take up sports.

Out of all the things I did in high school the one thing that I am glad that I did and kept with it for all four years is football. It has taught me many things and made friendships with people I would of never known if I didn’t play football. It teaches you great lessons. Not only are the coaches teaching you things to make you better at football they are teaching you life lessons.

You will get pushed and you will feel like you can’t do something on the football field but you will realize that anything can be overcame and accomplished; A lesson that will translate over into your life. I will miss football I am going to miss my coaches and my fellow players but it is time to take what I learned and apply it to the next chapter of my life.

“Sports creates a bond between contemporaries that lasts a lifetime. It also gives your life structure, discipline and a genuine, sincere, pure fulfillment that few other areas of endeavor provide.”

-Bob Cousy

Editorial Senior Editorial: Lety’s Last Words

By Lety Suarez Features Editor

When we’re seniors, we think that everything that we’ve done, and everyone that we’ve met, will simply be replaced by the upcoming college years.

This, of course, is not true. Whether we like it or not, and we don’t most of the time, high school will stay with us forever. It will shape our decisions, and will be the foundation of the memories that we turn back to when we want to brag about our “popularity” to our grandchildren.

Clear Creek is the second high school that I’ve attended, and I’ve made wonderful friends that I

will keep with me forever, but I also made wonderful friends in the first school I went to, and although I hoped to forget, life just decided to pile the reasons why I shouldn’t have left. Change is hard, and sometimes is not worth giving up the things you already have. I’m scared of change. Coming from a place where life everyday was a rigid routine, made me detest the simplest alterations. As of today, I have gone to seven different schools, have made seven different group of friends, have had to bear seven different set of teachers, have had to adapt to seven different sets of rules, have learned seven different schedules, and even have gotten used to seven different cultures. Yes, I never had much choice, never really had a voice in these decisions, and even though some of these changes were for the best, I regret them. The only reason why I smile everyday is because everywhere I turn to, there’s a face that smiles back.

It amazes me how we end up taking routes that we never imagined we would, or falling for that one person whom we never really bothered to notice at first, or making that decision that completely shifted the direction of our original plan.

Somehow, we just end up at the opposite side of the pool with no idea of how we got there. Sure, we just swam ahead, but the truth is, what matters the most is the techniques and support that we needed to do so.

Some take high school as a joke, and let’s face it, we’ve all had that creeping thought of skipping a boring class, or “forgetting” to do an assignment,

or imagining ourselves talking back to a teacher, if you haven’t already done so. It’s hard to ignore the desire to give in to peer pressure when it seems like the easiest way out. Why should we, anyway?

Well, everyone has a different reason, and whether

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.” -Paulo Coelho

we follow through with it or not, it still makes a significant change.

We grow, physically, mentally, and emotionally. We learn to give up things we thought we couldn’t live without, or we introduce to our bod-

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ies new obsessions that stick with us no matter how hard we try to give it up. Looking back at that first day of school, when older students looked like royalty, we regret wanting to be like them. These obsessions that promised to give us attention, now haunt us everywhere we go. It was never worth it.

Having enough experience of what the high school years bring, we try to warn our younger friends and siblings, because change is unexpected and dangerous. They listen, nodding their heads with idea that it will never happen to them, because it couldn’t. This is the first step to drowning in the pool, without ever getting the chance to prove to others that it was a simple mistake.

Of course, it does get better, or worse. Why? Because we allow ourselves change. Doors open, others close, relationships are built, others are destroyed, lives are made, many are lost, to the simple lie that we’ll make it through effortlessly.

College is around the corner. It’s exciting to finally be considered an adult, finally be able to write your grocery list, pick all of your furniture, and be the main voice of your decisions, but what we forget is that it’s not as easy as it seems. It will be like starting high school all over again, but worse: New people, new teachers, new campus, and new challenges that are harder than the one before. We all fail to see that life is a routine; it repeats itself in different shapes and forms. This might help us to prepare, or it might destroy our chances of success, either way, we will never see it coming. That’s life.

Senior Editorial: Greg’s Goodbye before. Honestly I didn’t know what to expect of my high school baseball career when it started.

Now that I have played my last baseball game, I can turn back and reflect on what an amazing experience it was to have played baseball with teammates who I have now become so close to.

When I moved over to Clear Creek from Clear Springs for my sophomore year I expected a rough transition. But, in turn, the exact opposite happened. The move was easier then I could have ever imagined, and the baseball program was everything that I expected.

The sense of tradition at Clear Creek was one that could not be matched at any other school I felt like. And the unity of the student body was something I had not expected.

But what I really enjoyed the most about my first year at Creek was, in fact, my first baseball season playing for the Wildcats. This is where the memories first started to build up. One of the first memories I will retain in my baseball career is getting my first experience on the varsity level in a scrimmage against Beaumont

Westbrook. I had just gotten told only a couple hours earlier that I had been moved up because one of the varsity catchers had been suspended and would not be able to play in the scrimmage that night. Immediately the nerves of being a sophomore on varsity began to hit me, and as

“Baseball was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world”- Babe Ruth

By Greg Brotzman Sports Editor I had already been playing baseball for most of my life, but high school baseball was a whole new experience for me. The competitiveness, the strive to win, everything about it was a step up from anything I had ever been a part of

game time got closer and closer, they only got worse. As I watched from the dugout for the first few innings I wondered what would happen when my name was called to come in. As I went through all the scenario’s I heard Coach Mallory call my name telling me to come in.

As I walked out to the field and took my spot behind the plate I can admit that the nerves that had been bothering me since I got the call up totally took over. Although I did not have good night in the least, the experience was still one I used to grow as a player.

Goodbye Photographers! I’ve had a blast working with all of you this year! - Gaby Renwall

Perhaps the biggest moment in my career at Creek came later that year when I started my first game ever as pitcher in high school. Of course my first start would come against no one else but my former school and rival Clear Springs. Once again the nerves began to take over. Except this time as game time began to get closer and closer I was able to tone them down. The experience I had gained on my short time on varsity had allowed me to control my emotions better, and by game time I had taken that nervousness and turned it into adrenaline.

From the start of the game until the very last pitch I used the adrenaline to fuel me through any tough situation that I came across, and by the game I had pitched the game of my life and beaten my former school and our biggest rival in what is still one of my favorite high school memories.

My junior and senior year playing baseball didn’t include the same amount of playing time that my sophomore year did, but in no way did this make these last 2 years any less eventful.

These last two years have provided me with just as many memories as my first year in Clear Creek baseball. I still remember the long bus rides the past two years to all the tournaments and games in pre-season to play some of the best teams in the Houston area, and in many cases the region.

I definitely still remember the intensity of every district game, our team seemingly overcoming every persons expectations (besides our own of course). I still can re-live those extra inning games against Brazoswood and Clear Springs and the heartbreak after coming up empty.

But the one thing I know I will always remember is the last playoff series against Fort Bend Dulles. Coming in against a team that was ranked number one in the state at the start of the year and playing as if all 3 of those games were our last. The pure exhaustion we all felt after playing 13 innings, only to have it turn into exhilaration, making a dog pile at home plate after scoring the winning run. The great performances we showed in game 2, again going into extra innings, only to lose 1-0 in the 10th. And the one thing I am most proud of, the unity our team still shows after losing game 3 and ending our season. After that loss not a single teammate of mine brought upon the negatives of the game or brought any senior who had played their last game down. At that moment after the loss I realized the impact that high school baseball has had on me, and the many friendships and bonds I had formed that I know I will not forget anytime soon.

6

News

NTSB seeks to lower blood-alcohol content rate

By Rachel Wolfe Reporter

The standard 0.08 blood-alcohol content rate that has been the benchmark for determining legal intoxication for over a decade is under scrutiny. Federal safety officials told CNN on May 14th that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was advising law officials and legislators to lower the standard from 0.08 percent, to 0.05, reducing the total amount of alcohol a motorist can consume before being considered drunk.

At a meeting in Washington, the NTSB recommended that all states lower the standard. This will reduce the nations drunk driving death toll, which, according to CNN, has plateaued at about 10,000 deaths per year. Lowering the standard to 0.05, NTSB staff argued, would save 500 to 800 lives every year, and this motion is a crucial part of the boards long-term goal to completely eliminate drunk driving in the U.S. According to an online blood calculator published by the University of Oklahoma, a 180-pound male will typically hit the 0.08 percent mark after consuming four alcoholic drinks in one hour. The same 180-pound male would reach the 0.05 percent threshold after only consuming two or three drinks in an hour.

The board will discuss the lowering of the legal rate as well as many other actions that can be placed in effect to lower, and eventually eliminate, drunken driving.

According to CNN, among these acts is a new law that would allow police authorities to immediately confiscate licenses from drivers who exceed the blood alcohol limits. It is also pushing for laws that would require all first-time DUI offenders to have ignition-locking devices installed in their cars. In order to start their vehicle, the motorist will be required to breathe into the device. If the device picks up any alcohol, the car will not start.

At the meeting, Deborah Hersman, NTSB Chairman, acknowledged that progress had been made over the years to reduce drunk driving, but “too many people are still dying on America’s roads.”

content (BAC) rate have been ongoing for decades. In the early 1980’s, many states required a 0.15 BAC rate to be legally intoxicated. Since then, groups devoted to preventing drunk driving, such as Mothers

Illustrated table showing maximum legal blood alcohol levels, by drinker’s weight; with charts showing how much equals one drink and deadliest holidays for alcohol-related traffic accidents. Orange County Register, MCT 2010

“In the last 30 years, more than 440,000 people have perished in this country due to alcohol-impaired driving. What will be out legacy 30 years from now? If we don’t tackle alcohol-impaired driving now, when will we find the will to do so?” said Hersman.

Battles over lowering the blood alcohol

Against Drunk Driving, pushed states to adopt the 0.08 BAC standard. After passing such movements, the total number of alcohol related highway fatalities dropped from 20,000 in 1980 to 9,878 in 2011, the NTSB said.

“I think .05 is going to come. How long it takes to get there, we don’t know.

But it will happen,” said NTSB official Robert Molloy.

According to CNN, the NTSB cited research proving that most drivers experience declines in both cognitive and visual functions with a BAC of 0.05. They also mentioned that currently, more than 100 countries have BAC limits set at 0.05 or lower.

Not everyone is in full agreement with the proposals. The American Beverage Institute attacked the main recommendation. According to CNN, their claim is the average woman reaches a BAC of 0.05 after one alcoholic beverage. The group said it gathered this information from a chart used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

However, NHTAS told CNN that they no longer consider that chart valid, “as there are many variables” that contribute to an individuals level of intoxication.

Though the beer industry said it would examine the proposals by NTSB, the President of the Beer Institute left another recommendation.

“We strongly encourage policymakers to direct their efforts where we know we can get results: by focusing on repeat offenders and increasing penalties on those with a BAC of 0.15 or more,” said Joe McClain, President of the beer institute.

At the meeting, the board also recommended a more widespread use of alcohol sensors that are capable of detecting alcohol even when the driver has attempted to cover his breath with gum or mints. If the sensor alerts, the officer is allowed to do proceed with further testing.

The NTSB’s recommendations were timed to coincide with the deadliest alcoholrelated crash in U.S. history. On May 14th, 1988, an intoxicated driver drove his pickup truck the wrong way on Interstate 71 near Carrollton, Kentucky. The truck collided with a school bus, killing 24 children and three adults.

Three women rescued after ten years of captivity

By Rachel Wolfe Reporter

Just in time for Mothers Day, three long-term missing women were found in Cleveland, Ohio on May 6th. According to CNN, the three women- Amanda Berry, 27; Georgina “Gina” DeJesus, 23; and Michelle Knight, 32, were abducted from the same Cleveland street, Lorain Avenue, between 2002 and 2004 by Ariel Castro.

The women were then held for nearly a decade in a non-descript house about 3 miles away from where they were taken.

The women were finally found after Amanda Berry made a daring escape with the aid of neighbors.

The women were held captive in the home of Ariel Castro. Castro was born in Puerto Rico, and moved to Ohio as a child, his uncle Julio Castro told CNN. Neighbors of Castro recall his messy divorce about 20 years ago. In 1993, Castro was arrested on a domestic violence charge, which was later dropped. Castro was a school bus driver, but was fired recently due to unrelated terms.

According to police documents, on August 22, 2002, Castro lured the then 21

year-old Knight into his car. He took her to his home about three miles away, and held her captive. Berry was taken on the eve of her 17th birthday, April 23, 2003.

While she was walking home from her job at Burger King, Castro told her that his son also worked at Burger King and offered her a ride home. Almost exactly one year later, DeJesus joined them when Castro abducted her while she was walking home from school. She was 4 years old.

According to the initial incident report, the women were originally chained in the basement, but Castro later freed them and allowed them to live upstairs on the second floor. The three would usually be in different rooms, but would interact occasionally, and came to “rely on each other for survival”, said a law enforcement source. While in captivity, the women were repeatedly sexually assaulted, resulting in 5 pregnancies for Knight. When Castro would learn she was pregnant, he would forcibly make her abort the baby, said police reports.

“He starved her for at least 2 weeks, then repeatedly punched her in the stomach until she miscarried,” the initial police

report states.

However, when Berry fell pregnant, Castro ordered Knight to deliver the child, or lose her own life. The baby was delivered in a plastic tub or pool in order to contain the afterbirth and amniotic fluid, sources said. Soon after the baby was born, panic ensued the house as the child stopped breathing, and every one started screaming, the source said. After administering CPR to the infant, she lived and grew into the healthy 6 year-old just recently freed.

Many wonder why the women didn’t simply flee when Castro would leave the house. According to law enforcement sources, Castro would often test the young women by pretending to leave. When he suddenly returned, if there were any indications any of the women moved, they would be disciplined.

While the women were in captivity, they could only watch as their families held vigils for them and begged for their return on television. DeJesus and Knight accepted their fate of suffering and eventual death in the house, but Berry snapped, and finally made her daring escape.

On Monday, May 6th, Castro left his

home. Amanda Berry decided this was her chance to finally be free. She ran with her six-year old daughter to the screen door, and began screaming and kicking at the front door. According to the Wall Street Journal, a neighbor, Charles Ramsey saw “Berry, whom he did not recognize, at a door that would open only enough to fit a hand through.”

“I heard screaming. I’m eating my McDonalds. I come outside. I see this girl going nuts trying to get out of a house,” said Ramsey.

After aiding her in kicking through the door, she used another neighbors phone to call police for help.

“I’m Amanda Berry. I’ve been on the news for the last 10 years. I’ve been kidnapped, and I’ve been missing for 10 years. And I’m here, and I’m free now,” replayed the telephone call.

Police immediately came and Castro will be tried for abduction and murder among other charges. All women were taken, then released from the hospital on Tuesday, and are now reuniting with their families before the painful, yet well over due, trial that lies before them.

News

7

Fracking considered more environmentally friendly

By Jenan Taha Around Creek Editor

gas for fuel. The materials are pumped at a very high pressure, which fracture the shale, release the natural gas, and allow it to flow toward the wells for human

to wells means more release of CO2 gas, further generating global warming. Some argue that the contents of material used to frack, like acids and sediments, can seep

that environmentalists claim is polluting ground water is actually 90% reused and recycled, so no new contaminants are For decades America has depended on present underground than there was before foreign oil for fuel, the fracking process. and throughout the Moreover, while years, there have been fracking does emit CO2 painful fluctuations gas into the atmosphere, and depressions in it releases only half gas prices that never the amount that coal fail to make the news. or other materials Even though the U.S. release, making it twice produces some oil, it as efficient as other is not nearly enough sources. Fracking is a to support the entire relatively new method country.

Recently, of drilling, and new scientists have found advances are yet to an alternative that is be made to make this more advanced than method more efficient ever before, called and valued. Unlike other hydraulic fracturing, already established or “fracking”. methods, there is room A key advance in for improvements. drilling technology “Advances mean made this possible— even more energy the advancement of without a significant horizontal drilling. threat to groundwater,” Horizontal drilling is Map locating the town of Taft, Calif., and its location compared to the Monterey shale formation in Southern California; includes diagram of how hydraulic frac- said Lee Fuller, Vice turing, also known as fracking, works. Los Angeles Times/MCT 2013 used to drill wells into President of the the ground at an angle, Independent Petroleum to improve efficiency and increase the use. Unlike the standard vertical drilling into groundwater and contaminate the Association of America. amount of oil extracted. Horizontal wells method, this method releases every last bit drinking supply. In addition, fracking can As natural gas resources in the world run parallel to the typical vertical wells, of natural gas from the ground. cause minor earthquakes and displace large drop, the price of gas continues to rise. which are harder to position and require Although this method seems efficient, amounts of rock beneath the soil.

Fracking could be America’s newest method open space around their construction. With most countries in the world oppose fracking “Fracking unleashes carcinogens and of obtaining energy for fuel. Some analysts horizontal drilling, wells can be placed in methods. European countries in particular other chemicals that are toxic to biological believe that with all the resources fracking cities without disrupting life. protest against fracking—France has life,” said Tracy Carluccio, director of the can provide, it could fuel America’s cars With the advent of horizontal drilling banned it altogether. What exactly makes Delaware Riverkeeper Network. and homes for the next 100 or more years. came fracking. It uses horizontal drilling to fracking good or bad?

However, it seems the benefits of As of today, more advances must be made pump water, chemicals, and sand into the Most consequences of fracking involve fracking outweigh the damages it can in the method in order to make it a more underground shale rock that holds precious environmental concerns. More gas pumped cause. The contaminated pumping material trusted process of extracting fuel.

Saudi Arabi woman breaks Mount Everest record

By Jenan Taha Around Creek Editor

Arabia, where, before the 21st century, women were extremely secluded and had little to no rights. Raha’s accomplishments

the first. She only wants to motivate other people, mainly women, to follow in her footsteps. She wants to change the world’s

opinion on Saudi women and if I can change Saudi women’s opinion about themselves I would be really happy,” said Raha.

Ever since the first great feat Being from Saudi to reach the top of Mount Everest Arabia, one of the hottest began in 1953—after sir Edmund places on Earth, it took Hilary reached its peak—hundreds Raha a long time to adjust of expeditioners worldwide have to the polar weather and tried their luck at it. Men and women high altitude. Luckily, ranging from Japanese to Indian to the weather that day was Swiss and more have all completed favorable. one of the world’s greatest challenges.

“I am very lucky that Marking the 60th anniversary of the I adapted to the altitude first man to reach Mount Everest, well but it was really hard another nationality joined the list of for me to get used to the Everest champions—Saudi Arabian. cold, I come from Saudi Raha Moharrak, a 27-year-old graphic Arabia,” said Raha. designer, is now the first and youngest Raha prepared for the Saudi Arabian woman to ever reach climb by scaling Mount the summit of Mount Everest.

Kilimanjaro, the tallest Raha is part of the “Arabs with mountain in Africa, two Altitude” expedition, which includes years earlier. other nationalities as well, like Along with Raha, Palestinian, Qatari, and Iranian. The Mount Everest is located in the Himalayas, on the border of Nepal and Tibet. At 29,035 feet above sea level, it’s the tallest peak in the two more climbers broke goal of the group is not only to reach world. (Michael Kodas/Hartford Courant/MCT) a world record. Sheikh the top of the world, but also to raise Mohammed Al Thani $1 million to fund education projects only adds to the previous feats of women. general opinion of Saudi Arabia and Saudi became the first Qatari to reach Everest’s in Nepal. The team is working with Reach Last year’s Summer Olympics, was the first women, and Saudi womens’ opinion of peak, and Raed Zidan became the first Out To Asia, which helps fund charities time in history that Saudi Arabian women themselves.

Palestinian to reach the peak. Masoud around Asia. could compete in sports. The status of “I really don’t care about being the Mohammad, from Iran, also completed Not only is this a great achievement for women is rapidly changing for the better, first, so long as it inspires someone else the climb with the group. All three men her country, but Raha is a role model for and by 2015, women in Saudi Arabia will to be the second. It was a very personal accompanied Raha on her climb. other Arab women. Raha is the first Arab have the right to vote. thing. I didn’t do it to cause a movement, Raha’s next goal is to reach the highest woman ever to even attempt this challenge.

Although Raha set a new world record, did not do it because of anything, but If I peaks on all seven continents. So far, she This is an amazing step forward for Saudi she says it does not matter that she was can change people’s opinion or the world’s has scaled five.

8

Features

TUTS’ Spamalot is a hilarious hit at Hobby Center

By Madison Williams Management Editor Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) is currently running the outrageous musical comedy Spamalot, running May 14-26.

This British comedy is sure to have you laughing, and blushing at their satirical performance.

Spamalot is based on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail and since its production in 2005 has won three Tony Awards. The name Spamalot comes from the product SPAM. SPAM is said to stand for “Shoulder of Pork and Ham” and the word SPAM is constantly said in the Python sketch by a group of Vikings until they are told to be quiet.

Many confuse Monty Python to be a person, when in fact it is the name of a comedy troupe composed of 5 British men and one American. The group consisted of Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, John Cleese, and Michael Palin. Monty Python was a self-contained comedy troupe responsible for both writing and performing their work. The ability to write their own work allowed the troupe to disregard the rules of television comedy and push the boundaries of what was acceptable in style and content. Their influence on British comedy has been apparent for years and has influenced North America as in the early editions of Saturday Night Live. The group’s influence on comedy has been compared to The Beatle’s influence on music.

Monty Python became famous when they created the hit British television comedy sketch show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus. From there, the Monty Python phenomenon spread further turning into stage shows, films and now Broadway shows.

Out of all of the musical’s I have gone to at TUTS, this has by far been my favorite. Maybe I laughed a little too hard at the eighth-gradesque boy humor and maybe I am slightly immature, but anyone would love this show if they went. It is guaranteed to make you laugh no matter your age. I would not recommend the show for young children as there was a fair amount of cursing.

The set design was incredible as always and the cast was phenomenal. One of my favorite songs of the night was You Won’t Succeed on Broadway. This song satirized the idea that a person of the Jewish faith must be present in order for your musical to be successful. It was wonderfully and tastefully put on and had the entire theater howling with laughter. The other part of the show that had me laughing so hard I was nearly crying was the King of the Nights of Ni’s speech. He quoted A Few Good Men which is one of my all time favorite mov-

ies. His drastic change from a girlish voice to a manly voice quoting the movie was hilarious to witness.

A l o n g with an incredible script to start with, the spot-on casting made the show amazing as well. King Arthur was played by Tom Hewitt who has been nominated for both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for his work in Broadway’s The Rocky Horror Show. His other works on

Broadway includes Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago, Dracula: The Musical, and The Lion King. He has toured nationally in Peter Pan, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Urinetown.

True to its natural form, Spamalot will feature several main characters in multiple roles throughout the show. Jonathan Hammond portrayed Sir Lancelot, The French Taunter, a Knight of Ni, and Time the Enchanter. Hammond has performed on Broadway in Ragtime and has toured nationally in Light In The Piazza.

Brian Sears appeared as Mayor, Patsy

Photos courtesy of TUTS

and Guard 2. Sears has been performed on Broadway in The Book of Mormon, Lend Me A Tenor, Finian’s Rainbow and Grease.

He also played in the national tour of All Shook Up. Two actors, Brian Shepard and Kevin Covart, have appeared on Broadway in Spamalot before performing in the TUTS production. Shepard appeared as Prince Herbert as well as the Historian, Not Dead Fred, the French Guard, and a Minstrel.

Shepard’s other work on Broadway includes Follies, Guys and Dolls, Young Frankenstein, Peter Pan, and Annie Get Your Gun. He also toured nationally with Seussical. Covert played Dennis’ Mother, Sir Bedevere, and Concorde. TUTS audiences might remember him for Kiss Me, Kate. He also toured nationally with South Pacific and Cats.

Jeremy Webb played Sir Robin, Guard 1, and Brother Maynar. Webb’s Broadway experience includes The Visit, and he won the Drama Desk Award for his role in offBroadway’s Tabletop.

Rounding out the main character are Adam Monley and Janine DiVita. Monley played Sir. Dennis Galahad, The Black Knight and Prince Herbert’s Father. He has appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia! and has toured nationally with Big River and The Phantom of the Opera. DiVita plays The Lady of the Lake.

She appeared in the national tour of Young Frankenstein.

This show is worth everyone’s time and I guarantee it will make the grumpiest person chuckle. Tickets start at only $24 and are available online at TUTS.com, by phone at (713)-5588887, or in person at the Theatre Under the Stars Box Office.

Features

9

The Great Gatsby adaptation retains novel’s integrity

By Valerie Hellinghausen Editor-in-Chief

On May 10, 2013 the movie adaptation of Scott F. Fitzgerald’s classic the Great Gatsby opened in theaters across the nation. Although the novel in itself is a masterpiece, this film masterfully blends elements of the novel’s text, 1920’s history, and modern-day music leaving audiences with the impression of being both “within” and “without” the Roaring 20’s and this timeless story of romance, wealth, and the American Dream.

The movie follows the original plotline of the novel in the summer of 1922 when old-money opportunist Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) moves to New York City to try his hand in the bond business on Wall Street. After reuniting with his cousin, Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan), rumors begin to unfold about Nick’s elusive neighbor, Mr. Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Upon receiving an official invitation to one of Gatsby’s wild parties, Nick goes to the party hoping to finally meet the infamous Gatsby. After searching the grounds of the mansion, Nick and Daisy’s friend Jordan Baker are introduced to Mr. Gatsby. Soon after, Gatsby involves Nick and Jordan in his attempt to be reunited with his longlost love of five years, Daisy Buchanan.

However, the summer quickly heightens in tension as love affairs are tangled, secret pasts are revealed, and blood is shed in a futile attempt to recover the past.

Carey Mulligan, left, as Daisy Buchanan and Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby in in Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures drama, “The Great Gatsby,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/MCT)

Although I was skeptical at first about the casting for the Great Gatsby, each cast member played their character well and the film emphasized the symbols attributed to several characters in the novel. DiCaprio played a believable newmoney, thirty-something-year-old who was psychologically hell-bent on recreating the past. Mulligan’s performance as the desirable Daisy Buchanan was stellar and the various white elements incorporated into the costume and set design from Daisy’s white and gold party dress worn to Gatsby’s last wild party to the billowing white curtains at the Buchanan’s home in East Egg all embodied Fitzgerald’s detailed symbolism. Most notable, Maguire fit Nick

Carraway’s role perfectly, fleshing out Nick’s dynamic character with ease as his opinions about Gatsby and old money change throughout the plot. In addition, Maguire’s parts in the script composed of some of the original narration from the novel kept the film relevant to the novel while still giving directors the freedom to modernize other areas of the movie.

Aside from the incredible acting put into this film, the amount of detail incorporated in the set, costume and makeup design, the special effects and music, and the directing all made for an unforgettable performance. The contrast from Gatsby’s lavishly over-decorated castle to the simply elegant Buchanan

mansion highlighted the difference between new and old money. Once in the Valley of Ashes, the audience could almost feel the sweltering heat as the scene changed from the vibrant, colorful parties at Gatsby’s to the gray piles of smoking ash and the omnipresent eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. At the same time, in almost every shot of the film you could easily see all the dimensions of the set without any need for cheesy 3D glasses. Visual effects aside, the modern music used in place of 20’s jazz added a contemporary feel to the film without taking away from the overall storyline.

Overall, I felt that the balance between the old and the new and the visual and auditory effects made for a film that was realistic without diminishing the dream-like quality of Gatsby’s imagination.

While I do not feel this movie is anything the Academy can sink their teeth into as a viable candidate for any major awards, the Great Gatsby is an enjoyable performance that successfully brings Fitzgerald’s classic to the silver screen without taking too much away from the original plot and character roles. Although I expected this film to ruin one of American literature’s greatest novels for audiences, I was pleasantly surprised to find the Great Gatsby a movie that paralleled the quality of Baz Luhrmann’s previous work in his1996 Romeo + Juliet, and a movie that spoke to the tastes of modern audiences while still capturing Fitzgerald’s original message and the pace of 1920’s life.

Technological advancements to be available soon

By Leticia Suarez Features Editor In this past decade, technology has taken giant leaps toward improvement and accomplishments. Cellphones, televisions, appliances, computers, and even advanced components in cars have revolutionized society as a whole.

Technology, being the powerful force that it is, has enabled the world to improve its lifestyles. Humans have become dependent on it and find themselves lost in a lack of high-tech electronics. Some people might argue that it has ruined the minds of young people, whereas others argue that it has allowed for a better future, despite the negative side-effects. Aside from the use of technology as entertainment, it is mostly used in industry and services around the country, including in the medical and scientific field.

Companies like Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Samsung, Nokia, LG, Nikon, Sony, Toshiba, and Lenovo have all played a big part in the electronic and manufacturing world, as well as new ones that joined the family along the way. One of the most innovative advances of the 2000’s was the Digital Camera Proliferation. Those younger that 25 don’t really remember having to take the film to the store and have them developed. There’s no need anymore when computers do the dirty work without the hastle. The process then got easier when cellphones were able to take pictures back in 2002. Digital media also made its way to the top by allowing people to download music, movies, newspapers, magazines, and books online. Let’s not forget Social Media like blogs, Myspace, Twitter,

Facebook, YouTube, that nowadays have more than half a billion users and counting that are able to post anything at anytime of the day thanks to wireless connection.

Recently, on April 29, LG announced a new project that will start selling and delivering by the end of May: Curved TV’s, given the name of Optimum Curvature. This is the first product like this ever offered to the public, and just like all other electronic improvements, it will be engraved in the history of technology. Pretty soon, every television manufacturer will follow LG’s footsteps and fill the market with this new innovation.

“With more than five years research behind developing the optimum curvature, the entire screen surface is equidistant from the viewer’s eyes, eliminating the problem of screen-edge visual distortion and loss of detail,” LG said in a press release.

Another product unlike any other that will be released later on this year is the Google Glasses. Like the name says, it is simply a pair of glasses, but there’s

absolutely nothing simple about it. It is an attempt to free data from desktop computers and portable devices like phones and tablets, and place it right in front of your eyes. Google Glass is essentially a camera, touchpad, battery, and microphone built into small frames so that people can perch a display in their field of vision with the option to take pictures, film, search, and much more while on the go.

Touch screen is one of the most appealing factors of new technology.

Historians consider the first touch screen to be a capacitive touch screen invented

by E.A. Johnson at the Royal Radar Establishment, Malvern, UK, around 1965.

In 1983, the computer manufacturing company, Hewlett-Packard introduced the HP-150, a home computer with touch screen technology; In 2002, Microsoft introduced the Windows XP Tablet edition and started its entry into touch technology, and In 2007, Apple introduced the famous smart phones, the iPhone, with nothing but touch screen technology.

One decade was all it took to completely renovate the world. New ideas of improvement are discovered and discussed everyday by thousands of companies. In the upcoming years, expect high-tech appliances and electronics never seen before.

12

Around Creek

Summa Cum Laude Graduates

Stephanie Ding UT Austin Line C

Laura Holzenkamp UT Austin International Relations

Alex Bercich UT Dallas Biology

Kevin Chase University of Michigan

Celeste Clary University of Oklahoma Mechanical Engineering

Jordan Cooley Texas A&M University Business- Finance

Casey Der vay Baylor University International Business

Vijay Dharmaraj University of Houston Biomedical Engineering

James Driver UT Austin Mechanical Engineering

Sara Gerke University of Houston Elementary Education

Valerie Hellinghausen University of Missouri Journalism

Sam Heydorn Brigham Young University Computer Science

Jackie Koonce University of North Texas Music Education

Shawn Ling UT Austin

Kevin Oram UT Austin Mechanical Engineering

Annie Pham Purdue University

Stephanie Phillion UT Austin Biomedical Engineering

Morgan Records Southwestern University

Michael Sulkis UT Austin Mechanical Engineering

Alex Wahl University of Indiana Music Education

Kari Whitmarsh UT Austin Exercise Science

Madison Williams Texas A&M University Business

Around Creek 13

FFA Beef-tasting fundraiser promotes grass-fed beef

By Hannah Gellman Reporter During the week of April 28, three of Creek’s organizations, the band, Cavaliers, and water polo, came together to participate in a beef-tasting fundraiser held by Creek’s FFA and Texas Tech.

On Sunday, April 28, Tuesday, April 30, and Wednesday, May 1, participants from the three groups acted as judges for different cuts of steak. Each taster was served 5-7 1.5-ounce cuts of steak and then asked to fill out a short survey about which they liked best. Some of the beef was the traditional, grain-fed meat Americans are accustomed to, while other portions were grass-fed beef from New Zealand.

The main purpose of the tasting was to determine how the public likes grass-fed beef as opposed to grain-fed.

Those who participated on a beeftasting panel had to be eighteen or older and all came from the Creek band, Cavaliers, and water polo teams. For the hour of time spent tasting beef and filling out the survey, each person was paid $25.

The three organizations then asked that their participants give that money back to them. If 40 representatives from one of the three organizations participated, then that organization received an easy $1000. Most of the participants were parents of band members, Cavaliers, and water polo players, but some students also

partook in the tasting, if they met the age requirement.

The beef was provided by Texas Tech University, who will use the information

setting that most of our meat is processed in. Livestock animals are fed grains such as corn, which their bodies aren’t made to digest, and are kept in extremely tight and

size. These animals are then killed in huge, unsanitary slaughterhouses. This results in outbreaks of disease such as E. coli.

Grass-fed beef has started to come on the scene as an alternative to the conventional grainfed meat. Some experts argue that grass-feeding is not only a more humane way to raise cows, but the beef is actually healthier as it lacks the hormones and chemicals found in the factoryfarmed, grain-fed beef.

While this information looks promising, many consumers are worried about the difference in taste and price between the two beefs.

While grass-fed beef is typically substantially more expensive than regular grain-fed beef, Texas Tech hopes to show people that the Cows fed only on grass are the product of the Grassland Beef Co. in Monticello, Missouri. Several cattle growers have gotten together to promote this idea that grass fed cattle make better and healthier beef. They are gambling that consumers will buy their product. (J.B. difference in quality Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT) makes up for the price disparity, and create a gathered from the surveys to improve the unsanitary quarters. Their food is pumped larger consumer base for grass-fed beef. marketability of grass-fed beef. with hormones to make the animals grow With an opportunity to raise a lot of money Recently, people have started to bigger, faster. In half the time it takes for an for their programs, Creek’s band and investigate where our food comes from, and animal to mature, naturally, meat companies Cavaliers are happy to help. many have been alarmed at the factory farm make a cow, pig, or chicken twice its natural

14 Around Creek 2013 CCISD Schools Bond passes May elections

By Valerie Hellinghausen Editor-in-Chief After hosting rounds of informational meetings and several voting opportunities for the community, the Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD) Schools Bond was passed by the majority in the 2013 May elections.

In late February, the bond was approved by the CCISD Board of Trustees to be included on the May 2013 election ballot along with candidates for Board of Trustees positions in At-Large Position B and District 1. At the end of early voting from April 29 through May 7 and the official election on May 11, 2013, the CCISD Schools bond received 68 percent of votes in favor of the $367 million referendum.

“Overall, I think it’s terrific.

It’s because we went about this in the correct way and we got the community involved,” school board President Ken Baliker said in a press release for the district.

Nine months ago, the CCISD Board of Trustees called for a committee of educators, parents, and community members to assess the immediate needs of the district in the next three to five years to meet growing safety, space, and educational concerns. At first, the Citizens Facility Advisory Committee assessed over $600 million worth of priorities that need to be addressed by the district in the next few years. After reviewing their assessments, the committee prioritized the district’s most urgent needs that must be addressed in order to maintain some of the older campuses in CCISD. These campuses capitalized the $182 million in structural, safety, and student growth issues at Clear Lake High School, McWhirter Elementary, and other schools in CCISD that are over 40 years old. Also included in these priority repairs is the completion of Clear

Creek High School’s rebuild that was not included in the 2004 bond. An additional $87 million of the bond’s projected funds were set aside for repairs to some of CCISD newer campuses that require other safety and student growth accommodations. More

lessons, and assignments electronically through the technology “roll-out.” Tablets will also be provided to teachers as well as extensive training on how they can be used to enhance learning in the classroom. For students, these tablets will eventually be

Photo by Valerie Hellinghausen

detailed breakdowns of the plans for each campus are available online at the district website, www.ccisd. net.

Another $45 million of the bond’s funds were allocated for the updating and expansion of CCISD’s technology. The bond’s plans include the replacement of old and aging computer, wireless, and other network systems that have not been updated since the 2004 bond. Additionally, instructional devices such as interactive white boards, projectors, and document cameras will be installed in classrooms across the district to bring CCISD’s methods of education into the 21st century for every student. After the bond’s approval in late February, the Board of Trustees selected the Dell Latitude 10 tablet as the device that will allow students to access textbooks,

integrated in each level of education from elementary to intermediate to high school where a “bring your own device” option may become available so that learning through this new technology does not stop for students at the school’s doors. This “roll-out” will help CCISD educators achieve a “1:1” computer to student ratio over the next three to five years.

“Technology in our classrooms will significantly enhance education and allow students access to the world. Our team is excited about beginning this program and involving our parents in the process,” Kevin Schwartz, Chief Technology Officer said.

Also included in the bond’s plans are the additions of several extra curricular facilities including a new stadium that will

be built on land purchased on West NASA Parkway in the 2004 bond. With five 5A high schools in the district, the committee recognized the growing need for a second stadium to accommodate sports events, allow CCISD to host large UIL competitions, and to reduce traffic flow near Clear Creek High School and Clear Creek Intermediate. The new stadium will also allow for a more flexible schedule for sports events so that students will not be expected to participate in late night events on school nights and then have to be at school by 7 a.m. the next morning.

The bond also outlines updates to Veterans Memorial Stadium as well as the expansion of the Westside Agricultural Center, the addition of an Eastside Agricultural Center, and replacements to music instruments to accommodate these programs growing student populations.

For taxpayers, the bond will result in a gradual tax increase of $0.04 increase in 2013, $0.03 in 2014, and $0.0425 in 2015. The maximum tax increase of $0.1125 per hundred-dollar value would result in a total increase of $172.72 for a median homeowner. The bond will effect the revenue generated by the I&S or Interest and Sinking tax rate which is the mortgage side of the District’s financial structure. This fund can only be used for capital improvements such as facilities, technology, and buses.

“I would like to thank the community for supporting our mission to prepare students for their future, not our past.

Today’s vote is a win for your children, your community, and your schools,” Dr. Greg Smith, Superintendent of Schools said.

For more information and updates on the bond’s projects or about the 2013 May Elections, go to www.ccisd.net/2013bond.

Around Creek15

Senior Sara Gerke wins Congressional Art Contest

By Jenan Taha Around Creek Editor Each spring, the Congressional Art Competition chooses one art piece from each U.S. congressional district to hang in the Cannon Tunnel in Washington D.C. for a year. Starting in 1982, the Congressional Institute sponsors artists all around America to showcase their best work and represent the districts of their state. Since its beginning, over half a million high school students have entered.

In the 2013 competition, one of Creek’s own, Sara Gerke, was chosen to represent the 14th district with her mixed-media piece “In Between the Lines”. Beginning on June 24th, Sara’s piece will be displayed for a year in the tunnel that connects the Senate Office to the Capitol Building. Sara will receive two plane tickets to Washington D.C., a scholarship to Savannah College of Art, and a one-year subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud.

This year, Sara is a senior and ready to go to college. Currently, she is in Mrs. Lienhart’s AP Art class. She has been in an advanced or AP Art class for most of her high school career, and has won several

awards for her artistic ability. Sara wants to continue art in college.

the artwork and seem to be flying off the page. Several things have inspired Sara’s

Photo by Breanna Jeffcoat

Sara’s piece is a 2-D meets 3-D creation that depicts two children and a dog gazing into a pop-up book filled with mythical and magical creatures, which literally come off the surface of

art piece.

“When I was little, I watched the old version of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer a lot. The beginning scene shows children reading a glowing pop-up book. I was

also inspired by how innocent and imaginative children are. By opening a book you are opening a child’s mind,” Sara said.

At first, her piece was only supposed to be a 2-D colored pencil drawing, but she wanted to make it 3-D and added the popup book to “get the point across.”

“In Between the Lines” contains some symbolic meaning as well.

“My piece represents the creative, innocent imagination of children and the power it holds,” Sara said.

After being chosen by the Congressional Art contest, Sara won two tickets to Washington D.C., along with other prizes.

“I hope to use those [tickets] and actually go!” Sara said.

Throughout her artistic career, two people have heavily inspired Sara and her art styles.

“I was inspired by my art teacher, Mrs. Lienhart, and my oldest sister, because by watching their styles, I was able to develop my own,” Sara said.

After high school, Sara plans to continue her art studies. She hopes to become an elementary school art teacher, and has already taught several art classes at local elementary schools.

Teen Interest 16

Yahoo buys Tumblr in efforts for younger audience

By Lisa Nhan Around Creek Editor

With a deal of $1.1 billion in cash, Yahoo purchased the blogging website Tumblr on May 20th. The person responsible for the move is Marissa Mayer, CEO for Yahoo, in an attempt to bring Tumblr’s younger demographic to Yahoo. The purchase itself is the one of the biggest acquisition of a social networking site in history.

Comparing it to Google’s purchase of Youtube, Mayer believes that it will be one of the most successful tech merging to date. It also marks the largest move that Mayer has made to the company yet in her first year of heading Yahoo in a line of new homepages, resigned emails, and employment changes.

Mayer sees this as a “game changer” for Yahoo.

While Yahoo remains optimistic about their purchase along with David Karp, the

CEO and founder isn’t changof Tumblr, many ing. Tumblr of the users of the gets better blogging site have and faster soon opposition. with more Tumblr’s platform resources to has lacked adverdraw from,” tising for years, said Karp in and with the new response to ownership many the changes worry that Yahoo Tumblr faces. will change that.

Despite In order to reassure this statethe users, Yahoo Prominent Google executive Marissa Mayer will be the new CEO ment, it is still has released the of Yahoo Inc., the company announced July 16, 2012. In this file unknown if news that Tumblr photo, Marissa Mayer attends a panel discussion at the seventh all the current will act as an inde- Digital, Life, Design conference at the HVB Forum on January 175 Tumblr 24, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Christof Stache/DPA/Zuma Press/ pendent business employees are MCT with Karp remain going to reas CEO and no Yamain on staff. hoo branding will appear on Tumblr.

There is also the problem that if Tumblr’s “Our team isn’t changing. Our roadmap headquarters, located in New York City,

will move to Yahoo or continue to operate in their current home.

Many analysts and investors have expressed their critiques in Yahoo’s expensive and risky move. Tumblr’s traffic rate is growing and currently has about 300 million monthly users with an estimated 900 posts a second, but adverting on the site is not ideal.

“Tumblr does not insist on knowing the real identities of users, and some of the Tumblr content is very adult-oriented, both features that advertisers would find repellant,” said Brian Proffitt, the adjunt instructor of management at University of Notre Dame.

The new changes for Tumblr and Yahoo may not be certain, but the stock investors seem to believe that Mayer will be able to turn around Yahoo. Stocks are increased more than 33% this year, showing a hopefully bright turn around for Yahoo.

Amazon rumored to launch new smart phone line

By Kristina Koonce Teen Interest Editor

Amazon is on the verge of becoming the next big company next to Apple and Google. The company is known for their online shopping, Kindle e-readers. Amazon has plans on making a phone the world has never seen before, along with other products that will bring something new to the evolving world of technology.

After years of rumors, it has finally been confirmed by numerous sources that those at Amazon have been working on several devices. One of the devices that they have been working on is a highend smartphone that will have a three dimensional screen. The 3D screen will also be able to be viewed without having to use 3D viewing glasses.

Though the idea of a three dimensional phone has finally moved past just being an idea, there is still a long way to go with the process of actually making the phone.

“We will certainly not any time soon but next year. We have some more things that we hope people will enjoy. It’s premature for me to talk about them,” CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos said in an interview with AllThingsD. The company plans on using retinatracking technology to give the phone the 3D effects. The retina-tracking technology will make the images on the phone look like they are floating above the screen.

Those who apart of the process of making the phone said it looks three dimensional from all angles, and that it is similar to a hologram.

Before Amazon can put the finished

phones on the market, they must first work with phone contractors, such as companies like AT&T and Verizon.

The thought of the 3D phone has given critics something to talk about. Critics at wired.com urge consumers not buy the hologram phone. They listed several reasons on why one would not want the phone.

One of the things they pointed out is the

battery life on smart phones we have today.

The battery barely lasts though the day. A phone that would project 3D images would drain the battery quickly. Something else they brought up was privacy the issue of.

With the 3D screen, all of your information would be on display to those around you to simply look at.

Other than the 3D phone, Amazon

plans on making another smart phone and audio only streaming device. The audio only streaming device has plans to hopefully making it to shelves near you soemtime this year.

The prices for the new Amazon products have not yet been released.

Teen Interest 17

BlackBerry is back in business with new cell phones

By Kristina Koonce Teen Interest Editor

BlackBerry’s were one of the first smartphones ever made. They made their way onto the market in 2003. As time went on, new smart phones made their way to the markets, and iPhones and Androids began to overshadow the BlackBerry.

After taking some time away from the spotlight, the BlackBerry company made some new improvements to their phone, and now are ready to make a comeback.

On May 14, BlackBerry unveiled their new Q5 mid-tier phone. The new Q5 keeps BlackBerry’s signature keyboard; this also sets the phone apart from all of the other phones on the market. It is said that the Q5 will add on the BlackBerry’s new phones that have put the back on “solid ground.”

“BlackBerry is clearly aiming to replicate the success of the BlackBerry Curve in emerging markets,” said Ovum analyst, Adam Leach.

The new Q5 smartphone will available to be purchased starting July in certain countries. The prices for the new phone have not yet been released to the pubic.

The phone will be available in pink, red, black, and white.

While the Q5 is one of BlackBerry’s new phones, they have more phones that they will be offering on the market.

BlackBerry will also be releasing the Q10 this June in the US. The Q10 combines a touchscreen along with a physical QWERTY keyboard. The phone will be available to buy at AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

The first phone is that BlackBerry has released is the BlackBerry Z10. The phone has been out on the market for nearly 2 months now. It was the first phone to come out of BlackBerry factories to help them

Canada. Though the phone did receive some slightly bad reviews, the releasing of the phone still gave BlackBerry the push they were trying to receive. It helped put their name back out there and it let the public know that they are making a return.

The popular messenger for the blackberry, BBM, which was made for BlackBerry users only, will now be available for IPhone and Apple users.

BlackBerry hopes to make their platform more powerful with this new option.

“We are making the BBM platform more powerful than ever,” Thorsten Heins, the BlackBerry Live CEO said.

It is clear that BlackBerry is trying to remake their way back on to the market, and trying to go back to where they started at. They are trying to recapture their title as the leader in the smartphone war. Between the new phones that will combine both Blackberry keyboard and adding on the touch screen, and offering BBM to reach Androids and iOS, it is predicted that this will be a huge step forward and that they seem to have a huge chance to reclaim their title.

“We’re committed to making BlackBerry 10 the mobile platform that will take the industry into the next era of mobile computing. That’s what we’re destined to do,” Thorsten Heins at the BlackBerry Live conference that is held in Florida said.

If the company can really make the return that they are trying to attempt is A look at the new BlackBerry Z10; includes chart comparing world’s top smartphone operating systems by market the question many people are asking, share. MCT 2013 but looking at what BlackBerry has regain their title. The Z10 is BlackBerry’s like the company would indeed reach accomplished already with the Z10. It first phone, that truly has similarities to the their goal. The phone finally hit markets looks like they will be able to make the iPhone and Androids. on March 22, and by April 18 the phone return that they are hoping to make.

With BlackBerry’s goal to reclaim their had already made over one million dollars title, after the release of the Z10, it looked in sells between the United States and

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Sports

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Boys Varsity water polo steals first place at state

By Madison Wiliams Management Editor

The Clear Creek boys and girls Varsity teams recently went to the annual state tournament held in Dallas on May 3 and 4.

Although entering as what some considered underdogs, the Varsity boys pulled ahead and brought home the state title.

In their first game of the tournament, Varsity boys beat Denton Ryan 16-5. Creek did not play as well as they had in the past but still managed to pull through for the win. Jared Castillo scored the majority of the goals as the boys easily sailed into the next round.

In the second round the boys faced off against the Woodlands. Creek had played the Woodlands in previous tournaments and had no issue claiming the win. Creek was able to shut down the Woodlands two best players, number five and seven, early on in the game. The Woodlands played aggressively in an attempt to move onto the next round but did not succeed. Their loss put them in the fifth and sixth place championship games while Creek moved onto the third round.

The third round was the most highly anticipated game of the tournament and even of the year as Boys Varsity faced off against St. Marks High School. St. Marks was highly favored to win the state tournament. Unlike public high schools, private high schools have no UIL restrictions that keep them from practicing water polo year round. Creek is required to

have a swim team and cannot start of even have a water polo ball in the pool until swim season is officially over in late January or early February. Along with practicing year round St. Marks also plays against college teams and consistently wins. Their intense

said.

For the majority of the games St. Marks was in the lead by one point. Creek did not gain the advantage until the last minute of the game. Creek was able to ensure that St. Mark’s best player did not

Photo by CCISD Public

training schedule and play of get any goals. Along with the Informatoin difficult teams has turned them impressive defense put out by into a team that many consider a machine. Creek, goalie Scott Lyle also made some Entering the game Creek was nervous as game saving blocks from within the cage. they knew this would be their toughest Goals during the game were made by Carter game of the tournament and of the season. Harvey (Senior), Gabe Garcia (Junior), “St. Marks was by far the most exciting Bear SIckler (Junior), Max Pfotenhauer game that I’ve ever played in. Realizing (Junior), Jared Castillo (Junior), and Travis the importance of the game was nerve Gathright (Senior). In the last minute the wracking going in but we gave it our best boys managed to tie the game 8-8. In the and came out ahead,” senior Carter Harvey last forty seconds Jared Castillo made

an impressive shot winning the game for Creek 9-8.

The boys rejoiced as they once again made it to the championship game. Varsity boys had made it to the championship game in 2012 but lost to Jesuit Strake in a close game. This year the boys played Jersey Village for the state title. The game was slow to start and Creek did not play their best. After a tiring game with St. Marks, Creek had to find the energy to play yet another game, this time for the title. Creek and Jersey Village have had a long-standing feud making the game even more intense and aggressive. Goals during this game were made by Gabe Garcia, Max Pfotenhauer, Travis Gathright, and Jared Castillo. Jared made one hundred percent of his goals out of the six shots that he took. The boys won 11-9. This was the first time that Creek had won state since 2004 but they have regularly attended the state tournament.

The boys were overcome with emotion as they won state and proved themselves in the water polo arena. Jared Castillo described how he felt and what winning meant to him.

“The Clear Creek water polo team accomplished its goal by facing challenging obstacles like playing with a young team, playing with a new assistant coach, and playing as a team. In short, it meant the world to us,” said junior Jared Castillo.

The boys are ecstatic about their win and cannot wait to see what they can do next year.

Jason Collins confesses struggle with his sexuality

By Lisa Nhan Around Creek Editor Jason Collins may not be notorious for his basketball skills as an NBA player, but he recently made sports history when he came out as the first American gay professional athlete to openly admit to being gay while still actively playing. The news was broken online in the May edition of Sports Illustrated with an article written

by Collins himself with the help of Franz Lidz.

Known for being the center on Washington’s Wizard, Collins has been in nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons. He’s played on six pro teams and been in two NBA finals. On May 6, 2013 Collins changed the world of sports, not with his skills but with his courage.

“I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the

kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, ‘I’m different.’ If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand,” Collins said in the opening of his article.

Collins’ news was met with much support from those in sports and others from around the world.

“We congratulate Jason for having the courage to ‘raise his hand,’ as he wrote in his story, and start the conversation,” said a spokesperson for NBA Players Association in a press release.

While Collins expressed his worries about some of his fellow players reactions, many spoke out on Twitter to reinforce the notion that they valued his choice to come out. Kobe Bryant’s response was one of the more popular ones.

“Proud of @jasoncollins34. Don’t suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others,” Bryant tweeted.

Other players followed suit to show their support in Collin’s decision and urge

others to do the same.

As expected, some in the league and sports world didn’t share the same positive reaction. Mike Wallace, player for Miami Dolphins, tweeted his disapproval on the subject matter twice which was met with an unwelcoming response causing him to delete them and issue an apology. Other players have not been so apologetic in their responses.

“It’s a shame I have to apologize for my TRUE feelings,” Alphonse Smith, player for the Detroit Lions tweeted.

Despite some of the negative press Collins has faced, the support from those who had backed him, even President Barack Obama, for his choice has reassured him.

Washington Wizards center Jason Collins (98) warms up before their game against the New Orleans Hornets at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Friday, March 15, 2013. (Harry E. Walker/ MCT)

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