CSPA Crowns — In Their Voices Issue 2 by Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2012 Crown Awards Issue 2

In this Issue:

In Their Voices The CSPA invited all 2012 Crown Finalists to submit two spreads that their staff believed helped elevate their publications to Crown status. These are their observations as told in their voices, presented in alpha order by school.

Burges High School, Hoofbeats Yearbook, El Paso, TX Coral Glades High School, The Prowl Newspaper, Coral Springs, FL Hagerty High School, Fusion Yearbook, Oviedo, FL James River High School, Etcetera Literary Magazine, Midlothian, VA Laguna Blanca School, The Fourth Estate Newspaper, Santa Barbara, CA St. Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School of Texas, ReMarker Newspaper, Dallas, TX Westfield High School, The Guardian Yearbook, Chantilly, VA

Burges High School Hoofbeats Yearbook El Paso, TX Pages 14-15 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shoes, Cookies and Lots of Laughsâ&#x20AC;? For some years now, we have been the district school that accommodates the deaf population of El Paso. These students made posters for a recent pep rally and taught the entire assembly the school fight song. We thought it made for a great moment and chose to showcase it as secondary coverage for the pep rally spread in our yearbook.

Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2012 Crown Awards

In Their

Voices

The CSPA invited all 2012 Crown Finalists to submit two spreads that their staff believed helped elevate their publications to Crown status. These are their observations as told in their voices, presented in alpha order by school.

SENIOR SOUNDS Off to a loud start, Misael Mendoza and Marilyn Wallace dance to the one of the drumline’s cadences. “I loved showing my spirit,” Wallace said. “I wanted the underclassmen to know that it’s okay to act crazy and yell at the top of your lungs. They just think it’s so uncool, and they don’t want to break out of their shell.” Wallace said the addition of more pep rallies encouraged more participation in other school events.

by alex camacho

s FROM THE ‘SOLE’ It’s full speed ahead as junior Ricardo Cortez and 39 other students race toward the middle of the gym floor to claim their shoes. “I was urged to do this one by my friends,” he said. “I was pretty determined to win. When the music started, I sprinted and dove right in.” Ten students representing each classification had to find their shoes, tie them, then run back to their assigned corners. The sophomores won, earning the spirit stick for the week. (photo: emily de santos)

BYE-BYE BEARS Stuffing their faces at the homecoming pep rally, sophomore Ian Fraser, senior Daniel Mendoza and two other football players devour sugar cookies in a race to see who could eat the most in 90 seconds. Cookies were shaped into bears to represent opponent Bowie’s mascot. Mendoza won the contest, gobbling five cookies.

TAKE A SEAT Ready to risk anything to win the class competition, junior Ruth Orozco and sophomore Gilbert Gay fight for the last seat during a game of musical chairs. “I wanted to push her just so she wouldn’t sit down,” Gay said. “I didn’t even want to play this game. I had football practice before pep rallies and I got really tired. If it were up to me, I would’ve rather worked out than go to pep rallies.” What made this version different was participants had to spin, not walk, around the circle of chairs.

WINNING MOVES Laughter takes over the gym as senior Albert Payan shows off his best dance moves to win the title of “Mr. Mustang.” “I don’t really know how to dance, so I had no clue what to do,” Payan said. “I wanted to do something everyone could see, so I started doing the sprinkler. From the corner of my eye, I could see my coach laughing at how dumb I looked.” His competition included seniors Alan Veliz, Kevin Molinar and Michael Vera. Each contestant had to also perform a cheer jump, hula hoop and answer a question.

‘MAJESTER OF SPIRITOLOGY’ Ninety degree temperatures don’t phase teacher Jeffrey Himelspach or the cheerleaders from igniting the crowd to show its spirit. “I asked to be the emcee for pep rallies,” Himelspach said. “I got tired of waiting for things to happen. I wanted to step in and make a change.”

Add a little purple and a dash of gold, and in no time, the campus got a taste of what pride is all about. tuffed in the bleachers with very little wiggle room, students await to hear the class challenge for the week, but competition finds its way throughout the gym before anyone takes the mic. The chants of class rivalry echo throughout the gym. “Seniors!” “Juniors!” “Seniors!” “Juniors!” Freshmen and sophomores, seemingly lost in the sea of sound, look back and fourth, listening. School spirit becomes louder and prouder. “Pep rallies really made a difference,” junior Mario Martinez said. “Before the games, people were more hyped up. They came wearing school colors and were proud to represent the school. I loved hearing the band play. They got the crowd moving and dancing. It was like the band was the main part of the rallies.” New principal Randall Woods’ “to-do” list included bringing spirit back to the campus. In the past, students participated in just two rallies a year. What Woods said he didn’t expect was witnessing how far school spirit would spread. “With our first pep rally held outside, people driving down the street stopped and got out just to see what was happening,” he said. “The bigger picture is that our spirit wasn’t only expanding to our students but to our community as well. It was great to see.” To increase spirit, pep rallies, both inside the gym and at the stadium, took place throughout the school year. And sports teams weren’t the only ones in the limelight. Academic accomplishments were also recognized. As rallies continued, however, spirit waned for some. “I don’t want to say that I hated pep rallies, because I don’t want to seem like the bad guy,” senior Daniel Gonzalez said. “At first, they were really fun, but after a while they got annoying. Having them inside the gym was gross, because it was always hot and smelled bad. But I have to say the pep rallies raised spirit. This senior class was the most spirited since I’ve been here.”

the

FIGHT We’re gonna fight

song right on to victory.

We’re gonna fight right on to fame

We are the Mustangs... A GOOD SIGN No one is left out of pep rallies, including the more than 32 campus deaf ed. students, who, along with the cheerleading squad, taught the crowd how to sign the fight song using large handmade posters.

Student Life pep rallies

Burges High School Hoofbeats Yearbook El Paso, TX Pages 122-123 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inexperience Plays the Fieldâ&#x20AC;? This year, we really wanted to stress secondary coverage. We felt we had some good photographs from the sidelines and thought they suited the layout we chose, showcasing the simplicity we strive for.

Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2012 Crown Awards

In Their

Voices

STOP GAP To stop the drive from going any farther, strong safety Eduardo Avila drags a Chapin running back down for the tackle. “We didn’t play to our full potential,” Avila said. “I felt we had the chance to win because we practiced hard. There were just too many mistakes on both sides of the ball.” The Mustangs lost 49-6. emily de santos

by leslie ross

UP AND OVER His first varsity game, sophomore Monderrio Turner jumps to avoid his Mountain View opponent in the first game of the season. “I was scared, nervous, just everything,” Turner said. “Playing on varsity was a new level, and I had no expectations.” Turner rushed for 195 yards in the game. He rushed 1,045 yards for the season averaging 7.8 carries per game.

Six sophomores and juniors on offense and eight on defense made up part of the starting line-up. It also made for an unpredictable season.

PERSONAL BEST Right before halftime, junior Abiel Cordova squeezes past a Bowie defender on his way to a first down. “This was one of my best games,” he said. “I caught seven passes, one for a touchdown. I also ran for 130 yards. We should have had that game though. There was just a lack of communication between players.”

joe bueno

emily de santos

SLIPPERY EXPERIENCE Pouring down rain before the Andress game doesn’t stop junior Michael Trujillo and the team from routine pregame warm-ups. LISTEN UP Just after stepping off the field, right guard Eric Gonzalez and the offensive line listen to coach Mike Pry as he gives them directions for the next series. TOUGH ENDING Disappointed with an overtime 28-27 loss to El Paso, middle linebacker Alan Barraza takes time to absorb the season’s last game. SIDELINE SUPPORT Even with a broken leg, freshman Michael Rasor cheers the team on after a touchdown against Jefferson. WATER WORKS Exhaustion leaves left guard Ian Fraser when he returns from the field after completing a drive.

122

ain came down in sheets, with no let-up in sight. The game was delayed, not because of a soggy field but because lightning struck a little too close for comfort. As both teams emptied the field and headed back to the locker room, the stands also cleared out. Fans found cover anywhere they could. Some made their way under the mascot tunnel, and soon a stream of cheerleaders, photographers, even city police followed. It was shoulder to shoulder. “I wasn’t in there very long,” junior Yolanda Ruvalcaba said. “In five minutes it was already half full, and it was too crowded for me. People weren’t thrilled about the weather. The players were the only ones excited about the rain.” Excitement quickly turned to disappointment. Andress, known for its speed, never lost a step, posing problems all night. The game would end in a 46-14 pounding and the beginning to a 1-6 district season. “I had been concerned all week about Andress because of what I had heard about [running back Rashad] Chisholm,” middle linebacker Joshua Mena said. “Things just went downhill

aaron gonzalez emily de santos guadalupe gonzalez

aaron gonzalez

joshua partida

after their first drive and they ran all over us. That Monday was devastating.” Wanting to avoid that feeling again, players pushed hard in practice. Next up was Austin, a team players knew they could beat. With just five senior starters, the team was inexperienced. Most were sophomores and juniors playing their first year on varsity. Marcus Graham, who was an assistant the year before, was also in a new position as head coach. “The season was exciting because of the energy the players gave me,” Graham said. “I knew they were excited to work with me. They were a young team, but they have a bright future. Mistakes were made, but they didn’t let those get to them.” The team pulled out its first district win against Austin. They beat Jefferson 31-28, but after coaches realized an ineligible player competed in the game, the team was forced to forfeit the win. “It was an administrative error,” Graham said, “just an oversight because of the nine weeks. Our record was 2-8, but to me, we won three games on the field.” After a season of inconsistency, it was no surprise that it would continue through the team’s last game against El Paso High. “It was such a close game,” senior tackle Kevin Molinar said. “We prepared. We were capable, we just weren’t consistent. No matter what though, we kept fighting. It didn’t look good in the beginning, but toward the end we executed plays. Then, we lost that last extra point. We didn’t cover well, and they blocked the kick. The entire season was woulda, coulda, shoulda. After the game, I told the players how great it was to be on the same team with them. It came from the heart.”

emily de santos

SURE HANDED Close to mid-field, wide receiver Aaron Jones leaps over an Austin defender and runs another 25 yards to set up score. “We won that game by a field goal,” Jones said. “It was a great feeling to win after losing the previous two games.” Jones caught 31 passes on the season and averaged 19 yards per catch. He was also selected first team All District as a wide receiver and second team All District for his efforts at defensive back.

SEASON Mt. View Cathedral Riverside Andress Austin Jefferson* Chapin L Irvin L Bowie L El Paso

W L L L W L L

43-21 27-20 43-27 46-14 31-28 31-28 49-6 41-30 28-16 28-27

* Win forfeited

Varsity Football sports

123

Coral Glades High School The Prowl Newspaper Coral Springs, FL Page 1, 04/2011 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Staying safeâ&#x20AC;? We chose this layout for our front page because of its use of color and for the way it combines action photos with strong infographics. We like that the article on the bottom of the page ties in with the main story, and that the images in the teasers pop on the page.

Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2012 Crown Awards

In Their

Voices

prowl Coral Glades High School

2009, 2010 COLUMBIA SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION CROWN WINNER

2010

NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION PACEMAKER WINNER

INSIDE

CAPS FOR CANCER

Junior collects bottle tops to benefit cancer patients, inspired by her mother’s survival. NEWS, Page 7

OP/ED BAD SCHOOL HABITS

Students’ unnecessary and disrespectful school behavior, such as cellphone usage during class time, needs to end. Page 10

LIFE PERU TRIP FOR NEEDY

Over spring break, junior Daniella Montero travels to Peru, not to vacation, but to volunteer alongside university doctors. Page 14

SPORTS MANAGERS ARE KEY

Usually overlooked, sport managers of teams ranging from football to swimming are vital to the success of the season. Page 21

BACK FEATURE

SUITING UP FOR COMBAT

Four ROTC seniors decide to enlist in the military forces after graduating high school instead of taking conventional route to college. Page 24

NOT SO

BRIGHT

FUTURES

Students no longer rely on Florida scholarship program. PAGE 6

RIVALRIES

Volume 7 Issue 6 April 2011

Competition against Trojans and Eagles enhances Jaguar sporting events. PAGE 23

STAYING

SAFE

Being aware of one’s surroundings can be vital in keeping out of harm’s way Assault Concerns By The Numbers

AMYWEISS STAFF WRITER

alking down the streets of Coral Springs, teenagers are not aware of the possible danger. The violent crime rate of the city is 56% less than the Florida average and 18% less than the national average, but according to a number of experts the most important way to be safe does not involve guns, explosives, tasers, or pepper spray; instead it is just to be aware. “It’s important to have awareness of the people around you. If anything looks suspicious, report it,” School Resource Officer Bonasera said. It is actually dangerous when someone walks around alone texting or daydreaming. While jamming out to music with ear buds in on high volume, teenagers may not realize they become targets by blocking any audible warning of a stranger sneaking up on them. “Awareness is extremely important. Everyone needs to be aware of their surroundings, the common trends in crime, what they can do to avoid becoming a victim of a crime. Another word for awareness is education. Become educated in how to stay safe. Knowledge is power. Be smart,” Crime Prevention Officer Kerry Draddy said. Teenagers do common actions that they do not realize can put them into danger. Not having keys out and ready while going out to the parking lot or exercising alone even in daylight. When even awareness is not enough people can develop ways to defend themselves. “Self confidence with the knowledge of

60%

of sexual assaults are not reported

Sexual Assaults at Florida Universities 2007-2009

*The white bars represent the reported cases. The red bars represent the number of cases added if reported.

Total reported and unreported assault cases

Juniors Chris Talavera and Sarah Newman practice Tae Kwon Do for self defense. graphics by Raquel Garza

techniques and control,” Parks Tae Kwon Do Master Instructor Jong Yeo said. According to Master Yeo, avoiding panic is key to proper defense. “I’d like to emphasize that control is good. No panic, learn how to control oneself. Calm down, realize the situation and take action,” said Master Yeo who has been involved in martial arts training for 25 years. See PROFESSIONALS, page 13

AMYWEISS STAFF WRITER

GLADES BUCKET LIST

Michaela Palermo senior

Self defense is an important discipline that many people do not possess and may not be safe without. Master Yeo from Parks Tae Kwon Do came to Ms. Jennifer Redmond’s second and third period women studies classes on March 22 to teach the students special techniques in case they are ever confronted with an attack. “He taught us the most common

*Assaults typically reported to local police

Though least likely to report assaults, males make up about 10 percent of all victims. 150 male students/ 150 female students polled

42% YES

15% YES

male

NO male

female

35% NO female

Do you feel safe walking alone in Coral Springs at night? Sources: U.S. Department of Education/ Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network

Tae Kwon Do studio teaches defense

CENTERSPREAD

Skydiving and meeting a celebrity are some of the many activities that students want to do before they die. Page 14

2700 Spor tsplex Drive Cor al Springs, Florida 33065

Browa rd Coll ege* Univer sity of Florid a Florid a Stat e Univ e r s ity Florid a Atla ntic U nivers ity Florid a Inte rnatio nal Un iUniver sity of Centra l Florid a

the

ways people would attack and how to use our arms and legs,” senior Sydney Mills said. Although the class is called “women’s studies”, males also participate. Junior David Ravdin attended this session. He said the lesson was primarily to kick male assailants where they are most vulnerable. “I don’t feel the need to use the techniques but it’s useful knowledge,” Ravdin said “We just learned about domestic violence.”

“A lot of them are seniors going to college,” Redmond said. “Defense is a serious issue when you go away to college.” She explained that one in five college students are raped on campus and that most colleges do not even follow through with a report on it. “Even though we’ve been talking about women and violence, we wanted to get something positive and give the students the power to prevent it,” Redmond said.

Coral Glades High School The Prowl Newspaper Coral Springs, FL Page 20, 05/2011 “Words with Friends and Teachers” With this layout, we sought to mimic a popular smartphone application called “Words with Friends.” It has become common for students to play this game not only with their peers, but with their teachers as well – and it is a trend that we thought deserved its own page. The entire layout (including the Words with Friends logo, supporting headshots and quotes, student polls, an article, and additional graphics) was designed in Adobe Illustrator.

Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2012 Crown Awards

In Their

Voices

F E AT U R E

MAY 2011

WO R D S 5

theprowl

Looking for another way to pass time during the day, students and teachers use their phones to play a version of Scrabble to engage in healthy competition

ROHANNADKARNI SPORTS EDITOR

ou have the last five letters of the game, R-P-O-L-W, and your friend is beating you by 30 points, sound familiar? Words with Friends, the latest iPhone/Android application to take over the school, creates intense moments of competition, such as the one above, amongst the studentry and the faculty. In fact, when looking around one of your classrooms, you can often see someone on their phone, rubbing their forehead, staring at a familiar screen of golden yellow tiles. “I saw everyone with their phones out playing the same game,” senior Scott Vieira said. “I was like ‘oh, Words with Friends?, I guess I’ll play’.” Students do not make up the only players for the game, faculty members such as English teacher Tamara Schoen, TV Production teacher Dan Alonso, and even Guidance Director Danny Tritto have been known to partake in the word brawl. “My students are always playing it and asked me to play. I have only been playing for about two weeks,” Schoen said. For those not familiar with the game, Words With Friends, or WWF, plays like the game of Scrabble. Players try to form words with a set of a certain number of letters they are allotted each round. But instead of a vernacular face off between two human opponents, competitors play on separate phones. Players can also boost their point value with double and triple letter and word scores. Opponents take turns playing words down on the board, building off of each other to create a crossword salad worthy of the next edition of Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. The popularity of the game created some memorable matches. Prowl Staff Writer Matt Sheinbaum earned a reputation from his matches with Schoen and Tritto. Sheinbaum had the pleasure of defeating his English teacher. “Matt Sheinbaum humiliated me,” Schoen said. “Matt is a god at this game.” Schoen recommended Tritto, one of the more skilled players in the faculty, take on Sheinbaum. “I had a 40 point lead, but Sheinbaum beat me on his last word by playing ‘Flutist,’” Tritto said. “I beat him in the rematch, and now we have a third game that is currently on going.” Students often times involve themselves in a staggering amount of games simultaneously. Players have anywhere from 5-20 games ongoing at the same time. Some people may not be sure when to stop. “The game finally cut me off,” Mr. Alonso said. “I was in the middle of 21 games and tried to start another but I was not allowed to.” Along with most forms of competition, many players carry the hubris of believing they are the best at what they do.

148

TL 343 students polled

W TW D

DL TL W TW D

“I mean I do not think I am the best, but I could play with pretty much anybody in the school,” Vieira said. Occasionally, students will even begin to yell and scream when their opponent plays a ridiculous word using three vowels in a row. “I get pretty into it, at times I can lose my temper,” senior Steven Berger said. “I’m not trying to say I’m the best, but I haven’t had a real challenge yet.” Students alone do not believe they can conquer any opponent. “Game on,” Mr. Tritto said. “I think I can take on just about any challenger.” Words with Friends became popular nationwide before sweeping over the school. In 2009, the readers of Wired.com voted Words With Friends as their favorite iPhone application. Originally just an app for Apple, in February 2011, game publisher Zynga launched the game for Android phones, allowing for ‘cross-platform’ multiplayer games. Over 10 million people have downloaded the application. “I would look around and everyone in my class would have their phone out,” Vieira said. “It was pretty popular so a couple weeks ago I decided to try out the game myself. I do not even play on a phone, but on my iTouch.” More than just timepass, the game even factored itself into the friendly rivalry between Social Studies teacher Ryan Newman and English teacher Veronica Cloyd. Newman went as far to tweet about his lead in the game over Cloyd. “Words with Friends is a better way to waste your time than most apps,” Newman said. “But I really joined just to beat Cloyd.” Newman finds that the intellectual aspect of the game serves its players more than other common applications. “Words with Friends actually makes you use your mind,” Newman said. “It’s definitely more engaging than Angry Birds.” For now, teachers and students continue to play nearly every day, engaged in a slew of games. “I play every day, but never for hours or anything like that,” Tritto said. Guidance directors with busy jobs and seniors ready to graduate both seem to enjoy the game for the same amount of time. “I try to play every day,” Berger said. “There are some games where I do not respond for a few days though.” Although many apps flame out after a few months of popularity, such as Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, Words with Friends could potentially have the lasting power of its inspiration, Scrabble. “The attraction to the game really is I guess how much fun you can have with such a simple concept. Also, its ridiculously addicting,” Berger said. Words with Friends’ popularity has made it an exciting app for people of all ages. Now, what word can you make with R-P-O-L-W? Your move.

L W DL T G W TW D I R A O T N E M N number of students E R E who play at least G I five WWF games T at a time L DL T N W L TW D B DL T I G W TW D L T TEL E DL M P T O C W TW D L T DL U O W D TW T D E A M R O L C DL T W R TW D 1

number of students who play ‘Words with Friends’

number of students who play ‘Words with Friends’ with teachers

graphic design by raquel garza

“I just find it very enjoyable and somewhat educational because you learn new words everyday. The competition is always nice, too,” MATT GREY senior

“I don’t mind playing Words with Friends with students because it fosters literacy. But when they beat me, I feel depressed,” VERONICA CLOYD English teacher

“Words with Friends is challenging and addicting. It is so much fun to compete against your friends and it is an easy way to pass the time,” JENNY ROJAS senior

Hagerty High School Fusion Yearbook Oviedo, FL Pages 92-93 “Money Maker” We selected this spread about a benefit concert, featured in our Campus Life section (think ‘big events’ plus ‘academics, plus ‘clubs’), because it has some good action photography, despite the difficult auditorium setting. The dominant photograph with a text box overlay was something we had only done a couple of times and, with the subtle dark orange background, the spread really jumps out at the reader.

Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2012 Crown Awards

In Their

Voices

elephant serenade

photo by Sammy Somers

Anthony Kinney, 10

CHALLENGE

Alex Berger, 12

Marcos Mercado, Colby Berger, 10

TALENT

Putting to use the bass guitar talent he had had since age 16, phyiscs teacher Chris Adams performs with student band Advance to the Ship at the Corey Blackwood Benefit Concert. “People told me they liked the song I played about elephants. Basically, they thought I was The Beatles,” said Adams.

fighting for first Student bands competed in the Blue Print’s Battle of the Bands, all hoping that their talents would be rewarded with the $150 prize. When the night concluded, that prize was in the hands of the members of From Within: senior Alex Berger and sophomores Colby Berger and Jonathon Davis. “It’s a good thing we came to play here, because a lot of people can’t come to see us at the clubs when we play,” said Davis. Student musicians like Davis, who normally played at clubs around the area, enjoyed being able to showcase their talents in a carefree environment. photos by Sammy Somers

stealing

theSPOTLIGHT

Campus Life Benefit Concerts

“Before

curtains

I was

ready to hit the ground

running.”

- Erick Manley, 12

The community reaches out to support a family in their son’s time of need

“I

just know never to give up. It sounds so generic, I know. [There were] plenty of times I wanted to give up, but you just keep fighting. I sound like a Hallmark card, but it’s true,” said sophomore Cory Blackwood. Blackwood had dealt with sickle cell anemia since birth. Sickle cell anemia was an inherited, life-long disease that caused blocked blood flow in limbs and organs, in turn triggering pain, infections and organ diseases. It affected less than 100,000 Americans, and Blackwood was one of those few. Every two weeks, he and his family traveled to the Atlanta Institute until he was able to receive surgery, only to be followed by weeks of chemotherapy. Eight weeks later, after astonishing her family by being miraculously confirmed as a 100 percent match, his younger sister underwent her own surgery. She was

able to provide the doctors with the bone marrow that was necessary for a transplant to take place. “Everybody’s been there, listening, keeping an eye from afar. I guess that’s what any family would do,” said Blackwood. After hearing Blackwood’s story, National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society decided to put together a concert to assist Blackwood and his family. It was the first time that a benefit concert had been held in the honor of a specific student. The Cory Blackwood Benefit Concert delivered a night packed with some of the most talented musicians that the community had to offer. Both student bands and local bands were excited to participate. Although Blackwood was unable to be physically present at the concert, his

mother was overjoyed at the attendance and the encouragement shown by the city and the student body. “Gratitude comes from the bottom of my heart, but for you there is no bottom,” said mother Jhana Blackwood. Between the t-shirts, raffle tickets and prizes, support of local businesses, and around 300 tickets sold, the Cory Blackwood Benefit Concert provided over $5,000 of aid to the Blackwoods. “Not a single day goes by where I don’t think about the love and gratitude (they) have shown my family,” said Jhana Blackwood. The money raised by the Cory Blackwood Benefit Concert gave Blackwood’s family the courage to move forward. They were given the hope of their son returning to school the following year and the strength to continue pushing through.

opened,

photo by Sammy Somers

feeling the beat

Getting into the music at the Cory Blackwood Benefit Concert, Family Man drummer Dylan Alvarez concentrates on ending the night on a powerful note. Family of Man was very popular with the audience. “It was really nice to see all those people come together, and the people playing onstage looked like they were having a blast,” said sophomore Claire Parsons. photo by Sammy Somers

shaking things up

While performing at Battle of the Bands with his band Diver Mountain, sophomore Bryce Linde dons a hat from Russia along with his usual performance attire: a blue dress. “I usually play in [the dress]. Our band wanted it to be an experience. We always like to have a visual element. We try to ask ourselves what we would want to see if we were watching us play,” said Linde.

photo by Sammy Somers

pumped

“I was

by Elaina Fohr

MONEY MAKER

those

and in

the mood. I was READY

and really

excited.“

- Jonathon Davis, 10

“It was

exhilarating, something new; I COULDN’T

identify

all of the

FACES.”

- Anthony Kinney, 10

Campus Life Benefit Concerts

Hagerty High School Fusion Yearbook Oviedo, FL Pages 106-107 “Worth 1,000 Words” We don’t do many ‘posed’ photographs, but with the profiles in our people pages, it can work pretty well. We’ve been doing individual stories on our people pages for years that cover fun, diverse topics we wouldn’t otherwise get to write. This spread has a strong cutout, and the sidebar with the subject’s photos — despite their being posed — gives a nice change from our typical layout.

Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2012 Crown Awards

In Their

Voices

Nicole Hockman Collin Holladay Brent Hollen Colin Howell Matthew Hughes Heidi Humbert

Austin Humphreys Rebecca Humphreys Matthew Hunt Gavin Jackson Megan Jacques Abigail Jameson

summer days

“This photo was taken with fellow students on a day we spent at the lake, and the photo kind of captured a cinematic moment,” said Santana. photo by Omar Santana

anti-bullying

“I enjoy taking photos with friends, and this was an opportunity to take Patrick Dillon out. It was special because it was for anti-bullying,” said Santana. photo by Omar Santana

beach scene

“I like this photo because it’s a black and white photo and it gives it a more antique look. The beach is one of the best environments to take photos,” said Santana. photo by Omar Santana

start of something new

“This photo represents me because photography started out with skating for me and this is what started my photography career,” said Santana.

Worth 1,000 words photo by Omar Santana

Paul Jaskowski Sara Jensen Kirk Jewett Camille John Candice Johnson Christopher Johnson

Nathan Johnson Ashley Jones Virginia Jones Joshua Jordan Jean Luc Joseph Olivia Kain

Danielle Kalphat-lopez Sohani Kasireddy Nicole Kauffman Vanessa Keegan Caty Kerkove James Kernek

Garrett Kessinger Matthew King Mattison King Alyson Knaresboro Paul Knoblauch Amy Kolberg

Seniors Hockman - Kutz

Madison Koo Everett Kozlowski Kristin Krawczyk Sean Krebs Andrew Kutz Benjamin Kutz

Senior Omar Santana creates art by preserving a moment in time

mar Santana was first exposed to photography at age 14 when one of his friends took pictures of him skateboarding. He liked it enough that he asked for a Nikon D3000 for Christmas. “Photography isn’t just visual taking pictures. It’s creating art that captures a moment,” said Santana. Over the next two years Santana continuously added lenses and flashes and progressed from simply taking pictures of his friends skateboarding to photo shoots and selling senior portraits. “A friend asked if I would take pictures for their senior portraits and offered to pay. From there others just started asking,” said Santana Santana received an opportunity to pursue his dream after his senior year after a friend of his mothers saw the pictures and the accompanied talent, sharing it with a professional photog-

rapher. Santana was then offered the chance to spend the entire month of June working as an intern for professional photographer Anthony Tahlier. Santana went out and bought a new Nikon D300, his first semipro camera. “When I found out about my internship I was pretty hyped. I get the chance to pursue something I really care about while being so young,” said Santana. While in Chicago Santana planned to spend his time doing portraits and architectural photography. Santana hoped to take his photography skills a step further by becoming a photojournalist for publications like National Geographic or a television network like CNN. “I want a chance to take pictures around the world, and that would be the best way to do it,” said Santana. Santana planned to continue studying photography with a minor in business at UCF. “I like that I can show the world my perspective,” Santana said.

by Britni Padilla

Photography

25 million digital cameras were sold in U.S. in 2010 billion photos are uploaded to Facebook a month of U.S. households own a digital camera

80%

Seniors Hockman - Kutz

James River HS Etcetera Literary Magazine Midlothian, VA Pages 24-25 “Wayward Gypsy” and “At Night I think Of” Since we print our magazine in black and white, we were looking to create dramatic contrasts of value to give the images even more voice.

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“Skeletal” Tessa Meyer, Photography

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James River HS Etcetera Literary Magazine Midlothian, VA Pages 36-37 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Profound Ignorance of Skepticsâ&#x20AC;? We wanted our book to look worn and used, without taking away from the writing and artwork.

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Catherine Bail ey How can you l ookatt he human eari n al li t scompl exi t i es andst i l lnotbel i evet her ei saCr eat or ? How canyoul ookatt he humaneyewi t hwonder ,wi t hcur i osi t y,andnotknow t her emust be a Cr eat or ? How can you l ookatt he human body,per f ect l y scul pt ed,t hewoman' sbr east ,t heman' sst r engt handnotseet he handst hathavef or medi t ? Wet hi nkandweseekandwecommuni cat e wi t hl anguage,beaut i f ull anguage. We si ng and we danceandwecr yr ealt ear s,l aughr eall aughs-andyousaywe have evol ved so? How can we l ove by chance? Dr eam,by chance? Li vewi t hanunspeakabl epassi on? How canwepossi bl y pumpbl oodf r om ourhear t st ot hevei nsi nourf i nger t i ps-duet o chance,a gr eatcol ossalcol l i si on f r om whi ch usbeaut i f ulcr eat ur esofi mmeasur abl ewor t hhavesupposedl yr esul t ed,orhave we,per haps,r esul t edi ncar ef uli nt ent i onsf r om anar t i st ,adel i cat eCr eat or ,whosef i nger t i pshavepl acedt hest ar s,al i gnedt he gal axy,whosepal msmol dachi l di ni t smot her ' swomb;aCr eat or who,t oo,l aughsand cr i esand seeksand dr eams,who def i nes passi on.How canyoul ookup,i nt hedeadoft heni ght ,andnot cl ear l yseet her ei ssomet hi ngmor e,somet hi ngbi gger ,andnot wantt hat ,hungerf ori t ? How canyoupossi bl yt hi nkt hi sal lhappened bychance,ushuman bei ngsspi nni ng r api dl yon an of f cent erspher e atan al most t ooper f ectdi st ance f r om a bal lof f i r e? Y ou wantt o bel i eve t her ei sno Cr eat orand you wantt o bel i evei nnot hi ng.

Leighton Carter, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bones U Ink Draw nderwate ing râ&#x20AC;?

Laguna Blanca School The Fourth Estate Newspaper Santa Barbara, CA Pages 8-9, 5/26/11 “Burned, Broken and Destroyed” We live in a part of California that is earthquake country, and home to the San Andreas Fault. After the earthquake in Japan, they felt exceptionally vulnerable. They have also lived through several huge wild fires that destroyed hundreds of homes. One of the editors almost lost her home but, miraculously, it was saved. She wrote about her “extreme empathy for those who were not so lucky.” Another student wrote about the short attention span of media coverage and the quick hits on death and destruction the media made simply to boost ratings.

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Rising from the Ashes:

A Wandering Media: The Short Attention Span of Our Society

Reflecting on My Family’s Escape from the Tea Fire By Jordan Shannon

By LILLIE HODGES There is nothing that gets our attention quicker than a bold headline proclaiming “Breaking news.” The media loves to cover natural disasters, tragedies, and war, and as media consumers, we provide a greedy and willing audience. But, as the sad and graphic stories and images wane after the initial shocking events, the media quickly turns its attentions elsewhere. Long-term coverage of disaster recovery just does not get the attention, or ratings, of the initial event. Is there something wrong with the news media, or does news coverage simply reflect the short attention span of its audience? As media consumers, we are adrenaline junkies. It was exciting, and scary, to watch the handheld videos of building facades crumbling and office furniture crashing in the recent Japanese earthquake. The potential global impacts from leaking radiation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant kept us riveted to our TVs and favorite online news sites, and caused momentary hysteria as people scrambled to buy Potassium Iodide tablets (my dad ordered them from two online shops and did a midnight run to several local CVS stores). But, as the days passed, and new, more immediately stimulating events (like the Royal Wedding) became the media darlings, news coverage of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami all but disappeared. Another recent example of the short attention span of the news media was the

earthquake in Haiti. In the first few weeks after a 7.0 earthquake devastated the island nation of Haiti in January 2010, news coverage was intense. CNN’s frequent flier all-stars Anderson Cooper, Sanjay Gupta, and Christiane Amanpour spent most of the month in Port-auPrince providing graphic coverage of bodies being pulled from the rubble and of the city’s entire population camping outside in squalid conditions. But then, predictably, they were gone, and we all started to forget the horrors we had just witnessed. Of course, the crisis in Haiti did not stop when CNN left the country, and desperate conditions and slow recovery continue to this day. But we had all moved on to other things. Maybe it’s natural that the news media focuses on where the excitement is. After all, it is a business, and more viewers and readers means more ads which can be sold at high prices. After a few weeks of non-stop coverage of the Haitian earthquake, it probably became obvious that ratings were starting to slide, and this must have been when CNN executives told Anderson Cooper to come home. Even subsidized media, like the BBC in the United Kingdom, has to reflect what its audience wants to see, and cannot afford to provide longterm, insightful coverage if its audience wants to change the channel.

Emergency Supplies for Earthquake Preparation Ten gallons of water and purification tablets Fire extinguisher Wrenches and tools to turn off gas pipes First aid kit Flashlights with extra batteries Perishable and canned food Basic medications Camp stove or barbecue Portable radio with batteries Blankets, warm clothes, and sleeping bags

The Big Quake:

Are we really ready for the tremor which will rock the world? By ARABELLA WATTERS California is, in most thing about these magnitude earthquake. respects, perfect. statistics is that, unlike Since Laguna Blanca It is the land of the Third World was built the year the abundant sunshine, country of Haiti which Field Act was enacted, it beautiful people, sloping was devastated by an is easily possible that the mountains, world earthquake last spring, school was not checked renowned vineyards, and Japan, New Zealand, and for earthquake safe 800 miles of coastline. Chile are all developed structures since then. However, among other nations which seemingly However, it is not only things, California is would be prepared for a the physical dangers we also home to one of the large scale disaster such have to worry about in the largest and most volatile as an earthquake. case of an earthquake. fault lines in the entire Unfortunately, they At Laguna, we are world—the San Andreas were not. currently lacking Fault. This is a chilling adequate disaster Running directly under thought. preparation, specifically the city of San Francisco, America is arguably the for earthquakes. the San Andreas side of most developed nation Head of Upper School, the Pacific Plate is the in the world, but would John Berry gives his only side which has not we really be prepared if opinion. incurred a major “At this point quake since 1847. in time, I Research shows don’t think we “I have already written up a that major slips in would be well plan which involves working with fault lines occur prepared if an every 160 years; preparation for worst case scenarios, e a r t h q u a k e for example, a large magnitude we passed that s t r u c k mark all the way earthquake with a large numbered tomorrow. back in 2007. We need injured in the rain. We would then This is to create a back track from there.” incredibly budget [for bad news for disaster Californians. preparation], Recent quakes in Japan an earthquake of a large provide training, run (9.0), Christchurch, New magnitude struck our through siumlations, Zealand, and Chile (8.8) shores? and create storage space were disastrous, killing California is largely for supplies.” over 15,000 in Japan’s unprepared for a disaster Although Mr. Berry case and destroying that is inevitable in doesn’t believe we are numerous structures. our future, and when it ready at this point, he The most disturbing happens, the destruction does have high hopes for the future. and loss will be vast. In 1933, after a large “I have already written earthquake destroyed up a plan which involves seventy schools in Long preparing for worst case Beach and killed two scenarios, for example, students, a law called the a large magnitude Field Act was put into earthquake with a large motion. numbered injured in The Field Act is the the rain. We would then simple idea that no back track from there.” school can build While Laguna has a a new building or large amount of space facility without and resources Mr. Berry all plans being first believes that the strength approved as being of the preparation could “earthquake safe.” lie in learning how to use While this seemed them. like a foolproof “We need to talk about plan, since 1933 over how to utilize our gym, 20,000 school projects incorporate search and have been built without rescue, plan and train for being approved by the first aid triage, organize Field Act, a nonprofit food and shelter, and program called California understand the need for Watch reported. a sanitation structure. Problems at these We have the plan, we just schools include weak need to refine it, practice anchor bolts, feeble it, and make time to concrete, and insufficient review it annually.” welding. These While Laguna may constructive anomalies not be prepared from a would literally lead to a structural point of view, school crumbling to dust students can take solace during a large in the fact that a strong disaster preparation plan is in the works.

ertain events transcend the power of words. There is no way, for instance, to have a clue what it’s like to almost have your house burned down until it actually happens. Nov. 13, 2008, is a date which will always be imprinted in my mind. When the Tea Fire erupted in the foothills of Montecito two years ago, it scared the Santa Barbara community, burned 2,000 acres, and destroyed 210 homes. Of those homes, 151 were located within Santa Barbara city limits. I remember the night well. I distinctively recall looking from my house across the dark hills of Montecito on that Thursday evening; an ominous red glow already portended a crisis in the making. My family and I were notified to evacuate our home immediately, for our home was located directly in the line of fire. With winds gusting nearly 70 mph and a swirling inferno headed our way, we knew that we only had one option: to get out as soon as possible. We were told by firefighters that we had only 15 minutes to pack our belongings and evacuate immediately. Despite the severity of our situation, my father and mother remained calm and told my brother and me to gather our family photos and videos, and to quickly get into the car. As we pulled out of the driveway, flames were torching the homes surrounding my neighborhood, I remember thinking that this was the last time I would ever see my house standing in its full form. The only word I could use to describe the scene on our road was complete and utter chaos. Our neighborhood was buzzing with activity—a mix of awe and panic as the glow of the fire expanded, people standing on street corners, amateur photographers pulling out their tripods, and residents taking a close-to-frontrow seat atop their cars and on the tailgates of pickup trucks to assess the situation. Some pondered whether to pack up valuables and flee as my family and I did, or await orders to do so. As law enforcement officers drove by with a bullhorn giving evacuation orders to residents north of Alameda Padre Serra (APS), I observed some 40 people gathered in the driveway of an abandoned home at the intersection of APS and Gutierrez St. to observe the fire beyond on the other side of the canyon. Trees could be heard popping and emergency lights dotted the neighborhood spread across the hill.

Seeking refuge at a friend’s house, my family and I were happy to have gotten out alive. With the local news turned up all the way, we gazed in horror at the sight of homes in our neighborhood engulfed in flames. All we could do was hope for the best.

do feel is extreme empathy for those who were not so lucky. Fire investigators were able to link the inferno to a group of college-aged partiers who had been drinking at the famed Tea House, but county prosecutors concluded the case was too weak to go to trial.

“Whether our home was saved by a miracle or sheer luck I will never know, but what I do feel is extreme empathy for those who were not so lucky.” We weren’t thinking about the fact that our home and material possessions were destroyed, instead we were thankful to be together in safety. As the smoke cleared the next morning, my parents received the news that our home was one of the few spared in our entire neighborhood of West Mountain Drive. Whether our home was saved by a miracle or sheer luck I will never know, but what I

Instead, the Tea Fire 10, as they became known, were charged with the lesser offense of trespassing. Most were fined and ordered to perform community service, in their hometowns, not Santa Barbara. Looking back on this disaster that affected our sleepy beach town two years ago, I can only express my deepest gratitude t o our local

firefighters and those families that were able to maintain strength through such a difficult time. Although new homes have replaced those destroyed by the Tea Fire’s wrath, our memories of that terrible night will still remain. What we are left to do now is to make the proper preparations in case such a disastrous event should ever happen again. Disaster readiness experts like the Red Cross want the public to be reminded of the importance of keeping items such as extra medications, important documents, food, clothing, and water together in a predesignated container (such as a backpack or sturdy box) in case you do have to evacuate. Additionally, the Red Cross encourages families to discuss their family plan to determine what parents and children will do if there is such an emergency. A family plan should

include: knowledge of where to meet outside should a house fire occur, how family members can get in touch with one another if there is an emergency during work/ school hours, and an out of town contact in case family members cannot get in touch locally. In terms of protecting your home from forest fires, the U.S. Fire Administration suggests that you design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Select materials and plants that can help contain the fire rather than fuel it. In the end, if we can take the proper precautions before another disastrous wildfire such as the Tea Fire should occur, then we can hopefully avoid such massive devastation and pillage from wreaking havoc on our beautiful city ever again.

WILDFIRE PREPARATION Make sure your car is backed into the garage so you are able to drive away quickly. Keep the doors and windows in the garage are closed, but unlocked. Don’t leave your pets behind. At night keep them in one room to facilitate evacuation. Make sure to have temporary housing available with friends or family and contact someone outside of the fire zone.

Don’t ignore evacuation orders. They are serious and potentially could save your life. Get out ASAP. Hold a napkin or a piece of cloth over your nose and mouth as you evacuate as not to inhale smoke. Make sure to feel all doors and door handles for heat before opening them. Classic stop, drop, and roll. All tips provided by American Red Cross, for more tips visit www.redcross.org

Laguna Blanca School The Fourth Estate Newspaper Santa Barbara, CA Page 16, 5/26/11 “Summer Treats” This spread represents exceptional efforts on the part of several staff members. It’s a great example of the ‘Maestro Approach’ as it took a team of talented students to complete the final product. Students purchased the food items, created unique recipes, photographed the results, edited the photos in Photoshop, and finally created a great layout for the page.

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PAGE DESIGN: ARABELLA WATTERS PHOTOS: LILLIE HODGES GRAPHICS: JULIA KENT DESSERT CHEFS: LILLIE HODGES & ARABELLA WATTERS

The Grasshopper Sundae

WHIPPED CREAM

Top off with:

Hints of mint and crunchy Oreo’s make a refreshing and satisfying sundae on a hot summer day

Strawberry Storm Sundae Sweet sliced strawberries at the height of the summer season make a delicious dessert

OREOS

Sprinkle on:

Start with:

2 SCOOPS OF VANILLA ICE CREAM

Round up:

2 SCOOPS OF CHOCOLATE

HOT FUDGE SAUCE

Scoop up:

Drizzle on:

Add on:

2 SCOOPS OF STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

2 SCOOPS OF MINT CHIP Spoon on: HOT FUDGE SAUCE

Sprinkle on:

Dulce de Leche Gingersnap Surprise

Chip-Wiches Bake fresh: 2 Chocolate Chip Cookies

Stack up:

2 GINGERSNAP COOKIES

SLICED ALMONDS

Garnish with: FRESH STRAWBERRIES Scoop up:

1 SCOOP OF VANILLA ICECREAM Scoop up:

1 SCOOP OF DULCE DE LECE ICECREAM

Roll in: A LARGE PILE OF CHOCOLATE SPRINKLES

Swirl on: WHIPPED CREAM

St. Mark’s School of Texas ReMarker Newspaper Dallas, TX Page 1B 12/10/2010 “Slowly Chipping Away” This is the cover of a special section centered on the topic of verbal abuse. In the main story, an Upper School student who had been verbally abused in his middle school years shared the damage done by this taunting and how he rose above the abuse. Additional stories included an interview with the school psychologist and a feature on the history of bullying at the school.

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re friday

DECEMBER 10, 2010

SECTION B

A REMARKER SPECIAL SECTION ST. MARK’S SCHOOL OF TEXAS DALLAS, TEXAS

It’s easy to spot physical abuse: black and blue marks, blood, bruises. But verbal abuse is harder to detect. Words can sting, but how do you measure their impact? One Marksman knows all too well.

slowly

CRACKED AND FRAYED As students weather verbal abuse’s bite, their faces remain bold and untorn. But at home or in the safety of restroom stalls — when no one is around to judge them — they crumble.

chipping away

E COULD STILL SEE THE DENT IN THE WHITEWASHED WALL.

A cracked and cratered reminder of that red Hot Wheel flung across his bedroom. A hole that didn’t come from rough-play or a childish temper tantrum.

§ It was a scar on the wall. A scar that reminded the middle schooler that he was alone. That hole was a frayed snapshot of his attempt to cope. § He had arrived at the halls of 10600 Preston Road as an optimistic fifth grader. He was ready for quizzes with checks, smiley faces and stickers on them. Kick ball victories ending with sweat-speckled high fives and ecstatic sprints toward lunch. § What he got was that hole in the wall. CONTINUED, NEXT PAGE

inside

SLOWLY CHIPPING AWAY story by Max Marshall, issues editor / additional reporting by Dean Itani, editor-in-chief / photo illustration by Nic Lazzara, staff artist / photos by Jeff Eichenholz, head photographer

editor’s note: Because of the sensitive nature of this subject, the name of this Upper School student has been changed to “James.’

Learning to change At first, editor-in-chief Dean Itani thought that verbal abuse was not a huge problem on campus. Here’s what changed his mind.

Looking back to ‘66 Peer abuse isn’t a new phenomenon, but the nature of the harassment has changed. Teachers reflect on how their peers were mistreated during their time as Marksmen.

Where to go for help Resources and options exist on campus for kids having trouble. School Counselor Barbara Van Drie explains what kids and adults can do.

St. Mark’s School of Texas ReMarker Newspaper Dallas, TX Page 21 2/4/2011 “Commentary” This commentary page included an editorial that urged young people to respond to the horrific shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Griffith of Arizona by resolving to work within their generation to remove some of the vitriolic speech prevalent in the political arena. An accompanying infographic provided contact information for Dallas-area congressional representatives. The point-counterpoint that followed below offered two opinionated students’ views on the Wikileak controversy.

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commentary

remarker

february 4, 2011

PAGE

editorial

Unity in politics

The shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Griffiths brings up many discussions and questions about the flaws and climate within our political system

Give us, O God, the spirit which will enable us to hold passionate convictions, and yet exercise dispassionate judgments. Give us more tolerance and less temper. Help us to see both sides of a question and, as we face the complcated issues of our day, fill us with that spirit which will enable us to stand for the right and the truth, without bitterness and without any loss of loving kindness. Amen.

his prayer, which concluded Upper School Chapel services Jan. 12, was timely and powerful in attempting to provide some solace from the Jan. 8 shootings in Tucson. In these horrific attacks, Congresswoman Gabrielle Griffiths (D-AZ) was seriously injured, six people were killed and an additional 13 people were injured, many critically. While frightening in and of itself, this While frightening in and of itself, this incident has raised serious questions for all Americans. As future leaders, public servants and elected officials of our generation, we should use this incident as a starting point for discussions which, we feel, could go a long way in bringing about much-needed civility in public discourse. Contacting your Congressional representatives In beginning his State of the Union address Jan. 25, President Obama again called for political unity. If you agree, we encourage you to contact your senator or congressman and say you support this new call for unity in politics:

incident has raised serious questions for all Americans. As future leaders, public servants and elected officials of our generation, we should use this incident as a starting point for discussions which, we feel, could go a long way in bringing about much-needed civility in public discourse. President Obama addressed the ramifications of this shocking event when he spoke to Americans Jan. 12 in a memorial service in Tucson. The president, who was elected with huge support from young Americans, urged people of all beliefs not to use the tragedy to turn on one another. This incident should give our generation concern because it prompts serious questions for us to consider:

political process? Will our generation be more reluctant to engage in the political process because of fear for safety? ut, the bigger question should be: How many more acts of violence will it take before our generation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as future leaders of this country â&#x20AC;&#x201D; will demand a change in culture and political discourse? Our generation must discuss this question and work to improve the political climate in this country. Not just for ourselves, but as a tribute to the life and works of Rep. Griffiths.

Ă? N H I K H KI Ă&#x153; I I vitriolic? Why canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we learn that it is acceptable to disagree with others without taking it to the incitement level? Ă? N HK L I H I K H HK this mean for our generation as we grow older and become more active in the

SPEAKING WITH PASSION President Barack Obama delivers a speech that touched many at the University of Arizona Jan. 13.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn 972-239-1310 http://cornyn.senate.gov

U.S. Rep. Ralph M. Hall 214-726-9949 http://ralphhall.house.gov

U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson 972-470-0892 http://www.samjohnson.house.gov

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison 214-361-3500 http://hutchison.senate.gov

U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling 214-349-9996 http://hensarling.house.gov

U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant 972-556-0162 http://www.marchant.house.gov

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton 972-875-8488 http://joebarton.house.gov

U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson 214-922-8885 http://ebjohnson.house.gov

U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions 972-392-0505 http://sessions.house.gov

The WikiLeaks scandal has monopolized public and political discussion for weeks. Founder Julian Assange has been both vilified and made a hero for his action Rishee Batra, against:

in printing classified government documents. Two Marksmen had differing opinions on Wikileaks and its implications for the country.

Point/Counterpoint

Ă? The recent buzz surrounding WikiLeaks raises important issues of democracy, law and diplomacy. The fact remains, however, that the WikiLeaks project has consistently released information in ways that violate the rule of law. The information presented may also mislead the public into elevating diplomatic remarks to truth value. Countries often say things in confidential encounters that do not accurately reflect domestic realities. WikiLeaks therefore carries a legitimate risk of presenting information outside of its proper context, leading to bad conclusions by the public.

The WikiLeaks controversy

Ă? Additionally, this theft of classified information undermines the ability of the international political system to function properly, creating a constant trans-continental controversy. Other countries that were previously in the dark about some American statements now can see the multiple contradictions inherent within American diplomacy. This can only be detrimental to international relations. Ă? Finally, the documents do very little in terms of advancing democratic accountability. The checks-and-balances system built into the Constitution allows for some secrecy from the American public. In World War II, did the American people need to know every detail of our war plans against Germany or Japan? Today, do we really need to know about private Chinese statements concerning North Korea, or how Americans really feel about French president Sarkozy? This type of â&#x20AC;&#x153;democratic accountabilityâ&#x20AC;? is not worth compromising international politics and only adds fuel to the fires of international mistrust. Junior Rishee Batra is ranked among the top debaters in the nation >

Thomas Tassin, for:

Ă? WikiLeaks has not broken any laws. They are publishing information that has been given to them. Context is always important, but the underlying intention of the information being released is to send a message to those in power; in that, they are answerable to the public.

Ă? The information may be trivial or top secret. Regardless, elected officials have to keep within the rule of law. Neglect for the law and abuse of power can easily develop when secrecy is the norm, and this is not how an effective and balanced democracy works. Hence the threat of public knowledge is an effective deterrent against corruption. Ă? As for advancing democratic accountability, it can only develop over time in an environment that supports transparency. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect our politicians to admit they have broken a law, and send themselves to prison. That is the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job, and the threat of exposure is the only way to change the environment to one that supports transparency, just as the prevention of a crime is often the ramifications of said crime. To keep secrets secret is to ensure that eventually, there will be no democratic accountability. Ă? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll close with a quote from Julian Assange, outlining his organization and its mission: â&#x20AC;&#x153;WikiLeaks is a mechanism to maximize the flow of information to maximize the amount of action leading to just reform.â&#x20AC;? < Junior Thomas Tassin is a leader in the second-year History and Current Events Club

Westfield High School The Guardian Yearbook Chantilly, VA Pages 4-5 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Make a Statementâ&#x20AC;? This spread focused on breaking free of labels, stereotypes, and norms. It was a testament to students who feel like no one hears them or even cares about who they are. We wanted to include a theme page to show how we tried to accomplish this.

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Sports

2010 JV & Varsity Girls Lacrosse 12 Boys & Girls Golf 28 JV & Varsity Field Hockey 30 Coed Swim & Dive 44 Varsity Boys Basketball 46

Student Life

influence and motivate friends and family.

Spring Break 8 Merchant of Venice 10 Spring Art Show 14 2010 Graduation 16 Summer Mission Trips 18 Summer Enrichment 20 Student Jobs 24 Winter Mission Trips 48 Westfield Idol, Mr. WHS 62

“Making a statement is about being a leader, not a follower.

Academics

Think of others. Change things around you. Inspire,

It’s about forming your own opinions and encouraging others,” Mikhaila Smallwood said. Be bold and exceed expectations. “Do or do not, there is no try. Always question what you learn and never just believe what you’re told,” Joseph Rodas said. No one can stop you from standing up for your beliefs.

1. Think Pink Saluting the flag in her ‘Support the Cure’ T-shirt, Katie Nolan listens during the National Anthem. “The Varsity Cheer team started planning to wear pink over the summer. I believe advocating for breast cancer research shows reverence and spreads awareness,” Nolan said. photo by linus downes 2. Ms. Bright Side Mixing colors in 3D studio art, Asalia Subia adds the final touches to her pottery. “I put live, laugh and travel on my clay cup. The words express how I think which is positive. Always look on the bright side,” Subia said. photo by tionna fullwood 3. Electrified Scaring haunted house customers, Daniel Braunstein screams at a student to sit in the electric chair. “It wasn’t hard to stay in character as groups went through the haunted house, but I still tried be as intense as possible,” Braunstein said. photo by meghan mcpherson

“Don’t just make a difference in the community. Show everybody else how to make a difference,” Omar Anwar said. Don’t back down when your values and ideas are tested. Fight for your cause. Stand up for what you believe. Make a statement.

Science Class 22 SGA, Peer Mediation 36 History Class 38 AP Class 40 Fine & Performing Arts Class 52 Language Class 56 English Class 66 Publication Class 70

Organizations

Best Buddies 26 Logo Vine 32 Language Clubs 42 Humanitarian Clubs 54 Althetic Training 58 Honor Societies 60 Model UN, Debate, Judiciary 64 FBLA, DECA 68

People

Make a

Statement

Michael Garcia 6 Marlena Kauer 34 Emily Tobin 50 Ashley Sanchez 72

4 Make a Statement

9 04 Even Page

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Westfield High School The Guardian Yearbook Chantilly, VA Pages 6-7 “Make a Statement, Michael Garcia,” In these three sections, we used twelve profile pages to feature the voices of twelve students. Whether they tried to instill change in ‘Make a Statement’, or flaunt their independence in ‘Have Attitude’, or reminisce in ‘Open Up’, their creativity and individuality shone through in their personal statements. These pages included a vertical bar, which not only looked consistent with the theme pages but also added another layer of personality. Each featured student chose what would go in their bar and even assisted in the design of their page.

Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2012 Crown Awards

In Their

Voices

1. Never Give Up Showing off their personalized bracelets, Lexi Scoville, Artie Pickett, Charlie Johnson, McCreagh Lackman, and Michael Garcia remember Dalton’s message. “Losing Dalton was probably the toughest situation I have ever had to deal with,” Garcia said. photo by molly burns 2. Say Cheese Posing for 2009 Homecoming pictures, Michael Garcia and Dalton Gulsby smile for the camera. “He taught us all about friendship and taking advantage of every moment we spend with each other,” Garcia said. 3. Forever Friends Hanging out after school, Michael and Dalton relax in Dalton’s kitchen. “It makes me mad when I see people annoyed with small things or complaining about school or sports,” Garcia said. photos courtesy of bari gulsby

Make a Statement

Michael Garcia Inspiring friends and family to never give up after losing his friend Dalton Gulsby to cancer

Dalton Gulsby never complained about having cancer, and his life and death made me appreciate everything I have. Many people do not realize how good they really have it, how life is truly a gift and how it’s not something that should be taken for granted. That was the message that Dalton left me and is the message I am trying to get across at this school. Painting the rock for Dalton was just another step in motivating everyone to never give up just as Dalton motivated everyone he knew in school, sports, and life. Lexi Scoville, Abby Fallon, Grace DeBell, Artie Pickett, Austin Redman, Jimmy Wruk, Danny Bulas, Charlie Johnson, Rooj Saadallah, Wade Arduini, Bo Hartman, JaQuan Campbell, and I all happily pitched in time and effort to decorate the rock with his parents and to celebrate his life once more. The saying on the rock ‘Never Give Up’ was not just a phrase that Dalton said but was a philosophy he lived by, and the rock will serve as a reminder to everyone that there is more to life than grades, goals, and dates. Besides painting the rock, I also helped Lexi Scoville sell bright red ‘Never Give Up’ bracelets that Dalton’s cousin created. We donated the money raised from the bracelets to further cancer research at Georgetown University Hospital, where Dalton was treated. I think doing fund raisers for cancer research is probably the best way to spread awareness about this horrible disease. I planned on creating another bracelet, as well, because cancer patients and their families can really use all the support they can get. Although, I’m healthy and do not have to worry like Dalton Gulsby did, I value every moment I have. I now have a mentality where failure is not okay and I will not take no for an answer when it comes to anything. When I think something is unconquerable, I have to find that drive deep down and realize that impossible is nonexistent, just like Dalton did everyday. He lived life like nothing could stop him and I’m trying to do the same. Dalton has made me a better person. He has taught all of us valuable lessons to strive in life, to be the best at everything we can, and to truly fight in everything we do. I try to motivate people as much as possible and be there for them like we were there for Dalton and like Dalton was there for me.

Make a

Legacy

Students respond to Dalton’s message of perseverance and hope

9 06 Even Page

1. 8.10.10 Holding

photos by molly burns and amanda sontra

up a banner, Abby Fallon, Courtney Cleveland, Grace DeBell, Maggie McInturff and Lexi Scoville walk at the Homecoming Parade. “Dalton always said in anything you’re doing don’t give up, and I think about that most when I’m playing sports and need to keep trying,” Cleveland said. 2. Class Response Riding in the Class of 2012 float, Andrew Y. Kwon stands behind a poster with Dalton’s initials. “Dalton’s spirit inspired our entire grade and we have all had to come together because we have lost a part of our class,” Kwon said. photos by blanton studios 3. In Memory of Creating a poster for homecoming week, Oyanna Wakefield honors Dalton’s memory. “Dalton taught everyone that as long as they try they will eventually succeed, which is a great message,” Wakefield said. photo by isaac park

Michael Garcia Profile 7

Make a Statement

Job # 5577

ImIn

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WICS41101L

WIN MAC Ink Black

Job # 5577

School Westfield High School

FOR PLANT USE

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WORK ORDER WORK ORDER

School Westfield High School

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Process 4-Color (CMYK)

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