The Hilight: Senior Edition 2021

Volume LXXXVI May 7, 2021 Issue IV 510 13th St. Cullman, AL 35055

The Senior Edition

2017 Reflections of the Class of 2021 21 Days Until Graduation

2 FEATURES Sun, Fun, and Strawberries!

The Strawberry Festival is back Ava Burns, Staff Writer

Our annual Strawberry Festival is finally back and bigger than ever after COVID-19 mandates have loosened in our state. The beautiful weather drew out over twenty thousand people on May 1st. The Festival goes

berries from local farmers throughout North Alabama.

A wonderful array of vendors, artists, and live music came out to show off their products and talent. There

Gritty Dirt Band and The Humdingers. There was also a Miss Strawberry Festival Peageant and a Doggy PawGeant wtih an after pawty!

pandemic did not stop this shopping spree.

As the oldest Strawberry Festival in Alabama, the Cullman Strawberry Festival is one the whole family will not want to miss! There is something to do for everyone.

The day was packed with fun activities and opportunities to socialize and support small and local businesses.

were performaces from many local groups like the Cullman High School Jazz Band, the back over eighty years. It was Cullman Community Band, held on May 1st at Depot Park and a local ballet studio. and the Fest Hall.

There were also performances It featured the best strawby larger groups like the Nitty

You can find almost any kind of decoration or jewelry that is hand-made and beautifully crafted- that is if you can get there fast enough! The festival draws large crowds of patrons every year, and the

Curbing COVID-19

School Nurse Appreciation

Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer

Bella Cottingham, Co-Editor

Vaccination distribution statistics Alabama:

USA:

Vaccinations given so far:

Vaccinations given so far:

Eligibility for all:

Eligibility for all:

People with the 1st dose:

People with the 1st dose:

Number of people with full vaccine:

Number of people with full vaccine:

Doses delivered to Alabama:

Doses delivered to US:

Doses delivered to providers:

Doses delivered to US providers:

Doses delivered to federal programs:

Doses delivered to federal programs:

2,039,712

April 5th 1,309,917 797,972

3,128,375

2,459,915 668,830

190 million doses April 5th 36.4%

74.1M

237.8M 237.8M 100M

Interview with Nurse Shugarts The past year has changed what it means to be a nurse. Their sense of strength, compassion, and expertise has been elevated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses around the world have shown that they are not only contributory in guiding the nation through these times, but also that hospitals and communities would suffer greatly without them. I interviewed Cullman High’s own school nurse, Mrs. Jennifer Shugarts, to gain insight into what it means to be a school nurse and her experience working during a pandemic.

1. What is a typical day like as a school nurse here at CHS? There are a few routine scheduled visits that are the same every day, but walk-in visits are unpredictable.

Some days I do more first aid and other days it may be more students not feeling well. Some days I have more paperwork, emails and phone calls. Typically, it is a combination of all those things.

2. What is an aspect of your job that most students here might not be aware of?

Most students probably do not know that I am also the Lead Nurse for the Cullman City school system.

Just a few of my other responsibilities are to supervise the other school nurses and substitute nurses, coordinate health screenings, and collaborate with Alabama State Departmentof Education and Alabama Department of Public Health.

3. What do you think is the best or most rewarding part of being a school nurse?

Previously I have been the school nurse at CMS and East Elementary.

Now being at CHS, I have enjoyed seeing how students have grown and matured. The most rewarding part of being a school nurse is to know that I have been able to help or influence someone in a positive way.

4. What contributed to your decision to become a nurse?

I have always had a passion for helping others, and I knew I wanted to do something to make a difference in someone’s life. I was interested in science and enjoyed problem solving. I love kids and thought I wanted to be a pediatrician. I decided nursing would be more flexible but still challenging.

When I had the opportunity to become a school nurse, it gave me the chance to do what I love.

5. Have your roles and responsibilities changed or expanded due to Covid-19?

COVID-19 has definitely added more challenges to my role as a school nurse. Health and safety have always been my top priority, but this year they became more of a concern. The pandemic has given me an opportunity to be much more involved in planning and maintaining the well-being of all our students and staff.

features

Bearcat Blood Family ties at CHS

Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor

Family is a pivotal feature of Cullman High School. From the administration, to the teachers, to the students, Cullman offers a unique environment where real relationships take precedence. But Cullman High School is not only a place to find family, but for some, it is also a place to see your relatives every day. Most people know that some teachers and administrators have children, nieces, or nephews at Cullman, but here is a list of almost every family at CHS.We apologize if you were missed!

Lanie Townson and Kim Hall Did you know that our very own principal has a niece at CHS? Lanie is a senior this year, and she says that throughout high school, “She has not gotten special treatment from Kim [Mrs. Hall]; it has actually been worse.” Aside from the jokes, Lanie admits that she really has enjoyed having her aunt at school for the past four years.

John Weston Ray and Mrs. Ray Mrs. Emily Ray not only graduated from Cullman High School, but she has also taught at Cullman High School for years. Her son, John Weston, is a sophomore at CHS this year.

Kate Rains and Mrs. Rains Mrs. Rains is everyone’s favorite FACs and Foods teacher. You might also recognize her daughter, Kate Rains from SGA, Theater, and Choir.

Tavie Owen and Mrs. Owen Tavie is a senior at Cullman this year, and Mrs. Owen is one of our amazing Special Education teachers!

Reese Patterson and Coach Patterson Coach Patterson is our head baseball coach and Driver’s Education teacher. His daughter, Reese, is a freshman at Cullman this year.

Caleb Brown, Asa Hayes, and Coach Hayes Most everyone knows our lovable Physical Education teacher and golf coach, Jonathan Hayes. However, some people may not know that Coach Hayes’s son is a freshman at CHS this year and his nephew, Caleb Brown, is a senior.

Paxton Ponder and Mrs. Ponder Mrs. Ponder is one of our friendly counselors at CHS. She will be missed! Her son, Paxton, is a sophomore at CHS and he is also part of the Cullman High baseball team.

Lexi Anderson and Officer Anderson Officer Anderson is one of the first faces that students see before school each morning as he waves everyone into the parking lot. Lexi Anderson, Officer Anderson’s daughter, is a senior at Cullman High School this year.

Riley Jackson and Mrs. Jackson Another welcoming face at Cullman High is our very loving and kind secretary, Mrs. Jackson. Mrs. Jackson’s son, Riley, is a sophomore at CHS this year.

Mimi Lunsford, Maggie Lunsford, and Mrs. Lunsford Mrs. Lunsford says that she has loved teaching where her kids go to school. Some of her favorite parts include seeing her daughters in the hallways everyday, being available if they ever need to stop in and see her, and also getting to know their teachers and friends. She adds that it is one of her favorite parts about teaching! Mimi is a sophomore and Maggie is a senior this year.

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Tyler Pitzing teaches freshman English at CHS. His niece, Bailey Grace, is a senior this year, and she has been the drum major for the Cullman High School Band for the past two years.

Madison Smith and Mr. Smith Madison is a junior at Cullman.

She participates in the Cullman High School color guard and she is also a member of the theater department.

Mr. Smith is our band director; he flawlessly pulls off performances for all of the CHS ensembles like the marching band and the jazz band.

Drew Ball and Mrs. Ball Mrs. Ball is a friendly face in the math building! She is a special education teacher at Cullman and she also helps sponsor the CHS Key Club. Drew Ball, her son, is a junior this year and he is a part of the CHS football team.

Bailey Grace Smith and Coach Pitzing This might be one of the most unknown student-teacher relationships.

Bored? Not Anymore!

Fun things to do over the summer Bella Cottingham, Co-Editor

Living in a small town requires a little more creativity when coming up with things to do with friends. So here’s a list of some fun ideas for things to do over the summer!

1. Have a themed picnic!

This is such a fun and creative idea to do with friends this summer. Have a picnic, but add a little spice to it! It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant (unless you want it to be!) maybe just a personalized cake from Walmart, for example, or get takeout from your favorite restaurant.

2. Collect natural objects for art!

Collect flowers to press to make art you can hang on the wall or find interesting branches to incorporate into your decor!

Even just going on a nature walk and finding pretty flowers to keep in a vase is such a cute room decoration!

3. Go on a hiking “adventure” There are plenty of beautiful places nearby to get lost (not really) in nature. Some specific hikes near Cullman include Hurricane Creek, Ruffner Mountain, Sipsey Wilderness, Rainbow Mountain, and Clarkson Covered Bridge.

4. Go pick some fruit! (Steele Orchard) Taking a visit to Cullman County’s Steele Orchid is a perfect thing to do on a warm summer day. They have a variety of hand picked fruit from over twenty different varieties of apples and six different varieties of peaches. They also have a bakery where you can buy fresh baked pastries, hand-picked fruit, and more!

5. Paint your own shoes Go to Walmart, pick out a style of plain white shoes, grab some paint and paint brushes, and you’re good to go! This is a fun, artsy idea to do with a group of friends or by yourself.

6. Go to an Art Gallery (Carnegie Visual Arts Center) Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur is housed within the historic 1904 Carnegie Library, which served as the city’s public library facility for more than seven decades. Now, it showcases more than 4,000 square feet of exhibit, workshop, and studio space.

7. Do a “Food Tour” This is where you go to one restaurant for appetizers, then to a different one for the entree, and finally a third restaurant for dessert. Although this idea might have the potential to be a little costly, it doesn’t have to be fancy restaurants. You could even do fast food if you wanted!

4 FEATURES Fry-tastic Fun

Battle of the local restaurants Presley Lafon, Staff Writer

We decided to put three local restaurants head to head to figure out which restaraunt in Cullman has the best french fries! We asked the Southerner Staff to blindy taste and rank fries from three different restaraunts in Cullman and the results may surprise you! Six memebers of the staff were asked to give each restaraunt’s fries a ranking between 1 and 5 for each of fiour categories: texture, taste, appearance, and overall acceptability. Here are the results:

The first restaraunt we chose was the Busy Bee Cafe. For over 100 years, The Busy Bee Cafe has been providing the community of Cullman with excellent food and a family type of service. The restaurant, established in 1919, is a recognizable source for family fun any day of the week (except Sundays)!

Texture: 3.42 Taste: 3.5 Appearance: 3.75 Acceptability: 3.33 Overall Rating: 3.5

The second restaraunt we picked was Johnny’s BBQ. Johnny’s BBQ has been a part of Cullman’s history since 1949, so they’re no stranger to friendly, fast, family-owned service! The restaurant serves everything from barbeque, chicken, catfish, and stuffed baked potatoes to delicious pies, cheesecakes, and banana pudding.

Texture: 2.33 Taste: 2.08 Appearance: 2.83 Acceptability: 2.67 Overall Rating: 2.48

The third and final restaraunt we chose was The Downtown Grill. The Downtown Grill, established in 2001, is a staple around Cullman for delicious wings and is located in the heart of downtown! Owners Katie and Justin Lee are graduates of Cullman High School and said “We just want to be community orientated, and do this for the love of everyone here.”

Texture: 3 Taste: 2.08 Appearance: 3.33 Acceptability: 2.75 Overall Rating: 2.79

The Southerner Staff overwhelmingly gave the Busy Bee’s fries the best ratings! So next time you’re craving french fries, stop by and try some.

FEATURES Senior Poet

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Senior poet of the year Ava Burns, Staff Writer “New Times”

by Carlee Roberts

Inspritation for “New Times”:

“The Wondering Years”

by Cody Goodwin

Inspiration for “The Wondering Years”:

Let your wings fly Breathe child your fears are set free You do not have to plea Relax back on the tree

Throughout high school I had been going through a rough patch in my life up until I joined Desperation. There I was able to feel better about my life and the friends and family that were surrounding me and coming into my life giving me amazing new memories. As well as getting a job and gaining even more friends and experiences. I’m very grateful for everything that has happened.

There was a town like many towns Street like many streets People searching for all the gold in their crowns Longing for them and their future to meet Children playing with innocent lust While their parents stay blind To them leaving the town to dust Still the days seem long Till memories are made Soft like a hopeful song After all these years I still look back with distant thunder Crying wishful tears I only wonder.

The poem relates with us all. Everything about growing upseems to make us question life, but in time you realize those moments were the best years of your life. We can only wonder.

Darkness has come The time to raise above all Fear not you are not alone You can stand tall Or you can fall Fear not you have raised above all The fight is done The war is won Take rest forevermore The ones lost we mourn Though your heart has torn New times are born

Student Artist

Senior artist of the year Ava Burns, Staff Writer

The senior artist of the year is the National Art Honor Society President, Morgan Shikle. Her piece is Shrimp Devo. This is a 70’s band named Devo in shrimp form. This piece of art has been very popular with students, Morgan has even said that some want a T-shirt version!

6FEATURES Summer

‘17 Fashion Trends vs. ‘21 Fashion Trends

Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief

Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer

Songs to jam to 1. “Rubble to Rubble” -Wilderado 2. “Sunlight” -Hozier 3. “Buttercup” -Jack Stauber 4. “The Adults are Talking” -The Strokes

A look into the most popular trends In the year 2017, there were some interesting fashion choices. 2017 was also the year that the Class of 2021 were freshmen. As the seniors prepare to graduate we will visit fashion memory lane and revisiting fashion trends from then and now.

Here are the top six most popular fashion items at Cullman High School:

4. Some accessories that were paired with the previous outfit more often than not would be Teleties and pearl earrings. These were always a classic because of how easily they go with everything.

2017 Fashion: 1. One popular choice amongst the CHS student body would be popcorn sweaters. These were really popular because of how soft and comfortable they were.

6. Sneakers are also so comfortable and everyone loves to be comfortable. Style now has definitely evolved into comfortable but stylish at the same time.

5. “On Trees And Birds And Fire” -I Am Oak 6. “Patience” -The Lumineers 7. “It Knows Me” -Avi Kaplan 8. “Big Black Car” -Gregory Alan Isakov 9. “Hey, Ma” -Bon Iver 10. “Ancient Names (Part 1) -Lord Huron

2. Although skinny jeans are still popular, they were super popular in 2017, especially paired with the popcorn sweaters.

11. “Welcome Home, Son” -Radical Face

2021 Fashion: 4. A really popular top that a lot of people wear nowadays is a turtleneck. This a very popular clothing item, considering they can be paired with sweatshirts and lots of other items.

12. “Tomorrow” -Shakey Graves 13. “All’s Well That Ends” -Rainbow Kitten Surprise 14. “Home” -Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros 15. “Don’t Worry Be Happy” -Bobby McFerrin

3. Birkenstocks were a popular clothing item at CHS in 2017.

Although they are now out of style, they were often worn by most students, especially during summer and spring.

5. Mom jeans are a go to right now, especially because of how comfortable they are and who doesn’t love comfortable clothes? I definitely recommend these if you don’t already have a pair.

7. wwLastly for the accessories, we have hoop earrings, as well as dainty necklaces. These two pair well together because hoop earrings always go great with everything.

CAMPUS NEWS

Into the Woods And out of the woods

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Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece... and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching.

The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the conse-

quences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

One of Sondheim’s most popular works, Into the Woods is a musically sophisticated show with the opportunity to feature actors adept at dark comedy. Designers will especially enjoy highlighting the fantastical elements of this magical word.

Into the Woods is a very musically powerful show with a cast full of talent. The lyrics throughout the show demonstrate that you should always be careful what you wish for.

It also reminds us that something will one day cause us to journey into the woods, as we have for this past year, and the importance of staying strong

and positive no matter what comes our way.

Senior recognition occurred at the final show on Saturday night. There are many talented seniors that participated in the show. There were some that were front and center, and some that were extremely active behind the scenes. The seniors are: Laci New (the witch), Mary Claire Page (the Baker’s Wife), Caleb Brown (the Baker), Clay Brown (Rapunzel’s Prince), Devon Campbell (Cinderella’s Prince), Chandler Greer (Little Red), Kate Rains (Jack’s Mother), Emiley Gable (Evil Stepsister), Cannon Trimble (Mysterious Man), Marcos Zapien (Wolf), Mary Watwood (tree ensemble), Graci Estes

(tree ensemble), Katherine Segars (tech crew), Olivia Wood (Stage Manager), Alyssa Tancredi (stage crew), Bailey Smith (stage crew), Sara Reeves (stage crew), James Kelsey (stage crew), Morgan Shikle (stage crew), Morgan Schultz (rigging), and Zach Holmes (stage crew).

The cast, crew, Mr. Cook, Mrs. Skinner, and Mr. Skinner put in many many hours of exhausting work and effort to put the show together. There were many hours of rehearsals where they just wanted to go home; however, everyone pushed through to make this show one of the biggest and best yet.

Scholars Bowl

All State Band

Ava Burns, Staff Writer

Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer

The 2021 season wrap-up As the country begins to recover from COVID-19, many of our school’s extracurricular activities were able to resume around March. Scholars Bowl tournaments were back on, and with a few adjustments, our bearcats came back with fierce trivia powers!

One of the big changes to the matches was spectators were no longer allowed to watch, and all members had to wear masks. Despite this, the bearcats defeated almost all of their competitors. They ended the 2021 season with six wins and two losses.

Members left to right: Drew Williamson, Nicholas Ruse, Matthew Gossett, Eglantine Desnoes, Emma Laidley, Taylor Borden as well as John Paul Krassick who is not pictured

The spectacular six

Several Cullman students have been selected for the 2021 Alabama Bandmasters Association All-State and All District Honor Bands.

Instead of traveling to audition in front of a panel of judges, this year’s contestants performed their auditions virtually. The auditions consisted of scales and very challenging musical selections.

Qualifying for both All-State and All-District is a very difficult accomplishment as those who auditioned had to compete against hundreds of other talented

musicians across eight ABA districts. Of those chosen for All-State Band, they are automatically qualified for District Honor Band. Being selected for All-State is one of the highest honors a band student can receive so make sure you congratulate your fellow classmates.

-Sara Reeves: Flute -Jordan Nash: Clarinet -Yukiino Shichinohe: Alto Saxophone -Elijah Putman: Baritone Saxophone -Sam Adkins: Baritone

(front row, left to right) Jordan Nash, Sara Reeves, Yukino Shichinohe and Sam Adkins and (back row, left to right) Logan Walker and Elijah Putman

8C A M P U S

NEWS

A Sense of Calm CTE sensory room

Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer Cullman High School has introduced a new room to the school and some students couldn’t be more excited about it.

CHS Administration wrote “This was a great day as we introduced our new Sensory Room at CHS. Through the support of Dr. Patterson, the board, and many community partners we were able to create an incredible space for students with specific needs. A

special thanks to David Roberts, Joey Childress, and Ken Caviness with @walmart, Senator @garlangudgerjr and @dawnstiles1 for their support. @kimhall1 @bearcat.news.network.”

I asked Mrs. Owens questions on why they started the room, how they came up with the idea, as well as asking the students

how much they like the room and their favorite part about the room.

Mrs.Owens said “This room is not only for my students but for any student that needs to come and take a breath from anything going on.”

When I asked some of the students if this was one of their favorite rooms Jackson Ray replied

with “Yeah, sometimes...there are a lot of other rooms I like.” He did tell me that Cailyn Huddleston really likes the room. In fact she was even enjoying the room when I came to visit.

The students are able to come into the room and hook their phones up to bluetooth and play calming music or anything that makes them happy. Mrs Owens also commented on the students being able to have things to touch for their senses like in this image above. She explained to me how everyhting has a special purpose to calm the students. All Cullman High School students are welcome to use the sensory room.

Scientific Sensations

Pristine Performances

Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor

Presley Lafon, Staff Writer

HOSA at the 2021 State Conference Like many things over the past year, the annual HOSA state conference was held virtually. Competitors took their first round of preliminary testing back in December. Cullman High School students competed in multiple events such as Human Growth and Development, Medical Assisting, Pathophysiology, and Medical Terminology. State qualifiers for the 2021 HOSA State Conference included Tavie Owen and Carly Starnes in Medical Assisting, Isabella McEachern in Pathophysiology, Maggie Lunsford, Emma Murphree, and Jackson Murphree in Biomedical Debate, Drew Conway in Dental Science, Sophia Hudson, Eglantine Desnoes, and Sarah Kate Dockery in Epidemiology, Anna Shirey and Sasha Peterson in Human Growth and Development, Jessie Godbee in Medical Spelling, Sophie Peetz and Sydney Sweet in Medical Terminology, and Logan Holley and Ruby Hudson in Nutrition. Qualifiers studied diligently for the final state tests at the end of February.

Although the first round of state HOSA testing is always online, this particular conference was different because the second round of testing was also online. Students met at CHS to take their tests and perform their skills and team events. Students who placed in the top six at the state competition include Maggie Lunsford, Emma Murphree, and Jackson Murphree for first place in Biomedical Debate, Anna Shirey for first place in Hu-

man Growth and Development, Sophia Hudson for second place in Epidemiology, Tavie Owen for second place in Medical Assisting, Carly Starnes for third place in Medical Assisting, Drew Conway in third place for Dental Science, Jessie Godbee for fourth place in Medical Spelling, and Sophie Peetz for sixth place in Medical Terminology. Competitors who captured a spot in the top three for their events will be moving on to the international competition. Following the announcement of the event competition winners, International HOSA announced that the International Leadership Conference, scheduled for June 2021, has been moved to a virtual platform as well. The international competition was originally planned to be held in Orlando, Florida over the summer. Even though the competition may not be in person this year, we are so proud of our Cullman High School International qualifiers and all of those who competed and we wish you good luck this summer!

A night to remember

my classmates and my friends. You guys have helped me in so many unimaginable ways. I love Cullman High School and I’m so excited to proudly serve as your 2020-2021 Miss Southerner!”

2020-2021 Miss Southerner: Ali Burleson Miss Southerner 1st Alternate: Josie Rice Miss Southerner 2nd Alternate: Emree Dean Miss Southerner 3rd Alternate: Gracie Barksdale Miss Southerner Miss Congeniality: Gracie Barksdale Miss Southerner Miss Photogenic: Victoria Hudson Miss Southerner Top Ten: Natalie Freeman, Ali Burleson, Marissa Brown, Cailey Barnett, Emree Dean, Lanie Townson, Gracie Barksdale, Josie Rice, Ashton Henderson, and Maddie Baughn

When asked about being the new Miss Southerner, Ali said, “What an honor it is for me to be crowned as your Miss Southerner! I would like to start by thanking the Lord for giving me the strength and confidence that I needed all along. I would also like to thank my parents for supporting me endlessly in everything I do. Finally, I want to thank you guys… my teachers,

2021 Fair Queen Representative: Abby Sosa Fair Queen Miss Congeniality: Marissa Brown Fair Queen Talent Winner: Abbie Allison Fair Queen 1st Alternate: Abbie Allison

When asked about being the new CHS Fair Queen Representative, Abby said, “I would like to thank my family and friends for supporting and believing in me. The preparation for the pageant can be a little stressful, but throughout the whole experience I had so much fun. You get to build relationships with other girls from your school, show your talent to the people you love, speak about a platform that you are reallyt passionate about, and grow in so many ways.”

CAMPUS NEWS Spring it On!

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A look back at HOCO 2.0 Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief Spring Fling was a smash success! The week was kicked off with a Movie Night in the parking lot on Saturday. Hotdogs and chips were served, and High School Musical was played. Everyone got into the Spikeball and Cornhole sets as well!

There were many opportunities to make up for events that were not able to be done during the original homecoming. Sports, lip sync, a bonfire, and a cookout were just a few of the events that we were able to do during the Spring Fling that were not available during the original homecoming in October.

Seniors had a great week, winning all of the dress up days and reminiscing about past homecomings. The week came to a bittersweet end as our final homecoming came to a close.

Every planned event was able to occur, and Cullman won most of the sporting games during the week.

The dress up days were very popular as well. There were quite a few people dressed up and ready for the action of the week. Every type of costume from Sailor Moon to Ariel to people in pajamas could be seen walking the hallways. The days were as follows: Media Monday, Teen Beach Tuesday, Disney World Wednesday, Time of Your Life Thursday, and Fancy Friday.

Sync Battle. They say it’s due to “careful planning and the best sound mixer at Cullman High School [Laci New]. We couldn’t have won without our music.”

The seniors won with a lead of 19 points, dominating the competition. The seniors actually ended up winning every category from dress-up days to sports, allowing them to completely sweep the entire week.

This was a week filled with fun, costumes, and competition!

The SGA did a great job planning the week and preparing the student body for the last few weeks of school.

Throughout the week, the excitement was building for the lip sync battle. It was discovered early on that the juniors decided to forfeit, allowing the seniors to pull through with an easy victory over the freshman and sophomores. This is the third year in a row that the Class of 2021 has won the Lip

Spring Calendar

Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor May 9 May 10 May 13 May 20-21 May 21 May 23 May 25-27 May 28 May 31 June 12 June 20 July 4

August 11

Mother’s Day Senior Scholarship Program Band Spring Concert Senior Semester Exams Theater “Felicia” Awards Baccalaureate 9th—11th Semester Exams 2021 Graduation Memorial Day ACT Test at CHS Father’s Day Independence Day 1st Day of 2021-2022 School Year

The highlight of the week was the Bonfire and the Baseball games. Cullman High School swept Hartselle for both games!

The entire Marching Band joined and played all of their stand tunes at the Bonfire. The night was filled with dancing, music, and laughter. Everyone greatly enjoyed the opportunity to hear them play again and to get a final chance to have everyone together.

Overall, the week was a large success with many action packed days. Everything from the Movie Night on Saturday to the senior sunset on Friday night contributed to great memories and an awesome week.

When the points were all tallied, it was discovered that the seniors swept the competition with 48 points, the sophomores came in second with 29 points, the freshmen were in third with 26 points, and the juniors came in last with 23 points.

10 S P O R T S Sports Wrap-up

A glimpse into spring sports

Baseball

The Bearcat Baseball team was ready to play ball this year due to the challenges they faced last year with covid. With restrictions lifted baseball is back in session and fans couldn’t be more excited.

The seniors were asked how they felt when the season ended last year and how they feel being able to play this year.

Matt Brock commented “It felt bad not getting to play last year with the seniors because we were starting to develop as a team and it ended out of nowhere. But it’s great this year that we are back to normal and I feel that not playing last year gave us more motivation for this season.”

Brennen Norton

Tennis

Out of Cullman High’s tennis team the Varsity senior girls include: Sophia Karolewics,, Emma Murphree, and Lanie Townson. The Varsity Girls season record was 14-3. The varisty girls were Wilson Warrior Tournament Champions this year and Emma Murphree was the Bryant-Jordan area winner.

The Varsity Boys Seniors include Jackson Murphree, Chas NeSmith, and

states “Not playing last year kind of put a chip on our shoulders. We didn’t get to prove ourselves last year so playing this year motivates us even more. We ready to keep rolling.” Max Dueland mentions “The season ending early last year was really difficult for the baseball team, especially the seniors from last year. We were really looking forward to making a deep run in the playoffs and maybe winning it all. Going into this season we have taken advantage of every opportunity to play because you never know when your season could end.”

For more information on CHS baseball, see page 11.

Jaden Orr. The Varsity Boys season record was 6-6. They placed 3rd in the Wilson tournament and Jackson Murphree was selected for the AHSAA All-Stars team.

The Junior Varsity Girls had an awesome Undefeated season and they were runner ups for the Albertville JV Tournament.

Soccer

After a six month hiatus, our Cullman Cats soccer team sprang back into action announcing their first game against Pelham High School.

After a tough first loss, our men’s soccer team bounced back with a varsity win against McAdory, another win against Shades Valley and Onteonta following shortly after. This

has been an interesting season for both our varsity and junior varsity teams, our cats training hard to win against teams such as Mortimer Jordan and Muscle Shoals with as much as a 10-0 lead! Our Lady’s Soccer Team has also been hard at work blowing teams such as Gardendale out of the park. Way to go cats!

Track The senior members of Cullman High’s track team are Rose Cowart, Katelyn Kress, Nic Glass, Isaiah Jones, Brodie Malcom, Daquin Wilson, Bernarda Tizapa, Tess Heaton, Joshlyn Hudson, Reid Huddleston. Isaiah, Nic, and Brodie are a part of the 4x100 relay team that recently broke the School Record dating back to 1986 that Dr. Jay Page was a part of.

Coach Dean says Dr. Page wrote each of the boys an encouraging letter congratulating them and encouraging them to do even better.

Nic Glass also broke the school record in the 60 meter dash and the long jump

this year which was previously held by Isaiah Jones. Brodie Malcom broke another school record in the triple jump and Bernarda became #2 on the CHS All-Time list for Cross Country performances. Several of the senior members are college signees. As of right now, Bernarda has signed with the University of Louisiana-Monroe for Cross-Country and Track and Field; Reid and Tess have both signed with Wallace State for Cross-Country, and Nic has signed with the University of South Alabama for Track and Field.

Softball Our Lady Bearcats have done it again! This season has been a great one for the Cullman High Softball team.

The season ended with 27 wins and 11 losses. Thankfully, the softball team

will end and begin with the same members because there are no seniors on the team this year! Cullman High School is looking forward to another great year with this softball team.

Home Run History

SPORTS

The history of baseball at Cullman High School

Presley Lafon, Staff Writer

Baseball season has always been a big deal around Cullman High School and it’s hard to deny the success the program has experienced. Over the years, Bearcat Baseball has made 19 straight second round playoff appearances and have brought home five total state championships, along with preparing many players to go on to play successfully in college and even the Major League. Hard work, dedication, passion and tradition are the driving factors behind the accomplishments baseball at CHS has been able to obtain throughout history.

In 2008, current head coach Brent Patterson took over the CHS Baseball Program and since then, has claimed ten area championships and two state championships. More important than winning games, his goal to “further instill characteristics that will lead to success in life” has no doubt been an important ingredient in the recipe for success of baseball at Cullman High School.

The 2019 baseball season brought many changes and challenges with it, including a

Swinging Into Summer

remodel to Bill Shelton Field to help combat drainage problems that have been creating issues for many years. The decision was made to replace the natural dirt field with drainable turf to ensure that weather would no longer be the cause of an unplayable field.

While the field was being revamped, teams spent time practicing at Heritage Park.

While the timing of the facelift wasn’t the most ideal, everyone involved was grateful for the support behind the renovation.

Today, a growing number of high schools in Alabama are utilizing turf fields, but it is

CHS cheer at nationals

1. What year was the PGA of America founded?

1916 2. Which year did Tiger Woods win his first Masters Tournament?

1997 3. Who is both the youngest and oldest player(he is both) to win the Masters?

Jack Nicklaus 4. Who was the first winner of the U.S. Women’s Open?

Patty Berg 5. Who was the first golfer to win the masters back to back?

Jack Nicklaus 6. Who shot the lowest score ever recorded for a women’s golf tournament and what was her score?

Annika Sorenstam, 59

Every year, the Cullman High School cheer team does a great job cheering on our football and basketball teams during their regular seasons. However, most people do not realize how hard our cheer team works and prepares during the off-season to compete at the UCA Cheerleading National Championships every spring. This competition pulls numerous cheer teams from across the country who compete in a rigorous two-day competition.

Ian Willoughby 1. 1917 2. 1997 3. Youngest is Tiger and oldest is Jack Nicklaus 4. Patty Berg 5. Jack Nicholas 6. Annika Sorenstam Mary Charles Davis 1. 1920 2. 1999 3. Jack Nicklaus 4. Betsy Rawls 5. Jack Nicklaus 6. Annika Sorenstam; 59 Kate Cost 1. 1925 2. 1998 3. Jack Nicklaus 4. Betsy Rawls 5. Jack Nicklaus 6. Annika Sorenstam and she shot 59

Pictured: Ian Willoughby, John Lunsford, Will Drake, Ben Shedd, and Braylen Adcock

Peyton Black 1923 2. 1999 3. Tiger Woods 4. No clue 5. Jack Nicklaus 6. No clue and 57

Pictured: Bailey Hurn, Peyton Arnold, Emma Kate Price, Kate Cost

considered a luxury, as it still isn’t very common to see fields like these. Here at Cullman High School, we are very fortunate and thankful to be able to play on such beautiful fields for years to come.

While the first part of the 2019 season was filled with improvements to the playing fields in order to prepare for the season ahead, the year was cut short when school activity was abruptly suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year’s baseball season definitely made history, but we are looking foward to more Bearcat Baseball in the years to come.

Cheering on the Bearcats

Trivia with the CHS golf team Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor

11

Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor

The 2020-2021 Cullman High School competition cheer team recently traveled to Florida to compete for the title. Team members included Alayna Alldredge, Lexie Anderson,. Clancy Ayers, Adyson Bauer, Amberly Brown, Madilyn Doyle, Siddalee Drake, Chloe Echols, Jacey Mickle, Emily Newman, Laney Pettus,

Krislyn Scroggins, Lexi Sumrall, Adyson Wallace, Madeline Willingham, and Maddie Witcher.

Our team placed 8th in the nation this year. We are so proud of all of you and your hard work.

Picture Sources: Instagram and Vsco

12 O P I N I O N The First 100

Biden’s first 100 days in office

Ava Burns, Staff Writer

The inauguration of Joe Biden went surprisingly smoothly, the country mostly tired of the division and hatred seething between both parties.

Trump of course was not in attendance, but Lady GaGa sure was! After his swearing-in, Biden swore in appointees to his new administration. One of the most notable things he said to them was that he would fire them on the spot if they were caught disrespecting anyone, most importantly their coworkers. But some of Biden’s actions have set just the opposite standard. While you have been worried about gas prices and the slowly decreasing COVID mandates, you might have missed a few of the things the new president has done, so let’s take a look at Biden’s first 100 days as President in the White House.

The first thing I think was on everyone’s mind was Trump’s Twitter ban and the POTUS account. For all four years of Trump’s presidency, he used Twitter as his direct and unfiltered mouthpiece to the American people. This allowed us insight into the thoughts behind the president’s actions like no others before, but this turned out to harm the President rather than help. After his and the POTUS accounts were banned, a new account was created and given to Joe Biden. So far he has used the account to spread a message of unity and inspiration for Americans. And while I do miss the constant updates and thoughts, I do not miss some of the disgraceful things Trump managed to publish on the platform.

The first few hours of Biden’s presidency were filled mainly with law signing. Those who called him “Sleepy Joe’ and said he wouldn’t do anything were proven wrong on day one.

One of the first mandates was the requirement of all persons on federal lands and in federal buildings to wear masks and social distance. He also encouraged the CDC and the Department of Health to work with state and local officials to

promote mask-wearing and social distancing. To lead by example he started a 100-day mask-wearing challenge and continues to wear his mask in public spaces even though he has been vaccinated. Biden also took action to resume engagement with the World Health Organization (WHO). He and other health experts viewed this as an essential relationship in order to prepare and prevent future pandemic, and also to manage the ongoing pandemic.

Biden and his administration also began working on economic relief bills to provide support to renters in a time of deep housing crisis. Student loan borrowers were also considered in his orders, he asked the Department of Education to extend the current pause of interest on student loans to September 30th, 2021.

When talking about Biden’s first executive orders, one must acknowledge his efforts to protect the environment. The biggest upset of the 100 days has been the oil pipeline shutdown. During his first day of signing executive orders, he ordered the construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline extension to be revoked. This caused widespread outrage on Facebook because the company that owns the pipeline estimated that around 11,000 jobs would be lost. And while this is a hit to middle-class Americans, fact-checkers have said that most of the mentioned jobs would have been temporary.

They are construction jobs, and one day the construction of the extension would’ve been completed, just like any other construction job. And truly this order was not a surprise, considering that the Obama administration denied a permit for it and was only approved by the Trump administration. Another misconception stemming from the pipeline was that gas prices are rising due to Biden’s order.

The Keystone XL Pipeline extension has not been operating at all, in fact, only a 1.2-mile section of it was even completed when the order was signed by

Biden. And if the extension was completed and in operation, most of the oil transported by it would have been exported out of the country. All of this controversy was the head of a 10 year political battle on dirty energy and potentially harming the environment. A State Department report on the pipeline stated that it would not contribute a significant amount to the current Carbon pollution.

However, environmentalists argue that the habitats around the pipeline would be contaminated. Some people are also happy to hear that Biden has signed orders for the U.S. to rejoin the Paris Accord, and while it does have its flaws it could be a step in the right direction to tackle climate change.

The biggest controversy to rock this presidency during the first 100 days has no doubt been the Syrian drone strikes and other foreign issues. On February 25th, 2021, Joe Biden ordered a drone strike on coalition forces in Syria. This was seen as retaliation for the rocket attack earlier in February. This rocket attack killed an American contractor and injured another. Biden’s drone strike killed 22 people and destroyed a truck full of ammunition that was going to some coalition forces. This was a controversial topic due to Biden not having Congress’s consent before he ordered the strike. The Constitution states that the President must have full consent from Congress for acts of war, unless under extreme circumstances.

Some people have voiced that his actions were justified to protect from further attacks from the coalition forces and to signify that the killing of American people and allies will not be tolerated. This is contradicted by an action taken not too long from that one, concerning the killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The journalist was a known critic of the royal family of Saudi Arabia and was believed to be killed in order to prevent such criticisms from being published. The Prince of

Saudi Arabia was rumored to have approved the kidnapping/ killing of a journalist in 2018, but nothing was confirmed until this year. The FBI concluded that he was, in fact, involved in the murder, The crown prince continuing to deny any involvement. The Biden administration has placed sanctions on some Saudi’s but stated that the military interests there were too valuable to lose to place any on the royals. As seen throughout Trump’s presidency, the American people are tired of fighting in the middle east, and many want to pull all military personnel out completely. Is an endless war in the middle east for military interests and oil really worth the countless lives and thousands of dollars it costs to stay there? Another event that is related to foreign countries is the travel ban Biden put on multiple areas of other countries. He did so after conferring with health officials from America and other countries and found that to protect the U.S. from further COVID exposures, travel bans were necessary. The following places have received a travel ban of some sort: The Schengen Area, The United Kingdom, Federation of Brazil, Republic of Ireland, and finally the Republic of South Africa.

During his first few months, the new president has made a splash in the world of politics, but nothing as large as his predecessor. It feels like a calming veil has fallen over the United States, and while every president is a hypocrite in some way, I do believe that Biden has America’s best interests in mind with every decision he makes.

However, the death of Jamal Khashoggi should not just blow past without any repercussions, the silencing of free speech is a direct attack on our values.

The first amendment includes freedom of speech and freedom of the press, so why isn’t Biden defending those values? As always, I am hoping for nothing but the best for our country and our new president for the next four years.

ENTERTAINMENT Summer Movies List

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The most popular summer movies over the years

Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer With summer right around the corner, it’s time to roll out all of the summer movies. Here are the top 6 summer movies that I love and maybe you will too.

1. Blue Crush- Based in Hawaii, this movie tells the story of a young maid who loves to surf but is afraid after an accident she had in the water. She eventually overcomes the fear and starts surfing again.

2. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants- This movie follows four best friends who borrowed a pair of pants that fit all of them perfectly.

They all go on vacation and send one another the pants after they’ve had them for a week.

3. Aquamarine- This movie is about two best friends who find a mermaid that washed up at their beach club’s swimming pool after a hurricane. They teach her how to be a little bit more human and less mermaid.

Summer Style

4. Just Go with It- This movie is great because Adam Sandler is in it. He plays the role of a plastic surgeon who lies about having an ex-wife to his new girlfriend. His “ex-wife” (who is played by Jennifer Anniston) has kids, and the girlfriend finds out which results in them going to Hawaii.

taking place in Greece, her daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) wants her father to be there but she doesn’t exactly know who he is.

She invites three men secretly and embarks on a mission to find her father.

6. The Last Song- This movie is about a teen girl and her brother going to stay with their father, who lives at the beach for the summer.

Although she’s mad about going, she ends up having the best summer and reconnecting with her father.

5. Mama Mia- Donna (Meryl Streep) is preparing for her daughter’s wedding with her two best friends. While the wedding is

Fashion trends for the summer Bella Cottingham, Co-Editor Summer ‘21 is getting closer and closer, and with the excitement for the warmer months and summer break also comes the topic of what to wear. Although the past year hasn’t been big on fashion trends- for the pandemic limited our “going out”, there are plenty of ideas for what to wear during the upcoming months. So, with summer right around the corner, now is the time to get in with the new fashion trends.

shades. The first color on the list is Marigold, a comforting golden orange, which is followed by a pastel blue called Cerulean.

Some of the other colors include a vibrant pink, a coral shade, a bright yellow, and a pastel green.

Aside from Pantone’s collection, pastel shades in general are in for this spring and summer.

Moving on to clothing, a big trend right now is “vintage” or retro clothing. Our generation has started making the things our parents used to wear fashionable and trendy again. Thrifting has become very popular over the past months and is a great way to find interesting pieces for a super cheap price!

Starting off with colors.

Pantone’s Spring/Summer 2021 color palette consists of mostly bright saturated colors with the Skirts are the perfect summer exception of a couple more softer clothing item; they are cute and

comfortable most importantly, they are great to wear if the weather is hot. Pleated skirts, plaid skirts, and midi skirts can all enhance a simple tank top into a cute and fun outfit! Speaking of, another way to add some spice to a simple outfit is accessories!! Throwing in some cute earrings, necklaces, hair clips, and other accessories are a great way to make any outfit look more stylish.

mom jeans and a cute belt and voila! A cute, cool summer fit.

Wide-legged pants in general are a great item for the warmer months.

So, from colors to clothing items to accessories, there’s plenty of inspiration and ideas for what’s in style this upcoming summer.

If skirts aren’t your thing, no worries. Although jeans and summer don’t usually go well together, baggy jeans however, are more breathable and cool for the hot weather. Pair a plain or patterned tank top with some

14 S E N I O R A Look Back at Our Senior Year Pictures from 2020-2021 Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief

SENIOR

15

16 S E N I O R

Graduation Garb and Other Stuff The “why” behind what graduates wear Ms.Calahan, Advisor

The 2021 Cullman High School graduation is just three weeks away. Most people have attended or have seen pictures of graduation commencement ceremonies, but few know why graduates wear robes, flat square caps, and tassels or the origination of the ceremony’s music and activities. The outfit that signifies a graduate is the traditional cap and gown which began in the 12th century at university graduations that had little to no heating systems; therefore, graduates started wearing long robes with hoods to prevent being cold. Caps and gowns were later made the official attire of academic graduations.

The graduation is sometimes called a mortarboard because of the resemblance it has to a tool used by masons to hold mortar. Other theories indicate the square shape is to give them a scholarly appearance like a book or to represent the shape of a quad on the campus of England’s Oxford University, where many graduation dress customs are believed to have originat-

ed. The caps became popular in the 14th and 15th centuries and used to signify superiority and intelligence. Originally, the caps were red in color to signify blood and life. In present day commencement ceremonies, the cap should be worn flat on the head and parallel to the floor. The front point of the cap should be centered on the forehead.

The use of a tassel on the graduation cap only started in the last 40 to 50 years. The tassel was originally designed to decorate the graduates cap during the ceremony but evolved into a symbol of completion by moving the tassel. The gesture of moving the tassel from one side of the cap to the other symbolizes the individual’s movement from candidate to graduate.

Prior to the ceremony the tassel is expected to be worn on the right.

During the ceremony it should be moved to the left side when directed by the administration of the ceremony. This newer custom is practiced in educational institutions nationwide.

The graduation ceremony begins with the graduates walking in to “Pomp and Circumstance” also known as “Land of Hope and Glory” which was written in Sir Edward Elgar in 1901. The title of “Pomp and Circumstance” comes from a line in Shakespeare’s Othello, “Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!” It first became associated with graduation ceremonies in 1905 when it was played at Yale University. Today the piece is often played as processional or recessional music for commencement ceremonies across the country. It has become so widely used that it’s rare to attend a gradutation event without it.

Most graduation ceremonies include the tradition of throwing the graduation cap in theair which was started by the Naval Academy in 1912 as those graduates no longer needed their graduation caps because they received their officer hats. The exciting tradition caught on at other institutions throughout the country. The “tossing of

the cap” is regarded as a symbolic gesture of the end of a chapter in a graduate’s life.

When you attend Cullman High School’s graduation ceremony on May 28th , look for all the traditional clothing and activities that are in place. Notice the specific customs designed to celebrate a new chapter in these CHS graduate’s lives. Congratulations to all the graduates on their accomplishments!

the lesser guilt when it comes to the fall of mankind: Adam or Eve? Mrs. Burroughs’s AP Literature and Composition classes began studying Paradise Lost at the end of December last year. After reading through the poem, students were divided into teams, either team Adam or team Eve. Gathering evidence and forming an argument from such a large amount of text is a very difficult and lengthy task, especially when dealing with a mock-up trial and the modified Covid schedule. But, this year’s students were well-prepared and the trials were very successful.

The first trial took place during sixth period. Team Adam was represented by Eli Borden, and Team Eve was reprented by Rosie Cowart. Ultimately, the student jury in this trial found that Team Eve won.

Later in the day, the first and fifth period trial, which had a

jury composed of teachers, also found that Eve was less guilty.

Team Adam was represented by jackson Murphree and Team Eve was represented by Olivia Wood. This was the first time that Eve has been found less guilty for every trial in one year.

Seniors who participated in the trials this year, we are so proud of all of your hard work!

We would like to thank Judge Rusty Turner and Judge Chad Floyd who resided over the trials. Furthermore, thank you to the students and teachers who were part of the juries. One final thank you goes to Mrs. Burroughs who organizes and plans the trials every year.

Cullman High School graduate wearing traditional graduation regalia

The Judgement Continues...

Senior AP literature Paradise Lost trials Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor

Sixth period with Judge Rusty Turner

This year’s Paradise Lost Trials looked different than those of years past. For starters, instead of taking place in Tillman Hall like the trials traditonally do, the 2021 Paradise Lost trials were held in the CHS auditorium. Because of the change of venue, students were able to use stage mics and bigger sets.

Also, more students, teachers, and parents were able to come and comfortably watch instead of cramming into chairs and onto the floor of Tillman Hall.

Another big change this year was the Paradise Lost team formats. Because Mrs. Bur-

roughs’s first and fifth period AP Literature and Composition classes are smaller than normal this year, neither of these classes were able to form two teams. So, first and fifth periods combined to have one trial. Although the trials typically take place during a designated class period, this particular trial was held during Bearcat Enrichment due to the Covid-modified schedule. For the sixth period AP Literature and Composition class, however, one trial was held since they have a larger class size.

Although this is all very interesting, most people at CHS are unaware of what paradise Lost even is. Paradise Lost is ten thousand line poem written by John Milton an composed of twleve separate books. Milton’s central theme is justifying the ways of God to man. In the trials, however, students are tasked with proving who is of

First and fifth periods with Judge Chad Floyd

SENIOR

Summer Reading Reminiscence

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Senior class summer reading review Bella Cottingham, Co-Editor 1. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie In this book an assortment of 1o strangers are invited as guests to a private island. Their host, a millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they’re unwilling to reveal— and a secret that will seal their fate.

This book was a fun read thanks to the eerie circumstances and mystery taking place in the novel, although in my opinion the ending was a bit confusing and rushed.

2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain: One of the classics- a nineteenth-century boy from a Mississippi River town recounts his adventures as he travels down the river with a runaway slave, Jim, encountering an abundance of interesting experiences along the way.

This is an amazing book which offers a lot to walk away with including the meaning of true freedom and the importance of friendship.

3. Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns: As the elopement of the propri-

Editor in Chief: Olivia Wood Co-Editors: Bella Cottingham Maggie Lunsford

etor of the general store, E. Rucker Blakeslee and Miss Love Simpson inspire a whirlwind of local gossip, fourteen-year-old Will Tweedy suddenly finds himself eyewitness to a family scandal, and that’s where his adventures begin.

4. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot: This non-fiction book takes the reader through the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor southern tobacco farmer, whose cells were taken unbeknownst to her right before her death. These cells would become one of the most important tools in medicine; the first “immortal” human cells grown in culture which are still alive today. This book was very interesting but seemed jam packed with way too much information, and I wasn’t very fond of the narrator (Rebecca Skloot).

5. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank: This novel deals with the effects of a nuclear war on the fictional small town of Fort Repose, Florida as a group of isolated survivors come together to confront catastrophe. The book wasn’t my favorite, but provided the reader

Staff Writers: Ava Burns Presley Lafon Isabella Phillips Christen Sorrow Sponsor: Ms. Calahan

with important themes such as the persistence of human spirit.

6. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman: This book takes a prophetic look at what happens when politics, journalism, education, and even religion become subject to the demands of entertainment. To be honest, I did not really enjoy this book but the projects we did with it in class were pretty fun and interesting.

7. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley: My personal favorite- on the surface, Brave New World is a dystopian novel, but when you take a closer look, the world portrayed in the book is actually a utopia where society is perfected and people live “happily” and peacefully. This makes the 1932 novel exceptionally unsettling as it reveals the truths that a “perfect” world is not really what we want and humans inherently need some conflict to function.

Opinions expressed in The Hilight do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, staff, or administration of Cullman High School or Cullman City Schools.

8. How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster: As a virtual student I did not read this book, and to be honest, from an outsider’s perspective, it looks like a boring read. Nevertheless, this informative book is aimed to help average people to discover hidden truths in literature. It seems like a very insightful and useful read.

9. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver: Another book which I have not read, although it looks very interesting. The Poisonwood Bible is a historical fiction about a missionary family, the Prices, who in 1959 moved from the U.S. state of Georgia to the village of Kilanga in the Belgian Congo, close to the Kwilu River.

The Hilight Cullman High School 510 13th Street NE, Cullman, AL 35055 256-734-3923 Ext. 2045

18 S E N I O R Where Are You Going?

Class of 2021

Presley Lafon, Staff Writer

Wallace State Community College: Logan Patrick Claire Thompson Alyssa Tancredi Bailey Smith Caroline Worley Jashante Edwards Kada Milne Kayleigh Lee Ava Burns Madison Bagwell Elyse Koloski Zachary Holmes Barbara Eatmon Elizabeth Parker Emily Touchet Mya Parker Cannon Trimble Emma Ray Paul Mitchell The School Birmingham: Emily Fontenot

Desperation College: Carlee Roberts Vanderbilt University: Eglantine Desnoes Lurleen B. Wallace: Callie Crider Ouachita Baptist University: Coleman Callan University of North Alabama: Hanna McCaw Brooke Cagle Lanie Townson Laci New Destiny Belcher Emma Mcanally Isabella Phillips

University of South Alabama: Kate Rains Madi Norris Kennedy Kruger Samford University: Emma Murphree Jackson Murphree Maggie Lunsford Carly Starnes University of Alabama at Birmingham: Rosie Cowart Loryn Miller Sadie Young Presley Lafon University of Alabama: Colette Whitney Ethan Moore Sara Reeves Ali Burleson

Peyton Perry Natalie Gay Eliza Hollingsworth Auburn University: Katelyn Kress Chas Nesmith Eli Borden Morgan Schultz Bella Cottingham Troy University: Chandler Greer Indiana University: Olivia Wood Freed-Hardeman University: Cody Goodwin Virginia Tech: Morgan Shikle

SENIOR Bon Voyage, Seniors!

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Ideas for senior trips

Bella Cottingham, Co-Editor 1. Wild West Roadtrip- A great senior trip idea in my opinion; take a scenic trip through the western states and make stops along the way at the prominent tourist attractions such as the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. You could even stop in well-known cities and just explore for yourself!

2. Beach Trip- Other than the more commonly frequented beaches by us Cullmanites such as Orange Beach/Gulf Shores, Panama City Beach, and Destin, there are tons of beautiful beaches in the South. Of those include

Hilton Head Island (South Carolina), Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), Tybee Island (Georgia), Dauphin Island (Alabama), Santa Rosa Beach (Florida), Amelia Island (Florida).

4. Camping Adventure- A more cost effective idea is to take a camping trip. It doesn’t have to be super far away, just grab a group of friends, hit the road, and go on an adventure! There are several beautiful areas fit for camping in Alabama and nearby states.

3. Explore New EnglandNew England, the northeastern region of the U.S-comprising of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, is known for its quaint cities, beautiful nature, and a culture all its own.

5. Foriegn Country- Despite coronavirus, there are a handful of places outside of the United States that will allow outside travelers to enter. The Bahamas is welcoming American travelers if they provide a negative covid test prior to arrival. Ireland has the same rules for travel into their country. Americans can travel to Mexico and Costa Rica without a covid test before arrival.

20 S e n i o r Senior Soloists

Class of 2021 instrumentalist and vocalist Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor Class of 2021 Instrumentalist, Sara Reeves 1.) What instrument do you play?

Flute.

2.) How long have you been playing your instrument?

About 7 years.

3.) Why have you continued to play your instrument about high school? I have a lot of fun playing and I really couldn’t imagine my high school experience without it.

I want to continue making music for the rest of my life.

4.) What is your favorite thing about playing your instrument?

I think flute is a really pretty instrument and l love the music that I get to play on it.

5.) What is your favorite thing that you have gotten to participate in because of your musical ability?

Probably playing in front of the Statue of Liberty in NYC.

6.) What will you miss most about playing your instrument in the CHS band? I’m really going to miss all of the people and getting to perform at football games.

7.) Do you plan to do anything musical in college? Yes! I’m majoring in flute performance at the University of Alabama and I’m going to march with the Million Dollar Band in the fall. My goal is to eventually get my doctorate degree and become a collegiate music professor.

Class of 2021 Vocalist, Laci New 1.) How long have you been singing? All my life.

2.) What do you love about singing? I love that everyone can do it and that you can share any message possible while doing it 3.) What is your favorite thing that singing has given you the opportunity to be a part of in high school? Probably just to be a part of the choir department and being able to sing with a bunch of amazing people! Every single year there are new people added and people that graduate so you never sing with the same group twice and that is so cool.

4.) What is your favorite choir memory from high school? My favorite choir memory is when we were about to practice together for the last time my freshman year and Mrs. Skinner started talking to us and about how much

she loved us and how special we were. And told us that we will never get to sing with all of the same people ever again and how that made every choir performance so special. That just really stuck with me.

5.) Who is one of your favorite singers? Cynthia Erivo, her voice is SO powerful and moves people every single time.

6.) Do you plan to continue your singing career in college? Yes! My career goal is to go into music education and to one day direct a choir of my own.

The Road Less Traveled

Seniors choosing a career in the arts Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief There are many talented students in the senior class, but not all of them are going into the arts. I decided to ask some of the few about thier reasoning behind following their passion.

Laci New 1. I decided to go into the arts my freshman year.

2. Mrs. Skinner inspired me to do so, she gets to help so many students come together through music and I would love to get to do the same.

3. My goal for my future career is to be a choral instructor. I would like to start out with younger kids (middle/ high school) and eventually work my way up and become a choral instructor.

4. I believe that their role is to not only share a message with their art, but inspire others to do the same.

5. I do not have a favorite artist at the moment, but my favorite PIECE of art is the show, Sunday in the Park with George because it has a beautiful message that art is never destroyed and is one of the only things that stays alive throughout generations and continuously moves people.

Sara Reeves 1. I had thrown around the idea of going into the arts before, but I

started seriously considering it the summer before freshman year.

2. It is really hard to pinpoint the exact person that inspired me, I have had so many amazing role models!

Music has always been very important to me, and becoming a musician myself has really amplified that. I am very passionate about music itself, but seeing the impact it has on life and the lives of others makes it hard for me to imagine doing anything else. It has brought me so much happiness and purpose and I want to share that with as many people as I can.

3. I can see myself being happy in several different circumstances and I haven’t decided exactly what I want to pursue yet. I really enjoy playing my flute, and I would love to play in a symphony orchestra, professional ensemble or as a freelance musician.

I can also see myself being a music teacher or possibly a college professor! I may end up doing a bit of both!

I am just going to see what feels right.

4. I feel like the artist’s role in society

can be easily overlooked and unappreciated, but it is SO important. Expression is a vital part of the human experience; the arts give us a way to project out ideas and cope with our emotions. Without actors, writers, musicians, and artists, the world would be very dull and life would be much harder.

5. It is too hard for me to narrow it down to one favorite! Recently, I have been listening to Elton John, Billy Joel, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra a lot.

Mary Claire Page 1. I always dreamed of going into the arts as a career since I started doing theatre, but I did not really decide that was what I wanted to do as my career until I started applying to colleges over this past summer.

2. Theatre has given me so much over the years. It has given me so much more confidence in myself and it has provided me an amazing group of people who are like my family. It gives people an escape from the cra-

ziness of everyday life in a way that is very therapeutic. I want to help other people discover their passion for theatre and share all of my experiences with them.

3. I plan to become a theatre educator!

4. As I mentioned earlier, the arts are an escape for many people. Musicians, actors, dancers, and artists of all kinds bring joy and hope to audiences everywhere. They make us laugh, cry, and feel all of the feelings that make us human. You cannot have a world without the arts unless you want us all to be lifeless, unemotional robots. Artists work incredibly hard to train for their careers and they dedicate themselves to share their passion with audiences. It is who they are. They share their stories through their work and help us learn and grow and rest in the knowledge that we are not alone.

5. I have so many! My favorite at the moment would have to be Ben Platt.

He has an amazing voice and writes songs that are very moving and resonate with a lot of people.

Overall, obtaining a job in the arts is a challenge to beheld. It takes lots of hard work and a commitent to the craft. I wish everyone well in college and the future.

Senior Soundtrack to Our Lives

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The most popular songs from our lifetimes Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor Louis Armstrong once said that “music is life itself.” When words fail, sometimes a song says it perfectly. Songs hold so many truths and they effortlessly capture emotion. Back in the early 2000s, music was dominated by the pop genre, bringing us mega hits like “Bye Bye Bye,” “Oops!...I Did it Again,” and “No Scrubs.” Modern day icons like Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Eminem, and Alicia Keys were just getting started. As the years went by, the 2010s created a new sound that centered on synthesizers and technologically-influenced music. Emerging artists at the time included Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and One Direction.

The class of twenty twenty-one has been around for all of it.

With that being said, here is a list of the top songs from the years 2002-2021 (this list is based on songs that won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year):

“Daughters,” John Mayer, 2005

“Need You Now,” Lady A, 2011

“Sometimes You Can’t Make it on Your Own,” U2, 2006

“Rolling in the Deep,” Adele, 2012

“Not Ready to Make Nice,” The Chicks, 2007

“We Are Young,” Fun (ft.

Janelle Monet), 2013

“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, 2008

“Royals,” Lorde, 2014

“Hello,” Adele, 2017

“That’s What I Like,” Bruno Mars, 2018

“This is America,” Childish Gambino, 2019

“Fallin,’” Alicia Keys, 2002

“Bad Guy,” Billie Eillish, 2020

“Don’t Know Why,” Nora Jones, 2003 “Viva La Vida,” Coldplay, 2009

“Stay With Me,” Sam Smith, 2015 “I Can’t Breathe,” H.E.R., 2021

“Dance with My Father,” Luther Vandross, 2004

“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Beyoncé, 2010

“Thinking Out Loud,” Ed Sheeran, 2016

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Senior

Farewell From Your Leaders

Parting words from your senior SGA officers Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor As this semester comes to a close, we would like to recognize and thank our senior class officers. Here is what they said about their experiences throughout this year.

1.) What is your favorite memory from senior year?

2.) What is the number one thing that you will miss about CHS next year?

3.) What is the best advice that you would give to the upcoming senior class?

Senior Class President, Nic Glass 1.) Beating Muscle Shoals with one of the craziest onside recoveries ever in a football game.

2.) I will definitely miss playing sports with my boys 3.) Live a little. Relax and don’t stress over minor things. Enjoy the time you have left in high school and make enough memories to last a lifetime.

Senior Class Vice President, Sadie Young 1.) My favorite memory was probably the same as Nic’s :) even though I wasn’t playing… the whole student section running down to the opposite end zone to watch the game of the year play out in our favor was sooo exciting!

2.) I will miss the fun things with friends like watching sporting events, homecoming week, and pep rallies!

3.) Live life to the fullest and just try to have the best year you can!

Definitely don’t wish away the last months of high school because trust me, they will fly by.

Senior Class Secretary, Jaden Orr 1.) Making flag football happen and the seniors winning.

2.) Playing basketball with my teammates in front of the best student section in the state. I am also going to miss Carter Gay and Tuck G :(

3.) Take time to be with your friends and make memories. You won’t ever get to be with the same group of people again.

Senior Class Treasurer, Emma Murphree 1.) Prom!! I had so much fun with all of my friends, and it was a solid 10/10.

2.) Getting to see my friends every day and playing tennis with the best teammates ever (also lip sync and homecoming week) 3.) Take risks and try new things.

Also, accept that you are human and make mistakes; I spent too much time in high school worrying and stressing over minor grades--I promise that it will not matter as much in the long run.

Your time in high school is limited and precious, so spend it with the ones you love.

Remember When’s

Favorite memories of the class of 2021 Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief The past four years have been filled with many memorable moments for the senior class. While we may have missed out on a normal junior and senior year, we still found ways to make the things we did get to have as memorable as ever. Here are the favorite memories from members of the Class of 2021.

“When I first came to the high school and was completely terrified, but through the years it got better and now I am graduating.

Crazy times!” -Mary Watwood

“Winning lip sync Sophomore year after getting made fun of Freshman year.” -Madi Norris

“Getting boo-ed off the stage at our freshman year lip sync, the juuling email that Daliasha Kemp sent out to everyone in the school, and Emma Laidley breaking her elbow.”

-Ava Burns

“Going into the High School Band making new friends and meeting the rest of the band. I also remember being terrified of memorizing music before Friday night lights came every week every year. Also, stepping onto the field before a lot of people at any game whether it was an away game or a home game. I still felt the same way.”

-Caroline Worley “When we got boo-ed off the stage for our lip sync Freshman year.”

-Coleman Callan “When there was a karoke machine in the lunchroom last Christmas.”

-Kate Rains

“I made Prom lit by showing everyone my dance moves and my energy. That was a blast.”

-Jashante Edwards

“My favorite memory of high school was when we won the lip sync battle as Seniors.”

-Madison Bagwell “Participating in band and traveling to games with my friends and enjoyinh being part of something big. Plus, going to New York last year.” -Zach Holmes “When the CHS Rowing Team brough the championship back for the first time since 1953.”

-Ethan Jankens

“Freshman Year, the Majorettes and Danceline had a dance battle with the cheerleaders during a Pep Rally.” -Madi Martinez “On our band trip, our bus driver hit another car in downtown New York.” -Allie Heaton “I will never forget the time the SRO’s helped me fix my tire at school when they noticed it was completely flat. I drove on that flat tire to school that morning and had absolutely no idea. I was so thankful that they were willing to help because honestly, I don’t know what I would have done.”

-Peyton Perry “Freshman year lip sync battle and getting boo-ed off of the court.”

-Destiny Belcher “When the bird made a nest under one of the trees in the quad and a storm passed and the bird vanished and a bunch of people held a funeral for it.” -Karlie Patterson “When Maggie Lunsford popped off at Jackson Murphree during the Paradise Lost trials, ‘Adam, you were created with intelligence.

Please get to the point.’ What a savage!” -Natalie Gay “Winning lip sync three years in a row.” -Lanie Townson “Everyone thought that we were only going to be out of school from COVID-19 for two weeks. I remember specifically asking Mr. Smith what he thought about it all right before we got out of school for good.” -Olivia Wood “Mrs. Blackwood gave blood our sophomore year and would not stop laughing throughout the entirety of fourth period. She would start talking, totally lose her train of thought, and burst into laughter.”

-Maggie Lunsford

SENIOR A Night to Remember

Prom 2021

Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer

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Senior Letters From Freshman Year Remembering your past self

Ava Burns, Staff Writer

All seniors should receive their letters from their freshman selves this following week. If you had Mrs.Watts for 9th-grade English you can

come by Mrs. Calahan’s classroom, Number 201, to pick yours up. Here is a letter from Class of 2021 student Rosie Cowart.

Afterthoughts from Rosie Cowart: Well, you did quit basketball. You have met, and you have pet, many dogs. You probably eat twice as much as freshman Rosie, and you lost the strap to the one one-piece swimsuit (it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all). You can carry as many five-year-olds as you want to the water fountain. I can almost tell you congrats on making it through sophomore year.

More than that, you have come not just further, but in a different way than I thought.

I did not know you would make senior hall of fame, prom queen, and I would have never seen you as a social butterfly. You learned more than your core beliefs, but your whys. You learned more than trying your best, but how to balance trying so hard with a little bit of sanity (you drink more tea than coffee now and accept that sometimes sleep can get you further). You don’t hope that you have the future He has planned, you know that there is no other option. There is no

plan B, just everything works for your good. I wish I could say you made it out with a good sense of humor, but you have been reduced to dad jokes, and that’s okay. I can promise your laugh has not gotten any quieter, and as far as getting nicer… you decided to add honesty to your mix of sweetness, for better or for worse. Your memories and your lessons have amalgamated to make you who you are.

You have learned how to love hard and unconditionally, without sacrificing guarding your heart. You have become closer than you can imagine with people you would have never seen coming. Good people have come and been as perfect as you could hope and as imperfect as you needed to learn. All four years were spent well as long as you are grateful for them. Your confidence is as good as it needs to be at this point enough to overflow into your confidence that others are trying just as hard as you are.

Lastly, I repeat, good luck on the rest of your life! I still love you!

Dorm Supply Checklist

SENIOR

Dorm Essentials

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Maggie Lunsford and Bella Cottingham, Co-Editors As the end of the year approaches, many students from the senior class are heading their separate ways and attending colleges all across the country. Although college is a daunting time, it is also supposed to be fun and exciting. One way to cope with the uncertainties of living in a new place is to make sure that you are prepared and that you have brought everything that you will need. With that being said, seniors, here is a short list of a few essentials to bring for your college dorm room next year.

Sheets and Pillowcases This may seem very basic, but having a good set of sheets and soft pillow cases is a necessity. In college, you will most likely be loaded down with work more often then not and it is vital to get a good night’s rest. You can get your sheets in so many cute colors, fabrics, and patterns that are totally fitting for your style and they can match your dorm room aesthetic. Some great places to buy nice dorm room sheest is at websites like Dormdecor.com and DormEssentials.com!

Towels This is another basic item but it is definitely something that you will need in a dorm.

First off, many dorms have community style bathroom accomodations. Because of this, it is necessary to have something to cover up after taking a shower. Second, you will always need something to dry off with after taking a shower. But these don’t have to be your simple towels! Many girls decide to get cute, monogrammed towels with a matching set of wash-

cloths for their dorms. They make great graudation gifts, too!

Mattress Pad Although this is not really a necessity, a mattress pad makes all the difference when it comes to using an old college mattress. Some colleges provide great dorms that are very comfy and spacious. However, some college dorms are old and not as modern and updates.

Because of that, the furniture and mattresses that are provided are not especially nice, but a mattress pad is sure to upgrade your mattress. With an extra level of cushion and softness, a matress pad can elevate your sleep and make you feel warm and at home.

Air Fryer For the past few months, air fryers have been a fad throughout many American households. They are a quick and easy way to make simple meals that taste amazing. They are also very easy to use. Because of such high funcitonality, air fryers have become a great way to male food in a dorm room.

Air fryers can make almost any food taste good and they are a fast way to make healthy meals too. If you want to skip the usual cafeteria food, purchase an air fryer for your dorm! They are really not that expensive and they can be bought at most groceries stores like Target or Walmart and they can even be

ordered through Amazon.

Shower Caddy Most dorms provide communal showers, and students cannot leave personal items like shampoo, conditioner, and soap in the bathroom. To keep everything organized and easily transportable, consider buying a shower caddy. You can store your shower caddy in your room without sacrificing much space.

Bath Robe Although a bath robe isn’t really a necessity, having a bath robe is such a nice item to have.

Use a bathrobe to stay covered and make yourself more comfortable while walking to the communal shower. Most college showers provide hooks on which you can hang towels and bathrobes.

Shower Shoes Walking barefoot in a communal shower can be sort of unsanitary. For an easy solution, buy flip flops specifically for showering, or “shower shoes”. These special shoes keep your feet clean and don’t

get waterlogged when worn inside the shower.

Shoe Rack Instead of just throwing your shoes into your closet or across your room, use a shoe rack to neatly store all your pairs of shoes. This is a convenient item which will make your dorm more organized and less messy. It also doesn’t take up that much space.

Portable three-drawer storage These convenient storage drawers offer plenty of space for school supplies, clothes, and a number of other things. The wheels on the bottom of the unit allow students to easily rearrange the placement of these drawers. You can also use the flat surface on top of the drawers as a bedside stand.

Under Bed Storage bins College dorm rooms are generally small, making maximizing space a necessity. Students who don’t loft their beds can get under-bed storage bags to make the most of their limited space options. You should also consider buying multiple under-bed storage bags for clothes, shoes, extra school supplies, and winter gear.

SENIOR Food Ideas for College Students

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Dorm snacks and recipes Ms. Calahan, Advisor Leaving home for college can be exciting and also unnerving.

One of the things many college students miss is having a kitchen where groceries seem to always be in supply. Some college students will have a meal plan for the cafeteria; however, cafeterias are not always open, and sometimes the weather makes it unpleasant to get out and go.

As students head off to a new “home” away from home, they need to stock up on a few grocery essentials that are perfect for snacking or making a simple meal. Whether you have access to a kitchen or you’re working with just a microwave and mini fridge, dorm cooking can be easy and nutritious.

Mason Jar Omelet

Lightly coat a pint jar with nonstick cooking spray. Add two eggs and your desired mix-ins to the jar (we suggest trying shredded cheese, chopped veggies, or chopped ham). Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Cover with a lid and chill overnight.

When ready to eat, shake jar contents until thoroughly mixed.

Remove lid and cover with a paper towel.

Microwave on high about 2 minutes, or until the eggs are fully cooked. Serve immediately.

Two-Minute Cheese Quesadillas 2 (10 inch) flour tortillas 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese Step 1: Place 1 flour tortilla on a large microwave-safe plate; sprinkle with Cheddar cheese.

Place the second flour tortilla atop the Cheddar layer.

Step 2: Cook on high in the microwave until cheese is melted, about 1 minute.

Quick & Easy Microwave Oven Cooked Tortilla Pizza

Chocolate Mug Cake

Dorm-Room Grocery List: Apples Bananas Cherry Tomatoes Baby Carrots Grapes Oranges Yogurt Hummus Pretzels String cheese sticks Eggs Milk Mixed Nuts Granola Bars Microwavable Popcorn Microwaveable Oatmeal Microwaveable Soups Microwaveable Mac and Cheese Peanut Butter and Jelly Tortilla Chips and Salsa Microwaveable Ramen Noodles Microwavable Chicken Nuggets Sliced Deli Meat Tuna Packets Sliced Bread Bagels Tortilla Wraps

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 3 tablespoons sugar ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ cup milk 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 tablespoon chocolate-hazelnut spread Step 1: In a bowl combine the dry ingredients. Add the milk and oil. Whisk together.

Step 2: Pour the batter into a 13- to 14-ounce microwave-safe mug. Spoon the chocolate-hazelnut spread onto the batter.

Step 3: Microwave the mug on 100% power (high) for 2 minutes. Remove and let stand for 1 minute.

Five-Minute Vegetarian Burrito Bowl

1 Tortilla Favorite Tomato Sauce Grated (or sliced) Mozzarella Cheese Favorite Pizza Topping 1. Use a tablespoon to spread a thin and even layer of tomato sauce over the entire tortilla.

2. Cover the sauce with grated cheese and either leave it as is or top half the cheese with your favorite pizza topping.

3. Quickly and carefully fold the tortilla in half.

4. Put the tortilla pizza in the middle of the microwave oven, and cook using HIGH heat or 100% power for 45 seconds.

NOTE: Cooking time may vary depending on microwave watt power. The tortilla pizza shown here was cooked in a 1200-watt microwave oven for 45 seconds.

5. Use a pot holder or folded dishtowel, if needed, to remove the cooked tortilla pizza from the microwave oven. The tortilla pizza is done when the cheese has melted.

1 cup cooked brown rice 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed 2-3 tablespoons salsa, or to taste 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese Toppings—Diced avocado, diced tomato, guacamole, pico de gallo, etc. (as desired) Step 1: Prepare brown rice according to package instructions.

Step 2: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine rice, black beans, salsa, plain Greek yogurt, and shredded cheese.

Step 3: Microwave on high for 30-60 seconds, or until heated through.

Step 4: Top with diced avocado, diced tomato, guacamole, pico de gallo, or other desired toppings.

SENIOR

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SENIOR

Hooray for Hilight!

Goodbye from the senior publication staff Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer the computers for four or more hours trying to meet deadlines, to taking any opportunity to throw a party, my time on the Hilight staff has been one of my favorite high school experiences that I will never forget!

and how much you have grown since the beginning of the year.

You are going to absolutely kill it as editor next year and I cannot wait to see what you can do.

Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief OUT. :)

Olivia Wood, Editor-in-Chief

Wow, what a year it has been!

I have loved every last moment of being Editor-in-Chief of the Hilight. Getting to work with a variety of different people throughout the past two years has been an amazing experience. I have learned so much throughout my time on this staff and I would not give it up for the world. Everyone has always been so kind and supportive and I cannot thank them enough for that.

I am definitely going to miss a lot about high school, but being a member of the Hilight will be one of the things that I miss the most.

While we weren’t able to operate at full capacity this year, we have still worked hard to publish the paper virtually. I am so proud of every single person on this staff, and I cannot thank them enough for pouring their heart and soul into every article and spread.

Thank you all for embracing me and my leadership, when I did not know what was going on myself. We have laughed, learned, and worked so hard to make what we COULD do this year, happen. I am so glad that we all ended up on this staff and in this room at the same time. I know you all are going to do amazing things in the future.

To Ms. Calahan, thank you for pouring your heart out into us and for taking the time to work with this staff. While this year has been hard, thanks to you, we were given people to rely on and something to look forward to.

We all appreciate you and all of the hard work that you put into everything you do.

To Miss Christen, I just know you are going to kill it next year.

I am so proud of the work you have poured into the newspaper

Bella Cottingham, Co-Editor

Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor To my fellow staff members: You guys gave me a great senior year despite Covid. When I look back on my high school years, I know that I will not remember everything. I will not think about grades or classes, but instead, I will think about the people. In particular, I will remember the lasting relationships that I have made with all of you guys. You all helped me learn more about kindness, love, patience, perseverance, and hard work. I am grateful for all of you!

To Ms. Calahan: I am so thankful for you. This year would not have been the same if it weren’t for you; without your grace, kindness, and love I really don't know what I would have done. You talked me through some hard times, laughed with me every day, and always pointed me back to Jesus.

I love you so much!

And finally, to Christen: You can do this! You have been so dedicated and hard working this year and I am so proud of you. Your work ethic has shown me that you are so ready to be editor next year. Not only that, but you are also funny, kind, and bubbly. I will definitely miss your funny jokes and comments next year. You are going to be fantastic! Love you bestie!

Being a part of the Hilight staff these past two years has been such a great experience. I have loved every part of it, from creating and writing articles to even rushing to finish layouts on time. I’m so grateful for the kind people on the staff (from this year and last year) and especially for Ms. Calahan, our biggest encourager who pushes us to do our best and who never fails to make the whole room laugh.

Although it’s sad to say goodbye, I’m happy to have so many good memories from being on Hilight.

I will miss it!!

Presley Lafon, Staff Writer I could have never imagined that senior year would play out quite like it has this year, but I don’t know that I would change it for anything. Most of us spent this summer convinced that going back to school during the fall would not even be a possibility; however, here we are about to graduate high school after having one of the most unique school years ever. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Hilight staff this year because I have met so many new and amazing people and learned so much about how to work with others to reach a common goal.

From the days spent staring at

Ava Burns, Staff Writer Though the year was hindered

by COVID, I still enjoyed my final year at Cullman. I’ll always miss the pep rallies, wonderful teachers, and getting to see my classmates every day. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be on the Hilight publication staff with this wonderful team, and for all the great years here at CHS.

Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer

Being on Hilight this year has definitely made it’s impact on me.

With doing hybrid for a majority of the year, I felt as if I were missing out on such a big opportunity to work with a great group of girls and learn new things. But despite my limited time at school, the Hilight staff and Ms. Calahan really helped me to learn so much and helped me to feel so genuinely proud of the work I created.

Seeing all the hard work we put in together published on a paper really puts into perspective how hard our Hilight staff works. I could not be more happy to work with such a great group of people this year, and I wish the best of luck to the staff of 2022!