Senior Edition 2018

THE

SHIELD

Bishop Kenny High School Volume 65 | Senior Edition Jacksonville, Fla. bktoday.org

Ridge Abinsay · Lindsey Abney · Joanna Agalioti · Tio Ajimisinmi · Kailey Alcantara · Rakan Aleid ·John Alexander Antony Allarey · Ashley Alvarez-Stratton · Paul Ashley · Ehsan Atallah · Brianna Austin · Joshua Avera · Jillian Azar Jay Babcock · Chris Baer · Kenzie Bassitt · Nicholas Beenen · Ian Belle · Alex Bennett · Meghan Benson · Evan Bibeault Maggie Bird · Sophie Black · John Bogush · Zach Borello · Catherine Bouchereau · Jared Bowling · Donnie Bracey Harper Bradford · Jamiel Brathwaite · Matthew Bray · Patrick Brennan · Miles Bright · Kina Brooks · David Brust · Matt Brust Shelby Buchanan · Codie Byrnes · Javi Cabrera · Nikko Calabro · Brandy Camp · Phil Chappano · Katie Cimermancic Jimmy Citrano · Marquis Collins · Hope Cooper · Wyatt Cornellier · Zachary Costner · Amanda Cotter · Ian Counts Taylor Cox · Elizabeth Cratem · Matthew Cratem · Sarah Crocco · Maria Yleana Cruz · Amber Daragjati · Anna Daragjati · Derek Dean · Angelica Dela Cruz · Jack Delaney · Matthew Demetree · Caroline DePirro · Alyssa Devenny Brooklyn Devenny · Isabel Devore-Suazo · Katherine Dickey · Emma Dominger · Evan Dry · Pierson Duce · Michael Dunne Eddie Dunsford · Maddie Dyro · Jack Eason · Cristian Edgar · Paul Abdo El Bahri · Olivia Ellis · Brooke English Dyne Ennis · Maggie Evans · Paxton Fannon · Salem Farmand · Alex Farmer · Alexis Faulkner · Logan Faulkner · Nick Ferry Alexus Forshee · Aaron Fudge · Becca Fuller · Scott Fulton · Francisco Gallo Marisa Garcia · Amelia Gates · Angel Gjergji · Erisa Gjoka ·Luka Gjuraj Carson Goodman · Max Goodwin · Nicolina Graves ·Susie Gray Allison Grula · Emerald Haigler · Anastasia Hale · Kristina Halleak Selena Halleak Mark Hanania · Christian Harrington · Ashley Hassan · Brooke Hassan zWill Haubner · Abbie Healy Gabby Hensley · Ana HernandezAbdallah · Dawson Hey · Kenadee Holzendorf · Andrea Huffman Mia Hurdle · Cooper Huskey Joe Iglesias · Gaby Irizarry Top Israel · Hailey Jasper · Kamari Jennings Blake Johnson · Austin Jones · Kobe Jones Breanna Joseph · Madeline Jubran · Nathan Jubran JP Kaczorowski · Louis Kazaleh · Hayden Keeney ·Michael Kelley · Patrick Kiely · Melanie Kienlen · Joe Kinney Alex Kyles · Trey Lamb · Natalia LaRotta · Regan Lee Sammy Leis · Erik Lightner · Evan Loadholtz · Birdie Lombardo · Sarah Loveland · Dalton Lowrie · Paul Loyd · Savanna Ludden Christian Lumbag · Heather Lumpkin · Logan Macomb · Kaitlyn Manson Sophia Mardini · Mikayla Martin · Alex Martinez-Paige · Alyssa Massais David Maxson · Aaron McAdams · Josiah McCallum · Katie McClellan · Hannah McConnell · Patrick McCormick Miles McGee · Megan McGovern · Kylee Meehan · Mariana Mendieta · Abby Merinbaum · Stanielle Merriweather Yali Miller · Noah Mitchell · Emily Mohr · Kali Molter · Alana Mondares · Sydney Moran · Amanda Morningstar James Mullaney · Madison Mullins · Michael Munder · Sean Murphy · John Najem · Ellie Namen · Allison Nasrallah Grace Nast · Katie Nelms · Stone Newsom · Cassidy Nguyen · Kevin Nguyen · Phong Nguyen · Vianna Nguyen Hannah Niemczyk · Nick Niewulis · Gabby Nika · Liam O’Connell-Becker · Steven Olavarria · Caitlin O’Neill Riley Osborne · Jason Ostinowsky · Christian Pagel · Lily Palamaro · Michael Palamaro · Derrick Palma · Heather Parker LJ Parliament · Velisa Pelkey · Ricardo Perez-Gonzalez · Kayla Peters · Scott Petty · Faith Pfeiffer · Alice Pham Nico Politano · Chandler Poole · Connor Poole · Joseph Porkert · Ireland Porterfield · Christopher Pratt Sara Preddy · Jack Pues · James Ragonese · Camilo Ramirez · Sofia Ramos · Jack Ranney · Erin Reilly · Bella Reimer Nick Riscigno · Rosa Rodiles · Hector Rodriguez · Tory Rosales · Sean Rowan · Renee Rowland · Hannah Rukab Lewis Rukab · Patricia Salem · Matthew Schmidt · Rylee Schroder · Christopher Schuman · Chadrick Schwipper Chloe Schwipper · Veronica Selden · Kelly Shay · Turner Shultz · Connor Sidman · Nick Sikorski · Lucie Simonin Jessica Sizemore · Jasmine Slade · Austin Smith · Triston Smith · Hannah Stickley · Jessica Stipe · Keith Stokes Lizzy Sturms · Olivia Suneson · Aidan Swett · Gabby Taylor · Nick Taylor · Nina Tecler · Jordan Thomas Garrett Tirado · Nicholas Toney · Nick Trent · Brianna Tribou · George Trotter · Johnny Tucker · Dajana Ujka Joseph Valerio · Jake Vigilante · Kelly Vohr · Justin Wagner · Matthew Waldrep · Aryn Walters · Madeline Ward Emma Jane Warren · Monet Waters · Colyn Weber · Allison Weinbecker · Marquez Wells · Andrew Wheeler John White · Zach White · Carmen Whitfield · Jacob Williams · Sasha Williams · Caroline Williamson · Andrew Wray Wrene Wright · Danny Yalch · Isaiah Ybarra · Erik Yeatman · Chris Young · Ameera Yousif · Marissa Zduniewicz

News

Student Council introduces “Island Paradise” Emily Willis | Opinion Editor

B

Photo by Emily Willis

ishop Kenny High School’s annual Studios, and delivered the invitations to junior-senior prom took place faculty members, and members of the on April 14 at the Jacksonville junior and senior classes.

Marriott. Dressed in gowns and tuxedos, On April 14, they greeted people approximately 460 students attended attending prom, and cleaned up prom. afterwards.

The junior student council, along with their faculty advisors, Kristen Zumwalt and Scott Sberna, have been discussing ideas since the end of last year’s prom. Junior class president Michael Sissine, along with officers Easa Farah, Blessing Eissein, Hailey Farah and Max Montana, began preparations following Homecoming 2017. They chose the theme of “Island Paradise” within a month.

“Honestly, I loved the idea of this Michael Dunne is announced as Prom King. theme and so did everybody else,” Sissine said.

Another facet of prom is ensuring that The process began with establishing a students do not consume alcohol or illegal budget, followed by finding a venue. The substances. Bishop Kenny takes several student council then discussed decoration steps to prevent this. Zip Club sponsors concepts, as well as arranged food and the annual Health Fair, which takes place drink options. the day before prom. Vendors such as “We met with the representative who Poison Control, for example, attend and helps decorate and he brought us several encourage juniors and seniors to make pictures and design elements to look at,” healthy choices.

Zumwalt said.

“The most important aspect of The officers chose invitation and ticket planning prom for everyone involved is designs from templates offered by Cady to ensure that every person who attends

has fun and a night that they will always remember,” Sissine said.

Additionally, at the dance there are 25 adult chaperones and a JSO officer on standby. Administrators also conduct random breathalyzer tests as students enter.

Several weeks before prom, seniors were invited to nominate prom king and queen, and then juniors and seniors voted from the top-nominated students.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. that night, junior class officers Haley Sweat and Camille Blaydes announced the 2018 prom king and queen: senior Michael Dunne and senior Hannah Rukab.

“When I heard my name, I was so surprised it took me a minute to realize what was going on,” Dunne said. “It caught me completely off guard. It means a lot to know people care, or at the very least like me enough to vote me in.”

Similarly, Rukab did not expect to win, but excitedly accepted upon hearing her name called.

“I felt blessed to be on the court and winning was just amazing,” Rukab said.

“I was surprised I won, there were so many other amazing girls on the court.”

The prom king and queen performed the ceremonial tradition of a slow dance together.

Picture Perfect Yearbook Presents offers opportunity to acquire Volume 66 early Franchesca Peralta | Arts & Entertainment Editor

U

nder adviser Dawn Huskey, 18 journalism students have worked since July 2017 to create a yearbook for the 2017-2018 school year, and Yearbook Presents is the annual event at which the book is revealed.

“It’s an evening of entertainment intended to reveal the yearbook theme,” Huskey said.

Although the primary purpose of the night may be to receive one’s yearbook

2

early, its publication wouldn’t happen without the staff, so Yearbook Presents is an opportunity to recognize their accomplishments.

“The staff receives recognition for the dedication and hard work this year,” Huskey said.

Students who are featured in the yearbook through superlatives and talents are also recognized during the talent portion of the show. Additionally,

photographs taken throughout the year around campus are shown.

Tickets to this event are $5 each and all proceeds will be used to fund future Yearbook purchases, including camera equipment and other supplies.

Join the yearbook staff as they recap the school year and celebrate the BK community on Wednesday, May 9 from 6:30 until 8:00 pm in the Carla Harris Performing Arts Center.

May 2018

Features

Dear Kenny Kupid, It’s that time for college again. The previous year I just had to hold myself back for my boyfriend but now that’s not an option. My parents are literally forcing me to go to college and won’t let me be a third time senior or do college online.

I genuinely don’t think they’re being reasonable…

What am I supposed to do when I can’t see my boyfriend everyday? Being with him has the same equivalence of oxygen. He’s my white on the rice, my ying to the yang, and my Polynesian sauce for my Chick-fil-A. Now that you understand Kenny Kupid, what do I do when my boyfriend is abandoning me to go to a college in New York City?

Sincerely, Second Time Senior

Dear Second Time Senior, Your parents are being utterly ridiculous and should reconsider your point of view. You could indeed be the

The Shield

high school sweetheart, the “goals,” and so much more. If you are the idealistic dream couple, then follow your dreams and invest in your husband.

Step 1: Go to a store like TJ Maxx and try to see what kind of suitcases fit your body type. This is quite mandatory to have a comfortable trip to New York while avoiding turbulence.

Alternate step 1: If you can’t find comfortable luggage, buy a luggage Halloween costume. This will ensure that the TSA security guards will not be able to tell the difference.

Step 2: When your parents come to visit your college dorm, fly back and hide your boyfriend in a room-sized fireproof safe. (In case you forget him in there, he will be safe regardless of any natural disaster.)

Alternate Step 2: Tell your parents the truth but only if they accept it.

Step 3: When you have finally convinced your parents, because trust me you will, take some college courses as an extracurricular activity for fun. It will help

take your mind of the stress of your other occupation (A.K.A. your boyfriend).

Step 4: Reflect on all the suffering and hardship you have faced this past year and write a book (preferably poetry).

Who doesn’t love a good love story?

The readers will eat it all up and if you make it fiction you can even add some for suspense. For example, you can maybe change the location to somewhere more interesting or add more antagonists. It’s all up to you if you want to make that money.

Step 5: Break up with him after four years because you have received enough information. Then, if you are famous enough, stage a dramatic breakup with him. This will help you to receive even more money prior to your tragic, heartwrenching break up.

Love,

3

Kenny From Around the W o rld Allison Weinbecker | Editor in Chief Rosa Rodiles | Contributing Writer

F

rom Syria to the Philippines, Bishop Kenny High School attracts families from all over the world. Our diverse school population makes Kenny unique in

its cultural acceptance. We have students and parents of students who have immigrated to the U.S. and have chosen Jacksonville, and more importantly

Bishop Kenny, to call home. Here are just a few seniors who have immigrated or have family who have immigrated.

Catherine Bouchereau and her parents lived in Canada before moving to America.

sy

ourte

Photo c of C a t h erine Bo

Have you noticed a difference between your American friends and your friends in your culture?

Was English your first or second language?

Irizarry- “About equal. I learned to speak both at the same time, and as a child spoke almost entirely Spanish before going to school. I know words in Spanish that I don’t know in English and vice versa. I speak English well since I have lived in the U.S., so I guess I would call it my first language.”

to Pho

te cour

by f Ga sy o

reau

uche

rry Iriza

Bouchereau-“The main difference is the accents.”

Gabriela Irizarry Ramirez de Arellano’s parents are from Puerto Rico. She has lived in the U.S. her whole life but keeps up with Latina culture.

Are there any traditions in your culture that your family still participates in?

Salem--”My family is currently very involved and participated in many Arabic conditions here. Family is important and gatherings happen very frequently. We have many traditional dances that bring us together in celebration of certain events, one being the iconic Dabke.

Our accommodation of our guests is a major aspect of what makes our culture what it is.”

Alcantara-- “‘Kilig’ is like butterflies in your stomach or how your heart starts to beat a million beats per second because you’re so over the moon happy, you can’t explain it. ‘Gigil’ is a feeling that you get when you see an extremely cute baby and all you want to do is pinch his/her cheeks.”

sy of K ailey A courte Photo

Kailey Liezl Alcantara’s grandparents, along with her dad, moved to America from the Philippines.

Photo cou

Pho

es

ou to c

rtes

y

lcanta

ra

odi aR s o of R

les

Patricia Salem is a second-generation Syrian American who loves God and cats.

rtesy of R osa Rodil

What are some phrases that make sense in your language that don’t transfer to the English language?

Luka Gjuraj and his parents moved to America from Albania when Luka was three.

Have you noticed a difference between your American friends and your friends in your culture?

Gjuraj-- “I don’t really have many friends in Albania because I left when I was 3, but the ones that live here that are Albanian act American. Albanians really don’t take anything for granted. That’s a big thing.”

THE

Opinion

Shield

The Shield is a member of FSPA and NSPA. It is published four times a year by journalism students at Bishop Kenny High School 1055 Kingman Ave., Jacksonville, Fla. 32207 phone: (904) 265-9390 fax: (904) 398-5728 The policy of The Shield is to provide a forum for student expression.

If you are interested in advertising in The Shield email newspaper@bishopkenny.org for more information.

Letters to the editor are encouraged. Please submit them to room 224.

Letters must be signed; names can be withheld upon request.

Editor-in-Chief Allison Weinbecker Copy & Design Editor James Ragonese Business Manager Maddie Dyro News Editor Olivia Burch Feature Editor Julia Rodriguez Opinion Editor Emily Willis Arts & Entertainment Editor Franchesca Peralta Sports Editor Max Montana

Staff Reporters Niah Aleger John Bogush Hailey Farah Keith Stokes Megan Yates Adviser Jessica Durbin

Follow The Shield on Twitter and Online: @bkhs_newspaper www.bktoday.org

6

Letter From the Editor Allison Weinbecker | Editor-in-Chief

To my fellow seniors: Where did the 4320 minutes spent in Bishop Kenny High School go?

W

hether high school was the best or the worst years of your life, you were here. We have all been going through the same stress of classes, friends, homework, sports and all the trials that come with along high school.

The drama and chaos of the weekdays can be so draining that your weekends fly by. Sleep, stress, eat, stress, repeat.

No matter where you are going, heading off to college means taking on more responsibility. This responsibility is going to include classes, homework, friends and maybe sports, just like high school, but added on to that will be your living situation, food, travel and insurance costs, among other expenses. We are now in the real world with a budget that determines whether we buy that new shirt or get groceries for the week.

Obviously I do not have any experience in college. I have not yet experienced a class where the only grade is the final exam. It is going to be shocking when doing all your homework will not keep your grade from plummeting to your 66 test average. We will not be able to rely on our mothers to wake us up early in the morning or tell us that we need to get to bed early. We can now get up whenever we want and go to bed as late as we desire. We are going to have to learn to set alarms, turn off electronics at a reasonable hour, shop smart, save money, pay bills and everything else that our parents have been doing for us for the last 18 years.

As hard as this sounds, we got this. We have made it this far; 13 whole years of school have gone by and I think I can speak for all of us when I say that I am so ready, but so scared to start my life in the real world. Where should I live? How do I pay bills?

What if I run out of money?

What should I buy from the grocery store? What do I do if I break my leg? How do I get to the hospital by myself? Should I get a crazy haircut because, ya know, I’m in college now? These are the questions you have to start answering yourself.

High school was fun. Football games, dances and everything in between helped us make new friends and get the “High School Musical” experience that we have been craving since childhood.

Clearly high school has not been a musical filled with dancing and textbook relationships, but hopefully we have grown socially, religiously and physically helping to prepare us for the world ahead.

May 2018

Arts and Entertainment

Ja

es’ es

Ga

“Fortnite Battle Royale” has taken over the video game world James Ragonese | Copy & Design Editor

T

hey say that the best things in life are free, and “Fortnite” is no exception.

The game has grabbed the attention of a wide audience of video game players from all around the world and generated 126 million dollars in February alone. It’s amazing to think that such a simple game could captivate the millions of players who devote hours at a time trying to achieve just a single win.

Created by Epic Games, “Fortnite Battle Royale” is a last-man-standing survival shooting game where 100 players parachute into a map containing small towns and areas. Players run around the map collecting items in the towns, all while a storm closes in on players which will inflict damage to anyone unfortunate enough to get caught in it. The last player or team standing wins, and the game starts all over again. The game can be

played alone, with a partner, or on a team with three other players. This encourages communication and teamwork between teams.

In a world where video games cost upwards of $60, “Fortnite” has become the biggest game in the current market as a free downloadable game. However, Epic Games makes its fortune through a feature called the battle pass. By purchasing the battle pass, players can work to earn special skins and emotes to give their characters life. This is what has generated millions of dollars from a free to play game.

While “Fortnite” also appeals to the average video game player, celebrities and sports icons have taken interest in the game. A Twitch streamer with the name Ninja, who has amassed nearly eight million subscribers on YouTube,

has played “Fortnite” with rapper Drake and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster. This celebrity attention has caused the game’s popularity to skyrocket from its already booming numbers.

“Fortnite” has captivated the video game industry in a way that no game has before. Its cartoonish graphics and easy to grasp gameplay has driven “Fortnite” to become one of the most popular combat games of all time. While some believe the game is simply a fad that will die out quickly, there is evidence to think that this game will be a staple for video game players for years to come. Only time will tell if “Fortnite” becomes a timeless classic or just another trend that gets lost in the storm.

What were pop culture favorites the year we were born?

Emily Willis | Opinion Editor Artist: Eminem Song: “Breathe” Faith Hill

The Shield

Album: “No Strings Attached” *NSYNC Athlete: Tiger Woods

Movie: “Mission: Impossible 2”

Actor: Tom Hanks

TV Show: “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”

Actress: Julia Roberts

According to billboard.com, sportsillustrated.com, Nielsen Media Research, businessinsider.com, forbes.com

7

The Last Swing

Sports

F

Maddie Dyro | Business Manager

rom the smell of popcorn and peanuts, to the feeling of an ice cold lemonade and the sound of the crowd all around you, it’s no wonder that baseball is widely regarded as America’s national pastime.

For senior Ridge Abinsay, who has played baseball here for four years, the feeling of being on the mound, the sound of a bat smacking the ball and the call of the umpire is something he will remember for years to come.

“I joined Kenny’s baseball team because I feel like baseball is everything to me,” Abinsay said. “I work hard so I could start and hopefully bring a state championship to Kenny.”

Abinsay has been playing baseball since he was five years old, and his love for the sport has never faded.

“My favorite part of baseball is hitting a homerun and my teammates celebrating after I step on home plate,” Abinsay said.

Any athlete can relate to the excitement of the moment of realizing his hard work producing an effect. For Abinsay, that feeling was in full force during the team’s season game against

Chiles High School in Tallahassee.

“It was 4-1, Chiles in the fifth inning with two outs and a runner on first and third, and I was up to bat,” Abinsay explained. “I hit a deep fly ball to left field and the left field tries to rob my home run. It tips off his glove and went over the fence. It was a key moment for us because before that game we were 1-3 and going downhill. But the game ended for us with the 8-7 victory royale!”

Abinsay has been a varsity player for the past three years. During this time, he has changed positions according to the need on the field.

“The importance of a player that can play multiple positions is the fact that it opens up numerous possibilities as a coach to make changes that may be needed throughout the season,” Coach Tommy Edwards said.

In the field, Abinsay plays first base, but adds versatility to the team.

After graduation, Abinsay is committed to play baseball at Tallahassee Community College and plans to major in sports management.

Photo by Maddie Dyro

Senior Ridge Abinsay looks back on his four years as a Kenny baseball player

Abinsay bats in in this year’s game against Pensacola Catholic.

Design: Olivia Burch

8

May 2018