www.eastside-online.org
Vol. 48 No. 10
Cherry Hill High School East: 1750 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
June 2014
Jordan Stein (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Inside This Issue
Seniors reflect on their time at East Seniors ‘14, Pg. B-D
Senior Superlatives Seniors ‘14, Pg. F-G
Celebrity Look-Alikes Seniors ’14, Pg. H
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Going Gluten-Free: the reality of living with Celiac disease
When I was first diagnosed with Celiac disease this past fall, I truly Sarah it Goldberg thought was the end (‘15) of the world. I did not want to be “different” or “needy,” and I surely did not want to give up gluten. For those who do not know, gluten is a food additive found in wheat, barley and rye. Although I was initially opposed to going gluten-free, my entire perspective has changed on having a food allergy since beginning the gluten-free diet. While Celiac disease is not exactly an “allergy” (it is an autoimmune disease), I go through the same obstacles that many other people with different allergies encounter on a daily basis. I cannot go to Panchero’s with my friends after school, I cannot eat the cake on anyone’s birthday and I cannot just go out to dinner on a whim without checking to ensure the restaurant is gluten-free friendly. The most difficult part about Celiac disease is the inability to eat at a regular restaurant due to crosscontamination. If any type of item containing gluten touches my food, I cannot eat it, and so I therefore cannot eat anywhere that does not provide a safe, totally gluten-free, area to prepare my meal. But all of these obstacles pale in comparison to the benefits that one gets from being glutenfree. I did not realize that I was sick at all, as I was asymptomatic when diagnosed, but I now feel more energized, healthy and focused than ever before all because I stopped eating a common food additive. Had I not been diagnosed with Celiac disease, I most likely would not have gone on the diet, but being gluten-free is not only for people with intolerances to gluten. The gluten-free diet is becoming increasingly popular, and with its popularity comes great food options at restaurants everywhere that make gluten-free food taste just as good as regular food. For example, I frequently eat at Chipotle, Burger 21 and Akira, as they have glutenfree options that are safe to eat and taste great. It is becoming easier to go gluten-free each day, as many large food corporations tweak their menus to offer gluten-free options. Since more and more people are developing intolerances to gluten, or just want to eat better, restaurants and supermarkets all over America have started carrying gluten-free items. Going on the gluten-free diet is a great way to eat better and to feel healthier.
Photo by Jenna Wilson(‘15)/ Eastside News/Features Editor
NEWS/FEATURES EASTSIDE
June 2014
Celiac disease prompts students to adopt gluten-free eating habits as a lifestyle ■ By Meghna Kothari (‘15)
Eastside News/Features Editor
With celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham who have recently gone “gluten-free,” many people assume that eating gluten-free products is a type of diet. But, eating gluten-free foods is not simply a diet; it is a lifestyle for many people. What is gluten and Celiac disease? Gluten is a protein composite that is often found in specific grains, such as barley, rye and prominently wheat. It is responsible for giving the dough elasticity as well as producing a chewy end product, which include goods like bread, cake, pasta and cereal. Aside from food, gluten can also sometimes be found in medications and cosmetics. Nonetheless, imagine eating a piece of cake or a serving of pasta and then suffering from a severe stomach ache, extreme fatigue or anemia. For many people with gluten sensitivities, these symptoms can become reality with the simple intake of gluten. Many people with gluten sensitivities, such as Celiac disease or wheat allergens, eat gluten-free foods in order to keep their bodies healthy, contrary to the belief that the diet is to help with their weight, exhaustion or depression. Celiac disease, the most common reason for implementing the diet, is an inherited autoimmune disorder in which consumption of gluten can damage the small intestine. Upon eating gluten, the body forms antibodies to attack the gluten, which then harms the intestinal lining, causing the body’s nutrient absorbers, villi, to be damaged. Current research also suggests that the disease is more prevalent in women than in men. Patients with Celiac disease can be malnourished since their villi are damaged if they do not eat as recommended. Though there are different levels of severity of the disease, some symptoms include digestive problems, muscle and bone pain and growth development issues. Even so, Celiac disease is one of
Quick facts about Celiac:
• 1 in 133 Americans, or 1% of the population, suffers from Celiac disease. • 83% of Americans who have Celiac disease are underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions. • Patients typically wait 6-10 years before being correctly diagnosed. • Celiac can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, reduced bone density, some cancers and other autoimmune diseases. • There are NO pharmaceutical cures for Celiac. • The only treatment that exists is a 100% gluten-free diet. • The disease can cost patients between 4,000 and 14,000 dollars over a fouryear period between doctors’ visits and specialty foods. • Celiac affects all races equally. Facts compiled from celiaccentral.org the most treatable illnesses, for in order to reverse it, one must simply eliminate his/her gluten intake.
East students who eat gluten-free foods
Celiac disease affects about two million people in the world, including students at East. Cassidy Rosen-Swell (‘16) and Alexa Beatty (‘16) both keep gluten-free diets due to the illness. However, both agreed that although it does get difficult to constantly watch what they eat, the disease does not take too much of a toll on them, for it is highly manageable. “Celiac disease is like the most [treatable] disease to have. If you’re on the gluten-free diet, then that’s your medicine,” RosenSwell said. Both Rosen-Swell and Beatty contained the gene, but the symptoms remained genLocal gluten-free erally dormant for friendly restaurants: most of their lives. However, they started noticing their lack of growth devel• Pasta Pomodoro opment as they were • Chili’s Grill and Bar not gaining weight their villi • Maggiano’s Little Italy because were not absorbing • Outback Steakhouse the nutrients. “When I was at • Olive Garden my check-up, [docnoticed] that I • Pei Wei Asian Diner tors hadn’t gained weight in two years. They • Healthy Garden got me blood-tested • Amici Ristorante where I tested positive for Celiac dis• Brio Tuscan Grille ease,” Beatty said.
Beatty, who has been gluten-free for the past year, agreed that the disease does not negatively impact her life too greatly. Rosen-Swell, who was diagnosed when she was in seventh grade, believes that living with the gluten sensitivity has become easier throughout the years, for she h a s adapted to the eating h a b its. Many restaurants now offer gluten-free products and some even go to the extent of having a glutenfree menu. However, cross contamination through the oils or other ingredients can still become an issue for those who must avoid gluten at all costs. “A lot of [restaurants have] gluten-free options... it’s just cross contamination,” Rosen-Swell said. She said that although the food may be gluten-free, if it is cooked in the same oil as food with gluten, those with Celiac disease will still be affected. Rosen-Swell and Beatty agreed that while they must be extra cautious with their eating habits, the disorder does not hinder their ability to eat at restaurants, nor does it narrow their food choices, as most menus and products can be offered gluten-free. For restaurants, they either call ahead or they double check that there will be options available to them that are not only gluten-free, but also not cross-contaminated with gluten products. “A lot of places are now gluten-free. It’s becoming a lot more common. Shoprite and Wegman’s have really good gluten-free sections, but some things are naturally gluten-free, like potato chips,” Beatty said. Overall, Rosen-Swell and Beatty said that though their disease was initially hard to acclimate to, they have adapted to their diets for a healthier life.
Gluten Myth vs. Fact
Myth #1: Gluten-free diets help people lose weight. Fact #1: Gluten itself does not contribute to weight gain, nor does it contribute to weight loss. In fact, many nutritionists have found that gluten-free products contain the same amount of fat and calories as do gluten products. Myth #2: Gluten-free diets increase people’s energy. Fact #2: It has not been scientifically proven that gluten-free diets help decrease fatigue. People believe gluten-free diets will energize them because of how it energizes those with Celiac. In reality, those with Celiac only feel more energized after going gluten-free because many of them felt so sick before the diet. Myth #3: People can have gluten allergen. Fact #3: Gluten has not been proven to be an allergen. Rather, people confuse being allergic to gluten to actually being allergic to products with gluten. The only allergens related to gluten are wheat allergens. The only gluten disorders are Celiac disease or non-Celiac gluten sensitivity. Myth #4: You can cure Celiac disease. Fact #4: There is no medication or “cure” for Celiac. Most people with Celiac will carry it for the rest of their lives; however, patients can reduce symptoms or avoid complications with the disease by remaining gluten-free. Myth #5: Celiac disease is contagious. Fact #5: Celiac disease is a hereditary illness. Most people who have been diagnosed with the disease have parents who also are diagnosed or parents that simply carry the gene. Celiac is not contagious whatsoever, but it can be passed down generations.
Research by Meghna Kothari (‘15)/ Eastside News/Features Editor Gluten art by Haley Schultz (‘14)/ Eastside News/Features Editor and Rachel Pacitti (‘15)/Eastside Art Editor
NEWS/FEATURES
June 2014
Senior year abroad
■ By Jenny Silver (‘14)
For Eastside
Through the Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad scholarship, I have spent my senior year of high school living with a Malaysian host family in Marang, Terengganu, a fishing village on the east coast of Malaysia. I attended a public secondary school, where I was the only non-Malaysian student. Awarded by the U.S. Department of State, the Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad scholarship, which was established post 9/11/2001, provides American high school students with full scholarships to spend an academic year studying in countries with significant Muslim populations in order to promote intercultural understanding. One of the most significant aspects of my year in Malaysia has been attending my school, SMK Tengku Lela Segara. In Malaysia, students stay with their class of thirty students in one classroom throughout the day while the teachers rotate from classroom to classroom. My courses were taught in a mix of both English and Malay languages, depending on the English speaking abilities of the teacher. Staying with the same group of students in one class throughout the day allowed me to form close friendships with many students in my school. I enjoyed eating nasi ayam (chicken rice) daily with my classmates at rehat (recess), participating in multiple curricular activities, spending a night at Asrama Sekolah (school hostel) and learning to make henna paste from my school friends. During my stay in Malaysia, I established an English program for students in Marang as my YES Abroad Capstone Project. Participants in the program are paired with American students, many of whom are from Cherry Hill East, for regular exchange of email to improve language skills and facilitate cultural exchange. In addition to the English program for secondary school students, I taught a separate English class for primary school students. Having spent a year living in rural Malaysia, I have become part of a society that, while very different, is as complex as our own. Although there are superficial similarities, there are important differences in government, values, education and religion, which should be acknowledged as distinct constructs of an independently intricate culture, rather than variations of the culture to which we are accustomed. As I leave Cherry Hill East and SMK Tengku Lela Segara behind, I look forward to the discoveries and adventures ahead.
EASTSIDE
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Carr drives away into retirement
to. He was always energetic and just an awesome individual. A lot of the underclassmen are going to be missing out because they will not get to have “If my students take away one thing him.” from me, it would be to always be yourAfter retiring, Carr said he would self.” be more than happy to return to East These are the words of Mr. Matthew to watch the students he taught as Carr, East English teacher, who is rethey continue through their East catiring at the end of this school year. reers, whether through plays, choral After teaching at East for 37 years, concerts or other events. Right now, Carr describes his departure from though, he is planning on reading, East as bittersweet. writing and traveling throughout “I suppose bittersweet would be his retirement years. an appropriate way to describe it. As someone who talks so fondly It’s sad to leave a place that has about his experiences teaching, been a home to me; I’ve worked Carr will be missed. with some of the faculty that’s still “He’s a dear friend of mine, and here for many decades and they’ve he is someone who genuinely cares become family to me.” about everyone he works with, Carr also reflected on leaving teachers, students and parents,” his students. said East English Teacher Mr. “Even some of the students who Pete Gambino. “He’s constantly inare underclassmen who will be tersted in learning, and that’s what here next year, I’m leaving them makes him such a good teacher.” behind. That is sad. The idea of Carr said he was born with this having worked hard at something, desire for knowledge. I hope successfully, and being able “In some ways, I have always to move on to the next stage of my wanted to be a teacher. I wasn’t life, is great,” said Carr. sure if it would necesarily be a high Carr clearly has made an impact school English teacher, but the de Andi Leff (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor on the East community throughout Carr teaches his students life lessons. sire to teach has always been a part his time teaching. He recalls fondly of my sense of who I am,” Carr said. how he once taught five sisters, all He continued to say that he has a in different grades, one right after anAdditionally, Carr attempts to indeep love for the works he teaches. other. One of his favorite memories of sert creative elements into all his as“If I had to pick a favorite thing to his entire teaching career was seeing signments, whether it is an essay or a teach, I suppose Hamlet is my favorall five girls, years after they gradumore typically “creative” assignment. ite. The language is powerful... and ated. In addition to inspiring his stu“I hope that I allow creativity in my the play has worked its way so deeply dents, Carr served as the yearbook classes. That doesn’t necessarily mean into the awareness of people all over advisor for over 20 years. always writing short stories or poetry, the world and to our attempts of who “The national average for yearbook but even in the writing of essays, I alwe are and what we are and Hamlet is advisors is apparently two or three ways try to work out assignments that such an important figure in the strugyears and I loved holding that posilegitimately fit into the framework gle for personal identity,” said Carr. tion for so long. To be able to, I hope, of the curriculum and the curricular Learning to become an individual produce a good product and watch the needs, but also give students opporis something that Carr hopes he has students grow over the years as they tunities to use models of certain kinds taught his students. gain more responsibility and how they of essays and to learn that they can Carr said, “That’s what education learned to see a very difficult, complibreak out of any particular mold and is about, ultimately I think. I know cated project through until the very write essays in a variety of different there is the practical concerns of being end has been a very good accomplishways that allow students to express prepared for college and getting a job ment for me,” Carr said. different aspects of themselves,” Carr and those things are important, but One of Carr’s biggest accomplishsaid. really, I have felt this way for a long ments is the impact he left on the East Carr’s efforts to make the classroom time, and I feel this way more strongly English curriculum, specifically reexperience enjoyable were truly apprethan ever, that no matter what the garding how the controversial novel, ciated by students. subject area is, education is about givThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Billy Spitzer (‘14) said, “[Carr’s] ing people the opportunity to discover is taught. classes were one of the first classes I who they are and how they can best fit “Mark Twain’s novel Huck Finn had that I was genuinely excited to go into the world.” ■ By Jenna Wilson (‘15)
Eastside News/Features Editor
was in some difficulty here in the district and I participated with some administrators and faculty to work out a curriculum to work out the difficulties that had occurred, even all over the country, and we seemed to find a way to address that issue well and considering that the issue of censorship is so very sensitive, we worked hard in the face of what seemed like an insoluble problem,” said Carr.
McLeester retires after 40 years ■ By Nick Ciocco (‘14)
Eastside Sports Editor
One of the most recognizable voices at Cherry Hill East has decided to move on to the next chapter of her life and face a new challenge. After devoting forty years to education in Cherry Hill, Mrs. Elizabeth McLeester will retire after the end of the 2013-2014 school year. McLeester started off as a student teacher at East in the spring term of 1974 and got hired that May. She got married in the summer and began her life here at this school. At first, McLeester was a history teacher and eventually took a ten-year road trip around the district. Over that span, she was a department chair at Cherry Hill West for a year; principal at Johnson Elementary for seven years, as the only female administrator in the district; and then went back to West for two more years. McLeester returned to East in the fall of 2000. Thirty of her forty years in education were at East and the school became her home. “I’ve always been ground-
ed. The kids are the most important… It’s not a job for me. That’s my biggest highlight; the privilege, the honor of trying to do the very best job to get all of my kids through high school with the foundation to begin a successful life,” McLeester said. When it comes to retirement, McLeester believes that her life is like a book and Jordan Stein (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor she needs to begin a new McLeester has devoted forty years to chapter. Cherry Hill Public Schools. McLeester said, “I need respect and I try to respect a new challenge. So, change the kids and teachers.” is good. I need a new growth, This respect that I want to grow. I hope to McLeester has built has stay in education somehow, rubbed off onto her stuworking with kids, working dents, and they feel the with people… It’s the decisame towards her. sions and choices, that’s Azlan Cobb-Davis (’14) what I love. It’s built on said, “Mrs. McLeester is
one of the nicest and most understanding teachers I’ve ever had and she made going to school an enjoyable place to be.” Lola Cezair (’14) added that McLeester’s school spirit will be missed. McLeester has also had an impact on all of the faculty members of East, whether it had been teaching them in the classroom or being in charge of their department. Mrs. Katie Kelly-Radbill said, “[McLeester] was my Western Civ teacher when I had just moved here from Massachusetts and she was also my class advisor. She is the most memorable teacher I had when I was starting a new life here, and she included me in a lot to help adapt to my life. We have had a great relationship and it has come full circle and I am going to miss her.” McLeester doesn’t know what her next steps will be. But she knows that her time has come and it is time to take on new challenges and start the next part of her life. “It was an honor and a privilege. I fell in love with this school and this community. It’s home,” she said.
COMMUNITY
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EASTSIDE
June 2014
Summer Stage combats the summer blues
appeal to such a wide range of ages. Anne Marie Weaver Eastside Community Editor believes that the diversity of the campers is Summer Stage’s strength. During the summer, “[Summer Stage] camany East students lounge ters to youth of all ages... around their houses with [Summer Stage] has campnothing to do. The Mainers from the ages of four to stage Center for the Arts [eighteen],” she said. has developed a theater Jack Breslow (’17) parprogram to combat the ticipates in Summer Stage. summer blues. Breslow is returning to Twenty-six summers Children’s Theater for his ago, The Mainstage Center second year this summer. for the Arts began Although the camp a summer theater is divided up by age program, called and program, parSummer Stage. ticipants can still The program alsee their friends of lows campers to various ages and explore any asinterests. pect of theater, “We are able from performing to see the people to production. The who are not in our camp is open to program in the anyone in kindermorning and durgarten through ing lunch,” said twelfth grade. The Breslow. program enables Breslow also campers to explore feels as though their interests in the camp is very depth with other welcoming to new like-minded indicampers. viduals. The camp “The environis a day camp that ment [of the camp] runs from 9 a.m is really wonderful. to 3 p.m, Monday Everyone feels like through Friday at [he or she] is a part Camden County of something speCollege’s Blackcial,” said Breslow. wood campus. A Breslow is refull session of the turning to the camp is seven program not just weeks long. because it is a stelCampers are lar learning opporsplit up into many tunity, but because different groups he really enjoys the based on age and comfort he feels interests. High while performing school students in front of his felhave the option low campers. of taking part in “[The other Children’s Thecampers] are really atre, Video Film Courtesy of Jack Breslow (‘17) nice. They really Production, Techadd to my experinical Theatre and Campers from Summer Stage perform on stage for audience members. ence at camp,” said Broadway Dances. Breslow. Children’s Theater filming and editing a short program is open to anyone oversees all of the SumSummer Stage programs is open to students in sixth film. The campers create ages 11 and up. The campmer Stage programs. Anne for high school students grade to twelfth grade. The their own scripts and stoers work with experienced Marie Weaver is proud of range from $300 for Broadcampers enrolled in Chilryboards to go along with professionals from BroadSummer Stage and the way Dances to $550 for a dren’s Theater have the their short films. Limited way. By the end of the sumhappiness it has brought to full session of Children’s opportunity to sing, dance space is available for the mer, the participants will campers for 26 years. Theater. and act. This year, the program, so an interview perform four or five Broad“We have been in exiscampers will participate in and reference letter are reway dances. tence for 26 years. Summer Wonderland, Willie Wonka quired from the applicants. This year, The MainStage was also the first reFor more information on and the Chocolate Factory Technical Theater is anstage Center for the Arts gional summer camp,” Anne Summer Stage and to purand Beauty and the Beast. other option for campers will be putting on a producMarie Weaver said. chase tickets, contact The Although an audition is not who are interested in thetion of the student edition Not many summer Mainstage Center for the required, it is encouraged, ater, just not the performof the well-known musical, camps, especially theater Arts office at 855-936-2467, because the main roles for ing aspect. The program is Les Misérables. The play summer camps in the area, extension 6. the first three shows are ■ By Julia Rothkoff (‘16)
cast from these auditions. The auditions will take place June 9, 10 and 11. Some students may not be cast for the first three plays, but all students are given the opportunity to participate in the final play. This year, the final play will be Broadway for Kids. Video Film Production is for students in eighth grade through twelfth grade. The class takes campers through the process of
available for campers ages 13 to 18. These campers are given the opportunity to explore the behind-the-scenes aspect of theater, such as lighting, carpentry and scenic painting. The class is taught by professionals in the field and requires an interview and reference letter from the applicants. For students interested in choreography, Summer Stage offers the Broadway Dances program. This
will be directed by East teacher and theater director, Mr. Tom Weaver. The show dates are July 27 and 28 and August 1 and 2. The production will take place at The Studio at Mainstage Center for the Arts at Academy Hall in Blackwood. The actors in the show are in eighth grade and high school. Anne Marie Weaver, wife of Tom Weaver, is Summer Stage’s project director. She
BBYO chapter aids special needs children
BBYO’s Chevrah brings joy to cancer patients ■ By Marlee Zeitz (‘16)
■ By Leah Korn (‘16)
Eastside Sports Editor
Eastside Staff
I recently became involved in a BBYO chapter called Dubrow, one of only a few special needs chapters in the United States. Special needs teens are paired with a new buddy at every event and then they work on the project together. At the event that I recently attended, we all made an art project for Mother’s Day and then went to the Pop Shop for dinner and ice cream. It was such a rewarding experience watching my buddy’s eyes light up when she finished her project. She was so excited to give it to her mom for Mother’s Day. This group is special because it is so inclusive. Dubrow gives teenagers the chance to experience the bonding of a close-knit group just as many other teens do in BBYO. To become involved, e-mail Barrie Glasberg Mittica, South Jersey Regional BBYO Program Director, at bmittica@bbyo.org. Becoming involved in Dubrow was one of my best decisions, and I encourage everyone to partake in such an amazing group.
Rachel Pacitti (‘15 )/ Eastside Art Director
Every chapter in BBYO has a disease, illness or cause that it must “stand up” for over a certain amount of time. My chapter, Chevrah BBG, stands up for ovarian cancer. At every event we have, we try to educate and do something for the sufferers of the disease. Recently, we created cards for these cancer patients. We simply used colored paper and markers and pasted inspirational quotes on them to help these patients feel better. Before making them, we discussed ovarian cancer and proceeded by making these cards. We then delivered them to the patients along with some magazines, leaving them thrilled. Something about ovarian cancer is incorporated at every event in one way or another. Chevrah is open to new members. We encourage new people to come out each month for our meetings and volunteer oppurtunities. Typically, meetings take place at different Chevrah members’ houses. If you are looking for a way to get involved with your community, come out to the next Chevrah meeting and get inspired.
OPINIONS
June 2014
EASTSIDE
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Improved sanitation systems Build smarter roads needed for a sustainable world ■ By Keshav Amaro (‘15)
taminated with the waste, is transported to sewage plants, where a variety of chemicals cure it of pathogens. Eventually, treated water, though not safe for drinking or household use, is discharged back to natural waterways. This is a timely and costly process, and relies on infrastructure that many countries do not have. For these reasons, the sewage system currently in place is not sustainable and must be improved. The issue of sanitation is deeply intertwined with the issue of clean-water access. According to the World Health Organization and
tion system to effectively ■ By Gilana Levavi (‘14) remove pathogens without Eastside Opinions Editor diminishing the Earth’s already shrinking supply of fresh water. Last sumIn 2011, the Bill and mer, I was Melinda Gates Foundation hiking along launched a project called a beautiful “Reinvent the Toilet.” This trail in the project has challenged woods of teams of engineers to denorthwestvelop just what the name ern New suggests: a sustainable, Jersey, when I came across energy-efficient, inexpena little hut in a clearing. I sive toilet that provides efwas not in dire need of a refective sanitation, useful stroom, but I knew we had by-products, and can opera few more hours of hiking ate in a variety of settings. to do, so I decided to invesSeveral teams are close to tigate. developing a toilet up to It turned out to be far these standards. This is a from an ordinary hut; it terrific initiative, and has contained the most amazthe potential to ing toilet I have create millions of ever experienced. jobs, in a variety I’ve had some of disciplines and experience with skill levels (for outhouses, so as I example, design, approached, I preengineering, inpared to hold my stallation, mainnose. But as I entenance), in an tered, I was pleasarea that poses a antly surprised by real and pressing a breath of fresh need. air, tinted only by Wichita Falls, the scent of freshTexas, is currently-cut wood chips. ly facing a severe Reading the drought and shortsign on the back age of tap water. of the door, I disIt has built a local covered that this system that puriwas a moldering wastewater composting toilet, Soda bottles by Alex Grayson (‘14), toilet and toxic sign by fies Gilana Levavi (‘14)/ Eastside Opinions Editors into water fit for which uses natural organisms like Many toilets, such as those at East, turn six drinking. Despite mold to break down liters of fresh water into toxic sewage each many people’s discomfort with the human waste into time they are flushed. idea, the system is rich soil devoid of UNICEF, 1.1 billion peoeffective and has potential pathogens. The soil goes ple worldwide lack access to spread. Also, there is podirectly into the ground to to sanitation facilities and tential to use typical toilets, feed the plants and trees practice open defecation, but with smaller gallonsof the forest. Users are inwhile another 2.5 billion per-flush consumption, structed to throw a handful people use facilities that do which will conserve more of wood chips into the toilet not safely dispose of human water for drinking. For exafter each use to help fuel waste. This toxic waste ofample, dual-flush toilets, the composting process. The ten ends up in natural wawhich use less water when scent of the wood chips, and terways, which millions of flushing liquid wastes, use a built-in ventilation syspeople worldwide use as 20 percent less water than tem, eliminate foul odors. a source of drinking waa standard 1.6 gallons per But perhaps the most ter. Each year, 3.4 million flush toilet. And molderamazing thing about this people die from preventable ing composting toilets, like kind of toilet is that it does diseases caused by drinkthe one I experienced that not use any water. ing contaminated water day on my hike, if installed Most toilets that we enfrom sources such as rivers properly, are a great option counter in Cherry Hill use a and crudely-dug wells that in rural areas. large amount of fresh water are unprotected from the Building a sustainable each time they are flushed. pathogens carried in hulifestyle down to the very At East, for example, toilets man waste. basic need of how we elimiuse 1.6 gallons—6 liters— We need a healthier, nate our natural waste is of water each time they are more sustainable sanitatruly imperative. flushed. This water, con-
Eastside Opinions Editor
I was six years old and sitting in the back of a Mercedes going a hundred and ten miles per hour on the German Autobahn. I remember the famous and pristine highway being both smooth and superfast. It has no mandatory speed limit and no potholes. Its creation was an engineering marvel of sixteen-inch-thick asphaltic concrete. The thickness of the road prevents water from seeping down and pushing the dirt up, resulting in cracks. Why is it that a country like the United States can have so many efficient capabilities, yet have roads that are expensive, high maintenance and poorly patched? Highways within the United States require billions of dollars of upkeep and over a third of them are in poor or mediocre conditions. As our classmates learn to drive on Route 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike on a daily basis, they realize it is a bumpy ride. The wear and tear on the roads and constant road crews in the warm months exasperate vehicles and drivers alike. It all turns into a transportation money pit. There has to be a better way to improve our road infrastructure. The United States should take initiative to alter the way highways function, to result in more efficient and smarter highways. The state of Georgia has some of the best roads in this country. Georgia initially uses better material and, in turn, it costs more. Some say Georgia’s climate plays a factor in
its success. But, given this past lousy winter, even its roads are being stretched to the limits. In 2008, the state of Oregon was the first to use renewable solar energy lighting on its highway. Unfortunately, today, many roads are still inconsistent in using renewable energy lamps. Awarded the ‘Best Future Concept’ by Dutch Design Award in 2012 comes Studio Roosegaarde’s Smart Highway concept. Not yet in complete fruition, this idea was tested out in the Netherlands in 2013 in order to create a safe, efficient highway system. Dubbed the “Route 66 of the Future,” the 500m strip of road near the city of Oss has been painted over with photoluminescent paint. Instead of having light posts constantly using up electricity, the paint absorbs sunlight during the day and uses that power to glow during the night. In essence, the highway glows in the dark. Again, there are still kinks in its creation, as rain seems to limit visibility. Studio Roosengaarde’s mentality is to reform the way we connect people by updating roads using smart paints, light sensors and energy harvesting devices. Interactive and sustainable ideas like these will be beneficial in dealing with traffic in the future. The Germans perfected their road-building techniques with the Autobahn. The hope is that the United States will follow and spend a little more on road infrastructure initially to reduce the mega Band-Aid maintenance jobs in the future.
Courtesy of designboom.com
A futuristic highway would include a lighting system that activates only when cars pass.
More Americans need to register as organ donors ■ By Alex Grayson (‘14)
Eastside Opinions Editor
Eighteen people die every day in the United States waiting for an organ on the transplant list. That’s 6,574 people a year who die simply because their doctors could not procure the life-sustaining organ they needed in time. Standing alone, that stat is not alarming. Even with our wide breadth of medical capability and technology, sometimes it comes down to the twisted luck of another human dying with the organ needed in the right circumstance. It is the most eerie example of fate. I thought, at least. That is until I actually researched the numbers
and discovered these deaths percent of those accidental are outright preventable. deaths could have saved the Consider the year 2010; 6,574 people who died that according to the Center for year waiting for organs. Disease Control, the naThese calculations beg tional mortality rate was an important question: 2,468,435, and of those Why isn’t everyone an ordeaths, 159,223 were uningan donor? tentional and non-medical It is truly the greatest related. gift you can bestow on anCutting those deaths by other person and family. half to generously account When doctors told my late for any disqual- The number of people in need of new i f y i n g organs continuously dwarfs the number physiof registered donors in the U.S. ological factors leaves 79,611 deaths aunt, Cynthia Mayer, a rethat could have theoretitired teacher, that she was cally saved everyone on dying, she lived for another the transplant list in 2010 eight years—all because alone. someone had registered Actually, forget “theoretas an organ donor at the ically.” If half of everyone DMV. who suffered a fatal acciTo further put this in dent in 2010 were a donor, perspective, my aunt did no one would have died due not have to live for eight to a lack of organs. Just 8.2 years confined to a hospital,
hooked up to machines. She lived to travel and cruise to places around the world, vacation, shop like it was her job, and to make everyone she came into contact with smile. Most importantly, though, in that eight-year window gifted to her from the heart transplant, she lived to watch her two children get married alongside my uncle, Steven Mayer, and enjoy the grandchild that she wanted more than anything in this world. But unfortunately, this is a phenomenon; most families are not as lucky as mine. The number of people in need of new organs continuously dwarfs the number of registered donors in the United States. Many countries worldwide have long-ago recognized the sickening inanity of people dying waiting
for organs that are of great abundance and have successfully instituted optout programs in which all citizens are automatically registered as donors. But, a similar program would never work in the States because it would paradoxically trample on the constitutional rights of individuals—like the 51 million eligible citizens not registered to vote—who would be (statistically) too lazy to exercise their right to optout. So, please, register as an organ donor today and give families the weddings, grandchildren and smiles they deserve. Or, if you don’t care about those silly things, do it for the same reason you put on pants before leaving the house; it’s a small decision that makes the world an enormously better place.
EDITORIAL
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EASTSIDE
June 2014
Cherry Hill High School East
Editorials represent the views and opinions of the Eastside Editorial Board.
Mrs. Oh: Eastside’s Person of the Year There are not many teachers who have truly taught their students about real-world topics while teaching them to better themselves and encouraging them to form their own opinions. Yet, Mrs. Gina Oh can say she has done just that. Oh works eagerly to make sure that her students leave her Environmental Studies class in June with a vigorous understanding of the topics taught. Her diligence and passion are what earned her the title of Eastside’s Person of the Year for 2014. Oh, a graduate of East, started working at East 16 years ago as a devoted biology teacher but soon took on the responsibility of teaching Environmental Studies as well. A couple of years later, she became the only teacher to teach the class. Environmental Studies soon became the only class she would teach but certainly not the only class in her repertoire. Oh is always willing to help her students, which has been a main factor in the number of students enrolled in Environmental Studies increasing annually. Students who take the class leave with an education based on real-world issues they may not have received otherwise. While teaching her students how to help themselves and the environment, Oh encourages each and every
one of her students to form his or her own opinions. She has a realistic view on sustainability, which is one of her many secrets to molding the minds of her students. Oh does not simply present information; she connects everything to the students so that they better understand it. Oh does not only help her students; she also changes the culture of the school. With her help, the Environmental Club has been raising money and nearing its goal to install a Brita water filter onto water fountains in the school. The water filter would be placed on water fountains around East and used to purify the water in the school. Students would save money on buying plastic water bottles as well as helping rid themselves of the dangers of plastic. There has also been hype surrounding S’well bottles that are being sold by Oh and her students in the Environmental Club; the club has already sold over 100 of them. Oh has changed the culture of East so much that multiple students each year plan to continue their studies by majoring or minoring in Environmental Science. Oh’s students have shifted over to thinking sustainably. She regularly forwards e-mails to her students, giving them opportunities to go out into the community and perform community service. During the first
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The International Quill and Scroll Society, The American Scholastic Press Association, The Garden State Scholastic Press Association, The Temple Press Association, and The National Scholastic Press Association.
Jordan Stein (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Saturday School for seniors, around 30 of her students took part in the Earth Day Festival at Croft Farm. Students were assigned tasks such as selling organic products and helping people put their trash in the same bins, among other jobs. It is safe to say that Oh runs a class based on responsibility and maturity in which everyone does his or her part. Can Oh singlehandedly save the world? Probably not. But perhaps, one day, through a chain reaction of influence, her students will.
Eastside’s Person of the Year is a four-stage process, which includes members of the Eastside Editorial Board voting at each stage. The award originated in 2003 in order to recognize members of the school who have made a superior scholastic impact.
Editorial Cartoon
Recipients receive a personal plaque in addition to being listed on a plaque next to the Hall of Fame bulletin board. Past Recipients: 2003: Mr. Matthew Carr 2004: Ms. Elizabeth McLeester 2005: Mr. Tony Mancini 2006: Ms. Marilyn DiCiurcio 2007: Mrs. Linda Heath 2008: Mr. Jonathon Strout 2009: Mr. Charles Musumeci 2010: Mr. Rick Friedman 2011: Mr. Gregory Rouen 2012: Mr. Pete Gambino 2013: Mr. Karl Moehlmann
21st Century First Date
by Helena Sirken (‘15)/ Eastside Art Director
Friends of Eastside Benefactors
Ms. Marilyn DiCiurcio Sherrie and Jeff Cohen Mark and Deborah Wilson Sherri and Ken Hoffman Robin Pacitti Colleen and Don Hudson Erica Rothkoff Karen Magosin Rodio (‘83)
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Camelia and Rado Vitoc The Borowsky Family Shari Dickstein Divyesh and Hemali Kothari Phyllis and Don Hoffrichter
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Ed and Lynne Cohen
Contributors
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Managing Editor: Thomas Hudson
Sari Cohen Helene C. Roth Mindy and Michael Schorr Mary Vange
Advocates
Keith Dickstein George Zografos Gilana Levavi Arthur and Thelma Purdy Angelique Aeillo Rashmi Sheel Dipa Sriastava Dewesh Srivastava Kayla Schorr Jake Walsh David Yang Ping Liu Jonathan Lee
Editors-in-Chief: Rachel Cohen, Kaylin Magosin, Kayla Schorr
News/Features Editors Meghna Kothari Haley Schultz Jenna Wilson
Opinions Editors Keshav Amaro Alex Grayson Gilana Levavi
Photo Editors Andi Leff Jordan Stein Ali Wooten
Sports Editors Jacob Borowsky Nick Ciocco Marlee Zeitz
Entertainment Editors Abby Hoffman Dani Roth
Video Editor Eric Thompson
Community Editors Allie Grossman Julia Rothkoff Underground Editors Rebecca Cohen Bogdan Vitoc
Humor Editors Lanxi Li Molly Schultz
The Stein Family Katie Harris Jackie Tighue Casey Kuczykowski Amit Alboher Kerry and Doug Fizz Mike and Maggie Randall Mr. Bill Semus Mr. Killion The Magosin Family Diane Aronson Laura Turkienicz Love On a Hanger The Hersh Family Linda Ross The Meyers Family Zoey Abrams Emily Lichtenstadter Emma Hollenberg Jack and Anne Magosin
Radio Managers Brielle Clearfield Frankie Rossetti Art Directors Rachel Pacitti Helena Sirken
Webmaster Maya Mintz Business Managers Abe Granoff David Linsky Adviser Mr. Greg Gagliardi Eastside’s Staffer of the Month November: Kaitlyn Boyle (‘17) December: Grace Shen (‘16) January: Steve Mirsen (‘16) February: Ben Abbaszadeh (‘15) March: Leah Korn (‘16) April: Brett Dashevsky (‘16) May: Jordan Schmidt (‘14)
Contact the Board: To contact a member of the Eastside Editorial Board via email, type the person’s first name followed by a period, then his or her last name followed by “@eastside-online. org,” ie: julia.rothkoff@eastside-online. org. (Note: There is a dash between “eastside” and “online”)
June 2014
SENIORS ‘14 EASTSIDE
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Haley Schultz (‘14)/ Eastside News/Features Editor
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SENIORS ‘14 EASTSIDE
Senior Perspectives ‘14
June 2014
Caroline Sawn When I first walked through the student entrance on my first day of freshman year, I had little knowledge of what lay before me. Even without knowing about the endless amounts of soapless bathrooms, agonizing track workouts and impassable tests before me, I was terrified. As I desperately navigated the hallways in search of my homeroom, I passed dozens of unfamiliar classrooms and hundreds of anonymous faces. Over the next four years, these hallways and classrooms became a second home to me, whether I liked it or not. And as I slowly began to join teams and clubs, names and personalities were given to those nameless faces. Looking back, it was these faces that have made my high school experience more than just four years spent in pursuit of a college acceptance letter. Some were the upperclassmen who reminded me that I was not the first person to endure the difficult classes, SATs and college applications, and will certainly not be the last. Some were the teachers and coaches who helped make the challenges before me much more manageable. And most importantly, some of those faces were fellow members of the Class of 2014. Whether we studied, slept and suffered through classes together, ran side-by-side on the track or built houses together in the South, you have all helped me develop from that terrified freshman into the person I am today. All of these faces have given me memories, experiences and lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Ross Peterzell
It’s unbelievable how great and unique the experiences have been that this school has provided for me. First off, if Evan Bloom and I didn’t come up with some weird handshake at Back-toSchool Night on September 27, 2011, Dr. O’Breza may have never even known my name and he would have asked two different kids to escort two Dutch students around school for two weeks. And that led to my trip there, which led to the opportunity to host two more Dutch students. Immersing yourself into a completely different culture and experiencing something totally new is truly amazing. Serving in my class government and onward to the school government taught me lessons that will benefit me in whatever I end up doing or where I am. SGA will definitely hold a large place in my high school memories. Countrymen-ing the Cougars from December all the way up to the SJ Group IV Semi-final game is something you really can only get at East. It was nice knowing that if I wanted to go to a basketball game, I knew that there was going to be a nice crowd at the game to get rowdy with for the Cougars. I’ll miss doing all of the “COUGARS TIL I DIE” chants and “Hey Baby’s.” Our baseball team, especially the seniors, has been playing together since we were young and we’ve all come though the ranks with each other and it’s great seeing everyone doing such a great job, especially this year. Winning the Mingo Bay Classic was the icing on the cake for a great Myrtle Beach trip this year, and we deserved it. And now, it’s all over. I am happy that I was able to be a part of as much as I was. I have a few regrets here and there, but ultimately I’ll look back at high school for some of the best times I’ll ever have.
Alexandra Maresh
Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson High school is difficult. As stereotypical as it sounds, the most difficult aspects are hanging on to who you are; remaining confident and proud while maintaining your humility. But, if participating in drama, athletics, volunteerism and academic groups has taught me anything, it’s that nobody fits into a discernible box. That’s what makes people interesting. My journey through East was truly exhausting, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. My participation in such starkly different activities led me to the realization that not fitting into one particular group and, instead, being a combination of many, is perfectly okay. I embraced my personality and individuality and I enjoyed the most rewarding high school experience possible. Because, honestly? Being yourself isn’t about finding where you fit in; it’s about living your life and finding what fits you. High school is difficult, but don’t change your beliefs or who you are just to fit into a preconceived mold. Be strong, be a leader and be yourself, and you will achieve the greatest accomplishment in life...maintaining your individuality.
Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Bobby Zografos
I can remember like it was yesterday when I walked into Cherry Hill East for the first day of school. Back then, I couldn’t find my way around the castle I find small today. Over time, I adjusted to my new surroundings just like everybody else did, finding my friends and trying to find sports or clubs I liked. One great decision I made was to play sports in high school. Although many people think they will have no time for homework with a high school sport, they are truly mistaken. Participating in soccer, track and cross-country allowed me to make friends, make connections with coaches and build my connection with East even more. Doing these sports allowed me to unleash my competitive side and taught me to work hard for a goal while never giving up no matter how hard the struggle was. Additionally, I have been playing violin for many years now and the orchestra allowed me to continue a passion and take my talent to a new level. Music taught me to be more confident and once again to work on something until I achieved success. Just when I thought there was nothing else I could do, Robotics Club popped up. I helped build a robot we competed with in a VEX robotics competition. That club taught me more about thinking like an engineer as well as how robots worked with programming and design methods. Lastly, I had a blast getting involved with school activities and events. Senior trip, for example, was one of the best trips I ever went on, and trips to amusement parks previous years were also extremely enjoyable. Participating in events such as Spirit Week and Multicultural Day made my connection with East even stronger. I will never forget when I Greekdanced in front of the school and was surrounded by people who supported my culture. East has done a great job preparing me for the next phase of my life, and I am going to miss my high school as I journey off to college. But I will never forget the special times I had in this school and I will use the skills I learned here throughout college as well as for the rest of my life.
Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
SENIORS ‘14
June 2014
EASTSIDE
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Senior Perspectives ‘14 Jordan Schmidt I really hate this analogy, but if you would have told me four years ago that by senior year, I would be a Mr. East finalist, a proud member of the marching band and a prospective college screenwriter, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s funny how it all works out. And that’s the weird thing. I’ve done so many awesome things in my four years at East that I’m finding it hard to believe that four years went by so quickly. I demand a recount. To be perfectly honest, I’m very thankful for all of the opportunities I’ve been given at East. Sure, I was a bit awkward at first, and I’m still pretty awkward, but I feel I’ve benefitted from everything I’ve been dealt. I’ve learned to write stronger material than ever before, and I’ve learned how to be the funniest person in the room without trying too hard. And that was just in Gagz’ room. Seriously, I will forever treasure the entirety of my four years at East. Every highlight. Every lowlight. Every time when I wanted to give up. But most of all, the applause I got after my Mr. East act. That applause was just the cherry on top of four years I will never, ever forget. Kaylin Magosin (‘14)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief
Olivia Altman
Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
It’s really ridiculous how fast my time here at East has flown by. I remember walking into East for orientation and hearing the famous words of our school: “Get involved.” I decided to take that advice as a young new freshman. My freshman year experience was a tad different than that of most other freshmen. I was the new girl. So in addition to learning the town and school, I also had to make new friends. The first group I joined was cheerleading. I met a bunch of wonderful people there. We all loved cheering for our football and basketball players. After three years, I was promoted to captain of the squad, which only furthered my excitement toward the sport. I also became very heavily involved in the East Vocal Department. Sophomore year, I made the best decision to join Vocal Workshop. After taking that class, I was hooked. I loved the department: the people, the music, the experiences. After sophomore year, I was in the all-female choir, Chansons. Now, I am a part of East Singers and the Key of She a cappella group. Both of these groups are major parts of my senior year. In addition to choir and cheerleading, I also became greatly involved in Habitat for Humanity. I love what Habitat does for others. I think that it’s important to give back to the community around us. I have been a part of Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge program for two years and have loved every minute of it. My time at East was well-spent. And as I do look forward to the future, I also look back fondly on the past four years. The experiences I have gone through here at East, I believe, have prepared me for what is to come in the future.
Zach Friedman Nothing bothered me more than seeing those generic tweets we’ve all seen at least once, saying: “I can’t wait to graduate.” I understand that on a night of never-ending homework and studying, a person can think of life after high school and see it as an escape from prison, but I always considered homework as a small price to pay for getting to spend four years of our lives in such a great place with even greater people. Sure, there is no homework in the grown-up world and fewer teachers that you think are out to get you. But in that world, you also don’t get best friends with whom you get to spend every day. You don’t get teachers that change your life by believing you are more than just another student. During these years at East, I’ve made friends with students and teachers that will remain good friends for my entire life. I’ve also had so many great experiences with these friends that I couldn’t forget in a thousand lifetimes. There were good times and bad, but I would not trade these past four years for anything in the entire world, and now that it’s over, I sure wish we had more time. I had the privilege of standing in front of hundreds of students in red singing, “Cougars Til I Die”…I think that’s the best way to sum it up. We’re all Cougars Til We Die. Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Maura Roncace My first class freshman year was in the farthest, most tucked away room of F-wing, a class that I can now pretty much call home. I got embarrassingly lost on my way there and ended up being late, but after that I seemed to gravitate towards F091. Through my experiences over the years in that class, I have made incredible friends and have been introduced to what I will continue to study in college: Fine Art. Making friends became easier than I had expected through doing sports like cross-country, swimming and track. I found myself with a group of people I could get along with well and who made the tough practices worth it. Just as art and sports played a huge role in finding my place in East, so did academics. It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I figured out that I really wanted to focus on certain subjects, and I soon found myself having most of my classes with the same great people. In my Spanish 4 and 5 AP classes, English 2H and 4AP, APUSH 1 and 2, and all my art classes, I have had nearly all my favorite memories (no matter how tough the classes could be). I’m happy to say I accomplished a lot over the past four years, both artistically and academically, though I couldn’t have done it without my experiences at East.
Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
SENIORS ‘14
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EASTSIDE
June 2014
Senior Perspectives ‘14 Lydia George-Koku
Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
One of my favorite authors, James Baldwin, once said, “The place in which I’ll fit won’t exist until I make it.” I came to high school determined to find a place where I could finally feel comfortable being the best version of myself. Little did I know that the hurdles I’d overcome would teach me that there is no best – there is only better. From performing my original poems at Coffee House to representing the student body as the Board of Education representative, from mentoring and befriending students at Johnson Elementary to finding my passion for fighting human rights abuses with the Model UN team, I have lept out of my comfort zone to take the time to learn myself. In retrospect, the classes I took did not define my four years spent at East, nor did the myriad of activities I joined and grew to love. Rather, the people I met along the way, the relationships (with students and staff) I formed and cultivated, and the memories we share(d) together have shaped my high school experience. I, like many of my fellow classmates, can say that I’m not the same person I was when I entered the doors of the student entrance for the first time. For me, these past four years have been emotionally taxing tests of resilience and resolve, but they have simultaneously turned into the greatest adventure I’ve undertaken thus far. I am grateful to East for molding me into a better version of myself (one who is unapologetically woman and fearlessly human).
Max Hoffman My time at East has been anything but wasted. Cherry Hill East has not given me all of the opportunities that I would have wished for by now, but that isn’t the point of high school. High school has shown me the pathway to the skills that will help me reach my dreams after graduation. I entered East as a 13-year-old boy, eager for every role in every show at East that I could possibly be in… That didn’t happen… but I am leaving East as a 17-year-old, well, teenager (soon to be adult) with a more realistic point-of-view on life. As a freshman, I began to make the best friends that I have ever had from being a part of my beloved D-wing. As a sophomore, I cherished the relationships I made with other students and I worked hard (as hard as I possibly could) in school. As a junior, I was at the top of my game: good grades, great friends and an eagerness to begin what would be an exhausting college hunt. As a senior, I have learned a valuable lesson: you win some, you lose some. People are not forever. (It’s about to get sentimental.) In a few months, we’ll all be parting ways and moving on with our lives, which is something with which I feel I have grown comfortable. Good (and bad) teachers, valuable lessons and some pretty amazing adventures have made East my home for the past four years. It will be a hard one to let go of, but as Elsa says, “The past is in the past… let it go.” I love my class of 2014 and I cannot wait to see where we all end up in the years to come.
Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Emilia Kij
Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
I came into this high school in combat boots and a leather jacket, just as hopelessly lost as every other freshman in the entire building. I’d just moved to Cherry Hill, and at this point knew maybe two people in the entire school. On that day, I didn’t have the bulky headphones that would become my identifier as the years passed. Instead, I had an intimidating enough look that kept people from trying to point me towards the third floor pool, and an instant friendship struck up over a mutual appreciation for music, fandoms and my favorite words in the English language. This worked out for me — I was new, unused to public school and lacking a critical sense of direction — and the directions I got and the friends I made on day one are the directions I follow and the friends I still have today as a senior. Time passes and blurs together, and behold the flowing of the years: I am a senior, able to drive myself to the Lord of the Rings marathons held on rainy days after a big test and support Robotics Club with a trip to Chipotle. I get to whine about you tiny freshmen and still think you’re all adorable all while directing you to that pool that definitely exists. I get to show off the Demogorgon Literary Magazine — a pretty piece of art as well as a riveting read — and tell people that I was a part of making that, and that they can be a part of it, too. I get to coo over the artists in my classes who are going to be famous, just like I can coo over the musicians, the actors and the future designers. I finally get to listen to my iPod in the halls without getting detention. Sounds like a pretty good four years to me.
Christian Butts Coming to Cherry Hill East, the one thing I immediately strove to do was to break away from being the little brother who simply followed in his older sibling’s footsteps. In an effort to come into my own, I truly found my niche in this school. Though I can’t pretend that academics have not been at the forefront of my experience at East, the countless activities available are what have made my experience unique. With such interests varying from Model United Nations to Casual Harmony to Ultimate Frisbee, I’ve learned that the scholarly experience doesn’t have to end inside the school. While it may sound trite and cliché, my favorite experiences at East have come after school hours. Whether it was at the indoor track sectionals at “The Bubble” in Toms River in freshman year, Johns Hopkins University for a Model U.N. conference, or the International Competition of High School A Cappella (ICHSAs), my involvement in such active clubs has enriched my time at East and opened my mind to new styles of thinking. Although continuing some kind of sport or debate-style club in college is preferable, continuing to sing wherever I am is essential. Music has been my refuge for so long and I legitmately could not imagine a life without it. Overall, I could not imagine having spent my past four years doing anything different in any other place besides Cherry Hill East. Cougars til I die! Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
To read more senior perspectives, check out eastside-online.org
SENIORS ‘14
June 2014
EASTSIDE
Art by Spencer Maussner (‘16)/ Eastside Staff, Rachel Pacitti (‘15)/ Eastside Art Director and Haley Schultz (‘14)/ Eastside News/Features Editor Photos by Rachel Cohen (‘15)/ Eastside Editor-inChief, Andi Leff (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor and Jordan Stein (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor Mike Weaver picture courtesy of Facebook Interviews by Rachel Cohen (‘15)/ Eastside Editorin-Chief, Andi Leff (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor and Jordan Stein (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
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We asked the twins of the Class of 2014 the following questions to answer for both themselves and their twins to see how well they know each other. We chose to feature the most accurate answers... 1. What is his/her height? 2. What is his/her favorite amusement park ride? 3. Who is his/her celebrity crush? 4. What is his/her favorite food? 5. What is his/her favorite color? 6. What is his/her favorite movie? 7. What is his/her favorite saying or something he/she says a lot?
Twins who did not participate: Brooke and Lauryn Rivera-Rich
Molly and Haley Schultz
Max and Abby Hoffman
Molly answered for Haley...
Abby answered for Max... 1. 5’10” 2. Soarin’ 3. Beyonce 4. Wawa Mac & Cheese 5. Blue 6. Singin’ in the Rain 7. “Bow down” Max answered for himself...
1. 5’0” 2. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster 3. Chace Crawford 4. Cookies 5. Green 6. The Breakfast Club 7. “Yolo” Haley answered for herself...
1. 5’1” 2. The swings 3. Jason Bateman 4. Bananas 5. Green 6. The Breakfast Club 7. “Okay, that’s really weird”
1. 5’10” 2. Millenium Force 3. Beyonce 4. Mac & Cheese 5. Navy Blue 6. Singin’ in the Rain 7. “LOL”
Mike and Rachel Weaver Mike answered for Rachel...
1. 5’6” 2. Nitro at Six Flags 3. Adam Levine 4. Lasagna 5. Blue 6. Beauty and the Beast 7. “I’m sorry...what?” Rachel answered for herself...
1. 5’6” 2. Roller coaster 3. Adam Levine 4. Lasagna 5. Red 6. The Proposal 7. “I’m sorry, what?”
Katie and Sarah Stagner Katie answered for herself...
1. 5’8” 2. That’s a stupid question 3. Chris Evans 4. Pasta 5. Silver 6. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 7. I don’t have a favorite saying Sarah answered for Katie...
1. 5’8” 2. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster 3. Chris Evans 4. Raspberries 5. Silver 6. The Hobbit 7. “I don’t have one”
Sunny and Salvi Rota Sunny answered for herself...
1. 5’5” 2. Roller coaster 3. The Rock 4. Chocolate 5. Pink 6. Breakfast at Tiffany’s 7. “One step at a time” Salvi answered for Sunny...
1. 5’5” 2. Roller coaster 3. Beyonce 4. Pasta 5. Pink 6. Breakfast at Tiffany’s 7. “Life is a beautiful struggle”
Sidney and Jamie Heier
Sidney answered for Jamie... 1. 5’8” 2. The Tower of Terror 3. Dylan O’ Brien 4. Candy 5. Purple 6. Top Gun 7. “It’s not my fault” Jamie answered for herself...
1. 5’8” 2. The Tower of Terror 3. Dylan O’ Brien 4. Sushi 5. Purple 6. The Incredibles 7. “Yolo”
Josh and Jamie Simon
Jamie answered for Josh... 1. 5’6” 2. Roller coaster 3. Mila Kunis 4. Steak 5. Blue 6. Shawshank Redemption 7. I honestly don’t know Josh answered for himself...
1. 5’9” 2. Roller coaster 3. Scarlett Johansson 4. Pasta 5. Blue 6. Shawshank Redemption 7. “It’s not how hard you hit, it’s how hard you get hit and keep going”
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EASTSIDE
June 2014
SUPERLATIVES
mOST oPINIONATED: sAM lYONS & aMIT alboher
Most ENTHUSIASTIC: Hayley aaronson & TOMMY cHUNG
Most TALKATIVE: MAX HOFFMAN & Hayley aaronson
BEST SNEEZE: cJ yEH & eLISABETH sIEGEL
bEST bff: jAMIE dUDNICK & fAYE kOVLER
mOST STUDIOUS: cJ yEH & dRYM oH
BIGGEST MUSIC FANATIC: MASON KRAMER & SARAH FUNARI
EASTSIDE
mOST LIKELY TO BE AWAKE PAST 2 A.M. ON A SCHOOL NIGHT: jENNY gAO & cHRISTIAN bUTTS
bEST wRITER: joRDAN sCHMIDT & lYDIA gEORGE
mOST lIKELY to win an oscar: dillon rebock & Sarah sosland
BEST PERSON TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER: KATIE hARRIS & cAMERON BUTTS
BEST MORNING PERSON: EVAN BLOOM & mOLLIE tAYLOR BEST VOCABULARY: bEN bOROHOVSKY & KAYLA sCHORR BEST HAIR: KAYLA sCHORR & tj BOURNE
BEST BROMANCE: rOMELL cORPUZ & dEAN sOSA
MOST LIKELY TO BECOME u.s. pRESIDENT: eRIC BABITZ & LYDIA GEORGE
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mOST POSITIVE: mAX yANKOWITZ & sARAH eVENOSKY
bEST cOUPLE: pAULA zANOTTI & jARED dASHEVSKY
BIGGEST TV/MOVIE FANATIC: jORDAN sCHMIDT & SARAH SOSLAND
June 2014
mOST TECH-SAVVY: hELEN xIA & cONRAD kRAMER
BEST SOCIAL NETWORKER: KATIE hARRIS & cAMERON BUTTS
BEST STORY TELLER: cAMERON BUTTS & zOE sCHLESSEL
BIGGEST READING FANATIC: ZACH KASDIN & sUMUN iYER MOST LIKELY TO WIN JEOPARDY/POSSESS RANDOM KNOWLEDGE: JIMMY BURKE & fREYA tHANNER
MOST LIKELY TO WIN A GRAMMY: MAX HOFFMAN & SARAH FUNARI
Most AMBITIOUS: JENNY GAO & CONRAD KRAMER
Most avid gamer: Mike borinski & Helen XiA
MOST LIKELY TO INVENT SOMETHING UNUSUAL: kATIE CARLSON & CONRAD kRAMER
Most SCHOOL-SPIRITED: ROSS PETERZELL & SIERRA DOOLIN
MOST LIKELY TO WIN A NOBEL PRIZE: CONRAD kRAMER & sUMUN iYER
BEST LAUGH: BROOKE BEATTY & tOMMY cHUNG
Most athletic: JARED dASHEVSKY & cHELSEA campbell
BIGGEST SPORTS FANATIC: jORDAN fRIEDMAN
BIGGEST HEARTTHROB: pAULA zANOTTI & Billy Spitzer biggest backpack: Jenny silver & Thomas Hudson
BIGGEST SPORTS FANATIC: rACHEL RIVERA
MOST LIKELY TO HOST A TALK SHOW: BRANDON WEINBERG & SARAH SOSLAND
BEST DRESSED: OLIVIA aLTMAN & gAL nECHEMIA
Most LIKELY T0 TAKE GYM SERIOUSLY: sARAH BIRCHMEIER & matt segal
cLASS CLOWN: eVAN bLOOM & hAYLEY AARONSON
l Most POLITICALLY SAVVY: jUSTIN ROSEN & LYDIA GEORGE
Most INFLUENTIAL: cHRISTIAN BUTTS & LYDIA GEORGE
:
BEST PERSONALITY EVAN BLOOM & KATIE CARLSON
PERSON EVERYONE SECRETLY WANTS TO BE: jARED dASHEVSKY & zOE sCHLESSEL
Most LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL: cONRAD KRAMER & dRYM OH
UNSUNG HERO: tHOMAS hUDSON & sUMUN iYER
BEST TO BRING HOME TO MOM AND DAD: jARED dASHEVSKY & zOE sCHLESSEL
Best facial hair: BEn Schwartz
fUNNIEST: cAMERON bUTTS & Molly Schultz
Most LIKEly TO SAVE THE WORLD: bENNY bRESLAU & JORDAN PARENT
BIGGEST HEALTH/FITNESS FANATIC: aLISA vERRATTI & fRANK kELLY
Most Involved: Thomas Hudson & Katie HARRIS
Most creative: Haley Schultz & GriffEn hogrOgIAN
Most Outgoing: Nick Ciocco & Hayley aaronson
Most aPPROACHABLE: KATIE hARRIS & cAMERON bUTTS
Art by Helena Sirken (‘15) and Rachel Pacitti (‘15)/ Eastside Art Directors Headshots by Jordan Stein (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Most likely to work at east: Jordan Friedman & Leah Mashioff
Most Eco-friendly: bENNY bRESLAU & Molly Schultz
Layout and design by Kaylin Magosin (‘14)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief, Helena Sirken (‘15)/ Eastside Art Director, Rachel Pacitti (‘15)/ Eastside Art Director, Bogdan Vitoc (‘16)/ Eastside Underground Editor, Molly Schultz (‘14)/ Eastside Humor Editor, Haley Schultz (‘14)/ Eastside News/Features Editor, Lanxi Li (‘16)/ Eastside Humor Editor, Abby Hoffman (‘14)/ Eastside Entertainment Editor and Alex Grayson (‘14)/ Eastside Opinions Editor
Friendliest: Tommy Chung & Katie Carlson
mOST WELL-ROUNDED: cHELSEA CAMPBELL & cHRISITIAN bUTTS
most memorable: TOMMY CHUNG & HAYLEY AARONSON Best Look-alikes: Katie Harris & Rachel Weaver
Most ARTISTIC: gRIFFEN hOGROGIAN & mAURA rONCACE
wITTIEST: jORDAN sCHMIDT & sARAH sOSLAND
Best Look-alikes: Kevin Brown & mr. Speller
prettiest eyes: Nick Ciocco & Isabelle Boisvert
BEST SMILE: Billy Spitzer & rachel Manyin
SENIORS ‘14 EASTSIDE
All photos of East students by Jordan Stein (‘14) and Andi Leff (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editors
Celebrity Look-a-likes
Page H
June 2014
Julia Lipnitskaia Sabrina Deutsch
Ed Helms David Nahum
Lord Farquaad Jake Horner
Katy Perry Lola Cezair
Sarah Hyland Ilana Schwartzberg
Young Paul McCartney
Keegan Allen Conrad Kramer
Sarah Silverman Zoe Schlessel
Ross Peterzell
Most Changed Sarah Evenosky
Most Changed Jordan Gilber
Least Changed Sarah Kahn
Least Changed Temuulen Gansuhk
Most Changed Lydia Huber
Most Changed Mason Kramer
Most and Least Changed
Least Changed Bobby Zografos
All photos by Jordan Stein (‘14) and Andi Leff (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editors and Frankie Rossetti (‘14)/ Eastside Radio Manager Freshman year photos courtesy of 2011 Eidolon Yearbook
Least Changed Jordyn Saviet
SENIORS ‘14
June 2014
EASTSIDE
Page I
Rachel Pacitti (‘15)/ Eastside Art Director
One word to describe the person below me is...
A headline I would write about the person above me is...
I wish ___ were my co-editor this year
My Eastside confession is...
F087 is...
I would trust Eric videotaping me...
Nick Ciocco
Bass
Sass and Shane...
Evan Bloom because he celebrates Layout Day
I broke the computers next to the Smartboard
the couch
bathing
Abe Granoff
Mysterious
Breaking news: Nick Ciocco’s shorts become 1 inch shorter
Jack Bauer
Nick Ciocco bullies me
a madhouse
doing anything
Alex Grayson
Intimidatingly organized
Breaking news: Abe makes an appearance in F087
Gagz
I secretly use Microsoft Paint because ain’t nobody got time for Photoshop layers
Abby Hoffman
Magical
Grayson set to arrive on time to first period
Amy Myers
I hate when Thomas orders fries for himself on Layout Day and doesn’t share :(
a visionary
brushing my teeth
Thomas Hudson
Hand-hug
Radames’ long-lost sister featured in Aida sequel
Steve Carell
I have never had anything published in Eastside
my home
painting a bowl of fruit
Andi Leff
Bike
The Man, the Myth, the Legend
Buzz Lightyear
I’m not actually a photographer, I just own a fancy camera
next to F085
building a sandcastle
Gilana Levavi
Business-like
Leff performs magic with Photoshop
Mary Carskadon
Sometimes Indesign-ing for hours on end is fun
an experience
explaining a ridiculous art/ layout-related epiphany to Rachel and Helena
David Linsky
Ambitious
Gilana goes green
Nick Ciocco
I’m not sure
a fun place
making a sale
Kaylin Magosin
Chill
Linsky excel$ at DECA
the Eastside monkey
I will miss getting all the emails from the Yahoo Group
where I’m most likely to be found within East
running
Maya Mintz
Rozetie
East scholar suspended for refusing to remove cowgirl hat
Maya Rudolph
I don’t love monkeys
the lunchroom, right?
I would never voluntarily be in a video
Frankie Rossetti
Organized
The queen of the couch
Thomas Hudson
I thought I broke the printer once, but it was really just out of paper
where the monkeys reign supreme
throughout every adventure of my entire life
Molly
East student establishes self-proclaimed motorcycle parking in school parking lot
Prashasti
I am Overheard at East
delicious
seductively drinking chocolate milk
Haley Schultz
Annoying
Kayla Schorr probes the numerous pages in the everlasting dictionary
Jacob Borowsky
I took three pieces of pizza at my first Layout Day when I was only allowed to have two
a caring community of scholars
dancing to the Mama Mia soundtrack
Molly Schultz
Fine
Girl is found eating cookies in B-wing bathroom
Geir Ness
I ripped my pants on the first Layout Day
a magical place with magical charm
playing dodgeball
Jordan Stein
Finna awesome
Seeing double
Rachel Pacitti
I am still lost on how to use InDesign
full of editors monkeying around
I don’t trust Eric
Eric Thompson
Pro-Colorer
Photo guru snapped once too many
Monkey #324
I only went to Layout Day for the food
the farthest point from anywhere in the school
selfie style
Ali Wooten
Fabulous
Spy cam; Eric knows all
Helena Sirken
I still don’t know AP Writing Style
Planet of the Apes
coloring during class
Name
Kayla Schorr
Photo
a room full of hidden cameras and for the rest of my shady video life, yes Eric, that is editors who place an invite the cameras
Eastside’s senior editors answer questions to reflect upon their time at East and with Headshots by Jordan Stein (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor and Kaylin Magosin (‘14)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief Eastside.
Page J
SENIORS ‘14 EASTSIDE
June 2014
Senior Eastside Perspectives 2014 Eastside’s senior editors-in-chief and managing editor reflect on their time with Eastside
Thomas Hudson/ Eastside Managing Editor Every day I come to school and wish that I could just go to F087 to work on Eastside or to even just have a conversation with Gagz. If someone in unable to find me, it’s because I am at a Habitat Board meeting in the Library or in the Eastside room. It’s not that I don’t enjoy school…I just overly enjoy my after-school activities in which I hold leadership positions. As a freshman, I had Gagz for English and he is easily the best teacher I’ve ever had in the Cherry Hill Schools. Not only did he teach us with his own unique methods, he inspired us to work to our fullest capabilities. He personally encouraged me to join Eastside. I didn’t really know what the newspaper was all about, so I just began completing simple photo assignments because I am not much of a writer. During my sophomore year, I took Journalism I, which I regret not taking as a freshman, while working as the technology director of Eastside. It was a struggle for me not being in Journalism II with all of the other editors, so I constantly felt out of the loop. I had to get out of Algebra II in order to come to special events in Journalism II. These range from the annual white elephant that we all participate in to the occasional piñata event. Being a part of Eastside has helped me become extremely involved within the school. Since I was a part of the newspaper, I always knew when events were occurring. I was constantly connected and it was truly the best experience and probably the only way to fully immerse myself at East. I have been honored to serve as managing editor this past year and have had the blessing to work with some of the smartest and most creative people that I know. The friends that I have met through Eastside will be my lifelong friends and I will miss them immensely while I am in college. Gagz is the most influential person that I have ever met in my entire life and I aspire to be like him in my future. Every teacher at this school should try to learn something from him. Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Kaylin Magosin/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief
Alison Wooten (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
When I started my career at East, I had not the slightest idea of what to expect. I enrolled in Journalism I as a freshman since I knew I wanted to join Eastside to some extent. Going to F087 each morning, fourth period, for the class, was something I looked forward to—and I quickly fell in love with Eastside. I remember sitting at my first writers meeting, listening to the editors standing in the front of the room, describing their story ideas, and thinking, “I want to do that some day.” Now, four years later, not only have I had the opportunity to write stories and be a section editor, but also I have had the privilege of leading Eastside every day as editor-in-chief. At the beginning of this year, when several people called my name at once, asking for help, I immediately realized the responsibility and privilege that had been given to me. Leading individuals with different talents, diverse cultural backgrounds and varying life experiences makes my tenure as editor-in-chief extremely rewarding. Over the past four years, I’ve learned just as much from being a part of Eastside as I did in academic classes, especially in areas such as communication, delegation and how to operate an entire organization, from start to finish. Eastside is a community, not where we compete against one another, but support each other and work towards a common goal. The down-to-earth, friendly ambiance among Eastside editors makes for both a productive and fun experience. I am extremely blessed to have a group of peers whose standard of excellence resonates with mine. Some of my favorite aspects of Eastside that illustrate the camaraderie I experience, and which will remain my fondest Eastside memories, include eating lunch on the couch in F087, running Dodgeball, playing Mafia and riding the Boston T, partaking in witty email conversations and group texts, Layout Days with their plethora of food, and finally, standing at the school entrances for forty-five minutes before school starts, often in frigid conditions, adorned in Eastside T-shirts, to hand out new issues while comically enduring ink-stained hands. Thank you, Eastside; thank you, both former and current editors; and of course, thank you, Gagz, for giving me this opportunity that made my high school career so special, where without it, I would have missed out on so much.
Kayla Schorr/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief Quite reluctantly, I sit here now, writing what seem to be my last words in Eastside: my epilogue. I was the only sophomore editor on the 2011-2012 Eastside Editorial Board. At the beginning of my infantile year as an editor, I browsed F087 constantly to find someone who did not necessarily exude brilliance, did not promulgate his or her personal political views, or simply did not use vocabulary I didn’t know. I must admit, I did not feel worth it. I felt out of place in a swarm full of virtuosos. I shortly realized that although we were all different, with conflicting views on controversial topics, distinguished skill sets and even differentiating opinions on music taste, we all shared one passion: writing. Eastside truly is an environment carved for ear-pencil enthusiasts, nerds who keep notebooks next to their beds and grammar aficionados (cough, cough). We are all united by our passion for stories. I think I speak on behalf of every past, current and future Eastsider when I say that sitting down with a notepad, pencil, voice-recording device and an interesting and fervent interviewee is one of the most comforting and familiar feelings. I am simply drawn toward words and people’s stories. I have grown a knowing affinity for telling these stories both creatively and journalistically. The words turn into documents, documents turn into text boxes, text boxes turn into pages, and pages turn into fractions of our acclaimed publication that I will miss unconditionally. In the room of many temperatures, the pants-ripping nation, the broken stool warehouse that is F087, I have not only become confident in my love and ability to write, but I have solidified life tools that are not found in many other facets of East. I have clearly learned to develop detail, speak to people and edit stories. However, I have also learned how to be a professional friend, a non-withstanding businessperson, a teamworker and a leader. So thank you. Thank you to every Eastside Editorial Board member who accepted my constant grammar corrections and welcomed me not just as a colleague, but as a friend. Thank you to every person I have interviewed, for telling me your stories. Thank you to Gagz, for all the advice, education, laughs, funny texts, food, emoji pictures, white elephant gifts, ideas, dedication and positive outlook. You have a way of relating to students, a way of explaining things and a way of motivating students to understand concepts that no teacher could even try to match. With that, 30 (or #).
Jordan Stein (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
SENIORS ‘14
June 2014
EASTSIDE
Page K
2013-2014: A Year in Review
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East Si lison Wooten (‘14 House 2ngers perform )/ Eastside Photo E dit 014. during Coffee or
t the rally to suppor en m ry nt ou C t Eas Bulletin Board photo by Kaylin Magosin (‘14)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief playoffs. Cougars in the Thumbtack art by Rachel Pacitti (‘15)/ Eastside Art Director
Eastside by the #s # of times Thomas set up spy cameras: 9 # of pants ripped on the same day in F087: 3 # of times Meghna called Gagz “dad”: 2 # of times everyone else called Gagz “dad” as a result of Meghna’s mistake: 98 # of computers with annoying buzzing noises in F087: 5 # of Blue Pizzas Eastside has collectively consumed: 2 # of knives Nick stole from the cafeteria: 1 # of times Abe smirked at David across the room and David smirked back: 87,943,962 # of selfies taken in F087: 519 # of messages sent in group text at National Journalism Convention in Boston: 3,769 # of Boston text groups created by Bogdan: 7 # of Eastside editors who thought the above was a good idea: 0 # of Mafia games played in Boston hotel: 58 # of times Andres was in the mafia and didn’t know it: 4 # of T’s we missed in Boston because of crowding issues: 14 # of emoji arts that Gagz made and sent in a group text: 12
2013-2014
# of Eastside editors with S’well bottles: 8 # of Eastside editors affected by frostbite during Distribution Day: 31 # of hot chocolates Thomas never shared on Distribution Day: 7 # of times Gilana showed up to Journalism II: 2.3 # of Starbucks products “Jeghna” collectively consumed in Boston: 29 # of times our swag kept us up at night: 182 # of flags missing for the Eastside Olympics: 1 # of Eastside stories concerning libraries: 4 # of Eastside editors without iPhones: 4 # of Eastside Facebook likes: 2,722 # of EastsideOnline Twitter followers: 1,120 # of emails sent in Yahoo Group: 1,394 # of EastsideOnline YouTube channel views this year: 54,378 # of minutes of video watched on EastsideOnline YouTube channel: 123,523 # of stories read on Eastside Online: 53,938 Amount of money made at Eastside Chipotle Night: $1,360 # of monkeys in F087: 27
SENIORS ‘14
Page L
EASTSIDE
June 2014
Class of 2014 college decisions Congrats to the Class of 2014! This list was compiled based on posts in our Facebook college decisions group. American University Max Faye Justin Rosen
Hailey Pipersburgh Jazz Sullivan Alison Wooten
Arcadia University Courtney Capehart Megan Kotzen
Elizabethtown College Danielle Spinosi
Arizona State University Michael Cerota Takeyon Gibbs
Fairleigh Dickinson University Josh Bonner Chelsea Rosario
University of the Arts Julie Fox
Fashion Institute of Technology Jami Lapinson Morgan Lund
Art Institute of Philadelphia Shayna Grinsberg
Felician College Zack DiAmore
Baruch College Jake Rudin
University of Florida Rachel Winigrad
Baylor University Johnelle Galimore
Florida State University Azlan Cobb David Linsky
Bloomsburg University K. Li DuBois Boston University Sarah Sosland Brandeis University Zach Kasdin Mira Pomerantz Bryn Mawr College Victoria Alonso Burlington County College Theresa Johnson University of California, Santa Cruz Tess Holtzman Camden County College Natalie Alfano Levon Bigelow Bianca Gonzalez Dwight Marrow Patrece Mason Ebony Thorpe Mike Trongone Nick Yannone
Concordia University Isabelle Boisvert Connect Academy Kim Fritz Jake Horner University of Connecticut Benjamin Breslau University of Delaware Hayley Aaronson Maddy Berman Sierra Doolin Sara Downie Zach Friedman Dickinson College Chloe Goldstein Drexel University Jordan Gilber Liza Levi Zachary Mindel Jordan Parent Jordan Stein Renee Timmins Katie Stagner Ludwig van Gabriel John Warkala Greg Waxman Jared Wright Tiffany Wu Amy Zhang Duquesne University Monika Klimek East Carolina University Brianna Strouse Eastern University Vanessa Bell Thea Camba
Millersville University Rachel Moskowitz Misericordia University Maria Timuscuk
Monmouth University Tommy Chung Ben Dillon
George Washington University Talia Balakirsky Shane Haar Paula Zanotti Georgetown University Sagar Desai Georgia Tech Nikhil Shukla Grinnell College Andi Leff Haverford College Amanda Friedman Hawaii Pacific University Safiyah Said Hofstra University Ilana Schwartzberg
Immaculata University Nicole Taylor
University of Colorado, Boulder Samantha Elkan
University of Michigan Dan Berkowitz Andrew Cohen Sabrina Deutsch Zoe Schlessel
George Mason University Michael Borinski
College of Charleston Cameron Butts Billy Spitzer
Clemson University Dänte Watkins
University of Miami David Nahum Nicole Rotkovitz
Missouri State University Cianni Cepero
University of Houston Kierra Pineda
Clark University Alex Grayson
Messiah College Sarah Woods
Fordham University Dillon Rebock
Centenary College Julia Presant
University of Cincinnati Tyler Haaz
Ryan Berlin Adam Bienstock Katie Harris Kayla Schorr Andrew Shapiro
Indiana University Michael Blatt Marvin Kim Gianna Palma Matthew Segal Indiana University of Pennsylvania Jason Fabi Brett Vincoff Israeli Defense Forces Amit Alboher Ran Chetrit Johns Hopkins University Daphna Varadi Johnson and Wales University Jamie Simon Kean University Leah Mashioff Lafayette College Jena Salem LaSalle University Natalie Simunek Mollie Taylor Jordyn Tobolsky Lehigh University Jared Dashevsky Evan Klein List College (Columbia University) Elisabeth Siegel Lycoming College Nevin Shanker University of Massachusetts, Amherst Jamie Heier Rachel Odland Massachusetts Institute of Technology Conrad Kramer University of Maine Lindsay Sky University of Maryland Olivia Altman
Montclair State University Brooke Beatty Amanda Lewis Jake Ruttenberg Megan Thompson Mount Holyoke College Katie Carlson Samantha Kell Muhlenberg College Shari Bodofsky Sarah Evenosky Noah Hinrichs Seth Krivchenia Austin Wetzler Aaron Zucker University of New Hampshire Audrey Zhao The College of New Jersey Rachel Adap Jeremy Chopp Thomas Hudson Marta Lawler Gabriela Lopez Meghan Sooy Andrew Vitale New York University Marissa Adler Divakar Goudra Max Hoffman Sarah Kahn Jacky Lu University of North Florida Zachary Hamm Northeastern University Dana Chafetz Maya Mintz University of Notre Dame Liam Mahoney Caroline Sawn Nova Southeastern University Alyssa DiSanti Oberlin College Griffin Hogrogian The Ohio State University Matt Buono Greg Incollingo Matt Tepper Old Dominion University Chelsea Campbell University of Pennsylvania Eric Babitz Christian Butts Kathy Zhang Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Maura Roncace Pennsylvania State University Mark Bacolod Cheyanna Baker Samantha Dunoff Therapon Georgiou Abe Granoff Gal Nechemia Bobby Zografos Philadelphia University Max Bliss Izzy Rodriguez
University of Pittsburgh Hunter Carey Jordan Gomer Abby Hoffman Lydia Huber Kaylin Magosin Rachel Weaver
University of the Sciences Gabby Hummel Erica Kalinowski-Baker Daniel Kim Jordan Lee Alyssa Osnayo-Grife Dean Sosa
Princeton University Jenny Silver
Seton Hall University Dana Gordon Jency Joji Harleen Kaur
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Matthew Buchberg Jon Harris The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Dustin Nufable Molly Schultz Rider University Aaron Abrams Rachel Vetesi University of Rochester Anastasia Bowes Rochester Institute of Technology Haley Schultz Rosemont College Nabiha Khan Rowan University Genesis Almonte Kyle Beauchemin Evan Brody Marina Ceneviva Lola Cezair Griffen Colton Sri Datla Jordan Friedman Tyler Gamble Joseph Girone Arizona Green Harrison Hones Dillon Impagliazzo Frank Kelly Arisa Komatsu Casey Kuczykowski Mason Kramer Nikki LaPorta Peter Lewis Rachel Manyin Naj Niaz Mike O’Shaughnessy Mike Pierce Rachel Rivera Jerry Roomberg Frankie Rossetti Ben Schwartz Tommy Smierciak Kyle Smith Viren Soni Christina Stanley Ben Thomson Jennifer Truong Jennifer Tyszka Ziyi Wang Brian Wichrowski Hallie Wilmes
Simmons College Shelby Goodwin University of South Florida Leah Annarelli Stetson University Taylor Patrizi Stevenson University Jacob Russ SUNY Brockport Erica Atkin SUNY Purchase Jordan Schmidt Swarthmore College Jenny Gao Lydia George Syracuse University Leah Singer University of Tampa Melissa Minkoff Temple University Molly Apple Ben Borokhovsky Alyson Nothnagel Fatih Safak Matthew Shralow Brandon Weinberg Max Yankowitz Towson University Sidney Heier Ariel Kamen Matthew Lever Caroline Stamm Jackie Tighue Evan Weiser Tulane University Ross Peterzell Jordyn Saviet Miriam Teller Ursinus College Maureen Carroll Valencia Community College Justin Moulic Villanova University Kim Cardenas
Rutgers University, Camden Harshleen Chawla Kristen Hearn Sam Lyons Ryan Silva
University of Virginia Sarah Stagner
Rutgers University, New Brunswick Jimmy Burke Simon Chen Weslie Chiu Romell Corpuz Rachel Ehrenberg Lawrence Feng Temuulen Gansukh Matt Grazioli Ian Griffiths Monica Handley Grace Hwang Alex Laird Vy Le Gilana Levavi Rebecca Padersky Dip Patel Dylan Pogust Hadia Qazi Ryan Silva Lauren Stout Mahir Sufian Adam Syarief Jeremy Welsch Helen Xia Eric Zucker
West Chester University Allie Belz Adam Bergen TJ Bourne Sophia Goldman Meaghan Quay Sydney Treiman Rachel Veytsman
Saint Joseph’s University Jessica Filippone Katie O’Brien Eric Thompson Alisa Verratti Saint Peter’s University Nick Ciocco Savannah College of Art and Design
Nicholas Heinze
Virginia Tech Aaron Chung
West Virginia University Nethania Andre Ethan Weidenfeld Westminster Choir College Sarah Furnari Widener University Alexa Ahramjian Jessica Brenner Williams College Sumun Iyer Wilkes University Sarah Birchmeier Patrick Swenson University of Wisconsin Evan Bloom York College of Pennsylvania Megan Martin Michelle Sachais Youth with a Mission Rebekah Warfel
June 2014
COMICS EASTSIDE
Page 19
The Yearbook Decoded by Rachel Pacitti (‘15)/ Eastside Art Director
What the Dickens? by Lanxi Li (‘16)/ Eastside Humor Editor
Seniors Pull Lamest Senior Prank Ever by Haley Schultz (‘14)/ Eastside News/Features Editor
Page 20
ENTERTAINMENT EASTSIDE
June 2014
“Made in America” festival gains popularity
nia, which will include performers such as John Mayer, Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar. The festival attracts many students from Cherry Hill East, including Katie O’Brien (’14). To Americans, Labor Day Weekend is best In O’Brien’s opinion, “Imagine Dragons was by known as a time to kick back, relax and celebrate far the best part of day one… The set was incredthe American labor movement and the achieveible and it was the perfect time of day.” ment of workers. Jackie Tighue (’14) also enjoyed the For a select few, though, Labor Day WeekImagine Dragons set, but the most end brings the annual “Made in America” magical moment of all? When festival, an event founded in 2012 by Beyoncé lit up the stage and American rapper, record producer claimed the Bejamin Frankand business mogul, Jay Z, and his lin Parkway as her kingbusiness associate, Steve Stoute. dom. Together, the duo created an un“Beyoncé was a whole forgettable two-day-long event different story because that combines both music and she’s a queen and culture in an urban setting put on the best show that attracts music fanatics ever,” Tighue said. from all over the area. “Her performance The initial event was held made me feel like I on September 1-2, 2012, was at one of her onat the Benjamin Franklin tour shows and [it] Parkway in Philadelphia. was unbelievable.” The festival features three Overall, Katie Harstages of live music: Rocky ris (’14) recommends Stage, Liberty Stage and Free“Made in America” dom Tent. because “even if you The genres of music range don’t go to concerts offrom Hip Hop and Indie Rock to ten, the people, the music EDM, R&B, Pop and Latin. Aside and the experience are all from the musical aspect, the festival great, as long as you don’t mind also features an array of vendors, food crowds!” trucks, carnival games and more. Fans should expect to see more of In 2012 and 2013, the “Made in America” festheir favorite performers at this upcomtival had solid lineups of A-list performers ready ing event. Be sure to check out the third anto sing to thousands of people. This nual headlining festival, held year’s lineup will showcase popular on Saturday, August 30, to Courtesy of Jackie Tighue (‘14) performers including Kanye West, Sunday, August 31, this year Kings of Leon and Pharrell. Phila- “Made in America” in Philadelphia in Summer 2013 hosted a wide variety of in Philadelphia and in Los delphia is expected to host exciting A-list performers. Angeles. ■ By Abby Hoffman (‘14)
Eastside Entertainment Editor
audiences for the third time. However, this year, the musical festival will not only take place in Philadelphia, but will also take on a new location in Los Angeles, Califor-
Beyoncé and Jay Z prepare to hit the road
tion of songs to be performed has yet to be announced. Hip-hop’s royal couple has announced they will be stopping in at least thirteen different American cities. The power couple’s reps leaked Beyoncé and Jay Z are preparing to once that they will be putting on shows in cities yet again hit the road this summer across the to be announced, including New York City’s United States and Canada on their “On the Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles’s Run Tour.” This is the first joint concert for the Staples Center. couple and is one of the most highly anticipated Though the tickets for their collaborative event of the year. Following this past year’s tour are priced higher than each of their solo concerts, “Mrs. Carter World Tour” and “Magna tours, Mr. and Mrs. Carter will donate a dollar Carta World Tour,” the collaborative duo that for every ticket sold from the sale to support is Beyoncé and Jay Z is expected to return to the Shawn Carter Foundation, which helps the stage together. groups that would otherwise be unable to go to Launching her career in the 1990s girl group college. Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé has since been adAlthough Jay Z and Beyoncé will sadly not be mired by millions of fans throughout the world. Courtesy of www.stereogum.com performing at this year’s Philadelphia’s “Made Whether lip-syncing to “Crazy in Love” or perin America” annual festival, they will certainly forming the legendary “Single Ladies” dance, Jay Z and Beyoncé will tour together this summer not disappoint on their “On the Run Tour.” Befans groove to all of the distinctive tunes Be- on their “On the Run Tour.” yoncé and Jay Z will perform Saturday, July yoncé has to offer. 5, at Citizens Bank Park with tickets ranging Dropping her most recent album, Beyoncé, reinforces her status as the queen of music. In, from $57 to $285. For Jay Z and Beyoncé fans evon December 13, Beyoncé’s music continues to “***Flawless,” Beyoncé introduces Chimamanda erywhere, this tour is sure to not disappoint. develop into an innovative sound, which only Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian writer who recites her speech, “We Should All be Feminists,” throughout the hip-hop-inspired song. This empowering, feminist song demonstrates the power that is Beyoncé, while “Blue” presents Beyoncé as a softer and compassionate performer, which fans usually do not hear. Beyoncé offers a range of different beats throughout her album, ensuring that each song is worthy to listen to. Meanwhile, Jay Z’s rap influence continues to spread throughout the world with his albums, including the Magna Carta Holy Grail album released in 2013 and his The Blueprint 3 in 2009. His rebellious and forceful edge encourages his listeners to strive for success, yet still maintain a hipster status in his song, “Picasso Baby.” Starting on June 25 and concluding on August 5, “On the Run Tour” will have performances similar to the “Drunk in Love” opening act at the Grammy’s this past year. The duo has a total of ten songs together, including, “’03 Bonnie and Clyde,” “Upgrade U” and “Tom Ford.” Although they are duets, each song depicts the individuality of Beyoncé and Jay Z. The mix of her R&B and pop sounds and his hiphop rhythm creates daring art that must be replayed over and over again. Her good-girl image and his bad-boy persona make distinctive music for all fans to enjoy. The concert is expected to be centered around Beyoncé’s new album, Beyoncé, but concert-goers should expect Jay Z to perform his greatest hits Courtesy of Grace Rosenblatt (‘15) Courtesy of Grace Rosenblatt (‘15) as well. Rumors have begun to circulate the inBeyoncé lights up the stage. Beyoncé shines on stage. ternet of possible setlists, but a definite selec■ By Dani Roth (‘15)
Eastside Entertainment Editor
UNDERGROUND
June 2014
EASTSIDE
Page 21
Music festivals to check out during summer 2014 Mad Decent Block Party
Where: Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, PA When: Friday, August 8 Who: Chance the Rapper, Dillon Francis, Diplo, Dirty South Joe, DJ Sega, Flosstradamus, Swizzymack What: Mad Decent Block Party is an annual, all-day electric music festival featuring 50 music groups in total performing their electric-style music throughout the whole day. The festival travels around America from coast to coast, each location featuring a different lineup. The one-stage setup only allows for one music group to perform at a time so audiences can catch all the shows. This year, Mad Decent will be held at its new, larger location to accommodate more viewers. Open to all ages, tickets are available for purchase now at 40 dollars each. Brielle Clearfield (‘15)/ Eastside Radio Manager
The Peach Music Festival
Where: Montage Mountain, Scranton, PA When: Thursday-Sunday, August 14-17 Who: Bob Weir & Rat Dog, The Human Brothers Band, Trey Anastasio Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Gov’t Mule What: The Peach Music Festival is a four-day, three-night music festival taking place in northeastern Pennsylvania. Peach Music Festival has been around for a few years now and is continuing its traditions of multiple bands performing on multiple stages, camping out and performing at a location that doubles as a water park. Partiers can choose to camp out overnight during the festival at its location. Tickets are pricey at 129 dollars for a four-day pass with several upgrades available. Courtesy of thepeachmusicfestival.com
Electric Adventure
Where: Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ When: Sunday, August 3 Who: TBA What: Electric Adventure is an EDM Music Festival at Six Flags Great Adventure and other Six Flags locations around America. Because it takes place at an amusement park, attendees can alternate between music, rides, water parks, food and other types of fun. This year’s lineup has yet to be announced, but perhaps it will be similar to last year’s, which included artists Destroid and Excision. Tickets are not yet available for purchase, but they should be announced soon. All stories by Rebecca Cohen (‘15) and Bogdan Vitoc (‘16)/ Eastside Underground Editors
Brielle Clearfield (‘15)/ Eastside Radio Manager
Annual music festival started by East graduates continues for third year
at the site. This makes for a good community of people who can spend a lot of time together while having a good time. The origin of Beardfest starts with Savo’s band, Out of the Beardfest. When Music festivals prove to be a hot spot for teens their parents would go away for the to spend summer days, but before spending tons weekend, the band would throw parties of money on huge events such as Warped Tour, at their empty houses and play music for check out Beardfest: a three-day alternative mutheir friends. After a few parties, they sic festival in Hammonton, NJ, started by East were caught, but eventually got their graduate, Jeremy Savo (‘09). parents to help them organize something Beardfest encompasses not only music, but more. Beardfest, according to Savo, is other forms of art as well, as it incorporates sus“a giant party with a whole bunch of tainability and community. The event takes bands.” place on a 400-acre stretch of land much like a Three years ago, the first Beardfest forest, which makes it a “naturey experience,” took place in a backyard of a friend. Savo said Savo. said that this year is technically the sec“There is also a stream that people can swim ond year of the event since they “didn’t in,” Savo said. take the first year seriously.” There are one-day or three-day options for The second year, Savo and his bandtickets. It is encouraged to buy the full three-day mates who started Beardfest added more pass to get the full experience, since it is not only than music to the event, including worka daily fest, but the audience camps out overnight s h o p s and the camping Courtesy of Caren Savo aspect. They had A Beardfest artist performs at Beardfest 2013. a turnout of also live artists at the event. Huge easels are set about 400 people up around the stages and artists will be improviswho had a lot of ing, or on-the-spot creating, paintings and other fun “and learned art, and painting while the music is happening. a lot from the In addition, there will be circus and fire spinning workshops,” said performances. Savo. The final aspect of Beardfest is the workshops. Because of last This year, the fest will be offering workshops year’s success, ranging from how to build a guitar to Activism the group decided 101 to how to build an Earth Ship to how to grow to take the fest to your own food. Also available are yoga classes the next level. for anyone who is interested. There is seriously This year, something for everyone at this fest, as it offers a Beardfest inwide range of entertainment options. cludes 14 bands, The event will take place this year from Frithree of which day, June 13, to Sunday, June 15. You can buy tour nationally. tickets on the Beardfest website and tickets are The remainders on sale now. A full pass is $40, while a one-day are local or repass ranges from $25-$30, so it is clear that the gional bands; the three-day pass is the better deal. The three-day majority of these pass also includes camping out for the two nights bands are local at the site where Beardfest festival takes place. Courtesy of Caren Savo bands trying to For more information about the festival, includget their names ing specifics about workshops and bands performAn example of a Beardfest workshop from Beardfest 2013. out. There are ing, and to buy tickets, visit beardfest.net. ■ By Rebecca Cohen (‘15)
Eastside Underground Editor
HUMOR
Page 22
EASTSIDE
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Joe Sh
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John Smith
June 2014
Colonial Prep Class of 1814
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Daisy Jacobs
Most Likely to be Painted Like a French Girl
Thomas Johnson
Senior Perspectives
■ By Johnny Appleweed (‘14)
For Eastside
In my four years here at Colonial Prep, I have learned more than I ever would have if I went the way of my father and entered the War of 1812. In four years here, I have established the Colonial Prep Banking Club and Ye Olde School Shoppe. I have exposed myself to many different cultures, attending sessions for the Women’s Suffrage Club and more. I am thankful for all that this school has given me. Story actually written by Jacob Borowsky (‘16)/ Eastside Sports Editor
■ By Jebodiah Jones (‘14)
■ By Mary Putman (‘14)
Eastside Staff
O, what an amazing four years. Because my father is a wealthy landlord, I have no obligation to work in the fields. Fortunately, my Physical Education teacher, Monsieur Schames, has taught me horseback riding, an art which I will undoubtedly practice throughout the summer. As the president of Colonial Prep’s first-ever Horseback Riding Club, I have even shared my passion for horseback riding with the youth of the school. The wealthier youth, that is.
Eastside Staff
I will remember my experience at Colonial Prep for my entire life, which will hopefully last for 30 years if I don’t die of complications from childbirth. Because of this institution, I have laughed, cried and met the love of my life. I have learned the secrets to being the only girl in a class of 20 or more boys. These secrets I will carry on at Harvard University while studying Women’s Suffrage. Thank you, Colonial Prep.
Story actually written by Molly Schultz (‘14) and Lanxi Li (‘16)/ Eastside Humor Editors
Story actually written by Molly Schultz (‘14) and Lanxi Li (‘16)/ Eastside Humor Editors
Ma
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Most Likely to Discover a New Colony
Lewis Clark Best Wooden Teeth
George Schwashington Most Likely Marry Their C to ousin
Sally and Sybil Jones
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Compass, saloon, books and locket art by Haley Schultz (‘14)/ Eastside News/Features Editor Faces inside books art by Lanxi Li (‘16)/ Eastside Humor Editor Superlative photos by Molly Schultz (‘14)/ Eastside Humor Editor
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June 2014
SPORTS EASTSIDE
Eastside’s Coaches of the Year
Boys: Coach David Allen ■ By Jacob Borowsky (‘16) Eastside Sports Editor
Jacob Borowsky: What does Coach of the Year mean to you? Coach David Allen: I have a simple philosophy: you win Player of the Year or 1st team All-Conference based on your ability. You win an award like Coach of the Year based on your players’ ability. This award means more positive publicity for the basketball team, for the school and for the community. That’s what I represent. JB: How did your players respond to your coaching style this year? DA: All of the coaches, we try to empower players and make them leaders. They like it. I’m not a dictator, I’m not the boss. We’re all partners in this journey. We work together and we’re truly a team. I’m just a part of a team. JB: How did you prepare the team to win this season? DA: I just did the same things we always do. We try to prepare by
practicing a certain way, focusing on the fundamentals necessary for us to be successful. We scout, we go over our pre-game and scouting report, and we try to prepare for what every team is going to do over the course of each game. JB: Did you expect the team to make it this far? DA: I don’t know. When you get to the tournament, your basketball season is just one game. You never know how you’re going to play over the course of one game. I knew we were capable of doing it, but I never had any expectations or knew anything. Shots go in, shots go out – that’s basketball. JB: What are your plans for the future? DA: I hope to coach as long as they’ll have me. I’m very fortunate — I’ve said this before, but I’m just filled with humility and gratitude. I’ve got an opportunity to coach great kids in a great school with great families. Not everyone has the opportunity to coach at a school with great academics, a great basketball team and a great community. I went to school here – that’s just the icing on the cake.
Courtesy of David Allen
Coach Allen hugs Jake Silpe (‘15) after the win against Cherokee.
Page 23
Girls: Coach Anita Ricci-Bowser team this season to win?
■ By Marlee Zietz (‘16) Eastside Sports Editor
Marlee Zeitz: What does Coach of the Year mean to you? Coach Anita Boswer: Being selected Coach of the Year is an overwhelming honor to me. I am so taken back. To be selected as Coach of the Year, it means I am doing something right. I work hard at my job and want what’s best for my athletes. I love these girls and I have made so many lasting friendships. My swimmers deserve this recognition as well. It’s only because of their hard work, I am receiving this honor. MZ: How did your players respond to your coaching style this year? AB: I have high expectations for all of my swimmers. I want them to be successful in all they do, no matter what it is. I have a great rapport with them. I always make sure I praise them on all of their accomplishments. They responded very well to me and my style this year. MZ: How did you prepare the
AB: We have practice four days a week and the club swimmers practice five to seven days a week. They know how competitive swimming is in South Jersey, so they know they need to work extra hard to be successful and competitive. I always say in the beginning of the year, our ultimate goal is to win a state championship since we’re not there yet, but we have won two sectional titles and two division titles. MZ: Did you expect them to make it this far? AB: Although the girls swam their best at every meet, we would have liked to gone further in the playoffs. Every meet or practice, the girls stayed positive and swam to their fullest potential. The girls always had a positive attitude and great outlook going into every meet, which helped them stay confident throughout the season. MZ: What are your plans for the future? AB: My plans are to continue on this legacy of dynamic swimming and eventually win a state championship.
Courtesy of Anita Ricci-Bowser
Coach Ricci-Bowser hugs a swimmer after a victory.
Cherry Hill East senior athletes moving on to the collegiate level Baseball
Soccer
Mike Brambilla: Monmouth University Nick Ciocco: Saint Peter’s University Nick DiEva: Stony Brook University Jordan Friedman: Rowan University Jordan Lee: University of the Sciences
Brooke Beatty: Montclair State University Jake Russ: Stevenson University
Basketball Phil Cuhna: Wilson College Julia Present: Centenary College Tommy Smierciak: Rowan University Austin Wetzler: Muhlenberg College
Softball Sarah Birchmeier: Wilkes University Andi Leff: Grinnell College Megan Martin: York College of Pennsylvania Michelle Sachais: York College of Pennsylvania
Swimming
Nicole Rotkovitz: University of Miami Greg Waxman: Drexel University Audrey Zhao: University of New Hampshire
Alyssa DiSanti: Nova Southeastern University Arizona Green: Rowan University Marta Lawler: The College of New Jersey Jerry Roomberg: Rowan University Natalie Simunek: La Salle University Sarah Woods: Messiah College
Gymnastics
Track and Field
Erica Atkin: SUNY Brockport
Steve Benigno: University of Connecticut Maddy Berman: University of Delaware Ben Dillon: Monmouth University Joseph Girone: Rowan University Christina Stanley: Rowan University Aaron Zucker: Muhlenberg College
Crew
Ice Hockey Viren Soni: Rowan University
Lacrosse Courtney Capehart: Arcadia University Taylor Patrizi: Stetson University Megan Thompson: Montclair State University *All college commitments were provided by individual athletes.
Volleyball Jake Rudin: Baruch College Nicole Taylor: Immaculata University
Wrestling Pat Swenson: Wilkes University
June 2014
SPORTS EASTSIDE
Eastside’s Athletes of the Year Boys Steve Benigno (‘14)
Page 24
Interviews by Nick Ciocco (‘14)/ Eastside Sports Editor Photos by Jordan Stein (‘14)/ Eastside Photo Editor
better because of the competition I will be facing. NC: Did you have any other schools interested in you for javelin?
Nick Ciocco: What does it mean to you to be awarded Eastside’s Male Athlete of the Year? Steve Benigno: Wow, I don’t even know what to say. I am very honored to be awarded this. I have never imagined being named Athlete of the Year out of all the great athletes in our school because our school is full of very great athletes in all grades. So I am just very thankful for getting this award. NC: Why did you choose to continue throwing the javelin next year in college? SB: They [University of Connecticut] gave me a really great opportunity to throw next year. They have brand new facilities, which I’m excited to pratice in next season. Javelin is still an event that I am learning how to do and I am trying to perfect my technique. I wanted to compete at the college level and to do it at the Division I level is even
Honorable Mention
2nd
1st
Steve Benigno (‘14)
Jake Silpe (‘15)
Track & Field -Started throwing junior year Basketball -1st team All-South Jersey -Currently ranked #5 in the US (Courier Post) -Was ranked #1 in the -4th team All-State (NJ country from 4/2/14 to Hoops) 4/11/14 after he threw 209 -2nd team All-State for feet Group IV (Star Ledger) -1st team All-Conference -1st team All-Conference -Placed 2nd at Emerging (American Division) Elite New Balance Nation-Selected as team MVP als (2013) -Coaches’ award winner -44.3% shooting percentage -Ranked third in the conference and sixth at Group -15.4 points-per-game IV States (2013) -7.0 assists-per-game -Undefeated in the javelin -4.7 rebounds-per-game relay -3.0 steals-per-game
3rd
Pat Swenson (‘14) Wrestling -Was a state tournament qualifier -Finished his East career with a prestigious 100 career victories -Posted a 36-4 record this year -2x East captain (2013 & 2014) -2x regional qualifier (2013 & 2014)
NC: Do you know what your intended major is for college? SB: I plan on doing a business major and accounting because I’m good at math. They also just redid their whole Business Department and it’s really nice. NC: What are your goals next year for track? SB: I want to gain some weight and get bigger. If I can place in the top eight in the ACC conference, I will be able to get more scholarship money, which is always a plus. So I have some big goals next year and hopefully I will be able to achieve them.
Ben Dillon (‘14): Cross Country/Track; Aaron Groff (‘16): Cross Country/Track; Jake Russ (‘14): Soccer/Baseball; Nick DiEva (‘14): Baseball; Austin Wetzler (‘14): Basketball; Brandon Stern (‘15): Football/Lacrosse; David Rowe (‘15): Swimming
Girls
Chelsea Campbell (‘14)
Nick Ciocco: What does it mean to you to be named Eastside’s Female Athlete of the Year? Chelsea Campbell: Wow. It’s definitely an honor. It’s really exciting because I feel like all of my hard work has resulted in something that’s super cool. I wasn’t expecting this and I actually didn’t know there was such a thing. I have definitely worked hard in track and volleyball. To be named Athlete of the Year is something great to take with me from my high school experience. I’m very happy.
SB: Well, last year, Lafayette and Rider were very interested in me. They both contacted me after sectionals, but I didn’t really like Lafayette and I didn’t want to go to Rider. This year, after I threw 203 feet, UConn contacted my coach and that was it from there. I was actually going to go to Camden County College next year, but I’m really thankful for being able to attend UConn next year.
2nd
Maddy Berman (‘14)
NC: Will you be playing a sport in college next year?
1st
Chelsea Campbell (‘14) Volleyball -1st team All-South Jersey -Most kills in a single season (199)
my junior year I was named 1st team All-Conference and 1st team All-South Jersey. Just to see my improvement over these four years in volleyball is great. Playing volleyball is one of the best things I could have done and I have no regrets. Also, with track, my siblings were on the Living Legends board, so I wanted to keep that going. I never thought that hurdles would be an event I would participate in, but I ended up breaking both hurdles records. Leaving East I feel like I just want to leave a legacy, and with all of my different accomplishments, I am able to do that.
3rd
CC: Unfortunately no, I will not. I’ve been having a lot of life issues in terms of what I want to do with my future. Unfortunately my school [Old Dominion University] does not have a volley ball or track team, but I will definitely play club volleyball, and who knows maybe track will be in my future.
Natalie Simunek Track & Field NC: If you could pick one mo(‘14) -1st team All-Conference Track & Field ment that stands out the most in cross country (2012 & -Placed 2nd twice at Group to you from playing at East, NC: Looking back on your East 2013) Swimming IV States in the high jump what would it be? athletics career, how do you -1st team All-Conference in (2011 & 2013) -Four-year state qualifier feel you have performed in each 1600 meter (2013 & 2014) -1st team All-Conference -State qualifier in 50-yard CC: One moment? Wow, that’s sport? -5K County Champion in high jump in 2011 and freestyle & 100-yard backhard. Well, for me, getting All -County Champion in the 2013 stroke this year South Jersey for volleyball. It CC: I think over the four years, 3200 meter (2013 & 2014) -1st team All-Conference -Top-16 swimmer in New was so unexpected and I really I’ve definitely improved a lot -Two-time MVP for cross- in 100m and 400m hurdles Jersey had no idea. At the pep rally I in each sport. In volleyball we country, indoor track & -2014 co-captain in 2013 thought I didn’t get it and I was have this board with All-Conferoutdoor track -Three-time girls’ swim -school record-holder of so excited when I got it and I ence players and it was always -2nd in 3200 at Indoor team MVP 100m hurdles at 15.0s was like ‘ahh!’ so that was just my goal to try and get on that Sectional Championships -school record holder of -2nd-team All-South Jersey an amazing experience for me. board. I worked really hard and (2014) in 2013 & 2014 400m hurdles at 1:04.5 Beatty (‘14): Soccer/Lacrosse; Taylor Patrizi (‘14): Field Hockey/Lacrosse; Megan Thompson (‘14): Field Hockey/ LaHonorable Mention Brooke crosse; Zoe Schlessel (‘14): Basketball/Volleyball; Nicole Taylor (‘14): Volleyball; Megan Martin (‘14): Field Hockey/Softball