May 2015

on to the next level two debate students sign letters of intent

Page 2D

The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School 1978 E. 4th Street Pittsburg, KS 66762 Vol. 98, Issue 10 www.boosterredux.com

Friday, May 8, 2015

carving out experience Students attend art competition at Pitt State

evaluating summer break student’s opinion on summer break vs. year round school Page 3D

BLAck OPS III student’s opinion on upcoming call of duty game Page 4D

girls welcome new basketball coach eric flaton fills new position Page 7D

JOURNEY JARAMILLO @journeybutcher

O

n April 10, six students attended an art competition that was a component of the PSU Art Day. The contest theme was based on the vision of a circus and consisted of two parts.

The first part was the 2D art division which included each student having 45 minutes to draw a partner as a circus performer.

The next part was the 3D art division where students had 90 minutes to create a cardboard construction based on the circus theme. In this division, the students from the high school who attended made a 3D landscape of circus grounds.

While at the contest, students were able to tour Porter Hall and view an art exhibit by Ariel Bowman that featured ceramic sculptures of extinct animals in a circus.

Freshman Izzy Lunday was one out of six students that was chosen to attend the competition along with sophomores Dessie Thomas, Trevin Jameson and Alivia Benedict, junior Ailie Foresman and senior David Su. Lunday experienced working with

Molding her clay creation, sophomore Dessie Thomas works on her project in Rebecca Lomsheck’s art class. Thomas was one of seven attendees who participated in Art Day at Pittsburg State University. PHOTO BY MIRANDA MOORE

others and viewing different styles of artwork.

“I had the privilege of working with different people and students. I honestly don’t usually work well with others because I just like working alone,” Lunday said. “I enjoyed it more than I -IZZY thought I would and I loved seeing all the different art pieces.”

Thomas also enjoyed her time at the art show and getting to be

“

involved in each competition and being able to see all of the artwork displayed from by other schools.

“I had a great time at the art show,” Thomas said. “We had to build a circus from cardboard and it was pretty cool. It was kind of fun just seeing all the different things LUNDAY that you can build with it.”

The way that students are chosen for each competition depends on their individual skills.

I hhad the privilege of privil working with different people and students. s.

”

Each school is allowed to bring up to 10 students per competition but the school only brought the six mentioned.

Art teacher Rebecca Lomshek attended the art contest along with the students and she believes that they did a wonderful job at the competition. She hopes that one day the school will be able to host their own art meet. “[If we were to host an art contest here] my purpose would be for our staff and students to experience the visual arts at their best from students in our region,” Lomshek said. “[I think that] the caliber of artwork that [our] high school students are capable of is incredible.”

painting the town with pride Key Club volunteers service to community MEGHAN BAKER & ASHLEY HENDERSON @meghanbaker11

P

ainting an entire house is how four Key Club members spent their day on Saturday, April 25. This event is called Hearts and Hammers.

Hearts and Hammers is a community service project organized by Pittsburg State Professor Jenny McCool. The project involves community members volunteering to improve homes in the community.

Key Club sponsor Lyn Schultze got the idea from a newspaper article in a Morning Sun January issue.

“When I saw the article in the paper, I did research and e-mailed McCool and volunteered Key Club to participate in it,” Schultze said.

Key Club members that

volunteered involved seniors Joseph Mathew, Dustin Simons, David Su and sophomore Sandy Li. The work completed in Hearts and Hammers consisted painting a house for eight hours in one day.

The purpose of this program is to repair people’s homes who are not able to afford to do it themselves.

For Li, being involved in Hearts and Hammers was a beneficial experience. “[The best part of being involved was] the people, everybody was very active and hardworking, they were very fun to talk with,” Li said.

The outcome of the work put in was rewarding for community members along with Key Club members. “[The house] looks as good as new and they were very appreciative of it as well,”

follow us on twitter @PHSstudentPub #phstweetsback

GRAPHIC BY REAGAN RINK

Sophomore Sandy Li applies another coat of paint to the house. Li was one of four students who volunteered for Hearts and Hammers. PHOTO BY DEVON COULTER

Simons said.

This was Key Club’s first time participating in Hearts and Hammers and Mathew believes it was a valuable experience.

“Participating in Hearts and

Hammers was very fulfilling for me because I got to meet the person I was helping and knowing my work made an impact on them is genuinely rewarding for me,” Mathew said.

Hosa qualifies for nationals Seven students prepare for competition in California CORAL VANBECELAERE @cvanbecelaere ealth Occupations Students of America (HOSA) students attended a conference in March where they competed in medical events. Seven students qualified to attend Nationals in Anaheim, Calf. June 24-27.

Qualified students include: Juniors Carla Salas, Suhani Mendpara and Motrina Katil - Community Awareness. Seniors Bill Lackamp and Daniel Munguia - EMT. Sophomores Justin Blythe and Kelcey Fuchs - Forensic Medicine Administration didn’t know whether they would have enough money in the budget to fund the students on their trip.

“Although we placed first, the schools were unsure if they had enough money to let us go to nationals, so after we won we were pretty excited but a bit upset that we might not be able to go,” Mendpara said, “There was this month long

H

period where we were just hoping for the school to say they got money for [the trip].”

HOSA sponsor and Health Science teacher, Jim Foresman attended a board meeting in hopes of getting sponsorship.

“When we found out we were able to go I was ecstatic because I know our chances were slim due to budget cuts,” Lackamp said, “I am very grateful that our administration was [able] to find some room for our trip.”

While at the conference students will get to attend workshops, take tours of healthcare facilities, listen to guest speakers and compete in their event.

“I felt tremendously proud and a sense of accomplishment when my team was presented with the first place medals at state,” Munguia said, “It was my first year that I have been a part of HOSA and I am thankful for the incredible opportunities it has offered me.”

2 NEWS

Friday, May 8, 2015 www.boosterredux.com SECTION D

Debate program sends students to college Uttley, Hawn sign with William Jewell JOSHUA LEE @iAmTheJoshLee our years of witty counter attacks, contentions, and quick rebuttals have paid off for seniors Ethan Hawn and Haley Uttley.

Starting in the fall semester of the 2015 school year, Uttley and Hawn will be attending William Jewell College.

However, having engaged in policy debate for all four years in their high school careers, the two debaters will not only have to tackle their respective academic loads in college, but have also signed on to William Jewell’s debate team.

For Hawn, the decision to pursue debate in college came to him in the middle of his high school experience when he realized that it would play an important part in his academic career.

“I’ve always wished I could go to a big school that is really successful nationally, and I think that Jewell is the place where that becomes a possibility. As of right now, I am going to study political science and international relations, and so debate is just really intrinsically tied to both of those studies,” Hawn said. “As far as I can tell, debate is going to be really closely tied to everything I do on a day-to-day basis and after that, whether I go into graduate school or to law school, debate is probably going to play a pretty significant role in preparing me for either one of those.”

And for Uttley, debating in college became her choice after she found out about William Jewell from a fellow debater and alum, Alex McNay. “I actually found out about [the college] when I was a junior, just talking to Alex McNay, and learning that he had competed against them. So I contacted Kevin Garner, the coach, and he was very encouraging,” Uttley said. “I initially thought that I just wanted to go there because they had a really good debate team, they are nationally ranked, but then I realized that their political science department, which is what I want to do, is actually really good. They have a lot of really great opportunities for any student that does well.”

F

Debate coach Julie Laflen introduces seniors Haley Uttley and Ethan Hawn during their signing ceremony with Willam Jewell College. Uttley and Hawn will be members of WJC’s debate program. PHOTO BY MACY FRASCO

And having been around the students that have done well throughout their academic careers, debate coach Julie Laflen believes that Hawn and Uttley will have no trouble thriving in their college environments at the next level.

“When you put debate into a classroom aspect, you challenge different ways of thinking. Instead of just reading things on the surface, debate teaches you to look beyond what the surface says and really dive into, ‘what does this mean, and how can I use it?’ I think that is what is really going to help [Haley and Ethan] and their other academics in college,” Laflen said.

Uttley attributes her success so far to those who have supported her throughout her high school debate career and will continue to do so during her college debate career.

“I really am so grateful for Mrs. Laflen and the rest of the team for supporting me and helping me reach this point,” Uttley said.

However, this year’s graduating debaters will not leave without making a difference.

By signing on to William Jewell College’s debate team, Uttley and Hawn have sparked what Uttley hopes will be a new trend for those in the debate world.

On April 27, the high school hosted its first ever signing for students planning to debate in college.

“The [William Jewell debate] coach went to the college board and said, ‘hey, our

sports can do signings, why can’t debate do signings?’ and so he set up the first ever signing here at Pittsburg High School.

I think that that’s really great because a lot of people came and saw, which I was not expecting,” Uttley said. “William Jewell’s going to be doing more signings, maybe other colleges will start to do more signings, and I think that that’s great for any activity beyond sports just to show that they can take it out of high school.”

Laflen shares Uttley’s sentiments regarding the awareness and appreciation toward debate with the signings and hopes that the trend continues.

“People who are unfamiliar with debate do not really understand the competitive aspect of it and I just want people to understand that while we are not dribbling a basketball or throwing a football, we are using our words to have to same effect as the rush that you get when you make a touchdown or you score that basketball goal,” Laflen said. “We do the exact same thing when we beat somebody’s argument or we prove the fallacies in what they are saying. We do the exact same thing in debate, it is just that we use our mouths to do it.”

Taking this competitive activity out of high school and into college may be a challenge to some, but Uttley is not concerned about what is waiting for her at the next level.

“I think that William Jewell and our

coaches really are going to do a good job of getting us transitioned into that [college] environment. We are moving in a week earlier than the entire campus to get used to that environment and to train together with the rest of the debate team,” Uttley said.

“I think that a lot of the upperclassmen on the team that I’ve already met are really supportive and want me to do well, so I think I will have a lot of support there.”

Hawn is prepared for debate at the college level as well, as he is already familiar with the people and environments he will be facing next school year.

“Debate will make it feel as though I am not just blindly entering this new atmosphere, because I’ve already met a lot of the people, and I know Haley, who is going to the same place for the same reason,” Hawn said. “I am excited that it feels like I already have relationships established with people to ensure that it will be a good and educational experience.”

With two successful debaters moving on to the next level, Laflen hopes that Uttley and Hawn will thrive in their college debate careers.

“It is really bittersweet. I am going to miss them a lot, but it is so exciting to see them continuing on with their debate careers,” Laflen said. “It is really exciting on all fronts, but it’s time for them to spread their wings and fly as debaters, and I am just excited to see where they go with William Jewell debate.”

Drama performances earn nominations ALLI BADEN @allibaden

Tonight, theater director Greg Shaw will be sitting in the Orpheum Theater in Wichita waiting to hear the announcer declare the winners of the 2015 Jester Awards.

According to mtwichita.org, the Jester Awards is a program that highlights excellence in high school music theater. 43 productions from schools all over Kansas were adjudicated in hopes to be nominated for a Jester Award.

The awards are set up to where school productions are nominated for different categories such as Overall Production, Ensemble/Chorus, and Production Number. From each category, one nominee will be chosen as the winner.

In its first year of participating, the theater department received four nominations. The production of “Loserville” received three of those, including Small Ensemble for the Geeks played by senior Mark Weaver and juniors Derek Brumbaugh, Will Jewett and Jared Wilde, Production Number for “Ticket Outta Loserville” and a Choreography/Staging award

for choreographers and alumni we are just from Pittsburg,” Joy said.

Maggie and Mollie Stephens.

Warring agreed that this “Guys and Dolls” received the fourth nomination in Small opportunity was a stepping Ensemble for “Fugue for stone for the drama department.

“I think it definitely means Tinhorns” sung by Brumbaugh and juniors Hunter Cress and we are moving forward. And hopefully we will get more Jack Warring.

Overall, Shaw was [nominations] in the future impressed with the amount of because those are cool,” Warring said. “I think it is a nominations. great start, most “ W e schools might get fared better one or two, but than almost starting out with 30 other four, I like those schools odds.” as far as Shaw also number of believed the nominations. theater program So, if it is was at a telling us that disadvantage we are one due to the lack of the top of judges in 10 programs attendance to the out of the 40 that were -JACK WARRING shows.

“With being adjudicated, I a new school will take that,” Shaw said. and so far According to sophomore Olivia Joy, receiving these from Wichita, not as many nominations was a huge adjudicators would actually see our show live, all the opportunity.

“I think it says that we have Wichita schools will have 15 a very strong theater program adjudicators at their shows as considering that a lot of the for we, for Guys and Dolls schools being nominated are we had five and for Loserville really big Wichita schools and I think we had three,” Shaw

“

we ar are moving forward. And hopefully we will get more ons] in [nominations] the future. e.

”

said. “ So I am hoping next year we will at least be known as some place that is worth going to see and not a waste of their time. Maybe we will get more adjudicators so that will be nice, but I am really pleased with the nominations and it should be fun.”

Usually, the cast of the shows would be able to attend the awards ceremony, but due to a conflict with Feast and Follies, Shaw will be the only one in attendance. But, Shaw plans on using this first year as experience for future years.

“I will get to see a lot more of what is going on and understand it better so we can do the things necessary to place ourselves at a competitive advantage for future years,” Shaw said.

Shaw realizes that winning a Jester Award is not a guarantee.

“It is still a subjective awards system. It is still someone else’s opinion of it. It does not mean that whoever wins is absolutely the best ever it means that that year they were the ones who got selected and they should be proud of that,” Shaw said.

“But, we should be proud of these nominations whether we win or lose.”

Bishop awarded principal of the year GINA MATHEW @gmmathew13

Principal Jon Bishop won the 2015 Kansas Scholastic Press Association’s Administrator of the Year award.

The honor recognizes secondary-school administrators who have supported the First Amendment and their journalism students.

Journalism adviser Emily Smith broke the news to Bishop through a surprise.

“After learning of his accomplishment, I decided to surprise him,” Smith said. “So, with the help of [Assistant Principal Chris] Garzone, Bishop was told that there was an emergency in my room and he arrived to see a cake and journalism students screaming ‘Congratulations!’”

“After the [surprise], Mrs. Smith told me

what they nominated me for and, fortunately, I won. It’s very humbling,” Bishop said.

According to kspaonline.org, some of the criteria includes supporting the Kansas Student Publications Act, providing adequate and appropriate financial support for student media and understanding the importance of journalism’s place in a complete secondaryschool curriculum.

The recipient must also provide support and encouragement to journalism students and advisers.

“I feel like I support every group at Pittsburg High School, but I’ve always supported [this] group and I respect how [Smith] is able to [get] so many kids involved with this program,” Bishop said.

Smith was also the 2015 recipient of the

Jackie Engel award.

“It’s basically Journalism Teacher of the Year,” Smith said. “I was nominated by a colleague in Wichita, and it’s awarded for ‘demonstrating excellence in publication advising.’”

Both Bishop and Smith accompanied the journalism squad to the KSPA state contest on May 2 in Lawrence, where they were honored at an adviser brunch earlier in the day.

After receiving the award, Bishop said it helped him realize his importance in journalism.

“Sometimes, our teachers and administrators don’t always know what we mean to our students. This was a huge affirmation that I make a difference in the kids’ lives,” Bishop said.

News briefs written by coral vanbecelaere

feast and follies may 8 @ memorial auditorium

Schedule: 6:00 p.m. - alumni supported auction and cocktail reception 7:00 p.m. - gourmet dinner 8:00 p.m. - scholarship presentation “Ticket Outta Loserville” Loserville Cast “Dance With Me” - PHS Dance Team “Little Lion Man” - Men’s Chorus “Set fire to the Rain” - Women’s Chorus “A Day in the Life” - Forensics “Time Worn” - Percussion Ensemble “Bushel & Peck”, “Oldest Established”, “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat” - Guys & Dolls cast

Graduation Sunday, may 17 at 2 p.m.

PHS Gymnasium

Project grad Sunday, may 17 Arrive at 9:30 p.m. and lasts until 2 a.m.

deca Claire Caffrey traveled to Orlando, Fl. to compete at DECA Nationals. “It was seriously the best experience.

There were 18,000 people there all for DECA and the excitement was unreal. I really hope to get DECA out to other people in the community because it’s such an amazing experience,” Caffrey said.

Caffrey competed against 200 international contestants, but never found out her placing due to the fact only the top 10 are called to the stage.

SECTION D

Booster Redux staff and policy Editors-in-Chief Alli Baden Josh Lee Morgan Plank

Managing Editors Molly Graham Miranda Moore Coral VanBeceleare

Design Editors Reagan Rink Kailey Curtis

Copy Editor Megan Munger

Online Editor Kailey Curtis

Staff Katy Brown Maddie Baden Meghan Baker Alivia Benedict Lily Black Morgan Burns Ashley Henderson Ethan Hawn Journey Jaramillo Josh Jarvis Gina Mathew Joseph Mathew Trina Paul Kali Poenitske Ivan Walter Jake Webb Kaylah Wilson Lydia Winters

Adviser Emily Smith

The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School Student Publications 1978 E. 4th St.

PHS Student Publications Department and newspaper class produce The Booster Redux.

Please call us with comments at 620235-3200. The Booster Redux’s purpose is to inform, educate, enlighten and entertain readers fairly and accurately in an open forum.

Opinions expressed in editorials or opinion columns do not necessarily reflect views of all members on the Booster staff.

Digital photos have not been altered to manipulate reality.

Photo illustrations are labeled to reflect any technical alternations.

Anonymity may be given in the following cases: the information is unable to be presented another way, the information warrants anonymity, the source’s privacy and/or reputation requires protection and the source must be protected from damages.

A student or faculty member death during the coverage period will be covered with a short obituary.

The Booster Redux is a member of Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Kansas Scholastic Press and International Quill and Scroll. The Booster Redux encourages letters from students, teachers and community members under 300 words and signed with a valid signature only.

The Booster Redux reserves the right to edit contributions if they are libelous, obscene and for length. Any grammatical errors at the fault of the writer will be printed. Corrections of errors printed at the fault of the Booster staff will appear in the appropriate section of the next issue.

OPINION

www.boosterredux.com Friday, May 8, 2015

3

School time vs summer time Long breaks have lasting effects on learning Ethan Hawn It has been theorized for years that the summer @ethanhawn888 vacation was created to facilitate the agrarian We’re all ready for it, aren’t we? Summer break. economy.

The words sound almost too good to be true. I When the current schedule was created, 85% of mean, after months and months of outlining every students were the children of farmers, and needed chapter in our textbooks, a nice, long break sounds time to work during their family’s surreal. growing season.

Personally, I know I’ll forget a ton of the things Today, however, I learned the year before, but it’s okay, because we only 3% of always review for about a month after we come back. students are That’s an efficient use of time, the children right? of farmers.

So, when you think about it, is it Thus, really a good thing to take such a a long break from school?

According to a study conducted

by Duke University, students that attend school year-round have a leg-up on those that don’t.

Other nations with year round school find themselves much more competitive than the United States in terms of education, even though, schedule created over the course of the year, to work around children working ART BY ALIVIA BENEDICT they spend the same amount of on the family farm is in many time in the classroom. ways obsolete.

Suffice to say, when your breaks last two to three Other studies have stated that the standard weeks, you remember a lot more information than 9-month school year was simply to standardize the when your break lasts two or three months.

American education schedule.

If you’re asking why we maintain this system, you Either way, just because we have done it this way aren’t the first.

for a long time doesn’t mean it is the most effective way.

Although, after having summer break, losing the three-month vacations sounds tragic, many global examples are proving that it may not be best for education.

However, to any and all horrified students thinking they are about to lose their summers, don’t worry: you aren’t.

No law to standardize American education making it year-round has surfaced, and our state specifically isn’t a fan of proactive educational policy. Summers are here to stay.

Since, quite obviously, PHS has yet to schedule school throughout the year, the responsibility of remembering what you learned is simply your own.

So, over the summer, do yourself a service and look over your notes, use online study tools, or read an extra book or two.

To some, this comes naturally. For others, this task may be a little more daunting.

Don’t get me wrong: in the midst of enjoying summer’s unencumbered freedoms, I am not one that loves to go look at math formulas.

However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t best for my overall education.

So, this summer, after you climb out of the pool or get home from a baseball game, think about the upcoming year, and make time to crack open a book.

senior says goodbye one last time JOSEPH MATHEW @jmath06 o I guess the class of 2015 is almost done with high school now. Weird.

Some of us are heading off to college, some are taking a gap year, some are diving into the workforce, and some are transitioning to the military.

Some of us had a great time in high school, and some couldn’t wait to get out.

High school was a different experience for all of us. I won’t try to pretend that we all had the best times of our lives at 1978 E. 4th St. However, whether we loved them or hated them, we shouldn’t forget our high school years.

High school provided a lot of lessons for us. Lessons about life, love, death, and moving on. I don’t know the lessons that you learned, but I do know that you learned them.

These lessons aren’t supposed to be forgotten once you leave these halls. They are meant to be pondered, reflected, and drawn upon later in life.

Pittsburg High School might have seemed like it passed by in the blink

S

of an eye, but now I urge you to be more contemplative. Pause for a second, and reflect on the lessons that you’ve learned in high school.

When you think of your time as a freshman, as a sophomore, as a junior, and finally as a senior, high school doesn’t seem so short.

Now do you see what I mean? High school has changed you, whether you wanted it to or not. You are smarter, stronger, and more mature (hopefully!).

So in fear of this editorial sounding like a commencement address, let’s embark on the next phase of our journeys because this is the first day of the rest of our lives! [Insert 10 more clichés.]

But in all seriousness, don’t forget Pittsburg High School. Don’t forget what you saw here, what you did here, and the mark you left here.

Because if you do, if you decide to file PHS away deep in the mental recesses of your mind, you’re only going to regret it.

It’s only when we keep our friends close and our memories closer that we keep our minds focused on what really matters in the grand scheme of things.

ART BY ALIVIA BENEDICT

moore calls for a spotlight shift Equal recognition important for all aspects in school MIRANDA MOORE @mirandmoore24 Let me begin by saying this: I love my high school. I am humbled to walk hallways filled with remarkable people, talented in too many areas to list.

However, even though I am a proud student of Pittsburg High School, I am not blind to its faults.

One of these faults, which I’m sure other high schools are also susceptible to, is not consistently recognizing a diverse range of achievements. During my tenure in high school, the culture and climate has continued to shift focus away from academics and towards extracurriculars, specifically sports.

Saying that sports is a big deal here is an understatement. This makes sense because just under half of our school is involved in some way or another in an athletic activity.

However, 100 percent of the kids in the building are students and that is first and foremost where their focus should be concentrated.

While I applaud the implementation of the new grade policy for participating in extracurricular activities, this is just one step in the right direction. It is the

ART BY TRINA PAUL

first time in my highschool career that students who are involved have been held academically accountable.

Yet time and time again, I’ve got the impression that academics were not as important as other events going on in the school.

This is not something obvious upon first glance or even spoken aloud, yet through a wide range of subliminal decisions, this is the culture that has been created.

Whether it was a reduced schedule for

the entire school to watch a play, or a day of picking up trash throughout the community, these things while important, take away focus from the classroom.

This environment is created by many factors, such as weight classes being highly recommended for athletes, a day set aside for activities and class competitions like Spring Fling, or an incentive day to reward high grades and good attendance.

In addition to a relaxed approach toward academics, many academically focused extracurriculars are under recognized as well. This is very disheartening considering they have achieved success consistently at a high level.

In fact, we have multiple state competitors within several programs that have not been recognized in a consistent manner and went under recognized. That is not to mention the success at the national level.

I don’t want to be misunderstood as hating on sports. Athletes are dedicated and hardworking, just like students in other activities, and should continue to be recognized for the accomplishments they achieve. I myself was a student athlete at one point and still continue to enjoy attending athletic events, cheering on my classmates. After being here four years, I’m advocating for equal recognition of all accomplishments of students within the school.

While sports are recognized more so than any other activity within the school, some of their accomplishments go unnoticed as well.

The kids who win state titles for journalism should be recognized along with the choir soloist who received the highest rating at state or the wrestler who competed in the state tournament.

However, even more so, I’m advocating for academics to take center stage within PHS. With the success achieved in extracurriculars, I can’t image what the incredible students in this school could achieve when the classroom no longer has to share the spotlight.

4 A&E

Friday, May 8, 2015

www.boosterredux.com

SECTION D

DOWNFALL OR UPRISING Unknown future for Call of Duty franchise Josh Jarvis @JJarvis52 ’m scared.

I’m scared because I don’t know what’s happening to the Call of Duty franchise.

When I was younger, when the first Modern Warfare came out, and then the second and the third came out, they were fantastic games and I played them for months and months.

I still play them on occasion.

But as the Call of Duty name grows, so does the total of disgruntled fans growing impatient with subpar releases.

Each new game brings even more disappointment than the last. I had high hopes for the last two games, Ghosts and Advanced Warfare, and they let me down.

So I decided that when I saw the world reveal trailer for Black Ops 3 that I was not going to make the same mistake I had the previous two years.

I’m going to play it before I get excited about this one.

Nevertheless, the trailer looked both interesting and exciting. I saw soldiers with weapons for arms, wall running and robots running rampant. Though no matter how cool and advanced it all looked, I can’t help but feel exhausted by it.

The futuristic setting is wearing me out. Black Ops 2 was set in 2025, Ghosts was set in 2027, and Advanced Warfare was set in the 2050s. When I saw that Black Ops 3 had even more lasers, robotic drones and super soldiers than Advanced Warfare, I was apprehensive.

There’s something about the classic Call of Duty, even the modern-day setting, that just feels right.

I heard rumors that come Call of Duty time this November, there would be another World War II era game.

That excited me. That sounded like something fresh. That made me want to play the next Call of Duty title.

I miss the days when I would come home, run to my room, turn on my Xbox and do nothing for the next few hours except play Modern Warfare 2, or the first Black Ops. I’ve lost that feeling, and I don’t know if Black Ops 3’s super technological future will be able to make it resurface inside me.

However, no matter how much I complain, it’s not going to change now.

Let’s not dwell on what we think will be wrong, but

I

PHOTO COURTESY OF http://www.micromania.es/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/black-ops-3-cabecera1.jpg

rejoice on what we may hope to find.

I love the zombies mode. Let’s be honest, many people paid for Black Ops 1 and 2 strictly for the zombies. It’s already been confirmed that zombies will be in Black Ops 3, so that is one giant aspect to look forward to.

The multiplayer for both Black Ops 1 and 2 were fun and different.

Black Ops 1 first introduced the money system, where the guns and attachments were all based on prices. Black Ops 2 utilized the pick ten system, where each gun, attachment, perk, etc., counted as one credit to

the overall loadout.

This is what I’m looking for in Black Ops 3. These kinds of innovations are what made the old Call of Duty games original and enjoyable.

Personally, I just hope I can stand to play it for more than a couple weeks before I get tired of it.

Whether you think the next game looks amazing, or if you think it looks like you’ll be having to pick a new - JOSHH JARVIS JARV favorite series, the best thing to do is to hope that Black Ops 3 is a standout, and not the latest addition to the dying Call of Duty franchise.

“” Personally, I just hope I Person can st stand to play it for more than a couple weeks before I get tired of it.

Age of ultron lives up to expectations ivan walter @ivanthehoss56 As any of you that read this column regularly know, I love to see bad movies that will get bad reviews. But the new Avengers movie has changed everything.

First off, I will let you in on a little secret.

I love superhero movies. I can’t get enough of them.

Batman, Iron Man, heck I’m even stoked about the Aquaman movie.

So needless to say, I was already very excited for this movie.

At the start of the movie you are thrown right into the action with all of the Avengers already out and fighting against H.Y.D.R.A. Their main goal is to locate Loki’s scepter which has been obtained by H.Y.D.R.A’s leader, Baron Strucker, and return it to Asgard. We get to see the entire team in full force, kicking butt in creative ways.

The real enemy, named Ultron, is one created by Tony Stark. Ultron is an artificial intelligence who turns against the human race. His goal is to advance the human race by eliminating all of those who cannot evolve.

So he is basically going to try and end the world and all who survive can stay.

Even though his character is essentially unstoppable, it doesn’t really make much sense. How can he take control of all of Stark’s robots but not every computer and device in the world?

The movie also leaves you wondering how he can take over any device, there’s really no explanation to it.

Another thing that rustled my jimmies was that the color of all the infinity stones are off. Not that it makes

too big of a difference it’s just one of those little things that make the movie different from the comic book.

This movie has got it all: a good plot, great action, love interest, and witty comedy.

It’s awesome. The jokes that are made fit right into the seriousness of the movie.

The storytelling of Joss Whedon is incredible.

Somehow being able to tie the first Avengers movie into a television series into the rest of the Marvel Universe movies that eventually lead up to this movie is mind boggling. The amount of time and effort he has put into this is incredible. The way that not only the Avengers movies, but Marvel itself is being handled has just taken the world by storm.

If a company is able to say that they are going to make a movie that will come out five years from now and it can excite me, obviously it means that they are doing their job right.

One of the things about this movie that I can’t get enough of is the banter. Of course the main source being Captain America and Iron Man who never seem to agree, except for the sole purpose of saving the human race. It adds an entire distinctive point to the film, with moments in which it can be totally genuine about somebody’s beginning but then lead straight into jokes with avengers bashing one another.

When it comes down to it, this movie is spectacular.

The graphics are stunning, from Thor’s lightning strikes or even Iron Man’s different suits, the movie is just surreal.

Even though it is a nerd’s fantasy, most people who are not very into comic books can still enjoy this movie.

Overall this movie is very solid.

Avengers age of ultron

««««« «««« «

PHOTO COURTESY OF http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjA0NjU3MTU5OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTYyMDQ3MzE@.

The Pittsburg Education Association salutes these 180 teacher members of PEA/KNEA/NEA. Thank you for all you do for the students of USD 250!

George Nettels Elementary Arck, Mandy Arnett, Micah Dalgarn, Brandi Deierling, Tammy Eckelberry, Dena Harrison, Michelle Huebner, Amy Jackson, Diane Lovell, Missy Montgomery, Darlene O‛Brien, Lacey O‛Neal, Natalie Parks, Kelsey Penner, Brenda Runyan, Linda Sarley, Sarah Schaub, Kelly Shanholtzer, Katie Ward, Susan Weber, Christa Wilks, Lori Lakeside Elementary Amershek, Lisa Bishop, Mary Brown, Adam Bugni, Haley Burford, Matt Burke, Cindy Casey, Michelle Diamond, Stacy

Diaz, Kim Goode, Ellen Grisham, Janice Hall, Teresa Kuhel, Emily Lawson, Linda Lopez, JaNell McCartney, Courtney McGowen, Carrie Oliver, Cara Perez, Jennifer Ratzlaff, Cathy Redmond, Denise Robinson, Mary Stahl, Janice Thomas, Sadie Tims, Babs Vacca, Missy Walker, Bridget Meadowlark Elementary Buzard, Megan Clarkson, Jessilyn Cook, Karen Degruson, Melinda Evans, Neely Graham, Abby Grisolano, Debbie Guiles, Diana Harrell, Tricia Horton, Teresa Jameson, Meredith Kitchen, Melinda

Maiseroulle, Tyana Mantooth, Megan Mendicki, Lori Mikrut, Lacy Niederklein, Nathan O‛Ferrell, Jeremy Oertle, Diana Prince, Dustin Ruiz, Ana Runnels, Sandra Sisk, Sharon VanBecelaere, Vicki Winemiller, Kelli Zortz, Sydney Westside Elementary Anderson, Hannah Ausemus, Veronica Broxterman, Michelle Campbell, Kayla Dixon, Megan Ewan, Gail Graham, Kriztena Hanney, Paul Holland, Karen Prince, Sarah Smith, Jayne Plye, LaDonna Southard, Rachel Stephens, Sheila Trowbridge, Susan White, Stephanie Womble, Kerstin

Wood, Terri Woodrum, Gary Pittsburg Community Middle School Arbuckle, Melissa Barto, Doug Beasley, Becky Blancho, Teri Boulware, Caleb Burelson, Megan Cerne, Beth Collver, Kelly Dalgarn, Joe Darling, Virginia Dunlavy, Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, Denise Foster, Nicole Foster, Stacy Hugo, Joe Hull, Adam Katsbulas, Sarah Kimzey, Robert Laflen, John Leiker, Lisa Lewis, Angela Lopez, Greg Maceli, Janet Mapp, Taylor Martin, Erica Moss, Dan O‛Bray, Kim Pflug, Danielle

Polen, Debra Riggs, R. Mitch Rooks, Shauna Shultz, Mashea Sievert, Shay Sutton, Terri Trezona, Rachel Watt, Christy Weaver, Jack Wescott, Lynette Wilbert, Tara Woods, Jordan Pittsburg High School Ausemus, Gary Barberich, Linda Clark, Merle Collins, Monica Dalton, Susie Downing, Larry Dunekack, Larry Foresman, Jim Giffin, Marjorie Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Melissa Lackey, Caleb Laflen, Julie Lancaster, Bridgett Lomshek, Rebecca Moss, Patrick Neef, Kristi Neil, Cooper Nickelson, Thomas

O‛Bray, Leroy Packard, Mary Pallares, Angela Perez, Stuart Rieck, Scott Roelfs, Kiley Rountree, Emily Schultze, Lyn Schwob, Lisa Shaw, Greg Simpson, David Smith, Emily Stegman, Jessica Susnik, Jason Turnbull, Rebecca Turner, Linda Uttley, Kristie Warren, Samantha White, Anita White, Rhonda Willis, Rhonda Winemiller, Regina Withrow, Stephanie Wolgamott, Gary Wood, Ruth Yockey, Rashell Elm Acres Malan, Janice St. Mary‛s Fleming, Leann

5 FEATURE

Friday, May8, 2015

www.boosterredux.com

Seniors Go the distance for college

SECTION D

Graphic by Reagan Rink

Adrian McAfee Columbia Unversity New york city, new york

Joseph Mathew Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois

Nick powers & Jaden Patterson Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, tennessee

David su university of arkansas Fayetteville, arkansas

Reagan Rink colorado mesa university grand junction, colorado

Marie Montague Brigham young university - idaho rexburg, idaho

seniors staying close to home

Compiled by Kaylah Wilson Photos by Bill Lackamp and Macy Frasco

bromances

Pittsburg State University - 21 Fort scott community college - 11 labette community college - 11 Kansas state university - 5 undecided - 4

Missouri southern state university - 2 william jewell college - 2 university of kansas - 2 hutchinson community college - 2 southern nazaerene university - 2

Sage Mahnken, Austin Sievert, Will Mengarelli

“It’s a very happy, healthy relationship and we respect each other and we all love each other like brothers.”

neosho county community college - 1 ozark christian college - 1 johnson county community college - 1 mcpherson college - 1 friends university - 1

gerson ruiz, elijah harris, noah vaugh, emmanuel garcia, douglas jajo

“Most of us play sports together and we like to hang out with each other all the time and talk about things.”

jared wilde and derek brumbaugh

“We pretty much have been best friends for life, we’ve been with each other through everything.”

skills usa to compete at national competition T

molly graham @molllygraham hrough competing in SkillsUSA, an organization that betters the quality of America’s workforce, senior Tyler Harness has received scholarships and been awarded with a tool set.

Harness won first place in the carpentr y categor y at the state SkillsUSA competition in April, even though he did not finish the project he was working on.

He will now have the opp or t unit y to travel to Kentucky for the national competition.

“Honestly, I just think going [to nationals] is going to be a really cool experience,” Harness said. “I do not know if I am going to place at nationals, but it is going to be cool just going down there and seeing ever ything.”

Including Harness, six other students at the high school can be acclaimed for placing in the top 20 of all SkillsUSA competitors in Kansas.

Two students competed in the Auto Ser vice competition and four competed in the Auto Par ts Management competition.

The high school is just one of the 13 thousand schools that have students who par ticipate.

Senior Willy Johns, who also competed in the carpentr y categor y of the competition and won third, is the vice president of the high school’s SkillsUSA chapter and has lettered for SkillsUSA. “[Johns] has learned the valuable leadership training as par t of the professional development program that is SkillsUSA,” said Automotive Technology teacher Adam Nunn. He has been a SkillsUSA advisor for 13 years.

Johns has competed in SkillsUSA competitions for the past two years and has a placed in the p top 10 of all t to comp et itor s c each year.

To prepare themselves for the SkillsUSA competitions, Harness and Johns have each taken the Automotive Technology class and now are enrolled in carpentr y classes through the For t Scott Community College Construction Trades program. “[Harness and Johns] have the advantage of not only learning the trade but are also learning valuable leadership skills that will help them with future employment oppor tunities,” Nunn said. “SkillsUSA focuses on hard work and professionalism as the basis for the training programs.”

honestly, i just think hon going [to nationals]] is goin going to be really cool ool

”

- TYLER HARNESS NESS

6 feature

Friday, May 8, 2015

www.boosterredux.com SECTION D

Sisters’ Bond Through Girl Scouts maddie baden @MaddieBaden

P

ixie, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior and Ambassador.

These words might not seem like they have any meaning, but to senior Hayley Rhea and her sister freshman Kaity Rhea, these words are the stepping stones to becoming a successful Girl Scout.

The six words above are the grade levels in Girl Scouts, Pixie being the lowest and the starting part for young Scouts and Ambassador being the highest for the oldest and the most experienced.

Hayley is an Ambassador, and Kaity has achieved the Senior rank. “[How you achieve a new grade-level is] you pretty much earn badges and do projects,” Kaity said. ”You help out in the community and you level up by doing these [activities].”

Girl Scouts has been an important part in both of the Rheas’ lives. They both started when they were in kindergarten. Hayley has been doing it for 13 years and Kaity has been involved for 10 years. “[Girl Scouts] is something I got into [when I was little] and it was fun being with a group of people participating in different activities and learning different things,” Hayley said.

Hayley and Kaity have been able to bond over Girl Scouts and get closer to each other through all the experiences they have been through.

“This has always been something I have been able to do with my sister and we have bonded a lot over it,” Kaity said.

Their aunts are also their troop leaders, so they have been able to interact with each other in that aspect as well.

Scouts is a way for the girls to earn awards and help them in the future. Two awards the Rhea sisters have received are their bronze and silver awards.

“[To earn the awards] you have to do community service projects... and you try to keep it going throughout the years after you have done it,” Hayley said.

For example, Kaity made blankets out of scraps and gave them to the Humane Society to earn her bronze award.

One of the activities that the girls participate in that is one of there favorites is the Girl Scout Day Camp that is located outside of Frontenac. The camp is in June and both girls serve as a Program Aid (PA). The PAs are known for helping out the troop leaders, looking over the little Scouts and starting campfires throughout the camp.

“Now that I am older, my favorite part is getting to work with the younger kids and seeing them enjoy the same things that I used to enjoy,” Hayley said.

Being a Girl Scout will be able to help the girls in the future. Scouts has helped them learn a lot of life skills that will help them later on.

“Girl Scouts will help me because it has taught me how to build a fire and basic survival skills,” Kaity said. “[Girl Scouts] has also helped me to learn how to communicate with other people.”

Girl Scouts is an activity that the Rhea sisters have always loved to do and they want to continue on in their Scout career for as long as they can.

“Hopefully my whole life [I will be involved in Girl Scouts]. I am going to get a lifetime membership now that I am done and I can still be a volunteer,” Hayley said.

Kaity wants to follow in her sister’s footsteps and continue Scouts for the rest of her high school career.

“I will continue to be a ‘Girl’ in Girl Scouts until the end of my senior year in high school,” Kaity said. “After [I am out of high school] I can be a leader and have a troop if I want to.”

“” Girl scouts has helped me to learn how to communicate with other people.

- KAITY RHEA

Kaity and Hayley Rhea model their Girl Scout sashes. The Rhea sisters are both active in the local Girl Scout Troop and have earned multiple badges awards. PHOTO BY ABBY HARRIS

seven Students Find success in forensics Qualifying individuals will head to Dallas in June for annual national competition Morgan Plank @momoplank his year, the Forensics team has qualified seven members, seniors Haley Uttley, Ethan Hawn, Joseph Mathew, Jason McDonald, Kaylie Duncan, sophomore Zach Uttley, and freshman Gina Mathew, for the national competition which will held in Dallas June 14-19.

In order to qualify for nationals, students must first be a member of the National Forensic League (NFL). Becoming a member involves competing at tournaments and earning points. Upon receiving the membership, members compete in the NFL tournaments, NFL Police Debate, NFL Student Congress and NFL Individual Events, that then qualify them for nationals if they place first or second in their respective event.

“It is very hard competition at these tournaments with the many students they are competing against,” Forensics teacher Julie Laflen said. “Qualifying for nationals is something that most students spend all four years of high school trying to do and many never get the chance to say they were a national qualifier.”

After four years of hard work and dedication, Duncan can call herself a national qualifier.

“I have worked insanely hard to qualify for nationals. [Qualifying] is the most prestigious accomplishment you can have in forensics,” Duncan said. “ My Freshman year I state qualified, which isn’t as difficult as qualifying for nationals, but after I bombed state I knew that I had to work harder if I wanted to be considered successful.”

Haley, Hawn, Joseph and Zach qualified in midDecember in the category Policy Debate, while

T

McDonald, Duncan and Gina qualified in midApril. McDonald will be competing in Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking, Duncan in Original Oratory, and Gina in U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking.

“It is such as rewarding feeling to have this many kids qualify who have worked so hard to get here,” Laflen said. “Telling a student that they qualified for nationals is one of my favorite parts as a coach.

I am so proud of the students and excited for them

Laflen is proud of Gina’s achievements this season and is looking forward to her future accomplishments.

“Gina has done such an excellent job as a freshman,” Laflen said. “Her speaking skills are only going to get better over the next three years and for her to get this nationals experience so young means she has only more to gain, and I’m so excited to see where this will take her.”

Most of the preparation for nationals will begin once the school year has ended.

According to Laflen, those who qualified will be spending at least 15 hours a week between research and practice rounds preparing.

“We will have practices at least once a week to practice the events and perfect styles of speaking. For Policy Debate, we are very lucky to have five former debaters come back and help us prep for the national tournament. They will be watching practice rounds, helping find evidence and construct arguments,” Laflen said. “We are even having a mini-tournament where our two debate teams debate each other and I bring in judges for the rounds. It really helps the debaters to have experienced debaters come in and critique them as they debate.”

Gina is looking forward to the national competition and all that it entails.

“I’m excited to witness the talent at the national level. This year will simply be a learning experience for me to improve. Plus, I get to travel alongside my brother and see him compete,” Gina said. “ I will try my best and give it my all. Ultimately, as Mrs. Laflen reminded me many times throughout the season, my goal is to speak pretty and have fun.”

“ ” qualifying for nationals is something that most students spend all four years of high school trying to do.

- JULIE LAFLEN

to experience nationals, especially Kaylie, Gina, and Zach who have never been to nationals before.”

Gina is also the first freshman from the high school to qualify for nationals.

“Honestly, I don’t think the fact has sunk in yet.

This accomplishment is an honor and definitely not one I take lightly.” Gina said. “I hope to keep exceeding expectations as I continue participating in the PHS Debate and Forensics program. Mrs. Laflen is a fabulous mentor - one that I cannot speak highly enough of - and I owe all of these accomplishments to her. I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

SECTION D

www.boosterredux.com

feature

Friday, May 8, 2015

7

senior goodbyes Senior student publications staff members say their farewells

Reagan Rink Yearbook 4 years Newspaper 3 years

miranda moore molly lundberg Yearbook 3 years Newspaper 3.5 years

Yearbook 3 years

james clark

josh jarvis

jeremy lawson

Yearbook 2 years

Newspaper 3 years

Yearbook 2 years

rachyl russian

ethan hawn

bill lackamp

joseph mathew

emily wood

Yearbook 2 years Newspaper 2 years

Newspaper 1 year

Photojournalism 1 year

Newspaper 1 year

Yearbook 1 year

REAGAN RINK As the past four years have flown by, so has my time with yearbook and newspaper.

It has been a crazy four years as a “yerd” and an even crazier three years as a “nerd”.

There’s been lots of ups and lots of downs but something about Mrs. Smith and the rest of the staff just kept me coming back for more, year after year.

After my sister forced me into taking yearbook my freshman year, there’s not much more that I can do besides thank her for pushing me toward finding one of my passions in high school. Not only did my sister push me into where I am at, but Mrs. Smith also helped drive me to where I am, even though some of the time I didn’t always seem so compliant. I can’t thank her enough for every lunch she’s bought me, every piece of advice she’s given me, and every time she helped shape me into the person I’ve become today. This high school would truly be at a loss without such a wonderful lady (and now mom) like her to help drive kids into success. With her leadership, both staffs received All-Kansas awards for the first time in a long time. Without putting myself out there, without the guidance of an awesome adviser, and without the constant push by my staff members, I can honestly say I would have had a way less memorable high school journey. I wouldn’t have been able to travel across the country to San Antonio, Boston, San Diego, or Washington, D.C. While we do like to have parties and eat lots of cosmic brownies, at the end of the day we log a lot of hours sitting in our rolling chairs, staring at our laptops. Whether it’s finalizing that last spread for the yearbook in the middle of summer or staying after practice until 10:30 at night finishing up the final pages of the Booster. After all is said and done, publications is my home and I wouldn’t trade any of my time spent here.

Miranda Moore

As my time with the Student Publications program dwindles, I try to appreciate each day I have left in Room 604 with my crazy journalism family. Every time I walk through the door there is another obstacle to overcome, another laugh to be had, or in the case of not meeting deadlines...a tennis ball to be thrown.

The room and people that come with it have meant a great deal to me. They have shaped the person I have become more so than any other program in this school and I am so proud of all we have accomplished together. From pushing our boundaries writing informative stories about taboo topics to being nationally ranked for both publications at the same time, we have started a tradition of excellence expected out of the up-and-coming staff members.

However, none of this would have been possible without our wonderful, dedicated adviser, Mrs. Smith. Honestly, a few words printed in the Booster can never sum up how much “Smitty” does for this program, this school, and each student that walks into her classroom. She has been a teacher, adviser, mentor, and friend to me and contributed a great deal to my education on not just schoolrelated topics, but also the real world. I can’t thank her enough for every minute (which there are a lot) she has given to pub and to me personally, whether it was offering advice, helping edit whatever I was working on that day, or just listening to the current obstacles I was facing. Without her dedication I wouldn’t have been able to travel across the country to multiple national conventions with 30 other kids having the most memorable moments of my high school career, whether it was singing at the top of our lungs after 12 hours on a charter bus to San Antonio or sitting at an awards ceremony in Washington D.C. hearing

“The Purple & White yearbook” called for the first time.

Even after all of this, I still really haven’t got to the part where I say goodbye, but I don’t think I ever really will. This program has left a lasting impact on me and I will always come back to visit my jerd family (especially on nice note Fridays). So I would like to conclude with this: thank you. Thank you to all former editors and staff members that helped shape me into the journalist I am today. Thank you to Reagan for putting up with working alongside me for the past three and a half years. Thank you to all my current staff members that make me look forward to this class each and every day.

Thank you to my family for understanding the countless hours I spent at the school.

Lastly, thank you to Mrs. Smith for everything, because no list can sum up all you did for me. .

James Clark

Joining yearbook my junior year was by far one of the best choices of my high school career. My first two years in high school, Mrs. Smith always got on me about joining yearbook and every single time I denied the invitation to join. But ever since I’ve joined my junior year, I wish I had began as a freshman.

Student publications and yearbook was such an eye-opening experience for me. I became an overall better person not just by my character but also my skill. Student publications has given me the opportunity to expand on my writing skills and my communication skills.

I have became more open and outgoing as a person and these skills have contributed to making me a more hard-working student and a leader. The biggest part I’m going to miss about student publications is Mrs. Smith. I’ve had the privilege of having Mrs. Smith as a teacher and as an adviser. Through my years in her class she became a huge support system always pushing me to strive for better but at the same time picking me up on days I was feeling down. Without Student Publications and without Mrs. Smith, I don’t know who I would be today. Student publications has helped prepare me for my future and though I love and will miss all the yerds and jerds, I can’t wait to begin writing the next story of my life.

Josh Jarvis

What a fantastic two years it has been working with student publications here at PHS. My only regret is that I did not join the newspaper staff sooner. I truly enjoyed my time in room 604 (RIP 312). My first few days of class junior year felt awkward, not knowing many people or what my role was on the staff.

Quickly did that change as I was thrusted into the thick of the journalist life, with no time to be awkward or I would miss deadline, which I absolutely never did. Being on staff here at PHS made it easy to transition from ultra cool, lone wolf, superstar athlete to hardworking, deadline-meeting, mega-jerd.

After a month or two, it became a habit.

It felt like I had been doing it for the last two years.

It was so easy to follow what Mrs. Smith and the editors asked of me. It felt like a second home. I have a ton of memories from newspaper that I know I’ll never forget. Like the time when we tripped the school alarm because we were working after school until 11:30 at night and the cops came. Ahhhh, good times. I also have gained many skills that I guarantee will help me later in life, like meeting deadline, which I always do no matter what. I want to thank my wonderful awardwinning staff for the two years of amazing feats we were able to accomplish. I want to thank my best friend Parker Matthews for bullying me into joining newspaper, what a positive form of peer pressure that was. Lastly, I want to thank Mrs. Smith for the amazing advising and teaching that she gave me in my short two years on staff.

Jeremy Lawson All I can say is I wish I had joined the Student pub family sooner. Although I was only there for two years I felt that I really got to know everyone and made a lot of new friends.

It taught me a lot about myself and really helped me get out there and talk to people.

Kicking off every year with those fun and hilarious team building exercises is something I’m going to miss dearly. I’m glad I had such a great teacher and mentor to help me out not just in class but with anything that I came to her with. I feel like I would have never came out of my shell if it weren’t for Mrs. Smith.

Rachyl Russian

I think the thing I’ve missed the most from graduating at semester are my fellow classmates from student publications. I joined publications my sophomore year of high school and it was the best thing that I ever did during my 3 1/2 years at PHS. It did not only help me develop relationships with dozens of students, but also taught me deadlines and awesome communication skills. Being on both yearbook and newspaper staff, has helped me see how different the two are. But both so important in their own way. I would like to thank Mrs. Smith for the amazing opportunity I’ve had in publications. Without her, student publications at PHS would be chaotic. I will continue to use the skills I’ve gained throughout the rest of my life.

Ethan Hawn

Contributing to the newspaper has been a truly excellent experience.

In my year on staff, I have been given a unique opportunity to vocalize my opinions to a broad and (I can only hope) attentive audience of students and community members.

Receiving feedback on my articles and reassurance that people appreciate what I have to say has been very rewarding, and all of the work has certainly paid off.

In just a year on staff, I have been able to write competitively on both the regional and national level as well as pursue high-level political figures prior to a deciding midterm election.

Being part of the newspaper has taught me lessons in time management and accountability. It has also taught me how to approach writing to a larger audience than an English teacher or AP grader.

I think the lessons that I have learned as a part of the Booster have made me a more versatile and flexible person, as well as a better communicator. I will certainly always be thankful for those experiences.

Although I wish I had begun newspaper earlier, I am thankful for the opportunities that I was given, and especially for the kind and motivating oversight of Mrs. Smith. Writing for the Booster Redux is certainly something I am glad to have done.

Bill Lackamp

Let me first start off with what great year it has been working with Mrs. Smith, and jerds in room 604. I feel like I have been a part of all three groups even though I just enrolled into photojournalism. I sort of got sucked into everything because I shoot pictures for the other two classes to use, so I got more than what I bargained for when I signed up for photojournalism. I also became the headline contributor for newspaper, and picture finder for yearbook. This class has taught me so much even though it is a self-run class. Here is a couple of things I learned from the class.

I learn sometimes you have to do more than what your job title says to reach the goal of the team and the class also taught me accountability because if you don’t go to the event, then the effect ripples through to the other two classes. So I became more responsible because other people are relying on me to pull through with my photos. All in

all, this class has taught me more about life lessons that will follow through with me for the rest of my life.

Joseph Mathew

Unfortunately, I only spent one year on the Booster Redux staff. However, not a day goes by that I don’t regret joining newspaper earlier than I did. Better late than never, I suppose.

I decided to join this late in my time at Pittsburg High School because I had heard of the lasting friendships that those on staff make.

Luckily for me, I wasn’t disappointed. I hope to retain the bonds that I’ve created with my newspaper family even after I leave Pittsburg High School to the next chapter of my life.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my short time as an opinion columnist on staff. At the beginning of the year, I never could have predicted that I would write about topics as diverse as rape culture, offensive satire, and gubernatorial scholarship programs.

I can’t tell you how rewarding it was to hear feedback (positive or negative) on my opinion pieces from the community. It made my work feel much more worthwhile, and motivated me to craft even better editorials for the future.

So this is my formal goodbye. Goodbye.

There, I’ve done it. As easy it was to do that on paper, it’ll be a little more difficult to say goodbye in reality.

I couldn’t finish this without appropriately thanking the person who guided me while on staff this year: Mrs. Smith. She motivated me to meet my deadlines, challenged me to refine my writing skills, and provided business projects for me with which I could pursue my interests. Her title of Student Publications Adviser doesn’t do any justice to the amount of work and dedication she puts toward this job.

All in all, ‘tis better to have been on staff for one year, than never to have been on staff at all, or something along those lines.

Emily Wood

Saying goodbye to room 604 and all the wonderful memories doesn’t seem like it’s time yet. I only got to spend one year in room 604 as a student of Mrs. Smith’s, but she has always made me feel apart of her room in some way. Freshmen year she pushed me to be a better English student and ever since I took her class freshmen year I have had a love for English I never knew I had. Smith is not just a journalism adviser to me she is a co-worker, a friend, someone I can vent to, and most of all she is like another mom to me.

I regret everyday of my senior year not joining my freshman year. I know I would have had far more memories and I would have learned a whole lot more if I would have joined earlier. Since freshman year Smith has always told me that I needed to join Student Publications but every year my schedule was too full and I was already doubled up in something. Even though I was in yearbook for one year I was taught so many different things and I learned the importance of meeting a deadline and when they say the yearbook and newspaper staff spend countless hours, they mean that. The hard work and dedication that I was taught in year is something that I am going to carry on with me into my next chapter of life. I will miss coming into her room at random times during the day and seeing kids smiling and laughing and making their own memories. If I could give advice to anyone out there that is not enrolled in Publications right now...GET IN HERE. You won’t regret it, there is a spot for everyone.

A thank you to Mrs. Smith doesn’t even come close to how much thanks you deserve everyday. Thank you to the rest of the staff for making my last year at PHS one that I will remember forever!

8 sports

Friday, May 8, 2015

www.boosterredux.com SECTION D

Speaking to his future basketball team, new head coach Eric Flaton explains his plans for the upcoming summer schedule. This is Flaton’s first time meeting his players. PHOTO BY MACY FRASCO

Rival coach takes reigns New girls basketball coach transfers from Coffeyville LILY BLACK @PHSStudentPub

N

ext year the girls basketball team will be coached by former Coffeyville coach Eric Flaton.

“I have always believed that Pittsburg is kind of the diamond of the league.

It’s a great town,” Flaton said.

Flaton has coached for 10 years, but has been coaching girls basketball for nine.

“I have coached in Coffeyville, Ulysses, Erie and Altoona-Midway,” Flaton said. “I coached in the SEK and in Coffeyville for three years. We tied for the league title and won sub-state for the first time in 29 years. In Ulysses we won league two years in a row.”

Along with coaching at different places, Flaton has also won many awards for his coaching abilities. He

was awarded 4A-1 coach, SEK Coach of the Year and Montgomer y County Coach of the Year.

For the upcoming season, Flaton hopes to do more than just win games, he also wants to have beneficial practices.

“I want to win ever yday. I don’t want to just win games, but win ever y practice. Coaches win practice, players win games,” Flaton said. “[The players] will accomplish some big goals and some goals [they] never knew [they] had.”

Flaton has high expectations for the girls on the basketball team, not only in the spor t, but in life as well.

“Ever y senior that has played basketball for me has gone on to college.

While it doesn’t matter if they go on to play basketball or not, it does matter to me as to whether or not they are successful members of society,” Flaton

said. “My goal is to create successful individuals that are ready for whatever life throws at them.”

Although there are a lot of changes that can occur with the transition from one coach to another, junior Ashlee Beitzinger is prepared to adapt to them.

“I’m ready to see some new changes come to PHS. I’m ready for next season to begin and have fun and play basketball. ” Beitzinger said. “It’s different. I know it will depend on our plays and how he coaches us. It is kind of ner ve wracking but I’m ready.”

Freshman McKenzie Wilks knows that these changes will include new styles and techniques of coaching.

“The challenges that come with having a new coach is learning what he is [going to] be like, what all of our new offensives are going to be, and learning the way he likes to run our program,”

For the love of the game Loveland suffers her second season-ending injury, continues to support softball team

BY MEGAN MUNGER @DragonsTwirler Scared and in shock, senior Sierra Loveland slowly sits up. As she does, she realizes that she cannot move her arm.

“I dove for a ball. A girl and I collided,” Loveland said. “The ball wasn’t going to get caught so I dove while she was still going for it. As we collided, I landed wrong and broke the radial head in my elbow.”

However, her first reaction was not one of pain.

“I looked at my coach and [immediately] said ‘What do we do now? We don’t have a center,’” Loveland said. “I didn’t really care about my arm; I just cared about the fact that we didn’t have anyone to play center.”

Loveland usually plays left field not center field, but another teammate was already injured. She filled the spot for the game.

The game was held on April 14 against Coffeyville. It marked the end of Loveland’s high school softball career, which was just as saddening to Loveland as it was to her coach, Megan Burleson.

“I could tell from the way the play happened that it wasn’t good and that evening, when she let [me] know the result, it was upsetting for me because it’s hard to have a season-ending injury your senior year,” Burleson said. “Just simply, athlete to athlete, you feel for her because everyone wants to end their career on their own terms and that was taken from her.”

Along with Burleson, senior teammate Emily Wood agrees that Loveland’s season-ending injury is tough to deal with.

“My heart dropped [whenever she fell],” Wood said. “It’s our senior season and [knowing] that [that game] was the

last game that I got to play with Sierra is hard because I’ve played with these seniors that are on the field with me since I was seven.”

Despite the outcome, Loveland is staying in good spirits about the situation.

“It really sucks that I can’t finish out my senior year, but I’m still part of the team,” Loveland said. “I’m still going to practice everyday and I’m still traveling with the team.”

Loveland has another month left before her elbow is completely healed.

“It doesn’t really hurt that bad,” Loveland said. “It is just kind of a nuisance.”

In addition to her elbow injury, Loveland also experienced a serious injury her

her sophomore season.

“I had to go to therapy because I was so scared to even start the season. I didn’t even want to play. I didn’t want to touch a softball; I didn’t want to put my cleats on. It really messed with my head,” Loveland said. “It was only a couple of months after my third surgery so I was still in pain and still taking medicine. I got over it though and I’m glad that I stuck with it. I think that if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been happy. It’s something that I’ve done since I was little [and have always enjoyed].”

Since her ankle injury, Loveland only wears plastic cleats and she gets her ankle taped.

“The first ankle surgery was definitely the worst. This elbow feels like a breeze [compared to that],” Loveland said.

“I just have to put it in a sling and I don’t have to do anything whereas with my ankle, it was a full year of agony and pain.”

Along with the injuries, the dates that they occurred on are quite ironic.

“I broke my ankle on the tenth of April my freshman year, in 2012,” Loveland said. “We were joking because I passed the [second] anniversary of [breaking my ankle] on the game that I broke my arm.”

Both Loveland’s teammates and coach agree that she will be missed next year.

“Sierra is definitely a kid who is going to make the best of any situation and her history of injuries proves that. I think that she has had a rough go at it in softball, but that hasn’t give her a sour taste at all,” Burleson said. “She still enjoys it and I think that says something about who she is as a person. Also, injury or not, at least she ended [her career] having played a great game.”

“ ” sierra is definitely a kid who is going to make the best of any situation.

- MEGAN BURLESON

freshman year.

“I was sliding into home and my cleat got caught in the dirt,” Loveland said. “I snapped the bottom part of my tibia off and I snapped my fibula at the bottom.”

Loveland had three surgeries due to her ankle and experienced a tremendous amount of pain over the course of a year.

“I couldn’t do my schoolwork and I couldn’t go to school. I was in pain twenty-four seven,” Loveland said. “I had a pin and nine screws total. Seven holding my fibula together and two holding my tibia and fibula together.”

Along with her ankle injury cutting her freshman season short, it also affected

Wilks said. “I think that its going to be a great experience for us to star t off with someone new.”

Flaton wants the players to know what lies ahead next season.

“I believe that the girls need to have some input in what we run and what we are tr ying to accomplish,” Flaton said.

Flaton is looking for ward to next season to get to know all of the players and working hard to improve their skills.

“I believe the girl’s basketball program has a lot of talent that is willing to put in the work to get better. Ever yone I talk to is ver y high, on not only the caliber of the player, but the character of the player,” Flaton said. “So I look for ward to getting on the floor this summer and putting this work ethic to the test. I am looking for ward to new personalities and challenges that any new job brings.”

Sports Briefs Written by Kali Poenitske

baseball As the season is winding down, varsity baseball has kept a winning record 8-7.

Their next game is May 12 at Labette Co.

jv The junior varsity has a record of 8-4.

Their next game is today at home against Labette Co.

softball The varsity softball team has a record of 8-8. Their next game is May 12 at Labette Co.

jv Junior Varsity continues their season with a record of 3-5. Their next game is today at home against Labette Co.

tennis The tennis team has won 5 out of 8 tournaments that they have attended.

Individuals are ranked fourth in 5A. Regionals will begin tomorrow, May 9 at Arkansas City.

golf The varsity golf team has one golf tournament left before regionals. As a team, they are ranked fourth overall in SEK. They will travel to their remaining tournament in Chanute on May 11.

track On May 1, the varsity track team traveled to Girard. The girls team placed second and boys team placed fourth.

The junior varsity traveled to Ft. Scott on April 28. The boys team placed third and the girls team placed fifth.