The Booster Redux October 2015

in-depth Look on:

Population ENROLLMENT INCREASe IMPACT PHS, COMMUNITY

The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School 1978 E. 4th Street Pittsburg, KS 66762 Vol. 98, Issue 5 www.boosterredux.com

Friday, Oct. 30, 2015

Page 4D & 5D

madden nfl 16 New game hits shelves

Digging up

a new beginning Members of the tennis teams prepare to scoop dirt at the ceremonial groundbreaking of the new tennis courts on Sept. 28. The courts will now be located next to the high school. PHOTO BY MADDY EMERSON

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Tennis court construction breaks ground KALI POENITSKI @PHSstudentpub s junior Abi Felter dug her shovel into the dirt at the tennis courts groundbreaking ceremony, she felt nothing but gratitude.

“I was thinking about how much this took to come together, and how the community has helped out by raising over $700,000. We, as students, cannot thank them enough,” Felter said. “The courts being here will free up a lot of [space while practicing].Right now we have twenty players on four courts. It doesn’t work. It will be different to have plenty of space [for] each player [to] practice fully.

We [will be able to] host more home tournaments and it will bring the

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Girls Golf TEAM QUALIFIED THREE FOR STATE Page 8D

community together.”

After about four years of planning, the tennis court construction is underway. There will be ten courts in total. In the center of the complex will be a gazebo including restrooms and a concessions stand.

The courts are estimated to be finished for the spring season and will end up costing around $800,000.

“The dirt work should take 10-days [from] start to finish.

The actual process of putting in the courts should take another month depending on weather and the availability of the contractor,” Athletic Director Brannon Kidd said. “[We are] hoping to be playing on the courts for the spring tennis season.”

The new complex will benefit the community, according to head

tennis coach John Seal.

“When you have a state tournament or regional tournament, it brings money into your community,” Seal said. “They will have to eat here and stay here and that’s money. And also, we want national events here [which] are things that everybody would like to see.”

With ten tennis courts being located right outside the high school, practices will be more beneficial.

“I think the team is really good right now, but it will [help us] improve a lot,” freshman Nicole Konopelko said. “We are going to have more room to play singles and doubles and focus on [specific] things since there are more courts.”

Sophomore Jameon Delp agrees.

“We’ll be able to host bigger competition, so more play, and [we

will have] more room to work with,” Delp said.

Students are excited for the tennis complex to be complete.

“I’m [thrilled] for [how] the courts are going to look, and to [be able] play on them,” Konopelko said. “It’s just going to be so cool.”

Felter is enthusiastic to host next year.

“I’m most excited for all the home tournaments,” Felter said. “As of now, we [host] one and it is always disorganized and long because of the court availability.”

Seal is excited for the new complex because of the opportunities it will bring for the kids.

“It’s a dream come true for me, for the kids,” Seal said. “I’m here for the kids, and that’s what it’s all about.”

senior ADVANCES TO SEMI FINALS discovering FOR national merit SCHOLARSHIP different paths MEGAN MUNGER

@dragontwirler

Sitting in class on a mid-September day, senior Amanda Hoffman is delivered a letter from her counselor, Jessica Stegman.

Barely containing her excitement, she rips it open.

“I was really happy,” Hoffman said.

“I was just thinking about sharing it with my parents when I got home and how happy they would be.”

The letter informed her she was a semi-finalist for the National Merit Scholarship, which gives her a one in 16,000 chance at the prestigious $2,500 dollar scholarship.

“The way that the National Merit system works is that you have to take the PSAT and then after the PSAT is scored, you have to meet a certain score,” Stegman said. “Every state is different and Amanda met the state of Kansas requirement this year.”

Hoffman took the PSAT/NMSQT test in October of last year.

“I studied and then I took the test. I [knew that if I] did well on it, [meaning scoring in] the 99 percentile, then [I would probably] get it,” Hoffman said.

“We got our scores back in November or December, but we didn’t find out [our placements] until this year. I’m pretty excited that I did get it.”

Hoffman will find out in February if she is a finalist, and if so, she will find out in the spring if she is a National Merit Scholar.

“Right now, she’s just a semifinalist so there are other steps she has to take to be a final candidate for the scholarship,” Stegman said.

“I have to go online and enter in information about her academics and I have to enter in the school’s overall academic information. Once I input all of that and Amanda does her piece, which is asking someone to write a recommendation letter for her and [answering a questionnaire], then I have to submit the paperwork online.”

Hoffman chose her gifted facilitator Beth Gilbert to write her recommendation letter.

“I’m really happy for her. She’s worked really hard so I think it is important that she sees some recognition for her hard work over the past twelve years,” Gilbert said.

“She was really funny about it because she was really excited about it but she didn’t want to be brag about it.”

Seniors plan life after graduation ALLI BADEN @ @allibaden Whether it be community college or an Ivy League school, college is drawing near for many seniors.

They are faced with applications for colleges, scholarships and financial aid. All of these variables ultimately lead to the decision of where to attend college.

When choosing a college, gifted resource teacher Beth Gilbert encourages students to evaluate all aspects of the school. “[Students need to consider] what their purpose is for going to a school, and does that school offer a major that you are interested in,” Gilbert said. “[They need to be okay with the] location. You have to understand the size of the school.”

While there are many factors that play into choosing a college, each student will find a route that suits their personal interests and circumstances.

The out-of-state route

Senior Amanda Hoffman finishes up an assignment. Hoffman is a National Merit Semi Finalist and has advanced to the next round of competition.

PHOTO BY SHERRICK ROGERS

If Hoffman becomes a National Merit Scholar, the scholarship will assist her in paying for her college.

However, even as a semifinalist, it has already proven to assist her with scholarships.

“I applied to K-State and they gave me a scholarship [because I am] a semifinalist,” Hoffman said. “It already has helped me by [potentially] getting me more scholarships because of the prestige [of what it is].”

In addition to proving financially beneficial, Stegman believes this placement will help her in a

unique way.

“To be able to put that on your resume, that you were a National Merit semi-finalist, is something that not many kids can put on their resume,” Stegman said. “[It offers her] something that makes her stand out from all the rest.”

Though the benefits may end with Hoffman, the excitement does not.

“It is always exciting when a school has a National Merit semi-finalist because they are few and far between,” Stegman said. “For us to have one for the second year in a row is pretty outstanding.”

The idea of leaving Kansas has never been a problem for senior Josh Lee. Ever since his sophomore year he knew he wanted to attend college somewhere on the East Coast or in Chicago.

“I have not really had much restriction or hesitation about moving somewhere far away. I don’t fear being far away from where my family is living,” Lee said. “It is part of jumping to the college life. It is a completely different world I am going to be in so might as well make it something completely different and new.”

Lee is applying to six out-of-state schools.

Preparing to apply to these schools has not been easy, according to Lee. Each of these schools require ACT or SAT scores, which Lee has taken since his sophomore year. Along with the tests, each college requires application essays in addition to the common application which includes financial circumstance and social security.

While many colleges require this

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2 NEWS

Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 www.boosterredux.com SECTION D

newspaper, students nominated for national awards MORGAN PLANK @momoplank

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ring sounded in room 604. Student Publications Adviser Emily Smith answered the phone. On the other end of the line was Kansas Scholastic Press Association (KSPA) State Director Eric Thomas. Five minutes later she hung up and announced to the students in the room the newspaper’s nomination for the Pacemaker, the highest award a high school newspaper staff can earn in journalism.

“It is the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in college football. It’s a huge testament to the amount of work and talent the staff has,” Smith said.

The Pacemaker is judged on the following categories: coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, design, photography, art and graphics.

In addition to the Pacemaker nomination, The Booster Redux also earned an AllAmerican rating from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA).

To qualify for an All-American rating, the publication must earn a minimum of 3,200 points and receive four or five Marks of Distinction. The Booster Redux earned 4,060 points and also five Marks of Distinction.

As well as the nomination earned by the staff, four of the 28 staff members from the previous year are also in the running for national awards. These students include junior Alivia Benedict, seniors Josh Lee and Alli Baden and alumna Miranda Moore.

Benedict is an Editorial Cartoon finalist, while Lee, Baden and Moore are finalists for Story of the Year in their respective categories. Lee and Baden with their news story, Flirting with Disaster: A Public Look at a Private Life, and Moore and Lee with their sports story, The Weight of Success.

“Being nominated for two Story of the Year awards is surreal to say the very least.

It’s the first year anybody on staff has ever been nominated for this award, and it’s really exciting that I’ve been nominated

During Pittsburg High School’s 2015 graduation, senior Miranda Moore sprays silly string as other seniors throw their caps in the air in celebration. Senior Derek Brumbaugh is nominated for NSPA’s News Story of the Year and is one of ten students selected this honor. Results will be announced Nov. 14 in Orlando.

PHOTO BY DEREK BRUMBAUGH

“

for two,” Lee said. “I’ve definitely come students. Judges look for entries a long way as a which show writer during my leadership, time on staff, and quality writing, the success of our sensitivity and staff members fairness, as definitely goes stated by NSPA. to show how The winners amazing our from each adviser is.” category will The Story of the then go on to Year competition compete for the recognizes $1,000 Brasler - DEREK BRUMBAUGH initiative and Prize. original reporting The last of a situation, problem or issue affecting nomination is from senior Derek

I rar rarely get nominated for so something like this, and it’s awesome being only one out of 10 people nominated in the entire country.

Testing knowledge Benefits of standardized testing for college prep MADDIE BADEN @maddiebaden

Sitting in a quiet classroom at Pittsburg State University, junior Olivia Joy focuses on The American College Test (ACT).

The room is hushed and has an eerie feeling to it. This is what she was feeling as she completed the ACT in hopes of receiving scholarships for college.

“I think that the ACT is what is going to get you into the college that you want,” Joy said. “It is the start to your future.”

Along with the ACT, another test that some colleges require is the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).

“It is common for students all across the United States to take the ACT versus the SAT,” Guidance Counselor Gina Ulbrich said. “There are only about 75 universities across the United States that require the SAT for admissions purposes.

Most of those universities that require the SAT are on the East and West coasts.”

The school provides an ACT prep class, which Joy had taken her sophomore year, that helps prepare students for the tests.

“Students have to be motivated to study on their own,” Gifted Resource teacher Beth Gilbert said. “We practice taking sample tests at school, and then we go over the answers, but they have to be motivated enough to study extensively beyond that school time.”

Another way that students can prepare for the tests is to take the Pre-SAT (PSAT) during their sophomore or junior year.

“I like to see students take the SAT because it gives them practice in taking timed, standardized tests,” Ulbrich said.

“The ACT and SAT are both timed and standardized, so the more a student practices, the better they will do. In addition, if a student does exceptionally well on the PSAT, they could be in the running for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test scholarship.”

All three of the tests have different time lengths. The PSAT is three and a half hours, including instructions and breaks, the SAT is three hours and 45

minutes and the ACT is just over four hours, with instructions and breaks.

The tests are not scored in percentages.

According to Ulbrich, each test has its own unique scoring technique.

For the PSAT, the first step in calculating the scores is to determine the individual raw scores for each section type. Next, the raw score for each section type is converted to a scaled score between 20 and 80 through a process called equating. Students are given percentile rankings to show how their scaled score compares to the scores of test-takers nationwide.

The ACT scores are calculated by first counting the number of questions on each test that are answered correctly.

Then, they convert the raw scores to scale scores. The Composite Score is the average of the four test scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. The lowest score that can be earned is a one and the highest score is 36. The national average is 21.

Each section of your SAT will be scored on a 200 to 800 point scale, for a possible total of 2400. On the writing section two subscores will be given, a multiple choice score from 20 to 80, and an essay score from two to 12.

Both Gilbert and Ulbrich feel that students should take these test seriously, because they can receive scholarships based on the score.

“Their college finances are dependable upon their ACT score,” Gilbert said “Also, it is the higher the ACT score the more financial assistance and scholarships that you can get. Plus, it is a good way for the colleges to see their academic skill level.”

Even though Ulbrich thinks that taking any one of these test can be stressful and nerve racking the results can be rewarding and help further on in life.

“Students should care about their scores because college admissions and scholarships opportunities could be on the line,” Ulbrich said. “Basically, the better your scores, the better chance you will have at being admitted to the college of your dreams or earning that fabulous scholarship.”

”

Brumbaugh for Picture of the Year in the News Picture category. This photo was taken at graduation and is featured in the 20142015 Purple and White Yearbook.

“It’s a huge honor to be nominated for Photo of the Year, and I’m super excited about it,” Brumbaugh said. “It’s just really cool because I rarely get nominated for something like this, and it’s awesome being only one out of 10 people nominated in the entire country.

I like being able to do something that not many people have done before.”

The winners will be announced on Nov. 14 during the NSPA Awards Ceremony at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Orlando.

seniors plan for after graduation continued from page 1d criteria, the colleges Lee is interested in recommend or require SAT Subject Tests.

The SAT Subject Tests consist of one subject such as Mathematics Level One or Two, Physics and foreign languages, which are graded on a scale of 800.

“I think some colleges require the SAT subjects to get a better idea of what your strengths are,” Lee said. “I believe my strengths lie in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas, especially math. So I decided to take the mathematics tests. I am thinking about taking Korean with Listening. I don’t know how much it will help me considering Korean is my first language but I think it wouldn’t hurt to have those tests on my application.”

Lee began his applications to his desired schools but realizes there is more work ahead.

“I’ve spent around five hours [applying to colleges] so far, but I am not that far into the process yet,” Lee said. “But I know I am going to have to spend much more time than that on my applications.”

Despite the preparation, Lee realizes his acceptance is not a guarantee.

“They have pretty low acceptance rates.

It really scares me. In the past, whenever I have applied to stuff or have had this mindset of me participating in large groups or organizations, I always had this advantage of being the minority. I am a Korean-American, which means most of the people that I am doing stuff with, they are in the white majority which makes me stand out as a person, a participant or an applicant,” Lee said. “But when I am applying to colleges it means, especially with these East Coast schools, that I am a part of the majority. I blend in with all the other Asians, Koreans, Indians, and all these people that are wanting to apply to these places.”

Along with his six out-of-state schools, Lee is also applying to Pittsburg State University (PSU), the University of Kansas (KU) and Kansas State University.

Lee is looking forward to the opportunity to push himself in his college years.

“It is definitely an understatement in saying that I am going to have to challenge myself.

There are so many benefits,” Lee said. “I think with going to some of these tougher schools I am going to have room to grow and to challenge and apply myself.”

The in-state route With a Division II college 2.8 miles from the high school, many students choose to attend PSU. Senior Rachel Folk, who has grown up in Pittsburg, is one of the students who will be furthering her education in her hometown.

“I can live at home for free, I know everyone here and know how to get around the town,” Folk said. “It just has that home vibe that I like.”

Folk has also chosen PSU because of her plan to be a Special Education teacher. “[PSU] does not have a bachelors in Special Education but I can get my bachelors in secondary education and then my masters in Special Ed. That is what I am going to end up doing,” Folk said.

According to college.startclass.com, PSU’s in-state tuition is approximately half of the price of the University of Kansas, which requires $10,107 for tuition as opposed to PSU’s $5,906.

This is a benefit to Folk.

“It is convenient and cheap,” Folk said.

Even though Folk is looking forward to studying at PSU, she realizes there will not be much change.

“It is the same-old, same-old; I have been here my whole life,” Folk said. “I want different but with what PSU has to offer, it is a really good choice for me.”

In order to branch out, Folk is considering joining a sorority.

“I think [with being in a sorority you can] get close with a group of girls, meet new people and gain new friendships,” Folk said.

“I think It is a really cool adventure that I want to take.”

Even though she is staying in her hometown, Folk is excited for the responsibilities that come from being in college. “[I am looking forward to] freedom. Not being told what to do throughout the day.

Or [being told] what classes to take. I won’t have to take pointless classes, I can take classes that are actually going to help me in my future.”

The community college route Different circumstances call for different means of earning a college degree.

Senior Avery Smith, he has his way planned out, starting with Fort Scott Community College (FSCC).

Smith desires to attend FSCC in the fall of 2016 for two years to receive his general education. He then hopes to transfer to PSU to further his education with a degree in construction. Smith believes this strategy will be efficient for him.

“You are going to have to get your gen eds and at a young age a lot of people change their major a couple of times,” Smith said. “I feel like it is a lot smarter to go to a community college first because you get your gen eds done and plus you have more time to grow and actually figure out what degree you want.”

Smith also believes that attending a community college prior to a university will decrease the tuition of college.

“It is a lot more cost effective. You don’t have to worry about all the college stuff that you get when you jump straight into a four year [college],” Smith said. “Of course, you are still going to have to pay money for college regardless, but having your first two years [at a cost effective price] gives you extra time to save up money from working because community college is also not as time consuming as a four year [college].”

Smith is taking a carpentry class through FSCC this year in order to prepare him for upcoming opportunities.

“I have been looking for an apprenticeship with a company I want to work for,” Smith said. “In my scenario, it is not really that hard for me to prepare since I am already taking the college class now. It gives me a full year of experience before the apprenticeship.”

Smith encourages other students to consider a community college and not to rule it out so.

“I don’t think people should worry about the social side. A lot of people don’t want to go to community colleges because they are kind of looked down upon on as a lesser school,” Smith said. “But, if it is more cost effective for you and your situation then I don’t think that should sway your opinion.”

SECTION D Booster Redux staff and policy Editors-in-Chief Alli Baden Molly Graham Megan Munger Morgan Plank

Design Editor Kailey Curtis

Photo editor Sherrick Rogers

Copy Editor Dante Menghini

Staff Maddie Baden Meghan Baker Connor Balthazor Alivia Benedict Lily Black Justin Blythe Katy Brown Nic Burk Trinity Butcher Mataya Cook Sophie Graham Ashley Henderson Meghan Hess Journey Jaramillo Josh Lee Gina Mathew Trina Paul Kali Poenitske Maddy Robison Jadyn Stewart Caleb Stradley Ivan Walter Jake Webb Julie Wilson Kaylah Wilson

Adviser Emily Smith

The Booster Redux

www.boosterredux.com

3

privilege power Differences of opportunity, resources in society JUSTIN BLYTHE @jdblyt ake a good look at your surroundings.

You may notice the complexity and diversity of the student body at the high school. Some things in particular that might stick out are the variation in gender and skin color.

These are just a few factors that may influence or be influenced by one’s privilege. Although we do not pay much attention to it, almost everyone has some sort of privilege.

Privilege, to me, is something that you are innately born with that puts you ahead in terms of the availability of opportunities and acceptance in our society.

The fact that we are here, in the United States, is reason alone to feel privileged.

Privilege is something some say does not exist, but I argue it does, and can be observed in our everyday lives.

When taking this look around, the first and most obvious thing you probably notice is a person’s gender.

If your sex happens to be male, then congratulations, you are probably more privileged. Men, from the beginning of history, have been privileged with more rights, respect and opportunity than women.

In our high school, men seem to have more leniency. Men get away with more just simply because of their sex. In the case of our dress code, men may get away with wearing clothing that, in a woman’s case, may be viewed as provocative or unacceptable. Sexual activities may be praised and awarded rather than being shamed and humiliated.

Although this may seem immoral and unethical, and I certainly agree, it is just how society has panned out. Although the situation has bettered over time, there is certainly a long way to go to achieve gender equality.

T

Pittsburg High School Student Publications 1978 E. 4th St. Pittsburg, KS 66762

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

Friday, oct. 30, 2015

ART BY ALIVIA BENEDICT Race is another factor relating to privilege in our society. Of course, being of white background automatically puts you ahead in terms of opportunity and acceptance. Being white, your parents never had to explain to you the meaning of explicit racial words.

When examining the honors and advanced placement classes in our school, you may notice a discrepancy in the amount of white students and students of diverse heritage.

Is this simply or a coincidence, or has opportunity influenced the path of students throughout their primary and secondary education?

I believe white students had less obstacles to triumph on their journey to where they are today, and that is why this discrepancy is observable.

Nobody should ever be insulted or misfortuned by their ethnic and

national backgrounds. I believe diversity and variability is beautiful.

Another somewhat invisible factor in the ladder of privilege is one’s socioeconomic status. Being born into a high-salary family automatically makes opportunities more readily available and accessible to you.

Several people are given more opportunities, acceptance and respect in our high school simply because of their last name. Your family’s name can be a symbol of wealth and superiority in the student body, and therefore affect the way faculty and fellow classmates view and treat you.

Socioeconomic status is also seen on the opposite spectrum within our school and community. According to the United States Census Bureau, 20.6 percent of citizens in our county are beneath the poverty level, which

is astounding compared to Kansas as a whole, sitting at just 13.7 percent.

This makes Crawford county the poorest county in our state, so it is inevitable that these issues be present in our lives.

I understand that these are just a few important factors that may influence one’s privilege. You may notice that none of these factors can be controlled by ourselves. We were born into the life that was offered to us. We should accept and appreciate this, but also try to rise above and extend our personal standards.

It is not okay to degrade and humiliate those who are less privileged than others. On the other hand, it is not okay to hate or envy those who were born into a life of privilege either. It is not their fault in either situation, and everyone should be treated equal regardless.

tick tock: expiration date of racial injustice Paul’s view of recentThisdiscrimination story is one of many where racial profilTRINA PAIL @trpaul1998 Ahmed Mohamed, a fourteen year old Sudanese-American boy from Texas, merely wanted to make a clock to show his teacher.

Little did he know this small action would make headlines across America and launch his story into a debate involving race, religion and school safety. According to The Atlantic, after Mohamed showed his teacher the homemade clock, he was sent to a juvenile detention center and was suspended from school for three days.

Was Mohamed wrongfully imprisoned or were school officials simply doing their job?

Mohamed told the Dallas Morning News his teacher kept the clock and said “it looks like a bomb.” He went on to say the clock was a circuit board and power supply inside of a briefcase.

The teacher, it seems, did not realize this “bomb” was merely a circuit board strapped into a briefcase.

I understand the importance of school safety and, in light of the many school shootings that have occurred in recent months, believe schools should take certain measures to keep their students safe.

However, sending an innocent boy to a juvenile detention center is not keeping a school safe. The teacher should have realized Mohamed’s invention was just as he said; a clock.

ART BY ALIVIA BENEDICT Mohamed was a victim of racial profiling.

Staff Editorial:

Seniors advice for college prep The booster redux staff @PHSStudentPub College is present in the minds of many seniors. If it isn’t, it should be. Some students are completely prepared, eagerly awaiting graduation and know exactly what they want to do, while others do not even have a clear beginning.

While college is less than a year away, now is the time to start preparing and making decisions for after graduation.

However, it is important for seniors to understand that seeking opportunities is their responsibility because resources are not going to fall in their laps.

In order to be fully aware of the tests required for acceptance into most colleges, the scholarships one may qualify for or the deadlines for applications, seniors need to take the initiative, especially if they are the first child in their family to attend college.

Parents in these particular situations may not know all what entails when not only applying to college, but preparing for it as well.

As the oldest child in her family, this is what one of our editors and her mom are realizing now. Many students in the senior class can also relate to this. The path to college is not always clear cut.

Other parents can be of more assistance to their children because

of experience with older siblings who have already applied to college. If parents have been through the application process with children or themselves before, it is easier to assist the current senior to navigate such topics such as staying updated on beneficial times to take an ACT or to apply in order to receive scholarships and priority housing.

The best way to be fully prepared for college is to ask questions and seek help from those who provide it.

Counselors are always willing to help sign students up for ACTs or to help with the application process.

They also keep students updated on scholarship deadlines and applications.

However, while college is particularly urgent for seniors, it is still important underclassmen are informed of the requirements and necessities for college as well.

Students need to have planned out or an idea of their future after high school in order to begin adequately preparing for it now.

We feel as though underclassmen need to take this as a warning to be proactive in taking advantage of the offered college visits or college days, offered test prep classes or offered Gear Up assistance. Underclassmen need to be proactive in fully preparing for college as well as their senior year. Because it comes faster than one would think.

ing turns people of color into criminals or terrorists.

In 2014, Nina Davuluri was the first IndianAmerican crowned Miss America. Shortly after her crowning, bigots took to Twitter to write racist messages like “More like Miss Terrorist #MissAmerica” and “Miss New York is an Indian.. With all do respect, this is America.”

According to The New Yorker, Davuluri was born to Indian parents in New York and was raised in Michigan.

Both Davuluri and I are first-generation Americans. As a Bangladeshi-American, I find it disheartening to know that speaking English and being born and raised in America apparently does not make me American enough.

Davuluri may not have been a Caucasian woman, but does that make her less American?

Skeptics might disagree with the progressive choice to make Miss America a non-white woman, but a competition that is supposed to represent America should also represent its growing diversity.

Both stories look different from the surface. One is about a boy in a school, and the other is about a woman in a beauty pageant.

However, both are stories of how racial minorities become targets of prejudice.

People of color are not stereotypes. We should not have to live in fear of being accused of crimes we did not commit. As America becomes more diverse, maybe society should become more accepting.

your voice, your choice Brown encourages personal political beliefs katy brown @ @katylady22 In fourth grade during a mock presidential election, I voted for John McCain.

Seven years later, I wouldn’t vote for a Republican candidate if you paid me.

I have grown up in a conservative home, but if you called me conservative I would be offended.

Although my parents are Republican, I have researched and decided what I believe. I decided not to blindly follow my parents’ political beliefs anymore.

There are many negative aspects associated with Democrats and that has made it difficult for me to identify with one side of the political scale.

I have strong memories of the night in 2008 when we learned Barack Obama would become our president for the next four years. I found my mom in her room lying down on her bed. She was wondering aloud if she should have taken my grandma to vote and whether or not that would have made a difference. I assured her it would not.

Democrats believed it was okay to need help, and it is everyone’s job to help people who are in need. I identify with this concept.

It did not make sense to me when I had been taught the story of the Good Samaritan so many times, why we wouldn’t be happy to help anyone that needed it.

I grew up disliking President Obama the same way many people grow up dis-

liking broccoli. When you hear so many bad things about a topic, you start thinking that maybe there’s a point there. I was also too young to comprehend what was actually happening, so I received all of my information from Fox News or my parents’ spin-off of what actually happened.

In eighth grade, I was exposed, via the internet, to the other side of the political spectrum, and I read as much as I could. I couldn’t believe what I found. My research brought in other perspectives on gay marriage, abortion and other controversial topics.

It was so exciting to finally have my own political beliefs. I decided to be neutral in the future when I would teach my kids about politics; I would teach them both sides of the story. Even if I don’t agree, I still want to inform them so they can have the opportunity to form their own opinion.

My parents and I started to get into arguments over politics, which made me so angry I avoided politics as a conversation topic with them. I listened to their conservative radio and mentally screamed until I eventually would ask to change the station.

When it got near election time, I started listening to music in the car so I wouldn’t have to listen to the raging Republican Rush Limbaugh.

I believe everyone needs to do their own research about politics and make their own decisions. Think your own thoughts, not your parents’.

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POPULATION

IN DEPTH: AN EXAMINATION OF COMMUNITY GROWTH, increasing SCHOOL population

Overcrowding impacts classrooms, lunches Megan Munger @DragonTwirler ushing her way out of class into a crowded hallway, freshman Jadien Reece heads toward the cafeteria. Once there, she waits at the back of an extensive lunch line, hoping it moves quickly so she will have enough time to eat.

There are 349 students assigned to Reece’s lunch, third lunch, making it the second largest lunch period of the day.

“It’s just too many people and not enough time,” Reece said. “Waiting in line is really chaotic because there are [groups of] people [who] cut in front of you and I [know that] I would also [struggle to find a seat] if I didn’t put my bag down [before I got in line].”

The problems many students, including Reece, face on a daily basis during lunchtime are partly due to the growth in population.

The current population of the school is 861 students, having grown by 144 students since current seniors, like Sam Bollinger, were freshmen. “[The number of students] seemed huge my freshmen year,” Bollinger said. “[In comparison] to now though, [that number was small]. It is crazy how populated the school is.”

With the rapid growth over the past four years, the amount of space available has declined, according to Principal Jon Bishop.

“We [have gotten] real creative with the space that we have. What [we ended up doing] is taking smaller spaces and turning [them into classrooms],” Bishop said. “We have turned two offices into a big classroom and we converted a classroom into a computer lab. We [just] have to [be careful and] make sure that we keep the numbers down in those classes.”

Along with keeping the numbers down in smaller classrooms, the number of students in a regular sized class is also an issue.

Rebecca Lomshek, College Algebra and Intro to Art teacher, knows this firsthand.

“In the College Algebra class we started out with 40 students and now we have 34. Typically that class has had around 25 students, and one semester there was only 15, so [there have been] lots of changes over the past four years with the numbers,” Lomshek said. “I feel like in the big picture of things, the students are shortchanged because there is not enough class time [for me] to go around and help everyone like I’d like to. I like to individualize with every student every class period, but I physically can’t now.”

Lacking the time to work one-on-one with students is not Lomshek’s only issue.

“My intro art classes have close to 30 students and art is pretty hands-on.

Materials and the cost is more now. Our department is purchasing the supplies for the students and even though we have more students, the money there is the same,” Lomshek said.

In addition to Lomshek having large classes, the English department has been affected, especially English teacher Kristi Uttley.

“My average class size has been around 22 [in years past]. This year, my smallest class is 26 and it goes up from there,” Uttley said. “I think that for the students, even though it isn’t difficult for me to present in front of 29 kids versus the 22 kids, for the students that are a little bit shy or a little bit introverted, because we rely on so much discussion and so much on talking about literature in here, [they] are more reluctant to participate then they would be if there were fewer kids. [So there are some] students who are inhibited because of the numbers.”

However, in the classroom setting, there are both good and bad attributes to having a larger class. “[With] discussions, it’s really beneficial. I like having large numbers in here if we’re doing group activities,” Uttley said. “Where it becomes a little bit taxing is with grading because English is one of the most intensive classes as far as grading because you’re grading writing and that just takes a lot of time.”

In an effort to combat the large amount of time spent grading, Uttley implemented a new kind of writing assignment.

“What I have done this year that helps was a group writing assignment where the kids were in [groups of six] and they worked collaboratively on a Google doc,” Uttley said. “There were five groups in each class and each group shared their document with me so I, from my computer, was giving them feedback and was reading it while they were working on it. I could give comments while they were working and I thought that was really effective.”

Moving around in the classrooms also poses a challenge with a larger number of students.

“We’re crammed in here,” Uttley said. “When we take a lot of short comprehension quizzes, I patrol the aisles and make the students cover the answers with their hand [because we’re so close], but they have been terrific.”

Size is a difficult issue to combat and it affects both the staff and the students.

“The number of students compared to the size of the school is stressful.

Now that I’m a senior, it isn’t something that I really have to worry about but, for the freshmen, it’s the next four years that they are worrying about,” Bollinger said. “I just hope that they can find a suitable way to expand the school to fit the needs of the growing population. It’s definitely needed in every way.”

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Lunch time sadness

What do you think of the lunch schedule?

Sam Kirby, 9 “Second lunch interrupts class and divides into two periods. Evening up the students would split more people’s class into two, which may make them lose focus in class but it would make lunches smaller.”

Adriana garcia, 10 “Some of our classes are far away from lunch so it takes longer for us to go through the line. I think that we should have less students, like divide up students and separate them in lunches.”

cade southard, 10 “Last year, early as a freshman, I didn’t know I had to hurry and I would be late to my classes after lunch.”

Emarrie Shaner, 12 “I think it’s unfair. First and third lunch are always jam packed to the brim so by the time anyone gets out of the lunch line the bell is already ringing.

They don’t have time to eat, but then second lunch isn’t very packed which I think is very very unfair because all lunches should be separated equally to where there isn’t overcrowding and one that is completely empty because all students should have enough time to be able to eat.”

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N FLUCTUATION

A group of students walk to third lunch. Third lunch is the largest lunch with 349 students. Three different lunch periods are scheduled during the school day but two of those average over 300 students per lunch while another is significantly smaller. “First and third lunch are overcrowded and have no where to sit while second lunch is much smaller. The overcrowding has become worse over the years because classes are getting bigger,” junior Olivia Joy said. PHOTO BY SHERRICK ROGERS

expansion on the rise Economic growth offers more student employment opportunities Josh Lee & Gina Mathew @iAmTheJoshLee & @GMMathew13 he constant whirring of a bulldozer’s engine has become a familiar sound around Pittsburg.

As indicated by various construction projects and new buildings around town, Pittsburg’s population and business community are expanding.

“Pittsburg is growing,” said Blake Benson, president of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Director to the City of Pittsburg. “Not just Pittsburg, but Crawford County.

If you look at the growth rates of other counties, Crawford County is growing [faster].”

With an increase in population, the community has seen an influx of new businesses popping up around town.

“Pittsburg is emerging as a hub for Southeast Kansas. It has proven to be an attractive option [for residents] because we are big enough to have great retail and services, but not so big that it takes an hour to get from one end of town to the other,” Benson said. “We seem to be a bigger regional draw now than we ever have been and, as we add [businesses] that other communities do not have, [that] makes us even more attractive for our neighboring communities to come spend time in Pittsburg.”

Due to this growth in the area, students seeking jobs for work experience or a source of income have many options to choose from.

While finding a job, senior Mary Garrett ran into an issue, but not for the reasons one might expect.

Her problem lied not in an employer’s hesitation to

T

hire her, but rather in conflicts with her schedule.

“I applied to thirteen different places, but I was not necessarily rejected from any of them,” Garrett said. “It was hard [to find a job] because my schedule is really tight with sports.”

Due to the number of businesses in town willing to hire students, Garrett found a job at Café Del Rio which was flexible enough to fit her schedule.

Other local businesses, such as Ron’s Supermarket, encourage the idea of employing students in the area.

“We really like hiring high-school students,” said

schools, Ron’s has proven to be a focal point for student employment.

As for future growth, Pittsburg is expecting to see additions to its commerce soon, such as a Walmart Neighborhood Market, Jimmy John’s, and Colton’s Steakhouse.

“When businesses are looking for an area to go into and invest in, they want a growing community that will support their business,” Benson said.

By contributing to such establishments, highschool students help stimulate the economy.

“We have been able to add a lot of new businesses, and the high-school students play a big role in helping to support those,” Benson said.

There are many opportunities for students to indirectly affect Pittsburg’s growing economy.

“I go out to eat multiple times a week,” junior Kyle Muathe said.

“I like going to Lotus, Mall Deli, Applebee’s, and [Tropical Sno], and I usually go with all of my friends.”

Employed students tend to see this consumerism around town as well. In Garrett’s case, she recognizes several familiar faces out while she is working.

“I see at least five people I know every time I work,” Garrett said.

Whether it is restaurants or retail, students can actively support Pittsburg’s growing number of businesses as an employee or customer, and these current growth trends are not expected to cease.

“I think we will continue growing, especially for the next few years,” Benson said. “I do not see us plateauing any time soon.”

We’ve been able to add a lot of new businesses, and the high school students play a big role in helping to support those. - Blake Benson Drew Rhodes, Ron’s Supermarket store manager.

“If we can have a high-school student come in and start working, then the next thing you know, they are graduating high school [with] two years of work underneath their belt. Right now, we have approximately fifteen high-school students working for us.”

With applications coming in from many SEK-area

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steady improvement EA Sports steps it up with latest Madden installment Connor balthazor @PHSStudentPub nother year, another Madden game.

Every year, Electronic Arts Sports (EA Sports) releases a Madden National Football League (NFL) game, and it always sells great, despite many gamers criticizing its repetitiveness from year to year.

With the NFL license exclusive to EA, they have no other game developers to challenge them to make a better game. Due to the lack of competition, many believe that the development team has been slacking off, particularly in the last few years.

This year’s edition, in my opinion, ends the trend of sub-par Madden games put out by EA. This year over 25 new songs have been installed in the game, which was a feature many fans, including myself, felt should be returned after a prolonged absence from the game.

Another thing I enjoy about this game is the variety of game modes available. You can keep it simple with the classic mode “Play Now,” which allows you jump right into a game with any team of your choosing.

Another mode that is available to play is “Connected Franchise.” “Connected Franchise” enables you to either create a player, coach an entire team, which controls free agent signing, drafting and progressing players, or be an owner with complete power over anything to do with your team, in addition you also the ability to renovate the stadium, change prices on various licensed team items, and maximize profit for your franchise.

If you are a beginner, a mode that may be the place for you is the “Skills Trainer.” Here the game will teach you the simplest of controls, new features this year, and controls that even the best of the best may struggle with.

Within the skills trainer is a challenging wave based game called “The Gauntlet.” If you are angered easily at video games, prepare to throw your controller across the room. Not only is “The Gauntlet” extremely long, tedious and frustrating, it’s also very addicting.

And, to add to the challenge, there is a boss wave, a more difficult challenge than usual, every five waves.

The final two modes are “Draft Champions” and “Ultimate Team.” In Draft Champions you are given 16 draft picks for your team. You will use one to pick a team style and then you prioritize your picks

A

and decide what position will help your team the most. “Draft Champions” adds a level of strategy that Madden has never seen.

The last mode, and in my opinion the complete opposite of the least is “Ultimate Team.” In “Ultimate Team” you establish your team by choosing a team style and receiving low-level players from a welcome pack. “Ultimate Team” revolves around constantly improving your team. The two best ways to do this are to either buy packs from the marketplace using coins, or to search the auction house to find players you want to add hopefully finding a low price while you search. When you play using your team, you can either play solo challenges, which are offline games where you face AI controlled teams, and they are great ways to earn coins easily, or you can play seasons mode, where you play against other people.

This mode can either be extremely challenging or

even easier than solo challenges; the difficulty comes down to how good your opponents are.

While there are many good qualities about this game, no game is perfect and this game has its own plethora of issues. A nearly game breaking problem is the receiver/cornerback interactions on pass plays. On deep pass plays, if you select the receiver and hold the Y button (triangle on playstation) it activates the aggressive catch.

Almost every time I have used this, and when it was being used against me has resulted in a catch for the receiver, even if the coverage from the cornerback is perfect.

In the past few years, the Madden Franchise has been struggling greatly.

This year, in my opinion, reverses the downward trend and sends the future of the game in the right direction. While it isn’t a great game, it’s certainly an improvement, and will hold me over for another year until the next game is out.

Madden NFL 16

««««« «««« «

america’s heroes mac miller delivers on new album become zeroes spitting fire:

Caleb Stradley @PHSStudentPub They all had pretty good verses, but did not make a The only way to really describe this album is a fire significant difference, so I felt like the songs would that cannot be put out, and no matter how hard you have been fine without them. Out of all of them, try, it just keeps burning forever. This may be an exag- Chief Keef did the best. His verse simply felt the most geration, but, seriously, this album is great. energetic and the best lyrically. It almost makes me Mac Miller’s flow, combined with the beat, creates want to listen to a Chief Keef album. songs that will never get old. The beats in particular Some of the best tracks on the album include the are some of the best beats I have two singles, “100 Grandkids” and heard on a modern hip-hop album “Break the Law.” These songs are so so far. They are so addictive and exciting with their fast pace and Ma Miller’s flow, comMac awesome they make you constantcrazy beats. All the other songs ly put the entire album on repeat. are great. There are not really any bin bined with the beat, creHis lyrics are average, but he does bad songs on the album. ates songs that will never talk about similar subjects in many It is obviously not a perfect alget old. of his songs, like money or drugs, bum, it has its flaws, but the songs which are not uncommon subjects are still enjoyable for any hip-hop - CALEB STRADLEY TRADLEY in hip-hop, so it would be nice if he fan. rapped about something else. This still does not ruin However, they would be pretty unappealing for the album entirely, though. The aforementioned good people who do not listen to rap music often because things more than make up for it, but it can still be of the vulgar lyrics. So, if you get offended easily, I bothersome. do not recommend this album. If not, then you should There are still some themes of the album that are definitely check it out. pretty interesting and they carry a decent message.

Overall, this album is just plain fun to listen to. The Mac Miller getting sober, taking down his depression flow is great, the beats are insane, it is pretty catchy and quitting the party life are a few examples. His past without being obnoxious and it has several songs you life is a quite a big subject will want to listen to over and over again.

There are some interesting artists featured on this The future looks pretty bright for Mac Miller, and I album like Chief Keef, Little Dragon, Lil B and Ab-Soul. cannot wait to see what he has in store next.

“ ”

Flipping out

A comic by nic burk

Cosby’s fall from grace Julie Wilson @PHSStudentPub People use public admiration to create a heroic, worshipful image of celebrities or athletes without questioning. This means that we make people out to be heroes because we admire what they can do.

Who are your heroes? Are your heroes great leaders, do they have a reality show or a championship ring?

How do you feel when these heroes aren’t as heroic as they look?

There are a lot of examples of this. Lance Armstrong tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and had his Tour de France titles taken away.

Tiger Woods had an affair.

Michael Vick went to prison for dog fighting.

America has been dealing with hero worship for a while, but most recently we all took another big hit.

Bill Cosby is known to millions as “America’s Dad” from playing Dr. Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show.

He’s a comedian who won respect and admiration from Americans as his show topped TV ratings.

Recently, it has been reported several women have come forward with allegations of sexual assault going back almost 30 years, leaving his fans questioning his reputation.

As of Aug. 20, 2015, Cosby has been accused by at least 51 women, including Barbara Bowman (an actress), of either rape, sexual assault, and/or sexual misconduct, with the earliest alleged incidents taking place in the mid-1960s.

If it were any regular person, they would be charged with rape and sent to trial. However, because he was the famous Bill Cosby, no one wanted to believe he could do such a thing and the women were not taken seriously for a long time.

So, how can “America’s Dad” actually be some kind of monster?

According to Newsweek, Bowman was a 17-yearold actress when she met Cosby in 1985. After he gained her trust he repeatedly drugged and abused her.

Bowman says, “A friend brought me to an attorney in 1989; he laughed me out of the office. Nobody would believe me; he was Dr. Huxtable. He was “America’s Dad.” Everybody loved him, I loved him.” This is why it took so long for her to try and tell someone, and even longer for her story and the stories of others to come out.

The Daily Beast states Cosby has given millions of dollars in donations and been active in countless charities and public works, which makes him even more popular.

It is hard to see the things he does to help others and think he can do anything wrong.

How can any of our heroes be bad guys? No one wants to believe we idolize the wrong people because of what we see on television and social media.

We need to base our hero worship on people with virtues and not on people who are famous and have a talent. Former President Jimmy Carter, would be a great example because won the Nobel Peace Prize and advocates for human rights and housing the poor through Habitat for Humanity. Mother Teresa, a Roman Catholic nun and missionary who helped people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis would be another, or Martin Luther King Jr., the leader of civil rights movement who used nonviolent civil disobedience.

We have a lot of questions, but do we have any answers?

I think we already know the answer; we need to stop making heroes out of celebrities. Celebrities are just people, which means they can be good or bad.

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dancers united by common goals Different companies offer similar opportunities journey Jaramillo @journeybutcher alking into the dance studio on a bad day, junior Morgan Grotheer clears her mind doing the thing that she loves; dancing.

Grotheer participates as a dancer in the Midwest Regional Ballet company. At this company, there are over 70 participants that could be any age. DIfferent categories of skill at this company include Company Prep, Junior and Senior Pro. Ballet is the only style of dance offered at the Midwest Regional Ballet and they do not compete. Grotheer has to drive to Joplin for practice, but to her, it is worth it for her love of dance.

“The passion I have for dance is normal, yet insane to me,” Grotheer said. “I have to dance everyday and it just happens naturally, but I feel as though a day I don’t dance is a day that wasn’t worth having.”

Unlike the Midwest Regional Ballet, the YMCA Academy of Dance is big on competitions, and they offer different styles of dance including hip hop, clogging, ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap and many more.

There are four different levels that are based on age, including Y, M, C and A; with Y being the youngest and A being the oldest. There are Freshman Gracie Terry dances with the YMCA Academy of Dance during half time at the also levels that aren’t necessarily levels, such PHS football game against Chanute. PHOTO BY AUBREY BOLINGER. as, Company Prep and Company Pro. TDP dancer sophomore Isabel Hendrickson joy, it also comes with struggles as well.

With this company, competitions play a big “Time management of school work and role. However, YMCA dancer freshman Grace believes that though each company varies, the homework would be my main conflict with Terry believes being a dancer is more than goal of a company dancer remains constant.

“The main goal is to be the best dancer being a company dancer,” Grotheer said. competition.

“Being a company dancer means interacting [you] could possibly be and to make and “[Also] there are those days that you just with your level and representing your company become a family [with the other dancers],” can’t turn.”

According to these dancers, dancing for a in the most positive way,” Terry said. “[Our Hendrickson said.

Although these companies seem to have company can be hard work, but to Grotheer, main goal is to] always set a positive example many differences, one big thing that all of that is one of the best things about being a and to have fun.”

Like the YMCA Academy of Dance, compe- these companies have in common is the fact dancer.

“Everyone says [dancing] is expression tition plays a large role at The Dance Pitt(TDP) to be a dancer at one of these companies, and it also offers many different styles of one would have to take part in an audition. without using words, but to me, it’s really dance. The age range to be a dancer at TDP Another thing that they have in common is challenging and no matter what you do, you can go further,” Grotheer said. “There’s no, ranges from two years old to 18 and is broken that they all perform in shows or recitals.

Each of these dancers voiced their love of ‘oh okay, you’ve met your ultimate goal, down into five different categories of skill are based on age. The levels are tiny, mini, junior, dance, and Grotheer believes even though you’re done now,’ because you can always being involved in dance comes with a lot of excel, and that is what I love.” teen and senior.

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we got the beat

Drumline pumps up student section

ashley henderson @PHSStudentPub Whether marching on the field, pounding on trash cans, or creating beats during football games, drumline strives to excite the crowd up.

Senior Tyler Lynn agrees drumline can impact the football games while being a part of the student section.

“I like the drumline because they are always excited and they have a lot of energy,” Lynn said. “It makes me more pumped up for the games.”

The eight members is drumline composed of seniors Jack Warring, Ethan Ortiz, Darien Baker; juniors Zach Uttley, Caleb Dial, Andrew Ortolani; sophomore Blake Simons and freshman Jake Russian.

The drumline performs at home football games, basketball games and during concert season.

Band director Cooper Neil hopes to involve the drumline in pep assemblies more and do halftime performances in the winter.

This year the section leaders have been leading the other members of drumline during rehearsal more.

Ortolani and Warring have been running the bass drum sectionals.

“They really take care of themselves,” Neil said. “I would say that is the most unique thing about drumline.”

Warring believes drumline has a different feel.

“It is really laid back compared to the rest of the band,” Waring said. “We learn things a lot quicker and it is also a more relaxed part.”

Simons has been on drumline through middle school and both years of high school. For Simons, the best part of being involved in drumline is how close the members are.

Playing his snare drum, junior Andrew Ortolani performs in front of the student “It is like a family,” Simons said. “A strange family, section during halftime of a varsity football game. PHOTO BY DEREK BRUMBAUGH but a very close one.”

media mastermind Meghan hess @PHSStudentPub All students have made at least a couple of trips to the school library before, whether it was to check out a book or work on a paper for a class last minute. But, there is only one mastermind behind every cover and page number, the woman who single-handedly wrangles the responsibilities that come with working within the library. She is known throughout the school as Samantha Warren, and when it comes to finding a good book, she is just the person to talk to.

Warren favors mystery novels above all others, but since she is a librarian she has to force herself out of her comfort zone. She sets yearly goals for herself on how many books she will read so she can maintain the ability to give well-rounded recommendations to students.

“I don’t try to steer kids towards any particular genre, but dystopian novels are very popular right now,” Warren said. “But, graphic novels are ways too underrated. Not manga, but stand-alone titles. We have about fifty new titles this year.”

Warren has been passionate about books ever since she was a child, sometimes going to certain measures just so that others couldn’t

check out the books she wanted.

“My favorite book as a kid was The Girl With the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts,” she said. “I’d hide that book in the library where no one else could find it just so I could be the only one who read it.”

Warren obviously loves reading, but some students’ opinions on reading bother her.

“It makes me sad to hear students say they hate reading,” she said. “It is a huge part of what I do and there is so much to love.”

Warren believes that this hatred has roots within AR testing and the required scores that makes kids hold distaste for reading . She says it is like “telling someone you don’t like their friend” when she hears kids ranting over books.

The quality of the library also depends on how students treat books and their approach on reading.

“My biggest pet peeve is a book that has obviously been in a parking lot. They are dirty and wet and not taken care of,” Warren said.

“We’ve had books returned from Wal-Mart and other stores because they were left and found in those parking lots.”

The library is not just a place of books but student creations as well.

Behind the scenes with librarian Sam Warren

Speaking to a student, Samantha Warren partakes in her everyday activities as the school librarian. PHOTO BY MEGAN SMITH Various pieces of artwork can be found throughout the library, adorning the walls or ornamenting shelves. They express a sense of community within the library, adding in the creative side of the student body. They seem to balance out the formality of the quietness, relaxing the constraint and

encouraging students to appreciate their imagination and creativity.

The library may seem like a quiet, stiff room filled with musty books, but in reality it is buzzing with life and adventures, and one woman who can help you find where to start.

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Club happenings:

FCS, Chit Chat invite new members Meghan Baker & Trinity butcher @meghanbaker11 @PHSstudentPub

Fellowship of Christian students Starting out by praying, junior Karen Campbell leads the Friday morning meeting in room 217.

Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) is a club in which students engage and learn about the Christian faith.

FCS was previously called Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).

However, this year a group of students suggested to change the name. With the club’s former name, all non-athletes were excluded.

“In all reality, every Christian, and nonChristian for that matter, is in need of a support group in high school,” Campbell said. “It shouldn’t be limited to whether you play a sport or not.”

Along with Campbell, freshman Haley Garzone agrees with the reasoning behind the name change.

“I think it’s more open [now],” Garzone said. “Anyone that goes to our school who wants to join [can now], athlete or not.”

Since the change of the club name, more students have attended the club meetings.

“Compared to the beginning of the school year last year to the beginning to the school year this year, I would say [we have] about four times the number [of students],” FCS co-sponsor Rashell Yockey said. “[We went] from [having] about five to ten students, to having about thirty or forty.”

Also, FCS has decided to be more involved this year by having an event every month.

“Once a month we will either have a get-together in the evening to serve other people or to just celebrate, have fun and build relationships,” FCS co-sponsor Kris Mengarelli said.

On Sept. 23, FCS participated in See You at The Pole, which included worship, prayer and a message. This event occurs every year.

Garzone likes that FCS is more active this year.

“I like that the club is more involved because the more people, the more the word gets out about what we are all about, which is leading others in the way of Christ and showing them that a small act of kindness can simply set you apart and make your actions recognizable,” Garzone said.

In addition to Garzone, junior Zach Thomas believes that FCS can help students. “[FCS] is a good experience [for students],” Thomas said. “If students feel like they need some place to go for their problems or anything like that we can help them.”

According to Campbell, being in FCS gives students the opportunity to meet others who share the same faith.

“Being in FCS gives you an opportunity to meet others with the same beliefs as you and it enables you to be proud of your beliefs because being surrounded by fellow believers is the best feeling in the world,” Campbell said. “The atmosphere is completely different when you walk into a place [filled with] a bunch of Jesusloving teens. When they begin to speak about their beliefs [it is] passionate.”

chit chat club Five years ago, Regina Winemiller, English Speakers of Other Languages teacher, started a conversation club to help English language learners practice more English, or for English speakers to learn other languages.

This year the club has been more active, and more students can attend before and after school meetings. Meeting are on Thursdays in the cafeteria. Languages learned in the club are English and Spanish.

“14 students are officially signed up, but students who come to meeting can vary,” Winemiller said.

Club member junior Karla Arana feels like it can be a challenge when people don’t understand the culture or understand language.

“It’s like when you’re talking Spanish to them and you feel really uncomfortable or they feel really uncomfortable because they don’t understand your language,” Arana said. “Sometimes people don’t want to learn different languages and it’s really kind of difficult to try to help them if they don’t want to learn.”

The club’s goal is to learn about each other’s cultures and to learn different languages.

“In the past we’ve done meals when we try and bring food from other cultures, but that’s like a once-in-a-while thing, but mainly what we try to do is have conversations,” Winemiller said.

The club is going to start selling coffee during school hours for a new activity.

“Its an exciting club and people should join,” senior Brandon Luna said.

8 SPORTS

Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 www.boosterredux.com SECTION D

swinging past sek Junior Logan Lord chips off the green using a pitching wedge at Crestwood Country Club. This was Lord’s first season on the team and was one of three to qualify for the 5A state golf tournament. Lord placed 19th at the state tournament. PHOTO BY DEREK BRUMBAUGH

Team earns SEK champs first time in school history, send three to state PATRICK SULLIVAN @PHSstudentPub Winning the SEK title is something no girls golf team has done at the high school, but for the this year’s team, it is one of its many accomplishments.

The team star ted off the season with a second place finish at For t Scott and then went on to place at all of its tournaments. In the middle of the season, they placed first at Chanute. All of these events lead up to winning the SEK title.

Placing in ever y tournament and winning SEK for the first time in school histor y meant a lot to junior Logan Lord.

“We met our most impor tant goals this season,” Lord said.

Head golf coach Mar y Packard was also satisfied with the outcome of the season.

“I’m extremely pleased with how we’ve done this season,” Packard said.

“We’ve placed in ever y tournament and to win SEK, it is truly something special.”

The players were excited to be par t of this first time achievement.

“It was really awesome. The team worked ver y hard to get here and Coach [Packard] is a great coach, she prepared us well,” Lord said.

Packard, former head volleyball coach, is now head girls golf coach.

Opposed to having four golfers last season, the team had six golfers par ticipate which benefitted the team due to the fact that the top four scores are taken and averaged each tournament.

“Having our top three: sophomore Jamie Van Wyck, junior Gracie Lopez, Lord and another rotating really helps the team. The top three generally finish within a few strokes of each other,” Packard said.

The three top golfers of this season all qualified for the state tournament.

Lord earned 19th place at state in ad-

“ ” it was very nerve wracking because every stroke could determine your place

-logan lord

dition to Lopez placing 28th and Van Wyck finished 40th.

“I had a lot of fun at state although it was ver y ner ve-wrackin g because ever y stroke could determine your place,” Lord said.

Van Wyck felt her per formance during the postseason was not her best although she is determined to become a better golfer.

“I was not satisfied with my per formance at state but I will continue to work hard and improve for next season.”

Packard, however, thought all the girls on the team played well and was impressed by their per formance.

“I am so proud of the girls this season,” Packard said. “Getting three to go to state is really exciting. I am eager to see what next year brings.”

Equalizing the playing field Heikes remains only girl on varsity soccer, voices story of perseverance, empowerment LILY BLACK @PHSstudentPub Persevering through the struggles of being the only female player on the varsity soccer team, senior Shelbi Heikes proves it can be done.

“Regardless of what people say, girls and guys can do the same thing, but you have to work so much harder to try to keep up with their pace,” Heikes said. “There are a lot of challenges that come with it in itself. It’s hard, but I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am, and I am still working to try to get where I want to be.”

Heikes has overcome difficulties on and off the field.

“We were about to start the one-on-one drill and [a male player] walked out. He left because I wasn’t good enough competition for him or whatever he had going on in his mind,” Heikes said.

In addition to breaking stereotypes with teammates, Heikes has also had to overcome stigma from adults.

“We went to McDonald County, and I got in the last 15 minutes of the game. One of the parents was on the sidelines and I could hear him talking. He [said] ‘oh my gosh! She’s doing really well. I’m really shocked!’ They honestly expected me to come out and be terribly slow and not know what to do with the ball. It kind of hurt a little bit because it was like people’s expectations were lower for me because I’m a girl,” Heikes said. “But, it felt good at the same time because I worked hard enough to be able to get that reaction from somebody. I know that the work I put in caused that and that made me feel good.”

But, the emotional aspect of being the only female varsity player does catch up to Heikes.

“It’s really hard to be the only girl sometimes because girls like to have other girls around them to be like ‘Okay, good job! You’re doing great!’ and I don’t have that. It’s been so hard to be the only girl,” Heikes said.“ I’m kind of fogged over with that sense of ‘okay, well, no matter what I do, it’s not going to be good enough, because I’m never going to be as fast as Senior Shelbi Heikes congratulates Riley Beihl after the JV game against Blue Valley Southwest. Heikes everyone else.’”

Even though Heikes is unsure as to whether has played soccer all four year of high school and is also the only varsity female player this season.

or not she will continue soccer through college, Senior Lukas McConnell believes she has better prepared herself for her future soccer career.

“It is really good practice for [her] when she goes to college. She’ll be playing on an all-girls team, and playing with guys that are more physically capable than she is helps her a lot,” McConnell said.

Holding herself to a high standard, Heikes focuses on each practice.

“There’s not a day that I can decide I want to be lazy or I want to skip practice; I’m representing all the other girls at this point,” Heikes said.

“I have to keep that in mind all the time when I’m playing. But, I’m honestly really grateful to be where I am at.”

To be where she is today, Heikes had to put in additional effort.

“Not only did I have to condition with the rest of the team, but I had to do it on my own. There were nights I would spend at the track running sprints to try to get a little bit faster or get a little bit more stamina,” Heikes said.

The female players on the junior varsity team admire Heikes, according junior Jonathan Avalos.

“It gives the JV girls someone to look up to,” Avalos said. “She’s a role model.”

In her opinion, Heikes believes it’s her job to make everyone see that women can do just as much as men.

“I have to open the eyes of the players on my team, the parents, [and] everyone else who comes to watch our games.”

McConnell believes Heikes possesses great leadership and sportsmanship skills.

“She’s one of the hardest workers. She’s always one of the few that works the hardest during practices. Honestly, she is one of the better leaders on the team,” McConnell said.

By playing with males for the majority of her high school athletic career, Heikes believes she has figured out who she is.

“I don’t regret for one second playing with guys my whole life,” Heikes said. “It’s made me who I am today and because of the challenges and trials that come with that, my character has developed into somebody that I never thought I would be able to be.”

PHOTO BY SAVANNAH JONES

young numbers Freshmen volleyball team experiences increase MEGHAN BAKER @PHSstudentPub Numbers were not a problem for the freshmen volleyball team this season according to freshmen coach Cassie Quick.

There were fourteen freshmen on the team and the coaches and players learned to accommodate the amount of freshmen.

At the beginning of the season sixteen freshmen were on the team but freshman Vanessa Yaghmour moved up to varsity and freshman Aubree Beitzinger moved up to junior varsity.

According to Quick, the number of freshmen on the team was more advantageous than being a disadvantage.

Putting together a freshman team was not an issue due to the amount of athletes.

“There are some schools who struggle to put a freshman team together; it is awesome we don’t have that problem,” Quick said.

One disadvantage was since there are a lot of freshmen, there was not enough coaches to help all the time.

The freshmen team even relocated to the Megan Mallatt gym for practice due to the size of the squad.

“We are able to use both courts in the Megan Mallatt Activity Center which is incredibly useful for how many athletes we have out this year,” Quick said.

Despite the numbers, the freshman volleyball team improved everyday.

“The season went very well. The girls continued to work hard in practice and we saw improvements,” Quick said. “They didn’t become discouraged with fewer reps because of larger numbers, which is awesome. They worked well as a group of 14 in practice, which isn’t easy.”

Senior volleyball player Mary Garrett believes because of the number of freshmen on the team, they will have to have a competitive edge in order to get the amount of playing time they desire.

“Having so many players helped them work

harder for their position and playing time,” Garrett said.

Along with the competitive side of volleyball, freshman Reagan Burdick thinks trying new things is a reason why many freshmen went out for volleyball.

“They’re freshmen and they want to try new sports and see how it is going,” Burdick said.

Quick appreciates all of the girls hard work and was excited for the season ended.

“I believe our large numbers increased the competitive effort given by each individual; each girl earned her spot on this team,” Quick said. “I am glad to have had the opportunity to watch them improve every day.”