Blazer Vol 36 Issue 6

THE

Blazer

Senior Edition

Gardner Edgerton High School

Gardner, Kan. Vol. 36 — Issue 6— May 2015

Which after high school path is right for you?

Memories and advice from teachers to Class of 2015

Blood Drive

Amy Hurd Four year president of the Class of 2015

Collects 137 units of blood

2 Information

Table of Contents May 2015 3 4 5 7 8-10 11 12-13 14-15 16

Vol. 36 — Issue 6 Blood Drive

StuCo Elections Forensics Senior Edition Begins Amy Hurd College Match Senior Timeline

2015

Newspaper Staff

Editors-in-Chief Shelby Simpson Starla Stephens Copy Editor Brooke Boyer Adviser Lindsey Ross

Staff Writers Jaclyn Adamson Brittani Cox Savannah Cox Alex Cross Connor Nuessen Ryan Shirley Jaycee Zeck

Quotes from teachers College Checklist

2014-2015 Editorial Policies

The Blazer is the official high school publication of Gardner Edgerton High School, printed by Osage Graphics in Burlingame, Kan. This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. Gardner Edgerton School District No. 231 and its board members, officers, and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is not an expression of school district policy. Operating with an open forum, students and editors are solely responsible for the content of this student publication.

Editorial opinions represent the views of the individual writer, not the staff as a whole. Letters to the editor are welcome. All submitted letters to the editor must be no longer than 300 words, typed and signed by the author. Letters will be considered and published on a space-available basis. The Blazer staff reserves the right to edit all submitted material for content and libel. For advertising or other information, please call or write: Journalism 425 North Waverly Road Gardner, Kansas 66030 (913) 856.2640 rossl@usd231.com

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Blood Drive

Red Cross visits GEHS and students change lives

T

rypanophobia, or the fear of needles, is common among 10 percent of people, while 20 percent of the general population have some degree of fear associated with needles, injections or shots, according to www.popsci.com. An intense fear of needles can prevent people from going to the doctors routinely, following prescribed treatments and taking blood tests or donating blood.

Students who are not among the percentage of people who fear needles, then he/she might consider donating blood at any local blood drive.

What you should bring List of places visited outside the U.S in the last three years Photo ID/ drivers license List of medications

takes about 8-10 minutes, while a pint of blood will be drawn.

“For the student’s who say they are too scared to give blood”, Wilden said. “At first it might be scary, but afterwards it is a good feeling knowing that you helped save a life.”

According to Dr. Suzy Stewart, the Community Blood Center registered 140 donors and collected 137 units of blood, school and community wide.

Twenty-one students donated double red blood cells, 30 percent of the total blood donation.

The summer drive will be held on June 24, and CBC will give everyone who attends their blood drive appointment two free tickets to a 2015 Kansas Royals baseball game as an incentive.

Stewart would like to remind students and the community that you can only give blood donations every 8 weeks.

Miss the blood drive?

There are still opportunities to donate at the following centers:

Graphics courtesy of Creative Commons

Where does the blood go?

Junior Alexa Wilden donated blood this year and enjoyed the donation.

“I give blood because it make me feel good for helping someone else,” Wilden said.

The process of the donation only

News 3 Jaycee Zeck Staff Writer

w Talking to Teri Cooper,

a staff member at Red Cross

Growing up, Cooper never gave blood donations until she found out her mother needed 19 units of blood, because of this, she decided to make it her career.

“The gift of life is the most precious thing, and if we have the opportunity to give it, that is so important,” Cooper said.

Q: What do you do when someone passes out?

A: We try to wake them up with a cold rag, and lightly shake them, holding their legs up. It’s all part of the body’s natural reaction.

Q: What would you say to someone who is scared to give blood?

A: I just try to reassure them and let them know that what they are doing will change someone’s life

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Someone who might under go heart surgery may have several reasons to get blood transfusions.

Cooper advises while another staff member draws blood from sophomore Lisa Thepsouphanh Photo By: Jaycee Zeck

Severe burns, that can damage the skin, the underlying tissues, and loss of fluid can lead to the need of blood transfusions.

Whenever someone needs lung transplants, liver transplants of or kidney transplants, they will need blood transfusions.

4 News

GEHS Votes for New StuCo Members Savannah Cox Staff Writer

E

ach year students from the high school have the opportunity to contribute to the school by joining Student Council. StuCo is a group of freshmen to senior students whose goal is to make GEHS an enjoyable experience for all students and faculty. Part of their job is to make sure the school is filled with activities throughout the school year.

“Student Council does a variety of things. We are in charge of Freshman Orientation and Freshmen Academy.

We are in charge of Spirit Weeks for Homecoming, Winter Royalty and Prom week, along with the Pep Assemblies that coordinate these weeks. We host and organize the Senior Citizen’s Luncheon, and help organize/put on both Blood Drives,” StuCo sponsor Katie Zahner said. “We are also in charge of the Powder Puff game during Homecoming week as well.”

Members are elected by students in their designated grade level. The students get to vote for their class president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and representatives. At the end of the year, students vote during their lunch for the new members and will find out shortly after the election. “[Running for Student council] is very nerve-wracking,” StuCo member Jacob Casey said. “It’s also sad to know if I don’t make it I’ll be out of StuCo activities for the entire year and I love StuCo activities.”

To run for StuCo, the students had to pick up and complete an application from Zahner’s room. In addition to the application the student also needed to complete a 25 class signature list to

officially be in the voting process.

“Students are required to get class signatures as proof that there is at least a fraction of their class that is willing to have this student represent them,” Zahner said. “If the students were unable to obtain these signatures, it would more than likely not be feasible that they would represent their class as a whole.”

Being a part of StuCo is a privilege.

According to Zahner, the students should promote leadership and represent GEHS to the best of their ability at all times. When students are a part of StuCo they represent this school.

Many students run but only seven are chosen for positions within their class. The current class presidents include senior Amy Hurd, junior Jenna Goetzmann, sophomore Jonas Pippitt and freshman Cole Billings. If these students run again they have the potential to remain class president for their grade level.

“I’m a treasurer, but in the GEHS Student Council, all officers have the same jobs and work together to promote a better school and fun school activities,” Casey said.

The freshman coming into the school take a different route to becoming a member of Student Council. The freshman vote when they come to school in the fall. Freshman class elections take place within the first three weeks of school. They get information during Freshman Orientation and then Zahner provides information on the announcements as well. When the class officers are picked they then start meetings and planning for events throughout the year.

“There’s way too many great parts of Student Council to pick just one,” Zahner said. “I love how close knit a

group the kids are, and they genuinely want to make GEHS a better place.”

Student Council elections are going on right now and the members will be decided on Thursday, May 7. Voting takes place during all lunches that day and all students get the opportunity to vote for who they believe will do the best job as their class officers. The new officers will be announced on Friday, May 8.

GEHS Wants You For Class Officer Photo courtesy: http://commons.wikimedia. org/wiki/File:Uncle_Sam_(pointing_finger).jpg Changes were made Photo Courtesy: http://stathanasiusschool.org/ web/index.php/programs/student-council

Sports & Activities 5

Forensics for the win Jaclyn Adamson Staff Writer The class name “forensics” can be misleading to a lot of students. It is not crime scene analyzation or digging in unmarked graves. Forensics is a speaking, acting, and presenting based class.

Forensics is taught and coached

by Mike Zegers and assisted by Deb Osborn.

“I did forensics when I was in high school,” Zegers said, “That’s why I wanted to coach it.”

Most of the team members take intro to forensics early on in their careers. They can then take the “big kid” forensics class, as Zegers calls it, or just join the team and drop by after school to work on their pieces.

There are different types of pieces for a varying number of points.

Memorized pieces acquire more points than non-memorized ones. Students are able to enter more than one piece in a tournament to get the maximum number of points. The different types are poetry, prose, humorous solo, serious solo, duet, duo, original oration, persuasive speech, informative speech, exempt, and impromptu pieces.

Freshmen Faith Trug and Alassandra Gournaris have worked on their duet, ‘The Odd Couple’ by Neil Simon, all

Freshmen Faith Trug and Alassandra Gournaris give their duet “The Odd Couple”. It featured both arguing and choking. Photo by: Jaclyn Adamson

year. They have competed in several tournaments and placed 2nd in one of them.

“It’s one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever done,” Trug said.

Forensics can be difficult, but like other activities hard work can lead to success, which is the best part according to Zegers.

“Especially kids who have worked really hard,” he said.

The regular forensics season started in late January and continued to the middle of April. During the season students often woke up at six in the morning on Saturdays, hop on a bus, and ride close to 30 minutes to perform their pieces. For an afternoon tournament, competitors leave school at 2:30 and sometimes do not make it back home until nine o’clock at night.

Students are not allowed to just show up in their casual Friday looks, they must be dressed in their best attire.

The tournaments consist of three rounds and then finals. Participants perform their piece for the judge in each round. Students are judged on their vocal inflections, facial expressions, body positions, and the pieces’ content. They are rated according to how many participants judges see in the round. For example, if there are eight students in the room, then the best score the students could receive would be a rating of one.

The students with the smallest scores then get into the final round. Just like in golf or music competitions, it is better to have the lowest score. Students are able to watch their teammates in the final round as they do their best to impress the judges.

Forensics is often a stepping stone to other theater careers. If someone is uncomfortable with speaking in front of people, forensics is an option that can help them. They are able to take small steps by speaking in front of a single person instead of a large

group of people. Acting, speaking, and presenting skills can all be picked up in Zegers’ classroom.

“It really helped me with public speaking,” senior Kevin Gunn said. “I couldn’t give a presentation in class without shaking and stuttering but forensics has made it easier.”

Forensics is a class some people take to just goof off, but those who take it seriously benefit greatly from the experience.

“I am glad that I have done it for three years and I’m glad I took it senior year instead of just dropping it,” Gunn said.

Gunn’s favorite part of forensics is going to tournaments.

“I love meeting all the new people and traveling around Kansas,” Gunn said.

Sophomores Mat Waterman and Mason Brooks work on their duet. The piece showed awkward man-dates and plenty of weird bro hugs. Photo by: Jaclyn Adamson

Sophomores Mat Waterman, Mason Brooks, and Faith Garrie, juniors Abbie Lane and Hannah Sutton, and seniors Sierra Gilbert, Justin Scheck, Blake Spielbusch, Brandon Barrero, and Tanner Hughes all qualified for state and competed May 2nd at Olathe Northwest.

“We had a very successful season this year,” Zegers said. “I am very proud.”

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2015

Photo Courtesy of: Walt Cochran

Senior Edition

A Letter from the president

8 Senior Edition

Senior Edition 9

Hurd talks to the student body about prom at the Spring Pep Assembly. As senior class president, Hurd opens and closes all pep assemblies with a positive school spirit. Photo by: Shelby Simpson

Student Council seminar poses for their spirit day Tacky Tourist Tuesday. Many students and faculty members were seen sporting khakis, floral shirts and fanny packs. Photo Courtesy of: Katie Zahner

10 Senior Edition

QA &

with the president A closer look at the Class of 2015 President, Amy Hurd

Q

What has been your greatest accomplishment as class president?

A

I feel accomplished when we--as a group--finish what we started. Whether that be setting up for a dance or running a pep assembly, I like seeing the creative ideas become a reality. Some are successful and some are not, but everything is fun no matter what.

Q

Did you set any goals freshman year that have been achieved in the four years?

A

I just wanted to be president. I have received so many opportunities in the community and in the school that have meant so much to me. So, being able to say that I was president all four years of my high school career is so special and awesome.

Q

Did any president before you or any specific person inspire you for this role?

A

My parents and brother Andrew have always encouraged me to be in leadership roles. Seeing Andrew love student council definitely made me want to participate in high school.

Q

What lessons have you learned from being class president?

A

I have learned how to be a good leader. I need to listen to everyone who comes my way, accept the opinions of other members, and be patient-knowing that we are all in StuCo for the same purpose. I certainly don’t think I am a perfect leader, but I continue to grow thanks to the awesome people that I work with.

Q

If you could change anything you have done, what would it be?

A

I might change a few activities at pep assemblies.

However, we have learned what works and what doesn’t from our past experiences and that has definitely made us better.

Q

What has been the biggest struggle being class president?

A

I always feel pressure to make everyone happy, which is difficult when it comes to dance themes and spirit days. Student Council also wants every student to participate, which can get challenging as well.

Q

What advice would you give to other class presidents?

A

I would advise other presidents to set aside time for Site Council. It is a way for us to know details about our school and community before anyone else hears them. I would also remind them that their presidency is reflected in their character, and character is important. Don’t slip from your values.

Q

What has been your favorite part of being class president?

A

I love being an active part of the pep assemblies.

I always smile when the crowd is involved and everyone is having a good time!

Shelby Simpson Editor-In-Chief

Senior Edition 11

NO

YES

UNDECIDED ON FIELD OF STUDY AND WANT N TO EXPLORE VARIOUS O PATHWAYS WANT TO SAVE MONEY

NO

YES

WHAT’S YOUR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL MATCH?

YES

PREFER SMALL CLASS SIZES

S

PREFER A SMALL CAMPUS SIZE

YE PLAN ON WORKING WHILE IN COLLEGE

YES

YES

NO

NO

YES NO

PREFER TO BE SURROUNDED BY AND HAVE OPTIONS TO SEVERAL VARIOUS PATHWAYS

FLOWCHART

NEED A MORE FLEXIBLE CLASS SCHEDULE

NO

YES

NO NO

TRADE SCHOOL

GPA IS DECENT

NO

YES

INTEREST ON A SPECIFIC JOB RATHER THAN A GENERAL EDUCATION

NO

YES

THE

ENTER WORKFORCE

WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO FIND HOUSING

MILITARY

YES

YES

INTEREST IN STARTING OWN BUSINESS

NO

NO

DESIRE TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

YES

INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THE COUNTRY

S

YES

INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THE COUNTRY

YE

HAVE OTHER OPTIONS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL; FAMILY BUSINESS, ETC.

NO

NO

YES

NO

INTEREST IN PLAYING NCAA/ DIVISION 1

NO

INTEREST IN JOINING A FRATERNITY OR SORORITY

YES

YES

START HERE:

MONEY IS AN ISSUE

2 YEAR SCHOOL

NO

4 YEAR SCHOOL Brooke Boyer Copy Editor

Senior Edition 13

12 Senior Edition

Tears & Cheers for the Past Four Years Brittani Cox Staff Writer

The 2011-2012 school year officially begins for the new GEHS freshman

The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 6–2 in game seven to win the World Series.

During a midnight One of the biggest screening of The pop singing Dark Knight Rises, sensations of a gunman opens all-time, Whitney fire on the crowded Houston, is found theater. Twelve dead in her room people are killed at the Beverly Hills and 58 others are Hilton. wounded.

Pop Superstar 2015 Seniors Whitney Cardinals Beat Start Freshman Rangers to Win Houston Dies at Year Age 48 World Series August 2011 October 28, 2011 February 11, 2012

Twelve Killed in Colorado Theater Shooting July 20, 2012

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President Obama is sworn in for a second term.

President Obama Is inaugurated for a Second Term January 21, 2013

Multiple bombs explode near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Two bombs go off around 2:50 in the afternoon as runners finish the race. At least three people, one being an eight year old boy, were killed.

Multiple Bombs Explode during the Boston Marathon

GEHS principal Tim Brady resigns in late June to early July of 2014

April 15, 2013

Mr. Brady Retires June 2014

A police officer shoots and kills Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-yearold teenager in Ferguson, Mo.

Police Shooting of Teenager Sparks Outrage

With the Giants winning games one, four, and five; and the Royals winning games two and three, the Series was an intense week for all fans viewing the games.

KC Royals head to the World Series

August 9, 2014

October 2014

The New England Patriots defeat the Seattle Seahawks, 28-24, and win their fourth Super Bowl.

New England Beats Seattle to Take Fourth Super Bowl February 1, 2015

2015

2011 GEHS football team makes it to state

(Senior’s freshmanjunior years) The football team repeatedly surpasses district games and lands into state

Giants Beat Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI February 5, 2012

In a rematch of the 2008 Super Bowl, the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots 21–17.

qualifications

Key: Blue - School Events Purple - U.S. Sporting Events Orange - U.S. Current and Political Events

Barack Obama Ravens Beat Miami Beats Oklahoma City Wins Re-Election 49ers in Super November 6, 2012 Bowl XLVII for NBA Title

February 3, 2013 President Obama is re-elected, In a wild game, The Miami Heat barely defeating which includes a win their second NBA championship Republican nominee 34 minute stadium Mitt Romney. blackout, the in franchise Baltimore Ravens history; beating beat the San the Oklahoma City Francisco 49ers, Thunder 121–106 in 34-31.

Game 5.

June, 21, 2012

Seattle Seahawks Win First Super Bowl in Franchise History February 2, 2014

(Feb. 2): The Seattle Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos, 43–8, to win their first Super Bowl championship in franchise history.

Mr. Meyer becomes new principal of GEHS July 2014

Oscar Winner Giants Win Third World Series in Robin Williams 2015 Seniors Five Years Commits Suicide End Senior Year August 11, 2014

Legendary American comedic Former associate actor Robin Williams principal Mark is found dead.

Meyer becomes the Later, details had new head principal been released that after a stint at De Williams died by Soto High School. asphyxiation.

October 29, 2014

The San Francisco Giants defeat the Kansas City Royals to win their third World Series title in five years.

The 2014-2015 school year comes to a conclusion as the seniors prepare for graduation

14 Senior Edition “Attitude, always have a good positive attitude and things will always be better.”

- Dave Kalkman

“I want to thank the senior class of 2015 for making my job fun! Not a day went by when I was not impressed or entertained by you!"

- Stacy Audsley

“Living up to your own expectations is difficult enough without making it more complicated by including the expectations of others.”

- Derrick Abromeit

“One of my favorite memories involves Seth Pesek. When I taught my students how to multiply a binomial with a trinomial using the FOIL method, Seth informed me that we were going to call this SUPERFOILING! Then he came up and drew an illustration of a Superhero using the method, and I still use his illustration.”

It's difficult to pick a single favorite memory when thinking back on my time with this year's senior class as I've had the privilege of teaching the same group of students for two years now. I'd like to thank my seniors for proving to me that some surprises are worth the shock. While I'm not usually a fan of the unknown, such as air guns - Stephanie Shephard popping in my face, I was touched when my now seniors, then juniors, gave me two large baskets of “Be persistent in your life children's books for my son Luca. Luca had yet to travels and try to keep a arrive, but the students were so thoughtful to take positive mindset to help the time to think about their English teacher and get you through.” provide Luca with reading material​as they knew - Terry Zerr he would have no choice but to be a reader. For the record, Luca has "read" all of the books multiple “It was really nice to see all my times. He appreciates the students' selections seniors qualify for state debate much more than his mother's choices-- but I still at least once, I am proud of make him listen to my picks as well. them” - Mike Zegers - Kelly Peterson Miranda

Senior Edition 15 “This class is one of the most talented group of math students.

There are many who are also selfless tutors who help others. I hope they continue to do well.”

“Enjoy life, this is not a dress

“My favorite memory of this year’s class was the April Fool’s joke i played on them. I announced to them that I knew several of them had been cheating and asked that they come and see me after class. Instead of calling out names I posted fake student ID numbers on the board.

Next, Emma Byrd, who was in on the joke and also usually quiet in my class, storm up to me and argue about my accusation. She proceeded to storm out of the room without a pass. The class was stunned. She came back for a pass and I pulled out my pass book, which said “April Fool’s.”

- Jeff Petersen

“Take advantage of any opportunity even if it is scary or lame, go for it.”

rehearsal. ”

- Robin Schrack

- Katie Stevenson

“[One of my favorite memories is] Kyle Stubler breaking three different pole vault poles. I have never had one vaulter break more than one pole.”

“Keep your nose to the grindstone and work, work, work.”

- Thane Nonamaker

To all of the senior theatre students: My fondest memory of each and every one of you is a long one… a four year memory to be exact! It began the first day each of you walked into my classroom and we were all starting our first year of high school together. It ends in the coming weeks with your graduation and my having to say goodbye to the most amazing students anyone could ask for. Thank you for beginning this journey with me. Thank you for sticking it out through thick and through thin. Thank you for loving theatre, for loving THIS theatre and for caring enough about the future of your program to encourage, teach and mentor the underclassmen along your way. Thank you for teaching me so much over the past four years. Thank you for allowing me to witness and be part of your amazing growth into super cool young adults. Thank you for the best four-year ride and most amazing four-year-long memory any teacher could ask for! One last request… Don’t be strangers! This is always home and you are always family!

- Jeff Lady

16 Senior Edition

College Checklist Starla Stephens Editor-in-Chief

Household Items

q Plates/Bowls q Eating utensils q Can opener q Cups q Mugs q Insulated hot beverage holders q Paper towels q Trash bags q Dish soap q Microwavable containers q All-Purpose cleaner q Wash rag

q Dish sponge q Clorox cleaner q Laundry detergent q Fabric softener q Stain remover q Quarters for laundry q Laundry basket q Clothes hangers q Wet wipes q Zip-loc baggies q Lint roller q Light bulbs

Room q q q q q q q q q q q q

Lamp Alarm clock Mini-tool Kit Under the bed storage containers Mini trash can Dry erase calendar Fan Bed/Desk (if one is not provided) Bedding Pillows Comforter Sheets

Graphics courtesy of Creative Commons

q Pillow cases q Safety pins q Posters q Rugs q String Lights q Over the door hooks q Mini sewing kit q Picture/Poster hangers q Door stop q Curtains q Push pins q Shoe rack

Electronics

School

q q q q q q q q

q q q q q q q q

TV/Radio Gaming system DVD Player Laptop Printer Printer ink Camera Headphones

Binders Pens Pencils Highlighters Sticky notes Folders Notebooks Loose leaf paper

Bathroom q Face/Body wash q Shampoo q Conditioner q Deodorant q Shower caddy q Shower shoes q Hair supplies q Toothbrush q Toothpaste

q q q q q q q q q

Floss Nail clippers Tweezers Ibuprofen Cough drops Antacid Vitamins Band-aids Cotton swabs

Clothing q One pair of boots q Shorts q Two pairs of q Blouses walking shoes q Shirts q One pair of dress q Sweaters shoes q Undergarments q One pair of sandals q Socks q Dress clothes q Jackets q Comfy clothes q Pajamas q Bathing suit q Gloves/Scarf q Jeans q Hats