The BluePrint - Volume 8, Issue 6 by Hagerty Journalism

HAGERTY HIGH SCHOOL

3225 LOCKWOOD BLVD. OVIEDO, FL 32765

INDEX

the

blueprint

British invasion .........2 Dance showcase..........3 Firefighting...............5 SAC...........................10 The Vine.....................12

volume 8, issue 6

May�21, 2013

Momary passes torch to Williams Darbi Filliben News Editor tradition of excellence— that is the legacy that Principal Sam Momary has left. From PRIDE posters to pep rallies, “Momary style” will be forever be evident. He began as principal in 2004, after working seven years as Lyman’s principal. He hired the teachers and organized the school’s schedule working out of a portable ofﬁce a year before the inaugural class walked through the doors. “This was an opportunity to build a school around my ideas and my philosophies on education,” Momary said. “It all got built under my watch— I helped build it.” Momary is looking forward to spending more time with his wife and daughter, and more time on the golf course, but will miss getting to see and talk to all of his students and have a direct impact on so many different people. “We have the hardest working, most focused, most respectful, best group of students I’ve ever worked with,” Momary said. “And I get to ﬁnish a 40-year-long career with their class.” Momary is known for his always open door and the relationships he has built with both the students and the administrators. He believes that helps

him to meet the goals of the school as well keep in touch with the events around the campus. “We believe and strive for excellence in everything that we do, care about people and try and work to develop both students and adults, and we all work together to develop these things,” Momary said. Along with Momary’s retirement, assistant principal Julienne McDonald will be returning to Lake Brantley and assistant principal Tonya Manderville is transferring to Lake Howell. McDonald Gisela Cotto from Winter Springs and Michael Howard from Lake Howell will be transferring to fulﬁll their places. As for the future, Momary believes the school will be in good hands under the guidance of the new principal and leadership. “With a new principal comes a new focus. What’s out there is a new stage in its development. A new person will bring a new invigoration to the school,” Momary said. The future comes in the form of Lake Brantley alum and principal Dr. Mary Williams. “I’ve lived in the same town since I was 14 years old so it will take time for me to get accustomed to the new place,” Williams said. “Once I get used to it here, I’ll start to infuse my own ideas like I’ve done at my previous school.”

photo by Devin Becker

Passing the principals. Current principal Sam Momary discusses next year’s plans with upcoming principal Mary Williams. Williams will begin her term as principal at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year.

With the announcement of the new principal came rumors and stories of drastic adjustments taking place. While yoga pants may be safe, people are still unsure about competitive cheerleading and running shorts. Williams, however, has decided not to

change anything just yet. “I’m not going to change anything until I know the community and the culture and how the school has been operating under the previous leadership,” Williams said. “I’m meeting new people in a completely

Forms and things to do this month  Lifelines: Themes of Art Nouveau

 International Fringe Festival  Spooky Empire’s May-hem [May 15 - May 27] Features local and international music, dance, drama, art and comedy performances from $9 - $11 with kid events on weekends.

[May 24 - 26] The creepy convention will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel and will feature celebrity guests and their films for $30.

[May 23 - July 25] At the Morse Museum of American Art and featuring an exhibition of art exploring the organic form of the 1900’s art movement.

 Central Florida’s BBQ

new place— it will take some time to get a good feel for the everything.” With one era of leadership leaving and another beginning, one thing is clear; there will always be a tradition of excellence at the school that was started by our very ﬁrst leader,

 Red Hot & Boom!

Blowout [May 24 - 25] For $25 on May 24 and free on May 25, taste vendor barbaque and enjoy live music from Steel Magnolia at the Oviedo Mall.

[July 3] Free performances by internationally known singers, fireworks and food vendors from around Orlando as well as kids activities. Located in Altamonte Springs.

news

Chorus makes it beautiful with British Invasion

Daniella Parcell

Staff Reporter

enior Chris Valentine quickly battled his nerves and walked on stage for his a cappella performance of “Blue Sky” with the Voices of Hagerty. “It was interesting because the song wasn’t originally meant for a cappella,” Valentine said. “When you go from instruments to just voices, it’s kind of a hard transition.” After weeks of rehearsals, the Huskafellas, Voices of Hagerty, Advanced Women’s Chorus and Hagerty Singers all joined on May 9 for their British Invasion-themed concert, as they performed a variety of songs from “Pinball Wizard” by The Who to “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction. “We threw out some ideas and it sounded like it would be a really

fun, unique idea,” sophomore Kayla Bridge said. “It’s kind of like British music then and British music now.” Chorus members worked the entire fourth quarter during class to prepare, along with leadership meetings during lunch for extra practice, and after school rehearsals the week of the show. Choreography for nearly every song and elaborate lights were also added to the concert to make the show seem like an arena performance, pleasing the 800 people in the auditorium. “The biggest challenge for a concert like that is the coordination of all the technical aspects of it,” director Blair Bryant said. According to senior Carter Richard, despite the pressure and loads of stress, the concert turned out to be a huge success. “It was better than all the other chorus concerts,” Richard said. “It

what’s news?

BAND SUCCEEDS AT STATE MPA The wind ensemble received straight Superiors on stage along with a Superior in sight reading at the state Music Performance Assessment in Tampa on May 2. This is the highest rating a group can receive and it is the ﬁrst time the band has achieved this rating. DANCE TEAM TRYOUTS APPROACH Tryouts for the 2013-14 Unleashed dance team will take place in the gym on May 30-31 from 5-9 p.m. Students must attend both days, and parents are required to attend an informational meeting on May 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the media center. HANNAH MELIN WINS NATIONAL AWARD Junior Hannah Melin was one of three people in the state of Florida to receive the National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Award for Superior Writing after being selected by her English teacher to submit two short stories for the contest. A total of 757 students entered and 230 were ranked Superior. CARILLON ELEMENTARY HOSTS RECEPTION To congratulate its alumni, Carillon Elementary is inviting seniors to a cake reception on May 22 at 2:30 p.m. in the Carillon media center. Students will have a chance to see former teachers and classmates. CARILLON ART TEACHER SAYS GOODBYE Carillon Elementary art teacher Sandy Boccuzzo will retire at the end of this year and parents and teachers are preparing a present for her departure. Former students are asked to send sentiments to express how she helped them in art to boccuzzoretirement@gmail.com by Wednesday, May 22.

was probably the best concert this year.” However, this was not the chorus’ only success this year. Earlier in the year, all four choirs impressed judges at their Music Performance Assessments on March 9 at Lake Minneola High School, with the Huskafellas, Voices of Hagerty and Hagerty Singers all scoring straight Excellents. The Advanced Women scored the highest out of the four choirs and earned straight Superiors, the highest rating possible. On Dec. 3, the choir traveled to Disney to perform in Epcot’s Candlelight Processional beside choirs from around the country and experienced Disney workers. “It makes you a Disney cast member for only a few hours,” Caamano said, “but it’s enough to let you experience the magic of Disney.” Whether the magic comes from

photo by Jake Burton

Hands in the air. Members of the chorus raise their hands to the final act of the Bristish Invasion concert. Preparations for this concert involved weeks of work in school along with after school rehearsals.

the singing, the experiences or the fun-loving people, choir gives every member a reason to enjoy it and continue to take part.

“The people really understand the ways that music can bring people together as a family,” Richard said. “That’s why I like it.”

Dance shows off at showcase Lauren Lee

Staff Reporter

tunts, sweat and sparkle. As the dance team took the stage at the spring show, they recieved a spot in the winner’s circle. The dance team has been successful and the members have been coordinated in their dances and goals this year in both competitions and performances. The spring show, ‘Love to Dance’, took place on May 17 in the auditorium, where both JV and varsity performed. “We started some of the dances shown in the show during summer, but this is the ﬁrst time we got to show them to the school while dancing one last time with the seniors,” sophomore Leanna Higgins said. The show featured quick costume changes in the opening contemporary number, which had the team split into groups where they designed their own choreography during practices. The dance team had practices during sixth period dance class and after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays for JV, while varsity was on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Practices for competitions were two hours long, which then was lowered to one and a half hours in preparation for the show. The team has 42 girls led by dance coach Diane Hasenbank, with the captains as the backbone. Captains, seniors Brianna Tucciarone and Yarelis Rivera, are dancers who helped lead the team and guide the dancers, especially when there were problems with techniques. “Even though dance is an intense physical activity, we are like a family and coordinate as one,” freshman Morgan Gumble said. Unlike most sports, dance starts during the beginning of summer with tryouts. Practices are held during summer and the school year is ﬁlled with competitions and shows. There is never a moment when they are not moving. The May 17 show was just one part of a long season of success. Competitions ﬁlled the dance season, and in many of them the team placed within the winner’s circle. The dance team went to MA Regionals in March where they performed duets, solos and team

dances. Although nervewracked, the team was motivated to do their best and try their hardest to come out on top. They ended up in sixth place with Large Varsity and tenth with JV. Many of the routines gained first place, such as Tucciarone’s routine. In the beginning of the year, JV went to the Colonial Invitational with the marching band and received straight superiors. This was a big achievement for them. “During the MA competition the team felt motivated,” Tucciarone said. “We worked so hard and even though it was intense I wanted to do my best not to let my team down.” At Seminole, the dance team competed at Universal Dance Association Regionals, which featured local dance teams. Varsity placed first in Jazz, sixth in Large Varsity Jazz, fifth in Small Varsity Pom and third in Large Varsity Hip Hop; while JV placed third in Kick and fifth in Jazz. “We had a lot of obstacles thrown at us and they overcame all of them and came out the other side stronger people, dancers and friends,” Hasenbank said.

news

Nuskowski, Worrell sign with academies enior Danielle Nuszkowski exhaled and walked into the room of eight judges. She had already completed a series of short essays, but these people would be the second of many deciding factors on what she would do after high school. “At first, I thought it was one judge,” Nuszkowski said, “but then I walked in the room and there were multiple people. I was freaking out.” Nuszkowski applied and was accepted at West Point, while her best friend, senior Natsuko Worrell was accepted at the Air Force Academy. The application process for both schools was tedious, and included three essays, the submission of a minimum SAT score of 2070, teacher recommendations, a physical aptitude test, a medical evaluation, a GPA of 4.2 or higher and nominations from members in Congress. The nominations themselves required

many essays and an interview in front of a panel of judges to determine their eligibility for the academy. Worrell received her nominations from former Rep. Sandy Adams and President Barack Obama. Nuszkowski got hers from Adams and Sen. Marco Rubio. “It’s not an application that you just do ‘bada bing, bada boom, done.” It turns into a learning experience as you complete the applications and it gets more exciting along the way,” Nuszkowski said. Though the process for applying involved direct precision and knowledge, those who attend may only know a minimal amount of the skills acquired at the academies as they will learn the rest of their skills while attending the academy. “I have no flying experience whatsoever,” Worrell said. “You don’t have to have experience in order to join the programs, they are there to teach.” Not only are military skills taught at these schools, the most nationally

acclaimed knowledge and leadership training come out of them as well. “We’re constantly going to be tested physically, mentally and morally, and that’s what I want,” Nuszkowki said. Unlike other colleges, all who attend West Point and the Air Force Academy recieve full scholarships. Students’ stays and classes are free throughout their time there, which is priced which is around $375,000$400,000. In exchange for this free education, five years of service in the armed forces are required after college. “I don’t have to pay for the living expense, food, education or even the programs they offer (like soaring, which is learning how to fly gliders). They provide everything for me.” Worrell said. It did not take much convincing to get Worrell and Nuszkowski to attend the schools. They are both excited to attend, and don’t see any other college matching up to their

standards for after high school. “They squeeze all the potential out of you and they make you pass your limits and cross the line to see what you’re actually made of,” Nuszkowski said. “Other colleges, you don’t cross that line, and at West Point, they’re constantly pushing you past it.” At the end of June, Worrell and Nuszkowski recieve their first dose of military training when they leave for Cadet Basic Training. Worrell and Nuszkowski will stay until the beginning of their fall semester where they will begin their journey to become Second Lieutenants. The only downside for the two friends may be leaving their families and each other behind. “It’s nice knowing that Danielle will be going through the same things I will be going through,” Worrell said. “It will be sad though because I’ve pretty much spent my entire middle school and high school life with her at my side.”

grading criteria, which this year included the Value Added Model. VAM compares actual student learning at a specific school to what the DOE thinks is an appropriate projection for student learning gains in years to come, and depending on if student scores reach these projections, can cause the termination of teachers. Last year, 73 percent of students scored satisfactory on their 2012 Reading FCAT, when 76 percent had to score satisfactory to meet the VAM targeted projection. “According to these Florida measures, our school performance is in a decline even though we still maintain the highest test scores on standardized testing, graduation rates

and AP scores in Seminole County,” Momary said. “This new evaluation system takes our students, compares them to other Florida students, and determines if we have met our VAM requirements without telling us what the projection requirements are, what areas to improve on, or what students to track.” Because the VAM is scored on student FCAT testing, teachers are worried that the switch from paper and pencil tests to computers could negatively affect the meeting of DOE decided projections this year. “All of my freshman told me they hated taking FCAT on the computers,” English teacher Helen Reed said. “They said they couldn’t

concentrate, and the LCD lighting and small screen hurt their eyes, as well as the fact they couldn’t mark up prompts with their pencils. I don’t know how these FCAT scores will compare to previous ones.” Junior and senior teachers would also be punished if ninth and tenth graders score poorly on their FCAT’s, as the VAM model is a standard for all teachers in all grades. “This will lead to trouble attracting teachers,” Momary said. “Where will [teachers] go if they can’t be comfortable with their jobs?” Though this addition to the Florida Plan for High Standards for Education was intended to weed out schools that were performing poorly

on standardized testing, it quickly devolved into and unreachable standard for A schools to meet. The projected growth of satisfactory FCAT scores for 2013 will rise for reading from 76 percent to 78 percent and in math from 69 percent to 72 percent. By 2017, reading will rise to 78 percent for satisfactory scores and math to 83 percent, with an average of 2.5 percent growth per year. These growing standards are enough to worry teachers about their futures. “The people making these rules have no idea how schools run or what it’s like to be in a classroom daily,” Reed said. “I love my job, but when standards like this get hammered at [teachers], it takes its toll.”

Winnie Meyer

photo by Anesu Mucherera

Swimming in scholarships. Danielle Nuskowski and Natsuko Worrell used their swimming and academic talents to sign wih West Point and the Air Force Academy.

Staff Reporter

Ineffective FCAT system threatens school ratings Matilda von Kalm Managing Editor

“T

he message that our staff and our community understands is this, ‘Congratulations on your great work. You get a bonus for your repeated and consistently high achievement, but if you do it again you will be fired!’ How do I explain that to my teachers, students, and school community?” In writing this statement to Congress, which was also featured in the March/April Husky Report, Principal Sam Momary expressed his concerns with the new standards the Department of Education set for Florida schools regarding teacher

lifestyles

Europe trips offer new outlook Daniel Neveras

Reviews Editor

he Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Louvre. These historical landmarks are not usually associated with high school. However, this mindset has evolved with the introduction of international, foreign language ﬁeld trips. These school trips to foreign countries began as a means to introduce students to the material they study in foreign language courses and to immerge them in the languages they study daily in class. “I thought students would want to see things they’ve heard about, like the Mona Lisa or Notre Dame,” French teacher Pamela Lynch said. The trips occur annually, and they have taken place as recently as spring break. The students visit multiple countries and are exposed to various cultures that they learn about in class. The countries commonly reﬂect foreign languages that are available courses at school, and the trips attempt to reach out to as many of the language courses as possible. “They started in Paris and ended up all the way in Barcelona,” junior

Patrick Carbonell said. In addition to different countries, students also can observe familiar landmarks and artifacts that were pictures in textbooks at home. “We saw the Louvre, which is a famous museum in France, and Pamplona, which is where the running of the bulls takes place,” said Lynch. Although most of the locations are historical and signiﬁcant, the trips also allow students to visit new places they do not know about. “We got to visit the Loire Valley in southwestern France and the Sagrada Família, which is a famous church in Barcelona,” Lynch said. Despite being a school trip, students claim that the trips are in no way too educational or academic in how they operate, and instead allow for free choice on what areas and landmarks they can visit on the trip. “These trips let you explore different countries with friends while not having to worry about the school aspects of learning about these cultures and languages,” Carbonell said. The main hope of these trips is to avoid the academic feel of school and

Journalism 1

ore, freshman Fabiana Delgado walks up the stairs with her friends. Though, she is trailing behind them and every muscle in her legs are in pain, she likes it. She smiles because she knows that the soreness is her muscles rebuilding themselves after a very intense night at the gym. She has been going to the gym for years and feels completely comfortable because of the growing amount of girls there. More girls are working out with their friends to keep in shape and to “look foxy at the beach,” like sophomore Veronica Hernandez. Having a great beach body is not the only reason girls now are coming

out of their homes and hitting the gym. Some girls work out at the gym to keep in shape for a sport or simply remain healthy. Contrary to the past, fewer teenage girls are not working out at home and with videos in front of their televisions; instead they are running on treadmills at the gym of hitting the squat rack. They are using the same equipment as men and taking the same classes. The gym is no longer dominated by a mostly male population. “Depending on what you are doing or what class you are taking there are more or less girls there,” junior Maria Lewis said. “In my kickboxing class, it’s kind of awkward because I’m the only girl there.” In the past, women usually took

The High School Triangle Matilda von Kalm Managing Editor

photo by Hannah Jewett

Sight seeing. Sophomores Charles and John Lynch and fellow Lyman student take a picture beside a statue in France. While on their trip, students from all over Seminole County visited multiple famous landmarks.

to show students foreign cultures in a new light. “These trips open the world to them,” Lynch said. “I hope to spark a love for languages and travel in each of them.” However, there are requirements to go on these international trips.

Students must be enrolled in a foreign language course and be familiar with Lynch. Students also must be able to pay for the cost of the trip. “We want students to feel like they can use their language skills from their foreign language courses in person,” said Lynch.

Girls hit up the gym for health, sports Faro Makuto

That Sounds Familiar...

only aerobic and fitness classes— very different from what boys did at the gym. Becoming increasingly more aware of their bodies and wanting to further improve them, girls have changed the where and how they work out. Even though the how and where for women working out has changed, the why remains the same. Confidence is the key issue in the lives of many high school girls, many now have found staying in shape by working out has made them more confident and less self-conscious about themselves. Because being physically at the top of their game is very important to her, Delgado has had to give up a lot of her free time in order to go to the gym, participate in her sport and

complete all of her school work. “I like being in shape and having a nice body. It builds conﬁdence and beneﬁts you physically and mentally,” Delgado said. The way that their bodies look is important to a lot of female athletes who participate in demanding sports that require them to be in top shape. “I go every single day that I’m not playing soccer,” freshman Kenzie Helmlick said. Though these sports may require them to be athletically able, not always are they able to offer the girls anything to condition themselves with so often they go to the gym. Putting in extra time at the gym affects the amount of time they have to see their friends during the week and do school work.

he first time I heard about the High School Triangle Theory was in the girls locker room. The sophomore next to me was complaining about how she had stayed up all night studying for a History exam. “Why are you surprised?” her friend asked. “It’s not like you can maintain all corners of ‘the triangle.’” What the heck was the triangle? Eventually I learned that the triangle consisted of sleep, social life and grades, and that a student is only able to maintain two of the three and must sacrifice the third. A year and a half later, I understand. I cannot maintain my 4.4 GPA, get eight hours of sleep, and have friends. So I tried alternating; fail a test here, go to a football game there and every once in a while block it all out and pretend my grades weren’t tanking. Most of the time though, I just complain about missing everything fun. I’m like the human version of Grumpy Cat. However, the triangle made me realize that high school isn’t so much about equating the potential energy of gravity as figuring out how to fit in time study time around building a catapult and finishing honor society hours while studying for the SAT and passing AP exams and if I can squeeze it in my schedule, not imploding. My usual excuse is “No, I can’t, sorry I’m busying doing (insert school activity) for the next four years of my life.” I try to keep in mind that this rigorous schedule of sleepless nights prepares me for college life and consider surviving high school a confidence boost. If you can live through 40 hours a week of learning, you could probably survive the apocalypse.

lifestyles

Explorer program develops firefighters Lexi Rossow

Business Manager

enior Brandon Cintron has known what he wanted to be since he was in first grade. Now that he is graduating high school, Cintron is finally taking the necessary steps to become what he has always dreamed of being—a firefighter. “I can’t see myself doing a 9-to-5 job every day, doing the same thing behind a desk,” Cintron said. Senior Chris Huttula has also grown up with dreams to be a local hero. Huttula volunteers in the Explorer Program at the Orlando Fire Department alongside his father, Lt. James Huttula. “You can get dispatched to a regular auto accident and it turns into a three-car pileup, two cars are on fire and the people are trapped in it,” Huttula said. “You never know what you’re going to get.” Cintron volunteers in the

Explorer Program with Oviedo’s Fire Department. The Explorer Program was established 15 years ago by the Boy Scouts of America and then was introduced to the Oviedo and Orlando Departments in 2010. The Explorer Program allows minors to work alongside certified firefighters and learn firsthand experience of a fire fighter’s daily tasks, including basic EMT training and firefighting skill sets. Students that begin their early training with the Explorer Program can earn a head start with their firefighting pathway before they attend a vocational school and a fire academy. They can experience the passion that comes along with the firefighting profession with certified firefighters exhibiting their work. “Being a firefighter is very rewarding and humbling,” Explorer Post Leader and firefighter David Barsky said, “It is truly a passion profession.”

An average of 20 Explorers currently volunteer with Oviedo’s Fire Department and recently, Oviedo’s Fire Department hired one of their former Explorer members. “The Explorer program inspire[s] and educate[s] the youth to take part in a truly rewarding profession,” Barsky said. Minors aspiring to become firefighters in the future do not have to be a part of the Explorer Program. They do have to attend a two-year or vocational college and attend a certified fire academy, as well as become a certified EMT. “People in the department are like brothers to me,” Cintron said. Cintron will be attending Seminole State College before continuing to a fire academy. Huttula has considered attending Valencia or Seminole State College before his own journey to become a local fire fighter, alongside his father.

photo provided by Chris Huttula

In training. Senior Chris Huttula and his fellow Explorer Program members load a hose onto his back to extend toward their training building. Practice sessions like this help prepare aspiring fire fighters for real danger.

Congratulations Hagerty Graduates!

seminolestate.edu/future-students 407.708.2050

lifestyles 6 Stylish teens define a new version of ‘hip’

How to dress a hipster colorful hair with accessories colorful corset vintage cross necklace bracelet bunches bright pleated skirt cropped blazer Oxford heels designed by Erin Catlin

Erin Catlin

Journalism 1

he hipster style is a whole new era for the root word “hip”, defined as dressing differently and standing out in a crowd; going against the common fashion. This style has become the newest trend that teens are striving to accomplish, instead of blending in. “That’s the point of a hipster, they don’t define themselves,” junior Alex Mabe said. While the word ‘hip’ used to mean following all the latest trends and blending in with any group of average teens, “hipster” has taken that title in an entirely different direction. “It’s all about fit and color combination,” Mabe said. Fashion is not the only way hipsters express their style. The way someone acts, the music they listen to, the extracurricular activities they like to do—all of these attributes create what it means to be a hipster. “You have to be overall just a

vintage-y person, having old hobbies, listening to old music, watching old movies, anything like that,” freshman Meagan Finn said. Even though the attitude and personality plays a big role in how people identify hipsters, the look is a part of the hipster persona that is unique to their genre of people. Students are pushing when it comes to new “DIY”, or Do It Yourself, crafty clothing that goes hand-in-hand with hipster style. Hipster clothes are original and and often homemade. Ideas for DIY clothing come from websites such as Pinterest and Tumblr. These blogging websites have step-by-step directions that can be followed easily for making workout tank tops, high waisted, dipdyed jean shorts and button-up t-shirt dresses. Thrift shopping and making or modifying clothes that you already bought or have had for a long time plays a big part in creating the look. The deﬁning characteristic as a

hipster is to be uncontrolled by any social boundaries. “[Hipsters don’t] really care about what other people think about them, and they do what they want how they want to do it because it makes them happy,” Mabe said. “And they dress well.” Although keeping it natural is usual for a hipster, red lipstick is always okay with the right natural colored eyes. And it is necessary to look put together, but like hours have been spent on choosing the outﬁt or styling the hair. When a hipster is spotted, the acknowledgment is not accidental, but such acknowledgement should be hidden and discrete. “We are different,” said Finn. “We dress cute, and we stand out.” So the next time a girl is spotted with Oxford shoes, home-made shorts, and a studded corset, don’t think of a typical stereotype--think of an individual who cannot be deﬁned by any boundaries, whether through fashion or activity.

Students strive for professional modeling career Madeline Kemper

Journalism 1

s the smell of perfume, nail polish and hairspray floats through the air, frantic stylists try to prepare sophomore Kiara Crawford in her elegant outfit before photos are taken. Prom may be the first occasion that jumps to the mind when describing this event, but for Crawford it is just another average day at work. After getting ready, she was off to a photo shoot for head shots she will later send to modeling industries found in places such as Turkey or Australia. Crawford also is not the only student who has been taking her love for fashion beyond her daily outfit at school. With all of the inspiration from social media, modeling has become a highly sought-after career as well as an acclaimed social status. They have found modeling as their one and only passion.

Freshman Rebecca Reardon refers to fashion as her “sport” because she has to constantly continue to improve and always has to have a positive attitude. Crawford, model of six years, got started through an agency called Proscouts, where she was scouted to do a photo shoot for Nautica’s Summer collection, and got the opportunity to pose at a mansion beach house in Miami. Crawford said that the most memorable part of the photo shoot was that there was one guy “whose sole job was to follow me around with an umbrella to block the sun.” She got to swim around in the pool, hang out on the beach and lay out in the sun, all while getting her pictures taken. Since then she has been in catalogs, on websites and billboards all over the world. She has had the opportunity to work with major modeling companies such as IMG models and Elite Model Management.

This summer, Reardon and Crawford both hope to move to New York City to further their careers and experience their passion near largest modeling industries in America. “I think that the most stressful part is the traveling, due to the fact that especially when I was younger I had to miss a lot of school and make up a lot of work.” Crawford said. Along the way these girls have faced struggles with modeling. “I do not think that people realize

that you receive a lot of negative attention and just have to learn to have tough skin,” Reardon said. Junior Tina Sphabmixay also shared how she thinks that society views modeling as a career in which designers search for a certain perfection, but truely they want simply unique and orginial faces. “I’ve been told that I am not skinny enough or that I am not tall enough because I am 5’7, not 5’8 or 5’9,” Sphabmixay said.

Reardon, Crawford and Sphabmixay also face the struggle of balancing their academic career with their modeling experiences at such a young age. Through modeling, these girls have had the opportunity to learn valuable life lessons and explore expiriences that most students do not. “I think that through it all one of the most important things that I have learned is to stay true to yourself,” Sphabmixay said.

sports

sports shorts

TRACK AND FIELD MEMBERS PLACE AT STATES Senior Tayler Johnson finished as the regional champ and went on to earn her fourth state medal for the 800 meter run with a time of 2.17 minutes. Johnson holds the school record for most state medals of any boy or girl. The boys track and field also placed at states, with senior Brandon Minear finished eighth in the state for discus with a score of 145.02 points, and junior Chris Tiedge finishing sixth in the pole vault with a height of 13 feet. Minear and Tiedge were the first boys to place state for the program. BOYS VOLLEYBALL MAKES FIRST DISTRICT APPEARANCE The boys volleyball team went to districts for the first time at Lake Mary on April 30. This was the third time that the team had faced Lake Mary in the season. They lost the previous two games. The team faced adversity early, when in the middle of the first game, the drainage system at Lake Mary’s gym broke, and water came spilling from the ceiling onto the court. Two trash cans, a dryer, and 25 minutes later, the game went underway once again. The team lost in three sets: 25-18, 25-18, 25-14. VARSITY GIRLS LACROSSE TEAM GOES TO DISTRICTS The varsity girls lacrosse team made its first winning district appearance in the programs history on April 17. The girls got off to a quick start, leading 15-4 at the half, and went on to defeat University, 20-6. Sophomore Caitlyn Shaoff lead the team with six goals, two assists, and five draw controls. Senior Sam Collins and sophomore Claire Spear led on defense. Collins saved 10 of 16 goals, and Spear had three forced turnovers to help contribute to the program’s first district win. The team lost to Timber Creek in the following district game, 18-8. BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING GOES TO STATES Junior Eric Long represented the boys weightlifting team at states, finishing third overall for the 119-pound weight class. Long benched 235 pounds and did a clean and jerk of 180, for a combined lift of 415 pounds.

Softball dominates districts Tyler Copeland

“D

Journalism 1 on’t worry about the fans,” head coach David Stone told his team before the start of the district tournament. It was an effort to calm their nerves. Since girl’s varsity softball team was trying to win its first district championship ever, they had never seen so many fans attend a game. “We were really nervous, but excited,” freshman Jordan Miller said. “It was very rewarding because we worked so hard and bonded so much as a team.” Despite pre-game jitters, the girls beat Spruce Creek, 4-0. With the district championship, the girls moved on to play Sandalwood in the regional quarterfinals on April 25. “One of the key parts of the game was [pitcher Samantha Worrell] pitching 12 strikeouts,” sophomore Megan Woodson said. The girls won the regional quarterfinals, 7-2. They continued on to the regional semifinals where they played the Mandarin Mustangs at home. In the first inning, Mandarin led 2-0, putting them in the lead, where they continued to stay. Even with strikeouts by Worrell, Mandarin continued to score, eventually elevating the score to 7-0 in the fourth inning, and winning 8-1.

photo by Anesu Mucherera

Hitting a home run. Junior Kiley Dechau hits against Lake Howell on senior night. The team went on to win 6-0 over Lake Howell.

Miller scored the only point for the team at the end of the ﬁfth inning. “Coach Stone told us to look forward to next season. We know that we’re going to go far,” Miller said. The girls began their season in February with an unexpected boom of consistent wins and high scores, beating Lyman 14-1 and continuing their undefeated season until playing Lake Howell on Feb. 19, when they lost 4-2.

“Losing that game inspired us to play even harder,” Freshman Jordan Miller said. Consisting of mostly freshman and sophomores, the team still has multiple seasons to prove themselves, though they will have to say goodbye to senior Jacey Castro. The girls ended their season 27-2 as a vast improvement from previous years, and they are optimistic about the seasons to come.

Athletics wins SAC trophy Sean Donovan

Sports Editor

ast year, the athletic department fell half a point short of winning the Seminole Athletic Conference All-Sports trophy, losing to Lake Brantley. But revenge is sweet, and Hagerty won its ﬁrst SAC trophy this year, beating Lake Brantley by ﬁve and a half points. “Winning, no matter the point differential, shows all of our programs as one successful unit, not just a few singles success stories,”

athletic director Jay Getty said. The victory was announced officially Wednesday, May 15 after a Friday meeting the week with all of the athletic department heads where the margin of victory was announced. The trophy reflects the work of a senior class which has learned from previous classes. Records broken last year were broken this year, and the path to the trophy was paved. “It’s a real tribute to the seniors— they understand what it means to be winners,” girls weightlifting coach Nate Gierke said. The trophy is meant to be the “final

trophy” in dedication to Momary just in time for his retirement. “Without his leadership, we would be nowhere near where we are academically and athletically,” Gierke said. The athletic program now joins schools like Lake Brantley and Lake Mary which ruled the conference the past few years. This year, six teams won conference championships, among them a state champion. “[For two years] we’ve made the jump to the top of the conference, with this year ﬁnally being the move to the pinnacle,” Getty said.

sports

Last-second shot lifts water polo to title

photo by Anesu Mucherera

Shooting for greatness. Senior Jeffery Millers shoots against Lake Howell. The team went on to beat Lake Howell 21-4.

in the district title game against OvieTaylor Ferraro & Keith Clowney do. Nuszkowski took a leap of faith Journalism 1 & Staff Reporter and scored the goal that tied the game ith only seven seconds left with two seconds left, and led them in the game, there was one into sudden death. In overtime, that chance for senior Ricardo was the only motivation that sophoNuszkowski and his team to stay alive more Alex Georgiopoulos needed

to score the game winning shot that clenched the district title at 15-14 and drove the team and the fans into complete and total chaos. “The feeling was surreal,” said sophomore Johan Guasp, “There was screaming everywhere, the crowd in the bleachers was going crazy and the team couldn’t stop shouting.” The title of district champions meant more than just the name to the team. It also was a chance to make up for last year’s loss to Oviedo at the district championship. “The title meant retribution for last year’s seniors and Coach Seth,” said Georgipoulos. “I am very proud of our team and the perseverance we showed throughout the game.” Nuszkowski and Georgiopoulos made two of the game-saving goals, and sophomore Johan Guasp and senior Derek Daugherty also contributed by making five goals each. However, during the middle of the game,

one of the senior starters, Karl Kostelyk, was ejected out of the game for the third time and could not return. “After I got permanently taken out all I focused on was the game from a viewer’s standpoint so I could tell my teammates what they needed to do in order to succeed,” said Kostelyk. Many of the underclassmen looked up to seniors like Kostelyk and Daugherty to lead them to a district title. They had possessed a leadership role by handing down basic things that they have learned from all their expierence. There are a lot of basic little tips and lessons that they could pass on to the rookie players. The team is “very close” and has had the opportunity to become closer during their swim season. Even Kostelyk said, “We love the crap out of each other.” “We’re all brothers and this sport just brings us even closer because we

love playing it with a passion,” said Guasp. Even though the team was already close, many of the players admitted that winning the district title brought them together as a family. It showed that all of the hard work they put in during the season finally paid off with a district championship. “We worked so hard for that title and we worked together as a true team to bring the championship home,” said Guasp. The team was able to continue on to their first appearance at the regional playoffs in the program’s history. The team ended their season with a 27-14 loss to Dr. Phillips, finishing with a record of 11-3. “They played their hearts out in the regional game,” assistant Coach Debin Long said. “I’m very proud of this team for everything this season and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish next season.”

Teams bond over food hangouts Madison Garr

Journalism 1

hat’s the secret to the school’s recent sports success? Food. Places such as McDonalds, Panera, and Chick-Fil-A made a significant difference in the performance of athletes. New food hangouts as a team has always been trending, but they have recently become tradition. McDonald’s became the place to be this year for the baseball boys. Its location made it a convenient spot, since it is within one mile of the school. It is cheap food made it affordable, and the service made it the perfect place to get a quick bite to eat before and after a big game. “The food is amazing. They have good service, the restaurant is clean and it’s cheap,” said JV player Eddie Faberelle. Faberelle described pre-game visits to McDonalds as a “very happy experience.” Being convenient for relaxation and eating together as

a team, there is also a fun aspect to McDonalds that Faberelle enjoys, the play place. “It has a cool play place with plenty of room for fun activities,” said Faberelle. While the location of McDonalds is convenient, some teams would drive a little further for great food. Panera has become a popular place to eat for soccer and volleyball players. The varsity soccer team has the tradition of going to Panera since districts last year. With continued success this year, team members wanted the Panera tradition to continue. “Panera’s a really chill place that allows us to get ready for the game mentally and bond,” said varsity goalie Nicole Mattson. Panera has also become popular for the volleyball team. They like to talk about upcoming games, life in general and future competitors. “Panera always puts me in a great mood and when I’m feeling great, I play great,” said varsity middle Jules

Hilbert. The lacrosse boys have found Chick-Fil-A to be their new tradition. They started going in the beginning of the season to bond together as a team before games. Finishing their season with a district win and an overall record of 15-4, varsity player Rhyan Gabriel recalls it being a positive experience. He thinks they will continue this tradition in the future due to their great success this year. Gabriel recalls funny memories from Chick-Fil-A such as when varsity player James Cathey put salt on everything, even ketchup. Food hangouts have created memories that will last forever and success that has made the school’s sports teams known. All teams can agree on one thing. The food quality is what draws them to these current food hangouts. As years continue and these athletes graduate they hope to pass on the tradition and the success that came along with going to McDonalds, Panera and Chick-Fil-A.

sports Sports Truths What was and what is: greatness Sean Donovan Sports Editor

hen I was a freshman, our athletic program was considered by many to be a joke. Who would take the four-year-old Hagerty High School seriously? When I was a freshman, I could not name a single team that had a winning record—though they surely existed. And in now, four years later, few teams do not have a winning record. Few teams do not make districts anymore. In the four years I have been here, this school has evolved greater than arguably any other school. But what programs have flourished? Many have seen the girls soccer team be a dominant force in the area, seen the boys basketball team make back-to-back trips to the state championships. Now there are a few reasons why this is happening. One of the reasons being that all of these teams have bonded with each other over the last four years, and are finally able to connect at a second-nature level. Our athletes are so much smarter, and so well molded by each other that if they were to be on any other team they would surely not find half the amount of success that they have found here. Yet it is these teams of rising popularity that make the biggest impact. Whereas before when I first walked these halls the name “Hagerty” struck little fear, now those who wear that name on their jersey carry with them a force that other teams can only dare to stand up to, and get smacked down in the process. Sure the school has grown academically, but the athletic program as a whole has flourished beyond what most may have expected in these past four years, and there is little sign of it slowing down, even with the departure of this monumental and historic senior class.

Lake Highland ends Cinderella lax season Spencer Thompson Sports Editor

“E

veryone thought that we were going to get our butts kicked, but we came out fighting,” said senior Erik Marshall. “Even though we lost, we only lost by four, when we could’ve lost by a lot more, and it shows that we’re a team that’s going to fight no matter what.” On April 30, the boy’s varsity lacrosse underdog story ended in a wet, grind-it-out 8-4 loss to Lake Highland Prep, who went on to win their second state championship in three years. Lake Highland got off to a quick start leading 3-1 in the first quarter. Hagerty struggled to find its footing, and ended on the wrong side of the ball, down 5-2 at the half. The team cut the lead down to 6-3 when senior Andrew Bonnie scored after recovering from a shot to the head, and senior Austin Lenick scored with just under 11 minutes to go to make it 6-4. However, that would be the last point the point the team scored in their Cinderella season.

“It was a tough game,” senior Frank Cullen said. “There really wasn’t one thing that we did badly; it was just a bunch of small mistakes. We had to play perfect to even contend with them, and we had little things get in our way.” The record-breaking season did not just end with the loss though. Head coach Mark Ayad went on to win coach of the year for the Central Florida area. Ayad led the team to a 17-5 season, the best season in the program’s history, starting the season off with a bang by beating Maclay in Jaguar Stadium, 18-9, shutting out Lake Howell, 15-0, and defeating Oviedo, 17-14. “[I think I won] because this was a year where people didn’t really expect us to go very far, especially with the strength of schedule we had, and some of the injuries that we had late on in the year, I think we played great.” Ayad said. “We exceeded expectations, and we also got pretty far in being one of only three public schools in the ﬁnal eight, and I think that that goes a long way. This season was by far the best season that we’ve

photo by Anesu Mucherera

Goal Bound. Sophomore Kyle Haley rushes past the Timber Creek defense. The team went on to win 15-6 and advance to districts.

ever had.” Ayad now expects to come into the beginning of the season with players that have previous lacrosse knowledge, something that he has never had before. So as far as the future of the team, this is not the end of winning ways for the program, it is only the beginning.

“We proved that we’re not a team that anyone can push around; we’re an elite team now,” Marshall said. “We became a team that other teams have to game plan for, and we became a team that other teams have to worry about. We changed the culture at Hagerty of what people think about us.”

Football goes old school with new coach Ryan O’Connor

Staff Reporter @%*!-profanity on the field was common at football practice for both coaches and players, but with a new coach, this is one of many things that is gone. Phillip Ziglar, who has 23 years of experience under his belt from coaching Boone High School, came in just after winter break. His impact is already being felt, on and off the football field. Ziglar describes his method as old school and going back to the basics with the practices for the team. He has been practicing with the team since Jan. 29 and sees that the team has adjusted to what the coaches want. Practices are no more than two hours long but are filled with high repetition and spending a certain amount of time on each end of the team. “Everything we do is teaching

rather than just worrying about the X’s and O’s,” Ziglar said. Junior quarterback Jason Driskel sees the biggest change made for the season is the practice time. An example of a change made in the practices is that each drill is set by time and during the drills if time is up for that element the team stops and goes to the next drill. Driskel also views the style of Ziglar’s coaching as being old school. “We are working on everything that involves the game, and improving on it,” Driskel said. Defensive coach Louis Chacon hopes for the team to compete above all and do better than last year with an improved winning average. He also sees Ziglar’s style of coaching as being focused more on power then in the past. Chacon feels that Ziglar has done well adjusting to the team getting to know their names and letting them know his expectations.

“Every coach seems to have their own scheme that they like to work with,” Chacon said. Junior defensive lineman Cooper Cassidy has experienced some of the changes being made this season such as practices being quicker, in which he feels gets more done. He hopes for the team to improve in areas where they had problems with. Cassidy sees Ziglar’s method of practice as if they cannot get something done on practice one day they will go back to

it the next day and do it better. “Our intensity has picked up and hopefully it will carry over to the football ﬁeld,” Cassidy said. Cassidy feels that the atmosphere has improved during practices since last year and that Ziglar trusts the players with more responsibilities than coaches have in years past. “You are going to have to practice hard and you are going to have to play hard but you are going to have fun with it too,” Ziglar said.

opinions

the

blueprint

Hagerty High School 3225 Lockwood Blvd. Oviedo, FL 32765 Telephone: (407) 871-0750 Fax: (407) 871-0817

The Blue Print is a student-produced newspaper in which the student editors make all content decisions. The newspaper belongs to the Columbia Scholastic Principal Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Florida Sam Momary Scholastic Press Association. Adviser Opinions expressed within the newspaper do not represent the staff’s views as Brit Taylor a whole (except for the Our Take), the views of Seminole County Public Schools, Editor-in-Chief or Hagerty High School’s administration and staff. For more information about advertising in the paper, please contact the staff via Sarah Casagrande one of the above methods. We reserve the right to reject any advertisement.

Managing Editor Matilda von Kalm Business Manager Lexi Rossow Photo Editor Isabelle Sarnek

News Editor Darbi Filiben

Graphics Editor Ben Sorkin

Lifestyles Editor Lexi Rossow

Staff Reporters Ellie Bonck Keith Clowney Adeline Davis Jessica Jeffers Lauren Lee Brianna McGuire Winnie Meyer Ryan O’Connor Daniella Parcell Spencer Thompson

Sports Editor Sean Donovan Reviews Editor Daniel Neveras Opinions Editor Haley Gaeser Student Connection Ben Sorkin

Our�take: Principal’s legacy ends on a high

igh school is a place where students come to learn and make new friends along the way. With those friends, school becomes a little less stressful and a little more fun. Although he has been a gifted leader, retiring Principal Sam Momary has shown students how to also be a friend and a mentor through his eight years as principal. Although the school has only been open for eight years, Momary has been here for nine because he needed the extra year to hire staff and to make sure everything was all set up correctly. This was a timely procedure and Momary knew he had to choose the perfect staff for the

school which he succeeded in doing. When the school ﬁrst opened, people must have been a little worried. The number of students on campus was minimal and the school only had a freshman class, but since Momary has been here, he has made it his duty to make sure that three things were always followed under his watch: to strive for excellence, to foster cooperation and to always care about people. No one can deny the school’s excellence under Momary’s leadership, but what really sets him apart from other principals are the last two qualities. It is rare for students to feel comfortable enough

to start a conversation with a high school principal during lunch, but it comes easy when talking to Momary. His encouraging and humorous personality makes people want to be around him. Never has there been a time where he seemed upset or frustrated and if he did, he did not show it. If there is anything that a student or teacher wishes to speak to him about, his door is always open, and for every important event from football to theater, Momary is always present. Not only does Momary have a great personality, but he is a very understanding person. If a student has dress code and is at lunch, instead of

sending them to discipline, Momary will simply put his hands on their shoulders as an indicator. It may be a simple, kind gesture to him, but to his students, it meant much more. With Momary turning 65 in August, after 30 years in education, it was the right time to retire. Although he is sad to be leaving Hagerty, he is excited to be starting a new chapter of his life. Without Momary, things would have been very different. Students would not have had as many opportunities as they were given. The students and staff will miss Momary as principal, but his legacy of excellence will live on.

Jessica Jeffers

in all aspects, other than the name. Since the consequence of being Unlike public, it did not have to be blocked has been put into effect, signed into every single time you many students are no longer allowed reconnected and it was not hard to log to use the school wifi. When you are into because the public server was, most of the time, slow. H o n e s t l y, the consequence is too harsh. To take away wifi for the rest of the year is not fair. Many students were not aware of the penalties or that they were not illustration by:Sarah Casagrande even supposed to use certified in the first place. blocked, the wifi will not load. There should have been more of an Honestly, why can the technology announcement that all students would department just ban students have heard because many do not pay from certified? It is impossible to attention to the school website. understand why there aren’t further

advancements being put into effect to prevent them going on. It can also be defined as weird saying that this has been put into effect at the end of the year. If it had been put into effect at the beginning then it would have been less of a problem. Instead of the consequences being put immediately into effect, students should have been more informed than most of them were. It is not fair for those that were not informed to be blocked for this year and from certified from next. But this problem could have been easily solved. The login for certified should have never been the students computer login but instead should have been a different login that the school staff or people with permission could have used. Overall this whole wifi ordeal is crazy. Why deny the students wifi for the rest of the year? Apparently taking wifi is less severe than taking candy from a baby.

Blocked wifi leads to bad consequences Staff Reporter he complaints of the students have piled up for the technology department, as more and more students have been blocked from the school certified and public wifi. Many students are unable to tell whether or not they are blocked, or if the server is being slow like normal. In the week of FCAT, an announcement came onto the school website which stated the certified wifi was not to be used because it interfered with testing. Although there was no major announcement except for the website, the penalties of using certified were highly enforced by being blocked from wifi. Within a week, most frequent users were blocked from the highly coveted certified wifi and the public wifi. Many students use certified because it was better than public wifi

barks

& bites

Haley Gaeser Opinions Editor A BARK to the AP teachers like Robin Grenz, Erin Foley and Helen Reed for having so much spirit for AP exams. While some teachers require their students to dress professionally for their exams, these teachers have decided to go against the norm and create t-shirts for their students to wear. This not only excites students for their upcoming tests, but it also gives them a stress-free activity before exams as the classes had to come up the t-shirt design together. A BITE to closing the media center during test days. It is not the staff’s fault but some students do not have access to computers at home so by having it closed, it creates difﬁculty for them. It would be ﬁne if it only happened every so often but it has come to a point where it is closed almost every day. A BARK to Ms. Hurley for being such an enthusiastic secretary. Many students go to guidance just to see her. She is extremely helpful and always has a smile on her face. At one point in the quarter, she even gave away cookies. It is really nice to have someone like her in the school that not only cares about their job, but the well-being of every student as well. A BITE to all teachers who do not tell their students about a test or homework that is due. With all of the new technology the school has like Blackboard and Remind 101, there is really no excuse for not informing students of their work consistently and early. This has been a constant issue for a while now and hopefully it will be resolved in the future.

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opinions*

YES

“These institutions present financial benefits which help students.” Adeline Davis

Staff Reporter he typical American dream involves suits and ties, money, and a four year college education. Even in today’s current economic crisis, this dream has not changed. Students are continuously pushed to take the most AP courses, receive the highest scholarships, and get into the most prestigious colleges. Community colleges have been stuck with the reputation of being schools for people with a lower level education. This is false. Thousands of students who go to these colleges end up being just as successful. In fact, according to The Community College Pipeline, 45 percent of all students who receive a four-year degree have previously attended a two-year community college. Walt Disney attended a community college and he ended up succeeding greatly in life. This alone proves that ridiculous theory of four- year college students having more success as wrong. An Ivy League student could end up graduating college, becoming lazy and going nowhere in life just as easily as a community college student. In today’s financial crisis, it is becoming more common for students to attend a two-year college before a four year one. According to the National Association for College Admission, one in every three students transfer to a four-year university. .Recent studies from the Pros of Community Colleges show that smaller classroom sizes promote better student performance and fewer behavior problems,Despite rumors that two-year schools have an easier workload, insidehighered. com states community college students have found they are well prepared for the workload in four-year colleges. In fact, 71 percent of transfer students end up graduating. Community college is frequently thought of as a dead end. In reality, it is often just the beginning. More than half of students at community colleges end up receiving their fouryear degrees due to transfer agreements with local four-year schools. It is important to keep in mind that yes, a four-year degree is important. However, it does not matter what students do in order to obtain it. As Walt Disney said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” In 20 years it will not matter how students got their degree; it will matter how they used it. This is the true meaning of success.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Do you like to write? Have an opinion for the BluePrint Staff? Send us an email at hhsblueprint@gmail. com or come to room 6-201. Letters to the editor cannot be anonymous.

Is a two-year college as successful as a four-year college?

Haley Gaeser

“A four-year because you have a better chance to get a successful career or a really nice paying job.” Helen Cabanillas, 10

“At a two-year college you can have a chance to figure out what you want to do.” Ben Clyatt, 9

“A four-year college because you will get more of an education.” Hannah Suehle, 9

“A two-year college is less expensive and there is no competition to get in.” Nathaniel Kauffman, 9

Dear Editors, Here are two obvious facts: we live in Florida and Florida is hot. These two simple statements are easy to understand for the majority of the English speaking population except for the idiots who created the dress code. The dress code out-law the easiest, cheapest and most comfortable shirts Floridians wear, like tank tops. If it is hot outside, why would anyone want to sweat in sleeves and/or a collar? It is not likely they are any less revealing than other shirts! Also, banning a style of shirt because some cleavage or brastraps show is both sexist and useless. Plus, it is not a secret that girls wear bras so why is it so bad for the straps to show? Catie Mason, 10

“UCF or any other in-state university would be a safer bet.”

Opinions Editor he question that every student must ask themselves when they are applying to college is whether they would prefer to save money or to get the full college experience. Students who start off at a two-year college, get their associate’s degree and then switch over to a four-year university to get their bachelor’s degree will have a smaller chance of graduating compared to a person who stayed at a four-year university full term. Two-year colleges have a cheaper tuition and fee and book and supplies cost compared to a typical in-state school. According to seminolestate.edu, Seminole State College costs $3,931 per year compared to UCF’s charge of $7,367, but with that charge comes perks. Students at UCF are able to live on campus, be involved in clubs and have a much larger range of curriculum to choose from. At a community college like SSC, there is a program referred to as Direct Connect where students can have a guaranteed transfer to UCF after they have gotten their Associates degree. Although is it considered to be hasslefree by the counselors, being involved in the Direct Connect program is not as easy as it is made out to be. Students who participate in Direct Connect must not only transfer schools but also go through a long process which can be very timely. This process includes calling a UCF advisor, filling out an application as well as turning in $30 to UCF by the appropriate deadlines available. According to insidehighered.com, only 45 percent of the students who attended a two-year school and then transferred over to a four-year college actually graduated with their bachelor’s degree. However, according to ucf.edu, 62.5 percent of students graduated with a bachelor’s degree. At UCF, students cannot only partake in better quality courses, but they can also apply for a scholarship if needed. Doing so will not only allow students to have the price they desire but as well as the school they want. Community colleges may seem like a good idea for some students, but if a student really wants to ensure a good major and hopefully a successful career, UCF or any other in-state university would be a safer bet.

Dear Editors, I do not like the way some teachers are cramming for EOC’s and AP exams. It is not the students’ faults, and yet we are the ones with all the work. It makes a lot of work for teachers to grade, too. What I do not understand is how we go to school for 10 months and we are still scrambling to finish the material we will be tested over. I hate having 70 question tests over four and five chapters of a book that has been in existence for much longer than our school year–why didn’t we start reading it sooner? Why do we have to stress now over things we could have done already in the school year? Rachel Morgan, 10

Vine takes

back

over iPhones New social media application puts fresh spin on video clips Ellie Bonck and Lexi Rossow Staff Reporter

irst, the social media limelight basked on Facebook, until Twitter came along and swept up the popularity with its 140 character statements. After Twitter, Instagram joined the social media mix and took over the iPhone, with its ability to link together easily with Facebook and Twitter. But if that’s not enough, the newest edition of social media has recently emerged—Vine. Similar to Instagram, Vine threads together six-second clips of video taken with the iPhone and uploaded right away onto the newsfeed. “Vine is funny and entertaining,” junior Paige Bundy said. “It’s fun to watch other people’s Vines.” With Vine, you start recording by holding down the screen, and then release to pause the ﬁlm at any point in time. The product then becomes loosely like a stopmotion collection of quick videos clips that capture different angles of the same event or activity. “I use Vine to record myself doing dumb things and for my own entertainment,” Bundy said. The Vine app is not restricted to the usage of students only—some celebrities record Vines, too, such as Jenna Marbles from the popular YouTube videos, comedian Will Sasso and Tyler Posey from Teen Wolf. “It’s a way to unleash the weirdest aspect of your personality and everyday life and not be made fun of for it, because

celebrities do it too,” sophomore Rhiana Raymundo said. Vine is often used for humorous qualities, or used to document popular fads such as “hallway swimming” and “twerking.” Raymundo started doing “Chinese Tiger” mom impressions in person for her friends during and before dance team practice last year. “People know I’m Asian and instead of taking an effect to what people make fun of me, I make a joke out of it and people seem to love it,” Raymundo said. When Vine came out, she used her “Asian mom” impressions as an idea, and people started following her just to watch them. Her most popular Vines are titled “Dog for Dinner” or “You Eat Rice and Fish.” There is also the Daily Lunch Raid, created by juniors Alex Chopra, Brian Pak, Kevin Marin, Reece Whitaker and Stephen Johnson. The Lunch Raid started a month ago when the boys decided to run down a hallway screaming, ﬂipping, and jumping. They record themselves using Vine, creating an explosion of activity in the sixsecond clip. “Because Vine has that six second clip, you get everything in it,” Pak said. “A part of the reason we do all of this is because when we are all yelling and crazy, we don’t know what’s going to happen, so the videos are a surprise.” Viewers never know what to expect from the Daily Lunch Raid, or any Vine for that matter. “Just ﬂow with the go,” Chopra said.

photo by Anesu Mucherera

Vine time. Juniors Reece Whitaker, Alex Chopra, Kevin Marin and Brian Pak explode into their Vine weekly series, the Daily Lunch Raid. These explosive videos began with the introduction to the Vine application release.