ISSUE 04 | February 10, 2014
New Semester Brings New Students Broomball League a Hit Winter Sports Recap
Norway displayed superiority in singing American anthems during the Friday Night Activity Karaoke Night.
Killer Karaoke
Liz Peterson | Staff Reporter
Hillcrest students take to the stage for Friday Night Activity The lights are dim. There is a chill and inviting atmosphere. Hillcrest’s chapel has taken on a completely new look. Tables are set up around the room, and the stage is open. An aroma of paninis and the sound of music and chatter fill the Friday night air. Background music is being played by Daniel Nersten, Gunnar Saevig, Jeehoon Park, and P.C. Hjellum. Students flip through a book of karaoke numbers, searching for their own favorite, or a perfect song to volunteer their friend to sing. Four Norwegian boys take the stage as a familiar song begins to blare from the speakers. Peter Hove, Andreas Aurlien, Anders Grinde, and Vegard Schjelderup perform, in full character, to a One Direction song. As the boys jump to the beat onstage, and the audience screams with excitement, the number becomes an immediate crowd favorite. This is Karaoke Night.
“I was nervous, but when we started singing it was so fun!” Peter Hove commentedabout their performance. Anders Grinde agreed, adding that it was a good night. From 9:30 pm until midnight students and faculty took turns stepping up to the mic. “Pokerface”, “Just the Way You Are”, and “I Want It That Way” were highlight performances. Friend duos and RA’s teamedup to take the stage, while some were brave performing solo. Students bonded over either a shared taste in music or a favorite karaoke number. Some students surprised their friends, revealing hidden musical talent. Others attempted to sing a song only to laugh their way through it. As every song’s music faded, students watching scrambled to grab a pencil and a piece of paper to record their vote. The contest was heated, and the judges were the
crowd. Each person had a say in how they thought a singer or group of singers rated in the competition. Janaya Caines and Tori Unruh sang “Boyfriend” by Justin Bieber, but Janaya said her favorite part was “to watch everyone else embarrass themselves.” Craig Nersten and Pete Narvesen worked hard to ensure everyone had a great night. As they made sandwiches and milkshakes throughout the evening, students volunteered to serve as waiters and waitresses, pitching in with the clean-up at the end of the night. There are some student life activities everyone looks forward to annually. Hillcrest’s karaoke night was overwhelmingly successful, and is likely to become a favorite tradition for students and staff. |1
Broomball Hits Hillcrest Liz Peterson | Staff Reporter
It’s Sunday morning and there’s a travel advisory for Ottertail County. The warning means better weather for broomball. The ice is especially slippery due to the winter weather, and the snow is perfect for packing and throwing. Since the students returned from winter break, the ice rink outside the boys’ dorm is the most visited place on campus. Broomball is a popular game on ice, played with sticks and a small ball. Players wear boots, and because of this, there is a nice slippery spin to the game. Two teams compete against each other in a game, having six players from each team on the ice at a time, including the goalie. The game is often compared to ice hockey because of the objective. Points are scored by hitting the ball into the opponent’s net. Broomball is a winter favorite that anyone can participate in.
Eddie Jiang has made friends quickly at Hillcrest transferring in the second semester
New Semester Brings New Students Brandon Doering and Jonathan Eckhardt | Staff Reporters
Second semester brings a fresh start, but it also carried with it new faces to Hillcrest’s hallways. The new faces include two from America (Virginia and California), two from China, one from South Korea, and one from Thailand. The new faces are Matt Bradford, Eddie Jiang, Adela Zhu, Ashley Luo, YeaRim Yang, and Book Wangrattanasopon. They took time out of their busy schedules to answer some questions for us. Coming to Minnesota is a shock for most new students. All six new students complained about the extreme temperatures, but said they liked the snow and fun activities that go with it.
Eddie
Yea-Rim
Book
Arriving at Hillcrest, students were greeted enthusiastically. Eddie Jiang said, “The campus looks very interesting and everyone is friendly and welcoming.” Matt Bradford agreed saying his welcome to the dorms has been a highlight. The journey new students take to Hillcrest is always interesting. Our six new friends have stories that are worth hearing, knowing their transition can be a nerve-racking experience. As they look to transition into halls they haven’t walked, and live in a dormitory they haven’t seen, the transition can rattle the cage of the most confident student who doesn’t know current students or alumni. 2|
All six new students discovered Hillcrest through Hillcrest’s website. Adela Zhu and Ashley Luo found Hillcrest online and decided to come to Hillcrest together. Book and YeaRim were told of Hillcrest by their parents who researched boarding schools online. The fact that their first impression of Hillcrest was online doesn’t seem to matter, as all six students comment they are really enjoying their experience. Looking for a fresh start, the new students said they are also looking to fulfill personal goals. For instance, Yea-Rim is looking forward to experiencing friendships with students from different cultures at Hillcrest.
Ashley
Matt
Adela
For many international students, the language gap is a hard one to bridge, but that doesn’t stop them from wanting to learn more English. Liv Ronnevik’s Cross Cultural Communications class aids in the transition. The class helps international students’ journey to communicating and understanding English, building camaraderie with the rest of the student body using English. The new students are going to experience things at Hillcrest that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Hillcrest’s Biblebased program will help them to grow in their understanding of God and His creation.
Pete Narvesen, an RA and captain of team Urine Trouble, has gone all out this year by grooming the ice for the broomball league. With the rink positioned behind the boys’ dorm at Hillcrest, Pete’s team is often seen in their flannel “uniforms”. Craig Nersten, director of the dormitory and captain of Maximus Industries, arranged the draft for the four-week broomball league. Scheduled games take place each Saturday and Sunday for the first three weekends of the month. The following weekend holds play-offs. Ryan Dittman, captain of the team MCC (Make Craig Cry), stated that his team has “a lot of heart, but not a lot of points” this season. Ryan’s appreciation for solid play has increased since he slipped on the ice and hit his head. Thankfully, he was quick to get back on the ice the following game. Nick Joyal and Clint Knutson are co-captains of the Cotton-Headed Ninnymuggins, who have really lived-up to their name. The team plays hard from the time they take the ice until the very end of each game. Quincey Circo noted that playing any sport “under the lights” is better, even if it’s cold. The late night broomball games take place on the ice with utility lights shining on players. Night games are a favorite for all students. Spectators huddle by the campfire on the boys dorm patio, watching their friends battle it out on the ice below. Pick-up games take place daily, pitting countries against each other, while other games have roommates teaming-up with an occasional “Girls Only” match. Your car may not start on some of the coldest days of the year, but the excitement to grab a broom and get on the ice is growing. Broomball is one of the activities that makes Hillcrest a special place. Students stay on-campus, joining friends on the ice, an easy place to meet and a welcoming spot for others to join. The atmosphere broomball provides is a great bridge in building and strengthening friendships.
Snow School on Snow Days Amanda Doiron | Staff Reporter
Hillcrest students, starting to get ready for the most dreaded day of the week, Monday, suddenly stopped. A dean coming through their door brought the enjoyable announcement, “Snow day!” In the students’ minds that meant one thing, sleep. Hillcrest Academy follows the same school closure announcements as the public school system. Parents and dean staff are notified either through text message, email, Facebook, or the weather channels reporting on local closures. Students were then able to sleep into the day, or for Grace Cao, “four o’clock in the afternoon.” Some students decided to wake up a little earlier than others for the Walmart bus. Students were very thankful that the bus started in spite of the frigid temperatures. Students look forward to the weekly bus to Walmart. This is a time for them to stock up on their favorite food for the week, and especially for snow days. Nhi Nguyen chose to go to Walmart on her snow day to “buy a gift of hot chocolate packets and marshmallows for Wayne Stender.”
Top Left: Tori Unruh receives some tender instructions from Coach Grothman Top Right: Megan Aasness looks to start the offense for the Lady Comets Bottom: Jake Isaac draws the foul as the Comets roll over Underwood
Comet Sports Recap Liz Peterson and Quincey Circo | Staff Reporter
Comet basketball faced tough competition in the new year. On Tuesday, January 14th the Lady Comets fell to Verndale. Illness plagued the Comets in their second game back from Christmas break. That same night, the boys defeated the Breckenridge Cowboys 49-45. The Comets shot 20-28 from the free throw line, and Daniel Nersten led the team with 17 points, and 9 rebounds. Jake Isaac had 13 points, and Chris Tungseth had 11. Evan Newman had 8 rebounds, and Evan Hart had 4 assists. Friday, January 17th, the Lady Comets faced Underwood on their home court. Laura Tungseth led with 22 points, Kelsey Nersten added 12 points, and Megan Aasness had 11. Elisabeth Peterson pulled down 8 rebounds, and Emma Royce had 6. After a hard-fought game, the Comets lost 60-54. The same night, the Comet boys took on Brandon-Evansville in Brandon. Together, the boys shot 51%. Daniel Nersten netted 25 points and Evan Newman and Jake Isaac contributed with 6 points each. Newman had a team high 7 rebounds, as Isaac and Evan Malmstrom both dished-out 4 assists. The team worked hard, and everyone pulled together to garner the 53-30 victory.
The following Saturday, January 18th, both teams boarded the bus to Wheaton for an afternoon double-header. After a long fight, the Lady Comets fell 59-46 to the Warriors. The boys took the court and also fell short in their 39-36 defensive showcase. Lately the Comet Boys have handled Little-8 Conference competition quite well. Tuesday, January 21, the guys dominated Ashby on their home court. Nersten led with 27 points. Jake Isaac contributed by dropping 21, including 5 buckets from behind the arc. Senior forward Evan Newman represented well, pulling down 9 boards. Friday, January 24, the boys traveled to Rothsay. Daniel Nersten and Jake Isaac had a combined 63 points at the end of the night, with a victory ending in an 83-53 score. Tuesday, January 28, the Comets shut down Underwood at home. Nersten led the team again with 31 points, Jake Isaac added 22 and Chris Tungseth was 4-4 from beyond the arc, contributing 16 points to the Comets’ total.
The girls’ dorm lounge traditionally fills with students looking forward to movie marathons. This past Monday the marathon led to an all out sing-along to all three High School Musical movies. Some students decide to be productive and work on homework during snow days. Other students clean their rooms or walk to the old gym for an intense game of basketball with friends, or an afternoon of shooting hoops for fun and exercise on the cold January days. Usually more than a dozen Domino’s pizza deliveries are made to Hillcrest Academy when school closes. Students spend their time eating and celebrating. The most recent snow day saw the birth of Milk Shake Monday in the girls’ dorm as groups of girls traveled to Applebees as a reprieve from the dorms. Milkshake Monday is one good thing to come from snow days, assuring large quanities of milkshakes purchased every Monday from Applebee’s, Perkins, or the Comet Cafe for the rest of the year. Down at the boys’ dorm, broomball games happen. The most recent snow day saw subzero temps and boys and girls joined together under the lights on the ice for their iron man matches. Even when it is thirty below zero, the players have dedicated fans watch and cheer them on. At the end of every snow day the consensus is that everyone loves time together, even if it is just catching up on sleep or finishing off homework. Snow days in the dorms are a bonding highlight everyone appreciates.
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Hillcrest gained 6 new students from China, Korea, Virginia, Thailand and California. East coast students arrived 4 days late because of flight delays. Due to extreme cold weather, school was cancelled the first day of the semester. Quincey Circo spent one week of his winter break watching 3 seasons of his favorite tv show. Wayne Stender met 50 cent and tried to talk to him about his worldview. Ellen Jacobs made a 3 pointer in the C-squad game. Ryan and Bethany Dittman put together a quidditch match in the old gym that was dominated by “he who shall not be named.” The Walmart bus was canceled because the bus won’t start in cold weather. Eddie Jiang saw Brandon Doering at Target and asked him if Target carried Converse shoes. Brandon said no, so Eddie left. Milkshake Monday is a thing for Liz Peterson. When Maddie Veum asked Ryan Erickson how to edit a picture Ryan told her to “Crop it like it’s hot.” Kelsey Nersten can hold her breath for 2 minutes. Jacob Isaac saw his shadow and errantly declared four more weeks of winter. Janaya Caines won the Karaoke competition by sheer will. Mr. Peterson bought his daughter, Liz Peterson, Honey Crisp apples, earning a “Father of the Year” title for one week. Hillcrest students have not had a full week of school since 2013. Wayne Stender and Ryan Erickson joined offices in an effort to garner scones from unsuspecting passers-by. Dawn Synstelien made her own Birthday Cake. Daniel Grytten claims Buffalo Wild Wings is best the first time down. Chris Pellegrino writes his English journals from the perspective of a female. Feven Tadesse incorrectly thought Joseph Ryu stole her textbooks from her locker, later discovering Dawn Synstelien was “The Locker Larcen.” Britta Iverson’s brother Isaac brought home 6 2-liter bottles of soda he won at the girls basketball game halftime fundraiser. Quincey Circo and Evan Newman call Jason Walkup every morning to see if they can match his outfit, creating a new trend called “TA Twinning Tuesdays.”
HLATODAY is produced by the Journalism program at Hillcrest Academy.
Quincy Circo Amanda Doiron Liz Peterson Maddie Veum Jonathan Eckhardt 4|
Brandon Doering Kara Nash Zoey Schweitzer Eddie Jiang
Junior Jonathan Eckhardt communicates how past preparation has given him hope despite present obstacles.
Eckhardt Finds Purpose in Past Preparation Brandon Doering | Staff Reporter
Everything that God does in each life has a purpose and plan behind it. Sometimes the purpose of tough events in life is to prepare for struggles yet to come. Some events never reveal their true purpose. This is the current case for Hillcrest junior Jonathan Eckhardt. One year ago Jonathan’s dad was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma, a deadly form of cancer. The illness came from nowhere for the Eckhardt family. However, family life leading up to the diagnosis formed a strong bond that not only strengthened Jonathan’s faith, but strengthened his family spiritually, helping them grow closer together as a family. Jonathan has believed in Jesus as long as he can remember. Going to church with his family, he knows he is a Christian because of the church’s teaching. During his elementary years, he participated in Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ), a competition where team members are quizzed on their knowledge of the Bible. Jonathan knows the Bible well because of this competition. Jonathan, his older brother David, and his younger sister Hannah attended Morning Son Christian School from kindergarten through sixth grade, where his younger brother Matthew is currently attending as a second grader. The Christian school experience gave Jonathan and his siblings a good foundation and understanding of the Bible and God’s will for their lives. Finishing sixth grade at Morning Son, Jonathan’s parents gave him a choice; he could either go to the local public high school or attend Hillcrest Academy. Although both his parents went to public school, Jonathan decided he would attend Hillcrest his seventh grade year. It would be a chance to not only
continue in his education with friends, but also continue building his faith in Christ. The Christ-centered environment made his Hillcrest experience special and helped strengthen him for unforeseen struggles and tests. Jonathan’s past prepared him for this current test of faith, his dad’s cancer. It has been a big test, and in many ways, it still is. The cancer attacking his father’s body has created a need for Jonathan to take a lot of extra responsibility. Managing the responsibilities that come with living in the country, staying on top of school work, and of course worrying about his dad is a lot to place on the shoulders of a junior in high school. With the support of family and friends, and with trust in God, Jonathan and his family are going through these tests building an even greater relationship with each other, and with God. Since Jonathan’s Dad has been unable to work throughout the past year, Jonathan and his family were unsure whether or not he and his sister Hannah (an eighth grader at Hillcrest) would be able to continue attending Hillcrest. Before the start of the year they discovered someone paid for their first semester tuition. This was a magnificent surprise and a true blessing from God; an answer to prayer that the Eckhardts are very grateful for. Things have been improving for Jonathan’s dad. Prayer and support from family and friends has changed an extremely dire period into a season of hope. Recent reports show a decrease in the cancer, and the Eckhardts are praying and believing they will see a full recovery. It is through Jonathan’s past teaching and experiences that he holds the truth to what God has done. His faith formation is enabling him and his family to remain strong through this difficult time.