Senior superlatives! See PERSPECTIVES, pgs. 5-8
How do students feel about the 2010 yearbook? See FEATURES, page 2
Looking back at the past year of sports See SPORTS, page 11
Class of 2010 - The best Underwood retires after 38 years there has ever been! By Colleen Stafford Messenger Staff Writer
Photo courtesy Potpourri
What are you going to miss most about the class of 2010? By Emily Mattson Messenger Staff Writer
Larry Alberts “I will miss the wit, the charm, the good looks, and the pleasant faces that greet me everyday and show their appreciation for me opening their eyes to the arts.”
Mike Janus “The football games were awesome over the past two years. They were super fun and we owe it to the 2010 class.” Mike Pahl “Hmmm, the senior class is very....creative. Many have a great work ethic and have quality work. There is definitely a sense of leadership.”
For the last thirty eight years, Mr. Mark Underwood has been a part of the Placer Hillmen teaching staff, but this 2009/2010 school year will be his last. Underwood has been teaching at Placer since he was twenty two years of age. He has witnessed historical events, principals change, and the continuous and never ending spirit of Placer High School. Most students on Placer’s campus are aware that Underwood is the Psychology and US History teacher and most have also had the privilege of having him as a teacher. Throughout the years Underwood has not only taught the two classes he his currently teaching, but an array of many others as he explains, “I have taught economics, sociology, people and technology… everything you can imagine in social sciences.” Underwood is a highly educated teacher and has experience not only in the classroom, but also in life that he brings into his teaching abilities. He has done an incredible job of relating and connecting with his students over his years and has left a great impact on the lives of many of his students. This relationship built between the students and him has also been one of the most unforgettable parts of Underwood’s teaching career. “The kids are great, just getting to know the students. There have been some incredible people. You can’t put a value on how people enrich your life. I’m lucky.” One of the students who have had the benefits of a class with Mr. Underwood is Senior Stephanie Bonitata. Bonitata describes her experience with Underwood, “I thought he was a good teacher, he knew his information and he is really passionate.” This passion is apparent not only in the classroom, but in other school activities as well. Underwood has had the opportunity to make a lot of memories
during his stay at Placer. He describes one of his favorites. “There have been so many memories. I remember the Aggie Days, when I was doing all the crazy things. Chasing the pig… eating egg contents. I have wonderful memories of being involved in school events.” So with all these good experiences, why would Underwood choose now to retire? The answer is more complicated than many would assume. Underwood gives explanation, ”I didn’t want to retire, I like teaching I chose to not work on what is called a ‘clad-credential.’ The district said, because of this, I was out of conformity with the state. So I thought, maybe it’s time to retire. Otherwise, I would have hung on for one more year. I would have liked to have done something more fun and special for closure in my last year.” Whether or not Underwood feels it to be the perfect time for retirement, he has left an unforgettable mark on the Placer campus and in many of the hearts and minds of his students. Bonitata recalls a memory from her experience in Underwood’s class, “We were doing an activity in psychology. He got on his hands and knees and made sheep noises. He always knew how to get his point across.” Underwood’s fearless ability to be different in his teaching style has given his students an unforgettable experience. He has been a huge part of the Placer High campus for the last thirty eight years. As far as plans go in the future, Underwood is looking forward to his retirement. “I am activating my counseling again and I want to write. I think there a couple books within me. I want to write a serious book about education and a science fiction.” Maybe we will see Mark Underwood’s name on the best seller’s list in the near future, but if not, he will always be remembered as a part of Placer High School.
Brittany Haydon “Despite their procrastination, I will miss their enthusiasm and spiciness.”
Leonard Schull “Well they sure are thrilling!”
John Adams “Dude, they had absolute creativity at homecoming. They are super memorable.” Photo credit: Colleen Stafford
Mark Underwood with one of his favorite students, Alex Sibaja
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FEATURES
Volume XXXVII Issue 15 May 28, 2010
2010 yearbooks create excitment across campus By Rachel Church Messenger Staff Writer
The 2010 yearbooks are out and Students are flipping through it seeing all the photos and memories. “This year was a big change for us” says Heather Johnston, the editor and chief of the yearbook staff, “we wanted to change it from last year because of the hype of last year being not that good and we wanted to make it better. We don’t want the same outcome of last year.” And the Potpourri staff accomplished this goal according to Jenna Harlacher’s “It’s better than last year.” This year, the order of the entire book is changed, profile portraits for the seniors are in the front then the junior section, sophomores, and fresh-
men. Also there are two senior portraits instead of everyone having only one. The option of having two senior portraits is a nice touch. “The baby ads are also amazing,” said Harlacher As Dan Wilson, advisor of the Potpourri describes “Each yearbook is unique in its own way, but the cover has the biggest impact on how people view the yearbook and I think people like this one allot better.” Both Harlacher and James Foley agree the cover this year looks really nice. “It’s a real beautiful cover, work of art right there” Foley states. Johnston explains other changes to this years book; “Also there aren’t any back-
ground pictures on sports page and there are not as many interviews because we wanted it to tie into the theme. Last year there was the pictures on top and bottom of the pages, we didn’t do that this year.” “The biggest challenge was definitely time. We didn’t make any of the deadlines. I with we had more time to edit the whole
book. There will be typos. I take all the blame for any mistakes but a student publication can’t be perfect,” According to Johnston. Wilson adds, “I harped on them to double and triple check for errors. Mistakes will always happen but our job is to limit them. Overall they did a good job.”
Johnston expressed “I think it turned out really good. It’s because of the staff members. I put allot of responsibility on them and they definitely came through. We definitely accomplished something. I appreciate all the hard work the staff did and I will definitely remember each one of them. All their hard work paid off. Good luck next year!”
Senior project of the issue: Danae Culley By Ali Ware Messenger Staff Writer
Do you have a fear of heights? Are you claustrophobic? Scared of bugs or bats? Or are you simply afraid of the dark? These are just a few of the mile-long list of common fears many teens and even adults face, however Danae Culley manages to fit all of these aspects into a single trip when she goes caving. The summer before Sophomore year, Danae went to Moaning Cavern, which is the largest vertical chamber in a public cavern that you can see in California. It is so big it can actually hold the Statue of Liberty! After learning some tips and tricks and getting an equipment overview, she embarked on a three hour caving adventure through Moaning Cavern. This is what sparked the idea for her Senior Project. For her project, Danae joined the Mother Load Grotto, a caving group that goes out a couple times a month to explore caves around Northern California. Before going out, they must always make sure there are at least four people in the group willing to go for safety reasons. If someone gets stuck or hurt in the cave, one person stays with them while the other two climb out to get help. Danae exclaims how “it was scary because my mentor got injured on my first caving trip and she wasn’t able to continue with us”. Safety is the number one priority when caving, because there is always the danger of falling, getting stuck, or loose rocks.
The main pieces of equipment used for horizontal caves are helmets, three sources of light (head lamp, backup headlamp, flashlight), batteries, jumpsuits, and pads for crawling around. There is other equipment needed for vertical caves, however Danae’s vertical skills are not formed well enough to try them yet. Danae says the reason she has not tried the vertical caves yet is because, “I’m a small girl, so it’s hard to get through big openings without slipping or falling”. Other than physical limitations, another challenge she was forced to overcome was her fear of heights. The claustrophobic part most people would hate the most just happens to be her favorite aspect of caving, however. “Going through the squeezes are definitely my favorite part. It’s really cool knowing that I am one of the only people that can go through them because I’m small enough”. When Danae talked about crawling through some of the squeezes in her practice speech, she described spots when the top of her helmet would almost be touching the rocks above her and her chin would almost be hitting the ground. Overall, Danae’s personal goals of caving for her Senior Project are to get over her fears and to grow mentally, as well as stretching her physical skills. Luckily, she enjoys it so much, she definitely has plans to stay a part of the Mother Load Grotto and continue caving into her future.
Class of 2010 “toasts” Placer with 1000 styrofoam cups
FEATURES
Volume XXXVII Issue 15 May 28, 2010
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Seniors: What is your most embarassing moment from your Freshmen year? By Laura Molnar Messenger Staff Writer
“Going to Colfax High School.” -Mike Stone
“I volunteered with my friends to do the color dance for the freshman class during the Homecoming Rally. We didn’t plan ahead and were dressed up as grandmas for the themeday. We were booed by the entire school while dressed like old people.” -Bridget Stangland
“The first day that the new light by Taco Tree was installed, I was walking with a group of friends to lunch. There were no cars around, so I began to cross. Halfway through, I realized my mistake and turned to see my friends laughing at me and Scholl driving up to remind me that Jay-walking is illegal.” -Jenna Landry
“During an English speech, I had planned ahead to show a video clip from Harold and Kumar. I had convinced Mr. Ram in advance that there was no bad language, but it turned out that I was thinking of a different clip. The one I actually showed dropped the F-bomb at least four times.” -Matt Ryan
“My mom dropped me off in front of the cafeteria on the first day of school. Before pulling into the parking lot, she ran over a traffic cone, placed on the side of the road, and it got stuck in the fender. She proceeded to drag the cone into the lot which made a lot of noise and caused everyone around to stare at me as I got out of the car.” -Melissa Manning
Class of 2010 makes final choices Senior’s long lost hidden secrets for school next year By TaNee Edwards Perspectives Editor
Awza Pacific: Andrew Soria BYU: Alex Rhode Cabrillo: Mitchell Maddox Cal Poly: Michael Jenson Shauna Kean Davis: Chi Soo Song Mollie Fries Shannon Harws Dominican University: Mark Mikelionis Humbolt State: Britny Hobbs Stephanie Harbin Montana State: Hayley Meyer Questa College: Clarise Bankus San Diego State: Derek Richards San Francisco State: Carly Fox Christina Francis Santa Clara: Natalie Collins Sierra: Brigitte Creencia James Deitler Kevin Ashley Sarah Schell Sahmed Aceves
Khrista Crouse Nina Tahti Aaron Maddox Kylie Whittet Sarrah Helms Alex Birgham Morgan Potter Colin Brown St Mary’s: Kathryn Reale Seattle Pacific: Amy Van Groningen UC Berkley: Jared Lucas Ryan Studebaker UC Santa Cruz: Kayla Lee Sarolta Csontos Taylor Rick Erika Hanson Mack Classon UH Manoa: Jenna Harlacker UN Lincoln: Bethany Feis University of Arizona: Michael Dean University of Nevada Reno: Allen Shanley Emily Mattson Kyle Sproul
Remember when you were a freshman and the seniors looked so big and bad? Remember when your friends would spread the gossip about those seniors and something they did that just seemed so scandalous that you couldn’t believe they had done it? But then, you became the big bad senior. Have you done anything you wouldn’t want the rest of your senior class of 2010 to know about? Do you like someone you really know you shouldn’t? So what is it class of 2010? What’s your dirty little secret? Upon asking the senior class of this year if they had anything they wanted to confess from way back when… many answers were received, some of them serious some of them…well, not so serious. So how about it class of 2010? Are you ready to hear what your classmates have done or who they like? Well here they are! The Senior Confessions of 2010! -“Jake Turney is in love with Mrs. Maddox!” -“I love Jelly Belly Flops.” -“My Freshman year, I had a dream the Mr. Shroeder and
I had to save some Smurfs by walking through a forest of daisies on stilts.” -“I am an alcoholic.” -“Olivia Coder’s mom is HOT!” -“I eat a pickle every day.” -“Ryan Knox didn’t believe in love at first sight before he met Brittany Haydon.” -“My two friends have kissed twice… and they are both GUYS!” -“I kissed a senior boy when I was a freshman.”
-“I’m going to miss Placer High School.” -“I dance in front of my mirror in my underwear.” -“I’ll keep you my dirty little secret.” -“During the Sonora [football] game, when Dalton threw that pass to Cameron and then ran in for the touchdown, I cheered and screamed, jumping up and down like a kid with out knowing it. I regret going crazy like that.”
-“I worship Satan.”
-“Freshman year, I dropped a balloon full of red dye on the seniors during the last week of school.” -“I tee peed Trull.” -“My best friend and I broke into ARD over summer with three boys and went skinny dipping. Two of those boys had girlfriends. Ha-Ha!” Many more confessions were said, but unfortunately some were unprintable. Oh, yeah… they were THAT good.
So there they are class of 2010. What do you think? Did your class do anything note worthy? Do you think you topped the past seniors? Do you all LOVE Mrs. Maddox? No matter what happened in these last 4 years, this is it, the big one, the one moment you’ve all been waiting for: graduation. So put on your cap and gown and go celebrate already. You’ve done it, and this alone is some thing to confess. You can tell everyone you know that you did it. You finished high school at the greatest school around. Congratulations class of 2010, and don’t forget your dirty little secrets as the years to come pass you by!
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Volume XXXVII Issue 15 May 28, 2010
Volume XXXVII Issue 15 May 28, 2010
Superlatives
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Most Likely to... ent ey
Mon Martin r o f MarryAmara & Brooklyn Anthony
id n s e r P e Be etwhSeoria & Cait Cull Andr
be a Cameron soccer McCallis mom & ter & B ridget Standad gland
ou y o t e c i n are W e i l B A & r tle Fames Die
Be La te to Dillon Dob Gradua bas & Cla tion rise Banku s
Be Face boo
Not come to the reunion Dillon Dobbas & Kaelin Ransome
Be on a game show Michael Jensen & Brigitte Creencia
k King and que Matt Steele & Olivia Coedenr
have a hit song on the radio
Ian Bechler & Olivia Coder
Superlatives
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Best Booty Most Liberal ham Josh Newton & Nicole Berube Chris Swart & Alex Brig
Best eye s Connor Daniel & Laura M
olnar
biggest goss ip Josh Whitehead & M ichelle Deleon
loudest Jerrad Weaver & Heather Johnston
most artistic Isaiah Phillips & Olivia Pedersen
Volume XXXVII Issue 15 May 28, 2010
most conservative Brad Bowen & Clarissa Conley
classiest Conrad Harder & Natalie Collins
most athletic Josh Klem & Kayla Reeves
Volume XXXVII Issue 15 May 28, 2010
Superlatives
Best car Clay Campbell & Megan Peek
Best hair e rk u B n a g o L & rt a w S s ri Ch
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Best smile Conrad Harder & Nina Tahti
most unique P hil Ballew & Erin Harker
Best Buil d Colin Brown & C auleen Doughty
Best dynamic duo Kyra Wells, Kayla Lee & Josh Klem, Michael Jensen
ver
rachie e v o t s e g Big
e
Rohd x le A & y o R in v Ke
best laugh
most sarcastic
Matt Steele & Bridget Stangland
Matt Ryan & Heather Johnston
Superlatives
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Volume XXXVII Issue 15 May 28, 2010
Most Likely to... of ke up Married in vegas!
t s a C e h Join t ore! h S on o y k a s R r h a n Je an H & n a e D Michael
an n m h s e Fr ie Richardso a e t Da ombs & Kat Kody C
Wa Will Husky & Kayla Lee
Get married Zack Aubuchon & Kayla Lipsmeyer
rdy win a a p o e j oleman & n osc n Feis i y w n a h t e Melanie W ar B estin Jared Lucas &
Connor C
Join a Nudist Colony Ian Bechler & Julia Dorsey
Be a Hip Senior Citizen Cullen Brown & Caty O’Connor
Volume XXXVII Issue 15 May 28, 2010
Ads
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I would like to give a special thanks to all involved in the Senior Superlatives section of this issue: Clarise Bankus, Colin Brown, Cait Cullen , TaNee Edwards , Claire McCoy, Laura Molnar & others. - JD Avila, Editor-In-Chief
SPORTS
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Volume XXXVII Issue 15 March 28, 2010
A look back on the 2009-2010 sports seasons By Zak Liske & Paul Bandanza Messenger Staff Writer
This year at Placer High School in the world of sports was a wild ride. It had many great moments along with some not so great moments. The year started off with a great fall sports season. On the gridiron the Hillmen made an almost perfect run at a Section Title but were stopped by the Modesto Christian Crusaders in the title game. On their road to perfection they were stopped short of a perfect record during the regular season by the Lincoln Fighting Zebras. They finished the season with a record of nine wins and only one very close loss. Even with the loss to Lincoln they had home-field advantage in the playoffs. With that home-field advantage the team had their first home playoff game since the 1980’s. The Hillmen did not disappoint during the playoffs, they won three games and were very close in the title game. But these shortcomings did not stop the Hillmen from achieving and accomplishing many of their goals. On the soccer field the boy’s soccer team finished the season with thirteen wins, nine losses and two ties. The team was led by their standout senior Travis Tidd. He led the team in both goals and assists. For the Girls Volleyball team the regular season was a big sucess. The Girls won the Pioneer Valley League outright. The team was led by seven seniors including Kelsey Lardner and Kathryn Reale. They
were at one time ranked number twelve in the area. They also went on to the playoffs. In the playoffs Placer advanced to the Division IV semifinals but lost to St. Mary’s of Stockton. The Cross Country team at Placer had another great season this
fall. The Hillmen Cross Country program is one of the best in the area. They swept the Pioneer Valley League in both Varsity and Junior Vartsity across the board. The team was led by two oustanding seniors in Shannon Harcus and Lucas Stancliff. “Winning sections for the first time in ten years was a great accomplishment. We lost to El Camino in every race except Sub-Sections and Sections. It was a great thing for the graduating seniors,” said Senior Lucas Stancliff. Next the Hillmen entered the
winter sports season, which is one of Placers best all around seasons. The Placer Boys Basketball team had a very exciting season that ended abruptly in the playoffs, but they still had a very good regular season. The Hillmen finished with an overall record of sixteen wins and
three years. Everyone on the team made it to sections. No one made it to state,” stated Senior Aaron Maddox. The wrestling team currently is three time league champs, dual runner-up in Division IV Sections. In the team tournament they were second in section. One thing great for the team was that the entire team went to sections, eight athletes went on to Masters. The wrestling team put in a lot of time and hard work and it paid off, the team was very successful just as they have been for the past few years. As always the Placer High Snowboard and Ski teams completed another great season with State Championships in multiple categories. The Placer Girls Ski team won the state title and Karly Kenworthy was the individual Graphic Credit: Paul BanState Champion for skiing. twelve losses Caty O’Connor once again overall, and they won the individual State Champihad eight wins and only four losses onship for snowboarding, this bein league. ing her third title. Both Kenworthy “It was great to make the playoffs this year and beat Colfax and O’Connor finished their High at their court. It was nice to have School careers well and will contwelve seniors,” stated Senior Mi- tinue to be great in Winter Sports at another level. chael Jensen. The Lady Hillmen on the hard The Hillmen Wrestling team wood also played hard and finished was once again very competitive their regular season ranked fifth and succeeded as a team very well. in the Pioneer Valley League. This For Senior Aaron Maddox the best season marked the start of a new part of the season was of course, program under their new head winning. “Winning league this year coach Tony Camillucci. The team and not loosing a league match in
was led by seniors Kayla Reeves and Bethany Feis who were big factors for the Lady Hillmen. Finally the Hillmen closed out the 2009-2010 sports season with their spring sports, and one of their highest points was on the track. The Hillmen as always competed very well in track and field. They have won this years Pioneer Valley League title, as they have done for many times in recent years. The team was led by an outstanding group of seniors that allowed the Hillmen to win the title outright. At the league title meet the Hillgals narrowly won the title over El Dorado. The Girls Softball team is as of the writing of this article, completing their 2010 season. Even though the team is not in the playoffs they had a good time on the team. “We had a really fun group of girls and even though we had a dissappointing season, all the girls on the team had fun,” said Senior Courtney Phillips. The Swim team this year was led by their new coach Michael Scott. The season was more of a learining experience for their new coach than a competitive season. The team was not working toward a team title with their new leader. For a few team members they will go on to individual meets for playoffs. But for the rest it was just a good time. “Overall it was a good season we didn’t win a lot but the group we had made it a fun year,” stated Senior Todd Monroe.
Standout senior athletes of the year By Alec Burnett Messenger Staff Writer
One of the most successful years in Placer Sports History was witnessed this year. The success of the Placer sports program is mostly due to a wide array of talented senior
for 1669 yards and 22 touchdowns and had 8.83 yards per carry on the season. He was also a significant part of the passing game with 22 catches for 769 yards and 6 touchdowns. He was named PVL Offensive MVP and was 1st team all metro. He also played cornerback on defense and had 2 interceptions. He does track and is a very important part of the team running sprints. Shannon Harcus is on the track team and she is one of the best runners in the section. “This year at Arcadia under the lights when I
Photo Credit: Alec
athletes such as Asher Gotzmer for football and track, Shannon Harcus for Cross country and Track, Brett Crider for track, Josh Klem for basketball, baseball, and football, and Kayla Reeves for basketball and track. These athletes shined in each one of their sports and because of this they are being recognized as some of the top athletes at Placer this year. Asher Gotzmer played running back for the football team and helped lead Placer to its second straight Section Title game. He ran
ran 10:58 in the 2 mile was really epic” said Shannon Harcus. Great success in running has led her to get a scholarship from U.C. Davis. Following the path of one of her main idols, Usain Bolt, Shannon has
accomplished many of her goals as a track athlete. She says being persistent has helped her to get where she is today. She is also a star on the cross country team. This year she
aspired to new heights when she set a new course record in the 5 kilometer with a time of 18 minutes and 24 seconds which helped lead the Placer Girls team to a PVL Title. Josh Klem played linebacker and tight end for the football team and was a pivotal part to Placer going to its second straight section title. He had a total of 99 tackles and tied the team lead for interceptions with 5. As a tight end he had 7 catches for 162 yards and one touchdown and was named second team all metro and first team all PVL. He was a great blocker and that helped Placer had 3,864 rushing yards on
the season. He also played basketball for the hillmen and was named first team all PVL and led the team in scoring. He is playing baseball right now and he plays shortstop. The team is trying to win its second straight section championship. Kayla Reeves played basketball for Placer and lead the team in scoring with 13.8 per game. With her success in basketball she has earned a scholarship in basketball to Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Or-
egon. She has had many great moments in basketball but the one that tops them all was when she made a half court shot versus Colfax. She said her goals are, “Getting better
and working my way to my dreams of playing basketball in college.” She is a very successful sprinter on the track team also.
Brett Crider has soared his way to be one of the top track athletes in Placer’s History. He set the school record in triple jump with 46 feet 10 inches. He is sixth in Placer school history in the high jump with 6 feet 4 inches. He’s trying to lead the track team to a Section title and league title. He will be going to Sacramento State this fall. These athletes have cemented their place into Placer sports history. Because of these athletes this has been one of the most exciting years of sports in Placer’s history.
OPINIONS
Volume XXXVI Issue 15 May 28, 2010
Bechler says goodbye, be smart
As I write my final words as a member of the Hillmen Messenger staff, I can’t help but think that I will in all likelihood never see many of you ever again. An even heavier burden on my heart, I wont get to say goodbye, nor will I be able to watch my friends take their first step into adult life. I am sure most of you are already aware that I’m missing out on memories I will never get back because of my recent violations of ed code. I broke the rules and I’m experiencing the consequences. The advice I’d like to leave with my fellow seniors as well as the graduating classes of the future? Be smart. Think twice before you decide to go back to school after you’ve bonged it up with your buds. Give thorough thought into whether or not you add that extra special sweetener in your morning coffee. I’m not trying to give insight into whether these actions are right or wrong, but I’m simply trying to share what I’ve learned from experience and say a final thanks to all the people that have made my stay at Placer High School amazing. I’ve begun to realize how careless many of us have become as the last days of school quickly pass. I feel that like Odysseus, the downfall of most seniors in my situation is hubris, Greek for excessive pride. That’s right, it’s arrogance that will catch even the most clever of criminals. Just because you haven’t been busted in a long time doesn’t mean you’ll never be caught. I’ve come to realize that in the world we live in, nothing is set in stone. You may get used to a
certain routine for years but at anytime, life can throw a curve ball in your direction. I’m living proof of this. I didn’t think I could get caught. After all, I’d never been busted before; but look at me now, I’m sitting at home writing my last story for the Messenger because I am no longer allowed on campus. Take pride in the right things; sports, hobbies, love. But know that evading your parents, the administration or the authorities is something to be humble about. Be thankful you didn’t have to go through the ringer like me, but continue to take the same precautions you took to stay under the radar. Of course with the sun shining brighter than ever, it’s hard to remember that school is still in session. I’m sure it is also difficult to remember that you are in school if you’re cutting class everyday to venture into the canyon. There may only be a few meager days of school left before we feel the sweet freedom of summer, but these are still school days. Although I quit football, one of many lessons I will never forget is that you should always finish what you start, and you should always finish strong. Finish strong seniors, this isn’t the time to B.S., this is the time to lay low, pass classes, and make memories. If you don’t know what it’s like to work 12 years for something and watch it vanish before your eyes, come talk to me and I’ll give you some food for thought. Another concept to keep in mind is that your actions affect more people than you realize. Your friends, family and teachers have worked hard to help you succeed and for them, commencement is the culmination of their labors. I know that I’m ashamed my mother did not get to see her son dress up in a tux to go to senior ball, nor will she get to see him walk on stage and receive his diploma. Until you wear my shoes, you can’t realize how much this
sucks. I have to face my aunts, uncles, grandma and grandpa, and tell them that they won’t be seeing me up there shaking hands and smiling in robes of Hillmen green. Just know that these senior activities aren’t to be taken for granted. They may not matter even a little to you but odds are, your last high school experiences mean a great deal to someone you love. Finally, I would like to say a quick thanks, seeing as how I am not allowed to be on campus or to watch graduation, I will not get to thank all of you for giving me the best time of my life. You know who you are, and I want to say thank you. Thank you for singing “Hey Jude” with our new German friends and I at 2:00 A.M. Thank you for cheering for me on the football field and in the throwing ring. Thank you for ushering me into adult life. Thank you for cramming 12 people onto my bed, making sleep impossible. Thank you for watching the sunrise with me through my bedroom window after long, sleepless nights. Thanks for the dances, the butt pinches, the smiles, the music, the compliments that got me through the day, and the knowledge I now hold so dearly. Thank you for the memories I will never forget. Be smart, friends. And that goes for all the residents of Placer High. Seniors; the best summer of your life is right around the corner, so don’t mess up. Lay low, work hard, and you’ll be fine. Put thought into your actions and learn from my mistakes. Our days at Placer are nearly over, but not quite. Tread carefully, friends; and once you walk off that stage with diploma in hand and your cap in the air, celebrate because you made it to the end of a journey that not all of us will be able to finish. So farewell Placer High, I send you all my congratulations, my love and support. Congratulations class of 2010, it was one hell of a ride.
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What was most enjoyable about your time here at PHS? By Cait Cullen Opinions Editor
“The teachers were helpful, and they care. Also the football games.” - Allen Shanley
“Well, I started going to Placer my junior year so I would have to say I loved meeting so many new people and I enjoyed having so many great classes.” - Victoria Villarreal
“I’ve been in Band and it’s a big family. You always have a place to go, and the people are great. It’s a good way for freshmen to meet seniors.” - Blayne Steinle
“I like the fact that compared to other schools, Placer was very welcoming and not so clique-oriented and that it’s such a laid back environment. I had a lot of fun here.” - Elle Mayer
Hillmen Messenger Editor-in-Chief: JD Avila Features Editor: Britny Christine News Editor: Amy Van Groningen Opinions Editor: Cait Cullen Perspectives Editor: TaNee Edwards Sports Editor: Kathryn Reale Online Editor: Claire McCoy Design Editor: Alicia Sandoval Ads Manager: Melissa Smith Copy Editor: Tierra Schroeder, Shauna Kean
“Auburn’s beautiful scenery and Auburn’s finest police protecting the people.” - Tim Phillips
Reporters: Phil Ballew, Ian Bechler, Hannah Beckley, Colin Brown, Alec Burnett, Rachel Church, Nick Escoto, Ben Godfrey, Alyssa Harben, Zac Hersh, Zak Liske, Emily Mattson, Claire McCoy, Laura Molnar, Victor Monjaras, Katie O’Brien, Jordan Roper, Colleen Stafford, Ali Ware Adviser: Dan Wilson
Mission Statement: The Hillmen Messenger is dedicated to providing an open forum of expression and producing a newspaper of quality based upon professional standards of accuracy, objectivity, and fair play so that students, faculty, administration and the public can gain insight into student thinking and concerns. All students and staff are welcome to send letters to the Hillmen Messenger. Letters can be brought to room 306 or e-mailed to phsnews@puhsd.k12. ca.us. All letters must include name and first period class. The Hillmen Messen-
ger reserves the right to edit letters for content, size, or spelling.
“Getting to know a lot of people, making friends, football games, rallies, getting to know many awesome teachers, and just making so many unforgettable memories!” - Liz Keim
NEWS
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Volume XXXVII Issue 15 May 28, 2010
Editor-in-chief Three year staff member and shares final thoughts Features editor bids adieu By JD Avila Editor-in-Chief
Usually, when the Editor-in-Chief gives his/her final goodbye, it’s a heart filled goodbye to the senior class and to the high school which they attended. But I, only being a junior, can give my thanks and goodbye to the people who’ve been by my side through my experiences so far. Although I am not going to be a returning Editor next year, I have learned a lot through the experiences and responsibilities, and I am very thankful for the people who supported me along the way. The year started with me not really knowing what I was doing. I know I had interviewed for the job, and I was confident in the answers I presented to the interview board, but when it came down to it, I was pretty nervous starting out as a junior editor. But as a few weeks went by, I learned that the job itself wasn’t hard, it was dealing with the stress. That’s where my staff writers and editors came into play. Without my section editors, Amy, Cait, TaNee, Britny, and Kathryn, my job wouldn’t have been possible, and I probably would have gone crazy when the year ended. Amy, thanks for taking over for me when I wasn’t in class. I knew that if I wasn’t going to be there to make sure things are running smoothly, you would be there making sure that people were getting their stories done on time. I will never forget you always describing your lunch and always talking about how hungry you always were in the back room. Britny, thanks for keeping Features strong and fluff free. Your three year experience in journalism was very helpful to not only myself, but to the rest of the classroom too. Thanks for stepping up to uncover some early breaking news stories, and I wish you the best of luck in your journalism career. Cait, thank you for always taking the class seriously and letting me know of the stories that needed to be written, ads that needed to be placed, and for reminding me of the several of subscriptions. I could always count that your pages would be complete on time, and if there was any complications or touchy subjects with your opinion stories, you would discuss it with the rest of us. TaNee, I know how hard it is jumping into an editor role in your first year of journalism, and I can say with confidence that you did a way better job at it than I
By Britny Hobbs Features Editor
did. Your creativity to Perspectives always kept things fresh and new, and I knew that if you were having any problems with your pages you wouldn’t be shy about asking for help. Kathryn, thank you for keeping a positive and fun atmosphere in the
Of all the articles I’ve been asked to write for the Hillmen Messenger in the last three years, this is, by far the hardest. While most of my stories already have a title and a certain subject matter, this one
backroom. Your spontaneous dancing and fist pumping always kept me on my toes, but when it was time to get down to business and work hard, I knew you would take your job seriously. Although my editors were a huge help during the year, the staff writers are also in need of my thanks. I know that a lot of the time I was a big ass, but I really appreciate you guys putting up with it and responding to it with mature attitudes. I learned a lot through you guys. I give my thanks to D-Dub. This year was a learning experience for me, and you were there to guide and teach me through my mistakes. I’ve learned a lot through our backroom chats, not only with things that I could apply as an editor, but things that I can apply as a leader. Good luck as editor next year Tierra, good luck seniors, good bye class of 2010. Placer High School, I’ll see you next year.
is just supposed to be my ‘senior goodbye’. An article where I’m suppose to think back and reflect upon my last four years here at Placer and my time on the Hillmen Messenger staff, the article where I thank my friends and all of my family for all the support they’ve given me. While most of my friends at Placer have supported me and encouraged me to strive to be great, I also encountered those who lied, cheated and gossiped. With that said, I want to thank
each and every one of you for teaching me so much about myself, and I would like to say good luck to you in all of your future endeavors. As for my family: The Dude, my Nillaface. It’s no secret that past four years haven’t always been the easiest. However, they have been interesting, no doubt, but I now know that no matter what the case, you are both always there to help in any way you can, and I really want to thank you for that. It’s commonly said that a parent will raise their child in the best way they know how, and I feel that both of you did just that, and in the next few years, I plan to prove to you guys just what an amazing job that was, and I excel in anything and everything I put my mind to. I’ve stumbled across quite a few interesting characters during my time here at Placer, everyone from the outrageous Larry Alberts, to the equally as insane Mr. Murphy. I would like to say thank you to each and everyone one of the teachers here on this campus, even if I wasn’t lucky enough to have one of you in a class, there’s still a high chance we’ve crossed paths over the years, so thank you for all of the time you have invested in us and in our future. Of all of the teachers that I’ve encountered I would personally like to give a special thanks to two, the first being Ddub Wilson (aka BAMF). I’ve spent every day for the past three years looking for a new opportunity to make fun of you. I’ve given you the hardest time of all my teachers, but I hope you know that I do respect you a great deal, even if I don’t always show it. You’ve taught me
so much about not only writing, but life in general, and now, thanks to you, I’m so excited to embark on my new journey to go to school a pursue journalism. Another highly respected teacher in my book is Mr. Mark Underwood. As a junior I walked into your classroom with the world biggest F*** it sort of attitude and the worst work ethics. Somehow in your US History class, you challenged me in such a way that I felt I was out to prove myself. People had considered you a teacher that never gave A’s, it was then a test for me. The following year, I walked into your psychology class with an open heart, and an open mind. I had learned so much about my fellow classmates and people in general in that class. We entered your room a random group of students, placed together by a computer and we walked out of there a full blown family. Any stereotypes or labels that I had ever placed on any of them had vanished and it made me question how I looked at everyone else. I owe that all to you Underwood, the chemistry in that class would have never worked with any other teacher. I have grown up so much here at Placer, I have come so far, and learned so many things. I sure as hell didn’t do it on my own. I have so many to thank and not one little article would cover it. So I shall make things simple, and just say thank you so much for every single person that I have ever met or come across, each one of you had made an impact on who I am at this exact moment. Dream big current and future Hillmen, and especially the class of 2010!!