Inklings oct 2015

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Crown Point High School @InklingsCPHS Oct. 30, 2015 Vol. 80 Issue 2

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PHOTO BY BOB STREMPKA USED WITH PERMISSION/www.strempkagallery.com

Read about the volleyball team’s victory over LC on page 13

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NATALIE BRIGHAM

An absence of teachers has led to a national shortage in which many Indiana schools have been left with more job positions than qualified applicants.

FADING FAST

BY NATALIE BRIGHAM editor-in-chief

Indiana is experiencing a drought. Unlike the drought in California, this drought is due to a significant decrease in teachers.

There has become more teaching positions than qualified candidates. Fewer are going into the education field and earning their licenses, and those that do get degrees and education licenses often decide to work in other fields.

Superintendent Dr. Teresa Eineman is concerned about Indiana’s current state.

“The drop is catastrophic and striking.

and then they devalue a teacher’s grades of college graduates in the nation and make the students pass a certain test with education in order to graduate like ISTEP, Algebra I degrees are not working in the ECA and English 10 ECA,” McGee said. education field “Instead of focusing on how to pass a stupid test, I would rather just teach them the Decrease in teacher training important material the way I know how to get them ready for the next level which ultiprogram enrollment in Indiana mately gets them ready for college.” universities from 2008-2013 McGee has taught for 11 years and 70.00% has instructed an estimated 2,000 students. 60.00% During this time, he has discovered that many students overlook teaching as a ca- 50.00% reer option.

40.00% “I think when students decide on a ca64.60% 63.70% reer that teaching isn’t even on their mind 30.00% 49.10% because maybe it doesn’t seem as pres- 20.00% tigious to them; maybe they don’t think they’ll make enough money. It’s not like 10.00% 6.40% my students always tell me ‘I want to be a 0.00% Valpo teacher. I want to be a teacher.’ They always BallBall State IU Purdue State Indiana Purdue Valparaiso say they want to go into engineering... or University University University University University something like that,” he said.

Between 2000-2012, Indiana Even though Indiana is experiencing a shortage of teachers, some data collections teachers experienced the second still view the state as a decent state for eduhighest constant dollar salary cators.

Decrease in enrollment in Indiana universities

decrease in the nation

See teachers on page 3

News

Feature

Krampen Compost Brothers strive towards a cleaner world

Haunted Attractions Visit nearby attractions for a Halloween scare

page 3

59%

percent decrease

Indiana among leaders in teacher shortage

It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s happened very quickly in Indiana. Indiana is one of the leaders…and that’s embarrassing to say,” Eineman said.

The most popular factor to blame for the shortage is the salary. Salaries are determined by the state, and the current system in place mandates that the highest achieving schools in Indiana receive the least amount of funding. Only nine states in the country have this system implemented.

Eineman’s biggest complaint is that teacher salaries have not kept up with the cost of living.

“The reason a teacher becomes a teacher is because they have a heart for their students and learning, but they do deserve and merit a living wage. A living wage should be afforded to all teachers. …The salaries have never been what they should be. But when (the state) started to not keep up with inflation, when they started to cut the budgets across the boards, it became below a living wage—that’s wrong,” Eineman said.

Educators like calculus teacher Jason McGee find themselves frustrated by the demands of the state. “...The state seems to change their standards or the assessment that they use for students every time you turn around,

Quick Facts

Information for quick facts from Indiana Daily Insight

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The Martian The Martian lands among the stars page

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news october 30, 2015

intheknow

Yoga club led by guest from Salt Mine Yoga

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PHOTO PROVIDED

“Fools” fall play to debut in two weeks This year’s annual fall play production will be Neil Simon’s “Fools”.

Director and performing arts teacher, Kit Degenhart was inspired to do this play because of his obsession with American playwright Neil Simon. Degenhart believes Simon is the closest thing to William Shakespeare America has.

Junior Caleb Scibbe plays the lead role of the teacher who goes to a small village in Ukraine and has to teach the doctor’s daughter, but the whole town has been cursed for the past 200 years with stupidity. So in order to break the curse he has to teach her.

The play will be on Nov. 13, 14, 20 and 21. The online ticket sales open Oct. 30 and the box office will open Nov. 3.

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Pulse sprouts symbol for service

Students, administration push for opportunities with community service

BY AUDREY GACSY co-advertising editor

The Yoga club recently had a guest Jennifer Johnson from “Salt Mine Yoga” instruct the class.

Guidance counselor Kim Wilkinson usually leads the club but allowed Johnson to act as a guest leader for the club.

The group meets in SGI on Thursday mornings before school.

For more information on the club, contact Wilkinson at kwilikison@cps.kq2.in.us

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As the trees outside were falling to the elements of the season, a tree was sprouting in the halls of CPHS this past winter. A simple idea from a student has sprouted into a growing endeavor to display students’ service toward the community.

“The idea originated from a meeting between myself and Susan Szymanski. I called her out of her study hall because I knew that together we could create a meaningful symbol for The Pulse’s goal of displaying the work of the students and staff. We thought about how we could celebrate our students’ greatness,” said Assistant Principal Russ Marcinek.

Together, senior Susan Szymanski and Marcinek agreed that a symbol to represent the growing service of the school was needed. They chose a crafted tree.

“During our meeting, we discussed a way to display the growth of our students and the connection of our school working as a whole. We felt that showing roots as students and the tree growing above would justly depict the community service put in by the students.

It was important to us to make the tree visible to all who visit the school: students, staff members and visitors,” said Szyman-

ski. “From there, Mrs. Cox and Mr. Topp ran with the idea and designed it, making it a reality.”

The man behind the physical construction of the tree has been walking the halls since 1981 and has years of experience with construction. Mechanical technology teacher Ed Topp cut each and every board, shaping it into the tree.

“The whole thing started with a sketch I drew. I transferred the image onto craft paper and started to cut pieces of red oak that fit the design. It took about 200 board feet to construct,” said Topp.

Topp donated 300 hours of his own time and says he doesn’t mind at all.

“The materials were funded by various groups at the school, and it was all completed right here. It wouldn’t be right for me to charge when it’s all about service and trying to get people to help out more. For me, it was my own community service towards the school,” said Topp.

According to Marcinek, the goal of the community service group in The Pulse has been met and exceeded.

“It speaks to the culture that our school has created in that we realize how fortunate we are to pursue our efforts in always trying to give back to the community. Our hope is that the tree will inspire students to continually strive to make our

PHOTO BY LEXI LINBACK

Senior Meech Malher glances at the community service tree located near the school’s main entrance.

community and school a positive place to be. It’s truly surpassed my thoughts of what it should be like,” said Marcinek.

The next step for the tree is adding leaves to document the progression. Each leaf will be fastened to a branch broadcasting a new act of service and progress. Marcinek’s objective

is that more and more branches will be added for additional services towards the community.

“I’m very proud of the students and faculty members that made this happen. It is something we can share together, with our community and future students to come,” said Marcinek.

FCCLA and The Word of Life clubs collect food for annual drive Giving food and thanks November 2-20 Bring canned, nonperishable food items to first hour Benefits local Crown Point families in need

November

1 Standard Time Returns

BY JACKIE HAM reporter

With masses of hungry humans in the world far from decreasing, different organizations create charities or food pantries in hopes of uniting the common man to join in.

Crown Point High School is having its annual food drive during the month of November.

The Word of Life and Family Career and Community Leaders of America clubs sponsor this event. All donations are separated into three different ship-

11 Veteran’s Day Take time to thank someone for their service.

Relax and set your clocks back an hour!

ments to three different pantries at the First Christian Church, St. Matthias and Bethel. These pantries are specifically designed to help Crown Point families.

Kathryn Huls is the one of the Sponsors of the Word of Life Club who oversees all donations that are made during this food drive.

“As for students who donate food, my hope is that they would recognize how blessed they are to have more than enough food in their own homes, thankful for their circumstances,” Huls said.

“ I also believe that students develop greater compassion for others when they donate food for others in need, or engage in any service activities.”

Harvest Market Coordinator Maria Clark is in charge of the Bethel Church food pantry. She manages four different districts that are involved with collecting food for the less fortunate.

“We designed it to help the small groups of people who have incomes that may not be as high,” Clark said.

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Theatre performance of the Fall Play “Fools”

Thanksgiving Break No School

This drive will collect nonperishable food to donate. The goal for this event is to replenish the stock for those pantries for the upcoming holiday season.

Leslie Bonner is the sponsor behind FCCLA helps run this drive. She encourages CPHS students to do what they can to help this cause.

“Everyone should help because they could be sitting next to a student in class that benefits from this food drive,” Bonner said.

countdown until Thanksgiving Break

18 school days countdown until last day of school

131 school days

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news october 30, 2015

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Brothers tackle environmental issues Krampen siblings collect compost to help the environment

BY HANNAH BAUNER opinion editor

PHOTO BY LEXI LINBACK

Senior Alex Rayonec participates in Krampen Compost by disposing of compostable materials into the provided bins.

Brown paper bags, bread crusts and banana peels overflow the garbage cans. They will eventually be taken to a landfill and become a part of the 220 million tons of waste produced each year. Of that, 60 percent of waste is compostable.

Senior Joey Krampen and junior Matt Krampen are fighting against this unnecessary trash.

Over the summer, the brothers researched the possibility of composting in the community. After organizing the idea with administrators, their plan was put into action.

Once the idea had been approved, the Krampens began organizing the service.

“The process of composting is taking organic waste, things like apples, brown paper bags and anything that can be broken down, and putting it in a small space for a few weeks,” Joey said. “Then it breaks it down and turns into an organic fertilizer called ‘compost’ that can be used in gardens.”

During lunch periods, students can put their organic waste into the bins provided by Krampen Compost. Materials that are not compostable are simply put into the garbage bins.

“A few days a week we collect

organic waste during lunches. We take that waste and bring it to our property where we have compost bins. Then, we put the waste in the compost bins and after a few weeks it gets turned into fertilizer,” Joey said.

The Krampens contacted biology teacher Melissa Beach for help with the program. Beach is the sponsor of Green Machine and was able to integrate Krampen Compost into Green Machine’s service.

“Krampen Compost is working with Green Machine to have our members volunteer collecting compost during their lunch periods,” Beach said.

However, the actions of only Green Machine can not function solely on a few people. To keep the whole system working, more volunteers are needed.

“Students can help by volunteering to sit by our bin during lunches because we need people to monitor the bin to make sure that people aren’t putting non-compostable materials like plastic or meat or metals [into the bins],” Joey said. “When we have people monitoring the bin, they can tell people what can go in and what can’t.”

Food is not the only compostable material allowed. Pine leaves, grass clippings, and eggshells are also being accepted.

“If students collect leaves or grass clippings at their home, they can contact us because we can take those and compost them as well,” Joey said.

Krampen Compost is designed to not only help the environment but also the community. Because compost is a natural fertilizer, it accomplishes both goals through reducing waste in landfills and providing an aid for those in the community attempting to grow plants.

“We can donate that fertilizer back to teachers or to Mr. Correa’s classroom. He needs fertilizer for his environmental science classes.

We can also donate it back to the school and the community for people to use as fertilizer,” Joey said.

Krampen Compost provides a way for students to positively impact the community and world environment.

“Compost is a good way for me to give back to the world. It makes me feel like I am finally doing something to try and solve some of our world problems. It makes me feel important,” Matt said.

If students are interested in helping out with Krampen Compost, they can contact Joey or Matt Krampen by attending the Green Machine meetings that occur every Tuesday morning at 7:15 a.m.

teacher shortage continued from p.1

“The Lofts” construction is expected to be completed by mid-December. The townhomes are replacing 18 run-down, 1960s duplexes. The condos are expected to be sold for between $225,000 and $275,000 and be between 1,300 and 1,700 square feet each.

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I think it’s nice they are replacing run down homes, but I think the project might cost Christina Pejosk too much. freshman

“My mom is a teacher and when I was young I used to go to school with her a lot.

Even on the days I would have off, I would get up early to go into school with her. I think I would still love to help kids and be around kids if my mom wasn’t a teacher, but I might not have my heart set on being an elementary school teacher, Thiel said.

Both current teachers and perspective teachers believe that the most important reason to enter the profession is to fulfill the desire to help kids learn.

“I enjoy teaching because it’s a challenge, andit is not something everyone could do it at a high level. When we work so hard all year, you definitely feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment,” McGee said.

Student reaction to events in our world

Republican Gov. Mike Pence announced Monday, Oct. 12 that he is granting Real Alternatives a $3.5 million contract. It is a Pennsylvania based nonprofit that counsels pregnant women against abortion, and advocates that abstinence is the only form of birth control.

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training programs, recruitment, put money in the school funding formula, so we can raise salaries so we can have living wages for our teachers, entry levels teachers and retain the teachers we have,” Eineman said.

Junior Natalie Thiel is able to see a trend with her peers that is consistent with the shortage of teachers.

“I could see a lot of students only caring about the amount of money they make when they grow up,” she said.

Thiel plans to become an elementary teacher, but the current issues surrounding the profession do not alarm her. She believes that the changing educational field will be different by the time she enters.

Thiel credits her future career plans to her love of helping kids.

I think women have the right to do what they want with their body, even when it Savannah Schuljak comes to abortion. senior

Speaker John Boehner announced Friday Sept. 25 he is resigning from congress, effective the end of october.

Boehner stated that his “prolonged leadership turmoil would cause irreparable harm to the institution,” Boehner said at a press conference.

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I think it was a really risky decision, but I think he had good intentions.

Casey Pierce sophomore

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eration…had fewer options—for women in particular. Now you can be an astrophysicist, anything you want. There are many more options and opportunities as well as awareness of those and encouragement of that for females. There’s more female equality and opportunity. Back then, that wasn’t the case. So that group, the baby boomers had many teachers. They had so few options that the question wasn’t what they wanted to do, it was what of these choices will I do. I think the baby boomers are a big part of this because they’ve been retiring,” Eineman said.

With multiple factors, there is no quick solution to the issue.

“It will take legislation… to move in that direction to put some money behind

Nation

“There is another side to this. There are symmetrics out there that say Indiana is a pretty good state for teachers. All of our (academic) achievement indicators are right in the middle of all the state—just a little above. Indiana has been a wonderful state for professional educators in the past for sure. Now the question becomes, is it still that?” Eineman said.

Eineman also contributes the decreasing number of teachers to the time period.

A large number of teachers came from the baby boomer generation, and now many of these teachers are beginning to retire. She says that today’s equal opportunity is more prominent and presents students with more options.

“My parents and maybe even my gen-

The United States is ending its $500 million program aimed at training and arming 5,400 Syrian rebels. The program missed its mark, only training “four or five” rebels according to General Lloyd Austin, commander of US Central Command.

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It seems like a big waste of money, if they tried to train 5000 rebels and only trained 4 or Noah Cornett five. junior

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opinion october 30, 2015

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editor-at-large

To say high school is easy is a blatant lie.

The experience is filled with hours of studying, extracurricular activities, homework and more.

It is a joyful experience indefinitely.

But it is not like it gets any easier. After senior year that is life. Moving on to being a part of the world involves facing daily struggles--paying taxes, mortgages and massive debt from student loans. One becomes nothing but a small fish in a big pond. Life gets increasingly harder, becoming more than simple biology homework.

High school is manageable.

Just stop.

Complaining does not do anything to help the situation and neither does overly stressing.

Accept the fact that more than likely stress is inevitable and push on through. Get it over with.

Let overcoming the so-called impossible and unfair odds be the defining factors of success, not small cries of weightless complaints and sighs.

Instead we find ourselves as a society drifting towards more educational reform hoping to forgo the difficulties of school. It is lazy. We make vague requests to limit the number of hours of homework that can be assigned, teach alternative methods and extend due dates. Outside the confines of these white walls, nobody cares. Try crying to the dean of a college about how your personal problems are inhibiting your ability to complete your college level assignments. They do not care. Nobody cares.

Instead, now while it’s possible before the going gets really tough, the individual should take steps to ensure the appearingly infinite workload is possible.

Because nothing in school is impossible, curriculum is not designed to cause anyone to fail.

It is a matter of how much effort is put forth.

Stay proactive and act logically.

Stray from slumping into the devilish ways of procrastination.

There are no excuses for missing assignments.

Sleep takes the backseat on this ride, so do hobbies.

Get work done when it needs to get done. There are probably reasons projects are given weeks in advanced.

Think smarter not harder and more importantly: just do it.

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speakup

Life means learning to deal with its stresses

BY CHRIS REKITZKE

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Do you think community service should be required?

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CARTOON BY DESTINY KOGLER

Nadia Dobrzeniecki freshman

“Yes because it’s good to give back to the community.”

iew: Teachers deserve respect for all that they give

They live the greater part of their lives in school. Approximately 16 years are spent getting an education, and the rest is spent educating others. Approximately, a third of a teachers’ day is spent within the walls of a classroom. In doing so, they deserve the respect of students and moreover, modern society.

Since 2005, teachers have started vanishing, and the numbers are frightening. It is no question why, either.

The job is not a particularly glamorous one. The appeal of becoming a teacher seems to be a double edged sword--teachers want to help students learn, but it seems that students feel as though they are above whatever is being taught. As a result, the hours and effort a teacher puts into a lesson plan become meaningless the second a student decides to scoff at the assignment.

The pay is not very attractive, only averaging out to a measly .02 percent of the average NFL player. As a society, we idolize people we’ve never met. We cling to air-brushed photos, the newest jerseys and album covers, when in actuality, these role models have the smallest impact on the average student’s life. Teachers devote their lives attempting to better prepare students for their future. Yet, society only sees those walking on red carpets as heroes. This is wrong.

Their role in a society supersedes the one behind a podium. They teach things that cannot be measured in test scores.Teachers are not simply a resource for information. If anything, they should be viewed as a guide. They are a mentor for their students and often care for students’ well being. Such traits are passed on to students and carried outside the classroom.

Education reforms are on the rise in the United States. However, reformers tend to pay more attention to numbers when determining the worth of a teacher when they should be focused on the interpersonal relationships they form with their students.

More needs to be done to ensure teachers are not only respected but also appreciated because a world without teachers would mean a world with no future.

editorial

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Vol. 80 Issue 1 September 25, 2015 1500 S. Main St. Crown Point, IN 46307 219-663-4885 ex. 11349 fax 219-662-5663 inklings@cps.k12.in.us online: crownpoint.highschoolmedia.org

editor-in-chief Natalie Brigham editors-at-large Maisa Nour L I N G S Katie Pawlowski Crown Point High School, IN Chris Rekitzke Inklings is a student publication created by the newspaper and advanced copy editor journalism students and distributed monthly to students, faculty and staff of Lauren Massow Crown Point High School. Opinions do not necessarily reflect those of CPHS faculty, staff or administration. opinion editor Letters-to-the-editor are welcomed provided they are signed and submitted Hannah Bauner one week prior to publication and do not contain personal attacks. Inklings feature editor reserves the right to edit for space, clarity and legal and ethical concerns.

Tiffany Curtis Advertising is subject to applicable rates available by contacting Inklings. arts & Inklings has been recognized as an Indiana High School Press Associaentertainment tion Hoosier Star, National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker, Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown, and Quill and Scroll George H. Gallup editor publication.

Maria Leontaras

Garret Gonzalez

sophomore “Yes, because it gives you the chance to be active in your community. It’ll help you bond with your community and look good on college applications.”

Andrew Morales junior

“Yes, because we really don’t have any motivation to otherwise, and once you do it you might find out that you like it.”

Skylar Huppenthal-Lyle senior

“Yes, because community service allows students to connect with their community in ways they otherwise would not.”

online editor Sam Barloga sports editor Dylan Wallace assistant sports editors Tommy Frame Dominic Tomich advertising editors Becca Burke Audrey Gacsy chief photographer Jill Kidder staff Yousef Abdeldaiem Grace Cleland

Jeremy DeBold Jackie Ham Destiny Kogler Lexi Linback Matt McConnell Ally Rekitzke Abby Sobek Alexia Wojciechowski adviser Julie Elston

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opinion october 30, 2015

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Students should take part in democracy

Should CPHS have midterms?

BY SAM BARLOGA online editor

CARTOON BY ARRIANA RAINWATER CARTOON BY ABBY SOBEK

Pro:

Con:

Midterms are beneficial for students’ academic growth and grades

Midterms are an unnecessary stress on students

arts-&-entertainment editor

advertising editor

The stresses of school seem never ending, especially when one quarter ends and another begins. But there is one major obstacle standing in the way of the nine week finish line-- midterms. While some find these tests unnecessary and outdated, the midterm does nothing but assist students in bettering themselves for the rest of the semester.

Midterms are a direct way to track one’s progress in a course. The tests are an easy way to see if one will be able to be successful in the entirety of the course. A poor performance on a midterm can lead to an easier decision to drop the course or seek help for the duration of the semester.

Not only can the midterm track a student’s process, but it can also serve as a much needed grade boost. A midterm counts as 10 percent of one’s semester grade. This makes it easier for the test to serve as a cushion before the more difficult content emerges in the second quarter.

While some may claim that midterms are too close to finals and aren’t necessary, each test covers vastly different material. The midterm covers only what students have learned at this point in the year, or first quarter content. Because of this, finals are more likely to only cover material from the second quarter, so students will not have to recall information from when school first began at the end of the first semester. Finals accommodate for 20 percent of one’s semester grade.

Since some of the material covered on the final is from the midterm, students will have an easier time doing well on the final. Overall, midterms make it simpler for students to be able to be successful on the final.

When it comes down to it, midterms are a necessary evil. The test allows students to determine how their performance will be throughout the rest of the course and bring up their grade before the more difficult half of the semester. They also allow for a final full of recent content rather than an equal amount of old and new information.

Taking rigorous tests, such as midterms and finals, so close together is unappealing, but midterms are an overall benefit to students and should be a constant occurrence.

Picture it. A student is in the middle of projects, is constantly flitting to and from extracurricular activities, has college applications are due in a matter of days, and, in the midst of juggling all of these responsibilities, it dawns on him or her that midterm exams- ten percent of semester grades- are in less than a week.

While not every student’s situation may be as dramatic as this, the problem still stands: Midterm exams, although they provide a good method for tracking progress, do more harm than good with the stress placed on students who are dealing with yet another high stakes test on top of all the other academic, extracurricular, and outside obligations they have.

Some may argue that the progress reports offered by the midterm exams are essential in a student’s success. They claim that midterm exams serve as effective ways for students to reflect on what they need to do in order to improve their learning and chances of doing well on final exams. However, assessments over various chapters and units already accomplish this task. Nearly all teachers test at multiple points through the year to track the overall class progress, and thanks to the instant access to grades and performance offered by online systems such as Buzz, students generally know when they are falling behind in a subject. A reminder of this is unnecessary, and instead of helping students better their understanding of the subject, throwing in a heavily weighted test could discourage and stress them further. This is hardly conducive to effective learning and could actually lead the student to dropping the class or giving up entirely on doing well.

Furthermore, most midterms rely on scantron based multiple choice exams that often trip up students, regardless of whether or not they know the material. In turn, this could take a perfectly fine semester grade and drop it enough to shave off an entire letter grade.

In short, while midterm exams are beneficial to a point, they produce an immense amount of unnecessary pressure for students who are over tested, and over stressed as it is. Semesters are cumulative, and the tests for them should be as well.

13 Inklings staffers agree

9 Inklings staffers agree

BY MARIA LEONTARAS

Julius Kirk

senior

BY BECCA BURKE

Alaina Conley

“We need them to show how well we are doing in school. It gives teachers an idea of what to give you next year, or if you are a senior what colleges you can get into.”

Ray Tarnow

senior

“We shouldn’t have midterms because you can’t teach someone over a nine-week period and expect them to remember every lesson that was taught.”

history teacher

“Midterms I think are a good indication of where a student is at through the grading period.”

Corrin Hummel

freshman

“We have finals and I do not think that mid-terms are neccesary. It stresses me out and makes me nervous all week.”

Democracy is under fire, and it’s our own fault.

Don’t believe me? A broken political system is driving people away from the polls, but the ones who do not vote have broken the system. We instead stay away from politics as a whole, which makes the situation worse.

In our last national election, held in 2014, only 36.6 percent of voting age Americans made the trip to cast their ballots. In the state of Indiana it was even worse, as only 28.8 percent of Hoosiers voted in the same elections.

How can the results of an election that involved less than one-third of our eligible citizens be considered remotely legitimate?

Bottom line is that if we want to remain a democratic nation, this cannot continue much longer.

Democracy can vanish in an instant, as was the case in Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler convinced moderate opposition to gradually grant him more power even though his party, the Nazi Party, controlled just a minority in government.

We still have a long way until our situation becomes that desperate, but the rise of far right political movements in Europe could soon reach us here in the States.

Solutions to our problem will not come easily, but one thing we can do as the next generation of voters is to begin the habit of being involved in politics at a young age. When you turn 18, one of the first things you should do is register to vote.

We must also look at solutions that affect all age groups.

We can take steps to make it easier to vote by pre-registering all eligible citizens to vote the moment they turn 18, and erasing all voter ID laws that block many minorities from heading to the polls.

However, in reality, it all ties back to all of us. It seems that the idea of democracy is watered down; it no longer means much of anything, we’re used to it. We think it will keep going whether we take part or not.

That’s not the truth. In order to keep our great nation at the top, the system needs your voice, your opinion, your vote.

So, how will we respond to this crisis? With ignorance or a response that saves our democracy as we know it?

It’s up to our generation.

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feature october 30, 2015

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experiencing a different perspective

PHOTO BY LEXI LINBACK

Assistant principals Robert McDermott, Russ Marcinek and Mark Gianfermi ride their bikes in the parking lot to start off a longer ride. Marcinek and Gianfermi rode over 1400 miles over the summer. Biking has gained popularity as the region has added more bike trails, including the Erie-Lackawanna, which starts in Crown Point.

Trail to fitness

BY SAM BARLOGA online editor

With the sting of obesity looming large over those across the country, many at the school are staying in shape by using one of the oldest exercises in existence.

“Biking is relaxing,” junior Jacob Southworth said. “It calms the nerves, you can see everything around you, experience the outdoors instead of sitting in a car.”

Assistant principals Mark Gianfermi and Russ Marcinek started biking over the summer.

Together they have rode over 1400 miles since June. Gianfermi explains that biking is easier on his aging body than other exercises.

“I was getting older, so for me (biking has) less impact than like a treadmill, running. I was able to bike and it was easier on my joints,” Gianfermi said.

Marcinek also prefers biking as cardio exercise over other forms like walking, swimming or running.

“I’ve never been one to enjoy running just to run, so in trying to get in cardio shape, I thought biking was a logical choice,” Marcinek said.

Enjoying the outdoors is also a major reason behind why Mar-

Community members bike to stay active and in shape

cinek and Gianfermi put in the hours over the summer on bike trails across the region.

“We both like to be outside, so it’s harder in the warm spring,

“I began biking at the beginning of the summer because I have problems with my shins due to running,” Dawley said. “Biking took a lot of impact away from

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I’d recommend biking to someone who wants to get in shape because it’s something anyone can do with no special skills required.

All you need is a bike and a helmet.

Paul Dawley senior summer months to be working out inside,” Gianfermi said. “We wanted to enjoy the nice weather.”

Southworth continues to bike as his main form of transportation even though he has his driver’s license.

“I have my license and I still bike,” Southworth said. “I’m planning on getting a new bike soon as well (so I don’t think I’ll stop biking).”

Senior Paul Dawley joined the biking community at CPHS over the summer months to help train for the upcoming cross country season.

my shins and allowed me to run the entirety of my cross country season pain free.”

Dawley enjoys biking because of the excercise it offers and the different views that come with it.

“I enjoy biking because it allows me to venture around outside, (which is) something I (also) love about running,” Dawley said.

“The fast pace of biking lets me travel farther distances and see more views.”

Crown Point now has a bike trail that extends into the city.

The Erie-Lackawanna trail was expanded from the border with Merrillville to the corner of Sum-

mit, West and Court streets.

The trail connects to several others around the region, which allow riders to pedal all the way to Chicago while spending only a small amount of time on the streets. Gianfermi and Marcinek often took advantage of these trails on their long summer rides. “(We ride on) our hometown trail, the Erie-Lackawanna, which goes all the way into Hammond,” Gianfermi said. “We do the Oak Savannah, which will go from Griffith all the way over to Hobart, and then we do the Prairie Duneland, which is Hobart all the way up into Chesterton.”

Dawley stated that biking has worked for him and is an excercise that students should use if they aim to get into better shape.

“I’d recommend biking to someone who wants to get in shape because it’s something anyone can do,” Dawley said. “All you need is a bike and a helmet.

Also, biking keeps the stress off of your body, so it’ll take away a lot of the pain and soreness that is so common in most sports. Plus, you can do it anytime, anywhere, so it makes exercise very accessible to those who want to do it.”

By #

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9 million biking trips take place in the United States every day.

0.6%

of all trips made by people aged 16-24 in the United States occur on bicycle.

1-in-12 American households do not own a car.

65.2

the amount of minutes that the average bike ride takes in the United States. statistics provided by pedbikeinfo.org/data/factsheet_general.cfm

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Keeping up with fall fashion Fashion professionals give tips on staying in style

BY LEXI LINBACK GRACE CLELAND reporters

Jeans, jackets, jumpers.

When the colder temperatures start to roll in, the yearly debate of how to dress begins. Transitioning into fall in Northwest Indiana is synonymous with unpredictable weather. Dressing for such conditions often means confusion. One day it is sunny with high temperatures, and the next day it feels as if a coat is necessary to endure the bitter cold. Staying fashionable while outsmarting the weather has the potential to be difficult, but this fall’s fashion trends can easily be tailored to survive the worst storms or warmest days.

One way to beat the weather is to wear layers. Forever 21 store manager Annie Rekitzke appreciates how layering clothes can help extend the wear of one’s wardrobe without purchasing entirely new clothing.

“Fall is all about layers. A simple t-shirt dress can become two outfits,” Rekitzke said.

By adding a leather jacket or raincoat, a tshirt dress can transform into a more casual outfit that can be worn in whatever weather conditions.

Forever 21 assistant manager of visuals Brittney Lucas favors the 70s denim vibe this fall.

“Fall is always about the denim,” Lucas said.

“Having a great pair of jeans is a must for the fall. You can pair jeans with a blazer for a more dressed up feel, or a sweater and scarf for a casual feel.”

Adding various elements to jeans help create different expressions. This fall, adding blazers or cardigans effortlessly elevates the look to give it a more sophisticated feel.

In addition to the fashion perks, layering is also practical. It helps save money because elements purchased during different seasons can be brought together harmoniously when combined.

“Pairing tights or socks with a dress can instantly turn your summer look into a fall one. Scarves not only provide warmth, but they can dress up any plain t-shirt or sweater,” Lucas said.

Tights, boot socks and scarves can serve as a form of protection from the cold fronts moving in while also abiding by the current fall trends.

Popular clothing stores influence what young shoppers look to buy. In order to adapt the clothes being sold to one’s personal style, sales associate at Hollister Co. and senior Devion Kyles shares his favorite pieces of the current trends with shoppers.

“The most popular item for guys this fall would be joggers, and for girls it would be jeggings.

I like the current trends because it’s usually the type of clothing I would wear anyway. Especially joggers, I wear those year round and own six pairs of them,” said Kyles.

Jeggings have become widely popular over the past years. They provide the appearance of denim but have the fit and texture of a legging. Joggers are similar to sweat pants. The defining difference is the tighter width around the ankle, giving it a cuff-like appearance.

Similar to layering, crew necks and long-sleeved shirts are simple pieces that provide guys with the same warmth and style that an anorak or jacket could.

“Crew necks are my favorite shirts to wear now that it’s getting colder out,” Kyles said.

While new trends hit the market often, some students prefer to dress in more classic fall pieces. Sophomore Hannah Carter is a fan of plain sweaters that are a staple of the fall season.

“I love the big, chunky sweaters that are popular,” Carter said. “But you really just have to wear what you’re comfortable in.”

Ladies’ Trends

Guys’ Trends Hoodie: Hoodies keep you warm and casual during the colder months.

Gym Shoes:

Joggers:

Joggers are a stylish way to wear sweatpants and stay trendy at the same time.

Vans, Adidas and Nike shoes have been trendy due to their ornate designs and stylish colors.

Scarf:

Scarves keep you warm and they can easily transition your summer outfit into a fall outfit.

Shirtdress:

Shirt dresses are a great article of clothing that can be dressed up or down.

Combat boots: Combat boots can add roughness and edge to your fall attire.

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PHOTO PROVIDED BY JACK SNEDDEN Members of the band known as the Oven Mitts, Kyle Gilson left, Mike O’Brien center and Donny Colvin right, perform at a grad party over the summer before the 2015-2016 school year.

CREAM OF THE CROWN

Artists are chosen for recording contract with Crown City Records

BY LAUREN MASSOW CHRIS REKITZKE

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copy editor editor-at-large

very two or so years, a phenomenon occurs in Crown Point High School. Crown City Records and music management is in full swing sending students into the lives of famous performers. This class, which was created for students who want to pursue a career in the music industry, is like no other.

“The class was created as a start for nontraditional music students, although traditional music students are in it as well,” class advisor Chris Gloff said.

This band management class is not like a math or English class. Crown City Records is primarily built on hands on classwork and after school activities.

“This class is very unconventional. It is very project based. It’s a ton of after school work to make it a positive experience and as realistic as possible,” Gloff said.

The class itself helps non-musically involved students experience the music industry. It gives them an idea of the profession before they choose to study it outside of high school.

“Some never do anything regarding music and then go to college without any background knowledge. They are trying to compete, they fall out of the major and one of their great passions in life gets passed on,” Gloff said.

Crown City Records gives students a head start into the music business. Students in the class are able to learn the steps music industries go through in managing an artist.

“Many students don’t have any musical background,” Gloff said. “This is an opportunity of how they can participate in a music program without having that background experience.”

One of the main purposes of the class is to have the signed artists performing their songs locally to accumulate fans. The class has managers, such as senior Seth Cook, who try to set up these performances.

“My titles would be Vice President, A&R Rep and production staff. I report back to Mr. Gloff and make sure the band is happy but also get my group’s message across,” Cook said. “The goal for the class is to get our artist out there. Get them gigs close to home and then get them playing in Chicago.”

Members of the class face the difficulties of choosing the artists themselves. Most are friends with the students

PHOTO BY JILL KIDDER Seniors Risa Villaseñor and Nate Carey look over contracts provided by the record label and their management staff while advisor Chris Gloff elaborates on the contents and negotiations. After reading through, they will sign them.

who auditioned, and it was difficult for the members not to choose them.

“It’s hard because they’re all our peers. They’re our friends, and it’s hard to pick and not to pick them. What it comes down to is how much talent they have, how much music they know and really if their schedules allow,” Cook said. “They need all of their time focused on this. It took us about three to four weeks to finish the whole thing.”

The management team does not know how the artists will cooperate after being signed. They have to be careful with whom they choose to sign.

“If we don’t know how determined a person is going to act, we can’t determine whether all of a sudden three months from now this person decides they want to get a job, and they work every day after school,” Gloff said. “So we have to be very careful in our selection to process that we will have people in this room that will commit to us for the next several months, so that we can serve them the best as possible.”

This year, Crown City Records picked two artists. It is the first time in the label’s existence that they have signed a band.

“We signed two artists, one of which is a band,” Gloff said. “We have never signed an actual band before. This was actually the first time a band has shown up with their own written material.”

For the members of the Oven Mitts, whose name is subject to change, this is great news.

Juniors Donny Colvin, Kyle Gilson and Mike O’Brien are ready to take on the responsibility as signed artists.

“The point of the class is to try and make us a professional, refined artists and the Oven Mitts just aren’t that, Colvin said. “I would not have been surprised if we had not been picked.”

At their first audition, the band did not feel as if they performed their best, but redeemed themselves in the callbacks.

“We didn’t perform our strongest,” Gilson said. “But then we went back to the callbacks and killed it, because Donny and I wrote a song together the night before we played.”

Being together as a band since May of 2014, the band was humbled being chosen to be represented by Crown City Records.

“The process kind of showed us that we can do this,” O’Brien said. “Just from going up against 50 different acts to begin with and then being one of two that were selected, it feels good.”

The other artists signed by Crown City Records include seniors Nate Carey and Risa Villaseñor. These two students will be collaborating together as a duet.

“We are just trying to get our sound out there. We’re not trying to get people just to hear us but to listen to us.

And we don’t really know what that is. We’re still looking for our sound. It hasn’t quite come together,” Carey said.

Villaseñor is excited to be collaborating with Carey to create their own music and public image.

“I’m feeling good about working (with Nate.) We aren’t really that tight, but it should be interesting,” Villaseñor said. “I think it will be a cool experience.”

The duo will be writing their own songs with the help of the record label’s team members. Each member of the duo plays the guitar and ukelele. The main goal is to have an album available by the end of the school year.

“I am really excited to start writing my own music because it is not my strongest point. I am hoping that this will make it better,” Villaseñor said.

Even though this process of representing an artist is long and challenging, the entire management team of Crown City Records is going to work at producing both of these artists to their potential this year.

“We have to think of what is the best way to get this student onto the radar of the general public so people want to download their music and want to get connected from them and hear from them,” Gloff said. “It is a long, detailed process and so we select an artist that gives our program and the talent themselves the best opportunity.”

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Halloween hotspots

Region features haunted attractions for thrill seekers

BY ABBY SOBEK ALEXIA WOJCIECHOWSKI reporters

Imagine walking through an eerie hallway. All alone, surrounded by nothing but silence and darkness. All of a sudden a scream is heard from afar, the sound of screaming and racing footsteps pierces the hallway. The screams come to a halt as heavy footsteps are heard from behind. In a blink of an eye a bloody, mangled and terrifying face pops out from the shadows and whispers a body shivering message. Most would run away in horror to find the nearest exit, while others continue on enjoying the frightening thrill of a haunted house.

This fall, haunted attractions have the potential of bringing out people’s inner fears. Statesville Haunted Prison has been one of the most frightening haunted houses in Illinois for almost 20 years.

“It was one of the freakiest things I have ever seen because of the prison cells and the people that jump out at you,” senior Mia Gurgevich said.

Statesville has two sections that customers can choose from. The most popular one is the haunted prison. Here visitors walk through approximately 20 highest security cells, where they endure seeing about 100 gruesome and terrifying prisoners. After visitors walk through the prison, they can make their way to the City of The Dead. Here, visitors walk through caves and mine shafts, where prisoners and gatekeepers have come back to life. Both trials an average of 45 minutes long together, are known to bring people in tears of fright and containing over 40 different body chilling themed rooms, it is sure to bring a fright.

“There is this one mirror room, and the people in there get really close and they touch you. It is absolutely terrifying,” Gurgevich said.

One of the eerie places around Northwest Indiana is Gypsies Graveyard. It is said that the gypsies came to Northwest Indiana, around Lowell and Crown Point, in the 1820s and were not well welcomed. According to Lowell Public Library’s webpage about Gypsies Graveyard, they caught an influenza and were denied medical help because the locals associated them with stealing their livestock and

performing pagan rituals. The gypsy people began to die, and with their death, they left a bloody imprint-- Gypsies Graveyard. It is said that during the day, the graveyard is serene and quiet, but at night the location takes on a dark energy.

“When I was there, I kept having this feeling that someone was watching me, and I swear I saw someone walking near one of the graves, but when I went over there, no one was there,” junior Boze Spaseski said.

Spaseski is not alone in these sightings.

Many have recalled seeing orbs and shadowy figures near the gravestones. This makes Gypsies Graveyard one of the creepiest “real life” hauntings around.

Perhaps the most thrilling and frightening of the attractions is right in our backyard. Though in Illinois, Fright Fest transforms Six Flags amusement park into a spooky realm of fright.

The event includes a series of haunted houses along with over 200 “monsters” who roam the park scaring visitors. Sophomore Makena Hose attended Fright Fest last year.

“It was really scary. I have never been so terrified by a haunted place,” Hose said.

Although Fright Fest is centered around scary attractions, the coasters of Six Flags are still open for enjoyment. This year, there are two new attractions. One of the new attractions is Apocolypse: Zombie Experience, this includes a hair-raising journey through an apocalyptic camp ridden with zombies.

The other new attraction is called the Gates of Hell. Overall, Six Flags Fright Fest provides many opportunities to get a good scare as well as ride roller coasters.

Halloween attractions tend to cause an adrenaline rush and fear among many people. This among many reasons people love scary attractions.

“I love haunted attractions and scary things,” Spaseski said. “Getting scared gives you such an adrenaline rush and it just wakes you up and excites you. It’s a feeling like no other.”

www.teamhondaon30.com

Michael Bauner mbauner@hondaon30.com 4613 East U.S. 30 Merrillville, IN 46410 www.teamhondaon30.com

219-947-3900 800-653-0065 Fax 219-947-0912

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Alumni enjoy jobs outside the norm

BY DESTINY KOGLER ALLY REKITZKE reporters

Children fantasize about what the future holds for them.

Kids like to imagine a successful career where they’re doing things that make them happy. Most give up their dreams and settle for a more realistic career to pay their bills. Others find unique jobs that do not follow the employment status quo. Three alumni chose careers that are different from your average job.

Brady Heiser, 40, gave up a career as a construction worker to follow his dreams to be a producer and director.

“I gave up a lucrative 20 plus year career to shut my eyes and just follow my dream. Time was slipping away from me, and I had to do it now or never. I just jumped in feet first and eyes closed,” Heiser said.

Josh Lambert, 42, had his own dream of an unique job at a young age when his older siblings began to play sports. Lambert is an Olympic weight lifting coach.

“My interest in coaching

started from a young age as I watched my seven older siblings enter sports at Crown Point. It also had a lot to do with LeggCalve-Perthes disease which kept me from joining sports. I always loved sports but was not allowed to join mostly due to my medical issue. After watching coaches at Crown Point like Scott Vlink, I decided to start lifting weights and prove the doctors wrong,” Lambert said.

Keri McGrath, 40, knew that she wanted to be a journalist in high school after taking journalism class.

“When my best friend and I were sophomores, we decided to take a journalism class together at Crown Point High School. I loved it. It was freeing to have a creative outlet in the middle of the day, and I got positive feedback from the teacher at the time on my work,” McGrath said.

McGrath has worked as a journalist for various companies since 1997.

“After graduating from Ball State with a News-Editorial Journalism degree, I worked at The Herald Bulletin, a daily news-

PHOTO PROVIDED BY BRADY HEISER

Alumni Brady Heiser directs a Doritos commercial for the 2015 Super Bowl. Heiser previously worked as a construction worker before entering media.

paper in Anderson, Indiana from 1997-2001,” McGrath said.

“There, I covered everything from crime and education to Star Trekthemed weddings.”

In May 2001, McGrath ran the Indiana Department of Environmental Managementgoing to Eli Lilly in 2004.

“For the past decade, I’ve worked in numerous areas of the company’s communications department, including women’s health, oncology, neuroscience and – currently – animal health.

My day-to-day job focuses on planning and implementing communications strategies,” McGrath said.

After starring in shows and

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music videos, Heiser wanted to try and see what it was like behind the camera.

“From there I wanted to see what was behind the camera, and became a production assistant. I really enjoyed being behind the camera, and began to climb the ranks,” Heiser said. “I am now an assistant director mainly doing commercials, but also have done feature films, shorts films, and music videos.”

These unique jobs have allowed alumni to have gratifying experiences and achievements.

Lambert opened up his own gym and considers helping people his biggest achievement.

“Owning my gym and helping others achieve their goals is not only my greatest achievement, it’s my life and love. I’m one of the few that wake up on Monday and can’t wait to go to work,” Lambert said.

Heiser’s biggest achievement so far has been winning a Grammy for the music video “Happy.”

“My biggest achievement award, so far, is being one of the assistant directors (uncredited) on a music video by Pharrell Williams called “Happy.” We, my team and I, ended up winning a Grammy for Video of the Year, which is the highest honor a music video can get,” Heiser said.

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‘‘ FIGHT TO THE FINISH

Winning regionals is a big deal because it made us want to strive for more and not let our season end.

- sophomore Rylee Beason

‘‘

I got to compete with some of the best players in the state which was a great experience.

PHOTO BY JILL KIDDER

Junior Bryce Bonin returns the serve in his singles match against the Merrillville Pirates, where he contributed to the Dogs 5-0 win. The Dogs’ went undefeated against the Pirates this season beating them in both matchups.

Bryce Bonin junior

Junior Bryce Bonin comes up short in battle for state crown

BY DYLAN WALLACE sports editor

Ranked third in the state, undefeated in conference play and named Duneland Athletic Conference MVP. Those are just a few of the accolades for junior tennis star Bryce Bonin, but to him none of those matter except the wins and losses, and this year he went 14-1 and advanced to the state match in Indianapolis.

“It is nice to see that I get some recognition around the area, but I believe that the only way people come up with those awards is through the wins and losses you have,” Bonin said.

Competing alone is something Bonin would rather not have to do, but this past season he was the only one from his team to make it out of the regional.

“Our goals as a team this year was to beat Munster again and hopefully get back to where we were last year, which was to semi-state,” Bonin said. “Obviously I would have loved to advance with my team, but

you have to take what you can get.”

Despite moving on without his teammates, Bonin still received support from them and gives them credit for keeping him relaxed and keeping the season fun.

“My teammates helped me during the season by keeping everything fun,” Bonin said. “They helped me relax in big matches and just tried to have fun while also supporting me even when the team lost.”

The season wasn’t an overall disappointment for the Dogs as a whole, although not accomplishing their goals they captured yet another sectional title as well as taking home the conference title.

“The good takeaways from the season were that we clinched another sectional championship and won another DAC conference title as well,” Bonin said.

After being the only one to advance out of regionals Bonin then went on to win the semi-state in single competition. That win propelled him to the state match which would then take place in a two day span.

On the first day of state competition

Bonin fell to the soon to be state champion, Sam Concannon in the singles division.

Despite losing that match Bonin had a good experience down in Indianapolis being able to compete with some of the best in the state.

“The experience was very exciting and fun,” Bonin said. “I got to compete with some of the best players in the state which was great and the entire process of advancing to state was interesting.”

Not only did Bonin have a good experience but he also believes that this will help his confidence as he continues to play tennis through high school.

“It definitely will help me with my confidence. Already being down at state once will help me in believing that I can get there again,” Bonin said. “I am also used to the environment of the state finals which will help with my nerves if I happen to make it again.”

Head coach Chris Korzeniewski praised Bonin as one of the better players to ever compete at Crown Point. Korzeniewski be-

lieves Bonin deserves recognition for not only his ability on the court, but how he conducts himself to others.

“Bonin is a great athlete and by far the greatest tennis player in four decades to come out of Crown Point,” Korzeniewski said. “He deserves recognition not only for his tennis but a great guy to represent the Bulldogs.”

Korzeniewski is optimistic for Bonin’s season next year and believes he will return to state with more passion than ever.

“Look out for the 2016 Bryce Bonin,” Korzeniewski said. “He will make his appearence at state with passion and experience for the state title.”

Next year is Bonin’s senior year and he has high hopes not only for himself but for his team as well.

“My goals as an individual for next year is to hopefully make it back to state and get further than I did this year,” Bonin said. “Our goals as a team would try to get another sectional win and DAC title as well as trying to win regionals.”

Girls cross country season ends at semi-state, despite Wylie and DeMars advancing

BY YOUSEF ABDELDAIEM reporter

Tensions were high as the places were announced at the cross country New Prairie semi-state, unfortunately for the Lady Dogs they were three places short from qualifying for the state meet, finishing ninth overall.

Despite failing to reach the finals as a team, head coach Lindsay Moskalick was still proud with the way their season turned out.

“A lot of the girls have improved tremendously as the season progressed,” Moskalick said. “There are about 27 girls and by the end of the season 21 of them had ran

personal records for the season, which is always the goal for the coach and for the team, to always perform at the end of the season.”

Freshman Anna DeMars, who finished 18 overall, and sophomore Hannah Wylie, who finished fourth overall, both ran fast enough times to qualify for the state finals as individuals.

“One thing that was cool with the semi-state was, out of the top twenty, we were one of four teams to have two girls qualify for the state meet,” Moskalick said. “Other schools didn’t even have one, so to have two in the top 20 is huge for us going into next season.”

DeMars feels that her lack of experience competing at a high level may be her biggest obstacle at the state finals.

“Only being a freshman, the biggest challenge will definitely be staying positive and believing that I’m ready to run,” Demars said.

Although Wylie, who also qualified for the state meet last season, has that experience under her belt, she still feels like there are some challenges she may face.

“Being without a team is hard and so is being out of routine,” Wylie said.

Both runners were excited and showed plenty of optimism about the opportunity to compete alongside each other. DeMars

found it a huge advantage that she has Wylie to motivate her through the finish line.

“It’s definitely an advantage because Hannah pushes me to try my hardest and totally believes in me,” DeMars said.

Heading into next season the Lady Dogs are not losing much other than only one of their runners who ran in the postseason is departing. The team as a whole believes their future looks to be bright.

“We are a young team going into next year,” Moskalick said. “We return six of our top seven which is very optimistic for us. That’s going to be huge to only have to fill 1 spot out of the top seven.”

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Boys cross country heads to state with podium aspirations

BY KATIE PAWLOWSKI ediotr-at-large

As the season winds down to one last race, the boys cross country team has experienced everything from bad luck to postseason upsets and the focus is now on one thing as they prepare for the state finals: to get to the podium.

The last time the Dogs were able to get to the podium at the state finals was in 1981, placing fifth, and going into this weekend they believe they have the potential to do it again.

“I think we can definitely podium at state if we all run our best and work as a team,” senior Alec Gerlach said.

The Dogs have had a rocky postseason so far, losing sectionals for the first time since 2011 and then turning around and winning regionals for the first time since 2012, beating DAC rival Lake Central by one point.

“Our team has responded well. We had guys step up their game and run better. We have focused on practice and that transferred to our meets,” senior Ryan Kepshire said.

With some of the team’s top runners being in and out of running condition due to injuries, Gerlach was confident that when he was out, the other healthy runners would be able to perform well and keep the team strong.

PHOTO BY DELANEY BENICH

The Crown Point boys cross country team poses after winning the regional championship on Oct. 17 at Lemon Lake. The Dogs then went on to finish third overall at semi-state, propelling them to advance to for the state meet for the third year in a row. They will race at state tomorrow in Terre Haute.

“My team always reacts in a positive way because we know that even though we had some of our best runners out, we could work as a team and still do just as good as before,” Gerlach said.

In preparation for Saturday, head coach Keith Iddings has been training his runners to make sure they run their best.

“We’ve been strengthening the muscle systems in our anaerobic and aerobic conditioning systems to help them to be able to run their best Saturday,” Iddings said.

Aside from the running in practice and getting in the best physical shape they can be in, the Dogs have also been preparing for the mental aspect of the race.

‘‘

Everything we have done this year, all the hard work, has lead up to this one race.

Ryan Kepshire senior “We have prepared for state by listening to our coaches training strategies, and we have also prepared mentally by talking as a team and figuring out what we have to do to make podium,” Gerlach said.

Going into state the Dogs

plan on using the upset in sectionals to their advantage, using that loss as motivation to redeem themselves in the state finals.

“I don’t think any of our postseason losses will affect us at state; if anything I think that everyone on the team is fired up for state and will encourage us to beat the teams that we lost to in the previous races,” Gerlach said.

Iddings is confident in his team and the preparation that they have done. He believes if they continue with their regular system, they will perform well this weekend.

“What I usually tell them is to just focus on the fact that they have done an awful lot of work to get ready. They are physically

prepared and that as long as they keep making good choices with their nutrition and making sure they’re getting enough rest they should be ready to do their best on Saturday,” Iddings said.

Despite all the injuries and rollercoaster postseason, the Dogs have had runners step up and take charge so that the chance to podium at state is still a reality.

“We have had our ups and downs but overall I have to say we have done pretty well, and we will do just fine at state. To be able to podium has been our goal the whole season, and we definitely have the talent to do it,” Kepshire said.

The state finals will take place in Terre Haute, tomorrow, at 1 p.m. ET.

Football unable to overcome Merrillville, finishes at 1-9

BY SAM BARLOGA online editor

A moment.

A game changing moment can happen in an instant.

Throughout the first half of Crown Point’s sectional opener at Merrillville, the Bulldogs’ defense shut down the Pirates’ air-raid passing game.

With mere minutes until the halftime break, it looked as if the Bulldogs could be on their way to an enormous upset.

Crown Point had picked off Merrillville quarterback D.J. Wilkins three times, and junior place kicker Brad Kurtz had nailed two field goals to give the 1-8 Dogs an early 6-0 lead.

In one moment, the lead vanished.

Wilkins found sparsely used wide receiver Kameron Jackson for a 40 yard touchdown with 3:34 left in the second quarter, and in the blink of an eye, the contest was tied; the Bulldogs’ momentum, gone.

That score would change the story line. Merrillville would go on to put 22 unanswered points on the board and rolled to 22-12 victory last Friday night to end Crown Point’s season.

Following the touchdown, Crown Point continued moving the ball into Pirates’ territory, but Kurtz had his 39-yard field goal deflected, and the game went into halftime tied at six.

After the loss, Crown Point head coach Kevin Enright was impressed with the performance of his seniors despite the scoreline.

“I thought the seniors played exceptionally well,” Enright said.

“They led by example, and didn’t give up. It could have been easy to just roll into Merrillville there, and go through the motions. I don’t think this group did that, and I think the young guys followed suit.”

Kurtz’s two field goals came from 20 and 35 yards away, with the first one being deflected at the

line, but still getting a friendly Crown Point bounce to go off the crossbar and in.

Crown Point has now lost three straight games to the Merrillville Pirates.

Friday’s loss was certainly one thing: An improvement over the Bulldogs’ first meeting with the Pirates, which they lost 40-0 at home.

Before Friday’s game, Enright said that his defense needed to pressure Wilkins early, and force him into tough situations.

The Dogs were successful early on in their mission, as junior defensive back Zach Stewart had two interceptions, and senior Cameron Watson pitched in one by picking off a screen pass in the second quarter.

“Zach (Stewart) ended the season in a nice way,” Enright said.

“Getting those two picks were huge for us, and certainly, we expect big things from him next year.”

Down 22-6 at the end of the

third quarter, the Bulldogs would make one more shot at a late comeback.

Senior quarterback Artie Equihua found the endzone on a 37-yard run early in the fourth quarter to shrink Merrillville’s lead to just 10, but no team would score after the scamper.

The Bulldogs finish the 2015 season with a mark of 1-9, with their only victory coming Sept. 25 at Portage.

Crown Point used three different quarterbacks over the course of the season: Equihua, junior Grayson Lynk and sophomore Ryan Bolda. Lynk saw the most extenstive playing time of any of the three under center.

Despite this, Enright said that a new off season means a new chance to find starters at each and every position, not just quarterback.

“I expect a race at every position this offseason,” Enright

said.

Even with the uneven winloss record, sophomore linebacker Caden Watson said the team never quit.

“We tried our hearts out in every game,” Watson said. “It may have not gone our way in terms of wins and losses, but we did not go down without a fight.

Enright would echo Watson’s comments, as he stated that the team’s effort was an aspect that may have been overlooked due to the team’s poor final record.

“The team fought hard each and every week,” Enright said.

“They gave great effort each and every week, it’s just we were on the other end of the score(line). With that said, I thought the group handled adversity well enough to keep battling where sometimes the stakes are against you, and many times (other groups) would tend to fold.”

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In the game

with T-Frame

BY TOMMY FRAME

assistant sports editor

NFL says pink is for October The National Football League recently told Pittsburgh Steelers players DeAngelo Williams and Cameron Heyward that they were in violation of uniform codes. The league is among many organizations that permit pink attire on uniforms in the month of October.

Williams had asked the Vice President of the NFL to give his permission to continue wearing pink throughout the rest of the season to honor his mother who had died of breast cancer in 2014. The NFL denied him, meaning they will not allow a man to honor his mother with a simple pink wristband, because of the commercial consequences.

The NFL is saying that their business is more important than the good morale of its players.

It doesn’t stop there. That same day, they told Steelers’ player Cameron Heyward that he is being fined $5,787 for wearing eye paint that spelled “Ironhead” to honor his father who was a former NFL player. Craig “Ironhead,” Heyward died of brain cancer in 2006, and his son was trying to pay tribute to his dad by carrying on his nickname under his eyes every game.

Heyward was not guilty of an illegal hit, performance enhancing drugs or even a deflategate 2.0. He is being fined for representing his dead father who was a former player for the very league. Many players in the league wear eye paint, as it is commonly used to reduce glare around the eyes. Plain, black eye paint is permitted, but writing two words on it is grounds for a near $6,000 fine.

In the grand scheme of things, that money is pocket change to a player making millions of dollars each year.

The idea that the NFL does not support players tributing relatives that are cancer victims on the field is disturbing.

These are the best athletes in the world that make the NFL the richest sports association in the world. If they do not disgrace their team uniform, shouldn’t they be able to wear what they want?

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PHOTO BY BOB STREMPKA USED WITH PERMISSION/www.strempkagallery.com

The CP volleyball team is overcome with joy as they storm the court after defeating Lake Central at regionals 3-0. The Dogs will continue their outstanding postseason performance as they head to Plymouth tomorrow with hopes of knocking off Hamilton Southeastern at the semi-state match.

Volleyball wins regionals for first time since ‘92

BY DOM TOMICH

assistant sports editor

Great teams handle adversity and thrive under pressure in the most important moments. This postseason, the Lady Bulldogs have exceeded their expectations and don’t plan on stopping soon. The Dogs are not only sectional champions, but also regional champions for the first time since 1992.

As if sectionals isn’t tough enough, the Bulldogs were faced with a task which seemed impossible going into the second round: beating an undefeated Valparaiso Vikings. The Bulldogs’ high hopes for a long lasting postseason continued after handing the Vikings their first loss of the season, beating them in the fifth set 15-11.

“Going into the game we knew it would be close, and the team who wanted it more would win,” junior Alaina Chacon said. “Words could not describe how proud and accomplished we felt as a team afterwards.”

Following the hard fought victory against Valparaiso, the Lady Bulldogs were set to play the Chesterton Trojans in the sectional championship. The Dogs were 2-0 going into the matchup and were able to add another win to

their resume defeating the Trojans in straight sets. Emotions were high following the team’s first sectional championship since 2013.

“The whole sectional experience was surreal. The entire team had this thought that it wasn’t real. We all worked so hard, and all the emotions at the time made us speechless,” sophomore Alex Equihua said.

Going into regionals versus Lake Central, one variation between them and their opponent was youth. The Lady Bulldogs will only be graduating one senior compared to Lake Central’s seven. Heading into Tuesday night’s game, the Bulldogs were 0-2 against Lake Central hoping for different results this time around.

“We are young but talented, and that allows us to be competitive,” head coach Allison Duncan said. “Right now we are playing with a ton of excitement, energy and enthusiasm, and I think that energy is what’s giving our opponents some trouble.”

Tensions were high approaching the 7 PM start time. The Bulldogs came out dominant winning the first set 25-16. The Lady Bulldogs were able to finish off the next two sets by two points each, giving them their first win against

Lake Central this year along with a regional win, which has alluded them for 23 years.

“Winning regionals was altogether an overwhelming experience,” Chacon said.

“Knowing that all the hard work paid off was one of the best feelings ever. It was amazing to have so many people from all over come to support our team.”

Winning regionals called for a night of celebration. Spirits were high as the student section along with parents stormed the court to congratulate the team. Despite the excitement, all players know in the back of their minds that they have one more practice until they get the opportunity to achieve an even bigger goal: winning semi-state for the first time in school history.

“Winning semi-state would mean the world to us. We want to do it for the program and our school because they have given us so much support this entire season,” Equihua said. “The team is really trying to focus on making every point count. We want to be on the top of our game. We are more excited than nervous and have been given a great opportunity to make history, and we want to capitalize on it.”

Boys soccer falls to Munster in first round of regionals to end season

BY MATT MCCONNELL reporter

It was a sea of red in the stands as the Crown Point Bulldogs battled the Munster Mustangs in the first round of regional play.

After advancing out of the sectional with ease by defeating Kankakee Valley 6-0, the Dogs met their match with the Mustangs. It was a back and forth battle until the Mustangs scored near the end of the first half. That appeared to be all they needed to defeat the Dogs 1-0 and send them packing. Head coach Mike Bazin believes their biggest struggle was being able to execute for all 80 minutes.

“We definitely matched our expectations, however completing games and just playing

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hard all 80 minutes I think was a struggle for us this year,” Bazin said. “There always ended up being a few minutes of time where poor choices were made that ended up causing a couple of loses.”

In the end, the Dogs believe they gave it all they had every time they stepped on the field.

“Overall, we well executed our chemistry as a team and our dedication on the field at all points of the game,” senior Garrett Shoemaker said. “Everyone always dug deep and went 100 percent no matter what the score.”

Next year, the Dogs are going under construction.

“We are going to be really young next

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year. We are losing 13 seniors, but we have a lot of talented underclassmen,” Bazin said.

With the starting lineup consisting of mostly seniors, the team will be undeniably young. However, returning varsity players look to be role models to these budding players.

“My ultimate goal is to become a leader and be a positive example for the team. With all of our seniors graduating, the players moving up will be very young and inexperienced,” junior Brad Kurtz said. “The year we won state was when I was a freshman, and the seniors showed me what working hard and having a passion for the game was all about. They lit a spark in me and I hope the underclassmen can take away the same from me.”

My moment of the month ... “... was after losing sectionals, bouncing back and winning regionals by beating Lake Central by one point.”

Senior Alec Gerlach

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inreview

“Chaos and the Calm”

By James Bay The calming voice of James Bay instantly catches listeners’ attention.

His creative lyrics are layered with a multitude of varying instruments which help create a unique sound as well as a soothing effect.

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH Technically, I colonized Mars. In your face, Neil Armstrong!

- Mark Watney “The Martian”

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“Downtown”

By Macklemore and Ryan Lewis This single by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis features a variety of artists which helps change Macklemore’s tradition hip hop style to one of more funky pop. The song is dynamic in its lyrics; it shifts from comical, humorous rap lyrics to more serious, sentimental singing. Like previous songs, it does an exceptional job of mixing traditional soul instruments with electronic pop beats.

Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens Trailer Easily the two most important minutes in the entire history of mankind.

Capturing the attention of multiple generations with a single flute loop; foretelling of excellent action sequences, the return of fan favorite characters, but most of all: the return of the greatest film series of all time.

“Marvin Gaye”

By Charlie Puth feat.

Meghan Trainor Throw a catchy tune and cute lyrics together and you got yourself a Charlie Puth song. This song, while it can be a little innaporiate at times, it is a masterpiece.

The combination of Puth’s and Meghan Trainor’s voice, creates the perfect sweetheart feel to go with the romantic lyrics.

“On My Mind”

By Ellie Goulding Previous Ellie Goulding singles have been tolerable because subpar lyrics and common pop beats have been balanced with an impressive vocal range. However, “On My Mind” does not showcase any of Goulding’s talents. Unoriginal, sleazy lyrics overshadow the song’s undeniable catchiness.

The song had potential, but repeating the same phrase eight times in the refrain ruined it.

Matt Damon out of this world in “Martian”

BY JEREMY DEBOLD reporter

The Martian is far from another cliche movie about someone stranded on a desolate planet. It is much more than another movie filled with countless monologues and overly exaggerated emotions.

In “The Martian,” Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, gets stranded on Mars, abandoned by his crew who assumed he was killed after being hit by debris in a martian storm. Left behind, Watney is determined to survive, overcoming one challenge after another, giving the

though long, does not drag. In fact it enhances the story, depicting the sheer amount of time he spends alone on Mars. The music as well as the plotline make it easy for audience members to share anxiety with Watney as he faces the challenges of isolation.

The only complaint to be held is that the book-to-movie adaptation left chunks of the story missing in order to keep the movie within a reasonable time frame. Although the omitted portions are not necessary for the experience, at times viewers are left wondering about specific aspects of Watney’s journey. Wat-

audience just enough comedic relief to lighten up the otherwise intense movie.

The movie certainly surpasses even the the highest expectations. It enthralled viewers from the beginning, leading them through an intense, heart pounding film filled with the daily struggles of being stranded only being amplified by the martian environment. Damon’s portrayal of Watney is perfect, keeping a close connection with the audience through his periodic video diaries that inform the viewer of his current situation. The two hour and 22 minute movie,

ney’s sanity is one major aspect left up to interpretation; director Ridley Scott tries to create the sense that Watney’s sanity is fleeting, but the subject is rarely touched. It is left to the viewers to determine whether or not he truly is mentally stable.

Excluding its few flaws, this movie still displays excellence that is sure to make it a new classic. Scott managed to arrange the entire 369 page book into a two hour movie that leaves viewers emotional. The movie can honestly be described as out of this world.

Underwood’s “Storyteller” does not put listeners to sleep

BY JILL KIDDER

chief photographer

What kind of modern female country album would “Storyteller” be if it did not have songs about the classic topics of love, redemption, runaways, faith, family and alcohol.

Carrie Underwood recently celebrated a decade of making music, by creating an album with her greatest hits on it. “Storyteller” is the first album leading into her next decade. It was released on Oct. 23, making “Storyteller” second on the iTunes Top 100 albums.

In “Storyteller,” Underwood

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has applied similar types of songs from previous albums and integrated it into “Storyteller.”

“Dirty Laundry” sounds like the reasoning behind the sabotage of a man’s truck in “Before He Cheats.” Both present the women’s emotional shock when they find out there partners have cheated on them.

The traditional cowboy boot stomping, hat tipping, banjo plucking style is expressed in “Church Bells.” The idea of this song is heart-wrenching, as it tracks a woman’s pivotal points in her life that are symmetrical to the sound of the church bells.

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For example, the women goes to church to escape her husband’s abuse and find redemption.

“Choctaw County Affair” is a surprising sound that Underwood has added to the album.

The song is about a lady that goes missing and an accused couple is suspected of killing her, because of a common motive.

The song has a good beat, loud bass, and a dry sound, creating an interesting and distinctive song. Only Underwood can take a song about a murder and make it sound appealing, and more so make one want to sing along.

Overall, Underwood has met

On the h. algebra2 midterm, I didn’t use the “guess and check method” I used the “guess and hope to dear lord I got it right” method. sophomore Emma Baker

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Wow wow wow I’m more stressed than a cow trying to write its name senior Haley Arguelles

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and exceeded the hype for this album. These foot tapping tunes, creates a wonderfully mixed album that fuses country and pop sounds into a classic album that will be sang on karaoke nights.

“Storyteller” mirrors contrasting living situations, making this album relatable to most.

Releasing her sixth album after her national debut on American Idol, Underwood’s album “Storyteller,” is a diverse album that represents a modern female country album.

The album creates a perfect contrast of pop and country for anyone to enjoy.

@HaleyArguelles

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@blackjaguarwhitetiger The Black Jaguar-White Tiger Foundation’s official Instagram account keeps you updated with adorable photos and videos of the animals they have rescued.

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Forman’s latest success evokes emotions

BY ALLY REKITZKE reporter

It all started with an email.

Suddenly, life as Colby knew it came to a halt as she finds out that her best friend, Meg, commits suicide by drinking industrial strength cleaner in a cheap motel. When Colby finds months of deleted emails and computer files that don’t want to open, she takes a deeper look into Meg’s life outside of her hometown and finds Ben McCallister who is also tied up in Meg’s death. All this makes Colby question if Meg had acted alone in her decision to end her life.

“I Was Here,” by Gayle Forman is for those who enjoy a mystery, romance and a tear jerker all in one. The mystery behind Meg’s death lures readers into continuing Colby’s adventure. Meg’s death leaves Colby with unanswered questions where she has to find out why Meg did this to her loved ones. This book is tear-inducing from the first chapter. Colby’s confusion and pain are present throughout the book, making the reader feel her emotions. The romance within the novel lightens the mood of the book, and causes one to believe that good things can come from bad situations.

This story is very complex and takes many twists and turns.

Learning about how Meg goes

about making her decision and who she consults is a sudden twist readers won’t expect. It keeps one guessing why Meg has made this life changing decision.

Throughout the novel, Colby goes through a range of emotions: confusion, pain, jealousy, grief and forgiveness. Her jealousy stems from the person she used to be. Her confusion and pain tie together when she doesn’t know why she has decided to take her life. In the end of the novel, she finally feels the grief and forgiveness. This makes the book complex along with the storyline of Colby finding out if Meg acted alone.

“I Was Here,” is an excellent book because it keeps the reader on their toes. Forman does a good job of making the reader feel like they’ve lost a good friend. With Colby’s words and thoughts, the reader gets to know Meg without having her there. They find out how good of friends they were, and we all have friends that are like Meg so the reader feels the loss.The story is very relatable because when one deals with the death of a loved one there is a variety of emotions much like the reader experiences.

The serious subject matter of the book of suicide and depression makes it feel real. It makes the connection between reader

reporter

Top Track “Airplanes” Track #15

Stress Balls

5 Seconds of Summer recently released their second album, “Sounds Good Feels Good.” The album has an exciting soundtrack with boisterous lyrics that showcase an insecure teenage mindset.

The album defines the misunderstood feeling that gets associated with this age group. It is relatable and still holds a fun beat that is easy to dance to. The album also has a few meaningful songs with a relaxed beat that leave the listener with an overall content feeling.

This album has questionable lyrics. The lyrics in a couple of the songs were about the band’s low-self esteem and lost love.

“Castaway” was about heartbreak and rejection. It just has an overall hopeless mood to it.

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and book stronger. For some, reading is a way to cope with tough times. The relatability of the novel makes readers enjoy it.

“I Was Here,” is a recommended read for those who enjoy stories that make them feel a range of emotions. It is a very complex story that will have the

Adding to the stereotypical feelings of the album,“Safety Pin,” sounds like the basic emotional teenage romance: overplayed and oozing with insecurity.

Out of all the songs on this album, ‘Broken Home,” was the most memorable. Consisting of one of the singer’s parents’ divorce, the song was kind, and it was a pleasant change of pace.

It had a quiet instrumental and wasn’t repetitive, contradicting most of the songs on the album.

Another song to contradict the typical theme of the album is “Airplanes.” The sound gives a confident aura. The song is about breaking out of the singer’s insecurities. It is hopeful and sounds inspirational. The song

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Enjoy the game, not the challenge

BY KATIE PAWLOWSKI

reader rereading in the hopes of catching certain details that they’ve missed the first time around. This novel pulls on the heartstrings and keeps readers constantly wanting more. If one enjoys emotional twists and turns, give “I Was Here” a read.

5 Seconds of Summer disappoints within seconds

BY DESTINY KOGLER

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carried a different style of music than the rest of the album. While most of the time the lyrics are self-degrading, this song sends a self-positive message.

Overall, this album was loud and repetitive. If the singers could find better topics to write about rather than their common misunderstood, insecure lyrics, it would have excelled.

Although there were tiresome lyrics, there were soft instrumentals that added to the depth of the tracks. This album was not particularly unique and sounded very cliche. The album lacked key components like intensity and Individuality. The lack of diverse songs makes the album dull and unnoticeable.

we’re so over Whipping and Nae Nae-ing Stop. It’s been over two years and the trend seems to just keep growing. Everywhere we look, somebody is doing this trendy dance and while doing so, humming to the equally annoying, but catchy, song. Dancing is an art of expression; dance moves like the “whip” and “nae nae” have turned it into something of formulated movement nothing but the subject of six second videos and shennanigans in the hall.

When I was younger, sports were about having fun and making friends, where everyone was a winner no matter the score.

Kids played multiple sports and naturally gravitated towards one or several. Some of which they continued to play throught their high school career oreven further. There wasn’t the sense of urgency and competitiveness that there is today.

Nowadays kids are competing in AAU, club and other non-school sports organizations at the earliest elligible age. Doing this gives kids the competitive edge over their future teammates and eliminates the ones who aren’t fully committed. I started playing sports at the age of eight, but not competitively in AAU tournaments. These kids are way too young to be told what sport they need to dedicate themselves to. Instead they should simply have fun and enjoy the game itself. When you see AAU coaches coaching their athletes during a fundraiser tournament, it’s clearly gone too far.

Colleges are also putting a lot of pressure on making children pick a sport or sports to dedicated themselves to by starting the recruiting processes earlier and earlier. It was only last February that Lebron James’s 10-year-old son was receiving letters from colleges who were showing interest. College coaches need to have restrictions on recruiting age because they are ruining the innocence of the game. When kids continue to play competitively in high school and in college, they developed a pride in the game they fell in love with as a child.

An elementary sport should be about all kids receiving about the same playing time and learning the basics of teamwork and communication. There shouldn’t be the pressures kid are under by parents, coaches and colleges to be the absolute best and push past anyone who isn’t at the same level, including their own teammates. There should be a desire to play.

People who play at the high school and college level are kids who couldn’t imagine the sport not in their life. They would do anything to keep the joy they get from playing it. When children are pushed numerous hours at a young age to excel in any sport, they lose sight of the joy that drives others to continue playing in life. Don’t get so caught up in the competiviness of sports that you forget to enjoy the moment.

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freshman

Abbey Kelliher Ice cold in summer

Junior Nicole Kelly volunteers at Key Club’s annual Halloween Party. Kelly has helped at other charities in and out of school.

PHOTO BY JILL KIDDER

Kelly gives back in hopes to make a difference

BY JACKIE HAM reporter

Happiness can come in all shapes and sizes. Acing the test, eating that last slice of cake or hearing a favorite song can all result in total satisfaction. For Junior Nicole Kelly, happiness comes from giving back.

Ever since she was a little girl, the Kelly family recognized Nicole’s charitable traits.

Her mother, Michelle Kelly, recounted the numerous times Nicole would come home from school telling stories about classmates being left out at recess and how she would stop what she was doing to go play with them. Nicole’s gracious ways have not changed.

Eleven-year-old Nicole came to her mom with the idea that she wanted to give away her Christmas money to the charities of her choice.

With her mother’s approval, Nicole asked for money instead of presents that Christmas and gave away $200 to eight charities that she researched herself.

“I did not tell her to do this. She came to me all on her own,” Michelle said. “I had to tell her that she could give away Christmas Eve money but not Christmas money because she would have given away all of it if she could.”

This was just the start of her charitable actions. Every year following that Christmas,

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What was your most embarrassing costume?

Nicole gives away half of her Christmas or birthday money to people or charities. She has given money to various causes such as St. Jude Children Hospital and a family who suffered major loss due to a house fire. Last year, Nicole helped her fellow Crown Point family by donating her money to Student Council’s Dance Marathon, which raised money for Riley’s Children’s Hospital.

Lifelong friend sophomore Caroline Sarbieski surprised Nicole on her birthday by giving her sponsorship of a three-year-old Guatemalan boy name Jose. This sponsorship appoints Nicole as a godmother of Jose, which allows her to send him money and presents during birthdays and Christmas to give him gifts he normally would not receive. The Sarbieski family’s support Nicole through her journey of giving back.

“Nicole has the biggest heart of anyone I know,” Sarbieski said. “My mom and I help Nicole by giving her some money, so she can send it to her godchild.”

With new changes in her life, like her new godchild, Nicole has a much bigger plan this upcoming year. She is asking for money this Christmas to be able to attend a mission trip to Guatemala by an organization called NPH Guatemala. Nicole found out about this trip by being a part of St. Mary’s Church and an ac-

“My bumblebee costume when I was four. I had to wear a honey pot on my head.”

Josh Neft Sophomore

tive member of their youth group. Every year attendees willing to help poverty filled Guatemala may fly with a group of other participants and rebuild orphanages to make them safe for the kids that live there. In the past, they have rewired the electrical lines, sewed new table clothes and rebuilt safer showers. Nicole hopes to use this trip to actually come in contact with Jose.

“He wrote a letter to me about two months ago, and I replied to him. It takes about four months to get back and forth to each other, so we are only going to get to talk about three times a year. I really hope I could meet him,” Nicole said.

Nicole is also an avid donator to the Locks of Love and Pantene Beautiful Lengths organizations which make wigs out of real hair and give them to women in need. Every other year since sixth grade, Nicole donates eight to ten inches of her hair to these associations.

Nicole is not one to brag about anything.

Her mother said that Nicole is very quiet and modest about all the charity work she does.

“I hear stories throughout the year of how much some people struggle. Sometimes it is people I know or sometimes just on a commercial, and it makes me want to help them,” Nicole said.

“My Avatar costume. It was really unattractive and there was a satchel in an inappropriate area.”

“When I was oneyears-old, I dressed up as Scooby Doo. The head piece was so heavy I couldn’t pick up my head.”

Freshman

Sophomore

Allison Herkey

Sydney Manhatton

The coolest place I’ve ever been to is Alaska. My family went for vacation in the summer, and we went hiking and fishing. Unfortunately, we missed the northern lights.

Frightful fun Scary movies don’t bother me at all. I like any type of movie, but I really enjoy scary ones.

Superior strings In my free time I like to play the violin. I’ve been playing in the orchestra since I was in the fifth grade.

Wrong basket One of my most embarrassing moments was during a basketball game; I ended up scoring in the other team’s basket.

Foul play My coach nicknamed me hackiher instead of Kelliher because I would always foul in basketball.

“I was a muscular baby one year. I had a baby mask and a musclar costume.”

“I decided to wear my fairy costume even though I spilled food all over it.”

“One time I went as a girl. I wore makeup, a dress and used oranges for boobs.”

Andrew Viater

Kristen Verdegan

Graham Votaw

Senior

Sophmore

Junior