V1, I4 - June 9, 2016

Thursday, June 9, 2016

The Student Newspaper of Jones College Preperatory High School

Volume 1, Issue 4

Much to do about CPS budget crisis hits Jones as it prepares for rough fiscal year “Much Ado” Budget battle

smaller budget, but we don’t know how class sizes for sure and the possibility of JACOB NASZKE ‘17 bad it’s going to be,” said Powers. “Until electives getting cut so everybody can get Lifestyles Staff we actually see the budget numbers and their graduation requirements,” said social ULISSES REGALADO ‘17 compare that with what our staffing needs science department chair Jennie Harned.

Sports Staff Despite the expected budget cuts, next Chicago Public Schools’ budget crisis are, we don’t know whether we are going to replace everyone who is leaving.” year’s incoming class is going to further is nothing new, but unlike this increase the number of students in the school year, Jones stands to feel school.

The last Jones “small class” is the pinch when doors reopen leaving and the next class is supposed this fall. When budget cuts were to increase the school’s enrollment by issued district-wide in Febru150.

Although it might mean tighter ary, Jones was able to save all classrooms, Powers believes it will be jobs and the school kept afloat an economical advantage for the school. thanks to a rainy day fund and “I actually think the growth is a quick, but drastic, fundraising to our advantage.

We receive money effort by the parent-led group from CPS based on each student so, in Friends of Jones. Next year’s other words, if we have 150 more stubudget cuts, however, could dents then we are receiving a bigger make it harder to close the gap. per-pupil allocation. The money we get “We did get some budget per student has been reduced but we cuts [this year]. We lost over will have more students so a certain $300,000 and friends of Jones amount of that will be offset a little bit was able to pick up most of that by the increased number of students.” through fundraising and donaThe school is in better shape than tions. We did not lose any staff most of the other high schools in the city Photo by Jacob Naszke ‘17 and we were able to make it work,” right now and will continue to receive help. said principal P. Joseph Powers. PREPARE FOR THE WORST Principal P. Joseph However, the Jones community should Although Jones did not Powers charts the possible class size averages with the still embrace for a long 2016-2017 year. have budget problems this budget for the 2016-2017 school year.

“We are probably in better shape than year, the school is bracing most other high schools in terms of being Not replacing departing teachers, for worst case scenarios for next year. or, if teachers are laid off, classes will able to face this,” said Powers. “With Friends This could result in crowded classrooms balloon from 25 students on average to of Jones, the pupil allocation, and different for the school, with multiple teachers an30-35 students and might have to teach fundraisers we should be in good shape. nouncing their departures and the unclasses they do not feel comfortable with.

However, it does not mean we will be able certainty of whether next year’s budget “We may not need to replace someto cover all our needs. It is going to be tight.” will have enough money to replace them. body that leaves but that means larger “We know we’re going to have a

The ‘A’ Game

Academic pressure, laziness yield to increase in cheating JUAN CUECHA ‘16 Sports Staff VANESSA GONZALEZ ‘17 School Staff “It’s amazing how much energy and thought people put into not having to put [in] energy and thought,” said English Department chair, Brady Gunnink.

It’s no surprise to see cheating in an academic setting. “I was your age once,” and “I know all the tricks in the book,” are continuously repeated to students by their teachers in order to bring awareness to the fact that cheating is not a new fad.

Gunnink experienced a surge of cheating during the final of his AP Language and Composition class. Allowed to use cell phones during the final exam in order to be able to look up words that the students didn’t know, many decided to instead search the answers to the previously administered AP exam they were taking.

The array of methods used to cheat on this difficult final was equivalent to the level of desperation among students: students setting the answer key as their lock screens, placing them on a sheet of paper in their I.D. casings, writing them down on their arms, or just having a sheet of paper in their transparent phone case to be able to see the information they needed.

Instead of using their time at home to study, his students, like many others, resorted to taking the

easy way out and focus their energy towards finding a way to cheat, or rather “trade their integrity in order to get an A while damaging their character in the process, which was extremely disappointing,” explained Gunnink.

The pressure of being the best academically creates an atmosphere filled with stress and anxiety that provides the inclination for students to cheat in order to not fail themselves, their family, and the expectations that revolve around them.

Realizing that cheating has detrimental effects to a student’s character as well as possible consequences they might face in the future if they continue, teachers enact active efforts to strike down this “immoral” academic behavior by going to the lengths of checking I.D. casings or confiscating cell phones for the duration of assess-

ments with the hope of preventing the students from cheating, “Taking away the temptation to [cheat] will let the kids know, ‘I’m going to study because there isn’t going to be an opportunity for me to cheat in class,’” said English teacher Katherine Palmer, who participates in the aforementioned methods of inspection.

The use of everyday accessories provides students subtle opportunities to store the information that they use to cheat. An anonymous sophomore explains that he once wore a hat that contained the answers within the brim and would continuously take it off, while a senior explained that she hid written Spanish conjugations on a Starbucks cup under the sleeve where she could slide it up and down whenever she needed to.

It’s the focus on achieving these “standards of excellence” that has been instilled within us by our educational system that that has forced students to pay less attention to our growth as human beings and more on extrinsic goals that might not necessarily equate success in the future.

Even with everything that has happened this past semester, Gunnink still believes that “if his students put half the energy and creativity into their work as I’ve seen them put into cheating, they would be the next Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.”

Artwork by Chloe Crookall ‘17

MAGGIE BEDORE ‘17 Deputy Editor, School Trying to add a little humor to the otherwise stressful end of the school year, a handful of Jones students will be presenting Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, “Much Ado About Nothing,” this Friday.

“I wanted to see a particular production of this show for 25 years,” said producer and Jones English teacher Amy Fritsch.

I’ve seen probably twelve different productions and stagings of it over the years, and I finally came to the obvious conclusion that if I was going to see it the way I wanted, I was going to have to do it,” said Fritsch.

Fritsch and students have attempted to present “Much Ado” in previous years, however, lack of interest and calendar conflicts prevented the production from happening. This year, students began working shortly after Spring Break.

“The student presence in the directing and the show is very prominent. It’s a new responsibility for the students, because it’s peers in charge of other peers, which at times can be difficult and stressful,” said director Jenny Ginden ‘17.

“Much Ado About Nothing” is one of Shakespeare’s more understandable plays; it is also relatively short.

“I want it to be fast, I want it to be quick, and I want it to be fun. It has a stereotypical squabbling couple, a cutesy-butfake couple, a whole slut-shaming disaster that nearly destroys lives, a bastard sibling out to make everyone miserable, and dumb cops who stop the bad from happening completely by accident. So you have romantic comedy, slapstick, betrayal, romance, and near-tragedy,” said Fritsch.

There will be two shows on Friday, and audience turnout may affect if more Shakespeare plays are shown at Jones.

“If we have enough people to make it worthwhile, I would want to do “Twelfth Night” next year,” said Fritsch.

For now, Fritsch and the cast are just very excited about presenting “Much Ado” to what they hope is a large audience.

“Shakespeare is hard,” said Jack Siebert ‘17, “but it’s a new experience for all of us - it’s a different kind of show.”

Photo by Maggie Bedore ‘17

COVERING UP Jack Siebert ‘17, who plays young Count Claudio in “Much Ado About Nothing”, masks his true feelings for Hero, the Governor’s daughter, at a masquerade ball.

PAGE 2 SENIORS EXAMS

Final exams for seniors will take place on June 13 and 14.

JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT JUNE 9, 2016

Locked down

Columbine. Sandy Hook. No events have more fundamentally changed how Americans view school safety. Anti-bullying programs, zero-tolerance policies towards potentially violent behavior, and lockdowns in response to any kind of threat have become the status quo.

For the past two school years, Jones has been subject to two school shooting threats. In 2015, the threat caused the school to go on a soft lockdown and delayed an AP exam.

But this isn’t just a problem facing Jones. Lane Tech was evacuated on January 7, after a bomb threat. From 2013-2015, there were 142 school shootings in the United States alone.

School shootings are a relatively new phenomenon. Twenty or thirty years ago, mass shootings at schools were not common. The specific fears may change, but those who make decisions concerning the education system must consider the safety of their students above all else. The fact is, all threats have to be taken seriously, at least until it is determined that the threat poses no risk.

However, even when safety is the primary concern, overreaction is still possible. Just because most threats are not credible, that doesn’t mean that no threats should be taken seriously.

Jones administration and security have done well at responding to threats adequately, and striking the right balance between safety and excessive caution. The 2015 lockdown at Jones ended in only a few hours because school staff learned fairly quickly that it wasn’t credible. In 2016, a total lockdown was avoided because administration identified the threat early on and heightened

security by bringing in more guards while requiring every student to go through the metal detector.

However, there is always room to improve.

While security was heightened for the 2016 threat, there are typically stricter security procedures for senior pranks, where bags are physically searched.

If school administration takes more precautions with seniors messing around than they are with the safety of every student, then that is a serious problem.

Jones administration needs to do better at communicating information about potential threats to Jones students and parents. Administration only released a statement that classes would be held as normal via the Jones website. Thus, many students who didn’t have access to the website, or didn’t think to look decided to stay home for their own safety. This is especially confusing, because during the 2015 lockdown, Jones administration sent progress updates about the lockdown to all parents, so they clearly have a database for the phone numbers of all registered parents and guardians of Jones students. Text, or even email, would have been a more immediate form of communication than merely posting on the Jones website, and would have reached far more people. If the Jones administration expects to have normal attendance in the face of a threat, it is imperative keep students and their families informed, even if the threat is invalid.

With all that said, until we, as a society, find a more lasting solution to the underlying societal problems that perpetuate school shootings in the United States or find better ways to secure our schools, lockdowns will continue, whether we like them or not. We can only hope that the decision whether to go on lockdown or not will be made with the proper discretion and care for all students and their families.

“The fact is, all threats have to be taken seriously.”

Senior wants changes to announcements delivery

JOSH ODUM ‘16

As we’ve covered previously, Jones has a bit of a problem with student unity. Attendance to sporting events is low, and clubs have difficulty getting information about meetings to students, often relying on outside resources and word of mouth more than going through school-related channels. Many factors contribute to this phenomenon, but certainly the current system by which announcements are made known to the students contributes to it. Students often have no idea when and where club meetings, school events, and games are taking place, even though a good number of these events are mentioned in the announcements. So, what’s going wrong?

Let me outline my experience with the announcements system.

Announcements are done every B day at the beginning of Ac Lab by a group of drama students. This is a great way to give students an opportunity to engage in different kinds of functions around the school. Like many students, I have C lunch on B days, so I’m typically in the South campus lunchroom at the time the announce-

“I’m coming out”

Senior says conservatives at Jones ridiculed, bullied for views KEVIN SHANNON ‘16 In the 1970s and ‘80s, homosexuals began to come out of what is referred to as “the closet.” That their sexual identity was no longer going to be concealed from society, was, and in many cases is still seen as, a courageous step in a society that was still split in terms of acceptance of a person’s natural identity. In 1854, the Republican party was formed. Where these two correlate is in that both homosexuals and members of the GOP have, depending on region and situation, been refined to “the closet.”

Where they differ is that in 2015, the Supreme Court has allowed same sex marriage, but the social scrutiny of conservatives in some environments is as accepted as homosexuality was in the 1980s.

The silent majority, who do not speak openly about their identity, are frustrated with the many boisterous openly liberal citizens and noncitizens who control most of the dialogue in media, school, and the workplace.

The closet conservatives tend to not want to get involved in an argument or receive backlash where they are targeted and judged based on their political ideology.

At Jones, the vibe is openly liberal, as

it would be for any school in the middle of a city. However, as those who control the discourse of the school, whether in the hallways, classrooms, or in the class Facebook pages, the closet conserva-

taught to be. Closet conservatives were forced to sit in those classrooms, walk through those hallways, or saw as they scrolled through their feed. Closet conservatives know the other side of the story, the story that liberal has to tell. They may not agree with it, most likely they will absolutely hate their ideology, but the closet conservatives hear them out. They’ve learn to respect it. It’s time they hear you out and learn to respect what you have to say.

And the liberals call the conservatives “racist,” or “misogynist,” or to female conservatives out there, they are a “sellout.” But keep in mind words don’t hurt the closet conservatives, words hurt them, the liberals.

They do not believe in political correctness, because words slip, and sometimes words mean absolutely nothing. Closet conservatives don’t look for hidden meanings inside of words as if we are trying to decode Davinci, they speak, they listen, they move on.

Conservatives have a voice, and they have ears. They are American, everyone has First Amendment rights. Do not let the Artwork by Chloe Crookall ‘17 discourse of this nation’s future be controlled by those who dominated tives are always present but never get in- classroom discussion. If you want to make volved and express their opposing views. America great again, get out of that closet.

The closet conservative is objective. Stand up strong and say what needs to be said.

They were not born that way nor were they

ments start. Typically, the security guards don’t allow any students in the lunchroom to leave until the announcements are finished…the announcements we can’t hear, because everyone in the lunchroom is talking. I suppose the security guards could try to get all the students to shut up long enough to listen, but they would probably have better luck trying to get the earth to stop spinning. I mean, we all love our security guards, but they aren’t superhuman.

Holding us in the lunchroom to hear the announcements does nothing more than make us annoyed and uninformed.

But why have the announcements at the beginning of Ac Lab at all? Why announce important information at a time when everyone is moving around, often through large, open spaces, where the sound from the intercom doesn’t travel well? Why not instead have them start in the middle of Ac Lab, when everyone is settled, and relatively quiet? To foster a sense of school spirit and unity, one of the most important steps is making sure that all students have access to the information they need to be supportive and invested in the activities of their peers.

Editor-in-Chief Alex Behle ‘16 Associate Editor, Design Nikolas Merten ‘16 Associate Editor, Copy Alicia Wala ‘16 Associate Editor, Photo Kevin Shannon ‘16 Deputy Editor, Opinion Josh Odum ‘16 Managing Editor, School Orla Levens ‘18 Deputy Editor, School Maggie Bedore ‘17 School Staff Jessica Jamaica ‘16 School Staff Dawen Mei ‘16 School Staff Ethan Phipps ‘16 School Staff Vanessa Gonzalez ‘17 School Staff Maeve Harvey ‘17 School Staff Mia Prekop ‘17 Managing Editor, Lifestyles Colleen Mitchell ‘16 Deputy Editor, Lifestyles Nia Curtis ‘16 Lifestyles Staff Kayla Candos ‘16 Lifestyles Staff Cristian Espinoza ‘16 Lifestyles Staff Genna Greblo ‘16 Lifestyles Staff Gabby Torres ‘16 Lifestyles Staff Jacob Naszke ‘17 Ivy Rejman ‘17 Lifestyles Staff Managing Editor, Sports Mikaela Uddfolk ‘17 Julia Gaworski ‘17 Deputy Editor, Sports Juan Cuecha ‘16 Sports Staff Henry Michaels ‘16 Sports Staff Nico Moreno ‘16 Sports Staff Jonathan Nunez ‘16 Sports Staff Ulisses Regalado ‘17 Sports Staff Max Segal-Wolk ‘16 Digital Artist Ciara Greene ‘17 Cartoonist Advisor John Lund Letters Letters to the Editor are encouraged and will be screened for libel, irresponsiblity, and obscenity. The Editorial Board may edit or shorten letters as long as the meaning is unchanged.

All letters must be signed and include your email for verification. Requests to withold the writer’s name from publication will be considered. Letters can be sent to jonesblueprint@gmail.com or dropped off in Room 201.

Corrections In the previous issue, Bernie Sanders was said to have won the Illinois Democratic Primary but the actual results showed that Hillary Clinton won with 50.5%.

@jonesblueprint

PAGE 3

BUDGET CRISIS

According to CPS C.E.O. Forrest Claypool, if there is no funding from the State of Illinois, the start of the school year will be delayed.

JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT JUNE 9, 2016

Campaign aims to end “R-Word”

When elections become campaigns

ORLA LEVENS ‘18 Retarded. It’s a word that I have to hear every day, uttered on the train, said in the streets, and echoed in the halls at Jones; purely as a form of lamentation. A simple Google search of the word defines it as meaning “less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one’s age,” or informally, “foolish or stupid.”

What’s key about this is that both terms, especially the second term, have been marked as offensive right there and then in the definition.

So, why do I hear it being spoken so often, especially when it demeans people that often don’t know that the word is supposed to demean them?

My younger brother, Lucas, is 13-years-old. He has a chromosome disorder that is so rare that it is unnamed, only recognized by a series of numbers and letters: 17p13.3. He shares many tendencies with people on the autism spectrum: he has trouble digesting certain foods, has trouble sleeping, often has difficulties learning in school and doesn’t understand the context of many social situations. While he has a lot of social difficulties, he is still stuck behind the r-word’s label. The use of the r-word is harmful; it mocks the intelligence of a person with special needs and separates them from everyone else.

While the need to be politically correct has become increasingly desired in our country, the frequent use of the r-word has become increasingly overlooked. Many intellectual disabilities defy separating categories such as race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. In popular culture, we focus on censoring words like the f-word, the s-word, and other words that demean other groups of people. However, the r-word is not talked about often or really taught by parents and educators as a word that is deemed offensive.

The entertainment industry, excluding those that use the r-word as a part of the historical context, still uses the word loosely just as a form of lamentation. For example, during

MIKAELA UDDFOLK ‘17 Managing Editor, Sports

SGA candidates find unique ways to guarantee their name is checked on ballot come election day

my childhood, the song ¨Let’s Get It Started” by the Black Eyed Peas, released in 2005, ruled the radio airwaves. However, the song was actually released in 2003, under a different title: ¨Let’s Get Retarded.”

And while the Black Eyed Peas haven’t actually released any major songs since 2011, it’s still relevant that the first (and Grammy-winning) song to sell 500,000 downloads originally contained demeaning lyrics to people with disabilities.

The overuse of the r-word could also be attributed to the unfair portrayal in the media of people with disabilities. People with special needs are either portrayed as hero miraculously overcoming their disabilities (especially in sports movies), or more commonly as a victim, or even a villain. More than 80 percent of the U.S. adults surveyed felt that media portrayals were an obstacle to the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities, according to the 2003 Multinational Study of Attitudes toward Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. While the usage of the word in mainstream media has decreased since the days of the Black Eyed Peas, the portrayals still remain accurate in today’s culture.

In addition to the frequent use of the r-word in everyday vocabulary and continued inaccurate media portrayals, the future living conditions of people with disabilities are uncertain.

While the country looks for change in the faces of the 2016 candidates, the issues of lack of employment, living conditions, and educational opportunities for people with special needs are glossed over or completely disregarded by said candidates.

While it’s unlikely that the use of the word will de-integrate itself from modern slang any time soon, the process of diminishing the word in our culture is to re-evaluate media portrayal of people with special needs, start educating people on offensive and dehumanizing words in general, advocating for more opportunities for people with disabilities and individually pledging to remove the r-word from our everyday vocabulary.

filter at Jones,” Bergren said, explaining his strategy. “It was like $10, so I was like why In recent years, Jones’ student government not?It has definitely been the most successful elections could’ve come and gone without the way of communicating my message to Jones.”

Inherently, the most well-recogaverage student or faculty member even noticing. But that changed last week, when Howard nized candidate is often the one who wins.

“You have to Brookins ‘17 launched make sure people his campaign for senior know who you are class president, folif you want to win,” lowed soon thereafter said class secretary by many others. With candidate Teresa VerClass of 2017 President gara Miranda ‘18.

Darcy Palder leaving “I know the people the position to helm the who are gonna win Student Government are the most popAssociation, the prestiular. That’s what gious seat was without happened last year.” an incumbent running, On this issue leading to a political along with many scramble evidenced by others, several canthe many student camdidates have found paign posters caking out how much difthe walls of the school. ferent a school elecBut a sign only does so tion environment much, and thus began is from than that of the most strategic, high a national election. tech student govern“National elecment campaigns ever. tions, you have to talk Chances are, you about the issues,” Misaw Brookins’ myriad randa said. “Specific of posters, flyers, face issues: you have to stickers, and Hotline tell what you’re going Bling-inspired t-shirts to do with them, what around Jones. Brookins you’re not going to has found great success do with them. Here, Photo courtesy of Joseph Bergren ‘17 in his public strategy.

I haven’t heard a sin“I’ve been putGOING ALL OUT Joseph Bergren ‘17 purchased gle campaign on what ting my face on just a Snapchat filter to campaign for his class representa- they’re going to do.” about everything I tive position.

The intense and have,” he said. “A lively environment both lot of people, when Brookins and Bergren have created with their they’re just walking around, say, ‘I see your unique campaigning methods has awakened the face everywhere.’ Then they’ll also say, ‘Oh, sleeping giant of what SGA elections could be. you’re the guy on the poster.’ So basically “A lot of people have come up to me in that has been the most effective part. Somethe hallways and said you’re the kid from thing simple, not too gritty of a flyer or postSnapchat, ‘you got my vote’” said Bergren. er. Something that can catch people’s eye.”

The student body election game has Joseph Bergren ‘17, candidate for class definitely been stepped up this year, and representative, surprised everyone the day behas no doubt put pressure on the othfore Election Day with his unconventional camer candidates, especially those who didn’t paigning techniques. He created a “vote 4 Joey” plan to run such a publicized campaign. geofilter that features his face on Snapchat, “I haven’t really campaigned yet,” available to anyone in the Jones area for the day. said Helen Laboe ‘18, class representa“I created a Snapchat geofilter to reach tive candidate. “I am worried now. I’m out to those not following me on Instagram now putting up posters on the last day.” because anyone with Snapchat can access my

Celebrating the Olympians

Special education students compete against individuals in a variety of sports

DA WEN MEI ‘16 School Staff NIKOLAS MERTEN ‘16 Associate Editor Jones had 29 athletes participate in the Special Olympics at Eckersall Stadium on May 2 to 4. They competed in a variety of track and field events including running, walking, and wheelchair races, softball throw, long jump, and shot put. The athletes prepared for the Spring Games Track and Field events during their ACES PE classes and throughout Ac Lab periods with their teachers.

Peer Buddies in the ACES PE

class decided to attend on May 2 to cheer on their friends and buddies at the games. They brought along signs made by the ACES Art class to cheer on the athletes.

“We have been training for weeks, and it was amazing to see the buddies put their hard work to the test. I loved seeing everyone smile and laugh, win or lose, and cheer one another on,” said Carly Klein ‘17.

SUPPORT Couper Tanko, Carly Klein, and Sophie Levinson, all ‘17, out to motivate their ACEs classmate James Xenos ‘17 on May 2 at the Special Olympics.

Photo by Da Wen Mei ‘16

PAGE 6

GRADUATION 2016

June 16th at the Roosevelt Auditorium is where the Class of 2016 will hold their graduation. Ceremony begins at 7pm.

JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT JUNE 9, 2016

Arkansas University of Arkansas Cheyenne Powell

Adan Jimenez Amiracle Johnson Jacob Montalvo Miguel Morales

California California Polytechnic State Reva Chadha

Northwestern University Andrew Blancarte Maya Carroll Kendra Gujral Elizabeth Henkins Simone Laszuk Kaitlyn Stajura

Cesar Palafox Eduardo Ramirez Amarie Ramsey Leni Redmond Laurice Skinner Amanda Sowell Yvonne Zhu

Claremont McKenna Nicolas Robledo

Loyola Marymount University Elizabeth Fahey

Pomona College Keith Ferguson Anais Gonzalez

University of Redlands Anthony Pulford

University of San Diego Michael Lee

Colorado U.S. Air Force Academy Dreyana Anthony

Connecticut Connecticut College Hector Salazar

Trinity College Neve Rivera

Yale University Qianyue Xu

Delaware University of Delaware Kaela Klein

Florida Eckerd College Diego Serrano

University of Tampa Kristin Rodriguez

Georgia Clark Atlanta University Alanna Johnson

Georgia Institute of Technology Madeleine Santos

University of Georgia Colleen Mitchell

Eliseo Nava Jordan Rotondi

Illinois Institute of Technology Raul Cancino Mariana Martinez Milagro O’Grady

Illinois State University Morgan Evans Jessica Garner Monae Griffin Max Segal-Wolk Kharisma Thomas

Illinois Wesleyan University Gabriela Torres

Illinois Augustana College

Kennedy-King College

Aurora University

Sarah Moresi

Bradley University

Andrew Smyrniotis

Columbia College Chicago

Raquel Diaz Jessica Jamaica Nico Moreno Janaei Phillips Azhaan Sayeed Dominika Stanisz

Neekailah Moore

Mateo Gonzalez

Knox College

Adrian Huerta

Lake Forest College

Kierra Matlock

Loyola University Chicago

Sofia Conner Malcolm Slaughter Andrew Walker

DePaul University Juan Cuecha Miles Littleton Nicolas Mosqueda Jonathan Russell Ethan Phipps Kevin Shannon Zoe Simon Evelyn Tapia Violeta Valenzuela

Eastern Illinois University Maritza Guerrero

Harold-Washington College Brittany Britton Ameerah Coleman Seamus Fisler

Monmouth College Kyla Baker

Morraine Valley College Christopher Sandrik James Schmidt

Northeastern Illinois University Sarah Prell

Northern Illinois University Steven Fitzgerald Brenden Jackson Kylie Little Sheila Martinez

Chris Theodosis Alicia Wala

Richard J. Daley College Jesse Gomez Nelly Santacruz Dania Tena

Roosevelt University Zoe Gaura

Art Institute of Chicago Madeleine Aguilar

Southern Illinois University Kelsey Peterson

Saint Xavier University Marlena Hall Lesley Hernandez

Tribeca Flashpoint College Cory McCoy

University of Chicago Adam Kanyock Eric Robledo Isela Silvera Bailey Street Ayanna Taitt

University of Illinois at Chicago

Juliana Carrion Lina Chen Ashley Estrada Isaiah Fernandez Serafin Herrera Ericson Huang Manuel Ledesma Vivian Ma James Mei Karen Mei Ioana Merchea Beth O’Grady

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Rolando Alvarado Nicholas Arce Ethan Barreto Raven Blancas Lena Buescher Kayla Candos Nia Curtis Angela Ellison Sandra Fortoso Ashley Joaquin Daria Kochanek Alexander Magana Jia Mei Sarah Mei Xiao Mei Nikolas Merten Olivia Ottenfeld Emily Patzke Brayan Rico Teya Ridgeway Israel Reyes Ewelina Rogowski Wan Ruan Joann Tam Benjamin Tang

PAGE 7

LOSS OF FUNDING

Jones is set to lose $321,000 despite an increase in enrollment. With private Friends of Jones fundraising, no teacher positions are expected to be cut.

Michael Tobias Ruiyi Wang Lisa Wetzel Mariah Wong William Yuen Michael Zhao Steven Zhou

Western Illinois University Kyra Burke Tyesha Jones

JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT JUNE 9, 2016

Kentucky Bellarmine University Sarah Garcia

Louisiana Tulane University Sonali Chadha

Xavier University-Louisianna Tiara Bradley

Analiese Garner Cole Hamilton Grace Huffman-Gottschling Victor Ituralde Teagan Letscher Jordan Weaver

University of Minnesota Darcey Gans Emilia Janik

Missouri University of Missouri Jinnah Alim

Saint Louis University

Natalie Mobley Elizabeth Telegina

Washington University in Saint Louis

Jelani McGhee-Anderson Gabriela Pantoja Carol Pazos

Nebraska University of Nebraska-Lincoln Emily Madsen

New York Barnard College Rosie Ryan

Cornell University Sosna Gellaw

Hofstra University Monika Lowe

New York University Angelica Amezquita

Syracuse University Chloe Bailey

Massachusetts Emerson College Rachel Levin Caroline Rodriguez

North Carolina Davidson College Angelina Gurrola Cynthia Rodrgiuez

North Carolina A&T Erica Jackson

Ohio Case Western University Talius Chickering

Indiana Butler University

Denison University

Jenny Chappetto

DePauw University Everett Wise

Indiana University Brennan Quinn

University of Notre Dame

Hampshire College Camilla Baum

Northeastern University Breannah Nasbeth

William Macellaio

Rose-Hulman Institute

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Sophie Brooks

Maya Stefani

Valparaiso

Wellesley College

Jennifer Vandevelde

Jessica Macuich

Iowa Coe College

Michigan Central Michigan University

Carolina Vallin

Naomi Morales

Adjani Moulton

Jessica Abassi Jesse He Alex Medow Isabella Rios

Cornell College University of Iowa Kelly Acevedo Moriah Hurnes

Wartburg College Esmie Alarcon

University of Michigan

Minnesota St. Olaf College Luis Almanza Lucienne Devitt

Will LaGrone Kelly Perfecto Jasbeth Quintas

Kent State University Tyler Williams

Miami University Matt Byun Marcia Kantrow Melanie Ziazaris

Oberlin College Molly Bryson Calder Laban Molly Sheffield

Wittenberg University Ben Phalen

Oregon Willamette University Amelia Gingrich

Pennsylvania Bucknell University Paige Walken

Temple University Isaac Silver

Tennessee Fisk University Elexis Mitchell

Lipscomb University Josh Odum

Texas Baylor University Stephen Kruto

Virginia James Madison University Caroline Shawver

Washington University Of Puget Sound Maddie Golitz Genna Greblo Kayla Stevenson Sofia Swanson

Wisconsin University of Wisconsin Kalle Chan Cristian Espinoza Jacob Gold Henry Michaels Margot Minglegrin Bre’anna Stampley Kara Savitt

Lawrence University Emmy Brady Grace Minogue Maria Torres

Marquette University Laura Ambriz Austin Esquivel Delia Diaz Malakye Hall Grace Kilpatrick Ashley Lopez Andie Martinez Jonathan Nunez Jason Zajac

Carthage College Aly Villareal

Beloit College Sophia Hopp Robert Musker

Washington D.C. American University Alex Behle

Howard University Cristena Brown Korey Foster

Canada McGill University Maddie Brenner Madison Butler

Military United States Marine Corps Xavier Rosales

Unknown

Nia Ali-Valentine Adriana Amador Liliana Gutierrez Juan Hurtado Amaris Jones Calvin Lau Tyneisha Lester Miquela Massie Jennifer Moran Musa Muhammed Vanesa Salinas Alfredo Servin Miles Woodcock-Girard

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

PAGE 4

For current juniors, sophomores, and freshmen, the last day of attendence is on June 21, which will observe a C-Day schedule.

JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT JUNE 9, 2016

Ms. Fix It

For technology coordinator JoAnne Troesch, “helping others” is a personal mission JACOB NASZKE ‘17 Lifestyles Staff

season like many of hers growing up.

Abandoned.

Unaccepted.

Ver“We lived in places where bally and emotionally abused. the ceiling was falling apart.”

These are the words that describe the “I grew up really poor,” said Trochildhood of Jones technology coordina- esch. “My mom raised eight kids by hertor JoAnne Troesch. Graduating from the self and my father left us. We were dirt “school of hard knocks,” Troesch perse- poor, not homeless, but we lived in placvered through numerous life struggles and es where the ceiling was falling apart, challenges to societal norms to become a and we lived in some really bad areas.” positive woman fighting for change for our She understands the struggle of growcommunity and to help everyone she can. ing up where you don’t have anything but “Don’t want students to ex- the clothes on your perience a holiday season like back; where you’re mine growing up.” worrying more about Every year Troesch coordinates a “Se- affording food for cret Santa” mission for Jones students in need. your family than about “We started Secret Santa when we what fun activity to get found out a couple of our students were into on your weekend. homeless,” Troesch said. “I didn’t even Through tears, know we had students without a home.”

Troesch said, “we Troesch, along with drama had a year where, teacher Brad Lyons, collect doactually, my parnations of money from Jones ents were still staff and, along with school together. My facounselors, help find the ther was an alcomost deserving stuholic and my dents in need during siblings and the holiday season.

I woke up Christmas morning The students and there were no Christand their famimas gifts for us. My lies are in need of father drank away his many things, even paycheck and there as basic a neceswere no gifts for us.” sity as clothing or Troesch was thinkhygiene products. ing about the happiness “Some can buy and welfare of others clothes for themfrom the beginning. selves and some just “I didn’t feel bad want simple things like for me, but I did feel bad gifts for their siblings for my younger brothers so they are able to give and sisters,” their brother Troesch or sister some- BEST BUDDIES JoAnne Troesch and her dog, Chip, win said.

“I’m thing that second place at one of their first agility competitions. the second they wouldn’t oldest (child be able to otherwise get them,” Tro- in my family) and there are six youngesch said. “Students ask for things er (siblings) than me. I felt bad for you and I would take for granted. Of- them because one of them thought that ten they will ask for gift cards for food they had been so bad that Santa did so they can help feed their families.” not leave anything for any of them”.

Troesch gives this support on top Troesch said, “needless to say, I never of her other duties, because she doesn’t wanted other kids to go through what I went want students to experience a holiday through. It is still as hard for me today, 40

some years later. I want things to be better for these kids than they were for us. That is why I do what I do.”

“I can’t imagine my life without her; I hope I never have to.”

Today, Troesch is openly gay, and married to her wife of two years, Audrey.

Troesch said “I asked my wife to marry me and she said ‘No,’ that it didn’t make sense since PERFECT MATCH JoAnne Troesch and her wife of two it wasn’t years, Audrey Chmura. legal at the She has won over 27 ribbons in four time. Feeling retournaments and is not stopping anyjected, I decided time soon. Bouncing back after one of not to ask her again. her dogs died of cancer, she is getting her One day, she looked new dog ready for agility tournaments. at me and said, “I “I live for running the dogs think I want to get on the weekend,” said Troesch. married!” My reAgility tournaments are like sponse was, “To me?” She laughed and said, “Yes.” “I didn’t realize what true happiness was meant until I met my wife,” Troesch said. But it was not always an easy road for her.

Troesch said her family was “a little surprised when I came out to them.

This was probably because I was married to a man before and have a son.”

Her first marriage was an “abusive relationship and was forced to leave with my son and the clothes on our backs.” But she didn’t have family to fall back upon.

“My family isn’t very accepting of homosexuality. Some people are, some are not. I don’t see my family very of- THROWBACK One of the only remaining ten any more,” Troesch said, saying she photos of JoAnne Troesch from her childhood after feels outcast and alone. “I have come to leaving her possessions behind with her abusive the conclusion that the problem is theirs ex-husband. and not mine. It makes it difficult, but an obstacle race for dogs, like goI am a person first. My sexual orientaing through hoops and a teeter-totter. tion is just a small part of who I am.”

“You run next your dog, giving com“My dogs are my life.” mands to try to go as fast as possible,” said Today, Troesch leads a happier life, Troesch. “It’s a sport, and we compete.” enjoying time training her dogs for agility Not only she is proud of her dog, contests and spending time with her wife. but she is proud of her place in society.

Happily smiling, Troesch said, “I love my dogs and my dogs are my life.”

“I felt bad for [my siblings] because one of them thought that they had been so bad that Santa did not leave anything for any of them.”

All photos courtesy of JoAnne Troesch

Seniors celebrate top academics VALEDICTORIAN SALUTATORIAN NAT. MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALIST EAGLE OF EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP CHARLES SCHOLARSHIP EVANS SCHOLARSHIP DEPARTMENT AWARD: ENGLISH: MATHEMATICS: MATH TEAM: SCIENCE: SOCIAL SCIENCES:

Adam Kanyock ‘16 Will Macellaio ‘16 Jessica Maciuch ‘16 Adam Kanyock ‘16 Delia Diaz ‘16 Angelina Gurrola ‘16 Cynthia Rodriguez ‘16 Olivia Ottenfeld ‘16 RECIPIENT/S: Andrew Blancarte ‘16 Anais Gonzalez ‘16 Rose Ryan ‘16 Emilia Janik ‘16 Will Macellaio ‘16 Sophie Xu ‘16 Simone Laszuk ‘16 Adam Kanyock ‘16 Nikolas Merten ‘16

DEPARTMENT AWARD: WORLD LANGUAGES: (FRENCH) (MANDARIN) (SPANISH) PHYSICAL EDUCATION COMPUTER SCIENCE VISUAL ARTS ACES ART MENTOR CHOIR BAND

RECIPIENT/S: Adam Kanyock ‘16 Mariana Martinez ‘16 Carolina Vallin ‘16 Cynthia Rodriguez ‘16 Sophie Brooks ‘16 Maya Carroll ‘16 Rachel Levin ‘16 Molly Sheffield ‘16 Isabella Rios ‘16 Madeleine Aguilar ‘16 Ayanna Taitt ‘16 Neekailah Moore ‘16 Malcolm Slaughter ‘16 Lucienne Devitt ‘16 Kylie Little ‘16 Joshua Odom ‘16 Ephraim Champion ‘16 Maya Carroll ‘16

CLASS OF 2016 TOP 10: Molly Bryson ‘16 Maya Carroll ‘16 Lucienne Devitt ‘16 Will Macellaio ‘16 Jessica Maciuch ‘16 Kelly Perfecto ‘16 Janaei Phillips ‘16 Rose Ryan ‘16 Bailey Street ‘16 Alicia Wala ‘16 Sophie Xu ‘16 PRINCIPAL’S AWARD Keith Ferguson ‘16 Kendra Gujral ‘16 Simone Laszuk ‘16 Carol Pazos ‘16 Rose Ryan ‘16 Hector Salazar ‘16

PAGE 5

DC TRIP

Juniors and Seniors in AP Gov. went to Washington, D.C. last month with the Close-Up program and met with Sen. John McCain and Rep. Danny Davis.

JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT JUNE 9, 2016

Blueprint seniors share tips for Jones survival Blueprint Seniors’ Favorite Classes

Alex Behle ‘16

Blueprint Seniors’ Favorite Teachers

Favorite memory? Spending time with my Cross Country and track teammates.

Favorite spot? The chairs in the library.

Favorite teacher? Ms. Sanders is the very outgoing and generous.

So lucky to have her twice.

Favorite class? Criminal Psych combines all of my interests. Ms. Ricketts is great.

Total detentions? None.

Kayla Candos ‘16

Favorite memory? Junior takeover day. It was our time to rule the school.

Favorite spot? Old building courtyard.

Favorite teacher? Ms. Barnett.

Favorite class? ACES. I’ve gotten to meet new people and every day I leave the class with a smile on my face.

Total detentions? Less than four.

Juan Cuecha ‘16

Favorite memory? Playing hackey sack with my friends in the link during Ac Lab. Favorite spot? The link.

Favorite teacher? Mr. Lund.

He’s really chill teacher and knows how to connect with his students.

Favorite class? Anatomy. I love the human body and I enjoyed learning about it.

Total detentions? About 15.

Nia Curtis ‘16

Cristian Espinoza ‘16

Favorite memory? Pep rallys and turning up in the link after.

Favorite spot? The courtyard because it’s chill and there’s a lot of space.

Favorite teacher? Mr. Remiasz was funny and made math fun.

Favorite class? AP Calculus AB because Ms. Bowman taught it so well and it didn’t seem to get hard at all.

Total detentions? About 30.

Genna Greblo ‘16

Favorite memory? All the dances, they are pretty fun and turnt.

Favorite spot? The link. I feel like theres always people there to chill with or do work.

Favorite teacher? Mr. Maggid made HUSH super relatable and enjoyable.

Favorite class? Picking a favorite is impossible.

Total detentions? I’ve only had to serve two.

Da Wen Mei ‘16

Nikolas Merten ‘16

Henry Michaels ‘16

Colleen Mitchell ‘16

Nico Moreno ‘16

Jonathan Nunez ‘16

Josh Odum ‘16

Ethan Phipps ‘16

Max Segal-Wolk ‘16

Kevin Shannon ‘16

Gabby Torres ‘16

Alicia Wala ‘16

Favorite memory? Last year’s senior prank.

Favorite spot? Fourth floor new building or the link. If its during spirit week the link is lit.

Favorite teacher? The best science teacher in the world, Ms. Sanders.

Favorite class? Ms. Wracker’s Spanish III class.

Total detentions? Maybe 60 realistically.

Favorite memory? Being a part of the Jones baseball team.

Favorite spot? Seeing plays and events put on by students.

Favorite teacher? Mr. Saldivar has improved my writing skills more than any other teacher.

Favorite class? AP Gov. with Lund. Taking the class during the elections has been exciting.

Total detentions? Around 50.

Favorite memory? None.

Favorite spot? The courtyard, when the weather is nice.

Favorite teacher? Mr. Kaminski makes history easy to digest.

Favorite class? AP Gov. The information lined up completely with current events.

Total detentions? More than 150.

Favorite memory? Sophomore year pep rally when the senior boys did a stripper dance.

Favorite spot? The link, because it brings everyone together.

Favorite teacher? Mr Kaminski, inspired me to pursue history as one of my majors in college.

Favorite class? APUSH and AP Gov. The teachers are great.

Total detentions? Over 20.

Favorite memory? Looking at street art with my mixed media class.

Favorite spot? Courtyard.

Favorite teacher? Dominguez relates to students and is passionate about art.

Favorite class? Digital Imaging.

Total detentions? 200+.

Favorite memory? Winning a city championship sophomore year edging out Whitney.

Favorite spot? Lund’s room is like a home away from home.

Favorite teacher? John Lund because he’s a bro.

Favorite class? PE with Griseto sophomore year because Frank the Tank is the man.

Total detentions? 20.

Favorite memory? I was able to make my Digital Imaging I film “Rabbi Dogs.”

Favorite spot? Lund’s room because I can work and chill.

Favorite teacher? Mr. Lund has taught through an objective lense.

Favorite class? Drama II. Total detentions? Zero.

Favorite memory? Picking on the freshmen in the old cafeteria.

Favorite spot? Fourth floor new building because some of friends are there.

Favorite teacher? Mrs. Dipman she was always there for me.

Favorite class? Art because it is PE and Art in one.

Total detentions? None.

Favorite memory? When I finessed and took the ship with my boys.

Favorite spot? The link because a lot of wild stuff happened there.

Favorite teacher? Mr. Kaminski gave me good advice.

Favorite class? Journalism is a laid back environment and I get along with Mr. Lund.

Total detentions? Around 70.

Favorite memory? Spirit week freshman year because of Jesse Gomez’s ‘16 half court shot.

Favorite spot? The link.

Favorite teacher? Ms. Zillmer.

Favorite class? Latino Literature.

Total detentions? Zero.

Favorite memory? Homecoming freshman year when all the freshmen went crazy.

Favorite spot? Mr. Lund’s room is patriotic and relaxing.

Favorite teacher? Mr. DuBois was always nice, fair, and passionate about Law. Favorite class? Environmental Science.

Total detentions? Five.

Favorite memory? Campaigning for student rep, because it made me realize that I shouldn’t ever run for public office.

Favorite spot? The half floor.

Favorite teacher? Mr. Remiasz, for being enthusiastic about math.

Favorite class? AP Gov. with Lund.

Total detentions? About 10.

Favorite memory? When the girls track team qualified for state.

Favorite spot? Lund’s room doing homework and laying out the paper.

Favorite teacher? Mr. Remiasz made math enjoyable.

Favorite class? Anatomy.

Total detentions? None.

PAGE 8

SPANISH HONORS SOCIETY

On Tuesday, June 7, members of the Spanish Honor Society will be volunteering on air at the Channel 11 WTTW Pledge Drive.

JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT JUNE 9, 2016

West coast, best coast?

Tough transitions

Family moves to California as senior prepares to attend Univ. of Georgia COLLEEN MITCHELL ‘16 Freshman year of college is perhaps the biggest transition points in a teenager’s life. This transition is heightened even more for students attending a college far away from their family.

Moving away is a choice many students make for a variety of reasons, and for me, it was a factor in my college decision.

I only applied to schools outside the Midwest, not because I hate my parents and want to get as far away as possible, but because I want to use college as a time to become more independant and self-reliant.

When I chose my school, the University of Georgia, it was a three hour flight from home, not too far away, but close enough that air travel would not break the bank, it was perfect.

Then I found out about my Dad’s new job - in Oakland, California.

My family is moving to California this summer, right after graduation, destroying all

my big summer plans. Instead of having one last great summer with my friends before college, I’d be unpacking moving boxes in a new home across the country.

The three hour flight from Illinois to Georgia became five hours, and with the added travel time comes a much more expensive ticket.

Now, when I leave for move in day, only one of my parents can be there to see me off, and my next trip home will be four months later for winter break, and after that, another five months until I can come “home” for the summer. I can’t afford to get homesick when my ticket home costs over 500 dollars.

Not that my new house will be a home anyway, there will be no memories there, no best friend two doors down the street. I’ll be a stranger in this new house, only living in it twice a year.

For my parents and little brother it will be a home, but for me, home will always be in Chicago.

Though I’ve moved before, when I was in fourth grade, I have

a feeling this will be much tougher. In California, I won’t have a school or job to put me in any social situations, so, until August 11, when I start college, I won’t have any friends to hang out with. Instead I’ll have to settle for watching my friends’ snapchat stories of Lollapalooza, and all the other activities I’ll be missing out on.

This summer will be the hardest, but I know in time I will adjust and hopefully get a job and make some new friends in California, but for now, the clock is ticking on my time here in Chicago.

I have less than two months left until I have to pack up and leave everything I know behind.

Moving away is going to be hard, but I’m confident that despite the distance, my friendships will last. The expiration date on my time in Chicago has led me to appreciate my relationships more, and treasure every outing with my friends and family.

Seniors heading west share their decisions Elizabeth Fahey ‘16- Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.

“They have programs that travel and study urban environments. I want to be an English major, so I probably want to do Latino Studies.

Keith Ferguson ‘16 - Pomona College in Claremont, California.

“I got a scholarship to go there and a stipulation of the scholarship was to attend one of their partner schools... I’m going to miss the city, downtown, the cultures in Chicago.”

Maddie Golitz ‘16- University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.

“I’ve never been to the west coast, so I decided why not go there for college? Everything was very green and pretty. Prettier than Chicago, more hills and more nature. Nicer winters which is very relieving considering Chicago weather.”

Anthony Pulford ‘16- University of Redlands in Redlands, California.

“I felt like I needed to step out of my comfort zone in order to become more independent. Also I strongly dislike the cold and California is obviously pretty warm. What I’ll miss most about Chicago is the culture.”

Kayla Stevenson ‘16- University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.

“When I visited I felt at home. I like that it’s in the mountains and I can go hiking and mountain climbing whenever I want. There is a comfortable vibe there, everyone’s happy. I’m going to miss the big city feel.”

Artwork by Ciara Greene ‘17

Briefs compiled by Gabby Torres ‘16 Artwork by Colleen Mitchell ‘16

Going Ivy Three seniors look to challenge themselves at nation’s top schools HENRY MICHAELS ‘16 School Staff MIKAELA UDDFOLK ‘17 Managing Editor, Sports For the most ambitious students in the world, an elite Ivy League education often seems like only the next logical step in life.

However, with acceptance going to just the top 10 percent of applicants and an increasing appeal to international students, the schools of Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale, are nearly impossible to get into. Nonetheless, three Jones seniors beat the chances and were granted acceptance to a couple of the best universities in the world.

Sophie Xu ‘16 she said she first heard of Yale University through the TV show Gilmore Girls. Time only strengthened her desire of attending the school.

“I got to know it more in depth and got to know more about the residential life and the community there,” said Xu. “I think what really drew me to Yale was the community and how they support each other and how there’s a sense of home.”

On the other hand, Sosna Gellaw ‘16, a Posse scholar who will be studying biological sciences with a minor in pre-medicine, chose Cornell University for the

abundance of opportunities they offer.

“When I first applied to colleges, what I looked for was a university that encouraged research, had a number of opportunities available to you, as well as just having students around you be as dedicated as you are,” Gellaw said. “I decided to go to Cornell because it’s a good school that really emphasizes leadership activities. It definitely supports the individual.”

However, for those not admitted, the prestigious Ivy League college admissions process leaves many applicants in a state of hopelessness and defeat. With such low acceptance rates, Ivy League schools continue to become more difficult to get into with each passing year.

But, Cornell University’s Transfer Option program provides applicants with a unique opportunity for Ivy League admission that separates itself from most schools throughout the country.

Rolando Alvarado’ 16 was granted acceptance into Cornell’s Transfer Option program; provided that he meet the necessary requirements. These requirements included full time study at a two to four year university for freshman year whereby completion with a minimum of a 3.3 cumulative GPA with at least 15 credits as well maintaining academic and disciplinary standing grant admission to the Cornell School of Industrial and

Labor Relations (ILR) sophomore year.

A third of the ILR student body is made up of transfer students who have been granted admission through the Transfer Option program. Students who decide to pursue this opportunity do not need to take additional classes outside of school because the program ensures students will be on track to graduate following 3 years of schooling in the program.

Cornell’s Transfer Option program makes an Ivy League education more accessible for those who have worked hard academically but were not able to be granted admission directly from high school.

“After getting rejected from my top choice, USC, it was reassuring to know that a reputable university recognized my potential and gave me the opportunity to take part in a prestigious educational experience,” said Alvarado. Alvarado will be attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign next year before transferring to Cornell.

Even for those accepted traditionally, aspiring to go to a top university comes with a price. In addition to sacrificing their time and sleep with applications, both Gellaw and Xu had to question whether it was really worth it.

“Mentally, you question whether you’re good enough for a spot,” said Gellaw. “I think it was just sacrificing comfort of maybe going to a school that’s maybe easier

to get into.”

Regardless, just because one aims for an Ivy League education does not mean they h a v e to sacrifice having an enjoyable high school experience.

“I did put a lot of time into school and doing clubs,” said Xu. “Especially when I was applying, writing essays and stuff. But I think I still had a good social life, because it’s just about balancing everything. I still went home and watched Buzzfeed. It wasn’t that extreme, but I still worked pretty hard.”

But when it comes down to it, both Xu and Gellaw have no regrets on choosing to go to such competitive schools when they discussed what they will gain from an Ivy League education.

“I am excited for the diversity- maybe not in race- but [in] intellectual thought,” she said. “I will be exposed to the people who have resources at the tip of their fingertips. Going there means everything is right there for you.”

Both seniors said that a lengthy application process should not discourage one from applying to more competitive schools.

“Once you’re through it, it’s worth it,” said Gellaw. “I think it was all worth it.”

PAGE 9

ATTENTION SENIORS

Graduation practice as well as cap and gown pick-up will take place on June 15.

JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT JUNE 9, 2016

Rewarding routes deviate from college norm

Seniors well armed for military path

Students plan on enlisting first in military, classes next

COLLEEN MITCHELL ‘16 Managing Editor, Lifestyles Upon graduation, most students at Jones go on to college, but some choose a different route. A small amount of students’ aspirations are different from their peers; they plan to join the U.S Armed Forces.

However, of this small group of students, each is taking a unique path toward the military.

Xavier Rosales ‘16 has already enlisted in the Marine Corps through the delayed enlistment program. He was inspired to join because his father and grandfather were both in the marine corps, and he believes, “It’s a good opportunity to get skills I will need later in life.”

He must pass an Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, a physical examination, meet with a career counselor, and finally take the Oath of Enlistment. By choosing the delayed enlistment route as opposed to “Direct Ship,” leaving for bootcamp days after enlistment, Xavier will complete high school and leave on July 11. He is planning on starting college, paid for by the military, after the three-month boot camp.

Chris Sandrik ‘16 is going to college before enlisting. “I am doing two years of community college at Moraine Valley Community College in the suburbs,” he said, “If I don’t do military, I want to do CPD (Chicago Police Department), and I need two years community college for that.”

Though the military will pay for college after enlistment, Sandrik wants to go to school beforehand to figure out the path he wants to take, whether it be joining the police force or the military. “I’m giving it two years of college to figure it out; I still don’t know,” he said. “I want to be a part of a team that shares the same morality that I do: focused on helping other people who are severely in need of it.”

Another way of joining the military is by attending a four-year specialized military academy. This is the path Dre’Yana Anthony ‘16 is taking after graduation. She is going to attend the Air Force

Academy, which is, “basically going in as an officer instead of through enlistment,” she said. “I would be getting my education while getting military training.”

The application to the Air Force Academy was very competitive, with only a 16 percent admissions rate, and the application had more requirements than an average university. “The application was strenuous,” Anthony said. “I had to get a letter of recommendation from a congressman, more letters of recommendation, take a physical training test, and the ACT.” “I want to go into the Air Force because I have a major family background in armed forces, the Army, the Navy, and Coast Guard,” she said.

“The Air Force is the only other option that my family has not taken

Going against the grain

Foregoing first year to learn about, travel to farms NICO MORENO ‘16 Sports Staff From the time they are young, kids dream of going to big schools like Harvard and Yale, where the brightest, most intelligent students attend, or they dream of being star athletes at powerhouse sports programs like the University of Alabama, Oklahoma, Michigan, among many others. There are students who have a bloodline flowing through a school that they have been destined to attend or are a first generation student fulfilling the dreams that their family strived for, but this isn’t the case for every student at Jones. Hannah Rachlis ‘16 felt going straight to college after high school was not her calling. Instead, she

for themselves.” She also recognizes that, “There are a lot of benefits that go with joining the army, and on top of that they (the Air Force) are the brains of the armed forces.”

Compared to being on active duty, someone in the Army Reserves does not work full time for the military. On active duty, one may live on a military base and can be deployed at any time, while in the reserves, they can live and work where they want and are called into duty if there is a shortage of those on active duty.

feels her calling is to take a year off of school to visit and learn about different farms throughout the United States and Europe.

She expects to learn different things at each of the farms she visits in the U.S. For example, at a farm in New York, she will be making cheese and trying glassblowing. At other farms, she will make soap and harvest vegetables.

“I think it would be a good experience. Also, all the farms I’m staying on are sustainable farms, which relates to what I want to major in: environmental studies.

So, I think some of the stuff I learn will come in handy in the future,” she said.

In January, she will be traveling to Europe, where she will be focusing on vineyards and the process of winemaking. She will also visit olive farms where olive oil is made. She is less familiar with this process and hopes to gain further knowledge about it on her trip.

“I want to go to improve my French, which I speak pretty well now, and my Italian, which I don’t speak as well. I’m just fascinated with the people who make wine; they are usually a little crazy, so I think it will be really fun to spend time with them,” she said.

All the farms she is visiting are self-sustainable, and she believes it would be a great experience to find out how they work and learn from the farmers running everything. She hopes to utilize the knowledge she gains throughout this “gap year” in the following year when she enters college and studies environmental science.

Since taking a “gap year” is not typical, sometimes there can be some backlash from parents, classmates, teachers, and other individuals who may feel this choice is wrong or unethical.

Luckily for her, she has not experienced any negativity and instead has full support from her loved ones.

“My parents think it will make me more excited to go to school the next year, so they totally support it. My friends also think it’s an awesome idea. Some of them are planning on flying out and visiting me, which is super exciting,” she said.

Artwork by Chloe Crookall ‘17

Calling it quits: At least six among those exiting Jones this month

KELSEY DEWITTE After nine years of teaching, three of them which were at Jones, math teacher Kelsey DeWitte is leaving her position.

“It’s hard to balance being a mom and a teacher.” She looks forward to a summer of “light travelling” to visit family in Colorado and Michigan.

DeWitte said she could return to teaching in the future and will miss “joking around” with her students and fellow teachers.

EUGENE KAMINSKI After teaching AP and Honors U.S History at Jones for ten years, Kaminski is moving on to, “a new business opportunity,” which he chose not to disclose.

To Kaminski, the most rewarding part of being a teacher at Jones is, “when students come back and ask for a letter of recommendation,” he said. “And when they come back to say ‘thank you’ and fill me in on their plans for college.”

KATIE MERVA Science teacher Katherine Merva is leaving Jones and Chicago altogether this year as she moves onto a new chapter of her life in the Seattle area.

After teaching biology and environmental science for three years at Jones, Merva decided to try something new. “I’ve always wanted to move out to the Pacific Northwest,” she said. “My wife just happened to get a really great job there.”

BARBARA NAYDER After 29 years of teaching, Barbara Nayder has decided to retire. Nayder has spent ten years at Jones. “I want to get to know my husband again,” said Nayder.

“He’s been retired for sometime now and I never get to see him.”

She wants to travel and visit her son who lives in New Mexico.

“I’ve met a lot of very nice teachers and students here,” said Nayder.

CHRIS LIN After fourteen years of teaching, eleven of them at Jones teaching physics and E.L.I.T.[e]., Christopher Lin is moving on to a new job opportunity. Next school year, he is going to be an assistant principal at Westview Hills Middle School in the town of Willowbrook, IL. Lin’s favorite thing about Jones? “I’m certainly going to miss the people here.”

Briefs compiled by Genna Greblo, Colleen Mitchell, Josh Odum, all ‘16, Jacob Naszke ‘17

PAGE 10 COLLEGE DOLLARS

Class of 2016 earned cumulatively $36 million in scholarships.

JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT JUNE 9, 2016

Must see artists at Lolla’s 25th anniversary

Senior lays down recommendations for Lollapalooza’s 25th anniversary

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Chicago’s largest music festival, Lollapalooza. Artists from all over the world of different music genres, big or small, are brought to perform for fans to

NICO MORENO ‘16

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Chicago’s largest music festival, Lollapalooza. Artists from all over the world of different music genres, big or small, are brought to perform for fans to come and witness an amazing musical event. When lineups come out, it’s exhilarating to learn which artists, of the ones we listen to every day, we will get to see live. For the first time, a fourth day was added, and it has made Lollapalooza the place to be July 28-31.

During this historic weekend, I split up my artist choices by each day.

Starting with the headliners, who in my opinion are a must see, and including some of the other performers. As their fan, I am excited to witness live performances of these artists.

The headliner my heart immediately floats to is J Cole. I have been a

come and witness an amazing musical event. When lineups come out, it’s exhilarating to learn which artists, of the ones we listen to every day, we will get to see live.

For the first time, a fourth day was

huge fan of his for a long time and musically, he is one of the most lyrical rappers in the game. The messages in his songs put you into another world. Local Chicago rapper Towkio will also be performing.

He is well known for being a part of rap collective SaveMoney and will surely have a very excited crowd

of fans ready to get wild for his music. Then there’s Danny Brown, a rapper who, to say the least, is an abnormal human being but also a fantastic performer who can light up a crowd. He is someone to go and checkout with your own eyes.

added, and it has made Lollapalooza the place to be July 28-31.

During this historic weekend, I split up my artist choices by each day. Starting with the headliners, who in my opinion are a must see,

The headliner I am looking forward to most is world famous rapper, Future, who has tons and tons of hit records. The beats that accompany his performance always make for a great time and get the crowd going no matter what. Along with him, for the rest of the day, rapper Asap Ferg is a must see artist that is very well known.

Asap Ferg, being a part of the Asap Mob rap collective, has a very explosive speaker bumping style and can always get a crowd jumping, so he’s the one to see for a good time.

and including some of the other performers. As their fan, I am excited to witness live performances of these artists.

Unlike most years, this is not the final day of the festival, The headliner to see is Disclsoure, who are a world-famous electronic music duo, and with their visuals and use of lights they can put on a great show to entertain fans. Some other artists to check out during the day are hometown boy Vic Mensa, who’s always putting on a great show for fans and will definitely be doing his best because he’s home.

Finally, on the newly added fourth day to close out the weekend, a headliner to check out is Flume. Flume is an Australian electronic music producer and another great performer who is set to finish off a great weekend with a bang.

Sometime during that day and before leaving you’re going to want to catch up and coming hip hop artist Vince Staples, who’s booked for lots of other music festivals this summer and should be ready to put on a great set.

Now that you know some of the best artists in the Lollapalooza line up, you are ready to put your plans together and have a great time. Once again this year and consistent with the past 25 years, I am confident Lollapalooza will deliver a great music festival you can’t miss.

PAGE 11

TRACK STATE QUALIFIER

Arthur Santoro ‘17 qualified to the IHSA 3A State Championship at Eastern Illinois University last month.

JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT JUNE 9, 2016

After decade of struggle, Cubs, Sox on the rebound

Fly the W: The Cubs have everything to make this “the year”

White Sox look to emerge in AL Central

ULISSES REGALADO ‘17 The 108 years of no World Series continues to haunt Wrigley Field, but this year the Cubs look like they have the best chance to break it. With new manager Joe Maddon, the Cubs surprised everybody when they completed the 2015 season with a 97-65 record and went all the way to the National League Championship series, one step away from the World Series. The team lost the series 4-0 against the Mets, leaving heartbreak but also an optimistic view for the next season.

The Cubs kicked off the 2016 season in Anaheim against the Angels, and they played a very impressive game. The pitcher, Jake Arrieta, dominated the opposition’s batters, allowing only two hits, six strikeouts, and completing a seven inning shutout. Meanwhile, the Cubs’ batters completed a mouth dropping 9-0 win. The game was broadcasted on national TV, and the whole country saw a preview of the new force in baseball.

The pitchers have been the stronghold for the Cubs this year, with a pitching rotation consisting of Arrieta, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Jason Hammel, and Kyle Hendricks.

Arrieta stunned the league when he threw a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in a 16-0 win. Arrieta has a 9-1 record with the most wins in the league. Meanwhile, Hammel is holding a surprising 7-1 record, while Hendricks is the only pitcher with a non winning record, a 4-4.

Besides the pitchers, the Cubs have not put up impressive individual numbers but they have given exceptional team performances. The team seems to love playing baseball for the Cubs, something that has not been seen in years. There has been a special bond between the players, reflected on the field. Veterans have developed commensalistic bonds with the new youngsters, who are playing like they have been playing for years in the league. A good environment in the locker room and the veterans assuming mentor roles has led to great baseball being played.

The first obstacle in the season for the Cubs came in a 14-6 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After a collision with Dexter Fowler, sophomore prospect Kyle Schwarber tore his ACL. While devastating for the team and fans alike, the Cubs were able to pull through. Jorge Soler, Max Szczur, and even

Kris Bryant have played in the outfield to cover the injured player. Schwarber was a fundamental piece in this team, but as of now, the team depth has allowed for the Cubs not to miss too much.

The Cubs are 40-16, the best record in baseball and 10 games ahead of their closest rival in the division. Everything points to the Cubs winning their division for the first time since 2008. A fantastic pitching rotation, one of the best offenses in the league, the best run differential in the league, and a great team spirit promise a great year for the Cubs. Although the fans do not play, their role is huge in the game.

Wrigley Field has been an almost sell out for most of the year, resulting in a playoff atmosphere at Wrigley. This looks to be the year for the Cubs and, as of now, the North side looks to have an upper edge on the South Side.

JULIA GAWORSKI ‘17 The White Sox have had an unbelievable start to the 2016 season with a record of 29 Wins, 25 losses as of June 3. Since the “Don’t Stop Believing” days of the 2005 World Series, the Sox have been contenders but fell short of another World Series title. However, this year, my faith in the Sox has been renewed once again. The Sox have been in first place for the ALCD up until the past couple of weeks. Despite the recent 7 game losing streak, the Sox are a much more solid team all around than they have been in the past couple of years; they’ve got

sluggers, studs, and C.Y Young prospect pitchers in their arsenal and they’re running with it.

Outfield. For starters, Melky Cabrera, the DH/OF that the Sox drafted in 2014, has been a huge asset for the Sox this year, batting in the five hole with a .400 slug percentage. Though Cabrera is on the older end of the spectrum for baseball players, he’s still very agile for a player of his size .

Also, leading off for the Sox, Adam Eaton has been keeping the “Melk Man” company primarily in left field. Eaton, with a .269 OBP (On Base Percentage) has been consistent both on defense and offense.

Pitching and Catching. As expected, lefty pitcher Chris Sale has come out strong; His ERA (Earned Runs Against) is currently just under two and his slider is consistently effective for a strike three. Assuming the continued success of this season, Sale is in line for the C.Y Young award, which I’m positive that he’ll receive.

The rotation of starters is Chris Sale, José Quintana, Carlos Rodon, Mat Latos, Miguel González and closer David Robertson. The Sox made a wise decision to let go of veteran pitcher, John Danks, and as much as Danks has contributed in past seasons, he was struggling to get the job done this year; with an ERA of 7.25, it was time to go. I’m hopeful that the Sox pick up one more pitcher before the end of the season to fill that hole.

Infield. First baseman José Abre, came out strong again for the Sox in his third season with them. Third baseman Todd Frazier 3B leads the team in RBI’s at 34. The Sox are struggling a bit offensively right now, so I’d love to see a new DH join the team. The Sox aren’t a one man show, and though at times they have to win dirty, there’s chemistry and talent.

The Crosstown Classic between the Sox and the “lovable losers,” better known as the Cubs, takes place on July 25, 26, and 27 with two games at Wrigley and one at the Cell. As of now, it’s hard to decide who’s going to come out on top, but there’s no doubt that September and October 2016 will be exciting for Chicagoans. I have the Sox ending the season with a 89 wins, 73 losses, ending in the top of their division.

Design by Orla Levens ‘18

Final battle at the ballpark HENRY MICHAELS ‘16 Sports Staff “Winning the regional championship in my first year is crazy because it’s something that not many players ever get to do. I’m just thankful for the opportunity to be playing varsity baseball as a freshman and being able to help the team win,” said starting shortstop Joe Margolis ’19.

The 2016 Jones varsity baseball season was a new beginning. With an all-star senior class leaving to go to college, three on athletic scholarships to top rated universities, the team began a necessary rebuilding process. As part of one of the most competitive divisions in the city, (Jackie Robinson South) underclassmen were immediately put against some of the best competition in the city.

But these challenges only made the team work harder. With increased leadership of the upperclassmen and the support of an experienced coaching staff, the team was able to win its eighth regional championship since 2006, with a 5 - 0 shutout win versus Brooks on May 28. After losing to Brooks earlier in the season, the team was able to avenge the loss behind the incredible pitching performance of Will Oppenheim ‘17, who pitched his first complete game of the season.

“Winning a regional was by far the most rewarding experience I’ve had while playing baseball at Jones. After all the work we’ve put in for three years, it was really gratifying to see it all finally pay off. When we won the game and got the plaque, I got goosebumps just thinking about how much more we can accomplish as a team,” said Oppenheim.

In a tightly contested sectional semifinal, Jones fell short, losing to De La Salle 10-3. Strong pitching performances by veteran players Brennan Quinn’ 16 and Eric Robledo’ 16 were not enough as the team lost to De La Salle for the second time this season.

Despite the loss, the team has a lot to look forward to for next season with 6 of its 9 starting position players returning. With the 2016-2017 school year scheduled to have the largest Jones freshman class to date, the base- VICTORY Brennan Quinn’ 16 pitches his last game. ball program will have an even deep“I transferred to Jones for the baseball er selection of talent to choose from that program, and the first year here we won reis finally equivalent to other high schools. gionals. Looks like I made the right move The recent successes of program has also doesn’t it?” said Abraham Jimenez ’17. attracted a growing number of transfer students, with two this year being starters on the team.

PAGE 12

SUMMER CAMPS

JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT JUNE 9, 2016

Will lacrosse stick?

Various sports teams will offer programming over the summer to prepare athletes for the school year. Refer to the Jones home page for the locations and dates.

Prep school sport faces obstacles getting started at Jones

MIKAELA UDDFOLK ‘17 Managing Editor, Sports

However, as lacrosse is rising and becoming more prevalent in high school athlet-

“You have got to categorize it as people equipment for, which can be costly. that are athletes that are really interested in “You get goggles, you have a stick, playing at the next level, or people you have a mouthguard, cleats... not Hoping to see their sport that are just interested in playing,” much equipment, but who wants to represented in the Jones colsaid Griseto.

“That’s a huge difget a lacrosse stick?” Lawrence said. lection of athletics, students ference.

I always say that we have A popular concern about the upcoming who already play outside of guys that are basketball players, team is whether or not they have enough school have continuously and people that play basketball. experience or organization to operate. voiced their wishes to witness It comes down to the dedication Involving a hypothetical situation the rise of a Jones lacrosse level, how much work you do in in which a boys lacrosse team would be team. Their wishes have been the off season, and wanting to be founded at Jones, Janopoulos said, “Playgranted, and actions have been as good as you can possibly be.” ing on such a good team as Whitney lataken to start a new girls team.

Other tribulations the team has crosse, it would be tough to go from that to However, starting a new sport to face include the infamous a newly founded team in Jones.” in the budget-stricken and lack of funds for CPS. “If you’re coming in as regulation-demanding CPS Being the state that is a novice team, your level of school district is bound to 49th in the country in play has to have someone have its difficulties, especially terms of education who has at least some expeat a school in which academics spending, trying to rience; it’s essential,” said are considered the top priority. find the funds for a Griseto.

“Otherwise, you’re Lacrosse is a sport played Courtesy of Lara Plemic ‘18 new sport in Illinois going to be starting with peoby throwing a small white can prove nearly imple that don’t know the terMORE LIKE LAX GIRL A lack of funding makes it unlikely a full team ball to other players with a possible, especially minology for the sport, will be formed unless there is a much greater turnout. stick that catches the ball in in the case of rethey don’t know the net at its end. The objective is to use this ics nationwide, Jones has found a strong desources and facilities. what the strategy way of transferring the ball down the field to mand for the sport.

“That’s the bigis, the objecthrow the ball into the opposing team’s goal.

“I was a gest hinderance to tive of the While the sport has been popuhuge footCPS, the fact that game, any lar for decades, selectively in Canada ball player, there is no facilities of that.” and the suburbs of the U.S., it is hard but without for a lot of these to find a team in Chicago, and studifferent schools. dents are usually confined to club teams. that at Jones, I found that “As far as lacrosse is concerned, there are about four or five schools out of the 75 CPS lacrosse gives me the same high schools that have [varsity league] la- joy that football did,” said Tomcrosse,” said athletic director Frank Griseto. my Janopoulos ‘17. Janopoulos is a current player on the Jones-Whitney Young co-operating (“co-op”) lacrosse team. “Anything possible to play lacrosse at Jones, I would do it.”

Additionally, club lacrosse I’m still trying to finalize a player Ellie Lawrence ‘18 said, practice facility for the current sport “It’s a really fun sport, people teams to play on,” said Griseto. “That’s just need to be exposed to it.” a difficult situation when you want to Luckily for Jones, they al- have a decent program without a facility. ready have student interest, the That’s where the suburban schools have most important requirement in or- a tremendously huge advantage, because der to start a new sport in a school. they have everything at their disposal.”

Over 30 girls attended an interest To add to this issue, lacrosse, unmeeting on Feb. 18.

However, inlike basketball and soccer in which Courtesy of Lara Plemic ‘18 terested students are not enough to you need only a ball and a net to play, CAN’T FIND A HOME The squad does not have a desguarantee the stability of a team. is a sport you need several pieces of ignated practice field unlike many other CPS and suburban LAX BRO Ben Phalen ‘16 has been a part of Whitney Young’s program for four years. teams.

Golden ticket

Courtesy of Ben Phalen ‘16

Rowers seek scholarships to prestigious universities through untapped sport

MIKAELA UDDFOLK ‘17 Managing Editor, Sports

What if there was a secret way to get into your dream school? What if this way was not even a secret? Men’s and women’s crew rowing, traditionally an elite sport, is known for significantly increasing high school students’chances for getting into a top school. Although crew rowing is not nearly as well known on school campuses as traditional sports such as basketball and soccer, this has not hampered the sport’s triumphs.

Many students are successful in attending college for rowing as the candidate pool is so small. With no school team, Jones athletes flock to club rowing teams, such as the Chicago Rowing Foundation (CRF), based in the Lakeview neighborhood next to the Chicago River. CRF Varsity boys coach and Jones IES teacher Mike Tanner says rowing is hard work, but the benefits can be priceless.

“Last year I had seven boys graduate, and they went to Ivy League schools,” Tanner said. “It’s almost a ticket to college.”

“If you’re a rower that wants to get a scholarship, then you email every coach you can,” Tanner said.

“If it’s legally okay with the NCAA, they can email you back, and a lot of it is you’re back and forth with the coach too. They want self starters.”

Margo Mingelgrin ‘16 has just been put through the rigorous recruitment process, and will attend the University of WisconPhoto courtesy of Couper Tanko ‘17 sin Madison on a rowing scholROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT Couper Tanko ‘17 arship. Although attending the (third from left) and Margo Mingelgrin ‘16 (second from right) school as an athlete, Mingelgrin compete in the Head of the Rock Regatta in Rockford, IL. cites the importance of choosCRF specializes in sweep rowing, in which each rower only ing a university for the academhas one oar. ics just as well as the athletics.

On the topic of why universi“You’re going to college ties seem to value rowing so highly, to go to school, you’re not going there Tanner commented that it’s a sport in to get faster on the water, faster in your which “no one knows how to do it.” sport, you’re there to learn,” Mingelgrin However, besides the actual rowing stated. Nonetheless, the potential of bebeing strenuous, the recruitment search can ing a collegiate rower largely affects the be described as just as equally draining. college search and admission process.

“It’s like a filter essentially,” Mingelgrin said. “Having the D1 filter, finding a really great school for specific majors, programs or whatnot. I mean, it does limit your options, but if you’re good at what you do both academically and athletically there really shouldn’t be a problem” Tanner, Mingelgrin, and Couper Tanko ‘17 all unexpectedly fell into rowing in high school, surprisingly the common time to begin a rowing career.

Tanko decided to try rowing after ending her role as competitive gymnast.

“I’ve been rowing for six months,” she said. “Only a few months. Competitively, like three.”

Mingelgrin, a strong proponent of rowing, said that it has been more rewarding than she could have ever hoped.

“You’re going fast, the boat’s gliding on the water, when everyone’s in perfect unison, it feels [like] you’re flying, it’s amazing.”