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The Official Newspaper of Longview High School 201 East Tomlinson Parkway Longview, Texas 75605 www.lisd.org/long-view
Volume 76 No. 7 FRIDAY April 26 2013
The Long-View
THE HOST, PAGE 8
COMPETITION ON THE LINES, PAGE 7
PLAYING THE CARDS, PAGE 5
Senior wins national scholarship Lucia Lopez Staff Writer 1.5 million students across the United States enter every year. 16,000 of those hopefuls become semifinalists. 15,000 become finalists. 8,200 are awarded a National Merit Scholarship. One senior Lobo found himself in that small number. Senior Andrew O’Connor was awarded with the honor of not only being a National Merit finalist, but also a National Merit Scholarship winner. Only 0.5 percent qualify each year. “It tells colleges, ‘look at this student’ before they see anything else about me,” O’Connor said. “My goal was to use this honor as a tool to reach for many opportunities. I’m very excited for the wide-ranging opportunities that it prequalifies me for.”
In order to qualify for National Merit Finalist, a process is followed. Each student who achieves the title is reviewed based on SAT scores which validate his PSAT scores, an application, and a history of exemplary grades, along with other requirements. “Almost all of the students who qualify are in the top 0.5 percent of their class,” administrator Linda Buie said. “So many doors are opened for them. Andrew has worked very hard and he deserves the opportunities he has been presented with.” Knowing the qualifications for becoming a finalist, O’Connor strived to do be successful at everything he did, in both academic and extracurricular activities. “Andrew is one of the most outstanding students I have ever taught,” math teacher Larry Cunningham said. “He works extremely hard to develop his amazing
Meaghan McNamara / THE LONG-VIEW
Chalkboard Decisions Senior Andrew O’Connor receives National Merit Scholar and plans to attend Purdue University.
abilities in each class.” Receiving numerous scholarships is one of the benefits of being a National Merit Scholar. O’Connor was offered a $500,000 scholarship to Purdue and another scholarship to A&M, of which he accepted the one
to Purdue. “It is certainly a great reward,” O’Connor said. “Even though I could still access amazing opportunities with finalist status, it has definitely helped the process along. I’m very excited and anticipatory about going to Purdue.”
Partying at prom
O’Connor will receive $500,000 from Purdue University, enough to pay for his school until his Ph.D.
Equity lawsuit decision far off Hannah Brown Features Editor
Seniors go all out to get down at annual event Lucia Lopez Staff Writer
With ‘Vegas in the View’, they gather at night in their best attire to dance the night away, but it is not just dance. It is a rite of passage, an essential part of high school. Average cost of the dress: $210. Average cost of a limo: $300/hr. Unforgettable night: priceless. The class of 2013 assembled at the Summit Club for prom April 13. “It was wonderful,” prom sponsor Sybil Blacklock said. “I think the kids really enjoyed themselves and I am very thankful to the Ready, Set, Teach kids for all of their help and hard work in raising money for this year’s prom.” Before the dance started, the couples took pictures and talked
No money spent
Lauren Bally / THE LONG-VIEW
Dancing the ‘View Seniors Angelica Vega and Miriam Nieto enjoy dancing during Prom April 13.
about their day’s work in order to prepare for prom. “It took me all day to get ready,” senior Travisa Jones said. “I had to curl my hair three times. After I finished getting ready, my date and I met up to take pictures. Of course, it only took him like 30 minutes to prepare.” Aside from taking pictures, many pitched in and rented a limo for the night.
“It seems expensive, but it was worth it.” Kevin Chavarria said. “Everyone gave a part of the money, so it was cool.” During the dance, Torean Shepherd and Jalen Johnson gave out fake money while dancing to ‘Make it Rain’. “We did it because it was something to be remembered by,” Shepherd said. “We thought it would be fun and everyone loved it.”
A decision over the current sports equity on campus over Title IX, a law that requires equality for girls and boys in every educational program, may not come for at least another six months. As seen in previous cases, Title IX investigations can take anywhere from months to years. “[The Office of Civil Rights] knows what their procedures are and they know what their time frames are,” Community and Media Relations Coordinator Adam Holland said. “We have cooperated with them in every way that we can and we will continue to do so until they have completed their investigation, and then their decision is their decision, whenever that comes.” The Office of Civil Rights began the investigation Jan. 31 after former girls’ soccer Coach Chris Yoder filed a complaint stating the high school had not followed Title IX policy. “They need to find ways to offer more opportunities for girls to participate in athletics,” Yoder said. “The chances of teen pregnancy, the chances of teen sex, the chances of dropping out of high school, the chances of not going to college. Everything is so much better when girls participate in athletics.” If the Office of Civil Rights finds the district guilty, it will instruct the district on what changes need to be made. “I believe that my daughter and my son have the same options at Longview Independent School District,” Holland said. “If I didn’t think so, they wouldn’t attend Longview ISD. If they decide that there are inequities, they would say ‘look, this is what you need to fix’, and we would act accordingly.”
Student snags Gold Seal at VASE with sculpture Junior earns high marks at competition Lucia Lopez Staff Writer
Simone Macklin / THE LONG-VIEW
Surprised Wins Junior Serena Tuel receives Gold Seal award for sculpture “Surprise.”
Junior Serena Tuel walks toward her sculpture looking for the usual tag, but she can’t find it. Sculpture teacher Jeffrey Hull stands watching her with a mischievous smile, waiting for her to find the gold star. As she makes around the table, she catches a glimpse of it. Her breath catches in her throat when she realizes what has happened. She won a Gold Seal. Her piece titled
“Surprise” ended up surprising her. Not only did Tuel make it to state in the V.A.S.E competition in Bryan, Texas, and receive a Superior Rating on her sculpture of a fish, but she was also awarded a Gold Seal Medal. She is the first Lobo to have ever received it. “I was totally not expecting that,” Tuel said. “A lot of things went wrong with my original piece and I did not imagine I would even make it to state. I’m so glad my sculpture worked out. It really is an honor.” The Gold Seal was only awarded to 150 out of 1,024 art works that were awarded All State. The winner of the medal is determined by a group of judges who access each Superior Rating piece according to purpose, technique, personal expression and integration.
Tuel obtained 20/20 points. “Personal expression is about originality and creativity,” Tuel said. “The piece I started with was not the piece I ended with. I modified it many times, adding color and even adding a tongue stud on it, which made it my own.” In fact, Tuel opted to make her piece bigger. She eventually developed it into a candy canister. “I advised her to make it bigger,” Hull said. “The judges look at many art pieces so by making it bigger, her piece would stand out, and it definitely paid off.” Encouraged by her award, Tuel plans to pursue an art degree in college. “I love art,” Tuel said. “I have the freedom to express myself in whatever way I want. That is why I really enjoyed making my sculpture for VASE.”