Scout - May 2017

scout VOLUME 51 / MAY ISSUE / LAKE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL / ST. JOHN, IN

baseball bond A successful season continues as the boys work toward the finish

tanning terrors Avoid the negative effects of the sun while still gaining a pop of color this summer

kenneth stone Kenneth Stone (10) takes his own expereince as a chance to inspire and help the community

Here comes the sun

Warmer months bring longer days and the end of school marks a time for change.

scout

scout editor-in-chief

CONTENTS inside lc

6 UPCOMING EVENTS

Mark your calendar for upcoming events throughout the month of May.

OF 8 RECAP THE YEAR Look back on the soon-ending year and launch foward to changes coming next year.

Sofia Hay

on the cover:

Hannah Souronis (12) shops for flowers at Elzinga Farm Market in Dyer. Photo by: Ruth Chen Scout is a student publication of Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana.

All content is student directed and produced. Opinions are those of the writers and do not imply the position of the school. Questions and comments can be directed to Sofia Hay, Scout Editor in Chief at sofiath16@gmail.com. Businesses interested in advertising should contact 219-365-3886.

sports

12 BASEBALL

Get personal with the baseball team as they look ahead to taking home the title.

noteworthy lifestyle

18 TANNING TRUTHS

Watch out for the searing truth of tanning and the damage it could leave behind.

20 TANNING 14 CUTTING-EDGE TERRORS COACHES Take a look at the new coaches that have given three varsity sports teams a fresh start.

Read up how to avoid the pain while still getting that summer glow.

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CLEAN EATING

Check out the trendy topic of clean eating and how students have changed their lifestyles.

26 KENNY STONE

Delve into the dangers of jaywalking and hear a personal account of survivor Kenneth Stone (10).

OF THE 28 BEST FESTS

An adventure awaits only a train ride away--or even in your own town! Check out festivals in and around the Region.

30 #LATEYEAR THOUGHTS Joseph Graziano (12) and Christopher Fundich (12). Photo by: Courtney Rhomberg

Students tweet in their thoughts as the year comes to a close.

LETTER FROM THE editor I am glad this is the last issue of Scout. And I am glad to be leaving my position as EIC. Yes, this last issue has been stressful, as has this whole year. There have been tears, there have been late nights, there have been missed deadlines and there has been frustration; however, I wouldn’t say that this is why I am glad to be done. I am proud of my accomplishments, but my time here is simply up. It is time to pass this position onto the next.

By being EIC for a magazine in a school of this size, I have been given opportunities comparable to very few others for those my age.

I have been allowed to share the thoughts and stories of students from a pool of over 3,200, and although the fraction of those kids reached in this year is likely very small in comparison to the total, I thank each and every one of you who participated and allowed your voices to be heard.

The best opportunity I have been given, though, is the opportunity to inform the student body. From the substance abuse stories to the spread on racial slurs, I can

only hope the information provided resonated with readers. As long as even one student has learned something new, I feel as though my job has been done. Working on Scout has made me realize that spreading knowledge is something I hope to continue doing long-term, whether it is in a law office, working for a non-profit or even returning to journalism. Again, I thank each and every one of you who have taken the time to read and reflect on the work our staff has produced.

So, yes, I am glad this is the last issue of Scout, and I am glad to be leaving my position. This year has been stressful. But in addition to the stress (and the tears, late nights, etc.), there have been laughs, there have been memories made, there have been great accomplishments and there has been a great sense of satisfaction as every issue comes out in print. I have covered what I feel are very important topics, and now it is time for me to go see what I can do in the world. I am excited to see what the future holds for Scout, and I wish the best of luck to the new EIC. Thanks again!

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sofia hay

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

advisers Sarah Verpooten

Carrie Wadycki

design editors Rachel Front Abigail Hines

Camryn Wallace Jessica Wojton

editors

Emily Badger Mia Brann Ruth Chen Paityn Emro Hannah Hill Stefan Krajisnik

Nicole Milaszewski Katelyn Pass Austin Sandoval Brianna Sarkisian Kylie Thomsen Olivia Oster

team leaders Justin Andrews Jessica Cook Brittney Howell Nicole Reitz

Courtney Rhomberg Kaylynn Ward Victoria Wilkes Lauren Wisniewski

staff members Camille Bereolos Madeline Mills Dana Brownewell Kristen Mirabelli Karisa Candreva Mackenzie Moore Julia Casner Madison Mullens Jennifer Chavarria Amber Murray Josh Chen Kate Nowicki Mikaela Paniagua Grace Cistaro Brianna Clarke Viraj Patel Charles DeVries Emily Pederson Michael Pucci Ayah Eid Anni Rajput Molly Fischer Cherylynn Gholson Jake Ranola Kevin Holechko Ashley Robinson Faith Huenecke Melicah Rodriguez Nadja Kostadinovic Madison Sandoval Jovana Laporsek Gabriella Shumylo Casey Lessentine Sabina Solarczyk Samantha Bailey Lewis Szewczyk Taylor Lykowski Michelle Testa Bianca Matchain Jack Theil Morgyn McAllister Liberty Toweson Jocelyn Vanek Jade Mehok Radosav Mihajlovic Maisie Westerfield Danica Mileusnic Mikaila Zvyak

STAY

CONNECTED.

............. < < f

LAKECENTRALNEWS.COM

3

inside lc AS THIS SCHOOL YEAR COMES TO AN END, STUDENTS AND STAFF

plan for summer and the upcoming year--but not before going out with a bang. Students can enjoy Junior Class Cabinet’s hard work at Prom and experience Student Council’s vision come into reality at the second annual Color Run along with other end-of-year events.

“They had so many stations and I was filled with color. I look forward to this year [having] more colors and being a warmer day,” Enrique Dominguez (12) said. Photo by: Camryn Wallace

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5

CHECK OUT UPCOMING SUNDAY

MONDAY

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TUESDAY

APRIL MAY 7

14 MOTHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAY

best buddies meeting 2:15 pm.

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8

Varsity 15 softball vs. griffith 4:30 P.M. (home)

WEDNESDAY

varsity girls tennis vs. merriville 4:15 p.m. (away) varsity baseball vs. laporte 4:30 p.m. (home)

SENIOR HONORS NIGHT 6:30 P.M.

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THURSDAY

varsity baseball vs. valparaiso 4:30 p.m. (home)

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nteens meeting 2:15 pm.

varsity 17 baseball vs. michigan city 4:30 p.m. (home)

4 national honor society meeting 2:10 pm.

Freshman Plays Performance 5 p.m.

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varsity girls tennis vs. lowell 4:30 p.m. (home)

Boys 18 Varsity Track & Field IHSAA Sectional 5 p.m. (AWAY)

Spring Concert 7 P.M.

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22 FINALS START

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29 memorial day no school

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girls varsity track & field regionals 5:30 p.m. (chesterton)

LAST STUDENT DAY

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Period 6 Final Exam Senior class panoramic Seniors visit elementary schools

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varsity baseball ihsaa sectional (away)

boys Varsity track & field IHSAA Sectional (Away)

Periods 1 and 4 Final Exams

Periods 5 and 7 Final Exams

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LAST TEACHER DAY

1

JUNE

MAY AND JUNE EVENTS Page by: Brittney Howell, Bailey Lewis

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

6

5 FRESHMAN PLAYS 5 P.M.

PROM

6-10 P.M.

Cinco De Mayo.

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varsity girls tennis vs. south bend 4 p.m. (away)

Color run

19 Yearbook distribution day

26 periods 2 and 3 final exams 2 COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL 10 A.M.

ARMED FORCES DAY

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27 RAMADAN 3

splash of color

The second annual Color Run will take place on May 13. Students and staff will be able to partipate for a small fee, and will receive a T-shirt to wear during the run. “The Color Run is special because if you can’t make it to the Chicago one, you have an opportunity to run at your own school. People should be a part of this run because it’s super fun, you can participate with your friends for a reasonable price and it’s close to home.

The run always becomes more exciting when there are all these color bombs being thrown at you and your friends,” Rylee Platusic (11) said.

Photo by: Jessica Wojton

a battling bond

The girls varsity tennis team will face off against Lowell on May 11. The team will play at home and start at 4:30 p.m.

“We’ve gotten closer as a team this year.

I think the upperclassmen are bonding with the lowerclassmen more because we all know each other this year. We’ve been hanging out off the court as well.

Doing this makes us stronger when on the court. The biggest improvement we can probably make though is thinking about what we want to execute before the point happens. I really believe that this is our year this year, we’re gonna make it happen,” Kristina Tinsley (12) said.

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pathways to change

Jazmine Eickleberry (9) works on the computer during Pathways to Excellence. PtE taught students career qualites, offered academic assistance and other learning tools. Photo by: Jennifer Chavarria

administration explores pte changes With one year of the new modified block schedule finished, administration concluded that Pathways to Excellence, PtE, will stay, but from now on only incoming freshmen will be taking Preparing for College and Careers as a portion of the class.

“Next year, everyone will have either already taken [Preparing for College and Careers] or are taking it. Our vision is not [those who already took it] have just a study hall, it’s that we have activities to prepare them for post-secondary plans,” Mrs. Melissa Rettig, Director of Guidance, said.

A committee is being put in place to finalize what those exact activities will be. Rettig envisions hosting events similar to when representatives from Fair Haven Center for Women came on Feb. 21 to talk to seniors about sexual

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consent, unhealthy vs. healthy relationships, social media and rape culture during the PtE period.

However, with nothing set in stone, administration is still exploring other options.

“I want to get to a point in the future where there are creditearning opportunities for students.

For example, if we are able to get an agreement through IOA [Indiana Online Academy], we could have students work on it and sign out to a computer lab and have a teacher there, so they could do their assessments,” Mr. Sean Begley, Principal, said.

With the IOA option, students looking to take courses such as Health or Personal Financial Responsibilities online will have an easier time doing so during the school year rather than over the summer.

“I’m not promising that we are going to do it, but I want to look at where students can take some of their introductory level courses. We have had many students who show they are very capable of doing the ones and twos level courses outside

“I want to get to a point in the future where there are credit-earning opportunities for students.” of the classroom. In moderation, that’s good. If you can get some of the introductory level courses done in an alternate setting, it frees up those teachers to explore more advanced classes,” Begley said.

Although taking IOA or other forms of online classes during the school year could present more options and benefits for students in the future, currently, not all students have the opportunity to test it out.

“I think we would know something at the beginning of the year where we may offer Health through Plato.

We’d have it available to a certain

amount of students who want to try it and have them go through it and see if it works. It has to be manageable, sustainable and efficient, and then we’d develop it from there,” Begley said.

Because this online course idea is only a possible addition to PtE, a lot of questions remain unanswered for administration.

“We don’t know what we don’t know. Is it easier to do it over the summer with one class? Or is it easier to have a half hour twice a week over the span of the year?

I don’t know, but I’d like to try,” Begley said.

While the IOA and Plato options are being considered, administration has a Plan B if they don’t work out.

“Plan B is easy. It’s that they can use the 90 minutes for academic assistance. The first 30 min for students to get studying, working on homework, any announcements,” Begley said Page by: Julia Casner, Jennifer Chavarria, Hannah Hill, Jade Mehok, Mackenzie Moore, Michelle Testa, Nicole Reitz and Camryn Wallace

QA &

with Stefan Krajisnik, Senior Class Cabinet President

did you know? the corporation motto is pathways to excellence.

“WHEN WE MADE THE PATHWAYS TO EXCELLENCE, WE WANTED EVERYONE IN THE CORPORATION TO KNOW WHAT THE MOTTO WAS,” MR. SEAN BEGLEY, PRINCIPAL, SAID.

what can students do with preparing for colleges and careers credit?

ONCE THE ELECTIVE IS COMPLETED, STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN WORK-BASED LEARNING. “AS A JUNIOR AND SENIOR YOU CAN TRY SOME OF THOSE CAREERS AND REALLY FIGURE OUT THAT’S GOING TO BE YOUR LIFE’S PASSION,” BEGLEY SAID.

how many students take health or personal financial responsibilities online?

2014 HEALTH PFR

2015 94 143

2016 HEALTH PFR

HEALTH PFR

134 174

2017 94 143

HEALTH PFR

96 128

Q a

Q a

Q a

Q a

what is the senior class cabinet gift?

The gift that the Senior Class Cabinet will be donating this year is a mirror to go up on the third floor. Since the mirror is going to be where mostly seniors hang out, the mirror should represent a way to look at themselves and look back on what they have accomplished in their four years at Lake Central and to look forward to all the great things they can do in college and beyond. The money comes from us organizing prom as junior class cabinet and senior banquet ticket sales. I wish senior banquet ticket prices could have been cheaper, but it just had to be that way.

what is so significant about the senior class cabinet gift?

[There is a] mirror in the Freshman Center that was donated by the class of 1997, which was exactly 20 years [ago]. Administration and staff here at LC have put so much effort into enhancing our high school experience and the least we can do is give a gift. They try their very best to help us succeed, and I feel like that starts with giving students a school to be proud of. Maybe a mirror seems like nothing big, but it is a piece in making the school better each day. Staff deserves to be proud of what they have done and we are glad to help.

why is it important for the senior class to leave behind a gift?

I think in terms of class of 2017 we have made a great impact on this school and have outstanding students, athletes, artists and more that deserve recognition and shouldn’t just be forgotten. I think having the mirror say ‘donated by the class of 2017’ will have something for students in years and decades to remember the accomplishments of the 2017 class. The class of ‘97 donated a mirror and it’s nice that we’re doing that again 20 years later.

when was the last time a gift from the senior class has been given?

There is a gift given each year, some are just more noticeable than others. For example, every year there is a donation given to the incoming class and to Dollars for Scholars. The class of 2016 just donated a brick I believe.

It’s not expected that the class buys something like a mirror to be put up in the school, but in terms of budget we were in a situation where we had the chance to do that and wanted to.

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sports WHETHER ATHLETES ARE SERVING ACES OR THROWING STRIKES, SPRING

sports take a lot of training and determination. With no State runs in the last spring season, teams such as the baseball team look to live up to expectations and bring back big wins. The run for a title starts in practice and then the hard work will translate into notable victories in the postseason.

Destiny Washington (11) jumps over a hurdle in the girls 100 meter hurdle race against Michigan City. After the hire of head coach Mr. Jeffery Rhody, Science, the girls team headed into this season with a new leader for the first time in over two decades. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a lot of variety with the pole vault and sprinting. Our sprinters are really good, we have a really good chance at the end of the championship season. We all get along for the most part,â&#x20AC;? Washington said.

Photo by: Melicah Rodriguez

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by all rights,

the baseball team should feel pressure...

BUT WITH LIGHT-HEARTED YET COMPETITIVE ATTITUDES THE BOYS TAKE EACH DAY WITH CONFIDENCE Although the baseball team ranked twelfth nationally in the preseason for the first time in the school’s history, the boys refused to let the pressure break their unique connection that has brought about much of their success.

When asked to describe the team’s dynamic, Nicholas Bandura (12) had one simple word come to mind: “Goofy,” Bandura said. “Everyone is goofy.”

Bandura was not the only one to describe the team in this way. It is no secret that the baseball team likes to have fun, but they also know when to get down to business. With 13 seniors out of the 19 total varsity players the Indians have been able to use their experience to develop structure for the team.

“I think all of our different personalities make it better for us. We have our kids that are kind of serious and we have our kids that are jokesters, so it makes it more fun and more relaxed during games. You have your leaders to keep the kids in check because you need that every once in awhile,” Jarrett Lopez (12) said. “Everybody plays their role. You know you have to do your job and play your part. If you make a mistake you have your teammates to help you out.”

In addition to their role as a player on the field, the boys each have a duty off of the field as well. The big personalities on the team lead the players to feel open with one another and go to their fellow teammates if they need help.

“When I need a pep talk, I would go to Ben Nisle, he pumps me up. The jokester on the team is definitely Jason Lamont. He cracks me up everyday.

We have quite a few silent leaders on the team because a lot of us lead by performing,” Chris Fundich (12) said.

Some of the most influential leaders on the team are not the most vocal, but rather lead by example.

“I try to do everything right, hustle on and off the field and make no

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errors. That’s a big thing. I am always cheering on my teammates. Baseball is a game of failures, so you have to just go out there and make the next play. Being a senior is bittersweet, [but] I hope to leave the work ethic of the team when I leave because it’s a lot to understand and take over once us seniors are gone,” Jason Lamont (12) said.

The baseball team is clearly loaded with potential, but sometimes it is vocal leaders that allow the team to reach their goals. After the loss against Andrean on Friday, April 7, the team took initiative by organizing a team meeting to get them back on track.

“Matt [Litwicki] texted in our teams group message after the game that we’ll be having a team meeting. We all met in the locker room at 9 and started talking. [He] said that we have a lot of expectations with our ranking, but we just can’t worry about that and have to go out there and play our game. Other people chimed in and talked, too,” Maxwell Pattison (12) said. “Everything was positive and I felt like it really helped. We talked about not trying to worry about playing time and when you do get playing time just being aggressive at the plate and work on hitting fastballs early in the count. He talked about not being frustrated with our offense’s struggles that led to losses. He said he still had faith in the team’s hitting, which is pretty big to hear from a pitcher because we all knew they are frustrated with not getting any run support. Overall it was a talk about not panicking and going out there and playing as well as we all know we’re capable of.”

A tough loss can take a toll on a team’s confidence. With such high expectations and so much talent, the boys knew they needed to regroup and focus on the road ahead.

“The Andrean game was a big game for us. It was a big loss because Andrean and LC have a big rivalry so I thought ‘Okay, get the troops together, rile together’ and we’ve been winning ever since. I think that we found our personality, play a little more cocky, [are] a little more arrogant on the field, things like that.” Litwicki said.

Despite the skewed ratio of upper to lower classmen on the team, the seniors still treat the younger players as their equal. “[Being younger on varsity,] there’s a little bit more pressure. You kind of want to prove yourself to the upperclassmen. They’re all good guys, they don’t treat you like underclassmen. If you’re part of the team, you’re part of the team,” Giovanni Lopez (11) said.

Having lost in the Sectional championship the past two seasons, the Indians have made it one of their biggest goals to hoist the trophy in Munster this year.

“We have been kind of let down the last couple of years. I feel like we can do something special this year. We definitely have the potential to go farther. Our team has the talent to win Sectionals as long as we play our game, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” Jarett Lopez said.

Coming into a situation with so much previous success and high expectations can put a lot of pressure on a new coach, but head coach Mike Swartzentruber, business, has come in determined.

“Last year left a bad taste in some of our guys’ mouths, but that’s when we just have to play day by day and game by game. For the postseason, I’ve already went out and scouted Munster and Lowell so we know how our competition will be once the playoffs roll around. Our focus has to be high so we can get redemption, but win it this year,” Swartzentruber said.

Being an outstanding pitcher or hitter will obviously go a long way in helping a team achieve its goal, but simply balancing the goofiness with hard work can lead the Indians to their peak.

“Everyone has a role, whether it’s actually playing, doing a chant or just cheering each other on. It definitely takes everyone on the team to win a game,” Jason Lamont (12) said.

Page by: Taylor Lykowski, Kate Nowicki, Mikaela Paniagua, Emily Pederson, Michael Pucci, Jacob Ranola, and Courtney Rhomberg.

preseason all-americans

THREE OF LAKE CENTRAL BASEBALL’S VARSITY PLAYERS HAVE BEEN NAMED TO COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER’S PRESEASON ALL AMERICAN TEAMS.

joseph Graziano years played on varsity: 3 college: Butler university from the player “[Being a preseason All-American] is a great honor. Personally I feel like it’s a great accomplishment and all my hard work has finally paid off.”

Matthew Litwicki years played On Varsity: 4 college: indiana university from the player “With us three preseason All Americans, it’ll be a tall task to look up to, but with all the work we put in the offseason we could live up to those standards.”

Benjamin Nisle years played on varsity: 4 college: purdue university from the player “It’s a great honor to be thought of so highly and get that recognition, but we can’t let any of that stuff get to our head. Matt and Joe are very solid players and I think our team will have a lot of confidence going into the season.”

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new crew for the whit THREE NEW VARSITY COACHES INTRODUCED THIS YEAR LOOK TO

mr. joe huppenthal, head girls basketball coach Following the end of the 2015-16 academic school year, former head girls basketball coach, Marc Urban, was hired to the same position on the Chesterton boys basketball team. Urban, who led the team to a record of 80-17 during his four years as head coach left behind big shoes to fill.

That is when Mr. Joe Huppenthal, Mathematics, stepped in.

“Anytime you come in it’s tough taking jobs when the coach before has had so much success.

There’s been some pretty darn-good coaches even before [Urban], so there’s been quite a tradition here. It’s a special place. There’s not many places like this that are available in the state,” Huppenthal said. “I’m happy here and my family’s happy here. It’s just a great place to be.”

Huppenthal came to LC with over 20 years of coaching experience, but some of his greatest experience came as a student at Purdue.

Huppenthal was a student manager there under hall-of-famer Lloyd Keady and still accredits much of his success to him.

“When I worked for coach Keady we always talked about the three ‘d’s’ in life: discipline, desire, and dedication. I think that if you have those three things instilled in your life every

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day, whether it’s basketball or just your overall life, I think you’re going to be successful. Those are the things we try and bestow on our kids here. Fortunately, most of our kids, because their parents have done such a great job with them, are like that. We are just trying to translate that and make it better so that they can be great role models as they go out into the real world after they are done with high school,” Huppenthal said.

Although scoring and defense are the basic fundamentals of a great basketball team, a lot of successful teams come in with confident attitudes and intimidate their opponents from the time warm-ups begin.

“I think we need to get physically tougher and then mentally tougher.

I think things will be even better than what they are. It’s something in our program I’d like to see, [and it’s something] for all the coaches that you’d like to see. I’m not talking about being dirty, I’m talking about ‘we’re Lake Central and you better

be ready because if not, we’re going to kick your butt.’

To Huppenthal feels the girls basketball program is a top five job in the state and it does not need drastic changes.

“I’m not here to reinvent the wheel.

People have had success here. I think what you’ve got to do is put a few band-aids on it, make some things better and try and get to those next levels that we are trying to get,” Huppenthal said.

Any great coach looks to leave behind a legacy when it is all said and done, but Huppenthal’s hope for a legacy stretches far beyond the basketball court.

“If kids come back and say ‘the coaches at Lake Central made us better people’ that would be what I want to hear. For me, at this stage it’s not about wins and losses. Naturally you want to win every game and be successful, but there’s more important things to life and those are the things we try and instill in those guys every day,” Huppenthal said. Photo by: Abigail Hines.

“I’m not here to reinvent the wheel, people have had success here.”

e and blue LEAD THE ROAD TO VICTORY

did you know?

ALEXA PINARSKI (11) WILL BE THE FIRST LC ATHELETE PLAYING AT AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL

mr. Mike Swartzentruber, head baseball coach “[Coaching] is exciting everyday [because] the fact that we’ve got a lot of kids, a lot of families involved here that love baseball. We ended up with about 80 [students at] tryouts so that tells you there’s a lot of interest in [the program]. When you have a lot of interest in it you usually have a lot of talent to choose from, and that’s the case here.

I would much rather be in a situation where expectations are high rather than low. With that comes a lot of pressure, but I’ve coached in state championships before, so I think that’s helped me a little bit. It’s a lot of pressure when you see that we are ranked [top 15] nationally in a couple of polls. That’s obviously a little mind-boggling, but hopefully we are up to the task at hand.

I have met all the coaches. I’ve gotten to talk to them various times, and I really am excited about working with the staff here.

I changed my coaching style through the years, and I came in with the mindset to let them play, from the stand point I think they have seen that, if I need to step in and address something, we will do it, but I think with 13 seniors, these guys know exactly what it takes to succeed and compete.”

Photo by: Stefan Krajisnik.

mr. tony bartolomeo, head football coach “[Coaching has] just been something in my life that I’ve always wanted to do, and I am committed to LC for the long term. [The] most exciting part about working here is working with great student athletes everyday. I honestly enjoy getting up in the morning to come to work with the kids that we get at our school.

“I think style of coaching changes a lot. A lot of them know me. I think it’s good that a lot of them have a prior relationship with me so they know what my expectations are and they know what I’m like as a person. I’ve been at this school for a long time in different capacities, but I think there’s a comfort level because I have good relationships with the current players.

I think that helps. Then the new guys come in and kind of adapt to the families so to speak of how the team is run. So I think me having previous relationships with the kids helps get this started much quicker than if I were to come in from a new school or something like that where I don’t know anyone. go and attack any endeavor. I roll my sleeves up, and I go 150% and let the chips fall where they may, and you can walk out at the end of it and say ‘hey, I have nothing left to give’. That’s pretty much how you have to attack anything in your life, from this job to a student.” Photo by: Sofia Hay.

For most student athletes, a college commitment is a major goal. For Alexa Pinarski (11), school and sport have worked together to land her a spot in Columbia University’s class of 2022. Pinarski verballycommitted to her Ivy League college based on her softball skills and academic strength.

“I really liked Columbia because it’s in the city and offers a world renowned education.

Education was my number one focus in my search. I wanted to attend a school that would give me the education and tools to succeed after college. As you can imagine, an Ivy League university in New York City has limitless opportunities in terms of internships and jobs,” Pinarski said.

Pinarski is one of the few student athletes to commit to an Ivy League college for a sport. For most Columbia hopefuls, the application process is stressful, and payment plans can be scary, but for Pinarski, her education priorities exceed the cost of college, and her acceptance will officially be confirmed during her senior year.

“Any athlete that commits to a university still must apply like any other student. The Ivy League schools do not offer scholarships based on academic or athletic merits. Columbia offers need-based financial aid in the form of grants. For me, the benefits of getting an Ivy League education outweighs not being able to receive a traditional athletic scholarship,” Pinarski said.

Columbia University was also able to notice Pinarski due to her involvement with the Indiana Magic Gold softball team. She participated in softball camps and tournaments around the country to secure an official visit to Columbia University.

“The recruitment process varies from player to player. The head of my travel softball organization, the Indiana Magic Gold, knew the coach of Columbia from when his daughter was being recruited. He knew I was interested in the Ivy League, so he gave Coach Teague (Columbia’s head coach) a call to see if she still needed any 2018 pitchers. I exchanged a few emails and a call with Coach Teague and decided to attend a clinic on campus at the end of January,” Pinarski said.

For Pinarski, the decision is clearly not one based solely on athletics. Although her softball abilities are a very important component to her life, academics is still a main building block for her future.

“Being able to attend Columbia and play the game I love is an incredible gift. I really don’t know where’d I be without softball,” Pinarski said. “I’m really excited to play with athletes that also understand that sports aren’t everything there’s also academics they need to focus on so it will be cool to be with likeminded people in that sense.”

Students all throughout the nation feel the pressure of choosing a college, and for athletes, there is one more thing to worry about. Pinarski has been able to get rid of that pressure of deciding and now is focused on living up to her own expectations.

“Verbally committing has lifted a lot of pressure off of my shoulders softball-wise. One of the major focuses of the level I play at for travel ball is to find a college. It can get pretty nervewracking to play with that always in the back of your mind.

As for academics, I feel more pressure. It’s mostly me putting pressure on myself. I’ve had high standards for myself my whole life, but Columbia has added even more standards. Let’s just say I’m not going to start slacking off any time soon,” Pinarski said.

Photo by: Samantha Szewczyk. Page by: Stefan Krajisnik, Olivia Oster and Samantha Szewczyk

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noteworthy As the school year comes to a close, the ever-popular trend of golden skin

makes its way among students. Whether it be for a dance or the beach, some students feel tanning improves the appearance of their skin. Students achieve their golden glow through multiple methods, but it is imperative to keep in mind the severe consequences, both long-term and short-term, that can arise due to tanning in excess.

Maisie Westerfield (9) opens a tanning bed at L.A. Tan in St. John. Photo by: Sofia Hay

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ONE SKIN TO LIVE IN

THE TRUTHS ABOUT TANNING

“I feel more confident when I am tan.”

“I was sick of being pale.”

“I want color to myself so I look attractive to others.”

“I just feel so much happier being tan.”

For some teens, being tan is not simply a way to achieve a desired look with school dances around the corner, it is a source of confidence in their daily lives.

With summer approaching, tanning is becoming an increasingly popular topic among students. Although it is a common activity that has some benefits, many risks involved are often overlooked or completely ignored.

“UV radiation is a known carcinogen and [as] your body responds to it, the longer it [takes] to fend off [dangers].

This kind of damage increases the risk of changes or mutations in the DNA of your cells, which over time causes a bad cell to grow out of control, and this is the start of cancer,” Dr. Jordan Stemer, Physician AssistantCertified at Franciscan St. Margaret Health in Dyer, said.

With sunscreen being a relatively new method of sun protection, those who did not have the opportunity to protect themselves in the past are feeling the effects of UV rays today. Students like Emily Scott (12) have family members facing the effects of sun exposure years later. “[Tanning] affected both my grandfathers. They just got [the cancer] removed from their face and scalp. One of my grandparents was a construction worker, so he got it from being outside in the summer. I know my aunts have gotten spots removed, too,” Scott said.

Besides skin cancer, other conditions can affect those who choose to avoid skin protection. Stemer reports that young patients diagnosed with these conditions usually have chosen not to utilize “safer” methods of tanning, like using sunscreen and tanning outdoors.

“I get a growing number of patients in their late teens and early 20s with precancerous spots due to tanning bed use. These spots must be treated with surgical procedures. The other not-so-fun result of chronic sun exposure is premature aging. Teenagers really don’t take this into consideration at this point and not even so much in their 20s, but believe me, in their 30s it catches up and you can really see a difference between those who’ve spent years tanning and those who wore sunscreen. The damage that the sun causes is near impossible to reverse once it is set in motion,” Stemer said.

Indoor tanning is definitely the most dangerous way to tan. However, tanning outdoors without protection poses risks as well.

“There is a huge difference between indoor and outdoor tanning. The body tans by the same mechanism, whether you are indoors or outdoors, it’s just the intensity of the UV exposure. With outdoor tanning, which still shouldn’t be done, some of the harmful rays are blocked

by the ozone layer, and at certain times, the rays are more intense than others. Late morning to early afternoon, [which is] when the sun is the strongest, is the riskiest time to be outdoors,” Stemer said. “Indoor tanning, however, is a constant barrage of UVA exposure. UVA is the most carcinogenic ray, and obviously in a tanning bed there is nothing between your skin and the harmful rays.”

Despite dangers, sun exposure has been known help reduce acne. Some teens use this argument as support for why they tan because an extra boost of confidence can go a long way.

“I first got into tanning because I had really bad acne my freshman year, and I was super insecure about it.

My dermatologist wouldn’t give me medicine that was actually fixing it, so I decided to stop going. I asked my mom if I could start tanning to dry it out, and she allowed me to as long as I didn’t go for too long and burn. Knowing the risks of tanning, I still tan because I enjoy how it looks, and it still helps with my acne,” Paige Kotecki (11) said.

While feeling confident is a positive result of tanning for some students, the chances of contracting melanoma “leap exponentially” if there is a family history of skin cancer, according to Stemer.

“I really want to stop tanning because [my relatives] had never tanned in beds, so [because I do] I know my chances are really high, especially since [skin cancer] is on both sides of my family. Hopefully after school and Prom is over, I’ll stop,” Scott said.

If students still desire to tan despite being aware of the risks, knowing how to protect themselves is key.

“Protection is simple: wear your sunscreen. Avoid sunburns like the plague. Just because you have darker skin does not make you immune to the development of skin cancer. When out in the sun, the higher the SPF, the better. You will still get some color through sunscreen and look like you’ve been on vacation,” Stemer said. “The other very important part of protecting yourself is finding cancers early. Most skin cancers have a good prognosis if caught early enough. We recommend that everyone over the age of 18, especially if you tan or have a history of chronic sun exposure, come in once yearly for a full skin exam.”

Though the benefits of tanning may appear to outweigh the dangers to some students, the consequences of tanning can leave a mark on one’s entire life.

“We only get this one skin to live in for the rest of our lives. Your 30-year-old self will thank me later,” Stemer said.

Page by: Joshua Chen, Charlie DeVries, Kevin Holechko, Bianca Matchain, Radosav Mihajlovic, Jocelyn Vanek, Kaylynn Ward and Maisie Westerfield Photo by: Sofia Hay

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BURN BABY

BURN

NOT ALL TANNING EXPERIENCES LEAD TO “SUN-KISSED” SKIN

KAITLIN GEORGE (12)

I have tan lines from tennis and golf season. There are times when my feet are so white because they never see the sun. After a while, I embrace them and am proud of them because yes, I have tan lines, but it is because I am an athlete.” Photo by: Justin Andrews

CAMILLE MATASOVSKY (11)

“I have really bad sock tan lines, so my feet are super pale. Also my arms get really tan and you get strap marks from where your tank top lays, and then you get a tan line from your neck strap which makes the back of your neck and chest pale in a weird pattern.”

MORGAN KOBISCH (10)

“In seventh grade, I went to Florida for spring break, but I didn’t get tan at all. I decided it would be a great idea to buy self tanning lotion and lather my entire body up so I looked like I got sun in Florida because if you don’t get tan on spring break, did you even go anywhere? [The lotion] was one of those ‘leave on overnight and wake up to beautifully sun-kissed skin’ ones.

Needless to say, I did not wake up to ‘sun-kissed skin’, I woke up to a literal orange staring back at me in the mirror. On top of that, you aren’t supposed to put any on your knees or anything like that because it doesn’t color right, and I did. My knees and elbows and knuckles and armpits were all dark brown.

To make matters worse, I had school a few days later. Luckily, after a plethora of home remedies, the orange was dulled down slightly, and I went to school only sort of looking like I bathed in Cheeto dust.”

SARAH TELLAS (11)

“I lifeguarded at Deep River [Water Park] all summer and we had to wear these awful one piece bathing suits. I worked about nine hours a day and about 40 hours a week, so I spent a lot of time in the sun. My stomach is all white and my back has an x by the shoulder bones and a giant circle of tan in the middle of my back. I also had a watch tan line at the beginning of the summer, until I didn’t wear it halfway through the summer.”

Photo submitted by: Sarah Tellas

MICHAEL PENA JR. (12)

“I never had sunburn in my life until my junior year. We had a huge track invite in Homewood and it was really sunny out. I had my track tank on all day and ended up getting sunburned in the shape of my uniform. It sucked.”

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JENNA GOLFIS (11) “I went to Florida and fell asleep on the beach and woke up with sun poisoning. I was at the beach for eight hours and didn’t put on sunscreen. I ignored the sun poisoning until it went away. Another time, I went to Greece and forgot sunscreen and they didn’t sell any there. I was there for a month.” Photo submitted by: Jenna Golfis

ALEXA PINARSKI (11)

“I basically have permanent tan lines on my arms from my softball uniform. I play practically the whole summer in some of the hottest places in the country, and the sun doesn’t mix well with my pale skin.”

RYLYN MILLER (10)

“The first time I went tanning, I tried this place called Beach Tan. They have stand up beds rather than the standard lay down bed, so you’re basically trapped in a coffin of heat. I turned the bed on and the after a minute of being in there half of the bulbs went out, so I had to go into a new bed that was super hot because it was later in the day and they beds that have been running all day. When I got out I looked fine, but when I woke up the next morning my whole body was scorched, and I had to cover it up with high tops, leggings and a hoodie for about a week.”

GILLIAN SUROVIAK (11)

Page by: Justin Andrews, Dana Brownewell, Casey Lessentine, Madeline Mills, Kristen Mirabelli, Viraj Patel, Madison Sandoval and Gabriella Shumylo

“[Using self tanner] was an awful and traumatizing experience especially because it was only a few days before school started. I put some on my face just to even it out, and I put way too much. I started to panic because my mom wasn’t home, and I didn’t want her to know so I searched how to get rid of it and it said to use baking soda and water and it worked after scrubbing for a half an hour.” Photo submitted by: Gillian Suroviak

TOP 4 ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO GET A TAN 1

Tanning Lotions

With many different brands to choose from, tanning lotions offer a safe solution to tanning. This method is one of the cheapest ways to achieve a tan. Because of the wide selection, users might have to try different product brands. When using this product to enchance your skin color before an important date, be sure to test it out days in advance to prevent streaks and is the desired shade. pros: CHEAP AND SAFE cons: NEEDS TIME AND UNPREDICTABLE 2

Sunlight

Although it can still damage your skin, sunbathing is a safer technique than tanning beds. The safest way to tan outdoors is to use sunscreen, which protects your body while still allowing it to tan. pros: FREE AND NATURAL cons: TIME CONSUMING

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Spray tans (level 1,2,3)

Spray tans allow people to choose different levels which help to determine their desired shade. This method is a great way to achieve a golden glow without the worry of dangerous UV rays damaging to the skin. pros: CHEAP AND SAFE cons: NEEDS TIME AND UNPREDICTABLE

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tanning towlettes

Infuses skin with clear self-tanning formula works with the proteins and amino acids in your skin to produce a healthy and natural sunless tan. Prices range from $20-$200. pros: TAKES TWO-TO-FOUR HOURS AND EASY TO USE cons: MAY NEED TO USE MORE THAN ONE TOWELETTE AND CAN BE PRICEY

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lifestyle AS SUMMER APPROACHES, STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO FIND NEW AND

exciting things to do. From attending festivals to making bold dietary changes, there are countless ways students can switch up their normal lifestyle. For some, this lifestyle change can mean relaxing and enjoying the sun, but for others it includes using personal experiences to better the community.

Ryan Voss (11) throws a baseball at a carnival game at the Lake County Fair over the summer of 2016. The fair, held at the Crown Point Fairgrounds, is frequented by citizens of Lake County seeking fun by playing games, going on rides, visiting vendor stands and more. Photo by: Sofia Hay

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food for thought

Taylor Robinson (10) observes the wide variety of food offered at Strack and Van Til. Photo by: Ashley Robinson

CLEAN EATING OFFERS A FRESH WAY TO TRANSFORM LIFESTYLES FROM THE INSIDE OUT

As the words “organic” and “cleanses” make their way into students’ everyday vocabularies, the notion of a cleaner lifestyle can seem ideal, but unattainable. However, as students show, a healthier diet is not as hard as it seems and the effects change one from the inside out.

A misconception of a healthier lifestyle is that it is a 24/7 commitment and is therefore restrictive. When actually, to Anna Wachowski (12), the best method is to find the proper balance between “cheat meals” and clean eating.

“I try to maintain a consistent diet throughout the whole week. I allow myself a nice cheat meal on the weekends. I try to eat healthy 80 percent of the time, maybe even up to 90, and then 10 to 20 percent of the time is when I can eat fun foods,”

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Wachowski said.

For athletes, choosing to up their protein and carbohydrate intake through unprocessed foods is a way to train for his or her sport.

“I throw for track, and because of lifting and eating more I’ve gotten bigger and stronger, so I’m able to throw much farther. I eat a lot a day-4,300 calories. [I eat] chicken and rice almost every meal. Chicken is good protein and rice is good carbs,” Cole Vandersteeg (10) said.

Dedicated athletes can opt for a healthier lifestyle not just for their sport, but as a way to improve their mentality in school.

“Our coach at the beginning of the year hands out a sheet that you should follow. [It consists of how many] percent carbs and what percent every type of the food pyramid [you should eat]. I usually eat a lot of fruit, some white meat and then salads. Filling your body with healthy foods gives you more energy throughout the day, so [through my diet] I have more energy than eating the school lunch and a bag of Doritos,” Jacob Rocca (10) said.

Healthy eating is not only limited to athletes. Wachowski has even created her own Instagram page (@_annasgonebananas) for healthy eating, in hope to extend her knowledge and lifestyle to anyone.

“I really like cooking and baking, and I always struggled finding things that I could make that other food pages would make because they were really complicated recipes. I want to know what other people are eating too, like what works for them, so I thought that I can do the same and maybe give people ideas about what to eat,” Wachowski said.

Among the various ways one may choose to eat is through a gluten-free diet. Though it can be quickly deemed as a healthy-eating fad, for others, the decision to opt out of eating gluten is due to its negative effects on their health.

“They have a lot of gluten-free options at the grocery stores, like Jewel’s and Strack’s. [If I eat gluten], I get really bad stomach cramps and I will get a bad headache and I will feel really tired and sick. I can still eat a lot of chocolate and sugar, so it doesn’t make you any healthier, but gluten does make you feel more bloated,” Lauren Gronek (12) said.

Those who choose to go without eating meat find that is not only beneficial for the individual, but its effects extend to the environment and animals as well.

“I was vegetarian for three years before becoming vegan. I became vegetarian because of animal cruelty, and I decided to go vegan

after learning more about animal agriculture and its effects on the environment. I feel better being vegan because I know I’m not contributing to the cruelty of animal agriculture and leaving less of a carbon footprint,” Phoebe Duke (12) said.

Eating so carefully opens up a world of new recipes and forces individuals to think more critically about what they put into their bodies.

“Since becoming vegan, I cook more and like more varieties of foods than I did before. Making food is easy and fun and more restaurants and cafes are offering vegetarian and vegan options, so going out to eat being vegan isn’t usually difficult. Grocery stores contain many prepackaged vegan snacks and meals,” Duke said.

Whether it is for athletic, ethical reasons or the simple desire to take personal care, eating healthier can be transformational.

“I think that [eating clean] makes you feel better on the inside. It makes you more confident and it overall just helps your health and your mentality,” Wachowski said.

Page by: Karisa Candreva, Ruth Chen, Grace Cistaro, Brianna Clarke, Elena Gorney, Nadja Kostadinovic, Danica Mileusnic, Ashley Robinson and Victoria

WHERE

REGION EATS

FRESH&CLEAN MEET

WHOLE FOODS MARKET various locations Whole Foods is the go-to grocery store if you are looking to amp up a healthy lifestyle. From their own smoothie bar to a bakery and customizable pizzas, Whole Foods is perfect for a person looking for a change. Instead of rifling through aisles to find the organic or healthy option in conventional grocery stores, almost all options here are a guaranteed healthier alternative, such as low-carb pastas, poultry with no added hormones and antibiotics and an array of supplements.

Angel hair griffith, Indiana Angel Hair Cafe is a vegan restaurant where one can dine-in or have food delivered. They grow most of their own vegetables and fruits used in dishes at their own store. They serve everything from vegan nachos to homemade smoothies. The cafe also has a juice and smoothie bar that offers a variety of healthy options. If anyone is looking to make a lifestyle change to vegan, this is a good place to start.

essential st. john, Indiana Essential Nutrition serves to those who are looking to get into a healthier lifestyle, or those who simply want to try new beverages out. Their uniquely healthy options attract many customers who are working to gain muscle or become healthier overall. Their many healthful options include nutrients, vitamins, meal replacements and shakes. Their early hours are convenient to students looking to get a healthy start to the day.

PANERA BREAD various locations Panera offers a healthier twist on your favorite comfort foods like macaroni and cheese by being committed to serving food that does not have artificial additives such as MSG and artificial trans fats. The menu consists of bread bowls, pastries and other signature eats served fresh every day. They even put a twist on regular, bland salads with salads ranging from strawberry poppyseed to Spicy Thai.

cleansing out the toxins Students and staff tackle toxins through experimental cleanses.

“Each time I’ve done a cleanse, I’ve wanted to kickstart a healthier lifestyle. It was a way for me to rid my body of toxins and to start fresh by eating healthy and getting back to the gym. It gave me a boost, both mentally and physically. My advice would be to try it.

It is definitely challenging changing your lifestyle, but the feeling I had afterwards was great.”

Mrs. Lauryn Vukas, Science “I do juice cleanses. It helps a lot with your skin and just the overall feeling of your body, so you feel a lot better and you’re not as tired and drowsy. Within the first few days, it’s really difficult because you get drained of energy and you’re hungry all the time, but when you get deeper and do it for longer, it’s better.”

Madelyn Burke (10) “I have done the advocare cleanse for 10 days. You drink a fiber drink and basically do clean eating the whole time. I decided to do it because I was curious how I would feel after cutting certain things out of my diet. Knowing that there’s a beginning and an end helped me a lot mentally. I remembered that it’s a lifestyle change and just picked something healthy.”

Mrs. Teresa Zentz, Social Studies “In the past I have done different tea cleanses, but I don’t really think they did much for me. I still tried them anyway because I saw a lot of different famous people on social media doing them. Most [of the teas] tasted really bad and I stopped most of them before I was supposed to. I highly recommend researching [the cleanses] further before you attempt them fully.”

Tabitha pappas (12)

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KENNETH

STONE

WHEN TRAUMA STRIKES, MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO REACT. FOR KENNETH STONE JR. (10), HE DECIDED TURN TRAGEDY INTO OPPORTUNITY. AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, STONE WANTS TO USE HIS EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER AND ENCOURAGE PEDESTRIANS TO KEEP EXPLORING.

i

n a split second, Kenneth Stone Jr.’s (10) life was changed.

On Feb. 6, Stone was crossing Route 30 on foot to meet up with friends at a Wendy’s restaurant in Dyer. However, he was not aware of the oncoming car and the driver did not see him. Stone was struck by a car while walking across the road. After he was hit, Stone was rushed to St. Margaret Mercy Hospital. He stayed strong, but remained in shock.

“I could feel them loading me into the ambulance, and that’s when I regained my consciousness because [before then,] I couldn’t see anything. It’s scary because one moment it’s reality and the next moment you get knocked out of reality. This stuff came out of nowhere and it’s like, ‘Why me? Why does this have to happen to me?’

I’m 15-years-old,” Stone said.

Stone was sent to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Crown Point for head trauma after his initial recovery at St. Margaret’s. He was transferred to the University of Chicago Medical Center to provide him with further medical attention and testing. With the support of friends and family, Stone started his road to recovery. Even after Stone’s tough journey across multiple hospitals, the aftermath still affects his day-to-day activities.

“I cannot handle being in large crowd situations. It’s hard to wrap my head around, but I feel overwhelmed. Any loud noises are destructive for me. School is very hard. Sometimes I have to get out of first hour and head down to the nurse’s office and ask my parents to pick me up. [When] people ask me questions about what happened, it doesn’t really help. It’s giving me too much attention [and bringing] me too many questions. It’s just overwhelming, and I can’t do it,” Stone said.

Despite the obstacles that Stone has to overcome due to the accident, he feels that it has changed his life for the better. His misfortune has opened his eyes to the dangers of jaywalking and to those who jaywalk every day.

“Months after [my accident], I see people crossing the street and jaywalking or I see people walking in the grass. [I worry that] they should not be doing that. They should be using sidewalks, they should be using the crosswalks, they should be using the things that the towns provide [for pedestrians],” Stone said.

Stone’s pain has given him new inspiration to better the lives of others, and he wants to ensure that other people will not have to go through the same situation he did. Stone has decided to make the best out of the circumstances by doing something positive for the community. As a member of the Boy Scouts, Stone is expected to complete a community service project before he turns 18. Originally unsure of what to do for his project, Stone used his accident as

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inspiration and decided to use his project to benefit pedestrian safety.

“For Boy Scouts, I’m going to go for my Eagle [ranking]. The Eagle Scout project I’m going to do is build crosswalks, sidewalks and possibly a pedestrian overpass bridge across Route 30 in Dyer. I’m the type of person that likes to give back to the community, so my Boys Scout project is something that will help me recuperate,” Stone said.

Stone hopes his crosswalk project will make crossing the street less of a worry. He hopes that the availability of crosswalks will encourage more people to walk around town instead of driving, which promotes a healthier lifestyle and an eco-friendly mode of transportation.

“It’s important to have sidewalks or crosswalks for people to walk around because as these towns grow, it’s almost impossible for the town to be pedestrian friendly. [Dyer] has to be pedestrian friendly; it’s almost a form of infrastructure for the town. I feel that people would be walking more than they would be taking their own cars.

There are people reaching out to [my mom] telling her that what happened to me was unfortunate and that the town should be supplying crosswalks and pedestrian-friendly areas. Her reading these messages to me hit me that if [the town is] not going to do it, I’ll do it,” Stone said.

Even though the project is currently tentative and it might be a few years before the crosswalks and overpass are actually built, Stone is optimistic about his project. He is already in contact with the Dyer Town Council and hopes that his connections to the council, his new involvement in a local pedestrian organization and his personal experiences will help push his project toward becoming a reality.

“If I were to work with the town or the state I can possibly get crosswalks built on Route 30 and all the other towns might collaborate and get their portion built on Route 30. If the streets are more pedestrian-friendly, that can encourage people to walk around.

Especially in Dyer, they’re building more parks and people need to find a way to get around,” Stone said.

Stone’s experience has opened his eyes to the struggles of others who have dealt with trauma. Despite all of the hardships he has faced, Stone keeps a positive attitude and hopes his Eagle Scout project will be his legacy of goodwill and a positive addition to the community.

“I can relate to those who have been through traumatic experiences, [and] I can be there for them in [the same] way that people were there for me. I do have a long road ahead of me towards recovery, but I am optimistic about it. The road ahead isn’t bumpy, it’s paved,” Stone said.

Page by: Molly Fischer, Jovana Laporsek, Amber Murray, Sabina Solarczyk, Samantha Szewczyk and Lauren Wisniewski Photo by: Sofia Hay

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& beats

good eats

live

WITH FESTIVAL SEASON JUST AROUND THE CORNER, NORTHWEST INDIANA AND CHICAGOLAND COMES ALIVE WITH THE ABUNDANCE OF MUSIC, FOOD AND CULTURAL FESTS.

Page by: Jessica Cook, Cherylynn Gholson, Morgyn McAllister, Anni Rajput, Melicah Rodriguez and Liberty Toweson

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CULTURE FESTS SERBIAN FEST

The Serbian Fest will be held at Merrillville’s, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church from Aug. 4-6.

The Serbian festival is a cultural fest that features aspects of Serbian culture. Culture, food and friendship is shared on these days of celebration.

Traditional dancing and live music will take place at the festival. Such delicacies include barbeque lamb, sarma, cevaps and many more. “I love the atmosphere that I’m surrounded by because I feel like I’m connecting with my culture and doing what my parents did when they were younger,” David Keric (10) said.

FESTA ITALIANA

Festa Italiana portrays the Italian culture by inviting famous restaurants to present all sorts of Italian food. This year it will be the 10th annual event. It will run along Taylor Street in Chicago from August 18-21. People who attend the fest may participate in contests, such as a meatball and cannoli eating contest. There will be tours offered to explore parts of Little Italy, which is Chicago’s oldest Italian neighborhood. “I’d want to try out all of the foods becuase seems interesting to experience a new culture,” Dana Cloghessy (9) said.

HUM NIGHT

Indian culture is the main focus of HUM Night, which takes place on May 13. It will be held at the Indian American Cultural Center in Merrillville, Ind. HUM members invite their friends to come and watch performances and eat traditional Indian food. All attendees can watch the performances put on, but at the end of the night only high school students take on the dance floor. “Getting dressed up is my favorite part because my friend loaned us her clothes and it was interesting to get in the Indian culture,” Taylor Gibson (11) said.

GREEK FEST

The community of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Schererville, holds its own annual Greek Festival each summer. A wide assortment of traditional greek cuisine will be displayed there.

Food options include barbecued lamb, shish-kabob and gyros. There will be live entertainment such as authentic Greek dancing and live performances during the festival. “[My favorite part] is the food because we always have Greek meals at home, but it’s just different when you’re surrounded by the culture,” Theodoros Karras (11) said.

1. The Taste of Chicago sign welcomes all the attendees. Photo by: Camryn Wallace 2. Caleb Beasley (12) supervises and interacts with children at the Briar Fest in Briar Ridge Country Club. Photo by: Rachel Front 3. Anna Pinkus (12) raises a sky lantern at Briar Fest. Photo by: Rachel Front 4. A boat of potato wedges is purchased at one of the vendors at the Taste of Chicago. Photo by: Camryn Wallace 5. Two girls lead an ethnic Greek dance at St. George’s Greek fest. Photo by: Stefan Krajisnik 6. Halsey performs in Indianapolis during her Badlands tour. Photo by: Justin Andrews 7. A sparkler is lit at Rohrman Park to celebrate the Fourth of July. Photo by: Camryn Wallace 8. The Last Shadow Puppets perform at the Lollapalooza aftershow. Photo by: Camryn Wallace

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FOOD FESTS

TOWN/NEIGHBORHOOD FESTS

MUSIC FESTS

RIBFEST

MUNSTER FIREWORKS

SUMMER BASH

Chicago’s Ribfest features a variety of mouthwatering ribs. This food festival attracts thousands of attendees each year. The festival will be on June 9-11. In addition to the ribs, there will be some indie and alternative music thrown in to the mix. RibMania VIII, a professional ribeating competition, will be held at Ribfest. “I love to barbecue over the summer and the Ribfest gives an opportunity to bring people together and eat. I can’t wait for this year to enjoy all the food,” Caleb Zapata (11) said.

CORN ROAST

The Munster Firework Show is an annual event that takes place every July 3 for Independence Day. People attend from different areas to view the firework show and spend time with their family and friends. This show will take place at Centennial Park and will start around 9:30 p.m.

As the crowd waits for the fireworks, there will be food and beverage vendors available starting at 6 p.m. “I love going to firework shows because it gives me a chance to spend time with friends and family and to celebrate 4th of July,” Zachary Futch (12) said.

The Corn Roast is a local festival that gives people a chance to sample food, enjoy entertainment and eat corn on the cob. The roast will be held on June 9 and 10 in the Crown Point square. The South Lake County Shrine Club prepares over 3,000 ears of corn each year for the festival. In addition to enjoying popular food, there will also be a parade with children dressed up as princesses and superheros. “I plan on going again this year with friends because last year was awesome and I had such a great time. I love the corn on the cob and gyros,” James McCarroll (10) said.

LAKE COUNTY FAIR

PIEROGI FEST

DYER FEST

The Pierogi Fest will take place during the last full weekend in July in Whiting. There are around a quarter million visitors each year that flock to the largest pierogi fest located in the Midwest.

There is live music, carnival rides, a Polka dance off and Polish food, including potato pancakes and paczki. Besides the food, there is also a variety of boutiques and stands selling different items ranging from shirts to art pieces. “It is a fest with a ton of pierogies, and Polish people come out to Whiting and enjoy all the food offered. I like going with friends a lot because you can socialize and just have fun,” Samantha Mantoan (11) said.

TASTE OF CHICAGO

The Taste of Chicago, which claims to be Chicago’s largest festival, offers samples of more than 200 menu items from local to ethnic neighborhood restaurants. The 37th year of the Taste will take place at Grant Park on July 5-9 and includes free admission. Besides food, attendees can enjoy live music from local and famous musicians, carnival rides and arts and crafts. “I’m not picky with my food and I’m willing to try anything new, so it was a cool experience at the Taste,” Hayley Skrezyna (11) said.

The Lake Country Fair will take place from Aug. 4-13. There are a variety of activities including a pig race, horse show and grandstand motorsports.

There is also an array of contests for both children and adults. Contests range from Hot Wheels Racing to pie eating. The Shine.FM Showcase Tent displays entertainment during the fair. There will also be food vendors that range from carnival food to cultural specials. “I love all the rides there and making memories with all my friends at the fair,” Abigail Voss (11) said.

The 26th Annual Dyer Summer Fest will be at Pheasant Hills Park on June 8-11. The festival starts off with a Parks and Recreation Bike Parade that encourages all children to join. Residents all over the Northwest region of Indiana kick off summer by enjoying live music performed by local bands, carnival rides and games and a variety of local food vendors. “The food is usually really good and the rides there are probably the best.

I go because it gives me something to do in the beginning of summer,” Julia Nawrot (9) said.

WICKER PARK FEST

The Wicker Park Fest is a street festival celebrated by the thousands in the Chicagoland area. This festival is scheduled to take place on July 29-30 on Milwaukee Ave, stretching from North Ave to Paulina St. Festival attendees can have fun with the abundance of cutting edge music, local restaurants and undeniable Chicago culture. A lineup of musicians will be performing for the festival. The entry fee of $5 is a small fraction of the cost of bigger summer festivals. “I like going to the Wicker Fest because there’s a whole bunch of people and great food offered there. My grandma and I go together every year to listen great music and make memories,” Kenedi Carnagey (9) said.

The B96 Pepsi Summer Bash takes place at Allstate Arena on Saturday, June 24. This music festival features a variety of popular artists of all genres. Pop, hip-hop and alternative music artists can all be seen sharing the stage. Famous musicians such as Bruno Mars, Coldplay and All Time Low will be performing. Festival attendees can enjoy live music throughout the evening and buy food or drinks. “The music is really good there and I have a ton of fun with all my friends at the bash,” Isabella Reifinger (11) said.

LAKESHAKE

The Chicago LakeShake Festival, a three day country music festival, will be held at the Huntington Bank Pavilion in Chicago. The dates of the festival are June 23-25. The line-up consists of a variety of country artists such as Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts. In the span of three days, there will be sixteen country artists performing. “I love country music and all of my friends love country music as well. It was a perfect opportunity for us to all do something together,” Emily Erickson (12) said.

LOLLAPALOOZA

Lollapalooza is an annual music festival that takes place every summer in Grant Park, Chicago. This music festival focuses on a variety of music genres, including alternative, EDM, rap, pop and rock.

Besides the music, attendees can choose from over 20 food stations, buy merchandise and get their body painted. Lollapalooza will take place Aug. 3-6. “The atmosphere there is just really happy and everyone has a memorable time there,” Joseph Copeland (11) said.

PIQNIQ

PIQNIQ is an annual outdoor musical festival for alternative music lovers. It is hosted by an alternative radio station, 101 WKQX. It will take place on May 20 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. There will be a lineup including artists such as The 1975, Bleachers, Highly Suspect, Jimmy Eat World, Joywave, K. Flay, Warpaint and Sum 41. In addition to music, there will be a variety of concession stands located throughout the festival grounds offering different kinds of foods, beverages and merchandise. “I love go to PIQNIQ because I am able to see all my favorite artists packed into one concert,” Daryn McElroy (11) said.

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senoritis really setting in... in the middle of junior year #LateYearThoughts Nicholas doyle (11)

lateyear thoughts Jacob Zak (12)

@Nick23Doyle Mar 20

Justin ryan (11)

Kailie czerniawski (11)

@JusinnRyan Mar 20 I hope the snakes donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come back next year đ&#x;??đ&#x;?? #LateYearThoughts

@kaiczerniawski Mar 23 itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my junior year and i still havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been able to wear short sleeves to school #lateyearthoughts

ryan voss (11)

reyna Pietrzak (10)

Payal bhatt (12)

@vossdaddy

@directreyna14 Mar 21

@xxpayal_bhattxx Apr 9 Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to never see you again #LateYearThoughts

Rachel frieling (12)

samantha misirly (9)

@jakefzak Mar 20 Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so glad I got out early #LateYearThoughts

Mar 20 the class of 2018 should stop sleeping on high school & just go all out next year, your only in high school once #LateYearThoughts

colm tomaszewski (11)

sophomore year reminds me of preschool when i napped all the time only difference: i didnt need a jacket inside back then #LateYearThoughts

@colm722 Mar 20 #lateyearthoughts traditional days are still ehh

@FrielingRachel Apr 9 someone had to keep the senior-sophomore tradition aliveđ&#x;¤&#x201D;đ&#x;¤&#x201D; #LateYearThoughts

casey pederson (11)

Elizabeth Slager (11)

@caseypederson25 Mar 21 You would think they could have figured out this parking lot thing by now. #LateYearThoughts

Kristen Hecht (12) @KristenHecht Mar 20 Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m surprised I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t paid someone to push me down the stairs yet #lateyearthoughts

Bailey Corbett (10) @boilerbone Mar 20 thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always next year #lateyearthoughts

@sammisirly Apr 3 it gets better over the year #lateyearthoughts

Hannah souronis (12)

@elizabethslager Mar 20

@hannahsouronis Feb 8 i really didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what i was talking about when i said i already had senioritis freshman year #lateyearthoughts

Christy Tham (9)

madison magdziarz (12)

@christy_tham Apr 3 Always keep a jacket handy for when you have a cold class #LateYearThoughts

@galacticredhead Apr 9 You will never know a better nap than that of one after an AP test #LateYearThoughts

sarah hermanek (12)

Darby mcgrath (12)

Junior year is just like pre-k, snack time is always, i cry at least once a day, and half way through school i take a nap #LateYearThoughts

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#LateYearThoughts donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop trying just bc your friends do and you can â&#x20AC;&#x153;get along just fineâ&#x20AC;? itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not cool

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