The History of Mario Page 3
April/May 2012 Volume LII Issue VI
Need Your Sports Fix? See page 7 See Who’s Leaving MHS After this Year Page 5
Manzano High School
On May 19th Manzano will be Celebrating its 50th Graduating Class Going Green: MHS Senior Heading to Notre Dame
Billy Huntsman 2012 To the average person who might see him out and about, Michael Weeks may appear physically unremarkable. About 5’10’’ with a blond crew-cut, you’d most likely see him in tan cargo pants and a solid-colored Polo shirt with a white undershirt. You might think he’s an average high school student; indeed, his favorite video game—Battlefield 2—his favorite movie—Pulp Fiction—and his favorite music artist—The Roots—would hardly argue otherwise. But if you think that Michael Weeks is your run-of-the-mill high school senior, then you’d be wrong. He’s projected to be the Class of 2012’s valedictorian. He’s also a recently accepted student to the prestigious Notre Dame University. With a GPA of 4.7 and a score of 33 on his ACT, there was no trace of doubt on his face as he said this. Weeks also took the SAT, but could not recall his scores. Weeks cited three individuals as having particularly helped him during his high school career: Brad Dubbs, director of bands, of which Michael is part—playing both baritone saxophone and clarinet--counselor Rod Hansen; and German/English teacher Heather Boni. “Mr. Dubbs has helped to make me a better musician, and gave me a creative outlet,” said Weeks. “Mr. Hansen was extremely helpful with all of the college prep and application stuff. And I have had Ms. Boni’s class all four years and she has always been upbeat and supportive.” Weeks applied to Notre Dame, as well as University of Virginia, Southern California, Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, and Harvard, “...and Thugtown Community College,” Weeks added jokingly. And while he received some rejection letters, and never heard back from others, he says that Notre Dame was always his first choice. He applied at the end of September and remembers distinctly receiving his acceptance letter on December 16th. “I am extremely proud of Michael being accepted to Notre Dame,” said Mr. Dubbs. “He has had a positive influence on band members; they respect him not only as a musician but also as a student. His likable personality, work ethic in the band, and academic status make him a student that most get along with well. He has worked hard to achieve this status and it shows that students can do well with academics while participating in extracurricular activities.” Weeks plans to major in business and finance during his time with the Fighting Irish, where he will live on campus. “The thing I’m most looking forward to about college is the independence that out-of-state college gives you,” Weeks said. Weeks said that after college, he may or may not attend graduate school. He also intends to enroll in the Army, to serve for several years and build up a retirement plan. He also said that he looks forward to blowing things up. When asked what kind of classes he has taken during his time in high school to attain a 4.7 GPA, Weeks said that he has taken all the AP and Honors classes that Manzano offers. In addition, as a senior Weeks has a full schedule, with four AP classes. “A lot of the classes were challenging, some harder than I expected,” Weeks said. But he has passed such challenging courses with dedication and determination, both of which stem from “a crippling fear of failure”. *As of April 20th, 2012, Michael “Students like Michael contribute to Manzano simply by taking their learning seriously, and by getting involved in their classrooms and Weeks was on track to be in extracurricular activities,” said Mr. Hansen. “Michael is a great example of why Manzano is such a vibrant school—he’s passionate about valedictorian, although the official Continued on page 7 announcement will come during the senior assmebly.
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Films of the Year
April/May 2012
Billy Huntsman 2012 Film critics of any merit, at some point or another, make films of the year lists—A.O. Scott, Richard Roeper, Stephen Hunter, Leonard Maltin, and of course the indelible Roger Ebert—and as unoriginal as it is, I also find it to be essential—to know if any one critic’s taste in film is comparable to yours. Plus, it’s also nice to get an idea Billy is the Paw Print’s film critic for some good movies to see. Without any further ado, here are the five best movies of the year: The Tree of Life: In hindsight, I realize that I may have made much of a stink about Tree without giving adequate reason. Some have criticized the film for being too “arthousey”, but I disagree: The film, to me, is part of a little-seen subgenre of arthouse films called visual poetry. This is where more is seen than said, inevitably making the audience make of the film what they may. Because let’s face it: The greatest advantage film has over books or music is that no imagination is required, you’re shown what you’re supposed to be shown. And director Terrence Malick, with films such as Badlands, Days of Heaven, The Thin Red Line, and the insufferable The New World, has made a career not of being a great dialogue writer, but having tremendous vision. But the second thing Tree has going for it is that it does have a great story to it—maybe not the greatest, nor the most exciting—but great nonetheless. Taking place in 1950’s-’60s Texas, we’re shown family and small-town life exactly as most of our generation believes it to have been like: A strict disciplinary father (Brad Pitt), a quiet ingénue mother (Jessica Chastain), three rough and rowdy kids, one of whom is on the verge of adolescence. These qualities make the film both quiet and humble, as well as audacious and grand. Warrior: It’s a crime that, by and large, this film went by without much attention, though I’m sure much of the MMA world saw it. Two brothers—wrestlers in high school and close in their younger years—have now drifted far apart, having given up their prior occupations as fighters in order to pursue other interests, but who both find themselves inexorably drawn back to the world of MMA in order to make a living for themselves and their families and friends. And not unforeseeably, the brothers wind up fighting each other, forcing them to face the issues which have strained their own relationship both in and out of the octagon. All the while, their father (Nick Nolte, resurrected from the grave of career-death-by-DUI), who trained them, finds himself conflicted over his sons’ anger toward one another and relapses into his own prior alcoholism problems. The climax of the film, which comes mere minutes before the credits, is both a touching and an edge-of-your-seat moment. 50/50: A perfect mix of humor and drama, 50/50 is a movie you might
Critics’ Corner This year, the Paw Print’s critics are using an “A+ -- F” grading scale.
go watch not expecting much. But after you may find yourself subtly moved. A man (Joseph GordonLevitt), barely thirty, discovers that he has advanced spinal cancer, which he has the titular 50/50 chance of surviving. Near the end of the film, there is a sequence featuring Liars’ “The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack”, and from the first chord to the last strum it’s a sequence that will stay with you for some time. While each scene serves a purpose of some kind or another—whether to express how unfortunate it is that such a young man is so sick, expand on the relationships Levitt has with his best friend (played by Seth Rogen), his mother (Anjelica Huston), his therapist and potential love interest (Anna Kendrick), as well as his deteriorating relationship with his current girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard), or provide comedic relief—the rest of the film, I think, is a build up to this one particular sequence. And it is because of that build-up that this film, both when I first saw it and when I re-watched it a week and a half ago, brought me as close to crying to a movie as I’ve ever come—as close as Brokeback Mountain, Beaches, One True Thing, The Bridges of Madison County, Schindler’s List, or Million Dollar Baby have brought me. Moneyball: I read somewhere that, in ten years, Moneyball will be one of those movies you’ll be ashamed you liked—much like Forrest Gump. Well, I like Forrest Gump, but I love Moneyball. It’s about baseball, which I’m not that into—I “follow” the Mets, for the same reason I “follow” the Nets in basketball; they rhyme with Jets—but despite that, you don’t have to be a sports fan to enjoy this film. The story follows the impeccably named Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), a failed-and-retired baseball player himself, now coaching the Oakland Athletics, on a crusade to revolutionize the game of baseball by having the teams with the most talent, instead of the most money, win. Joining him on the screen are the Athletics’ manager, Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and even more importantly general manager Peter Brand (Jonah Hill). For his role, Hill was nominated, among other awards, for a supporting Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Award. When I discovered this, I immediately saw the movie. This is the guy from Superbad, Get Him to the Greek, and The Sitter, sure, he can talk fast and deliver his lines well, but really? I soon came to find, his performance is one thing that makes the film work. The other, of course, is Pitt’s, who was also nominated for a slew of awards. The film is witty and entertaining, as well as gritty, emotional, and excellent. My Week With Marilyn: Unlike most biopics, which generally examine a figure’s birth through to his death, Marilyn examines a week in the shooting of the 1957 film The Prince and the Showgirl, starring Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier. And unlike most biopics, which tend to run long—take Oliver Stone’s intriguing but exhausting presidential pics JFK (189 minutes) and Nixon (192 minutes) or Spike Lee’s unbearably long Malcolm X (202 minutes)—Marilyn, at 101 minutes, doesn’t overstay its welcome, which I would have allotted to be much longer both because the film is about Monroe, one of the most fascinating actresses and overall personalities in the history of entertainment, and because of Michelle Williams’ (Shutter Island) incredible skill in portraying her. I genuinely believe that Michelle Williams is of the acting caliber of Meryl Streep, and I’m not saying that just because I have a massive crush on her; judging from Monroe’s films that I’ve seen—The Prince and the Showgirl, Some Like it Hot, All About Eve, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes—Williams couldn’t have been better cast. She’s also heavily supplemented by Kenneth Branagh’s (Henry V) performance as Olivier, and the two have great chemistry together. That’s it, folks! Honorable Mentions: The Help, J. Edgar, Take Shelter, Drive, and Young Adult.
The History of Mario Bree Vargas 2013
Super Mario Bros has been around for almost 30 years and has been evolving non-stop since its original release back in 1983 and continuing on its journey to keep up with today’s modern technology. Super Mario has been released on every one of Nintendo’s game consoles, starting with the very first Super Nintendo Entertainment System, up to the Nintendo Wii. As Monarchs have grown up, Mario has been there to keep us entertained. (Not every Mario game is included in this timeline; just the games that experienced the most graphical updates throughout the Mario evolution.) Mario’s Early Years (1980-1989): Mario was introduced in the first Donkey Kong, released in 1980, where Mario had to make his way up to Princess Peach at the top of several platforms, via ladders while avoiding barrels Donkey Kong threw down on him. This game is where Mario got the nickname “Jumpman”. Super Mario Bros was an arcade game in which you could either play one-on-one battle mode against Mario’s brother, Luigi. This game had an unlimited amount of turtles and other assorted enemies that would descend on you. This game introduced Mario as a plumber and showed Luigi for the first time. Super Mario Land (1989) was launched for the first ever on Game Boy, a handheld gaming console. Mario’s primary attack in this game is to jump on top of his enemies. Also because of this, Mario makes his way by hopping onto ascending platforms to reach the end of each stage. Mario Begins Evolving (1988-1994): Mario’s sprite began to appear less pixelated in additional games created between the late 1980’s and mid1990’s. Super Mario Bros 2 (1988): A slightly updated version of the original Super Mario Bros, all Gunpei Yokoi did was include Toad and Princess Bree is the Paw Print’s video Peach as playable characters. game critic Super Mario Bros 3 (1989): Another rescuing Princess Peach platform game, which outsold any other platformer in the world. You play as Mario and Luigi battling Bowser, defeating his Koopa Kids, and returning the Kings’ Wands of Power. Mario Gains Super Powers (1991-1993): The sprites of Mario were created with a bit more color, making him look more appeasing, and the graphics started to become much clearer, drawing in more fans. Super Mario World (1991): The first Mario game released on the Super Nintendo, the story begins with the kidnapping of Princess Toadstool. This adventure is not set in the Mushroom Kingdom but in Dinosaur Land, where Mario meets his companion, Yoshi. Super Mario Kart (1992) was the first ever Super Mario racing game. It was released on the Super Nintendo and featured three different cups (Mushroom, Flower, and Star, and featured one extra cup called the Special Cup,) three different racing speeds (50cc, 100cc, and 150cc), and three different modes (Battle, Grand Prix and Time Trial). The available characters were Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Koopa Troopa, and Yoshi. Next Dimension Mario (1996-2004): Mario broke away from 2D forever and was transformed into his first sprite in the 3D world. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996) focuses on Mario and his teammates as they seek to defeat Smithy, the game’s main antagonist, who has stolen the seven star pieces of Star Road. Mario’s Dark Hours (1995): Errors were appearing when Mario was being transfered onto the Atari game systems. He experienced a bigger gut, lightly colored outfits, odd body shapes--including a magenta dress making it look like he was pregnant. Mario Introduced to Modern Technology (1996-present): Mario was introduced to the Nintendo “Ultra” 64, Gamecube, and Wii. Mario came a long way in the video game world and he’ll always be up to date with modern technology. Mario 64 (1996): A 3D platformer where the player controls Mario through several courses. Each course can be reached by entering rooms full of pictures that Mario is able to jump into, sucking him into a world in which the player is free to wander in all directions and discover the environment without time limits. Each level has eight different tasks Mario must complete in order to gain stars. Super Mario Sunshine (2002) This game takes place on a tropical island, Isle Delfino, where Mario, Peach, and Toad are on vacation. A villain known as “Shadow Mario” vandalizes the entire island with graffiti, and Mario gets blamed for making the mess. Later, Mario is ordered to clean up Isle Delfino, while also saving Princess Peach from Shadow Mario. Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 (2007 & 2010): Mario and Yoshi team up to save Princess Peach once again from Bowser. They travel from planet to planet to collect power stars to help them get closer to rescuing Peach and defeating Bowser. Mario will forever be part of our childhood, and will continue on into our future. Super Mario Bros. is never a step behind.
Critics’ Corner
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A Harbinger of a Great Career April/May 2012 Amanda Sims 2012 A+ My American Year I’m sure that most of you have thought at least once in your life that you were insane;
but chances are that you are not actually crazy. Faye Robson, on the other hand, has always been different. Different in a way that everyone who matters—her teachers, peers, and parents—thinks is a sign of her inexistent sanity. Faye, on the other hand, knows that there is something special about herself, but she cannot decide whether that strangeness inside her will prove to be good, or will ultimately corrupt her. Sara Wilson Etienne’s Harbinger is a brilliant novel and definitely worth a read. It shines in several exceptional ways. First, the writing is extraordinary—the words flow easily from the page to the reader’s mind, and the descriptions are just plain beautiful. “A breeze swatted uselessly at the Amanda is the Paw stagnant air,” (page 35). Secondly, the genre is unusual for a Print’s book critic teen novel: psychological thriller. Attempting to unravel the
mystery before the pages do so is very much the same as completing ten difficult Sudokus. Also, the fact that it—as of today—will not have a sequel places it in the upper rungs of my grading scale. Multiple sequels tend to translate to an insufficient quality of literature as the author writes only for the purse, not the value of the message or the work of art. Faye is sentenced by her parents to a school--called Holbrook Academy--for temperamental teens against her will. After an escape attempt, Faye ends up making a friend in solitary confinement. No, she does not imagine this friend. Kel, also in solitary, is in an adjacent cell and they can still hear each other. For the first time she can remember, Faye is accepted at this school. Her assigned Family (her designated support group made up of five other kids) becomes more of a family to her than her real family ever could. Etienne manages to touch on the trials and tribulations of a teenage outcast that, to some degree, most of us feel at one point during childhood, and also comments on the destruction of our earth via pollution. Maya, one of Faye’s Family members, gives a speech about how “meat is murder,” (page 61). Every night, Faye and her Family fall asleep in their beds. Every morning, all six of them wake up on the floor with their hands covered in blood. Faye doesn’t know what is going on, but she does know that whatever it is, she is connected to it in some way, and so is Kel. Perhaps he is even the cause of it. And that is only skimming the surface of Faye’s problems. Overall, Harbinger is an amazing novel that blew my mind. The pacing is flawless and the mystery unsolvable until the words themselves piece the puzzle together. I was so involved and drawn into the novel that I couldn’t even put it down to walk to class—ask any of my friends. I rate it an A plus (and not just because the author is Mr. Shanley’s sister-in-law, but because of its stunning literary quality that is very near to being on the same level as Suzanne Collin’s Hunger Games series in the sense that it comments on the necessary improvement of society rather than spurring on the imperfections). Favorite quote: “Ever since the arson attempt the day before, the tension had been crackling at Holbrook. An undercurrent of agitation bristled through me as Dragon locked the gate. Forty disaffected kids fenced in together. Add blinding heat and no shade, and it was a recipe for anarchy” (page 199).
2008-2012 in Music
Anya Soboleva 2013 Here I go, breaking the newspaper article format. How is it possible to share the American experience of a Russian soul in a formal story? The school year is ending, so is my American one. Everyone has started the countdown; students and teachers can’t wait till the end of the year. I’m very tired of school too. But when it comes to thinking about my last days, the thought of going back home pops into my mind immediately. Everyone is asking: “Are you upset about going back?” And I start thinking, asking myself. For a lot of people it’s ridiculous-why does she have to think when it’s so awesome in the USA! It is. But there’s no place like home. My answer: I do not know. A little bit of history here: I knew that I was going to the U.S. for a year two weeks before the flight. When I got an email with all the information--Albuquerque, New Mexico, Manzano High School, etc.--first thing that was on my mind--High School Musical. You might laugh at me, but at least I didn’t think of Mexico itself. On August 15th, I found myself in Washington D.C., looking out of a hotel room window and realizing that stereotypes are true sometimes and Americans do eat a lot of fast food. Maybe it was three fast food places right next to each other that made me think that way. August 16th, I was in Albuquerque. I was in a car with my host-family, leaving
Anya is the Paw Print’s foreign exchange critic the airport parking lot and trying to close my mouth while looking at the huge pottery in the middle of the road. My first meal here was a corn-dog (my first corndog, by the way). Never thought it’s possible to come up with something like that, but it’s not bad, actually. That day my eyes even hurt a little. The thing is, I just left warm, humid, green and grey, summerfoggy Vladivostok (far east Russia, coast of the sea of Japan), and a bit later I’m in dry, bright, sunny, colorful Albuquerque. Surprisingly, it wasn’t hard to get used to the 17-hours time difference and the next day I was ready to go to school and do all the paperwork. August 18th, second period, U.S. History--my first class. I’m completely lost. My understanding ability was a disability for the first month, probably. Well, and everything was completely different. I came from a small school of 300 students where the campus is a three story building and a big gym. I doubt one can imagine how I felt. Now, eight months later, it’s taken me a while to remember those difficulties and impressions. It’s my everyday life right now. A year ago, I couldn’t
3 even think of watching games at Wilson Stadium, taking billions of pictures of Balloon Fiesta, and performing in front of all the school at the multicultural assembly. But now it’s my reality. Of course, it will be a little tough to adjust to my normal Russian life--that’s the opposite side of the cultural shock. But I still can’t handle the fact that my school day starts at 7:30 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. and ends at 2:25 p.m. instead of 1:05 p.m. I know, now you wish you could go to a Russian school with shorter periods. Talking about this year, I can say I regret nothing. It’s an experience not everyone can get. It’s a blessing. There was no person who told me it’s going to be an easy year, no. It was a rich one--with its ups and downs. The biggest problem is feeling homesick, the biggest gift-realizing that you are on a different part of the world, making friends with new people, sharing emotions and experiences, and getting new knowledge. I read classics of American literature, learned the history of your country, wrote for the school newspaper, struggled with my English everyday, learned my fourth language--Spanish, enjoyed living with my host-family, and just had a lot of fun. Looking back, I’m proud to say that I’ve accomplished a lot. But there’s a lot more to do. Maybe one day I’ll come back to the U.S. and expand my ‘American year.’
David Jio 2013 In 2008, the face of popular music was radically different; the airwaves were a dominated by the rising stomp of Southern-inspired simplistic mainstream hip-hop such as Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” and “A Milli”, supplemented by support from robotically melodic pitch-perfect anthems from stars such as the king of warble, T-Pain, popularizing the studio plugin Autotune’s unwavering cyborg flutter with his hit single “Can’t Believe It ft. Lil Wayne” peaking at #2 on the charts and introducing a sound that would later be adopted in the years to come by rappers and pop singers alike. Contrasting the candycoated squeaky clean sound of ’08 hip-hop was the popularity of the tame alternative rock of Nickelback and Coldplay, the latter’s single “Viva La Vida”, marking one of the last times that their breed of sterile corporate indie would go triple-platinum and top the charts. A relatively lucrative year for pulled-back, controlled melodicism, 2008 oversaw the stardom of inoffensive pop via Jason Mraz, Jonas Brothers (back when they still pledged by their Disney-engineered “promise rings”), Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Leona Lewis, Miley Cyrus, and Natasha Bedingfield, as well as radio hits from seasoned veterans Mariah Carey, Usher, Akon, and Beyonce, adapting their previous R&B flair to the club-friendly modesty of then-modern pop. 2008, as far as popular music was concerned, served as a gentle canvas upon which the coming years would soon pound into submission. The club-romp that began to creep into the charts in late 2008 would come to overrule the formerly docile musical environment, with the Dirty South club beats, sloppy ranting syllable flow, and the growing prominence of Autotune taking over the popular hip-hop world; Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, and Drake breaking barriers David is the Paw Print’s and splattering their trademark slur across a formerly 90’s influenced conventional hip-hop facade. In the shadow of the rap supergiant that flaunted its music critic drunken swagger against the pushover musical-spinach that held formerly held power, the first flickers of electro and house music began to intertwine with pop, with the four-to-the-floor dance hits beginning to gain momentum via Lady Gaga, Kesha, Katy Perry, and legitimate-electro-house-producer-gone-traitorous-hit-factory David Guetta, foreshadowing what would come to reign in the years to come; electronic dance music. Through 2010 and 2011, the once roaringly famous, family friendly musings of domestic indie rock were nearly wiped from popular existence, surviving solely through newcomer Bruno Mars’ generic-but-catchy odes to infatuation, teen-heartthrob Justin Bieber’s repetitive cookie-cutter slush, and Adele’s firebrand heartbreak anthems. Mainstream hip-hop maintained its polished hedonism, with Wiz Khalifa, Taio Cruz, and Young Money joining Weezy and Drake in their club-rage smoke/drink/sleep/repeat stupor, drenched in Autotune and angering the artsier, impassioned underground that would soon bear its fangs through the sudden popularity of Rhymesayers 20+ year hip-hop veterans Atmosphere and the counterculture’s vicious, profane response to Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang; Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, shortened to OFWTKTA or simply Odd Future; spearheaded by skate-punk lyricists Tyler The Creator and Earl Sweatshirt; characterized by artsy, indirect slant rhymes and complex rhythmic displacement along with vitriolic and at-times disturbing lyrics packed equally with both profanity and passion. This clash of the false-sounding, plastic pop-rap that held predominance with the grittier, more genuine growl of acts like Odd Future and Lupe Fiasco shook popular music and marked the mass public’s growing interest in less cookie-cutter, more legitimate sounding music. Along with this rise to fame of anti-establishment innovative revolt came one short EP that forever shattered the line between electronic music, aggressive metallic romp, and pop music in a furious storm of hyper-trance melodies, enveloping synthesizers, soothing female vocals, screaming midrange growl, and earthshaking bassweight; Skrillex’s Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites, which singlehandedly took the growing sound of American-adaptation of a UK bass music phenomenon known as dubstep and combined it with the in-your-face, jugular-vein attack of popular club pop, house, electro, and trance, enchanting millions of rebellious teenagers and artistic deviants worldwide, and bringing to popularity the works of many other bass music and electronic acts that had been doing similar work for years; only this time, former post-hardcore frontman Sonny Moore was able to blend the perfect mixture of skyscraper-leveling aggression and ear-friendly synth pop, bursting the door wide open on pop music for electronic producers of all walks of life to gain prominence, without major recording contracts, losing artistic control, or demographic pandering. The already famous in the rave scene house and trance artists deadmau5 and Kaskade spearheaded the unified, euphoric bounce of house music; dubstep veterans Rusko, Excision, and Bassnectar and glitch kings Pretty Lights, KOAN Sound, and the Glitch Mob experiencing an influx of new fans as they watched their music go fro niche internet fare and backalley club gems to popular anthems written about in SPIN, Rolling Stone, and various other widely read music magazines; and more experimental producers with cult followings such as Pendulum, Ewun, and Spor shed their avant-garde and used their know-how to become bass giants Knife Party, Kill The Noise, and Feed Me, respectively. This sudden rise to prominence inspired a massive underground movement of new producers to be thrust into the spotlight; 17 year old Porter Robinson’s story of being picked up by Skrillex from the highschool to the highrise podium and taken on tour to perform in front of thousands of people being a sign of the displacement of popular music with electronic influences and the rise of multi-thousand-attendee festivals such as Electric Daisy Carnival and Ultra becoming fabled Woodstocks of the electronic generation. The four years that the class of 2012 has been in high school have been some of the most radical in terms of changing of popular music in history; this new musical world is one of spirit, passion, and heart finally getting the widespread recognition they deserve; in the course of human history and compared to “real world” events and achievements, I think that’s worth just as many headlines.
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April/May 2012
School News
The Senior Staff of the Newspaper Says Goodbye!
Billy Huntsman (Co-Editor-In-Chief)
Favorite color: Red. Favorite food: Bread. Favorite movie: The Dark Knight. What will you miss most about Newspaper? How fulfilling it is each time we put out the newspaper, and Cheyanne.
Bryanna Boughter
Favorite color: Blue. Favorite food: Pizza. Favorite movie: Love & Basketball. What will you miss most about Newspaper? Reminding Mr. Kraus that Miami is better than the Bulls.
Cheyanne Herrera (Co-Editor-In-Chief)
Favorite color: Teal/Coral Favorite food: French fries. Favorite movie: The Secret Life of Bees. What will you miss most about Newspaper? Mr. Kraus, Billy, and Tyler.
Sean Cairns (Head Writer)
Favorite color: I don’t have one. Favorite food: Chocolate. Favorite movie: Once. What will you miss most about Newspaper? Being busy.
Edward Ramirez
Rhianna Sczczesiul
Favorite color: Blue. Favorite food: Cuban food. Favorite movie: Final Fantasy: Avid Children What will you miss most about Newspaper? Being able to write about what I’m interested in.
Favorite color: Crimson. Favorite food: Lunchables. Favorite movie: Role Models. What will you miss most about Newspaper? Mr. Kraus’ shenanigans.
MHS Shows Off Its Talent
Taty Amaro 2013 A night filled with singing, break-dancing, piano and guitar playing, and silly contests were the memorable performances of Manzano’s annual student talent show. The majority of the performances were students showing off their singing abilities with a wide range of music. From country to R&B and pop songs, all were sung by MHS students and enjoyed by the audience. The show started off with sophomore Emma Vaitkus singing “Blood” while playing the guitar. It ended with junior Shaelee Hjorth singing “Last Kiss” while playing piano. “I liked Eli (Lopez)’s because he actually dedicated it to someone and it was really cute. And I got to see Kirstie (Lopez), I didn’t know she could sing,” said Cassie Brennand, junior. Between every three or so performances, the emcees, seniors Caitlin Casper and Nicolette Sikelianos, asked for volunteers from the audience to participate in contests. One contest was to place an Oreo on your forehead and try to get it to your mouth without using your hands. Another was a race of taking toilet paper apart sheet by sheet (which took a while). For the last contest, selected boys had to put makeup on their girl-partners while blindfolded. “I liked the makeup one. Casey (Gauthier, junior) was actually doing good at first,” said Brennand. In the midst of all the talents being showcased, there was a band consisting of Jacob Devico, Levi Atterberry, and Keith Harrison, called Symphony of Screams. Toward the end of the show, there was a twist when freshman Breaisha Reese went on stage. She sang “No One” while the audience clapped the beat. Senior Michelle Haack and Hjorth sang while playing the piano. “Shalee got really into it,” said Brennand. There was a break-dancing performance by junior Johnathan Thai, senior Coty Tran, senior Justin Jew, and freshman Randy Bacdi, which the audience enjoyed. Teachers Heather Boni, Versa Clark, Patricia Lewis, and James Schwank judged the night’s performances. They judged the talents on five catagories: originality, enthusiasm, entertainment, little/no mistakes, and overall talent. The scores depended on the judges’ ratings from one to five points. “It was exciting just to see all the participants. The thing I enjoyed
Tyler Gallegos (Lead Writer)
Favorite color: Red. Favorite food: Pizza. Favorite movie: The Lion King. What will you miss most about Newspaper? The great memories with the rest of the editing staff.
Amanda Sims
Favorite color: Green. Favorite food: Chocolate. Favorite movie: The Hunger Games. What will you miss most about Newspaper? Having the excuse to read books for homework..
the most was [judging],” said Schwank. Before the final results were in, there was an unexpected surprise. The lights turned off and Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend” began to play. When the lights came on again, a dozen guys dressed in tuxedos stood on the stage, and they “strutted their stuff” while the song played. Finally, the results were in and the judges gave third place to Shaelee Hjorth (sang “Last Kiss” and played the piano), second place to Sean Cairns, the Paw Print’s head writer (sang “Broadway” and played guitar), and first place to Kirstie and Eli Lopez (a duet to a mix of “My Favorite Girl” and “I’m Yours”, and Elijah played the guitar). “I knew we were going to place but I didn’t think we would actually win. I didn’t want to get our hopes up,” said Kirstie.
School News Farewell to Ms. Cortez
Sean Cairns 2012
Helen Cortez, Manzano activities director, is retiring after spending 27 years at Manzano. Ms. Cortez has spent 12 years at Manzano as the activities director and has become one of the most well-known figures on Manzano’s campus. She is synonymous with all of the largest events that take place around campus and is held in high regard by both the senators who work with her directly and by the student body as a whole. Ms. Cortez began her career with Albuquerque Public Schools in 1974. She taught for ten years at Rio Grande High School. In 1984, she made the switch to Manzano. When she first arrived at Manzano, she taught government. After she had gained enough tenure, she secured a position in the foreign language department teaching Spanish. After teaching Spanish for a number of years, Ms. Cortez applied for and was hired to the position of activities director. “The previous activities director, Leigh Church, encouraged me to apply,” said Ms. Cortez. “I had considered it when Libby Tilley retired, but I wasn’t ready to leave the classroom. I was having a lot of fun teaching Spanish,” added Cortez. Ms. Cortez said that the position seemed to fit her well, even before she got the job. When the opening came, Ms. Cortez decided to take the job. “I used to attend Manzano events, whether it be a concert, a sporting event, or a school dance, on a regular basis when I was a teacher,” explained Ms. Cortez. “I figured this position would not open up again for quite some time, so I decided the timing was right.” Ms. Cortez explained that she did not make this decision lightly; she really enjoyed the time she had spent in the classroom and missed it. She did say however that the activities director position has given her a chance to
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impact the school in different ways. During her time at Manzano, Ms. Cortez has participated in most of the major events that have affected the school. She cites the largest and most memorable as the hosting of the National Conference in 1988. For those who aren’t familiar, once a year there is a national delegation of student senators who come from across the nation to participate in workshops, swap ideas, and vote on decision that directly affect education across the country. “I had never experienced anything quite like it,” said Ms. Cortez. “There was so much positive energy and excitement in the air. It was an awesome experience.” At this time, Ms. Cortez was not yet the activities director; the position was still held by Ms. Tilley. In the 2008-2009 school year, Manzano, under the leadership of Ms. Cortez, hosted the New Mexico Association of Student Councils State Conference. The senators and Ms. Cortez worked tirelessly to transform Manzano High School into a jungle, complete with life sized models of animals, jungle walks, and a Jeep. According to all of the other advisors who were around when MHS hosted the conference, no one has outdone Manzano or Ms. Cortez yet. One year later, Ms. Cortez was instrumental in Therese Carroll’s transition into the position of principal. “She’s the perfect colleague for me to start with as a principal,” said Ms. Carroll. Ms. Carroll said that Ms. Cortez had a clear knowledge of how things were supposed to be done, but responded well to the changes that Ms. Carroll made. “She understands the chain of command better than most,” said Ms. Carroll. Ms. Carroll describes Ms. Cortez as the perfect balance between discipline and fun; something that Ms. Carroll regards as essential to the position of activities director. Ms. Carroll attributes Ms. Cortez’s calculated command and detail-oriented organization of events to her experience in the United States Marine Corps. Ms. Cortez served in
Historic History Teacher Retires
Heather Fisk 2013
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the US. Marine Corps after high school and achieved the rank of sergeant. Cortez explained that joining the military was the only feasible way for her to pay for a college education. A lot of students are now probably wondering what Ms. Cortez is going to do with her time, now that she will no longer be a part of the MHS faculty. Ms. Cortez has some definite plans for her new free time. “After all these years of being limited to traveling during June and July, I am looking forward to traveling during the fall and spring months,” explained Ms. Cortez. Prior to the restrictions set on traveling by her job, Ms. Cortez visited many countries in Europe and South America. “I plan to volunteer somewhere and continue being productive. It might be fun to take a couple of stress-free classes, such as painting and photography,” explained Ms. Cortez. Ms. Cortez has been one of the most influential figures at Manzano in recent years. “Regardless of what event it was–coronation assembly, faculty talent show, prom –I have always been amazed at how the student senators, teachers, staff, and parents would come together and make it happen. There was never a single event where I stood alone. I am grateful to all of those who worked behind the scenes to see these events to the very end. I have been rewarded in so many different ways,” said Ms. Cortez.
Ms. Wong Heads Home Tyler Gallegos 2012
Manzano High School special-ed teacher Hui-win Wong is going back to Malaysia after three productive years at Manzano. Ms. Wong came to the States to pursue her Master’s at UNM for special education and teaching, under the APS/UNM sponsorship program that paid for her schooling as a teacher and student. The only requirement for the program was that Ms. Wong teach in the field(s) of her major. Over her years at MHS, Ms. Wong said she’s loved working with her students and really wishes to continue teaching. The special education program doesn’t exist in schools in Malaysia, and to stay in the States Ms. Wong would have to buy a visa, which would cost $2,000. That’s only for one more year in the country. Ms. Wong didn’t come with the intention to staying here to teach. But she ended up being very successful teaching the subjects of geometry, algebra, and science. “It’s a big loss to Manzano and the special-ed department because she is such a great teacher and works with her students one-on-one, and we will miss her,” said sophomore Katie Gallegos. Ms. Wong’s working visa ends in August, preventing her from teaching another year. Although she is leaving, she will miss all of her students and the experience of teaching at Manzano. “The longer I’m here the more I want to go home, but it’s bittersweet because I’m going to miss life here,” said Ms. Wong Ms. Wong hopes to find a teaching position back in Malaysia at the college level. However, it will be hard to find a teaching position in her field. Ms. Wong’s time at Manzano has been, for many, too short, and those who have had her will surely miss her, but wish her the best of luck on any path she chooses.
Manzano is losing a lot of great staff at the end of the If you have an idea for a 2012 school year. First, we learned that Coach Ocampo, head football coach leaving to Las Cruces. Then we found story, would like to see more out that Mrs. Cortez, is retiring from activities director. of a certain section, or if you And then Ms. Wong would be returning to Malaysia. Now we have learned that one of the most respected would like to place an ad, members of the History department is retiring as well. please see Mr. Kraus in room Versa Clark, who has been at Manzano for the past seven years, is calling it a career. K-212 or email the Paw Print at “He’s one of my favorite teachers” said Luis Flores, manzanopawprint@yahoo.com junior. Born in Natchitoches, Louisiana, a young Mr. Clark was raised with strict manners, religious values, and to always respect elders. Being very involved in high school, Mr. Clark played in the band and orchestra, ran track, and played football. However, after school activities were not his only focus’ a dedicated student, he graduated fourth in his class. One week after graduating , Mr. Clark joined the Air Force. This gave him the opportunity to see much of the world, including two tours of Vietnam. Leaving the service as an E5 (SSgt), Mr. Clark then began a series of jobs involving analyst work. During this time, Mr. Clark got a BA in sociology. He later went back to finish the needed credits to obtain a teaching license. “I always had an interest in teaching” said Mr. Clark. He was surprised to find that in his first year of teaching, a student recognized him as a teacher who made a difference. To this day, many students would agree that Mr. Clark does indeed make a difference. “I enjoy his class, he’s a very inspirational teacher and I love his stories. He always tells us how to make sure we stay on track and focus on school and just about former experiences at Manzano. I’m going to miss him,” said Chloe Sweeney, junior. Two people in particular most contributed to Mr. Clark’s positive kick-off as a teacher. Coach Julian, who was his student teacher, had a huge impact. “ I had a very positive experience with Coach Julian. A lot of my success at Manzano came from that experience,” stated Mr. Clark. On a more personal level was Ms. Sellers. A mentor, as well as one of the people closest to Mr. Clark at Manzano. “She told me to be aware of my students and always meet their needs. That advice really paid off,” recalled Mr. Clark. Finishing up his seventh year at Manzano, Mr. Clarks says he will miss teaching, and more specifically the purple pride among the staff and students. If he could change one thing, it would be for there to be equal or more emphasis on academics over athletics. He plans to move back to Louisiana, with hopes of doing plenty of traveling, particularly overseas. Manzano thanks Mr. Clark for the years of dedicated work and wishes him well.
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Schools News
April/May 2012
Former Lobo Named Basketball Coach Continued Tyler Gallegos 2012 “Green” Monarchs have gotten used to having a program and Travis’. They both are very
winning basketball team. A lot of that success came from the hard work of head coach Travis Julian. However, next year Coach Julian is stepping down and his assistant David Gibson is taking over. Coach Julian has been with the basketball program since 2007-2008 season. Julian started as an assistant coach under the former head coach, Greg Brown, before taking the head coach position himself. While Coach Julian will no longer be the head coach, he is staying on the staff, and will be Gibson’s assistant. Julian will be essentially switching spots with former UNM guard David Gibson, who also was sitting next to both Julian and Brown when the Monarchs won the State Championship in 2005. “If anyone deserves the opportunity, it would be David. He is a great coach and I’m happy for him,” said Coach Julian. Gibson graduated from UNM in 1993 and is now currently working at Sandia National Labs. He was once the starting point guard for the Lobos and led the team to the NCAA Tournament, where he went up against Allen Iverson (yes, the Allen Iverson!) “I was very excited to be part of Greg’s
Dorm Tips
Shane Esposito 2013 Have you ever wondered how you would survive dorm life? If so, this is the perfect article for you. Following is some advice on how to survive the college life and the dorms. These tips will help you avoid any hazards to your health, and make sure you and your roommate don’t wind up at each other’s throats. Wear Sandals in the Shower: Trust me on this one, you’re going to be
successful, have a great work ethic, and they’re grinders. They like to put in a lot of hours and do their homework. It was a blessing to work with those two great coaches,” said Gibson according to the Albuquerque Journal. Gibson later stated in the Journal that he looks forward to working with Julian. Coach Julian doesn’t just teach basketball; off the court he is an MHS history teacher. “I enjoy teaching, and I’m very serious about teaching; but my passion is basketball,” said Coach Julian. While on the court, Coach Julian used his coaching skills to lead the MHS basketball teams to win three consecutive district championships as well as runner-up for State Championship last year. “He’s (Julian) a huge part of the program. I’m just thankful I got a chance to be coached by him my senior year,” said senior Varsity player Mike Nolan Coach Julian has 103 wins and 44 loses under his belt as the head coach at MHS, and just last year was named Metro Coach of the Year. Coach Gibson has big shoes to fill, but he has plenty of coaching and playing experience to assist him in this transition.
sharing the same shower with hundreds of other people who wash all the day’s filth onto those floors. Get Along With Your Roommate: You probably have heard this one before, but this is an important top. You don’t have to be best friends with them, and you don’t even have to like them; just set boundaries that you both agree on. It’s better to not be enemies with the person sleeping five feet away from you.
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very best he can in every single class he’s taken at Manzano.” Many, including fellow seniors, as well as underclassmen, may be wondering how Weeks manages to contribute to organizations such as band and Model UN, take the most challenging courses Manzano offers, and still have downtime to watch Samuel L. Jackson recite Ezekiel 25:17. “If I have work to do, I make time for it. Plan everything ahead of time and try to get something done whenever you have down time. Another thing that I do is break everything into the smallest parts possible, so that nothing seems overwhelming. I try to do a little bit of something every day so that I am not too busy,” said Weeks. But don’t think Weeks takes getting accepted into Notre Dame and being valedictorian for granted. “To me, being valedictorian means that hard work and determination do pay off in a major way. I am also glad that the competition drove me to give the best that I could. Getting accepted into Notre Dame means that if you are willing to work, you can achieve whatever you want, and I am honored that I was accepted,” said Weeks. Weeks’ success may certainly be an inspiration for other students, but his peers are not the only ones whom he has affected. “Michael is a role model for all students,” Ms. Boni said. “In many ways, it is clear that Michael operates at the genius level. He has affected my teaching insofar as I have worked very hard to be ‘worthy’ of such a student. I would have been ashamed to have failed him in any way. Basically, if Michael feels that I have helped him, and if he feels that my courses are valuable, then it reaffirms my abilities as a teacher of other students at that level.” At the end of the interview, Weeks celebrated his accomplishments by wadding up the plastic wrap for his sandwich and pitching it into the trash, “Kobe!”
Get Out Whenever Possible: It’s inevitable--you’re going to feel trapped after a while in such a confined space with another person. So try to get out whenever you have time; walk, exercise, go see a movie, get some food, anything. Remember the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. I’m not saying you can’t
mess around and pull a few pranks on your roommate, but they’re going to get you back, in all likelihood. Explore Your Dorm: Look around a few days before moving in; know where the bathrooms are so you don’t have to embarrass yourself by asking; unless of course that’s your ice-breaker to getting dates.
Call to Make Your Reservations Now!
601 Juan Tabo Boulevard Northeast Albuquerque, NM 87123 (505) 275-9948
Sports Adcox Added to the Roster
Tyler Gallegos 2012 With former football head coach Aaron Ocampo leaving the MHS community, the biggest question in the local sports scene was: Who would fill his shoes as head coach? But the answer came as soon as it was asked and it was Manzano High School’s very own Chad Adcox. Coach Adcox came to Manzano originally as the assistant coach for the MHS football team, and has been coaching for ten years. Adcox himself has said that he loves the game, the team spirit, and the team itself. “I’m excited to continue the Manzano football tradition of reaching State for five years,” said Coach Adcox Coach Adcox did not fully become a teacher until three years ago, when he became a gym teacher for MHS. Before
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that, the school knew him as the football team’s assistant coach; a man determined to make the team as best as it could be. “Adcox is a great coach; he takes the initiative of being a leader. He knows what he is talking about; he is very knowledgeable about the game of football,” said senior and Varsity football player Antonio Gutierrez. In his ten years as assistant coach, Adcox learned a lot from Coach Ocampo, including learning how to run a team. Manzano has been in the running for State for five straight years; Adcox hopes to keep that tradition going. “I think it’s a lot better to have Adcox than bring another coach in who doesn’t know us or the program,” said junior and football player Brandon Rael Coach Adcox wants to keep the team as much the same as he can, and because
of this many are happy with his taking the lead role for next year’s football season. “Adcox did a great job at adjusting from receivers coach to defensive coordinator, and had one of the best defenses in the state,” said Gutierrez Coach Ocampo recently transferred to Centennial High School in Las Cruces, taking over the head coach position for their Varsity football team. It is likely that at some point Coach Adcox will face his mentor. “I’m really looking forward to the challenge of going against Ocampo in the future,” said Coach Adcox. Adcox has said that the prospect of heading Manzano’s prestigious Varsity football team is daunting, but he genuinely looks forward to facing that challenge with his players.
NFL Winners and Losers of the Offseason Rafael Ruiz 2013
The offseason in the NFL is very important for every team: Based on the decisions made in the offseason, teams will either get better or worse. As this important time winds down, let’s take a look at the top five winners and losers this offseason. Top Five Winners 1. Denver Broncos The Broncos have topped every team in the NFL landing quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning, who spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, was released and took some time looking into teams. Teams like the 49ers, Dolphins, Titans, Redskins, and the Cardinals all had a shot to land him. But something about the Broncos caused Manning chose them. Denver’s chances of going to the Super Bowl went from very low to very high. The Broncos unquestionably are the number one winners this offseason. 2. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers have been on fire this offseason. Despite not signing the biggest name (P. Manning), they did sign a lot of other great players who are coming either off a great season or out of retirement. Let’s start with wide receiver Randy Moss. Moss did not play at all last season and was barely mentioned in the season before, when he was let go by the Patriots, Vikings, and the
Titans. The 49ers also signed two Super Bowl Champs. The bulldozing Brandon Jacobs and Super Bowl XLVI hero wide receiver Mario Manningham. Since the 49ers were Super Bowl contenders last year and were one game away from being there, can they do it now? 3. Chicago Bears The Bears have finally picked up the missing pieces for quarterback Jay Cutler, signing wide receiver Brandon Marshall and running back Michael Bush. Marshall and Cutler will reunite once again in Chicago, but can they do what they did in Denver when they connected like no other? And what about Matt Forte and Michael Bush? That’s a great combination of running backs. Forte has the speed and size, and Bush has the size for third down or goal situations. But will Forte get along with Michael Bush? Let’s not forget that a season ago Forte was threatening his own team that he wasn’t going to play if he didn’t get a new contract. 4. New York Jets It’s Tebow-time in New York! The Jets have traded a fourth, a sixth, and a seventh round pick to Denver for Tebow. How will Tebow be used in New York? Will he push Mark Sanchez out of a job? The Jets have also signed strong safety LaRon Landry from the Washington
Redskins. Landry is looking to make the secondary that much better. 5. Buffalo Bills The Bills have signed one of the best defensive ends in Mario Williams from the Houston Texans. Are the Bills finally reforming their team like the New York Giants did in 2007? Or is it going to be another bust season for them? It’s important to remember that they started 3-0 last season. Top Five Losers 1. Miami Dolphins They didn’t get Peyton Manning as hoped. Everyone was thinking and praying that Manning would go to Miami for the 2012-2013 season, but the Dolphins blew their chance. They also lost wide receiver Brandon Marshall. 2. Indianapolis Colts Why on earth would you release the 7-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XLI champion/MVP? Because of a neck injury? Yes, Manning is 36 but he’s still playing at the top of his game. 3. New Orleans Saints Bye-Bye, Coach Sean Payton. Coach Payton is suspended for all of the 20122013 season for a bounty scandal. A bounty scandal is where the coaches pay their players more to hurt other players on purpose. Football is a brutal
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Coach Adcox is looking forward to heading the Manzano Varsity football team. Photo courtesy of Billy Huntsman. sport already, and when coaches pay their players more money to hurt certain players (**cough cough** Brett Favre), that is a serious crime. So what does this mean for the Saints this year? Will it affect their chances of getting into the playoffs? 4. Houston Texans Losing one of the best defensive ends who gets double digit sacks every year is a key loss. Who is going to replace Mario Williams as defensive end? Houston does have JJ Watt, but not even he can do it on his own. 5. New York Giants Losing two really great players like Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs? Who would let those two NFL stars go. Manningham being the Super bowl XLVI hero and Brandon Jacobs being one of the biggest running backs in the NFL, both signed with the 49ers--a team that they beat to be in the Super Bowl. Now we all wonder: Do the Giants have what it takes to get back into the Super Bowl this season? Or are they going to be a bust in the 2012-2013?
A Season to Remember
Patrick Smithgee 2013 Although the NBA is on a more condensed schedule than usual, it has not disappointed. As the regular season draws to a close and we begin the battle for the right to be called champtions, let’s recap some of the top stories that have contributed to an amazing season. NBA LOCKOUT: The lockout began on July 1, 2011. The main reason for the lockout was that the players and owners were divided when it came to the structure of salary caps and luxury taxes. The good news is that everyone eventually came to an agreement and December 8, 2011 was the start of the new 66 game season. CP3 TRADE: As the NBA lockout drew to a close, the New Orleans Hornets made a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets--a three-team trade. Houston would have given the Hornets Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, and Goran Dragic for a future draft pick. Lakers would have given the Hornets Lamar Odom, and sent Pau Gasol to the Rockets; and the Hornets would have given Chris Paul to the Lakers. Since the Lakers got rid of their two players, they would have had enough money to get Dwight Howard. Unfortunately, the deal was killed because
David Stern basically said that it wouldn’t be in the best interests of the NBA to have Chris Paul in a Lakers uniform. One week later Paul was traded to the Clippers instead. LINSANITY: The ultimate Cinderella story. Jeremy Shu-How Lin didn’t receive an athletic scholarship out of high school, but he was very smart and got accepted to Harvard University. He was undrafted out of college, and was assigned to the NBA Development League (D-League) three times. He was finally guaranteed a contract deal with his hometown Golden State Warriors, but then was waived to the Houston Rockets in the pre-season. Then
he joined the Knicks in the 2011-2012 seasons, but he was again assigned to the D-league and didn’t play much. In February 2012 he was promoted to the starting lineup for the Knicks and gave fans hope again. He gave the Knicks a winning streak without the help of Amare Stoudemire or Carmelo Anthony. This led to the global sensation known as Linsanity. OKC DOMINATION: The Oklahoma City Thunder has probably the best duo in the NBA, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who average 51.7 points per game. A lot of people criticized this team,
saying that they were too young and inexperienced to win a championship or even compete with veteran teams. But last year during the playoffs, OKC showed the world that they are not a team to mess with. Although they were good last year, they’re even better this season. It’s not just Kevin Durant and Westbrook. It’s their whole team; everyone on that team comes out and plays with so much effort, whether it’s James Harden making plays, Serge Ibaka blocking shots, or Kendrick Perkins dominating in the paint. It shows that everyone on the team is on the same page and wants to win. STILL 1 WITHOUT #1: The Bulls proved this season that they have the best bench in the league. With no Derrick Rose, the bench has stepped up and carried the team. CJ Watson, who is Rose’s back-up, has done an amazing job and has proven he is an elite point guard. He gets the team involved, whether it’s giving it to Kyle Korver to make a crucial three or handing it to Taj Gibson, who is so aggressive in the paint and extremely hard to guard. Another factor in the Bulls’ deep bench is John Lucas III, who has proven to be a great scorer and defender. With Watson directing the team, it’s no wonder why they keep on winning. So as Rose heals up, the Bulls bench will continue to fight
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Monarchs
April/May 2012
Athletes
Students and Staff of the Year!
Staff
Lynne Armijo
Cassidy Velez
Samantha Sword-Fehlberg
Cassidy is the Deca President, Editor and Chief of the Yearbook, and Vice President of the National Honors Society; to say she is an active student at MHS is an understatement. She has an overall GPA of 3.8 and islooking forward to joining a sorority at the University of New Mexico
Samantha has participated in band, for which she is a drum major; track and field, for which she has qualified for State; and swimming, also qualifying for State. She has lettered in all three organizations. She is going to Northern Arizona University, where she plans to major in both music education and astronomy, and minor in German.
Mrs. Armijo is the office manager who has been here for 22 years. She has done everything attendance clerk to one of the alphabet secretaries. Mrs. Armijo has recently been diagnosed with cancer and has gone through 36 treatments of radiation and chemo. The Paw Print thanks her for her service and courage, and we wish her a speedy recovery.
Justin Jew
Felipe Ramirez
Edward Bortot
An aspiring entrepreneur hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps in running a successful photography studio. He plans on taking his cumulative 3.7 GPA and contagious enthusiasm to the University of New Mexico to receive his Master’s in business.
Felipe is a real diverese athlete and has participated in football, wrestling, and track. He has developed a very strong worth ethic and is going to New Mexico Tech to pursue engineering.
Mr. Bortot does it all. He is anAVID teacher, dean of students, and has been both an assistant principal.
Clogan’s Monthly Musing: Food
“Experience The Flavor of New Mexico”
Cloie Logan 2013 This is a warning: There’s such a thing called the Freshman 15. It might be out to get you in your freshman year of college, if you’re not careful. Want some explanation? Thought so. The Freshman 15 is when you gain (on average) 15 pounds during Planning your Graduation Party? your freshman year of college. It affects most Let us Help! freshmen if you don’t do anything to prevent it. Some PAPA’S GRADUATION SPECIALS: say it’s a result of increased drinking, not enough 15% OFF YOUR PARTY’S DINE-IN FOOD TOTAL* physical activity, and eating late at night. As if 15% OFF YOUR CATERING FOOD TOTAL* freshmen should be drinking in the first place (cough cough). Another part of it is food. Many cafeteriaPRIVATE DINING ROOM AVAILABLE style eating establishments at universities are either 9800 Menaul Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112 fatty cafeteria food (unlimited desserts don’t help) or (505) 292-8877 sometimes just fast food like in UNM’s SUB, not to Catering: (505) 903-0854 mention the plethora of nummy snackems you know Open 7 Days a Week everyone hoards in their dorms. This is going to be your first year in college, but Visit us at: papafelipes.com more importantly for some, your first year out on your *(Please present this ad to receive discounts) own. You’ll get to make your own food choices among Expires: 6/30/12 other things. The thing is, making stupid choices can be immediately jeopardizing to your well-being. If you don’t eat right and exercise you may cause longterm damage to your health that is hard to reverse. I know you’ve heard it all before, but it’s true. As a society, we have the bad habit of eating fast, cheap, comfort food because it’s what tastes good, and it’s what we want. But really, if our Russian exchange student’s first impressions upon entering the country was, “Wow, they do eat a lot of fast food” (see page 3) then that must mean something is wrong. And don’t even get me started about ‘pink slime’. That offending substance should be banned from the face of the Earth. I mean, Canada, the UK, and the European Union have all already deemed it unsellable as food. I’m sure it can’t be good. Therefore, we have to make this choice. Eat the pink slime and three helpings of pie and lounge about all night, or eat some vegetables and natural, good meat that hasn’t been soaked in oil, and a small slice of pie, and then go jogging for half an hour later? Many freshman now try to avoid the Freshman 15 altogether rather than deal with its consequences. It really is up to you if you want to make good choices for your body, but you might pay for it later, especially after your high teenage metabolism simmers down. Your taste buds might crave French fries and triple layer cheese chalupa tacos, but your body wants good things, like fruits, veggies, and protein. It’s okay to indulge—you don’t have to go full vegan (though it is a great lifestyle choice if you can pull it off)—but just take a minute to think about what you put into your body. This isn’t just about the Freshman 15, it’s about the rest of your life, and what choices you make can really affect how you feel about yourself.
Contact Information Advisor: Matt Kraus Editors-In-Chief: Cheyanne Herrera; Billy Huntsman
Junior Editors-in-Chief: Cloie Logan; Meadow Butler; Heather Fisk
Copy Editor: Billy Huntsman
Layout Design: Cheyanne Herrera
School News Editor/Head Writer: Sean Cairns
Editorial Editor/Lead Writer: Tyler Gallegos
Ad/Business Manager: Sean Cairns; Shelby-Lynne Lujan
Phone: 559-5904 E-mail: manzanopawprint@ yahoo.com