Eagle Eye Issue 5, April 2014

EAGLE EYE April 21, 2014 // Vol. 13 // Issue 5

Involvement Mountain Vista students share their stories of participation in sports and clubs throughout the school. p. 13

Mountain Vista High School // 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

2 // Eagle Eye // Issue 5

EAGLE EYE

VOLUME 13 // ISSUE 5 // APRIL 21, 2014 BEFORE WE BEGIN

MORE EPIC PHOTOS

Junior Megan Massey completes a pass in a varsity soccer game.

Kendra Lavallee competes against Chaparral for varsity tennis March 14 and Billy Doro swims against Regis.

4 // Epic Photo

26 // Sports Shots

NEWS

6 // Schedule Change

A recap of the reactions to Vista’s change to the “five of seven plus one” schedule to the 2014-2015 school year.

OPINION

8 // Stuff That Ticks Me Off

Copy editor Tyler Kraft shares his views on the controversy caused by the schedule change.

12 // Staff Editorial

The difference between dedication to few activities and being stretched between many.

SOCIAL MEDIA @vista_now /vistanow @vistanow facesofvista ON THE COVER: Photo by Gabe Rodriguez

EAGLE INK Senior Michael Dunnebecke follows through with a hit during a varsity baseball scrimmage against Columbine. Mountain Vista beat Columbine.

Photograph by Sydney Ostdiek

14 Avery Adams

THEME

20 Jordan Moilanen

Dedication and hard work allowed her to follow in her sisters’ footsteps and play varsity soccer.

Moilanen’s passion for lacrosse continues to drive her each day.

15 Kimmie Stansbury

Winning in DECA competitions started as a bet, but has transformed into his success.

by Anna Theis

Being in FCCLA gives her the opportunity to help the community.

by Tara O’ Gorman and Lauren Borchardt

16 Akshira Weiser

Reading has become a way to connect to others and share her passion.

by Reagan Fitzke

17 Kobe Holdren

As captain of the volleyball team, Holdren has taken on the leadership role with teamwork in mind.

by Amy Huang

21 Austin Butler

31 // One Question, Five Answers What are you passionate about and why?

22 Peyton Galbraith

23 Sarah Olson

Burton strives to work hard each day and always prepare for track competitions.

by Kelsey Pharis

Challenges never fazed this captain who always is helping his team persevere.

by Katie Pickrell

19 Aparna Krishnaswamy

BEFORE WE END

Photography has always been a part of the life she shares with others.

by Caitlin Cobb, Antonia Fornaro and Shelby Crumley

by Peyton Reeves

With her friend, Krishnaswamy shares temporary failures and lasting successes.

by Tori Soper

A preview of VISTAj’s student arts supplement.

by Lexi Weingardt and Conner Davis

Olson puts service above herself through community service and Interact Club.

by Karin Wyks

18 Jordan Burton

28 // Literary Magazine

24 Brendan McGuire

25 Taylor Blatchford

Her passion for journalism helped her win JEA 2014 National High School Journalist of the Year.

by Sydney Ostdiek

VISTANOW. ORG WATCH //

Livestream of Vista women’s soccer game against Heritage from April 17

READ //

Movie reviews on new blockbuster hits.

18////Eagle EagleEye Eye////Issue Issue22 4

EP!C PHOTO ONE STEP CLOSER Junior Megan Massey passes the ball to another player during a varsity soccer game against Grandview March 13 at Shea Stadium.

“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season and winning state and Continental League,” Massey said.

Mountain Vista defeated Grandview, 3-1.

Photograph by Gabe Rodriguez

Issue 2 // Eagle Eye // 18

On the Chopping Block

A

WES EDWARDS fter two years in the “six of eight” block schedule, Mountain Vista will adopt a “five of seven plus one” schedule for the 2014-2015 school year. The new schedule is similar to the schedules during the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years.

Under the “five of seven plus one” schedule, all classes will meet on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Wednesdays will have block periods for period one, three, five and seven classes, and Thursdays will have block periods for period two, four and six classes. Thursdays will also include a “zero” block period.

According to administration, the biggest reason for the change is to increase the amount of instructional time and contact with students and teachers.

“Just looking at the basic schedule, we gained 15 minutes per week per class, over what we’re doing now. That’s huge. Eighteen weeks times

Student Reactions

“I am kind of neutral about it because I see both sides. I can see how it is a bothersome process because I signed up for eight classes versus how there is a zero period and teachers can offer what kind of classes the would like to.”

—Trey Yu, 11 “I am going to have to get an off period somehow, but then again I am going to have to make up a lot more credits as a senior. I think it is going to hard and difficult, because from what I’ve heard a lot of people are mad that they won’t be able to get off periods.”

—Lauren Bigner, 10 “It will give us more class time and more time with the teachers throughout the whole week, instead of sitting through classes going every other day by the time you get back to class the next period, you’ve kind of forgot what you went over.

So it’s a little more constant.”

—Moira McGraw, 11

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that, that’s a lot of time,” Assistant Principal Alan Long said. “I see the money side of it. I see why the district used the six of eight, we saved money and we didn’t have to cut offerings to students, but I think that sixth class really weighed on teachers over time and I think students saw it in their teachers.”

Teachers had previously voiced concerns over being required to teach one more instructional period because of the “six of eight” schedule, citing that it increases their workload and cuts into their planning periods.

“I think there was a lot of pressure there, and I think that teachers were probably stressed about that class. If students didn’t see it in teachers, they did a really good job of hiding it from them,” Long said.

According to a survey conducted by school administration of teachers to gauge opinion about whether to change the schedule, 78 percent of teachers favored the new schedule, where 22 percent favored keeping the current block schedule.

“I’ve been struggling the last few years teaching six classes, but I guess I’ve become accustomed to it,” social studies teacher Catherine Ayers said. “I did vote for five of seven because I think that having fewer students will make me a better teacher because I can give more time to my students.”

Because teachers will have only five instructional periods instead of six, teachers will be responsible for fewer total students, allowing for more time to plan lessons and grade assignments and increasing the amount of instructional time per class.

If you changed your class schedule for next, was the process easy or hard?

Easy Hard

“We lose about three weeks of teaching time with the block schedule. I’ll be happy to get that time back,” science teacher Brad Shores said.

While most teachers support the change, others, like English teacher Kristen Barth, said the longer block periods were actually beneficial when it came to teaching content to students.

“I don’t love [the new schedule] because for an English teacher it is so much harder to get stuff done in the shorter periods,” Barth said. “I can’t get as much done in 50 minutes versus 90 minutes.”

The change also is affecting students’ class schedules, which had already been selected and created by the students when they chose which classes to enroll next year. Students with seven or eight classes were notified by email and met with counselors to discuss options.

“If they had eight periods, and were kids that really needed those classes, they had to come up with another way of getting that other class,” said registrar Susan Delgado. “Whether they were going to do an online class or another course of action to make it up.”

Approximately 25 students had to adjust their schedule after signing up for a full schedule of eight classes, while approximately 75 to 100 students were notified the schedule change had eliminated one of their off periods, creating a full schedule.

“I had signed up for eight classes and none of them could quite be turned into an independent study so I had to go through and think about it and see what class I could drop,” junior Trey Yu said.

Despite some of the challenges Vista is facing, at least two other Douglas County high schools will adopt similar schedule for the upcoming school year, and others are considering the change.

VISTAj conducted an opt-in survey of 169 random returning Mountain Vista students.

Participation was voluntary. The survey asked students’ opinions of the schedule, their reasons or their opinion, whether they had to adjust their class schedule and how easy it was to do so. Four percent of students favored the altered schedule, while 87 percent prefered the current schedule, and nine percent were neutral.

Is your opinion of the schedule change positive or negative? Name your reason(s) for your opinion?

Positive Negative

55

39 1

3

9

Having More total fewer total time with classes teachers

2

98

46

3

45 0

Having Shorter Decreased classes classes, opportunity more rather than for off frequently block periods periods

0 Losing already selected course

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 7

10

Stuff That

TICKS Me Off M

y freshman year sucked. I was terrified of the seniors, did not really go to school events and had massive amounts of homework.

Now, as a junior,the only thing that is totally different is the amount of homework that I have.

That is partly to do with the scheduling change that occurred before the 2012-2013 school year when Mountain Vista changed from a sevenperiod schedule to an eight-period schedule.

The change made an impact for the better.

I was able to be in bed by 9:30 p.m. every day because my homework load was more spread out. I did not have two nights per week in which I would have at least 30 minutes of homework from every class. I was actually able to get ahead on class work and relax from time to time.

News then broke this March that Mountain Vista would be operating under a “five and seven plus one” schedule for the 2014-2015 school year. The schedule is basically the same one that I had during my freshman year except for the “plus one” which gives teachers the ability to teach an unofficial class of their choice. It also is an opportunity for students to receive help from teachers and give will sometimes act as an advisement class for different age groups.

When I heard the news, I immediately had flashbacks to my freshman year. There were the nights with seven hours of homework, the days where I overslept and barely made it to school on time. Most of all, I remember the amount of homework assignments that I could not finish properly because I could not stay awake.

The National Sleep Foundation (yes, the NSF is a real thing) says the average teenager needs around nine hours of sleep. The NSF also found that only 15 percent of teenagers get enough sleep per night.

With the schedule that Vista is operating under now, I am averaging around nine hours of sleep per night. On Thursday nights, I only average around seven. That is partly my fault because I sometimes choose to put off all of my homework that is due Friday until Thursday. The new schedule plans on having two nights per week in which students must prepare for all of their classes the next day. Those are two nights I will not be able to sleep enough.

As I said before, the problem that I have now with the nights preceding eight-period days is that I save two days worth of homework and try to do it in one night. The new schedule does not give students the option to wait until the last minute; it sets them behind from the beginning. Students

8 // Eagle Eye // Issue 5

There was a schedule change that th or have a say in. In other news, t still rises in the east and Thunder R

will not know what they will receive for homework on Monday night. They just get it and have to do it that night, time management skills be damned.

Now the students are coming off of five or less hours of sleep without the option to get more.

This is only the beginning of the week. The rest of the week is just a big game of catch up and even if one were to get back on the right pace, he or she would just be set back in the next week.

I also wondered where my voice had been in the whole conversation about the schedule change.

The reasoning that I got from my father who is a teacher at Cherry Creek High School was that “You don’t let the inmates run the prison.” That is a good explanation except for the fact that the majority of us have never been inmates or even arrested.

To make sure that I was not alone in my

thoughts on the new schedule, I went to talk to fellow junior Andrew Breeling. “[When I heard about the change] I was really disappointed,” Breeling said. “There is going to be no time to do anything outside of school because of how much homework we will get.”

Breeling represents much of the student population at Mountain Vista, but I realized that I was forgetting a whole other group who help keep the school functioning. After all, the faculty has thoughts, too. Their thoughts were the ones recognized by the administrators as 74 percent of the 85 responders voted in favor of the “five of seven plus one” schedule.

Now, I was going to try to take initiative and interview a teacher. Instead, a certain teacher decided to speak up to my class about what the

at the students did not know about s, the sky is still blue, the sun er Ridge still kills us in football.

TYLER KRAFT

Are you happy with the schedule change?

Students:

Teachers:

YES 4%

9% NEUTRAL Why?

YES 78%

*VISTAj survey of 169 students.

Heather Riggs Science Teacher HAPPY about the schedule change

Tommy Flynn Junior UNHAPPY about the schedule change

“I don’t like that it was changed

“There was too much off-time that

because I had gotten used to it.

was caused by the old schedule and

I understand why they did it but

I don’t think it was very helpful

I think that we could have gone

for the students. The new schedule

about it a much different way.”

will have a more reasonable amount of off-time.”

Photo Illustration by Gabe Rodriguez new schedule would do for everyone. I just wrote down everything he said. That must be what Adam Schefter feels like with all of his sources.

“The new schedule will give us more time in class with you, the students,” math teacher Paul Myers said.

“It is also a load off the teachers because we won’t be pressed with as many classes as we were before.”

According to Myers, the change also helps because teachers will be paid for seven periods and teach seven periods, whereas now, he said, they are paid for seven periods and teach eight.

While I respect and admire all of the teachers I have had and the ones I have right now, it is upsetting that the students were not given a chance to come to a compromise about their schedule.

The schedule change upset the entire balance of my and many others’ senior year and the years

NO 22%

NO 87%

of the incoming underclassmen. We are all signed up for eight class periods, but there are only seven spots. At the very least, the change needed to be publicized early and given time to develop.

So, for example, I signed up to have four AP classes per semester for this upcoming year. I had also planned on having two off periods to help with the homework load that I will surely receive. Now, since there are seven class periods instead of eight, I will still be taking four AP classes and only have one off period.

The whole situation was messed up from the beginning. The student population was kept out of the loop, and when the news came out, we were blindsided. This upcoming year, I believe, will be extremely challenging to both students and in turn, challenging for the school.

“It would take something crazy for [the schedule change] NOT to happen.”

–Principal Michael Weaver Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 9

7

Discover ACC HIGH SCHOOL To schedule a private VISITATION DAY visit to the campus call Friday, Feb. 28, 9:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. ACC Littleton Campus 303.797.5960 Students and guidance counselors can meet with ACC faculty, staff and students about our programs, transfer options, financial aid and student services.

RSVP at arapahoe.edu/discoveracc For information or accommodations, contact liliana.diaz@arapahoe.edu or call 303.797.5960

10 // Eagle Eye // Issue 5

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 11

30

Less is More

VISTAj STAFF

Editors-In-Chief Taylor Blatchford Wes Edwards

Managing Editors of Newsmagazine Taylor Atlas Dylan Ingram

Copy Editors Jason Keller Tyler Kraft AJ Stowell

Photo Editors Mark Maggs Gabe Rodriguez

Social Media Editor Kaitlin Zenoni

Web Editor

Whitney Merrill

Design Editor Erica Tagliarino

Managing Editor of Broadcast Gretchen Cope

Managing Editors of Yearbook

I

t’s the first day of freshman year.

Everything is exciting and new.

Before people head off to classes, everyone is herded into the gym. They are given the speech about making the most of the high school experience and how those who do not get involved in high school regret it once they graduate.

Then everyone is shuttled off to their first class. That is all the direction they receive.

There is no guidance on how to figure out what they are interested in or even how to join a club.

This encouragement with a lack of direction causes a discrepancy in how students should participate in school activities.

Students typically take two routes. One either participates in every activity possible or becomes dedicated to one or two activities.

It seems that more and more people are choosing the former with the mindset that the more activities on a college application the more impressed a college will be.

According to the College Board, colleges could care less if you were involved in every club in the entire school. They are looking for people who will show they are passionate about what they are doing and this is done through focusing on a few activities over multiple years. “We’re looking for a commitment to and a passion for an activity outside of the academic setting. We’re looking for depth rather than breadth,” vice president of enrollment management at the University of Richmond, Nanci Tessier, said in an article by the College Board.

There also is the obsession with graduation cords and wanting to have the most cords out of everyone in their class.

12 // Eagle Eye // Issue 5

Photo Illustration by Wes Edwards Involvement in school activities is no longer about being part of something because you enjoy engaging in a sport or an activity, but more about the pride of being in a sport or club. Students are easily impressed when they find someone who manages to do everything and they forget about other aspects of involvement that have more weight to them, such as being a leader in a club or sport.

In the long run, it will be more impressive when you are planning and implementing the club’s events than following blindly.

There is more to participation than just academic life. People also participate because they want to be the best at what they are interested.

After all, the people who are the best at what they do are those who make history and are remembered for generations to come.

While there are many ways to achieve this greatness, all people who have successfully obtained this status have one thing in common. They have focused on what they were passionate about and worked every day to make their dream a reality.

More often than not, people make a goal to be the best, but in the end do not follow through because they do not have the time to make it happen. Instead of filling up every time slot of the day, students should focus on what they are truly passionate.

Maybe then Mountain Vista would be filled with the Peyton Mannings and Warren Buffets of the world. Instead, potential is lost due to the idea that the more activities and sports one does, the more significant they are.

Extracurricular activities should be a about passion, not pride. In the end, it does not matter how many activities filled one’s day, but how one uses their time to accomplish their goal.

Devon Miner Kelsey Warden

Adviser

Mark Newton, MJE

Staff Members

Alex Bonner Lauren Borchardt Amani Brown Logan Clark Caitlin Cobb Cameron Cox Shelby Crumley Jacob Cushatt Conner Davis Reagan Fitzke Antonia Fornaro Joseph Ginn Mackenzie Govett Amy Huang Kyle Johnson Ana Krasuski Hayley Mustin Tara O’Gorman Kelsey Pharis Kaitlin Pickrell Sydney Ostdiek Peyton Reeves Tori Soper Anna Theis Francesco Viola Lexi Weingardt Karin Wyks

Policy

Eagle Eye, a legally recognized public forum for student expression, is published six to nine times a year by the Journalism class for students at Mountain Vista High School. Expression made by students in the exercise of freedom of speech or freedom of press is not an expression of Douglas County school board policy. The views expressed in Eagle Eye do not necessarily represent the views of the entire staff, adviser, MVHS administration or the Douglas County School District administration.

Board policy regarding student publications ( JICEA and JI/JIA) are available in the journalism/publications room (U328) or in the principal’s office.

Letters to the Editors

Eagle Eye welcomes and encourages letters to the editors.

This is a chance to express your viewpoint on important issues. Letters should be limited to 250 words. Letters will be edited for space and legal considerations, but not for inaccuracies, grammar or spelling. Letters must contain information pertinent to the students of MVHS. The staff retains the right to not publish any letter not meeting these requirements. Unsigned letters will not be published. Please submit typed letters in person to Room U328 or via mail or e-mail.

Contact

Eagle Eye, Mountain Vista High School, 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 Phone: 303-387-1500 Adviser email: mark.newton@dcsdk12.org.

Publication email: EagleEyeEditors@dcsdk12.org

Distribution

Single copies are free. Where available, additional copies of this paper are available for purchase for 50 cents each.

Contact Eagle Eye for more information. Taking more than one copy of this paper is prohibited (C.R.S. 18-4419). Violators, subject to prosecution and penalty under C.R.S. 13-21-123, will be prosecuted.

Open Forum Content

Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service and Creative Commons licensing. ©20141 Eagle Eye/Mountain Vista High School. All rights reserved.

Involved

M

ountain Vista students are not just students. They are also DECA champions, varsity athletes and community leaders. They learn on the field and in darkrooms, not just from their desks. These are the stories of the involved at Mountain Vista — those who spend extra hours each week at school to make it more than just a math class and a science paper.

14 Avery Adams

15 Kimmie Stansbury 16 Akshira Weiser 17 Kobe Holdren

18 Jordan Burton

19 Aparna Krishnaswamy 20 Jordan Moilanen 21 Austin Butler

22 Peyton Galbraith 23 Sarah Olson

24 Brendan McGuire 25 Taylor Blatchford

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 13

Avery

Continue the Love Full Name: Avery Adams Grade: 9 Her passion: Women’s soccer ANNA THEIS

Where were you born?

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio.

When did you start soccer and who got you involved?

When I was really young, like three or four, we would just go and kick the soccer ball around. All my siblings played soccer and my dad coached us all when we were young. I just followed their steps.

Your siblings played for past teams here at Vista? What was their influence over you?

My two sisters played on the team in the past. I’ve seen them go through the high school experience and love how it’s a different experience than club soccer.

So I’ve always known I’ve wanted to experience the same things as them and it’s cool to do that. I was watching them before and now I’m doing those things.

Why have you continued playing soccer for this long?

I love the atmosphere of soccer, just being with the team and how the sport is played. I used to do gymnastics and I had to choose between the two in fifth grade. The team aspect helped me choose soccer over gymnastics because gymnastics is more of an individual sport. I’ve never lost interest in soccer.

What is your favorite part of playing?

The team. In soccer you get to do your own things, like make your own choices about the movements with the ball, but you also get to make choices with other people and help them. There’s a certain level of competition with soccer that makes me want to win the game and score.

What’s the most challenging part?

My club coach makes us do a lot of fitness, so it takes a lot of work to keep up with our fitness. Also, when you lose, you have to leave that behind you and go forward with the next game.

Do you plan on playing soccer in the future?

I want to play in college and I’m already starting the recruiting process by sending emails to colleges.

14 // Eagle Eye // Issue 5

What are some of your goals for this season?

Getting a lot of playing time as a freshman, since you’re on the downlow more, you might not get as much time on the field. We [the team] obviously want to win Continental League and then hopefully get state out of it. I think we have a really good chance.

How’s it being a freshman on varsity?

It’s really exciting. Tryouts were so stressful because you don’t know what team you’re going to make and you want to make varsity so bad. But I just love the team. Being able to be on the top team because it’s such a high level of competition and Vista is such a great school. We have a chance to win state and it’s exciting to be a part of it.

What’s your favorite part of practices and being with the team?

It’s just a lot of fun. We have some big personalities on the team and every practice we’re always laughing. I love playing at Vista because there’s such good competition between us. Playing against our team is probably better than a bunch of other schools we might play. I love the atmosphere.

Do you feel any pressure to live up to last year?

I think I need to carry on the tradition; carry on the Vista name. I have to start here and keep moving on. This new team is very strong, despite losing so many good players last year.

How did your first game go?

I got to play a lot in the second half and then some in the first. It was really nerve racking. It was my first varsity game and my first high school game.

Our team had to definitely take a half [of the game] and figure each other out, to know what we were going to do. At half time, we went in and discussed what we had done and came out a lot stronger. Each game I know we’re going to flow more.

How do you think you embody the sport? Besides your talent, what do you think you bring to the team?

I’m always playing for the team. One person can’t win the game; everyone has to contribute. I feel I work hard for my whole team so we can win. I know I have to contribute my best because if I don’t then our team is not going to work well overall.

Kimmie

T

Community Model

Name: Kimmie Stansbury Grade: 12 Her passion: Family, Career and Community Leaders of America TARA O’GORMAN // LAUREN BORCHARDT Why did you start Family, Career and Community Leaders of America?

I heard a lot of talk between my friends who were in it and some of my teachers wanted me to be in it. I didn’t really know what it was about and then when I started to learn it was about community service and helping others I was like, “Oh, I will try that. After the first year I became really passionate about it, so I wanted to do it again next year.”

Who got you started?

Kim Cox. She badgered me about joining for a couple of years and couple of my friends were in it already so I was like, “Oh, maybe I should and after they did trick or treat street one year I was like man that sounds like fun. Mrs. Cox kept poking at me to join so I ended up joining the next year.

How many years have you been apart of FCCLA? Two years, this is my second year.

What does FCCLA mean to you?

I love the joy it brings to me by giving back to the community and touching other peoples lives. FCCLA gives us the opportunity to help out the community and touch other people within the club. It means a lot to me that we are able to make an affect on everyones lives and make a difference. It makes you feel good knowing that you are helping out.

What did you feel when you won state?

It felt pretty good. We had to go through a lot of processes to build up to that and we had to stay up really late some nights to work on our project. When we got there we had to present in front of a couple of judges and then they called us back for another time to compete again. It was just to see what place we would get and it was a little nerve racking, so when we heard we got gold it was really really nice. It showed that all of our work payed off.

What was the most challenging part about winning state?

The work that we had to put in it. When we first got our scenario we didn’t think it would be that bad because we had done it last year too. We didn’t think it would be that hard, but then going into the work we realized it was a lot and we decided that we needed to stay up late to finish it.

Time and procrastination was definitely an issue.

What is your favorite part about FCCLA? I like it when everybody comes together to build projects. We always donate the project in the end, but the fact that we all come together to benefit other people it is nice to know that people are willing to do that.

Do you plan on continuing this activity in the future?

Yes, they do have FCCLA at Colorado State University, so I am looking into that along with community service and of course I am going to continue on with that.

It is cool to be apart of something like this.

Do you plan on applying it to your career?

Yes, I went to state for interior design and it helped me prepare my future because I want to go to CSU for interior design so doing this club also benefited me in a way I can apply my self in college in a better way.

What was your most memorable event of FCCLA? Doing Trick or Treat Street was a cool even. We got to work with little kids, have fun, dress up, and decorate so that was a lot of fun. I think that was my most memorable part of being in FCCLA.

How does trick or treat street aid you in FCCLA? FCCLA is at the beginning of the year and it brings us together as a club. It gives us an idea of what we are looking for when we have a variety of people joining the club with different personalities. We all work together decorate the halls, make it look really cool and then we get to show the little kids around and give them candy.

What do you do as a leader?

I work with three other people and we plan out each month’s meeting and we think of different community service ideas and we get people engaged and eager to do community service and then for state we participate and also get people involved and eager to compete.

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 15

Akshira

Creating a Story Name: Akshira Weiser Grade: 9 Her passion: Reading/Book Club REAGAN FITZKE Where were you born?

I was born in Delhi in India. When I was three I was adopted here into America.

When did you start reading?

My parents forced me to start reading in kindergarten. The time I really did start to enjoy reading was in third or fourth grade. I found the stories books can tell and how it’s interactive and it can make you feel a lot of things.

What are some of your favorite novels?

Most of them are on a site called Wattpad, where people can publish and write their own stories. One of them is “Rock Prodigy” and the other that is actually published is “The Kingdom of Peril.”

What are those about?

“Rock Prodigy” is about a girl who is an orphan, and she kind of lost her parents at a very young age.

She’s a prodigy when it comes to music so when she first touches the piano she can immediately play it, first touches a guitar she can immediately play it. It’s a really cool story. “The Kingdom of Peril” is about a girl who isn’t allowed to fight because of certain rules, and she kind of goes behind everyone’s back and learns to fight.

Why have you continued reading?

I love finding out new characters, finding new stories and being able to Why are those your favorite novels? connect with the book in With “Rock Prodigy”, I’m in band so I can connect with music. For “Kingdom of Peril” I like it because general. it shows that girls can do anything if they actually put their mind to it.

What is your favorite part about reading?

What do you like about being a part of book club?

I think it’s connecting with the I like the fact that I can share my opinion, my characters in the book because I do thoughts, my ideas with everyone and they won’t find myself crying my eyes out at times when the character gets hurt. I judge me because they read and some of them like to write stories too, so some of them can connect like that moment. with me.

Who is a character you can say you can What are some of your favorite aspects of being in relate to the most? book club?

Most of the books I read are action For Halloween [during Trick-or-Treat Street] we books, but I would go with Will from did this picture outside of the library where the “Ranger’s Apprentice” even though I’m nothing like him. I like the adventure that doors would be closed, then we’d have a paper background for families to take pictures of their just comes along with life. children in their costumes. It was really cute.

What’s the most challenging part about What is it like to interact with other avid readers? reading?

Sometimes the vocab. There can be various It’s fun and amazing. It gives you this really cool words I haven’t seen, and sometimes there lightheaded feeling that you don’t really experience much by just talking to everyone else. are moments when you’re reading and you kind of blank out and you have to go back and reread it to try and catch on to What are some friendships you’ve made in book club?

There’s Cassandra [English]. I met her when I was what the writer is trying to say. in seventh grade and she was an eighth grader. We kind of connected over books, but I met her in book Do you plan to continue reading?

Yeah, I do plan on continuing reading. It club again. There’s Gabby [Camp], Hailey [Russell], has also inspired me to start trying to at James [Beaudreau] and a lot of other people too. least publish a book.

How do you plan to implement reading throughout your high school career?

Why is reading important to you?

With history I’m going to try to find it interesting I can learn new feelings I’ve never felt before. That and it just helps me get new to read, but I like more fiction stories that aren’t history-oriented. ideas for stories.

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 16

Full Name: Kobe Holdren Grade: 11 His passion: Men’s volleyball

PEYTON REEVES

Kobe

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Setting Standards When did you start playing volleyball?

When I was six. I don’t play club right now, but I might start.

How have your parents influenced you and your life?

They have always put volleyball in my life and made me very competitive.

Whats’s your earliest memory from the sport?

When my dad played in the Olympics. That was really cool. That’s probably my favorite memory of volleyball.

What’s the most challenging part of the sport?

Teamwork, probably, just staying as one with the others.

Who first got you involved? Your parents?

Yes, definitely. My dad was an Olympian and my mom played professionally.

How do you overcome that?

Just a lot of communication and trust in each other.

Have you been on the team all four years?

I went to Valor freshmen year, but yes, I have played every year.

Why have you continued playing?

For the love of the game. I don’t really know.

What’s your favorite part about playing volleyball?

I played as a kid so it’s just fun for me. I like teamwork and it’s a team sport.

Why do you love it so much?

It is really fun and it is my passion.

How has this season differed from previous ones?

I’ve had to be more of a leader now that I’m an upperclassmen. We lost a few upperclassmen last year, but it hasn’t been too different. We have a new coach this year.

How has being a captain made you think about the team?

I have to be more positive because the team looks up to me. Other than that, I just play the game.

What’s it like playing with kids from other schools?

It doesn’t really change much. You have to get to know them because you know all the kids from Vista, but you need to get to know the kids from Rock Canyon or ThunderRidge. It’s just more of a matter of building relationships.

What are you looking forward to most this season?

Just playing and having fun. We have a lot of seniors, so we want to get them as far as we can so it will be a good last year for them.

Do you want to pursue it in the future?

At least in college, yes.

What have you learned from playing the sport?

Leadership. It teaches you to take control of a situation.

Do your parents coach the team?

No, they just help every once in a while.

So you are a setter?

I play setter and outside hitter. Outside hitter is my favorite.

Is that the position you’ve always been?

I usually play setter, but I just started this year playing outside, too.

If you had to sum up your entire volleyball career in one word, what would it be?

Awesome. That is what the sport is and that’s what I’m a part of. That’s why I’ve been playing for so long.

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 17

Jordan

Out in Front Full Name: Jordan Burton Grade: 11 Her passion: Track

KELSEY PHARIS

What was your first impression of track?

Well, the first thing I did was cross country and I always thought that kind of sucked because it was a lot of long distance running, but I’ve always loved running so I kind of got over it. When I started sprinting, I found it was kind of my thing. Honestly, I just love running.

When did you start running track?

I started running track when I was in seventh grade.

Why did you get involved in track?

I’ve just always loved to run. Ever since I was little I knew I wanted to run track.

What surprised you most about track?

Probably the competitiveness. I guess I just never really realized how intense and competitive track really is.

If you could change one thing about track what would it be?

I would probably want to be able to sign up for my own events, because usually it’s chosen for us.

Why do you continue to run track?

I love competing in races and being with all of my friends.

What is your favorite part of track?

I like to be able to run with my friends, getting to know new people every

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year. I also like just knowing that we are all getting better together.

What is the most challenging part of running track?

The most challenging is probably getting injured or sick and feeling like I have to start all over again with training.

What are the best and worst things to happen to you while running track?

For the worst it’s that I’ve fallen multiple times on the hurdles, so I have many scars from that. The best part is definitely that I’ve gotten pretty far into state and nationals just in my sophomore and junior year.

Do you hope to apply track to your career in the future?

I do, when I am older I hope to study exercise kinesiology. It is the study of how the body moves and works with all the different components.

What do you compete in during competitions?

I compete in the 100 meter, 200, meter, 100 meter hurdles, sprint medley, 4-by-100 meter, 4-by200 meter, 300 meter hurdles and the 4-by-400 meter for Mountain Vista.

What do you enjoy about the team?

I like being able to spend time with my friends while doing something I love.

Is it hard being a Junior Olympic athlete and running for Vista?

Not really. It is mainly because the Junior Olympic team is during the summer and the school season is during the winter and spring.

Do you think track has changed you as a person?

Yes, definitely. With everything I do I am always thinking about track. Whether it is eating junk food, or lifting weights I am always thinking about how it will effect me next time I go for a run or compete.

What would you tell somebody who wants to join track?

I would tell them they definitely should try it out, the team is awesome and the coaches are amazing.

There’s always something for everybody to do.

What do you do when you aren’t training for track?

I’m usually in the weight room doing my USA lifting for Coach Gardener.

How do you think that somebody would describe you, pertaining to track?

I know most of the coaches say I have an amazing work ethic. I’m always willing to work hard and I’m always willing to push others as well as myself to work harder to become the best we can be.

Aparna

Business Champion Name: Aparna Krishnaswamy Grade: 12 Her passion: Future Business Leaders of America

TORI SOPER When did you join Future Business Leaders of America?

I started my sophomore year.I always had a little passion for business and my friend Karishma [Patel], who’s my FBLA partner now, convinced me to join, and I have never regretted it since.

How do you like working with Karishma?

I love it, we have the funniest moments together, and I want to sound modest, but we’re pretty funny together and it’s really funny just going through all the hard experiences with her and we love to win. But the feeling of winning with your best friend is amazing.

What’s one of the funniest moments you have had together?

Well we have so many awkward moments but the funniest moments I can think of are technology failures because they’re just such stupid things and they ruin our presentation and ruin our days and we complain about it. Even though it doesn’t sound very funny, it is.

What do you mean by technology failures?

It happens more often that not. We have had projector failures so we have to turn our computer around and present on that, we’ve had clicker failures, we’ve had speaker failures, our projector doesn’t work right, it’s been kind of miserable.

How have you changed or improved since you started with FBLA? I have changed because as a freshman — I didn’t do it my freshman year — so I was way more unsure of what I wanted to do and I was really bad at giving presentations. After my sophomore year I gained a lot more confidence in myself and I’ve been able to apply that to a ton of different parts of my life so thats been really really helpful for me.

What is your favorite part of FBLA? Probably the state competition because we go up to Vail and it’s just this cute little village and you get to compete and there’s usually some pretty good food and some really cool stores so that’s really fun!

What have been the results of your competitions?

So sophomore year we placed first at districts, first at state, and fourth at nationals. Junior year we placed first at districts first at state and ninth at nationals.

This year we’ve placed first at districts so far and state is in like two weeks. The highest that we’ve gotten is fourth at nationals, which is awesome.

How did you feel when you got fourth place?

Well of course we were hoping for first place, but we were still really happy with the fourth place. It was really cool because it didn’t feel like it was such a great accomplishment at the time but we got a letter from the governor a couple weeks later and we got a lot of praise from everyone at school, all of our advisers, all of our friends, so that was really cool.

How do you deal with coming out of a bad presentation?

Well Karishma and I usually go and we will just go shop or buy food, like pity food, and we just kind of comfort ourselves and focus on the positives and think of all the things that went well rather than the things that went bad.

How do you handle working under stressful situations and working under pressure?

Usually the pressure is mainly when we’re presenting in front of judges, and that can be really stressful, especially if we have technology failures, which is often, so we usually work under pressure by taking a deep breath, taking it in, and just doing our absolute best.

Do you plan to continue FBLA into the future or apply it to your career?

I definitely want to major in something business related in the future so I’ll definitely apply the skills that I’ve learned and the knowledge that I’ve gained over the past couple years into my future. FBLA is for high school and Phi Beta Lambda is for college, so I probably won’t do PBL but I’ll definitely do something business related.

What’s something you’ve done with FBLA that reassures you that you have a future in business?

FBLA has provided me with so many opportunities and so much knowledge about how the business world works and I’ve gotten so many skills from it and I think that those will definitely prove to help me in the future and if I have to give a presentation or if I’m a leader of something I think I can definitely use those skills in my future.

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 19

Jordan

Goal Guardian Full Name: Jordan Moilanen Grade: 9 Her passion: Women’s lacrosse

AMY HUANG

Who first got you involved in this sport?

My dad and my brother got me into it cause they both played in high school.

I started playing lacrosse when I was six because my brother was playing it and my dad played, too. So I wanted to be just like them and it was a family thing.

Why have you continued this activity?

I have continued to play the sport because it’s really fun and I have goals to play lacrosse in college.

Do you plan to continue this activity in the future?

I plan on continuing to get better and better to get a scholarship to play in college.

Why do you like lacrosse?

It’s a great sport, even though it’s not that popular. It’s really fun even if you don’t know how to play.

What’s your favorite part of lacrosse?

My favorite part about lacrosse is meeting new people and the team aspect. I like being around the teammates and playing the game and meeting new people.

What’s the most challenging part of this sport?

The most challenging part about lacrosse is the mental aspect for me.

I’m really passionate about the sport and get down on myself easily when I mess up.

What were you most looking forward to?

I was most looking forward to playing with the upperclassmen on varsity. It’s interesting being a freshman because playing with the upperclassmen is a little intimidating.

Why is it intimidating playing with the upperclassmen?

I guess it’s some of the players skillwise.

There’s a girl committed to a Division I college. Some of the girls are just really good skillwise.

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What has been your favorite moment so far?

Probably playing late games under the lights at Shea Stadium. It’s a new experience and a bigger field than I’m used to. It’s a lot of mixed emotions especially playing because my emotions just go everywhere. Especially because I’m a freshman playing on varsity I get super nervous. But, I’m also happy at the sametime and sometimes depending on how the game goes, I also can be sad. It’s just really nerve wracking.

When you do get nervous, how do you calm yourself down?

I kinda do a lot of things. Sometimes my nervousness gets to me and I don’t play very well.

Other times my nervousness makes me play better.

It goes both ways though.

What’s it like being a goalie?

Most people think it’s super super scary, but to me, once you’re in the goal with the helmet and all the pads on it’s not that scary. You get a clearer view of the field and a better view of the ball.

What do you think is your biggest accomplishment so far?

Well, during the Chaparral game in the league championships, in the last two minutes I saved three shots and then in the last two minutes we won.

Sum up your experience playing lacrosse.

It’s been a learning experience because I guess for me it’s new girls and new coaches and everything. The coaching philosophy is different than I’ve had before. Everything is just new and different for me.

What lessons have you learned?

I’ve definitely learned a lot about the mental part of the game. I’m really passionate and I get down on myself super easy because I’m so passionate.

Sometimes I get teary eyed. I’ve learned a lot about getting used to being scored on because lacrosse is a score shooting game. I just need to get in the habit of not thinking that it’s all my fault if we have a horrible game. Lacrosse is a team sport and the ball gets through 11 other girls before it gets to me and I need to keep in mind that we all work together. I’ve learned how to guide my emotions and keep them under control.

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Marketing to Win Name: Austin Butler Grade: 12 His passion: Distributive Education Clubs of America CONNER DAVIS // LEXI WEINGARDT When did you start DECA? Sophomore year.

Who first got you involved in DECA? This girl bet me and my partner $20 that we wouldn’t get first. So, we went to our first competition at Glenwood Springs and took dead last. It’s been all uphill since.

Why have you continued DECA? DECA is a good way to make friends with kids you would normally not be friends with.

It has a team aspect and it is fun to make it on stage and win trophies.

What’s the most challenging part of DECA? The most challenging part of DECA are the 100 question tests on business. They incorporate all aspects of marketing, finance and business law. It’s also challenging during role plays coming up with ideas that are unique and that will make you stand out to the judges.

What do you like the most about DECA? Why? Going on school trips, just hanging out with your friends and getting to miss school. Also, I’ve made some of my best friends through DECA. You kind of become a family and, just like any other sport, there is a team aspect.

How have you benefited from DECA throughout high school?

Well, it has definitely increased my social skills especially with like job interviews and that aspect of talking to adults and the professional business world as well as just giving me an understanding of what’s happening around the world with marketing and other business aspects so I can recognize them in today’s society.

Why do you think that you and Bradley worked together well?

We met in marketing sophomore year and we were bet $20 that we couldn’t win first place, so we just made a team together. We work together well and have good ideas and just whip through practice.

How did you feel when you found out you qualified for state?

Actually, my partner wasn’t there because he had a meet for wrestling, so it was just me which was different and I was just relieved because it would be upsetting since we made the previous two years and not making the third year would be bad.

What was it like to win state in your last year of high school?

It was actually really nice because sophomore year we took third and then last year we didn’t even make finals, so it was kind of a revenge type thing you know getting back.

How does it feel to have three years’ work pay off?

Actually, we didn’t always practice that much, it came more natural to us. We always say the key to DECA is not practicing as a joke because working together came so easy to us. It just felt nice, though, it being our senior year and having it all pay off was very satisfying.

How are you preparing yourself for Nationals?

I am not going to nationals this year, in Atlanta. I have been the past two years when it was in Salt Lake City, Utah and Anaheim, Calif. where we were very successful and were national finalists. So my DECA career is over.

Would you recommend DECA to students who are thinking about doing it?

Yes, it was one of the best things I did in high school. I have made so many friends and memories through DECA that I will always remember. DECA is one of the highlights from my high school career, so I would definitely recommend it to anybody considering it.

You get to miss school with your friends, travel to places and get trophies. It’s awesome.

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 21

Peyton

Getting the Shot Full Name: : Peyton Lane Galbraith Grade: 11 Her passion: Photography

CAITLIN COBB // ANTONIA FORNARO // SHELBY CRUMLEY

When did you start photography?

I started photography class freshman year because I have always loved it. But I personally “started” taking pictures when I was 10.

Why did you start photography?

I grew up loving it and it was always my escape from things in my life, so it was the thing I always ran to. Since then it has become a huge part of my life and I have a passion for it.

Who first got you involved?

My sister Beka did, we had a rough home life in Florida and so we would always go outside on long walks and take pictures to escape from what was happening.

Why have you continued photography?

[Photography] has been a part of my life since a young age and has become a huge part of my life and personality that it has developed into a passion. I love the whole idea of photography and how there are so many different ways people can use it or change it.

What is the most challenging part about photography?

Deadlines. Being a junior in high school and not having a license yet really impacts your free time to be able to go out and take photos. Same with models, people flake out or just want to do it so I can take good pictures of them afterward.

It is also very stressful to have an idea in your head and trying to find the right balance of things to make it come to life.

Do you plan to continue photography?

Yes I do, I plan on going to college for photography. I would like to be either a teacher or do advertisements.

What is your favorite part of photography?

Overall, I love the uniqueness of photography and how you can make it your own.

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Do you like dark room or digital?

I love working with film, it is my overall favorite in photography. I love the uniqueness of a photo. And how with film it takes a lot to change it.

What kind of camera do you use?

I use a Fujifilm, a lot of people ask me what camera to use to get a good photo. But I always find that frustrating because just because you have a good camera doesn’t mean you take good pictures, its possible, but it doesn’t really work that way.

What is your favorite tool on Photoshop?

My favorite tool in Photoshop would be curves because I love the intenseness of black and white.

What kind of film camera do you use?

I use a lot of different film cameras, I mainly use my Canon ESO Rebel 2000 SLR 33mm.

What is your favorite part about photography?

I love how there is more than “one way” to do photography. Many people ask me this question, and I more than always say I love working with film, I am a big dark room fan. I love how your film photos are so unique and how you get-what-youget. You cannot manipulate the image unless you change some very drastically. I also love the whole dark room experience, it is the most peaceful and detailed photography experience.

Will you be in photo club next year?

I will be the president of Photography Club, and I am really looking forward to it!

What is your favorite part about photo club?

I love helping new people who are interested in photography, and Photography Club is where I get to express that. By helping new people learn, experience and experiment with photography. I love teaching people new things, and when I get to do that with photography club it really makes me happy to branch out and form new photographers.

What do you normally shoot as your subjects?

I do a lot of expressive portraits/people, street life, and different aspects of daily things. I love using people as my subject, because it is just an opportunity to know a person, have fun, and really capture their personality.

Sarah

Making Connections Name: Sarah Olson Grade: 10 Her passion: Community Service/Interact Club KARIN WYKS When did you start becoming involved in Interact Club?

I learned about Interact through a camp called Young Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, with my friend Sarah Solnet. It is a Rotary leadership camp. We were really excited about the idea of the club and decided to start one at Mountain Ridge when we were in eighth grade.

We then went on to start the club at Mountain Vista High School last year with the help of great teachers and our dedicated members that came from the middle school club.

Why did you decide to continue being part of Interact Club?

All of the things the club has been able to do in the short time that we’ve existed have been amazing. I love seeing the difference we can make in other people’s lives.

What has been one of the biggest challenges for the club this year?

The club has a lot of really dedicated and active members, but a challenge that we have is high schoolers being so busy. Getting more of the members to a larger variety of events isn’t easy.

Do you plan on continuing with community service as part of your future or career?

Interact has made me look at what I want to do in the future in a whole new way. It has shown me how much I really love working with other person on something that makes others’ lives better. It will definitely be a part of what I plan to do.

What drives you to help other people through community service?

I love the feeling of happiness that I can bring to other people which also brings me so much joy as well. Wherever we go and whatever we do we bring smiles to others’ faces and to our own.

What are some of the really big community service activities that your club participates in?

The MVHS Interact is the first group to ever get involved with the Peaceful Schools Partnership program. We have been working to use their materials to make lesson plans for our visits to the first grade classroom at Summit View Elementary. We have had two visits so

far to the class and it has been amazing to work with the students to help them create a classroom environment of respect, cooperation and positive problem solving skills. This has been so rewarding for the elementary school students and for our members as well. We have learned so much as we teach the lessons to the kids. We have also been visiting Clare Bridge, an Alzheimer and Dementia home, for two years now.

We go with the middle school Interact Club, and our monthly visits really mean a lot to the residents. The staff has told us that the activities that we do are the highlight of the residents’ month and have the most resident participation. We have also participated in numerous food drives and distributions for those in need and conducted an annual Earth Day trash collection on the school campus. Every activity that the club does is a big one because it always has a positive impact on the community.

How has being part of this community service activity impacted your life?

It has really taught me that my time and effort can be valuable to others. I am always so excited to participate in all of the activities that we do in the club. It has become something that I really look forward to and do because we have so much fun as a club serving the community.

As one of the officers for the club what are some of your biggest responsibilities?

We plan the meetings and coordinate events. The Interact members help with choosing organizations and causes that they are passionate about, we just help make it happen. These responsibilities have taught us so much about leadership including organizational skills, finance management and public speaking.

If you had five words to describe your club what would they be?

Connect, fun, service, passion and impact.

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 23

Brendan

Speaking Up Full Name: Brendan McGuire Grade: 12 His passion: Speech and Debate KATIE PICKRELL

When did you start Speech and Debate?

I began at the beginning of sophomore year.

Who first got you involved in Speech and Debate?

Well, really, public speaking was all full, so I took the Speech and Debate class instead.

What activity do you currently participate in?

I’ve done humor and oratory and impromptu.

Why have you continued in Speech and Debate?

I went to one tournament my sophomore year, my first tournament, and I’ve never missed a single one since, at least not until this year.

What’s your favorite part about Speech and Debate?

I think my favorite part is hanging out all tournament, is my favorite part, with the team.

And I understand you are one of the captains of the team, correct?

Yes.

Do you enjoy being a captain?

I do enjoy being a captain. However, it does come with its challenges. This year there has been a demand for helping out a new coach.

Has Coach Cooper done a good job?

She has. She’s done an amazing job.

Has being a senior captain implicated any extra responsibilities?

I don’t know if it’s because I’m a senior or because I’ve been with the team for so long, but, I’m more like the Papa Bear of the team. But, no, I don’t really think so. It’s only made it all the better.

So for you and your team, what’s the most challenging part of Speech and Debate?

The most challenging part has to

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be when our team gets to finals because there is a lot of good competition in our region.

And is that going to be soon?

State was March 21-22 and National Qualifications was April 11-12. I did not compete though, I am went to help out our state qualifiers prepare for their state tournament.

Do you plan to continue compemting in the future?

Actually, yes. Hastings College is paying me $20,000 to do college forensics for them.

What about Speech and Debate, do you think defines you?

Well, I sure am outspoken. I’ve never connected with a group more than I have the Speech and Debate team, so I feel like those are the people who know me the best. I mean, nothing truly profound is coming to mind, however I do not know if more than Speech and Debate defines me. It’s pretty, in and of itself, who I am. It just fits so well with me.

Do you think you define Speech and Debate? Why? No, not at all. I think that all of the Speech and Debate kids that I have right now define Speech and Debate and I’m just very proud to support them.

What about your team defined your experiences?

Well our team has been through a lot for over three years now, three crazy years. I could not have kept up without them and I hope that I have been a vital role in their experiences as well, because they’ve definitely been one in mine.

If you could define the whole team in one word what would it be? Or more than one world if you think that one word is too broad.

I would definitely say “perseverance.” You know, the team is full of unsung heroes and leaders. I have to say that they are the most committed people I have ever met and I will miss them tremendously next year.

What is one prominent moment for each year?

Sophomore year the most prominent moment was getting my Speech and Debate letter, mainly because that was the first letter I got. I’ve since gotten three more. Junior year, the most memorable part was probably getting trapped outside in a snowstorm. I went to the wrong school and then my ride just left me. This last year, it hasn’t happened yet, but I’m fairly certain it’s going to be the Speech and Debate banquet.

Name: Taylor Blatchford Grade: 12 Her passion: Journalism SYDNEY OSTDIEK When the announcer began to read aloud the final description of the winner of the Journalism Education Association’s Journalist of the Year, senior Taylor Blatchford’s nerves heightened.

The more descriptive the announcer became, the more it sounded like Blatchford. She took a final breath before the winner’s name was announced. “I thought, it could be all or nothing,” Blatchford said, the co-editor in chief of VISTAj, Mountain Vista High School’s comprehensive journalism program.

Just a few seconds later, she had won it all.

“The 2014 National Journalist of the Year, Taylor Blatchford,” was amplified through the speakers in the San Diego hotel ballroom April 13.

After winning 2014 Colorado High School Journalist of the Year, Blatchford was one of 32 state journalists of the year waiting to hear his or her name called at the National High School Journalist Convention in California to win the national title.

As the first five runners up were described and named, all that was left was one name: the 2014 student journalist of the year.

“I was so nervous in the morning. I didn’t want to eat anything,” Blatchford said, adding that the moments after winning the award felt surreal.

“No one deserves this more than Taylor,” AJ Stowell, senior and copy editor said.

Blatchford thanked adviser Mark Newton.

“Our program would not be the same without him. He’s the biggest influence I’ve had in high school,” Blatchford said.

As JEA president, Newton presented Blatchford the award at the spring convention, when he ran across the floor to meet Blatchford with her award and a hug.

“I was very nervous, especially because I knew it could really happen,” Newton said. “When I heard her name I thought, ‘Oh my God, be cool.’”

Once the two made eye contact, however, Newton displayed his excitement as he hugged Blatchford before handing her the award certificate.

Thinking back to freshman year, when Blatchford was sitting in her Introduction to Journalism class, she said she never imagined what she would achieve just a mere three-and-ahalf years later.

“I didn’t even know [the award] existed until a (national) convention my sophomore year,” Blatchford said. “It is nice to win the award, but it hasn’t been the goal over the last three-and-ahalf years.”

Throughout the years, Blatchford said her passion, knowledge and dedication of journalism has flourished.

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Second to No One “Her dedication is a big factor,” senior Dylan Ingram, another editor, said. “The amount of work she puts in is insane. The ability she has to dedicate herself to a task, and see it though, makes her so tremendously good at journalism.

She really just knows what to do.”

Blatchford’s fellow editor and friend, senior Taylor Atlas, wrote a letter of recommendation for Blatchford’s portfolio for the Journalist of the Year competition.

“Taylor has always been one of my closest friends, and seeing how hard she works in everything she does in life pretty much I knew that she could and would win this award,” Atlas said.

“I wanted to do my part and help her win and get her recommendation for all that she does for the VISTAj program.”

Atlas said that because letters of recommendation usually come from adults, she believed submitting a letter from a fellow student’s point of view gave Blatchford’s portfolio a different look.

Blatchford is the third VISTAj journalist in three years to be honored.

Joan Lyons was named the 2013 Colorado High School Journalist of the Year and in 2012 Macy Morgan was named runnerup in the state contest, sponsored by the Colorado High School Press Association.

Blatchford said her time as a student journalist helped her find what she wants to do in the next few chapters in her life. Next fall, Blatchford will attend the University of Missouri.

Although Blatchford said she has loved being an editor, she said, “I’m kind of excited to go back to just being a staff member.”

Blatchford has created a legacy in VISTAj, that future editors and staff members plan to up hold.

“We just have to do our thing, and with the talent that we have, we are not just going to try and win the awards, but put out the best publications for our readers that we can because that is what VISTAj is about” junior and copy editor Tyler Kraft said.

Next year for VISTAj will be an interesting one. Newton said he believes everyone of his staff members has what it takes to be the national winner.

“I’m always curious as a teacher to see who is going to be the next Taylor Blatchford,” he said.

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 25

Kaitlin Zenoni

EP!C PHOTO SERVIING SOLO

Sophomore Kendra Lavallee, a varsity women’s tennis singles player, returns her opponent’s serve during the first match of the season. “My favorite part about tennis is coming to the net and finishing the point with a volley or overhead. I also enjoy the mental and physical part of the game,” Lavallee said. “I am also motivated to play the best I can and see if my opponent can keep up.”

Photograph by Reagan Fitzke // Eagle Eye Issue 418 // Eagle Eye // I//ssue 2 2

Gabe Rodriguez

Taylor Blatchford

EP!C PHOTO SWIMMING TO SUCCESS

Senior Billy Doro swims in a meet against Regis on March 18. “My family has

always [swam], so it is just sort of tradition,” Doro said. “One of my favorite moments from swimming for Mountain Vista is when we practiced water polo on the same day we had pictures, and just every practice and swim meet getting to have fun with my friends!”

Photograph by Gabe Rodriguez Issue 2 // Eagle Eye // 18

The Anchor KRISTIN GATCHIS The storm starts to brew, As the depressing gray clouds roll in, Engulfing the blue.

Her ocean waves become harsh.

Shooting up from the depths, Her anger surfaces.

Sending her waves a rollin’ Crashing and clashing against al forces as the Heavens cry from above.

Faster and faster her waves go, Becoming angrier, More chaotic, More uncontrollable.

A sail boat tries to stay afloat amongst her rage.

Struggling.

Struggling to get out of the God forsaken storm.

But, the more it tries, It is one step closer to sinking to its death at the bottom this dark pit.

Salt water crashes against this little boat.

Knocking it around like a boxer and his weak opponent in a boxing match.

The boat doesn’t know what to do anymore.

It is hopelessly lost at sea.

Hope comes to the boat and they send it down, Down Down Down Down Down Down Down Down Down The anchor stays.

The boat gains its stability, No longer a victim of the storm.

The uncontrollable is controlled.

The ocean calms its breathing, In and out.

Slowly and peace, Creating its own rhythm.

The Heavens stop their lamenting, The clouds part and the sun pokes its head out.

The boat is finally safe, Controlled, Ordered.

Why did the ocean change so suddenly?

That little anchor, Keeps everything calm and controlled.

She keeps everything afloat.

She saved that tiny boat.

She didn’t ask to be an anchor, The boat made her into an anchor.

She’s tired of only being this anchor so someone please come set her free, That is all she wants.

But that is not going happen, She has become part of the anchor.

And that is all she will ever be–an anchor 28 // Eagle Eye // Issue 5

Student

DOU

Sam Chase

Kraly Baton

Creative Word Choice Expression Short Stories Perspective Flash Fiction.

Turning Point Resolution Imagery Endings Morals

Eagle Ink

Heroes Villains Six Word Stories

Painting Adventure Life Romance Horror Beginnings Photography ArtisticCommunication Tension Publications Drawing Characters Emotion Poetry Plot. Diction

Media & Art

OUBLE Peyton Galbraith

Caitlin Cobb

Confusion JUSTIN SCHROEDER

Allie Williams

Sometimes, I get confused.

I don’t know if I am happy about my good life, Or the fact I can endure a bad one.

Sometimes, I wonder if God is punishing me, Or preparing me for the hardships of life.

I wonder if I am wrong, or the world is.

Yet, I have no intention of leaving.

When I wonder about the world, I am greeted by silence.

Is it the silence of serenity, Or mourning?

I am confused.

Or am I?

EAGLE INK // Volume 3 “Eagle Ink” is a place for students to share their creative and artistic talents through multiple media: short stories, flash fiction, poetry, photography, graphic design and any other creative medium. All student submissions are welcome.

To submit work for the magazine or the web, please send pieces in either a Word document or JPEG format to vistalitmag@gmail.com, with your first and last name attached, as well as a title if the work has a title.

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 29

1

30 // Eagle Eye // Issue 5

One Question. Five Answers.

? 1 2 3 4 5

AMANI BROWN // JACOB CUSHATT PHOTOS BY AMANI BROWN AND JACOB CUSHATT

Preston Williams Senior

“I like to draw so I’d say I’m passionate about that. I like to do it.

It’s something I find interesting. I like to draw medieval stuff and fake creatures and make them come to life”

What is your passion in life?

Why?

Juliana Macht Sophomore

Jonna Ginn Freshman

“I’m passionate about cheerleading. I’ve been cheering for two years and I just love supporting my school and it’s entertaining.”

Tiffany Weaver Junior

“I like making new friends and meeting new people. I like to make people feel wanted and like someone cares.”

“I’m passionate about eating right and working out because I used to weigh 265 pounds and I’ve lost 85 pounds. It’s really good to get your life on track so you can live longer and have a happy life.”

Nick Conner Junior

“If I could do anything for a day, I’d probably go rock climbing outside. It’s a really different feel being out on a rock instead of a rock wall. I’d like to just go out with friends, get some Arnold Palmers’, get a bunch of snacks and just climb all day.”

Issue 5 // Eagle Eye // 31

32 // Eagle Eye // Issue 5