October 2015 Nighthawk News Magazine by Steve Hanf

FIRST FLIGHT HIGH SCHOOL, KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. VOLUME 12, NO. 1, FALL 2015 FREE

WHAT’S INSIDE 4 – Students find acceptance as they find their own identity 8 – Fall play features small cast sharing powerful stories of love 10 – New adviser helps students navigate through thorny college apps 11 – Payton Gaddy spends sophomore year helping children in Indonesia 12 – Haunting Halloween fun awaits 13 – What’s that on your Chromebook? 14 – Opinions: Spirit days, Syria and the silly season for politics 18 – Sports: Flying discs, a flying cheerleader, flying through the waves and flying across the finish line

ighthawk News Magazine will be published four times this year by the journalism classes at First Flight High School. The publication is distributed free to the FFHS student body, faculty and staff and to First Flight Middle. Approximately 4,000 copies are inserted in the Outer Banks Sentinel, while another 1,000 will be distributed in various retail outlets on the Outer Banks. The Nighthawk News staff strives to provide informative and accurate coverage of individuals

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Sophomore Brooke Kelly dances during the marching band’s performance at the Homecoming pep rally in early October. and events within the school and the Dare County community. The opinion pages serve as a forum for the publications staff and community. Views expressed in Nighthawk News do not represent the opinions of the faculty or administration, the Dare County School Board or its administration. Editorials represent the views of the staff, while bylined columns are the opinion of the authors. Readers are encouraged to write letters to the editor on matters of concern. Letters may be mailed to FFHS or delivered to Room B-214. They must be signed. We reserve the right to edit letters for

length, grammatical errors or libelous content. You can reach the Nighthawk News staff by mail at 100 Veterans Drive, Kill Devil Hills, N.C. 27948, by phone at (252) 449-7000 ext. 2437 or by e-mail at hanfst@daretolearn.org. Advertising inquiries can be directed to the staff by phone or email. Nighthawk News is a member of North Carolina Scholastic Media and the Columbia Scholastic, National Scholastic, and Southern Interscholastic press associations. We also publish online at NighthawkNews.org and are on Twitter @FFNighthawkNews and at Facebook.com/NighthawkNews.

NIGHTHAWK NEWS STAFF

Kristina Carter Co-Editor-In-Chief

Mary Pat Thompson Co-Editor-In-Chief

Nina Holly Business Manager

Kelly Weisbecker Co-Editor-In-Chief

Byrde Wells Sports Editor

Dea Celaj Photo Editor

Mack Doebler Staff Writer

Suzanne Harrison Staff Writer

Arabella Saunders Staff Writer

Beverly Murry Staff Writer

Mack Mandl Staff Writer

Steve Hanf Adviser fall / / 2015

ON THE COVER

right smiles and white T-shirts splattered with colorful paint. That’s what you see when you look at the cover of this issue. Our newspaper crew made its way to Shooters at the Beach photography studio earlier this month, excited for a shoot with three inspiring individuals. In the picture below, seniors Austin MacDonald (left) and Madison Ciero are seen striking a serious pose as they show off the Human Rights Campaign logo, which has become a major component in the ﬁght for equality for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The serious faces and simplistic design, as seen in this photo, are a drastic change from the light-hearted, paint-splattered photos that took place later that day. (Thanks for the paint and supplies from our art teacher, Alice Baldwin!) This contrast represented the serious nature of the issue as well as the heartwarming feeling that comes with the freedom of ﬁnding yourself. Our student photographer, junior Dea Celaj, was thrilled to have her work on the cover of this publication. “When I was asked if I wanted to take the cover photo for the newspaper, I couldn’t be-

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / table of contents

lieve it,” Celaj said. “Being able to see my work on something as big as this is amazing. My favorite part of the shoot was deﬁnitely getting to splatter my subjects with paint. I can honestly say these are some of my best photos.” We hope the simple, clean cover for the

Nighthawk News Magazine helps shed light on an often messy and controversial issue. We also hope you enjoy the array of other interesting, educational and unique stories our team has written. – From The Editors

Southern Bank proudly supports First Flight High School. Investing in our communities provides all of us with a brighter future.

Visit Us At One of Our Local Branches Southern Shores 252-261-1326

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FROM CONFUSED TO CONFIDENT

MacDonald overcomes fear, becomes true to self By Mary Pat Thompson Co-Editor-in-Chief Back when senior Austin MacDonald was a young child living in Suffolk, Virginia, he had a gay next-door neighbor. MacDonald remembers making up fake scenarios about his neighbor to tell his mother, curious about how she would respond. “I was jumping on my trampoline one day, and I went and ran to my mom and was like, ‘Mom, I just saw them (the neighbor and another man) kiss,’ ” MacDonald recalled. “I had made it up just to see what she would say. She was like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ She was baffled. She said, ‘I am so sorry you had to see that.’ ” What his mother couldn’t see was that MacDonald carried an attraction for males throughout childhood. In fourth grade, he kissed a boy. At the time, he didn’t think much of it. “I didn’t really think of it as, ‘Oh, I’m gay,’ it was more of, ‘Oh, this is just living in the moment,’ MacDonald said. “I didn’t really realize what gay was until I moved to North

Carolina in fifth grade. My parents never really talked about gay people: what they really were, if they were good or bad. I found out that gay was ‘bad’ in fifth grade and I kind of secluded myself. I shoved myself in the closet.” Rather than try to shake off the stigma associated with being gay, he stayed in that closet until he felt comfortable enough to come out. Middle school, as it is for many students, was a confusing time. He found himself constantly denying who he was by speaking out against gays. “Actually, before I came out, I called myself a homophobe,” MacDonald said. “I was so scared that people would judge me for being who I was. So, if I would judge people who were (gay), maybe other people would think I wasn’t that way.” Ultimately, this became too much to bear. Over time, MacDonald formed friendships with people he trusted and felt ready to share his secret with them; however, his journey took baby steps. “I first came out as bisexual,” MacDonald explained. “I thought that bisexual was more

accepting because people are like, ‘Oh, well you still like girls,’ so they wouldn’t judge me as much.” Finally, MacDonald made the difficult decision to come out as gay, not bisexual. He told his friends. He told his mother. “I actually was scared because of my mother, mainly because she is not accepting,” MacDonald said. “But that’s just something you’ve got to get over.” He has. As co-president of First Flight’s Gay-Straight Alliance and a senior Homecoming representative, MacDonald has embraced who he is. The slogan for his Homecoming campaign was “Homo for Hoco,” and although he did not win, he still continues to receive a positive response from his classmates and community. “Personally, I’ve never been bullied in this school,” MacDonald said. “I think mainly it’s because here at First Flight High School we’re more accepting than other high schools – I’ve heard a lot of stories.” Junior Mary Pat Thompson can be reached at thompsonma1001@daretolearn.org.

A MOMENT FROZEN – TRUTHFULLY – IN TIME

Drape or tux? Ciero shows that one size doesn’t fit all By Mary Pat Thompson Co-Editor-in-Chief More so than any other grade, senior year is a time of tradition. The crowning of Homecoming king and queen. Senior class pranks. Prom. Baccalaureate. Graduation. These events signify the end of a high school experience. There is one event in particular, however, that holds significance long after graduation: senior pictures. Senior pictures have always had a certain air of importance surrounding them. They survive in yearbooks and on the walls of teachers’ classrooms and the mantels of family members. They turn into a tangible long-lasting memory. So when senior Madison Ciero thought about what the photograph conveys, she didn’t want to have it portray a false image of herself. “I’ve always been a tomboy my entire life. My mom would always tell me, ‘It’s just a phase, I was a tomboy, too,’ so I would just (think) it was normal that I wanted to dress in guys’ clothes,” Ciero said. “I went through this phase where I tried to be more girly, and I wasn’t comfortable being that way. I just tried to fit in. Then, more toward high school,

I realized that I did like girls and didn’t really like guys anymore. That was when I had gotten my hair cut really short for the first time. If they didn’t know before from the guys’ clothes, they definitely knew now that I was probably not 100 percent straight.” When the time for Ciero’s senior picture rolled around, she found herself facing quite a dilemma. “I had originally skipped my senior pictures over the summer because I did not want to have to make the choice to wear either the drape or the tux,” Ciero said. Although Ciero prefers to wear clothes made for boys, she didn’t want to wear the tuxedo any more than the drape. “I told my parents, ‘Mom and Dad, I’m going to get my senior pictures taken, but I will not wear that drape. My only other option is a tuxedo.’ My dad was like, ‘Go for it. Wear whatever makes you comfortable,’ ” Ciero said. “I don’t want people to think I am a boy in the yearbook when they see it. I would rather prefer to wear my own black collared shirt.” So she set out to accomplish that goal. After meetings with school counselors and a trusted teacher, Ciero was told she could take an alternative photo, but first had to get a note signed by a parent that it was OK. The

school also wanted a phone call with one of Ciero’s parents just to make sure they were OK with the situation. “I knew my mom would have signed the paper. It’s just the fact that I had to do this. This is my choice,” said Ciero, who admitted to being frustrated by the process. “I wouldn’t ask to wear this (collared shirt) in a regular picture. It’s just that it’s senior pictures.” In the end, the school did give permission for Ciero to wear the black collared shirt and she was not given a hard time on her picture day. Ciero doesn’t want anyone else to have to struggle with similar situations. She is hopeful about the positive change occurring daily in the minds and actions of the students and staff within the school. “Seeing all the new freshmen and the sophomores who are hitting that stage in their high school life where they’re like, ‘Maybe I am different, but that’s OK,’ is just really amazing,” Ciero said. “We had no one to talk to when we were younger, and now we are the role models for all of these kids who need help as well. It just feels really good.” Junior Mary Pat Thompson can be reached at thompsonma1001@daretolearn.org. fall / / 2015

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Madison Ciero (left) shouts to the crowd as she and fellow senior Austin MacDonald make their way through the pep rally parade in October. Ciero and MacDonald included gay pride flags on their ride.

Photos by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News One day after donning colorful outfits for the school pep rally, Madison Ciero and Austin MacDonald sported formal attire for the halftime Homecoming ceremony. NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

Explaining the acronym: What does LGBTQ+ actually mean?

WHO YOU ARE VS. WHO YOU LIKE

he letters are well known by now: LGBTQ. But what do they all mean? What order should they be in? Why do some people include a plus sign? North Carolina’s “qnotes” is an LGBT arts, entertainment and news publication based in Charlotte that produces a print newspaper throughout North Carolina and has an online presence at GoQnotes.com. In July, the publication produced this piece “on the beautiful diversity of the Alphabet Soup.” The definitions are built upon a list of terms and phrases compiled by Eli R. Green and Eric N. Peterson at the LGBT Resource Center at the University of California Riverside. Agender – a person who identifies with no gender. Ally – someone who is not a sexual or gender minority who confronts heterosexism, homophobia, transphobia and heterosexist privilege or other prejudices. Androgyne – a person appearing and/or identifying as neither man nor woman, presenting a gender either mixed or neutral. Bisexual – a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of more than one sex or gender. Cisgender – a person whose gender identity matches their assigned sex at birth. Gay – a male-identified person who is sexually or romantically attracted to other male-identified persons. Genderqueer – a gender variant person whose gender identity is neither male nor female, is between or beyond genders, or is some combination of genders; often includes a political agenda to challenge gender stereotypes and the gender binary system. Intersex – a person whose combination of chromosomes, gonads, hormones, internal sex organs, and/or genitals differs from one of the two expected patterns. Lesbian – a female-identified person who is sexually or romantically attracted to other female-identified persons. Pansexual – a person who is sexually attracted to all or many gender expressions. Same Gender Loving – a term sometimes used by members of the African-American community to express a sexual orientation outside heterosexuality. Transgender – a person whose gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth.

Perhaps one of the most controversial labels within the LGBT community continues to be the word queer. Some see it as a reclaimed label of pride and politics, in common use since at least the 1980s. Others still see it as an insult. Qnotes borrowed directly from Green’s and Peterson’s definition for the label below. Queer – 1. An umbrella term which embraces a matrix of sexual preferences, orientations, and habits of the notexclusively-heterosexual-and-monogamous majority. Queer includes lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transpeople, intersex persons, the radical sex communities and more. 2. A reclaimed word that was formerly used solely as a slur but that has been semantically overturned by members of the maligned group, who use it as a term of defiant pride. Queer is an example of a word undergoing this process. For decades, queer was used solely as a derogatory adjective for gays and lesbians, but in the 1980s the term began to be used by gay and lesbian activists as a term of self-identification. Similarly, other reclaimed words are usually offensive to the in-group when used by outsiders, so extreme caution must be taken concerning their use when one is not a member of the group. Graphic by Nina Holly/Nighthawk News with text courtesy of Qnotes

Photos by Aaron Jennings and Dea Celaj Emmitt Lewis once was known as Emily. The sophomore’s goal is to start a non-proﬁt organization that can help people in the transgender community feel comfortable with their bodies.

From Emily to Emmitt: By Mary Pat Thompson Co-Editor-in-Chief (Emmitt Lewis prefers male pronouns, so male pronouns are used when we refer to the time he was Emily.) It started as an ordinary April morning. Sophomore Emmitt Lewis woke up, got dressed, and mentally prepared himself for the day ahead. He knew the day would continue to play over and over in his mind as one of the most inﬂuential and important moments in his life. He knew who he was on the inside. It was time to tell everyone else. Lewis had known there was something different about him ever since he was a child. “When I was little, probably every other kid did this too, but I’d run around without my shirt and try to be one of the guys. I’d have so much fun. Of course, the guys wanted

nothing to do with me,” Lewis said. That didn’t stop his fascination with masculinity and fantasizing what it would be like to be male. When Lewis finally discovered his personal gender identification, it became difficult to explain. Some people didn’t understand how the girl they had grown up with suddenly could want to be a boy. The questions Lewis got were not meant to be cruel, but instead were a consequence of an under-educated society: Being transgender, although not involved with sexuality in any way, is often confused with sexual orientation. “I’m actually pansexual,” Lewis said. “Therefore, I’m open to pretty much anyone. To me it’s personality. If I click with you it shouldn’t matter who you are. If we have a connection, that’s all that matters to me.” The difference between gender and sexuality can be easily explained, according to the Human fall / / 2015

Timeline of LGBTQ+ events June 28, 1969: Stonewall Riots began after police raid an unlicensed gay bar, the Stonewall Inn in New York City’s Greenwich Village. This is considered to be the starting point for the gay rights movement. June 27-28, 1970: On the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, four cities hold the nation’s first gay pride parades. The four cities are New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. 1973: Homosexuality is no longer classified as a mental disorder. The American Psychological Association’s Board of Trustees votes to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. Psychologist Dr. Robert Spitzer provided data showing there was no clear link between homosexuality and mental illness. Nov. 27, 1978: Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person elected to office when he won a seat on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in early 1978, is assassinated. He was an advocate for gay rights and urged gay people to fight for their rights. 1981: AIDS is linked to gay men, and throughout the 1980s there is a critical outbreak of the disease. May 30, 1987: Rep. Barney Frank becomes the first openly gay member of Congress. Frank served 16 terms as a Democratic representative from Massachusetts. 1993: President Bill Clinton enacts the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy which prevents gays from openly serving in the military. An estimated 13,000 people were expelled from the U.S. armed forces. Current President Barack Obama repealed the policy in 2011. 1996: Congress passes the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies gay couples the right to file joint taxes.

Gender, sexuality differ Rights Campaign: Gender identity is “one’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither.” Sexual orientation, on the other hand, is merely the “enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people.” Gender is who you are. Sexuality is who you like. “You can’t confuse it,” Lewis said. “Sexuality has nothing to do with being transgender. People like to look at me and John (his boyfriend) and tell me, ‘Oh, you’re just a straight couple trying to be weird,’ No. I’m much more comfortable, much more happy now that I’ve come out and that I’m trying to be a boy.” Lewis wants every person who is struggling with who they are to feel comfortable in their own skin. This is why he is an admin for a support group on Facebook for those who are transitioning from one gender to the other. One thing he focuses on within the group is passing out “binders” to females transitioning into males. NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

April 30, 1997: Ellen DeGeneres comes out on her television show. Her ratings initially plunged and the show was pulled before its next season; however, she now hosts a popular talk show known as “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” 2004: Massachusetts becomes the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. A dozen states passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage.

“Binders are basically a really tight shirt that will make you definitely more flat-chested,” Lewis said. “The hard part about a binder is that most of them are pretty thick and black, so you sweat. Especially with the layers. You can tell that I’m a lot more comfortable, I don’t really wear binders, but some people feel like it’s essential.” Lewis hopes to build confidence in the transgender community and create a safe environment for those in need, here on the Outer Banks and eventually the entire country. “I want these people to feel like themselves. I want to start a non-profit organization,” Lewis said. “I want to give binders to anyone in need. I want to get a good job and be able to buy a bunch of them and just donate them to people who need them.”

2008: The California Supreme Court rules that gays and lesbians should be allowed to get married; however, in November, voters approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Junior Mary Pat Thompson can be reached at thompsonma1001@daretolearn.org.

Information gathered by Kristina Carter from NBC News Gay Rights Timeline

May 9, 2012: Obama becomes the first U.S. president to back marriage for gay and lesbian couples. This announcement came one day after North Carolina passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage as well as civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. This was a change from his 2008 campaign, when he said he opposed gay marriage. May 23, 2013: The Boy Scouts of America hold a vote on its guidelines and decides to lift its ban on gay scouts. The ban on gay adult leaders remains in place. June 20, 2013: Exodus International, a group that claimed it could cure same-sex attraction through prayer and therapy, shuts down after more than three decades of being an active organization. June 26, 2015: The Supreme Court rules to legalize samesex marriage in all 50 states.

COMEDY, ROMANCE, TRAGEDY

It’s almost time for ‘Almost, Maine’ By Suzanne Harrison and Beverly Murry Staff Writers

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Real-life couple Christian Eberhard and Katy Spore embrace during an emotional scene at practice for the fall play, ‘Almost, Maine.’

ew people know how difﬁcult it is to put on a school production. From the actors memorizing their lines to the building of sets and selection of costumes, there are dozens of vital steps involved to create a smoothly running show. It’s almost time for StageKraft’s fall play, “Almost, Maine,” which is based in a town you won’t ﬁnd on just any old map. “Almost, Maine” weaves together nine different stories of comedy, romance and tragedy to portray the theme that love is different and similar all at the same time. The school production takes place Nov. 12-14 at First Flight High School under the direction of theater teacher Monica Penn and English teacher Lauren Deal. They also have help from senior Kelly Weisbecker, who is the stage manager of the show, and the small but dedicated cast of 25 students. “I love getting to see the scenes and the actors grow and evolve,” Weisbecker said. “With the amount of time we all spend together they sort of become a family. The sense of community is astounding.” Because the fall play usually does not draw in as many students as the spring musical, “We knew there was going to be a small cast,” Deal said of choosing this popular story. “Mrs. Penn and I read through the play and loved it.” The actors have been work-

ing their way through the script since September. Acting the part of a couple will come easy for juniors Katy Spore and Christian Eberhard. The real-life couple will be playing a pair that has been together for 11 years. “I’m comfortable with him already and the characters need really strong chemistry,” Spore said. “Christian and I already have that and it will be easier to yell at him.” Junior Nicole Castano has been doing shows since her freshman year, and this is her ﬁrst major role. With only 25 people in the show, a lead role was not hard to come by for the experienced upperclassmen. “I didn’t have a major role (in past productions). I was in a few of the scenes, but I only had a few lines,” Castano said. “So now doing ‘Almost, Maine,’ which is a show I didn’t even hear about before we did this, and getting a pretty good lead is really different for me.” This show does bring some controversy with it. Last year, Maiden High School in Catawba County (between Charlotte and Hickory) canceled the show mid-rehearsal due to what that principal called “sexually explicit overtones and multiple sexual innuendos,” according to an article published in The Charlotte Observer. Students later banded together with the help of their former drama teacher to put on the show off campus, and playwright John Cariani announced plans to attend one of the shows in support of their work. In the Observer story, Cariani

Traditions begin with us.

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Who’s Who in ‘Almost, Maine’ Cast List

Nina Holly as Pete Summer Tonnesen as Ginette Christian Davis as East Mary Pat Thompson as Glory Joey McNamara as Jimmy Michelle Hall as Sandrine Brooke Kelly as Waitress

Jacob Poli as Phil

Carrietta Classen, Running Crew-Left

Chloe Williams as Marci

Avery Daniels, Sound Board Operator

Maiah Tabb as Hope

Mac McClary, Sound Board(Mics)

Kaeley Williams as Daniel

Andrea Segura Ramirez, Light Board Operator

Nicole Castano as Rhonda

Sam Willis, Spotlight Operator

Sam Weybright as Dave

Christian White, Spotlight Operator

Technical Theater Crew

Amber Laskowski, Ladies Hair

Chloe Futrell, Robyn Godley, Grace Nelson, Caitlin Nicholson, Liz Sinks as Bachelorette Party

Kelly Weisbecker, Stage Manager

Sara Mei Cook, Guys Hair

Lauren O’Dell, Back Stage Right Manager

Sloan Tomblin, Ladies Makeup

Rosslyn LaCroix as Marvalyn

Destin Tomblin, Running Crew/Curtain-Right

Beverly Murry, Guys Makeup

Paul Seyler as Steve

Sarah Skinner, Running Crew-Right

Evan Fish, Costumer

Christian Eberhard as Lendell

Madison Delcalo, Running Crew-Right

Zane Fish, Costumer

Katy Spore as Gayle

Hunter Savage, Back Stage-Left Manager

Jodi Awtrey, Costumer

Kiersten Lewis as Cass

Ryder Cotrell, Running Crew-Left

OJ Sawtell, Props

Suzanne Harrison as Brandy

Blayde Keller, Running Crew-Left

Amy Lanning, Public Relations

said he “didn’t think about it being a play about sex at all. I wrote it to be as gentle as possible.” In the original production of the play, there is a gay male couple. Due to the low number of men who tried out for the play here, the couple was changed to two women. “I think everyone down here is very accepting of people’s sexuality,” said sophomore Kiersten Lewis, who plays Cass, a girl who realizes she may be in love with her best friend. Lewis believes that the community will find the show refreshing.

“I don’t think people will think it’s a big deal and will find it more comedic than offensive,” Lewis said. Senior Chloe Williams, however, believes that some members of the community might find it offensive. “I think it will probably – definitely – affect the attendance because a lot of people I know won’t want to bring their really, really little kids,” Williams said. “I think that in general they will come to support us, but probably won’t be as happy as if there wasn’t a gay couple. But that’s only because

that’s what we believe, not like a ‘We don’t like you because you’re gay’ thing.” The directors and actors and tech theater crew members are eager to take the stage for this small, challenging and critically acclaimed play. Tickets can be purchased at the box office before the show and cost $6 for students, seniors and children and $8 for adults. The show is at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 2 p.m. Saturday. “We’ve had really large, strong senior classes the past two years,

so this year’s upperclassmen have spent a long time in their shadow,” Deal said. “It’s extremely exciting to see how this year’s seniors have stepped up and taken on leadership roles. This is the first romantic comedy we’ve done since I came to First Flight, and I think the kids are going to make it into an outstanding show!” Sophomores Suzanne Harrison and Beverly Murry can be reached at harrisonsu0716@daretolearn. org and murrybe0316@daretolearn.org.

PWR 4 LIFE www.pwr4life.org

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

LENDING A HELPING HAND

Photo by Shorelines Yearbook Although new adviser Seth Rose is mainly involved in helping seniors decide their future, he is active with students in all four grade levels. He recently assisted sophomore Brigid O’Neil in her UNC School of the Arts application.

Rose helps students bloom

By Kristina Carter Co-Editor-in-Chief

t is September of your senior year in high school. College applications are due in a month and you’re faced with a variety of choices. Having to make major decisions that will affect the rest of your life is stressing you out – majorly stressing you out – and you don’t know where or who to turn to for help. Meet Seth Rose: a new faculty member added to all the high schools in Dare County to provide assistance in planning your life after high school graduation. Rose is the new college adviser in the guidance ofﬁce, and although he splits his time between three schools – Rose works two days here, two days at Manteo High and one day at Cape Hatteras Secondary School – he is committed to giving all the seniors a chance to ﬁnd their way to a college that will suit them, no matter their socioeconomic background. When Rose was a senior in high school, one of the two guidance counselors became sick at the beginning of the school year. That meant his senior class only had one counselor who was

forced to split time between 800 students. This caused a lot of problems for students who did not have a support network pushing them to work harder and to graduate. “I remember graduating that year and looking up at the stands and seeing a lot of the brilliant friends I had made sitting in the rafters not graduating,” Rose said. “One of the reasons was because someone at school didn’t push them in any sense of direction.” After high school, Rose majored in political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Rose also became actively involved with the Carolina College Advising Corps, which is a program that places UNC-Chapel Hill graduates in certain public high schools as college advisers. Carolina College Advising Corps explains on its website that this program aims to help low-income, ﬁrst-generation, underrepresented students from North Carolina attend college. “I had the background at home, and I had the pressure from my community and my environment that expected me to go to college,” Rose said. “But for a lot of the students who had less re-

sources, who didn’t have someone pushing them to go to college, (they didn’t graduate). The reason I wanted to do this job was to have that not be the case for the students in Dare County.” Rose has become a familiar face around First Flight despite spending only Mondays and Wednesdays here. He schedules regular ofﬁce hours for students to visit him and also interacts with students during Empower Time. Rose started a “College Corner” session to offer feedback on students’ college applications and essays. His Twitter account – @DareUniversity – passes along congratulations to students, such as senior Sam Weybright, for submitting their applications, and even information about unconventional scholarships, such as the $2,000 Zombie Apocalypse scholarship. “I thought it was really cool and funny (that he tweeted about me) and I was very surprised when N.C. State admissions re-tweeted and Chapel Hill admissions favorited it,” Weybright said. Junior Kristina Carter can be reached at carterkr0206@daretolearn.org. fall / / 2015

Gaddy crosses ocean for unusual sophomore year By Arabella Saunders Staff Writer

magine leaving everything you have ever known to live in a foreign country on the opposite end of the globe. This is exactly the adventure embarked upon by former First Flight student Payton Gaddy. Since the age of 6, Gaddy has been fascinated with the vibrant culture, geography and people that make up the southeast Asian nation of Indonesia. Both Gaddy’s mother, Paige, and aunt, Linda Joyner, have previously lived in Indonesia. Prior to her marriage, Paige traveled, lived and worked in Indonesia and the Philippines. In the mid 1990s, she and her husband taught school at Sekolah Pelita Harapan, or the School of Hope, which is an international school located in Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta. Joyner moved to the city of Salatiga in 1974 and has been doing anything she can to help the local community since. Payton Gaddy’s family ties to the country as well as her desire to pursue an education overseas is what sparked her interest in studying abroad. In December of 2013, Gaddy traveled to Indonesia for the first time to visit her aunt. She arrived with nervous anticipation of what her visit would entail, and left with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend school in Indonesia for her sophomore year. “My aunt used to come back to the States a lot and every time she left I would ask if I could go back with her,” Gaddy said in a Skype interview. “Then, in 2013 when I visited for the first time, my aunt talked to me about coming back and living with her for 10th grade. When I went back to America, I couldn’t stop thinking about living here, and then one thing led to another and now I’m here.” Gaddy moved to Salatiga on June 26 and will live there 10 months. She is studying online through Keystone Online School and on campus at Mountainview International Christian School. Since her arrival, Gaddy has learned just how different living in a foreign country can be. “There are people who sit on the side of the road with huge baskets of fruit trying to make NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

a living off selling fruit,” Gaddy said. “It’s a huge culture shock seeing how people live and make a living here.” Another major difference is the language. Not being able to speak Indonesian has been a major obstacle Gaddy has had to overcome. “I’m learning the language, but I can only understand people if they are speaking slowly,” Gaddy said. “Plus, I get really nervous because I never know if I’m saying things correctly.” The language barrier is also her mother’s biggest concern. With first-hand knowledge of the difficulties that accompany life in a foreign country, Gaddy’s mother knows how hard it can be to adjust. “I know that Payton is very safe. My biggest worry is that because she is in another country, it’s hard for her to be comfortable with her surroundings,” Paige said. “It makes it hard for her to be able to walk to the market by herself and order food, or even to make friends.” According to Gaddy, living in a native region as an American can be tough in certain situations. “If you’re at the pasar (market) and you try to buy something, you always get charged more,” Gaddy said. “Sometimes the local girls will stare at you heavily because they’re not used to seeing American girls their age. It’s hard to adjust to people always looking at you.” Getting involved in the community has played a significant role in Gaddy’s adjustment. Twice a week from 9 a.m. to noon, Gaddy volunteers at either Jungle School, a local preschool, or Bright Minds, a daycare center for children ages six months to 5 years old. She also helps teach first- and third-grade art classes through her school and tutors one-on-one outside of the classroom. Every Friday, Gaddy takes a motorcycle ride up to Kopeng, a village located 20 minutes outside of Salatiga on Mount Merbabu. There, she leads an English club, where she tutors children ages 8 to 11. In addition to this, Gaddy meets at Satya Wacana Christian University on Saturdays to help teach English classes to local children. Over time, Gaddy noticed distinct differences between the lives of Indonesian and Ameri-

An Indonesian tobacco waves ‘hi’ to the camera.

worker

Photos by Payton Gaddy Sophomore Payton Gaddy holds Lanang at the Bright Minds Daycare, where Gaddy volunteers. can children. “The kids here are so happy just to be alive,” Gaddy said. “Kids in America cry and scream when their mom doesn’t get them the toy they want. But these kids, their toys are sticks and rocks. That’s all they have to play with and they’re still so happy and content with their lives.” Working with children every day has had a lasting impact on Gaddy. She has become a constant presence in all their lives and is already worried about leaving the kids behind when she come home. “In 2013, I worked with two little kids at Bright Minds, and when I came back this year they didn’t remember me at all,” Gaddy said. “That was really hard for me because I really wanted to be a part of their life that they remembered. I don’t want that to happen again. These kids see me almost every day and that is something they’re used to and comfortable with, and I don’t want to just leave them again.” Gaddy is scheduled to come home in May of 2016; however, she already knows this trip is only the beginning. “Living in Indonesia has led me to want to travel more,” Gaddy said. “I am already planning on coming back the summer before senior year and I could even see myself living here fulltime as an adult.” Sophomore Arabella Saunders can be reached at saundersar0214@daretolearn.org.

EunJi (right) and a teacher at Jungle School pet a duckling.

A small dwelling sits on a huge cliff in the northern foothills of Mount Merbabu.

Donni is a boy who lives in an orphanage in Solo, Indonesia.

Photo courtesy of PsychoPath Haunting scenes await all those who dare to take on the attractions the are has to offer, including this monster from the PsychoPath at The Lost Colony.

TALES OF HORROR AT HALLOWEEN

Local attractions set to spook students By Trinity Harrison Special to Nighthawk News

all is a lot of people’s favorite time of year, especially because of Halloween. From haunted houses to trick or treating, Halloween is filled with fun activities and many opportunities to make great memories with friends and family. On the Outer Banks, the two main attractions are Wanchese Woods and PsychoPath. Wanchese Woods is located at 1102 ER Daniels Road in Wanchese. It is open from 7 to 11 p.m. and is $15 per person to get in. To walk the entire trail, it takes about 45 minutes. The operates Fridays and Saturdays from Oct. 3 through Nov. 1. ¨I always have heard from my friends that Wanchese Woods was scarier than PsychoPath,” freshman Cassidy Dietz said. “They were right. It was a lot more realistic, so it was scarier. There was more being chased by people with chainsaws and things like that, and at PsychoPath it was very unrealistic, like being locked in a room with a clown.” Some students actually found

the trail to be a little too scary. ¨I never actually made it through Wanchese Woods, I only made it to the parking lot,” freshman Hunter Haskett said. “While we were in the car, a man with a chainsaw came up to the window and scared me and all my friends, so we decided not to go through.” PsychoPath is another popular haunted trail on the Outer Banks. It is run by The Lost Colony and is also $15 to go through, although $2 discount tickets are available in stores throughout the area. This trail is located in Manteo on 1409 National Park Drive. It opens at sundown, around 7:45 p.m. “PsychoPath was scary, but it wasn’t very realistic,” Dietz said. “I would definitely go back, though. It was a lot of fun and it was just a good time with friends.” Even though Haskett wasn’t scared, she still enjoyed the experience of visiting the PsychoPath. Plus, this year’s trail is all new. ¨It was a lot of fun to go through, but it wasn’t very scary. I feel like they have toned it down some over the years so it is more family friendly,¨ Haskett said. ¨But I would go back because it

is just a fun thing to do with your friends and family.” Howl-o-Scream at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, is another favorite haunt for students. The park is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October, featuring haunted houses, spooky terror-tories and the rides. Regular ticket prices are $77, but plenty of deals can be found for discounted admission. Sophomore Casey Bouker has made the two-and-a-half hour trip to Virginia every year since middle school – even though the maze scared her so much during her first visit she cried. Bouker likes how the whole park is decorated for the holiday and how characters walk around scaring people. “It’s a fun tradition to do with my friends,” Bouker said. “And the rides are so fun. It’s like being at the amusement park, but 10 times more fun.” Trinity Harrison is a freshman in Intro to Publications. She intends to join the Nighthawk News Magazine staff next year. Contact her at HarrisonTr0314@DareToLearn.org. fall / / 2015

BEDAZZLE IT!

Customizing Chromebooks can be a sticky situation By Hannah Ellington Special to Nighthawk News

ohn Cena, cats with hats, a snake on a surfboard, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, stalks of corn and the Canadian flag. These items all have one thing in common: They decorate the Chromebooks of students at First Flight High School. Stickers, background images, profiles, cursor size, homepages – they’re all ways students can give their Chromebook that personal touch. “I wanted to know it was mine and I had an extra sticker, so might as well,” freshman Summer Banning said about why she put a sticker of a snake on a surfboard on her computer. Since most of the 800 students at First Flight received identical computers in August, students started using stickers to identify their Chromebook or just add some fun. “It was really boring before and I was saving these stickers all summer for my laptop or binder or something,” said freshman Lorna Cameron, who got most of her stickers from her favorite places to shop, like Vans and Mom’s Sweet Shop. Teachers have been a good source of stickers for some students. “Mrs. (Amy) Powell gave me one sticker – the wolf sticker – and that’s where it started,” senior Charlie Swanner said. “Then after that I got another wolf sticker and all of a sudden the whole class has stickers on their laptop.” Some students, though, prefer to keep their laptops minimalistic or blank. “I don’t want to be one of those people who have 20 stickers on the front of their computer,” Banning said. “I didn’t want to be all flashy.” Media center coordinator Susan McFarlane actually asks students to not put stickers on their computers. When she sees computers with stickers on them, she offers gentle reminders about the damage that can be done. “The Chromebooks don’t belong to the students; the bags we give to the students do. The NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

Chromebooks belong to the school. And just like you wouldn’t necessarily put a sticker on a desk or a textbook, it’s the same thing with the Chromebook,” McFarlane said. “As a practical matter, sometimes that Chromebook is going to have to be reissued to another student,” McFarlane added. When students graduate or move away, their Chromebook must be cleaned up before it can be reissued. McFarlane said the media center uses “industrial strength” solvents to remove the adhesive There’s also Dylan McMenamin: “I’m the one that has to take all the stickers off because I do tech support,” the senior said. But that didn’t stop him from adorning his Chromebook with a wild variety of stickers. There are other ways students can customize their laptops without having to slap on a sticker. Wallpaper and profile pictures can also be a good way to make it personal. Students have picked images from Google or their own camera roll to add to their background. “It’s a picture of me and my friends holding glowsticks at the beach,” freshman Stanton Dodson said about his lockscreen. “It was

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Sitting in the library, junior MyKenzie Halfin works hard on school assignments using her customized Chromebook. a friend’s going-away party.” Cameron’s background is a giant jellyfish, while Banning has a lion staring back at her when she opens her laptop. “It’s a cool lion, too!” Banning said. For some students, customization of their Chromebook is no joking matter. Dodson actually put tape over his laptop’s camera.

“They’re always watching,” he said with a laugh. “I value my privacy and if I look bad one morning, I don’t want them to see me.” Hannah Ellington is a freshman in Intro to Publications. She intends to join the Nighthawk News Magazine staff next year. Contact her at EllingtonHa1214@DareToLearn. org.

Hairoics

SOUNDING OFF

Impact of Syrian civil war reaches US shores

3-year-old refugee washes ashore in Greece. Russia bolsters its military presence. Bashar alAssad blames the West for terrorism. All three of these events trace their roots back to the Syrian Civil War that started in 2011. Do you remember when you first heard about the civil war? I was watching CNN Student News in my Social Studies class, not thinking that anything so incredibly severe would come from the war. The younger me believed that it would be over quickly. I did not anticipate that it would incite the largest exodus of people since World War II. The Syrian refugee crisis has seen approximately 9 million people displaced since 2011, according to the European University Institute. For the past several months, the web has been flooded with articles and videos detailing the dangerous – sometimes deadly – journeys escapees have taken and how the European Union has been dealing with the overwhelming number of displaced people. Germany has been begging other countries to invite more stateless persons as it begins to take in much more than it can hold. Yet, refugees continue to be

Nighthawk Notions Mack Doebler arrested as they try to make their way to safety. A wall has been built along the Serbia-Hungary border to keep out people, but creative ways are surfacing to beat it: creative and incredibly dangerous strategies like riding on top of trains that are hurtling into safe territory. Of all the countries dealing with this crisis, Russia has a very unique approach. Russia is known to back Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Back in 2011, during the Arab Spring, many dictatorships were toppled, but Assad refused to give up power. Instead, he plunged his country into a bloody civil war. Rebel forces are being backed by the United States and now Syrian government forces have found aid with Russia. Since Russia began its military operations in Syria, it has faced frequent criticism from Western

nations and even a warning from Turkey over airspace violations. I once believed that Russia entering Syria could be a good thing. I saw it as an opportunity to help stamp out the perversion of Islam that is the Islamic State. Now it is clear that ISIS is only a small part of what Russia plans to do in Syria. It does not care about freeing the nation from terrorism to save the people. Russia cares about purging the region from terrorism simply to preserve oppression. The United States now will be more involved in the conflict after announcing it will take in 85,000 refugees during the fiscal year of 2016, which began in October. It is important to think about the world from other people’s perspectives. It is easy to say that Turkey should take more refugees or that Hungary should take down that wall and just let people in. Just because the United States is allowing refugees to find homes here in the U.S. does not instantly remedy those problems. The process of getting asylum is not easy and takes a long time. Did you know that until a displaced person is granted asylum, he or she cannot work? For the first 150 days, an application for asylum is pending, and then after that

they can apply for a work permit, which adds another 30 days to the wait. Americans know how precious work can be and how difficult it is to survive without the money that comes from it. Refugees may have found a way to a new land, but they still face making this land their home. Imagine if a boat landed on the Outer Banks tomorrow carrying 2,000 refugees. How would you deal with that? Honestly, I’d be incredibly nervous. It is a daunting task to help these people. It is daunting as well as important. The more I read about the conflict in Syria and the refugees, the more solid my opinion became. We must help these people survive and if they come to us we need to be able to provide for them. The world must help, and believe it or not, that includes both you and I. If we want to find a solution to the refugee crisis we must focus our attention on not just the refugees, but the cause of their grief. We must work to accept those who ask for asylum and require help while we make a safe home they can return to. Junior Mack Doebler can be reached at doeblerma0930@daretolearn.org.

HawkTalk: Now that the Applebee’s has closed,

Savannah Wallace

Oscar Hernandez

Mikayla Peterson

“Panda Express, because it’s classic Chinese food that tastes like heaven on earth.”

“Steak ‘n Shake, because they actually serve good milkshakes.”

“Chick-fil-A, because that’s what I lived off of before I moved here. I’m having withdrawal.”

Sophomore

Freshman

Junior

Kayla Hymiller Freshman

“Chick-fil-A, because it’s amazing. I hate having to drive all the way to Target to get it.”

fall / / 2015

It’s time to get serious about politics

rom Donald Trump to Kanye West, 2015 has seen some very interesting candidates – and potential candidates – for the upcoming presidential elections. While I enjoy seeing the multitude of jokes about Donald Trump and his toupee, or “Kanye for President 2020,” I think everyone, especially those who will be of age to vote, needs to start getting serious about politics. Many people have become accustomed to the joke-filled nature of social media. That laid-back attitude has been transferring into our everyday lives, but it’s not ideal when that includes our attitude toward politics. Making ourselves politically aware will not only be beneficial to us, but also for generations to come as well. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 41 percent of voters in the 18-to-24-year-old range voted in the 2012 presidential election. Since the 1988 race, the newest voters in the county have hit a low of 35.6 percent turnout in 1996 and were at a high of 48.6 percent in 1992. That’s less than half of us getting out to the voting stations. Becoming politically aware begins with knowing the potential candidates who are in the running and what these people stand for. One year out from the 2016

Nighthawk Notions Kristina Carter presidential race, the frontrunners for the Democratic party are Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. On the Republican side, Donald Trump and Ben Carson are currently leading the pack. Clinton is regarded as a candidate with a liberal point-of-view who bases a lot of her campaign on advocating for women’s rights. While Sanders has these ideals, he is also focused on helping today’s younger generation and trying to provide them with better opportunities. Some of these include raising the minimum wage and trying to implement a College for All act that would make college much more affordable. On the conservative side of the spectrum, we have Carson and Trump, who recently have been focused on illegal immigration and what to do with America’s borders. While this may be viewed by some as a very important issue, there are hundreds of other issues

Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, center, speaks on the debate stage at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, in September. that they can be dividing their time between. Being aware of the campaign model, as well as the personal opinions of these candidates, can help shape your personal opinion of them, which is important when voting. Having someone in office with good values and who wants to make positive changes is far more important than keeping someone in the running simply because everyone can get a good laugh out of it.

Junior Kristina Carter can be reached at carterkr0206@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Brian Cahn/ Zuma Press/TNS Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton take the debate stage in Las Vegas in October.

which business should go in that spot?

Connor Readman Freshman

“Popeyes, because every town needs a Popeyes!”

Ricky Carroll Senior

Junior

“It leaves a spot wide open for many other restaurants to come, such as an IHOP or a – Graphic by Mack Doebler: Compiled by Kelly Weisbecker, Kristina Carter, Beverly Murry, Sophie Johnson, Grace Sullivan, Taylor Farmer, Brie Phillips and Taina Santana. Ruby Tuesday.” NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / opinions

“I think it would be nice to have a Chili’s.”

Brady Creef

Cliff Jenkins Senior

“A bigger Applebee’s, because I can’t find anywhere else that offers as much flavor as Applebee’s for such a low price.”

SOUNDING OFF

Spirit count consistently stacked in seniors’ favor

he seniors win spirit week every year. It’s a fact of life. We all know it. We all accept it. It’s something I’ve known since setting foot into the halls of First Flight High four years ago, and finally after all the time I’ve spent here, paying my dues and working my way up the food chain, it’s finally attainable. It may be early on in the year, but we can already feel the wind blowing through our hair as the carts crank up to the peaks of our favorite Busch Gardens coaster and our stomachs drop as we plummet and turn and loop upside down. Every year, we watch the seniors get excited for the trip and every year the seniors dominate

Nighthawk Notions Kelly Weisbecker the underclassmen during the spirit days and activities in order to rightfully win. Never have I felt disparaged or upset with them for winning. It’s their turn. It’s their time to have fun. They’ve made it. It’s the light at the end of a long, hard tunnel. As you work through the years it becomes more possible, more

likely that you’ll win, and you can feel it. At my freshman year welcoming pep rally, we were told something that has been true for nearly every class I’ve seen thus far: Freshmen are scared to participate and are often not strong competition; sophomores are just glad they aren’t freshmen anymore; juniors can’t wait to be seniors; and well, the seniors are thinking, “Thank goodness it’s our last year, our time to shine!” The senior trip may be rigged as a fallback, just in case the senior class falls behind in the spirit count because another class is somehow more spirited than the seniors (very unlikely), but I believe that nine out of 10 times, the seniors win rightfully. We give it our all,

we try our hardest, we dominate the game, we win because we know that “we are … somebody!” Two years ago, the seniors didn’t win, but the juniors “gave” them the trip, because they earned it by being seniors – and the juniors knew they’d get it next year. The spirit count is about more than just a trip to Busch Gardens, as senior Ben Rollason pointed out at the pep rally this year. It isn’t class vs. class, it’s “First Flight vs. the world!” Long live the Star-Spangled Seniors. May our spirit take us all the way to the peaks of the Griffon. Senior Kelly Weisbecker can be reached at weisbeckerke0220@ daretolearn.org.

Spirit week, arguably one of the best weeks in the school year, is a week in which students dress according to a theme each day. Each grade level does its best to dress up because the more people who dress up, the more spirit points a grade gets. The crown jewel of the week, Friday, is class colors day and the Homecoming parade. The freshmen wear yellow, the sophomores don orange, the juniors are in green, and the seniors wear red. Every grade decorates a float to com-

fall / / 2015

Taking steps toward acceptance in all walks of life

ight around the time First Flight’s current upperclassmen were entering the world, Matthew Shepard was beaten and left for dead in a ﬁeld in Laramie, Wyoming. In an era before hashtags, Shepard’s death still resonated across the nation because of the brutal nature of the attack against the 21-year-old gay college student. In October of 2015, ceremonies marked the 17-year anniversary of Shepard’s death and the progress our country has made. The prominence paid to Caitlyn Jenner’s story in the mainstream media earlier this year showed how far our nation has come in its acceptance of people who have different lifestyles and views from our own. And yet our society still has so far to go in accepting others for who they are.

From gay rights to civil rights to immigration rights, we still struggle with that pesky phrase from the Declaration of Independence about all men – all people – being created equal. Refugees are flooding Europe, dying for acceptance as they flee war-torn lands. Minorities are flooding American streets, asking for acceptance after incidents of police brutality. Issues such as these may feel like they’re awfully far away from us on the Outer Banks, and thankfully, many of them are. But that doesn’t mean we don’t still struggle with acceptance here.

October is celebrated as National Bullying Prevention Month. Our school was able to embrace its ﬁrst openly gay candidate for Homecoming King earlier this month. Yet social media accounts constantly pop up to bring ridicule and shame to others who walk our halls. Whispered conversations and sideways glances still dominate our everyday lives. What will it take for us to embrace every member of the First Flight family for who they are? It’s more than accepting someone’s sexuality, skin color or heritage. We have students who struggle with physical and mental disabilities. We have students who struggle to get a good meal and a good night’s sleep in a safe and secure home environment. We have students who struggle with loneliness and depression.

An accepting and welcoming attitude to those kids – the ones who maybe aren’t just like us – would go a long way toward putting First Flight at the forefront of high schools where differences no longer matter. So what can we do about it? The next time you hear gossip belittling someone, change the subject or walk away. The next time you see a series of meantweets about somebody, don’t give the sender the satisfaction of a favorite or re-tweet. The next time you see a solitary ﬁgure who might be struggling, give him or her a smile. It really can be that simple. Our school has been treated to a pair of Coach Jim Prince’s “I am … somebody!” speeches so far this year. Everyone here can “accept … somebody!” too. It’s up to us to accept the challenge.

Photos by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News municate the class’ chosen descriptor. This year, First Flight’s floats featured the ‘Fired Up Freshmen,’ the ‘Swanky Sophomores,’ the ‘Just Do It Juniors,’ and the ‘Star-Spangled Seniors.’ Members of the classes who worked on the floats rode them to the football field, where the parade came to an end. After filing into the bleachers and sitting with their respective classes, the Homecoming festivities began. The day even included a ‘scream-off’ for the reward of spirit points. NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / opinions

FIRST FLIGHT SPORTS SCENE

Ultimate Frisbee is ultimate fun By Byrde Wells Sports Editor

fter coming onto the scene at club day, the popularity of First Flight’s Ultimate Frisbee Club went from a little to a “ridisculous” amount. The idea for an Ultimate Frisbee Club was brought to the school’s attention by senior Israel Lopez and junior Christian Eberhard. There were numerous issues, however, in starting the club, including finding a sponsor. “I tried talking to new teachers to help them get involved in a club,” Lopez said. “I asked Mr. (Sam) DeWitt but he was already with the engineering club. I then asked Mr. (Joel) Mount, but he was iffy about it.” The third time was a charm for Lopez, as the next teacher he asked actually had a background in the sport. “Israel came up to me one day in the hall and asked me if I would consider being the sponsor for the club,” exceptional children’s teacher Joe Tyson said. “It worked out because we came up with a good day to meet every week and I also played Ultimate Frisbee throughout high school and college.” The next and biggest issue centered around the student body: Would enough students support the club and actually participate? That question was more than solved at the annual club day. “We came into club day thinking a good amount of people would be interested, but I was amazed at the end result,” Lopez said. “At the end of club day a total of 65 kids signed up, which is huge.” With the club now officially supported, one question remained: Who would the club play against for competition? Luckily, the answer had been here on the Outer Banks for a long time. “We found out that there is an OBX Ultimate Frisbee Club that has been going on for 23 years now and meets every Monday night at Parks and Rec,” Lopez said. “We needed to play against

competition that actually knew what they were doing to teach us the sport.” First Flight’s Ultimate Frisbee Club has been meeting for a month now, playing at the Dare County Parks & Recreation field every Monday night from 7:30 to 9:30. According to Tyson, about 10 to 15 students show up at every meeting, plus five to 10 OBX Ultimate Frisbee Club members. One of the positives of the club centers around the simple philosophy that anyone can play. “The first few meetings we’ve had a lot of different people come together, from band members to varsity athletes,” Lopez said. “It’s good to have all these people from different ‘cliques’ in the high school come together and just play.” What makes Ultimate Frisbee an attractive sport is the diversity of the game. All it takes is a decent amount of people to play in order to get exercise and have fun at the same time. “I like Ultimate Frisbee because it’s a sport where you can play with whatever amount of people and very little equipment is required,” senior Sam Weybright said. “It’s a very flexible and fast-paced sport.” Students interested in joining the club can reach Lopez and Eberhard at lopezse1112@daretolearn.org and eberhardch0209@ daretolearn.org, respectively. “This is a great club to get involved with,” said Weybright, who as SGA president is always encouraging students to branch out with campus groups. “It’s a great way to meet new people and get plenty of exercise.” Junior Byrde Wells can be reached at wellsje1210@daretolearn.org. Photos by Dea Celaj/ Nighthawk News Senior Israel Lopez (above left) looks for a way to escape while being guarded by senior Chris Davis. With Frisbee in hand, team leader Christian Eberhard (below) prepares for a possession to begin. fall / / 2015

Wills sails against nation’s best in Duck event

By Byrde Wells Sports Editor

unior Sam Wills could pass for any regular student in the halls. With a short frame and casual attire, Wills doesn’t stand out physically from the high school crowd. Wills is a good overall student who plays guitar and participates in First Flight’s marching and jazz bands. Put Wills in the water, however, and he is more than meets the eye. On the weekend of Sept. 25-27, Wills took part in the Weta Trimaran Nationals at the Nor’Banks Sailing Center in Duck. The Weta trimaran is a lightweight and speedy boat that can be sailed solo or with several others. For Wills, to be associated with an event of this caliber was the result of practice and a keen devotion to sailing. Wills began sailing by the third grade, participating in annual sailing camps held at Nor’Banks. Sailing quickly turned from just a hobby to a sport in a matter of years for Wills, as he began competing in sailing races. “I’ve been competitively sailing since I was in fifth grade at the Maritime Museum sailing camps in Manteo,” Wills said. In seventh grade, Wills moved to mainly sailing in Nor’Banks, where he got a position as a sailing counselor. This was a crucial move for Wills, as it garnered him more opportunities to further his sailing experience. “The move was good for me,” Wills said. “I was racing bigger boats, being involved much more and had a lot more opportunities at Nor’Banks.” That included a spot in September’s prestigious event. “I was asked to participate in the Weta national sailing championship by my boss at work this summer, when he found out they (Nor’Banks) were hosting it,” Wills said. “He thought it would be something I would want to do and invited me to be in it.” As a national event, elite sailors from all over the country were in attendance. Most teams were part of yacht clubs and hailed from as far as California. Sailing World magazine even had a team present. The level of competition coupled with adverse weather conditions the morning of the event could have made anyone nervous, but Wills was as eager as the opposition to finally race. “I was kinda nervous the day of the event, as the winds were really high, really good sailors were all around me, and I was the youngest person in the race,” Wills said. “But I was definitely more excited, as I had a chance to participate in a national event.” Wills and partner Kayla Stone took seventh place in their double-handed class of competition. Although Wills didn’t think his final placing was that great, others felt otherwise. “I was very proud of him,” said Stephanie Wills, Sam’s mom. “He competed in such a big race when he was the youngest one of all.” NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

Photo submitted by Stephanie Wills Junior Sam Wills stands with his mom Stephanie in front of his Weta sailboat. Wills has been sailing since the third grade and recently took part in a national competition. As the highlight of Wills’ sailing endeavors so far, Wills took time to reflect on what got him to this point. It was a culmination of two powerful things: passion and practice. “Sailing is a lot of fun to start with. I love the aspects of multitasking and sailing in the winds,” Wills said. “I’m going to just keep practicing at it and get as good as I can.” With a national sailing event already under

his belt at 16 years old, that begs the question of whether or not Wills might pursue sailing professionally. After pausing to think about it for a moment, Wills answered: “I’ll definitely continue sailing. I just plan to keep it as a hobby rather than a possible career.” Junior Byrde Wells can be reached at wellsje1210@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Deana Celaj/Nighthawk News Kai-Von Baxter works with his fellow cheerleaders (above) at First Flight’s Homecoming game against Pasquotank. Every week, the school’s first male cheerleader uses his acrobatic skills (right) to wow the crowd with wild flips.

Nighthawks flip out for first male cheerleader By Arabella Saunders Staff Writer

alfway into the second quarter of the Marlin Bowl, players stand strong on the sidelines anticipating the next play. Fans crowd shoulder to shoulder in the bleachers, voices already hoarse from cheering their team on to victory. Varsity cheerleaders perch on their navy crates, eyes following the players up and down the field. One cheerleader steps down, takes a running start, and begins a tumble pass, roundoff, back handspring, roundoff, back tuck, roundoff, back layout. The crowd goes crazy. Words of praise and encouragement are shouted from the stands as Kai-Von Baxter – First Flight’s first male cheerleader – makes his way back to his team. Baxter’s interest in cheerleading first began in elementary school. After participating in a school program, where he learned basic cheerleading techniques, Baxter started to pursue tumbling. Throughout elementary and middle school he continued to tumble, sharpening his skills and learning new tricks with each passing year. “I’ve always loved tumbling,” Baxter said. “I tumbled a lot when I was little, but they didn’t teach me much. I have kind of taught

myself everything I know.” As he entered high school, Baxter became increasingly interested in cheerleading. The thought of being a part of the FFHS cheerleading squad evoked excitement as well as hesitation. With encouragement from his friends, Baxter successfully tried out for the basketball cheerleading squad his sophomore year, making him the first male cheerleader at First Flight. “I was really nervous at first, even though people were telling me I was going to make it,” Baxter said. “Just trying out, I was really anxious.” His love for cheer extends outside of the school as well. In addition to the varsity football and basketball cheerleading squads, Baxter also cheers two nights a week for the FAME All-Stars, a competitive cheerleading team located in Currituck. As the only male cheerleader at his school, Baxter is determined to show people that cheerleading isn’t only for girls. “You have to do what you love because you love it, not because of what other people think,” Baxter said. “You shouldn’t let a stereotype hold you back.” He also serves as an important asset to the team, playing a strong role in forming stunts, tumbling and keeping the team as well as

the crowd spirited during games and practices. “Kai-Von adds a lot of positive attitude,” senior cheerleader Samantha Xiques said. “He’s a really good person to have on the team.” Baxter’s background in tumbling has been especially helpful. The crowd goes wild at home football games when he performs difficult tumbling passes in between plays. “When he goes out there and tumbles, everyone is cheering him on,” varsity cheerleading coach Alice Baldwin said. “Hearing parents say, ‘Kai-Von, throw that pass,’ is awesome. He’s a very talented young man.” Having Baxter as part of the team has helped both the cheerleaders and the coaches realize just how much the team can benefit from having a male cheerleader. They are hoping Baxter’s participation in First Flight cheerleading will encourage other males to try out in the future. “I would hope he influences more guys to try out,” Baldwin said. “Males tend to be very strong, which helps with stunting, and have great tumbling backgrounds, which is something we are looking for.” Sophomore Arabella Saunders can be reached at saundersar0214@daretolearn.org. fall / / 2015

FIRST FLIGHT SPORTS SCENE

Locals hoping to set the pace in OBX Marathon events

By Mack Doebler Staff Writer

ow do you define success? To some First Flight students, success is finishing the 13.1-mile Outer Banks Half Marathon. Hunter Crook, a junior, ran the half marathon last November and is hoping to get a time of 1 hour, 35 minutes this year. The course takes runners from Nags Head to downtown Manteo, which is why it is Crook’s favorite half marathon on the beach. He’s not alone in his appreciation of the course. Outer Banks Sporting Events will host several events the weekend of Nov. 6-8, from the Towne Bank Marathon and Southern Fried Half Marathon to 8K and 5K races and the 1.2mile Family Fun Run. Because this is the 10-year anniversary of the marathon, there will be special 10-year “swag” at the event for all participants. Last year, nearly 1,200 people ran the 26.2-mile race, almost 2,500 competed in the 13.1-mile event, and another thousand participated in either the 5K or 10K. The 2013 field included runners from 48 states and eight countries, showing how the Outer Banks Marathon has become a destination event in its 10-year history. Late registrations are available leading up to the race weekend. Visit www.outerbanksmarathon.com for full details. Crook finished in 1:42 last year, which was fourth in the male 15- to 19-year-old age group. His goal of 1:35 is not easy to achieve and preparation is necessary. Crook swims with the Outer Banks Swim Club every weekday, which helps build the endurance required to run long distances. He also tries to run six to eight miles every weekend. Crook is not the only student who runs the marathon. Junior Hailey Schreyer ran last year

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

Photos submitted by Hailey Schreyer Junior Haley Schreyer (above center) is nearly lost in the crowd preparing for the start of last year’s half marathon, which she finished (below) in the fourth-best time for the 15-19 female age group. and will also be making the journey this fall. This year, she will be running as a pacer for the time of 1:50. “(A pacer) has to hold a sign and it has your target time, so if people are trying to be in that time range they will just stick with you and hopefully they can get their target time,” said Schreyer, who ran last year’s race in 1:53 and also placed fourth in her age group. While Crook’s swimming prepares him for the event, Schreyer is a member of the crosscountry team. She said running is her favorite sport. Running is largely viewed as an indepen-

dent sport because competitors race against times they had set previously, but this is not always true. “It boosts everyone’s spirits and energy level when you’re able to run with friends,” Crook said. A popular strategy used by some runners is to pick somebody out ahead and catch up to them. The process requires runners to continue this method from person to person, using minor goals to distract from the overarching task. “I’ll pick someone and say, ‘Hey, I’ll try to get to them,’ and when I get to them I pick another person and keep picking them off,” Schreyer said. The day of a big race can be stressful. Arriving at the starting line as early as 6:30 in the morning means waking up even earlier. Seven o’clock is when the race sends the runners on their 13.1-mile trek into Manteo. “I don’t like to eat anything the morning of the race for whatever reason,” Crook said. Running is not the only way to get from point A to point B in the Outer Banks Marathon events. The course is walker-friendly as well as wheelchair-friendly as long as participants can “beat the bridge.” Traffic across the Washington-Baum Bridge over the Roanoke Sound will be limited to two lanes while runners get the other two lanes until 1:30 p.m. At that point, all runners must be across and heading into downtown Manteo, where a festive finish line area awaits. Being in good physical shape is key to making a good time in the half marathon, but so is adopting a runner’s mentality. The long distance can be a perfect time to think. “When you are with yourself for that long you kinda start thinking some stuff,” Schreyer said. “You can find yourself.” Junior Mack Doebler can be reached at doeblerma0930@daretolearn.org.

AROUND CAMPUS

Homecoming fun followed by win

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News English teacher Amy Powell is all smiles – and whipped cream – after taking a pie to the face at the Homecoming pep rally. Powell got the most votes with students’ donations to DECA’s annual fundraiser.

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Football coach Jim Prince riles up the pep rally crowd with his inspirational ‘I am ... somebody’ speech. Prince’s Nighthawks capped a fun Homecoming weekend with Saturday’s 24-13 victory over Pasquotank. fall / / 2015

FOLLOW THE NIGHTHAWKS THIS WINTER 2015-16 First Flight Basketball Schedule 11/14 Boys Scrimmage at Kellam 11/16 Boys Scrimmage vs. Hickory 11/17 at Cape Hatteras 11/20 Battle of the Beach at First Flight Ocracoke vs Currituck Girls 3:45 Ocracoke vs Currituck Boys 5:15 Cape Hatteras vs First Flight Girls 6:45 Cape Hatteras vs First Flight Boys 8:15 11/21 Battle of the Beach at Cape Hatteras First Flight vs Ocracoke Girls 1:00 First Flight vs Ocracoke Boys 2:30 Currituck vs Cape Hatteras Girls 4:00 Currituck vs Cape Hatteras Boys 5:30 11/24 at Perquimans 12/01 vs. Northside Pinetown 12/02 at Manteo 12/05 at Northside Jacksonville 12/07 vs. Hertford County 12/09 vs. Manteo 12/11 at Ocracoke Tournament 12/12 at Ocracoke Tournament 12/15 at Northeastern 12/17 vs. Bertie 1/06 at Pasquotank 1/08 at Edenton 1/15 vs. Currituck 1/20 at Northside Pinetown 1/22 at Hertford County 1/26 vs. Northeastern 1/29 at Bertie 2/02 vs. Pasquotank 2/05 vs. Edenton 2/12 at Currituck

12/2 at Outer Banks YMCA 12/4 at Elizabeth City YMCA 12/9 at Outer Banks YMCA 12/11 at Elizabeth City YMCA 12/16 at Outer Banks YMCA 12/18 at Elizabeth City YMCA 1/6 at Outer Banks YMCA 1/8 at Elizabeth City YMCA

1/15 at Elizabeth City YMCA 1/23 at Elizabeth City YMCA, Conference Championship Meet 1/27 at Elizabeth City YMCA, Last Chance Meet 1/30 at Elizabeth City YMCA (backup meet) 2/5-6 Regional Championship meet 2/11-13 State Championship meet

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2015-16 First Flight Wrestling Schedule

11/23 at Manteo 11/24 vs. Pasquotank 12/01 at Pasquotank** 12/05 Pierce Davis Tournament at North Pitt High School 12/08 at Northeastern** (with Currituck) 12/11-12 Beast of the East at Croatan High 12/15 Home vs. Northeastern/Hertford Co** 12/18-19 Athens Drive Tournament 1/05 at Edenton** (with Currituck) 1/08 Team Tournament at First Flight 1/09 Team Tournament at First Flight 1/15-16 Ram Rumble at Layfayette High 1/19 Home vs. Northeastern/Hertford Co** 1/20 at Cape Henry 1/23 Conference Individual Tournament ** Conference

2015-16 First Flight Swimming Schedule

11/18 at Outer Banks YMCA 11/20 at Elizabeth City YMCA NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

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