March 2016 Nighthawk News Magazine by Steve Hanf

NIGHTHAWK NEWS STAFF Kristina Carter Co-Editor-in-Chief

Mary Pat Thompson Co-Editor-in-Chief

Kelly Weisbecker Co-Editor-in-Chief

Steve Hanf Adviser

Nina Holly Business Manager

Byrde Wells Sports Editor

Dea Celaj Photo Editor

Mack Doebler Staff Writer

Suzanne Harrison Staff Writer

Arabella Saunders Staff Writer

Beverly Murry Staff Writer

Amy Wrenn Photographer

Sarah Skinner Staff Writer

Meghan Savona Staff Writer

WHAT’S INSIDE

Alex Rodman Staff Writer

Reid Kelly Graphic Designer

4 – Student ﬁreﬁghters balance duty and grades

Sarah Shotton Photographer

Ashlee Geraghty Staff Writer

8 – Clubs come together to better the community 10 – New SAT aims to be more straightforward 11 – Students get excited for phytoplankton 12 – Talented Nighthawks show what they’re made of 14 – Save the world with Heifer International 15 – Senior seeks to spread awareness for Turner Syndrome 16 – Dive into a whole new world with virtual reality 17 – First Flight welcomes new choir director 18 – ‘Drowsy Chaperone’ aims to delight the audience 20 – First Flight prepares for a promising prom 22 – Opinions abound on coffee, politics and more 26 – Sports teams celebrate successful winter seasons 28 – Students break the mold on and off the ﬁeld 30 – Nighthawk Sports Cards: Collect them all!

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 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 made 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. Our stories also are published online at NighthawkNews.org. Follow us on Twitter @FFNighthawkNews, Facebook.com/NighthawkNews and Instagram @FFHSNighthawkNews. Target Printing and Distribution of the Fayetteville Observer prints our publication.

spring / / 2016

ON THE COVER

he four seniors involved with the Junior Firefighter program at the Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Department are remarkable. They spend so much of their time putting others ahead of themselves, and we’re excited they are getting a feature in our newspaper. Staff photographers Dea Celaj and Amy Wrenn and editors Mary Pat Thompson and Kristina Carter made their way over to the fire station during a training session in March to take photos for this edition. “It would’ve been exciting to see them battling a fire, but getting to see them in action during training was just as great of an experience,” said Celaj, who took the cover photo. “I’m glad I got to be one of the few people to witness this behind-the-scenes-adventure.” Thank you to everyone at the fire department for allowing us to come take photos and welcoming us in with open arms, especially Chief Ed Limbacher: We are so grateful and appreciative. Speaking of grateful, those of us in fifth-period yearlong newspaper are so happy that second-period newspaper has joined our staff. They have already contributed so much, and we are positive only more amazing content will follow. Much love to you all! We hope you enjoy our spring edition of Nighthawk News Magazine. It has been an amazing experience reporting and writing the stories this month. – From The Editors

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / table of contents

Burning passion Story by Mary Pat Thompson Co-Editor-in-Chief Photo by Amy Wrenn Nighthawk News

spring / / 2016

for public service B

y now, Jason Williams is used to waking up at any hour of the night. So when he got the call that there was a fire in Corolla – that two beachfront homes were engulfed in flames – he wasted no time in getting to the

station. But don’t mistake the senior’s punctuality for attentiveness. It’s routine. It’s all routine. The training sessions have prepared him for moments like this. Put on the uniform. Get the truck out of the bay. Ride. All at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. Waking up before 6 on a Saturday during the summer isn’t necessarily appealing, but it’s part of the job. “When you wake up in the middle of the night, especially on a call like that because you have to drive so far, you don’t really wake up until you get there,” Williams said. “I was falling asleep in the back (of the fire truck).” The road seemed endless as it eventually extended toward their destination. He started to see destruction in the soft tones of the morning sky. “You could see the smoke from a ways off, and as we came around the corner of Lighthouse Drive, the flames on the houses were so bright it looked like the sun coming up,” Williams said. He was wide awake then. SEE PUBLIC SERVICE, PAGE 6

Senior Chris Watts ascends a ladder during a training session in March. Working at the Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Department has provided opportunities for Watts to work with people of all ages and walks of life. ‘There’s no time to judge anybody else. You can’t say, “Well, he’s old.” You can’t do that. You just have to help each other out,’ Watts said.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

Photo by Amy Wrenn/Nighthawk News To seniors Christian Dick, Chris Watts and Stephen Hines, firefighting is not only a profession, but a passion. Watts attributes this to the inviting atmosphere. ‘It’s easy to fall in love with when everyone there is so nice and welcoming,’ Watts said. ‘You just feel like a part of the family as soon as you walk in there.’ PUBLIC SERVICE, FROM PAGE 5 For the four seniors involved in the Junior Firefighter program at the Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Department – Jason Williams, Chris Watts, Stephen Hines and Christian Dick – a normal sleep schedule was never a part of their job description. Nearly every other aspect of being a professional firefighter is. “We have training every week,” Dick said. “As Juniors, we’re not allowed to actually go into a burning building yet. Also, we’re not allowed to run rescue calls yet: That’s when we turn 18 and we can actually become a firefighter. So, as Juniors, we tag hydrants, we talk to Chief and he tells us where to go and what to do – we do it all.” Williams, unlike the other three Junior Firefighters, is 18. This allows him to enter burning buildings and fight fires similar to what conspired in Corolla last summer. No matter what situation occurs, however, the boys are always on standby. “Your pager goes off and you jump in your car,” Watts said. “You go to the station and get suited up, hop on the truck and then go wherever the call was.” Quickly, Hines added: “It’s all about helping people.” That’s the main goal. All four Junior Firefighters share the same compassion and drive for working in public service and making a

difference in the community. As a young boy, Hines remembers being fascinated by fire trucks. When he joined the department last May, he fulfilled a childhood dream. The same can be said about the others, who have far-reaching familial connections in public service. Williams’ father, Jay, is a firefighter and driver operator for the station. Watts’ dad, Jimmy Ray, was a police officer for the town of Kitty Hawk before retiring last December. “I always wanted to do public service, but I wanted to be a police officer,” Watts said. “I had no real affinity for the fire department particularly at all, until (Stephen) dragged me to a training program and I just fell in love with it.” Dick’s family boasts a tradition of military service, and for this Outer Banks newcomer, being a part of the Junior Firefighter program has given him a second family. “I decided to join when I met Jason Williams. He was in my circle of friends, and then he happened to mention that he was a firefighter. All the stars lined up,” said Dick, who started at First Flight this year after moving from Illinois. “It is a family. A lot of those guys go into fires and they’re risking their lives. It’s something that’s really cool.” For the students, the program is extensive and varied, and by no means easy. Juggling high school along with sports and other activities can sometimes be difficult for the Junior Firefighters, but not impossible. Especially challenging is when they’re fixing dilemmas around

town during the night while most high schoolers are asleep and gearing up for the day ahead. “It’s hard,” Williams said. “I got up at 11:30 last night to just move a tree out of the road.” Working in the fall proved to be even more difficult thanks to football. “It’s a lot harder, especially on Tuesday nights when we’d have training,” Williams said. “I’d go from school, to a three-hour football practice, and then a three-hour training. I wouldn’t get home until 10.” The sacrifices have been worth it as the Junior Firefighters have mixed training and fun with other volunteers at Southern Shores. Working at the station has impacted their lives in a multitude of ways, from the skills they have learned to friendships they have started. The fire station has played a key role in their growth as better firefighters and people in general, serving as a safe haven where they can enjoy being high school students while also being “just one of the guys” with the other volunteers. Inside, there is an area with couches, a TV and Xbox, a pool table and an always-stocked fridge. “People ask me, ‘What’re you doing this weekend?’ and I’ll be like, ‘At the firehouse,’ ” Williams said. “It’ll take over your life and you won’t even realize it. How much time that you actually end up spending there. Even if you’re not really doing anything, just sitting there playing Xbox. It’s crazy how it will change your life.” Junior Mary Pat Thompson can be reached at thompsonma1001@daretolearn.org. spring / / 2016

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Senior Christian Dick watches his step as he climbs the ladder.

Photos provided by Monique Haslam/Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Department Senior Jason Williams is engulfed in mist during a training exercise at the fire department. Williams wanted to become a volunteer firefighter, then inspired his father, Jay Williams, to join him at the station (below).

Photo by Amy Wrenn/Nighthawk News Senior Stephen Hines chats with junior Erin Limbacher at the fire department.

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Christian Dick picks up Stephen Hines as the seniors enjoy a light-hearted moment in the truck bay at the fire department. NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

Photos by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Senior Chris Watts enjoys downtime (left), but the Junior Firefighters are ready for calls day and night.

SADD Club works to change lives

By Amy Wrenn Staff Writer

hat club that does that fake car crash thing” or ... “The kids who are against drunk driving or something” or ... “Those people who hang out with the resource officer all the time...” These are all popular conceptions of the SADD Club: Students Against Destructive Decisions. The SADD Club utilizes help from local police departments and citizens of Dare County to show students, teachers and the public ways to live productive lives and how to avoid harmful choices. The organization was created in 1981 in Wayland, Massachusetts, as Students Against Driving Drunk. It has become the “nation’s leading peer-to-peer youth education and prevention organization,” according to SADD.org. First Flight’s club was founded in 2005 when the school opened and is advised by resource officer and Dare County Sheriff’s Department Corporal Billy Essick. Essick has been the adviser of the club since the second year, and last year he won the Adviser of the Year title for the state. Over the years, the club has grown through word of mouth and by students having an increasing interest in the activities of SADD. “I took on a position of leadership because SADD is an important club to me and our school,” said senior Sara Munson, who joined SADD in her sophomore year and is now co-president of the club. “I want us to all work together to help our peers and also make a difference in the lives of the younger students in our community.” Members of the group are encouraged to exhibit positive behaviors in all aspects of their

lives in order to motivate others to do the same. One way the organization teaches students to do this is through the SADD conference in Raleigh in November. The First Flight and Manteo groups attend the conference together each year. SADD “chapters,” as the clubs are called, get together from all over North Carolina and go through education courses about topics such as drunk driving, substance abuse, abusive relationships and sex education. Junior Haley Evans, another co-president, attends the conference each year to “improve my knowledge about substance abuse, and bring back those experiences to First Flight,” she said. The conference gives students an opportunity to meet other teenagers with similar interests, learn ways to improve their SADD chapter, and learn how to spread positivity at their schools. The First Flight SADD Club has done fundraisers and worked with other groups such as the Kiwanis Club to raise money to attend the conference and to help causes around Dare County, such as the Bri Foundation. Twelve-year-old Bri Blumenthal was hit and killed by an SUV in November while crossing Colington Road on her bicycle. The club worked to raise money for Bri’s father, Scotty, at a basketball game at home against Manteo in early December. The members raised about $150, which they then presented to Blumenthal to help the Bri Foundation purchase bike helmets. Another event the SADD Club is known for taking part in is the mock car crash. This is a visual reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving that the club puts on before prom. The group partners with local garages to get wrecked cars in the back parking lot of the

Photo provided by Billy Essick Freshman Megan Stokes, seniors Sara Munson and Rebecca Hite and sophomore Isabella House (from left) volunteer for the Salvation Army. Members of the SADD Club work to make the community a better place.

school. The local EMS brings an ambulance and stagemakeup to give the participating students the appearance of being injured, and one student acts dead. The Dare Medflight helicopter makes an appearance and the local fire department brings the Jaws of Life to “cut” the students out of the

car. Lastly, a local funeral home brings a hearse to put the “dead” person in and drives away with the student. This is an effort to show students what the effects of drunk driving are and what the consequences of it can be. Junior Amy Wrenn can be reached at wrennam0825@daretolearn.org.

spring / / 2016

Teen Court gives students a second chance

By Alex Rodman Staff Writer

magine what would happen if you were caught drinking underage. Picture your parents’ reaction when you arrive home accompanied by a cop and a drinking ticket. How would you ever regain their trust and respect? How could you possibly right your wrongs and repay your community? One simple answer to all of these questions is: Teen Court. Teen Court represents a way for juveniles who have committed misdemeanor crimes to atone for their mistakes. When submitted to Teen Court through the juvenile court system, the respondent is required to admit guilt of the crime they committed. The convicted youth is then tried by a jury of his or her peers. Through punishments like Teen Court jury duty and community service, the jury hopes to prevent future offenses and turn around the juvenile’s behavior. “Teen Court is a way for kids who have committed and admitted to a misdemeanor crime to be judged in front of their peers

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

without getting that crime on their Teen Court also offers students record,” said sophomore Emma a social gathering – there’s pizza Strickland, a Teen Court leadership – but it primarily serves to help member. “Its goal is to provide the youth better understand and the defendant with a constructive value the law system. Through sentence to help restore them back Teen Court, students can pave the to their community.” way to a possible future in judicial proceedings. One thing that makes Teen “I was tried in Teen Court last Court so unique is that it is both year and when I finished I realized role play and reality. Students it’s a great way to see how the real meet at the Manteo Administrative world works in a lawful sense,” building on the second Tuesday of junior Nina Perry said. every month to take on the role of jurors “I realized it’s “Now I go whenever I can.” and attorneys. Media a great way to see The Teen Court center coordinator how the real world program strives to not Susan McFarlane acts as First Flight’s works in a lawful only redirect the lives of those tried, but also Teen Court contact sense.” to set an example for and also serves as the court’s judge. But in - junior Nina Perry other teenagers of the community. the end, the students “Listening to the serving as jurors make the final decision as to what court cases and punishments influthe respondent’s punishment is. ences me to think twice about the decisions I make, and learn from “We listen to the case, then the others’ mistakes,” Garber said. prosecution and the defendant,” McFarlane called the program sophomore Malia Garber said. “a good experience and learning “After we hear all of the evidence process for everyone involved. and the proposed punishment, When students can see the Teen we go back into the jurors’ room Court process up close, they are and decide their punishment for more forgiving of themselves and ourselves.”

more tolerant of others.” A report from the National Center for Victims of Crime states that people ages 12 to 24 suffer from crime more than any other age group in the United States. Intervening in teens’ lives early allows youth offenders to make a transition toward a healthier and more productive lifestyle. Teen Court gives youths a second chance at a successful future. By participating in Teen Court, students have the opportunity to positively impact someone’s life and to impact their own. “It’s an interesting way to learn about the justice system and give back to the community at the same time,” Strickland said. ”It’s a hands-on process where you feel like you are really making a difference in the community, and that is a rare experience in high school.“ Sophomore Alex Rodman can be reached at rodmanna0704@daretolearn.org. Scan the QR Code to watch a documentary about Teen Court.

Students: New SAT still stressful, but more straightforward

By Sarah Skinner Staff Writer

wo No. 2 pencils and a good night’s rest – these are tools you’ll need to ace the new Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The SAT allows universities to quickly compare your potential with that of other applicants. College Board, the organization that controls the SAT, has faced concerns in the past of irrelevant material and results that didn’t accurately portray students’ college readiness. “The ACT is gaining ground, with more and more people taking it over the SAT,” said Seth Rose, the Carolina College Advising Corps representative for Dare County. “They have tried to become more like the ACT, which is supposed to be a reflection of what students have learned in school.” Rose said that instead of three sections graded on a 2400-scale between math, reading and writing, it’s now going to be a 1600-point scale. The new test combines the writing and reading sections into one Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section. This deals mainly with questions based on source material, where test takers read and evaluate whole passages, according to CollegeBoard.com. These passages are less fictional and more relevant to what is being taught in schools, with excerpts from historical speeches and documents. “The best change is the lean away from vocabulary words,” Rose said. “People would study the words beforehand and not even know what they meant.” Instead, the test looks at what meaning the student can draw from context: “There will also be an essay, which is now optional,” Rose added. “It’s not really optional, though: You should sign up for it because colleges haven’t decided how useful it’s going to be.” The math section received a small update as well, according to the SAT website. There is more emphasis on charts, graphs, and applied problem solving. “The SAT is also more streamlined now,” Rose said. “You don’t go back and forth between reading and writing and math.” In addition, wrong answers no longer cost the student points. The College Board urges students to answer every question. “I knew it would be different for me and all the others taking it this time because we were basically the guinea pigs,” said junior Nicole Castano, who took the SAT for the first time on March 5. “I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be. Honestly, I was just ready for it to be over.” For the first time ever, College Board has partnered with online learning practice site Khan Academy in order to provide free, personalized online test prep. This material is styled directly after the redesigned SAT, and measures students’ progress and problem areas to help them where they need the most practice. “You should study,” Rose said. “These tests are gameable, so prep is huge.” In addition, the test should be more applicable to the prior knowledge students have gained from school, rather than outside tutors and prep courses. “I think it’ll be better for first-generation

students, minority students and low-income students,” Rose added. Rose also urged students not to be discouraged their first time taking the test: “You should take it as many times as you can, because you’re probably going to get a better score.” If students are worried about the cost of the SAT, which is now $52.50 for a basic test, they shouldn’t be. Rose said students can get fee waivers. Anyone with free or reduced lunch, for example, can take the SAT two times for free. Students had mixed reactions to the new SAT,

especially since the ACT was offered in school to all North Carolina juniors only days before. “I thought the SAT was easier than the ACT,” junior Brady Creef said. “The questions were more straightforward, and I think I did very well.” However, not everyone had a great Saturday morning: “It was the embodiment of stress spread over timed intervals,” junior Chandler Kelly said. Junior Sarah Skinner can be reached at skinnersa0619@daretolearn.org.

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Phytoﬁnders mix fun, scientiﬁc mission By Meghan Savona Staff Writer

seudo-nitzschia, Coscinodiscus, Skeletonema. To most people, these words mean nothing. But to a select group of students, these words fill their Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings. Teacher Katie Neller, a marine science enthusiast, volunteers her time and knowledge to help these kids succeed. In 2005, she founded the Phytofinders, a group of students committed to science and collecting data on our oceans. On Tuesday afternoons, the students split into two teams and venture to Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head and the Army Corps of Engineers FRF Pier in Duck to collect phytoplankton and water samples to be analyzed by the students and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Phytoplankton are tiny photosynthetic organisms only able to be seen under the microscope. So why does it matter that they’re in our oceans? Though small, phytoplankton have an incalculable impact on our ecosystem. Because phytoplankton produce energy through photosynthesis, they are responsible for roughly 50 percent of the earth’s absorption of carbon dioxide and release of oxygen, helping keep our marine and terrestrial ecosystems healthy. Just like most things in life, phytoplankton are good in moderation. While most algal blooms caused by phytoplankton aren’t harmful, high levels of nutrients and sunlight can cause toxic blooms. One species that the Phytofinders keep a particularly watchful eye on is pseudo-nitzschia, a diatom that produces the neurotoxin

domoic acid. When consumed in large amounts, domoic acid ingested by marine animals causes disorientation, hallucinations, seizures, and can even lead to death. Everything is connected: Shrimp ingest the phytoplankton, fish eat the shrimp, then birds, sharks and humans eat the fish. When high levels of domoic acid are present, birds forget where to fly, whales beach themselves, and humans can get amnesiac shellfish poisoning. In 2014, an unusual amount of pseudo-nitzschia appeared in some of the samples the students had collected. After the students were finished analyzing the samples, the water was bottled up and sent to NOAA, which came to the same conclusion the students had: There was a toxic bloom present on the coast of the Outer Banks. “I love our ocean and being involved with our community, so being a part of the Phytofinders is the perfect way to do both,” sophomore Michaela Kelly said. “Collecting phytoplankton is a fun way to incorporate science into what you love, and I really feel like I’m making a difference.” While phytoplankton play an important role in the vitality of our earth, they have a huge impact on a local scale. Most of the local population on the Outer Banks depends on a healthy ocean in one way or another, and despite being at the bottom of the food chain, phytoplankton run our ocean. Thanks to the Phytofinders, NOAA was made aware of a toxic bloom present and was able to monitor the levels closely. Had this not been done, it could’ve been detrimental to the fishing industry and damaged the local economy. “Phytoplankton club makes me feel like I’m contributing to some-

Photo provided by Parks Kelly/ Phytofinders First Flight Phytofinders present papers at a conference in Washington. Their findings came from hours of collecting and analyzing phytoplankton samples taken from both Jeanette’s Pier and Duck Pier. Pictured are (from left) teacher Katie Neller, Dr. Hillary Morrison, seniors Sam Weybright, Nathan Butcher, Parks Kelly and Jodi Awtrey, junior Joe Sawin and Dr. Todd Morrison. thing people actually pay attention to,” freshman Shane McKenna said. “It’s something interesting that I enjoy while knowing I’m making a difference.” Sophomore Meghan Savona can be reached at savoname0701@daretolearn.org. Scan the QR code to learn more about First Flight’s Phytofinders.

Photo provided by Parks Kelly/ Phytofinders A sea turtle is caught in a net by local anglers off of Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head. The sea turtle was hooked by a fisherman in the fall of 2014, and members of the Phytofinders Club helped remove the hook safely and put the turtle back into the water.

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500 miles of talent and fun

By Mack Doebler Staff Writer he night began with a spirited rendition of The Script’s “Break Even” from Dea Celaj and ended with a tastefully off-key performance of The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by the entire auditorium. Throughout the night, talented acts entertained the packed auditorium with dances, covers and even the occasional original piece. The emcees kept the crowd interested in between the performances with brief skits. First place was awarded to Shrek and the Three Blind Mice (Cole Breit, Cliff Jenkins, Israel Lopez and Rory McFarlane). Second place went to Olivia Maramenides, Mattie Huband and Cierra Haley for their dance routine. Third place was given to Cullen Smith and Israel Lopez for their drum battle performance.

Scan the QR Code to watch a recap of the talent show.

spring / / 2016

at First Flight Talent Show Photos by Dea Celaj and Amy Wrenn/Nighthawk News Starting above, clockwise: Senior emcees Chris Davis, Michelle Hall, Kelly Weisbecker and Sam Weybright address the crowd. Senior Chloe Williams performs a song from the Broadway musical ‘Wicked.’ Senior Cole Breit jams out to a medley of songs from ‘Shrek.’ Junior Dea Celaj sings ‘Break Even’ to the crowd. Junior Sara Cook performs an original piece on the piano. Senior Olivia Maramenides and sophomores Mattie Huband and Cierra Haley perform a hip hop dance routine. Freshman Melanie Gonzalez draws out emotions from the crowd with a dance dedicated to the late Bri Blumenthal. Freshman Liz Sinks performs ‘Lost Boy.’ Junior Christian Eberhard plays ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ on his ukulele to the person he loves. Junior Blaiz Rodman, sophomores Skylar Stultz and Nic Goldberg and junior Devyn Dodson perform their song ‘White Boys in the Hood.’

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

Spare some change? Help the Environmental Club buy a cow

By Arabella Saunders Staff Writer

onating to charity is expensive.” “My donations are too small to really make a difference.” “My money isn’t actually going to those who need it the most.” “Poverty cannot be solved.” These are just some of the reasonings behind people’s reluctance to give to charity. But what if there was a way you could help impoverished communities, not by giving handouts, but by giving the gift of sustainable income? First Flight’s Environmental Club is doing just that, by fundraising for a unique charity, Heifer International. Heifer International is a non-profit organization focused on eliminating extreme poverty and world hunger by providing impoverished, third-world communities with sustainable agriculture and commerce, such as livestock. In turn, these animals supply families with food, clothing and a reliable source of income. “It’s like the gift that keeps on giving,” Environmental Club member Isabella House said. “Instead of just helping feed the hungry and donating money, you’re donating an actual source of food.” The main goal of Heifer International is to help guide families out of extreme poverty by teaching them to be self-reliant. The organization also stresses an idea called “Passing on The Gift.” Through “Passing on The Gift” families pass on their first-born livestock, as well as the knowledge that comes along with raising the animal, to other community members. This allows the whole community to benefit from a donation. Not only do these communities then begin to prosper economically, but the trading of livestock between families fosters a certain sense of unity within villages that once had a long history of suffering. “Heifer International doesn’t just benefit one person,” Environmental Club co-president Nathan Butcher said. “It supports the whole community and gives the whole community a better quality of life.” This concept of helping entire communities rather than just individuals is what sparked the Environmental Club’s interest in fundraising for Heifer International. “A big part of environmental studies is culture of different people around the world as well as poverty,” Environmental Club sponsor Katie Neller said. “If we could help lift a community out of poverty, we would be helping the environment as well.” Another unique aspect of Heifer International is the donation process. Individuals or groups can donate by raising money and then going online to heifer.org and “shopping” through their online gift catalog. The catalog includes various animals that can be given to families all over the world, such as a goat ($120), water buffalo ($250), alpaca ($150), flock of ducks ($20), heifer ($500), and many more. Heifers are young female cows that have not yet born a calf. While some of these gifts may seem pricey, Heifer International recognizes that any

Photo provided by Heifer International First Flight students are hoping to buy livestock for children around the world just like the one pictured above. Fundraising through Heifer International helps provide sustainable income to villages in need. amount is enough, so it allows the option of purchasing a “share” of an animal. “You can donate as little or as much as possible,” Neller said. “If you don’t have enough funds to donate to buy a complete animal, Heifer International will put your funds together with someone else’s so a family still gets something.” In addition to donating livestock, Heifer International also offers the choice to fund certain projects that can empower women to be more active in communities. This includes helping them launch a small business or sending a girl to school. There is also the option to give the gift of basic necessities, which can include clean water, bio-gas stoves or irrigation pumps. So far, Environmental Club has raised money

for Heifer International through a spare change drive held in December; however, members have yet to reach their final goal of $1,000, so they plan to hold more fundraisers in the spring. Anyone interested in donating or helping out with Heifer International fundraising is encouraged to contact Neller or co-presidents Nathan Butcher and Jodi Awtrey, and to also keep in mind that any amount of money can make a difference. “It’s a really good feeling to give back,” Butcher said. “You could be the catalyst to jumpstart a community that can survive and thrive on what is given to them through Heifer International.” Sophomore Arabella Saunders can be reached at saundersar0214@daretolearn.org.

spring / / 2016

Hope abounds for Turner Syndrome girls

By Ashlee Geraghty Staff Writer

y now, you may have taken notice of the fliers for Turner Syndrome (TS) hanging on teachers’ doors, or the table set up outside of the lunchroom selling ribbons and taking donations. This effort was organized by senior Rebekah Mull. Mull first found out about this disorder in American History teacher Cassidy Mascio’s class when Mascio talked about her daughter, Hope. Hope is one of the few girls who has been diagnosed with this disorder. Turner Syndrome occurs when a girl is missing or has an extra X chromosome. It can affect many things such as a girl’s ability to reproduce, height, bone development and overall appearance. Since Turner Syndrome only occurs in about one of 2,500 girls, there is very little awareness and research done on this topic. Mull decided to make her senior project on Turner Syndrome and has been doing fundraisers and spirit days to try to spread awareness. “I have always had a passion for children with disorders and wanted to help them in any way I could,” Mull said. “Then I found out there was not very much research done on this disorder, so that inspired me to research this topic.”

Most girls with Turner Syndrome find out they have it either at birth, puberty or when they try to have kids. Mascio found out her daughter had Turner Syndrome when she was 20 weeks pregnant. “The most difficult part of finding out was that the doctor told us that there was a 1- to 5-percent chance of our baby surviving,” Mascio said. “That was very hard to hear and took me a few weeks to grasp. But we prayed a lot and decided we were going to ‘will’ her to birth.” There is no cure for Turner Syndrome, but there are different treatments for some of the symptoms. Hope, now three and a half years old, already has beaten the odds offered by that first doctor. “I don’t want Hope to focus on the fact that she has Turner or that her life revolves around that. Hope as a person is not defined by TS, it is a part of her life and we act accordingly,” Mascio said. “She is defined by her strength and spirit, and Hope’s successes and future happiness, despite having TS, is hers for the taking!” Sophomore Ashlee Geraghty can be reached at geraghtyas0916@daretolearn.org.

History teacher Cassidy Mascio and daughter Hope take a quick selfie. Below, Hope struts her stuff. Hope continues to live a happy and full life, despite being diagnosed with Turner Syndrome before birth. Photos provided by Cassidy Mascio

Scan the QR Code to learn more about this disorder at the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States.

Welcome to stores and nature intertwined for a unique shopping experience. Park in the shade to meander tree covered walkways between a menagerie of specialty stores and ﬁne eateries. Quench your thirst with a cool drink in the courtyard year round for four seasons of timeless wonder. Come play with us at Faire Days Festival every Wednesday all Summer. Fall in love with our quaint family gathering place as cares disappear into quintessential Outer Banks memories.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

Tech companies set sights on virtual reality

By Reid Kelly Staff Writer

nce every few years, a new breakthrough in technology reveals itself to the world and before you know it, it is a part of everyone’s daily life. In 1972, Ray Tomlinson invented email – a generation later, email became an integral part of the communications landscape. In 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the ﬁrst iPhone, and in less than a decade smartphones are everywhere. Here we are nearly 90 years beyond the invention of color TV with our eyes set on a new way to be entertained: virtual reality. Virtual reality (VR) is the computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way by a person using special electronic equipment, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Virtual reality is something most people didn’t think they would see for decades. Well, here we are now with multiple companies all working to produce their own version of VR. So far the main brands debuting this year are Playstation VR, Oculus Rift, Microsoft HoloLens, and HTC Vive. While some products will make the user really feel like he or she is in a virtual world, other products are as simple as placing your phone in a cardboard headset. Google Cardboard will be a much more accessible and affordable interpretation of VR. It is meant to convert nonbelievers by using cheap, corrugated paper. Google plans to make VR available to anyone with the appropriate smartphone and $25. While Google Cardboard will be used more for more gaming than anything, more advanced models are on track to make VR as real as possible. Freshmen Tommy Mahler and Shane McKenna went to Duke University recently for a chance to try out demos of several upcoming technologies. Some of the products they tried out were Google Cardboard, Samsung’s Gear VR and the Ricoh Theta. “The day at Duke was exemplary,” Mahler said. “We participated in a course taught by a professor at N.C. State, a co-founder of a virtual reality company, and a grad student at N.C. State majoring in sound.” Along with VR, another upcoming device is a 360 camera such as the Ricoh Theta. These cameras will record every angle of a room and allow the viewer to look around a room using his or her mouse, an invention that is integral to the progression of virtual reality. “It is going to take over everything,” McKenna said. “Maybe not everything, because it does take away some of the aspects of ﬁlmmaking, but this is the year it is going to blow up and eventually I don’t think video games are going to be anything but virtual reality.” Eventually, there could be a device for everything. A product the students did not get to try out is Facebook’s Oculus Rift, which is a little more advanced than placing your phone in a headset. Though the Oculus Rift will be focused

Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto/Sipa USA/TNS Attendees use the Samsung Gear VR during the ﬁrst day of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last month. Students are excited to see what developments in virtual reality technology will bring for gaming and other uses. mainly on seated experiences, the makers also hope to allow their users to eventually be able to walk around a room. With this technology, new tasks can be made for all kinds of work ﬁelds. A few of the main uses envisioned for VR are healthcare, military, architecture, art, education, business, the media, sports and more.

“VR has advanced tremendously in just the last year,” Mahler said. “One of my biggest excitements (for VR) is journalism, where a news channel could offer a program that could take you to places after a tragedy, such as Nepal or Japan.” Senior Reid Kelly can be reached at kellyre0731@daretolearn.org.

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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252-475-3688

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www.southernbank.com spring / / 2016

Buford brightens music department

By Suzanne Harrison Staff Writer

inging opera in Italy and teaching a high school chorus class are two extremely different things. To John Buford, one was a past career and one is a passion. Buford previously worked at First Flight Elementary School before switching over to the high school in January of this year. He took the position of long-time teacher Cezette Barnes, who retired last semester after 11 years at First Flight. “Ms. Barnes shared with me she was going to retire in advance,” Buford said. “I thought this would be fun. We talked years ago and I said, ‘Whenever you retire I would love to do this.’ ” Buford is much more than a choir director, however. He has been deeply rooted in the arts since childhood. During high school, he played the tuba in band and also played the piano for his school’s musicals, despite never performing in one. Throughout the course of his

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

Photos by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News John Buford teaches his advanced choir class. Buford took over as First Flight’s choir director at the start of 2016 after a wide-ranging career in the music world. college years, he majored in piano at Morehead State in Kentucky. Buford became a church choir director at only 18 years old, which inspired him to take voice lessons. During the summers of his college years, he would drive 14 hours from Morehead to the Outer Banks to perform in the Lost Colony. Buford ended up auditioning for the Virginia Beach Opera and received the role of Paris in Romeo and Juliet. “I didn’t have a lot of lines to sing, but that was really cool because it was ‘they picked me out of everyone’ kind of thing,” Buford said. During the summer of 1999, he

heard about a program called the Bel Canto Italia Opera Festival of Rome. He was accepted into the program and went to Italy to perform the whole month of July: “It was really frightening because I didn’t speak Italian, but they treated us very professionally,” Buford said. He soon realized that while he loved singing opera, it wasn’t his main passion. “You have to have a real drive to have a real career in the performing arts,” Buford said. “I realized I couldn’t tell you what was playing at the Met, but I could tell you what was playing on Broadway.” He still sang with the Virginia Opera and calls his opera career

his discovery journey: “If I wanted a career I could have had it, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do.” Instead, Buford found his real passion in teaching. He knew he always wanted to have music to be involved with his career, and now he gets to share that love with others. “Being a teacher is about relating to the students in a way that’s age appropriate,” he said. “Music is something people really take a personal interest in and enjoy. You see that spark at any age when teaching” Sophomore Suzanne Harrison can be reached at harrisonsu0716@ daretolearn.org.

The bells are ringing at ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ By Beverly Murry Staff Writer

hat could be more enticing than a production that encompasses witty musical numbers, a Roaring ‘20s style, and the humorous, lonely and a bit of a know-it-all narrator? StageKraft’s spring musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” includes all of this and more in order to create a truly one-of-a-kind spectacle. “The Drowsy Chaperone” features a show-within-a-show plot, the first of which surrounds actress Janet Van De Graaff wanting to quit her prominent career to marry the suave Robert Martin. Janet’s manager, Mr. Feldzieg, has ulterior motives to stop the wedding so he can continue his career, and is further threatened by gangsters posing as pastry chefs. As the plot develops, more vivacious characters are thrown into the mix, causing more laughs and havoc. All the while, a reclusive theatre fan known as Man in Chair is shown periodically giving insight into his favorite show, adding in another hilarious layer. Played by junior Jacob Poli, Man in Chair creates a different and unique aspect to the show by breaking the fourth wall and addressing the crowd. The unorthodox character creates strong bonds with the audience through voicing his creative viewpoint. “The Man in Chair creates this sort of realism for the show. He gives the audience someone to resonate with and keeps them emotionally attached to the show,” Poli said. The show is brimming with other passionate characters, such as the Drowsy Chaperone herself, played by senior Carla Hardy. As

a bridesmaid to Janet, the Drowsy Chaperone helps create more mischief and intriguing moments with other characters “The Drowsy Chaperone first and foremost serves for comedic purposes. She’s very insightful. Her words of wisdom and words of advice– especially to Janet and her council – serve to advance the plot, and a lot of the key moments come from what she says,” Hardy said. “While a lot of the things she says are really funny, she does have underplayed emotional moments, especially at the end with Man in Chair and her relationship with him, and what she stands for to the show.” While some students have a lot of acting experience, others are making the bold switch from working behind the scenes to shining onstage. This applies to junior Evan Fish, who has worked backstage with several StageKraft shows and is now making his acting debut as a pastry chef doubled as a gangster. “Last year I did tech, so I have lots of experience working with actors, but I had never been an actor on stage,” Fish said. “Even though the show hasn’t happened (and we’re) just rehearsing it and being on the stage, it’s scary but it’s also fun.” With the help of student recommendations, directors Monica Penn and Lauren Deal selected “The Drowsy Chaperone” for this year’s musical. With all of the right components, this show had a guaranteed recipe for success. “We knew that we had the right number of people because it was a smaller cast,” Penn said. “We lost a lot of seniors last year when they graduated, so we wanted to do something with a smaller cast. This is funny. It’s a parody and

Photo by Mac McClary/Nighthawk News Senior Chris Davis strikes a pose during rehearsals for ‘The Drowsy Chaperone.’ Davis plays the role of Aldolpho, an exuberant womanizer in the 1920s. we’re really excited to put it on because not a lot of people know about it.” Auditions for the show started in December, so on opening night, that would mean the cast will have spent five months perfecting its performances. For junior Brady Creef, working with the cast for that long has made the whole experience even better. “Working in the musical is a lot like working with a family: Everyone is super connected and so friendly,” Creef said.

The show will open April 7 at 7 p.m., and will continue to run through the ninth at First Flight High School. Tickets cost $6 for students and $8 for adults. Sophomore Beverly Murry can be reached at murrybe0316@daretolearn.org.

Scan the QR Code to watch a preview of the spring musical.

spring / / 2016

Who’s Who in ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ CAST Man in Chair: Jacob Poli Mrs. Tottendale: Sara Cook Underling: Israel Lopez Robert Martin: Christian Eberhard George: Sam Weybright Feldzieg: Ethan Gilbreath Kitty: Katy Spore Gangster/Pastry Chef 1: Miles Kasten Gangster/Pastry Chef 2: Kiersten Lewis Gangster/Pastry Chef 3: Evan Fish Gangster/Pastry Chef 4: Nicole Castano Aldolpho: Christian Davis Janet van de Graaff: Sam Surprenant The Drowsy Chaperone: Carla Hardy Trix the Aviatrix: Chloe Williams Superintendent (Female): Nina Holly

Reporter #4: Suzanne Harrison Toledo Surprise chefs: Michelle Hall, Brooke Kelly, Joey McNamara, Luke Potter, Chloe Williams Bride’s Lament monkeys: Brady Creef, Suzanne Harrison, Caitlin Nicholson, Emma Seay Wedding guests: Nathan Butcher, Brady Creef, Luke Potter, Joey McNamara, Robyn Godley, Michelle Hall, Summer Tonnesen

TECH CREW Directors: Lauren Deal, Monica Penn Stage Manager: Andrea Segura Ramirez Backstage Right Manager: Kelly Weisbecker Backstage Left Manager: Sarah Skinner Curtain/Running Crew: Blayde Keller Running Crew: Jodi Awtrey, Nicki Evans, Lauren O’Dell Soundboard Operator: Avery Daniels, Sam Wills Microphone Tech: Heidi Sabatini ENSEMBLE Lightboard Operator: Mac McClary (asst. Christian White) Fancy Dress maids & butlers: Nathan Butcher, Chloe Spotlight Operators: Caroline Pharr, OJ Sawtell Futrell, Michelle Hall, Nina Holly, Joey McNamara, Luke Props: Jayde Bruff, Casey Buchanan, Oscar Hernandez Potter, Liz Sinks, Victoria Tyson Costumes: Carietta Classen, Zane Fish, Juli Paris, CaroReporter #1: Caitlin Nicholson line Pharr, Mary Pat Thompson Reporter #2: Brooke Kelly Hair and Makeup: Anna De La Cruz, Amber Laskowski, Reporter #3: Summer Tonnesen Beverly Murry, Ronnie Sunkler

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Junior Sam Surprenant ﬂashes a smile to the audience during a rehearsal. Her character, Janet van de Graaff, is a starlet leaving the spotlight for marriage. NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

File Photo/Shorelines Yearbook Dressed to the nines, students take to the dance floor at last year’s prom. Though the event was held in First Flight’s rotunda, the prom committee transformed the space into a forest wonderland complete with trees, foliage and a green canopy overhead.

Prom 2016: Puttin’ on the ritz

By Kelly Weisbecker Co-Editor-in-Chief

very year, students struggle to come up with unique promposals, find the perfect dress, and keep sand out of their stilettos: It’s just another prom on the

beach. The night of April 23 will bring students back to the Roaring ‘20s, an era of bootleggers, glamour and prohibition, initially inspired by “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tickets go on sale during Empower Time daily from March 21. For seniors, it’s $15 ($10 pre-sale), juniors, $20 ($15 pre-sale), underclassmen and outside dates $25 ($20 pre-sale). Tickets will be available for pre-sale from the

21st to the 23rd and will be available for full price after students return from spring break on April 4 until Wednesday, April 20. After-school sales will begin on Monday, April 11. Students must be debt-free and in good academic standing to purchase tickets. “A lot of hard work goes into planning all the details, and it makes me proud to see the final product on prom night,” prom sponsor Lauren Deal said. It’s not just the prom committee that is busy preparing. Senior Christian Vargas planned a simple but sweet promposal for senior Sydney Dunstan. “She was just about to get out of soccer and I was gonna meet her at the gym. I thought the most appropriate item to use was Gatorade,”

Vargas said. “I bought an eight-pack so I could write ‘prom baby?’ on each of the bottle caps.” While many boys are busy planning promposals, girls are trying to find the perfect prom dress. Sophomore Kiersten Lewis went as far as Raleigh to find her perfect dress. “I did a lot of online shopping to get an idea of what I wanted and then I went shopping with my mom and brother and it was pretty easy,” Lewis said. “I saw the dress that I really liked and it was the last one and it was in my size. It was the second one I tried on and I said, ‘This is definitely the dress I am getting.’ ” As for keeping sand out of their stilettos, they’re still trying to figure that out. Senior Kelly Weisbecker can be reached at weisbeckerke0220@daretolearn.org.

spring / / 2016

Photo provided by Kiersten Lewis Senior Nathan Butcher took sophomore Kiersten Lewis to the beach to prompose to her by writing ‘prom?’ in the sand.

Photo provided by Jacob Poli Junior Jacob Poli promposes to sophomore Hannah Nettles on the beach as she studies for class.

File Photo/Shorelines Yearbook Current seniors Carla Hardy and Cliff Jenkins share a moment at last year’s prom surrounded by classmates on the dance floor.

File Photo/Shorelines Yearbook Students come together for a memorable night of fun and dancing at the 2015 prom.

Christie Matthews

Don’t forget to remember!

252-256-0398 christie1957@gmail.com

Pre-order the 2016 yearbook now for $65. Reserve your copy at the school or online at YearbookForever.com. Get this keepsake now – we might run out when books arrive in May! NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

Students must learn to take part in the democratic process

oting is a right that Americans often take for granted. With an election on the way, that may not be the best thing. One teacher, Cassidy Mascio, took some of her students over to vote in the North Carolina Primary on March 15. This was excellent, as it encouraged students to be a part of the democratic process. Many supporters of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders are young millennials who may not get out and vote without a little encouragement. Helping students to vote can, in that circumstance, reveal a demographic that may otherwise be hidden. Any civics student should be able to tell you that the three most important things an American citizen is supposed to do are jury duty, paying taxes and voting. The nation was founded upon a principle of a representative democracy, and in order for our voices to be heard and represented, we must vote. Instead, many Americans seem to think guns, greed and the Kardashians are the most important aspects of their lives: Voter turnout was less than 60 percent in the last presidential election, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. Some students could not vote in the primaries and will not be able to vote in November’s general election, and to those students who aren’t 18 already, the whole process might seem a little bleak. It is easy to say that because they cannot vote, they shouldn’t bother with learning about the candidates, but this is simply not the case. It is important to still be in-

formed on political issues. You may have friends who can vote, and by discussing issues with them it could help you find your own political voice or spread your opinion. Knowing candidates’ policies and talking to others about it increases the nation’s dialogue about issues that some people are afraid to discuss. Some people want to learn about the politics of the election but just don’t know where to start. The best place to start is Google, mainly because by quickly searching any candidate’s name along with the word “policy,” Google will provide a drop-down menu with important issues and the candidate’s stance on them. If you’re not sure about a policy point, Google will even take you to articles that discuss the matter in greater detail. A topic on the mind of several students is what might happen if the two leading delegate-winners, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, end up as the official candidates for their respective parties. The question arises: Does Trump really care about America or does he just want another trophy on his wall? In Clinton’s case, it might be fascinating to see the first woman president, especially after just having elected the first African-American president. It could be a sign that the United States is moving into a more progressive mindset. Politics are a complex art that can become even more complicated during an election. It is our job as citizens, however, to stay informed and vote if we can. Our opinions matter, and if we have the right to express them, we must.

Photo by Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders takes the stage to the roar of cheering supporters at a rally last month in Kissimmee, Florida.

Photo by Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/TNS GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to North Carolina supporters during a rally at the Cabarrus Arena in Concord earlier this month.

Hawk Talk: Which presidential candidate

Cole Kelly

Emma Strickland

Freshman

Sophomore

“I chose Ben Carson because he has a funny face. I thought it looked pretty good!”

“I would face swap with Donald Trump because he is by far the funniest-looking candidate.”

Graphic by Kristina Carter, Sarah Shotton, Meghan Savona, Alex Rodman

spring / / 2016

Lenten sacriﬁce a not-so-sweet challenge

oments after ing my willpower, but I popping a Life figure that as someone Saver into my who does not avidly go to mouth I had church, this could make me the horrible realization: “Is seem just a tad bit better in this a piece of candy? … I’m God’s eyes. Indulging in a pretty sure it is ... Oh my Starbucks caramel mocha, God what even have I in the done?!!?” smallest After havsize, felt ing this awful. It seemingly felt like harmless not only piece of lying to candy myself, in my but also Nighthawk Notions mouth for God. Beverly Murry a grand After total of drinking about 40 seconds, I was on almost half of it, I ultimatemy way to the trash can to ly wound up having to pour spit it out. it out. Giving up my most beEven though it seems loved “food group” of candy like I gave up something or anything sweet, for that small, honestly, sweets are matter, was not an easy a big part of my life. Realchoice. However, I knew izing how dependent I am it would likely be for the on something so minusbetter, and I wanted to test cule really is eye-opening my willpower by participat- and is undeniably a time ing in the Christian season for self-reflection. In our of Lent. world today, we rely on the Lent is the 40-day perimodern comforts of pretty od, not including Sundays much having whatever we (aka cheat day), between want whenever we want, Ash Wednesday and Holy and giving up something Saturday (or the day before really seems like a huge Easter) that Christians obstacle. However, the seause for self-examination. son of Lent is really meant During this period, people to realize the importance give up something as a sort of all the abundance in our of modern fasting in an lives. Deciding what to choose attempt to have a closer to give up is a difficult relationship with God. process – there’s even a Not eating sweets has website, WhatToGiveUpbeen quite the challenge, ForLent.com, to help peoand is definitely challeng-

ple decide – but whatever the choice, you really must persist. In the beginning, I gave into my temptations ﬁrst in skipping an entire day to eat all things sweet at a birthday party, and occasionally snagging a few bites of ice cream here and there. In the later parts of Lent, I experienced the very real pain of “hanger.” All I wanted to eat was sugar, yet I pulled through and waited it out until Sunday. Cheating, while it may make you feel temporarily bad about yourself, should not make God or anyone else be upset with you. Lent is all about trying to challenge yourself. Just committing to 40 whole days of not having whatever object you have sworn off is quite the task. However, as the days go by, it gets easier to not have your object, and Sundays are spent not engorging yourself in whatever it is that you gave up, rather just having something small. Still, I cheated for three days straight on a trip to South Carolina in March, and that must have angered someone to lead to these actual acts of God: I sprayed hairspray into my eyes, got a bloody nose, and dropped my phone in the hotel toilet. Another incident occurred after school one day. I allowed myself a Samoa, then the

Lent: the Christian fast

In memory of Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness, some Christians give up meat or certain other foods for 40 days before Easter.

Beginning of Lent

Holy Week

Shrove Tuesday March 4 Last day before Lent; name means “confession Tuesday”; celebrated as Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday”) and Carnival (Latin for “Farewell, meat!”)

• Palm Sunday April 13 Celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to observe Passover

Ash Wednesday March 5 Faithful symbolize penitence by rubbing foreheads with ashes, sometimes made from palm leaves from previous year’s Palm Sunday

Hindu

Fasts of penance Length of fast depends on severity of offense

• Holy or Maundy Thursday April 17 Marks Jesus’ washing of disciples’ feet and Last Supper • Good Friday April 18 Commemorates crucifixion of Jesus • Easter Sunday April 20 Feast of resurrection of Jesus

Jewish

Yom Kippur Solemn oneday fast; rituals of confession and atonement; devout may spend all day at temple

Buddhist

Monastic retreat Lay people temporarily join monastery, often during 12-week monsoon season

Muslim

Sawm Annual 28-day Ramadan fast, avoidance of eating, drinking, smoking, sexual relations from sunrise to sunset

next day I was randomly selected for drug testing. I believe that partaking in Lent, no matter what religion you are, is really a neat and also somewhat terrible experience. It’s neat in that you understand how privileged we can become in this day and age, and terrible in that “why would you ever want to give up something when we can have it all?” aspect of life.

With this, I encourage whomever reads this to try to take part in something that can make you appreciate all that we have and maybe break a minor addiction to candy. Whether it’s for religion, or just to test yourself, I think we can all learn a little something from Lent. Sophomore Beverly Murry can be reached at murrybe0316@daretolearn.org.

would you face swap with and why?

Taylor Anderson

Madison Ciero

Junior

Senior

“I chose Hillary Clinton because I thought her face would look funny on mine.”

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / opinions

“I picked Rubio because he has really nice hair and he’s not old, but it turns out I didn’t get his hair because it was only face swap.”

Don’t be bitter about coffee ban

he bell rings and students begin sifting toward their first-period classes to begin the day. Some wander from the student parking lot, the gym, the lunch room or straggling buses. In their hands is a marvel of early human engineering, the cup. In those cups is a marvel of human agriculture, coffee. To some, this sounds joyously close to a perfect world. To others, it is a recipe for disaster. Coffee can be a very powerful tool to the unrested student, and in a world with AP this and AP that, a lack of rest is not uncommon. But is coffee OK in school? The answer, unfortunately, is no – at least, not beyond the cafeteria and down the halls. There are three factors that contribute to making coffee more of a distraction at school than a positive force. The first of these factors is the possibility of spills. The morning is the time of day that students would be most likely to have coffee in their hands. It is also one of the most crowded and congested moments of the school routine. Almost every student shuffles his or her way from the doors to the lockers and then to class. The likelihood of bumping into another student is increased during this time, and with that, the likelihood of dropping a cup of coffee increases as well. A spill is inevitable, so the question arises: What do we do with said spill?

Nighthawk Notions Mack Doebler Spilled coffee has to be cleaned up. Otherwise, it will become a hazard to other people. Some students would try to clean this mess themselves, which is a noble gesture, but one which will end up making them late for first period. The more debate-oriented student might try and bring to my attention that we have custodians here at First Flight and surely they could clean up the mess. In theory they could, but the job of students is to learn, not make other people’s jobs harder. By expecting custodians to clean up our messes we would be taking advantage of their hard work, and that would be a disservice. The next problem that coffee drinkers might face is specific teacher rules. I’m not saying this to try and call out a specific teacher for some sort of unjust coffee ban. The opposite, in fact. If a teacher has a set of rules that includes coffee, they must have a good reason. Some teachers have classroom environments that are not fit for coffee. The most obvious example of this is a science lab where a spill can go from an inconvenience to a

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Whether it’s Starbucks, Dunkin’, Front Porch or another local shop, students love their coffee. What’s not to love is the fact it cannot be consumed during first period, when many students need that caffeine boost the most. ruined test grade. Even in a normal classroom setting, the possibility for disaster is apparent. You might reach for your pencil and accidentally knock over your coffee, which then spills right onto your notes. The final and most nefarious problem that arises without coffee regulation is how much easier it makes it for students to sneak alcohol into school. As the rule goes right now, the only drink allowed throughout the halls is water in a clear container. Water is easy to recognize, non-carbonated, clear and refreshing. Mixing some sort of undesirable solution in with water would change the consistency and be easy for teachers to spot,

allowing them to help students not make poor decisions. The consistency of coffee is harder to tamper with, and on top of that, coffee cups are rarely clear. This makes it easier for misguided students to make the mistake of smuggling alcohol behind school doors. These are the reasons why the coffee ban at school isn’t really such a bad thing but, in fact, a great way to keep everybody happy. Besides, if you really need your coffee fix in the morning, nobody is stopping you from enjoying it back at home before school. Junior Mack Doebler can be reached at doeblerma0930@daretolearn.org.

People need to think before they post

If you choose to go to a party, don’t post it pload. Tweet. Share. Like. Favorite. anywhere. Don’t open Snapchat or Instagram Screenshot. In seconds, what you post or Twitter. Don’t take pictures of you and your online can be seen by anyone in the friends. And most importantly, don’t post picworld. This information is public and tures of someone else, especannot be easily removed. Colcially if the picture would shed leges and future employers may a negative light on the person. run background checks, where If you do choose to post all those public social media something of yourself in a posts could come back to haunt compromising position, you you. are taking full responsibility One major stigma associatfor the repercussions. However, ed with high school students posting or sharing a picture of is the idea that we all party. A someone else when they are in lot. Teenagers are known best Nighthawk Notions a less-than-desirable position for their mistakes, and some Kristina Carter is not appropriate unless they choose to broadcast their mistakes to anyone with a smartgive you permission to do phone. Whether or not you fit into the stereoso. Not drunken permission. Real, completely type, being smart on social media is a lesson we sober, irrefutable permission. can all learn. While the easiest way to not be caught in

these situations is to not put yourself in them, that can be a challenging task for some: The allure and popularity that comes with high school parties can be hard to resist. However, parties aren’t the only things that need to be kept off social media. Be mindful of your language. How you speak to others and those colorful four-letter words can quickly land you in a lot of trouble. Reading words on a screen shows no tone of voice. There is no way to know if someone is joking, and anything you say can be perceived in a completely different way. As the ancient proverb states, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” So, if you don’t have anything intelligent to post – or at least something that isn’t self-incriminating – don’t post anything at all. Junior Kristina Carter can be reached at carterkr0206@daretolearn.org. spring / / 2016

Hey, Sarah! Oh, not you, the other one

hat’s in a name? Merriam-Webster defines it as “a word or phrase that refers to or that can refer to a specific person.” Names are meant to differentiate you from the rest of the world and give you a unique identity. But if a name is supposed to be your own distinctive label, why do so many people have the same one? According to namestatistics. com, nearly 15 percent of U.S. men have one of the five most popular male names: James, John, Robert, Michael or William. That’s more than 48 million people with just one of five names. That raises a question: Why do we name our kids the same thing as millions of other people? Aren’t we supposed to be giving them a unique identity? Honestly, this article is based on personal experience. My name

Nighthawk Notions Sarah Skinner was the fourth-most popular name in the U.S. around the time I was born, and there’s an estimated 1.2 million girls with the name “Sarah” or “Sara.” I’ve found up to 13 of us at First Flight at one time. It’s cool having the same name as people for a while, but I can’t even count how many awkward “oh, um, not you” moments I’ve had when someone calls me over by name. I’ve had name duplicates in my classes my whole life, and

my co-worker, Sara Cook, had to be called by her first and middle name on the work schedule because it got too confusing. Once, I corrected someone on my last name and they said, “Who cares, you’re both named Sarah.” Despite the idea that a name is a unique identity, a majority of the 318 million people in the U.S. are named one of just a couple thousand. My parents both have slightly unusual names, so I understand where they were coming from when they picked more everyday names for their kids. Strange and unique names can sometimes lead to bullying and never being able to find your name on a keychain. But generic ones can lead to you barely responding to your own name because, odds are, they aren’t talking to you. It’s a double-edged sword: go too far on the “unusual” side and people may make premature

assumptions. Go too far on the “normal” side and people may think you’re someone else. Names are chosen for a lot of reasons – meaning, significance, a namesake, because the parents like the way it sounds – but the idea of giving your kid a specific identifier isn’t too big on the list. When naming your baby, it’s a good idea to consider not only the sentimental factors but how well your name will do the job it’s intended to do. Don’t make your kid follow in the footsteps of Albert Brooks, voice of Marlin in “Finding Nemo,” who was born Albert Lawrence Einstein. Positive comments on this article can be directed to skinnersa0619@daretolearn.org. Negative ones can be sent to one of the dozen or so other Sarahs at this school. After all, we’re basically the same person.

Thank you, sponsors! From March 3-6, 25 students and three advisers from First Flight and Manteo high schools visited Columbia for the Southern Interscholastic Press Association convention at the University of South Carolina. Students were immersed in all things journalism at the event and were part of a crowd of 550 students and advisers from as far away as Florida to Washington. Several businesses and organizations donated funds to help offset the cost of this trip. We appreciate their support in allowing our students to experience this kind of educational opportunity outside the classroom!

Brian and Lisa Holland of Bayside Body Shop, Inc. Philip and Brandy Foreman of Brew Thru Briggs McEwan of Lisa’s Pizzeria in Rodanthe Dan and Cindy Haynes of OBX Frozen Yogurt Outer Banks Furniture The First Flight Rotary Club The Outer Banks Fraternal Order of Eagles The Outer Banks Kiwanis Club The Outer Banks Woman’s Club The First Flight High School PTSO

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / opinions

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Senior Kyle Cortez (from left), senior Connor Hughes, sophomore Jeremiah Derby and junior Carlos Martinez show off their state championship bling.

Winter winners: Wrestlers, swimmers and runners get the gold

By Byrde Wells Sports Editor

he hot and sticky wrestling mat. The heavily chlorinated pool. The gritty rubber of the track. These are commonplace recreational areas for some, but for First Flight’s 2015-16 winter sports teams, these places were more like mines. And if they were dug deep enough through months of hard work, gold was eventually reached. First Flight’s wrestling, swimming, and indoor track and field teams all brought home gold medals this past winter, either individually or team-wise. In all, five athletes obtained gold medals, while one team was able to bring home a team state title. At the NCHSAA 2A state wrestling championships, senior Connor Hughes, junior Carlos Martinez and sophomore Jeremiah Derby all claimed first place in the weight classes of 170, 195 and 113 pounds, respectively, while senior Kyle Cortez took third place in the 138-pound weight class and sophomore Arien Leigh placed fourth overall at 106. The five wrestlers combined tallied enough points to secure the overall 2A team state title, making First Flight history as

the second sports team to do so. In the words of Derby, the amount of joy from winning can be simply described as “the best feeling in the world.” Most of the wrestlers on the team have been highly involved with the sport since they were young, working hard throughout middle and high school to achieve a singular goal: winning. It’s safe to say that work paid off. “The feeling is something you can’t explain,” Martinez said. “I’ve been working pretty hard since my freshman year to accomplish this goal, and now that I won individually and as a team, it feels pretty good.” Martinez already has his eyes set on next season even though his current one isn’t quite over yet. He is participating in the National High School Coaches Association National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach on April 1, where he earned an All-American title last year. “My goal is to place again and be a two-time All-American,” Martinez said. “And for next wrestling season my goal is to be a two-time state champion.” Hughes bids an emotional farewell to his high school wrestling career after walking out on top. He

qualified for the state championship all four years and placed third last season. This year’s championship match wasn’t decided until the very end, leading to a surge of mixed emotions. “It was like 90 percent ‘this is amazing, I can’t believe this is happening,’ ” Hughes said of the experience. “The fact it just instantly ended for me as I walked off that mat: 10 percent was, ‘Wow, it’s over.’ ” Junior Hunter Crook dominated the competition at the NCHSAA 1A/2A swimming and diving state championships on Feb. 13, placing first in the 500 free and eighth in the 200 free. “That was my main goal this year, to place first in the 500, and it’s a nice feeling to know I achieved it,” Crook said. Crook has been swimming since the fourth grade, primarily with the OBX Swim Club and high school. He is continuing to train multiple hours per day in the pool to achieve more ambitious goals next season. “I want to get the North Carolina 500 free record, which is 4:25,” Crook said. “I’m only 11 seconds off that time right now.” Although indoor track is not formally a sports team at First Flight, junior Hailey Schreyer and

sophomores Alex Rodman and Skylar Stultz were able to participate in the NCHSAA 1A/2A indoor track and field state championships on Feb. 13. Rodman ran a time of 3:02.92 to capture first place in the women’s 1000-meter run. She also ran a time of 5:21.53 to claim second place in the 1600, while Schreyer placed 14th in the 1600. “Well, I got a lot faster over the season, and a state championship ring on top of that makes me feel great,” Rodman said. Stultz ran the 1000 meters in a time of 2:49.44 to place seventh overall in the event. He was scheduled to run the two and one mile as well, but wasn’t able to due to strep throat. The trio was able to partake in the indoor track season through Currituck High School, which has a certified NCHSAA team. Currituck provided more benefits than just traveling help for the runners. “For the most part, we mainly coached ourselves,” Stultz said. “But sometimes we went over to Currituck with coach Laurie Davis and trained with them and did some of their workouts.” Junior Byrde Wells can be reached at wellsje1210@daretolearn.org. spring / / 2016

Follow FFHS this spring First Flight Baseball 3/18 Northeastern 7 p.m. 3/22 Pasquotank 7 p.m. 3/23 Huntington (W. Va.) @ Manteo 7 p.m. 3/24 Edenton 7 p.m. 4/08 @ Bertie 7 p.m. 4/09 Grassfield (Va) TBA 4/12 @ Currituck 7 p.m. 4/15 Hertford County 7 p.m. 4/16 @ Norfolk Christian 12 p.m., vs. Nandua 2:30 p.m. 4/19 @ Northeastern 7 p.m. 4/20 @ Perquimans TBA 4/22 Currituck 7 p.m. 4/26 @ Pasquotank 7 p.m. 4/27 @ Lawrence Acad., 5 p.m. 4/28 Bertie 7 p.m. 5/03 @ Edenton 7 p.m. 5/04 Manteo 6 p.m.

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News State-qualifying swimmers (from left) freshman Cecilia Cortez, senior Laura Maniet, senior Sarah Mandis, senior Morgan Gates, junior Olivia Kyger, sophomore Savannah Wallace, junior Byrde Wells, sophomore Bryce Pugh, sophomore Alan Maniet, sophomore Dagen Gilbreath and junior Hunter Crook are celebrated for their accomplishments at First Flight’s winter sports pep rally during Empower Time in February.

First Flight JV Baseball 3/18 Northeastern 4:30 p.m. 3/21 @ Cape Hatteras 5 p.m. 3/22 Huntington, W. Va. 4 p.m. 3/24 Edenton 4:30 p.m. 4/08 Bertie 4:30 p.m. 4/09 Grassfield (Va.) TBA 4/12 @ Currituck 4:30 p.m. 4/15 Hertford County 4:30 p.m. 4/19 @ Northeastern 4:30 p.m. 4/22 Currituck 4:30 p.m. 4/26 Manteo 4:30 p.m. 4/29 @ Bertie 4:30 p.m. 5/03 @ Edenton 4:30 p.m. First Flight Softball 3/18 Northeastern 7 p.m. 3/22 Pasquotank 7 p.m. 3/24 Edenton 7 p.m. 4/06 Perquimans 5 p.m. 4/08 @ Bertie 5 p.m. 4/12 @ Currituck 7 p.m. 4/15 Hertford County 7 p.m. 4/19 @ Northeastern 7 p.m. 4/20 Telstar 6 p.m. 4/22 Currituck 7 p.m. 4/26 @ Pasquotank 7 p.m. 4/27 @ Lawrence Acad., 5 p.m. 4/28 Bertie 7 p.m. 5/03 @ Edenton 7 p.m. 5/04 Manteo 6 p.m.

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Members of the 2A state championship wrestling team (from left) coach Taylor Misuna, senior Connor Hughes, senior Kyle Cortez, junior Carlos Martinez, sophomore Arien Leigh and sophomore Jeremiah Derby show off their new hardware.

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Sophomore Skylar Stultz (from left), junior Hailey Schreyer and sophomore Alex Rodman get a round of applause in the middle of the gym during First Flight’s winter sports pep rally. The trio earned spots in the indoor track championships. NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

First Flight Men’s Tennis 3/22 @ Currituck 4 p.m. 4/05 @ Hertford County 4 p.m. 4/07 Edenton 4 p.m. 4/12 Currituck 4 p.m. 4/19 @ Northeastern 4 p.m. 4/21 Hertford County 4 p.m. 4/25-26 Conference Tourna- ment TBA @ Currituck TBA 5/03 1st Round Dual Team TBA 06-07 Regionals TBA First Flight Women’s Soccer 3/21 Camden 6 p.m. 3/23 @ Currituck 6 p.m.

4/05 First Colonial 6 p.m. 4/06 Hertford County 5 p.m. 4/08 @ Greenville Rose 6 p.m. 4/11 @ Pasquotank 6 p.m. 4/13 Edenton 6 p.m. 4/16 @ Oscar Smith 4 p.m. 4/18 @ Manteo 6 p.m. 4/20 @ Camden 6 p.m. 4/22 Ocean Lakes 6 p.m. 4/25 Pasquotank 6 p.m. 4/27 Northeastern 6 p.m. 4/29 AC Reynolds 6 p.m. 5/02 Currituck 6 p.m. 5/04 @ Hertford County 6 p.m. First Flight Men’s Lacrosse 3/18 Northside-Jax 6 p.m. 3/22 @ Croatan 6 p.m. 3/24 Jacksonville 6 p.m. 4/05 @ JH Rose 6 p.m. 4/08 @ New Bern 6 p.m. 4/12 @ Havelock 6 p.m. 4/15 West Carteret 6 p.m. 4/19 @ Northside-Jax 6 p.m. 4/22 Croatan 6 p.m. 4/26 @ Jacksonville 6 p.m. 4/29 JH Rose 6 p.m. First Flight Women’s Lacrosse 3/23 @ Northside-Jax 4 p.m. 3/24 Jacksonville 4/05 @ JH Rose 5 p.m. 4/13 @ New Bern 5 p.m. 4/21 @ Bishop Sullivan 5 p.m. 4/22 Northside-Jax 4 p.m. 4/26 @ Jacksonville 4/29 JH Rose 5 p.m. First Flight Track and Field 3/23 Hertford County/First Flight 4 p.m. @ Pasquotank 4/06 Camden/Perquimans/ Manteo 4 p.m. @ First Flight 4/13 First Flight/Hertford Co./ Currituck 4 p.m. @ Edenton 4/20 Edenton/Bertie 4 p.m. @ First Flight 4/27 Conference Meet @ Pasquotank TBA 5/04 @ Edenton 4 p.m. 5/13-14 Regionals (TBA) First Flight Golf 3/21 @ Hertford County 3:30 4/04 @ Edenton 3:30 4/07 Manteo 3 p.m. 4/11 @ Northeastern 3:30 4/18 @ First Flight 3:30 4/25 @ Currituck 3:30 (Final tally for All Confer ence/POY/COY) 5/2-3 Regionals TBA 5/9-10 State TBA Schedules subject to change due to weather and other factors. Check the school website and Official First Flight Fan Page on Facebook for upto-date information.

Stoked skaters stick to the stellar grind

By Mack Doebler Staff Writer

kateboarding, born out of ‘50s California, became a cultural phenomenon that rocketed Americans into the world of extreme sports. Although some may say that the glory days of skateboarding have passed, it is still a popular pastime on the Outer Banks. Skate parks are all over the beach, including across the street from the school at Aviation Park, so there are no shortage of ramps, coping and bowls to keep skaters occupied. A traditional skateboard is a wooden board that is attached to axles called trucks. The trucks hold the wheels to the board and riders stand on the board as it zooms across streets, ramps and all. But people don’t just pick up a board and instantly start shredding at a pool jam or riding a manual across the park. Skateboarders, like all athletes, have to start somewhere. “I was 6 years old watching Tony Hawk on TV and I thought, ‘All right, I’ll try this.’ And I got into it,” junior Westin Keller said. Others took up the trucks and board simply because their friends were doing it and ended up finding a great new pastime. “I mainly got into skating because I lived in New York City and everyone around me was doing it,” freshman Jasper Dean said. Dean ended up progressing faster than most skaters. He quickly learned the Ollie – a fundamental trick that essentially allows the rider to jump on the board – after only three weeks. Skateboarding breaks down to two different types of ways to ride the board. Vert skating involves mostly ramps, like the mega ramp and half pipes. Street skating involves more flatground skating with an emphasis on the aforementioned Ollie. Most tricks sprout away from this crucial move. Skating isn’t always sweet dreams and heelflips, however; Sometimes a trick goes wrong and the rider is who pays the price. “I wasn’t paying attention and I just fell like 12 feet to my shoulder,” junior Brandon Beugless said. “I was at the YMCA park around the southwest corner at this big

ramp. I fell off the top and hit my head. It was bad.” Some accidents come from awkward spots at a park or poor footwork resulting in a loss of balance. Others are not so easy to forecast. Any skateboarder can tell you that even the smallest rock shoved up against a board’s trucks can cause the rider to go flying. “One time I was trying to do a trick at Aviation like a year ago and the nose of my board hit a piece of metal in the park that wasn’t supposed to be there,” Dean said. “I fell back and landed on my wrist and it popped out of place and it was dislocated and everyone was like, ‘Oh my gosh, dude, it’s broken,’ and I was like, ‘Nah, it doesn’t hurt!’ I was just in shock.” Even though skaters have been knocked out from accidents, they continue to practice and come back to parks. “The fun keeps me going, and once you progress you know you have the capability and big things come,” Keller said. Junior Mack Doebler can be reached at doeblerma0930@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Junior Jay Austin hits an indie trick midair at Aviation Skate Park in Kill Devil Hills. Skateboarding is a popular pastime for First Flight students.

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Freshman Jasper Dean airs out a trick at the Aviation Skate Park. Dean is one of the many First Flight students who skates at the park regularly on the weekends or even after school. spring / / 2016

Photos by Amy Wrenn/Nighthawk News First Flight’s first-ever women’s lacrosse season opened Friday, March 11, with an intra-squad scrimmage. The new players warmed up and then raced around the field attempting to stop their teammates. At left, freshman Buzzy Staten (8) tries to elude freshman Madison Del Collo.

New women’s lax team looks to stick around

By Alex Rodman Staff Writer

ost student-athletes this spring will try their hand in track and field, softball, baseball or women’s soccer. But for one eager group of girls, their spring season will be filled with anticipation as they strive to make a name for the first ever First Flight women’s lacrosse team. When any new team forms, challenges will follow. One question everyone is asking: Who will they play? “Sadly, there aren’t any teams in our area,” said senior Laura Maniet, the student behind the new lacrosse team. “But just like the boys lacrosse team – who have driven up to five hours for a game – we can drive the distance, too.” As of now, the Nighthawks are looking to play teams of the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Beach area, such as First Colonial and Cape Henry. The team has been working hard to make the best of its quickly approaching season. Winter workouts were held every Tuesday and Thursday after school, as well as Saturday mornings, to help prepare. Official practices began Feb. 17, with practices held at the new lacrosse field located behind First Flight Middle School. “The workouts have been good,” Maniet said. “It’s been a great turnout and all the girls are really positive towards playing and improving.” This year’s head coaching position has been filled by Maria Maniet. Coach Maniet spent her collegiate career playing lacrosse at Ohio State and West Chester (Pennsylvania) University. She previously coached lacrosse at Parkway Central High School in St. Louis and has coached several select club teams in the area. Both her coaching experience and enthusiasm NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

Photo by Sarah Shotton/Nighthawk News Sophomore Sloan Tomblin stretches her legs before hitting the field for practice.. make her perfect for the new team. “Coach Maniet is a very energetic person and I think is a great fit for our team,” sophomore Evey Ramirez said. “She not only expects a lot from us, but encourages us to make our expectations higher for ourselves.” Many new players to the sport are on the team -- players who express a desire to learn the game, stay in shape and enjoy the season. What they may lack in experience or training, they make up for in spirit and optimism. “This is my first year playing and so far it is really fun,” freshman Kaitlyn Hales said. “I hope that everyone will work well together and that we will end up having an exciting season.” Despite the challenges posed with the integration of skilled players and beginners, Coach Maniet is confident that the different levels of experience will not be a setback. “Mixing experienced players with new play-

ers will be very easy. My coaching style stresses the basics,” Coach Maniet said. “So even those who have been playing for years will be doing the exact same things a new player is doing: lots of stick work, conditioning and field strategies.” Predicting a new team’s season can be tricky. Even with an excellent coach and skilled technical training, no one knows what to expect come the first game. But the unknown is what makes any sport intriguing. Coach Maniet and her players appear positive and hopeful regarding the team’s first season. “I am completely psyched about this season,” Coach Maniet said. “This is an incredible community and school. The examples of commitment and success that I see in other sports and activities leaves me with zero doubt that this will be a great season.” Sophomore Alex Rodman can be reached at rodmanal0704@daretolearn.org.

First Flight Sports Spotlight:

What position do you play? I play right outside midfielder, striker and basically any place the coach puts me because I’m content being anywhere on the field. How long have you been playing? I have been playing since I was around 3 or 4. What is your favorite memory playing soccer? My favorite memory I think was in my seventh-grade year at a travel soccer TASL Tournament. It started raining and I scored like six times. It made me feel really good because I had never scored that many goals before, and playing soccer in the rain is the best feeling ever. Do you have any future plans with this sport? I really want to play on a club team next year. If you could play any other sport, what would it be and why? I would play volleyball because that was the second sport I have always played and enjoyed. What is your favorite thing to do besides playing soccer? I like running. It’s a good stress reliever. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? My dream job is to be a fashion designer in New York City.

How long have you been playing? I’ve been playing tennis since I was 7 years old: 11 years. What caused you to start playing tennis? I first started playing tennis because my mom took me out one day and had me play. It’s kind of a family thing. What is your favorite memory playing tennis? My favorite memory is probably traveling to tournaments and waking up early to play a big match, especially with a bunch of friends. There’s something about the air near a clay court in the morning, there’s just nothing like it. Do you have any future plans with tennis? I plan on playing tennis for UNC Charlotte as a walk-on. What’s your favorite TV show? “Arrow.” Who’s your celebrity dream date? My celebrity dream date is definitely Taylor Swift or Margot Robbie. If you won a million dollars, what would you do? If I won a million dollars I’d buy an island and a small plane to take me there and just live there. Whatever I didn’t use, which would probably be around $400,000, I’d donate to research Alzheimer’s.

What position do you play? I pitch. How long have you been playing? I have been playing for about 10 or 11 years. What is your favorite memory playing? My favorite memory is my mom coaching me at the rec park since I was little. Do you have any future plans with this sport? I will play co-ed slow pitch, and maybe intramural in college, but nothing serious. Do you have any outside hobbies? I play flute and trumpet, so music is a pretty major other hobby. What’s your favorite TV show? “New Girl.” What is your favorite food? Spaghetti. What is your favorite animal? Elephants. Who is your celebrity dream date? Ummm, no one. I only want to go on dates with my lovely boyfriend. What would you do if you won a million dollars? Buy a trustworthy car, a good house that I could pay off, and then save the rest.

What position do you play? I play catcher. It’s very active, I guess you could say. I am part of every play. Command the game mostly, calling pitches and getting ever ybody where they are supposed to be. How long have you been playing? I’ve been playing all my life. Probably since I was 5 or 6. What is your favorite memory playing baseball? My favorite memory is probably when we went up to Cooperstown (New York) for a tournament and I hit five home runs. Do you have plans with the sport after high school? Hopefully to play next year in college. Right now I’ve got a couple schools. I don’t really know where, but hopefully somewhere Division I. That’s the plan. What is your favorite TV show? I’m gonna have to go with the original SportsCenter. I just like sports. What is your dream vacation? I don’t think I have a dream vacation, but I definitely want to go out of the country. I’ve never been.

Graphics by Reid Kelly || Photos by Sarah Shotton & Amy Wrenn || Reporting by Alex Rodman, Meghan Savona, Arabella

spring / / 2016

Spring Season Q&A

What position do you play? Midfield. How long have you been playing? Nine years, since third grade. What is your favorite memory playing lacrosse? Helping to get First Flight its first girls lacrosse team has been my favorite memory so far. It’s something I’ve really enjoyed doing. Do you have any plans for the sport after high school? I would love to play in college at West Point or High Point. If you won the lottery, what would you do first? I would definitely travel, maybe to Italy to find my ancestors. What is your favorite sports brand? Under Armour. Who’s your celebrity dream date? Chris Pratt (he can come with me to Italy). What do you order when you go to Panera? Mediterranean veggie sandwich. What is the Taylor Swift song you know every word to? Every single one! My favorite is “Speak Now.”

What position do you play and how long have you been playing? Defense, for eight years. What is your favorite memory playing lacrosse? I laid somebody out my freshman year against Grassfield. It was pretty sick. Do you have any future plans in the sport? Maybe, if I am able to play club lacrosse after high school, but that’s it. Do you have any hobbies? I like basketball, fishing and spitting bars. Who is your favorite rapper? Dang, that’s a hard one. Right now it’s probably Action Bronson, but if not him then Vince Staples. If you want to say all time, then it would be Eminem, but he beats everybody anyway. What is your greatest athletic achievement? My greatest achievement was when I got honorable mention for the all-conference team last year in lacrosse after being injured for over half the season. What would you do if you won a million dollars? If I got a million I’d probably buy a (BMW) and spend the rest on food.

How long have you been playing? I’ve been playing since seventh grade, so six years. What caused you to start playing golf? I started playing because my dad and my grandfather played and I always wanted to go out with them. What is your favorite memory playing golf? Last year at regionals we went a day early and played a practice round and just being able to chill out with Liam, George and Will was pretty fun, and plus, it was a very nice day. Any future plans with golf? I plan on playing all throughout my life since golf is really something you can play no matter how old you are. What’s your favorite TV show? “Breaking Bad.” What’s your celebrity dream date? Dream date is with Leonardo DiCaprio, going to the Rainbow Room Restaurant in Manhattan. If you won a million dollars, what would you do? I would buy a lot of Twix.

Saunders, Byrde Wells, Mack Doebler & Kelly Weisbecker. Look for more spotlights in May! NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

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NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2016