Spring 2017 Nighthawk News Magazine

The Journey – Carlos Martinez grappled with more than opposing wrestlers on his way to becoming a two-time state champion

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spring / / 2017

ON THE COVER

C

arlos Martinez is hard to miss at First Flight.

Stone-cold serious on the wrestling mat, the senior is known as a fun-loving jokester in the halls, almost always flashing a smile at his friends.

Oh, and he flashes those rings around, too.

But it turns out there’s more to Carlos than just his wrestling stardom. A lot more. And that’s what we set out to share with this edition.

“I think when most people think of Carlos, they see him as an athlete, and some even find him intimidating, but it was really cool to be able to go beyond that and learn more about him outside of wrestling,” junior Arabella Saunders said. “The story is about more than Carlos being a great athlete. It’s about what he had to go through to get where he is now.”

The journey started in Mexico, which got Saunders thinking of a cover shot incorporating Martinez’s heritage. Merging the two flags together was the work of sophomores Trinity Harrison and Buzzy Staten, who in addition to being newspaper staff writers also happen to be taking Jessie McClary’s Photogra-

phy class this semester.

“We had a difficult time picturing how it was supposed to look,” Staten said. “But once we got the flags figured out it all came together.”

Harrison and Staten thanked McClary for her guidance, as well.

“Designing the cover was a difficult challenge,” Harrison said. “It was great to create something that represented the story of Carlos so well.”

Then, of course, was the photo of Martinez himself, shot by senior Amy Wrenn.

“Carlos is such an interesting personality and you never know what you’re going to get from him, but he was so excited about having his picture taken, which made it so much fun,” Wrenn said.

She also reminded Martinez about showing off his bling – the rings have been tucked away in his bag because of a finger injury, but he happily got them out for a couple of final shots.

From serious topics to silly explorations, Martinez’s interesting story is just one of many in this month’s edition that we hope you enjoy.

– From the Editor

Photo by Amy Wrenn/Nighthawk News Senior Carlos Martinez shows off the rings he earned by winning his weight class the last two years at the NCHSAA Championships.

WHAT’S INSIDE 4-5

– Martinez lays heart on the mat

6-7

– Hill helps heal; internships; underclass struggles

8-9

– Rose bids farewell; volunteer opportunities at hospital

10-11 – News briefs; the naked truth about nudes 12-13 – Mathletes; Peterson at CSI; Shelton in Rwanda 14-15 – Student secret talents; a speakeasy; prom event 16-17 – ‘Colors in the Darkness’; ‘9 to 5’ spring musical 18-19 – Student YouTubers; Elevated Artists 20-21 – Nighthawks show their talents 22-23 – Danielle James scholarship; escape room 24-25 – Artists in the Spotlight 26-27 – Students explore the third floor 28-29 – Staff editorial; hallway etiquette 30-31 – Cell phones are a blessing and a curse; finstas 32-33 - Same-sport siblings 34-35 - Medals on the mat and indoor track championships 36-37 - Players achieve 1K points; Garber overcomes injury 38-39 - Nighthawk Sports Cards: Collect them all!

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / table of contents

N

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.com. Follow us on Twitter @FFNighthawkNews, Facebook.com/NighthawkNews and Instagram @FFHSNighthawkNews.

Target Printing and Distribution of the Fayetteville Observer prints our publication.

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From Morelia to the OBX, Martinez makes his mark

By Arabella Saunders Features Editor

D

rops of sweat rolling down his tanned skin, the young boy bursts through his front door, hungry for the comfort of an air-conditioned room after a long game of soccer.

He’s stopped short as he glances up to find a vaguely familiar woman standing next to his father. The boy focuses his attention on the woman, the harsh sounds of the TV fading into the background as he blindly reaches for her identity in the shadows of his memory. Suddenly, as if a light has been flipped in a dark room, the boy recognizes her from the inconspicuous portrait that has been perched on his bedside table for as long as he can remember – his mother.

“She looked a lot different,” senior Carlos Martinez said. “I kind of looked at her and was like, ‘Who’s this?’ But I had a picture of her next to my bed and I looked at her again and I was like, ‘Oh, my God. I can’t believe it’s her.’ ” Immigrating to the United States in hopes of finding better opportunities for herself and her family, Martinez’s mother left Morelia, Mexico, when her son was 5 years old. Four years later, on a balmy September afternoon, she returned with plans to relocate Martinez and his sister to the States.

“The day I left, I remember saying bye to my dad and my grandma and that was the hardest thing I’ve done,” Martinez said. “I’ll never forget that day. He was watching TV and I went up to him and I was like, ‘You know, I have to go,” and he kind of just looked at me and I couldn’t do anything but just cry.”

Enveloped in a haze of uncertainty, the three braved the 2,000mile trek from Morelia to Virginia Beach. After spending a year in Virginia, Martinez’s family relocated once again to the Outer Banks.

Unable to speak English at the time, Martinez recalled the discomfort he felt his first day of the sixth grade at First Flight Middle School.

“I came into Mrs. Thompson’s class and Pablo was supposed to be my translator and we kind of got separated because Mrs. Thompson made Pablo sit on the other side of the room, so I didn’t know what was going on,” Martinez said.

“I saw everyone standing up and saying what their names were and

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Photo by Sarah Unks/Special to Nighthawk News Carlos Martinez squares off against an opponent during the state championships in Greensboro. Martinez fulfilled his dream of becoming a back-to-back state champion in impressive fashion, going undefeated his senior season. when my turn came I was just like, ‘Um, uh.’ I was just standing there.”

Gone were the carefree afternoons spent dashing along the streets of Morelia chasing after a stray soccer ball or engaging in boxing matches with friends.

Martinez found his after-school free time to be both foreign and isolating.

“When I lived in Mexico, I used to go outside and play with my friends all day. When I came here, I didn’t speak any English, so I didn’t have any friends,” Martinez said.

“I would just stay inside and watch TV. That was one of the challenges, just making new friends and getting used to the way people live here and the way I use to live.”

Throughout the year, Martinez worked to scale the language barrier preventing him from interacting with both students and teachers.

With help from friends Pablo and Jesus, Martinez gradually began to pick up on the language.

“They would have their own conversations in English and I would listen to what they said and I would ask questions,” Martinez said. “I wanted to learn how to speak English so bad, so I would kind of just listen. I didn’t talk.

I was like a sponge, just soaking

Photo by Ben Tran/Nighthawk News Carlos Martinez talks strategy with Nighthawks wrestling coach Russell Kepler during an early-season match. everything up.”

Continuing to practice over the summer, Martinez overcame the linguistic obstacles and returned to school the following year as a fluent seventh-grader.

“I introduced myself to the class and now I was the kid that could speak English,” Martinez said with a laugh. “I didn’t choke in front of the class. I introduced myself and I started making new friends.”

As he began to make new

friends, Martinez became more comfortable with his surroundings.

Though apprehensive at first, he entertained the idea of participating in school sports.

“Mr. Welch was the one that got me into playing sports in eighth grade,” Martinez said. “I came in and I talked to Coach Dixon and I was like, ‘Hey, I wanna join the (football) team. I already have my physical and I already turned everything in.’ I started working spring / / 2017

out and I lost a lot of weight, and when football was over, I tried out for wrestling.”

Although Martinez’s wrestling career originated through pressure from his teachers to get involved, he quickly grew to appreciate the sport, training throughout the summer to prepare for the high school team.

“It would be 2 a.m. and I would be doing push-ups and crunches in my room because my coach told me how every little thing would make a difference,” Martinez said.

“If you do a little extra, you’ll see the results, and he was right.”

As he entered high school, Martinez continued to improve his wrestling technique. Summer training sessions coupled with motivation inspired by older teammates pushed Martinez on the mat.

“My freshman year, it was Alex Monaco and Landon Leithauser,” Martinez said. “I just wanted to be as good as them and I just trained every day with that motivation to be as good as them.”

Armed with a ceaseless desire to succeed, Martinez found himself pushing both his body and his mind to their limits throughout his sophomore year.

“It was hard. I feel like it was straight hell,” Martinez said. “I would put myself in the worst situations that I could in practice and it made winning more than just getting your hand raised at the end of the match. In practice, I used to cry because I couldn’t do it anymore, but I just had to push myself over that.”

In addition to physical challenges, Martinez also faced obstacles created by his dwindling motivation in school.

“Carlos wanted to make good grades, but he didn’t want to put the time into his studies,” former First Flight AVID teacher Lisa Duke said. “We had many conversations about the consequences of personal choices. By the end of 10th grade, he was so unfocused on grades that he exited the AVID program for a year.”

Although his grades suffered, Martinez continued to excel in wrestling, winning his first state title his junior year. As Martinez traversed the championship tournament, meeting with college recruiters and speaking with college-level athletes, he was faced with the harsh reality of his poor study habits.

“Once Carlos won his first state championship, I saw an immediate change,” Duke said. “While he was there, before the final rounds startNIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

ed, Carlos was texting me about making sure he was on track for college. Coaches were approaching him about college and he needed to make a change if he hoped to attain this goal.”

His grades gradually rose, and Martinez’s athleticism soared.

Through countless hours spent in the weightroom and a relentless determination to defend his state title, Martinez returned to the NCHSAA 2-A championships last month. He left Greensboro with a new school record for career wins and the title of first undefeated state champion in school history.

“It’s just crazy. If you would’ve told me when I was in sixth grade that I would be a two-time state champ, I would’ve laughed in your face and walked away,” Martinez said. “I never thought I was gonna be this good. It’s really like a dream come true.”

With his grades significantly higher, Martinez has been able to communicate with prospective colleges. He hopes to attend Delaware Valley University in Pennsylvania.

“I’m excited to meet new friends and make memories in college, but there’s nothing that’s ever gonna take the place of this beach,” Martinez said. “It’s made a big impact in my life. ” Just as the Outer Banks has played a significant role in shaping Martinez’s life, his unwavering dedication to wrestling continues to inspire his teammates.

“He’s taught me where hard work can get you,” junior Arien Leigh said. “You can go from being the lowest in whatever – this instance, wrestling – to becoming the top guy that everybody is trying to work to beat through just grinding every day, not letting anybody stop you, staying true to what you wanna do and setting your goals high.”

From Morelia to the Outer Banks, the fear and uncertainty that accompanied the 9-year-old boy that warm September afternoon has dissolved, replaced rather by feelings of gratitude for the opportunities and life lessons that have prepared him for his future.

“I really appreciate everything that this country has given to me, like education and being able to play sports. If I keep on moving forward in academics and athletics, then my future is going to be really bright, I think,” Martinez said.

“That’s what I’m striving for. A better future, better education.”

Junior Arabella Saunders can be reached at saundersar0214@daretolearn.org.

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By Mary Pat Thompson Editor-in-Chief

e knew of Sawyer Sanchez. He’d seen him around school last year. He heard why he hadn’t seen him this year. He was Cameron Hill. Just starting his senior year, preparing for another great soccer season, healthy.

There was Sanchez. Diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia days before the start of his junior year, receiving chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia, and just trying to keep a positive outlook on life.

The two weren’t particularly close. So when Hill showed up at Swab for Sawyer, an event held last September where volunteers swabbed the inside of their cheeks to have their tissue type added to the Be The Match bone marrow registry, it wasn’t because him and Sanchez were the best of friends.

Hill had just turned 18, the required age for the registry. Why not, he figured.

“I felt bad, and thought, ‘Maybe I’ll be the match.’

Might as well,” Hill recalled. “I’m 18 so I can do it.”

He wasn’t Sanchez’s match. He didn’t really think he would be.

But in December, Hill received a phone call from Corrie Marean at Be The Match in Charlotte. She told him he was a potential match for a 60-year-old female.

Intrigued, Hill went to the hospital for additional testing and waited to hear back.

“The beginning of January she called him again and said, ‘By the way, you are a definite match for this lady,’ ” said Cam’s mother, Kelly Hill. “Her doctor has approved you and so has Be The Match.”

If willing to donate, Hill would be a matched unrelated donor (MUD) for a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, which involves the IV infusion of autologous stem cells to reestablish hematopoietic function in patients whose bone marrow or immune system is damaged or defective, according to emedicine.medscape.com.

“The FDA has approved this type of donation for a family member, but they haven’t approved it necessarily for somebody that is not related,” Kelly said.

“They’re trying to do it more and more with people who are not related, I think to try to get it approved, to show that it does work. Corrie told me that nine times out of 10 it’s hard to get a family member that’s an actual match, so they have to go outside that pool.”

Cam Hill was more than a just a match. He was a perfect match. “(I’m a) 10 out of 10 match,” Cam said. “It’s really rare. They said (the recipient) could be a long-distant relative or something crazy like that, because it’s really rare for that to happen.”

Getting on the registry is the first step toward a bone marrow donation. Being confirmed as a match is the second step. Then comes the challenging part: deciding whether or not to go through with the donation.

Sure, there were initial nerves and concerns for Hill and his family. But when it came down to it, Hill had the opportunity to save someone’s life. It was something he couldn’t pass up. He agreed to proceed with the procedure.

The Hill family made its way to Duke University Medical Center in Durham the Sunday before the

Photo submitted by Cam Hill Senior Cam Hill wears a halo in the hospital while undergoing a procedure to donate bone marrow. Hill was a perfect match for a 60-year-old woman who doctors say would have died without Hill’s marrow donation. planned donation day of Learn more about bone Feb. 6. That Monday, Hill marrow donation at was in the hospital from BeTheMatch.org. about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The process actually went very smooth,” Kelly Hill said. “When he walked out of the place that Monday and he got in the car, what he said to me was, ‘I just hope it works.’ So, although he doesn’t know who this person is, it meant something to him and he’s hoping that for her it’s successful.”

Cam expects to receive an update on his recipient’s condition in the coming weeks. If the process proves successful, he will also get the opportunity to meet her in exactly one year.

“We were told Cameron is her last hope,” Kelly said.

“And all we can hope is that in a year from now we can meet her and she is healthy and kickin’. That’s what we’re hoping for.”

As for right now, all there is to do is wonder about who this woman is. Worry about her condition. Hope she is OK. “Cameron has given hope to that other family. You start to think about both sides of it. You want to make sure everything is good for your child, but then you say, ‘Gosh, if it was me in that position, I would be so grateful for someone like Cameron,’ ” Kelly said. “It’s kind of been an eye-opener. What if I was in that position and I needed somebody’s bone marrow donation?

It makes you want to tell people about it so they can get out there and get swabbed or whatever they have to do to put their name in the registry.”

The process has changed the Hill family forever, especially Cam. “I’m more humble about things,” Hill said. “Life is precious. If someone were to help me in that situation, I would be so grateful.”

Senior Mary Pat Thompson can be reached at thompsonma1001@daretolearn.org. spring / / 2017

Students test the waters through internships

By Alex Rodman Staff Writer

O

n a typical school day, most First Flight students are seated in their fourth-period classrooms by 2 o’clock – entranced in a book, working diligently on their assignments or impatiently counting down the minutes until 3:15 p.m.

However, for several seniors, fourth period has taken on a new meaning as they travel to internship courses at local schools.

First Flight High School sponsors a variety of work-based learning activities that have been tailored to the individual desires of students.

Career Development Coordinator Jennie Rook oversees First Flight’s career development internship course, which places students in beneficial, hands-on environments.

“It’s an opportunity while you’re still in high school to get an in-depth look of a career area that you might be considering after high school,” Rook said. “It makes sense to kind of test the water now, rather than invest more time once you leave here. At a university, those things cost money.”

During the school week, senior Erin Limbacher assists her former fourth-grade teacher, Linda Hutton, in both science and social study courses at Kitty Hawk Elementary.

“I go to the fourth grade every day and grade papers, file them and just help Mrs. Hutton,” Limbacher said. “The best part is interacting with the kids. They are real sweet and cute and they’re so adorable. I think it has helped me learn a lot, because there are kids that aren’t as good as others that you have to learn to handle.”

Through the 150 hours of work time the internship requires, Limbacher reinforced her desire to pursue a degree in elementary education and also gained valuable experience in the career field.

“I think it helps a lot if you can intern in what you want to be,” Limbacher said. “It makes you decide whether you really want to do it or whether you don’t. It has educated me a lot, the way Mrs. Hutton has taught me to do stuff. I thought that maybe after I did it, I wouldn’t like teaching. But now I know I definitely do.”

Rook agreed that internships play an important role in guiding participants’ futures.

“Sometimes it solidifies a choice and then sometimes it helps you know that maybe that wouldn’t be a good fit for you,” Rook said. “It’s equally as valuable, whether you decide if it is something good or something not, it gives you the information to be able to make those decisions.”

Senior Hunter Crook also interns through the Dare County Schools system at First Flight elementary and middle schools. With plans to major in international affairs/education, Crook found it difficult to choose a program relevant to his desired career path.

“I want to major in international affairs or international education and around here, there’s not much international anything,” Crook said. “So the ESL department is kind of the closest to international education that we’ve got.“ Crook spends his fourth and fifth periods working as a student-teacher in ESL courses and aids several students in their math classes.

He believes that the internship provides useful real-world experience.

“It gets you out of school for half a day,”

Crook said with a laugh. “It also gives you a chance to see what it’s like to do something related to what you think you might do. I feel like everyone should have to do an internship because it is as close to a real job as you’re going to get until you’re actually at a real job. No class can prepare you for what they (the internships) are doing.”

Senior Samantha Allen also interns at First Flight Elementary. Though Allen remains unsure of her future plans, she welcomes the learning opportunities of her program.

“I work with second graders. I am split into two different classrooms – Ms. McGee and Ms. Lively,” Allen said. “I do intervention, where I basically work with the students that need extra help. I would like to work with children when I’m older, and having this internship really gives me the opportunity to explore my options.

Working around the students and teachers at FFES is really fun and so far I’ve learned a lot.”

Internships offer a skill set that is difficult to obtain in a classroom setting. Not only do they prepare students for their futures, but they can open doors to new opportunities and can give participants a leg up in a world of competition. “(USA Today said that) The most bankable thing that students could do for themselves is to get an internship,” Rook said. “That’s because it gives you one up over somebody else coming in without that experience. You can put that on a resume, you can put that on a job application, you can put that on scholarship applications.

The fact that you have committed yourself and done well in that type of experience can say a lot about you.”

Junior Alex Rodman can be reached at rodmanal0704@daretolearn.org.

Underclassmen are getting the upper hand

By Suzanne Harrison Staff Writer

W

alking into your hardest class of the day can be intimidating. Wondering if you passed the last test, if you had homework the night before, or hoping you won’t start a new lesson plan that day. Now imagine walking into your hardest class as an underclassman, surrounded by a sea of unfamiliar and older faces. For many at First Flight, this is a very real scenario.

First Flight Middle School began to introduce upper-level classes for their students two years ago. This resulted in more and more underclassmen taking advantage of this opportunity and ending up in advanced classes as freshmen.

Students were offered all different courses at the middle school, and did not have to walk over to the high school to attend classes.

Freshman Danielle Davalos is taking chemistry, Math II and English II. “I wanted to be ahead of everyone else and be more prepared for college,” Davalos said.

While Davalos does feel ahead of the game, being in a class with people you don’t recognize,

Nighthawk News Magazine / / news

she admits, is intimidating.

“It is strange, I don’t know anyone and that is kind of scary,” Davalos said.

She does not, however, let her fear get in the way of her learning: “I do feel the need to prove myself in a sense and show them what I can do and accomplish.”

Sophomore Jacy Copeland can relate to Davalos’ struggle when it comes to being nervous around people older than her.

“When I first started in my higher-level classes it was awkward because I didn’t know anyone. Then I began to open up and then I spread like a virus to everyone in the classroom,” Copeland said.

Copeland does sometimes doubt her ability when it comes to her education. “Sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t be in APUSH and AP Bio because I am an underclassman and because of the workload, but I try to justify myself.”

Even with lingering doubt about her readiness, Copeland says she has learned lots of beneficial tips and lessons from her upperclassmen friends.

“I’ve learned what to expect when applying to colleges, how to raise a GPA, ​and how to plan

out life after high school,” Copeland said.

Freshman Ethan White, however, feels differently when it comes to being surrounded by older students in a majority of his classes.

“I actually like the feeling of being in a class with mostly upperclassmen because they do see me as a minority,” White said. Since he took advantage of the higher-level classes in middle school, White had a lot of flexibility in his schedule.

“Because I came into high school with a few more credits, I just wanted to further my education, and because I had opportunities with classes like chemistry, I wanted to do what I felt I would like,” White said.

When he first began classes like physics however, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to stick it out.

“I came into physics thinking I was going to have to drop out because everything was thrown at me. I’m glad I kept with it, because it did work out in the end,” he said.

The payoff is worth it: “The pros come down to the fact that I will be more prepared for the future and I am ahead,” White said.

Junior Suzanne Harrison can be reached at harrisonsu0716@daretolearn.org.

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Every Rose has its thorns about leaving

T

By Byrde Wells Sports Editor

he college counselor. The young guy. The funny guy on Twitter. The meme in the hallways. The coolest person to grace First Flight’s hallways even though he’s only been here two years.

Despite his short tenure here, Seth Rose has made a name for himself at FFHS. However, his time here is coming to an end.

Rose got the opportunity to become a temporary college adviser for Dare County Schools through the University of North Carolina’s Carolina College Advising Corps program back in August of 2015, and now his two-year term is ending June 10. However, Rose still has his sights set on helping as many students as he can with their future, a goal he set early on in his college years.

“Initially I had a professor who was very involved within the school and she taught a class about higher education and the role of the university in American life,” Rose said. “She really knew about the employment opportunities for students afterwards and she introduced it to me around my sophomore year, and as I got to my senior year and was thinking more about what I wanted to do afterwards, I realized the Corps gave me an opportunity to do something I believed in where I could potentially make a difference.”

Rose graduated from UNC with a bachelor’s degree in political science and has used his time at Carolina Corps to help plan out his future and gain more experience.

“A lot of people my age graduating from UNC might not have the ability to go into political science or public policy,” Rose said. “The careers I want to do 10 years from now, they’re not hiring 22-yearolds.”

Rose said he wants to be involved with something oriented around public policy, to do “higher-level change-making” with organizations like the Equal Justice Initiative to change the conversations around race and poverty or the criminal justice systems.

The good news for students is that, while Rose is leaving, the Carolina College Advising Corps

8

will be back for a second year. Rose even got to take part in a “meet and greet” with about 20 candidates who are vying for positions in the next round of hirings for school districts across the state.

That replacement will have a tough act to follow. Quickly after arriving in Dare County, Rose became popular among students from First Flight and Manteo high schools and Cape Hatteras Secondary School. Students were able to connect with him easily due to his youth and sense of humor, making the college planning process an easygoing experience.

“Compared to a lot of adults that might’ve helped me, Rose was super approachable,” senior Dylan Owens said. “He’s only a couple years older than me. I feel like he really understands the youth and that has been very helpful.”

Rose is a fervent user of social media sites to help students be aware of college deadlines, news and scholarships. Some students have even made memes of Rose in order to increase his exposure.

“Mr. Rose asked me after the first one (meme) came out if I would keep doing it so kids would keep talking to him for college help,” senior Miller Cipriano said. “So I really worked it out with friends to get the meme thing going.”

Rose’s official job ends June 10, but his apartment lease ends Aug. 1. He has been looking around for a summer job to pick up for two months – even asking students – and also planning for his very open future.

“I haven’t been able to do the Outer Banks ‘summer thing,’ so I’m going to get some tourist-oriented job and I’m gonna enjoy the summer here,” Rose said. “Next year I’m not too sure.”

He’s been studying for the GRE, considering graduate school for public policy or law – “A lot of people stress out when going through changes, but I’m trying to enjoy the phase I’m in and the particular elements of my life that I won’t have later.”

Looking back on his two years here, there are many things Rose has grown to appreciate and things that he will miss. From walking the halls of three different schools every week and meeting a plethora of students, Rose will forever have

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Seth Rose gets his head shaved by members of the soccer team during an assembly in November. Making that bet, running an NCAA Tournament bracket and hosting a film club have made Rose a popular figure on campus. memories to look back on.

“I’ll for sure miss the students.

I’ll miss having the freedom of the job,” Rose said. “My mom would tell you when I was a kid I would hate going to school, but now I never feel that way. I’m given the ability to talk to students about what they’re going to do with their lives and they’re generally happy and excited to talk to me about it.

I get to joke around and not take myself seriously while still being effective. Most adults will tell you you won’t get that much in your life.”

Besides school-involved activities, Rose will also miss the community of the Outer Banks, which is a stark contrast to the city life of his hometown, Durham.

“I’ll miss the laidback atmosphere of the Outer Banks. I’ll probably move back to the city in a year. People are a lot harder and judgmental on you in the city,” Rose said. “The Outer Banks is very melancholy in the winter. I can go hang out by the water and be the only person in miles. I think the Outer Banks reminds you of how

small you are.”

Out of all the life lessons he learned working on the Outer Banks for two years, Rose believes the most important value he will carry with him into future endeavors comes from the students.

“To not assume things about people based on the projections they make around other high schoolers,” Rose said. “You never know what kid might be really brilliant, you never know what kid might be going through a lot at home. I’ve learned that the kids that we might celebrate in some ways for being top of their class might not necessarily make them the most successful or high-potential students. I meet a lot of kids who are incredible and really impressive for what they’ve been able to struggle through at home, and the fact that they’re even showing up at the end of the day is an accomplishment. I’ve learned to be more humble to approach every kid that comes into my office.”

Senior Byrde Wells can be reached at wellsje1210@daretolearn.org. spring / / 2017

Students get a glimpse into the world of health care

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By Ashlee Geraghty Staff Writer

dissatisfying to the eye. Eanes recalled her first time ever bringing back blood to the lab at the hospital.

“When nurses draw blood, the volunteer has to take it to the lab. When I took it for the first time, I dropped it and had to go back to the nurse and tell her I dropped it,” Eanes said.

Going into this experience with little to no training can be intimidating. However, the doctors, nurses and other members of the hospital staff offered answers to any questions the volunteers had.

“The doctors, the nurses, the surgeons, especially the physical therapy trainers, they all worked super well with me,” Celaj said.

Eanes believes that she wants to follow in the medical profession and make a career out of it, while Celaj is still deciding on her future profession. Whether or not they choose the medical field, both agree that this was a great experience, and the life lessons learned will benefit them no matter their plans for the future.

“I’m glad I’m getting the experience so that in the future I will know what I want to do,” Celaj said. “It taught me how to work in a fastpaced environment and work under pressure, and just do things adequately on time. Those are all things I will have to use in the future no matter what position I go into in life.”

Junior Ashlee Geraghty can be reached at geraghtyas0916@daretolearn.org.

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here was a bloody hand print on my shoulder for the rest of the day,” senior Dea Celaj said, recalling one of her most horrific memories volunteering at the Outer Banks Hospital over the summer.

“One time when I was just coming into the hospital there was a guy that came in with a bloody hand and it was super gross because it was dripping all over the place and he kind of grabbed me by the shoulder and was like, ‘I need to talk to someone,’ ” Celaj said.

Celaj and junior Hannah Eanes are some of the few First Flight students who took advantage of this experience. Celaj and Eanes both started volunteering at the hospital the summer after their freshman year.

With both of their moms working at the hospital, Celaj and Eanes had prior insight into the chaos that can come with this volunteer opportunity.

“My mom used to work at the hospital, so she kind of told me it would be a good opportunity for me to kind of gain more experience, and ever since then I’ve been volunteering every summer,” Celaj said.

The volunteer work involves tasks such as running errands for nurses and doctors, cleaning and setting up rooms for patients, helping

patients to their cars after surgery, and much more. Although it may not seem like much, the volunteers acknowledge the difference each task could make to someone else.

“After each patient left, I would depart with them and take them to their cars, and you don’t really think about how much of a difference you can make in someone’s life,” Celaj said. “They would all give me hugs and give me good wishes in life and tell me how much I’ve helped them and I thought maybe what I’m doing is more to them than it is to me, and that is really a good feeling.”

The unpaid volunteer work took a toll on Eanes’ summer income, as she also worked at Capt’n Franks.

“You can either work the 8 to 12 or the 12 to 4 shift. It is unpaid, so I worked also at Capt’n Franks,” Eanes said.

Knowing the difference she has made and being recognized for her hard work makes the job a lot easier for Eanes.

“It seemed like an opportunity that would be beneficial in the community, so I did it because I like helping people,” Eanes said.

Her hard work was also recognized by the rest of the staff at the hospital.

“We got rewards at the end of the program and I got the one for the most volunteer hours and it made me feel pretty good,” Eanes said.

The work at the hospital can also be very

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Nighthawks in the News

Photos by Michaela Kelly and Amy Wrenn/Nighthawk News Top: Senior Nina Perry signs to play soccer at Division III Meredith College in Raleigh.

Middle: Senior Ethan Smith signs to play football at Division II Chowan University in Chowan Bottom: Senior Gabby Midgett signs to play volleyball at Division III Brevard College in Brevard

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News District Poetry Out Loud finalists from Dare County pose after their event.

Poetry Out Loud is a competition where participants recite poetry in an expressive way. From left to right: teacher Amy Powell, Sarah Skinner, Lukas Lewis, Kiersten Lewis, Lindsay Simansky, Angela Anacleto, Yubin Kim and teacher Stephen Nichols. These six students went through rigorous practicing and memorization to win their school contests. Kiersten Lewis would go on to be one of the nine finalists in the North Carolina Poetry Out Loud competition.

10

Photo submitted by Susan Sawin The FFHS Model United Nations team sent 11 delegates to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a Model UN conference from Feb. 23-26.

MUNCH consisted of over 550 students from 40 schools. While there, Brooke Kelly and Victoria Tyson, representing Belgium, won Best Delegate in Special Topics - Terrorism. Sarah Skinner won Honorable Delegate for representing CNN in Press Corps. James Gillis, who portrayed Daniel R. Russel, received a Verbal Commendation in the ASEAN Regional Forum. The group also was named Best Small Delegation overall at MUNCH. Back row: Izzie Estes, Lawson Eldridge, Oscar Hernandez, Will McFarlane, Tommy Mahler; center: Charlotte Tyson, Sarah Skinner, Brady Creef, James Gillis, Susan Sawin; front: Victoria Tyson, Brooke Kelly.

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The naked truth about ‘nudes’

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By Grace Sullivan Staff Writer

don’t think I understood how serious it was,” said *Veronica Stevens, a student at First Flight, as she recalled the time she sent a nude photo to an older student she had been talking to. “I thought it was just a normal thing that people did. I trusted this guy, then word got out.”

It happened during middle school, which for Stevens was an odd time when she didn’t know what she wanted in life.

“All throughout my *The name childhood I didn’t want used in this to be cool, but in middle story has been school I thought ‘OK,’ time changed to proto try and be cool now,” vide anonymity she said. “I sent pictures and allow the to one guy, heard it was student to spreading, so I stopped. speak freely.

At that point it had gotten out, enough so I still have that reputation.”

Having grown from the incident, Stevens can speak wisely about the topic, although it’s not something she likes to talk about.

“I think people send nudes because they don’t understand how important and serious it is,” Stevens said. “The other half to that, though, is that it is their body, and they can do as they please. They may not care if the picture gets spread around.”

Something that Stevens is very passionate about is the fact social media makes everything accessible to students.

With Snapchat, a social media app used for sending pictures or videos that disappear after a certain amount of time, about 13 percent of users have said they specifically have the app just to send nudes or explicit photos. A 2014 study published about sexting in general – not just on Snapchat – at DoSomething.org reported that 24 percent of high-school age teens and 33 percent of college-age students have been involved in a form of sexting, which is defined by the U.S. court system as “an act of sending sexually explicit materials through mobile phones.”

“I feel like social media has desensitized us,” Stevens said. “Traditionally, seeing someone naked was before having any sexual interaction, and now it’s not as personal. The idea of seeing someone naked used to be a big deal, and in today’s age it’s almost like a normal thing.”

The study also showed that teen girls send explicit photos for a variety of reasons: 40 percent do it as a joke, 34 percent “to feel sexy,” and 12 percent because they feel pressured to do so. Stevens recalled sending her nudes primarily to try to fit in.

“I definitely think girls can be pressured more than guys to send them. They don’t think that they are being pressured. They think this boy really cares about them and it’s really important to him, but in reality a lot of the time it’s not that important or special,” she explained.

Even years later, Stevens still receives nude Nighthawk News Magazine / / features

Illustration by Gabrielle Sullivan/Special to Nighthawk News photos from peers. It’s to the point that she can just laugh about it now.

“I have people just send me stuff all the time. I’ll be in the grocery store and then it just pops up on my phone,” Stevens said. “They expect something back, and every time I say no.

It’s actually kind of funny to me when guys still try and ask, because hey, they’re giving it their all!”

Talk of nudes often centers around girls sending photos to boys, but statistics – and Stevens’ own experience – show that boys are just as likely to sext.

“I think a guy sending nudes isn’t as big as a deal as girls sending them. It’s just considered a guy thing. That mentality stems from the idea that men and women aren’t equal still, even if in some things they are treated equal but it’s not always the case. Especially in more sexual context, the girl will receive more negative feed-

back than guys,” Stevens said. “The phrase ‘boys can’t control themselves, boys will be boys, etc.’ is something you hear all the time, and maybe people should start looking at it from both the guy and the girl’s perspective.”

Even with the stigma of having sent nude photos still following her around, Stevens today mainly focuses on one thing: educating her sibling.

“I explain to them how serious it is, and how I feel it’s not taken as seriously as it needs to be. You are in your most vulnerable state (in a nude photo), and for it to pop up in a 10-second picture is crazy,” Stevens said. “That is such a significant problem, how ordinary and regular it is to see a nude photo. These photos are thrown around like nothing, when they are the most raw and exposed a human could be.”

Sophomore Grace Sullivan can be reached at sullivangr1129@daretolearn.org.

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Athletes of their own kind challenge their minds

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By Julia Bachman Staff Writer

very year, local schools take the students who excel in math to competitions. This year, the competitions will take place at Chowan University and Elizabeth City State University at the end of March.

Last year, First Flight took a bus full of mathletes to Chowan and about 45 Manteo students joined. Currituck also competes at events that easily include 500 students from different private and public schools. The N.C. School of Science and Math kids also compete.

The students who compete in the math competitions are dedicated. They attend practices and compete to qualify for states. To prepare, many work on previous tests and then on strategies.

“It challenges the upper-level math students and it looks good for them,” math teacher Ellen Lowe said.

Reviewing methods and tactics that aren’t necessarily taught in a class are good to know for the competition.

“In year’s past, I haven’t pre-

Photo submitted by Lori Douglas Juniors Crewe Douglas (from left), Emma Bancroft and Quinn Douglas show off shirts at one of last year’s math competitions. FFHS has a number of successful ‘mathletes.’ pared at all, but this year Mr. (Samuel) DeWitt gave us review packets that we have to complete,” explained sophomore Cecilia Cortez. “During Empower Time on Thursdays we go to Mr. DeWitt’s room and work on our packets.”

There are many levels of math students who participate in this event, from comprehensive calculus, statistics and precalculus to Math 1, 2 and 3.

“My least favorite part of the competition was taking the test.

The tests are really hard and I don’t know how to do a lot of the problems,” Cortez said.

Students from FFHS get up early and travel to the host school for orientation, then see what the test is going to be like. For an hour and a half they take a paper and pencil test with no calculator. The test consists of out-of-the-box questions that force students to apply the skills they know.

“It is entertaining and you push yourself, plus it helps the kids

with their academic transcripts for colleges, especially if you place,” DeWitt said.

People arrive and someone high-ranking speaks for a minute, then everybody splits up into groups to take their exams with people from other schools. The teachers drink coffee and get a copy of the test and discuss it as the students take it. Everyone has lunch together and then the awards ceremony takes place.

There are high place winners and overall school group winners.

Usually the award is a plaque, and those who do well at regionals get to go to states.

“Some people go for the experience, some people go to compete,” Lowe said.

Beyond expanding and testing their knowledge of math, students also enjoy time spent together.

“The drive up and the drive back, just being on the bus and having a good time with friends is my favorite part,” sophomore Cassidy Joyce said. “After the test is a lot of fun, because we get to walk around the campus.”

Sophomore Julia Bachman can be reached at bachmanju@daretolearn. org.

Tiny specimens, big impact for Peterson at CSI

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By Sarah Skinner Opinions Editor

ilter. Sonicate. Centrify. Calculate. Repeat. While many students are staring at the clock, willing the 3:15 bell to ring, senior Mikayla Peterson is taking down data and preparing her laboratory equipment.

Since the beginning of the school year, she’s spent several afternoons a week as an intern at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) in Wanchese.

“I have a small independent project,” said Peterson, whose work is focused on monitoring water conditions in the Albemarle Sound. “I measure how much chlorophyll A is in the water, and through that and a math equation, find out how much phytoplankton is in the water.”

Phytoplankton are microscopic marine plants, so tiny that most cannot be seen with the human eye. They drift throughout the seas, providing the base level for marine ecosystems as food for vast quantities of organisms and oxygen providers through photosynthesis. Though they can be harmful in excessive quantities, many creatures could not survive without them.

As such, Peterson’s work is vital in a community that is based so heavily on marine industry.

It also provides hope for even more industrial growth in the future. “Another purpose is to

12

decide whether or not these areas of the sound could be used for aquaculture,” Peterson said.

Her contact, Joey Daniels, provides water samples from possible locations for rearing seafood.

“These are leases that he wants to put farms into,” Peterson said. “He wants to put oysters there, and if there isn’t enough phytoplankton, which is what oysters eat, you can’t have a productive farm.”

Three to four times each week, she makes the trip to the research facility. Two days of that are spent preparing her samples for analysis.

First, she runs the water samples through filters and then exposes them to high-frequency sound waves.

“These sonic waves are so high-pitched that they break apart the phytoplankton and release chlorophyll A,” Peterson explained.

The next afternoon, she places the sonified samples into a centrifuge, whose rapid spinning separates the densest particles in the water: “Then I run it through a machine called a spectrophotometer,” Peterson said. “It sends out different wavelengths (of light) and measures how much of it is absorbed by the sample.”

Different chlorophyll pigments will absorb different amounts, giving Peterson data for calculation. “You can plug in the amount absorbed to an equation, and end up with the actual amount of phytoplankton in the water,” she said.

Though Peterson works with an adviser – Dr. Lindsay Dubbs – her assignment is largely individual. “It’s an independent project,” Peterson said. “Whether I succeed or fail is up to me.”

Peterson’s data will be used in the future for other scientists’ research at CSI. She first became involved with the research last year, when she job-shadowed at both CSI and Jennette’s Pier. Peterson was then offered the full internship at CSI. For Peterson, this internship is the first step toward her career goals. With few options for research on the Outer Banks, she made the most of her surroundings. “I definitely want to do lab work in general. I wanted the chemistry and the lab experience,” Peterson said. “I’d like to go into some sort of pathology. That’s a more human-based lab work, but the tech still transfers.”

This lab experience has not only provided a foundation for her future plans, but introduced her to role models as well. “I work with a bunch of brilliant women there,” Peterson said.

“Obviously there are men there as well, but the women are in the same place and they are treated just the same. It’s kind of nice, to see that women can succeed and go just as far up the ladder.”

Senior Sarah Skinner can be reached at skinnersa0619@daretolearn.org. spring / / 2017

Lauren Shelton travels to lend a helping hand

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By Trinity Harrison Staff Writer

or 10 days, freshman Lauren Shelton traveled to the poverty-stricken country of Rwanda to share the feeling of love and to give aid to those less fortunate. During this trip she experienced the extremity of poverty and the misfortune of the helpless orphans.

Every year, Duck United Methodist Church sponsors orphans of the Ruhango community in the East African nation of Rwanda. Their main goal is to give the orphans information and teachings to be successful on their own without relying on charity. After the country experienced genocide, many families were left without homes and children were left without families. Due to this, many Rwandan citizens hold contempt for the orphans because they are not self-sufficient.

“Everybody hates them because they are orphans. Their parents either died or just couldn’t raise them,” Shelton said.

ZOE (Zimbabwe Orphans Endeavor) was founded in 2004 by the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. ZOE helps provide orphans with skills such as growing their own food and learning basic health and hygiene and enrolling the children in education programs. The program donates $350 for each orphan to go through a three-year program to learn various skills.

“We visited the orphans who had graduated and they showed us what they had done with what we had given them,” Shelton said. “Some of them were selling pineapples and bread that they had made and planted.”

The money is not given directly to the orphans; therefore, it is not a charity. The program provides them with lessons on how to grow crops, make clothes and start small businesses. With help from this program, participants are able to learn skills that will allow them to provide for themselves.

In 2010 44.9 percent of citizens were living below the poverty line in Rwanda according to Worldbank. org,. With starvation being a prominent issue among the population, the orphans are unable to adequately sustain themselves with proper nutrients.

“This one girl that was 13, she

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Photo submitted by Lauren Shelton Children at an orphanage in Rwanda visit with Lauren Shelton during her mission trip to the African nation earlier this year. was really small and she looked like she was 7 because she was so malnourished,” Shelton said.

“Orphans don’t eat but like once or twice a week before they went into the program, and this has made me just so grateful for what I have.”

The thousands of orphans in Rwanda had been separated from their families for a variety of reasons.

“There was one girl who was telling her story and her dad had died and her mom, because the kids reminded her of her husband, said she never wanted to see them again and left them,” Shelton said.

Along with malnutrition and broken families, the orphans of Rwanda are living in houses that are dilapidated.

“The buildings were made out of mud, dirt and clay and there weren’t very many tall buildings in the cities. There were not paved roads – they were all dirt roads,” Shelton said.

Along with all the infrastructural and economic instability, the issues in Rwanda go much deeper.

Once in the program, the orphans tell their stories and give reasons on why they are perfect candidates for the help.

“When they were telling us their testimonies they were breaking down and they couldn’t get through because they were so depressed,” Shelton said. “There was this one girl, when she was telling

her story, she got through about 10 seconds of it before she started crying. She couldn’t say anything because she was crying so hard and it was really sad.”

Even with their unfortunate pasts, the orphans still find things in life that give them a sense of happiness and accomplishment.

“We visited one guy and he had a store and a little sitting area and he was selling drinks and food,” Shelton said. “The man had a bike and he was proud of it. If you have a bike, you pretty much have a lot of money.”

The program strives to create better lives for these orphans and give them the tools to achieve a level of self-success. Providing them with love and support that they would not have if it weren’t for the help of this organization is something that they need in order to succeed.

“We made little paintings and put their fingerprints all over it like a tree. And we hung that up in our church,” Shelton said.

This life-changing experience has made Shelton look at things in a new light and reflect on things in her own life. With plans to go on trips like this in the future, Shelton wishes to share the feeling of love and continue to permanently impact the lives of those less fortunate in positive ways.

Sophomore Trinity Harrison can be reached at harrisontr0314@ daretolearn.org.

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13

Secret talents stun students

By Hunter Haskett Staff Writer

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he halls of First Flight are home to a unique group of people. With the normal, everyday rush you may not even stop to notice the different talents of the people around you.

Some students, like junior Braxton Hughes, are well known for their special skills and hobbies. In Hughes’ case, language is his forte.

He’s almost fluent in Spanish and is currently learning Italian.

“When I was a kid I was always interested in language,” Hughes said. “I would always think about being able to speak to other people, like pretend I was speaking a language even though I wasn’t.”

Though his love for language began at a young age, it was not until middle school that his skills began to surface.

“In eighth grade I was like, ‘I feel like I can teach myself how to do this,’ so I just started practicing,” Hughes said. “I have friends who speak Spanish. I just kept speaking and speaking and speaking and started remembering vocabulary and now I’m pretty fluent in it.”

Speaking to someone in their native language is important to Hughes.

“What really got me into it, I saw this quote, this was for people that speak other languages, ‘If you speak to someone in your language it goes to their mind, but if you speak to them in their language it goes to their heart,’” Hughes said.

Sisters Victoria and Charlotte Tyson’s possess a talent that isn’t as well known. The Tysons both play the harp.

“I play a big pedal harp, it’s probably about six feet tall at its tallest, and it’s beautiful,” sophomore Charlotte said. “It has gold leaf on it and has this cute little crown thing on top.”

The Tysons began their musical journey when their mother received a harp for her birthday.

“We didn’t really have time for her to learn, but somehow we had time for us to take lessons,” senior Victoria said. “So we started learning instead and we just kind of have played ever since.”

Despite playing for such a long time, Charlotte hasn’t always loved playing the impressive instrument; however, she has come to appreciate it.

“It wasn’t until the past year or two that I really started to like the harp,” Charlotte said. “I started playing music that I liked and I found music that I was actually interested in playing, and that sparked my interest in keeping playing it.”

Playing such a unique instrument has its downfalls. Despite the harp’s challenges, Victoria acknowledges that it’s a fun way to connect with other musicians.

“Music is a cool way to connect and relate with people and then compare your instruments and talk about what you like and what you don’t,” Victoria said. “It’s just a cool thing to know, and I’m grateful I’ve had the opportunities to do that.”

While playing the harp isn’t new to them, the Tysons say the reactions they get when people do find out are priceless.

“I’ve had someone tell me they didn’t know it was real,” Charlotte said.

While the Tyson family talent is musical, junior Kira Foster’s talent comes with yarn and hooks. Her aunt taught her how to crochet when she was little, and since then, she’s advanced to bigger projects like scarves and unique Christmas gifts.

“My great-grandmother passed away and she used to crochet everyone Christmas dish cloths, so now I’m doing what she’s doing, making everyone Christmas dish cloths,” Foster said.

Besides keeping up the family tradition, Foster enjoys her hobby because it’s something to do while she is relaxing. Although her friends jokingly call her a grandma, she continues to enjoy crocheting.

These exceptional talents are just a few of the many that First Flight students have to offer.

It’s these talents that set people apart and continue their learning outside of the classroom. Share your secret talent with us online at NighthawkNews.com!

Sophomore Hunter Haskett can be reached at hasketthu0318@daretolearn.org. spring / / 2017

Opening the hidden door to a modern-day speakeasy

By Caroline Jenkins Staff Writer

W

hether you have read “The Great Gatsby” or are a fan of “Scooby Doo,” a secret door bookshelf will be sure to catch your attention.

Recently, an intriguing addition to the plethora of mouth-watering restaurants on the OBX popped up.

Based off a modern-day speakeasy, Ross Renfrow created a restaurant that is anything but ordinary.

“Someone really smart once told me, ‘Create a concept for a location and not try and shove a concept into a location,’ so that whole idea was kind of born based on the building that we were trying to put this restaurant in,” Renfrow said.

This unique eatery is meant to recreate and envoke feelings of being in a 1920s speakeasy. English 3 teacher Sharon Crane is very familiar with the topic because of her teaching on Gatsby.

“Speakeasies were started back during Prohibition, when the 18th Amendment said that businesses couldn’t sell or distribute, couldn’t even produce alcohol,” Crane said.

This eventually led to the illegal distribution of alcohol in “secret rooms”, where those who wished to go against the law congregated.

For the restaurant, Renfrow desired a picturesque scene based off images from “The Great Gatsby.”

“I kept having these great visions of people in the ‘20s dancing and drinking spirits and wine and dining, and seeing basically a scene

Photos by Michaela Kelly/Nighthawk News New restaurant Grandstaff & Stein Book Sellers features fun elements that take guests back to the Roaring ’20s fans in a blast-from-the-past atmosphere. out of ‘The Great Gatsby,’ and that’s how the concept was born,” Renfrow said.

Grandstaff & Stein Book Sellers is a family friendly eatery located at 2003 Croatan Hwy in Kill Devil Hills and is open Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 2 a.m. It replaced the Flying Fish.

Whether you’re coming for the unique experience, looking to be transported back in time, or are a foodie who loves great dishes, this present day speakeasy has its secret door ready to be opened.

“Grandstaff & Stein is a modern yet elegant flashback from a hundred years ago,” said Renfrow, who also created a similar experience in Richmond, Virginia, with his first Grandstaff & Stein.

“The building (in Richmond) really lended itself to the Prohibition

era. It was lots of brick and wood and used to be the commissary for the old Richmond prison,” Renfrow said. “The building was beautiful and it needed something reminiscent of the time that is was in use, maybe just in a different way.”

The secret door feature is a fan favorite for Renfrow’s customers, who have to say the password to gain entry through the bookcase.

But he didn’t always count on it being such a crowd pleaser.

“It was difficult because we didn’t know how it was going to function with a busy establishment and guests coming in and out, with the codes putting restrictions on it,” he said. “After we nailed it the first time it seemed as if that was one of the big draws to the establishment. We would’ve never guessed people would have loved that so much.”

Renfrow is truly focused on an enjoyable experience for all his customers. He finds joy in his job and thrives in the restaurant business.

“I love this industry because it makes me feel good to come into one of my restaurants and see everyone enjoying themselves and smiling and having a good time.

It makes all the hard work worthwhile,” Renfrow said. “I feel like eating and drinking brings people together and that gets lost so much in the everyday hustle and bustle, that people forget to actually enjoy themselves when they go out. That’s why I’m thrilled to be a part of an industry where we can actually provide an experience for people that they will remember.”

Sophomore Caroline Jenkins can be reached at jenkinsca0616@daretolearn.org.

Prom season’s Project Glam Girls is back again

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By Koral Tucker Staff Writer

he Project Glam Girls boutique will be returning to the Outer Banks for the third year. The boutique is set up once a year so that students can go and pick out what they want for free, all from a selection of dresses, suits, tuxedos, jewelry and purses.

Project Glam Girls helps ensure that every student walks out the door with everything they need to have a memorable prom.

Founder Quinn Capps started it just three years ago when she decided she finally wanted to put it together after coming up with the idea a few years back. “The first boutique was put together in less than a month and we served about 20 girls from Dare and Currituck counties,” Capps said.

Last year, they were able to serve approxiNighthawk News Magazine / / features

mately 100 students from both counties with over 300 new and gently used dresses, shoes, purses and accessories to choose from.

“As a young girl going to prom, I didn’t have the money to spend that other girls had, so it made it hard to go. With Project Glam Girls, I didn’t want anybody to feel that way,and being able to help young people is a passion of mine,” Capps said.

The project is run completely by volunteers, and donations are accepted from all individuals in the community who wish to help. Students can shop on their own or with their own personal style consultant: “A lot of times when people come through the door, you can tell they are nervous. That soon all disappears when a personal shopper starts helping them,” Capps said.

Parents love the event, too.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to watch them pick

out dresses, try them on, look in the mirror, and you can tell they feel beautiful. The mothers that come are overwhelmed and can’t believe that it’s really free,” Capps said.

The boutique has had many positive comments from parents in the past few years it was held. Donna Griffin and her daughter attended the event last year and loved it.

“The girls are treated like rock stars and all leave smiling and feeling gorgeous. What a tremendous relief to Dare families,” Griffin said.

The event will take place on Friday, March 17, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, March 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church. Donations can be dropped off at Atlantic Realty in Kitty Hawk and Nags Head, Downtown Books in Manteo, and the Outer Banks Association of Realtors in Nags Head.

Sophomore Koral Tucker can be reached at tuckerko0523@daretolearn.org.

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‘Colors in the Darkness’ brings light to refugee children in third-world countries

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By Blair Smith Staff Writer

ophomore Sofia Dick will be carrying more in her luggage than just clothes and a passport. She will be carrying a light of hope and a future to the refugee children in war-torn countries.

Dick got an email from AFS (American Field Service), an “Intercultural Program” that helps students study abroad. She learned about an upcoming project she could enter focused on helping children overseas. Contestants in the program had to write an essay or make a video describing how they could try to bring peace to war-torn countries.

“A long time ago, I made an account on the AFS website because I was thinking about going on one of their travel abroad programs,” Dick said. “I received an email from them about a contest they were having called ‘Project: Change’ and I became interested in it.”

She wrote an essay titled “Colors in the Darkness” about bringing music and arts to the refugee children in war-torn countries.

“I have always wanted to become a humanitarian,” Dick said.

The judging process was completed through an online voting system. If contestants were voted into the top 200, the AFS judges would then pick the best one and make winners’ dreams happen. Out of around 720 entries, Dick rose to the top and made it into the 200 finalists with 220 votes on her project.

Lauren Deal, one of Dick’s teachers, learned that she was participating in the contest and wanted to help her get the votes.

“I posted the link for Sofia on my Facebook and Twitter, and emailed it to the faculty and told them what it was about,” Deal said.

After being asked to read over Dick’s project, Deal was one happy English teacher.

“I was really proud. I already knew Sofia was a compassionate and thoughtful person.

Reading it just proved that to me again,” Deal said.

Before beginning the process, Dick thought non-stop about what she wanted to write about.

“The writing process took two-and-a-half full days,” Dick said. “I did nothing but think

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Photo by Ben Tran/ Nighthawk News Sophomore Sofia Dick plays the violin, a passion that helped inspire her essay idea called ‘Colors in the Darkness’ that could bring light into the lives of children impacted by war. about my essay and how I should go about writing it, keeping in mind the criteria needed to win the contest.”

Dick received a remarkable amount of support throughout the contest and voting process.

“I got a lot of my friends, family and teachers to vote for me every day, which I’m very thankful for,” she said.

Her father worked with refugees while he was in the military, and his stories inspired her to become a humanitarian. She also explained that her father provided clean water to the people of Rwanda during the Rwandan genocide.

“After bringing in the purification system, the death rates dropped from 10,000 to 1,000 deaths per day,” Dick said.

She hopes that her essay idea will help the refugee children to find a passion and to find an outlet after all the trauma they have experienced. “ It allows (the refugee children) to be able

to develop a passion,” Dick said. “And cope with the experiences that they’ve had in the midst of a civil war or losing loved ones.”

Playing violin helped Dick realize what she wanted to write about. She has been playing the violin for about seven years.

“Music and arts allows people to express themselves and has been proven to be therapeutic for anyone who has experienced trauma,” Dick said. “Music and arts reaches out to people from all walks of life. For me, it is a passion. For someone else, it could be a light of hope and a means of coping after experiencing something traumatic.”

The judges panel is still deciding on the winners of the contest. If the judges choose her project, then Dick can bring “color” into dark and depressing refugee camps while helping these children find their passion.

Sophomore Blair Smith can be reached at smithas0621@daretolearn.org.

spring / / 2017

StageKraft works overtime to put on successful ‘9 to 5’ show

Photos by Ben Tran/Nighthawk News The spring musical ‘9 to 5’ featured Mary Pat Thompson (top left), Sara Cook and Miles Kasten (above), Nicole Castano (left), and a cast of rowdy males that included (from left) Oscar Hernandez, Zane Fish, Christian DeMarco, Jacob Poli, Luke Potter, Evan Fish, Quinn Ratti and Noah Miller. Members of the drama department worked tirelessly to bring this story of empowerment to the stage.

Nighthawk News Magazine / / features

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Press play with these students’ YouTube careers

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By Mack Doebler Online Editor

eclining behind a computer after a long and laborious day of school; Late on a Thursday night staring into the bright screen of your new iPhone from beneath the safety of your bed sheets; Maybe even while relaxing during a free period trying to catch something cool before your next class; Chances are you’re watching YouTube. For some students, watching was not enough and they chose to jump right into making videos for this iconic platform.

“When I first started watching, when I was around nine or ten years old, I would watch people like Pewdiepie and Markiplier, people like that,” junior Conner Day said.

These influences lead Conner down the path of making Let’s Plays, videos where he plays video games and gives commentary on the game.

This is one of the most popular forms entertainment on YouTube and mostly began with the superstardom of Pewdiepie in 2012, around the same time that senior Parker Banks got started.

“It was a pretty fun platform,” Banks said. “It was what I liked to watch and at the same time, a fun way to stimulate myself creatively while also doing what I like to do, play games.”

For Junior Noah Miller, the inspirations were a little different.

He began watching YouTube with vloggers like Shane Dawson and Jenna Marbles, YouTube originals who rose to stardom post Smosh and Pre Pewdiepie.

“When I was 12, I didn’t have many friends. I wasn’t very popular so I started watching YouTube and I was very inspired by it and so I decided I should do this too because I like attention and people looking at me,” Miller said.

As they began, Miller, Day and Banks all saw first hand how stressful producing videos can be. Working out the kinks to form an efficient video making system while also maintaining solid grades is never easy.

“I’ve kind of had to flip up my whole schedule where I’d record the night before, edit for part of the night and then edit the rest the next day,” Day said. “Now, it’s just like Sunday night I record a ton of videos and edit all night to have

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Photo by Ben Tran/Nighthawk News Junior Noah Miller (front) and senior Parker Banks browse the YouTube home page, launching point of thousands of videos at the fingertips of millions of users. Miller and Banks are among several FFHS students to gain popularity on channels they run. them ready the next day. I’m up, I’m recording from about eight at night and editing until about one or two in the morning.”

For Miller, the response to his work was to adjust his content to be more flexible.

“I used to do more things that are more edited and put together more, but recently I started sitting there,” Miller said. “I sit there for like 40 minutes talking and eating.

Pretty boring.”

Although he kids it’s entertainment value, long form videos are growing in popularity on YouTube and are an effective way to make decent ad revenue. Miller tries to keep it interesting with discussion topics.

“Usually I start out by talking about stuff that’s in the news. Pop culture stuff, celebrities and I react to it in my own way. Then I’ll read comments which are usually pretty disgusting. I just talk about whatever is going on in my life,” Miller said.

As views start to come in, analytics become very important. The little numbers can say a lot.

“My watchtime range between three to seven minutes because I upload five to ten minute videos depending on what game I’m playing. One time I got one dislike and I thought it was the end of the world, now I’m just like, ‘Whatever’” Day said.

Miller uses the system in a pret-

ty similar way.

“I pay attention to analytics because if I try something new, like I’ve been uploading the longer videos, I pay attention to it to see if people are watching it if they are interested in it. Not very many people are but because it’s such a longer video the ad revenue, it gets more ads, and that produces more revenue for me,” Miller said.

And as the months roll on and become years, sometimes the desire for internet stardom fades away.

“I lost the drive to do so, really that’s mostly it. I just found that with my experience level and lack of technology I wasn’t able to put out something I’d be proud of,” Banks said.

Eventually Banks tapered off his videos and halted production altogether, but he holds out hope for a return to the platform.

“I have plans in the works for a sort of show to do, but not really any gaming videos or anything,” Banks said, “It probably won’t ever end up coming out because of my perfectionist nature, I won’t want to put it out unless it’s perfect.

But if I do it it’s probably gonna be silly because that’s how me and my friends are.”

In fact, it seems a big part of being a YouTuber is planning for the future and always trying to produce better content, at least for Miller.

“I do want to start getting back into the swing of doing high quality videos and shorter videos because nobody wants to see me chewing into my camera,” Miller said.

Day continues to upload videos and has set goals for 2017 to push himself and his platform to do good things.

“So far I’ve raised I think 123 dollars for Childhood Leukemia foundation and another charity I can’t remember the name of at the moment. I’m trying to raise a thousand dollars this year and reach a thousand subscribers. I’m at 326 (Subscribers) last time I checked,” Day said.

Perhaps next time you are watching YouTube from your couch on a smart TV application or at a friends house waiting for a freezer isle pizza to be ready, you’ll think of Miller, Day and Banks.

Senior Mack Doebler can be reached at doeblerma0930@daretolearn.org. spring / / 2017

Elite dancers turned Elevated Artists

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By Arabella Saunders Features Editor

ositioned in the center backstage wing, breath held, body tense, Victoria Hobbs watches as her dancers glide across the stage. Immersed in melody and emotion, the dancers convene in center stage for their first lift.

As Scout Landry’s sky-blue dress rises above a sea of white chiffon, Hobbs raises a trembling hand to wipe away welling tears. The music fades. The crowd erupts into applause. Her dancers rush off stage. Embracing the girls in a group hug, the young choreographer swells with pride.

“It was extremely surreal and also amazing,” Hobbs said. “I was tearing up the whole time because I was so proud of the girls performing my choreography because they expressed better than I imagined.”

Accompanied by fellow senior Raven Ruff and juniors Lauren Kerlin, Michaela Kelly and Anna Barrett, Hobbs is one of five student-choreographers participating in Outer Banks Elite Dance Academy’s Elevated Artist program. The program is tailored toward advanced students who have expressed a desire to pursue dance after high school and grants the dancers the opportunity to take their original choreography to competition.

“It was started because we wanted to see the progression of each of the dancers as choreographers,” Elite co-owner Simone Endres said. “If girls really want to see what it’s like from both sides – as a choreographer and as a dancer – this is one way to expand their knowledge.”

In addition to choreography, Elevated Artists are guided through music editing, lighting, staging and costuming. Responsible for all aspects of their dance as well as their dancers, each choreographer is faced with a unique array of challenges.

“I remember when I first started choreographing, it was really difficult,” Ruff said.” I would get stuck on a lot of parts and I would get kind of worried that I wouldn’t be able to make anything out of it. But the biggest challenge was probably getting steps that everyone would be able to do. ” Between varying age groups and skill levels, student-choreographers have had to overcome the obstacle of teaching girls with strengths and weaknesses very different from their own.

Although these challenges have yielded periods of frustration, they have also allowed Elevated Artists to better understand their own teachers’ vexation throughout the years.

“I have sort of taken on my teachers’ perspectives and assumed that frustration with the students at some points when they’re not doing the dance full out, or they’re not paying attention in class,” Kerlin said. “I think it’s impacted me very positively because I’ve realized those frustrations of my teachers, so it’s made me perform better in class.”

Just as Kerlin found empathy in moments of aggravation, other student-choreographers Nighthawk News Magazine / / features

Photo by Michaela Kelly/Nighthawk News Young dancer Riley Rollinson shows off her skills as she leaps in the air during a dance class. have welcomed the many benefits that accompany the Elevated Artist program.

“It’s been a good lesson that just because things don’t work out the way that you initially want them to doesn’t mean that you just give up,” Ruff said. “You can’t just give up when you’re teaching a piece to little kids. If you give up, then they’re never going to try for you.”

Spending Friday nights running rehearsal and ensuring their dancers’ readiness on competition mornings, Elevated Artists have formed close bonds with the girls they teach. Not only do their students see them as teachers, but many choreographers have also taken on the persona of role models.

“I’ve definitely seen it firsthand when I’m in there just observing, when they ask questions and they’re looking up to an older dancer or a fellow dancer and they are respecting them,” Endres said. “I see it with Lauren, just with little compliments they give, and with Raven. I see Raven take on this kind of motherly role and she’s very caring and they see that, but when she means business, she means business. They really respect that in her.”

Granting a new meaning to competition season, the program fosters a sense of camaraderie between young choreographers and their students and also aides Elevated Artists in their regular-season classes.

“I definitely feel like the choreographers become more dedicated in their other classes,” co-owner Sabrina Hassell said. “I think they learn a lot about themselves in the process.

They learn where their strengths are and how to communicate with (their) dancers. They learn about how to become better dancers just from watching other dancers.”

Although each Elevated Artist has experienced moments of doubt and irritation throughout the program, they agree that brief periods of negativity are meaningless in comparison to the feeling of seeing their choreography performed

Photo by Michaela Kelly/Nighthawk News As an experienced dancer of 17 years, senior Victoria Hobbs teaches her younger students choreography for a competition dance. for the first time, or the connections they have fostered with other dancers.

“I think it is such a unique program to have on the Outer Banks. I haven’t heard of anything like it from other dance studios on the beach,” Kerlin said. “It gives young adults the opportunity to take on leadership roles that will not only help them in the dance field, but will help us throughout the rest of our lives. I just want to thank Mrs. Simone and Mrs. Sabrina for giving me this opportunity because it’s just so cool.”

Junior Arabella Saunders can be reached at saundersar0214@daretolearn.org.

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spring / / 2017

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Nighthawks show their talents Photos by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Shown in the top left image, sophomore Kamea Blake sings and plays a song that earns her ďŹ rst place in the 2017 Talent Show. At bottom left, senior Ross Getek and sophomore Grace Hook perform a duet featuring the ukulele. Christian Eberhard (bottom center) puts on a humorous magic act that catches the attention of everyone in the audience. At center, the contestants in the show receive a standing ovation from the audience. Above, a group of students plays a song by Snarky Puppy. Below, teacher Joe Tyson and senior Joshua Holland perform a duet that captures the hearts of the audience.

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FOR Club enjoys success in scholarship fundraiser

By Kristen Applebaum Staff Writer

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s a new tradition at First Flight High School, a scholarship will be awarded to a senior who is interested in taking on a career as a science teacher to honor Danielle James, who passed away last year after a battle with breast cancer. Both staff and students have hopes that this scholarship will help honor her for many years.

In memory of James’ life and work, a few teachers at First Flight High School decided to get together and create this scholarship to continue her legacy as a beloved science teacher. Lisa Wheless is one of those involved in the fundraising for the scholarship.

“My FOR Club (Friends of Rachel) is organizing this fundraiser.

The club works to make others feel wanted and accepted, which aligns exactly with how Mrs. James lived her life,” Wheless said.

So far, there has been an over-

whelming reaction to the scholarship. This year, the FOR Club exceeded its goal to raise $500 and ended up receiving over $800 in donations.

“This year I’ve gotten email after email from teachers saying how much they support the scholarship and thanking us for doing it,” Wheless said. “I could not be more proud of my FOR Club and all the students and staff who donated.”

Wheless plans to expand the potential this scholarship brings out by introducing new scholarships in the future.

“We’re hoping we can add another local scholarship for our students to help them pay for college and to make sure that the memory of Mrs. James is carried on,” Wheless said.

Any senior who wishes to apply for the scholarship can fill out the application that was shared with them on Feb. 23 and bring it into the guidance office by March 24. A scholarship committee will review

Photo by Michaela Kelly/Nighthawk News Junior Meghan Savona takes a moment at the fundraiser table set up by the Friends of Rachel Club to collect donations for the Danielle James Scholarship Fund. More than $800 was raised this year. all the applicants and make the final decision of who earns the scholarship.

On May 16 at Senior Scholarship Night, the recipient will accept a check that will go toward their college expenses.

“She was an exceptional teacher and, more than that, she touched her kids beyond the classroom,” Wheless said.

Sophomore Kristen Applebaum can be reached at applebaumkr0910@daretolearn.org.

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spring / / 2017

Escape room fun comes to the OBX

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By Reagan Pearson Staff Writer

f anyone gets bored of the OBX during the long, cold winter months, they can always try to escape.

The “escape room” experience has come to the Outer Banks. Will You Escape The OBX, located at 8845 Caratoke Highway in Harbinger near Holly Ridge Golf Course, contains four rooms, all of which give visitors the goal of finding their way out or solving difficult puzzles within a nail-biting time limit.

There is room for everyone.

Want a challenge? The Office is the room for you. Fan of pirates and treasure? The Nautical Room is your go. Want to investigate a crime scene? The Murder Mystery will let your dreams become reality. Want great atmosphere?

The Witches Lair is sure to give you chills. And for those seeking more

of a physical challenge, Handcuff Twister is sure to leave people tied up in knots.

All of the rooms have their own goal. In The Office, the goal is to find jewels hidden under locks and secret doors. The Nautical Room includes clues that lead visitors to Blackbeard’s infamous treasure.

The Murder Mystery puts guests in the role of investigator looking for clues to find out who the murderer is and how he or she did it. The Witches Lair requires visitors to find secret ingredients to make a potion before the witch returns.

Finally, Handcuff Twister makes people untangle their way out of a room while handcuffed.

Senior Sean Doyle has tried all the rooms and said his favorite is The Office.

“That one was difficult,” Doyle said. “We couldn’t find the locks or the jewels. The room was awesome and very fun, but our ability to search was basically a slow

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Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Senior Anna De La Cruz explores ‘The Witches Lair’ at the new Will You Escape the OBX? escape room experience just across the bridge in Harbinger. trainwreck.”

Doyle’s experience isn’t unique.

The rooms can be very difficult to solve, especially under a time limit, but from all accounts it’s hard not to get sucked into the experience and the joy of the challenge.

“The best part of all is when in every room the feeling of just barely finding your object before time runs out is so satisfying,” Doyle said. “I wouldn’t have been able to

sleep if I didn’t find those jewels.”

Anyone interested in escaping the winter blues can learn more about the escape room at WillYouEscapeTheOBX.com or by calling 252-491-5656 or 252207-3612 to inquire about the best time to visit or reserving specific rooms.

Sophomore Reagan Pearson can be reached at pearsonre0213@daretolearn.org.

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NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

23

Artists in the Spotlight: Estes and the besties juke and jive,

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By Dagen Gilbreath Staff Writer

he took a deep breath and swung open the door. Instantly she was greeted by a cacophony of sound that spilled out into the hallway. She walked in, took her seat among the mass of chatter and noise, and picked up her instrument, a tenor saxophone, for the first time.

For her and many others, this was just a thing to do, another part of the middle school experience.

Shortly after she took her seat, the noise gradually started to die out and her band director got on stage.

After a prerequisite of instruction and passing around of music, they were ready to play their new instruments for the first time. She had no idea what to expect.

“We all sounded terrible. It was not good noise coming out of your instrument at that point,” Izzie Estes said. However, this was just the first step in her impressive music career, the beginning of something much bigger. After her first taste of music, she wasn’t afraid to take it another step further by continuing her music career into high school.

“I was really excited the first day of high school band. I was excited for a challenge because I thought it was going to be a lot harder and so far it has been,” Estes said, confidently displaying her passionate disposition toward music. What started off as a middle school hobby she picked up on a whim has now become one of her favorite activities.

“I would like to think that I’ve progressed a lot from that first day,” Estes said.

Now she is a sophomore tenor saxophonist on the First Flight High School Honors Jazz Program who recently returned from an AllState band audition in Lexington.

Estes had previously auditioned into the All-District Jazz Band, making it into the prestigious A Band as the second-chair saxophonist. There are two All-District jazz bands – Band A and Band B – both consisting of some of the best student jazz musicians in eastern North Carolina. Auditioning for All-State was just the next step for her after her initial impressive success.

“I didn’t make it in, but it was an eye-opening experience,” Estes said. During the audition process, she learned a lot and met many

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talented young musicians who inspired and helped her. When she came back, she immediately started to practice and share the information she just learned. It’s clear Estes has an innate passion for music that is hard to match. For Estes, jazz is more than just something to play and perform.

“It’s a cool way to express yourself without saying something ... you’re saying something in a different way,” Estes explained.

Every performance and practice for Estes is an outlet for her to let herself out a little bit. Jazz to Estes is an extension of herself. As for why she’s chosen music, she simply states that “It was just the natural thing for me to do.”

Her natural inclination serves as a crucial key to her performance.

She has had four years of experience in both the middle school and high school jazz program with no plans of stopping. Additionally, Estes has acquired a vast comprehensive knowledge of music through practicing during her own free time. She has surrounded herself with jazz. When she isn’t practicing her music, she’s listening to it.

She strives for more than just being good, and despite not earning AllState honors this year, still counts the audition as one of her favorite musical learning experiences ever. “(Now) I know what I need to work on. Having something to work toward is always helpful because you have a goal you can reach,” Estes said.

She has inspiration and the assertiveness to attain it, and Estes is never intimidated, even when she’s surrounded by some of the best players and directors in the state. Estes takes every opportunity she can to better herself and gain experience in the medium she loves so much. She is vigilant and assertive when it comes to practice and learning, but she’s not afraid of failure. She takes her mistakes and experiences and learns from them, constantly bettering herself in the process.

She knows she’s good, but she also acknowledges there’s much more for her to learn and experience in music: “There’s not an end point where I’m like, ‘I’m good. I’m done.’ So I guess (my goal) is just to be constantly bettering myself as a musician.”

Junior Dagen Gilbreath can be reached at gilbreathda0518@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Sophomore Izzie Estes plays her saxophone during the First Flight talent show last month with other Jazz Band members.

Photo by Michaela Kelly/Nighthawk News Izzie Estes practices during her first-period honors Jazz Band class along with other musicians. spring / / 2017

rock and roll and express their talents on the stage

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By Dair McNinch Staff Writer

veryone always hears about others’ chances for success after high school. Some may be bright, but for senior Westin Keller and junior Isaac Oroson, they rock.

Like many successful musicians, Keller and Oroson have been playing since a young age. For Keller, he was in fifth grade, whereas Oroson was in eighth. Although they now play for the same reasons – to get good enough to play for a career – they started for very different reasons.

“My dad played guitar for a couple bands in college,” Keller said.

“He got me into it and I ended up loving it.”

Oroson wasn’t as much pushed by someone into playing, but by the music he was listening to at the time.

“The song ‘Tears Don’t Fall’

by Bullet For My Valentine – that song right there was what made me want to start,” Oroson said.

Many musicians who have made it big often talk about the influences they had early on. Along with Bullet For My Valentine, bands like Asking Alexandria and Parkway Drive also acted as a huge influence to him.

“And Joe Satriani,” Oroson said.

“He shreds.”

Keller was more into classic rock in the beginning, as opposed to the metal bands that influenced Oroson. AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses, and Velvet Revolver all had a tremendous impact on Keller.

As the two progressively got better and more involved in music, their tastes widened.

“We love literally almost everything,” Oroson said. “Any genre.”

Both Oroson and Keller are skilled enough to be able to confidently play multiple instruments, which is not an easy thing to do, especially when self-taught.

“I took lessons for about a year and then stopped and just used YouTube,” Keller said. “I can pretty much play any guitar that’s in front of me.”

Oroson took to a similar way of learning how, but sticks to a more specific selection of instruments.

“I just did YouTube. I mainly play half and half acoustic and electric. Just depends on the song,” Oroson said.

Just like their instruments, the genres they both play also vary.

“I play a mix of metal and blues,” Keller said. Oroson is the same way, but wasn’t always like that.

“Wes basically taught me everything I know about blues. I played straight metal and then he came over one night and just started playing blues,” Oroson said. “He taught me a certain scale and ever since then, I’ve always loved it.”

On top of the genres, instruments and influences, the two share similar goals for music in the future.

“My main goal is to play in a band in front of people,” Oroson said. “It’s all I’m trying to do.”

Keller, however, is much closer to the end of high school, so his

ideas are a little more drawn out.

He hopes as well to continue with music, but has a fallback plan.

“I’m going to school at UNCG to learn accounting or engineering or something as a fallback,” Keller said. “If I can get into a real band and start making money and playing gigs, that’s what I’m going with.”

So why is this? What is it about playing music that these guys work so hard to get to?

“Just having fun with it is the coolest thing,” Oroson said. “That’s when I think it can be a career, when I’m having the most fun doing it.”

Keller looks at music the same way: “When I can look down and people are enjoying it – when you’re having fun up there.”

Keller and Oroson have a long way to go before they become big, but if they keep progressing the way they have, they just may be out there tearing it up pretty soon.

Sophomore Dair McNinch can be reached at mcninchle1121@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Senior Westin Keller (left) and junior Isaac Oroson join forces to entertain the crowd at last month’s talent show. The duo took second place in the event. Music has become a key part of both of their lives, to the point both Nighthawks would like to pursue careers as musicians.

Nighthawk News Magazine / / features

25

Seeking truth, these students ventured to the rumored third floor

By Byrde Wells and Cassidy O’Neil Sports Editor and Staff Writer

Part 1: Introduction Cassidy

A rumor as old as the school itself and a mystery that has been highly speculated: Does First Flight High School have a third floor, and if so, what’s on it?

I decided to find out the truth. My first step was to ask the people who know the most about the school’s structure – the custodians. My conversations with the custodians didn’t go as planned, with one of them even telling me that the third floor was “all fiction” and just “student-created myths.” Discouraged and convinced that the third floor was just a story, I returned to class about to close the case. That’s when I caught a huge break by finding someone who not only knows people who have been up to the third story, but also knew where to find the entrance to the floor of myths. Enter Byrde Wells...

Byrde

I was the person who helped Cassidy find the entrance to the third floor, as I had seen a couple of students go up there once. Cassidy and I eventually made it to the door but, sadly, it was locked. A classroom next door heard us trying to get in and a teacher came barging through the door and made us leave, even though we were attempting to get to the floor for journalistic purposes. However, we were determined to make our way up there, and eventually sought out custodians who had the resources to get us there. Custodian Edwin Jackson confirmed that the third floor does exist, and after 15 minutes of talking to administration about us gaining permission to go up there, we were accompanied by Athletic Director Ray Scott and Assistant Principal Caroline Pearce as we began our trek.

Part 2: Letdown Cassidy

My suspense built as I heard the deadbolts turn and click, the door creaking open. Now I was staring up a large, dimly lit flight of stairs. As I walked up the stairs and the lights flickered on, I was amazed by how clean and open the space really was. All the stories and ideas I previously heard about what could be on the third floor vanished before my eyes as I was met with a bland storage room. Although it was cool to see that the school actually had a third floor, it definitely didn’t live up to the hype.

Byrde

What we didn’t know is that there isn’t one huge “third floor,” but four “sub floors” that are spread out across the school. The first one we entered, which is next to Evan Miller’s room, is made up of huge air vent systems, bland brick walls and old chairs from the beginning of the school’s history. Although I was happy that I managed to get to a third floor, I was pretty depressed to not see the rumored pools or dead bodies. Once we reached the second sub floor, however, any letdown I had quickly vanished.

Part 3: Deliverance Cassidy

As we reached the top of the steps I noticed a collection of outdated technology from the first years after the school’s opening. Computer monitors, projectors, floor tiles, lights. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a small flight of shiny aluminum stairs that led to an unusually small door. Byrde and I instantly decided to climb up, and to our surprise, the door was open. Suddenly we were hit with a bright light and a cold breeze. The door led directly to the school’s roof! I was certainly not expecting to see the great outdoors on the third floor, but it was right there in front of us.

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Byrde

This floor is next to the upstairs elevator, and it contained the ancient relics of First Flight students.

From outdated books to “prehistoric” computer monitors, I started to realize the third floors contained more than just dusty floors and air vents: They carried the history of First Flight with them, too. This floor even contained an “elf-sized door” that led to the roof of the school, which is a place multitudes of First Flight students have tried to reach. For journalism purposes, I documented some of the experience on my Snapchat story, and numerous students blew up my phone asking me the same question: How did you get up there? spring / / 2017

Photos by Amy Wrenn/ Nighthawk News (Above) School custodian Edwin Jackson, senior Byrde Wells, and sophomores Cassidy O’Neil and Chloe Futrell venture through the third floor overlooking the auditorium, admiring stage props along the way.

(Left) Byrde Wells (right) and Cassidy O’Neil gaze through the third floor’s ‘elf-sized’ door that overlooks the roof. The view didn’t exactly fall into the ‘breathtaking’ category despite the picturesque blue sky.

(Below) Assistant Principal Caroline Pearce and Cassidy O’Neil walk past the vent systems that fill the voids of the various levels of the mysterious third floor.

Part 4: Memorabilia Cassidy

As I sprinted up the spiral staircase (yes, there is a spiral staircase!) to the second passageway to the third floor, I was instantly transported to a different time in Nighthawk history. I was surrounded by dust and sports memorabilia, throwback Nighthawk basketball chairs, weights, and exercise bikes.

Byrde

Jackson then led us to the “third third floor,” which was located next to the locker rooms and contained the rumored pool, according to coach Chad Williams.

We saw workout bikes, old weights, outdated basketball chairs. Everything Nighthawk athletics, besides a pool. If administration really wanted to, however, there might be enough space for a kiddy pool, if their budget could fit the cost.

Whatever your need or style, we can bring spring to your home in fresh new ways!

252.305-0571 keely@indehousedesign.com

Part 5: Catwalk Cassidy

The final section was easily my favorite. This section was exactly what I was picturing. After accessing backstage, Jackson took us up a flight of stairs that led to all the props for theater. He searched for another door. It was between two clothing racks lined with theater costumes. I was on the catwalk looking down on the curtains of the stage.

Byrde

Our adventure came to its conclusion once we reached the “fourth” third floor, which was situated within the band rooms.

This floor contained the usual air vents and outdated material, but branched off into a catwalk that overlooked the school auditorium, a spectacle I am still amazed at.

Part 6: Epilogue Cassidy

I remember thinking how crazy it was that Byrde and I were some of the only kids ever allowed to see this much of First Flight High School. The third floor was more complex than I ever imagined.

Traveling around a place of rumors and discovering the fact and fiction of the third floor was truly an amazing adventure I will not forget.

Byrde

It awed me how much of this school has been unknown to students and even untouched by staff, as even Pearce had trouble recognizing some of the floors’ attributes. Cassidy and I were also the first students to ever get a tour of all the school’s floors, which was a feat that I found quite remarkable.

Staffers Byrde Wells and Cassidy O’Neil can be reached at wellsje1210@ daretolearn.org and o’neilca1210@daretolearn.org, respectfully.

Nighthawk News Magazine / / features

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Our View: USA should remain the land of opportunity for all

T Editor-in-Chief – Mary Pat Thompson Business Manager – Beverly Murry Features Editor – Arabella Saunders Online Editor – Mack Doebler Opinions Editor – Sarah Skinner Photo Editor – Amy Wrenn Sports Editor – Byrde Wells Photographers – Michaela Kelly, Ben Tran Staff Writers – Kristen Applebaum, Julia Bachman, Cecilia Cortez, Sean Doyle, Dagen Gilbreath, Hannah Ellington, Chloe Futrell, Ashlee Geraghty, Suzanne Harrison, Trinity Harrison, Hunter Haskett, Caroline Jenkins, Sophie Johnson, Dair McNinch, Shelby Miller, Cassidy O’Neil, Olivia O’Steen, Reagan Pearson, Alex Rodman, Meghan Savona, Sarah Skinner, Blair Smith, Buzzy Staten, Grace Sullivan, Koral Tucker and Jayne Walker Adviser – Steve Hanf

Don’t wait for the next print edition in May – stay current at the new NighthawkNews.com website!

tory – and yet, here we are, in 2017. here’s no denying it: This History repeats itself, and not country is undergoing for the better. These laws are in eva tumultuous time. We ery way a regression, returning us have a new president, a to a darker past, not a greater one. president the likes of which has As Americans, we observed the not been seen in the White House passing of this bill, and before. With this preswe observed the national ident has come a rush and international outcry. of executive orders, We made up our own the likes of which have opinions, and we were not been seen before vindicated or outraged either. when the federal court One in particular: STAFF struck it down. It was a an order restricting EDITORIAL crusade on both sides. travel to the United As with all things, States from seven preinterest waned. Another travel and dominantly Muslim countries and its replacement bill, which restrict- immigration bill with similar provisions arrived, but the activism and ed travel from six countries. Both the media coverage was nowhere have been stuck down in federal near as present. However, the imcourt, but the push continues. pact on displaced people struggling As a staff, we advocate and believe in the ideas of free speech and overseas will be the same.

Our paper celebrates the people of free political expression accordin our community – our triumphs ing to the demonstrated will of the and losses, our mistakes and accopeople. However, there is a place where we have to draw the line, and lades, our voices and our opinions.

Our deeply human moments. We that line is drawn at the barring of document this humanity because people from this country on the we believe in it, and we believe that basis of their national origin.

These laws do not stand unprec- every life is worth celebrating. edented. In the 1920s, for example, Therefore, we cannot condone a series of acts were passed cremeasures that violate, degrade ating quotas for who could come or work counter to this idea. We through Ellis Island. These quotas cannot condone discrimination and were specifically and creatively de- the reduction of people in need to signed to block and limit immigrapartisan politics. If a life here is tion from Eastern Europe, people worth focus, notice and celebration, who were deemed too foreign, too how can thousands of people going different. These discriminatory through hell overseas not be worth laws have been condemned by hiseven our consideration?

IN OUR OPINION

Hawk Talk: What would you do if

“The most important thing that superintendents should do is to dictate and have clear rules because there are many loopholes in the rules.”

– freshman Joseph Lewis

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“We would be able to have phones throughout the whole school day.”

– junior Morganne Drexler

“We should cancel school more often because there are clearly days we shouldn’t come to school.”

– junior Tyler Love

“First thing would be to fix the busing system. I’ve had many bad experiences with excessively long bus routes. Another thing would be to relax the cell phone policy.

You should be able to use them during lunch..”

– senior James Gillis

spring / / 2017

Hallway etiquette: Less talking, more walking

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ooking around the crowded halls, you notice them: The groups that must walk in a line to talk to their friends about whatever oh-so-important issue. The kids that walk so slow you would think they were standing still, or the ones who simply stop in the middle of the hallway for no reason. The poor freshmen who’ve yet to grasp that we have five whole minutes between classes and think it’s a good idea to run and dart around like a chicken with its head cut off. The couples so infatuated with each other they just have to make out every time they see each other. Not to mention the special group of people that runs past everyone else up the stairs.

The list goes on. It is truly baffling how people can be alive and breathing for at least 14 years and not understand the basics to walking down a hallway. I mean, it’s only something we’ve been doing since kindergarten. With this alarming influx of poor walkers, I am concerned. How have these people made it through life this far if they cannot manage to complete such a simple task?

To help the well-being of these people, along with keeping the sanity of others, I offer the staples of walking – something I thought was an unspoken skill or something that was just in human genetic code.

First of all, if you can drive a vehicle you should be able to walk down a hallway. There are two “lanes” – stick to one depending on which direction you are going. This

Nighthawk Notions Beverly Murry is the same for the sinful stairway runners. Staying in your lane also means not cutting people off. I cannot stress how exasperating it is when someone pops up right in front of you. Please be smart about these things and avoid these aggravating offenses. It’s not worth the frustration you’ll cause.

Another key element in driving, or walking in this case, is speed. In order to keep things going smoothly, avoid annoying things like: stopping to chat with your friend in direct traffic, walking in large lines across the hall, or walking slower than death itself. I’m sorry, but you are not that special and I’m sure your conversations can wait.

Just to add to this list, the people who play their wonderful renditions of rap and other music out loud for all to listen and “enjoy” – please keep your music to yourself.

If I wanted to hear it I’d ask for your SoundCloud username or an earbud. Another obnoxious grievance is the awkward dance when trying to walk around people. This encounter is pure cringe. I have no advice as how to fix this other than to please (I’m begging) just walk on

Photo illustration by Amy Wrenn/Nighthawk News Junior Beverly Murry is appalled by students’ lack of hallway etiquette. With the inevitable rush between classes, she advises students to be courteous of others, maintain an appropriate pace and stay in their ‘lane.’ the right side of the hallway.

For random nuisances, all I can ask is for you really to think: Is what you’re doing is a good idea?

Do you honestly think it’s a good idea to aggressively make out in view of everyone? Or what about people who feel the overwhelming need to rub up against every single

locker? While I cannot control your behavior (or lack thereof), take five seconds to ask yourself: Should I do this really obnoxious thing or should I just pretend I’m a regular person?

Junior Beverly Murry can be reached at murrybe0316@daretolearn.org.

you were the superintendent?

“Bringing salt back into the cafeteria would be my No. 1 priority.”

– sophomore Stanton Dodson

Nighthawk News Magazine / / opinions

“I would implement recess.”

– senior Haley Evans

“I would get rid of tardies.”

– junior Dane Buckhout

“I would let kids have their phone out during the school day.”

– sophomore Liz Sinks

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Illustration by Gabrielle Sullivan/ Special to Nighthawk News

Say no to the phone

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t’s 9 o’clock and you’ve finished all your homework, so you lay in bed and watch Netflix. You are so engaged in the show that you don’t realize what time it is. After a few episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy,” it’s magically 11, so you tell yourself “just one more episode.” Eventually you end up falling asleep at an ungodly hour and you wake up in the morning feeling like you got no sleep.

Were those episodes really worth your health? According to WebMD, sleep loss impairs attention, concentration, reasoning and problem solving. Also, your sleeping cycles help to “lock in” memories to the brain. Off the topic of school, sleep deprivation can also lead to serious health problems, depression and even weight gain.

Melatonin, a hormone that tells our bodies when to go to bed, can’t

Nighthawk Notions Sophie Johnson be released when exposed to blueand-white light from cellphones, laptops and any other electronic device. No wonder you can’t fall asleep after watching those episodes.

Cell phones aren’t just a problem at night. When you go out to eat, you probably see whole families on their phones not interacting with each other at all. Cell phone addiction is a real problem and we depend on them for a lot of things.

Social media tells us what everyone’s doing and where they are – really kind of frightening. We know way too much about way too many people.

Social media is also a way to keep in touch with friends and family, but what happened to just a cell phone call? Texting someone “I gotta go, talk to you later” can be perceived in many ways, misconstrued good and bad. If you’re on the phone with someone, the tone of your voice can really get the message across. But in text, the receiver may misinterpret the message.

“It’s better to live in the moment,” said junior Savannah Wallace, who deleted Snapchat a few months ago because she thought she was on her phone too much. “I thought to myself, ‘Why are we videotaping everything and putting it on Snapchat?’ It’s

pointless, then I deleted it.”

“I think social media is stupid, but I think Candy Crush is really fun,” she added.

Phones are very addicting, as I have learned from personal experience. I catch myself randomly checking my phone, even if I just did right before. Sometimes I put it down and do my homework, but I often have the urge to check to see if someone texted me something important. Most likely if it’s really important, they should call.

Even if you’re just playing Candy Crush, it can turn into hours of fun and you may consider yourself a “Candy Crush addict.” Cell phones are slowly taking a toll on your health, so put your phones down for a little while and socialize.

Sophomore Sophie Johnson can be reached at johnsonso0628@ daretolearn.org.

5 days of no social media is a challenge worth taking

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he second semester of the school year brings enough stress on its own. Add in the influence of social media and cell phone addiction and you have yourself a mess. I went back to the days where all you did on a phone was call and text. This week, I challenged myself to go five whole days with no social media.

The whole idea of this stemmed from Refinery 29’s Lucie Fink series “Try Living With Lucie,” where Fink tries five days of no social media. I thought this challenge would be interesting considering that I live in a world where all the buzz seems to be happening right on our phones.

Social media has such a strong influence on the 21st-century generation, from body image to weird memes. This makes an impression on everybody’s life. I would feel obligated to check my phone before bed and as soon as I woke up.

It started to become so annoying, because when I wanted nothing more than to fall asleep, something in my head wanted me to check

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Nighthawk Notions Chloe Futrell all my social media platforms. I didn’t like the feeling of being held back by something so simple. For me personally, social media was starting to become too much, so I decided to do a social media detox.

The day before I started this challenge, I cleaned out my phone by deleting all of my social media apps. I was trying to think of some things I could do instead of falling into the void. One of the first things I wanted to try and accomplish was to increase my productivity.

Surprisingly, this was accomplished. I had absolutely nothing to do but homework, so I got that done

during the school day and I got it done a lot earlier at home. After finishing my school work I almost felt free, then that feeling halted.

The instant thought was to just binge-watch Netflix, but the whole point of this was to not only increase productivity in school but also in everyday life. I decided to do something interesting. On one of the days after school, I sat down and read an entire book to fill the time. I realized how much I missed getting completely lost in a book and losing track of time. Also, I taught myself the ukulele in the mornings before school in the time I usually set aside to check my phone.

Through the week, I started to observe the people around me and what it was like to look at how much time we truly spend on our phones.

In a way, I sort of felt left out while everyone was scrolling through or sending Snapchats while I sat there with nothing to fill the time. Whenever I was in an awkward situation or in a place where I needed something to do, I would always reach

for my phone, and I went to where the old apps had once lived. It was almost as if I went into autopilot.

At the end of the week, I was slightly annoyed and just wanted my social media back, but at the same time it felt kind of nice not having to check it right before bed and as soon as I woke up. On the Saturday morning after this challenge, I logged into all of my social media and checked everything. I spent three hours on Instagram alone. This showed me that I really did miss it and I wanted to be updated on everything that had happened over the past five days.

In this generation where everything is technology-based and you find out things through social media, it can be hard to let all of that go. This challenge gave me a new perspective and it taught me how to use my time more efficiently. It proved to me that it is always nice to have a break.

Sophomore Chloe Futrell can be reached at futrellch1114@daretolearn.org. spring / / 2017

Are finstas funny or flawed? Depends on how you use it

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croll through your Instagram feed. You see pictures of two best friends laughing at the Sound during the sunset, photos from a family vacation to the Caribbean, maybe a video of the most recent baseball game. Scroll down a little further and you’ll probably see a few finsta posts.

Now take a look at almost any teenager’s “finsta” – a second, selectively private instagram account intended to show the “realer” side of people – and you’ll see something completely different from a typical Instagram account. You’ll see photos without VSCO edits, the less “Instagram-worthy” moments in life, long and funny captions riddled with grammatical errors.

Some of these pictures are probably innocent, PG-13 rated posts uploaded to make followers laugh, or to commemorate noteworthy times with friends.

On the other hand, many users use finstas as a platform to post photos of themselves drinking underage at a party that weekend, or smoking a blunt at a beach access. Or they might post risqué

Nighthawk Notions Meghan Savona photos not appropriate for their official Instagram that their families may follow, or use the caption to narrate their weekend to make sure everyone knows how cool they are and how many illegal activities took place.

How is this different from our parents’ generation? There have always been and always will be teenagers who’ve made mistakes – that’s not something that’s going to change any time soon. But in the age of the internet, often our generation’s slip-ups are made permanent, fossilized in the iCloud and Google searches. Previously, mistakes were made, lessons were learned, and everyone moved on.

Photos submitted by Savannah Wallace Junior Savannah Wallace is one of many students with both a regular Instagram account and another ‘finsta.’ Wallace uses both to post funny photos to share with followers, but not everyone uses the social media platform as innocently.

Now, when posted on social media, our mistakes have the ability to haunt us long after we’ve matured and learned from them.

In no way am I saying that teenagers today are being victimized by the internet. I’m simply stating that the unintended consequences are much greater. That being said, teenagers are well aware of the internet’s permanence, and most choose to ignore that.

Everyone is aware of your social footprint: prospective colleges,

people who have employment opportunities, and probably your boyfriend’s parents.

There’s nothing wrong with finstas. It’s all in the way that they’re used. Plenty of finstas are used appropriately, and they’re extremely entertaining and relatable. When finstas feature only trashy posts of teenagers drunk and high, that’s when it becomes a problem.

Junior Meghan Savona can be reached at savoname0701@daretolearn.org.

Thank you, sponsors!

From March 2-5, 28 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 600 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!

Bayside Body Shop, Inc. Grandy Farm Market Charlie Aycock, Attorney at Law Drs. Morris & Taylor Orthodontics Dare Education Foundation 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

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Siblings share the sports spotlight

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Photos by Ben Tran and Dea Celaj/Nighthawk News Tyler High (top) follows through on a free throw and younger brother Jordan goes in for a layup against Cape Hatteras. Some FFHS teams, like men’s soccer, are full of sibling rivalries. Here’s a look at just some of the dynamic duos who hail from the same family.

By Ashlee Geraghty Staff Writer

or senior basketball player Tyler High, he knows the team he’s leaving after graduation is in good hands.

This is because for his last season of high school basketball, he got to experience sharing the court with his younger brother, freshman Jordan High.

Tyler and Jordan both got into basketball when they were around 6 years old and both played on the school’s varsity team this past year.

“I’ve learned a lot from him. He tells me what I need to do if I want to play and stuff,” Jordan said.

The two brothers have gotten to experience special moments together, like against Ocracoke, which they both agreed contained their favorite memories from the season. For Tyler, it was getting a rebound and throwing a full-court pass to Jordan, calling it his “best brother-to-brother pass.” What Jordan recalled most about that game was Tyler assisting him in scoring a 3-pointer.

As expected, playing with a sibling can bring out a competitive edge between the two of them: “We kind of get into each other’s heads sometimes and mess with each other,” Tyler said.

However, the chemistry between the two on the court definitely shows and has helped them grow closer: “If he misses a shot, he goes right back into the game like he didn’t miss the first one. He goes and shoots again and isn’t scared of anything,” Tyler said.

While sharing the court with each other may be a new feeling for the High brothers, freshmen Courtney and Gray Tillett have had this

feeling for the past 11 years. These twins started playing tennis when they were 4 years old and both play on the school team as well as a United States Tennis Association travel team.

The two very rarely get the chance to play doubles together in matches, so when they finally got the chance it became their best memory together on the court: “The only time of the season when we got to play together was in Durham and it was a dual-team match and they let us play doubles together,” Courtney said. “It was against their best girls and we smoked them and won 8-0.”

Since Courtney and Gray have been playing tennis on the same team for the majority of their life, they have built a great bond and have learned to value many things about each other on and off the court: “She tries not to give up when things get hard on the court or anywhere,” Gray said. “She just keeps trying to keep her head up the whole time.”

The sibling bond has also helped them have a better support system on the team, something they utilize to help them improve.

“When I see her getting upset, I tell her things that the other person is doing so she knows how to fix what she’s doing to mess up the other person,” Gray said.

This competitiveness of siblings can be different for football players, as senior Matt McKenna and sophomore Shane McKenna show.

These two react to being on the same team by striving to out-play one another.

“It makes me want to make sure he can’t do anything as good as me and inhibit his success,” Matt said.

Matt began to play football his

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Photo submitted by Matt McKenna Brothers Matt (left) and Shane McKenna enjoy a light-hearted moment together on the football field. freshman year and Shane began in eighth grade. They both played varsity football the past two seasons: “It makes it a lot more inviting because even though you know every guy on the team and they’re all like your brothers, it’s cool having Matt there just ‘cause it makes me feel more at home,” Shane said.

The two agreed that having each other on the same team has its benefits, whether it be Shane always having a ride home with

Matt, getting to tackle each other without getting in trouble, or the two working out together at home.

“It’s fun to have someone around to talk to,” Matt said. “I feel like we definitely get along better than a lot of other siblings do. So that definitely contributes to it.”

Shane’s favorite time on the field with Matt happened last year against Camden.

“Matt and I were both playing linebacker and I was a freshman

Photo submitted by Gray Tillett Twins Gray (left) and Courtney Tillett pose with one of their coaches, Andrew Tuttle, following a match in Durham. and I didn’t play at all, really didn’t play much my sophomore year, either,” Shane said. “I went in for a few plays with Matt and we both gang-tackled their running back.”

No matter the sport, the feeling of having that extra support while

playing can be encouraging and motivating in many ways. “It’s kind of like hanging out with your best friend, but it’s all day,” Shane said.

Junior Ashlee Geraghty can be reached at geraghtyas0916@daretolearn.org.

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Medals on the mat

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By Cecilia Cortez Staff writer

en seconds left in the match, the score is 1-0, and reigning state champion Carlos Martinez is down by one point. The crowd is screaming, thinking, “He is done, no way he can win again.”

Then: Martinez gets the reversal. The score is 2-1. Martinez is a state champion once again.

Three First Flight students competed at the state championships in Greensboro. Martinez placed first, junior Arien Leigh placed first and junior Jeremiah Derby placed second.

Leigh, wrestling at 106 pounds, got fourth place last year.

“It feels great to be state champion, all my hard work finally paying off,” Leigh said. “Knowing all of the times I wanted to throw in the towel and didn’t, and just kept working weren’t for nothing.”

Although this was Leigh’s first time as state champion, this was not Martinez’s first time winning a title. In fact, Martinez’ previous state championship opponent returned to the tournament this year.

The two had to wrestle again, but not in the finals.

“My hardest match was definitely my second match since it was a rematch of last year’s state finals,” Martinez said. “I was able to beat him again this year. I won in overtime 4-2 just like last year.

A lot of people thought that I got lucky last year, so I was able to prove myself.”

Martinez is also the first undefeated state champion wrestler in First Flight’s history with a record of 44-0.

“There was a lot of motivation,

becoming a two-time state champ, being the first undefeated state champ, and beating Alex Monaco’s record for the most career wins,” Martinez said. “Most people would choke in the finals under that pressure. But I just did what I like to do, which is wrestle.”

Derby, who won first last year, achieved second in his weight class of 120 pounds.

“I was beating him until the last couple seconds. I got caught in a bad position and couldn’t get out,” Derby said. “Physically, that match wasn’t the hardest. It was mental, having the win in my hands and letting him take it out of them.”

The boys would not have been able to do so well at states if it wasn’t for coach Russell Kepler, who won 2-A coach of the year. His coaching style is a little different than most coaches, and he tries to work with the wrestlers mentally as well as physically.

“Being able to overcome challenges is a state of mind. Not giving up, and always doing your very best are the traits. As a coach, you try to nurture these qualities, but it is up to the individual,” Kepler said. “The things that I could help control that helped these athletes were making the workouts tough, encouragement, keeping our wrestlers goal-oriented and maybe the most important element was making sure I surrounded myself and these kids with other coaches that understood the goals of our program.”

With the high school season coming to a close, the final goal for the wrestlers is to place in tournaments at the national level.

Sophomore Cecilia Cortez can be reached at cortezce1029@daretolearn.org.

Photos by Sarah Unks/Special to Nighthawk News Junior Arien Leigh celebrates after defeating his opponent in the 106-pound championship match at the NCHSAA 2A wrestling tournament. Leigh (above left) and teammates like junior Jeremiah Derby (above right) battled through three long days of matches at the Greensboro Coliseum to reach the finals.

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spring / / 2017

Track photos by Jeff Sides Photography/Milesplit Wrestling photos by Sarah Unks/Special to Nighthawk News Junior Jeremiah Derby (top left) holds his opponent with a tight grip on his way to a second-place finish in his weight class at the NCHSAA 2-A wrestling tournament. Senior Carlos Martinez (above left) gets the best of his opponent at the championships, finishing his season undefeated.

Nighthawks also enjoyed success at the indoor track and field championships in Winston-Salem. Freshman Aidan May (above right) takes the baton from freshman Zach Hughes. Their 4x800 relay team with Kam Midgett and Skylar Stultz placed third. Senior Hayley Schreyer (bottom left) passes the baton to senior Nina Perry. Junior Alex Rodman crosses the finish line with a smile for her teammates after their 4x800 team that also included sophomore Jill O’Dell placed first.

Nighthawk News Magazine / / sports

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Two Nighthawks reach rare accomplishment

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By Shelby Miller Staff Writer

eniors Devyn Dodson and Tyler High are no strangers to the basketball court. The long hours spent practicing and winning games for their school has helped them reach their goal of scoring 1,000 points.

“I have been playing basketball since I was 6 years old, starting out on a Parks and Rec team,” said Dodson, who plays on the wing.

“It’s just something I’ve always enjoyed.”

Starting shooting guard and small forward Tyler High began playing basketball when he was 6 years old as well. “Basketball is a sport I really began to fall in love with when I made the varsity team my freshman year. I was a starting player near the end,” High said.

Both players have developed tremendously since those early years.

“Tyler’s personality has come out this year. He has always been a really quiet kid, but I’ve seen him become more of a vocal leader,” coach Chad Williams said. “He’s always been a leader by example and by his work ethic. This year Tyler had a huge influence over the youngest players of the team.”

Dodson and High set their impressive goal while watching former teammate Jack Konstanzer make his 1,000th point last season.

“I remember Jack getting his 1,000th point, and Dodson and I have always thought about hitting ours our senior year. I thought it’d

be a pretty cool note to leave out on,” High said.

Added Williams: “Scoring 1,000 points is a very hard thing to do, and having two on the same team is extremely rare.”

High hit his goal playing at Hertford the second-to-last game of the regular season. Dodson also reached his target while playing Hertford, at home.

“It was one of my only individual goals I set for myself in high school. I felt pretty accomplished,” Dodson said. “I’ve had a lot of memories, and scoring my 1,000th point was definitely my favorite.”

Dodson’s senior season has been his best so far. He scored 410 points this year alone.

“Devyn is a motor. He gives 100 percent effort all the time, and always gives everything he’s got,” Williams said.

Keeping the motivation and commitment to play a sport all four years of high school is difficult for some, but High has finished strong.

“My coach pushes me to be the best I can be, as long as I keep working as hard as I can,” High said.

The two plan to continue playing basketball. High is shooting for a college team, and Dodson is undecided.

“I’m thinking about playing in college,” Dodson said. “I’m not sure. I might play club basketball if I go to a big school.

“I would like to thank my parents, Coach Williams and my teammates for helping me reach my goal,” Dodson added.

Fans will be looking forward

Photo by Aaron Jennings/Special to Nighthawk News Devyn Dodson (32) lays up another two points for the Nighthawks as teammate Tyler High admires the play against Bertie. Both players joined the 1,000-point club this year. to seeing Dodson and High reach more of their goals in their future careers.

Sophomore Shelby Miller can be reached at millersh0814@daretolearn.org.

Student-athletes stay busy pulling double duty

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By Byrde Wells Sports Editor

et out of school. Practice for one sport.

Take a quick break. Then practice for another sport. For some athletes, one sport per season is just not enough: Athletes across all grades are multifaceted.

Senior Maddie Lutz runs track in the spring, but is an outside midfielder on the soccer team as well. Although soccer has been her main sport for years, she decided to give track a shot.

“Mostly I’ve been doing soccer, but whenever I’m not doing soccer I’m doing track,” Lutz said.

“Hopefully I will be doing more track and even it out some more.”

For Lutz, the two sports offer different atmospheres for her to play in.

“They’re two completely different sports. I

36

feel more competitive in soccer, you’re more told what to do, ” Lutz said. “(Track is) more easy going. You can choose the events you do. I run in sprint events like the 200 and 100.”

As for freshman Aidan May, “My main sport is baseball, but after baseball I do the workout they do at track and if I don’t have a baseball game then I’ll go to a track meet.”

May is a second baseman for the Nighthawks and has been playing baseball since he was 5.

He just started running track this year and decided to play both sports throughout the spring season. Although he has a passion for both of them, it is a hard task to balance after-school activities along with school.

“If I have a lot of homework one night and I do baseball and track right afterwards, it kinda conflicts with it because I don’t have much time for either of them,” May said.

Freshman Zach Hughes also goes the ambiguous sport route along with May. Hughes appreciates playing both track and baseball at the same time due to their different aspects.

“Track is more individual and baseball is a team sport. (In) running, I like how it’s up to you how good you do,” Hughes said. “(In) baseball, if the coach sits you down you have to sit down for an inning, but for track you run every meet to your fullest potential.”

However, Hughes does struggle with the troubles of picking up two sports in a season, as the demands it takes on the body can be felt physically and mentally. “(It’s hard) keeping up with the homework and the really long days; you get tired,” Hughes said.

Senior Byrde Wells can be reached at wellsje1210@daretolearn.org. spring / / 2017

Garber gets back in the game

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By Beverly Murry Business Manager

ixth grade, an introduction to middle school: A time brimming with awkward preteen “firsts” – school dances, new classes, making more friends, and of course, being included on a school sports team.

However, after suffering an injury, much of this came to an abrupt halt for avid soccer player Malia Garber.

“I was on a skiing trip with one of my friends in Massanutten and I went down the wrong ski slope. The snow machines turned on and I didn’t have my goggles with me, so I couldn’t see anything, so I went on a jump and fell,” Garber said. “I hyper-extended my knee and my ski on my right foot hit my tibia and fractured it.”

The injury cost her two seasons of playing for the school, two surgeries, and a full year of recovery of time. Without soccer as a natural stress reliever, Garber became restless with days spent indoors and away from the sport she loved.

“When I couldn’t play soccer I was really bored and I guess you could say I got kind of depressed,” Garber said. “Since all of my friends played it, I felt alone and secluded.”

Feeling empty and fearing the worst, Garber grew closer with fellow junior Lauren Taylor, a friend who helped fill the gap that soccer couldn’t.

“She was immobile in the beginning, so a lot of it was just hanging out at her house, which was staying inside most of the time,” Taylor said. “I was patient with what she had to go through to recover by not really going out and just watching movies all day.”

Through a combination of rehab and Taylor’s reassurance, Garber was able to regain physical and emotional strength. Still, the major loss of time on the field worried her.

“I didn’t think I was going to play again. I took my eighth-grade year off because my knee was still painful, and since I was out for such a long period of time I felt like I lost a lot of skill,” Garber said. “While everyone else was progressing, I would have to work twice as hard.”

After going through so much physical strain, Garber has had to overcome her emotions to finally get back to the sport she loved. All the while, Taylor was still by her side, supporting her.

“She was just very comforting and reassured me that everything would be OK, and that I’d be able to get back to where I wanted to be,” Garber said.

Through private lessons, hard work and the help of a knee brace Garber was able to conquer her injury and get back to her beloved sport.

Today, Garber can be seen helping the Nighthawks, only occasionally sporting her knee brace. While it’s an issue that may still be a concern from time to time, Garber is thankful

Photo by Ben Tran/Nighthawk News Junior Malia Garber does drills with teammates at a recent practice. she is back to her sport.

“It feels pretty great because I enjoy playing soccer so much,” Garber said. “It’s just a time when I can go and relieve stress with my friends.”

Junior Beverly Murry can be reached at murrybe0316@daretolearn.org.

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starcorealty@gmail.com | 252.202.8861 www.starcobuilders.com NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

37

First Flight Spring Sports Spotlight

Jill O’Dell

Sophomore When did you start running track?

I have been doing track since the seventh grade. Running has just always been my thing, I guess.

I’ve been running since I was born.

What is your favorite part?

I like the feeling of accomplishment and the great friendships you make.

What is the best pre-race snack?

Cracker Barrel pancakes or anything that is put in front of me – I will eat it up.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

I guess I like Barefoot Bernie’s.

I got the coconut shrimp last time I went and that was pretty good.

What is your dream job?

I’d love to just be around dogs.

I love dogs. Honestly, if I could just pet dogs for a dream job, I’d be golden.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you’d buy or do?

I’d probably help my parents pay some of their bills, honestly, and then I’d save the rest of it.

Wait for later and then maybe get some nice running spikes or something.

If you were a breakfast food item, what would you be?

I’d probably be one of those mixed berry toaster strudels because those things are addicting. I could eat those forever.

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Ashlynn Dodge Freshman

What made you decide to play lacrosse?

All of my friends started doing it and I heard it was fun!

What position do you play?

Right attack, but I’m going to try defense.

What’s your favorite part of lacrosse?

Practicing with everyone and having a really good time.

What genre of music do you listen to?

I listen to popular music and hip-hop.

What’s your favorite food?

Macaroni and cheese.

Who is your celebrity crush?

Dave Franco What is your dream job?

I haven’t really thought that far ahead but probably being a skydiving instructor because it’s thrilling.

What’s your all-time favorite movie?

Zootopia If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Belize If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

Why? I would save half of it for myself and donate the other half because there are others that need it more than me.

Caitlyn Jernigan Freshman

Ansley Feltz Sophomore

How long have you been playing softball?

Eight years

How long have you been playing soccer?

Twelve years

What is your favorite part about softball?

My favorite part is the whole aspect of everybody working together.

What position do you play?

I mainly play defense, but right now I’m playing center back.

How did you get into playing softball?

My brother and sister played, so then my dad had me try out.

If you had to play any other sport, what would it be?

I would play basketball because I played when I was little.

What is your go-to restaurant on the OBX? Barefoot Bernie’s, and I would get the island macaroni and cheese.

What is your dream vacation, and who would you take?

I would go to Ireland, and I would take my mom.

Who’s your celebrity crush?

Nick Jonas Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

I would be getting out of college, and I’ve always wanted a cool apartment with a tiny dog.

Who is your favorite teacher?

Mrs. Weeks because she’s really good at helping you with different subjects and studying. Also at the beginning of the year, my locker wouldn’t work and she helped me.

How did you get into soccer?

My dad and my best friend’s dad were coaching.

What is your favorite memory from soccer?

During a Storm tournament in middle school, it was super rainy and muddy and at the end of our game we all slid through the mud.

Where’s your favorite place to eat?

Chick-fil-A What’s your favorite TV show?

Bob’s Burgers What’s your biggest pet peeve?

When people try to put their feet on me or in my face.

What is your dream job?

I want to be a doctor and work in the ER and do what my dad did when he worked in the hospital.

Who is your favorite music artist?

Chance The Rapper, since I’m gonna see him in concert.

What is your all-time favorite movie?

Star Wars spring / / 2017

Dane Buckhout Junior

When did you start playing tennis?

Five years ago.

What’s your favorite part of the game?

Well, my favorite part is just playing tennis.

What do you look forward to this season?

Winning the conference championship.

What’s your favorite thing on Netflix right now?

My favorite show of all time is “Scandal.”

If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?

Probably go to Europe and spend it all.

Tim Jones

Sophomore How long have you been playing golf?

Since seventh grade, so about three years.

What’s your favorite part about playing golf?

My favorite part is chipping.

Chipping is my best because it’s one of the hardest parts to do. It is a constant challenge.

What made you start playing golf?

It was the fact that I couldn’t play any of the other sports, and I just needed to get out of school.

What is your favorite place to eat after a match?

Chick-fil-A

If you could move anywhere, where would you go?

I would probably move to France. I’ve always wanted to go to France.

How did it make you feel when you scored a 97 to lead your team in the first match?

I was happy that the team won, but I was disappointed with my score because that’s just an awful score for me.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Belgian milk-chocolate.

What is your lowest score?

My lowest score would be a 38 for a nine-hole match.

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas, because I like presents.

Who is your favorite Disney Princess and why?

I’d say Mulan because she’s awesome! Who doesn’t like Mulan?

She’s really fierce and she doesn’t give in to society.

What is your favorite OBX restaurant?

Josephine’s. I get the Josephine’s combo every single time.

Who is your celebrity crush?

Female: Blake Lively; Male: Brooklyn Beckham, for sure.

What’s your favorite song to listen to on the way to a golf match?

“The Weight Of Love” by The Black Keys.

Parker Sylvia Sophomore

How long have you been playing lacrosse?

I’ve been playing for 10 years.

What’s your favorite part?

Staying with the same teammates along the way, meeting new ones, and building team chemistry.

Quentin Bell Senior

How long have you been playing baseball and what position do you play?

I play second base. I’ve been playing for 12 years, and started playing when I was 5.

What is the brand of your lacrosse stick?

Maverick.

Who’re you looking forward to playing with this year?

All the seniors for sure. I’m gonna miss playing with Tyler, though. It’s gonna be a good last season with the rest of them.

What are your future plans with lacrosse?

I plan on playing lacrosse in college, hopefully D-I at the US Naval Academy, VMI, Mercer or Colgate.

What’s your favorite game to play every year?

The rivalry games, like Currituck and Manteo. Those games are always fun because the intensity is high.

Who is your favorite music artist?

The Police.

What is your favorite pre/post game meal?

McDonald’s before every game and usually practice, haha. I’ve gotta get some McNuggets and a fat sweet tea.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

Sausage, bacon and ham What is your go-to order at your favorite restaurant?

The Italian sub at Barefoot Bernie’s.

Who are your favorite teams?

Redskins, and for lacrosse my favorite is Navy.

What’s your dream pet?

My dream pet is to have a Rottweiler.

What is your favorite pregame snack?

As a team, we all go to Captain George’s before every home game.

Beyoncé or Rihanna?

Ooh… Definitely Rihanna.

Yeah, Rihanna for sure.

Ice or no ice? What’s your favorite type of ice?

Always ice, and my favorite’s gotta be crushed.

What do you order when you go to Chick-fil-A? Number one meal with a sweet tea, a 12-piece nugget, and a vanilla shake with whipped cream and cherry.

Photos by Buzzy Staten, Ben Tran and Amy Wrenn Reporting by Hunter Haskett, Sophie Johnson, Olivia O’Steen, Alex Rodman, Meghan Savona, Blair Smith and Buzzy Staten NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

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NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2017