Spring 2019 Nighthawk News Magazine by Steve Hanf

ON THE COVER

he scramble for a compelling cover story is not new to us. After bringing our readers the Juuling controversy and feelgood lights of the Christmas House in our first two editions, we were worried about what we were going to deliver for our March paper. Even as desperation started to set in, perhaps you could say that we kept the faith that something great was around the corner. As cover story nightmares haunted us all in our sleep, luck was on our side: A recent controversial topic was in the news about the United Methodist Church and the LGBTQIA+ community. Leaders from the United Methodist Church met in St. Louis to discuss their overall stance about clergy members who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as whether or not the church would conduct weddings of same-sex couples. The verdict? Members of the LGBTQIA+ community are forbidden to act as clergy members, and same-sex marriages are not permitted within the church or to be performed by clergy. But how does this decision made a thousand miles away connect to First Flight? Senior Robyn Godly interns for the Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church every day, and she is also a member of the LGBTQIA+ commu-

Photo by Ben Tran/Nighthawk News

Senior Robyn Godley stands in the sanctuary of Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church. Recent rulings by the church’s governing body have impacted Godley’s planned career in ministry.

nity. Every morning, our first-period newspaper class sees Godley in the hallway as she makes her way to the broadcast room, and she never fails to say good morning when we see her before class. We asked her if we could tell her story and she graciously agreed. To think that none of us would have known how this national news impacted someone just across the hall

– someone we all see on the morning announcements every day, someone who provides us with great life hacks every week. Now that we had a story, we needed a cover. Photographers Buzzy Staten and Ben Tran left school during second period to meet with Godley during her internship at the church. They took photos with Godley at the Methodist

church and the Catholic church, Holy Redeemer, and got the perfect shot of the light streaming through the colorful stained glass panels. That same afternoon, fourth-period newspaper students gathered around a computer, all of us in awe of Godley’s angelic cover shot by Staten. Someone asked what kind of lighting we used for the shot. The answer from our adviser, Mr. Hanf, was both playful and serious: “That’s the light of God shining on her.” To complement Emmy Trivette’s story about Godley, we sent a survey about religion to the entire school and got more than 300 responses. Thanks to everyone who took the time to paint a picture of what spirituality looks like for teenagers on the OBX in 2019. As with every edition, of course, we focus on a wide range of events beyond the cover story. We hope you enjoy getting to meet the school’s Instagram chef and the talented cast and crew of “Mary Poppins” and athletes who don’t wear FFHS uniforms when they ride horses and dance. We invite you to see what our superintendent has to say about the search for our new principal, meet the candidates in the crowded field for the 2020 election, and find the best cup of coffee on the beach. As always, thanks for reading! – Chloe, Hannah and Hunter

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Nighthawk News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS 6 Farewell ‘Albert Nation’ Principal Tim Albert bids First Flight farewell after 42 years in education.

Other stories within this section include a look at recycling changes, a new location for Mom’s Sweet Shop, as well as a preview of the 2020 candidates.

FEATURES 12 Artist in the Spotlight Dawson Swaim and Courtney White show off their musical talents on the AIS page.

You can also get an inside scoop into the spring musical ‘Mary Poppins’ and learn about Angela Gard’s ever-changing outﬁts. Also, join Max Stabley in his cooking excursions and Emmy Trivette as she takes us on a hunt for the best coffee on the beach.

OPINIONS 20 COA vs. AP: Which will prepare you? Hunter Haskett and Abby Hite take a look at this question in their point-counterpoint on college-level classes.

Elsewhere in our Op-Ed section, Simone Midgett expresses her feelings about junior year and Grace Sullivan conveys her thoughts about the anti-vaxx movement.

SPORTS 26 Horsing around with Holcomb Anne Holcomb’s equestrian journey is followed in this sports feature.

Don’t miss our other stories including lacrosse siblings Jack and Liz Clagett and state champion Zach Hughes. And as always, don’t forget to take a look at our ‘collectible’ sports cards for this season’s Nighthawk athletes.

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Senior Robyn Godley looks toward the heavens from the sanctuary of Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church. Godley finds herself at a crossroads, desiring to become a Methodist minister while coming to grips with a recent decision by church leadership to forbid gay clergy members.

By Emmy Trivette News Editor

very night in her room, she cried and cried for hours. Her emotional pleas included asking God to “take these feelings away, please, I don’t want them.” Finally, Robyn Lynn Godley stopped crying one night. “I looked in the mirror and then looked up and said, ‘God, I’m gay.’ ” That was the moment, after months of denial and confusion, in which Godley was finally able to embrace her sexuality amidst her unwavering and unquestioning faith in God. “That was even before I had admitted it to myself, and I distinctly remember Him telling me, ‘You’re loved, nothing will change that,’ and I know that’s crazy for someone who’s not religious to believe, but sometimes it happens,” Godley said. Two years before she discovered her identity, Godley was coming to terms with another realization – a calling to ministry in the United Methodist Church. “I started feeling the calling in eighth grade, but I kept denying it,” Godley said. “I thought, ‘God, that’s not what you have planned for me,’ yet every Sunday I saw the pastors and the preaching and I said, ‘That’s a career that would bring me joy, that’s who I’m going to be,’ so I stopped denying it.” With those two defining moments behind her, Godley is fully embracing her sexuality while interning at Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church this semester. She does everything from helping with youth activities to assisting with worship services to giving the Sunday morning sermon earlier this month. The senior is not just actively involved in the church locally, but plans to attend Campbell University to major in Christian Studies. She then plans to apply to Duke Divinity School and earn her masters in theology. With her life course seemingly charted, Godley saw these plans potentially upended by the UMC General Conference. On Feb. 26, a plan was voted on in St. Louis at a special session of the church leadership – a proposition called the Traditional Plan, which defines homosexual practice as incompatible with Christian scripture and tradition. This plan also bars LGBTQ+ people from ordination and forbids gay

marriages performed in UMC churches or by UMC pastors. Pastors who defy these orders are in danger of being defrocked – dismissed from ministry. “If I denounce myself and say that I’m straight, then I can be forgiven and ordained, but I couldn’t ever identify myself as gay if I wanted to be a pastor now,” Godley explained. The decision was shocking for Godley, especially knowing there was widespread support of the “One Church” plan, which would have allowed each Methodist church to decide how it would deal with gay marriage and gay clergy. Now, Godley is thinking about a backup plan for her own future. “In four years, once I finish my college degree, if the UMC is non-accepting I will probably go to Divinity school as an Episcopalian,” she said. As she watched the live stream of the conference during a recent church retreat, Godley heard several Methodist pastors speak about homosexuality in traditional terms. “It was very hard for me to hear that, but I know I need to – I need to understand where other people are coming from, because just like they can’t blame me for being gay, I can’t blame them for their beliefs, and it’s how they were raised,” Godley said. “And honestly, if I hadn’t discovered this myself, I would probably be a little homophobic.” The UMC General Conference included church representatives stretching from America all the way to Africa and Asia. The total vote in favor of the Traditional Plan was 53 percent to 47 percent, but many American Methodists said influence from churches in regions such as Africa, where homosexuality can be punishable by death, is why the vote came out the way it did. “The world is our parish,” Kitty Hawk UMC associate pastor Betsy Haas said. “The UMC has traveled across the world, and we were very successful in areas like Korea and almost all of Africa.” According to figures from the United Methodist Church, the denomination includes more than 12 million members, only about half of whom are American. Haas, who has worked closely with Godley for the past two years at Kitty Hawk, explained that approximately 70 percent of American representatives at the conference voted to be more inclusive rather than for the Traditional plan.

– and everyone else

Haas predicts that because of this vote and other factors, the American Methodist branch may split off from the global branch if the vote doesn’t swing after the next UMC session in four years. And one way or another, Godley can still be a pastor, whether it’s with the Methodist church or a different denomination. “I do not think her sexual orientation will prevent her from reaching her goals,” said Duck United Methodist pastor John Tyson, the author of “Homosexuality: A Conversion. “She will be able to be ordained.” For almost 30 years, Tyson researched, studied and developed his view on homosexuality in science and religion. His book fuses scripture and science to explain “how a Methodist pastor outgrew the idea that homosexuality is a sin.” For Tyson, it started with an examination on slavery and its relationship with church history and theology, questioning why it took the church 1700 years to agree that slavery was wrong, even though both scripture and tradition supported slavery. “Because of the verse ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ the supreme ethic of love took precedence over slavery, and I realized this was similar with homosexuality,” Tyson said. Referencing research biologist Dr. Gregory Prince, Tyson further explained his view that homosexuality is not a choice, like many believe, but is determined “epigenetically” – in other words, people were born this way. For Godley, when she came out to God, to herself, to her family and to her community, she wasn’t making a decision. For her, it was just what was meant to be. She chooses now to welcome both her sexual identity and her calling to ministry as parts of a whole that make her a unique Christian. “It only takes a story to change someone,” Godley said. Haas is holding out hope that Godley’s story is one that many, many people will get to hear for years to come. “She is going to be an excellent pastor. It’ll be a shame for us if we don’t get her,” Haas said with a smile. “God is the one doing the calling: The church does not call you, the people do not call you. The Methodist church may miss out on having a fantastic pastor like Robyn Godley.” Junior Emmy Trivette can be reached at trivetteem0626@daretolearn.org. Nighthawk News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

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Farewell ‘Albert Nation’ – on to the next regime

By Hannah Ellington Editor-in-Chief

lbert Nation! Albert Nation! The crowd screams, hollers, howls, all in protest of the new principal, Tim Albert, at the pep rally. As the pie in the face contest gets closer, students anxiously anticipate what they all know is about to happen: Albert would get a nice, sweet faceful of chocolate cream – as well as a slap of revenge from students who filled his coin jar in protest during the SGA contest. When Albert replaced previous Principal Arty Tillett, students were upset with the changes Albert wanted to make: a reinvention of Empower Time, a stricter enforcement of the “no phone zone” and stressing the dress code. With this in mind, students began calling his rule over the school as “Albert Nation.” “I knew that (the students) were sincere about them not wanting me to come in and start making wholesale changes and I thought it was pretty neat the way they did,” Albert said. “I sort of took hold of it and used it humorously to slowly start to institute some things.” So rather than getting angry about #AlbertNation that swept over social media, Albert embraced it. And It did not take long for students to slowly warm up to Albert when he used humor instead of anger in response to the chants. The sudden change in leadership and policies was beginning to become normal. However, just three years later, Albert’s retirement was announced during the Feb. 12 Board of Education meeting. After 42 years of working in education – 30 in Virginia Beach before he arrived at First Flight Middle as assistant principal in 2006 – his last day is planned for July 1. “The working environment has been excellent, the friendships I have made both with students and staff and members of the community are just unparalleled,” Albert said. “It’s been a tremendously great experience.” Now, Superintendent John Farrelly has to search for a new principal. “He’s a great guy, he’s meant a lot to the community and he’s impacted thousands of students and hundreds of staff members’ lives,” Farrelly said. “I’m happy for him but it’s certainly a big transition here in the school.” After Albert’s announcement, Farrelly decided to map out a different interviewing process for potential principal candidates. “I sent a survey where every staff member had an opportunity to provide input on the qualities and traits they want to see in the next principal,” Farrelly said. This survey was also used to indicate which staffers were interested in being part of an interview team. If they were not interested themselves, they had the opportunity to nominate another staff member in the school to serve on the team. They could also submit questions they would want the interview team to consider in the process. “On the interview team, we’ll have four or five senior leadership members from the district, four or five staff members, two students and two parents who will be a part of the initial round of interviews,” Farrelly said. “And then, depending upon how that goes, if we find the right candidate working through that process, then it’s possible that as soon as the May Board meeting, we could announce a new principal.” When it comes to who Farrelly believes would be the best fit, he mainly looks toward anyone who can benefit the school. “Someone who can articulate a shared vision for the school, that’s innovative, that speaks to excellence,” Farrelly said. “Someone who can prioritize the

Principal Tim Albert enjoys a lick of the chocolate cream pie on his face after getting pied on the track in front of students and staff at the 2016 Homecoming pep rally. Below, Albert lays out the nameplates for the Dare County Schools Board of Education meeting last month in the FFHS media center. That meeting included an official announcement that Albert, who has been in education for 42 years, will retire July 1.

Shorelines file photo (left) Photo by Buzzy Staten/ Nighthawk News (below)

needs of the school to achieve goals, someone who can keep things up and moving in the right direction, thinking about students’ needs. Someone who is a real instructional leader who is a really good communicator, can provide direction and keep the great things going and where we have challenges, address them.” Farrelly is not necessarily looking for someone with principal experience, but would prefer someone with at least assistant principal experience. “I do think I’ve always considered hiring principals as one of my highest responsibilities as superintendent, so I take that very seriously and will be very diligent in the process and very thoughtful,” said Farrelly, now in his second year as the leader of DCS. While this process is different from previous ones – many times in Dare County, principals would move from school to school when openings became available – Farrelly believes that since it is “our school,” there should be a shared vision. Transparency and communication are key to being successful as a community. “I think it’s a healthy process in that teachers are involved, parents are involved, kids are involved,” Farrelly said. “And I think that’s something that I have certainly emphasized, is giving everyone a voice and letting our stakeholders know that their opinions are valued.” Farrelly hopes interviews will be held beginning

April 1 and that a candidate could be announced in May. If no candidate has been found, there will be a second round of interviews and Farrelly will continue to search for the best fit. “Every school is different, every community is different, so it is advantageous to move as swiftly as possible and be diligent and thoughtful,” Farrelly said. “If it’s the right person, it’s easy (to decide). If it’s not, then you lose sleep at night, but if that’s the case, then we keep searching.” Even as the search continues, Farrelly emphasizes the importance of using Albert’s retirement positively. “I look at it as a big pat on Tim’s back – he’s had a long career, very successful, but it gives us an opportunity in looking at the positive side of it to move forward,” Farrelly said. As Albert begins to wind down from a long career, he said he’ll “be doing the same thing all the way up until July 1 that I have done for the last 40-some years. “I would just like to say I’d like to thank everybody in Dare County for accepting me as an outsider coming in,” Albert continued. “I feel like part of Dare County now and it’s because of students, faculty, staff, parents, community, all taking me under their wing and showing me the right way to go and I appreciate it and thank everyone for what they’ve done for me.” Senior Hannah Ellington can be reached at ellingtonha1214@daretolearn.org. Nighthawk News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

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he teacher is passing back quizzes and anxiety ﬁlls your body as you hear sighs of grief and happiness from surrounding peers. The teacher reaches you, slides your quiz on the desk upside down and you hesitate as you peek at the grade. After the teacher reviews the quiz, unsatisﬁed students ball their papers up and toss them in the recycling bin. The good news is that no matter how high or low you scored on that quiz, it and the rest of First Flight’s recyclables will now be sent to the recycling plant. The school’s recycling had been put on hold for a couple of months after the Outer Banks was hit by hurricanes Michael and Florence in September and October. The town of Kill Devil Hills stopped picking up the school’s recycling to focus on picking up hurricane debris. Due to postponed recycling, the Environmental Club was unable to start its program until the end of January. Junior Ivy Doyle, the club’s co-president, was disappointed to watch the school’s recycling pile up. “It was really frustrating especially because people were actually putting their recycling where it goes and it just ended up going in the garbage,” Doyle said. “I knew there was something we could do about the waste, but it just wasn’t going to happen.”

Katie Neller, the Environmental Club’s sponsor, noticed that several teachers and students took recycling into their own hands as a short-term solution to the issue. “As teachers and students we have always had the option that we can do our own recycling,” Neller said. “Just because (the town) won’t pick the recycling up here, we can bag it up in the classroom and take it somewhere else.” With recycling being launched again, it is important for students to put their recyclables in the correct spots. Environmental Club members have to sort the materials put in the bins and bags. Many materials are thrown into the bins that aren’t recyclable and are much less appealing than that failed chem quiz or morning coffee you had to ﬁnish before class started. “Pulling dirty tissues out of recycling bins, wet paper towels and food-covered containers are just a few (annoyances of sorting recycling),” Doyle said. Next time you go to throw your waste away, in or out of school, take a second to think about whether you should put it in the recycling or the garbage. “It is just so important (to recycle) and it makes such a difference,” Doyle said. “You really have to think about it when you have to decide where to throw your water bottles away.” Sophomore Katie MacBride can be reached at 21macbrideka62@daretolearn.org.

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Big switch coming for Mom’s Sweet Shop

By Cassidy O’Neil Staff Writer

om’s Sweet Shop has brought vintage clothing and tasty treats to the Outer Banks under the same bright red roof of the Seagate North Shopping Center for the last eight years. But soon, that will all change. The locally owned, skate-inspired sweets-andtreats store offers an array of both new and vintage clothing. Owners Derik and Jessica Wineland push for sustainable fashion and continue to play a vital part in the Outer Banks community. “I’ve always viewed Mom’s as a community hub, and always wanted something along those lines because I know just how important for me it was when I was younger,” Derik said. Derik grew up in Michigan and was inspired by the local skate scene and local shops like Lit Records and Back Door Skateshop. Derik used these influences along with various other aspects of his life to create Mom’s. “As a teenager, I used to go to record shops, surf shops and skate shops to hang out,” he said. “I understand the importance of a brick-and-mortar shop and creating an experience while offering a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.” Now, Derik is preparing to expand the community hub he’s created after receiving a rare opportunity from another local shop owner who happened to be right around the corner: Bob Hovey of Duck Village Outfitters. “Bob comes in to get acai bowls all the time, so just over the years he’s remembered through our conversations that I’ve always wanted to have my

own building,” Derik said. “So when he decided to sell the Kitty Hawk location, they came to me before even putting it on the market.” In moving less than a quarter of a mile down the bypass, Mom’s hopes to offer customers a creative, in-depth experience every time they walk through the door. This means incorporating new things they’ve learned over the years along with perfecting what has come to be expected by longtime customers. “The new shop is going to give us the rare opportunity to ‘reset’ in a way, not that we’re taking away from anything a ton,” Derik said. “There’s just things that we have wanted to ‘edit’ for the last year or two but it’s difficult to implement multiple changes at once. ” First Flight students have long been a vital part of the Mom’s clientele. Derik sees this customer base as a vital part of his business – and a whole lot more. “We just wanted to do something totally different when we made Mom’s,” Derik said. “Not only with what we sell, but the vibe you get – I never want the customers to feel pressured into buying stuff when they come in the shop. I think it’s important at the end of the day for the youth to have a place to chill, feel comfortable and feel welcome.” And welcomed they feel, as senior Grayson Bell said: “It’s always good to support local business. It’s just a special place on the OBX. They have something that appeals to everyone, which is awesome. The owners are super inviting. All around it’s just a great place.” Customers will be welcomed into the new space before the start of the summer season, although a firm grand opening date hasn’t been set. That hasn’t stopped many students from getting hyped about checking out the new space.

Photo by Trinity Harrison/Nighthawk News

Mom’s Sweet Shop’s current front counter will soon be a distant memory as the popular hangout moves locations to the large space formerly occupied by DVO.

“I’m excited to see what they do with so much more space,” junior Ethan Parnell said. “They had so much good stuff in such a small store before. I want to see how they expand with their new space.” Until opening day, the Mom’s crew will continue to get the new space up to the standard customers have come to expect and hope to be met with excitement from both tourists and locals alike. “If the fire marshal shuts us down because there’s too many people, that’d be crazy,” Derik says with a laugh about how enthusiastically the new building will be received. “It’s just important for the community because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about Jess and me and the people that work at Mom’s. We’re trying constantly to make something for the community to enjoy and for the tourists to remember when they leave.” Senior Cassidy O’Neil can be reached at o’neilca1210@daretolearn.org.

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Nighthawk News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

Enter sandman: Nags Head set for beach nourishment

By Dair McNinch Community Editor

each nourishment, a well-debated topic among residents of the Outer Banks, is scheduled to expand 10 miles of Nags Head coastline starting at Bonnet Street and continuing south starting this May. Several important questions have been raised about nourishment projects around the Outer Banks. Residents have debated in recent years whether the possible environmental drawbacks and cost of the project is worth the outcome of the process. It’s widely accepted that the adverse environmental effects of beach nourishment can be prevented when the construction is done properly. By following the correct guidelines and using the right sediment, risks to fish, bivalves and other marine life can be minimized. Closely monitored construction can also ensure that animals like sea turtles aren’t hurt by the equipment. Nags Head Mayor Ben Cahoon believes that the project will be completed with these concerns in mind. “The first drawback of doing this is the environmental aspect, since we’re concerned about the sea life. But there are regulations and oversight for that,” Cahoon said. “At the Kill Devil Hills project a couple years ago they moved a significant amount of sea turtles out of the way of the operation, so we have a fair amount of confidence the environment is indeed being protected.” With this in mind, the debate comes down to the fact that the project’s outcome is something that isn’t going to last. Whether residents consider the project is worth it varies, since everyone knows the process will have to be repeated in a decade or less. Cahoon points out that cost is essentially what town conversation consisted of.

“Originally when we did the first beach nourishment project there was a lot of community conversation,” Cahoon said. “There were concerns expressed about the cost and the fact that it has to be repeated, and whether that cost would be equitably shared across the town.” Many members of the community, like science teacher Jason Breiholz, believe that the cost of the project is a necessary price to pay for the peace of mind it brings. “It’s something we’re gonna have to continue to do, and I’m willing to pay my taxes for it,” said Breiholz, an OBX native and avid surfer. “I’m a firm believer it’s the only thing we have to protect our roadways, oceanfront houses and businesses.” The funding for the 2019 Nags Head beach nourishment project comes half from the town taxes residents pay and the other matched by the county in occupancy taxes. Nags Head also has a municipal service district along the ocean front with increased taxes because of their benefits and risks. In Nags Head, the amount of revenue generated by the local tourism industry is the backbone of the town’s economy. With oceanfront property being one of the largest parts of that industry, beach nourishment seems valuable to protect the property from the ocean’s inevitable erosion. “I believe it was an overwhelming response ultimately that we do need to do this, so when it came time to do it again it was relatively straightforward and there’s not been a lot of reaction from the public,” Cahoon said. “We knew what the costs were, what the permit process was, and it went through fairly smoothly.” Money will be a major motivator in almost all decisions for construction projects in the United States. And while this was a significant aspect of the beach nourishment debate on the

Map by Emmy Trivette and Dair McNinch/Nighthawk News

Beach nourishment (red line) will begin at Bonnet Street (home icon) and extend 10 miles to the Nags Head town boundary (star icon).

Outer Banks, Cahoon describes some of the other beneﬁts that would be reaped. “For one, having a wide beach protects our town infrastructure,” Cahoon said. “If we allowed the erosion to continue, of course we’d lose the oceanfront houses but it’d soon threaten the beach road, water lines, power

lines and the kind of infrastructure that serves the town. It does protect the ocean-front structures, and they’re important both because they’re the primary accommodation for visitors and because they’re a signiﬁcant part of the tax base.” Senior Dair McNinch can be reached at mcninchle1121@daretolearn.org.

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2020 vision: Contrasting candidates prepare Marianne Williamson

Joe Biden

(Self-help author) Williamson is going into the candidacy with next to no political background. She ran to represent California’s 33rd Congressional District in 2014 as an Independent, yet came in fourth. However, the experience she does have will either be beneﬁcial or useless when running in 2020. She has appeared multiple times on Oprah and has written best-selling self-help books that focus on spirituality and counseling.

(Delaware Senator 1973-2009, Vice President 2009-2017) Obama’s running-mate and Vice President makes his run in 2020 as the Democratic nominee. With polls by CNN at 84 percent of Democrats and Independents in favor of Biden, he seems to be the front-runner as of now. As far as his political views, Biden believes in the push toward renewable energy, same-sex marriage, pro-choice, increased taxation of the wealthy and universal healthcare.

Beto O’Rourke (Representative of Texas’ 16th Congressional District in the House) Losing to Ted Cruz by only 2.6 percentage points in his bid for Texas Senator, O’Rourke came the closest any Democrat has to winning the Texas seat in a long time. Even before O’Rourke made his candidacy ofﬁcial in mid-March, Democrats nationwide were pushing for his campaign to win against President Donald Trump. As far as his political views, O’Rourke ran a grassroots campaign designated to listening to the common citizen. This, coupled with his left-wing ideals, will make for a strong Democratic contender.

Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts Senior Senator) Warren has been pegged as the Republican target in the early days of her campaign. Strikingly similar to Hillary Clinton, Warren is an older woman with Democratic views, making her the perfect victim for the brunt of Republican criticism. Her stances on issues include raising tax rates on the top income bracket, affordable college, supporting renewable energy, prochoice, supporting same-sex marriage and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Kamala Harris (California Junior Senator) Harris will be somewhat of an underdog in the 2020 campaign. Only the second African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate and potentially the ﬁrst black female president, Harris will be supported by the minority. As far as her political views, she is a strong supporter of the Paris Accord, free tuition for four-year college students, the ban of assault weapons, universal healthcare, DACA and a re-examination of ICE, pro-choice and same-sex marriage.

Julián Castro (Former Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, and youngest member of Obama’s Cabinet, serving as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) Intending to restore an Obama-type leadership, Castro goes up against Pete Buttigieg as a younger candidate. Coming from a poverty-stricken upbringing while also being a minority could reel in voters from low-income families. Castro will work toward civil rights, universal health care, and gun reform, and also is pro-choice.

John Delaney

Tulsi Gabbard (Representative from Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District) With experience in the Iraq war, Gabbard faces criticism due to her father’s anti-gay organization and defense of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Despite criticism, Gabbard supports pro-choice, same-sex marriage and opposes the Trans-Paciﬁc Partnership.

Bernie Sanders

(Representative from Maryland’s 6th Congressional District in the House/millionaire entrepreneur and businessman) The ﬁrst member to launch a 2020 presidential bid, Delaney does not have the recognition many of the other candidates have. His pragmatic approach to bridging the partisan gaps may lead to support. His support for both sides of the aisle may see him vote on even the right-wing side of things.

Kirsten Gillibrand

(Vermont Junior Senator) A Democratic socialist, Sanders has some of the most unique views of most candidates in 2020. At 77 years old, Sanders was unexpected to run for the presidential slot, yet announced his ofﬁcial campaign as of Feb. 19. Some of his main pushes for change include his stance on free college tuition, banned assault weapons, universal healthcare and the taxation of the wealthy class.

(New York Junior Senator and former Representative for New York’s 20th Congressional District) Running on the platform of supporting people’s kids as she would her own, Gillibrand may reel in middle-aged women Democratic voters. Her views include making public higher-education debt free, accessible childcare, universal background checks and banned assault weapons, reformed handling of sexual assault on college campuses/military, allowing gay/transgender citizens to serve in the military, pro-choice and immigration reform that includes a path for citizenship.

Cory Booker

Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota Senior Senator) Klobuchar’s platform includes an amendment to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, signing back on to the Paris climate agreement and a focus on criminal justice and universal healthcare. She is favored by many Democrats due to her strong performance in Minnesota.

(New Jersey Junior Senator) Running on a similar platform as former President Barack Obama, Booker intends to highlight the importance of racial and social justice. He is also a supporter of universal healthcare, “environmental justice,” education reform, pro-choice, samesex marriage and the legalization of marijuana.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

campaigns for approaching presidential race Jay Inslee

Susana Martinez

Mo Brooks

Nikki Haley

(Alabama’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House) Brooks ran for the U.S. Senate in 2017 to ﬁll Jeff Sessions’ seat, yet lost to Luther Strange. He supports the repeal of Obamacare, the prevention of the military to allow “Dreamers” to enlist in the armed forces and is a pro-life supporter. He hasn’t announced is he’s running for president, but Ann Coulter called him a “terriﬁc” challenger in the primary.

(U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations) When considering running for President in 2016, Haley was extremely critical of Donald Trump. As far as her 2020 views, she says she still supports the president and isn’t running. Haley remains a conservative in stances that are anti-Obamacare, pro gun rights, pro-life and strict immigration laws. Haley is one of the few woman Republican candidates who could run and will need immense support from anti-Trump supporters.

(Governor of Washington) Inslee comes from a heavy political background, as he has been a member of the US House of Representatives and the Washington House of Representatives from 1989 to 2013. He’s been a prominent member of the Democratic Party for over three decades and is very outspoken about issues such as climate change, drug policy reform and education.

(Governor of New Mexico) Being the governor of a swing state, Martinez could have leverage in the 2020 election should she choose to challenge Trump. This combined with her Hispanic heritage will combat the views of Donald Trump and his push toward the Mexican border wall. Depending upon the amount of pushback on Trump’s wall, Martinez could bring in minority conservative voters in 2020.

Andrew Yang

Tom Cotton

John Kasich

(Entrepreneur) Yang is one of the only 2020 candidates running with no political experience, but this could work in his favor as President Donald Trump won the presidency with zero experience in politics. He has a unique platform, including a universal basic income, meaning he wishes to grant all Americans 18 and older $1,000 per month. Yang focuses on economics and income inequality within different parts of the U.S.

(Arkansas Junior Senator) With both a Harvard Law education and time serving in Afghanistan and Iraq with the U.S. Army, Cotton has had ample experience in multiple areas that could impress voters should he choose to challenge Trump. First serving in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015, Cotton is in full support of Trump, but is not as brazen in his media presence.

(Ohio Governor) If he decides to run, this would be Kasich’s third presidential bid, making him not the most popular among Republicans. Worried about the policies and divisive nature of the party under Trump’s leadership, Kasich hopes to lead in a much different way. His views remain pro-life, advocating for the realness of climate change, increased funding to charter and poor school districts and most surprising, his liberal views on the LGBTQ+ community.

Pete Buttigieg (Mayor of South Bend, Indiana) At only 36 years old, Buttigieg just makes the cut, with the requirement of a presidential candidate being 35. His age, however, will aid him in gaining young Democratic supporters. Buttigieg may pull younger supporters older candidates cannot. His views include gun control, tax reform and climate change. Essentially, Buttigieg believed the White House needs a young, fresh face to run the country in 2020.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

Scott Walker (Former governor of Wisconsin) While Walker has said he has no plans to run against Trump for the 2020 Republican nomination, he remains a popular, well-spoken ﬁgure in Republican circles. Walker advocates for education, or more speciﬁcally the increase of school choice and the rejection of Common Core. He believes in the importance of border security, yet opposes deportation and the path to citizenship by immigrants. Walker is pro-life and also wishes to overturn the Constitutional amendment on same-sex marriage.

Ted Cruz (Texas Junior Senator) Republican runner-up in the 2016 election, Cruz hasn’t yet decided if he’ll run for his second time in 2020. He has been described as a “movement conservative,” including religious conservatism and constitutional conservatism that leans libertarian. Cruz opposes a higher minimum wage and is pro-life, anti-gun control, anti-same-sex marriage and against the legalization of marijuana.

Larry Hogan (Governor of Maryland) Although Hogan has not said whether or not he plans to challenge Trump for the nomination, he has not been shy when criticizing the Republican National Committee. Hogan has been described as a “moderate Republican,” pragmatist and centrist in his views. This makes Hogan unique, as he is not a typical right-wing conservative. His ideals may be further looked at with his support of same-sex marriage, gun control and free community college tuition.

Mike Pence (Vice President of the United States) Despite Trump’s claims of Pence’s “unloyalty,” he does seem to want his Vice President to be on the 2020 ballot with him once again. There are, however, whispers about Pence being booted from the VP seat, with Nikki Haley a possible replacement.

Photos from Tribune News Service Information compiled by Caroline Jenkins, Opinions Editor

A r t i s t s mi

sol

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White hitting the high notes all the way to Michigan By Sophie Johnson Social Media Editor

olding on to You” by Twenty One Pilots, a pop and rap song. If you’ve ever heard it, you’d think, “No way someone can sing and play that song on the ukulele!” However, you thought wrong: this is senior Courtney White’s go-to karaoke song. “It’s just a fun song and every time I do it, I’m not saying I’m amazing at it because I know I’m not,” White said with a laugh. “It’s just the one song that people are like, ‘Oh my gosh, she can play ukulele and rap, that’s so cool.’ ” White has been singing her whole life and it all started in church, watching her mom sing. She started participating in musicals at her church and has taken chorus all four years of high school and participated in Hawkapella. She eventually took piano lessons to add to her musical abilities. White also plays the ukulele, box drum and is learning how to play the guitar. Combining all of her musical talents into a song has been something White has been working to accomplish at her internship at the Evangelical Church in Elizabeth City. She makes the drive up there a couple of times a week to meet with her worship pastor, Jeff Wortman. “The internship consists of learning about what being a music minister or worship leader looks like,” Wortman said. “A lot of people think that you just show up on Sundays and play some music, but there’s more to it.” At her internship, White gets handson experience by preparing the music and the worship part of the youth group that meets every Sunday evening. “We’re kind of forming your own philosophy of what does worship look like, and so we’re going through a couple different books and talking about that,” Wortman said. “We’re also learning how to record if you wanted to write your own songs and record them to make an album.” The two have written and recorded a song together and sang it for their church. Wortman gave her a topic and the key to write it in, then White wrote

Senior Courtney White sings a tune while also strumming on her ukulele at the North Carolina Potato Festival. White has been participating in the school’s choir for four years and will continue her music journey at Grace Christian University to pursue her passions for both music and faith.

Photo submitted by Courtney White

net takes confidence and so does talking the chorus while he wrote the verses. in front of hundreds of people at church. They brought the song together and Wortman has been warming up White played it for people at the church. to speaking in front “People seemed of people by letting to like it and we her open the time of recorded it. We’re singing during each hoping we get to do service with a thought more of that and or the theme that include everybody they’re focusing on. on the team to pitch “I’ve had her do in and help out,” that and she has to Wortman said. “The Courtney White’s speak in front of the goal is to give peoYouTube where she hundreds of people ple their own songs there,” Wortman said. that they can sing, posts covers of songs “She was a little worthat came out of the can be found by ried about it at the church.” beginning and she’s Along with researching “Courtkind of stepping into cording a song with that a little bit and her worship pastor, neezy Covers.” getting less nervous.” White has also Talking and singwritten a couple of ing in front of hundreds of people are songs herself. two different types of nervous. White “I have a few songs that I’ve rehad the opportunity to go to California leased on YouTube, but I don’t know in August of 2017 and compete in a if I’m actually going to do anything fine arts competition for her church. serious with them,” she said. Posting singing videos on the interShe made it to regionals, then made it

to the competition in California. “It was fun and a really awesome experience for me and got me more confident in what I’m doing,” she said. Although White fell in love with California on her trip, she will be attending Grace Christian University, an evangelical college, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this fall. The music program they have will give her a lot of different experiences. “If I wanted to produce my own music I would have the experience and tools to do that. But if I wanted to be a pastor at a church, like a music pastor, then I could do that. I could do whatever I wanted in this program,” White said. White has come a long way from singing in church musicals as a child to going 918 miles to Grace University. After growing up in the church, it’s looking like she will more than likely end up there as a career, continuing to impress all around her with a wide array of talent. Senior Sophie Johnson can be reached at johnsonso0628@daretolearn.org.

Nighthawk News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

the Spotlight

Swaim strums through life, inspired by grandfather

By Cassie Honeycutt Staff Writer

he strum of guitar strings fills the background with white noise. The bell rings when a customer comes in the Jubilee Music Store with a broken violin string. Junior Dawson Swaim puts down his guitar and hops up from behind the counter and begins helping the customer. From fixing gear in his grandparents’ store to playing a plethora of instruments, Swaim has always been surrounded by music thanks to his family. “My grandpa has played guitar since he was 9 and my grandma started playing upright bass about seven to nine years ago,” Swaim said. “My grandparents are in a band called Drifting Sands. I would go around with them to festivals and other shows.” When the bluegrass and gospel band traveled all around North Carolina and Virginia to towns and churches to perform, Swaim was there as both roadie and performer. “I helped the band set up all the equipment and help put it all away,” Swaim said. “I played with them when I was 6 to 7 and just strummed on my Baby Martin Guitar.” He’s come a long way from the Baby Martin. Today, Swaim uses music in all dynamics of his life, playing acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, ukulele, and upright bass as a coping mechanism for when he gets annoyed. “When I get frustrated, I try to learn something new on an instrument,” Swaim said. “I take time away from the other instrument to gather myself on a different one. The motivating factor is my friends and family, because they all want me to succeed. It works both ways, I push them and they push me.” Music has not only played a role in his familial relationships, but has helped him build strong friendships. “Music is one of the reasons why Dawson and I became friends,” junior Cameron Wild said. “We were at a quinceanera and Dawson was playing some old throwback songs that I knew, so I started rapping the songs he was playing. We ended up spending the majority of the time there just jamming out to throwback songs and it sparked a really cool friendship.” So much of Swaim’s life revolves around music and the people he makes music with, it’s no wonder he plans to further pursue his passion with a job in the music industry. He plans to become a beat engineer, someone who helps produce a recording or a live performance by balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization, audio effects and mixing. Swaim discovered this job when he was younger. He listened to rap songs and noticed that the rappers were a very small part of the song. As he got older, he learned that those rappers are such a big part of the song because they are the beat. “The beat of any song and the vocals of any Nighthawk News Magazine / / features

Photos submitted by Dawson Swaim

Junior Dawson Swaim (above) works hard at repairing an electric guitar at Jubilee Music Store. At right, a younger Swaim smiles for the camera as he practices his strumming skills on his fire red guitar. Swaim got into music at a young age and has been surrounded by it since.

song are dictated by what the (beat engineer) does,” Swaim said. “That’s what’s gotten me so interested in it.” Swaim has started using GarageBand to begin experimenting with the tools of a beat engineer. He recently stumbled across information about Full Sail University, which specializes in music production, and plans to head there after graduation to turn his passion for music into a career. “I feel like music is the driving factor in my life, and if someone took that away I don’t know what I’d do,” Swaim said. “Music is the driving force of humankind, in my opinion. Every human enjoys music, and I think that’s how I have kept my love for it all these years.” Sophomore Cassie Honeycutt can be reached at 21honeycuttca35@daretolearn.org.

Photos by Ben Tran and Buzzy Staten/ Nighthawk News

Gard dresses to impress, one colorful outﬁt at a time

By Izzy Requa Sports Editor

chool can start to feel like an endless routine, but seeing science teacher Angela Gard in the morning as she braves the wind in her large, color-coordinated hat makes the day a hundred times better. The AP Biology teacher is known for never repeating an outfit – not once all school year – and students love seeing what outfits Gard will wear. “I’ve always liked to dress, but I just thought, ‘I wonder if I have enough clothes that I could wear a different outfit every day?’ And then I was like, ‘Oh, I can almost do it – there’s a good reason to go shopping,’” Gard said with a laugh. Gard learned the importance of dressing professionally when she went on a sabbatical from teaching in 2009. That experienced made her believe in dressing up for any job she has. “I left the classroom and I went to work for a

nonprofit that was in education,” Gard said. “It was corporate, and so I would dress a certain way because I would be expected to be showing confidence and putting out a corporate persona.” Realizing her closet was full of dressy clothes, Gard decided instead of buying new, casual clothes, she would wear them every day, and began seeing the benefits of this change. “When I’m at home, I’ll wear my pajamas and my sister will come over and I’ll still be in my pajamas at 5 o’clock in the afternoon. I just thought, ‘It just makes me more lazy when I don’t get dressed,’ ” Gard said. Gard doesn’t just dress for herself – she enjoys seeing her students’ reactions to her wardrobe. “I think that students are positively affected, because they tell me, ‘I look forward to seeing what you’re wearing today’ or ‘you dress nice’ or ‘I like the way that that sweater feels’ or ‘when I see you it makes me happy,’ so they tell me it makes a difference,” Gard said. Sophomore Elijah Nicewonger and junior Zoe

Blankenship can count on their teacher’s outﬁts to brighten their day. “She wears what we are going to learn for the day,” Nicewonger said. “She has DNA dresses and mitosis and plant cell dresses and it just gets the day going with what we’re going to learn about.” Her students love her bright and cheery personality, too. “She’s so fun and she always says good morning. She’s such a great person. She gets ‘best teacher’ award,” Blankenship said. Gard believes there is more to learn in education than from a book, and her outﬁts help teach these lessons. “I like to think that maybe some lessons my students are getting are (to) have personal pride in yourself, if you choose to do something, do it well, and that’s just as important as ‘do you know the steps of mitosis?’ ” Gard said. Junior Izzy Requa can be reached at requais0227@ daretolearn.org.

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NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

Is the next Gordon Ramsay cooking up a career?

By Kejsi Zyka Staff Writer

ith a clever username, ﬂavorful posts and hundreds of followers, sophomore Max Stabley’s food account, @noodlestothemax, on Instagram is more popular than ever. Stabley has always had a passion for cooking and decided that the best way to portray his talent was to show others. “I started making the Instagram a year after I started cooking, and I decided I wanted to show the world what I was making,” Stabley said. Stabley’s infatuation with cooking started with him trying to ﬁnd a new hobby. His mother encouraged cooking at a young age, and he’s been attached to it ever since. “My mom saw a Blue Apron commercial where they send you all these ingredients that you can make yourself and tips on how to make them,” Stabley said. “She decided that would be a good hobby for me.” With hopes of becoming a professional chef, Stabley’s biggest inspiration is his dad, who has given him a lot of tips and helped him improve in his cooking. “My dad is a cook himself. He owns Outer Banks Taco Bar, and I’ve always been intrigued by what he does,” Stabley said.

While Stabley’s family is very involved in his cooking, his friends are invested as well. Junior Aidan May continues to show his support for the Instagram account and is a big fan of Stabley’s cooking. “I think it’s pretty impressive,” May said. “Every time I look at the pictures I just wonder how he makes the foods and what gives him the inspiration to make them.” As a devoted follower, May hopes Stabley continues updating his Instagram account. “Max is a good friend of mine and I’m glad he’s doing something he’s so good at,” May said. “I haven’t tried any of the foods he’s made but if I were to go over to his house right now, I would make sure he’d make me something.” For Stabley, cooking will always be his passion, and he’s excited for the wonderful adventures to come. “I want to do this because I enjoy it a lot. I’m very particular on what I want to do when I grow up and I think this could be the job that I do,” Stabley said. After ﬁnishing the perfect meal, Stabley leans over to get the perfect angle to share with his followers. He snaps the picture and prepares for the exciting food journey he has ahead of him. Junior Kejsi Zyka can be reached at zykake0914@daretolearn.org.

Sophomore Max Stabley stands in his kitchen as he ﬁnishes preparing dinner. Stabley has a passion for cooking and is known for his food Instagram account.

Photo submitted by Max Stabley

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This musical is Practically Practically in every way

perfect perfect

By Chloe Futrell Editor-in-Chief London, 1910. It’s autumn: a dark sky, scudding clouds. A landscape of early twentieth-century rooftops is spread out before us. Bert, a chimney sweep, enters and addresses the audience.

t is such a magical story and it’s the best Disney movie ever,” junior Damon Horak said of “Mary Poppins”. “It’s all about magic and fun, and it has a lot of little lessons in it and I feel like at all ages you will get something out of the story.” A spoonful of sugar, chimney sweeps, a magic carpet bag and the world’s most troubled family will take the stage at FFHS from March 21-23. The Banks children are in need of a proper nanny, and Mary Poppins does just the trick. But this family faces many tribulations that Poppins believes can be solved with “A Spoonful of Sugar.” “Mary Poppins” is a Disney musical ﬁlled to the brim with magic, and emphasizes the elasticity of the human imagination. The enchanting, upbeat, kid-friendly show is a change in pace from the company’s previous shows. “It’s very different, and Mrs. (Monica) Penn and I try and mix up the variety a little bit every year,” head director Lauren Deal said. “Last year we did ‘Grease’, which is very, very different from ‘Mary Poppins’. Two years ago we did ‘9 to 5’, which is kind of a country rock musical.”

But, this year the directors decided to keep the rating G to allow for a bigger turnout. “We haven’t really done anything child oriented or Disney since we did ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in 2015,” Deal said. “Usually these shows that appeal to little kids bring in a different demographic.” The cast and crew are enthralled to put on their production, but ﬁrst the technicalities need to be worked out. Horak plays the male lead, Bert, a lucky chimney sweep and eccentric jack-of-all-trades. Horak’s talents also extend beyond acting and into the technical side of things: He serves as the musical’s “Head of Magic.” “I am ﬁguring how we are going to pull off crazy, magical things on stage,” Horak said. “Of course in the movie you have movie magic going on but we have to do this live in front of people. We have to make this look like things are doing things they wouldn’t normally do.” Although the sets are elaborate and musical numbers energetic, the real magic comes from the infamous Mary Poppins, played by junior Elizabeth Montgomery. “I was so excited when they thought about doing ‘Mary Poppins’. It’s such a classic,” Montgomery said. But none of it would be possible without her costar Horak. The two share the stage as a fun-loving duo. “We are good friends already,” Montgomery said. “As soon as I found out he was Bert and he found out I was Mary we were like, ‘We are going to practice

FFHS Prom 2019 Theme

this and do so well.’ ” The two have phenomenal chemistry, but the rest of the cast and crew is what really brings it together for Deal. “With it being my ﬁrst year as head director it was challenging for me to choose a musical that would please everybody and be a good choice for our cast,” Deal said. “So it took a really long time to choose ‘Mary Poppins’, but in the end I am glad that this is the one we selected.” Seniors are also glad Deal made this decision. A large portion of the cast will be saying “break a leg!” for the last time this March. “It is really sad because I have spent so much time in this auditorium in the last four years of my life. And it is going to be weird having that last show and knowing I am not coming back for another one,” senior Caitlin Nicholson said. Another senior, stage manager OJ Sawtell, also is bittersweet about leaving StageKraft behind. This is Sawtell’s eighth show working as a “techie” behind the scenes. This year she is helping run the show. “My favorite part about it is seeing how the actors work because previously I have never been at an acting rehearsal, so it is cool to see how everything comes together,” Sawtell said. Take a walk in the park with Mary Poppins and the rest of the eclectic cast from March 21-23. Tickets are just $6 for students and $8 general admission. Senior Chloe Futrell can be reached at futrellch1114@daretolearn.org.

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“The theme is Harry Potter Yule Ball,” Prom sponsor Lauren Deal said. “It’s a theme that has been a finalist the past few years and I think it can be really pretty.”

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“Prom is Saturday, April 27, from 8-11:30 p.m. It’s a week or two later than usual. Manteo was only able to get their location on the 27th and we have to have prom the same day as Manteo for ‘After Prom’, ” Deal explained.

Date Tickets

“Ticket sales will start before spring break,” Deal said. They’ll be $15 for seniors, $20 for juniors, $25 for underclassmen.

Shorelines ﬁle photos/Graphic by Hunter Haskett/Nighthawk News

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NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

Photos by Ben Tran/Nighthawk News

Clockwise (from top left): Junior Elizabeth Montgomery sings a number from the show with the help of Mary Poppins’ “magical” umbrella. Freshman Loxley Wayland and junior Quinn Ratti share an animated conversation onstage. Junior Damon Horak, who plays Bert in the show, sings a duet with Montgomery (far right). Horak sings the well known ‘Chim Chim Cher-ee’ chimney sweep song. Senior Caitlin Nicholson dances as a toy rag doll.

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We Proudly Support First Flight Schools

Photos by Ben Tran/Nighthawk News

(Above) Sophomores Jonathan Davis and Grace Hewitt, who play siblings Michael and Jane Banks, “ﬁght” onstage. Sophomore Grace Thompson (below) sings from the couch as Jane and Michael’s mother, Winifred.

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252-449-2600 | www.SoundSidePools.com NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

Spillin’ the beans about local c ffee sh ps Reporting by Emmy Trivette News Editor Graphic by Hannah Ellington Editor-in-Chief

Review: Duck’s Cottage is well known for its coconut coffee. So, we decided to buy the “Cocoduck” – a latte with a shot of coconut espresso and caramel flavoring. In all honesty, the coffee was good, but when compared to the drinks we tried from other shops, not the best. The price was about the same as most shops, and in addition, its lack of “vegan-friendliness” (besides offering almond milk) made an “OK” cup of coffee not entirely worth it. Taste: 7/10 Price: 7/10 Vegan Friendliness: 4/10 Customer Service: 7/10 Environment: 8/10 Notes: While the coffee was decent, Duck’s Cottage should be known for its variety of homemade biscottis – something that sets it apart from other local coffee shops.

Review: We all know Front Porch. It’s been the local coffee spot for almost 20 years, but does it still live up to all its glory? Answer: Yes. The three shops always have a friendly atmosphere, whether you’re studying or looking for conversation with friends. The shop’s coffee does have its own taste, maybe not the best of the shops, but good and unique and familiar in its own way. The price always depends on what you get. A $2 cup of coffee is definitely worth just that, but your specialty drink that has to be made by someone a little more experienced gets you your $6 or $7 worth. Taste: 9/10 Price: 8/10 Vegan Friendliness: 8/10 Customer Service: 8/10 Environment: 9/10 Notes: Since Front Porch is one of the oldest local spots, many of its student customers know their drinks inside and out – but fortunately, the shop still creates new specialty drinks on a weekly basis.

Photo by Emmy Trivette/Nighthawk News

Ashley Linnekin, owner of Ashley’s Espresso Parlour, stands baking delicious scones for customers to enjoy. Ashley’s only recently opened but has quickly become a hot spot for students to hang out, drink coffee and eat pastries.

Nighthawk News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

Review: Treehouse Coffee was excellent – and I’m not just saying that because my EIC works there. We had its cold brew coffee (something Treehouse is known for, especially because of its rich flavor and the amount of Yama towers it has), two tea mixes (green and peach, both bursting with flavor) and a vegan macchiato (or as they liked to call it, “grown-up hot chocolate”). Price was similar to other local coffee spots, but the coffees were outstanding. The customer service was awesome, and the location, tucked away in a grove of trees in Scarborough Faire, made it seem like you could be in an actual tree house – so overall, the experience was great. Taste: 10/10 Price: 8/10 Vegan Friendliness: 10/10 Customer Service: 9/10 Environment: 9/10 Notes: Treehouse is primarily a coffee shop, but now, five years after opening, the shop has also converted into a partial breakfast place.

Review: Tucked away in a small shopping center off the bypass, Morning View is one of the lesser visited shops by First Flight students, but still a great coffee spot. Not only do they serve good coffee and have a cozy environment, but they also offer a 10-percent discount for all FFHS students. When we visited, we tried one of their specialty drinks, a lavender latte – interesting flavor, but it wasn’t what we were expecting. And though their customer service was extremely friendly, they weren’t very vegan friendly (no almond milk or flavor substitutes), and though they had plenty of options like many of the other local shops, the actual flavor variation wasn’t very diverse. Taste: 7/10 Price: 9/10 Vegan Friendliness: 2/10 Customer Service: 9/10 Environment: 9/10 Notes: Morning View and Ashley’s have more than one thing in common than coffee – while Ashley Linnekin now owns Ashley’s Espresso Parlour, her first independent coffee shop venture was Morning View. The shop is very pet friendly, and while the actual coffee isn’t anything unique, it’s a great environment to just go to study or sit down with some of the shop’s dogs in the morning.

It’s Never Too Late for a

New Beginning Christie McEwan MS, M.Ed, LCAS, ICCDP, ICAADC, CCTP

Counseling Services Review: Being one of the newest coffee shops on the beach, Ashley’s Espresso Parlour sparked the idea for a full local coffee review because people want to know if it’s worth a visit. The verdict: It absolutely is. Only a month into its ﬁrst day of opening, Ashley’s (as it is becoming known) has already gained a fair share of its own patrons. Ashley’s is steadily earning a reputation for its unique environment and very friendly customer service. The coffee can deﬁnitely be recognized for a signature taste. If you ever talk to Ashley, you can hear the passion in her voice that she has for roasting coffee – her roasting machine, Helga, is even out in the open for all to see. And while almost all other qualities are outstanding, it is a new shop, so price is expected to not be as great. Taste: 9/10 Price: 8/10 Vegan Friendliness: 9/10 Customer Service: 10/10 Environment: 10/10 Notes: Little things like ukuleles and art easels can be found scattered across the shop for anyone to use. NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

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Our View: Religious ideals prove challenging for teens

Editors-in-Chief – Hannah Ellington, Chloe Futrell, Hunter Haskett Business Manager – Kejsi Zyka News Editor – Emmy Trivette Features Editor – Simone Midgett Online Editors-in-Chief – Trinity Harrison, Grace Sullivan Opinions Editor – Caroline Jenkins

articulated through poetry, music, art eligion defines the lives of people everywhere. For some, or helping people, whether as part of a community, a volunteer or being a that means going to church weekly or just for the holidays. doctor or nurse.” To put this into the confines of First Others choose to explore their spirituFlight, 46 percent of the 309 students ality personally, with their parents, at who took our religion survey consider coffee shop Bible studies, on mission themselves non-religious. Of students trips. And there are those who choose who are religious, 21.5 percent identify not to be part of a religious mindset, which they may find to be just as fulas Catholic. Coming in a close second is “other” with 19.2 percent, which makes filling as believing in a higher power. for an interesting idea. In No matter your perour survey, we included 14 sonal beliefs, there is no of the most well-known redenying that religion is a ligions and denominations major influence univerto choose from; therefore, sally, touching the lives of it is fascinating that almost people of all ages, instilling a fifth of the school still a hope that outlasts any STAFF identified as “other.” detrimental event or perniEDITORIAL cious bump in the winding The fact that almost half road of life. For some it the school holds no ties to means everything: the meaning of life, religion at all matches the trend reporta promise to be saved, self-fulfillment, ed by the likes of National Geographic, atonement. For others it holds no mean- which wrote in late 2016 that “nones” ing at all, yet this lack of belief does – those who are religiously unaffiliatnot make them any less self-fulfilled or ed – are the fastest growing “religious happy, adding to the diversity and comgroup” in the West. At the same time, plexity of each person everywhere. belief in the divine is growing amongst Society in 2019 is extremely sengroups worldwide, especially in places sitive. We are exposed to the abrasive like Africa and Asia. What to make of it all? Being a internet and get upset over minute teenager means a lot of different things said by celebrities or our friends things. The search for your own idenon social media. It is for this reason tity will consume all four years of high that religion has become a taboo topic school life – and many more after we for some. Among friends it is someleave First Flight. Religion can exert thing to joke about or keep hidden in a sense of belonging into the life of the depths of a closet behind a pressed young minds. It is this time that we feel linen Sunday dress. One’s non-belief the most fragile, self-conscious, alone, will bother someone just as much as another’s belief. People can become anxious and scared of what’s to come. uncomfortable at the thought of havFor some, religion is the comfort needed in order to feel less alone and more ing to admit their religion and choose to stifle it in order to remain agreeable. guided to make the right decisions while in one of the most moldable parts As stated by Elaine Pagels in her of our lives. Others will choose “none” book “Why Religion”, “Not everybody needs religion. My husband’s sense of over nuns and find their own way. And one of the great mysteries of life will transcendence came through physics. I also know many people who find that continue to both comfort and confuse.

IN OUR OPINION

Photo Editor – Buzzy Staten Assistant Photo Editor – Ben Tran Sports Editor – Izzy Requa Social Media Editor– Sophie Johnson Community Editor – Dair McNinch Staff Writers – Kristen Applebaum, Peyton Dickerson, Abby Hite, Cassie Honeycutt, Katie MacBride, Will McFarlane, Cassidy O’Neil, Jack Voight, Maddy Wagner Adviser – Steve Hanf

ighthawk News Magazine is published four times a 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 School. Approximately 4,000 copies are inserted in the Outer Banks Sentinel, while another 1,200 are 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; 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. Reach us by mail at 100 Veterans Drive, Kill Devil Hills, N.C. 27948, by phone at (252) 449-7000 or by e-mail at hanfst@daretolearn.org. Advertising inquiries can be made by phone or email. Nighthawk News is a member of the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association and the National Scholastic and Southern Interscholastic press associations. Our stories also are published online at NighthawkNews.com. Follow us on Twitter @FFNighthawkNews, Facebook.com/NighthawkNews, Instagram @FFHSNighthawkNews and Snapchat at Nighthawk.News. Target Printing and Distribution of Fayetteville prints our paper.

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Hawk Talk: What do you want to be a priority for

“A less-strict cell phone policy. At least let the students use it during lunch.” - sophomore Gaby Burtnett

“To have a better set schedule for Empower Time, kept the same every year, not change it; someone who is enthusiastic about our sports.” - junior Jake Pendergrass

“Advocating against bullying more.” - freshman Jordyn Scarborough

“I’d want him/her to be concerned about or at least listen to what the students want and take our input – really.” - sophomore Logan Hanf

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

Stressful junior year is one to forget

hen upperclassmen tell you that junior year is by far the worst year of high school, we are not exaggerating. Imagine taking three AP courses and having an online sixth period on top of SGA, two after-school jobs, sports and other clubs – only to realize that isn’t enough in the eyes of some colleges. You still have to find time to get volunteer hours and there is always going to be someone that did just one thing more that could set them apart from you – that one more thing that could get them into your dream college. Something else that sets junior year apart from other years of high school is the beloved standardized tests: the SAT and the ACT. These are two of the most mentally draining tests I have ever taken. The ACT consists of five sections: English, Math, Reading, Science and Writing. It is a 215-question long test that is three hours and 35 minutes long. That is 215 minutes of answering questions that we have been preparing for since freshman year. Both of these tests are timed according to section, and I’m almost positive every other student sitting in the same room as I was while taking the ACT thought the same thing: How is it humanly possible to answer 75 questions in 45 minutes? At that rate, in order to finish, you must answer one question every 36 seconds. The worst part about these tests is that they count for everything. They can be the deciding factor that a college considers when you apply. In fact, these two tests play a hefty role in determining your whole future. Not to mention the hours upon

hours you spend hunched over an SAT practice book trying to improve your score, even if it is just by 20 points. Junior year also comes with touring colleges and beginning to plan the rest of our lives. Determining our future at 16 years old? I know, trust me, it’s as crazy as it sounds. I’m sure I am not alone when I say this, I am not worried about what I am going to be doing when I am 25. I am worried about the realization that I have one year with the people who have been by my side since I can remember. I am worried about soaking in the last year of being a kid before the reality of being an adult sets in. Don’t get me wrong, I am just as stressed as the next junior and reality is setting in that I need to actually figure out what I want to do with my life. But when it comes down to it, there is much more to our last two years in high school, like waiting for our anticipated senior pictures to hand out to those we hold close to our hearts, going to senior prom, attending my last football game as a high schooler, running down the lacrosse field one last time. Alongside all of the struggles and tormenting hours of studying that come with junior year, there is the feeling of drive and determination that comes when you are in the middle of a race: You know the only way it will be over is if you make it to the finish line. You know that once you get to the last leg (or should I say senior year) it will all have been worth it. One day it will be our turn to walk across the stage in ambivalence. Part of us won’t be able to contain our excitement to figure out what the future holds, but the other part of us will think of all the memories we have made

Illustration by Lauren Law/Special to Nighthawk News

together since elementary school. We will think of the numerous hours we spent working on our homecoming float, the stop light they placed in the middle school cafeteria to keep us from being too loud, the famous sixth-grade kickball tournament

and all of our other recollections from our time together. But surely, we won’t be reminiscing on our junior year. Junior Simone Midgett can be reached at midgettsa0827@daretolearn. org.

the person hired to be our principal next year?

“A leader that can lead us to become good citizens.” - sophomore Evan Wienert

Nighthawk News Magazine / / opinions

“Better school food.” - junior Ethan White

“I hope to see someone who loves the school and listens to the students.” - sophomore Illiana Jauregui

“Someone who is more involved.” - freshman Allegra Mackenzie-Reese

COA

Unpopular Opinions Social media is chock full of opinions, and #UnpopularOpinion has become a platform to express ideas about anything and everything. Nighthawk News’ Simone Midgett and Abby Hite bring you this list of opinions, and we invite you to follow our @FFNighthawkNews Twitter account and @FFHSNighthawkNews on Instagram this spring as we seek your opinions!

COA is the way

tarting in middle school, advanced classes like Math I, Math II, English I, World History and Earth and Environmental Science – all freshman-level classes – are pushed down to students so they can get ahead of the curve. The “gifted” children who scored high on tests were always separated so they could excel. When they get to high school, they begin taking classes much harder than what the rest of their grade is taking, continuing the cycle. I started out my freshman year taking Biology and Math II, classes that were filled with sophomores, which made me feel really out of place.The age difference doesn’t seem like it would matter, but the divide between freshmen and sophomores can be enormous. I finished my science credits for all of high school my sophomore year and will have all my math credits when I pass Pre-Calculus (fingers crossed) this year. I won’t have math on my schedule my senior year (one of the classes colleges want to see the most) unless I take Calculus (which I know I won’t pass) or a COA math. Most students are facing this decision: Take AP classes that can be extremely rigorous and that you may not pass, or take dual enrollment classes through College of the Albemarle that have a guaranteed college and high school credit. AP classes are supposed to prepare you for college, but COA is actual college work that forces you to be proactive. Online classes also give students a sense of independence since you may not always have easy access to your teacher. A lot of people criticize COA courses because students can easily cheat. There are some students who make the choice to cheat, but kids cheat in front of teachers every day. If a student doesn’t want to do the work themselves

then they will find a way around it no matter what setting. The more COA classes you take and pass, the more your GPA gets a boost, just like you would from an AP class. But a lot of people don’t think it’s the same and that it’s unfair someone could have a higher GPA by taking COA classes rather than AP. How is taking five COA classes different from taking five AP classes? They both give you a boost for taking a college-level course; the only difference is you need a 4 or a 5 on the AP exam to get college credit. Taking COA classes has been extremely beneficial and has shown me how diligent I need to be about my work. I know what I have to do on Monday and can plan accordingly to have it done by the weekend. I use my textbooks or watch videos professors post so I can understand the work and do well. I may not have as much work to do as an AP student but that doesn’t mean the class is easier; they are both college level. To transfer to a four-year university rather than apply as a freshman, you only need 24 credit hours. Most courses at COA are three credit hours, so if you take eight classes and have a 2.0 GPA you can easily transfer to a four-year university. For students who want to challenge themselves and take AP, that’s a great choice, but just as good as COA. I choose to take college courses because I am guaranteed a college and high school credit for free. College is expensive, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life paying back loans. If the school is going to push you into advanced classes early, then it is only fair they offer you something like dual enrollment to supplement your schedule when you finish your high school courses. Junior Abby Hite can be reached at hiteab0304@daretolearn.org.

Thank you! The ﬁrst weekend of March, nine newspaper students joined adviser Steve Hanf at the Southern Interscholastic Press Association convention at the University of South Carolina at Columbia. They attended sessions on all aspects of high school journalism, including leadership, writing, multimedia storytelling and much more. The trip was made possible in part by donations from two local organizations that helped substantially reduce our travel costs. We appreciate their support in our continuing effort to produce high-quality journalism for the First Flight and Outer Banks communities.

Outer Banks Woman’s Club Dare Education Foundation

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

AP is an A-plus

t’s 11:30 p.m. and you’re furiously typing away at your computer, desperately searching for that much needed Quizlet to get a good grade in COA Art Appreciation, just one of the many classes where you always wait until the night assignments are due to complete anything. Dual enrollment classes like Art Appreciation are pushed hard by the counseling center here. Once a student reaches their sophomore year, it seems that students scramble to fill the schedules with COA courses. In theory, I see the benefit they’re trying so hard to sell to us. We’re being given the opportunity to take a college class and therefore receive college credit. More college credit equals less money to pay in the future at any public North Carolina college. Not to mention this college credit also happens to give you the same GPA boost as an AP class, so hence the popularity. But in reality, COA courses are a joke. Hate to break it to you. I’ve taken five of them myself, and I know that they’re no comparison to an AP class. Most of these dual enrollment classes are online courses where you post a discussion board once a week, comment on two of your classmates’ ideas, take a quiz (with the helpful Quizlet, of course) and write a paper without reading the chapter and yet – you still get a 95 on it. And this year it has gotten even easier to be enrolled in them. In years past, the counseling center used a PSAT or PreACT score to determine your eligibility or you took a placement test, all while upholding the minimum GPA requirement. Now all a student has to have is a 2.8 GPA and no test scores are looked at. I’m not saying I’m a proponent of standardized testing, but I do believe that if you’re taking a college course at 15 years old you should have to jump through a couple of hoops. The proof is in the pudding, though: This new drop of eligibility requirements speaks volumes that the courses themselves aren’t challenging or equal to the standard of work seen in an AP class. Not to mention that almost every student knows COA classes aren’t as challenging – why do you think so many seniors take them? They can get an A in each class without even comprehending the work they’re doing, and there’s an added bonus: a modified schedule. Bottom line, I don’t believe that dual enrollment courses are on the same playing field as APUSH, AP Bio, AP Chem, BC Calc or AP Lit. In those classes, students can be expected to complete at least one hour of homework a night, be tested rigorously, perform labs, write timed essays, etc. In the end, despite the countless hours put into each of these courses (some kids take five at a time) they still might come up empty handed. In most of these subjects, a kid has to score at least a 3 on the exam to get some sort of college credit. There’s a chasm of difference between workloads of dual enrollment and AP classes, yet they’re weighted exactly the same when it comes to the GPA scale. It makes it so that kids who passed with flying colors in NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / opinions

Fresh Beats

The Jonas Brothers’ return is the only reason for the song’s hype, which is disappointing. If “Sucker” actually had substance to it, then maybe they could be seen as more than just a resurfaced boy band.

Photo by Ben Tran/Nighthawk News

Students work diligently on classes in the online room, where they have the option of taking online courses from College of the Albemarle, NCVPS and Apex.

COA (no surprise there) can surpass the kid who worked really hard for that B or C in AP Chem in the race toward valedictorian. Is that really fair? I know some really deserving people in the senior class who, granted, are in the top 10, but deﬁnitely not where they’re supposed to be. They’re the ones who chose to take APs and elective courses, and somehow this puts them behind because of the wrench that dual enrollment classes throws into things. These college classes basically allow for kids to work the loopholes of both the GPA system and the college application process. If you amass enough COA credits, you are technically considered a transfer student when applying to public North Carolina colleges. It’s pretty common knowledge that it’s easier to be accepted into a more rigorous university if you’re considered a transfer student. Again, how is that fair to the kids who chose a different route in high school and their only option is to apply as an incoming freshman like everyone else? I’m not saying I’m completely against COA classes – I mean, I’m currently taking one and I understand that for some people they are a better ﬁnancial option for college. However, I do think that in Dare County Schools, the reward for AP and dual enrollment courses should be seriously thought about and adjusted. Dual enrollment isn’t just a growing trend in Dare County, but across the country. It’s time that both colleges and high schools from around the nation begin to discuss the kinks that these college classes are causing in our GPA and application systems. AP classes and COA classes are on two completely different planets in terms of the work needed to succeed in them. If they were each a rigorous path I could understand but they’re not, so stop treating them like they are. Senior Hunter Haskett can be reached at hasketthu0318@daretolearn.org.

“Bury a Friend,” Billie Eilish’s song and eerie music video has people raising their eyebrows at her new style. It’s definitely a step out of her comfort zone, which I commend. The song might be unusual and a little bit scary, but it’s definitely worth listening to.

AJR is known for its alternative beats, mixes and vocals and has recently landed a spot on the charts with the new single, “100 Bad Days.” Upon hearing this song, I was very impressed. This has definitely landed a prime spot in my playlists and is a great song to listen to if you’re feeling down in the dumps, or if you’re in the mood for a really good beat.

Review by Peyton Dickerson Graphic by Trinity Harrison

Anti-vaxx has no facts

’m sitting in my doctor’s office waiting for my wellness check when I hear it – a new mother saying, “Oh, she isn’t going to be vaccinated, I don’t trust those things.” In all 18 years of my life, I have never understood why on Earth you would reject a vaccine, and seeing someone in the flesh actually say it blew my mind even more. Living in the 21st century, our advances in the medical and technological fields are growing by the day. I believe we are becoming the most educated generations to have ever lived. Our STEM fields are flourishing and people are able to take advantage of all the great advances we’ve made. In the midst of science and medicine thriving and saving the lives of millions, there’s one thing that causes a huge divide: vaccines. Before arguments are made, the basics must be laid down. What exactly is the purpose of vaccines, and why are they debated so heavily? According to the United Nations World Health Organization, a vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. It introduces the disease to your body, so when the time comes, your immune system will already be used to having the disease since you have already detected it earlier in your life. Some vaccines you get more often – like a flu shot – while the HPV shot, a disease you slowly build immunity too, is done once every couple of years. Within the past 30 years, vaccines have become the subject of countless controversies. Papers have been published supporting both sides, all with one intention: persuading and

informing the public. You read these papers and all of them say different things. Some say vaccines have insane amounts of metals, which in turn cause autism or do the opposite of their job and give you the disease they are trying to prevent. The other half of research papers say vaccines are a key staple in our world and without them we would still have diseases such as polio and measles running rampant in daycares and schools. I truly believe vaccines are crucial to our health and our communities. Without them, we are dismissing millions, if not billions, of dollars of research and decades of testing all because of a Facebook post that said someone’s daughter got a rash after her flu shot. Who do you trust more? The doctors and professionals who went to school for this, or the parents on the internet who read one article and think they knew more than a pediatrician? When you decide you aren’t going to vaccinate, not only are you hurting yourself but you hurt the people who surround you, too. In 2000, measles was declared to have been eliminated from the US. However, in January of this year, Washington declared a state of emergency due to a measles outbreak. State officials connected this outbreak to their vaccine procedures, which let parents refuse vaccines for their children due to “philosophical reasons.” After over $1 million in damages and nearly 100 people sick, this outbreak shows what really happens when vaccines are not employed. Vaccines were made to help propel our medicine into the future, yet this outbreak drags us down.

Illustration by Lauren Law/Special to Nighthawk News

The phrase “philosophical reasons” is what is preventing us from moving forward in vaccination technology. These reasons refer to a couple of recent findings, one of them being a paper published in 1998 by Dr. Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues that connected autism to vaccines. Less than a decade later, nearly all the people who contributed to that paper took back their statements, and in 2018 that paper was withdrawn and discredited. Though this paper has been declared false by dozens of professionals, a large amount still view it as the Holy Grail of anti-vaxx. This theory is the largest problem I have with anti-vaxxers. The phrase “vaccines cause autism” is not only scientifically incorrect, but also extremely insensitive. You are saying,

“Oh, I would never want my kid to have autism, but measles or polio? Sure, my essential oils and teas can handle that!” It’s disgusting, appalling and a slap in the face to those who have autism or have children with autism. The vaccine argument is one that will go on for years, even decades. Hundreds more papers will be published, outbreaks of diseases that were once gone may return, but whatever happens, the divide will still be there. The one thing that should not change is that we need to stay informed and educated on the issue. Without knowledge on the problem, we can give no solution to something that could hurt our communities permanently. Senior Grace Sullivan can be reached at sullivangr1129@daretolearn.org.

It’s time to let the (March) Madness begin

’ve always believed that February is the most boring month of the year. The weather is never great, and there’s never any breaks from school. March isn’t much better, as there still aren’t many breaks from school, but it does have something that makes it a little less boring: March Madness. March Madness is hands-down the most exciting sporting event of the year. For people who don’t know what March Madness is, first of all, I’m sorry. It’s a college basketball tournament that starts March 19 and ends April 8. The top 68 teams from around the nation compete to become the national champion, and the best part about it is teams that have virtually no chance to win still have a chance. It’s single elimination, so when you lose, that’s it. Because of that aspect,

it’s possible for lower-ranked teams to put together a run and make it far in the tourney. The main reason for my love of March Madness is because for a solid month, nearly every person in the country is zoned into one sport. During the month of March, I could go up to almost anyone and guarantee they put together a bracket, and sometimes, several brackets. I can talk college basketball to any person in the country, and there’s really nothing better than that. Basketball is hands-down my favorite sport to watch, and there’s a whole month dedicated to it. What could be better? A lot of the fun comes from making brackets and trying to put together the perfect one. The month is so unpredictable and that makes the brackets nearly

impossible to get right. Plus, making a bracket gives me a reason to watch every game. Even in the games where I don’t know either team, I can still cheer for the team I picked to win. Personally, I’m most excited to see how UNC Chapel Hill plays against top competition. I’m always rooting for the Tar Heels, but this year especially. There is a lot of doubt about them going far in the tourney, but I think Roy Williams has coached in the tournament long enough that he can guide the young talent deep into the bracket. I can’t wait to start watching the action and making brackets for the month. If you’re someone who doesn’t necessarily like basketball or if you’re just bored, I strongly suggest putting together a bracket and even if you don’t get a single game right, it still gives you a reason to watch the games and get in on the fun. Senior Will McFarlane can be reached at mcfarlanewi0712@daretolearn.org. Nighthawk News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

Reporters are #NotTheEnemy

ake News. Enemy of the people. Evil. Crazed lunatics that have given up on the truth. These are just a few of the many examples of anti-press rhetoric attributed to President Donald Trump. The backlash and hate of this dangerous talk has seriously compromised the safety of mainstream media here at home and around the globe, as New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberg recently expressed during a February interview on The Daily. According to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, this year alone in the United States, two journalists have been arrested for doing their job, three have been attacked, five have been stopped at the U.S. border to Mexico and one has been subpoenaed. This is all while they were simply earning a living, just like teachers who stand in front of a class of students to teach, or firefighters responding to an alarm. While the threat Trump’s rhetoric poses to professional journalists around the world far overshadows its impact on high school journalists, it can’t be ignored that it affects all of us – even those of us eagerly just starting our careers on high school newspapers. This hits close to home for me and is a common conversation around our dinner table lately. A few months ago, I reported on how the government shutdown was impacting the Outer Banks. It was the first straight-up news story I had been assigned and I was excited about it. It was factual and unbiased, so I was surprised when I read a comment that called my article “liberal nonsense.” A family member of mine also works in the media business and has gotten a few negative comments such as “fake news.” The comment on my story initially made me angry, but it also stirred something else. Motivation. It motivated me to keep reporting the facts and sharing the truth, regardless of what people may say. The truth needs to be reported, because it is such a fundamental part of our democracy, whether it’s covering how the government shutdown affects local students or reporting on the presidential election. Words like “enemy” and “evil” are so dangerous, especially when used by an unhinged person who possesses the highest seat in our country. When I think of these words, the first things that come to my mind are major film antagonists like Darth Vader and Lord Voldemort. What those words do not describe are the hundreds of thousands of journalists who are the Fourth Estate of this country, and the many journalNighthawk News Magazine / / opinions

Illustration by Lauren Law/Special to Nighthawk News

ists overseas who risk their lives to deliver the day’s news and share the truth in the face of danger. Arabella Saunders, a former reporter for Nighthawk News, now works for the Daily Tar Heel at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Journalists, she said, are those “who are trying to hold people in positions of power accountable and trying to tell other people’s stories. No one is trying to spread fake news and no one is the ‘enemy of the people.’ I think that is really dangerous, that line, ‘enemy of the people.’ ” To illustrate the consequences of such rhetoric, she mentioned the December 2018 incident in which CNN and other organizations were the target of bomb threats. She also recalled a recent encounter

during Christmas break in which a person asked her, after learning she was majoring in journalism, “Oh, you are not going to be a fake news journalist, are you?” Sauders said, “The fact that she felt comfortable to come at me with that fake news stuff says a lot about what kind of rhetoric people think is OK to say.” The free press is necessary to the success of our country’s democracy and the stability of our world. The press provides us information and keeps us informed. It keeps our elected officials and government accountable. It gives us a way to understand what is happening in our communities, our state, our country and our world so that “we the people” can have an opinion and a voice.

The effect of Trump’s anti-press rhetoric has even trickled down to impact high school journalists and those as young as 12 years old, like Hilde Kate Lysiak of Arizona who, according to The Washington Post, was threatened by a police officer to be put in “juvenile jail” if she continued pursuing a story. In 2018, the National Education Association reported that college applications to notable journalism schools are on the rise. Applications were up 24 percent at Northwestern University. And at the University of Maryland, the journalism program has grown 50 percent in the past year. So, sorry Mr. Trump, your disdain for the media might just be inspiring more and more of our generation to go into journalism to make a difference and stand up for the First Amendment against those who threaten it. Sophomore Maddy Wagner can be reached at 21wagnerma13@daretolearn. org.

Holcomb and her horse take the path less traveled By Kristen Applebaum Staff Writer

louds of sand linger in the air as a dozen horses run around the warm-up arena while their riders frantically call out which jumps they’re taking before someone else gets to it first. The other riders try to keep the powerful animal under them calm in the midst of all the noise and movement. During all the commotion, junior Anne Holcomb tries to calm her nerves before her first class of the day. Holcomb has been riding horses since she was 4 years old and has been competing in horse shows since sixth grade. Although she hasn’t taken riding lessons in a few years, Holcomb has advanced to the state 4-H Horse Show every year since seventh grade. “I like competing. I think it’s fun and definitely gives you something to work toward, but I also like just hanging out and riding for fun,” Holcomb said. Holcomb enjoys competing in both English and western riding – two different styles of horseback riding which differ in the equipment and events one would ride. After gaining some experience in several styles, Holcomb has managed to figure out her strengths and weaknesses. She excels in events such as Western Pleasure, where the horse and rider are judged on how relaxed the ride appears to be based on the calm manner and responsiveness of the horse. Even in events that Holcomb isn’t as strong in, she still puts up a challenge for the other riders. “I usually place higher in western stuff. Last year I won the Junior Horse Western Pleasure event and the year

before I got second in that,” Holcomb said. “I don’t usually do very well in the hunter/jumper stuff, but I can usually place top 10.” The nerves of competing in a big arena for a state title come back to Holcomb every year, no matter how much competition experience she has. “I don’t really get nervous until I’m walking into the ring, especially in the first class of the day because everything is really big and there are usually about 25 other horses in there with you,” Holcomb said. Just like other competitions and sporting events, not everyone has a positive attitude. However, by creating friendships with people at smaller local shows, Holcomb finds it easier to deal with the hustle and stress at state competitions. “It’s a pretty even mix of nice people and kind of mean people,” Holcomb said. “A lot of the people from Currituck County are really nice and I’m friends with people from other counties near us because we all show at the same open shows.” While winning first-place ribbons is rewarding, Holcomb also sees horse shows as a way to have fun with her horse and get to know more people. When she’s not cleaning stalls or helping to herd cows and chickens, Holcomb’s favorite pastime is adventuring on a trail ride with friends. “I really like going out on trail rides with a big group,” Holcomb said. “We ride around the woods and find different paths and creeks.” Even while doing something as laid back as a trail ride, there’s always a possibility for things to go awry. “There was one time I was on a

Photo submitted by Anne Holcomb

Junior Anne Holcomb and her horse Joey show off their first-place ribbon and medal after winning the Junior Horse Western Pleasure class at the 4-H Horse Show in Raleigh. Holcomb loves horse shows for the competition and the friendships she has formed with other riders.

trail ride and everybody else’s horse was walking through this puddle, but my horse wouldn’t walk through it,” Holcomb said. “He tried to jump it and almost clotheslined me off his back because there was a low-hanging branch, but it was still fun.” Being involved with horses is a big commitment that takes a lot of work to improve skills and fulfill the responsibilities that come with it. Over the years, Holcomb’s mother, Kim Crouch, has noticed how much her daughter has learned to take responsibility. “Having horses really requires a lot of discipline and care and money, so it’s helped her learn how to manage all of that,” Crouch said. “It definitely

makes her more responsible. She takes care of the horse entirely herself.” Whether she’s going to the barn to ride or clean stalls, Holcomb makes the trip to Currituck at least five days a week to take care of her horse and help with chores around the farm. “Finding the time to do everything is difficult because you have to be at the barn a lot,” Holcomb said. “But I’ve always really liked doing it, so it’s never felt like a chore to go out there. Even if I’m actually doing chores at the barn, I enjoy doing them and I look forward to going out there.” Senior Kristen Applebaum can be reached at applebaumkr0910@daretolearn.org.

Records fall in memorable basketball season

By Will McFarlane Staff Writer

his winter was a season of firsts for the boys basketball team. For the first time ever, the Nighthawks won the conference tournament, made it to the third round of the state playoffs and had 20 wins. Chad Williams has received widespread praise for coaching the team’s fast-paced, high-powered offense. Everybody on the court can make 3-pointers consistently, and this year the Nighthawks once again broke their own state record for the most 3-pointers made in a season – a whopping 382. “We set the record in 2015 with 284, so we hit almost a hundred more than the record three years ago,” Williams said. “People have really bought into the system and we are able to develop more than just one player.” The team surprised the community with its tremendous improvement from last year, but it was no surprise to Williams. He knew this team would be something special Photo by Aaron Jennings/Special with hard work and a lot of dedication. “It didn’t just happen this year,” Williams said. “We had Senior Reese Jones lets a 3-pointer fly in a playa vision of how good this team could be four years ago and off victory over Fairmont last month.

we’ve adapted our offensive scheme to what we knew we had coming.” Not only did the Nighthawks have the winningest season in school history, but there were also individual milestones met. Senior Reese Jones surpassed 1,000 career points, and junior Dylan Blake became the all-time leading scorer in school history. These new heights were also fueled by fan support. Students packed into the gym for every home game and witnessed history being made. This was made possible by local businesses donating money to make the tickets cost just $1 for students. “It was awesome for them to come out not only at home but also on the road,” Williams said. “I told (the team) a long time ago, ‘If you build it, they will come,’ and we built the program.” This season was definitely one to remember, and Williams had nothing but praise for his elite team. “They are a really fun group to coach,” Williams said. “Just the way this group played and got better, it was a memorable season.” Senior Will McFarlane can be reached at mcfarlanewi0712@daretolearn.org. Nighthawk News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

Lax bros? More like lax siblings for this dynamic duo

By Trinity Harrison Online Editor

ince the first day they got to First Flight, no one could stop talking about the tall siblings with long flowing blond hair. Once word got out that they were experienced lacrosse players, the lacrosse teams were ecstatic about the newest additions to the roster. With lacrosse season now springing into action, the siblings are more ready than ever for the upcoming season. As long as they can remember, Liz and Jack Clagett have been playing lacrosse. Both starting around 5 years old when they lived in Maryland, the direct influence from their family has led to their love of the sport. The siblings were able to work together in improving their skills and gaining the experience to be successful players. “My brothers and my dad introduced me to lacrosse because they would always be practicing and I was just really interested,” said Liz, a freshman. “I remember one time after their practice, I just went up to the practice field with all of the other guys and I just started throwing with them and that was just really fun and it kind of started from there.” Gaining knowledge from his brothers and having Liz as a practice partner definitely had its perks for Jack. “Playing the same sport as her is probably the coolest part, because we are just able to go home and throw and she is also pretty good,” the junior said. “So it is really fun that she is a part of the lacrosse team here as well.” The hours spent in their backyard throwing together has led to a close relationship between the brother and sister. “I think it’s really cool because we can relate to the same stuff and talk about it,” Liz said. “We have a lot in common and it’s really fun.” Being new to First Flight, excitement has been building as they prepared for this first season with their new teams. “I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone and hopefully winning some more playoff games,” Jack said. “It’s also going to be a good way to meet some new friends.” Both Clagetts have been popular with their new teammates, especially because of the different skill level they bring to the teams with all of their experience. “Liz is an experienced player because she has been playing pretty much her whole life,” girls coach Steve Morris said. “She brings a lot of game experience to the team, which is much needed.” Added senior Ellie Gardill: “She is also really tall, so she is great in draw and is really fast, so it helps for midfield.” The boys lacrosse players are lookNighthawk News Magazine / / sports

Photo by Buzzy Staten/Nighthawk News

Jack and Liz Clagett share a moment on the field together between games last Friday. Jack is a junior and Liz a freshman. In addition to the bright smiles and long blond hair the new students brought with them to FFHS in August, they’ve also delivered a wealth of experience on the lacrosse field for their teams this spring.

ing forward to the upcoming season with Jack. “Jack brings experience from a place that breeds lacrosse, so that is really good to have,” senior Sam Fitzgerald said. “He’s so easygoing and has a good attitude about getting things done and I’m just excited to watch my friends play their final season.” Jack made a great first impression, scoring three goals in his first game with the Nighthawks, a 12-7 win over Kellam (Va.). Even more impressive was Liz’s debut: She scored six goals and added an assist in helping the girls team to its first victory. That 16-5 win over Carolina Brigade came after three years of growing pains and near misses. From the memories they have of playing with their older brother to the influence from their father, the Clagetts are looking forward to the upcoming season full of memory making that is ahead. Senior Trinity Harrison can be reached at harrisontr0314@daretolearn. org.

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By Peyton Dickerson Staff Writer

tage lights illuminate the room, the announcer’s booming voice echoes, the audience cheers excitedly. Behind the stage wings stand nervous dancers waiting to perform. The name of the dance is called and the loud claps of the crowd spark a rush of adrenaline. One wrong move could be detrimental to the performance, but the negative thoughts are hastily brushed off as they make their way into the spotlight. For a competition dancer, this is the average setting before a performance. Yet, the excitement and nerves are only a small part of the process. Atlantic Dance and Island School of Dance are just a couple of the many local studios that have a separate competition team. However, the difference between an average dance class and a competition practice is substantial. Atlantic Dance’s practices are held on Fridays and Saturdays, and Island School of Dance’s are held on Mondays. The rigorous practice schedule is hard work for the dancers, but it’s a key element to becoming competition-ready. “I love how (the dancers) come in and spend so many hours a week from September to March, working so hard to an end goal,” choreographer and owner of Atlantic Dance, Mila Smith said. Many of the girls who are part of the teams have been dancing since they were little. Senior Julia Bachman has been a part of Atlantic Dance since age 3, then proceeded to join competition in the eighth grade. “All of us on the competition team have come a long way in these four or ﬁve years,” Bachman said. “All of us have grown really close.” The studios attend three competitions a year. However, they are usually the smallest studios at the events, which makes it a challenge for the dancers. For Island School of Dance, their competition team has only been around for a short time. “Our team is fairly new. This is our third year,” senior Juli Paris said. “Last year it was only me and my dance partner.” Despite the competitive atmosphere, the dancers always ﬁnd joy in spending time with each other off stage and while traveling to competitions. “Before we go on stage we give each other pep talks,” Paris said. “That’s probably one of the best parts of competition, being so close with your team.” The teams take on many different styles of dance. Atlantic is known for its peppy tap and energetic jazz numbers, while Island School of Dance tends to focus more on heartfelt lyrical and contemporary pieces. “Tap is my favorite because it is very technical,” senior Cassidy Joyce said. “I really enjoy challenging myself to learn new steps.” For the girls, dance is much more than perfecting moves. It’s about bonding with teammates. Senior Sara Parsons has particularly grown a strong bond over time with her team at Island School of Dance. “When I’m dancing with (my team), it’s like I’m dancing with a family,” Parsons said. Despite the desire to win, the dancers want to focus more

Submitted Photos

Senior Juli Paris (above) leaps for a promotional photoshoot for Island School of Dance. At left, seniors Cassidy Joyce (left) and Julia Bachman perform a tap number together at a competition for Atlantic Dance. Senior Sara Parsons (below) jumps into a split underneath Jennette’s Pier. Although Bachman and Joyce dance for a different company than Paris and Parsons, all four girls share the same love for dancing with their teammates. They’ll all be competing at FFHS on March 30.

on achieving personal goals, especially the seniors who are enjoying these last few dances with their teammates. “I’m deﬁnitely sad about leaving,” Parsons said. “I’m going to miss the jokes that we’ve had and the time we’ve spent together.” On March 30, both teams will be competing in the StarLand competition at FFHS. During the competition, dancers will show off all of the effort and technique they’ve put into their dances throughout the year, but most importantly, bask in the special moments that they share together. Sophomore Peyton Dickerson can be reached at 21dickersonpe28@daretolearn.org. NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

Hughes sprints for the ﬁnish line By Jack Voight Staff Writer

he blank shot is ﬁred. The runners take off, the rubber of the artiﬁcial track being torn into by the spikes of their shoes. After the initial takeoff, there is a period of time when the runners jockey for position, but one begins to pull ahead of the pack. It is junior Zach Hughes, who is coming off a state championship in cross country as well as in the 4х800 relay for the indoor track season, which he won alongside junior Aidan May, freshman Warner Campbell and sophomore Tyler Sylvia. Hughes is not only known for his prowess on the track, but

for being there to support his teammates as well. “(Zach) tells me that even if I’m not feeling my greatest, I can still push myself,” Sylvia said. “He’s very humble.” As well as being a team leader in relay races with some of his friends, Hughes is known for his outstanding individual track (no pun intended) record. Along with this recent title, Hughes placed ﬁrst in the NCHSAA 2A Cross Country State Championship meet in November, completing the 3.1-mile course in 16 minutes, 0.79 seconds, giving First Flight its ﬁrst individual cross country title in school history. “A state championship, especially in cross country since that is such a big race, everybody sees that. It really helps get your name out there, so that’s a big step towards my goal,” Hughes said. With a successful resume, Hughes now can turn some of his focus to the next level, where he has already gotten several large universities to give him offers to come run for them. From schools as close as North Carolina State University to as far as the University of Alabama, Hughes already has a number of options to choose from. One may think that Hughes has had running in mind from an early age, but the sport hasn’t always been his No. 1 focus when it comes to athletics. In fact, Hughes didn’t even begin running competitively until his freshman year. “I didn’t start thinking about track seriously until after freshman year, because I was all about baseball until that point,” Hughes said. “End of sophomore year, I had a good season and my times were good for the state, so that’s when I thought I could go some-

where (with track).” Hughes’ track and cross country coach, Chris Layton, has worked with Hughes for the past three years and believes there are several reasons Hughes has been such a standout. “He’s improved exponentially,” Layton said. “He didn’t have a track background but he was a natural athlete and had the desire to put in the work.” There is one point of Hughes’ career that Layton vividly remembers: the state cross country meet Hughes’ freshman year. “As a freshman who wasn’t quite ready to be a leader yet, he was the leader of the first mile at the cross country state meet,” Layton said, “I find it wonderfully ironic that he goes on to lead and win the state meet.” Layton believes that Hughes’ mindset and rigorous work ethic have helped him get to this point in his running career and will help carry him to the collegiate level. “In distance running, you’re trying to teach yourself to deal with pain,” Layton said. “It’s not natural to go out there and run a 4:19 mile.” With several accomplishments already in his pocket and a collegiate career likely ahead of him, Hughes has a strong future to look forward to, but is still very much focused on breaking records and winning titles in his remaining time as a Nighthawk. “This coming spring season I want to break 4:15 in the mile, and I really want a state title in the mile, and the 800 meter,” Hughes said. “I’m excited about the next level, but I definitely will miss high school.” Sophomore Jack Voight can be reached at 21voightja99@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Buzzy Staten/Nighthawk News

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

First Flight Spring Spotlight: A Q&A

Levi Hawkins Sophomore

Nicole York Junior

How long have you been playing? This is my second year.

How long have you been playing soccer? Since I was 5, so 11 years.

What’s your favorite part about playing? Deﬁnitely being with all my friends on the tennis team. They are really fun to hang out and play with.

What’s your favorite part about playing? All my close friends are on the team, so when we hang out it’s outside of school and on the ﬁeld.

What is your favorite thing to do before a game? I like to eat. Usually Max’s mom brings a lot of snacks.

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Megan Limbacher, because she is my inspiration and everything I want to be.

If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? I would travel the world. I want to go to Fiji, Greece, Brazil. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be? Danny Duncan, the Genie from Aladdin because he could grant me wishes and Amelia Earhart because I want to know what happened. What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? “Finding Nemo” because I grew up on it. If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? I would be a bald eagle because they are huge and I like them. Go-to karaoke song? “Baby” by Justin Bieber. What’s your favorite beach access? Why do you like it? I would say Kitty Hawk Pier because the waves are good sometimes and it’s close to me. What’s a fun fact about yourself? I am now an Eagle Scout.

What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? Winning states, because our girls team for the school had only won states one other time. What is your favorite thing to do before a game? Go eat a bowl from The Spot. If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? I would buy a G-Wagon and go to Bora Bora. What is your biggest pet peeve? When it’s completely silent and you hear that one kid tapping his pencil and that’s the only thing you can hear. What’s your favorite beach access? Why do you like it? Eckner Street, because it’s right next to my house and Art’s Place and Winks are there. If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? A cat because they can just sleep all day.

What is your biggest pet peeve? Having a teacher that doesn’t care about my grade.

If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be? Adam Sandler, David Dobrik and Emma Chamberlain.

What is a lifelong dream of yours? To move to California and just live there for like a year.

What is your dream job, and why? Doctor, because they make a lot of money.

Bruce Weaver

Ross Sullivan Freshman

Sophomore

How long have you been golfing? Since the beginning of seventh grade. What’s your favorite part about golﬁng? Not a lot of people are good at it. A lot of people think it’s really easy, but it’s really not. What’s your favorite thing to do before a match? Listen to music and get hype. What is your favorite part about your sport? Letting the big dog eat. You gotta hit the driver. Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a game? The Pointe’s lunch stuff is pretty good. What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? Probably winning the championship last year and winning in middle school. If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? I would invest some of it and I would give a lot of it back to my family, friends and the community. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be? My mom, Tiger Woods and Mookie Betts.

How long have you been playing? Three years, since seventh grade. What’s your favorite part about lacrosse? I really like where every once in a while you have one of those plays where everyone sort of works together and everybody knows what to do and they do it right. With our team you see that all the work you put in pays off. What is your dream job? I want to have my own business or have my own company – that would be real cool, just to be able to be my own boss. Probably a consulting company or a mechanics business. What’s a fun fact about yourself? I have owned my own business before, a consulting business. I’m 15 and I have a business. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be? Bill Gates for sure or Jeff Bezos ‘cause he’s also really rich. Besides the money, it would just be really cool. Also Malcolm X, the guy who got shot, ‘cause I feel like he’s very smart. I feel like he could tell me some things, get some culture from that guy. What is a lifelong dream of yours? Own a nightclub somewhere in LA with a penthouse at the top.

What is your favorite holiday? Why? Christmas. I get to see family that I don’t see a lot.

What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? I really liked the “Wolf of Wall Street,” it’s awesome.

Go-to karaoke song? Either “Toxic” by Britney Spears or “Sweet Home Alabama” by Kid Rock.

What’s your favorite beach access? Why do you like it? Probably 3rd Street. I like it because it’s around a lot of my friends.

What’s your favorite TV show? Either “Paradise PD” or “Big Mouth.” If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? Probably a tiger, to be fast and then you can attack.

Best teacher ever? Probably Ms. Vaughn in middle school because she put up with me for so long. She saw that I was sort of a problem in her class and she still accepted me for who I was.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2019

with Nighthawk student-athletes

Shane Nason Junior

Warner Campbell Freshman

Riley Bateman Junior

Kaitlyn Hales Senior

How long have you been playing baseball? 11 years.

How long have you been running? Since sixth grade.

How long have you been playing softball? Four years.

How long have you been playing lacrosse? Four years.

What’s your favorite part about playing? I like to compete against good teams. It’s always better when you are playing decent teams.

What is your favorite thing to do before a meet? Hang out with my teammates and get them all hyped up.

What’s your favorite part about playing? Being part of a team.

What are you going to miss the most? The bus rides, because they always blast music and everyone’s singing and dancing and it’s really fun.

What’s your favorite thing to do before a game? Probably eat Jersey Mike’s. Who do you look up to the most and why? Conor McGregor, because he is conﬁdent, likes to compete and doesn’t really care. What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? Winning the conference championship last year. If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? I would probably buy a Lamborghini and a cool necklace. What is your favorite holiday? Chinese New Year, because it is passionate. What is your biggest pet peeve? When girls comment on others girls’ posts even though they hate each other. Go-to karaoke song? I have to put my boy Flex on, so the song “Burr.”

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Our coach (Chris Layton), because he is a good role model. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be, and why? Michael Jackson, my great grandpa and the “Rock” Dwayne Johnson, because I want to know more about them. What is your biggest pet peeve? When people are munching in my ear. I hate it. If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? Does it have to be an animal? I think I am more like a fruit. A pineapple because it’s prickly on the outside and soft on the inside. What’s a fun fact about yourself? I am really good at Double Dutch jump roping. What is your dream job and why? An athletic trainer, because it’s fun and I want to do it.

What’s a fun fact about yourself? I don’t know how to swim.

What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? I really like “Unbreakable,” but it’s not “the best” one.

If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be, and why? Myself, because I don’t like talking to people.

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas, because I get to see my family and we get a lot of time off from school.

What is your favorite thing to do before a game? Go eat with friends and listen to music. Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a game? Country Deli before a game and Plaza Azteca after. If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? Buy a Zaxby’s or Chick-ﬁl-A and put it right next to my house. What’s your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving, because you can eat all the food you want. What’s your biggest pet peeve? People. What is a lifelong dream of yours? To travel the world. What’s a fun fact about yourself? I lived in Alaska when I was little. What’s your favorite TV show? Any crime show. What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? “10 Things I Hate About You.” If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? A polar bear, because they’re isolated.

What is your favorite thing to do before a game? Everyone braids each other’s hair and hypes everyone up. What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Caroline Clissold, because she’s really good and she’s always in a good mood no matter what. What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? When Izzy just straight up bodied this girl. I can still see it in my head. If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? Travel the world. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be? A$AP Rocky, Michelle Obama and Nicki Minaj. Best teacher ever? Ms. Will, because she’s the nicest lady ever and she’s been there for me since I was a sophomore. If you could be any animal, what would it be? A whale, because they’re huge and they can go really deep into the ocean and that’d be cool. What is a lifelong dream of yours? To go to New Zealand.

Photos by Aaron Jennings, Sophie Johnson, Megan Limbacher, Aidan May, Michael Pearson, Buzzy Staten and Ben Tran. Reporting by Kristen Applebaum, Chloe Futrell, Trinity Harrison, Sophie Johnson, Katie MacBride, Simone Midgett, Maddy Wagner and Kejsi Zyka. NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

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Nighthawk News Magazine / / spring / / 2019