Spring 2022 Nighthawk News Magazine by Steve Hanf

ON THE COVER

hile it’s fun to have print editions that feature our beloved Coach Prince or welcome the performing arts back after two pandemic years, sometimes unfortunate circumstances lead us as journalists to tackle serious and important topics. Drug use on the Outer Banks has long been regarded as a problem. From walking into local restaurants with a whiff of marijuana wafting from the back to hearing anecdotes from a peer who knows someone who sells drugs, high schoolers are more than familiar with this widespread issue. The problem hit closer to home for us recently when fellow senior Ryker Clark passed away due to an accidental drug overdose in January. We wanted to discuss the issue from multiple angles, which included meeting with the Kill Devil Hills Police Department, holding a pill drive with the Dare County Sheriff’s Ofﬁce, and even having a heartfelt conversation with Ryker’s mom, who wanted to bring awareness to other high school students about the

dangers of drug misuse. We arranged pills gathered from our pill “take back” held in early March, and with the help of Photo Editor Taylor Newton, were able to create a cover image that included the message of awareness we are working to portray. This pill “take back” not only provided a powerful Nighthawk News cover image, but also helped get pills out of our community to avoid them ending up in the wrong hands or contaminating the water supply. The Sheriff’s Ofﬁce has said it would like to host similar “take back” events at FFHS in the months and years ahead. Our drug addiction package includes an opinion piece about how people can diverge from one path to another due to the effects of peer pressure, as well as a feature about students – and an adult – struggling with substance abuse. We have also incorporated a news story about the drug problem in our community, a human-interest story featuring Ryker’s mother’s message, and a Q&A with a local addiction treatment specialist.

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Dare County Narcotics Task Force Investigator Tyler Doughtie (left) and First Flight High School Resource Ofﬁcer Ed Cottrell work with members of the Nighthawk News staff in the journalism room to arrange pills collected in the ‘take back’ drive for the cover of the spring edition.

Instead of just reporting on the issue, we also came up with ideas on how to address it in our Staff Editorial. Members of our staff reminisced on what they learned about drug addiction and misuse in their early school years, and gave their thoughts on how our school system could make advances in

terms of drug education. While this edition focuses on drug misuse, we also cover a variety of other subjects, including upcoming OBX events, the great outdoors, the world of athletics here at First Flight, and other Topics of our Time that discuss the conﬂict between Russia and

Ukraine and COVID-19. As always, on behalf of Nighthawk News, we’d like to thank our readers and advertisers for their support and hope you enjoy our ﬁrst print edition of 2022! – Editors-in-Chief Kayla Hallac, Maren Ingram and Maggie McNinch

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NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS 4 Local drug crisis hits close to home

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Nighthawk News staff members cover all the bases in terms of the Outer Banks drug crisis. Allie Nigro highlights the Kelly’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, a local tradition that is occurring for the ﬁrst time in three years.

Fiona Finchem introduces First Flight’s 2022 prom.

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Beloved coach jumps unimaginable hurdle Kayla Loveless shares the story of Amy Denson, the First Flight coach battling breast cancer. N’Nia Brickhouse highlights First Flight’s talent through AP Art Portfolios. Versailles Dalessio introduces the upcoming play, ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).’

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OPINIONS 25 Childhood shows keep getting rebooted Colin Byard reminisces on movies and TV shows that have changed since we watched them as kids. Samuel Smith gives his pointof-view on the terrors of going to the gym for the ﬁrst time. Abigail Haber presents vivid thoughts on the best plants to grow this spring and includes a few tips for a green thumb.

SPORTS 26 Three local dance studios compete Audrey Lovell highlights three dance competition teams that competed against one another in Virginia.

Emma Braithwaite features the dedication of local gymnast Rylee Smeltzer. Eight athletes sound off in our fun Sports Card Q-and-A session.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / on the cover

Grieving mother encourages more than simple ‘don’t do drugs’ motto

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

First Flight students and others gather at Aviation Park in Kill Devil Hills to release balloons in memory of Ryker Clark. An accidental drug overdose claimed Clark’s life just days before his 18th birthday and scheduled early graduation, a tragedy that got a number of FFHS students speaking more openly about the drug crisis on the Outer Banks.

Drug crisis hits close to home

By Kayla Hallac, Maren Ingram and Maggie McNinch Editors-in-Chief

xperimenting at parties. Having “fun” with a friend. Making mistakes alone in your room. For many students, these are simply rites of passage from high school to adulthood. Regrets surface. Lessons are learned. Life goes on. Except when it doesn’t. “It only takes a simple mistake to change your life or take it away, and experimenting only one time could kill you,” Carolyn Clark said. Carolyn’s son, First Flight senior Ryker Clark, passed away on the night of Jan. 8. His death sent shockwaves through the school and local community, the news spreading rapidly across social media. Questions also immediately arose about the cause of death for the well-liked student just days shy of his 18th birthday and early graduation. “They viewed it as possibly press pills,” Carolyn said. “His death certiﬁcate says pending and they haven’t been able to conﬁrm 100 percent with me, but from what they removed from his room it is very highly possible. So the police have led me to believe

that that’s most likely the scenario when it’s not confirmed at all, so I don’t even know myself.” Pressed pills are counterfeits: fake prescription pills that may contain fentanyl, methamphetamine or other illicit substances. The Drug Enforcement Administration issued a Public Safety Alert in the fall about the availability and lethality of these fakes, and Ryker’s death created a lot of talk about the circulation of counterfeit pills on the Outer Banks. “The pills that are around today are not to be trusted,” Carolyn said. “If it doesn’t come from a pharmacy or what you swiped from your grandma’s medicine cabinet, it may not be what you think it is.” To add to the danger of these counterfeit pills, it may not be obvious for parents and friends to know someone is taking pills before it’s too late. “I never saw him under the influence of any other substance. So I know it wasn’t a daily part of his life. And because I knew he didn’t ever want to disappoint his mom, he wouldn’t have possibly come to me or told me so,” Carolyn said. Shocked students saw that what happened to Ryker could happen to them, leading to a realization about the dangers in their path involving drug misuse. “They had what they told me they called ‘flushing parties,’ ” Carolyn said. “A lot of illegal drugs were flushed the day after his passing because (the kids) don’t have access to testing kits or Narcan – although it is available, and it’s often free. They are not going to walk into a Walgreens or to health services or the police department to ask for that kit because it’s going to label you.”

Narcan is a prescription medicine nasal spray used for the treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. Police departments have employed these life-saving antidotes to opioids for more than four years. While Narcan can be challenging to obtain for high school students, there’s another issue as well: It can’t be administered to oneself during an overdose. Another individual must be present. “If you’re taking a pill that you don’t know where it came from, make sure you have a friend with you, because several minutes can change your life,” Carolyn said. “If he had not been alone in his room doing what he thought was just as simple as Xanax, if somebody would have been with him…” “Do make sure there’s a friend in the room with you,” she stressed. “Make sure they see how it affects you and that it’s all good, whatever you have to do, but doing it alone is just never, never a good idea because of the drugs that are being distributed in our area.” Even more important – but far more challenging – is the ability to have friends talk about the difﬁcult problem of drug use to an adult. “Some of his friends told me they knew that he was considering this and they didn’t want to tell me because they didn’t want him to be mad at them,” Carolyn said. “And I get that nobody wants to be the ‘rat’ or the ‘snitch.’ But you know what? Your friend can forgive you and y’all can talk about it in a week at the hospital, or while he’s in rehab, or while he’s grounded. But he can’t. They can’t forgive you from the grave.” That’s why, as challenging as it is to speak about NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

Treating the drug problem: a Q&A with Jenny Thiessen By Olivia Sugg Online Editor-in-Chief

ighthawk News sat down with Jenny Thiessen of Surfside Wellness Treatment Center to discuss the issue of drug use on the Outer Banks. She is a nurse practitioner who specializes in addiction medicine, focusing on medication-assisted treatment for patients who are dependent on opiates, giving them hope to achieve sustainable long-term recovery. Thiessen utilizes a “whole patient” approach by combining outside counseling services with a mission for patients to regain self-empowerment, improve mental and physical health, and maintain sobriety so that they can return to society and enjoy productive, healthy and happy lives.

Submitted Photo

Carolyn Clark peeks out from behind her son, Ryker, during a senior photo session last summer. Carolyn shared this favorite photo of the FFHS senior following his death in January, while also sharing words of sorrow, hope and advice for Ryker’s classmates and others in the Outer Banks community.

her son’s death, Carolyn has felt compelled to share these powerful words. It might be frightening to think about, talk about, act on – but it’s imperative to do so. “Don’t be scared. It might seem like, ‘Oh, God, that’s a horrible thing. My friends are gonna be mad. He’s gonna be grounded. He’s gonna be kicked off the football team.’ Well, you know what? He’ll still be around next semester to rejoin the football team or to go to the dance with you. Or, like I said, they’ll forgive you,” Carolyn said. “Yeah, it’s a tough call, but when it comes to that point, just do it. Let your friend be mad at you. They’ll forgive you.” That forgiveness is felt universally throughout the Outer Banks community, whether through a network of kind adults or even through the education system, explained FFHS Principal Chuck Lansing. “If there’s something in your life that you do that’s not harming you currently, but it gets out of hand, you’re not alone and there’s somebody who has always been in your shoes before,” Lansing said. “Whatever it is you’re experiencing, there are adults in this building who have either experienced it or have worked very closely with it. Everybody here wants to be able to help and share that.” Carolyn is working on developing programs to help make drug overdose kits more readily accessible for high school students and bringing awareness to the problem by speaking out. She wants students to be given the opportunity to reach out and ask for help from other adults in the community rather than just those at their school. “We may have ink, we may rap, we may listen to some frickin’ death metal NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

or whatever,” Carolyn said. “It is going to be more realistic to what y’all are dealing with as opposed to your health teacher telling you just ‘don’t do drugs,’ because that’s not going to work.” In the few short weeks following Ryker’s death, Carolyn admits there have been days she’s wanted to stay in bed, crying with the covers over her head. Instead, she forces herself to get up, “put on my big-girl pants,” and get through another day. Ryker, she explained, would be heartbroken if she let the grief consume her. “I actually had a cold a few weeks (before his death) and I had the sniffles,” Carolyn said. “He could hear me in his room and he came out and just because I was sniffling, he assumed that I was upset about something. That boy was like, ‘Mom, stand up,’ and he gave me the biggest hug, and he’s like, ‘What’s going on? I don’t want you to cry.’ “He was just the light of my life. He was a ray of sunshine in that he wouldn’t let anybody in any space ever be down or sad. That and his sense of humor was just a blessing. He just was the funniest, goofiest, silliest guy,” Carolyn continued. “I miss his smell every single day. It’s the thing I miss most of all. “If I can save one mom from having to deal with the heartache and the pain that I’m dealing with,” she added, “my life will have served its purpose.” Senior Kayla Hallac can be reached at 22hallacka85@daretolearn.org Senior Maren Ingram can be reached at 22ingramma01@daretolearn.org. Senior Maggie McNinch can be reached at 22mcninchma07@daretolearn.org.

Q: What led you to have a calling for this field, and why are you so passionate about it? A: “I wouldn’t say it was a calling; it happened to come to me. I really had no experience in this field, but I fell in love with it. I think God may have wanted me to do it because it’s very Thiessen limited here with the resources on the Outer Banks.” Q: Do you know or could you explain how most of your patients got into drugs in the first place? A: “When I ask for a history, I find that most of my patients started drug use early on, in their teens. They mainly go straight to opiates, from getting the pills from their grandmas or through recreational use, but I definitely think that marijuana is a gateway drug for some… So many people get addicted to drugs, then eventually take opiates to prevent from getting sick, then they move onto heroin use because they can’t find the pills and then they end up doing whatever they can find to feel better, like fentanyl, which is also cheaper, and it’s very sad.” Q: What age range of people do you treat? Do you have an opinion on drug use in high school-aged students? A: “I can only treat 18 and up, so I don’t have any high school students, but I see the issue and wish I could. Now lately it’s those pressed pills going around that are laced with fentanyl, so it’s a big issue. And even if teens are educated on the subject, after saying ‘no’ so many times, you can lose

Although the terms opiate and opioid are often used interchangeably, they are different: Opiates refer to natural opioids such as heroin, morphine and codeine. Opioids refer to allnatural, semisynthetic and synthetic opioids. – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that willpower to say it, especially if it’s constantly in your face, so people just finally say ‘OK, fine’ and try it.” Q: What advice do you have for students regarding this issue? A: “Say no to drugs. It’s easier said than done. It’s just being aware and being smart. Being educated can save a life. They think it’s fun, but they don’t realize the lifelong problem it creates… A lot of my patients now that started drugs at a young age say that if they had known they would become addicted, they would have never done it in the first place. It’s also scary for high school students because when people are drinking, they are more vulnerable and more likely to say yes when someone says ‘here’s a pill,’ and I just wish people knew the repercussions of addiction, even with alcohol. I had a patient today whose ex-boyfriend just died of liver failure at 39 years old from alcoholism. When you are young, you just don’t know the repercussions these things can cause later in life.” Q: Does having children in this day and age worry you, considering you see it every day? A: “Some kids start as young as 13, so I’m very scared for my children and for upcoming younger generations.” Q: What steps do you think the Outer Banks community should take in recognizing and acting on the topic of drug addiction in our area? A: “The Saving Lives Task Force is really involved and that is awesome, but it’s mainly about prevention and education in the schools.” Q: What is your opinion on the stigma around drug use? A: “Drugs don’t discriminate. There’s a big stigma around it that people are ‘bad’ that do drugs, but they can affect anyone. They don’t discriminate whether you’re rich, poor, female, etc… It can happen to anyone. There is a set idea out there about people who do drugs, but it’s really not true.” Junior Olivia Sugg can be reached at 23suggol52@daretolearn.org.

Don’t hit it, quit it – if you can figure out how

s a fifth-grader, learning to say no to drugs was easy. You were taught that some stranger in an ominous white van will offer you drugs disguised as candy, and to always say no. It wasn’t much of a daunting task for someone who just came in from recess running from all the girls with cooties. Now, as a senior in high school, I haven’t heard about the once famous Drug Abuse Resistance Education program (DARE) in years. But maybe it’s for the best, since I don’t remember it making much of a difference. For those who experience a lifestyle of sobriety, I’d imagine most of those people do not live that way because of DARE. Sobriety is most likely practiced because of values, family trauma, self-improvement, or a lack of interest. The guy in a lion costume – DARE’s mascot – is not an adolescent’s savior, by any means. It’s crazy to think about all the different paths people take. We were all once in fifth grade getting our first lecture on drugs and learning how the harsh substances will ruin your life. Then in middle school we continued to learn about drugs, but went more in-depth on each kind of drug and what it does to you. They urge you not to drink alcohol or vape. But middle school was filled with box vapes and Juuls, which were thankfully relatively monitored. It felt like once a week someone you knew got caught with a vape at home. I think vapes started out as something that looked cool. People liked blowing smoke out of their mouths and wanted to learn how to do vape tricks which, thanks to YouTube, people got pretty good at. When I say YouTube, I specifically mean MattySmokes. “Everyone was talking about him and if someone said something about him I wanted to know what they were talking about,” one student recalled. Matty would test out all the vapes on the market at the time and give a review and would also give tips on how to do certain tricks in his videos. It was all harmless – until you fast-forward a few years later and students are still addicted to nicotine. This all stemmed from vape tricks and wanting to be cool in middle school. According to AddictionCenter. org, nicotine has a grasp on nearly 50 million people in America. This is still the case when the information is clear that it is detrimental to our health. When it comes to quitting, it isn’t easy with withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, sweating, loss of appetite, headaches and the inability to sit still. “I’d rather be addicted than try to quit,” another student said. “I hate how I feel when I try to quit.” Not only is it very addictive, it’s expensive. One pod from an Alto vape is equivalent to a pack of cigarettes,

and I personally know students who go through multiple pods per week. “I go through about three a week,” another student said. Three pods perhaps sounds a lot less harmful than three packs of cigarettes, but it’s quite the equivalent. Nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine are described as the top five most addictive substances, according to AddictionCenter. org. And as you know, alcohol consumption under the age of 21 is illegal, but not all under-aged people are great at following the rules. Fortunately for humanity, alcohol is rarely the substance that kills people. It’s the secondary activities people do while drinking that get them into trouble – like driving. In 2018 alone, alcohol-related accidents were responsible for taking over 10,000 lives. Over a million people are given DUIs every year, whether it’s for alcohol or narcotics, according to the CDC. Further trouble can ensue when people mix alcohol with other substances, such as pain killers. Mixing alcohol with opioids like vicodin can lead to slowed breathing and a lowered pulse that could result in unconsciousness, or even worse, death. Alcohol mixed with depressants, on the other hand, such as Xanax or valium, can lead to dizziness, stumbling, memory loss and – last but certainly the most embarrassing – loss of sphincter control. Google it. Still, narcotics are where the real problem lies. People will be prescribed all types of painkillers after suffering an injury or following a surgery. Friends of mine have been given Oxycodone for pain following wisdom teeth removal, which isn’t an issue until the bottle is empty – and not just because of tooth pain. The problem with narcotics is the addiction that comes with it. According to the CDC, millions of Americans suffer from opioid addiction. On the bright side, addiction is treatable, but beating addiction is much easier if you realize you have a problem and are willing to get help. In most cases, that is the hardest part. Another dangerous aspect of drugs is who you’re buying them from. You may know the person who sold it to you, but what about who they bought it from? It can go back through multiple people and you most likely have no clue where it originated. Even if you

Submitted Photo (above); Photos by Kayla Hallac/Nighthawk News

Fifth-grade students at Nags Head Elementary (above) take part in their Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program graduation in 2019. In 2022, First Flight Middle School Resource Officer Dustin Walston (below) leads a presentation about the newest initiative to educate young people about the importance of making good decisions, titled Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT). Middle schoolers made posters to hang up about resisting peer pressure when it comes to drug use.

buy drugs from your best friend, you still don’t know where they may have originated, or if they’ve been laced with even more dangerous substances like fentanyl. People take pills they think are safe because they got it from a familiar face. The more pills they take, the less they think about the consequences. They just want to feel the effects again. DARE’s friendly lion’s fearful exclamations about strangers in white vans may not have turned out to be substantial, but the grasp drugs has on adolescence is.

Drug addictions can block out your common sense, and that’s when people get hurt. If you have a problem with substance abuse, finding help is easier than you might think. Located in Kitty Hawk, Changing Tides, an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center, has outstanding reviews and according to Google Reviews, has helped many individuals overcome addiction. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline number is 1-800-662-4357. Senior Joey Krieg can be reached at 22kriegjo52@daretolearn.org.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

Addiction: a universal struggle By Kira Walters Staff Writer

abits are everywhere. Everyone has them. Brushing your teeth, going to the gym, showering every other day. All of these habits are norms in our society. However, not all habits are practices meant to improve one’s personal well-being. Many of them do the exact opposite. They become an all-encompassing thought and feeling that is seemingly impossible to break free of. For instance, the worldwide nicotine epidemic: The harmful effects of smoking cigarettes and vaping are inescapable facts, to the point of kids learning about it in school. But nicotine is only a tiny fraction of the substances that have taken over people’s lives. An eighth-grade student from FFMS, an FFHS senior and a local adult shared their experiences with substance abuse anonymously in order to raise awareness about this sensitive topic. They will be referred to as Sophia, Grace and James in order to keep their identities confidential.

lot of people from my family died because of drugs and I’ve seen a lot of stuff.” Unlike her family, Sophia has now managed to avoid using substances as much as possible, presumably because she got such an early start. “I don’t remember how old I was, but I think I might have been 8,” she said. “I took my mom’s wine and I got really drunk.” At 8 years old, you may have been worrying if you could get home in time to catch your favorite cartoon. Sophia was worrying about her future. “I was anxious that I was gonna get caught, obviously, but I couldn’t stop seeing myself turning into my mom and I was scared,” Sophia said. When Sophia was 13 years old, she found her mother unresponsive one day after an overdose. This would be a scarring experience for anyone, but Sophia has managed to let the loss of family members affect her as minimally as possible. “I wish I could tell myself that there are a lot of hard times and I just need to be strong,” she said of advice she would share with her younger self.

The Sophia Chapter

The Grace Chapter

“I have found that the process of discovering who I really am begins with knowing who I really don’t want to be.” – Alcoholics Anonymous

“Today, I close the door to the past and open the door to the future.” – Alcoholics Anonymous

Most people could tell you without hesitation that drugs are a negative thing. Sophia, on the other hand, still can’t quite tell. Drugs and alcohol were the things that shattered her family, but they were also the things that made her home life bearable. “My mom was on drugs my whole life and when she wasn’t, she would get really mad at me and my brother and hit us,” Sophia said. “Whenever she was on drugs, she was happier, so I kind of thought it was a good thing, I guess.” Substances have been a part of this middle-schooler’s life for as long as she can remember. A number of her family members have dealt with substance use issues and made no effort to hide it from her. “Two of my family members killed themselves and I was told that it was because of the drugs they did,” Sophia said. “So I still don’t really know how to feel about it. A

Grace first understood the definition of addiction in sixth grade. She had seen people using drugs many times before, but wasn’t completely aware of what was going on. “I knew what addiction was, but I never personally experienced it because I was oblivious to the things being done around me,” Grace said. “I was at home and I heard screaming from a friend and I ran to the bathroom and saw someone very close to me laying on the floor. She had overdosed and was black and blue. I held her, crying, and I was told to hold her head under the shower so I did and someone else was holding her as well. I thought she was gone for good. Luckily, I started hearing strange grunting noises from her and she slowly became conscious again.” Grace still vividly remembers this traumatic incident six years later. “She sat me down and explained to me that she can’t

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

help what she is doing because she feels like she physically needs it and she will get very sick without it,” Grace said. This was only the first of many times Grace had to witness someone in this condition. And even after seeing the horrifying aftermath of addiction, the environment she was living in subdued her will to avoid using substances herself. “The first time I used a substance I was 12, I believe,” she said. “I felt like it was so stupid and I hated it … at first.” An early middle-schooler – this was the beginning of a downward spiral for Grace. “I started smoking because my friend got taken by social services and it became a coping mechanism for me. Then I started trying new things because weed wasn’t satisfying me enough and everyone around me was doing stuff as well,” she said. “I had seen multiple people in my life overdose so, luckily, I never did anything with pills since I had already seen other people’s bad experiences.” No one’s experience is identical and there are many different reasons for beginning to use substances, but Grace was heavily influenced by her surroundings. “I wouldn’t say other people influenced me, but I definitely was told it was super fun and everyone around me was doing it, so I started trying it to be cool,” she said. “Then it turned into a habit.” Grace is now a senior, and despite her wisdom from having lived through the experience, she still struggles to discern the reason why she made those decisions. “I think a lot of things lead to the misuse of drugs,” Grace said. “Trying to fill something in your life, past trauma, trying to fit in, being depressed – anything could make you want to try something, and if you enjoy it, you’re going to continue to use it unless you have strong control of yourself, which most people don’t.” While substances can provide a temporary relief, the pain people are trying to erase is only amplified. It can feel like the only solution at the time, but in retrospect, Grace realized that was hardly the case. “I would tell my younger self to just never get started,” she said. “I hate how our mind can be altered and how we feel the need to be dependent on

something that does nothing but damage to ourselves.”

The James Chapter “One day at a time.” – Alcoholics Anonymous James grew up on the Outer Banks. He spent his teenage years surfing, working and doing what most local kids do. Along with Sophia and Grace, addiction was in his genes. “I didn’t really do anything until the summer when I was 15. At that point, I was flying kites for Kitty Hawk Kites and I met an old hippie guy,” James said. “He asked me if I wanted to smoke a joint, so I said sure. He was also the first one to buy me alcohol.” James’ start with substances was not entirely out of the ordinary. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2.08 million kids between the ages of 12-17 reported using drugs in the past month. Despite efforts to prevent teenage substance use, it is almost a given that teenagers will experiment, and 15 is not an uncommon age to begin. However, James struggled – and continues to struggle – with depression, anxiety and mild bipolar disorder. “One day I got completely wasted and was jumping off the second story of Kitty Hawk Kites. They had big sand piles behind the building, so I was jumping off of the second story into a sand pile,” James explained. “That was the last thing I remember before I woke up in the hospital with my stomach getting pumped. That was my start.” James’ drinking escalated throughout his teenage years and into early adulthood before his family decided it was time to get him help. “The drinking gradually picked up. It was what we did every weekend, and then in my senior year I had been smoking some hash outside my mom’s house. My mom found the pipe and, since it didn’t smell or look like weed, she thought I was smoking crack,” James said. “After that, I got the intervention. My step-mom took me to my mom’s house to get some clothes and some things I had left there. I walked into the room and there were probably 10 to 15 people sitting in a circle waiting for me to get there.” At first, James was reluctant: “I was caught off-guard. I was angry. I felt deceived and

lied to,” he said. “I fought for about an hour and my grandpa took me outside and convinced me to go get help. I refused at first, but he convinced me to go for just two weeks. That was my first treatment. I was 18. That kind of slowed things down for me, kind of put me in check.” Even after James tried to get help, his addiction continued to spiral out of control. “Sometime after my second wife and I had separated, I went to my second treatment facility. My drinking had gotten really, really bad. That was when the binge drinking started. I couldn’t bear to be sober,” James said. “Once I started drinking, I just had to keep going. I would wake up in the middle of the night and go to the bathroom, slam a couple beers and go back to sleep. It had to be in my system or I would start shaking. I finally called the mobile crisis myself and said, ‘I need help.’ I went to rehab probably three or four more times and detoxed five or six other times.” Many years later, James is yet to find the cause of his desperate battle with substance abuse. “I can’t pinpoint a particular event. I don’t know if I’m blocking something out. I could be. I spent a long time trying to figure that out, because you know they say addiction is a symptom of the problem,” James said. For most of his life, James was trying to get away: from his family, from his emotional pain, even from his addiction. “One thing always substitutes for another, so if I wasn’t drinking, I was smoking weed. And if I wasn’t smoking weed, I was drinking, or doing something else, taking pain pills,” he said. “Anything to numb up, just a little bit.” Thankfully, James was able to pull himself together and get sober two years ago: “I’m 772 days without drinking right now.” He now has two kids in the First Flight schools. James tries to provide as much advice and support as possible, despite not being a full-time parent. “Stay busy doing what you love,” he said. “Find something that you’re passionate about and put your focus into that. Make the choice to be happy with who you are.” Sophomore Kira Walters can be reached at 24walterski77@ daretolearn.org.

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Local law enforcement works to fight the ‘war on drugs’ By Kayla Hallac, Maren Ingram and Maggie McNinch Editors-in-Chief

ccording to narcan.com, “Approximately every eight minutes, on average, a person dies from an opioid overdose. There are many reasons for opioid overdose emergencies, and most often they happen accidentally and at home.” This statistic is well known to Dare County officials. Local task forces, police departments and community leaders have been working to address this problem for years. “The thing is that so many steps have been tried. There have been so many first steps,” Kill Devil Hills Police Department Captain John Towler said. “The problem is it’s been going on for so long and everyone takes a different view about how to proceed. It’s gotten so frustrating because there’s been no magic bullet to lay in the problem.” Trying to find the solution to address drug abuse has been complex. “The easiest way to do the best you can is in small battles, not necessarily a ‘war on drugs,’ ” KDH Police Lieutenant Chris Carter said. “Trying to help as far as what the community can offer, and what we can do as law enforcement, because you don’t want to lock up everybody just because they have a problem.” A widespread issue in the community in terms of drug abuse has been the use of pressed pills. Tyler Doughtie, Investigator with the Dare County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force, warns about the dangers of these pills that are going around, especially because many have been laced with opiate derivatives somewhere in the cycle. “That’s what we see the most of now – it’s just the new trend,” Doughtie said. “So even though they may look like a normal pill that kids have used before, they’re not. They’ve got fentanyl or some other opiate derivative in them and that’s what’s making kids and everybody fall out and die.” Towler named early intervention as a possible solution to battling this ongoing problem, due to the fact that use is starting earlier and earlier, beginning sometimes in middle school. “(Younger people) are starting with even some of the harder drugs, not just marijuana or tobacco or alcohol. We’re talking cocaine and methamphetamines starting to be used even at that early stage,” Towler said. “Identify the kids who are showing the warning

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Kill Devils Hills Police Department Captain John Towler (right) and Lieutenant Chris Carter speak with Nighthawk News staff members about drug use on the Outer Banks.

signs that they’re potentially going to be your users, because of whatever, and do what you can.” School officials believe that this intervention begins with parent and community involvement with drug education programs in schools. “Conversations and support about drug use and addiction is one of the ultimate responsibilities of parents and schools,” First Flight Principal Chuck Lansing said. “It’s only going to be successful when we’re able to have parents involved and promote our own involvement by seeing how much support we get from outside of the school.” Local law enforcement also stresses the importance of drug education in the school systems and at home, especially with the rise of pressed pills. “Education is a factor in everything,” Dare County Sheriff Doug Doughtie said. “If you don’t know what’s happening, or what you’re using, the wrong stuff at the wrong place can kill you.” Beyond parents and the school systems, support can come from another trusted adult, an addiction healthline or local law enforcement. “I feel like it boils back to kids trusting cops again,” Tyler Doughtie said. “It seems like everybody in school knows what kids are troublesome and what kids are using drugs. Without trying to sound like a snitch, unfortunately, even some of your best friends keep their mouths shut. So I think a lot of it is having people to talk to, building a relationship with police or counselors or whoever kids can trust in and confide in.” Having someone to confide in seems like a viable solution, but it’s

proven to be difficult to execute due to the stigma surrounding drug use. This is something that the Outer Banks community in particular has struggled with as news of overdoses and drug arrests from Hatteras Island to Currituck and points in between has impacted countless families. “The recent events have highlighted probably the biggest misconception about the Outer Banks – that we’re this prominent, all affluent community with no issues and everybody looks out for one another, but we have an underlying problem with drugs and our inability to talk openly about them for fear of somebody coming down on us,” Lansing said. “We don’t want to paint ourselves in a light that’s negative for outsiders, but if we truly are a community and if we truly care about taking care of one another, then we do need to have these conversations.” Like Tyler Doughtie, Lansing said building trust between students and adults is an important starting point. “I think the biggest first step is creating this culture of trust where students understand our goal isn’t to restrict kids’ fun, it’s to keep you safe and allow you to grow and experience things at a pace that is natural for you,” Lansing said. “The world will continue to get bigger and bigger as you get older and older, but we have to work together with parents to restrict that access while we’re here.” While local law enforcement has been working on ways to handle the drug crisis, especially amid teenagers, many have found that there is no solution that fits every scenario. “There’s no one answer,” Towler

said. “There’s a lot of answers and you just have to find the one that works.” One thing the local drug task force is trying to implement in the community is opioid overdose treatment devices like Narcan. That emergency nasal spray is being carried by more and more law enforcement agencies in recent years to allow officers to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. “Narcan is all that I know of that is truly a life-saving tool,” Tyler Doughtie said. “I’m all for it. I think that if you can save a life with it, then it’s great. The more readily available it is, the more lives you’ll end up saving.” While Narcan can save a life in an emergency, many can become dependent on these life-saving measures and could soon fall to Narcan as a crutch. “(The use of Narcan) is a double-edged sword,” Doug Doughtie added. “It’s great that they do have Narcan and it’s great that it’s being used, but you can also become so dependent on that. It’s hard enough to stop – until something affects you enough to make you quit.” Ideally, of course, people wouldn’t start using drugs in the first place. As drug use has grown into a larger and larger problem, for some, the temporary “escape” drugs offer has replaced other methods individuals use to handle their stress. “Everybody has a crutch, whether it’s chewing your fingernails, twisting your hair – everybody has something that they do as a way to handle stress,” Carter said. “And unfortunately, some people use drugs.” Those who use drugs are not limited to certain age ranges, races, socioeconomic statuses. Local officials know different people come from different circumstances that have led them down a path of drug abuse. “Drugs are like cancer; they don’t discriminate,” Carter said. “So your lowest level of poverty is someone that may be on drugs to your highest level of multimillionaires. Look at how many Hollywood actors that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars and how many times they’ve been in and out of rehab. It doesn’t discriminate; it’s a pure cancer on society and it’s not just a North Carolina or Outer Banks or U.S. problem, it’s a worldwide problem.” Senior Kayla Hallac can be reached at 22hallacka85@daretolearn.org. Senior Maren Ingram can be reached at 22ingramma01@daretolearn.org. Senior Maggie McNinch can be reached at 22mcninchma07@daretolearn.org.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

ur Time

Two years later and still not back to normal

By Mackenzie Edwards Sports Editor

mpty shelves. People sprinting everywhere, grabbing things in a hurry. Everything was sold out as soon as it came off the truck. Many people started stockpiling toilet paper and disinfectant wipes. It’s hard to believe that all of this began two years ago in March 2020. The COVID-19 epidemic first emerged in December of 2019 in Wuhan, China. It spread to other countries shortly after, leading to two years of regulations and policies changing along with the virus. There were times when restrictions were loosened, then tightened again later. Many people took these lightened restrictions as a sign that things were finally getting back to normal even as COVID-19 cases were rapidly climbing. The COVID-19 cases exponentially increased throughout summer and into fall thanks to new variants called Delta and Omicron. A source who would like to remain anonymous and will be known as Sally experienced firsthand the effects of COVID-19 in October 2020. “The first time I had COVID I had a sore throat, severe headaches, severe fatigue, sleeplessness, bad body aches and fevers that were constant, and then about two and a half, three weeks of constant fevers,” Sally said. “It turned into night fevers that I would get every afternoon around two or three o’clock, which caused me to be in isolation for over six weeks because I couldn’t go 24 hours without a fever.” Sally’s experience is shared by many who had a rough time with COVID-19. She had long-lasting symptoms that lingered for months and was diagnosed as a long-hauler. Long-haulers are people who experience COVID-19 symptoms long-term. “I used to be a very healthy person and have a very good immune system until getting COVID the first time,” Sally said. “Ever since then I feel like it has weakened my immune system.” COVID-19 also has given her long-term effects that are somewhat hard to overcome. “It’s also given me sporadic fevers for no reason, severe headaches, and I also have cysts on my retinas that cause impaired vision and can only be corrected with cortisone shots in my eyeballs,” she added. “So COVID has not been fun for me.” In October 2020, Dare County Schools attempted to reopen schools on a partial schedule with students rotating in the building every two days. This plan, however, was short-lived and ended due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in students and staff members. By January 2021, there was significant progress made in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine had gone through testing and was ready to be administered in phases. Phase One included all first responders, front-line workers and retirement NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

home employees. Phase Two included educators and those who were at higher risk for infection. Phase Three included adults in all other categories. In spring 2021, places began to reopen due to large number of people getting vaccinated, Sally being one of them. She received her Moderna vaccine in March 2021. “I was vaccinated because there was a lot of research saying that it helps with long-hauler symptoms,” Sally said. “I was hoping it would help with the headaches and the fevers that I was still sporadically getting.” Shortly after the initial round of COVID-19 vac-

cines, the vaccine age requirements were extended to 16-year-olds, meaning that high school students could be vaccinated. This led Dare County to reopen the schools once more and try the modified schedule of half the students on different days of the week. The 2020-21 school year was successfully finished with many students in the building after a troubling start. However, the pandemic was far from over. By summer 2021, a new COVID-19 variant was discovered and quickly became the most dominant variant in the United States. This variant was highly contagious, even more so than the first. Health officials recommended all people regardless of vaccination status wear their masks and properly social distance again. Despite the effectiveness of the vaccine against the original COVID-19 strand, it was not proven as effective against the new Delta variant. People still caught COVID-19, although those who were vaccinated were not as likely to be seriously ill or die from the virus. In late June 2021, Sally was diagnosed with COVID-19 once again. Despite being vaccinated and still having antibodies from the first strand of COVID-19, she became the second breakthrough case in Dare County. Later tests revealed that Sally was infected with the COVID-19 Delta variant. “The main thing with the Delta variant for me was respiratory. It was a lot more respiratory than in the first round. It was so bad I couldn’t complete a sentence without coughing so bad that I couldn’t

breathe,” Sally said. “Sleeping and fevers were an issue. I couldn’t sleep because I was coughing constantly. That was definitely the worst part of Delta.” Despite having worse symptoms this time around with COVID-19, Sally recovered faster and was able to leave isolation after a mere three weeks. By now it was almost time for school to begin again and this time Dare County decided to send all students back to school five days a week with masks being optional for vaccinated individuals. About a month into school, the masks changed from optional to required. During this time, Dare County COVID-19 cases began to decrease. When the holidays rolled around, the cases began to rise again due to all the traveling and visiting family members. A new variant called Omicron was beginning to circulate around the United States. This new variant was highly contagious, even more so than the Delta variant. In addition to Omicron during the holidays, booster vaccine shots became available for the first round of COVID-19 vaccinated people. This would help increase the number of antibodies they have in their immune system. Despite her best efforts, Sally contracted COVID-19 once again in mid-January 2022. At first she received a negative at-home test, then went to get tested at urgent care the next morning. Her lab results confirmed that this was the Omicron COVID-19 variant. “I thought I was safe from getting COVID again even though there was another strand out because when I got blood work done, in mid- to late-November, I was told that a good antibody count was 2,500 and my antibody count was 3,900,” Sally said. “So when I got Omicron, I thought it was just a head cold or a sinus infection.” Despite only having minimal symptoms, Sally still got tested and remained in isolation for two weeks until she tested negative. “Omicron variant definitely had the most mild symptoms of the three. I still had fatigue. I had breathlessness where I would get winded just going from the bed to the couch and I was very weak. It was mainly like a bad cold with a sore throat and sinus pressure,” Sally said. Along with the mask, social distancing, and other health recommendation changes over the past two years there have been many changes with the virus itself. The development of the new variants has made it increasingly difficult to treat and fight against COVID-19 due to its constantly changing factors. “It’s hard to say which variant was the worst for me. The first one was really bad because I had fevers for so long, and I’ve had headaches ever since. But Delta was much worse respiratory-wise,” Sally said. Junior Mackenzie Edwards can be reached at 23edwardsma78@daretolearn.org.

Submitted Photos

Senior Hannah Montgomery (above right) carries a banner as she leads the way for her dance studio in a past Kelly’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Local dance studios and dozens of others have participated in several parades over the years. At right, members of the Tidewater Pipes and Drums march in the 2019 parade. They carry on the Scottish pipe band tradition and participate in many competitions and events.

Beloved parade makes a return after three years

By Allie Nigro Features Editor

fter three years of postponements, Kelly’s annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled to make its return on Sunday, March 20. The parade has brought the Outer Banks community together for over 30 years. Parade founder Mike Kelly is excited to get everyone back together, and hoping for an astounding audience. “I’m thinking this will be our biggest parade we’ve ever had, and the reason being is that when you have a parade year after year, you don’t miss it quite as much,” Kelly said. “But now that it’s been three years since we’ve had a parade, everyone wants to go.” The parade includes everything from firetrucks to floats made by local Outer Banks restaurants and businesses. Anyone is welcome to join and Kelly encourages people to participate on any level. “In our parade, we allow the guy who drives the trash truck, the girls who are in a club, dancers, restaurants, all the firetrucks,” Kelly said. “You don’t see those in the Macy’s (Thanksgiving) Day Parade, but you do in the Kelly’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, because that’s what the community’s about.” Mary Ann Newman has been coor-

Submitted Photo

The Special Olympics Regional Equestrian Team walks alongside one of its horses and waves to the crowd. The group has enjoyed participating in the Kelly’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade over the years and is glad to see it return.

dinating the parade since 1995 and has been taking applications from various Outer Banks groups and businesses. The parade lasts about one and a half to two hours. The lineup of participants can be a mile long. The parade route is the same this year, starting at Bladen Street in Nags Head and ending at Driftwood Street. It will begin at 1 on that Sunday. With the variety the parade has to offer, Kelly credits the event’s initial success to its appeal to kids of all ages. “The success was initially because so many kids wanted to go, and it got to be a really good time,” Kelly said. Various First Flight students have gone to the parade since they were young, as well as participated in the parade itself. Senior Allegra Mackenzie-Reece has fond memories of watching the parade as a child. “I remember just getting a lot of candy, and the little gold coins they would throw, those were always fun,” Mackenzie-Reece said. A few years ago, Mackenzie-Reece, along with her family, who own the Outer Banks Brewing Station, participated in the parade, throwing candy out of their company van. “It’s fun receiving the candy, but it’s so much fun when you have the actual candy and you get to throw it to people and they get all excited,” Mackenzie-Reece said. “I loved doing that.” Senior Hannah Montgomery participated in the parade with her dance studio, Outer Banks Centre for Dance, and enjoyed getting to work on the studio’s float and perfect their routine. “My dance studio does Irish Dance, so we would wear our Irish costumes and gillies, which are Irish dance shoes, and dance through the entire parade,” Montgomery said. “It was super exhausting and freezing cold and my face would always hurt from smiling the whole time, but everyone in the crowd loved it and would be yelling and getting all excited, which definitely made it worth it.” Among the sea of people, the parade always provides an opportunity to meet new faces and catch up with old friends.

“After a couple years of going, next thing you know you keep going to the same parade, in the same area, sitting with the same friends,” Kelly said. “You get to see a whole lot of people and renew acquaintances.” This year, the FFHS marching band will be performing in the parade, playing a variety of songs and popular tunes. The marching band has not participated in the parade for the last few years, and this will be band director Robert Lamberg’s first time being a part of the holiday event.

“I’ve never done this parade, so it’s going to be a new experience for me as well, so I’m excited,” Lamberg said. Though three years have passed without the parade, the Outer Banks community will once again have the opportunity to come together for this Saint Patrick’s Day fun. “It’s always been one of my favorite traditions and I’ve never missed one, whether I’ve danced in it or watched it,” Montgomery said. Junior Allie Nigro can be reached at 23nigroal20@daretolearn.org.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

The ﬁrst on-campus prom since when?

By Fiona Finchem Opinions Editor

rom can be the most magical night of high school: the night juniors have been waiting for since watching prom night in the movies; the night that seniors will remember as one of their favorite high school memories even long after they graduate. For the ﬁrst time since 2019, First Flight will ﬁnally host an on-campus junior and senior prom after COVID-19 complications in 2020 and 2021. This year’s prom will take place on April 2 from 8 to 11 p.m. and will be held in the rotunda. “We have a really nice school and a beautiful open area that can hold us all. The biggest challenge to trying to host it off campus is that there are no venues that can accommodate the 450 to 500 attendees that we normally have,” Principal Chuck Lansing said. “The prom area is always decorated really well, and past proms that were here were very successful.” Like every year, Lansing hopes that students can look back on prom and have a positive high school memory. “I want them to have fun while being safe, and I hope that they can appreciate that night as a part of their high school experience,” Lansing said. Lindsay Austin, Student Engagement Coordinator at First Flight, is in charge of the prom committee this year and hopes to create a magical night with the help of the Student Government Association (SGA) and parents. “I don’t want to give too much away, but this will be more than a dance; it will be a truly spectacular event,” Austin said. “I am looking forward to doing something that hasn’t been done here before.” A student prom committee is helping to put everything together and is responsible for what they think will look best. Senior Emily Byrum is on SGA and is excited to attend the prom and help put it into action.

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Shorelines File Photo

Students enjoy the 2019 prom held at FFHS. This year’s dance will be the ﬁrst prom held at school since 2019. The prom in the spring of 2021 was held at the Wright Brothers’ Memorial instead of its usual venue of the rotunda. The 2020 event was canceled.

“It will be so special to me because it’s our senior prom, and it’s the ﬁrst normal prom we have had since we were freshmen, and we couldn’t even go. I’m really excited that I get to help plan and put it on,” Byrum said. “Since this will be my only prom on-campus, I’m looking forward to creating something that a lot of people will remember for the rest of their lives.” Tickets will be on sale starting Monday, March 14, during lunch and will be $20 per person (must be cash or check made out to FFHS). In order to

attend prom, class dues must be paid, and students must be in good academic standing (not failing a class with more than five absences). Outside guests must complete a form with a copy of the license, student ID, or some form of picture identification. It is due to the front office by the end of the day on Tuesday, March 29. The return of After Prom, which has featured prize giveaways to students and fun outings such as bowling, laser tag and putt-putt, will be held from 11 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. at the YMCA. After

Prom was canceled last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, so students were on their own following the outside prom at the Wright Brothers’ Memorial. With April right around the corner, it’s about that time to start matching ties to dresses and making plans with friends for dinner before the dance. And on April 2, as Justin Timberlake said, “As long as I’ve got my suit and tie I’ma leave it all on the floor tonight.” Senior Fiona Finchem can be reached at 22finchemfi99@daretolearn.org.

Jockey’s Ridge climbs up the visitor list to 1.8 million

By Olivia Sugg Online Editor-in-Chief

very year, how many people do you see walking through your back yard as you look through your living room window? Probably not 1.8 million – but in 2021, this was the reality for park rangers at Jockey’s Ridge. “Myself and the other four rangers that work at the state park all live on-site. It’s part of our job requirement just to keep an eye on things,” Park Superintendent Joy Greenwood said. “So from my back yard, there was a noticeable increase in people.” For the past two years, Jockey’s Ridge has been the most visited park in the North Carolina State Park system, with 1.9 million visitors in 2020 and 1.8 million in 2021. “We had a big jump once COVID hit. Even though the spring of 2020 was really quiet, our summer and our fall were off the charts,” Greenwood said. “We jumped up almost over 200,000 visitors from 2019 to 2020.” Greenwood mentioned that this year’s biggest impact was the increase of visitors in the early spring and late fall, what is normally considered the shoulder season. This has been a universal trend in all Dare County tourism industries like restaurants, rental companies and hotels. “COVID deﬁnitely had an impact on our visitors,” Greenwood said. “We saw many more people that were here for the ﬁrst time. People, in general, are getting outdoors more than they used to in the past.” Counting 1.8 million people is no easy task, especially because Jockey’s Ridge has multiple entrances. People enter the park from the designated parking lot, Jockey’s Ridge Crossing on the bypass, the nearby Nags Head Church and even surrounding neighborhoods. Nevertheless, park rangers found a solution. “A couple of summers ago we had some summer interns stand down at the crosswalk at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing to count how many people came across in an hour’s period,” Greenwood said. “We would do that a couple of times a week at different times of the day to get a good idea. The results were the people coming across at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing are about 25% of what we were getting.” These meticulous calculations, combined with a pneumatic road tube counter that runs across the pavement at the park entrance and a calculated average of four visitors per car, allow the yearly visitor count to be calculated. “It’s not an exact science by any means, but we’re doing the best that we can with what we have,” Greenwood said. “There are so many people that come into the park after hours and through other entrances that we look at trends more than anything; exact

Photo by Kayla Hallac/Nighthawk News

Jockey’s Ridge State Park visitors enjoy the view of a rainbow on a cloudy day. Jockey’s Ridge was North Carolina’s most visited state park in 2021.

numbers are hard to come by.” While the increased number of visitors is great for the local tourism industry, managing a 426-acre state park with 1.8 million visitors comes with many behind-the-scenes expenses. An increased state park budget has been advantageous. “With a growing number of people, there is a growing number of supplies and a growing number of issues and problems that we have with facilities,” Greenwood said. “We are trying to expand our septic system and people do not think about it, but we go through a lot of toilet paper and a lot of trash bags – that’s a large expense.” In a few short months, the park will no longer need to worry about facility issues quite as much, as the construction of a new visitor center has been underway since last June. In 2016, North Carolina voters approved a bond project that allotted $25 million to zoos and aquariums and $75 million to state park projects. “Projects were identified at each park, and with Jockey’s Ridge having the oldest visitor center in the state park system, it was definitely time for a facelift,” Greenwood said. That state funding is incredibly beneficial. A well-known local support group called Friends of Jockey’s Ridge raises funds for the park, but taxpayer dollars from Raleigh provide most of the funding. “Friends of Jockey’s Ridge is the non-profit fundraising partner for Jockey’s Ridge State Park,” Executive Director Robin Hallac said. “We obtain funds from boardwalk sponsorships, community partners and direct donations to the park.” All of the donations that Friends of Jockey’s Ridge receives go directly to free, educational park programs. These programs are set to increase in 2022. Some upcoming programs include a monthly full moon hike, which gives people after-hours park access, and weekly kayak programs. Jockey’s Ridge would also like to get back into working with Dare County

Schools, a collaboration put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had a very active program with the schools and most Dare County students have been on at least one ﬁeld trip to the park,” Greenwood said. “We do a lot with the schools as far as outreach as well as encouraging people to come here and visit.” With North Carolina State Parks announcing “Year of the Tree” as its theme for 2022, Friends of Jockey’s Ridge is providing major support to the new programs being developed around trees, including handing out tree seed-

lings at the upcoming Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. “The park does a terriﬁc job developing programs, but the materials and supplies can get really expensive when you have a lot of visitors,” Hallac said. “Our funding provides all of those materials so the programming can remain free and we can give more access to those programs for everybody.” Another exciting project that Friends of Jockey’s Ridge has recently worked with the park to facilitate is the process of getting a grant from the Dare County Tourism Board to purchase a brand new UTV. “The brand new piece of equipment can be used to support the park through enabling better access for mobility challenged visitors, increasing visitor engagement and helping with hydration runs/heat emergencies during the summer,” Hallac said. “We’ve worked really hard to obtain that and provide that for the park because visitation has been so high and we are really, really excited about it.” From sunsets to kite ﬂying to footraces up the dunes, it’s no surprise that 1.8 million people visited Jockey’s Ridge last year. “It’s just such a beautiful place,” Hallac said. “It’s a wonderful place to get outside to enjoy the outdoors and there’s nowhere else like it.” Junior Olivia Sugg can be reached at 23suggol52@daretolearn.org.

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NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

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Great expectations: SNOBX amounts disappoint

By Emmy Benton News Editor

ocals on the Outer Banks are no stranger to severe weather affecting the coast. From hurricanes to nor’easters, they know what to do in the case of extreme weather. Most weather except snow, that is. The Outer Banks got a taste of winter weather during the last two weekends of January that proved to be less than what some hoped for. Even though the snow melted quickly and wasn’t a major problem for the roads, some were still slippery and hazardous. Junior Mary Kathryn Stroud drove in Duck on Jan. 22 and was met with wet roads in some areas. “There was a lot of slush, snow and puddles all over the road,” Stroud said. “I had to drive slower than normal because of the puddles and slick places.” This is just what the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) advises people to do if they have to drive on slippery roads. Even further, they urge people to stay off the roads if possible when extreme winter weather is predicted to affect their area. If travel is required, officials encourage drivers to “slow down and maintain a safe following distance” between them and other cars. People on the Outer Banks don’t usually have to worry about driving in wintry weather, but occasionally these guidelines apply to the area. There are certain conditions that need to be present for snow to fall, and these don’t normally happen in Dare County. Jeff Edmondson, the Chief Meteorologist for WAVY News 10, attributes our rare snowfall to the

Submitted Photo

Armed with a snowball, senior Kate Hamilton chases her sister through the snow at Sound Park. After receiving a couple of inches of snow near the end of January, many students took to the outdoors to celebrate a long-awaited snow day.

water that surrounds us. “The ocean near the OBX has a south to north current that keeps the air a little warmer,” Edmondson said. “The water in the sound also is warmer. To get deep cold arctic air, and to get heavy snow, is tricky. We need to get a deep cold pool of air to develop to our north and get some of the cold air in the atmosphere above our area.” Along with this, the temperature in the atmosphere needs to stay cold in order for snow to form and stay as snow as it falls to the ground. Snow forms when ice crystals in clouds stick together to become snowflakes. Meteorologists track winter storms and forecast them just as they would with any other weather event. Edmondson generally uses the Global

Forecast System (GFS), the European Model, and the North American Model as a means to track storms. “We look at several weather models,” Edmondson said. “Since we live in a coastal region, that can affect the accuracy of the models. Some perform better than others in the area.” The meteorologists who predict the weather and the weather models they use help workers for NCDOT take the necessary precautions to keep roadways clear. Jeff Ryder, the NCDOT County Maintenance Engineer for Dare County, works with the other 13 counties that make up Division 1 of NCDOT to coordinate winter weather efforts in Northeastern North Carolina. “We work as a group to help each

other out, and if we need help from other divisions throughout the state, we’ll call them down,” Ryder said. The state of North Carolina has about 2,150 dump trucks equipped with plows and salt-and-sand spreaders to clear roads and make them less slippery. “All the trucks are assigned to a county,” Ryder said. “Here in Dare we have anywhere from four to seven trucks available at any time for any snow storm. That ranges from snowplows to salt spreaders or brine equipment in the back.” This winter, there were a number of back-to-back winter storms across North Carolina that called for thousands of tons of salt to be spread, but Dare County didn’t experience this same threat. “We don’t have a big supply here in Dare County because the state average for snowfall is one storm per year,” Ryder said. “We have a very small yard here in Manteo, so we only keep on hand 80 tons of salt.” The last time Dare County had to use snow plows to remove snow from the roads was in 2018, when the Outer Banks saw eight to 10 inches of snow in some areas. With substantial amounts of snowfall being so rare, people on the Outer Banks can forget what it feels like to be in a winter wonderland. But Edmondson provides a little piece of hope that we may get more than a snowball’s chance in… well, you know… “When we have high snow winters in January in the region (Norfolk and Elizabeth City), we tend to get snow in February and March,” Edmondson said. Junior Emmy Benton can be reached at 23bentonem58@daretolearn.org.

SPCA’s new facility offers better accommodations for animals

By Arden Carlyle Staff Writer

he lively sound of dogs barking. Kind employees available for your every need. These are just some of the things you might witness upon walking into the Manteo SPCA shelter. Due to the rise of pandemic pets in 2020, a relocation of the Outer Banks SPCA became a necessary reality. Since March of last year, the transition to the new facility has proved to be nothing but positive. Executive Director Bill Coleman has felt the transition to an advanced facility was necessary and that it would offer increased hope for the animals that call the SPCA home. “It’s going fantastic,” Coleman said. “Overall the new facility is a lot more spacious and a great accommodation for the animals.” Senior Peyton McCleary has similar feelings about the up-to-date SPCA facility. McCleary has been a faithful volunteer and intern over the past year, and although she hadn’t worked at the old location, she expressed the significant differences between the two facilities. “I hadn’t worked at the old facility but I had been NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

there, and it doesn’t even compare to the new one. The dog kennels are inside, all the animals have more space – same with the workers – and it’s a more comfortable environment overall,” McCleary said. As a volunteer, McCleary’s job consisted of numerous responsibilities. “When I was interning there, I would often help wash dogs and walk them, socialize with the cats and get them more comfortable with humans, clean litter boxes and fold towels, or just help wherever was most needed,” McCleary said. Coleman encouraged students to volunteer because there are various opportunities at the SPCA. “We have a variety of things that students come and do,” Coleman said. “Morning work is cleaning, feeding and getting animals ready for the day. Volunteers are also responsible for dog walking.” Through her many hours spent working with the SPCA, McCleary has found that this new facility has helped cater to more than just animal needs. Those who take part in volunteering also have had better experiences. “My favorite thing about the SPCA is that there was never a dull moment, always something going on. Whether it was a new puppy someone just

Photo by Arden Carlyle/Nighthawk News

An SPCA employee poses with her furry companion. She enjoys working with all of the animals at the new center in Manteo.

brought in or a cat getting adopted, there’s always something to do,” McCleary said. “It felt like more than just an internship.” Senior Arden Carlyle can be reached at 22carlylear66@daretolearn.org.

Reptiles, ‘tricking’ are unique hobbies for McKown

By Foster Guns Staff Writer

error. An emotion that flipping through the air might be associated with. Or seeing a snake. For junior Fenton McKown, these two things have become a daily routine. At a young age, McKown was introduced to the mesmerizing world of reptiles. “I was never taught to fear them,” McKown said. “I grew up always being outside with my dad looking for all types of reptiles.” McKown and his dad have had amazing finds in their adventures together, but he found that watching programs on Animal Planet made his love for reptiles grow even stronger. “My favorite guy was Jeff Corwin,” McKown said. “He became my idol pretty quick after I started watching him.” His earliest memory of being captivated by a reptile was in early 2017, when his dad took him to a reptile store. There, he saw a five-foot lizard walking around freely, and after this outing, McKown’s heart was set on having reptiles of his own. “I went home and did a bunch of research on it and realized they’re really hard to take care of for someone who has no experience in keeping reptiles,” McKown said. “So I started with something a bit more manageable: a blue-tongued skink.” McKown’s blue-tongued skink was just the beginning. His collection of reptiles has grown drastically over time. “I have 12 snakes. I have three poison dart frogs that are adults that are my permanent residents, and I’ve got somewhere around 15 babies that I’m still trying to sell,” McKown said. “I have an absolutely absurd amount of mourning geckos, about 30 if I had to guess.” In order to make the money to sus-

Submitted Photo

Junior Fenton McKown holds the bull snake he received for his sixth birthday. From a young age, McKown has been fascinated by snakes and reptiles. He even hopes to begin a career where he can continue his love for reptiles.

tain his captive-bred snakes, McKown sells baby poison dart frogs. “I naturally breed two of the dart frogs and wait for the new hatch of babies, then drive up to Virginia and sell them to reptile stores and specific buyers,” McKown said. “The frogs are not poisonous in captivity – it depends on what they eat in the wild.” McKown’s hobbies don’t stop at his love for reptiles. Another unusual hobby of his includes “tricking.” Tricking is doing combinations of flips, kicks and twists off the ground, opposed to G Tramp, which is flips, kicks and twists on a trampoline. McKown had been first introduced to G Tramp by his step-brother. “I was 11 and my step-brother always had new hobbies, so I would learn

to do what he did,” McKown said. “He began to do flips on trampolines, but eventually plateaued and forgot about flips.” In late 2019, McKown realized he had way too many snakes to take care of, so he stepped away from the reptile hobby and recalled how much fun he had while tricking. This sparked his interest once more and led him to where he is today. “It was almost like what it was like when I started (tricking). I immediately knew that’s what I wanted to do,” McKown said. McKown is completely self-taught when it comes to on-ground tricks and takes advantage of film to improve his combos. “I film everything I do so I can

coach myself and tweak the small things that really make the combos,” McKown said. Despite being self-taught, he attends tricking gatherings in inland North Carolina, where he meets some amazing mentors and friends who help enhance his capabilities. “It’s a super-underground sport, so everyone that’s in it is really passionate about it, so everyone gets together and trains in a really chill environment,” McKown said. The community still has some big names, one of which is Michael Guthrie. He is a champion in the world of tricking and is known for doing the first ever “Triple Full Swing through Triple Cork & Quadruple Cork.” “To me, Michael Guthrie is like LeBron James,” McKown said. “It just seems so crazy to meet Michael Guthrie one day – he only has like 20,000 followers on Instagram.” Some people will want to throw some crazy combo the first time they trick to be as good as others, but tricking gives McKown the freedom to improve at his own pace. “If you want to work on something, you can,” Mckown said. “There are no levels or anything, just working on skills and building confidence, so eventually you can move on to harder skills.” McKown doesn’t want to be a professional tricker, but he still sees a future in that hobby. It’s his first passion – snakes – that make him dream of having a job in the area of wildlife biology. Not many people are this passionate about any hobbies, yet alone two. “It’s all I ever think about in school. When a lecture starts, I daydream about tricking combos and how good I can get if I stick with it,” McKown said. “It’s just two things I’m super passionate about and I am so stoked to talk about them.” Sophomore Foster Guns can be reached at 24gunsfo54@daretolearn.org.

Submitted Photos

At left, Fenton McKown completes a flip off of a beach access railing, part of his hobby known as tricking. McKown also loves caring for reptiles and is excited to show off his pet snake.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

Coach, youth minister embarks on cancer ﬁght

By Kayla Loveless Staff Writer

sually, you can find Amy Denson coaching middle and high schoolers at the track in the afternoons, and leading at her church’s youth group activities at night – but more recently, Denson’s life has looked a little different after a cancer diagnosis in December. In October, Denson noticed a strange lump under her arm and asked one of her students what it could possibly be. Denson had received a clear mammogram back in May, so she was not concerned about it at first. Thinking the lump was a simple cyst, Denson asked her doctor the next time she went in for an appointment. Her doctor thought the same of it, but also let Denson know that she found something suspicious in her right breast. A few weeks later, the doctor called back with the results. “I went and had another mammogram done right around Christmastime,” Denson said. “And (the doctor) called me, I’m looking through Christmas cards, and she said the results came back as highly suspecting of malignancy.” After receiving this news, Denson and her husband, Jason, knew that they wanted to make their family’s Christmas season the best they could. Denson’s family received one of the greatest Christmases to date, with gifts including tickets to a UNC basketball game for their son. Just after Christmas, Denson was diagnosed with stage IIB breast cancer. After many tests, she discovered that the cancer was isolated to certain parts of her body. Being diagnosed has led to countless doctor’s appointments. “It’s like endless doctor’s appointments. It’s just asking them, ‘What can I still do?’ and they’ve all said, ‘Do what you normally would,’ ” Denson said. “I looked at them like, ‘Are you serious? Because this is a capacity issue, am I going to be able to function? Doesn’t this make you tired?’ ” Denson began chemotherapy on Feb. 7. Drugs used for chemotherapy are used to slow the spread of cancer cells, but they can affect healthy cells as well, causing different side effects. Chemo involves effects like fatigue, hair loss, infections and more. These side effects could make it difficult to perform daily tasks. One of Denson’s many tasks is working with the youth group at Duck United Methodist Church, where she’s been a leader for 15 years. Since her diagnosis, she has put her seniors who have been going to the youth group for over seven years in charge. Senior Reagan Minnich has been attending this youth group since she was in sixth grade and now

leads a small group of younger girls every week. “We’re all just trying to help out as much as we can if (Denson) needs help with getting meals and things like that for youth group,” Minnich said. While the youth group is very important to Denson, she made it clear that her family was paramount. “My ﬁrst priority is my family,” Denson said. “I want to make sure that I can still be a good wife and a mom to my kids, and also do the things that God has called me to do here, which is to be a pastor and be a coach.” Denson has been a cross country coach for ﬁve years. Recently, she became the head coach of the team. Sophomore Lucy Stecher has been running track for just as long and has loved getting to know Denson. “She’s really been an inspiration to me over the years,” Stecher said. “Especially now that she’s going through what she is, I know that she’s strong enough to pull through.” Pulling through to Denson is about more than simply beating a cancer diagnosis. It also means never missing an opportunity. “You never know what opportunities you’re going to have when you have them,” Denson said. “When they arise you need to just go ahead and take them.” Sophomore Kayla Loveless can be reached at 24lovelesska73@daretolearn.org.

Submitted Photo

Amy Denson stands on the soundfront with her husband Jason and their two children after a Christmas Eve church service in Duck.

Submitted Photo

Coach Amy Denson (right) smiles during a fun moment with her runners after the cross country conference championships last fall. After helping for years, this was Denson’s ﬁrst season as head coach of the high school cross country teams.

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AP Art portfolios let students paint their stories

By N’Nia Brickhouse Staff Writer

ape culture. Coping mechanisms. The beauty behind ballet. Human and animal interactions. Decay of relationships. The romanticization of social media. These are all the sustained investigations that First Flight’s AP Art students have decided on for their portfolios. Students in AP Art create a twopart portfolio, one consisting of 15 images showing how they work as an artist, and the other including their five favorite completed pieces from the class. The completed works all relate to the sustained investigation that each student chose. Alice Baldwin, the AP Art teacher, explained how the sustained investigations work. “Sustained investigation is inquiring on one question and creating a group of artwork based on that question,” Baldwin said. “You turn in 15 images that are inviting the AP judges into seeing how you work as an artist, so you can turn in planning, you can turn in process photos, you can turn in final pieces of work. The second portion of the portfolio is the Selected Works, which are your top five best pieces of artwork that you’ve created in the past year.” AP artists spend the entire semester working on pieces for their portfolios. Unlike how normal art classes work, AP artists aren’t given prompts for their projects. “The fact that it is student guided does weigh a lot on them and their thoughts and their ideas versus me presenting each project to them,” Baldwin said. “So it does take a little bit more thought as the artist, which I feel like sometimes is a little hard but something that they’re totally up for.” Senior Allegra Mackenzie-Reece is taking AP Art for the second time. Last year, her sustained investigation was the male gaze. Keeping to a theme, she chose rape culture for this year. “(My sustained investigation is) kind of like how society perpetuates rape culture and violence against women and how men benefit from it,” Mackenzie-Reece said. “Last year, my theme was the male gaze, so it’s kind of branching off of that.” Mackenzie-Reece decided on her sustained investigation after hearing about women who go missing on true crime podcasts. “We – me and my family – went skiing and on the way back we were listening to a lot of true crime podcasts, and a lot of the stuff revolves around women going missing or dying,” Mackenzie-Reece said. “So it’s just sad to me, like how often they go missing and no one really cares, especially if they have worked in sex work or they do drugs.” So far in the class, Mackenzie-Reece has finished one piece, a print from her

Submitted photos Pieces from the AP Art portfolios of senior MacKenzie Greenleaf (left) and junior Marin Remige. Visit NighthawkNews.com to see other pieces of artwork from the talented students doing their sustained investigations for the AP Art judges.

Art IV class. Her plan for her portfolio is to make surrealism-inspired pieces. “I wanted to go into more surrealism, so like Salvador Dali kind of stuff,” Mackenzie-Reece said. “I take inspiration from a lot of the stuff I read, though. So I wrote down media I like and essays and stuff.” To Mackenzie-Reece, there aren’t many differences between AP Art this year and last year, only that instead of submitting the Selected Works online, this year, the artists have to send in their pieces. Senior Zoe Lucas decided on coping mechanisms for her portfolio. “I’m still trying to narrow it down, but basically it’s on coping mechanisms and what leads people to have to use them,” Lucas said. “Everyone copes with something. I’ve just seen a lot of it, and I think it’s something that a lot of people can relate to.” As far as inspirations go, Lucas is simply doing whatever she wants to do in the moment. “I feel like I’m just going with my own thing,” Lucas said. “It’s kind of all over the place, a lot of different mediums and basically I’m kind of just doing whatever.” Senior Hannah Montgomery’s sustained investigation is the beauty behind ballet. “I’m doing the beauty behind ballet and showing really the injuries that dancers push through and how difficult it actually is,” Montgomery said. “I’ve been a dancer since I was 5, so it’s something that I can do that’s really personal to me. And I’m able to put myself into each of my pieces.” In Montgomery’s first piece, she created the background by putting paint on ballet slippers and dancing over it. Montgomery takes inspiration not only from her own dance pictures, but

documentaries, movies and the experiences that she’s seen other dancers go through. “I’ve watched a lot of ballet documentaries and movies since I have been doing dance for so long,” Montgomery said. “So I’ve really just based what I’ve found them to go through in the movies and what I’ve seen people at my dance studio go through, and I’m really just taking that and trying to show it through art instead of just speaking it.” Human and animal interactions is the sustained investigation of senior MacKenzie Greenleaf. “I’m trying to venture out into different things,” Greenleaf said. “Right now I’m kind of switching the human and animal roles. The animals are the people and then the people are the animals.” Greenleaf decided on her investigation after creating pieces involving animals last semester and is taking a different approach to her theme. “I wanted to take a more fun approach to some of them because I don’t like doing things too seriously,” Greenleaf said. “So I wanted to do stuff that is more fun like this. Instead of just focusing on the bad that can happen, like in between the interactions, I want to focus on more fun topics.” Junior Marin Remige’s sustained investigation shifts from life and animals to death and the deterioration of the connections made in life. “I’d say it’s mainly about decay and the decay of relationships,” Remige said. “I really just based it around wanting to have something that was beautiful looking but was more scary underneath or just, you know, acceptance.” Remige is working on her second project, a mixed media piece inspired by Alphonse Mucha.

“My main subject is a woman resting surrounded by moss and greenery, her back is facing the viewer and she’s in a cavern-like space lying just before the cave’s opening,” Remige said. “This project represents the second stage I’m focussing on, which is bloat. She’s just left her previous situation and she’s a bit numb, she’s letting things build up and she feels kind of stuck and exhausted.” Junior Ava Norko’s sustained investigation focuses on how idealized social media is and how it affects those on it. “My sustained investigation is social media and how much we romanticize it, and how it can change our moods drastically based on what we see,” Norko said. “I chose this theme because myself, along with many other people I know, have all felt some way about social media, whether it was super happy because a TikTok blew up, or super upset because you saw this beautiful girl with the ‘perfect’ life.” In Norko’s first piece, she took inspiration from common facial features she’s seen on social media. “The inspiration I used in my first piece was different facial features similar to ones I see all over social media: beautiful eyes with long lashes, big, full lips and a small nose,” Norko said. Through the years of teaching AP Art, Baldwin most enjoys watching her students find their voice as they make art. “It’s probably a highlight of my career to be able to watch students develop their skill and find their interest and passion inside of art,” Baldwin said. “They find their voice throughout the four-year process and really make meaningful artwork.” Sophomore N’Nia Brickhouse can be reached at 24brickhousenn92@daretolearn.org.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

StageKraft tackles ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare’ – partially

By Versailles Dalessio Online Editor-in-Chief

ncorporating elements from each William Shakespeare play and performing them all in 90 minutes is not easily doable, especially from a comedic standpoint. However, First Flight’s performing arts students and directors are showcasing their abilities once more with this year’s spring play, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).” Students initially suggested ideas like “Romeo and Juliet,” “Macbeth” and “Hamlet” when it came time to choose a play, but there were too few male actors to play these characters. Directors Lauren Deal and Monica Penn decided to roll with all of these performances instead, bringing new challenges forward in a fun and interesting way. “We are turning a three-person play into a 16-person play, which sounds really hard at first,” junior Skylar Cardwell said. “And although it can be easier than it sounds, it is still pretty difficult, because it is a cast meant for three people and we have to switch places all the time.” Meanwhile, Deal is confident in the students’ ability to perform and is eager to see what these individuals present to the audience. “In this show, the three main leads are Adam, Jess and Daniel, but they’re going to go by their real names for the actual show,” Deal said. “We have Loxley Wayland, Skylar Cardwell and Jayden Payne peddling those. All three of them are upperclassmen who have done several shows with us before, and all of them had a really killer audition that made them good choices for those roles.” Although they had formerly been

Show dates Thursday, March 17, at 7 p.m. Friday, March 18, at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at 2 p.m.

Tickets Purchased at the FFHS David E. Oaksmith Auditorium box office. $6 for students and senior citizens, $8 for others

Submitted Photo

Senior Jayden Payne (middle) enjoys a break from rehearsal with fellow actors. Members of StageKraft are excited to bring a fun Shakespeare adaptation to the stage on March 17-19.

friends, working together has brought them much closer since the beginning of production. Wayland feels that this experience has not only strengthened their friendship with each other, but with everyone else involved in the theater community. “Just being in the theater and around everyone is really nice because we’re all a very tight-knit family,” Wayland said. “I love everyone in the cast and they are all really great to work with, which is why I feel that the show is going to be so great and the audience is going to love it.” Additionally, Penn is looking forward to the thrill of opening night and all the aspects of teamwork that come together to make the show awesome

– from the cast working to memorize lines to running crew members handling all the set changes to other behind-the-scenes workers doing hair and makeup and lighting and sound that happen throughout. “There’s nothing like the feeling of opening night when for the first time you get to perform for a group of people that have never seen it before, and you have all of these thoughts twirling in your head,” Penn said. “ ‘Will they like it?’ ‘Will it be well received?’ ‘Are they in a good seat?’ That first laugh, or that first applause, or that first audience reaction that you hear sets all of that at ease, and you just get to enjoy it and see everybody’s hard work come to fruition.” Despite Shakespeare’s heavier

themes, this production is a comedy that features a lot of shortcuts that make it funny and entertaining. In fact, it’s a very watered-down version of the collection of his historical plays and based on improvised performances. “This show is supposed to look really bad. It’s supposed to look rushed – that’s the whole comedy behind it,” Payne said. “It’s not a show that’s supposed to look pretty. It’s supposed to be rough and I think that’s probably why a lot of the jokes are so rough, too.” With that being said, there is no question that these students have worked substantially to make their last performance one of the most memorable, begging the question: Why should you come to see it? “It’s supposed to be more immersive for an audience, to interact with the audience,” Payne said. “We are going to pull members from the audience to get them involved in the entire show, and we are going to get the tech in the back to start helping us with various acts. It’s supposed to be fun, it’s supposed to be funny, and it’s a display of all of our skills we have been working on for so long.” Senior Versailles Dalessio can be reached at 22dalessiove31@daretolearn. org.

The college experience offers diversity after high school

By Callie Honeycutt Social Media Editor

oing from a small peninsula with a yearround residency of a little over 35,000 people to a major college that is larger than the mile-wide patch of sand we call home, life is bound to change. For some First Flight alumni, their first big taste of diverse people and cultural experiences happens in major cities like Los Angeles, giant campuses in the South or mid-sized campuses up North. “Obviously there are just a lot more people of color around compared to home. I never really put much thought into it, though,” said Shane McKenna, a junior at the University of California, Los Angeles. “I didn’t really feel the infamous college ‘culture shock’ that everyone talks about. I know discussing race is important for inclusion and most importantly mental individual health, but sometimes it feels more natural to forget about it completely.” In his third year at the giant UCLA campus with its 31,000 undergrad and 14,000 grad students, McKenna has become fully accustomed to life on NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

the other side of the country because of his new eye-opening experiences. “I’ve met the most incredible people and seen things I never thought I’d have the chance to see. I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with this planet and all the people on it,” McKenna said. McKenna decided to go 2,757 miles away from home to get out of his comfort zone and travel, but for some others who spent their high school years at First Fight, sports are the reason they have continued their education in different locations so far away from home. “I go to the University of Mississippi for soccer,” freshman Lauren Montgomery said. “It was definitely a big change, but I think that would be the case almost anywhere you chose to go from the Outer Banks.” For Montgomery, the biggest change at Ole Miss wasn’t race or gender norms, but the infrastructure. “The Outer Banks has two roads, there are no exits, no major highways, and it’s very simple geographically speaking,” Montgomery said. “It doesn’t take traveling much distance from the beach to realize that the design of other towns and cities differs a lot from the Outer Banks.”

Going from a small beach town to one of the biggest Southern schools in the Southeastern Conference, Montgomery has dealt with different changes than others who head North. Senior Porter Braddy has signed a scholarship to play baseball at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). “I think the biggest change with our school and my college is that we have a majority white population at our school, and I’m going to an HBCU, so I know that it’ll be a little different, but honestly I’ve visited, and I met a lot of the team and I think I’m going to have a really good time there,” Braddy explained. Making sure the college you choose is the right place for you is why campus visits can be so helpful. “My favorite part of the tour was how welcoming everyone was,” Braddy said. “I was walking around with the head coach and everyone kept asking when I was going to commit. I just felt like everyone there was nice and wanted me to be there and I really look forward to getting there.” Senior Callie Honeycutt can be reached at 22honeycuttca54@daretolearn.org.

Rock or classical, Hanf never misses a beat

By Daisy Morales Social Media Editor

ccording to Oxford Languages, music is defined as “instrumental sounds combined in a way to produce beauty of form.” Many students have played an instrument at some point in their life. Yet, not everyone has the determination and perseverance to continue. Fascinated by the intriguing qualities of music, junior Delaney Hanf is one such musician who has sought to continue her passion. “Delaney is like the perfect strings student because she’s focused and she’s smart,” orchestra director John Buford said. “She’s got high standards, and she doesn’t get frustrated. She just keeps at it till she accomplishes her goals.” Hanf’s love for music has had many inspirations, including from her own family. As a child, she grew up with a somewhat musical family. Both her parents played an instrument in high school; her mom played the flute and her dad played the clarinet. Although they don’t play much anymore, Hanf acknowledges that her passion for music came from them and from being involved in church musicals. But her real music story started in fifth grade in Winston-Salem. “My dad took me to an electric violin concert at Reynolds High School. And then we moved here to the beach,” Hanf said. “(Here), there was an opportunity for fourth- and fifth-graders and so my parents signed me up for it, and there I was learning how to play the violin.” Hanf described the process of learning to play the violin as an arduous one, saying that it was no easy task. Her teacher harped on learning how to properly hold the violin before they could even hold a bow or start playing. “Out of the four or five of those that were in that class, I’m the only one that stuck with it, because it’s tricky,” Hanf said. While Hanf continued with the Dare County Youth Orchestra program throughout her middle school years, little did she know that in high school, her life would take a more musical twist. Her brother, Logan, played saxophone in the marching band and jazz

band, and he encouraged her to learn how to play the bass guitar so she also could join the marching band. The siblings enjoyed two years together on the football field and the concert stage before he graduated last year, but Delaney remains part of both programs. “As I’ve played more and expanded my interest in music, I’ve really grown in my appreciation,” Hanf said. “I mean, I’m not into music theory, so I can’t pick apart these songs, but I have a better understanding of what I like and what it means to me than I did when I was younger.” Hanf further explained how music has become a part of who she is. “I love just being able to practice on my own and just try out new stuff and see if it works and then we get to the end of the piece,” Hanf said. “You just always feel so happy that you made it there.” Through band and orchestra, Hanf has met some of her best friends, including sophomore Heath Miller, who described Hanf as a caring friend and as someone who puts others’ needs above hers. “Sitting next to her, just sitting next to somebody better, let’s you hear how their tone quality is, it lets you pick up a few things without them (saying it) directly,” Miller said. “(She is) very adventurous in what kind of pieces she plays and she’ll kind of just find stuff and just start playing it.” Although playing two instruments at the same time can be strenuous, Hanf doesn’t let any barrier stop her when it comes to learning new songs both on her violin and on her bass guitar. Band teacher Robert Lamberg mentioned that diligent students are not so easy to find, and that’s why one of Hanf’s strongest attributes includes practicing a lot and putting forth both time and effort. “For me, an essential quality for any student is to try. Delaney excels at this. Sometimes she’ll look at me like, ‘OK, Mr. Lamberg,’ but she always puts in the effort to try,” Lamberg said. Buford echoed similar thoughts: “She’s always focused. She’s always giving it her best and she’s always willing to be a part of the solution and part of the team work that we do.” Hanf has come a long way from playing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in elementary school. She took part in

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News; Submitted (below)

Junior Delaney Hanf strums the bass guitar at a football game this fall. Hanf has been playing the bass guitar for three years after ﬁrst learning how to play violin. She continues performing with the FFHS orchestra for events such as the Harvest HayDay Festival in the Elizabethan Gardens. She started playing violin with the Dare County Youth Orchestra.

the backstage of the musical “All Together Now!” and will be helping with the upcoming play. She also swims for the Nighthawks and the YMCA club team. Nevertheless, her perseverance when it comes to music continues. She loves the fact that in music there are no boundaries.

“You can just sit down and play any song,” Hanf said. “If you try hard enough and you dedicate yourself to learning it, you have the freedom to play everything.” Junior Daisy Morales can be reached at 23moralesda04@daretolearn.org.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

To not be seen, behind the scenes: a stagehand to remember

By Samuel Smith Opinions Editor

he humble running crew. Draped in black to blend into the darkness between scenes, the running crew builds the world seen in a play stage piece by stage piece. The role is a crucial one in maintaining the allure of a play, and is done without quarrel or qualm by those with the resolve to accept its duties. To sum up the job, a popular phrase exists in the world of theater: “If you can see me, something has gone terribly wrong.” Such a role requires somebody with a passion for the art of theater, and somebody willing to work as hard as they possibly can behind the scenes to make the show’s experience a memorable one for the audience. Such a role requires somebody like junior Johnathan Rawls. “I went to a small school, so I

was never really exposed to anything theater-related until I got into high school,” Rawls said. “It was really ‘Clue’ that opened my eyes to how fun it looked and all my friends in the theater.” Even with such a lack of exposure in his early years, Rawls’ junior year of high school has led to a burgeoning theatrical résumé, albeit one that he had wished to start sooner. Originally planning to work behind the scenes of the musical “Chicago” in his ninth-grade year, a combination of previous tennis commitments and the sudden arrival of COVID-19 into students’ everyday lives pushed Rawls’ running crew debut into his 11th-grade year for “All Together Now!” “Overall, I had a lot of fun with ‘All Together Now!’ and I met a bunch of good people,” Rawls said. “It was nerve-wracking mainly because there was one speciﬁc set piece that depended 100% on me, so I had to make sure I got it right.”

Nerve-wracking duties aside, “All Together Now!” was a huge success, marking an exciting return by the theater department of FFHS after COVID-19. “I didn’t feel conﬁdent on stage, but I still wanted to be a part of the show,” Rawls said. “Of the available options behind the stage, running crew seemed like the best ﬁt.” After having such an enjoyable experience in running crew, Rawls decided to sign up for the International Thespian Society, which he will be inducted into before the end of the year, as well as the upcoming StageKraft production “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).” In the new play, which will hit the stage later this week, Rawls is taking a triple-casted role as The Nurse, Macbeth and Horatio. “I’m just excited to be out there on stage and hopefully get some laughs,” Rawls said. “As most people in theater can tell you, it’s always nerve-wracking

being on stage, but the fulfillment of playing your role will always outweigh the cons.” Rawls feels that his time in theater has been more impactful on his life than any of his other passions. The friendships he has made while working on the play, as well as the jobs he has performed while setting up the shows, have made him a well-liked and crucial member of the theater community. Beginning as a humble stage runner, Rawls has risen through the ranks both in terms of his position in theater, as well as in his self-efficacy as a performer, making him a theatrical artist worthy of a spotlight. “Theater has made me a more confident person,” Rawls said. “I’ve met a lot of friends in the theater department that I’ll never forget, and I’m just truly grateful for the community.” Junior Samuel Smith can be reached at 23smithsa22@daretolearn.org.

Photos by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Junior Johnathan Rawls helps to build a piece of the set for the spring play,’The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)’ and also works on stage with props for the upcoming production. He is looking forward to trying his hand at acting after helping behind the scenes for the fall musical, ‘All Together Now!’

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

Nighthawk News Editors-in-Chief: Kayla Hallac, Maren Ingram, Maggie McNinch Online Editors-in-Chief: Versailles Dalessio, Kate Hamilton, Olivia Sugg Features Editors: Emma Braithwaite, Allie Nigro Opinions Editors: Fiona Finchem, Samuel Smith Sports Editors: Mackenzie Edwards, Noah Kinnisten Photo Editor: Taylor Newton News Editors: Emmy Benton, Stella Bryson Multimedia Editor: Michael Pearson Social Media Editors: Daisy Morales-Bravo, Callie Honeycutt Business Manager: Joey Krieg Staff Writers: N’Nia Brickhouse, Colin Byard, Arden Carlyle, Foster Guns, Abigail Haber, Tatum Love, Kayla Loveless, Audrey Lovell, Kira Walters 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 3,000 copies are distributed in various retail outlets throughout 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. Sun Coast Press of Venice, Florida, prints our paper.

Ukraine and Russia – closer to home

t’s a new year; your graduation year, to be exact. After two years of online school and countless books you didn’t read for English, your turn to graduate has ﬁnally come. You excitedly ponder what the year will bring after graduation: college, new friends, future careers – and then another realization hits you, that you might be drafted to ﬁght in a European war that began with Russia invading Ukraine. That’s what life has become for 18-year-old males as the situation between Russia and Ukraine unravels more by the day, with each hour bringing a new level of uncertainty to what the future may hold. As speculation has turned into the reality of an invasion, it is not very shocking considering Russia invaded Ukraine as recently as February 2014 when the Crimean Peninsula was annexed. Though similar, this event is different. The recent aggression seen by Russia is the result of Ukraine’s plea to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). A NATO membership would provide Ukraine with allied support from 29 European and North American nations, including the United States.

Such alliances would provide Ukraine with clear protection against further Russian aggression, ensuring the preservation of an independent government over the region. Though an invasion has occurred, does this inherently mean war between the United States and Russia? No. There is currently no formal alliance or treaty between the two countries that would force the United States to assist in the conﬂict, meaning the United States’ participation is not guaranteed. Regardless of what happens, even the chance of World War III is unsettling for all those involved, especially 18-year-old American males who have the fear of Selective Service looming over them. For those unaware, Selective Service – or the draft – is the calling of men

What are your thoughts on the Russia-Ukraine conﬂict and how do you see it impacting your life?

“I feel like my plan after high school is to go into the Navy, so there is a likelihood it would affect me. Gas is already obscenely expensive as is, and I think this will make it worse.” – sophomore Alex Harvey

“Well, I very much support Ukraine. I think it’s gone way too far, and bombing cities, hurting innocent people will never be OK. If it escalates and the United States becomes involved, it will impact all of our lives. Millions are going to be displaced and families will be separated and it’s a very sad and scary situation.” – junior Lyric Denton

“I personally think it won’t affect my life directly. We’re on the Outer Banks. There’s no military bases near us. If there even is an attack here, I don’t know why there would be. I do wish the best for Ukraine.” – sophomore Michael Dianna

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

Our View: Ofﬁcials should change course on drug ed

A peaceful demonstration in support of Ukraine at Dowdy Park is attended by Americans and Ukrainians alike as a sign of support for the country during its current conﬂict with Russia.

ost of our drug education on into middle or high school, which came from the Drug Abuse we feel is the most important time for Resistance Education teenagers to hear experiences of peo(DARE) program when ple who have battled substance abuse we were only fifth-graders, just 10 and how they dealt with it, and to dive years old, and – let’s be honest – most deeper into substance abuse issues and 10-year-olds will not take DARE seeducation. riously and are likely to forget every“I just considered it a boring inconthing that was taught, especially with venience as the officer just talked on winning the DARE essay contest being and on about stuff that did not seem the biggest challenge in their minds. to affect me at the time. All I learned The Nighthawk News was the name of some staff remembers learning drugs and to not do them. about substance abuse In retrospect, I don’t recall from a young age. While anything profoundly helpful it may be good to expose or impactful.” children to the topic As we get older, drugs before drugs appear with become more prominent in STAFF such notorious prevathe lives of school friends EDITORIAL lence in middle and high or co-workers or family school, the question is: Did what we members. We also grow more capable learned stick with us, and did it really of understanding how destructive submake a difference in our choices as we stance abuse can be. grew up? Our big questions: Are the proSome members of the Nighthawk grams offered at the elementary and News staff had this to share: middle schools enough? Are they “I remember learning about DARE effective in deterring drug use at an when I was in elementary school and older age? Would it make a difference pledging not to give myself up to to require substance abuse education drugs. I remember promising myself throughout our school years? that I would never do drugs. Looking One staff member shared this need: back on it now, I kind of question why “An honest approach about how to deal they were exposing us to that topic at with drug use or how to get out of a such a young age.” bad situation involving drug use that In a more personal sense, some involves discussions other than ‘don’t of the Nighthawk News staff felt do drugs.’ Another suggested informathat familial experiences influenced tion about the effects of using drugs their drug education alongside the needing to be discussed, both shortschool-administered program. term and long-term impacts. “I remember thinking about how While younger children should scary it all seemed, especially since my be made aware of the drug-related grandpa who had been smoking since struggles they will almost definitely he was a teenager had to have heart be exposed to in the future, elementasurgery that year, and my other grandpa ry-aged children will not remember the died the year before from liver cancer.” information to a valuable and applicaMost drug education did not carry ble extent.

Photo by Michael Pearson/ Nighthawk News

IN OUR OPINION

than most know over the age of 18 to serve in the armed forces during an extreme military conﬂict. Though the draft has not been implemented in the United States since 1973 during the Vietnam War, a conﬂict as large as the one possible in Europe could very well change that. Even if you don’t fall under the draft criteria, think about the people in your life who do. You may be safe, but what about your friends, your brothers, your cousins – all people in your lives who could be taken and sent away at a moment’s notice, possibly never to be seen again. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, or how much you know about the situation. It’s happening, and it’s better to be prepared for the worst than live in ignorant bliss. So next time you’re scrolling through articles on your phone, or nodding your head while your parents discuss current events, take a second and think about what is going on and try to realize the possible outcomes that we may see in the coming months. Senior Michael Pearson can be reached at 22pearsonmi74@daretolearn. org.

We feel it would be most beneﬁcial to have most substance abuse education in late middle school and into high school. If students are constantly reminded of the adverse effects of substance abuse, it is likely to stick with them for the rest of their lives, and they can even teach others those same lessons. By doing so, students would likely go out into their community and spread awareness. “When teaching this to elementary-aged students, it can be a hard subject to discuss since you don’t want to scare them, but also want to get the ‘drugs are bad’ point across. Of course, it’s a lot easier to show and tell horror stories of drugs and provide statistics about how deadly some can be, especially with our current pill and fentanyl epidemic, to high school-aged students since they are more mature. The unfortunate fact is that they will never take something like DARE seriously until they are hit in the face with a tragedy like the one we recently experienced.” At the young age of 10, drug safety will not be on our minds and should not be the age to cease informative anti-drug programs. Telling us from a young age to simply not do drugs is not enough, which means there is a big opening for the “right” approach to childhood drug exposure. Drug use is a monumental problem plaguing all facets of life: school-related, job-related and everything in between. It is not a matter of acknowledging the problem, nor simply solving it, but instead choosing an effective education method until a workable solution to this worldwide problem can be found. This staff editorial reﬂects the opinion of the Nighthawk News editorial board.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022, by air, land and sea. According to the global conﬂict tracker, there have been more than 50,000 estimated casualties since 2014, there have been two million refugees ﬂeeing Ukraine since the invasion, and the U.S. has provided $2.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014.

“Personally, I do not think we should get into a direct war. But I do believe that if Ukraine is defeated, we should send them weapons to make sure Russia doesn’t have a good time there. We did the same thing in the Afghan war, giving the Taliban weapons to ﬁght against the Soviets. I think Russia wants all that it can get (land) but if they step anywhere near NATO, the United States would retaliate.” – junior Vinnie Yetzer

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / opinions

“I think the US should get involved. They pulled out of the Iraq war, which I thought was a good idea, but mostly the Ukraine war has been going on for so long and we haven’t really done anything so far. So I think it would be a really good idea if Biden sent troops, especially considering that Ukraine has such a small army and it’s a smaller country.” – junior Brigid Preisser

Why juniors should be able to work from home

modified schedule is a privilege that is given to seniors, allowing them to complete their online classes outside of the school building. While modified schedules existed before COVID-19, they have become more commonplace after the return of face-to-face learning. After Dare County Schools shut down in March of 2020, all students had to transfer to online learning. Most high schoolers rose to the occasion and took advantage of the ability to go to school from the comfort of their bed. Although remote learning has its challenges, students have proven that they can learn from anywhere. If all students were forced to complete their high school classes online in 2020 and 2021, why should the privilege only be returned to seniors after we come back? As long as they don’t leave school and come back on the same day, seniors can make any of their online classes remote. Seniors also have the unique privilege of opting to have a free period. On the other hand, juniors are only able to modify their schedules after their online classes have ended, which usually allows two to three weeks of freedom, and they aren’t allowed to have a free period. Although it took some time to get adjusted to virtual learning, many students were successful in keeping up

with online classes and returned in full stride. So why should the freedom of learning from home be given back, but only to the seniors? Another reason modified schedules should be more accessible to students is to prevent the spread of COVID-19. When more students are off campus, they will be less likely to spread COVID to their classmates and peers. In some periods, there might be 40 students taking online classes who do not have modified schedules. These students sit four to a table for almost two hours. On the other hand, there are many reasons why the school wants students to be in the building. Students don’t have the option to take online classes through the College of the Albemarle until their junior year at First Flight. So while it is a first-time experience for juniors, many seniors have already spent a year taking online classes. They have more experience when it comes to keeping up with online assignments

and classwork. There is some merit to the idea of wanting to ease students into online classes before sending them out on their own completely. There is also numerical evidence that Principal Chuck Lansing shared to support keeping juniors in the school building. In every semester except for the fall 2020 term, more juniors received As in their COA classes than seniors did, percentage-wise. In addition to this, the most common letter grade juniors received was an A, but the percentage of juniors who earned a C grade was much higher in the fall of 2020 than in any other semester to date. Interestingly, the next year, when most students returned to the school building, the trends returned back to normal. By spring of 2021, the percentage of juniors who received an A in an online COA class rose from 46 percent to 60 percent, and the number of juniors who withdrew from a COA class – usually a sign of failing grades – was far lower than seniors dropping their class. In other words, this data proves that when juniors were at home they performed worse, and when they came back to school their performances improved. While juniors take online classes in the school building, their progress and

work ethic can be monitored, and they can get help from teachers in the building. This could be another benefit to keeping juniors in the school building. Although there are reasons for keeping juniors who are taking online classes in the school building, these ideas don’t seem as applicable anymore, considering all students have already gone through the process of taking online classes at home during the pandemic. When DCS switched to remote learning in 2020, juniors, who were then freshmen, didn’t have the chance to be “monitored” and “eased into” taking online classes at home. They were expected to keep up with all of their work and had to figure out how to maintain their grades while off campus. After DCS reopened, many juniors elected to take online classes, but for some reason have not been given the same option that was forced upon them as freshmen. Now, many juniors have matured and could easily handle taking their online classes at home, but aren’t allowed to modify their schedules until next school year. They should be allowed to modify their schedules and complete their classes off campus, the same way seniors can. Junior Stella Bryson can be reached at @23brysonst69@daretolearn.org.

THE FIRST BLOOMS OF SPRING ALWAYS MAKE THE HEART SING! The season of new beginnings brings yet another fresh playlist for a slam-bang return to joy! As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, embrace the sunshine and let the music set you free! Scan the Spotify code above to start listening today! – By Tatum Love, Staff Writer

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

The art of sweating: An average guy tries the gym

hat do you call it when somebody tries out a gym for the first time and finds that it was one of the most harrowing AND inspirational experiences of their life? I have no idea, but if you do find out, please tell me – I think I missed the memo. To preface the course of events that led to me staring deeply into my soul (as well as my gorgeous brown eyes) at the mirror-wall of a Planet Fitness in Virginia, I feel the need to point out that the gym is a good place. Exercise is extremely important to people’s well-being and oftentimes, people find a calling at the gym. I would highly recommend trying it out at least twice: once to regret your decision and the second time to realize it may be just what you need. I tried it once. Hypocrisy aside, if you need something to get your mind off of a sticky situation or you’re just looking for a nice energy release, I honestly do recommend you try going to a gym. But I digress. Let’s set the stage. Not too long ago, a break in school came up and I found that I wanted to do something special. A friend of mine from

Colorado was in Virginia and he invited me to come stay with him for a few days, so I thought, “Why not?” and drove myself to Norfolk. Brief sidebar: That friend – Nick? He is absolutely ripped. Well, compared to me at least, but upon consideration that isn’t much of a feat. Point is, if “no pain, no gain” happens to be true, I feel like I should send him a large number of “get well soon” cards. Once in Norfolk, I relaxed. It’s the closest I’ve come to a vacation in a good while and I was excited to have two days without any sort of physical labor. “Hey Sam! Get changed. We’re going to the gym,” Nick bellowed from the doorway. I’ve never been to a gym. I walk my dog a lot and that keeps my calves and thighs rather toned, which is something I’m quite proud of, but the gym has never sounded appealing to me. As a result, my arms look like twigs off a branch. We get to the gym, which happens to be a glistening Planet Fitness, and Nick says we need a “light warm-up” in the form of 10 minutes on the bikes. Piece of advice: 10 min-

utes is extremely long when you start right out of the gate going full-speed. How did I know it was full-speed for me? The almost definitely faulty heart-rate monitors built into the handlebars read my heart rate at 190 BPM. While typically I’d say I was dripping with sweat, it seemed in the moment like more of a steady pour. The 10 minutes complete, we now proceed to the weight-lifting portion of the evening’s activities. To my dismay, I’m not aware of the weights I managed to lift, nor do I recall the number of reps I did, but for the sake of good storytelling I believe it would be most appropriate to imagine I lifted two tons and looked like a sculpted god while doing it. Roughly an hour goes by and we decide to clean our workout stations and head out. I was tired, aching and feeling rather dashing after my experience, so after I managed to pull myself from the floor with arms that felt like the aforementioned two tons I impressively benched, I headed back to Nick’s car feeling proud of what I did that day. Don’t get me wrong: I am never doing that again. Never. I would need a large amount of money to do that again. But I was proud. We head back, eat some curry, and I fall asleep for the night with dreams of greatness and/or muscle fatigue fresh on my mind.

Photo illustration by Emmy Benton/Nighthawk News

Columnist Samuel Smith shows off his massive gains from attending the gym. While the gym can create healthy results, it’s not for everyone.

The next morning, as well as the subsequent eight mornings, I wake up with arms that were sore beyond belief, but with a miniscule, almost indistinguishable protrusion that I like to consider my biceps, reminding me of the hard work I put into sweating profusely in a public place.

The gym is a place of hopes and dreams, where you can better yourself or best an elliptical if you so try. I just so happened to find out that my hopes and dreams are hiding out somewhere else, ideally sweating a lot less. Junior Samuel Smith can be reached at 23smithsa22@ daretolearn.org.

Off-season activities: What to do when there’s nothing to do

riving down the beach road on a blazing July afternoon, you feel as if you have all the time in the world to do whatever you want whenever you want. However, during the cold and rainy winter, the options are not so limitless. Here are some ways to spice up your life during these stale times. Even if it sounds boring and lame, as it is something you can do yearround, going out to a restaurant with your friends can really be a lot of fun. Sitting around a table with a bunch of people you love to talk to for an hour or two while dining on something other than bags of chips and cookies can make a cold and dreary day much more enjoyable. Another great option for a group is to make a visit to the movie theater. It’s not too expensive (if you don’t buy NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / opinions

food), while it is entertaining and a fantastic time-waster. Plus, it makes the movie that you’re seeing much more immersive and gripping than if you were to just stream it. I personally believe that waiting until the last minute to see a movie is the best time to watch it so you can get an entire theater all to yourselves, which makes the time spent that much better. One of the less responsible but more time-consuming things to do

during the Outer Banks’ offseason is to go on a small shopping spree. With the plethora of surf shops and boutiques scattered across the beach, with a few different trips and hundreds of dollars, a successful OBX shopping day has been completed. If you’re looking to get some clothes but not break the bank, there is an abundance of thrift stores dispersed across the peninsula to give out some funky pieces for a fraction of the price. The current most popular option of all – bowling. Hitting up the lanes with your friends has been quite the trend this year for groups of all ages. It is a great way to bring together a group of friends just a little bit closer, as it brings physical activity, friendly competition and pizza all to the table. Another fun thing that you can do is find a new favorite place on the Out-

er Banks. Whether it be a lighthouse, a park, a skate spot, a beach access you’ve never been to or even a parking lot, there is so much to see here that most seem to take for granted. If you’ve crossed those ideas off your list, the only thing left to do is pack all of your friends together and take a day trip to somewhere like Chesapeake to shop a wider variety, watch a movie at a unique theater like the Cinema Cafe, and get some broader food options. If time – and money – permits, you can also go send golf balls soaring into the sky at Top Golf. So even when time is seeming to move so slow, there is always something fun to do just around the corner, even in our hibernating beach town. Senior Noah Kinnisten can be reached at 22kinnistenno93@daretolearn.org.

April showers bring May flowers: Plants to grow this spring

pring! The season of flowers and life. Most plants can be seed-started inside during the colder months to prepare for warmer weather. Spring is the season for tackling your gardening goals, so it’s a good idea to get started early. Celosia: The flame shaped, whimsical Celosia is one of my all time favorite plants. The small tree-esque plants can brighten any garden. Celosia are very sensitive to the cold so they have to be planted indoors or later in spring. They grow in full sun and like being watered about three times a week. Celosia are perennials that come back every year. When the head of a Celosia plant dies, you can pluck it off. Lantana: This vibrant yellow flower is often known to attract pollinators, like butterflies, to your gardens. Lantana is perfect for adding a splash of color to your garden, as well as bringing in more pollinators. Lantana is planted in spring, as soon as it starts to warm up. Lantana is grown in full sun, being watered once a week. Lantana is a perennial, coming back in the spring to attract more butterflies to gardens. When they die it’s best to pluck them off. Columbine: Anyone can fall in love with this flower’s delicate petals and beautiful colors. The pretty, but oddly shaped flower is a perennial that grows in spring and is widely loved by hummingbirds and other pollinators. Columbine grows in partial shade and is watered once a week, or whenever the top of the soil becomes dry. Although columbine grown from the seed does not bloom until its second year of growth, you can buy Columbine in stores with their flowers already blooming. When the blooms die you can pluck them off for the plant’s health. Petunias: Petunias are the perfect decorative house plant. Delicate and colorful, they are often found in hanging pots on decks and in gardens. The range of colorful Petunias are usually planted in the late spring outdoors, but can be started inside around February and March. Petunias are planted in full or partial sun and need to be watered daily. The perennial flower comes back each spring and wilts in colder weather.

Photos by Maren Ingram/Nighthawk News, National Parks Board and Missouri Department of Conservation

Mint, Celosia (below right), Columbine (below left) are among the many great varieties of plants people can grow locally.

When a flower of the plant dies you can pluck it off so that a new one grows in its place. I’ve noticed that hummingbirds enjoy drinking from this plant, making it one of my favorites to keep around. Citronella: Citronella is a miracle worker of sorts, keeping mosquitoes away from everything. For people who feel like they attract mosquitoes, or have bad reactions to them, then this one’s for you. Citronella is an essential spring and summer plant, saving me and many others from the painful itch of mosquito bites when sitting next to it. The plant is grown in spring when the soil becomes warm and is planted in partial sun. Citronella needs to be watered daily, or whenever the top soil dries out. Citronella is a perennial, coming back to deter mosquitoes each summer. You can care for Citronella by pruning off dead leaves as needed. Mint: Mint is a fast-spreading herb and can be eaten straight off the plant or brewed. Mint grows wildly, making it easy to harvest and make a nice, steaming cup of tea. It is a perennial, which means it comes back each spring. It grows in full sun or partial shade

and is watered daily, so the soil is kept moist. Mint should be planted in early spring, after the last frost. Because mint spreads so quickly, it’s a good idea to grow it in large pots. Parsley: This herb is more popularly known for coming dried in a can, but many grow the herb to add freshness to homemade dishes. Parsley is planted in the spring when temperatures become mild or started indoors while it’s colder outside. Because parsley doesn’t tolerate the cold, it’s best to bring it inside in the colder months. Parsley grows for two years before it dies completely. When planting parsley outside or in a pot, you should plant it in a place with full or partial sun. Parsley is watered once or twice a week to keep it healthy. Helpful Tips: Try not to water your plants in the middle of the day. It will burn your plants when the water evaporates over the sun. Avoid watering after sunset too, your plant will grow harmful fungi overnight. Make sure your pot has suitable drainage by drilling holes at the bottom. Perennials are plants that come back year after year. Annuals are plants that only grow for one season before dying. Sophomore Abigail Haber can be reached at 24haberab93@daretolearn.org.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

The rampant reboot of childhood watches Spider-Man

From Toby Maguire to Tom Holland, there have been many recasts in the Spider-Man movies, arguably getting better each time. I have watched all of the movies and my personal favorites are “The Amazing Spider-Man” movies with Andrew Garﬁeld. Although all of them are great, the most recent movies have the most action.

hroughout our childhood and early teenage years, we all had shows and movies that we would watch. Just as we changed over time, the TV shows and movies did as well. These reboots included a complete and utter change, new characters, or character development. Below is a review of eight different shows and movies and the change in these aspects over the years.

Space Jam

iCarly

Originally with Michael Jordan, it got rebooted with LeBron James as the movie takes a futuristic turn. I’ve seen both and I can tell you 100 percent that the original is better. The reboot has too much going on and LeBron gets carried by the Looney Tunes. Seriously, he scored like two points. The Michael Jordan movie is just better, no explanation needed.

“iCarly” is a show every tween/teen watched growing up. With its most recent reboot in, I haven’t actually heard of anyone who has even watched it. I’ve seen clips here and there on social media, and it is no longer PG. With many adult jokes, it isn’t really a kids show anymore. I deﬁnitely do not suggest this because it is corny and boring.

Blue’s Clues

As a fan of “Criminal Minds,” I wouldn’t even consider this a reboot, but more of a character development through the long-lasting series. Over time you can see main characters leave the show and new characters appear. Garcia and Reid are two notable characters who stay throughout; they both show a lot of maturing as the series progresses. I think we can all agree that we’ve watched at least one of these forms of entertainment. With all of the changes throughout, each show/movie has either gotten better or worse. Senior Colin Byard can be reached at 22byardco55@daretolearn.org.

Full House

SpongeBob SquarePants

With its ﬁrst episode airing in 1987, the show is now under the name “Fuller House,” after being rebooted in 2016. John Stamos and Candace Cameron Bure were featured in the original, and they returned for the reboot. With the death of Bob Saget, he no longer appears on the show, but his memory lives on with them. This show is no longer airing, as it was canceled.

As a show that almost everyone watched growing up, it’s good to see it still running. With its most recent episode airing just over two months ago, this classic shows no sign of stopping. Along with new episodes, there is fresher animation, and it keeps getting better since the ﬁrst episode. The show hasn’t changed much aside from the quality improving.

Criminal Minds

The “Blue’s Clues” reboot did not only feature a new host, but they made Blue three-dimensional, which just ruins the classic. Although I haven’t watched it yet, I can’t imagine it being better than the authentic show. The show everyone grew up with just isn’t the same anymore, and I think that this should have stayed untouched.

Karate Kid

Mr. Miyagi lives on in the “Karate Kid” reboot: “Cobra Kai.” His name is the name of the dojo run by Daniel Larusso. Now a TV show, this reboot features some of the same characters as the original movies, such as Johnny Lawrence, Daniel Larusso and John Kreese. This show is a 10/10 in my opinion and I deﬁnitely suggest giving it a watch.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / opinions

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Triple OBX threats twirl to the dance competition stage

By Audrey Lovell Staff Writer

ompetition day has arrived. Nerves race through your body. Butterflies sit eerily in your stomach. Your routine seems to play like a broken record in your mind. As you nervously await your performance backstage, you take a look around and see many familiar faces. Atlantic Dance, Island School of Dance and Outer Banks Dance Academy all attended a competition at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach over the weekend of Feb. 4. For many, this was the first “normal” competition since COVID-19. With scores ranging from high gold to platinum, each dance school brought home many impressive titles for each of its routines. Scoring for this competition involved an adjudication award of gold, high gold, platinum or platinum plus, and several specialty awards. “My sister and I got platinum for our duet,” sophomore Ava Nultemeier said. “Our group (Island School of Dance) got a judges award that was (called) ‘squad goals.’ ” Freshman McKenna Kelly, a dancer at Outer Banks Dance Academy, received a choreography award for the ballet piece she created for dancers on her team. Kelly is an Elevated Artist at her studio, meaning she choreographs a routine for fellow team members as well as teaches and cleans up this routine throughout the year. “It’s such a great opportunity,” Kelly said. “I feel like I’ve benefited a lot from it.” Although each school is striving to be the best, the competition between the local studios remains friendly. “We (Atlantic Dance) shared a dressing room with Island that weekend,” Atlantic Dance teacher Ellery

Submitted Photos

Dancers from both Island School of Dance and Atlantic dance pose for a photo in their shared dressing room at a recent dance competition in Virginia. Below, dancers wait behind the curtains for their ballet performance. Freshman McKenna Kelly choreographed this winning ballet piece for Outer Banks Dance Academy.

Sigler said. “We almost didn’t feel like different schools.” With upcoming competitions, each school is looking forward to going back on the stage with improvements to their routines. “There is room to grow, so no matter how high our scores or placement is we always come back looking to improve,” Sabrina Hassell, Director of Outer Banks Dance Academy, said. Teachers are able to look over their score sheets and videos to address improvements until their next competition. This gives dancers the critique they need to perfect their individual parts in the routine. “We’ve got plenty of time to rehearse and go over all the corrections and hopefully bring home better awards,” Island School of Dance director Sarah Woodley said.

Teachers and dancers alike feel the time in between competitions is crucial. The first performance nerves are gone and you know what needs to be fixed. “I think we’ll definitely do better when we get the judges’ notes back with the feedback,” said junior Emma Gibbons, a dancer with Atlantic Dance. No matter the results, the Outer Banks dance studios are always thrilled to have opportunities to improve not only as individual dancers, but as a team. “I think we all learned things about ourselves that day, which is the most important part,” Sigler said. “Whether it be improvements or things you’re proud of, I felt a lot of pride and there were a lot of smiles.” Junior Audrey Lovell can be reached at 23lovellau71@daretolearn.org.

Carlyle plans to be a hit at Emmanuel College Senior Arden Carlyle shows off her new ‘Lion Nation’ shirt, marking her commitment to Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia, to play volleyball. Submitted Photo

Arden Carlyle - Emmanuel College - Volleyball Why Emmanuel College? When I toured the school, the girls on the volleyball team were so welcoming and so easy to get along with. While I am passionate about volleyball, I also love to sing, and at Emmanuel I will be able to do both.

time I step on the court, my love for the game increases. I’m extremely blessed to continue to do what I love at the collegiate level.

What are some of your freshman year hopes? I hope to not only make an impact on the volleyball court, but in my school community as well.

What is your favorite Nighthawk memory? I’ve had some great memories over the past four years at First Flight, so it’s hard for me to just name one. I would say being a part of the volleyball team has developed me as a person and athlete and I’ve made long-lasting friendships with my coaches and teammates.

What are you most excited about playing your sport at the collegiate level? Since the fifth grade, I knew volleyball was something I wanted to pursue in college. Every

What is your intended major? I intend to major in business.

– Reporting by Kira Walters, Staff Writer NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

Sophomore tennis player JJ Woerner returns the ball during a recent home match. Last year, Woerner made it to the semifinal round at the NCHSAA 2A Championships as a freshman. Woerner strives to win states both as an individual and with his team.

Photo by Taylor Newton/ Nighthawk News

Woerner serving fierce expectations this season

By Kate Hamilton Online Editor-in-Chief

ennis is one of the more challenging sports, as it requires a lot of mental and physical effort, power, strength and hand-eye coordination. A good player would also need endurance and focus since matches can last up to three hours. In fact, ESPN ranked tennis as the seventh-hardest sport. Sophomore James (JJ) Woerner has proven to display these skills and then some as he made it to the semifinals at states last year as a freshman. Woerner has been playing tennis for 11 years. His parents introduced him to the sport at a young age and he has continued to work on his technique and skill sets over the years. He is now playing on the varsity boys’ tennis team and plans on continuing to play through high school and po-

tentially at the college level. “I don’t think I want to play (tennis) as a career, but I think I’m going to play college tennis from D-I to D-III,” Woerner said. His sister, Grace, has also grown up playing tennis. She began playing 10 years ago and is a member of the girls’ varsity tennis team. Grace enjoys playing against her brother because he is not only a good opponent, but he also helps her become a better player. “I love playing against him just because we get some good laughs,” Grace said. “Not only that, but since his skill level is so much higher than mine, he’s able to give me tips to grow on my fundamentals.” JJ also benefits from playing his sister, as she allows him to practice his rallies and have a fun opponent. Grace has watched JJ progress into a well-rounded player and knows that all the time and effort that he has put

into tennis has led him to truly understand the aspects of the game. “He’s able to keep his composure through tough matches and figure out his opponent’s weaknesses,” Grace said. Junior teammate Christopher Young-Stone has also noticed JJ’s commitment and dedication to tennis. “He puts in a lot more time than anybody else does and just cares a lot more than anyone else does,” YoungStone said. Young-Stone also believes that JJ is a great asset to the team and has made a lasting impression on his teammates. There is one tradition, in particular, that is done before the matches that Young-Stone enjoys due to JJ’s enthusiasm. “Before some games, we get in a circle and we put our heads together and listen to “Till I Collapse” by Eminem five to six times. We move

our heads up and down and JJ actually stands in the center of the circle,” Young-Stone said. “We all say the ‘mom’s spaghetti’ line out loud and it’s just a good time.” Being part of a school team is a different aspect for JJ, as there hasn’t been a team he could join in the past. There currently isn’t a middle school team or a big tennis league on the Outer Banks for players to join. “There has never been a tennis team,” JJ said. “There was one team a long time ago, but it feels nice to be on a team with my friends.” With three seasons left of his high school career, JJ is ready to conquer the competition and exceed all expectations. “My goal for the rest of high school would be to win states by myself and with my team,” JJ said. Senior Kate Hamilton can be reached at 22hamiltonka86@daretolearn.org.

Smeltzer hits to next chapter at Hampden-Sydney Noah Smeltzer - Hampden-Sydney College - Baseball Why Hampden-Sydney? The smaller size school will hopefully help me stay on track and not get carried away doing less important things. And I’m getting to play baseball at the same time.

makes it much more fun.

What are some of your freshman year hopes? To start. I have to start.

What is your favorite Nighthawk memory? The game against Whiteville. We won in a second-round playoff game against a really good team.

What are you most excited about playing your sport at the collegiate level? It’s going to be much better competition, which

What is your intended major? Biology because I can do a lot of other things besides biology as a biology major.

– Reporting by Noah Kinnisten, Sports Editor

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News Senior Noah Smeltzer celebrates after making it to third base during a home game last season. Smeltzer plans to continue his baseball career in the fall at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

New teacher brings new excitement to the gym What are you looking forward to this year? I’m looking forward to the “new guy” feeling to wear off because it’s overwhelming, especially coming in mid-year. I’m looking forward to motivating students, going to all of the sporting events, watching the seniors graduate, because this is where my heart is: high school. I’m just so thankful and happy to be starting over for the very last time.

Nighthawk News sat down with the newest member of the staff, gym teacher Stacey Sulewski: Where are you from? I’m from everywhere. My dad was in the Army. I was born in Oklahoma, moved to Korea, then Colorado, then Germany, back to Texas, then back to Oklahoma. And then lastly, Alaska. Then I married an Army guy. We’re no longer married, but as a married lady, I lived in North Carolina, Oklahoma again, California, New York, Virginia, back to New York. And now back to North Carolina. It’s insane, and I’m tired of it. So yeah, I’m from everywhere, but North Carolina’s my favorite, so that’s why I came back. How long have you been in education? Since 1997. I started teaching at Hoke County High School in Raeford, North Carolina.

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Have you always taught gym? No, because I was an Army spouse, and just because you have this great degree and you love what you do, jobs aren’t always available, so I’ve had to be a kindergarten assistant teacher. Worst teaching year of my life. No way, I’m not elementary. I was an inschool suspension teacher for four years in New York

First Flight’s new gym teacher Stacey Suleweski poses with sports equipment during an Athletic Training class she teaches.

before coming here. I’ve worked at daycare, answering telephones at a law office, and moving here – I’ve only been here five months – First Flight hired me to work as an EC assistant. I’ve taught kindergarten through 12th grade. But I love PE/health, that’s my favorite.

What do you want to bring to this school? As I told my students, my goal is to help your high school years suck a little less and to bring that fun back into coming to school: “I want to go to gym class,” “I want to go to health,” “What is that crazy lady going to do now?” Because life goes by so fast, especially your four years of high school, and I want it to be fun for kids again. COVID sucks, so lets make it fun again! How do you say your name? A girl named Sue and a boy named Lou like to ski. Sulewski. – Reporting by Kate Hamilton and Noah Kinnisten, Online Editor-in-Chief and Sports Editor

Farr on deck for baseball career at Hampden-Sydney Greer Farr - Hampden-Sydney - Baseball Why Hampden-Sydney? They were the first people to give me an offer and I really like the school and the education.

What are you most excited about for playing your sport in college? Just definitely better competition and going into college baseball.

What are your freshman year hopes? Play well and do better my sophomore year.

What is your favorite Nighthawk Memory? Going deep in the playoffs last year (Quarterfinals).

What is your intended major? Probably finance.

Senior Greer Farr connects for a hit during the first game of the regular season against Atlantic Shores Christian.

Photo by Taylor Newton/ Nighthawk News

- Reporting by Mackenzie Edwards, Sports Editor

Campbell starts new race for D-I track career at Charlotte Warner Campbell - UNC-Charlotte - Track Why UNC Charlotte? I felt it had the most opportunities for me both academically and athletically. They are a very solid team with a lot of really fast guys that would push me to get better daily. On my visit there, I got to meet with some of them and it seemed to blend personalities well and it just felt like the place to be as soon as I was on campus.

kinesiology because I can use this information to become a better and more efficient athlete and educate myself and others on what I learn.

What are some of your freshman year hopes? I hope to stay healthy and have the ability to race in a conference meet and help my team with some points. I also hope to blend well with the other guys on the team and have a smooth transition from coaches.

What is your favorite Nighthawk memory? My favorite Nighthawk memory was from my freshman year when I first became a state champ in the 4x800 with Tyler Sylvia, Aidan May and Zach Hughes. After moving to the Outer Banks, these guys were the first people I met and became good friends with and it was a surreal moment to win this race with them. Handing the baton to Zach with a lead and just knowing that no one could catch him was a crazy feeling.

What is your intended major? I plan to go into exercise science/

What are you most excited about

Submitted Photo Senior Warner Campbell plans to continue his academic and track career at UNC Charlotte.

playing your sport at college? I am excited to compete at the collegiate level because it has been a goal of mine since seventh grade and to see

how much more I can improve. – Reporting by Maren Ingram, Editor-in-Chief

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

Flipping beyond the beach with daring dedication By Emma Braithwaite Features Editor

he 3:30 bell rings. You run home, grab a snack and race back to the school just in time for practice – the typical after-school routine for a high school athlete. But for competitive gymnast and First Flight junior Rylee Smeltzer, her afternoons look a little different. Smeltzer has been practicing gymnastics at Ocean Tumblers in Virginia since she was seven years old. Immediately after school, the junior drives two hours to Virginia Beach, trains for five hours and makes the two-hour drive back home. She commutes five days a week, every week. “I really wish there was some place in Moyock so it’s not such a drive,” Smeltzer said. “I’m used to the drive, so it’s fine, but it would be nice if there was a gym closer.” Smeltzer has to balance her school and personal life with her gymnastics schedule. There are times when she can’t do normal high school activities – such as hanging out with her friends – when it conflicts with her practice schedule. Because of the long drives and late nights, Smeltzer does her homework in the car or when she has free time at school. “Rylee drives more than two hours, five days a week, for gymnastics,” said Smeltzer’s former gymnastics coach Tamara Walker. “This takes huge dedication. It shows how much Rylee loves the sport of gymnastics.” Smeltzer’s hard work and dedication has paid off, leading to lots of success as a very talented gymnast. Last season, she was the region seven level eight beam champion at regionals. “Rylee is an amazing gymnast. She doesn’t realize how good she really is,” Walker said. “If I could have a million girls to coach, I would want them to be like her – the willingness to work hard

Submitted Photo Junior Rylee Smeltzer (third from right) poses with her coaches and fellow gymnasts at Ocean Tumblers Gymnastics in Virginia, where she has been training since she was 7 years old.

when gymnastics is hard, be dedicated and know how to have fun while doing what you love.” In addition to driving to Virginia every week, Smeltzer also travels to different states across the East Coast for her meets. Her competition season runs from January through April, with one home meet in December to warm up everyone on her team for the season. Her team competes in about 10 meets every season. “My favorite part about competing is wearing my competition leotard and you get a chance to show off your stuff,” Smeltzer said. “This is what you have been practicing for. You’re here to show it off and make it look pretty.” Smeltzer’s favorite aspect of gymnastics is her team. She enjoys how close everyone on the team is and how positive they all are. One of Smeltzer’s teammates, Autumn Rouch, feels the same way and enjoys being teammates with Smeltzer. “Rylee is easily my favorite teammate, as she is always so supportive and encouraging. I love practicing with her because together we can make the

most out of tough situations,” Rouch said. “Even during the worst practices, we always find a way to laugh and have a good time.” Smeltzer has gained best friends from gymnastics that would have never been possible if it weren’t for the sport. Spending over 20 hours a week with each other has lead to fun memories and great friendships. “During the summer, Rylee and I have practice Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. To avoid the long drive, Rylee would stay at my house during the week,” Rouch said. “Rylee is one of the few people I can spend every day with and still not be tired of, and the time spent with her made my summer 10 times better.” While gymnastics brings Smeltzer lot of happiness, great memories and friendships, her sport has also brought a lot of hardships. In December 2020, one of her coaches, David, caught COVID-19. After spending a month in the hospital, he passed away in early February 2021. “David was one of my coaches for eight years, but he was my main coach

for three years before he died,” Smeltzer said. “It was one of the hardest things ever.” Less than a year after losing her coach, Smeltzer encountered another obstacle. In October 2021, she was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her lower back. “It was an over-time thing. I was doing so many things going backwards so then it just finally stopped,” Smeltzer said. “I knew something was wrong in October and it was just so traumatizing.” Smeltzer has been working back to her full gymnastics schedule after her injury. She has been out of competitions since her injury, but hopes to be back to 100 percent and competing by March. Her perseverance through it all has been a key factor in her continued success in the sport. “Rylee knows how to persevere. She has been injured more than once, yet she never gives up. Rylee lost a coach to COVID in the middle of her season, yet she didn’t give up,” Walker said. “She came to the gym, cried lots of tears, but then became more determined to be even better. Most athletes would walk away from the sport, but not Rylee.” Whether it is her determination to overcome obstacles or her ability to get better each day, Smeltzer’s love for gymnastics shows day in and day out. “It takes a special person to do competitive gymnastics. You have to be able to take criticism and know it is about the gymnastics and not about you personally. Rylee is good at understanding the difference,” Walker said. “I was able to tell her when she needed to take another turn even when she didn’t want to. She might have been tired or sore, but she would always work hard to be her best.” Junior Emma Braithwaite can be reached at 23braithwaiteem06@daretolearn.org.

Morris scores next goal of college-level lacrosse Neely Morris - University of Lynchburg - Lacrosse Why Lynchburg? I really liked the atmosphere that the school gave. It’s really about athletics and academics at the same time and there’s a lot of support for women’s athletics along with men’s. So I really just like the feel of everyone supporting each other. What are some of your freshman year hopes? I hope to play my freshman year. Not necessarily start, but just to play. You know you have to work hard to earn a spot. What is your intended major? I was thinking about pre-law. I’m in the Westover Honors College so I’m going to try to NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

either major in English or pre-law, one of the two. What is your favorite Nighthawk memory? Probably winning conference last year. That was a big thing because when I came in as a freshman and they never had a winning season and then to give them a conference championship.

Senior lacrosse player Neely Morris makes her commitment to continue her academic and lacrosse career for the next four years at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia. Submitted Photo

What are you most excited about playing your sport at the collegiate level? I’m just excited for the competitiveness. To go and play on a team and be competitive and compete at a higher level. – Reporting by Noah Kinnisten, Sports Editor

First Flight Sports Spotlight: Q&A with

Therese Schiba

Jameson Summerton

Hunter Braithwaite

Noah Kinnisten

Senior

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

How long have you been playing lacrosse? I have been playing lacrosse since fourth grade.

How long have you been playing lacrosse? I’ve been playing lacrosse since ﬁfth grade.

What are you going to miss the most? Meeting new people at school.

What’s your favorite part about playing? Deﬁnitely scoring and seeing the team play well, and the family it builds.

What’s your favorite part about playing? I like being a part of a team and it’s fun to play and be active. What is your favorite part about lacrosse? I like how fast-paced it is and how I’m always moving. What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Sam Apuzzo because her shots are super good. What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? At my old school when me and my team won in sectionals. What is your favorite thing to do before a game? Listen to music to get me pumped. Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a game? Before a game I love to eat pizza. What is your favorite holiday? Why? Christmas because I love the vibes and the music, and it’s a happy time. What is a lifelong dream of yours? To take a trip to Paris and stay for a while. What is your dream job? To be a part of the FBI or a detective. What’s a fun fact about yourself? I like to draw.

What is your favorite thing to do before a game? I like to listen to music. What is your favorite part about lacrosse? I just like seeing everyone have fun. Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a game? Ladles, for sure. What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Nick Gardill and Dylan Byard. They’re both really good and I want to be like them. What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? I love scoring goals. What is your dream job and why? My dream job is to become a doctor and help people, along with the good life you can live. If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? Invest in it and save. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be, and why? Michael Jordan, George Washington and Jeff Bezos. MJ to learn his POV of life, Washington because he started a country, and Bezos because he can teach me how to be successful.

How long have you been playing golf? Ten years.

How long have you been playing baseball? Ever since I was 4 years old.

What’s your favorite part about playing? I like playing new courses.

What’s your favorite part about playing? When you make a good play or get a hit and everyone starts cheering for you.

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Nick Bernard because he hits the ball very far and Ross Sullivan because of his integrity. What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? When I got a hole-in-one when I was 11. If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? I would buy a house and donate it to charity. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be, and why? I would have dinner with Tiger Woods and Kanye West because they seem interesting and LeBron James so I can make fun of him.

Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a game? We always eat in our clubhouse, but we usually get Slice Pizza and it’s really good. What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Probably Juan Soto because he’s just one of the best players in the game and he is still super young. What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? When we traveled up to Cooperstown, New York, which is where the Baseball Hall of Fame is, for a week-long tournament. We lost every game but it was still fun. What is your dream job? Stay-athome dad.

What is your favorite holiday? Why? Christmas because I get presents.

What is your favorite holiday? Why? Mother’s Day because I love my mommy.

What is a lifelong dream of yours? To make a lot of money.

What is a lifelong dream of yours? To travel to Scandinavia because the pictures go crazy.

Best teacher ever? Why? Mr. Waters because I really enjoy his class. If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? I would want to be a dog because they don’t really do anything. What is your dream job and why? A meteorologist because I think weather is interesting.

What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? “Cars,” but “Cars 2” is a close second. What is your biggest pet peeve? When people spill a liquid and it gets everywhere. It makes me want to vomit. It’s so bad. It stresses me out so much. Go-to karaoke song. “Say It Right” by Nelly Furtado for sure.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022

Nighthawk spring student-athletes

Summer Stevens

Lydia Sillies

Freshman

Junior

How long have you been playing soccer? Seven years. What is your favorite part about playing? I like playing and competing and playing against good teams because it helps you improve. What’s your favorite thing to do before a game? Listening to music and getting focused with my team. What’s your favorite place to eat before or after a game? Tropical Smoothie. What player do you look up to most and why? Julie Ertz because she can play anywhere and she’s really good. What is your favorite memory playing your sport? Probably seventh grade when we beat Manteo in the finals in overtime. If you became a millionaire by age 20 what would you do with it? I would buy a nice house and save some money for the future. What’s a fun fact about you? I’m ambidextrous. What is your favorite beach access? I like going to Kitty Hawk Pier because you can fish and surf there. What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is “Jason Bourne” because it is really action-packed and the guy is super cool and there are a lot of fight scenes which are pretty cool.

How long have you been competing in track? I have been doing track and ﬁeld since I was in seventh grade. What is your favorite part about playing your sport? I love the feeling of ﬂying over the bar as I jump. What is your favorite memory playing your sport? One of my favorite memories is from outdoor season in eighth grade. Everyone was gathered around the high jump pit and they were all cheering me on. What is your favorite holiday and why? My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because it is the one time a year that my whole family comes together. What is a lifelong dream of yours? I have always wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle so I could ride around in those big circular cages they have at the circus. I would probably die, but I would die happy. What’s a fun fact about yourself? The amount of unique animals in my house is almost equal to the number of people living in it. We have a hedgehog, a hamster, a Russian tortoise, a pig and a dog. And they all live in our house. What is the best movie you have ever seen? Probably any of the “Fast & Furious” movies. Best teacher ever and why? My best teacher would probably have to be Ms. Gard because she is the sweetest person alive and she always gives me hugs.

Lauren Hughes

Dylan Johnson

Senior

Junior

How long have you been playing softball? Since I was 4.

How long have you been playing tennis? About seven years.

What are you going to miss the most? I’ll miss the feeling of being a part of a team and having inside jokes.

What’s your favorite part about playing? When we get to travel and go places.

What is your favorite thing to do before a game? Listen to music.

What is your favorite thing to do before a match? Stay hydrated.

Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a game? Chick-Fil-A or Panera.

Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a game? I love to go get pizza after. Slice in particular.

What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? When Emma Richards face planted on the way to ﬁrst base.

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Tony Willingham, our coach, because I’ve been playing with him for a long time.

What is your dream job and why? Psychiatry because I want to help people. What’s your favorite TV show? “Grey’s Anatomy.” Best teacher ever and why? Mrs. Anderson and Mr. Mount because they’re both so awesome and helped me get into college. What’s your favorite beach access? Why do you like it? Woodmere because we would sneak into the hot tubs. Go-to karaoke song: “The Climb” by Hannah Montana. What is a lifelong dream of yours? To become a psychiatrist and open a private practice.

What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? When we went to states. What is your dream job and why? Be a sailboat instructor, because I’m currently working as a sailboat instructor. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be, and why? Probably some of my relatives. What is your favorite holiday? Why? Halloween because of the parties. What is your biggest pet peeve? When things aren’t neat. If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? A dog because they have the easy life.

Photography by Steve Hanf, Taylor Newton and Maggie McNinch. Reporting by Emma Braithwaite, Stella Bryson, Colin Byard, Mackenzie Edwards, Fiona Finchem, Callie Honeycutt, Noah Kinnisten and Tatum Love. NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

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NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / spring / / 2022