Winter 2022 Nighthawk News Magazine

Candy canes. Bright lights. Caroling. Basketball. When you think about the holiday season, the last word may not come to mind, but basketball is an important part of our winter at First Flight.

The Good Guys vs. Cancer Basketball Showcase has been an Outer Banks staple since FFHS Athletic Director Chad Williams started the event four years ago to honor his father, Guy, who had a very rare form of cancer. ne hundred percent of the profits from the tournament go to cancer charities.

This year, the tournament was bigger than ever. The First Flight varsity girls team played in the tournament for the first time when the event added four games Thursday after school. Twenty-five teams from North Carolina and Virginia competed over three days in a tournament that featured over 40 D-I talents.

We made the decision to feature the tournament in this edition of Nighthawk News because we wanted to highlight the spirit of the Outer Banks during the holiday season. We wanted to showcase the abundant sense of the community that is evident during the tournament, as the stands remained packed no matter

who was playing. Olivia’s feature on page 32 dives deeper into this idea.

Our cover illustration, with photos taken by Nighthawk News Photo Editor Taylor Newton, strives to encompass the importance of this event at First Flight. The crowd went crazy after every dunk, including the monster jam by Word of God Christian Academy’s

Jamal Brown over St. Anne-Belfield School’s Carter Lang.

While this edition is dedicated to Good Guys vs. Cancer, we also cover a variety of other topics, such as the new superintendent for Dare County Schools, holiday restaurants on the Outer Banks and another Topics of our Time spread with important

news-features on pressing issues. n behalf of the entire Nighthawk News staff, we would like to thank our readers and advertisers for supporting our publication. We hope you enjoy the second print edition of the 2022-23 school year!

– Editors-in-Chief Emmy Benton, Emma Braithwaite and Olivia Sugg

Photo Editor Taylor Newton sits on the sidelines during the Good Guys vs. Cancer Basketball Showcase. Newton took over 9,000 photographs over the three-day tournament, providing coverage both for Nighthawk News Magazine as well as the Outer Banks Voice website.

Photo by Olivia Sugg/ Nighthawk News

Annie Heath discusses the assortment of new businesses on the beach.

Emmy Benton sheds light on the therapist shortage plaguing the Outer Banks.

Olivia Sugg shares the issues facing Dare County Schools teachers and students.

Kate Wasniewski introduces new Spanish teacher Herman Hall.

Oliver Parks tells the tale of Alex Livingston, a senior who has lived all around the world.

Ella Ogburn dishes up details on four new Christmas restaurants on the Outer Banks.

Samuel Smith and Daisy Morales debate their points of view on the cost of college.

Betty Morales Bravo discusses her experience on a recent school trip to St. Louis.

Kira Walters shares her thoughts on having a birthday near Christmas.

New leader wants DCS to be ‘the best’

By Allie Nigro Online Editor-in-Chief

Is that what’s best for students?” This is the question you would find posted on a bulletin board in Steve Basnight’s office – and the same guiding principle that drove him to follow in his father’s footsteps and become superintendent of Dare County Schools.

After teaching for 20 years at Manteo High School followed by 17 years in administration, Steve Basnight was sworn in to be Dare County Schools’ new superintendent on Nov. 2 – 44 years after his father got sworn in to the same position. His first official day on the job came Dec. 1, replacing interim Superintendent Steve Blackstock, who now fills the role of assistant superintendent. The moves came following former leader John Farrelly’s departure in June.

Basnight was born and raised in Dare County and comes from a long line of educators.

“My grandma worked in the cafeteria, my granddad was a custodian, and my aunts and uncles were teachers and principals,” Basnight said. “My dad was a basketball coach at Manteo High School in the early ’60s and progressed and became the superintendent in 1978.”

Those deep ties with the community are one of the reasons Principal Chuck Lansing believes Basnight has and will continue to be a successful administrator.

“He brings a ton of background with the community, and a ton of understanding on how our schools have worked in the past and what we’re trying to achieve,” Lansing said. “He also has a wealth of experience in different leadership capacities within schools and as a superintendent. I’ve

been impressed with everything that he’s shared so far.”

All the experience Basnight has in the school system gives him a good idea of what works and what doesn’t. He puts a huge emphasis on the importance of active learning.

“Active learning in my evolution just made more sense to me on how kids learn,” Basnight said. “If you sit them in a room and bore them to death, then more often than not, they’re going to become a discipline problem. But if they’re actively involved in something, that problem goes down.”

Even before becoming an administrator, Basnight experienced first hand how active learning in the classroom can truly affect students.

“When I was teaching, I didn’t really like doing the ‘stand and deliver on the podium’ and lecturing, but at that time, when you went to college, that’s all it was,” Basnight said. “That’s changed, and if we’re still trying to

teach kids how to be successful in college by writing papers, we’ve missed the mark.”

Though teachers are a huge factor in students’ education, Basnight believes students must be made accountable for their own learning.

“We’ve gotten really good as a society blaming teachers because the kids didn’t get it, but what if we stop talking about teaching and we start talking about learning?” Basnight said. “That shift takes the onus off of the teacher and puts it back on the student.”

Basnight’s daughter, Sara, is currently a freshman at FFHS, giving him an even more unique perspective on what students, teachers and administrators are dealing with on a day-today basis.

“Even if it’s just the latest TikTok trends, I try to keep him up to date so he can do the best that he can in a generation that’s very different,” Sara said.

She added that she is extremely

proud of her dad and looks up to him in more ways than one.

“I find him to be a very big role model. He’s a very respectable person, very kind and very genuine,” Sara said. “Even if someone is rude to him, he still treats people with respect and I see that he does this every single day, so that’s what I look up to.”

Being the new superintendent is “more than a job” for Basnight and he hopes to do everything he can for a county he’s been part of since day one.

“My desire is for Dare County to be recognized as the best school system. I want our kids to have the most opportunities, our staff to feel like they’re a part of something that’s really great, and our community and parents to be proud to say that my kids go to Dare County,” Basnight said. “That may be lofty, but you set the bar high and then you reach it.”

Senior

Familiar face fills in for Spanish classrooms

By Kate Wasniewski Staff Writer

Herman Hall, a former Spanish teacher at First Flight, has come back to teaching after seven years. He recently became a substitute Spanish teacher and will hold that role until early January. Hall began teaching in 2003 at a variety of schools in North Carolina and Virginia, including Currituck, Manteo, Deep Creek and Hickory.

This year, First Flight has struggled with having enough Spanish teachers to teach all its classes when one new hire was unable to come in August. After leaving in-person teaching, Hall only taught online Spanish classes through NC Virtual Public Schools –which is what some FFHS students have been forced to take this year. But when he found out the school was in need of Spanish teachers, he felt compelled to step in.

Hall is currently substituting for four Spanish I

classes and two Spanish II classes. Hall is filling in until Jan. 9, when a new teacher will be able to come. Spanish I and II are all about learning the fundamentals of Spanish, while Spanish III and IV allow students to broaden their speaking skills even more. So it was important that FFHS find a teacher who could get the job done, and Hall seemed to be a perfect match.

“I always wanted to be a Spanish teacher when I was in high school. I was lucky that I knew I wanted to teach Spanish when I was older,” Hall said.

While he is a new teacher, Hall is well known already by many of the students.

“I honestly believe he really enjoys working here and being able to be around different kids,” said his daughter, sophomore Nellie Hall.

By teaching these classes, Hall is not only helping out the school but is also benefiting students for

their whole lives by offering the ability to communicate with more people in everyday situations as well as when they travel to other countries.

students’

“It expands students’ horizons and they learn about other cultures, places and people,” Herman said.

Aside from teaching, Herman has other interests like surfing and traveling across the world. Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Chile are just some of the places Herman has traveled to, whether it’s for surfing or helping kids. For him, being able to speak Spanish fluently has been incredibly beneficial on these types of trips.

“He’s teaching because he’s always enjoyed it and he’s doing it for the students. It’s really important for a teacher to care about what they are teaching,” Nellie said.

Sophomore Kate Wasniewski can be reached at 25wasniewskika33@daretolearn.org.

Allie Nigro can be reached at 23nigroal20@daretolearn.org.

Submitted Photo (left) and Photo by Duke Wallin/Special to Nighthawk News Education has been a family affair for new Dare County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight, who has been a regular visitor at FFHS since being sworn in on Nov. 2. Steve Basnight and his wife, Ashley, are pictured above in this family photo from a few years ago with their children Sara and Cole as well as Steve’s parents, Carolyn and Steve. The elder Steve Basnight led Dare County Schools in the 1970s and ’80s.

OBX buzzing about new businesses

By Annie Heath Staff Writer

All around the island, bulldozers are smoothing dirt, foundations are being laid, frameworks of buildings are reaching into the sky, and the details about one new business after another are slowly falling into place.

While the OBX always seems to be adding rental houses and hotels for vacationers, currently, a building boom of new businesses is underway. The list is long: Marshalls, another Rack Room Shoes and Sugar Kingdom, the long-awaited Target and Cook Out, one of North Carolina’s first Wawa stores, and a car wash.

Long before these businesses open their doors to eager tourists and locals alike, town officials have to give their blessing. The site plans for Marshalls and Rack Room, being built side-by-side in the Southern Shores Marketplace, went through the Southern Shores town planning board and then were approved by the town council on Sept. 7, 2021.

Wes Haskett, the Deputy Town Manager/Planning Director for Southern Shores, explained that after the site plans were approved, the stores’ contractor and architect both applied for a building permit to make sure the new construction follows all building regulations, as well as a zoning permit to make sure the new project conforms to the community it is being built in.

“I review the plans and make sure that they’re consistent with what the town council approved. The building inspector reviews the building plans,” Haskett said. “Then our department – the Southern Shores planning and code enforcement department –issues the permits.”

Not far from the Marketplace and just south of Outer Banks Furniture, the construction of the third Sugar Kingdom on the Outer Banks is in its early stages. The Kitty Hawk planning board approved this project last December and it then went to the town council for its January 2022 meeting.

Rob Testerman, Director of Planning and Inspections for the town of Kitty Hawk, said that the site plan approval was only the first step. What followed was Sugar Kingdom getting all of its other permits in line. Once they submitted their building permit application and some other paperwork, Sugar Kingdom was issued their building permit in August and is now ready for construction.

“From the date that the permit was issued, they’ve got six months to call for their first inspection. They can start the actual construction whenever they’re ready between now and February,” Testerman said. “They don’t have to notify us before they start pouring concrete or anything, as they’ve got their permit issued.”

A little further down the beach, Kill Devil Hills has four businesses in the works currently.

On the south side of 5th Street on the bypass is where construction for the new Target is ongoing. This Target will inhabit the old Kmart, which went out of business in March of 2019. Because Target is modifying the existing structure rather than building from the ground up, this process works slightly differently.

“Target came in and they did an interior change. It was electrical, plumbing, mechanical and then cosmetic,” Kill Devil Hills Planning Director Meredith Guns said. “Then, their exterior changes had to be reviewed for zoning, for the architectural requirements, signage, and they’re changing the parking lot.”

Guns explained that Target has come a long way interior-wise despite running into shipping delays of needed materials. The business will include a Starbucks and CVS Pharmacy inside. However, the parking lot is not able to be done until spring, which

pushes the estimated opening time to anywhere from late spring to the end of summer .

Just a street over from the new Target is the beginning of a Wawa gas station on 4th Street. The site plans for Wawa were reviewed and recommended by the planning board to the Board of Commissioners. They recently got their building permit and are ready to begin building out of the ground.

Now, how about that empty Burger King site with the promise of a Cook Out?

Bringing a Cook Out to the Outer Banks has been a work in progress since 2020. Toward the end of 2020, the Kill Devil Hills planning board approved site plans for a Cook ut at milepost 9. , an old office for Southern Shores Realty. It then went through the Board of Commissioners, with plans to tear down the existing building and start from scratch.

“That approval expired. In the meantime, they bought the Burger ing building,” uns said. “At first, they were going to use the existing Burger King, then they were going to build their own building and rent the existing Burger King on the same site, and then they were going to tear down the Burger King and build their own site. But they’ve never submitted (site plans) for the Burger King site. So Cook Out currently owns two pieces of property.”

Lastly, on 8th Street in Kill Devil Hills, construction of a new car wash is coming along. The site

The Southern Shores Marketplace shopping center (above) has been under construction for many months after part of the existing plaza was torn down to make way for a new Rack Room Shoes and Marshalls. At left, the old Kmart building continues being transformed into a Target after going out of business in March 2019. Work is expected to be done at the Target site in the summer of 2023.

plans for the unnamed car wash went through the Kill Devil Hills planning board as well as the Board of Commissioners.

With all of these new businesses coming into town, locals are bound to have mixed feelings: shop local vs. visiting big box retailers, preserving natural areas vs. providing more shopping and employment opportunities. But one of the biggest questions now lies in the fact that there already seem to be too many businesses and not enough employees.

Karen Brown, the President and Chief Executive fficer of the uter Banks Chamber of Commerce, said that some locals have expressed concern over staffing issues. There are already numerous understaffed businesses and a seemingly short supply of employees on the Outer Banks.

“I don’t think anybody’s opposed to the businesses coming. They’re concerned about where the employees (for these new businesses) are,” Brown said.

Still, the new businesses have many on the Outer Banks buzzing as they watch the construction progress and wait for exciting new opportunities to enjoy.

“We’re always happy to welcome new businesses to the community,” Brown said. “At the end of the day, we need (big businesses) to make up a good strong economy in our community.”

Junior Annie Heath can be reached at 24heathan45@daretolearn.org.

Photos by Taylor Newton/ Nighthawk News

T pics of Dangerous waiting game

Lack of therapists puts mental health care on hold

By Emmy Benton Editor-in-Chief

According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, individuals aged 13 to 17 were the most likely age group to seek treatment for mental health issues in 2021, with 46% of psychologists reporting an increase in this demographic.

What’s scary, however, is that same study found that 60% of psychologists had no openings for new patients, and 38% had waitlists that varied in length from a few weeks to a few months.

With difficulty booking appointments, many students are struggling to address their mental health needs and are having to wait months to see a therapist. A First Flight student who wished to remain anonymous to speak more candidly about their experience with therapy says that finding a therapist was only part of the battle.

“It’s really hard to find a therapist that meets your needs because a lot of therapists who are on a broader spectrum cover multiple areas like family matters, or things like that,” the student said. “It was really difficult to find a therapist that took my insurance and met my needs.”

It took them about two months of constant phone calls and being put on waitlists to get an appointment with a counselor. Then, booking appointments became the issue.

“With the influx of people that are in therapy, it was extremely difficult to make appointments,” the student said. “I would have to book appointments for the whole month and if I had to cancel an appointment because I had something going on, I wasn’t getting that back. I couldn’t reschedule for that week. It was just gone.”

The difficult process of booking appointments with therapists has been seen by FFHS guidance counselor Beth Garrett. She has experienced the therapist shortage first-hand with students in her caseload.

When a student who is struggling with mental health comes to her, Garrett listens and offers suggestions for how they can get help. More recently, though, she, along with the other guidance counselors, have had to act as stand-in therapists until students can be seen by a professional.

“If we have a student we do an assessment on and they are struggling with depression, trauma, suicidal thoughts or attempts, we’re the ones that they speak to until they can get in with a therapist eight weeks from now,” Garrett said.

Karla Coughenour, therapist and owner of Thrivewell Counseling Center, has experienced an increase in demand from adolescents in particular. There is now a short waitlist, but a waitlist nevertheless.

“I believe the pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health and relational health,” Coughenour said. “We saw a significant increase in

the numbers of adolescents who were seeking help for anxiety, depression and eating disorders.”

As a result of these increases, Coughenour decided to hire a new professional and even switched one therapist from part-time to full-time.

However, even changes such as these, waiting lists are still a concern for many across the Outer Banks, including therapist Christie McEwan.

McEwan is the owner of Outer Banks Counseling Services and, like Coughenour, has had more people contacting her for treatment in recent years.

“Being booked and unable to take new clients from time to time has been my experience for at least five years,” McEwan said.

To meet this demand, she has begun to utilize methods other than in-person meetings to ensure she is able to keep her waitlist low. She has continued to use telehealth that she first began using in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic.

Telehealth is a means by which appointments are conducted remotely without having to go to an office. This method became popular during the pandemic due to social distancing protocols, but continues to offer an innovative way for patients to be seen by professionals.

“I was able to continue meeting with all of my clients utilizing telehealth in late March 2020 and it worked,” McEwan said. “I had not considered telehealth as a viable option prior to that and my experience has shown me that it can work really well.”

Telehealth may be the only way for some people to see a therapist quickly due to the fact that the appointment is conducted via video conferencing, taking away the constraints of location. Garrett

sometimes tells her students to consider searching for a therapist off the island.

“Depending on the student, I recommend trying Virginia,” Garrett said. “It’s a bummer to have to drive to Chesapeake, but they have a lot more counselors than us. Or be willing to do the online thing temporarily, because you can meet with someone from California – it doesn’t matter.”

There’s not one specific issue that has led to the shortage of available mental health professionals, but Garrett pointed out two main problems. For starters, she said, “There’s a lack of resources because that’s not funded or valued in this country – it’s just not.” But the Outer Banks’ affordable housing crisis also complicates the issue: “I bet Key West has the same problem, Cape Cod, some towns out in Colorado. There’s a housing problem,” Garrett added.

Even with the lack of therapists on the Outer Banks, Garrett urges people to get help if they’re struggling with their mental health.

“You’re not going to think your way out of it. You don’t have all the answers, and you shouldn’t,” Garrett said. “I don’t have all the answers and need help in my own life, so everybody needs help.”

With more people going to therapy and conversations surrounding therapy being normalized, the negative perceptions about getting help are beginning to disappear, McEwan added.

“I am hoping that our work to diminish the stigma of seeking help for normal reactions to abnormal situations is contributing to the increase in seeking professional assistance,” McEwan said.

Senior Emmy Benton can be reached at 23bentonem58@daretolearn.org.

Illustration by Chad Benton/Special to Nighthawk News

Students can have a say in their education – if they want ur Time

By Olivia Sugg Editor-in-Chief

The meeting comes to order at 5 p.m. and every seat in the room is full. For the next 30 or so minutes, members of the Dare County Schools Board of Education enjoy hearing highlights about academic and athletic endeavors from principals. They pose with smiling students and teachers for photos as certificates of recognition get handed out.

Then the room empties as all the special guests head home. And except for a handful of observers, no one is around as the real business of the Board begins. Discussions on everything from routine budget items to controversial policy changes take place over the next hour or so – and perhaps this is what should be paid the most attention to.

The Dare County Board of Education is the governing body elected to oversee public education. Over the past three years, the DCS Board and others across the country have received more attention than normal due to COVID-19.

During the pandemic, when each meeting determined a big decision regarding in-person vs. online learning and policies on wearing masks, the number of people who paid attention to the meetings skyrocketed. High school students watched on their phones, teachers played the meetings in their classrooms, parents had them displayed on their living room TVs, protesters made signs to hold outside. Public comments at school board meetings increased and community voices were being heard more than ever.

For better or worse, the pandemic reminded everyone that this group of seven people meeting on the second Tuesday of every month was in charge of education policy for all the students of Dare County – and that they met openly and publicly.

Now that each meeting is not deciding something as drastic as Covid policies, will students, parents and teachers continue to pay close attention? The ability to show up to meetings in person and offer public comment or tune in to the livestream to learn about decisions being made has not gone away.

And now that COVID is in the rearview mirror and some stability has returned to the district with the hiring

of new Superintendent Steve Basnight, what topics will come before the Board in the coming year?

A Dare County teacher who also is the parent of DCS students who wished to remain anonymous to candidly express their feelings had this to say about which issues are most pressing:

“The main issue I see is affordable housing for teachers,” the teacher said. “We’re getting new DLI (Dual Language Immersion) teachers every year from other countries with nowhere to put them, we’re trying to hire custodians and assistants to make $25,000 a year and the cheapest rent is like $1,800 a month.”

Affordable housing is a problem for the whole Outer Banks, but when it comes to finding affordable housing for teachers, it is a problem that must be addressed. A lack of affordable housing leads to staff shortages, a problem Dare County Schools – and many others – has been dealing with.

The teacher pointed to the story in the Outer Banks Voice earlier this fall about a lack of custodians and how that was just one example of the challenges being faced: “Teachers were asked to clean up their own classrooms and take out their own trash, didn’t have a vacuum, which is crazy.”

The School Board may not be able to single-handedly solve the problem of affordable housing on the Outer Banks, but it does have the ability to push for changes so Dare County Schools does not have a staffing issue from the housing crisis.

DCS used to give regular cost of living adjustments in the form of a county supplement, but has not done so recently. Salaries that come from the state are already set, with recent raises not keeping up with inflation, and talks about increases to the county supplement started by former Superintendent John Farrelly didn’t go anywhere.

“Right before Farrelly left he was going to push for a slight raise for Dare County teachers, but it didn’t happen,” the teacher said. “I would love to see them go to the Board of Commissioners and get a raise for teachers and school employees. I don’t know what they could do about housing, but they could give a supplement to employees as part of their salary to help them offset the cost of living.”

Liv Cook, a former Dare County

teacher and mother of two Dare County students, echoed similar sentiments regarding the issues facing the school system but focused more on the idea that school board members having a greater presence in the school would be beneficial.

“I think the biggest issue for Dare County Schools is the board really needing to be in touch and on the pulse of what’s happening in Dare County Schools,” Cook said. “I feel like a lot of national politics and trends get in the way of the local reality.”

That issue is an easy fix compared to salary and housing questions.

“They should increase their presence in the schools beyond the days that they have school board meetings and tours of the school,” Cook said. “When they have visits that are announced, that’s a really good way to see all of the great things that are happening, but if they see all the great things, where did they see what could maybe be improved? They need to see all the snapshots of how awesome a regular day is.”

Visits also would allow school board members to interact with students and hear their concerns. If students knew their voices were being heard and taken seriously, it would go a long way toward making improvements in every building and focusing on the real issues in Dare County rather than national talking points on topics such as book banning and critical race theory.

Just because students have not been heavily involved with board meetings in the past does not mean that cannot change. Anyone has the ability to push for change and make their voice heard.

Now is a better time than ever to push for change because as of this month, Dare County Schools has three new board members – Ron Payne, Matt Brauer and Barry Wickre – who were elected in November and a new superintendent, Steve Basnight, who is very interested in putting students and teachers first.

“I’m sort of feeling my way around right now,” Basnight said when asked earlier this month what he saw as some of the biggest issues in the district. “But I think in schools, the most pressing issue is always learning in classrooms. That’s something we are going to emphasize.”

Senior Olivia Sugg can be reached at 23suggol52@daretolearn.org.

Here are some of the ways students can make an impact: Attend school board meetings (in person or virtually) to stay educated on board matters

Spark healthy conversations about board matters with others

Contact board members to inquire about/share information

Research the school board’s policies and regulations

Stand before the board to speak during the public comments portion of the meetings

Find the Dare County Schools policy manual here:

Get board members’ contact information here:

Watch a recording of the latest board meeting here:

An arsenal of academic weapons: Now it’s cool to be smart

By Foster Guns Staff Writer

Academic weapon: noun; a student (preferably an athlete) who is considered to be wicked smart.

The term academic weapon was birthed by Gen Z on TikTok and other social media sites, describing very smart individuals who also manage to have a social life and even some athletic capabilities, in many cases.

Some First Flight student names echo when the term “academic weapon” is mentioned, whether it be a varsity starter or a senior socialite. Identifying yourself as an academic weapon is the first step in the direction of greatness. Senior Audrey Lovell has established her place as an academic weapon by triple enrolling in three different schools.

“I do COA (College of The Albemarle), North Carolina School of Science and Math and regular school. I have gotten about two Bs in my life,” Lovell said.

Besides just being smart, you need some depth and versatility when it comes to being an amazing student.

Junior Kenzie Pappas is a varsity starting volleyball star, as well as an all-A NHS-bound student.

“I am a weapon 100 percent, hundreds on every test, studying 24/7, athletic,” Pap-

pas said. “Just overall a very rounded person in school.”

Another sports star who

has an incredible academic drive is senior Isaac Dobie. He has been working hard his

entire school career, striving to be the best he can possibly be to build a good resume on his way to playing basketball in college.

The NHS president has been known to put in the extra work to achieve his goals, such as bringing his AP Chemistry textbook on a serene trip to Costa Rica.

“That was for my AP Chem class and the AP exam was coming up. That was probably the hardest class I had taken and I wanted to do well on the exam,” Dobie said.

Doing so many things so well requires students to learn to balance life between school, sports and social life. So much of balancing your many talents is time management, a skill that No. 1 in the senior class Dylan Rich has mastered.

“I have really good time management skills. I get all my homework done as fast as I can so that I have time to play soccer, because I love soccer, and hang out with my friends, because I love my friends,” Rich said. “Take school seriously, but also have as much fun as you can in life.”

Part of every teenager’s life – academic weapon or not – is social media. It is what popularized the term “academic weapon,” but it has also normalized and had a positive influence on “nerd” culture. Basically, it’s cool to be smart now.

“I think some people may be ashamed to show how smart they are because it makes other people jealous and other people will joke on them for that,” junior Burke Powers said. “I think that the media has definitely popularized it. People are not as ashamed anymore.”

And hey, even if being considered an “academic weapon” does still make you uncomfortable, there are still ways to dodge the praise.

“Smart people are honestly just lazy and can find ways to get through things a lot faster and easier,” senior Charlie Ernst said. “It’s cool for life to be easy.”

Despite it not being nerdy to be smart anymore, you still might need some motivation to embrace your full potential as a rising academic weapon.

“Never give up and always push to be the best you can be, because being an academic weapon is such a flex,” Pappas said.

Flexing on others is a specialty of Lovell, but she still finds the room in her heart to give her best advice to the young ones who will follow in her academic footsteps.

“Never put anything else above school. It’s the most important thing. It’ll do you good in the long run,” Lovell said. “When you apply to college, just be a weapon.”

Junior Foster Guns can be reached at 24gunsfo54@daretolearn.org.

Early graduates skip a year to get a

By Vada Clark Staff Writer

Students dream of the day they graduate high school. As soon as school starts, they count down the years, months, weeks and finally days.

But what if those days could be fewer than you think?

Early graduation is becoming more popular for various reasons. Some people use it as a way to go to college earlier, while others go straight into the workforce or the military. Junior Ryleigh Gould decided to take this step because she wanted to get a head start on her secondary education.

Gould was set to graduate in the spring of 2024 but will now be graduating in June of 2023. After only spending two years in high school – she also skipped ninth grade – she’s ready to pursue her career in nursing.

“You have to do a lot of work and you have to study a lot,” Gould said of the secret to graduating early. “Take harder classes. It prepares you for college.”

While some may choose to graduate early to go into more schooling, other students are ready to join the workforce.

“I just want to work and get money and get out of high school,” senior Tristan Vasquez-Castro said.

Joining the workforce straight out of high school allows students to get ahead in their careers. This is something that senior Kaylee Evans is looking forward to.

“I fulfilled my credits and I am eager to start working,” Evans said.

(From left) Early graduates Ryleigh Gould, Tristan Vasquez-Castro, Kaylee Evans and Hunter Davidson. Graduating early has become more popular in recent years for a variety of reasons.

Photo illustration by Nighthawk News

The academic weapon trend on social media was started by Bradley Kraut (bottom right). Since the trend emerged, students are being praised for studying, something that has occasionally been looked down upon. At top left, senior Isaac Dobie joins the trend by posting a time lapse of a study sesh at Starbucks.

nofficial colle e isi s pro i e official info

By Audrey Lovell Social Media Editor

It’s college game day. After waking up in the dorms and heading down to the dining hall for some super tasty food, you think about all the activities you have planned for the day. First things first, you have to pick out your game day outfit. Next, you have to make your way to the tailgate before heading to the student section to cheer on the football team.

While this sounds like a typical fall Saturday for most college students, many high schoolers also have found ways to experience the same thing as they get a taste of what college life will be like.

“ nofficial” college visits may be able to give high school students a more in-depth look into what it’s really like at different colleges. Staying with people you know is crucial to seeing the real college experience each school is able to provide.

“I went and toured NC State and it was nothing like when I went and stayed with my friends,” senior Courtney Beasley said. “When I actually toured it, it was just all brick.”

fficial college visits, with an upperclassman in the admissions office carefully giving students and parents all the flashy statistics about how great the school is, are a chance to see the learning facilities each college offers; however, you will not get to experience what student life is actually like.

Senior Brooke Hymiller often visits her sister, who attends East Carolina University.

“I went to a sorority event that was super fun and I got to meet new people there,” Hymiller said.

Greek life captivates the lives of many college students. fficial visits often do not provide any information regarding their fraternities and sororities. They are also a way to meet other new students when attending college.

Most Greek life will also host pregame events as well as other social gatherings they provide throughout the school year. Senior Michael Peters got to see that firsthand on a visit to the niversity of South Carolina.

“They (Gamecocks) really love their sports and the tailgates are really fun,” Peters said. “ ou get to see how much fun they really have at the school.”

Pregame events as well as the actual game bring the school together to cheer on their team. The student section is where all the students are able to gather and show their school pride.

“I went to my first college football game and I sat in the student section with my friends,” Beasley said. “I was able to meet other students there.”

When attending college as a freshman, it is definitely a perk to have people there who you already know. Those who already have a year or more under their belt will most likely be able to provide academic, social and emotional support.

Although education is a huge part of college, so is the social aspect. It’s not just a place to learn, but it turns into a home as well.

“This experience has shown me that college isn’t just about getting an education,” Hymiller said. “But also meeting new people and making lifelong friends.”

Senior Audrey Lovell can be reached at 23lovellau71@darerolearn.org.

head start on college, career plans

Due to having eight classes a year and some students taking high school classes in middle school, it makes it easier for students to graduate early because they are earning more credits than needed to graduate.

With these “extra credits” not going toward anything, many students don’t see the point in sticking around for an extra semester or two.

“I have enough credits to graduate early so I might as well. It gives me a chance to start my career earlier,” said senior Hunter Davidson, who has his sights set on working in the automotive industry.

Many students dream of traveling after school but still want to go to college. That can be another reason to wrap up the high school experience sooner rather than later.

“I’ve had some kids graduate early and travel,” guidance counselor Lisa Wheless said. “ ou’ve got to be really careful because there are some colleges that don’t mind those gap years and there’s some that do mind it.”

A gap year is when a student applies for college and is allowed to take a year off between high school

and college because their spot is held for them by the higher institution.

If students don’t choose to graduate early, there are many options for classes they can take. Students may apply for dual enrollment their junior and senior year. If a student earns the required 60 hours of class time, they would be able to graduate high school with an associate degree.

“If students have an opportunity to stay and take C A courses, I think that is a better opportunity than graduating early ,” FFHS guidance counselor Amy White said.

In addition, some students take advanced placement classes to prepare themselves for the rigor of college.

“Some (students) really like that format of AP classes where you collaborate with your peers, there’s a lot of discussion, you really go in depth in a particular subject,” Wheless said.

A few students don’t plan on going to college or joining the workforce right after high school. Early graduation can allow students to enlist in the military earlier if that’s the path they choose.

Early graduation doesn’t prohibit the student from attending graduation and walking with their class, nor does it prevent that student from going to prom, but there are some things that students don’t get to participate in if they choose to graduate early.

“If a student wants to play a spring sport, they are not athletically eligible if they have graduated high school,” FFHS guidance counselor Beth arrett said.

“If they are a winter or spring athlete, but are not planning to participate in their senior year due to graduating in January, I encourage them to speak with their coaches before making a final decision,” arrett added.

raduating early has its benefits and drawbacks, meaning talking to counselors and parents or guardians is vital to figuring out if early graduation is the best option.

“If you can do it, I would take the chance and do it,” Davidson said.

Sophomore Vada Clark can be reached at 25clarkva97@daretolearn.org.

Submitted photos

(Top) Senior Brooke Hymiller (left) and her sister spend time together at a sorority event at East Carolina University, where her sister goes to college. Senior Courtney Beasley (far left) meets with friends at NC State.

OBX restaurants cook up Christmas cheer for the holiday season

By Ella Ogburn Staff Writer

Your favorite local restaurants are closing. Say goodbye to Lucky 12 Tavern. Give a fond farewell to Mama Kwans. Bid adieu to Goombays. And prepare to part with Bonzer Shack.

But fear not, four new spirited restaurants have taken their places the month of December as part of the “Christmas Island” promotion cooked up by the owners.

Lucky 12 Tavern reopened as Jingle 12, Mama Kwans as Mama Klaus’s, Goombays as Goombrrrs, and Bonzer Shack as The Broken Candy Cane. Starting Dec. 1, these local restaurants were ringing in holiday cheer as themed eateries with menu specials and festive decor.

Lucky 12 Tavern owner Mark Ballog started the Jingle 12 tradition four years ago. After reaching out and discussing the idea with his friends at the other restaurants, they decided to band together to start up the Christmas Island.

Some might think this partnership would bring out unfriendly rivals, but it is actually the opposite: “The more the merrier,” Ballog told the North Beach Sun.

Ballog fills Jingle 12 with festive fun, from classic decorations like Santa blow molds to antique ceramics. Each establishment will be taking on creative themes inspired by holiday motifs.

“We’ve got a joint calendar

where we’re going to have special events throughout the whole month,” Bonzer Shack owner John Kirchmier said.

Goombrrrs will be transformed into a modern-day winter wonderland. The Caribbean restaurant is planning on a 180-degree flip, trading its bright and funky colors for cool winter tones.

“Opposed to focusing on the traditional red and green of Christmas, we are focusing more on silver, gold, white and ice blue,” Goombays co-owner Karen Hennigan said.

The Broken Candy Cane, formerly known as Bonzer Shack, is taking on Christmas villains for its theme, with the Grinch as the main contributor. To go along with the Grinch, inspiration sparked from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” will appear, as will Bumble the Abominable Snowman from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The Heat Miser, Snow Miser and Burgermeister Meisterburger will also make an appearance.

“I thought doing the Christmas villains would be a little different,” Kirchmier said.

Hawaiian Christmas is taking over Mama Kwan’s. With a great amount of lights, Christmas cheer with a tiki twist will be taking over in the form of Mama Klaus’. Owner Kevin Cherry aims to entertain.

“There’ll be a lot of family style food along with some of the regular Mama Kwans items,” Cherry said.

At Mama Klaus’ Holiday

Tiki Hut, family recipes are ready to order, whether that’s cheese balls, sausage balls or Chex Mix. Festive family drinks also will be made with holiday cheer.

Curated menus are no stranger to The Broken Candy Cane. Whoville treats and Who desserts are on the villains’ lair menu. A special menu is an extra touch to add to the Christmas spirit that everyone will be able to feel, regardless of their age.

“I believe the kids will absolutely love coming in here,” Kirchmier said.

Speaking of menus, Goom-

brrrs will be honoring the Caribbean Christmas theme with specialty drinks and appetizers.

“We’re going to have specials that reflect traditional Caribbean Christmas dishes,” Hennigan said.

For Ballog at Jingle 12, it’s the total package of food, drinks and decor. Plastic Santas and too many other vintage decorations to count fill the restaurant and its fun backyard spaces all month long. People especially love making reservations to dine in the snow globes in the backyard area.

The Christmas Island has the goal of celebrating and spreading the joy of Christmas. Each restaurant, with its unique approaches, plans to give everyone an enjoyable experience.

“I’m excited to spread Christmas cheer and to hopefully inspire local people and visitors alike to join in the Christmas spirit and gather in places where they can enjoy good food and good company and celebrate the spirit of Christmas,” Hennigan said. Sophomore Ella Ogburn can be reached at 25ogburnel65@ daretolearn.org.

Fine ar s performances enefi all on

By Kira Walters News Editor

The chorus and band have been known to perform exceptionally at school events and outof-school events. They have been annually performing around the community all throughout the year, but the holiday season brings about some special performances. The chorus continued its annual tradition of caroling in Duck at the Yuletide Celebration on Dec. 3.

“We carol the shops around Duck and then we end up in the town park and we greet Santa Claus with a little musical song there. We’ve been doing that for years,” chorus and orchestra di-

rector John Buford said. “It’s a lot of fun and we try to dress up in our holiday gear and see who has the craziest festive attire, which is a fun thing to do.”

But that is not the only performance for students in the community. There were a number of performances all over the Outer Banks.

The chorus, along with the First Flight Elementary School and First Flight Middle School choruses, sang at the Kill Devil Hills Holiday Market at Aviation Park in early December.

“We’ve never done this before, so it’s kind of exciting,” Buford said. “We are also going to continue our annual tradition of singing around the neighborhood.”

After performing for the commu-

nity in the annual winter concert on Wednesday, Dec. 15, the chorus then gets to enjoy its annual caroling around the neighborhood.

“We are going to go visit Spring Arbor and sing for them and then we’ll stop by and try to sing for the middle school and the elementary school,” Buford said.

The First Flight choir has been a huge part of the community for quite some time. The caroling at Spring Arbor is an amazing experience for both the people in the choir and the people at Spring Arbor.

“It means a lot when we go to Spring Arbor and carol for them. Music has such a profound effect on people and sometimes you react so purely to

music that it’s almost like it takes your burdens away for a second into the joy of the music and you kind of cast your cares away,” Buford said. “It is pretty clear how much the people at Spring Arbor enjoy the music. Even during COVID, we sang to them outside and they gathered on the porch and out the window. Even when no one was allowed to visit them, we tried to find a way to keep that tradition going.”

Caroling at Spring Arbor, among other performances, influences the people in chorus as well as the people getting the joy of listening to them.

“I think it brings a lot of serotonin to people and it brings joy to people to hear new music and hear the old music everyone loves,” chorus and orchestra

Photo by Ella Ogburn/Nighthawk News Lucky 12 has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland for the holiday season that owner Mark Ballog calls ‘Jingle 12.’ Lucky 12 is one of four local restaurants to make fun changes this December.

By Emma Braithwaite Editor-in-Chief

Tis the season of candy canes, sparkling lights and – most importantly – giving. From donating toys to children to supplying shelter from the cold, charities on the Outer Banks help people in need with anything they may need to have a good holiday season.

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is a 501(c)(3) not-forprofit public charity that collects toys during the holiday season to give to children whose families may not be able to afford presents. Local Toys for Tots collects toys and books for children from newborns to 16 years old in Dare, Camden and Currituck counties. Donations are dropped off in Toys for Tots boxes located in many locations throughout the Outer Banks.

“We have over 100 boxes out between the three counties. Pretty much all the police departments, fire departments and EMS stations have boxes. Walmart has a box and I think all the Dollar Generals have boxes,” local Toys for Tots lead coordinator Tony Hoggard said. “Most retail stores that sell toys have boxes. So pretty much everywhere up and down the beach that has toys or items that we can give to kids usually has boxes.”

In addition to donations of toys into the boxes, Toys for Tots also receives donations through fundraising events such as golf tournaments and car shows. The group also receives checks from community members, which can be used to buy more toys, and the Toys for Tots foundation can send toys and books to local branches of the charity.

All toys in drop boxes were collect-

ed on Dec. 8 and will be distributed to people in need throughout the community until Dec. 19. For more information about Toys for Tots and ways to get involved, visit www.toysfortots.org.

Room in the Inn

OBX Room in the Inn is a non-profit charity that provides food and shelter to homeless adults on the Outer Banks during the winter months. Room in the Inn runs from Nov. 1 to April 29.

In the past, churches would sign up to host homeless adults in their church for a week. During those weeks, the church would provide food, shelter and overnight chaperones from their congregation. However, since 2020 the program has run a little bit differently.

“When COVID hit, the churches didn’t want to house people at their churches or pull the chaperones from their congregation because people didn’t feel comfortable doing that, but they still wanted to provide the food,”

Room in the Inn Executive Director Mike Jones said. “So we rented our own building and now the churches still sign up for a week of service, but that’s just food.”

In addition to providing food and shelter, Room in the Inn helps with other basic needs people may have such as insurance, getting a job and other support services. Currently, Room in the Inn only accepts adults because the group is not insured for children. However, the organization has many goals for the future, including the purchase of its own building and taking in children.

For more info about Room in the Inn, visit www.obxroomintheinn.org.

Angel Gift Program

The Angel ift Program is sponsored by the Outer Banks Woman’s Club and the Dare County Department of Health and Human Services. This program places Christmas trees deco-

rated with angels in various locations throughout the Outer Banks. Each angel has the first name of a child in need and other information to help donors pick out the perfect gifts.

From Nov. to Dec. 2, “angel trees” were located at Walmart, the MCA, Publix, Nags Head Links Golf Club, the Manteo Public Library, WRV in Kitty Hawk and OBX Chevrolet Buick. In addition to purchasing gifts for angels on the tree, monetary donations can also be made to the Outer Banks Woman’s Club. For more information about the Angel ift Program visit www.gfwc-obwc.com/angel-gift-program.

A number of other organizations sponsor similar “angel trees” in different communities, including the FFHS guidance office, which works with teachers and other community members to help FFHS students get fun gifts for the holiday.

Salvation Army Red Kettle

The Salvation Army’s red kettle fundraiser is well known throughout the world. Volunteers ringing bells stand outside of popular stores such as Walmart and collect donations for the Salvation Army. This money is used for buying children presents who otherwise wouldn’t receive any, supplying food to families in need and helping fund the Salvation Army’s different programs throughout the year.

“Every dollar dropped into a red kettle helps give local families the Christmases they deserve and the yearlong support they so desperately need,” according to the Salvation Army website. For more information on the Salvation Army and its fundraisers, visit https://www.salvationarmyusa.org.

Senior Emma Braithwaite can be reached at 23braithwaiteem06@daretolearn.org.

‘Tis the season of giving the Outer Banks

student Jasmine Lewis said.

But the chorus wasn’t the only fine arts department performing around the community this month. The pep band kicked off its season with a performance the opening night of the Good Guys vs. Cancer basketball tournament. The jazz band also performed again this year at the Wright Brothers memorial during the annual celebration of the first flight. And Christmas spirit was on full display when the marching band walked the Manteo Christmas parade. The stage band, concert band and jazz band will hold their annual winter concert on Thursday, Dec. 16. The band does many things to help the Outer Banks as a whole.

“We have helped raise money for

charitable organizations and it is quality entertainment for people who are looking for something inexpensive to go see and our kids tend to be pretty good citizens,” band director Bob Ebert said. “They help out and they are just genuinely good people because of the program.”

The benefits of the chorus, band and orchestra performances are undeniably significant. They help many people just by bringing a little happiness into their lives.

“I enjoy the family vibe of it. It’s lots of fun and also you can always create good memories from the classes and the performances,” Lewis said.

Junior Kira Walters can be reached at 24walterski77@daretolearn.org.

Submitted photo

First Flight’s choir takes a selfie while caroling in Duck. This is an annual Christmas tradition for the choir.

Submitted photo

Room in the Inn volunteers meet with Santa at their annual lunch-to-go fundraiser sponsored by Mike Kelly’s catering and many other local restaurants. These fundraisers are one of the many ways Room in the Inn helps the community.

Furr

as Twin One gleefully assign freshman Anya Preston as

the job of shooting down the ‘Wendy bird’ with the bow and arrow. Freshman Jaylen Lindsey, who played Jane Darling, intently watches Wendy tell about her exciting adventures in Neverland. Senior Grace Rusk (left), who played Mrs. Darling, and Mary Williams share a loving hug before Mrs. Darling leaves for a party. Sophomore Alex Tine, who played Smee (left), and freshman Emerson Turner as Noodler curiously inspect a smoking mushroom. Senior Charlie Ernst, who played Hook, vividly recalls the story of how he lost his hand to a crocodile. Senior Alexander Livingston (left), who played Mr. Darling, comically explains to Ford Stewart that he never complained about taking his medicine. Slightly (left), played by senior Johnathan Rawls, is aggressively tied up by Cecca, who was played by sophomore Kirra Cox. Tiger Lily, played by junior Ryleigh Gould, and Skylights, who was played by sophomore Jasmine Lewis, share a hateful glare. Williams dances around her room as Nana the dog, played by freshman Dan Brown, looks on as she explains how she can’t wait to grow up.

‘Second star to the right’ and straight on to the stage

Photos by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News Counterclockwise, from top left: Sophomore Vada Clark, who played Peter Pan, extends a friendly hand to her fellow cast mates. Sophomore Ford Stewart (left), who played John Darling, sophomore Mary Williams (middle) as Wendy Darling and freshman Janell Sawyer embrace in a loving family hug. Sophomore Olivia Braley (left), who played Twin Two, and freshman Nyx

(middle)

Tootles

It’s not always the most wonderful time of year

By Kat Gregg Staff Writer

For their privacy, all Nighthawks who were interviewed for this story have been given fake names.

Christmas is not always jolly. The shiny wrappings and decor of the holidays can obscure the drama (and trauma) of being in close quarters with others for two weeks straight. Toxic family members, isolation from friends and more can turn what is supposed to be a joyous break into a hellacious holiday that has nothing to do with repetitive high notes from Mariah Carey.

Ayla, Nick and Jared are students attending First Flight High School. These three Nighthawks were willing to share their views on why Christmas isn’t always a glamorous time for all.

For Nick, the isolation from friends is the worst part of Christmas break.

“All (my friends) are doing stuff and a lot of my family just isn’t too friendly on Christmas. Then (it’s) New Year’s and then school starts back up and I just feel tired and drained.”

Isolation doesn’t just affect teenagers, however; many adults have seasonal jobs, meaning that they often don’t have a stable income throughout winter.

“Christmas is a really great time for bringing a family together, but it’s also something else. Especially because my friends are often my safe space, so when I can’t see them I don’t feel safe in my own home,” Nick said.

When it comes to toxic families at Christmastime, Jared had several stories to share.

“When I was younger, my parents played this video where Santa comes on screen and tells you you’re on the naughty list. That scarred me. I was scared and sad about that because I thought I’d been so good. They knew that, (and) they just did it to scare me,” Jared recalled.

“My dad hates Christmas. I don’t hold the same values (as my dad). Christmas is an okay holiday, but if you’re going to be extremely mean to your children, why?” asked Jared. “What does that bring? That doesn’t bring cheer to Christmas at all.”

Ayla offered many reasons why she wasn’t a fan of Christmas, from the monotonous struggle of gift-giving to the stress of adult emotions during the holiday.

“I always have this sense of dread during Christmas break,” Ayla said. “I know we’re not supposed to be dealing with (assignments), but I worry about late stuff that I need to turn in or something. There’s always existential dread that follows me. Another reason I don’t like Christmas break is gift-giving. Now, I love gifts. It’s just remembering to and knowing what to get each and every single family member that is stressful.”

Ayla expressed how tiring it can be to buy presents for family members, most of whom you only see on major holidays and don’t have good relationships with.

“I love Christmas. It’s a beautiful holiday celebrating with family. It’s just that my family, they always fight on holidays, especially Christmas. People have cried on Christmas. The person who hosts isn’t the best person who should, and if they aren’t the one hosting they make everyone else miserable. My

mom has cried and my aunt has cried.”

A wide variety of challenges in the family have made this teenager feel like she needs to be the grown-up in the room, especially for her siblings. Ayla said everything from mental illness to alcohol abuse to physical and mental exhaustion have added up over the years to make what should be a happy year-end celebration anything but.

“I’m not really looking forward to it,” Ayla admitted. “I’ll be there just so that my brother and sister are safe. I have stuck up for my brother and sister before and continue to do so, even if that means being in the house going through Christmas break. It gives me a sense of duty. I will keep this family together no matter what.”

Regardless of bad times or loud fights, Ayla always tries to keep her Christmas spirit alive for others. Just because her life doesn’t look like a Hallmark classic doesn’t mean she’s walking around saying “bah, humbug!” to everyone else.

“I don’t hate Christmas because of the holiday, it’s just things that have personally happened to me. I won’t let that dampen my spirit around other people’s holidays, like their Christmas,” Ayla said. “I’m really happy for you. But I’ll be home drinking apple cider in my bed.”

So before you complain about what to pack in your bags for that fun family vacation or about how your folks are making you decorate the tree, remember to wish your fellow Nighthawks a “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” You might be the only joy to their world this holiday season.

Sophomore Kat Gregg can be reached at 25greggka46@daretolearn.org.

Alex Livingston: He’s been everywhere, man

By Oliver Parks Staff Writer

When you think of traveling worldwide, you may imagine people like Amelia Earhart or the more recent Zara Rutherford, but you don’t have to become famous or disappear somewhere in the Pacific to see the world. For example, Alex Livingston, a senior here at First Flight, has quite the story to tell.

Livingston is someone anybody can look up to, and not just because he checks in at a solid and sturdy 6-foot6. Livingston might best be described as a moldable ball chock full of little quirks hidden within its mysterious folds – thanks in large part to his world travels.

“I was born in Luxembourg, Luxembourg,” Livingston explained. “Luxembourg is a country that borders Germany, and the main city is called Luxembourg. I lived there when I was really little. It’s like an hour drive across – it’s like twice the size of Rhode Island.”

Of course, everyone knows that size doesn’t necessarily matter, and Livingston was on to bigger and better things on his voyage around the world. Next up: Big, bright Texas. Yeehaw.

“I think I was 2 when we moved to Texas. I was in Texas till middle school, and then I went to Korea for seventh grade,” Livingston said. “Everyone in Texas is very funny because you say you’re moving from Texas and everyone is like, ‘Why would you ever want to leave?’ ”

Livingston actually left Texas a few times before moving to South Korea. These moves were to different states across the United States before he made his way overseas to Ireland. His dad was working for BioWare, the video game company that made “Star Wars: The Old Republic” and “Mass Effect,” and soon enough he was on the move.

“It was just a very fun time in Ireland, and it’s now become a big part of my family,” Livingston said. “Every St. Patrick’s Day growing up, my parents would paint little green leprechaun feet on the tiles of the kitchen or stain the toilet water green.”

But that’s just one part of Livingston’s wild Irish adventure. He also spent some time chatting about a little-known Irish tradition called hurling.

“It’s the main sport of Ireland,” Livingston said. “It’s like lacrosse, but with fewer rules and you could just plainly hit people. It’s super violent, and it’s called ‘hurling’ because people throw up so often.”

Eventually, another new job meant another move. Coupang – which Livingston described as South Korea’s Amazon – sent the family to Korea. That was a big leap, especially during middle school.

“Since we weren’t a part of the military, we were put in a random apartment and I was sent to a private school,” Livingston said. “They ran out of room in the American part of the school, so I was in the British section. I was an American kid, in South Korea, going to a British private school.”

Confusing times for sure. Still, he’d come a long way from the quaint city of Luxembourg, to remembering the Alamo, to now being able to say “Hello, I like to eat pizza” in his new national language.

Adding to the intrigue of living in South Korea was the constant tension with North Korea along the demilitarized zone between the countries.

“We had friends on the DMZ military base, and because of that I got to take a tour of the zone. I got to go into

one of the trade centers and I technically got to see the North Korean side,” Livingston said. “There were three men. Two of them refused to look at anything and stood completely still, but the other one was on top of the roof of some other building sweeping leaves.”

Livingston spent his eighth-grade year on the Outer Banks before the family moved to California. And now he’s back on the OBX for his senior year, but with plenty of future adventures in mind.

“I know I’m going to Idaho, so that’s a new state for me. I’m going there for college, and I’m thinking about following my dad into international business. I always found it really interesting,” Livingston said.

When it comes to all the fun and

quirky things he has experienced in the many places he lived, the conversation shifted toward food.

“Dragon hair candy: It’s like this Korean street food where they take honey and flour and make these really long strings of sugar,” Livingston said. “They wrap it around a crunchy center and it’s the strangest thing I’ve probably ever had, but it’s so cool to watch them make.”

Of all the places he had visited, South Korea was probably his favorite because of its beauty and the general atmosphere. But perhaps his craziest adventure came right here in the good ol’ US of A, last year in California.

“The craziest thing I’ve ever done in high school during my junior year. For Spirit Week, we were doing a ‘dress as our heroes’ day, and my friend went to school in a zip-up Spider-Man costume. He started doing flips while some guy was filming him in costume outside the school, and he started drawing a crowd of what felt like a thousand people,” Livingston said. “The school immediately shut it all down, and he ended up getting a weeklong lunch detention even though he didn’t break any rules. So my other friends and I put together a petition to get the punishment taken away, and after getting somewhere around 5,000 signatures, the school dropped the punishment.”

And with that, the interview ended and Livingston and I shook hands and set off on our own journeys. His, an exciting future of traveling the world and seeing the sights. Mine – no doubt like many of our awe-struck readers –going home and being proud to have only been away from my bed for a week or two.

Senior Oliver Parks can be reached at 23parksol67@daretolearn.org.

Submitted photo

At left, senior Alex Livingston takes a ride atop a real elephant in the Elephant Safari Park in Bali, Indonesia. Above, Livingston sits in a giant hand statue in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Livingston has lived in many different places throughout his life, but has returned to North Carolina and the Outer Banks for a second time to finish out his senior year of high school.

Tine’s time in theater is not a fickle thing

By Kayla Loveless Social Media Editor

Have you ever heard the phrase “laughter is the best medicine?” It’s scientifically proven that laughter releases endorphins that can help with chronic pain and improve your mood, so if you ever feel down or feel a cold coming on, Alex Tine is your guy.

Tine has a knack for acting, impressions and comedy. He has been a part of First Flight’s StageKraft Productions for two years, but he found his calling when he was a 12-year-old in the Dockside Theatre Company.

“Dockside was a theater thing inside of a church that me and my brother did,” Tine said. “I am not still at Dockside, but I was in ‘Peter Pan,’ ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Willie Wonka’ (while I was there).”

His current cast mates depict him as a charismatic, funny and all-around kind guy.

“He’s an incredible actor and really brings his roles to life,” senior Johnathan Rawls said. “Off of the stage, though, he’s just an all-around great guy. He obviously cares about his friends and would do pretty much anything for them. He’s silly and fun to hang around with, always knowing how

Reaching out, sophomore Alex

interacts with the audience as he plays emo-Romeo in the show ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),’ a production in which he also played Julius Caesar.

At right, Tine (center) acts in his first musical ll

Together Now,’ where he played many roles to fill in gaps in the show.

to get a laugh.”

Getting a laugh is not the only skill of Tine’s. He shows immense promise when it comes to acting after performing in last year’s play “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” as Rom-emo (Romeo). He also played multiple roles in the musical “All Together Now.”

Tine can blend acting and comedy in a fascinating combination. In the most recent play, “Peter Pan and Wendy,” he played Smee, Captain Hook’s right-hand man. His performance brought the audience to uproarious laughter, and he managed to convey genuine emotion during his time on stage.

That easy-going personality can be beneficial during the stressful days of practices leading up to a show, said co-director Lauren Deal.

“We did check-ins at the beginning of most rehearsals and asked each actor how they were feeling,” Deal said. “Ninety-nine percent of the time, Alex said ‘I am hyped’ or ‘I am slaying’ and this was absolutely true. Alex brought positive energy to the rehearsal every day.”

The way Tine sees it, with all the fun he and his fellow cast members have, there’s no reason for there to be anything but positive energy.

“Theater kids just have a vibe,” Tine said. “They’re just really funny and fun to be around.”

Theater kids certainly are fun to be around, with their many rituals, wild moments and eccentric humor. They can make an entirely new concept for a character, and completely change how you feel about them.

“Smee is a funny character, but Alex was able to play up the humor and made Smee not only entertaining, but also endearing,” Deal said. “When another character said, ‘There’s just something so lovable about Smee,’ she was absolutely right.”

Junior Kayla Loveless can be reached at 24lovelesska73@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Sophomore Alex Tine portrays Smee from the play ‘Peter Pan and Wendy,’ showcasing his talents for a third FF erformance. Tine has been acting with tageKraft since his first show freshman year and has been a hit with audiences and his cast mates.

Photos by Taylor Newton/ Nighthawk News

Tine

Deane tackles technical details

By Stella Bryson Sports Editor

Although the school day is long over, the FFHS parking lot is jam packed. Cars flow in, their windshields reflecting the parking lot lights. It’s opening night of “Peter Pan and Wendy,” and over 250 community members have gathered in the auditorium to watch.

The lights dim and a hush falls over the crowd. Backstage, the actors hustle to prepare for the opening of the curtain. They know all their hard work is finally coming to fruition and all they have left to do is the best part, their favorite part performing. But up in the booth, way above the stage, senior Morgan Deane knows her work is far from done.

“My job for the show was stage manager,” Deane said. “During the show, I’m up in the booth on the headset, which connects to the backstage managers, our spotlights, our lighting operator and our sound operator, and I’m calling the cues from my script.”

The job of stage manager is no easy task. n top of running the shows themselves, Deane also had to schedule and oversee rehearsals, take notes on blocking, and help the actors in any way she could.

“Compared to the other jobs I’ve done in the past this was way more stressful, although it ended up being a lot of fun,” Deane said.

During her time at First Flight, Deane has assisted with the production of three plays and two musicals. Unfortunately, the theater department was not able to put on any shows during her sophomore year due to the outbreak of C VID-19.

Throughout all these shows, Deane has become adept at her job, but fellow stage manager and senior Sasha Vazquez believes it’s not just Deane’s experience in theater that makes her so successful.

“She has leadership qualities, regardless of her being a senior,” Vazquez said. “She’s always been willing to step up and do things, and she’s able to be assertive.”

Vazquez was the technical stage manager for “Peter Pan,” which meant she was backstage assisting with the curtain and making sure everything

was running smoothly behind the scenes. Deane and Vazquez worked together to make sure the play ran smoothly, with no assistance from directors Monica Penn and Lauren Deal on the actual show days.

“We’re there as support, but also during the show we’re the ones in charge because the directors don’t help out during the show. That’s up to us,”

Deane said. “It was a lot of pressure, for sure.”

Vazquez said it’s hard to understate how important Deane was to the production of this show.

“Morgan puts up with a lot,” Vazquez said. “She’s willing to help people with their lines, she’s willing to put in the extra work, she’s willing to always stay behind, sometimes

until almost 10 p.m.”

Although there was a lot on her plate, Deane had enough tech theater experience that she knew she could handle it.

“It’s my first time being a stage manager, but I’ve been a backstage manager before,” Deane said. “I was a backstage manager last year, and prior to that I’ve done running crew all four years. I’ve also helped out with props and costumes and a lot of other technical stuff.”

“Peter Pan and Wendy” is the last play Deane will work on, but she plans to help out with the spring musical, “Mamma Mia.”

Deane’s theater journey started back in 2019, where she was a member of the running crew and helped design the props and costumes in the StageKraft production of “Clue.” She then assisted with “Chicago,” the musical that was canceled just before opening night due to the pandemic. During her junior year she was a backstage manager for “All Together Now,” and she also assisted with “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).”

Deane used her experience from all of the shows she has assisted in to help her manage one last senior play. Every high schooler goes through a lot of emotional “lasts” in their senior year, but this “last” was especially rough for Deane and her fellow seniors.

“It was definitely really emotional, because this was our senior play,” Deane said. “After Covid, we saw our numbers plummet, but now the program is on its way up. It’s flourishing. The turnout for this play was huge, and we’re so very thankful it’s happened.”

Although she leaves behind some pretty big shoes to fill, Deane isn’t worried about what the future holds for the First Flight theater program. She’s entirely confident in her successors.

“Watching all of the new freshmen learn to thrive this year was really amazing,” Deane said. “This group of freshmen is really amazing and very talented. I’m very thankful that Sasha and I are both graduating and leaving the theater in better shape than when we started.”

Senior Stella Bryson can be reached at 23brysonst69@daretolearn.org.

Submitted Photo

Holding up the cue book, senior Morgan Deane shows off her colorful notes. As stage manager, Deane runs the booth, controlling lights, mics, props and music. The cue book helps organize the dozens of important moments in the show.

Submitted Photo

Leading the daily tech meeting, senior Morgan Deane gives instructions to other crew members. As a stage manager, she is in charge of her peers and ensuring all technological components of the show go according to plan.

December is filled with a wide range of holiday traditions

By Daisy Morales Bravo Features Editor

December is one of the most anticipated months of the year for many reasons. While Christmas is the predominant holiday during this month, there are many other holidays celebrated during this joyous month.

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Three Kings’ Day are all holidays celebrated by different groups of people, but they all have one thing in common: family and friends getting together.

While many think of Christmas trees, candy canes, hot cocoa and presents under the tree, Christmas is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Large feasts are held on Christmas Eve and children go to sleep eagerly awaiting Christmas morning, when they awake to pristine gifts under the brightly adorned tree. Santa Claus is a household name in every American household. And Christmas songs like “Jingle Bells” and “Feliz Navidad” are classics.

Many other holidays fall under Christmas, including Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day, as it is known in

many Hispanic countries. It is celebrated on Jan. 6 each year.

This holiday celebrates the arrival of the three wise men to Bethlehem, the town where Jesus was born. Three Kings’ Day is celebrated with a traditional bread known as a Rosca de Reyes. Families get together and have large feasts, and gifts are exchanged as well. Gifts are also part of another important holiday: Hanukkah. This Jewish holiday is also known as the celebration of lights. It is an eight-day celebration that occurs on the 25th day of Kislev. The date is different every year because Hanukkah follows the Hebrew calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar. This year, Hanukkah will take place from Dec. 18 to Dec. 26.

It dates back to the second century BC, when Syrian-Greeks tried to force Jewish people to abandon their faith.

Against all odds, a small group of people led by Judas Maccabee fought against

the Syrian-Greeks and won.

Today, Jewish people celebrate this miracle through Hanukkah. In English, this translates to “dedication,” as in the dedication of the Jewish people to protect their faith and their temple.

The first day of Hanukkah starts with the lighting of the menorah (the candleholder). For each day of the eight days, a candle is lit with the shamash (the lighter candle). On the last day, the final candle is lit and a celebration follows. Gift-giving, especially to children, is common. Other traditions include playing with a dreidel and singing songs.

Special foods such as latkes, sufganiyot and Mandel bread are eaten during this celebration.

Unlike Christmas and Hanukkah, Kwanzaa is a more recent celebration. It was started in 1966 by Maulana Karenga to unite and empower the African-American community. It was based on the harvest

festivals celebrated in Africa.

Many African traditions are combined on this holiday, from the Ashanti to the Zulu. In fact, Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza that in English translates to “first fruits.”

It is a week-long holiday that ranges from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 every year. Like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa has a nightly candle-lighting ceremony.

Every night, a child will light up one of the candles of the Kinara (the candleholder). The candles represent the seven days of the holiday and the seven principles created by Karenga. These principles are on topics relating to unity, self-determination, responsibility, collective economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

Foods like rice, couscous, candied yams and biscuits are often eaten during this celebration. On the last day, a large feast known as karamu is held.

Traditions in holidays vary from country to country and from family to family, but most holidays acknowledge the love and joy of uniting for a special occasion.

Senior Daisy Morales Bravo can be reached at 23moralesda04@daretolearn. org.

Chill out this holiday season with a winter playlist

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas! Warm up the holiday spirit and prepare for the winter season with the Nighthawk News winter playlist. ese songs will bring you all the holiday cheer and take you to a winter wonderland this season.

By Kayla Loveless, Social Media Editor and Ella Ogburn, Staff Writer

Must-see Outer Banks holiday light displays

16

Aviation Park, 103 Veterans Dr,

Winter Lights at Elizabethan Gardens, 1411 National Park Dr, Manteo

5111 Lunar Dr, Kitty Hawk

206 Clamshell Dr, Kill Devil Hills

Kill Devil Hills

7th Ave, Southern Shores

Graphic by Olivia Sugg, Editor-in-Chief

The babies of Christmas past

her lo e for Christmas.

festi e

li ia ugg has a terrible time in her gold dress. second row enior aney Dexter twins with her dog. Junior Maia Hyman and freshman sister a build an ob iously structurally sound gingerbread house. o homore Cody Keller smiles alongside his two new bo games on Christmas morning. (third row) Sophomore Rylee Tate throws u some eace signs with anta himself. unior layna ester grins in her double anta hat. Sophomore Christian Sheetz enjoys a new toy in his snowman a amas. unior ailey tanley channels her inner anta with a big smile and a red suit. enior Ava Norko shows off her ample presents under her tree. last row enior ackson Meyers lea s out of his bo with anta sister sidekick unior llie Meyers. Senior Rylee Young holds on tight to her new ittle Mermaid toy she got on Christmas morning. Senior Tatum Dermatas tells Santa her wish list.

Submitted Photos

From left to right: (top row) Freshman Jasmine Cook sports a new holiday look. Senior Caitlyn Celaj uts the finishing touches on her blue tree. unior nna ogers wears a

bow to show

enior

List

Emmy Benton – an iPad

Emma Braithwaite – a Lululemon belt bag

Stella Bryson – green platform Converse

Vada Clark – a drum kit... or money for my trip to Japan

Mackenzie Edwards - a new winter coat

Kat Gregg – the ability to sleep past 8 AM. (or Mr. Zog’s surf wax)

Foster Guns - some cool headphones to listen to Weezer

Steve Hanf – a pontoon boat

Annie Heath – a JBL flip speaker and clothes

Kayla Loveless – Mac Book

Audrey Lovell – to get into UNC

Betty Morales Bravo – a record player and lots of vinyl records

Daisy Morales – a dried flower phone case

Taylor Newton – NOT-DENTED 2010 Tacoma tailgate

Allie Nigro – new earrings

Ella Ogburn – vintage typewriter

Oliver Parks – a room-temperature yam

Cameron Piland – a nice icemaker

Bella Sarbora – an A in physics and a bunch of earrings

Samuel Smith – a hug

Olivia Sugg – a 10-class pass to Outer Banks Yoga

Logan Thiessen – a camera

Helen Thorp – Noah Kahn’s “I was/I am” album on vinyl

Kira Walters – a Polaroid camera

Kate Wasniewski – the Tote Bag by Marc Jacobs

Graphic by Emmy Benton, Editor-in-Chief

Nighthawk News Editors-in-Chief: Emmy Benton, Emma Braithwaite, Olivia Sugg

Online Editors-in-Chief: Mackenzie Edwards, Allie Nigro

Features Editor: Daisy Morales

Opinions Editor: Samuel Smith

Sports Editor: Stella Bryson

Photo Editor: Taylor Newton

News Editor: Kira Walters

Social Media Editors: Kayla Loveless, Audrey Lovell

Staff Writers: Vada Clark, Kat Gregg, Foster Guns, Annie Heath, Betty Morales Bravo, Ella Ogburn, Oliver Parks, Cameron Piland, Bella Sarbora, Logan Thiessen, Helen Thorp, Kate Wasniewski

Adviser: Steve Hanf

Nighthawk 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.

r ie School officials

s

No taxation without representation!” A fundamental statement in American history, outlining colonial America’s disgust with the British Parliament enforcing laws upon the American people despite the fact that no Americans were consulted when creating the laws.

Adults and children alike exhibit frustration toward the idea that one who is not representative of the people governed implements laws for said people. Such frustration is the principle of American democracy.

Is it so odd, then, for students to wish to be consulted in their governing policies as well?

The Board of Education for Dare County Schools has experienced a dramatic change in membership. Three of the seven board members are being replaced, and there are some things that Nighthawk News feels these new representatives of education should know.

In a series of class discussions, the single most important thing for new board members to be aware of, at least for the Nighthawk News staff, was that we, the student body, have a voice.

Beyond the confines of our publications classroom, the First Flight student body as a whole has opinions and contributions to give and share that, up until now, have generally been overlooked by those in charge of our education.

Students and teachers are afforded, through their experiences, a direct line of sight into the goings on in our public high school, yet the students are given no voice when it comes to policies being implemented by the Board of Education.

The Board holds so much power and, at least from the student perspec-

tive, fails to be checked in its reach by the opinions of the body they govern. While not every student wishes to be heard or frankly cares what happens as a result of board meetings, there is still a large portion of the student body that wants their opinions and insights to be validated beyond the unrealistic reaches of simply stating their claim as a citizen.

Secondly, the Nighthawk News staff hopes to remind the Board of Education that mental health matters. With stressful workloads, at-home happenings, approaching futures and all-encompassing burnout in tow, students throughout the school exhibit a wide range of mental health states on a daily basis.

While some members of the Nighthawk News staff hope you might consider mental health days off of school, or even reconsider the absence policy for the county and exams in order to lessen the stress on students’ plates, the least we can ask is that you please take students’ mental health into account.

High schoolers are supposed to be young adults, preparing to step into the real world without any sort of safety net to have our backs like we did when we were in high school. As young adults, we feel that it is important for our concerns to be heard by the body in charge of preparing us for the aforementioned real world.

We look forward to hearing from the new Board of Education and what policy changes may come with the new members. We just hope they come with as open of minds as we have.

This staff editorial re ects the opinion of the Nighthawk News editorial board.

Hawk Talk: What’s your favorite New Year’s tradition?

“I like to hang out with my family in the living room and watch on TV when the crystal ball drops, and then we usually do fireworks right after in our yard.”

– junior Paul Lesiewicz

“Watching movies with my family, specifically New ear’s movies. They do exist.”

– senior Caleb Rawls

“My family all gathers together and we go to everybody’s house. We’re all big partiers on New ear’s.”

– freshman Nadiya Hassell

“Going to my friend’s house and hanging out. We usually watch a bunch of movies until midnight.”

– junior Abby Wallace

Chesapeake mass shooting highlights need for gun control

Chesapeake, Virginia, is the latest community to go through the trauma of senseless violence. A Walmart employee opened fire on the night of Nov. 22, killing six people before taking his own life.

This latest mass shooting hits even closer to home for us. Being just one hour away, many of us take trips to Chesapeake – I was there a mere two weeks before the shooting. My family and other people I know regularly go to the shopping center where the shooting took place.

The feeling that something like this could have happened while I was there triggers many emotions: fear, sadness and anger are the first ones that come to mind. I can’t imagine what the victims’ families are going through, especially so close to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

As tough as it is, we have to realize that something like this can happen anywhere. No one is immune to the American epidemic that is gun violence.

According to the Washington Post, there hasn’t been a single week in 2022 with fewer than four mass shootings. They define mass shootings as shootings where “four or more people, not including the shooter, are injured or killed.”

The fact that shootings have become such common events is disheartening and tragic. Across the country, communities that never imagined gun violence would reach them are having to go through unimaginable grief as they struggle with the aftermath.

There’s not enough time to process one mass shooting before the next one occurs. It’s like a never-ending cycle we can’t seem to claw our way out of.

n Nov. 13, a student at the niversity of Virginia opened fire after a class field trip and killed three VA football players.

n Nov. 19, a shooter opened fire in an L BT club in Colorado, killing five

community members.

Then Chesapeake.

ver 600 shootings have occurred this year, yet action that might truly change that number in the ensuing years has not been taken.

We need to demand action from politicians that respects the Second Amendment rights of our citizens while implementing common-sense safeguards that make it harder to purchase firearms before more innocent lives are lost.

Virginia’s gun laws were tightened in 2020 and 2021, leading to universal background checks, a limit of being able to purchase one handgun per month, and “red flag” laws that allow guns to be seized from people who are threats to themselves or others.

According to police, the shooter in the Chesapeake massacre was in possession of one handgun and “several magazines” of ammunition. Currently, Virginia has no laws limiting large capacity ammunition magazines or requiring a license for the purchasing and possession of ammunition.

Authorities said the handgun was bought by the suspect the morning of the attack at a local store. He had no criminal history, meaning his background check came back clean and he was able to purchase the weapon legally – but it shouldn’t be this easy.

What if there had been a waiting period in place between the shooter’s application and the time he received the gun? Maybe the shooting would have happened only a few days later, but the “cooling-off” period also

might have helped him realize that this senseless act of violence wouldn’t solve anything.

In North Carolina, individuals are required to obtain a permit and go through a criminal background check before being able to purchase a handgun, but do not have to register any of their firearms. Background checks aren’t required for long guns, such as assault rifles, and there are no such “red flag” laws that prevent guns from being in the hands of those deemed most likely to carry out an attack.

Nationally, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was passed in June of this year and includes 7 0 million for state crisis intervention programs. The bill, passed in the aftermath of the valde, Texas, school shooting that killed 21, put forth a plan for improving access to mental health services for individuals in crisis and requires states to review juvenile and mental health records for those under 21 years of age who want to purchase a gun.

With Republicans controlling the House of Representatives and Democrats controlling the Senate as a result of the midterm elections, Congress

will be in gridlock. Many Americans, including myself, aren’t very confident that more bipartisan legislation regarding gun control will be passed any time soon.

But this shouldn’t be a partisan issue. We should all agree that sensible gun laws, more in-depth background checks, “red flag” laws, and mental health care are all necessary aspects of legislation that should be passed by the federal government and enacted across the country.

To put it plainly, current federal gun laws simply aren’t working. You never know when or where the next mass shooting will occur, leaving people in a constant state of fear that they cannot escape. What if the next mass shooting hits even closer to home than Chesapeake?

This is the America we will continue to live in unless action is taken. People’s lives are on the line and it is more important than ever for Americans – and politicians – to come to an agreement on gun laws.

For everyone’s sake.

Senior Emmy Benton can be reached at 23bentonem58@daretolearn.org.

hen you think of ew ear’s you may think of resolutions first but what about the other ew ear’s traditions many families ha e ach year around New Year’s, Nighthawk News reaches out to the student body of First Flight High School in order to learn what the students of First Flight do for their New Year celebrations.

Photo by David Benton/Special to Nighthawk News Crosses are placed in the parking lot of the Chesapeake Walmart – less than 90 minutes away from the Outer Banks – where six employees were killed by a co-worker on Nov. 22.

“Staying up until midnight and watching the ball drop with my friends. Last year we all went to Manteo because they were having a festival and that was fun.”

– freshman Lilly Colopy

“Watching the ball drop with my family. sually it’s just me and my moms at our house, but it’s still nice.”

– junior Lucille Byrum

“Being with family. My sister comes home and I get to see my grandma, who I don’t normally see that often.”

– senior Walter Ball

“I always go to a friend’s house and then we go to Manteo to watch the fireworks.” – freshman Christian Hux

No money, no college? Costs limit students’ options

You’ve heard it before and you’ll likely hear it again: Money isn’t everything in life. But unfortunately, when it comes to college, it is.

If you’re like me, you’ve always dreamed of the day you would be starting college, and with college right around the corner, those dreams are becoming more and more of a reality check. With high rates of tuition, room and board and fees, the path of going to college is turning out to be quite arduous for many of us in the senior class.

College provides the opportunity for many students to pursue a career beyond high school. And the future of many students is determined by their choice of study in college.

But not everyone can afford to pay for higher education. In fact, according to a 2020 study conducted by OneClass, a Canadian education provider, 56% of college students reported that they could no longer afford to pay their tuition tab.

Such a high number is concerning, especially because if these students don’t finish their college education they could not only be left in debt, but also without a degree of some sort, making them take a job that brings in less income.

Which leads to my point: Why isn’t college just free? Many countries around the world, like France,

Denmark, Germany and Egypt – offer free college education, so why doesn’t the US do this, too?

And yes, I understand that nothing in life is ever free: College professors deserve to get paid and taxpayers eventually foot the bill. But wouldn’t it just be better if everyone went to college without so much cost?

There are many reasons why college should be free, but the main one is that it leaves students with much less debt.

The amount of money that a college student will owe after graduation is over $30,000 right now. This prohibits college graduates from boosting the overall economy and reaching milestone moments such as getting married or buying a house.

College costs affect those from different social classes. While students coming from high-income families are usually good when it comes to college costs, those coming from low-income families struggle with the affordability to attend college.

This proves to be a large disadvantage for many students. While they could have been the brightest in their class, due to financial issues, they might not be able to afford college, thus decreasing the capacity for bright minds to contribute to society. Or if they decide to go, they might have to juggle the challenge of college classes and work.

College is a new experience for many students.

They have just gotten out of high school and they are used to living at home with no other worries than just homework. And while many students lead a good work-life balance right now, college can prove to be daunting.

If students are constantly stressing over college costs, they aren’t able to concentrate on their studies. Productivity declines and they can end up barely passing their classes.

By taking away their financial stress, students could be more focused on their studies and learn more.

If college was free, more people would be able to get a good job. The overall productivity of the US would increase.

Great minds come from all over, and both low-income and high-income students deserve an equal chance of putting their brains to work in our society. Because of college costs, we have missed out on many students’ potential.

And don’t get me wrong, you need to pay for professors and room costs, but some college fees are just too expensive.

While there is always the option of community college, not everyone fits in this stay-at-home type of vibe. Some just want to open their wings and fly away from the nest – without having their wings clipped at the thought of thousands of dollars of debt.

Senior Daisy Morales Bravo can be reached at 23moralesda04@daretolearn.org.

Journalism convention trip to St. Louis

You are 35,000 feet in the air on your way to St. Louis, Missouri, thinking about all the fun and exciting stuff you will do once you get there. There’s a boat ride on the Mississippi River. A trip to the top of the Gateway Arch and its amazing views. And most importantly, you will be able to learn more about journalism.

From Nov. 1013, 20 FFHS newspaper and yearbook students went to the national high school journalism convention in St. Louis. Over 3,000 students came from all over the United States – and some even came from the American School in London –for this annual convention. My overall experience on this trip wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t bad, either. It was unique.

For me, this was my first journalism trip. It was also my first time flying on a plane. When I asked my family and friends what it was like to go on a plane, they responded with the same answer: They said it felt like a car ride, but in the air.

They never mentioned the very shaky and horrible landing you sometimes get to experience. Our morning flight from Norfolk to Baltimore ended

with a horrible landing – it felt like we were about to crash into something. The second flight from Baltimore to St. Louis was way calmer and we were even given a free complimentary drink. What I did not enjoy about the plane flights at all was that you had to pay $8 for their WiFi.

Unlike everybody else on this trip traveling without family members, I was able to attend the convention with my sister, Daisy Morales, features editor for Nighthawk News.

Going on a trip with your sibling has its good and bad sides. Some good sides of this are that you always have someone to talk to, and when you forget something you can always borrow it from them. The bad side of this is that if you are the younger sibling like me, you will sometimes feel like you are being supervised by them.

When we arrived in St. Louis, we took a train from the airport to the downtown area, dropped off our luggage at the hotel and got something to eat near the convention center. Then we went on a small riverboat that gave us a tour around the Mississippi River. It was a great experience, but everybody was a little exhausted from the plane

rides and having to be at the airport by 5 a.m.

Also on that first day, we attended the opening speech for the national convention, which included guest speakers from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper. But at that same time, the playoff soccer game at FFHS was happening, so everybody was crowded around one phone trying to watch the game – and spot our photo editor for Nighthawk News, Taylor Newton.

Newton had an interesting adventure: He signed up for the trip in September, then watched as the soccer team kept playing better and better. It turned out that his fourth-round playoff game Thursday night meant that he could not fly out with us Thursday morning. But instead of missing the trip, he and his mom actually flew to St. Louis on Friday morning instead so he could join us for the last three days.

“It was really good because I was able to get like the best of both worlds and attend the soccer game on Thursday and fly out Friday morning,” Newton said.

We took journalism sessions at the convention center that included yearbook and newspaper sessions and even photography. The convention center was located right beside the hotel we were staying at. It was a nice advantage because it was really cold the whole weekend, so all you had to do was walk a few steps and you were there.

You were able to pick what sessions you wanted to take, but had to get there early to get a seat; otherwise, you would be standing. I enjoyed most of my sessions. The best session that I took was called “Ten must-have images of photojournalism.“ I was able to have a better understanding of a lot of things, and learned stuff I never knew about journalism and photography.

“I took a session on infographics which I thought was really interesting,” yearbook student Ruby O’Conner said. “Surprisingly, there’s a lot you can do with them. I also did a session on covering the unimaginable, which is about tragedy, and it provided a lot of helpful insight for what to do when you have to cover something like that.”

After lots of sessions and lunch Friday, we took a freezing 15-minute walk up to the Gateway Arch. Visiting the Arch and going up to the top were two different experiences.

When we were visiting, we were able to walk around and take great pictures. When going up the Arch, we had to enter through security. It felt as if we were in an airport again. We got to go through a small museum and then visit a gift shop with very expensive items.

Going up the Gateway Arch was exciting for some and terrifying for others. There were small elevators called “pods” that took us up in groups of five. The ride up the Arch was nothing like

College costs are necessary... but could be lower

If you ask any college student what their biggest fear is, they might respond with clowns. They might also respond with bats, rats, spiders, ghosts, ghouls, tall people, and anything of that sort. These answers result from more tangible fears that one must run from if ever put face-to-face with one.

But what about the less-than-tangible fears? The concepts that linger in your mind, the stressors that never seem to go away. Undeniably, one of the most pressing conceptual terrors of a modern college student is that of debt. Tuition debt, to be exact.

Higher education costs, to put it bluntly, a lot. Whether you’re looking to go to a public four-year college, whose average tuition and fees in the United States is around $9,400 according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), or whether you’d prefer a private education, whose average tuition and fees NCES puts around $37,600, a college student is going to be shelling out thousands of dollars per year simply to have an education.

Undeniably, college is expensive. Many would say too expensive, myself included. But, in my opinion, a cost for college, while it should be nowhere near as high as it currently is, is necessary for the well-being of institutions of higher education.

Before outlining why I feel college is worth a fair

bit of money, I feel as if it’s important to outline why higher education costs so much to begin with.

The reason college is expensive is simply because economics. To be more specific, college costs so much because of supply and demand.

With greater demand requires an increased amount of supply, but given that there are only so many colleges, college professors, college resources, and so on, the supply that students are looking for, that being the mystical “college experience,” is finite.

More and more people want college, but college can only be provided for so many. Sure, while the college admissions process culls the herd of applicants, there is still a hefty sum of students going to a college each year, and each student needs a place to sleep, food to eat, textbooks, teachers – the list goes on.

Economically speaking, when there are massive amounts of people chomping at the bit to get a certain product, and they are more than willing to pay far beyond what may seem reasonable for said product and that product’s deliverance requires heavy costs to maintain, would it not make sense for the provider of the product to raise their price tags until the product pays off itself in sales?

If it was unclear, the product is college and the price tag has indeed been raised.

Some go as far as to argue that the government

should account for its people’s education. “If they’re smart enough to get into college, why can’t their efforts be accounted for monetarily?” Others might argue that college is not a requirement for citizens and, as such, if one wishes to go to college they must pay for it on their own, or with assistance from student loans which simply act as debt accrued by the individual to a larger business and/or body.

I find myself somewhere in the middle of the debate, for while I feel as if some semblance of cost should be accounted for by the individual one way or another, be it through debt, scholarships, or out-ofpocket payments, I also feel as if college education is close enough to a requirement in modern society that the government should at least go so far as to lessen the costs to a reasonable amount.

Rather than having colleges cost the equivalent of a sports car, they should be lowered to a workable, albeit used, Toyota.

Colleges are a business, and businesses have expenses. If students want state-of-the-art facilities and teachers that, ideally, deserve their salary, then it is going to cost money. Students are using these facilities, so they have to pay for some of it.

However, “some of it” does not equate to anywhere near the modern definition of “all of it” in terms of tuition.

College needs to cost something for it to be worth students’ time, but it needs to cost a whole lot less than that at which it rings in now.

Senior Samuel Smith can be reached at 23smithsa22@daretolearn.org.

is about more than learning new skills

a normal elevator. It kept tilting and made a lot of weird noises. But it was worth it for the view we got to see. We went around sunset time and it was a beautiful view of the city from 630 feet up with the sunset in the background.

From going to sessions up to going to the arch we ended up in a grocery store called “Schnucks.” I think it was a really good idea to go to a grocery store and buy our drinks and food there instead of buying expensive ones at the hotel.

One of the best highlights of this trip for everyone came on Saturday, when we visited the City Museum. It included climbing, crawling and sliding, inside and outside, in a giant maze of an old industrial building. It even included a 10-story slide. For me, this was the best memory I created at St. Louis.

“My favorite memory was going to the City Museum,” Newton said. “It made me feel like a kid again. I was just running around in a huge playground.”

O’Connor also enjoyed the museum and all the other opportunities to explore a new city and “have fun hanging out together.” By the time we checked out of our hotel Sunday morning at 6 for the train ride to the airport and plane rides to Chicago and Norfolk, we were all tired and ready to be home.

My experience for this trip was great. I would definitely do it again if I had the chance – like next November’s national convention trip to Boston!

There were some ups and downs on this trip, but it was part of the experience.

I think everybody should experience going on a school trip at least once. You will be able to grow stronger relation-

ships with your peers and make great memories.

Sophomore Betty Morales Bravo can be reached at 25moralesbe41@daretolearn.org.

Submitted photos

(Left) students from journalism classes see the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. (Top right) The St. Louis skyline taken from the top of the Gateway Arch. Five journalism students make the journey from the ground to the top of the arch in their pod. Scan

Sun worshiper or snow lover? Travel options abound over break

When planning your winter vacation, the first thing you need to consider is the climate: Are you going to pack your luggage full of fluffy coats or the bikinis you haven’t worn since summer? Is this your year to be a sun worshiper or snow bunny?

The sun worshippers are those whose families choose to spend part of their twoweek vacation frolicking in the waves of some nondescript island off the coast of Central America: Handing in their tropical T-shirts for wild coconuts and lush groves of banana palms. Swatting away the mosquitoes with elephant ear leaves as they desperately try to escape the scorching sun. Their only solace comes when night falls and they gather with the other villa dwellers to experience a “one-of-a-kind show” involving fire sticks and fake flower leis that can be seen on multiple Disney Channel vacation episodes.

In a completely different section of the globe, we find our snow bunnies Trading beach towels for bear rugs,

these surly creatures would rather stay wrapped up in enough clothes to stuff a suitcase to the breaking point. They sit crowded around the fire singing Christmas songs out of tune with family, friends, and total strangers. They hit the slopes a grand total of two times during their stay and spend most of their days building Frosty the Snowman’s ugly cousin, wishing Christmas was already here. Some may say that traveling during winter break makes for an easy and stressfree holiday. The sun worshippers come home with leis around their necks that they wear for weeks afterward, and everyone listens with fake interest as they regale their classmates with tales of mystery and intrigue from their tropical paradise. Their paradise can become a nightmare for others when brought up in every conversation for the next month.

The snow bunnies, on the other hand, don’t know what stress is, chilling out on the top of a mountain somewhere and perhaps not even

skiing back down in time for the first day of school in January. Their winter wonderland never runs on anyone’s schedule and they are not going to let it start now, too preoccupied with harmonizing “ umbaya” to be bothered with the mundane ups and downs of everyday life.

But these polar opposites are not

as at odds as they may seem. We are together for 180 days of the year, walking down the hallway side by side. ther than those two short weeks of the year we’re all on our small sandbar dreaming of where our next big adventure will take us.

Junior Helen Thorp can be reached at 24thorphe91@daretolearn.org.

Have a holly, jolly … homework assignment?

Why figure out what equals when I can figure out which of my uncle’s exes my grandma ran into at the store? Wouldn’t you rather me hear the satire in my other uncle’s political rant than the satire in “ ulliver’s Travels”? I sure would.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” gushes the beloved holiday song. Well, not if you’re a high school student loaded up with school work.

December is one of my favorite months, as it is for most people. Three weeks of vacation bliss, full of cozying up with my weighted blanket and watching horrendous Hallmark movies until I cry.

But there’s always a pit in my stomach that I try to bury with cheesy cliches and festive decorations. That pit is the stack of homework I’ve hidden in my backpack, pretending it doesn’t exist. “I have like three weeks, I’ll do it later,” I think, laying miserably in my own procrastination until my stress boils over and I lethargically get up from my couch.

All jokes aside, I do consider myself to be a decent student. December is right around the end of the first semester. As a senior, these grades are going to be ones colleges will see. This means every free 100 you can get for turning

in a crumbled paper that resembles homework counts. I don’t have the luxury of just not doing it, so there is only one way I can enjoy every second of the holidays.

Convince all of my teachers to not assign work.

ur holiday break is meant to give us time with our family. lder siblings come home for the first time since last year, aunts and uncles pop in and out, cousins you didn’t know you had

suddenly show up, and grandparents watch the chaos unfold as everyone gathers together.

The week after Christmas is probably the most exhausting one out of the whole year. I have six cousins under the age of 11 and as the eldest, my brother and I are usually in charge of entertaining them. I love them all dearly and treasure every moment, but in my grandparents’ tiny house from the ’30s, it gets overwhelming.

So pay attention, all FFHS and C A staff D N’T BE THAT TEACHER. s students know who assigns a 1, 00word essay and who lets us watch a movie in class. ou don’t want to be known for your cruel assignments, right? ou want to be the cool, hip teacher, don’t you? ou have to know that none of us are going to really try and that it’s a waste of time.

Besides, think about the benefits for you No stack of papers or oogle Classroom notifications cluttering your email. Just you and your family relaxing – like the rest of us want to do.

To wrap up my long list of complaints, I would like to reinforce my formerly stated idea that all I want for Christmas is to not have a looming mountain of homework. The new semester is about to start and we all want to end on a high note, not a drained, monotonous one. So instead of making students pull out our calculator on the long car ride home from randma’s house, let us pull out our pillows and take a nap.

Senior Bella Sarbora can be reached at 23sarborais62@daretolearn.org.

Submitted photos

Some students choose to travel to warm places over break such as Belize (left) while others choose cold climates such as Snowshoe.

Photo by Chrysta Sarbora/Special to Nighthawk News

Senior Bella Sarbora studies her textbooks for AP Physics and British Literature in front of her Christmas tree.

December is a not-so-wonderful time of year for a birthday

Most people would assume having a birthday close to Christmas is great because. . . yay! More presents! But no. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

I’m sure some people have heard of the horrendous concept of Happy-Christmas-Merry-Birthday presents. Well, I have personal experience with this one because my birthday is Dec. 22, only three days before Christmas. This is the idea of combining a birthday present and Christmas presents together into one. So, in actuality, you are getting fewer presents.

Now, I don’t, and never really did, care about the amount of presents I got, but what I did care about was birthday parties. When I was little, none of my friends could ever come to my birthday party because they were on a Christmas vacation. This would make me really sad when the time came for my birthday party.

Along with fewer, or “combined,” presents and friends missing out on

birthday parties, having a birthday in the winter limits your options for what you can do to celebrate. Friends’ pool parties and beach parties were always the highlights of my summers when I was younger and, unfortunately, that just wasn’t an option for my birthday.

For my birthdays, I usually just went out to dinner with my family and a few friends. I often had sleepovers the night before my birthday so we could stay up till midnight.

I enjoyed this, of course, but I envied my friends with summer birthdays. I always wanted a pool or beach party and, unless I wanted to get hypothermia, it was not a possibility. Having a birthday close to Christmas is unfortunate, but it is no one’s fault. It’s a wonderful time of the year, but not for a birthday party or anything a young child would find amusing.

As I have gotten older, I admit that I have learned to appreciate it more and more. If there was snow, it might

be a little better, but still – I enjoy getting to do Christmas activities on my birthday like looking at lights or decorating. Plus, I will never have to go to school on my birthday, like many people I know. There are so many fun things to do during the days leading up to Christmas and I have really learned to love it.

For people with Christmas birthdays, there are so many things you can

do. While our options may be more limited than people with summer birthdays, we can celebrate the holiday season on our birthdays by doing things like baking cookies, or having a nice dinner with friends and family. It may not be ideal, but we get to enjoy time off on our birthdays, unlike many people.

Junior Kira Walters can be reached at 24walterski77@daretolearn.org.

‘It’s time to BeReal’ on popular new app

the trends includes having a stranger take a photo for you without them understanding that BeReal takes a photo with the front and back camera simultaneously. This trend often catches people off guard and can make for some pretty funny photos.

It’s time to BeReal!” An exclamation heard all around the bleachers of the basketball game, in the dance room, the bathroom or even in third period when we aren’t supposed to have our phones. You quickly pull out your phone and turn on your camera, your friends eagerly waiting behind you. There’s 30 seconds left until your post is late, so you quickly snap your picture, getting the perfect shot of all your friends.

nce a day, you get a notification for BeReal, the popular social media app, at a random time telling you, “It’s time to BeReal.” As soon as the notification goes off, you have two minutes to snap a quick picture with your front and back camera, showing your surroundings and yourself.

But don’t worry if you missed the notification. ou can always post late.

BeReal is its own platform created in 2020, but it has recently soared in popularity since the spring.

BeReal promotes non-toxic and

“real” social media, rather than only posting the pretty stuff. Other social media platforms, such as Instagram, have been made into a space for edited media and very unhealthy standards.

In order to keep this non-toxic environment, BeReal does not promote liking photos; however, your friends

can still react to your post through “RealMojis.”

A RealMoji is a small picture of yourself reacting to the photo that was just taken by your friends. You can also caption a BeReal to clarify what is happening in your photo.

There are new trends with BeReal photos that spice up your feed. One of

Another growing trend is when people take their front photo, then toss their back camera in the air in hopes of catching a photo with them in both sides of the photo. People can also take this to a less extreme version and turn their phone around without tossing it in the air.

Taking pictures with your friends or someone who is popular is always something fun to do. At the Good Guys vs. Cancer basketball tournament, many people took their BeReal photos with star players from other teams such as Freddie Dilone and Isaac Ellis to spice up their BeReal feed with wellknown social media figures.

While having many interesting features and trends, BeReal also keeps you connected to other people. You can still keep in touch with long-distance friends without having to make awkward small talk.

Now, the next time someone shouts “It’s time to BeReal,” you, too, can hop on the trend and BeReal.

Senior Mackenzie Edwards can be reached at 23edwardsma78@daretolearn.org.

Illustration by Chad Benton/Special to Nighthawk News

Photo by Mackenzie Edwards/Nighthawk News tudents ause to take a e eal when the notification arri es. e eal is a social media a that has been around a few years, but only recently has become a fun national trend.

World Cup fever takes over the halls of First Flight

Four long years of waiting, and it’s finally time to hear the coveted “GOOOOOOOAL” call of the world’s most enthusiastic broadcasters. The World Cup is back with a vengeance and has our school in an absolute chokehold. From watching the action during class to learning about the countries participating, the World Cup has been bigger than ever this year, especially here at First Flight with its student body and teachers alike being captivated by the action.

This year, the World Cup is being hosted in atar, the first team to be eliminated, coincidently. There have been record-breaking wins, heartbreak and what some may call the second American Revolution. The nited States Men’s National Team SMNT was put into group B with England, Wales and Iran, resulting in interesting memes from the .S.

The most memorable game so far was between SMNT and England when they played over Thanksgiving break, as it was regarded as “1776 Part Two.” The social media storm surrounding it was undoubtedly the funniest so far. Wars of words about how if the American team wins, it’s soccer, but if England wins, it’s called football were flooding Facebook, while images of JF riding a bear wearing American flags filled up Instagram.

The Cup is about soccer, but the meaning can go deeper, as seen during a tense situation between a SMNT player and an Iranian interviewer. The SMNT player mispronounced Iran, which struck a nerve with the interviewer, leading him to ask a question about racism in the .S. and how an African-American can represent a racist country.

The teams continued to be civil on the field, just as all of the other teams have appeared to be. The countries facing off aren’t always someone you’re rooting for, but the exhilarating games attract all different types of people to watch.

After the SMNT was eliminated after the match with the Netherlands in the Round of 16, we don’t have our own country to root for, but people have begun watching other countries play. ne country I’ve been keeping up with has been Argentina because this could be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup. The interest in soccer spiked rapidly but very unexpectedly for many people, as most of the new-

found soccer lovers thought the World Cup was every year.

Having students be so enthralled with the Cup has created mixed feelings among First Flight teachers. While some teachers yell for their students to close Fox Sports on their Chromebook, others, like Erin Basilone, have integrated the event into the curriculum, letting the students have a personal connection to the material.

Basilone used brackets in her AP Human eography class to talk about the countries themselves, and tied it in with stages of demographic transition, something the students are currently learning about.

ther teachers show the games in class, but for less of the learning front, and more of the viewing aspect. Soccer head coaches Joel Mount and Juan Ramirez, along with Cassidy Mascio, have begun to show the World Cup in their rooms during lunches and free periods.

My friends and I haven’t been able to peel ourselves away from our screens, from spending all day waiting for the SMNT and England game, to celebrating a South orea goal in the middle of our AP S History class, it’s all been exciting to watch. I’ll definitely be watching more soccer from now on. The World Cup may be about being the best in the world, but it’s also about unity. It has brought us together, even if we’re all rooting for our own favorite teams.

Junior Foster Guns can be reached at 24gunsfo54@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Mackenzie Edwards/Nighthawk News Sophomore Matthew Toler and junior Marley Daniels in Erin Basilone’s AP Human Geography class admire the classwork they did about the World Cup. Basilone has used the popular tournament as a way to integrate studies about populations into the curriculum by having the students learn about the countries participating in the games.

Winter shifts the action from sand to snow

By Cameron Piland Staff Writer

The beach is a great place to surf and skate, but what happens when winter comes around? Some people just put on a wetsuit and hop in again. But off of the beach is where some people find excitement in snowboarding, skiing, tubing, sledding, and ice skating through the winter season.

Multiple people go to Snowshoe, Massanutten, or Wintergreen, but there are many other places around to go to for some winter fun.

Junior Avery Harrison, who started snowboarding a few years ago, said that the hardest thing about snowboarding is falling. Once you fall, it can be hard to get back up and keep going, but quitting isn’t an option when you are on top of a snowy mountain. There is only one way down.

Many people who enjoy snowboarding or skiing start because their parents like to do sports in the winter. Harrison said her dad introduced snowboarding to her and that’s where her love for the sport began. Others go on trips with friends and have so much fun trying something new that they’re hooked.

Another obstacle to get past when doing snowy sports would be committing to what you are doing – at least, that is what junior Vance Plevyak thinks. No fear, just confidence. Just like when you’re surfing all summer, but realizing that cool moves on the snow like a back 360 might be a little harder to learn than the ones in the waves.

Luckily for Outer Banks kids, so many winter sports involve the same skills as surfing and wakeboarding: a board and some balance. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be an instant star on the slopes, as sophomore Riyah Ritchie found out.

“I got into snowboarding and then I kind of sucked at it, so I went skiing. After that, I started doing other hobbies like skating and surfing on the side,” Ritchie said. “Then I started snowboarding a lot more and that’s what I still do now.”

And at least when you tumble on the hard-packed snow you have an oversized puffy jacket to break your fall.

The weather conditions also play a role in how hard the landing is and how much fun you can have. Fresh powder and light snow falling while you whip through the wind down the slopes are nice, but sophomore Nathan Tsonev said it’s always fun to snowboard in a blizzard.

While some snow resorts have lights to make the fun last as long as you want, eventually, being out in the cold all day long gets tiring. Night-time traditions at the lodge are another fun part of the winter sports outings. Junior Ava Nultemeier said she always likes to go to the waffle cabin after a long day of snowboarding. For freshman Michael Batchelor, there’s a more traditional way to relax.

“I want to get warm and drink some nice hot chocolate after being out on the slopes all day,” he said. Sophomore Cameron Piland can be reached at 25pilandca25@daretolearn.org.

Good things come to those who ‘weight’

By Logan Thiessen Staff Writer

New year, new me. Every year, thousands of people make the same New Year’s resolution of getting in shape – and every year, many end up not following through on that resolution.

Some First Flight students take this resolution very seriously by turning this daunting task into an enjoyable hobby. They end up going to the gym for fun.

Senior Nico Baker is one of these students. Baker has been going to the gym for a little over a year and his physique has changed drastically. Baker went from your average high school student to considering a career in professional bodybuilding.

Setting his sights high, Baker stated his goal: “I want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.”

This is a big dream, as Schwarzenegger is a socalled “old school” bodybuilder who many current fitness aficionados idolize. Back in his youth, he won four Mr. Olympias and went on to be one of the most successful professional bodybuilders.

Baker frequents the uter Banks Sports Club six days out of the week. He hasn’t always gone to this gym, though. When he was first starting out, he lifted weights in Coach Jim Prince’s weight training class. This inspired him to get a gym membership at the YMCA, and then go on to the Sports Club.

Baker doesn’t just go to the gym to better himself or because he loves the activity himself. He enjoys the people and has fond memories of the friendships he’s been able to make through the gym.

“(My favorite part is) the community, how nice everyone is and how everyone has a set goal,” Baker said.

Baker isn’t the only student who has the motivation to go to the gym. Senior Laney Dexter also has a new-found passion for fitness.

“I try to go every day and at least do something, whether that be weight training or even mobility work for athletics,” Dexter said.

When Dexter started, it was primarily for volleyball and swim, both sports she has participated in since freshman year, but working out slowly turned into something she is passionate about and genuinely enjoys doing in her free time.

The place where she really grew her passion was at the ill Devil Hills firehouse. The reason she was able to train here was because she is a Kill Devil Hills lifeguard, and the firehouse funds the cean Rescue lifeguards and also lets them train at their gym.

This job also really motivated her to be the best version of herself and to take control of her health, with a commitment that most don’t have. She enjoys the environment of the gym and is happy to have found this passion.

Dexter currently trains at the MCA and plans to move to the Sports Club soon. Her reason for the change is primarily because of the fact she has friends already there and would immediately have people to start training with.

This camaraderie is something that people seek out when they go to the gym and makes training all the more enjoyable, something Baker sees as well.

“Having like-minded people around you who are doing something that you are doing for the same reasons can really motivate you and keep you focused on your goal,” Baker said.

Senior Logan Thiessen can be reached at 23thiessenlo14@daretolearn.org.

Submitted photo

Junior Ava Nultemeier glides down the mountain on a vacation to Snowshoe. She is one of many First Flight students who snowboard during the winter.

GOOD GUYS OFFERS GREAT GAMES

Photos by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Counter-clockwise, from top left: Combine senior Silas Demary Jr. (left) leaps through the air to swat the ball away in an attempt to stop a dunk from Word of God senior Freddie Dilione. Combine senior Silas Demary Jr. (left) hugs teammate junior Rakease Passmore after a close win against Word of God. Flying through the air, First Flight senior Isaac Dobie (right) blocks a layup from Peninsula Catholic senior Kamari inson. t. nne’s elfield senior Desmond oberts hy es up the team during a timeout. (Left to right) First Flight sophomore Skylar Wood, junior Khloe Tucker, and sophomores Caroline York and Summer Stevens celebrate a point before being subbed into the game. First Flight sophomore Skylar Wood (20) dribbles past the 3-point line looking for a pass. First Flight head coach Chad Williams shouts out game plans to the starting lineup. Dribbling up the sideline, Cape Hatteras ju- nior Kylie Phillips (2) attempts to get around First Flight junior Josie Voight. Manteo sophomore Taylor Granitzki (31) and junior Eddie Turberville celebrate as junior Kaleb Spencer scores a thunderous dunk against Cape Hatteras. Manteo freshman Sam Jenkins (24) attempts to steal the ball from Cape Hatteras junior Tripp Stephens. First Flight senior Eli Hawk (44) looks to the net for a layup while being fouled by Peninsula Catholic junior Malcolm Velmar.

Thursday’s Results

First Flight varsity girls 60, Cape Hatteras 30

Manteo 82, Cape Hatteras 19

Riverside Martin 48, Currituck 46 (OT)

Moravian Prep 95, Peninsula Catholic 68

Friday’s Results

Moravian Prep 64, The Burlington School 62

Combine Academy 51, Word of God 48

t. nne’s elfield reenfield

Peninsula Catholic 72, First Flight 70

Saturday’s Results

Manteo 67, Riverside Martin 38

Washington County 52, Camden 51

Hertford County 66, Maury 54

Landstown 54, South Central 47

Wilson Prep 56, Northeastern 32

eninsula Catholic reenfield

Blue Ridge School 81, The Burlington School 80

Moravian Prep 56, Catholic 47 ord of od t. nne’s elfield

First Flight 78, Kinston 69

Crowd wowed at games

By Olivia Sugg Editor-in-Chief

Everyone sitting in the packed student section was on the edge of their seats as the first Good Guys vs. Cancer game of the night got underway.

When Isaac made a 3-pointer, the whole crowd erupted. But during this game, the fans were not going crazy for their own Isaac Dobie – they were erupting for Isaac Ellis, a freshman at Moravian Prep who already has three D-I scholarship offers.

Just because a majority of the teams playing at the annual Good Guys vs. Cancer tournament were not wearing First Flight uniforms does not mean that the Outer Banks community was any less interested.

“There are lots of fans here, the people are super cool. Overall, it’s just a really good tournament,” Ellis said. “It’s crazy how much support we have. We had a 4:30 game on a Thursday and they had the whole student section packed out.”

Ellis’s school, Moravian Prep, was just one team whose matchup was highly anticipated, with another being Word of God Christian Academy. One of its standout players, Freddie Dilione, has committed to play basketball at Tennessee and was extremely popular at the tournament.

After leading the Holy Rams to a win Saturday against St. Anne’s-Belfield, Dilione echoed similar sentiments regarding the First Flight student section.

“I’ve never seen something like this,” Dilione said. “Every time I come here, there’s always a great crowd and a great student section. It’s a blessing. I love it.”

Webb Wellman, of HoopState Network, an online media company that does livesteams, markets teams and players, and creates basketball content, has been in this field since 2007 and said he has never seen community and student support like he does every year at the Good Guys vs. Cancer tournament.

“I’ve never been in a community where most of the people who attend the games don’t know who the teams are or who the players are,” Wellman said. “They just know that it’s going to be great basketball, not necessarily caring who wins or who loses.”

For the students who attend the games, it really is about good basketball. Sophomore Alejandro Angel-Ramirez attended almost every game of the weekend and was just excited that this level of basketball was being showcased in his home town.

“I like the excitement of it and I hope one day they make it,” Angel-Ramirez said. “Hopefully we’ll be

watching them one day in the NBA and I’ll get to say that I saw them in person.”

That kind of excitement could be seen everywhere, from students slipping back to the locker room area for autographs to stopping players in the rotunda for selfies to following each other on social media.

The games created a positive atmosphere for students and community members alike, and whether you are a future D-I player or a Dare County community member, the spirit of the Outer Banks was clearly evident. The tournament started by men’s basketball coach Chad Williams has become an annual treat for all, from exuberant

middle school boys to elected officials.

“We’re a tight community 108 miles long, top to bottom from Hatteras Inlet down to Duck, and if you told me eight years ago that we had an event like this I would have laughed at you,” Dare County Commissioner Danny Couch said during Saturday’s games.

“It’s big-time basketball on the Outer Banks. Who would have thought? Now we are showing off the entire county and it unifies everybody. School staff, students, and the entire community have embraced this and it’s really remarkable.”

Senior Olivia Sugg can be reached at 23suggol52@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News Fans in the student section get loud during the Saturday action at the Good Guys vs. Cancer Basketball Showcase.

College signing season arrives for Nighthawks

Tatum Dermatas – High Point University –Cross Country & Track

What made you choose High Point? The team is really good. They have a solid girls team that’s ranked in the top 30 or 40 NCAA D-I cross country teams and they have a really good exercise science major that has good equipment. The coach was really nice.

What are some of your freshman-year hopes? I hope to get really good training under my belt freshman year and then race well during the track season and become really close with the team.

What is your favorite Nighthawk memory? Winning the state championship in my sophomore year.

What are you most excited about running at college? I am really excited to be competing at a high level and to keep pursuing my passion.

What is your intended major? Exercise science.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or say about your commitment? I’d like to thank my coach for helping me get to where I am now and be able to run in college.

Trent Sylvia – William Peace University –Soccer

What made you choose William Peace? It’s in a nice area and all the coaches and players are super nice.

What are some of your freshman year hopes? I want to make nationals and start at some point.

What is your favorite Nighthawk memory? Going all the way to regionals and then losing.

What are you most excited about playing soccer at college? Just seeing the increased level of playing because there are a lot of European players.

What is your intended major? Business, because I don’t know what else to choose.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or say about your commitment? I’d like to thank my mom, dad and coaches.

Reagan Riddick – Presbyterian College –Wrestling

Why did you choose Presbyterian College? It’s one of the places I checked out that feels like I fit in there and I know all the girls. It feels like a family instead of a team and that’s what I’m looking for. Plus, I can get into pharmacy school if I have good grades without applying to grad school.

What are some of your freshman year hopes? I want to be a national qualifier and I want to start my freshman year.

What is your favorite Nighthawk memory? I really don’t know.

What are you most excited for about wrestling at the collegiate level? I’m excited that I get to go it on my own and I have more freedom. It’s more on me than my family, so I get to take that extra step of maturity with my sport.

What is your intended major? I’m going to major in biology and go into pre-pharmacy.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or say about your commitment? I want to thank my mom, my dad, my dog and my coaches.

– Compiled by Bella Sarbora, Helen Thorp and Mackenzie Edwards

First Flight Sports Spotlight: Q&A with

How long have you been swimming? At least nine or 10 years.

What are you going to miss the most? I’m going to miss my teammates the most. I’ve grown really close to a lot of them and leaving them is going to be hard.

What’s your favorite part about swimming? One of my favorite parts about swimming is racing. I love racing because I get a huge adrenaline rush and I love pushing myself more each race.

Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a meet? My favorite place to eat after home meets is Viva and for away meets, Chick-fil-A.

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? I look up to Chloe Wienert because she always has such a positive energy that always gets me hype for races and she just makes swimming so much fun.

What’s your favorite memory from swimming? I was at regionals last year and my goal all season was to make top eight in the 200 free so I could go to states and I remember getting out of the pool after my race and I saw I got fifth and I started crying. I was so excited.

What is your biggest pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve is slow walkers.

If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? I would travel all over the world.

What’s your favorite TV show? My favorite TV show is “Gilmore Girls.”

Go-to karaoke song? “23” by Mike WiLL Made-It.

How long have you been running indoor track? This is my first year.

Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a meet? Chipotle.

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Usain Bolt because he’s really fast.

What is your dream job? Probably a professional runner.

If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? Buy a huge mansion with a lot of super cars.

What is your favorite holiday? Why? Christmas, because of all the presents.

What is your biggest pet peeve? When my sister comes into my room and doesn’t close the door when she leaves.

What is a lifelong dream of yours? To make it to the Olympics.

What’s a fun fact about yourself? I don’t like sprinting.

What’s your favorite TV show? “Breaking Bad.”

Best teacher ever? Mr. Keeley because he’s a really good teacher.

What’s your favorite beach access? Why? Probably 1st because the surf is always good.

If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? A koala because they are lazy and just chill on trees.

Go-to karaoke song? “Call Me Maybe.”

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

What’s your favorite part about wrestling? The coaches and getting better at wrestling. I just want to be the best I can at it and that’s why I do it.

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most? I probably have to go with my teammate John Martinez. He’s inspired me to wrestle. He’s in my grade, he’s a great wrestler and he works hard.

What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? My favorite memory was last year when I won my conference tournament. I wasn’t really confident in myself that I was going to do it but I pushed through it and I won.

What is your favorite holiday? Why? My favorite holiday is Christmas. I like celebrating the Lord and I like seeing family and getting presents.

What is your biggest pet peeve? Probably somebody scraping a fork on a plate.

If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be? A baseball player like Bryce Harper, my Pop-Pop, and John (Martinez) because we’d probably just eat a bunch of food.

Best teacher ever? Mrs. Folkes, my eighth-grade teacher.

If you could be any animal, what would it be? I’d probably have to be a lion because I can be king of the jungle.

What’s your favorite TV show? I probably have to go with “SpongeBob.”

Go-to karaoke song? “Last Friday Night” by Katy Perry.

How long have you been playing basketball? 11 years.

What are you going to miss the most? Playing with my friends.

What’s your favorite part about playing? When I score.

Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a game? Plaza. We go there a lot as a team.

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Marcus Smart, because he works the hardest and doesn’t get all the shine but his stuff shows up in the stat books.

What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? Beating Henderson Collegiate at the tournament last year.

What is your dream job and why? NBA player, because I love basketball.

If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be, and why? Khabib Nurmagomedov because he is my favorite FC fighter. obe Bryant because I respect his game. Warren Buffett, to teach me about investing.

What is your biggest pet peeve? When I get fouled and miss a layup.

What is a lifelong dream of yours? To play at Duke.

Best teacher ever? Why? Mr. DeWitt, because we got to play Wii Golf at the end of the year.

If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? Giraffe, because I would be very tall.

Maura Trivette Senior

Karter Tucker Freshman

Lance Jones Freshman

Isaac Dobie Senior

Nighthawk winter student-athletes

How long have you been running indoor track? This is my second year running.

What’s your favorite part about running? The people I run with.

What is your favorite thing to do before a meet? Me and my teammates get hyped up.

Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a meet? Panera.

What player do you look up to the most? Tatum (Dermatas). She’s really good, first of all, and she knows what she’s doing.

What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? At states we all huddled up to hear what score we got.

What is your dream job and why? I want to be an interior designer because I love artistic stuff.

If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? I would travel the world.

What is a lifelong dream of yours? I’d love to become a really good runner, like lympic stuff.

What’s your favorite TV show? “Fuller House.”

What is your biggest pet peeve? When people rub their hands on wood.

What’s a fun fact about yourself? I’m a Christian.

Go-to karaoke song? “Payphone.”

How long have you been playing basketball? Since third grade.

What are you going to miss the most? I just like all the girls and us being really close together.

What’s your favorite part about playing? How well we work as a team and our defense.

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Emma Richards, because she was really good and I’ve been playing with her every year except this year.

What is your dream job? To be a pediatric nurse, because I like kids.

If you could have dinner with any three people living or dead who would it be? Zendaya, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Dominic Fike.

What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? “Inside Out.”

Best teacher ever? Why? Mrs. Will because she’s always so happy and brightens my day.

If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? A dolphin because you’re in the ocean all the time and just a happy animal.

What’s your favorite beach access? I really like Eckner because all my friends go there.

Go-to karaoke song? “Love on the Brain” by Rihanna.

How long have you been cheering? Four years.

What is your favorite part about cheering? Being a part of the team.

What is your favorite thing to do before a game? Eat Tropical Smoothie. I get a Beach Bum smoothie.

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Alayna Jester because I’ve cheered with her before and she’s just taught me a lot over the years.

What is your dream job and why? A journalist, because I like to write.

If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? I would donate some of it to charity and buy a house for my parents.

If you could have dinner with any three people living or dead who would it be? Jennifer Aniston, Sophia Bush and Ellen Pompeo. They are three of my favorite actresses.

What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? “Sleepless in Seattle.”

What is your favorite holiday and why? Christmas. I love all the lights.

If you could be any animal, what would it be? A panda, because they’re cuddly.

What’s a fun fact about yourself? I have a very small dog.

Go-to karaoke song? Anything by Taylor Swift.

How long have you been swimming? Since sixth grade.

What is your favorite part? Besides the swimming, probably the team aspect. ou make new friends and get to bond over the course of the season.

What swimmer do you look up to the most? Jack Brown, because he is a very good strong swimmer, he hardly ever misses practice, and when I joined freshman year he made me feel like I fit in with the team immediately.

What is your favorite memory from swim? When we were on the way to regionals last year and we had a karaoke session in the back of the bus.

What is your dream job? Either a vet or a doctor because I want to be in a medical field and I like helping others.

If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with your money? Pay off the rest of my loans and use the leftovers to buy a nice house and a car.

If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would they be? My dad, my great-grandfather who passed away about a month ago and great-grandmother.

What’s a fun fact about yourself? Hockey is my favorite sport. I’ve loved hockey since I was in fourth grade.

Who has your favorite teacher been? Mrs. Sulewski, because I’ve had her freshman year and this year and you can always go to talk to her.

Photos by Taylor Newton, Mayson Ogburn, Chad Shumaker and Jenna Wienert

Reporting by Emmy Benton, Emma Braithwaite, Mackenzie Edwards, Ella Ogburn, Cameron Piland, Helen Thorp and Kira Walters

Bekah Newell Sophomore

Courtney Beasley Senior

Haley Scarborough Freshman

Jack Spivey Sophomore