May 2017: the senior edition

NL Senior Edition

VOLUME 47 ISSUE 6

the northern light

Where do we go from here? pg. 11-17

Portage Portage Northern Northern High High School School 1000 1000 Idaho Idaho Ave, Ave, Portage Portage 49024 49024

www.portagenorthernlight.com

the

s te d ai t o fr s f editor in chief

Cortney Chow

chief designer Ben Lewis

website editor Megna Joshi

social media manager Lyndsey Case

feature editor

Allison Mckenzie

news editor Meredith Ablao

opinon editor

Abby Seeber

spotlight editor Lexi Gavlas

sports editor

Carter Landis

entertainment editor Lily Antor

copy editor

Megan Rinock

copy editor Lexi Kava

s ta f f w r i t e r s Demi Jensen Sal DelVecchio Mackenzie Brey Issra Said Keegan Tenney Matilda Buehler Anai Freeman Kylee Ewert Sheila Mwanda

photographer Cameron Schaefer

02 CUT PAGE April 13, 2017

letter from the editor Dear PNHS, While some of you guys are excitedly counting down the number of days left in the school year, I’ve been dreading this edition because it means that my days of being editorin-chief are coming to a close. As I look back at the changes we’ve made in this year’s publications, I was able to lead in something that was not only integral to my high school career, but something I am the most proud of. To say that The Northern Light has impacted my high school career is an understatement because it’s changed me as a person. Without the newspaper, my passion for digital design and social justice would be nonexistent. I never dreamed of

using Photoshop or expressing my ideas across a newspaper for the student body to read. However, sometimes it just takes one class to determine your future.

I would like to thank Mr. Neal, Mrs. Thorpe, and my amazing staff for making my year as editor-in-chief the most memorable experience in my journey as a high schooler. This year we pushed the boundaries with controversy and got an overwhelming positive response from the school. As editor-in-chief, my goal was to create chaos and discussion with designs and articles. I’m proud to say that my staff and I did just that. From talking about racism to politics, a wide spectrum of important topics

were covered in a mature fashion. I feel that with this press and student body, we can be part of a movement that can spark change.

I’ve seen The Northern Light through all of its phases. I remember when the class size was only 12 and although it seemed small, strength was never in numbers but in our voices.

As I will be leaving this publication and community, I can leave knowing that I was part of something that was greater than just any other high school newspaper. I was part of The Northern Light, and that by far is my greatest accomplishment.

With love, Cortney Chow

policies at the nl The Northern Light in print and online is the student-produced newspaper for Portage Northern HS. It is an open forum for student expression, and the newspaper provides staff members with independent reporting opportunities and individual evaluation. Writing is based on a wide variety of research for a broad and diverse audience and topics of coverage are decided by the staff and editorial board with consideration to what is timely, relevant, compelling, educational, and important to the student body.

As a MIPA, JEA, and NSPA publica-

tion, the Northern Light adheres to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Photos, art, and other visual elements are created by Northern Light staff, formally designated for free use, or part of the public domain. In rare circumstances, we may use other media with the owner’s written permission.

It is our desire that our readers join the discussion on our published work. We welcome letters to the editor and guest contributions, and the Northern Light will publish online all pieces received provided that they include the author’s full name and

are appropriate for publication in a school setting. Letters to the editor are limited to 150 words in length and guest contributions are limited to 350 words in length. Pieces can be delivered to Amanda Thorpe’s room, 3.129, emailed to pnhsNorthernLight@gmail.com, or mailed ATTN: Portage Northern Light to Portage Northern High School, 1000 Idaho Avenue, Portage, MI 49024.

@northern_ light_news

pnlight2016

@pnlight portagenorthernlight.com

4

News Briefs: France’s new president and more

Pro v Con: is a college degree necessary?

11

6

Spotlight: a school under construction

Feature: senior college plans and more

12

8

News: clubs and fundraisers

Sports: track, softball, and JV baseball

18

10

Staff Editorial: the dress code

Entertainment: the improv team and YA books

22

Taryn feeling victorious after winning a gymnastics trophy.

portagenorthernlight.com

May 15 , 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

03

Briefs

Emmanuel macron wins the french election in a landslide vote lily antor (11) || staff writter Getty Images

F

inishing in the top two out of eleven total candidates on April 23, 2017, Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron advanced to the runoff election that could ultimately determine the scope of France’s political future far beyond the

Marine Le Pen and her supporters. Despite the loss, the Washington Post reported that one Le Pen supporter declared, “She made giant steps, so let’s drink champagne!”

While the candidate’s loss was significant, Le

voter turnout in French history. Macron still plans to fight to maintain centrist values, and played Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” the anthem of the European Union, at the Louvre during his victory speech.

This was victory for the European Union as the 39 year-old became the president-elect, but it was a bitter truth to far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen and her supporters. five-year term. “The French election was vital in determining the fate European politics for the next few years,” said social studies teacher Kellie Pittman. After the second round election on May 7th, centrist Emmanuel Macron was declared the winner by gaining two-thirds of the total vote. This was victory for the European Union as the 39 year-old became the president-elect, but it was a bitter truth to far-right nationalist

FBI director James Comey fired by Trump

4 NEWS

May 15, 2017

Pen’s party has a significant chance of getting seats in Parliament in the next election. If so, her party will be able to still fight for leaving the European Union and upholding strong nationalist values, even without her in the Presidency.

As for Macron, he still has an uphill battle to fight. France remains divided in ideology, and although he won the election itself had the lowest

For the rest of Europe and the world, the election results show a shift from the nationalist, antigovernment, populist trend that has dominated politics the past few years with the Brexit vote and the election of President Donald Trump.

Whether it will end the trend, though, is still to be determined.

President Donald Trump issued a notice last Tuesday dismissing FBI director James Comey from his position. Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, said to news reporters that, “The president has accepted the recommendation of the attorney general and the deputy attorney general regarding the dismissal of the director.”

The official grounds of Comey’s firing related to

violating Justice Department principles by publically discussing information regarding the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server. However, many questions remain as to the timing, as the visit of a Russian ambassador was scheduled a day later, and Comey was leading the investigation regarding the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia.

portagenorthernlight.com

Briefs Japan trip scheduled for 2018 Sarah Nott gears up and offers a trip to Japan over summer 2018

KVCC orientation

anai freeman (10) || staff writter Portage Northern is offering an opportunity to expirence the trip of a lifetime by traveling to Japan for ten days. On this trip, students have the opportunity to travel to at least seven Japaneese cities and become immersed in the culture. While traveling can get a little expensive, there are financial aid programs available for Portage Northern students.

Also, by attending this trip, students have the opportunity to earn up to three college credits.

Visit Ms. Nott in the art room, email her at sjnott@portageps.org for an informational packet, or visit the website worldstrides.com/ international for more information.

Seniors planning to attend KVCC in the fall have to register for their mandatory orientation. They can do this by calling the Student Success Center at 269-488-4040 or going to kvcc.edu/orientation. According to the admissions office, the purpose of the 3.5 hour orientation is to show students the Kalamazoo Valley campus and services available. “Counselors will explain programs of study and will demonstrate how to search and register for classes online,” they said. Students will also have the opportunity to select their first semester of classes.

PNHS holds annual talent show

cameron schaefer (12) || photographer Friday, May 12th, Portage Northern held its annual talent show, comprised of 17 acts; including of acts from student singers, dancers, poets, and bands. The tailgate began at 5:00, which included a food truck, music, and activities. Doors opened at 7:30 p.m. and the show began at 8:00 p.m.

portagenorthernlight.com

“

I’m pretty excited for

the talent show, but I’m also pretty nervous.

-Neal Truitt (10)

Empowered club fundraiser Come this June, the Empowered Club will be asking for donations in exchange for magnents or possibly baked goods in order to raise money for an organization known as the “Advancement Project.” Their mission states that “the Advancement Project is a next generation, multi-racial civil rights organization. Rooted in the great human rights struggles for equality and justice, we exsist to fulfill America’s promise of a caring, inclusive and just democracy. We use innovative tools and strategies to strengthen social movements and achieve high impact policy change.” For more details visit www. advancementproject.org

“

There are less than 24 school days left until summer break, which is coming later than last year due to a changed school year calendar. Next year, school will release one day earlier, on June 14.

Even though the PN-PC softball rivalry is heated, the teams were able to come together to help out a worthy cause at their May 16 rivalry game, where they collected donations for the Power Up Backpack Program, which provides weekend food to nearly 380 Portage elementary students

May 15, 2017

NEWS

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kylee ewert (10) || staff writer

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06 SPOTLIGHT May 15, 2017

UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

portagenorthernlight.com

With all the construction going on at Northern, students are excited to finally see the new stadium along with the many needed changes to the parking lot and the addition of the new practice fields. While the changes won’t happen overnight, progress can start to be seen.

to ride a bus for a home game,” said Cameron Migliaccio (10), a member of the JV football team. He also believes, “More people will show up to the games,” which is likely to not just benefit the football team, but boost school spirit and pride, too.

The construction crew even got to start early on this due to all the nice weather Portage has been having lately. Some student athletes are excited to see the new changes and hope they all come in time for the next season. “It will be nice to have our own field so we don't have

Not only are the student athletes excited, but so are the coaches. Coach Pete Schermerhorn weighed in on this topic.

“It’s going to be a big change for us from a practice field condition they were playing on to an artificial surface, practice is going to be much more productive,”

portagenorthernlight.com

he said, going on to add, “The previous (field) wasn't in the best condition.” He also discussed how nice it will be to have a home game that is really at home.

While construction equipment has been seen and heard on campus for over a month, the official groundbreaking ceremony was on Wednesday, May 10 at the tennis courts. Stay tuned to http:// ppsconstruction.blogspot.com/ for the latest updates throughout the construction process.

May 15 , 2017 SPOTLIGHT

07

Breaking out of

the box

PN’s newest club engages different kinds of students lyndsey case (12) || staff writer Out of the Box Club is not the typical club you hear Brenda Marsh talk about on the morning announcements. A new club that started this March of 2017, Out of the Box strives to live up to live up to it’s title by pushing the boundaries of student relationships and communication.

The idea of this club originated from HannahThomas Perez and Gracie Poulsen as a way to improve communication and social connection between peers after being part of a similar club at West Middle School, Perez states, “we’re not only mentors to them, but more so we are friends. Many of the students in the club tell us constantly how excited they are every week for Out of the Box.” Laurie Kuiper, special ed teacher consultant and founder of the club, says, “the club is designed to promote friendships between students through team building activities, positive role models and honest communication.” Students will be given the opportunity to tutor and interact with other students that they typically might not communicate with, specifically students enrolled in the special education program offered here at Northern. Kuiper states, “Thinking ‘Out of the Box’ helps students to see that they are not alone, that their experiences can connect them to others and that everyone can be a leader.”

Cameron Schaefer Laurie Kuiper organized a game that the entire club played involving holding string and interacting with one another. She was thrilled when freshman Hannah Thomas-Perez got in touch with her to start the Out of the Box Club with her special needs students. Pictured above is Deontrae Morgan (11) enjoying the afterschool club with his friend, a fellow member of the Out of the Box Club.

learning about communication and cooperation.

“What I enjoy most about this club is that you are there for people, we do fun things like questions about friendship, which is very important, helping others, and how great it is,” says Justin Woodwyk (10). Focusing on what it means to be a good friend and communication, students look forward to learning. Bradley Freemire (11) states, “for the future, I hope to always come back [to this club].”

Though this club is generally small and fairly unknown

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NEWS

May 15 2017

here at Portage Northern, many members of Out of the Box club hope to bring more peers into this club. Deontrae Morgan (11) hopes more of his friends are able to join stating, “we have lots of things that are fun to do.” Matthew King (9) agrees. “I want my fellow peers to know that even though they might know, like, what we are on the outside, on the inside we can be really caring and kind people,” he says.

Being a non-exclusive club, though small, this club has the potential to create a tremendous impact on

This club meets at 3:15 every Thursday and is led by students Hannah Thomas-Perez, and Gracie Poulsen (9), and now Brie Bradley (10), starting with a warm up exercise and then leading on to team building activities such as building a box with string with everyone’s eyes closed, individuals. Rocky Duplessis (11) reflects on what this club has done for him, adding “it taught me how to be myself and get along with people.” From watching movies, to playing Just Dance, to easter egg hunts, to building team spider webs, to class discussions; this club offers a way for students to reflect and connect on a personal level. King adds, “ it is mainly about friends and we gather like a bond and that bond will never be broken.” Any student willing and eager to teach or learn about social connection, has a place in Portage Northern’s Out of the Box Club.

portagenorthernlight.com

A year of giving: PN’s impact on the community meredith ablao (11) || news editor While the school has an excellent academic reputation, it is rapidly growing another reputation as well: as a major outlet of community service. Many of the year’s fundraising and community service projects were led by the Student Senate.

Adviser Kellie Pittman said, “We want to support the entire student body and we look to do that in school through organizing activities, events, and helping other student groups in school, but students’ lives don’t end when they leave school and we want to be there for them in the community as well. We also represent a school with very generous students and we wouldn’t be able to do any of these projects without their generosity and willingness to help.”

The largest Senate fundraiser was Breadlift, where students partnered with CHS to raise $24,000 for the March of Dimes.

Senate also led a non-food drive for Syrian refugees, collecting 1600 items and delivering them to the Kalamazoo Islamic Center. They also hosted two blood drives that yielded over 120 donations. As each donation can potentially save up to 3 people, the blood drives had the potential to impact 360 local lives. Senate didn’t stop there, however, adopting three families for Christmas through the Portage Community Center’s Adopta-Family program. The Interact Club also took part in this initiative, pairing with the Portage Rotary Club to adopt and wrap presents for 10 families.

Senate also collected a total of 180 toys for children in need at Bronson and Mary Free Bed Children’s Hospitals, and continued their giving to sick children and their families by leading the Haylee’s Hope fundraiser in April, where students filled out orange paper ribbons with messages for Haylee Lewis’ family and raised $385 to help with funeral expenses. A second fundraiser

will take place at the end of May for the CureSearch Super Hero Walk that Haylee was planning on participating in.

Other student organizations also gave back to the community.

As a whole group, National Honors Society did a variety of community service projects, culminating in 5133 hours of service to others. Additionally, select individuals from National Honors Society tutored students at Central Middle School, North Middle School, and West Middle School twice a week all school year long.

While the year rolled on and May came along, the track team took two full-size school buses to volunteer start to finish at the Kalamazoo Marathon where thousands of runners participate.

Even at a departure time of 5:30 am and multiple hours of setting up equipment and tearing everything down at the end, they still were more than willing to be there. Race organizers even said that the team was “instrumental” while getting the event started.

used as a donation. Mama Faraji, Executive Director and Founder of Tuleeni Orphans Home, explains: “We are supporting 92 children studying at different schools in the country. We are supporting them through school fees, uniforms, health insurance and basic school supplies. Some of the children are in nursery school, primary school, secondary schools and others are in university/college.

We decided to take most of our children to boarding schools so that they can get better education and decrease home expenses.”

In a school that excels at so many things athletically and academically, PN students are still finding a way to be successful in the most important way: in the service of others.

Also volunteering to help the Kalamazoo Marathon was Greathen Derenne and Megan Hall’s 3rd hour freshman Modern American History class. They strung medals together neatly to help race organizer, acquiring the medals, bringing them to school, staying after school, and returning the completed medals.

Interact Club also held the annual Together for Tuleeni Fundraiser in order to help the young children in the orphanage to live happier lives. This year’s total was $5035.80, which was over the goal amount at $5000. Within that total, Student Senate hosted a successful men’s volleyball tournament. This tournament raised $272, all of which was

“Every action we take impacts the lives of others around us. The question is: are you aware of your impact?”

-Arthur Carmazzi

portagenorthernlight.com

May 15, 2017

NEWS 9

or anywhere for that matter, is a set dress code. This leaves individual staff members to decide what they believe is school appropriate and dress code people accordingly. What does “disrupts the educational process” even mean when it comes to clothing? At what point does an extra inch of thigh make it impossible for a classmate to find the value of x in an equation? Until we clarify the expectations, enforcement will continue to be selective and subjective. In some cases, certain people not getting dress coded is just pure luck on their part. Congratulations!

You reserve the right to bare arms!

B

eautiful Spring weather is on the horizon, and we all know what that means: hiking, biking, and wearing fingertip length shorts. The Northern Light would like to respond to concerns of students, specifically Freshmen who are experiencing the “Dress Code Crackdown,” for the first time. We took the questions they submitted to us and did our best to answer. Don’t fret, my pets. We will get through this together.

The first important thing to know about the dress code is that some teachers enforce it more than others. Sometimes it’s the teachers you would least expect. Overall, either all teachers should enforce it or all shouldn’t care, but...that would make too much sense. Women will always be sexualized, which leads to people assuming they have authority to women’s bodies; which, they obviously do. Clothing actually helps girls figure their bodies out and what fits comfortably, surprisingly enough. Now, you wouldn’t know that because you’re too distracted by their shoulder. I must admit, shoulders are indeed one of the most appealing parts of a human body. Who can resist the tan lines? The bone structure?

code” girls more than boys. Whether it be showing shoulders, or midriff, or having shorter shorts than the girl next to them, due to the length of a girls legs, girls are targeted more than boys because of the clothing females choose to wear. You don’t see any boys ever walking through the halls in skimpy skirts and midriffs. Boys tend to just have a provocative symbol on their clothing which is what gets them dress coded, but they (administrators) base dress coding a girl on how her body looks compared to the item of clothing.

I wouldn’t judge by the clothing either. Some people buy shirts that say things like “Let’s Buy Tacos,” so we obviously shouldn’t be taking them seriously. Let’s objectify their body shape instead!

E ff

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Secondly, adults do “dress

10 EDITORIAL May 15, 2017

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In general, the “dress code” for girls seems to be, to some teachers, fingertip length shorts, no tank tops, strappy shorts, or sleeveless tops, and no short skirts or dresses. Nevermind the see-through leggings that show more that shouldn’t be seen than short shorts or dresses, those are still fine. The only rules for males seem to be don’t wear inappropriate graphics on your apparel. Isn’t don’t sag your pants still a thing? Apparently not, according to a visual survey of the hallways.

What about tank tops and cut out shirts? Can we universally agree that men shouldn’t be wearing tank tops that show their armpits or half their sides? We don’t need to see the acne ridden shoulders, or worse, armpit hairs. How ridiculous is that? A girl wearing a strappy top that she feels comfortable in and that doesn’t expose any cleavage is often asked to change, but a boy revealing the same amount of shoulder is allowed to roam the halls a free man. Despicable.

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The third thing to know is that the dress code is pretty vague, which is one reason why the dress code here at Portage Northern is not always enforced: because it is so open to interpretation. The Code of Conduct states that “any fashion...that disrupts the educational process or presents a safety risk will not be permitted.”

It goes on to state that individual schools have the right to create firmer dress guidelines.

However, nowhere on our school’s website,

a t S

The definition of the phrase “dress code” is a set of rules that permit and prohibit certain articles of clothing from being worn. So, in the end, we don’t exactly have a dress code, do we? We more have a dress suggestion, and that suggestion isn’t even taught or enforced enough to tell whether or not it’s effective. This leaves us in a paradox. Like inception, but with shorter shorts. In practice, our dress “code” is: “If anyone has a problem with it, they fix it,” but it hasn’t always been that way. Our freshmen year (2013-2014), girls had to wear the two finger sleeves and fingertip length shorts. What happened to that? Freshman who attended this year’s Link Crew orientation restated the dress code as presented to them by upperclassmen almost unanimously as: “make sure nothing is showing.” So kneecaps? Hide them. Ears? Hide them.

Ankles? If they weren’t okay in Puritan times, they’re not okay now.

The dress code can be anything that a specific teacher wants it to be, and that’s the problem.

o C

Clothing can be used as self expression. The reason a dress code is idiotic is because it is far too difficult to appease everyone. Every individual is so unique, both dress code enforcers and dress code to take a glance at a person and instantly decide you “disagree” with their choice.

Obviously, there is a line of professionalism and decency, and there is a need to have guidelines to help students from deciding upon attire that is too far out there. “Everyone should just wear what they want because they like it that way,” might not be the best way to go, but the current code is so open that it leaves students considering before going to school whether it is appropriate or not and then likely having a negative experience if one out of their 7 teachers decides it isn’t. Seventh hour.

When they’ve been seen all day and nobody else has said anything.

Since what we wear is a big part of our self expression, every student should be allowed to wear whatever they want...within reason. While the short shorts/dresses/skirt rule is one of the most hated, might actually be good for us. There is a difference between a skirt and a wide belt.

We have three flights of stairs, ladies, and several people are below you, looking up, several times a day. Think about it. The standard of what equals “too short,” however, should be clearly defined and articulated so there is no confusion on behalf of staff or students. Take a moment and recall the clothing trends over the past few years. Crop tops and TAILS were in style at the same time. Girls revealing a slice of their abdomen were disciplined, but people wearing a fuzzy tail around their belt loop were allowed to wear that? As if that would be less distracting.

We have searched far and wide for reasoning as to why the “Dress and Grooming” regulations are not properly enforced, but cannot seem to find them...but ten bucks to whoever can.

portagenorthernlight.com

College. The frightening, exciting, new experience that, in 2013, an estimated 65.9 percent of high school graduates pursue. This grand experience has come into question more and more in the past few years. Do we need to pay thousands of dollars for a measly piece of paper showing that we went to school for four more years after high school? The answer is yes.

There are - of course - a multitude amount of reasons to choose not to attend college, such as the fact that it is too expensive, many high paying careers don’t require a degree, and high school didn’t prepare you properly, but in the end, studies have shown that not only does a degree improve overall health, but also the chance to make more money than your noncollege attending counterparts and have a better chance at succeeding outside of the workplace.

First, a study titled It’s Not Just the Mon-

ey, authored by Professor Phillip Trostel, finds that “college graduates report having “good” or “very good” health 44 percent more than their non-graduate peers do.” This is a significant figure considering that something as vital to life as bodily health can be influenced by whether or not you go to college. Also, a report from the Commission on Health indicates that those with more education are likely to “live longer, experience better health outcomes, and practice healthy behaviors like exercise, avoiding smoking, and getting regular checkups. According to data from the commission’s report, college graduates can expect to live at least five years longer than those who haven’t finished high school, especially men, who see a difference of 6.8 years between college grads and high school dropouts.”

Next, according to HowtoEDU.org, college graduates (with a bachelor’s degree) - on average - make over $23,000 a year more than high-school graduates,

pro

mackenzie brey (11) || staff writer

and over $32,000 than people without a high school degree. That can add up to more than a million dollars over a lifetime. While there are some success stories about people not going to college, their experience is the exception, not the norm, and there are serious consequences that come along with trying to sustain life on minimum wage. For example, for children (living in poverty), the longterm mental health effects are even more extreme. Urban Institute writes “In addition to occupying cognitive resources needed for education (arguably the clearest path out of poverty), poverty is toxic to children. Persistent stress and exposure to trauma trigger harmful stress hormones that permanently affect children’s brain development and even their genes.

The damage to childhood development is so severe that medical professionals now describe the early effects of poverty as a childhood disease.” This means that choosing to neglect the prospect of making more money has a lasting impact on

the great debate:

not only you, but your family as well.

Lastly, in a study conducted by the Utah Women and Education Project, results showed that women with a college degree - on average - were less overweight, participated in community and civic services more often (donating blood, voting, etc.), exhibited strong team working skills, exhibited stronger writing and verbal skills, showed better social skills, and more. The results from this study are impossible to ignore. Women who get college degrees simply are better equipped for the rest of their lives, in settings far beyond the workplace, but in settings such as community gatherings, self expression, and simply talking with others.

The movement against pursuing a college degree needs to be reconsidered and although there are more than a handful of reasons to skip a college degree , the reasons to attend college are endless and clearly benefit the masses to the greatest extent.

con

meredith ablao (11) || news editor

Does college really matter?

Success is subjective, just like this article. All people have different views on the word success and what it truly stands for. The word success is engrained in day to day lifestyles. For example, achieving a daily chore, finishing an Algebra 2 test, remembering to exercise, or even getting out of bed in the morning are all their own successes. Every person has their own personal values and struggles that impact their lives greatly. Some people can make it to college and become what they dream to be, and others may not be given the tools necessary to make it in this manner; however, this does not make them unsuccessful. Especially since it is graduation season here at Portage Northern, and why it’s not totally necessary to go to a 2-4 year university to be so-called “successful.” In fact, a recent interview with Google’s vice president for

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People Operation's discovered that 14% of people at Google never went to a 4 year college. And everyone knows Google is one of the most technologically advanced companies… Hmmm, how could that be?

trends.com, the average electrician in the Portage area is roughly $49,500, which is only an average price. With money like this you can support a family, a sizable place to live, and food on the table.

In 2017, it is time for more people to expand their views of what success is, and truly understand what else is out there.

According to Brookings Institution, 1 in 10 jobs in the United States is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) job that does not even require a bachelor’s degree, and those jobs, make about $53,000 per year. There is a substantial amount of jobs for people to work as a “skilled laborer.” These jobs like plumbers, electricians, and construction workers are just as valuable, and need just as much skill as many other types of professions. In fact, according to career-

It’s not that a 4 year college isn’t a good investment. It is true that people who go to college will have a higher chance of getting employed, but at the same time according to valuesandcapitalism.com, 50% of people who start their bachelor’s degree do not finish. Talk about money down the drain. Also, if someone goes to a four year college and proceeds to get their master’s in a very valuable field of work….Education. A teacher’s starting salary in the state of Michigan is $35,900. According to obamacare.net, in today’s realm, the poverty line for a family of five is $35,506. With this being said,

families with graduated parents, who try and get jobs off the bat will not be able to sustain their families well being. When they could be out working jobs as electricians or plumbers making more than this amount. These days are harder too…

Even the President of Western Michigan University, John Dunn, told mlive that, for students to pay their way to college without any parental help is “not possible...if you look at what tuition is now, and what minimum wage is now, it’s not possible given what they are up against.”

There are many people who would frankly just be better off without that fight.

College is a beastly investment, and there are plenty of other jobs, and work to do around here. So get busy.

May 15 , 2017

OPINION 11

taking

the

path

most

travelled

demi jensen (11) || staff writer

cameron schaefer (12) || photographer

W

hether it be heading down what has become the traditional path of attending a four year college, choosing instead to take a year off to work and save money, attending community college or trade school, or blazing their own, innovative trail in the armed forces or the workforce, our Huskie seniors are eager to begin the transition into adulthood and move forward in the world with the knowledge and life skills that high school has provided them. Here is a look into some of the options that the future holds for Portage Northern’s 2017 graduating class.

12 FEATURE May 15, 2017

portagenorthernlight.com

In just four short years, approximately 60% of PN’s students will graduate and go on to attend a four year college. New people, a new school, and possibly a new state. Attending a four year college is a goal that the academic system puts upon kids practically since they first step foot in a school for the first time.

“I think students choose to go to college to prepare for the career that they want in the future,” said Krista Hovestadt, a counselor here at PN, “it is also part of growing up for many students.” As the end of the year rolls around, the 2017 senior class will be graduating and heading mostly to four year colleges. Because this is the path most travelled here at PN, it is important to take a look at possibly attending a four year college.

Attending a four year college can be a great path to take in order to study for a possible future career.

“I want to do something with criminal justice, but I want to do more of the analyzing data and crime scenes and stuff,” said Stephanie Scafaria (12). Scafaria is attending Ferris State after graduating high school, and she plans on studying forensics science and playing soccer while at school. “[Attending a four year college] has always just kind of been what I’ve been thinking of,” said Scafaria. When it comes to deciding whether or not a four year college is the right path to take, it’s important to take your personal goals and passions into account. Like Scafaria, a four year college can be an amazing opportunity to study for a future career plan. For some students, attending a four year college is simply what feels right

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or is the best option for personal reasons. “I feel like a two year college, or like a community college… I just feel like I would go there and then not transfer to another college,” said Chad Fisher (12), “I like the bigger class, and the whole university is pretty cool.”

Fisher is going to Western Michigan University, and these aspects are all components that Western offers.

These are all important factors when deciding which college to attend, factors in which can lead students to attend four year colleges.

Of course, there are other options that can be chosen; however, there are benefits to going to a four year college after high school. “Some careers require a college degree in order to get hired. I also think college is a great stepping stone between high school

and adulthood,” said Hovestadt, adding, “it can be four years of learning, growing and preparing to be a self-sufficient adult.” All though deciding to go to a four year college may seem like a no-brainer to some, it is vital to look at the benefits of attending both public and private colleges and universities. Class size, areas of interest, and tuition all are considerations to be made. “I would tell a student to research colleges that interest them in order to find the best fit for their future education,” said Hovestadt. Whether or not a four year university is the best fit for a student, research can answer important questions when planning for the future, and even if 4 more years of school doesn’t sound like the most intriguing plan right now, for many students, it will be the best plan.

Percentage of Students Going to College District Avg. PN Avg. PC Avg. State Avg. National Avg.

73% 80% 78% 62.3% 68%

May 15, 2017 FEATURE

13

Staying Local & Saving Cash

Why a quarter of Northern graduates will be attending KVCC in the fall

allison mckenzie (11) || feature editor & issra said (11) || staff writer A four year college is not always the best option for many students. Approximately 25% of the senior class plans on attending KVCC for the first two years of their post-secondary education. With the average cost of private schools at $33,480 and public schools at $9,650 and $24,930, depending on whether the school is in-state or out-of-state, tuition may create a financial hardship for undergraduate students.

debt, spread out among about 44 million borrowers.

That is approximately $620 billion more than the total U.S. credit card debt. Imagine spending thousands of dollars for a great education and later on paying more than double what it was originally worth, not to mention the average Class of 2016 graduate has $37,172 in student loan debt, up six percent from last year (Student Loan Hero).

Drayke Simpkins (12) says many people choose a local community college because of the underlying issue that everyone does not belong to a “family that has started a college fund for them and can afford 10,000+ a year tuition.” The costs of attending a traditional four year university can mount up quickly. At times, families and students do not begin to ponder on the price tag that comes with college until junior or senior year of high school, when the dream becomes a clearer reality. Also, community college can be a wise financial option for students who are unsure about the degree they want to pursue. “It is a good option for those wanting to start their post secondary education at a slower pace or ease into college courses,” said counselor and senior class advisor Cindy Figueroa.

Community college is a great way to get an education on a budget and receive more attention from professors due to smaller class sizes.

Community colleges greatly expand our nation’s postsecondary capacity, serving as the entry point to higher education for over 40 percent of U.S. undergraduates (Community College Research Center).

Community college is a great way to get an education on a budget and receive more attention from professors due to smaller class sizes. “If I could change anything, I would have gone to KVCC for my first two years because I would have gotten the same degree but I wouldn’t be paying for it [now],” says Jessica Clark.

Many students coming straight out of high school are ready for a change, but are not financially ready. “It’s great to get your core classes out of the way at a cheap rate and then move onto your major with more money to spare,” said Dylan Miller (12). This plan saves money in the long run and reduces the change of student loan debt that can lead to critical debt later in life. In fact, Americans owe over $1.4 trillion in student loan

14 FEATURE

May 15, 2017

Overall, community college is seen as an easier adjustment between high school and college. Students have the option to stay at home during these two years of learning. “Personally, I don’t feel prepared to so quickly be away from my parents after being taken care of by them for a little over 18 years,” said Simpkins. Although college freshman are adults, it can be an abrupt change in lifestyle to accept complete independence after years of being dependent upon their parents. This post-secondary route allows for students to focus on being students, rather than stew over the responsibilities that moving farther away from home can bring.

Community college provides comfortable conditions for students, with regards to accommodation and finances, as well as an attentive college experience. This gives them an entire two years to form a compelling resume, with better grades, extracurriculars, and recommendations to allow them transfers into the university of their choice. The two-year course of study provides students of all socioeconomic backgrounds a running start to their post-secondary educational career.

Whether or not the student struggles financially to provide for their education, community college can still be a viable option for any high school senior.

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Grace Megdan is taking a year off as well, but for even different reasons. For her, the time to relax and save money for college are her main motivations. “I plan on saving up from my full-time job so I can pay for books,” she said, adding: “I would like to feel more prepared for school because right now I am not in the mindset to start another four years of school.” Unlike Chadwick and Gendre, Medgan does have some hesitation about her gap year. “I feel like I may not want to go back after my year is through,” she shared. This fear is very common amongst students contemplating the concept of a gap year, but in a study conducted by the AGA (American Gap Association), 90 percent of students who take a gap year after college returned to college within a year, and a study done by Sydney University researchers on more than 900 first-year students has showed that “not only did taking a year off have a positive effect on students’ motivation, it also translated to a real boost in performance in the first semesters at university.” With the right mindset, goals, and support system, going to college after a gap year is becoming the norm, not the exception.

For most high school students, it is without a doubt that they will graduate, attend some four-year college, then go on to the rest of their life. For at least three students here at Portage Northern, this is not the case at all. Bella Gregory-Chadwick (12), Agathe Gendre (12), and Grace Megdan (12) plan to embark on an adventure of sorts after they graduate – a gap year. For some, this gap year may be frightening and may look like a lot of time to fill with nothing, but these three plan on making the most of it. Whatever the motivation, whether it is to mature, save money, or simply be on firmer footing, the gap year might be just the tool that some students need to succeed in college.

Taking a

exploring the world

Break Three PN students explain why they are taking a gap year

For Bella GregoryChadwick, this year will be about self-growth. Because she graduated in under 3 years, she has little spare time to “act and pursue art, so I can better decide if I desire a career in the arts.

I will also be spending a month travelling Europe studying art and language. The free year also allows me to spend time on community service and things I am passionate about.” She came to this decision after considering the major benefits of taking a gap year: “I will be one year older, more aware of who I am as a person, I will better know what I want to do in college, gain life experience, and gain professional experience in my career path,” she said. Also, “statistically, studies show that people who take a gap year after high school do significantly better in their college in terms of academics and overall happiness.” She might be on to something: Business Insider recently argued for changing the name from gap year to bridge year because it can allow students to bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood and take part in new experiences, like travelling the country or participating in a service program. A study conducted

by Middlebury College even concluded that students that took a gap year were “frequently more mature, more focused, and more aware of what they want to do with their college education.”

portagenorthernlight.com

saving up for school

mackenzie brey (11) || staff writer

Agathe Gendre’s reasons for taking a gap year are vastly different. She has epilepsy, a neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain. This has caused her to miss a lot of school, so the decision to take a gap year allows her to focus on the end of her senior year without the pressure of “what is coming next,” helping her get her grades up. The gap year will also give her time to have brain surgery to help with her epilepsy without having to worry about missing time from college classes or being healed in time to start class again. It will also give her time to pursue her passion: art. “I can use the time to improve my art, and then next year, I will be an art major in college.” Gendre shows how, for some students, a gap year is the most feasible option and will help them start college off on a better foot than if they would have gone straight out of high school.

May 15, 2017

time to heal FEATURE

15

lexi gavlas (11) || spotlight editor Is college worth it? Worth the cost, student loans, not to mention if the degree will get you all that far? In a speech in January 2014, former President, Barack Obama, stated: “I promise you folks can make a lot more, potentially, with skilled manufacturing or the trades than they might with an art history degree.” If the President of the United States, himself possessing an advanced degree, can agree that college might not always be the best way to go, then perhaps students should have more freedom to pursue this option as well.

College can have its pros and cons, and for many young people in the United States and here at Portage Northern, students learn that college might not be for them. For Hannah Powers (12), paying for college just wasn’t possible at this time in her family’s life. Instead, she is pursuing her dream of becoming an FBI agent by joining the armed forces. “I’m hoping to be in the FBI and they don’t allow student loans or any debt,” says Powers. Even if she doesn’t end up in the FBI, her military experience will still put her on firm footing in the job market. According to Chron.com, applicants with

military experience gaining a potential advantage over similarly qualified applicants with a bachelor’s degree but no military experience. Though her parents wouldn’t have to pay for a college tuition, “they were a bit shaky at first,” Powers explains. “ I’m the oldest child, so my mom was super upset for a while, but she’s gotten used to it.” While not applying to college can sometimes lead to regret when watching your peers get accepted into 4 year universities and sporting their new college gear, for Powers, there are few regrets. “I don’t think I regret [not applying to college]. There were times when I thought about if it was the right decision or not but I think it will be the best for me in the long run.”

For students with disabilities, Project Search is a post secondary program to aid special education students in developing marketable skills for the workplace. This year- long internship requires a student recommendation from the school personnel or a community agency and then students are invited to formally apply. Once accepted, “student participate in job training throughout the summer and eventually begin their intern-

16 FEATURE May 15, 2017

ship at Bronson Hospital,’ says Megan Richter, Transition Coordinator and Secondary Inclusive Education coach in the Portage, Schoolcraft and Vicksburg area. If it works out, the student then gets a job at the hospital. Another option for students with special needs is the Young Adult Program.

Special education teacher Esther Burnside explains that the YAP is somewhere that students can focus on “functional academics with the goal towards as much adult independence as possible. Some students stay at the Young Adult Program until the age of 26. Some attend there just to get job experience or life skills practice, then graduate in a much shorter period of time.”

Still another option for special education students is the Youth Opportunities Unlimited program, where students learn independent living and transitional skills to give them the firmest start to their adult lives. YOU even offers opportunities for general education students who do not graduate to still finish school with an online class and support program called ReConnect.

Education for Employment classes also provide Portage Northern students with op-

tions that may or may not include college. Christopher Cavanagh (12), he was able to complete his EFE and obtain a welding license, which allows him to be employed right out of high school. “We got to go through a process of learning different welds, and at the end of the semester you take a certification test,” he says.

Cavanaugh also feels that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to options other than college, though he still sometimes feels left out in the application process that his peers went through. However, his passion for welding comes out on top and he remembers that, “you don’t necessarily need college to go into the workforce to do what you love.

“I think [those who go straight into the workplace] could have an equal chance at success.”

Current research indicates that they might even have a greater chance of success: according to a study published in The Atlantic, the “underemployment rate” for young college graduates is 44 percent. What does that mean? Almost half of the recent graduates in the United States are employed in positions that do not require a college degree. Additionally, unemployment rates for recent college grads are at an all time

high at 5.6%. Among young college graduates, 9.7 percent are neither enrolled in further schooling nor employed (compared with 8.4 percent), they’re simply stuck exactly where they are. With Cavanaugh able to enter the workforce right away, he has bested these statistics.

High school teacher Jillian Gordon turned heads earlier this year when she authored an online piece called “Why I’m telling some of my students not to go to college.” In it, she said: “with student loan debt reaching an all-time high of $1.2 trillion (surpassing credit card debt), and little research to support that the investment is worth it, I am cheating my student by not encouraging them to make the best choice for themselves. And a fouryear degree is not always synonymous with “best choice.” A bachelor’s degree is not a piece of paper that says “You’re a success!” just as the lack of one doesn’t say “You’re a failure!””

While the post-secondary path of no college might be one that seems less travelled, it could just be the one that makes all the difference.

portagenorthernlight.com

cameron schaefer (12) || photographer With utmost confidence in my heart, I can sincerely say that deciding to attend Portage Northern only a few months before the start of my high school career was the single best decision I have made thus far.

Without believing that my mind and body were unable to complete a 5k at my very first Portage Early Bird to transforming into a resilient and motivated runner alongside the infinite support of my cross country team, my family, I would not be bidding farewell to my high school years with as much fulfillment in my heart as what currently exists. The hardest part is leaving a society which has allowed me to flourish into a well rounded student, athlete, friend, teammate, and overall person. What I leave with you is... an attitude of gratitude will set out miles of happiness.

abby seeber (12) || opinion editor

lyndsey case (12) || media manager

I can’t help myself from singing Michael Scott’s parody of “Goodbye Toby,” from The Office, in my head as I write this. I am both terrified and excited to leave this place. Terrified because I know I am going to get lost on my college campus in Valparaiso as soon as I get there. Excited, because I am excited for what the future holds. If I were Raven Baxter, I could know exactly what the future holds. Unfortunately, I am not Raven Baxter; but, I feel like I make a pretty excellent Abby Seeber. So Abby and I (Abby) will go see what the future holds. I guess all that is left to say is: “Goodbye Toby.”

I have always been a cat person, therefore, I never thought I would leave high school, happy to have been a huskie the past four years. I don’t mean to toot my own horn but for those who have known me the past four years are aware how much I have changed, which surprisingly, I never had to ‘change’ my clothes for violating the dress code. Moving four hours away, to “the armpit of America” according to Johnny Kozacki, a completely isolated town known as Oxford Ohio in a college called Miami of Ohio, I have, and will be accustomed to change. To give future Northern graduates a little word to the wise for the future; accept new friends, accept that it’s ok if your middle school 4.0 turns into a 3.7, accept that it’s not nerdy to participate in school events & dress up days, accept that grades in fact do NOT define who you are as a person nor your character and accept that the people you’ll become close with your senior year are people you wish you would have four years ago.

matilda beuhler (12) || staff writer cortney chow (12) || editor in chief Some people recall highschool as a nightmarish apocalyptic experience, there is a certain beauty of looking back and seeing what you have amounted to in the matter of 4 years, 208 weeks, 1460 days, 2.102 x 10^6 minutes...and we’re still counting. Everyone has their own scrapbook of a mind when it comes to memories, but mine has been documented on ink and paper during my time in The Northern Light. This is not just a high school publication, this is where I spent hours and hours with the people I loved with the same passion for student news. All I can manage is a thank you for giving me years of lessons and laughs that I could never find elsewhere. Thank you, The Northern Light, for giving me more than what I could ever ask for.

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The first time I entered PNHS was in September, I was scared, excited and I had no idea what to expect from American High School but soon I found myself the American teaching style and among all my classes Journalism was my favorite. I had never taken this class before and I soon fell in love with the class and I met many remarkable people in there. I only attended Portage Northern for a year but it changed my life. After this year I can say that living and studying in another culture is a great experience and for all the people out there who are thinking about studying abroad, do it, it’s amazing.

the nl staff

Senior

Sign Off

megna joshi (12) || website editor WOOHOO graduation is almost here and I could not have more mixed feelings. I am excited to see what the future holds but I am sad to see everyone go their separate ways. I think all seniors can agree that we got really lucky with our class, which will make graduation memorable and bittersweet. Leaving Portage Northern will be one of the biggest changes of my life because I am going to be attending University of San Francisco in the fall. Although I’ll miss all my friends, I can not wait to see what they accomplish in college.

I’ll especially miss Abby Seeber though.

May 15, 2017

FEATURE

17

Jaspal Singh (12) Field Jaspal Singh throws discus and shotput. Seen here throwing a disc during a field event, his expressions displays the intensity of the sport.

Portage Northern Track and Field running, jumping, and throwing

their way to the state finals

Jonathan Leasure is a sprinter; participating in the 400, 200, and 100 meter dash. This picture captures him running the 200 meter dash, his favorite event.

Duane Jackson participates in the 200 dash, 400 dash, 110 hurtles, and longjump. This photograph captures Jackson’s longjumps.

Fiston H. (11)

Jonathan Leasure (11) Track

Duane Jackson (12) Track and Field

all p

Track hoto

s by

Ahre

Fiston Hagenimana runs the 200 and 400 meter dash. This picture captures the intense finish to a grueling 400 meter race.

n Ka

ylor

salvador delveccio (10) || staff writter

P

ortage Northern Track and field is coming off of an excellent performance at the Jackson Invitational in which several PN athletes placed well above the competition.

When it comes to the women’s side, Northern is lead by past state qualifiers Peyton Witt (10) and Madison Ford (12). Ford finished second in the pole vault at the Jackson Invitational and is the current record holder of the highest jump ever by a Huskie with a height of 11’ 3”, breaking a record set by Natalie Heidel back in 2006. With states around the corner, Ford is as focused as ever and is ready to compete. “I’m looking forward to competing with the best people in the state, and having the honor to compete with them,” says Ford. Long distance runner Peyton Witt overpowered the competition in the 3200 meter race coming in first place at the Jackson Invite with a personal best time of 5:11:30. Ford is currently seeded third in the region in pole vault and Witt is fourth in the 1600. The top 2, plus additional qualifiers by distance, height, and time, make it to the state meet. With state meet appearances already under

18 SPORTS May 15, 2017

Omar Thaj (11)

Luke Daniel (10)

Track and Field

Track

Omar Thaj runs the 100, 200, and 400 meter dash in track, as well as participating in the long jump field event.. This picture was taken in the final strides of the 100.

portagenorthernlight.com

Luke Daniels runs the 800, 1600, 4x4, and 4x8.

This picture was taken during the mile, his favorite event.

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their belts, both girls have hopes of not just reaching the meet, but finishing on the podium.

As for the men, Northern’s Randy Prince (12) came in first place at the Jackson invite in the discus, winning by ten feet. He is the current leader in the state of Michigan with a throw of 172’ 8”. Last season, Price came in 4th place at states and is now looking to hopefully be crowned discus champion, capping off a memorable senior season. “I want to be a state champion,” he said. Though his track career is coming to an end here at Northern, Prince plans on to keep competing at the college level. “I want to throw discus at GVSU,” says Prince.

Fellow senior teammate Joe Brown (12) who qualified for states last year in the 100 meter, looks to make another appearance after finishing 18th last season. Brown will also be apart of the 4x100 meter relay team with fellow seniors Tyriq Kingston (12), Duane Jackson (12), and Drew McCardwell (12); the team qualified for states last season.

May 15, 2017 SPORTS

19

Softball swings for the post season

issra said (11) || staff writer with guest writers bailey neal and lizzy verduzco

Going into the last week of the regular season, the varsity softball team is nearing the end of a season where they won their first 8 games by an average of 8 and a half runs and are currently 19-7.

Going into the season, pitcher Lizzy Verduzco was unsure about how the year might go.

A“fter lacerating a finger in her pitching hand at the end of the previous year, she broke that same hand playing travel softball over the summer. “I squared up to bunt and I don’t know what happened, if I didn’t see it or what, but it hit me and cracked the bone in the middle of my hand,” she said. “I was really worried that it wouldn’t heal right and I wouldn’t be able to spin the ball like I usually do.” She couldn’t play during the fall travel season but started prepping again in the winter. “My pitching coach in Ann Arbor helped me change my grip to get better a spin, and my hand healed perfectly. I’ve had no problems,” she said, relieved.

Verduzco’s pitching has combined with a strong team effort lead offensively by Paige Poulter (12) at leadoff hitter, who leads the team in home runs, and Jessie Beadle (11), who has a high RBI count of 41. Showing their depth, the team is led in hitting by sophomore Sarah Budnick. When asked what made the season great so far, team members actually didn’t mention “winning” first. “I think our sport is more about being together than some other sports. We are a really close team,” said Jillian Bowe (11). Kayla Blett (12) agreed, saying, “We try to make it fun at practice, we work hard, but we joke around, too.”

This team bonding has had positive results.

“We are starting to work better together. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and are able to help each other out that way,” explained Verduzco. Lexie Coon (11) echoed those feelings as well, saying, “I think we’re having a lot of fun playing and we’re playing as a team instead of as individuals like we have done in years before.”

20 SPORTS May 15, 2017

Junior Hannah Biddlecome warms up for the game against Kalamazoo Central.

She plays right field. “I like it because I get to use my arm in different situations, like to throw to first base or all the way home,” she says.

Photos by Kelli Biddlecome

Left to right: Senior Paige Poulter plays 2nd base for the Huskies at the Portland Invite; Juniors Jessie Beadle, Lizzy Verduzco, Hannah Biddlecome, and Taylor Like celebrate the win at Portland Softball Invitational; Senior Kayla Blett contemplates a steal in game against Three Rivers.

While the season has been very successful, it has not been without struggle. Team members shared a defining all-time-low moment from the season: Last Tuesday’s loss against Lakeshore, where the team was mercied 15-0 in the third inning. “Once we start losing, we just keep losing,” said Blett. “We also get thinking that one mistake will lose the whole game for us,” said Bowe. The teammates did learn from the game, though. “We need to communicate more, that’s why we lost,” Blett explained. Coon has already seen the results of the team’s efforts to improve communication.

“Communication in softball is key. Last year, Taylor Lyke and I had a lot of pot flies drop in between us, but this year we’ve only had one drop because we’re communicating better,” she said. The loss has also inspired the team to play even harder in their upcoming games.

“It has definitely increased our motivation to beat PC and Mattawan next week,” said Bowe.

of our harder opponents,” said Lauren Chavis (11). We played Mattawan once already in a tournament and lost, but we’ve been working hard at practice and I feel like we’re ready for them.” The Huskies cap off a grueling week on Saturday with the Ann Arbor Area Tournament, which, according to head coach Ed Bowe, will feature “state-ranked teams like Howell, Utica Henry Ford and Escanaba” and be “arguably the toughest tournament in the state.” Coach Bowe hopes that this high level of competition will prepare the team for the district tournament.

Northern drew a pre-district game this year, meaning they play Loy Norrix on Tuesday before tournament games begin on Saturday.

If they advance, they will play either PC or Mattawan in the next game. “We got a really tough draw and Saturday will be an exhausting day for us,” said Verduzco. “The district games are one and done, but we want Those games will prove crucial to the Huskies’ to go as far as we can,” said Bowe. “We are a post-season. “Central and Mattawan are two good team. We just need to play well.”

portagenorthernlight.com

Swingin’ For The Fences: JV baseball takes on the year

20-7

carter landis (11) || sports editor It’s time once again to fill the stands and watch America’s Pastime put on by the Portage Northern Huskies JV baseball team. Baseball is back in full swing and it’s looking up for the Huskies.

The Huskies are off to a hot 18-5 start and at the helm is coach Ben Neal. Neal is thrilled with the team’s early success, but doesn’t accredit it to a specific player.

“We got a lot of parity from top to bottom. All the kids can play. You know, a lot of baseball teams, their first four hitters are studs, and they carry the offense, but while our first four hitters are good, so are our five through nine hitters. So everybody’s competing and contributing,” he said. Sophomore first baseman Eli Caranci agreed. “We could flip our order, everybody in our lineup can bat, it doesn’t matter how we position it.” Equality in a team’s production can result in a steady output of offense, and that’s what Neal claims has helped his team get off to this hot start.

Greg Lapetina slides into third base. Lapetina is a pitcher and a third baseman for the JV team. The Huskies are now 20-7.

Offense isn’t the only thing Neal has been impressed with. The pitching has been absolutely dominant, going out to the mound and shutting down opposing hitters. “Our pitchers are throwing strikes.” Neal also mentions the team effort aspect of the game. “When you’ve got eight other guys trying to get one guy out, good things happen.” Caranci says the reason the team has gotten off to such a good start is the hard work from everyone and playing together. “Mostly working hard in practices, first day of practice our coach told us that when you get the amount of pitches you want, just hit a home run, just hit it as hard as you can and if you don’t hit it as hard as you can, we’re gonna send you running. You gotta work to the expectations and be able to work hard to make this program successful.”

The team agrees that playing as one and working hard is the key as to why they’ve been so successful.

Even when the game isn’t at its fastest, the Huskies remain energetic by sticking together and encourag-

ing each other. “We stay focused by encouraging our pitcher, and also talking to the other outfielders, making sure they know how many outs there are, and keeping focused on what they need to shoot for when they get the ball,” says Josh Hartman (10), an outfielder on the team.

the sophomores this year played on the freshman team last year and we did well last year, so I feel like if we stay together as a team we can work together, and we can have a chance at that.”

“It’s exciting to see who’s gonna be that guy, that makes the big play, or gets the big hit, or comes in to shut a team down on the mound, but just really make a difference in a game.”

-Coach Ben Neal

The Huskies are optimistic about their chances at succeeding late in the season into the playoffs. “I kind of expect our team to keep winning, we’ve been winning a lot, so I kind of expect that to keep on rolling, even though we’ve got a tough schedule coming up,” says Caranci.

He also spoke confidently about the team’s’ chances at the playoffs. “I think we have potential because all

Ben Neal

gonna take care of itself.”

Neal echoed this sentiment. “It’s exciting to see who’s gonna be that guy, that makes the big play, or gets the big hit, or comes in to shut a team down on the mound, but just really make a difference in a game. If we continue to throw strikes and play together and continue to attack, winning’s

Remaining Schedule:

5/16 away v s . @ PC 4pm 5/18 home v s . @ Matt. 4pm Ben Neal First baseman Trey Neal (#10) throws to Zach Quinn (#17) in an attempt to keep the bases empty.

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Ben Neal Second baseman Malcom Gaynor (#4) tags a runner out and throws back to first base, completing a double play.

May 15, 2017

SPORTS 21

upcoming Marvel and DC movies The Improv Team celebrates after their second show of the year. There was a grand turn out from the Portage community.

Improv team brings laughs to Portage Northern

Cece Weeks

megna joshi (12) || website editor

I

t is almost impossible to ignore the “come see the Jugband boys!” signs all over PN, but still not many people know who they are.

With a team comprised of Abby Seeber (12), Eli Barker (12), Sydney Dudly (10), Elliot Hoinville (11), Ryan Gilmour (12), Ellie Mancina (9), Issac Reid (11) and Luke Fisher (12), the Jugband boys are taking the improv scene by storm. They meet once a week with forensics coach and English teacher CeCe Weeks and are always coming up with new ideas to make people laugh. Before the Jugband boys started at Portage Northern, many students did not know what improv was or even how to do it. However, after multiple improv shows were performed at PN, many students have now shown interest in the hobby.

For those who don’t know what improv is, it is: acting in stream of consciousness

with a prompt. Shows like co-captains and it is someWild N’ Out, Whose line is thing we are both going to it anyways? And Saturday miss dearly. I plan on doing Night Live use a lot of im- an improv team like this at prove in their sketches. The K College next year.” Improv Jugband Boys use the same is something close to Barkconcept as those shows do by er’s heart and it makes him acting completely without a and the other members on script and with everything on the team smile just as much the spot. Team member Is- as the audience. But Barker sac Reid (11) said, “we prac- also added that, “sometimes tice every it can be “It is someweek and exhaustit’s lots of ing to thing we are fun. Being be funny both going to on an imall the prov team time. miss dearly.” with lots I’m so of people t i r e d from different grades it gives that I don’t feel my bones a chance to work together anymore, except for my funand it’s a good mix. I’m really ny bone.” Although being excited for the talent show funny all the time is exhausttoo because we have some- ing, the team can do it all the thing fun in store for the au- time. If you’re looking for a dience!” laugh, come see the Jugband Boys on June 9th in the choir The seniors on the team find room at 7:00 pm or just talk it bittersweet that the team is to the team members in the coming to an end. Eli Barker hallway at school, you won’t (12), two time Jugband boys be let down. member, says “Abby and I are

22 ENTERTAINMENT May 15, 2017

lexi kava (11) || copy editor Here ye, here ye, calling all the nerds at Portage Northern! It’s time to get serious about a few things here, like Spider Man. If you follow any Marvel news, then you all must know that the brand new Spider Man movie, Spider Man Homecoming is coming out this July!

It’s one of the most anticipated movies of the summer and with Tom Holland as the new Peter Parker, fans are going crazy with anticipation! In the film, Peter Parker is set to go head to head with the most powerful foe he’s ever faced, the Vulture, and with help from his new found mentor Tony Stark AKA Iron Man, Peter is supposed to conquer this enemy head on. Personally, I am pumped to see the dynamic between Peter and Tony since they’re so far apart age wise.

On another movie note, the Avengers Infinity Wars part one has now begun filming, and all the Marvel fans are beginning to hypothesize about what will happen. Will Loki be in

it? Who will die? How will it end? All of the many questions floating around the internet won’t be answered until the movies release in May of 2018, however Chris Evans, who plays Captain America, has said the Infinity Wars will be the last two Marvel movies his star spangled character will take part in, and with the death of one character assured, fans are concerned.

Yikes! For some news from the other side of the spectrum the DC universe is launching a movie blockbuster of their own this summer; Wonder Woman. The movie will be released July 2nd and takes place in the trenches of World War 1. Starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine and more amazing actors, this movie is set to rival the new Spiderman in its popularity and many ladies are pumped to finally see a female take the lead of a superhero movie.

Well, that’s all for today, but don’t forget to always be nerdy and flaunt it proudly!

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May 15, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT 23