F RI DAY, N OV EM B ER 30, 2012
Think before you speak Kenya Dream: Did we learn anything at all? OPINIONS
FEATURES pages 6 & 7
pages 4 & 5
VOLUME 54 NO. 3
Bend it like Anand
Jane Li: School artist FLIP SIDE page 12
SPORTS pages 8 & 9
The Prospector
CHSPROSPECTOR.ORG
Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School
10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CA 95014
MAKING HISTORY A tribute to Mr. Jay Lawson
PHOTO BY JESSICA SHIN
After 36 and a half years of teaching, history teacher Jay Lawson retires TANAY TANDON sports assistant
VINITRA SWAMY news assistant
For over 36 years, history teacher Jay Lawson has greatly contributed to academic excellence in Cupertino schools. Lawson, who plans to retire at the end of the semester, has had the opportunity to not only instruct countless sophomores and juniors through the courses of World History and U.S. History but also to help many gain new perspectives on the world in which they live. Said senior Joyce Wahba, a former student in Lawson’s world history class, “[Lawson] is so passionate about teaching, [which] really comes across in the way he always has tons of videos and tons of activities for us to do. It’s never a boring day in his class.” Lawson’s unexpected retirement is due to a recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, MS is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system and causes symptoms of mental and physical fatigue due to damaged scar tissue in the spine.
“A lot of MS patients say ‘I’m tired of being tired’ and that’s the truth. Although there is no cure, I’m feeling pretty good that I’ll still have a productive life,” Lawson said. Lawson, who initially left school to deal with his initial symptoms, has now returned for the semester. “Fortunately for me, I decided that I’m going to go out on my own terms, and that’s the main reason I’m back.” Previously a teacher at Monta Vista High School, Lawson chose to transfer to the school with a little bit of apprehension, but quickly realized he made the right decision. Said Lawson, “After about a year, I said, ‘I am so glad I came to [the school].’ This has been my home ever since 1986. I just love this place.” When he was younger, Lawson thought he would be an elementary school teacher, but due to his role as the head wrestling coach at Monta Vista, he decided to teach at high school instead. Lawson later led the school’s wrestling team to the league playoffs in 2003, and the red and gold banner still hangs in his classroom. His passion for wrestling transformed into a love for instructing high school students in a unique way.
“I have such a strong passion for [history] because it’s basically just one big story. I’ve always liked listening to people’s stories, so I said, ‘Why don’t we teach in the form of a story?’ That’s what makes it fun for me,” Lawson said. Lawson’s teaching partner, Kevin Morgan, has worked with him for the last two and a half years. The two have taught World Core, with Morgan teaching World Literature. “My first year here at Cupertino was my first year working with Mr. Lawson. [It was an] excellent experience from day one and it just continued to get better. I’ve said before in many of my classes, and to the students and other teachers that Mr. Lawson truly is one of my heroes,” said Morgan. “I really believe that if there was a hall of fame for teachers, then it would be made for Mr. Lawson.” Other than his teaching role, Lawson is also the advisor of the LEO Club, a community service organization sponsored by the LIONS Club. Said sophomore Pooja Singh, the vice president of LEO club and a current member of Lawson’s second period World History class, “He really cares about helping the community and getting LAWSON’S LEGACY CONTINUED cont. page 3
What defines Mr. Lawson?
Mr. Lawson is a teacher who strives to make world history appealing to students through his sense of humor and his enthusiasm for teaching - Junior Ruijing Li
His genuine kindness and helpfulness prove him to be one of my favorite teachers at this school and I am definitely disappointed by his absence - Sophomore Vinh Truong
Mr. Lawson always takes time to make history more interesting and always goes out of his way to help us learn more - Sophomore Shelby Chen
Cupertino High School PROUD Pioneer Marching Band wins Sweepstakes Victory is sweet, but that doesn’t mean that the way to it is easy. Cupertino High School Proud Pioneer Marching Band and Colorguard has worked its way up to the top and has finally achieved an accomplishment of a lifetime. Earning the honorary title of “The Band That Got Sweepstakes” was accomplished for the first time in band history on Nov. 3, 2012 at a competition at Lodi High School. Receiving the sweepstakes award for music, visual, general effect and overall performance was a great achievement for them. “I knew we had the potential,” band director Gilbert Iruegas said. “I believed that we could do it, but it was just the matter of doing it. To be honest, I wasn’t very surprised when we finally [won sweepstakes].” The history of the school’s marching band is very long, and there were lots of other victorious seasons such as 2007, 2008 and 2009, when the band won first place in every competition
PHOTO BY JESSICA SHIN
except for one each year. However, winning Sweepstakes was a totally new accomplishment, and the students felt thrilled to be recognized in such a way.
Said freshman alto saxophone player Soohan Woo, “I feel like we got what we deserved, especially since we worked so hard for it. I feel very proud of our band’s achievement.” Not only does the band have an outstanding performance on the field, but they also have a warm “family feel,” as Iruegas said, with one another off the field. “Band is like family,” Andrew Juan junior flautist said. “We work together, suffer together and celebrate together.” Although winning trophies may be tangible proof of the band’s success, it is not everything that this band works towards. Iruegas always teaches the students to have character, and preaches his famous quote to them before every competition, “First place, last place doesn’t matter. It’s the sense of us working towards something and achieving our goals, sticking to it even when it gets hard. That, to me, is more important than getting any COMPILED BY JESSICA SHIN trophy.”