the
highlander
Pushed to the brink
Vol. 33, No. 6
June 6 ,2014
Homestead High School, Mequon
Photo by Carly Kleiman
An increasing number of students are turning to violence as a way of dealing with stressful situations in their lives.
By Carly Kleiman, Victoria Shveytser and Alex Talynasky
What’s Inside
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Retiring teachers
Mary Muscari from LiveScience news explained that “There are certainly a lot of people who have a lot of things go wrong, and they’re not committing mass murders.” It is sometimes hard to see the difference between kids who can do wrong and those who cannot. Even people with legitimate mental illnesses are not always violent. Hribal, for example, is said to have no psychiatric or disciplinary problems, yet he stabbed 21 of his own classmates. Many of these occurrences “are motivated by revenge or envy. That’s why many take place at a school or a workplace where shooters felt rejected,” Tia Ghose, LiveScience
There has been an average of one school shooting every other day since Jan. 23 of 2014. -Psychology Today reporter, said, while others may be motivated by fame. “Media sensationalizes the killings, a blaze of glory for the shooters and their name goes down in infamy,” Mr. Woessner explained. Violence is always at the top of news publications; so those deranged few who want to be seen as some sort of “celebrity,” seek out the easiest way to achieve fame; “if it bleeds it leads.” Hribal wrote in his note, “I can’t wait to see the priceless and helpless looks on the faces of the students of one of the ‘best schools in Pennsylvania’ realize their precious lives are going to be taken by the only one among them that isn’t a plebeian.” He just wants to stand out. Officer Lance Wegner said “going after kids is easy and it gets a lot of publicity.” The easy access to guns, Mr. Woessner believes, also contributes to the violence problem. People with deranged ideas are excessively impulsive and having a gun around can lead to no good. For this very reason, teachers in
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Katie Wilson to Nationals
schools should not hold guns for protection, Officer Wegner said. Instead, he suggests that each school should spend more money on hiring an armed security guard to ensure the safety of the school. Many believe that gun control may be the next step to getting shootings under control. This may not be enough, however. Some of the recent offenses were committed using simple kitchen knives. “Psychologists stress the importance of preventing these massacres before they happen” Ghose said, “One step in that direction might be to help the kids who do feel the burden of social isolation and feelings of insignificance, regardless of whether they will ever snap.” Reports have surfaced that the Araphaoe shooter was repeatedly bullied. “Armed and angry is never a good combination,” Mr. Woessner, said. With this sudden contagion in the violence culture, many have wondered if it could ever happen here. “I think of a place I can hide in each one of my classes if an intruder were to come in,” Logan Scarpace, senior, said. Kristina Smeshko, freshman, agreed, but noted, “It is frightening to think this could happen at our school, yet no one should go to school intimidated by what could happen.”
COPE HOTLINE 262-377-COPE 800-540-3139
TEEN and HOME ALONE LINE 262-377-7786 800-924-7786 If concerned about someone’s mental health/safety tell an adult.
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Summerfest lineup
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Athlete of the issue
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A gunman opened fire on Friday, May 23, in Santa Barbara, California killing six and injuring 13 others. According to NBC News, the lone gunman, Elliot Rodgers, was killed during a shootout with the police. Rodgers posted a video that same day, vocalizing his plans to get “revenge against humanity.” Rogers said he planned to “take to the streets of Isla Vista and slay every single person I see there.” He also appeared to have a strong resentment toward women. “You girls have never been attracted to me,” he said, “I will punish you all for it.” At a school district in Pennsylvania, Alex Hribal, 16, entered Franklin Regional High School on April 9 with two knives and proceeded to stab 21 people until he was tackled to the ground by the vice principal. When told to let go of the weapons, Hribal screamed, “My work is not done! I have more people to kill,” refusing to let go. While friends and family say Hribal was a “good kid,” he had been planning to do this for some time. Police found a note in his locker dated three days earlier, explaining his alleged attack. According to The Denver Post, on Dec. 13, 2013, Karl Pierson, senior, entered Araphaoe High School in Colorado with a machete, three Molotov cocktails (homemade bombs) and an array of guns determined to harm many people. The attacker set off one Molotov cocktail which set fire to three book shelves, then he continued to shoot his gun five times, fatally wounding 17-year-old student Claire Davis. Pierson eventually killed himself. Hannah Touchton, senior and witness to the Arapahoe shooting, said, “I think that kids are resorting to violence before even thinking. Kids are taking their anger out on others when it would be more beneficial and a lot less detrimental if they just talked out their issues and got help.” These cases are just some of the countless instances of violence that have recently occurred. Psychology Today reports that there has been an average of one school shooting every other day since Jan. 23 of this year. “This just proves we don’t really know our neighbors,” Mr. Joseph Przybylski, psychology teacher, said. Communities are not as close as they were 10 or 20 years ago. Mr. William Woessner, school psychologist, said, “There is a precedent set. These are not new ideas. They just have been popularized by the ethos of this country.”
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news
Mequon Town Center under construction By Kelly Allen
On the northwest corner of Cedarburg and Mequon Roads, a major addition to the Mequon Town Center is underway. Featuring a total of five buildings, the development will serve as the centrally located heart of both Mequon and Thiensville. Construction has already begun on the east and north buildings, and will begin on the other three buildings in the near future. The development will include a total of five buildings: a restaurant, Colectivo Coffee Roasters, 40 luxury apartments, a new American Legion post and a variety of commercial tenants. The two-story restaurant building will serve as the iconic landmark for the Mequon Town Center due to its bold, contemporary design and its location right at the corner of Mequon and Cedarburg roads. Operating the restaurant will be the Lowlands Group, which owns Café Hollander, Trocadero, Café Centraal and Café Benelux. The restaurant will stand out due to the tinted glass. Mr. Blair Williams, president of WiRED Prop-
erties, said that the glass “will create transparency, and most importantly, make the world aware of the activity level occurring in the restaurant.” The restaurant will also feature outdoor seating areas on the north and south end, a sunny dining room along Cedarburg Road and two fire pits on the second floor. According to Williams, the restaurant should begin serving around Dec. 2014. Furthermore, people and businesses have already begun reserving space in the new development. Mrs. Stacy Vogel Davis, associate editor of the Milwaukee Business Journal, said, “Ruby Tap LLC, a wine bar that opened in Wauwatosa in 2012, hopes to open its second location [in the new town center.]” Additionally, Williams said that one of the penthouses has already been reserved. Ultimately, “the urbanization of suburbs is a huge key toward the long-term success of the suburbs.” The final goal of this major project hopes to create a place where local stores and restaurants want to operate thus, developing a more urban-style community.
Photo by Kelly Allen
Heavy-duty machinery has cleared the area at the northwest corner of Cedarburg and Mequon Roads for the new Town Center development.
Common core or common sense? By Janae Brown
Reform in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas does not support the nation’s move towards CCSS . Stotsky was appointed the Common Core Validation Board to review the curriculum, and she, along with John Milgram, retired Stanford mathematics professor, rejected it. “In no country are all K-12 students taught the same things and in the same way. It won’t happen here, either,” Stotsky said. She states that many people are unaware of the complexity of the implementation of Common Core. “Many people do want to believe their school officials or state-level policy makers,” Stotsky said. “They simply have no knowledge basis for saying that these officials don’t know what they are talking about.” Citizens, including parents and teachers, in Mequon have risen up on both sides of the debate for accepting CCSS in the MTSD school district. See a broad overview of CCSS here:
http://vimeo.com/51933492
Illustration by Janae Brown
Homestead High School made a sizable change from semester to trimesters in 2012, completely changing the way classes are taught and scheduled. Now, fewer than two years later, the district is moving towards Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The standards aim to create an equal learning experience. The Madison Metropolitan School District website stated that before Common Core, “each state developed its own set of standards, creating a wide range of uneven learning experiences and achievements.” According to corestandards.org, Common Core “establishes clear, consistent guidelines for what every student should know and be able to do in math and English language arts from kindergarten through 12th grade.” 40 or more states in the United States have already adopted these standards. Dr. Demond Means, MTSD Superintendent, said that there is a big misconception about CCSS regarding standards versus cirriculum. “The issue is not the standards,” Dr. Means said. “It’s about how we adjust our cirriculum to the standards. We’ve always had standards, Wisconsin State Standards, which maintains standards for 4th, 8th, and 10th grade. With Common Core, students will be held to standards in every grade.” Dr. Means continued, “ Standards do not equal cirriculum. The school district still has local control of the cirriculum. CCSS are high standards, and I support high standards.” However, Sandra Stotsky, Ed. D, and Professor of Education
Alcohol to hit shelves in powdered form By Mike McCann
In a day and age obsessed with what’s quick and convenient, it makes sense that one of the newest emerging products will make it easier for people to get drunk. Palcohol, a brand of powdered alcohol, has recently been approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and may be the first brand of the substance to hit legitimate mainstream markets. While the technology to make powdered alcohol has has been around for almost 40 years, no companies have been able to get it shelf-ready. Palcohol has already become the closest company to do this after the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved several of its labels before deciding the decision was “in error” and rescinded them, according to CBS News.
Senior exemptions here to stay despite rumors By Maddie Fricker
Despite this setback, creator Mark Phillips says he just needs to resubmit the label; his products remain on track to hit stores this fall, but that raises questions about how Palcohol might be used or abused. Immediately after its brief approval, Palcohol set off a wave of controversy. Senator Charles Schumer called the FDA for its banning shortly after, “With powdered alcohol on its way to store shelves by this fall, we’re sitting on a powder keg. Clearly our food and drug safety experts must step in before this mind-boggling product, surely to become the Kool-Aid of teen binge drinking, sees the light of day,” he predicted. The risk of abuse is high, and the convenience of the packets as well as people’s unfamiliarity with the product’s potency could
As Homestead students’ preparations for this year’s final exams begin, so do the rumors that the beloved senior exemptions will be removed for the coming year. Currently, the exam exemption policy states that third trimester seniors enrolled in four or five courses are eligible to exempt all of their final written exams if they have at least a “B-” in each class, maintain acceptable attendance, resolve all outstanding IMC
easily lead to over intoxication and drunk driving, according to Dr. Kennon Heard, an ER doctor and medical toxicologist at the University of Colorado. Other major concerns about the product include the possibility to abuse by snorting, sneaking into restricted areas and easily spiking drinks. However, Phillips released a statement in which he tried to quell all of those accusations, stating nobody would have the desire or pain tolerance to snort the large amount of powder it would take to equal just one drink, and that the powder dissolves much too slowly to spike stealthily. If all goes well for Palcohol, consumers may see it on the shelf in as little as two years.
obligations and assigned detentions, and receive no out-of-school suspensions during the trimester. The exemptions are intended as both an incentive and reward, encouraging seniors to still give full effort even in their final days of high school. As Julia Dorf, senior, said, “I think it would be really disappointing if the rumors turned out to be true. After four years of exams, it’s a nice privilege to be able to exempt.”
According to Mr. Brett Bowers, principal, “At this point I would say our current system is our future system.” Mr. Bowers then added that not only is the speculation about senior exemptions false, but also “there’s no discussion about” even changing. So, there you have it, Homestead: senior exemptions are here to stay, for now.
Behind the pink mustache By Blake Leeson
Need a Lyft? People in the Milwaukee area can now get one. According to Lyft spokeswoman Paige Thelen, Milwaukee is Lyft’s 32nd location nationwide and will be available in Milwaukee to the north, stopping just south of West Bend, east to Oconomowoc and south to Mount Pleasant. Lyft is a taxi like service run through a mobile phone application and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Zach Zimmermann, senior, said, “I am attending UW-Milwaukee this fall and could definitely see myself using the Lyft app. I don’t have my own car so commuting back and forth to campus will be difficult at times. I could see Lyft helping me out with this problem.” Using their smart phones, customers can download the Lyft application from the app store and create an account using their Facebook and credit card information. Once customers are signed up, all they have to do is request a pick up and wait for a vehicle to appear. The Lyft app is run using GPS to find the customer’s location and for the customers to see where all of the Lyft drivers are in their vicinity. All Lyft vehicles carry a pink mustache on the grill of the car, which is used to identify them from other cars and taxi-like services such as Uber, another ride-sharing application already in Milwaukee. Lyft is theoretically a free service, but after a customer’s Lyft is finished a requested donation appears on their screen. This requested donation varies in different cities and states but is based off of miles driven, time spent, safety and a pick up charge. This method, according to Lyft drivers, is 20 percent cheaper than taxicab fees.
Tips 4 Lyft 1) Look for the Pink Mustache 2) Greet with a fist bump 3) Do not forget to donate or risk not getting a Lyft again 4) Cancelation fee is $5
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Student opinion
Our View: Editorial It can never happen here. Small, suburban, safe. It’s easy to think that Mequon is in a bubble of sorts, protected from outside realities of violence and bullying. But then again, that’s what they all say at first. Sadly, in the last couple of years, the prevalence and the media coverage of school violence has dramatically increased. Some blame bullying, others condemn faulty gun laws, but in the end, it all comes down to the fact that children are dying on school campuses. So what can be done? We, the Highlander Publications Staff, recognize that school violence is a problem with no singular solution. Nevertheless, we propose a simple preventative measure of goodwill that could avert a disaster and create a stronger school community. The cliche proverbs to “treat others as you would like to be treated” and “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all” seem to no longer apply in high school. Instead, gossip, rumors and bullying, whose effects are only heightened by social media, run rampant.
Now I’m by no means saying that the entire Homestead community is made up of culpable bullies. In fact, there are several genuine and good hearted people who walk these hallway floors. What I am saying is that we are all responsible for not putting an end to the madness. Even if we’ve never said a hurtful word in our lives, the fact that we know other students are being bullied and we do nothing to stop it makes us accountable. Mrs. Nikki Robson, custodian, explained in a January letter to the editor that “We [the custodians] are the ones who find the kids who are being brutally bullied to the point where they would rather eat their lunch in a bathroom stall, with their tray on the tank facing the wall, then to be ridiculed during lunch time. We are the ones who see the lonely, somber eyes of the seemingly lost souls on auto pilot moving about the halls, feeling as if no one cares.” We can undoubtedly recognize that it’s happening, so how do we put a stop to it? Simple as it seems, be nice to one another. Even if it’s
just a smile to someone in the hallway or a quick “are you okay?” to someone who appears to be down, any small gesture can make all the difference. And if you are one of the bullies? Put a stop to it, now. Twitter fights, general gossip, even physical violence are the roots from which problems grow, for both the victim and the perpetrator. The issue of bullying is nothing new. It has been and continues to occur wherever there is an imbalance of power. Unfortunately, school violence has become just as common. Stopbullying.gov reports that “In 12 of 15 school shooting cases in the 1990s, the shooters had a history of being bullied,” and the trend has seemingly continued into the 2000s. All in all, it’s important that we as a school community recognize the triggers of school violence, and do our best to overcome these causes by creating a more respectful, considerate and altruistic learning environment.
Selfies take over social media networks by
Brittany emond
Makeup on, camera up, face tilted, lips pursed, hair done, snap. The art of taking a selfie has been rapidly evolving since the creation of social media. Instagram alone has had more than 40 million photos with the #selfie since its release in 2010. Instagram holds eight percent of the United States’ top places to share selfies and Facebook holds 48 percent of selfies posted online. In 2013, the Oxford English Dictionary named “selfie” its Word of the Year. They defined it as “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.” Although many people refer to all pictures taken by someone appearing in the photo as a selfie regardless of whether or not they are alone, I will only be referring to solo selfies taken by oneself for the purpose of this article. People take selfies for a wide range of reasons, Opinium finding the top three reasons of people 18 and older as “to remember a happy moment,” “to capture a funny moment,” or “to capture a nice outfit.” However, there is a big difference between taking selfies with a purpose and taking selfies with the intent to edit them, post them and receive as many compliments as possible. With the pressure of body image on young women, many teenage girls particularly feel the need to receive reinforcement from their peers. Without that reinforcement (shown in the form of number of likes and comments on social media), some teens
The Selfie Phenomenon 100 Homestead students were surveyed about selfies.
Where do you see selfies?
can becomes worried and insecure. This is outlined in the infamous line from the Chainsmoker’s satirical song “#SELFIE,” “I only got ten likes in the last five minutes, do you think I should take it down?” Many people have come to believe that selfies empower people -- especially young women -- and give them the self-esteem they need. An article in Time Magazine agrees, stating, “selfies serve as a way to test how they look, and therefore feel, in certain outfits, make-up, poses and places.” Another article in Seventeen Magazine says, “Selfies can be inherently feminist -- they’re a declaration of confidence.” I don’t think this could be further from the truth. A picture being posted on social media that someone took way too long to edit and alter to make sure they look like a Barbie makes them confident actually shows their lack of confidence and need for positive reinforcement. In an article for Slate Magazine, Rachel Simmons writes, “If you write off the endless stream of posts as image-conscious narcissism, you’ll miss the chance to watch girls practice promoting themselves—a skill that boys are otherwise given more permission to develop, and which serves them later on when they negotiate for raises and promotions.” How can a girl possibly be promoting herself through an image of herself alone? The only thing a girl is promoting while taking a selfie is her physical attractiveness. Although there is a time and place to take selfies, taking them in search of compliments and likes is both annoying and inappropriate social media etiquette.
42% 69%
29%
2%
Homestead High School 5000 W. Mequon Road Mequon, Wisconsin 53092 The Highlander’s editorial policy is to present facts and opinions in a fair and honest manner on issues pertaining to students at Homestead. We uphold the right to speak unpopular opinions and the privilege to agree with the majority. Letters to The Highlander are encouraged; however, we reserve the right to edit for length and grammatical errors. In addition, letters must be signed, but names will be withheld upon request. Any student who wishes to express his opinion through The Highlander should drop off the letter in room 506.
Retirement Scan the code to see the full interviews with the retirees or go to http:// goo.gl/iUmK8z
What will you miss the most about Homestead?
Information compiled by john happ
Mrs. Cook: “The great kids, colleagues, and grading papers until midnight.”
Mrs. Peck:“All of the interactions that take place which enrich us all.”
Teaching since: 1985
Teaching since: 1978
Do you enjoy seeing selfies on social media?
12% Instagram Facebook Twitter
Photo Poll:
Yes No
46% I don’t care
Mrs. Errthum: “The students, staff, and the math.”
Mrs. Ogier (right): “My department and the 400 wing.”
Teaching since: 1980
Mrs. Stuckey (left):“Me too”
The Staff Adviser Mrs. Rachel Rauch Editor-in-Chief Katie Bandurski
Teaching since: 1982 (Ogier) and 1973 (Stuckey)
2014 WNA First Award in Overall Excellence 2013 All-KEMPA Award 2013 NSPA Best of Show 2013 WNA Second Award in Overall Excellence 2012 WNA First Award in Overall Excellence 2012 KEMPA First Place Award
Copyeditor Maddie Fricker, Emma Wade Layout and Design Editors Katie Bandurski, Janae Brown, Sarah Erpenbeck, Molly Riebau Reporters and Photographers Kelly Allen, Sydney Benson, Madeline Boulier, Janae Brown, Kate Daniels, Beth Emery, Brittany Emond, Sarah Erpenbeck, Nia Feaster, Maddie Fricker, Gaby Geiger, Aaron Glazer, John Happ, Carly Kleiman, Blake Leeson, Nicole Martin, Mike McCann, Rachel Novak, Molly Riebau, Victoria Shveyster, Katie Starsky, Allie Stendler, Alex Talyansky, Emma Wade
Visit us online for back issues of The Highlander at https://sites.google. com/a/mtsd.k12.wi.us/homesteadpublications/ American Litho Printing 530 N. 22nd Street Milwaukee WI 53233 (414)-342-5050
Broadening their horizons Feature
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Information compiled by Gaby Geiger
and
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Feature
Rachel Novak
As the class of 2014 turns the page on the next chapter of their lives, The Highlander staff has compiled the post-high school plans of each graduating senior who responded to our requests. Although each student writes the next part of his or her story, we wish them the best of luck in all of their future endeavors. Congratulations!
Wisconsin Concordia University Brianna Shutic
Lawrence University Liam Evans
Life Leadership College Noah Melan
Marian University Clark Fisher Kaylah Starke
Marquette University Devin Conrad Hannah Goddard Halee Newby Lauren Pagel Alexis Pagel Anton Ragozin Kristyn Wiencek
Milwaukee Area Technical College David Beltran Zachary Tietyen Austin Youngbauer
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design Thomas Collins
St. Norbert College Stephanie Dooge Hunter Paykel Laura Rolfs
UW-Eau Claire Preston Podolske Sophie Stephen Erin Thom
UW-Lacrosse
Shelby Berlin Carmel Liberman Jennifer Mitchen Stephanie Murtos
UW-Madison
Olivia Barrington Ian Baumgart Hayden Braaten Cailyn Darling Max Hart Amanda Hopkins Keegan Jacobus Alexander Jambor Tim Kalkhoff William Kammerait Martin Kimmel Jeremy Kloss Elizabeth Konon Michael Lamers Kathleen Lapcewich Becky Lawlor Luke Lebesch Ethan Levy Zach Maassen Mike McCann Kaelee McIlwraith Lauren Nelson Quincy Newton Liam Norman Kyle Raddatz Katarina Rosich Ally Sanfelippo Nolan Short Kelly Siverhus Adam Stadler Jared Sweetland Jordan Wagner Kate Weitzer
UW-Milwaukee
Monica Caputa Kate Cherkinian Taylor Clark Madeline Day Tessa de San Bartolome Tyler Filak Danielle Goodman Bryan Gorelik Nicole Gorelik Tatiana Gritsevskiy Nicole Hennings Shetara Johnson Jessica Kuenn Taylor Landgraf Anthony Leonardelli Hunter Meer Mardee Merar Phillip Novakovski Lexy Ottem Aaron Rempel
Logan Scarpace Sylvester Schulteis Jacob Sweet Brooke Szafranski Marissa West Lucas White Matt Zigan Zach Zimmermann
UW-Oshkosh Ryan Deloge Sasha Novak
UW-Platteville Chris Bielecki
UW-Steven’s Point Rhiannon Belcher Fred Eason Emma Nelson Daniel Scozzafave Jerrod Walton
UW-Stout
Kyle Davis Aaron Houpt
UW-Whitewater
Nicole Aguiar Matt Boyles Andrew Cherubini Madelynn Dierbeck Anthony Grisa Rebecca Laabs Edye Okerlund Nicole Pinzer Zachary Schaum Jamie Schiesel Madeline Starr Alex Talyansky Eric Wade
Waukesha County Technical College Douglas Budiac Jeremy Steger
Illinois
Michigan
Minnesota
Military
Canada
Columbia College Chicago
Hillsdale College
Carleton
Marines
University of Toronto
University of Michigan
Hamline University
Bridget Cushman Collin Murray Sydneye Olkowski
DePaul University Annie Bedore Kelly Simon
Northwestern University Katie Cavanaugh Amy Lieberman Nick Peterson Lauren Watchmaker
University of Chicago Larissa Clopton
University of Illinois Joshua Devorkin
Brigette Hall
Christian Stevenson Conor Quick
Indiana Ball State University Shannon Greeley
Indiana University Seth Cooley Ciara Corrigan Molly Cowen Melissa Devorkin Julia Dorf Jason Jesse Ellen Soyka
Gabe Hilliard
Greta Kobylinski
Jaime Hathaway
Work
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Kelsey Fletcher Kayla Pinzer Cole Strauss
Sidney Knapp
Josiana Farber
Asia Israel
Jesse Nye Gilad Zvi
Europe
Southwest Minnesota State Jonathan Weyker
Lithuania
St. Olaf
Osmunda Cepkauskas
Luke Elowsky
Norway
University of Minnesota, Duluth
Kristin Boerresen
Bryce Juedes
University of St. Thomas
Iowa Drake University Katie Bandurski Daniel Held Jordan Lewinsky
Des Moines Area Community College Danielle Neilson
Purdue University Zachary Price
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Katherine Ryan
University of Evansville Joe Schwalb
University of Notre Dame Olivia May
Iowa State University Zachary Lennon Elan Leykin McKayla Plamann
University of Iowa Capucine Joubert Michael Schulz Elyssa Tracy
Rachel Fry Chris Mueller Katie O’Brien Kevin Railsback
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Clare Baumgart Sydney Benson Eden Berman Hannah Check Arison Driscoll Luisa Dummann Alec Felton Ben Garstecki Katie Greisch John Hokeness Lizzy Jorgensen Lindsay Kurtin Killian Martin Connor Newell Mackenzie O’Reilly-Christensen Nicholas Pierret Allie Richards Patrick Tucker Louis Young
Winona State University Mikaella Sabinash Kaylee Stuckey
Illustration by Katie Bandurski
Alabama
Florida
Kansas
Harvard University Kartik Papatla
Montana
North Dakota
University of Alabama
Florida Gulf Coast
University of Kansas
Northeastern University
Montana State University
North Dakota State
Olivia Hare Chandler Heath
Elyse Hansen
Rollins University
Arizona
Eric Rokni
Arizona State University
Thaddeus Kryshak David Tzeel
Chelsey Knuth
University of Arizona Olivia Covill Olivia Johnson
Colorado Colorado State University Kyrie Merline
University of Denver Molly Zall Alexandra Weiss
University of Miami
Valencia College Keshawn Wilson
Georgia Emory University Manisha Piryani
Georgia Tech
Quinten Ziegler
University of Georgia Annie Jorgensen
Megan Trau Haley Wittchow David Brookman
Louisiana Loyola University New Orleans Grace Clemons
Tulane University
Sydney Hubbell Mollie Rosen
Tufts University Meghan Casey Danny Coran
Missouri
Grant Brogan Jake Hansen Joe Lauenstein Parker Lewis
Bridget Ohme
Denison University
North Carolina
Massachusetts
Southeast Missouri State University
Duke University
Shay Darga
Andrea Rossman
Berklee College of Music
University of Missouri-Columbia
University of North Carolina Asheville
Peter Behlmer
Boston University Sydney Beckers
Saint Louis University
Brittany Emond AnnMarie Metzendorf
Washington University Leigh Berman
Ohio
Nebraska
Chris Broghammer
Max Woody
Peter Malicky Parker Sumwalt
Miami University Borja Morales
Russell Kaczmarek Blake Leeson
Ohio Wesleyan University Zach Shahrokhi
University of Dayton Mitchell Kukla
Rhode Island Brown University Collin Cademartori
Oregon University of Oregon Moni Minnigerode
Tim Reinholz
Ohio State University Brittany Thomas
Brenton Klimkosky Ryan Wirthlin
Brandon Hines
Cleveland Institute of Music
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
University of Ohio
Muhlenberg College Katy Mayer
Penn State
Jack Wegmann
University of Pennsylvania Meriem Djelmami-Hani
Keenan Griepentrog
University of Houston Daniel Scott
South Carolina University of South Carolina Nicola Rennie
Pennsylvania
School of Automotive Machinists
Tennessee University of Memphis Vincent Wilkerson
Vanderbilt Sarah Clark Daniel Liu
Texas Rice University Austin Cao Vinay Raghavan
Vermont Middlebury College Alden Laev
Virginia Washington and Lee University Elisabeth Balistreri Ryan Brink
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Feature
Alternative Unlike other genres, alternative bands capture a more laid back, simplistic approach to their live performances. “Alternative music is the best type of concert to go to because the atmosphere is a lot calmer than other types of music,” Dara Schuman, junior, said. If you like harmonic vocals and chill vibes, check out these bands at Summerfest this year.
Arctic Monkeys - June 25 at the Miller Lite Oasis 10 p.m. The Neighbourhood - June 29 at the US Cellular Connection Stage 10 p.m. The Head and the Heart - June 29 at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard 10 p.m. Fitz and the Tantrums - July 4 at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard 10 p.m. The Fray - July 3 at the Miller Lite Oasis 10:00 p.m. Phantogram - July 5 at the US Cellular Connection Stage 10 p.m.
Pop One of the more popular genres at Summerfest is the pop artists. Whether it’s the melodious beat or catchy hooks, pop music always makes for a fun concert on a beautiful summer night. If you enjoy singing at the top of your lungs and throbbing over lead singers, check out these musicians this year. Bruno Mars - June 25 at the Marcus Amphitheater Neon Trees- June 25 at the US Cellular Connection Stage Lady Gaga - June 26 at the Marcus Amphitheater One Republic - July 1 at the Marcus Amphitheater Timeflies- July 4 at the Miller Lite Oasis 10 p.m. Matishayu- July 5 at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse
Travel Wisconsin Unique places to visit this summer
A commonly uttered sentence in Mequon is the infamous “there’s nothing to do…” Well, here it is - six unique places to visit in Wisconsin. by madeline boulier
Bay Beach Amusement Park, Green Bay
Bay Beach Amusement Park features eighteen different rides ranging from a rollercoaster, the Zippin Pippin, to swings and the Yo- Yo, to bumper cars.
Big Manitou Falls, Superior
Located in Pattison Park, the waterfall is as tall as Niagara Falls, just skinnier. According to On Milwaukee, Pattison Park also includes opportunities for camping, hiking and picnicking.
Shuffle the deck:
Aly Herrera by sarah erpenbeck
This past summer, Aly Herrera, junior, sat perched on top of Lone Mountain in Las Vegas, Nevada, and observed the deserted landscape underneath her. Herrera said, “It was amazing because I hiked the mountain with my best friends, and once we got to the top we watched the sunrise.” One of Herrera’s favorite memories was this year when her soccer team, Mequon Fusion, won the college showcase tournament in St. Louis in November. “Although it was very cold while we played, our team still pushed through and won,” she said. Herrera has been playing soccer since she was five years old. In the past, she played for Goth School in Las Vegas, Nevada, and currently she plays for Homestead. This year, Herrera moved from Las Vegas to Mequon, a move she described as very cold. Herrera also said she enjoyed the Homestead football games. Mr. Tony Navarre, Her-
electronic & dance
Electronic and Dance music is a great concert to attend to hear a variety of different genres mixed together into a constant never-ending party of songs. “It’s a perfect place to showcase your best fistpump or dance move,” said Serafino LaGalbo, sophomore. If you like waiting for the bass drop or jumping in a crowd of sweaty acquaintances, check out these DJs at Summerfest this year. Girl Talk - June 28 at the Miller Lite Oasis 10 p.m. DJ Cassidy - July 1 at the Miller Lite Oasis 7:30 p.m. DJ Pauly D - July 2 at the Harley Davidson Roadhouse 10 p.m
country
Summerfest Preview By Alli Stendler
HIp hop/r&b Hip-Hop and R&B are among the diverse genres that Summerfest attendees can enjoy. The urban vibes, intricate stories spoken in the form of raps and immense vocal ranges found in Hip-Hop and R&B make every concert experience upbeat yet personal. If you like waving your hands to the beat and shouting the lyrics to your favorite songs, check out these musicians.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
These two-acre grounds offer three main gardens. According to Olbrich Botanical Gardens, special events occur throughout the summer, including a butterfly exhibit
Weston’s Antique Apple Orchard, New Berlin
According to Land + Leisure, the orchard includes over 100 types, many of them rare.While you’re at there you can also check out the farmhouse, petting zoo and hay barrel ride.
7 Mile Fair, Caledonia
According to JSOnline, the 7 Mile Fair is a rite of passage for every Wisconsinite. This fair has every good imaginable including clothes, food and as seen on TV products. Photos from Britannia ImageQuest
rera’s soccer coach, said, “Aly just moved here this year and she has adapted really well to a new school. She’s a very kind person.” Twenty years from now, Herrera wishes to be a photographer. This summer she will be pursuing that goal by interning a local photographer, helping her make senior portraits. Herrera said, “I love capturing the moment with a camera.”
Submitted photo
Herrera dribbles past her opponents during a soccer game for her team Mequon Fusion.
Toe tappin’, hip swayin’, All-American country music makes a premiere multiple times at Summerfest this year. “Country music encompasses the whole summer experience into one song,” Jake Ruhkick, junior, said. If you enjoy wearing cowboy hats or admire the Southern lifestyle, check out these musicians. Brad Paisley - June 27 at the Marcus Amphitheater Luke Bryan - June 28 at the Marcus Amphitheater Kip Moore - July 1 at the BMO Harris Pavillion Zac Brown Band - July 3 at the Marcus Amphitheater Thompson Square- July 5 at BMO Harris Pavillion
B.o.B. - June 26 at the Miller Lite Oasis 10 p.m. Atmosphere - June 27 at the Miller Lite Oasis 10 p.m. Outkast - June 29 at the Marcus Amphitheater Ludacris - July 2 at the Miller Lite Oasis 10 p.m. SoMo - July 3 at Uline Warehouse 10 p.m. Usher- July 6 at the Marcus Amphitheater Photos from Google Fair Use
Students get to work by kate daniels
As summer rolls around, the incessant nagging by parents begins--”Get off the couch,” “Go outside,” “Get a job”... and that’s exactly what many Homestead students do. In Mequon and the surrounding areas there are Submitted photo several places for Bella Stechschulte, junior, poses teenagers to work: with her campers at the JCC restaurants, counsummer camp. try clubs, clothing stores, and coffee shops. But where do Mequon teenagers work? Sophie Bradshaw, junior, will devote a part of her summer to being a cashier at Sendik’s. “I want to have a summer job so I can spend my time making some extra money rather than laying around on the couch.” Bella Stechschulte, junior, agreed, “I love working with little kids so being a nanny at the JCC Camp is the perfect job for me. The money is just a bonus.” Among all the possible jobs, country clubs are by far the most popular. Shea Allen, junior, is a hostess at North Shore Country Club. Allen, along with many others, assists in activities hosted by country clubs each summer. As Allen takes reservations and seats guests inside, outside, Sean Renyolds, junior, treks along the Ozaukee Country Club golf course as a caddie. Both Allen and Renyolds agree that there is nothing to complain about regarding their jobs. So before time runs out, save your parents the trouble and ensure you won’t be spending summer on the couch.
Feature
7
Alumnae swings to success on the course by
Sydney Benson
Homestead golf program’s all-time scoring leader, earning a state championship title his senior year and receiving an invitation to play in the Masters are just a few of Jordan Niebrugge’s, Class of ‘12, successes. He remains, however, humble. Although Niebrugge possessed raw talent on the boys varsity golf team starting his freshman year, “he treated everyone else with respect and was a great teammate. I know his teammates would attest to that. He always tried to deflect all of the attention that was imposed on him to the team. He led the team and encouraged kids to practice and get better,” Mr. Steven O’Brien, boys varsity golf coach, said. Alyssa Niebrugge, Jordan’s older sister, upholds Jordan’s courteous attitude as golf player as well. “The amount of respect and admiration I have for him has grown so much over the past couple years. He handles himself so well and has stayed humble and grounded with all of his success,” Niebrugge’s sister said. Despite Jordan Niebrugge’s modest personality, the strong work ethic Homestead instilled in him has made Niebrugge set high expectations and goals
Snowboarder pursues dream by nia feaster
The bright rays of the sun stretch across the Colorado Rockies, reflecting off the fresh layer of snow as Katie Wilson, junior, embraces her coach with an essential “huge hug” received before every competition, acknowledging that the time has come--the time to show the world what she can do. At a time when six-year-old girls were playing with Barbies, Wilson had unknowingly begun her journey to snowboarding stardom, competing in over 200 competitions from then until now. For 11 years, Katie Wilson has been in the top five in the entire country in United States of America Snowboarding Association (USASA). Most recently, Wilson competed at Nationals and finished as a bronze medalist and second overall. The multitude of successes for Wilson, however, have come at a high price. In addition to paying for gear, competitions and extensive training sessions, Wilson and her parents have sacrificed an abundance of time. Competing against homeschooled girls that constantly train, Wilson has effectively learned how to balance public school with practice four times a week for three hours. Nevertheless, Wilson understands that her dreams come with a sacrifice and never forgets to express her gratitude for all the help she has gotten throughout the years. She attributes her success to her parents. “If it weren’t for my parents I would be where I am in snowboarding today,” Wilson said. Her coaches also feel “like family [for] always hav-
for himself as a student and golf player. According to Alyssa Niebrugge, the teachers at Homestead “stressed responsibility and accountability in planning ahead and that is definitely a skill he took with him to Oklahoma State University. He’s away from school probably double or triple the amount he was when he was in high school, and if he wasn’t used to that high expectation, he would have a much more difficult time staying ahead in college.” Niebrugge plans to graduate from OSU in two years with a double major in Entrepreneurship and Sports Management and go professional in the sport of golf. His goals extend to playing in the PGA Tour and the Masters again next year. “My goal was to make the cut and be low amateur for the tournament, but I fell short. That is all right though because it will just make me work that much harder to get back there next year,” Niebrugge said. Mr. O’Brien has no doubt that Niebrugge will accomplish his goals. “The fact that he keeps working hard like he is...he will be back there someday as a professional. It’s not going to be easy but he knows
• Invited to train with the US Snowboard Team
• 2014 USASA National Championship’s 2nd Overall Champion
Submitted photo
Jordan Niebrugge follows through after driving the ball on the greens at the Masters this April.
that,” Mr. O’Brien said.
• Attending Junior Worlds in 2015, which will take place in China
Students head to summer camp by aaron glazer
• 2014 USASA National Champsionships Bronze Medalist
Illustration by Nia Feaster
ing my back and pushing me to do better.” An athlete initially oblivious to her talent, Katie Wilson admits that she has “always wanted to compete as a pro, but it wasn’t until last year that [she] realized it wasn’t just a dream, but [she] was actually good enough to make it a reality.” Her friend, Tessa Cabreza, junior, adds, “Katie’s passion for the sport shines through with every performance.” Now aware and confident in her abilities, Wilson turns her national focus into a worldly one. Attending the Junior Worlds in China next March and the Olympics in South Korea in 2018, Katie Wilson has an impressive road ahead of her and asked for the support of her community. She has created an online donation website in which anyone can support her and her lifelong dream as she represents Homestead as well as the United States. Not allowing cost to be an obstacle, she promises to work hard. “With the right training and opportunities, I can be one of the best boardercross women in the world.”
Submitted photos
(Left): Katie Wilson expresses her happiness as she approaches the award podium at USASA Nationals. (Right): Wilson completes a run at USASA Nationals that took place in April in Colorado.
Submitted photo
Micah Rubin, junior, and Max Hart, senior, smile while enjoying their time at Camp Interlaken, their summer home. “It really is a home away from home,” Rubin said. “Everyone there is like family.” Leaving for the entire summer, many students at Homestead choose to experience a unique journey: the journey of attending a summer camp. The students experience new activities and make friends, and expand their social network. Students can choose from many different types of camps to attend, with some having specific slants to them and others being more general. “I go to Camp Interlaken, which is a co-ed Jewish camp with a philosophy around Jewish education, team building and making friends,” Daniel Wichman, junior, voiced. “I go to Camp Minikani, which is a co-ed, non-denominational, every kid kind of camp,” Tyler Ng, junior, expressed. In addition, students can attend a camp centered on a specific topic. For example, Grace Bobber, junior, attends the Interlochen Summer Camp for the Artsn because it was just like a normal summer camp experience but with the musical aspect that I love, ” Bobber reminisced. While at camp, students engage in a variety of activities both on land and in the water. “There is swimming, sailing, and waterskiing,” Micah Rubin, junior, noted about Camp Interlaken. However, the options at camp expand beyond physical activities. “There are really activities for any type of person,” Wichman stated. Going to camp becomes a focal
point of students’ lives in the summertime. “I have been there [Camp Northstar] for 10 years, so it has been a big part of my childhood so it has helped me develop into the person I am today,” Ethan Levy, senior, recalled. Spending part of their summer away from their abodes, the students believe that the experiences at camp make up for the time away. “When you leave your house and enter the camp the people surrounding you become your new family for however long you are there, and in a sense you forget about your family who you have been with for 11 months of the year,” Wichman vocalized. “It’s a nice change in setting,” Ng affirmed. In addition to the skills students learn at camp, they also learn many valuable lessons and values. “ I have learned to have better teamwork, a better group presence and how to deal with a lot of people and manage them,” Ng referenced. “Really understanding who you are as a person, I think is more of what I have learned going to camp,” Wichman articulated. The skills and values that are learned at camp help students prepare for the future. “Learning how to make new friends and learning how to work well with people help because in reality, that’s how the world spins. It’s people working together and making things happen, and that’s what we do at camp,” Wichman exclaimed.
Highlander Publications
Homestead411
homestead
sports
8
Football players work year-round to up their game by katie starsky
Ben Gardner and Shelby Harris, Class of ‘09 were drafted into the NFL during the seventh round on Saturday, May 10, Harris by the Oakland Raiders and Gardner by the Dallas Cowboys. Both alumni played defense and contributed to the success of the Homestead football program. According to Coach Tom Fugate, Gardner had “incredible football intelligence” and “understood the game.” Harris was a “naturally gifted athlete,” Coach Fugate said. Reflecting on his involvement in Homestead Photo by Sydney Benson Leadership Team (HLT) Harris explained, “It teaches Morning Misery participants work on flexibility on Friday, May 9. you how to become a leader. football program that allows players, like It teaches you how to talk to Harris and Gardner, to become notable your teammates in a positive way.” people beyond high school. HLT has a “play-your-way-on mentalDuring the off-season the football team ity,” according to Coach Fritz Rauch, direccontinues to work hard not only focustor of HLT. This is not a group that football ing on leadership skills but also staying in players can sign up for; rather, they must shape. This year Coach Rauch implementearn their way onto HLT. This is a strong ed a voluntary workout session on Friday application process and the coaches look at morning that begins at 6:15 a.m. called “previous leadership qualities, grades and Morning Misery. code violations,” Coach Rauch explained. Gust explained the premise of MornBeing a part of HLT gives the meming Misery. It is “to shock our bodies, bring bers an opportunity to practice leadership us together and literally make us miseraqualities, Coach Rauch said. The program ble.” Through these drills of running, core allows selected football players to focus on strengthening and fast-twitch footwork, strength and leadership. “Being a leader the team bonds by “depending on the enrequires credibility,” Ben Gust, junior, and ergy of our teammates,” Gust said. member of HLT, stated. The training of the team in the off-seaCollaboration is pivotal for the HLT son as leaders and as athletes aspires to leaders in order to “unite under a common go beyond the basic premise of goals and goal,” Gust explained. hope to be following in the footsteps of HLT is one factor in the success of the Gardner and Harris.
Step up
“Someone who know’s what to do in bad situations and can step up to the plate.” -Sasha Novak, senior
Give Back
“Being a leader is important because it gives me the option to give back to other players in the Homestead football program.” - Michael Nelson, junior
What does it take to be a leader? Push the limits
“Leaders push their teammates to work their hardest and achieve their best.” -Luke Lebesch, senior
Team Spirit
“In football, a leader has to set the pace and keep up the team’s spirit.” -Thomas DeGuire, sophomore
Determination “A leader is someone who on and off the field is the best person they can be, and no matter how difficult times get, will stay strong and be able to change the minds of their teammates into staying determined.” -Alex Kocab, sophomore
Athletes of the Issue focus on their game now, for the future By emma wade
by molly riebau
After playing on varsity soccer at Homestead for four years, Mikaella Sabinash, senior, gets ready to close her last season. “My goal for this season is to win state. I hope to continue improving in soccer and to be successful with the next team I will be a part of,” Sabinash said. Sabinash will be attending Winona State University on a soccer scholarship next year. According to teammates, Sabinash is as good of a friend as she is a soccer player. “On and off the field Mikaella is such
a great leader. She fulfills the role of what it means to be a great team captain, teammate and friend,” Brigid West, freshman, said. “[Mikaella] is really fun to be around. She constantly works hard and motivates the rest of the team to work hard too,” Kristen Gebhardt, sophomore, said. “Playing high school soccer for Homestead has been the four greatest years of my life thus far, and has led to friendships and memories that will last a lifetime,” Sabinash concluded.
Danny Coran, senior, is a valuable leader on the boys tennis team. Coran started playing around age five and has loved the game ever since. “What I love about tennis is that there is no clock or time limit. Sometimes it’s quick, and sometimes it can be a long grueling match. I love that,” Coran said. While his perseverance proves valuable in asserting his leadership abilities, his positive energy helps the team succeed. Chase Gabriel, junior and teammate, said, “Danny is a leader who is able to pump everyone up and bring them to the right
mindset before a big match.” Coran added, “Whenever I step on the court, I put forth my best effort. I hope the guys on the team will do the same.” Like any aspiring athlete, Coran sets goals. This season he strives to make it to team state and place in the top four for singles. Coran will be attending Tufts University in the fall and playing tennis there. He illustrated his goals as a college athlete, “I ultimately want to take Tufts University to its first NCAA tennis title. I’m excited for what my future holds, and I’m ready to work hard and make things happen.”
“Whenever I step on the court, I put forth my best effort.” - Danny Coran
“Playing high school soccer for Homestead has been the four greatest years of my life.” -Mikaella Sabinash
Submitted Photo
Submitted Photo