August 2017 Print Edition

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Rolla High School - 900 Bulldog Run Rolla, Missouri 65401- Volume 69 - Issue - 1 September 1, 2017 - www.rhsecho.com

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Rolla High School welcomes its first freshman class since 1964

NASA brings exhibit “Journey to Tomorrow� to Missouri Capitol for historic solar eclipse

An inside look at the Orval Reeves Art Gallery

In this issue...

Familiar People, Foreign Places...........................................................6 Pick of the Pack....................................................................................7 Artist/Athlete of the Month.................................................................16 Who, What, Wear................................................................................22

Letter from the Editor

I can only think of one word to describe everything going on at the high school this year: new. We have new students, new teachers, and a new addition. I’ll admit that it’s been quite a transition, but word on the street is that change is good. ECHO has also been going through some changes as well. We have almost double the amount of writers as last year, which is definitely something to brag about if you ask me. We’ve been working hard on creating new content for you while simultaneously changing the way things work behind the scenes. I’ll spare you the details, but just know that ECHO is excited to be back for the new school year.

We all have something new in our lives right now, even if it’s just the start of our year. For me, it’s seeing my brother around school.

Since my last day of fourth grade, I firmly believed that we would never be in the same school again. Now, I know this seems insignificant, but take a moment to think about this. If you would have told me that this would happen eight years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you for a second. Maybe it’s just me, but this seems like one of those moments where everything I thought I knew turned out to be a lie.

At least, that’s probably what I would have thought in fourth grade.

Whether you’re a freshman, senior, or anything in between, I encourage you to make the best of this year. I promise that you’ll never have another year exactly like it. Some of us will love the new things we encounter this year, and some of us won’t. Either way, we can’t change it, so we might as well embrace it. Welcome back, ECHO readers, I hope you take advantage of each new day ahead of you.

2017-2018 Rolla High ECHO Magazine Staff Editor In Chief - Sophia Gesualdi Copy Editor - Adrienne Pyeatt Managing Editor - Lydia Giesey Photo Editor - Bailey Allison Section Editors: Caroline Adams (Opinion), Maia Bond (Arts & Entertainment), Kayla Copeland (News), Brandon Kirchner (Sports), Jessa Swearingen (Feature) Staff Writers - Nalani Massaro, Lorren Black, Brett Gonzalez, Tutu Hardwick, Abbee Hilgers, Elizabeth Kaelin, Sam Kimball, Taylor Miller, Isaac Stormes, Nicole Van Horn Adviser - Mary Gillis ECHO is an open forum for student expression. All letters to the editor must include the writer’s name, signature and class or position. Anonymous letters will not be published. ECHO reserves the right to reject any letters. Letters should be sent to ECHO, Rolla High School, 900 Bulldog Run, Rolla, MO 65401.

ECHO is a member of Missouri Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, and Quill & Scroll Honor Society

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Table of Contents

ECHO seeks reader input

We want to include your ideas and activities in the magazine, online, and on social media

Staff Editorial

Dear Fellow Students, We are very excited to be starting a new school year with you!

With a new year comes new opportunities for all of us at Rolla High School. We hope all of you, especially the new freshmen and sophomores, are adjusting well to the new changes here. If you are not familiar with ECHO, we are a group of students who put out this magazine every month.

Here at ECHO, we work constantly on our magazine.We brainstorm topics for the newest issue, choose our stories, interview, design, and write. We do all of this to present this magazine to you. This is what ECHO is all about. We provide RHS with new content every month to keep you informed on important news and

events going on in Rolla.

This is why the ECHO staff is now encouraging YOU to get involved with ECHO. We would like you to submit ideas for stories you would like to see, or topics you think deserve recognition. You can submit your ideas by contacting ECHO on our social media outlets, where we post even more about news and events. Be on the lookout for our publishing days so you can get a physical copy of ECHO, or check out the issue online!

Sincerely, The RHS ECHO Staff

Publication Dates: September 29, 2017 October 26, 2017 November 21, 2017 December 19, 2017 January 26, 2018 February 23, 2018 March 22, 2018 April 27, 2018 May 17, 2018 ECHO website: www.rhsecho.com Instagram - @rhsechonews Twitter - @rhsechonews Facebook - Rolla High School ECHO

Staff Editorial

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ECHO Awareness

Bringing light to America’s opioid epidemic each issue

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The United States has a longstanding history with drugs. The phrase “War on Drugs” has been catapulted around since as far back as the 1970s.

From Richard Nixon to Donald Trump, presidents and politicians alike have vehemently fought against America’s drug problem, mostly referring to illegal substances such as cocaine, methamphetamines, or heroin. However, studies show a newer epidemic arising in the States. Opioids in question refer to medicine possessing certain receptors that, when used, generates an effect that closely resembles morphine. These can range from ibuprofen all the way to heroin. 33,000 Americans died as a result of an opioid overdose in 2015. Although these statistics don’t always have an impact, they hit closer to home than one may think. We’ve interviewed a family of a Rolla High School graduate who passed away from an opiate overdose. As per their request, all of the names have been changed.

Josh Williams was a straight A student, baseball player, and the complete opposite of what one would think to be a drug addict when he passed away a year ago.

“When he graduated from high school, four years ago, he graduated Summa Cum Laude. I realized something was up with him on graduation night, actually, and that was when I started learning what was going on. Looking back on it I think I did ignore some signs, but I just chalked it up to [him] being a normal, highschool boy. He had a full academic and baseball scholarship, but he didn’t make it three weeks there when we had to go get him out of drug rehab. I wish I paid better attention for signs,” Williams’s mother, Linda Williams, said.

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ECHO Awareness

Williams is still obviously living with the effects of losing her only son.

“Every day, nothing is the same as it used to be.

He was an only child, I don’t have any children left, he didn’t have any children, so I’ve lost all hopes of being a grandparent some day. He was still living at home, so now it’s lonely. His room still looks like the last day he left it there. I’ve had depression, I’ve had insomnia, I’ve been through all of it,” Williams said.

Many high school students look for relief outside of dealing with the stresses of school, unfortunately some of them are threatening. Williams contended that her son initially started taking opioids as an escape.

“I believe addiction is a disease. I believe it starts so often with mental illness. He had horrible anxiety his whole life, from his grades in school, just from wanting to be perfect the whole time.

So, he told me later that each time he took pills, to him, he felt normal for the first time. He told me that when he started using them, he used them recreationally when he was in school, as did a lot of kids, because in their minds, they could go to a party, pop a couple of pills, have a great time, and drive home without the threat of driving while intoxicated. But that’s not the case, obviously.

I believe they self medicate, and after they take the drugs, it’s scientifically proven that there are changes in the brain that make it hard to overcome,” Williams said.

If you or anyone you know are struggling with addiction, Williams offers some advice.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Find someone who you can open up to and trust, because the more that they hide it, the worse it seems to spiral out of control. Don’t be embarrassed, don’t be ashamed, ask for help before things get out of control,” Williams said.

Chaos unfolded in Charlottesville as protester clashed over the removal of a Confederate monument E. Lee in Emancipation Park. The self proclaimed “white nationalist” groups were outraged at this vote as they felt that their history was being erased. A few months later, people became angrier and groups began to form, these groups sought to prove their presence. In the midst of summer, the Klu Klux Klan decided to join the cause; the white supremacist group traveled to Charlottesville

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While the majority of Rolla, Missouri was preparing for the start of the new school year, Charlottesville, Virginia was preparing for one of the “largest hate-gathering of its kind in decades” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Before the massive uprising that took place on Friday evening, there had been an accumulation of events leading up to this very moment. Starting in February, there was a vote cast to take down the statue of Robert

to later be outnumbered by opposing protesters.

Over the course of seven months, white nationalist groups have been planning this gathering to “unite the right” as leader James Kessler claims their main goal is to “stand up for history”. During this time, the rally was lead by multiple white supremacist groups wielding tiki torches and chanting phrases such as “Blood and Soil” and “Jews will not replace us”. As they approached the statue, protesters from the opposing side began chanting their own phrases. When fights broke out and situations became more dangerous, authorities arrived and evacuated the sight immediately.

Less than a day later, the rally was moved to Emancipation Park.

Near one in the afternoon, the park was evacuated. Around thirty minutes later, a twenty year old named James Fields Jr. drove his car into a crowd of protesters. Fields was said to have expressed Nazi ideals in high school. In result of the crash, a young woman named Heather Heyer was struck by the car and passed away on the scene. Heyer’s close friends and family members stated that she died fighting for a cause that she strongly believed in.

Join the discussion by taking the poll at www.rhsecho.com

This Month in History: August

Each month in this column I will feature exciting events that happened in the past. Anything from iconic historical moments, influential movements, or just silly random events. I have always enjoyed learning about history, and I hope you will too! b y

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On August 17, 1969, the music festival Woodstock came to a close after a three day journey of peace, love, and rock ‘n roll. The “Three Days of Music and Peace” was promoted by John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield, and Michael Lang. They all came up with the idea of Woodstock to fund a recording studio in New York. The founders couldn’t find an appropriate venue in the town of Woodstock, so they decided to hold the festival on a 600-acre farm owned by Max Yasgur in Bethel, New York.

Before the weekend of the festival, they had sold 186,000 tickets, and expected no more than 200,000 people to show up. However, on the first day, thousands of excited music lovers were pushing against the entrance gate. After seeing this, the promoters of the festival decided to make the festival free of charge, fearing that they would not be able to control the crowd. Half a million people ended up attending Woodstock, causing traffic jams all around the town of Bethel for miles.

Despite getting soaked by rain and having to trek in the muddy fields of the Yasgur Farm, the young fans, or “hippies”, happily took in the performances at Woodstock. With performers such as Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Stills, and Nash and Young attended. Perhaps one of the most memorable moments of Woodstock were when The Who performed with Roger Daltrey as the sun came up.

They were belting “See Me, Feel Me” from The Who’s album, Tommy. Jimi Hendrix also gave the iconic guitar solo of the “Star Spangled Banner”, which was the closing performance at Woodstock.

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his may come as a complete surprise, but your teachers actually have lives outside of school. Most of them even have families they spent time with over the summer! However, a select few went on a

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multitude of adventures.

A prime example is the Latin teacher, Taylor Morris. Along with spending time with her dog and creating a new system for her classes, she traveled to Peru to see Machu Pichu with the former Spanish teacher (Dr. Crowell) and one of his former students from Kirks-

ville. As well as hiking the monument, the group experimented with the local cuisine, which included guinea pig and alpaca. “Both were disgusting,” Morris said.

From the English department is Janice Webb. Beginning in June, the Webb family took their first ever family vacation

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to Perdido Key, Florida. “We had the best time!” Webb said.

Perdido Key is a small strip of land that is most famous for its white sandy beaches and fishing tours.The next month, she flew to Montana to officiate her niece’s wedding. While in the gorgeous state, she had the opportunity to drive Going to the Sun Road through Glacier National Park. “It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen!” Webb said.

This summer Michael Ellis added another stamp to his passport. Before starting summer school, Ellis and his family traveled to the beautiful city of Paris. While in France, the family saw many breathtaking sights and consumed exquisite meals. The month of June passed, and so did his summer school students. Ellis decided to celebrate this victory with a visit to his home state of Oregon.

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Hello! Welcome to Pick of the Pack, Echo’s monthly column all about the lovable pets waiting down at the Rolla Animal Shelter! The Rolla shelter has many dogs and cats hoping for someone to come along and take them to a loving home. If you are interested in adopting any of these animals, go to our local shelter located at 1915 Sharpe Rd in Rolla, where the animals are adorable, and you can get them for a good cause.

Name: Mocha Gender: Female Age: Adult (Professional guess: 7+ years) Breed: Dog, Weimaraner Mix Description: Mocha is a complete sweetheart. She is shy around people until they get to know her. Mocha’s focus is less on playing with other dogs, and more on whether or not you are going to take her home! This loveable pooch was given up by her owner in St. Louis, but transferred to Rolla in hopes of finding a forever family. If you give her even the slightest bit of love, she is sure to love you forever! She is up to date on shots and is of a good family temperament. If you are looking for a loyal companion, head on over to our local shelter and consider Mocha as a best friend to take home.

Name: Patches Gender: Female Age: Adult (Professional guess: 3+ years) Breed: Cat, Mixed Calico Description: Patches is a lovable house cat. She immediately adores anyone who pets her and she’s very affectionate. Patches was taken to the Rolla Animal Shelter on August 17, 2017. She is spayed, litter box trained, declawed, and has no health or behavioral issues.

Patches is a long-haired bundle of love, and she’s a great cuddle buddy. If you’re interested in this amazing cat, go to the Rolla Animal Shelter today!

7th and Pine Street Downtown Rolla www.reddoorgiftsrolla.com

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Welcome to the first ever appearance of my try it column, where I will try random things such as new recipes, restaurants, remedies, and ridiculous DIY crafts. Each month I’ll be trying a new thing or two, so please send in suggestions for me to try!

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Twitter--@rhsechonews Instagram--@rhsechonews ECHO Website--@rhsecho.com Farewell summer posts followed by unenthusiastic “hello school” posts probably have flooded your newsfeed these past few weeks. The stress of memorizing a new schedule, learning a new building as a sophomore and freshman, and coping with the add-on of the building as well as the added grade can be extremely overwhelming for most students.

Contrary to popular belief, the immense stress brought on by school, sports, and snakes does not have to overwhelm you. So, being my new “try it” self, I went out on a limb by attempting to counter my own feelings of stress-induced crushing defeat by trying Au Bon Pain, a small campus café bakery on Rolla Street. When I timidly walked into the the café, I was immediately greeted by the entirety of the staff with genuine smiles and a chorus of hellos, this was a relief for me. The inviting bright yellow and green walls mixed with the aroma of fresh brewed coffee definitely made me want to spend time there.

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As a talkative and interested customer I immediately felt comfortable in my surroundings. I waltzed around looking at everything the little shop had to offer, including breakfast pastries, coffee, smoothies, prepackaged healthy lunch and snack options, and even a soup bar. Not to mention the full on sandwich menu. The options encourage healthy eating, and the café has various options for those with dietary restrictions.

Tables were filled with college studenthunched over thick textbooks as they quietly muttered to each other over their coffee and various bakery items. The friendliness of the baristas brightened my day when they handed me my smoothie with a grin. With this month’s try it I wanted to explore a new place to recommend to someone looking for a place to hide out while doing homework, grab a healthy lunch, or a new spot to chill. I definitely will be revisiting Au Bon Pain, and I hope you do too!

Me circa 2004 sippin on my summer smoothie, unbothered

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Wandering the halls with that deer-in-the-headlights look, the freshmen of Rolla High School are going through quite the transition. Although the sophomores are experiencing a similar troubling time, many of them have already been in the building for sports or other activities. Freshman Jaydan Barr has found the high school to be somewhat stressful to get around.

“I’m struggling to find my classes. They’re scattered everywhere throughout the building. It’s not that bad though. I haven’t been yelled at in the hallway, but I do hear a lot of people yelling at each other from all grades.

Everybody kind of yells at everybody. I don’t think there’s a specific grade that gets yelled at more. I like being here at the high school because it makes me feel like I’m closer to graduating,” Barr said.

Upperclassmen of Rolla High have been slightly disgruntled these first few weeks back as a result of the freshmen clogging the hallways. Senior Charlie Roberts has been lenient and understanding toward the minor inconveniences that the introduction of freshmen pose. “[The freshmen] don’t know how to walk in hallways.

They form big groups in the middle of the hallways and talk to each other, but beside that they’re not really bad. I wish they would find a place to hang out where people aren’t trying to walk, like a table or something. Don’t take the tables in the upper commons though because those are mine.

The lunches are pretty busy too, but that’s not their fault,” Roberts said.

Helpful upperclassmen have joined Link Crew this year in order to help the freshmen and sophomores navigate the building, their new classes, and high school life in general. senior Jessica Qiu is one of these leaders.

“Link crew is a great way to get connected with underclassmen. You get a good feel ing knowing that you’re there to help the students in any way you can, and it’s interesting,” Qiu said.

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Rolla teams hopeful heading into new season

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Last year during the fall sport season, Rolla Athletics had quite some success. The Football team made it all the way to the District Championship, and the Soccer team made it to the Quarterfinals in the state bracket. Volleyball beat rivals such as St. James and Parkview while Softball crushed opponents such as St. James and Carthage. With the 2017 class gone and the 2018 stepping up, the upcoming fall season will be interesting.

Last season, the Rolla Bulldogs Football team finished 3-9.

They made it all the way to the District Championship game only to have a heartbreaking defeat against Parkway West, 42-7. This season, Rolla Football has 16 returning starters from the 2016 campaign. With Coach Franks coming into his second season as the head coach of Rolla Football, the 2017 campaign will be one to remember.

In 2016, Rolla Softball beat conference team Joplin in a stellar victory, 6-5. Rolla was also sussessful against opponents such as Cuba and St. James in regular season play. They beat teams such as Waynesville in tournament play, and overall had a good season during the 2016 campaign. With the 2017 class gone, and new faces on the team, Rolla Softball will have an interesting season coming forward.

The Volleyball team during the 2016 season had a solid campaign. The team shut down St. James and beat Parkview on their own court. However, the season ended with an upsetting defeat against Camdenton in the Class 4 District 10 game, 2-0. Only losing a few players from the departed 2017 class, the upcoming season for the Rolla Volleyball team will be an experience for the new players on the team and the crowd coming to watch their games.

Rolla Soccer crushed opponents such as Battle and Pacific. They ended the season off with a district championship, and gave Helias a run for their money in the quarterfinals game only to come up short, 2-1. With the team only losing a few starters from the 2017 class, and new players having to step up, Rolla Soccer has

Cross Country had a great campaign during the 2016 season. With Don Knapp still continuing his job as the Head Coach of the team and only losing nine runners from the 2017 graduating class, the team will have an advantage while heading into the 2017 season.

The team has high hopes of recreating the same success from last season.

Rolla Tennis had a solid 2016 campaign. While only losing a handful of seniors from the 2017 class, the team has lots of talented players to recreate the same level of success as last year in the upcoming 2017 season. The tennis team encourages students to come support them at their matches this year.

Rolla Golf didn’t lose a single golfer from the 2017 class.

Coach Zack Nixon continues his tenure as Head Coach of the team. Hopes are high for the upcoming season with golfers on the team. The team only continues to grow in size. Their 2017 campaign will be one to

quite the season ahead.

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look forward to.

Fall Football Schedule: 08/18 @ Lebanon 7 p.m.

08/25 Kickapoo 7 p.m.

09/01 @ Parkview 7 p.m.

09/08 @ Joplin 7 p.m.

09/15 Waynesville 7 p.m.

09/22 @ Camdenton 7 p.m.

09/29 Glendale 7 p.m.

10/06 @ Hillcrest 7 p.m.

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10/13 West Plains 7 p.m.

Girls Golf Schedule: 08/23 @ Camdenton Invitational 9 a.m.

08/30 @ Crusader Classic 9 a.m.

09/05 Camdenton 4 p.m.

09/07 Waynesville 4 p.m.

09/11 @ Sedalia Classic 10 a.m.

09/12 @ Helias 4 p.m.

09/14 @ MSU Relays 8:30 a.m.

09/15 @ Waynesville 4 p.m.

09/18 @ Ozark Conference Tournament 9 a.m.

s t r Schedules

Boys Soccer Schedule: 08/29 @ Pacific Tournament TBA 08/30 @ Pacific Tournament TBA 08/31 @ Pacific Tournament TBA 09/05 Parkview 3:30 p.m.

09/06 @ Jefferson City 5 p.m.

09/13 @West Plains 5 p.m.

09/15 @ Parkway Tournament TBA 09/16 @ Parkway Tournament TBA 09/18 Glendale 5 p.m.

09/20 Helias 5 p.m.

09/22 Rolla Invitational TBA 09/23 Rolla Invitational TBA 09/25 @ Waynesville 5 p.m.

09/27 Hillcrest 5 p.m.

10/02 @ Lebanon 5 p.m.

10/05 Springfield Central 5 p.m.

10/07 @ Pacific 10 a.m.

10/10 @ Camdenton 5 p.m.

10/12 @ Kickapoo 5 p.m.

10/13 Thomas Whitefield Games TBA 10/14 Thomas Whitefield Games TBA 10/17 Joplin 4:30 p.m.

Cross Country: 09/02 @ Richard Clack Invitational TBA 09/11 @ Lebanon 4 p.m.

09/21 Rolla Invitational 4 p.m.

09/30 @ Camdenton Invitational 9 a.m.

10/05 @ Licking 4 p.m.

10/07 @ Ozark Conference 9 a.m.

10/09 @ Dixon 4:30 p.m.

10/12 @ Waynesville TBA

Volleyball Schedule: 08/21 @ Salem 5 p.m.

08/24 @ Hickman 5:30 p.m.

08/29 St. James 5:30 p.m.

08/31 Kickapoo 5 p.m.

09/05 Jefferson City 5 p.m.

09/07 Joplin 5 p.m.

09/09 @ West Plains Tournament 9 a.m.

09/12 @ Helias 5:30 p.m.

09/14 Parkview 4:30 p.m.

09/18 Licking 6 p.m.

09/21 West Plains 5 p.m.

09/23 Rolla Invitational 9 a.m.

09/25 @ Owensville 5:30 p.m.

09/28 Lebanon 5 p.m.

09/30 @ Licking Tournament 9 a.m.

10/03 @ Hillcrest 4:30 p.m.

10/05 Waynesville 5 p.m.

10/10 @ Glendale 4:30 p.m.

10/12 @ Camdenton 4:30 p.m.

Girls Tennis Schedule: 08/21 @ Hickman 4 p.m.

08/22 @ Jefferson City 4 p.m.

08/28 @ Parkview 4 p.m.

08/31 @ Richland 4:30 p.m.

09/05 Camdenton 4:30 p.m.

09/06 @ Sedalia Smith-Cotton 4:30 p.m.

09/07 Lebanon 4:30 p.m.

09/09 Rolla Invitational 9 a.m.

09/11 @ Willow Springs 4:30 p.m.

09/13 @ Rock Bridge 3 p.m.

09/14 Helias 4:30 p.m.

09/18 Waynesville 4 p.m.

09/19 @ Ozark Conference Tournament TBA 09/21 @ West Plains 4 p.m.

09/22 @ Waynesville TBA

Softball Schedule: 08/18 St. James 4:30 p.m.

08/21 Union 5 p.m.

08/23 @ Cuba 4:30 p.m.

08/24 Helias 4:30 p.m.

08/29 Pleasant Hope 4:30 p.m.

08/31 Parkview 4:30 p.m.

09/05 Joplin 4:30 p.m.

09/07 @ West Plains 4:30 p.m.

09/08 @ Ozark Tournament TBA 09/09 @ Ozark Tournament TBA 0 p.m.09/11 @ Kickapoo 4:30 p.m.

09/14 @ Camdenton 4:30 p.m.

09/15 @ Logan Rogersville 4 p.m.

09/19 @ Hillcrest 4:30 p.m.

09/21 Lebanon 4:30 p.m.

09/22 @ Crocker 4:30 p.m.

09/25 Waynesville 4:30 p.m.

09/26 @ Glendale 4:30 p.m.

09/28 @ Sullivan 4:30 p.m.

09/29 Rolla Invitational 9 a.m.

09/30 Rolla Invitational 9 a.m.

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Solar Eclipse at

Millions of people flew from far and wide to attend the first eclipse in the United States since 1918. Those lucky enough to score viewing glasses before they sold out clutched them excitedly as the sun was barely in the sky at 8 o’clock in the morning. The air may have been humid and hot, but it was buzzing with energy from crowds of interested families queuing at every booth. The eclipse viewing festival in Jefferson City was arguably the place to be for the full experience.

Chris Hartenstine is a fairly short, athletic looking middle aged man filled with the energy of a child. He speaks so fast you can hardly keep up, and his hand gestures are frantic as he explains his presentation about the eclipse. He stands in the shade of a NASA booth, yet is soaked in sweat, probably because his speaking is so energetic that it becomes a sport. Despite his high intensity, his teaching is precise and well spoken. He teaches anyone that will listen a short, but jampacked with information lesson on the eclipse and common misconceptions.

“A lot of people think that the Moon is reasonably 60 - 70% of the Earth. The thing is that that’s not the truth. The truth is, in this scale with the Earth only about 10 or 11 inches in diameter, the Moon is about two and a half inches. On this scale, the Moon has to go 20 feet away. In actual reality, if you wanted to do this scale better, the sun would need to be 91 feet in diameter and be 2 miles away. That’s the actual distance of our solar system,” Hartenstine said.

With this new information in mind, Hartenstine continues without skipping a beat to explain that he was in Missouri at the festival to demonstrate to people what exactly the eclipse is and what they are seeing. Sweat beads off of his balding head as time until the eclipse ticks on to 9 o’clock. He ignores a phone call,but lets it ring as if he doesn’t notice. His eyes light up when speaking about his job at NASA and he slows his speaking as if he really needs you to get every word.

“I’m an education coordinator at NASA Glenn Research Center.

When you talk about NASA science you talk about the aeronautics and the space and it’s verycomplicated high-level stuff. A lot of times we’re talking about to the general public who are not necessarily comfortable with science, or we’re talking to kids. I talk to the scientists and engineers and the experts and they tell me what they do. I work with them to to bring it down to a level that’s consumable for the general public,” Hartenstine said.

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Hartenstine seems like he knows absolutely everything there is to know about science and math. He speaks with no hesitation and purely expresses his knowledge. It’s hard to believe his career at NASA wasn’t his first. Hartenstine was always interested in math and science, and taught it at the middle school level for about 5 years before spotting a classified ad in the newspaper. Miraculously, he fit NASA’s needs perfectly, but still he doubted himself.

“I was like ‘Oh there’s no way they want me. I’m a young teacher; I don’t have any major credentials; I don’t have any accomplishments’. My wife said ‘If you do not apply you will regret it for the rest of your life. So I overnight ship the application. They called me a week later, and two weeks later I was doing this kind of stuff,” Hartenstine said.

With his dreams coming true, Hartenstine has been able to travel the country teaching what he loves. He used his story of an ordinary job application to inspire greatness in others. His smile brightened as a larger crowd gathered to hear his uplifting spirit.

“So when you feel like ‘Oh my gosh, NASA nobody wants me there, I’m not good enough. That is not the case. You are good enough, you just have to build up the confidence level for it.

It’s a wonderful opportunity and I’ve been taking advantage of it.

I’ve been able to do magical events like this,” Hartenstine said.

Though Hartenstine has been with NASA for a decade, he speaks highly of the corporation. As time ticks closer and closer to the eclipse starting, he seems to speed up his speech.

“It’s really amazing. Every step along the way you’re thinking this is the coolest strangest thing I’ve ever done and then they say, ‘I need you to get on a plane and go to the middle of Missouri and do a demonstration that proves how the eclipse works’,” Hartenstine said.

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A large crowd had gathered around the small NASA booth. No one spoke so they could catch every word Hartenstine said. Taking his opportunity to inform a larger crowd, he began to explain what many were unaware of.

“Everyone you see from NASA here is from Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. People don’t realize, but there’s actually 10 centers. We are the only one in the Midwest and we take full advantage of that. The cool thing about Glenn is that we are a research center, so we get to see the advancements and test them 5 to 10 years before they ever make it onto space for our next mission,” Hartenstine said.

It was 10 o’clock and the sun was beating down on the crowded capital. Food trucks serving warm funnel cakes or popcorn provided little relief. More and more people piled onto open areas and several lounged in chairs or on blankets. The line waiting for the NASA exhibit trailed long past another booth and parents fanned themselves lazily as they waited.

Another NASA employee sat in the shade of the second booth with several small gadgets laid out. Children gathered to tinker and play with them while she explained the science and math behind each contraption. Kristin Spear wore sunglasses that covered most of her freckled face. The exact opposite of Hartenstine, she spoke slowly and chose her words carefully before speaking. Her hands stayed on the table and she patiently explained the answer to every question a child interrupted her with. She spread her arms, gesturing to the plastic toys on the table.

“These are energy conversion demonstrations. We are showing how energy is not created or destroyed, it only changes from one form to another. It shows how we can harness that energy then to power spacecrafts,” Spear said.

Spear looked forward and up while she thought. Her eyebrows furrowed under large sunglasses as she chose her words.

“My job title is communication specialist at NASA Glenn Research Center. This is part of what I do. I get to come and talk to people about what radioisotopes are program and how we enable Nasa to explore regions that we were unable to explore previously,” Spear said Spear nods her head slowly as she speaks. She is often cut off and proceeds to teach a kid how to make the fan spin counterclockwise. Patiently, she asks questions like a teacher in class and encourages them to experiment with new things. When there is a break in the flow of questions she continues her story.

“I work with the radioisotope system program. This provides power for deep space missions or anywhere where solar is not a viable option, and that’s why we are here today,” Spear said.

NASA seems like a corporation much too busy to attend a festival in the capital of Missouri, but it was actually the perfect spot for the Glenn Research Center. Spear spoke with certainty and peered over her sunglasses.

“Jefferson City is within the line of totality and it’s also within Glenn’s region of support and probably the closest Center to Missouri. Cleveland itself is not within the line of totality so we try to come to regions that aren’t usually supported by other methods, so that everybody in the country gets a chance to have the experience that NASA provides,” Spear said

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Spear, unlike Hartenstine, was on a very different route when in school.

“I was actually an art major in college. Graphic design and computer art. My job at NASA got me into it. However, when I was in the sixth grade I was very interested in space. They asked me what I wanted to do and I said ‘Something with either space or art’ so now I get to do both,” Spear said.

Acquiring a job at NASA seems like something only a select few people are capable of. Coincidentally enough, both Hartenstine and Spear stumbled upon an ad in the newspaper and took a shot in the dark. Their success stories were a memorable part of the festival for many people among the crowds.

At 10:30 the sun was still whole and everyone could feel it. People started testing out their viewing glasses and grabbing an early lunch. The crowd grew and Missouri State Parks employees aided anyone needing to buy glasses or get information on any aspect of the affair. Connie Patterson wore her Missouri State Parks shirt and smiled kindly at anyone that passed her as she stood alert in the shade of a booth. She spoke with grace and great pride and folded and unfolded her hands. Her pale face was red from the sun and her blonde hair turned a shade darker from sweat. She took in a deep breath before she spoke.

“Missouri Department of Natural Resources, through its division of state parks, played a tremendous role in helping this thing come together today. As you can see, our state parks are here and we have several booths and exhibits and lots of fun out for folks today to come talk to us to have fun at the Capitol during the eclipse,” Patterson said.

The festival was expecting about 50 thousand people from all across the state and country to attend the viewing at the capital, and that took over a year of planning to bring together. Purely by coincidence, the state park’s 100th anniversary was also on that day, and every employee celebrated their hard work as well as the anniversary with pride and happiness.

With the capitol building as the backdrop, food trucks lined the closed off roads and booths crowded the lawn. Organizations signs were visible from most angles and their lines weaved around each other.

Finally, it was time for the eclipse to start. People crowded into the street for a better view. Only a small C shape was taken out of the sun at that point. Chairs, blankets, and umbrellas covered the grass and strangers stopped everything to stare upward at the disappearing sun. An hour passed and every 5 minutes it seemed that thousands of people were stopping to check the progress of the eclipse. The blazing heat was not getting any better and, although it was being covered, the sun was not backing down.

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The last 10 minutes, the world darkened and the energy in the air was excited as everyone looked up, no one paying attention to anything but the sun and the moon. Air horns blew when the last speck of sun disappeared and the crowd hurriedly took their glasses off. Thousands of people ooh’d and ahh’d at the sight of the sun completely gone, just the corona shining brightly. Crickets chirped and people yelled out, but no one was paying attention to anyone else.

Before anyone knew it, the air horns blew again and the crowd looked immediately down to put the glasses back on. The sun returned just as quick as it had left and it was all over. In disbelief, Hartentine’s enthusiastic tone rang true.

“This whole mess of people are going to bond together on something that brings us from all types of different places and I absolutely love that. I hope you all enjoy taking in the moment because it’s only going to be two and a half minutes of wonder,” Hartenstine said.

Rolla publications students were able to witness the historic eclipse in totality at the capital because of a generous grant from the Mark Rolufs Memorial Grant.

Solar Facts

A total solar eclipse can happen once every 1-2 years. This makes them very rare events.s.

The longest a total solar eclipse can last is 7.5 minutes.

The width of the path of totality is usually about 160 km across and can sweep across an area of Earth’s surface about 10,000 miles long.

Almost identical eclipses occur after 18 years and 11 days. This period of 223 synodic months is called a saros.

During a total solar eclipse, conditions in the path of totality can change quickly. Air temperatures drop and the immediate area becomes dark.

If any planets are in the sky at the time of a total solar eclipse, they can be seen as points of light.

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Athletes of the Month Rhys Proffitt b y

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Typically in high school athletics, the best players are seniors, who have played the game for many years and have had more time than others to learn the program. Fortunately for the RHS soccer team, their strong seniors are backed by a very talented junior class. Rhys Proffitt is one of those talented juniors.

Rhys has been playing soccer now for twelve years.

“I started when I was five years old playing for Optimist. My dad really got me into it, and from then on I just joined the Knights and I’ve been playing ever since,” Proffitt said.

Proffitt is the starting left back for the bulldogs.

“Basically, I’m there to stop any wingers from the other team to get by and score a goal. I’m supposed to be feeding the midfield and the strikers,” Proffitt said.

Proffitt plays soccer all year round and is on several highly competitive teams.

“I play in the spring and winter in St. Louis. Plus, in the winter, I played in Springfield for Scott Gallager and I also tried out for Sporting Springfield,” Proffitt said.

Due to his on and off the field success, Rhys has also been in contact with several colleges.

“Yeah, I plan on playing in college. I don’t know which one yet, but I’ve been going to a lot of camps and talking to a lot of coaches. I have talked to the UMKC coach and S&T coach,” Proffitt said.

Before he can move on to college, Proffitt has to continue to dominate high school soccer. When asked what to expect this season, Proffitt simply said, “We will go pretty far.”

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Macy Moreland

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Fall sports season at Rolla High School has kicked off this year with volleyball, football, and soccer starting their seasons. For Senior Macy Moreland, this will be her last start to a season as an RHS student athlete. Macy is a Libero, which is a player that specializes in defense and stands in the rearmost line on the court.

“I just started playing [as libero] this year, but for the previous six years, I was a setter. I started playing for a team called Rave when I was six years old. Since then, I’ve played for High Impact and 573,” Moreland said.

Macy expects the volleyball team to have a good year.

“We are going to be really good and win a lot. We did really well in the Licking Camps this summer, so I have my eyes set on winning districts. [I think we might] even have a shot at state,” Moreland said.

Macy plans to to stay involved in the sport in college, and possibly become a coach later on in life.

“I would like to coach for a club team in Kansas City. I think I want to play in college after high school, but some of the alumni I talked to said they hated it. I don’t want to end my volleyball career hating the sport,” Moreland said.

Although Moreland has high hopes for the volleyball team this year, she believes there’s more to the game than winning.

“To me none of that really matters and whenever you step on the court. You do your best no matter what,” Moreland said.

The American Taco Company has generously agreed to award each Athlete and Artist of the Month featured in ECHO a $10 ATC Gift Card.

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Art means something different to everyone; to sophomore Kasi Jones, art is an important part of her day to day life. Drawing and painting calms her from the daily b y nicoLe Van Horn stressors of life and school.

“Doodling, drawing, and painting makes me happy, alsorgives S tbut aff E p o rme t Ear goal to work towards. Over the summer, I set a goal to push myself in order to become better at realistic art, so I tried to draw everyday over summer,” Jones said.

Jones grew up with many artistic influences b y bone r ebeing T T her G mother, o n z a Lwho e z has always made sure art was incorporated within the home. S t a f f r E p o r t E r “I’ve been painting with watercolors with my mom for as long as I can remember. She also has been teaching me how to draw since I was 8,” Jones shares. b y

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So many hobbies have created an outlet for teenagers to express themselves. Some teens find tranquility in unique fashion or creative writing, but Jones prefers drawing. The reason why art has become such an important part of her life is the fact that it can neither be right nor wrong. She loves the broad spectrum of personal details that it can include.

“I love how art is self expression and everyone has their own style of drawing, you can see how people construe other things,” Jones said.

Jones’ artwork mainly consists of realistic drawings. Most of her inspiration comes from animals, scenic views, and people. She also takes inspiration from her favorite artist, Salvador Dali.

Jones expressed that most artists feel the need to be perfect as soon as they start on a project. Although she feels that there are no rules in art, Jones did share some ways to perfect a product.

“I think if you’re wanting to be a great artist it takes practice, and if you don’t think you are good at something draw it over and over, because that is the only way to improve,” Jones said.

Arts & Entertainment

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The Orval Reeves Art Gallery The house across the street from the Rolla High School, concealed by towering bamboo, has stayed a quiet business for 30 years. In passing it seems like an average old home but look closer and the black cats sitting on the porch steps and the eccentric green front door tell a different story. The Orval Reeves Art Gallery is art in itself. Jam packed with art from floor to ceiling, the shelves are lined with everything from glassware to jewelry to bronze statues. Paintings and drawings cover practically every inch of wall space and stack against each other like old records. Orval Reeves himself guided me through the overwhelming amount of incredible art as he explained just how he got interested in all of it.

“I think it was just inside of me.

When I was a super young man my mom noticed my talent so she started buying me paint by numbers to start with, and I did those. I did the Last Supper and ballerinas and stallions leaping,” Reeves said.

Reeves stopped every so often to tell an anecdote about one artist or one piece. He could tell someone an artist’s complete history in 30 seconds flat without blinking an eye. His white hair was not what showed his age, it was how much he knew about every piece in the vast gallery. His eyes lit up reminiscing on past years.

“I went out to art school in Seattle, in 1970, and I went to a school for commercial art and advertising, and then in ‘76 I moved back to Rolla and I bought this place.

Myself, I went to a school in Seattle called Burnley School of Professional Art. It was for advertising and it was basically a 2 year program and I got out in 2 years and I stayed in Seattle for a while because Seattle is just a beautiful city and it oozes art,” Reeves said.

In between answering questions about the paintings, Reeves stopped in a room to explain his life further.

“I absolutely love Seattle I would stay in Seattle but it is so expensive I just decided I was tired of the large city and standing in lines to do anything and everything. So I decided to come back here and work on my art. And I do love to paint the Ozarks so that was another draw for me,” Reeves said.

Reeves’ love for painting the Ozarks was clear as some rooms had over a dozen stunning portraits of familiar Missouri scenes. He could explain exactly what colors he used for a specific painting and Artsmore & Entertainment a18 thousand details that would

go unnoticed by someone unknowing of art. The art is obviously not strictly his from the mass quantities of it.

“When I first started it, it was for myself. I was showing my pieces and then a lot of my friends from the area who are artists, and artists are probably the worst business people in the world, they just give their stuff away, I said let me help you, I’ll try to sell some of your stuff and I’ll take a small percentage of the sale. So that started about 1978 I guess,” Reeves said.

Still leading through every room, Reeves explained who made pieces, where they were from, what they’re known for, etc. Each room showcases exceeding amounts of creativity and talent hardly recognized enough in the community.

“Right now I think we’ve got about 8 Ozark artists in the gallery.

As far as living artists, they are all Missouri artists. I’ve collected some things from artists that have passed away that are famous and they are from all over the world and United States,” Reeves said.

Reeves’ tone shifts from his interested, teacher voice to a much older, experienced voice. His face sinks and he shifts his weight to both feet to bring his height down just a little as he continues through the life story of the building.

“Actually I’m thinking about closing here in about 3 years because I get absolutely no support. I’ve sat in here for 30 years waiting for people to come in and buy art and it just doesn’t happen. Paul and Terry Brewer who own Brewer Science are the biggest contributors to art in Rolla,” Reeves said.

After explaining a set of Native American paintings and leading the way through another room of paintings, jewelry, and bronze, Reeves explains his bittersweet message of a lifelong artist.

“The reason people dont buy art is they really don’t know anything about art. They turn the football lights on at the high school at 3 in the afternoon but I’ll bet money I can walk in that art class and and they barely have money for pencils and paper. If you’re not going to present art to people then they’re not going to know anything about it, then it’s hard for them to relate to it. The arts are very important, you know music and painting and drawing. They don’t seem like it at the time but they really do make you a full person if you go into one of those artistic ventures,” Reeves said.

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Next on

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I am most definitely one to go onto Netflix, browse through the trending category, and watch the first episode of literally everything, and most likely never continue the series. So for this column I’m going to watch the first episode of a random trending series on Netflix and give my first impressions and whether I would continue the series or not. For this month I decided to give the show “Riverdale” a shot.

Right off the bat, this show seems more dramatic than anything I usually watch; I’m more of a “Friends” or “The Office” type of Netflix user, while I can also get on a crime show binge every once and awhile. “Riverdale” takes place in a small town with a recent, tragic death that has affected the whole community. It also includes a forbidden romantic affair, a love triangle, and a typical high school mean girl and all of the drama that comes with it; I can’t forget to mention that it contains some highly attractive cast members. Let’s just say it is by definition your perfect TV drama. All of this changes, though, when a new girl moves to town and causes a stir between students, despite her own well-known family affairs.

But hands-down, the absolute best part of my first viewing of

“Riverdale” was the fact that Cole Sprouse, a definite celebrity crush of mine, is a member of the cast, making the show onethousand percent better.

Senior Lexi Turner, says this about “Riverdale”, “I really enjoy it. It has a complex plot line and a lot of unexpected turns. To be honest, I finished the whole series in two days, but it takes five or six episodes to get really into it. The series as a whole was good but there was a lot that could’ve been put together better to relate it more to the Archie comics that it was based off of,”.

For my overall opinion of episode one, I rate “Riverdale” a 6/10. If Cole played a bigger role in this episode that rating might even be higher. It’s not something I would typically choose for myself, but after hearing high reviews pertaining to it and friends bragging over it I decided to give it a shot, but truthfully, I wasn’t too impressed with it. Will I continue watching it? Maybe. If I have a day off during this busy time of year I would definitely consider watching a few more episodes and see if I get roped into watching it routinely.

In the future on “Next on Netflix”...

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The Arena El

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Harry Potter is an iconic book series. Across the world millions upon millions of individuals treasure these books. I consider it a must read. People have so many excuses not to read this series, including its length.Yes, the extensiveness of Harry Potter may seem daunting at first, but when you get far into the books one tends to grow alongside them. The longer you read, more small details start to appear. Since these novels have a huge fan base, it makes meeting people with the same interests easy. Connecting with people through a common interest, even if it is as simple as a book you love, is a wonderful feeling.

Some people judge the Harry Potter series too early. Some people quit before they get halfway through with the series. In my opinion it is too early to judge. How can you say you shouldn’t read something, if one hasn’t even read the whole thing yourself?

Not to mention, this is how I got through A.R. in middle school and junior high; those books gave me major points. With that, many people think these books are for kids. Honestly, this is far from true. While children may read it, they will not understand the material in full until they are older. There are many details that flew over my head when I read them at first which I now understand.

To wrap it all up, Harry Potter is an iconic book series which will always be a favorite for all ages. As a society, we should keep them around for as long as they are relevant. They take you into a fantasy world where anything is possible.

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Harry Potter is a crucial part of many students’ childhood. It is not, however, the serious work of fiction it is commonly portrayed as.

The Harry Potter franchise is little more than an adaptation of common fantasy tropes created to appeal to teens. “Goosebumps”

by R.L. Stine, a book and television series from the nineties, is similar in this regard. It takes classic horror themes and presents them in a way children can comfortably understand. As with Harry Potter, when the series is criticized in front of someone that grew up with it, they treat it as a personal attack. To anyone who didn’t grow up with it, this seems ridiculous. They see it for what it is: a cheesy, watered down version of popular horror movies. When more than a decade has passed since the peak of its popularity, it can be evaluated fairly. Remove nostalgia from the equation and it can be seen for what it really is.

Like Goosebumps, the Harry Potter series is just a children’s adaptation of themes from other fantasy novels, with no other real strengths. Once the hysteria surrounding it dies down, all that will be left is the faded memory of a mediocre series that was prolonged to create profit.

Take our Twitter poll @rhsechonews Which side do you take?

Rolla First Impressions: a new student perspective Programs, people, and opportunities from Rolla leaves a remarkable first impression b y

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Moving to Rolla opened up many options for me. It is a fresh start, a new town, a new home, and most importantly a new school. Being a senior in high school, where I would transfer to meant a lot to me since I will head off to college a year later. From my small school in North Carolina, I chose to transfer over to Rolla High School. I was initially nervous, not exactly sure what I could be heading into, but after hearing some information about the school, I grew to take interest in it. Shortly after my move, I made a visit to the school to set up my schedule and tour the building. At first, my focus was on how big the school is; the huge building with a big field on the side of it and large parking lot was very intimidating. I took notice to the school building’s colors as well, white and maroon. The halls flood with these colors, adding

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to the feeling of open space. I receive my schedule and a tour, but continued to feel lost from the size of the school. I love how organized things are and how multiple classes are offered in different subjects. Days later, the first day of school started. The halls are crowded and slightly difficult to get through.

Despite the number of students, it is impressive to see that there is some organization when moving around. The faculty is polite and the staff is helpful. Classes are interesting, and each teacher has their own touch of personality into their work which allows for easier learning. Being a new person to the area, it is not the easiest heading into Rolla High. Everyone knows everyone, and being new to the area makes it difficult to become a part of the students. Despite being unknown to others, there are students who open up to new people and welcome them in. With the mix of students and faculty, Rolla left a good impression on me. The classes are interesting and allow students to actually learn information instead of cramming and forgetting.

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As school starts up again, many of us already miss the long, sunny days spent with friends and on vacation. One of the most popular things people did this summer was go to the movies. If you missed out, don’t worry, because these four movies were some of the major must-sees of the summer.

Everything, Everything PG-13 Everything, Everything is a romance movie, based off of the book written by Nicola Yoon. Directed by Stella Meghie, this movie takes place in the home of Maddy (Amandla Stenberg). Diagnosed with SCID, eighteen year old Maddy has never left her home. Everything changes when Olly (Nick Robinson) moves in next door. This movie is anything but cliche and gets 4 out of 5 stars.

Annabelle: Creation R This horror film is the prequel to the movie Annabelle.

Directed by David F. Sandberg, this movie will give all who watch it a good scare. Ex toy maker, Samuel Mullins (Anthony LaPaglia), and his wife (Miranda Otto) welcome six children into their home after losing their daughter, Annabelle, in a horrible car wreck. All is well, until one of the children sneaks into a room declared off-limits and starts to play with a doll.

This freaky film is definitely a must see with 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Sam’s Soapbox Why You Should Care About Local Politics

Whether it be a reaction to healthcare legislation, tax reform, or foreign policy, we all have our own opinions on what the federal government should do. Few people, however, have a strong opinion on the creation of the annual city budget, the construction of a new subdivision, or the revision of an animal disturbance ordinance. These issues may not be as grandiose as national political issues, but they have just as much, if not more, impact on our everyday lives.

National issues may affect more people than local issues, but that does not make them more important. After all, how often do we think about the tax plans of billionaires, compared to using a turn signal or keeping our dogs leashed in public? National policy, while contentious, often has little effect on us as individuals.

Despite their impact, local issues are easy to ignore. National and state issues get the spotlight in the evening news or popular newspapers. If someone doesn’t read the local newspaper regularly, and it doesn’t directly involve that person, a local

The Mummy PG-13 The Mummy, directed by Alex Kurtzman, is a fantasy thriller which takes place in modern Egypt and America.

Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) is a soldier who raids different sites in the middle east with his partner in crime. One day, Morton accidently stumbles upon the tomb of the long forgotten Egyptian princess, Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella).

The following consequences create a harrowing adventure, which will leave people on the edge of their seats. This thriller scored a 3 out of 5 stars.

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N ews E d i t o r Spider-Man: Homecoming PG-13 This latest Spider-Man movie, directed by Jon Watts, was one of the most anticipated movies of this summer.

As another Marvel creation, this sci-fi movie continues the story of Peter Parker (Tom Holland), also known as Spider-Man. After the latest Avengers mission, Parker is trying to adjust to life as an almost Avenger with the help of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Forced to stay in his hometown and take on small crimes, Parker tries to prove himself by taking down the Vulture (Michael Keaton) single handedly. This hilarious movie received a 4 out of 5 stars.

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issue will probably never reach their attention. This makes the burden of actively searching out information on local issues fall on the public. It is not surprising, then, that many people simply don’t pay attention to the everyday occurrences at the local level, even if they are heavily impacted by them.

Luckily, local events, due to their relative obscurity, are easy to influence. Anyone can address the city council during a meeting with an issue that affects him or her. Just showing up and expressing concern is often enough to influence a vote on an issue, or even to begin the process of creating a new ordinance. One person makes a huge impact at the local level, unlike the small impact he or she has at the state or national level.

Because of the impact I believe local politics has, I will be giving my opinions on issues facing Rolla and national issues which specifically impact our area throughout this year. It is my hope this will encourage readers to develop their own opinions on local issues, and to get involved with the local political process.

What are the issues you’d like to hear about? PM us @rhsechonews on Twitter

Opinion

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Who, What, Wear b y

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A r t s & E n t e r t a i n me n t E d i t o r You’ve probably heard your history teacher drone on about history repeating itself, how important it is to know your past, and blah blah blah. Fashion trends,on the other hand, are a much more interesting and arguably more important topic of recycling.

Even those born as soon as the 90’s see some familiar trends from their toddler years. The 90’s is known for grunge; everything had to be dark, distressed and probably included Doc Martins. Flimsy plastic chokers and men’s size large flannels you find at Goodwill were all the rage. Ripped fishnet tights paired with a huge mens flannel and clunky Doc Martins? This was something you could easily find in the 90’s, and also something seen everywhere in 2017. For the past few years, the grunge style that was known in the 90’s somehow ended up in the early 2010’s. There are girls in school looking like they walked straight from the 1992 Marc Jacobs Perry Ellis collection who weren’t born until nearly a decade after that.

It’s not just grunge style though, bell-bottoms were big in the 60’s resurfaced in the 90’s and they’re back again now. Though maybe not common enough to be seen in a regular high school, bell bottom pants are hitting the runways now more than ever. It’s hard to believe that the Rihanna x Puma platform suede creepers were released in this decade instead of hitting stores in ‘96.

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Though some things from the 90’s are trendy and high fashion again, there are some things that should stay in the last century.

Those giant jeans that had enough fabric for a maxi dress? I can’t think of anything worse. Wearing overalls with one shoulder undone? This is the only trend that a hay chewing farmer and the fashion forward boy in your math class both like. Extra thin eyebrows? Don’t even get me started.

So why do fashion trends repeat themselves? Could it be a result of those kids writing “I was born in the wrong generation” as their caption on their selfie wearing a Nirvana shirt? Are they dressing like they are in the generation they want to be in, and it catches on as a new trend with kids that never lived through it? Is it designers sneakily “inventing” a new trend that was cool when they were young, and eventually it goes from the runway to everyday wear?

The fact of the matter is there are only so many fashion trends that could possibly exist. Unless we want to wear some full skirt, long sleeve, high neckline realness circa 1800, we’re stuck with trends from the past 150 years. I just hope that extra low waist jeans and crop tops don’t come back to haunt us from the early 2000’s, and no one can, or should, pull off the red latex bodysuit like Britney Spears.

A New Era for

RHS

The new front enterance to RHS (above). The much awaited wreslting room readfor the winter sports season (right).

Senior Lexi Turner is happy to be a part of the new era of RHS (below) Students are excited that the lighting provides the perfect selfie snapping place.

The 2017-2018 school year marks a historic and long awaited time for Rolla School District. With a brand new, multi-million dollar edition to the building and the freshman class joining RHS for the first time since 1964, our high school has made immense changes for the betterment of our school. RHS added not only a new prinicpal to tend to the needs of our growing student body, but a new, much-needed counselor was also added to our staff. 11 new classrooms, a new lecture hall, a new front office, and Rolla Junior High’s veterans memorial hall were all added to the building.

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RJHS’s veterans memorial hall (left).

American and Missouri flag flying proudly in the new circle drive (top center). Secretary Ms. Mumma in her new office (top right). Our new lecture room funded

by CORE (right).

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Join the RHS ECHO Magazine Staff!

Sign up for the intro class:

Journalism Composition

Two ways to take Journalism Composition 1) Traditional Face to Face Class (in the school schedule) 2) Online (done entirely outside of school hours on own time) The curriculum is the same, the method of delivery is different. Both are ½ unit of English. Both meet the prerequisite for being on ECHO or Growler.

If you enroll for online, you will just enter that separately in your IC portal.

Going Places On the ECHO staff, you have multiple opportunites to travel all across the country for the Journalism Education Assocaition National Convetnion. These conventions take place anywhere from Seattle and Washington D.C and everywhere in between.

While there, you learn about all aspects of journalism from some of the top journalists in the country!

Meeting People

In room 302, you will meet more people than you thought you could in high school. From baseball players, to artists, to FCCLA officers, to expert L.A.R.P.ers and everyone in between. Joining the ECHO staff is a great way to get to know people from your high school you normally wouldn’t have any interaction with. It’s a great way to make new friends and new relationships that could last a life time.

Awards Every year, the ECHO staff participates in MIZZOU’s Journalism Day. J-Day is a full day filled with speakers, break-out sessons, and award ceremonies. We, as a staff, send in our layouts and stories throughout the year to be judged at J-Day for awards and recognition. If you are on staff for a year or more, you could also recieve a cord for graduation!

Skills Being a part of the ECHO staff advances your knowledge in all aspects of journalism. You’ll take part in the entire process.From interviews, to writing the story, editing, layout, and exportation, you’ll be a part of it all in room 302.

Follow Us on Socal Media @rhsechonews Rolla High School ECHO @rhsechonews

Contact RHS ECHO Magzine

The RHS ECHO and Growler staff viewing the solar eclipse in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Mary Gillis, Adviser mgillis@rolla.k12.mo.us (573)-458-0101 ext. 14302 Room 302