March 22, 2018 Print Edition

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Rolla High School - 900 Bulldog Run Rolla, Missouri 65401- Volume 69 - Issue 8 March 22, 2018 - www.rhsecho.com

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Recent events inspire ECHO staff to speak up about protecting America’s youth Look no further for Spring Break plans! Check out what Missouri has to offer you The Kaleidescope Discovery Center is one of Rolla’s hidden gems

In this issue...

St. Patrick’s Day...............................................................5 Women’s History Month.................................................6 The Play...........................................................................11 The Polar Plunge..............................................................18 Senior Column.................................................................26

Letter from the Editor So, here’s the thing. I know that as soon as I say what I’m going to say, a certain number of people will lose quite a bit of respect for me. Our copy editor, Adrienne, will without a doubt think I’m heartless and refuse to edit the rest of this. I apologize in advance for writing about this topic, but as I was brainstorming ideas, it just seemed like the right thing to do. Here it is: I don’t like cats.

Now, it’s not that I hate cats; I don’t. I love pictures of kittens as much as the next girl, but cats and I just don’t vibe. I didn’t grow up around any cats, so I’ve always just assumed that I’m more of a dog person. When I try to pet my friends’ cats, they always run away from me, but I never dwelled on it too much. Until recently, life was simple: I kept a respectful distance between myself and any cat.

My method was working great, until my older sister left her kitten with my family for a week. At first, I was excited; I thought it was going to be my chance to really bond with a cat. However, over the course of the week, I learned felines just aren’t for me.

My sister’s kitten is adorable. He’s grey and white with the prettiest eyes, and his fur is so soft. For a couple of days, we got along well. I let him sleep on my lap, and he let me scratch his ears; it was a good match. However, right as I started to believe that maybe I actually was a cat person, my sister’s cat went wild. When I was doing my makeup, he would knock my makeup brushes off the counter. When I was trying to sleep, he would jump on my face. Lastly, when I was typing a story for your enjoyment, he walked all over the keyboard.

I realize that I’m being a little harsh. My sister’s cat was only acting the way that cats do. To be frank, I just don’t understand cats, and I feel as if they don’t understand me. I’m sure there are cats out there that don’t always bite and scratch, but I haven’t been lucky enough to encounter them yet. Just to clarify, I am completely aware that many people have had very pleasant experiences with cats, but I have accepted that I am not one of those people. It’s nothing personal; cats and I just aren’t meant to be.

2017-2018 Rolla High ECHO Magazine Staff Editor In Chief - Sophia Gesualdi Copy Editor - Adrienne Pyeatt Managing Editor - Lydia Giesey Photo Editor - Bailey Allison Webmaster- Blaize Klossner Section Editors: Abbee Hilgers (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, Josh Pritchett, 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

The Signifigance of Saint Patrick in Rolla Here in Rolla, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most anticipated holidays. People look forward to St. Pat’s all year and the town gets many visitors from other Missourians because Rolla’s celebration is so iconic. But why exactly is St. Patrick’s day so important to us?

Saint Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland.

However, the legend of him driving snakes out of Ireland is untrue. Saint Patrick was raised in North-West Great Britain under Roman rule, though it is unknown which town. His real name was Maewyn Succat, and his father, Calpornius, was a Roman-British army officer.

Most people believe Saint Patrick became a saint after driving all of the snakes out of Ireland, but Ireland was never home to snakes in the first place. When he was about sixteen years old, he was captured in a raid of his hometown and forced to live as a slave in Ireland, tending to his master’s sheep for six years. Saint Patrick returned home after he escaped, but visited Ireland again in his 40s and was able to convert the entire island of Ireland to Catholicism. Even with this accomplishment, the Roman Catholic Church never actually declared him a saint, though he has always been referred to as one.

As for the significance Saint Patrick has to Rolla, the spirit of the city is mostly intertwined with the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Saint Patrick mostly known as

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the patron saint of Ireland, but he is also known as the patron saint of engineering. The first St. Pat’s celebration in Rolla was in 1908, and began as a “friendly” competition with Mizzou. Mizzou had invited S&T to send a delegate to watch their ceremonies. This resulted in a large meeting of S&T residents to decide who the delegate was, and they also decided that they had to out-do Mizzou. Thus, the St. Pat’s Board was formed. The students planned and put on the whole parade themselves, and very few actually showed up to school that March 17th. Before the faculty was able to catch them, the elected St. Pat, George Menefee, mounted his chariot and began the parade. Dr. Young, the School Director at the time, demanded action and stood in front of Menefee’s moving chariot. Menefee ordered to stop the chariot, and told Dr. Young to “kneel in the name of Saint Patrick.” Dr. Young, being new to this job and friendly with the students, decided to follow Menefee’s order in good nature. Once he kneeled, St. Pat spoke historic words: “Dr. Young, I dub you the first Honorary Knight of Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Engineers.”

Since that day, Rolla has fully embraced the silliness of the S&T students, celebrating the holiday each year with a parade, concert, and knighting ceremony. March 17th, 2018 is the 110th celebration of St. Patrick in Rolla, with many more to come.

The beginning of March often means spring is on the horizon and winter is dying down. In Alaska however, winter events are just starting. The Iditarod is the most famous dog sled race. Beginning this year on March 3rd, dog sled racers from across the world lined up in Anchorage at the ceremonial start. The racers will run the Northern track, going for 566 miles, and finish the race in Nome. The Iditarod is the world’s longest dog sled race, lasting anywhere from 8-15 days. The fastest time was 8 days, 3 hours, 40 minutes and 13 seconds. The record was set by Mitch Seavey, the oldest person to complete the race. Seavey’s son, Dallas Seavey, was the youngest musher to win the race at 25.

Dogs in the Iditarod were historically Alaskan Malamutes. At the end

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of the 19th century, Siberian Huskies were introduced more formally as a race dog. In the early 20th century, a black market of racing dogs began.

This led to many strong dog mixes. Today, there are more mixed breeds than ever. Many are bred from German Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, Hounds, Spaniels, and even wolves. Dogs may be any breed, it all depends on speed, attitude, and willingness to race.

The Iditarod is by far the most famous and respected dog races in the world. Only the best of dog racers do well in this intense race. While some think that dog racing is inhumane and pointless, many know it as a long lasting prestigious tradition.

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Our hearts go out to the victims of the recent atrocities and their families.

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Staff Editorial {

The opinion of ECHO staff on school shootings, causes, and possible solutions

The widely controversial subject of today’s youth is a much more complicated issue than it seems. People are desperate for answers concerning why school shootings have become more popular recently and what we can do to resolve the situation. Often this means reaching for conclusions that may not completely solve the problem. There are multiple aspects to consider. Although everyone has a different solution, there are three contentions that the ECHO staff agrees on.

1) There needs to be a change 2) Feeling unsafe at school is unacceptable 3) Guns increase the ease of injuring others It is difficult to determine a single cause of gun violence and school shootings. We want to trust others instead of living in fear.

America has the resources to create a safer environment for their students, but what does that mean? The most popular answer is stricter gun control. Walkouts and peaceful protests have pushed for a change in legislation. but it should be noted that gun control would not fix every aspect of this issue. Another answer is arming teachers, as if more guns means greater safety; as if a teacher would never lose control and shoot their students. Yet another solution is an increase in school security. Many of these solutions require a plea to national government, but this is something we can enact as students on a local level. This may mean metal detectors or armed guards, as found at airports and courthouses.

Hopefully, there would be no need for them, but it may have saved victims of past atrocities.

This issue is about doing the most to protect the youth of America. It is no secret that mental health can be a significant problem for high school students. The high-stress situations that every student runs into at some point affect everyone differently.

A weak support system at home can make it even worse for those who are already under a great deal of pressure.

Students need a break at some point throughout the day to destress and socialize. Thankfully, we have Pride Time here at Rolla.

Unfortunately, not all teachers allow students to socialize at this time. It is important for there to be a time when students can visit the counselor or talk to others about their problems.

The vast majority of shooters are “outcasts”. These young people feel misunderstood, frustrated, and alone. They have severe mental issues, often stemming from a troubled home life and the inability to escape from constant negativity. As students, we need to take responsibility for making others feel like a part of this community. Whether that means lending a helping hand as often as possible or reaching out to someone on social media, make sure that no student feels like everyone is against them. This can truly be the difference between life and death. In addition to this, don’t be afraid to speak up to a counselor or teacher if a student suggests that they are considering violent actions.

Teens are tired of feeling like their concerns go unnoticed. Students are being murdered, and from our standpoint, there is little being done to fix this issue. Although both President Trump and 97 percent of U.S. voters (according to a Quinnipiac poll of 1,249 voters) support expanding background checks, Congress has made no move so far to protect the children of the US. Despite calls for gun control and stricter security, the lack of governmental action has driven many students to take action into their own hands. On March 14th, 2018, there was a national student walkout at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes to honor the 17 who were killed in the Parkland shooting.

Questions to consider: How can we keep this from happening again?

What will make students feel safer?

Will protests push Congress into action?

Will Trump create an executive order if Congress does not act?

Will more guns be added to increase safety?

Should we make a local change?

Although there is no clear, universal answer to these questions yet, it is important to keep the conversation going and agree as a nation on logical protective measures.

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Girls Rule, Leadership Gaps Drool

Celebrating National Women’s History Month with Women in Leadership b y

Strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them. This popular phrase has been instagrammed, tweeted and shared in honor of March being Women’s History month.

While the act of adding and/or liking a picture may be trivial, the sentiment behind it is what truly matters. The encouragement of strong women is needed immensely in today’s America, where only 52% of women have professional positions. The gender-leadership gap between men and women is startling, with women only being 31% of surgeons and physicians, 27% of college presidents, and 6% of CEOs according to Americanprogress.org. With the disparity continuing to expand, Women’s History Month is an incredibly important reminder, and instrumental in the upcoming generation of strong women.

Psychology teacher Gwen Fleming is currently working on her doctorate dissertation about this subject, specifically through the eyes of Missouri superintendents.

“The title of my dissertation is ‘Missouri Superintendents Perceptions Regarding the Variables Impacting the Gender-Leadership Gap in Public Education.’ So in a nutshell, what that’s looking at is the gender-leadership gap, which is the extreme disproportion of men versus women in top leadership roles. So for education, I’m looking at that top position of being superintendency,” Fleming said.

Fleming chose this topic not only because it caught her attention, but also because of the personal aspect that came with it.

“I knew I wanted to do something with female leadership, but as I was reviewing the literature, the gender-leadership gaps kept sticking out to me, and I hadn’t really heard of that before. If you’re looking at the gender-leadership gap, I wouldn’t say that is as much of an issue [at Rolla] as maybe in other districts. So, I’ve noticed that a large number--or a higher number--of women are principals. I know that in a study, nationwide, up to 52% of principals in the united states are female. When you look at the percentages for teachers, 76% are women. When you look at the top percentages for female superintendents, the nationwide statistic is 27% are leading school districts. I just kind of wanted to see what those variables were, [and] what was impacting that,” Fleming said.

Mrs. Joan Nesbitt is an example of a woman in a leadership role.

She works as the Vice Chancellor of University Advancement at Missouri University of Science and Technology, and went on to explain how and what exactly that came to be.

“From the very beginning, I fell into fundraising, not even knowing what I was doing, and learning from the ground up. I graduated from college with a degree in communication, and one of the first job interviews I ever went on, the title was ‘Director of Public Relations and Development.’ I didn’t even know what development meant, but I thought, ‘Well, I can do the public relations part.’ I ended up getting the job, but I didn’t know that that meant I would be a fundraiser. I figured out that there’s kind of a hierarchy in fundraising, in terms of pay and prestige and budget, and non-profits are at the bottom, whereas universities can be at the top. They’re better-paid jobs, they have bigger staffs and bigger resources, so I figured out that university fundraising was the place that I wanted to be. I’m part of the senior administrators that make all of the decisions for the university, but my specific responsibility is what’s called ‘Advancement.’ Advancement is

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the umbrella term typically used for external relations. It always means fundraising, and usually always means alumni relations, and sometimes it means marketing and communication. I’m the team leader for our division of about fifty people who do those kinds of jobs,” Nesbitt said.

The gender-leadership gap is, unfortunately, rooted in almost any profession in the US. Fortunately, this is being scrutinized in many areas, especially the media and entertainment industries.

“If you look at the things that are getting attention right now, there aren’t nearly enough women in elected office. In the Senate, women are woefully underrepresented! In the Senate, in the House, in our own state, in General Assembly, in board rooms, in CEO offices, in technical fields. Many of the technical fields on our campus, like electrical engineering, like computer science, women are woefully underrepresented. In Hollywood! If you watched the Oscars on Sunday night, that’s all they talked about! There is a dearth of women in leadership positions,” Nesbitt said.

This gap isn’t the product of one sole cause--rather, a culmination of factors that many women face, experience or choose in our society. Fleming notes this ambiguity is primarily what her research leads her to.

“I can look at where I’ve been, from my own personal experience. I think Rolla’s school district has a wonderful percentage of female leaders. But when I’m looking at national and statewide data, the numbers are speaking for themselves. Why that is, I think there can be a number of different reasons. It could be family responsibilities, it could be the fact that not as many women as men are getting certified, or getting the credentials for superintendency; maybe they don’t want to take it to that step. It could be, too, that it tends to be we see a lot more female administrators or principals at the elementary level, and not as many at the secondary level, and it shows, typically from the research that we’ve seen, a higher percentage of superintendents are coming from the secondary level. So maybe there’s a certain path that women aren’t on,” Fleming said.

Despite the absence of women in these higher-up positions, there are certain benefits that result from them being there.

Nesbitt recounts her using her own experiences as a mother in the workplace.

“I’m gonna be honest with you: it’s hard for me to talk about this and not sound like I hate men. Women are empathetic, and they can put themselves in somebody else’s shoes, and in my opinion, they can lead with a softness and a warmth that men are afraid to do. Men, our society expects them to be tough. I feel like men have such rigid expectations, based on their gender, for how they can behave appropriately, but women can be soft and tough at the same time. There’s no doubt that I’m a tough leader in the sense that I demand high standards, I demand high performances, and I lead by example with a high performance. But, I know how to be soft. I know how to listen to somebody and empathize with them, and work through their issues in a way that they feel heard.

I happen to be a mother, and I think mothers are especially good at guiding people and coaching people, and helping people work through things--I think our motherly instincts come out! We can be tough and enforce discipline, without coming off like a drill sergeant. We know how to coax, and the same way we know how to coax our kids into getting things done, we can apply those skills

in the workplace. We can use that blend of discipline and empathy to achieve a desired result. Some men that I have worked with-not all! But some, they only know how to use authority, and not soft power,” Nesbitt said.

Along with the outward advantages, women can benefit internally as well. Nesbitt’s personal experience with being a leader has shown her to enjoy her personal life more, become more confident in her own abilities, and encourage other women to step up along with her.

“The possibilities are endless, and they’re only limited by our lack of imagination. When I think about what I’ve had the opportunity to do, and the ways I’ve had the opportunities for personal growth as the result of being a leader--beyond anything like prestige, or money. I’m not considering, ‘Am I getting paid more,’ or ‘Am I getting a good title.’ Just ‘How have I grown as a human being,’ as a person who makes a difference in my own, personal orbit, that has been a tremendous benefit to me, as a result of seeking and accepting leadership opportunities. I think I’m a much better person, as a result of becoming a manager and now a senior leader. I don’t think I’ve ever taken a job that I wasn’t terrified of, going in, and had feelings of, ‘Well, I’m clearly not qualified, I’m a fraud, they’re gonna find out and I’m gonna get fired!’

By the way, men don’t do that. They never think they’re a fraud!

Men are like, ‘Hell yeah, I’m all that and a bag of chips!’” Women tend to think, ‘Surely I can’t be qualified. I don’t think I can do it.’

But you’ll surprise yourself! I have surprised myself, every time!

I’ve always started out terrified, and then surprised myself in the end,” Nesbitt said.

The bottom line of Women’s History Month is to shed a light on inspiring figures we don’t usually hear about. Although textbooks have achieved a better sense of inclusion in the recent years, there’s still a ways to go.

“They’re the stories we don’t learn. We don’t learn these stories in history. Maybe it’s different now, but the history I learned, when I was in grade school and in high school, and really, in college as well, it was all about men, and most of them were white.

We just didn’t learn the stories of women! I remember, early in my twenties, learning about some women that blew me away.

One of these stories that blew me away was Emma Goldman. She was a really interesting woman! If you read about her, she sounds a little crazy. She came from Russia and immigrated to the US, she got involved with the anarchist movement--she was really counter-culture! The fact that she was saying the things she was saying as a woman, was really unfathomable. But she was one of the women who realized a woman’s ability to control their lives, really depended on their ability to control their reproductive futures. She was an early proponent of birth control. I remember learning about her when I was about twenty, and the only way I learned about here was from one of my favorite movies back then, called “Reds,” that stars Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton, and it was about the Russian Revolution as it played out in the US. And so Emma Goldman was in the movie! She had this bit role in that movie, and it caught my attention so I started reading about her.

I found her fascinating! I thought she was much more interesting than the male character portrayed by Warren Beatty. The whole movie was about John Reed, this historical figure, but I thought Emma Goldman was way more interesting than him,” Nesbitt said.

With the social climate of our country rapidly changing, the generations of girls being raised need empowering female figures more than ever.

“When we look at the history books, it does speak of a few, select females, but there are many more. Mrs. Lowrey used to wear a shirt that would say ‘Well-behaved women rarely make history’ and I always find that it’s the ones that challenge the status quo that do; that tend to make the news. I think it’s important, especially now that gender roles are changing whether we like it or not. Family structures are changing, and more and more women, whether they want to or they do choose to, are working outside of the home. Keeping that in mind, I think it’s important for girls, growing up, to try and find women role models,” Fleming said.

Unsurprisingly, Nesbitt has more than a few women who inspire her. Leaders from varying eras and professions, from politicians to stay-at-home moms, yet all represented in Women’s History Month.

“Oh, there’s so many. Emma Goldman is one of them--and like I said, her political admissions are not mainstream, so I don’t fully recommend her political opinions. But the fact that at the turn of the century, she was a woman who was willing to be jailed because she spoke her mind and stood up for reproductive freedom--huge hero! I’m kind of a feminist, so I love Gloria Steinem. She’s on my bucket list--I would love to meet Gloria Steinem before I die!

I don’t care what anyone says, I still like Hillary Clinton. I know her flaws, and I can talk to you all day about all of the things I think she got wrong, but I still like her. I’m a huge fan of Michelle Obama, I just think she’s kick-ass. You can obviously tell by now my political leanings! I also love Elizabeth Warren. She’s another woman who won’t let herself be silenced. She’s out there standing up, saying ‘I don’t care if you think this opinion is popular, I’m gonna speak on it.’ One of my favorite writers is a woman that’s becoming increasingly known, Glennon Melton. She’s a New York Times best-selling author, she has a blog called Momastery, she’s a fascinating woman. I could go on and on, and it’s kind of a usual lineup, but I don’t care! They’re all women who inspire me.

Now I have mentioned to you some women who, maybe are all the same type, in that they’re all very strong, very outspoken, and could be described as activists. I don’t want to give you the impression that is the only type of woman I value. I think there are so many women who do so many amazing things in very, very different ways, and I very much appreciate that diversity. I have the utmost respect for women who are homemakers--I happen to have a husband who’s a Mr. Mom. He does a job that, not only would I not be very good at, but it’s a very hard job. I have a great appreciation for women whose paths are very different than my own.

I’d like to see women of all stripes claim their power, and move us towards a better world,” Nesbitt said.

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Artist of the Month Micah Wells b y

Junior Micah Wells has grown up in a musically gifted family and from a young age has always been surrounded by singing.

“My parents, my grandparents, cousins, and aunts/uncles have passed down their love to sing and enjoy music. Essentially, singing never had a set “beginning” for me; I’ve just learned to always be singing,” Wells said.

Wells started singing in the choral setting in third grade, first with the RCAS Young Singers Choir, and then moved on RCAS Children’s Choir, now that Wells is in high school she now sings in the RCAS Jazz Choir.

“I get together every Sunday afternoon and for a couple of hours I get to hang with my friends and sing jazz. Addyson, my sister, and I will get together and write songs,” Wells said.

All of Wells’ siblings sing. Braiden, her older brother, sang with her in Jazz Choir, RCAS Children’s Choir, and Chamber Choir.

Her sister, freshman Addyson Wells sings in chamber choir and jazz.

Wells entire face lights up when she talks about how she is able to incorporate religion into her life through song.

“I occasionally help lead worship in my church and youth group and it is really cool is to lead worship with my little sister. It is awesome to be worshiping with all your might, and to look over and see your little sister right there with you,” Wells said.

Although Wells does not necessarily want to pursue a career as a singer, she will be actively including singing in her future life.

“I plan to continue helping with worship until the day I die, even if that means just singing behind my closed bedroom door. I love to write songs, so who knows, but futurewise, I’ll be singing until the day I die!” Wells said.

One of the biggest reasons Wells is enthusiastic about her singing is due to her many encouraging influences.

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“My biggest influencers include my friend Ashley Harshbarger, who taught me how to lead worship with all my heart and Mr. Sandquist, who has helped craft my natural singing voice into one that is well trained and flexible. Another influence in my life is Mrs. Kathy Mazzeo. She has taught me how to change my voice to fit jazz, choral, or pop settings. All of these people have trained and helped me, and I have to thank all of them for the voice I have today,” Wells said.

Wells’ parents are the ones who inspire her to pursue her musical career. Since the beginning they have encouraged her to practice and become the best she can be. Luckily, because of this, Wells never has to worry if they’ll be cheering her on in the audience.

“My grandfather definitely motivates me the most. He suffered from a stroke in December 2015, making him incapable to speak.

Amazingly, one Christmas our whole family visited him in the hospital and sang him Christmas carols. Through all of the brokenness that was going on, by the grace of God he began to sing with us. My grandpa has sung his whole life, in church, in choir, at weddings, you name it. We thought he had lost this passion of his with the stroke, but by the grace of God he was able to push through and still sing his heart out. So he’s my main motivation,” Wells said.

Her grandfather as well as Christian artist Cory Asbury motivate her to further her singing. Through his various songs and performances, Asbury music pushes Wells to continue singing through life.

“I would just say, music is more than just playing or singing notes. As cheesy as it sounds, music is about what you feel inside, and nothing can take that feeling away from you,” said Wells.

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George Ezra, a Bristol singer-songwriter, whose music is a mixture of folk rock and Americana blues, is releasing his sophomore album Staying at Tamara’s on March 23. Ezra rose to fame at nineteen when he released his debut single, “Budapest”, on Columbia Records that peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. Ezra was influenced by artists like Bob Dylan and Hank Williams, making “Budapest” a soulful piece of folk-pop.

Along with “Budapest”, Ezra released his Debut EP in 2013 Did You Hear the Rain?,

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with three other songs. The following year, Ezra released his first album, Wanted on Voyage, that earned him the number one spot on the U.K. charts, four Brit Award nominations, and an opening act on Sam Smith’s 2015 “In The Lonely Hour” tour. In April 2017, Ezra announced a U.K. tour where he would release new material. This new material included the release of his lead single “Don’t Matter Now” and a second single, “Paradise” to his upcoming album Staying at Tamara’s, which is out this month, on March 23, 2018.

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Variety Show Highlights Choir Student’s Talent b y

This year the Rolla High School annual Variety Show’s theme is “The Rhythm is Gonna Get Ya”. The show will debut on March 16 and will have one additional show on March 17. It will be held at the Rolla Middle School auditorium at 7:00 p.m..

“The students of the Rolla High School Choirs prepare for the variety show, which includes determining a theme, finding set of songs, learning choreography. We start music in January, add dancing in February, and fine tune in March,” Choir director, Jason Bartelsmeyer said.

The RHS variety show has been an annual production for the last 30 years, and is now one of Rolla High School’s many traditions.

“The music that the choir will be singing this year comes from Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, the Eagles, the musical Dear Evan Hansen, and the movie La La Land. Students will also sing solos highlighting the latest in pop solo music,” Bartelsmeyer said.

The theme is chosen when songs are recommended by students and then finalized by Mr. Bartelsmeyer.

“One thing to look forward to would be Step in Time from the movie and musical Mary Poppins, it’s a favorite song with the Chamber Choir,” Bartelsmeyer said.

These songs are not the only exciting aspects of the Variety Show.

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“I’m ecstatic to see how the student choreographer’s effort and imaginative minds have helped make this our best show yet,” Junior Micah Wells said.

The Variety Show not only has many group performances, it also has various solo performances.

“Since this is my last Variety Show I’m so excited to sing and dance with my favorite people. I’m also looking forward to watch the solo performances,” Senior Gabi Hartinger said.

The choir works hard to show the audience more about what choir does aside from choir concerts. Throughout the year, choir does not solely take the stage in their own performance until this fun showcase.

“This is always a highlight of the year for the Rolla choirs. There is so much work that goes into putting the show on, but it is all worth it because Rolla High School students are the best,” Bartelsmeyer said.

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Arts & Entertainment Editor Weeks leading up to March were filled with buzz about the upcoming musical, Guys and Dolls. There is no doubt that this musical was one of the most popular amongst the community, and drama teacher Kelli McNeven describes the production as a “Fun, entertaining night of musical theater, because there are over 30 students who worked really hard for 10 weeks.”

The upbeat musical included love stories, fights, and musical numbers once performed by stars as popular as Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons. The cast of high school drama students created enough talk and exceeded high expectations to bring in crowds that barely fit into the Middle School auditorium each night.

“This is probably the most successful show we have had because the first night we were sold out except a couple chairs. Friday we sold out and some people could not even come in to watch,” Senior and actor Payton Pennington said.

Saturday was no exception, with the new option to reserve seats, it was also nearly sold out. Junior and actor Kelly Brown explained how the interesting story drew in bigger crowds.

“There are a lot of different people that are important to the story. Not only do you have the one plot line, but two going on,” Brown said.

Brown enjoyed performing in a musical with these intertwining stories because it kept everyone on their toes wondering what would happen next.

Though the high school production was a success, there were obstacles the cast and crew had to overcome in order to achieve it. The original set design was planned to involve much more lighting effects, but after finding out the lighting system could not create those effects, McNeven had to pursue a different route.

Several members of the cast also battled sickness throughout the rehearsals leading up to and even during the production.

Despite illness, each cast member faced challenges in portraying their roles as well. Pennington mentioned how creating romance on the stage can be difficult and “Deyonna and I always have trouble in the beginning but we get it.”

Brown faced other challenges, not romantically, but in his costume and choreography.

“My biggest challenge was probably not ripping my pants when I did my toe touch because I did it once and it went bad,” Brown said.

In all seriousness, Brown expresses that he struggled staying in character because of how suave and cool his character, Nathan Detroit, was.

Brown and Pennington experienced different obstacles, both agreed that the character Nathan Detroit was their favorite. Brown enjoyed the mustache and the accent, and both actors enjoyed the story and his interesting situation.

This spring performance was definitely one with lots of laughs and compelling characters, and McNeven hopes that the seniors have learned how to pass on what they know to the underclassmen. It is no secret that a family is formed through the long rehearsals, and Pennington appreciates his castmates. He describes his friendship with Alorah Jones and Kelly Brown.

“They are so supportive and I love acting with them. This being one of my last plays, it gives me a lot of happiness to be around them and act with them,” Pennington said.

Brown reminisces on the friendships he’s made and how this musical was not only fun to watch, but fun to perform.

“I can do the show multiple times again, but I may not see these people again. I hope they go on to do great things, I know all of them will. I wish all the seniors the best of luck in your adventures and I hope we can stay in touch and do another show sometime,” Brown said.

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#travelMO the oddest places to visit in Missouri

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issouri , located in the heart of America, may be deemed as a boring state with very little to offer, especially to those who live here. However, MO is home to many bizarre sights that often go unnoticed. From the World’s Largest goose statue to vacuum cleaner museums, Missouri is home to more than just the Arch.

Kansas City

Kansas City is Missouri’s largest city and as beautiful as can be.

From the Power & Light District’s roaring nightlife to the UMKC campus, from a miniature Legoland to the home of the KC RoyalsKansas City has it all. Despite all of its well known attractions, KC has some forgotten, unusual sights.

One of KC’s most iconic sights is found at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. In the front lawn of the stunning building you can find the World’s Largest Shuttlecocks. The four 18 ft. tall shuttlecocks took five days to install and have been up since 1994. Although many people weren’t a fan of them at first, they have become loved

by Kansas City citizens and others around the state.

Although Nelson-Atkins contains multi-million dollar artwork, it has something that you can’t quite put a price tag on: a finger once belonging to John the Baptist. John the Baptist was said to be a disciple and even baptised Jesus Christ himself. Although one of his fingers is stored in a glass vial in Missouri, other parts of his body can be found in Montenegro, France, Germany, and Bulgaria.

For plenty of people, libraries are quite boring, but the Kansas City Public Library is a sight to be seen. In 2004, the building underwent major renovations. twenty-two books measuring twentytwo feet tall and nine feet wide were added to the front of the building. These giant books include famous titles such as Romeo and Juliet, To Kill A Mockingbird, Charlotte’s Web, and more.

Another oddity found outside of Kansas City is Kessler Park Reservoir, a concrete reservoir that’s been abandoned since 1931. Not only is this concrete park vandalized in graffiti, it’s also home to the largest tree in Missouri. The cottonwood has a staggering diameter of nine feet, despite it being young for a tree it’s size.

KC is home to endless malls and places to shop, but oddly enough, one of them is underground. Subtropolis is the “World’s Largest Underground Business Complex” taking up an astounding 55,000,000 square feet. This surprisingly eco-friendly business uses almost 75% less electricity than businesses above ground.

Outside of KC, in Independence, is Leila’s Hair Museum. The owner and founder, Leila Cohoon, describes herself as an avid hair collector. The walls of her museums are filled with frames, jewelry, bookmarks, and buttons all made from hair. Some of the artifacts in the museum are over one hundred years old.

St. Louis

St. Louis is a beautiful city and home to many popular sights such as the City Museum, the St. Louis Zoo, the Arch, and Budweiser Brewery, and more, however, did you know that it is also home to a home of Missouri’s most haunted attractions?

Lemp Mansion, located at 3322 Demenil Place, was built in 1840 by a family of German immigrants to become a brewery. Over the course of the century, Lemp Brewery took over ten city blocks and was estimated to worth over seven million dollars. The fame and success began to take a toll on the family. After prohibition ruined the business, three family members committed suicide in the mansion. Today, the Lemp Mansion serves as a restaurant, an event space, and offers ghost tours.

restaurant, an event space, and offers ghost tours.

When a Missouri local thinks of something unusual our state has to offer, they might think of The City Museum. What was once the factory for the International Shoe Company now serves as a 600,000 square foot playhouse for people of all ages. It has a 10 story slide, built in caves and mazes, a Ferris wheel and a school bus hanging off the roof, and an abandoned airplane to explore.

Laumeier Sculpture Park, located in Forest Park, is not only home to a silver tree, but a fiberglass eyeball as well. Built by artist Tony Tasset in 2007, the seven-foot-tall eyeball is a very popular place for pictures.

Although Laumeier Sculpture Park is home to several unusual pieces of artwork, downtown STL has an interesting sculpture of its own. Eros Bendato, created by Igor Mitoraj, is located in Citygarden on the corner of Market and N 8th Street, and is found somewhat disturbing to some. The sculpture is of a knocked over, decapitated head with hollowed out eyes. It’s based off of the Greek God Eros, god of love and desire.

The former town of Times Beach, found outside of St. Louis, has been a ghost town since the early 1970’s. The 23 miles of roads found here were once sprayed with used motor oil to help with the town’s major dust problem. When numerous, sudden animal deaths were reported, The U.S. Center for Disease Control tested the area and was deemed dangerous for anyone to inhabit, so the citizens of Times Beach were forced to evacuate. Dozens of cleanups were done to the area, and in 1999 the abandoned town was finally habitable again. What was once the town of Times Beach is now a Route 66 State Park.

Right down the road from Chaifetz Arena is the heart of St. Louis University and a statue of it’s quite unusual mascot. In 1908, the small sculpture was erected to look like a mix of Buddha and a goblin. Over 100 years later, the Billiken is now the college’s spunky mascot.

Several miles south of St. Louis is the quirky town of Dittmer. Despite this town being small, it has one huge attraction: a twenty foot tall statue of Bender from the hit show Futurama.

It was built outside of Dittmer Towing about ten years ago and sports a peace sign necklace today.

Mid-Missouri

Not only is this area the heart of Missouri, but it is the heart of the United States. Like the rest of Missouri, this region is very unique in the sights it has to offer.

Missouri S&T’s campus is home to their own special rendition of Stonehenge, also known as the Stubby Stonehenge. It was dedicated on the summer solstice in 1984, back when the campus was called Univeristy of Missouri Rolla. Approximately 160 tons of granite were used and it was built in about a month, thanks to modern technology.

In the middle of downtown Rolla, along the old Route 66, is the home of Phelps County Bank. When the building was opened 1931, to be the Edwin Long Hotel, over eight thousand people showed up for the grand opening. The hotel had many famous guests, including President Harry S. Truman and Marilyn Monroe. The hotel was bought by Phelps County Bank in the early 1970’s and still serves as their headquarters today.

Although St. James has a small population of less than five thousand people, they are home to a one-of-a-kind museum. The Vacuum Cleaner Museum has more than eight hundred vacuums from the past 100 years. Besides displaying vacuums, they also assemble them and are one of the only vacuum factories left in America.

Many locals know of the mom-and-pop restaurant Cookin From Scratch in the tiny town of Doolittle, in Phelps County. It has delicious comfort food, decent prices, and a chicken car. The Cookin From Scratch chicken car has been a an iconic sight of I-44 for years.

Linn, MO, is home to another strange museum: The Pig Museum. It doubles as a farm to more than just pigs, and a collection of over thirty thousand pieces of pig memorabilia. If you have the three dollars for admission and you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth the stop.

Between Rolla and St. Robert, you stumble upon the small town of Devils Elbow, home of Elbow Inn Bar & BBQ. Not only does this restaurant have a $9.95 rib special, but they also have a ceiling filled with hanging bras. This bras were given by free spirits traveling along Route 66.

Southwest MO

About two and a half hours from Rolla is the town of Carthage, MO, and it is home to some interesting sights. The Precious Moments Park and Chapel can be found in Carthage and is based solely off of the nostalgic Precious Moment dolls from the 80’s.

The multi-million dollar founder is buried there himself.

In the parking lot of a office building in Springfield is the world’s largest fork. It stands at a staggering 35 feet tall. It even has its own hashtag to use when you post a photo in front of it. #worldslargestfork Springfield is also home to the Pythian Castle, said to be one of Missouri’s most haunted sights. It was built in 1913 to serve as an orphanage for the Knights of Pythias, and later the U.S. Military owned it. Now visitors are welcome to take ghost tours, history tours, and participate in murder mystery dinners.

Branson is known for its endless amount of oddities, but some don’t receive as much attention as others. The World’s Largest Rooster is found at the Great American Steak and Chicken House. He’s a 43-foot-tall fiberglass bird with a star-spangled vest and bow tie. He proudly greets those going to the restaurant to ironically eat chicken.

The World’s Largest Rooster isn’t the only “World’s Largest” found in Branson, so is the World’s Largest Toilet Paper Roll.

Found it Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, the two ton roll of toilet

paper is actually made of one million square feet of toilet paper.

The roll measures ten feet high and eight-and-a-half feet wide, making it larger than any other. larger than any other.

As if Branson didn’t hold enough of the “World’s Largest” items, it has one more: the World’s Largest Ball of Twine and the World’s Largest Ball of String is in Weston, MO. The ball of twine is also in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and is thirteen-and-a-half feet tall. Weston’s World’s Largest Ball of String stands at fifteen feet tall and weighs almost four thousand pounds.

Information used for this article were retrieved from Atlas Obscura, Roadside America, Missouri S&T, VisitMO, Wikipedia, PCB online, Roadtrippers. Photos used for the article courtesy of

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Stuck at home?

Here’s what to do in and around Rolla for little to no money.

Second Hand Shopping Spree

Take advantage of our Goodwill, Revived, Salvation Army, and more. Get some sweet, unique piecesto add to your wardrobe for even better prices. Even make it a challenge between friends and see who can find the cutest outfit for under $20!

Forest City Mountain Bike Trail Located in St. James, this trail is an ideal spot for hiking or mountain biking. This is a challenging trail, however, so be sure to bring lots of water and appropriate gear.

New Hobby If you’re stuck at home with not a dollar to spare, why not start a new hobby? It could be as simple as learning yoga, suduko, and more!

Hiking Despite what many think, there are many places to hike near Rolla. Lane Springs, out 63 south, and Spring Creek Conservation, in Vichy, both provide beautiful scenery to hike and picnic in.

Little Prairie Lake Little Prairie Lake is a great place for fishing, hunting, and even birdwatching. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, cottontail rabbits, and more can be spotted. Feel free to pack a lunch to enjoy at the picnic area.

Spring Cleaning What better task to get out of the way over spring break thanspring cleaning? Clean out your closet and sell clothes to make a few extra bucks, clean your bedding for once, and declutter your room. After all, a messy room means a messy mind.

Shop Locally Rolla is filled with all sorts of locally-owned shops. From Red Door Gifts and Boutique, Front Porch, Blue Donkey, Heavenly Divine Bakery, Slice of Pie, Sugar Lee’s Candy, Purest Coffee, and more. Invite a friend or two and spend the day supporting local busniesses!

Hands On STEAM Sudio Located on Pine Street, this studio offers numerous hands on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities for everyone from children to adult. Check out visitrolla.com for more information about this center and others in town.

The Rolla Community Garden

If you have always wanted to garden but don’t have the land to do so, no worries! The Rolla Community Garden is a place where anyone can garden for only the price of seeds and some engaging work. Gardening is a fantastic way to get outdoors and enjoy yourself. Plus, you can save money on produce!

DIY Day Spend a day doing some research on Pinterest or Youtube and find some easy DIYs. Even if they’re total fails or wins, it’s still fun to get creative. Plus, most DIYs are cheap to do or use stuff you already own

Forest City Mountain Bike Trail Located in St. James, this trail is an ideal spot for hiking or mountain biking. This is a challenging trail, however, so be sure to bring lots of water and appropriate gear.

Board Game Marathon You never know when you might encounter a rainy day, especially here in Missouri. Playing board games with your family or friends is an easy way to have some fun while stuck indoors!

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Guide to Attitude b y

As the second semester at Rolla High progresses, many students have found themselves feeling less than ideal.

We have composed a guide to a more postivite attitude in hopes of improving your spirits.

If you’re feeling ...

Stressed

-Go for a run -Try yoga -Watch a favorite show (preferably something funny) -Cook a meal for you, your family, friends, or significant other -Go for a long drive -Make time for your favorite hobby -Try something new -Distract yourself -Journal your thoughts

If you’re feeling

Unmotivated...

-Make a to-do list -Set goals that interest you -Visualize yourself achieving your goal -Reward yourself when you reach a goal -Stay organized 16

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If you’re feeling

Unsatisfied...

-Try a new hairdo -Take a workout class you’ve never taken before -Listen to upbeat music -Set goals… and achieve them -Pick up a new hobby -Join a new club or group, whether its in school or not

If you’re feeling

Tired...

-Perk up with exercise -Don’t rely on caffeine, less is more -Drink more water -Get more sleep!

-Don’t play on your phone right before bed

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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 always has many dogs and cats hoping for someone to come adopt them into 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. *Although we normally have one cat and dog each issue, we chose two dogs for this month because the shelter had no cats!* Name: Shayla Gender: Female Age: 3 years old Breed: Whippet/Labrador Mix Description: All dogs have something about them that makes them stand out from all the rest, and for Shayla is that she is loving and quiet dog. She is not the type that will come up to you first. Shayla seems very nervous, but all she really wants is to be held and shown some attention. If you give her even a small amount of your time, she is sure to make your life a bit brighter. If you are interested in adopting Shayla, contact Rolla Animal Shelter as soon as possible.

Name: N/A Gender: Male Age: Adult (Professional guess: 2+ years old) Breed: Border Collie Description: This Collie is the sweetest boy ever! He’s a bit shy when you first approach him, but once he knows you’re friendly all he wants is love! This dog arrived at the shelter on February 22, 2018 as a stray, but he still needs his vaccinations and isn’t neutered. His favorite thing in the world is getting his chin scratched, and even though he’s a big boy, he’s very well behaved. If you’re interested in adopting this dog, head to the Rolla Animal Shelter today!

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Polar Plunge The Polar Plunge is an event that encourages its participants to raise money for the Special Olympics. The Rolla High School Student Council members eagerly raise money every year in order to plunge into the frigid waters of Fugitive Beach with their fellow community members. Seniors Ami Ikuenobe and Elizabeth Kemp are both dedicated RHS Student Council Members who participated in the 2018 Polar Plunge.

Ami Ikuenobe was the main coordinator, along with Reid Hoss, to fundraise for the RHS Student Council to participate in the Polar Plunge.

“We started raising money and bringing awareness about the Polar Plunge to our Student Council in late December, but we started actively fundraising in late January,” Ikuenobe said.

The tradition grows more and more every year, increasing in amount of people attending each year. It has become and a tradition among many families and organizations.

“There were over 100 people that attended the event overall. We had about 15 plungers from our student council and about 5-10 volunteers,” Ikuenobe said.

Among the schools that compete, there is an optional costume contest.

“This year we made Pac-Mans out of umbrellas,” Ikuenobe said.

Elizabeth Kemp is the Student Council secretary.

She plunged in support of her school and to raise

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awareness for the Special Olympics.

“We got there around 12, and got registered, then we waited for the parade. The parade is all of the teams passing the judges tables to get judged on their costumes. After this, we were split into small groups and got ready to plunge. I was in the second group of RHS students, so I got to see a lot of my friends plunge, which was really fun. When it was my group’s turn to plunge, we all grabbed hands and rushed into the cold water. However, I would not suggest holding hands, because if one person falls, everyone goes down. Of course, I was the one who fell.” Kemp said.

Submerging oneself could make or break a person’s opinion on the experience overall, however, Kemp is very optimistic in the fact that she would participate in it again in the future.

“I would plunge again, because it raises awareness for the Special Olympics and I had a lot of fun,” Kemp said.

Kemp further explained how doing the Polar Plunge would be a great opportunity for students to get involved with donating to an important cause, while also being to have fun with your friends.

“I would definitely encourage people to plunge, because it helps people to become involved in their community and raising money helps the Special Olympics as a whole,” Kemp said.

Westside Marketplace Opening Soon After a year of construction, a brand new shopping centre has opened in Rolla, MO. The Westside Marketplace includes five new businesses: TJ Maxx, PetSmart, Ross, Academy Sports and Outdoors, and Menards. Work is still being done around the buildings to add a comfortable environment for the wildlife of Rolla. When planning this project, it was agreed upon by the Rolla City Council to include native plants and grass to attract pollinating insects in order to keep the area healthy.

A month before the Westside marketplace opened, a few ideas had been released as to possible expansions to come.

There are chances of a new hotel and a sit down restaurant to open in this lot in the future.

Many people are thrilled to have these new stores in town for easier shopping versus having to drive nearly an hour to Saint Louis for specific items.

Senior Sarah Brumett is one of many people in town who are interested in seeing what this new marketplace has to offer.

“I’m excited to see if it will bring in more stores and new businesses and I hope it opens up more job opportunities.”

Brumett said.

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Being somewhat of a small town, opening this new market place has opened up chances of attracting more people from other places as well. This gives other businesses in Rolla a possible raise in their own sales from new customers that may drive in from different towns.

With these shops opening and the idea of possible expansion later on, Westside Marketplace has offered new jobs for citizens to apply in. Before construction finished, stores such as PetSmart and TJ Maxx were already beginning interviews for management and retailing. An estimate of 300 jobs were to opened for the public with these new businesses.

Rolla High School’s English teacher Natasha Green is delighted about the positive opportunities that come from the new shopping centre.

“More jobs. More choices. What’s not to love for a shopper like me?” Miss Green said.

With much to offer and possible ideas of more to open, Westside Marketplace is an excellent addition to Rolla MO.

MARCH MADNESS b y

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With the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament approaching, I have decided to take a dive into the odds of every sports fans’ dream: filling out a perfect bracket. The week after selection sunday (March 11th) fans everywhere fill out brackets in hopes of correctly predicting the outcome of every single game. Now, how likely are you to truly predict a perfect bracket? We’re going to dive into the subject.

The odds of someone predicting a perfect bracket, are 1 in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808, as in quintillion. You are more likely to be killed by space debris, than creating a perfect bracket. So why continue to chase this fantasy? This is most likely because of Warren Buffett’s annual contest to find a perfect bracket. Buffett would award 1 billion dollars to whomever could create a perfect bracket, but has shown sympathy by now awarding 1 million a year for a bracket containing all of the Sweet 16 teams.

This year may be even tougher for self-appointed “bracketologists” to dissect this year’s bracket, due to the extremely competitive field. Teams such as Virginia, Duke, Michigan State, and Kansas continue to act as favorites to cut down the nets. But be on the lookout for teams such as Purdue, Auburn, and Xavier to be highly competitive, if they stay healthy. Speaking of injuries, Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr., who has been recently cleared for full participation, has returned to lead one of the most mysterious teams in all of college basketball. When this team plays the way they are capable of, the sky’s the limit for the hometown team.

Sophomore Jack Hounsom watches the tournament every year and has a vast knowledge on NCAA basketball and has a strategy for picking teams.

“I look for teams that have quality wins, play good defense, and are experienced,” Hounsom says.

When asked on his favorite to win the tournament, Hounsom leans on one of the perennial powerhouses.

“My favorites to win it all would have to be Michigan State, but my underdog team that may win a few games would be Texas,” Hounsom says.

This year more than any other, could be the most unpredictable due to the highly competitive field. No matter if you pick games based on, the team’s skills, color of the jerseys, or how their mascot looks, the NCAA basketball tournament is one of the most exciting times of the year.

Things more likely to happen than predicting a perfect bracket Being struck by lightning:1 in 700,000 Getting eaten by a shark: 1 in 3,748,067 Being in a plane crash: 1 in 11,000,000 Having identical quadruplets: 1 in 15,000,000 Being killed by space debris: 1 in 5,000,000,000

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Aaron “Pablo”, “Chico”, “Cheeks” Cunningham has been a huge senior presence` this year for the Bulldog’s football and basketball teams.

His presence goes beyond the playing field as he’s a great locker room personality as he keeps a relaxed approach to the game. He comes off the bench for the basketball team who is currently 16-1 and provides a spark for the both the team and the sixth man.

“I contribute a lot of weight and an occasional corner three and some rebounds,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham is not a newcomer to basketball, but for football it was his first go around.

“I got into football, because Coach Franks wanted me to play and I promised him I would.

I started playing basketball in 3rd grade because my brother played.” Cunningham said.

Cunningham is a player who accepts his role and thrives in it night in and night out. He has supreme confidence in what he does and is not afraid to let it show.

“It’s a fun game to play and I get to hang out with all my friends, I’ve always been a stud.”

Cunningham said.

Over the years Cunningham has accumulated plenty of names. From friends to coaches everyone has a different name for him.

“They call me (cheeks) because that’s what coach Miller calls me because he didn’t know my name in 8th grade. Sometimes he calls me “that guy”, so I guess it just depends on the day” Cunningham said.

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Loran Pritchett is a talented three sport athlete that competes in sports all year long. Loran plays volleyball, basketball, and runs track. She started sports when she was little and still continues to play them today.

“My mom had always played a lot of sports and my dad played basketball and other sports growing up so I guess it’s just been in the family.

My goal is to play college volleyball and I love the game like nothing else.”

As Loran is halfway through her sophomore year she is starting to reap the benefits of her and her teammates hard work.

“Our confidence is improving and we think we can win more games. We are definitely running our plays a lot smoother, and well we’re are just a lot better than we have been in the past couple seasons and we’re expecting to be even better next year cause we’re going to get stronger.”

Loran attributes lots of the success to her teammates and the close bond they have grown.

“They’re enjoyable to be on the court with other people and seeing each other succeed and it’s always awesome to get a win Especially for basketball season. we mesh together and we know each other a lot better and we’re really bonded.”

Loran always brings the competitive fire to the game especially on the defensive end of the court.

“I really like defense and not letting the girl I’m guarding get into the paint or score but I also like when my team gets wide open looks” Pritchett has an unusual pregame preparation but the way she has been playing makes us think that she can keep that up as long as she wants.

“My pregame is usually singing loud to throwback hits in the gym”

Rolla athletes benefit from Physical Therapy Being a high school athlete is rigorous on the body. Unfortunately, that often causes injuries and discomfort. For the athletes, it is not always easy to get to the doctor and it is often expensive.

Thankfully, Casey Robertson, Physical therapist, can help out in the worst circumstances.

“I am the certified athletic trainer for the RHS and insurance and office manager for Peak Sport and Spine,” Robertson said.

Robertson loves working with the high school and all of the students every day. He has kids come into his office before and after school everyday trying to get rehabilitated.

“My favorite part of working with the high school is seeing the kids grow and go from middle school on to high school and then off to college. At this age, my athletes are there because they love the sport and are willing to work to get back from an injury,” Robertson said.

Physical therapy is a tough job and can be very intense at some points, but thankfully Robertson finds his demanding day-by-day work exciting.

“The best part of my job is that each day is unique, and each day seems to present itself with a new challenge,” Robertson said.

To be a PT you need to care for your job and the people you influence. For Robertson, this isn't a problem.

“You have to have compassion and empathy for the athlete with this job. If you didn't, it would be a boring, pointless job. Each injury is different and each situation is different, but i'm invested in each athlete and i feel this helps with the rehab process,” Robertson said.

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Sports 21

Bulldogs spring forward on the field b y

Heading into the Spring Season students look forward to the continued success of the baseball, soccer and track teams for the next couple of months. Other sports that don’t get much attention such as the tennis and golf team should not be forgotten about as they continue their success representing Rolla. One of the keys to success concerning competing in High School sports is to keep your mind focused on the goal. Coach Zack Nixon has the been head coach of the golf team for the past few seasons.

“We will have a successful season through day to day hard work, commitment, and dedication. We will commit to our mental and physical practiced processes, propelling us to perform at our highest level,” Coach Nixon said.

An issue coming with coaching at the high school or even collegiate level is constantly trying to grow and replace talent as the senior class graduates. Coach Mike Howard is head coach of girls soccer and knows how to deal with the up and coming group well.

“We can never replace people that have graduated, so we will take the players that we have and try to set up a system that will work for that group,” Coach Howard said.

Being a senior and knowing your time here at Rolla is almost at its end, the games mean a lot more than they have before. Senior Ryleigh Grommet has been on the soccer team all throughout her high school career.

“This being my senior season is kind of upsetting. You don’t ever really think it’s going to end and then here I am, at the beginning of the end. My plan is to go into every game with everything I’ve got and with a good attitude. I don’t want to end the season thinking there was more I could’ve done for myself and my team. I’m leaving it all out on the field this season,” Grommet said.

Being a senior, it is important to lead the underclassmen and make the team feel like a family. Senior Kelly Cates is a strong leader on the girls soccer team.

“I plan on making it to a point to include them and make them feel like they belong. When your team feels like a family it just makes you want to play harder for one another. Not only this, but I’ll also do my best to lead them by example, both on and off the field,” Cates said.

While competing on a high school level can be quite difficult at times, it is important to keep a relaxed training schedule. Senior Ethan Walker is one of the top players on the tennis team.

“I’d say we train for matches just like any sport does. We condition some, run some drills. and play matches. We warmup for

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matches by running a few laps, stretching, then hitting some,” Walker said.

In order to be a successful program, it is important to have the same basic expectations year in and year out. Coach Howard expects the most out of his players on the soccer team.

“We have the same expectations with our teams each year. We want them to play hard, smart and to compete and the results take care of themselves,” Coach Howard said.

Another challenge of being a successful head coach is getting the most out of your team heading into the new season. Joe Schisler has been head coach of the tennis team for quite some time.

“We will find success simply by helping every player find and improve their strengths while overcoming weaknesses. Many teams look to have 6 carbon copies of a certain type player, 6 power players or 6 top athletes. We embrace every player as an individual and help them find their best game from the tools they possess.

Another team strength is our unity and willingness to help and support one another. Tennis is very competitive and mental. It can tear you apart if you lose focus,” Coach Schisler said.

Playing with the same teammates year in and year out helps stay committed to the game. Senior Davie Pound has played baseball for some time.

“I’ve just loved baseball from the days I’ve played T-ball at Lions Club. I also just love playing and improving with my teammates throughout the years,” Pound said.

Coaches expect the most out of their players and expect them to perform well even against the highest level of competition in state.

Coach Marty Hauk is the head coach of the Highschool Baseball Team and isn’t afraid of high level competition.

“This group is driven towards a common goal of winning. This year in order to continue to play at this high level of excellence we have made our schedule one of, if not the toughest in the state to help us stay focused every inning of every game,” Coach Hauk said.

Playing a particular sport for a long time, you feel more confident heading into games and matches. Senior Kelly Cates has played soccer for Rolla since Freshman year.

“I would say being a senior gives me more confidence going into games due to the fact I’ve been playing on the team since I was a freshman. I still get butterflies before every game, but I’m able to be more sure of myself and of my teammates,” Cates said.

The Rolla High School Girls Soccer Team expects success in their upcoming season.

Senior Brett Gonzalez looks forward to playing baseball at Southeast Missouri State University next fall after his senior season at Rolla High School.

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The Kaleidoscope Discovery Center is an organization that provides opportunities for children to advance their understanding and respect for engineering, science, technology, the environment, arts, and mathematics. It supplies hands-on learning opportunities that creates a fun and interactive environment for all children.

Kaleidoscope inspires others to imagine and explore a lifetime of endless possibilities.

Martina Baur, the co-founding director of Kaleidoscope, informs us on how and why Kaleidoscope got started.

“We got started on Earth Day 2013, and it was the first time we did a program for the community. We started by assembling simple machine lego kits, and it was just getting out there playing and offering opportunities to understand. That is how we started, it was from the need of getting these things out and exposing things to the community. We wanted to get the notion out that science is not bad, but that science is cool,” Baur said.

Kaleidoscope’s purpose is to fill in the gap that the community cannot through programs and opportunities for learning experiences.

“We are an unique organization, because we are an organically grown children’s discovery center, and the exciting thing about that is we have the opportunity to grow in the areas that the communities need us to grow most. We started with the emphasis on being able to bridge gaps and make relations in the community, so that we can have kids be exposed to things that they would not be exposed to otherwise. We house the Rolla Robotics at the highschool level, and this year we added an FTC team and a rookie FRC team. Kaleidoscope works on the E-STEAM principle, and it’s kinda like vegetable soup. So basically it’s stem, the environments, and the arts. In each of these areas we’ve been looking at what do we have in the community, and what do we need to have in the community,” Baur said.

Kaleidoscope has provided a home for robotics in Rolla, as well as a strings program for kids who would not be exposed to that program otherwise.

“The technology area, where Robotics falls into, is probably the most full area at this point, as far as where we want to go and how we work things out. We have the Robotics team through US FIRST, but we also do the scrimmages for the FLL robotics team, the younger kids, and we have now 12 FLL junior teams. In the summer last year was the first time that we went out, we had our big summer goal to go out into rural communities and reach 1,000 elementary kids with robotics programming.

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Between the VISTAS and the university students, it was 1,167 kids. We also house a strings program here, the Rolla Strings, where we offer lessons for violin, viola, cello, mandolin, guitar, banjo, and drums. There is not a big strings program in the surrounding schools, so we saw the gap in the community, and we filled the need. For us, it is important for us to do so under the E-STEAM program because it falls under the arts,” Baur said.

Along with the robotic teams and the Rolla Strings, Kaleidoscope also offers academics that some students might not necessarily be exposed to in an average school curriculum.

“We are very much focused on the needs of the community. If there is something that someone is really looking and anxious to do, and can’t find it there, there’s a real good chance that they’re not alone. So it’s a matter of putting those programs together.

That said, one of the biggest challenges we were made aware of is how 4 years ago we had kids who were in a middle school or elementary school math, that could handle a lot more math than they’re getting in the standard curriculum. When kids get to highschool, they have all sorts of options, but before then they are limited as far as the curriculum goes. So we worked with Project MEGSSS in St. Louis to set a sort of franchise site here. The reason that’s a big deal is because Project MEGSSS started 35 years ago, and was pulled out of the national curriculum for one year because some areas believed it was too difficult. However, parents in St. Louis decided that they weren’t going to let this go, that this is exactly what they wanted for their kids. In this program, theres two tracks; there’s three years of logic track and three years of intuitive systems. We now have Project MEGSSS here, and it’s the first time they’ve ever let their material be taught out of St. Louis,” Baur said.

The Kaleidoscope Discovery Center is always open to new faces getting involved with their many activities, and Baur tells us how you can get involved.

“We are actively hiring for a couple of positions. Some of them may be interesting for Rolla High School students, however you do have to be 18. We have 5 or 6 summer VISTA positions, an internship program, and for kids who would like to get their hands dirty you can get involved in building and programming. On our website, https://thekaleidoscope.org, there is a section called ‘Support Us’, where we have opportunities for group and individual volunteering. We don’t have paid staff, so if it’s sorting legos, mopping floors, or painting; it really helps out. We always need help, and we’re grateful for it,” Baur said.

Art &Academic Support

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Recognition and funding for different activities at Rolla High comes into question most often when a club earns the opportunity to compete at the state or higher level. Clubs such as Thespian’s Society, Robotics, and Art Club are regularly fundraising to be competitive in their respective areas and it is not uncalled for to wonder why they have to.

Drama teacher Kelli McNeven explains how funding operates in her program.

“The funding that we have is all self supplied, so not really supplied by the school district. Whatever money we make from shows is what we have to put towards other shows. Whatever money Thespians students make is through fundraising or personal donations,” McNeven said.

She describes the example of how they lost money during the production of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, so they worked hard to make that up in Once Upon a Mattress. Since Thespian’s Society is a club, it does not receive budgeted funding through the athletic department.

Because clubs are not MHSAA regulated, they are not able to receive funding through the athletic department like sports and band are. Rolla has no choice in whether they can give budgeted funding through the athletic department to non-MHSAA regulated activities, they simply cannot.

However, Rolla does everything they can to set up fundraisers in order to help these clubs. Rolla High principal, Dr. Jim Pritchett, helped the Thespian’s Society set up a fundraiser to attend one of their conferences, along with giving “big ticket” fundraising opportunities to Robotics.

For example, the First Community National Bank donates money to Dr. Zalis, who decides to give some of it to Robotics each year. Additionally, the test drive event with Sakelaris Ford raised $5,000 and is given to Robotics when available, along with the rummage sale.

Students work concession stands regularly, but Pritchett ensures that he pushes bigger funding opportunities their way.

Although that money is greatly appreciated, it is not nearly enough for Robotics to function at the level of their competitors.

“We just won the south super regionals in Georgia. We had to pay for our own bus, our own travel, our own hotels,” Junior and Robotics member Pranal Madria said.

As well as travel expenses, Robotics also must pay thousands to register as a team for each competition. They are fortunate enough to be staying in two houses for the Kansas City regional this year because they simply cannot afford hotels.

“To register a FIRST Robotics Competition team it costs $5,000 each year. To enter a competition it is $6,000 as a rookie team, and if we make it to worlds that is another $5,000 registration fee,” Madria said.

On top of these fees, it is thousands of dollars to pay for buses and travel expenses.

Because Robotics is a club, not a class, Pritchett stresses that “It is not that we do not want to fund it, we just have to come up with other ways to fund it.”

However, classes with supplies such as art do have budgeted funding.

Art teacher Shannon Engelbrecht clarifies how budgeting works for her program.

“For art classes there is a budget set up by Dr. Pritchett. We have an amount for the two teachers and then I share my amount with the new teachers,” Engelbrecht said.

In the next year the budget will be adjusted to accommodate for the new teachers, because this year is transitional. The students are also charged a fee for taking the art class class, but get to keep their supplies. Engelbrecht says with more funding, she could reduce the cost or even stop charging students.

While the fee to enroll in art is small, clubs such as Thespian’s Society pay hundreds to attend conferences.

“Our Thespian students already paid for the state conference out of their own pocket, now some qualified for nationals,” McNeven said.

The students must pay $800 each to attend the national competition and McNeven expresses that some help from the school would be appreciated though she knows paying for the entire trip for every student will cost too much.

Each of the clubs at Rolla High offer opportunities to learn and grow,

and while the cost may be high, the benefits are great. Thespian’s Society and Robotics are common scholarship opportunities, with robotics scholarships offered at “Every university you can think of, from MS&T to MIT, there is some kind of scholarship for this program,” Madria said.

A company named FIRST offers $20 million in scholarships for robotics students across the country. With these benefits in mind, Madria praises the club for providing him with experience he would not trade for anything.

Madria expresses that with added funding to this activity, there will be more chances for community outreach, camps, and giving back to businesses by promoting them on their robots at competitions. Added benefits to funding include relieved stress from students.

“It is nice to come to Robotics to build robots and not having to worry constantly about how much you are spending,” Madria said.

With limited money, these activities compete across the country, with one of the robotics teams being able to win state and super regionals this year. The world competition in Houston, Texas will provide students with experience beyond compare according to Madria, with teams all over the world such as the Netherlands, India, China, South Korea, etc.

With the success of these activities, often on a budget, the teachers feel that advocating and informing the student body of their accomplishments is something that they work hard at.

Engelbrecht believes that when she advocates for her students, people listen. She does not always have the time though and would appreciate help in support for the arts. The level of recognition is currently being addressed by RTI Drafting students along with senior Julia Gillman working together to draw and design an art gallery that will be hopefully funded by alumni to recognize artists in Rolla High.

Madria hopes that the school will make an effort to recognize Robotics too as they continue planning the art gallery.

“I believe that when I started in eighth grade, there was very minimal recognition. I think it has gotten better, but it is not where it should be at all,” Madria said.

He feels that the level of recognition is in part because of the lack of understanding robotics. If the school appreciated them, then students would begin to appreciate them also.

“Other sports are great, they have done amazing things. But we have also, and I do not feel that we get the same recognition,” Madria said.

Currently, the Robotics FTC Team 4964 Rolla Patriots is ranked sixth in the world, and will be attending the World Competition for the second year in a row, with this being their seventh year in a row attending state.

Pritchett confirms that he believes that Robotics has their own feature in the superlatives assembly, and that is equal to the wrestling team walking through the halls when they are attending state. He mentions the pictures the school is continuing to display and celebrating their accomplishments on the announcements as well.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion and if they feel like they are being short changed then I would ask them to come talk to me about that,” Pritchett said.

Pritchett encourages anyone that feels a lack of recognition to meet with him because he is always open to more ideas. Despite feeling the minimal appreciation, Madria offers immense appreciation for the school on behalf of all of Rolla Robotics.

“With all of that being said, the school helps us a tremendous amount as they have sent us many fundraisers our way that help sustain our program.

We are extremely grateful for those fundraisers and for the teachers that have been very generous and donated some of their own money and time to run Rolla Robotics. We rely heavily on our community because the costs are huge,” Madria said.

Engelbrecht echoes what drama and robotics understand, that funding is not an easy issue to solve, and Rolla High does what they can for their students with the money they have.

“I really don’t blame my administrator or my superintendent. It is a funding problem that comes from Jefferson City. Unless the budgets are adequately funded by our representatives, then we just have to operate with whatever they give us,” Engelbrecht said.

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ECHO Arena

Is a hamburger a sandwich?

YES

NO

When I was first asked if a hamburger was a sandwich, my only answer was, “How is it not?” However, I have come to realize there are people out there who believe hamburgers are an exception from the sandwich family. After being confronted with this weird question I did some research, and I found the definition of a sandwich: “an item of food consisting of two pieces of bread with meat, cheese, or other filling between them, eaten as a light meal.” A hamburger includes two buns, a meat patty, and an assortment of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, bacon, pickles, and condiments. Therefore, a hamburger clearly fulfills the definition of a sandwich, even if it might not seem like one. The popularity of this food might have led to some forgetting the hamburger’s origins, but by all definitions, a hamburger is most definitely a sandwich.

The idea that hamburgers are sandwiches stems from an over-reliance on technical definitions. Yes, I will concede that a hamburger is meat, cheese, and vegetables between two pieces of bread. To some people, this may be enough to convince them that hamburgers are indeed sandwiches, but, those people are wholly uninteresting. Those are the people who cannot see nuance in issues; they cannot appreciate the human aspect of life. Sometimes, experiences cannot be placed into clean divisions. It is simply a part of the human experience to be uncertain. Hamburgers are simply an exception to the definition of sandwiches. I think that, deep down, everyone knows this. People just love the idea that the universe can be classified and quantified. The popularity of the idea that hamburgers are sandwiches is a symptom of a society that has been dehumanized. But there is still time to convert; make the decision to embrace uncertainty. Embrace the idea that hamburgers are not sandwiches.

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Memoirs of a Second Semester Senior

College Applications

College applications can be tricky, but there are some universal truths that can help any student preparing to apply for college. If you aren’t college-bound, this particular article isn’t for you.

There are a few things that you need to be thinking about when heading into your senior year. Have a general understanding of what you’d like to do as well as what you’re good at. For example, I knew that I was very interested in psychology, but I also knew that I am interested the side of psychology that is involved in research rather than therapy. In addition, I have an aptitude for science, which led me to realize that the major I intend to pursue is neuroscience, a combination of my strengths and interests.

There are four main points that should be conveyed about applying to college: 1) Get an early start 2) Understand the different types of applications 3) Pay special attention to financial aid opportunities and special circumstances 4) Apply to scholarships, both general and specific This may seem like a daunting task list, but it doesn’t just end there. The greater number of colleges you intend to apply to, the more complicated this list gets. For every single college you apply to, you need to do your research. It is expensive to apply to many schools, the range generally being from $30-$70, so it’s important that you are applying only to schools you would actually attend if accepted, assuming money can be an issue.

It’s also important for a college-bound student to recognize that

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their electives throughout high school reflect a student preparing for college. This means that a high GPA and/or ACT score isn’t going to cut it. Get involved within the school, whether it’s just for college applications or not. There are so many opportunities within this high school to obtain leadership positions and become an important member of a group. If you truly have no interest in any of the clubs offered, find a sponsor and start your own!

The summer before your junior year, think about what you’d like to major in as well as what type of school you would like to attend.

Keep in mind your preferences as far as public or private, large or small, and prestigious or practical. It’s important to solidify these preferences by visiting your top picks. You may find that you prefer a smaller school after visiting Mizzou and feeling overwhelmed.

If you intend to apply to multiple colleges, consider using the Common Application. Many schools require this application. It is extensive and time-consuming, so get an early start on it. Figure out whether you would like to apply to any schools Early Decision. This means that if you are accepted, you are locked into an agreement to attend that school. Recognize your financial situation and fill out the FAFSA and CSS Profile (depending on your school choices) with your parents as early as possible. It may take awhile to get all of your information together. Finally, don’t forget to apply to scholarships, whether you think you have a chance of getting them or not. Overall, have faith in yourself and trust the process.

Sam’s Soapbox

Make school a less hostile environment to prevent gun violence b y

The topic of school shootings is on everyone’s mind. Over the last few weeks, I have had countless discussions on how to make our school more secure and how to stop school shootings. Some people focus on putting in more security, like installing metal detectors and reinforcing doors.

Others focus on finding potential school shooters and stopping them many months before they act.

Many people focus on bullying or mental illness as a reason for shootings, and suggest a stronger counseling system. I think that this ignores the fundamental issue: for many students, school is a hostile environment.

The traditional narrative of high school relies on conflict: conflict between cliques, between students and administrators, and even conflict among friends. This is fostered by the system that is in place. School should be a relief from the stresses of home and work, but for many, it is the source of stress and pain in their lives. There has been a massive increase in competitiveness over the past decade, turning students against one another.

Rather than a focus on learning, there is a focus on winning; the goal is to get to the top of the class, to get the best test scores, and eventually get into

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the best colleges and get the best scholarships. Of course, this is a nationwide issue, one that could be solved in part by making college more accessible, but there are many things that Rolla High School could be doing to help its students.

The best way to help stop school shootings, teen suicide, bullying, and many other problems, is to foster close relationships between staff and students, and among students. The best way to do this is to give students more freedom. This means giving longer passing periods, to let students see their peers in the hallway. It means trusting students to go to the bathroom on their own, and letting them visit other teachers during pride time.

I am not so naive to think that students will not cause problems. I am sure that some students will abuse their freedoms. But we should figure out why they choose to rebel. Maybe they find class boring, so they skip. Maybe their home life is violent, so they act violently at school. Maybe they are lonely, so they talk out in class to try to make friends. The focus should be on identifying and helping with underlying problems, rather than just punishment that reinforces the idea that school staff are the enemies.

Acceptance begins with understanding differences Sexual orientation and gender have been taboo subjects until recently. In fact, people who openly identified as transgender couldn’t join the military until 2016, and people who didn’t identify as heterosexual had been banned until 2010, when the White House passed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Even though being openly out is becoming more acceptable now than ever, the LGBT+ community is often still the target of hate speech discrimination.

Hate speech is often a result of lack of education. People often believe that it’s not natural to be on the gay spectrum. Sometimes this way of thinking is tied to religious or moral beliefs, but others may just lack knowledge and understanding and feel fear of differences. Being more educated about the subject may prevent hatred and bullying and lead to more acceptance.

One common misconception is that the LGBT community choose their identity or sexuality just to be different. In actuality, each person is born with their sexuality, and according to the American Psychological Association, sexuality is caused by biological factors that start before birth. People also can’t “turn gay”, as some might believe. Most children discover who they’re attracted to at a young age, but don’t recognize their differences, simply because they aren’t aware of any option aside from heterosexuality. Recent research by Planned Parenthood shows that 11% of Americans acknowledge at least some same-sex attraction; 8.2% admit that they’ve engaged in same-sex behavior, but only 3.5% identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

There are dozens of sexual orientations, but the most known are the ones present in the LGBTQ acronym; lesbian, gay, bisexual,

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and transgender (which we’ll discuss more), and questioning.

There are different subcategories of orientations, including monosexual, polysexual, and asexual. Monosexuality, being attracted to one gender exclusively, carries the lesbian, gay, and heterosexual labels. Polysexuality, being attracted to multiple genders, can consist of bisexuality and polysexuality. That leaves asexuality, or not experiencing sexual attraction. While there are many less known and less explored orientations, this concludes the basics.

Now to go back to the “T” of LGBT, transgender. Contrary to popular belief, gender and sexual orientation are not the same thing. Gender identity is defined as how one feels inside and how they express their gender through clothing, behavior, and personal appearance. Many people who feel that their identity is not what they had been assigned experience gender dysphoria, a type of depersonalization that causes people to hate themselves, which can greatly impact their self esteem.

While there’s recently been an ongoing debate throughout the country about the amount of genders that exist, the truth is that there isn’t a definite number. The most agreed upon number in the scientific community is around 52 different genders, ranging anywhere from androgynous to bigender.

Gender and sexuality are all on a spectrum. There really aren’t any definitive labels to these concepts, it’s all about what each person feels about themselves. Being open-minded and willing to learn allows for a much better understanding of basic sexuality and gender. Education is the first step in the journey to end discrimination.

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