Royal Page February Issue by Royal Page

2400 Lindbergh Drive Minnetonka, MN 55305

The Choice to Serve Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Volume 28 Issue 7

Contents Check inside Cover story

HHS’ Finest Students going to the Army

Enrollment Down in District Districts demographics changing

Math Class Brings Success Why math class will be useful in life

iPad is an iDon’t Review of Apple’s procduct

HHS goes to Vancouver 2002 alum heads to the Olympics

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Toyota recalls worry students Toyota has recalled eight models of popular cars at HHS

Andrew Lifson Staff Reporter

s of Jan. 21, 2010, the Toyota Car Company announced that certain models of its cars would be recalled, meaning that it is asking customers to bring their cars to the dealership so Toyota can fix a malfunctioning part on certain car models. The recall is for the safety of not only the people driving the Toyotas but also other people driving on the road. Toyota is recalling eight different models because of an issue with an accelerator that gets stuck in the acceleration position. Some signs that the accelerator is getting worn out are when the pedal becomes harder to press and it is slower to return to neutral position after being pressed. “When it gets stuck, you know,” said Colin Wieberdink, sophomore and owner of a 2009 Toyota Corolla, of his experience with his accelerator getting stuck. “I slammed on the brakes and put the car in neutral to help it slow down.” This recall has affected 2.3 million vehicles around the U.S. in the past month and recently has affected vehicles in Europe, China, and the Middle East. According to streetdirectory.com, car accidents are the number one killers of teens in the U.S. According to msnbc.com, one

reason for teen driving accidents is teens are relatively inexperienced drivers and they don’t know what to do in everyday situations. According to a usatoday.com article, teens are distracted from their driving because they are thinking about other things like what to have for dinner, their homework, and their malfunctioning car. “I am definitely more cautious when driving now that I know about the recall,” said Wieberdink, “When I’m behind a car I never know when the gas pedal might get stuck and that’s when I get nervous.” Teens that drive Toyotas are concentrating on their accelerator to make sure it doesn’t stick, which takes some of their focus off of their driving, and could eventually lead to accidents. However, not all teens are cautious while driving their cars. According to a survey done by msnbc.com, 75 percent of teens have witnessed other teens driving without logic, driving without any sense that they are sharing the road with other vehicles. Teens, for example, that drive with their emotions, worrying about tests, about their grades, or about how their car could malfunction at any moment, are serious risks to themselves and others on the road.

HHS students dig deep to offer effective relief for victims in Haiti Brenan Cain Staff Reporter

he lunchroom has an extensive history as a venue for activism. The tables seated between the lunchroom and Garden of Eat’In have played host to The Day of Silence, Operation Smile, and the Blood Drive. Most recently, the table has been occupied by student activists and the money jug of Cash and Coins for Haiti. Cash and Coins for Haiti was set up by Lily Hauser, senior, Alicia Vossen, senior, and Mr. Fuhr, Technology Teacher, in the wake of the 7.0 earthquake; whose latest death toll, as of February 3 according to the Haitian government, exceeds 200,000 dead. In total, Cash and Coins for Haiti raised approximately $1500 to be donated to Doctors Without Borders, an international aid organization working around the world and in Haiti. “We saw Haiti on CNN. We both felt shocked and so sorry for Haiti, and we wanted to help. Fuhr suggested a coin and cash fund to raise money, so we did,” Hauser said. Cash and Coins is a great example of Hopkins students striving to make a difference on an international level. However, many students seemed wary of relief fundraisers. “I’ve always been skeptical of relief efforts; they don’t always tell you how your money gets used. I want to know that my donation is being used for relief and not profit” said Ryan Russen, Senior. The money raised by HHS is to be donated to the organization Doctors Without Borders. According to their online statement of beliefs, DWB’s core belief is that they are obligated to treat anyone who needs medical attention regardless of country or politics; nor do they wait for governments to officially recognize a disaster. For this reason, DWB often

works in disaster zones that don’t receive media coverage or are inaccessible to international intervention, such as the malaria epidemic in Burundi or the wars in Somalia. DWB also has a reputation for being one of the most transparent and accountable relief organizations; their full annual financial statement is available to the public on their website, www.doctorswithoutborders.org, and they have received top ratings from The American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), a major charity watchdog group. While HHS can be certain that Doctor’s Without Borders will put student donations to good use, there remains concern that other organizations may use money ineffectual. Not all the money donated to relief organizations goes to the people and nation in need. A percentage of it pays for plane tickets for relief workers, equipment costs, and worker salaries. The percentage is a necessary part of the organization’s budget, but it also creates room for potential abuse of donor’s money. In 2002, the AIP discovered multiple chapters of the Red Cross were embezzling money donated to 9/11 victims. DWB allocates some donations this way. However, according to the AIP, only one percent of DWB’s income pays its employees, 13 percent goes towards fundraising, and 87 percent goes to paying for treatment and relief for disasters. Given DWB’s commitment to treating the injured and being accountable, HHS students can feel positive that their donation was used to save lives and rebuild Haiti.

“They are trying to manage thoughts while trying to navigate the vehicle at the same time,” said Laurette Stiles, Vice President of Strategic Resources at State Farm, in an msnbc.com article about distracted teen drivers. Toyota, nevertheless, does have a plan of action to fix the vehicles’ problems and to ease the minds of Toyota drivers. The solution is to install a steel reinforcement bar into the pedal to create less surface tension and friction, which causes the pedal to stick. However, some students, such as Jacob Frankel, are not in a hurry to get their car fixed. “I will eventually bring it in to get looked at, but I’m not too worried,” said Frankel, who owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. Another way Toyota is trying to help teens that are getting distracted ease their minds is by providing instructions about what to do if the vehicle’s accelerator is stuck. According to Toyota, the vehicle owner should apply the brakes and hold them down while shifting the car into neutral to slow down and eventually stop the car.

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Looking for answers to a decline in enrollment best manner we can with what we have available,” Harvala said. Class sizes, however, are not the only reason students transfer out of the Hopkins district. The financial crisis of 2005, for instance left some families thinking the Hopkins district was not right for them. When Katherine Curren closed, Susan and Brian Atwood decided to relocate their daughter to Blake. “[We left the district because] we were concerned that there would continue to be budget issues, which apparently didn’t end up being the case,” said Susan Atwood. “Hopkins is a good school district,” added Atwood, and as Harvala can attest, “[the district has] rebounded quite strongly financially.” Additionally, the closing of open enrollment has caused a decrease in students for the Hopkins district. “We are a popular open enrollment into school district and always have been,” said Harvala. However, due to the closing of open enrollment acceptance once a semester begins at HHS, Hopkins is no longer an option for some students. Although the Hopkins district is shrinking due to demographics, and parent choice, much is being done to keep students from transferring out of the district. The Hopkins Marketing Steering Committee, for example, is working on developing key messages about Hopkins Public Schools and sharing them with possible future Hopkins students and parents. In addition, students that choose to leave the district think of HHS with nostalgia. “I miss Hopkins very much. I actually still tell people that ask that I go to Hopkins. I miss the reputation and the wide variety of people,” Kitchener said.

Transfer Beneﬁts

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Findings from outbound surveys in the past 10 years

-Diversity -Larger classes sizes -6 Foreign lang. levels -Technology and facilities -More credits offered -High rigor -Acceptance

HOPKINS

school. “My new school offers me smaller class sizes and more attention from teachers. DeLaSalle is a lot smaller and more of a tight knit community than Hopkins. Everyone is friends with everyone,” Kitchener said. Eli Leonard, a junior at Breck, feels similarly. “I transferred halfway through seventh grade,” he said, “Breck offers shorter classes, a more rigorous set of classes, smaller class sizes, and closer teacher/student relationships.” However, while DeLaSalle offers average class sizes of 23, and Breck an average of 17, the idea that the Hopkins district’s class sizes are significantly higher is a misconception. “Our average class size district wide is 25 students, and many are less than that. Granted there are some classes larger than that, and the high school is somewhat different because of student choice,” said Eileen Harvala, Hopkins Public Schools Director of Public Relations. While Kitchener and Leonard were both uncomfortable with the average class sizes throughout Hopkins Public Schools, there are others that feel working in a larger environment is beneficial. “I am quite comfortable with the class sizes at Hopkins High,” said Eshaan Rao, senior, “[In a larger class,] I feel there is more of a chance to learn how to fend for myself, which is going to be a necessary skill for college next year. But I also feel that the teachers at Hopkins are always there if I need them, no matter how big the classes are,” he said. While some belive that an average class size of 25 students is suitable, the Hopkins district is still working on lowering that number. “The proposed 2010-11 budget has an allocation of $913,000 for targeted staffing. This year, it made a similar financial commitment. We are working to use budget resources in the

V.S.

-Smaller classes sizes -Financial issue of 2005 -Closer to other schools -Earlier foreign lang. programs -Parent choice -Religous benefits of private schools

Other Schools

f you think of the Hopkins district like a business, it’s losing customers. In America, schools are in an ongoing competition for students. While the Hopkins district is still a very popular school for enrollment, according to Dr. Nik Lightfoot, Director of Administrative Services, during the 2006-2007 school year 1051.63 students enrolled in Hopkins while 553.38 students left the district for other schools. Now the gap between these numbers is narrowing with 1153.17 students enrolling in Hopkins and 771.12 leaving during the 2008-2009 school year. Each year, a handful of students both leave and enroll in the Hopkins district for various reasons. And, while the gap is evening out, Hopkins is still receiving more students into the district than they are losing, bringing in transfers due to its reputation of excellence. Mike Levine, senior, transferred to HHS this year because of anti-Semetic instances occurring at Maple Grove. “Hopkins has better academics, friendlier teachers, and a much wider Jewish base,” he said. However, there are multiple reasons some choose to attend other schools. For example, previous HHS student, Aaron Kitchener, did not feel Hopkins’ size and academic programs fit with his needs. “I switched from Hopkins to DeLaSalle because I thought a small, private school would have [fewer] distractions than a large, public school,” he said. Kitchener, who transferred from HHS at the beginning of the second semester of his sophomore year, feels more comfortable with the class sizes at DeLaSalle, a private, catholic

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Rosie Mann Managing Editor

New healthcare bill will affect recent college grads Sonja Muss

University of Wisconsin

Provider Maksin

Cost/Yr $1,476

Indiana University

Provider

Aetna Student Health

Cost/Yr $1,864

University of Michigan

University of Iowa

Provider

Cost/Yr

Cost/Yr $1,560

Aetna Student Health Blue Cross Blue Shield $2,490

University of Minnesota

Provider

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Cost/Yr $1,814

Carleton College

Provider

Collegiate Insurance

Cost/Yr $637

Staff Reporter

ith the cost of tuition, books, living arrangements, and other expenses associated with college life on the rise, health care isn’t the main concern of college students. However, affordable healthcare for recent college grads proves to be more important than many are led to believe. “The younger you are, the less you think you need [health insurance]” said John Unruh-Friesen, Social Studies. Recently, President Obama introduced a plan for healtcare reform to cover some important aspects that relate to insurance for young adults. With Obama’s plan, young adults will be able to stick with their parents’ coverage network at least until the age of 25, and healthcare will become more readily available for those without a job. Many student graduates from HHS are finding this to be true. “I avoided [health insurance] like the plague,” said Molly Gruesner, HHS class of 2005, “[Affording healthcare] required a lot of money that I did not have.” Gruesner wasn’t covered until she began working with an employer who offered benefits. Although, she did state that she doesn’t agree with the idea of health care. Gruesner is not the only young adult who didn’t include health insurance in her college budget. According to societyandstyle.com, 13 million Americans aged 19-29 are not insured, which comprises 30 percent of the uninsured population in this country. However, in the past, some people at HHS had parents making sure they did not fall into that statistic. “I don’t know if I would have paid much attention to [health insurance when

I was in college] except my parents [advised me to],” said Dan Sterud, Guidance. Looking back, Sterud is glad he did. “A one or two week stay in the hospital can be pretty expensive,” Sterud said. Doni Lavintman, HHS class of 2004, also understands the necessity of health insurance as a student. “I think [health insurance] is absolutely important to have,” Lavintman said. Simple health insurance plans are offered through most universities at a minimal price covering most basic medical health needs except for lab tests, x-rays, dental care, and pharmaceutical needs. However, the plans vary depending on the school. “I am covered under my parents’ plan,” said Lavintman, “but I know that [Brandeis University] offers it.” While college grads are directly confronted with the issue of health coverage, HHS students are already starting to plan ahead. In Unruh-Freisen’s AP Government and Politics: US class, the students debated Obama’s initiative. “More students were on the position that [the United States] should have some sort of universal healthcare,” Unruh-Friesen said. Lauren Sadowsky, senior, who also thinks universal healthcare is a good idea, hasn’t really considered her future healthcare plans yet. “I think I will probably just hope that my job covers me, but beyond that, I haven’t given it much thought.” Sadowsky said.

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Low participation in caucuses changes election process Nate Gotlieb Editor in Chief

he first step in electing the 2010 governor of Minnesota took place on January 21, 2010, when both the Democtratic (DFL) and Republican parties of Minnesota held their biannual caucuses. Caucuses are meetings of political parties where neighbors with the same political beliefs discuss their views and voice their preference for different candidates and resolutions. At North Junior High, where Democratic caucuses were held, it was a quiet night from the start. Candidates with tables set up on both sides of the entrance handed out stickers and buttons to those who came in. “Welcome,” they would say as they shook the voter’s hand and handed him or her a leaflet on their candidate. The rooms where the individual precincts were caucusing were quiet. As the hour approached seven, most had no more than five or six people in them. Neighbors caught up with their Democratic friends and talked about what they think the party is doing well and can be doing better.

Many hadn’t seen each other since the last caucus two years ago. “You start meeting the same folks at these things,” said Nathan Wanderman, the precinct manager for room 206 in North Junior High, “you really get a sense of what’s on people’s mind.” Wanderman, who graduated HHS in 2004,

Wanderman’s precinct had about 15 people come to caucus on this night. They were one of the more diverse groups there with a few older people, a few younger, and most in between. “Tonight, we are showing that the grassroots democrats are involved in the picking of DFL candidates,” Wanderman said. He had an order of operations he was to follow as A look at the top two DFL given to him and Republican candidates by the Minnesota Democratic Party, but in his own, easy going way, loosely followed the given structure; he skipped around in the order, going from one to two to five to eight to ten to 12 then back to step eight on the list. The night was a reminder of how casually has been attending caucuses since he was old the formalities of the democratic process take enough to vote. His first caucus was in February place. Most votes, on matters such as resolu2004, and he’s been going ever since. “As soon as tions and delegates for the next level, were by a I was eligible, I wanted to get involved,” he said voice vote. The only formal vote of the night, the

The leading candidates

Margaret Anderson Kelliher R.T. Rybak DFL DFL

Possible schedule adjustments Cameron Selmer

Staff Reporter

umors circulating through HHS are making students wonder about possible changes next school year because the block schedule and course requirements are said to be undergoing transformations. While changes would not affect the senior class, younger classes and HHS staff are wondering if these changes will be significant. The truth to the rumors is that changes to block scheduling and course requirements are nowhere near definite. In October of 2009, the Hopkins School Board laid out plans for a “secondary program study.” This study, run by a 40-member committee of District 270 staff members, students, and administrators, was put in place to provide widespread resources for working towards providing each student at WJH, NJH, and HHS an optimal learning experience. The 12-month study will examine many parts of the secondary program including scheduling and graduation requirements. Mr. Matt Kappel, because of his dual involvement as a science teacher and an 11th grade AVID elective teacher at HHS,

was chosen to be part of the study. He is assisting the committee by giving his viewpoints and making important suggestions on the secondary program based on his observations at the high school. “The overall purpose of the study is to decide what exactly each graduate of HHS should know and represent…it is an opportunity that allows us as a district to decide what we want our overall secondary program to look like,” said Kappel. The study’s goal is not to force certain changes upon the secondary program. Instead, Kappel describes that the goal of the committee is to “have a proposal to them [Hopkins School Board] before the start of next school year.” This proposal, which would include the changes the committee feels could be necessary, would have to be passed by the School Board. In result, any adjustments to the curriculum or scheduling would not be implemented until at least the 2011-12 school year. Juniors and seniors can expect everything to remain the same, while sophomores will have to pay close attention to the School Board’s actions in the next year.

Tom Emmer Republican

Marty Seifert Republican

governor’s race, was taken on scraps of paper that looked more like gum wrappers than ballots. Nobody knew everything about the candidates for governor. In room 206, five candidates didn’t receive any votes. Even Wanderman didn’t know a candidate on the ballot. “Does anyone know who Felix Montez is?” he asked the precinct. The voters scratched their heads, blankly staring at him. Everyone except for sixteen year old enthusiast, Sasha Levy, a junior at Blake. “Montez,” she said, “he’s a libertarian running on the DFL ticket.” After the results of the precinct were announced, most attendees turned to leave. Only those who were really interested in talking more Democrat politics remained. At the end of the night, there was a caucus that only had three people remaining. Although they were a small group, they still felt that what they were doing was important. “We are the three most brilliant minds in the democratic party,” joked precinct manager for this caucus, Rich Wildberger. He explained why the caucuses are so vital to the candidates. “They give the candidates a view of where the voters stand,” Wildberger said, “the give you (candiates) the gist of public mood.” He tallied the votes of his precinct. One for Ryback, one for Entenza, and one for Keihler. He then looked at me, winked, and said in a half joking voice, “and you’ve got a tremdous bit of the public’s view right here.”

Staff changes due to Slinde’s absence Naomi Litman-Zelle

Back Page Editor

he first day of the new semester is always full of adjustments for the students. This year, however, HHS administration was also undergoing some major adjustments. On the last day of the term, Mary Slinde, former associate principal, decided to take her retirement at the semester. “[Slinde] had mentioned to me that she was exploring the possibilities [of retirement],” said Willie Jett, principal. “We had had a prior conversation, along with a conversation with the district administration [about Slinde retiring],” Jett said. Slinde had been with the Hopkins district since 1966. “She’s an avid reader,” Jett said, “and she told me she was looking forward to getting in a good few hours of reading each day.” Other plans for her retirement include travel and spending time with her seven grandchildren. At HHS, Patty Johnson has assumed Slinde’s former role as associate principal. While her new position is different from her old position in terms of duties, Johnson is still excited about having the job. “It’s another area of leadership that I haven’t had a lot of opportunity to work in,” she said. “I’m moving from a student focused administration to a staff focused administration,” Johnson said.

The reason Johnson loved her old job so much was her direct interaction with student life, so, for Johnson, the switch to being in a staff-oriented position was large. She now deals with instructional leadership, hiring staff, and the needs of each department in HHS. Johnson’s new position is permanent, but Jett explains that the other administrative roles are being temporarily held by staff. “Anne Campbell is right now the interim assistant principal, and in the spring we’ll conduct an interview process [for a permanent assistant principal],” Jett said. The adjustments being made within the administrative staff have been relatively smooth. “People have been patient, knowing that we’re adjusting on the fly,” Jett said. He also explained that more frequent meetings among the administrative staff have enabled everyone to stay on the same page. The staff in the office has benefited from all the hard work Slinde put into her job throughout her years at HHS. “Ms. Slinde was a wealth of knowledge. She devoted her career to educating young people,” Jett said. Though the HHS administration will be very different without Slinde, the transition process has begun and will continue to go smoothly throughout the remainder of the year.

Students thoughts Jeni Pederson, Junior sad because she was a big “ It’s supporter of the music program.”

Meghan De Young, Senior has done a lot for Hopkins “ She High School. The school wishes her a relaxing retirement. ”

Anthony Johnson, Senior is good she left mid year be“Itcause she can get her retirement money earlier. ”

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Résumé padding hurts, doesn’t help Colorful posters, t-shirts, and students across HHS advertise for their respective clubs and extra curricular activities, but most, if not all, of these messages ignore the number one recruiting tool students’ care about- how good it will look to colleges. There is a reason for this. Proclaiming that the only reason one participates in a club or volunteers in a community is to look better to schools sounds sleazy, however there is no ignoring this widespread practice. As colleges become increasingly difficult to get into, many students see only one option: building as complete and remarkable a résumé as they can in four years. Spurred by this impressive goal, students at HHS are joining clubs, volunteering, and accumulating all sorts of recognition, without regard for the consequences. Although résumé building will occasionally drive a person to discover a cause they are passionate about, those who participate in it are often lifeless and apathetic when it comes to performing club duties. Many students will join a club, barely attend, or only do minimal work. Alec Gunsch, senior, understands the pressures to succeed. He is applying to several selective schools including the Air Force Academy in Colorado. Gunsch participates in several activities

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including Quiz Bowl and Student Government. He says he does these things for two very different reasons. “I ran for Student Government in tenth grade and lost, but I ran again the next year because I knew it would look good to colleges, especially the Air Force Academy because it shows leadership,” said Gunsch. He added, “I joined Quiz Bowl towards the end of last year [junior year]. Even though I’m still on student government, I haven’t gone to a meeting since the start of last term, but I go to Quiz Bowl every week and participate in tournaments on some weekends.” His behavior is hardly unusual or shocking, indeed many students do similar things because parents and peers expect it. “I basically ran on the platform that I wasn’t going to do anything,” said Gunsch. Extra curricular accumulation may seem harmless, and for the most part it is. But each time someone does it, every peer feels they must in someway compete. It’s this escalation that has allowed things to get so out of hand. Luckily, there is a very practical solution, just say no. Although one cannot be in control of the actions of others, when one refuses to participate they are slowing the cycle of the progressively larger

People we’d like to hang out with and what we’d do

DMX (Earl Simmons): **Agenda cleared for dealing with the police** Bill Murray: Batting cage Jessica Simpson: Have a conversation Bill Dance: Go fishing

Charles Barkley: Driving around town, driving range George Clooney: Shirtless staring contest Kim Jong Il: Round of golf

Paula Deen: Eat her wonderful Southern cookin’

Morgan Freeman: Read a bedtime story Yo-Yo Ma: A night of arson/vandalism

accumulation of activities required to stand out. Furthermore, in your new spare time you can partake in activities that they find more fulfilling. Clubs, volunteer work, and other activities are important, but useless to college admissions if they don’t actually paint a picture of the applicant’s interests. “When I started Quiz Bowl I thought it would look good on applications, but now I honestly love it. Between Student Government and Quiz Bowl, I am much more grateful for the time I’ve spent doing trivia,” said Gunsch. For many in this years senior class they regret time wasted doing work for activities they didn’t care about. And for those who have already been accepted, or even those who have been denied their top choices many feel that they missed an oppurtunity to impress colleges with an acurate description of their interests and involvement. So as future graduates prepare for the stress of college applications remember to portray yourself accurately and don’t become a whore for clubs just to get a leg up. In the end that behavior cheats yourself, other students, and the college. Rory Carruthers is a Staff Reporter for the Royal Page

Removing the scheduler position is a big mistake On January 21, 2010, the School Board decid- summer. This would be a tough task for an aded to cut the position of David Williams, HHS ministrator who also has other responsibilities scheduler, along with the scheduling positions at that they need to tend to. North and West junior high. While the board is Mr. Williams then begins to piece together a delegating this job to an administrator in order to master schedule. It’s a laborious process, one that save money, HHS will be severely lacking a puz- takes him about a month. Finally in July, he runs zle master to fit these pieces of over 2000 student the master schedule for the first time, only to find schedules together. that is significantlly Mr. David Wilbehind his goal. liams has been the He then tweaks his scheduler for many original version howyears at HHS. He is ever many times until responsible for obIn a school of over 2000 he reaches his 95 pertaining at least a 95 students, HHS needs cent goal. percent success rate in While this job is someone whose focus is a problem solving job, giving kids the classes organizing schedules. they sign up for. it is not the type of An administraproblem solving that If an administrator were tor will be able to do administrators are this job, but whoever trained to do. to take over this job, it follows Mr. Williams Administrators would overextend that will have a hard time are supposed to be administrator. doing it as successfully the ones running the as he does. It is a year broader actions of the long process Mr. Wilschool. They are in liams goes through to charge of staff, disciensure the schedule works with the most possible pline, and dealing with parents. Adding this reefficiency. sponsibility to their job would be overstretching The process starts as early as October, when our already overworked administrators. Mr. Williams works with the departments to see Not only would they be overworked, but they if they want to add any new classes for the next would not be the resource that Mr. Williams is year’s schedule. He then updates the course book able to be. and makes sure that registration material gets out Mr. Williams knows every class listed in to every freshman, sophomore, and junior. the course book, not because he took the time He has to look at every single registration to memorize them, but because he is constantly sheet and make sure all the classes are entered helping students in early september with their correctly into infinite campus. Mr. Williams will schedules, something that an administrator would then pass on staffing recommendations to Mr. not have time to do. Without him as scheduler, Jett; this means he will help him figure out how HHS will be much less efficient next year. many teachers are needed for each department. Nate Gotlieb is an Editor in Chief for the Royal All of this work needs to be done before the Page

What’s the point?

opinion Editors in Chief Nate Gotlieb Danny Mann Managing Editor Rosie Mann Content Editor Scott Gannis News Editor Rosie Mann Opinion Editor Dylan Browdie Feature Editors Zahra Bashir Amy Gallop Centerspread Editor Tsana Allen Varitey Editor Kent Wee Sports Editors Bill Gregg Emma Peaslee Back Cover Editor Naomi Litman-Zelle Editors in Training Jasmine Geschwind Lissa Martinez Webmaster Ben Jolson Head Photographer Ben Jolson Business Manager Danielle Fink Staff Reporters Patrick Buggy John Burmeister Brenan Cain Rory Carruthers Michael Frey Andy Herzog Lindsey Kaufmann Ryan Levi Andrew Lifson Kristian Mundahl Sonja Muus Alex Schneider Cameron Selmer Adviser Jeff Kocur The editorial represents the opinion of the newspaper staff. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the administration, the student body or the adviser. Signed viewpoints represent the view of the writer. The Royal Page is an open forum newspaper, where students decide editorial content. Advertising information available by mail, fax and phone. Annual Subscriptions are available for $20. The Royal Page encourages letters to the editor. Letters are not guaranteed publication, are subject to editing for content and length, must be signed and meet deadlines. Compliments and suggestions are also welcome.

Success starts with math class “Why do we have to know this?” Chances are, all HHS students have either heard this question or asked it. While concerns for a subject’s usefulness and applicability are sometimes quite valid, too often students underestimate the worth of a subject that may very well be the most important of them all: math. In my own experience, math classes earn more criticism by skeptical, pragmatic students than any other subject. This criticism, however, is totally unjustified. Considering that the mandatory math curriculum only pushes the uninterested student through Algebra II, there really isn’t much to complain about for students not looking to improve their mathematical abilities. The minimum level of math required gives students the absolute basics and a small taste of what lies ahead. This follows the same pattern as most other subjects. In the Language Arts curriculum, for example, students are required to take courses that teach basic writing while also expanding a little bit into what lies ahead. This short expansion into less dayto-day practical math (or less practical language arts study, etc.) is necessary to allow students to find out whether or not they want to continue taking classes on the subject. Math beyond the required curriculum often comes under attack even though students take the classes as electives. With the practicality of the expanded subject in question, it is most useful to look at where math classes take people when passing

judgment. As it turns out, math classes are likely to be the most valuable classes any student has the opportunity take. According to a United States Department of Education study on predictors of lifetime earnings, the single best predictor of a person’s total lifetime expected income is the number of math classes they have taken in college. That finding is not surprising considering the careers that people likely pursue after completing many math courses in college, such as accounting or engineering. Many other high-paying careers require the completion of higher-level math courses in college, including some careers that may come as a surprise. In order to graduate from the University of Minnesota’s College of Biological Sciences, a school producing future doctors and medical researchers, a student must complete both Calculus I and II at a minimum. This math requirement is common within many pre-med undergraduate programs. Even more surprisingly, taking higher-level math courses could help students looking to become lawyers. Admission to law schools is highly competitive, and most law schools look for an applicant with a high grade point average (GPA) and a high Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). The LSAT is basically the SAT or the ACT but is exclusively used for law school admissions. Since doing well on the LSAT is highly important for aspiring lawyers, it’s

Earnings of Math-Oriented Professions vs. All College Grads

Mean Salary

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*Data courtesey of U.S. Department of Labor and simplyhired.com

only reasonable to examine what undergraduate courses best prepare a student for this test. According to a study conducted by Professor Michael Nieswiadomy of the University of North Texas, the highest average scores were from math and physics majors. This may seem odd until the true underlying value of learning math is understood. Learning math is not important because everyone should become mathematicians. Learning math is important because it teaches people how to solve problems and, even more basically, to think in a logical way. The LSAT requires test takers to

think logically, and those who are trained in mathematics have a lot of experience in logical thinking. Similarly, real world problems require the same skills as developed in math courses. Every action must be justified, and every conclusion must be proven. Dylan Browdie is the Opinion Editor for the Royal Page

Athletes aren’t paid to be role models In December, NBA star Gilbert Arenas thought bringing guns into his home locker room and pointing them at teammate Javaris Crittenton was a safe and smart career move. Not to be outdone, Crittenton reacted how any responsible adult would: he took the guns he kept in his locker and pointed them at Arenas. Now, both men are suspended, and Arenas recently apologized to the youth who look up to him for his actions. What upsets me most about this isn’t Arenas’s public relations ploy but that people looked up to him in the first place. There are oodles of people in the world capable of dunking a basketball. Some of these people are professional athletes and some of these people are in prison. As a little tike watching the likes of Randy Moss and Kevin Garnett, I could distinguish the athlete from the person as a whole, something many children and adults still struggle to differentiate. I emulated Garnett’s low post moves and wanted to be like him on the court, but I never looked up to him. He was just some extraordinarily tall man who did some impressive things for the local professional basketball team; he never seemed worthy of adulation. Professional athletes are humans just like us, except they are bigger, stronger, better-looking, and more successful than we will ever be. That makes many of us want to be like them, which too many people confuse with

Little kids intrinsically long to be like big kids. A wanting to be them. They are nothing more than strangers with bizarre specialized abilities and freakish physical HHS varsity football captain should try to be a reputable attributes, no more worthy of being looked up to than human being because he is not playing for money; he is the 11 fingered postman who delivers my mail or the playing for the community as a whole. Specifically, he is a role model for the kids who will one day fill his shoes. Elephant Man. Youth league teams and players are tied to the varsity I don’t want to be the Elephant Man. I doubt the people who want to be like Garnett, a man who took the program out of design. Hopkins Football League players ACT four times and finally received an awe-inspiring 16, look up to varsity players because in a few short years, want to be him. They might they will be varsity players. want his turnaround jumper A professional athlete shouldn’t have these expectaor up-and-under move, but if tions because the little kids they made it to the NBA, the Athletes are good at who look up to him are not same logic they used in consports, not necessarily going to fill his shoes one day. sidering Garnett a role model would have undue conseA high school captain, not at life. just any high school athlete, quences. did indeed sign up for being The naive argument persists that professional athletes asked to be role models a role model for his or her respective program and thereonce they signed their names on the dotted line. When fore has the responsibility to build up the entire program a teacher signs her name, she asks to be a role model through decent behavior. because the integrity of her job is predicated on it; she Even if athletes at any level become role models, it cannot teach without credibility. Whether or not Tiger still isn’t their job to raise someone’s children by instilling Woods philanders does not affect his credibility as a values. That job belongs to children’s parents and guardians. Even the great intellectual Kevin Garnett knows golfer, it only affects his credibility as a role model. If an athlete behaves in a manner conducive to high that. regard, that’s a bonus. It shouldn’t be an expectation. However, the high school athlete is slightly different. Scott Gannis is the Content Editor for the Royal Page

What’s the point?

Earnings of Math-Oriented Professions vs. All College Grads

Mean Salary

The Royal Page 2009-2010

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*Data courtesey of U.S. Department of Labor and simplyhired.com

What’s the point?

Defining the Mi The ROTC: A Commentary Bill Gregg Sports Editor

For me, the military is more than just statistics and distant news stories. It’s more than political musings and presidential debate topics. It’s more than just colorful threat levels. At the beginning of last year, my sister Maggie Gregg joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program through the College of St. Benedict. She made the decision to devote herself to the Army, and in return, the army would devote itself to her. The ROTC program is very common at universities in the U.S. The purpose of the program is to build leadership and train people to become military officers and serve terms of active duty. In return for my sister’s agreement to train and serve four years of active duty in the military, the government pays for her tuition and books and her school pays for her room and board. It also gives her an advantage on a resume to say that she was an officer in the military as well as preference for government jobs. “I felt drawn to it a year before I started because of something [my] Dad had said about it half-heartedly,” Maggie said, “I needed direction in my life and the military was the answer.” As I see it, joining the Army was the right decision for her. She’s always been somewhat of a leader, and it was always her dream to help others in her future. She plans to get her degree in Biology, and from there, she hopes to become a medical service officer. Her plan is to fulfill her active duty straight out of college. Coming

up on the legal age to vote, this could affect my vote as far as a candidate’s stance on the military. My mom Kate Gregg was worried when Maggie made her decision. “Going into it, I had mixed feelings. I was concerned for her safety, concerned for her ability to do all that’s required for the program, and concerned as to what she would owe the government,” my mom said. “I felt better once I met Major Matilla (the leader of St. Ben’s-St. John’s ROTC program), and he wasn’t like a recruiting machine.” It was comforting for her to know that Maggie wouldn’t get lost in the system. “Because of the program, I have a better understanding of my strength, my limits, and my weaknesses,” said Maggie. “The program has taught me to exceed those and to go above and beyond what is needed.” My family has a history in the military. [My] Grandpa Gregg was in the Air Force during World War II and received a Purple Heart when he was injured during combat. [My] Uncle Mike is an enlisted member of the Army Reserves. My other grandpa was a doctor in the Navy. Now that my sister is in the Army, our family has three generations of service. “Even though I’m just a 21 year old college student, I’m part of something huge.” Maggie said. “Less than one percent of the American population and of that one percent, only twelve percent are females. It’s inspiring to know that ROTC has given me the potential to do great things.” It makes me proud to see all that she has done, and I look forward to see what she’ll do with her potential. Going into college, ROTC isn’t necessarily a primary option for me, but it’s definitely on my radar.

Stephanie and Ian Wilson have now decided to become Army officers through the ROTC.

Followin the Wilson Danny Mann Editor in Chief

The idea of serving in active duty for a high school student may seem daunting, but for Ian and Stephanie Wilson, 2009 HHS alums, it is quite the contrary. Last year, the Royal Page featured the Wilson twins as they made the choice to enlist in the United States military. Now, a year later, we decided to follow up on the twins and see where they are in their military careers. The Wilsons, who grew up in a military family, began the service process on September 24, 2007 when they went to the Bloomington recruiting center and signed up for the National Guard. The Wilsons went through training, which culminated in a four-week basic training program in Fort Jackson, North Carolina. After this rigorous training, the Wilson’s decided they would train to become Army officers through the ROTC (Reserve Officers, Training Corps). The ROTC program enables people to attain a college degree, while at the same time training to become an officer in the military. The program requires three days a week of physical training and one day a week of military leadership class, which includes activities such as repelling or paintball. “Essentially, I am a normal college student, I live in a dorm, and I am getting my business ma-

jor, the only difference is after co serving as an officer in the military son, who attends the University o shire “It’s a win- win because I wil and I’m guaranteed a job straight he said. The real reason Ian joined the ever, was not to secure a job for hi lege. “I have this deep feeling of du has given me everything, so I fee back,” he said. “I want to feel I served persona there [Afghanistan or Iraq] would of accomplishment,” Ian said. Stephanie, who has similar fe will not have the opportunity to se tary as she was honorably discharg problem. “I wanted to serve my c we are at war. Seeing the dedica older sister, and now my brother h county by enlisting, it seemed like to do,” she said. “I would love to s [the military], but it didn’t work o While she will not be serving h itarily, Stephanie is finding other support for her country. “There ar ways I will support this country, volunteer a lot which can help and ferent way to give back,” she said.

The Line

Photo courtesy of Ian Wilson

ilitary

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ollege I will be y,” said Ian Wilof New Hampll have a degree, out of college,”

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Looking through their eyes Photo courtesy of Ian Wilson

Name: Dan Kelman Grade: Senior Branch: Israeli Defense Forces

Danielle Fink Business Manager

While colleges, scholarships, ACT, and SAT scores are on the minds of HHS seniors, Ellen Fisher has different plans in her future. Fisher chose to join the United States Army in October of 2008. She graduated a year early in June of 2009 to pursue her army experience. There are many reasons why Americans join the army; one of the most important being patriotism. That’s not the reason for Fisher. “I joined [the Army] for a number of reasons, mostly because I needed money for school, and because I’m that type of person that has an insatiable craving for adventure,” said Fisher. It is not easy for a high school student to graduate early and go on to their next chapter in their life. Fisher is lucky enough to have the support of her friends behind her. “Since she has made this choice [to join the Army] I support her. She is doing what she wants to do, and I give her a lot of credit for that,” said Kathleen Nagel, senior. Her mother, Jennifer Fisher, also supports her daughter’s choice of joining the army. “I miss her, but when I talk to her she sounds so happy. I’m glad for her and and she is learning so much,” she said. In June of 2009, Fisher went to Texas for basic training. “The training was tough and sometimes I didn’t think I’d make it through all of the trauma lanes and emergency medicine, but somehow I did,” Fisher said, “I finished up basic training to be a combat medic, and I graduated Feb. 12, 2010.” Fisher is currently spending some time at home, but she will be leaving for Germany. “I will be away for two years and from Germany, I’ll be deployed to Afghanistan this June. I’m both scared and excited,” Fisher said. Even though Fisher is not in Afghanistan yet, she has already learned a lot about herself through basic training. “I used to be a pretty quiet, shy person, but I’ve learned to take charge and work under pressure. It doesn’t change the fact that I still get scared about going over there [Afghanistan]… but it’s my job, so I’m gonna do it,” Fisher said, “I’m learning that its all really about the people next to you.”

HHS students plan to enroll in some form of the military

Name: Alec Gunsch Grade: Senior Branch: Air Force Name: Bo Billy Grade: Senior Branch: Navy Name: Jay Steinberg Grade: Junior Branch: Israeli Volunteer

e of Duty Photo courtesy of Ian Wilson

Name: Sarah Washko Grade: Senior Branch: Coast Guard

Name: Zach Newman Grade: Senior Branch: US Army

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Student tastes sweet success with her baking Amy Gallop

Feature Editor

ost kids spend their free time using Facebook, playing sports, hanging out with friends, or going shopping. But more often than not, Paige Geving, senior, can be found honing her culinary skills in her second home, the kitchen. Geving has always felt comfortable in the kitchen. For as long as she can remember, she has been cooking with her grandma and on her own, but she attributes her love for baking to a present. “My sister gave me a cupcake decorating kit for my 15th birthday, and I wanted to try out all of the tools. Also, I thought it looked like a lot of fun,” said Geving. From there, her passion grew. She now bakes at least twice a week, and most of the time, she bakes cupcakes, cakes and cookies. She bakes one day and decorates the next. “I like to bake, but my favorite part is definitely the decorating—that’s what I focus on,” Geving said. Through all three levels of Culinary at HHS, Geving has been able to experiment with cuisines she would not normally prepare. She would often borrow equipment from the HHS kitchen to experiment with during her free time. “It was a great experience, and I [became] more interested in a career in culinary,” Geving said. Although she completed all of the levels of Culinary at HHS by her junior year, Geving continues perfecting her baking and decorating skills by baking for her friends and family. For senior Jordan McGowan’s birthday, Geving made an alligator out of cupcakes. “It was the best birthday present I have ever gotten,” said McGowan, one of Geving’s closest friends. When baking, Geving said the biggest challenge she faces is decorating her baked goods in a uniform manner. “I am sort of a perfectionist with my baking,” Geving said, smiling. “But if I don’t like how something turns out, I am not going to throw it away. People still [enjoy] eating it.” This past Christmas, Geving’s detail oriented manner paid off. Wanting to live up to her title as baker of the family, Geving pre-

pared an awe-inspiring dessert. She made a cupcake tree using a total of 114 cupcakes. “From start to finish, it took me a couple hours to bake them, and about six more hours to decorate them,” she said. Baking is a creative outlet for Geving, and unless she is under a deadline, it can be a stress reliever. Geving is harnessing her passion to pursue a career in the culinary field. Next fall, she will be attending the Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) to major in Culinology. Culinology is a combination between food arts and culinary science. “My guidance counselor helped me pick [the school] out,” Gev-

ing said. “Culinology is the fastest growing program at SMSU, and it has good programs in other areas in addition to culinary.” In the future, Geving hopes to own her own bakery. “I’d like to gear it more towards kids, because you don’t get as much creativity with wedding cakes and more adult stuff,” Geving said. Her HHS Culinary instructor, Gayle Durand, has faith in her. From the beginning, Durand has been impressed with Geving’s upbeat attitude and drive to perfect her skills. “I can definitely see her owning her own bakery,” Durand said.

In the far left photo, Geving, senior, decorated cupcakes for her family’s Christmas centerpiece, which is pictured to the left. The cupcake “cake” Geving baked for McGowan’s birthday is pictured above. Geving focuses her efforts on her decorating skills. Photos provided by Paige Geving

Gold key awards unlock promising futures for three HHS artists Patrick Buggy Staff Reporter

itting alone at clay-dust covered table, Natalie Wolf, senior, meticulously rolls a strip of deep brown clay into workable pieces. While a rookie may find it difficult to concentrate with the hustle and bustle of the ceramics room surrounding them, Wolf is clearly in her element. Wolf, along with Calli Kohout-Bevins and Sarah Snyder, seniors, were all awarded the prestigious Gold Key for their artwork in the Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards (MSAA). “This is our state championship,” said Ms. Randi Rood, Art Department. “It’s a really big deal.” Over 1000 students from across the state entered the competition that was put on by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Applicants either submitted a single art piece (single entry), or an entire portfolio of artwork into any of the 14 visual arts categories

Photo by Ben Jolson, photo editor

ranging from sculpture to graphic design. Kohout-Bevins received a Gold Key for a single entry in the jewelry category, Snyder received two for both a single entry and a portfolio in jewelry, and Wolf received two for a single entry in ceramics/glass and a ceramics portfolio. Three different awards are given out by the MSAA, with the Gold Key representing the highest honor. Artwork dubbed worthy of the coveted Gold Key is then sent on to a national competition in New York. In addition to the 5 Gold Keys, 7 Silver Keys and 17 Merit Awards were earned by HHS students. Such success in this competition is no stranger for HHS. “We typically win many awards and often the most in the pool of public schools,” Rood said. The impressive accomplishments of HHS art students can be widely attributed to the amount of hard work they put into their pieces. “Hand building a piece takes longer than throwing it on the wheel...It takes about a week per project,” Wolf said. Although HHS artists do not typically receive extensive commendation for the work they create, Kohout-Bevins, Snyder and Wolf ’s countless hours of effort were rewarded with one of the highest honors a high school artist can receive. “It is very important that our students get the recognition they deserve,” Rood said.

Art Medium: Ceramics Favorite style: Abstract art Started art: 9th grade Inspiration for artwork: The world around me and the people I see Natalie Wolf, senior

Art Medium: Jewelry Favorite style: A cross between Modern and Gothic styles. Started art: I have always been interested in art, my parents raised me around all types of art.

Callie Kohout-Bevins, senior

Sarah Snyder, senior

Art Medium: Jewelry Favorite Style: The Art Nouveau style. Inspiration for art: Nature, and objects therein. [I work] with contrast when I take natural forms, abstract them, and then render them in metal.

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A look back at a childhood as a Liberian soldier Danielle Fink Staff Reporter

us Sakpeidah, senior, was a child soldier in Liberia at a very young age. It was his duty to defend himself and his family under the mass turmoil of the Liberian government. The first civil war started in Liberia in 1989. Throughout seven years of war 200,000 Liberians died and millions of people were displaced. Fortunately, Sakpeidah, escaped the chaos before it was too late. “I was born in the middle of the 1991 war and an old lady delivered me right in the middle of the war zone on a rainy day,” said Sakpeidah. Although he was born in a

Liberia Child Soldiers Around the World

300,000 children under the age of18 serve in government forces or armed rebel groups

Some are as young

as years old

Both girls and boys are used as child soldiers Photo provided by John Atherton

time of despair, his family was well off. His father had a very promising job with L.E.C., the major electrical company operating in Liberia at the time. “If the power or tower goes out, my dad would be in trouble,” Sakpeidah said. As the war continued to rage, his family was separated for a period of time. “We got captured, they would take the men and leave the women behind,” Sakpeidah said. Gus was with his father, grandfather, and uncle. His mother and sisters were separated from them. While they were separated it was every man for themselves. “All tribal men had to go through training to fight, I had to do it for my people. Once you are considered a man, you can hold a gun, and you have to fight,” Sakpeidah said. He became a child soldier at the age of 6. A typical child soldier would be on drugs, but Sakpeidah didn’t take any drugs. Sakpediah explained that the nightmares are worse when you were fighting while sober because it is easier to remember the violence. There are some memories he would like to forget. “You are living to kill, but if I didn’t kill, I would have been killed,” Sakpeidah said, “I was fighting against anyone who shot at me.” Sakpeidah lived through many tragedies including the killings of his uncle, aunt, and cousin. The rebels would go through different tribes and kill innocent people randomly. Fortunately, Sakpeidah’s grandfather and father knew the land of Liberia very well. They got out of Liberia as soon as possible. His house had recently been destroyed, so he had very few items with him. “All I had with me were my green flip-flops, a shirt, and a pair of jean shorts,” Sakpeidah said. He and his family walked from the coast to the capital and then to the border. They traveled

to the Ivory Coast, where Sakpeidah worked in coal mines and various pepper farms in order for him to pay for his school. There are other HHS students that have a similar story to Sakpeidahs’s. Mamie Jarbah, senior was also born in Liberia. “Life in Liberia was fun, my mother drove, and we had two puppies,” Jarbah said. Over time though, the war worsened and Jarbah moved to Ghana when she was about 5 years old. She then immigrated to the United States in 2006. Skapeidah moved to the United States in 1998. He first went to New York, but he was very violent in school. He then decided to move to Atlanta with his aunt but was still getting in trouble. His aunt decided to send him to live with his father in Minnesota. “I saw everything and everyone as a target. As time went on, I realized I was safe in the United States,” Sakpeidah said, “I started to behave because one guy didn’t give up on me, and it was him who changed me.” Sakpeidah has a bright future ahead of him. He is planning on going to culinary school after graduating from high school. He does not have any plans to go back to Liberia. “The country is too messed up. There is nothing I would be able to do to fix it,” Sakpeidah said. The war in Liberia is over, but the aftermath of the civil war has made it difficult for the country to prosper.

John Narum: Yo-Yo phenom at HHS Tsana Allen

C-spread Editor

his year, throughout HHS, John Narum, sophomore, has been making waves as the “yo-yo king.” It may be a casual hobby in his eyes, but his track record proves differently. In 2005, when he was 11 years old, Narum competed at the World Yo-Yo Contest in Orlando, Florida against 3000 other kids of all different ages. He won first place, making him, at the time, the youngest ever yo-yo world champion. Currently, he is rated second in the world and considered a professional yo-yoer. Not only does Narum compete and judge competition, but he also makes frequent visits, when he can, to the Children’s Hospital to yo-yo for less fortunate children, as well as providing the entertainment at a variety of gigs. Throughout the years, Narum has placed in multiple contests, made television appearances, and broken world records. He also has his own signature series yo-yo, the YoYoJam Black Knight. Narum picked up a yo-yo for the first time when he was four years old, and he has not put it down since then. “I was watching TV and there was some guy

doing tricks with a yo-yom and I thought ‘Wow, that’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!’ I went to the store and bought some little yo-yo to practice on,” Narum said. “Obviously I couldn’t get anywhere at first, but my mom found a club online in southwest Minneapolis that I joined.” Currently, Narum is considered a professional yo-yoer. He practices when he can, given his busy schedule. In addition to yo-yoing, Narum participates in Nordic skiing, cross country running, band, and drumline all at HHS, and he also plays the bass. But despite all of this, he still finds time to yo-yo at least 30 minutes a day, even if it is while he’s watching TV or doing any other daily activity. While it has been difficult and strenuous for Narum to get to where he is, he wants to see others put in the work and thought to try yo-yoing like he did years ago. Narum believes that yo-yoing is a different kind of acitivty that really anybody has the ability to enjoy. “I would recommend yo-yoing for others because you don’t really have to worry about how far you go. It’s really about what you do with it,” Narum said. “In yo-yoing there’s nothing that’s realistic. It’s all limitless.”

Narum, pictured above, stole the show at the HHS Pops concert with his yo-yo act.

Liberia’s History

1989 The Civil war began. Charles G. Taylor along with other rebels attacked Liberia from the Ivory Coast. He had previously worked with Doe.

President: Samuel K. Doe.

1990 Doe was killed by the rebels

1997

Taylor was elected president. He assured voters that if he wasn’t elected, he would start another war. His campaign slogan: “He killed my ma; he killed my pa; I’ll vote for him.”

2010

The war is over, but Liberia still lies in ruins Sakpeidah is pictured to left as a child in Liberia. Now at age 18, Sakpeidah lives in MN with his family. (pictured near left)

A sign reading “The Bunker; Student Information Services” was recently created by some students from Tech. Ed. teacher Mr. Dan Roden’s second term engineering class. Aaron Weinard, senior, and Chris McGregor, Brittany Peterson, Karina Besnett, juniors, and Kendall Meuwissen, sophomore, all contributed to the construction of “The Bunker” sign. Originally, the sign was supposed to hang over the desk near the Java Café in the Garden of Eatin’, so the sign was modeled after the Java Café sign. It is now hanging over what will be the window to a new student service center.

In the future, the HHS staff would like to implement a student-run information desk, a position similar to a teacher’s assistant. In the position, students will help their classmates find information on athletic schedules and weekly events. The information desk attendee will also guide substitute teachers and guest speakers around HHS. HHS administration is hoping the student-run facility will make information more accessible and will be a positive contribution to the school.

Story by Lissa Martinez, staff reporter

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Area attractions lure Minnesotans out of hibernation

People might assume that Minnesotans stay inside all winter and do nothing due to the notoriously bitter winters. However, there are several activities to participate in during this season around the Metro area. Depot Coffeehouse in Hopkins

The Depot Coffee House is one place to visit in the winter. Visitors can sit down relax and have a Harley Hopkins, which is espresso, white chocolate, steamed milk, whipped cream, and raspberries. “The Depot is the best place to get coffee on a cold winter day,” said Topaz Cooks, senior. “I love the depot because their coffee is so yummy, and the atmosphere is great,” said Alana Schlager, junior. The Depot displays local artwork on their walls for free. It also offers live music every Friday night from 6 to 11 PM; the cover charge is three to five dollars. On Tuesdays, it hosts an open mic night starting at 8:00 which is available to anyone ages 14 and up, sign up should be completed around 6:30 to ensure a spot. The bands receive 25 percent of the night’s earnings. The Depot keeps track of this by tallying who came to see which band at the door and divide accordingly. The Depot is somewhere small and casual where a group of people can get together and enjoy music.

Elm Creek

A fun outdoors place to go is the Elm Creek Winter Recreation Area, part of the Three Rivers Park District. Many activities are available there such as sledding, snowboarding, and tubing. “I love sledding, especially when it’s super icy,” said Daisha Lewis, junior. The Elm Creek Park Reserve consists of 4,900 acres, making it the biggest of the Three Rivers Park District. They put in a lot of effort to preserve the natural beauty of their parks, and a variety of wildlife such as deer, beavers, and various birds. It may be a bit of a drive out to Maple Grove. However, it is worth it. The snow-tubing hill has a magic carpet up to the top eliminating the need to carry the tube up the hill after every ride down. Two hours of tubing only cost $12. There are many other things to do around Hopkins, and if all else fails, gather a group of friends together and have a snowball fight. In Minnesota, during winter, it’s hard to be bored.

Academy Awards Predictions Alex Schneider Staff Reporter

ith the passing of both the Golden Globes and the Grammys, Awards Season is in full swing. The greatest spectacle is yet to come; the 82nd Annual Academy Awards are airing on Sunday, Mar. 7 on ABC, and now is the perfect time to catch up on Oscar nominated films. Here are The Royal Page’s top three contenders for the prestigious Best Picture Award:

A Serious Man

Starring: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, and Sari Lennick Plot: A dark comedy set in Minnesota circa 1967 about a Jewish man’s mid-life crisis and his attempt to put everything back together by consulting with three local rabbis. Why it will win: The Coen brothers are well known, critically acclaimed, and have won several Oscars, and this film is every bit as original and entertaining as some of their very best. Why it won’t: Although the movie is fairly popular in our neck of the woods, it didn’t get a ton of national attention, and many of its finer intricacies can only be fully appreciated by a relatively small audience.

The Hurt Locker

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, and Guy Pearce Plot: An American bomb squad led by Sergeant First Class William James faces danger on every street corner of an Iraqi city where anyone could be an enemy and any object could potentially be a bomb. Why it will win: It shows a unique, chilling side of modern warfare that hasn’t been explored in previous films, it’s gotten great reviews, and it’s nominated for a total of nine Oscars. Why it won’t: It isn’t as well known as some of the blockbuster nominees like Avatar, Up, and District 9, and it may be too intense for some moviegoers.

Inglourious Basterds

Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, and Melanie Laurent Plot: A dark comedy about a group of Jewish-American soldiers sent to the heart of Nazi-occupied France with task of helping the Allied war cause by brutally torturing and killing Nazis. Why it will win: Director Quentin Tarantino has yet to win an Oscar for Best Picture, and it’s a hilariously original film. Why it won’t: It’s pretty out-there, and its humor and brutal violence are not for everyone. “Inglourious Basterds “The Hurt Locker may is a classic combinavery well be the best war tion of tenuous scenes movie I’ve ever seen. of dialogue, broken It combines chilling by over-the-top gore, suspense with a unparaland topped off with leled sense of realism, a subtle bit of social straight from the opencommentary.” ing scene.” Robert Gao, senior.

Sam Segal, junior.

The Depot Rink

The Depot Rink in Minneapolis was historically a train shed. Now, it is an ice skating rink attached to The Depot Renaissance Hotel, which also has a small water park and great restaurants. The Depot rink has a wonderful atmosphere with views of the downtown skyline through its glass windows. They play soft music over a high quality sound system, which makes it the perfect place to go with family, friends, or a date. There is even a zamboni that resembles a train, reflecting the Depot’s history as a train shed. Unfortunately, everyone must get off the ice every hour or so to allow the Depot staff to melt away the snowy layer on top. They offer snacks and refreshments such as candy bars, hot cocoa, and pop in a stand off to the side of the rink. Tickets are eight dollars for 18 and up, and six dollars for people 17 and under.

Jasmine Geschwind Staff Reporter

iPad is an iDon’t Zahra Bashir Feature Editor

ormally, Steve Jobs of Apple presents products that amaze and amuse the technologically advanced individual. He creates gadgets that further the productivity of the technological world and interweaves everyday items to make them more easily accessible. But his latest item does no such thing. The iPad is Apple’s newest third category device, a mixture of a smartphone and laptop. It looks like a supersized iPod touch and is also built like one. It was first introduced by Apple on Jan 27 with a starting price at $499 for a 16 GB model and is set to be released in April. The iPad is about a half-inch thick and weighs 1.5 pounds with a 9.7-inch screen. Jobs said it is “way better than a laptop or smartphone.” However, the device is not nearly as advanced as a laptop and not nearly as handy as a smartphone. In fact, the only difference between it and the iPod touch is that the iPad offers eBooks and Newspapers. Many of the applications (video, music, games, browsing, and photos), come with many of Apple’s products. Moreover, it lacks the necessary requirements that make it “more advanced” than other devices. The iPad, which is an unfortunate name for a product, lacks multitasking. The largest flaw and deal breaker for many consumers is its failure to simultaneously run multiple applications. With the iPad, it is impossible to write on a pages document (Apples version of Word doc.), while browsing

the web, or to listen to Pandora and flip through iPhoto albums. Who in their right mind would want to spend over $500 for a product that only does one thing at a time? At least it’s possible to multitask with laptops and even some smartphones. In addition to the unfortunate full screen mode, the iPad doesn’t even have a camera. And in the 21st century, a camera is considered a given, as video chatting and mobile photo uploads are now considered the norm. Also, the iPad touch screen keyboard is a strong disadvantage when compared with laptops and further proves the ‘it’s simply a larger, more expensive iPod Touch” point. The gigantic device makes it awkward for people to type on, unless they don’t mind doing all the work with just two fingers. The iPad only runs from the Apple store. So not only do consumers have to buy everything from Apple, they have to abide by Apple’s application and program regulations. In other words, when Apple says no to something, it’s a heavy-duty no. And because of the absurd closed deal with AT&T that allows only their customers to own the iPad, consumers will have to personally get the device unlocked for use. And even when it’s unlocked, the iPad won’t be able to work on T-Mobile’s 3G network. So, unless you are looking for an overgrown iPod touch whose complications outnumber its advantages, I say stick with your smartphones and laptops.

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Heart-o-Grams spread the love at HHS

Lindsey Kaufmann Staff Reporter

loud bang interrupts a classroom and Sara Hirschi, senior, rushes in the doorway decked out in a vision of pink. “HEART-OGRAM!” she yells. This long awaited day finally came to HHS on Friday, February 12. There were 14 groups participating with numerous students involved selling Hearto-Grams during lunch and managing groups. Hirschi, along with group members, Hanna Hondzo, senior, Haley Sisler, senior, Jeremy Hamel, junior, and Amy Sylvestre, junior, enjoyed dressing up and roaming around the corridors singing their hearts out. “With my last year of Heart-o-Grams, I especially enjoyed running around the school doing all sorts of crazy stuff with my group and interrupting classes,” said Hirschi. She has performed in Heart-oGrams since her sophomore year and says it is something that she will really miss. Heart-o-Grams have been a school tradition since the 1970s and have continuously been memorable to students and staff alike, as well as being a successful fundraiser for the HHS Choral Department. “Heart-o-Grams are a nice thing to do for a friend, and it’s fun to see the performing students express their creativity since it’s such a neat thing to celebrate,” said Mr. Philip Brown, event adviser and choir teacher.

Many students claim the best part of the day is not only the light-hearted, joyous atmosphere, but the more relaxed school day as well. With the singers being absent from class and with all the performances, teachers had to plan accordingly. In addition to the laid-back school day, sophomores and new students were excited to experience their first year of Heart-o-Grams. In junior high, students can only purchase “Candy Grams” (giant lip-shaped lollipops), but these are simply handed out to the recipient by homeroom teachers. Highly anticipated vocal groups Geoff and Midori made their famous rounds as well. This year, Midori dressed to the theme of ‘Love Machine’ with their mechanic costumes. “We prepared a lot for Heart-o-Grams, and it was exciting getting to sing “One Fine Day” because Midori sings it every year, and there are actions that go along with it,” said Ali Stieglbauer, junior and member of Midori. With a day full of singing and festive costumes, Heart-o-Grams will forever be a day students look forward to and reflect upon. There’s just something special about sitting in front of a classroom being serenaded and being completely embarrassed while still loving it at the same time.

Jordan McGowan and Anna Dieter, seniors, and Olivia Mestad, junior, rehearse for Hearto-Grams.

Hunter Anderson and Kirby Andersen, seniors, and Jory Shragg, junior, purchase Heart-o-Grams from Maddie Bauer, junior.

Mattan Comay, junior, fills out a Heart-oGram.

Aubrey McCarthy, senior, clad in overalls, serenades a lucky recipient in the Garden of Eat’in. Photos by Ben Jolson, Patrick Buggy, and Kent Wee

Students weigh in on “Tonight Show” fiasco Jack Burmeister Staff Reporter

hen NBC installed its new late night show line up they expected a lot of laughs and money. Instead the network lost a lot of money and got a lot of drama. Conan O’Brien was recently fired from his duties of hosting “The Tonight Show.” This decision was made after both Jay Leno and O’Brien brought in low ratings, and it marked the end of O’Brien’s 17 years with the network. “I’m disappointed that Conan was fired, I’ll miss [him] for sure,” said Mitch Hoogenakker, junior. Looking back on “The Tonight Show” situation, the blame could easily be put onto all the parties involved but the person who should receive all the blame is NBC executive Jeff Zucker. He’s the one who wanted Leno to leave, only to put Leno in primetime after rumors started that Leno was going to get his own late night show on ABC. “I didn’t like Jay Leno’s time, but he’s coming off as a cry baby because he got everything he wanted,” said Tim Regan, senior. When the ratings for both shows dropped, NBC had to save its late night programming with one of three choices. The first option was to air Leno at 10:30 after the local news, cut it down to a half hour long and move O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon a half-hour back to compensate for Leno. Another option was to cancel Leno’s show and let him go or, lastly fire O’Brien from “The Tonight Show” and have Leno host it again. When the rumors started to spread, O’Brien and Leno took jabs at one another and at NBC. O’Brien began constantly insulting NBC in his opening mono-

“It’s always been my dream to host the ‘Tonight Show’ for seven months.”

“Seven months? We only got four! Who’s his agent?”

logue, while Leno took credit for O’Brien’s ratings going up. “They all started acting like a bunch of children with all the name calling,” said Alana McQuirter, junior. NBC’s poor decision making has cost them money and damaged their reputation. “It’s a funny situation because NBC has spent all this money to fire a guy, yet they thought their plan would make them rich,” said Jacob Chauss, senior. Leno may face consequences when he comes back to “The Tonight Show.” “I don’t think I’ll be watching The Tonight Show anymore because of [how] selfish Leno is,” said McQuirter. “The Tonight Show” may continue to lose its audience because of how NBC handled O’Brien. O’Brien probably doesn’t feel too bad because he received 45 million dollars to leave, NBC has picked up a pilot written by his production company, Conaco, and he can be back on television in September. “I’d like to see Conan get a new show because he can make fun of himself and connect with the audience,” said Taylor Parris, senior. O’Brien was underestimated by NBC. He was able to get his fans and the media to rally around him because he used comedy and common sense to win. One example of this is sharing his compensation with all his employees. Soon O’Brien will be competing with his former network for ratings, and only time will tell who the true winner is.

In a poll of 120 HHS students,

57 percent preferred O’Brien while 43 percent favored Leno.

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Kuzzy cruises from HHS to Vancouver The HHS’ Nordic ski team did outstanding in its section meet. They boys team took first at sections and sent an entire team to state. The girls’ took fourth, and Sarah Benton, freshman, represented the girls team at state. Congratulations to the Nordic state participants. With such success, it’s not hard to see how the HHS Nordic progam helped produce an Olympic athlete. Ryan Levi Staff Reporter

esterday, Garrott Kuzzy raced out of the gates at scenic Whistler Olympic Park with red, white, and blue on his chest and Royal blue in his heart. A 2002 HHS graduate, Kuzzy is racing for the United States Ski Team in this year’s Winter Olympics in Vancouver. For Kuzzy, it’s a goal he has been striving towards for years. Kuzzy grew up in Minneapolis and began Alpine skiing when he was just three years old. He turned his attention exclusively to Nordic when he was 12. His life at HHS was a busy one. Along with racing on the HHS Nordic team, he ran track and was an All-State cross-country runner. Along the way, he learned how to balance his athletics with the rest of his life, including school. “Garrott Kuzzy was an excellent high school student both academically and athletically,” said Mr. Rob Fuhr, Kuzzy’s Nordic coach at HHS. Kuzzy was a member of state championship teams for cross-country running in 1998, 1999, and 2001, and Nordic in 2002. When it comes to his success, Kuzzy is quick to praise those around him. “My success is due more to others’ help than anything I’ve done for myself,” Kuzzy said. He credits his coaches and teammates with helping him become an Olympic-caliber skier. “Garrott is and was a team player,” said Mr.

Mike Harris, Kuzzy’s track and cross-country coach at HHS. “For Garrott, it was about how can I serve the team.” Harris described Kuzzy as a great competitor who was constantly driven to accomplish more. He said that Kuzzy cherished opportunities to go against top competition. “Garrott looked at it like, ‘I get to compete against the best,’” Harris said. This quality, along with an excellent work ethic and a refusal to set limits for himself, led Kuzzy to continue skiing after leaving HHS. He moved on to ski at Middlebury College in Vermont where he decided to pursue skiing full-time. “I knew even before graduating that I wanted to continue ski racing… I knew I wanted to continue racing and go all in,” said Kuzzy. Since college, Kuzzy has been racing with Central Cross Country (CXC) domestically and the U.S. Ski Team internationally. Even as he climbs the ranks in skiing, Kuzzy remains connected to HHS. “Garrott has returned several times over the years and worked with the Hopkins skiers,” Fuhr said. “Although he is an elite athlete, he always remembers his roots and has stayed in touch and helped the team. This winter, even in his Olympic season of conditioning and racing, he came out and put on a ‘ski workshop’ for the team.” Kuzzy said he enjoys the time spent with kids. “I love working with the younger skiers because their enthusiasm for skiing is infectious, which reminds me not to take the sport too seriously.” His advice for younger skiers: “Set high goals

and work hard every day to accomplish those goals… I honestly would not trade all the memories that have been made along the way for just two weeks at the [Olympic] Games. Enjoy the ride.” Working hard and having fun are qualities Kuzzy said he picked up at HHS. Kuzzy’s experiences at HHS have prepared him to compete on the world’s greatest stage.

“Competing at the [Olympic] Games has been a goal of mine for years, and I am stoked to be knocking on the door.” Kuzzy takes time out of his Olympic training to help out HHS skiers over winter break. Photo courtesy of Missy Hoffman Ayers

The life of HHS Alpine: Blood, sweat, and wax Kristian Mundahl Staff Reporter

Senior, Bobby Meller waxes his skis. He tests the sharpness by cutting his fingernail with the edge. Photo by Kristian Mundahl

n cold, windy days they can be seen walking through the school, lugging 20 pound backpacks and balancing long skis over their shoulders. They hurriedly head toward a recessed, nondescript room in the heart of the school to prepare for their sport of choice, Alpine skiing. Though these winter warriors brave the freezing winds each day, the majority of their sport revolves around the copious hours of preparation and training for the short, yet glorious, race. This crucial routine can be boiled down to three simple tasks: wax, sharpen, train. The scene of all this work is the ski room, which the alpine skiers share with the Nordic skiing team. This warmly lit, minute room is hidden behind two 10-foot doors. The oddity of this room is the fact that the room’s height is only six and a half feet, and some athletes have to duck just to enter it. Bobby Meller, senior and varsity captain, has spent more time in this room than most can imagine. Meller has the waxing and sharpening operation down to a science. “First of all, you have to plug in the iron, since it has to melt this,” Meller said, as he reached into an orange toolbox and pulled out a bright blue mass of wax. “Then you push the wax against the iron and drizzle it all down the plane of the ski.” Boxes of colored wax globs and bins of various sharp “rocks”, as the team calls them, litter the work stations. There are three stations for three workers, but more always squeeze in. This cramped workspace, combined with the height of the room, makes for chaotic and uncomfortable waxing sessions. In addition to waxing, Alpine skiers sharpen their skis every other day to make sure their equipment is in the best possible

shape. However, the preparations don’t end there. “We have to drive ourselves out [to Hills Ski Area] for practice,” said David Steinman, senior, who skis for junior varsity. “At practice, we have to go out [on the hill] and set up the gates.” “A lot of the preparations go on after practice. You have to dry out your gear and make sure to get your boots inside, or else they’ll freeze,” Meller said. Throughout these sports hardships, Meller insists that the skiers are as close as any team. “Since we aren’t exactly dependent on each other’s times, we aren’t forced to be close,” Meller said. “But we choose to cheer each other on, give out advice and other stuff, so in that way, we do love each other.” This sentiment is echoed throughout the skiers. “We are like a big family,” said Clara Eagon, junior. “Thanks to [my teammates], we have a lot more fun than you would expect.” Although alpine is not the subject of a lot of attention, keep an eye out for these hard workers.

Team Update On Tuesday, February 2, the teams went to Sections at Afton Alps. Both teams competed against the best skiers in the area, and took sixth place out of 17 teams. One standout was Brett Bremer, sophomore, who took second place in the heats by a hundredth of a second, earning himself a place at the State Finals, which was held on February 10. If these athlete’s attitudes are any indication, the team will be cheering hard for Bremer in the finals.

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College Sports: It’s as easy as DI, DII, DIII Emma Peaslee Sports Editor

ri Stephens, senior, started her college search like most students, during her junior year. However, instead of looking through college books and websites, Stephens played in a hockey tournament called Junior Fest. After that, coaches from different colleges contacted her to come look at their school. College athletes have the option of playing in three divisions, DI, DII, or DIII. The most basic difference between the three is the number of number of sports the school is required to sponsor. For DI it’s seven for men and seven for women, but for DIII it’s only five for men and five for women. Although it is generally assumed that division one athletes are the best, that is not always the case for every sport. “There are definitely some DIII hockey teams that could compete at a DI level and do well,” Stephens said. One of the biggest differences between divisions, especially for athletes, are scholarship opportunities. DI and DII schools can give out academic and athletic scholarships. DIII can only give academic. For some, this changes the

way they make their college decisions. “I love to swim, and if I could get [scholarships] for swimming I would take it, said Jacob Chauss, senior. For most athletes, the college decision process is very different from the typical student. Cara Johnson, senior, knew she wanted to play DI hockey, and took an interest only in schools that offered it. “I only applied to once school because I had already committed, which was really nice,” Johnson said. Other student athletes felt similarly. “I only looked at schools that sent letters,” said Logan Hanson, senior. “[Students] don’t look at the school as much as the team, their record, and playing time.” DI is a much bigger commitment. “For DI, it’s kind of like you are owned by the team,” Stephens said. There are lots of rules and requirements about when the school can contact the student and when the student must sign. For example, in DI soccer, coaches are only allowed to call their recruits once in March and then again starting on or after July 1, following their junior year in high school. After July 1, a college coach is limited to one telephone call per week. The process for DI and DII athletes is much more formal.

Although strict, college athletics provide many opportunities for students they wouldn’t otherwise have. “For me I wanted to go to college for football, if I didn’t, I probably wouldn’t go to college, Hanson said. Hanson said that his plan before committing to the University of Mary had been the army. Sports provide many opportunities for students they would not otherwise have. “Schools I never thought I could get into, I got into because of hockey,” Stephens said. Stephens had the talent to go DI or DIII for hockey and so the process was a little more complicated for her. Princeton was interested in her and she took a visit. They told her flat out that they wanted her, but they weren’t sure how much playing time she would be guaranteed. Stephens had the choice of going DI and not playing as much, or being a star on a DIII team. “[For me] it all depends on how much you’re going to be able to play,” Stephens said. Stephens decided on attending St. Scholastica, a DIII school in Duluth. “DIII is kind of a relaxed atmosphere that’s fun to play. It’s still college hockey though. It’s not a joke,” Stephens said.

Featured in the story: Name: Cara Johnson Sport: Hockey School: Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY) Division: One Name: Logan Hanson Sport: Football School:Universityof Mary (Bismarck, ND) Division: Two Name: Bri Stephens Sport: Hockey School: St. Scholastica (Duluth, MN) Division: Three

Fons shines on Hockey Day Minnesota Michael Frey Staff Reporter

n the eyes of a hockey fanatic, there’s no bigger day than Hockey Day Minnesota, Jan 23, 2010. Alex Fons, senior goaltender for the Royals, showed off his skill on FSN’s full day of hockey broadcasting as part of Hockey Day Minnesota. This was the second highly anticipated game of the year for the Royals, the first being the game against the USA womens hockey team, which they lost, so the Royals were looking for redemption. Prior to the games start, it was unsure whether or not anyone would be able to play with temperatures hovering just around freezing. The Royals had the first game of the day at 10 a.m. and would have the wind at their backs for the first and third periods, keeping Fons out of his own net. “This was a once in a life time experience and the atmosphere was great,” said Matt Baillie, junior defender. It was definitely a different game for both the Royals and Duluth Marshall with this being an outdoor game. Although it’s different from regular season play, most players will tell you that they grew up playing on outdoor rinks. “I started playing outdoors and still try to play as much pond [hockey] as I can,” said Michael Mazzitelli, junior forward. With Fons in net, all the players seem to be confident in him and trust him to make a great save if needed. The game started out slow, but once the scoring started, it never slowed down. Archie Skalbeck, senior forward and leading scorer, had a hat trick in the Royals dominating 6-0 victory due in part to Fons’ excellent play shutting out opposing Duluth Marshall. Another shutout for Fons, another win in his four year HHS hockey career in which he’s become one of the top goalies in Minnesota. Fons, along with Hill Murray’s Tim Schuaghnessy, were the two goaltenders chosen to play in the Minnesota Wild skills competition. Fons was shot on by star Wild players such as newcomers Andrew Ebbett, Martin Havlat who is also playing on the Czech Republic Olympic team, and Nick Schultz. Fons has created a great legacy during his time playing for the

Royals, but he isn’t done yet. “It certainly is nice to have one of the states best goalies night in and night out because you know that you will have a chance everynight,” said Royals head coach, Chad Nyberg. The team has added new defenders along with Baillie and senior defender Tom McCue, sophomores Joey Brettingen, and Andy Wicklund who have been doing their part this season. “I see a lot of potential in the underclassmen this season, it’s also important to get them ready for next season,” Fons said. This season, Skalbeck has already topped his numbers from last year with 26 goals and 23 assists for a total of 49 points. Racking up the points alongside Skalbeck is first year forward Tanner Holmquist, who has 11 goals and 13 assists for a total of 24 points.

Martin Havlat rips a slapshot on Alex Fons, senior. Havlat was one of the many Wild players to take shots on Fons. Photo courtesy of Wild Photographer, Bruce Kluckhohn

“We need to have consistent play from all players down the stretch...we need some new players to step up and score some goals for us,” Nyberg said. With a disappointing post-season last year, Nyberg and the Royals are shooting for some success this season.

A Royal feast

The HHS culinary team cooks up delicacies fit for a king Lindsey Kaufmann Staff Reporter Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) classes are often forgotten by students as soon as they take their final apple crisps out of the oven in eighth grade, but for Jacob Frahm, senior, his interest was just

LaShaun Graves, junior, practices his knife cuts during an afterschool practice. Graves, along with his fellow teammates, has to make sure they cut with precision at their upcoming competitions.

brewing. After his FACS class had ended, Frahm discovered how much he enjoyed cooking and even asked his teacher, Ms. Jane Nefzger, if he could come early in the morning to cook himself some simmering bacon and fried eggs in West Junior High’s FACS kitchen. “I like food,” Frahm said. “My passion for cooking came not only from loving to eat, but also from television programs on the Food Network such as Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri.” As a sophomore at HHS, Frahm signed up for Culinary 101, and this further sparked his fascination for cooking and preparing dishes. This year, Frahm will be in Culinary 103 fourth quarter, but more impressively, he is a member of the HHS Culinary Team. The team is composed of five members under the instruction of Ms. Gayle Durand, FACS. Taylor Schultz, senior, serves as a captain for this year’s team, and Frahm, Emily Chinn, senior, LaShaun Graves, junior, make up the the squad with Nate Stein, junior, as the alternate. Although it isn’t Iron Chef, high school culinary has a lot more to it than one may think. The team practices Monday-Thursday after school until 5 p.m. What’s even more striking is the menu. Featuring dishes such as Hoisin (Chinese dipping sauce similar to soy sauce), duck, and Israeli couscous, preparing such dishes requires culinary skill far beyond the

Photo by Naomi Litman-Zelle

Name: Jacob Frahm, 12 Favorite food: chocolate bread pudding

Name: LaShaun Graves, 11 Favorite food: spaghetti Specialty: any kind of meat

Specialty: stir fry

knowledge of the average high school student. For the state competition, which the HHS team will participate in this coming March, each team has to prepare a three-course meal: appetizer, entrée, and dessert. The team prepares these intricate meals everyday at practice. In 2008, the HHS culinary team won the state event, landing them a spot at the national competition in San Diego, California. This year’s team hopes to make it as far as they can while enjoying themselves at the same time. “My goal for the team has always been for [the team] to have fun, show off their skills, and work to the best of their ability,” Durand said. At a culinary competition, each team is judged based on knife skills, teamwork, sanitation, menu, presentation, and taste. With only one hour to complete the feast, each of the four competing members carries out their own task, working with each other to bring the whole meal together. “We really work all together, but we need to work individually in order to finish in time,” Graves said. Frahm said he usually is in charge of the appetizer, but he also helps out with other parts of the meal as well. “Emily is an artist, so she is amazing at plating the food,” Frahm said. If cooking isn’t enough, presentation is just as important. The teams must prepare two plates for each course: one for the judges to sample and the other for appearance. “Presentation makes food the center of attention, and food always tastes better when it looks good,” Chinn said. Frahm says that the culinary courses offered at HHS teach a skill that can be used in many aspects of life, and, for the time being, “avoiding eating Ramen everyday in college.” “Although the competition can get pretty fierce, cooking in general is really relaxing and is something I can always enjoy doing,” Frahm said. For the HHS culinary team, walking out of their eighth grade FACS class allowed them to enter a whole new caliber of cooking.