The Spoke June 2017

our Investment In Conestoga Vol. 67 No. 7 Conestoga High School

June 5, 2017

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Bringing home the pomp

Betty Ben Dor/The SPOKE

By Betty Ben Dor and Eric Xue Co-Editors-in-Chief

S

ome tunes are synonymous with the experiences they represent. For weddings, there’s Richard Wagner’s “Here Comes the Bride.” For birthdays, the party doesn’t start

until a rousing round of “Happy Birthday to You” has been sung. Tomorrow, the Conestoga Class of 2017 marches onto Teamer Field to the classic graduation song “Pomp and Circumstance.” This is the first time in 26 years that graduation will be held at Teamer instead of the Villanova University Pavilion.

The ceremony will be held out on the field at 6 p.m. on June 6.

45 years later, Conestoga Class of 1972 alumna and current school nurse Gail Hamman still remembers the feeling of graduating out on Teamer Field.

“It’s just going to be a good remembrance for me, as a former graduate, being out

on the field,” Hamman said.

“It’s just very memorable.”

Hamman said that while Conestoga is lucky to have a place like Villanova regularly host the ceremony, there is a special feeling associated with graduating from the school’s property itself.

While she’s hoping for no rain, Principal Dr. Amy Meisinger said that having

the graduation out on Teamer Field should provide for a truly memorable experience for the seniors.

“We’re very excited,” Meisinger said. “I think having your graduation on your high school football field makes it a very special evening.”

See Page 6

Monday, June 5, 2017

News

The Spoke is published seven times per year at Bartash Printing. It consistently receives a Gold rating from PSPA and CSPA, and it is a National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker award-winning publication.

The Spoke serves as a public forum for student expression.

TV series challenges depression in district

Betty Ben Dor, Eric Xue

The trending TV series “13 Reasons Why” has dominated conversations throughout Conestoga, from casual mentions to heated debates during lunch.

Due to the graphic nature and controversy over the show’s message, mental health specialists Christine Dunleavy and Melissa Salzberg at Conestoga, Michelle O’Leary at Valley Forge Middle School and Ellen Turk at Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School sent an email to all parents in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, discouraging them from letting their children watch the show without supervision.

The show “does not talk about depression or draw a connection between depres-

Editors-in-Chief Ian Ong

Managing Editor Brooke Deasy

News Editor Claire Guo, Justin Huang

Student Life Editors Audrey Kim

Opinion Editor Avery Maslowsky

Sports Editor Lyvia Yan

Center Spread Editor

Brooke Deasy and Justin Huang News Editor and Co-Student Life Editor

“For those who may struggle with similar challenges as Hannah (the main character) or live with their own vulnerabilities, the overall message of this series may get distorted into a sense that suicide is a natural way of solving life’s struggles.

It is not.”

As the sequence of events unfold in the series, told with numerous �lashbacks, the viewer witnesses rape, suicide and depression in a raw and realistic form. At the beginning of the show, a boy named Clay receives a box of 13 cassette tapes from Hannah, his classmate and crush, who committed suicide a few weeks earlier. Each episode of the show, with a total of 13, corresponds to one tape in which Hannah explains audibly how one person contributed to the decision to take her own life. After �inishing the show, some

Elizabeth Billman, Jordan Liu

Managing Web Editors Neil Goldenthal

Multimedia Editor Maddie Lamonica

Business Manager Henry Danon, Marko Djurdejevic, Jahnavi Rao, Madison Red, Sanjana Sanghani, Warren Zhao

Staff Reporters Kaitlyn Chen

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sion a n d suicidality,” Salzberg said. “This is an important missing link. We understand that suicide is not a typical response to adverse life events. Depression is a well understood and treatable mental health condition. We want students to hear the message loud and clear that help is available.”

The goal of the email was to raise parents’ awareness about the show and to provide resources for both them and their teenagers. The letter recommended that parents watch the show with their children to spark discussions about signs of depression and the severity of suicide. Also included in the email was a statement that the show may not be appropriate for those “who have experienced depression, anxiety, or other needs.” A similar mention appeared on the “April to May Conestoga News Issue” that also went out to parents. A section of the note read as follows:

have interpreted the cause of the main character’s suicide to be revenge. Such vivid portrayals of violence and controversy over the show’s message has ignited the concern of parents, teachers and caregivers.

“Visual representations of self-harm and suicide can be triggering to those suffering from depression, or those who have had experiences of selfharm,” Salzberg said. “We never want a teenager to have the mistaken impression that suicide is an alternative for dealing with this feeling or a way of sending a message.”

Elizabeth Gosch, a child clinical psychologist and professor at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, agrees with the opinions of Dunleavy and Salzberg but also believes that the show accurately portrays the challenges faced by struggling teens.

“Often the case with mental health issues is that people are in a lot of pain and can perceive the

world in a very speci�ic, idiosyn-

cratic manner when they are struggling with mental health issues,” Gosch said. “Those things are pretty accurate (in the show).”

The disagreement centered around the show’s overall message is not lost amongst students, each taking their own side of the persisting debate. Freshman Emma Lueders strongly believes that the show forti�ies the argument that suicide is wrong.

After �inishing the entire series, Lueders re�lected on its message and its application in her life.

The series “de�initely changed the way I see how people are treated and that saying one thing or saying anything or doing anything can affect someone’s life completely,” Lueders said. “Everything you do or say can affect someone’s life and that’s what I took from the show.”

Other students didn’t see the show in the same light. Sophomore Kate Hinmon believes that the show failed to address the sensitive subject material properly, making it unreasonable and unrealistic.

“Personally, I think that the show offers a bad

message because of the way that it portrays suicide,” Hinmon said. “I do not agree with the message that the tapes send due to survivor guilt. I hope that people who go

through what Hannah struggled with reach out for help instead of resorting to suicide.”

However, both Hinmon and Lueders agree with the

district’s decision to send the email to parents.

“I hope (the email) leads to a discussion of the topics that are presented in the show and gives students a chance to express their feelings in a safer and more comfortable environment,” Hinmon said.

The Signs of Suicide (SOS) Program has been established by mental health specialists like Dunleavy and Salzberg to educate seventh to ninth grade students about depression, and they’re always available to talk.

Indeed, Gosch speaks highly of the efforts of such individuals.

“Certainly, I think this idea that the counselors and people there who are sensitive to (the show’s content) and know about it and care (is wonderful),” Gosch said. “They have the time and care and would like to help (students) if they were experiencing some of those feelings of depression. I think that really, honestly, having that be a part of the school is pretty important.

Also, having the kids know about it so they can help their friends if they see their friends experiencing depression, and that they have resources and know where to go to help their friends.”

News

Monday, June 5, 2017

Community unites to remember Corey Manning

Betty Ben Dor Co-Editor-in-Chief

“You couldn’t help but love him,” learning support teacher Carol Gibson said.

“He had the ability to just uplift people.”

From the halls of Conestoga to the bright lights of Teamer Field, Class of 2016 alumnus and football star Corey Manning was known for his energy and outgoing personality. Following his passing in late May, the community has come together to memorialize him.

In 11 days, community members raised $15,060 for his funeral/memorial that was held on June 2. 280 parents, alumni, school board members, teachers from throughout the district and Conestoga students donated amounts from $10 to $450.

Security guard Dante Coles had known Manning since he was young, describing him as a little brother. He said that the unified community response does not surprise him.

“When things like this happen, (the community) always comes together,” Coles

said. “I’ve been in this community my whole entire life and I know when tragedy happens in our community we come together as a family and we support each other.”

Although Coles said he’s seen the community come together like this in the past, it makes him extremely happy to know that it can still be done in this generation.

“He had the ability to just uplift people.”

Courtesy Julia Braendel

Football star: Class of 2016 alumnus Corey Manning poses for his official ‘Stoga football photo.

“He affected a lot of people in the community and that’s why they came together and

raised that money in a short period of time,” Coles said.

Gibson recalled his positive spirit, emphasizing how he was always a good advocate for his peers. She said that his passing at such a young age has had a heavy impact on the teachers.

“People liked him, here in the building, and there was a lot of energy invested in him,”

when addressing this enrollment imbalance: maintain the status quo, in which they wait to see if the problem self-corrects, build a new elementary school, add on to Devon or redistrict. Wendy Towle, director of curriculum, Instruction, Staff Development and Planning, believes that redistricting is a long term solution.

“Redistricting was chosen as the best option at this point because although space is tight at Devon, there is still some room at some of the elementary schools, in particular Hillside and Beaumont,” Towle said. “Redrawing the attendance boundaries would allow for more equitable distribution of students and would allow for the space in each building to best accommodate all students.”

A handful of parents voiced both gratitude and concern at the school board meeting. Alicia Mendicino has one child at Beaumont and another who will begin kindergarten next year. She voiced her opinions about the redistricting.

“As a parent you have volunteered at the school, interacted with the teachers and principal over the years and your child has

become comfortable and thrives in a school where perhaps they had come as toddlers to see their older siblings,” Mendicino said.

“Now they are being moved to a whole new environment, and one that is not as familiar and comfortable to you.”

The next step in the process is beginning to draw the new attendance boundaries. This will be done by an Elementary Redistricting Committee comprised of parent volunteers. The committee will create a plan to present to the school board, who will vote on whether or not it will be implemented or sent back to be revised.

Mendicino said that she is considering applying to be on the Redistricting Committee.

“I appreciate the fact that the school district is soliciting parent input and would like to ensure that families have strong representation and their voices are truly heard,” Mendicino said.

“However, this is a very large time commitment for anyone, let alone those with young children — they are estimating 75-100 hours over the course of a year — and not a decision to be made lightly.”

-Carol Gibson

Elizabeth Billman/The SPOKE

Remembering Corey: Members of the African American Student Union hold a poster signing for Manning at the Unity Fair. After his passing, members of the community raised over $15,000 for his funeral service, which was held on June 2.

Gibson said. “People had high hopes for him and it’s just disheartening to see that he couldn’t reach his potential.”

Not only have efforts to commemorate him been made throughout the community, but within Conestoga as well. At

the Unity Fair held on May 26, members of the African American Student Union had a poster dedicated to him that students were encouraged to sign.

“He’s touched a lot of people; his name is going to live forever,” Coles said.

Board approves redistricting

Maddie Lamonica Business Manager

On Monday, May 22, the Tredyffrin/Easttown school board voted 9-0 to approve a redistricting plan that aims to readjust the number of students at each elementary school. Once the new attendance boundaries are finalized, a number of Devon students will relocate to either Beaumont or Hillside at the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

There is a large population imbalance between Devon, Hillside and Beaumont elementary schools, leading some classrooms to be more crowded than others.

For example, although the two elementary schools have similar facilities, Devon has nearly 200 more students than Hillside, leading to fuller classrooms.

Over the past decade, enrollment in Tredyffrin/Easttown School District (TESD) schools has steadily increased by 10 percent. According to recent projections, it will continue to rise in the next couple of years.

The TESD School Board considered four potential options

Take the class at the Tredyffrin Library this summer!

Mon. July 10, Tues. July 11, Wed. July 12 & Thurs. July 13

Time: 12-3 PM Cost: $200

Need help with a college application essay?

Marylyn E. Calabrese, Ph.D., writing coach and teacher, has helped thousands of students in preparing successful college application essays.

She is the former chairperson of the Conestoga High School English Department with an A.B. from Bryn Mawr College, an MAT from Wesleyan University, and a Ph.D. in Teaching Writing from the University of Pennsylvania.

Reserve your seat by contacting Laurie Doan: ldoan@ccls.org 2 (610)-688-7092 x200 Space will be limited for individualized feedback Course proceeds benefit the Tredyffrin Library For more information, contact Dr. Calabrese: writedrmec@aol.com

The Spoke 3

Monday, June 5, 2017

News

Test scores earn senior prestigious recognition Lauren Gow Staff Reporter Out of the 3.5 million high school seniors nationwide who take the SAT and ACT each year, only a handful of them earn scores that qualify them for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. This year, senior Nina Bernick was recognized as one of approximately 500 Presidential Scholar semifinalists.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program annually selects the top 30 males and 30 females in each state as candidates to be named Presidential Scholars. While 20 of the males and 20 of the females are picked by the U.S. Department of Education for having the highest SAT or ACT test scores, the other 10 males and 10 females are nominated by the Chief State School Officer (CSSO) based on outstanding scholarship.

The program, once designed to acknowledge students with exceptional talent in visual and performing arts,

Lauren Gow/The SPOKE

A National Standing: Senior Nina Bernick says the application process for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program helped her discover who she is. She was chosen to be one of 500 semifinalists in the nation.

Senior places first in art contest Sanjana Sanghani Staff Reporter

10% OF w/ C ones F tog Stud ent I a D

4 The Spoke

Senior Hannah Atchinson recently participated in the Congressional Art Competition on April 24. The competition allows for students to compete in their respective districts across the United States.

Atchinson placed first among 500 contenders from Pennsylvania’s 6th district.

Senior Elizabeth Gay also placed, coming in third, and senior Hui Yi Kuo was nominated to compete by Conestoga art teachers.

Consisting of an online application process, the competition featured a panel of judges, who critiqued the paintings at the Chester County Art Exhibit. Since she received first place, Atchinson’s work will

has recently been extended to students who show incredible ability in career and technological education fields.

Bernick was one of the 10 seniors nominated by the CSSO. After her nomination, Bernick was required to complete an application that asked about her grades, extracurriculars, community service and her personality in order to be considered for semifinalist or finalist standing.

“It was basically like a college application, not really a competition,” Bernick said.

Each year, approximately three million seniors are eligible for consideration.

Only 2600 are chosen as candidates, and 500 as semifinalists. Bernick, along with 10 other Pennsylvanian students, advanced to semifinalist standing.

“My friend told me in the hallway that I made semifinalist,” Bernick said. “I didn’t know they’d been announced, and I was really surprised because I knew there were

be displayed in the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. for one year.

Atchinson’s winning piece was part of a series, consisting of 12 paintings, all created by a process called stippling in which a black pen creates dots on white paper. Then, values were �illed in to create the image of three storks. According to Atchinson, the painting took 39 hours to complete.

The painting displays two saddle-bill storks and one yellow-bill stork from Elmwood Park Zoo. Atchinson said that she wanted people to feel alive when they looked at the painting.

Certain requirements had to be met for the piece. It had to be 13-14 inches by 17 inches and there could not be any political implications as the piece would be hung in the Capitol Building.

Atchinson said that she did not expect to win the competition.

“At �irst I thought I had won fourth place but then when I got up there and they said I had won �irst place I was really shocked and surprised,” Atchinson said.

“I was mostly really happy afterward, after I �inally got over the initial shock.”

a lot of really well-rounded and talented kids in Pennsylvania that were competing for this.”

Although Bernick did not make finalist standing, she said that her family and friends are still very proud of her achievement.

Bernick admits the process of writing college applications was beneficial when she had to write an application for the program. Looking back, Bernick realized that she learned a lot about herself through both application processes.

“I think that filling out applications like this one, as well as college applications, forces you to take a step back and figure out what’s most important to you―what defines who you are,” Bernick said. “It’s kind of like describing yourself to a complete stranger. You sell yourself but be truthful about your flaws, and I think that’s a valuable thing to do every once in awhile―step back and evaluate who you are as a person.”

Conestoga art teacher Amy Cruz, said that Atchinson is a great artist, and she wishes her the best in her art career.

“I had taught her this past year and I’ve noticed how hard she has worked to develop her skill and create art she can relate to,” Cruz said. “She just really loves creating art and that’s what I think makes her a great artist.”

Courtesy Hannah Atchinson

Painting her own path: Senior Hannah Atchinson places �irst in the Congressional Art Competition. Her winning piece displayed a scene from Elmwood Park Zoo.

Monday, June 5, 2017

News

Private school student participation in CHS activities

Cissy Ming Copy Editor Emeritus

Although not enrolled at Conestoga High School, one sophomore still wears his ’Stoga rugby uniform with pride. He began playing rugby for the Conestoga Rugby Club during his middle school years, eventually transferring to a private school located within the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District. When he became eligible for the U19 team, which has club sports status at Conestoga, he encountered an obstacle to continuing to play the sport he loves alongside teammates he had known since childhood: he became ineligible to play.

Boys rugby head coach Alex Johnson recalls that the student’s loyalty to his team motivated him to help the student’s parents to �ind solution which would permit their son to remain with Conestoga Rugby.

“He contributes a lot: people feed off of seeing how hard he’s willing to work and what degree he’s willing to go to play for us,” Johnson said. “He felt that his roots and his heart was really for Conestoga Rugby. He never gave up and I think that’s very admirable.”

Prior to February 2017, district policy limited participation in all extracurricular activities to Conestoga students and home school or charter school students, an inclusion mandated by state law. Unfortunately for the student, private school students had no access to extracurriculars under the old policy. The parents approached the school board policy committee in January with a request to make an exception for their son, leading the board to suspend the policy. The Tredyffrin-Easttown School Board, in conjunction with Conestoga’s athletic department and club sports representatives, intends to revise the policy to give club teams the option of admitting up to two private school students residing in the district under the condition that their schools have no equivalent program.

The policy was approved on its �irst reading at the May 22 school board meeting. The School Board will of�icially vote on June 12.

If the full school board approves the revised policy, Tredyffrin-Easttown will become one of the only school districts in Chester County to allow private school students in extracurricular activities.

Oxford Area School District opens all extracurriculars, not only club

sports, to children of taxpayers in the district, regardless of whether they attend Oxford schools.

According to Conestoga Athletic Director Kevin Pechin, the parties involved in drafting the revised policy intentionally limited its scope to only a select group of students. Since Conestoga has a highly popular club sports program, with 217 athletes, Pechin needed to balance the interests of prospective team members enrolled in ’Stoga with those of private school students.

“The revision that’s being made, it’s highly unlikely there will be many kids,” Pechin said. “What

Tredyffrin-Easttown School board intends to revise policy to give club teams the option of admitting up to two private school students if no equivalent program exists.

we don’t want to do is take away an opportunity from a Conestoga student, but by the same token, if we have a student in the district who wouldn’t be taking the spot of a current enrolled student, you’re doing what’s best for the kid.”

However, Johnson notes that Conestoga Rugby has received multiple requests on behalf of local private school students who want to play for the team because few other school rugby programs exist in Tredyffrin/Easttown.

With the previous extracurriculars policy in place and given the students’ lack of a connection to Conestoga, the rugby board

Oxford Area

Opens all extracurriculars, not just club sports,to children of taxpayers in district (regardless of attendance at Oxford schools)

of directors declined. While the Conestoga boys’ rugby team accepts the student as a member of the team, Johnson believes including too many outside students on the roster would dilute the identity of the program.

“I don’t think people would be very accepting if we took in multiple students who didn’t come through the program and just wanted to play for our school,” Johnson said. “People just feel a sense of pride, a sense of ownership in the program. When you’re pulling from multiple schools, as in a club team, there isn’t quite that strong of a connection.”

Lower Merion

Participation limited to students enrolled full-time in the district, though the superintendent may establish eligibility criteria for legal participation for all non-district students.

Justin Huang/The SPOKE

Thanks to our CAPCO sponsors for making Late Night ‘Stoga possible!

333 Belrose ARCH Berwyn/Devon Business & Professional Assoc.

Brewington SAT Prep Caldwell Heating and A/C, Inc. Casey's Pour House Catalyst Prep Catering by Design Chipotle Mexican Grill (Gateway) Christopher’s A Neighborhood Place Clay’s Bakery Dempsey & Associates Devon Liberty Devon Orthodontics Diamond Development Group Duffy Real Estate Ed Forde Service Center Gateway Animal Hospital Handel’s Ice Cream Jim's Auto Repair Kistler Tiffany Advisors Mainline Dental Associates Matthews Paoli Ford

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The Spoke 5

Bringing home the pomp

Monday, June 5, 2017

News

Continued from Page 1 While the location may have changed, Principal Dr. Amy Meisinger says that the ceremony itself will not be too different.

“We used the Villanova framework as our starting point and really just made adjustments where it was necessary based on the fact that we’re outside versus inside,” Meisinger said.

However, there are significant differences in the planning process.

According to Meisinger, the main concerns were about the potential of bad weather and the logistics behind parking.

Due to the inability to fit the expected 4,000-5,000 attendees inside Conestoga, the committee decided that if the original date is rained out, students will graduate on the first rain-free day instead.

Parking will be available at both Conestoga and several satellite locations. If field conditions permit, guests will be able to park on the

1972 Conestoga Yearbook

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

Home �ield: The Class of 1972 walks across Teamer Field for their graduation ceremony. Graduation was moved to the Villanova University Pavilion in 1991.

Return to Teamer: Class of 1972 alumna Gail Hamman anticipates a Teamer Commencement.

baseball field as well as the regular Conestoga parking lots. The bus circle will be reserved for invited teachers

the network operations center across from Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School (TEMS), the Timothy School,

from the middle and elementary schools.

Satellite parking locations include the middle schools,

the PathMark building at the bottom of the hill and an office building on Duportail Road and Morris Drive in Chesterbrook. All locations will run shuttles to Conestoga.

The TEMS lot will serve as a handicapped parking lot and will have golf carts available to shuttle those attendees to Teamer. Tredyffrin police officers will direct traffic on the night of the event.

Unlike previous ceremonies at Villanova, which started at 7 p.m., graduation at Teamer will instead start an hour earlier. Due to the amount of work required for set-up, graduation rehearsal will be held on the day of the actual event, instead of the day before, as in previous years.

Executive Student Council President senior Michael DuTot looks forward to graduating from the football field.

“Graduating at our own school definitely has a special meaning because it is our last time together at our school,” DuTot said. “’Stoga is our home and Villanova doesn’t feel the same.”

SwedesFord Plaza shopping center

Timothy school

students

VFMS Guest Chairs

students Faculty

Baseball Field

6 The Spoke

I Te nvit ac ed he rs

teMS

Guest Chairs

ba

Faculty

nd

Guest Away Stands

Media Highway

Guest Home Stands

teamer field

Offices

Justin Huang/The SPOKE

News

Monday, October 17, 2016 "In the 2016-2017 school year,

our Investment In Conestoga

the T/E School District will serve over

6,500 students with an authorized budget amount of

$131,270,392." - www.tesd.net Financing Uses (7.9%) Non-Instructional Services (0.3%) Support Services (31.9%) Instruction (59.9%)

Story and design by Ian Ong, Managing Editor

High school fees often go beyond lunch money and gym uniforms. From activity fees to field trip costs to tests, the cost of public education begins to add up.

How does our school district spend money on its students?

The budget for the 2016-2017 school year is $131,270,392, and the spending allocated for each student is $17,602. The national average is $11,890 per student.

The Spoke looked at district spending per student compared to other districts and how much money students themselves spend on their four-year ’Stoga experience.

$

a summary of student costs for one year

Parking ... $180

$$$

Many students attend SAT camps to prepare for standardized tests. How do the prices compare?

Accel Academy:

Y2: MJ Test Prep: Comparing the Costs of High School:

$5,000 per 200 hours

$2,150 per month

$4,700 for 208 hours per month

$3,980 per four weeks

Prom ... $55 to $85 Yearbook ... $90 Activity Fee ... $50

Laptop ... $50 TOTAL ...... $455 ...NOT TO MENTION LUNCH, FIELD TRIPS, SAT CAMP, STANDARDIZED TESTS, SPORTS EQUIPMENT, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, PHOTO DAY PICTURES, AND MORE

Parking

PRom

Yearbook

activity FEE

Conestoga hs

$180

$85 (juniors) $55 (seniors)

$90

$50

$17,602

Radnor hs

$75

$95 (seniors)

$80

$40

$22,967

$25 per year

$40 (juniors) $90 (seniors)

$70

FREE

$28,173

$70

$45 (juniors) $90 (seniors)

$65

$75

$17,389

harriton hs bayard Rustin hs

$

The Bottom Line

The Cost of Camp

C2:

$ $

$

amount spent by district per pupil

The Spoke 7

Monday, June 5, 2017

STUDENT LIFE Humorous Instagram account gains following

Claire Guo Co-Student Life Editor

As the name indicates, Stogamemes generally posts memes — Internet photos coupled Freshman Andrew Ge sits on with witty captions — revolving the steps in the lobby, swiping around the common ’Stoga exthrough Instagram on his phone. perience. Though Gao does get He sees the post, laughs and dou- photos from other students, he ble-clicks. By week’s end, that writes the captions himself, chanpost will reap over 600 likes. neling his own humor into each What’s garnering this atten- meme. tion? A meme about watermelons.

“My humor is really self-depJunior Jeffrey Gao first cre- recating, harsh — just rebellious ated the account @stogamemes teenage angst. And school things with three other friends last at Stoga that are kind of known September. According to him, the among all the grades,” Gao said. account began as an inside joke, And while the account is clearly and the traction it has gained reflective of his own humor, Gao — within a single school year, was surprised to find the humor no less — was completely un- of his peers through Instagram. expected. Stogamemes now has After allowing students to submit 1,726 followers and counting. memes to the account, Gao found “People from other schools himself “genuinely laughing” at started following, former stu- the jokes people made. dents started following, and “I learned that a lot of people that’s where I thought this isn’t are really funny,” Gao said. “I just a schoolwide thing; it’s didn’t really know these (stuspreading to (’Stoga alumni) who dents) before, but I kind of got a are already in college,(10.312 and that’s sense of1their humor, a sense 2016_HS_Newspapers x 5.843).3_Layout 5/17/16 5:42 PM Page 1of kind of cool,” Gao said. their personality through their

submissions. It’s a very community-driven account.”

Before posting on Stogamemes, Gao beta-tests his memes with friends to make sure they’re funny and appropriate. He also avoids calling out specific names or taking sides on sensitive issues.

“I definitely felt a little bit of pressure to be more (politically correct), to be kind of general in the humor,” Gao said. “If my friends say (a meme) crosses a line, (that) this isn’t really funny and it’s kind of demeaning, I’ll totally scrap the idea and think of something else.”

Gao has already decided not to personally continue the account next year.

He is currently debating between shutting it down completely, leaving it inactive as an archive or passing it on to someone else.

“It takes a lot of creative energy – is this gonna work, is this too offensive, is this not good enough?” Gao said. “It was fun,

In the last five years we have helped high school seniors gain acceptance to these colleges:

Columbia, Carleton, Syracuse, Northeastern…and many more.

Claire Guo/The SPOKE

Capturing laughs: Many of Stogamemes’ photos come from followers of the account. Junior Jeffrey Gao co-founded the account Stogamemes last September, now with 1,726 followers and counting. but I couldn’t keep up with it, and (I worry that) if I employ someone else, my voice wouldn’t be translated into the memes.

People would know something changed.”

For Stogamemes follower Ge, the account is not meant to be

consequential or taken seriously.

It’s simply a collection of funny Conestoga observations for everyone to relate to.

“It’s just to get some laughs, get tighter bonds between students,” Ge said. “Have something everyone can laugh about.”

A high school senior who completes our program will receive: ■ a personalized college planning timeline, ■ a working list of colleges for application.

For many students our program begins before the senior year.

We can help you get there.*

The College Admissions Planning program is under the direction of David Clark, (Ed.M., Harvard Graduate School of Education), an independent college admission consultant with more than thirty-five years experience working with high school students and their families.

“ Mr. Clark was able to focus our son on what he needed to do; relieving stress for the entire family.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call David Clark at 610-642-4873, ext. 52 or email him at: david@collegesearchnow.net

Mother of a senior at a Chester Country (PA) high school class of 2016

a complete list of our students’ college * For acceptances go to the “College Acceptances”

link at our website www.collegesearchnow.net.

College Search Now makes no guarantee, expressed or implied, of placement of a client in a designated college /university.

8 The Spoke

For informative articles about an effective college search plan, visit Mr. Clark’s blog at www.collegesearchnow.net.

College Search Now ~ Center for Psychological Services, LLC Paoli Executive Green, Suite 304 ■ 41 Leopard Road, Paoli, PA 19301 125 Coulter Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003 ■ Tel: 610.642.4873 Email: david@collegesearchnow.net

Monday, June 5, 2017

Advertisement

The Spoke 9

Monday, June 5, 2017

Student Life

Galaxies beyond: S8 dominates the market

Story and design by Justin Huang Co-Student Life Editor

Originally announced in late March, the Samsung Galaxy S8’s release upped the ante in the smartphone market. As the Android brand’s newest �lagship, it sports new and improved features, including a gigantic screen, beautiful build quality, new biometric scanners and Samsung’s most recent attempt at AI, Bixby. Overall, the S8’s premium specs help rank it as the best smartphone as of right now.

After handling the phone, I found the build quality to be top-notch. The phone’s sides are curved because of its edgeto-edge display but doesn’t feel strange during regular use Like previous generations, Samsung’s metal case feels amazing to use, but unlike their past �lagships, the S8 ditches a physical home button and replaces it with virtual, ubiquitous buttons, allowing for its greater screen

10 The Spoke

size. The only problems with Samsung’s build is the placement of the �ingerprint sensor, out of reach when comfortably using the phone with one hand, and the hard-to-press Bixby button.

On the S8, the 5.8” screen is the �irst detail that pops out when handling the phone, which turns into a 6.2” screen with the Galaxy S8+. The bezels on the phone are almost nonexistent.

Because of its edge-to-edge display, Samsung’s “In�inity Display,” the phone feels bigger than it really is when in your hands.

As the �irst and only phone to have an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, watching YouTube or streaming Net�lix wouldn’t let videos �it to the screen completely, but thankfully, Samsung has a solution to expand to �it the screen.

Most remarkably, the screen’s quality is stunning. The default resolution is FHD, which can be upgraded to a max of 2960 x 1440 pixels. Such a high ceiling for resolution makes watching videos or playing games on the phone a pleasure, especially

since the vibrant colors pop because of the screen quality.

Out of the box, the S8 comes running Android Nougat with a snappy Snapdragon 835 processor. Google Assistant, the better Android cousin of Siri, also comes with the phone and helps you with everyday tasks, with the promise of more thirdparty integration. Bixby, on the other hand, is completely useless. When announced, it gave the promise of “contextual learning,” but practically, its application is �lawed. Why use Bixby when you have Google Assistant, anyway? The fact that they devoted an entire button on the phone to Bixby makes it even more painful. Samsung needs to �lesh out Bixby before users consider using it regularly.

Samsung succeeded in creating a new standard of quality with its solid build, visually-stunning screen and improved technical specs in its current �lagship, though everything has its ups and downs. The phones are pricey, but if you can get them, they won’t disappoint.

rundown Pros

Beautiful screen Sharp camera Solid build quality Heart rate monitor Explosion-free

Cons

Bixby needs work Awk fingerprint scanner

Claire Guo/The SPOKE

Specs

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Processor 5.8”/6.2” Screen, up to 2960 x 1440 pixels Price: 64 GB storage, 4 GB RAM $750 (S8), $850 (S8+) Android Nougat

Monday, June 5, 2017

Claire Guo Co-Student Life Editor Why did you �irst decide to become a teacher?

I �irst decided to become a teacher because I had a little job crisis where I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I actually traded options on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, back when the Philadelphia Stock Exchange existed, and I realized that I did not like that job. And I did a lot of soul-searching and decided to become a teacher. That was about 18, 19 years ago.

What made you interested in Academic Support speci�ically?

I wanted to be a social studies teacher in grad school, but I worked in a school that taught emotionally disturbed children. I just really enjoyed working with that population and that led me to special education.

How is being in Academic Support different than another department, like English or Science?

Well, I think you get a chance to better know the students.

And it’s much more reactionary, so I

kind of react to what they need, as opposed to planning and kind of guiding their English or Science course and meeting the curriculum needs.

And since it’s not just one subject, do you need to be well-versed among a variety of subjects?

Yes, so I know a little about a lot of subjects as opposed to a regular ed teacher that knows a lot about their particular subject.

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

Student Life

Teacher Feature: Robert Gay

Academic Support teacher Robert Gay discusses the distinctive aspects of his department as well as what his own three children have taught him.

Teachers don’t often get to see their kids during the school day. What is it like teaching at the same school your children attend?

Well for me, it’s been great, and I think it’s been okay for them. I was worried about how they would feel, and if it would make them feel uncomfortable, but I think they have not minded the experience. What I wasn’t prepared for was all of their friends.

For some reason I thought (my kids) would be coming to school and I would just be seeing them. That was kind of a weird experience for me, seeing not only them, but all of their friends that I’ve known forever. I mean, one of my kid’s friends, I’ve known them since they were in the same playgroup, so I’ve known them since diapers. De�initely there’s a lot of overlap (between being a teacher and a dad).

Did you want any of your kids to go into soccer, since you love playing it so much?

I played soccer and lacrosse in college, and was looking forward to coaching all my children in soccer and lacrosse — and none of them play either soccer or lacrosse. And on purpose. But I’ve actually really enjoyed learning basketball, which I knew nothing about and didn’t like as a sport growing up. And I’ve now come to really appreciate it ’cause I have a daughter and son who

both play. I don’t know anything about basketball, which is why I think my children play.

What would you say your children have taught you?

They have opened up so much to me, just their differences and what they get involved in, and what interests them that I wouldn’t expect.

There’s so much more that’s out there. We all can get in a little closed-of f world, and I

think it’s seeing the world through their eyes it just opens so many n e w things to you.

I believe Elizabeth (Gay’s oldest daughter) is going to college. Can I ask how that feels?

I’m ignoring it. So I’m pretending it’s not going to happen. No, her mom and I are not looking forward to her leaving, but she’s so ready that it’s exciting.

If you could change one thing about Conestoga, what would it be?

If I could change one thing about Conestoga, I would change the pace. I think the pace is too fast, and I think that there is not enough time for re�lection and for students to take a break.

And I think that’s not just a Conestoga issue, I think that’s a curriculum issue throughout all schools.

Favorites Animal: I don’t know. I don’t like pets.

I have two dogs. If it was up to me, we would probably not have any dogs, but because of family, you have to compromise. My wife actually loves dogs, so I think I’m destined to always have a dog.

Book: “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving

Charity: It would have to be Silver Springs Martin Luther School — my wife’s the CEO.

Color of the sky: Early morning sunrise

Musician: Bob Dylan Quote: All Mark Twain quotes Restaurant: White Dog Café

The Spoke 11

Monday, June 5, 2017

Student Life

Jazz student swings into esteemed music school Madison Red Staff Reporter

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

Jazz hands: Junior Matt Clarke rehearses baritone saxophone in the piano lab with junior bassist Dylan Reis. Clarke made it into the All-State Jazz Band sophomore and junior year, and will be attending the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy next year.

12 The Spoke

Playing saxophone made young Matt Clarke want to cry.

His entire fourth grade year he disliked the difficulties of playing classical music on the saxophone.

Near the end of the year however, Clarke realized that he could play music he enjoyed when he performed an arrangement of “Here Comes the Sun” at his elementary school talent show.

Now a junior at Conestoga, Clarke looks toward a future in music. Clarke plays alto and baritone saxophone, clarinet and flute. As a senior next year, he will attend Interlochen, a prestigious music school and camp in Northern Michigan, where he will have the opportunity to be around more musicians and better his saxophone and jazz skills.

Jazz “is a music that needs to be preserved,” Clarke said. “Not many people play it these days.”

Clarke wasn’t always into jazz.

During their fifth and sixth grade years, Clarke and fellow current juniors Dylan Reis, Mike Hoban and Daniel Kibblewhite, formed the band, Fusion. They played pop and rock music in the VFMS lobby and several concerts and cafés in Philadelphia. With the help of their music teacher Craig Gonci, the young band recorded three songs at Gonci’s home studio.

“Just to have a teacher extend a welcome into their own house and own home studio, that’s pretty remarkable,” Clarke said.

A year after the band disbanded in 2013, Clarke joined the Kimmel Center Jazz Program.

Once he auditioned he got into the second best group in the program and began practicing with their band every Saturday.

Wanting to improve, Clarke joined a summer program at Interlochen, the same school he will attend next year.

“Interlochen was where I first developed an appreciation for (jazz)” Clarke said. ”The big reason for that was because of (my mentor) Bill Sears.”

Before going to camp at Interlochen, Clarke didn’t know how to enhance his playing.

Sears, a teacher at Interlochen, showed Clarke how to improve by giving him books and packets explaining difficult musical concepts that before Clarke had trouble grasping.

“I started to hear the music more,” Clarke said. “I understood what each note (meant) in a solo.”

While at Interlochen, Clarke also met professional bassist and jazz instructor, Kelly Sill.

He helped Clarke understand that while altering the written melody is common when playing jazz music, it is not always the best choice.

I learned to “protect the melody, the melody in its essence is the most beautiful thing the song has to offer,” Clarke said.

That summer, Clarke switched from playing the alto to the baritone saxophone. Since few people play baritone saxophone it was easier for Clarke to get into one of Interlochen’s jazz ensembles, the Big Band. Now baritone saxophone is his main instrument.

“I have a way better natural connection with (baritone saxophone). I feel really comfortable playing the instrument,” Clarke said.

Clarke also plays alto saxophone in the Philadelphia Ambassador Big Band. The Band is a student-founded organization dedicated to spreading jazz music. The band has played in Philadelphia at Clark Park, a Coltrane Concert, and at the Chris Jazz Cafe. On June 7 they will be playing in the Franklin Institute Planetarium.

He was also able to meet new musicians as part of the Pennsylvania All-State Jazz Band in sophomore and junior year. The All-State Band, is simply a large group of musicians who audition to be part of a band that practices for two days and then performs a concert.

“You get to play in a good band,” Clarke said. “It’s an honor.”

Clarke is grateful that his parents and grandparents as well as the mentors and friends he’s met in jazz programs encouraged him to pursue saxophone. Through his experiences he’s come to have a greater appreciation for the arts and the humanities over material things. “(Music) has made me an entirely different person,” Clarke said. “I have a better idea of what matters to me.”

Once he graduates from Interlochen next year, Clarke is considering going to a university where he can take academic classes and major in music, like the University of Southern California or the University of Miami. In the future, he would like to earn a doctorate, become a music professor and continue playing saxophone.

“Every time I’m playing really good music, I’m reminded of why I want to (be a musician),” Clarke said.

Monday, June 5, 2017

Advertisement

The Spoke 13

Mid-Atlantic

North-east

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE Madalyn Bleczinski, Olivia Brink, Emily Centofante, Alexander Cost(H), Roxanna Fouladi(H), Michael Gregory(H), Anna Laderman(H), Christina Le Febvre(H), Katelyn Perz, Chris Roberts, Lexi Serafim, Catie Somers, Sydney Stephans, Emma Stevenson(H), Mark Wolgin(H), Sammi Yocum

CONNECTICUT COLLEGE Katie George QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY Shannon Bailey UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Angus Mayock UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD Rachel Huynh(H) WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY Akanksha Kalasabail YALE UNIVERSITY Nina Bernick, Lauren Harris

Connecticut

DELAWARE

MARYLAND

maine

GOUCHER COLLEGE Madison Wester JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY Amadea Smith LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MARYLAND Liz Scott MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART Hui-yi Kuo MCDANIEL COLLEGE Kaeli Lewandowski MOUNT ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY Henry Berg ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE William Tiewater UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY Griffin Hamilton, Carolyn Riggs UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND Bryce Gartner, Austin Han, Neil Jakhete, Natalie Moir, Michael Tomasicchio(H)

BOWDOIN COLLEGE Avery Bashe UNIVERSITY OF MAINE Bryan Edwards, Isaac Morrissey

MASSACHUSETTS

BOSTON COLLEGE Carolyn Asher, Rose Duffy, Elizabeth Sarian, Karen Wang BOSTON UNIVERSITY Jimmy Arvan, Jared Min, Hannah Shearer, Annette To HARVARD UNIVERSITY Jillian Sharples MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN Taylor Geus, Kelley McMullin NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Margaret Huck(H), Austina Lin(H) SMITH COLLEGE Katie Fleischer TUFTS UNIVERSITY Lindsay Erickson, Conor Gourley, Patrick Liu, Matt Moran, Matthew Soderberg, Will Youman UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Juliana Howry UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL Sammi Aufiero(H), Kailyn Woyak

NEW JERSEY

CUMBERLAND COUNTY COLLEGE Luke Turner ROWAN UNIVERSITY Amolak Bhatti, Mike Pacca(H) RUTGERS UNIVERSITY Divya Srinivas SETON HALL UNIVERSITY Ailasha Aggarwal(H) STEVENS INSTITIUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Alex Martorano

NEW HAMPSHIRE

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE Marisa Stancroff, James Yeagley UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE Nick Dello Buono

virginia

NEW YORK

COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY Hope Skelly, Rebecca Susskind JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY Lauren Alexander(H), Scott Lambert, Kathleen Livingston, Kyle Stanton LIBERTY UNIVERSITY Maddi Little OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY Nell Keller REGENT UNIVERSITY Hannah Atchinson ROANOKE COLLEGE Maddison Hutchins UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND Sam Hyson UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA Zack Kathol(H), Meagan O’Rourke(H), Caleigh Sturgeon(H) VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY Chandler Girman, Christian Kelly, Adam Lockett VIRGINIA TECH Grant Ferreri, Emma Koelle, Eric Lindsay, Ambar Nandi, Anthony Ware

BARNARD COLLEGE Caroline Kneeley CLARKSON UNIVERSITY Kim Chi Byrne, Nicholas Lowry, Laryssa Terleckyj COLGATE UNIVERSITY Anna Mack, Mason Miller COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Max Amsterdam, Vikas Chelur, Alison Tatsuoka, Jason Vassiliou(H) CORNELL UNIVERSITY Isadora Fan, Neal Fan, Maggie Lejeune FORDHAM UNIVERSITY Kat Allen, Gabrielle Bertuola, Sam Caneda, Dana Cicchitti, Katie Dowson, Evan Gumas ITHACA COLLEGE Caroline Brophy, Jack Edwards, Sara Oliver MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC Jack D’Emilio MARIST COLLEGE Grace Gillespie NEW YORK UNIVERSITY Antionia Miralles-Snow, Elizabeth Shilling, Chelsea Tang, Ben Tatsuoka PACE UNIVERSITY Evan Tamaki RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Lexi Dechiario ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Nik Delgado, Faith Nee SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS Lily Cronin ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY Sophie Niles(H) SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY Mike O’Connor UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST POINT Brian McKenrick, Jack Roeder VASSAR COLLEGE Elizabeth Gay

Washington, DC

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Colleen Baldwin, Rachel Burger CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA Lea Coogan, Marisa Sirkin GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Michael Beatty, Jeremiah Bertin, Shannon Crowe, Natalie Dahl, Foster Freudberg GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Michael DuTot, Camille Kurtz

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY (CONT.) Ben Eustis(H), Taylor Heron, Clayton Hofstetter, Norman Holloway, Robert Hsu, Amadea Karanxha, Aidan Lake, Alex Lee, Zhayer Legrand, Andrew Luo, TJ Martin, Gianni Mauro, BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Kiara Sprague (H) BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY Taylor Gray, Aidan Krombolz, Charlie Martin, Cissy Ming , Rebecca Mongeluzi, Matt Nirmaier, Matt Paolizzi, Brian Parkes, Elise Perz, Gayatri Rao, Shreyas Ravishanker, John Repke, (H) Courtney Sellig, Tommy Sopko, Addison Wallace, Peter Zuraw Olivia Rueger, Emma Scudder, Lauren Sredenschek, Sarah Tickner, CABRINI COLLEGE David Lockhart, Brittany Yates Thomas Updike, Bridget Witlow, Jessica Xu, Howie Xu, Alana Yamarick, CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Elise Delgado Nick Yelesin, Jameswell Zhang, Kebo Zhang(H), Mary Zhang DELAWARE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE Hunter Gregory, SAINT JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY Sean Curtis, Bridget Lautensack, Jack Sedor(H) Alexander Lewandowski, Ja’Niyah Perkins ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Katie Garbutt, Matt Reither(H) SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY Lilianne Brown DICKINSON COLLEGE Madie French UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Christian Cook SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY Jenna Wertz DREXEL UNIVERSITY Sarah Aboseada, Ryan Byrne, John Damasco, (H) SWARTHMORE COLLEGE Dominic Woodward Axxel David, Kenji Fong, Jillian Kostenbauder, Niaka Porte , CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE Noune Sarkessian TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Emma Aigeldinger, Kenneth Barber, Mary Boyer, Jake Bunting, Austin Puia, Amelia Quazi(H), Darian Shi(H), Madolyn Smith, CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY Maxine Felker Joshua Davis, Gianna DiAddezio, Jake Dunn, Kyra Edwards, Karaiman Feroz, (H) (H) (H) Ayesha Syed , Zach Wetzel , Becca Wilton IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGE Sophia Porras(H) Orestes Frangakis, Anne Frascella, Emma Gibney, Alex Gwynn, Matt Helbig, DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY Lainey Nordone STANFORD UNIVERSITY Vamsi Saladi Kate Hudson, Michael Jankowski, Matt Jensen, Alondra Jimenez, EAST STROUDSBERG UNIVERSITY Alyssa Zawacki UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Emma Jiang, Lizzy Jones (H) Christopher Kennedy, Rudy Kuppusamy , Alec Lanz-Goldstein, EASTERN UNIVERSITY Elena Lee, Claire Thompson UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES Peibo Guo ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE Emma Powell Chole McElgin, Georgia McLoughlin, Presina Mottley, AJ Nadel, UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC David Hong FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE Grace Cancelmo, Massy DiDario, Liam O’Donnell, Sean O’Donnell, Eddie Ricci, Chloe Rountree, UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO Zoey Sayles Janashree Jonnalagadda, Kade LaMarre UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Sophie Grove(H), Riley Sarmento, Will Scott, Nicki Sepahi, Amulya Surakanti(H), GETTYSBURG COLLEGE Ryan Nadel Jahnavi Kishore(H), TJ Wee Natalie Willis, Wyatt Willner, Lewis Winnemore, Sarah Woods HAVERFORD COLLEGE Will Klein, Frank Wang, Kian Williams UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Tommy Auslander, Sam Borislow, KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY Ronan Carter, Varek Finn, Melissa Cui, Elizabeth Ingersoll, Kelly Jiang COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES Christian Godfrey Aaron Markovitz, Michael Robie UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Leah Bernstein(H), Daphne Conroy, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY Riley Bellwoar, LA SALLE UNIVERSITY Anna Green, Christine Manning (H) Ashlynn Donadio , Andy Fabian, Hunter Frable, Aidan Hough, Sam Caplan, Oliver Chapman LAFAYETTE COLLEGE Jordan Gusdorff(H) Mike Jiang(H), Amy Liu, Madison Rogalski, Chris Turocy(H), Steve Turocy, UNIVERISTY OF COLORADO BOULDER Nate Hottenstein, LEHIGH UNIVERSITY Rohan Ekambaram, Maggie Goldberg, (H) (H) Eric Wei , Richard Xu , Eric Xu Katie Rycyzyn, Sebastian Urrunaga Isabel Hagar, Sarah Mascioli, Blaise Milanek, Thomas Murphy UNIVERSITY OF THE SCIENCES Yunzhou Chen UNIVERSITY OF DENVER Sumner Shelly MESSIAH COLLEGE Katherine Riggs VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY Jake Schanne, Joshua Shim, Jenny Sun, Sara Zomorrodian MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY Dylan Bendit WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY Adam Arena, Maddi Bertin, Kristen Buck, Lauren Burns, NEUMANN UNIVERSITY Carolyn Wilf BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY–IDAHO Hayley Small Jake Casterline, Shawn Frankenfield, Dante Gathers, Alyssa Gradisek, PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY Venkata Aakarapu, Anna Helminska, Emily Hiscock, Morgan Littlewood, Katie Sedlak, Jackie Sherry, Adham Al-Bataineh, Matt Balch, Mary Kate Boccella, Michaela Staub, Rebecca Tolle, Michael Van Meter, Kelsy Xiong BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY McCall Rogers Breanne Canedo, Kenya Carpenter, David Chen, WIDENER UNIVERSITY Alyson Borska, Vail Finn Jonathan Compton, Jack Dautrich, Jack Davis, Abby Deeter, WILKES UNIVERSITY Kai Czubryt-Ogino, Joey Fleshman Kirsten Dirks, Dovile Drozdovaite(H), Hariharan Elavarasan DYLAN REIN Denmark; University of Florida—2018 YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA Eric Hutchinson JUAN VILLEGAS Point Blank Music School (California)

rhode island

BROWN UNIVERSITY Bill Ma PROVIDENCE COLLEGE Katelyn Hino RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN Jack Kelly ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY Bharathi Kolluru

PENNSYLVANIA

West Arizona

California

Colorado

Idaho utah

OTHER 45 abstain

abroad

ZOE BOSSAN McGill University (Canada) CELINE HUANG New York University Shanghai (China) JOHNATHAN LIU New York University Shanghai (China) CHARLIE MCCARTHY(H) University of College Cork (Ireland) JANIKA POLLINGER Berufsfachschule Oberwallis (Switzerland) RACHEL WINFIELD(H) University of Edinburgh (Scotland)

employment EMMY ANDREWS ALEXA WARD

gap year

SARAH KORBEL Ithaca College—2018 CONOR MULLHOLAND Pennsylvania

technical school

MIA GARITO Technical College High School (Pennsylvania) JORDAN RICHARDSON Technical College High School (Pennsylvania)

Undecided

LISA BEUKES Michigan CHARLES BRAKE San Francisco, California

South ALABAMA

vermont

CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE Henry Geiger UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT Lexi Colantuno, Hunter Jensen

AUBURN UNIVERSITY Jessie Bennett, Teddy Pastva, Colin Rossi, Aubrey Taicher UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA Sara Gieske, Lindsay Kraus, Eric Muchorski(H)

FLORIDA

EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY Turner Kaufmann(H) FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Noah Haag RINGLING COLLEGE OF ARTS AND DESIGN Julia Fogarty, Emily Fromhage UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI Laura Alcorn, Mario Cardenuto, Clayton Johnson

GEORGIA

GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Michael Fan, Alex Kay, Jason Tu SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN Emily Wilson UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA Jordan Bennett, Harold Craig

Louisiana

TULANE UNIVERSITY Madeleine Weiss(H), Erin Willgruber

NORTH CAROLINA

DAVIDSON COLLEGE Will Soutendijk DUKE UNIVERSITY Charlotte Tellefsen ELON UNIVERSITY Rebecca Murray, Kathryn Roessler(H) UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, CHAPEL HILL Scottie Growney, RJ King UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, WILMINGTON Matt Cara, Rosie Neff WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY Allison Hagar

south CAROLINA

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY Emily Luce COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY Natasha Hammond COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON Kristen Casey, Scott Shapiro, Robbie Torpey(H) UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Julianne Connors, Jack Genovese, Kevin Hagan(H), Will Marshall(H), Julius Neubig(H), Julia Norris, Wesley Reindel(H), Collin Speicher, Lauren Studnick, Corey Visalli

TENNESSEE

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY Daden Goldfinger, Jon Xu

Texas

RICE UNIVERSITY Cahlin Pragada UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS Tanner Chastain

Spread designed and compiled by Adam Lockett.

Midwest ILLINOIS

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY Rhian Lowndes(H), Christina Myers NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Orion Forowycz(H)

INDIANA

INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON Sophie Schwartz

MICHIGAN

CALVIN COLLEGE Jack Elken MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY Meredith Ross UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Selena Yue

MInnesota

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TWIN CITIES Andrew Freitag

MIssouri

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI Jack Lee WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS Declan Kahley, Nathan Shreve

OHIO

CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY Nicky Stamatas DENISON UNIVERSITY Sara Flatt MIAMI UNIVERSITY OF OHIO Stephanie Hamilton(H), Torsten Overbeck OHIO UNIVERSITY Evan Walker THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY Gabe Harms

statistics

STUDENTS: 498

STATES: 31 + D.C.

COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: 169

IN-STATE: 44%

COUNTRIES: 7

OUT-OF-STATE: 56%

(H)―denotes student will participate in an honors program or college. regrets that some students did not respond to our requests for their senior destinations.

Monday, June 5, 2017

OPINION

Enjoy your summer

From the beginning of our high school careers, we are told that the last thing college admissions of�icers want to hear is that you spent your summer on the beach. We are encouraged to seek out jobs, internships and volunteer positions to beef up our resumes and to show colleges that we NEVER. STOP. WORKING. No, we’re not disregarding the importance of staying engaged and active over the summer. With three long empty months of sunshine, volunteering at a local hospital or working part-time at a nearby frozen yogurt shop can help �ill the idle hours.

We’re all about applying yourself to your passions — only do something you love. If you’re the type of person who loves community service, by all means go build houses in Guatemala. If the medical �ield has always seemed like your destiny, go ahead, intern at that medical research facility. If you want to spend your summer improving your photography portfolio, do it. If you want to run ten 5k’s to improve your chances at getting a scholarship, go for it. If you want to start saving up money, go get that dream summer job of yours.

The problem, however, lies within the Conestoga culture of �illing up the hours of the summer for the sole purpose of

impressing college admissions of�icers. We spend the better part of 10 months scraping together content for college resumes. From studying late into the night to keeping grades up, to training hard every day for �ive hours for a sports team, to presiding over three separate clubs, the days at Conestoga can start to feel like a daily sitcom of “Where will YOU go to college?”

And you know what? At some point, enough is enough.

Don’t let the college admissions process take over all 12 months of each and every one of your precious years at Conestoga. From SAT prep camps to high-pro�ile internships, the admissions process is slowly but surely chipping away at students’ childhoods, robbing them of the opportunity to just enjoy summer for its beautifully free hours.

Hey, we get it. College is certainly important — but so is enjoying life! Don’t model your life after your work; model your work around your life. Though it is important to keep your future in mind, you should not sacrifice opportunities to enjoy life and be young while you are still young. College is on everyone’s radar, but we’re never going to enjoy the present if we’re always worried about the future.

And those programs you didn’t apply for? There’s no point in feeling guilt or regret — in this day and age, the summer opportunities are endless. A simple Google search can churn out thousands of exciting new jobs and opportunities. If you really look closely, you can �ind nearly anything. And if you still can’t �ind an opportunity, don’t worry — sometimes, it’s just better to relax.

There’s nothing wrong with trying to create a well-rounded portfolio. So long as it doesn’t come at the expense of the bliss of summer, resume building can open you up to a plethora of valuable experiences. But every now and then, consider taking a break. As students, we are incredibly dedicated during the year and we will not be able to continue our education if we do not get a break. Our school year consists of constant sleep deprivation to keep up with our assignments, and summer is our time to recharge. Even computers have to sleep once in awhile or they start to malfunction.

So this summer, we’re inviting you to the beach. Pull up your chair and umbrella, grab that �loppy hat and put on the largest, most ridiculous sunglasses within reach. Because this summer, we’re going to do things the right way. This summer, let yourself relax — college will wait.

From the editor: Bring classic back.

Betty Ben Dor Co-Editor-in-Chief I have a question for you.

It’s a very serious question, and I’ve been pondering over it for quite some time now.

What happened to classical music?

You must be thinking to yourself: “Well, nothing happened to it, silly!” But come on, you and I both know the real answers.

Why isn’t classical music cool anymore? Since when did knowing how to differentiate between a Mozart symphony and a Beethoven symphony become weird or nerdy? Why is it no longer considered hip to be able to recognize the Overture to Rossini’s “Barber of Seville” from just the �irst couple of measures?

As a �lute player, I’ve been condemned to a rather peculiar fate, not being entitled to the appearance of being “cool” like a guitarist or even a jazz saxophonist. No, more often than not, the boring old �lute can only ever play in orchestras or bands. And as a member of many such orchestras, I’ve been forced to realize this: part of the reason that orchestras worldwide are struggling to keep

their heads above the water is because classical music simply doesn’t have the allure that listening to pop music does.

Just imagine the audience sizes at a Taylor Swift concert compared to a Philadelphia Orchestra concert.

I’m just curious as to when this shift in music taste happened.

Was it the 1920s when jazz became more widely popular? Earlier? Later? When did we ditch our wigged out old friends for crooning pop stars in glittery out�its and tattooed rock bands?

I realize that this has to do in part with people trying to keep up with what’s trendy in the here and now. It’s kind of hard to get all excited over the Rimsky-Korsakov “Scheherazade” when Kendrick Lamar’s album is blowing up internationally.

And sure, I recognize that this is all part of a series of historical trends. Maybe someday, people will look at you funny for listening to songs such as Despacito.

But as for now, people will much more likely get excited over Harry Styles’ new album then over a Rachmaninoff concerto. It’s just the nature of time: one artist is new and exciting, touring the world, and the other’s been six feet under for over 70 years.

But if you try out some classical music, you may be pleasantly surprised. I can fall asleep to a 45 minute symphony just as well as the next guy, but you’ll also be able to �ind me jamming out to Stravinsky’s “Firebird” suite or Orff’s “Carmina Burana”.

So let’s bring back classical.

Kaitlyn Chen/The SPOKE

16 The Spoke

Jennifer Lee for The SPOKE

Monday, June 5, 2017

Disconnected generations: how memes divide us

Elizabeth Billman Co-Managing Web Editor

I shook with laughter at the dinner table as I scrolled through memes on twitter. I looked up from an image of Arthur in his yellow shirt to see my dad giving me a funny look. He asked, “What are you looking at?” and I don’t know how to respond. I’ve had this conversation with him so many times my brain hurts.

He just will never understand memes and their culture.

But that’s just my dad. It’s not his fault he was born in a generation without the internet. The culture of social media and the internet can’t be explained. It has to be experienced. And frankly, we’ve been experiencing the depths of this internet culture far longer than past generations.

It is a culture as unique as the hippie culture of the ‘70s or the rock and roll culture of the ‘60s.

You have to have been immersed in the culture to understand its nuances. I can only infer what adults feel when they see Salt Bae on Twitter or Grumpy Cat on Tumblr.

When I talk to adults about social media and the internet, it’s like I’m reenacting the Esurance commercial about the old ladies that circulated a few months ago.

I personally relate to the old lady who yells at her friends when they discuss posting to their “walls” when they are actually taping photos to their kitchen walls.

It’s gotten to the point where I’ve actually said the words “That’s not how it works. That’s not how any of this works!” like the old lady does when one of the others verbally unfriends her.

Not all adults are ignorant of internet culture. Everyone has adapted to the technological age with smartphones and computers. But as adults catch up in technology, internet humor is where this understanding stops.

The main generation with this lack of knowledge are the Baby Boomers, born between the ‘40s and the ‘60s. They grew up in a time of dramatic social change, but with limited technologies compared to today. Those who are �luent in internet culture are the Millennials and Generation Z, who’ve never before experienced a world without cellphones and the internet.

It’s hard for each group to understand the concept of each other’s lifestyles. We need to stop pointing out our differences and bring ourselves closer together by �inding our similarities. Both generations want to be respected and their opinions heard, make a difference and see themselves as rebels and reject the stereotypes given to them.

Let’s teach each other and bring the gap of knowledge closer together.

Although older folks do not understand internet memes, we—the Millennials and Generation Z people—just have to teach them. Next time your parents or grandparents ask you about the internet or why you have been laughing hysterically at your phone for the past 15 minutes, stop and explain to them what you are experiencing instead of just brushing it off. Get a conversation going and you might �ind that you are more similar than you realized.

Opinion

Politics in media: When is enough enough?

Kaitlyn Chen/The SPOKE

Audrey Kim Opinion Editor It’s hard to say when our environment became as highly politicized as now, with every television screen visited by a discussion on government. Did it start in January, when the president was of�icially sworn in?

During the previous two years of campaign runs and presidential elections? Or did it begin much earlier, from the creation of partisan politics?

This highly politicized environment formed the foundation of high and rising tensions between the American people of the major two political parties.

More importantly, it has created an atmosphere in which both sides are often unwilling to view the other side of the argument.

It’s this danger of one-sided opinions that leads to a larger and more dangerous issue within society. Both parties’ rush to defend their respective values have led to almost blind faith in the policies they criticize or support, no longer discussing what they are rather than whom they stand

for. Issues such as healthcare and environmental reform will affect millions of lives across the nation once implemented, and yet it is constantly framed within a political context in conversation and in media.

We need to see policies and bills as what they are to our own beliefs, rather than the parties they represent. More importantly, we need to stop framing everything within a political context.

As minors, the role we are able to play in politics is minimal.

Although our inability to vote inhibits us, this inability will not last forever, and as high schoolers, one of the important �irst steps we can take in discussing issues is to remove the narrow-minded �ilter of what political party we are part of.

The news media cycles through hundreds of stories a day, and yet discussions on whether Meryl Streep is a good actress or the ambiguity of the meaning “covfefe” are the focus of mainstream media channels for hours on end. But as we focus our attention on such matters, it distracts us from equally important issues. Where was the story on possible talks with

Chinese President Xi Jinping, when in February the president mentioned the repairing of relations between the two nations?

White House advisor Kellyanne Conway had just recently endorsed Ivanka Trump’s brand on national television, and news organizations decided to pull their focus to that instead.

What we also lose while focusing our attentions on the power plays of Congress and the presidency are global and domestic issues unrelated to politics. In May, Human Rights Watch organization reported the rounding up of over 100 homosexual men in Chechnya, Russia into state-mandated concentration camps through anti-gay purges. However, the story barely made a peep in major American news organizations.

We need to view issues as what they are without political bias in the current climate. The government shutdown of 2013 occurred largely due to both sides’ refusal to budge on their beliefs. As high schoolers, we can be the �irst generation to mend the gap, and more importantly, push towards a better future.

Q: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF POLITICS IN MEDIA? “I think that there’s a little too much (politics) in media, such as in CNN, where they focus more of politics than other news.”

- Mihir Dhamankar “While I think that people should know what is going on within their government, I would like to see a larger focus on global and domestic issues rather than scandals and tweets.”

- Emme Rysycin

“I think it’s appropriate given the attitudes of people surrounding the new administration. But it’s unfair how biased the media is because it creates more of a division within the people.”

- Hadley Webster

Kaitlyn Chen/The SPOKE

“There needs to be more diversity in coverage. There’s also a fair amount of sensationalism which plagues the credibility of the media, hence why the term ‘fake news’ is so popular now.”

- Mike Malarkey

The Spoke 17

Monday, June 5, 2017

Opinion

Voices unrepresented in the 2017 election

Jahnavi Rao Columnist

After the 2016 election, I was distraught. As a 16-year-old, my opinions were silenced due to my inability to vote. The results of the election did not represent me. In fact, they reflected the polar opposite, and the backlash from my peers showed me that many of us felt the same.

After the 2016 election, I felt powerless. The policies currently being decided and deliberated on will affect our generation more directly than any other. The repercussions of ravaging the environment threatens our natural resources, the cleanliness of our air and even the ability for our children to go outside in the future. The odor of oppression

slowly permeating society has the potential to develop into situations similar to the dystopian novels we read as preteens. The current attempts to suppress free speech and press threaten to make present day the time that future generations will point back at to mark the beginning of government limitation of natural rights.

After the 2016 election, I felt helpless.

I watched as the president appointed cabinet members whose sole qualification seemed to be an intent to pervert the departments they lead, and I knew that I could not stay idle as my future was stolen from me.

I may not have been able to vote in 2016, but I still have a voice, and I will use it.

I formed 2018 New Voters partly in desperation and partly in the hope that something good could arise.

The organization’s goal is for those unable to vote in 2016 to come together as a voting block in 2018, when our voices will be heard in voting for our members of Congress. Until 2018, we will work to ensure our current

representatives understand our concerns, and know that we will not support those who do not champion our issues. As a group, we have agreed to hold our members of Congress accountable for the causes critical to us: protecting the planet, equality for all and upholding the American ideals.

In the last few months, we have hosted a voting drive at our school for the 2017 municipal elections, contacted several prominent people in government and politics and amassed a large following.

No longer are we unable to secure representation, and no longer are we condemned to silence.

While I am eager to share this organization with as many as I can, that is not what this article is about.

My point is that none of us are helpless. Even though the law may deny you a voice at the ballot box today, you can still speak up. And if you care enough, there will always be people willing to help and there will always be a way you can attempt to make a difference. Even if at first you do not succeed,

not and cannot forgo gravity for humor.

There are advantages to this popular brand of infotainment. Videos from talk shows like “The Late Show with

like NBC. Clearly, late night talk show hosts are giving wider coverage to important world affairs and decisions made in the White House.

The irreverence of hosts

Kaitlyn Chen/The SPOKE

your efforts will not go unnoticed, and small ripples will eventually transform into thundering waves. And at the end of it all, you can say with pride that you did not stand idly by as what you believe in was attacked.

I found my voice in politics where, by the laws of the Constitution and the demographic of the government, I

should have had none. Similarly, anyone can discover an avenue of opportunity, a point of light, where there was only darkness before.

And to my peers without a vote today, I leave you with this final thought: Members of Congress, in 2018 there will be 7 million new voters.

We will vote.

And we will be watching.

proven guilty” principle. But comedians frame political jargon into easily understood terms of how ludicrous and damaging an incident is when it would otherwise be removed from our own separate realities.

But humor is a double-edged sword when meshing politics and talk show hosts. Humor draws in the audience, presenting an easy and entertaining way to learn who’s who in the White House and the implications of policies such as the Republican health care bill. But that constant presence of humor also lulls viewers into a false sense of security. Laughing the news off shouldn’t take away from its gravity or from the need to act on that news.

Talk show hosts control an untapped power with their popularity and following.

And the way I see it, with great power comes great responsibility.

When Meyers rails against Republicans and blames

them for inactivity in Congress, he’s also letting his Democrat viewers off the hook. Sure, the audience can collectively boo at the right wing, but what does that do?

They’re not watching “Late Night,” they’re not watching “The Late Show.” All that that booing accomplishes is a sort of self-satisfied, “it’s you, not me” atmosphere that exonerates liberals from their civic duties.

Hosts like Colbert, Meyers and Trevor Noah should use their (albeit liberal) armies to confront our politicians.

We live in a republic, and it’s our representatives who are the ones making decisions in Congress, whether proposing bills or filibustering them. If Colbert asked his audience to email their state senator or local representative, not all several million viewers would hop on Gmail and tap something out. But some would.

With his kind of whopping viewership, that “some” is a lot.

Shake audiences well and apply army liberally

Claire Guo Co-Student Life Editor

Browse through the top trending videos on YouTube right now, and I guarantee that talk show hosts are in the top ten. And chances are, they’re talking about politics.

The idea of entertainment satirically dissecting news can be traced to “Saturday Night Live,” from Jon Stewart to scattered television shows in the ’60s. But in the last two years, the presidential race and now Trump’s presidency have propelled talk show hosts to new heights as irreverent news anchors.

Considering their newfound influence, these hosts should

18 The Spoke

Kaitlyn Chen/The SPOKE

Stephen Colbert” can boast a million-plus views the day they’re posted on Youtube.

Politics have likely never before seen this kind of exposure to viewers that prefer amusement over the solemn earnestness of news channels

like Colbert and Seth Meyers is also exactly what makes them the right people to call foul on the White House. A highbrow network like the BBC or even the CNN has to approach every story in earnest — an “innocent until

Monday, June 5, 2017

When illusion battles reality in high school

Audrey Kim Opinion Editor

We’ve all heard it: “High school will be the best years of your life!” and “When you look back on your youth, this’ll be what you remember.”

But is it really? Based on statistics provided by the National Center of Health Statistics, suicide and mental illness have risen steadily among teenagers. And it’s easy to see why: in an environment where sleep deprivation, stress and anxiety run rampant, high school students no longer have the option of lying back and relaxing.

Any outsider can see Conestoga as a school with ambitious students and high stats. However, this merely disguises the cost for that number one ranking on Niche.

Taking multiple AP classes per year have become the norm here, as we simultaneously juggle sports, extracurriculars and other family responsibilities to both compete and empathize with our peers.

But what we miss while scheduling these obligations is shelving time for ourselves as well. High school is a period of adolescence where we develop our voices and the values we believe in. Yet as our focus begins to transition

from finding ourselves to grades and pure results, we lose these opportunities to explore and develop our own interests outside of school.

We’ve forgotten to let ourselves make mistakes, and more importantly, have fun.

It would be a lie to say that one of the major reasons for this constant activity isn’t college, the promised land where, reportedly, only then can we discover our own passions and relax for good.

But when has a period of our lives become more important than adolescence? It’s now more than ever that we start broadening our horizons, uninhibited by the concerns and consequences of adult responsibilities. However, it’s these moments that we miss

while being consumed by academics and the competitive nature of peers around us.

And the misconception that high school is indeed “the best years” of our youth leads to a worse thought – is this really the peak? Waking up at six o’clock, going to school, and coming home to eat and finish our outside responsibilities and homework until late at night, and then repeat the entire cycle over again? After all, the oft-repeated phrase assumes that this is, above everything else, what we’ll remember of our adolescence.

As residents of Main Line, suburban Pennsylvania, Conestoga students are well aware of the privileges we’ve been given. The many oneof-a-kind opportunities that

our school gives us are rare and unlikely to be found elsewhere in the nation. But we need to stop taking ourselves and, in extension, high school as seriously as we do. No grade number defines us nor our life trajectory. Neither can a college acceptance letter, or any other result delivered on a slip of paper.

And there is, indeed, a life to be found in high school.

Amid the high-pressure atmosphere, where everyone seems to be accomplishing and winning something in their lives, we need to remember to put ourselves first and foremost.

High school is not the end of a road, it’s the start of one. And at no cost should we forget our own health and wellbeing for that.

Opinion

Report Card Melongate + Funny. Ish.

- Custodians have to clean it all up.

Senior Internships + More room for the rest of us

- We miss them? (Maybe?)

Junior Prom

+ Shirley Temples

- 20 minutes in and there’s vaping happening

Late Night Stoga

+ An endless night of fun with friends - Stuck at school until midnight

Health* Fair

Kaitlyn Chen/The SPOKE

+ Time outside!

- *Unity Fair? Union Fair?

Community Fair?

Fidget Spinners

+ That feeling of satisfaction you get when it works - Boring after �ive minutes

NHL Playoffs + NHL’s popularity rising in the South Kaitlyn Chen/The SPOKE

- N-O’ Canada

The Spoke 19

Monday, June 5, 2017

SPORTS

Commitments Per Sport

Story by Avery Maslowsky Sports Editor Design by Marko Djurdjevic The following graphics show the Conestoga Class of 2017 commitments to college for athletics.

2

1 1

Commitments Per Season

Fall Winter

1

4

Spring 0

5

10

15

20

- Girls Lacrosse - Boys Lacrosse - Boys Soccer - Crew - Baseball - Field Hockey - Swimmer - Track and Field

8

The ‘Stoga boys’ tennis team triumphed through their 2017 season with a new coach. The team ended their regular season with a record of 10-1-0 and made it all the way into the Quarterfinals of the State Championships. The final season, after playoffs, left the Pioneers with a final record of 10-3-0. Throughout the entire season, the team thrived under the leadership of its seniors. Cahlin Pragada, senior captain, brought the team together even in the final days. The boys’ tennis team is looking forward to its 2018 season, despite the loss of a strong senior front, and is ready to make it into the finals of the State Championship

Avery Maslowsky/The SPOKE

Cradling the win: Junior Ceara Sweeney cradles the ball into the circle in the game against Strath Haven on April 18.

20 The Spoke

1

2

The Conestoga girl’s lacrosse team is on their way to the State Championship once again. After a successful regular season, with a 13-1-0 record, the Pioneers have been determined to keep their spot in the playoff rounds. After two weeks of playing in the District 1 Playoffs, the girls were named District 1 Champions for the first time in 11 years. They won a tough match against Springfield with a final score of 12-8 for the title on May 25. The girls as well won the first round of the PIAA State Championship Playoffs up against West Chester Rustin on May 30 with a score of 15-6-0.

The girls are ready for the next round of playoffs on June 3.

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

Serving it up: Freshman Sam Weintraub serves the ball at practice in preparation for the playoff rounds.

Sports

Monday, June 5, 2017

Brother/sister duo goes the distance

Elizabeth Billman Co-Managing Web Editor

Junior Dominique Shultz pulls ahead, crossing the finish line. Alone. She pauses to catch her breath, glancing up at the timer. A smile spreads across her face as she realizes she’s just won.

For track stars Dominique, and her younger brother, freshman Carlos Shultz, running is a family affair.

Their parents, Mary and Carlos Shultz, both ran cross-country and track and field in their high school and college years. Mary was a D2 All-American runner at Millersville University and Carlos ran varsity at the University of Pennsylvania.

Annamarie, Dominique and Carlos’ older sister, ran track at Conestoga and is currently running at Shippensburg University.

“We are very proud that all three of our children enjoy running, it’s a great life-long sport,” Carlos Sr. said.

This is Carlos’ first year ever running track. His current mile time: 4:33. His two mile time: 9:37. According to the National Physical Fitness Award data, the 50th percentile mile time for boys aged 15 is 7:30. Likewise, Dominique also started out running in her freshman year here. This winter, she qualified for the 2017 Indoor New Balance Nationals and placed 18th out of the 5,000 participants. She was also named Main Line Athlete of the Week in January.

Carlos runs the one and two mile while Dominique competes in the one and two mile, 800m, 5000m, 5k and 3200.

Carlos runs about 25 miles each week while Dominique runs 30 to 35 miles.

When practicing with the

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

Striving Forward: Junior Dominique Shultz takes a lap around the track. She is looking to the future for track in college and has been in contact with the coach at West Point.

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

Running together: Junior Dominique Shultz tz run on Conestoga’s track and cross-country Conestoga track team, they train with assistant coach Joe Puleo. He said that even though they are both fantastic runners, their styles are very different.

“Carlos has more natural speed and Dominique is like a metronome with an even pace,” Puleo said.

Carlos’ motivation is intrinsic, as he said that once he started running, he found it easy to just continue. Dominique described her motivation to keep running as being all about the goals she sets.

“I think (running) is more of a commitment to the future, experiences I want to be able to accomplish,” Dominique said. “That’s why I train harder now, so I can accomplish things in the future.”

Looking forward, Dominique has been considering attending the United States Military Academy. She has been in contact with the school since the fall season and plans to participate in a leadership experience there this summer.

At the District PIAA meet held on May 20, Dominique received a time of 11:12.16, qualifying her for the state meet. She attended the PIAA Track and Field State Championships at Shippensburg University on May 27, placing 10th. Carlos is not continuing into districts this season but will return for cross-country next year.

and teams

freshman as well

Carlos Shulas individually.

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

Starting strong: Freshman Carlos Shultz is in his first year of running on Conestoga’s track and cross-country team.

The Spoke 21

Sports

Avery Maslowsky Sports Editor After 12 years of Friday night football games, playoff seasons, Homecoming courts and soon to be graduation, Teamer Field will be under renovation this upcoming summer.

The renovations officially began on May 17. Spring renovations included the repainting of the football crossbars and the addition of a smaller scoreboard on the south end of Teamer field.

Current Athletic Director Kevin Pechin commented on the usefulness of having a smaller board on the southern end of the field and the soon to be easier play as a result of it even despite last year’s addition of a new, electronic scoreboard.

“It’s an enhancement that we will have that when (an athlete) is playing a game. It’s nice to look up and just see what time it is in the game rather than just having (a scoreboard) on the (north) side,” Pechin said. “The athletes and the fans get to see what’s going on at all times.”

But the most anticipated renovation of Teamer Field is the replacement of the artficial turf.

“Getting new turf is exciting.

Everyone’s excited to see what it looks like and the design of it,” Pechin said.

Leveling the playing field

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

Monday, June 5, 2017

Betty Ben Dor/The SPOKE

The “Big C”: The crossbars and painted “C” are staple items of the iconic field. The two items have lasted 12 years with consistent paint jobs.

According to the Synthetic Turf Council, multi-use sports turf can have a life expectancy of around ten years with hard use. Pechin said that, with intense care and treatments, the Teamer turf has lasted Conestoga for nearly 12 years.

“We baby our field. Since we took such good care of it, we got a little bit longer (out of the field) but it was time to be replaced,” Pechin said.

The 2017 turf replacement does not have a finalized price or set replacement time frame due to the unknown condition of the drainage system or the E-layer beneath the current turf.

The synthetic turf system contains three layers. At the bottom of the field is the drainage system, consisting of a mixture of stone and pipes. The layer above that is an E-layer or elastic layer pad. This is

designed to serve as shock attenuation and is made out of rubber granulate and polyurethane binder. The E-layer is the most permanent base available for long lasting multi-surface turf on the market. Finally, a layer of turf fiber is spread out across the base of the field covering the drainage and E-layer.

But while the turf fiber is the only visible part of the entire

synthetic turf system, it is not the most viable. Without the proper drainage system and shock layer, the turf would not be able to drain water correctly or hold the weight of an entire sports team.

Therefore, in the 2017 renovations, if the drainage system or E-layer are damaged beyond further use, the replacement

Continued on Page 23

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

12 years strong: The varsity boys’ lacrosse team plays on Teamer Field. The turf has been used for every lacrosse season the past 12 years.

22 The Spoke

Monday, June 5, 2017

Leveling the playing field

Continued from Page 22 of the synthetic turf system will cost more money and will make the entire renovation last longer.

“If the E-layer is in good condition, the replacement of the turf is going to be pretty easy, but you never know,” Pechin said. “It’s like pulling up a rug in your house.”

Previously, Teamer underwent renovations in 2005. The project was estimated to be a $5 million project, modernizing Conestoga’s main sporting facility. The renovation included upgraded bathrooms, seating, lighting and speakers.

New team rooms, handicap seating and the installation of a multi-use turf were added as well. Traffic and parking in the lower lot of Conestoga was improved with easier access by sidewalks and widened roads.

Under

the

lights:

The

Sports

According to previous Conestoga Athletic Director John Mull from an interview conducted by The Spoke in 2004, the renovation was spurred by signs of frequent use on the grass field, and similar updating of Tredyffrin/ Easttown School District facilities.

“This project will bring Teamer field up to par with other athletic fields in the district,” Mull said in 2004.

Pechin said, similar to Mull in 2004, that both projects are similar in their goals to modernize facilities and keep Teamer Field as updated as possible. The renovation project of 2017 expects to cover a smaller range of changes compared to that of 2005, but is expected to make a big impact on the athletes’ performances and the overall environment of Teamer Field.

Conestoga

1988

varsity

field

hockey

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

Soaring high: The new scoreboard on the South side of Teamer stands tall after being installed on May 17.

“As the Athletic Director, I want Conestoga varsity soccer the turf throughout the soccer the best facilities we can possibly player and junior Rachel DiRico season and the excitement her have,” Pechin said. acknowledges the usefulness of and the rest of the girls’ soccer team have to see the new changes for the 2017 season.

“The best part (of having turf) is definitely the passing and (the ability to) make plays quicker and more accurately,” DiRico said. “We can practice passing without the ball bouncing everywhere.”

But whether the change will be more prevalent in the athletes’ eyes or those of the fans is unknown. The only thing known is that after 12 years of use, ConesAvery Maslowsky/The SPOKE toga will have to say goodbye to its team practcies in preparation for playoffs on Sept. 9. first ever turf field on June 7.

Teamer timeline

2017

In the 20th century, Teamer Field was lined with grass. In the renovations of 2005, the overused grass field with metal bleachers was transformed into a stadium.

It consisted of concession stands, bathrooms, locker rooms and a multi-surface turf field. The artificial field has been in use for 12 years by the 'Stoga football, field hockey, soccer and lacrosse teams. The turf is scheduled to be replaced in the summer of 2017. The picture on the left was taken in 1988 of the boys lacrosse team. The pciture on the right is of current senior captain of the girls lacrosse team, Scottie Rose Growney. Both pictures were taken on Teamer Field, one on the grass and one on the turf scheduled to be replaced this summer.

York Yang/The SPOKE

Avery Maslowsky/The SPOKE

The Spoke 23

Monday, June 5, 2017

Sports

Warren Zhao Staff Reporter

‘Stoga sophomores rise to the top

It is 2:20 on a Tuesday afternoon. For many students, the school day is over, time for them to go home. For sophomore Malcolm Roeder however, the bell means it’s time to drive an hour to a rink on the outskirts of Trenton, N.J. It’s practice time.

“I chose to play for the Mercer Chiefs U16 national team because I really wanted to get noticed and really compete to win, so (what team I play for) mattered more,” Roeder said. “I feel like playing over there, I’ve gotten a lot more looks (from recruiters) and I feel like it’s helped me through all (aspects of) hockey.”

However, playing at such a competitive level takes a toll.

Students must balance the strain of practice with the rigor of Conestoga’s academic curriculum. Sophomore Brendan Burns, who swims for the Upper Main Line YMCA’s (UMLY) national team, attends two-hour long practices six days a week.

“Time management is really the name of the game,” Burns

said.“You have to be on top of things, like getting your homework done in free periods and all that.”

Since he does not have much time to interact with his school friends outside of school, Burns sees the time spent with his teammates as a major part of his social life. For him, the only real chance to hang out with his school friends is over the summer.

Practice does not only last the duration of the school year for these athletes. Training continues over the summer and during other breaks off from school. Over the summer, Roeder attended a mini-camp, where practice at the rink was from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The end goal of all the training these athletes do is to play in competitions. The furthest Roeder has ever traveled for a hockey tournament is Connecticut. Burns has traveled to places such as Indianapolis and Atlanta for swim meets. Sophomore Charlotte De Vries, who is a �ield hockey player on both the WC Eagles club team and the USA U17 Junior National team, has had success playing

Courtesy Malcolm Roeder

Ready to defend: Sophomore Malcom Roeder is the goalie on the Mercer Chiefs U16 national team which practices in Trenton, N.J.. This past season Roeder had a save record of 90%.

24 The Spoke

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

Leading the team: Sophomore Charlotte De Vries takes control of the ball during the game against Spring�ield on Sept. 8. De Vries and her travel team, the WC Eagles, competed against the Chinese national team during a team trip in the summer of 2016. on �ields in places as far away I school. Nothing is guaranteed competitive environment, with as China and Ireland. in swimming, so I don’t know more skilled teammates.

During her trip to China with if that’ll actually happen, but “I think it’s cool that (the the WC Eagles, De Vries’ team that’s de�initely the short-term sophomore class) has a lot took win after win against other goal. A long-term goal would be of talented athletes. It’s deficlubs until they �inally lost to the the Olympics, or something like nitely interesting to have (this Chinese national team by one that,” Burns said. kind of athletic competition) goal. In Ireland, with the U17 While the sports that these as part of your high school national team, De Vries partic- athletes play may be different, experience, and to know that ipated in a three-game series they share many similar ex- you have classmates who shutout over the Irish U16 team. periences in the recruitment maybe don’t know exactly In order to be selected for process and �inding a balance what you’re going through, but the U17 national team, De between school and sports. have definitely gone through Vries had to go through several For all of them, they chose to similar experiences in terms levels of tryouts. play for these club teams be- of competitions and all that,” She started at the Fu- cause of their desire for a more Burns said. tures level, then moved on to regionals.

De Vries was always interested in playing for a national team, so when she found out the opportunity was available to try out for the U17 team, she took it.

For athletes playing for top-tier teams like the Mercer Chiefs, WC Eagles and UMLY, college recruitment is often an end goal. For example, De Vries committed to the University of North Carolina in the fall of 2016. NCAA rules, however, prohibit coaches from approaching male athletes until their junior year of high school. To avoid this, Burns and Roeder have done research on their own chances of recruitment and approached coaches themselves.

According to CollegeSwimming.com, Burns is the top Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE ranked swimmer of his graduStanding tall: Sophomore Brendan Burns has a long term goal ating class in Pennsylvania, and of being able to swim in the Olympics or other competitions of �ifth in the nation.

“I de�initely want to swim in that nature. Burns swims for the Upper Main Line YMCA’s nacollege, hopefully at a Division tional team, which meets six days a week for two hour practices.

Monday, June 5, 2017

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Monday,June 5, 2017

Sports

Little runners in the Conestoga relays

Photos and Story by Avery Maslowsky Sports Editor

After months of anticipation and weeks of training,, the fourth graders of the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District participated in the annual Conestoga Relays.

The relays were held on May 24 at the ‘Stoga track beginning at 4:30. Runners from Beaumont, Devon, Hillside, New Eagle and Valley Forge Elementary Schools lined up along the 100-meter lane awaiting their time to shine in their individual relays.

Lane one was �illed by the Hillside Hawks, two by the Beaumont Bears, lane three by the Valley Forge Eagles, four and �ive by the Devon Dragons and lane six by the New Eagle Eagles fourth graders. Each race began with the blow of a whistle and the cheering of each school’s student body.

The entire event lasted thirty minutes, with each race timed at approximately two minutes for a total distance of 400 meters.

During the race, the bleachers and surrounding �ields were �illed with supporting parents

Ready to rumble: Fourth grade students of the �ive TESD Elementary schools run in their assigned relays. The relays were held on May 24. and siblings of the running Group one Conestoga track After all the races were fin- As the families surrounding fourth graders. But family mem- runners and gym teachers from ished, the exits of the Cones- the gates of the track lessbers were not the only sup- schools throughout the district toga track filled with loud ened, storm clouds rolled in porting members of the com- were at the races guiding along cheers and laughter from the to end the 2017 Conestoga munity present at the relays. the runners to success. exhilarated fourth graders. Relays.

Showing spirit: Valley Forge students line the curve of the track in support of their fellow runners. Valley Forge took lane three during the relays.

26 The Spoke

Monday, June 5, 2017

Commitment Corner

Sports

Grade: 9 School: Pennsylvania State University Sport: Lacrosse Why Penn State: “It’s the school that I’ve always wanted to go to and it has a great blend of academics and athletics.”

Favorite Memory: “When we went to Georgia and we played all the Georgia teams and we got really close altogether.”

Grade: 9

Cameron Evits

School: Pennsylvania State University Sport: Lacrosse Why Penn State?: “I chose Penn State because of the family feeling everywhere you are on campus and especially within the lacrosse team.”

Favorite Memory: “After we beat Calvert Hall in the locker room and Henry Friedman danced.”

Michael Prestopino

The Spoke 27

June 5, 2017 Conestoga High School

Berwyn, PA

www.spoke.news

@thespoke

Going the extra mile Junior Gabi Castro runs the 4x400 relay at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia on April 27. She ran alongside junior Grace Lanouette, sophomore Anna Twomey and senior Kiara Sprague. Their time was 4:02.50. Conestoga also competed in the 4x100 relay.

Ca the

Elizabeth Billman/The SPOKE