May 2011

Seniors 2011:

Looking back & moving forward on p. 12-13

THE

Sp ke

Conestoga High School, Berwyn, PA

Volume 61 No. 6

May 5, 2011

Stoganews.com

A Prominent end to the year See p. 14-15 for The Spoke’s prom coverage.

Graphic by Luke Rafferty

PAGE 2 THE SPOKE

stoganews .com

Go online for TETV’s report on the April 20 Katie Samson lacrosse tournament.

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

NEWS

District develops 2011-12 budget Allison Kozeracki Staff Reporter As the June deadline approaches, the school board has expressed that balancing the budget will require shared sacrifice. But the exact measures that the district will use to eliminate the deficit are still taking shape.

In The Spoke’s March 28 issue, a front page article described the school board’s proposals to remedy the $8.9 million deficit. The district has since considered more deficit-reducing measures, like requesting a pay waiver from the teachers’ union.

“Truly every student will be touched in some way by these changes,” school board president Karen Cruickshank said.

At the May 2 budget workshop, the school board publicly discussed an offer by T/E’s teachers’ union, the T/E Education Association (TEEA), offering a pay freeze that

would save the district $2.4 million for the 2011-12 year. However, the district rejected this offer and is asking for a pay waiver instead, which would save $3 million, along with a pay waiver from the T/E NonInstructional Group.

Both options involve teachers waiving their salary increases for the 2011-12 year. A pay waiver would mean renegotiating 2012-13 contracts, while a pay freeze allows

perative to rise to the challenge when state officials requested that teachers’ unions offer similar situations to help relieve deficits across the state.

“TEEA is committed to working diligently behind the scenes with its members in an attempt to reach a cost savings,” DePiano said.

In another attempt to lessen the deficit, high school teachers will have to teach six periods per day instead of five, a measure that is estimated to save the district $225,000 for the coming school year.

After incorporating all of the proposed changes, the district will still fall more than $3 million short of a balanced budget.

“It’s only if we all work on this together that we’re going to have a chance of coming out of this on the positive side in the next couple of years,” Cruickshank said.

“Truly every student will be touched in some way by these changes.”

Check out photos of the floor hockey tournament, Best Buddies talent show and the Scrabble tournament online.

- Board president Karen Cruickshank teachers to return to the final year of their contract with salary increases.

“A pay freeze actually isn’t going to help us. It helps us in one year; it doesn’t help us in two years,” Cruickshank said. “We very much want to work with the teachers’ union.”

TEEA President Pete DePiano said that the union felt it was im-

Allison Kozeracki can be reached at akozeracki@stoganews.com.

Pioneer Posts: upcoming in community The Tredyffrin Public Library is hosting a teen writing workshop that will meet on May 7 and 14 from 2-4 p.m. each day. The program is open to students ages 12-17 and Alissa Butterworth, a poet and fiction writer, will teach fiction, flash fiction and poetry writing at the workshop.

The regular school board meeting is set for May 9 at 7:30 p.m.

The meeting will be held in the ’Stoga cafeteria because of the large turnout at recent meetings as the 2011-12 budget is discussed. The Finance Committee meetings will also be held at Conestoga.

On May 15, Cappies will honor student theater productions at the Cappies Gala at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center. Conestoga’s production of “Alice and Wonderland” is nominated for nine Cappies awards for lighting, stage crew, acting and make-up.

Conestoga holds its annual Service and Leadership Award Ceremony on May 18 at 7 p.m. The ceremony will take place in the auditorium and refreshments will be provided in the cafeteria beforehand. Recipients and family members are welcome.

Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE

Security guard Dante Coles dunks to score at the student vs. faculty basketball game on April 12. The event raised more than $14,000 for Jay Raffetto, who was injured while serving in Afghanistan last August.

Celebrate junior prom on May 21 at the Springfield Country Club. Tickets are on sale from May 4-13 in the main lobby during all lunch periods. CAPCO is hosting a free party after prom at Dave and Buster’s with transportation from Conestoga to the party provided.

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

PAGE 3 THE SPOKE

NEWS

Nuclear disaster in Japan awakens concern, help from T/E Abby Pioch Staff Reporter When sophomore Carly Martin drives to the outlet stores in Limerick, she sees the looming cooling towers of the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant. After the nuclear disaster in Japan, Martin began to think about the possible nuclear tragedy that could happen at these cooling towers that are so close to home.

On March 12, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan broke down. After an earthquake automatically shut off the plant, a 33-foot tsunami wave knocked out the back-up diesel generators, leading to the evacuation of the surrounding area and drawing worldwide attention.

Now radiation is leaking from the power plant and the American West Coast has registered higher radiation levels, which could possibly affect Martin’s usual summer plans.

“I go to summer camp in California every year for nine days, and my mom is very concerned with the radiation that has been going through the currents between Japan and California,” Martin said. “She has been second-guessing me being allowed to go to California.”

The Limerick Power Plant, which is owned by the power company Exelon and is located about 18 miles from the T/E area, has raised the concerns of some community members in light of the recent radiation leakage in Japan.

“The Nuclear Regulatory Com-

mission, the government entity which provides oversight to the nuclear industry, is reviewing the incident in Japan and its potential impact on Limerick,” said Mike Kurzeja, director of performance improvement for Exelon.

“While I do not know what the outcome of those reviews will be, changes to enhance safety systems at the Limerick [plant] are likely,” he said.

Kurzeja also said that the Limerick Power Plant was built to withstand earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and attacks via airplane, though tsunamis were not factored in since it was determined that a tsu-

nami would not reach the area.

“I have every confidence in Limerick’s ability to respond to any event that is likely to occur,” Kurzeja said. “Limerick has operated safely

had not thought of,” Siegel said.

“They hadn’t planned for this much damage so it was hard.”

According to Siegel, her grandparents could not return to their other home in the Japanese town of Sendai, which was severely damaged by the tsunami, until the end of April because the railways were not working.

Many railways and roads were hurt by the tsunami, causing transportation problems across the country.

“The transportation is a big

“When a phenomenon like this happens, it’s not the responsibility of one country to clean up its own mess.”

- Junior Graham Davis for decades and will continue to operate safely in the future.”

With the Limerick Power Plant prepared for a disaster, Japan is still in chaos. Damage directly from the tsunami, as well as leaked radiation from damaged plants, has thrown the country into turmoil.

Junior Sarah Siegel’s extended family lives in Japan, but none of her relatives have been seriously hurt by the tsunami or radiation leakage. Siegel’s grandparents were at their Tokyo home when the tsunami hit, leaving them a safe distance from the disaster.

“They are very prepared in Japan, and everyone is worried about when an earthquake is going to happen, so [my grandparents] actually had boxes of two-liter water bottles, but food they

The Limerick Power Plant is located about 18 miles from T/E. After the nuclear disaster in Japan, local community members have raised concerns about the close proximity of a power plant.

thing, but even in Tokyo where there wasn’t as much affected, still little things like going to the supermarket to get things [are hard],” Siegel said. Her grandparents “said it was harder at the beginning, but now it is getting better.”

Junior Graham Davis, an employee at Wegmans, helped out at work when the store offered the chance for customers to donate to the Japan relief effort at check-out lines for two weeks. Davis said he knows that the disaster in Japan is a worldwide crisis and he encourages everyone to take part in the relief effort.

“When a phenomenon like this happens it’s not the responsibility of one country to clean up its own mess,” Davis said. “It’s a worldwide effort.”

Peer Mediation contributed to that effort by holding “We Can for Japan” to benefit the American Red Cross’s relief efforts in Japan.

The fundraiser, which was held in March, raised more than $2,000.

Siegel appreciates the positive effects that this relief is having on her family in Japan.

“It definitely made me realize how much this natural disaster affects real people,” Siegel said.

“With Haiti you heard it was a horrible thing—an [earthquake] that so many people were affected by—but this time it was family, and I was really scared.”

Abby Pioch can be reached at apioch@stoganews.com.

Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE

PAGE 4 THE SPOKE

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

NEWS

Conestoga hosts writing contest for first time in decade Lavi Ben-Dor Staff Reporter Freshman James Redmond wrote about a dream, baseball and horses, all mixed into a single short story. He was unsure about how judges would receive his unlikely pairing until he found out that he had been selected for the Central League Writing Contest.

On April 28, Conestoga hosted the Central League Writing Contest for the first time in ten years.

Students from 11 local schools were each given an hour to craft an original short story in response to a uniform prompt, and the stories were read and judged to choose three winners for each grade level.

Young adult novelist Beth Kephart, who has written 12 fiction books, spoke to students about their writing at the competition.

“It’s a lot of fun to be welcoming all these writers here. It’s nice to have interscholastic competi-

tion in things other than sports, [and it’s] always great for students to have contact with professional writers,” said English department chair Trevor Drake, who helped organize the competition.

Representing ’Stoga were freshmen James Redmond and Michael Mei, sophomores Bobby Thorn and Margot Field, juniors K. C. McConnell and Ruth Wellin and seniors Augusta Harris and Lindsey McQuiston. All were chosen after an in-school write-off on April 5.

“It’s pretty exciting and convenient,” McQuiston said. “We’re a well-known school, so it’ll definitely be a good thing [for us].”

Every year, English teachers come together after the in-school write-off to select two students from each grade to move on to the Central League competition. English teacher Gabija Radzius said that she helps with the selection because she enjoys seeing what students can accomplish.

“It’s neat to see students grow

in their writing, and neat to see what a teenager can produce— sometimes it’s absolutely incredible, better than what some adults can produce,” Radzius said.

At the Central League Writing Contest, Mei took first place for freshmen and McConnell won second place for juniors.

“I wasn’t expecting to get first at the time,” Mei said. “All I really cared about was writing a good story. It’s more about the experience, not what I got.”

During the competition, Mei allowed his imagination to run away with the story. He said that he has become better at incorporating his life and experiences into his writing by doing the writing contest.

“As opposed to just sitting down at a desk, I actually write about what I’m going through and my emotions,” Mei said.

Drake said that he enjoys giving students this opportunity to expand and learn about their writing abilities. He thought that

Students compete in math exams

Neel Thakur Staff Reporter

Sophomore Allen Zhu finished the test and could not do anything more in the competition. But he still could not get problem 22 out of his mind. For Zhu, math is not just about getting the right answer, but rather about his passion for the subject.

The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) creates various tests and math competitions for high school students to determine their knowledge and abilities in mathematics. MAA tests include several levels from the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) to the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) and beyond.

“They’re definitely harder than the average math tests in school.

They test concepts that you might not have learned directly in school,” Zhu said. “Some of these are critical thinking [questions] that you will not encounter elsewhere.”

Students can qualify to take the AIME by their scores on the AMC exam, which is leveled based on math experience. They

can then move on to a national competition called the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) to ultimately select a national math team.

“The USAMO is a whole different world. You’re talking multiple pages to do a single problem,” math department chair Paul Poiesz said. “It’s not a test for the faint of heart; I would describe it as higher level, college math type of thinking [and] extremely advanced.”

The problems on the tests can be unpredictable, but they provide a chance for competitors to learn about math that goes beyond what they often learn in the classroom.

“They’re doing math because they love math and they want to do well on these tests because

they have a talent for math,” math competition team coach Vincent Russo said.

The more serious competitors tend to spend a significant amount of time on math both in and outside of school. On an average day, Zhu spends half an hour practicing math, but as the competition gets closer, practice time can take up to five hours per day. However, taking the test outright is a no-risk situation.

“There is nothing to lose by taking them,” said freshman and AIME participant Crystal Wang.

“You get to expose yourself to the math of the world.”

Neel Thakur can be reached at nthakur@stoganews.com.

Lavi Ben-Dor/The SPOKE

Students write their creative stories for the Central League Writing Contest in the library. The contest was held at ’Stoga on April 28, marking the first time that the competition has been held here in ten years. the competition went well and was proud that Conestoga had two students who placed for their grade levels.

“I think it’s a very exciting opportunity for our students who like creative writing to have a forum for their talents,” Drake said. “We don’t do a lot of creative

writing in our English classes, so this is an opportunity for students to branch out and try something new. I hope it will encourage them to keep writing—the world always needs more good writers.”

Lavi Ben-Dor can be reached at lbendor@stoganews.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

PAGE 5 THE SPOKE

NEWS

Habitat of hope: Students build houses for those in need Shwetha Sudhakar Staff Reporter The homes that they construct are where the heart is. From the floorboards up, students in the Habitat for Humanity club have built houses for those in need with love and care.

Members of the Habitat for Humanity club work with a larger organization, Habitat for Humanity International, to construct homes for the less fortunate. On April 30, the volunteers built a home in Coatesville, where club members have been working for more than three years.

Academic Seminar teacher Cheryl Dillon, an adviser for the club, said that watching students help the Coatesville site grow has been particularly rewarding, but that donations of time and funds are necessary to continue this work.

“People like electricians and plumbers give up their time to work for Habitat,” Dillon said. “Habitat can’t build unless people have donated time, supplies and money.”

Dillon said that, though only

Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE

Juniors Jichao Sun, Chris Davis and Scott Shi clean up the area of a house in Coatesville, Pa. on April 30.

Members of the Habitat for Humanity club have been helping on this housing site for more than three years. students age 16 or older can help build houses because of a rule implemented by the organization last year, underage members can help out

through fundraising. Sophomore and club member Pallavi Sindhu is under the 16-year-old age limit, but still contributes to building the houses by

helping with club fundraisers.

“I think it’s important to help those who have inadequate housing,” Sindhu said. “I might work for

Habitat for Humanity International later on as I will probably be in India after finishing high school.”

Junior Billy Zahn, the club’s vice president, said that he will continue to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity after college as well, though he may not stay in the Chester County area.

Working on houses “is a wonderful way to get involved, and I would probably go through Habitat for Humanity International as they have sites everywhere, including Japan,” Zahn said.

Club secretary and junior Wenxin Yang also urged students to volunteer and highlighted the importance of giving back to the community by volunteering at Habitat for Humanity jobs, like the April 30 building project.

“Even though we live in such a Main Line area, there’s a lot of places around here that actually experience poverty and a lot of people need houses,” Yang said.

Shwetha Sudhakar can be reached at ssudhakar@stoganews.com.

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PAGE 6 THE SPOKE

NEWS

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

Unusual partnership brings fresh produce to Conestoga Natalie West Staff Reporter Ceramics teacher John Matthews was tired of sugar. He felt that he was constantly bombarded by bake sales in the main lobby, each one determined to sell him just one more chocolate chip cookie.

An organic produce stand seemed to be the perfect solution to this unhealthy temptation.

For the past two years, Matthews has helped students in special-education classes provide students and staff with locally grown produce, artisan breads and goat cheese, in partnership with the Horticulture and Best Buddies clubs.

Every Wednesday morning, Matthews visits Maysie’s Farm, Yellow Springs Farm and Camphill Village to purchase the goods for the farmers’ market held in room 106 and the main lobby.

“I thought it would be nice to have some healthy alternatives,

and I like working with the Life The students “enjoy it because to some foods that they’ve never Skills kids in the greenhouse, so they get to make the signs or deliver seen or eaten before,” she said.

I thought we could have a once-a- the produce all through the school “A lot of times, if we have some week produce stand that would be to teachers,” Matthews said. “As left over, we send it home with the fun and not too expensive,” Mat- they think about what they can do kids.” thews said. in the future, they have another skill In addition to purchasing proLife Skills class teacher Regina that they’ve [learned].” duce, Matthews takes the students Long said that the proon trips to the farms duce stand provides for a hands-on expean opportunity to not rience. The students only introduce the Life learn about farming Skills students to realand milking goats world situations, but and they can arrange also to support area internships. businesses.

All of the farms “It supports the are dedicated to - Ceramics teacher John Matthews bigger community belarger goals in addicause we’re buying lotion to growing high cal products, and it supports the Students involved in Best Bud- quality food. Maysie’s Farm foConestoga community because dies said that helping at the produce cuses on educating the public about we are providing a service,” Long stand is a rewarding experience. the importance of ecology, while said. “They don’t have to go to the “I love working at the stand Yellow Springs Farm is involved in supermarket or farmers’ market— because I get to interact with stu- conservation landscaping. they can just come to work and still dents and faculty I’ve never met,” Adults with developmental disget good, fresh, local food.” abilities are included in the farming sophomore Sam Fisher said.

Students practice real-world job Long said that the program also and handcrafting community at skills, including handling money, educates the Life Skills students Camphill Village, where they bake making change and socializing with about the food itself. wood-fired customers. bread and “The kids are being introduced

“This is social entrepreneurism.

Our goal isn’t profit. There are other reasons to do things in life.”

other goods, such as organic cookies. All of these items are available for staff and students to purchase.

Although Matthews and the students devote much time and energy to the produce stand, it remains an entirely non-profit endeavor. Matthews sells the food at cost, without markup, and the Horticulture Club holds plant sales from the school greenhouse to compensate for the losses.

“It’s not a fundraiser, and it’s not a charity. We’re not trying to raise money, and we’re not trying to give to someone else. We’re trying to set an economic model where people actually buy fresh food at a reasonable cost,” Matthews said.

Matthews said that the program’s many benefits outweigh its money-making potential.

“This is social entrepreneurism.

Our goal isn’t profit,” Matthews said. “There are other reasons to do things in life.”

Natalie West can be reached at nwest@stoganews.com.

Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE

Opinion THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

The Spoke is published seven times a year at Bartash Printing. It consistently receives the Gold Award from the Pennsylvania School Press Association and is a National School Press Association Pacemaker awardwinning publication. The Spoke serves as a public forum for student expression.

Editors-in-Chief: Liz Bravacos, Meghan Morris Managing Editor: Reshma Gouravajhala Production Editor: Luke Rafferty News Editor: Laura Weiss Features Editor: Mary Turocy Sports Editor: Erin O'Neil Copy Editor: K.C. McConnell Face of the Spoke: Anjuli Patel Business Manager: Heather Ward Cartoonist: Gabriela Epstein Graphic Design: Margot Field, Karolis Panavas, Brooke Weil, Sam Winfield Staff: Maddie Amsterdam, Kelly Benning, Lavi Ben-Dor, Dana Bronzino, Tracy Cook, Allison Kozeracki, David Kramer, Daniel McConnell, Stetson Miller, Claire Moran, Patrick Nicholson, Emily Omrod, Abby Pioch, Sophia Ponte, Dolly Prabhu, Brittany Roker, Emily Seeburger, Jenna Spoont, Shwetha Sudhakar, Neel Thakur, Julianne Vallotton, Natalie West, Haley Xue Faculty Advisers: Susan Houseman, Cynthia CrothersHyatt

Submissions

Spirited Support The Spoke applauds students' efforts to help Jay Raffetto It is not often that more than three thousand people fill up the stands at a local high school to watch a student-faculty basketball game. It is not often that, through ticket profits, raffles and cupcake sales, more than $14,000 are raised to benefit a single person’s cause.

At a school where a distinct lack of spirit is evident at pep rallies and other schoolsponsored events, a display of unity and community like the one showcased on April 12 is hard to come by.

Three weeks ago, Conestoga rallied to help a hero. Jay Raffetto, a former Conestoga graduate, lost both his legs and an arm while serving in Afghanistan. The studentfaculty basketball game was organized by various Conestoga clubs and faculty members to help raise money for his recovery through a Berwyn-based charity, the Chester County Hero Fund.

This demonstration of spirit is surprising among Conestoga students, who are often criticized for a lack thereof. After all, we are the school that cares very little about Homecoming court and views pep rallies as nothing more than excuses to get out of the last two periods of the day. Contrary to Hollywood’s idea of high school students, we seemingly focus far more on grades and GPAs than efforts to cheer on the Garnet and Gray.

However, while we do not show support in the traditional sense, we are more than willing to lend a helping hand when, by doing so, we can better the community around us.

We may not want to attend events like Cor-

nucopia or health fair; instead we transcend small issues and help further bigger causes.

As anyone who attended the basketball game a few weeks ago, or participated in various other Operation Gratitude efforts that week, can attest, students banded together as part of a momentous event. We raised thousands of dollars as well as awareness of a noble cause. But perhaps just as importantly within our school, we raised school spirit.

In an occasion that pulled together members from all corners of our community, we came together to help one of our own.

It is not the first time that we have united for a cause: last year we raised more than $6,000 during the Help for Haiti campaign and a few years ago, we helped raise morale for Ryan Kerr and Mark Herzlich, former Conestoga students who fought valiantly against cancer.

Therefore, perhaps we do not need to exude school spirit when it comes to small school events that are not important in the grand scheme of things. For instance, a show of spirit at a small school-sponsored dance does not have the same overall impact as, say, an outpouring of support for a wounded warrior.

After she was asked about the influence of the basketball game in supporting her son, Jennifer Raffetto said it best.

“I was really amazed by how much participation there was, not only from the adults in the community but mostly from the young people that were there, the students," she said.

"It was really very heartwarming and life-affirming that there were so many people there for our family."

The Spoke will print letters of general interest to the student body and community. Signed letters under 200 words may be submitted to Susan Houseman, Cynthia Hyatt, Liz Bravacos or Meghan Morris. Unsigned editorials represent the views of The Spoke editorial board, and not necessarily those of the administration, student body, community or advertisers. The opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of The Spoke.

Contact Us

Email: spoke@stoga.net Phone: 610-240-1046

From the Editor

Last minute advice

During the past month, I’ve transformed into a professional procrastinator. It’s a title that serves as a better Facebook status than as a resume booster, yet I can’t help but feel a little proud of myself. Procrastination is a skill that takes time to perfect, but it’s one that we all should strive to achieve, even if only for a little while.

I’ll spare you the usual senior cliché about this week feeling bittersweet. I won’t mention the fact that I’m both excited and terrified for the months ahead, or that I may actually miss ’Stoga’s humid halls. Instead, I’ll tell you the most important lesson I’ve learned: procrastination is the key to surviving high school.

It took me too long to discover this imperative piece of knowledge. For months I was a diligent student, ensuring that my work was high quality and starting projects well ahead of deadline.

Speaking from experience (remember, I’m a professional now), my old ways are a terrible track to take.

Maybe I’m exaggerating a little. After all, colleges unfortunately still care about your mid-year grades and your teachers do come in every day intending to do their jobs. However, maintaining your grades, respecting your teachers and procrastinating are not mutually exclusive. The most important part of the skill is producing an acceptable final product while keeping your integrity in the process. Know your limits and keep your head afloat, but don’t let the Conestoga culture swallow you up.

No matter what grade you’re in, the occasional procrastination is helpful in feeling successful.

Not only do you temporarily distract yourself from daily stressors, but you also gain a sense of accomplishment when a project that should have taken you days is completed in five hours.

Because I can’t completely avoid the cliché, I must say that one major purpose of procrastination, particularly during senior year, is to enjoy what little time we have left as high school students. When you’re busy not doing your calculus or chemistry homework, don’t watch YouTube videos for hours. Rather, use the time to stop at Handel’s with your best friend, cheer in the stands at Teamer or spend $10 to see the musical.

Those memories will last, more so than the ones of you working on your homework until 11 p.m. You don’t want to look back on your high school experience and wish you had been more engaged. Procrastinate and live a little—catch the senioritis bug.

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Gabriela Epstein/The SPOKE

Liz Bravacos can be reached at lbravacos@stoganews.com.

PAGE 8 THE SPOKE

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

OP/ED

‘New Fridge Syndrome’ exposes American excess “Is Western culture truly materialistic?”

“As someone from England, I think Americans are quite selfless.”

Freshman Henry Moody

“We’re just technologically advanced, not really materialistic.”

Sophomore Alexandra Zhang

Mary Turocy Features Editor My dream in life is to be diagnosed with an incurable disease. It’s transmitted in the poorest regions of the world. There’s no vaccine and Americans are naturally vulnerable.

Believe it or not, people with this disease are incredibly lucky. It means that they were fortunate to grow up with a lifestyle thousands of times more luxurious than the majority of the world’s population.

But more importantly, these people were courageous enough to do more than simply count their blessings and put a check in the mail to the Red Cross each year.

By taking a year or two out of their lives to volunteer in a disadvantaged nation through organizations like the Peace Corps or Doctors Without Borders, these people exposed themselves to the disease known as New Fridge Syndrome. It’s a disease that everyone should catch, because it allows us to overcome the unconscious assumption that everyone possesses the same advantages that we take for granted.

“New Fridge Syndrome” is a psychological disease, rather than a physical one. It is a term that volunteers in the Doctors Without Borders Organization use to de-

scribe the problems associated with returning from a months-long stay in a troubled country. They noticed that, after spending hours trying to describe their experiences to friends and family, someone would inevitably react by saying, “That’s wonderful. Did I tell you we got a new fridge?”

While the term was coined in jest, it articulates a serious problem. Although volunteers generally foresee and prepare for emotional difficulties at the beginning of a mission, they fail to expect the “reverse culture shock” they face upon re-entering life in the United States. They describe feeling incredibly frustrated by their peers’ focus on material

goods and the overall waste and consumerism of American culture, compared to the poverty and desperation in environment they just left.

As unpleasant as New Fridge Syndrome sounds, anger means that these people are no longer insulated from the suffering that exists in the world. Poverty exists in the world in millions of different forms and in millions of different places. By volunteering with Doctors Without Borders, I intend to surround myself with poverty until I can become accustomed to it, and hopefully even see beyond it.

Although this task is inherently difficult and even painful, it is essential for us to realize what a privileged

The Opposition: - Many people cannot afford to go abroad on volunteering missions, as these trips can cost thousands of dollars.

- There is no proof that a “reverse cultural shock” is in fact due to American materialism, which may not exist at all.

- The materialistic attitudes possessed by a few should not be generalized to fit an entire country.

life we live. As high school students making the transition from childhood to adulthood, a trip abroad can permanently influence our values, our cultural awareness, and most importantly, the lives of others. Maybe I won’t ever know exactly what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes, but I know that I’ll be so much closer to true understanding than if I had stayed at home.

You don’t even have to travel far from home to challenge your perspective on poverty. If you truly interact with the people you’re trying to help instead of keeping them at arm’s length, you’ll gradually see those barriers dissolve. Even though it might be more efficient to send a check, donations don’t foster the same sense of mutual understanding that is essential to make progress against poverty.

Stretch your mind and open your heart. Make a commitment to work at a food pantry regularly or read to children in the hospital. Most importantly, keep your commitments, so you’ll always have someone to remind you that a new fridge isn’t really that important after all.

Mary Turocy can be reached at mturocy@stoganews.com.

“Materialism is perpetuated by the affluent. ”

Junior Jichao Sun

“We’re just very lucky to have everything we need and want here.”

Senior Brittany Kleckner

Gabriela Epstein/The SPOKE

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

PAGE 9 THE SPOKE

OP/ED

Take time to cherish high school experience

Reshma Gouravajhala Managing Editor For all that people tell you about the last few weeks of school, they neglect to mention the bittersweet feeling that lingers in the air. If you’re like me, you’re trying your hardest to hide your grin from the underclassmen—after all, you’re this close to leaving high school behind forever—but you’re also trying your hardest to not forget all the good times you’ve had over the past four years.

It’s all too easy to lump your experiences into one adjective, to count those people with whom you’ll keep in touch on one hand and to bid the rest of your classmates and teachers goodbye without a second glance.

Nevertheless, these final hours in school should be made up of thank yous and goodbyes, of phone numbers and Skype usernames, of photographs and Facebook messages and of letting others know that you’re grateful that you shared this experience with them.

With Snow Day in May just one

day away, it becomes increasingly difficult to take a moment and reflect on the past, especially since most of us have had one foot out of the door since September.

Yet, I’m going to take this opportunity to do just that. Words cannot quite do justice to the many defining moments I’ve had in high school: times in class, at lunchtime and during the countless hours I’ve spent in The Spoke’s production room. However, I will try to thank those w h o h a v e shaped my life in the h o p e - Dr. that my words carry at least the gist, if not the weight, of my gratitude.

To all the teachers who responded to my incessant questions— Why, exactly, do I need to learn about torque? Is there actually a color motif here?—with unending patience and goodwill, I sincerely thank you. To the teachers who wrote me letters of recommendation, I cannot express enough gratitude for the time and effort you put into the notes that helped me get into college.

To all my friends, I don’t know what to say that will capture the thousands of memories I’ve made with you over the course of

my time here. For the moment, I remain content in reminiscing about all the good times, about all the inside jokes (among other things, purple sweaters and donating to charity—beware of rabid dogs—come to mind) as well as the discussions and debates about everything I will cherish every conversation, email and experience we’ve shared.

And lastly, to all my classmates and anyone else who’s impacted my education in any w a y , I only w i s h I had Seuss gotten to know some of you better over these years.

After all, as the class of 2011, we’ve been through a lot over these past four years.

We’ve faced district budget deficits that resulted in $100 parking passes and elimination of some cherished classes. When the amount of trash in the courtyard surpassed the number of people, we were the people that had to sit inside for lunch for weeks on end.

We were the subjects of the Manifest experiment, where, for weeks, we wandered around playing with stress balls and sticking magnets on lockers. We’ve danced to the music

“Don’t cry because it’s over.

Smile because it happened.”

Gabriela Epstein/The SPOKE

on Fridays and have made our way through the crowded hallways halfblind on Power Down days.

Having shared all these experiences with all of you, I wish you the best of luck in the future.

It is this same future that we will have the opportunity to influence, to change and to experience. As our high school careers end, we are now granted the chance to step into the real world, away from the protective eyes of our parents and teachers, and come into our own.

We have often joked about all the problems that we as a generation face (a record deficit, global warming, several wars and a possible world’s end) but these dangers are more prevalent now as they wait for our solutions, stationed directly in our path.

It is up to our generation to come together and solve crises that desperately need fixing. Soon, it will be time for us all to finally earn our spots as engaged members of society.

But we are well-prepared to face any challenges we will come across. In high school alone, some of us have excelled at math and science, while others of us surpass the rest in the realm of creativity, winning state art and writing competitions. Over the past four years, Conestoga sports teams have broken dozens of records and won countless medals.

Imagine what we can do in the future. The challenges might be great, but we will conquer them with our myriad talents and experiences. We have accomplished so much in the last 17 or 18 years of our lives and we can do even more in the years ahead.

But the time to do so is still a while away. Before we change the world for the better, we should all take this one last chance to remember the world as it is now.

Tomorrow is our last day of high school. For some, there will be tears involved, but for most of us there will be unrestrained whoops of joy. For all, however, there will be a united feeling of accomplishment.

As Dr. Seuss once said, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

And so, to all the members of the graduating class of 2011: thank you and good luck.

Reshma Gouravajhala can be reached at rgouravajhala@stoganews.com.

Report Card @MainLineB**ch + Funniest new Twitter account about our area - Perpetuates Main Line stererotypes

Juniors drive to school + Finally legal, though many have done it for weeks - $180 proposed parking pass next year

2011 AP Exams + Already halfway finished two weeks of exams - Only halfway finished two weeks of exams

Spring sports + All teams likely going to playoffs - Hotter weather makes playing and spectating less enjoyable

Seniors leaving + Hallways and cafeteria are less crowded - Juniors have started catching incurable disease [senioritis]

One Book, One Stoga + The school-wide project will again unite English classes - Another book for students to read over the summer

PAGE 10 THE SPOKE

OP/ED

Graduating class finds ‘good’ in goodbye

Anjuli Patel The Face of The Spoke

As Aristotle said hundreds of years ago, “When you leave here, don’t forget why you came.” Coincidentally, he was talking to students much like myself and the rest of the class of 2011.

We’ve all spent the last four, eight or even 12 years together, but in just one day we’ll all be leaving.

Tomorrow—the last day of high school—is the day we have all been waiting for since we were five.

Reflecting on how much has changed since I joined the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District in first grade, there’s a lot I wish I could tell the younger, more awkward—yes, it is indeed possible—version of myself.

However, I’ve come to realize that “in the end, the universe tends

to unfold as it should.” (Thank you, Harold and Kumar.)

Over the past few years, my passions and aspirations have drastically changed, but living in an area where there are so many opportunities has helped me come closer to a decision.

When I got to elementary school and realized my dreams of becoming a dolphin trainer at Sea World were a bit unrealistic, I moved into the art realm. Back then, I truly believed that painting was my calling, yet I haven’t taken an art class since middle school. Unless you count Metals freshmen year, where I successfully set my hair on fire; since then, I’ve kept my distance from the art department.

Later on, in sixth grade, I joined the school newspaper. After a year of being a staff member, I quit. I didn’t think that writing or journalism was for me, but looking back on that now seems absurd—I’ve been a part of The Spoke for four years, and I can’t imagine my high school career without it. Certainly I could have had eighth free for the past two years and gone home early, but what’s the fun in that?

Without The Spoke, I would never

Gabriela Epstein/The SPOKE

had the chance to design pages for six hours straight during production or fly out to Missouri for a journalism conference. Being on The Spoke is a big part of my high school experience that I’ll remember when I come back for our 50th reunion.

I also participated in the school chorus for three years; I’m sure

Take a walk on the dark side

K.C. McConnell Copy Editor Several nights ago, colorful fireworks decorated America’s night sky in dazzling shades of red, white and blue. Crowds paraded the streets and shouted ecstatic cries of “USA!” Yet the true cause of these celebrations casts a shadow over the festivities and the fireworks. On May 2, President Obama announced to the nation that Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan. Immediately, ordinary citizens expressed their relief and happiness over bin Laden’s demise.

The events that followed demonstrated that even within the hearts of the victors, there is darkness.

While bin Laden’s death is certainly something that has brought comfort to Americans, the euphoric reaction is entirely inappropriate and demonstrates how easily human nature’s dark side can appear.

Where does reveling in bloodshed put Americans? Singing “ding dong, the witch is dead” may be tempting considering the situation, but that does not make it any less distasteful.

The reactions reveal what some pessimists have believed all along: we all have a dark side.

No one is exempt from evil behavior. Perhaps you’ve witnessed a student desperate for a good grade glance too long at your quiz, or you’ve heard someone in the hallway mumble a derogatory name toward the person passing them by.

Even altruism, championed as humanity’s inherent good, may be flawed. Some scientists argue that selflessness is in fact a form of selfishness, claiming that altruism is just a mode through which we can feel better about ourselves.

So, altruism is a fraud. Surely, this confirms what misanthropists have believed all along: all people are inherently evil.

Not so. Yes, we humans have a dark side, but the sooner we learn to accept our malicious tendencies, the sooner we can learn to control them.

For now, we should try our best to be morally righteous when the situation arises.

Of course, you should also forgive yourself for not always helping that kid in the hallway pick up their dropped textbooks. It is, after all, somewhat inherent in human nature to just walk on by.

Without a doubt, good doesn’t always prevail. For every Dorothy, there is also a wicked witch, and often we carry a little of both in us. However, we can’t let this fact give us a pessimistic outlook on the world. Human nature should be accepted for what it is: imperfect. Sometimes we wear the ruby slippers and sometimes we command the army of flying monkeys.

Either way, it’s all an unchangeable and natural part of our being.

Sometimes, however, there is little excuse for our behavior. True, containing one’s urge to revel in death can be extremely hard, especially when the dead is a murderer of thousands. Yet we should take bin Laden’s death with dignity and fight back the inner demons that may try to force us toward our inherent dark side and our quest for vengeance. We alone can conquer our inner evil and move forward.

K.C. McConnell can be reached at kmcconnell@stoganews.com.

anyone who has ever heard me sing could tell me it’s a good idea I realized (a little too late, in my opinion) that music wasn’t exactly my forte.

It’s too painful to say anything more.

More recently though, if someone had told me that I would be spending my Mondays and Thursdays playing

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

chess after school during my senior year, I probably would have laughed at them and then proceeded to tell them I wasn’t that much of a nerd. I never learned how to play chess up until a few months ago—and yes, I get that same appalled look every time I tell people. Even though the freshmen who mercilessly beat me can tell you I have no future in the sport, I finally learned how to play.

I know we’ve all been getting anxious to leave and the second semester seemed like the longest one of our lives. However, I’m going to miss rushing to the library in hopes that I won’t be the fifth person at a table, lounging in the courtyard when there’s even the slightest increase in temperature and seeing all of my friends every day.

Long after I graduate I will certainly never forget why I came here.

I’ve met so many amazing people who have been there for me and I would just like to say thank you. I wish everyone the best of luck in the future and I leave you with these parting words: Stay classy, Conestoga.

Anjuli Patel can be reached at apatel@stoganews.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

PAGE 11 THE SPOKE

OP/ED

Stressing need for more aid to Japan

Haley Xue Staff Reporter

Gabriela Epstein/The SPOKE

To t h e Ed i to r Dear Editor,

Letters Policy

What are you agitated about? Do you have an opinion about something we’ve published? The Spoke will print letters of general interest to the student body and community. Signed letters under 200 words may be submitted to the editorial board. Email us at spoke@stoga.net.

stoganews

.com

Go online to comment on our articles

I was glad that The Spoke focused on the budget cuts in its last issue (“Closing the Gap,” p. 1 & 4). The article was well written and informative, and I was glad to see that it showed both sides of the issue that is affecting all of us. However, I was still curious to learn how the school district got into these potentially devastating monetary troubles. Could this budget crisis have been avoided if the school district had handled the money better? I myself am very disappointed that I am at risk of losing some of my favorite classes or teachers because of this issue. The custodians’ jobs are even at risk. I think that it was irresponsible of the school district for them to allow the debt to grow so big, because now it is affecting the entire school community.

I think we should all learn from our present situation so that we don’t have a repeat of this budget crisis. I hope that The Spoke follows this article up with how we got into this trouble, so that more problems can be avoided in the future.

Chase Shipp Sophomore Dear Editor, As a four-year reader, I noticed that the sports section has gone downhill over the past few years. It is rarely even about ’Stoga sports anymore. For example, the Conestoga Varsity Ice Hockey team won the Central League Championship for the first time in history, and you just leave it out. We gave the school the best week of sports anyone has ever seen and we get nothing. We were put in the Daily Local and the Suburban [yet] we aren’t good enough for our own school paper? I’m sorry but that’s messed up.

Tim Lopez Senior

I’m sure you have all heard the saying, “Every cloud has a silver lining.” This could be taken quite literally with the current situation in Japan, as every cloud may really have a silver ling because of the radiation leaks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. On the other hand, metaphorically speaking, the disaster offers some positive reminders and encouragement to help those that need it, no matter what.

For those of you who don’t remember, on March 11, a devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake preceded a large tsunami that ravaged Japan. The quake was powerful enough to make the earth spin a litter faster and shift Japan’s location slightly toward the east. As of May, the death toll totaled at least 18,000 and the missing persons count was more than 10,000 people.

Despite the rattling aftershocks that followed the main earthquake, the citizens of the island nation demonstrated cooperation and endurance, which are the essential ingredients to recovery.

Yet as the harrowing pictures and videos showed the world, they also need help.

Thousands of people are without food and water, children have lost their homes and, in some cases, their entire families. Villages are completely submerged in some areas of the country and help is hard to come by.

Because of the potential nuclear dangers, people cautiously wait for news about surrounding power plants, hoping that the food they are eating is not poisoned by radiation.

In a case that is reminiscent of what happened with the Haiti earthquake relief efforts last year, people across the world are coming together to help a rattled nation. Over 102 countries and

14 different international organizations are lending a hand to the Japanese cause.

Countries have provided supplies, monetary aid, rescue teams, specialists and doctors to aid the country. Evidently, Japan doesn’t stand alone—but to what extent?

Recently, Conestoga held a fundraiser to help donate money to Japan. We only raised a little more than $2,600, minute in comparison to the $6,087 raised for the people of Haiti.

Although Japan is a developed nation with a strong economy and strong sense of independence, it needs as much help as possible.

Even a developed country has hard times, especially in circumstances following consecutive natural disasters.

We all struggle through troubling and difficult situations and this is no exception. Nothing justifies a lack of aid when a country has been completely destroyed.

And so, as rising global citizens, Conestoga students are asked once again to donate some time and money to the cause.

There are so many opportunities to help out. It doesn’t need to be some grand scale plan to raise millions of dollars—a single dollar can make a difference too.

Amidst the chaos of a natural disaster, we should be willing to put aside our differences and unite as a global community to provide relief for the victims of tragedy.

The same empathy and humanitarianism discovered last year during the disaster in Haiti should be applied to the Japanese relief efforts. As a country that now lays in ruin and debris, the most important goal should be to rebuild what has been destroyed.

However, disaster doesn’t necessarily mean the end; on the contrary, it can lead to new innovation and a new beginning. And thus, with extra help and a little creativity, we can make the future brighter than the past.

The bottom line is this: Japan is calling for help and we should answer the call. After all, everyone should have a shoulder to lean on in a time of need.

Haley Xue can be reached at hxue@stoganews.com.

Features THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

Facebook prevents fashion faux pas

Claire Moran Staff Reporter When senior Carolyn Christy attended junior prom as a sophomore, two other girls wore the exact same dress in the exact same color. The next year, as a junior, Christy decided do something in order to prevent others from committing the same fashion faux pas.

She began a Facebook group where girls could upload pictures of their prom dresses online so that others would know not to buy the same one.

“I think it’s always kind of awkward when girls are wearing the same dress at prom,” Christy said. “It’s not that big of a deal, but I think you get compared when you’re wearing the same dress.”

For this year’s junior prom, junior Justine Shank created a closed Facebook group titled “’Stoga Junior Prom.” In the group, which now has 132 members, girls can upload pictures of their dresses for friends to see, ask for advice on where to get a dress and learn which dresses others are buying.

“It gets people in the prom spirit,” Shank said.

Girls post pictures of their dresses and other members “like” and comment on their posts. Shank said that

at first she was nervous about this aspect of the group.

“I was a little concerned that girls’ feelings would get hurt if no one liked their dress, but so far it seems like every dress has at least one like,” Shank said.

Shank said that she has heard of a few conflicts that have arisen from the group involving girls with the same dress. However, she said that most of them have been resolved easily.

At other schools, the conflicts

the only method used to prevent a prom dress mess. Local stores are involved, too.

Bedazzled Boutique in Newtown Square has a notebook where employees write down the style, color and the name of the customer for each dress purchased for prom. The employees organize the book by high school, preventing girls from buying the same dress to wear to the same prom.

“We don’t want an unhappy customer,” Bedazzled employee Janine Slater said.

In addition to helping students avoid potential embarrassment, the Facebook groups allow girls to praise others’ styles and follow prom fashion trends.

“Even if you’re not concerned about wearing the same dress, it’s interesting to see what everyone is buying,” junior Hannah Reiss said.

“I think you get compared when you’re wearing the same dress.”

- Senior Carolyn Christy have not been as benign. Lower Merion High School junior Natalie Plick said that there was an online confrontation involving a sophomore girl who bought the same dress as a senior. The sophomore was being “really rude over the Internet” and a group of seniors told her that she could not wear the dress because she was an underclassman.

“I think it started off as a website to just post your prom dress and then it turned into a way to claim a dress for yourself so other people didn’t buy it,” Plick said. “That’s a down side of the website—people get really competitive about the dresses they have.”

Social networking websites are not

Claire Moran can be reached at cmoran@stoganews.com.

Page design and cartoon by Margot Field/The SPOKE

FEATURES

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

PAGE 15 THE SPOKE

Left: Senior Pablo Mora stands with his date, sophomore Becca Morris, before prom on April 29.

Below: Like many students, Mora creatively asked Morris to prom. He spelled out his request weeks before the event, prior to the couple’s usual game of tennis after school.

A night to remember

Above: Seniors Tim Lopez and John Monnier show off their unique prom attire before riding to the dance in style. The friends took each other as dates to prom at Westover Country Club.

Below: Seniors Kyle Toebe and Bob Schumann took juniors Ali Celli and Maddie Catts to senior prom. The couples took photos with a large group of friends before the dance.

The most American of high school traditions—the prom—is a time of celebration. It’s a formal occassion, of swirling pastel dresses, colorful ties, intricate hairstyles and a chance to let go for a night.

For seniors, the April 29 dance was the last Friday night of their high school careers; for underclassmen, the May 21 junior prom offers light at the end of the tunnel of a long school year.

When the flowers have wilted and the tuxedos are returned, memories remain. Those who went to senior prom shared their photo memories with The Spoke.

Photos courtesy respective sources.

Far left: Senior Peter Kenyon hugs his prom date, 2010 ’Stoga grad Jenn Smith.

Left: Senior Molly Hamelin places a boutineer on her date, senior Marc Gessaroli. The couple took pictures with friends at Overbrook Country Club.

Above: Seniors Emily Stevens, Caitlin Kupp and Danielle Sachs show off their gowns. The girls had dinner with a group of 25 students prior to the dance.

PAGE 16 THE SPOKE Sarah Augustine: A crystal-clear opportunity Senior Sarah Augustine had been creating jewelry as a hobby long before she met Sarah Lewis, the owner of Adorn Boutique jewelry store in Philadelphia.

Now, she will intern at the store in addition to wo r k i n g with the American Fine Mineral Consortium.

“I’m going to be learning about a variety of crystals, minerals and gems,” Au-

gustine said. “But also I’m going to be learning about what [Lewis and the Consortium’s owners] went through to get where they are. I’m going to learn the sales aspect, as well as about the stones.”

Dan Bentley: Escaping to the outdoors Although she said that she plans to study engineering and architecture in college, Augustine explained that she chose this internship because it offered unique opportunities.

“It’s very different from all the other activities that I came across,” Augustine said. “It’s a good opportunity to meet people who are big [in the jewelry business].”

Augustine said that she hopes to apply the business knowledge that she will gain during her internship to an entrepreneurial career.

“I would like to end up owning my own business, but not with jewelry,” Augustine said. “I’d really enjoy opening a café; it’s not my specific career path, but it’s another interest of mine.”

Seniors set out to internship destinations

By Patrick Nicholson, Staff Reporter

Emily Bonn: An internship with Double benefits Senior Emily Bonn is helping a nonprofit organization in Uganda by collecting and donating used sports equipment.

The organization, called Double Care, acts as both a clinic and a church for the nearby povertyridden communities.

“Community service is a big part of my life,” Bonn said. “In Double Care, you are recycling stuff you don’t need anymore, and it’s going to someone who will really appreciate it.”

Bonn said that she has already started collecting sports equipment and clothing as a Key Club service project. She plans to expand her efforts to local sporting goods stores and sell donations that are too large or heavy to mail in order to cover the cost of shipping.

Bonn said that she is looking forward to expanding on her current community service.

“I do [service] here and there, some of it in school, some of it

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

FEATURES

outside of school. But I think this one is going to be my favorite,” Bonn said.

Bonn plans to visit the clinic soon, and hopes to continue traveling after college. Bonn said that her future plans do not directly involve charity work.

She also said that she believes career benefits should not be a student’s main criteria for choosing a senior internship.

“Internship can be

anything you want it to be,” Bonn said.

“Just pick something you’re going to enjoy, because when it comes to May, you’re going to want to be doing s o m e thing that you’re happy with.”

Some students, including senior Dan Bentley, will be interning outside the confines of an office. Bentley will be guiding tours and helping with maintenance work at Fort Trumbull State Park in Connecticut.

“I didn’t want to work in a cubicle for my internship,” Bentley said. The fort “doesn’t have anything to do with my major, but it’s a nice thing to do for a month.”

In addition to giving tours, Bentley said that he will also assist the staff in preparing for park events, such as military reenactments and corporate retreats.

The fort, which has been a part of

America’s coastal defenses since the Revolutionary War era, is located near a Navy weapons research center, and is just outside the town of New London. Bentley said that the fort’s location was an extra incentive for him to intern there.

“It’s a small town, but it’s a nice town, so I thought it would be a nice place to spend a month,” Bentley said.

Patrick Nicholson can be reached at pnicholson@ stoganews. com.

Graphics by Luke Rafferty.

Cartoons by Gabriela Epstein.

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

Jacqueline Gontarek Biology teacher

Interview by Mary Turocy, photo by Karolis Panavas The SPOKE: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

JG: Definitely the egg—it is a single cell, after all.

is put together and how it works. Even though it’s incredibly detailed, it just gives you more reasons to be amazed that you really work this way.

TS: Why did you decide to become a biology teacher?

JG: I had an opportunity to be a teacher’s assistant (TA) for the freshman Biology Lab course in college. I basically taught the lab component every week for that course. I really enjoyed showing the students the equipment and explaining the concepts behind the experiments—even though they rarely worked.

TS: What extra-curricular activities were you involved in during high school?

JG: I played flute and sax in band and jazz band, participated in student government, volunteered with various groups and worked in a clinical lab at a local hospital.

TS: If you could take any class at Conestoga, which one would you take and why?

JG: Any class taught by Mike Trainer—he’s hilarious!

TS: If you could have dinner with any person, living or dead, who would you choose and why?

JG: My best friend from college— deceased. I miss him and I’d like to hear what Heaven is like.

TS: What do you like to do in your spare time?

JG: Spare time? What is that?

TS: What is your biggest pet peeve?

JG: People who litter.

TS: What is your favorite movie?

JG: Monty Python’s “Holy Grail” tied with “The Blues Brothers.”

TS: What would you be if you were not a teacher?

JG: I’d probably be a gemologist or jewelry maker. I think it’s fascinating to think of a design and then go ahead and create it from scratch.

TS: What is your favorite subject in biology to teach?

JG: Definitely the human body systems unit. You can’t get a more relatable topic than how your body

TS: Describe yourself in one word.

JG: That’s a tough one—I deflected this to my 10-year-old daughter and after a few moments of quiet consideration, she firmly said, “persistent.”

TS: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

JG: Italy—my whole family is Italian and I think I’m the only one who has not visited the country.

There is so much art and history to be captivated by.

TS: What is your favorite food?

JG: Anything prepared already.

TS: What advice do you have for high school students?

JG: Always give 100 percent in your work and be kind to your teachers— they work their butts off for you!

m nd

FEATURES

the

PAGE 17 THE SPOKE

+ THAT SHA PE MINDS

PAGE 18 THE SPOKE

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

FEATURES

Thinking o

utside the Sophia Ponte Staff Reporter

Sitting in front of his computer, sophomore Mike Shuler works in front of high tech digital software, editing equipment— and a microphone.

He records and edits his original rap, then uploads it to his YouTube Channel, BigMikeyShuler, where his songs have been viewed more than 6,000 times.

Several students are creating their own rap music for audiences of all sizes. Shuler has been rapping and singing hip-hop for several years, although he said that his music has changed over time.

“I’ve been rapping since fourth grade—then it was about school and homework and stuff when I was a little kid,” Shuler said. “It’s a great way to relieve stress. It’s something that can be individual. You can do it any way you want to—there’s no set way to do it.”

Creating rap music is a complex process. First, Shuler finds instrumental music for the base of the song, and writes the lyrics before recording them.

Next, he records different beats and voice-overs, and uses editing software to combine all of the pieces into the final song.

He said that the secret to

i ikey

Luke RaffertyThe SPOKE

Sophomore Mike Sh uler has been rapping since he was in fourth edits it, then uploads grade. He records his his songs as videos to music and digitally YouTube, where they have been viewed mo re than 6,000 times.

beatbox

individuality is in the lyrics, because instrumentals can be repeated from piece to piece.

“Everybody can do things a million different ways,” Shuler said.

“People can use the same beats or instrumentals but get a million different outcomes.”

He said that he prefers the style of rap from the early 1990s, rather than today’s popular artists.

“Instead of just making songs, [older rappers] told stories with their music,” Shuler said.

YouTube allows him to distribute

Ary Swaminathan enjoys rapping as a form of self-expression.

“The great thing about rap is that you don’t have to have any real music training to get into it,” Swaminathan said.

He gets his inspiration from his favorite rappers, Eminem and Tupac.

However, he said that he believes the best songs come from the writer’s personal experiences.

“The best way to get inspired to rap is to listen to other rappers,” Swaminathan said. “But also I think the most important inspiration for a rapper is your own experience, because if you’re going to rap it has to be relevant to you.”

Sophomore T-Ben Donnie -Sophomore T-Ben Donnie has been singing since the fifth grade and his music outside of the Conestoga he has released some of his music community, from New York City to on iTunes and has created multiple California and Colorado. albums.

“I get calls or messages or comHe said that he prefers to improments on Facebook or on YouTube vise his raps rather than composing from people who are from these them ahead of time. places to say how much they like my “It’s called freestyle, you just sing music,” Shuler said. whatever comes through your head,” He has produced one profes- Donnie said. “You find a catchy hook sional hip-hop and rap album, en- for it and find a lead off the hook.” titled “Dreamscape” and has also He said that creating his own performed locally at coffee shops, music provides him an outlet for his parties and the occasional concert. creativity.

He said that he hopes to enter the “Music is the way that I express music industry. myself, my notions,” Donnie said.

“It’s something I can see myself “It’s my happy place.” doing my whole life,” Shuler said.

Shuler is not the only aspiring Sophia Ponte can be reached at rapper at Conestoga. Sophomore sponte@stoganews.com.

“Music is the way that I express myself, my notions. It’s my happy place.”

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

FEATURES

PAGE 19 THE SPOKE

‘Stoga grad’s musical career set to flourish beyond coffeehouse tened to her family’s favorite classic rock bands, including The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel.

She said her uncle, local singersongwriter Scot Sax, has played an important role in her career.

She attended his shows growing up, and recalls watching him struggle and eventually succeed in the music Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE industry.

Although Conestoga graduate Allison Taylor performs with her uncle, Scot Sax, at MilkBoy Coffee in Bryn Mawr. In addition to reTaylor is cording an album this summer, Taylor will have one of her songs featured in the upcoming movie “16-Love.” working on David Kramer “It’s just a nice, relaxed envi- “encouraged me to try harder be- some original songs, she curronment, so good to be in, espe- cause I was turned down for ev- rently sings Sax’s songs when Staff Reporter cially for me,” Taylor said. “My erything I auditioned for. It just they perform. He has also used On a quiet, chilly Saturday voice teacher says ‘You’re the made me want it more and I knew his connections in the music innight in Bryn Mawr, pedestrians Coffeehouse Singdustry to help her stopped under the neon sign of er.’” secure some of MilkBoy Coffee, observing the Taylor, who her first perforcrowd inside through the glass was born Allison mances. store front. Several curiously Sax and performs “I’ve been so wandered in to hear Conestoga using her middle lucky to have graduate Allison Taylor sing on name, graduated [Sax] because it’s the acoustic stage, accompanied from ’Stoga in really gotten my - 2008 graduate Allison Taylor by her uncle’s guitar and tambou- 2008. She sang in foot in the door. rine and surrounded by the smell Conestoga’s choHe knows the of freshly brewed java. rus, and although people at MilkAlthough she mentions dream- she was never selected for Cam- I was good enough to do it,” Tay- Boy; he knows the people here ing of shows at the Wells Fargo erata, the elite female choir, she lor said. and there,” Taylor said. “It’s just Center, Taylor said that MilkBoy was determined to follow her Taylor said that she has loved so easy for me to book a show.” provides a comfortable atmo- passion. music for as long as she can reTaylor is a junior at James sphere for budding musicians.

The school music program member. Growing up, she lis- Madison University, majoring

Rejection“just made me want it more and I knew I was good enough to do it.”

Jr. Prom Jess Harvey, Will you go to prom with me?

-Matt

in liberal arts and minoring in music industry. While at school, she still finds time to practice and record songs on GarageBand software to send to Sax for finishing. Although she has faced some difficulties entering the James Madison music program, she is still optimistic about her musical talent.

“I’m hoping that when I get out of school I can just focus completely on music and go as far as I possibly can,” Taylor said.

Taylor’s music is already getting national attention. One of her songs, “Love is a Simple Song,” will be in the September movie “16-Love,” after it was chosen through a contest Taylor entered on Facebook. Despite her recent success, Taylor said that she tries not to get too far ahead of herself.

“This summer we are going to record at MilkBoy Recording Studio—my first real album,” Taylor said. “That’s my main goal.”

Taylor made her debut performance on March 5 at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia. In addition to two performances at MilkBoy, she is currently booked for shows on May 10 at The Grape Room in Philadelphia and June 22 at Steel City Coffeehouse in Phoenixville.

Taylor said that the age-old advice she received still holds true for other aspiring musicians.

“Don’t give up, no matter how many times you get rejected, and I know everybody says that because that’s what everyone told me,” Taylor said. “It’s not going to happen automatically, so you just have to stay with your passion.”

David Kramer can be reached at dkramer@stoganews.com.

Sports THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

g n i k a ories mem m

bonding m a e t f o s ie hare stor s s e unity t m le h m t o a c t n e e h t d u o t S g out t orter m, Staff Rep and reachin die Amsterda

by Mad

Spring track Photo courtesy

is

Brooke McGill

with her teamMcGillis works n ha eg M e or a competition.

Sophom rock cake during am sh a te ea cr to mates

Girls lacrosse

While some teams hold pasta parties and sleepovers to promote team bonding, girls on the lacrosse team choose a slightly different route. Every Friday, the junior varsity and varsity teams get together and hold team competition. At the end of the season, the team that has won the most competitions gets a prize.

“It’s different than what other teams do and it’s a great way to get the team to bond,” senior captain Brooke McGillis said.

During one recent weekend, the girls held a “Cake Boss” competition at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church. Just like the chefs on the TLC program, each team competed to see which group of girls could bake and decorate the most creative cake.

“I’ve never done anything like it before,” sophomore Taylor Flatt said. “Decorating cakes was a lot more fun [than a regular spirit dinner].”

The girls also participate in the Conestoga Hall of Fame Run and gather gifts in the winter for T/E Cares, a local organization that works to aid the less fortunate within the district, to aid the community and become closer off of the field.

Softball

On April 10, the girls’ softball team walked together in David’s Run, an annual 5K held at Wilson Farm Park in Chesterbrook that benefits the David Gallagher Foundation.

The foundation raises money to assist organizations pertaining to epilepsy and learning disabilities. The girls have participated for three years.

“We get food, a T-shirt and it’s always a good time,” senior Colleen Coggins said.

Meghan Morris/The SPOKE

Freshman Noah Levine helps the track team make sandwiches for a local food shelter.

Boys lacrosse

Whether they were spreading peanut butter or jelly, the junior varsity track team was able to make a difference in the school cafeteria on April 11.

After a regular pasta party at the start of the season, the captains set up a station in the school cafeteria to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a local food shelter. The group of about 70 boys and girls organized themselves into assembly lines to get the job done efficiently.

In addition to helping the community, the activity also served as a way for the large team to bond.

“There are so many people on the team and this was a good way for me to learn a lot of names I didn’t know before,” senior Tim Ferris said.

Maddie Amsterdam can be reached at mamsterdam@stoganews.com.

After beating Worthington-Kilbourne on April 8, the boys’ varsity lacrosse team didn’t go home to celebrate their win. Instead, they hosted a pasta dinner for the opposing team that had come from Ohio.

“It was actually a lot of fun hanging out with [Worthington-Kilbourne],” sophomore Nick Prestipino said. “You don’t normally get to know a lot about the other teams you play.”

The Worthington-Kilbourne Wolves traveled to Philadelphia as part of their spring break training. The Ohio team also played other local teams, including Malvern Prep.

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

PAGE 21 THE SPOKE

SPORTS

Student bikers ride for ultimate adrenaline rush Jenna Spoont Staff Reporter Riding down the street on his dirt bike, sophomore Eric Javie flew off the pavement, crashed into a mailbox and fell into a ditch. He apologized to the owner of the mailbox and rebuilt it right away.

“I wasn’t hurt; I was just a little stunned and scared,” Javie said.

Student bikers like Javie enter dangerous situations every time they hop on their vehicles.

But nothing, besides the occasional mailbox, stops themfrom reaching the ultimate adrenaline rush.

When he isn’t cruising the streets, Javie accompanies his best friend, sophomore Billy McLean, to McLean’s farmhouse near the Pocono Mountains.

“It’s one of my favorite places ever. It’s relaxing and fun just to be around,” Javie said.

The bikers do more than spend the day on trails during their stay at the farm. In order to thank McLean’s parents for paying for their gas, the boys pitch in around the house, then save up their money to purchase equipment.

Necessary items for dirt biking include helmets, goggles, neck braces, chest protectors, boots, gloves and long pants. A decent helmet ranges from $45 to $660, goggles are from $15 to $90 and neck braces range from $40 to $700. The prices depend on the brand and quality of the equipment.

After the work is done, much of the boys’ time is spent racing around the farm. Although neither McLean nor Javie compete in dirt biking events, they hold races with other bikers.

McLean said that through experience, the bikers learned to keep their races off of the pavement. He said that he realized the streets are not a place for dirt bikes when his father received a $200 fine for riding on the road.

Instead of risking a ticket from the police, sophom o r e J a k e B u l y sticks to the track and drives a different kind of ride. Buly rides an All Terrain Vehicle, or ATV, and said that he has crashed a few times.

“Usually when you crash, you break things like levers or the throttle tube,” Buly said.

Opting to ride a dirt bike but on a different terrain, sophomore Max Sohosky rides near coal mines in Kaska, Pa. “Coal mines are no place to play, but we do anyway,” Sohosky said.

The thrill of dirt biking can come at the cost of injury. In one incident, Sohosky was riding without his goggles when a bee flew into his eye. After the injury, he realized that getting back on the bike was the most important part of the sport.

“You just have to focus on the fun you’ve had,” Sohosky said. “Once you get on the bike and start riding, you realize you know how to do this and it was just a mistake.”

Unlike Javie, McLean and Buly,

“I wasn’t hurt; I was just a little stunned and scared.”

- Sophomore Eric Javie

Gear: Helmet $45-600

Goggles $15-90

Neck Brace $40-700

Sohosky competes in official races. Sohosky placed first in the Iron Man dirt biking competition in St. Clair, Pa. in April 2009.

“Placing first is great because you’ve put in so much effort to take first,” Sohosky said.

Sohosky believes that the joy of biking helps balance his costly hobby. He saved $1,800 to pay for his bike.

However, he believes the sport is worth the money Luke Rafferty photos/The SPOKE if the biker truly Sophomore Max Sohosky prepares to hit the trail on his dirt bike. Sohosky started riding loves riding.

“Dirt biking is when he was six years old after receiving an old bike from a neighbor. He now rides near a really fun way coal mines in Kaska, Pa. to just get outside and explore nature in a different way,” a track, you can still go fast and get an Jenna Spoont can be reached at jspoont@stoganews.com.

Sohosky said. “And even if you’re on adrenaline rush.”

Lax considers sponsorship

Tracy Cook Staff Reporter

Clad in uniform pinnies and shorts, the boys lacrosse team enters the field ready for victory. Next year, however, there may be some not-so-subtle changes made to the standard lacrosse attire.

The team is currently considering a sponsorship between athletic equipment supplier Under Armour and the 2010 PIAA State Champions Conestoga boys’ varsity lacrosse team.

Head coach and guidance counselor Brian Samson said that the proposed $6,000 sponsorship would involve the team investing in Under Armour jerseys at a discount.

The school would not be receiving money from this sponsorship.

“We wouldn’t be getting free jerseys,” Samson said. “But we could be getting free warm-ups, free sweats, free practice pinnies, practice shorts…stuff that our players wear that either they pay for or the booster club has paid for in the past.”

Samson said that the team’s re-

cent successes, including defeating LaSalle College High School in the PIAA State Championships last year, has contributed to the attention the boys are now receiving. The team is currently ranked fifth nationally and second in the Mid-Atlantic region by Under Armour’s Power Rankings.

Senior goalie John Lopes noted the benefits that the sponsorship may have for the district.

“If companies want to pay our school to put their name up on a banner or something, I think that could help with the whole budget crisis,” Lopes said. “I don’t see any downside to it.”

Samson admits that although this program would benefit the varsity players, its effect on the district may be minimal.

“If it’s only in the best interest of boys’ lacrosse, then it’s probably not something in the big picture that the school would go for,” Samson said.

“If it’s something that benefits every athletic program, then I think the school would be more open to considering it.”

Athletic Director Patrick Boyle said in an email that the proposed

sponsorship and advertisements on Teamer Field are “in the policy committee for discussion.” Boyle also said that “there has been no approval for any implementation.”

Finance Committee chairman Kevin Mahoney reaffirmed Boyle’s comment at a meeting on April 11, saying that the proposals are still under review by the committee. He said that the district is moving forward on proposed advertising for Teamer Field, which may involve Under Armour, and has consulted with an advertisement company.

Mahoney also said that any implementation of a sponsorship will not take effect until next year, meaning that the seniors from this year’s team will not get to enjoy the benefits of Under Armour’s support.

“I’m jealous that we didn’t get this kind of thing while I was here,” senior captain Tanner Scott said.

“Truth is though, I’m just happy that we got to this point. We have worked so hard through the years and a sponsorship is well deserved.”

Tracy Cook can be reached at tcook@stoganews.com.

PAGE 22 THE SPOKE

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G0

Cleaning up fanatic Philly behavior

1GUR3

Fans who threw D-cell batteries at J.D. Drew

43

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

SPORTS

Years since Eagles fans threw snowballs at Santa

Minutes Eagles fans booed Cow boy, Michael Irvin, af ter he suffered a career- ending neck injury All statistics as of May 4.

Maddie Amsterdam Staff Reporter Philadelphia sports fans have a reputation for booing people like Santa Claus, their own star players and, most recently, Osama bin Laden.

Passion for the game is one thing, but there is a fine line between enthusiasm and disrespect; Philadelphia fans have crossed it.

GQ Magazine released the list of “The Worst Sports Fans in America” in late April. To no one’s surprise, the “City of Brotherly Love” was voted the meanest sports community in the country. Phillies fans took the number one spot, with Eagles fans right behind them in second place.

The list claims to be a “heavily researched accounting of bleacher creatures, bottlethrowers, couch-torchers, sexual harassers, projectile vomiters and serially indifferent bandwagon-hoppers marring our national landscape.”

I agree with GQ’s assessment that fans

of the red and green tend to take things too far. Getting rowdy in the stands is fun, until a drunken fan ruins an 11-year-old girl’s ball game by intentionally covering the child in vomit (as happened last April at Citizens Bank Park). As we dip our toes into what I hope will be another World Series season, remember to keep it classy.

When following the teams, our moods swing up and down with their successes and failures. In Philadelphia, particularly with the Eagles and Phillies, we care if they win or lose—you won’t see enthusiasm like that at a Los Angeles Dodgers game. For our

venue—the sterile, concrete Veterans Stadium—you might understand the barbaric behavior. Thirty years ago, there was no Philly Phanatic, and the Vet had little to offer fans.

Citizens Bank does not allow smoking in the stadium and alcohol is not served to spectators after the seventh inning. With these improvements, incidents of foul language and obnoxiousness have become more of the exception than the norm.

The choice is now ours. With top-notch teams and state-of-the-art facilities, we have the opportunity to make Philadelphia one of the best places to enjoy sports in the nation.

Now that the Philadelphia Phillies have become more successful on the field, isn’t it time for everyone in the stands to turn over a new leaf? As games continue to sell out, we should make sure that our sporting events are fun for people of all ages, regardless of which team they’re cheering for. Opposing teams’ fans, though they should be intimidated by our team’s successes, should not have to worry for their safety in the stands.

We can continue with our crude behavior and remain the meanest sports community in the country, or we can step up to the plate and become the kind of fans our teams deserve.

“To no one’s surprise, the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ was voted the meanest sports community in the country.” fans, the game is beyond entertainment; we have allowed it to become an important part of our lives, so I understand the occasional booing and bad-mouthing. But is it necessary to take enthusiasm so far that the nastiness of our fans overshadows our success?

The new ballpark has set the stage for a family-oriented atmosphere and we need to embrace that. If you take a look at the old

Maddie Amsterdam can be reached at mamsterdam@stoganews.com.

Tina Pan for The SPOKE

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

SPORTS

Player Profile #33 Jill Schnall, Third Base Q: What do you do to get ready for a game?

Q: What, in your opinion, is your greatest sports accomplishment?

A: I sit in the very back of the bus and listen to my iPod.

A: Playing on a team that took 4th place at 18U ASA Eastern Nationals.

Q: What’s your favorite pump-up song before a game?

Q: Where have you committed to play in college?

A: “The Pretender” by The Foo Fighters.

A: Haverford College.

Q: What is your fondest sports memory?

Q: Why Haverford?

A: Beating Upper Darby in the first round of Districts last year after they beat us twice in the regular season.

A: I love the close-knit environment of Haverford, and it provides me with the perfect balance of athletics and academics.

Q: How long have you been playing softball?

Q: What has been your favorite aspect of playing for Conestoga?

Q: If you could play any other sport, what would it be?

A: I have been playing softball for nine years.

A: My teammates are awesome and everyone supports one another.

Q: What inspired you to start playing?

Q: Do you play softball outside of Conestoga?

A: I would want to be a gymnast.

The stunts look really cool, and the sport looks like a lot of fun.

A: I had just moved into the school district, and I wanted to get to know other kids.

A: I have been playing for the Sellersville Belles for two years.

Q: If you could be in the stands at any softball game in history, what would it be?

PAGE 23 THE SPOKE

A: I would want to be at the 2004 Olympic Games where USA beat Australia 5-1.

Q: Which athlete do you admire most?

A: Cat Osterman. She is extremely dedicated and an amazing player.

Luke Rafferty photos/The SPOKE

Practice makes perfect: ’Stoga teams hard at work

Volume 61, No. 6

INSIDE

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

Teams bond beyond the turf See p. 20

Fans in city of notso-brotherly love See p. 22

Charging ahead Boys lacrosse considers team sponsorship See p. 21

stoganews Go online for an extended photo

.com

gallery from the lacrosse season.

Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE