The Lariat - Back to Normal - May 2021 by The Lariat

Issue IV, May 2021

Congrats to the CCHS Class of 2021! A special congratulations to all The Lariat seniors that have worked so hard on the paper during their high school career. We are so proud of you and we know that you all will go on to do amazing things in the future!

Arielle Kraus Print Editor-in-Chief

Emma Huerta Online Editor-in-Chief

Sasheen Joseph Head Editor

Ryan Merard Head Editor

Jaelyn Yeampierre Head Editor

Camila Fernandez General Editor

Karen Suros General Editor

Alyssa Khan Staff Writer

Sofia Mendez Staff Writer

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MEET our STAFF Print Editor-in-Chief Arielle Kraus

Assistant Print Editor Kamdyn Roher

Online Editor-in-Chief Emma Huerta

Staff Writers Alyssa Khan Sofia Mendez Nicole Nadler Nina Ramirez Addison Roberts

Managing Editor Kayla Gates Head Editors Sasheen Joseph Ryan Merard Jaelyn Yeampierre General Editors Camila Fernandez Chris Gomes Karen Suros Editorial Assistant Elena Ashburn

Photographer Anabella Garcia Illustrators Sofie Kahlig Mia Tunon Adviser Fallan Patterson

LETTER from the EDITORS

Dear reader, Welcome to the fourth and final issue of the school year! We began this year with the “new normal,” as the COVID-19 pandemic changed everyone. With vaccinations and decreasing restrictions, the world is slowly but surely returning “back to normal.” Thus, The Lariat recognizes this with the theme of our final issue.

On behalf of The Lariat, we would like to wish our CCHS seniors the best of luck on their future endeavors. After this vastly different year, we know you will persevere and succeed in all that you do. We wish everyone a relaxing, exciting and fun summer. As this Lariat team completes their final year, it has been our honor to serve the CCHS community. Thank you to everyone who has read our issues this year. We greatly appreciate your support of this student-run publication. Happy reading! Sincerely, Arielle Kraus, Emma Huerta and Kayla Gates

ON the COVER

This issue of The Lariat is themed to celebrate how the world is slowly returning back to normal after a truly unconventional school year. Inspired by the iconic movie "Back to the Future," the cover signals a hopeful future for Cowboys with nods to the upcoming in-person graduation for the Class of 2021 and the COVID-19 vaccines. As the 2020-2021 school year winds down, The Lariat wishes everyone a safe, healthy and joyful summer. Illustration by Sofie Kahlig and Kamdyn Roher All graphics and images not credited to The Lariat staff comply with fair use standards.

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Prom in photos

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Photos by Sasheen Joseph

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Underclassmen Awards

The new way to celebrate academic success

Each year the academically excellent are commemorated with a ceremony and award for their valiant effort throughout the duration of the school year. However, that was put on pause last year. Because the 2019-2020 school year academic awards were cancelled last year due to coronavirus for logistical reasons, the staff had to recognize last year's recipients as well as this year's winners at the awards event.. However, last year’s juniors were not included and instead were honored at the senior awards ceremony. This year, students were notified

by a letter in the mail that they would be receiving an award, as well as where to find the link. As it was not in-person, the awards night was conducted as a live Microsoft Teams event that took place from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on April 20. This year’s underclassmen awards featured an introduction video by Principal Vera Perkovic as well as each department head listing off all of the award recipients. This year the event’s organizer, guidance counselor Ronald Ziccardi, had to get crafty with its presentation. He had to make the executive decision for the

ceremony to remain virtual as well as to figure out how this virtual event would work. Though this event was very successful and effective, many Cowboys cannot wait to get back to in-person events to see their teachers, friends, and interact with their peers. Disclaimer: Nicole Nadler attended this event as a reporter and award recipient.

BY NICOLE NADLER Photos by Elena Ashburn READ MORE AT: thelariatonline.com

Senior Awards

CCHS hosts in-person Senior Awards Night for students For one of the first times during their senior year, the Class of 2021 felt a sense of normalcy as they gathered with their peers, teachers and administration to celebrate their successes. Senior Night took place on May 13 in the CCHS auditorium. Seniors came on an invitation-only basis and were recognized for scholarships, departmental awards and various other awards. The night began with the announcement of scholarships from over 15 different organizations. The Class of 2021 students were awarded about $45,000 that night to support their future endeavors. Following this event, awards were given for various categories of importance including Community Service, Straight “A” Students and Scholar Athletes. The Perfect Attendance award was given to one senior– Kirk Dourvetakis–who was awarded $500 for his dedication to his high school attendance. CCHS recognized their numerous National Merit Scholars and this year had three finalists: Ander Diez, Ryan Lewis

and Isabella Geraci. Additionally, four students were recognized as Broward County CCHS Outstanding Senior Leaders: Student Government Association (SGA) President Emily Aaron, NJROTC Chief Staff Officer Gabriela Fernandez, Class of 2021 President Victoria Pera and Latinos in Action (LIA) President Vicky Sotomayor. Miami Herald Silver Knight nominees for the 2020-2021 school year received a medal to recognize their nomination for this prestigious award. The nominees include: Brooke Bartel (Business), Jordan Bartel (General Scholarship), Michael Cline (Digital and Interactive Media), Rachel Goldberg (Drama), Emma Huerta (Social Science), Arielle Kraus (Journalism), Anand Mathi (English Literature) and Kaylyn Myers (Science). Then, each CCHS academic department and career-technical program gave out awards from the 2019-2020 school year as these awards were unable to be given out last year due to the pandemic. Additionally, a 2020-2021 medal was given

on behalf of the entire department to select seniors. SGA and class officers were also recognized for their commitment to CCHS throughout their time as officers. The recognitions concluded with five outstanding awards in the areas of Outstanding Citizenship, Outstanding Leadership, Outstanding School Spirit, Outstanding Service and Most Outstanding. The awards went to the following students: Arielle Kraus (Outstanding Citizenship), Emily Aaron (Outstanding Leadership), Jake Hicks (Outstanding School Spirit), Rachel Goldberg (Outstanding Service), Maddie Valachovic (Most Outstanding Girl) and Tyler Flowers (Most Outstanding Boy). Disclaimer: Arielle Kraus attended this event as a reporter and award recipient.

BY ARIELLE KRAUS Photos by Emma Huerta READ MORE AT: thelariatonline.com

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Above: Senior Victoria Chacon and Littlest Cowboys preschooler Rocco attending in-person Early Childhood Education class.

A RETURN TO NORMALCY? Mandatory in-person Classes will resume next year

Broward County Public Schools not mad at the idea,” junior Emily Ching which have highlighted the academic, social (BCPS) has announced that schools will said. “Promoting in-person learning can and emotional challenges that many of our return to the classroom this fall, according boost student morale. I’m fine with it being students have had with remote learning,” to former Superintendent Robert Runcie. mandatory as long as it becomes a requirement Runcie said. “We know some certainly have “Broward County Public Schools that we already have two doses of the vaccine.” been successful, but there have been many, will open the 2021-2022 school year, with The availability of vaccines has that it’s certainly been a big challenge.” 100% in-person, traditional face-to-face been the an obstacle to returning to in- It appears that this is the main drive instruction at all schools this fall; for the county to return to inthere will be no blended hybrid person learning. School has been remote learning,” Runcie said. removed from the engagement This school year has that it had before the pandemic, been far from ideal for many with many clubs and other students and staff, with student activities diminishing during engagement at an all-time low. the process. Remote learning Students and staff have had to can be overwhelming for some. undergo a hybrid remote system, For those who have with those who chose to go to concerns over the return to inschool receiving much of the person learning or those who same education as those who have adapted to remote learning chose to go remote. Microsoft and prefer it over traditional faceTeams has been used to manage to-face instruction, an alternative student attendance in classes. is available. Students who want a A return to face- Above: English teacher Shauna Mogan’s third period class working virtual option can attend Broward to-face instruction can be Virtual School, but will have hard in school. extremely beneficial to both to be unenrolled from CCHS. students and teachers. Online school person learning, but the administration of Mandatory in-person learning limits interaction, which leads to the vaccines in school has helped more CCHS can be seen as a return to normalcy, if classroom being monotonous and get vaccinated. It is important to recognize it is timed right. If vaccines are more boring for both students and teachers. that the world is still living through a global widespread and infections are lower, Returning to face-to-face pandemic, with many uncertainties around returning to traditional in-person learning instruction can help to avoid this monotonous the virus still present. Because of this, a return can be beneficial for students and staff. saga. The main obstacle, COVID-19, still to in-person learning cannot be rushed. BY CHRIS GOMES remains a year later. However, with the Runcie has said that it’s vital to Photos by Arielle Kraus and Elena recent news of more vaccinations, there resume in-person instruction in schools. is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. “My recommendation is, in large Ashburn “Honestly, I’m part based on our experiences this past year, 6 news

To the finish line Seniors talk about their post-graduation plans

As the 2020-2021 school year rapidly comes to a close, high school seniors are finalizing their plans for college and the distant future. CCHS seniors were asked, “what are your plans for after graduation, whether it be summer or college plans?” Here’s what they said:

Alton Tassy, senior “After graduation, I plan on getting a different job as well as attending college. I plan on building life skills and meeting new people. I will also focus on training and working myself to the limits.”

Chloe Silver, senior “After graduation I plan on attending the University of Florida beginning in the summer. I will be majoring in psychology with a minor in business.”

Mholly Joseph, senior “After graduating from CCHS, I plan to attend either [the University of Central Florida] UCF or the University of Alabama to pursue a marketing degree. This summer I plan to just spend lots of time with friends before we all leave and have fun.”

Jordan Bartel, senior “My plans for after graduation are to travel and go to as many different places as I can (if they’re COVID permitted) before going to school. I’m going to be a business major so I can take over for my family’s business once I graduate.”

Molly Golding, senior “After graduation, I plan on enjoying a summer with my friends and family before going up to [the University of Florida] UF for college. I plan on swimming on the women’s team up there and majoring in environmental engineering.”

READ MORE AT: thelariatonline.com BY ALYSSA KHAN

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NEW IN THE NEWS

TOP BREAKING STORIES AROUND COOPER CITY

With a pandemic, political turmoil and other events impacting the community every day, it is no secret that it has been a tumultuous couple of months—and a difficult time to stay in the know, at that. In order to simplify the currently dynamic field of news, here are some of the top local stories making headlines in and around Cooper City.

NO APPOINTMENT, NO PROBLEM CCHS OFFERS ON-CAMPUS COVID-19 VACCINES TO STUDENTS Similar to online Ticketmaster queues, booking a COVID-19 vaccine appointment has been an uphill battle for some eligible individuals. However, for CCHS students, getting vaccinated has never been easier. On May 12 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., vaccines were administered to students ages 16 and over at CCHS. This comes in light of Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) beginning to provide vaccines at six different school campuses beginning on May 4 and continuing until May 13. Each of the six BCPS schools selected were visited over the course of the eight-day period, including CCHS

on its vaccination day on May 12. On that day, staff from the Broward County Health Department visited and provided first doses of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. Vaccines were given on a walk-up basis, and no appointment was necessary. Students ages 16-17 had to be accompanied by a parent or guardian in order to receive the shot. All necessary information on the vaccine was provided, including any consent forms and details on when and how to receive the second dose.

“OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!” SENIORS CELEBRATE THEIR COLLEGE PLANS ON ACADEMIC SIGNING DAY Spring is in the air and so is the fastly approaching end to the 2020-2021 school year. As the Class of 2021 inches closer to graduation, many plans for after high school have been decided upon by the seniors. All decisions of the class were celebrated at CCHS’s annual Academic Signing Day—also known as Decision Day—on April 30, as organized by the Class of 2021 officers, Broward Advisors for Continuing Education (BRACE) Advisor Christine Siwek and the senior team. Seniors were invited to be on campus that day and visited the Red Awning during both A and B lunch for the event. In tune with the yearly tradition, the students decorated index cards with their names, pictures and post-secondary plans which were displayed on the Academic Signing Day poster. Snow cones were served and games and photo opportunities were also organized. As all who attended the event followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, the graduating class was able to live a classic senior tradition despite the circumstances at hand.

Photos by Sasheen Joseph

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AN ENGINEER IN THE MAKING CCHS SENIOR ALEX GALLARDO RECEIVES AMAZON FUTURE ENGINEER SCHOLARSHIP Senior Alex Gallardo was selected as one of 100 recipients to win the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship. This prestigious award consists of a $10,000 scholarship over four years (totaling $40,000), a paid summer internship with Amazon and Advanced Placement (AP) class support and test prep with Amazon Engineers. With a plan to attend the University of Florida, be a part of the STEPUP Engineering program and later pursue a career in the field of computer science, this scholarship was the perfect award for Gallardo’s future endeavors. “To this day, I can't believe that I'm honored with this award. I'm just so surprised. I have to keep checking the box of Amazon goodies that I received to make sure it's real. I am honored to receive this amazing award from Amazon and proud to represent Cooper City High School,” Gallardo said. “I am going to major in Computer Science to create technology and software that benefits

everyone across the world, regardless of race, gender, age or income.”

Photo courtesy of Alex Gallardo

MOVING FORWARD CCHS ALUMNUS REPS SOUTH FLORIDA AS HE GETS DRAFTED INTO THE NFL Reaching the professional league of any sport is a dream for many athletes, and for one particular CCHS alumnus, this dream has recently turned into reality. Rashad Weaver, who was part of the CCHS Class of 2016, is soon to be playing professional football in the National Football League (NFL). The Tennessee Titans picked up Weaver with the 30th pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on May 1. Weaver is now the second player to get drafted from CCHS, with the first one being Olindo Mare, who was drafted by the New York Giants in 1996 and spent 16 years in the league. During Weaver’s time at CCHS, Weaver did not just play football; he was a two-sport athlete as he also played basketball for three years. However, he decided to invest his future into football as he was

gaining multiple offers from schools across the nation. He committed to the University of Michigan, but later decommitted and ultimately chose to take his talents to the University of Pittsburgh. He plays as a defensive tackle and his high-ranking pass rushing helped him catch the attention of scouts in his final year of college. He was designated as a first team All-America athlete by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Walter Camp Football Foundation in 2020, which is just one of the many accolades he received in his college career. Coming from Cooper City to Pittsburgh and now to Tennessee, Weaver is getting ready to take on professional football.

THE NEWS THAT APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE ROBERT RUNCIE ARRESTED FOR PERJURY AND BCPS TRANSITIONING TO A NEW SUPERINTENDENT Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Superintendent Robert Runcie, the individual who has already been dealing with controversy since the Parkland school shooting in 2018, has seemed to have dug himself into a deeper hole. Runcie was recently arrested on a count of perjury (lying under oath) during one of his testimonies in front of a state grand jury. He was arrested alongside a school board attorney named Barbara Myrick, who was charged with disclosing the grand jury’s top-secret proceedings. Both of them have since been released and their actions are to be further investigated. Due to this incident, Runcie has offered to resign from his position. During his final days, the county hopes to transition to a new superintendent and they are currently taking applications until June

1. Runcie’s contract ends in 2023 but the school board does not want to wait that long, which is why they have to make a deal. This deal would designate his last day as a district employee to be August 10. One part of this whole situation that may seem shocking is how much money Runcie is leaving with. BCPS plans to pay Runcie a total of $754,900, with $141,962.35 of that payment covering all of the sick days he has left in his contract. The rest of the payment will cover costs such as vacation days, attorney fees and his state pension. This deal seemed like the better option for Broward County representatives, because if they would have let Runcie finish the rest of his contract, it is projected that they would be paying him about two million dollars.

BY EMMA HUERTA, RYAN MERARD, AND ARIELLE KRAUS READ MORE AT: thelariatonline.com

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C alling all Cowboys CCHS clubs in need of student involvement As the 2020-2021 virtual school year comes to a close, CCHS extracurriculars have begun their preparation for the fall. With students required to return to campus, many are hoping for some sense of normalcy. However, an overall decline in club participation remains a consistent issue. Due to the circumstances of the particular school year, all clubs have been held virtually through Microsoft Teams meetings. For many, a lack of engagement was not surprising, as teachers have noted similar occurrences within regular classes. However, the decline appears to be growing. Across campus, CCHS club leaders have expressed their concerns regarding participation. Many have observed decreasing membership and meeting attendance more severe than in years prior. Despite attempts to keep up club engagement, many have struggled to provide incentive. “The vast majority of my clubs have seen a tangible drop in attendance,” junior Dylan Bober said. “Some, like Current Events Club, have adapted to the online format. However, other clubs are struggling to attract half or a third of their previous attendance.” The situation poses a threat to the clubs themselves. Without members, many clubs are being forced to cease meetings or shut down entirely. Model United Nations (MUN) and Liberty in North Korea (LINK) are just some of the many clubs that have stopped official meetings this year. With preparation underway for next school year, clubs continue to observe similar patterns. As one of the largest clubs on campus, the National Honor Society typically receives close to 100 applicants each year, accepting around 50 members. However, sponsor Lindsay Roberts reported approximately 50 applicants for the 2021-22 school year, with only half actually being accepted. The involvement issue does not only apply to membership. With many clubs currently holding elections for their executive boards, many sponsors have observed a lack of 10 news motivation to run. With fewer motivated

members, many are searching for students they can encourage to apply. However, from this situation stems another issue. As current leaders encourage prospective ones to run, many students have felt that they are being persuaded to take on positions they cannot handle. With few motivated members, those students who have shown any form of involvement are being pressured to take on new leadership, sometimes across multiple clubs. “I’ve noticed a lot of clubs I’m in have had to remove entire positions or delegate tasks,” junior Ana Rodriguez said. “Not enough people are interested in taking leadership roles while school is online.” This new dilemma will account for the leadership patterns observed next year. With the same students taking on multiple officer positions, it seems as though all clubs will be run by only a small group of students. “It’s disheartening, but understandable,” Student Government Association (SGA) sponsor Natalie Flaten said. “It’s hard to get excited to do activities in a virtual environment. So it becomes that we as student leaders are not so excited about putting things together because of the mentality [that] nobody cares.” The situation is unfavorable for both club sponsors and this small group of student leaders. However, the school is taking strides to combat the issue. As students return to campus in the fall, administration plans to kick off the school year with its traditional Rush Week. Clubs hope that this re-exposure along with a return to normalcy will get extracurriculars back on track. In the meantime, both club sponsors and leaders are encouraging students to continue participating in their organizations and seek out involvement in new ones. Regardless of the current circumstances, CCHS is dependent on student involvement for extracurriculars. Disclaimer: Kayla Gates is the president of NHS.

BY KAYLA GATES Illustration by Sofie Kahlig

PRESERVING HISTORY The Class of 2021 time capsule

The Class of 2021 has faced immense challenges this year. It has been a senior year that no student would have ever imagined for themselves. People always say that senior year is the best year of high school, but the Class of 2021 didn’t get the chance to experience the traditional version of this. CCHS and the Broward County School District have been trying their best to give the Class of 2021 all the senior experiences they can get. A recent event that is in the process of being put together is a time capsule to celebrate the 50th gradutating class of CCHS. The senior Class of 2021 is nothing less than unique, which makes this the perfect year to document in such a way. Besides putting in items that best represent the 2020-2021 school year, an essay written by a senior will be included. The essay will be chosen through a contest; seniors are able to write an essay about their senior year experience along with all the hardships they faced. The goal is to document this historic year with a firsthand perspective,

so the story can live on in 50 years when the time capsule is opened. Member of the Education Advisory Board Jena McClure talked about how this idea came to be and her hopes for it. “The idea for the time capsule came during an Education Advisory Board Meeting. Since this is the 50th class of CCHS, it was the perfect time to do it. We started on the project right away,” McClure said. “We decided together with Principal Perkovic that it would be best to put it into a display case rather than bury it. This way everyone will see it and it won’t get lost. We are hoping that in 50 years the community members that open it will see what it was like to live during a truly historic time. We want them to see the everyday things that the kids use today as well as a snapshot of living and going to school during a pandemic.” Individuals today won’t forget about the coronavirus and everything it did to the world, but in 50 years teenagers might not understand how challenging of a time it was. Reflecting on the good

Photos by Emma Huerta and The Lariat Photography Illustration by Sofie Kahlig

and bad moments of these times will allow those in our community to have a deeper understanding of just what life was like in 2020-2021. Senior class sponsor Nicole Hicks expressed her excitement for the time capsule and it’s meaning for the class of 2021. “I think the time capsule will be meaningful for this class, and all the students at CCHS, because we are living through unusual times with many changes that will likely alter the way we live life and think about things going forward,” Hicks said. “I think it makes the timeliness of this time capsule unique. It will be like opening history in real time when the capsule is opened 50 years from now. I am excited to see what seniors write to capture this time from their perspective.” In 50 years, the time capsule will be a blast to the past. The memory of the Class of 2021 will live on and this special year will never be forgotten because of the time capsule.

BY ALYSSA KHAN

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2021 LANDMARKS A HISTORIC SENIOR CLASS

As the 2021 graduating class prepares to leave their high school careers behind, many are looking back on the historic landmarks that such students have experienced. While every class faces unique circumstances, this year’s seniors have conquered numerous, u npre c e d e nte d f e a t s . M o s t notably, the Class of 2021 was the first to participate in a full year of school during the coronavirus pandemic. While the COVID-19 outbreak began at the end of last year, interrupting the Class of 2020’s final

Class of 2021’s entire senior year. The Class of 2021 began their senior year online, participating in the virtual schooling that was implemented during the end of their j u n i o r year. Most seniors will be ending their year online as well, as only some students have returned to on-campus learning. “I really enjoyed virtual learning for the first semester,” senior Emma Jakus said. “But I wanted to come back [in-person] for the rest of my senior year.” While the Class of 2021 missed out on events such as their senior homecoming, they have been granted others that the Class of 2020 could not have. For the first time ever, prom is being held in the CCHS courtyard in order to

560

approximate class size

g r a d u at i o n will be the first of its k i nd.

Silver Knight Nominees

“Having t h e opportunity for the senior class to hold a prom and in-person graduation is so exciting,” senior Sarah Slann said. “[It has been] a year of lots of missing out.” Another major landmark for the Class of 2021 was their change in administration. Former Principal Wendy Doll retired at the conclusion of the 20192020 school year. Current Principal Vera Perkovic took over at the start of the

74,360 cumulative service hours

months of school, i t has remained present throughout the

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accommodate social distancing guidelines. Most recently, the Class of 2021 was permitted to have an in-person graduation. However, district guidelines have limited many of the traditional aspects of the event, including the number of attendees. This year’s

20202021 school year, making this year’s senior class the first without Doll.

“The change in leadership has been extremely nice,” senior Sabrina Rapoport said. “Although I feel bad for Ms. Perkovic, considering she was given a very complicated terrain to start on, you can clearly see she is doing her best.” More

and staff will remember her time at CCHS. Next year’s seniors will never have known her personally as their teacher, unlike the Class of 2021. A s

yet another landmark, the Class of 2021 was the last to experience the Marjory Stone man Douglass (MSD) tragedy as a high school student. The Broward County school shooting occurred on February 14, 2018, the Class of 2021’s

3 National Merit Scholarship Finalists

unfortunately, however, the Class of 2021 also experienced significant losses, ones which next year’s seniors will not remember. In the summer of 2018, as the Class of 2021 prepared to move from freshman to sophomore year, it was announced that ninthgrade language arts teacher Nicole Hobin had passed away. The Class of 2021 was the last to have had Hobin as a teacher. Since her passing, CCHS has made great efforts to honor her memory. The campus now features the Hobin Memorial Garden and mural. However, in the years to come, only faculty

freshman year of high school. This year’s seniors will be the last to have experienced the tragedy as CCHS students. With the various landmarks established during the time that the Class of 2021 spent at CCHS, it is safe to say that this year’s seniors will be a historic g radu at ing group. From

50th

graduating class of Cooper City High School

awarded over

witnessing tragedy to experiencing a significant change in leadership to graduating during a pandemic, the Class of 2021 conquered numerous feats which those students will certainly never forget.

$6 million in scholarship money

BY KAYLA GATES Photos by Sasheen Joseph

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Chasing changes CCHS seniors finalize their post-graduation plans and decisions As the months of April and May roll in, not only is the spring breeze in the air, but so is something much more daunting: college decisions. This year’s seniors have had nothing short of a tumultuous and strange final year of high school, especially with college applications and post-graduation planning on their plates. Students have a lot to consider when thinking about what to do after high school. Oftentimes, things like financial aid, location, academics and student life, among others, are at the top of students’ lists when deciding where to go after graduation. All of these aspects and more have to be considered so that students can make their decisions usually by early May, since May 1 is National College Decision Day. In light of the pandemic, many prestigious schools’ increased applicant pools, so some decisions are due on May 3. Now, this decision process is all too familiar to CCHS’s very own seniors. With options ranging from instate colleges to technical schools to out-of-state institutions, here are some decisions from the Cowboys Class of 2021.

IN-STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

The state of Florida is home to many esteemed colleges and universities, with schools both public in the State University System and private. These include but are not limited to: the University of Florida (UF), the University of Central Florida (UCF), Florida State University (FSU), Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), the University of South Florida (USF), Flagler College, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Florida International University (FIU) and many more. Many students choose a Florida school for a plethora of reasons—including those listed previously—as well as the added benefits of lower in-state tuition and staying closer to home. Some students attending a Florida institution will be upholding their family legacy of attending said school. This is the case for senior Brooke Bartel, who will be attending UF in the fall. “After I graduate, I plan to attend the University of Florida and major in business,” Bartel said. “I’m very excited for UF considering it’s where I have always wanted to go. I’m actually the 14th person in my family to attend. I’m so excited for the future and can’t wait to go to college!” Florida schools also feature distinct programs that cater to one’s particular interests, whether they be academic, professional, extracurricular or even social. Senior Victoria Chacon, who will be going to FGCU next year, chose her school specifically because of its elementary education program. “I will be majoring in elementary education and studying to become a teacher. I hope to impact children’s lives the same way so many of my teachers impacted mine,” Chacon said. “FGCU’s College of Education is extremely hands-on learning oriented. I get in-field experience from freshman year and I think that it is 14 feature an optimal way to grow great teachers.”

As an aspiring biomedical engineer for athletes, senior Maddie Valachovic also chose her school—FSU—because of its academic program. Additionally, she will be honoring her late uncle, who also attended the university. “My goals for the future are to become a biomedical engineer, work for a professional sports league and work with athletes. I want all athletes to play their sport(s) to the best of their ability and more importantly, I want to help them in their time of need,” Valachovic said. “I chose Florida State because they have a great biomedical engineering program and not every school offer[s] this major. More specifically my Uncle Jason, who just passed away from COVID, was a Seminole and it means a lot to my family that I have chosen to follow in his footsteps.”

TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Technical or trade schools train students in a particular field to prepare them for employment. Local trade schools in South Florida include Sheridan Technical College, McFatter Technical College and Florida Technical College. Students looking to pursue industries like cosmetology, culinary arts and automotive technology could find the perfect track at a technical school. These schools also provide guidance for students who may not know exactly what they would like to pursue, but are eager to prepare themselves, learn and soon enter the workforce. Senior Max Feudo, who plans to attend Sheridan Technical College following graduation, looks forward to figuring out more about what the college has to offer for his professional studies. “After I graduate, I’m going to Sheridan Technical College,” Feudo said. “I don’t know much about Sheridan Technical College but I’m learning more information about Sheridan Technical College. [I feel] pretty good [about graduating].”

OUT-OF-STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

For some seniors, high school graduation is their ticket out of the state of Florida. In certain cases, students find their best fit in an out-of-state institution that accommodates their interests in different aspects of the college experience. While Florida houses some schools, many of the nation’s best schools are in states in the west or northeast of the country. Even though such schools may be more expensive or intimidating, seniors seeking a big change and a specialized experience at a particular institution could choose to go out-of-state. This is the case for early graduate of the Class of 2021

Where are Class of 2021 grads headed?

Matthew Milotakis, who will be attending Roger Williams University (RWU) in Rhode Island to explore their unique English program. “[RWU has] an incredible English program there and also [has] an abroad program there to travel to England,” Milotakis said. “I plan to go to England for my job of either publishing, writing or being a professor. I would love to do writing, then become a publisher (those are interchangeable) and then retire and become a professor all in England.” Senior Sarah Slann found her best match outside of Florida, too. She will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall to pursue International Relations with a sub-major in Global Environment and Health. “I decided to go to UMich because I love the diversity and culture that it offers,” Slann said. “Ann Arbor is such an amazing city with so much to offer and the school itself of[fers] the best of both worlds: great academics and a great social scene.” As an aficionado of the arts, senior Will Barringer was in search of a school that could prepare him for a career in theater. He found this at Western Michigan University (WMU), where he will be attending in the fall. “I’ve loved and wanted to pursue theatre my whole life and this school [WMU] has everything I wanted in a university,

from the incredibly nice teachers and welcoming students to the challenging and amazing classes that will help me perfect my skills as an aspiring actor,” Barringer said. “I can’t wait to get out of the Florida heat and into the cold and spend the next four years doing what I love most, at the university I dreamed of attending!” It goes without saying that these CCHS seniors and many others had much to consider when choosing what to do and where to go after high school graduation. Nonetheless, the variety of opportunities in existence provide sufficient options for such students to find that “best fit.” Whether it’s at an out-of-state college, in-state university, technical school or another path, students can find the perfect place for them to succeed after high school.

BY EMMA HUERTA Illustrations by Elena Ashburn Photo by Emma Huerta

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GOING PRO What it takes to make it in college and professional sports Many people play sports as a kid, maybe even up to the high school level. But what if you wanted to further your career in that sport? What if you wanted to go all the way? What would it take? “Dedication. Hard work and dedication,” former college football player at Florida International University (FIU) Michael Montero said. “I have been playing football since I was eight years old and I started to take it seriously when I reached high school.” Players at this level work hard physically, yet the tribulations of this elite level of sport do not stop there. Players have to live balanced lives, keep up with their studies and sacrifice most, if not, all of their free time. “At the college level, I was doing two and a half hours of high intensity training every day, Monday through Friday,” Montero said. “Keeping up with my school work and all of the training I was doing, there was not much time to do much else.” Many believe that parents’ involvement in their child’s athletic career is essential to reaching a higher level. They have the mentality that they sometimes have to push them to strive for that level. “Once I saw that football is something that he loved to do, all I did was encourage him,” Michael Montero’s mother Frances Montero said. “I supported him in any way I could, but I let him decide what he wanted to do.” One thing that drives a player to advance is competition among their fellow teammates. “Having someone to push yourself against pushes you to reach another level,” Montero's former teammate and college football player Trent Saunders said. “The skill gap between players is so much smaller at that level, so we were always pushing each other to be the best that we can be.” To become a college-level athlete clearly takes hard work and discipline, among other things. But what if you are pursuing a level beyond that: the professional level? Both Montero and Saunders sought out this level and came as close as being considered in National Football League (NFL) tryouts for the Miami Dolphins. Out of the thousands of players who will try out

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for the NFL each year, a mere 1.6 percent of them will make it onto a team. Other estimations show even slimmer chance than that. “If I had to give advice to someone looking to get into the NFL, I’d tell them to do their best but don’t get their hopes up,” Saunders said. “The odds are stacked against you.” Montero also commented on the challenging process of aiming for the NFL. “It takes another level of skill to be chosen for the NFL. You not only have to reach the physical requirements for the position you want to play, but you have to somehow stand out among the hundreds of other guys just like you that also want that position,” Montero said. “Even after meeting the requirements for the position, I still wasn’t chosen.” Trying to reach this level in other sports proves to be the same endeavor. “I had practice every weekday,” former baseball player David Johnson said. “With two of the practices being strictly exercise and the other three being technical drills. I had been playing baseball since I was four years old and played until college. I put loads of hard work into bettering myself and my skills. At the different levels of the sport the attitude becomes more and more competitive, and the training becomes more intense. After playing at the college level and even going to an MLB [Major League Baseball] tryout, I began to plateau.” Few athletes can make it to the very top. Even after dedicating years of their lives to reaching such a goal, there are just limited spots at such a level. “At a certain point, I had to realize that reaching the level I strived for wasn’t going to happen,” Johnson said.

BY ELEUTHERIOS “TED” KALLERGIS, SPECIAL TO THE LARIAT Photos by Kayla Gates Baseball photo courtesy of A’lana Martinez

A refreshing addition to Cooper City A review of Bahia Bowls Across the street from CCHS, the Cooper Square Retail Plaza has added yet another establishment by the name of Bahia Bowls. It has recently opened to the public, having employed some CCHS students and it seems to be gaining an astonishingly positive reputation among the public for obvious reasons. Between the smoothie bowl-dominated menu, the decor and the atmosphere, it’s no wonder why many people have made their visit to this lovely eatery. When it comes to the menu, the perfect word to describe it would be refreshing. Bahia Bowls offers a variety of options that are both satisfying and healthy. Their specialty smoothie bowls are a mixture of beautiful colors with their blends and toppings consisting of fruit, seeds and loads more. They make sure that there’s something for everyone with individual and different tastes. According to the owner, their Tidal Wave bowl is the most popular item among customers, incorporating their spirulina blend topped with granola, banana, pineapple, blueberries, coconut and condensed milk. Despite being the most popular menu item, bowls are far from the only item offered at Bahia Bowls. They have multiple options from toast loaded with delectable items and smoothies, along with protein bites. The toast toppings vary from avocado, eggs and seasoning to Nutella and strawberries. The smoothies and protein bites also have a wide array of options that will surely please every customer. As for the decor, pure positivity radiates off of the eatery. As soon as you walk in,

the aesthetic is gorgeous and you are surrounded by decorations that are adorable and welcoming. There are tables and chairs right by the front door, windows with a nice view of the plaza and stunning lavender flowers on the counter. Flowers can be seen throughout the establishment, brightening the atmosphere and giving it a wondrous glow. Additionally, they have euphoric artwork on display. Above a counter with floral decorations that offers sugar packets, cream, hand sanitizer and napkins is a frame of an aquatic scene that is sure to release serotonin in every customer. It’s also important to mention that they have a sturdy and cool refrigerator that offers water, orange juice, coconut water, acai water and more for anyone wanting a simple yet tasty drink. The service was absolutely exceptional and nothing short of friendly. Both the owner and employees were there to greet every customer with a warm smile and positive attitude. They make sure to give you exactly something you love by asking if you’d like to remove an item or add extra items from your order. The owner also has no shame in asking customers how they’re liking their order and if they’re satisfied. Overall, Bahia Bowls is an amazing place for eating yummy food with a healthy twist while winding down in an astonishingly friendly environment.

BY NINA RAMIREZ Photos by Emma Huerta

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Sexual harassment is unfortunately a normal occurrence in high schools around the country. It is all too common to hear a sexually suggestive comment said in the cafeteria, to see someone get grabbed inappropriately by a passerby in the hallway or to receive Snapchats asking for nude photos. In fact, it is so common in school that about half of all seventh to twelfth grade students have experienced some form of sexual harassment. Over 50% of female students and 40% of male students have been sexually harrassed and about 9 out of 10 LGBTQ+ students have experienced an assault. Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual behavior; it can range from sexual comments to the solicitation of sex to catcalling and groping. The key is that the behavior is unwanted; if one party is not comfortable with the behavior, it can be considered sexual harassment. It does not happen in secret. In fact, over 60% of all in-school sexual harassment happens in the presence of a teacher. Yet, only 9% of seventh

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to twelfth grade students report their incidents to school staff and only a quarter of students tell a family member or trusted friend. As students, Cowboys need to do more to combat sexual harassment on campus. No student should ever feel uncomfortable or disrespected at CCHS and it is up to the school population to ensure that it does not happen. But to create a safer environment for everyone, students need to know what sexual harassment is. Many students are unaware of what counts as sexual harassment and may even be unaware of when it is happening to them. Lack of knowledge enables harassers as well; about 40% of students who sexually harassed others thought that what they did was “no big deal” and said that they were just “trying to be funny.” Perhaps if more students knew about the negative effects that 87% of students said sexual harassment had on them, fewer students would be harassed by their peers and more bystanders would call out sexual harassment when they see it. There needs to be a

push for education on sexual harassment; discussions need to happen about sexual harassment in schools, not only to create more awareness but also to inform students on what kind of resources are available to them if they are harrassed. CCHS students are encouraged to turn to a trusted adult if they feel harassed or uncomfortable, or if they witness someone else being harassed. “The first thing that the student needs to do is to report any harassment or action to an adult, their parent or [an] administrator or their counselor,” CCHS assistant principal Teresita Chipi said. “[If] they report it at school, we’ll take it from there.” Because of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, any school that receives money from the government is legally bound to take action against sexual harassment. After reported harassment, an investigation will take place and everything will be kept entirely confidential. Students that report sexual harassment also have the full support and resources of CCHS’s guidance

team and administration. “We are here to support them,” Chipi said. “Be it, you know, the [guidance] counselor or the family counselor or the social worker or the school psychologist or the administrator, all of us here, we’re here to help the student out and to ensure that we can help them through the situation.” In addition to school resources, CCHS students have the option of reporting to the Florida Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline. If they are being harassed by a school staff member, they can call a special hotline to report educator misconduct. Sexual harassment should not be a normal part of the school day, but rather having honest discussions about hard topics, calling out classmates for their bad behavior and being supportive of those that have been harassed at school should be normalized. We too should be a part of the solution, so no Cowboy ever has to say #MeToo.

BY ELENA ASHBURN Infographic by Kamdyn Roher

In “Good Kids,” CCHS Thespians handle a sensitive performed in virtual scenes. The drama department has put and important topic: sexual assault and how it affects a school on a few shows so far this year, but “Good Kids” shows serious environment. In the past, the drama program avoided shows that the upgrades in editing, production design and audio and visual school could deem inappropriate, yet “Good Kids” sees a departure quality. Such can be attributed to the troupe’s director, Lucia Deus. from that tradition. “With this play, “Good Kids” I was not only directing tackles the confrontation of the acting, but the editing perspectives that take root as well,” Deus said. after an assault. The student The variety of actors were very realistic and backgrounds used and genuine in their delivery, their relevance to the and the cast plays their plot and characters is challenging roles very well. orchestrated wonderfully as The story is not are transitions and editing. delivered in a linear fashion, While the fact that but instead in a compilation it had to be performed of scenes that highlight the virtually made its execution event from every perspective challenging, the editing and drive home the and style of the play turned emotional beats of the story. out to be one of its biggest Through these scenes, we highlights. The narrator of see the clash of perspectives the story, Dierdre (played between students, adults and by Mia Doucette), serves the media. These perspectives as a virtual information never quite feel heavyoracle which fits the handed and fit into the plot virtual setting quite well. and other dialogue quite well. The use of The impact, both backgrounds, the positive and negative, of integration of social media social media on the situation and other effects enhance is also well-portrayed. The the viewing experience in use of social media creates a way that is unique to the an interesting point about digital medium. Of course, how things have and haven’t it did add difficulty to the changed in regards to the actual filming process. handling of sexual assault “Going off a cue with teens in the digital of someone you can’t age, and the pacing of the see or pretending to show creates a ripple effect, speak to someone while mimicking how word of the staring at your wall while assault travels fast online. Photo courtesy of Alana Agresspahl portraying emotion can be Despite the so difficult,” Dieguez said. difficulty of the topic at hand, Troupe 0784 covered it with powerful Nonetheless, the cast pulled through quite well and poignant grace. Freshman Eddie Dieguez, who played Daphne in with convincing delivery in both dialogue and blocking. the show, made note of the cast’s dedication to handling it with respect. Cast chemistry can make or break plays, especially those “The cast definitely felt a strong duty to bring light with heavy emotional depth. However, “Good Kids” delivers. to such a sensitive issue and do the script justice,” Dieguez BY ADDISON ROBERTS said. “It’s such a raw and emotional play and the cast knew how important it was to portray tastefully from day one.” entertainment 19 What’s even more impressive is that the play is mostly

Looking to cool down? Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is the perfect summer treat

Photos by Arielle Kraus As summertime approaches, Cooper City residents who are looking for new, refreshing ways to cool down may look no further; Jeremiah’s Italian Ice has opened up on Stirling Road, right across the street from CCHS at the new Cooper Square Plaza. They offer an impressive array of flavors for their sweet treats, which include gelati, Italian ice and soft ice cream. Those who are indecisive should beware of the vast arrangement of flavors, including cookie butter, sour green apple, mango, cake batter, strawberry lemon, horchata and more. Luckily, they offer as many free samples as it takes to make the right decision. Not only are there options when it comes to flavors, there are also options when it comes to the way the flavors are served. Customers who want to keep it simple can choose any flavor of Italian ice, which comes in small, medium, large, quart or half-gallon sizes. Another option is soft ice cream, which comes in cones and cups and in the flavors of vanilla, chocolate or swirl. Customers who can’t choose can compromise on gelati and choose any Italian ice flavor to layer with soft ice cream. Italian ice hits just the right spot to cool down when the sun is blazing, especially the fruitier flavors like strawberry lemonade. Combining a refreshing Italian ice with a creamy, flavorful soft serve to make a gelati is just heavenly. Who could refuse such a perfect union? The place, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, itself is colorful and inviting, attracting people to its three windows where the staff is ready to offer free samples with a smile. It is an outdoor space, so customers should keep 20 entertainment an eye on their frosty treats,

especially the melt-prone soft serves. Other than the hot Florida sun, which CCHS students are used to anyway, it is a lovely space. Although it is new to Cooper City, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is no stranger to South Florida. Locations already exist in Coral Springs, West Melbourne and North Naples and new locations are coming to Pembroke Pines, Deerfield, Boca Raton and more. As for pricing, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is on par with most dessert spots, or even cheaper. For gelati, prices range from $3.89 for a small to $7.59 for a quart. For Italian ice, prices range from $2.89 to $8.59. Soft serves vary depending on whether it comes in a cone or a cup, ranging from $3.59 to $7.59. Jeremiah’s Italian Ice now offers layer-ins as well, so customers can include layers of Oreo cookie crumbles, cookie butter crumbles or Hershey’s chocolate chips in their order for $0.99. As an established company, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice has perks to offer for those who join its rewards programs. Jeremiah’s J-List Rewards is an app available on the App Store and Google Play. In order to start earning frozen freebies and sweet rewards, all one has to do is download the app, sign up and begin earning points for transactions using the barcodes on receipts. Receive a free small item just for registering, as well as a free birthday treat and a free item with every $50 spent. Rewards members can also receive exclusive discounts and earn points for every dollar they spend. CCHS students and Cooper City residents should definitely give Jeremiah’s Italian Ice a try; they are sure to be satisfied.

BY KAREN SUROS

Dying pandemic trends THE QUARANTINE FASCINATIONS THAT SEEMINGLY DISAPPEARED IN POPULARITY The coronavirus has been an unwanted segment of society for a little over a year. In that time frame, many trends have come and gone, but it’s always fun to go back in time and reminisce on some fads that eventually died out. Certain foods, video games, movies, digital streaming services, social media applications, fashion and more were common trends that grew in popularity over the time period, as everyone had been granted newfound free time with little to participate in. Here are some now-defunct quarantine trends:

“Among Us” The video game based on a classic tale of murder mystery, “Among Us,” quickly became a hit during the pandemic. The game takes place in a space-themed ship, where players can be either crewmates or imposters. The game was initially released in 2018, but exploded in popularity in 2020, due to popular social media influencers playing the game and streaming it to their fanbases. Since that time in 2020, a new map has been added, with updates to the app occurring somewhat frequently. However, the initial intense hype has died down, as the game became repetitive for many players and seemingly lost the attention span of the general public.

“Tiger King” “Tiger King” is one of the most successful shows that was released and popularized during the pandemic. Released by Netflix in late March 2020, the series focused on the life of Joe Exotic, a zookeeper, and his conflict with Carole Baskin, owner of Big Cat Rescue. The show was quite popular among all viewing audiences, but lost most of its relevance due to other digital shows and movies succeeding it in time. But, a new season is in the works, so perhaps “Tiger King” will rise back to relevance.

“Animal Crossing” At one point in time, it seemed as if everyone had a Nintendo Switch console and had purchased a copy of the game “Animal Crossing.” The game basically has the player control a character and develop an island on their own or with friends. It allows for players to gather and craft items and is relatively simplistic, becoming easy to pick up and play. Its strength was also its weakness in this regard, as players eventually run out of things to do in their island or simply get burnt out. School and work often resumed for students and staff during quarantine, which made the free time allocated to “Animal Crossing” gradually disappear, along with its popularity.

TikTok The list would be incomplete without the inclusion of one of the largest social media applications, TikTok. TikTok launched in September 2016 and allows for the creation of small 15-second to one-minute videos that often contain humorous elements or incorporate short dances. Countries across the world have banned it for security concerns and former President Donald Trump even had held similar concerns that actually never truly landed in anything substantive for American users. Although not rapidly decreasing in popularity among the public, the app has become less relevant over time. The application differs from others on this list, in that it is still going strong, yet it is not in the prime that it was in just a few months ago in quarantine.

Illustrations by Kamdyn Roher

BY CHRIS GOMES