The Lion's Tale - Volume 51, Issue 7 by The Lion's Tale

LION’STALE OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 60 1 KI N G STREE T • OVI E DO, F L • M AY 11 , 20 11 • VOLUME 5 1 • ISSUE 7

f f O s t Htao

2011

news

Legislative changes dictate larger classes for next year. 3

diversions

Harry Potter to make final debut in theaters this summer. 27

sports

Check out the top senior athletes of 201l. 30

( news sports )

THE LION’S TALE

MAY 11, 2011

Algebra help app available

Droopy drawers bill passed

THE SCOOP

Florida Virtual School developed an app called meStudying for iPhone and Android phone users. It consists of more than 300 algebra questions, answers and immediate feedback. The cost is $4.99. It can be purchased on the iTunes store or Android market.

What invention do you think will be in common use 50 years from now?

The Florida legislature recently approved a bill that, if signed by the governor, would ban all public school students from wearing baggy pants that expose the student’s underwear. The bill prohibits pants that expose “body parts in an indecent or vulgar manner.” On the third offense, the student will be faced with a three day suspension.

Dancers hold spring show The Mane Attraction Dance Team will hold their 20th anniversary spring show on May 19 at 7 p.m. in the Gerald Cassanova Performing Arts Center. Tickets will be sold during lunch the week of May 16 for $5. Tickets sold at the door will cost $7.

Graduation on tap May 25 Graduation will take place on May 25 at 9:30 a.m. in the UCF Arena. All persons graduating need to report to the UCF Arena on May 23 at 12:00 p.m. Attendance at practice is mandatory for graduation.

Thespians receive superiors Seniors Dana Rozier and April Sullivan, and juniors Ali Hartwig, Krystal Rivera, Jill Loiars, Janet Lavigne and Brandon Mordecai competed in a state Thespian competition last month. They participated in Critic’s Choice where they received straight superiors, which is the highest award given, for six out of the seven events.They also received three Critic’s Choice Awards out of a total of 20 given to all 8,000 students who competed.

photo/ARIANNA RAY

ACT IT OUT. Senior Bella Cellucci performs a monologue in acting teacher Jennifer Devine’s Acting IV class.

photo/JULIA THORNCROFT

Experts attempt to predict future by Wesley Wynne

s the class of 2011 leaves to take on the world, what each graduate will face remains a question mark. In the August 24, 1974, issue of the Saturday Review/World, contributors had their go at predicting the future to come. New technologies figured big in these experts’ opinions. One prediction states that in the next 20 years, a worldwide satellite search would be made to find any available deposits of natural resources. By the new millennium, resource satellites would be collecting accurate, regular updates on crop resources. These satellites would also be useful in meteorological and environmental observations, scientists using both as a way to help predict incoming disasters. Satellites would become a major force in communications, handling billions of television and telephone channels and systems. Other future speculations included discovering vaccines and metal alloys to be produced in space that couldn’t be produced on earth and that the United States would resume

flights to the moon and even explore Mars by the year 2024. Other predictions from the Saturday Review/ World include a scenario where the demand for resources and raw materials lead to a near distruction of the entire planet. After the war, the world would experience a drop in the standard of living and the availability of resources, resulting in changing and correcting the patterns of the cities of 1974. This includes the development of regional cities that have very large urban centers acres wide and a population that uses small vehicles connected on moving tracks like a train. Private vehicles are only used for private, occasional uses because of the better public transit system. The suburban homes now share the land with environmental and agricultural areas in the city. Which of these have come true? There are several satellites orbiting today that contribute both to observing global weather patterns as well as providing communication. However, the country has not had any manned moon flights since 1972 and the last unmanned

moon mission was in 2008. There are two future NASA unmanned Mars missions planned for the next three years. One mission planned for launch in fall of 2011 is sending their newest rover, Curiosity, to assess whether or not Mars is still habitable. The other is the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission, which is a mission set for 2013 to study the loss of atmospheric gas and water over time. There are currently no plans to send manned missions to the moon or Mars. According to a study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, experts predict that English will displace some languages. Digital communication will become the norm. Technology will make privacy a thing of the past and the Internet will make people more intelligent as more and more information is available to users. Experts also agree that many of the Internet’s and the world’s innovations will be a surprise due to its ever-changing nature. The future is hard to predict.

wesleyw@thelionstale.com

MAY 11, 2011

news

Welcome to PreCalculus

THE LION’S TALE 03

NEW LEGISLATION Several other bills were passed in the 2011 legislative session that ended on May 9. Here are some of the laws that were passed.

Early Voting Bill Number: SB 2086/HB 1355 illustration/WESLEY WYNNE

Legislative session ends with changes by Arianna Ray

problem with having larger classes. “I don’t think it necessarily matters how tudents shuffle into the classroom as the bell chimes. They drop their books on the many kids are in a class as long as it’s not an desk and sit before turning to pull out last excessive number. The fact that we have this night’s homework from their binders. PreCalculus law is kind of stupid. As long as the kids are teacher Verna Whaley has less than 25 students getting an education, that’s all that is important,” Budnovich said. in this class. Next year that could change. Budnovich believes that the size of a class The Florida legislative session ended on May 9. Many new bills were passed into law including does not make a real impact on the quality of the a change to the class size amendment. According teaching. “As long as there are not too many more kids to The Orlando Sentinel, fewer classes next year will have to meet the class size requirements. you’re getting the same amount of teaching for every student. They More classes will be could always stay able to exceed the 25 As long as there are not too after school if they maximum. many kids, you’re getting the wanted to learn more,” The number of Budnovich said. classes defined as same amount of teaching for Whaley does have a core will drop from every student. few parameters for how 849 to 304. The Jarred Budnovich, ‘13 large a class should be. classes that can now “A math class be larger include all should be a size where foreign languages, all Advanced Placement classes, precalculus, all students should be able to ask a question and have time for the teacher to give a good answer. trigonometry and many others. Whaley feels that she can handle having over That is so important for math,” Whaley said. Whaley disagrees with AP classes being 25 students in her classes next year. “A lot of upper level classes won’t fall under disregarded as core classes. “Advanced Placement classes should be the class size amendment. It doesn’t bother me. When I first got to OHS, I had anywhere from core classes. They’re harder. Kids can get more 30 to 40 kids. I don’t mind taking extra kids. In help when the class is smaller. It’s just awesome general, OHS has been really good about keeping having a small group, too. Last year with BC the loads as low as they can. They also try and Calculus, I had 12 students in my class by the keep the units, the number of different classes end. It was just great. All the kids really got to that a teacher has, low. Teachers can volunteer to participate. It was more relaxed. With a smaller do more, though. I’ll take as much as they want class, you really get to know your kids better,” to give me. I used to teach college classes so the Whaley said. Whaley knows why PreCalculus is no longer number of students doesn’t bother me. I just considered a core class. don’t want to break fire code,” Whaley said. “I understand why PreCalculus is no longer Whaley explains the benefits of having a a core class although I would like it to be. It is a smaller class. “With a smaller class it is definitely easier course that a student does not have to take. I have to learn. Advanced Placement and upper-level mixed feelings,” Whaley said. Budnovich does not understand why it isn’t. classes are generally smaller. There are less kids “I don’t see why PreCalculus doesn’t fall that take the class. It’s easier to answer questions when there’s less kids. Small classes are better under the class size amendment, though. Even though I don’t agree with the law, it should,” for harder subjects,” Whaley said. Sophomore Jarred Budnovich finds no Budnovich said.

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Whaley looks for the benefits of redefining core classes. “Every school is given so many teaching units by the number of kids we have. Not having all these classes be core could help us keep all of our teaching units and not lose jobs. With the budget cuts, it’ll help keep jobs and still keep class size within the law. It also may allow more kids to take AP classes,” Whaley said. Another law passed by the legislature would require women to get an ultrasound before an abortion. They can decline to see the images but they must be offered the chance to see the results of the ultrasound. In addition, minors seeking a waiver to notify their parents must now get the waiver in the district where they live rather than anywhere across the state. Sophomore Jasmen Davis is undecided about whether or not minors should tell their parents. “It depends [with minors having to notify their parents]. Some people don’t really have parents to tell. For other people, the situation might just get worse,” Davis said. Next year, voters will also have a decision to make. They will be asked if they want to delete from the state constitution a line that bans the state from giving aid to religious institutions. The Blaine amendment states that “no revenue of the state” can be given “directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.” The proposal needs 60 percent of the vote to pass next year. Freshman Jackie Glosson is in support of the amendment. “The amendment should definitely stay in there. If the state favors a religion and donates to it a law you would be prejudice against the other religions. That could definitely happen without this amendment,” Glosson said. Glosson believes all religions should be equal. “It’s not discriminating against any religion in particular. If you make one religion superior to the rest, others would not be as important,” Glosson said.

ariannar@thelionstale.com

Description: wEarly voting is reduced from 14 days to 8. wVoters who have moved will be required to cast provisional ballots.

Retirement Bill Number: SB 2100/HB 1405 Description: wEmployees in the Florida Retirement System will pay three percent of their salaries into their retirement accounts. wRetirement ages will be raised.

Alcohol Bill Number: SB 746/HB 105 Description: wThe punishment for adults who serve alcohol to minors at a house party will now be a first degree misdemeanor.

info courtesy/WWW.THEBRADENTONTIMES.COM

THE LIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALE

| advertisements | MAY 11, 2011

Congratulations Graduates! 2011 Your Choice. Your Future. seminolestate.edu/FutureStudents | 407.708.2050

MAY 11, 2011

news

County plans Wi-Fi for OHS Laptops on carts could turn classrooms into labs by Harry Traber

ext year Seminole County plans to launch an initiative to install a wireless network into all the high schools in the county. “It’s still in the planning stages. They have gotten quotes on the equipment. They have walked through the high schools and looked at the blueprints to determine where access points need to be placed. What they are doing now is taking bids on what company will manage the network,” network specialist Rick Voltoline said. The network will be managed by a company and not the county or school. The network will be set up with two parts. One part will be available to school equipment and will allow students to access the secure network and work as they would on any school computer. The other would be an open network with only access to the Internet. “There will be a guest account with Internet access only. But it would be a little scaled down so as not to use too much bandwidth. The secure side will be for the laptop stations that will have photo/HARRY TRABER access of our infrastructure. By that I mean our HARD-WIRED. The switch board for the phone system runs to the server room that is the console system secure files and accounts. The company that they for OHS communications. chose to go with would have central management. connected after reaching its destination. They would be taking care of the hubs where Stanforth said. Voltoline thinks that the plan for having Woodruff and Voltoline agree that if a laptop management could be remote while the systems we have now would stay in place,” Voltoline said. is confiscated it would most likely be treated with school laptops would be more stations like these. However, they would be without the access point More classes moving towards having end the same rules as a cell phone. “I would think that it would be the same attached to the cart as the entire building would of course tests factors into moving the program forward, according to educational technology guidelines students follow now for cell phones already have access. “What they will probably do is use carts of and I am sure the Internet on the guest account facilitator Art Woodruff. “Part of the reasoning is end of course testing. will be filtered and not open range like yours are at laptops. So let’s say if you’re a teacher scheduled As we move towards testing, we have less computer home. I don’t know about the legalities. If you’re to a computer lab, if there were testing, you would labs available. One thought is if all classrooms attaching to the network then they could seize be checked with one of these carts. Possibly you have wireless points then all class ooms could be your machine. I don’t know about that part of it,” could use the computers for testing and keep the wired network as it is,” Voltoline said. a computer lab. Another thought is eventually the Voltoline said. Stanforth offers his ideas about how the issue Woodruff thinks the ability to have every network would be open to all personal devices, of confiscation should building operating as an individual computer lab allowing students with be handled. could enhance instructional delivery. their own laptops to In general, [wireless network] “It really opens up possibilities to us. We “It should be pretty access the network,” is a pretty good idea because it similar to the cell are looking into an e-reader plan. An e-reader Woodruff said. phones but the student is something such as a Nook or Kindle. We are makes life easier. Students like may have work open as looking to do something with Nooks or Kindles. junior Alex Stanforth Alex Stanforth, ‘12 well and they should be Long-term, county-wide, we are looking into doubt the safety of able to save their work putting devices in students’ hands,” Woodruff the execution of the before handing their computer over. Later the said. wireless system. Voltoline, however, has some concerns about “In general, it’s a pretty good idea because it teacher should just be able to not let them use their using e-readers. makes life easier, but, in practicality it would be laptop,” Stanforth said. Stanforth believes that smart phones could “Another aspect to putting in a wireless system hard to manage because of the number of people is that they could use Nooks or iPads. iPads are a using it and the size of the network. As far as cause problems. “The line between computer and phone single-user device, so a problem is management. having a guest account and a regular account, it will be hard to regulate because opening the is getting blurred with the whole smart phone For example, an email account attached to one network up to third parties opens an opportunity to movement. People have their email, calendars, iPad would be available to anyone who uses that a wide range of viruses, as they don’t know what’s and other functions. The county needs to look into iPad,” Voltoline said. that for deciding what to do about accommodation School network systems have plenty of on those computers,” Stanforth said. bugs, but the county has gone through extensive Stanforth explains how a breach in safety for those,” Stanforth said. The wireless capabilities would not be fully planning to put a wireless system in place. could occur. “I don’t think the county will have problems, “If it’s just a guest account then any security operational next year. Instead, the framework is breach could not be tracked as accurately as if being put up allowing any bugs to fixed before the the county has been pretty thorough in setting this system up. It’s not just a set point here or there. It’s it were on the school’s regular accounts. With network becomes fully operational. “This is a county initiative, getting bits and an entire system,” Woodruff said. regular accounts, it could be this person at this The idea of having a system like this could time in the lab doing something wrong. With the pieces of wireless equipment to schools, but then guest account it would be a guest in this building deciding it would be best to go with a coherent work as an excellent opportunity, but some, like at this time made a security breach. I don’t know plan for getting the system operational,” Woodruff Voltoline have their doubts. “The districts want to cut back on support but how they will monitor the system but earlier said. OHS and Lawton Chiles Middle School already move forward with technology. Eventually, there this year the entire county got infected. It would be really easy for a new virus to spread because have portable lab stations- carts with laptops and is going to be a saturation point,” Voltoline said. there would be hundreds of places to hook it up,” a wireless connection point. It just needs to be harryt@thelionstale.com

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THE LION’S TALE 05

Algebra exam to be returned in summer by Arianna Ray

lgebra 1 teacher Joel Freund sweeps his eyes around the class. He gestures with his hands as he speaks, trying to get the point across. He prepares his students for the upcoming Algebra End of Course exam. “I think it is a good idea to test students on their overall knowledge. I help prepare my students. We just go one chapter at a time. The fact that the exam is later in the year is a good thing, too. It gives me the ability to teach everything I need to before the exam comes around,” Freund said. Principal Robert Lundquist explains one problem with the exam. “We’ve been told that the state will submit the results of the test to us June 7. Well, obviously, the teachers are gone for their summer vacation. We’re going to have to develop a process in which we determine the grade and factor that grade into the student’s year grade. It’s not the state who grades it. It’s whoever they hired. We have to figure out a way to average each student’s grades. Each student will not be able to receive a grade unless we receive the results before June 7. Each student will have to average their grade after report cards come out. It has yet to be determined who will configure the final grades,” Lundquist said. Lundquist doesn’t understand why the results can’t be back in our hands before school starts. “Making the results on time is out of our hands. The people who administer the exam are going to make every effort to get it done and back to us as soon as possible. Considering they’re getting paid millions of dollars, they should be able to get it back to us sooner than that. Think about it. It’s ludicrous. If we administered a test on May 16, we could have the results the next day. Particularly a computerized test, a scan test, that you could just put into a machine and then say ‘Okay, here are the results.’ So we’re all just dumbfounded,” Lundquist said. Freund explains the significance of the exam for students. “The exam counts for 30 percent of a student’s grade. And the exam results are going to be late. That’s a negative. The students don’t get their final grade before midsummer,” Freund said. Lundquist has hope for the future. “I hope that it’s just like anything else in that the first time you do it there are issues and challenges. It should get better the next year and the following year. Hopefully they’ll have it down to where it does not create problems for us as far as getting the students their grade before they leave at the end of the school year. But it appears that that’s not going to happen this year. I hope that we learn from this and that we can create a better scenario in the future,” Lundquist said.

ariannar@thelionstale.com

THE LION’S TALE

| news | MAY 11, 2011

Lundquist mandates stricter policies for athletes by Stephanie O’Sullivan

thletic procedures will change next year to ensure that recruiting will not happen again. An investigation by the Florida High School Athletic Association [FHSAA] ended in the school’s athletics department being fined for $57,000. “All incoming enrollees will be required to present a valid lease, a power bill, a Florida-issued drivers license with a matching address, and a sealed transcript from their previous school. Students already zoned for Oviedo High School will not be required to do this. Transferring students will be asked if they will participate in a sport. We will also be making home visits to ensure that the leases are valid,” Principal Robert Lundquist said. This new system will be stricter than the system in previous years. “Before, we used to accept cable bills. Not anymore, we only accept power bills now. Their parents were allowed up to 10 days to get a Florida-issued drivers license before. There wasn’t a question asked if they wanted to participate in a sport. There were no home visits. It’s all new,” Lundquist said. Students will be allowed to play a sport their first year at OHS if they provide the necessary documents. “If all of the provisions are in place and there is no evidence of recruiting or contact with an athletic coach is known, they will be allowed to play in a sport their first year at OHS. They will be scrutinized a lot more though,” Lundquist said. Coaches and administrators will be affected by the stricter policy as well. “We’re going to assign an assistant principal to oversee the athletic department. The assistant principal in charge of the athletics department will be Mr.Eaton. There will be four different presentations of FHSAA rules and regulations throughout the year, and the coaches will be required to attend all. Coaches will be required to sign an affadavit to say they are aware of FHSAA policies. They will be required to report to me any suspicions,” Lundquist said. As well as new policy changes, there will be a new athletic director and a new assistant athletic director. AP Chemistry teacher Scott Waisanen will be the athletic department director next year. “I’m looking forward to working with the athletic department

and trying to maintain the quality of our sports programs in the past,” Waisanen said. Some of Waisanen’s responsibilities will be to oversee all the sports programs on campus, to make sure every teams roster and schedule is accurate, and to manage player eligibility. “It’s always a challenge to balance multiple responsibilities. Teaching and coaching is definitely hard to balance when soccer is in season. So teaching, coaching, and being the athletic director will be a challenge. I’ll have to have good time management. But I don’t see it being a problem,” Waisanen said. Operation Diploma teacher Matt Ackley will be the assistant director of the athletics department. “I am excited about the opportunity and challenges that come with a new position. I have worked on campus for seven years with our coaches and student athletes and look forward to strengthening these relationships,” Ackley said. The girls volleyball team and the wrestling team will be restricted on which competitions they can enter next year. “The volleyball program will not be allowed to participate in any pre-season classics or games next year. They will be placed under restrictive probation for the 2011 to 2012 school year. The wrestling team will be placed on restrictive probation for three school years. The wrestling team can’t participate in the FHSAA wrestling state competitions for those three years,” Lundquist said. In accordance with the FHSAA report, the athletic department owes $57,000, dropped from the original fine of $270,000. “Once the FHSAA started the investigation, they brought it to our attention. Once we received the investigation notice, we took it on ourselves to investigate it. We hired our own investigator. We cooperated fully and worked hand in hand with the FHSAA to come to today, to a resolution. We’re going to move forward in a positive direction. Because of our cooperation, the FHSAA reduced the fines considerably. On the report, they actually commended us for our swift actions,” Lundquist said. Sports programs will be continued next year. “I feel very sorry for those athletes who will not be allowed to attend state competitions next year, especially those who did it the right way. We will have a wrestling program next year, in hopes that we can re-establish the true meaning of sports in the high school area,” Lundquist said.

Changes AT A GLANCE Next year, the process by which transfers are approved will be modified. Following are some of the new procedures. v All transfers will be required to present

a valid lease, a power bill, a Florida license, and a sealed transcript. v Cable bills will no longer be accepted

for proof of residency. Only power bills can be used when transferring. v If the student wants to participate in

a sport, then someone from the school must perform a home visit. v The student cannot participate in the

sport if there is evidence of recruiting or contact with an athletic coach.

stepho@thelionstale.com

3. all photos/CARSON BAILEY

DISPLAY YOUR WORK. 1. Principal Robert Lundquist checks out football coverage. 2. Seniors Kari Boggs and Cara Borosky and junior Allyssa Appleget look over the final product. 3. Sophomore Allison Terry examines reports for the money they have collected.

Finished yearbook arrives

S 1.

miles pass around the entire room as chatter fills the air. They celebrate among themselves, laughing with relief at finally seeing what they’ve been working toward all year long. The Oviedian arrived from the printing plant in Dallas on May 10. Work on the yearbook begins in June when some of the staff goes to summer workshops. They start work on the initial designs and choose a theme to be implemented

throughout the entire yearbook. The theme for this year’s book is Fuse. The entire staff works up until their final deadline before spring break, at which point everything must be done. Proofs are completed when they return. The annual senior signing party on May 11 kicks off the campus-wide distribution. After a year of work, the yearbook is complete.

MAY 11, 2011

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THE LION’S TALE 07

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(opinion sports )

THE LION’S TALE

MAY 11, 2011

“Where there is no str ugg le, there is no strength.” - Oprah Winfrey

TESTING OUR WORD

MADNESS

End of year brings one test after another

tudents across Florida are required to take multiple that not passing could hurt their chances of graduating. FCAT standardized tests throughout their time in the public has become so all-consuming that if you don’t pass, you have to education system. Approximately 1.8 million students go into remedial classes centered entirely around passing the test in grades three to eleven must take the Florida Comprehensive next year. Assessment Test (FCAT). The End of Course (EOC) The outside companies who grade the tests, Pearson for the examinations will be added to the growing pile of standardized EOC and FCAT, create problems in the process as well. The tests. scores are often weeks late and mistakes in grading can be made. The FCAT was first administered in 1998, although the While the multiple choice portion is fairly straight-forward initiative for the assessment program began in 1972, according and graded by a computer, the writing part of any test can be to www.fldoe.org. In the beginning, fourth grade students took ambiguous. This type of scoring is subjective. Deciding between reading, fifth grade took mathematics, and eighth and tenth took two scores, such as between a four or five, is largely a matter of both. opinion. Since then, the FCAT has expanded Furthermore, former workers in the to encompass more grades and also testing industry have confirmed that Too much emphasis is put implement the science and writing portions these companies are more interested in on a few simple tests. of the FCAT. A passing score on the FCAT meeting deadlines and making money taken in tenth grade is required to graduate than working in the best interests of from high school and earn a diploma. the student. Many teachers have spoken out against standardized testing “The number of tests that need to be read and scored each such as former Lakeland teacher, Carol Castagnero, who focused year is so massive that every conceivable shortcut is taken to get her recent campaign for the Florida House on her opposition that job done. The testing industry works exceedingly hard to to FCAT. She promised to “develop legislation for providing meet deadlines and get scores put on to tests, while I saw much restitution to those students suffering injustice brought about by less interest in getting the correct scores put on them,” Todd S. FCAT” if she was elected. Farley, a former worker for Pearson, told www.huffingtonpost. Now that the EOC’s will also be required, the problem has com. grown larger. This year the Algebra 1 EOC will be administered These companies have millions of tests to grade and little for the first time. time to do it. A score on one of the writing tests may not always All of this standardized testing is not beneficial to the students reflect the true performance depending on the reader. of Florida. Teachers must take time away from their subject to In addition, all of these tests occur at the same time in the teach for the test. Time is not spent on parts of a subject if it is not year. First there’s FCAT, then Advanced Placement exams. AP on the test, even if it is important for general knowledge. exams are quickly followed by the Algebra EOC. All of this It often goes too far, even to the point that students aren’t standardized testing leaves teachers little time to do their jobtruly learning the material. Rather they are doing the work teach. Students have work and tests piled on them one after the without understanding it, simply memorizing the material that is other. given to them. This contradicts the nature of school- learning for All in all, these tests aren’t perfect. They are flawed and don’t the sake of learning. ultimately help Florida students in the way that they are intended Standardized tests also place undue stress on students. Many to. students who have difficulty with the standardized tests such as Too much emphasis is put on a few simple tests. It’s time for EOC or FCAT may worry excessively. They may become fearful change.

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LION’STALE

Seniors climb over mountain of tests

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OV I E D O H I G H SC H OO L • 601 KING S T R EET • OV IEDO, FL - MAY 11, 2011 - VO L U M E 51• I SSUE 7

Editors-In-Chief

Features Editor

Advertising Editor

Carson Bailey Julia Thorncroft

Hallie Lavery

Amanda Ferguson

Diversion Editors

Copy Editors

Stephanie O’Sullivan

Angiee Carey Kaitlyn Loughlin

News Editor

Sports Editors

Arianna Ray

Janie Williams

Junior Editor

Opinion Editor

Nirvani Khan

Brandon Koller Jake Smith Staff Artists

Taylor Schwarz Wesley Wynne

Photographer

Linsey Duca Staff Reporters

Connor Bailey Leigha Bennett Gloria Choi Maria Cokovska Daniel Condly Olivia Davila-Finch

Andrea Dobo Carly Ford Hafsa Hussain Zoe Lyon-Goldman Eric Mooney Harry Traber Jessica Whitacre

Faculty Advisor

Deborah Jepson Admin Advisor

Anna McCarthy Oviedo High School

601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone: 407-320-4050 Fax: 407-320-4213

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The Lion’s Tale is accesible through the OHS website. The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse ads. The views of the staff do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, staff, or faculty of Oviedo High School.

MAY 11, 2011

opinion

’ N I K T TAO U

H S A R T forming my junior year and quickly spread within the first month of my senior year. Juniors beware! In all honesty, though, as I look back on my high school experience every single class I’ve taken has made me stronger as a person. Maybe not smarter because, let’s face, it I don’t know how to take the derivative of an inverse function (sorry, Mrs. Kelly), but I’m definitely stronger in my work ethic. Therefore, all underclassmen, I challenge you to think critically about the classes you chose to take. Don’t just sign up for classes because everyone else is. Talk to teachers, think about the amount of time needed for each class, and ultimately make choices based on what you can handle. The future holds great things for anyone who tries and puts their best foot forward. High school shouldn’t define you, yet become an experience to look back on. Although through it all, high school still sucks.

carsonb@thelionstale.com

Senior ends year with loads of friends, awesome classes

GLORIA CHOI

STAFF REPORTER

did not want to move to Florida during my last year in high school. I was bummed, annoyed, frustrated, and exhausted because this would be the seventh time I moved during a course of 18 years. Like most seniors, I wanted to finish my last year with my friends, walk on the stage and take graduation pictures with them, too. But, of course, it didn’t go as planned. I actually am glad that I moved here because I got to meet some awesome friends like Aiyana and Kimberly and teachers like Mr. Hewitt. At first, Oviedo High School confused

me with the seven period day schedule, the 45-minute class time and all of the building as well because I was so used to block scheduling. The first few days I probably looked like a deer staring into headlights. But after a while my feet got into the routine of taking me from one building to another. At first, I thought, “Well, let’s get this year over with. I’ll make little to no friends, not talk in all my classes, and get this year over and done with”. But, according to my friends up in Illinois, that would be impossible because supposedly I have a little people magnet that “attracts” the people to me. It worked! Surprisingly, I got to meet great people like Madi Sladge, Sabrina Omar, Amy Welch, Trevor Khan to name a few and they have helped me through a lot, especially the times I felt like I wanted to flip rooms up side down because of my overwhelming stress. Also, I got to be in some awesome teachers classes like Mrs. Coleman’s American Government class, Mrs. Brown’s math class,

STAFF REPORTER

Editor shares fears, disappointments of high school by Carson Bailey

Cruelty will be left behind

photo illustration/JULIA THORNCROFT

as though I could live in a trashcan forever. And that’s when the divide began or I guess you could say my freshmen dream, more like a nightmare, started coming true. From that class forward, I experienced the overload of work commonly referred to as high school. Dense textbooks, countless numbers of flash cards, pages upon pages of notes, and writing until your hand falls off are just some phrases that go hand in hand with taking AP classes. Stupidly, my junior year I continued this work overload by taking not one, not two, but three AP classes, along with all honors classes. I don’t think there are enough words to describe the sheer amount of work involved with that course load. Hats off to you crazy seniors taking more than five AP classes. My senior year, I thought I would be cutting myself some slack by taking only two AP classes. Once again I was wrong. Senior year proved to be the worst, as I became sickened by the overwhelming disease referred to as senioritis. Symptoms started

THE LION’S TALE

CONNOR BAILEY

the

igh school sucks. I’m fairly certain almost every student murmurs this saying at some point during his or her four years on campus. Let me take you through my high school experience. Freshmen year started out easy, compared to the nightmare stories I heard from middle school teachers. I dreamt of staying up on endless nights reading chapters of textbooks and memorizing terms sure to be on the test tomorrow. The first AP class I took, AP Human Geography, didn’t live up to the hellish amount of work expected. Nor did any other class I took that year, with the exclusion of dear Mrs. Klemann who assigned homework nearly every night. With freshmen year in the bag, I then ventured into my sophomore year, feeling slightly more like a high school student. Although I had yet to be thrown in a trashcan, the amount of work I received from Mr. Barnett’s AP World History class made me wish

and Mrs. Vitali’s Italian class, Mrs. Jepson’s Journalism 1 and 2 classes and I got to meet my counselor, Mrs. Lightsey, who I bombarded many times to ask question after question about the school and college. From each of their classes and by talking to them after classes, I’ve received good advice from them that I won’t be able to forget anytime soon and they helped me with my senior project in their own way, starting from supporting me from start to finish or looking through my portfolio. Funny thing about the senior project. I always thought the senior project was a project that all the seniors did together at the end of the year. That was not the case at all and I did enjoy the senior project, and all the experience it gave me, starting from going out to the field and working with the experts, practicing speaking in front of others, and explaining what I’ve done to others and have them become interested in what I’ve learned.

gloriac@thelionstale.com

f the past four years at Oviedo High are going to be the best four years of my entire life, I canít imagine how much lack of excitement the next 50 years of my life will entail. Of course I made friendships I’ll keep for forever. Colleen, Katie, and Meagan- you guys have endured these past four years with me, by my side through everything, always there when I needed you. I love you guys more than you know. But other than that, hearing my alarm go off at 6:20 five days out of the week was a complete drag. I started freshman year with a optimistic attitude, a fresh start. But that fairy-tale soon came to a screeching halt. I quickly learned that some of the students at Oviedo were cruel and vindictive, hatred ever so apparent. Pleasing the student body was impossible and I soon became aware that I just needed to be myself, not worrying about all the nonsense. By junior year I had become a pro at ignoring all the loving and terms of endearment people whispered as I walked through the hallways“queer” and “fag,” some of the oh so original comments. Wasting the time and energy on immature, insecure, and unintelligent “scholars” just wasn’t worth it. Senior year rolled around and I completely lost any self consciousness I previously held. People’s insecurities amused me and I took them with a grain of salt. The continuous name-calling that they intended to embarrass me with made me realize how pathetic their lives had really become. My fellow classmates obviously became bored with their ever-so-productive lives and enamored with mine. I never understood why holding friendships juliat@thelionstale.com with girls that most guys dreamed of dating enraged them. Jealousy is always regarded as one of the most unattractive personality traits. Just a tip for the future. However, one positive aspect throughout the four years at Oviedo has been my education. Mr. Lundquist really does a phenomenal job in ensuring only the cream of the crop is teaching at Oviedo, an “A” school without a doubt. Each year brought different challenges, especially sophomore year but almost burning the school down last semester in Mrs. Stapletonís class has to be an all-time favorite. Sharing the honor of “best dressed” with the one and only Kristina Bordulis (KB) and the competitive race for “drama king” will definitely go down as one of the most memorable moments in my life. If I have any advice for you underclassmen it is to be cool, immature, and cause mischief. If you follow along those guide lines, you’re assured to fit right in with the cool crowd at Oviedo High School. I guess it’s goodbye for now, but you can always find me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter!

connorb@thelionstale.com

THE LION’S TALE

| opinion | MAY 11, 2011

SHE

WANTS

it photo/CARSON BAILEY

ALL

Tina Fey inspires columnist towards media G by Julia Thorncroft

raduation. The white light at the end of the tunnel. The ribbon across the finish line. Graduating from high school is a bittersweet experience. We all highly anticipate getting out of school and moving on to college. But we don’t want to say goodbye to all these friends we held close to our hearts for the past four years. Some friendships go beyond our high school career. As tradition, this is my opportunity to write a column about graduation. All senior staff members receive this chance to say what they think. Some have shared unique stories about traveling to Japan or some spend the time thanking their teachers. While I would love to write something witty and comical, I’d rather write something sentimental. I only get this chance once1. 1 I don’t have the GPA to be Valedictorian and I’m not popular enough to be senior class president. Plus, I am incredibly vain. I want to write about my inner feelings. It won’t save me 15 percent or more on car insurance, but it will save me from wasting money seeing a psychiatrist. If I had to use an adjective to describe these past four years, I would say they were interesting. In full disclosure, I don’t remember

most of it. I remember hating freshman year. I remember dancing in Mr. Barnett’s room every morning, doing test corrections while he played The B-52s or Lynyrd Skynyrd all sophomore year2. I remember spending my junior year wearing sweat pants and a bun every day. That was the year I overwhelmed myself with challenging classes and newspaper 3. 2 Yes, Gary Barnett has an expansive music library. He probably won’t like being referred to as Gary Barnett. From this point on I’ll call him “Mr. Bean.” 3 Junior year was also the year of having my intelligence challenged on a daily basis in the dreaded and evil AP Physics B class. I will never forget that fear-induced, empty stomach feeling I got when Mr. Soos asked me a question about electrostatics or thermodynamics. He always just raised his eyebrows and moved on to a smarter student. But hey, I got a three on that exam so I don’t want to hear it! My senior year is, by far, the best year of my high school career. Am I just saying that because it’s currently happening and all these memories are fresh in my mind? Probably. The people I met this year and the subsequent four years were and are nothing short of brilliant 4. All of them have unique dreams and tastes, making me proud to know

these people. I’m proud to say that people I’ve known for years and people I met this year all have dreams of being doctors, filmmakers, actors, musicians, artists, etc. 4 Well, most of them. Not all of you deserve high praise. The title of “brilliance” is only awarded to those motivated and driven. Not the low-lifes who spit on my car or leave their gum on the sidewalk. Seriously, there is a trash can ten feet away from you. Spit your gum out there. Or just swallow it. Don’t disrespect public property! That is a pet peeve of mine. As for me 5, I have big aspirations. Most people know that I love Tina Fey, and I have idolized her since I first saw her on Weekend Update with Jimmy Fallon. In fact, most of the women I look up to come from Saturday Night Live (Amy Poehler, Gilda Radner, Kristin Wiig) I could go on, but that would just take up space. I plan on majoring in radio and television at UCF. And no matter how many nights I spend watching my Best of Will Ferrell DVD, I know I will never be funny or photogenic enough to be on my dream show. I doubt I’m creative enough to write anything funny for them. And I’m way too lazy to even think of cleaning their bathrooms for them. I guess I’ll have to live with mediocrity. 5 Which I know you all are just DYING to know more about me (she writes modestly).

Truthfully speaking, college for me is going to be about working. I want a successful career in either radio or television. I even see myself working at a magazine. I wouldn’t mind having more than one job, either. But what I want the most out of my future life is a family 6. Without getting into specifics, I am the product of a broken home. It’s been a setback of mine for the past ten years. There is nothing in this world I want more than to have a family in the cheesy blue-collar, all-American way. If I had to choose, I’d give up my dream job for it 7. 6 I know that’s not the modern or feminist type of garbage everyone expects me to rant about, since that’s what I’m known for, but I guess I’m just a hypocrite. Or a flip-flopper. Like John Kerry or Donald Trump! 7 Wait, that’s not funny! It’s sentimental! Go talk to Dr. Phil, freak. That’s not to say I’m ready to start procreating. Good Lord, no. I’m still going to try and be the next Tina Fey. I mean, she didn’t get “famous” until she was about 30. So I have 12 years of poverty and artistic starvation before I give up and become a soccer mom. Except in my situation, I’m more likely to become a welfare recipient and end up on The Maury Povich Show. Even if I don’t know who the baby-daddy is, at least I became a mother.

juliat@thelionstale.com

What is your favorite high school moment?

“

My favorite part of senior year was Grad Night.

Joey Bruno ‘11

”

It’s when I won my first award in TV Production because I worked really hard to get it.

week; being the first one to win back-to-back championships.

”

Alana Harris ‘11

“

Probably “football senior

“

Hanging out with RNB.

Juan Espinoza

‘11

”

Dhruv Patel ‘11

MAY 11, 2011

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THE LIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALE

(features sports )

THE LION’S TALE

MAY 11, 2011

10 THE

n a l p r a e y

What does the future hold for 13 high-school seniors on the verge of it?

Paris Kinsey My main goal is to become some sort of nurse. I’m beginning college at SSC where I’ll get my AS. After that I’ll transfer to UCF’s medical program. I can’t wait to get married. I can’t wait to have kids. I want three; two boys and one girl.

Alex Hoover Hopefully I’ll be done with med school, trying to open up my own practice.As for where I’ll be, hopefully I’ll be living up North somewhere.

Taylor Gibson In 10 years I see myself working in the ER and starting a family. I hope to be married and have children.

Will Reischmann Living in St. Augustine being some kind of business representative. I’ll have a master’s degree and be married.

Nicole Avila In 10 years I see myself teaching, a special ed teacher for early childhood education and married to my boyfriend with three kids.

MAY 11, 2011

#of students in OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL school

features

THE LION’S TALE

Class of 2011

Paige Brock Definitely having a degree for teaching and hopefully working at a high school. Maybe being married in the next 10 years.

Lee Castillo In 10 years I see myself as a struggling director trying to make ends meet in New York. I would have just graduated NYU and attempting to make it big.

Sara Owens In 10 years I would like to be married. I’m going to college to be a music teacher, so I hope to get my doctorate and be teaching.

Alec Earney Probably at some type of grad school. I plan on having a family and hopefully a job in engineering.

AJ Wynne I want to be an orthodontist, although at that point I’ll only be a dentist because it takes 12 years to be an orthodonist. I don’t plan on having a family yet.

Emily Williams Hopefully I will be a college graduate from FSU with a good job in education. No matter where I am, I want to continue creating art and living life to the fullest with friends and family.

Colin Perry I see myself graduating from college and I could see myself becoming a politician in 10 years. Vote for me.

Zane Beard I plan on majoring in communication, so I plan on being in a job involving public relations. I want to be living in California, taking in some rays of sunshine.

THE LION’S TALE

| features |

MAY 11, 2011

Trading text books for rifles

by Leigha Bennett

Hill keeps options open, dreams to see world

Marilyn Hill ‘11

world. “It’s a good fit for her, based on what she wants to do,” Colonel Joseph Nardo said, “She wants to be involved in religion, but she’s still waiting to hear back from that.” As far as Hill knows, she’ll take any job that is offered to her. Whatever Hill chooses to pursue she will be provided with free schooling for the job, along with making a little money for her service to the United States. She looks forward to seeing the world though new eyes, “I’ve lived in Florida my whole life, I don’t know what’s outside of Florida,” Hill said. “It’s one of the reasons why I joined, I want to see the world.”

N AV Y

alking across the stage at the graduation ceremony, senior Marilyn Hill will be anxiously awaiting for more than just her diploma, but a certain call that will change her life. The call will be from the United States Navy, telling Hill that her time for training has begun. Her official ship date is Aug. 8, but the call can come between graduation and then. “I mean, I don’t think I could have made a better choice,” Hill said. “You can tell you’re not ready for college.” Even college seems like a big rush going from high school senior, but going into the Navy is an entirely different

Emma Deal ‘11

Col. Nardo said, “I’ve known her for four years and she’s a perfect fit for the Marines.” She plans to join communications once graduating from Parris Island, which means she will be preparing or fixing radios, and she’ll become a radio operator if shipped overseas. Trading college textbooks and classes for a 48-mile hike with 45 pounds on her back seems like a big change of lifestyle. “At first it was I didn’t have the money [for college], but I switched from active to reserve to get my two years of college,” Deal said. “My grandfather and father were both in the Air Force, my sister in the Army Reserve, and my brother is also a Marine.” Deal will graduate from boot camp with the ranking of E-2 from the help of her four years of experience in JROTC, it all seems to be a dream come true for Deal. “I used to watch war movies, and I’d say ‘I want to be that person, to make a difference,’” Deal said.

MARINES

Julia Fine

‘12

ommunity college or four-year college? That is the question most students here at OHS have been wondering over the years. Although the majority of students plan on moving on to college post-graduation, junior Julia Fine has another plan. Her plan includes joining the United States Air Force after graduation in 2012. Fine will pack her bags and leave for San Antonio, Texas where the boot camp is located at Lackland Air Force Base soon after receiving her diploma. One reason for joining the Air Force over college was money issues, according

AIRFORCE

Fine plans to join Air Force to follow in family’s footsteps

s the big graduation day approaches for seniors at OHS, anxiety is on the rise. Talk about going to local, state, or out-of-state colleges are common. Even taking a break from school is among the choices. But, for senior Mike Finocchio, his plan is a bit different. “I want to attend a topquality school, but also feel like a military lifestyle is for Mike me,” Finocchio said. Finocchio Finocchio is among the 1,200 out of 70,000 students who apply to be accepted into the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point. USMA is the most prestigious military academy in the country, and like most military academies, it’s not easy to be accepted. “I feel like my months’ work of applying, writing essays and senatorial interviews finally paid off,” Finocchio said. Finocchio’s interest in West Point began in junior year, and now his achievement is recognized. “Its unique to be accepted,” Colonel Nardo said. “He’ll be a leader.” Being accepted into West Point is different than most colleges. Instead of paying tuition and fees to the college, West Point actually pays the student’s tuition and room as long as the student plans to serve. The road to being accepted wasn’t easy, but Finocchio had an advantage. “I’ve been in JROTC one year,” Finocchio said. “I started senior year because it helped me out with West Point’s application process.” Once accepted and enrolled, each student gets four years of tuition, room and board, books and fees paid for. On top of the paid education, cadets at West Point receive about $350 per month for their freshman year. The pay increases by $100 each year. Once Finocchio graduates, he’ll receive a college degree along with an adequate salary. “I worked really hard to get accepted into West Point and receiving the acceptance letter in the mail was probably the happiest moment of my life,” Finocchio said. Once graduated from USMA, Finnocchio plans to be involved with piloting helicopters or becoming an Army Ranger. But for now, he plans to study physics or a type of engineering at West Point.

‘11

Deal sets out for bootcamp inspired to be Marine ombat scenes from war movies will soon become a reality for senior Emma Deal as her date for boot camp is slowly creeping up. “I’ve wanted to join the military all my life, and Colonel inspired me to join the Marines,” Deal said. Over summer, she will be packing her bags and heading off to boot camp to begin her future as a Marine. Parris Island, South Carolina is home to one of the two recruit training bases in the world. She will become a part of the Fourth Battalion, and will participate in a training program called the Crucible. This means Deal will travel around 48 miles on foot, engage in 29 problem solving exercises, only have three meals for 54 hours, and carry 45 pounds on top of the uniform and rifle. There is no special treatment for men or women, all future Marines are treated the same. “The Marines is a fantastic fit for her,”

Finocchio accepted at military academy

to Fine. After six weeks of basic training, Fine will graduate with an E-3 ranking instead of an E-1, thanks to experience with JROTC. “The Air Force is a good fit for her,” Col. Nardo said. “She’ll do well.” Like college, there are many different parts of the Air Force. “I want to be a paralegal or investigator because I love the law field,” Fine said. Although Fine will be following in the footsteps of the men in her family by joining the military, she will be the first woman to join. Fine is currently wrapping up her second year of JROTC.

leighab@thelionstale.com

West Point is located in Highland Falls, New York. There are approxiamately 4,600 total cadets. USMA is an Army academy. Cadet training is about 6 weeks.

MAY 11, 2011

features

THE LION’S TALE

Two ladies capture ‘citizens of year’ by Andrea Dobo

ogether, SGA (Student Government Association) secretary and treasurer, Kristina Bordulis, and senior class president Chenell Henderson shared the honor of receiving the Principal’s Citizenship Award. Seniors Henderson and Bordulis showed their leadership skills by organizing the well-attended O-Glow fundraiser and coming up with creative ideas for homecoming week event. “I joined SGA because I wasn’t involved in school activities, and one of my friends told me to join,” Henderson said. According to Principal Robert Lundquist, the awards are given out to students who have displayed involvement with the school through leadership and participation by organizing events for the student body. “Both of these young ladies are really good students. They provide behind-the-scenes work. They set examples of how underclassmen should act. They show true leadership,” Lundquist said. Working together hand-in-hand, Henderson and

Bordulis organized the elections for homecoming court, pep rallies and the ideas of prizes awarded for the wooden nickels. “They truly set the example of true leadership. They complete tasks without questions, without complaining and it truly shows they love Oviedo High School,” Lundquist said. Time management has been key to Henderson’s success. “I’ve learned how to be a leader and I improved my organizational skills. I’ve learned how to tell people what to do and how to divvy up jobs within all the members,” Henderson said. “Sometimes I have to pick up the slack of other members and make sure everything is done right.” Starting at the end of summer, SGA spent weekends, mornings and after school time to make sure that things worked out for various projects. “During events we spend three to four hours after school,” Henderson said. “We usually get to where an event is taking place three hours before

it begins.” They also spend fifth period in leadership class where they help with class votings and selling homecoming tickets. Although long hours of work may consume the lives of SGA members, Henderson strongly advises students to get involved. “It’s a good thing to do. You meet a lot of cool people and you learn a lot of new things. You become more involved with the school and you actually know what’s going on around school,” Henderson said.

andread@thelionstale.com

HOP ON BOARD. Senior Kristina Bordulis takes a ride on senior class president Chenell Henderson’s back. Both have played a key role in planning events on campus this year. “I had fun planning events with Kristina. She’s easy to work with, she’s reliable, and she always gets her work done.You can always count on her to complete tasks,” Henderson said.

SENIOR AWARDS National Merit Scholar Finalist Luke Pearson Rising Rotary Achievers John Boston Caroline Phan Emma Deal Lake Mary Heathrow Arts Festival Jenny Atkinson Deputy Michael Callin Scholarship Katie Elliott Cass “Toots” Nardo Endowment Shelsea Denson Colonel J.F. Nardo Endowment Katie Elliott NJROTC Boosters Club Merit Award Katie Elliott Bethany Baroody Central Florida Blood Center Scholarship Traci Hill Westpoint the United State Military Academy Michael Finocchio SSC Board of the Trustees/Dora Lee Russell Kevin Anderson SSC Academic Scholarship/Bright Futures Companion Trevor Collins Oviedo Women’s Club and Louise Martin Scholarship Gloria Lozano Tori Boutin Kasey Donahue Allison Tate-Cortese Oviedo Women’s Club Great Day in the Country Jenny Atkinson Winter Springs/Oviedo Lion’s Club Scholarship Kasey Donahue Athlete of the Year Scholarship Male Austin Mittan Female Shannon Bellamy

Senior Awards Night took place on Monday, April 25

PTSA Scholarship Amanda Lopez Trevor Collins Caroline Phan Kasey Donahue Allison Sokolowski Taylor Gibson Kelsey Stout Joanna Henderson Emily Williams Jack Blanton Award Ryan Meyer Anita Carlson Award Brittany Skeels Paul Mikler/Mickey Norton Future Coach Award Eric Gender Robert Locke Scholarship Tori Boutin Women in Science Margaux Milon Christopher Pieper Memorial Scholarship Anthony Buday Curriculum Awards ESE Faith Murray Math Jarrett Slater Fine Arts Carson Bailey Allison Tate-Cortese Foreign Language Catherine Hertz English Kaitlyn Bailey Physical Education Gabriel Coppola Regan Schwartz Social Studies Will Murley Jefferson Award Mackenzie Schweinberg Principal’s Citizenship Award Chenell Hendersen Kristina Bordulis Outstanding Student of the Year Ryden Butler

photo/LINSEY DUCA

THE LION’S TALE

| features |

MAY 11, 2011

Florida Student Journalist of the Year CARSON BAILEY’S

ACHIEVEMENTS t

Newspaper editor-in-chief for two years

Florida Student Journalist of the Year

Runner-up for National Student Journalist of the Year

Literary magazine editor for two years

Recepient of fine arts curriculum award

photo/LINSEY DUCA

MAKING IT WORK. Senior editor Carson Bailey assists fellow staff member junior Janie Williams with her layout for the final edition of the newspaper as he prepares to graduate high school.

Bailey finds his passion through journalism T by Brandon Kohler

hree years ago, a “quiet, geeky student” walked into Deborah Jepson’s newspaper class. With no experience in publications nobody expected Bailey to become the editor of The Lion’s Tale. “He came in late on his first day, and it didn’t seem like he wanted to be in newspaper until he started working. I don’t recall his first layout, but he was better than people who had been on the newspaper staff for three years. He was a really great writer, too, so it was a double bonus; he showed up almost by accident, never took Journalism, but was better than anyone else,” Jepson said. Bailey admits that his success stemmed from a single person at that time. “In sophomore year, the editor, Stacey Sterling, showed me what journalism was: it’s something fun, but something still serious enough that work can be put into it and you get results,” Bailey said. However, Jepson believes Bailey’s triumphs depended most on his personality. “Carson became editor the next year. If a junior becomes editor, he’s very, very good. The thing is, he’s a workhorse, and his ability to focus is phenomenal. He’s always working, even at home. “It’s a combination of his raw ability, his work ethic, his focus, and how he always takes initiative,” Jepson said. “That year, the newspaper won the Silver Crown Award from Columbia Scholastic Press Association in New York. The CSPA awards are the highest commendations a high school newspaper can receive.” Bailey also revived the literary magazine, and

developed the layout and design singlehandedly. students – I want them to be able to understand However, the tasks Bailey took up affected the rest everything going on, and hopefully explain things better than the news on their TV or some rumors of his life. “My days are pretty chaotic; I always wake up they hear from friends. I think I’ve definitely thinking about what it is I need to get done that day,” given the newspaper a new feel and refreshed Bailey said. “Meeting deadlines is my biggest worry, image. It’s like it’s finally been brought into 2011, and the literary magazine just compounds with and hopefully students will want to read it more that. It’s an endless matter of balancing classwork because of that. “As for the future, I just want to get through with journalism. I wish I would have thought college, for now. I plan more about class on going to Valencia for selection, and When picking classes, consider a year, then transferring, thought about the either to get a double not what’s easy, but what you’re entire year before major in graphic design I chose.” good at and can get work done. and journalism, or to Carson Bailey, ‘11 But Bailey attend an art school and never stopped major in graphic design, pushing for more. “This year, he came in with 10 different forms then explore publications and other media,” Bailey already created for the newspaper. He did my said. “High school has been a good experience job, and that’s the sign of a truly great editor. He and a foundation in journalism, but I’m glad schedules and organizes everything; he never fails to stand up and take on more responsibilities – I to get out – it was too narrow, just print. But in can see him as editor at a major publication in just college, I can experiment with online publications a few years. His work on the last center spread and other media, since print is dying. I’m excited of The Lion’s Tale might have been his greatest about college, because the high school 7-period accomplishment yet – it combined all his skills and day restricted me, and the need to go from class to explained the disaster the Japanese experienced class got me down. In college, I can go to a class, very well. Everything about that layout was perfect; then work on any other project I want to. I won’t forget high school, but I definitely wouldn’t repeat it was a great, great spread,” Jepson said. Bailey agrees about the importance of his it,” Bailey said. For Jepson, though, repeating classes with working on the newspaper, but isn’t so certain of Bailey sounds like a dream come true. his future. “Because Carson is so driven by journalism, he “The newspaper’s stories are important for the drives everyone else around him, and because he’s

“

”

so good at what he does, people read the paper and look at the pictures within. He’s pushed us towards moving into electronic journalism and doing slideshows, like the New York Times does. “He drives me, too, because he’s so good, and so cutting edge, that it makes me work harder. All students should be that way – always be demanding to do more and learn more. I’m ashamed if I can’t keep up with him,” Jepson said. “His only flaw is that he takes on too much and others think it can’t be done, but he’s always assuring everyone that it can be done. “Carson found something he’s very, very good at, and while lots of students drift around, he found what’s very important to him.” Bailey also voiced advice for underclassmen hoping to emulate his success. “When picking classes, consider not what’s easy, but what you’re good at and can get work done. Go with what you know. I took some classes my parents wanted me to take, and I was good at them, but they weren’t interesting,” Bailey said. “Newspaper has definitely given me a place in the world, and given me a spark of interest in journalism. “In freshman and sophomore years, I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I’ll probably stick with publications from now on. I came in knowing Photoshop and nothing else, but now, after putting together the portfolio of all my work, and seeing it win at state and national levels, it’s good seeing hard work pay off.”

brandonk@thelionstale.com

MAY 11, 2011

Melli’s art provides relaxation

features

THE LION’S TALE

by Wesley Wynne

enior Michael Melli began high school not particularly interested in art. In fact, art turned him off. But due to a hole in his schedule in his freshman year, Melli had to take Art 2D, much to his dismay. “I didn’t want to be in [art] because my sister was involved in art. She was the famed artist in the family,” Melli said. “I didn’t want to be a part of it. I waved it off as silly and pointless.” The next year, Melli had another hole in his schedule that put him into Drawing 1. “[I] fell in love with it, I guess,” Melli said. “It was really gradual at the end of sophomore year. I’m really into the AP courses and it’s a stress release. It’s something to love. It started out as a hobby, but ended up as a passion.” As a senior, Melli takes both AP Art 2D and AP Art 3D and is the only student in his class to do so. In those classes, he makes art according to his AP concentration: destruction in Art 2D and ceramic human faces in Art 3D. Melli spends around three hours a day in the art room, which he enjoys due to the fact that he can go between classes easily. He is the president of the Art Club and organizes the meetings. Melli also helps around in his art classes. “I load and unload the kilns. I usually clean up the rooms as well,” Melli said. “I enjoy it and I get experience later on for studios and college.” Melli feels that art is his passion and hopes to continue making art into a later career. “It’s just gives you something to obsess over. It’s a world to involve yourself in and I love it,” Melli said.

Hobby influences Graysons’ creative style by Wesley Wynne

t an early age, senior Ebone Grayson drew what she saw- anime cartoons. “I started when I was seven and was really into manga and anime and stuff like that,” Grayson said. “I just thought it was cute and neat and I just liked the stories they told.” When Grayson got older though, she began to break away from the style of the cartoons she used to watch when she was younger. “I just thought it was clichéd kind of thing,” Grayson said. “A lot of people knew about it and I saw a lot of kids drawing the way I was and it’s not the only way to draw a person. I decided to make my own style rather than stick heavily to it. I’m still influenced by it, but not as deeply as I was.” In the past three years, Grayson has taken Art 2D, Drawing 1, and Painting 1 and 2. This year, she is taking AP Art 2D and despite the work she has to do, Grayson doesn’t have much difficulty in the class. “It’s not really hard,” Grayson said. “You just have to take the pieces you’ve done in the past and build it to a portfolio.” In AP Art 2D, the artists have the freedom to work on their art in any way they want using a variety of mediums. Grayson herself has her favorite mediums she likes to use. “I like using acrylic paints and Prismacolor pencils,” Grayson said. “When you use either one the colors mix so well together and gives it a really cool effect.” Grayson likes the way art allows her to express herself and plans on continuing to make art throughout her life. She also would like to become a graphic designer when she is older. “[Art is] what I love to do and I would love to get paid to do what I love,” Grayson said.

N<ËCC @EM<JK @E PFL% PFL @EM<JK @E PFLI =LKLI<% Starting to think about life after high school? If so, you may have noticed that the world is full of possibilities. The big question is: which path will give you a clear sense of direction and help you achieve your goals? One possibility is the US Army. For more information, contact your local recruiter at goarmy.com or 8008722769. Army strong. It starts with you.

wesleyw@thelionstale.com

photos/CARSON

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THE LION’S TALE

| features | MAY 11, 2011

N E V E EL Future brain surgeon snags top spot by Hallie Lavery

lthough he didn’t set out to be on top, senior Ryden Butler earned first in the graduating class of 2011. “I didn’t start with valedictorian as my main goal. I just wanted to achieve my full potential and do the best I could. The rest fell into place,” Butler said. But being number one wasn’t as easy as Butler made it seem. “Time management was the hardest part. I had to balance classes with having a social life as well as after school activities. It took adjusting, but I got a hold of it pretty well,” Butler said. As well as managing time efficiently, certain classes presented a challenge.

“BC Calculus [was the hardest class]. It involved more than memorization. You had to apply the skills,” Butler said. Now that high school comes to a close, college quickly approaches. “I’m going to University of Miami. They offered me a full tuition which was a real treat,” Butler said. But his goals don’t stop there; Butler keeps his sights set on the future. “I plan on being some type of surgeon. At this point I am leaning towards neurosurgery,” Butler said. “I’m looking forward to practicing medicine and being able to fulfill my dreams.”

Sydney Marshall

4.417

What is the most difficult class you ever took and why? My most difficult class I have ever taken is Mr. Jesse’s Lang class because he constantly pushed me to think side of the box and for that I thank him.

Do you like the new or old campus bette I like the new campus because it is a lot cleaner and more open.

2 5 1 3 4

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1 1 r ‘ o f

What are you looking forward to most in college? I look forward to taking more classes focused on my major and the experience of starting over..

halliel@thelionstale.com

Luke Pearson

Cat

4.625

If you be? I really fit in m

What are you looking forward to most in college? I’m looking forward to exploring the medical field as I study to be an orthopedic surgeon.

Wha I want writing travel

Do you have any hobbies? I play water polo, longboard, surf and volunteer at the Florida Hospital.

Wha Tigers and m

What is your favorite animal and why? The narwhal because it is the closest animal to a unicorn.

Ryden Butler

What is the most difficult class you ever took and why? I’d definitely have to say BC Calculus was the toughest course I’ve taken. With so much to learn and so many ways to apply it, BC was a real challenge this year, and a nice reminder of how much I have to learn.

Name your greatest memory from the past 4 years at OHS. As goofy as it sounds, and out of all of the great memories from the past four years, I’d say my greatest memory of OHS was hearing Gary Barnett’s sputnik impression. There’s truly something about the comedic genius behind that beeping that is utterly unforgettable. What are you looking forward to most in college? I’m mostly looking forward to the less demanding class schedule. It’ll be nice to take some difficult classes without having to attend them five days a week with homework every night like in high school.

Kirsten Schanze

4.479

What was your favorite high school class and why? My favorite class was AP Lit with Doc Star. He just made the class really interesting and it freaks me out sometimes how many little symbols and allusions I notice when I read now, so he definitely taught me a ton. What kind of music do you listen to? My interests vary widely and across different languages thanks to AP Spanish. Therefore, depending on the day I could be listening to Vampire Weekend, Between the Trees, or Chino y Nacho.

Do you have any pets? I have a golden retriever named Chewy and a beta fish named Shang Zhou in honor of Mr. Barnett’s famous Chinese dynasty song.

s AP k out

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MAY 11, 2011

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THE LION’S TALE

4.3

4.417

What is your favorite movie and why? My favorite movie is Remember the Titans because one, it’s about football, two it has a good soundtrack, and three the story is just a real good, inspirational, feel-good story.

Colleen O’Kennedy

Where are you planning on going to college? I plan on going to Stetson because it is phenomenal as far as academics go and it also has a solid women’s soccer programboth of which are very important to me.

Name your greatest memory from the past 4 years at OHS. My greatest memory was winning the State Championship for soccer this year. It was the culmination of an amazing four year career. I will never forget what it felt like to be a Lion.

4.3

Blaire Scheller

What are you looking forward to most in college? I’m looking forward to living on campus and being part of a community to network and meet new people. How many AP classes did you take? I took 7 AP classes this year, with a total of 12.

4.42

Do you like the old or new campus better? I like the old campus for sentimental reasons, but the new campus is much more attractive. If it didn’t take so long to get from class to class, I’d vote new campus.

u could do anything over in high school what would it

y wanted to take Jazz band and learn to play alto saxophone, but it didn’t my schedule. I would like to go back in time and take that class.

at is your dream career? t to do something that lets me be creative, such as being an author and g world-renowned novels. I would also love to have a career that lets me and see the world.

at is your favourite animal and why? s and giraffes are the best. I think tigers are some of the most beautiful majestic creatures in the world. Giraffes are simply loveable and quirky.

Haythem Nayfeh

4.383

What is your dream career? I want to be a mechanical engineer and own my own company one day. Do you have any hobbies? My hobbies are sleeping, fishing, playing lacrosse, and dub step. Where are you planning on going to college? I’m going to UCF because they offered me the most money.

Mike Finocchio

9 10 How many AP classes did you take? I took five this year and overall I’ve taken nine.

How many AP classes did you take? I took two AP classes this year and four overall.

therine Hertz

Jarrett Slater

If you could do anything over in high school what would it be? I would go back and retake those two sophomore classes I got B’s in for no reason

4.427

What is the most difficult class you ever took and why? The most difficult class I took was probably AP Physics C. The concepts are difficult to grasp at first and the tests are hard, but the class is great and Mr. Soos is an effective teacher. If you could do anything over in high school what would it be? I would have started playing sports my freshman year. I started my junior year and finally realized what I had been missing. Where are you planning on going to college? I’m going to the United States Military Academy, or West Point. I want to go there because it’s a great academic school and offers incredible opportunities, such as traveling the world and attending Army training schools.

4.383

Dan Robertson

What is the most difficult class you ever took and why? The most difficult class I took in high school was AP Spanish. Most of the kids in that class are already familiar with the language and can speak it outside of class. Being the first person in my family in three generations to even attempt to speak the language, I went in with a slight disadvantage. How many AP classes did you take? I took five AP classes this year and eight overall throughout high school.

all photos/BAILEY, DUCA

What was your favorite high school class and why? My favorite high school class was AP Lang with Mr. Jesse. He was my favorite high school teacher, and that class has had a major influence on what I want to focus on in college.

THE LION’S TALE

| features |

MAY 11, 2011

Seniors place 10th in automotive competition by Zoe Lyon-Goldman

eniors Trevor Collins and Anthony Savino inspect the silver 2011 Toyota Camry sitting in front of them at the Javits Center in New York City. With four hours on the clock, they quickly begin working, opening the hood, putting on the finder covers, and reviewing the PDI worksheet in their hand. Step-by-step, they attempt to solve the problems of the vehicle, paying close attention to detail, hoping that everything they have worked for will finally pay off. “Basically, you start with the easiest thing and then you work your way up,” Savino said. They placed first in the Central Florida Auto Dealers Association Automotive Technology Competition (CFADA) and winning a $2,000 scholarship for the Associate in Science Degree in Automotive Service Technology at Seminole State College in Sanford. Collins and Savino were selected to represent Florida at the National Automotive Technology Competition in New York City. From April 25-29, the two boys competed in various tasks that eventually placed them tenth in the nation out of 30 competitors. “Hearing our team name being announced at the award ceremony was probably the best part of the whole trip,” Savino said. On their trip to New York they encountered people they found fascinating. This included a man they met at the competition, who experienced a tragic accident that caused him to lose his sight, taste, and smell.

“He does what I want to do. He had an accident in 1992 and lost most of his senses but still pursued his dream. Things are already hard enough to do with sight, he’s doing it blind,” Collins said. During the competition, the two didn’t stumble across many challenges, but maintaining their concentration was a priority. “Not overthinking the problem, just going through the diagnostic procedure,” Collins said. For Collins, his interest in the automotive area all began in elementary school, when he developed an interest in aeronautics. “I was a big airplane gearhead. When I got into high school I took automotive because it was the only mechanic class they had,” Collins said. Savino played with cars as a young child and remembers the encouragement from his dad. “He always used to be into cars and I guess he implanted it into my head,” Savino said. Pursuing a career in the automotive industry photo/CORA CAMPBELL becomes very real for the two seniors when DRILL BABY DRILL. Seniors Anthony Savino and Trevor Collins remove a coil spring from a 2003 Dodge making plans for their future. Ram 1500 truck in order to redo the suspension. Both received various scholarships. Collins’ scholarships included a $6,000 scholarship and working for the NHRA [National Hot Rod technicians and they both are going to Seminole State College,” Sterling said. to Northern Ohio, a $15,000 scholarship to Association],” Collins said. Savino’s plans involve attending SSC. Coming in tenth place out of the nation Pennsylvania Automotive Tech Center, a “I’m going to go to SSC to take the Ford wasn’t only a great achievement, but Collins and $10,000 scholarship to Ohio Technical Center, a $500 scholarship from PTSA, and an offer from Asset program to become a Ford tech,” Savino Savino represented the only team from Florida to place that high. Seminole State to pay $1,250 for every semester said. Auto teacher Thomas Sterling saw great “It has done wonders for our program to with acceptable grades. Each of them also won a potential in the boys. compete. They get a lot out of it and a lot of career/vocation award. “They have a very good drive for the pride,” Sterling said. “I’m going to school to be a GM tech. My future plans involve owning an automotive shop automotive field. They both want to be zoel@thelionstale.com

MAY 11, 2011

features

THE LION’S TALE

R E M M U S F O P O R D A Talented director wins awards for short film W

by Jessi Whitacre

photo/ALLISON TATE-CORTESE

SCREAM INTO ACTION. Teacher and basketball coach Zack Densberger acts out the slow-motion scream scene as senior Allison Tate-Cortese directs.

photo/ALLISON TATE-CORTESE

FRESH SQUEEZED LEMONADE. Tate-Cortese gives tips to a young actress as Dhruv Patel assists her.

hat started as a mere bored-in-band-class-daydream, grew into a four-minute film, A Drop of Summer, that won awards and served as a tool to help senior and director, Allison Tate-Cortese get accepted to USC. “My friend [senior] Sadie [Yanckello] was daydreaming to a song ‘March of the Boyars’ by Dallas Wind Symphony Orchestra, that they always played in band class, and she thought the idea had potential, so she brought it to me,” TateCortese said. Just one example of the achievements of Tate-Cortese’s short is that it was the first high school film accepted into the Enzian Film Slam in Winter Park, and the short won first place. “[A Drop of Summer is] one of the most tightly written movies I’ve seen,” Texas film festival organizer Jensen Yancey said. “It’s a great high school movie, I am very, very proud. I’m happy for her. Allison has progressed better than I could have possibly imagined. Her progress is astounding…I’ve actually learned stuff from her,” TV production Kyle Snavely said. Tate said it was genetics that first inspired her interest in creating films, because Tate’s mother was in the video production industry for 20 years working for Time Warner. “She’ll easily get in full-length films in the film industry. Her mom was in the industry and her dad is in the business. She was born to do this,” Snavely said. The short film took time to produce, about a week of pre production, two eight hour shooting days and around three months of editing. The girls spent an entire day just playing the song that inspired Yanckello’s daydream over and over, and they eventually both came up with the idea that it should be a race. “It was so much fun. We would listen to the song and be like ‘Oh! This is the part where they start to run,’” Yanckello said. One of the things Tate learned from this experience is that pre-production is essential. “It took a lot of planning. It’s very important. Sadie and I sat down for a couple of hours and just went through every single shot. It took 22 pages of storyboards for our four-minute film,” Tate-Cortese said. The girls also had to write a script timed to the “March of the Boyars” and draw their own storyboards and camera plots. Based on the previous, they constructed a shooting schedule and to called and scheduled the actors that appeared in the short. Teacher and basketball coach Zack Densberger and his children acted in the film, as well as Tate’s half brother. “Being in [A Drop of Summer] was fun, but it was very hot. I had to keep patting my head to keep the sweat off,” Densberger said, “but I had fun. I felt all gooey inside. I was excited but nervous to see myself act.” Fortunately there weren’t any major problems during production, Yanckello said. “It actually went very smoothly, but at this stage just getting people to help you out can be a challenge,” Tate-Cortese said. Producing the short was a huge group effort, and they had help from several individuals, including senior Dhruv Patel. “Dhruv was our one man crew. He was doing everything,” Tate-Cortese said.

photo/ALLISON TATE-CORTESE

CAST AND CREW. Tate-Cortese prepares to direct one of A Drop of Summer’s young actors who is in the fight scene.

For Yanckello, the best part of producing A Drop of Summer was being able to work with her best friend. “Just being able to work with Allison was great. She’s my best friend, and it was really fun to see her in her zone,” Yanckello said. “I’ve helped Allison on other class projects before but it wasn’t like this.” It’s really important to keep the energy up on set, and doing so is the director’s job. The director is the one who sets the mood and is in charge of getting things done, Tate-Cortese said. “She was absolutely great. She knew what she wanted and explained it well, so it was easy for everyone to give her what she wanted,” Densberger said. “It has been crazy. We’re winning way more than I thought we would. It’s been so unreal. And to think it was just for fun,” Yanckello said.

jessiw@thelionstale.com

THE LION’S TALE

| features |

MAY 11, 2011

Post-grad goals include travel, art Perez’s artwork, poetry embrace theme of beauty by Jake Smith

illustrations of mystic poems. It is often very detailed and very small,” Perez said. Perez describes his home as a peaceful and tranquil place to work on art and poetry. world. “My home life is exactly like a home should “I like to illustrate ideas and emotions that words can’t through my artwork. I focus on be. It is the perfect atmosphere for me to think. people’s daily struggles: fear, pain, loss, love, My mother has always made it a point to make spirituality. But I do it in a way that people who our home a place to be an environment where we feel safe and happy. She’s worked hard to keep a aren’t spiritual can appreciate,” Perez said. lot of negative energy There is one out of my house,” constant theme, Hopefully I can become a Perez said. however, that Perez believes curator of Middle Eastern arts. resonates throughout that his literature all of Perez’s work. I hope to be very influential in and art are key “I use beauty, the art world. I want to bring to expressing his because everyone can individuality. the world back to the ancient appreciate beauty,” “My poetry and Perez said. Islamic arts. artwork are very Perez progresses Carlos Perez, ‘11 important to me. It’s in his arts without the only way to show ever having any who I am, because you cannot lie through your formal instruction. “I was never taught to be an artist, but I creativity,” Perez said. A love for artwork has inspired Perez learned from my surroundings. The ambiance of my home is very rich for creativity,” Perez said. to keep it in his future as a career, along The artwork of Perez is just as diverse as his with a global goal to help change the world. “Hopefully I can become a curator of Middle Puerto Rican, Moroccan, and Iranian heritage. “My work consists of many different styles Eastern arts. I hope to be very influential in the such as Persian miniatures, which began as art world. I want to bring the world back to the illustrations of manuscripts. It focuses on rich ancient Islamic arts,” Perez said. color, gardens, birds, deer, love scenes, and jakes@thelionstale.com rtistic thoughts race through senior Carlos Perez’s mind. They come to life and he imagines an entirely different

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Carlos Perez Spiritual artist Talented poet photo/LINSEY DUCA

Wessel sets sights on becoming flight attendant after graduation by Carly Ford

enior Autumn Wessel listens to her friends’ night shifts doesn’t faze her. upcoming plans for beginning college in “You never know; they can call you at 3:30 in the fall, decorating dorm rooms, and the morning, on Christmas, or on your brother’s enjoying some newfound freedom patiently. graduation. You have to be really flexible,” She realizes, though, that her journey after Wessel said. high school will take her down a different path as When it comes to her parents, Wessel knows she takes on the challenge of becoming a flight she will have their support in her work as a flight attendant. attendant. “I’ve always “They support I’ve always wanted to travel so wanted to travel me. It was kind of out so that’s what of the blue so they that’s what made me start thinking made me start didn’t see it coming about becoming a flight attendant. thinking about but they just want me Autumn Wessel, ‘11 becoming a flight to be happy and do attendant. I feel what’s best for my like it would be a good maturing experience for life,” Wessel said. me so I can see the world and grow up a little,” As her career as a flight attendant takes Wessel said. her around the world, Wessel looks forward to After graduating, Wessel intends to work a getting a chance to visit places she’s never had a set number of hours at an airline and possibly chance to see before. begin her next step in education. “I’m excited to travel because I want to learn “I think at first, flight attendants can only more about other cultures and experience other work like 70 hours a month so it would be sort of places and ways of life. It’ll be a good maturing a part-time job and in my spare time I might take process and change the way I look at everything online classes,” Wessel said. for the better,” Wessel said. The idea of early morning flights and late carlyf@thelionstale.com

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Autumn Wessel Future world traveler Aspiring flight attendant

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photo/LINSEY DUCA

MAY 11, 2011

features

THE LION’S TALE

Interesting Senior Facts Alexandra Sierra has met Shakira, Pitbull, and Luis Fonsi.

Zak Blue

sports ) ///////////(DIDYOUKNOW?

Tracy Hill became a professional clown while completing her senior project. Tracy Wood used to live in Australia before moving to Florida.

College-bound Motivated for success

Amanda Lopez is lactose intolerant but has a love-hate relationship with ice cream. Jenny Atkinson and her friend were followed by two guys in a white van to Panera Bread and then to her house. They called the police to patrol their houses but also started carrying baseball bats in their cars just in case.

Brittany Hudson will never forget the day when she was wearing her ROTC uniform and tripped and tumbled down the stairs in building five during a class change.

photo/LINSEY DUCA

Close family ties encourage student for future

by Carly Ford

he seventh period bell rings and senior Zak Blue surveys the room as his classmates leave, ready to spend a carefree day with family. He gathers his things and prepares to go home, to the place where he used to take care of his mother every day while she was battling cancer. “I didn’t have counseling, I just talked to my dad and my sister. That helps me get through the day, but it’s been tough,” Blue said. Blue lost his mother to lung cancer just last year and copes with the help of his family and friends. “Some of my closer friends have let me talk to them about it and that gave me a relief outlet every now and then. It’s been really

helpful,” Blue said. At the start of his senior year, Blue had more responsibilities than the average teenager. “It was tough; the first semester was really hard. I had to go home and take care of my mom every day after school,” Blue said. He also had to maintain his grades in a full schedule of classes. “Being able to manage everything with taking care of her and keeping up with schoolwork and all that was difficult,” Blue said. Now, as graduation nears, Blue anticipates starting a new life at Santa Fe Community College. “I’m looking forward to being able to put all of this behind me and starting the next

Freshman Franny: by Taylor Schwarz

stage in my life. I’m excited about going up to college and moving on with a new experience,” Blue said. He won’t begin this journey alone, though. The motivation his mother gave him lives on as he begins life after high school. “I know that she wouldn’t want me to slow down, not to take time off or anything like that. She would want to me to keep working and getting better,” Blue said.

carlyf@thelionstale.com

Editor’s Note

One by One features a selected student, whose story is told in only 300 words. For this edition,three graduating seniors were chosen as part of our focus on seniors.

Trevor Collins enjoys working on cars and also likes spending his time building model airplanes and cars. He has received a few offers from technical schools. Nick Caruthers almost drowned in a canal at the age of seven and has been aquaphobic ever since. Danielle Williams can make a variety of animal noises. These include cats, birds, chickens and monkeys. Joshua Simontachi enjoys spending his time singing. He mostly likes to sing alternative rock and classical music and is currently managing his nameless band with hopes to get some gigs starting July.

Cindy Harburn spent one year in a Finnish high school, Lahden Lukiot, as a foreign exchange student. She learned the language well enough to feel comfortable speaking it daily.

THE LION’S TALE

| features | MAY 11, 2011

Triple

threat

photo/LINSEY DUCA

SING YOUR HEART OUT. Senior April Sullivan sings on stage in the Gerald Cassanova Performing Arts Center. After leaving her home in England and moving to the United States, she has participated in both the drama and chorus programs. After graduating, she plans to return to England to attend Guilford School of Acting.

Sullivan says goodbye to America as she heads to Surrey, England by Taylor Schwartz

ight years ago, senior April Sullivan left her home in England to live in the United States. And now, the triple-threat performer returns to her home country to pursue a career in the spotlight. “I’m really very excited to be returning to the UK; there are some things that I love about America, but there are other things that I’ve missed,” Sullivan said. “Guilford is in Surrey, which is only two hours away from where my mom will be staying.” After years of backbreaking training and involvement in performances on the amateur and professional level, Sullivan will be attending Guilford School of Acting, one of the world’s most prestigious drama academies. “I am so thrilled to have had April as one of my students,” chorus teacher Bill Schult said. “Not only does she have talent and personality, but she has a real passion for what she does and a family that works to support that passion. She is an example of talent working hard, and I’m sure that she will be very successful in her career.” Through her acting, singing, and dancing abilities, Sullivan’s contributions to the Oviedo High Thespian Honor society include superior solo musical numbers, small group musical numbers and a Critics’ Choice duet musical number at the district competition level, along with a Best in State small group musical number. Sullivan, who will be attending the school only months after her first professional role in

the musical Sugar Babies, plans to study musical theater performance, a highly ambitious career that many feel she will gain success in. “I think she’s really talented and that she enjoys what she does,” junior Omar Mulero said. “Her performing really reflects her personality because she always has a positive attitude.” A vast majority of the students that she has performed and worked with over the years feel as though her upbeat outlook and top-notch standards inspire others to work and perform at the highest level; faculty and staff seem to share this opinion. Principal Robert Lundquist, too, finds Sullivan contributed tremendously to the student body. “April is talented, and just plain phenomenal. She will go a long way with her acting career,” Lundquist said. “It’s been a joy to know her, and I love the British accent. I love to listen to her talk.” Sullivan finds excitement in her move to Guilford School of Acting, for the transition marks a new chapter in her life and career, and she feels grateful towards her parents for their unending support. “They are extremely supportive of me,” Sullivan said. “My mom is always there for me, driving me all around to get me where I need to be, and my dad is always there to watch me. I’m very lucky to have such supportive parents. I love them very much.”

taylors@thelionstale.com

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Grads budget money for college dorm rooms by Olivia Davila-Finch

enior Tess Poleschuk wanders the aisles of Target, looking through endless stacks and piles of picture frames, bed spreads, and wall decorations. A marked up list in her hand, she and her future roommate senior Lexi Combs browse the endless shelves, searching for furniture and other necessities for their new college dorm room. “Both my roommate and I have been in interior design for four years, so the way my dorm looks is very important to me,” senior Tess Poleschuk said. “I want to be proud when I have friends over.” For many college students to-be, decorating a dorm room to fit their own unique style and personality can be difficult. Even harder is the prospect of budgeting and saving money for furniture and accessories which prove to be quite a challenge. “My parents are paying for all my dorm room decorations, so I’m trying to keep it cheap,” senior Erica Butler said. “I’m also using things I already have for my room to keep the cost down.” However, with the amount of furniture and

décor needed, things can get expensive. “We need to buy quite a few things for our dorm at UCF,” Poleschuk said. “We need bedding, kitchen appliances, extra desks and shelves for storage, and decorations for the room.” Budgeting for decorations and furniture in dorm rooms can also be tricky if you don’t know where to shop. Poleschuk found that Target offers good sales. “We’ve shopped in Target a lot,” Poleschuk said. “They have a lot of cheap, affordable décor that fits exactly what I’m looking for. Pottery Barn and Linens ‘n Things have also had a lot of good deals.” Target provides a wide variety of offers that many students find helpful. On their website, www.target.com, they have categorized their college dorm supplies in several sections, such including by color, style, and price. Quite cheap compared to other stores, Target sells bedding sets for under $30, décor and kitchen utensils for under $20, furniture for under $100 and electronics for under $150. “I’m going to UNF, and there’s a big mall

right by there,” Butler said. “I think it’ll be easier to shop closer to the dorm and mostly all at once, rather than getting it all here.” Students are also finding creative ways to make their own decorations and design their dorm rooms using cost-effective methods. “I’m making a curtain for my closet,” Poleschuk said. “That way I won’t have to buy one and spend the extra money.” When it comes to creating your own designs, Michaels Craft Store sells a variety of supplies to pursue cheap methods of expressing your personality in your room. Despite regulations on certain dorm décor, many students are working around rules to keep the room looking the way they’d like it to. “At UCF, we’re not allowed to paint the walls,” Poleschuk said. “So instead, we’re trying to fill the walls with lots of decorations. They already have most of the furniture you need set up in the rooms, so we’re trying to find different accessories to fill the dorm with.” A wide variety of deals for different types of wall décor are available at Pottery Barn.

Wire wall decorations and beach-themed decals, specifically for dorm rooms, are available in all kinds of designs, as well as Post-It note pin boards. Picture frames and mirror sets are also good options for décor, many offering free shipping. Another good cost-saving method for college-bound seniors is to contact future roommates, and plan out who’s bringing what. “I have one roommate in the fall. She and I are meeting up sometime soon and discussing who has an extra microwave, or who can wants to bring the decorations for the bathroom,” Butler said. “It’s all about what everyone can bring – you don’t want to come to the room and find that you both brought a mini-fridge.” The idea of living in a room decorated in exactly your style excites that many students. “This is my dorm room, and I want to decorate it like I would like it,” Poleschuk said. “I definitely want my style to shine out in this room.”

oliviad@thelionstale.com

////Reviewed 26

THE LION’S TALE

| diversions | MAY 11, 2011

Music, movies, books & more

VERY GOOD

OUTSTANDING

GOOD

RUBBISH

AWFUL

Goodbye Lullaby Avril Lavigne Pop/Rock

Stronger Sara Evans Country

Pink Friday Nicki Minaj Hip-Hop

Turtleneck & Chain The Lonely Island Comedy

by Taylor Schwarz

by Kaitlyn Loughlin

by Olivia Davila-Finch

by Julia Thorncroft

s a musician transforms from an angstridden teenage pop star to an acoustic guitar-wielding young woman, one might expect a softer tone, carefully planned lyrics, and a deeper meaning to her music. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Avril Lavigne’s fourth studio album, Goodbye Lullaby. Lavigne fought the wills of her producers, who wanted her to continue with her edgy vocals, and wrote her own songs with minimal assistance from her studio’s writers. Her goal; to create an album with less sass and more class. She did lose the edge, but she did not mature…not one bit. Upon listening to the first moments of the opening number, “Black Star”, my hopes were relatively high, as Lavigne’s unique voice floated airily. But as the childish simple lyrics sat with me, I realized that, though she had aged, her music had not. This dissonance carries through the entirety of the album, poisoning songs that could otherwise possess potential, such as the universally applicable “Everybody Hurts” and the misfit-directed anthem, “Darlin.” In fact, the lone song left untouched by this discomfort is “What the Hell,” a song that contains hints of the in-your-face attitude that Lavigne was once admired for. It should be no surprise that this song remains the only single aired on the radio from this album, which was released over two months ago.

fter six years of captive hiding from the media, Sara Evans is back with her sixth album, Stronger. This comeback album transforms into a more reminiscent autobiography about her nasty, public divorce, featuring songs with titles such as “Alone,” and “Life Without Losing.” It opens with “Desperately,” a song that cries out for happiness, saying “It’s all I want, it’s to be loved.” This opening falsely leads the rest of the album into a somber mood but is immediately followed by the popular and uplifting “A Little Bit Stronger” that reinforces her strong vocals as she sings, “I’m telling myself I’ll be okay.” The most upbeat and powerful percussions come in “Anywhere,” and “Ticket To Ride,” where Evans shows that she’s still got it as she proves her soaring alto abilities with a beautiful bang. The album consists of a mere ten tracks, one being a revamped Bluegrass version of her hit single “Born To Fly” and a duet cover of Rod Stewarts’ classic “My Heart Can’t Tell You No,” with Dan Dugmore. I expected a little more creativity and lyrical genius from a six-year in-the-making album, and was highly disappointed by the over-percussed and robotic tone in the remake. While Evan’s did not live up to the banjobanging beats and solid notes I was looking for, I give her props for co-writing the totally personal and emotional slow ballads.

icki Minaj, hip-hop’s newest female rapper, dropped her debut album, Pink Friday, on Nov. 19. Just knowing about her involvement with Young Money, the rap group made famous by artists such as Lil’ Wayne and Drake, any rap fan could tell she must be good. After featuring in several popular songs such as “My Chick Bad,” by Ludacris and “BedRock,” by Young Money, Minaj has taken over the rap scene, charging in with her new ‘Barbie’ style of rap. The album opens up with “I’m The Best,” a clear indication of her arrogant, yet endearing style. The rest of the album features strong beats, clever lyrics, and fearless disses against everyone who opposes her. Minaj and Eminem team up in the song “Roman’s Revenge”, my personal favorite on the album. Her high-pitched voice and busy beat go perfectly with Eminem’s classic, crude style of rapping. As Eminem puts it, “when Shady and Nicki’s worlds’ clash, it’s high class meets white trash.” Admittedly, the frank, cocky way that Minaj raps gets old after 13 tracks. However, every artist has their trademark style and Minaj’s is one that definitely stands out. Best portrayed in her song, “Moment 4 Life feat. Drake,” Minaj says, “I believe that life is a prize, but to live doesn’t mean you’re alive.” This ‘live life to the fullest’ attitude shines through in this album, and will no doubt bring future success in her rap career.

n their second album, Turtleneck & Chain, comic act The Lonely Island (featuring Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone) scored an impressive list of guests for 19-track set of hilarious tunes; proving that the comedy trio established themselves as more than just creators of SNL Digital Shorts and followers of Justin Timberlake. In their sophomore album, the boys land guest artists Santigold, Beck, Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, and even pop balladeer Michael Bolton. They’re perhaps the only guys who could get the reclusive Beck to utter a creepyhilarious lyric like, “All you pretty girls, we know you want our bodies,” or get Bolton to don drag and impersonate Erin Brockovich, like he did for the group’s awesome “Jack Sparrow” video. Just like their previous album, Turtleneck & Chain features songs made famous through SNL including “Threw It On the Ground,” “Motherlover,” and the famous “I Just Had Sex (feat. Akon).” The most ridiculous track? Without a doubt, it’s “Japan,” a track about three white friends traveling to Japan, writing a song about it, only to cost the record company more money. Or is it “Rocky,” where Samberg raps smack about Rocky Balboa and gets beat? The best tracks always show the boys’ self-deprecating sense of humor. I’d love to share some lyrics, but they’re all too inappropriate for a school paper.

DOWNLOAD THIS >> Black Star

DOWNLOAD THIS >> Ticket To Ride

DOWNLOAD THIS >> Did It On’em

DOWNLOAD THIS >>We’re Back

taylors@thelionstale.com

kaitlynl@thelionstale.com

oliviad@thelionstale.com

Upcoming Concerts

Taylor Swift Saturday, June 4 7:00 p.m. Amway Center NKOTBSB Friday July 22 7:00 p.m. Amway Center

Owl City Thursday, June 16 6:00 p.m. House of Blues

Sick Puppies Saturday, May 29 7:00 p.m. House of Blues

all photos courtesy/PUBLICITY WEB SITES

Wiz Khalifa Saturday, July 16 8:00 p.m. Firestone Live

juliat@thelionstale.com

THE LION’S TALE

| diversions | MAY 11, 2011 MAY 11, 2011

diversions

THE LION’S TALE

Summer Movie Previews by Taylor Schwarz

POTTER AND THE July 15 HARRY DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 The highly anticipated second part of the final installment of the Harry Potter series has been deeply anticipated by numerous fans of the boy wizard. Part 2 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows follows the continuation of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger’s conquest for horocruxes, necessary for the elimination of the notorious dark wizard,Voldemort. This adventure leads the young wizards into a battle of epic proportions against evil forces wishing to conquer not only the wizarding community, but the entire world.

June 24 CARS 2

The second chapter of the Cars story takes race car Lightning McQueen and rusty tow truck Mater far from the comfort of Radiator Springs, to the first-ever World Grand Prix. Before McQueen can compete for the prestige of world’s fastest car, the dynamic duo must overcome a series of comedic obstacles, including Mater’s dabbling in international espionage. Hilarious, fast-paced action leads Mater and McQueen in a cat-and-mouse chase through the sophisticated streets of Europe and the bright lights of Japan.

June 17 GREEN LANTERN The Green Lantern Corps, a band of intergalactic warriors dedicated to preserving peace throughout the universe, has recruited the arrogant pilot, Hal Jordan. Despite the Corps’ general disrespect and neglect to recognize the abilities of Jordan, he possesses the determination and overall humanity never before possessed by the peacekeeping force. And, despite their disgruntled opinions toward Jordan, the Corps must accept that Earth’s fate rests in his hands.

June 3 X-FIRSTMEN:CLASS In this installment of the X-Men series, the saga turns back time and visits 1963, the year that Charles Xavier, later known as Professor X, established an educational institution for mutants, much like himself. Xavier, along with Erik Leshnerr, later known as Magneto, become familiar with their mutant abilities and dive into self-discovery, turning the two friends into two of the greatest rivals known among the realm of science fiction.

taylors@thelionstale.com

July1 TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON

The third, and final, installment in the Transformers saga has been accompanied by numerous changes in the film’s production team, including the loss of the first two films’ writers, and a change in hero Sam Witwicky’s love interest. Megan Fox’s character, Mikayla, has been dropped from the Transformer’s franchise and has been replaced with a British woman by then of Carly, the love interest portrayed in the 1984 Transformer’s animated series. This latest episode includes a race between the Autobots and Decepticons to find and learn the secrets of a Cybertronian spacecraft on the surface on the Earth’s moon.

THE LION’S TALE

| diversions | MAY 11, 2011

Ethnic foods bring families together for celebrations by Nirvani Khan

enior Jennifer Huynh sits at a table in the celebration is Bánh Xèo. media center with various textbooks and “Bánh Xèo is a Vietnamese pancake but folders laid out, working out a challenging it is served for lunch or dinner, rather than for physics problem. In the midst of studying for AP breakfast. It is made of rice flour and inside, it exams and completing homework assignments, has shrimp, pork, mung beans, bean sprout, and Huynh cannot help but think about the various onions. It’s usually eaten with lettuce, fish sauce, Vietnamese foods her mother will prepare for her and herbs,” Huynh said. in celebration of her graduation on May 25. In Huynh’s opinion, the Vietnamese dish “In my family, it is not everyday that many that will be prepared that is most different from Vietnamese dishes are made. My family only American dishes is Goi. eats together maybe once a week, but in the case “Goi is a Vietnamese salad. It has vegetables of graduation, eating together would be kind of that aren’t normally eaten by Americans, such as ‘required,’” Huynh said. “The fact that I’ll get lotus,” Huynh said. to be with my family will make my graduation The most sentimentally important dish that experience great.” will be prepared is egg rolls, because it reminds Vietnamese foods Huynh of her childhood. are different than “When my siblings The fact that I’ll get to be American foods by the and I were younger, we with my family will make my ingredients they are would help our mom composed of. make egg rolls,” Huynh graduation experience great. “Vietnamese foods said. “Doing things with Jennifer Huynh, ‘11 have a lot of ingredients my family always makes that Americans are me happy.” not familiar with, such as vermicelli and local Senior Franco Del Pino, Peruvian, also looks herbs. Vietnamese people mainly eat noodles, forward to eating foods from his native country, vermicelli, and rice,” Huynh said. in celebration of his graduation. Pho is the dish that Huynh most looks forward “I always love eating Peruvian food when to eating at her graduation celebration. something special happens because it reminds “Pho is my favorite Vietnamese dish. It is me of the times when I lived in Peru,” Del Pino delicious; I’d be able to eat it for days,” Huynh said. “My whole family would meet up at my said. “It’s a beef noodle soup. It sounds simple, grandma’s for special occasions.” but it’s Vietnam’s most famous dish.” According to Del Pino, Peruvian cuisines An additional Vietnamese dish that Huynh consist of more potatoes and spices than looks forward to eating at her graduation American dishes.

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“Peru has a much greater variety of food plates. With over 3,000 different types of potatoes in Peru, most Peruvian plates do involve potatoes in one way or the other,” Del Pino said. “I’ve noticed that American food tends to be a little plain when it comes to flavor. There aren’t many spices that go into the [American] recipes. Potatoes, yellow spicy pepper, spicy red pepper, habanero peppers, and cilantro are the main ingredients in Peruvian dishes,” Del Pino said. Papa a la Huancaina is Del Pino’s favorite Peruvian dish that will be prepared for his graduation celebration. “Papa a la Huancaina is my favorite Peruvian dish; the taste is just amazing. It’s an appetizer that consists of potatoes and a yellow, spicy, cheesy paste,” Del Pino said. “I have loved it ever since I was little; my grandma used to always bring me a tray when she came to my house back in Peru.” As a beverage, Del Pino says Inca Cola will be served. “Inca Cola is a golden soda that tastes like bubble gum,” Del Pino said. Whether for Del Pino’s graduation, or for a birthday party or some other special celebration, Peruvian food helps to unite the family. “I only have some of my close family living here, and usually the times that we do have where we can all be together, we go out to a Peruvian restaurant,” Del Pino said. “I guess, in a way, Peruvian food unites the family.”

nirvanik@thelionstale.com

Bánh Xèo

1. The word bánh xèo in translation is a sizzle cake. 2. Tumeric is what gives the crepe shell it’s yellowish color. In the making of this dish, liquid is swirled around in a pan which creates a thin, hard shell, giving a it a crunchy effect. 3. Crepes are typically filled with tender pork, savory shrimps, bean sprouts, and mung beans. 4. Bánh xèo offers ingredients like beef, chicken, and veggies as well. 5. You can finish off the dish with soft greens and a mixed fish sauce well known in Vietnamese culture.

info courtesy/ BANHFORXEO.COM

Get into Summer MAY 11, 2011

diversions

THE LION’S TALE

by Angiee Carey

Can’t wait for the beach trips and vacations during summer break? These moves will help you tone up fast, in all the right places, just in time for the summer.

Load Up And Kick

Shape Ab Twists

A. Start in a fighting position. Rotate your left foot so that your toes are pointing left. B. Bring your left knee up to your waist level at about 90 degrees to get ready to kick. The leg you balance on will start to burn, but make sure you keep it strong and steady. C. Kick your left leg to the side with the foot flexed. Then, return back to the starting stance. Do this 10 times and repeat with the other leg. This will shape your legs and hips.

A. Sitting on the edge of a chair holding a ball in front of you, make sure you aren’t touching the back of the chair. Using your abs to hold you up, lean back and lift your feet with knees bent. B. Twist left and bounce the ball, catch it, then repeat the same routine on the right side. Doing this exercise for at least 30 seconds will give your abs more definition. all photos/ANGIEE CAREY

Hallway Shutter Run

Nikki Intreri,

Short Short Lunges

‘11, not only uses these exercises to stay fit but she also speedskates and surfs.

A A

A. Begin at the end of a hallway with one leg out in front of the other and hands on your knee. B. Run to the other end of the hallway as fast as you can. C. When you get there, touch your hands to the floor and pivot to run back. Keep doing this

Summer Smoothies Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie

1 banana 1/8 cup peanut butter ½ cup soy milk 2 tablespoons honey

A. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your arms straight up, over

back and forth for 50 seconds. When you turn at each end, get low by bending at the knees.

your head. Work hard to stay balanced for extra toning. B. Lunge forward with your right leg until both knees are bent at about a 90 degree angle. C. Push off your right foot and step back behind, going into a lunge. Do about 10 reps on each leg.

angieec@thelionstale.com

Purple Monstrosity Fruit Smoothie 2 frozen bananas, peel and cut into chunks ½ cup frozen blueberries 1 cup orange juice 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Super Girl Summer Smoothie 2 bananas 1 cup diced papaya 1 cup diced pineapple 1 cup diced honeydew 2 containers fruitflavored yogurt ½ cup orange juice

(sports sports )

30 THE LION’S TALE

| MAY 11, 2011

2010-2011 Senior Sport Awards

Champs ‘11

Every year, The Lion’s Tale honors outstanding senior sudent athletes. With the help from coaches, a group of outstanding seniors were nominated for their athletic and academic excellence. Check out the winners on the following pages.

Soccer

State

Girls soccer scores team of the year Award: Team of the Year Nominees: Girls Soccer,

Boys Volleyball, Football, Girls Volleyball Winner: Girls Soccer by Andrea Dobo

y clenching a state title on Feb. 12, the girls soccer team made history for themselves and the school. This year, the team becomes the first girls team to win a state championship in all of OHS history. “It feels great to know that I was part of the team to make history,” sophomore Lia Whitmore said. Practices started on Oct. 11 and the pre-season began. The first game, the Lions tied The Masters Academy with 2-2. Pre-season gave the team a

chance to show possible line ups and capable starters. “I was a little nervous because we lost the main starting seniors coming into the season. But we had a lot of good freshmen and I felt more confident,” Whitmore said. The regular season started with Lake Mary, a 1-0 win. The Lions finished the season with a 223-1 record. OHS played district rival Hagerty four times, winning three, and losing one. Beating Hagerty in the district finals and the region semifinals, the Lions were on their way to playing in the state championship game. The girls traveled to the Tampa to clench the state championship. Beating Miami Palmetto 2-1, OHS moved on to playing Vero Beach. Tying in regulation time 1-1, the team went on to beat the Indians 3-2 on penalty kicks. Senior Meagan Borger didn’t expect to

complete her fourth season on varsity with a state championship. “The state championship win is just now beginning to sink in. It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Borger said. Borger broke her foot in Nov. and was out until the end of December. “It took my mind out of the game. I wasn’t mentally in it, and I needed to get back,” Borger said. Facing injuries in the middle of the season, the rotation was adjusted and some of the nonstarters were put in to play. Along with Borger, freshmen Emily Kobryn was also out for a broken foot. Juniors Megan Dressen and Sammy Elliot both suffered from torn ACL muscles. For senior Caroline England, her try outs started with a broken foot.

photo/CARSON BAILEY

“I broke my foot from cheer a week before try outs. I went into Waisanen’s office and begged him to let me try out on my broken foot,” England said. After seven weeks with a cast, England was placed on the team to watch on the sidelines. “I had to make sure my endurance was on the spot with everyone else. I would go in and out of the game for increments of ten minutes,” England said. With six seniors leaving next year, the team will have to make sure they play well and put forth their best effort. “It’s going to be a completely different team. After winning the state title everyone wants to be beat us,” head coach Scott Waisanen said.

andread@thelionstale.com

MAY 11, 2011

sports

THE LION’S TALE

Dad proves to be Bellamy’s biggest fan Award: Female Athlete of the Year

Nominees: Shannon Bellamy (Water Polo/ Swimming), Katie O’Kennedy (Soccer), Chelsea Wildey (Softball), Sadie Yankello (Track and Field) Winner: Shannon Bellamy by Hafsa Hussain

hat began as a forced extracurricular activity soon blossomed into a positive life-changing experience. “I started playing water polo when I was a freshman. I was kind of forced into it. The older players kept on forcing me to join the team. So I really had no choice,” senior Shannon Bellamy said. She was instantly hooked from the first practice. “I immediately fell in love with the sport. When I first understood what it was about I started to realize how much I loved it. I love scoring. I love fighting for the hole set position. I get a great workout from it and I like my teammates,” Bellamy said. Because of Bellamy’s multiple contributions to the team such as

scoring about 70 goals this season said. and helping her team win district Whether or not Bellamy plans championships both this year and to further her water polo career she last she has been named The Lion’s knows that her dad is behind her 100 Tale female athlete of the year. percent. “Water polo is extremely “My dad is really into my sport. important to me; it’s my life. I spend He’s always supporting the team. He two and a half hours a day, six days a brings cookies every time we win. week playing it,” Bellamy said. He’s the always the loudest in the Bellamy’s love for the water stands. He’s very school spirited,” has also Bellamy influenced her said. Water polo is extremely love for water A s a important to me, it’s my life. I polo. senior, spend two and a half hours a “I have there are never been certain day, six days a week playing it. gracious on moments Shannon Bellamy, ‘11 land. I’ve of high always loved s c h o o l to swim. Plus swimming means no water polo that she’ll never forget. sweating which is good because I’m “One of the most memorable not a huge fan of sweat,” Bellamy moments I’ve ever had was last year, said. when I scored the game-winning Bellamy plans to extend her goal in overtime in our conference water polo career beyond high championship against Winter school. Springs,” Bellamy said. “In college I’m playing at UCF Water polo isn’t the only thing for a club team. The position I play she’ll be missing after high school. is hole set, which is basically the “I’m going to miss my younger prime scoring position. I don’t think friends, teammates, coaches, and I’m going to be playing that position the easier high school practices the in college; I might end up at right most,” Bellamy said. flat. It all depends on how my coach assesses my abilities,” Bellamy hafsah@thelionstale.com

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Award: Male Athlete of the Year Nominees: Sean Long (Football), Ryan Meyer (Baseball), Austin Mittan (Swimming/ Water polo), Brandon Fetter (Track/Cross countr y) Winner: John Boston

SHANNON SET #4

BELLAMY

Determination key to Boston’s success Award: Male Athlete of the Year Nominees: John Boston (Football), Ryan Meyer (Baseball), Austin Mittan (Swimming/ Water Polo), Brandon Fetter (Track/ Cross country) Winner: John Boston by Kaitlyn Loughlin

S Q.B. #4

JOHN

photo/JANIE WILLIAMS

BOSTON

photo/CHRIS TAYLOR

enior John Boston steps up, a sparkling smile spread across his face, as he accepts his award for Most Valuable Player. “Being MVP for football was one of my biggest achievements this year,” Boston said. “That, and making first team, all conference in districts.” Playing multiple positions, safety for defense, and wide receiver and quarterback for offense, along with senior Sean Long, it’s clear why Boston received this honor. “I’ve been playing football since I was seven,” Boston said. “All of my friends at school played with Pop

Warner and I was very active with sports, so I gave football a shot and I turned out to love it.” Many of the football players have been playing together since second grade, and Boston believes this only helped them on the field. “The chemistry we all have is really special; I couldn’t have been around a better group of guys,” Boston said. “The team trusted me in whatever position I was playing and gave me the opportunity to go out there and try my best to help us win.” For Boston, determination was key. “We had a lot of good senior leaders this year who knew what it would take to win, and knew the game well enough to get us there- to the district title,” Boston said. Coach Wes Allen also points out Boston’s individual perseverance. “Johnny is always the first one in the weight room and the last to leave. He is supportive of all of his teammates on the field and shows great leadership,” Allen said. “He is super competitive, and knows the game extremely well. He knows what it takes to win and will call big plays

to get there; I’m definitely going to miss him a lot.” Boston states that he is thankful for family, good friends, coaches and especially God for making him who he is today. He highlights the important role that football has played in his lifetime. “If people really knew me, they would understand that I had a tough life and really just have football to lean on,” Boston said. “I take football seriously and I wouldn’t give up anything in the world to let it go. Football is my ticket to college and an opportunity to change my life. Most kids would die to get a shot to play college ball and I want to make a difference, not in my life but my family.” Boston plans to attend Malone University in Canton, Ohio, in the fall, where he will play football alongside close friends and teammates Justin Jones and Tyler Chaudoin. “It’s a major advantage coming from Oviedo, because Florida has a lot of talent in this sport and a lot of Florida teams are better than teams up north,” Boston said. “Having knowledge of the game is extremely

important, and I’ve learned a lot here.” Allen is especially proud to say that Boston played for his team. “Johnny is the perfect example of what an Oviedo High School football player is,” Allen said. “He works hard, loves the game, is competitive, and will do whatever it takes to win.” Boston looks up to professional linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, Ray Lewis, as his role model. “He’s a great motivational speaker and player. He loves the game and gives each play his best,” Boston said. “The man never gives up once he starts something and is always determined to finish it. I love that mindset about him, and I give great respect to him for that.” Boston aspires to play football professionally one day and will stop at nothing to achieve that dream. “Football defines me,” Boston said. “It gave me my name, courage, respect and, most importantly, it taught me to push myself to do my best each and every day.”

kaitlynl@thelionstale.com

THE LION’S TALE

| sports | MAY 11, 2011

Little prayer helps kicker relax Award: Breakthrough Athlete of the Year Nominees: Scott Harvey (Football), Margaux Milon (Tennis), Lauren Leto (Cheerleading), Eric Gender (Bowling) Winner: Scott Harvey by Janie Williams

#17 KICKER

photo/OVIEDIAN YEARBOOK

HARVEY

orking all summer with the heat on his back, senior Scott Harvey wanted to be ready when he stepped onto the football field for his final season of high school football. Harvey was the starting kicker and punter for the football team. “I got a key from Coach Allen and a bag of balls. I went out just about every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on my own just to work. I went to clinics on Sundays and All American Kicking, where I worked for four hours on kicking, punting, kickoff and conditioning. I also went to a lot of camps at different colleges to help myself get recruited and also just to have different people help with my form. I have also been working at the gym daily,” Harvey said. According to http://www. thefreedictionary.com/hardworking,

When Harvey first started playing hardworking is characterized by hard work and perseverance. Harvey is a football he had one challenge to overcome. direct example of hard work. “Sophomore year I used to get “I feel like I got only a little better on kicking but over the summer nervous so Mrs. Krause told me a little something clicked and my punting got prayer. ‘Dear heavenly father, relax my mind and my body,’” Harvey said. a ton better,” Harvey said. Harvey prepared for each game The most memorable accomplishment for Harvey was the same way. “I would get home from school, kicking a 47-yard field goal against Timber Creek High School which then eat a sub and take a nap before I would leave to go back to school. I ended up winning the game. Junior Sayf Hassouneh agrees would sit in the same place in the locker he will never forget Harvey’s game room and just keep to myself. I would say a little winning field prayer just goal. Dear heavenly father relax my before we “He is a went onto great player mind and my body. to the field,” with a great Scott Harvey, ‘11 Harvey said. personality. All of He is also a Harvey’s hard great kicker and was the reason we won as many work has paid off. Harvey will be games as we did, like when he hit playing football at the University of the 47 yard field goal that won us the Central Florida as the back up punter. “I am excited about playing at UCF game,” Hassouneh said. Harvey has come a long way in so all my friends can come and watch three and a half years. He started me. Both my parents went to UCF so it is the school I have always wanted to playing football his freshman year. “I started spring of my freshman go to and now playing football is like a year. All during my freshman year dream come true,” Harvey said. Harvey plans to study business in I saw the football players walking around on Fridays with their jerseys the fall and starts practice on June 27 on and watching the games from with the UCF football team. the stands. I thought it would be the coolest thing to be out there,” Harvey said. janiew@thelionstale.com

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SCOTT Coach juggles AP teaching in midst of championship Award: Coach of the Year Nominees: Scott Waisanen (Girls Soccer), Ed Kershner (Boys Basketball), Rafael Valle (Boys Volleyball/ Wrestling), Wes Allen (Football) Winner: Rafael Valle by Janie Williams

n the midst of advanced placement exams, the boys volleyball team won the district championship against Lake Mary High School. During the regular season the team lost twice to Lake Mary, 0-3, but in the district finals the team came out on top and took the title with a 3-1 score. “He prepared us by working us every day, we worked on defense because the offense was there,” junior Andrew Vidot said. On May 10 in the regional championships, the volleyball team lost to Bishop Moore Catholic High School in five games. Valle coaches volleyball and took over temporarily as head coach at the end of the wrestling season this year. After seven years of teaching and coaching, Valle has racked up considerable experience and knows the best way to prepare his athletes. “Strong work ethic is your best bet for preparing athletes. If they know they trained hard for a competition they will feel more confident about how they will perform,” Valle said. Balancing Advanced Placement classes and coaching can be a challenge. “I am really honored to be able to do both. They both demand a lot of my time and the balance is not always easy,” Valle said.

Vidot commented right before his district final game. “Valle had impacted my life since freshman year in a positive way. Something I will always remember is ‘curbstomp,’ which means don’t let the enemy get up while they are down,” Vidot said. Junior Doug Vollaro notices Valle’s true leadership qualities. “He was there at a minute’s notice to pick up the pieces [of the wrestling team] and finish the year strong, which only true leaders can do,” Vollaro said. Senior Eric Hedberg knows Coach Valle as a teacher and a coach. “Coach Valle is an amazing teacher and coach who knows how to make teaching and coaching fun, but he also knows how to get down to business, too, at the most important times. Mr. Valle really knows his stuff and is more than willing to guide his students and his athletes in school and in sports,” Hedberg said. Valle remembers that no matter what sport he is coaching his biggest accomplishment each season is seeing the personal growth in his athletes and watching them become young men who are responsible and dedicated to accomplishing a task. Senior Connor Bailey commented on how Valle has impacted his life after the regional championship the night before. “Coach Valle has taught me I can do anything I put my mind to. He hasn’t only taught me how to play volleyball, but how to become a better person,” Bailey said.

janiew@thelionstale.com

RAFAEL VALLE photo/COURTESY OF TANNER BAILEY

MAY 11, 2011