The Lion's Tale Newspaper by The Lion's Tale

LION’STALE OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • MAY 15, 2012 • VOLUME 52 • ISSUE 7

Senior AJ Rathakrishnan wins Prom King.

pg 21

State-mandated testing dominates end of year pg 5

( news sports )

THE LION’S TALE

| MAY 15, 2012

Graduation approaches

SEEING

THE SCOOP

Seniors are required to attend graduation practice here at OHS on May 29. Graduates will meet in the new gym at 8:00 a.m. Parking will be in the back lot, and will be reserved for seniors only. Those with large families can pick up extra tickets at the practice, but it is on a first-come-first-serve basis. The senior exit survey must be completed before practice and senior dues must be paid. The graduation ceremony will be held at the UCF arena at 9:00 a.m. on May 30. Graduates must be present in the arena at 7:45 a.m. Parking will be in garage F. There will be no parking fee if school ID is presented. Proper dress code will be strictly enforced. Cap and gown must be in-hand at arrival. No cell phones will be permitted.

Griffin assumes helm The Seminole County School Board appointed Walt Griffin as the new superintendent. Griffin replaces Bill Vogel. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Griffin hopes to recruit more students to the public school setting and may propose a rezoning of the county’s schools. The OHS administration will also experience change next year. Dean Drew Morgan will be an assistant principal.

Students pitch in to help Students and staff managed to pack over 12,000 meals in the Commons on May 2 for needy families in the area. Feeding Needy Children organized the effort to aid the OHS food pantry that has been active on the campus since 2010. Security officer, Bonnie Presley, and administrative assistant, Patty Blake, are in charge of donations and distribution. Local homeless families benefited from the meals.

photo/AMANDA FERGUSON

OUT OF THE BOX. Junior Lucy Yanckello, sophomores Allie Jacobs, and Cameron Preston assemble boxes to pack meals in.

pin belongs to art teacher Rob LaWarre photo/WILLOW MASON

RED

Teachers upset over pay issues by Jonathan Bohinsky

students is due to be closed in June, saving the wo hundred and fifty teachers wearing red county $500,000. Despite ongoing discussion about closing crowded into the school board meeting on May 8 to protest the zero percent increase existing schools, the Florida State Board of in pay proposed by the Seminole County School Education ruled on May 9 that Seminole County Schools must approve another charter school that Board. Many wore buttons provided by the Seminole will be supported through taxpayer dollars. The board had previously denied the school’s County Teachers Union that read, “I am not a application because the school’s achievement zero.” “I’m afraid that a zero percent increase in goals were below the standards currently being salary might result in us losing young teachers reached by Seminole schools. “I am amazed that at the start of their the state of Florida career and it’s very We need the school board’s would force a county harmful to morale,” AP help to pay our bills, to try and like Seminole to pay Macroeconomics teacher for a charter school Alan Musante said. catch up with the cost of living when school closings The teachers are that has continued to increase appear likely. Isn’t demanding a three while our salaries this contradictory percent pay raise to to how a business offset the three percent have essentially decreased. should operate and cut in their salaries AP Lit teacher Roy Starling do taxpayers really triggered by the new bill support their hardthat requires teachers to earned dollars going contribute three percent to a charter school whose goals are below what to the Florida Retirement Fund “It feels like the state is bleeding us dry,” band our schools normally achieve?” debate teacher Deborah Jepson said. teacher Dennis Line said. Teacher salaries have been frozen for four According to the School Board, granting the three percent raise would add an additional $9 years and that means some teachers are stuck at the beginning salary of $36,000. million to the district’s already rising deficient. “We’re not asking the school board to make Voters turned down a half penny sales tax referendum two years ago that would have helped us rich,” AP English Literature teacher Dr. Roy fill the hole now being dug by rising costs and Starling said. “We know we’re teachers. We didn’t get into this for the lofty salaries. We need the decreased student enrollment. Fifty-two of Seminole County’s 60 schools school board’s help to pay our bills, to try and are considered below capacity. At Oviedo High catch up with the cost of living that has continued School, only three-quarters of available seats are to increase while our salaries have essentially decreased.” filled. Honors Calculus teacher Jack Boggs expresses According to the official count, there are 8,551 empty seats in Seminole County and closing concern about the retaining beginning teachers. “I’m concerned about younger teachers seeing schools is becoming a serious option. Longwood Elementary was closed last year, teaching as a lifetime profession. There’s no saving the county $1 million annually. The Hopper incentive for them to stay in,” Boggs said. Increased teaching responsibilities, a new Center for emotionally disabled elementary

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Students speak out about salaries Percentage of students who agree with the following statement about teaching:

35% 11%

I could support a family with this career

17%

Pays appropriately for the skills and effort I would bring

14%

If I do well in the job, I would be rewareded financially

13%

The job offers competitive starting salary

Offers a salary that would increase substantaly over the next seven to ten years

Survey given on May 11 to 149 upper classmen in AP or Honors level classes. Not all questions received a response. evaluation system, and lack of pay raises is beginning to take its toll. “More demands on our wallet, more stress at work and a paycheck that changes only when three percent is taken out to contribute to our retirement. Who puts up with this? How can we hope to stay up for the task? How can our morale not begin to sink as the years go by?” Dr. Starling said.

jonathanb@thelionstale.com

MAY 15, 2012

| news |

THE LION’S TALE 03

Green light given to digital books

photo/HARRY TRABER

FROM TEXTBOOKS TO TECH-BOOKS. Senior Zach O’Hanlon uses his iPad to research school projects. He downloaded one of the first interactive textbooks on biology that embeds short videos into the text. O’Hanlon believes textbooks like this will be common in the future.

Textbooks to undergo changes by Harry Traber

lorida schools can expect to move to digital textbooks in 201516 thanks to a law passed by Florida Senate. Senate Bill 2120 mandates that Florida schools must devote at least 50 percent of their budget to digital materials which could mean buying digital books as well as other learning aids for students to use. Assistant Principal Marcia Haskel sees this law as the next step toward the move away from paper textbooks. “I don’t know a lot about the law, but I think it’s predictable that textbooks will go digital; it will depend on the cost,” Haskel said. Senior Zachary O’Hanlon has a lot of experience using digital learning aids such as textbooks on his iPad 2. “My take on interactive books is it’s a great concept and it’s probably really going to transform the way we use textbooks. But I don’t really see it making a serious impact any time within the next couple of years. Books are great because you have text, but this is great because you can visualize everything that is given to you. It’s

Side by Side

A comparison of three tablets

great; they can give you a 3D model that you can move around,” O’Hanlon said. When it comes to funding, Haskel worries about how the move will be funded. “If everything goes to digital textbooks and everyone has an iPad, then who’s going to maintain them?” Haskel said. O’Hanlon thinks that schools won’t be able to afford the best tablets for their students to use, and by extent, will limit the effectiveness of their digital experience. “[The change] is going to have to be after large amounts of people have tablet computers or devices with a touch screen, because you can’t really navigate a book with a mouse; it’s the truth. If you have an e-reader, then you want a large screen. But if the budget is what I think it is and you have to get digital materials, then chances are they are going to get Kindles and Kindles almost defeat entirely the point of interactive textbooks because it has the same limitations as a piece of paper. It refreshes in six seconds. You can’t play a video where it’s

New iPad Price: $499 Weight: 1.33 lbs Screen: Backlit but hard to read in sunlight due to glare Battery life: 10 hours Web Browsing: Yes

one sixth of a frame per second. So that’s the problem I have with a digital budget. They will get the cheapest e-reader possible with a fiveinch screen and a six-second refresh rate and it’s a total piece of junk. But again [tablets] are great but we don’t have the budget for them,” O’Hanlon said. However, junior Jacob Van Dusen enjoys the convenience of an e-reader, especially the interface with digital books. “I find the Nook better than a real book because there are so many ways to turn the pages. You can even change the text size. It’s convenient; you can hold it with one hand or lay on your side and just scroll with one finger,” Van Dusen said. Van Dusen likes the idea of textbooks being on a Nook or other device. But he does have one concern. “The only reason I hesitate is because of the screen size. I mean my nook is pretty small. With a textbook, it’s bigger and organized. If you had a bigger e-reader, it wouldn’t be a problem,” Van Dusen said. O’Hanlon doesn’t think that a tablet or e-reader would be able to stand up to the stress of a school environment. “Honestly, I don’t see any problems switching from regular books to these, except for the fact that we have people who rip and drop regular books and will they break tablets. So that’s the one major concern with the adoption of interactive media – destruction of property. Because books, you can rip out one page and you can deal with it; the rest of the book is fine. But on a [damaged] tablet, every page is busted in every textbook,” O’Hanlon said. Van Dusen agrees that the e-readers may get destroyed, but he believes there are ways around it. “From what I can tell they are pretty sturdy; the case is pretty sturdy. But I think with schools having e-readers from one grade to another, it would be fine. But as [e-readers] get more popular, I bet they would become sturdier and use less power,” Van Dusen said. Though the law only affects the textbook budget, media specialist Carol Coulon-Woods plans to move the Oviedo library to digital format along with the textbooks. “I want to start a lot of investing in digital books. What I’m thinking is starting with our more popular titles, and if students like using digital [books], start purchasing more,” Coulon-Woods said. Initially, the books would be used on a traditional desktop or laptop computer. “The vendor I am using is Follett, which is branching out and [making more digital books available]. What I like about e-books is you can set a period of time for [books to be checked out]. I set three weeks, and when that time is done, it can’t be read anymore. I don’t have to call students about an overdue book. It will just make things easier,” Coulon-Woods said. Van Dusen likes the idea of libraries moving forward with the textbooks. “[Digital books in the library] would be good, because other libraries have links like that and you can rent books for certain periods of time. But it’s a good step moving forward,” Van Dusen said.

Kindle Fire Price: $199 Weight: .91 lbs Screen: Backlit and easy to read in sunlight due to LCD screen Battery life: 7.5 hours Web Browsing: No

harryt@thelionstale.com

Nook Tablet Price: $199 Weight: .88 lbs Screen: Backlit and easy to read in sunlight due to lamination Battery life: 9 hours Web Browsing: Yes all photos/COURTESY OF OFFICIAL SITES info courtesy/GEEK.COM

THE LIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALE

| advertisements | MAY 15, 2012

MAY 15, 2012

| news |

Drowning in tests

Are students being tested too heavily?

Stress over testing worries students by Rachel Lo

“I don’t think they should make us take unior Cathy Hill scans her PERT test results, another test. I don’t think that we should have expecting to see nothing of consequence. any more tests. They test us constantly. The entire Instead, she finds a warning that, unless she last half of the year is test, test, testing. We have turns in SAT scores before the beginning of the FCAT, SAT, ACT, nine-week exams, AP tests next school year, she will have to take a college all in this quarter. There are too many tests for students to be actually focused and realize what readiness class next year. “When I found out I had to take another test they’re learning. It’s just cramming for the tests just to get a score, I was really upset because and forgetting everything,” Hill said. Junior Tinka Tucker feels that testing becomes I’m only a junior. I know I need to be ready for college but I still have another year of learning. more important and intensive as students prepare for college. So the fact that I had to “Your junior year take a test that would They test us constantly. The is the most important determine if I was ready year in high school, for college now or not, entire last half of the year because that’s the I thought it was really a is test, test, testing. We have year colleges mostly waste of money and time. FCAT, SAT, ACT, nine-week focus on. It’s the year I was really disappointed you take the SAT, the when I got my results exams, AP tests all in this ACT, and [colleges] back because I failed quarter. go off those scores. the reading, but, again, I Cathy Hill, ‘13 You also take as many still have another year to hard classes as you be completely collegecan handle, so people take more AP classes, too,” ready,” Hill said. According to Assistant Principal Dr. Trent Tucker said. Bioscience II teacher PJ Kreahling thinks Daniel, students who do not meet the reading or writing requirement of the PERT will have that excessive testing affects both students and to take English IV Standard next year. Students teachers. “Not only do I feel bad about the students, who do not achieve the necessary score for the math portion will have to take Math for College but I feel bad for the teachers as well. There’s so Readiness. These class requirements are state- much pressure being put on these tests, not only just for the students but for the teachers as well. I mandated. Hill was not aware that if she didn’t achieve just think there’s so much testing and these kids certain scores, she’d have to take a college- are being stressed out about it, and teachers are being stressed out,” Kreahling said. readiness class next year. Kreahling faces challenges when preparing “It’s not fair at all [that they didn’t tell me]. I’m really upset, because I have to go and take her freshmen biology students for their End of the SAT. Why are they making me take one test Course exams. “We [teachers] are expected to prepare these when we still have to take another test that’ll tell us the same information in another way?” Hill kids for these tests, but they’re being taken out of our classes to take other tests. For example, the said. She believes that towards the end of the Geometry End of Course exam occurred like last school year, students become overwhelmed with week, and I think it was three or four days. I had kids that were being taken out of my class to go tests.

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take that course [exam] when I needed to have them to prepare them for the Biology [exam], so they missed those review days,” Kreahling said. End of Course exams must be taken for Algebra I, Geometry I, Biology, and American History during the fourth quarter. Kreahling believes that having the EOCs administered through computers exacerbates testing. “I think testing is important to see what [students] learned; I just wish there was a better way of testing. I think the computers are really a problem, because then [students] wouldn’t have to be taken out of classes [in staggers]. Because the problem is the scheduling of the computer labs. But, you know, the state is saving money on paper, and the schools have to worry about purchasing computers so [students can take tests],” Kreahling said. Because of testing, along with AP registration and senior project showcase, the Media Center has been open for only two full days during April 25 to May 17. This has affected students who need to take AR tests, such as freshman Carlos Suarez. “I had to take an AR test in my seventh period, but the AR test was actually due third period, so I got some points taken off. They were doing the End of Course exams in the media center [during third period]. I couldn’t take it during the class because we were doing a project that whole class, and I had to work on it,” Suarez said. Hill believes that some tests, like End of Course Exams, should be eliminated. “They’ve already eliminated some [tests], like the FCAT Science, but they throw in like an EOC for every class. I don’t think that’s right. I don’t like EOCs. They’ve gone how long without them, and now all of a sudden they’re here. We’ve had the FCAT for a while and it seemed to do good enough. I don’t see why we had to add more [tests]. There’s no reason to test us,” Hill said.

rachell@thelionstale.com

Your tests Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Nine Weeks Exams: 28 Nine Weeks Exams: 28

Nine Weeks Exams: 28

EOC Exams: Up to 2

EOC Exams: Up to 1

EOC Exams: Up to1

SAT: 1-2

FCAT: 2

SAT: 1-2

AP Exams: Up to 10

AP Exams: Up to 1

AP Exams: Up to 7

PERT: Up to 3

PSAT: 1

PERT: Up to 3

ACT: 1-2

Total: 33

Total: 39

Elaine Michaels ‘13

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Total: 43

*Numbers are only approximate based on maximum number of potential tests, as well as typical progression of courses

Total: 45

We have too many computer tests. You can’t focus as well.

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Payton Harper ‘15

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We have too many tests because they’re trying to see what we know but it doesn’t relate to the real world.

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Caitlyn Buford ‘14

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Senior

Nine Weeks Exams: 28

THE LION’S TALE 05

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There’s too many standardized tests to determine if you pass or fail.

”

Alexander Ghiglieri

‘15

Teachers and students all hate FCAT. Teachers end up teaching the test. It takes away from the real learning.

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THE LION’S TALE

| news | MAY 15, 2012

Citizenship Policy governs athletes plus club members by Jessi Whitacre

from their team due to being caught drinking ll athletes must obey the Seminole alcohol in their subdivision on Labor Day. The policy applies to out of school behavior County Citizenship Policy 24 hours per day during their season. Club and as well as online activities. If a report is filed, extra curricular participants fall under the administration is required to investigate and policy 24/7 during the entire school year. This punishments could result. Morgan said he has not received any includes summer field trips. The Citizenship Policy outlines the reports involving Facebook or any other expected behavior and discipline guidelines social networking websites this year. Principal Robert Lundquist states that the for students in all Seminole County schools that are involved in school sponsored Citizenship Policy can be found online as well extracurricular activities, including all sports as in the student code of conduct. The policy is also discussed at the teams and clubs as well as the yearbook and beginning of each newspaper staffs. year during the class “I’ve heard about If the student does not have meetings. Therefore, it [the Citizenship that information, they have not it is the responsibility Policy] from my of each student to be English class. We had fulfilled their responsibility to aware of the policy. a discussion about it, know what the rules are. Morgan went over but I feel like I should the policy during the be more informed Principal Robert Lundquist class meetings at about it,” sophomore the beginning of the Hannah Procell said. Procell is a member of the poetry club, the year. However, sophomores Patrick O’Neil and sign language club, and several others. Dean Drew Morgan reported that this Tiffany Jenau do not remember any discussion school year there have been five incidents of the Citizenship Policy during their class brought to discipline this school year under meetings. “I do remember that graduation the citizenship policy. All reports were of incidents that occurred on campus during requirements were covered,” O’Neil said. Regardless of measures taken by school school hours. According to an article published in the administrators, the responsibility of being Seminole Chronicle by Leslie Postal and Jill aware of the policy’s guidelines falls on the Duff-Hoppes in 1998, “The School Board students. “If the student does not have that adopted the citizenship policy in 1993 after some Lake Mary High School cheerleaders information, they have not fulfilled their were caught drinking in a limousine at the responsibility to know what the rules are,” Lundquist said. school prom.” Athletic director Scott Waisanen agrees The parents of these students asked the school board to draft a discipline policy with Lundquist. “The coaches review the citizenship for students that would be uniform with its punishments and the result was the Seminole policy with their athletes. Athletes know that [if] they are found out to have used drugs or County Citizenship Policy. According to the same article, two Lake alcohol they could be suspended for a couple Brantley football players were suspended games, up to their entire career. That depends

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on the severity,” Waisanen said. Athletes such as junior lacrosse player Connor Fredericksen said his coaches have followed these requirements. “Our coach told us about the ideas in it all throughout the season and we actually just had a meeting about it the other day,” Fredericksen said. Girls’ volleyball coach and senior class sponsor Anna Hollis-Childress said that she does spend time on the citizenship policy with her athletes and students. “[I go over the policy] because we have had some issues with Facebook pages. I go over it one day at the beginning [of the season],” Hollis-Childress said. Despite requirements of coaches, many athletes remain unaware of the policy. Athletes such as sophomore varsity volleyball player Cameron Preston and golfer Ian Bradley, claim that their coaches failed to review the policy with their teams. “It’s kind of a given not to do that stuff,” Bradley said. Assistant boys’ golf coach and girls’ golf coach Matthew Ackley differs. “Although I did not quote the Citizenship Policy directly, we did discuss the principles behind the message and how it relates to our sport,” Ackley said. Preston thinks his coaches elected not to review the policy with the team because the coaches assumed their players wouldn’t engage themselves in such activities. “I guess they just know we’re good characters,” Preston said When asked if he reviewed the policy, varsity volleyball coach Rafael Valle had no comment. Freshmen soccer player Katie Rose and lacrosse player Rylan Kortus feel that assumptions that athletes and club members are good citizens without being aware of the policy may be correct. Although both Rose and Kortus can’t

OFF CAMPUS VIOLATIONS

remember if their coaches reviewed the policy with their respective teams, both athletes also say that no one on their teams, to their knowledge, has ever done anything that should have been reported according to the guidelines. Preston agreed that, to his knowledge, no one on his volleyball team has done anything that would have been a violation of the policy, either. Currently, it is not a requirement for club sponsors, including yearbook and newspaper staff advisors, to review the policy with their students. However, it is mandated coaches review the Citizenship Policy. Senior newspaper staff member, Amanda Ferguson said her advisor didn’t review the policy with the staff. “We never formally went over the Citizenship Policy. However, it comes up in brainstorming a lot so we know the basic idea behind it,” Ferguson said. Procell feels that club sponsors may feel reluctant to review the citizenship policy with their members. “I think the sponsors feel that they don’t have a right to interject in the student’s social lives beyond school activities,” Procell said. Fredericksen believes sponsors and coaches are not reading the policy verbatim, and are instead choosing to review only the main idea. Lundquist would like to make it known that it is important for students to be aware of the Citizenship Policy and the things outlined in it. “[The policy is important because] it’s put in place to give everyone guidelines as to how we can create a positive, healthy environment for extracurricular activities. We felt as though all activities are a privilege to take part in, and wanted to create guidelines to ensure them that we are interested in their health and happiness,” Lundquist said.

jessiw@thelionstale.com

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

v Violation

“Student is found to have possessed or used False Identification, or possessed or used Tobacco Products.”

“Student is found to have possessed, used, or been under the influence of Drugs, Alcohol, Controlled Substances, Intoxicants...Prescription Medication without a physician’s prescription.”

“Student is arrested for committing an off campus misdemeanor or delinquent act.”

“Student is arrested for committing an off campus felony.”

“Student is formally charged with committing an off campus felony, misdemeanor, or a delinquent act.”

v Punishment

“The student shall be suspended from a number of events ranging from:

two events to all events for one calendar year.”

20 percent of all events to all events for one calendar year.”

zero to all vents pending administrative review.”

50 percent to all events for the duration of the student’s enrollment in the Seminole County Public Schools.”

all events for one calendar year to all events for the duration of the student’s enrollment in the Seminole County Public Schools.” info courtesy/CODE OF CONDUCT

MAY 15, 2012

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THE LIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALE

(opinion sports )

08 THE LION’S TALE

| MAY 15, 2012

THE END OF OUR WORD

“Of all men’s miseries the bitterest is this: to know so much and hav e control over nothing.”

PROGRESS

- Herodotus

LION’S TALE

OV I EDO H I GH S C H OOL • 6 0 1 K I N G S T R E E T • OV I E D O, F L 3 2 7 6 5 • M AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 2 • VO L U M E 5 2 • ISSUE 7

Florida turning into test capital of the world

ducation in Florida now means one thing: tests. More pervasive than ever and at record quantities, statemandated exams stand to overrun the realities of the educational system with the sort of cold, calculated tasks more suited to Skynet than a proper educational environment. Tests for high school students already number in the dozens. End of Course (EOC) exams, SATs, ACTs, FCATs, PERT, college entrance exams, and a myriad of others constantly put enormous stress on students. This causes weakened determination and lowers overall performance. Students that cannot take the constant strain of cramming may give up entirely. This unfortunate turn of events is hardly unexpected – Florida’s current legislative body often takes a cold, adversarial stance when creating legislature involving education. Even teachers face numerous “evaluations” – also known as tests – which they must pass, or face a doomed career and even weaker paychecks. The bar to pass these exams, too, is always rising. This supposedly improves students’ abilities to compete in the global job market, but in reality, raising the bar for testing scores while increasing the quantity of mandatory exams in tandem only strikes fear into the hearts of both teachers and students. illustration/ WESLEY WYNNE Due to a resultant fear of both students’ and their own potential failures, teachers are forced to cling to a tightly structured curriculum in order to cram all the necessary materials falls, legislators stack more of these illogical, impersonal measures into students’ minds. This prevents insightful discussion of the onto the hodgepodge pile already weighing everything down. material and removes innovation in teaching – attempting new Perhaps the issue lies in perception of “growth” within styles comes with the risk of near-poverty or complete job loss. education. Our legislators believe in growth that is carefully, This puts forth a dangerous example for students. Americans intensely restrained and managed to net a specific set of results. This often pride themselves on innovation – with sort of draconian legislation, however, technology and science such important sectors of ignores the strokes of genius that provide When the idea behind the economy, innovation is more important than incredible results and crushes them at these tests is to increase ever; with terrified teachers setting an example the root. At this rate, we might as well of dull conformity, however, students never learn performance, limiting education replace educators and administrators with firsthand the most valuable lesson – what it is to androids and software (with the push to and innovation while putting innovate. FLVS, we’re certainly trying). enormous stress on all in When the idea behind these tests is to But if the goal is to excel beyond increase performance, limiting education and other states and nations, then surely the educational system is innovation while putting enormous stress on all this sort of unique, randomly-occurring counterintuitive. in the educational system is counterintuitive. By brilliance should be stimulated, nurtured, placing statistical constraint upon constraint on and rewarded. Instead, students must our system simply to appease those without any stay upon the path of “learning goals” working knowledge of what this entails, the system tends to come as teachers must stay within Marzano’s principles, and that simply crashing down. leads to mediocrity: our system simply becomes a parody of others. Aside from producing a dangerously confined path to tread, A solution seems quite clear, in this light: instead of restraining an abundance of testing magnifies our budgetary concerns. With education’s natural growth and flow, the myriad new tests and each test come start-up fees to develop, analyze and implement systems must be stripped away to allow for innovation to occur the course. On top of this are recurring costs every year to test at naturally. The guiding force behind educational legislature all. should not constrain, but instead stimulate students, teachers This creates a vicious cycle: as the budget strains more, and administrators to perform their best – and when everyone is teachers lose their jobs and performance falls. As performance drowning in a sea of performance evaluations, that cannot happen.

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Editors-In-Chief Arianna Ray Stephanie O’Sullivan News Editor Harry Traber Opinion Editor Brandon Koller Features Editors Hafsa Hussain Zoe Lyon-Goldman Diversions Editors Olivia Davila-Finch Carly Ford Sports Editor Andrea Dobo Advertising Editor Drake Dickerson Web Editors Amanda Ferguson Justin Mang Photographers Linsey Duca Colton Jaqueth

Willow Mason Staff Artists Jonathan Bohinsky Wesley Wynne Staff Reporters Leigha Bennett Andy Bosley Trevor Khan Rachel Lo Ellen McCormack Chris Moskal Courtney Rothermich Alexis Sherwood Sarah Tripp Jessi Whitacre Faculty Adviser Deborah Jepson Admin Adviser Marcia Haskel Principal Robert Lundquist Oviedo High School 601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone: 407-320-4199 Fax: 407-320-4213 Population: 2223 Students 165 Staff

Mission Statement

The Lion’s Tale is the student newspaper of Oviedo High School, located in Oviedo, Florida. Our mission is to provide news, feature stories, editorials and opinions relevant to our readers while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards. The Lion’s Tale follows copy standards outlined in the Associated Press Stylebook, 42nd Edition, published in 2007 by the Associated Press, and is a member of the CSPA, NSPA, FSPA, and SIPA. Distribution

2500 copies of The Lion’s Tale are distributed free to all students and staff at Oviedo High School. Subscriber information is available upon request. Reader Contributions

Letters to the Editor are accepted and may be sent by post, e-mail, or dropped off in Room 5-020. The Lion’s Tale does not accept guest columns, and reserves the right to edit letters to the Editor. Full policy is available on request. Advertising Policy

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The Lion’s Tale is accessible at thelionstale.com. The views of the staff do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, staff, or faculty of Oviedo High School.

MAY 15, 2012 | opinion | THE LION’S TALE 09 le Amanda’s picture here.

AMANDA FERGUSON

WEB EDITOR

Future grad looks forward to escape

photo/ANDREA DOBO

Editor reminisces about stressful senior year

STEPHANIE O’SULLVAIN CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ell seniors, this is it. The very last Lion’s Tale newspaper of our high school journeys. I’m very proud to say that, somehow, I’ve been able to survive 21 editions of producing the newspaper. Some of you may laugh at that, but have you ever stopped and thought about how much work we put into every edition? No? I didn’t think so. Every story in here requires at least 40 minutes of interviewing. That’s 40 minutes of nervous fumbling through questions, of trying to write down the responses as quickly as possible because people speed up their pace when they’re being interviewed, and of quietly being frustrated whenever students respond with one word answers. Every story also requires at least an hour to write. We have to take all of those awkward, short sentences that we are given and somehow transform them into a 750-word article. Once that’s completed, staff members turn their articles into Mrs. Jepson, and then Arianna Ray (the other co-editor-in-chief). I read through every single story and correct them. Keep in mind that we often read through stories at least three times before we go to press. Often, we return stories covered in corrections. Yet, we still seem to miss the simplest of mistakes, which you, my fellow students, always seem so eager to tell me about. Does it really matter if we misspell a few words every edition? There were 22,136 words in the last edition, so does it really matter if we misspelled the word ‘contest’? We print 2,500 copies of each edition to distribute, so I really only want to know if we’ve misidentified someone, or if someone has completely lied to us about an entire story. Other

than that, I’m not too concerned with misplaced stayed after school to work and have gotten their apostrophes, periods, or silly spelling mistakes. work done on time. But thanks. Thank you to Amanda Ferguson, for always Another huge portion of planning the paper knowing what to do. You always knew when is to lay out all of the pages in the back of Mrs. to buy Diet Cokes, make the world’s best Cake Jepson’s room, assign the pages and photos, and Pops, and when to ignore me when I’m acting actually lay out the paper using programs like like a Day of Press lunatic who’s so stressed that I InDesign CS3 for the pages and Photoshop CS3 don’t make sense anymore. I wouldn’t have been for the photo editing. Out of the usual 28-pageable to survive these past four years without your paper, we have to make sure that each page is sarcastic comments and dumbfounded looks. unique. We have to make sure that each page Thanks Andrea Dobo, for being the awesome has all of the components that it needs, such person that you are. I’ll miss our “I just don’t as the story, the infographics, and any sidebar care” days and, of course, Yogi. I don’t think press information to support the story. We spend hours week would have ever been possible without your after school working on the paper. During edition random outbursts or your dialing my phone 20 six, I spent over 21 hours after school working times while I’m trying to be serious and talk to the on the paper. On one day alone, I was in the class about deadlines. GO SPORTS! newspaper lab from the beginning of A lunch Of course, thank you Arianna Ray. There until 8:15, without going is no way that we to my other class, and would have gotten then I had to go home this year’s, or last There were 22,136 words in and do all of my regular year’s, papers out the last edition, so does it really homework. I often without you. Your matter if we misspelled the come home haunted last minute, amazing by missing photos and layouts have saved word ‘contest’? unfinished stories. the paper on multiple That’s why I always occasions, and you look like I want to cry or scream whenever a have saved me from immense amounts of stress. I student asks me why it takes us “soooooo” long to don’t know who I’ll turn to when I have a Friends get the paper done. I dare you to try and do what or Harry Potter pun, and no one else understands we do and not crack under the pressure. it. So thank you students, for crumpling up Lastly, thank you to Zoe Lyon-Goldman and our paper and throwing it in the trash or on the Hafsa Hussain, for being so dedicated that I look ground. And thank you to the few teachers here bad. Seriously, that’s awesome and I’m jealous of who take entire stacks of the newspaper and your dedication. From now on, lunches will seem throw it in the trash. Really, it just feels awesome too quiet without your comments and laughter. I’ll to see all of our hard work being thrown away. I miss that so much. understand how much you appreciate our paper. So, from now on seniors, take the time to It’s just awesome. appreciate everything around you. Remember Not all students and teachers behave like this. that curriculum guide? Arianna and I worked with I would love to thank every one of you who has Coach Register for two weeks trying to perfect personally told me about articles that you liked that. Remember the yearbook? The yearbook staff and pictures you enjoyed. Thank you for reading works incredible hours trying to finish it on time our paper! and incorporate all different ages. Remember I wouldn’t have been able to get through this Roar TV? It takes them days to shoot and edit all journey without the help of many newspaper of the footage needed for a clip for the news. members. Firstly, thank you to the members of Don’t take anyone else’s work for granted. the staff (this year and previous years) who have stephanieo@thelionstale.com

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ooking back on the last four years of high school, I can honestly say I’m so happy I’m moving on to bigger and better things. I’m ecstatic that I won’t have to sit through any more classes that are a blatant waste of time. I can finally get away from these girls that I want to punch in the face on a daily basis for the last four years. In my high school career I have had at least six classes that were complete wastes of time. Classes in which I’m pretty sure I knew more than the teacher, when I could sit there and correct the teacher based on what they assigned for homework. Towards the end of my senior year I started just not going. I would go every once in a while to get assignments, homework, and test days. The downside to that is I get marked absent and could have lost credit. In college if I end up with one of those stupid classes, I can go once a week, get assignments and test dates and leave. I won’t lose credit and I won’t get referrals to the dean. I hated coming to school to sit and work on something that I could easily do at home. I hated knowing that when I walked into that class I could simply fall asleep and still pass the class, or knowing that my teacher had absolutely no idea what she planned on doing that day. Don’t get me wrong I have taken some very hard classes that I could not have slept through and passed. For example, I think if I even put my head down for a half a second in calculus I would have failed miserably. Another thing I’m really glad to be getting away from is the lame drama and the girls that will sit and class and be like “Oh my gosh I don’t get it.” REALLY?! This is a simple English assignment, WRITE THE PAPER! If you don’t get this, good luck in college, sweetheart. These same girls, on a non-academic note, will sit there in the down time in class and talk about their personal lives with classmates. They will talk loudly enough that everyone can hear them, and then get angry when people judge them. Sorry that when you are openly talking about the number of men you have slept with, I’m going to judge you. I just want to slap some sense into people. Like wake up and pretend you have the maturity level of a lizard. So I’m no longer looking back on my high school years. I’m looking forward to my college years. I wish you underclassmen the best and I hope you have a higher patience level than I do. Have fun in high school, and try to ignore the obnoxious people and get through the annoying classes.

amandaf@thelionstale.com

THE LION’S TALE

LEIGHA BENNETT

| opinion | MAY 15, 2012

STAFF REPORTER

‘YOLO’ to you

Stop sweating small stuff

Crazy ride almost over

o you know that feeling of waiting in line for a roller coaster? It seems like you’re waiting for eternity. But once you finally get onto the roller coaster, you’re expecting to take the craziest ride of your life. It cranks up the hill, suspense builds in your gut. Suddenly, it drops and you speed down and enjoy the ride. In a blink of an eye, it’s over. Well, that’s high school. I don’t really remember much from my freshman year. All I could remember was I quickly jumped into the high school scene. I wasn’t the freshman with a huge backpack that was afraid of upperclassmen; I actually got along better with the senior class that year. Sophomore year wasn’t anything special, the entire year revolved around nothing but FCAT. As junior year came to the end, I could feel something very bad building up. It’s something we all know as “senioritis”, and it hits you hard. Each day became increasingly difficult to leave my bed. But, I managed it somehow. Thankfully, seniors, we made it to the end. The day that we’ve been clawing at for is within our reach. It’s definitely something to be proud and excited for. But I do want to tell the underclassmen, please enjoy high school. I know some days it couldn’t be worse than waking up at six a.m., dragging yourself through seven classes, and getting buried six feet under homework for 180 days. Juniors, I know some of you are already suffering the symptoms of senioritis, but don’t let it get the best of you. Allow yourself to sit back and enjoy your year, without being put on attendance contract. Believe me, it will happen to you. Your actions now will definitely affect you later on. So save yourself the stress, show up to school and get your work done. Before you know it, you’ll be receiving your diploma without fearing about contract. So I want to thank my teachers, friends and family. Especially, Donald Johnson, Katie Sword, and Ethan Richardson all helped me in more ways than I could list. I’ll always be grateful for what they’ve helped me overcome. Oviedo is really home to champions, scholars and ballers; so congratulations seniors, we got this in the bag. Byaahh!

leighab@thelionstale.com

ZOE LYON-GOLDMAN

FEATURES EDITOR

e all hear that high school years are some of the best years with some of the most unforgettable memories. If you ask me, I don’t exactly agree. I think the best years of my life have yet to come. I just want to give you underclassmen some pointers about your upcoming years at Oviedo High School. Don’t sweat the small stuff. People in high school tend to be petty and talk about everyone. So don’t let that get to you. Don’t stress over a boy or a little tiff with your best friend. Focus on school and get good grades. Show up at every football game, every dance, and every event. Because one thing that is true, you’ll never get those back. While you’re doing that, don’t forget to make new friends along the way. Trying to cling on to a group of friends you’ve known since middle school isn’t very realistic. One of the main things that happens in high

school is you start to realize who you are and the kind of friends you want to have. Branch out and get to know new people. If you’re disappointed because you expected to instantly connect with the friends you had in elementary school, but they act like they’ve never seen you in their life, don’t sweat it. You’ll meet new people who you will like much better. I would also like to touch on that one group of kids. They are all there, in every high school scenario. The ones on Homecoming Court every year and the ones who get nominated for basically everything there is to be nominated for. Don’t be surprised when your senior year rolls around and every single Lundy Award and senior superlative is awarded to a person in that group. Honestly, it was a little strange to see that whole group of friends win just about every award. Come on people, we all know that’s just not right. And it’s not because they were the only ones who voted. The truth is, no one wants to participate because they already know what the outcome will be, because well, IT’S THAT WAY EVERY YEAR. There really is no escaping that. However, one thing you can do is put yourself out there and be a part of things. I really wanted to play a sport in high school but it just never happened. That is something I wish I had done differently when I was an underclassman: put myself out there and do something I really

wanted to do. The moral to that story is don’t let anything or anyone make you feel like you aren’t capable of doing something. Besides the things I didn’t particularly care for in high school, there are all the great things I took away from my four years. I learned a lot about myself in high school. I can say now I have a much better insight into what I want to do in the future and I have matured so much. I can honestly say I am a much different person now than when I first walked through the doors of Oviedo High School my freshman year. And I met a lot of awesome people who got me to where I am. Another thing I’m glad I did was join newspaper staff. Yes, it’s true, it put me through a lot of stress, just like everyone else. But it really taught me a lot about hard work and making deadlines. But most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to be proud of my work. But if there is one lesson I took away from high school, it was that life is way too short to worry about the little things. YOLO, sorry I had to say it. Don’t try to grow up too fast. Enjoy your youth before you are tossed into life after high school, also known as the real world. So to the class of 2013, enjoy high school year and live it up. You won’t get these years back.

zoel@thelionstale.com

What would you have done differently during your four years on campus?

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Brandon Smith ‘12

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I would’ve taken more classes that work at my pace, that I’m more qualified for.

Devin Smith ‘12

“ Scotty David ‘12

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I wish I would have focused more on academics.

I’d go to more sporting events and be more outgoing and meet more people.

”

Omar Mulero

I wish I had known about all of the fine arts earlier in my high school years.

”

‘12

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Justin Hamstra ‘12

“ Jay Lum Lock ‘12

I’d join more clubs and do more extracurriculars.

I wouldn’ve actually joined the football team and done drama.

”

MAY 15, 2012 | opinion | THE LION’S TALE 11

BRANDON KOLLER OPINION EDITOR

Hopes for future overcome regrets

photo/STEPHANIE O’SULLIVAN

Goodbye to fond relationships by Harry Traber

emembering my high school career, I find that the moments that stand out the most to me are those with my

friends. My friends are no small part of my life, and certainly the same applies for most high school students in your lives as well. Going off to college means not seeing the vast majority of the people I have come to know in school – they won’t be only a short drive away. However, now that my senior year is finally at its end, I find myself simply coming to terms with leaving many of the people behind that I have known since kindergarten. Even so, I know that all of my best friends will always stay with me, in some capacity. They will call, occasionally, and we will visit each other whenever we happen to be in the same town at the same time. But a lot of friends I have will simply fade away, lost in the encroaching tides of time. It is only natural to feel bad about losing these people. However, this is all part of becoming an adult. When we reach college, we will meet the people who will become our peers in the business world, and some of us will meet our husbands and wives. I think it is rather important to remember not to shut people out of our worlds after high

school. The friends we will meet in college will be some of our best friends for another important part of our lives. Before I leave high school, then, I want to recognize the value I hold for my current friends, and in a very public manner, let them know exactly what I feel that “being friends” means between each and every one of us. In a very real sense, I love all of my friends; whether we just smile and wave when we pass in the hallway, or hang out together after school, each one holds a special place in my heart. I know a few people regret that our schedules failed to align and made it so we don’t have classes or lunch together, but that doesn’t mean that I have forgotten you. Those who I number among my friends stretch through more than just those of you I stop to talk to in the morning or who I sit with at lunch. It’s every single one of you who I have known as a friend, even from freshman year and beyond. None of you, no matter how small our interaction, could ever be replaced. It is all of you that I have known that give the color to my memories of this school, because without you, school would just be a dull set of rooms where we sit for a few hours and then leave to a sad, gray, meaningless world.

Even though many of my friends will be leaving to a new school or career, and a precious number of you will still be here, waiting for your forthcoming graduation, I will never forget what each of you have done for me. Each of you have encouraged me to achieve my very best in school or in the extracurricular activities we have shared. You always picked me up when I was feeling down, and always made me laugh when I felt so bad or so bored I could cry. Though I will be gone, I want you to know I would do the same for all of you. Most of you would only ask that I hold the door for a moment or lend you a pencil, but you should know I would do quite a bit more. What I will regret more than anything else is the small number of you who won’t remember me at all favorably. You may now read these words with a sour mood, but I will remember you as fondly as anyone. If I have wronged you, I am sorry; if you think me base or rude, I never intended to act so. As my final goodbye, I want all of you to know that you have touched my life and I will treasure our time together here at Oviedo, always.

harryt@thelionstale.com

Letter to the Editor While some may believe watching Jersey Shore is a waste of time, for me it is an integral part of my week that helps me forget about the stress of six AP classes. A year or so ago, I was skeptical about how a show about guidos could be interesting, but after a few episodes I was hooked and now I’m a huge fan. I enjoy watching this show solely for its entertainment value. Pauly and Vinny’s pranks, Sam and Ron’s fights, and Snooki’s never-ending unintelligent quips keep me cracking up the whole hour. Although life in Seaside Heights may seem unrealistic, it could be ideal. It gives teenagers hope that one day they could be successful enough to spend an entire summer with very few responsibilities. This

could provide someone with the motivation they need to put in the hard work now to live the life they’ve always wanted. Jersey Shore may not live up to some people’s moral standards, but there is an important message. This show highlights the importance of making lasting friendships with people that you can always have fun with. On every episode it is apparent how much these people care about each other. They would do anything to have each other’s backs. So no matter what other people think, I’ll keep GTLing and fist pumping until my arm falls off. -Megan Mullally, ‘13

indsight is 20/20, it is said; standing at the end of my high school career, I know that to be true. Better decisions stand crystal-clear, mistakes appear obvious and regret seems easy– but this isn’t the time for worrying. With seniors at the very end of the senior year and college bustling with new opportunities, this sort of introspection just doesn’t have a place. Certainly, the experience assists in making better decisions in the future, but when students stand on the very brink of a world of freedom and new experience, year-end melancholy simply acts as dead weight. Everything that drags students down at the year’s end – whether lost friends, homesickness, or mountains of work – simply doesn’t stand up to what lies ahead. These things tend to evaporate from minds within the next few years, and in the end, it is silly to worry about them at all. Rather than despair over what will be lost, seniors should approach their upcoming metamorphosis into true members of society with exuberant optimism. Too often nostalgic blues soil the entrance into possibilities and wonder; but with an attitude of bold enthusiasm tempered with, rather than eroded by, past experience, this new life takes the form of an adventure. This applies equally to myself; I’m certainly guilty as anyone of looking too often at the past. Most of my columns draw heavily on my mistakes and past events, and I tend too often to analyze what’s happened for future wisdom. Don’t allow this type of behavior to disrupt what lies ahead. Always looking back has serious costs – if your eyes never reach the road in front of you, you’ll find little meaning to life’s journey at all. Particularly in this case of moving to college, the next stretch of hypothetical road likely costs (several times) more than your eventual starting salary, and nothing should be missed just because you’re not sure if you like this place a hundred percent more than your old house. Seniors, look to the future. College need not pertain only to learning. Instead, college is really about the experience available – any and all of it that helps in real life. Push hard to take every bit of it in with a smile on your face, and don’t fret over what you might be missing at home – you won’t regret it later.

brandonk@thelionstale.com

(features sports )

12 THE LIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALE

| MAY 15, 2012

CLASS What OF will life

2012

all photos/DUCA, MASON

be like 10 years from now? Seniors speculate on what the future might hold. Compiled by Zoe Lyon-Goldman

Janet Lavigne. A firefighter with at least one kid. So, a married firefighter.

Kyle Krause. I see myself marrying the

Carly Mellen. Probably starting my career as

hottest chick in the world.

a speech language patholigst. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to work more with trauma patients, more stressful, I like that.

MAY 15, 2012 | features | THE LION’S TALE 13

Shelby Massey. I hope to be an aerospace

Alex Perez. Working as a pathologist and

Emily Lienard. Hopefully out of college and

be able to make a difference in people’s lives in the hospita,l no matter how big or small the problem is.

engineer working at Marshall Air Force Base for NASA designing and building the newest heavy lift vehicle. I also hope to be involved in some sort of ministry on the side.

driving a Cadillac Escalade.

having a job in psychology. I’m going to UCF and I would like to be a child psychologist.

Meaghan O’Kennedy Traveling the world. I

Brandon Lee. Doing some type of mechanical

Michaela Kavanaugh. Being a forensic

Steven Manos. Working with my dad, selling

Ryan Dooley. I want to be a nurse. I wish to

want to go back to Ireland. I’d love to go to Germany, Paris, and Australia.

engineering field, modifying vehicles.

nurse, I’m going to live in Florida somewhere.

wine made in Italy. Sometimes we make our own red wine.

THE LION’S TALE

| features | MAY 15, 2012

Annie Futato. I’ll be 28. Hopefully I’ll be a

Marcus Ireland. A pharamacist, living by

stay at home mom, married to J.J. Redick. He’ll divorce his wife for me.

myself in my own house. A nice car and a dog.

Brandon Smith. I see myself writing music

Hallie Lavery. It’s hard to imagine 10 years

for TV shows, video games, movies, anything like that.

from now, much less next year. But I’m hoping to become a doctor, specializing in pediatrics.

theatre where I’ll teach lessons during the day and put on productions at night.

see myself being an undercover cop for Seminole or Orange County, investigating robberies, drug busts. After that maybe the SWAT or FBI.

Jonathan Kerbelis. I see myself living in a

Jennifer Frederickson. I hope to be married

Taylor Schwarz. I want to own my own little

huge beach house in San Diego, huge CEO of my own engineering company.

Greg Horne. I

and run my own business of event and wedding planning.

zoel@thelionstale.com

MAY 15, 2012 | features | THE LION’S TALE 15 I MISS YOU. Senior Mackenzie Toporowsky visits her boyfriend’s grave site every two to three weeks in Woodland Memorial Park in Gotha. She likes to sit and play their favorite country songs, and reminisce about the times she’s had with her boyfriend, Cody Daniel Head. “It’s been five months, and I still look for him. I still look for him in crowds, attempt to text him, pick up the phone to call him. It’s like it hasn’t sunk in yet,” Toporowsky said. She also visits the site where Head’s death occured at least twice a week.

Gone but

neverForgotten

photo/STEPHANIE O’SULLIVAN

Heartbroken girl revisits site of boyfriend’s death by Stephanie O’Sullivan

enior Mackenzie Toporowsky walks among the rows of graves in Woodland Memorial Park towards the grave of her boyfriend, Cody Daniel Head. When she gets there, Toporowsky sits down, pulls out her phone to play their favorite country songs, and says “Hey cowboy. It’s me again.” Toporowsky’s boyfriend passed away on Dec. 8, 2011. “He was on Tanner Road. He called me at two a.m. and told me he was on the way over and to wait up for him. The cops said he was going about 15 over, so about 60 mph. He apparently hit the right curb, and when he realized this, he over corrected and hit the other curb. His truck went straight into a pole. They say he died on impact,” Toporowsky said. Toporowsky waited about an hour after Head’s call. As the minutes passed, Toporowsky became nervous. “At 2:50 a.m. his brother called me and asked if Cody had made it to my house yet. When he called, I told him I was going to look for Cody. I ran into my mom’s room and woke her up and told her that I knew something was wrong,” Toporowsky said. Together they traced Head’s path. “When we turned back on to Tanner Road, we saw the streetlight glow on his truck. The first thing I said to my mom was, ‘Can he die from that?’ and my mom told me that he’d be

fine. I ran down to the cops, but they told me to the Oviedo Mall and I got the tattoo for him. to turn around because the road was closed,” It has his birth date, his initials, and the date of Toporowsky said. when he passed away on my wrist.” Originally, Toporowsky wanted to go Toporowsky’s mother had the back window straight to the hospital to see Head, but her of her truck wrapped to remember Head. mother did not want “She got it done her to see Head in his about a week after condition. he passed away. A People try to say that they However, three lot of other people understand, but unless you’ve hours later, Head’s did things to their gone through what I’ve gone brother called her car, but it just didn’t again and told her make sense. We got a through, you don’t understand that Head had passed cowboy hat, because my pain at all. away. he loved country, a Mackenzie Toporowsky, ‘12 “I was freaking baseball bat because out. It took about he was a great half an hour before baseball player, and his words really sunk in. My mom walked in music notes, because he was a country singer. and found me crying. She asked me if Cody He was absolutely amazing,” Toporowsky was gone, and I just told her that I didn’t think said. she’d want to know what I had to tell her,” Head was like a second son to Veronica Toporowsky said. Toporowsky, according to Toporowsky. The day after the accident, Toporowsky was “My mom’s been there for me. He was like at her friend’s, senior Jennifer Frederickson’s, a son to her, but she’s put aside her pain to house talking about Cody when she had an help me get through this. I didn’t go home for idea. a week after the accident. She’s let me mourn “Cody and I were planning on getting by myself, and she’s there if I need to cry,” tattoos together, before he passed away. He Toporowsky said. could never decide what to get. I was sitting Friends like Frederickson helped on my friend’s bed and suddenly I just knew Toporowsky after the accident. that I had to get a tattoo for him,” Toporowsky “My friends have been really supportive. said. “We literally got up that minute and went Some said they were going to be there for me,

“

”

while others were actually there for me. My friend Jen Frederickson has literally taken me out almost every single day, just to hang out. She’s been there for me every single day,” Toporowsky said. Frederickson also knew Head, and has been able to help Toporowsky heal. “I have just tried to be there for her as much as possible. I have made her get out of the house and I have tried to get her mind off of everything,” Frederickson said. Posting statuses about Head has also helped Toporowsky in the healing process, especially right after the accident. “I tried to write in a journal, but it wasn’t the same. The most helpful thing for me to do is post on his wall. I try to post on his wall every day. People try to say that they understand, but unless you’ve gone through what I’ve gone through, you don’t understand my pain at all,” Toporowsky said. Toporowsky visits Head a few times a week. “I go to the site where he passed away at least twice a week. I like going there more because that’s really where he spent the last few moments of his night. It’s special. I also go to his grave site every two to three weeks. It’s farther away so I don’t get to go as often,” Toporowsky said.

stephanieo@thelionstale.com

THE LION’S TALE

| advertisements | MAY 15, 2012

Congratulations Class of 2012!

Good luck from the OHS Administration Kyle Adamson Dayo Adisa Matthew Aiello Matthew Ainsworth Alyssa Alers Viktor Aloi Daniela Altamar Jessica Amador Madison Amrhein Greisha Aponte-Davis Allyssa Appleget Juan Arroyave John Arroyo Brandon Ash Joshua Atkinson Arjun Babuji Ashwin Babuji Elizabeth Baker Jamie Barber Wesley Barnhardt Tara Barrowclough Hannah Barson Ashley Bartlett Dylan Bartley Jonah Bascombe Malinda Bass Benjamin Bazata Charles Beaman Brandi Beaver Chelsea Beaver David Beckles Shane Beckman Nakisa Behi Teirrah Bellaire Leigha Bennett Bec Benton Jake Berry Stephen Bertalan Miranda Betterley Larry Biddle Brittany Billingsley Austin Bloom Allie Boardman Jonathan Bohinsky Andres Bohorquez Andrew Bolen Haley Bolt Zachary Bombard Stacy Boothe Alex Borkholder Kirsti Bougher Justin Boyarsky Allie Boyd Bria Boykin Stephanie Brache Andrea Brancaccio Kacie Brantley Joe Breazeale Rachel Brockman Christine Brown Daniel Brown Julie Brown Kaley Brown Danielle Brunson Vivian Burgnon Kassii Byler Alexis Cairns Jamie Cairns

Roberto Calimlin Denisse Camacho-Sanchez Jessica Camacho Cora Campbell John Campbell II Angelica Canzanella Suzanne Carmody Elizabeth Carroll Kayla Cartagena-Aviles Hayley Carter-Fredrickson Nicole Cavaliere Alberta Chaj Sara Chaj Joshua Chaudoin Christopher Chmelir Richard Christel Michael Cichocki Marija Cokovska Allison Coleman Kimberlee Collazo Daniel Condly Ryan Connors-Trompeter Alexa Cornell Dallas Cote Madison Cozart Ashley Craig Andrew Cranston Victoria Cross Taryn Cruse Ellis Cummings Will Cutler Dexter Daniels Scotty David Sarah Davis Alexander Del Rio Matthew Denson Joshua Dewett Carolina Diaz-Santos John Dicembre Megan Dietz Jacqueline Dignan Anthony Dion Drew Dodge Ryan Dooley Robin Dotson Edward Dougherty Tori Douthat Michelle Downs Taylor Drosky Harvey Drummer Michael Duncan Jr. Taylor Duncan Devon Dwyer Dyquan Dye Candace Eflin Darine El’Harake Kayla Ellerbe Sammy Elliott Denice Encarnacion Becca Epstein Paola Espinoza-Zubiaga India Evans Lisa Evans Victoria Fairman Talon Falconer Dwaine Faulkner Jessica Ferger Amanda Ferguson

Alessandra Fernandez Marlene Filiault Autumn Fisher Jessica Flachner Kristopher Foley Caitlin Ford Elaine Fox Jennifer Frederickson Drew Freeburn Audrey French Stephanie Furtivo Annie Futato TJ Gamble Marissa Garbade Rachel Garcia Jacob Garrett Carson Geers Tori George Harrison Gibiser Kevin Gil Austin Gilbert Erik Glenn Matthew Goldblatt Orlando Gomez Anthony Gonzalez Jaclyn Grant Desiree Grauds Justin Gray AJ Grayson Aaron Greene Michael Grezlikowski Adam Griffin Sabrina Grimes Emily Hague Daniel Hammack Justin Hamstra Billy Harden Kaitlyn Hardy Brittani Hart Steven Hartshorn Ali Hartwig Sayf Hassouneh Cody Hawk John Hayduk Megan Heil Cole Hensley Sarha Hernandez- Perez Krystle Hess Nicholas Hiley Heidi Hinnershitz Machaela Hisle Parker Hoffman Jeremy Holstein Sarah Holzer Kaley Homan Gregory Horne Jr. Kamiya Howard Jerald Huff III Gerald Huggins Michael Huynh Marcus Ireland Saira Jafferjee Colton Jaqueth Brittany Jennings Courtney Jensen Tyler Jensen Junzhe Jiang Alycia Johnson

Kevin Johnson Nicole Johnson Trevor Johnston Brielle Jones Kevin Jones Kayla Joyce Seowoo Jung Matthew Kahle Michael Kalaf Sarah Kaiser Michaela Kavanaugh William Kellis Jonathan Kerbelis Robert Kerr Bibi Khan Nirvani Khan Ashley Kilgore Stephanie Kirk Hopeton Knight Brandon Koller Katelyn Korvan Kyle Krause Branson Krise Savanah Lacey Shane Ladd Karina Lagares Jason Lakey Sidney Lalich Asia Landenwitch Alexandria LaTreill Ashley Latyki Hallie Lavery Janet Lavigne Cayden Lawn Katelyn Lechner Brandon Lee Sable Lee Taylor Lee Dylan Lennon Emily Lienard Gary Lilly Jr. Thessa Lim Sydney Linderman Alaina Locus Sarah Lofton Jill Loiars Frank Lopez Kailey Louis Tessa Lue Jaron Lum Lock Michael Lumley Andrew Luntz Zoe Lyon-Goldman Stephen Mackrides Steven Manos Lawson Marable Dallas Marcone Johnneia Marimon Diamand Markeci Shelby Massey Richard Mastroberte Joelle Mateola Ryan Maxon Lisa May Dillon McBride Morgan McCauley Kelly McClain Keith McClellan

Maria McCluskey Robert McCune Amy McDaniel Kara McGuire Benjamin McMichael Kyle McNulty Carly Mellen Eric Mercado Nicole Mercado Tyler Metzler Ashley Miller Edward Miller Charlie Mitchell Jenna Mitchell Paul Monkarsh Nathalie Monsalve James Moorhead David Mora Gabriel Mora Brandon Mordecai Denis Moredo Morgan Mosch Kendall Mott Kayla Mraovich Omar Mulero Ryan Mulvaney Christopher Munson Colin David Murray Taymaskhan Musaev Meghan Musante Dustin Neff Katrina Nieves Bradley Nolff Payton Norman David Norvell Jr. Eric Nutter Lindsay Nuzzo Curtis O’Brien Zachary O’Hanlon Meaghan O’Kennedy Ryan O’Neill Stephanie O’Sullivan Mariah Oggeri Jonathon Olsen Nickole Orobitg Jullisa Ortiz Christian Owen Erin Parker Jacob Parsons Kimberly Pastrana Neel Patel Sarah Payne Aubrie Peppiatt Alexander Perez Angie Perez Keyan Perko Danielle Perna Michael Perna Emily Petersen Rebecca Peters Cole Pilato Destini Pitts Matthew Plotts Jonathan Poweski Shelley Pozsgai Allyson Pratt Wesley Preedom Kirk Prendergast

Kevin Price Marquis Price Sarah Procell Krystie Quackenbush Andrew Quick Edmund Quigley Bryant Quinones Tyler Ragland AJ Rathakrishnan Jazmine Redden Brooke Register Jacqueline Reich Ryan Reilly Samantha Rinaldi Dylan Riordan Adrianna Rivera Cesar Rivera-Rivera Krystal Rivera Dana Roberson Rachel Roberson Carly Roberts Jesse Roberts Carly Roberts Keelyn Robey Austin Robinson Denzil Rodriques James Rodriguez Cory Rogers Seth Rogers Paige Romeo Olivia Rominger Mateo Rosales Jason Rosarius Samantha Roser Austin Rothermich Veralucia Rudinger Brendon Saliga Jesse Sanchez Lucia Santana Jelanie Santiago-Rodriguez Steven Santos Alec Sanzone Adam Schaefer Dillon Schaefer Stacey Schmidt Taylor Schwarz Jonathan Scianneaux Kimberly Segrest Stephanie Selbe Christian Serrant Zachary ShasteenGroenendaal Scott Shearer Natalie Shepherd Jeremy Shires Skyler Showers Kenneth Deonte Simmons Olivia Sims William Skipper Shelton Slater Jr. Brandon Smith Brandon Smith Devin Smith Kimberly Smith Amber Smithson Jason Sneed Jonandy Soto Edward Squire

Alexander Stanforth Zoe Stapleton Tiffany Staral Cory Starkey Rashawn Steele Brandon Alan Stein David Stevens LeeAnna Stewart Louis Straffi Robert Sullivan Shelby Swendner Katherine Sword Spencer Talamantez Nicholas Taylor Alex Tejada Terrence Thevenin Karen Thomas Safiya Thompson Katie Thwaites Steven Tillis Cassandra Tolentino Matthew Tomasetti Mackenzie Toporowsky Valeria Torres-Martin Harry Traber Logan Trosine Savannah Tumlin Lindsey Tuppeny Crystal Urban Garrett Urban Jessica Valdes Brandi Van de Houten Gabrielle van Ravenswaay Gadiel Velez-Lopez Natalie Vernon Andrew Vidot Rowyda Wakas Tristan Walter Jordan Waring Jo’el Warner Paige Watkins Taylor Watson Renaldo Watt Jacob Weaver Ellenor Weinbel Gabrielle Wells Amber Wernli Andrew Wheeler Cole Wheeler Conley White Jerald White Marissa White Brittany Williams Michael Williams Kayleigh Wilson Kelli Winters Kyle Wnek Cayman Wood Emily Wood Cory Woolbright Alex Worthen Courtney Wright Danyelle Wright Siyuan Yang Erick Young Antony Zeng Jeffrey Zimmerman

paths to

the future

Cesar Rivera ‘12

Kamiya Howard

‘12

Cul i nar y

Mi l i t ar y

by Hafsa Hussain

University

MAY 15, 2012 | features | THE LION’S TALE 17

David Stevens

‘12

Seniors choose own exit strategy S

enior Cesar Rivera hopes that joining the Marines will help him gain experience in developing his foreign language skills. “What I’m interested in is foreign languages. I had been thinking about it [joining the Marines] for a while. A lot of people go to college and they get out and end up not doing the job they’ve been studying for. I decided to do this because I’d be gaining experience,” Rivera said. Not only will the Marines be paying for his college education, but they will also provide benefits such as training him in foreign languages before he begins serving. Rivera is currently in the delayed entry program, a program for people who are not immediately leaving. “I’m basically waiting to graduate. I could be on there for up to a year before I leave. I basically prepare to leave and when I get the specific job I want I can just go,” River said. The specific job Rivera is interested in pursuing in the Marines has to do with intel relating specifically to foreign language. He will be given tasks such as translating messages and recordings, as well as other things involving communication. Rivera is unsure whether or not he’ll remain permanently in the Marines. “I plan on doing just the minimum [service] which is four years plus two for my language training right now. If I like it, I’ll go ahead and do the whole 20 years and retire after it,” Rivera said. Rivera is certain that he made the best decision for himself by joining the Marine Corps. “You’d be earning money and experience at the same time. You wouldn’t be wasting anytime in the army. There wouldn’t be any risk of you not getting the job that you’ve been studying for,” Rivera said.

or senior Kamiya Howard, going to college isn’t just something she’s doing because she has to. Howard believes that it’s the key to success. “Without a good education, your options are very limited. Just be aware some people think they can’t afford it, but you just need to keep a good eye out for things that could help you, like scholarships. You definitely need a good education to be successful,” Howard said. Growing up, Howard was constantly troubled by her parents’ misguided life choices. She hopes to learn from their mistakes rather then repeat them. “My mom was on drugs. Growing up and watching her influenced me to go to college. My dad was in and out of prison. I’ve seen them and I’ve learned from their mistakes. I’m learning not to follow in their paths,” Howard said. Because of her father’s criminal record, acquiring a job has been more difficult. “From watching my parents I’ve learned that, without a good education, finding a job is going to be limited. My mom is very smart but when she turned to drugs she didn’t try to finish high school. And my dad, he did some college and went into business. With his criminal background, it’s more difficult for him to find a job,” Howard said. Howard feels that a career in finance is a secure position. She will major in finance at the University of South Florida. After getting her degree in finance, she hopes to become a financial adviser. Throughout her struggles, Howard never gave up. “Whenever I feel like I don’t want to do something and give up, I just look at the life they’ve [my parents] had and because of their mistakes how hard it’s been for me. That motivates me because I don’t want to spend the rest of my life struggling,” Howard said.

enior David Stevens discovered during his senior year that he loved to cook, so he will attend Valencia College for a year before heading to Charlotte, South Carolina for culinary school. “I grew up with a single dad. My dad couldn’t cook. If I wanted to eat oatmeal everyday [the only other food option] then I wouldn’t cook but I didn’t [want to eat it because] it was awful. So I started watching the Food Network more and experimenting with food. It turned into something I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Stevens said. What started out as something he “had to do” soon turned into something he truly loves. “I always see my parents so stressed out and I just figured that when you’re cooking, you’re making people happy with food and it’s totally away from the corporate world. I saw the stress and the gray hairs that my parents got from working seven to seven every day. It wasn’t something I wanted to do,” Stevens said. Stevens’s mother enjoys cooking and they often cook together. “My mom is an avid cook. When we cook together, we can try everything. It’s not something that a lot of people get to do with their moms. When I cook alone I get stressed out, but when you have someone else in the kitchen to talk, it’s much better. With my mom, there’s always music going. If we find different ingredients we change things up and be spontaneous,” Stevens said. Throughout his life, his friends and family have been supporting him every step of the way. “Everyone’s been really accepting of it. All of my friends and family really think, ‘if this is something you really want to do then you’ll be good at it.’ They support me 100 percent. It’s awesome,” Stevens said.

hafsah@thelionstale.com

TOP TEN OF 20

THE LION’S TALE

| features | MAY 15, 2012

Top scholars share high school experiences Karen T

Neel Patel

Where are y UCF. I’ve been really like the c Who’s your Jenny Atkinson She has always

2 9 10 8

4.742

Allison Coleman

4.618

What are you going to major in? Pharmacy. I like chemistry and I’m good at it. I took dual enrollment chemistry 1, 2, and organic chem. What teacher has taught you the most? Mr. Waisanen. He taught me all of the chemistry I used in dual enrollment. Mrs. Simmons too. I know how to write an essay. I can crank out an essay in an hour and it’ll be good. What’s your favorite book? I don’t really have one. I read too many. This past week I’ve read six books. Do you have any pets? One dog. A minature schnauzer. Her name is Muffin. When I first got her, she could fit in the palm of my hand.

Where are you going to college? Harvard. They have great computer science, math, and economics programs. What’s your greatest accomplishment? I’d have to say it’s a tie between meeting President Obama and making it on the Prom Court. Where do you see yourself in five years? Hopefully starting a company and using technology to transform the world around us. What’s your favorite TV show? The Big Bang Theory. Is any explanation really needed for that? How did you accomplish your goals? My own work played a small role, but larger credit has to go to my family, teachers, and mentors who propelled me along the way.

What’s you The Bible. Any

What’s the At UCF, Comp something. My

Michael Huynh

4.429

What are your hobbies? Basketball. Do you have an pets? I have an imaginary friend.

What’s the hardest test you’ve ever taken? Electricity and Magnetism in Physics. How many AP classes did you take? 10.

Ryan Reilly

4.425

What was your hardest class? AP Biology. Where are you going to college? Florida State. It has the best criminology program in the country. What is your favorite high school memory? Ms. Beraduce’s U.S. History class. What are you most looking forward to in college? Independence.

Ashwin Babuji

4.455

Where are you going to college? University of Miami because I got a 75 percent scholarship and they have a good medical program. Who was your favorite teacher? Mrs. Kelly because she was nice and I enjoyed the mathematics, the pleasant atmosphere, and the other kids. Who’s your best friend? Michael Huynh. What is your favorite high school memory? Having dividends my senior year. It was full of fun times.

Thomas

4.602

4.547

you going to college and why? n here all my life and I don’t want to leave my family. I campus. My brothers go there and my parents did, too. r best friend? n. I ‘ve known her since third grade. We’re very similar. s been there. She’s always supported me.

Nirvani Khan

ur favorite book? y situation I’ve gone through, it’s always uplifting.

What are you majoring in? I’m going to major in Biomedical Sciences or Health Sciences. What was your hardest class? My hardest class was AP World History sophomore year because of the amount of reading and work. It did prepare me for the AP exam though.

What are you looking forward to in college? I’m looking forward to the challenge of figuring out what it is that I really want to do for the rest of my life. What’s your favorite animal? Dogs. I couldn’t imagine life without my own dog, Skip.

e hardest class you’ve ever taken? puter Programming. I’ve never been so bad at y favorite class, though, was Art History.

Rachel Roberson

| features | THE LION’S TALE 19

4.51

How do you relax after school is over? I go running with the team and then I go ride my horse, Jada. What was your favorite class? I like Calculus BC because Mrs. Kelly is really funny and the people are fun too. I also like AP Lang and Lit with Doc Star and AP Government with Valle. It’s really funny. How many AP classes did you take? 11 and a dual enrollment. What are you going to major in? Animal Sciences at University of Florida.

Dana Roberson

4.51

What was your hardest class? Probably Spanish III. The last quarter we went really fast because we had a bunch of chapters. And I don’t like Spanish that much. What advice would you give to underclassmen? I would encourage them to take AP’s they are interested in, because taking classes in things you like makes it easier. What’s your favorite book? The Scarlet Letter in school. The Hunger Games and Black Beauty out of school. What is your favorite high school memory? Probably going to States with cross country and track.

Natalie Shepherd

4.5

Where are you going to college? Brigham Young University: Provo. Trust me, I’m not going there for the fantastsic football team. BYU is a very strong academic school in the Wasatch Mountains and I’ll be studying in the perfect setting. In the summer I can dig up dinosaurs for fun; where else can you do that? Who’s your favorite Disney character? Rapunzel. She’s got a really cool pet chameleon.

all photos/FERGUSON, MASON, RAY

2012

MAY 15, 2012

If you could go back in time, when would you go? 1920’s Australia. Who wouldn’t want to move to a continent full of criminals? I’d go exploring and find new animal species and name them after my friends. What advice would you give to underclassmen? Take AP classes! Set goals! Maintain your integrity; it’s the one thing more important than good grades.

THE LION’S TALE

| features | MAY 15, 2012

SENIOR AWARDS Outstanding Senior Student Principal’s Citizenship Award of the Year Sable Lee Neel Patel National Merit Scholar Finalist Jefferson award Neel Patel Brandon Koller Sarah Davis Arjith Rathakrishnan Rotary Rising Achievers Oviedo Women’s Club/ Program/Scholarship Louise Martin Scholarship Safiya Thompson Kamiya Howard Alycia Johnson Deputy Michael Callin Courtney Wright Sarah Davis Scholarship Michael Grezlikowski Matthew Denson Lake Mary/Heathrow Colonel J.F. Nardo Festival of the Arts Endowment Alycia Johnson John Campbell Central Florida Blood Center Scholarship Alexander Tejada Brandi Van De Housten Seminole State Early College Program Richard Christel Athlete of the Year (male/female) Male: Devon Dwyer Female: Sable Lee Robert Locke Scholarship Jonathan Poweski University of Central Florida

Catherine “Toots” Nardo Scholarship Sarah Procell NJROTC Booster Club/Merit Award William Cutler John Campbell Brandi Van De Houten Air Force ROTC Scholarship John Campbell Seminole State District Board of Trustees Savannah Tumlin Winter Springs/Oviedo Lion’s Club Scholarship Allison Coleman

Malinda Bass Bria Boykin Anita Carlson Award Annie Futato Dana Roberson Justin Gray Paul Mikler/ Micky Norton Sidney Lalich Future Coach Award Stephen Mackrides Dayo Adisa Karen Thomas Emily Lienard Women in Science Taymaskhan Musaev Ellenor Weinbel Allison Boyd Antony Zeng Arjun Babuji Andrew Bolen Jacob Garrett Jonathan Kerbelis Kevin Jones Eric Mercado

PTSA Scholarship

Christopher Pieper Memorial Scholarship Sarah Lofton

Ashwin Babuji Alex Borkholder Allison Coleman Allison Boyd Kamiya Howard Nirvani Khan Jack Blanton Award Dana Roberson Rachel Roberson Alexander Tejada Alexander Stanforth Emily Wood Take Stock in Children Natalie Shepherd Karen Thomas Scholarship Ellenor Weinbel Autumn Fisher Linda Lougee Comm. 2012 Construction Career Service Days Tom O’Hanlon William Cutler Connie O’Hanlon

photo/ZOE LYON-GOLDMAN

CHECKING IT OUT. Senior Allyssa Appleget checks out the final copy of the yearbook. All pages go through several edits to ensure an error-free book. The staff finished the yearbook mid-April when the book was sent to Dallas, Texas for printing.

Oviedian editor believes yearbook shaped her future by Courtney Rothermich

that I’d want to take on a leadership position and he auditorium silenced as the winner work really hard because I played sports and of the Fine Arts and Communications everything, but I’m really glad that I did and I Student of the Year took the stage. A got this opportunity,” Appleget said. surprised senior Allyssa Appleget, the editor of Receiving this award showed that Appleget’s this year’s yearbook, left the stage with pride hard work was recognized. and acknowledgment for all of the time and hard “It meant that all my hard work has paid off, work that she poured into the school’s yearbook. and that people noticed how many hours that I “I was really surprised that I won and I was spent in the lab, and how much hard work I put really happy that Pope was the one presenting it to into the yearbook, and that other people realized me, because I really respect her. It was just really it was important just like I did,” Appleget said. happy because both of my parents were there and Being the editor for this past year was one of they were really proud of me,” Appleget said. Appleget’s favorite experiences in yearbook. For Appleget, receiving this award has been “Probably getting to be basically in charge a long time coming. of the book this year, She was co-editor and I made all of the It’s a lot of time, a lot of effort. her junior year, and big decisions, and it Especially for me being the was the editor this was like my book. I did only editor, every single day year. It all began her all of the big designing freshman year, when elements, and getting to after school I’d stay. Appleget first joined see the final product in a Allyssa Appleget, ‘12 the yearbook staff. couple of weeks is going “It was really to be amazing. That’s overwhelming, a lot of work. It’s a lot to get probably the best,” Appleget said. used to and you really have to try really hard,” Appleget does not plan to continue with Appleget said. graphic design after high school, but she believes As Appleget continued along with yearbook that being on yearbook staff has made her the throughout her high school career, she put in person that she is today. hours of work and dedication. “I think it helped me manage my time more “It’s a lot of time, a lot of effort. Especially and helped me keep my GPA up, because I stayed for me being the only editor, every single day focused. It’s just really built me as a person,” after school I’d stay. You just really have to care, Appleget said. and I had to deal with some people that didn’t Alicia Pope, the yearbook advisor, presented care quite as much, as well as the challenges of Appleget with the award. learning how to design and how to do all the “She’s always been disciplined and dedicated actual design stuff so you could make a good and kept the goal in mind. And she never had yearbook,” Appleget said. any excuse, even though she’s busy and she’s According to Appleget, as a freshman, she involved in many other activities. She’s always never could have seen herself receiving this been able to maintain focus and keep a good award. attitude about it,” Pope said. “When I first started yearbook I didn’t think courtneyr@thelionstale.com

“

”

MAY 15, 2012 | features | THE LION’S TALE 21

Honor thrills royal couple by Ellen McCormack

believes that she won this year because ilence falls upon senior Zoe she is further engaged in school. “A couple years ago I wasn’t as Stapleton on April 14 as the 2012 OHS prom queen is involved in school, but now I’m more announced. She looks around her to involved. The school is a part of me see everyone clapping their hands in and my history, so just to be one of applause, but can’t hear the sound those headlines is really special,” that fills the room of the Buena Vista Stapleton said Being prom queen was never an Palace Hotel. aspiration Her mouth for Stapleton drops in I was thrilled and speechless. because as amazement as a child she she grasps that All I could do was smile. was more she just won A. J. Rathakrishnan, ‘12 boy like. prom queen. C u r r e n t l y, “I was awestruck because I’m not one of she is captain of the basketball team, those kids that is with the popular involved in the track and field team, crowd and I’ve never been one to and races horses competitively. work for attention. I was surprised Stapleton has been racing horses she because I’m normal and on the nerdy was eight, turning her passion into a serious pastime. side,” Stapleton said. “No, I didn’t [think I would be Winning prom king was a similar experience for senior A.J prom queen]. I was the sports jock. I was the tomboy in elementary and Rathakrishnan. “When I won, I was very surprised. middle school,” Stapleton said Rathakrishnan never imagined I had no idea I was going to. I was extremely happy when I won and I himself becoming prom king when he was thinking about how much I love first entered high school, but has met several new people over the last four my friends,” Rathakrishnan said Rathakrishnan was astounded years. “Yes, I was very surprised [that I when he learned he won prom king. “I was thrilled and speechless. All won prom king] I didn’t think I had I could do was smile. I didn’t know much of a chance to win so when I what to say so I just kept smiling at was chosen as king I was caught off everybody chanting my name and guard,” Rathakrishnan said. Stapleton says that she is worthy cheering for me,” Rathakrishnan of prom queen because she is a said. Stapleton and Rathakrishnan were diversified person. “I felt like I deserved it because both nominated for homecoming court before but neither won. Stapleton I’m an all around type of person. I

“

photo/COURTESY OF LEONARD’S PHOTOGRAPHY

THE CROWNING MOMENT. Seniors Zoe Stapleton and AJ Rathakrishnan pose for a picture after being crowned as Prom Queen and King at the OHS prom on April 14. Prom was held at Lake Buena Vista Palace.

”

take AP classes and I’m a big part of the basketball and track team. I am in a lot of clubs and involved in my church and community service. I realized that [being prom queen] is not all about beauty,” Stapleton said Being acknowledged by her fellow classmates is the best part about winning prom queen for Stapleton. “The recognition from everyone saying congratulations [is the best part]. It brightens my day,” Stapleton said Rathakrishnan wished to be prom king because of the admiration that comes with the crown. “Being prom king is a huge honor. You represent your school as one of the most liked people in your class. I am blessed to have so many friends here at Oviedo,” Rathakrishnan said. Stapleton feels her experience of becoming the prom queen is similar to a high school chick flick. “It feels awesome being that exception because there’s a bunch of movies where like the girl that you don’t expect wins [prom queen], like the Cinderella Story. It’s just like, wow, this is real,” Stapleton said Rathakrishnan will always remember his high school prom. “I loved getting to see all of my friends together for one of the last times outside of school and to have fun with all of my classmates who I have grown up with at prom was one of the most memorable things in my life, something I will never forget,” Rathakrishnan said.

ellenm@thelionstale.com

Wood combates negativity with motivating notes by Wesley Wynne

efore the school day began on March 28, senior Emily Wood and her friends posted sticky notes with uplifting messages across campus. She is part of a nation-wide organization known as Operation Beautiful, designed to end negative self-talk and remind people that they are beautiful the way they are. “So many girls think they are too fat, too skinny, too short, too tall because the world tells them they have to look a certain way to be beautiful,” Woods said. Originally, Woods got the idea from her older sister. “My sister did it last year at FSU and I wanted to do it myself,” Wood said. Although posting the notes took an hour, the actual process for operation beautiful started months before. “I wrote up a proposal and gave it to Ms. Haskel and she gave it to Mr. Lundquist and he got it approved,” Wood said. After getting Operation Beautiful approved ahead of time, Wood began writing the messages on the notes. “I had spent a couple months writing on the sticky notes,” Wood said. “I wrote the sticky notes in my free time. I got close to 500, 600 sticky notes.“ The messages on the notes included “You’re

beautiful”, “You’re perfect just the way you are”, and “Beauty comes in all sizes”. When students and staff discovered the notes for Operation Beautiful, the reaction was largely positive. “I know a lot of students liked it and liked the idea and lots of girls picked up the sticky notes and kept them,” Wood said. “Last year when I was doing it I put a note on an administrator’s door and when she saw it, she started crying and said she really needed it [the message].” Even though there was a good reaction for Operation Beautiful at the school, many people did not know Wood was the one who did it. “A lot of administrators and teachers did, but I didn’t advertise it a lot, so a lot of students didn’t know who it was,” Wood said. “ I would rather be anonymous than have people say ‘Oh Emily, you did a good job on that.’” After she leaves high school, Wood might do another operation in college. “I probably might,” Wood said. “My sister did it again at FSU this year and on the same day as me. Maybe I could do it at college and do it every year.” She understands that some might finding it annoying or stupid. “If I made just one person’s day, it was all worth it,” Wood said.

wesleyw@thelionstale.com

photo/COLTON JAQUETH

MAKE MY DAY. Senior Emily Wood posts one of Operation Beautiful’s notes in the front office. She made up to 600 notes and, with the help of other interested students, she placed some of them on classroom doors around campus during early morning hours before school started. The purpose of the notes is to help people accept who they are and to stop thoughts about negative body images.

THE LIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALE

| advertisements | MAY 15, 2012

MAY 15, 2012 | features | THE LION’S TALE 23

Whats up with seniors? Neel Patel met the President of the United States.

Optimistic Resilient Strong

Keith McClellan was pulled over to be tested for a DUI while completely sober.

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

Alyssa Alers

Cora Campbell broke her leg at Rebounders during junior year.

Alex Perez left his keys in the ignition with his Ford Expedition on until second period.

Shane Ladd works out during every lunch period. Robert McCune fell off the second floor of Ryan Dooley’s house and broke his wrist. The most reptiles Steven Tillis has ever had at one time is 177. Vivian Burgnon ran over her iPhone with her car and cracked the screen.

Alex Worthen has never gone to the first day of school since kindergarten.

photo/WILLOW MASON

Death brings new perspective to senior by Alexis Sherwood

hen the news came in that her stepmother had been brutally murdered, senior Alyssa Alers couldn’t cry because she just couldn’t believe it. Her thoughts flew, trying to recall her last words to her stepmother. Alers had just finished taking her SAT last June when she got out to see she had numerous text messages from family members telling her to come home immediately, only for her to find out the horrifying news. In the beginning, Alers just did not want to talk about the murder. The day she found out what happened, she went to a rodeo with her friends to get it off her mind. That’s where she completely broke down. As soon as Alers got

there, she remembered the times she came to the rodeo with her stepmom, and the emotions rushed to her all at once; she had to go home to be alone to cry. Alers was in complete shock. It still didn’t hit her that her stepmom was really gone. She still went to hang out with her friends, and was always with them. She never brought up or talked about the murder though; she didn’t even talk about it with her mom. Alers attended therapy, where she had the chance to talk about everything. She also took about a month off of work, and rode her horse almost every day. She needed to be alone and just think about the situation. Alers now feels that nobody should ever

Senior Steve: by Jonathan Bohinsky

I’ve had some great memories at OHS, but I can’t wait for college.

hold back from doing what they want with their lives. She believes that everybody should just do whatever they want to do and don’t hold back on anything, because they might not get the chance to live that way again. Alers knows that nobody could ever replace her stepmom, because she was more like a friend than a mom, and was always there for her.

alexiss@thelionstale.com Editor’s Note

One by One features a selected student, whose story is told in only 300 words.

Kevin Price’s biggest pet peeve is when people lick Cheetos off their fingers. Zoe Stapleton applied to 15 schools and got accepted into 10.

Jenna Mitchell hit a parked police car. Omar Mulero took voice lessons for ten months and now he’s going to UCF for music. Ali Hartwig’s family painted the Patriot’s logo on their front yard for the Super Bowl. Nakisa Behi doesn’t have a middle name.

There are two Brandon Smiths in the senior class.

dyk@thelionstale.com

Oh wait, I have no job, the cost of tuition is increasing on a yearly basis, leaving thousands in crippling debt, and the college I’m going to doesn’t have free wifi....

(diversions sport s ) | MAY 15, 2012

THE LION’S TALE

Signature

Style

Barson ‘edits’ clothes by Sarah Tripp

Hann ah Ba r son, ‘12

rmed with inspiration, senior Hannah Barson weeds through racks of clothes at Goodwill, searching for materials to make her own signature clothes. “I get clothes from Goodwill and I edit them. I like the idea of saving money, and making things myself. I get lace and stuff from Jo-Ann’s because they always have coupons. It’s pretty cheap. I like to make it as cheap as possible, and I just wanted to be creative,” Barson said. Barson describes her “edited” clothes as a unique, crafty, vintage style with a modern touch. “I like making vintage style. I usually take grandma skirts and that kind of material because they’re long and it gives me a lot of things out of one skirt when I cut it up,” Barson said. Barson sews up clothes she gets from Goodwill and makes it her own. “Only a few times I have made things from scratch. I usually take the base of a shirt and sew different things on it. One time I took a jean jacket and made it into a jean vest. I cut off the sleeves and sewed it under. I made it shorter and added a lace trim. I basically make it, but I already have the shape there,” Barson said. For her senior project, Barson designed dance costumes from scratch for a group of four-year olds at Tutus on Broadway School of Dance. “The leotards took a lot of work, and I have to individually sew in the elastic which is a lot of work because you have to quarter it and make sure it fits in perfectly. You have to use like two different kinds of sewing machines, then you have to hand sew the flowers. It’s a process. And for the skirts, I had to tie each piece individually into the elastic band and it took forever,” Barson said. According to her, she got the idea for senior project by combining two things she loves. “I wanted to make clothes, and do a whole fashion thing, but my teacher wasn’t really going for it. So I put two things that I like together: dance and costumes,” Barson said. Altogether, all the dance costumes took 40 hours of work from January to February.

“I had to go in, measure them, and after getting all of their measurements I had to organize them into what size they would be on the pattern,” Barson said. Her inspiration came from what she would have wanted in a dance costume. “I just thought about something that I would want to wear if I was a little kid: a big tutu. Also, I love flowers so I wanted to put it on there,” Barson said. Juggling all of her schoolwork and senior project, sewing proves to be time consuming. “[The amount of time I spend] is kind of different depending on how much homework I have, and other things like dance. I spend about five to ten hours a week,” Barson said. Along with clothes, Barson makes accessories for her outfits. “I make necklaces, bracelets, earrings, headbands, hair bows, and hair flower clips. I’ve made a lot of necklaces for people too, because they’re quicker than sewing,” Barson said. Barson plans on eventually trying to sell her creations. “I made an Etsy account, so I’ll start putting it on there. It’s like a website for art where people sell their art or stuff they make, like jewelry or clothes. For the dance costumes, I’m going to sell them for about $50 because it took a lot of time,” Barson said. Even though she taught herself how to sew and make clothes, the senior project required Barson to take a sewing class, which she hopes to continue in college. “I’m going to UCF, but I don’t know if they offer that there. If they do, then I’ll probably take a class that involves fashion. I kind of want to do it, not as a main career, but on the side as a way to make money,” Barson said. According to Barson, she makes a point to stand out and be unique. “I like [sewing] because it’s unique. It’s a good way to be original, because I feel like everyone is the same these days with the same style, same hair, same everything. It’s a good way to stand out from everyone else,” Barson said.

saraht@thelionstale.com

Sew

Creative These handmade designs are included in senior Hannah Barson’s original wardrobe collection. • Floral skirt and- Hanes shirt • Added pocket, bow with vintage button, and headband

• Turned long button down sleeve into vest • Added pocket and a button

• Sewed pockets from vintage lace to black sweats to make pockets • Added buttons

• Cut sleeves of short sleeve jeans jacket • Added lace trim to bottom and vintage buttons

• Painted “long live vintage” with bleach • Bleached and cut up shorts to make them high-waisted

all photos/ZOE LYON-GOLDMAN

MAY 15, 2012 | diversions | THE LION’S TALE 25

Looking for a laptop? The Lion’s Tale compiled the basic features of these popular laptops under $1,000

MacBook Air

HP Pavilion

Dell Inspiron

• $1000 • 7 hours of battery life • Built in FaceTime • Backlit keyboard • No DVD/CD slot – USB disk slot add-on $79 • Extremely lightweight Notebookreview.com’s Conclusion:

• $450 • 4 hours of battery life • Windows 7 • Beats audio • Bluetooth • HD matte display Notebookreview.com’s Conclusion:

• $400 • 3 hours, 40 minutes battery life • Windows 7 • Backlit keyboard • Removable/customizable tops • Not good for gaming Notebookreview.com’s Conclusion:

For more information, visit www.apple.com

For more information, visit www.hp.com

For more information, visit www.dell.com

“Apple is pushing the envelope (cough cough) with the MacBook Air ... in various ways that some people will love and others will hate. On one hand they offer a super thin, lightweight design, but on the other they take away ports and give you a permanent battery. This notebook also suffers from some early release driver quirks, but those should hopefully be resolved in the near future. Overall I think this is a promising notebook that should force some other manufacturers to wake up and design some lighter and slimmer full-size notebooks.”

“The HP Pavilion... multimedia notebook provides excellent processor, storage, graphics and gaming performance--scoring high on both all of the synthetic benchmark tests and the real-world tests. The audio quality should also held as great, with more than enough speakers and subwoofers placed all around the laptop in all the right spots... The dv7t, however, is not perfect. ...While these are all things to be taken into consideration, many will not find these things to necessarily be deal-breakers: it’s still an awesome setup of a laptop.”

“The Inspiron 15R is a budget-friendly 15.6-inch notebook based around the latest Intel platform. With a base configuration including the Intel Core i3 370M processor, 4GB of RAM, and Intel GMA HD graphics, the 15R easily outperforms budget and midrange notebooks of yesteryear. For the average user, this machine is more than capable for pretty much all activities except gaming. .. With a starting price of $549, the 15R deserves a spot on your shopping list if you are looking for a new notebook.” all photos/COURTESY OF GOOGLE.COM

Parents give cars, pets to celebrate graduation by Trevor Khan

wanted for a while and will be awesome next fter moments of anticipation, senior year in college because I have to drive long Brii Boykin is handed the keys to her distances,” Brantley said. Boykin appreciates the importance of new Fiat 500 Pop. Her eyes light up as she unlocks it and sits in the driver’s seat for the graduation. “I think it’s important to graduate because first time with excitement. The car was an early it is difficult to make it anywhere in the world graduation present from Boykin’s parents. “My parents bought it for me at the today without at least a high school diploma. beginning of March. I like it because now It’s obvious that people can survive without it, but it’s a very slim I don’t have to rely on chance,” Boykin said. people to get where I My car matches my Other graduation need or want to go. I now personality perfectly. presents aren’t as have something that is all simple as a car. mine,” Boykin said. Brii Boykin ‘12 Senior Conley Boykin’s graduation White has been present holds significant promised a sugar glider, a small gliding value to her. “It’s special to me because it’s my first possum, from his parents. “I’ve been asking for one since freshman car and because it screams my name. My car matches my personality perfectly,” Boykin year and they kept denying it but persistence allowed for it to happen. I chose a sugar glider said. Boykin wasn’t the only senior to get a car because they last 18+ years and every time I see her I will remember an accomplishment in as a graduation present. Senior Kacie Brantley got a Mazda CX5 my life,” White said. White feels it isn’t difficult to choose a from her parents as a graduation present. “I love it, I wanted a new car that was graduation present for someone. “Although kids ask for a lot, whatever bigger, and that got better gas millage then I had in my Mazda 3. It’s something that I have they keep pestering you for that you wouldn’t

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normally just go out and buy them is perfect. They’ll feel as if they have to work for the present which will in return make them cherish it that much more,” White said. Boykin believes that some graduation presents are too common amongst high school students. “I think the most common graduate gift for our generation is either money, a car, or plastic surgery. A good graduation present other than a car would be a trip to the graduate’s destination of choice. I would have loved to have gotten a plane ticket to the country of my choice,” Boykin said. Brantley sees her graduation present as a display of pride. “It’s just a nice way for people to show they are proud. I know it meant a lot to me to get something from my parents, because I know how proud they are of me,” Brantley said. Boykin also believes that her gift is a representation of her parents’ pride. “I think the reason for graduation presents, photo/WILLOW MASON aside from graduating, is to show the graduate PERFECT PRESENT. Brii Boykin’s Fiat 500 how proud the person giving the gift is. It’s a sparkles from the sunlight reflecting off the windshield in the senior parking lot. Boykin’s parents gave it to her in sign of congratulations,” Boykin said. March as an early graduation gift.

trevork@thelionstale.com

THE LION’S TALE

| diversions | MAY 15, 2012

New films hit theaters for summer

Final addition to Batman trilogy set to be released on July 20 Compiled by Chris Moskal

The Dark Knight Rises- July 20 The final movie in the Batman trilogy will be released July 20, set eight years after The Dark Knight. Most of the original cast will return, including Christian Bale as Batman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman. Little information has been released about the plot, but two new villains are introduced, Bane and Catwoman, played by Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway, respectively. Christopher Nolan, the director of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, has said that this is the last movie of the series and that he and the cast will not return for another installment, according to IMDb.com.

Men in Black 3May 25

Prometheus- June 8

It’s been 10 years since Men in Black 2 came out and a third installment is set to be released in 3D on May 25. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are both returning as Agent J and Agent K, according to IMDb.com. Only this time, the new MIB involves time travel. Agent J has to travel to 1969 to prevent the younger Agent K from being assassinated, which would change the course of history.

BraveJune 22 Disney Pixar’s new movie, Brave, features its first female protagonist after 12 movies. It is also the first Pixar movie to take place in the past, in Scotland during Viking times. Merinda, princess of a Viking kingdom, is cursed by a witch and must find a way to undo the spell. Brave marks a departure from Pixar’s usual stories; it is daker, with a different animation design.

chrism@thelionstale.com

The director of Gladiator, Ridley Scott, got his start in science fiction classics with like Alien and Blade Runner, and is now returning to the genre with Prometheus. The story will take place in the same universe as Alien, according to its website, but will be unrelated, focusing on a group of scientists aboard a spaceship Prometheus, who are investigating an alien race after finding maps in ancient ruins on Earth. The movie is set to be released June 8.

The Bourne LegacyAugust 3 The film is a follow-up to the Bourne Trilogy, with Jeremy Renner playing the new leading role. He is Agent Aaron Cross, part of a new generation of agents who tries to break away from the organization he and Jason Bourne were a part of. Matt Damon, who played the title character, won’t be in the movie, as the character isn’t appearing in the movie. However, all of the cast in the previous movie, The Bourne Ultimatum, will be returning. all photos/COURTESY OF PUBLICITY WEBSITES, IMDB.COM

MAY 15, 2012 | advertisements | THE LIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALE 27

////Reviewed 28

THE LION’S TALE

| diversions | MAY 15, 2012

Music, movies, books & more

VERY GOOD

OUTSTANDING

Little Broken Hearts

The Money Store

Death Grips Experimental Hip-Hop/ Industrial Hip-Hop

by Jonathan Bohinsky

eath Grips are an experimental hiphop group out of Sacramento that consists of rapper MC Ride, producer Flatlander, and drummer Zach Hill. The group deals in some of the heaviest hip-hop ever conjured. Their music will test the limits of your endurance and will either leave you bashed, battered and begging for more or huddled in a corner questioning your worth as a person. MC Ride’s vocal delivery is just as violent as what he’s actually saying. He takes everything to such an extreme that he portrays violence as more of a grim reality than something to be glorified, as per typical rap music. MC Ride paints himself as a totally unlikable, violent, paranoid lowlife instead of hiding behind some phony, money-making, pseudo-gangsta façade. The music on this album complements MC Ride’s brutal approach with over modulated bass, jittery electronica, and intense beats that almost overpower his vocals. That a major label like Epic would sign artists as experimental and downright disturbing as Death Grips is a sign that either there’s still some life in the dying record industry or that they’ve completely lost their minds. The Money Store is certainly a step in a new direction for hip hop. This album has the potential to be a real game-changer and is a visceral sonic nightmare that should not be missed.

GOOD

Neck Of The Woods

RUBBISH

AWFUL

Strange Clouds

B.o.B Rap/ Hip Hop

Norah Jones Indie Pop

Silversun Pickups Alternative

by Alexis Sherwood

by Trevor Khan

by Olivia Davila-Finch

DOWNLOAD THIS >> Mean Spirits

DOWNLOAD THIS >> Both Of Us

orah Jones’ new album, Little Broken Hearts, is a fabulous new addition to her works over the years. Jones is known for her angelic-like voice that seems to possess no flaws in the way that she changes her tone so smoothly. The album starts with a beautiful, soothing song- “Good Morning”, but ironically, the song is perfect for being put to sleep (not in a bad way). The album continues with more songs that sound incredibly dreamy, and the lyrics are also easy to analyze without having to think. Jones’ voice is so clear that it would be hard not to know what she is trying to portray in her lyrics. Jones’ lyrics are very straightforward in giving the idea that she is mixing darker tones with sad words to reveal her feelings about a lost love. Jones provides a sense of comfort throughout the album (even though there are upbeat songs here and there) and the music would be perfect for a rainy day. Jones’ music has consistently stayed within the “coffee shop” melodies, and this album shows that she is not heading in a different direction, and for good reason. Any fan of soft, harmonious tones and variations of instruments would be extremely pleased with this selection. This album has the potential to make Norah Jones stand out more, and come out from underground.

DOWNLOAD THIS >> I’ve Seen Footage DOWNLOAD THIS >> Say Goodbye

jonathanb@thelionstale.com

alexissthelionstale.com

Bon Iver Tuesday, June 5 7:00 p.m. Hard Rock Live

ormed in 2002 and brought to fame in 2009 after the release of their single “Panic Switch”, Silversun Pickups is back again with their third studio album Neck Of The Woods. The album brings to the table some catchy hooks and powerful lyrics from the band. The songs make some strange transitions in tempo from very slow to very fast in a matter of seconds, something that caught me off guard. Also, many of the songs are a good bit of instrumental before getting to any actual lyrics, and with song lengths of up to nearly seven minutes, I’m not very surprised. However, I am surprised by some of the lyrics to the songs. Despite the generally upbeat tempos of most songs, the lyrics have a darker meaning and undertone. For example in the song “Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)” the rhythm is very mellow but the lyrics are a bit depressing and dark. My favorite song of the album is “Here We Are (Chancer)” a slower song with a constant tempo and good composition. I also enjoy the voice of the lead singer, Brian Aubert, because his voice is so simple and it delivers the proper amount of emotion that each song needs. With less of a rock and roll zest than their previous work and more of a smooth indie style, Neck Of The Woods is a mixed bag of lyrical surprises. I do still recommend this album to anyone who likes a different type of music and enjoys a combination of genres all in one album.

trevork@thelionstale.com

Upcoming Concerts Reel Big Fish Thursday, July 5 6:30 p.m. House of Blues

LMFAO Saturday, June 23 7:00 p.m. Amway Center

n May 1, 2012, rap artist B.o.B. released his new album, Strange Clouds. I loved his last album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray, so I had really high expectations for this album which he met completely. In Strange Clouds, B.o.B. sings about topics from adapting to his new fame to love songs. And with guests artists such as Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, and Trey Songz, in my opinion every single song on the album is worth buying. One of my favorites from the album, “So Hard to Breathe” is a softer acoustic song with a harder chorus, which definitely fits the lyrics. B.o.B. sings about trying to keep his head clear and sane as he works through his new fame coming from a life where he had nothing. The chaotic, yet beautiful chorus and his voice, tinged with desperation as he sings, “And it’s so hard to breathe, and even more so to sleep when no one cares,” really gives insight into his life. Of course, he also has featured songs more along the poppy line. “So Good”, a single off the album he released a few weeks ago, is an upbeat faster song about treating his girl to the life of fame. For every song he sings, it seems his vocals and the beat match perfectly, especially this song. Overall, I loved this album. B.o.B., if it was possible, has done even better than his previous album in my opinion. The styles of the songs are all varied just a little bit, and they all complement each other perfectly on this album.

Childish Gambino Tuesday, June 12 7:00 p.m. Hard Rock Live Roger Waters Saturday, June 16 8:00 p.m. Amway Arena

all photos/COURTESY OF PUBLICITY WEB SITES

oliviad@thelionstale.com

(sports sports ) 2012 Senior Sport Awards MAY 15, 2012 | THE LION’S TALE 29

Every year,The Lion’s Tale honors outstanding senior student athletes. A group of outstanding seniors were nominated for their athletic and academic excellence. Check out the winners on the following pages.

Treadin’ water

Boys water polo defeated district rivals Lake Brantley on April 24 to advance to the state level competition on April 27 against Saint Thomas Aquinas in Miami. The boys clench The Lion’s Tale team of the year with their district win Award: Team of the Year Nominees: Girls Water Polo, Football, Cheerleading, Boys Water Polo, Boys Basketball Winner: Boys Water Polo by Amanda Ferguson

BOYS WATER POLO

photo/COURTESY OF LESLIE KLEEB

through lots of conditioning and training. he boys water polo team competed in the state competition “Our coach is really awesome and pushes us. We play against on April 29. The team traveled down to Miami to play at teams that are a lot better than us which prepares us, and we have Ransom Everglades School. three to three and a half hour practices,” senior Shane Ladd said. The team played Saint Thomas Aquinas Individual players stay in-shape on and lost 19-5, however that was still good their own time to help them perform I’ve been playing with Andrew enough to secure their spot as fifth in the better during water polo season. Bolen and Cole Hensley since I state. “I do a lot of swimming because was eight years old. Most of the boys playing on the team I’m a real bad swimmer so I have to have been playing water polo together for practice. I run to practice and home A.J. Persampiere, ‘13 years. from practice. Then while at practice “I’ve grown up playing with [the we wear weighted vests to help with seniors]. I’ve been playing with Andrew Bolen and Cole Hensley treading and we also practice with weighted balls to help with since I was eight years old,” junior A.J. Persampiere said. passing,” Ladd said. The majority of the team plays together on the club team, Blue The team is graduating four seniors this year: Ladd, Andrew Dolphins. Bolen, Cole Hensley, and Justin Gray. Hensley is the only senior Ryan Donnell coaches the school team and he puts the team on the team that signed to play water polo in college. He signed to

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play at Florida State University. Although no other team member signed to play, Ladd and Gray plan on playing on a club team in college. Ladd is starting out playing on Seminole State College’s team. J. Gray and Bolen are planning on playing at the University of Central Florida. Oviedo’s team next year will feel the effects from losing their seniors. “We are losing our best shooter, Justin Gray, and our fastest swimmer, Cole Hensley. Next year will be a rebuilding year for us,” Persampiere said. When the seniors leave the team will lose leadership. “I feel like when they leave people won’t be as serious because they are like the backbone of the team, they lead drills, and when the coach isn’t there they would just take the wheel,” sophomore Cameron Gray said.

amandaf@thelionstale.com

THE LION’S TALE

| sports | MAY 15, 2012

Lacey sprints path to FGCU regions to move onto states in. But we barely made it to states,” Lacey said. “My favorite event in track is the two mile. The mile is too fast. I like to be able to think about what I need to and who I need to pass.” To prepare for the cross-country and track seasons Lacey trains by running and building a base of 60 miles. She also runs half marathons and 5k’s in the off-season. Lacey runs the mile and two mile in track. “I ask myself everyday why I love running. It’s because of the by Andrea Dobo runners high,” Lacey said. ”I started in sixth grade. I couldn’t find enior Savanah Lacey trekked four years of cross-country a sport I liked and my dad ran so I wanted to run after him,” Lacey and track through high school, and is now moving on to an said. oppurtunity to run at Florida Gulf After middle school, Lacey found the Coast in the fall. high school level more difficult. “During the season I don’t do anything “There are harder practices and much It’s painful. I’m not going to lie. [outside practice] Monday through Friday more running. I almost quit in freshmen There’s days when I just lay on there’s practice. Saturday there’s a meet year, but looking back, I would have the kitchen floor exhausted and Sunday I do homework,” Lacey said. regretted that,” Lacey said. “It’s painful, I’m not going to lie. There’s Lacey experienced injuries during but that means you worked a days when I just lay on the kitchen floor her four years of cross-country including lot for the accomplishment of exhausted but that means you worked a sprained ankles, shifted kneecaps and getting your best times. lot for the accomplishment of getting your bursitis, an inflammation of the fluid-filled best times.” sac (bursa) that lies between a tendon and Savanah Lacey, ‘12 Supporting Lacey for four years have skin, or between a tendon and bone. been her parents, encouraging to keep up “I got bursitis at the end of summer her motivation. Also, Lacey is supported by her boyfriend, junior before senior year. I couldn’t do any summer running. But I could Justin Schanze, who also runs cross-country and track. ride a bike, and I started a little slower in the beginning of the year “He yells and runs with me telling me to keep up my form and so I had to run twice as hard,” Lacey said. tells me to keep going. It gets annoying but it helps a lot,” Lacey Lacey signed with Florida Gulf Coast University in the spring said. to run cross-country. One of Lacey’s proudest moment is running a 11:50 in the two“I will just be doing cross-country, along with a club track team. mile in Deltona during the track season, and also for making it to It’s small and by the beach, and I had an opportunity to run there,” states for cross-country her senior year. Lacey said. “Our region is called death region because it’s one the hardest

SAVANAH

Award: Female Athlete of the Year Nominees: Jill Loaris (Volleyball), Mariah Oggeri (Water Polo), Lisa May (Tennis), Sabrina Grimes (Cheerleading), Savanah Lacey (Cross Country). Winner: Savanah Lacey

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TWO MILE RUNNER

LACEY

andread@thelionstale.com

UCF next step for football star Award: Male Athlete of the Year Nominees: Shane Ladd (Water Polo), Cory Rogers (Volleyball), Jacob Garrett (Football), Marcus Ireland (Lacrosse), Austin Bloom (Baseball) Winner: Jacob Garrett by Amanda Ferguson

enior Jacob Garrett slams into Lake Mary’s defensive line man, permitting a successful play to be made, and allowing Oviedo to win the district championship for the third year in a row. Garrett has been playing football since eighth grade when he starting playing for Pop Warner. He has played all four years of high school, starting out on the freshman team, two years of junior varsity, and one year on varsity. Through his time playing football he has played numerous different positions. “I’ve played every position on the offensive line, but I would probably consider right tackle to be my favorite position because I feel that I am the best at that position,” Garrett said. Garrett was a part of the three-time district champion team, also known as the three-peat. “Every one of us are incredibly proud of our three-peat district title. We knew from summer workouts that if we put in lots of effort and

performed up to our potential that there was no way that we wouldn’t win the title,” Garrett said. Now Garrett prepares to continue his education at the University of Central Florida in the Burnett Honors College. He is not planning on playing football in college but he is considering playing some intramural flag football for fun. “I might play some intramural flag football, but as far as NCAA, I won’t be playing,” senior Jacob Garrett said. Looking back on his high school football career Garrett is walking away with lessons that will stay with him for the rest of his life. “Football taught me teamwork and perseverance. Each player must work as a team in order to succeed and you will not win every down of every game, so it is important to keep trying and to never give up,” Garrett said. Garrett made many friends from the football team, most of which he will be leaving behind when he goes on the college. However, Garrett has made a lasting impact on many of his teammates. “I’m going to miss Jacob Garrett’s musket impression in the locker room,” junior Kent Meredith said. Garrett also brought peace of mind to the team whenever he was around. “He always quotes stupid YouTube videos so he makes everyone happy,” junior Kyle Smith said. “He has a great personality, and he brings up the team’s morale so that we can win.”

amandaf@thelionstale.com

JACOB

photo/AMANDA FERGUSON

RIGHT TACKLE

#55 GARRETT

photo/COURTESY OF TERRY COLLINS

MAY 15, 2012 | sports | THE LION’S TALE 31

College workouts start now Award: Breakthrough Athlete of the Year

AMADOR

LIBERO

JESSICA #1 photo illustration/DOBO, FERGUSON

Nominees: Danielle Perna (Diving), Richie Mastroberte (Lacrosse), Jessica Amador (Volleyball), Stephanie Kirk (Dance), Charlie Mitchell (Wrestling) Winner: Jessica Amador by Amanda Ferguson

enior Jessica Amador began her volleyball career in eighth grade when she was trying to find a hobby for herself. “I was trying a lot of different sports like dance, basketball, and volleyball just trying to find myself a really good hobby,” Amador said. Amador did not play volleyball her freshman year. Amador’s sophomore year coach Chad Long came into her class and asked her to try out for the team. “Coach Long talked me into playing for Oviedo. I was too shy to try out and he came into my class and told me to come to practice,” Amador said. She started out playing on the junior varsity level her sophomore year, then on the varsity team for the next two years. Amador made many memories. “My junior year we beat Lake Howell in quarter districts. That was the best game we had ever played,” Amador said. She has also made friends that she is going to miss in college. “I’m going to miss all my seniors. They always motivated me to keep going, and not to give up,” Amador said. Amador’s teammates are much more than just teammates. “We are like sisters. We can go to each other for anything,” Amador said. Amador’s position is libero which is a defensive specialist. “I like [being a libero] because it’s based on defense and you’re

always put on the spot to do good because you can be pulled in and out based on when you are needed,” Amador said. Amador also played on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) for three years. “It’s more competitive than high school and you have to do your best to show off to colleges,” Amador said. Amador had no idea that this hobby was going to pay her way through college. She signed with Pasco-Hernando Community College to play volleyball. Amador is nervous to play on the college level. “The coach is going to be more serious and competitive and they are paying me to play. It’s not just for fun anymore,” Amador said. She also worries that physical demands will be worse than high school. “I’m scared of the workouts. We have to run like 20 bleachers. I got my workout book and I have to start next week,” Amador said. The workout book consists of day-to-day workout plans and diet plans that must be done over the summer to prepare for the season. “We have to make sure you do it because the coach will know if you cheat because you won’t be able to do the workouts,” Amador said. Amador is the only libero that Pasco-Hernando has signed onto the team. “They haven’t signed another libero which makes me really nervous because what if I injury myself? They have no one else,” Amador said. Although Amador will miss her teammates from OHS, she is excited to make new teammates at Pasco-Hernando. “I’m looking forward to meeting new people, my teammates and becoming best friends with them like I did with my teammates here,” Amador said.

amandaf@thelionstale.com

Eat. Sleep. Publish. Now Goodbye. To the hardest working seniors on campus-

Thank you for putting out the best high school newspaper in the state. Your talents as journalists show through with every one of the seven editions you put out. Each one of you is a unique individual and I can’t wait to see how you carve out a place for yourselves in the future. Keep a place in your heart for the ‘Tale’ and keep in touch.

-Mama J

THE LION’S TALE

| sports | MAY 15, 2012

Ability to focus key to athlete’s success Award: Two-Sport Athlete Nominees: Cole Hensley (Water Polo/ Swimming), Anthony Gonzalez (Volleyball/ Football), Zoe Stapleton (Basketball/ Track/Cross Country), Dayo Adisa (Football/ Weightlifting), Samantha Roser (Softball/Weightlifting) Winner: Anthony Gonzalez

helps him in his volleyball play. “I think [Gonzalez playing football] is great for volleyball. He brings in a toughness that’s instilled in him from football,” Valle said. Despite the difficulties, Gonzalez believes his experience will help him later in life. “Playing two sports will help with time management later on in life. You can’t just wake up and say you’re going to do two sports. You have to have dedication. It definitely helps. I would recommend playing two sports to by Arianna Ray other people. It’s a good way to stay in shape,” Gonzalez enior Anthony Gonzalez pumps his arms, charging said. down the field as fast as he can. All around him, Gonzalez cites success on the football field as his football players run and collide across the playing greatest experience. field. Gonzalez participates in both varsity football and “The best part of my athletic experience has been varsity volleyball. winning. In football, we were district champions three “Gonzo is the heart and soul of the team. He’s an years in a row. I was on varsity all three years. No Oviedo emotional leader. When he’s out on the court, there’s High School team has been district champs three years in nothing we can’t do,” volleyball coach Rafael Valle said. a row. We haven’t gone to districts yet in volleyball but Switching between volleyball and football styles we’re looking really strong this year,” Gonzalez said. proves a challenge for Gonzalez. Although Gonzalez has enjoyed his athletic experience “You have to learn two completely different styles. in high school, he is unsure as to whether or not he will The rules of volleyball are very different from those of play sports in college. football. You have to be smart. You can’t mess up and “I haven’t decided whether I’m going to play sports in mix up the sports. You also don’t college or not. I’ve had an offer just prep for one sport all year. I to play football. I’m undecided,” Gonzo is the heart and soul of prep for each sport half a year,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez said. Playing two sports forces the team. He’s an emotional Participating in two sports Gonzalez to balance his schedule. leader. When he’s out on the helps Gonzalez stay fit. “I just make sure that I pay court, there’s nothing we can’t “I like to play two sports attention during class [to balance because it keeps me in shape my schedule]. During some of do. Volleyball coach Rafael Valle during off-season. I was good at my easier classes if I don’t have volleyball so I started playing anything to do, I complete my that. Playing two sports has made other work. If I have an away me better athlete. I can explore different areas and do so game for football, I study for tests on the bus,” Gonzalez many different things,” Gonzalez said. said. Gonzalez prefers football due to the feeling of Valle notes the problems Gonzalez faces because of his achievement that comes from intensive preparatory work. two sports. “I prefer football. It’s more physical and more people “I think it’s a challenge. While everyone else is in open come to the games. It’s more of a game time atmosphere. gym or doing club volleyball around the state, he’s doing The prep work you put in is so much. There’s a sense of football,” Valle said. accomplishment. We practice three hours a day,” Gonzalez Gonzalez must split his time between volleyball and said. football. Gonzalez incorporates elements from both sports in his “I can’t focus on one sport. My time is divided between play. two sports. Most people only have to prepare for one sport “In volleyball, I like to bring the high energy, which I all year. But I have to do two. I have to have strength,” use in football games. In football, if I have to jump over Gonzalez said. something, I’m able to do it, like I do in volleyball. You can’t hesitate. You just have to do it,” Gonzalez said. ariannar@thelionstale.com Valle believes that Gonzalez’s football experience

#26

GONZALEZ

Running back Outside hitter

ANTHONY

photo/COURTESY OF TERRY COLLINS

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Hochman and Peppler, LLC Attorneys

Thomas R. Peppler 3208 Aloma Ave., Ste. 2000 Oviedo Florida, 32765-8656 HochmanPeppler.com Telephone: 407.681.2688 Fax: 407.681.2689 tpeppler@HochmanPeppler.com

MAY 15, 2012 | advertisements | THE LION’S TALE 33

NJROTC

Leadership By Example

Seniors of the Oviedian yearbook So many stories to tell, and you found them all! Congratulations on meeting the challenges of this year, and producing an outstanding book. You’ve proven that you have the creativity and dedication to conquer any task, and I know that each of you will have amazing success in your next endeavor. Without question, you will be missed…but, you’ll always be welcome to visit. Come and share your adventures. Here’s to a fantastic future! Never forgotten: Always Loved. Ms Pope

Hannah Barson

Asia Landenwitch Dylan Bartley

Allyssa Appleget

Cora Campbell

Machaela Hisle

Adrianna Rivera

Danielle Perna

THE LION’S TALE

| sports | MAY 15, 2012

Schedule helps keep goalie organized Award: Scholar Athlete Nominees: Brandi Van De Houten (Cross Country), Scotty David (Soccer), Ryan Maxon (Baseball), Ellie Weibell (Lacrosse), Justin Gray (Water Polo) Winner: Ellie Weinbel

she plans on attending UF. “I toured there over the summer and really liked the traditions and academic focus. I was originally going to go to UCF, but once I found out that I got into UF, I knew it would be the best choice for me,” Weinbel said. Weinbel looks forward to experiencing college life. In order to focus on her studies, Weinbel does not plan on participating in band or lacrosse. While at OHS, Weinbel was the drum major for the marching by Stephanie O’Sullivan enior Ellie Weinbel throws her backpack on the ground before band during her junior and senior years. opening her planner and looking at her schedule for the day. “It was awesome to get the opportunity to lead so many students Weinbel relied on daily schedules to balance her time between to success. It was a lot of work. I had to go to conducting lessons to school, band, and lacrosse. learn how to be a drum major. I felt like it was my chance to really “I planned out my afternoons, so I knew that I had a certain amount make a difference in band. I had a chance to make an effort on how of time to relax, then go to practice, and each performance went,” Weinbel said. then do homework. Sometimes I woke up Weinbel also played lacrosse all four I’m going to miss lacrosse a lot. early to study, or did work during lunch. years of high school. It was really stressful, but it was all worth “I’m going to miss lacrosse a lot. I’ve been playing since I was it. I have no regrets. I tried not to show I’ve been playing since I was in the in the fourth grade. The team how stressed I was,” Weinbel said. fourth grade. The team here is great, and here is great, and we worked Throughout high school, Weinbel we worked really hard. I cried at our last took 17 AP classes, and ended with a GPA game, because I know that even though really hard. of 4.337. Weinbel’s favorite class was AP it took up a lot of time, I’m going to Ellie Weinbel, ‘12 Physics B. miss the practices and the games with “Oddly enough, my favorite class was the team,” Weinbel said. AP Physics. I feel like Mr. Soos was a really good teacher and it’s Whenever Weinbel was struggling with the amount of work that peaked my interest in math and science,” Weinbel said. “It helped she had to do, she thought of her inspiration, George N. Parks. me with my Calculus work. I also feel like a lot of the things that “It’s really hard to pin point one specific person who’s helped me I learned in that class, I can apply to other things in life,” Weinbel the most through high school. I’ve changed and grown so much since said. freshman year. I’ve just grown a lot and have been able to handle it,” Weinbel believes that AP Physics B has helped her prepare for Weinbel said. “George Parks was a big inspiration. He led the drum her intended major in college. major academy that I attended over the summer. He was amazing. “I plan to major in Industrial Engineering. It’s the business side When he died, I just thought about how precious everything is and of engineering, and I feel like it’s my way of making the world I learned not to take advantage of anything that I’m given. Anytime better,” Weinbel said. I’m going through something, I try to figure out what he would do.” Originally, Weinbel planned on attending UCF in the fall. Now

WEINBEL

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stephanieo@thelionstale.com

GOALIE #14

ELLIE

photo/COURTESY OF ELLIE WEINBEL

Koehler leads way to state championship Award: Coach of the Year Nominees: Ed Kershner (Boys Basketball), Jen Darty (Girls Volleyball), Harold Hitt (Baseball), Angela Koehler (Dance Team), Ryan Donnell (Girls Water Polo) Winner: Angela Koehler

by Andrea Dobo

ANGELA

KOEHLER

photo/WILLOW MASON

ane Attraction coach Angela Koehler stepped foot on the Oviedo High School campus this summer and knew this is where she wanted to start her first full-time teaching job. Koehler finished her first year as dance teacher and coach of the Mane Attraction dance coach with a state championship, and has been named Lion’s Tale Coach of the Year. “I have helped my team achieve a sense of confidence. I have to maintain a positive and fun practice. Varsity has won a state championship and JV places first in their division,” Koehler said. Koehler’s past experience includes competing on the Lidenwood University dance team all four years of her attendance, along with a traveling summer dance team and two time national hiphop champion. This will be Koehler’s first year in a scheduled school atmosphere. “I’m walking into a program that has a lot of

scheduled events, the season is all year long with contributions to the team. “I love her. She brings new ideas to the team, football games, basketball games, competition, Lion’s showcase and spring showcase. As a new fresh choreography and new uniforms and offers us director there is a lot to learn as far as knowing new opportunities,” Simpson said. “We’re happy all the traditions of the team and making my own that we could prove to our coach that all the hard even though there’s so much history,” Koehler work we put in really showed because we won a state championship. said. It was a good way to Koehler describes end the competition the road to states as a We’re happy that we could season.” long process but it prove to our coach that all Senior Lindsay helped make winning the hard work we put in really Nuzzo is proud of a state championship the experience she the most memorable showed because we won a state endured this season experience of this championship. It was a good way with Koehler as a year. to end the competition season. coach. “To get ready “It’s a really for states I need to Kalee Simpson, ‘13 great feeling for pick out the music the seniors because and decide what you wanted to dance to. Then we have choreography we’ve been wanting this.” Nuzzo said. “We finally rehearsals. Then we learn the routine, and clean got a coach who knows what she’s doing and we finally got a state championship.” perfecting the dances,” Koehler. Nuzzo describes Koehler as a good addition to For Koehler, the best part of coaching was the dance department because she always brings a getting to create her own masterpieces. “I get to put my ideas into a group of really positive attitude and energy. “She has been dancing her whole life and talented dancers, and I get to watch the routine progress into a championship routine.” Koehler she isn’t just doing it for a job. She will stay after said. “Having fun is the easiest part. You could practice so she can talk to you. She treats us more always make every practice or performance as long like friends and not students so she cares and we get along,” Nuzzo said. as you need. You just need a positive attitude.” Junior Kalee Simpson expresses Koehler’s andread@thelionstale.com

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Roar Board

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MAY 15, 2012

sports

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Ignibh ea facincin erostie core commodit alisl il utpate tat enis alit luptate vel ilisi bla adio dolestrud exer iure velenim qui bla ad eugait at wismolo rpercilit euis ea augueros ad magna adipis nonsecte conulla consequip euguercing essisi. Exer in hent incip ea faccummy nonsed molese volutpate mincing ex et lam quisi erillamet adio odolobore deliquissi. Lor aut nos dolorper accummy nos ex ea facin eugiamet accumsan hendionsenit alit do odolore dolobore dolorting et velit dolorpercin utet venim zzrilis alis do conse diam am dip ex eugueriure esequat. Lobortie tem dolobor aut augue magna faci et autpat ver illandigna at. Urerci te consequ atummy nulla at, vullam, quamcon sequam quat in velessi. Os nim iril do diamcoreet, vullutet, si blamet augait lore dolorem enibh eugait incing et wisis aliquisi. Sendio dolore veraestis nulput autem niatie dio dit lut augiam quis dolore do doluptatinci tisl ut wisit, core ming eu faccum velisci tat. Ut dolore feugiat uerostrud molobore dolortin hendio od min ullaore riuscipis aci ero consed dolorpe rostrud ea faci eraesequat dolessequi tis niat numsan ullam esequatum dolobor acillan dipit, quipismodit volesenim et adip elessequatet wis nisl ipsum vullum volutpatis dolobor tionseniat nis estisit in ulla faccum volor accum eum iure exer secte et loboreet, cor alisi eros del er secte esequiscil et acipit adio JAQUETH eniamcommy nisis nonsequ isismod er suscill uptate dolore eraessim zzrit, si blandrem iril erate magnibh exerostie magnaphoto/COLTON feu feuisis dit SIGNING TO PLAY. (Top Row) Seniors Cole Hensley, Scotty David, Kyle Krause, Ryan Maxon, Devon Dwyer, (Bottom Row) Savanah Lacey, Lisa May, and Olivia nos nonulput ut nonulputet ver sisi ex ent la feuguer at. Uscidunt et nim velit iure eu facin heniamcommy nulputet at. Pis dignisi te tatuer in Sims signed with colleges on May 2, 2012 before school in the RWL Gym. eugiam, si. Tuerit, vulla consequissi. OutUptat of theacigraduating class, 17 seniors will go on tofaccum compete on aliquatislThe baseball team went district championship April 26. tis ad tetue dolore tem nonsed magna quissis in exercipit nim irit loretovelthe dignim velestrud molestoonodolesto the collegiate level. Signings took place in the winter and spring. The team started out against Lake Howell High School. The boys er si bla core minciduis adip et praesequis del doloreet, sumsandreet nos dolestrud ent laorper ipit wissis ate dolore tat nosto et exer ipit Signee College defeated them 7-3. The team moved on to play Winter Springs High lobortie magnibh eniamcore magniscidunt luptat ad euiscip eliquis do erat. Dui te tat lum quis amconsequat, sequam quat nos dolorperit Sable Lee (softball) Jacksonville University School, Oviedo lost 1-4. Next the team took on New Smyrna Beach nonsecte commy nibh ea con henim in henit in hent eniamet veril etuerci blan henisi te eraesto odigna con vulluptatem quisi. Julie Brown (beach volleyball) Florida State University High School and the boys lost 1-3. Kayla Joyce (beach volleyball) Florida State University Now that the high school season is over the players are Cole Hensley (swimming) Florida State University participating on travelling baseball teams to gain college exposure and Jill Loiars (volleyball) University of Dayton prepare themselves for next season. Savanah Lacey (cross country) Florida Gulf Coast University Lisa May (tennis) University of West Florida Girls water polo team headed down to Miami to compete in Olivia Sims (swimming & diving) Indian River Community College the State Championships on April 27. The competition was held Scotty David (soccer) Rollins College at Ransom Everglades High School. The girls played their first game Kyle Krause (soccer) Southeastern University against Westminster Academy. The team lost 17-9. Even with the loss, Ryan Maxon (baseball) Embry-Riddle University the girls scored eighth pace in the state. Devon Dwyer (football) Western Illinois University Jessica Amador (volleyball) Pasco Hernando CC Jackie Reich (softball) Daytona State College Some members of the girls track team competed in the state Samantha Roser (softball) Seminole State College competition on May 5. The girls 4 x 8 team placed 13 in the state. Erin Phillips (soccer) Florida Southern College The team consists of senior Savanah Lacey, juniors Danielle Turk, Nikki Nathan Kellis (lacrosse) Birmingham Southern College Huynh and sophomore Caroline Jackson. Jennifer Brenner took eighth Charlie Mitchell (wrestling) Luther College place for pole vaulting.

Athletes sign for college sports Baseball team defeats Lake Howell

Girls water polo takes eighth in state

Track treks way to13th in state

THE LION’S TALE

ANDY BOSLEY

STAFF REPORTER

New sports bill changes rules on participation

he Florida Legislature passed a bill on April 13 strenghtened the right of private school and home schooled students to participate in public school sports programs. In addition, the law will allow in county athletes who transfer under the School Choices Rule to compete the year they transfer to their new school if they arrive before the season begins. This bill will go into affect on July 1, 2012. Private school students who legally transfer in won’t have to miss a year of play if they arrive before the official season begins. FHSAA sets the day each sport is to officially begin, along with leveling the playing field for private and public school sports. “If there are two different governing bodies and they don’t have the same standards as the FHSAA has, there would be a lot of people being recruited to private schools athletically which could take away from our numbers, continuing to help a private school with their athletic programs and we could suffer as far as competition goes,” Athletic Director Scott Waisanen said. The question remains- will this hurt or help our sports teams? As with any law, no one really knows what the consequences will be until it goes into effect. However, the law could help elevate the records and standings of public schools by allowing exceptional private school students to come here and play. Because we are a top school for academics and for athletics, I expect students will want to come here play on our teams.

andyb@thelionstale.com

On the sidelines... Cole Wheeler On the sidelines...Olivia Rominger A doctor because I want to help people and I have wanted to do this all of my life.

With

1. Do you have any embarassing nicknames? My mom calls me muchie, I don’t know why.

2. What is your favorite type of music?

RUNNIN’

Rap because it really gets you pumped for a good night.

Spongebob because I loved that show when I was little and I still watch it. It’s hillarious.

4.What is your favorite thing about your house? My room because it has my bed and a huge T.V.

5. What store would you like to see come to the Oviedo Mall? Dick’s because we don’t have any sport stores around here.

photo/STEPHANIE O’SULLIVAN

3. If you could be in any cartoon what would it be?

HOME.

Senior Cole Wheeler smiles as he runs into third base at the game on April 11 against Hagerty High School.

With

2. If you could redo high school, what would you change?

HYPING

The people I hang out with becase they have a lot of drama. Beach, hanging out with friends and getting ready for college.

4. What’s the easiest class you’ve ever taken? Humanities because I already knew everything from AP Art History last year.

5. What teacher are you going to miss the most? Mrs. Simmons because I think she is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had and she really pushed me.

THE CROWD.

3. What are you doing this summer? photo/AMANDA FERGUSON

1. What would be your deam job?

Senior Olivia Rominger cheers to the crowd at the Winter Springs High School football game on Nov. 4.

THE LION’S TALE

Physics Olympics

| features | MAY 15, 2010

all photos/FERGUSON, LO, O’SULLIVAN

CUTTING EDGE. Juniors Ciara Nowak and Frances Allen carefully cut up balsa wood to use for their project, which was to construct a bridge. All the pieces of wood had to be 1/4” by 1/4”. The physics teachers will judge the bridges by exerting a downward force on them to see how much weight they can handle before breaking.

WIND IT UP. Junior Lisa Bogen prepares to launch her mouse trap car by winding the string around the loop. It took her about five hours to construct. Bogen claims that designing the car was harder than building it.

Team makes a hovercraft for Olympics by Rachel Lo

hysics teachers Art Woodruff, David Noell, and Jason Foss will host the 10th annual “Physics Olympics” On Friday, May 18. Teams of students have the options of creating a mouse trap car, mass-powered car, wooden bridge, hovercraft, poster, or artwork. Junior Christie Gleason and her partners made a hovercraft for the upcoming Olympics. “A hovercraft is basically a piece of wood with a

tarp attached to it, and we duct taped the tarp on so no air will get through it. You stick a leaf blower through the hole of the wood and it just blows up the whole bottom and comes off the ground,” Gleason said. Gleason ended up enjoying the project. “At first I thought it was going to be hard and I hated it. But once we actually started, it wasn’t a tough process; it was just a long process. So it wasn’t that bad and I had fun,” Gleason said.

rachell@thelionstale.com

GOING FISHING. Junior Logan Richards tests his mouse trap car while junior Jordan

WORK THAT STAPLER. Juniors Mariah Mattingly and BUILD A BRIDGE. Junior Jillian Rodriguez

Anderson watches. Richards used a fishing rod to wind the string of his car back.

Christie Gleason staple their tarp to their hovercraft so it won’t fall off.

puts the finishing touches on her bridge.