The Wolverine Issue 4

— February 2013 —

The Walker School

Volume XIV Issue 4

Wolverine

The

Students

Drama

Sports

Alumni

Beards Could Be a Senior Privilege on page 2

Set Construction begins for March Play on Page 4

Walker Prepares for Golf Season on page 10

Walker Almunus Brandon Stanton Returns on Page 12

2 TheWolverine The Wolverine The Wolverine, founded in 1999, is the newspaper of The Walker School, 700 Cobb Parkway North, Marietta, Georgia 30062. Telephone: (770) 427 - 2689. E-mail: wolverine@thewalkerschool.org The Wolverine is published seven times during the school year by the members of the student body.

Guest articles and letters to the editor may be submitted. Submissions must include the writer’s name and be hand-delivered or emailed. The meaning of any submission will not be altered, but The Wolverine reserves the right to edit for coherence. Rights are also reserved to postpone or withold publication any letter, article, or advertisement submitted. Final decision on publication rests with the Editor-In-Chief in consultation with the entire Editorial Board and the Journalism Adviser.

Guest articles and letters to the editor do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Walker School, its administration, or employees.

Copyright authority to the material (articles, graphics, etc.) contained in this publication is strictly held under reserve by the Editorial Board. Any reproduction or alteration without written consent is strictly prohibited.

The staff of The Wolverine is comprised of members of the Upper School Journalism Class.

The Wolverine serves as a voice for the Walker Community. (wolverine@thewalkerschool.org)

Visit us online at TWSWolverine.com Journalism Adviser: Kaitlyn Ranney

Beards Could Be a Senior Privilege

BY Stephen Oweida

Over the years many male Walker Upper School students have complained about the rule against facial hair, but thanks to the efforts of Junior Matt Zibanejadrad, next year’s dress code could include a senior privilege to grow facial hair.

The current rule for facial hair is a zero tolerance policy towards any kind of beard, moustache, or “peach fuzz.” If any student breaks this rule, they are forced to shave in the school bathroom with a single bladed razor.

Zibanejadrad wants a change, and is calling for students to sign a petition that would permit students to grow facial hair as a senior privilege. Zibanejadrad believes that having a beard is a symbol of individuality and said, “Growing a beard is something I have always wanted to do to shift from the rest of the crowd.” Upper School Math Teacher Erika Treu, an opponent of this, argues facial hair that high school students grow is not aesthetically pleasing and is typically scruffy peach fuzz. Further insulting facial hair, Treu said, “it looks like dirt on your face.” This statement is true for some high schoolers, but this does not hold constant for every student. Certainly there are also some students who are

2012-2013 Staff Editor-In-Chief: Coleman Hedden. ‘14 Managing Editor: Travis King, ‘14 Assistant Editors: Mary Grace Walsh, ‘14 Meredith Wright, ‘13 Reporters: Alex Brack, ‘15 Courtney Cox, ‘14 Victoria Hudson, ‘14 Stephen Oweida, ‘14

Junior Matt Zibanejadrad is petitioning to allow senior boys to grow facial hair.

Photo Courtesy of Stephen Oweida

February 2013

3

Walker Installs New Water Fountain

BY Victoria Hudson If one were to cruise the hallways of the Walker Upper School, they would see diverse, dress code abiding, and hardworking students, an enthusiastic Mr. Clark imparting the wisdom of “Hoopla!” and a plethora of young people catching up on their latest Snapchats. Among these wonderful commodities, there are also some things one would notice missing from the hallowed halls of the Upper School. For example, there is an absence of locks on lockers, few students would be found eating or sitting in the hallway, and possibly the most obvious scarcity of all was the lack of a functioning water fountain.

For what feels like an eternity, Walker students were deprived of a water fountain that produced

BY Meredith Wright

clear, clean drinking water, and/ or generated enough pressure for water to actually be attainable. This deficiency in the drinking fountain department led some students to create a parody of the famous Walker School slogan “WOW” – which stands for the “Wonder of Walker” – and question if this tagline did not really stand for “Where’s Our Water?”

Finally, Walker has jumped all over this water fountain shortage.

In the second hallway near the auditorium, Walker students and faculty alike can find an all new, fancy, and quite high tech looking water fountain. This water fountain is no ordinary water fountain. It will not only allow one to grab a sip of high quality H2O between

classes, but it is also equipped with a special water bottle filling system!

Not only does this water fountain yield viable drinking water, but it is also eco-friendly. That’s right! Such a simple addition has benefitted the Green initiative at The Walker School. Every time someone fills up a water bottle, this snazzy new water fountain will count how many plastic water bottles are saved.

Walker is moving forward to create a better environment for everyone, simply by acknowledging the lack of basic necessity in its own four walls.

Freshman Isabelle Jordan uses the newly-installed water fountain.

Photo Courtesy of Victoria Hudson

Increasing Awareness of Snapchat Danger

A lot can be told about a person simply from their phone and many teenagers today seem to have the typical applications or “apps” as they are known.

Faculty members (left to right) Steve Killian, Bill Schreiner, Rob Holman, Social networking sites like Joe Konieczny, and Matt Eisenman admire their facial hair.

Facebook and Twitter and Photo Courtesy of Coleman Hedden photo sharing networks like able to grow impressive facial hair, dress code. Hall proposed that theInstagram are some common most of which are upperclassmen. distinction between peach fuzz andones. Recently, another Therefore it makes sense that the a proper beard could be policed byapp has been popping up on these users social bar. new rule would be a senior privilege. the students themselves.

Agreeing with Zibanejadrad’s A variety of beards that classifyWith an icon as a little cause while also appeasing the as professional are exhibited bywhite ghost, Snapchat is an opponents of his arguements, many of Walker’s teachers andimpermanent photo sharing Headmaster Jack Hall said, “I administration including Upperapplication growing more would sign a petition allowing School Chemistry teacher Johnand more popular with high seniors to grow beards,” but he Richardson, Upper School Englishschool students today. To also added that the rule change teacher Matt Eisenman, and eventhose not familiar with this would not be an excuse for senior Hall. This possible rule change ispopular app, users can take students to not shave. This means an opportunity for many students topictures of themselves or that any student who wishes to show their individuality, and if anywhatever they choose, and grow facial hair must be capable of student is interested in having thissend them to other users with a time growing a mature looking beard or senior privilege, see Zibanejadradlimit set on the photo. Snapchat moustache, and that “scruffy” facial in order to sign a petition and helpalso has controversial sides to either argument. Sometimes referred to as hair or peach fuzz would be against get the rule changed. an app to watch out for or a type of

communication to be wary of, the of sharing photos would grow so background behind Snapchat is as big so fast. harmless as possible. Two students Senior Georgia Abdallah said “If you were to do anything risky on Snapchat, you could easily do it anywhere else,” proving the point that Snapchat is not the first of its kind. Before this app was developed, iPhone users could easily send the same material through text messages, resulting in the recipient to have permanent access to the photos or videos. Typically, the only danger that comes with Snapchat results because of misuse of the application.

“If people misuse Snapchat, there is still the option for Icon Courtesy of Snapchat the receiver to screen shot at Stanford University created the [the photo] and send it to others,” Snapchat app in September 2011 said Senior Breana Chavez.

Created as an impermanent photo as a part of a project for a product design class. At the time, no one sharing application, some students would have guessed the simple act would argue they are confident

that their messages disappear, just as Snapchat designed to do, but how are they sure these will really vanish? This kind of concern is felt not only by the students, but by many parents, faculty, and staff, as well. Communications Associate Meghan Stauts is involved with technology every day, and sees the danger that can come with this kind of app. “The appeal of Snapchat is that a picture disappears or selfdestructs, and this can create a false level of comfort that often can cloud a student’s better judgment,” said Stauts. Having the judgment to send something that others think is okay, could potentially turn the wrong direction to come back and haunt the sender.

Regardless of the intentions of Snapchat or the teenagers who have downloaded it, they should always be cautious. Being aware of the photos sent and the results that can come with a bad decision.

Otherwise, happy snapping!

4 TheWolverine

February 2013

Set Construction Begins for March Play

BY Coleman Hedden

Beginning last week, Upper School Stagecraft teacher Bill Schreiner and his classes began construction of the set for the No Strings Attached March production of You Can’t Take it With You. The process began with a design meeting, and the construction began shortly afterwards. Upper School Drama teacher and Director Katie Arjona collaborated with Schreiner to develop a set design that fits her and the playwrights’ image of the set. The set is also doubling as a design project for Schreiner’s Master’s degree. Schreiner is currently earning his Master’s in Theater Production and Set Design from Southern Oregon University.

For the program, Schreiner must complete several projects over the year. Schreiner said, “For Little Women, I chose a project where I built something. For this one, it’s a design project where I have to analyze the play, build a white model for it, and build a set from it.� Schreiner is working feverishly with his Stagecraft classes every day to build the set for the production.

The play, written by George S.

Kaufman and Moss Hart, calls for a 1930s home somewhere around New York City. The set is the home of an eccentric family named the Sycamores who each have unique

family.� The play centers around a lovestruck couple, Tony Kirby and Alice Sycamore, and the first meeting between their families.

Tony and Alice plan a dinner party

You Can’t Take It With You will be performed in the Mozley Studio Theatre.

Photo Courtesy of Coleman Hedden

quirks that endear each of them to the audience. Arjona said, “I’m really curious to see what weird things we both think of to put inside this house‌ after a while it will seem completely normal to the audience after they meet this

for the two families at the Sycamore home, yet Tony brings his parents on the wrong night so they could see the Sycamores as they truly are.

Needless to say, hilarity ensues.

Schreiner said, “They have lots of different people in the house

Day in the Life of a Middle Schooler

and they all do their own thing.

They have their areas when they do their own things and they don’t really clean up after themselves after doing their own things.� ForBY Meredith Wright example, the set will feature Penny Sycamore’s writing desk where she Walking into the Middle School, writes plays, as well as her son-in-the hustle and bustle of the hallway law Ed Carmichael’s xylophonewhile students are in between where he practices with his wifeclasses shows how motivated these students seem to be. Greeted by Essie, a ballet dancer.

A challenge that faced Arjona andboth old and new faces, the core Schreiner was to construct such aof the Middle School seems to large home in such a small space.always revolve around the students.

There are many rooms in the homeAlthough many high schoolers have so there is a need for numerousgone to Walker’s Middle School, entrances and exits. There are four:it has been a few years and some the front door, the kitchen door,things have changed. Technology the cellar door, and the upstairshas become a leading force in the stairwell. Arjona said, “The bigMiddle School. From possessing challenge we had to talk about wasa cell phone, to a class revolved ‘How are we going to do that whenaround iPads, the use of technology the theater itself only has two sideis creeping in places it has not entrances?’ and that’s why Mr. Schreiner suggested building into the shop like a play we did years ago called Rumors. This time we have the basement and the upstairs that goes into the shop.� You Can’t Take It With You will be performed from February 27 to March 2.

Getting to Know Lauren Cunningham

been before. Similar to the Upper School, the Middle School schedule changes constantly. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders typically rotate through same time schedule as the Upper School, except a few minor differences. During a typical day, every student attends the same core classes including math, science, literature, grammar, as well as languages and project classes in the later grades.

Many subjects taught in sixth grade can provide a strong foundation for the growth in other topics.

Literature teacher Mrs. Kitty Drew said, “Literature gives sixth graders

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE WALKER SCHOOL

BY Travis King

For many students, long-term Upper School Art Substitute Lauren Cunningham has become a familiar sight – she can be found in the art room teaching, hanging art in the hallways, or even photographing art in the courtyard. However, few know the background of Walker’s newest faculty member. Cunningham took over for Art Teacher Laura Stewart last November after Stewart left on maternity leave. Though Stewart will return in March, Cunningham has been working hard to keep the art program moving full-steam ahead, making sure it doesn’t skip a beat even with the change in teachers.

Cunningham, an Atlanta native, graduated from Westminster in 2005. Afterwards, she attended Davidson College, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art. She then attended the

University of Georgia, where she Everyone’s so down to earth, and I schools. Cunningham said, “I think received her Master’s Degree in really get the community feel here. people are really aware of what’s Sculpture. She specializes in, and I love the family atmosphere.� She going on. We have art all over the is most passionate about sculpture. also praised the fact that Walker’s walls; I feel like the arts are really Cunningham said, “I fell in love art room is located in the main valued here.� with sculpture in high school at building, instead of in a separate After she finishes her duties Westminster.� After Davidson, wing or building like at other local at Walker, Cunningham hopes Cunningham decided to continue teaching to continue her passion high school students. by pursuing a Master’s Cunningham said, specifically in Sculpture “You can do more with from UGA. [sculpture] with older At Walker, Cunningham kids. That medium is currently teaches AP geared towards them.�

Art, Advanced Art She will also be taking Seminar, Drawing, a class at Emory on the Painting, Sculpture, and writing critically about Foundations of Art. She art this fall. Outside of has her own advisory, the school, Cunningham and serves as the advisor enjoys playing trivia, for the after-school Art visiting comedy clubs Upper School Art Substitute Lauren Cunningham Club. She quickly fell with her boyfriend, and teaches one of her students in an Art class. in love with the school, attending art shows.

Photo Courtesy of Travis King saying, “I love it here.

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5

Middle School students gather in the hallway between classes.

Photo Courtesy of Meredith Wright

a solid foundation� in terms of branching off into other genres like drama, poetry, fiction and biography. Sixth Grader Patrick Reddick enjoys the “freedom� about being a Middle Schooler. Each sixth grader will study four preview languages, and “Rising seventh graders will have the option to pick a foreign language to study [while] previously, they did not make that choice until 8th grade,� said Middle School Principal Will Forteith. There are also new classes introduced into the curriculum, as they get older. Seventh Grader Jason Brock’s new classes this year were history and geography. Since many Upper Schoolers were students in the Middle School, the “biggest evolutions are 8th grade project and 7th grade writing workshop,� said Forteith.

The students in the Middle School aren’t

just taught the typical daily classes. “Academic Day� and advisory “are designed to produce both good students and good citizens,� said Literature teacher Kitty Drew.

This time periods spent with your advisor and other students allow for everyone to grow in the way they act as students and help them perform better in Middle School.

The ideas and thought put into what the students take away from a day at school really allows for a well-functioning and engaging community. When asked about her favorite thing as a Middle Schooler, sixth grader Ala Shaw’s favorite aspect of being a middle schooler is “getting to know all the grades.�

The students get along in each grade separately, but also work together really well.

Moving on from Middle School to Upper School is an exciting and scary transition for many eighth graders. These students are experiencing new teachers and a new environment, different from the hallway where they have spent the last three years. Looking back on these years from high school, many things have changed and the Hubert Middle School seems to be a very different place. These changes only enhance the student’s education and productivity.

6

Wolverine

The

February 2013

Gun Control Debate in Georgia Wages On

Walker Voted for...

The Baltimore Ravens!

BY Victoria Hudson

Following recent events such as the shootings in Aurora, Colo., Newtown, Conn., and Lone Star College in Harris County, Texas, Americans have become extremely aware of Weapons’ Laws. Some citizens demand that strict gun control laws are necessary, while others claim that the constitutional right to bear arms gives people

the freedom to own weapons.

Americans are now searching for the solution to stop these mass killings, while still holding true to the Constitution. Finding middle ground such as this can be difficult, but politicians know the importance of staying faithful to our nation’s founders and protecting American citizens.

Dear Daisy...

Dear Daisy,

Man on the Street Who is your dream celebrity valentine?

“Sasha will always be my dream valentine.”

“Mila Kunis.”

“Zac Efron.”

- Austin Newsome, ‘13

- Lucas Connell, ‘15

- Anna Ingram, ‘16

“Either Johnny Depp or Hugh Jackman.”

- Erika Treu, Faculty

7

Dear Daisy,

My parents saw my grades on I want to try out for a spring sports PowerSchool and freaked out. I team, but none of my friends will need help improving my grades join me. I’m nervous coming into fast! Any tips? it not knowing anyone. Should I still do the sport?

Sincerely, Stressed Sincerely, Nervous First off, calmly tell your parents that it’s the beginning of the If you want to try out, why wouldn’t semester and you have plenty of you?! Sports and clubs are the best time to pull your grades up. Now way to make connections with show them that you’re dedicated. people in other grades or people Take time to see teachers before or you don’t normally spend time after school and ask for tips from with. Sometimes it’s best to be a them individually on how you can part of a team without your closest raise your average. But school friends because you can branch isn’t just about grades, because out of the boundaries you’ve made your understanding of the topics for yourself. Start the season with you’re studying is crucial. If you an open mind and I’m sure you’ll strive to understand and master meet tons of new people. By the the material, the grades will come end of the season, you’ll be asking along with that. Stay engaged yourself why you ever questioned in class, turn assignments in on trying out in the first place! time, and reach out for help from teachers when needed. You’ll be on your way in no time!

In light of these current events, the conversation is largely dominated by pro-gun control factions. According to an article in the New York Times published January 2013, in 2012, multiple bills were presented to Congress including ones to constrict sales of 100-bullet magazines and impose tighter background checks - but were dismissed long before being passed. Though some pro-gun control supporters do encourage total elimination of civilian weapon owning, many hold a more moderate viewpoint. Writer for The Atlantic Jeffery Goldberg wrote in December 2012 there should be a “ban on high-capacity weapons that have no reasonable civilian purpose.”

However, he encouraged “lots more trained, vetted, law-abiding civilians to carry guns in public so that would-be mass murders face resistance.” Stricter gun control is less popular in Georgia than in other states. However, in 2012, supporters of tighter gun control achieved a victory in Georgia. A law passed in 2010 bans guns in churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship in Georgia. In 2012, a minister appealed to a court in Atlanta claiming that the 2010 law challenged his First Amendment constitutional right to religious freedom since his religious beliefs were that he should carry a sidearm weapon to worship. Following a lengthy appeal process, the court ruled in favor of the current law, stating that one’s personal religious beliefs do not trump the private property owner’s right to control who is allowed on their premises.

The 2010 law banning guns in

places of worship still stands.

The opposing side to this argument is obviously the anti-gun control supporters. Many Americans cite the Second Amendment as their defense against gun control and as a source of freedom. The right to bear arms is clearly outlined in the Bill of Rights, and the effect gun owning can have on a community can be seen right here in Kennesaw, Ga. Many Walker students live in Kennesaw and are familiar with the city›s law requiring that each head of household own and maintain a gun. Passed unanimously in 1982, the law sparked controversy across the nation. Some critics nicknamed Kennesaw Gun Town USA. Despite the mockery, the law had an undeniable effect on crime rates and killings in the city. According to an article following the Virginia Tech Massacre published in April, 2007 by WorldNetDaily, Kennesaw’s crime rate halved in the time between 1982 and 2007. Even more impressive is the diminishing murder rate; not one citizen of Kennesaw has been involved in a fatal shooting since the law’s enactment as a victim, attacker, or defender.

Americans are acknowledging validity in different viewpoints, though this makes finding solutions and writing laws more complex than if there was one hard and fast rule. Both arguments present wellfounded benefits for their beliefs.

Each side possesses pros and cons, and it is important to base a decision for action - if any action is necessary - in logic, facts, and the principles our nation was founded upon in the Constitution.

8 TheWolverine

February 2013

9

Artist of the Month: Bill Pepper English Majors on the Rise

BY Travis King

Senior Bill Pepper and his noteworthy art have taken the Walker community by storm over the past year. His paintings have become a familiar sight to many members of the Walker community, especially since many are quite large. Pepper creates both representational and figurative art, but mainly focuses on figurative. Pepper said, “My favorite is abstractions [figurative].

They’re loosely based on just colors and line, different stuff like that.”

He uses both oil and acrylic paint in his works, but does not frequently use watercolor.

Pepper said, “I was showing Mrs. Stewart an awesome color of purple I saw in irises that were blooming.

She said, ‘Why don’t you paint them?’ So I painted a big one and hung it in the art show and realized it was pretty cool. After that, I had a few people who were in AP Art tell me I should do it, so that’s how it all began.”

In terms of inspiration, Pepper does not usually go off of a set scene – he mainly starts with a mark and builds off of that. Pepper said, “There’s really not much inspiration. It’s really just making marks and it’s driven straight from your subconscious. After a certain

time, you may see what it was you were thinking of, but in the act of doing I find that I’m not really sitting there, picking out cultural motifs and things.”

Pepper has his own unique style for creating his works. When doing a representational piece, he starts with whatever interests him first.

Pepper said, “If there’s a log and I think of a cool way I could draw it, then I’ll start there. Even if it means I’m going to be screwed later because I have to fix the background behind it.” However, when he’s doing an abstraction, he’ll start with a certain shape (like a spiral) and draw different waves of movement. He focuses on how the eyes will move through the piece, starting with big marks and letting those build on each other.

Pepper said, “I don’t really have a thing I’m trying to draw, more of a notion of what I’m about.”

Pepper plans on attending Auburn University and double-majoring in art and chemistry.

Visit Pepper’s Facebook page, facebook.com/PepperThePainter, to view a complete gallery of his works. One of Pepper’s paintings is also featured on the cover of this issue of The Wolverine.

BY Alex Brack

This is the time of year when seniors across the nation take potential routes for college into consideration.

While many are considering popular majors such as Business Administration, Management, Nursing, or Psychology, there are others who consider different paths.

people with majors in subjects such as English may have an edge above others in terms of employment.

According to the Modern Language Association, approximately 30,000 members of the organization are satisfied with the outcome of their studies of the humanities. Among these people are examples of great success. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Harold Varmus, director of the National Cancer Institute, are some of these people. Both of these men received their Master’s degree in English.

Former Lawyer, Pat Pellegrino is another example of success with an English major.

Pellegrino is a 1982 graduate of Marquette University with a degree in English. Following college, he attended Valparaiso University in Indiana where he studied law.

“I chose to study something I really enjoyed and I was fairly successful as a result.”

Pictured: Self-Portrait (Above), Amicalola Creek (Below) Paintings Courtesy of Bill Pepper

Some students may find that their best option is to pursue a major in something that they enjoy, even if it’s not traditionally “practical.” This may include English, Philosophy, or Art History. This may result in questions as to what that could be used that for. These majors have often been geared to a fairly select job market for many years, but this should not discourage people passionate about these subjects from pursuing a career in them.

The idea that a major in a subject such as English or Philosophy is not very useful is a dying mindset – or at least it is to those that are aware of current events. This is due to the fact that a person with an English, Philosophy, or Art History major has been groomed to analyze extremely fine material. For example, it would not be uncommon to see an English professor assign a 50 page paper on a Chinese poet. The average person could not take such a fine subject and analyze it so deeply.

This skill possessed by many English majors has become a desirable quality in the eyes of business owners looking to hire.

Employers often look at these people as extremely intellectual and therefore able to face significant realworld challenges. Consequently,

Pellegrino practiced law for many years before retiring a few years ago. “I never expected to be where I am now,” said Pellegrino.

“If I could go back, I would not change anything,” said Pellegrino.

“I chose to study something I really enjoyed and I was fairly successful

as a result,” said Pellegrino. He believes that studying something that you’re passionate about is one of the best approaches. Pellegrino said, “Doing what you enjoy is very important because life is too short to always be regretting things you’ve done.”

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10

Wolverine

The

Athlete of the Month: Decker Onken

BY Mary Grace Walsh

Senior Decker Onken has devoted himself to the Walker Varsity Swim Team since he began his freshman year. Along with being involved in other extracurricular activities and managing a tough academic schedule, Onken’s swimming career has been a success due to his hard work and self-motivation.

Onken has swimming

experience in and out of school.

He also swims with the Marietta Marlins, a club team. Onken started swimming at a young age mainly because his older brothers, Drew and Derrick, swim too. Onken said, “I was already at swim practice waiting around for them, so what better to do than hop in the pool?”

He continued swimming through middle school and into high school.

Onken, like many other Upper School athletes, has his own way of handling both school and athletics. He says he may not get as much sleep as he could, but it’s worth it. “I get to school early around 7:15 to do anything Senior Decker Onken swims the Butterfly at I couldn’t do after one of Walker’s swim meets. school the day before,” Onken Photo Courtesy of Mike Mackey said.

When he is not swimming, Onken is also involved in various activities including technology and robotics. He interned for the IT department over the summer and during the fall semester. He was “incredibly motivated and hard-working,” said his boss Kerry Bossak, the Director of Technology at Walker.

Upper School Technology and Stagecraft teacher Bill Schreiner is one of Onken’s swim coaches.

Schreiner has known Onken since his freshman year when he started swimming. Schreiner said, “He’s extremely self-motivated, disciplined, and he’s a hard worker.

He’s always striving to do better; both in the pool as well as in his own life. He accepts challenges.”

One of Onken’s favorite memories from varsity swimming was winning the MVP award for the team last year. As far as continuing his swimming career after high school, he isn’t sure

BY Coleman Hedden

On December 21, 2012, Upper School History teacher Steve Killian was named the head coach of the varsity wrestling team for the if he that will be in his future. “I remainder of the season.. Killian don’t want swimming to consume has coached varsity wrestling for my life,” Onken said. He’s more eighteen years at both Darlington interested in big schools, and he and Walker. Killian has received wants to participate in other things overwhelming support from the too. “I want more time to spend in Walker community; Head of the robotics lab and doing my other School Jack Hall issued a statement nerdy activities,” Onken said with a saying, “We are continuing to work laugh. Although his older brothers on additional support for Coach swim at UGA and Davidson Killian and the wrestlers.” Killian College, Onken has decided to take has received warm welcomes from another path. the wrestlers and their parents, Onken says swimming has and this has assisted in smoothing impacted him as a person. Apart the transition. Killian said, “The from keeping him in shape, Onken wrestlers and their parents have credits his club team coach for a been very open to the change in lot of his inspiration. “My coach leadership.” With the coaching has had an impact on me based change coming directly in the middle off the way he coaches. He’s very of the season, some wondered if mental. He believes you need the the change in environment would mental and the physical strength to affect the wrestlers’ performance. do something. You have to break The change did affect them, but in through the mental barriers to get a very positive way. Wrestler and anywhere, and you have to break Junior Cameron Milton said, “He’s through the pain barriers too. That’s brought in a lot of new moves and definitely taught me not to back a different approach to how he gets down from anything.” excited.”

Teaching the wrestlers as many moves as possible is one of Killian’s central philosophies. Killian said,

By Alex Brack Members of the golf team all share mutual feelings in that they all strive to work hard. In previous years, they have traveled throughout Georgia and even into other states to compete in matches. Last year, the varsity golf team participated in a two day long tournament in Augusta, Ga. These players delegated a lot of time and effort towards this tournament which ultimately lead to team placing sixth.

The Varsity Boys’ golf team is coached by Academic Support Coordinator David Yarborough.

Among the players is Sophomore Jonathan Hsu. Hsu has been playing golf for almost four years now and is considered a crucial component to the success of the gold team. Hsu said, “Golf is and has always been

my favorite sport. Since the day I began playing, I have practiced nearly every day.” Hsu also said, “The physical and mental aspects of the sport of golf are what I enjoy most. I believe that both of these aspects contribute to my success as a

the coach of the Varsity Girls’ Golf Team. In regards to the upcoming girls’ golf season, Mackey said, “Due to small numbers, we may have a rough time against the tougher team. As of now we only have three girls playing.” Although the odds are not exactly desirable, these female players show definite potential and will strive for winning even with their disadvantages.

The Walker golf team is a group of which many believe do not get the attention that they deserve. It is a program of which has been a part of Walker for many years. For the Boys’ student and athlete.” Hsu maintains golf team, the season begins in both excellent grades as well as March while the Girls’ golf season athletic ability. Walker Teacher begins in April. and Webmaster, Mike Mackey is

“As of now we only have three girls playing.”

11

Killian Named Head Wrestling Coach

Walker Prepares for Golf Season As spring approaches, so does the time for numerous Walker students to endure another hectic sports season. Although having to manage both huge amounts of school work and the demand of a sports team, these students still enjoy this lifestyle. There are several options for spring sports at Walker. Spring sports at Walker include soccer, baseball, track, and lacrosse. However, many seem to forget about the fact that Walker has a very successful golf team. The golf program at Walker is available to both male and female students in the spring season. There is a varsity and junior varsity program. Both of the teams participate in weekly matches with several tournaments throughout the year, such as the NAML tournament..

February 2013

Junior Cameron Milton wrestles against an opponent from Mt. Paran during a home meet that Walker eventually won.

Photo Courtesy of Mike Mackey

“The wrestling move that you don’t know is the one that will defeat you.” However, Killian noted that the previous coaches had done a great job as the team already had a strong set of skills that led them to much success before Killian assumed the position of head

coach. By learning as many moves as possible, Killian said, “One of two things will happen. One is that you might decide you like it and you can incorporate it into your tool box. The other is even if you don’t decide to use it, you develop a better understanding of how to defend it.”

Under Killian’s leadership, the varsity wrestling squad has thrived, wining all three of their matches.

On January 9, in Killian’s first match as head coach, the team defeated Mt. Paran 45-36. Killian said, “Beating Mt. Paran was an emotional high for the team largely because it was a home meet and the crowd was really great and supportive.” Another memory from the match was the resilience shown by the team’s wrestlers. Freshman Conor Merriam and Junior Patrick Leavell came back and defeated their counterparts, whom they lost to previously in their matches on December 11. In fact, those two defeats sealed the victory for the Wolverines that night.

Though the time commitment is tremendous, Killian loves teaching guiding and teaching these young men. Killian said, “There’s no activity on a high school campus that is more emotionally and physically intimate (literally) than wrestling.

You get to know people in a very close way and these are some really nice people that I’m hanging out with.” On February 8, Killian will make his return to Darlington for Sectionals.

February 2013

12

Walker Alumnus Brandon Stanton Returns to Alma Mater

BY Mary Grace Walsh

600 pictures from New York City and saw the opportunity to create a compelling blog.

Taking street photography in New York is not always an easy task. Stanton says he’s witnessed a wide range of reactions.

“The vast majority of the interactions are pleasant, but occasionally when you’re just stopping people on the streets all day long, you’re going to get some rude people or what not,” Stanton said. He believes about one in every three New Yorkers will turn him down when asked if they can be in one of his photos. However, he rarely meets people who make a scene of the situation.

The photos on Stanton’s blog are occasionally paired with a story, and he often documents his interactions with the strangers he meets.

Stanton said, “A picture is kind of a story in itself; they’re really two aspects of the same narrative.” In March 2011, the Huffington Post featured an article about Stanton’s project.

Stanton said, “A lot of times I ask these people very personal questions, and they’ll answer. They’ll tell me everything because a lot of times I’m the only one who’s ever asked. I can just tell when I talk to them – eight million people in this city, and nobody’s ever asked about their life.”

In 2012, Stanton developed an Indiegogo fundraiser for Hurricane Sandy victims.

Indiegogo is a platform for raising money that helps publicize Photo Courtesy of Brandon Stanton campaigns.

Stanton

Walker alumni Brandon Stanton began working on a photo project, Humans of New York (HONY) only a few years ago. His ultimate goal was to take 10,000 pictures of complete strangers – a photographic census of New York City. Whether taking individual portraits or group photos, Stanton has successfully captured thousands of images depicting ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

Stanton graduated from Walker in 2002 and attended the University of Georgia. After graduating from college, he moved to Chicago and worked for a trading and stock business. When discussing the start of his project, Stanton believes the idea developed from his love of photography. “I got my camera while I was working in Chicago as a bond trader, and I was just going out on the weekends doing street photography. Eventually I started gravitating towards shots I was taking of people.” After leaving his job, Stanton set out to travel for a few months and take photos in different cities. He gathered about

partnered with Tumblr for the fundraiser. “Tumblr is based out of NYC, and I go and hang out at their office a lot, so I got to know

Photo Courtesy of Brandon Stanton

the people there,” Stanton said. For ten days he traveled around New York taking photos of people who had been affected by the hurricane.

“I photographed them and told their stories, while simultaneously we were holding a campaign where I was selling prints from HONY. 100% of the proceeds were going directly to help hurricane victims,” Stanton said. He was able to raise around $320,000 for hurricane

a student. She said, “He was very smart but not in the conventional way. He always had different ideas, thinking outside the box.” Ward knows Brandon has passion for what he does, and he’s been successful.

“He’s been doing very well; he’s been featured in the New York Times and he’s been on BBC so he’s actually become quite a hero.

He’s one of the most unmaterialistic people I know, because he just does things for the love of doing it.”

Having spent 12 years at Walker, Stanton says his time here did have an impact on him. Stanton said, “I think the person you grow into is a large reflection of the people you hang out with the most. Everyone I went to school with at Walker was a smart, good person and I think through those relationships, I kind of developed into who I am today.”

Stanton doesn’t see HONY having an end date, and he plans to keep

Photo Courtesy of Brandon Stanton

relief, and which was at the time the 6th largest Indiegogo in history.

World Language Department Chair Janet Ward knows Stanton through her son, Walker alumnus Sam Ward (’03), and knew him as

working on it as a blog and a career.

Stanton knows it will continue to go through some changes in the future.

Stanton said, “With how successful it’s become, I do not have any immediate plans to end it.”