ROAR
May 2019
Subject Saviors | Magic Moment | The End(game) of an Era
WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU... Inside the college admissions scandal Page 12
West Shore Junior-Senior High School | 250 Wildcat Alley, Melbourne, FL 32935
Congratulations, Class of 2019! Abigal Mechachonis Alex Nixon Alexandra Theophelis Alexandra Vernich Alexandre Beregi Alexia Potter Alicia Badell Alyssa Perkins Amanda Lally Amanda McClure Amy Sainsbury Andres Ramos Anna Wilder Anyah Clarke Arianna Issitt Armando Santamaria Ashley Kent Ashley Peters Austin Hayes Auston Gonzalez Ava Russo Avery Kloeppel Benjamin Pinfield Bi Huynh Breanna Gallagher Brendan Rannings Brianna Valverde Cameron Burrows Cameron Yeutter Carl Koko Catalina Lopez Chase Hester Chase Julson Christian Camps Colin Robidoux Corinne Meyers Cristina Cruz Cullen Capaldi Cydney Asante Danielle Martin Derek Dolnik Dhanvi Patel Divya Reddy Dustin Heuser Dylan Gornto Dylan O’Bryan Dylan Straley
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El Locke Emily Eastwood Emily Hansen Emily Ortiz Emily Shoemaker Emma Remonsellez-Conde Emma Robinson Eric Everingham Eric Szoke Erin O’Brien Evan Courtney Fadil Quadri Gabriel Schwartz Gannon Avery Grace Donohue Hannah Kent Hannah Langenbach Hiba Mirza Ian Leighton Iksha Handa Isabella Nemes Isabella Serrano Jack Sandberg Jacob Kent Jacquelyn Mateosky Janet Lu Jenna Franklin Jonathan Crosby Joshua Best Juliette Vento Justin Ciar Justin Ho Justin Reid Kaycie Scolari Kayli Sutton Kevin Barr Kyle Caudill Kylie Minter Lauren Novak Lauren Seifert Lydia Howald Macie Goldfarb Madeline Anderson Madhav Pamidimukkala Maggie Dercole Makayla Peterson Matt Senft-Greenberg
Matthew Marcinkowski Megan Litchfield Mia Haroulakis Michael Lucente Minaal Murshid Molly Luu Morgan Conrad Moriah Padgett Nathanael Finlayson Naya Erfe Olivia Webb Phoebe Theophelis Piper Honaker Reinaldo Alers Riley Rodriguez Rita Dagher Robert Dujovne Robert Horn Ryan Feldbush Ryan Flickinger Sage Borsanyi Sally Kempfer Samantha Intille Samantha Nukala Sarah Green Sarah Langenbach Savannah Anderson Scott Crissey Shannon Hogan Shannon Topp Shawn Humphrey Sidney Jones Sizhe He Sky Morgan Smirti Sanjay-Gopal Stephanie Gaulin Tatiana Lugardo Theodore Devlin Travis McClendon Valery Linkenhoker Victoria Hahn Victoria Skaggs Viorel Silaghi William Alexander Zion Souffrain Zoe Moore
STAFF
EDITOR IN CHIEF................................... Auston Gonzalez MANAGING EDITOR...............................Valery Linkenhoker SPORTS EDITOR....................................Madhav Pamidimukkala WRITERS.................................................Justin Ho, Rosellen Rodriguez, Emily Lovelock, Sophia Bailly, Cullen Capaldi, Michael Lucente, SPORTS COLUMNIST............................ Christopher Johnson, Leighton Johnson ILLUSTRATOR........................................ Shawn Humphrey BUSINESS MANAGER........................... Minaal Murshid ADVISER................................................. Alex Nixon Mark Schledorn
CONTENTS
4...............................................................Letter from the Editor 5...............................................................Opinions 6...............................................................1-9 It’s Our Time 8...............................................................One for All 9...............................................................Subject Saviors 10.............................................................Stress is No Stranger 12.............................................................We Regret to Inform You... 14.............................................................Fatal Choices 15.............................................................Groundbreaking Girls 16.............................................................Magic Moment 17.............................................................The Three Piggies 18.............................................................Athletes to Watch 19.............................................................Bailey’s Back 20.............................................................Love it, Hate it 21.............................................................PT(III) 22.............................................................The End(game) of an Era 23.............................................................Artist Spotlight: Billie Eilish
POLICIES
“Roar” recognizes itself as a public forum and encourages letters from West Shore students and members of the community. “Roar” cannot print ads promoting activity illegal by Florida law, ads opposing any religious beliefs, ads written in poor taste, ads with racial or sexist comments, ads considered inappropriate by the staff, advocacy advertising or ads containing libel. “Roar” is not responsible for websites viewed through links found on pages mentioned in the publication. “Roar” values letters from our readers: maximum length for letters is 200 words. No more than one letter each semester will be published from a writer. Letters and columns are edited for length, content and clarity. “Roar” maintains the right to edit all submissions for poor taste, length, grammar and libel. Views expressed in opinion pieces do not necessarily represent the views of the Brevard County School Board, the West Shore administrators, faculty, student body or “Roar” staff. Send your opinions to wstheroar@gmail.com. Visit westshoreroar.com for more content.
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Illustration by Minaal Murshid
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR This year has been nothing short of an exciting one for “Roar.” Reaching a “Gold” level publication, receiving a multitude of awards from the Florida Scholastic Press Association and continuing to cover the most important news that affects our peers are several highlights from the past nine months. It’s almost that time of the year, as seniors prepare to take the next step in their paths toward excellence. It has been our pleasure to watch state-level athletes, dazzling artists and brilliant minds grow as talented individuals who have already made an impact on the world and will continue to do so in their future endeavors. Per usual, the final issue of “Roar” for this school year will shine light on impactful events, campus happenings and today’s most popular entertainment. Keep an eye out for where our peers will attend college, a nationwide scandal involving globally-known universities and the end of arguably the most storied movie series in history. As this chapter comes to a close, a new one is beginning to unfold. Valery and I appointed our incoming Editor in chief, Rosellen Rodriguez, who will be taking the reins next August under Mr. Schledorn’s unmatched leadership. They will be joined next fall by a hard-working staff, a typical trait embodied by the entirety of the school. The past several months as a whole has been a valuable learning experience. Our hope is that Roz will continue our tradition of growing “Roar,” and we look forward to witnessing its forthcoming success. On behalf of my entire publication, we cannot thank you enough for your support this year; we are eternally grateful. With gratitude,
Auston Gonzalez 4 | westshoreroar.com | May 2019
LOANS AND LIABILITIES One and a half trillion dollars. This totals to almost half of the United States’ annual federal budget. The staggering sum represents the total accumulated student loan debt in the U.S. and is the greatest financial obstacle facing West Shore students and other high school students as they prepare to begin college education. Federal student loans were initially designed to benefit the students of the country and encourage STEM development to compete with Russia during the cold war, but now they represent an almost lifelong financial obligation for students and are a deterrent for most students to attend their top choice college or any college at all. At one time, the department of education controlled the loans, but after they became the biggest loan bank in the country, they realized that they needed private loan servicers to conduct the program. Private loan servicers profit off the misfortune of Americans and often misinform them to choose forbearance over an income-based repayment plan. Forbearance is a temporary pause on the payments, but it builds up interest in the process which proves to be more detrimental for the student in the long run. There are incidents where Naviance, one of the primary private loan servicers, has overcharged clients, refused to be flexible to clients, and provided misinformation to clients for their own gain. The issue that lies here is recent high-school graduates are placed in a sea of unknowns and seemingly one option to attend a university if they are not one of the small portion of applicants that qualify for scholarships. There are other grants students can apply for, but these are often small amounts and are extremely competitive the higher the value, so loans are the only feasible option for most students. There is not enough education for students surrounding the student loan process to explore their repayment options and weigh the pros and cons. If reform is not made, it is important that you all remain aware of the student loan process and don’t fall for the servicers’ tactics to get you to pay more and remain under their financial reins any longer than you need to be. Madhav Pamidimukkala, 12 DEAR MR. MARTIN, Thank you for dedicating so many years of your life to West Shore and for sharing your knowledge of the Spanish language with us all. West Shore truly has been lucky to have you, and personally I’ve been lucky to have you as a teacher for two of my years here at West Shore. It’s teachers like you that give West Shore its reputation of excellence. Thank you for never failing to offer tough love and wise words to your students and for actually making learning a new language enjoyable. The world language department has some big shoes to fill next year, but thank you again for everything you’ve done. Emily Shoemaker, 12 SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD REJECT ARMING TEACHERS On Feb. 14, 2018, Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school was hit with a tragedy that should’ve never occurred. Seventeen lives were brutally taken, all because of a sick individual with a gun. In the year since, lawmakers and professionals have been searching for answers as to how to stop this from happening again, with options ranging from mental health debates to school security additions. Recently, the SB 7030 was passed by Florida’s House of Representatives, and is heading straight to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron Desantis, who is expected to sign the bill into a law. The SB 7030 is a bill that would allow teachers to carry guns in the classroom. I understand the fundamentals of SB 7030 have good intentions. Yet, we are putting the object that is able to take the life of anyone, in the one place we are trying to keep it out of. I do truthfully believe that some teachers would be able to defend themselves, and even other students from danger, and in this case, the bill would serve its purpose. Yet, what happens when a teacher hits a victim? What happens when they realize the training they received will never be able to compare to a real emergency situation, or give them the skills that officers and law enforcers take years to learn? I look at the news and it is frightening, moreover disgusting. Should I have to be worried about my family, going to the one place they are supposed to be guaranteed safety? As these questions race through my head, I still wonder, how is putting guns in the classroom going to help any of this? We may be able to catch the shooter quicker, but what if we don’t, and is it worth it at the expense of more lives? In the perfect scenario, teachers would be able to use the gun to protect students, and kill the shooter before he kills anyone else. But, are teachers even willing or able to do this? Anna Wilder, 12
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1-9 It’s Our Time A reflection upon ‘19’s accolades and a look at its future Compiled by Auston Gonzalez
In State for College University of North Florida
Isabella Nemes Jacob Kent Amanda Lally Tatiana Lugardo
Florida State University
Amy Sainsbury Benjamin Pinfield University of Florida Christian Camps Justin Ho Chase Julson Anna Wilder Macie Goldfarb Samantha Nukala Minaal Murshid Cullen Capaldi Armando Santamaria Molly Luu Theodore Devlin Alexandra Theophelis Emily Hansen Ashley Peters Phoebe Theophelis Sally Kempfer Shawn Humphrey Emily Ortiz Austin Hayes Piper Honaker Lauren Novak Bi Huynh Hannah Kent Cameron Burrows Riley Rodriguez Grace Donohue Justin Ciar Kaycie Scolari Corinne Meyers Ryan Feldbush Madhav Pamidimukkala Alyssa Perkins Kevin Barr Dustin Heuser Ryan Flickinger Lydia Howald Stetson University Dylan O’Bryan Megan Litchfield Chase Hester Emily Shoemaker Scott Crissey University of Central Florida Eric Szoke Sidney Jones Alexia Potter Moriah Padgett Kylie Minter Erin O’Brien Victoria Hahn Christina Cruz Naya Erfe Shannon Hogan Jenna Franklin Zoe Moore Danielle Martin Sarah Green Abigal Mechachonis Jonathan Crosby Jacquelyn Mateosky Emily Eastwood Sizhe He Victoria Skaggs Juliette Vento Arianna Issitt Madeline Anderson Sage Borsanyi Zion Souffrain (TCC)
Eastern Florida State College
Andres Ramos Brendan Rannings Cameron Yeutter Collin Robidoux Cydney Asante Dylan Straley Jack Sandberg Joshua Best Justin Reid Kayli Sutton Makayla Peterson
Mia Haroulakis Michael Lucente Olivia Webb Robert Dujovne Shannon Topp Valery Linkenhoker Sarah Langenbach Hiba Mirza El Locke Nathanael Finlayson Ian Leighton
Florida Atlantic University
Anyah Clarke Dylan Gornto
Florida Institute of Technology
Amanda McClure Avery Kloeppel Derek Dolnik
Matt Senft-Greenberg Rita Dagher
Florida Southern College Morgan Conrad
University of South Florida Alex Nixon Alicia Badell Dhanvi Patel Robert Horn
Samantha Intille Savannah Anderson Emma RemonsellezConde
Ganon Avery
Nova Southeastern University
Ava Russo Fadil Quadri
Florida Gulf Coast University
Carl Koko Breanna Gallagher
By the Numbers
15
National Merit Commended Scholars
Lauren Sceifert
A quick review of the accomplishments made by the class of 2019
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Perfect ACT Scores
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College Athletes
7.5
Million dollars in Scholarships
Out of State for College North Carolina
Rochester Institute of Technology
Eric Everingham
New York
Duke University
Maggie Dercole Divya Reddy
Syracuse University
Matthew Marcinkowski
Marymount Manhattan College
Sky Morgan
West Virginia
The New School
Bella Serrano
Long Island University Post
Pennsylvania
Emma Robinson
Alderson Broaddus University
Travis McClendon
Michigan
Lafayette College
Alexandre Beregi
Thomas Jefferson University
Auston Gonzalez
University of Pennsylvania
Smirti Sanjay-Gopal
University of Michigan
Hannah Langenbach
California
Massachusetts
Georgia
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Alexandra Vernich
Emory University
Brianna Valverde
Ohio Cleveland Institute of Music
Evan Courtney
San Diego State University
Stephanie Gaulin
Missouri
Texas
Alabama University of Alabama
Washington University in St. Louis
William Alexander
Kyle Caudill
Rice University
Janet Lu
Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Iksha Handa
Out of Country for College
Switzerland
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne
Viorel Silaghi
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Big Bucks Juniors Sarah Paylor, Lena Hatter, Joshua Freeman and Ishaan Jathal stand together with a matching grant from State Farm, issued for $20,000.
All in this Together Jathal and Hatter work with community volunteers to raise the house’s first wall.
One for All Story by Sophia Bailly
Leaving a Legacy Those who helped raise the walls were given the opportunity to leave a note on the house’s foundation.
Junior leads charge in raising money for community cause
*For the complete story, visit westshoreroar.com
Surrounded by a crowd of volunteers, construction workers, family members, and friends, 4-year-old Javani Stringer and his 2-year-old sister Jada played with their plastic dinosaur toys on the plot of land that in less than one year will become their first ever home. After years of living separated, Amanda Stringer and her five children will be able to live together under one roof after the efforts of four students: juniors Ishaan Jathal, Lena Hatter, Sarah Paylor and Joshua Freeman. Their mission to raise $60,000 to fund a house for a lowincome family started with Jathal when he was in seventh grade and discovered the organization Habitat for Humanity. Jathal, the president and founder of the school’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, was inspired by the organization based on personal experience. “My family in India lives in low-income housing in a pretty poor area,” Jathal said. “Next to the apartments that they live in are slums that house large families with really little kids. My family lives in a one-bedroom apartment with 14 people and it’s a pretty big struggle when staying with them. But it opened my eyes to how privileged we are here. My cousin always takes me out to give mangoes to the homeless and I’m able to see a lot of little kids who have to live off the streets and look in garbage dumps for
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food. So it’s really eye opening every time we visit.” Habitat for Humanity is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to seeking out low-income families, and helping them to fund, build, and establish a stable home. Families who qualify for Habitat for Humanity must complete 300 volunteer hours for the organization per adult in the family. They must also attend financial classes in order to pave a successful path for the families. The process of obtaining a house typically takes two to three years. Habitat for Humanity is established across the United States, as well as in developing countries around the world. In seventh grade Jathal was watching a college football game when Clemson University’s quarterback, DeShaun Watson, talked about his work with Habitat for Humanity during an interview with ESPN. Watson had worked with the organization as a child to help his family get a home. “[My family] had just come back from India [that year],” Jathal said. “We went to a pretty small village in India and saw really how bad it can get. And that really left an impact on me. So right after that—having seen that interview with [DeShaun Watson]—I kind of correlated that with something I could do to help. Having visited India once I was 4 years old, you see homeless people living on the streets all of the time. My family lives in a pretty
underdeveloped area too. I figured that Habitat would be a good way to give back to my local community, but my family in India as well.” That year, Jathal began working at his local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, where furniture is sold to low-income families at low prices. Jathal said he wanted to do more when he began to see others his age working to give families a home. Beginning in ninth grade he recruited Hatter, Paylor and Freeman to join him in establishing a Habitat for Humanity chapter at school, with the goal of funding a house for a family in need. “Josh and I have been best friends since kindergarten,” Jathal said. “He was obviously the first person that came to mind. And Lena and I have been best friends since seventh grade, and I knew what type of leader she was. I met Sarah in 10th grade. She was in my [AP US History] class and was super-intelligent. I thought that she would be a great addition to the team. So we brought her along afterwards.” After establishing a Habitat for Humanity chapter at school during freshman year—with guidance counselor Spero Tshontikidis as the adviser— the four students reached out to companies for donations to fund a house. Among these companies and organizations were State Farm, Harris, India Fest and Strawberry Fest. During the course of three years almost $58,000 was raised. On April 13, a walk-a-thon was held at Wickham Park to present the check, as well as to raise further funds and awareness. The Stringer family also attended, and this was the first time that Jathal, Hatter, Paylor, and Freeman met the family for whom a house would be built. “The two weeks leading up to the event was really stressful,” Jathal said. “Getting people to come, getting everything organized. Seeing that big check was a really good feeling and seeing the family there was really nice. You remember starting off in seventh grade, and this is what you wanted to do, and it took five years, but it really felt nice giving a family a home.” The walk-a-thon began at 8 a.m. at one of Wickham Park’s pavilions. Planning began in November, and beginning in January, news of the event was spread across social media. Participants of the walk-athon listened to a speech given by Jathal, witnessed the presentation of the check, received food from vendors and took part in a walk around Wickham Park to commemorate the occasion. Tshontikidis’s band performed as well. Leading up to the event, “Florida Today” featured Jathal, Hatter, Paylor and Freeman in a Sunday edition of its newspaper. In the end, about 120 people attended. “It was really nice,” Jathal said. “It was a lot of hard work for the last two years. I would drive probably every weekend to three or four businesses to ask them about donations. It was a ton of work put in, and Lena, Josh and Sarah put in a lot of work as well. I think a lot of people want to be charitable, and they want to do so by giving money to these large, international organizations. The main way that we should start being charitable is by giving back to your local community. I think especially for high school we don’t realize how living in Melbourne has shaped us into who we are today. We are more family oriented because it’s a small town, and I think giving back to the community is the best way to be charitable.” Hatter and Paylor, as vice president and secretary of the chapter, said they are happy to have been a part of making this mission possible over the course of three years. “I knew it was going to be a lot of work,” Hatter said. “But I knew that I wanted to do something to give back.”
Subject Saviors
Senior launches tutoring business with fellow classmates Story by Justin Ho
Rock climber, Calculus 3 student and 4.0 graduate. These are all phrases that describe senior Corinne Meyers but now she is hoping to add on another title to the list: business owner. Meyers has decided to dive into the entrepeneur world with a tutoring service she has recently founded. “I always helped people at school—especially in math — and I just kind of always thought it was a good idea,” Meyers said. “So I decided to start my own tutoring business to make money and to help out the community as well.” Meyers’s business, Subject Saviors, specializes in tutoring students of all subjects from basic courses such as Algebra 1 all the way to higher level AP course such as calculus. Meyers employs a network of tutors distributed across Brevard County to teach students from Palm Bay to Viera. “I got the idea when I first signed up for this online tutoring service where it would let me make money tutoring,” Meyers said. “I made like $60, but I realized I could definitely do more if I started my own business.” Meyers currently employs 10 tutors who specialize in different subjects and cover various areas in Brevard. She also tutors other students for roughly 15 hours a week as a part of the business. Senior Armando Santamaria said tutoring children from all sorts of all backgrounds has been interesting experience. “It definitely is a very rewarding experience,” Santamaria said. “Especially because a lot of them aren’t in as enriching environments as we are here at West Shore where the teachers don’t do as much for them as the teachers do here. To be able to help them and see them improve in their settings is very rewarding” Meyers said the experience has gone smoothly with the exceptions of some cases. “It has definitely been an interesting experience,” Meyers said. “There was this one time when a lady thought it was by session and not per hour and I think I lost $20 that time since I had to pay Emily [Ortiz] for that hour but a lady only paid me for an hour, so that was something.” All of Meyers’s tutors have received fives on the respective AP exams they tutor for and her tutoring staff consists of primarily upperclassmen to ensure that her tutors have passed all the lower-level courses they tutor but as the year comes to a close, Meyers has looked to the future to continue her business through college.
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Stress is No Stranger
Part three out of three-part series about GenZ
“This is the first generation where I have parents calling me [saying], ‘My child wants to come in and work on some ways to manage their anxiety,’” local individual and family therapist Stephanie Byrd said. As pointed out by counselors previously interviewed for this series, a drastic shift in attitudes toward mental health has taken place in recent years. This may be in part due to the findings of the American Psychological Association that “adult Gen Zs are more likely than some other generations to report they have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (18 percent) and more likely than all other generations to report they have been diagnosed with depression (23 percent).” This isn’t necessarily because Gen Z has more mental health issues than older generations. Rather, the key distinction made by the APA is that this generation is more likely to report mental health issues. Junior Zoe Boyer described the divide that she’s witnessed between older generations and her own in regards to the treatment of mental health issues. “I think [attitudes toward mental health] are improving the more they get talked about and the more people understand them,” Boyer said. “At the end of TV shows that talk about [mental health] they have a helpline, so [treatment] is more advertised [nowadays].” Boyer’s observation is wellfounded. The APA report found that, “When it comes to seeking treatment or therapy, [36 percent of female and 38 percent of male Illustration by Minaal Murshid Gen Zs] report they have received or currently receive treatment or therapy from a psychologist or other mental health professional.” This is an even larger percentage than the estimated 10-20 percent of adolescents worldwide that experience mental health conditions, according to the World Health Organization. Reflecting on his experience growing up in the mid-20th century, AP Psychology teacher James Pustay said that, “Mental health was something that you didn’t talk about, especially if there was someone in your household who had a problem in mental health. In school, if kids found out someone’s mother or father was anxious, taking medications, or worse yet, depressed and taking pills and seeing a psychologist, the kids were ruthless. I remember several of those. Even a friend of mine, a young lady was raped at 16 years old and was seeking counseling. The kids at
school were horrible and she ended up leaving our school.” Despite Pustay growing up in a different time period, concerns of mental and physical health are still present today. A 2018 report by the CDC found that suicide is the second leading cause of death among U.S. citizens aged 10-24. “And let’s not forget that kids today with all the technology available, communications and information is bombarding younger people,” Pustay said. “That’s stressful to carry that weight of bad news around too. And we are in a time of major megacities of millions of people in a little space of geography. With all that comes with proximity issues of being near elbow-toelbow with folks. And no one wants to make a mistake for fear of ridicule or promotion in a job or look at stresses at kids at West Shore in terms of getting into college.” Pustay said stress as a whole can lead to several effects such as phobias, depression, PTSD among several others. Pustay also shared that while he was growing up if there was a disagreement there would be rumors of name-calling or small fights, whereas in current times people won’t hesitate to physically harm you to the point of death. He explained how the Vietnam War Era laid the foundation for the improvements in attitudes toward mental health over the next few decades, as more citizens began to open up to the idea of challenging authority and existing social institutions, such as those that discouraged people from discussing mental disorders. However, mental health issues still have yet to be entirely normalized. Pustay expressed his dismay at how many people still prefer to deal with their stress on their own rather than seeking professional advice. “Everyone seems to want a pill to take care of anything that is wrong,” Pustay said. “Just look at the opioid crisis we have.” Pustay emphasized how the medical field has been making significant advancements in its diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues. He pointed out that the ICD-10, a comprehensive list of diseases commonly referred to by doctors, now includes many of the same conditions present in the DSM-5, a similar list used specifically by mental health professionals to diagnose mental disorders. “There are no huge dungeons of mental health institutions [anymore],” Pustay said. “[We have] outpatient care centers— which help privacy—and the expertise is a lot better too.”
Story by Emily Lovelock
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AD
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Main Colleges Involved:
We Regret to Inform You...
1. University of Southern California 2. UCLA 3. Stanford University
A look inside recent college admissions scandal and its effects on students Story by Auston Gonzalez After a long day in school, he finally gets the chance to sit down at his desk. Adrenaline coursing through his veins, he prepares for the moment he’s been waiting for since early October. This moment will determine not only the future of his education, but also his life in its totality. What feels like an eternity goes by as the web page loads, before finally opening. “We regret to inform you that we cannot offer you admission to the University of Texas at Austin for the class of 2023.” What was excitement and apprehension just moments before, turns into feelings of dismay and anger that overcome the mind of senior Christian Camps, National Merit Finalist, state-level track and field competitor and perfect ACT score recipient. “At first I was just shocked,” Camps said. “I knew UT Austin was a competitive school, but not to that degree. I still have other options for college, but I’m still pretty upset. I feel like they made a mistake to an extent.” Camps is not alone in his feeling of disappointment. Every year, millions of high school seniors apply to college, watching their futures unfold right in front of their eyes. A multitude of these applicants are forced to watch their dreams become a harsh reality, as a vast number of them are declined admission by various institutes. Most students that are denied do not think much of it, continuing a different path in their educational career. However, this March marked a major scandal in the college admissions community. As of April, 11 universities and more than 30 parents across the country were directly involved in attempts to influence student admissions decisions illegally. The University of Texas at Austin is one of the main schools involved. “It’s annoying to learn about the possibility of there being students that are less qualified that are getting accepted to elite universities because of money,” Camps said.
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4. Georgetown University 5. Yale University 6. Wake Forest University 7. University of Texas at Austin 8. University of San Diego 9. Harvard University 10. Northwestern University 11. UC Berkeley
According to CNN, the university dismissed its men’s tennis coach, Michael Center, who is charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. He is accused of taking nearly $100,000 in bribes to get an applicant, who didn’t play competitive tennis, admitted as a tennis player. The student quit the team after enrolling in the school, the university said. The university has yet to comment on the student citing the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. “If a student is alleged to have included fraudulent information in an admissions application, a careful review is conducted to determine whether that occurred,” the university said. The school is one of 11 confirmed universities involved. Ivy League member Yale University and No. 1 ranked public institute University of California, Los Angeles are two of the most prominent names. Hollywood stars, top CEOs, college coaches and standardized test administrators are of the group of individuals that took part in such scheming. “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” said senior Alexandre Beregi, who was accepted to Wake Forest University, another school involved. “I’m honestly not surprised, but it’s just really disappointing to discover that some of the most highly regarded schools would be involved in something so absurd. It makes you think twice about not only the school you once thought you’d love to attend, but also the rest of society. Even though I was accepted, it makes me question the school’s credibility. Being wealthy has more benefits than we see publicly.” The University of Southern California is at the forefront of scrutiny. It has been accused of falsely recruiting 16 studentathletes. USC said it fired senior associate athletic director Donna Heinel and water polo coach Jovan Vavic, who are both charged in the scheme. The school has also placed a faculty member on leave who was named in the indictment as a parent.
“For people to be falsely recruited for college athletics is pretty disrespectful,” said senior Travis McClendon, who was offered a Division II scholarship for college basketball. “I don’t think people understand how difficult it is to play a college sport in any division, let alone a Division I or big name school.” The names of the students involved in the scheme have not been released, but universities are distancing themselves from coaches identified in the scandal and attempting to contain the fallout from a scandal that raises questions about whether qualified students were denied entry to accommodate children of the rich and famous. This also raises skepticism about how ethical college and test preparatory courses are, as well as both legacy status and affirmative action in colleges. Affirmative action and legacy preferences are tied together politically, according to Dan Golden, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of “The Price of Admission,” the book that first reported that Jared Kushner’s father gave millions to Harvard University ahead of his acceptance. “In the states where affirmative action has been banned through court decisions or referenda, legacy preferences drop too,” Golden said. There has been a multitude of ideas regarding the fate of college admissions. Some have suggested eliminating the legacy preference. Others, however, believe in a lottery system, though no school in the U.S. has ever used such a system, which would leave no students wonder why they were denied admission. It has been known that students from wealthier families are more inclined to graduate high school and attend college. This is for multiple reasons. The wealthier the family, the more easily they can afford their student’s tuition, as well as room, board, food and extra fees. However, the extent to which wealthy families have power in the college world was widely unknown or ignored, up until now.
“I’m honestly not surprised, but it’s just really disappointing to discover that some of the most highly regarded schools would be involved in something so absurd.”
Percentage of recent high school graduates enrolled in college, by income level: 1975 through 2016
UCLA University of San Diego Stanford University Georgetown University
University of Southern California
Source: Affadavit by Laura Smith, Department of Justice, as of March 19
Source: NCES Digest of Education Statistics
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Fatal Choices
Disease breaks record number of cases since 2014
Story by Rosellen Rodriguez
Source: Center for Disease Control, as of April 2019
Six-year-old Riley, an Italian boy with leukemia, could not be vaccinated for measles due to a compromised immune system. His older siblings were exempted from the vaccine by their parents despite being medically eligible, a choice they would soon learn to regret. Riley died last June after contracting the disease from his siblings and this sort of tragedy is expected to become a common occurrence closer to home. Almost two decades ago, the United States officially declared the eradication of measles from the country; however, this thought-to-be-dead disease is making a fatal comeback. In just four months into 2019, the United States has recorded 695 cases of measles in 22 states, the largest outbreak since 2014, which had a total of 667 cases for the entire year. Infectious disease experts are placing blame on the anti-vax campaign sweeping the nation, so much so that the world health organization announced vaccine hesitancy as one of the top global threats of 2019. But what exactly are vaccines? “It is a way of training your immune system so that its able to fight off a disease without you Measles Cases in the having gotten the disease,” Advanced Placement Biology teacher Angela Feldbush said. “If you get a disease, your immune system learns what it is and can fight it off in the future. Unfortunately, there are a lot of diseases that are so harmful that it is really dangerous to the population for people to have those diseases. By getting a vaccination, you’re taking a tag or a marker for that disease, showing it to your immune system, and your immune system is trained and able to fight it off.” Despite the nature of vaccinations, an underlying fear has caused parents to exempt their children from them. “Every single medical procedure has its potential risks,” said Indian Harbour Beach doctor Vijaya Lagudu. “When the risks are overemphasized, like the minor risks of vaccines, it scares people very easily. Rumors about these risks, like how some people believe vaccines cause autism, have gotten very popular among the public based on almost no evidence.” In 1998, Andrew Wakefield and 12 of his colleagues published a case series in the “Lancet,” one of the best known peerreviewed medical journals in the world, which suggested that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine may predispose to behavioral regression and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Despite the nature of the study that eventually deemed it unethical and led to Wakefield being stripped of his medical license, it became widely publicized. The rise in vaccine hesitancy as a result of such studies could
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have detrimental consequences. “Vaccine hesitancy is dangerous to the people that are hesitant and the people around them because if they were to be infected with one of the many viral diseases vaccines protect against, the unvaccinated will have no defense against the virus,” Lagudo said. “This means that the family and friends of the unvaccinated are also likely to be infected with the virus as well.” An argument that has gained popularity among the unvaccinated is that they have yet to contract any of the viruses that they are unprotected against, discouraging them from becoming vaccinated in the future. “Not everyone is going to be exposed to the viral infections that vaccines protect against, mainly due to luck, but also it is because the people around them are likely vaccinated. The immunity of the people around them makes them less susceptible to viral diseases.” Herd immunity is resistance to contract a disease due to a high proportion of individuals within a population who are immune to the disease, often as a result of Past Two Decades vaccinations. Feldbush said the individuals who have decided to exempt themselves from vaccinations are poaching off those contributing to the herd immunity. “This is fine until enough people don’t have vaccines and then the diseases start to circulate in the population,” Feldbush said. “That is what we’re seeing unfortunately, is when the un-immunized population grows above about 5 percent, the herd immunity that we were counting on disappears.” Beyond personal reasons for being exempted from vaccinations, there are those left susceptible to diseases, such as measles or mumps, because they are either too young to receive vaccinations, have an allergic response to the vaccinations, or are too ill to receive vaccinations. These individuals rely on herd immunity to protect them because they have no other choice since being vaccinated is not an option. “Those people are now at an extreme risk,” Feldbush said. “Unfortunately, it is not just the anti-vaxxers who are at risk, but it’s the rest of the population.” Despite these potential dangers, junior Ishaan Jathal said the decision should still be left up to the individual. “Although anti Vaxers should consider the ethical implications of their choice, in the end we can’t and shouldn’t be able to regulate the choices people make for their own health,” Jathal said. “It’d be similar to forcing everyone in the United States to eat a ‘nutritious’ diet.”
Photos: Dean Stewart
Making Gains Junior Izzy Richards pushes past a defender during a match against Cocoa Beach.
On the Go Freshman Skye Carl runs through the Cocoa Beach defense after catching a pass.
Groundbreaking Girls Lacrosse team closes out unprecedented season Story by Christopher Johnson and Cullen Capaldi
The girls’ lacrosse team finished 9-6, after ending with a 2-9 record only one season ago. The team advanced to the district playoffs, where it defeated Melbourne Central Catholic High School. “In the first playoff game, we were very determined to advance,” freshman Lexi Vorndran said. “In the district championship, I think we played very well, especially since we were missing our goalie and a couple of our main defenders,. If we had all of our players, we could have won or at least made the score closer.” Players attribute this year’s success to experience, coaching and sharing a bond with teammates both on and off the field. “I think the team being close and actually liking one another was a big part in our success,” senior Zoe Moore said. “Most of us have been playing together for at least one full season, so everyone knows how each other plays”. Moore also said the team’s depth of experience helped the team prepare for games. “We got to focus on specific skills and plays in practice because more of the girls on our team are experienced players,” Moore said. Junior captain Isabel Richards agrees experience played a role in the change. “Last season we didn’t always play to win, we played to build,” Richards said. “Now that we have built a good foundation, winning came easy.” The team’s change in attitude did not go unnoticed. “This year was so much different from last year because we were winning much more and were closer as a team,” Vorndran said. “Last year we really struggled to win a game, but this year we went against some teams and crushed them.”
Vorndran said she believes the team’s work ethic helped the team be successful. “I believe that the hard work the team puts in at practice contributes to how well we did in the games,” Vorndran said. “I’m really hoping we will be a strong team again and win districts next year.” Moore said the team’s preparation before the season was beneficial to the team’s success, and also reflected on her last season as a member of the team. “Our coach focused on physical fitness more than previous years, so we did more running and started conditioning early this season,” Moore said. “Playing lacrosse has always been fun, but this season has been full of so much excitement and competitiveness. I’m thrilled that we’ve come this far and been so successful. This season has been so much fun and I’m very proud of the team.” Coach Taylor Bartusek reflected on the team’s success this season. “I am extremely proud of how well the girls have played this season,” Bartusek said. “We have worked very hard this season and also had a lot of fun. We like to joke that we are the team who had the most fun.” Bartusek said the sense of teamwork and togetherness shared by the players helped the team progress. “The team not only performed well on the field, but also came together to build a family with each other outside of the games. The more experienced players have taken the newer players under their wing and helped them grow,” Bartusek said. “Of course, we are proud of our record and standings, but I am most proud of how much these girls support one another and enjoy the sport as well.”
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Magic Moment Local NBA team clinches first playoff berth in seven years Column by Shawn Humphrey
After the abrupt demise of the self-proclaimed Alliance of American Football champion Orlando Apollos left the area reeling (it was fun while it lasted), it appears that a glimmer of hope has been brought to citizens of Central Florida as well as a smattering of West Shore students. Those who don the blue and black of the Orlando Magic may rejoice. For the first time since the 2011-12 season, Orlando’s heroes of the hardwood earned the chance to compete for the ultimate prize. The Orlando Magic made the playoffs. Yes, years of wasted lottery picks, terrible trades, and poor performances led up to this very moment. Fans have recently found themselves punching the air while Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris, and Domantas Sabonis, former Magic players, have had success elsewhere. Now, head coach Steve Clifford has brought the team to a record above .500 for the first time since 2011-12, with a 17-win improvement from last year alone. The area’s excitement is undeniable. I’ve bought tickets to Magic games this year at $15 apiece. The week of the first home game against the Toronto Raptors, the price of the cheapest tickets climbed to as high as $115. The way that the Magic have clawed their way to their current position is admirable. The Magic stood at a record of 20 wins and 31 losses at the end of January. However, after Jan. 31, the team won 21 of its final 30 games, with the spot-clinching game against the Boston Celtics going down to the wire as well. The team simply hasn’t given up. It would have been all too easy for the Magic to look forward to next season after January. It would have been no challenge at all for Orlando to tank in order to obtain a lottery pick. But instead, the team fought. And it fought well. Pre-season predictions were proven wrong, and what was
thought of as a lottery favorite secured the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The doubts were understandable. But, in a league where superstars are joining forces like the Avengers, the Orlando Magic made the playoffs with only one all-star on the roster. The success of the Magic has casual fans of the sport wondering just how the team has been able to climb out of its proverbial hole. However, Steve Clifford’s bunch has posted the eighth best defensive rating out of the 30 teams in the NBA this season. The reigning back-to-back NBA champion Golden State Warriors have the 11th best defensive rating, meaning that the Magic are a better defensive team overall. The numbers look even better for the Magic when only the final stretch of the season is included. The team has seven others ahead of it in defensive rating for the entire season. But after Jan. 31, the Magic reigned supreme in that statistic, with the third best record in the league during that time period as well. Orlando didn’t just skate its way to the playoffs. The team was outstanding, among the best in basketball. Should the Magic have been expected to win the whole thing? No. Should the team have even been expected to make it out of the first round? Again, no. The Magic are a young group of players with a lack of playoff experience, regardless of how much those players fight for their spot. However, what can’t be overlooked is what this means for the future. The Magic have now set an expectation for what the group can achieve. Next season, the team cannot look to replicate its success, but it should instead look to build on it. If the Magic can do that, then the team will be bringing excitement to the area for years to come.
Scoreboards Final record for each athletic team Compiled by Valery Linkenhoker
Swimming
Volleyball
Boys’ Record: 4-2
Girls’ Record: 4-2
Boys’ Record: 8-7
Boys’ Record: 15-3-1
Girls’ Record: 7-6
Girls’ Record: 10-8-2
Golf
Bowling
Boys’ Record: 6-2 Girls’ Record: 7-1
Boys: Second place Regionals Girls: Sixth place Regionals
Cross-Country
Record: 4-4
Soccer
Basketball
Boys’ Record: 11-13 Girls’ Record: 7-16
Boys’ Record: 3-12
Girls’ Record: 9-6
Lacrosse
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Track
Nine team members
qualified for regionals
Boys’ Record: 9-4-1
Tennis
Girls’ Record: 9-0-1
The Three Piggies
Lacrosse trio shines above its age group
Story by Madhav Pamidimukkala Down 16-0 against Melbourne Central Catholic, junior lacrosse captain and midfielder Christopher Johnson makes some changes. He replaces his short stick with a defensive long pole, adding an extra defender to the field and placing the weight of the offense on the attack. Three eighth-graders, Zachary “Timothy” Johnson, Hayden “Tanner” Millband and Rylan “Chad” Runske, take position. Chris Johnson gets a clean pass to Zach Johnson, then magic happens. Johnson, Millband and Runske effortlessly pass the ball and maneuver their defenders and then, with an opening, Johnson takes a quick shot and applause from the West Shore bench and audience pierces the night. The process repeats three more times and before MCC can process what is happening, the underaged attackers score four points, the most against them up until that point in the season. Dubbed the “three piggies” by last year’s seniors for their unique teamwork and skills at the varsity level in seventh grade, Johnson, Millband and Runske have shocked both their teammates and audience with their offensive prowess against defenders several years older and inches taller than them. The piggies accounted for 47 of the team’s total points this year, becoming an integral part of the offense. Despite their success at such a young age, lacrosse was not any of their first passions. “Hockey is my primary sport,” Runske said. “I grew up in Michigan and my mom started me on figure skating. Figure skating was boring, and I realized the skates made you fall more often, but then I tried on hockey skates and people were like ‘huh, you can skate pretty well with those.’ My friend Justin Cole from hockey encouraged me to play lacrosse six years ago , [so] I went to an FIT ‘learn to lacrosse’ camp.” Johnson’s first sport was cross-country, like his older brother Chris, but when he tried out for the Viera Vipers recreational team, for which Runske and Millband already played, the connection between the three was instantly made. “I met [Runske] playing hockey a while ago and so we’ve been friends for a bit,” Millband said. “We’ve always worked together in hockey and lacrosse and then when [Johnson] came I liked him from the start. He was a good player. It came to him naturally, which kind of pushed me to work better. I just like playing with them. It’s fun and we compete with each other all the time.” According to coach Scheurer, the aptitude and teamwork the three possess at their age and stature has proven to be an ace in the hole for the team’s offense, and was something even he didn’t expect when they joined the team in seventh grade. “To our great surprise they were each very fast and highly skilled with controlling the ball” Scheurer said. “They clearly knew the game and strategies involved in scoring. Because they were so small and fast, our opponents underestimated their capabilities. They would pass the ball around the goal to one another and quickly score goals. Zach Johnson became one of
Photos: Dean Stewart
Triple Threat Eighth graders Zachary Johnson, Hayden Millband and Rylan Runske prepare to receive the ball with tight defense from Melbourne High School during an April match at Melbourne.
our team’s highest scorers. The seniors on the team were so impressed [at] the three guys’ speed that they nicknamed them.” For any player of their age, varsity playing time comes with a mental toll. “It’s definitely a lot of responsibility,” Johnson said. “I try not to think about it too much so I don’t psych myself out before games like ‘you have to score’ or ‘you have to contribute to the team.’ I’m just thankful for what I get.” Though the transition wasn’t the easiest, the three credit the coaching and the older players on the team for their smooth integration into the system. “It took me a while to like learn the team aspects of it but I was kind of already in shape from hockey,” Runske said. “The coaching is getting me better and the seniors and the older kids were really nice to us all and they just made us better players.” Like coach Scheurer, Johnson said that their unique bond has produced an advantage on the field. “Since we have played together for three years we know our tendencies, [which] makes it difficult for opposing teams because we’re all on the same page offensively,” Johnson said. Chris Johnson shares a similar sentiment. “As a group they all play very well together,” Chris Johnson said. “They play together year round and because of that they’ve been able to learn each others skills and weaknesses and just be able to trust each other on the field.” Chris also commended Zach on the results he has produced on the field and said that it shows the culmination of their efforts as brothers constantly pushing each other for the past three years. “He really became an important part of the offense and he was definitely someone I could count on to be in the right place at the right time ,” Chris Johnson said. “It’s awesome to see that all the we’ve put in together is paying off and it’s very impressive to see that he’s playing at such a high skill level for not only his age but how long he’s been playing.”
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Athletes to Watch Compiled by Michael Lucente
Sport
Hunter Scott
Record: 1-0 in 4 singles 1-0 in 2 doubles 1-1 in 3 doubles
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Sarah Bahsoun, 11
Record: 6 wins 2 losses in no. 2 line
Tennis
100m Dash Times: Cape Coast: 11.93 Satellite: 11.99 Bill Wilson: 12.03 Districts: 12.07 Regionals: 12.17
Alexis Vordon, 9
Lacrosse
Track & Field
Daniel Shelton, 11
Stats: 51 goals 10 assists
Bailey’s Back
Dancer makes return to school after yearlong homeschooling
Story by Michael Lucente
The time has come, sophomore Bailey Hetzel must make a drags out. Going to school in a working environment helps my decision that could potentially change her life. She must decide mind get in a focused mental state.” whether to stay at West Shore and continue learning face-to-face Perhaps the most difficult thing about FLVS for Hetzel is with a teacher or commit to Florida Virtual School and focus on learning in isolation. her seven-year ballet career. Fast forward eight months Hetzel “Now that I’m home-schooled, there is a difference in the decides to follow her sense that outside of heart and commit ballet I don’t interact to Florida Virtual with people from School. a day to day basis “It was the hardest whereas when I was at choice I had ever school, I did,” Hetzel made,” Hetzel said. “I said. “I do really really love education, miss the aspect of just learning and all communicating with that comes with it. I students and teachers. especially liked it at I’ve learned that it’s West Shore.” such a vital part of the A big motivator learning process.” to encourage Bailey Even though this to make the switch past year has not to FLVS was fear of been enjoyable with regret. learning and social life, “The big push was her devotion to ballet this fear of regret in is stronger than ever. the back of my head,” “The arts are such Hetzel said. “ I had a beautiful thing,” been feeling it for a Hetzel said. “ Ballet in couple of years and I particular is a way to knew I had to make a bring so many people decision this year with together.” ballet or it would be Ballet teacher too late.” Artem Yachmennikov A fork in the road reflected on how occurred though, as Bailey’s devotion Hetzel expected FLVS became stronger when to be more enjoyable, she made the switch. it turned out it has “When she not. Because of this, switched to online Hetzel has decided to education, she became Photo: Grace Kirschner return to West Shore stronger mentally,” The Dancer’s Motorcycle Sophomore Bailey Hetzel takes her talent downtown to for the next year. Yachmennikov said. pose for a photo shoot with fellow sophomore Grace Kirschner. This photo won a “With my schedule “She had more time Best of the Best award for the Florida Scholastic Press Association’s spring Quick Turn being completely up to improve herself in Photography Challenge. to me and deadlines ballet, and it showed.” being more flexible, Along with Hetzel’s I’ve had to be very dance coach, teammates also agree that she is more devoted than disciplined with my work ethic,” Hetzel said. “West Shore is a ever to ballet. place I belong, going to school in a working environment helps “With any ballet piece Bailey performs she takes the time my mind get in a focused mental state.” and effort to fully embrace the character especially since she Hetzel explains why West Shore is where she belongs. committed to FLVS,” dance mate Danielle Foege said. “Class can “I’ve noticed I do better when I’m under a lot of pressure,” be monotonous with its repetition, but Bailey helps me give it my Hetzel said. “If there’s less to do I feel less threatened and it just all to each and every class.”
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Love it
Hate it
Isabel Burden, 11
Met Gala “The theme is always super-creative. It’s interesting to see what people come dressed as.”
Jonelle Plahuta, 11
“I don’t even know what it is, like what’s the point?”
Jonas Reunion
Macie Goldfarb, 12
“It’s a little overdue. It’s kind of rude how they just left.”
Chloe Lemstrom, 10
“I didn’t listen to them before, so it doesn’t really matter.”
MCU
Jack Markos, 7
“I’ve been watching it since I was young, and I love the heroes.”
Farewell, Roar seniors! Auston Gonzalez, Editor-in-chief
Zack Shazad, 11
“I don’t get it. The only thing I know is Spider-Monkey is my favorite one.”
Justin Ho, Writer/Contributor
“My high school experience wouldn’t be the same without Schle and the entire publication. Thanks for everything.” Valery Linkenhoker, Managing Editor
“Aight, Schle, I’m bouta head out.”
Michael Lucente, Writer
“Thank you to the Roar staff and Schle for helping put together an amazing paper this year.” Madhav Pamidimukkala, Sports Editor
“It was an honor writing for this publication, thank you Schle and the Roar staff.” 20 | westshoreroar.com | May 2019
“It was fun while it lasted, but the future’s calling.” Cullen Capaldi, Writer
“Thanks for an enjoyable two years. I am looking forward to what the future holds.”
Photo: Despina Barton
Head Start Senior Shawn Humphrey shadowed a sports reporter this past winter for his Senior Project, helping him gain a step up in the field he aspires to pursue.
PT(III)
Senior TV production prodigy dominates journalism convention Story by Madhav Pamidimukkala
The bell rings and a freshman Shawn Humphrey sits down in his Journalism 1 class on the first day of high school. Curiosity and a bit of frustration characterizes his expression because due to a schedule conflict, he has been forced into the course. However, when teacher Mark Schledorn began talking about journalism’s impact in society and its business-like structure, Humphrey was instantly mesmerized. Fast-forward four years and Humphrey is now the leading sports anchor on the school’s broadcast news team and has been recognized in a multitude of competitions by the Florida Scholastic Press Association, but particularly in the Pardon the Interruption contest, where he won second-place in April at the statewide journalism convention in Orlando. Originating with ESPN, Pardon the Interruption (PTI) is an opinionated-sports commentary segment between two or more parties. Humphrey has qualified for this contest three years in a row through an audition process. “When I first met him he was quiet and I just thought this is a really shy kid, [but] when we put a camera on him it was just magic,” Schledorn said. “You can’t
overestimate the impact he’s had on TV production at our school. He brings with him competence, focus and just pure talent.” The root of Humphrey’s sports journalism aptitude stems from his early passion for sports. “My first word was ‘ball,’” Humphrey said. “I’m originally from San Antonio and my family is big into sports. My dad started taking me to Spurs games when I was two. I got into TV Production because I wanted to talk about sports. Everything I’ve done since as long as I remember has been sports.” According to Humphrey’s PTI teammate Matthew Marcinkowski, Shawn is “beyond his age and unparalleled by anyone else.” “Shawn is the best journalist I have ever met and I hope one day that I don’t have to compete with him for a job,” Marcinkowski said. Even Humphrey’s competitor from Christopher Columbus High School, Alexander Someillan, had praise for Humphrey’s performance in PTI. “[Humphrey and I] bonded over our previous encounter at last year’s PTI and through common friends,” Someillan
Photo: Isabella Serrano
Third Time’s the Charm Humphrey greets a fellow competitor before participating in his third “Pardon the Interruption” event at the Florida Scholastic Press Association’s annual state convention. Along with senior Matthew Marcinkowski, Humphrey placed second in the competition, which is the highest placement he’s received.
said. “Shawn [Humphrey] is a fantastic journalist and he’s great when it comes to on-air presence and never fails to bring up good topics.” Humphrey’s ultimate goal is to work as a broadcaster for ESPN. “I just feel like they’re at the top,” Humphrey said. “Athletes want to go to the NBA, NFL, etcetera. I want to go to ESPN and be the best in what I do. I’ve had people that have made it in the business tell me that I’m advanced for my age, so I figure if I keep pushing I can attain this goal.” Schledorn also believes that Shawn is destined for the big screen. “I think without a doubt he will end up on ESPN,” Schledorn said. “I would be shocked if I don’t see him on TV somewhere in the future.”
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Photo: Creative Commons
The End(game) of an Era
Storied cinema series comes to a close after decade-long run Review by Leighton Johnson After more than a decade of story building and 21 movies, the final installment in the Infinity Saga brings forth a climactic conclusion that leaves no stone unturned. The hype began after its predecessor: “Infinity War” left viewers shocked and wondering about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Picking up where “Infinity War” left off, Marvel shows how deeply the characters were affected by Thanos’ plan to eradicate 50 percent of the population of the universe. Coincidentally, this left only the core Avengers and a few others, including Rocket Raccoon, Nebula, War Machine and intergalactic defender, Captain Marvel to deal with this new reality. Throughout the movie, the survivors try to reverse the effects caused by Thanos with help from Ant-Man after his trip through the quantum realm. Where
“Infinity War” was repetitive and almost predictable, “Endgame” keeps viewers on the edge of their seats by showing them what they believed to be the solution but then delving into a unexpected twist. The final battle is rather predictable despite all the build up that led into it. However, this doesn’t take away from the satisfying conclusion which leaves fans reflecting back to how the MCU has evolved and where it could possibly go in the future. With impressive performances from the original cast (Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and Jeremy Renner) along with the arrival of Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, the film is filled to the brim with recognizable faces. “Endgame” serves as an excellent way to wrap up a story arc which satisfies a fanbase lasting more than 11 years.
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By the Numbers $1.2
Billion made during opening weekend
5 Days needed to reach $1 billion
$127
Million made in presold tickets
Artist Spotlight: Billie Eilish This is exactly what the music industry has been lacking. As someone who listens to mostly hip-hop and R&B, there has never been an artist, up until now, from another style of music who has caught my attention the way that Billie Eilish has. After releasing her album “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” in March, it is safe to say she has solidified her role as not only a major artist, but also a huge influencer in today’s pop culture world. Touching on this project, Eilish is able to combine a variety of music styles into one, producing something that we have yet to hear. With her brother Finneas O’Connell as her main producer, the two have a perfect combination of a calm melody and upbeat vibe. Sure, Eilish is extremely unorthodox, especially when it comes to her music videos such as “bury a friend” and “bad guy,” but I’d much rather watch her creative take on music and life as opposed to scrolling through my Instagram feed viewing repetitive mumble rap that has taken over social media platforms and the majority of the music industry. This project, as well as Eilish’s other work is a breath of fresh air when it comes to music. Songs such as “when the party’s over” and “ilomilo” create a new atmosphere that almost can’t be described. It’s almost like you’re in a new world when listening to what she creates. In addition to her fresh style of music, Eilish has the type of personality that will bring her nothing but success in the harsh world that society elicits. After watching her interviews and listening to her perspective on life, it’s hard to not like her. People
Game of Thrones
All American
Photos: Creative Commons
Photo: Creative Commons
Review by Auston Gonzalez
tend to reject ideas that they are not accustomed to. However, Eilish is different in the sense that she has built such a great following in a short amount of time. Even those who are more drawn to older styles of music have begun to enjoy what she brings to the table. Finally, don’t even get me started with her Coachella set. Eilish’s performance was pretty genius in that it was able to combine a mosh-pit type concert with a relaxed atmosphere. At this point, I can’t wait to see what she creates next. Until then, there is a new artist who’s taking over our generation.
Review by Mrs. Molledo, featured writer This is one of the best television series ever. You will be on the edge of your seat during every episode of this final season. You just don’t know who or what is around the next corner and coming for you. The Game of Thrones is an epic story that pits great families against one another to vie to rule all of Westeros, a mythical world in ancient times. There are kings and queens, knights and squires. Politics and backstabbing is always part of the game. Who can you trust? And not just the living. The not quite dead white walkers have broken down the wall that has protected the living for thousands of years. The dead are coming and they are coming for all of the living. Oh yes, and did I mention dragons? There are only three remaining but one has been turned! This is the last of the eight seasons. In this season there are only six episodes and each is more exciting than the next.
Review by Madhav Pamidimukkala After seasons upon seasons of bland repetitive sports TV series, “All American” proves to be the perfect prototype of a sports show that everyone can enjoy and provides a brand new outlook. Growing up in a neighborhood riddled with gang violence and poverty, high school football star Spencer James shines brightly through adversity. The struggle James feels leaving his home which comprises a major part of his identity and adjusting to a life of privilege is compelling, while the conflict back home builds tension in the plot. What makes this show different is the spotlight it places on athletes from underprivileged neighborhoods and especially the impact of gangs among African-Americans in the country. I never truly understood how trapped neighborhood residents can feel because of gang violence. It’s an eye-opening show that can hook any view whether or not you like sports, and is a must-watch.
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