Tiger Times 4 16 14 by THS Student Media

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tigertimes

volume 53 no. 5 • april 16, 2014

texas high school • 4001 summerhill rd • texarkana, tx 75503 • www.tigertimesonline.com

Locked in the Life of Poverty N

ot a single complaint flows from her lips. Her words do not seek pity, nor bite at the listener like rapid dogs seeking to take their pain out on others. She is not one for making a show, making sure everyone knows. Even though her life would justify these things, she only wants to instill happiness in those who hear her. She will laugh and joke as though nothing is wrong. Even through the struggles of everyday life, she tries to keep a smile on her face.

>> page 11

n a nation renowned for its opportunities, it seems the old struggle for social equality is still present. Minority groups are degraded because of the stereotypes people have come to accept about them. While there have been many positive changes in the way people see others, the stereotypes are ever-present in the minds and hearts of Americans. >>page 12 photo illustration by s. steed

what’s happenin’

tiger times april 16, 2014

this issue

3NEWS 4

UIL team takes third in district

CREATIVE THOUGHT Freshman Alex O’Gorman works on a drawing in art teacher Scott Smedley’s class. O’Gorman recently attended the state competition in Austin. Student artwork will be on display in the foyer of the Performing Arts Center. “I have always liked art,” O’Gorman said. “It was always something I’ve wanted to do. I never wanted to take classes though, I feel like this is something you have, not something someone teaches you. I want to do art after school, but I don’t just want to do art, like I want to build a career with it.” photo by c. clem

“Our UIL academic team and coaches did a phenomenal job at our district meet on Saturday. I am so very proud of all of the students and coaches who gave their time and energy to make our program successful.” -Elaine Harrell, coordinator

6OPINION 7

Clothes don’t make the man

“Next time when you’re walking in the hallway, be more open-minded to the people around you. You never know who you could have things in common with.” -Jessica Emerson, 10

Student work on display in

From April 30 through May 9, art students will display and sell the artwork they have created throughout the school year. “It will be all kinds of art, from ceramics to sketchings, drawing and paintings,” art teacher Debbie Nicholas said. “It will be in the Foyer of the PAC. It is for all art students. It will run from Art I to all upper levels.”

8FEATURE

Being gluten free

“The gluten-free lifestyle is becoming more prevalent in our society...It’s healthier, and I think people are realizing that a lot of health problems could be caused by gluten, and it solves a lot of issues when you don’t eat it.” -Laura Davis, 12

SPORTS

That Chlorine Smell or Something Like it

“Despite the fact that my swim career is over, the bonds made between the other seniors and I will endure. No matter what, I will forever consider myself a Tigershark.“ -Josh Klein, 12

18 ENTERTAINMENT 18

Passing Popularity

“These few games have raised the mobile gaming bar.” -DJ Mack, 12

ART SHOW EXHIBIT ACADEMIC AWARDS MAY 1, 6-8 p.m. Students who have displayed academic achievements in classes will be honored during this award ceremony in the Performing Arts Center.

SAT TESTING MAY 3, 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The SAT will be given in the Math and Science building beginning at 7 a.m. Late registration is available through April 21. The next administration of the SAT will be June 7 with the registration deadline on May 9.

PROM MAY 3, 8 p.m.-Midnight Prom tickets are being sold in the cafeteria Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch and are currently $50 each. While a $5 deposit is required to reserve the tickets, they must be paid in full by April 24. “My dress is the typical pink–sparkly and puffy–and I’m going with my best friend,” senior Megan Brown said. “ I will probably do all those new dance moves that everyone is doing. Since I will be dateless, I might just steal someone’s date and make him dance with me.”

EOC TESTING MAY 6-MAY 8 The final round of End of Course testing will begin with the following schedule: May 6- Algebra I; May 7- Biology; and May 8- U.S. History. “I’m not scared or nervous about them; I feel like I’m prepared,” freshman Bryan Lovell said. “I have put a lot of effort and practice into them, especially the English one. Biology will probably be hardest because it has never been my strong subject.”

AP TESTING MAY 5, MAY 16 May 5 - Environmental Science/ Chemistry (am)/Psychology (pm) May 6 - Computer Science/Spanish Language (am)/Art History (pm) May 8 - English Literature (am) May 9 - English Language & Composition (am)/Statistics (pm) May 12 - Biology/Music Theory (am)/Physics (pm) May 13 - U.S. Government & Politics (am)/Human Geography/French (pm) May 14 - U.S. History (am)/ European History (pm) May 15 - Macroeconomics/World History (am)/Microeconomics (pm)

SENIOR AWARDS CEREMONY MAY 29, 6-9 p.m.

Honor graduates, along with valedictorian and salutatorian, will be announced during the Senior Awards Ceremony. Seniors will also be honored for their scholarships and other achievements. “I think that the senior awards ceremony is an event where you’re finally rewarded and recognized for all the late nights of studying, choosing to get up early on Saturday to help in the community instead of sleeping in, and all the time spent working on extracurriculars,” senior Katelyn Markham. “The practice and work pays off. It’s exciting to know that the ceremony’s almost here because it’s like putting a bow on everything you’ve done in your high school career and saying, ‘I did it.’”

READY TO GRADUATE

With less than two months remaining of high school, seniors are beginning to get excited about graduation June 7. “I’m excited to be a senior,” Keyerra Harfield said. “I’ve been ready to leave high school since freshman year.” PROM TICKETS ON SALE Seniors Deirdre Stewart and Alex Frederick purchase prom tickets from prom mom Sharon Fant. Tickets are being sold on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch for $50. A deposit of $5 will reserve tickets, and all balances must be paid in full by April 24. Prom will be held May 3 at the Truman Arnold Center. photo by l. gibbert

news

tiger times april 16, 2014

One Act Play places third, best showing in decade BY AMANDA HACKLEMAN viewpoint editor For those involved, there is nothing easy about high school theater. Anyone who is a part of the Tiger Theatre Company would say the same thing. It’s worth it. More challenging than many other forms of high school theater is the annual UIL One Act Play, a rigorous competition that puts both actors and techies to the ultimate test. “I counted it up, and from January we spent 95 hours outside of school in rehearsal,” director Jenny Walker said. “And that’s not counting all the time they spent on their own learning lines and developing their characters and doing research. After you spend that much time with a group, you really become family. You have to learn to trust one another, learn to read one another, and you have to play upon each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Just all the time we put into it contributed to our success because it made us come together as a team and as a family.” The cast competed on March 25 and received third place. Only the top two plays advance to the next level. However, this has not dampened the spirits of the

cast and crew as a whole. Many individual awards were given to recognize their talent. “This was the first time in more than 10 years that Texas High has been in the top three of our district,” Walker “Theater is such said. “We did a collaborative in three months thing. The show what essentially can’t happen with everyone else did just a handful in a year. To be of outstanding students. Everybody able to overcome some of those has to be on top challenges that of their game and we had, and put working together. They just all worked ourselves in the together beautifully top three is a great to make the show a success. We were actually only one success.” point away from -Jenny Walker, director the next school, and they advanced on. To be that close to advancing was huge for Texas High.” Even with the struggles the theater has faced over the course of the year, the cast and crew feel as though they still were in a successful show. Individual awards were as follows: All Star Cast for senior Keyerra Harfield, Honorable Mentions for sophomore Olivia Corbett and junior

1984 Members of the One Act Play cast, sophomore Alex Jones, juniors Jake Boyles, Caroline Parks and Caroline Thomas recreate a scene from George Orwell’s “1984.” The play placed as alternate at the district competition. photo by s.pritchard

Caroline Parks. All Star Crew for junior Josh Windes. “It really feels good,” senior Keyerra Harfield said. “This is my first year doing UIL. Unfortunately, it’s my last year in high school, and I wish I would have done it earlier. We had a situation where we had to get a new theater director. The fact that we got an award that we haven’t gotten in over a decade; that’s pretty amazing. I think it worked out really, really well because Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Feimster and Mr. Hanna all came together, and instead of arguing about ideas they just put their

ideas together and actually ended up creating an amazing show.” Walker said she was proud of the way the cast and crew worked together. “Even though not everyone got an individual award, we had several outstanding students who were truly some of the best actors of the day,” Walker said. “Theater is such a collaborative thing. The show can’t happen with just a handful of outstanding students. Everybody has to be on top of their game and working together. They just all worked together beautifully to make the show a success.”

New class to focus on documenting Texas High’s past BY BRAD LENAWAY staff writer Texarkana has been around for some time, and along with the city, Texas High has been a close companion. In 1989, on the centennial of the school, a book was created, named “Pages of the Past,” to commemorate the past 100 years of the schools history. Created by the Honors and Enriched U.S. history classes of 1988-1991, the book covered the history of the different buildings, classes, clubs and sports. However, 25 years have come and gone since the book’s debut, and much has changed since 1989 without centralized documentation. This is what AP U.S History teacher Chuck Zach has decided to change. Next year, a School Study and Research Method class will be created to document the last 25 years, much like the

A LOOK THROUGH HISTORY Junior Maggie Coleman looks through the book “Pages from the Past” as she considers taking the School Study and Research Method class next year. photo by s. steed

“Pages of the Past” has. This class not only will compile the past years into a physical book, it will help students experience what it would be like to be a historian. “At the end of the day, we hope to create at least a supplement to the 100-year

anniversary of Texas High, and at the most, a multimedia presentation supplement,” Zach said. “In other words, there may be things on disks such as interviews and pictures where people will have access to the information not only in the form

of a book, but also something that they may listen to and see.” With this in mind, Zach plans to offer students enrolled in the class more than just a book. “I hope this class allows kids to have a deeper appreciation for the school they go to, allowing them the chance to see what has happened over the past quarter century that they are probably not aware of,” Zach said. “Out of this, hopefully, we will have kids that would really like to do things like curate at museums and become historians, instead of just becoming static parts of history where they only read about what somebody else did.” Principal Brad Bailey said the class will be an excellent opportunity for students. It will offer a learning curve that no other class is able to create. “I thought it was a great idea to have students learn how to research and apply such skills

towards the last 25 years of Texas High School,” Bailey said. “Students will not only learn how to utilize different research methods while learning about the history of Texas High School, but it will be a great experience for our students, one which will allow them to always be a part of the history of Texas High. It will be a great opportunity for our students that will help them in their future careers.” In the end, the goal of this class is to produce a product that will be of value for years to come. “The class will not only allow kids to get a different idea about history,” Zach said, “but they will actually get to handle history, instead of just reading about it. Students will interview people, they are going to search through archives and find information pertinent to Texas High, and at the end of the day, they will put together a finished product.”

news

UIL team takes 3rd in district

STRIKING GOLD

Newspaper brings home CSPA Gold Crown BY BRIANNA O’SHAUGNESSY staff writer

BY KRISTIN MCCASLAND staff writer The UIL academic team won third place overall in the District 14-AAAA competition March 28 at Pine Tree High School. “Our UIL academic team and coaches did a phenomenal job at our district meet on Saturday,” UIL coordinator Elaine Harrell said. “I am so very proud of all of the students and coaches who gave their time and energy to make our program successful.” Those who won first, second or third will advance to the Region competition in Arlington on May 2-3. The individual awards are as follows: Accounting, coached by Pam Hamilton: Kaulyn Loe, fourth place. Current Issues, coached by Amy Kemp: David Mitchell, fourth place. Journalism, coached by Rebecca Potter: Editorial Writing– senior Sydney Schoen, third place. Feature Writing– senior Taylor Potter, first place; sophomore Olivia Corbett, third place; Schoen, fourth place. Headline Writing– junior Morgan Williams, first place; Taylor Potter, second place. News Writing–Taylor Potter, first place; Schoen, fifth place. The first

tiger times april 16, 2014

REGION BOUND Qualifing for regionals are (front) Peter Garrett, Jillian Cheney, Olivia Corbett, Morgan Williams, Sydney Schoen, (back) Haley Rogers, Robert Hoover, JB Wells, Taylor Potter, Josh Robinson. Alex Markham not pictured. photo by s. steed.

place team included Taylor Potter, Schoen, Corbett and Williams. “I’m incredibly excited,” Potter said. “This is the third year in a row where I’ve won feature and advanced. I couldn’t be more excited for region.” Speaking, coached by Kemp: Informative Speaking– senior JB Wells, second place; junior Robert Hoover, third place. LD Debate–Wells, first place; senior Josh Robinson, third place. Persuasive Speaking–Jillian Cheney, third place; Josh Robinson, sixth place. Poetry Interpretation–Keyerra Harfield, fourth place. The second place team included JB Wells, Robert Hoover, Josh Robinson, Jillian Cheney and Keyerra Harfield. “We have been preparing for the longest time and when it came time to show them all what we had, we delivered,” Wells said. “Coach told us to come out strong in the first quarter and our offensive lead really helped us

through the game.” Ready Writing, coached by Holly Mooneyham: Anna Kate Cannon, fourth place. Social Studies, coached by Chuck Zach: Haley Rogers, fourth place; Peter Garrett, sixth place. The second place team, advancing to region, included Haley Rogers, Peter Garrett and Alex Markham. “I think we have a really good chance of advancing to state,” Markham said. “We’re definitely working and studying hard.” Since the date for regionals conflicts with the prom, some of the winners have to forfeit their positions. “This is my senior year, so it’s really important that I went as far as I could in UIL,” Schoen said. “Unfortunately, I also wanted to be able to participate in the only prom that I will be able to attend, so I had to make the decision to forfeit my place at regionals.”

The TigerTimes and Tiger Times Online were presented with a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crown on March 21 in New York City. CSPA gave out 14 Gold Crowns for the newspaper hybrid category. “Winning another Gold Crown is a huge accomplishment,” senior Taylor Potter said. “We were ecstatic. It’s a huge testament to all the hard work put in by the entire newspaper staff.” A hybrid publication is a combined scoring of the print and online versions of the paper. The online provides coverage of events between print editions. This is the second hybrid Gold Crown for the newspaper staff. “We were all incredibly honored to win in the hybrid category,” senior Sydney Schoen said. “Not only does it mean that our print publication last year was impressive, but our online edition this year was exemplary. I’m excited to know that Taylor, Josh and my efforts as editors in chief were recognized, and I love that I was able to share such a prestigious award with an amazing staff and fellow counterparts.” The publication was one of three in Texas to win the award for a hybrid publication. “I’m really excited about it all,” senior Josh Klein said. “The entire staff worked really hard throughout the year for this, and it all paid off at the end. We have a great group of juniors right now, and I know that this will just be one of many future awards.”

viewpoint

tiger times april 16, 2014

EDITORIAL

OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES COLLEGE Improving the vocational program will help those not seeking higher education

With the recent unemployment problems in America, some have to question how high schools are preparing students for jobs in the workforce. European schools have a vocational program where students in high school can choose between preparing for a trade job, such as manufacturing, welding, cooking, or preparing for higher level education. Texas High should improve Industry certification is their program offered at Texas High for to help students the following: train to work • Construction Technology in jobs when • Adobe Illustrator CS6 they graduate • Adobe InDesign CS6 because it • Educational Aide 1 lowers youth • Heartsaver CPR & First Aid unemployment, • Pharmacy Technician creates a • Certified Nurse Assistant different option • NRAEF Serve Safe than college, • Cosmetology Operators and increases License the amount • Child Development of people in Associate Credential valuable jobs • OSHA 10hr that America • A+ Certification needs. • CISCO Certified Entry The United Networking Technician States’ youth • CISCO Certified Network unemployment Associate rate is 15 • NCCER Core percent, while Germany’s is For more information about only 8 percent industry certifications, contact with many Holly Tucker, Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction. other European countries right around there. Most high schools in America prepare students for going to college when everyone isn’t meant or has the desire to go to college. The problem is that some students

either drop out of high school or graduate, but don’t go any farther. With 15 industry certifications offered, the certification was completed in only two areas with 17 certificates awarded: 8 in welding and 9 for certified nursing assistant. Society, and specifically the community of Texarkana, will benefit as a whole to have students go directly into the workforce instead of standing in the unemployment line. Students who don’t have the grades or motivation for college can find joy in a trade that benefits their community and brings in money for their families. Having a different option for these teenagers helps them with staying off the streets. The students in Europe who enter the vocational program go to a paid apprenticeship for four days and school for one. With “on the job training” students are able to get in touch with future employers and learn what is necessary to survive in the trade that they aspire to be in. They are able to stay competitive with the ever-changing economy and the working world, including the city of Texarkana. With high schoolers going straight into crucial jobs that the U.S. needs, it will better everyone that is a part of the private sector. Welders are especially needed because it is a taxing job that most people aren’t going to college for with a starting salary of $35,390. The city and companies in Texarkana are in need of people with important and specialized skills, and Texas High could be the place to provide people with these services. If Texas High improves their vocational program, students will be able to learn a trade that they can start after they graduate and make a profit with. Not only will more people be able to work in these jobs, there will be more competition. Increasing the competition will

SPEAK OUT

How do you think our vocational program could be improved? “The program needs more awareness. I didn’t even know about the welding classes until my junior year.” Brennan Hile, 12 “The classes need more one-onone help. This would help further the learning in order to be more prepared.” Destini Gladney, 11

“We have a vocational program? I knew we had classes like welding and cosmetology, but I didn’t know about the program.” Catherine Thomas, 11

tiger times Texas High School 4001 Summerhill Rd. Texarkana, TX 75503 (903) 794-3891 Fax (903) 792-8971 The Tiger Times is a student-run publication. The contents and view are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the opinions of the faculty, administration or TISD board of directors.

cause more people to have better mentors and learn invaluable skills. Many do not want to change the program because they say that it is working and that we need to maintain the status quo. Texas High does have a vocational program, but with only 17 certificates in two fields of study out of 400 graduating seniors, the program is lagging. The program is unheard of for many people. With no one participating, no one is spreading the word of how they received a certificate and were hired right out of high school. Publicity will improve the program and will help connect people with employers. Hopefully, encouraging more people to get involved in the program. Because vocational programs help students have jobs when they graduate, they lower the amount of people without jobs and on government assistance. Texas High should improve the vocational program to lower youth unemployment, have an alternative route besides college, and increase workers in beneficial jobs. But most of all, this program desperately needs a voice in order to help itself.

“The only thing would be to make the classes more privileged to keep [students] from ruining the class. We need to do more work and less discipline.” Logan Wilson, 11 “The program should advertise more. Not many people actually read their choice sheets and notice the classes. I just decided to give it a try and lots of people don’t know what they are getting into.” Calvin Lourens, 11

editors in chief Josh Klein, Taylor Potter, Sydney Schoen news editor Madeline Hunley viewpoint editor Amanda Hackleman feature editor Maggie Coleman sports editor Robert Hoover entertainment editors Caroline Purtle & DJ Mack advertising editor Adam Graves business manager Rachel Stuart photo editor Sydney Steed staff writers Olivia Corbett Daniela Correa Molly Crouch Conor Diggs Jessica Emerson Ben Gladney Anna Graves Abigail Hill Brad Lenaway Caroline May Kristin McCasland Brianna O’Shaughnessy Tyler Snell JB Wells Hannah Williams photographers Zach Baker Kelsi Brinkmeyer Carlie Clem Lauren Gibbert Paige Huddleston Maegan Jordan Sabrina Larson Alyssa Olade-Galvan Savannah Pritchard Faith Rhone Duchess Rogers Sara Rogers Josh Rostek Carli Sharp Bailey Vaughan advisers Rebecca Potter & Clint Smith principal Brad Bailey members ILPC, CSPA, NSPA The Tiger Times is the official student publication of Texas High School. The primary purpose is to inform the students of the school, while practicing the ethical canon of journalism. Letters to the editor may be dropped off in Room 50. Each letter must be signed and include the student’s grade. Letters are subject to editing. The Tiger Times also accepts advertising. Advertising is sold for $5 a column inch. All ads must be received at least two weeks prior to publication.

viewpoint

6 TOSSED OUT THERE

BRIANNA O’SHAUGHNESSY/staff writer

The struggle of choosing the path

Sophomore wonders about future in college

The pressure to choose a college starts the moment you enter ninth grade. The first question asked is almost always what do you want to be. I never know. I’ve always bounced from career to career and college to college. I’ve never had a stable idea of where I wanted to go to college. When I was younger, I had dreams of grandeur. Yale was my aspiration, but I soon realised that generic careers like a lawyer or a doctor were not my destiny. I quickly realized that I was simply average. I was always delusional in my goals when I was younger, but nothing has changed. My head is still in the clouds. I’ll just stay in school until I figure something out, however, I don’t have the predetermined knowledge or the money necessary to uphold that idea. The idea of going to college is great, and I think I have the potential to go. But as of now, I’m just an average sophomore, lost in the shuffle of people better than me. There is very little about my future that I understand. All I do is pose rhetorical questions to myself, and hope that I end up happy in the career path that I chose. It seems like everyone around me has chosen their school. I sit here dreaming of quaint liberal arts schools, but my parents and the other various adults in my life seem to be pushing me the other way. Honestly, I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I don’t see why at 16, I should have my life figured out. There is this insane pressure that has recently been getting to me. I know that it will probably blow over in a week or so when I figure out my next path. So I guess I’ll sit here, head in the clouds, not necessarily procrastinating but not trying my absolute hardest.

tiger times april 16, 2014

People’s perceptions of you matter Despite popular opinion, people’s impressions of you are important for your image Michelle Obama can tell Disney Channel all she wants that kids shouldn’t care about what other people think, that society is too harsh, etc. But, what she doesn’t address is the overwhelming sense of identity we can take from how our peers perceive us. I’m not saying that stressing over every detail of your life and tailoring it to the impossible tight fitting dress of pleasing the entire world population is the brightest process to follow, but I’m also not saying that throwing on sweatpants and saying “I could care less about you world, I’m my own person.” is the smartest thing either. People don’t have to be the flawless girl on magazine covers, or even dress fashionable every day, but they should present themselves with some form of

ALWAYS AWKWARD ABIGAIL HILL/staff writer dignity. Something that shows they respect themselves and what they do. You can’t change how people perceive you, but you can change what people perceive you as. People should want to be respected. They should hold themselves to social acceptance because we are in fact social beings. That community and being apart of

something is necessary for successful living. Because no matter how much people try to convince themselves that no one else’s opinion matters, other people control the general direction of everyone’s lives. You control the majority, but other people choose if you get the job or not, if you deserve this or not, or where you go at any time of the day. Intellectually people could say they don’t give a care about what people think of them, but emotionally we all respond to those looks and stares that say “Really? You decided that?” Caring about how other people might feel shows that you care about what you do. A friends or family’s perception of you defines who you are as a person. That means everything.

Clothes don’t make the man Society should move past judging based on the clothing a person wears

Ambling through the hallway we see many different personas. Dark tattered jeans, multi-colored hair, a vintage hardrock shirt, and we instantly think of a rebellious personality or even someone to fear. Then we see the smiling girl with a monogrammed shirt and a The North Face backpack and automatically think we’ve found someone to trust. These stereotypes may be widely believed but that doesn’t mean what we put on our bodies should shape how we are perceived. The fashion world has seemed to become one with the animal kingdom. The top of the food chain is assumed to be the designer labels and the over-priced accessories. They have become a symbol of something that is “better.” The money

BALL IS LIFE

JESSICA EMERSON/staff writer being spent on clothing has began to shape the person who is wearing them. Teens who cannot afford these so called “better” clothes, who have to get their clothes as hand-me-downs, from thrift shops or bargain stores, have began to feel out of place. So much emphasis has been placed on what to put on the body instead of what’s inside it.

People are more than just a change of clothing. Even if someone were to put on two different outfits, they are still the same person. Clothing has been a way of self expression. A way of stating who we are without having to say anything at all. It may be human nature to flock with the people who dress and act like us, but that doesn’t make one particular group any better than another one. If we all dressed alike would our social circles still remain the same? We wouldn’t instantly characterize ourselves into groups based on appearance. We’d have to make friends strictly on personality and interests. Next time when you’re walking in the hallway, be more open-minded to the people around you. You never know who you could have things in common with.

WHO’S GOING WHERE? 76%

Who plans to attend college?

High school is generally thought of as a stepping stone to higher education. Using convenience sampling, the average plans for seniors were determined.

Some forget that not everyone wants to pursue higher education.

76%

Who knows which college? Choosing a college is one of the hardest decisions to make. However, for some, it’s already decided.

13%

11%

Who’s going to work? Not all jobs require a college degree. Many people want to go straight into the workforce after high school.

Who’s going to the armed forces? Many serve their country through the military before, or instead, of seeking higher education.

tiger times april 16, 2014

community

feature

FAVORITE MOVIE

Rocky

GRADUATING CLASS

Arkansas High, ‘78

FAVORITE ACTIVITY

Football games

FASHION TREND

Bell bottom jeans

photo by Carli Sharp

The Eagles

photo by Carli Sharp

FAVORITE BAND

MS. TEETERS

photo by Carli Sharp

compiled by Abby Hill and Anna Graves

photo by Alyssa Olalde

Teachers share their high school ‘favorites’

photo by Alyssa Olalde

#waybackwednesday

tiger times april 16, 2014

MR. ZACH

MRS. BAKERKIREEV

MRS. SPENCE

MR. SCHIRMER

Rush

Genesis

Jackson 5

Matchbox Twenty

Jaws

Silence of the Lambs

cannot remember

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

St. Bonaventure High, ‘81

Texas High, ‘03

Atlanta High, ‘74

Redwater High, ‘03

Basketball

Calculus Club

Cheerleading (first black cheerleader at AHS)

Baseball

Jean Co.

Bell bottom jeans

open button downs with a white T-shirt and cargo shorts/pants

Silky shirts

tiger times april 16, 2014

community

in-depth

“Sometimes, we have to ask our brother for money every now and then because we don’t have money to buy food. It’s kind of a hard life, because it’s stressful sometimes. My brother is trying to save up money for college, and we need money for food.” - Loretta Jones*

YOUNG AND INDEPENDENT Senior forced to mature quickly due to financial hardships BY CAROLINE PURTLE co-entertainment editor

According to the NCCP, “More than 16 million children in the United States – 22 percent of all children – live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level – $23,550 a year for a family of four. Research shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice that level to cover basic expenses. Using this standard, 45 percent of children live in lowincome.”

hat does one consider a privilege? A car, a bed, a homecooked meal? How about catching the bus on time after walking a mile? Or a couch to sleep on? Maybe a pack of Ramen Noodles. Sixteen million kids in America deal with situations like this daily and some with more extreme cases. They attend school like the rest of us. They deal with the issues of homework. We walk the exact same halls. Senior Walker Sorrell was born with the odds against him. He has been rejected from financial aid from the school due to the fact that his parents make, theoretically, enough money. “The school says I make too much money because of the fact they count both of my parents wages together, when they really aren’t,” Sorrell said. “My dad only pays for me when I’m with him. I do not receive any opportunities or financial aid.” Sorrell does not get to eat lunch at school. He does not even sleep in a bed, but on an old couch in the family den. “When [my parents] were together, they couldn’t afford the rent, so we moved in with my grandparents for three years,” Sorrell said. “These whole three years I’m sleeping on the floor. We just moved into this house with this lady. We found a futon and set it up in the living room.” Aside from his home life, he has to closely monitor his health. Receiving his most recent vaccination in eighth grade, never provided by the school, Sorrell deals with a troubling condition everyday. “I have heart problems. My ventrilica vein is small,” Sorrell said. “I’m probably going to have to have open heart surgery soon now.” The family’s income is tied down, crossed, turned and cut everywhere. Even the bus route fails to even meet him halfway. Sorrell has missed a week and a half of school the past two months. “Bus rides need to go farther,” Sorrell said. “The couple days I’ve been missing, if I wake up at 7:50, my mom just says stay home because she can’t take me. I would have to walk three miles to meet the bus halfway.” This taunting walk has been made before. Sorrell was forced to make this journey in tormenting weather. “The worst day was because the bus wouldn’t take me all the way,” Sorrell said. “It would drop me off and would make me walk the rest, which

tiger times feb. 16, 2014

Just another

HOPEFUL Student remains positive despite poverty

Students struggle to get out of poverty, search for better futures photos courtesy of creative commons

is 1.5 miles away, I Googled it. It was raining and then that cliche person drove by and hit the puddles and splashed me.” School projects that require special material and technology leaves almost no chance for some students to complete assignments. “If they involve poster boards, I would either not do it or someone would have an extra and give it to me,” Sorrell said. “I’m trying to keep my grades up as high as possible so I can graduate.” Kids are always overlooked by the state when it comes to funding. Even students overlook their peers when it comes to support. “I credit most of the help I get from the teachers and not the school,” Sorrell said. “The school has never paid for a dime in my life.” Sorrell has developed keen sense of planning and saving throughout his life. Never letting things go to waste. “That’s the best time in my childhood, when I got my Xbox 360, oh my gosh I almost cried,” Sorrell said. “The reason is I bought it as a kid, and I didn’t need my parents.” After high school, Sorrell is hoping to attend college in the future. With a couple of career options, new beginnings are within his grasp. “I’m going to hopefully find my own place and become a signed band,” Sorrell said. “I want to work for a while, then do some game design or work more with music.”

BY AMANDA HACKLEMAN hard life, because it’s stressful. My brother is trying viewpoint editor to save up money for college, and we need money for food. He understands that though. We try our best to story continued from page one never ever go hungry.” s a student at Texas High, she fights a silent When she looks around, Jones sees what no war every day. It’s a war that many across the one else can. She sees the underbelly of greed and globe share. It’s an internal and external fight wastefulness that most never even consider. However, that can leave those that are involved drained, hollow her lack of comforts make her grasp onto what others shells of the people they once were. One simple take for granted. word: poverty. “I can’t get a cell phone,” Jones said. “We have two Those locked in the vice tight grip of poverty have cell phones, one for the house and one for my mom little hope. Their plight goes mostly unheard in the to take. The house phone is for emergencies because vast, swirling masses of people that overpower their of the area. When someone gets a new cell phone small voices. By the world’s materialistic standards, and they just get their lives are not rid of the old one, good. Each morning because they have they wake up to enough money to struggles that they do it, what’s the must fight until they point of buying a lay down to sleep new cell phone if again. it works just fine? Loretta Jones’s* If it works just life is not easy. fine, you keep it. Even her home, That’s how my where most would house has always find sanctuary, been. Like people isn’t untouched with 20 pairs of by her position in shoes. I can’t buy society. The home 20 pairs of shoes. is small, with few Why can’t you just rooms. Looks from wear down the old the outside can be shoes and then go deceiving, as the buy new shoes? inside pays no justice You don’t need 20 to the exterior. Holes different pairs of litter the floor, with shoes. I only have measly wooden three pairs that fit planks to cover them, photo illustration paige huddleston / * model in illustration not Loretta Jones me because the causing hazards upon rest are huge.” entering and exiting. Further in, the home is even However, even with all the hardships, Loretta worse. Jones somehow always holds a smile on her face. “I live in two homes, one with my dad and one Even if her stomach is clenching in hunger, she with my mom.” Jones said. “My mom’s house is a smiles. Even if her home seems to fall apart around little run down. We try to make it as nice as we can. her, she smiles. Even if the money slowly disappears, My bed doesn’t have a standardized metal frame, which we’re going to try and buy soon. So I just keep leaving nothing to purchase basic necessities, she smiles. Her strength does not lie in any conventional it up with wooden stuff, which isn’t that bad unless terms, but in her ability to smile, to find joy in a life you jump on it really hard and it moves or it falls. that doesn’t seem fair, and to pass that joy onto others The bathroom is the worst, to me. Sometimes when we turn on the heat, because the heater is right inside she comes in contact with. “I just think about how it could have always been the bathroom, you can smell the burn sometimes.” a lot worse.” Jones said. “I could have had no home, Basic necessities such as food and water are never or no water, or electricity. My parents could have taken for granted in Jones’s house. Her family always been totally horrible people. But they’re not, they’re has to carefully consider where the money will come great. ‘Live for today and look forward to tomorrow,’ from to pay for their needs. Sacrifices are sometimes is my favorite quote. It could have always been worse, necessary. but it’s not. And I’m grateful to God for that.” “We could only pay for half of the house being And above all else, she has hope. When she looks made,” Jones said. “We’re trying to get the money to forward to her future, she doesn’t see continuing fix the other half, which is hard because jobs are hard poverty. What she sees is a long road which she must to find. We have a back room where we used to keep traverse to accomplish the goal of lifting herself out the laundry but we couldn’t keep it anymore because of the place she is now. That is her greatest desire. the laundry machine broke and we didn’t have “I want my life to change for the better.” Jones enough money to buy new laundry machines. Our said. “I want my mom and dad to stop struggling. faucets are broken. We only fixed one because that’s all we could at the time. We have a bucket under one That’s why I want to try my best to get a good college education. I hate disappointing my family. It makes of our faucets in the kitchen, and it fills up so we me feel bad. I wouldn’t change my family, but I pour it out.” would change our position. That’s what we’re all Jones and her siblings bond through their shared trying to do. My brother’s getting a job. My sister’s struggles. They each have to help each other through trying to find what she wants. And I’m trying to get the rough times in their life. “Sometimes we have to ask our brother for money, to where I want, too.” every now and then, because we don’t have money to buy food sometimes.” Jones said. “It’s kind of a *The name has been changed

BRICK in the wall

Senior Walker Sorrell stuggles to maintain success in school due to transportation and supply issues because of his family’s financial situation. photo by sydney steed

community

tiger times april 16, 2014

EVERY champion knows...THIS IS

THE PLACE TO BE! CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, Texarkana’s leader in heart care, has been chosen among a select few hospitals in the United States as an aﬃliate of the Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute.

Rated the No. 1 heart program in the nation for 19 years by US News and World Report, Cleveland Clinic will work along with CHRISTUS St. Michael to continue to provide innovative treatments for cardiovascuar disease to our patients. When we think of the advanced research, resources and knowledge this aﬃliation brings home to Texarkana, we can’t help but cheer.

OUR HEARTS beat for you.

To learn more about what this aﬃliation means to our community’s heart care, visit christusstmichael.org

5 MUST-HAVES FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL

THE 1

Heads up

LIST 2

Compiled by Brad Lenaway

Peeps

If colored eggs aren’t your thing, look to Peeps. Since 1954 the Just Born candy company has been producing the sweet, marshmallow bird. Despite the fact that the candy is practically made of pure sugar, it has been an Easter favorite since it was first introduced to the consumer market. You can pick these little guys up at the closest supermarket for $2. Once again, another app has taken the country by storm, but instead of Flappy Bird, it’s Heads Up. Created by Ellen DeGeneres, and shown on her TV show, this game is an addictive, backwards, game of charades. You hold your phone up to your forehead and try to guess the word from clues your friends are giving you.Voted four and a half stars on the Apple marketplace, any person with a smartphone (Apple or Android) can buy it for a $1.

XLR8

feature

tiger times april 16, 2014

Hockey Playoffs

Even though sports fans have been focused on the NCAA playoffs and their billion dollar brackets during a time that is rightfully named March Madness, hockey fans have rightly been focused on the NHL playoffs. It is shaping up to be a good finale for the season and should be interesting. Watch the playoffs on NBC, NBCSN, CNBC and the NHL network on today to be apart of the action.

Easter

Have you noticed how late Easter is? If not, to put it into perspective, it usually is celebrated sometime during the first weeks of March. However, this year, the date falls on April 20. This is because Christian holidays follow the lunar calendar, so Easter falls on this date completely at random. Instead of hunting eggs during the cold and damp days of early March, this year you will get to enjoy this holiday in the middle of spring.

Transcendence

Johnny Depp will yet again take the movie world by storm. In the newest thriller, “Transcendence,” he takes on the role of playing main protagonist, Dr. Will Caster, a genius in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Caster creates a system where a person can download themselves onto a computer; which not only allows an Artificial Intelligence to have human emotions but also the ability to evolve and understand anything in the physical or digital world. After being fatally wounded by an Anti-Artificial Intelligence organization, Caster is the first to successfully be downloaded. But because of his thirst for knowledge, he becomes the single most powerful enemy of mankind. “Transcendence” opens Friday.

feature

tiger times april 16, 2014

Gluten and guilt-free

To accommodate her gluten-free lifestyle, senior Laura Davis regularly shops at The Granary. Much like Whole Foods, The Granary, offers a wide selection of health foods, including gluten-free alternatives. “They have those really hard-to-find brands that you’d have to go to Dallas or Shreveport for,” Davis said. “They have a lot of organic stuff. A lot of organic and health food doesn’t have gluten in it anyway because [gluten] really is not that good for you. So, they have a lot of options. They even have buffalo meat there.” Due to the integrity of its stock, the prices are higher than traditional grocery store products. However, Davis notes that’s typical of a health food store. “Because it’s mostly fresh, it’s a lot more expensive. But it’s better than grocery store food,” Davis said. “Fresh fruit, fresh food always costs more. And, I guess having to substitute the gluten stuff makes it more expensive because you also can’t preserve it. [The Granary] offers a lot of gluten-free food and a wide variety. It’s healthier, too.” The Granary is located at 3425 New Boston Road and is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

photo by alyssa olalde

BY SYDNEY SCHOEN co-editor in chief

hello, my name is

JUSTYN photo by kelsi brinkmeyer

BY OLIVIA CORBETT staff writer

rec i

e e r n-f

BUYING HEALTHY & LOCAL: The Granary

Jan. 26, 2013, is the day she couldn’t eat cake anymore. Senior Laura Davis’ diet changed forever the day she found out she suffered from a condition that made her sensitive to gluten. Gluten, a protein found in products like wheat, barley and rye, proved to be the source of her constant stomach pain. “[Gluten] makes me swell. It makes me really nauseous. It makes me throw up within 30 minutes of eating it,” Davis said. Senior Laura Davis prepares to eat her gluten“You can’t eat what free lunch in the cafeteria. you normally eat. I feel a lot better though. It’s really healthy, and I don’t get as sick as much.” Typically trivialized by the media as being the celebrities’ guide to losing weight quickly, living a gluten-free lifestyle, however healthier, was not Davis’ ideal nourishment plan. “There’s not as much pleasure in food,” Davis said. “I was so used to eating everything, and then half of my diet was gone. I miss spaghetti. Because gluten-free spaghetti is just not good. And, sometimes, if there’s alternatives to foods, they’re still not very good. I mostly just eat a lot of vegetables; it’s not like substitutes.” Due to the specificity of the condition, Davis has found places to avoid and alternatives to fit her new lifestyle, including Gusano’s, Ironwood and The

Granary. “I have to avoid basically any Italian restaurant, pizza places, unless I 1 cup packed know specifically they brown sugar have a gluten-free 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 cup butter, softened menu. [I look for 1 1/2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla labels without] 2 eggs wheat. Sometimes, 2 1/2 cups Betty Crocker™ All-Purpose Gluten Free Rice Flour Blend I look for a 2 teaspoons xanthan gum gluten-free label. 1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder Or folic acid,” 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt Davis said. 1 bag (12 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups) “Gusano’s Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat sugars, butter gluten-free pizza and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed, or mix with is really good spoon, until well blended. Beat in eggs until light and because it tastes fluffy. In medium bowl, stir rice flour, xanthan gum, like actual pizza. baking powder, baking soda and salt until thoroughly Gusano’s makes blended. Stir flour mixture into butter mixture. Stir in it on a whole chocolate chips. On ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough by different grill. So, tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart. if you have celiac Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until light brown (centers will be soft). Cool 1 to 2 disease, you’ll be minutes; remove from cookie sheets golden.” to cooling racks. Store in tightly Although she covered container. doesn’t receive the same satisfaction from food as was previously received, Davis notes the benefits of living gluten-free. “The gluten-free lifestyle is becoming more prevalent in our society,” Davis said. “It’s healthier, and I think people are realizing that a lot of health problems could be caused by gluten, and it solves a lot of issues when you don’t eat it. You don’t have to go completely gluten-free if you’re not allergic to it or sensitive to it, but you can definitely work stuff in.”

late chip coo o c o kie ch

BY SYDNEY SCHOEN co-editor in chief

Uncomfortable. It was the only word to describe how she felt. “She.” She, her, Julia. None of it fit the way it was supposed to. The soft lines of femininity that she saw gazing back at her in mirrors were awkward, as though they were somehow too bulky, and yet too tight, for what she felt inside. No, not she. He. He, him, Justyn. According to the Williams Institute, freshman Justyn Moore, née Julia, is one of nearly 700,000 individuals in the U.S. who identify themselves as being transgender. His open personal acceptance of his atypical gender identity is a rarity, but even rarer is his willingness to express himself in a way that highlights his preferred gender. “I realized that I was transgender in seventh grade,” Moore said. “But I always knew that I liked girls instead of guys. I like to wear hoodies a lot because it makes me look like more of a guy, and cutting my hair helped.”

g l u te

photo by maegan jordan

Condition causes senior to eat healthier, live gluten-free

Moore plans to have gender reassignment surgery sometime in the future. According to an article by Ross Toro on livescience.com, only 100 to 500 of these procedures are performed each year in the U.S. “I do think that it will help me feel more comfortable, like in my own skin, you know?” Moore said. “I don’t care about the cost; I’ll find a way to make it happen.” Although a large percentage of the non-heterosexual population tend to find themselves facing opposition from persons less accepting, Moore has found himself generally at home in society, dealing with relatively little intolerance. “Pretty much everyone is okay with it unless they’re really snobby,” Moore said. “But then again it doesn’t matter. I would just blow it off like...’Whatever.’ It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t need their approval.”

sports

tiger times april 16, 2014

SWINGING IN SUCCESS Golf team adavances to region after first place district finish BY KRISTIN MCCASLAND staff writer After exceptional fall and spring seasons, both the boys and girls varsity golf teams have thus far dominated postseason play. The recent district tournament at Cypress Hills resulted in first place victories for both teams, as well as individual first place wins by junior Emma Edwards and sophomore Grayson Jones. “I feel like I did very well at district,” junior Cameryn Parsons said. “I smashed my tournament best and finally placed at district which was one of my goals.” Parsons won second place individually at district and helped bring the Lady Tigers to victory. “I think we will do well at regionals as long as we keep doing what we’re doing,” Parsons said. “As long as we practice hard this week, we should be able to make it to state.” It takes more than just practice at this level. Determination and focus are the key to success. “I’m definitely working on short game for regionals,” junior Kamie Westbrook said. “Chipping and putting are where you lose all your strokes.” These small adjustments will help Westbrook in future tournaments. “I didn’t do as well as I could have

PREPARING TO PUTT (above) Sophomore Grayson Jones walks across the green during the district tournament. Jones took first place for the boys. (right) Junior Madeline Hunley crouches to find the best angle for her putt. photos by z. baker

done, but hopefully regionals will be better,” Westbrook said. “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go to State.” Although Westbrook has high hopes, sophomore Reese Nichols knows that success at region will be more challenging. “Region will be a little tougher because the field will be more difficult,” Nichols said. “Overall, I feel like I’ll play pretty

well as long as I keep my game up.” Even though the sport can be difficult, the golfers are passionate about their game. “The best thing about being on the golf team is that I get to do what I love everyday,” Jones said. “I’ve worked hard to get this far and I’m glad it’s paying off.” The regional tournament continues today.

DISTRICT CHAMPIONS Walking down the path to another hole, junior Hannah Brantley carries her golf bag. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams are playing at regionals in Arlington after they won the district championship earlier this month. “I expect it to be a nerve-racking two days for the team and for the coach,” Brantley said. “I’m excited to see what we can do and to have fun with the team this week.” photo by z. baker

I’m going to miss that distinctive cholorine smell Like every other sport and activity, swimming is extremely time intensive. Much like how soccer players spend an eternity running under the sun and much like how thespians rehearse for days before a big play, swimmers spend hours upon hours going up and down a pool. Now when someone ends up doing something like this for a period of time, it becomes a part of their routine. A part of their life. And when something like swimming ends, there is a hole. Not simply a gap in one’s routine but a void in their life. As a, now former, swimmer, I firsthand know the feeling of being a part of a team. Being a member of the Tigersharks was like being a part of a family. We all went through the same thing everyday. Waking up before the crack of dawn. Getting fried at the hands of maniacal swim coaches. Going to bed sore, weary and reeking

ALWAYS OPINIONATED

JOSH KLEIN/co-editor in chief of chlorine. It was four years of sharing experiences like these and spending hours together traveling to swim meets that made us into that tight-knit family. From the first practice of freshman year, a bond was forged between us swimmers. Without any exaggeration, I can say that I spent more time with my teammates and coaches than I did with my family. Just

the sheer amount of time spent together built the friendships between us. And as each year went by, we made our farewells to the senior class. However, it never really did dawn on me that one day I’d have to follow in their footsteps. As the final meets of this last season began to dwindle by, the realization that I’d no longer be able to joke around with the people I love or train for the sport I love hit me like a sack of bricks. Knowing that this was my last season made it that much more bittersweet. Through the regional and state meets, the thought hung in the back of my mind. Every emotion and every ounce of strength that we all had was poured into those pools. It went back to every early morning practice, every meet, and every other moment I spent with my extended family. And even though the State meet didn’t go as well as

we all hoped, the experience of being there with my closest friends made it all worth the while. When it was all said and done, being a part of something greater was what made swimming for me great. Though don’t have to get up before the sun rises anymore, no longer being an integral member of the team is the most painful part of graduating from the team. The sudden drop from constantly training to lazing about makes the absence in one’s heart all that more painfully present. And try as I may to fill the void, nothing comes close to the camaraderie and friendship I found at every practice. Despite the fact that my swim career is over, the bonds made between the other seniors and I will endure. No matter what, I will forever consider myself a Tigershark. I guess one could say that that distinctive chlorine smell doesn’t ever go away.

for the

Love game

sports

tiger times april 16, 2014

PUMPED-UP KICKS

of the

Senior sets school soccer record, honored as player of week

Jones hopes to play college baseball BY MOLLY CROUCH staff writer Sweat drips down his hairline into the back of his jersey in the heat of the afternoon. A few cheers are called from the stands, but they go unnoticed by the batter. It’s a 3-2 count, and his grip on the bat tightens in anticipation and then relaxes as he makes eye contact with the pitcher winding up on the mound. With sweet satisfaction, he feels the center of the bat connect with the ball. In the rush of excitement, he turns into that little boy from Dixie for a split second, then he takes off. “I started playing when I was just 4. I knew that I wanted to keep playing baseball when I was 9,” senior Taylor Jones said. “I just enjoyed the game more than any other sport I had played.” The Dixie World Series is a tournament where all Dixie teams who win state go against each other to decide who is the best team in all of Dixie

Baseball for that age group. When Jones was younger, his team won and represented Texas in the tournament. “[My favorite memory] was when I was like 12,” Jones said. “It definitely had to be when my team won the Dixie World Series, and I pitched a one-hitter in the championship game. It was a great, fun experience, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.” Baseball may seem like just any other sport to most people, but for Jones, it’s his way of life. “[Baseball] can be cruel, unfair and heartbreaking at times,” Jones said. “It can also bring you a joy that’s unlike anything else like when you make a great play in the field, knock in the winning run or strike out the last batter to win a game.” Jones doesn’t take full credit for his talent, but instead, acknowledges a former coach as his inspiration for being the player he is today. “Neil Kugler really helped me a lot with my hitting and pitching,” Jones said. “I don’t

BY ABIGAIL HILL staff writer

WAY OF LIFE Senior Taylor Jones throws the ball during a home game. Jones want to continue to play baseball in college. photo by s. pritchard

think I would be as good of a hitter and pitcher today if it wasn’t for his coaching.” Most baseball players have a set routine before their games, but Jones only has one habit that keeps him on top of his game. “I am superstitious though. This year, I haven’t been wearing the team turfs that are given to us before the game,” Jones said. “Every time I wear my own shoes, I seem to hit better.” Jones’ plans for college

revolve around baseball. He is currently looking into playing for Southern Arkansas University, Henderson State or University of Arkansas-Little Rock. “I mainly want to go to SAU because their baseball program is so consistently good, but I would also like to go to UALR because they’re Division-I,” Jones said. “Just the chance to play college baseball would be great. I want to keep playing this game as long as I possibly can.”

Tales from the dugout Softball girls share thoughts on season, future of team BY ROBERT HOOVER sports editor Q: How do you feel the season has gone so far? A: “It’s been a pretty good season so far, we’ve had two losses but they were to really good teams. However, we should definitely make playoffs.” -Marissa Johnson, 12

UP TO BAT Looking for the right pitch, freshman varsity player Braley Turner goes up to bat during a home game against Marshall. photo by c. clem

Q: What are your expectations for next year? A: “We are going to have to find a pitcher. So, basically, I think we are going to have to be strong on defense next year unless we find a good pitcher.” -Kallie Phillips, 11

Q: How do you think the team will do this year at district? A: “We’ve got a really good team this year, so I think we will do well. We have had some off games, the only competition we’ve really struggled with is Hallsville but we did pretty good with them considering how good they are. But yeah, I feel confident about district.” -Braley Turner, 9 Q:What is the team’s practice schedule? A: “We practice Mondays and Thursdays. typically we have games on Tuesdays and Fridays. If we don’t have a game on Tuesdays, then we will practice then too.” -Marissa Johnson, 12

As the only senior on the girls varsity soccer team, Caroline Byrd has faced pressure, and contributed two high school records. She’s set an unprecedented number of high school career goals and goals scored in a single year. “I guess I just feel pressure from Coach Holly by needing to be a great example for the other girls,” Byrd said. “Although it’s great I got it, I wasn’t really trying to get the record.” As she zigzagged through Liberty Eylau’s defenders and pounded another shot into the goal, Byrd’s teammates shouted out the next number. 68. 69. 70. 70 goals in her overall high school soccer career. “I honestly had no idea I had broke the record when I did,” Byrd said. “After that, it was just how many goals I could actually get.” Not only did she defeat the previous record by surpassing 50 goals, she broke the record for number of goals in a single year. By making 27, she has left everyone else’s records in the dust. However, Byrd’s attention wasn’t focused on the records, but on her team. “I feel like it’s my job to make sure everyone is ready to play and to keep them pumped up” Byrd said. “I guess that’s why I’ve been able to do so well this year when it comes to game time.” Her impressive season caught the eye of the website www. topdrawersoccer.com, which highlighted Byrd as one of the NSCAA/TopDrawerSoccer.com High School Players of the Week. Even with all the honors this year, it’s been the memories she’s made on the team that will remain with her. “Soccer has been a part of my life since I was 4, so it means so much to me,” Byrd said. “I’m so proud to be a part of this team. Girls soccer has always been my second family. It’s great to be able to play your favorite sport and have great girls around you that you know care about you on and off the field.”

tiger times april 16, 2014

community

entertainment

Passing Popularity

BY DJ MACK co-entertainment editor

A timeline of fleeting mobile applications Doodle Jump April 6, 2009

As time passes various applications become boring and obsolete. These few games have raised the mobile gaming bar and have managed to entertain many useres. Here are a few that have graced the phones of many throughout the years.

Clash of Clans Aug 2, 2012

Plants v. Zombies Feb 15, 2010

Angry Birds Dec 2009

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

to our VIPS Board, Volunteer Parents and our

Partners in Education VIPS Board Members: Valarie Said, Vicki Post, Robyn Carter, Terri Gooden, Christy Paddock, Sonya Jaynes, Tamara Whitehorn, Cheryl Clem, Tina Bewley, Rosemary Russell, Autumn Phelps, Sara Weber, Jennifer Shelton, Kristi McCasland, Jennifer Shively

tiger times april 16, 2014

Temple Run Aug 4, 2011

A Touch of Health School of Massage Aaron Eye Care Abby Gayle’s Academy Sports Action Rentals Alexanders Jewelers All Rhythm Dance Studio Allison’s Party Supplies ALCOA Aloha Aire ALT Magazine American Signs & Banners Amigo Juan AR Tex Council of Governments AT & T Wireless Auntie Anne’s Pretzels BancropSouth Asset Management Bank of the Ozark BeautiControl-Sherry Norton BeautiContral Mobile Day Spa Best Buy Best Western Crossways ParkwayArkansas Boy Scouts of America Buffalo Wild Wings Burger King C & C Shoes Cable One Candlewood Suites-Cowhorn Creek Loop Capital One Bank Card & Party Factory Carino’s Italian Kitchen Chick Fil A -Central Mall Chick Fil A -Richmond Road Chicken Express Children’s Beginnings Chili’s Christus St. Michael Fitness Center Cici’s Pizza Classic Car Wash & Express Oil Change Center

Club 29:11 Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Cold Stone Creamery Colonial Cleaners Comet Cleaners Comfort Suites Hotel Cooper Service Cosmetology Academy of Texarkana Curves-Summerhill Road Daines Insurance & Financial Services Dillard’s Dixie Diner Dixie Grill Domino Federal Credit Union Domtar Edgewood Enterprise Rent a Car Express Personnel Services E-Z Mart Fairfield Inn & Suites FastSigns Firehouse Subs First Baptist Church Wake Village Four States Magazine Fun Country Park Gateway Tires & Service Centers Gayle’s Cosmetics Gerald Haire Realty Girl Scouts Diamonds Goins Plastics Golden Circle Sunday School ClassFBC Moores Lane Golden Corral Greening Mary Kay Guaranty Bond Bank Hampton Inn & Suites Hardy Memorial Harmon Glass Harvest Texarkana Healthcare Express Heritage Baptist Church

Candy Crush Nov 14, 2012

Flappy Bird May 24, 2013

Dragonvale Nov 9, 2012

Holiday Inn Express Holiday Inn Express-Cowhorn Creek Loop Horace Mann Insurance Company Hospice of Texarkana Humco Holdings Image Forward Photography Integrity Electrical Inc International Paper JCM Industries Jason’s Deli Johns Family Chiropractic Judith McCarty School of Dance Julies Deli & Market Junior Achievement Junior League of Greater Texarkana Keystone Self Storage Knight Nutrition Kohl’s Department Store Kool Smiles of Texarkana Kristy Smith State Farm KV Studios Las Colimas Lasterday Tees Life Share Blood Centers LinRock Health & Rehab Center Little Caesar’s Pizza Lone Star Trophy & Engraving LogoZon Publishing, LLC. Magic Springs Mariott Fairfield InInn & Suites Mary Kay Cosmetics Mathnasium Max Donuts Michael’s Arts & Craft Minton’s Sportsplex Mr. Speedy Car Care Mt. Orange Baptist Church Mt. Zion Baptist Church Oak Street Baptist Church Offenhauser Insurance Company Old Navy

Heads Up! May 30, 2013

Olive Garden On the Border Mexican Grill Organic Gold Oubre Animal Clinic Outback Steakhouse Pace Glass Papa John’s Pizza Papa Murphys Parks Diamond Jewelers Patterson Pest Patrol Pearson Heating & Air Conditioning Pediatric Dentistry of Texarkana People State Bank Pillow Termite & Pest Control Pizza Inn Progressive Hair Design Red River Federal Credit Union Red River Lumber Redlick Christian Childcare Regions Bank Renew Medical Spa Retired and Seniors Volunteer Program Rid X Termite & Pest Control Ruby Tuesday Sandra’s Stones Scrapbookers Emporium Shambarger Orthodontics Shoe Carnival Silver Spoon Skate America Smiles of Arkansas Dental Center Sprint Sportsmagic St. James St. Luke United Methodist Church Starbucks Coffee State Farm Insurance-Larry Oxford Subies Deli & Grill Super 1 Foods Taco Bell Target

TCBY Texar Federal Credit Union Texarkana College Texarkana Community Journal Texarkana Embroidery Graphics Texarkana Fire Department Texarkana Golf Ranch Texarkana Jiu Jitsu Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanity Coucil Texarkana Volunteer Center Texas A&M University Texarkana Texas Roadhouse The Kids Spot The Oil Changer The Pop Pop Shoppe The Sanctuary Medical Spa Twin Cities Taekwondo Twisted Vines a Floral Studio United Way Of Greater Texarkana Valic Verion Wireless Waffle House Wake Village Lions Club Wal Mart Superstore #2123 Wells Fargo Bank Wendy’s Westridge Apartments Williams Memorial United Methodist Church Windstream Communications Wing Stop

tiger times april 16, 2014

Aerial Assist

photo story Rummaging through tools, junior member, Kendal Link tries to assemble bumpers.

Team 3350 travels to compete in the New Orleans Bayou regional PHOTOS & STORY BY SAVANNAH PRITCHARD photographer

The T-Bots traveled to New Orleans for the Bayou Regional in the FRC robotics competition. This was the second regional the team has competed in this school year where more than 50 teams were involved. To compete, the team was required to be involved in different areas of the competition. Members appointed a drive team, which controlled the robot on the playing field. A video was constructed in order to be judged for awards such as the Chairman’s award. Other team members were sent out to work on communications skills for the future by scouting and talking to other competing teams about their robots. The challenge that the teams’ robot was built to complete was named Aerial Assist for the use of team work and throwing that the robots would have to utilize. Ending the competition, the T-Bots, team 3350, were not chosen to advance with other teams into later matches.

T-Bots members crowd around an inspector with high hopes that the team’s robot passes through inspection.

Trying to repair the robot after their first match, junior Selwin George searches through scrap metal for the perfect piece.

The Drive Team, consisting of juniors Selwin George, Matthew Crawford and senior JR Portwood sit through an informational meeting before matches begin.

E K MA R U YO R E M M SU T N U O C 20

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tiger times feb. 13, 2014

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