Titan Scroll Dec. 11, 2009

Lee’s Summit West High School 2600 SW Ward Road Lee’s Summit, MO 64082 Volume VI Edition 4

www.lswjournalism.com

TitanScroll

Friday Dec. 11, 2009

Seasons grow darker; S.A.D. sets in

T

he holidays may be ‘delightful’ for some; but each year, people around the world experience ‘frightful’ emotions that begin as the weather grows cold.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D. for short, is a condition in which those affected become depressed when the weather gets colder, and more importantly, the days grow shorter and darker. Pg. 5

Photo by Elisa Cox Photo illustration by Kayla Cambers

2

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Titan Scroll

LS high schools team up for the community Katey Stoetzel After a seven year battle, West Side Stage joined with three other community theatre troupes to win the Cornucopia Award for the National Trick–or–Treat So Kids Can Eat program.

The Cornucopia Award is given to the team who collects the largest amount of food for a local food collection agency.

“It turned out that we beat the team from Witchita by 200 pounds, which is ironic because the last two years they have beaten us by 300,” said theater director Ben Martin.

Witchita had 12 schools participating, compared to Lee’s Summit’s four.

West, LSHS, LSN, and LSCCS joined forces on Halloween and collected 11, 147 pounds of food for Lee’s Summit Social Services.

TOTS-Eat is a program run by the

Members of the LSW Thespian Society participated in the TOTSEat program to support the community “because hunger is a scary thing.”

Photo by Ryan Babcock.

International Thespian Society. In order for a school to participate in this event, it has to have a Thespian group.

“All the food we collected goes to the Lee’s Summit Social Services,” said Martin.

The first year that WSS joined in on the program, they collected 2,500 pounds of food, and the amount has increased every year.

“We met at the school and split up into groups and went to different neighborhoods, knocking on doors and asking for food,” said Sophomore Melanie Bosley. “I thought it was really fun because it didn’t really feel like community service.”

“It is very easy to get caught up in the competition,” said Martin. “You just have to remember why you are doing this. The fact that we won first

prize just means we did a better job at collecting food for Lee’s Summit Social Services.”

On top of the first place award, the Lee’s Summit Team also won the Community Spirit Award for being the first team to sign up. Missouri as a whole won its division for number of troupes participating and amount collected.

“Awards are a very nice by-product, but that’s all they are. They are not the real reason why we are doing this,” said Martin.

Martin also said that there were about 80 people from West involved and that West collected the most pounds of food, but he wanted to make clear “it’s not a competition between the schools, because we are working together.”

Nationwide, 300 Thespian troupes collected a total of 308,000 pounds of food to feed the nation’s hungry.

Celebration PARTY RENTALS, INC.

1212 SW CENTURY DR. LEE’S SUMMIT, MO 64081

PHONE: (816) 525-8568 FAX: (816) 246-2007 WWW.CELEBRATEKC.COM

YOUR PARTY ... OUR PLEASURE 16014 S. 291 • 1/2 Mile South of 150 Hwy on 291 • 537-6534

Daveʼs Auto Repair, Inc. Dot & State Inspections Used Car Sales

Boats Motor Homes Cars and Trucks

Diesels Farm Equipment Heavy Equipment

Dec. 11, 2009

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

3

Military families cherish holiday time together Ally McEntire It’s Christmas Eve, and everyone is cozy by the fire about to open gifts before heading off to dream of sugarplums. But someone’s missing.

Dad, who usually hands out the presents, isn’t there. He’s hundreds of miles away fighting to protect the nation’s freedom.

That changes things.

This happens to families all over the nation — brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers go off to fight leaving behind a gap they were supposed to fill for the holidays.

It’s no different at West. Junior Kalli Lauver and Freshman Shaun Lauver have personal experience.

Their dad has been gone the past two holiday seasons.

“It’s been really hard with him being gone,” Kallie Lauver said. “The holidays are meant to be spent with family and it’s difficult when he wasn’t here.”

Senior Jessica Clough and Freshman Matt Clough can relate.

Their father, who has been in the Air Force more than 25 years, was overseas last Christmas as well.

“I was really upset when I found out he wasn’t going to be here,” said Jessica. “He has always been here for the holidays.”

For the Lauvers, the traditions their family knew were mostly unchanged.

“Usually we spend the holidays at my grandparents with close family,” Kalli said. “Nothing really changed, we just kept him in our prayers and thoughts during time spent together.”

But for the Cloughs, a bigger hole was left in the family.

“He usually cooks dinner and he wasn’t here to do that,” Jessica said. “He also usually hands out the presents and that was different last year while he was gone.”

Both families said they tried their best to stay in contact with their fathers.

“We could talk on the phone, but it was hard because there was a delay, and we would e-mail a lot,” Kalli said.

“We kept in touch over the birthday is two days after Christmas. togetherness. The family plans on computer as much as we could and So it’s kind of a really tough thing for sending her gifts while she’s there. sent a lot of pictures,” said Jessica. her,” said Klinkenberg.

“Having someone overseas really “It was really hard to know he was Klinkenberg said that it’s going to makes you think about those who by himself for Christmas last year be strange without her there. Usually, have lost. It makes me really glad instead of with his family.” he said, she participates in opening nothing has happened. It really makes This Christmas though, both presents, enjoying family and you think,” said Klinkenberg. families will be whole once again.

“It will be good to have the family all together again,” said Jessica.

Kalli agreed.

“The holidays will be more relaxed,” she said.

However, there are families at West who will be split over the holidays.

Junior Ken Klinkenberg’s sister will be overseas this Christmas.

“She’s been in the military for three years now,” said Klinkenberg. “This is the first time she was stationed.

Before this she was Titan father Michael Lauver, above and center of the photo below, is home for the holidays this year after in Hawaii.”

K l i n ke n b e r g ’s being overseas during the last two holiday seasons. Photos courtesy of Lauver family. sister was deployed to Iraq in July and will return in February.

“It was kind of a shock,” he said.

“You hear about the stories, but you never think it’s gonna happen to you.”

They stay in contact over facebook and try to chat often.

“It’s going to be hard. Her daughter, my niece, is staying with me. She’s only six. We have to keep her in contact with her mother. Her

4

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Titan Scroll

‘Don’t stress over the test’ Sydnee Owens

Finals are required; but some students struggle to take them seriously since they usually make little difference in the semester grade.

Others may worry too much.

“Finals really don’t help grades that much. They have the ability to maintain a grade,” said English teacher Stephanie Ward.

Finals are worth 10 percent of the grade, so if a student gets a zero on the final it would drop their grade by 10 percent.

“The most I’ve ever seen a final truly bring a grade down is three percent. Finals can only increase grades by one percent, maybe two percent if the student really aces the final,” said Ward.

With the final only being worth 10 percent, students should realize it is important, but it is not going to break or make the semester.

“The final is only worth 10 percent.

So even with a minimal effort, more than likely it will not effect a student’s grade one way or the other,” said Math teacher Robert Rossiter.

“We want our students to do well, but I don’t want them to excessively stress out about finals,” said Principal Dr. Cindy Bateman.

Even so, many students will naturally fret about finals, like anyone would with any big test.

“If I have a low A, then I’m worried when it comes to the final,” said Sophomore Michael Weise.

“I have to say, when it comes to final time I get really nervous and stressed out,” Sophomore Spencer Chaney said.

“The kids that do study usually do well on the final, and finals are not a problem for them. I think that kids take the final as seriously as they take the class,” said Ward.

Some students said they feel they get a lot of pressure from parents and teachers to do well on finals. Instead of encouraging them, that pressure they aid sometimes just stresses them out more.

“My parents say ‘you better get a good grade to get into college.’ They’re disappointed if I get a B,” said Weise.

“My parents don’t put a lot of pressure on me. They’re constantly telling me to study for finals though,” said MaKenzie. “Teachers put more pressure on you. They just want you

before Christmas break. I think it gives students a feeling of completion.

They can go enjoy break and then come back ready to get back to work,” said Bateman.

To many students’ relief, only a few classes will have to take the constructed response on the final this year.

“Based on 2009 FALL FINAL SCHEDULE the EOC [End of Course 12/16

FINALS TIMES exam] not

Hour 3 7:30-9:00 requiring a

Hour 5 9:05-10:35 c o n s t r u c t e d

Hour 7 12:53-2:23 response, there 12/17 FINALS TIMES will be less

Hour 2 7:30-9:00 constructed

Hour 4 9:05-10:35 responses on

Hour 6 12:53-2:23 the finals this 12/18 FINALS

TIMES year,” said

Hour 1 7:30-9:00 Bateman.

Advisory 9:05-9:25 Finals are

Candle Lighting 9:25-10:30 just getting

to do great. I don’t think it’s that overwhelming.”

However, the teachers understand the stress of finals for students.

“I like to be a part of the committee that writes the test. I feel like if it’s essential knowledge, I want students to have it, if I don’t think it’s important then I throw it out,” said Ward.

“Teachers make finals a really big deal. They need to calm down,” said Chaney. “Teachers make students nervous because they make finals such a big deal,” said Weise. “Then sometimes when I take the final I’ll get nervous and forget easy things that I should know.”

“Teachers feel sorry for kids, we really do, but I think it’s just a fact of life that life is a test,” said Ward.

“It’s taking on a lot of stuff at one time. It’s a lot of stress,” said MaKenzie.

But after the finals week is over, everyone can breathe a huge sigh of relief.

“After finals, you’re done with the semester,” said Chaney.

“I’m happy we get to give finals

students used to what they will encounter beyond high school.

“All of life is a test. You have to take a test to get into college. When you get into college you have to take a test to stay in college. You have to take a test to take a test,” explained Ward.

“In adult life you have exams and students need to know to move forward, sometimes it comes down to a test,” said Bateman.

“Finals serve as a mode of assessing the cumulative academic progress of a student,” said Rossiter.

“Kids should take the final seriously, because unfortunately, I don’t think it will ever change,” said Ward.

“Finals are just one of those hoops you have to jump through. There’s pressure in life and in high school you’re just starting to get to it,” she said.

Dec. 11, 2009

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Seasons grow darker; S.A.D. sets in Ally McEntire Seasonal Affective Disorder occurs in some people because of less exposure to full spectrum light. That, in the northern hemisphere, is the immense sunshine of the spring and summer months.

The neurochemicals in the brain are affected, causing the person to experience depression in the form of an altered sleep pattern, eating more frequently, and in general, feeling disconnected, said Dr. Brian Barash.

Senior Chay Mehl knows this firsthand. Last year her psychology class studied the disorder, and Mehl felt a connection.

“I was like, wow, I feel like this all the time,” she said.

“It’s associated with lack of sunlight,” said Barash. “You don’t have to live in Washington or Oregon to have it.”

“During the summertime, I love the sun. I love to be warm, I’m happy all the time,” said Mehl.

Barash said that patients typically begin to feel the effects in the latter part of fall, through the winter.

“When it starts getting colder, I get like, instantly grumpy,” Mehl said. “Wintertime I have almost like a personality change.”

“To us in the mental health field, depression is depression is depression,” Barash said. “If it’s severe, getting in the way, we start medication.”

Junior Taylor Fritz studied S.A.D. in his Psychology class. “I think that teens and adults are affected by it rather than children,” he said.

There are three main ways to treat S.A.D., said Barash. The first, he said, is medication. These pills increase serotonin levels in the body, which control a person’s happiness; certain vitamins can also be used.

The medications help the users sleep cycle, which makes them more alert and pleasant during the day.

Light therapy is another treatment method. “30 minutes to an hour a day

mimics wavelength from the sun,” said Barash.

These “light boxes” can be purchased at Home Depot, the Home Living Store, and various other home improvement stores.

The neurological connection between the retina — the back of the eye — and the brain is stimulated, said Barash. Often psychiatrists ask their patients to change out lightbulbs around the house with these alternate bulbs to increase exposure.

Breathing in negative air can be positive for S.A.D. as well. Air ionizers put a negative charge on air. Barash said some data proves breathing in this air has an effect on the brain that increases happiness.

Barash said that people located in places that are geographically darker are more prone to develop S.A.D. For instance, in Alaska, where there is less daylight for a little more than two-thirds of the day in the Winter.

Symptoms include sleeping more, eating more, decreased interest

5

levels, less energy, thoughts of suicide, excessive guilt for no obvious reason, things feeling suddenly unreal, feeling outside of the body, and feeling disconnected. These are all symptoms of standard depression, but someone afflicted with S.A.D. experiences these seasonally.

“I’m grumpy, I’m easily irritated, very depressed, which is weird,” said Mehl. “I get sleepy, I feel like I want to hibernate. I eat more. But I feel really depressed all the time.”

“You can tell people take longer to get places. Like, you can’t just run out to your car,” said Fritz.

Deciding to what degree does an intervention need to be made is the job of psychiatrists. Barash said “The biggest question for us is what degree are the symptoms interfering with day-to-day activities.”

“I feel like it’s normal that people get depressed during the wintertime,” said Mehl. “There’d be no point in it [treatment]. It would be a waste of money. I try to get more sunlight.””

our Y e p o We H n is o s a e S Holiday

d e f f u t S ss!

ine p p a H with

Happy Holidays from your friends and family at

301 SE Main • 1251 SW Oldham Parkway Lee’s Summit • 816.554.7000 • 816.246.8555 800.937.9104 • www.fcbankonline.com 12-07-2009-LSW-Holidays-1.indd 1

12/7/2009 12:34:26 PM

6

Titan Scroll

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

!"#$!%&'($)'*$+(',-.($/'.01$23*,4$ %

$

69=$)>>$ !.?$$ @3..A.B$ /30#3B-4$

>7*?=9'<)7@%*4"%3":$)'$%&1A1B1%

&'7:"$$%A"?C"<*)=7% B55:)<6*)=7% $

>A*"($+-""A&.$$ ).C?$D<8<9$DE+F%G6:'"H% %

I:6/:"$$%3=:=?% J5"7%K"$)@7$ !

!

! "#$%!&%'()*+(*#,'!-../0!

! "#$%!&%'()*+(*#,'!-../0!

High school is hard...

Smiling shouldn’t be!

519 SW 3rd St. Suite G. Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 FenderFamilyDentistry.com Phone: 816-524-3434 Fax: 816-524-3622

Roger L. Fender. D.D.S.

!""#$%&'(()*% +,-%./01%2%34)5(67%891%

56789:;8:<76$ ///13":$)'$;671<=(%

Steven J Prstojevich MD, DDS, FACS Matthew R Hlavacek MD, DDS Oral, Facial, and Cosmetic Surgical Care Board Certified

Titan True 816-524-4334 www.facialspectrum.com

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Dec. 11, 2009

Staff Editioral: Ally McEntire Very few people are enthusiastic about the word “Finals.”

Teachers tend to push finals on students and encourage studying and good test preparation habits; but the truth is, most students rarely make a huge effort on them.

If a student’s grade is good in a particular class, the realization that the final isn’t going to have much of an impact only encourages a lack of excitement to really try.

Regardless, students have to take them. Some students see this as just an end-of-the-semester opportunity to slack off, and others consider putting in a little effort.

It is mathematically true, that the only students significantly affected by their performance on finals are those who have a grade teetering on the line between two grades.

Other than that, the student has to absolutely bomb the final to really

Dreaming of Decimals

7

lower his grade; or, he must initially have a bad grade, and really kick it into gear, for the final to make a difference in his semester grade.

If a student has a good grade in the class, he is probably going to continue to put effort into it. In most cases, the student who has a low grade will probably continue doing what he has been doing to get him a low grade in the first place.

The general idea of a final is to test what a student has learned over the course of the entire semester.

If this doesn’t happen, it basically defeats the purpose of a final and with that focus taken away, students likely see no point to really try.

All that being said, finals last three days — a relatively short period of time. After that, winter break arrives when there is plenty of time to slack off.

Why not make a real effort and finish the semester strong?

This I Believe: Making fun is not funny

Steve Rhodes When people make fun of other people it’s just not right. That discourages them.

When someone makes fun of another person, that hurts. It’s happened to me before.

It makes you feel bad. It makes you feel like you’re not worth anything;

like you’re just there.

One time, I was walking up the stairs, when I lived in Harrisonville.

We had a two-story school. One of these kids I knew, he tripped me.

My nose started bleeding. Everyone was laughing. Only one kid had the courage to come up and ask if I was okay.

Since that day, I was just angry at the kid who tripped me. I wanted to start a fight. I wanted to bring violence into it, and that’s not the way to go. Violence only equals more violence. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

Ever since that day, I’ve never hurt anyone as a joke. I stand up for people. Before, I was the kid who just sat there and watched it. But when it happened to me, I knew how it felt, and so I decided to stick up for anyone going through the same thing.

It doesn’t matter if they’re different. They don’t deserve that treatment.

A lot of people don’t realize when they’re causing someone else pain.

But they need to realize that making a joke out of someone else’s misfortune isn’t ever okay.

Some people don’t do it every day.

They do it every once and a while. But that’s not okay either. It’s like drugs.

Maybe you start out using only a little, but it just progresses.

There are people who are my friends who used to use mean humor, and I talked to them; told them I didn’t think that it was right. They agreed. I gave them suggestions of things they could use instead as jokes.

It’s your spirit that determines if you are nice or mean. It’s hard to change, but it can be done. It takes time and effort, but changing the

way you act toward other people is something that can and should be done.

People here at West are more accepting. In Harrisonville, there is one group who thinks they’re the best. West is more equal; that’s awesome. No one feels left out.

There are other things that can be said or done to be funny. You don’t have to tease another person or put them down. You can make a real, genuine joke that doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings, or use their pain as humor.

If your friends do it, talk to them about it. Make a stand, and give them ideas for change, you don’t have to be mean about it, but say something.

Steve Rhodes is a freshman involved in ROTC, known for his outgoing, friendly personality and unique ability to make funny sounds!

8

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Rylee’s Reality

Commentary by Rylee Webster It takes a certain kind of person to be a teacher.

You have to have tolerance and patience to put up with a bunch of loud, chatty kids all day long. Plus, you have to be able to outsmart your

Titan Scroll

Who deserves the biggest paycheck?

kids when they try to pull one over on you. Most importantly, you have to be able to connect with the students in a way that will help them learn the things they have to in order to be successful.

Students think they can tell the good teachers from the bad ones. We critique the way we are taught even though we usually don’t know a thing about the right way to teach hardheaded students.

As easily as we can pick out the bad teachers, we can pick out the good teachers, too. The teachers who actually love coming in to work despite getting up early and possibly staying late and having to explain a simple set of directions multiple times just to get it through the thick skulls of their students and still pull

it off with a smile on their face are the good ones.

Maybe it’s the bottomless cup of coffee that gets them through the day, but nevertheless, they deserve a lot more than they get.

Most teachers’ paychecks do not reflect the work they put in to their job and yet, professional athletes get paychecks big enough to buy eight cars, at least two houses, and go through a few divorces.

However, being an athlete isn’t an easy thing to do. It takes work, dedication, and natural talent that some people don’t have, but do they really need to get paid all this money while teachers work hard to make a difference in the lives of their students?

People like doctors and lawyers

make pretty good money, as well, but they do work that helps our society.

Doctors work to make new discoveries in medicine and pave the way for the rest of us and lawyers help people get what they deserve in the court room when they feel wrongfully accused.

If lawyers get paid to defend the law and doctors get paid to help people get better and teachers get paid to teach students who may become a doctor or lawyer in the future, then why is there such a difference in pay if everybody’s helping someone?

Because everybody works hard at doing something they love, maybe paychecks should reflect the impact these people have on other people’s lives.

Listen to Elisa

Which female vocalists are worthy of the A-list?

Commentary by Elisa Cox

The New York based alternative band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have become a pretty well known band in the alternative scene. Recently I started listening to the band’s albums, specifically “It’s Blitz!,” and realized why they are getting all the attention.

The band started in 2000, and in late 2001 the band released their first EP. They then started touring and started to become known for their unique songs.

The band has released three studio albums so far; 2003’s “Fever to Tell”, 2006’s “Show Your Bones”, and the most recent release 2009’s “It’s Blitz!.”

The thing that appeals to the majority of listeners the most is front-woman Karen O’s, born Karen

Orzolek, interesting vocals and style When talking about Orzolek, Sophomore Nicole Roe says, “She should be a wonder of the world.”

Overall, I am not the biggest fan of female-fronted bands. Few seem to keep me interested, such as Alison Mosshart of The Dead Weather and The Kills, Tegan and Sara, and of course, Hayley Williams of Paramore.

But, it is always nice to find a band with a good female vocalist that knows what they are doing. Usually bands that are female fronted sound cheesy or poppy.

Orzolek is known for her unusual clothing style and interesting stage presence. Her outrageous outfits during live performances makes her performance stand out.

The thing that stands out the most

though is her voice of course.

On “It’s Blitz!,” songs such as “Dull Life” and “Runaway” are great examples of her vocal range. She not only can hit notes, but she is not boring to listen to. She changes up how she sings throughout songs and always is trying new things.

Recently, Karen O worked on the the “Where the Wild Things Are” soundtrack. The songs on the soundtrack gave the film a folk kind of feeling and fully showed that the singer can not only sing, but can write songs that have feeling, and that can create different moods.

The next time you are looking for something new to listen to, anything by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is a worthy option.

Dec. 11, 2009

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Maintaining composure in front of camera

this huge show and at the end they say ‘we want you as a model, or we Modeling has changed the lives of don’t’,” said Oswald. Luckily for Juniors Taylor Oswald and Andrew Oswald and her two sisters, the agency Rios. Since they were each ten or wanted to sign all three of the girls. younger, they have modeled as a side For Rios, modeling was not always job. Each are signed with Hoffman something he wanted for himself.

International out of Overland “Whenever I was little I was really Park and Advantage Models out of scared to do it, but my parents got Nashville. me started. After awhile I started Oswald was inspired to become a getting jobs and making money I model after the first time she watched started liking it a lot,” said Rios.

America’s Next Top Model. She told At first, shoots were nerve-racking her mom that she wanted to do what for Rios but after nine years he has the girls on the show did, and that gotten used to them. “Now I’m began her modeling career. Her mom comfortable with it and its really fun took pictures of Oswald as well as her and easy,” said Rios. For her first shoot, two younger sisters Ashlyn and Kiley. Oswald was very nervous as well.

They took the pictures to an agency “My first shoot wasn’t as good as and quickly began a number of courses. I thought it would be, but I have the The girls learned etiquette, how to most wonderful photographer in the walk the runway, which Oswald says world; Jeff Nickolson. He’s worked is much harder than people think; with Michael Jackson, he recently did how to do makeup, about clothing, a movie with Corbin Bleu, he works a and what’s going on in fashion. lot with Nickelodeon and Disney, he “Then we have a test at the very did a bunch of stuff for High School end and we have a big fashion show. Musical,” said Oswald. “He’s the best We create our own outfits and have guy ever and just makes you feel so comfortable. I was so nervous, but at the same time I felt comfortable, it just felt right. I couldn’t believe it was happening, but it was a lot of fun.”

Once the two got past their nerves, jobs and opportunities began lining up. One of Rio’s favorite shoots was for Oceans of Fun. He got to play at the park all day long, and one of the pictures ended up being used on the OOF ticket.

Oswald commented on one of her favorite shoots that, “Basically I had a family but we didn’t shoot together, we shot separate and then the photographer put us all together. I had an annoying little brother so I had to pretend that he was there, Modeling photo courtesy Junior Taylor Oswald and pretend that I was

Jenna Keeble

9

yelling at him but I was yelling and that modeling has taught them to giving funny looks to nothing. Plus I more comfortable in their own skin. was a Gothic person so I had all this Oswald said that, “Modeling has crazy eye-shadow and crazy clothes changed my life, I’m so much happier and it was really interesting. I felt like now that I’ve been doing it. Before I such a dork, but it came out well.” wasn’t fully confident in myself, but Both Oswald and Rios have recently now it’s a whole new me and I love done shoots that aren’t out yet, that. Rios said that, “I’ve learned to be but they are very excited to see the more of an outgoing person. I still am finished products. Rios’ photos will shy but this has helped me out a lot.” be used in a graduation campaign. Modeling has become a huge “In May I’ll be in posters and banners part of each of their lives, and they in stores nationwide,” said Rios. both see themselves continuing it Oswald’s shoot was for a Hallmark in the future at least as a side job. card. It was held at the Plaza with The two said that modeling isn’t two other teenagers. They had to as stereotypical as it is perceived. pretend to be best friends, and the “There’s a wide range of models — card will be a parent to teen card. It’s you don’t have to be 100 pounds and not out yet, but Oswald is excited to 5’9’’. There’s so many things you can be able to go to the store and buy it. model for,” said Oswald. Rios agreed Over the summer, Oswald and Rios that modeling is easier than people spent two weeks in Florida at AMTC; a think, and anyone can do it.

Christian based modeling convention.

“There was acting, competitions for monologue and scene read and improv, singing competitions, dance, photography, all these different things. There were agents from all across the country looking for people.

It was just a really great experience,” Oswald said.

The money that the two earn helps in a variety of ways.

Oswald’s parents let her keep a portion of her earnings. “I get part of it to spend however I want, but most of it goes into savings for college which is where it needs to be.” Rios also spends some of the money on things for himself, but saves the rest.

The two agree Modeling photo, courtesy Junior Andrew Rios

10

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Titan Scroll

BWB. Believe it. Achieve it.

Emily Argotsinger

Call it intuition, a premonition, or maybe just motherly instinct.

Whatever it was, Kathi Hertzog had a feeling something was wrong. It was a mother’s natural way of knowing something was not right with her child.

So the call from the doctor saying her daughter had leukemia, was only a confirmation of her worst fear.

“I wasn’t surprised. I mean, you are still in shock, but I just knew,” Kathi said. On Oct. 26, 2009, Rebecca Hertzog, a 2008 LSW graduate, was diagnosed with leukemia, cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

The diagnosis came after a stressful month of not knowing what was wrong. It all started on Sept. 15 when Becca woke up one morning at school, Pittsburg State University, with a horrible rash all over her stomach.

“It started on my right side and did a u-shape all the way down my stomach and back up my left side. It was red and really itchy,” Becca said.

She went to the student health center where the nurses administered her amoxicillin. However, the next morning, the rash spread to her legs.

“She sent me a picture and I thought it might be poison ivy because of the way it looked,” Kathi said. “The nurses thought it was strep rash.”

Becca was sent to urgent care to get a steroid shot and have her blood drawn to see if she had strep in her blood.

On Sept. 21 the nurses called and said her white blood count had come back low. She was then sent to Pitt State Health Center for further testing.

“I got blood work done every single Wednesday from then on because they didn’t know what was wrong,” Becca said.

Not knowing can be one of the hardest parts. So when Becca saw science teacher, Jay Meyer, at the gym, she shared with him what she was going through.

“When you are dealing with the unknown it is very stressful,” Meyer said, whose wife is a four year colon cancer survivor.

“Talking to someone different with an outside perspective about it at that time was what she needed,” Meyer said. “I’m honored that she trusted me

to talk to.” sugarcoat it. I told her, you’re going to After two weeks of blood work, feel sick. You’re going to feel tired, but Becca and her parents met with Dr. you’re going to get through it.”

Matthew at Pitt State Health Center to The pep talk from Meyer motivated get additional blood work done and to Becca to not give up and to remain go over all her past medical history. enthusiastic. “I want to stay positive,” “He thought it was just an infection she said. “The day I found out was the because no abnormal cells were found last day I cried.” The next morning, in my blood under a microscope,” said Kathi saw just how strong Becca was.

Becca.

“Becca told me-‘I know you are going However, her blood counts continued to be sad and break down, but don’t do to drop alarmingly low. it in front of me. I don’t want people “When I went back my white blood to feel sorry for me. I need a positive count was 1.8. It’s supposed to be 4.5 attitude and environment. This isn’t to 11.0, and my hemoglobin was 10.5, going to break me down; I’m going to which is supposed to be from 12.0- fight this .’”

15.5,” Becca said.

That is when Dr. Matthew decided more than Becca’s blood needed to be examined, and scheduled her for a bone marrow test on Oct. 23.

“We knew no news was good news,” Kathi said. “The Friday before the doctor called, I called my kids and told them they needed to prepare themselves because I just had this feeling something was really wrong.”

‘08 Lee’s Summit West graduate Rebecca Hertzog The Hertzogs received news recently was diagnosed with leukemia; her photos only three short days later, and blog can be seen at her caringbridge website. and like Kathi expected, it was not good; Becca had leukemia.

“My parents showed up at my house Her fight began the next day when at Pitt and I knew something was she was admitted to the KU Medical wrong,” Becca said. “I asked them if the Center to begin treatment. doctor had called, and they said yes- “When I got to KU the first thing they you have leukemia.” did was put a pick line in my arm that At first, that information was too runs to my heart and ran tests for my unfathomable to process. heart,” said Becca. “That night I started “I was in so much shock. I didn’t chemotherapy.” Becca continued to get it. I have always been so athletic undergo chemotherapy until Nov. 4, and always eaten so healthy,” Becca during which all of her cell counts said. “I was like, why did this happen got wiped out so that new, good cells to me?” Through the devastation came could replace the bad ones. Because enduring support from friends and her cell counts fell so low, Becca was family. very susceptible to diseases and had “That night there were 50 kids at her precautionary restrictions. house within the first twenty minutes,” “She can have no hugging when her Kathi said. “The support from the kids counts are low,” Kathi said. “No one is is really, really good.” allowed in her bathroom and no one “After I calmed down I called Coach can touch anything of hers.”

Meyer, and after I talked to him I was “I wasn’t allowed to go to the gym so motivated and inspired,” said Becca. and on weeks that my counts are high “I told her, if you can survive winter I have to wear a mask to go out in weights with me you can survive public,” said Becca. “Everything has to anything,” Meyer said. “But I didn’t be sterilized before I use it and I can’t

share anything with anyone.”

These restrictions, however didn’t stop Becca from turning the situation into a positive one.

“I had my hospital room really decorated; it was like a dorm room,” said Becca. “All the nurses said my room was the most decorated.”

From that point on, Becca underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and bone marrow biopsies, remaining cheerful and optimistic the entire time. She kept family and friends up to date through her daily blog at http://www. caringbridge.org/visit/bewithbec.

After every entry she would end with the uplifting slogan ‘Be with BeccaBWB. Believe it. Achieve it.”

“If I felt sick in the hospital, I wouldn’t relate it to cancer,” said Becca. “I’d relate it to something like strep throat.”

“She named her bone marrow biopsies and videotaped all of them,” Kathi said. “The first one was BoBo the Bone/ Bad to the Bone. The second was Boney Barbara and the last was Bodacious Bone.” After 23 days in the hospital, Becca was released to go home on Nov. 20. She still has to continue chemotherapy and started her second dose Monday. The good news is she is doing an outpatient, meaning she can do chemotherapy at home, not in a hospital.

“I will have a pick line in my arm for four months. I get to take the pump home with chemo in it and will have chemo Monday, Wednesday and Friday for one week. Then I have three weeks off,” Becca said. “I’ll go one week on, three weeks off chemo all the way through March.” The support from friends and family continues to surround Becca through a very difficult situation.

“The whole family has pitched in ready to help do whatever they can,” Kathi said.. “We’ve always been a close family, but the boys have really stepped up for Becca to be there for her.”

“I haven’t seen a picture without a smile on her face. She’s always upbeat, two thumbs up,” said Meyer. “I know Becca is the one who is sick, but she is the rock. I’ve been so proud of her; she’s been absolutely positive the whole way.”

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Dec. 11, 2009

Future Titans dance the night away Sydnee Owens Looking adorable with her curled hair; wearing her new dress that twirls around as she spins; click-clacking her sparkly red shoes, and her cheeks flushing with excitement, she anxiously waited for her date — her daddy.

Young, future female Titans and friends arrived at West last Friday evening all dressed up to see Santa, get their picture taken, and most of all, dance with their dads at the sixth annual FatherDaughter Dance.

“The FCCLA [Family, Career, and Community Leadership of America] caters it and the cafeteria staff also helps out,”

said business teacher, Buddy Spurck, organizer.

Spurck said that they came about the idea of the dance at a national convention a few years back. “It’s a good way to raise money for charities like the Hope House Foundation.

We’ve raised over $10,000.”

“We found out it was a lot easier to run and a lot more organized than we thought,” said Spurck.

West students help out with the dance to earn community service hours.

“I did this year and last year for FCCLA and for community service,” said Junior Lauren Cheadle.

“You can either set up or actually work the dance. I usually do both. We decorate

the commons with lights and stuff. It’s really fun. I got seven community service hours for it too.”

Besides raising the money for charity, the dance also is a success because of the rewarding experience it gives the fathers and daughters.

“I like the dance because we get to dance with daddy,” said Summit Point first-grader, Brooke Ellis.

“If your friends are there, you’ll have a ton of fun,” said Summit Point sixth-grader, Kara Allen.

“The little girls get all dressed up and the dads usually come out of their shell and dance with their daughters,” said Spurck.

“The dads embarrass

11

themselves. They bust their moves,” said Allen.

“The little girls have a lot of fun. Santa makes an appearance so they get all excited,” said Spurck.

“Santa came and he gave us a candy cane and we got to dance with him. We were doing the Cha-Cha dance and I got to be right behind him,” said Ellis.

“I think the girls really like it. They dress up all cute and they get to be with their friends and their dads. They really enjoy it,” said Cheadle.

“I wore a pretty dress. It was either gray – or silver – and it had black polka dots.

I didn’t get to wear make up, but I got a picture with my daddy,” said Ellis.

Request Your Free Truck Parts & Accessories Catalog Today!

LMC

TRUCK

Good Looks for your home and you!

Home furninshings and seasonal accents 21 SE 3rd Street Downtown Lee’s Summit

816-554-0299

12

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Holiday Traditions

Titan Scroll

Merry Christmahanakwanzika

Holiday Traditions

Dec. 11, 2009

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

13

Rylee Webster

N

ot everyone’s Christmas involves stale fruit cake, Christmas carols, and amateur mall Santas.

Junior Samantha Botwinik celebrates Hanukkah with her family every year. Hanukkah begins at sundown on Dec. 11 and lasts for eight days and nights.

“Each night, we get together and eat, light the menorah, and say a prayer,” said Botwinik.

Botwinik’s favorite part is eating latkes, or potato pancakes, and playing Dreidel with her family.

“You play it with a four sided top, each side means something different,” she said.

“You try to earn as much gelt (gold coins) as you can.”

Because Sophomore Seth Gilgus’ mom’s family is Christian and his dad’s family is Jewish, he also celebrates Hanukkah.

He celebrates Christmas at his Grandam’s house and Hanukkah at his Aunt’s.

“I like it, but it’s kinda confusing,” he said. “There’s a lot of running around.”

According to Gilgus, Hanukkah is about a miracle in the Jewish temple when there wasn’t enough oil to light the menorah and Christmas is mainly about the birth of Christ.

“It’s a time to be with family and to just get together,” he said. “We sit around and talk and hang out. We usually help make the food together.”

He said that Hanukkah is “different from a lot of other traditions that other people have.”

Gilgus’ favorite holiday is Christmas; but because he is closer to his dad’s side of the family, he likes Hanukkah, as well.

He likes the lights and the

Photos by Elisa Cox and Kayla Cambers

Christmas songs and spending time with his family since he doesn’t get to see them a lot.

He said both holidays “opened my eyes to different religions and customs people have.”

Gilgus likes the time he gets to spend during the holiday season.

Sophomore Belinda Darkwah also celebrates with her parents who honor the Ghanian traditions.

“We dress up in our native clothes,” said Darkwah.

Then, t h e y have a

African Christmas songs and the adults dance.

The tradition also includes many foods such as okra stew and various chicken and vegetable dishes.

“I like spending time with loved ones and family the most,” said Darkwah.

KWANZAA

fellowship meeting which will be held at her house this year.

The Darkwahs also sing

14 •News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Titan Scroll

E S I E W V ST AT R E S F E

The 1st Annual Ugly Sweater Contest hosted by the Math Department is set Tuesday.

Teachers can participate for $5 and kids will vote on the winning teacher the day of the contest. Proceeds will go to Project Grad. and the winner will recieve a gift certificate after being announced on Wednesday.

Enjoy Competition-Style BBQ Every Day! You Be The Judge!

Christian Family Atmosphere Where All Are Welcome!

816-554-RIBS (7427) Hours: Monday - Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Closed Sunday www.holysmokekc.com Dine In / Carryout • Catering Available

240 N.W. Oldham Parkway Lee’s Summit, MO 64081

Dec. 11, 2009

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports • 15

“A Christmas Story, The Musical!” premieres in K.C. reading with prominent Fans of the classic holiday film members of “A Christmas Story” will be glad the Broadway to hear that this holiday season, world in New they can get a double dose of the York before beloved tale. being set to Kansas City has been chosen as tour. the site of the world premiere for The highly “A Christmas Story, The Musical!” a n t i c i p a t e d The show runs through Jan. 3 show has at the Kansas City Repertory a l r e a d y Theatre. received The show is based off of the 1983 rave reviews.

Warner Brothers movie which A c c o r d i n g remains in the number one spot to kcrep. of the Associated Press’ “Best-Ever com, reviews List” of top 12 Christmas movies. said that, “A It has been played in a 24-hour C h r i s t m a s marathon on TNT (and now on Story, The TBS) every Christmas Eve for the M u s i c a l ! past 12 years. The marathon will unforgettably begin at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. captures every After continued success, child’s holiday audiences demanded more, and in wonder with deliciously wicked 2006, the process of creating the wit, a nostalgic eye and a heart of musical began. After a successful gold. It’s a Christmas present that audiences of all ages will be sure to embrace and cherish for years to come.”

The plot of the musical follows that of the movie; a narration of the weeks leading up to Christmas for a young boy named Ralphie and his attempt to get “an official Red Ryder carbineaction 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time.”

Along the way, Ralphie finds himself helping his old man with car troubles on the Interstate, attempting to get his friend’s tongue off of a frozen flagpole, The Classic Holiday film “A Christmas surviving an almost deadly icicle Story” will have a different approach to injury, amongst numerous other entertain its audience as Kansas City shenanigans. was chosen to host “A Christmas Story, Eric Rosen is the director of The Musical!”. The show runs through the show and music and lyrics were created by Scott Davenport Jan 3.

Jenna Keeble

Richards. The cast consists of many impressive stars such as Zachary Carter Sayle (Ralphie), John Bolton (The Old Man), James Judy (Jean Shepherd), and Kansas City native Becky Barta (Miss Shields).

According to achristmas storythemusical.com, if “A Christmas Story” is successful and becomes a staple of regional theaters, every company that

produced it would have to credit Kansas City Rep. Rosen is excited by that possibility because it would help accomplish one of the tasks the Rep board asked of him when he was hired–to elevate the Rep’s national profile.

Tickets could be used as great holiday gifts this year and can be bought starting at $15.

16 •News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Titan Scroll

‘The Blind Side’ is a hit on the big screen Katey Stoetzel There is no doubt that Sandra Bullock absolutely rocks in her new movie, “The Blind Side.” She will probably earn an award for her performance. Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, who finds the heart to take in a lonely, homeless AfricanAmerican teenager.

“The Blind Side” tells the true story of Michael Oher. The story starts off with Oher getting into a Christian private school with the help of a friend’s parent.

Coming into the school with a .6 grade point average, it’s his incredible athletic abilities, which catches the eye of the football coach, who talks the administrators into letting him attend.

The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock, hit the movie theaters on November 20th. The movie tells the extraordinary story of Baltimore Ravens’ Michael Oher.

Oher is immediately seen as an outsider at the school, he’s the only African American kid, not to mention his enormous size. The teachers talk about how much he doesn’t respond in classes and how he doesn’t seem know any of the material they are teaching.

But soon, Oher becomes acquaintances with a kid named S.J., who, by coincidence (or maybe fate), is the son of Mrs. Tuohy.

It is this acquaintance that leads Mrs. Tuohy to stop the car on that cold night driving home from her daughter’s volleyball game and open up her arms to Michael by offering him a place to stay.

And from then on, Michael’s life starts to turn around.

Playing Oher is Quinton Aaron, starring in only his second movie.

Though he doesn’t have many lines, Aaron passes pretty well as a homeless and neglected teenager.

“The Blind Side” is a stupendous movie to see with the family, so it was not surprising when there were a lot of people at the theaters on Thanksgiving day.

Co-starring with Bullock is Tim McGraw who played Mr. Tuohy. His performance was very believable and at some points amusing and entertaining.

The movie is filled with humor and woebegone moments, but doesn’t fail to provide us with inspiration.

By becoming apart of the Tuohy family, Michael’s life is opened to more opportunities.

This movie will inspire anyone who watches it to persevere and never give up on his or her dreams.

Dec. 11, 2009

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports • 17

A night to shine for local bands Krista Kern

On the first Friday and Saturday of every year Aldersgate United Methodist Church holds a two day concert called Nite Lite and has been going on for eleven years now.

The first night consisted of metal/ hardcore bands and on the second night alternative bands played.

Junior Ryan Dahmer is in the band Among the Atirathi and participated at Nite Lite on the metal night.

“I was really nervous,” he said.

“Our last two songs were written on the Tuesday before was a petty good set.”

Senior Greg Janssen just joined Static Society last Friday.

“It was my first show with them.

I learned the base a week before and the lyrics the night before,” said Janssen.

Among the Atirathi have done two gigs so far.

“We are hoping to play bigger shows,” said Dahmer “I would

rather not open for other bands but years Battle of the Bands played on its whatever we have to do to get Saturday’s alternative night.

The crowd was a big influence for shows.”

Dahmer said he thinks that Nite The Whurlitzers.

“The crowd was Lite helps give energetic. We have a few bands good reps. really loyal fans. They “If we play Nite Lite again, it would would clap if we asked them to clap,” said be cool to play with Junior Jared Bajkowski some bigger bands, of The Whurlitzers. but Nite Lite has Nite Lite allowed the a good rep for the bands to reconnect. bands that play “I really enjoyed at it so there will Static Society, they always be a good are some of my best turn out,” Dahmer said. friends,” said Dahmer.

“I also really enjoyed For Static seeing In Progress Society, Nite Lite for the first time. I was overall a was really anxious to success.

“We thought it Junior Ryan Dahmer jams on is guitar finally hear them, so went pretty well. during last weekends Nite Lite. Photo that was really fun.

Also, Second Flare We got a good by Elisa Cox is always a pleasure reaction from the to see. Louie Pagan is one the most crowd,” said Janssen.

The Whurlitzers, winners of last talented guitarists I know,” he said.

Freshman Sam Easley has been going to Nite Lite since last year.

“I had so much fun,” she said. “I like just being able to hang out with all my friends and listening to music and all around having a good time.”

Easley looks forward to going to Nite Lite every year.

“I liked both years,” said Easley. “It’s just something I really enjoy going and there aren’t very many places to really hang out anymore,” she said.

Although Easley and friends enjoy going every year she thinks the word hardly gets out about it.

“I think they should have been able to put up flyers around the school or something to help spread the word.”

Easley only attended the metal show.

“I thought most of the bands did okay but there were only a few bands I really enjoyed,” she said.

Easley plans on going to Nite Lite next year.

New homemade gourmet ice cream store!

Buy one medium tropical sno get Expires oneJunefree 30, 2009 Buy a sundae or shake and get one 50% off

Expires June 30, 2009

3743 SW Hollywood Drive 816-537-4700 Lee’s Summit, MO 64082 www.heresyourscoop.com

18

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Titan Scroll

“So You Think You Can Dance” comes to Kansas City realize that auditioning for the show was the right thing to do.

“My best friend, Mark Kanemura was on last season. When you watch the show you think the dancers are god–like and you honestly don’t think you can do it. So after seeing him make it as far as he did; making top six and making the tour and Junior Jenna Keeble and Morgan Smythia pose with stuff, I was like ‘you know some dancers from “So You Think You Can Dance”.

I honestly think I can do Jenna Keeble this’,” said Kupono.

For runner–up Brandon Bryant, For all young, aspiring artists at age was the only thing stopping West, the stories behind the dancers him from showing the world his of the “So You Think You Can Dance” passion for dancing. Brandon went tour are truly inspiring. The top to audition for season one at the age twelve finalists of the hit TV series of 15, not knowing he had to be at are visiting 40 US cities on the least 18. When the judges realized nationwide tour, which stopped at he was lying about his age they told him to come back when he was old the Sprint Center Nov. 1.

Although the dancers have now enough. made it past thousands of other Brandon said, “I came last season contestants, it wasn’t necessarily an for season four and I was the last boy easy journey getting to where they not to be chosen for top 20 so I was dedicated to come back last year and are today.

“I’ve been watching the show since make it.” the first season, and I’ve wanted to Once the dancers made it past audition ever since; so it took me auditions, it was off to Las Vegas week three years to get here and I finally to determine the top 20 dancers, made it! It was worth coming back and then the grueling nine week three times,” said dancer Randi competition.

“During competition we had Evans.

Janette Manrara spent eight years rehearsal everyday. We had one day of her life behind the desk working at off, but it wasn’t really a day off, it was a bank. Since the start of the show, more like ‘get with your partner and her friends had tried to convince her rehearse on your own’. Sometimes it to audition but Janette never believed would be up to 12 hours a day,” said Randi. that she was good enough.

“They really were great enthusiasm For Janette, the most challenging for me to do it,” Janette said. She aspect of the competition was “Just finally caved in an attempt to prove hoping that everybody liked me to them that she wouldn’t make it– because it really is a personality test more than it actually is a dance her friends were right.

Friends and family were also a big contest. Obviously your dancing inspiration for Caitlin Kinney and matters; if you suck at dancing you’re Kupono Aweau’s auditions. Up until not gonna be in the top 20. But I the day before her audition, Caitlin just really hoped that America could had nothing prepared, and wasn’t always read me as a person and know sure she wanted to go through with that I’m humble, and fun, and spunky. it. Her sister persuaded her to give it I just really wanted my personality to a shot and, “I’m really glad I did!” said come across and that was really hard throughout the entire competition.”

Caitlin.

A friend of Kupono’s helped him During the competition, Brandon

had to overcome tough criticism from Emmy Award winning choreographer Mia Michaels. However, these judgments were nothing new to Brandon.

“Being in the dance world you deal with a lot of criticism, people either love you or they hate you. Growing up as a boy dancer, I’ve dealt with a lot of negativity in my life so I think her negativity just pushed me even more to prove to myself and to her that I am a dancer, and this is what I love to do. So I think it helped me in a way,” Brandon said.

Kupono also received constructive criticism that he said he believes ended up helping him. Judge Nigel Lythgoe urged him to cut his long Mohawk that he had at the beginning of the competition.

“When I shaved it off,” said Kupono, “it was kind of exhilarating and what’s crazy is that I almost found a new form of movement. With my hair I moved this way, and then without it I had to move differently, and I feel like it really worked to my advantage, so I’m kind of grateful he had me do that.”

Every long rehearsal, tough critique, or self-doubt ended up paying off for the dancers when they made it into a top 10 spot.

“There is no bigger relief than making top 10 on this show because obviously you want to win it but those first four or five weeks before are the most excruciating so once you make top 10 there’s a pressure that’s off your chest, it’s nice. The level of the competition changes and it becomes a bit more fun,” said Kupono.

These top dancers worked with many world renowned choreographers and performed some unforgettable pieces. The three choreographers Kayla Radomski enjoyed working with most were Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, and Tyce Diorio.

For Kupono, working with all of the choreographers was “Life changing, literally life changing. These people are sheer geniuses, and just so passionate; so to meet someone of their caliber brings stuff out of you that you didn’t even know existed, so it was honestly life changing for me.”

Some of the dancer’s personal favorites were Kayla and Kupono’s contemporary piece, Kayla and Max’s samba, and Brandon and Janette’s Argentine tango. Kayla and Kupono’s contemporary routine was an emotional piece choreographed

by Mia Michaels that portrayed addiction. Kupono had a difficult time with this number, because he has suffered through family members and a close friend’s struggle with drug addiction.

“I would say one number that I think kind of touched everyone was the addiction piece. Addiction is something that you can’t describe in words, you can’t write down how it feels. I’ve had some close family members go through some really hard stuff, so to be able to put that feeling–that emotion–into a dance; she did it brilliantly. I remember the first time we all watched it in rehearsal, it was just silent. It just gives me chills thinking about it,” Caitlin commented.

This competition was an incredible, life-changing experience for the dancers. After making it so far in the competition Kupono said that “Obviously, throughout your life you doubt yourself, and you always will; but with the show, you don’t think that you can do half the stuff they put you through and then you do it.

One way or another you get through it; so I just walked away with this newfound confidence that I really can do almost anything.”

The competition taught each individual dancer that they could do things they never dreamed possible.

Believing in yourself is a great lesson for anyone to learn.

Janette‘s advice is, “Don’t be scared; I was scared and it took me a couple years to get up and do it. My advice is to just keep going and keep fighting for what you really want. If you love any type of art whether it’s dancing, singing, acting, whatever the case may be–don’t think it can’t happen because it really can. I thought it couldn’t happen and I was just like, ‘go for it’ and it did.”

Dec. 11, 2009

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports • 19

Oprah ends; OWN begins Krista Kern

In June 2011 Oprah will be ending her television talk show on its 25th season.

In Oprah’s announcement she said it ‘feels right in her bones and right in her spirit to end the show on it’s 25th season’.

Once the show ends Winfrey plans to appear and participate in OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, which will be a cable network that reflects her vision, values and interests.

The network will launch in January 2011.

Sophomore Lydia Long is sad about Oprah ending her show, “My mom and I watch the show all the time together and that was our thing and now it’s ending,” she said. “I always wanted to go on her show and win a

new car or something.”

Oprah did many giveaways on her show, and on her 22nd season she gave 276 members on her show Pontiac G6 sports sedans.

Even though the show is ending, Long thinks that Oprah will continue contributing to society.

“I think she’s a good person and will continue working with people without her show because she has other charitable resources.”

Long believes it is time that the show should end, “I think Oprah is just too overrated and should just stay low because she’s just been around for such a long time and her show just kinda gets boring to me now.”

English teacher Stephanie Ward doesn’t mind much that Oprah is ending her show either.

“I’m not very disappointed that she’s ending her show,” she said.

“I think that Oprah is an amazing person and really helps out but on her show it always seems like she agrees with everyone, so her show isn’t very exciting to As the Oprah Winfrey Show ends, students voice their opinme.”

Besides the ions and disappointments. Oprah plans to launch her new Oprah Winfrey T.V. network, OWN, in 2011.

Show, she has Angel Network, the O magazines, a radio network on Sirius Satellite and Oprah.com.

Radio, her own charity called the

20•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Titan Scroll

Titans gain “Belgian Baller” Rylee Webster

The Boys Basketball team kicked off their season playing one of the toughest teams in the area with a new addition to the team.

Senior Yoni Ekoto moved from Belgium to Atlanta two years ago then made the move from Atlanta to Lee’s Summit four months ago.

Ekoto’s opportunity to go to a new school was due to the scholarships he got which brought him here to West.

“I got a school scholarship from when I was in Belgium and a scholarship to a school in Atlanta,” he said.

“If I wanted to stay, I could just stay in Belgium, but I just wanted to do something different.” Ekoto said that the transition was not hard, but leaving his family behind was difficult.

“The hardest part was family and saying bye to everybody.”

Basketball player Yoni Ekoto played his first game as a Titan last Tuesday against Rockhurst.

The boys lost 4751. Photo

by Martin Steele.

However, He said he had no problem getting along with the other players on the team which helped him to adjust easily to a new school.

“My school in Atlanta was a private school so a public school is way more fun and it’s bigger,” he said.

Ekoto likes the new environment here in Lee’s Summit, as well.

“Its way bigger. Its got a lot more stuff to do. It kinda depends where you live,” he said.

The boys fought hard last Tuesday during their first game against Rockhurst with a final score of 47-51.

Junior Rodderick Clark said this game was “one of the hardest games we will play throughout the season.”

“Rockhurst is a pretty good

team and for us playing our first game together, we did pretty good,” said Ekoto.

Ekoto said the team moved the ball well. He also said the offense and defense was strong, but he said the team struggled with making free throws.

“We just have to be careful with the ball and I think we‚ are going to have a good season because this was the first game against a really good team and we only lost by four,” said Ekoto. “I think we should beat every other team we are going to play.”

Although the boys did not come out with a win, Schieber said their defense, rebounding, and over all effort was good.

He said that the team lost track of what they worked on in practice at times, but he said that they still played well.

Seniors sit out as Juniors take command Sydnee Owens Starting the season off at the LSN Invitational last week, Coach Darin Hall said the goal for the tournament was to “survive and advance.”

The team went 1-2 in the tournament.

The girls lost to Hickman Mills last Monday 41-60.

“Hickman Mills had an outstanding game,” said Hall. “Our team played hard and we forced a lot of Hickman Mills turn-overs, but we did not convert them into points.”

“Hickman Mills had a new coach and a new system. Therefore, we did not know a lot about them going into the game. It is difficult to prepare for individual opponents at this time of the year because no one has played,” said Hall.

The girls lost a close game against

St. Theresa’s last Wednesday 45-46.

“We were leading all game and lost within the last minute,” said Hall.

They also played Truman last Friday and pulled out a big win with the score of 53-37.

“We played zone defense for the first time on Friday. It was really successful and interesting,” said Junior Katie Kelly.

The girls were glad to end the tournament with a win.

“The last game of the tournament we executed, we played together as a team, we cut down on turn overs and we played good defense,” said Sophomore Emiah Bingley.

“The tournament was a little shaky at times, but we needed to work out our jitters,” said Kelly.

Overall, the tournament was a good way to kick off the season.

“The tournament was a good

measuring stick to see how we compare to other teams early in the season,” said Hall.

“We worked hard. We struggled at first, but in the end we came out with a win,” said Bingley.

The tournament helped the team realize what they are good at and what they need to work on.

“I think we need to cut down on turn overs and play together defensively,” said Bingley.

“We learned that we need to manage close games better and we found out that we execute better and take care of the basketball better offensively,” said Hall.

“I was impressed with our post players, Katie Kelly and [Sophomore] Megan McGehee. They did a good job rebounding,” said Hall.

As for things the team needs to work on, Hall said, “Offensively, our

guards can shoot a higher percentage and defensively, we need to defend the drive a lot better.”

On Wednesday, the Titans played at North Kansas City.

The girls still have high hopes for the rest of the season.

“I think we’ll do better once we get our three seniors back, Keyana Anderson, Paige Vanderpool, and Bri Forbes. They are hoping to come back Jan. 1,” said Bingley.

“The Titans will finish strong. We have a talented team. It’s just a matter of putting all the pieces together,” said Hall.

The girls will be playing at Raytown next Thursday, they will compete in the Unilever Classic at Jefferson City Dec. 28-30, and then Monday Jan. 4 they will play their first home game at 7 p.m. against North Kansas City.

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports • 21

Dec. 11, 2009

Mavericks stick their opponents

Katey Stoetzel

New hope has been given to Kansas City with an early gift of a new hockey team–The Mavericks.

Their first game was a success.

“It was awesome. We had more than a sell-out. We had people standing,” said Patrick Armstrong, Vice President of Communications.

The Mavericks record at home is off to a great start at 5-2. However, they are struggling away from home at 3-8-1, with an overall record of 8-10-1.

The arena is equipped with 5,800 fixed seats, 25 luxury seats, a bar/grill, and a community ice rink, according to missourimavericks. com.

But it took a lot of work to get this team together.

T h e Mavericks are a part of the Central Hockey League, or CHL. The people who own

the building, Global Entertainment, negotiated with businesses in Texas, who spoke with people on the City Council in Independence, and after six months, the Missouri Mavericks were a hockey team.

As for the actual name, the owners decided to pick it democratically.

“There were a total of top ten names. The Mavericks were in the top three. It was put to a vote and

was decided by ownership in the front office,” said Armstrong.

Armstrong also said that anyone can come out and enjoy the Mavericks, even non-hockey fans.

“We do a little of everything, like in arena promotions. It’s not just a hockey game, but a full entertainment.”

Playing a 64 game schedule, the game the team is aiming for is called the President’s Cup, and playoffs for that start in the middle of March.

“Every team wants to win the championships,” said Armstrong about their goal for this season. “I think they have the talent to go pretty far in the playoffs, being a first year team.”

Although the CHL is not the NHL, it is a professional hockey team.

“In terms of baseball, it’s like AA. A lot of the guys do want to move onto to the NHL,” he said.

Working for the CHL comes with a smaller, more intimate staff. “ Wo r k i n g the minor we get to

f o r league, wear a lot of hats. It’s a smaller staff so we get to do a lot of stuff; it’s pretty fun,” said Armstrong.

The Mavericks next game is tonight against the Laredo Bucks in Texas. Their next home game is on Dec. 15 against Rapid City. Tickets range from $14-37.

The Kansas City Mavericks have been a success in only their first 7 games in Kansas City. They do struggle on the road though with a record of 3-8-1. They are 5-2 when they have a huge Kansas City home crowd rallying behind them whether it be in shoot-outs or trying to get them to come back from behind in the game. The arena the Mavericks play in holds about 6,000 and has a bar/ grill. Photos by Martin Steele.

Preferred Pediatrics James K. McEntire, DO, FAAP Noel M. Graham, M.D. FAAP Sherri Quick CPNP

Sara Cox MPAS, PA-C

241 NW McNary Court Lee’s Summit, MO 64086 (816) 347-0064 Fax (816) 347-0593

22 •News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Titan Scroll

Swimmers hope hard work pays off Ally McEntire Swimmers and divers hit the water kicking and as Head Coach Colleen Gibler said, the team looks strong again this year.

After some crazy tryouts according to Gibler, 53 girls are ready to jump into the pool this season. Gibler said that this year, the Titans have a “wonderfully well-rounded team with all levels and abilities and happy attitudes supporting each other.”

Leaders of the team include, Seniors Libby Pike and Lauren Trump, as well as Junior Jean Madison and Sophomore Alyson Raymond. Gibler said Trump and Pike have a “really positive influence when the work gets tough.”

Madison and Raymond “show the team how the hard work is never intimidation to them, no matter how tough it gets. If it gets tough, they just ask for more,” said Gibler.

“I try to encourage everybody. Keep

going when it’s hard,” said Trump.

“It’s my fourth year doing it, so I’d say I’m experienced. I know how to work hard and have fun.”

Trump said that she thinks the new aquatic center will only help the girls’ skills.

“I think we’ll improve a lot faster than we did last year,” she said. “We’ll get back in shape faster.”

With 30 new members of the team, getting into shape is one thing Gibler said the team will have to work on.

“We need to develop endurance in the new girls that are coming aboard,” she said. “We will look to develop sprinters.”

Trump said that all the work wears on the girls, but said she wants them to keep a positive attitude.

“It’ll pay off in the end,” she said.

“Everybody will be really excited about how the team does this year.”

Gibler said she hopes for a repeat conference win.

Diving team is also beginning well,

Happy Holidays

with some very strong freshmen, like Jessie Huff and E m i l y Anderson, said Gibler.

“Each of us have our different specialties.

We all encourage each other,” said Huff.

Huff said she thinks the team will be strong Junior Jean Madison qualified for state during the Titan’s first meet this year, and Tuesday. Photo by Martin Steele are really good, and learning really is excited to fast,” she said. be a part of it.

“I think we’ll do really good. We With work to be done, most said have the seniors on the team- the two this season is headed in the right Kelseys, and me, and Emily. The rest direction.

•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports • 23

Dec. 11, 2009

Titans escape match with a victory Emily Argotsinger The first match of the season for the Titan wrestling team could not have been much closer, as they came away with a 38-36 victory over Blue Springs South last week.

“The difference was one match,” Head Coach Ethan Hauck said. “And we came out on top.”

For the first competition of the season, Hauck said the dual against Blue Springs South went pretty well.

“The thing about the first match is that there are a lot of little things to work on,” he said. “But we saw more positives than negatives.”

Hauck said one the main aspects he wants the team to improve on is for the younger guys to gain more confidence and hit their moves. This shouldn’t pose as much of a problem seeing that the team only lost three seniors from last year and return four out of six state qualifiers.

Seniors Jake Logsdon and Jordan

Senior Jake Logsdon placed first at the Pleasant Hill tournament this past weekend and won his championship match with a pin. The team placed second overrall Photo by Martin Steele Knox, Junior Ben Poeschl and Sophomore Evan Boehm are the four state returners, all of whom won their individual matches last Tuesday.

Hauck said Logsdon’s performance was especially impressive.

“He normally wrestles in the 152

weight class, but to counteract the opponent we had him wrestle in the 160 weight class,” he said. “It was a hard fought match and he came out on top winning 10-6.”

Another stand–out performance, according to Hauck, was Freshman Elias Duckworth.

“This was a very good team effort, but we had a very good individual performance by Elias Duckworth, winning 3-2 in his first Varsity match as a freshman,” said Hauck.

After a successful first match, the team heads into the season ready to meet some big goals, one of those consisting of winning the first–ever Conference Championship.

“I want us to be the first team to win conference,” Sophomore Matt Lemanowicz said. “That would be awesome.”

After coming so close with a tie for second place at Conference last year, the team is even more motivated to go for the gold. With only three seniors lost and the return of many

talented wrestlers, Hauck sees this as a realistic goal and looks for people to step up and make it happen.

“We had other guys last year who did a good job with their first year on Varsity. Matt (Lemanowicz) and Andrew Neihaus should help a lot this year,” he said.

After a 16th place finish at State and a record of 7-3 last year, the team’s goals, according to Hauck, are to get in the top three at Districts and place in the top ten at State.

Lemanowicz has some goals of his own after missing State last year by one match.

“I really want to place at State this year and be first team All Conference,” he said.

However, he must move up a weight class this season.

“I was in the 119 weight class last year, but I’ll probably be in 130 this year. I think it will be tougher wrestling bigger kids,” Lemanowicz said. “But I’m taking a weight class to try and get bigger and stronger.”

Good luck on your season girls swim team

FESTUS J. KREBS III, M.D. DISORDERS OF THE EAR, NOSE AND THROAT NASAL/SINUS PROBLEMS PEDIATRIC ENT DISORDERS OF THE VOICE HEARING AIDS AND REPAIR

TUDOR SQUARE

296 NE Tudor Rd. Lee’s Summit, MO 64086 Phone: 816-524-4828 fax: 816-524-4888

Happy 17th Birthday Rachel Paddock

24•News •Opinion •Feature •Arts&Entertainment •Sports •

Titan Scroll

Happy Holidays from your local

Trucking all over Kansas City

705 SE Melody Lane 3801 S. 291 HWY