October 2014

Prince George H.S. - 7801 Laurel Spring Rd. Prince George, VA 23875- www.trnwired.org - October 10, 2014

Volume XIII ISSUE 1

Single Issue Copy Only

trn The Royal News

p.7 Student makes hobby A BUSINESS p. 12-13 Students Embrace Halloween Spirt p. 17 Talent Show contestants go viral

p. 23 Bendall Breaks boundaries

Senior Carlicia Tyler adjusts her work in the B-wing window display.

Tyler has been designing her own clothes since she was 14 years old.

Photo by Devan Fishburne.

Visit trnwired.org to see the latest photo galleries and watch live broadcast events.

2 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 10.10.14

op/ed

School Lunches Show Increased Government Power

theRoyalNews

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ur mission as the school newspaper for Prince George High School is to provide a form of media that represents all aspects of student life. The goal is to present factual accounts of newsworthy events in a timely manner. Our publication will be informative, entertaining and reflective of the student body’s opinions. It is the desire of the staff to reach every student and tell as many of their stories as possible.

We invite your commentary: The Royal News Opinion page is a forum for public discussion and shall be open to all students. The Royal News will print as many letters as space will allow. The Royal News reserves the right not to print a letter. The Royal News publishes a wide variety of opinions. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Royal News, PGHS, 7801 Laurel Spring Road, Prince George, Virginia 23875, or bring them to room A4, or e-mail them to trnwired@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, legality, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. 500 word maximum. Thank you for the support this year. Please continue to communicate on trnwired.org.

Publication theft. A person commits the offense of publication theft when he or she willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over more than three copies of an edition of a publication distributed on campus or in the surrounding community [with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading that edition of the publication]. A “publication” includes any periodical that is distributed on a complimentary or compensatory basis. In addition to the imposition of other campus disciplinary penalties, a person who violates this provision is responsible for compensating the publication for all reasonable costs incurred, including, where appropriate, the refund of advertising fees.

Section Editors Front page: Devan Fishburne-Op/Ed: Reeve Ashcraft-News: Hyedia Nutt-Features: Ebony Gilchrist and Angelica MartinezDoubletruck: Qadirah Monroe-A&E : April Buckles-Sports: Ryan Albright and Madison Strang-Photo Editor/Distribution and Events: Debra Thomas-Business & Ad Editor: Daniel PuryearOnline Editor-in-Chief: Travis Temple-Special Edition Editor-InChief Sarah Daniel

Writers Alesondra Adams-Paul Dennis-Tyneshia Griffin-Brooke Guerrero-Rosemarie Hopkins-Cassie Kolbo-Corey LeeMatteo Reed-Chance Thweatt-Tyrah Washington-Tiana Whaley

Editor-in-Chief Lindsay Pugh

Managing Editor Devan Fishburne

Business Manager Daniel Puryear

Adviser

Chris Waugaman

Professional affiliations & awards Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Gold Medalist 2008-2013 CSPA Gold Crown Winner 2010 & 2013 Virginia High School Association Trophy Class 2006-2013 Col. Charles Savedge Award for Sustained Excellence 2010 NSPA Online Pacemaker Winner 2011 & 2014 NSPA Online Pacemaker Finalist 2014 SIPA All Southern 2008-2014

The Royal News, PGHS trnwired.org & trnsports.org

7801 Laurel Spring Road Prince George, Virginia 23875 804-733-2720 The Royal News is printed at The Progress-Index in Petersburg, Virginia

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Illustration by Qadirah Monroe.

Nutritional Regulations Prove to be Ineffective in Battling Obesity

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wo hundred calories is the equivalent of 33 grams of mixed nuts, 333 mL of milk, or 37 grams of potato chips. It is also now the federal standard for calories allowed in snacks served by schools. First Lady Michelle Obama’s activism for healthier food in public schools has led to the passage of the Healthy HungerFree Kids Act, which tightened nutritional standards considerably.

Elementary schools no longer have access to sodas of any kind and must serve only juices, low-fat milk, and water. High schools can only access diet sodas. Snacks with a higher calorie count will no longer be vending machine staples, and will be replaced by granola bars and similar items.

The purpose of these new regulations is to monitor the food adolescents consume when away from home. While the intentions of school lunch reform are pure, the methods are flawed and may ultimately prove ineffective.

Many schools have upgraded to nutritious snacks and healthier foods containing whole grains and lower sodium, fat, calorie, and sugar levels. The rapid change has offered students no time to adjust to a radically different diet. As a result many students are simply throwing away their food, at a

cost to both themselves and their schools.

Schools are already facing mounting budget costs, and it is a colossal waste of time and financial resources to prepare meals that will go uneaten. It is unfair to have children leaving lunch hungry because they cannot eat what is provided.

Furthermore, high school students are largely able to evade regulations. Many high-schoolers have an independent source of income as well as the ability to drive.

There is no way to restrict the right of students to bring their own lunch or leave school to buy their own elsewhere. That in turn leaves schools in a financial bind if they can no longer rely on the income derived from students regularly buying lunch.

A more practical solution to combat childhood obesity would be a more gradual tightening of nutritional standards over time to help children adjust. Adding healthier sides to traditional meals instead of replacing them entirely, while slowly reducing fat and calorie content over the next several years, would ease the process along. Time would make it easier for adolescents to accept the replacement of their favorite foods they have eaten in school for years and ultimately help achieve the goal of a healthier America overall.

s the federal government grows larger and more prominent in today’s society, the Reeve Ashcraft liberal top- to-bottom form of legislation has a number of issues on its plate ranging from national defense to school lunches.

Michelle Obama, wife and First Lady of President Barack Obama, has made it her mission to put the nation on a diet by starting the “Let’s Move!” campaign. Obama has practiced this in her own daily life by planting the White House Kitchen Garden, the first since Eleanor Roosevelt, and making organic food a part of her family’s meals.

Along with her own life, Obama has agreed with legislation that puts a limit on the amount of calories that can be put in and consumed by students who purchase school lunch.

While there is no doubt that we need limits as the rate of obesity increases across the country, is the best option a one-size fits all sort of law?

Each county, city, and even state is different from the next. This is why it only makes sense we put this decision in the hands of people who are closer to the students. Whether this means district superintendents, city council, county officials, or even state representatives, they need to be the ones who control the balance of nutrition going to the students. Having these local officials who know the students and the area better, allow the law to fit better around the area’s circumstances.

This form of bottoms-up legislation is effective and provides more accurate and precise results in the form of fighting obesity. Parents also will feel better knowing that the people who handle this are around the area, and not in Washington, D.C. The federal government has a huge purpose in our lives, but in certain times it needs to just get off our backs and let local and state governments do their job.

FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 3

op/ed

What Power Does the School Board Have?

At A High School in Philadelphia, The District Superintendant Is Forcing Students In The Newspaper Publication To Use Words They Had Previously Banned. Does The Superintendant Have The Power To Force The Young Journalists To Use These Words Or Is It A Violation Of First Amendment Rights?

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n today’s society, words have a big influence on people’s beliefs, feelings, and even their heritage. In Philadelphia, students of Neshaminy High School have come to conflict with school board officials over the use of the school team nickname, the ”Redskins,” in the high school newspaper “The Playwickian.”

The debate began after the student editors of “The Playwickian” wrote an article on why they do not use the “R” word due to the thought it comes off as offensive to Native Americans. The article started with the words “Redskins is racist, and very much so. It is not a term of honor, but a term of hate.” The school officials thought otherwise of them banning the word and even came to the conclusion of making a policy that the newspaper editors do not have the authority to put such regulations forward.

Many editors of the paper felt that it was time to take a stand against the board of directors of Neshaminy and banned the word, which they had been debating with the school for some time now.

The students felt that since their school is named after a creek where the Lenape once lived when they occupied the land called Lenapehoking, it was offending many residents and students of Native American heritage.

A lot of questions have been raised about whether the board of directors has a right to tell the students what words they can ban or not. I agree with the school board for stepping in and telling them what they can do with the school newspaper, because I believe they have the right to do so. The school board funds the journalism program by providing them with everything they need to print and distribute the newspaper monthly to the school. The school is also controlled by the school board officials so the students should obey everything the school says to do with the paper.

PRO CON Alexis stewart

Madison Strang

”...the school board should not have the authority to require they use the word “Redskin”...” “...I agree with the school board for stepping in and telling them what they can do with the school newspaper ...” “...It would be a violation of freedom of expression...”

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ith the recent controversy over the word “Redskin,” the student editorial board at Neshaminy High School has voted to completely stop using the reference within the school newspaper, “The Playwickian.”

The word “Redskin” dates back to the late 1700s in negotiations between the Piankashaws, a Native American Tribe, and Col. John Wilkins. It is now known as a racial slur. In an editorial, which reflected one-third of the editorial staff of “The Playwickian,” they noted, “The term reflects that to the district’s heritage; the land on which Native Americans once walked and is depicted as tribute rather than tarnish.”

In other news, the Washington Redskins are also facing difficulties with their team name. They have been asked to change their name, due to the belief of some people that the word “Redskins” is a racial term towards Native Americans.

With all the controversy within schools and other teams, the school board should not have the authority to require that they use the word “Redskin.” They should not have the right because of freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of expression.

Students in the newspaper world have the important role of keeping their fellow classmates informed on what is currently happening around the community. If the school board takes away this right it would be nearly impossible for the newspaper staff to keep the students up to date on everything that is going on. Furthermore, if the school board regulates the use of the word “Redskin,” they will be violating freedom of the press. Freedom of press is defined as “the right to publish newspapers, magazines, and other printed matter without governmental restriction and subject only to the laws of libel, obscenity, sedition, etc.”

Also, it would be a violation of freedom of expression. The students would be unable to express not only their own ideas, but also the ideas of other students and staff throughout the school.

Illustration by Qadirah Monroe.

I don’t want to buy new jerseys...

4 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 10.10.14

THUNDER COAL

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THE FUTURE LEADER IN COAL PRODUCTION www.thundercoalcompany.com

FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 5

Briefly

Spirit Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Murica Black Traffic Day Out Day Light Day

Green and Gold Day

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H o m e

W e e k

e Coming

Match Your Wall Day

p Scholarships

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Ye a r b o o k

Spirit Week will be Oct. 13th through Oct. 17th.

There will be various activities during the lunch blocks to see which class has the most school spirit.

The Homecoming game will be Oct. 17th versus Meadowbrook at 7:30 p.m. The Homecoming dance will be in the commons the following day, Oct. 18th at 8:00 p.m.

p

Survey

PGHS will be administering the PSAT on Sat., Oct. 18th at 8:00 a.m. Sophomore and junior students interested in participating in this testing opportunity can sign up in Guidance from Oct. 6th through Oct. 16th. The test will cost $15 and must be in at the same time of registration.

The yearbook’s are now on sale for a special low price of $50. In addition the early bird special offers a bonus when you buy the personalization packet, free icons. You can purchase a yearbook at Jostens.com

Guidance has information regarding scholarships, college, financial aid, and many other important dates. If you have followed PGHS Counseling on Twitter or liked them on Facebook by Oct. 1st then you have a chance of winning a $25 Regal Cinema Gift Card.

>

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P SAT

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A) 75% of students like to participate during Spirit Week.

B) 65% of students favor the different themes during Spirit Week.

C) 35% of students have seen a choice of their theme chosen for Spirt Week.

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6 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 10.10.14

PTA Happenings Homecoming Ticket Sales will be October 9th,10th,13th,14th,15th,16th, 17th During lunch blocks Ticket cost is $8.00 Homecoming Dance

* Registered Representative offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC, A Licensed Insurance Agency 4435 Waterfront Drive, Ste. 400, Glen Allen, VA 23060 804 935 5300

October 18th 8:00p.m.- 11:00p.m Royal Blankets on sale @ The George Like our Facebook Page Prince George High School PTA Any questions email PGHSPTA@ gmail.com

FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 7

Features

Student Turns Hobby Into Business Senior Carlicia Tyler Balances School And Owning Her Own Company Ryan Albright sports editor

PGHS Spanish Club Wishes

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ome students m ay s t r u g g l e with the responsibilities of going to school during the day, doing h o m ewo r k a t night, and maybe the occasional extra curricular activity, but Senior Carlicia Tyler also runs her own business outside of school. Tyler has her own clothing business and has been running it for almost three years on the side.

“I have been [making my own clothes] since around 2012, when I was fourteen years old,” Tyler said.

Tyler’s clothing business is more than just printing designs onto clothes, she makes her own clothes from scratch.

“I prefer making my own clothes rather than starting with a shirt that is already made, that way it turns out exactly how I like it,” Tyler said. “To start, I pick a fabric that I work with easily, like a cotton blend or a jersey, which is a stretchy fabric, and then I draft a pattern of whatever I am making.

After that it is all sewing [from there on].”

Even though this process is hard work, Tyler usually does not need or request help from anyone.

“I do all of this by myself usually, but my mom does help me out when I need an extra pair of hands,” Tyler said.

Doing all of this, along with her regular schoolwork, the work she does in the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA club), and the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA club), one might find that she does not always have time to make clothes.

“I definitely do the majority of [my busi-

BUENA SUERTE Senior Carlicia Tyler works in her fashion marketing class. Tyler designs and sells clothing and custom jewelry.

Photo by Devan Fishburne. ness] on the weekends, but sometimes I will do some little projects after school, like hair bows and jewelry.”

Since she usually does not work on any clothes during the week, Tyler has to try and keep her production up on the weekends.

“Now that school is back in session, I might make two or three [articles of clothing], at the most, per week,” Tyler said. “Making those two or three [articles of clothing] usually takes up to three hours, depending on what I am making. So each item typically takes around an hour to make.”

Making all of these clothing items from scratch, one would expect her items to cost a considerable amount more than items found at a mall. However, that is not the case.

In fact, one would find that her clothes are much more affordable.

“I charge between one dollar and thirty dollars regularly, so my items are pretty affordable, Tyler said. “For customized items,

it can go up to around fifty dollars.”

Being a fairly small business, Tyler does not get the most attention.

“I set up at vendor sales and bazaars around the tri-cities so I get a mixture of clients,” Tyler said. “I make gifts for my teachers occasionally, and some students come to me personally if they want something made.”

It may seem like Tyler is not able to make all the clothes that a big business would be able to, because of her limited resources, but that is not exactly true.

“I make clothes for kids and girls mainly, so like dresses and hair accessories usually,” Tyler said. “I also make jewelry for both guys and girls. If anyone is interested in seeing what I can make, they can check out my business page on Instagram @wav3sofficial for all the latest designs.”

to all fall sports!

8 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 10.10.14

Features

Locals Celebrate Culture Students and faculty reflect on the influence the Hispanic Community has had on the nation for Hispanic Heritage Month.

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Angelica Martinez features editor

merica is the melting pot of nations, and what makes the country so unique is the diversity. The Hispanic community has influenced American society in more ways than one may think. September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, and it is time dedicated to appreciating Hispanic histories, cultures, and contributions to the world. Students and staff share their traditions and favorite parts of Hispanic culture in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Rene Santos is a senior and he came to the United States in 2010 from Honduras. His favorite Hispanic show is the Mexican sitcom “El Chavo del Ocho.” His favorite part of Hispanic culture is soccer.

“I try to stay involved [with the culture] and I go to festivals in Richmond,” Santos said.

Kimberly Green is a junior at and she came to the United States from Panama when she was three years old. An influential Hispanic person that she likes is Shakira. She keeps involved in her culture through the food.

“My uncle picks a chicken, and we always eat arroz con pollo for birthdays,” Green said.

Tayjhion Castillo is a junior and he is of Mexican descent. Hispanics he has found influential to American culture include comedians George Lopez and Gabriel Iglesias. He keeps many traditions that he finds unique to his culture.

“I have a rosary over my bed and I have to pray to it every night out of respect for my grandma,” Castillo said.

Paola Jones is a Spanish teacher that came to America from Colombia for college. An influential Hispanic person to her is Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Jones keeps involved in her culture, and her favorite parts of it include the people, food, and traditions.

“I go home twice a year and I try to be involved in festivals and activities in Richmond for the Hispanic Community,” Jones said.

FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 9

Features

DECA Sponsors Ellie’s Hats School Club Donates To Local Children Battling Cancer Ebony Gilchrist features editor

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amia Singleton browses the hat selection at The Childrens’ Place, searching for the perfect hat to give to a child fighting cancer to make them feel better. This month DECA is sponsoring Ellie’s Hats, a charity that donates hats to children battling cancer, as their community project.

Kimberly Beales, Sports Marketing and Fashion Marketing teacher at Prince George High School, is the sponsor of Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA club).

“I was introduced to Ellie’s Hats, because it is the Virginia DECA State officer community project,” Beales said.

It all starts with Jay Coakley, a teacher at Woodburn Elementary School in Falls Church, VA. Ellie was a girl in Coakley’s Kindergarten class. She has been battling cancer since the age of four. Every day she came to school with a different hat on. People in her school gave her many hats, and Ellie wanted to know if other kids would like to have fun silly hats as well.

Every DECA organization in Virginia is participating with Ellie’s Hats. People can donate their hats in Beales’ classroom.

“When you donate your hats, you get your name on a sticker, and it is placed outside of B1. People can start donating brand new children’s hats at any time, but the first drive is on the 31st,” she said.

Senior Tye’shawn Harris is the Competitive Event Coordinator and Social Media Correspondent, and has been a part of DECA for four years.

“I am getting stuff prepared [for Ellie’s Hats], picking out the types of hats to tell people to buy, and getting the board together to put the names up to who bought a hat and

gave back,” Harris said.

Harris is very confident about the success of the Ellie’s Hats drive.

“I think a lot of people will donate, because not a lot of people give back, but a lot of people give back when it deals with cancer. Young kids with cancer still do what they have to do, and people support it,” he said.

Harris is passionate about this charity and feels fortunate that he can always give back.

“I will totally do this again next year. I will personally come back to Prince George High School and give back,” Harris said.

Junior Tamia Singleton has been an active part of DECA for three years now.

“I think a lot of people will donate, because a lot of people like community service.

We appreciate if people donate, because it is a great cause and it makes people feel better,” Singleton said.

Ellie’s Hats is important to Singleton, because it involves giving back to the less fortunate.

“I will do this again next year, because it is a good cause and it really makes people feel better,” Singleton said.

Senior Corrine Marshall has been in DECA for two years now, and will also be participating in Ellie’s Hats.

“I’m in charge of it [the community service project], because Mrs. Beales assigned it to me because I’m the Vice President of DECA,” Marshall said.

Marshall feels wonderful about Ellie’s Hats being DECA’s community service project.

“DECA is known for their community service.

It is a really touchy subject, because everyone usually knows someone who has or had cancer,” she said.

People do not have to just donate a hat, there is another way to help out too.

“One person brings in one brand new hat with the tag on it, and then they give the hat to DECA. Then we give the hat to the kids at the cancer center. If they don’t have a hat to donate, then they can give us five dollars and we will get a hat for them,” Marshall said.

DECA appreciates all donations. For more information about Ellie and her many hats go to Ellieshats. org.

DECA Members from right to left: Senior Corrine Marshall, junior Tamia Singleton, and senior Tye’shawn Harris.

Photo by Ebony Gilchrist.

Ellie Withfield before she was diagnosed with cancer.

Photo from Ellieshats.org Printed with permission from Jay Coakley.

Jay Coakley [founder of Ellie’s Hats] and Ellie.

Photo from Ellieshats.org Printed with permission from Jay Coakley.

10 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 10.10.14

New Health Plan Hurts

History teacher Cynthia Hasley shares her fight with the School Board regarding the new mandated health plan Lindsay Pugh Editor-in-Chief

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ynthia Hasley stood with frustrated tears pouring from her eyes as the last School Board member finished explaining to her why they could not offer her any alternative to their new mandated health plan. Hasley had spent months battling the plan as communication representative to the high school, speaking out at multiple open budget meetings and rallying the teachers, but there was nothing left she could do.

“I knew things would change around here, and they have,” Hasley said.

Under the new plan, teachers are responsible for a much larger proportion of their healthcare coverage. They pay a flat rate of $51 per month for coverage and contribute as they wish to their health savings account. That not does include any actual healthcare payments. Any treatment is completely out of pocket until a teacher meets their deductible of $2,500. After they reach that, coverage is a 30-70 split covered and out of pocket until they reach their $5,000 cap, after which they receive full coverage.

Previously, teachers about $90 a month for coverage, with a $15 co-pay for a regular doctor’s visit and $30 for a specialist visit.

Changes Due to Budget “We had to make the change because of our budget,” Kim Thayer, healthcare specialist for the county, said in a phone interview.

“If we had continued on the path of traditional health insurance, we would have been spending as much on healthcare as salary for our employees. We’ve been considering

this for two or three years. This was a not an easy decision.”

Rising healthcare costs were absorbed by the school system previously, which used up all of their savings and prevented teachers from receiving a raise in the last fice years.

“The majority of our employees are in a pool together. Under our Anthem health plan, when some users required more care, it drove the cost up for everyone. Under a high deductible health plan, we’re still all together, but eventually high users will be taking on a larger financial responsibility, keeping costs low for the rest,” Thayer said.

The new policy was implemented July 1, and Hasley has already reached her $5,000 cap.

“This policy is catastrophic, not real insurance,” Hasley said. “One of my prescriptions was previously $60 per month, and now it’s $197. I’m $5,000 in debt in two months.”

Potential Loss of Teachers Hasley has considered leaving the school system because of her rising healthcare costs.

“I’ve asked for some letters of recommendation and have been revising my resume,” Hasley said. “I’ve heard from some of the newly hired teachers that if they weren’t covered under their spouses’ insurances, they wouldn’t have taken the job. We might be losing good teachers. We need real healthcare, not this sham of a policy. They should think more of us—we don’t feel valuable when we get scraps like this.”

Thayer is also concerned the county may lose teachers because of the plan.

“The first year, it’s a lot, [and] it’s scary, and you’re worried about what ifs. Out pocket costs can be devastating and we understood that,” Thayer said. “High deductible plans are what insurance companies are moving to. Our [previous] Anthem policy was moving to a high deductible health plan

as well. Hopewell and Dinwiddie already have a high deductible plan, and Chesterfield is considering going to one.”

English teacher Melissa Face has taken over the position of communications representative for the high school from Hasley.

“So far, I haven’t used my plan. I haven’t been to the doctor since July 1, when the change took effect. I’m lucky I had my child on the old plan. A lot of people aren’t so lucky and have chronic conditions that they might’ve been born with or can’t control,” Face said. “I haven’t used it because I’m scared. I’m putting $150 more in monthly, and the potential to lose income is so much greater. You could lose a potential 5-10 thousand out of pocket, which is astronomical.”

Major Policy Drawbacks Hasley cites the major drawback is the total amount of money teachers must put forth before they receive any coverage.

“We’re not wealthy. We’re not in this for money, but we want to make a decent living. We haven’t had a real wage increase in eight years, which causes stress, which leads to poor health, which leads to higher healthcare costs. We’ve always been paid less than our degrees are worth, but we’ve been compensated with good benefits, including healthcare. Taking that away, we’re definitely underpaid, and that’s not including extra hours,” Hasley said.

County employees’ healthcare also is covered under Cigna, but the county funded healthcare for its employees but denied the Board’s request to fund teachers’ insurance.

The School Board was not given a sufficient budget from the county to fund its own healthcare.

Hasley views the policy as discriminatory because teachers have no other healthcare option, while county employees have their choice of two plans. County employees can still access the previous 15030 plan or a high deductible health plan, which they are not required to pay a flat rate for, with a low-

er deductible of $2,000 and an out of pocket cap of $4,000.

“The school board should revise their policy by giving us a choice [in our coverage], or letting us go back to real insurance, not this catastrophic mess,” Hasley said.

Face does note benefits in the new plan, but she believes it is not the best fit for teachers.

“It has potential for a tax break and to accumulate a nice sum of money, but that would take lots of time and years of good health. It might be good for some businesses, but not for teachers. Our salary can’t support that kind of expense,” Face said. “The biggest fear factor is not knowing the cost of a visit, which leads to reluctance to go the doctor and potentially going without treatment because of the expense.”

Possibility for Change Face does not believe that the plan will be revised any time soon and believes that this kind of health plan will only become more and more common.

“People have been sharing their personal experiences for me to take to the communications committee, which the best way to describe what’s been happening financially.

This is a huge money saver for businesses,” Face said. “I haven’t been told of any hope for [changing the policy].”

Thayer is preparing the healthcare policy for next year and hopes to revise the policy.

“We are initiating the request for proposal to shop for the cost to the county and the school system to switch policies or change the plan we’re offering,” Thayer said. “ We won’t know until December and will hopefully present a new policy to the Board in January.”

Teachers

FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 11

BY THE NUMBERS

17

Percent Health Insurance costs are expected to rise in 2015.

$915,000 Estimated increase in cost to the county if the health plan does not change.

13 Number of teachers’ salaries that add up to $915,000.

6

Years since employees have received a net increase in their paycheck.

Hasley looks over her medical bills. Hasley has already reached her $5,000 health care cap. Photo by Lindsay Pugh.

Information from pgs.k12.va.us

12 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 10.10.14

Students Embrace Halloween Spirit Students share their favorite treats and plans for All Hallow’s Eve

Best Places to Go Trick-or-Treating In Prince George In Virginia Fort Lee Richmond

Branchester Lakes

Chesterfield

Baxter Ridge

Colonial Heights

Hopewell

Best places to trick-or-treat in the area were determined from a survey of 60 stu-

Favorite Halloween Treats

Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme “[It was] a snack my mom used to give me when I was younger.”

- Luis Rodriguez, Senior

100 Grand Bar “It’s like a Crunch bar and caramel had a baby.”

- Rhiannaon Lawrence, Sophomore

Chocolate Covered Almonds “I love the crunch of the almonds with the chocolate.”

- Kaela Orr, Senior

Snickers “I like the mix of rich chocolate and sweet caramel.”

- Tasneem Abdur-Rahman, Senior

FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 13

Halloween Safety

1. Avoid trick-or-treating alone.

What are you going to dress up as for Halloween?

“I’m going to be the Disney princess Pocahontas for Halloween this year. I’m already tan and people tell me that she’s the princess that I look like the most. All I need is tan clothes and some feathers and I’ll have my costume.”

-Gabby Font, Junior “I decided to be the Joker because I really like his background story. I’ve always liked Batman and it’s Halloween so I thought, ‘Hey, why not be my favorite comic book character?’”

-Steven Reincke, Senior “In the movies, Rapunzel always seems so sweet and likes to have fun. She is my favorite Disney princess, so I decided to be her. Plus, I have the really long hair to pull it off.”

-Rebecca Nossett, Sophomore “We have a football game on October 31st and I’m a cheerleader so I decided to just be a cheerleader for Halloween. I’m already going to be in costume, so right after I leave the game I’m going to go straight into trick-or-treating.”

-Shelby Thompson, Junior

2.1%

2. Examine all treats for choking

hazards and tampering before eating them.

3. Lover your risk for serious eye

injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.

4. Always test make-up [and face

paint] in a small area first to prevent irritation.

5. Don’t stop at dark houses.

6. Never accept rides from strangers.

jack-o’-lanterns Halloween Candy Favorites 7.awayKeepfromcandle-lit doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains.

Chocolate

20.8%

Hard Candy

54.2% 18.8%

treaters and drive safely!

Gummy Candy

9. Take a flashlight.

Sour Candy

10. Make sure that you know where

Other

4.2%

8. Drivers: watch out for trick-or-

Favorite candy flavors were determined from a survey of 48

you’re going and who you’re going with before the night of Halloween.

Source: cdc.gov/family/halloween

halloween-safety.com

FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 14

Join Me in Prince George.

Jenni Honn Jennifer Flowers Honn Agency (804) 732-8811 honnj1@nationwide.com

Prince George Fire & EMS Proudly supports the Royals and wish you a great year!

Help us celebrate Fire Prevention Month.

“Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!”

(804) 722-8614 www.princegeorgecountyva.gov

FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 15

A&E Students Discover Art of Cosmetology

Cosmetology Roots And Cosmetics Progression Discussed

C

Rowanty Student Discusses The Details of the Cosmetology Program.

Q A Q A Q A Q A

Debra Thomas

What do you learn about cosmetology?

We first do a lesson in the book on how to do it. Then the teacher will take us to her lab and do a demonstration. The brave girls let you practice on them.

Junior Ashlyn Hagee

What are your hopes for when you come out of the cosmetology department?

I kind of want to do it on the side. At the end of your senior year, you can take your state board and if you pass, you will be certified to work in a hair salon, so I will do it on the side while I am in school.

What is your overall opinion of the program?

Senior Raven Evans with the “Smoky Eye”

Senior Jocelyn Perkins with the “Flawless Wing”

Junior Alexis Webster with the “Bold Beauty”

Junior Taylor Slusser with the “Everyday Look “

It is a good program [because] you learn a lot and if you have questions, you can always ask questions. If you are uncomfortable working on an actual person you can always use a mannequin. We have tons of mannequins to work on.

Do you have a syllabus?

No. In two weekends we have an open house, well it’s going to be more like a fundraiser and we are kind of going to learn everything now that we are going to do on people. When they come in , we are going to work on them. They will have a sheet of paper where they can choose everything they want to do like waxing eyebrows, a haircut, hair color, a perm. So right now we are in the process of learning [all] that before.

osmetology is an ancient art.

The word comes from the Greek kosmetikos, which means skilled in the field of cosmetics. According to www.merriam-webster. com, the modern definition of cosmetology is the cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair, and nails.

While makeup and other cosmetics may seem exclusive to more modern generations, with many advertisements and aisles of products, the field of cosmetology gets its roots in 1600 BC, when queens and noblewomen of the ancient Chinese Shang dynasty used various ingredients such as beeswax, egg whites, and gelatin to tint their fingernails.

Cosmetology was boosted in 1400 BC, when Queen Vashti used scented oils for perfumes, henna for fingernail polish, and adorned her face with advanced makeup designs. Following Vashti’s footsteps, Queen Cleopatra in 500 BC was very fond of cosmetics and had a factory built near the neighboring Dead Sea for her personal use. (www. humbleisd.net) Mesoamerican civilizations used makeup on their sacrifices to the gods, so the deities could better see their facial features.

The use of cosmetics, especially in Europe, regressed throughout the Middle Ages. It was not until the Renaissance that it became socially acceptable for women to wear makeup and use cosmetics. The first cosmetics were made from natural materials like cacao and berries. It was not until the Renaissance, when scientific technology was improved, that “modern” chemical cosmetics came into use. (www.evergreenbeauty.edu) Today, cosmetology encompasses makeup, shampoos and conditioners, perfumes and colognes, and cosmetic surgery. In modern society the desire to achieve perfection has never been more prominent, and that is through advanced medical practices in the cosmetic field. In 2012, there were 1.6 million cosmetic procedures performed in the United States. The most popular surgeries were breast augmentations, rhinoplasties, and eyelid surgery. (www.plasticsurgery.org) The future of cosmetology remains unknown, but, with scientific progressions, the possibilities are endless.

16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 10.10.14

Robert Major Wilkinson, Jr.

President

Office: 434.246.2666 Fax: 434.246.2103 Cell: 804.720.0225 20250 South crater Road P.O. Box 31 Carson, Virginia 23830

www.mwcpa.com

Serving Virginia for 70 Years Richmond Tri-Cities

FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 17

A&e

Talent Show Contestants Go Viral Students Make Hit Music Video After Performing at 4-H Talent Show

Sarah Daniel Special Edition EIC

A

s senior Jared Fallin steps on to the stage during the 4-H talent show, he is prepared to perform a song which not only represents Prince George County, but also the school spirit he shares with many of the students and alumni of the high school.

After performing the song called “Prince George,” the group of students received an overwhelming amount of feedback, including over 6,000 views on YouTube. “[We] were expecting positive feedback, but not in such a large amount,” Fallin said.

Originally the idea of doing the video came from Herman Maclin, the 4-H director.

“I wasn’t my idea, it was Herman’s,” Fallin said. “ I agreed immediately [because I] thought it would be a good way to promote Prince George.”

As the 4-H director, Maclin did have a part

in the process.

“I am the 4-H youth development agent in Prince George County. We do a program called Music Biz and the annual Talent Show at PGHS and 4-H Camp among many other 4-H youth development programs,” Maclin said in an email interview. “I knew Jared, Sadé and Darius had something special as soon as they walked out on stage at the talent show auditions.”

Herman recognizes the importance of youth having good, clean music and this was one way to make that possible.

“The video represents the love that our kids have for Prince George and the people in it. It also represents the many talents that our kids have and gives us a chance to show the world that they are awesome in more ways than one,” Maclin said. “They talk about good things in the song and that’s what we need more of in today’s music industry. Folks need to hear songs like this to lift them up and make them feel good about something.”

Alumnus Sadé Ferguson assumed the role of the vocalist of the song. Ferguson’s goal for the future is to have a career in music, but the reason she took this opportunity was be-

cause of her love for the county.

“My favorite part of the process was watching the final product on YouTube and seeing the views go up. Not because I wanted to be a ‘local celeb’, but because it showed how many people really love this county,” Ferguson said in an email interview. “I was overjoyed [at] the amount of positive feedback that was circulating. I did not even know that the video was on YouTube, let alone the news.”

After the group performed at the 4-H talent show, they began to prepare for the state competition at 4-H Congress at Virginia Tech.

Music Biz members Justin Brown, Lawrence Jeffries, and Josh Maclin started the process by recording sessions and rehearsing with the group.

“They won first place at congress competition and ended up being the best act on the show!” Maclin said. “We came home and recorded the song in the Music Biz studio and later in September we added the footage Josh shot of their performance at 4-H Congress, then edited the video and dropped it.”

Fallin then tweeted to CBS 6 News and they did a feature news report on it. After that, the views of the video began to climb. Each in-

Senior Jared Fallin performs his original song, which was featured on www.wtvr.com, “Prince George.”

The music video has gotten over 6,000 views on YouTube.

Photo by April Buckles. dividual in the process agrees that the purpose of the video was to represent Prince George County.

“This song represents where I have come from and it reminds me of what a strong and supporting foundation I have back at home,” Ferguson said. “Whenever things get tough in the real world, I know that I can always come home to the friends, and family that I have in good old PG. Once a Royal, always a Royal.”

Scan to view the “Prince George” music video.

18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 10.10.14

Contact Us:

A&E Gamer's Corner Veteran Developer Goes In A New Direction

B

ungie, known for their work on the blockbuster Halo franchise, is a prolific name in the video game industry.

They pioneered the modern sci-fi first-person shooter, a genre niche that has become obscenely popular, so expectations ran high when the developer announced it would be gifting the Halo series to 343 Studios in order to pursue new interests. Those “new interests” surfaced in the form of Destiny, an ambitious project that is slated to be Bungie’s flagship franchise for the foreseeable future.

However, Destiny’s reveal was plagued with a number of curiosities that did not bode well for the new intellectual property. The game is largely a rebranding of the Halo series (another sci-fi first-person shooter set in space and involving aliens), an internet connection is required to play, and it cost $500 million to make and promote, which makes it the most costly video game to publish in history. These decisions foreshadowed what was to come, because Destiny just falls flat.

Bungie’s superb storytelling of years past is noticeably

Travis Temple

absent in Destiny. The plot exists only to create a framework for the game to exist in, which is an utter shame given the developer’s potential for narrative excellence. This is made even worse by the fact that the vast majority of the in-game dialogue comes from one character whose voice acting is downright terrible. Peter Dinklage’s role as Ghost is entirely uninspired, as if he was going through the motions and trying to get the job done as quickly as possible. The rest of the audio work is average; it will not add or detract anything substantial to or from your experience.

Aside from these things, its most prominent fault is its online requirement. All Destiny players have to be connected to the Internet during the entirety of their time with the game, which alienates a large portion of its diverse audience. Worst of all, Bungie has been experiencing a myriad of server problems that cause players to be booted out of their game even though their Internet connection is working normally, and there was even a period of time where the entire system was down for a span of hours. This is absolutely egregious, and not being able to use something after spending hard-earned money on it sours your taste for the experience.

Despite its flaws, Destiny knocks a few things out of the park, and thus saves the game as a whole. Not surprisingly, most of the fun derived from Destiny comes from its shooter gameplay, which is just as tight and smooth as Halo ever was, if not more so.

The graphical fidelity and presentation are absolutely phenomenal, boasting some of the best visuals I have ever seen, and Bungie’s eye for scenery is on display yet again.

Mountainous vistas, desolate yet serene wastelands, trickling waterfalls, the blackness of deep space, the dull Travis Temple red surface of Mars, and high-tech cityscapes are

FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 19

just a few of the jaw-dropping sights that will make you stop in your tracks to observe in awe.

Bungie’s latest outing is a far cry from the concentrated brilliance that was the Halo series. Destiny is fun and enjoyable (especially with friends), if taken for what it is: a flawed but ambitious attempt at putting a fresh coat of paint on a gaming giant.

Photo from Wikipedia, with courtesy of fair use.

Protect Your Information: Tips for Using Public Wi-Fi Networks Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops, libraries, airports, hotels, universities, and other public places are convenient, but often they’re not secure. If you connect to a Wi-Fi network, and send information through websites or mobile apps, it might be accessed by someone else.

To protect your information when using wireless hotspots, send information only to sites that are fully encrypted, and avoid using mobile apps that require personal or financial information.

How Encryption Works Encryption is the key to keeping your personal information secure online. Encryption scrambles the information you send over the internet into a code so it’s not accessible to others. When you’re using wireless networks, it’s best to send personal information only if it’s encrypted – either by an encrypted website or a secure Wi-Fi network. An encrypted website protects only the information you send to and from that site. A secure wireless network encrypts all the information you send using that network.

How to Tell If a Website is Encrypted If you send email, share digital photos and videos, use social networks, or bank online, you’re sending personal information over the internet. The information you share is stored on a server – a powerful computer that collects and delivers content.

Many websites, like banking sites, use encryption to protect your information as it travels from your computer to their server.

To determine if a website is encrypted, look for https at the start of the web address (the “s” is for secure). Some websites use encryption only on the sign-in page, but if any part of your session isn’t encrypted, your entire account could be vulnerable. Look for https on every page you visit, not just when you sign in.

What About Mobile Apps?

Unlike websites, mobile apps don’t have a visible indicator like https. Researchers have found that many mobile apps don’t encrypt information properly, so it’s a bad idea to use certain types of mobile apps on unsecured Wi-Fi. If you plan to use a mobile app to conduct sensitive transactions – like filing your taxes, shopping with a credit card, or accessing your bank account – use a secure wireless network or your phone’s data network (often referred to as 3G or 4G).

If you must use an unsecured wireless network for transactions, use the company’s mobile website – where you can check for the https at the start of the web address – rather than the company’s mobile app.

Don’t Assume a Wi-Fi Hotspot is Secure Most Wi-Fi hotspots don’t encrypt the information you send over the internet and aren’t secure. In fact, if a network doesn’t require a WPA or WPA2 password, it’s probably not secure. If you use an

The smart choice for secure online banking. fortleecu.org | (804) 452-0736

unsecured network to log in to an unencrypted site – or a site that uses encryption only on the sign-in page – other users on the network can see what you see and what you send. They could hijack your session and log in as you.

New hacking tools – available for free online – make this easy, even for users with limited technical know-how. Your personal information, private documents, contacts, family photos, and even your login credentials could be up for grabs.

An imposter could use your account to impersonate you and scam people in your contact lists. In addition, a hacker could test your username and password to try to gain access to other websites – including sites that store your financial information.

Excerpted from www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0014-tipsusing-public-wi-fi-networks. Visit www.onguardonline.gov for tips on keeping information secure online.

20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 10.10.14

ph tOGallery

For more photos of the Color Run go to www.trnwired.org

Color Run Bursts Into County In Inaugural Year

LEFT: Raven Williams finishes the 5k splattered with paint. Runners came from Fort Lee to participate. Photo by Jazzlyn Taylor.

Above: Runners begin the race with a splash of paint. Immediately following the start of the race,volunteers were prepared to throw paint at the runners. Photo by Ally Renn. mIDDLE: Junior Amanda Belcher and sophomore Grace Williams proceed through the 5k without being splattered with a lot of paint.

Photo by Ally Renn.

BELOW: Senior Taylor Stevenson, juniors Brendal Vargo, Brooklyn Morning, and Gabrielle Mirro volunteered to throw the paint at the runners. Photo by Ally Renn.

FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 21

Fall sports

Field Hockey Team Defends Conference Twelve Title Varsity Girls Go Into Conference Tournament Defending Title In Hopes Of Advancing Further April Buckles a&e editor

T

he girls field hockey team has been practicing and anticipating for this time of the year since the season started. It is time to go head to head to fight for the right to bear the conference title. The conference tournament will be held on Sept. 29th, at River City High School.

On Monday, the 21st of Sept., the field hockey game was canceled due to smoking of the light fixtures on the field. Not only were the fixtures not in working condition, but the handy man who came to the rescue damaged the field with his truck when crossing over the field, leaving the field in an unsuitable condition for play.

“The field getting messed up probably won’t affect the way we play, if anything we should feel even more inspired to do our best,” senior and team captain Meaghan Elliot said.

Taking home the title from last years conference, the girls field hockey team has been working diligently to defend their title as conference tournament champions.

“Our team this year is very different from last year’s team. We’ve become more of a unit, and we’ve been working really hard to get to where we are. I think our team will go really far this year, or even farther than we did last year. If we just keep working hard, we should be able to make it,” sophomore Marley Guidry said.

Last year the girls field hockey team made it to the last round of regionals.

Many would think this might discourage the girls field hockey team in this years conference. The girls say otherwise.

“We have a very special and talented team. I have faith that we will go far in the tournament and maybe even farther than what we went last year. We have a great team that works hard, and loves what they do,” junior Makenna Harrison said.

Field hockey is a very interactive

sport. It can be physically challenging.

Studies show that an average field hockey can run up to eight to ten kilometers in one game. This sport is usually and most commonly compared to soccer. The rules are very similar and both require a very sufficient amount of running.

“Sometimes I just go really hard in practice and give it my all to help myself in preparation for a game,” Elliot said.

“Our coach has come up with new and more drills for us to do at practice that can really help our performance at the conference tournament.” Every once in a while people, students, athletes, and even teachers need inspiration, whether it’s mental or physical. It is nice sometimes to go beyond practice with your teammates, and hang out afterwards to get to know each other better and build a better bond with them.

“Sometimes we just need to tell each other to not just look at the name on our backs, or the name of the school on each other’s uniforms, and to give it our all no

matter who we are or who the other team is. We should always give our all and go and play to our full potential no matter what team we are on or what team we are playing,” Elliot said.

Sophomore Marley Guidry controls the ball. Guidry was a part of the team last year when they won the conference.

Photo by Matt Reed.

Do you think the field hockey team should get more attention?

78% Yes 22%No How often do you attend field hockey games?

78%Never 16% Sometimes 2%Always 100 students were surveyed in their 5th block class and 88 surveys were returned.

22 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 10.10.14

JUAN A. ROJAS, DDS GENERAL DENTISTRY

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FRIDAY 10.10.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 23

Fall sports

Senior Spotlight

Montae Bradshaw

Football

Bendall Breaks Boundaries Haley Bendall Takes on Male Dominated Sport Devan Fishburne managing editor

G

olf, a club and ball sport, has remained popular since the late 19th century. Golf’s origins date back to 1400s Scotland, but only recently has there been a rise in the number of women playing golf. With new female stars of the game like Michelle Wie and 11 year old Lucy Li, the game of golf is becoming both more accessible and more enticing to women.

There is only one girl on the golf team this season. Sophomore Haley Bendall has only been playing for two months, but she showed improvement and earned her spot on the team.

“She earned that. She came out one day, she was softball player, and she took a lesson. She earned it,” golf team coach Earl Burton said.

Bendall cites teammate junior Wesley Warren as her motivation to join the team.

“Wesley Warren [made me want to join the team]. He motivated me to play golf more, so when I got better I decided to come out,” Bendall said.

Being the only girl on the team would

seem like daunting task, but Bendall was not at all discouraged by the proposition. It motivated her.

“It made me push myself to become better because I am a girl,” Bendall said. “I push myself a lot harder because I want to be better than the guys and because I don’t have another girl to compare myself to so I compare myself to the guys.”

Bendall has experienced a lot of support from her teammates, friends, and family.

“Wesley and Reeve [Ashcraft] tell me if I get frustrated in practice, not to worry about it and just focus on the next shot,” Bendall said. “[My friends and family] are really proud of me. Every sport I’ve played has been with girls so it shows how good I am that I can compete with the guys that have been playing a lot longer than me.”

Now that she has qualified for her first ever match earlier in the year, Bendall’s goals for the remainder of the season include qualifying for the central district, something Coach Burton fully supports.

“I’m really happy with the way she competes. She’s a really good athlete. You could tell she’s played sports before, and she’s not intimated by playing the guys. She fits in well with the team. She’ll continue to improve,” Burton said.

Sophomore Haley Bendall gets set to put.

Bendall was the only girl on the golf team this past season.

Photo by Corey Lee. Teammate, junior Austin Britt has seen having Bendall on the team as advantage.

“It has definitely been an advantage [having Bendall on the team] because she can play from tees that are a lot closer than the men’s tees. It also gives our team a better balance of personalties,” Britt said.

The VHSL rules for women’s golf are different than those set for the men. The women hit from a different, red-colored tee which is closer to the hole. According to Burton, where Bendall hits the ball is the only thing that sets her apart.

“We don’t set her apart in golf. The only thing that sets her apart is her tee. She qualifies the same way with the same score,” Burton said.

Even though Bendall is the only girl, her and her teammates believe that she can improve and eventually go very far in the sport.

“I believe that Haley has unlimited potential for her golf career. She has a good foundation in her swing and a fierce competitiveness. If she puts in the work, I believe that she could be a very influential part of the PG golf program in the future,” Britt said.

How long have you played football?

“I have been playing football since I was nine years old.”

What do you love most about the sport?

“Being with my teammates every day.”

Do you plan on playing football in college? Why or why not?

“I do plan on going to college to play because I have a chance to play.”

How did you get into playing football?

“My dad inspired me to play just by listening to him talk about football.”

How do you think your performance has been so far this season, team-wise and individually?

“Team-wise, we have been playing good. Everyone has been doing their job. Individually, I have been playing good so far, but without my teammates I wouldn’t be able to perform the way I have been.”

How do you feel about it being your last year playing with PG? “[I’m] gonna miss it, but i have no regrets, so not too much emotion.”

girls Varsity football Varsity field Varsity football >> >> >> volleyball senior night vs. hockey senior homecoming Fall Sports >> Varsity senior night vs.

Colonial Heights night vs. Matoaca game vs.

Upcoming Events

Dinwiddie is Tues., Oct. 14th at 7:15 P.M.

Meadowbrook is Fri., Oct. 19th at 7:30 P.M.

is Wed., Oct. 22nd at 4:00 P.M.

is Fri., Oct. 31st at 7:30 P.M

Student Athletes Support ‘Pink Out’ Daniel Puryear ad editor

T

Senior Jordan Nase runs the ball. Nase is a proud supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For more football photos visit trnwired.org.

Photo by Debra Thomas.

he Royals are proud supporters of green and gold, but for some athletes and students, pink is a color supported just as strongly in the month of October.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and, according to www.breastcancer.org, the average risk of getting breast cancer in women is 1 in 8 or 12%. With these statistics, the likelihood of someone being affected by breast cancer, either by having breast cancer or having a loved one that has breast cancer, is high.

Senior Jordan Nase is a proud supporter of breast cancer awareness and is often seen covered in pink during the varsity football games.

“I wear a pink undershirt, pink socks, pink cleats, pink cleat covers, and pink gloves in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” Nase said.

Nase understands just how much damage breast cancer can cause a person and a family through his own experiences with his mother and aunt.

“My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and my aunt was also diagnosed and she passed away, so it means a lot to me,” Nase said.

To help raise awareness for breast cancer, students and faculty were encouraged to wear pink on October 3rd, 2014 at the home varsity football game. This support helps survivors and those affected by breast cancer gain hope that they will be able to fight or be able to support others.

“I know it would mean a great deal to me to see people in pink,” Nase said.

Although people think of the football’s “Pink-out” when it comes to Breast Cancer Awareness month but other fall sports par-

ticipate, including volleyball. Varsity volleyball player Eddie Saunders refers to his experiences with breast cancer.“ My mother had [breast cancer] and when she did, it really opened my eyes on how it can affect different people,” Saunders said.

As someone who has been impacted by breast cancer, Saunders has become more alert to the danger breast cancer imposes.

“Anyone can be infected from women to men, so it is really something to keep in mind,” Saunders said.

As a supporter of breast cancer awareness and an athlete for Prince George, Saunders believes there are ways the county can increase their participation in Breast Cancer Awareness month.

“We should have more ‘Pink-out’ days through the month of October and raise money for foundations,” Saunders said.

To help raise money for breast cancer foundations, the Prince George Athletic Department has implemented a Play Pink initiative in which athletes will donate five dollars to wear pink throughout the month of October.

“Coach Carroll and I came together on this and Coach Carroll got together with his guys and told them the idea behind wearing pink, because some players just see people in the NFL wearing pink and do the same but it has a deeper meaning,” Assistant Athletic Director Hezekiah Butler said. “The ‘Play Pink’ initiative is to get the players to donate five dollars to the Susan G. Koman foundation and they will be able to wear pink in the month of October. This started with football but we are including any sport that wants to join.”

This new plan may seem a little contradictory by making people pay to support breast cancer [but it is not in any way and athletes are willing to donate].

“I think it’s awesome, the fact that they are actually going to send it to a foundation is amazing,” Nase said. “I do not mind paying.”