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Bluestreak Volume 34, Issue 8, April 2017
Andover Through the Ages Page 12-13
Table of Contents News News in Brief
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Photos Photo of the Month
4-5
6-7
Features College Choices
8-9
Binge Watching
10
Finstagram
11
Andover Through the Ages
12-13
12-13
Fostered Pets
14
Andover Pets
15
opinions
14
#RelationshipGoals
16
Peace for the Planet
17
18-19
a&E Mechanics Spotlight Teacher Talk
18-19 20
Sports JV Spotlight Spring Sports
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The Trojan BlueStreak Staff editor-in-chief Emma Starks managing editor Elise Lindemann copy editor Ashley Dorf design editor Emily Stybr assistant design editor Hayley Jones assistant design editor Sophie Braynock in-depth editor Grace Ball lead writer Ashley Shandy sports editor Ben Smith photo editor Julia Schneider assistant photo editor Kamilla Sims web editor Stuart Jenkins staffers Natalie Anderson Megan Aune Avery Balderston Josie Beaver Hannah Brumfield Bayli Ellerman Josie Hufman Ben Johnsen Annalise Matheny Abigail Parker Kylie Porter Rachel Root Kaitlyn Seabrook Slade Swan Jonny Wagner Published by: Andover High School, 1744 N Andover Rd., Andover KS, 67002
From the Editor It is hard to believe I’m writing my last letter from the editor; the year has flown by! Being editor of the Bluestreak has taught me so much and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. I look forward to using all the knowledge I gained as I embark on my college adventure this fall. Speaking of college, this month we discuss the many factors that go into choosing a post-secondary plan. In light of the upcoming bond issue, we thought it would be fun to look back on the history of Andover schools and how they have evolved through the years. Another fun addition to this month’s paper is the Andover Pets page. The first page I ever designed was an Andover Pets page so I wanted to create another one for my last issue of the Bluestreak. Down below is a picture of my beloved dog, Bentley. Thank you to the Bluestreak team for all of your hard work and creativity this year. I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the school year. Go Trojans! Spear ‘em!
Emma Starks
Farewell to our senior staff members! Grace Ball Josie Beaver Ashley Dorf Stuart Jenkins Elise Lindemann Abigail Parker Kaitlyn Seabrook Ashley Shandy Emma Starks Emily Stybr
BLUESTREAK editorial policy
The Trojan Bluestreak is a newspaper and public forum that is backed by the First Amendment. Freedom of speech permits members of the Bluestreak staff and the student body to express their opinions in the form of editorials or other opinionated articles. The views presented in opinion pieces do not represent the view of the Bluestreak as a whole. If you would like to submit an opinion piece for possible publication, please contact Mr. Conover in Room 112. The Bluestreak will not publish any piece that has distasteful elements including, but not limited to, libel, plagiarism, profanity, obscenity and falsification.
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News in brief The theater department’s last production of the year, Anatomy of Gray, was performed April 6-8 at Andover High School. Anatomy of Gray is a bittersweet drama based in the 1800’s, starring a 15-year-old girl named June who lives in Gray, Indiana. She encounters a mysterious doctor when a plague inflicts her town and is forced to navigate through these challenges, alone. When asked why Anatomy of Gray was chosen for this year’s spring play, teacher Sarah Koehn replied, “I have wanted to direct this show for about four years. It is complex and beautiful in ways that defy rigid classification. It’s sad and funny and complex and messy. It’s just like life.” The success of the production was due in no small part to the 17-person cast and 23-person crew. Nightly attendance was around 120 people. Photo by Kylie Porter
-meganAUNE
What is Forensics and how is this year’s season going? “Forensics is basically competitive public speaking, we go to tournaments on the weekends and compete against schools from all over the area in several different events,” said coach James Harris. Generally, events fall into one of two categories, either a traditional public speaking event or an acting event called interpretation. Last year, AHS sent a team to the national championship and are hoping to building the team back up. “We’ve had a pretty successful year so far, having several students place in many different events,” added Harris. The national qualifying tournament took place at Andover Central on April 14-15. The state championship is the first weekend in May. “If we’re lucky enough, we’ll have people go to Nationals, but we have to get them qualified first. If we get qualified, then we’ll be in Alabama in June,” said Harris.
-annaliseMATHENY - abigailPARKER
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The Trojan Bluestreak’s monthly digest of events around the community Freshman Representatives will be: Libby Chaffin, Halle Harp, and Kellyn Hamby
The results are in for 2017-18 StuCo Student Body President: Kyle Hsiao Student Body Vice President: Mac Martine Senior Class President: Baylee Bloom Senior Representatives: Julia Graves, Nick Linhardt and Hannah Olson Junior Class President: Jacob Linhardt Junior Representatives: Emily Book, Lindsey Luong and Seth Rather Sophomore Class President: Claire Pomeroy Sophomore Representatives: Emma Bishop, Josie Farris and Liz Haralson Freshman Class President: Jordan Laub Freshman Representatives: Libby Chaffin, Halle Harp and Kellyn Hamby At-large members who are in StuCo but do not take the class, will be voted on another date.
-averyBALDERSTON
This year, Andover seniors began the graduation season with a fun twist--a parade of graduates through Cottonwood, Martin and Wheatland Elementary Schools. When she saw it on a social media story last year, Dr. Kuhlmann decided that this new activity would be a great idea for AHS. The parade involved most of the seniors walking through the halls of the elementary schools, high-fiving students along the way. Dr. Kuhlmann says she hopes that it will become a new tradition that current and future students will look forward to.
-averyBALDERSTON Photo by Jonny Wagner
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Photo of the month >> Andover High School seniors gather outside Cottonwood Elementary School before the senior parade April 14. The event included seniors visiting Cottonwood, Martin and Wheatland Elementary Schools and giving high fives to all the students. “This photo was chosen as photo of the month because it captures the festivity of the new event and shows a moment where the students are starting to move on from high school,� said photographer Kamilla Sims. For more photos, visit ahsbluestreak.com
Photo by Kamilla Sims
College Choices Students navigate the path to choosing a college
Senior year can bring monumental experiences like prom, final football games and graduation. But it also brings about the college selection process for many students. Since the modern world has become more dependent on young adults with higher education degrees, students are considering more factors about colleges than ever, including financial aid, degree of difficulty in regards to admission, and rankings. Schools like the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University are a sound option for some Andover High School graduates. They provide a four-year university experience and solid education at a more affordable cost than private colleges or out-of-state schools. Some students, like senior Chase Knackstedt, incorporate sports opportunities as an additional incentive to stay in-state. He is committed to play football at Baker University. Although Knackstedt was presented offers from other schools like Tabor College, he ultimately picked Baker. “Baker has a better reputation, and it’s a better university all around,” Knackstedt said. Knackstedt is receiving a scholarship for playing on the Baker team, which he says is another reason that instate education is best for him. Yet staying in-state is not for everybody. Senior Natalie Rigby says that there were many reasons she decided to study outside of Kansas. “Going out of state is the best decision for me because I have received some out of state scholarships, the schools I’m interested in offer specialized programs, I’ll have greater independence, and they are closer to home in Arizona.”
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Rigby says she is currently undecided on her destination, but is deciding between Utah State University and Brigham Young University Idaho. Regardless of residency status, schools are becoming more and more expensive, leaving college students in challenging financial situations. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Education, 70 percent of college students graduate with outstanding debt. The total U.S. student debt grows by $2,667.20 per second, at a total of over $1.4 trillion. Counselor Robin Anderson says that students should take advantage of as much financial aid as they can. “Every little scholarship, every big scholarship, job study, anything you can do [matters] to make that number each semester go down,” Anderson said. Not only are schools becoming more expensive, but many are also becoming more selective due to higher application yields. To give students more chances to achieve their educational goals, ACT announced last month that they would be adding a July test date due to popular demand. The late date is meant to help students solely focus on the test and not coursework, as well as give students an extra chance to improve their scores before the college applications process begins. As students begin and end their college searches, many factors can influence students in regards to their perfect colleges and pathways to future careers.
-ashleyDORF
Anna Wilson What school are you going to? University of Kansas What scholarships have you received? The Self Scholarship and the Crimson & Blue scholarship. What made you choose that college? Good biomedical engineering, also a well-respected college. And this college has lots of other connections to different schools. What other colleges were you considering? KU, OU, Baylor or TCU. What are you excited about? I’m excited for the freedom of college and getting to room with my best friend. What do you have to do to maintain your scholarships? I have to keep a 3.5 GPA. I also have to be an active participant in the Self leadership program. They give us $2,500 a year to expand our learning outside of the classroom like studying abroad, applying for grants, attending seminars, etc.
Chase Oberg What school are you going to? Butler Community College What scholarships have you received? Football Athletic Scholarship What made you choose that college? It’s one of the top Jucos in the country and the best place for me to develop as a player. What are you excited about? I’m looking forward to getting stronger and developing as a quarterback to see what all I can do with football, and to reach my goal of becoming a D1 QB. What do you have to do to maintain your scholarships? Stay out of trouble, get good grades and improve as a player each year.
Lexi Lesperance What school are you going to? Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa What scholarships have you received? I got an academic scholarship, the Coe Grant and a Pell Grant. They cannot give athletic scholarships so the Coe Grant is like their athletic scholarship. What made you choose that college? The coach is super personable and like a mom to all of the girls. Also everyone there is super friendly and nice, and the education for pre engineering and chemistry is the best out of all of the colleges I looked at. What are you excited about? I am super excited to get out of Kansas and move away and be independent. I love the opportunity because it’s like a fresh start and I won’t have anyone there which will be nice because I can focus on myself and softball. What do you have to do to maintain your scholarships? I just have to perform on the field and show that I am worthy of the scholarship.
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BINGE BINGE WATCHING WATCHING The pros and cons of streaming media
In the past decade, a new phenomenon has arisen, the era of streaming. Programs like Netflix and Hulu have been gaining popularity. The rise in viewers is understandable, as the shows offer much that would bring in a substantial audience. These programs effortlessly capture an audience due to the variety of shows and movies they provide. With all of these shows so easily accessible to everyone, self control is becoming more difficult. Multiple seasons are available immediately, with no week-long wait for each new episode to premiere. Hundreds of movies are just waiting to be watched.
HOURS PER WEEK
Programs are undoubtedly becoming harder and harder to resist. Out of this tendency to sit and watch episode after episode, the term “Binge watching” has arisen. Episodes turn into seasons, seasons turn into series, it becomes a never ending cycle. Many soon find themselves abandoning their real world plans for some quality time with their TV and couch. Programs are extremely hard to avoid not only due to their immediate availability, but also because of the variety of genres they provide. Almost anyone could find something enjoyable to watch. Binge watching has numerous appeals, and not many reasons to resist the temptation.
Teens are especially prone, and questions have arisen as to what effect binge watching has on the youth of today. With the temptation to sit and watch Netflix for hours, many avoid their responsibilities. With the increasing popularity of Netflix and binge watching, studying and homework are being pushed aside more frequently. What is little known about, are the positive aspects that watching Netflix can have on teens. Netflix without excess can yield great results. Watching shows can have positive effects on studying. When used as brain breaks, episodes from the Netflix are extremely useful.
GENRES
Procrastination generally occurs when the brain is too tired to focus or has been used too much that day. A short episode can provide a much needed relief. In addition to an episode providing a break directly after a stressful day at school, Netflix can be used as motivation to get more work done. Rewarding yourself after accomplishing a solid amount of work encourages productivity.
SHOWS
AGES
While binge watching has become a well known term, it is not well known what truly constitutes a “binge session.” In an article published in February 2014 by The Atlantic, a binge session is defined as four or more episodes in one sitting. This seems like a small number, as many today find themselves easily surpassing this number.
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The key to watching Netflix and still studying effectively is moderation. As long as the rewards are not abused, they can have huge impacts on the effectiveness of studying. While binge watching today can encourage less productivity, watching in moderation provides great brain breaks and effectively re-energize the mind.
-natalieANDERSON
FINSTAGRAM [FIN-stuh-gram] The following surveys were completed anonymously by Andover High School students.
Grade: 9 Why do you have a finsta? [To] express my feelings. What do you post on your finsta? Party and drinking pictures, vandalism, emotional rants, confessions, embarrassing posts Has your finsta ever been discovered by someone who should not have seen it? No Are you afraid your finsta will have any affect on your future? Yes
Grade: 11 Why do you have a finsta? [I] used to have one to use as an emotional outlet. What do you post on your finsta? Emotional rants Has your finsta ever been discovered by someone who should not have seen it? Yes, cause people snitch. Are you afraid your finsta will have any affect on your future? No, they are mostly emotional posts, not all bad.
Now Trending : Fake Instagram Accounts Instagram, the wildly popular app used by many Andover High School students, has stirred up some recent controversy. This social media platform allows users to post photos and videos to share with their followers. Many users enjoy stylizing these accounts, polishing them with themes that match in color and content. Lately, there has been a surge of fake instagram or “finsta” accounts. These accounts are usually the user’s second account and are less polished. Teens are drawn to these accounts because they are able to limit their number of followers, creating a more secretive environment to share a different side of their personality. Nationally, finstas are commonly associated with accounts that users post embarrassing, silly, and fun photos. This encompasses ugly selfies, quirky vlogs, and candid photos meant to illustrate the more easy-going portion of the account holder’s personality. However, not all finstas take on this theme. There is a smaller population of Instagram users that create these accounts to display their more rebellious behavior. Teens post videos of themselves and their friends drinking, partying, vandalizing, and doing other, sometimes illegal, activities. This variety of account has become a trend at Andover High School. “Usually people create these fake accounts and they think that no one will ever figure it out, but more often than not the police and others are able to determine who [has] created it and that’s how repercussions are made,” said Robin Anderson, AHS counselor. Many who operate these fake accounts are unaware of the possible consequences. Screenshots are shown to administrators and authorities, rumors of the posts on these accounts float around school, brewing up a storm of drama. This can have tremendous effects on those involved with the account, ranging from minor embarrassment to legal trouble. One effect of these accounts may not be apparent until the near future. Colleges and businesses are beginning to use social media to obtain background knowledge on their applicants. If these fake instagram accounts are linked to the recognizable accounts corporations could find these persecuting materials, resulting in the applicant not being accepted or hired. Students should not be so quick to hide behind an alias. Even if only a handpicked group of people have access to the account, posts can still be screenshotted and spread. Remember and abide by the grandma rule, don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your grandma would see--chances are, she just might see it.
-eliseLINDEMNN
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Andover through the Ages 1971 High School dance team in current-day Cottonwood Elementary.
Students sit on steps leading up to raised commons area in AHS.
1973 Aerial view of the campus.
1983
2001 District expands and Andover Central is built. The proposed expansion of Andover High School.
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Growth is constant for Andover Schools In 1875, a wooden one-room schoolhouse was built near where Andover now stands. This school was moved to Andover when the town was laid out. The portion that was moved was adjoined with a new school house, built at a cost of $2,000, on Andover Road just north of Allison Street. It was completed in 1882 and school started that fall. This was the first Andover school, and Professor Hanskin was in charge of the 86 students who attended. Today, the Andover School District is made up of more than 5,200 students. The older part of Cottonwood Elementary School, which was first the high school, then a middle school, was built in 1947. A bond issue was passed in 1950-51 to accommodate the growth in the area following World War II. This expansion included the building that forms part of Cottonwood Elementary School today. A new elementary school was completed in the late 1950s and added on to in the 1960s, when a new stadium, cafeteria and classrooms were added at the high school. The cafeteria and classrooms are what is currently the stadium building, and the high school was later Andover Intermediate and is now Cottonwood Elementary School. Two school bond issues were voted down by residents in the mid ‘70s, though one passed in 1978 to build a new upper level school – Andover High School – a 120,000-square-foot structure designed to serve 750 students. The class of 1982 was the first class to graduate from this building. In the late 1980s, additions were made to the high school and what is now the Butler Community College wing was added. A $52-million bond was passed in November 1998 to meet the demands of a growing student population. The bond program provided for an additional high school, Andover Central High School, which opened in 2001, along with Andover Central Middle School and Sunflower Elementary School.
We are fortunate enough to have some staff members who have been here through many of these changes. Librarian Rita Herl began working at Andover schools in 1978 and was involved several school expansions. She was a librarian when Andover High School moved out of what is now Cottonwood Elementary into its new building across the street. “I divided up the existing collection of the old building so there would be books in both buildings. I still find some books in the AHS library from the original building!” said Herl. Later when Andover Central schools were added to the district, she again split the collection of books for ACHS, ACMS and Sunflower Elementary. One small change to Andover High School that students may not know about is the commons area. “The commons used to be raised in the center, so you had to step up to the commons, and had a half wall surrounding it. As the student body grew, room was need so the raised portion was taken out,” said Herl. The commons area was still raised when Spanish teacher Amanda Young was a student at Andover High School in 2000. “We used to have a break between 2nd and 3rd hour for about 10 minutes, so whenever we would have a break we would all just go out and everybody would sit on the ledge and hang out and have fun. And the lunch room was actually elevated inside of where the ledge went around. So half the people would sit on the inside of the lunch room and the other half would sit or stand on the other side of the ledge,” said Young. In May, area residents face another bond issue that will determine the next phase of growth in Andover schools.
-emmaSTARKS
1875 1947
One room schoolhouse is built on site near current Andover.
1978
Bond issue is passed to build a new high school, our current building.
2001
Andover Central High School, Andover Central Middle School and Sunflower Elementary School open.
2017
Residents vote on a new bond issue on May 9.
A high school is built, which is now Cottonwood Elementary.
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Fostered pets
Animals experience love before adoption Fostering pets is an important way to give animals love. It involves taking in pets for a certain amount of time or until they get adopted. People who foster animals are responsible for feeding and taking care of the animal as well as giving it the love and attention it needs. An easy way to get involved with fostering pets is through the Kansas Humane Society. A person volunteers to take a pet into their home and care for them for whatever they need. Some pets may be underage, sick or injured. The Kansas Humane Society provides the supplies to care for these animals such as food, medication and litter. A lot of times when animals are brought into the Humane Society they are ill, malnourished and often unprepared to be adopted. The goal is to help the animal become healthy enough to eventually get adopted. Typically, the dogs and cats that are fostered are puppies and kittens. An average stay for a pet is about two weeks but the time frame can vary.
One does have to attend a foster pets training course and get a license in order to foster. It costs about $10 to receive a license. You must be at least 18 years old in order to foster a pet. If you have pets of your own, they must be spayed or neutered and fully vaccinated. It is suggested that you separate your own pets from the fostered pets. Foster families must be kind and dedicated to helping animals get well and be adopted. Fostering pets is a great way to help needy animals and serve in the community. If you are interested in fostering a pet you can learn more from the Director of Operations and Foster Coordinator at the Kansas Humane Society.
-ashleySHANDY
` Q&A WITH JULIA GRAVES ` How did you get into fostering pets? When I was 13, I told my mom I wanted to go volunteer at the Kansas Humane Society but she told me I wasn’t old enough. So when I turned 15, I asked her again and she said yes! So I started volunteering at the Humane Society. We noticed it was really hard to get into the facility and work a certain amount of hours, so they suggested we start fostering animals and taking them home with us until they were adopted. How many pets have you fostered? We only foster cats. We have fostered a litter of three kittens, a litter of two kittens, one kitten by itself and another kitten by itself, so seven total. Why do you foster kittens? I foster kittens because they are cute and I get to help them. Julia with three of her fostered kittens, Ella, Curry and Chester.
The Pets of Andover Andover High School students share pictures of their precious pets
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#relationshipgoals <<Emma Starks>> Social media has changed the way we view relationships Scroll through your timeline and you are bound to see at least one post about a couple or relationship. Posts like “238 days, 12 hours, 5 minutes and 20 seconds with my love!” or “So blessed, so thankful for my girlfriend!” are becoming a norm. In today’s society, it is almost expected to post about a significant other. I remember when I was in middle school and I connected with high schoolers on Facebook. When I was bored, I would go to these high schooler’s pages and “creep” through their posts. My favorite people to creep on were people in relationships. I would scroll through couples’ posts as if I knew them in real life. I felt as if I knew their relationship through their social media posts. I thought these people had perfect relationships because they talked about each other on social media, all the time. Constantly, I was checking these couples’ pages. If they had not posted about one another in a while, I began to freak out and worry that they broke up. But how could they break up? They seemed like the happiest couple ever! Today, I am part of a couple that younger girls may stalk on social media. I’ve been in a relationship for nearly three years, and my boyfriend and I have a great relationship based on friendship. The crazy part is...some people do not believe we have a true relationship because of the lack of affection we show on social media. The number of times I am told, “You guys don’t really seem like you are dating,” is sad. I post about him frequently, but he only posts about me every once in awhile. Now I show a little more affection about him on social media but it took me a while to get to that point. When I post about him, I try to talk about him like he is a friend rather than confessing my undying love. The reason I do this is because he is my friend, my best friend. I do not feel the need to pour all my feelings out in these posts. If I feel a certain way about him, I’ll tell him in private. I do not need others judging me for how I feel about my significant other.
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Nowadays, there are social media accounts dedicated to “relationship goals.” These accounts are full of posts of couples kissing or giving each other gifts. Society’s idea of a perfect relationship is a partner that leaves your favorite food on your doorstep and then posts about it. Or someone who makes you their #womencrushwednesday. Although some couples may seem to be perfect on social media, in private their relationship could be slowly falling apart. The couples that don’t seem as affectionate on social could very well have the best relationship out there. The way a couple is portrayed on social media should not decide if they are a happy couple or not. There’s no problem with posting about your significant other. If that’s the way you show your love go ahead and keep doing it. But if that’s not your style, don’t feel pressured to conform to society’s standards. Everyone shows love in different ways and posting online may not be important to everyone. I just believe we need to stop judging couples based on their social media. No couple is perfect even if they seem that way online.
Illustration by Kamilla Sims
Peace for the planet <<Elise Lindemann>> Earth is depleting due to political discord Many may have recognized that my columns usually lean a bit to the left on the political spectrum, repeatedly advocating for classically liberal ideas. However, on this topic I would like to ditch my path that leads left, and hopefully congregate with the rest of the population on middleground. Recently it seems that Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Independents and everyone else cannot seem to agree on anything. Behind all their bickering, underneath their stomping feet, they have at least one thing in common--the soil they stand on, Earth. While every party is simply attempting to do what is best for the country, the arguments only occur when discussing the works to achieve this. Instead of fighting, all citizens should simply bury their hatchet and find some common ground to save this planet they call home. It is ridiculous to expect everyone to join hands and sing Kumbaya around a tree, but everyone must begin making effort to save the planet. Despite today’s exceptionally bitter political climate, Earth’s actual climate is scorching hot. According to weather condition studies, the latest two decades hold the record for being the hottest in the past 400 years. Earth’s livable environment is depleting, and it is the human population caught smoking gun in hand. According to Andover High School physics teacher Stephen Alexander, when looking at a globe, Earth’s atmosphere is relatively equal to the thickness of the gloss that coats it. Many believe that what they do
will not affect the atmosphere, however every plastic water bottle, spritz of hairspray, late night joyride, and plastic bag from Dillons has an effect. This issue is personal. The atmosphere is hovering right above, pressuring each person to pick up a shovel, a reusable bag, or an LED light bulb, and do the right thing. Many other countries’ governments have made significant efforts to influence their citizens to care for the planet. For example, last month the mayors of London and Paris both announced plans to limit fuel emissions in their heavily-polluted cities. Meanwhile in the United States, the president won’t even acknowledge climate change, let alone begin combat it. On Earth Day, marchers united in attempt to gain attention from policy makers and influence change. The current administration’s dismissal of scientific facts roused scores to action through satellite marches on American and 37 countries’ soil this month. Although policy reforms may be far off, every citizen has the responsibility to save their home. Climate change is a non-discriminatory issue. When the world ends, so will each and every Republican and Democrat--global warming doesn’t care about party affiliations. It is all-inclusive. It is bipartisan. It is real. And it is up to each person to do their part and make a change. Albert Einstein once said “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” It is time for humans to set aside trivial, stupid squabbles and stand up to save the universe.
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MECHANICS Mr. Garrett
How did you get into mechanics and how old were you? I was 14, and I had a job at a bicycle shop. What is your favorite part of mechanics? Being able to make something better than it was in the beginning. Why did you decide to become a mechanics teacher? It was the best job for me that involved mechanics. I decided to teach because I like to hear students becoming successful because of my classes. What is your favorite student story? One of my former students thanked me for his skills because he was able to work on and fix vehicles in the Army, which allowed him to be in a safer atmosphere. What is your favorite project you have worked on? Working on my motorcycles. Did you have any other careers in mechanics? My jobs have always included mechanics, and one of my other careers was working for a race team. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fun fact about you? I love to travel on motorcycles.
Photo by Jonny Wagner
How to change a tire in 6 steps Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Secure the vehicle so that it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t roll away from you or over you and loosen the lug nuts or bolts of the wheel that you need to remove. Do not remove the nuts or bolts at this time.
Jack up the vehicle in a safe manner and use jack stands to support the vehicle.
Remove the lug nuts or bolts and remove the old wheel and tire.
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Spotlight
Story by graceBALL
Niclas Just
How did you get into mechanics and how old were you? I got into cars when I was little and loved playing with my hot wheels. My dad knew I was into cars so he bought me an old car project on my 13th birthday to learn the basics. I ended up doing multiple internships at a shop. What is your favorite part of mechanics? Being able to see the results. You work on something for hours at a time and put everything back together, and it’s rewarding to be able to use it afterwards. What is your favorite project you have worked on? A 1975 Mercedes Coupe me and my host dad bought. However sometimes it’s frustrating because it is a fairly complicated car. My most relaxing car to work on is my ‘89 Chevy S10. Do you want to include mechanics in your future career? I don’t know if I want it as a profession, but it is a great hobby and I would love to pursue it in the future and start my own projects. What is your favorite thing about Mr. Garrett? He is relaxed, but still keeps us productive; this makes working in his shop fun. What’s a fun fact about yourself? I am from Germany and one of the main reasons I don’t want to leave and go back to Germany is because of the fast food here.
Photo by Jonny Wagner
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Center the new wheel or tire on the car and install the lug nuts or bolts.
Remove jack stands if present and lower the vehicle.
Ensure tightness of lug nuts and bolts, and then enjoy a drive on your new tire.
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Teacher Talk
Story by graceBALL and ashleySHANDY
Mr. Harshaw What is your favorite sport or sports team? My favorite sport is golf, and my favorite team is the Royals. What made you want to teach, and teach at Andover High School? I always loved having daily activities, so teaching allowed me to do that on a daily basis and to also coach. Andover always had a good reputation, and has a great community. What do you do in your free time? I love to golf and to hang out with my family. What is one thing students don’t know about you? In high school I lettered in four sports, and played basketball and golf in college. What is your life motto? To live everyday like it’s your last.
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Mr. Ross
Ms. Leivian
What is your favorite thing about teaching? I like working with young people because they always have new and fresh ideas.
What is your favorite thing about teaching? I love when struggling students understand a hard concept after I’ve helped them.
What made you want to teach, and teach at Andover High School? After working in a juvenile detention center, I wanted to continue a career working with kids. Mr. Alexander informed me of Andover’s job, so I became interested.
What is your favorite sport or sports team? Wichita State basketball and Chiefs football.
What do you do in your free time? I love to garden and ball up. What is one thing students don’t know about you? I have a puppy who is a mutt. What is your life motto? Right.
What do you do in your free time? I hang out with my daughter McKenna and my dog Maggie. I like home remodeling projects, reading and watching TV. I also do a lot of volunteer work with Junior League of Wichita. What is one thing students don’t know about you? I have over 250 college hours. What is your life motto? Be kind and present.
JV spotlight The foundation of a successful sports team Junior varsity athletes can define a successful varsity team. Without JV, there is no one to give the varsity team a chance to compete every day at practice. They may not get all the credit, or have their name in the paper, but they are there working every day for the greater good of the team. Having the attitude where you are willing to come to practice every day to work hard can be tough. “JV to me is devotion to the sport and putting my life on the line for the other freshmen through juniors,” said junior basketball player Connor O’Connell. Although JV comes with its hardships, it puts you in a very competitive atmosphere that brings a team together. “I would play another year of JV if I could,” said O’Connell. If an athlete takes advantage of their time on JV, they can really learn a lot and it can have a huge upside. “JV is better than varsity at every possible level and having a good mindset is important,” said sophomore Cooper Champlin.
For some athletes, JV has not been the best of experiences and was a trying time. “You feel like you don’t mean anything to anyone and aren’t good enough for anything,” said junior Natalie Nichols. Even though it was not her favorite experience, Nichols still knew the importance in the role she played on the team. “JV is the foundation for varsity. So the better your JV is, the better your varsity will be,” she said. Being on JV is really about learning the steps you need to take to one day make it on the varsity level. Every athlete, at some point, puts their time in on a JV court or field. On JV you have to appreciate the ride more than the destination. “I still think it’s fun being on the team and getting to interact with my teammates even though I’m not on varsity,” said freshman Sydney Benjamin. Although everyone is excited to make it to the varsity level, almost every athlete has a special memory they hang onto from their junior varsity time.
-benSMITH
Most Memorable JV Moment Natalie Nichols
Connor O’Connell
Sydney Benjamin
“When the last game was over and I was done forever I just sprinted out of that gym.”
“My favorite memory is definitely watching Wyatt airball a free throw.”
“Getting to know people at the school that I never would have probably interacted with before.” April 2017 - Issue 8
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Senior first baseman Zac Quam stretches to catch the throw from shortstop to end the inning against Andover Central. Photo by Elise Lindemann
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Taylor Casady, senior, at bat during a game against Andover Central on April 12. Andover Central pulled out the win with the final score of 8-0. Photo by Elise Lindemann
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Senior Jacob Herrs clears the 6’2” bar at a home meet on April 18. Herrs is a reputable athlete, attending the state competition for the past three years. Photo by Kylie Porter
INtroduction to Spring Sports Andover spring sports prepare for the season
Track After sending multiple athletes to State last year, the Trojans return several stars. Senior Alex Moen leads the boys long distance. The Trojans also return all four girls in the 4x800-meter relay with Brooke Wiltshire, Sophie Braynock, Hannah Showalter and Caroline Schwab. junior Parker McCafferty returns as a sprinter and senior Will Valentas and junior Hannah Olson returns for shotput. Junior Jake Smith returns for discus and junior Slade Swan returns for javelin.
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April 2017 - Issue 8
Softball
Baseball
The Lady Trojans are hoping to return to the state tournament and build on last season’s accomplishments like ending Bishop Carroll’s 70+ game winning streak. “The expectations and the stakes are higher for this season, especially after what we did last year,” says senior pitcher Lexi Lesperance.
After a great 2016 season, the Trojans are back at it. The Trojans return multiple starters such as Michigan State commit Casey Mayes, Butler Community College commit Jack Maki and Emporia State commit Robert Bundy. The Trojans were one game short of competing at State last year, and are looking to go even further this year.
Senior Delaney Drumright defends against McPherson in the April 13 varsity game. Andover won the game 2-1 with a goal in the last twenty minutes by Morgan Shaft.
Photo by Kamilla Sims
Junior Zach Sokolosky prepares to hit his shot at Terradyne Country Club during a tournament on April 10. Photo by Jonny Wagner
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Colin Wreath, senior, hits a ground stroke confidently and wins the point. Photo by Brett Kabler
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Freshman Morgan Esworthy pushes off the wall swimming 100-yard butterfly. She finished 5th overall. Photo by Josie Beaver
Girl’s Swimming
Boy’s Tennis
Girl’s Soccer
Boy’s Golf
The Lady Trojans are off to a sharp start to the 2017 season. Returning seniors are Liana Tauke, Hannah Steinert, Josie Beaver, Mallory Paske and Ashley Dorf. They also return juniors Kaitlyn Cairns, Baylee Bloom and Brooke Kaplan. The Trojans took 3rd place in Emporia and 3rd in El Dorado already this season.
After previous runs in the state tournament, the Trojan tennis team returns seniors, including Colin Wreath, Andre Kurait, Parker Ritchie, Brett Kabler, Jacob Hammil and Payton Stone. The Trojans are hoping to make yet another run with a veteran crew. The team will also be relying in rising youngsters such as junior Luke Torgerson, and sophomores Alex Jones and Ryan Gracey.
The Girls Soccer team is 7-1 so far this season, with their one loss coming vs. Goddard. With assistant coach Jeff Roper retiring from coaching at the end of the year, the soccer girls are sure to give it their all this season.
After a great season last year, the boys golf team still looks to improve. With standout junior Zach Sokolosky, who has gathered the attention of Division I schools such as Oklahoma State and Michigan, the team is looking stronger than ever.
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