May 2016 by The Hi-Times

TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 6

4125 Golden Wave Dr., Tupelo, Mississippi 38801

THE

HI-TIMES MAY 2016 A STUDENT NEWSPAPER

INDEX

• MEMOIRS.............2 • FEATURES/MEMOIRS......3-4

• MEMOIRS.............5 • SENIOR MOMENTS........6-7 • ART&ENTERTAINMENT..........8

MR. & MISS THS NATHAN JACKSON

From left, Katherine Holliman and Jeremy Hinds were named Mr. and Miss THS for 2015-2016.

STAR AWARD RECIPIENTS

6–YEAR ROTARY SCHOLARS

Each year, students across Mississippi with the highest ACT score are named STAR students. They are recognized along with their STAR teachers.

STAR Student Will Herrington

STAR Student James Grant

STAR Teacher Lucas Smith

STAR Teacher Pam Cockrell

THE HI-TIMES

Six-year Rotary Scholars are, front row from left, Hannah Price, Bailie White, Caroline Thomspon and Amelia Pongetti. Back row, from left, are James Grant, Walker Fortenberry, Will Herrington, Katherine Holliman, Avery Gibens, Emma Rice and Avery Goggans.

From Staff Reports @tupelohitimes

Each year, the Tupelo Rotary Club selects the top 30 students, including ties, from grades 7-12 and rewards them with a luncheon. On April 25, 182 students were recognized as Rotary Scholars.

Eleven Tupelo High School seniors have earned this distincion over all six years. In addition to certificates and medals, these students also received a plaque for their dedication to academic success.

Hi-Times named state’s best high school newspaper From Staff Reports @tupelohitimes

Tupelo High School’s student newspaper was named the state’s Best High School Newspaper on April 1 at the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association’s high school journalism convention. The Hi-Times previously was the state’s top school newspaper in 2014. This year, 522 student journalists attended MSPA, the largest gathering of high school journalists in the state. “Student media becomes a bigger part of the school climate every year,” MSPA Director R.J. Morgan said in

a news release. “This year we saw record numbers competing in broadcast and social media categories, so I think that says a lot about where the technology is headed. But even on the print side, we get new programs starting up and competing every year. These students and their advisers are really doing some amazing work.” A total of 175 awards were earned by 34 schools at the convention. Advised by Ginny Miller, The HiTimes won 27 MSPA awards, includ-

ing first places in news writing, feature writing, opinion writing, second places in sports writing and print design, and third places in online presence and social media use. Individual awards went to Karlee Avery, who won first in sports features, first in depth reporting, and second in sports writing; Meredith Beasley, who won third in sports columns and third in sports features; Jeremy Hinds, second in news photos and third in feature photos; Nathan Jackson, second in opinion writing; Aaron Kwag, third in news writing; Shanna McCauley, first and third in editorial

cartoons; Mary Catherine Miller, third in feature writing; Chris Patty, second and third in advertising design; Keywanna Rogers, third in sports writing; Chael Williams, first in feature writing and third in opinion writing; and Tayolor Witherspoon, first and second in personal/general columns. Under the direction of T. Braden Bishop, WTHS won Best Broadcast News in the state, while The Album adviser Shari Chumley was recognized as the Caroline Fair Yearbook Adviser of the Year. A complete list of THS winners is available at thscurrent.org.

2MEMOIRS

{

WHAT’S COMIN’ UP

• Volleyball Tryouts @ THS Gym May 9 • Fall Play Auditions @ D Building May 9 • Volleyball Callbacks May 10-11 • Flea Market @ Tupelo Furniture Market May 13-15 • Gumtree 10K and 2K Fun Run @ FairPark May 14 • Gumtree Festival @ Downtown Tupelo May 14-15 • Madrigals and Vocal Jazz Auditions @ D Building May 17 • Graduation/End of School Year May 20 • Graduation Show @ Ballard Park May 23 • Memorial Day May 30 • Flea Market and Trade Day @ AgriCenter June 4 • Flea Market and Gun Show @ Tupelo Furniture Market June 10-12 • TCT’s “Cinderella” @ The Lyric June 16-18 • Father’s Day June 19 • Independence Day July 4 • Family Fun: Fun and Fit Friday @ HealthWorks! July 8 and 15 • Live Music Down on Main Concert @ Fairpark July 21 • First day of school for 20162017 Aug. 4

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • MAY 2016M

Journalism, Freshman design left year: impression Target on my high acquired school years Nathan Jackson

Austin Nguyen

@yungnthn Editor-In-Chief

@squishynguyen Staff Writer

I remember when I was a freshman and I took Introduction to Journalism. It was a great experience. Shari Chumley showed me how cool and interesting the whole journalism world was, and I knew I would like to be part of it. My first year of being on The Hi-Times staff was probably the most interesting. Being a part of the first staff in Tupelo High COURTESY OF THE ALBUM School’s history to win Nathan Jackson as a freshman. Best High School Newspaper in Mississippi was fantastic. It showed me how the hard work we went through during that year paid off, and how excellence of a publication we are. My junior year was the first year I had any type of leadership role on the newspaper staff and actually worked on something else other than just writing articles. It was that year that I found out that I actually liked to design the paper. It was a new experience for me. I will say that I was not the best when I first started. It was a struggle to actually learn all the kinks that are made of Adobe InDesign. InDesign is one of the most complicated programs ever. I have to super careful with how I click things, which is one of the most annoying parts of the whole thing, but I can do it now. I also learned that it is very difficult to design anything without the cooperation of others and having a staff that is willing to help when I need to get pages filled. I am going to take everything that I learned from being a part of this amazing group of people and I will also miss them so much as well.

Coming up from middle school I did not know what to expect going into high school. Of course we all hear rumors and stories about high school, but truly not knowing what we are about to encounter can be scary. The first day of high school aproached and my sister made me a shirt that said “freshman” on COURTESY OF THE ALBUM it with a giant red target Austin Nguyen as a freshman. for all the seniors to attack. Because she made it for me, I wore it. Due to me being in band, I had to drop my instrument off, and in doing so some of the band students saw what I was wearing and laughed. One of them even approached me and told me I should not be wearing that shirt today, so he gave me a shirt to change into. The band hall is the complete opposite of where the freshmen building is. I was able to sneak past the upperclassmen and sophomores before the seniors were done with their parade. A senior, my sister said she was going to attempt to find me with all of her friends and bombard me with water balloons and eggs. Thankfully I escaped into the safety of H building before she could find me. High school honestly flies by as much as everyone says. You have to live high school, and life for that matter, with no regrets. There is more to life than high school. Make the most of it and have wonderful memories to go back over when you’re older and have children, so that you may lead them down the same path or a better one. I also plan to make the most of college when I attend the University of Mississippi next year. I’ll be at the same school as my sister, once more as a freshman and her as a senior. Hopefully this time she won’t give me any “advice.”

COURTESY OF MARTY PETTIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Nathan Jackson’s senior portrait.

COURTESY OF MARTY PETTIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Austin Nguyen’s senior portrait.

Class of 2016

FEATURES/MEMOIRS

6MAY 2016 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

Tupelo Mad Jazz wins big in D.C. Jeremy Hinds @_JHinds Chief Photographer

Tupelo Madrigals and Vocal Jazz is the GOAT. Well, maybe not the greatest of all time, but they are the best in the nation. The group swept the field by securing all superior ratings and winning a national competition in both Madrigal and Vocal Jazz categories. The groups have been practicing since the beginning of school last August five days a week, 97 minutes a day with nothing but that trip to the nation’s capitol on their minds. Senior members Leah Davis, Jordan Tarter and Michea Hayden recounted their preparations and routines to get ready for Nationals. “We pretty much just rehearse all block, every day,” Davis said. This work ethic of constant repetition is something that Madrigals and Vocal Jazz Director Suzy Williams has stressed with her students. “Some classes you have downtime,” Williams said. “We don’t have any JEREMY HINDS/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER downtime. They sing for 97 minutes straight, constantly learning new Tupelo Mad Jazz won first place in a national contest. music, and once we’re done with one, it’s on to another.” The group has two seasons, madrigals in the fall and vocal jazz in the proud of ourselves. It was really anybody’s game,” Tarter said. spring. Because of district competitions they’ve competed in and events like This year’s competition saw the highest number of competitors, with over Singfeaste, they solidified their comfortability and expertise with madrigal 22 schools in attendance. The group was also at a disadvantage because they songs. The vocal jazz, on the other hand, was a different story. had a smaller number of singers than the other groups; but they let none of Because the national competition is inside of their vocal jazz season, they this stop them. All their hard work and determination paid off when they were didn’t as much time to practice as they did for madrigals. This fact and other awarded the first-place trophy, and walked off the stage national champions challenges like an unfamiliar stage with unfamiliar acoustics faced them while “It was surreal, when we found out everyone was just screaming and crying taking on the daunting task of being on the national stage. like ‘Oh my gosh we won over all these schools,’” Hayden said. During their five-day trip, the group visited the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Smithsonian Museum. “I think we were all really humble about it, but we all got off the stage really

High school: It’s over before you know it Chris Patty @chrispatty97 Staff Writer

When you first get to Tupelo High School from the middle school, no one really knows what to expect. The campus size alone is hard to get used to, as it is close to the size of a small community college, but the new class scheduling is one of the most confusing factors. Over time though, students get used to it all and start to feel comfortable, but that’s when the years start to fly by. Most people will get involved in something as they go through high COURTESY OF THE ALBUM school, trying to make the best of the Chris Patty as a freshman. time stuck here. As the year goes by and you are running around in whatever sport or club you’re in, time starts to fly by and the years will be over before you know it. There have always been people who when they graduate they say, “I should have been more adventurous,” or “I should have studied more,” but it’s different for everyone. Many memories from high school come from the school spirit or just out of everyday things, so don’t just wake up in the morning going through the motions, studying for tests day after day. Enjoy life and make memories in high school, because they’ll stick with you the rest of your life. Of course there are always limits you shouldn’t pass, but doing nothing memorable in high school will make it one of the worst times of your life, and you deserve to have a good experience. Everyone’s got something they’re good at, so it’s your job to find it, excel in it, and have fun doing it. In the end, I’d like to say make memories and enjoy high school while it lasts, because one day you’ll look back and realize those four years flew by and you’re only a couple weeks from graduating.

COURTESY OF MARTY PETTIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Chris Patty’s senior portrait.

Kaylin Costello’s pageant talent is baton twirling.

COURTESY

Kaylin Costello’s path to pageant fame Whitney Campbell @whit_alexc THS Foundations of Journalism

The third time was the charm for the judges and you sit with them and Kaylin Costello, who in February was talk, it prepares you for job and colcrowned Miss Historic Crossroads lege interviews.” Outstanding Teen in her final attempt Costello, determined to win, has to qualify for the Miss Mississippi plenty of friends and family cheering Outstanding Teen Pageant. her on as she goes to practices and “It felt great,” Costello said with orientations for the Miss Mississippi a smile. “I was really shocked that Outstanding Teen Pageant. Her best I won because I wasn’t very experifriend, THS sophomore Avery-Claire enced, and there were girls who had Littleton, has been supportive and been competing longer than I had.” right by Costello’s side through all The 15-year-old, a sophomore at three of her pageants. Tupelo High School, started compet“I have already booked my hotel ing in local pageants in January. She room for her Vicksburg pageant,” was in two pageants before she won Littleton said. “I plan on going to her title and the chance to enter in every single one. I’m really proud of the state pageant in Vicksburg in her and I know that she’s going to do June. great.” “Ever since I was little I’ve wanted to be Miss America,” Costello said, referring to the national pageant that originated in Atlantic City. Today, the Miss America Organization also has a companion competition for outstanding teens. “If I win Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen, I have to go to Miss America Outstanding Teen and I really want to do that,” Costello said. On Jan. 23, Costello won the Overall Talent Award in the Miss Tupelo Pageant for her baton twirling routine to the “Glee” version of “Don’t Rain On My Parade.” She has been twirling baton for 10 years, ever since her older sister, Samantha McMinn, taught her. Costello competes in baton twirling competitions in addition to pageants. “The main reason I started pageants was so I could do my talent, baton twirling,” said Costello, who also is a member of the Synergy showchoir at THS. “I love performing in front of people.” But the big titles and popularity aren’t the only things that come out of doing pageants, which Costello saidalso help prepare teen girls for life beyond high school. Costello hopes to gain practice for future academic and career-related situations. “What I hope to get out of doing pageants are social skills,” Costello said. “It definitely prepares you. COURTESY Kaylin Costello When you have an interview with

Opinions

4MEMOIRS

THE

HI-TIMES A STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Editor-in-Chief: Nathan Jackson Chief Photographer: Jeremy Hinds Sports Editor: Meredith Beasley Business Manager: Karlee Avery Staff Writers: Tamara Crump Hayden Johnson Aaron Kwag Bryan Kwag Mary Catherine Miller Austin Nguyen Chris Patty Keywanna Rogers Anhthu Truong Chael Williams Tayolor Witherspoon Adviser: Ginny Miller See more news at thscurrent.org Follow us on Twitter @tupelohitimes

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • MAY 2016M

Views from My advice The ’16: to students: A reflection Do what on my high you love school years to do Jeremy Hinds

Hayden Johnson

@_JHinds Chief Photographer

@haydenjahnsahn Staff Writer

When the topic of senior year is discussed, people always want to talk about regrets they have; things that they’d do differently. But what people do not realize is that every decision, good or bad, brought you to where you are now. Every experience has choices and outcomes that affect the course of your life. All the opportunities that are available to you now are only available because of COURTESY OF THE ALBUM your choices made in the Jeremy Hinds as a freshman. past. I would not take back any wrong decision because my experiences are what made me. The saying “you learn from your mistakes” resonates with me because it is so relevant in my life. I remember my first day in Tupelo as an eighth grader at Tupelo Middle School. A hundred thoughts ran through my mind. Would I make friends? Would I ever be comfortable in this new city and school? I remember my first day of 9th grade sitting in Geometry class with a thousand thoughts running through my mind. How will I survive four years of high school? Will people like me? I remember the first day of my senior year, sitting on the trunk of my car taking pictures of the senior parade passing by me. A million thoughts were running through my mind. How would it feel to walk across that stage? Would I make it into college? Each stage in my life had its doubts, had its challenges, had its decisions. But now as a I look back on these times; I would not change a thing. I think my advice to anyone still journeying the stormy sea that is high school is to stick to your guns, stay close to God, and be yourself. Never be apologetic for who you are, because the second you let someone determine who you are, that’s the moment you lose yourself. When I was new in Tupelo, I wanted to fit into every crowd that seemed to accept me. I wanted to feel accepted so bad that I tried to be something I was not. I learned that if you be yourself, people will gravitate towards you. These four years of high school have been nothing but a learning experience for me. I’ve made great decisions and not so good decisions. I’ve made friends and lost friends. But most importantly, I made it and did a pretty good job of it too.

The one thing that I learned in my last year of high school was to take time for yourself to find out what you really want to do. Make whatever your interest is your passion. If you’re in a band, play with passion. If you’re into journalism, write with passion. If you like photography, shoot with passion. Find something COURTESY OF THE ALBUM and make it YOUR Hayden Johnson as a freshman. thing. The world isn’t just a place we live. It’s a shared experience that everyone can improve upon with what they love to do. Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to be a musician, but as I got older, I heard lots of bad advice from people who were older than me and people who seemed to be a whole lot wiser than me. I grew up hearing that I wasn’t going to be able to play music when I got older. Being a musician seemed to be this fairytale thing to everyone else but me. After this, I began to look into other professions that I might be interested in. For a couple years I tried to trick myself into thinking that I wanted to design bridges and roads or fix dents in cars. Closer to my senior year I realized that I wasn’t happy with what I was pursuing. I knew that what I love to do is write. I love to write songs, articles, poems, stories, and even just single words in spray paint. I love art and all forms of it, but music was my favorite. Turning 18 is scary. You’re graduating high school and going off to college. Your life is about to begin, but just because you turn 18 doesn’t mean that you have to quickly figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life. Figure out what you love first, and then everything else will follow.

Corrections The Hi-Times newspaper staff is committed to writing the most accurate and compelling news. We strive for integrity. If there is a misprint in an article, photo cutline or infographic, please tell us, and we will correct the mistake in our next issue. Editorial Policy It is the intent of the editorial staff to provide Tupelo High School students with an opportunity to create a productive forum to further enhance a positive academic environment at the school. The opinions expressed on the editorial page reflect the feelings of the entire Hi-Times staff unless otherwise bylined. Guest editorials may be submitted to The Hi-Times and will be published according to available space and relevance. Anonymous submissions will not be considered.

NATHAN JACKSON

Hayden Johnson’s senior portrait. COURTESY OF MARTY PETTIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Jeremy Hinds’ senior portrait.

Class of 2016

MEMOIRS

6MAY 2016 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

My final What I learned announcement: about myself in high school Once a Golden Wave, always will always a Golden Wave stick with me Bailie White

Meredith Beasley @mbeez33 Sports Editor

@bailiew2016 Staff Writer

Throughout my four years of high school, I have learned so much and I’m not talking academically. Sure, I gained a lot of school smarts but what I really learned and what will stick with me forever is what I learned about myself. When you get to senior year you start to realize what is truly important, and the less important things have a way of fading into the background. I wish I could have known what I know now going into my freshman year. So, in an attempt to save the younger ones from learning the hard way, I have compiled a list of advice for underCOURTESY OF THE ALBUM classmen. I wish I had had advice Meredith Beasley as a freshman. like this for myself going into the doors of H building for the first time. First and foremost, stay true to yourself. Know where you stand on things and stick to those morals. It’s not worth it to lose yourself along the way. Choose joy. It is so easy to get caught up in the everyday mundane and boring routine. Every day may not be a good day, but there is good in every day. Sometimes it’s hard to be joyful, but choose it anyway. Get involved, but don’t overwhelm yourself. I have a problem with this. I did not learn the word “no” until recently – I always had a ready “yes” whenever asked to do something and this caused my to be way in over my head a lot of the time. Pick your favorite things to be involved in, stick to them, and do them to the best of your ability. Don’t stress. Ha. I am the queen of stress and here I am saying not to. But really, “this too shall pass” and try not to worry. Everything will work out in the end and if it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end. Last but definitely not least: love people. Show some love in every action you do and word you say. It’s contagious and this world needs lots more of it. I’ve learned so many lessons at Tupelo High School, in the classroom and out. This school and these teachers and classmates have shaped me into the person I am today, and for that I am thankful.

I remember freshman orientation in the PAC like it was yesterday. Mr. Harris looked at us and our parents and said, “Today is the beginning of the end. We’ll blink and they’ll be walking across the stage in the BancorpSouth Arena graduating.” And here we are, about to graduate. We have seen a lot of changes here at THS over the past four years: blue turf, door card scanners and cafeteria/courtyard renovations. Even we as students have changed, but one thing will never COURTESY OF THE ALBUM change: we will always be a Bailie White as a freshman. ripple in the Golden Wave. Contrary to popular belief in today’s society, change is a good thing. Change is a good thing because it brings about new opportunities — new friendships, experiences and challenges. But we will never be able to change our roots, and that is a good thing! As we move through some of the biggest changes over the next few months, we can never forget where we came from and the “little people” back home. Always remember that girl who helped you out in Mrs. Inman’s class and that guy who always cracked jokes in Miss Friar’s class to keep everyone laughing. Always remember the ladies in the office who knew all of the answers to every question. Always remember to “use the filter” (TBraden, I’m talking to you!) anytime you snapchat while on campus. Finally, always remember that one teacher(s) who gave you confidence and helped you more than words can describe. Before you leave the BancorpSouth Arena on May 20, thank the people who made the biggest impact on your high school career. It takes a lot of ripples to make the Tupelo High School Golden Wave. Change is good, but don’t forget your roots. And always be respectful, be responsible and be safe.

COURTESY MARTY PETTIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Meredith Beasley’s senior portrait. COURTESY MARTY PETTIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Bailie White’s senior portrait.

Class of 2016

6SENIORS

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • MAY 2016M

CLASS O

The Class of 2016 didn’t let a little rain ruin the Homecoming Parade in October.

Senior baseball players and Diamond Girls were honored before the Hernando game on April 19. From left, basketball players Jaron Hoover, Kyree Bradford, Shawn Osborne, Tre Jenkins, EJ Fuller and Joseph Jones were recognized on Senior Night.

JEREMY HINDS/CHIEF PHOTOHGRAPHER

JERMEY HINDS/ PHOTOGRAPHER

6MAY 2016 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

OF 2016

SENIORS

KARLEE AVERY

Ethan Smyly drove his truck and friends, including Jamal Davis, in the senior parade on the first day of school.

Mace Hudson drove friends Karli Hill, Sydney Kate Lockhart, Sophie Petruskevich and Jordan Poppelreiter in the senior parade on the first day of school.

From left, Chelsea Clay, Jamie Cook, Danielle Sharp, LaKoya Gordon, Madison Clark, Mariah O’Neal and Michael Hayden show their senior spirit on the first day of school. KARLEE AVERY

EREMY HINDS/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

JEREMY HINDS/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

8ART&ENTERTAINMENT

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • MAY 2016