The Viking / Issue V / May 2018

THE

VIKING Loudoun Valley High School / Purcellville, VA / MAY 2018

New Orleans-2/Houston-1/Plano-1/San Fransisco-1/Champaign-1/Wadesboro-3/Hurtsboro-2/ Rockford-1/Brooklyn-1/Detroit-5/Palm Beach Gardens-1/Kansas City-1/Oklahoma City1/Parkland-17/New Orleans-2/Detroit-4/Paintsville-5/Lake Worth-3/Colorado Springs-2/ Cleveland-1/Newtown-27/Melcroft-5/Reading-4/Indianapolis-2/Benton-2/Washington-1/ York-1/Eutaw-1/Nashville-3/St Robert-2/Union Springs-1/Brinkley-1/Huntsville-1/Littleton-2/ Long Branch-4/Las Vegas-2/Troy-1/Eunice-1/Philadelphia-1/Columbus-1/Pittsburgh-2/ Memphis-1/Detroit-1/Cleveland-1/Brookhaven-1/Corning-6/Richmond-2/Atlanta-2/Dallas-1/ New Orleans-1/Fayetteville-1/Southerland Springs-27/Santa Monica-1/Lacombe-1/Austin-1/ Petersburg-1/Clearlake Oaks-2/Edmond-14/Lanett-2/Edgewood-3/Meridian-1/Houston-2/ Phoenix-1/Aliso Viejo-2/Pedro-4/Casa Grande-4/Lawrence-3/Las Vegas-59/Memphis-1/New Orleans-1/Baltimore-2/Philadelphia-1/Antioch-1/Mays Landing-1/Bakersfield-1/Hartford-2/ Detroit-1/Petersburg-1/Rockford-1/Atlanta-12/Memphis-1/Appomattox-8/New Orleans-1/ Plano-9/Seattle-13/Seal Beach-8/Inglewood-2/Chicago-1/Clovis-2/Sacramento-1/Evansville-1/ Saint Louis-4/Newark-1/Baltimore-1/Whitakers-4/Chicago-2/Cleveland-1/North Hollywood-2/ Saint Louis-1/Chicago-1/Allendale-1/Tallahassee-1/Lodge Grass-3/Washington-1/Norfolk-1/ El Paso-1/Buffalo-1/Salisbury-2/Chicago-1/High Point-1/fort Hood-13/Jacksonville-1/ Chicago-1/Los Angeles-1/Trenton-1/Philadelphia-1/Cincinnati-1/Chicago-2/Madison-4/ Aurora-12/Hampton-1/Raleigh-1/Prattville-3/Pontiac-1/Newark-2/Bronx-2/Saint Louis-1/ Fort HAVE Lauderdale-1/Atlanta-1/Saint Ysidro-21/La WE INHERITED ALouis-3/Columbus-1/Richmond-1/san CULTURE OF MASS SHOOTINGS. Madera-5/Alexandria-1/San Fransisco-4/Baltimore-2/San Bernadino-14/Fort Worth-2/Sandy-3/ WHAT DO WEAngeles-1/Saint DO? Orlando-6/Saint Louis-2/New Orleans-3/Laredo-2/Los Louis-3/Middletown-1/ Louisville-1/Paterson-1/Washington-1/Jacksonville-9/Bogue Chitto-8/Des Moines-1/Ruffin-3/ Jonesboro-1/Trenton-1/Kansas City-3/Chicago-2/Flint-1/Jacksonville-1/Dallas-2/San Diego-2/ Topeka-4/Loris-1/Germantown-1/Los Angeles-1/Whittier-1/Blacksburg-32/Newark-1/Palm Bay-2/Atlanta-1/San Antionio-1/Manchester-8/Fort Wayne-1/Hickory-3/Houston-5/Saint Paul-4/Chicago-1/Lake Charles-1/Philadelphia-3/Chicago-2/Tampa-1/Oklahoma City-2/ Chicago-4/Sanford-2/Houston-2/Cincinnati-2/Littleton-13/Cleveland-2/Detroit-1/Knoxville-1/ Cleveland-2/Fresno-1/Saint Louis-1/Rothschild-5/Louisville-1/Detroit-3/Metairie-3/Chicago-2/ New Orleans-3/Topeka-1/Gary-1/Warren-2/Jacksonville-1/Toomsuba-4/Norfolk-1/Bend-1/ Chicago-3/Caruthersville-1/Newburgh-1/Birmingham-13/Chicago-1/New Orleans-1/Jackson-4/ Cleveland-1/Little Rock-1/Austin-18/Yazoo City-4/Shreveport-1/Bremerton-4/Orlando-49/ Albany-2/Manvel-3/Atlanta-3/Memphis-2/Killeen-23/Como-1/Capulin-3/Magnolia-1/Kansas City-3/Salinas-2/Newark-1/Chicago-1/Flint-1/Pasadena-2/Fort Lauderdale-5/Fontana-3/ Dallas-1/Lenox-2/Houston-1/Wallingford-2/Columbus-1/Chicago-3/Mount Vernon-1/ Wilson-4/Birmingham-1/Chicago-5/Chicago-2/Sacramento-1/Orlando-1/Channelview-4/ Albuquerque-4/Clearlake Oaks-1/Baltimore-2/Mission-1/New Orleans-1/Chicago-1/ Louisville-2/Albany-1/Clewiston-1/Dyersbug-1/Jacksonville-3/San Diego-3/Sacramento-1/ Camden-13/Washington-12/Red Lake-9/Waddell-9/Manchester-8/

What Now?

Above / Junior Danny Gaffney (7) scoops a groundball in an April 13th game against Culpeper County High School. The boys varsity lacrosse team won 17-4. (photo / Gillian Krug)

Cover / The list displays some of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States since the 1980s. (photo / Madison Stiles).

THE

VIKING Newsmagazine Staff 2017-2018

Editors-in-Chief Carleigh Rahn Griffin Hunt

Online Editors Copy Editor Zachary Stevenson Brianna Henriquez Kerry Webster

Sports Editor Claire Slook

Photo Editors Olivia de Stanley Madison Stiles

Ads Managers Sadie Grant Grace Jennings Lauren Madey Madison McIntosh

Writers, Photographers, Business and Promotional Staff Max Breitenthaler, Colin Bunn, Beau Buzzelli, Heather Feconda, Erika Gesell, Riley Green, Jordan Iwerks, Ben Keane, Ella Krug, Gillian Krug, Bailey Kuhn, Casey Marrin, Caleigh Marsh, Libby Peterson, Noelle Saine, Jared Sanders, Ella Serafin, Logan Stup, Christina Thornton Adviser Paige Cox thevikingnews.com | Twitter: @lvhsviking | Instagram: lvhsviking | Snapchat: lvhsviking

Letter from the Editors

Dear Vikings, The Viking is a completely student-run and student-funded newsmagazine, meaning that our staff is responsible for everything you see printed, unless otherwise credited. All interviews are fairly represented, and audio files are kept for reference.

This issue, our center spread covers a problem that hits home

for a lot of us. As students, the issue of school safety is one at the forefront of our discussions.

We hope we have accurately represented both sides of the debate and given a fair depiction of our student body.

With this final issue, we hope to close out the year with a newsmagazine covering a variety of topics, ranging from serious political controversies to pop

culture events.

The Viking is lucky to have a faculty and student body that are overwhelmingly supportive of our newsmagazine. Thank you for a great year.

Thanks, Carleigh Rahn and Griffin Hunt Editors-in-Chief

r ).

CONTENTS MAY 2018

4

The Work of Art

5

Walking Wounded

6

Bird Man

7

Listen Up

9

What Now?

Three senior art students hope to turn their passion for artmaking into a career.

Students with P.O.T.S juggle the symptoms of a serious condition with the everyday experiences of teenage life.

Award winning environmental teacher Liam Mcgranaghan brings his passion to the classroom.

After the tragic deaths of two rappers, mental health and addiction are finally being recognized in the world of hip hop.

We have inherited a culture of mass shootings. What do we do?

12

Making a Difference

14

On a Winning Streak

15

Volunteering is an essential part of high school culture. Here’s how some students take an active role in our community.

After a pair of winless seasons, the boys varsity soccer team is off to an 8-0 start this year.

The Heart of the Community Even as Purcellville continues to grow, we must preserve the small businesses that give the town its character.

Right / Senior Erin Corkery serves across the court during the girl’s varsity tennis match on April 12. The team lost to Woodgrove 3-6. (photo / Ella Serafin)

the intended concept can be detrimental to the creation of quality artwork.

“I really hate idea-making. I think if I think too much about the concept the actual piece becomes really convoluted,” Scharrer said.

Scharrer cannot point to one particular time when she began loving art. Because her mom is an artist, she has had a crayon in her hand since she was a toddler. Like her mother, who has worked in in graphic design, jewelry making and leatherworking, Scharrer likes to experiment across different mediums. She prefers to work in oil paint, but has done work in pen and ink, jewelry making and graphic design.

The AP Studio Art curriculum allows for three different emphases: drawing, 2D design and 3D design. Both Scharrer and Kim chose the drawing track, meaning that the majority of the 24 pieces they submit will demonstrate skills in that domain.

Senior Tuyen Powell, however, is doing the Above / Assigned to draw any type of food, Senior Sejung Kim dilligently works on another piece to add to her AP 2D design emphasis, and produces many of Art portfolio. Students are typically given ten days to complete an assignment. her design pieces using computer soft ware.

At first, Powell didn’t plan to continue with art through the AP level. She quit art after her sophomore year, not anticipating how emotionally devastating it would be.

“The first day of junior year I came home, I sat down on the floor, and I just uring her freshman year, senior Sejung started crying. And I realized I can’t not do Kim inadvertently pulled a few allart.

I literally can’t not have this in my life,” nighters. But she wasn’t preparing for a Three senior art Powell said. big test, nor was she binge-watching Netflix. She was students hope to All three artists plan to pursue an art drawing. degree in college. turn their passion “I would just start drawing and would forget what Kim is looking to combine time it was, and I for artmaking into a her artistic interests with a more would just forget career.

I would just start drawing mainstream line of work. She is about everything. ...and I would forget about considering medical illustration And then I would

BY ZACH STEVENSON or architecture, and is currently everything...and then I would see the sun rising,” deciding between MICA and see the sun rising,” Kim said.

Parsons School of Design.

Kim is one of SEJUNG KIM Scherrer is interested in a group of seniors attending RISD or the School enrolled in the AP Studio Art course, many of of the Arts in Chicago, and afterwards whom share a passion for the artmaking process that beginning a career in some art field. will likely lead to careers in the art field.

Powell plans on studying communication Kim’s taken art classes though the school since design at the university level. she was in kindergarten, and began taking classes Each of these artists’ work is inextricably outside of school during her freshman year. While linked with who they are, a reflection of she used to work almost exclusively in colored what they think and feel about the world pencil, she recently began painting more to satisfy around them. requirements for her AP Art portfolio.

“I think every piece I do is a self-portrait.

AP Art students are usually given ten days If I’m feeling really upset then my piece to complete an assignment. For Kim, the most might reflect that,” Scherrer said. “I think a excruciating part of the process is the idea-making lot of it is self-expression.” phase.

THE WORK OF ART

D

“

Fellow AP Art student Audrey Scharrer shares Kim’s distaste for the brainstorming that precedes artmaking, partly because thinking too hard about

photo /Caleigh Marsh layout / Carleigh Rahn

DIFFICULT

DIAGNOSIS Students with POTS juggle the symptoms of a serious condition with the everyday experiences of teenage life. BY LIBBY PETERSON AND CLAIRE SLOOK

When the bell rings at the end of class, medical needs to her best ability while most students rush out the door without the line grows longer and longer. Students a second thought. However, for students can spend up to fifteen minutes waiting with POTS, it’s not that simple. Standing for their medication. Missing time from up quickly or simply standing around multiple classes a day adds up and it is easy waiting can cause dizziness, blackouts and to fall behind. even fainting.

“POTS is a huge part of my life, because POTS, Postural Orthostatic I have to base every activity I do around Tachicariatic Syndrome, is an illness it. I vividly remember when I passed out that is not visible from the outside. In during a theater performance. I didn’t want addition to blackouts, people with POTS to go in the ambulance because I knew if I experience trouble concentrating, rapid did, I wouldn’t be able to perform the next heartbeat, exercise intolerance and blurred day” sophomore Maddie Edwards said. vision. Currently, there are between one POTS is a complex illness that’s rarely and three million patients diagnosed with cured and that takes years to effectively POTS in the United States every year. This manage. Treatments consist of medication, condition affects patients’ ability to go compression sleeves, and increased salt about their daily lives and it afflicts many and water intake to expand blood volume.

Loudoun Valley When all of these students. medications Just because you can’t see “I have combine, students what I’m going through blackouts which must be cautious of doesn’t mean it doesn’t I like to call drug interactions. ‘fainting without exist.”

Sometimes students falling.’ My SENIOR, CAITLIN BLAKE might suffer more vision gets black from interaction of and I can’t see. Some days are better and medications than from POTS itself others are worse,” sophomore Emma Students with POTS are active in all Gibbs said. parts of high school life, they just have an POTS symptoms are different for extra burden to manage. everyone. Patients experience difficulty “Just because you can’t see what I’m with the blood flow to their heart, going through doesn’t mean it doesn’t extremities, and brain. Essentially, the exist,” senior Caitlin Blake said. parts of the body that need blood aren’t receiving it. infographic / Carleigh Rahn layout / Carleigh Rahn Most students with POTS take medication throughout the day and have to visit the nurse to do so. The nurses office is always occupied. Nurse Nesselrodt caters to every student’s

“

Bird man Award winning environmental teacher Liam McGranaghan brings his passion to the classroom .

BY ALLY DUNKLEBURGER AND CARLEIGH RAHN

Leading his AP Environmental Science class on the Chapman deMary trail, Liam Mcgranahan points out Virginia Creeper vine for his class to document in their field notebooks.

H

e sits at his desk as his students file into the classroom. Posters of birds are plastered throughout the room and handmade bird houses sit clustered at the top of a tall shelf. Easygoing and passionate environmental science teacher Liam McGranaghan simply loves his job.

With his intense passion for the environment and love for teaching, it’s no surprise that in July 2015, McGranaghan was selected as one of 20 teachers across the nation to win the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. Even with this prestigious award, McGranaghan sticks to the classroom, passing his knowledge onto his students.

“I am so lucky to be able to teach this course, I get to combine my passion with a job, it’s rewarding.

Some jobs allow you to pay the bills, but, at the end of the day, have you accomplished anything? With teaching you do, everyday,” Mcgranaghan said.

While most of his days are spent inside a classroom, Mcgranaghan still makes time to do what he loves: birdbanding, the process of attaching small individually numbered metal or plastic tags to the leg or wing of birds for later identification.

Working with birds of prey such as falcons

and hawks introduced Mcgranahan to the world of bird-banding. With a permit issued by the United States Geological Service, Mcgranaghan is a certified member of a team of banders. His most remarkable bird-banding memory was one afternoon after school when he rushed to his birding station, excited for what birds were in store for him that day.

“I trapped a peregrine falcon, followed fifteen minutes later by catching a merlin which is another falcon, followed a half

“

Some jobs allow you to pay the bills, but, at the end of the day, have you accomplished anything? With teaching you do, everyday,” LIAM MCGRANAGHAN

hour later by catching a sub-adult bald eagle. It was phenomenal, I’ll never forget that day,” Mcgranaghan said.

The day was so memorable that Mcgranahan wrote about it in an inspiring article entitled “A Good Afternoon at the Ridge”, where he profoundly describes what happened that day.

Mcgranaghan’s wealth of knowledges translates well into the classroom and into the minds of his students. He believes that

it’s critical that his students are aware are of the world around them.

“These animals and plants have been n around since we’ve arrived here. They aree the fabric of the earth itself that keeps it alive. My job is to teach you all that these animals and plants are out there, and once you understand that, you own it, and you’ll do more to protect it,” Mcgranaghan said.

Some of his students have taken his message to heart. After multiple classes spent reviewing the raptors of Loudoun County, senior Falkon Ellis finds pride in being able to identify the world outside his window.

“It’s mostly interesting on car rides, with my parents or anyone and I see something I’m actually able to say what they are,” Ellis said.

For Mcgranaghan, birding isn’t about how many unusual birds he catches, or how many pictures he can take rather the true reward is nature itself.

“Some of the guys want the camaraderie, they want all their friends there to enjoy it and have fun,”, Mcgranaghan said. “For me personally, I just like being on the mountain by myself, just me and the mountain and the birds flying by.” photo / courtesy of Kayleigh Lockhart layout / Brianna Henriquez

he stigm stigma gma su gm surrounding hip hop is undeniable able, as the media associates undeniable, it with the glorification of drugs and violence. However Howeve depression is all too common throu throughout the industry causing increases in substance abuse.

Hip Hop music has be been a creative importance, as it outlet of paramount im has allowed artists to articulate art their struggles in moving pieces of music and share them with millions.

About one in five adul adults in America health issue which is have a mental heal roughly 40 million people. In the rap world, however, the issue has long worl been pushed to the side and ultimately ignored. Recently, there’s been a change.

One of the pioneers in the conversation was rapper Kid Cudi.

He opened up on Facebook in late 2016 about his lifelong struggle with depression and anxiety, confessing, “[I’m] ashamed to be a leader and hero to so many while admitting I’ve been living a lie.” Fans were shocked, but also impressed with his honesty and willingness to tell his story.

“A lot of people kind of took a step back and realized how serious his mental health issue was,” junior Jacob Byers said. “It’s not a joke or something to neglect.”

The conversation was reopened recently with the tragic deaths of two

popular rappers. Rapper Lil Peep died on November 15, 2017 after a drug overdose.

Lil Peep was clinically depressed and prescribed with antidepressant and anxiety pills such as Alprazolam. While on tour in Tucson, Arizona he took anxiety pills that were laced with the deadly drug fentanyl, which is a cheap, more powerful substitute for heroin.

Then in early 2018, Fredo Santana died of kidney failure related to his former abuse of codeine. He admitted in an interview that he used drugs to escape a reality where his friends were dying on the streets.

After the deaths of Santana and Lil Peep, fans, friends, and family members mourned publicly on social media. As the grieving grew, people wanted to push the message about living a drug-free life.

Well-known rappers like Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Pump, Smokepurpp and Famous Dex spoke out about their decision to stop abusing Xanax and Codeine.

Rap is the most popular genre in the United States, according to Forbes, and a majority of listeners are teens. Hopefully, this movement will teach the next generation to talk about their struggles in a healthy and productive way.

“This conversation is important because a lot of people look up to these rappers,” junior John Byram said. “If they’re not doing drugs... They can help others quit.”

Grown and processed in the USA

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WHAT NOW? We have inherited a culture of mass shootings. What do we do?

BY CARLEIGH RAHN

W

e are the generations of mass shootings.

While we’re thinking about the next essay due or how to solve the calculus problem, we’re also thinking about a shooter entering our classroom and how we will stay alive.

With the Washington Monument looming in the background, Junior Vaughn Biesecker displays the sign that she made for the March for our Lives rally in Washington D.C. on March 24. photo / courtesy of Vaughn Biesecker layout / Carleigh Rahn

O ur world has been framed by the conversation and reality of mass shootings.

Gun violence has long plagued cities, but now this epidemic has poisoned our schools, our churches, our concerts and even our backyards. Headline after headline tells of teens losing their lives at the hands of a bullet and barrel of a gun. And after years of seemingly endless violence, our nation has come to one conclusion: it needs to stop.

But with Congress inconstant gridlock, a solution seems far out of reach. Each side has their own ideas for solving the problem.

For second amendment advocate, junior Maloch Henderson, the gun debate hits home. As a Boy Scout, he grew up using bebe guns and taking trips to the shooting range. With his knowledge and comfort with guns, he believes that the problem isn’t the machine itself, but the people who operate it.

“The real problem with guns is the person behind it, they are using it as a weapon,” Henderson said. “And that’s why guns have a bad reputation now.”

For some though, guns are the root of the problem.

“I don’t think people want to recognize that yes, it is a tool, but it’s a tool for destruction,” gun control advocate and junior Maria Falzarano said.

With any mention of gun reform, many gun rights advocates think that means abolishing the right to bear arms and banning guns altogether. But as gun control advocate junior Katie Akin points out reform doesn’t mean repeal.

“People think we want to take away the second amendment. But that is not the case.

If you are responsible, if you don’t have a history of violence, you will be able to keep your practical weapon,” Akin said. “We’re not coming for your guns. We just want to do some common sense things that will save lives.”

that arming teachers would deter shooters, and proposed a bonus for those teachers who carry concealed weapons.

Henderson has the same idea. Through his Boy Scout training, he feels comfortable and confident around guns.

“I’ve always been educated on the safety.

The three major rules: Never put your finger on the trigger until ready. Never keep it loaded. And always aim it in a safe direction,” Henderson said.

Henderson believes so strongly in the idea that he wrote about it for an English class assignment. Henderson explained that in his writing, he compared a shooter situation to a game of dodge ball. If the shooter could throw balls and no one could throw any back, he would get everyone out. But if certain people had balls, they would be able to get him out before he got everyone else.

“I would be mostly okay with some of my teachers having guns,” Henderson said.

History teacher Christy Judd is also familiar with guns. As she served in the Virginia THE ONGOING DEBATE National Guard for six years, she became comfortable with various military weapons.

For some, the best way to approach the However, unlike Henderson, she believes her issue of school safety is through arming classroom is not the place for them. teachers. Almost immediately after the “As a teacher, I wear a lot of different February 14 Parkland shooting, President hats in this classroom. Carrying a weapon Donald Trump suggested in a speech at the is not the job I signed up for,” Judd said. “I Conservative Political Action Conference comfort kids regularly, and if I’m packing a gun, I’m personally not comfortable with that.”

Judd chose teaching consciously, knowing that her passion lies within a classroom, not in combat. On a daily basis, teachers are focused on the well-being and education of their students, and Judd believes guns would add a whole new and dangerous layer to that.

“We as teachers have to be aware not only if our students are present, but if they are mentally and physically okay,” Judd said. “I don’t know that you could be there [holding a weapon] 100% and teach at 100%. If you don’t do one of those at 100%, you’re going to fail somewhere. I don’t want to set myself up to fail, Senior Jenna Debow is concerned and I don’t that restrictions on the right to want to set my own a gun might lead to further students up to curtailing of individual freedoms.

“If this gets taken away, what’s to be failed.” come?” Debow said.

Historically

in schools, students of color face disproportionately harsh discipline. This creates the school to prison pipeline, a term researchers coined to describe the national trend where minority students are punished and isolated, and funneled out of school and into criminal justice system.

Statistically, unarmed black men are more

than in any other developed nation. Only 15 states have laws in place that require abusers to give up their gun. Fisher wants change. She knows the current legislation will not be enough to save someone else’s mother. “ Guns do play a big part. Domestic violence happens every day and gun violence

“

I have seen kids really make an effort to listen to each other, and that is a huge part of this conversation.”

the problem, it’s not risky, we need to talk about it,” Henderson said.

On April 23, Amy Iliffe, Loudoun County Substance Abuse Specialist met with PEER to discuss the issue of school safety. Across Loudoun County, multiple high schools were selected as part of a panel to reflect on the recent events. Many of the students appreciated the opportunity to make their voices heard.

“It was really beneficial to seriously talk about the subject with other students because it emphasizes where we feel safe and where we don’t. It’s great to know that [the county] is getting the honest opinions of their students,” junior Christian Ortmann said.

As a generation that has inherited a culture of mass shootings, we must figure out how to move forward. Junior Noah Peterson explained that during the PEER discussion, he admired that everyone was able to share their opinions and focus on the true issue at hand: our safety.

Judd feels that these discussions will pave the way for change. Just like the nation, real change is founded on the basis of compromise. Judd is confident that this generation will be the generation to make that change.

“In history, I teach compromise after compromise. Everybody’s feelings and ideas are valid. We all can unanimously agree that we want schools to be safe. it’s the compromise though and finding a way to make everyone happy,” Judd said. “But I have seen kids really make an effort to listen to each other, and that is a huge part of this conversation.”

CHRISTY JUDD likely to be shot by law enforcement, so opponents of arming teachers argue that this same situation would play out in a school.

“If we want to help minority students out of systematic oppression and violence, why would we arm their authority figures with guns?” Akin said.

NATAJAH’S STORY The problem of gun violence extends far beyond the brick walls of a school building.

For some students, gun violence is not just a drill in a quiet room with the door locked, it’s real life. In April 2016, senior Natajah Fisher lost her mother to domestic abuse and gun violence. The father of Fisher’s two younger brothers shot and killed her mother with an AK-47 assault rifle.

“It took one bullet to take her life. One bullet is all it takes to kill someone. She no longer wanted to be in a relationship where she felt having someone threaten her life everyday was acceptable, which it wasn’t. He killed her because she no longer wanted to be with him,” Fisher said.

An already life threatening situation is only augmented by the presence of guns.

Several recent mass shooters have a history of domestic violence, revealing the possible connection with domestic violence and gun violence. Research done by Everytown For Gun Safety found that women in the US are 16 times more likely to be shot and killed

happens every day. Based on the inaction from Congress, our lives must not be enough. What will it take?” Fisher said.

STUDENTS TAKE ACTION Like the young adults from Stoneman Douglas High School, many students are eager to take action in the political realm of gun and school safety. But, for a lot of students voting feels far in the future.

Activism for them, comes in different forms. Teens are taking to every platform they can to make their voices heard. Many have participated in walkouts, proving that their safety is just as valuable as their education. Social media has become more than a place to post pictures with your friends, it’s a place to connect with and learn from peers. For Akin, who is not old enough to vote yet, the anticipation makes her even more excited to make her opinion heard.

“I like the fact that we have to wait. There will be more and more waves of people ready to vote, ready to vote them out,” Akin said.

As students, this movement is important and very personal. When Henderson shared his “This I Believe” essay with the class, he knew he was making a statement, and he knew he was making a difference.

“When other kids read my piece, I got a lot of comments like “risky topic!’ But that’s

Brianna Henriquez and Erika Gesell also contributed to the reporting. layout / Carleigh Rahn

BE THE CHANGE Volunteering is an essential part of high school culture.

Here’s how some students take an active role in our community.

Forno Plans to Bring Horseracing to Purcellville

BY HEATHER FECONDA

T

Graber and Hinton Direct Plays for Disabled Youth

BY BEN KEANE

L

ike most students, juniors Briton Graber and Sarah Hinton volunteer in the community. However, rather than picking up trash or organizing food drives, Graber and Hinton volunteer by directing and putting on plays.

Graber and Hinton volunteer for VSA, an organization that teaches people of all abilities to appreciate theater. The organization’s mission is to provide “creative opportunities for personal development for all, those with disabilities.”

“I would love to be a director when I’m older, so this helps me learn to interact and lead all kinds of different people,” Hinton said. “I’m learning to be more patient when I ask someone to do something, and when to be easier on them or keep pushing them to try.”

Fourteen years after the international organization was founded, the Loudoun branch was introduced at the Franklin Park Arts Center. The fact that it’s so close allows students to volunteer frequently.

“I get as much out of VSA as the people in the program,” Graber said.

“There are many benefits to volunteering within your community, such as developing relationships with people you might not have met otherwise.

My community has provided me with so much over the years, which is one of the reasons why I think it’s important to give back.”

he Aberdeen property, a 189 acre plot of land located by Woodgrove High School, has lain fallow in the hands of Purcellville for years. Senior Mackenzie Forno, a voting member of the Purcellville Parks and Recreation advisory board, has been an active player in our town for years. When the topic of how to make use of this land came to the forefront, Forno developed her own detailed plan.

Forno feels strongly that steeplechase, or point-topoint horse racing, would be an extremely successful and profitable use for this property.

With available land and a booming equine industry, Purcellville is well equipped to support this sport.

“Our location is perfect,” Forno said.

She conducted research and used her connections in the equestrian community to support her plan. On February 13th, she publicly pitched her idea at a Town Council meeting.

“The equine industry, as reported by the American Horse Council, is a $102 billion industry in the US. It would be really important to get a piece of that,” Forno said.

On a broader scale, Forno’s proposition would also be an environmentally conscious move. She feels that preserving western Loudoun, specifically Purcellville, has become even more important considering all of the recent development.

“I would hate to see it go to some sort of idea that would change the environment or our lifestyle,” Forno said. photo / Caleigh Marsh layout / Griffin Hunt

Sweets of the Season We offer new baked goods and snacks every season, in addition to offering a wide variety of vegan, gluten free and healthy options.

@sweetsoftheseason

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Our Family is Growing Exciting things are happening at Salon Alure! Due to our remarkable growth, we have expanded to serve our community better. While remaining in the heart of Purcellville, our Ashburn and Lovettsville locations are now open.

$10 OFF YOUR FIRST VISIT! Visit our website at WWW.SALONALURE.COM 1020 East Main Street Unit H Purcellville, 20132 540-338-8911 20 Town Square, STE 140 Lovettsville, 20180 540-668-5359 21040 Sycolin Road, STE 115 Ashburn, 20147 703-858-5566

On a Winning Streak After a pair of winless seasons, the boys varsity soccer team is off to a 10-0 start this year. The team began their season with a pair of pre-Spring Break wins at Rock Ridge and Millbrook, and cemented their status as a force-to-be-reckoned-with after a trifecta of wins against the Riverside Rams, John Champe Knights and Loudoun County Raiders. The team won the three games by a combined score of 12-2.

Their prolific offense—which has netted 27 regularseason goals as of April 16—put on a show against the visiting Raiders on April 5, winning by a score of 5-0.

Sophomore Jefferson Martinez Gomez (pictured) scored two of the team’s goals, his second coming after a series of step overs that stupefied the goalkeeper. layout / Olivia deStanley Photo / Olivia deStanley

EDITORIAL

The Heart of the

Community N

ot too long ago, upon entering Purcellville, one was greeted by rolling hills of farmland with a charmingly rustic barn. Now, when entering the town from the same road, one is greeted by two shopping centers in quick succession. The town many of us call home has quickly evolved from small and rather rural to a shopping center filled suburbia.

With the constant addition of new plazas full of big name stores, the debate as to whether these additions are necessary arises. Whether or not one agrees with this increased development, these new businesses have created a shift in our once-rural town.

Change and growth are inevitable, but our town has begun to drift away from its small town feel.

In 2016, Purceville’s population hit over 9,000 inhabitants. With this continuous influx of people, the town’s businesses

As Purcellville continues to grow, we must preserve the small businesses that give the town its character.

have provided the town members, old and new, with increased opportunities for community building as well as jobs.

The increase in chain stores has led to the steady overpowering of small businesses in Purcellville. Major corporations, like Chipotle and Walgreens, added into these new complexes have kept new businesses from opening and starved existing businesses of the resources needed to grow.

Our small businesses—family restaurants, dry cleaners, hardware stores— have established Purcellville as the town that it is and given it its identity. Purcellville used to consist of little more than a short drive down Main Street. After passing by a few neighborhoods, one would get into the heart of Purcellville: a handful of brick buildings with business signs perched above their front doors.

Small businesses in Purcellville foster

a sense of unity within the community.

Businesses, such as Mickey’s Barber Shop on Main Street, sponsor WLBL youth basketball teams and many others. Likewise, Petite LouLou Creperie and Shamrock Music Shoppe often take part in the town parades.

As Purcellville continues to grow, it is important to keep our town’s small nature in mind. The small businesses of Purcellville have shaped the town into what is today: an ever growing, ever changing town built on the idea of community and history. Those who support local businesses are helping to preserve Purcellville’s unique and endearing character. photo / Olivia deStanley layout / Max Breitenthaler

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Senior Matt Hutchison makes a quick turn with the ball to evade a defender in the boys varsity soccer team’s 5-0 win against the visiting Raiders on April 5. (photo / Olivia deStanley)

2 Junior Michael Grupe tries to perfect his craft in woodshop class. (photo / Gillian Krug) 3 Sunglasses perched perkily atop her head, senior Kayleigh DeSorbo prepares for her tennis match against Woodgrove on April 12. (photo / Ella Serafin)

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Plucking at the strings of his guitar, junior Daniel Soiland practices his instrument in Artist Guitar class. (photo / Gillian Krug)

5 Arms extended to seal off a defender, junior Max Breitenthaler pounces on the ball in the boys varsity soccer game on April 5. (photo / Olivia deStanley)

6 Freshman Ryan Adams (6) and seniors Jake Huerbin (22) and Dylan Raymer (24) jog off of the field during their April 13 game against Culpeper County. (photo / Gillian Krug)

layout / Olivia deStanley