The Viking / Issue V / April 2017

the

ANSWERING THE CALL A dedicated few choose to serve their country, foregoing the traditional college route.

viking Loudoun Valley High School / Purcellville, VA / March/April 2017

Cover / Senior Caroline Morrow, recently admitted into the West Point Military Academy, is one of the few military-bound seniors at Valley (photo / Tyler Valentine).

Above / Senior Rasheem Thornton contorts his body to fit underneath the limbo bar at the pep rally on February 3. (photo / Tyler Valentine).

THE

VIKING Newsmagazine Staff 2016-2017

Editors-in-Chief Chris Cerne Ben Manning Sean Webster

Online Editors Carleigh Rahn Zach Stevenson

Online Managing Editor Griffin Hunt

Photo Editors Olivia de Stanley Madison Stiles

Multimedia Editor Tyler Valentine

Writers, Photographers, Business and Promotional Staff Tito Alcazar, Jacob Coleman, Heather Feconda, Sadie Grant, Brianna Henriquez, Jordan Iwerks, Grace Jennings, Ben Keane, Alexandra Krens, Gillian Krug, Lauren Madey, Caleigh Marsh, Madison McIntosh, Jared Sanders, Ella Serafin, Claire Slook, Madison Stiles, Charlotte Twetten, Kerry Webster Adviser Paige Cox thevikingnews.com | Twitter: @lvhsviking | Instagram: lvhsviking | Snapchat: lvhsviking

Letter from the Editors 2

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Dear Vikings, The Viking is a completely student-run and studentfunded 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 school year, our goal

March/April 2017

is to serve the student body by covering a variety of student interests, clubs. and sporting events. We strive to be as unbiased as possible, while still reporting on important issues.

Finally, the Viking is lucky enough to have a faculty and student body overwhelmingly supportive of our newsmagazine. Thank

you for your readership and your feedback.

We would like to issue an amendment to the last issue.

Daniel Breslauer is the ELL department chair.

Thanks, Chris Cerne, Ben Manning, and Sean Webster Editors-in-Chief

CONTENTS March/April 2017

4

Save the Date

6

Skate of Mind

8

Answering the Call

These Loudoun locations are perfect for a romantic night out.

Skateboarding is a muchbeloved pastime among some high school students.

A dedicated few choose to serve their country, foregoing the traditional college route.

10

The Intel

12

A Toast to Breakfast

14

The Taboo Topic

15

Not on Board

The U.S. Military is a complex and extensive operation, utilizing the talents of a multitude of Americans.

Breakfast retains a special place in our food culture.

The rising generation has claimed the-once uncomfortable topic of periods as part of their identity.

Corporations such as College Board make high school more expensive, and inherently favor wealthier students.

Right / Varsity Boys’ Basketball claims the 4A West regional championship against Handley in a close 64-63 game on February 24. (photo / Ella Serafin)

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3

Save The

DATE

Planning a romantic night out can be difficult in a rural area. However, these hidden gems tucked away throughout the county can make date night into a great night. By Olivia deStanley and Claire Slook RED HORSE TAVERN MIDDLEBURG, VA

The Red Horse Tavern is a charming restaurant located in the small, chic town of Middleburg. It’s only a short thirty minute drive for an easy, affordable date after a nice walk around town. The cozy, wood interior fosters a romantic, yet comfortable and casual atmosphere. If you happen to be dining on a pretty day, the patio tables put you in the heart of picturesque downtown Middleburg. Reminiscent of a pub in the UK, the food includes burgers, fish and chips and shepherd’s pie, among other superb options.

The Red Horse Tavern is sure to help you win the heart of that special someone.

SOUTH STREET UNDER LEESBURG, VA

Directly underneath Tuscarora Mill Restaurant, South Street Under is a quaint and affordable bakery and cafe. All of the delectable soups come with a slice of fresh bread. Among the other choices are salad, warm and cold sandwiches and a plethora of other sides.

Walls lined with windows provide soft, natural lighting and on a nice day, the deck area provides shaded, outdoor seating. The charming environment provides the perfect place to get to know someone on a deeper level.

PETITE LOULOU CREPERIE PURCELLVILLE, VA

Skip the fast food for a day, and head over to Petite Loulou Crêperie + Bar à Vins for a variety of treats and a taste of Parisian charm. The café is perfect for grabbing a quick croissant and coffee in the morning, or sitting down for a meal with someone special.

The menu includes sweet and savory crepes as well as pastries and sandwiches that will have you dreaming of the city of love.

layout / Sean Webster photos / Olivia deStanley & Tyler Valentine 4

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March/April 2017

Gwen Saunier PHOTOGRAPHY Portraits - $5 Join us for our end of season sale!

Up to 50% off!

Find us at 34-B Catoctin Circle Southeast Leesburg

@gwensaunierphotography

Join us for our FC Barcelona soccer camp from June 26-30th or come check out our Adventure Rope Course!

March/April 2017

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Skate of Mind Skateboarding is a much-beloved pastime among high school students, and offers a growing community of diverse subcultures.

By Alexandra Krens

S

kateboarding equals independence.

It’s a sport about versatility, and doing things as one sees fit. Although Purcellville has no skate park, the skating community is an ever present subculture, one that is more complicated than meets the eye.

Even for those in the community, skating is difficult to categorize. Some view it as an art, while others view it as a sport.

“It got popular in the 90’s because it wasn’t considered a sport. I would consider it more of an art,” junior Cole Haines said.

Skating has long been considered rebellious and countercultural, but it’s slowly becoming more widely accepted.

“I’ve met some older people who are okay with it, a lot of police officers in Purcellville are totally okay with it,” Haines said.

Despite the increased acceptance, the nearest skatepark, Catoctin, is in Leesburg, so students have to get creative with where they skate. Some local skating hotspots include Blue Ridge Middle School, Valley Energy, Shamrock Music, the W&OD trail and the LVHS parking lot.

“It’s hard to find areas [to skate] out 6

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here,” senior longboarder Felix Knight said.

The large population of longboarders is particularly challenged when it comes to finding places to skate, since longboarding requires large expanses of relatively flat land. Knight longboards almost exclusively on the trail.

Despite the challenges, they’re dedicated to their craft. Knight longboards 11-15 miles daily, and Haines skates an hour every day.

In addition to their time, skateboarders invest a lot of money into personalizing their boards. “[I began customizing my boards] a few months in. It started with small things as I had money that I could spend on it. Parts aren’t particularly cheap,” Knight said.

Some people’s passion for skateboarding started early, whereas others encountered the hobby more recently. The style that skaters adopt also varies, despite how similar they may look to the untrained eye.

“There’s a lot of subcultures. There’s transition skaters, there’s street skaters, there’s flatground skaters, and freestyle skaters,” Haines said.

Regardless of style, gear, or when they’ve

March/April 2017

Junior Jadon Quick performs a kick flip on his skateboard behind Blue Ridge Middle School.

started skating, they all strive to encourage each other.

“People just want to inspire others to get out and ride however they want or however is fun/useful to them,” Knight said. layout / Sean Webster and Ben Manning photos / Caleigh Marsh

Literary Magazine Submissions include: Poetry Short Stories Creative NonďŹ ction Essays

Photography Paintings Drawings Other Artwork

To submit to the Literary Magazine, contact Ms. Hildbold in room 124 or see Ms. Kincaid in room 305.

Follow The Viking @lvhsviking Check out The Viking online news site:

thevikingnews.com

March/April 2017

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ANSWERING THE CALL IN HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS AMERICA, GRADUATES PONDER OVER THEIR PERFECT COLLEGE. HOWEVER, FOR A DEDICATED FEW, THEIR FUTURE LIES WITH THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY.

BY BEN MANNING AND SEAN WEBSTER

I

n a time of international uncertainty and instability, securing the nation’s safety is urgent, and students at Valley have stepped up to the challenge.

However, answering the call of duty is no easy task, and demands everything you’ve got.

Senior Connor Collins envisioned himself joining the military ever since he was a child.

“I’ve always had the notion that I was going to be in the military, one way or another,” Collins said.

Collins signed a 6-year contract with the Air National Guard in Morgantown, West Virginia, but that wasn’t always what he imagined doing in the military.

“For a while I thought I was going to be a Navy SEAL and I watched a lot of Top Gun, so I thought I wanted to fly,” Collins said.

As part of his contract, Collins begins training immediately after graduation.

Like Collins, Senior Connor Davis begins training not long after graduation. To prepare for the Marine Corps boot camp, Davis has elected to spend every Wednesday doing physical training with other “poolees,” a term used to describe those who are members of the Delayed Entry Program.

The Delayed Entry Program (DEP) allows potential recruits to get a taste of the military and prepare for boot camp.

For a more extensive preparation program, some apply to military academies to fulfill their training. These institutions attract hopefuls from across the nation, and senior Caroline Morrow was one of them. After receiving her congressional nomination from Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, Morrow went on to send her applications and visit the academy, fulfilling her longtime goal of becoming one of the chosen few.

“I’d say I’ve wanted to go to West Point

“

8

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“They didn’t treat you like you were a kid, they treated you like you were actually going into the military.”

Junior Joel Weiss. since I was about ten,” Morrow said.

Ever since women have been allowed to serve direct combat roles, students like Morrow have a multitude of options in the military. Morrow hopes to do something big for herself and her country.

“I’d say since I was about seven I actually wanted to go into the navy first before the

March/April 2017

army. It was actually kind of funny how this whole thing worked out because at that time, women were barred from a lot of combat positions,” Morrow said.

Prior to applying to the university, Morrow was given the chance to taste the cadet life at West Point’s “Summer Leaders Experience” camp. During her time there, the sergeants and staff treated them to an authentic cadet experience, full of bugle reveille, late night training and the barking of drill sergeants.

“You never really know something until you’re in it, and this summer, I had the opportunity to go to West Point and live like a cadet for a week.” Morrow said. “I went into it thinking I would know everything about West Point and that it wouldn’t be a shock to the system... but there were some things that surprised me. Some nights, we didn’t get back to the barracks until 12.”

What first introduced Morrow to West Point was her family’s deep connection with the institution. Her grandfather taught as a math professor at the university so her mother grew up on the military base there.

The tradition of family in the military is one that inspires many to join. Davis is the latest in a long line of family members to join the Marines. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all members of the Marine Corps. His father was member of the Force Recon company, which conducts

Left / Senior Connor Collins stands with his brother Charlie after signing his Air National Guard enlistment papers. Collins will begin his training shortly after graduation.

Top Right / Locking arms with fellow camp-goers, Junior Joel Weiss does Left / Senior Connor Collins hisinbrother Charlie after signing his grueling sit-ups in the surf at astands SEALwith camp Latimer, Tennessee.

Air National Guard en Caroline Morrow hops inside the cockpit of a Black Bottom Right / Senior Top HawkRight attack/helicopter during her Summer Leader’s Experience camp at West Point Military Academy in New York.

military reconnaissance operations, and was deployed nine times in Iraq.

“I had a lot of people in my family who inspired me to join the military,” Davis said.

Others without a family connection have also been attracted to service in the armed forces. Senior Noah Hunter enlisted in the Marine Corps last year, and will undergo boot camp training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Hunter decided to join in his junior year, not wanting to put off his career for four years by attending a university. He made his decision largely on his own, wishing to serve his country and begin his training as soon as possible.

“My parents probably thought I was going to go to college my freshman and sophomore year…[but] I just enlisted,” Hunter said. “No one really pushed me to do it, but I’d say my biggest influence

since I’ve been enlisted...was probably my recruiter.”

Junior Joel Weiss also plans to enter the Delayed Entry Program, but that hasn’t prevented him from doing other training.

Weiss aims to be a Navy SEAL, who are among the most well-respected and wellknown fighting forces in the world. Last summer, Weiss participated in a camp operated by former Special Forces soldiers designed to give teenagers who aspire to be SEALs a glimpse of what actual military training is like.

“They didn’t treat you like you were a kid, they treated you like you were actually going into the military,” Weiss said.

While at the camp, he and other SEAL hopefuls practiced their shooting skills, conducted mock reconnaissance missions and participated in many other drills.

However, for Weiss, one night sticks out vividly: they call it Hell Night.

“We went to bed at nine, which was early, and then at ten they woke us up by throwing fireworks in our tents,” Weiss said.

After being forced to flee their tents, the camp attendees were commanded to do burpees for an hour in sand pits filled with sulfur smoke, in addition to hundreds of pushups, and miles of running.

However, none of this dissuaded Weiss from wanting to become a SEAL. In fact, he is very confident that he will one day achieve his dream.

“I’m not trying to be cocky, but I’m not going to quit. They’d have to kill me first,” Weiss said. photos/ Courtesy of Andrew Collins, Caroline Morrow and Joel Weiss layout / Sean Webster

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The U.S. Military is a complex and extensive operation, utilizing the talents of a multitude of Americans. By Sean Webster

“

10

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March/April 2017

@lvhsviking

a toast to

BREAKFAST Some studies impugn its importance, and more are foregoing the morning meal, yet breakfast retains a special place in our food culture. By Zach Stevenson

73%

of Americans prefer a savory breakfast over a sweet one.

The cereal company Kellogg’s funded a highly cited article that found that eating cereal for breakfast is associated with being thinner.

A Yale study found that breakfast is so important that having two is preferable to having none.

12

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March/April 2017

60%

of adolescents skip breakfast more than three times a week.

Children are twice as likely to achieve higher than average grades if they start the day with a healthy breakfast.

”

I feel like if I don’t eat breakfast, I’ll be hungry throughout the day, and I’ll eat more.

Sophomore Natalie Dehart

layout / Griffin Hunt, Zach Stevenson and Chris Cerne photo / Madison Stiles March/April 2017

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13

The Taboo Topic

No longer a cause for embarrassment, the rising generation has claimed this once uncomfortable topic as part of their identity, promoting the health and well being of women around the world. By Charlotte Twetten and Carleigh Rahn

O

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March/April 2017

Breaking It Down 25% $9,300 The number of girls in India that drop out of school because of their period.

CHHAUPADI The common practice in Nepal where women are banished from their communities and forced to live in separate huts while menstruating.

4-9% The tax rate on feminine hygiene products.

The amount of money a woman will spend on her period throughout her life which is equal to...

14 iPhone 7s Four years worth of groceries A year of instate college tuition

}

14

the grocery store, those with less privileged statuses are not as lucky. During their time of the month, one out of ten girls in South Africa miss school, while 1 out of 4 girls in India are forced to drop out of school because of their period.

For these girls there is nothing to spare: no money, no help and definitely no place of refuge. In Kenya, the purchasing power is left to men, who often don’t purchase pads and tampons, while Bolivian girls often keep their used pads in their backpacks because of the common myth that period blood causes cancer. For girls in countries where supplies and money are scarce, it’s just another thing on their minds.

“This awfully embarrassing thing could happen at any moment. It’s just another thing to worry about, and in countries where it’s a struggle, they already have so many things to worry about,” junior Mariel Clark said.

As the millennial generation began to note the massive effect periods tend to have on their lives, period sympathizers started writing articles, painting art and making music based on periods.

Most famously, Cosmopolitan’s article, “Year of the Period” won the Asme Award for design and attracted criticism and support. Utilizing periods as a tool for the unification of women, artist Lily Allen, have written about the obstacles many women in the music industry face. Gaining the most notoriety was Allen’s song “Sheezus”, whose open lyrics on periods led to radio stations refusing to play it. Their refusals sparked controversy as radio stations have been known to allow other offensive lyrics.

The open, unapologetic approach to the topic on the national level seems to have trickled down to the local level, as Clark noted very similarly the unifying ability of periods.

“We know how it feels. We don’t want other girls to be embarrassed,” Clark said.

“Especially in today’s society where girls have been really bonding together, bonding on the fact that we are women.”

{

ver the course of their lives, the majority of Americans will spend approximately 9,300 dollars and 2,280 painful days living in the midst of one biological, unavoidable issue: their period.

All over the world, girls endure one painful week out of every month. Their period rules their lives and wallets, often forcing them out of work, school and social settings. Within the past year, a series of widely read, pivotal articles prompted an end to the silence.

Recently, the debate over the tampon tax has come to the forefront of discussion.

Aside from the regular sales tax, tampons sold over the counter have an extra four to nine percent tax, while products like Viagra and Rogaine are prescription and, thusly, aren’t taxed. Senior Camryn Fischer noted the issue and misrepresentation of periods.

“I think the people in charge of making these decisions aren’t people who necessarily need tampons themselves. It almost feels like a punishment towards women,” Fischer said.

In the tampon tax debate, the legality of taxation relies upon the word “necessary.”

Products that are deemed inherently “necessary” by the law are often categorized as un-taxable, such as food bought with food stamps. However, this raises a simple controversial question: Are tampons actually a necessity?

“Things like adult diapers don’t have a tax on them because they are necessary, yet tampons are still taxed?” Fischer said.

This extra tax makes it even more difficult for girls in economically challenging situations to get the supplies they need. Organizations around the world have popped up to combat this issue. For example, Days For Girls has focused on distributing kits to give girls the opportunity to go to school. According to daysforgirls. org, “Girls use leaves, mattress stuffing, newspaper, corn husks, rocks, anything they can find...but still miss up to 2 months of education and opportunity every year.”

While some can take a monthly trip to

THREE

The number of innovations in menstrual care over the past 200 years.

$4

The amount of money Afghani women pay for a single pad.

5 DAYS The number of days Kenyan girls are absent from school each month due to their periods.

layout / Carleigh Rahn and Sean Webster



Not On Board Corporations such as College Board make high school significantly more expensive, and tilt the system towards wealthier students.

I

n the United States, students are promised the opportunity to have a free public high school education.

But many educational institutions are preying on the needs of prospective college students, thus dramatically increasing the cost of high school, and giving wealthier students a better chance.

Students are well-aware of the companies that shackle their education. Names like College Board and Herff Jones fill the air throughout the school year.

These educational monopolies provide goods and services to students without competition.

In their junior and senior years, students are pressured to take $43 SAT exams to show their readiness for college, with many students electing to take the exam multiple times.

According to data provided by the College Board, in 2016, students who have taken the PSAT in their sophomore and junior years scored almost 200 points higher on average than students who didn’t take the PSAT. This is a problem for less-wealthy neighborhoods who do not have enough money to provide students with PSAT opportunities.

But the problem doesn’t just stem from the high cost of SAT examinations. The College Board also offers Advanced Placement examinations, which students can use to test out of future college classes.

According to the Loudoun

Valley counseling department, 1,058 AP exams were taken in the 2015-2016 school year. Considering a cost of $84.00 for each examination, almost $90,000 was spent on examinations in the last year alone.

This may not seem like a huge issue—students who cannot afford to take these exams are subsidized by the school system—but many AP students take as many as four or five AP exams per year, spending over $300 on these

certain irony in submitting a $25 electronic application for financial help.

With many high school students paying almost a thousand dollars for all of these services, it would come as a surprise to some that the College Board is a nonprofit organization. According to publicly available tax information, the company makes over 50 million untaxed dollars a year in profits, and the president of the company, David Coleman, earns a hefty

According to data provided by College Board, students who have taken the PSAT in their sophomore and junior years scored almost 200 points higher on average than students who didn’t take the PSAT.

examinations, burdening even middle class families.

Additionally, students who wish to pursue financial aid may have to apply for CSS Profile, a FAFSA copycat which the College Board uses to send student financial information to universities. Well-known schools such as the University of Virginia require the form for financial aid, but there is a

$800,000 salary every year.

Fortunately, there are options for students who don’t wish to pay the hefty price of college preparation. Dual Enrollment classes have increased in size dramatically in the past few years. For instance, US History increased from a measly 15 students in the 2015-2016 school year to a whopping 137 students this school year. There

has additionally been a recent push to provide more Dual Enrollment classes to Loudoun Valley, with new classes such as Biology, Chemistry, African History and Theater being offered next year. These free classes ensure college credit without the hefty exam price at the end of the year.

But some of these classes would not have come to fruition without the support of the student body. Senior Noah Wade, a well-known Valley thespian, contributed to making Dual Enrollment Theater a reality. Theater students such as himself petitioned the school board by sending letters and making phone calls, and soon got their wish.

“I think [Dual Enrollment classes are] an overwhelmingly positive thing,” Wade said.

“They are a unique tool, especially for students who want more rigor and more of a conversational style class.”

Ultimately, College Board will still be a major player in the field of education. To solve the problem and help lower the cost of education, students should continue to advocate for Dual Enrollment classes to the Loudoun County school board.

In the meantime, take advantage of the many Dual Enrollment opportunities, like other students have in years past. layout / Chris Cerne photo / Tyler Valentine and Jared Sanders

March/April 2017

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VIKING VIEW 1

3 2

5 4

6

1 Preparing himself for a crucial shot, junior Jordan Miller eyes the basket at the Regional Championship game on February 24. (photo / Ella Serafin)

2 Best friends and teammates seniors Duron Norris and Nick Kallivokas pose with

the Regional Championship trophy after a heart stopping 64-63 win against Handley on February 24. (photo / Ella Serafin)

3 Junior Jessica Lu represents the swimming team during the February 3 pep rally. (photo / Tyler Valentine)

4

The jungle cheers on the boys’ varsity basketball team during an intense game against Handley on February 24. (photo / Ella Serafin)

5

Lobbing the ball to junior Duron Norris inside, senior Nick Ball helps the boys’ basketball team claim a victory over Heritage on February 16th. (photo / Gillian Krug)

6 Freshmen Naomi Fraser and Alexandra Pledgie participate in a fast-paced

character study game during the February 10 drama club meeting. (photo / Tyler Valentine)

layout / Ben Manning & Olivia deStanley