WADSWORTH HIGH SCHOOL
May 2019
THE
Volume XLIV No. 8
BRUIN
REFUGEES SEEK ASYLUM: STUDENT MISSIONARIES AID IMMIGRANTS IN MEXICO PAGES 8 & 9
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RING DAY: Thursday, May 16 During Lunches In the Cafeteria
LIMITED TIME OFFER! LAST CHANCE... FREE WHS Grizzlies Jacket w/Jewelry Purchase* OFFER VALID THRU MAY 16 ORDER DAY ONLY.
Order Online, by phone, or with Rep by May 16. *EXCLUDES TRADEWINDS COLLECTION & BASIC RINGS
Jackets are custom ordered; sizing samples provided on Order Day. Minimum $75 down payment required.
Already have a ring, but need Warranty work? Free re-sizing, and more. See us on May 16. 1. Design online at Jostens.com or pick up packet in WHS Main Office. 2. Bring order form & payment to Jostens Rep at WHS on May. 16. 3. Jostens will size your finger, have samples on display & help complete your order.
Jostens • PO Box 452 • Uniontown, OH 44685 • 330-877-4700 rich.petro@jostens.com • jostens.com
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Staff Editorial
625 Broad Street Wadsworth, OH 44281
Bruin Staff
Editor-in-Chief Halle Shaeffer News Editor Anna Wolfinger Art Editor Emily Thompson Features Editor Morgan Porpora Sports Editor Jillian Cornacchione Online Editor Seth Smalley Business Manager Logan Egleston Social Media Manager Abby Wichterman Staff Writers Micah Beck Brianna Becerra Stanley Bingham Julia Blake Anna Blamble Emily Brandyberry Patrick Chamier Andrew Clark Lauren Conley Brian Coote Sadie Ellis Kyia Frank Emily Kurtz Natalie Maher Kate Messam Alex Miller Lauren Satink Sarah Scobee Christopher Steele Julie Wellert Adviser Eric Heffinger
Asylum seekers who are escaping religious persecution, war, violence and fear for their own safety are consistently pouring into America with hopes of being accepted into the country. Following a credible fear interview given for refugees a way to explain their situation that then determines the future of the case. In 2018 there were over 800,000 pending immigration cases from this. Many of these families have to wait months for their case to be accepted or even rejected for entrance. While they await a response they are forced into Mexico, surrounded by
other asylum seekers, and oftentimes criminals. The majority of these families struggle to create a new life for themselves when they are unable to work for a long period of time and have the responsibilities of supporting their families, like rent. The fact that these people are escaping dangers only to wait an upwards of six months for just a chance of acceptance into safety is flawed. The reality of this situation for many can show us how fortunate we all are for our own safety and freedom.
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Inside the Bruin 11
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Comic by Anna Blamble
May Students of the Month Sarah Faber, 12
Sam Billings, 12
Parker Dingess, 12
The 2019-2020 Bruin Staff will be saying goodbye to 14, hardworking seniors. We wish them luck as they all continue their education next year.
Editorial Policy
Katilyn Setera,12
Front By:
Kate Messam
The Bruin is a monthly publication produced by the Newspaper II and Newspaper III students at Wadsworth High School. The Newspaper I class produces the May issue. The staff will do its best to inform the student body and the community of intra-school, community or national events that affect the student body. This paper provides on-the-job training for the staff members. All decisions are
made by the staff members with the advice and suggestions of the adviser. The school administration works closely with the staff to ensure accuracy. We, as the students of journalism, hold the same rights and the same responsibilities as professional journalists as we strive for professional standards. These rights include the right to print any material that is not libelous, obscene or excessively disruptive to the school process. The Bruin will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion, color, creed or sex. The staff members accept full responsibility for everything appearing in this publication. The staff strongly encourages students to express their opinions through the letters to the editor column, which is printed every month. The staff also encourages the members of the community to express their opinion as well. Space permitting, all letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit or omit any portion of any letter because the staff accepts the responsibility for the contents of the paper. All letters must be signed, but the name will be withheld upon request.
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Ohio becomes the sixth state to pass the “Heartbeat” bill Ohio Senate Republic leadership discusses the topic of abortion with students BY ANNA WOLFINGER
INFO GRAPHICS BY ANNA WOLFINGER
Governor Mike DeWine, has just recently signed a bill that has raised much controversy across Ohio, and even the country. Ohio has now become the third state this year and the sixth state overall to pass the Human Rights Protection Act, also referred to as the “Heartbeat” bill. This was originally designed to challenge the Roe v. Wade case, which legalized abortion. DeWine pledged against former governor John Kasich’s veto of this bill in 2016, when Kasich pronounced it unconstitutional. This bill will be effective starting July 1 of this year. “The ‘Heartbeat’ bill is about life,” said Senator Kristina Roegner, the sponsor of the “Heartbeat” bill. “I think that high school students need to realize that this is in fact human life. I hope that students know that even before you vote, you have a voice and can advocate your opinions.” The “Heartbeat” bill prevents women from getting abortions when their unborn child is detected to have a heartbeat. Typically, this is around five to six weeks into the start of a pregnancy. Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that aims to aid in contraception, family planning and reproductive problems. “Our patients in Ohio and across the country deserve the right to control their own body, life and future, no matter where they live or how much money they make,” said Dr. Leana Wen, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, in a press release refuting the “Heartbeat” bill. They
did not get back to Bruin in time for publication. The Ohio Senate originally passed this bill in March, however, the House Health Committee made multiple changes before sending it to the House floor to be voted on. The committee’s version allowed for transvaginal ultrasounds, which are able to detect a fetus’ heartbeat even earlier than the five to six week period. Doctors are allowed to use this device, however it is not required. It was then passed by party-line vote, which means that those who are affiliated with the same political party voted similarly. The Ohio House passed the bill with all Republicans oting for, and all Democrats voting against, with the vote of 56-40. “Women don’t want to get abortions,” said pro-choice student Maddie Kritzell, 11. “Their goal obviously isn’t to murder their child. The seriousness is known and taught through social media especially, but also through later pregnancy complications because of these procedures such as infertility.” This “Heartbeat” bill does not have any exceptions for rape victims, which has raised many questions among pro-choice supporters. The only exception that this bill contains is in emergencies when the women’s doctor recommends an abortion in order to save the mother’s life, or a major bodily organ is at risk. “Rape and incest only make up 1% of all abortion cases, which is a very small but high profile discussion topic,” said Roegner. “From the Viability bill to the Incapable bill, to my recollection, had no rape or incest exceptions.” There were around 135, 755 reported cases of rape in the U.S. in 2017, and around 5% of them were impregnated. Among those victims, 50% of them underwent an abortion, and 5.9% put the infant up for
1 in 4 women will get an abortion in their lifetime
adoption after birth. “My heart goes out to all rape victims,” said pro-life student Jack Grice, 11. “However, I do not believe that justifies killing an unborn child. In those circumstances, there are better options such as adoption.” Many pro-choice supporters argue that adoption is not an option for everyone. However, many pro-life supporters say that adoption is one of the best options for the mother. “Foster homes are filling up,” said pro-life student Taylor Nagy, 12. “However, thousands of families wait everyday to get a foster child because they can’t get pregnant, they are homosexual or other reasons.” There are many other ways that the Senate Republicans say that they try in order to decrease the amount of abortions. Some of those ways are through clinics, health care, social services and education spending. “Addressing Ohio’s rampant infant and maternal mortality rates and creating equitable access to health care is what they should be focusing on,” said Iris Harvey, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood. But Obhof and the Senate Republicans say they are attacking these issues. “We reprioritized funding to direct more funding to pregnancy centers that offer free care to people who need it,” said Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof. “There are hundreds across the state where women can seek care and the mother and the baby can both receive medical care. We focus on trying to lower the infant mortality rate over the last five or six years. We recognize that being pro-life is about more than just decreasing abortion, but it’s also making sure that the services necessary at other stages of life as well.” Another way the Senate Republicans says that they try to minimize the number of abortions is simply through educating the public. “Information is so important,” said Roegner. “Some women
INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE CDC
135, 755 cases of
rape reported in 2017 Six states have passed a six week bill
think that it’s just fetal tissue, but if they are informed, the doctor is required to listen to the heartbeat even before this bill was passed. We also promote both adoption and foster care as well as other things. Many women think that they have no choices and that abortion is their only option.” Women who violate this new abortion law will have committed a fifth-degree felony. This can be up to a $2,500 fine in the state of Ohio along with one year in prison. This money will then go to the support in adoption and foster care services. Another topic of discussion that the “Heartbeat” bill has brought to the surface is the Roe v. Wade case and its relevance today. The Roe v. Wade case legalized
5% became
impregnated abortion in America, and this bill, if accepted nationally, could overturn that law. “I feel like the Roe v. Wade case should be overturned and hopefully this bill in Ohio will serve as an example for the federal government to follow suit,” said Grice. Pro-life and pro-choice supporters alike are both wondering what the future looks like for the rights of mothers and children. “The Supreme Court is the most conservative it has been in the past 70 years,” said Obhof. There are many other states that are currently on the topic of abortion at the state level and many are wondering if it will be taken into account at a national level.
Do you agree or disagree with the “Heartbeat” bill? Agree
“I agree, however it’s situational especially for rape victims.”
-Eliana Wertz, 11
“I agree because it saves the lives of innocent children.”
-Sam Hanna, 12
Disagree
“I disagree because some women don’t know they’re pregnant at six weeks.”
-David Green, 9
“No it’s not fair to the rights of women.”
-Lily Cingle, 10
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M ay 2019 N ews THE BRUIN Wadsworth goes undefeated and finds much The Bruin continues success at the robotics competition BY LAUREN SATINK
Ready, set, fight! It was the battle of the robots in Marion, Ohio. The engineering students at Wadsworth High School designed and built their own robots to compete in the National Robotics Competition. Over this past year, the students were planning and researching what they wanted to build for the competition and what category it would compete in. The students could compete in combat, rescue, autonomous sumo, micro-mouse maze or a hockey robot. They then worked on sketching out their ideas and finally began building their robots. One team called themselves “Rico” after Ricola and they built a rescue robot. Another team built a combat robot, which they named H5N1. “Since we had decided on the name Team Plague for our group, we wanted to continue that trend into the name for the robot,” said Kyle Townsend.
“We settled on H5N1 for the name of our robot, which is the abbreviated name for the bird flu.” In total, about fourteen teams from Wadsworth competed with each group ranging from two to five members. Each day they would arrive at the arena around eight. There were various events scheduled throughout the day along with technology departments set up from colleges. They spent a lot of time fixing
PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT FLAKER
Robot H5N1 went undefeated in the combat competition by flipping over its opponents.
History goes upNotreinDame flames was an upcoming BY BRIAN COOTE
Notre Dame Cathedral was set ablaze late in the evening of April 16th. The 850 year old church, located in Paris, France, had a fire alarm ring shortly after 6 pm. The fire soon made its way throughout the building and eventually went up the iconic spire and other parts of the cathedral. “Questions came rushing through my mind such as if it was the result of a terrorist attack,” said Mrs. May, French teacher at WHS, when she found out about the cathedral. “Fear set in as I watched the flames, wondering if it was going to burn down to the ground. It was very emotional for me and I had a hard time concentrating.” The cathedral was completed over the course of 200 years. The construction started in 1163, during the reign of King Louis VII, and was completed in 1345. The historic building contained collections of art and religious artifacts which came under threat beneath the fire. The fire continued for over twelve hours before it was completely extinguished. The origin of the blaze is yet unknown, but it is believed it was an accident. This accident will cost millions of dollars in renovations. The destruction has even impacted Wadsworth.
attraction for a travel group from Wadsworth. “I don’t imagine we will be able to go inside the cathedral, but we will be able to see it from the outside and I will put a request to the tour director that we go inside l’opera grainer instead and la sainte chapelle,” said group leader Mrs. May. In a brief, prime time, televised address on the destruction, the French President said that France will rebuild Notre Dame even more beautifully in the next five years. The President’s plan has been called optimistic at best and the government has stated that they are striving to meet a deadline for the reconstruction. The future is unknown for Notre Dame, as debate for how it should be reconstructed, either as a copy of the original or a new design, continues. The primary agenda for France is to unite and grow from the destruction to bring back the beauty of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TIME MAGAZINE
Notre Dame fire spread while firefighters work to extinguish it.
up their robots, watching teams compete, and talking to other students. There were a variety of schools at the competition and a variety of students from elementary to college. Wadsworth had four teams make it to the top eight of their competition. Kyle Townsend, Matt Flaker, Devon Heppert and Cameron Perry built the H5N1 combat robot which took first place and went undefeated in the competition. Logan Lucas, Matt Leemaster and Tyler Anderson built a combat robot as well and their robot took second place. “The most rewarding part of the competition for us was working on the robot for seven months and being able to engineer something that ultimately came out on top,” said Matt Flaker, 11. “The project took a lot of time, money and effort, so it was amazing to see it have so much success.” The students had a wonderful experience at the competition and are all very proud of their accomplishments this year.
its OSMA legacy BY ANNA WOLFINGER
Out of 300 schools, Wadsworth High School’s The Bruin has been awarded second place for overall newspaper, and first place in the state for Online, website and social media. “We really tried to keep the website and social media up to date,” said Online editor Kylee Baranek. “Our goal since the beginning of the year was to make the website just as important as the paper and I think we achieved that.” The online website, in years past, has won Honorable Mention, third place. For the school paper, the past two years it has won itself
two first place titles along with this year’s second place. “We started off the paper this year with a whole new outlook,” said editor-in-chief Marraya Youngblood. “We started with a ton of pages and learned from our mistakes that less is more.” The new Bruin staff has already started to take the constructive criticism from OSMA editors into account when looking into the Bruin’s future. “All the seniors are hoping that this new staff will continue the Bruin’s legacy for the students once we have left,” said Youngblood. By teaching each other year after year, the Bruin is sure to continue to provide Wadsworth High School with the most recent and informative stories available for students.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ERIC HEFFINGER
Bruin staff celebrated their victory after their dinner.
50 Parents charged with fraud in college admissions scandal BY EMILY BRANDYBERRY
50 parents and several universities are under fire after a scandal came out involving college admissions in early March. These parents have been accused of paying college officials and coaches to get their children accepted into various colleges. However, the parents are not the only ones facing federal charges. Two test administrators, nine coaches, and a college administrator are also being charged. The several dozen parents involved, as well as the college officials, could face up to twenty years in prison. “The parents involved, depending on how serious their actions were, should face jail time and/or serious fines,” said Jessica Reber, 10. “They played the system and deserve to be punished for doing so.” The whole scandal began when CEO, William Singer, of a college admissions company called The Key, began “selling” fraud to wealthy families. They could choose between cheating on the ACT or SAT, or they could get students in as athletes in sports they had never played before. According to CNN, Singer made
it seem like the money was being donated to The Key Worldwide Foundation. At the front of the investigation is Lori Loughlin, who played Aunt Becky in the ABC hit show “Full House.” Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, were accused of paying Singer $500,000 to earn their two daughters spots at the University of Southern California. They were admitted as rowers even though they had never participated in the sport. Scandals like this may not make things more difficult for guidance counselors, but they could make it harder for students trying to get into college. It causes colleges to overlook the poorer students because wealthy families are buying their kids way in. “I don’t know that it will make my job any “harder” as far as the college application process goes,” said guidance counselor Jodie Mcinnes. “It will most likely affect students and probably make the whole process more difficult.” Authorities are not sure if all the kids knew what their parents were doing, but at least one of them is under investigation. These kids will most likely be kicked out of the
college they are attending, and their degrees could be stripped away if they have already graduated. “The kids should be punished if they knew what the parents were doing,” said Reber. “They should receive less punishment than the parents, but definitely shouldn’t get out of this with nothing.” As of now the only school that has dismissed a student is Stanford University in California, but many of the other universities involved are expected to do the same. The whole scandal is still under investigation, however it is not looking good for the families involved.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CNN
Lori Laughlin walked with her lawyers to court. She spent half a million dollars to get her daughter into USC.
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Open Campus will benefit students
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A Wadsworth High School senior has the ability to leave campus during their non-class hours and come back as needed. If said senior takes an AP or CCP class they are only required to take five courses if they are in good standing. With this said, if these rules apply to a senior in good standing, then a junior or even a sophomore that meet these requirements should be able to come and go as well. “As a sophomore, I had a first period CCP class,” said Brendan Gordon, 11. “It would have helped
handle the responsibility. “Let’s say there are 100 students that can’t handle it,” said Moore. ”What would we do with them? We put them back in the study hall. Basically, we would tackle it on an individual basis.” Others are worried that because students will have the opportunity to leave school those students will be less likely to take extra classes such as Woodshop, Newspaper Yearbook and more. “That’s a bit of a battle and a concern that we are going to have to find a way to balance,” said Moore. Those interested in this policy may be wondering when this will be put in place. “In order for this to happen, I have to initiate the dialog with the superintendent, and ultimately the board of education. Next year there will be no change. The year after that is when we are going to be able to see those changes”
to leave a little early especially because of football practice.” High schoolers that have extracurriculars and take AP and CCP classes are more into the idea of having an open campus policy as it could help them with being able to do those extra activities. “My parents would have supported it,” said Gordon. “I come home every Tuesday and Thursday after class and I’m able to sit and eat lunch with them which is nice.” A big issue with the new policy is that parents might be worried about their kids keeping up with their grades. “I think parents of juniors would like it,” said Mr. Moore. ”Sophomore parents would be more hesitant. Even I am a little hesitant to open the campus up to them. Sophomore year is one of the hardest years academically.” Some even wonder what would happen if some students could not
Summer homework keeps brains sharp BY EMILY THOMPSON
Many students argue that they do not learn anything from summer assignments however, many of them may not realize that in most cases the assignments are not meant to teach them new information, but simply keep their brains active. Many students, parents, and teachers have recently been questioning whether or not summer assignments are necessary and beneficial for students. However,
when it is time for the school year to begin, this extra work has clearly made a difference. Without these assignments most students would go weeks without pulling out a book or solving a math problem, which means summer work keeps their brains active during their break. “[Summer work] helps students get a feel for the course they’re getting into,” said Sarah Owens,10. “It can be a way for them to learn on their own.” Some of these students may argue that summer work takes up a lot of their time and can leave them stressed, but that is
dependent on how that student handles it. Honors and AP students may have many different classes they are required to complete assignments for. This includes AP Biology, which is an extremely rigorous class that carries over into summer. Many students leave this work for the last week of vacation, which is never a responsible choice. However, they have two-and-a-half months to get all of their work done, so they should not be stressing. “It was quite long and a bit difficult, but it wasn’t terrible,” said Jessica Reber, 10. “We had several months to complete it.” Summer work is especially important in AP
classes that have a lot more content to cover in a shorter amount of time. In classes such as AP United States History, students are required to read five of the 42 chapters over the summer. If they did not do this, they would not have the time during the year. Students finish chapter 42 days before the AP exam in May, leaving only a couple of days to review. Without summer work, this would be almost impossible and require teachers to assign much more homework during the school year.
All “A” students should be exempt from finals BY EMILY BRANDYBERRY
The end of the school year should be a joyful time for all students. Many students begin to zone out, but they are forgetting the one thing they have been preparing for all year, finals. Some students go the extra mile by taking honors, or AP classes which can leave them more stressed out compared to other students when finals season rolls around. However, the seniors at Wadsworth High School who have A’s at the end of the year are not required to take finals even if their classes are academic. This may seem unfair to all the juniors, sophomores, and freshman who are taking honors classes, which is why any student with an A in an AP or honors class should not
be required to take a final. “As long as students have an A in their AP or honors class, they should not have to take a final,” said Haleigh Saylor, 11. “They have obviously put in their effort and should be able to relax during the last few weeks of school.” Not only do students in AP classes have to study for finals, but they also have to study for the AP exam. This exam is roughly two weeks before finals, and many students just want to be done when it is over. They have been preparing for the exam all year and they deserve to be able to relax after it is over. AP students should not have to then stress out over finals too. Having to study for both makes the end of the school year very difficult and stressful.
“Sometimes it is studying the same material, but for AP I’m trying to learn the new things we haven’t been able to get through,” said Fisher. “I don’t have much time and effort left to put towards things I have previously learned.” Throughout the course of the year these students have put in more effort than most students to get A’s. On top of that, the school year starts as soon as the last one ends due to the summer work required for those classes. It is not right that these students who have worked so hard all year then have to take finals to determine their final grade just like everyone else. By putting in the work they have over the year, they have proven that they deserve the A that could be jeopardized by taking a final. “The students who are clearly
working hard all year long to receive those grades should be able to catch a break,” said Fisher. “Especially since their grade is proving their knowledge of the subject.” It is understandable that teachers would still want
students to take finals to really see what they have learned. Finals can serve as a way to see how well the teachers are doing their job. Currently, senior studnts are the only people who are except from finals if they have an A year-to-date. Other students in senior level course should be able to become apart of this policy. T h e s e students have worked hard enough getting into higher level classes and PHOTO BY EMILY BRANDYBERRY be Students in AP classes have to go the extra mile at the end of the should year when they have to study for the AP exams and finals. included.
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if students are not required to be in study hall. It would be more convenient for students to sit in study hall for one period and work on something rather than making the attendance a free for all everyday. Study halls have a lot more students in them than a regular class. It would make it harder for the study hall monitors to remember who comes to study hall on what days. A study hall is only about 45 minutes which is not that long. Students can probably think of other things to work on and if they cannot think of anything, the study hall monitors allow you to take a nap or use your phone. Overall, students can think of something to do
Homework takes over BY NATALIE MAHER
Most students in honors and AP classes work hard all year to get and keep up a good grade. So why are these the only students who never have a full break from school? Homework is usually assigned over breaks, weekends and worst of all summer vacation. There are 120 hours in one school week. At Wadsworth High School, a student, on average, spends about seven hours per day in school. This is thirty- five hours a week in a classroom alone. AP and honors students are expected to handle this and more throughout the school year. They deserve a break considering they rarely get one during the school year. Many of these students are also involved in after-school activities that range from a sport
to the current musical or play. These commitments, on top of school work, take up a lot of time and energy. Students do not get a break from school during vacations since homework is still assigned and, those involved in after-school activities, still have to come in for practices. “Many teachers say that there is not enough time to cover all the material, and that may be true, but what they don’t realize is that very few students retain the information that is assigned during the summer for them to learn individually,” said Bethany Baker, 11. With all this information and stress swirling around a student’s head, it is not possible to fully relax and debrief from school which is needed to be a more productive student. Summer is a time where some people go on vacation with friends and family. This could mean cramming all your homework in a few days in hopes of leaving it at home and fully enjoying one’s time with
in a 45 minute study hall and it would be easiest for everyone if they just came to class like they are scheduled to.
st
Every school sets different boundaries for the students regarding rules that they think will impact them the most. A new idea that has been brought up is allowing open campus for not just juniors and seniors but freshmen and sophomores as well. Currently, if students are a junior or senior that takes a CCP class, they are eligible to leave on the days that they do not have class. Not only are they able to leave if they do not have their CCP class but there is a possibility they could have late arrival or early release if they have study hall first or eighth period. The discussion among the staff is whether or not freshmen and sophomores should be able to do the same. “I feel that freshmen and
sophomores should not be allowed to leave because as an underclassmen, it’s not like they already have all of their credits they need to graduate,” said Grace Back, 12. A lot of underclassmen do not have their drivers license and most students have parents who have full time jobs. Staying at school all day may be an only option for a handful of students. “My parents wouldn’t be able to take me late or pick up early because they are both working and I personally think you can get a lot done in study hall and they are useful,” said Rachel Mauder, 9. On some days, maybe their parents are able to pick them up or drop them off and on other days they cannot. This would be hard for the staff to keep track of everyone’s schedules and to take attendance
in ga
BY KYIA FRANK
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WHS Open Campus policy hinders students
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summer break
family. If it is not finished, a time that since they cover the same content. AP and honors students have to is supposed to be spent care free with loved ones, can lead to a stressful go the extra mile every day during time only thinking about what one the school year to keep up good grades. To make them carry it still has to get done. “I do have stuff going on so it just over into a supposed time of break has little to adds to the stress in the time no benefits of the year I’m supposed to be and has the relaxing,” said Nick Hauenstein, possibility of 10. A way to make hurting the summer work more student more attainable is to lower the than help amount. AP US History them. has numerous options of great documentaries that give only the facts. For English, take away one or two of the books. AP Biology could be Emily fixed by only giving Brandyberry, 10, jumps for joy either the guided because she loves reading or Google Sadly, Emily Brandyberry, 10, gets slammed with the idea of not summer work that will consume what was supposed to Slides presentation having summer work.
be her summer break.
Senior privilege to be exempt from finals with an A grade BY LAUREN CONLEY
Senior year comes with certain privileges that only apply to the senior class. One of those privileges is at the end of the year; Seniors who have an A grade in a class do not have to take a final. Juniors that also take those classes think that this is unfair and should apply to them too. “I feel like it gives you something to look forward to,” said senior Alexis Wyatt. “Seniors work hard to keep their grades up to maintain the
A year-to-date grade as do a lot of people in various grades, but it’s just something for the grades below to look forward to.” Making this available to juniors will take the novelty away from the seniors. Although it would make the younger grades work harder to get better grades, it should continue to be a senior privilege. “It’s kind of like a senior perk,” said senior Carter Fraser. “You struggle your way until senior year and then you
get rewarded.” Every senior has earned this by going through all four years of high school and working hard so they do not have to take their finals and can also get out of school a couple weeks earlier than everyone else. “I agree because once seniors get accepted into the college of their choice then there’s really no point in going to school or doing any assignments,” said senior Joey Ekers. “Getting exempt from finals becomes motivation to not do anything at all. Other grades don’t
necessarily need that like seniors do.” Not all seniors agree that they should be the only ones to receive this privilege. Some think that all students who work for their grades should be able to have the same reward. “I think if you put in the hard work all year long and do really good you shouldn’t have to take a final,” said senior Kira Tavanella. “People should be rewarded for that.” The seniors have worked hard for four continuous years and being exempt from finals
is one more success. Even if it is only a little thing it means that the hard work is over that all the hard work is being acknowledged and being rewarded.
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STUDENT MISSIONARIES AID IMMIGRANTS IN MEXICO BY ABBY WICHTERMAN & SARAH SCOBEE
Piled into a hot van, stuffed with boxes of food and toys, the volunteers of Crossroads Missions head south from San Antonio to the Mexican border. As tensions on the border rise, border towns in Mexico struggle to provide refuge for thousands of immigrants seeking political asylum in the United States. One border city, Piedras Negras, Mexico, is struggling to house the immigrants that keep pouring into their city. Piedras Negras sits across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass, Texas. Eagle Pass is about 150 miles from San Antonio, Texas. Due to Piedras Negras being directly on the border, many immigrants come into the city while they wait for political asylum. The van jostled as they drove into the streets of Piedras Negras. As they rounded the final corner, the driver announced that they have arrived at the Torre De Refugio (Tower of Refuge). The group unloaded and crossed into a small courtyard. Above their heads were lines with clothes hanging on them and scattered on the dirty cement ground were toys, socks, and even one lone shoe that sat by a bench. To the right there were tables set up so the refugees had places to sit and hang out. The courtyard as a whole was smaller than the average high school classroom, which made the area feel cramped. Before the Crossroad missionaries could take in their full surroundings, children were running towards them with arms open wide. Most of them were wearing shoes that were the wrong size or no shoes at all. The girls had their hair up in little braids. As they gave hugs, the children reached for the boxes in the missionaries’ hands and tried to pull out the toys that were brought for them: bubbles, chalk, and jump ropes. Pretty soon it was difficult to move as the small courtyard was full of kids yelling in scattered languages and running around in chaos. Amanda Rodriguez, an employee from Crossroads missions, worked with us while we were in Mexico. Amanda helped us work at the Tower of Refuge and serve the people ALL PHOTO COURTESY OF JASMINE BOYER
staying there. “The needs are very basic right now, food, clothing, etc.,” Rodriguez explained. “We are praying and planning through how we can have an even bigger impact and do a better job of helping more immigrants who have no place to stay in our city.” Many of the immigrants in Piedras Negras are from The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Honduras, Cuba, and Venezuela. These countries, and ones similar, are facing high rates of violence, political corruption, lack of human rights, and other instances of political unrest. They are fleeing genocide and wars that are making their home countries extremely unsafe to live in. “All of their stories are heartbreaking, tragic, and unique,” said Judy Lopez, one of the missionaries who lived and worked in Piedras Negras. “What they go through is a phenomenon we do not understand. We started seeing immigrants in our city from all over the world in June of 2018 and they’ve been arriving every day since.” Piedras Negras alone has received around 8,000 immigrants since January. The city is working to handle the small groups, but when immigrants come in caravans, they find it difficult to handle the large amounts of people. A large caravan of thousands of immigrants heading to Tijuana has gotten a lot of attention by the American media recently, but much smaller groups of immigrants flood into similar border towns constantly. The local governments are struggling to figure out how to help all these people while they wait for the process to begin. Once someone is allowed to cross the border, the process of checking if their story is valid begins. Immigrants usually rely on family in the states and connections in Mexico to validate themselves and hope for a court date. “Most people pass and get a visa for one year or until a court date is available,” Lopez stated. “They are then supposed to show up to court and the judge will decide if they are granted asylum. Only 20 percent get it so many don’t ever show up for their court date and become
DATA PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM
Volunteers played with the refugee children. They would play jump rope with them, blow bubbles, sing songs, and simply laugh with them. These little things made a big impact in the immigrants lives.
illegal immigrants.” The lengthy process and uncertainty about the outcome of their situation discourages many immigrants but the possibility of a better future in the United States outweighs the negatives.
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Put walls and borders aside, show your love to immigrants
OPINION BY ABBY WICHTERMAN
The week before spring break I had the opportunity to serve in Piedras Negras, Mexico and work with immigrants who were waiting to enter America. While I was there I experienced the conditions they live in in order to gain a better life. Many immigrants seek life in America due to constant violence in their home countries. The conditions of the refuge houses they stay in seem poor, but in reality they are safer than the lives they left. “My first thought was how terrible of a living condition it was for these people,” said Brad Starn, a Youth Pastor at Northside Christian Church in Wadsworth, Ohio, who also went on the trip. “Immediately I smelled smells that are not pleasant. I then realized that it was more than likely better than anything that they have ever had, especially recently in their lives.” We were able to talk to and serve the immigrants who were waiting on the Mexican border. Some of the stories that the immigrants told us opened our eyes to the reality of the immigration controversy. Many of the stories that we heard from the immigrants did not correlate to the stories that we were seeing in the news. The President is portraying
the situation in Mexico as dangerous and full of criminals. This is causing people to have skewed opinions of the immigrant’s motives. Before making assumptions about the border crisis, it is vital to consider both sides. A lot of these people are simply just seeking a better life from what they had. The circumstances that many immigrants left is unimaginable to Americans. These countries are filled with gang violence, cartels, war, and threats of dictatorships. This makes the dangerous journey to America seem worthwhile. Like any parent, immigrants parents want a better life for their children. America offers better education systems, better job opportunities, and a safer living environment. These opportunities are why so many people want to come into America. It is not necessary to travel all the way to Mexico in order to aid Immigrants. We need to take advantage of the ability we have to help these people. Many of the immigrants on the border would greatly benefit from the resources that we were given at birth. This means that Americans should step out and help people who need it. “I feel as though many of us travel through life and never realize how good we have it,” Starn mentioned.
The sign on the outside wall of the refuge shelter in Piedras Negras, Mexico.
The luxury of living in the United States comes with the responsibility of keeping this the land of opportunities. A way to keep this tradition alive is by staying educated about the nation’s current issues, one such as the border crisis. On top of remaining educated, there is more that can be done in order to make an impact. In order for these refuge houses to help immigrants on their journey to the United States, they need basic resources. Resources such as underwear, socks, shoes, and hygiene products are needed for these people who have nothing. Mission organizations are constantly accepting monetary
Immigrants would play Bingo in order to win prizes such as underwear, socks, and shoes.
donations or the physical resources that the immigrants are lacking. These donations will aid in making the immigrant’s difficult journey to the U.S. a little bit easier. They are uncertain that their journey will end in a life in America and having people care for them can give them hope. “Even though these people have close to nothing,” Anika Conley, a former Wadsworth student, who served in Piedras Negras exclaimed. “From what I saw they were so happy for what they did have and grateful for us to be there just to hang out with them.” If someone has the ability
of making a better life for someone else, they should do their best to make it happen. It is our purpose as humans to help and love on others. “I think people in the U.S. need to start simply treating immigrants like humans,” said Jasmine Boyer, another volunteer. “You often hear them referred to as “aliens”, but the reality is they want and need the basic things we do, and acknowledging that is the first step to helping them.” In a world that is fueled on selfish ambition, it is time to shift focus to other people. Put walls and borders aside and think of the impact that could be made on a person’s life.
DATA PROVIDED BY NEW YORK TIMES ALL GRAPHICS BY ALEX MILLER
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Girls’ track fights for league title BY ANDREW CLARK
This year, for the first time since 2014, the girls’ track team has the chance to win the league title. Currently the girls team is (6-1) and the league meet will be held on May 7 and 9. Wadsworth’s track program
PHOTO COURTESY OF AXEL MUELLER
Kendall Kraft, 12, jumps in the air for Wadsworth pole vault.
has had success, and this year has been no exception. The girls have beat some of the top teams in the league that they were not able to beat in years past, such as Nordonia and Hudson. Since the competition is so tough, the girls are being forced to step up which is leading to faster times. Due to this, the team has had a strong start to the season. “I think that everyone has been working really hard and the talent on the team is deep,” said Mina Leopold, 10, a runner for the girls track team. “Coach Burton and Coach Zach are great and are a big part of the team’s success overall.” This team does not have just a few talented runners filling their roster; giving them a few good seasons in the process. It is filled with talented and hardworking individuals willing to work together towards a common goal, and this season is proof that what they are doing works. “Hard work over the years has lead to success,” said Colleen
Fry, 12, a leader and runner on the team.“I believe that we have some incredible talent on the team, individually and all together and the relays have been the same for the past two years and that has made them even stronger.” It is not just upperclassmen holding their ground this season. Underclassmen like Clare Nicholas, 9, are exceeding expectations in their events, and setting not just personal records but meet records as well. At the Glenoak Eagle Elite Invitational Nicholas set a new meet record of 5:09.28 for the girls mile. Breaking records as a freshman is impressive by any standard, and there are still meets left for her to break records in. On top of all the runners do for the team, they are backed by a coaching staff that not only pushes them get better as individuals, but also pushes them to work better as a team. Megan Callahan, 11, a thrower on the team, had this to say about the team this year.
“Coach Burton spoke to us at the beginning of the season about team unity, and I can definitely tell the girls are better at cheering for each other and making everyone feel included,” said Callahan. The team dynamic is important to the coaches, and more importantly the runners, who PHOTO COURTESY OF AXEL MUELLER Zoe Farson, 10, about to vault in the meet against have implemented Twinsburg. it into their team creating a great environment for me feel like I could do even the their teammates. things that seemed impossible Callahan went on to to me at the time.” compliment the coaches, and The group came to work for their effect on the team. the coaches, themselves, and “The team has been more the team, making for a great committed to achieving their track season. Every member self-made goals,” said Callahan. of the team hopes to win the “I feel there is more of an league meet, and the team has urgency to get better. My coach, all been working towards the Coach Dean, has always made same goal since March.
which allows him to relate to his players. “I am excited for the upcoming season. We have seven seniors on our varsity team that have all been playing at this level for 3 years,” said Mr. Hanna. “We are in a good spot to do really well.” The boys practice every day after school in order to refine their skills. They are pushing to prepare for difficult matches with rivaling teams in the weeks to come. This team has big plans to be a vicious competitor this season.
Though the team has had a pretty good start so far, they have faced a few challenges that have stalled their progress. The difficulty of the weather has caused matches to be canceled and rescheduled. The unpredictable Ohio weather has become the tennis team’s biggest foe. “We started our season when there was still snow on the ground,” says Mr. Hanna. “Between the snow and the rain, our schedule becomes very hectic with make-up matches that were canceled from inclement weather.” The boys utilize their grit and dedication as they continue to practice in unfavorable conditions. Though it has been a significant setback, the team still continues to push forward toward their goals. Not only the Varsity team is feeling success; the JV team is having a favorable season as well. Cooper Greenlees, 10, who has been playing tennis for eight years, has high expectations for the JV team. “The JV team has been making really good strides and everyone is improving
very fast,” Greenlees said. “We recently competed in a doubles tournament and won first overall out of about seven teams. This year is going to be full of many accomplishments.” Though Greenlees may have felt the sting of disappointment because he did not make Varsity, he continues to have a positive attitude and gives his all for the JV team. He is currently alternating between 1st and 2nd singles, which is a respectable position on the team. Greenlees aspires to improve his skills so he may advance his tennis career. He hopes to make Varsity by his senior year and play 1st singles. He also dreams of a future playing his favorite sport. “When I leave high school, I think it would be cool to take tennis a little more serious and perhaps join a league or club,” said Greenlees. The tennis teams are not only all about competing. They are also a place for solid relationships to be built. Zeke Callaghan, 11, who has only been playing tennis for a little over a year, says that the team has made him feel welcome.
Boys tennis serves up a fierce season BY BRIANNA BECERRA
The Varsity Boys Tennis team caused a racket after they brought home the Suburban League Title. Their current record as of April 26 is (11-4) overall, meaning they are still in the running for sectionals and possibly states. Many successful teams are led by driven coaches, and that is the case here. Mr. Austin Hanna, assistant coach and math teacher at WHS, has high hopes for this season. He played for the team while he was in high school,
PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN HANNA
The Boys Varsity Tennis team celebrated being #1 after they took home the Suburban League Title at LaTuchie Tennis Center on April 26.
“I think we have a very positive program,” Callaghan said. “Everyone seems very happy to be there and are always encouraging each other as much as they can.” The team has become a comfortable and supportive place where the athletes are able to sharpen their skills and build friendships as well. They share the same positive attitude about working diligently to bring home victory and represent Wadsworth to the best of their abilities. According to the players, they have made a good amount of progress since the beginning of the season. The hours they have put in at practice has helped them to be prepared for their matches. “So far it’s been a great season,” says Callaghan. “I feel we all have improved very much since the first day of tryouts.” On April 26, the Varsity team took home the Suburban League Title. After countless practices, the boys were finally able to reach their goal. They will continue their season as they push toward sectionals and possibly even states.
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Mrs. North retires with Teacher of the Year BY EMILY KURTZ
After teaching for 34 and a half years, Leslie North has decided it is the right time for her to retire from her career at Wadsworth High School and begin branching into a new chapter of her life. Right from her childhood, North knew that she was born to teach. She knew that she wanted to jump into education before many other kids even had a clue to what a career was. “In kindergarten I got a
PHOTO PROVIDED BY WHS 1986 YEARBOOK
Mrs. North started teaching at Wadsworth during the 1985-1986 school year.
chalkboard and red pens for Christmas,” North said. “So I know I’ve never really veered from that.” North’s plans were originally to become an elementary school teacher. Those changed as she entered high school when she realized the love she had for the different types of math that are taught at that specific age level. North has had the opportunity to teach both a semester at Portage Lakes Joint Vocational School (now Portage Lakes Career Center) and at Wadsworth High School within her entire 34 and a half years of teaching. Now at Wadsworth, she teaches three upper level math classes a day. Throughout her years of teaching, North has realized that the job is something that comes with ups and downs, just like many other things in every day life. North still finds a way to love teaching even on the bad days by discovering ways to push through the tough times with positive thinking. “You know that like today
didn’t go well and I didn’t get done what I wanted to do, but I got tomorrow, we can fix it tomorrow,” said North. “At some point you have to become human.” The most gratifying part of teaching for her has been to watch some of her students discover the love for math that she once found for herself. She feels proud when kids reciprocate her interest and excitement in the new topics that they learn, or even when she gets emails from former students saying that they have decided to major in math and use the subject in their careers. After she retires, North wants to travel, volunteer, and spend more time with her growing family. “My mom is getting a little older, and I just want to be able to do some things with her,” North said. “I have two boys and one’s getting married soon so I’m going to have a daughter-inlaw.” Mrs. North has had an impact on many students’ lives
PHOTO BY MICAH BECK
Mrs. North celebrating with her family and friends after being named the 20182019 Wadsworth High School Teacher of the Year at the Fine Arts Assembly.
throughout her entire career, which may be part of the reason she has been chosen as Teacher of the Year. “It’s so humbling, and it makes it harder knowing it’s the last year,” North said. “I feel really blessed.” North is also very happy to have been able to share the moment with her family. “It’s special to share a moment like that with the people that are the most important people in
your life,” North said. Mrs. North is proud of her time spent at Wadsworth High School and thinks winning Teacher of the Year was the perfect thing to wrap up her teaching career. She will miss all of her students when she leaves but hopes they know how much she has appreciated them. North will also miss many of the irreplaceable relationships she has had the privilege of creating.
Mr. Ranallo Heads to Chippewa Madame says au revoir to Ohio BY BRIAN COOTE
Nicholas Ranallo has been a history teacher at Wadsworth High School for five years. Next year, Ranallo will be leaving Wadsworth to become an athletic director at Chippewa High School. “I earned a Master’s Degree in Administration three years ago and have been looking for a position such as this,” Ranallo said. “I have been in the classroom for ten years now, and it seems to be a great fit for me.” The history teacher decided to make the switch to Chippewa in his fifth year at Wadsworth. Ranallo has shown a passion for his teaching throughout his time. During his time at Wadsworth, he has been focused on sharing the history of the world, as well as in-depth looks throughout American history. His transition
from history to sports has come as no surprise. “Mr. Ranallo is a really good teacher,” said Robby Kellner, 10. “He is really passionate about what he teaches and always puts energy into everything he does. I wish him the best.” The future of his career, pursuing administration, will be to oversee the entire athletic department of Chippewa High School. There, he will help shape the future of Chippewa sports and experiences for the students in athletics. “I have been involved in athletics my whole life and coaching has only given me a part of being an impact on only a certain portion of athletes,” Ranallo said. “Being the head of the athletics department will allow me to help all athletes and students.” Ranallo is finishing his last season of his Wadsworth career trying to deliver the best
experience to his students. He hopes to bring the same enthusiasm and excellent quality of teaching to his new career at Chippewa. “I will miss the people I see everyday in the building and community,” Ranallo said. “This is a special place to be a part of and not seeing my students, colleagues, and athletes everyday will be something I miss the most.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY WHS 2018 YEARBOOK
Mr. Ranallo is a history teacher who is transitioning to the athletic director position at Chippewa High School.
BY JILLIAN CORNACCHIONE
With the end of the school year quickly approaching, Madame Eaton prepares to move to Texas as she will not be returning to Wadsworth High School to teach in the fall. Eaton has taught French for a total of 18 years, 17 of which were spent at Wadsworth. The other year, she spent teaching in France. This school year will be her last at the high school. Due to her husband’s job, she will be relocating to Houston, Texas. “It was a great opportunity that we just couldn’t pass up,” said Eaton. Her husband has already moved to the new area, but she stayed in Ohio for a couple more months so that she and her children could finish out the school year. She will be traveling with her kids to meet him in early June.
Eaton is looking forward to living somewhere new. She is especially excited to experience nice weather year round and relieved that she will no longer have to deal with the long and cold winter. In addition, Eaton looks forward to life with a big city atmosphere. “I grew up in Alliance, which is small,” explained Eaton. “Wadsworth is also not that big. Houston is the fourth largest city in the country. It’s going to be more diverse, and I’m looking forward to this new environment.” Although Eaton is extremely ecstatic to start the next chapter of her life, she also knows she will have a difficult time saying goodbye to the many relationships that she has built over the years. “I have so many friends on the staff and great students. I’m going to miss the people most of all,” said Eaton.
The students and staff at the high school are going to miss Eaton just as much as she will miss them. “She made me enjoy learning another language with the passion for it that she put into every class,” said Maddie Kritzell, 11. Eaton has influenced the lives of many during her time at the high school. Her friendly, caring attitude and the enthusiasm she brings with her to her job pair well for a teacher that will have a lasting impact on WHS.
PHOTO BY JILLIAN CORNACCHIONE
Madame Eaton is a French teacher who is wrapping up her 17th and final year at WHS.
F eatures13 THE BRUIN Mr. Goddard turns in teaching for golfing
M ay 2019
BY CHRIS STEELE
After many years of teaching, it is time for Mr. Goddard to step down from his teaching position at Wadsworth High School. Goddard, who has taught science at Wadsworth
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHS 1985 YEARBOOK
Goddard began teaching at WHS in 1984.
for 34 years, will be retiring at the end of the 2019 school year. Goddard was eligible to retire eight years ago, but instead he decided to wait until now when he felt the timing was right. “My wife and I are trying to retire close together,” Goddard said. “She is almost finished at Smucker’s, so it’s working out pretty well.” Goddard knew from a young age that he wanted to go into teaching as a career and follow in his family’s footsteps. “My father was a teacher for 42 years, and he loved his job,” Goddard said. “I knew I wasn’t going to get rich, but I knew that was the route I wanted to go after
my freshmen year of college.” Goddard knows to this day that he made the right decision when he chose to become an educator. “Going into it I knew the salary wasn’t great,” Goddard expressed. “The students are what make me want to come in everyday and continue to do this.” Another supreme highlight of his teaching career has been the experiences he has had being a coach. “I had the pleasure to coach the baseball team here for 17 years and it was an absolute privilege to spend my time coaching such great men.”
Following his wife’s retirement, the two of them would like to move down to Florida for January and February to spend time with their son. Although Goddard is retiring from teaching, he is not ready to ditch teaching overall. After this year, he plans to begin subbing for Cloverleaf, Highland, and Wadsworth. On top of the subbing job, he will also have a job at Pine Valley Golf Club in Wadsworth and will continue to coach baseball at Pinnacle Sports in Medina. Finishing near the top of seniority at Wadsworth high school, Goddard is proud of everything he has accomplished
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHS 2018 YEARBOOK
Mr. Goddard has worked at WHS as a teacher and coach for 34 years.
through his time here. Many students will miss Mr. Goddard when the year comes to an end, and will forever be impacted by his memorable teaching methods.
Mrs. Gunselman retires after a total of 35 years BY CHRIS STEELE
Mrs. Gunselman has worked as an intervention specialist for 30 years, and it is now coming to an end. “Many people say they knew when it was time to step down,” Gunselman said. “For me, I knew the timing was right.” Gunselman’s teaching career started 35 years ago and has taken her to many different school systems including a school in Kentucky, Norton, and Wadsworth. At Wadsworth, Gunselman was an intervention specialist and has helped teens prepare for the next step in their lives. An intervention specialist is someone who works with students that have a variety of different needs that need to be
addressed. She also brings in different guests to speak to the students about many different topics and things that will relate to the students when they step out into the real world. “I have many employability skills so I get to show the kids what life is truly like outside of high school and in the real
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHS 1993 YEARBOOK
Mrs. Gunselman has worked at WHS on and off since 1988.
world,” Gunselman said. The best part of the job for Gunselman has been the kids she has had the privilege to teach over the years, and they each have had their own unique impact on her. “The kids make each and every day worth it,” Gunselman said. “They will never know how great it has been to have them and how easy they have made this job for me.” Leading up to leaving the high school, Gunselman and fellow teacher Mrs. North have been giving each other inspirational quotes using marbles. “Mrs. North and I have been sending pictures of us holding marbles to each other,” Gunselman said. “Each picture has a motivational quote in it,
and I look forward to it each day.” After she retires, Gunselman and her husband, who retired in April, plan on buying an RV and will make a road trip across the entire U.S. to see many major landmarks. She also has been the process of training to become a guardian
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHS 2018 YEARBOOK
Mrs. Guselman has worked as a teacher for 35 years in many locations.
for the Cleveland Honor Flight. She and her husband will supervise veterans as the program flies them to their monuments for the day. On top of teaching, Gunselman also makes all natural beauty-care products in her free time. The thing that Gunselman may be looking forward to the most is babysitting for her daughter. “My oldest is pregnant and I can’t wait to babysit for her part time,” Gunselman said. “I’m very excited to spend my time watching my grandchild.” She is proud of her time at Wadsworth High School and knows that the Wadsworth School District will always hold a special place in her heart. The students she has taught will miss her greatly.
Mr. Burton plans to turn to coaching full time BY EMILY KURTZ
Teacher and coach John Burton has decided to officially retire from teaching at Wadsworth High School at the end of the 2018-
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHS 1994 YEARBOOK
Mr. Burton transitioned from student teaching to actually teaching at Wadsworth in 1993.
2019 school year. After 25 years of teaching 3 levels of biology, along with coaching cross country and track, he has had the opportunity to form exceptional bonds between his students and athletes. Before starting his teaching career here at Wadsworth High School in 1993, Burton had originally been involved in constructing landscaping at Kent State University and Stan Hywet Hall. Between the two, he worked for six years as part of a ground maintenance crew that helped manage the land. This was originally going to be his career, but when he had the opportunity to attend Kent State for free he discovered that he
wanted to become involved in the educational field. He concluded this by finding that teaching was not as laborious and that it was something he determined he had lot of a passion in. “I had the opportunity to get a career that I knew I would like to do and I already had a background in microbiology, so I wanted biology because I love it,” said Burton. “I student taught here in ‘92 and then one of the fellows I student taught with retired a year later so I was able to take his position.” Throughout his time at Wadsworth, Burton has constantly been motivated to continue by his eager students and their openminded attitudes towards learning.
“It’s a pleasure to come in and teach students who generally want to learn,” Burton said about his students. “I love the job, it’s not even a job to me.” Although Burton is done with teaching at Wadsworth, he may not be finished with his work in its entirety. He still plans to continue coaching both cross country and girls track and field afterwards. “Coaching is just an extension to teaching and I still have a couple girls that I want to coach until the end of their careers,” Burton said. Along with continuing to coach, Burton will also consider to continue to teach if another similar job is offered later on down the road, but as of right now the timing seems to be perfect for
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHS 2018 YEARBOOK
Mr. Burton has been working at WHS for 25 years now as both a coach and a biology teacher.
him to retire. Burton’s teaching and humor will be missed by many as he leaves Wadsworth High School this year to begin a brand new phase of his life.
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M ay 2019
Val Craddock, Julia A. Cain, Karl Elsass, The Gabel Family, The Rench Family, Leanne A. Virgin, The Andrews Family, The Falkenstein Family, Sheryl Wichterman, Brian and Shelly Shaeffer, The Bardar Family, Kassie Hutchinson, Ken and Mary Cornacchione, The Semancik Family, Steve Webb, Steve and Dawn Delmoro, Melissa and Adam Virgei, The Sell Family, The Corell Family, John and Mary Burton, David Zuder, Leslie North, Bill and Amy Jariga, The Smalley Family, The Simpson Family, Nate Barnett, The Wagner Family, Rita Youngblood, Eric Youngblood, Dani Flak, Allen Bingham, Hayden and Alex McKay, Gary Bowen, Robert Bingham, Brian Thompson and Family, Robinson Water Systems, Pat Authenreith, Lorrie and Jim Miller, Kathy Zagar, Barbara Bishop, Kathie Parke, The Schoonover Family, Angel Kusmits, Classic Walls and Ceilings, Elizabeth Arellano, The Saylor Family, The Mcmillan Family, Bill and Saundra Lambert, John and Donna , Cari Neely, The Egleston Family, Mr. Jurey, Alexa and Lauren Conley, The Beldean Family, Chester and Mary Howard, Lauren Claxton, The Bowling Family, Kyle and Susan Thorp, Stephanie Wise, Doug and Cindy Beeman, The Nicholas Family, Jen Bruzda, Angie Snowball, The Cummings Family, Shawn and Laura McDermitt, The Leo Miller Family, Lori Scobee, Debbie and Steve Dishauzi, Mike Moser, The Woodard Family, Karla Wilson, Diana and Bill Aey, William and Gwynne Roberts, Bill Perry, Mark and Melinda Black, Amy Fultz, The Haprian Family, Joann L. Mason, Sigler Family, The Kritzell Family, Chuck and Stephaine Earnest, K. Smiechowski, The Hauenstein Family, Kim Kreeger, Cindy Risher, Liz Mendel, Mic and Wendy Becerra, Steve and Cheryl Griffin, Greg and Amy Smith, Marty and Monica Cingle, The Hillegass Family, Gray and Janice Cirino, Allison Parsons, Mike and Holli Frank, Dave and Jill Stevens, Joni Grice, The Swinehart Family, Steve and Michelle Berentz, Helen Sammons, Roger and Cynthia Smith, Victoria Mathews , Chad and Peggy Setera, Mary Linn, Mrs. MacDowell, Jason Knapp, Juliet Swires, John and Norma Renner, Vibrant Cleaning Services, Joe and Laura Lockwood, Bruce and Margaret Tate, Sherri Shaffer, Kaye Wolfinger, Mary Ocke, Kevin and Trish Allen, Sue Kung, The Warner Family, Betsy Emery, Jake and Debbie McDermitt, Tony and Jan LoGuidice, Lori Hanson, Vickie Conley, The Porpora Family, Jeff and Trisha LoGuidice, Melissa Eaton, The Osterhouse Family, Steve and Karen Blankenship, The Smoixs Family, Melissa Eaton, David Bidinger, Trish and Dave Swanson, Heather Errante, Nathan Wichterman, The Budd-Hess Family, Rich and Dana Berlin, The Moore Family, Paul and Kay Gilbert, The Shipley Family, Mary Kay Hallas, Janet Reed, Michael and Tina Nemeth, Kevin and Dina Youngblood, John and Carol Pfeister, Chuck and Judy Pfeister, Jane Ross, The Holik Family, Tim Beck, Kayla Lockwood, Ken and Sue Barfuss, Charles and Janet Parsons, Susan Dryer, Mason Egleston, Eric and Trisha Bowling, The Kincaid Family, Linda and Tom Setera, Rob Bodjanac, The Chamier Family, Ms. Baxley, Patrick Conley and Nicole Bruffy, The Dishong Family, Jason Netherton, Kevin Lee, Adam Soucie, Jamie Soucie, Jen Garcia, & Bonnie Dietrich
Expires 6/16/19
Local, family owned, sub, soup, and salad restaurant.
116 High St. Wadsworth, OH 44281
Top Designs Inc Family owned and competitively priced Founded in 1997 Group 1 granite slabs in stock! 1700 Wall Rd. Wadsworth, OH 44281 Phone: (330) 334-8677 Fax: (330) 334-8678 Our hours are: Monday-Friday: 8:00AM4:30PM
THE BRUIN
M ay 2019
P icture 15
Surrounded by guards, Pri nce John and The Sheriff decide the punishment for Robin Ho od’s thievery.
Joe Muhl, 11, and Jeffrey Hutchison, 12, play the villainous duo of Prince John and The Sheriff.
Courtnie Keaton, 10, played the narrator, referred to as the “Town’s Guy”.
r y titula ls mone s the tea play ho s , 12, ood, w he poor. H t cerra it to obin h Be Isaia cter of R nd gives a a char the rich from
Isaiah Bece rra plays th e titular cha Robinhood racter of , who steals money from and gives it the rich to the poor.
Davies, 11, Kaitlyn Setera, 12, The Merry Men, portrayed by Amy Robin Hood’s circle of friends. Aaron Uhl, 12, and Grant Fry, 10, are
Jessica Reber, 10, plays Robin Hood’s love interest, Lady Marian.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MRS. CSAKY PAGE BY MICAH BECK
16 S peak out
THE BRUIN
M ay 2019
“Moving to Texas for college! I am going to UTSA and double majoring in psychology and social work.” - Shaina Harbaugh, 12
What are you looking forward to most this summer? “Going to Cedar Point. My favorite ride is the Top Thrill Dragster!”
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- Jessica Keith, 10
“Having no summer work since I am taking CCP courses next year.” - Amanda Lutz, 11
“Swimming in my pool with my friends!” - Amy Davies, 11
“Staying booked and busy.”
l Miller and Ju
“I am excited for color guard to start this summer, and for the chance to be a captain.” - Whitney Fimple, 10
- Nick Beiser, 11
“My family and I are going on a 9 night cruise up in Canada. I am excited to see Nova Scotia.”
“Seeing some new movies and catching up with people I haven’t seen in a while.”
“Having a lot of fun at band camp and getting ready for football season.”
“Hanging out with my friends, getting tan, and not going to school.”
- Simeon Schmitt, 9
- Dominick Singleton, 10
- Brock Robertson, 9
- Gabbie Earnest, 10