Design Portfolio

Design Portfolio

“

Christm Christmin the a s in the P Park

mselves, from the design of the displays community and to Jackson County Parks + annually he welding and mending. They are Rec,�

Newman said. in the Park donation the highest Christmas onsible for anything that needs to be to Mike date. Sanders, Jackson County Executive, HTS Our goal here at E LIG H e to get the lights ready for viewing. also hadnight, a few words to say aboutisChristmas T Each a different charity benefited D BEHIN Started in When the time comes around to flip ckson County Parks + the in thethese Park.bright lights. Requests for from with ch and light the lights, they keep them “This event [Christmas the Park] in donations are submitted oninLetterhead ARK c is that the display will P E hrough rain, snow, sleet or shine until it has a great in H July,become explaining howholiday moniestradition raised will NT me close for the year. asto brilliant the day it Jackson County.

It not only gives AS Inew displays benefit and provide services to theour residents brand M T IS Our goal here at Jackson County Parks families a great opportunity to celebrate of Jackson County.

Companies must havethe a CHR oses December 31st as F O ec is that the display will be as brilliant holidays together,status. but also provides all of 501c3 non-profit Winners work at the day it closes December 31st as it was YCU HQT VJCV XGT[ ƂTUV us the chance to give back to some of the donations booth on the night for which they Approximately 2013 hat very first car that drove through on wonderful charities in our community.� are chosen, and in turn they receive a portion Writte rnksgiving that drove through on n by C Eve,� Newman said. in the is a good example of Christmas the proceeds.

ThePark decision is made based hance Cope he cost to keep these lights running and anksgiving Eve of how giving back to the community can on a lottery drawing, and although it is landvist people Photo iant each year is approximately $5,000. be atheir beautiful thing.

For 26the years, it has been s by J not policy to release names of the every year ulia N Michele Newman year was the 25th Anniversary of this marked not only visual appeal and family charitiesby interested, Newman believes that it About tacular event, and to top it all off, the gathering, but by hopefor forall theinvolved. less fortunate The Longview Maintenance and is a win-win situation They ey brought was more each For many rations staff inisfrom reallydonations the backbone of have Christmas someone toseason. stand outside andfamilies, brave Planning and preperations lights come together to create had everAll been made before.are designed it starts their Christmas season; it’s project. of our displays the elements to receive the donationsa way every Christmas in theNewman Park has s.become to giveand backthe and have a good time doing built in house,� night, charities get helped out. it. different onymous with benefiting those less Truly, it’s demonstrative of the real meaning ewman explained that after being “We’re able to benefit the charitable displays unate,�

Newman of Christmas, within and comes down to one and gned, the displaysaid. begins getting set organizations Jackson County, costing ue to the generosity of the community, simple thing – the absolute joy of giving Writte n October 1, and that the Longview at the same time, we wouldn’t be able to at n by C h year theyand collected $127,455.00. opela ntenance Operations staff is It a was ance CChristmastime. do this nd Phwithout them [our volunteers from otos b y Julia artistic group. They do everything Last year the charities].

They Ngeg are a great help to the TE a Des ign by DONA mselves, from the design of the displays Wend community and to Jackson County Parks + y Hay annually worth he welding and mending. They are Rec,� Newman said. onsible for anything that needs to be Mike Sanders, Jackson County Executive, was collected for e to get the lights ready for viewing. also had a few words to say about Christmas local charities.

Started in When the time comes around to flip the in the Park. with ch and light the lights, they keep them “This event [Christmas in the Park] Families crowd together in their charities hrough rain, snow, sleet or shine until it has become a great holiday tradition in waiting long County. It not only gives our me to closecars, for the year. in a line miles Jackson JLABMAG.COM HI+LIFE FOCUS 16 _QTT JMVMĂ…\ brand new displays to preserve the family tradition of a great opportunity to celebrate the Our goal here at Jackson County Parks families this year Christmas in the Park. ec is that the visiting display will be as brilliant holidays together, but also provides all of day itJLABMAG.COM closes December 31st as it was us the chance to give back to some of the Approximately HI+LIFE FOCUS 16 Sources: www.jacksongov.org hat very first car that drove through on wonderful charities in our community.â€? the highest Christmas in the Park donation LEFT: Christmas in the Park celebrates S to date.

Our goal here at LIGHT and Michele Newman nksgiving Eve,� Newman said.

26 years of continued success.

Christmas in the Park is a good example Each night, a different charity is benefited D THE BEHIN BELOW: Every night donations are Jackson County Parks + from these bright lights. Requests for he cost to keep these lights running andcharities. of collected for different This how giving back to the community can K donations are submitted on Letterhead in Rec is that the display will PAR 19 FOCUSpeople HI+LIFE vist JLABMAG.COM year Christmas in the Park runs for July, explaining how monies raised will THE S IN 35 nights and 35 charities will bebe a beautiful thing. For 26 be as brilliant thebeen day it iant each year is approximately $5,000. benefit and provide services to the residents years, it has MA T IS DGPGĆ‚VGF RIGHT: Every year a new year HR of Jackson County. Companies must have a Cevery closes December 31st as OF display of is added.

This year Santa drops 501c3 non-profit status. Winners work at the year was the 25th Anniversary this marked by not only visual appeal and family RTGUCPVU HTQO C RNCPG VJCV ĆƒKGU QXGT KV YCU HQT VJCV XGT[ Ć‚TUV donations booth on the night for which they 2013 cars. NEXT PAGE: With more than are chosen, and in turn they receive a portion tacular event, and to top it allthe off, the car that through on gathering, but by hope for the lessdrove fortunate 200,000 people visiting, Christmas in of the proceeds. The decision is made based the Park has become a family tradition.

Thanksgiving Eve on a lottery drawing, and although it is ey brought in from donations was more each Christmas season. For many families, policy to release the names of the Michele Newman not their Planning and preperations charities interested, Newman believes that it had ever been made before. it starts their Christmas season; it’s aMaintenance way and About 300,000 “The Longview is a win-win situation for all involved. They Operations staff is really the backbone of have someone to stand outside and brave Christmas in the Park has become lights come together to create to give back and have a goodthistime it.are designed the elements to receive the donations every project. Alldoing of our displays and built in house,� Newman s. night, and the charities get helped out. different nymous with benefiting those less Newman explained that after being Truly, it’s demonstrative of the real meaning “We’re able to benefit the charitable 175 displays designed, the display begins getting set organizations within Jackson County, and costing unate,� Newman said. up on October 1, and that the Longview at the same time, we wouldn’t be able to of Christmas, and comes down to one Maintenance and Operations staff is a do this without them [our volunteers from $5,000 very artistic group.

They do everything the charities].

They are a great help to the ue to the generosity of the community, simple thing – the absolute themselves, joy offromgiving at the design of the displays community and to Jackson County Parks + annually to the welding and mending. They are Rec,� Newman said. year they collected $127,455.00. It was Christmastime. responsible for anything that needs to be Mike Sanders, Jackson County Executive, done to get the lights ready for viewing. also had a few words to say about Christmas Started in When the time comes around to flip the Last in the Park. year ATE with switch and light the lights, they keep them “This event [Christmas in the Park] DON1988 on through rain, snow, sleet or shine until it

70

1988

“

200,000

300,000

begin in

February 175

$5,000 Families crowd together in their cars, waiting in a$127,455 line miles long to preserve the family tradition of 1988 visiting Christmas in the Park.

35 70

200,000

“

begin in

“

JLABMAG.COM HI+LIFE FOCUS 18

year that had to be overcome in order for the event to be successful. “We had less than three months until we had to unveil the display and open it up to the public,� Newman said.

In this amount of time, Jackson County Parks + Rec was responsible for choosing a location that could support as many cars

“

In less than three months, the employees had designed a lighted, animated display that really had exceeded all expectation. Christmas in the park opened with a line of cars that stretched as far as the eye could see.

“

The wonderful event, featuring live entertainment and sponsored by Jackson County Parks + Rec and 99.7 The Point is known as Christmas in the Sky. It kicks off one of the most highly anticipated events in Jackson County: Christmas in the Park, a longstanding tradition for many Kansas City natives.

Christmas in the Park began in 1988 in the Parks Department. “All of the employees were given the challenge to create, design and construct a holiday display that would benefit both the community and local charities,� Director of Jackson County Parks + Rec, Michele Newman, said. “We got the word in September of 1988 and the display went up in November, on Thanksgiving Eve of that year.�

Newman estimated that there were probably a hundred thousand lights and maybe seventy displays when it first opened, and although it appeared to go off without a hitch, there were some challenges that first

Michele Newman

as were anticipated, media sponsorships to get the word out, and a marketing plan. They also needed to design and construct the display to go on the event site itself. Although there were all of these responsibilities, three months of working fervently paid off and the display opened as planned. “In less than three months, the employees had designed a lighted, animated display that really had exceeded all expectation.

Christmas in the park opened with a line of cars that stretched as far as the eye could see,� Newman said.

The success of that first year has been something that has followed Jackson County Parks + Rec for an outstanding 26 years, with successes every year since it began.

Preparation for Christmas in the Park starts every year in February and lasts until the lights glow for the first time on Thanksgiving Eve. That’s nearly ten months of planning for a display that lasts for one month.

$127,455

has become a great holiday tradition in Jackson County. It not only gives our families a great opportunity to celebrate the holidays together, but also provides all of us the chance to give back to some of the wonderful charities in our community.�

Christmas in the Park is a good example of how giving back to the community can be a beautiful thing. For 26 years, it has been marked by not only visual appeal and family gathering, but by hope for the less fortunate each Christmas season. For many families, it starts their Christmas season; it’s a way to give back and have a good time doing it.

Truly, it’s demonstrative of the real meaning of Christmas, and comes down to one simple thing – the absolute joy of giving at Christmastime.

70

35

charities

_QTT JMVMĂ…\ this year

brand new displays

Approximately

200,000

was collected for local charities.

people vist every year

Planning and preperations begin in

Imagine hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights, Santa giving VJG Ć‚TUV IKHV QH %JTKUVOCU CPF C OCUUKXG OKPWVG Ć‚TGYQTMU FKURNC[ VJCV TGĆƒGEVU KVUGNH QXGT C DGCWVKHWN NCMG GCEJ CPF GXGT[ [GCT

is time to close for the year. “Our goal here at Jackson County Parks + Rec is that the display will be as brilliant the day it closes December 31st as it was for that very first car that drove through on Thanksgiving Eve,� Newman said.

The cost to keep these lights running and brilliant each year is approximately $5,000.

Last year was the 25th Anniversary of this spectacular event, and to top it all off, the money brought in from donations was more than had ever been made before. “Christmas in the Park has become synonymous with benefiting those less fortunate,� Newman said.

Due to the generosity of the community, last year they collected $127,455.00. It was

February

February

Last year

TE DONA

$127,455 was collected for

local charities.

Sources: www.jacksongov.org 35 charities and Michele Newman _QTT JMVMĂ…\ this year

19 FOCUS HI+LIFE JLABMAG.COM Sources: www.jacksongov.org and Michele Newman 19 FOCUS HI+LIFE JLABMAG.COM

Freeze Dried Special Olympics

Students and community members wade through the cold for a good cause.

Thousands of cars, thousands of cheers, thousands of people all gathered in promotion of the Special Olympics on Saturday, Jan 25, at Longview Lake. Some braved the frigid water, while some bundled up to bolster and encourage. Still others organized and oversaw the massive event. The most important individuals, though, were the athletes. These Special Olympians, surrounded by roars and chatter, witnessed every face arriving in their support.

Written by Morgan Jenkins Photos by Julia Ngega Design by Wendy Hayworth

JLABMAG.COM HI+LIFE FOCUS 18

out there to support them. [The athletes] understood that these people believed they are exceptional individuals.”

Attending an event like the Polar Bear Plunge allows the parents and teachers, who support and love these students every day, to witness this larger community.

“There is a bigger picture,” said White, “I think that is what is most important.”

Finally, time for the nitty-gritty question: What was the water like?

“The water was a little deeper this year.

“

You push through it.

Then, you warm back up and feel good about yourself because you helped a great cause and had a great time doing it.

“

“Special Olympics reaches a large group of kids and lets them know that just because you have special needs, does not mean you cannot be active, and you cannot participate,” said special education teacher, Kevin White.

White was one of the many in attendance, along with Officer Mark Wiesemann, a Polar Bear Plunge participant for ten years.

Wiesemann just received the Unsung Hero’s Award, an honor dedicated to those who exceed in their support of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Missouri.

“It was a very humbling experience and also very gratifying,” said Wiesemann, in regards to receiving the award.

Taylor Walker also joined and represented with the LSHS Student Senate. She has been a part of the Plunge for four years.

“I absolutely love the event,” said Walker.

“I get to know the athletes through different Special Olympics volunteering that [Student Senate] does. The Plunge is a way to pay [the athletes] back for all the fun they allow us to have.”

Additionally, the Polar Bear Plunge is great team bonding time. Many other groups gathered, from Willy Wonka and the Oompa Loompas, to the Kansas City Police Department, to the Ninja Turtles.

“Create a team, get some costumes, and make it a social event that you will remember for a lifetime,” said Wiesemann.

Still, the exuberant and vivacious were not the only ones swimming in fun. Lee’s Summit’s Special Olympians seemed to have had a blast as well.

White said, “So far, our students there were very, very excited. These people were

Mark Wiesemann I think we went a bit farther out, and I had to kind of swim; it was up to my chest…of course I am short, but the water was cold,” said Walker.

As expected, nearly everyone thought the lake was frosty but running in with a group seemed to take the edge off the ice. Facing the water, people pranced, tiptoed, and screeched into the cold, high fiving firemen along the way.

Wiesemann said, “You push through it.

Then, you warm back up and feel good about yourself because you helped a great cause and had a great time doing it.”

RIGHT: Coltin Billings gears up to take the plunge. Many plungers donned war paint before running down the beach towards the icy water.

MIDDLE: Students and teachers of Tigers on Ice race through the frigid water, highfiving the Kansas City Firefighters along the way.

BOTTOM: Tigers on Ice Many participants recommend that future before the Plungers should start fundraising early. plunge.

The online Polar Bear Plunge registration is opened in mid October, or volunteers can also contact a Student Senate representative.

The amount an individual needs to raise is $75.

This year’s Polar Bear Plunge event collected $291,821.

“The money is used to provide year round sporting competitions for our 2,200 local KC Metro Special Olympics athletes,” said Polar Bear Plunge planner, Kami Delameter.

The Special Olympics have their own set of seasons including basketball, volleyball, bowling, track, and others. The program encompasses many athletes, and they can participate in these sports throughout school into adulthood.

The Kansas City Polar Bear Plunge began in 2005 and started quite small. Over a short period of time, though, it has developed into one of the most attended Plunges within the state. “[Event coordinators] are excited each year when our number of participants grows,” said Delameter, “And the amount of money raised for athletes increases also.”

SCAN Maybe this time you did not participate, but the good news is there is always BELOW next year. Be one of the faces the Special to take the Olympians see in 2015, be one of the faces plunge that play a pivotal role in a great cause. yourself As White said, “It is just a ton of fun when you can get people together and do something that is crazy but also safe.”

So join in with the cold, the crazy, and the amazing. Take the Plunge.

TAKING THE PLUNGE

17 FOCUS HI+LIFE JLABMAG.COM

Photos by Julia Ngega Design by Wendy Hayworth

Tigers on Ice raised a total of $12,386, making them one of the top fundrasing school teams. This year Tigers on Ice raised over $1,000 more than last year.

ABOVE: Principal John Faulkenberry leads the way through the chest-deep water. This was his second year taking the plunge. He was one of the top fundraisers for Tigers on Ice having raised $393.

LEFT: Junior Devin Mart took it a step further, throwing off his shirt and donning his own team themed war paint.

Despire the 34 degree water, Mart braved the water shirtless.

He was joined by Junior Devin Mart as seen on the left.

19 FOCUS HI+LIFE JLABMAG.COM

MARVELS Written by Angela Lenhardt - Photos by Kaytee McLucas and Julia Ngega - Design by Wendy Hayworth

Mar. 19 Vol 95 Issue 8 50¢

?

senior boys put all of their hard work to the test as they compete for the title of ...

MR. TIGER

JLABMAG.COM HI+LIFE FOUCS 16

MR. talent

OGENIC MR. PHOT

FEATURING

The Origin Story of Mr. Tiger

E MR. ENTOURAG

MR. CONGENIALITY

17 FOCUS HI+LIFE JLABMAG.COM

MR. TIGER MR? . talent

MR. EN TO

Marvel just got a new superhero and his name is Mr. Tiger.

FEATURING

The Origin Story of Mr. TigerOnly one

will come out on top.

They are big and strong. They are American icons. They have millions of adoring fans. They can do things none of us can even dream of. People wear their shirts all over school.

Soon they will have a contest of strength, smarts, and abs. Only one will come out on top. These super humans are none other than a group of senior boys competing in Mr. Tiger coming to our school in just two days this Friday.

“It is a fun night and you get to see people you know up there. The boys will get dressed up, answer questions, have a talent show, and the audience gets to choose who will be Mr. Tiger. It cost seven dollars and that money will go to the school and goback to the student body one way or another,” Mr. Tiger director Karla Thompson said.

A good superhero always has to make an amazing entrance. Mr. Tiger is going to make an entrance no one will forget.

“The opening act is going to be the bomb diggity,” Mr. Tiger candidate Philip Maggio said.

The boys have been preparing for Mr. Tiger since the beginning of January and soon all of their hard work is about to pay off.

“We all put a lot of hard work into it

JLABMAG.COM HI+LIFE FOUCS 16

and it is going to be really funny and entertaining. It’s a great experience because it is a once and lifetime opportunity and it is something I will never forget it,” Mr. Tiger candidate Jacob Joersz said.

It is every little boys dream to be a superhero. Being a superhero is awesome and so is being in Mr. Tiger.

“Ever since I saw Mr. Tiger last year I knew I wanted to get involved,” Mr. Tiger candidate Sheldon Ledbetter said.

“My friend told me I should try it and I thought it would be a good way to leave a mark before leaving high school,” Mr. Tiger candidate Curtis Maxon said.

A super hero also has to stand out from the crowd. He has to have that certain something. It could be a big hammer, big house, or his very own batmobile.

“Even kids from other schools come to see our Mr. Tiger,” said Jenkins “There are not as many boys as past years, but the boys this year have a lot of enthusiasm,” student choreographer Kaley Wells said.

“It’s going to be an amazing show and everyone should see it at least one time,” Maxon said.

To be truly amazing, Mr. Tiger has to have an amazing talent. Luckily the Mr. Tiger contestants have talents that are going to blow us out of the water.

“Me, Leo Liu, Jayce Cornell, and Clint Boyles are doing an extreme scootering act to the song White Nerdy,” Mr. Tiger candidate Jacob Joersz said.

“I am going to dance. I have been dancing since I was four and it is what I am comfortable doing in front of an audience,” said Ledbetter.

A superhero has to be able to do what most people would thinks is

$7 in advanc s t e k c i $10 at the d t

2 h c r Ma seats available

impossible. Like taking a bunch a seniors boys who are used to performing on the field and putting them on the stage and creating something amazing.

“Even though we all basically can’t dance we all still manage to pull together and put on a great show,” Ledbetter said.

“I was nervous because I had no clue there was going to be this much dancing. We are doing a lot better than I expected. It was very unorganized at first but throughout all the practices we cleaned it up very well,” Joersz said.

At the end of the day the guys have to recognize what is truly important and what really matters.

“To me it’s about having fun, not winning,” said Maggio.

Being a superhero or a senior boy can be stressful and rewarding experience. They have lots of civilians or underclassman looking up to them counting on them to make this world or school a better place. They both need support so come see the Mr. Tiger show Friday Mar. 21.

Behind the mask

26

BOYS

Hours OF practice

$300 lighting $300 sound $1,300 Dance Instructor $200 per SWag Bag $6,000+ total prizes $12 T-Shirts TOURAGE

48

26

BOYS

Behind the mask

48

9

the test as they compete fo

and rewarding experience. They have lots of civilians or underclassman looking up to them counting on them to make this world or school a better place. They both need support so come see the Mr. Tiger show Friday Mar. 21.

Hours OF practice

$300 lighting $300 sound $1,300 Dance Instructor $200 per SWag Bag $6,000+ total prizes $12 T-Shirts

84M

17 FOCUS HI+LIF

Seniors boys have been practicing hard in preperation for Friday’s show. The opening dance routine lasts for five minutes. each boy has their own time to shine on stage by showcasing their talent.

Judges vote on mr. tiger, mr. congeniality, and mr. tiger. the audience votes for mr. entoruage and mr. photogenic.

$7 in advance ets k c $10 at the door ti

March 21 seats available

840

17 FOCUS HI+LIFE JLABMAG.COM

e v o

TO WRITE ON HER ARMS Written by Haley Townley Photos by Julia Ngega Design by Wendy Hayworth

JLABMAG.COM HI+LIFE FOCUS 16

L

HI+LIFE

Volume 95 + Issue 09 + 04.09.2014 Lee’s Summit, Missouri

Worldwide more than

350 million

l t t

people suffer from depression.

h T b

w w f a t n

20% of Americans have an anxiety disorder

THE FACTS BEHIND THE STIGMA

Every 40 seconds someone in the world commits suicide.

For every male suicide attempt there are 3 female attempts. Males commit suicide 4 times as often as females.

14-24% of youth and young adults have self-harmed at least once.

4% of adults will occasionally self-harm.

Males ande females report similar rates of self-harm.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in America and the 3rd leading cause in Americans aged 15-24.

WARNING SIGNS

More than 30% of LGBTQ kids have attempted suicide.

- Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves.

- Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun.

- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.

- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.

- Talking about being a burden to others.

- Increasing their use of alcohol or drugs.

- Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.

- Sleeping too little or too much.

- Withdrawing or isolating themselves.

- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.

- Displaying extreme mood swings.

JLABMAG.COM HI+LIFE FOCUS 18

Source: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Sources:

http://www.twloha.com http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org http://www.nyaamerica. org http://www.nimh.nih.gov http://www.save.org http://www.suicidology. org http://www.yspp.org http://suicidepreventionandresourcecenter.org

More than 80% of those diagnosed with major depression can be treated and return to their usual activities and feelings Sources: http://www.twloha.com http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org http://www.nyaamerica.org JLABMAG.COM HI+LIFE NOW 10

W • • • •

• • • • • • • So

An estimated

5-6% of students in the United States identify as LGBT

That equals about

90 -108 students at LSHS

66% of transgendered students are out to most or all of their peers

6 out of 10 students feel unsafe at

school because of their sexual orientation

4 out of 10 students feel unsafe at

school because of their gender expression

90%

of transgendered students reported hearing negative remarks about gender expression such as not being masculine or feminine enough

Students from schools with a

Gay Straight Alliance report hearing fewer homophobic remarks and tend to feel safer in their community than students who go to schools without one

8 out of 10 students have heard “gay” used as an insult. 7 out of 10 students have heard other terms such as “dyke” or “faggot.” 5 out of 10 have heard teachers use these terms.

LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, physically harassed, and physically assaulted at school because of their sexual orientation.

LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, physically harassed, and physically assaulted at school because of their gender expression.

+LIFE FOCUS 16

JOSEPH DENNISON

People come out everyday, either to friends, family, or even themselves.

With each new person a new story arises, of struggles, of acceptance, or of both combined. With Joseph Dennison there is a little of both.

“When I first came out, I want to say it was my sophomore or junior year, to this friend of mine,” senior Joseph Dennison said.

Dennison first came out to a friend of his at lunch one day when they were talking about meeting the perfect somebody. Seeing it as a perfect opportunity, Joseph informed her that he was gay, whereupon she continued talking but replacing all the ‘hers’ with ‘hims’.

“Coming out to me wasn’t an all at once thing, for the longest time until freshman or sophomore year I thought I was asexual,” Dennison said.

Dislike of homosexuality never came up in Dennison’s life as he grew up, he never even knew that people had issues with it until he did research about sexuality.

“I actually came out to my family twice,” Dennison said. “I just said, ‘guys, I’m attracted to both guys and girls.’”

Dennison was somewhat scared of coming out because of all the horror stories he heard about teenagers getting kicked out of their homes.

He was especially scared because he had recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s, an inflammatory bowel disease.

“I didn’t know how I was going to take care of myself, and not Crohn’s to death,” Dennison said.

This is one of the main fears that Dennison had during the year between partly coming out and completely coming out to his family.

Dennison told his mom that he was gay and she calmly took him outside to ask him questions that in some circumstances might seem alarming, but are rather commonly asked to teenagers coming out. Such questions included if he was molested, which he was not; is he actually attracted to men, or just appreciating the masculine form.

“I had a girlfriend, from eighth grade to freshman year,” Dennison said.

“She’s a sweet girl, I love her to death.”

To Dennison, dating a girl was just going through the motions, doing what everyone else did: the spark was just never there for him.

“I did date for two weeks this guy over the summer. That was actually pretty good, he was really cute and stuff,” Dennison said.

Dennison has dated one guy, and talked to another, though neither worked out one had a much worst turnout than the other.

“I felt pretty sad for him. He’s not pursuing what he wants to do because institutions have kept him out,” Dennison said.

This boy and Dennison went out a few times before the boy told Dennison that he really did like him but that he wanted to focus on his religion, and not go against it.

Dennison brings about a good point that a lot of LGBTQ+ youth and adults feel very uncomfortable in public restrooms and locker rooms because of jokes made, or simply just feeling out of place.

“Honestly I try to avoid public restrooms (and locker rooms) as much as I can,” Dennison said. “There is just this sort of air of making a joke about gay people and how they aren’t as good, or they’re just these things that doesn’t really matter who or what they are but they’re just the butt of a joke.”

Though Dennison’s story is very atypical he still struggled through acceptance and how society views homosexuality. However he is fortunate to have many loving friends and a loving family who accept and love him no matter what.

JLABMAG.COM HI+LIFE FOCUS 20

Written by Anna Myers - Photo by Julia Ngega

31.8%

students have skipped classes or a whole day of school at least once in the last month due to harassment from other students because of their sexual orientation or gender expression SOURCES: National Surveys conducted by GLSEN bullyingstatistics.org wcadv.org RƃCIP[E QTI

19 FOCUS HI+LIFE JLABMAG.COM

TIFFANY SMITH

Teenage years come with many struggles: increasing homework, college looming just around the corner, and most importantly: accepting oneself.

Senior, Tiffany Smith, knows this particular struggle first hand.

“For a long time, I thought there was something wrong with me. That something just went horribly wrong and I couldn’t be like anybody else,” Smith said.

When Smith was a young girl in kindergarten she began to notice that she did not find boys attractive. In fact, she had a crush on her kindergarten teacher.

“I would date dudes just to seem normal because that’s what everybody else around me was doing,” Smith said.

Smith accidently came out to her mom when she found a not that Smith had written to her first girlfriend. The letter was addressed to KW, so her mom scanned the yearbook looking for someone with those initials. In a school of only 350, only one name matched and it was a girl.

“I kept trying to convince her that KW was a dude and he had just moved there but she wouldn’t believe it,” Smith said. “I eventually gave in.

My mom was pretty awesome about it.”

Growing up in a small town in Louisiana, Smith was not exposed to the world of LGBTQ and knew little to nothing about it. In eighth grade she discovered she could be bisexual and date girls.

“I came here in 9th grade and I went along with the whole bi thing, but eventually I met lesbians, I met gay guys, and I met transgenders,” Smith said. “I was like, I don’t have to like dudes. That’s awesome because that was all I’d ever known.”

Smith has found Lee’s Summit to be very accepting, however, a history of bullying has left her wary.

“I’m pretty sacred to take PE classes, I make sure to look in my locker like it’s the most interesting thing in the world and never look at anyone else in the locker room,” Smith said.

This acceptance of herself did not come without its struggles.

“I struggled with why I was gay because I just couldn’t figure it out. I was trying to figure out more about whatever this was that I was and I saw the negative parts and I couldn’t find the positives,” Smith said.

Smith grew up in a nonreligious home but found her religion through a friend. In her eighth grade year, she came out to her pastor and asked if she would still be accepted into heaven. She was told to fight her attraction to women and that if she did not, she would go to Hell.

“So, I reread the Bible and found my own way of following,” Smith said.

“I am comfortable with my religion and I believe that Jesus will accept me when I do die.”

As a member of the AFJROTC, Smith plans to join public relations for the military and join the army reserves.

“I’ve heard a lot about women getting raped overseas while they’re serving and of course being gay does seem to make me more of a target and I am worried about that,” Smith said. “But I took the same oath they did and if they follow their core values the nothing should happen. It’s a risk I’m willing to take for my country.”

Smith has worked hard to accept herself and now works hard to help others do the same as the president of the Gay Straight Alliance.

“It’s a group that’s going to support whoever and we’re going to advocate for what we think is right,” Smith said.

Years of struggle have molded Smith into an iron willed young woman who refuses to let anything stand in her path.

Written by Wendy Hayworth - Photo by Julia Ngega

21 FOCUS HI+LIFE JLABMAG.COM

*

JLABMAG.COM HI+LIFE FOCUS 16

out to “meComing wasn’t an all at

“

once thing,

Joseph Dennison

Written by Anna Myers and Wendy Hayworth Photos by Carter Moore and Julia Ngega and Wendy Hayworth Designed by Wendy Hayworth

17 FOCUS HI+LIFE JLABMAG.COM

Signing Off

INSIDE

arrive before

05

06

09

#Transformation Tuesday

#Throwback Thursday

Senior Superlatives

Take a look back at the last four years through pictures.

The wait is over. See who won the senior polls.

The senior class has changed in more ways than one.

The Big Day Arrives

The breakdown of the ceremony and diploma reception.

3pm in the lower

assembly room bring cap, gown, and tassel do not bring bags or purses you will be given a card with your name sponsors will lead class to north foyer seniors will line up in pairs

“Say

yeS to the robe”

Do’s Formal wear is required but make sure you pick comfortable clothes.

enter for the processional and remain standing males will remove caps for salute to the flag, national anthem, and class aspiration sit in unison after aspiration ends dr. faulkenberry will present

Comfortable shoes. There’s lots of standing and walking.

Manageable hair, There needs to be room on your head to place graduation caps on. Use bobby pins if needed.

Dont’s Go over the top. Although Graduation is special, it does mean spending thousands of dollars to celebrate it.

Wear clothes that show under your graduation robes. A bright blue skirt poking out from under your robe stands out in an undesireable way.

Change your appearance. You want to be recognized when you graduate, and it’s hard to do so if you dye your hair a completely different color.

Hi-Life: Senior Edition class

stand by row and proceed

across the stage

recieve diploma cover as name

is read then return to your seat once all diplomas have been

presented, rise for affirmation

and the movement of the tassel from right to left ushers will lead class out, back row to front row cross road onto front yard where caps will be thrown in unison students attending project grad must arrive by

18

20

The Next Chapter

College Survival Guide

The senior class is spreading its wings.

See where everyone is going.

Don’t be unprepared.

Check out these useful college apps, coffee pot recipies, and more.

10pm or

9:30pm if you are bringing a bag so it can be searched. actual diploma pickup will take place upon return from project grad the morning of may

19.

seniors who do not attend project grad must pick their diploma up at the counseling

Follow the dress code.

This is technically a school event and graduation calls for some class.

Dress to accommodate the weather. The only thing worse than having to wait for your name to be called up is to be overheated and sweaty while doing so.

Dress to match your body type. The robe is unflattering enough, you don’t want things poking out.

Stand up straight and hold your head high. This is your moment; it’s your time to be proud of your accomplishments.

Overdo makeup. Stage makeup is not needed. Tears are usually shed at these events. Avoid mascara or invest in a waterproof type for the event.

Wear high-heels. If you trip the senior class will become a set of dominoes.

Bring unnecessary valuables. After the cap throw, it’s a long walk back to the lower assembly room.

If you want to keep your tassel, remove it before the cap toss.

You will not be getting your hat back afterwards.

center.

GRADUATION GUIDE

Serving his Country

abbie Cook

Senior Abbie Cook always dreamt of growing up to be a princess or a singer but it was not until her freshman year of high school that she realized she wanted to go into Public Relations. She decided to join the yearbook staff her freshman year because ever since she was little, she loved to write.

“I’ve always enjoyed writing. I remember being in elementary school and writing short stories with dreams that they would be published one day. Yearbook taught me how to make my writing more professional,” Cook said.

Starting out in Introduction to Yearbook, Abbie worked hard to make her way to the top. As a senior, she was one of the two main editors that helped bring the book to life.

“I realized how many different aspects go into journalism. As much as I love writing, I also found myself enjoying learning how to properly design a layout and make the final product come together,” Cook said.

As part of the Reflector staff, she got to go to Missouri University each year for state contest. Since it was her senior year, this was the most important competition, in her eyes.

“Being an editor, I wanted to make sure that the staff created the best possible products that they could so I could make sure we would do well at State,” Cook said.

The hard work paid off when all fifteen of the Reflector’s entries placed at state including one of Abbie’s spreads, which won first place.

“Our staff worked extremely had and it was a huge relief knowing that our work was recognized by some of the top journalists in the country,” Cook said.

Seeing as Abbie is planning on majoring in Public Relations and Communications at Northwest Missouri State University, her time on the yearbook staff has been very productive.

“My dream is to move to New York or California and work at a fashion magazine either designing spreads or working on things behind the scenes,” Cook said.

Whether life takes her to the East Coast or the West Coast, Abbie has set goals and she is determined to meet them.

“I just want to be successful in whatever I end up doing,” Cook said.

Applying for the Coast Guard Academy is unlike applying for any other military academy. Other academies require a congressional appointment. The Coast Guard decided that they would take a different approach and take over all aspects of the application process.

“It took me four essays, an interview process, and a physical fitness test. From that they determined who they think is going to be the best candidate,” Coast Guard Academy admit Luke Orr said.

Orr began the admission process this previous September, finishing it up by the end of October.The first round of phone calls went out in late December.

“I got an email that said ‘Congratulations, you made the wait list,’” Orr said.

Wait list members were told that they could be contacted at any point concerning their admittance.

“Every time my phone buzzed my heart just dropped,” Orr said.

Just last week, Orr received an e-mail. Vacancies had opened up in the Coast Guard Academy class of 2018. The wait list was going to be reevaluated and accepted students would be notified the following week.

“I was waiting all day [Monday] for my phone to just ring,” Orr said.

It was when Orr was getting ready for bed that he received the news. He had been accepted.

“I thought I was daydreaming because I was going to bed,” Orr said.

The rest of the night was spent celebrating and calling friends

and family.

“I don’t think I slept. I was so excited,” Orr said.

Orr had decided to look into attending a military academy due to a family history of military service and a desire for a college education.

“Almost all of the men in my family have served before. My brother is currently serving as a marine, so I wanted to do something but I also wanted to make sure I got my college education,” Orr said.

Orr began to look around at the different options and eventually he decided on the Coast Guard Academy.

“What really stuck out was they’re more about helping people,” Orr said. “They’re here to help and protect.”

Orr will be leaving for New London, Connecticut towards the end of June, shortly after his 18th birthday. On July 1, he reports to basic training where he will spend seven weeks.

“There’s so many options that the academy can offer,” Orr said.

“I’ll just have to see everything offered and pick the best ones.”

Orr will be pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering and has not officially decided what he will do after college and serving.

“I’m looking forward to the unique experience. Not everyone gets to go to a military academy, so going to get one of the greatest educations that America has to offer while still having that military training, the background, how you hold yourself, and just that positive mindset to all of that, I think it will just tie in and be a great fit,” Orr said.

Senior Kaley Wells has worked her way up from being an intro yearbook student as a freshman to one of the main yearbook editors her senior year. With a dream of pursuing journalism since she was young, Kaley found out that this is what she wants to do with her future.

I’m planning on majoring in public relations and with a background in yearbook I feel like I will do well,” Wells said.

Beginning in the introduction to yearbook class, Kaley quickly found that journalism was what she enjoyed to do.

“I applied for the yearbook class as an eight grader not knowing what I was getting myself into, my thought was that it’ll just be another class to add to my elective credits,” Wells said.

Kaley found herself figuring out what truly goes on in the Journalism Lab to keep up with the award winning yearbooks and newspapers that are produced each year.

“Not many people outside of yearbook and newspaper understand that there’s a lot that goes into getting the yearbook and newspaper out every year. It consists of creative, talented students that are able to write, take pictures, design and work together to get a finished product that the students will enjoy,” Wells said.

“I enjoy getting to come into the Journalism Lab everyday and getting to work with other creative students and being one of the head editors of this yearbook makes me want to work that much harder,” Wells said.

Knowing how unpredictable job opportunities under the journalism field can be, Kaley is prepared for anything that comes her way.

“I understand that what I want to do with my life is very hard to get into, the journalism field has always been that way, but that’s something I’ll have to take a chance on,” Wells said.

No matter what happens in the future, Kaley is sure of one thing: “My goal for the future is to simply enjoy whatever my job is, I want to make sure that I’m happy,” Wells said.

the yearbook duo

Luke Orr accepted into the Coast Guard Accademy

kaley wellS

Senior Class of 2014 Superlatives

Best Hair

Phillip Maggio and Paige Sapp

Derek Ruff and Karsyn Mercurio

Cameron Olson and Rachel Pate

Best Smile

Most Likely to Succeed

Most Involved

Joey Piatczyc and Ama Idun

Kyle Angle and Libby Wilson

Luke Orr and Taylor Walker

Most Musically Talented

Most Athletic

Best Eyes

8

memories

20 4

Devonte Cobbs and Adee Dancy

Casey Slaughter and Taylor Walker

Daniel Graham and Rachel Cutrell

Best Dressed

Most Sarcastic

Most School Spirited

Hi-Life: Senior Edition

LSHS Class of

Signing Off 1 class 4 years 688 days Cutest Couple

HI+LIFE Volume 95 + Issue 05 + 12.18.2013 Lee’s Summit, Missouri

Wendy Michelle Hayworth Journalist

816.394.0423 wmhayworth@gmail.com wendyhayworth.com Volume 95 + Issue 04 + 11. www.twitter.com/WMHayworth Lee’s Summit, M

print web design social media photography