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Editors-In-Chief Anna Busse Cassie Busch
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Carolina VonKampen
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Daniel Pape News Assistant Quinlan Moran News Writers Carolina VonKampen Maria Efting
Opinion Editor Bryan Banowetz Opinion Assistant Peyton Rosencrants
Saints do service in El Salvador
Three Xavier seniors rang in 2013 in the lush jungles of El Salvador. This voyage was not for leisure, though. The sole purpose of the trip was to serve others. Alex Haag, Braxton Hall, and Eli Smith traveled to El Salvador the week of January 1-8. They went with the St. Judes mission trip delegation, led by parishioner Tony Bedard. The group consisted of 19 people, with the majority being young adults in the 14-22 age range. Many had graduated from Xavier or had some other affiliation to the school. Most of the mission trip was focused on completing various service projects for the people of El Salvador. The boys helped set foundations for some homes, and installed homemade lighting fixtures in others. They also donated items such as clothes, toys, laptops and school supplies to people
Above: The three seniors with their friend Chiyo, a solider in the Guerilla Army. Right: Senior Eli Smith high fives a young boy. Photos submitted by Eli Smith. in different communities. The favorite service project of the boys, however, was building trenches for a community in Belen, Sonsonate. A trench is a type of water drain and its addition ultimately brought running water to the locals.
Opinion Writers Hannah Gibbs Brennan Graeve CJ Lampe Morgan Noonan Gina Reiman Chloe Streif Ben Valentine
Student Life Editor Jenna Fenske Student Life Assistant Colette Miller Student Life Writer Lauren Lutgens
Mini-Feature Editor Anna White Mini-Feature Assistant Ameena Challenger Mini-Feature Writer Rachel Brady
Feature Editor Megan Lynch Feature Assistant Robbie Thinnes Feature Writer Mary Esker
Health and Lifestyle Editor Ansley O’Brien Health and Lifestyle Assistant Hannah Chute Health and Lifestyle Writer Molly Vipond
Arts and Entertainment Editor Maddie Smith Arts and Entertainment Assistant Emma Hunt Arts and Entertainment Writers Lauren Van Hoeck Payton Janney Meghan Gerke Ashley Pudil
Sports Editors Connor Collins John Richardson Sports Writers Alex Fox Shannon Mulcahey Kyle D’mello Lizzy McWhinney
Backpage Editor Nicole Draker Backpage Assistant McKenzie Potter
Business Hailey Sojka
Distribution Brennan Graeve
The Xpress Bi-weekly Xavier High School 6300 42nd St. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 Volume 15 Issue 8
Xavier High School
The boys huddle up during an intense soccer game. Photo submitted by Eli Smith.
When not completing service, the boys found a little time to enjoy El Salvador. They hiked a mountain where they were able to stop and view famous war sites. The boys also found time to entertain some of the local children in the neighborhoods they were working. “The expressions on the kids’ faces when you play with them are priceless,” Haag said. Hall had nothing but good things to say about mission trips in general. “I love these trips. I have been going to places like Haiti and El Salvador because it is the most humbling experience ever. The things I learn while going out in the world and serving others are things you can’t always learn in a classroom,” Hall said. If you are interested in going on a mission trip, talk to your church for upcoming opportunities.
Maria Efting News Writer
Xavier students know their Constitution How many states were necessary to ratify the United States Constitution: seven, eight, nine, or ten? Last Friday, January 11, eight Saints attended the annual Know Your Constitution Luncheon, honoring them as finalists in the Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division program, “Know Your Constitution”. Every year, the “Know Your Constitution” contest encourages Iowa high school students to analyze the Constitution and apply its lasting value to today’s society. The program begins with a 50-question multiple-choice quiz, followed by a short essay question, asking students to examine a current constitutional issue. The essay topic for 2012-13 was affirmative action. “It would be a tremendous benefit for student to further their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, and citizens should understand it, which really is the purpose of the contest,” Social Studies teacher Donna Winter said. One hundred finalists are selected, with at least one from each Iowa House District. Xavier seniors Lindsey Blair, Shelby Christensen, Noah Hagen, Bianca
Kesselring, James Krouse, Patrick Mullin and Daniel Pape joined junior Josh Blanck as finalists. Winter accompanied the group at a luncheon in West Des Moines. Newly appointed Federal Judge Stephanie Rose was the keynote speaker. Prior to the luncheon, students also had the opportunity to speak with Drake University Law School Professor Tony Gaughan about this year’s essay topic. Hagen, Krouse, and Mullin’s essays were displayed as examples of the best work within Iowa. Mullin earned honors as one of the top two authors in the competition. “I was quite shocked that I earned “Most Outstanding Essay,” especially after reading the other participants essays. Everyone there had amazing things to say about our Constitution,” Mullin said. In addition to their selection as finalists, the Saints were entered
Some of the finalists of the “Know Your Contstitution” program pose for a picture. Mrs. Wagner photo.
in a drawing along with the other finalists to be awarded a week-long trip to Washington D.C. through the Close-Up Foundation, which gives them the opportunity to experience democracy in action. Hagen was one of five winners, each of whom
travels with their instructor. “I was super excited and humbled that I won that I won the trip, because everyone there deserved it. The trip is February 17-22, and I am looking forward to seeing the Library of Congress!” Hagen said. By the way, if you had not already read ahead, the answer to the opening question, nine.
Quinlan Moran Assistant News Editor