The Tiger Print — February 2004 by The Tiger Print

THE

TIGER

Vol • Issue

Blue Valley High School Senior Randi Leiker rehearses for the the musical, Kiss Me, Kate in the PAC after school. Leiker is one of 40 students in the chorus. photo by Jamie Hisle

Who will take the crown at Sweetheart?

8-9

W th St • Stilwell Kan • Friday Feb

Admit one: Kiss Me Kate starring:

Feb. 19-21

Colin Chase......................................................Fred Graham Kaitlyn Davidson..............................................Lilli Vanessi Hayley Podschun.................................................. Lois Lane Eric Buell .......................................................... Bill Calhoun Heather Gentry.........................................................Paulette Maggie Steinmeyer......................................................Hattie Doug Defranco and Zak Smith...........................Gangsters

Theater prepares for winter musical

o, kiss me, Kate!” Petruchio demands from the uncouth Katherine in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. This line translates into the musical, Kiss Me, Kate, the winter production of the Theater and Music Department’s Kiss Me, Kate is actually a play within a play, a show about the opening performance of The Taming of the Shrew. Not only does the audience see scenes in the Shakespearean era, but they also see what goes on backstage during the mid 1940’s in Baltimore. Various misunderstandings with characters backstage lead to hilarious situations onstage, creating Kiss Me, Kate a comic, light-hearted musical. Kiss Me, Kate will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 and Friday Feb. 20 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb 21 in the Performing Arts Center. There will also be a matinee on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $5; they will be sold next week at lunch and before each performance at the door. “I chose Kiss Me, Kate as this year’s musical because it has a classic, challenging script, lots of dancing and lots of parts,” vocal director and producer Marsha Moeller said. “It’s definitely different from last year’s Grease!, and I love doing shows that are different. There is so much in this show for kids to see — there’s comedy, great dancing and great singing.” “I think Kiss Me, Kate is really funny and good for students to get some culture by seeing a variety of different things this show has to offer, as opposed to movies or TV shows,” senior chorus member Sarah Metcalfe said.

The show opens with all chorus members and leads onstage in “Another Op’nin’ Another Show.” Fred Graham played by senior Colin Chase, the director of The Taming of the Shrew, calls out final instructions to the cast when veteran actress Lilli Vanessi, played by junior Kaitlyn Davidson, enters. Tension runs deep between Lilli and Fred, who are divorced, until the two seem to rekindle their love in the song “Wunderbar.” However, Fred is also interested in amateur actress Lois Lane, played by senior Hayley Podschun. Lane has a history with character Bill Calhoun played by senior Eric Buell. Compared with last year’s production of Grease!, Kiss Me, Kate includes many different aspects. For the first time since the performance of West Side Story in 2000, there is a full orchestra pit, complete with 31 students. Among the different sets are two revolving, two-level sets that accommodate both the backstage scenes and the The Taming of the Shrew scenes. There are 40 students in the chorus, including some students who have performed in Blue Valley’s musicals since their freshman year. “Through these four years I have learned to appreciate all the work and discipline that goes into a show,” senior specialty dancer Kate Dunleavy said. “It’s important for the cast to become a family and build relationships both onstage and off.” Rehearsals began for the cast at the beginning of December and have steadily continued since. “I’m so excited about showing off the talents of our students,” Moeller said. “The cast is wonderful - they all have a good work ethic, and they’ve made this show stress free for me.”

Seniors Ryan Mundziak, Bryce Gray and Aaron Reinke, juniors Kevin Atherton and Jeff Heine, and sophomores Corey Gray and Bader Madoukh made state chairs in the all-state band. “It’s a group of the most talented high school musicians in the state,” Mundziak said. State chairs will travel to Wichita to perform with the rest of the state band in late February.

Excuses, Excuses

Senior citizens redefine senioritis

weirdnews:

lindsaypond

Musicians qualify for state chairs

Senior Colin Chase sings “Where is the Life that I Led,” a song about his character, Petruchio’s, former loves. Seniors Heather Gentry and Sarah Metcalfe act as Petruchio’s former girlfriends in this scene. photo by Jamie Hisle.

At age 91, Hunter "Red" Rountree was sentenced to 12 years in prison for robbing a bank. Other octogenarian criminals include Connecticut’s Daniel Putzel, 87, who was arrested for running a brothel, and Boston’s top cocaine dealer, Philip "Sonny" Baiona, age 80. The media claimed Baiona’s old age was a sign that the crime rate was declining. Printed with permission from www.newsoftheweird.com.

excusesexcuses:

staffwriter

katieabrahamson

“It’s at Barstow,” senior Mike Cuevas said to explain his missing book. “My Barstow friend borrowed it and gave it back to me while he was cleaning out his locker. But I lost it somewhere in the building. So, it’s still at Barstow.”

Senior Countdown: days

T HE TIGER

news

PR I N T

FRIDAY FEB

opinionseditor

Students skeptical about possible lunar exploration kylerogers

ith the mission to Mars ongoing, America’s eyes are fixed on the entire sky, not just the red planet. Pres. Bush announced his plans for further lunar exploration Jan. 14, and the news has Blue Valley stu-

dents curious. “I think it would be a good idea to go to the moon,” sophomore Ashley Basov said. “It will be a nice learning experience.” Bush’s ambition includes sending a mechanical mission to the moon in 2008 to map the

katieabrahanson

newsnotes

lunar surface followed by a mission in 2009 that will land on the moon. The goals for the second mission are not clear, but the talk of landing on the moon again has the students skeptical. “No, we won’t go to the moon,” sophomore Cori Davis

said. “I just don’t think it will happen. [Politicians] are just talking to get attention.” Pessimists say the missions won’t happen, but NASA isn’t the only space power interested in outer space. The European Space Agency plans to test a prototypical space ve-

hicle in 2007 that can endure far higher re-entry speeds. ESA’s project manager Franco Ongaro claims there won’t be competition between NASA, ESA or the Russians (who also have Martian ambitions), but another space race may ensue.

BV Students join State Choir

From Feb. 26 to Feb. 28, seniors Eric Buell and Maggie Steinmeyer will participate in State Choir in Wichita. Out of roughly 1500 students that auditioned, 240 students from across the state will rehearse seven state choir pieces and present a concert on Saturday night, Feb. 28. Buell, a tenor, is a three-year state member, and Steinmeyer, a soprano, is a first year member. Along with Buell and Steinmeyer, Blue Valley’s Chamber Singers will perform for all of the music teachers in the state on Feb. 27, and they will be the only high school show choir performing.

Blue Valley students will participate in the 15th Annual Education technology fair on March 11 in Topeka, Kan. The fair features 14 other schools whose students will demonstrate different aspects of education technology. BV will feature a Advanced Topcis in Computer Technology, student display. Teachers Connie Snodgrass and Kayla Bruce will attend the fair with students: Jennifer Bantham, Dan Cuevas, Tyler Dryden, Kate Dunleavy, Jordan Foote, Katie Lambeth, Andy Lavender, Dylan Manning, Kacie Matson, Cecily Miller, Ashley Portell, Patrick Snedden, Matt Tierny and Tracy Young.

Yearbook wins ‘03 All-Kansas The yearbook staff recently won the All-Kansas award for its 2003 edition from the Kansas Scholastic Press Association. The award will be presented at the state competition May 1 at the University of Kansas. The yearbook was cited for its excellence in concept, coverage and design. This was the first All-Kansas for the BV yearbook in several years. Managing editors for the 2003 edition were ‘03 graduates Alex Rampy and Heather Smith. The 2003-2004 newspaper staff will enter the All-Kansas Competition later this month. The winners will be announced at the state competition. The yearbook staff, along with the newspaper students, will compete at Regionals next Friday at KU. They are participating in one of three 5A/6A regional sites, the others being at Wichita State and Emporia State. The contests include several writing, design and photography categories in 17 contests with two to four entries.

Junior Dan McGillivray listens to a fellow debater. McGillivray and his partner Greg Allen were one of the seven teams to go to state. “It was more competitive [and] there were a few learning experiences,” McGillivray said. photo by Shay Alford

State debate takes third austinisham

staffwriter

maneezaiqbal

Education Technology Fair

reparing to go in and win a fifth straight state title in any high school event is, to say the least, hard. The debate team, this year, had a shot at just that. “We worked hard a lot in the week before state. We researched and practiced our speeches,” head coach Chris Riffer said. Though the team fell short of their goal of five state debate championships in a row, they still placed third in a tough field of teams. “We were all disappointed,” senior Lottie Likens said. But taking third behind Bishop Miege and McPherson is nothing to sneeze at. Miege,

the 2004 state debate champs, maintained 2nd and 3rd place finishes some of the years Blue Valley was champion. That is an indicator of how tight the field of competition is. “A lot of the other programs had progressed,” Riffer said. The topic resolved this year was: That the United States Federal Government should establish an ocean policy substantially increasing protection of marine natural resources. The general feeling of the team is that they had their high points and low points. “A positive would be that I think we had more kids succeed than in years past. Just a wider spectrum of kids with medals,” Riffer said.

One of Blue Valley’s strongest tournaments was the Olathe East tournament, where they closed out the top three spots. Also the teams of Kristen and TJ Trum, and Brett Farmer and Kate Reno were selected into the top 20 teams by debate coaches in the state. “We have a lot of talent, especially sophomores. They’ll bring a lot of leadership in the future,” junior Kristen Trum said. Another strong point of this team is their drive to succeed. “Tough losses at the state tournament took us out of first place, but I was proud of the way that our team did not give up and kept trying for third,” Riffer said.

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news

FRIDAY FEB

T HE TIGER

PR I N T

Black History month still being planned

Race for nomination continues newseditor

maneezaiqbal

s the primary season fast forwards, one thing should be clear to seniors and some juniors who will vote next November: The democratic candidate and Pres. George W. Bush will offer a clear choice. According to political experts, the democratic nomination is going to the man who is most likely to beat Bush— or electability. According to Newsweek’s national polls, Sen. John Kerry and Sen. John Edwards outpolled President George W. Bush. The percent of people that approved Bush’s presidency and programs has dropped for the first time

during his presidency. What does that mean? “Looking at [a candidate] wholistically, [he] is packaged and labled electable,” government teacher Bev Bertolone said. “The reason is because [Bush] has had a high approval rating.” The second round of the Democratic primaries were Tuesday Feb. 3 in South Carolina, Delaware, Missouri, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Arizona and New Mexico. Like the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, Sen. John Kerry came out on top taking five of the seven states: Arizona, Missouri, Delaware and New Mexico. However, native son, Sen. John Edwards, grabbed South Carolina

and Gen. Wesley Clark took Oklahoma by only a thousand votes. “The democrats have a lot of candidates. The primaries and the caususes are like football, whoever gets the most points wins,” Bertolone said. “A candidate [in the same way] has to go around to different states to win delegates. When July comes around, the candidate with the most delgates wins.” Once the front man for the nomination Sen. Howard Dean barely made third or fourth in most states; in Oklahoma he didn’t even get to the top four. Dean’s opposition to the war in Iraq got him the attention he needed to get ahead of the game. However, ac-

cording to Newsweek, the war isn’t the main issue anymore, the economy is the key. With high unemployment and an increasing deficit, voters want the problem fixed and fast. “When voters feel something in their pocket books, it translates into votes,” Bertolone said. Due to many defeats, Joe Lieberman ended his presidential campaign after the primaries saying, “It is time to make a difficult but realistic decision, to end my quest for the presidency of the United States of America.” Sen. Dick Gephardt put Missouri up for grabs when he dropped from the race.

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feel that the assembly gave off the wrong message. “Some input I’ve heard from other students about the assembly last year was that the students didn’t really appreciate it because it was one big thing that didn’t have much impact,” Ali said. “African-American students didn’t feel it represented their culture very well.” While this view is common with many students, some students said that the assembly last year had a positive effect on the perception of Black History month. “The Schlagle band was memorable and it was fun for the students,” sophomore LeVrrla Clayton said. “I enjoyed the event last year, and it was part of Black History for me.” Americans have recogn i z e d B l a c k History annually s i n c e 1926, first as “Negro Hist o r y We e k ” and later as “Black History Month.” This marked the beginning of real effort to study Black History.

lans are under way for a celebration of Black History month at Blue Valley High School later this month. February is internationally recognized as Black History Month, usually celebrated as a period to learn and understand the impact of Africans throughout American history. Although no plans have been officially put into place, project planner Junior Sameera Ali remains optimistic. “At this moment we’re trying to figure out a way to incorporate all different cultures aside from just planning one big event each year,” Ali said. “So if we do have one this year, it’s more or less that we emphasize the history and not just fun activities that don’t deal with t h e month.” Last year, Blue Valley High held an assembly that included the Schlagle band playing a collection of songs made by famous black artists.A leading member of the NAACP also gave a speech. However, some

4 snow days may lengthen school year maneezaiqbal

newseditor

photo printed with permission from www.mesademocrats.org

mattgalloway

staffwriter

Sen. John Kerry meets delegates when he enters the Sacramento Convention Center. Gen. Wesley Clark dropped from the race after the Feb. 10 primaries.

ast week students awoke Thursday and Friday morning to find that there was no school those days. This might have been a nice break for the students; however, the missed days will have to be made up. For every day students miss because of inclement weather, it has to be made up at the end of the year. So far this year BV has had four snow days. The end of theschool year is tentativly planned for June 4. District officials will determine the end of the school year after spring break. However, seniors don’t need to make up the snow days because they graduate before the school year ends. “Less school for us and more school for them,”senior Sara Allen. “I can make fun of everyone else.”

T HE TIGER

PR I N T

opinion

FRIDAY FEB

kylerogers

Students attempt making the grade, not learning the material herogersthat

wenty-three percent of Blue Valley students are on the principal’s honor roll. Twenty-seven percent received an academic letter in the fall. These facts are documented regularly, but how often do you hear, “Timmy learned a lot in my class this year, even though he got a C?” Not very often. It is great that this school is concerned with academics, for far too many schools pride themselves on athletics and activities alone. But is the emphasis on the correct place? Often students are so concerned with grade making that they forget about the learning that is supposed to occur in school. Far too often, teachers feel as if their class is the only part of a student’s life and assign hours of homework a night. I understand that AP classes will entail more effort that normal classes, but the work may have no relation to how much a student is

6001 W. 159th Street Stilwell, Kan. 66085 (913) 239-4946 The_Tiger_Print@yahoo.com

Staff ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Managing Editor~ Lindsay Pond Opinions Editor~ Kyle Rogers News Editor~ Maneeza Iqbal Sports Editors~ Kevin Loftus & Brandon MurrayMazany Entertainment Editor~ Mike Johnson Photo Editor~ Jamie Hisle Assistant Features Editor~ Andrew Robinson Advertising Manager~ Kim Hieber Adviser~ Susan Agee Reporters~ Sam Boyd, Adam Lary, Katie Abrahamson, Chris Bubeck, Nick Speed, Austin Isham, Michaela Cross, Dusty Riedesel, Matt Galloway Photographers~ Kristen Palmer & Brandon Lutz Artist~ Kelly Baker The Tiger Print is published nine times a year for the students, faculty and the surrounding community of Blue Valley High School. It is an open forum for student expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration or Blue Valley School District # 229.

more and potentially have a higher weighted GPA. To me, the second student will have gained more out of this school, for he or she has learned how to work hard while at the same timing gaining knowledge, higher GPA or not. I have no problem with rewarding hard workers, but those who truly gain knowledge should be recognized as well. Whether it’s a pat on the back from a teacher or a special dinner at Elephant Bar from parents, those who gain most from school must be rewarded too. If you’re the kid out there who is just in it for the grades, that is your choice. But if you’re the kid who is really learning, congratulations; you’re smarter than the rest of us. School is about learning, so next time your parents are on your back about your grades, pull out the plethora of information you gained en route to your diploma. If you can’t do that, then maybe you are in trouble.

Staff Editorial

T HE TIGER

Blue Valley High School

learning in the class. Should that not be the focus? Teachers are in the business of educating, and students are in the business of learning. No one is in the business of earning a good grade. While grades may reflect a student’s knowledge in some classes, they are often a glimpse into the determination of a student. It takes brains to be in the top 10 percent of the class, but some of the time, grades don’t go to the students with the most skill. What is a skill? One might ask. It appears to be a relative term, but based on class selections and weighted GPAs, the more skilled students tend to rise to the top. Class selection is at the heart of final class ranks. A student who takes the basic classes all the way through high school is likely to have a higher final GPA than a student of similar ability who challenges him or herself in more rigorous classes. The student with a rigorous schedule will learn

Valentine’s Day poses problem for drill team Dance or attend the dance? These Tigers don’t have a choice

rom: It’s a privilege for juniors and seniors. Girls dream of the perfect Prom and guys think about the hours after prom ends. Prom only comes maybe twice in a person’s life, but to miss it? What? That has to be a joke. The Drill Team came very close to this situation. Even though the school was kind enough to change the Prom date, the upcoming Sweetheart dance is a different story. Yes, Sweetheart, which also happens to be Valentine’s Day, will be missed by the Drill Team. This situation highlights the sacrifices these girls make while competing for the school. Last summer, toward the beginning of school, the team was informed about the possibilities for the upcoming winter guard competitions in the winter. What were the possibilities? Well, the team could choose to miss either Sweetheart or Prom. For the seniors, this was a predicament. Being the last year they will ever walk the halls, would they really give up a free Prom? So, the seniors vetoed missing Prom; thus the team had to miss Sweetheart. It didn’t seem so bad at the time. Sweetheart is not one of the most famous of the three dances the school sponsors, since most people don’t go to Sweetheart unless they have a person in mind to ask. Time passed, and suddenly the team found themselves swept up in the fury of perfecting three dance routines and learning two winter guard shows. Then came the realization of the obvious: Sweetheart was on Valentine’s Day. Could this really be true? Who, in the winter guard planning committee said okay to a Valentine’s Day competition? It may be true that Valentine’s Day is no more than a Hallmark holiday, but to all romantic couples out there, it’s an excuse for gifts and chocolate. For the girls, it usually means a free night’s meal and entertainment. For a competition that is mostly made up of girls, this creates a problem. It may be true that the sponsor cannot control the competition dates, and the team may need the competition. High school is supposed to be the prime time of a teenager’s life. Students find out who they are and enjoy just having fun. With the schedule of a drill team member, this is difficult. There is a total of 20 plus hours a week plus numerous weekend competitions, both fall and winter.

It all goes back to Sweetheart. It is just a dance and there will be others, whether it’s in college or at other events in life. But, it’s Valentine’s Day. It’s not just about being with a boyfriend or girlfriend; it’s about being with the people you love. Flowers, chocolate and sappy Hallmark cards are only part of the quirky traditions the holiday holds. It is a national celebration, which should make it a custom. When members complained of this, they were reminded they had agreed months before. But, who had the foresight to look at the calendar in August to see what day the dance fell on? While everyone else is getting gifts and eating lovely dinners, the 30 members of drill team will be competing in Tulsa, Okla. Sounds like an eventful night.. As their classmates we should, at the very least, voice our appreciation and give them a pat on the back.

FRIDAY FEB

T HE TIGER

opinion

PR I N T

Sound Off: BV ponders pending lunar colonies

“I like it. I’m all for advancing science.”

“I think it’s a good step for technology.”

“The ‘Phantom Planet’ rocks and will change our lives.”

senior Kris Pacinelli

“I think we have enough problems here on earth that we need to worry about first.”

senior Sam Prouty

PE teacher Peggy Rose

sophomore Clark Stinson

photo poll compiled by Jamie Hisle and Kristen Palmer

Students immortalized by recognition staffwriter

chrisbubeck

eroes get remembered, but legends never die.” For some, high school is just the next step of their lives. It’s an obvious choice in a long line of sequential tasks one must complete to live a long, fruitful life. In high school, sports and other after school activities offer kids the opportunity to excel and assert themselves as athletes, to find greatness and success in an alternative form of life. Many students find fame in high school sports and extra-curricular activities that lasts for the few short years they attend school. No matter how great the athlete though, his memory will eventually diminish with time. It takes something great to become forever. It takes getting your name on a board. For these students, sports and other extra curricular activities become a pathway toward immortalization, a pathway toward greatness, a pathway toward becoming a legend. The 2003 Tiger football players won the state championship in football and consequently will have their names displayed on a commemorative board on a wall in the gym. By winning the state championship, the football players not only achieved greatness, but they achieved something of legend like prowess: they achieved immortality. People always talk about the modern day fountain of youth. Living forever, will it ever be possible? The few students who get their names ingrained on a board may not live to walk this earth until the end of time, but their names will reign forever in the walls of our school. Times will pass, memories will fade, people will change and forget, but the legend of the 2003 football state championship that Blue Valley High School won, or the state debate tournament that the Tigers won in 2003, the state journalism championship of 1999, or the state baseball championship that was taken in 1992 will forever emit a special glow as it basks in its own glory from 20 feet up on a wall in the gym or forum.

staffwriter

Boards let BV legends live on Seniors trapped in lunchcage chrisbubeck

ext to the commons people may notice a small confined area that contains a plethora of awards that Blue Valley students have accumulated over its years. To protect these awards from any harm or defect some of these awards are caged behind doors under strict lock and key. It seems only fitting that anything else confined within the room would lie under strict lock and key as well. The senior lunchroom/cage, which shares a home with a shrine of Blue Valley’s greatness, has recently become the source of discontent for many seniors. As of late, a lunchroom administrator/patrolman has been assigned to this senior lunchroom denying an early exit to the senior hallway during the lunch hour. Consequently, the overall tension between staff and senior students has been turned up a degree or two. As a premature precautionary measure to the senior slacker attitude, the staff has stepped it up a notch. Since when has walking under the influence of chatting become a crime? God forbid that a four-year veteran of Blue Valley would sneak down to the senior hallway get to his or her locker a little early and talk for two minutes with friends or watch the TV’s placed in the hallway while waiting for class to begin. That could cause some real disruption and chaos to the intricate outline of the Blue Valley school day. Come on now; these seniors are students that have chosen Blue Valley High School as their school for their senior year. For the most part they’re people that take great pride in their school, that love their school and those that are associated with its name. Why fix what’s not broken? When was the last time that a senior ran rampant through the senior hall defacing school property and halting the learning process of those that reside within the school? Until that time comes, why assume that the senior slacker is also a senior who is going to leave his mark on the school before he or she goes? Contrary to popular opinion, most seniors value their remaining time here at Blue Valley. Again, it’s not broken, so why are we trying to fix it?

Crocodile Hunter upset that latest stunt perceived dangerous to infant son staffwriter

mattgalloway

rikey, mate!” Truer words have never been spoken by “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, who made a name for himself by wrestling with crocodiles and his wacky adventures with his wife on the Discovery Channel’s The Crocodile Hunter. But recently he’s gotten into some deep crikey following a stunt that many would consider child endangerment. Irwin, while holding a spe-

cial celebration at his Australia Zoo, held his one-month-old newborn child in his free arm while feeding a gigantic crocodile. That is right; the man who is best known for shoving his wife into croc-infested waters just became the world’s second most famous baby dangler. If that weren’t bad enough, he preceded to place the baby on the ground, encouraging him to walk by bobbing him up and down along the grass. The worst part about this

whole incident isn’t the fact that he put his kid in danger around a dangerous animal; it was his bitter and shocked attitude toward the public’s outrage. “It’s all about perceived danger; I was in complete control,” Irwin said after the stunt. Complete control? Yeah, that is what Roy is saying now on some Las Vegas hospital bed, recuperating from an attack by his normally calm white tiger. Irwin’s denial of having done

anything wrong is astounding, and it’s impossible to imagine anyone could be this oblivious. Even Michael Jackson expressed shame on himself after dangling his child over a balcony in Germany, but that isn’t the way Irwin wants to go out. After interviewing Irwin, the Australian Office of Workplace and Health Safety decided not to punish Irwin for his actions. Irwin’s child shouldn’t be taken away from him; that would be too drastic. Instead, make him

visit families who have been victims of crocodile attacks. Celebrities do get away with more than commoners, but they must face a different court, the one of public judgment. Irwin’s backlash against the media’s scolding should be a clear message to the public about what kind of a person he really is. If there’s one thing that Irwin has taught us during this whole incident, it’s that we indeed shouldn’t try this at home.

T HE TIGER

opinion

PR I N T

FRIDAY FEB

Johnson County bubble popped; neighbors appear strangers newseditor

maneezaiqbal

riving through Kansas, the Smith family is overcome with bewilderment and fear. The road up ahead looks strange, like it passes through a transparent wall. However, the wall, it’s waving. The Smith family tries to turn the car. They scream. It’s too late. The Smith family just entered the Johnson County Bubble. The bubble isn’t tangible, more figurative. People get sucked into it without even realizing it; yet there are still some who fight it. What is the bubble? The Smith family is about to find out. The Smith family keeps driving not knowing what to expect. Up ahead is a neighborhood. Seems nice and friendly. As they drive through, they notice something strange. Most people are out shoveling their driveways; however, no one is talking to his neighbor. The Smiths pass by two men who don’t even

turn to look at each other; it’s like they are invisible to each other. If they worked together they would be able to clean each driveway in half the time. People can live next to each other for 10 years, yet not know each other’s name. Did neighborliness die with Mr. Rogers? People are too involved in their own bubble to get to know the neighbors around them. In other places, neighbors collect each other ’s mail while they are gone , watch each other’s dog or have each other’s spare key in case the other gets locked out. Here, neighbors only talk if the leaves from a tree fall into their backyards or if someone’s dog pooped in their grass. They live divided by a line of woodenstick fences, unwilling to cross them to understand or meet their neighbor. The Smiths drive to a convenience store to get directions. Inside there is a group of people crowded around some TVs. A man in front of the crowd can be overheard saying, “That’s so cool; it

looks like the Fourth of July.” Curious, the Smith family comes over to see what is on. As they get closer the Smiths are appalled at what they see. The crowd is watching a live broadcast of the bombings in Iraq. People are dying and buildings are being reduced to rubble. The people think this is cool. Johnson County is sheltered from the outside world, positive that this would never happen to them; however, finding the destruction of a city to be amazing is sick. These people find pleasure in the spectacle of death. The Smiths continue to drive through Johnson County trying to find their way out. Johnson County has too many perfect little roads and neighborhoods . There are new cars, new stores, new houses, new everything. All the houses

are nice bodered by neat, perfectlymanicured lawns with high-tech sprinkler systems—the whole nine yards. However, do they know real problems? What is it like living pay check to pay check? No one knows that feeling. The biggest problem most families face is what color to paint their living room or if their father buys them the wrong cell phone. Johnson County is trapped in this bubble that no one is willing to leave behind. It’s like a shelter from the outside world— their neighbors. People only make friends with those of the same bubble and don’t even try to pop it to smell the fresh air. The Smith family drives toward a transparent wall, hoping this is the way out. As they drive through, they realize that the people can leave the bubble. But no one wants to.

“Did neighbor liness die with Mr Rogers?”

Student Voice The Tiger Print opened the editorial pages up to student submission, and the following are three of the entries received. We selected works that concern the students at Blue Valley. Here are the first two student pieces in the new TP series, Student Voice.

juniorCAIII

andrewblann

Give us sleep, or give us...SLEEP

rritable students, sleeping in class and arriving late, what is the cause of all this? Students are waking up too early, that is the answer. Many students are up before 6:30 a.m. because of activities at the school or just to get ready. If school started at 8:45 a.m. instead of 7:45 a.m., students would have better grades, be in a better mood and be able to focus. Most high school students need an average of eight and one-quarter hours of sleep each night, as stated by Dr. Ronald Dahl, director of child and adolescent sleep laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Many students are not getting the recom-

shayalford

mended amount of sleep because they have to wake up early to go to school or they were doing homework all night. If school started an hour later than it does, students would have the opportunity to get the correct amount of sleep. Dr. Dahl also said “The main effects of insufficient sleep at these younger ages are behavioral and emotional chances.” If school started an hour later, students and teachers would both be in a better mood and feel refreshed. Also, students would have time for a nutritious breakfast instead of an EGGO. A nutritious breakfast would help them perform far better in school. Also, morning activities at the school would not have to start at 6 a.m. because

rate than when school started earlier. Some critics may say that starting school an hour later would give students an excuse to stay up an hour later. Some students may do this, but if a student has to work until 10 p.m. and then has homework to do after work, school starting an hour later would make it much easier for them to get enough sleep. Whether school starting later would benefit students or teachers by giving them more time to sleep or just let them get up later in the morning, it would be beneficial. Sleep is how people recharge their batteries, and if they have to get up early they will never get a chance to do so.

Friends don’t let friends drink and drive

n one year alone, 17,419 lives were needlessly taken in alcohol-related accidents according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Knowing just this one statistic, why would anyone choose to drink and drive, when it shatters so many lives? Why would you choose to do nothing? Maybe people don’t understand the consequences of driving while under the influence, or maybe they don’t care. Whatever the reason is, drunk driving needs to stop. When someone has just one beer or glass of wine, it takes at least one hour before the alcohol is completely depleted from his or her system. Think about it: the more alcohol a person consumes, the more time it takes to exit his body. After just one drink, it impairs judgment. So imagine after four drinks how vision, thinking, judgment and decision making are impaired. So why would anyone get into a car and drive? Apparently, people do drink and drive, or 41 percent of all traffic deaths caused by alcohol-related crashes would not happen (NHTSA). People under

juniorCAIII

of time constraints. This would make it easier for students to focus in class because they weren’t up before 6 a.m. to get to school. There would be no need for sleeping in class. Students would learn more and teachers could focus on teaching and not on students sleeping. Teachers could teach more and students would get better grades because they would be well rested. In Minnesota, high schools moved classes to start at 8:30 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m.; grades went up, discipline problems went down, students calling in sick went down and depression among students also fell. Teachers said that students were paying attention during their first hour classes at a much higher

“I got into my own car, sure to get home in one piece, never knowing what was coming, something I expected least. Now I’m lying on the pavement. I can hear the policeman say, ‘The kid that caused this wreck was drunk.’ His voice seems so far away. My blood is all around me, as I try hard not to cry. I can hear the paramedic say, ‘This girl is going to die.’ I’m sure the guy had know idea, while he was flying high, because he chose to drink and drive that I would have to die.” Retold by Jane Watkins

the influence tend to overestimate both their state of mind and their ability to drive. For every 30 minutes, or 1,800 seconds, someone dies in an alcohol-related accident (NHTSA). That’s 84 people in a single day, and one person will be dead before the end of this class period. For every two minutes that pass, someone will have non-fatal injuries. Collectively, one million people are injured in just one year. Don’t wait until that one person is your parent, sibling, spouse or child. Take action now to support sobriety check or organizations such as MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) or TADD (Teens Against Drunk Driving). Push for “zero-tolerance” laws, for drivers under 21, to be implemented in your community because when that one person out of 17,419 people is someone you love, you’ll wish you had done more to have prevented them from dying an early death. Don’t regret not taking action while there’s still time. Never know the person who chose to drink and drive, so that your loved one would have to die.

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. . .AND TWINS Blue Valley sees multiples through halls staffwriter

nickspeed

Clockwise from top left: Tyler and Hunter Madl, Kati and Brad Chinery, Grant and Keaton Baker, Laura and Rachel Cecil. They all have one thing in common, their twins at Blue Valley. photos by Brandon Lutz

alking in the halls of Blue Valley High sometimes it could feel like you’re experiencing deja vu. Maybe you are and maybe you are seeing one of the many sets of twins in BVHS. The Bakers, Cecils, Chinerys, Lamlies, Luis, Madls and Rasas are all sets of twins attending this school. Grant and Keaton Baker are a wild, wrestling set of twins. This set of twins has pulled all of the usual stunts a set of twins can pull. “I took and failed a spelling test for Keaton.” junior Grant Baker said, “and I got him three detentions when we were in elementary school.” Grant is two minutes older than his twin brother, but Keaton claims to be smarter. “He might be able to beat me on the wrestling mat,” junior Keaton Baker said, “but I can beat him in the classroom.” Laura and Rachel Cecil have been twins since Oct. 28, 1986. Rachel is older by eight minutes. Laura

Stars come in pairs, too staffwriter

kimhieber Entertainment in America has been enriched by many actors over the years. Some of the most unique talent that has touched American cinema comes in doubles. In other words, America loves twins. Think about it, there are the Olsens, the Mowrys and the Bushs. They’re everywhere. They’re in the newspapers, on the television and in the movies. They can act, they can sing and most importantly, they can sell. It’s time to take a deeper look at these two hit wonders. Born on June 13, 1986 in Sherman Oaks, Calif., Mary Kate and her twin sister Ashley Olsen have been in the acting business ever since they turned one. In 1987, they got their first hit role as Michelle Tanner in the popular television series, Full House. During the years the show was one the air, the girls had a television popularity rating second to only Bill Cosby. By the time the ’90s rolled around, the girls had teamed up with Robert Thorne and created Dualstar, their production company. Since then, they have starred in many only-to-video movies, one big screen hit, It Takes Two, and two television series, Two of a Kind and So Little Time. They currently live in Hollywood, Calif. with their mom and their siblings. In 2004,

their next big screen movie, A Yale. Both are extremely proud New York Minute, will hit the- of their father, the president, aters. They will be attending and they are honored to be his New York University in fall of daughters. Twins will always be around 2004. and they’re uniqueness will forAnother two of a kind in the ever include them in America’s entertainment business are Tia entertainment industry. Every and Tamera Mowry. Born in time one of these talented West Germany on July 6, 1978, young women are spotted, they entered the entertainment make sure to do a double take industry when mentioned to because their other half is sure De Passe Entertainment by their younger brother, Tahj’s, to be around there somewhere. agent. Ever since then they have starred in the hit television series, Sister Sister, and have participated in many projects for both Nickel•At 5’2’’ Ashley is four odeon and Walt Disney. inches taller than MaryIn the political Kate. world, twins ex•Mary-Kate is left ist as well. For instance, the handed, Ashley is rightpresidential handed twins, Jenna and Barbara Bush. •Ashley enjoys dance and Born on Nov. 11, tennis, while Mary-Kate 1981, these two enjoys horses. have grown up in the media •They’re the sign Gemini their entire lives. •They also own the enter Jenna is currently attending tainment company, the University Dualstar of Texas and Barbara attends

OLSENS AT A DOUBLE GLANCE

plays volleyball and Rachel dances on the drill team. “The best part about having a twin is having double the clothes,” junior Laura Cecil said, “and you don’t get bored because the other one is always there.” Brad and Kati Chinery are fraternal twins who are opposites. Brad is older by one minute. “She is an extrovert; I am an introvert,” junior Brad Chinery said. “I am smarter, and she is not as smart.” “We speak when we have to,” junior Kati Chinery. Hunter and Tyler Madl are another set of wrestling twins. Hunter is in the heavier weight class, which is why he would win in wrestling match between the two. “I would definently witn,” sophomore Hunter Madl said. “He’s just not big enough.” These individuals experience advantages and disadvantages to having a person that has the same birthday, as he or she does. Some are better than others.

DOUBLE TROUBLE Jenny and Jessica Lui Identical Twins Right Dominant Hand Right Pink Favorite Color Blue Volleyball Favorite Sport Volleyball Pizza Favorite Food Pizza Older Age Younger None Favorite Subject CA Taylor and Kiley Laemmli Right Dominant Hand Right Red Favorite Color Pink Dance Favorite Sport/Hobbie Soccer and Volleyball Spaghetti Favorite Food Mac and Cheese Younger Age Older Comm. Arts Favorite Subject Art

Travis and Tyler Smith Right Dominant hand Right Red Favorite color Red Baseball Sports Baseball Younger Age Older Math Favorite subject Math Pizza Food Chicken strips

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Who will be the

king and quee our of

staffwriter

katieabrahamson

Valentine’s Day, a typically romantic holiday, also happens to be the date of this year’s Sweetheart Dance. A week culminating in Spirit Week, Rose Grams, Sweetheart King and Queen candidates, decorating the halls, results from the MatchMaker quiz and tonight’s varsity basketball game vs. Northwest will come to an end with the Sweetheart Dance tomorrow night. The theme, “A Night in New Orleans,” will recreate the French-quarter of New Orleans during Mardis Gras. Any students who would like to help with the decorations can meet in the commons tomorrow morning at 8, and the decorations should be complete around noon. Pajama Day kicked off a week of students proudly showing their spirit, with Tuesday as Blast From the Past Day, Wednesday as Class Color Day, Thursday as Sports Day and Friday as the traditional Black and Gold Day. Yesterday included the Sweetheart Assembly, and the Sweetheart King and Queen candidates were presented. The Queen candidates are seniors Emmy Bridges, Kristin Driskell, Ashley Lewis, Hayley Podschun and Andrea Steele. The King candidates are seniors Marshal Banks, Mitch Hall, Josh Korkenmeier, Andrew Lasche and Travis Upah. The Junior Attendants are Hillary Freeman and Nick

History

Biagioli. The students voted for the King and Queen, during seminar, and the King and the Queen will be crowned at the dance at 9:30. This year, students, especially boys, are excited for Sweetheart, because it not only lands on Valentine’s Day, but the dance is typically WPA, or paid for by the girls. “From the financial standpoint, I’d say that I prefer Sweetheart,” senior Tim Olson said. “But, it’s also good because girls tend to put more thought into asking the guys in creative ways.” Although some girls are scared to ask their sweetheart to the dance, many girls have faced their fears, and thought of unique ways to invite someone to Sweetheart. Senior Randi Leiker sent a “pass” to her fellow senior friend, Andrew Lasche, asking him to the dance. Senior Maggie Steinmeyer baked a chocolate heart-shaped cake that asked senior Mitch Hall to go to Sweetheart with her. Junior Kati Thomas wrote, “Will you go to Sweetheart with me?” on senior Andrew Newberry’s car. Once girls get up the nerves to ask someone, they tend to enjoy the planning and organization that Sweetheart requires. “I think it’s fun for the girls to plan it,” Thomas said. “It’s much more organized with us!” The dance begins at 8 p.m., ends at 11 p.m. and tickets cost $5 per person, $10 per couple.

of Sweetheart

The royalty of Sweetheart’s past

2003

Class of 2003:

Stephanie Schneider

2002

heart Josh Koerkenmeier

Who are you going with? Andrea Steele Where are you going for d My house

Andre

Who are you g Josh Koer What color is y Black an

Ashley Lewis

Who are you going with? Michael Denning Where are you going for din Yahooz

Travis

Who are you goin Kristen What’s you favorite spir Black and Gol

Marshal Banks

Who are you going with? Holli Goode What’s your favorite spirit d Class color day

Kristin D

Who are you goin A group of girls and Jord What color is yo Black an

Andrew Baker

Emmy Bridges

Who are you going with? Jamie Mahoney What’s your favorite spirit d Pajama Day

Class of 2002:

Cher Nelsen

Zach Orrick

Andrew La

Who are you goin Randi What’s your favorite sp Black and

Mitch Ha

2001

Class of 2001:

Emilie Guenther

Dane Hanson

Who are you going Maggie Steinm Where are you going for It’s a surpris

Hayley Podschun

Who are you going with? Bryan Swallow Where are you going for din Lydia’s

ts?

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FRIDAY FEB Should guys have to bring more than the standard corsage because it’s Valentine’s Day?

“Since the girls are paying for everything, the guys should bring a little something.” freshman Taylor Haggerty

T HE TIGER

“No because it’s just like any other dance.” freshman Brent Curry

“Yes, because it’s Valentine’s Day, and they should get something for their sweetheart.” sophomore Amy Ster

“It’s cool to bring flowers.” junior David Borgerding

dinner?

ea Steele

going with? rkenmeier you dress? nd Gold

Will Valentine’s Day be a

Sweetheartbreaker?

nner?

s Upah

ng with? Palmer rit day? ld Day

day?

riskell

g with? don Scafe ou dress? nd Gold

day?

asche

ng with? i Leiker pirit day? Gold Day

all

g with? meyer dinner? se.

nner?

dustinriedesel

Staff members Dustin Riedesel and Lindsay Pond argue the pros and cons of the dual celebration.

magine the Sweetheart Dance and Valentine’s Day as two cheeseburgers that cost $1 apiece. Well, having sweetheart and Valentine’s on the same day is like a double cheeseburger...at half-price. A lot of guys, due to the natural consideration of their masculinity, feel obligated to pay for something at Sweetheart, even though the girl should be the one footing the bill. Likewise, any guy with ties to a girl is socially forced into buying some token of affection on Valentine’s Day. Finally, thanks to the Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Dance, guys can purchase just the Valentine’s Day gift, and feel vindicated in not paying for so much as the extra ranch dressing for her chicken fingers. lindsaypond The romantic atmosphere will still be obnoxiously thick. After all, girls can still flutter with delight at the guy’s sensitive and or girls, the price of the cheeseburger is heartfelt gift, while experiencing the fulfilling knowledge that not an analogy, but the reality of the boys feel absolutely giddy from all their savings. The Saturday’s Valentine’s Day-Sweetheart Dance extravahappiness is heightened; all seems right in the world, ganza. For girls, it’s not two for the price of one, but one and passion ensues. for the price of two. Now, there is no reason that girls should feel like they A girl is paying for two meals and two tickets, and in return, conare getting cheated. They are still going to get their sidering it is Valentine’s Day, she might receive the full bouquet as rightful holiday treatment. If anything, they should opposed to the mere corsage or a box of chocolates if she’s lucky. It’s not a feel liberated. They get to slip off the Valentine’sfair deal. gift hook altogether. However, in light of this disIn previous years, it was a fair deal. Previously, boys couldn’t completely counted freedom, it would be nice if the girl felt scoff at taking girls out on Valentine’s Day, and girls had some obligation to compelled to increase the quality of the sweetheart take boys to Sweetheart; it was a decent trade-off. However, this year it will treatment. not be surprising to see some boys hold back their “masculinity” and take In the end, it’s impossible for anyone to turn the Women-Pay-All aspect of the dance to heart. Ultimately, girls will get the down a deal as good as this. Students are shaft. getting both days for the price of one. Money is not the only deterrent for girls; an increase in romance can also be The quality of the ambiance for an increase in drama. If it has to be two for one, girls want a night that is nearly this one night greatly outperfect. With high expectations for the evening, girls will be shooting venom, not weighs two days of a fluttering with delight when their dates are anything less than attentive and affecdrawn-out, stressful tionate. struggle to initiate a The oozing romance itself could be considered a draw back to the night. Valentine’s Day positive environis one of the most romantic days of the year so going to the dance “as friends” seems ment. It’s romantic unlikely. A girl can’t really say, “Hey boy-next-door buddy, would you like to spend the multiplication a romantic evening as childhood friends with me?” Not every girl takes her Harlequin combined with heartthrob to Sweetheart. economic subSetting aside love and romance, the sheer fact that the dance is on Valentine’s traction. Day is bound to cause some technical difficulties. Take dinner, for instance: it’s hard enough to vie for dinner reservations before a school dance without Valentine’s Day. Now imagine every other couple in the metropolitan area, seventh graders to senior citizens, also competing for a special holiday-of-love meal; most dance-bound couples will be eating double cheeseburgers at McDonald’s anyway for lack of a better option.

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The staffwriter

nickspeed

oday is Friday, the thirteenth of February. You probably know that all of the movie rental establishments have already rented out all of their copies of Friday the Thirteenth. This legendary movie has been terrifying viewers for almost 30 years. The common misconception of this movie is that Jason Vorhees is the killer. No doubt Mrs. Vorhees is the original killer but her son Jason is the villain in the rest of the Friday the Thirteenth movies. The first Friday followed a group of teenage students to a secluded camp for the weekend. These students follow all of the horror film rules you are always told not to do. “Who’s there?”, “I’ll be right back”, having sex, doing drugs. All of these things are wound throughout the story. It is a good flick for scares but not for

13th

History Revealed: The reason behind Friday the 13th Superstitions

Friday the 13th is a superstition in itself. That day no one wants to break a mirror, walk under a ladder, or cross the path of a black cat. Hotels never have a floor 13. People avoid tables with 13 seats. And, this all has to do with the fear of the number 13. In Italy, at birth, the children are given necklaces with the number 13 for good luck. Here, people fear it. Why? It’s just a number. In most English speaking countries, if someone breaks a mirror, it is seven years’ bad luck. Or, if they step on a crack, they break their mother’s back. If someone rolls out of bed on the opposite side of bed they got in on, there is another strike of bad luck. What happens if you rock an empty rocking chair? Yea, that’ll bring bad luck too. So, for all of these unlucky things, why not carry around a rabbit foot? Or, why not search for a four-leaf clover? Or, carry around a horseshoe. These will all make you feel safe. If someone wants a wish to come true, blow out all birthday candles in one breath. Or, get the longer end of the wishbone when it breaks, and that’ll bring the wish. On this date, people can do whatever they feel like. Whether people hide under their bed, watch the famous Friday the Thirteenth movies, or go out and do everything unlucky there is. Some people feel that the date is just another day. Rabbit foots are just something a rabbit uses to walk with, a horseshoe goes on a horse’s foot, and a fourleaf clover is just impossible to find.

adamlary

ince Friday the 13th is a day focused on superstition and scariness, here’s a Top 10 list of the best scary movies of all time. All choices were handpicked by the entertainment editor, Michael Johnson.

Alien. This 1979 movie creatively combines science fiction with classic horror. The technology was astounding for the time period, and it is still stunning to this day. In this movie, the crew of the Nostromo spacecraft battles with death from a murderous alien invader that lives on humans.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Based on a true story, this film 9The captured the attention of millions of Americans when it first came out in the 1980’s. The uniqueness comes from the emphasis on cannibalism rather than the typical slasher movies that were popular at that time. The remake was actually scarier than the original, but both versions are fit for a spot in the Top 10 list. Haunting. Like most good movies, this one also has an origi8The nal from 1963. The 1999 version follows the same plot: four participants stuck in a mansion for a sleep disorder study. Mystery is combined with the suspense as Lili Taylor reveals the hidden secret of the house. Shining. It’s Jack Nicholson at his best. Before he became the 7The overrated actor that he is today, Nicholson was the star of this classic 1980 horror movie. Set in an isolated hotel, he works on a novel. His interests change, however, when the loneliness overtakes him and he begins to terrorize his family. Silence of the Lambs. After this film swept the 1991 Oscars, it 6The also deserves a spot in the Top 10 horrors of all time. Horror, however, is not a word to describe this one. Jodie Foster interviews serial killer Anthony Hopkins for information on another murderer aiming at young women. The tables turn when a personal connection sparks between Hopkins and Foster as he makes her his vulnerable subject. the 13th. Everyone loves a typical slasher. Jason, who can 5Friday always be associated with a hockey mask, targets random people in the countless movies of his defeats, and then revivals. The only slasher movie that can top Friday the 13th 4Halloween. is Halloween. This series has more personal connections between the characters. Michael Myers, brother of Jaime Lee Curtis, comes out on Halloween every year in attempt to kill his sister. These movies offer more twists and better themes than Jason movies.

Halloween Resurrection

michaelacross araskevidekatriaphobia. The fear of Friday the 13th. No one knows for sure how the taboo surrounding Friday the 13th began, but there are many possible scenarios. One of the possibilities revolves around the history of the Knights Templar. The Knights Templar was a group of “warrior monks” formed during the Crusades to fight against Islam. The group became so powerful that the kings and popes began to see them as a threat. According to the book Tales of the Knights Templar by Katharine Kurtz, a night raid left thousands of the Templars arrested and charged with heresy. The raid was conducted on Friday, Oct. 13, 1307. In Rome, Friday was execution day. However, the number 13 is not unlucky for all. The Chinese regarded the number as lucky, as did the Egyptians in the time of the pharaohs. The Egyptians believed there were 13 stages in life, the thirteenth stage being death. But not in the way that we think of death. Death was a good thing to them, because it brought them into the afterlife. Even though it is a superstition, fear of Friday the 13th isn’t entirely fictional. A study published by the British Medical Journal in 1993 actually showed that Friday the 13th is unlucky for some. According to the study, while there were fewer vehicles on the road on Friday the 13th, there was approximately a 52 percent increase in hospitalizations due to car accidents. Maybe it’s real or maybe it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.

michaeljohnson

Movies continue their scary appeal 10 acting or screen play skills. Virtually all “unknowns” the cast does a stereotypically poor job of acting in a horror movie. Kevin Bacon did make an appearance, but he got killed after he lit himself a joint. The second Friday was not as good as the first, like always, but it was decently scary. Another set of student go innocently into the forest; only a few of them come back. Same place but different killer. Jason does the slaughtering in the second movie. More technology, more gore and more bad stuff that everyone knows that you’re not supposed to do. If you’re a guy with a girl and you are having cuddling problems, rent one of these movies and find yourself a comfortable couch. All of your cuddling issues will disappear. If you are looking for a good scare rent Friday. But if you are looking for superb acting and a good plot, rent something else.

FRIDAY FEB

Top 10 Scary movies of all time

Friday

entertainmenteditor

photo printed with permission from Kenston

Although students may not find this 1960 film scary any3Psycho. more, it was one of the most famous movies of all time, and it sparked the creation of all horror movies seen today. The infamous “shower scene” remains one of the most memorable scenes in cinema history. Exorcist. Although this movie has controversial issues about 2The whether it’s just plain sick or a cinematic masterpiece, the fact still remains that it is downright awesome. Most of the sickening scenes are what makes it scary, such as the infamous “pea soup” scene. The Exorcist is extremely unique as it focuses on a priest attempting to exorcise the devil from a 12-year old girl. Ring. Whether it is a classic or a typical slasher, no movie can 1The amount to The Ring. It totally exceeds all expectations of horror as it revolutionized scary movies. More unexpected twists lie in this movie alone than all scary films put together. It’s based on a video that gives you seven days to live before you mysteriously die. One woman takes it into her own hands to end the curse of the tape.

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The Perfect Score now showing Movie intends to lower stress of SAT, ACT tests The C

PERFECT SCORE

ow much easier would it be to live in this world if there were always ways to cheat the system? The answer is simple; it would be a lot easier. There are too many stressful situations that people get into that just seem like a waste of time. One such thing is the SAT test that juniors take every spring. Nobody enjoys taking the test, but no one has ever done anything to keep from doing so until now. America’s entertainment industry presents a new movie that will change the way teens look at the college entrance exams. This movie is The Perfect Score. Centered around six teen-age kids who each have their own unique problem, The Perfect Score is a unique movie about a plot to steal the answers to the SAT test. The plot is started by one

kid who has been trying to get into an Ivy League school but has been falling short every time. The way he sees it, the only way to achieve his dreams is to cheat the system. One by one, more kids find out about this devious plan and decide to join in for their own interests. The movie is both humorous and touching as these six kids bind together to complete their wacky plan. The movie hit theatres on Jan. 30, and has so far been doing fairly well in the box office. Its appeal is aimed toward teens, though it may prove to be entertaining to those who have already taken the SAT. Mostly, any juniors who are presently stressing over the SAT or ACT test should definitely go see the movie. It might take some of the pressure off and prove to be a great time.

localtalent

brandonmurray-mazany

sportseditor

staffwriter

kimhieber

ixed in with hundreds of other students, senior Brendan Weir has a talent few know about, nor appreciate. Standing at a modest 5’7, 135 pounds Weir does things most men tremble at, much less would think of doing themselves. He is a flame throwing, knife twirling, fire-breathing fanatic. “I began by just juggling,” Weir said. “Now I can juggle fire, knives, play with devil sticks and breathe fire.” Although the sport is not illegal, one must have license to perform in public. “Usually I just do it at my house,” he said. “When people want to see me do it, I go to an open parking lot.” To many his passion might seem cool and different, but with most everything there are consequences. Weir has burned and cut himself several times. “One time I was juggling my knives, which were thoroughly sharpened,” he said. “I lost concentration for a brief moment and it sliced into my hand.” Weir ended up having four stitches to close the wound. Like juggling knives, breathing fire is just as thrilling.

“All you do is put lighter fluid in your mouth and spit it out in a mist spray,” Weir said. “Usually I singe my eyebrows and eyelashes when it happens; it smells really terrible.” Like every good thing, you must pay a price. Recently Weir’s torches were stolen, but it didn’t set him back any. “I am going to get new ones,” he said. “To breathe fire you must be willing to spend quite a bit of cash. Together the lighter fluid, wicks and torches will cost you a couple of hundred bucks a year.” To Weir it is entirely worth it. “It is a great party trick,” he said. “I like it cause you can feel it on your lips, yet it doesn’t burn.” How did he become so attracted to this hobby? During seventh grade Brendan became bored with the usual turkey-day festivities, so decided to start something new. “I found myself with nothing to do,” he said. “It is something different. Kansas is so boring, so it gave me something to do.” For Brendan, fire breathing is only temporary. But it is a talent he will keep with him all of his life “My tricks are just hobbies right now.” he said. “But I am always willing to perform them.”

Brendan Weir Juggler

Brendan Weir juggles fire. He also breathes fire and juggles knives. photo by Kristen Palmer

e. r the gam e t f a y t r pa nna be a here’s go

You can bet on it.

So, there wil l probably be filled with a little bit of kegs of beer and coole Good times. rs this, little bit of that.

BUT...

You know drinking under 21 is illegal. rink, choice to d e h t e k a be blowing. m d u l o cou u o y So, if y t a h w a e no ide over driving drunk, say you hav by the cops, or pulled ght drinking at a party

goodbye

Get cau days. to your license for 30

Oh, and yo car insu ur ranc r e they ates— ’re g o go t hrou nna g the roof h .

Get caught again and yo u’re bummin (Plus, you can g rides for a year. guarantee your parents will have to put up the cash to bail you out of jail.)

w it. o l b don’t NOT t s u J ame. g e h ter t f a n fu Have L. COO

A program of the Kansas Department of Transportation • www.ksdot.org • 1-877-715-3377

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FRIDAY FEB

LIVING IT LIVE NBA LIVE 2004 keeps tradition of good gaming going NBA LIVE 2004 keeps tradition of good gaming going featureseditor

andrewrobinson ideo games are chang ing every day, whether it’s the graphics, the capabilities or the overall perforPrice: $49.99 mance. One game that has Consoles: XBox, Game Cube, changed a lot is EA Sports’ NBA Live 2004. PS2 When first starting the game the Availability: Already for sale loading process doesn’t take nearly at most electronic stores as long as other EA games. Again Number of Players: 2 real life players open up the game with the EA Sports slogan “If it’s in the game, it’s in the game.” From there the game goes to its first main screen where you can navigate easThere is also a 2-3 zone and a double team ily to numerous different features trap. The defensive side of the ball is much like create-a-player or roster maneasier than the offensive side of the ball. agement. One of the worst parts Teams that have a good big man down low about the main menu screen is the can run a 2-3 zone and be very successful music; it is often a horrible song that because the guards often drive and the athmixes lyrics and bad instrumentals letic big men like Shaq and Raef LaFrentz that are awful. At times, the music will average probably 12 blocks a game with makes you want to push the mute the 2-3 defense. button. There are many different When it comes to the offense, getting gofeatures; you can take a team ing is a little bit more difficult. Again there through a season, you can draft, are four main offenses which include a pick trade and make other big decisions and roll, isolation, three-point and a highregarding your team. You can also low set. It is easier though just to run a play a One-on-One with any two freestyle offense, just taking things as they players in the league. come. You can use the passing icons which It is very easy to start a game and means you can skip a pass and you don’t decide which team you are going to have to go directly to the closest guy. One play. Your team can play with evIn a screenshot from NBA Live 2004, the Net’s Richard Jefferson goes of the nicest things about LIVE is the fact ery NBA team as well as the Eastup for the shot over the Spur’s Tim Duncan. photo used with permisthat the shooting is inconsistent; every shot ern or Western Conference All-Star sion from IGN.com doesn’t go in and that makes it fun. It is Teams and the All-’50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, truly real basketball; it is not just a virtual ‘80s or ‘90s teams. From that page game. It makes the game more realistic. you can choose what uniform your There are a few features that LIVE is lacking; it could use a three point team may wear during the game. They have all the home and away uniforms, as shootout competition and a slam dunk competition; one may wish there was well as alternates and old-school uniforms. Moving onto the actual game, before the game starts player introductions are something to do besides play a game on LIVE. Overall it is a good gameincluded. Broadcasting legend Marv Albert takes on the play-by-play duties while playing experience and is enjoyable. The game has all the NBA highlights that Mike Fratello picks up the color commentary. While playing there are four basic are up to date and enjoyable. So if you are a ready baller that enjoys some defensive sets; a man to man defense, both at a half court and full court level. gaming, LIVE is just for you.

FULL COURT FACTS

You’re Invited to…

7:54 p.m. every Monday night starting Feb. 2 at The Conveyor (151st and Travis/Metcalf).

Come see for yourself, it’s not like anything else.

sports

FRIDAY FEB

T HE TIGER

PR I N T

Youth movement Rookies Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James taking NBA by storm dustinriedesel

andrewrobinson

as Vince Lombardi said “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing ”

featureseditor

staffwriter

eBron James and Carmello Anthony are to be forever intertwined. Both sensations came into the league this year separated by only one draft pick. The two similar-sized players play similar positions in a similar offensive scheme. They both play in the gutter of the league with Carmello in Denver and James in Cleveland, and they are both producing with correlating stats (LeBron holds the edge in scoring and assists by one and two respectively, while Carmello out rebounds his rival by nearly three boards per outing). Those resemblances are what make the Mello-James arguments so common. A case can be made for either player as the rookie of the year, but in the end, a person would have to be as uneducated as LeBron himself to recognize James as a more valuable player than Anthony. The number one thing in the NBA is winning. A general manager doesn’t sign a player because he can score, pass or rebound. Those are merely assets that may facilitate winning, but the only real reason any GM signs or trades anyone is so that his team will improve and win more games. Both Denver and Cleveland are relatively the same teams that they were last year save the acquisitions of their wonderful whippersnappers. Not coincidentally, Denver is a much-improved team, while Cleveland continues to wallow in the sewer of the league. Who is the better individual player? It’s a mystery, but it doesn’t matter because the NBA is going to keep on playing five-man basketball where success is only measured in wins and losses. Much like Kobe Bryant receives mass media monitoring, he doesn’t receive any of the MVP awards that Tim Duncan does. The comparison is another similarity that Anthony and James are attached to, and it gives Carmello the edge in this argument because, just like Vince Lombardi said, winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.

n this young NBA season there are two rook ies that are standing out in everyone’s mind, LeBron James and Carmello Anthony. There has been much controversy over who is better. First I’d like to start off with a similarity. Both play in cities that are huge basketball towns and everyone’s vacation destination, Denver and Cleveland. But similarities aside let’s begin to look at the differences. LeBron just signed a huge shoe deal with this little sneaker company called Nike, while Carmello continues to order his shoes out of the monthly Eastbay magazine. LeBron decided that a college campus was not good enough for him and jumped right from Prep School into the NBA, while Carmello went to a year of college, won a national championship, and then continued onto the NBA. LeBron has received much more attention, though, for his efforts throughout his young career; the only attention Carmello has garnered from the media is from Dick Vitale, the bald-headed analyst employed by ESPN as he was considered a “Diaper Dandy” by Dickie V, while LeBron has been featured in every magazine from Sports Illustrated to SLAM, the maga- printed with permission from membres.lycos.fr/jujoseph/lames.htm zine all about basketball. Something that is relevant to basketball is the fact that Lebron is at the top of all the rookies in most of the stat categories. Also LeBron plays with a team that is about as good as the Clippers. He plays for the Cavaliers, and they only won 16 games last year; they definitely need some help and have been getting that from James. Who can’t say that LeBron James is better than Carmello? There is no doubt in my mind that LeBron in the long run will have a much more successful career than Carmello. Who knows in five years the Cavaliers maybe in the hunt for their first NBA Finals championship after LeBron puts more money into the organization from their fan support, and they will be able to build an all-star cast to supplement LeBron’s great play.

A Cool Place to Party!

Upcoming Sporting Events Feb. 14- EKL Varsity Wrestling tourney at home. Feb. 16- So/JV/V GBB at Miege. Feb. 17- So/JV/V BBB vs. Miege. Feb. 20- State swimming at KSU Feb. 20- JV/V BBB and GBB at BV West. Feb. 21- Regional wrestling at Mill Valley. Feb. 26- So/JV/V GBB at BV North. Feb. 27- So/JV/V BBB at BV North. Feb. 27,28- State Wrestling at Wichita. March 4,5,6- Sub-State BBB at Paola. March 4,5,6- sub-State GBB at Paola. March 10,11,12,13- State BBB at Topeka

“Who can’t say that LeBron is better than Carmello?”

YOUR EMBROIDERY HEADQUARTERS

Go Tigers! Make sure to return this ad to receive a single letter monogram for 

Metcalf Ave (Inside Wal Mart Supercenter) Overland Park Kan

BV school logo available as well as special pricing for all groups

The Crown Center Ice Terrace is not only great fun – it’s a great deal. Introducing Two-for-One Tuesdays. Every Tuesday after 5 pm, pay one full price admission and receive a second for free. Skate rental is only $2 per person. Plan a trip to the Ice Terrace – one of the coolest places in town.

CROWN CENTER SQUARE • 25TH AND GRAND BLVD. • www.crowncenter.com OPEN 10 AM – 9PM, MONDAY – SUNDAY

kevinloftus

T HE TIGER

PR I N T

loftandfound

sports

FRIDAY FEB

The magnificent seven

Are the Jayhawks really overrated?

Seniors Drew Bower, Greg Benson, Justin Kuntzen, Brian Olney, Josh Koerkenmeir, Chase Holtom and Mike Lui signed their letters of intent on Feb. 4. All went to Butler County Com-

munity Collge except for Koerkenmeir who is going to Emporia State and Kuntzen, who is going to Washburn. photo by kristenpalmer

Seniors sign football letters of intent kevinloftus

sportseditor

s I walked though the senior hallway the morning of Feb. 2, I was constantly reminded of one event. No not the Super Bowl; people felt the need to remind me that KU lost in basketball and how they are so overrated. In this crazy year of college basketball, is KU really overrated? The answer is yes and no. Currently, the Jayhawks are ranked 13th in the ESPN poll and 12th in the AP poll. These rankings seem fair considering that they only have four losses, even though three of those losses came to unranked teams and one loss occurred at home. For those reasons, I could see why one might say they are overrated. They are the Kansas Jayhawks, they went to the Final four the past two seasons, and they shouldn’t be losing to Richmond at home. But, this team isn’t like the teams of the past. KU lost two players who were lottery picks in the NBA draft and their head coach. They are having to adapt to a more physical style of play and are still a work in progress. Now, for those who think they shouldn’t even be ranked, that is just ridiculous. In the ESPN/ USA Today poll, there is one team that is ranked behind them that has one less loss than the Jayhawks. That team also has a considerably weaker schedule than KU has faced. According to collegerpi.com, KU also holds the 10th position in the Rankings Percentage Index, an index that is based on the teams winning percentage, opponents’ average winning percentage and opponent’s opponents’ average winning percentage. The index was created to help seed the NCAA Tournament, so according to this, KU really isn’t overrated. Overall, these rankings don’t even matter. Just take a look at last year. Syracuse came out of nowhere to win the national championship. All that matters is if you show up in March, which KU has already proven that they can do.

eciding where you want to go to college is one of the biggest decisions in a teenager’s life. It could take months for one to figure out where they want to spend their first years away from their parents. On Feb. 4, seven Blue Valley seniors decision was made a little easier when they were all offered scholarships for their football abilities. Josh Koerkenmeir, who signed with the Emporia State Hornets, headlined the class of seven. Koerkenmeir, a 6-3 275 lb. offensive lineman, was the anchor of BV’s line, which

many considered to be the best in the state of Kansas. He was also named the East Kansas League offensive player of the year and was named to numerous all-state teams including Wichita’s and Topeka’s elite 11 team and first team All-Metro from the Kansas City Star. First impressions played a big part for Koerkenmeir, who liked ESU from the start. “The coaches and atmosphere really impressed me. The offensive line coach really reminded me of coach Driskell,” Koerkenmeir said. Koerkenmeir also visited Southern Illinois, Pittsburg State and Northwest Missiouri

State. Six of Koerkenmeir’s teammates also signed their national letters of intent, five to the same school. Running back Chase Holtom, offensive lineman Brian Olney, defensive lineman Drew Bower, linebacker Mike Lui and wide receiver Greg Benson will all attend Butler County Community College in the fall. Defensive lineman Justen Kuntzen will be at Topeka Washburn in the fall. “These seven players reestablished our school as a state power,” head coach Steve Rampy said. For the five that are going to Butler, they are joining one of

playerperspective

Name: Tony Miller Grade: 11 Sport: Basketball

“I’m excited about taking the next step to continue my football carreer; it’s going to be a great challenge.”

Miller, who is in his second year of managing the boys’ basketball team, became a manager for the right reasons. “I did it to help out the guys; it’s all about helping them out,” Miller said.

joshkoerkenmier “I’m really going to miss Friday nights, but I’m looking forward to Saturday afternoons.”

managerprofile Name: Jessica Smith Grade: 10 Sport: Wrestling

brianolney “It’s great to be able to keep playing football and stay with my friends.” chaseholtom

the best junior colleges in America for football. Butler is the defending National Junior College Athletic Assoction champions, going undefeated for the season. Butler also has great tradition; 24 of its alumni are currently in the Nation Football League including Kansas City Chief William Bartee and Cincinnati Bengal Rudi Johnson. “Butler’s winning tradition was the deciding factor,” Olney said. Blue Valley’s class of seven signees was the most out of any high school in the metro area.

Smith, who is in her first year of managing, doesn’t really enjoy the custodial aspects of managing. “I dread moopping the floor after the sweaty boys have been rolling around on it. It’s disgusting,” Smith said.

T HE TIGER

sports

FRIDAY FEB

PR I N T

Boys’ basketball looks forward to rematch tonight austinisham

staffwriter

Senior point guard Andrew Lasche guards an Aqunias player in Blue Valley’s 56-41 home win against Aquinas. To date the Tigers record is 11-5 heading into tonight’s game aginst BV Northwest. photo by Brandon Lutz

hey’re on our court now,” basketball fan Chris Bass said. “They’ll have to play by our rules. No more cheap shots.” The second meeting between Blue Valley (11-5) and Blue Valley Northwest (13-3) tonight is an important EKL match up. The passion to win is fueled by the previous encounter in which elbows were thrown, “stuffs” were exchanged and odious chants were started. “We respect them as much as any team. Since they beat us the first time around it will be tough, but this time we have home court advantage,” varsity guard Parker Snedden said. The Tigers absolutely cannot wait to take on this tough team at home. “They defend against the guards well, but I expect both teams to rise up and make it a good game,” said varsity head coach Andy Tylicki. These Tigers can derive momentum from their two tournament championships: the first, winning their own BV shootout, and the second the Valley Center tournament from Jan 22 to the 24. At Valley Center the Tigers knocked off the defending 6A state champs, Wichita Southeast, in the championship game 65-42. “It was all focus in the championship game,” senior Tyler Newton said. With two tournament cham-

pionships under their belts one, may wonder what makes this team a good tournament team. “I think we do a good job preparing for three straight games,” Tylicki said. Being a good tournament team is a good reputation to have in basketball; in reality a team only needs to win one tournament to be called State Champions. “I think we just don’t want to return to face Coach T’s wrath,” Newton said. The real milestone this season for the boys’ basketball team was its first road win in at least two years. It came against Olathe Northwest where the team was able to overpower the first year-team. The BVNW game is an important game stuck in the middle of a long EKL run of games. This series started off with a big win against BV West Jan. 30, but continued with a tough loss to a young BVN team, Feb 3. Last Friday the Tigers defeated Aquinas 66-59 where senior Andrew Lasche pumped in six three pointers and 24 points. Their next match up is against Miege on Feb 17. With two tournament championships, their first win on the road in two years and such focus against good teams, the Tigers have a lot of potential at state. “I just want to take it two games a week and see how it goes,” Tylicki said.

And down the stretch they come As winter sports wind down teams think about playoffs glory of state championship Wrestling

adamlary

n Feb. 4, Varsity had a dual with Blue Valley North. Blue Valley won 57-22. Winners included sophomore Tyler Madl, sophomore Jon Routh, junior Keaton Baker, senior Adam Foster, sophomore Hunter Madl, senior Louie McClendon, sophomore Brad Harris, senior Dane Hammet, freshman Will Conway and senior John Edwards. On Jan. 28, Varsity had a dual with Blue Valley West. Blue Valley won 56-18. Winners of the Varsity matches included Routh, Keaton and Grant Baker, Foster, McClendon, Harris, Hammet, Monks, Edwards and senior Brian Olney. The Varsity wrestling team went to the Blue Valley Northwest Invitational on Jan. 24, placing eighth out of 21 teams. Keaton Baker placed third, Grant Baker placed fourth, Adam Foster placed sixth, Louie McClendon placed fifth and John Edwards placed fourth. JV went to Gardner on Jan. 31, taking first place at the tournament. Hunter Madl, freshman Joel Hill, sophomore Joel Cundiff and junior Andrew Baldwin placed first. Sophomores Zach Ansaldo and Kyle Combes placed second. Freshman Cameron Weir, jun-

ior Richard Van Trump and sophomore Tom Gnoza placed third. Freshman Chance Adams, Blane Williams and freshman Robert Alexander placed fourth. The JV team went to Chanute on Jan. 31, placing fifth of 14 teams. Grant Baker and senior Adam Monks each placed first, while Foster placed third and Keaton Baker placed fourth. Junior Varsity went to Piper on Jan. 24. The team placed third. Freshman Austin Quarles placed fourth, Routh placed second, Hunter Madl placed second, Kyle Combes placed third, junior Kyle Luetjen placed first, Van Trump placed third, sophomore Kevin Allen placed second and Hill placed fourth.

fourth out of eight teams. In the first round of the tournament, the girls beat the ninth ranked team in 6A, Wichita North, 52-42. Sophomore Melissa Stevens and freshman Kenzie Ziegler were two Lady Tigers to make the “all tournament” team. They were two out of 10 chosen for this special award. “This team played really well against tough competition at the Lawrence Free State tournament,” head coach Rick Rhoades said. “These girls really got up to play a really good 6A team (Wichita North).”

Girls’ Basketball

erhaps the biggest story for this athletically successful school right now is BV’s All-American swimmer. Parker Sargent’s 50 free time of 21.62 one of the best times in the nation. “He’s just one of those guys with a natural talent,” coach Martijn Keltner said. The team hosted a meet on Jan 22 between the four Blue Valley schools. BV placed 3rd overall. “We swam well, but we didn’t come through as well as we thought,” senior Ryan Zeckser said. The boys EKL swim meet was Wednesday at BV Northwest, but results weren’t available at press time.

nickspeed

he Lady Tigers took on a tough Blue Valley Northwest Husky team on Feb. 10. The scores from this game were not available at press time. Last Thursday night’s game was cancelled due to weather. On Feb. 3, The Lady Tigers competed against perennial 6A powerhouse, Blue Valley North. The Tigers unfortuately fell to another EKL opponent. The girls went to the Lawrence Free State tournament the weekend of Jan. 29-31. The Tigers placed

Swimming

austinisham

T HE TIGER

PR I N T

“Modern Classic,” senior Jenna Strieby, Gold Key

lue Valley was again a leader in the Scholastic Arts competition with 46 awards. The recipients were announced Jan. 29. The winners were: in sculpture- freshman Alix Santa Maria, Gold Key; senior Luke Drimmel, Gold Key, Silver Key; freshman Nathan Vogel, Certificate of Merit. In Computer Art- senior Will Palmer, Certificate of Merit. In Video, junior Charlie Haren, Silver Key; senior Keri Ranzenberger, Silver Key, Certificate of Merit. In Photography- junior Emily Bruschi, Gold Key; junior Jennifer Burki, Gold Key; senior Calley

Clockwise from top left: “Depression,” senior Calley Cuevas, Gold Key; “Spring Forward,” senior Ashley Lewis, Silver Key Portfolio; “Reflections,” senior Sayta Upadhyayula, Silver Key Portfolio; “Footprints,” senior Ashley Lewis, Silver Key Portfolio; “Eye Wonder,” senior Sarah Mires, Silver Key, IPAS award winner. Lewis and Upadhyayula were both awarded Silver Keys for their photography portfolios.

photo essay

FRIDAY FEB

Blue Valley students excel in arts Cuevas, Gold Key; senior Aimee Hobbs, Gold Key, Certificate of Merit; senior Andy Meyer, Gold Key; senior Jenna Strieby, Gold Key, Silver Key; junior Ryan Kaman, Silver Key; senior Sarah Mires, Silver Key(2); senior Laura Motush, Silver Key; senior Jeremy Bennett, Certificate of Merit; junior James Byars, Certificate of Merit; senior Ashley Lewis, Certificate of Merit; senior Elizabeth McKaig, Certificate of Merit(2); senior Danielle Orrick, Certificate of Merit; junior Sandra Sauer, Certificate of Merit; senior Satya Upadhyayula, Certificate of Merit. In Photography Portfolios- senior Laura Motush, Gold Key; senior Ashley Lewis, Silver Key; senior Satya

Upadhyayula, Silver Key; senior Erin Helms, Certificate of Merit; senior Katie Sobczynski, Certificate of Merit. In Ceramics- senior Elizabeth McKaig, Gold Key; senior Will Palmer, Gold Key, Certificate of Merit; junior Richard Van Trump, Silver Key, Certificate of Merit; senior Nick Dreiling, Certificate of Merit; junior Charlie Haren, Certificate of Merit. In Printmaking- freshman Meredith McKaig, Gold Key; freshman Alexander Feldcamp, Silver Key; freshman Nathan Vogel, Silver Key; freshman Ashton Gayer, Certificate of Merit. All of the Gold Key works will go on to compete in the national competition later in the year.