Thursday April 20, 2017 | trojantimes.org | Issue 7 Volume XLIV Tomorrow is Today
LEE ACCEPTED TO WEST POINT ACADEMY
Anika Ramos | Trojan Times
By Maiya Ezawa 2018ezawam@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
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adet Lt. Col. Senior Alexander Lee has recently been accepted to the United States Military Academy in New York, more commonly known as West Point. The academy is
extremely prestigious, and regarded as one of, if not the best, miliary academy. To garner acceptance, Lee had to get a recommendation from Hawaii State Senator Brian Schatz, pass a physical and eye exam and score high on standardized tests. “In (Junior Reserve Of-
ficer Training Corps) JROTC they teach you about the seven army values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. All these are necessary for anyone to be a good citizen. But selfless service stands out to me because giving yourself to others will
always be more fulfilling,” explained Lee. Lee has been a part of the JROTC program from the beginning of his freshman year of high school, where he built the skills necessary to apply for West Point. “For any service academy, it is a long process. Most of the time the process starts in the final quarter of your junior year in high school when the application first opens up. From there you need to work on getting the highest possible standardized testing scores you can,” stated Lee. “The biggest thing is that you need a nomination from the President, Vice-President, State Senator, State Representative or JROTC unit. You need at least one to get considered. You also need to pass a physical fitness test, which consists of events such as push-ups and sit-ups. You also need to be medically qualified. They make you take a physical and an eye exam.” To be selected as Senator Schatz’s principal nomination, Lee had to demonstrate an extraordinary character
among other applicants. “What sticks out about (Lee) is his eagerness to understand. Some people give up when something doesn’t make sense to them, but (Lee) will make the time and put the work in to increase his knowledge. (Lee) is very industrious. When he puts his mind to something he makes sure to get it done. I think what motivates him is his drive to succeed,” stated Senior Christian Schneider. “What sticks out to me about (Lee) is his work ethic. Whether it be in school, sports, or other extra curriculars, (Lee) knows how to get things done. He gets things done quickly and efficiently. He also has high energy, which allows him to tackle any problems at hand,” added Cadet Cpt. Junior Timothy Schiller Jr. Lee has fully dedicated himself to MHS’ JROTC program and it has continued to be a big part of his high school career. “My older sister introduced me to the program when I was a freshman. See WEST POINT, 6
FFA TAKES MULTIPLE WINS HOME AT KAUAI STATE CTSO COMPETITION By Cameryn Oshiro 2018oshiroc@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
Future Farmer’s of America (FFA), a Career and Technical Students Organization (CTSO) program, competed at their state convention held at the Kauai Community College from March 2931. Students were given the opportunity to show judges their skills and what they’ve learned through developing and competing in either a team or individual project and event. MHS winners included Seniors Alicia Hara, Isabel Masiglat and Juniors Sierra
Grucella, Kaileen Lardizabal and Spencer Jenkins. “(FFA) is a national organization that promotes agriculture. It guides the members into their future careers by teaching them skills that are applicable to everyday life such as leadership and effective communication. Everything taught by FFA allows for personal growth,” expressed Masiglat, who placed first in agricultural demonstration with her partner Lardizabal and placed second in corsage making with Junior Mya Ann Tsubaki. During the CTSO conven-
tion, students were judged on material that they’ve researched throughout the school year; in FFA, students look into the agricultural field of cultivation, farming and other aspects. “(FFA) is a place for members, nationwide, to explore possible careers and develop skills that will be needed in the future. At conventions we get to know a lot of different professionals and advisers that give us information on what they do and how it relates to agriculture. FFA is an eye opener for young adults to see what is available in the world of
Photo courtesy of Sierra Grucella (11)
After competing at the district competition, many FFA members were able to qualify for the state convention held at Kauai Community College.
agriculture,” stated Grucella, who won first place in the job interview event. The field of agriculture provides a variety of careers and opportunities that reach
beyond farming. “Agriculture is more than just farming. There’s a lot of aspects of agriculture that requires bachelors, graduates, research. See FFA, 4
NEWS
2| Trojan Times | April 20, 2017
Building to Finish: MHS First Robotics Team Make Quarterfinals at State Competition
Photo courtesy of Tyson Kikugawa
Evan Takushi (10) stands with the MHS First Robotics team’s robot that they competed with, assembled and programed within a six week time limit.
By Lindsey Scott 2018scottl@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
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he MHS First Robotics team participated in the state competition held from March 29 to April 1 at the Stan Sheriff Center, where they made it to the quarterfinals. With new members on their team and a more student led organization, this competition gave the students an opportunity to utilize and strengthen their skills.
“During the first couple of qualifications, we did really well. We built the robot to deliver gears and hang, and we were able to do that. It was especially exciting because we had tried to hang before last year, but we were never successful. However, our robot started having connection problems and sometimes if it was working and we got bumped, it would lose connection. So for the rest of the first day of qualification matches, we were in and out
of connection. Additionally, our robot will climb a rope and hang using a winch, which is kind of like a yo-yo, and part of that bent,” said Senior Jessica Jones. The high stake competition brought both success and some issues to improve upon in future competitions. “Robot performance wise, we did run into some communication issues and we found that it was just because of a few loose connections, so like if we could just go back and, knowing what we know (now), if we could’ve gone back and just kind of fixed it when it first happened, I think we would’ve done a lot better. I mean with that said, we still did pretty well, but otherwise, that would be the only thing. Everything else went much more smoothly (than) we’re used to, so we’re pretty happy with ourselves,” said First Robotics Advisor Tyson Kikugawa. The competition lasted for a few days, wherein the team remained steadfast in their work. “Once we had finished (working) on our robot it was taken to inspection to ensure that all aspects of our robot were within the rules given
to us at the beginning of the season,” said Senior Orion Sun. “Upon passing inspection, we entered into practice matches to acquaint ourselves with the official playing field and practice competing with and against the other teams. The second day was the qualification matches (where) they match up teams roundrobin style for 11 matches per team to determine a ranking for all of the teams. These qualification matches continued to the beginning of the third day. Once the rankings were set, I went onto the field as a team representative for the alliance selection process. During this, the top teams would select two other teams to be on their alliance for the elimination rounds. The elimination rounds only counted which team won two games first and would proceed onto the next round.” The team was given a six week window in which they had to assemble and program their competition robot. With the limited time, students also learned how to effectively fulfill their roles in preparation for the competition. “The drivers get practice with our practice robot and
the pit crew will practice working together, trying to foresee problems that might come up so that they can get prepared for that. We have our business and graphics team preparing all the PR stuff, like buttons to hand out to teams. And then just working on scouting, looking at how some of the competitions are going to kind of get a feel for what might happen at ours.” said Kikugawa. Jones added, “I think everyone was tentative about how we would do. Throughout the build season we made a lot of mistakes and ended up being behind schedule, so the mechanical and electrical teams had to make up for lost time and they did this by creating a strict schedule so we could get the robot in pristine condition by inspection. Last year we were the last team to get inspected, but this year we were one of the first.” Proud of the dedication and results, the competition was a success for the First Robotics team. They hope to learn from the issues and obstacles that was brought to their attention to better their skills for the upcoming years.
JROTC wins four first place trophies in menehune adventure challenge By Taylor Ann Ono 2018onot@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
MHS Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) participated in the Menehune Adventure Challenge on the island of Kauai from March 25 to 26. The competition consisted of many different events, including an obstacle course with a nine foot wall and a physical training test which included a one mile run, team push ups, sit ups, pull ups, land navigation, a six mile run and a canoe race. As a result of their determination and mentality, the JROTC team brought home four first place trophies. “I feel really good, we did fairly well considering we actually took home trophies. Just taking home some sort of award was really nice because if you don’t take home something, you kind of feel like you’ve put in all this work for nothing, but seeing that we did, you just get this feeling of accomplishment and joy,” stated Junior Jimmie Paeste, who competed as a member of the male team. Students had to prepare in a variety of ways to prepare for the competition. “It’s a lot of mental (preparation) because you’re going to be pushing your body
through a lot and you’re also going to be pushing your teammates to do well. A lot of it is a physical competition, so it’s been rigorous times, going to the gym. Track and field has really helped with my cardio ability. Just all around you need to be physically fit. If you’re not able to do so, you won’t be able to keep up and you won’t be able to handle what they have to offer,” expressed Paeste. Freshman Maysa Segovia added, “We tried really hard, we made sure that we would know that we did our best. After the competition we all felt really proud of ourselves, like how well we did, the experience we had, what we got to do and where we got to go.” During the competition, students relied on each other for mental support and created strong bonds that connected them outside of JROTC. “Everyone is so chill with each other. You can be so weird and they just laugh it off. It’s more like a family,” expressed Freshman Srey Nich Kong. “I don’t usually have big (conversations) with other people because I kind of keep to myself, but when I went to JROTC I found so many new friends. They are so kind, they know what to do,
they’re good leaders, they’re honest and they’re the kind of (people) you’d want to respect in life.” Paeste added, “Without the people that were around me, (the competition) wouldn’t be too memorable. Winning is going to be something I will remember, but the experiences and people are what really makes an impact.” Students also had the opportunity to discover new strengths. “It builds character. I want to join the military, so it gives me a little bit more experience as to what I may be interested in. I have made a lot of friends going to all of these events, so (in) doing so I know people from other schools, from outer islands and even other states. It’s really helped me (to) know what’s out there, you learn about other people, where they’re from. You kind of go to different places and experience a bunch of different things so it may not be just physical, it may not be just discipline, but you also experience a different social aspect,” explained Paeste. “It’s taught me a lot of discipline, how to be on time, how to be organized. A lot of the program is really a learning experience and unlike some (classes it) teaches you things that you can take
Photo courtesy of Timothy Schiller Jr. (11)
(L to R:) Alexander Lee (12), Timothy Schiller Jr. (11), Srey Nich Kong (9) and Rasa Maximus Melchor (10) practice and compete in teams.
outside and that you can use later on in life.” Kong added, “It teaches you more honesty, how to be a good person individually and how to be a good person to others. Something you (take) with you is how they train you to be a leader and collaborate with other people.” Some parts of the com-
petition took place on Oahu, hosted by Waianae High School, and included others such as Farrington, Kapaa, Kapolei, Punahou and Waimea. Although this competition is over, students plan on staying physically fit for future competitions by continuing to maintain and build strength.
NEWS
Trojan Times | April 20, 2017 |
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Winter guard places fourth in ohio wgi competition TROJAN LIFE
Photo courtesy of Adrian Pulido (11)
Winter Guard started their season in December to practice for the dance, flag and rifle routines that they performed at the competition. By Taylor Ann Ono 2018onot@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
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n April 6, the MHS Winter Guard moved onto finals for the first time in the Winter Guard International (WGI) Competition at North Kentucky University, placing fourth overall out of 134 schools. Finals took place at the Wright State University’s Nutter Center in Ohio, where certain students were awarded with scholarships from the WGI Sport of the Arts, such as Senior Janelle Matsuoka who received a $1,000 scholarship. The
competition was comprised of scholastic, independent and international groups made up of participants ranging from students to adults. MHS’ Winter Guard has been practicing since December in hopes of impressing the panel of judges that they performed for. “Putting on a show for an audience to watch will have to be one of the most nerve wracking, yet most exciting (things). The adrenaline, the uniforms, the crowd and just (the) experience are things that I cannot put into words,” expressed Winter Guard Cap-
tain Senior Akoni PasoquenCastillo. Students have worked hard to make it to this competition both by training and helping each other. “This organization is about long term goals and achievement. You learn new things and get better as (the) season (goes) by,” PasoquenCastillo said. “Personally, I’ve been preparing for this by treating each performance as if I was competing in front of the WGI judges. I try to make each repetition better than the last and improve as a performer. As a captain, I record our practice runs and post them for my peers and I to watch. We study what parts we can improve on personally and what parts we can improve on as a whole. Doing this has been really good because the video will reveal some things that you as a performer cannot catch yourself.” This competition brought different emotions to each individual, whom participated for their own reasons. “Winter guard gives me a chance to do what I love in a more advanced way. The season really (improves) my movement and spinning skills,” explained Winter Guard Captain Senior Justine Liu. “It’s my last season, and I really want to give it my all. I want our guard
to show the world what we are capable of and represent (MHS). We are also able to watch other groups who are at a much higher level than us. This gives us a chance to learn and expand our knowledge of performing. It’s amazing what performers are capable of doing.” Junior Kaili Garland added, “Our school only participates in WGI every other year, so as a junior, this competition was my last chance to do my best as a spinner, and showcase that effort to everyone. I wanted to do my best for all of the seniors in guard who participated in this competition as their very last performance. For our advisers who helped us create our show, it was a dream come true to get to finals. For me, it was a dream that I hadn’t even dreamt yet so every second of the experience was unbelievable.” The experience as a whole has left the students with important life lessons and memorable moments. “I definitely learned how to persevere and push through. This experience has taught me how to work and be part of something that is much bigger than me. It has truly opened my eyes,” expressed Liu. “My favorite part is being able to perform and being able to be part of such a
large production. The end result is so rewarding.” Garland added, “I enjoy the opportunity I’m given to bond with my fellow spinners and make connections with people that I wouldn’t have otherwise. I feel proud of myself when I can see my own improvements, and I enjoy performing and showing people how far I’ve come from the start of our season.” Along with those lessons, they’ve gained new friendships that they hope to continue after the competition. “My guard members are like a second family to me. If I ever have a problem I know that I could talk to any one of them for help. They’re people I spend way too much of my time with every week and people that have grown with me and share my goals,” expressed Garland. PasoquenCastillo added, “We’re all definitely close, we’re with each other 24/7. You build relationships and bonds that you won’t find anywhere else.” Students plan on practicing and improving their skills for next season, some of them continuing to the Bands of America Competition. As the juniors take the place of leaving seniors, they plan on making their last year the best one.
Into The Land Of The Rising Sun; MHS STUDENTS TRAVEL TO JAPAN By Christian Lum 2017lumc@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
Over spring break, a group of 18 MHS students got the opportunity to experience Japanese culture first hand, taking a nine-day trip to Japan, where they visited numerous shrines, ate traditional Japanese street food, shopped in the Ginza district and much more. The trip was an opportunity for students to learn to appreciate Japanese culture, thus practicing their world learning and understanding skills. “When you talk about things like culture and viewing the world as a global learner, those kind of things are really big and huge topics. Being able to go to a country outside of your own and putting your feet down, hearing the sounds, the people, the smells of a different country, it is amazing and awe-inspiring and makes book learning and learning from a video, TV show or anything like that come to life,” said group leader Ruth Ravina-Koethe. While in Japan, the students were able to fully
experience the local culture and explore several worldfamous landmarks. “Some of the activities that (we) did over there was that we went to some shrines and temples. We saw a Great Buddha at one of the shrines and we also got to see a castle. Inside the castle were some really beautiful far eastern Japanese paintings on the wall and on the Shoji doors,” stated Ravina-Koethe. “We still got to ‘eat the street’ kind of thing where there was a lot of vendors and things like that, but that was my (favorite) day because we got to see Mount Fuji. That was very breathtaking and inspiring.” Coming from Hawaii, a place surrounded with Japanese culture, many of the students had prior knowledge of the foods and traditions in Japan. “Some of the cultural things that the students really enjoyed from Japan were the anime, the technology, the food and the overall culture from Japan, being that we are from Hawaii there is a lot of Japanese culture here already,” stated Ravina-Koethe.
For all the cultural similarities between Hawaii and Japan, students were still surprised by many other aspects that Japan had to offer. “The things I liked cultural wise would be how fashion is so different there than it is down here (in Hawaii), also how different cities (are) for different people. You got places for people into anime, electronics, (fashion), etc. In America we do have a lot of Japanese foods and a large following for Japanese clothing brands, for example Uniqlo and Bape. Japan also has more exclusive products at different store locations throughout Japan,” Senior Connor Shirokane said. In Japan, the MHS students strengthened the bonds between themselves, while also making connections with students from other schools. “It (brought) us closer together because in the beginning we didn’t really know each other, but by the end we got pretty close and we still talk,” said Senior Isaiah Lopez. “We met up with a group from New Mexico and from the Big Island, and our small team
Photo courtesy of Isaiah Lopez (12)
Students were able to indulge in traditional Japanese architecture, including that of the Great Buddha Temple in the prefecture of Nara.
with 18 students connected with another 18 students from New Mexico, and a smaller group from the Big Island and Kauai. When you put all of us together you get this gigantic group of people wanting to learn about Japan,” Ravina-Koethe stated. “Sometimes we shared hotel rooms, (bus and tour director, so) we walked around together. The students intermingled and we ate together, we sat on tables and we ate
on Tatami mats and intermixed. Sometimes when you get on the bus the only seat left was next to someone from New Mexico or Kauai and you end up sitting there and meeting new people. New friendships were made.” Students and the chaperones alike were enamored with both the people from Japan and its many cultures and traditions. Most of them are already planning their next trip back.
NEWS
4| Trojan Times | April 20, 2017
Bridging the Barrier: Fuchu High School Students Participate in MHS Homestay Program
Anika Ramos | Trojan Times
Kana Yokoyama, left, sits with Kana Morita (11), right, as part of the exchange program between Fuchu High School and MHS. The Japanese exchange students immersed themselves in Hawaii’s culture during their stay.
By Maiya Ezawa 2018ezawam@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
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rom March 27 to April 8, six Fuchu High School students from Japan came to MHS for the annual cultural exchange program. A number of host families were selected from MHS’ Japanese Language program and each were awarded a $300 stipend to alleviate some of the costs of hosting. The exchange students shadowed their host, attending
their classes and experiencing life in the American educational system. “Since this is more of a cultural exchange rather than an academic one, the focus is on giving our exchange students some insight on what it is like to be a typical teenager in Hawaii. Therefore, we encourage the host families to involve their exchange students in their day-to-day activities as much as possible and give them a realistic experience of what life is like
here. All of our families have been very gracious hosts and have treated our exchange students with the same aloha they would extend to any friend, family member or visitor. Our hosts go out of their way to make their guests feel welcome and take a genuine interest in the preferences and interests of their exchange student, which often means visiting places of interest and enjoying what Hawaii has to offer,” said Cultural Exchange Facilitator Ivy Ogawa.
STUDENTS WORK with Access Surf FFA
continued from page 1
Photo courtesy of Lt. Col. Timothy Schiller Sr.
Instructors, in addition to the MHS students and Access Surf members, also participated in teaching children and adults how to surf and swim.
By Christian Lum 2017clum@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
Hosted at White Plains Beach on April 1, the MHS Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program and Surf Club banded together with Access Surf, a non-profit organization, to teach those with physical and cognitive disabilities how to surf and swim. “It’s more than just going to the beach, laying in the sun, swimming in the water. It’s making connections with these people to make them feel recognized and that they are people too. Though they
might have a challenge or obstacle in their life, be it physical or mental, they still are human,” said Senior Jase Agoo. Student’s eagerness to help shined at the event. “We bring out great students that are mature and responsible, and they don’t have to constantly be looking to give us a task, because they know we are going to do it. It makes me proud,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Schiller Sr. A learning opportunity for each participant, students hope to continue to be a part of Access Surf.
So in preparing students, we try to do it (on) a large scale and (explore) the possibilities. There is more than just that farming aspect that everybody thinks agriculture is,” explained FFA adviser Jeffrey Yamaguchi. Students were given the opportunity to choose from a variety of events, including agriculture demonstration and ornamental place identification. “The job I chose to research and apply for was Agriculture Inspector. I have done a lot of work (for) various programs that allowed me to obtain the skills needed to be prepared for that specific job. Knowing that I (have) been interested in those programs, I moved in the direction of Agriculture Inspector for my job application,” explained Grucella. “I competed in the agriculture demonstration contest and the corsage contest,” Masiglat stated. “Our demonstration was on how to construct a fruit fly trap. Well, fruit flies are pests that destroy plants, so we created a budgetfriendly way to control the fruit flies.”
Although most of the Fuchu students have been to Hawaii before during their annual visitation day in October, host families still try to incorporate tourist type activities for them to experience the culture in depth. “We took (our exchange student) to places like Waikiki, Dole Plantation, the beach (and) took her to eat local foods like burgers. (We also went to) Haleiwa, Ala Moana and some (tourist-eseque) things,” stated host Freshman Kylie Hull. “There are no specific requirements to be a host family aside from being able to provide a welcoming and hospitable environment for the exchange student,” added Ogawa. At school, Fuchu students shadowed MHS students— attending classes, socializing in their groups and observing American culture. “By taking (Masahiro Niihara) around the school, I’ve realized that we have a variety of (ethnicities) in this school that makes us unique. He shared with me at his school, (Fuchu), almost everyone is full Japanese and therefore, he was surprised to see how many different ethnicities there are and how we all can get along with each other,” stated translator Sophomore Yuto Terada. While the culture in Hawaii may be very different
from that in Japan, the students of Fuchu were still able to create relationships with their hosts and other students at MHS. “I believe (Niihara) enjoyed the food, especially the Loco Moco at Zippy’s, as well as going to Ala Moana and shopping,” added Terada. MHS students also got to experience and learn about Japanese culture through their interaction with not only their own exchange student, but through the planned group activities and get-togethers. “The most vital thing I learned was their culture and how polite they are. She always helped (our family) when it looked like we needed help around the house like folding laundry and other things; also she was very organized. Every night after she got out of the shower she would put all her things away in a Ziploc bag and then the next day she would do the same thing. I also learned how friendships develop and that you don’t have to completely know each other but just putting in the effort to getting to know a person really makes the difference,” explained Hull. A group of MHS students will travel to Japan in the summer to participate in a similar exchange program, where Fuchu students will host them.
Based on their preparation, the judges graded the competitors on multiple levels, such as professionalism and delivery. “To prepare for competition, my partner and I had to memorize a script and had to learn how to construct the fruit fly trap. I was the person who was building the trap for the demonstration so (Lardizabal) had to speak (at) the same time I was constructing. Basically, it was a difficult process (getting the timing right). We also had to become experts on our topic because the judges asked us questions after the presentation,” said Masiglat. “My advisers gave me a lot of resources to study so I would be prepared for competition. I was given information about posture, voice projection and other tools that would help me in the interview itself,” said Grucella. In Hawaii, exposing high school students and young adults into the field of agriculture is essential, as it plays a large role in the economy. “Agriculture is important in Hawaii for the simple reason that we have to try to produce more of our own foods,” explained Yamaguchi. “Right now, I see a lot of statistics saying we import around
80 percent of our food. If something were to happen— a natural disaster, an act of terrorism—we’re (going to) be basically cut off. We need to be able to fend for ourselves. It’s kind of the ‘in’ thing, I see a lot in the newspaper, the Star Advertiser and the legislators and people: they keep talking about sustainability. To me, that’s the wrong word. We should be using the word ‘self-sufficient.’ We can be sustainable at 15 percent; we need to increase that to maybe 50 percent. And now, if we increase our production we have to have the wholesale and retail ability to handle all this increase in produce and the infrastructure. It’s not just the farming aspect we need to pump up but everything along the way to the producing and consuming has to be expanded.” With the state competition over, FFA will continue to encourage students of the agriculture field into the next school year as the CTSO conventions start up again. Through exploring a diverse field of careers, FFA provides the tools and experiences students need to discover what they want to pursue in their future.
TROJAN LIFE
Trojan Times | April 20, 2017 |
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MHS, UH Manoa form partnership in Music Day for Elementary Students By Maiya Ezawa 2018ezawam@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
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n April 8, 40 MHS students partnered with members of the University of Hawaii (UH) at Manoa to put on the third annual Music Day at MHS for the Mililani Complex Elementary School students. It was an opportunity for the students to showcase their musicality whether it was through their wind, string and percussion instruments or their vocals. The event’s goal was to recruit future musicians for their programs. “Whether the instrument is an instrument or your voice, the bond between musician and instrument is intimate,” expressed music director Kristi HiguchiDelos-Santos. “You need to respect the instrument as your greatest asset because it is. It is how you are expressing yourself, it is how you are expressing the music, it is how music is shared.” The students were split into groups based on instrument, and each group had the opportunity to interact with the children and showcase their talent. “During Music Day, Mililani students ranging from kindergartners to fifth grade came to our school. Being a part of the
MHS Choir, I helped them with singing activities that were led by (Keane) Ishii, the chorus director. The purpose was to show the students and give them exposure to what music is like in high school. The band led a session with the students and a few UH Manoa Music Education students also taught a lesson plan,” explained singer Sophomore Evan Imata. Given the wide variety of music programs available at MHS, Higuchi-Delos-Santos aimed to get musicians from every instrument. “For the music day, I prepared a little short excerpt of “A Whole New World” from Aladdin and “Tale as Old as Time” from Beauty and the Beast to showcase how the flute sounds,” said flutist Junior Stephen Kang. In addition to introducing a variety of instruments to young musicians, some of the participants had their own goals in mind. “My main goals this Saturday (was to) share what I love to do with children, help out (HiguchiDelos-Santos and) maybe be able to convince kids to join a music department because it’s great,” explained Kang. “(I wanted) to give the children of the Mililani Complex the opportunity to have music activities outside of a school
Timothy Won | Trojan Times
Kaileen Lardizabal (11), left, teaches a first grader play the xylophone. Elementary school students were given the ability to interact and attempt to play instruments after the musicians played a music selection of their choice.
day and for them to be able to have experiences that they may not receive in school,” added Higuchi-Delos-Santos. Music is something that is held in extremely high regard for those who play instruments at MHS, and the music day was an opportunity for them to share what they were passionate about. “The most important part about music is that it is a universal language. Anywhere on the planet, even in times of hardship, people can unify under a common love for music. It can be soothing, haunting,
sad, hopeful or beautiful. To me, it conveys thoughts and emotions better than words ever could. It holds the power to move people in a unique way, and that is why music is significant, not just here in Mililani, but in all parts of the world,” expressed Imata. “For the kids, I think they can learn that there are so many different things to do in life and that there are options. You don’t just have to bury yourself in schoolwork or always be studying for a test,” added Kang. In regards to future
goals and aspirations for the project, MHS is aiming for a program expansion. “I hope that more students will come to our event. It is nice to see new faces and a few returning faces each year,” stated Higuchi-Delos-Santos. “I think the goal is to continue to offer days like this where children can come out and just interact with different instruments,” elaborated Kang. UH Manoa and MHS have plans to continue holding the annual Music Day to elementary school students every April.
indoor winds, winter line, winter guards Perform shows at springfest
Timothy Won | Trojan Times
Many schools showcased their performances to the community where the MHS Winter Guard performed their show theme “The Lost Generation”.
By Cameryn Oshiro 2018oshiroc@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
This year’s annual MHS Springfest, held on April 2 at the MHS gym, hosted a variety of Oahu high schools including Castle, Farrington, Kamehameha, Kapolei and Pearl City. The event allowed schools to showcase their winter lines, guards and corps through unique performances. “The purpose for Springfest is for all the drumlines and guards that have been
working throughout the season to put forward a show for the audience. Along with that, (the) performing is also for the students. Having the best performance you can and exciting the audience is the drive for some people. I guess all performances are like that, but what makes Springfest different for us is the fact that it’s on our campus. It’s a different experience because the people who come are (from) the community and those who care, you want to show them a good time,”
said front ensemble marimba Junior Cade Yamashita. This year’s theme, “The Box,” was centered around the idea of Pandora’s Box, an idea first used in 2015. “The show is thematically different in the sense that the box is a metaphor for war, which is stated in the voiceovers, and the show focuses on how when war is unleashed and there is fighting, the innocent people—young or old—are also impacted. As said in the show, ‘No one is safe from war.’ In ‘Pandora’s (Box), it’s more about there being hope despite all the bad things in the box,” said Yamashita. Despite the similar goal of presenting music to an audience, the band, orchestra and winter line, guard and corps each offer different perspectives of art. “Winter line, or all the indoor groups for that matter, focus on more of the performance and visual aspect, compared to band or orchestra. The audience has the visual performance to supplement the music, which adds a different dimension to the program,” stated Yamashita. Performing in the Winter Guard and Line, students
committed much of their time and efforts to perfecting their performances. “Lots of practices took place in order to put on this show. We have had many long all day practices both after school and during the weekends. We were constantly trying to make our show the best it could be. I just want to give a huge thank you to (Derek) Kaapana and Susan Segawa for their countless hours put into making this show happen. They are the reason we were able to do so well in this (performance),” expressed Winter Guard Captain Senior Justine Liu. In addition to the dedication, performers also gained new skills and experiences throughout the entire winter season. “From being in a program such as this, I think you get important lessons on working towards a common goal and how to work hard at something. I think I have learned through my time how to put something above myself as a single person, we each get a part to play in the show, and no matter how small it may seem, every part matters. It helps to learn pride in a way, to care
about what you are doing,” stated Yamashita. “Obviously another thing you get to experience is the social environment, it would be impossible to get through a season and not interact with others, at least I think. It helps to know how to work with others, not like I’m an introvert, but you can certainly get to know people.” Winter Guard A performer Junior Adrian Pulido added, “Through these programs I’ve learned basic skills and techniques like how to perform better, play better and spin better, but I think there’s more to it than that. Being in these ensembles has taught me how to work better with others, people that I wouldn’t usually work with. I’ve also learned how to listen to others, and to sort of lower myself so that others can take a leadership role. Overall, it was a great learning experience for everyone.” After performing at Springfest, the MHS Winterguard, line, and corps moved on to compete at the Winter Guard International in Dayton, Ohio, on April 8. There, they placed fourth out of 134 schools from across the nation.
CHOSEN TROJANS
6| Trojan Times | April 20, 2017
Trojans take home win at CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition By Shelby Haygood 2018haygoods@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
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HS´ Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and Career Technical Education (CTE) students participated in the CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition that ran from May 2016 to February 2017. The event, sponsored by the Air Force Association, was meant to enrich student’s knowledge of cybersecurity and was open to middle and high school students around the state. The hope of the CyberPatriot program is that students will take the knowledge they gain and use it in their lives. “Cyber networking and cybersecurity interests me because they are crucial skills to learn in the 21st century. We are living in a world connected to the Internet more than ever, and we need to have the skills to ensure our presence online is secure and safe,” expressed JROTC Team Two member, Junior Timothy Schiller Jr. CyberPatriot competitions are divided into three divi-
sions: All Service Division, Open Division and Middle School Division. The All Service Division is open only to high school JROTC programs but the Open Division can be comprised of any high school group. CTE teams SpicyGuacamole and Net Runners represented MHS in the Open Division Platinum tier while JROTC Team One and Team Two represented MHS in the All Service Division and competed in both Gold and Platinum tiers. “We get a virtual image sent to us by the CyberPatriot Association. A virtual image is basically an operating system within a computer. So you can work on that image and it won’t affect the outside computer. They usually put a lot of different security holes inside and our job is to fix it in a set amount of time,” explained SpicyGuacamole member Senior Cade Yamamoto. Schiller Jr. added, “We would have a virtual machine that we would have to find different vulnerabilities on it. There would be about twenty different vulnerabilities, ranging from password protection to anti-malware machines.
Each time you would find a vulnerability, you would receive a certain amount of points. At the end of the competition, the points would add up, and the top score you can receive would be 100.” Working together as a team toward success, members were assigned various systems based on where they were more experienced. Schiller Jr. stated, “Each person on the team had a specific job. There were about four people on each team, which worked out perfectly fine, because there were four different operating systems we had to work on.” Yamamoto added, “(The CyberPatriot Program Office) sends different images of different operating systems so I work on Ubuntu which is a distribution of Lennox and they also release Windows, Windows 7 and Windows Server.” While each team member specializes in their own operating system, they all come together to achieve the main goal of improving the security of as many virtual images as possible. The competition has al-
lowed many students to gain and mother a lot with their new insight and knowledge computers. Every time they they feel they would never have a problem, whether it have learned in the classroom. be finding an old password “The cadets are trained in all or finding malware on their areas by the U.S. Navy, these computer, I would always are professionals that are cur- be the person they call first rently (serving) as computer to help. Most of the time, I technicians and are the Sub- could find the problem and ject Matter Experts (SME) fix it quickly using the skills for the Navy, and over time I learned in CyberPatriots,” the cadets acquire the same expressed Timothy Schiller skills the Navy Jr. Yamamoto personnel have added, “A lot and also become “ Most of the time, I of the (vulnerexperts in com- could find the prob- abilities) they puter science,” put inside the explained LTC lem and fix it quick- virtual image are Timothy Schil- ly using the skills I things that are ler Sr. Timothy learned in CyberPa- actually affectSchiller Jr. adding real people in triots.” ed, “The tech real life. So a lot sector is only Timothy Schiller Jr. (11) of the viruses are growing bigger actually affecting and bigger as other users.” time goes on. It doesn’t hurt With the objective of the to try, and students might end competition being to idenup loving it, which happened tify and solve cybersecurity to me. I love the challenge it threats, competitors can use brings to the team and I, and the knowledge they gained it is truly a motivating pro- through CyberPatriot program for those interested in grams in their everyday lives. going into the tech field.” As the exhibition rounds in As technology continues May approach, the teams to advance, the importance of say goodbye to their seniors learning basic cyber safety is and wait to welcome the new a necessity. “I help my father wave of competitors.
West Point continued from page 1
Photo courtesy of Spencer Ilagan (12)
The competition accepted artwork from elementary, middle and high school students in separate devisions following the theme “Under the Sea.”
Ilagan is shriner people’s choice By Jannah Kalai jannah.kalai@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
Senior Spencer Ilagan was chosen as People’s Choice for his age group in the Shriners Hospital for children “Under the Sea” art competition. The competition’s purpose was to find a piece to serve as inspiration for the new EOS imaging system being implemented in the hospital: the first on the island. “For this competition I wanted to try something that was not in my comfort zone. So this led me to choose watercolor and focus on the subject of whales. I have done many art pieces with
underwater creatures such as turtles, octopus and even dolphins. Trying out whales proved to be a slight challenge but one that I was up for,” stated Ilagan. The competition was not only a way to showcase personal talent, but also a way for artists to promote the EOS system’s implementation. Ilagan explained, “The chance to do what I love and be able to positively impact the keiki was something that made me very adamant to do my best in this contest.” Ilagan hopes to continue art in college and career, and participate in competitions such as these in the future.
I have stayed in the program since then. (Previously), I had no idea what JROTC was,” explained Lee. “I’ve known (Lee) for about three years now. I first met him when I was a freshman. I remember the first time I met him, I was amazed by his leadership skills and his caring for others. I have gone on many outer island trips with him as part of being in JROTC. Also, I have served under him when he was the Battalion Commander and the Executive Officer for the Staff,” Schiller Jr. elaborated. At West Point, both Lee and his peers have high expectations for his success and his future career endeavors. “(I’m a little worried about) the amount of difficult work that they give out. At West Point they require you to take certain types of classes each year and the quality of a West Point education is up there with the Ivy Leagues. Again, working on my time management will help a lot because it will allow me to work on all my homework and get help if needed,” expressed Lee. Schiller Jr. added,“Now that (Lee) is accepted into West Point, he is focused on being the best cadet he can possibly be at West Point. At the Academy, I expect him to graduate on time with
Anika Ramos | Trojan Times
In addition to getting a reccomendation by Senator Brian Schatz, Cadet Lt. Col. Alexander Lee (12) was also awarded a presidential nomination.
honors, as well as compete on a Division One NCAA team, because of his exceptional athletic ability.” Lee’s transition from MHS freshman to senior has been marked by an increased level of knowledge, maturity and accountability. “At the beginning of his high school career, (Lee) was unsure of what he wanted to do. The idea of going to a service academy was always an idea, but never a reality at the time. By the time (Lee) became a senior in high school, he realized he was destined to become an officer in the
United States military, like his father,” said Schiller Jr. “He went from someone who didn’t do too well in school to a hard working student that gets mostly A’s and B’s. I expect him to do extremely well at the academy and live a successful life,” added Schneider. Although Lee does not know which field he plans on going into after graduating from the academy, he will work hard in order to uphold the West Point name, while continuing to represent MHS in New York.
CHOSEN TROJANS
Trojan Times | April 20, 2017 |
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National Merit Scholarship Finalist: Labonte On the Path to Success By Lindsey Scott 2018scottl@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
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he National Merit Scholarship program is a competitive program that takes 50,000 high school students based on their Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) scores. Senior Tyler LaBonte was part of those 50,000 students and has since surpassed to the final round, leaving one more nail-biting step to success. “(LaBonte is) very hard working, extremely respectful (and) extremely intelligent. I guess if I could sum it up all in one, LaBonte is kind of like the old school student that every teacher wished every student was. He’s very task oriented, he’s all about respecting the person who’s running the class. He wants to be assigned work, to be given a direction to further his education. Overall (he’s) a really good student,” said networking teacher Blaise Hanagami. LaBonte accredits his finalist position to his effective method of studying for standardized tests. “I have a unique, but effective method preparing for standardized
tests that I believe is a large factor in my high scores. I begin studying anywhere from two to three weeks before the exam, and I take a practice test one week before the real thing. I study what I missed on the practice test, and I take another one two days before the exam. The day before, I don’t study at all, so I can head into the test with a clear, focused mind,” said LaBonte. LaBonte received continuous support from his parents and teachers at MHS. “Throughout the PSAT process, I relied heavily on my parents and the (College and Career Center) team to help me figure out procedure and planning that way, I could focus on performing on the exam to my best ability. I also credit my test prep teacher (Steven) Schick for helping me access study materials and revealing useful standardized test tips and tricks,” said LaBonte. “(I supported him by) giving advice,” added Hanagami. “(I) filled out a lot of letters of (recommendation) for him, applications, but for the most part, LaBonte has done everything on his own to be exact.” Dawn LaBonte,
Tyler LaBonte’s mother also explained, “We have encouraged Tyler to be involved in numerous activities both in and outside of school.” However, Tyler LaBonte has also influenced the same people who supported him. “You know what, I think in a way (I’ve) been positively influenced by (Tyler) LaBonte because inside (and) outside the classroom, he does his very best to do what’s right. I think, as a teacher, it’s inspiring because you go through having hundreds and hundreds of kids every year, it’s really nice to have that handful of kids, (Tyler) LaBonte included, that (you) would classify (as ideal students). It’s encouraging and inspiring in the sense that you know they’re out there,” said Hanagami. As a finalist, Tyler LaBonte wins an automatic scholarship regardless of the outcome. “Becoming a National Merit Finalist has opened many doors for me in terms of affording college. One of the reasons I chose to apply to (the University of Southern California) is because National Merit Finalists receive an automatic half-
Timothy Won | Trojan Times
On top of his academics, Tyler LaBonte (12) is a well-rounded student who participates in SkillsUSA, a program that focuses on students individual skills in media, robotics, video, design, and various other categories.
tuition scholarship valued at nearly $100,000,” said Tyler LaBonte. “Becoming a National Merit Finalist has helped me gain confidence in my academic ability and increased my options for both applying to and afford-
ing college.” From this point on, there is one more round for National Merit Scholarship finalists like Tyler LaBonte to decided upon the winners of the National Merit Scholarship.
Our Hidden Helpers: Tech Team Affects Teachers, Students Alike Daily
Timothy Won | Trojan Times
Tech Coordinator Ryan Masaki and his technology team support and assist both teachers and students. They are there to service teachers and all their tech needs, which in turn supports the students and their academic goals.
By Lindsey Scott 2018scottl@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
All the computer carts, computer towers and the school wide Google apps that all teachers and students utilize are installed and maintained by the MHS technology team. Five men strong, the tech team services the entire school, teachers and students alike. “When I was a teacher here before, I used to teach A+ computer repair. (I) used to teach some of those classes when I was here before. So, I mean it’s something that was
new to me, and so I had to learn everything, but then it became kind of interesting. So when I got the opportunity to come back and do this job, although I didn’t know too much, it was something of interest and something I wanted to learn more about. So with the job you have to keep (up) with technology, you have to keep up to date on everything. Every day, every month, things change, so that’s the part that intrigued (me),” said Technology Coordinator Ryan Masaki. The technology team has many responsibilities that
they delegate to all the members of their team. “So we have two technology coordinators, (and) my role in the school is to (take) care of all the computer equipment, the networking, which means the internet and basically we service the teachers. So whatever technology needs or services or help that they need. (We) order, we do research, we help them purchase things, get them the best pricing. If anything goes down as far as connections or if something’s wrong with the computer (that’s) one of our jobs. And then the other technology
coordinator handles all the professional development with the teachers. And you know Google Classroom, (and) all the online stuff, that you guys use (like) Gmail and Classroom, he helps train on that side,” said Masaki. Because the tech team only consists of five people, servicing the school presents a big challenge for all of them. “I’d say, I don’t know if there’s really anything challenging about this job whatsoever. Normally whatever happens we can always get done,” said PPT Rylen Iwasaki. “I guess the biggest (challenge is) having too much stuff to do at one time (because) we don’t have enough help around here sometimes, so it’s kind of hard to get everything done and then teachers get kind of upset because we can’t help them yet. I guess it gets (overwhelming) sometimes, but the new two people that just joined (are) stress reliever. So I guess that’s the most challenging thing, but nothing super difficult.” If students are interested in entering the tech field, the technology team encourages students to take advantage of classes offered at MHS. “We have (a) pretty good networking and tech program here with (Hanagami), so I would
say, if they’re interested, they can start their freshman year. That’d be good because (they) can take four years of it. And what we try to do here is during their senior (year), they have directed studies. So what we do is the directed studies (students) come to our department and help us during whatever period they have it, so, at that point they can learn. And what we try to do is, (when) they graduate and we have open positions, we try to hire those students first,” said Masaki. Iwasaki added, “If they’re taking classes already from Hanagami, the A+ teacher, I would seriously recommend them to pay attention in class and read all the free handouts that he has because they’re actually very helpful. And always try to get into one of these programs. We have a directed studies program that we do here.” MHS’ technology team not only takes care of everything computer related at MHS, they also continue to offer chances for MHS students to get hands on experience. Their contributions to MHS are felt all over campus and their role at MHS will continue to be an important one.
SPORTS
8 | Trojan Times | April 20, 2017 of the
Plays for Family and a Higher Purpose genuine love,” expressed Fuiava. Starting from a young age, Fuiava played an array ith a passion for sports and love for of sports, unknowingly preparing himself to be the star his family, boys athlete he’s become. “When varsity volleyball outside I was younger, I never hitter Senior Sila Fuiava thought I would have ended received the title of Trojan up playing volleyball because of the Month (TOTM). Juggling volleyball, academ- I was a multi-sport athlete in baseball, basketball and ics and relationships with friends, Fuiava is grateful for football. What made me the support he receives from play was my family because his family and stands strong they said if you can jump that high then I would love behind his beliefs. volleyball, and the first day I “My motto in life is, ever tried out for the team it ‘Nothing is free,’ (and) that is true because everything in was super fun and that was only the first day. After that, life, you have to work for. I fell in love with the sport I’m religious and I believe so I continued to strive in in God. I pray to God for guidance throughout my life it,” explained Fuiava. Throughout Fuiava’s voland I play for him and my leyball career, he obtained family,” stated Fuiava. skills crucial to the game Growing up, the pasthat not only enhanced his sion and dedication Fuiava performance on the court, applies to the sport derived but outside the court as from his family, who has well. “A skill I learned from played a key role in his life. playing sports is that being “My family has supported a team really matters. If you me the whole entire way in do not have a steady team everything I did. I respect foundation with individuals them because they let me choose what sports I wanted here and there, then it can really affect the team. Anto play when it got to high other skill that I learned as school and from there I wanted to strive more in vol- a team is chemistry because knowing your teammates on leyball and they supported the court can help your team me the whole entire way. be much more successful,” They supported me finanFuiava said. cially, buying all my gear The process of determinand supporting me with
By Cameryn Oshiro
2018oshiroc@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
W
ing the TOTM is difficult, as student athletes are chosen based on their impact to the game and their character. “(Fuiava is a) team leader, very humble, hard working and respectful, (and an) impact player for (a) team that is 7-0,” explained Sports Director Glenn Nitta. “(Fuiava) is our O1, starting outside hitter. He makes the game look so easy. He’s able to put the ball down with such ease, whether it be a big kill or a roll shot. He is also the emotional leader on the court. Sometimes during the timeouts, I let him speak because I have that much Katie Hashimoto | Trojan Times trust in him now to lead the team. The players respond to Being a student-athlete can be stressful and difficult for some, but Fuiava (12), has maintained his grades and spirit throughout his senior year. him and respect (him) and that’s attributed to his hard work and commitment,” whether or not skills, such as to be an electrician and added Head Coach Trenton leadership, are being put to play volleyball as well. I like Niino. “One of the reasons good use. “I feel like (Nitta) doing wiring and electrical that (Fuiava) stands out chose me because of my things because it brings joy from the rest of the players character not only on the to me and I feel that (it) is his experience of the game court but also off the court. would be the best (way) to and his high volleyball IQ. I like to help my teammates help support my family.” He is a very well-rounded out with things besides volAfter graduation, Fuiava player who cannot only leyball. To me being a true hopes to spend his summer terminate the ball, but can leader is being capable of with friends before leaving play defense as well. When guiding the team towards to go to a college in Califor(Fuiava) is hitting, he is able the same goal and guiding nia. Through the support by to read the block and read them individually,” stated others, Fuiava will continue the defense, and while he is Fuiava. to play volleyball for God on defense, he’s able to read For many students, and his family wherever he the hitter.” finding an ideal career can goes, brightening the days of Evaluating yourself in be difficult, but Fuiava is others and showcasing skills your sport and classroom confident in his aspirations. he’s gained from playing are essential in determining “When I get older, I want sports.
boys, girls varstiy tennis take oia team championship titleS
Photo courtesy of Ariana York (12)
Not only have both the Boys and Girls Varisty Tennis (above) teams run an almost undefeated season, both claimed the championship against Pearl City. The team OIA Championships is based on time and first to win.
By Jannah Kalai jannah.kalai@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
Both the MHS Boys and Girls OIA Varsity Tennis Teams won the OIA Team Championship, the ninth consecutive for Lady Trojans. On April 8, at Central Oahu
Regional Park the two teams swept away Pearl City for the title. “It felt good to end my last varsity tennis match with a win, but it felt even better to have been able to play alongside my teammates for the last time. This year’s team is
one of the closest teams out of my four years playing varsity tennis. We all supported one another, pushed each other to get better, and had so much fun at the same time. When I look back on this season, I won’t necessarily remember the wins and loses, but more
so the memories I’ve made with my team and coaches,” stated one girls team Captain Senior Haley Fujimori. The win was both a team and personal achievement for many of the athletes. “This season has been really enjoyable, but at the same time, tough for me. I got injured and wasn’t playing well in the beginning of the season. God, along with my supportive coaches, teammates and family have been so loving and encouraging to help me push through the rough moments. I’m really excited for what the rest of the season has in store,” stated Fujimori. “Some of the high school teams have a few good players that make the matches exciting. But, the match against Pearl City is always the most exciting because they’re our rivals and our biggest competition in the West Division,” stated second of three team Captains Senior Erin Jyo. “The camaraderie between the girls team and the boys team is awesome. We all get along so well and
it feels like one big extended family. It’s always a fun time when we’re together.” With a majority senior team it not only solidifies the past standard, but also makes another memorable memory for the last year on the team. “A team win is different from an individual win because it is a reflection of the teamwork and contribution by all the girls on the team, rather than just one person,” stated Fujimori. Jyo elaborated, “This win was one of the best moments of my senior year so far. The OIA title is a big thing for us because we work hard throughout the season to keep it in our school. And to be able to win the title again with these amazing and hardworking girls is something I’ll never forget. It feels so great to end my high school team tennis career on such a high note.” With the OIA title under their belt, the win marks the closing of a season for seniors, and a legacy to uphold for underclassmen.
FEATURE Spring into Skincare By Alicya Burt 2018burta@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
The start of spring brings the start of sunny, humid and hot days. Whether it is noticeable or not, this can lead to changes in your skin. Some skin types breakout, while others overproduce oils. With school, clubs or any other activities that teens may be involved in, it becomes difficult to find the time to not only research a unique skincare routine, but also maintain it. As graphic design teacher Kara Adan expressed, “I would definitely look into learning how to take care of your skin. You don’t have to go the whole nine yards in terms of all the things that I do, at least. But you should learn how to moisturize and especially (use) sunscreen.” This point of minimal but necessary skincare is key when taking care of skin at a young age. At the core of any skincare routine should be a cleanser, a moisturizer and a sunscreen. Then, other products can be added as needed, such as a sulfur spot treatment or an eye cream for puffy eyes. According to a team of estheticians from Mario Badescu, activities such as tanning, overwashing, picking pimples, using too many products and not moisturizing and using sunscreen are the main causes of acne. Remember—the main goal of any skincare regimen is to find what products bring out the best in your skin while still fitting within your realm of practicality. However, in this journey, it is important to remember that outer appearance isn’t everything. “Honestly, in high school, everybody has bad skin or problems with their skin so I wouldn’t really put too much into it,” Adan stated. Clearogen, a skincare company, reports that between 40 and 50 million people in the U.S. have acne, with 85 percent of the population having it at some point in their lives. “I feel like some of my friends that had issues with it, they thought ‘oh no, my skin is not perfect,’ and I felt like they put too much thought and concern into it. There are so many other things that you guys need to be worried about like school, extracurriculars, friends and that’s the last thing you need to worry about,” Adan reflected. Though having acne, dry patches or shine can cause insecurities, confidence is what reflects a person’s character. As Adan emphasized, “Your skin isn’t what makes you beautiful.”
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Trojan Times | April 20, 2017 |
WHAT IS YOUR MAIN SKIN CONCERN? I experience a build up of oil throughout the day.
I have dull dry skin.
I have an oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) but dry cheeks.
I have acne prone skin/breakout easily.
Do you use a harsh cleanser?
Do you regularly wash your face?
Do you wash your face more than twice a day?
Yes, and it leaves my skin itchy and tight.
Yes, but the oil comes back within a few hours.
This may be your problem. Always stripping your skin of its oils exposes it to the elements and takes aways its source of mositure. Try reducing it to once to twice a day and using a salicylic acid cleanser and a light mositurizer.
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Do you use spot treatments? This could be the cause of your combination skin. Try using a gentle cleaner and avoid sodium laureth sulfate.
This could be your problem. Washing your face too much is telling your skin to overproduce oil. Try reducing it to once to twice a day and using an oil or cream based cleanser and a hyaluronic acid toner to restore moisture between skin care steps.
No This could be your problem. Try a cleanser with salicylic acid and a tea tree oil mask once a week.
No
Yes
Try spot treatments like salicylic acid benzoyl peroxide or zinc oxide.
Do you get hormonal breakouts? You have acne prone skin. Try using activated charcoal or clay masks to remove dirt and oil.
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Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask Aveeno Active Naturals Foaming Cleanser
Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid Toner Aveeno Active Naturals Foaming Cleanser
Yes
Do you use a moisturizer?
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You have dry skin. Check your moisturizer for mineral oil. Try using avocado, almond or argan oil instead.
You have oily skin. Try using a moisturizing spray that has aloe during the day.
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Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
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You have combination skin. Avoid fragrance and go for a serum or lotion based moisturizer.
Nature Republic Lotus Serum
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EDITORIAL
10| Trojan Times | April 20, 2017
“TONE-DEAF” PEPSI COMMERCIAL FIZZLES OUT AFTER BACKLASH By Mary Conner 2017connerm@mililanihs.k12.hi.us
M
aybe the struggle of every Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement supporter, feminist, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) ally, etc. could be over if they only brought a cold refreshment to the fight. Right? Not exactly. However, this is the unintended message Pepsi portrayed in its most recent ad, which depicted Kendall Jenner, ripping off her platinum blonde wig and flashy mini-dress to join a group of millennial reminiscent protestors fighting for an unknown cause. At the commercial’s climactic scene, a joyous celebration breaks out after Jenner approaches one of the police officers with a cold can of the soft drink. Within 48 hours, the commercial received five times as many dislikes than likes on YouTube. In addition, social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram lit up with judgmental comments, statuses, memes, etc. After receiving such intense backlash from the public, Pepsi pulled the ad and has come out with several apologetic statements to the public and those offended by the commercial’s accidental message. Though Pepsi intended to spark controversy over issues like police brutality and to gain involvement from the millennial generation
on troubling issues, it ended up sparking a whole new conversation; the tone-deaf views of big companies, like Pepsi and other media forms in the face of the issues that are so heavily weighing upon the shoulders of the younger generation. After Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., tweeted out a photo of her father mid-protest with the caption, “If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi,” the public truly began to take notice. Her message was clear: merely being ‘nice’ to police through a gesture of generosity isn’t a solution when facing issues of racism, sexism and prejudice from the boys in blue. Police brutality has always been a heavily daunting and relevant issue for minorities within America, and for people like Bernice King who remember the work of people like her father, any trivialization on the matter is a damaging blow to their legacy and the efforts of every protester who has fought against the injustice done unto others because of mere prejudice. Elle Hearns, the executive director of the Marsha P. Johnson Institute and formerly an organizer for Black Lives Matter, explained the conflict plainly when she claimed the ad “plays down the sacrifices people have historically taken in utilizing protests.” “No one is finding joy from Pepsi at a protest,”
said Hearns. “That’s just not the reality of our lives. That’s not what it looks like to take bold action.” Many are comparing a shot from the commercial to the famous photograph taken of nonviolent protester and BLM supporter Ieshia Evans during the Baton Rouge protests last year. She rallied amongst the dozens of people protesting the murder of Alton Sterling, an African American man arrested and shot after selling CD’s in front of a store with a gun in his pocket. In the photograph, Evans stands defiantly towards a group of heavily armed guards who are attempting to detain her. Meanwhile, in Pepsi’s commercial, Jenner stands, arm outstretched with cold Pepsi in hand towards a handsome police officer, no danger in sight. This contrast is a solid representation of the controversy surrounding the ad. While Evans, the literal face of passion, struggle and hope, risks her life to achieve peace in reality, Jenner, a false symbol for a falsely represented movement, stands tall and proud in her overpriced designer shoes and perfectly primed makeup with a can of Pepsi in hand, ready to fix all the problems the protesters behind her are facing, as if to say, “Revolution, shmevolution.” For years, soda companies have been pandering towards their younger consumers. Coke’s famous, “I’d like
to buy the world a Coke,” commercial which debuted in 1971 shared a message of peace and love during the heated debate of the Vietnam War. Even earlier, Pepsi released slogans like, “Pepsi Generation,” and “For those who think young,” in the 1960s, both attempting to relate to the modern mindset of “hip” consumers. Though Pepsi’s intended purpose was to represent values of togetherness, the ad overall devalues the efforts of those who have dedicated so much time, effort and much of their lives to movements like BLM. The face of a movement shouldn’t be the exuberantly wealthy, 21-year-old supermodel that hasn’t lived the struggle of those fighting behind her. There should be credibility and an ability to relate to the struggles of whoever is on screen, representing the reality and true meaning of a movement. After pulling the commercial, Pepsi released a statement saying, “Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize. We didn’t intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position.” Pepsi, you’ve done a proper job in getting people to come together on an issue. Next time, just make sure the issue isn’t you.
Inexplicable Ducks Chaeley Winkler
The mission of the Trojan Times is to be the student voice and to publicize events, share in the successes of students, promote the hard work of the faculty and capture the dedication of organizations.
Editor-in-Chief Jannah Kalai Managing Editor Danielle Smith Online Editor Shelby Haygood Design Editor Annissa Burcham Multimedia Editor Kelikoaelakauaikekai Gongob Copy Editor Katlin Schendel Opinions Editor Mary Conner Tech Matthew Feria Camera Man Nick Malae Ads & Marketing Caitlyn Resurreccion Social Media Sierra Gamayon Adviser Mr. Christopher Sato Staff Alicya Burt Maiya Ezawa Katie Hashimoto Christian Lum Taylor Ann Ono Cameryn Oshiro Anika Ramos Elgin Reese Lindsey Scott Aimee Vinta Chaeley Winkler Timothy Won The Trojan Times is a monthly production of the Newswriting staff of Mililani High School 95-1200 Meheula Pkwy., Mililani, HI 96789
Correction: Content Error There were errors in a story titled “MHS Art and Photography students receive state recognition” on page 5 of Issue 6, distributed on March 16, 2017. The story by reporter Caitlyn Resurreccion misquoted Jonathan Johnson, Seniors Justin Hornback and Maya Hoeft, Junior Noah Kochi and teachers Francine Sandell and Ruth Ravina-Koethe. The Trojan Times would like to sincerely apologize for this error and deeply regret it.
To voice an opinion or any concerns, feel free to submit a letter to L205 or to jannah.kalai@mililanihs.k12. hi.us. Please type your letter and clearly state your name, grade level and period one class. The Trojan Times reserves the right to edit letters as they see fit.
INFORMATION Travis Afuso
My Fellow Trojans, The fourth quarter has now arrived. This is sure to be a time of excitement as we wrap up a year’s worth of work. Many Seniors have begun to hear back from colleges and make decisions about their next steps in life. All of us are preparing and studying for our course exams, final projects and AP exams. Despite there being a lot of work, this is also a time of celebration. The End of Year Spirit Week entitled, “There’s a Spring Fever in the Trojan Universe,” runs from April 24 to April 28. In this week we will come together one final time before the close of the school year and celebrate our accomplishments, triumphs and most of all, our common identity as Trojans of MHS. No matter where this next year will take us, we will always have a home here at MHS. To cap off the week, the End of the Year Assembly will take place on April 28 at John Kauinana Stadium. There the classes will face off for the ultimate prize, the annual Spirit Trophy, as they conduct their lip sync performances before the school. Teacher Appreciation Week begins the following week from May 1 to 5, so make an extra effort to thank your teachers during this time. Although we set aside time to celebrate in this last quarter, it is still unquestionably a time of challenge where all the things that we have learned in this past year will be put to the test. But remember in the words of Vince Lombardi, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” Never quit striving for your best, because the future is yours to create.
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Trojan Times | April 20, 2017 |
C&CC
Senior Announcements
form with payment to the C&CC.
Seniors, graduation is right around the corner. Here are a few end-of-year reminders:
-Going away for college? Make sure to make travel arrangements for Winter Break. Check the college’s calendar online to determine the college’s final exam schedule. Allow time for cleaning up your dorm room and for packing. Some dorms close on the last day of finals, so plan accordingly.
-May 1 is the universal deadline to let schools know whether you are accepting their offer of admission or not. This is not a postmarked deadline. -Turn in ALL scholarship offer letters in order to be recognized in the graduation program. This includes offers of WUE, merit, organizational, athletic, etc. The deadline to submit to the C&CC is April 28. -Read your emails. You might be inundated with emails right now, however you wouldn’t want to miss a crucial email from the college that you plan to attend. You might receive an email regarding financial aid, housing information, new student orientation, registration events, etc. Check your inbox and act accordingly. -Turn in your final/eight semester transcript request, if the college needs your final grades. -Community colleges need your final transcript if you have applied for financial aid. If you are a scholarship athlete, you also need to send your final grades to the NCAA Clearinghouse or NAIA. You can do this now and the registrar’s office will hold your request until your final grades are posted in June. Submit your request
-Bed, Bath and Beyond has their Pack & Hold Service to make your move to college easy. You can shop here in Hawaii, tell them where to hold your items, then pick everything up at a store near your college. Pick up information and a coupon in to the C&CC. -Be sure to turn in your health clearance information (TB test and/or MMR shot record) to the school you will be attending. You will not be able to register for your classes until this is complete. -Don’t forget to thank the teachers and counselors who helped you with your college/ scholarship recommendations and mid-year reports. -Our local community colleges are still accepting applications. Go to apply.hawaii. edu to apply. -Males 18 years of age must register with Selective Service. Go to sss.gov for more information. It’s the law. -Still undecided about what to do after graduation? See the C&CC ASAP.
“The Universe is Yours” – Mini College/Career Fair on April 24 to 28. The C&CC will be hosting various colleges and organizations during Spirit Week on April 24 to 28. -Come to the cafeteria dining lanai during lunch to meet with representatives. Check the C&CC site for a list of participants. ACT Test Results If you took the ACT with us in February, you should have received your test results in the mail. If you did not receive them, come to the C&CC for a copy of your scores. Juniors Juniors should be getting ready for senior year. Reminders: distribute/collect student evaluation sheets, update your resume, take at least one SAT or ACT test, make an appointment with your counselor, request for letters of recommendation (if applicable) and research your schools. Make an appointment with the C&CC if you need help with your college search or if you have any questions. SAT/ACT COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS Underclassmen, especially juniors, should sign up now for the SAT or ACT. Sites and dates fill up very quickly, so plan accordingly. Go to collegeboard.org or actstudent.org to sign up for the appropriate test. Our school’s CEEB
code is 120-197. Need a fee waiver? Come to the C&CC. COLLEGE FAIR The National College Fair will be held on Tuesday, April 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet with representatives from visiting schools. For more information, visit: http://www. nacacnet.org WORK PERMIT Students who need a work permit need to apply online at www.hawaii.gov/labor. You will need to provide an email address and the last four digits of your social security number. FEE WAIVERS AVAILABLE Students on free or reduced lunch are eligible for SAT, ACT and NCAA Clearinghouse fee waivers. Come to the C&CC and pick up your fee waiver today. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Summer is a great time to do volunteer work. This invaluable experience will give students insights to the world of work, and will enhance their resume. Call companies or organizations and inquire about volunteer opportunities that they offer. Compiled by College and Career Center Counselor Denise Yamamoto
HOW TO PREPARE FOR AP TESTING
2 weeks before
1 week before
The night before
The morning of
Do:
Do:
Do:
Do:
Dont: • Procrastinate. Take advantage of the time that two weeks gives you to study.
Dont: • Focus on the specifics and things that will confuse you. Stick to what you know.
Dont: • Cram all night. It will only add more pressure and stress on you. Prioritize sleeping.
Dont: • Freak out. You know as much as possible at this point and all you can do is your best.
• Take a timed practice exam with simulated test conditions. • Use practice questions from https://apstudent. collegeboard.org/takingtheexam/preparing-for-exams. • Grade the practice exam. Make sure to mark down which questions you are consistently getting wrong. • Review the topics in which you did not do well on.
• Start a general review that focuses on overarching themes and connections throughout the content • Review the things that you know very well. • Continue to review things that you don’t know, but if the content just isn’t clicking, move onto something else. • Study with some friends to reduce stress on top of the oppurtunity to ask them questions
• Relax. Take a bath. Watch some T.V. Play your favorite video game. Reduce your stress as much as possible. • Get enough sleep. A tired test taker isn’t a successful test taker. • Pack your bag the night before. Bring enough wooden pencils and an eraser. • Check for any extra supplies that you may need like a pen or calculator.
• Wake up early so you have enough time to eat breakfest and do last minute checks. • Eat a good, nutritional breakfast, like a smoothie or an omelette. • Pack a bottle of water and a filling snack like nuts or granola bars for the break. • Make sure you have all of the required supplies for the exam (pencils, pen, eraser) • Get to the test site early and make sure to bring your ID.
COMICS
12| Trojan Times | April 20, 2017 The Aisle Long Fart By Jaycee Desaki
Inexplicable Ducks By Chaeley Winkler
How to Maintain a Healthy Garden By Taylor Ann Ono
Business Birds By Annissa Burcham 1) Find the area of shape x
1) Find the area of shape x
3 5
x
5
5
5 7
7
Lonely Cactus By Mary Conner
REASON
3
#731
WHY I DON’T LIKE
MATH