Andover High Trojan Bluestreak- May 26

>>

thetrojanBLUESTREAK

www.thetrojanbluestreak.com 1744 N. Andover Road Andover, KS 67002 316-218-4600 May 26, 2011 Volume 25 - Issue 13

STATE SPORTS 2011 Teams compete at state, see pages 12-15

>>

newsWORTHY

FRONT PAGE: Junior Michael Morris tees off at Crestview Country Club. Morris was part of the state golf team that placed seventh on Monday. PHOTO BY KELSEY PHILLIPS Senior Grant Ralston sprints to the finish during the 100-meter dash at the ElDorado meet on April 29. Ralston qualified for the state track meet in two events. PHOTO BY CHAD PHILLIPS The Andover girls’ swim team placed 15th at the state meet. PHOTO BY DEVIN DYMKOWSKI

Off the Wall leaves viewers with satisfaction, ‘Glee’ kathrynSILL staff writer

The sound of music could be heard from the auditorium when Off the Wall 2011 took place on May 12. The choirs began rehearsing songs and learning choreography in the beginning of April.

“Off the Wall is different from other concerts because it is all pop music and I am not directing so I help out with preparation, but the actual concert is run by students,” choir teacher Robert Schofer said.

Originally Schofer had chosen the theme Off the Wall Goes Green because budget cuts had caused the choir to recycle songs from past years instead of buying new music. The theme then transitioned to Off the Wall Glee because the songs were styled in the Glee version of songs.

“We had to work on Off the Wall as well as state contest music,” Schofer said.

This year choir students learned choreography from Kristina Sims of the Butler Show choir. Senior Tyler Franssen, sophomores Maegan Johnston and Jacob Dutton and freshman Ashleigh Richards also taught students choreography. Junior Natalia Farfan Madrigals

“

I enjoyed the “Defying Gravity” performance because I saw Wicked in theatres and the Madrigals did a really good job when compared to the Broadway musical.

” snip-ITS

member said that sometimes it would get frustrating sometimes if they forgot some dance moves they learned, but the constant practice paid off.

“I felt that we were more prepared than last year,” Farfan said.

Off the Wall began with students singing “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi and dancing in pairs or by themselves. Throughout the concert, various songs were sung, each with its own style.

“I enjoyed the “Defying Gravity” performance because I saw Wicked in theatres and the Madrigals did a really good job when compared to the Broadway musical,” junior Krysta Horning said.

This years hosts were seniors Bren Marion and Landon Oberg. Marion and Oberg put together a comedy skit by dressing as anchormen during the year end slideshow and singing a parody of Rebecca Black’s song “Friday” called “Bagel Day”. “(Landon and I) met everyday the week leading up to Off the Wall for what to say during the slideshow and the “Bagel Day” song we had planned for the whole year,” Marion said.

Farfan said that the “Bagel Day” song was her favorite memory because Madrigals eats bagels every once in a while in class.

“Bren and Landon were very creative hosts.

They sat down for hours to come up with ideas,” Schofer said.

The concert was ended with “Somebody to Love.” Pianist Laurel Delimont contributed to much of the production.

“We couldn’t do it without her,” Schofer said. “She is an important part of the team.”

krystaHORNING

HENRY HOOK

Senior Landon Oberg plays the guitar and sing “In Your Atmosphere” by John Mayer. The Off the Wall concert was held on May 12.

Journalism students bring home 5A state title katieSCHNEIDER staff writer

Andover High School has yet another state title under its belt.

Journalism students traveled to Lawrence on May 7 to compete in the Kansas Scholastic Press Association state competition at the University of Kansas.

Newspaper and yearbook adviser Kristin Baker took eight students to Lawrence early Saturday morning.

“Only eight students competed on site,” Baker said. “However we had 19 competitors total because of the carry-in contests.”

Ten students placed with nine of them earning first or second.

2

May 26, 2011

Sophomore Jacob Highfill placed second in the student life photography category.

“I was kind of confident,” Highfill said. “It was a good photo, but you can never be sure on how a picture will do.”

Baker received the news of the state win later that afternoon.

“I was sincerely shocked that we won,” Baker said. “Only because this was the first year we really got a chance to compete at the 5A level.”

Andover rose above the competition and won by 12 points.

“I just really appreciate and admire the schools in the Kansas City area that we were competing with,” Baker said. “I was really proud of my students.”

RECOGNIZED TJ Rigg - 2nd in Cutline Writing Evan Willford - 1st in Editorial Cartoon Chad Hamman - 2nd in Editorial Writing Kathryn Sill - 2nd in Feature Writing Elisa Martin - 1st in News Page Design Corbin Mihelic - 2nd in Newspaper

students

Sports Writing Devin Dymkowski - 1st in Sports Photography Chad Phillips - 2nd in Sports Photography Jacob Highfill - 2nd in Student Life Photography Kelsey Phillips - Honorable Mention in Yearbook Layout

Concert In The Park: Seniors’ last performance impresses kathrynSILL staff writer

Playing in band is not a walk in the park; it takes work and dedication throughout the year. So at the end of every year they end on a fun note with the annual Concert in the Park. “[It was] epic because it is band and we are awesome,” sophomore Jerad Rogers said.

The concert is the first performance for fifth grade band students and the last for the graduating seniors.

That made the concert their last here at Andover High.

“At the very end when we give them [the seniors] each a metal for being in the band for four years, it is probably one of the best memories I have,” band instructor Ray Linville said.

The band played fun songs like Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, Summer of ’69, Rumble in the Plains, and Symphony 9. During the song some band members went into the crowd and handed out flowers.

“We handed out flowers for fun, because we were doing a Woodstock thing,” Rogers said.

” “

We played well, but it was sad because it was the seniors’ last concert bryceNEWTON

Another fun note was when the seniors presented Mr. Linville with a light saber to conduct with. They also supplied him with some Mountain Dew as well.

“I was going to use it, but it was so heavy if I had by the end of the concert my arm would’ve fallen off,” Linville said.

Unlike previous performances Concert in the Park is more about entertainment and fun. They are not there to be judged or impress, they worked hard all year and this is where they get to let loose.

ALEX DURANO “It was full of humor, we played well,” sophomore Bryce Newton said, “but it was sad because it was the The jazz band performs during the annual concert in the park festival. They played a selection of jazz pieces that enticed the audience. seniors’ last concert.”

Farewell Seniors

Like a Good Neighbor State Farm is there.

COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS | ABC PROGRAM MYBANK CHECKING | SIGN & SAVE

4 WICHITA LOCATIONS | (316) 685.5441 WWW.SUNFLOWERBANK.COM

Tony Durano CLU ChFC Andover. KS 316-733-1000 tony@tonydurano.com

May 26, 2011

3

Andover tornado anniversary painful for some robynHERBERT

in-depth editor

“Tornado Alley”: the familiar nickname given to the stretch of the Midwest that tornados rip through every year. But 20 years ago last month, on April 26, 1991, a single tornado changed the lives of hundreds in the area.

“The Andover Tornado” is how it is remembered, but the tornado that cut through the lives of Kansas citizens traveled 46 miles from start to finish, uprooting everything in its path.

“We lived through that tornado,” Reverend Norman Tillotson said. “One minute we looked out at our neighbors flipping burgers, then my father-in-law called and told us we needed to get out. Now.” Tillotson lived in the Golden Spur Mobile Home Park in Andover. The tornado that destroyed his home was the deadliest of 55 tornados that formed across six states that day, killed 24 people, 19 in Andover alone.

“We lost everything but the clothes on our back, we found our mobile home in pieces in neighbor’s yards,” Tillotson said.

When the tornados formed, at three in the afternoon, it fluctuated in strength between the average F2 to the stronger F3. As it traveled to McConnell Air Force Base it raised in intensity to a F4 and, at 6:35 p.m., just minutes before it hit Andover, it hit F5 status; one of only four F5 tornados in the state’s history.

According to the Fujita Scale, the F Scale tornados are measured on, an F2 tornado causes “considerable damage. Roofs torn off

Lessons Learned

frame houses; mobile homes demolished; large trees snapped or uprooted.”

In an F3, “Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forests uprooted.”

An F4 is more extreme still, “well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown off some distance; cars thrown.”

In an F5, “strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distances to disintegrate; automobile sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters; trees debarked; steel reinforced concrete structures badly damaged.”

“As we got in the car, I looked over my shoulder and realized, ‘we’re not going to make it out of here, we need to get to shelter.’ We turned back to go to the shelter and things were being hurled at us by the wind,” Tillotson said.

As the storm approached, the city’s only tornado siren failed to go off. The residents of Andover were given less than five minutes warning to try and save their lives.

Fearing tornados, many people left the mobile home park before the storm hit. Television stations had alerted many. Of the 333 people living in the park, 146 fled. 149 of the remaining people ran to the shelter for protection, leaving 38 unguarded in their homes. Eleven of those people were killed, along with 17 who were seriously injured.

“We were lucky,” Tillotson said. “We got in the shelter. I had to push past the crowd of people trying to get in to get my wife and

>>

After the tornado in 1991, Andover became the poster town for “What Not to Do.” Many argue that some deaths were preventable as some of the key things put in place to warn people and help victims, failed on April 26.

>>

Andover only had one tornado siren for the town of 4000, and it failed to go off. Andover recently had to switch again to a digital signal, to ensure they will never fail again.

>>

Andover did not have its own emergency response team, it relied on Wichita’s. Because of the expanse of the tornado, Wichita’s resources were being used elsewhere, unable to help Andover.

>>

Before the Andover tornado, many people were told that the southwest corner of the basement was the safest place to be in the event of a storm.

Storms usually travel from the southwest, and homes are shifted to the northeast. Some homes collapsed and crushed citizens in the southwest.

Source: The Tornado Project

4

May 26, 2011

robynHERBERT

COURTESY PHOTO

On April 26, 1991, the Andover Tornado destroyed 205 mobile homes and killed 24 people. Most of the Golden Spur Mobile Home Park was leveled; 19 people died in the Mobile Home Park. children in there.”

Destroyed were 205 of the 240 mobile homes in the park. It was the hardest hit area.

The tornado destroyed 400 homes and 11 businesses in total, with $50 million damage.

In total, there were 12 F0 tornados, 13 F1, 18 F2, seven F3, four F4 and one F5 tornado across the nation.

“We weren’t really affected by it,” resident Sharon Larson said. “We lost electricity for five days and we knew a lot of friends who were hurting because of it.”

The winds on that evening reached speeds more than 260 mph; the strongest ever recorded in Kansas.

“We found some of our pictures next to where our house was,” Tillotson said. “But we never did find our washing machine.”

Although some fear tornados more than ever, Tillotson still feels right at home in “Tornado Alley.”

“I don’t think my fear for storms has increased,” Tillotson said. “But my respect for them certainly has.”

Red Cross, Weather Channel warn people to stay vigilant robynHERBERT

in-depth editor

Although tornados are not uncommon during the tornado season, April through June, it is still important to stay alert.

The Red Cross suggests assembling a “disaster supplies kit” to keep in your shelter area.

It should contain a first aid kit with essential medication in addition to the usual items, a battery powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries, canned and other non-perishable food and a hand operated can opener, bottled water, sturdy shoes and work gloves.

Another way to stay safe during dangerous weather is to know what to look for.

The Tornado Project, an informational site funded by the Weather Channel, says that everyone should know the signs of a tornado and what do to if one is going to hit.

“Be alert,” the site says. “A sickly greenish or greenish black color to the sky often occurs before a tornado. If there is a watch or warning posted, then the fall of hail should be considered as a real danger sign. Hail can be common in some areas, however, and

usually has no tornadic activity along with it.”

A strange quiet often occurs within or shortly after the thunderstorm and can also be a sign of potential danger.

Clouds moving by very fast, especially in a rotating pattern or converging toward one area of the sky.

A sound a little like a waterfall or rushing air at first, but turning into a roar as it comes closer. The sound of a tornado has been likened to that of both railroad trains and jets.

The Sedgwick County Emergency Management committee reminds people to take cover if they are outside when a storm hits.

“The safest course of action when a tornado approaches is to get out of the tornado’s path by driving at a right angle away from the tornado, or to seek shelter in a sturdy, well-constructed building,” the committee said. “If there is no time and no nearby shelter lie flat in a ditch or depression and use your hands to protect your head.”

The committee always urges people not to believe the myth that overpasses offer protection from dangerous winds and debris.

“A dangerous trend has emerged in recent years among people in the

path of approaching tornadoes while traveling in a car,” the committee said. “Many of those in the path of a tornado are abandoning cars and seeking shelter under highway overpasses, apparently believing this will increase their safety from the storm.

The idea that overpasses offer increased safety probably received an additional boost in 1991, when a television news crew rode out a weak tornado under an overpass along the Kansas Turnpike.”

Some people are overwhelmed by the sheer amount to remember during crisis, so weather officials have come up with the acronym: DUCK. *Down to the lowest level of a structure, whether a basement or the ground floor. * Under something sturdy, such as a table. * Cover yourself with a blanket or mattress to shield against flying debris. * Keep under shelter until the storm has passed.

Whatever the method, as long as one stays out of the way of glass and other debris, their chance of injury should be greatly lessened.

Teacher utilizes talent to document historic event kathrynSILL staff writer

Photojournalism teacher and photographer Cary Conover witnessed the events of Sept. 11, 2001 – orchestrated by Al Qaeda and the recently killed Osama bin Laden – through the lens of his camera.

As he stood on the roof of a Manhattan apartment building, he captured the moments in his photography.

“I had been living in New York for about a year working as a freelance photographer and prior to that, I worked for different newspaper companies,” Conover said.

Neighbors of Conover began knocking on his door because they knew he was a photographer.

One man came running from his bathroom with shaving cream still on his face to tell Conover the first tower had just been hit. In one of Conover’s photos the plane can be seen flying, getting ready to make the second explosion.

“Originally people thought the first tower was an accident until the second tower was hit,” Conover said.

From where Conover stood, there was an eightsecond delay in sound. He would see the smoke and then hear the explosion. The moments are seared into Conover’s memory.

“I passed through this very intense moment of seeing it through the viewfinder,” Conover said.

Conover recalls the rest of the day feeling like a

daze. For him, it took weeks for the event to really sink in.

“I do not think I knew anybody who lost somebody because of 9/11. My friends and I said ‘I refuse to be a victim’ because we were just witnesses,” Conover said.

Conover has a fascination for aged photos that are black and white that have a vintage feel, but on Sept. 11 Conover opted for shooting color photos only. Journalism teacher Kristin Baker said Conover took a lot of street photography when he was in New York.

“His photography is very journalistic in style because it is a representation of real life,” Baker said.

Conover would like to return to New York someday. He considers it a great educational experience.

“Living in New York for 10 years was a huge educational experience,” Conover said.

Conover’s photography career began when he was a freshman in high school. The summer before he was a freestyle bicycler who had a friend convince him to take photos of them doing tricks. From this he went on to attend Kansas State University to major in journalism and mass communications. Although Conover does not consider his 9/11 photos to be his best they showcase Conover’s talents.

“I think it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity CARY CONOVER for students to take a class with someone with that United Airlines flight 175 crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on the morning of Sept. 11, much experience and expertise,” Baker said.

2001. The tower burned for nearly an hour before collapsing due to structural failure.

Debate: Was it appropriate to celebrate death of Bin Laden? chrisJONES As the news was announced that Osama bin Laden, leader of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group and whom many believed to be the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, was killed on May 2 by U.S. Navy Seals, America celebrated.

The country rejoiced and breathed a collective sigh of relief that the mission to find Bin Laden had been accomplished.

Millions of Americans took to the streets to celebrate the death of the man responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent Americans. People around the country wanted to embrace and be a part of what would definitely become a moment in American history.

On the other hand, many Americans also found the celebration over the killing of bin Laden distasteful and opposed the public jubilation.

I can see their point to an extent. They oppose celebrating death.

Where I see it differently is that the celebrations in the streets of America were not mainly because we killed a man; we were rejoicing that America accomplished the mission we set out to accomplish and that the thousands of innocent lives lost during the terrorist attacks on the

World Trade Center may now rest in peace.

As President Barack Obama said in his address to the nation, “Justice has been done.”

The constant pursuit of Bin Laden and AlQaeda proves to those we lost on that tragic day that we will never forget. The execution of this mission solidifies that statement that has become popular among Americans since then.

After his death had been announced, thousands flocked to Ground Zero to celebrate and let the fallen know what had just happened.

Days after, the President along with countless others came to the site where thousands had died to lay notes, flowers, and other objects of remembrance to those we lost on that fateful day.

We must also remember the thousands of soldiers that sacrificed their lives in search of justice for the innocent and to protect their country. Although one death does not justify the deaths of all of the soldiers we have lost, the death of Bin Laden is a major step toward justice for them.

The celebration of the death of Osama bin Laden was a combination of the following and showed that we, despite our differences, are all Americans and can celebrate and come together under one cause.

The massive celebrations showed American pride was still alive, and that we can come together under one cause, under tragedy or triumph.

The celebration of the death of Osama bin Laden is not merely the celebration of death, it is the celebration of a victory for America and the rejoicing that justice has been done for the ones we have lost.

henryHOOK Moments after the awe-inspiring assassination of Osama bin Laden took place several hundred Americans joyfully conjugated into a group in front of the White House and near Ground Zero.

Suddenly, after hearing the news of his assassination Twitter and Facebook exploded.

The world literally lit up and nearly 3,000 tweets were tweeted per second, peaking at 5,106 when Obama presented his speech.

All that the tweets and status updates consisted of was angry and crude phrases such as “Burn in hell Osama bin Laden,” or “Osama is dead; go America!”

Nine-eleven was one of the worst days of the 21st century, that I do agree, but doesn’t it make America look foolish when we are hypocritically praising the death of a beloved leader to Al Qaeda? When only 10 years ago and even recently they recorded their malicious and vindictive joy of the pain and misery they put on America?

If Americans were to look back in history, they would see that after Adolf Hitler’s death no one cheered at the White House. The overall nationalism wasn’t nearly as high as that after

the death of Osama Bin Laden.

I can still remember sitting in my first grade class ignorantly and blissfully finishing my multiplication. Only seconds later an announcement was made. Teachers began to be worried and an awkward feeling swarmed the room.

Students were dismayed and unsure of what to make of the situation, because of this we all put the feelings behind us and bottled them up.

American Airlines Flight 11 was crashed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower, followed by United Airlines Flight 175, which hit the South Tower at 9:03 a.m.

America was speechless.

Days went on and Osama bin Laden soon became the most despised man of my generation. Osama became the Hitler of our day. I was confused and worried, but all I did was accept the pain and misery and move on, working to follow the status quo.

As I have become older I have came to realize that although it is one of the worst days in the 21st century, it doesn’t make sense to hold such a strong resentment against Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaeda forces.

Before Americans party and applaud a figure being assassinated they need to think about why they are cheering. What was truly accomplished by celebrating a man’s death ... absolutely nothing. The only thing that should have been truly celebrated that night was the fact that the troops have hope.

All we can do is respectfully attempt to pray for the forces of Al Qaeda to stop its hateful terrorism and forgive them for the horrible acts they committed.

May 26, 2011

5

>>

aroundANDOVER

Summer Snow brings memories of summer, slushies kelseyDICK

news editor

With the summer months quickly approaching, students have slushies on their minds. Summer Snow, known to many as “Slushie Hut” opened May 10.

“I went the first day it was open, it was amazing because the syrups were all brand new and the ice was freshly shaven,” senior Amy Williams said.

Williams goes to Summer Snow often during the summer months.

“I would consider myself addicted, I go almost everyday in the summer,” Williams said.

Other students share similar opinions like Williams.

“I love Slushie Hut because it is cheep. It also means that summer is coming and I usually go there after I go to the pool,” senior Catherine Crammer said.

Summer Snow offers over 50 different flavors of a wide variety.

“My favorite flavors are Dreamsicle or Fuzzy Navel. I like anything white orange. Orange is my favorite flavoring because it reminds me of summer,” senior Monica Farfan said.

John Scrama and his wife founded the Andover location of

Summer Snow in 1999. Scrama has many responsibilities that go along with owing the business.

“I do what it takes to keep it all going,” Scrama said. “I make syrup, resupply ice, run supplies, finances, and spend time in the hut.”

Part of Summer Snow includes bringing the community together. Other advantages come with owning a shaved ice shack.

“It is a good summer community thing, the money just comes along with it,” Scrama said.

Customers of the slushie hut are often satisfied with their product according to Scrama.

“We sell a product,” Scrama said. “That seems to make people happy and smile.”

Students look forward to the opening of Summer Snow during the school year.

“We are usually the busiest in the month of May because the kids are all in school and have been thinking about it all winter long and are ready for it,” Scrama said.

Summer Snow provides an area for students to hang out outside of class.

“It’s really relaxing and fun to see everyone,” employee Melissa Heeney said. “If it is not too busy, you can catch up with people you do not see on a normal basis.”

KAITLYN DEYOUNG

AMS student Hayley Meisch grabs a slushie after school. Meisch often goes to Summer Snow with her sister junior Audrey Meisch.

Northrock Theatre closed, provided cheap entertainment for Wichitans ryanLAKE Nothing beats going to the movies for some easy fun. Anytime we need to simply get away for a little while when were feeling down or just be able to laugh at the expense at somebody else, the movies will always have it.

The end is near for the Dickinson owned theatre chain dubbed “Northrock 14” ending it’s near 20 -ear run at the location off 29th and Rock road.

It’s a huge hit to my movie ventures as Northrock was typically my choice of venue over the Warren

6

May 26, 2011

Theatre on 13th.

The problem with Northrock 14 closing is the fact that there isn’t any other theatres in the city of Wichita, although there are rumors of the former Pink Palace re-opening. Nowhere else will you be able to go and catch a movie now that the rock is closing down.

There are so many bonuses that Northrock offered over the warren, sure it is much older, but in the end, all I care is to go watch the film I wanted to see. At the warren, I always find a nice little dent in the bank account after a night out at the warren due to their extremely overpriced food and ticket prices.

I’ve been continuously going to Northrock over the past three years for more than just the cheaper costs though. Their staff is actually quite friendly, providing an enjoyable movie-going experience for the viewer and making you feel comfortable with your surroundings.

It’s quite a different landscape at the Warren

where you walk into the lobby and you have security watching every move you make, it’s almost like walking into an awkward situation where everyone is looking at you, making sure your not trying to scam your way into a movie. Chances are, you aren’t, but the fact that security is their main concern at the movies is upsetting when you want to go relax.

Remembering the days before turning 17 and not being able to go see the comedies or horror flicks was always frustrating to kids because the warren absolutely refuses any underage kids into the movie whereas at Northrock, there is no I.D. required. It makes it easy for you to go into the all-glorious forbidden movie with all your little buddies to enjoy.

During my sophomore year, Northrock was offering a Sunday special where you could go see any movie (new or old) for a measly charge of $4.25 per ticket. I would always take advantage of this deal and before you knew it, I found myself

to be a regular at the theatre, it wouldn’t matter if the movie was even good or not, just to get away and not think about school or anything else was nice for such a cheap price.

The Warren Theatre is great. It’s an awesome theatre with great projection, and it has a true respect for the movie industry – so much respect, in fact, that they have created a frustration for myself to bother going when I know workers will be all over my case from the moment I walk into the theatre. At Northrock, they gladly welcome your business, happily accepting any cash the customer has to offer.

Even though I realize Northrock has its fair share of flaws, it’s still a very reliable movie going experience, it’s going to be tough making the switch to the Warren theatre, both for my bank account and for my personal comfort, I will dearly miss Northrock 14, and I thank the business for making my movie going experience a good one.

Northrock 14, you will be missed.

inDEPTH<< Students, teachers open up on time-consuming finals tjRIGG

staff writer

Photo illustration by Jacob Highfill

Today marks the end of finals for all freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Students went about various ways to prepare for, and eventually take their finals.

Some graduates went about their own ways to prepare for finals. Graduate Nicole Kirkhart spent some time on some finals, while others she spent no time on.

“I go over my notes and review anything the teacher gives me,” Kirkhart said. “Sometimes I study a lot, sometimes not at all, it depends on the class.”

Kirkhart said she was most worried about her dual credit English final because it is her one college class. She was least worried about her graphic design class. “[Business teacher Julie Bailey] showed us previous finals and they seemed really easy and we got seven days to work on it,” Kirkhart said.

Non-graduates went about a variety of ways to prepare for their finals.

“I spend three to five hours studying while

listening to music,” freshman Darren Jones said.

Sophomore Linna Hu takes a little more time studying for her finals.

“I study for finals for about two weeks,” Hu said. “I study notes, teacher’s websites, and I make my own final review sheet.”

Finals often cause stress for students. Junior Anna Brown does not worry about finals until right before taking them.

“I do not feel stressed until the night before,” Brown said. “I spend two hours a night studying, reviewing all tests and study guides.”

Hu, on the other hand does not let the stress get to her.

“I do not freak out,” Hu said. “I am always ready.”

Science teacher Sherri Schaake-Bushell said that the amount of stress students feel because of finals depends on the student.

“Some get very stressed, some really do not care,” Schaake-Bushell said. “It depends on the grade and what kind of student they are.”

Schaake-Bushell spends a few hours making her finals and the review sheets for the finals. She

does not have an especially unique way for making her tests.

“A lot of the time, the material on the final is material from previous tests,” Schaake-Bushell said.

Grading finals often take up much time for teachers at the end of both semesters. Some teachers spend many hours grading, while others do not grade for as long. Schaake-Bushell spends about the same amount of time grading each of her classes’ finals.

“I spend probably an hour or so grading finals,” Schaake-Bushell said. “I give multiple choice finals, so it does not take as long.”

Worrying about finals depends on the student’s preparation according to Jones.

“If you study a lot,” Jones said. “You will do well.”

Kirkhart agrees and adds that when it comes down to it, how well one does on finals depends on how much the student knows.

“If I know it I know it,” Kirkhart said. “And if I do not know it, I do not really care.”

Faculty, graduates reveal truths about last-minute detention serving tjRIGG

staff writer

A few weeks ago, many graduates received word that they still had detention to serve in order to walk at graduation.

As of last Thursday, eight students who planned to walk at graduation still had detention to serve, and four students who did not intend to walk still had time to do. According to Principal Bob Baier, graduates had several reasons to choose not serve.

“At times, the graduation ceremony does not seem important to them,” Baier said. “As graduation gets closer, they realize that it is the culmination of their high school career.

They also have family, particularly grandparents, they do not want to disappoint.”

Counselor Sue Coffman agreed and said graduation is a sentimental time in one’s high school career that they need to attend.

“At this point, most [graduates] think it

is not important to walk,” Coffman said. “If they are like me, the school year also went by very fast for them so they ran out of time to serve.”

In past years, seniors about to graduate have come to Coffman for help with serving their detention time. This year, however, was a different story.

“This year, most [graduates] knew they had detention,” Coffman said.

Graduate Bridgette Vierthaler was among the group of graduates who still had an excess amount of detention to serve before graduation. Vierthaler’s detention came from truancy.

“My largest number of detention hours was 30,” Vierthaler said. “[However,] I have faith in myself that I can get my detention done so I can walk.”

As of last Thursday, Vierthaler had plans to serve her detention in time for graduation

on Sunday.

“Yes, I do [plan to serve before graduation] unless I have to stay until midnight on Friday [May 20] to do janitorial work, in which case I will not,” Vierthaler said.

Baier has offered many ways to serve detention time. These included cleaning up cigarette butts in the parking lot and serving time personally with Baier. Vierthaler, however, took the usual route.

“I have only gone to detention and Friday school,” Vierthaler said.

For graduates not walking because of their detention hours, Vierthaler had some strong feelings about what the administration could consider in order to take off detention hours.

“My feelings are that if the student has ALEX DURANO good grades and are passing classes, then why does detention time matter?” Vierhaler said. Senior Kade Beckley works to finish serving detention time. The senior class “Let them walk.” was alloted extra time to finish left over detention time in time for graduation.

251 N. Andover Road 733-5630 7 days a week 11 a.m. to midnight Carryout Available Find us on Facebook www.timbuktubarandgrill.com

Friends don’t let friends eat burgers alone!

May 26, 2011

7

Home to provide protection to abuse victims robynHERBERT

in-depth editor

Every 10 seconds, someone reports child abuse. Every two minutes, a child in America is sexually assaulted. Every day, five children die as a result of child abuse.

All over America, organizations are put in place to protect the surviving victims of child abuse. Soon, Andover will join the fight.

The Sunlight Children’s Advocacy and Rights Foundation (SCARF) is working with Hope Community Church to build a home for children taken out of their homes.

“SCARF is the umbrella organization. We have one program at this time, which is Sunlight Child Advocacy Center. Eventually we hope to have two other programs, the Sunshine Children’s Home and Sunrise Visitation and Exchange Center,” executive director of SCARF Suzi Thien said.

SCARF provides protection services to Butler, Elk and Greenwood county, meaning the Sunlight Child Home will be for all three areas in Kansas.

“It was felt that there was a need for a Children’s Home in Butler County. WSU did a needs assessment for us that showed a facility of this kind would be used.” Thien said.

Currently, the organization takes children out of abusive homes, but there is not a place close to Andover for them to live while the situation is sorted out. “[We help] children who have temporarily been removed from their home and will be brought to us by law enforcement,” Thien said. “[We are] a place where alleged victims of child abuse are brought to be interviewed by forensically trained professionals.”

Thien is the public face of the project, but Hope Community Church donated land they previously owned to build the Church.

“[The church] has so generously donated 3 acres of land for the home. We hope that members of their congregation will volunteer at the home,” Thien said.

The church owns 33 acres of land, the three acres being donated for the home will be near the Turnpike.

The five-bedroom house is meant to provide an open feeling with rooms connected to the outside of the home and provide victims with a safe place to recover.

“We hope that this will provide a warm and safe place for children who have been taken out of their homes. We hope that they will be able to stay with their siblings closer to home,” Thien said.

Although SCARF has raised $200,000 already, they still need more before beginning to build the house.

“Up to this point, the great majority of money that has been raised is from our annual fundraiser, the Buckaroo Ball. We use various marketing tools, presentations, and will be starting a capital campaign in the future,” Thien said. “We have not determined the exact amount of the project but think it will be between $1 million-$1.5 million.”

Thien encourages people to donate however much they want, every little bit helps.

“They can go to our website, which is www.scarfks.org, or they can call the SCARF office at 316-313-4107,” Thien said.

With the numbers of reported child abuse cases declining by nearly 1.2 million since 2006, Thien hopes that eventually there will not be a need for the home.

“We are very excited about this project,” Thien said. “We wish that there was not a need for a Children’s Home, but since there is, we want to make it the best place possible for the vulnerable children who will stay with us.”

LAUREN PRILL

Hope Community Church, 1831 E. 21st St. in Andover, is working with SCARF to build a home for children taken out of their homes.

Academy Awards recognize students for theatre work, acting alyssaGOODMAN staff writer

alyssaGOODMAN staff writer

There are many privileges for participating in theatre. One in which is the ability to attend Theatre Academy Awards.

Theatre Academy Awards is a ceremony put in place to recognize students for the hard work they put into setup musicals, plays or one acts.

For many, it is an exciting night that they look forward to.

The recognition is the most rewarding for some, while others just enjoy seeing their friends win awards.

“Theatre academy awards is a great time for people to be acknowledged for their hard work,” sophomore Alli Mavis said.

“Everyone has a great time whether they win awards or not,” Many awards were given out on this night. Awards include Lead Actor, Most Improved and Lead Actress. The Lead Actor award was given to Jordan Dusenbury who has participated in many theatre programs throughout his high school career Lead Actress went to senior Jenny Cooper.

There were also some awards given out to students that did not participate on stage. Other awards such as, Most Dedicated Techie, which went to Karissa Dobler, Outstanding Props, which went to Weston Jones recognized those students that the audience could not physically see on stage.

Throughout the program many seniors accepted awards. Tyler Franssen won Most Outstanding Dancer and Most Improved Actress went to Jennifer Spencer.

A very important award went to Renee Pedersen, Most Involved and Dedicated Thespian.

“Everyone’s hard work really paid off,” Mavis said. “EveryGLENN KARNES one deserved the award they were given.”

Freshman Ryan Siebuhr, sophomore Erica Anderson, freshman Ellie Ablah, sophomore Laura Rigsby, freshman Michael Cory and freshman Talon Low are inducted into the Thespian Troupe 3540 at this year’s Academy Awards.

8

May 20, 2011

>> Academy Award Winners Most Involved and Dedicated Thespian: Renee Pedersen Lead Actor: Jordan Dusenbury Lead Actress: Jenny Cooper Dedicated Techie: Karissa Dobler Actor in a Supporting Role: Cody LaCrone Actress in a Supporting Role: Courtney Gaskill Actor in a Small Role: Brandon Khamsiharath Outstanding Chorus or Cameo: Jennifer Spencer Actress in a One Act: Yariliz Lopez Actor in a One Act: Jake Dutton Most Promising Actor: Michael Cory Most Promising Actress: Jolie Carpenter Outstanding Dancer: Tyler Franssen Most Improved Actor: Jordan Dusenbury Most Improved Actress: Jennifer Spencer Outstanding Props or Publicity: Weston Jones Outstanding Running Crew: Anthony Lara Outstanding Costumes, Make-Up and Hair: Karissa Dobler

Death of terrorist impacts Andover Summer Movie Preview trinaBHATTARAI The attack against bin Laden had an element of surprise which left him unarmed to defend himself.

Yes, it was not a fair fight; but then again, the American civilians were not equipped with a “Dummies guide on how to survive a terrorist attack” during the attack of the Pentagon, Twin Towers and Flight 93. An eye for an eye Mr. bin Laden.

After the horrible tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, the United States faced a grave situation that brought the nation together in search of the evil man who ended three thousand innocent American lives on the beautiful September morning.

Finally, after 10 years of blood and sweat, officials found bin Laden in his mansion.

As the news of the death of this man spread from ear to ear, many rejoiced the bravery and the pride of the American heart. However, others immediately began worrying about the consequences of this action. What if Al Qaeda retaliates; what if this vicious cycle never ends?

Of course, officials need to double the precautions and vigilance now. One can only imagine the thirst for revenge felt by Al Qaeda members after the face of their

terrorist group has been wiped out.

Nevertheless, the capture or the death of bin Laden was absolutely necessary.

Nothing can be done to fill the holes in the hearts of the families that lost a loved one during 9/11; however, bringing justice to the man who meticulously planned that terrible fate falls under the duty of the government. It’s the least bit of condolence we can provide to the fathers who lost their daughters or the boys who lost their brothers.

Teachers, parents, religions, and history among other things have relentlessly taught us that tit-for-tat results in unfavorable consequences.

Though it might ring true in many cases, this case is not one of them.

If bin Laden was allowed to live in his mansion with his four wives and his black heart, then he would have more opportunity to indulge himself in thought on how to devastate our country even more. When a man kills thousands of innocent lives in the name of religion and likely plans to kill even more, then he belongs nowhere but in the depths.

Thus, allowing this man to live would symbolize allowing his thoughts and ideas to thrive.

His survival would only result in more sacrifices and deaths of the innocent. One dead evil man buried at sea yields way better results than one evil man roaming the earth.

Believe me, we can afford to lose one “bad guy”; we have plenty of others to take his place.

However, the death of bin Laden unfortunately does not signify the death of terrorist threats and attacks against United States.

In fact, the notorious legend of bin Laden inspires many terrorists to continue in their hatred towards America.

The war against terror ends only when people realize that killing innocent lives to stimulate a change leads to nothing but chaos.

However, accepting the unique differences between individuals and cultures also incites peace.

Though hard to believe, this idea can be applicable to a high school student’s life. Religious diversity is rare in Andover High; nonetheless, personalities of individuals range immensely. In order to avoid friction amongst ourselves, we must embrace all the personalities instead of plotting devious plans against each other.

We get the opprrtunity to explore our true identity in our four years of high school. Accept this opprtunity and realize that not everyone is going to take the same path as you.

One individual might find comfort in the social group of “jock” and other in the social group of “band nerd.” Regardless, the life skill of accepting and enjoying our differences is absolutely crucial.

We have been taught to accept our differences ever since we learned how to spell our name. It is time to apply what we have learned .

Frankly, I do not see much of a choice. When bin Laden chose to intensify and act upon his hatred towards a group of people, his fate sealed itself. He deserved every misfortune he received. Don’t let yourself be the bin Laden of Andover High.

Cast: Shia LaBeouf & Tyrese Gibson The Plot: In the third part of the Hasbroinspired film series, Sam Witwitcky and Optimus Prime must join together with the other Transformers to stop a new enemy from space.

jordanDUSENBURY X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Release Date:June 3 Director: Matthew Vaughn Cast: James McAvoy & Jennifer Lawrence The Plot: Charles Xavier (aka Professor X) and Erik Lensherr (aka Magneto) are two young men discovering their powers. It’s a new origin of X-Men on how Magneto and Professor X came to be.

THE GREEN LANTERN Release Date: June 17 Director: Martin Campbell Cast: Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively The Plot: Hal Jordan is granted a ring as pledge of being the first human to protect the power of the universe. Things get hectic once Parrallex plans to destroy the power.

CARS 2 Release Date: June 24 Director: John Lasseter & Brad Lewis Stars: Owen Wilson & Larry the Cable Guy The Plot: Lightning McQueen, pit boss Mater, and the rest of Lightning’s crew enter the Race of Champions, a race around the world in order to save the world.

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON Release Date: July 1 Director: Michael Bay

LARRY CROWNE Release Date: July 8 Director: Tom Hanks Cast: Tom Hanks & Julia Roberts The Plot: After losing his (Hanks) job, Larry Crowne enrolls in a local college and develops a relationship with a teacher (Roberts).

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART II Release Date:July 15 Director: David Yates Stars: Daniel Radcliffe & Emma Watson Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures The Plot: The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts to find and destroy the final horcruxes.

CAPTAIN AMERICA Release Date: July 22 Director: Joe Johnston Stars: Chris Evans & Hugo Weaving Studio: Paramount Pictures The Plot: “After being deemed unfit for military service during WWII, Steve Rogers (Evans) volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, the Sentinel of Liberty -- a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals. His first mission: to combat the Nazi propaganda effort headed by Johann Schmidt (Weaving), also known as the Red Skull.”

Source: Imdb.com

Even when walking, stereotypes fall through the cracks chadHAMMAN

As the saying goes, you should never judge a book by its cover. Well, just like that age old principle, I’m not so sure it is appropriate to judge a person by the way they walk.

After the tornado drill last week, I was walking back to my classroom when someone behind me made the comment that they love when guys try to walk like they think they’re tough.

Looking around and noticing I was the only guy within ten feet, I assume the comment was aimed at me.

It didn’t bother me too much, except that the individual who made the comment was a student who I had never previously spoken to or even

met.

I realize I’ve got a little bit of a cockiness to my walk. Does that mean I’m a bad guy?

If we’re going to start stereotyping based upon a person’s strut, then I don’t know what this world has come to.

Besides, there are so many different walks I could stereotype off the top of my head. But in very few cases are they completely true.

You’ve got the army walk, pretty self explanatory there. The person who does it is usually a bigger guy with an intense or serious look on his face, hands at his sides standing tall, chest puffed out.

I could make the assumption that those people are trying to be tough or intimidating, but in all honesty the people who come to mind there, are some of the nicest guys I know.

Conversely, there are the girls who seem to be striding down a catwalk constantly. Their head is cocked to the side, either with a smile or a serious expression. They make eye contact with most everyone, and when they wave hello to someone it looks more like a finger roll or a

princess wave. Not to mention when they pause in the hallway they usually strike a pose.

However, in most cases they’re not divas.

They’re just walking...its kind of an innate thing.

Am I going to assume the powerwalkers out there are constantly stressing about being late to class? Some may be, but maybe they just feel the need, the need for speed.

And as nerdy as those roller wheel back packs may look, who knows if the user has a back problem to deal with.

I could go on and on. See that kid walking non-chalantly down the hall, arms swinging a lot, slow pace, nice and easy going? How much you wanna bet he didn’t do his homework last night?

I wouldn’t count on it. Relaxed and lazy are different, and I’m not so sure everybody realizes that.

Oh, and of course who can overlook the music enthusiasts walk. There are some people, I swear have an iPod built into their head by the way they walk. Their arms go side to side rhythmically rather than front and back, and their steps are in some kind of beat constantly.

Those people move their head side to side a

lot too, and kind of lean back as they walk. Yet, at the same time, I never hear these people sing, never see song lyrics in their Facebook statuses, nothing that might be assumed by their outward appearance.

Stereotyping can be related to kharma, or the chain of love depending on the way you look at it. Once one person starts it, then someone else continues it and it just keeps going. And as far as kharma goes, as long as you stereotype others, they will stereotype you.

It is somewhat of an abstract thought, but my point is that stereotyping occurs everyday for silly things, not just appearance.

Until you truly get to know somebody, it’s not possible to make assumptions about them, whether it is based on clothing, race, or even their walk.

Now I’m not saying I’ve never done it, because everybody has and that includes me. But we owe it to ourselves and our classmates to stop making judgments based on anything other than fact.

May 26, 2011

9

Columnist discusses working through recession Wealth gives false sense of superiority to Andover students

ryanLAKE Typically when thinking of the town of Andover, there are a couple of things that come to mind regarding it, such as the school district being known for great education, or perhaps the people being extraordinarily friendly.

My first thoughts differ: It is the money in the town and how people are perceived by it.

There is a power system, and that scale is all money-based.

The city is full of upper-middle class citizens of Wichita that make the town an illustrious suburb of the city of Wichita; however, for the students who may not have the money that others do in this town, it is difficult to make it in a wealthy city-suburb of Andover.

Before moving out to Kansas, I lived in Phoenix, Ariz., and both my parents made very comfortable wages — needless to say, my life was good. I currently have a family income that is miniscule to say the least, and things are tough on my family.

Once moving to Kansas, my family took an absolutely huge income hit due to the recession and jobs of industry in Wichita compared to Phoenix. It was a bit of an odd scenario to go from at one time being able to have my family’s income go from great to next to none.

This brings me to my point of money and how it manipulates how we see people and what they are to us. Living on both sides of it, having money at a point compared to now not having money, has really got me thinking. How do people treat me and anyone else who lives in a lower class family compared to when my family used to make good money? The answer to that question: completely different.

Everything in the town of Andover is all about image; if you have the nice house for your friends and the awesome car, you will have absolutely no problem here. Then again, some people just get it handed to them, and often times you see those same teens are the same ones judging you for not having what they have because ultimately, they have the wealth that everyone wants. Thus, they have the absolute control in the power system at Andover.

There are students in our school who have not worked a day in their life for anything; they do not know what rough is because they have had it all handed to them from their parents. I have got news if that is you — your parents will not always be there to bail you out, because one day you will answer to the real world.

I shake my head in disgust at this. I work around 25 hours a week (sometimes more), juggling school, family, friends, my job, and personal commitments through junior year in high school. In all, I work roughly five out of seven days a week, and the reason — I cannot afford to not work, not even for myself, but for my family. There has been a time that I have had to help make payments on bills because I have parents who are out of work.

Conversely, that goes without saying that there are plenty of people who work very hard

REPORT CARD GRADE B

AP exams May 2-10

>>

Although the exams were difficult, students felt relieved to be finished with their AP classes.

GRADE C-

Student vs Staff basketball game May 4

>>

The teachers overpowered the students causing the crowd to lose interest in the game quickly.

GRADE A-

Prom May 7

>>

The atmosphere at Exploration Place energized students and allowed for a fabulous night.

GRADE A10

May 26, 2011

Senior Reception May 11

>>

It was great to recognize seniors for their four years of hard work they put into their academic studies.

“

Everybody is on a pedestal, with hopes to be the best, or have the best of everything and for me, I just want to get by in life happily, which is a constant struggle as of late.

”

for what they have, and in writing this, I hope not to offend those who do work hard and not judge, because there is plenty of you out there who work incredibly hard.

My hope is not to offend anyone in putting these thoughts in print, but moreso to make people aware of the lack of respect that students with money have for those who might not have the cash laying around.

There are no doubt at all kids in Andover who have been taught to respect everyone no matter the income and stage of wealth, after all, not everyone started off in a wealthy home, they worked their way up to the top and saw opportunities to make a good living later in life.

Not many high school students have to deal with paying some of the bills in the house, but the moment that you get out and have to do that on your own, I promise you – it’s not fun at all.

Paying for bills in my house sucks at 17, but I know that it makes me more a stronger person being able to say I work for everything I have.

My car, my clothes, my fun, my life: I pay for almost it all. I work my free time life away, and all I care about is simply garnering the respect that I am an extremely hard worker.

My parents are the most caring people I know and would do whatever it takes to make my

life better, but since our move to Kansas, money has been a continuous struggle since moving out here, I respect them more than anybody else in this world for all the efforts they’ve made to improve our lives.

I know that I have a great family and that is all that matters to me. Money or no money, they go head over heels for me to make sure that my life is lived in comfort.

Everybody is on a pedestal, with hopes to be the best, or have the best of everything and for me, I just want to get by in life happily, which is a constant struggle of late.

My pedestal theory is simply to show that if you do not have the money that others may, you do not get the respect that they get. Why? Because everyone wants a taste, with the flavor being popularity and all the traits that are associated with that.

Money shouldn’t be the scale for how we percieve people, how many people can say that they work for their money rather than it just being their parents? Not many.

There are some, but im mainly referring to the cars and goods kids get handed to them.

The purpose in writing this is simply to make people think, just because someone has money does not make them any more valuable than anyone else.

There are a lot of good people out there who everyone has yet to meet and get to know, do not let money continue to get in the way, because in the end, it simply does not matter.

No matter the people, we are all created the same way; nobody is any more special than the other. We are all the same in our different ways.

TOP 5 THINGS WE ABOUT...

11 22 33 44 55

science teacher Ashley Smith She always has a smile on her face.

She is willing to help students.

She balances her time well between teaching in the high school, middle school and coaching.

She pushes students to do their best.

She participates in interesting activities outside of school, such as running in half-marathons.

-Evanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Easel-

speakUP << BLUESTREAK

editorialPOLICY The Trojan Bluestreak exists to inform, persuade and entertain its readers concerning topics of importance. The newspaper recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment.

The Bluestreak operates as a public forum for student expression, and the staff takes full responsibility for newspaper content and its ramifications.

The Trojan Bluestreak will not publish material considered to be legally unprotected speech, libel, obscenity, copyright infringement, unwarranted invasion of privacy or material that could disrupt the educational environment.

The Bluestreak is a CSPA Gold Medalist and a KSPA AllKansas honor recipient.

editor-in-chief- features editor-

elisaMARTIN edenVIERTHALER

managing editor- circulation manager-

morganMESSMORE katherineHARTLEY

buisness manager- pop culture editor-

ashtonSCHRAG genGAUDREAU sports editor-

corbinMIHELIC cartoonist-

evanWILLFORD opinion editor-

chadHAMMAN

asst. sports editor -

chrisJONES

photo editor-

kaitlynDEYOUNG news editor-

kelseyDICK

copy chief-

hollyHEIRONIMUS in-depth editor

robynHERBERT

EVAN WILLFORD

staff writers-

ericaANDERSON trinaBHATTARAI alexDURANO jordanDUSENBURY devinDYMKOWSKI ryleeELLISON suzannaGEHRER alyssaGOODMAN alexHERNANDEZ jacobHIGHFILL henryHOOK ryanLAKE alexLEFF ryanMINEAR hayleyPHILLIPS laurenPRILL laurenQUAM tjRIGG katieSCHNEIDER kathrynSILL loganWOLTEMATH

adviserkristinBAKER

Help in reducing detention time benefits students staff

EDITORIAL >>

The administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help in cutting detention time for position: Stance: events like prom and graduation was a benefit for students Vote: 17-5

The end of the year brings about somewhat of a panic among students, often times due to unserved detention time which can keep students from participating in events like prom and walking at graduation.

Students with large amounts of owed time in detention, when waiting until the end of the year to serve, could not possibly clear all time with the standard detention time allowed per day. Because of this issue, the administration gratefully stepped in to try and solve the problem by offering to wave detention time through success on the state assesments, this proposal both helps desperate seniors and gives a reason for students to strive for excellence.

Not only that, but detention time can often increase if it is not all served by the end of the year.

Many students struggle to serve their detentions after putting them off for a large part of the year. However, the administration has been willing to work with most students to shave off a few hours for them.

Although detention time should have been served, and maybe even avoided, the administration

has admirably tried to help desperate seniors.

Incentives such as high state assessment scores can lead to a decrease in hours. That particular incentive benefits all classes, not just the juniors and seniors.

However, juniors and seniors do seem to benefit more from the cutting of detention hours; participating in events such as the zoo trip, prom and graduation depend on detention hours being served.

The assessment incentive is not necessarily beneficial to all students, as it leaves no reason for students without detention to do well on assessments. While this is a flaw, the detention hour benefit has helped multiple students become eligible for end-of-the-year festivities.

Incentives such as extra credit would be impossible to give, but excellence on the state assesment exams makes our teachers, students and school look good, so some form of reward should be given to students even though they do not owe detention time.

The administration has cut deals with students for reasons besides state assessments, though. For example, if a student has too many hours to serve by the end of the year, detention has begun earlier and on a more consistent basis to make serving hours more tangible.

Walking at graduation, to seniors, is a symbol of their accomplishments throughout their high school career, but people with any outstanding fines or detention time not spent would not be able to walk. The signifigance of this event is the main reason why the administration helps seniors eliminate their detention time.

Willingness to work with students to get detention hours served has been a great asset during the final weeks of the school year, and it is a great example of how the administration really cares about its students.

May 26, 2011

11

intheGAME

<<

Two seniors make Divison 1 cheer squads corbinMIHELIC sports editor

Kaitlyn Phillips is one of two members of the 2011 senior class that will be a Division I cheerleader. Phillips made the cheer squad at Kansas State University after enduring weeks of travel and lack of sleep, but for her it is all worth it.

How much experience cheerleading do you have?

I started competitive cheerleading at Extreme Athletics in fifth grade and I cheered there until seventh grade when it closed.

Then I moved to Cheer Fusion for a year, did Cheer Eclipse for three years, and finished out at Fusion. I started high school cheer my junior year, and I did that my junior and senior year.

LAUREN PRILL

How did you first get in touch with the KSU cheer program?

One of my best friends from cheer went to K-State to cheer, and then she was talking about how much fun it was, and I knew I didn’t want to go to KU and cheer. Because (my parents said) I had to go to a Kansas school, so I decided K-State was the best.

Seniors Kelsey Phillips and Kaitlyn Phillips will attend Division I athletic schools in the fall for cheerleading. Both girls have cheered competitively since elementary school.

Describe the tryout process.

I went to Manhattan every single night for two weeks, and then came back to school and did it again every single day. We tried out May 1, so the week before that was when we went up. I missed two days of school because I just wanted to sleep.

In the weeks before, we got the stunt groups and just started learning all the tryout material.

What did you do to prepare?

I didn’t really have to do much to prepare, but learn all the stuff.

It’s the hardest kick-line routine I’ve ever learned . That was difficult. The only day we actually tried out was May 1. We got up to get ready at like 7 a.m., I tried out at 9 and found out at 11 p.m.

It was a whole-day thing.

What are you most looking forward to about cheering at K-State?

I’m really excited to meet everyone and meet new people, and I’m excited to be a part of something so big. Not very many people are going Division I for sports and even though cheerleading is not as hardcore, people don’t understand how hard and big it is. You don’t see

anyone going to play football at K-State from our class. It’s kind of cool. It makes me feel like I’m really good at something.

Senior Kelsey Phillips made the Texas Christian University cheer squad and also will serve as a Division I cheerleader for the 2011-2012 academic year.

How much experience cheerleading do you have?

I started competitive cheerleading in fifth grade at Extreme Athletics. After the gym closed down, I moved to Air Capital Spirit for four years and then competed my last two years with Cheer Fusion. I have cheered for Andover all four years of high school and was captain my senior year.

How did you first get in touch with the TCU cheer program?

Ever since visiting TCU my junior year, I knew I wanted to go there for college. I also knew that I wanted to be a cheerleader. My first contact with the program was when I attended a Tryout Prep Clinic in March.

Describe the tryout process.

On the first day, we learned the tryout material. After stunting and tumbling, they had the first

cut. The next day we had a skills check-off and they cut anyone that did not meet the requirements. The remaining girls then tried out in groups of four. After waiting for hours, the coach came in and called 20 names.

Those girls were cut. Then, she called 24 more names. Those girls had to re-tryout. I was not called in either of those groups.

After the girls tried out again, they announced the final team.

What did you do to prepare?

Since tumbling is my biggest weakness, I tumbled with my coach almost everyday. I also exercised a lot to be in the best shape possible.

What are you most looking forward to about cheering at TCU? I’m most looking forward to cheering for the Division I football team in front of thousands of crazy Horned Frog fans.

Also, I’m excited to be involved in the school and meet so many new faces. Very few people have the opportunity to travel the country cheering for Division I teams. I cannot wait to put on my TCU cheer uniform for the first time!

Girls soccer team disappointed by T-shirt decision corbinMIHELIC sports editor

For the entire season, the girls soccer team was not allowed to wear its team t-shirt to warm up for games due to controversy over a slogan on the back of the shirt.

Every year, players and parents can order an original t-shirt created by players in support of the season. Items printed on the t-shirt usually include players’ names and jersey numbers, as well as a slogan or phrase meant to unite the team.

This season’s slogan was “ball touches,” a phrase that originates from a simple footwork drill used by coach Tracey Repp throughout the season.

Players say they found humor in the drill’s redundancy, so it seemed like a perfect fit for the team t-shirt.

“We really didn’t think anything of

12

May 26, 2011

it at all,” junior Laura Sellew said. “We didn’t think in any way that it could be turned into something other than what we implied it to mean.”

Athletic Director Gary Merritt was uncomfortable with the slogan when the shirt was introduced to him, and he later ruled the shirt couldn’t be worn for pregame warmups. Merritt said he did not want opposing schools to be offended by the phrase or misinterpret its supposed meaning, so it would be best if other teams didn’t see the shirt worn.

“It first we were all kind of mad,” Sellew said. “We were so excited to get those shirts in, so when they were shot down, we were definitely kind of upset about it. We can still wear them to school, so I guess it’s fine.”

The team traditionally wears the shirt for pregame warmups, but that was the only time Merritt deemed players could not wear it. The shirt could

still be worn to school and to practice.

The shirts were mostly bought by players and parents, who paid about $20 per shirt. When the decision was made that players were restricted at times from wearing the shirt, both players and parents expressed their disappointment.

“We were all like, ‘Are you kidding me? It’s not perverted at all,’” senior Merriah Endsley said. “Ask anyone on our team, and they will tell you what it means.”

Season Results Record 4-10-1 (W-L-T)

DEVIN DYMKOWSKI

Junior Laura Sellew moves the ball down the field at the April 5 game vs. Andover Central.

Despite strong hitting, baseball struggles ‘til end chris JONES

sports editor

The 2011 season began with high hopes and expectations for the Trojan baseball team. Confidence was high and it seemed like Andover baseball was “on the rise.”

These expectations were quickly doused by a slow start, and the losses began to pile on, leading the team to think about what could have been.

“It’s been a learning experience for all of the youth on the team,” senior Jordan Jones said. “We definitely had high expectations but it seemed like we just couldn’t perform the way we wanted to.”

“We made a lot of small errors and we definitely lacked having a standout pitcher,” Jones said.

Despite impressive hitting performances throughout the season, the team’s downfall came on the mound, where they allowed 194 runs while only being able to muster 135 runs.

“We didn’t have consistent quality innings from our pitchers,” senior Easton Fry said. “When you give up a lot of runs its hard to win games.”

As the team looks towards the future, young talent has led to high hopes for the years to come.

“I expect great things from Andover

“

in the future,” Jones said. “In two or three years, all of the young talent we have now will have grown and they will be one good team.”

What had been their glaring weakness this season may eventually become a strength of the team in the future due to upand-coming talent.

“Zach Baker will be a standout player in the future,” Jones said. “I definitely see our pitching getting better having a go-to pitcher like him if he continues the way he’s going.”

With young talent comes the need for senior leadership, and Fry hopes he has helped the team through his knowledge and leadership.

“I’ve definitely tried to help teach and lead for them,” Fry said. “They are all talented and gifted players and i’m excited to see what they do in the future.”

As the seniors look back on the season, mere games pale in comparison to the bonds and friendships formed throughout the past four years.

“I’ve made great friendships with all the guys and the coaching staff,” Jones said.

With such high pre-season hopes shared throughout the team ending in such unsatisfying results, added motivation and pressure will lead to another hopeful season. For the team, there will always be next season.

I expect great things from Andover baseball in the future.

ALEX DURANO

Many smiles fill the baseball players faces as they sqeaked out a norrow victory 8-7 vs. Wichita North. The Trojans would end up winning game two of the double header vs. Wichita North 10-4.

senior jordanJONES

”

High goals, confidence are key for post season triumph alex LEFF

sports writer

The girls swim team lead by head coach Keldon Pucket started off the year with a bang. The girls swim team years was a clear success, with first place wins in mulitple swim tournments. Including their first swim meet at El Dorado.

“The whole year has gone almost perfect for me and the team,” senoir Macy Gracia said.

One reason why the swim team had a successful year is the fact that some of the returning starters shaved alot of time off.

“The girls really imporved through out the year,” Pucket said. “A lot of girls shaved off times, which helps out themsevles and the team as well,” This year the team was lead by senior leader [Macy] Gracia.

“She is a good person, and leader to the team, and she also hepls alot of swimmers,” freshman Elizabeth Yowell said.

With the great year in hand, the swim team now foucus on the AVVTL league tournment.

“I think that we can bring our momentum and confidence into league and hopefully that will be enough to win the tournment,” Garcia said.

The League tournment was hosted at El Dorado.

“We are used to this pool, so i think that we have some what of an avantage,” Garica said.

Going into the league tournment the swim team holds high goals and also brings confidence as well. One goal that the team has is to shave as much time as they can.

“I think the girls can shave time especially the upperclassmen due to their expirence,” Puckett said.

The Trojans swim team went in the tournment well known, and in fact were picked by some officals to win the whole torunment.

“I think we have the better swimmers than any other school,” Garica said. “We could possibly win the

whole tournment if we get alot of top finishes,” The girls would come very close to winning the whole tournmnet. The Trojans fell short to their rivals Andover Central. The Trojans lost by just two points.

“We were so close to the ultument victory, but the end we swam as good as we could of,” Puckett said.

The girls swim team had swimmers that placed in top positions at league, including Garica with a 2nd place finish in the 200 meter freestyle.

“I was a great felling placing second, it really helped the team,” Garica said.

The girls also had junoir Audra Hansen place first in the 50 meter freestyle. Hansen won her event by .02 of a second.

“The girls really worked hard and it showed at the league tournment,” Puckett said.

The girls swim team also had swimmers that qualified for state, inDEVIN DYMKOWSKI clueding Hansen, Garcia and junior Junior Kasey Kriser gasps for air during AVCTL league meet at El Dorado. The girls swim team Bea Ferenc. finished second, losing to its rival Andover Central by two points.

May 26, 2011

13

Optimism key for softball at regionals alexLEFF

sports writer

Senior Rylee Ellison muscles the ball for a line drive base hit during game one of the double header vs. Campus.

DEVIN DYMKOWSKI

Despite their record of 6-15 the girls softball team keeps a positive adttiude.

“We have had our ups and our down this year but, I think that we can turn our season around,” head coach Jenny Moore said.

The girls headed into the AVCTL Regionals pinned aganist the #2 seed Kapaun Mt. Carmel.

Despite being the #5 seed out of six teams the girls kept their heads held high and welcomed the challege.

“Kapaun is a good team,” sophomore Hayleigh Rider said. “If we can come out and score early then we have a good chance of winning,” The Crusaders from Kapuan went into the game with a good record of 15-5.

“It felt really good to finally be on varsity,” freshman Michelle Ceaderberg said.

The build up to the reagional game Moore brought up some extra players to the team. Players included Ceaderberg, junior Maddy Randall and freshman Dakota Smith.

“I feel that all players are on varsity to do a job,” Ceaderberg. “I think we all make the team a little better,” The AVTCL Regionals were hosted at the softball fields by the Westurban complex. The girls game time was 4:30 p.m.

“At first it was really nerve-racking,” Rider said.

The girls softball team threw their ace, Rider.

“She is the best we got and I thought she could get the job done,” Moore said.

Being the number two seed, Kapuan got to be the home team.

“I would have liked to the home team,”

“

We had our ups and downs, but I think we can turn the season around. jennyMOORE

”

Moore said. “Hopefully being the vistior team dosen’t effect the out come of the game.”

The first inning went smooth for both teams. But in the second inning the team ran into some problems.

“We just did not make the plays defencely,” Rider said.

The Crusaders jumped on top scoring six points in one inning. After two innings of playing, the score was 1-6.

“That was a bad inning for the team and everyone was down, but we had to come back somehow,” Moore said.

In the late inning the girls would attempt to satge a comeback. scoring eight runs in the game.

“For a moment it seemed to be raining hits,” Moore said. “[Hayliegh] Rider was pitching her heart out,” But in the end the eight runs wouldn’t be enough for the Trojans, as they were out scored.

“I thought we had a good chance, but they just out played us, abnd in the end the better team won,” Rider said.

The Trojans fell the Crusaders 11-8, with the Trojans out the Crusaders would advance to the next round of the playoffs.

“I was upset for the team, the girls worked their butts off all year,” Moore said.

Ralston changes mind, heads for Wichita State track chad HAMMAN

opinion editor Grant Ralston excels in just about every sport he tries. He was the leading receiver on the football team, a starter on the basketball team, and a state qualifier in long jump and triple jump for the track team.

Two of those sports landed him college athletics scholarships. The first was a football scholarship with Friends University, who Ralston signed with in February.

However, Ralston changed his commitments when Wichita State e-mailed him about a track scholarship.

“When Wichita State first e-mailed me, I was sort of didn’t know what to think at first,” Ralston said, “When it started to get more serious, I started to think about it...and it was just too hard to turn down a D-1 offer.”

Ralston committed to Friends partially because of his career interests in pre-dentistry, but also because he wasn’t expecting such a great track season. He was able to back out of his commitment to Friends because the Falcons compete in the NAIA, rather than the NCAA like

14

May 26, 2011

Wichita State.

“When I started doing really well in track, I think D-1 was just the better option for the long run,” Ralston said.

The decision didn’t come without some uncertainty, however. Ralston discussed his choice with family and his head track and football coach Mike Lee. “We talked about it after he had his initial conversation with WSU,” Lee said.

“The conversation really centered on, this is what life will be like if you go to Wichita State, opposed to what it’s going to be like at Friends.”

One interest Wichita State had in Ralston was for him to compete in the decathlon, which would require a significant amount of training.

“I’ll have to really work on my endurance,” Ralston said. “I’ll be spending almost every day training pretty hard.”

Ralston’s ability to make an impact on the team immediately is still in question, but he is aware of what he needs to do to catch up with the other athletes.

“It just depends on how well I do in the fall,” Ralston said. “Right now I’m just a couple of feet behind in triple and long

[jump], but I feel like a good summer in the weight room I could be up there with some of their best.”

Despite a very athletic senior class which consists of several collegiate athletes, Ralston is the only one attending a NCAA Division I school for athletics next year.

“He’s a good athlete. We told Friends that, and I told a friend from Wichita State that,” Lee said. “If you have the ability, then some people have more possibilities and this is one of the possibilities that presented itself.”

Ralston’s scholarship to Wichita State is performance based, but covers books and pays for $1000 dollars per semester.

Most freshmen track athletes are given the same scholarship, and to earn more they have to perform well.

“It’s really made me focus these last three weeks in track because state track is at Wichita State.”

Heading into his freshmen year, Ralston will have to start training almost immediately. He may compete in summer track meets, an indoor season in the winter, not to mention the training he will be

CHAD PHILLIPS

Senior Grant Ralston sprints to the finish line during the AHS track meet on April 19.

Golf completes season with place at state ryanMINEAR staff writer

When you are on the bottom of the totem pole, you realize that the only direction to go is up. That is what sophomore Chad Phillips did this past season. Phillips faced a difficulty with tryouts in the previous year.

“I barely made the team last year and I had the position as the JV alternate,” Phillips said. “[Now] I have worked my way up to playing varsity.”

Head golf coach Ryan Harshaw has taken notice of Phillips’ great improvement over a year. “[Chad] has improved a lot,” Harshaw said. “He was an alternate last year and has worked hard throughout the summer. He went from being number 18 on the team to the top six.”

Phillips credits his success on the green to his hard work to strive to improve.

“I worked hard on improving my chipping and iron shot,” Phillips said. “Also, being in weights class this semester has increased my distance a lot.”

Due to the effort Phillips has put into his game, he has been able to see signs of improvement.

“It feels great to see how much I have improved over only one year and see my hard work paying off,” Phillips said.

Phillips continues to work hard to improve his game so he can reach his full potential.

“I have to work hard at playing consistently in every tournament,” Phillips said.

Not only is Phillips making progress, but his team as a whole has won their league championship.

“Going in [to the league tournament], we thought we

had a chance to win and we played well,” Harshaw said.

“It felt great because our last league championship was in 2007.”

The team will attend the state competition in Newton on May 23. On a team that is making huge strides, Phillips looks to one day to become on of the main contributors for the team.

“I think he will keep improving and next year he will be in the top four on varsity and contribute a score every tournament,” junior Ryan Hoover said.

Senior Corbin Mihelic placed fifth at the state tournament while he team placed seventh overall.

Kansas 5A State Golf Corbin Mihelic 71 Ryan Hoover 77 Ben Hotaling 84 Evan Clopine 89 Chad Phillips 90 Michael Morris 92

DEVIN DYMKOWSKI

Junior Ryan Hoover swings his golf club during a golf meet. Hoover has been on the varsity team since his freshman year.

Sports bring America together through tragedy, triumph chrisJONES

The singing of the national anthem is an event that happens before every sporting event around this country. The American flag is flown around the stadium and everyone, no matter what team they are rooting for, takes off their hats and puts their hand over their heart.

This one small act of patriotism is a small example that outlines the big picture that sports are what truly bring America together; through triumph, tragedy, and everything in between.

At the time of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, America was in a state of turmoil.

Conflicts with the Soviet Union, an energy crisis at its pinnacle, along with many other conflicts had led to unexistant American pride throughout the nation. America needed something to take their attention away from the countries current state. They needed something to believe in.

Enter the United States Olympic Hockey team.

A group of amateur and collegiate hockey players, assembled by Herb Brooks, would even-

tually shock the world and revive some of the American pride that laid dormant at the time.

Heading into the Olympics, the Soviet Union team were overpowering favorites, being considered by many to be the best hockey team in the world. They had outscored their opponents 175-44 in 29 previous matches, going 27-1-1 during that time.

The Soviets were an elite, professional hockey team. The Americans were amateurs.

Defying the odds, America continued to win throughout the Olympic tournament. Momentum was being built and America started to recognize and follow the team.

Then came the night of Feb. 22, 1960. The United States faced off against the juggernaut Soviets. Due to the Cold War, America and the Soviet Union were natural rivals. It was considered the Cold War on ice.

The field house was filled with American flags waving and chants of “USA, USA” ringing throughout. American pride seemed to have returned.

Americas stunning victory, capped off by a late go-ahead goal by Mike Eruzioni, was a massive upset that echoed throughout the world. It was truly the “Miracle on Ice”.

This victory brought the country together once more, and for one night none of Americas mattered. We were once again victorious.

Although this hockey game paled in comparison to the rest of Americas problems at the time, it gave America something to cheer about and gave them a reason to be proud of their country once again.

Not only do sports bring America together

in times of triumph, they also work in times of tragedy. This was no more prevalent than the weeks after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

Major League Baseball and the National Football League postponed their scheduled games because no one wanted to be out watching sports. People were scared and only wanted to be home with their families.

A total of 91 baseball games and a whole Sunday of football were postponed for the week after the tragedy.

Games resumed the following week and the country rejoiced. The main example was at the New York Mets game against the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 21.

Security was at an all time high for this game and rightly so. The Mets’ players wore caps and badges commemorating the efforts of the FDNY, NYPD, and other organizations aiding in the relief effort.

Rudy Giuliani, who was the mayor at the time, was honored for his actions during the dark time for the city. Despite being a Yankee fan, he received a roaring standing ovation.

Before the game, American flags flew throughout the stadium, mixed with the tears and cheers of the New York faithful, who for the first time since the 9/11 attacks, had a reason to cheer.

The Mets accomplished a late inning victory behind the home run by team leader Mike Piazza. The win was a microcosm for how New York, despite the horrific tragedy that they had experienced a short week ago, were on the way back to normal.

Later in the season, then President George

Bush threw out the first pitch in one of the World Series game between the New York Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks. As he walked to the mound, he gave a thumbs up to the crowd and pitched a perfect strike. The crowd went into an uproar.

The game ended in a walk-off win for the Yankees and the entire city erupted in celebration and rejoicement.

After the horrific acts of terrorism brought upon America on Sept. 11, mere baseball games caught the attention of the entire country, brought them together, and gave them a reason to cheer together in the midst of tragedy.

Ten years later, at the stadium of the Philadelphia Phillies, American pride sprung up once again in the form of the death of Osama Bin Laden.

The Phillies were playing the New York Mets on the nationally televised Sunday Night Baseball game on ESPN. Towards the end of the game, the network broadcasters interrupted their analysis of the game to announce that Osama Bin Laden, mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, had been killed.

As the news spread throughout the stadium, chants of “USA, USA” spread.

The announcement was how I personally found out the news, and seeing the entire stadium showing their American pride in chants gave me chills.

In the midst of triumph and tragedy, simple sports games throughout history seem to bring America together and give us a reason to cheer and rejoice.

May 26, 2011

15

AMS student’s wish granted Eight juniors prepare for boys state alyssaGOODMAN staff writer

Imagine having your wildest dream come true.

Imagine waking up famous, living the life in Hollywood, California. At the age of thirteen, eighth grader Clay Beabout was able to accomplish all of this.

Beabout was granted a wish from the Make a Wish Foundation. Throughout Beabout’s life he has been through 37 intense surgeries and an open heart surgery at the age of three months because of a rare disorder called V.A.T.E.R. Syndrome.

“He deserved this wish and I was very proud of him,” sophomore Wes Beabout said.

As a 10- year-old, Beabout chose to write and star in his very own movie. He traveled to Hollywood and Los Angeles.

“It was a great experience for him, I feel like he really deserved it,” sophomore Wes Beabout said.

Many actors were apart of his movie, “Deep Blue.” Actors such as Sean Astin, Ernie Hudson, Elijah Wood and Valerie Faris were present in the making of this film. Clay said his favorite part was being able to act and know what the famous actors and actresses feel while filming a movie. Some of the voices performed in the movie comprised of Morgan, Riley and Taylor Messina.

“Clay is so creative, he’s always writing and drawing,” sophomore Morgan Messina said. “It is so exciting that he was granted this wish to make

“

LAUREN SOKOLOSKY

Juniors Thane Bulmer, Will Murfin, Matt Dekoning, Chad Hamman, Casey Satran, Michael Morris, Steven Hoover and Dakota Swanson all plan to take part in Boys State this summer at Kansas State University

[The Make a Wish Foundation] made my dream come true, it was a life changing experience and I wish I could do it again and start my career in film making . clayBeabout

”

an animated movie. My sisters and I are so grateful to be a part of it.”

While in the process of making the movie, Beabout received a scholarship to Pixar University and was very grateful for it. He claimed that he loved seeing all the great sights in California.

“It really opened my eyes to the film making business and I hope to continue with it,” Clay said.

According to Wes, being able to see his brother throughout the experience was amazing. He felt like his brother really deserved what his wish. “[The Make a Wish Foundation] made my dream come true, it was a life changing experience and I wish I could do it again and start my career in film making,” Clay said.

katherineHARTLEY staff writer

Boys State began in 1935 in Springfield, Illinois where boys from the area came together to a camp to learn about and appreciate our country’s government.

Since then, Boys States have been started all around the country, including K-State’s campus, where it is held every June for a week.

“Boys State deals with the government and learning leadership roles in the government. We’ll be put in groups and running for specific roles,” junior Thane Bulmer said.

Bulmer along with Dakota Swanson, Matt DeKoning, Will Murfin, Chad Hamman, Bobby Scharping, Casey Satran, Stephen Hoover, and Michael Morris will be attending the camp this summer in June.

The boys can also participate in other activities such as a Boys State newspaper, public speaking classes, non-athletic competition and contests, choral singing, talent shows, along with other programs.

“I am going to sign up to take a youth leadership class for college credit,” junior Will Murfin said.

Andover High School offered the opportunity for students to go to camp as well as sponsoring two students, “We asked some kids if they were interested and the first two to sign up got sponsored. The rest

“

Boys State deals with the government and learning leadership roles in the government. thaneBULMER

”

either find other sponsors or pay for themselves,” counselor Sue Coffman said.

The students who were sponsored have $260 of the fee paid for by their sponsor, which would either be the school or some kind of sponsoring organization.

“I heard about Boys State from Evan Willford and heard everyone had a good time so when I was given the opportunity I went to sign up. I was sponsored because I was the first one to sign up,” junior Matt DeKoning said.

The requirements for an applicant to Boys State must be a junior boy in high school, in the upper half of their class, be a self-starter, and be involved in extra- curricular activities.

“I think that the idea of going and learning more about the government is exciting,” Bulmer said. “And I’ll be able to put it on my college transcript.”

Tuxes, Tuxes, Tuxes!

1719 S. Hillside Wichita, KS 67211 (316)669-3262 open daily 10-9 noon-6 Sunday

16

May 26, 2011

inDEPTH << YEK state champion speaks up about taking YEK ryanMINEAR staff writer

It all starts with an idea. An idea that turns into a creative, flourishing business that becomes a successful empire. For most people, this starts after they have completed their business degree but at Andover, it can start as soon as you take YEK [Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas]. Senior Jordan Haas has already shown signs of success after he created a business that won state.

“I feel amazing that I did win,” Haas said. “I worked really hard and I missed a lot of classes so it felt good to win. It was really cool because I got to go to Koch Industries where my dad works. It was an interesting experience.”

Haas created a business called Up Beat Instruct which is a music tutoring business. Haas won $100 in the school competition, $1,000 at the regional competition and $2,500 at state competition.

“My mom gives music lessons at our house so I expanded what she did by getting licenses and registration for running a business,” Haas said.

Fellow YEK students said that Haas’ idea was a great thought.

“Jordan has a great business,” sophomore Derek Paris said. “It was a good idea. He was in band and he based it off what he is good at.”

Winning the state competition was a big accomplishment because this was the first year for business teacher Julie Bailey to teach the class.

“I was extremely proud of Jordan,” Bailey said. “He was so deserving of it and he worked so hard. He did amazing job at regional and state.”

The winner of state competitions usually would move onto the national competition in New York City but Haas does not qualify for the competition.

“I would like to go to nationals but I can’t,” Haas said. “YEK is run by the state and the national competition is run by NFTE [Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship] and our school does not qualify,” The YEK competition is a partner with NFTE. NFTE was founded in 1987 by Steve Mariotti in New York City. Mariotti was a former entrepreneur who became a math teacher in the Bronx. Mariotti founded NFTE in hopes of preventing students from dropping out in low socio-economic schools. To qualify for the competition, school must have at least 43 percent of their students on reduced lunches.

Haas could not compete at the national competition because Andover does not meet this requirement.

“I don’t think it’s fair because it shouldn’t matter what your background is,” Bailey said.

“Every kid should have a chance. Jordan didn’t have any advantage over any other kid. He worked just as hard as anyone else did.”

Haas plans not to let this setback stop him from being successful. He plans to attend Wichita State to study economics and help others with their music.

“I’m planning to tutor in music but not to continue the business,” Haas said.

“I would highly recommend the class to anyone interested in business, “ Haas said. “ It DEVIN DYMKOWSKI teaches you to think in new ways like an entre- Senior Jordan Haas explains his business ideas to a group of students during Trade Show. Several YEK students participated in preneur.”

Trade Show to present their various businesses. The Trade Show was held during fourth hour on May 17.

Metal, autos teacher retires after long 38 years of teaching ericaANDERSON staff writer

ALex Durano Shop teacher Dean Lindteigen is retiring after this year. He ihas been helping Andover students on the way to success for many years.

For the past seven years, metals and autos teacher Dean Lindteigen has devoted his teaching career to Andover High; however, he has decided that the 2010-2011 school year would be his last year teaching. This is the second time he has retired in his 38 years of teaching.

“Surviving 38 years with these kids, that’s an accomplishment,” Lindteigen.

Junior Hunter Weddington connected with Lindteigen on a deeper level than some students. He would call him his mentor and a person he can always talk to.

“He always says his phrase. Then he asks if he made you feel stupid, and if you say yes, he says well good, that’s my job,” Weddington.

That is one of many favorite memories Weddington has with Lindteigen.

He is also going to remember all his advice that helped him develop into a

man.

“How to successfully make my own projects and how to do things on my own,” Junior Devin Blose.

Lindteigen has taught many students how to properly and successfully weld their own projects in his class for many years. Most all his students say he is always jolly and always has a big smile on his face.

“If a student does something incredibly stupid the next day I start out fresh and that student starts out fresh,” Lindteigen.

He never holds a grudge against a student because he understands they are still in high school and have growing up to do. Helping the students is something Lindteigen enjoys to do as well as update the equipment they get to use.

Autos teacher, Mark Cross, has been working in the same building, isolated from the rest of the staff with Lindteigen since he has been teaching at Andover. He will miss having to share the building with him.

“

I hope he enjoys his retirements, he deserves it markCROSS

”

“I’m gonna miss all his humor and all his wisdom he has brought with him,” Cross.

One of Cross’s favorite memories with Lindteigen is when they went to a convention in Salt Lake City and they got stuck in Phoenix for a day and Lindteigen got very irritated. He also feels that Lindteigen has taught him how to be a better teacher.

“I hope he enjoys his retirement, he deserves it, it’s time for him to get a break,” Cross. said.

May 20, 2011

17

o L d n a t a K h t i w s t u o k r o Ways to stay in shape for summer W

Lyinghiplifts Lie on back with arms out, knees bent, and your feet flat. Place the ball between your knees and squeeze it tight. Slowly lift your hips until they are even with your legs and torso then lower hips without touching floor.

PlieExtensions

Stand, feet wide and toes out.

Hold the ball behind your head with elbows bent and raise up on your toes. Slowly lift the ball until your arms are fully extended and lower it, staying on your toes.

Split Squat

Swingers

SquatTwists RotatingPlanks Start in a side plank with your right foot crossed over left, body straight and tight and your right arm towards the ceiling. Twist to reach your right arm under your waist. Then repeat on the other side.

Stand with your feet shoulderwidth apart, holding the ball in front of you. Squat down until your legs are bent at the 90. Then come up and extend your arms and raise the ball overhead as you twist at the waist. Then repeat on the other side.

Hold the ball with your elbows bent at the 90 and take a big step forward with the right leg.

Lower down into a split squat so the left knee is about 5 inches from the floor and bring the ball to your left hip. Then move the ball up to the right shoulder with your elbows still at the 90. Then repeat on the other side.

Photos by: Henry Hooker

18

May 26, 2011

Upcoming summer album previews with Ryan Lake

Artist: Lady Gaga Album title: Born This Way Released: May 23, 2011

Artist: Lil Wayne Album title: Tha Carter IV Released: June 21st, 2011

Overview Lady Gaga is known for her unusual antics on stage and with her music in the studio, however, she claims this time around with her new LP titled “Born This Way” that the music is the most personal she has ever written. Early reviews of the album say that Gaga has appeared to evolve her music talents and sounds much more like a actual artist created it, rather then her previous albums in which everything was produced. A world tour is planned in support of the album starting this summer.

Overview One of the most popular bands of the early-mid 2000s is back with their first release in 3 years, with the album tying around the concept of love and finding that love, whatever it is. Lead singer Pierre Bouvier, however, assures everyone it wont be a concept album.

“It’s not a concept album, but the songs revolve around everyone’s loves, whatever that may be. It’s our best work yet and I cant wait for everyone to hear it.”

Overview Even though Lil Wayne has spent a good deal of time in prison of late, it hasn’t stopped him from pumping out new music, with this being his 2nd full LP release in less then a year. Guests on this album include Kevin Rudolf, Kanye West, T-Pain, Young Jeezy, and Drake.

Overview Taking Back Sunday has established themselves as one of rock’s most which was described by lead singer Adam Lazzara heaviest rock album the band has ever written. So far the band has released 4 tracks from the 12-track album and it’s been very positively received. The band is scheduled to tour the album starting late summer.

Artist: Simple Plan Album title: Get Your Heart On Released: June 21st, 2011

Artist: Taking Back Sunday Album title: Taking Back Sunday (self-titled) Released: June 28th, 2011

Cultural fear leads to more pain, devastation for families robynHERBERT I have read my fair share of books about suicide. It is always the same thing: “I was about to kill myself when I stopped and realized how precious life is and how horrible it would be to die.” Or “I realized how damaging it will be to my family for me to end my own life and could not go through with it” or, my personal favorite: “I tried to kill myself, and failed, the pills didn’t work; now I have a new lease on life and am getting the help I need.”

Now, do not get me wrong, I love a good sappy book now and then, but our society

needs to face reality. Not everyone has this moment of clarity before they shoot themselves in the head or place the noose around their neck; most people that get in the car for the express purpose of never getting out again, don’t. That is what makes “History of Suicide: My Sister’s Unfinished Life” a truly unique book.

Suicide is a topic so taboo in our society that no one talks about it.It brings so much shame on the victim’s family that often family members become afraid of others knowing how their loved on died.

If a parent, sibling, best friend or any loved one dies of cancer, a car accident or even old age, everyone is sympathetic and supportive.

The house of the family is filled with caring friends and plenty of food. But as soon as the answer to “how did he die?” becomes “suicide,” the family is often shunned. This is not for lack of caring; it is not for lack of sympathy, but it is because we, as a culture, are not taught how to deal with suicide. It scares us and we do not know how to deal with the reality of someone wanting to die. Someone that feels such pain, grief or melancholy, that they see no alternative

to ending their own life. And so, we deal by not dealing. We do not talk about that person ever again, and so the family has no chance to deal with the death.

“History of Suicide” is a book written by Jill Bialosky about her younger sister, Kim, who committed suicide in 1992. She talks about how there is never closure with a suicide, because there will forever be the lingering question of “why?” and, more importantly, “could I have stopped it?”

As a culture, what we struggle to understand is that the people who die are not the only victims of suicide. Their families, the people they leave behind, suffer far more than anyone can imagine.

The unending questions, the inconsolable guilt and the numbing loss, as if someone has cut off a part of them, are not something they can openly talk about, not in this society. Their pain is kept hidden and therefore multiplies, instead of steadily declining to a manageable level by talking to someone else. Dying is easy, an easy solution; living and being left behind is the hard part.

The issues that plague potential suicide victims are no greater than anyone else’s problems.

The misconception so common in our society is that people who kill themselves are somehow different from the rest of us. Wrong. The men and women who take their own lives are not consumed with more problems or deeper problems than the rest of society, but different problems.

Because of our cultural fear, they cannot come forward and say “I have had thoughts about killing myself, I need help.” But to the rare few that have that courage, I commend you, for not many can.

The fear of the shun and ridicule and misunderstanding that so often accompanies such a confession is too great for most, and so they stay silent in the shadows.

If we can learn to accept that this tragedy is 100 percent preventable and that we are just as responsible as the people who take their own lives. We could potentially save hundreds, maybe thousands of lives a year.

May 20, 2011

19

Under the Sea DEVIN DYMKOWSKI

Seniors Jenny Cooper and Andrew Amaro dance at prom. The dance lasted from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m.

DEVIN DYMKOWSKI

Senior Hayley Phillips dances at prom. “This is the first Prom I have ever been to, so I had to make it something I would never forget,” Phillips said.

DEVIN DYMKOWSKI

Junior Thane Bulmer plays a minute to win it game at after prom. Minute to win it games were a new activity at after prom this year.

DEVIN DYMKOWSKI

Juniors Devin Blose and Rachel Arbuckle dance together at the Exploration Place on May 7.

DEVIN DYMKOWSKI

Senior Steven Fritze bowls at after prom . This year, after prom was hosted at the Alley.

DEVIN DYMKOWSKI

Senior Ela Otto rides the go carts at after prom. The go-carts were one of many activitys that the Alley offered .

20

May 20, 2011