Augusta Oriole October 2017 Volume 85, Issue 1
The
Augusta High School
2020 Ohio
Augusta KS 67010
(316) 775-5461
www.orioleonline.com
AHSnewspaper@usd402.com
Lewellen earns national merit semifinalist honor Tatum Moore Reporter Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, Jacob Lewellen (12) received a letter from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation informing him that he was named a National Merit Semifinalist. In order to become a semifinalist, Lewellen had to take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) and the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) and score high enough on both of those tests to qualify; a 219 was required for both of these tests. Lewellen is one of approximately 219 semifinalists from Kansas and 16,000 semifinalists across the United States. This represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. Lewellen said he learned about the National Merit Honor Scholar when he was in middle school and set it as a goal. He knew it would take a great deal of work, but his parents helped him along the way. His parents encouraged him to study the embodiment SAT book and to take the SAT before the PSAT. “My parents pushed and helped me. [They] told me about the sophomore and junior PSAT testing,” Lewellen said. In order to be ready to take the tests, Lewellen began preparing months in advance. “I used a free online [PSAT] preparation and [practiced on] it consistently for two months,” Lewellen said. After all of the work and studying Lewellen still was not sure how things would turn out.
“I knew I would do well, but I didn’t know I would be one,” Lewellen said. Mom and gifted coordinator Leslie Lewellen, could not have been more proud when her son received the letter. “I knew he had a set this goal, and I watched him work to make and to reach his goal,” Leslie said. During the past six years only two other students have been semifinalists, but neither one became a finalist. Finalists are chosen based on scores, academic and extracurricular activities, recommendations and essays. This year, roughly 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to be named finalists. Half of the finalists will win a scholarship; either a $2500 National Merit Scholarship or a merit scholarship sponsored by a college or corporation. Leslie and principal Donna Zerr both think this could be the year for Augusta’s first finalist. “[Jacob] has an excellent chance. He is an excellent student who has many qualifications that will help him go far,” Zerr said. Lewellen will find out in February if he is a finalist, but he thinks his chances are good. “I’ve got a fairly good chance, if I fill in the form and do well enough on the SAT it’s fairly likely,” Lewellen said. Colleges across the country offer many scholarships to those who become finalists, 53 colleges are offering full tuition including Wichita State University, the University of Kentucky and Louisiana Tech University. For more information go to thecolleematchmaker.com.
Jacob Lewellen (12) reads from his textbook in Jeff Regier’s 3B American Government class. Lewellen works hard studying the new chapter over the articles of the constitution after a test over the 27 amendments. Government classes and the business essentials class went to the County Government Day at the El Dorado Courthouse and Jail on Oct. 10. Photo by Tatum Moore
Hurricanes devastate thousands, bring in donations Lindsay Baugher Reporter Five hurricanes have affected the U.S. since Aug. 17 wiping out homes in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Puerto Rico. Hurricane Harvey made landfall first in Houston then in Louisiana Aug. 17. Homes were ruined, belongings were pulled away with rushing water down the streets. More than 30,000 people were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, taking refuge in shelters. Social studies teacher Jake Sims was inspired by a tweet from a college basketball coach that made him want to help the victims of Harvey. “The coaches did something and then a couple students said, ‘We would like to do something,’ so that started that end of the deal,” Sims said. The athletic department sent down a box full of Oriole T-shirts. “We just tried to get it over to Houston and to whatever hands possible,” Sims said. With the help of the O’s Zone and Sims, students were able to send supplies to victims. A drop-off box was provided in the office for students to donate nonperishable food, bottled water, baby formula, diapers, pillows and hygiene items. Students involved in the JAG
classes also held a donation for gently loved toys to send to children. Global Warming Global warming is essentially the affects humans have on the Earth. The production of carbon dioxide is a cause from humans. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, when people deforest areas, produce cement or burn coal, carbon dioxide and other heat trapping chemicals are released into the atmosphere. Social Studies teacher Rick Hess has been keeping up on and researching global warming for 15 years. “[Global warming is] one of the reasons why we are having more
outbreaks and larger tornadoes, hurricanes, the rise in sea level, all of it, they partially attribute to human activity,” Hess said. The heat trapping chemicals are warming up the Earth including the oceans. When the water in the oceans is heated up that causes hurricanes. “When water warms up it creates a storm, and they can brew and get stronger. Right now, the water is warming up making storms bigger, stronger and more frequent,” Hess said. Global warming does not always affect the humans on the earth just with weather. “Everyone that lives in the U.S. house insurance is going to go up
because we have to pay for so many houses in Houston and all of Florida,” Hess said. These hurricanes, which have caused more than $350 billion in damages costing insurance companies, and one way to help pay for it is to raise insurance rates. “That is a direct relation between of these hurricanes, if we have more violent whether due to global warming it’s going to cause more destruction and we pay insurance to pay for those things,” Hess said Family Some students were affected by the hurricanes more than others. Haylee Hoefgen (12) has family members who live on an island Vieques off of Puerto Rico. “My grandma’s front porch was gone, the roof on her guest house was gone. There were treetops on top of the house,” Hoefgen said. Her family couldn’t get to their house for two days, and they did not have power for two weeks. Hoefgen said everyone in her family is okay. “After Maria, my grandma’s house is half gone. There is no power and getting water or food is hard but no one in my family is injured. ” Hoefgen said. Hoefgen’s grandma is coming to Kansas to live with her while her house is rebuilt.
Clubs organize supplies for families
Infographic by Cierra Jackson