highlights
March 27, 2015 Volume 88, Issue 11 Beverly Hills High School Beverly Hills, California beverlyhighlights.com
Administrative roles shuffle Cheer wins big Juliette Deutsch, co-editor-in-chief Ben Shofet, graphics editor Within a few weeks of each other, school board president Dr. Brian Goldberg and superintendent Dr. Gary Woods both announced their resignation for the 2015-2016 school year. This is in addition to a search for a new high school principal to replace current principal Carter Paysinger. Goldberg chose to resign from the presidency temporarily, and remains a member of the school board. Goldberg’s temporary resignation happened before he was termed out of his seat after he was arrested for alleged battery of a former Beverly student. According to Beverly Hills Police Sgt. Max Subin, Goldberg had allegedly knocked the woman to the ground. The following day, Goldberg announced his temporary resignation.
“I have only stepped down as President of the Board. I remain a member at large for the Board of Education. I did not want this issue to dominate our board meetings, and by stepping aside temporarily I hope it will allow the Board to continue our important work ensuring the very best education for our students,” Goldberg said. Prior to being the superintendent at BHUSD, Woods was the superintendent at the San Marino Unified School District (SMUSD). Under his supervision, SMUSD was the highest ranking district in the state of California. Directly after his job at SMUSD, Woods took the job as superintendent at BHUSD. “I will continue to cheer for our students and staff because I know the District is on a path toward meaningful change and growth,” Woods said in an a press release. Woods leaves behind what he sees as a legacy in STEM educa-
tion. “During the past four years our District has had a keen focus on STEM education. There is clear evidence we’re becoming a STEM focused district,” Woods said. A week after his resignation to tend to family matters, the board appointed Horace Mann’s principal Steve Kessler to assume the position of superintendent. “The Board thought we needed to bring in someone with a proven track record [who] understands the community,” Board of Education President Howard Goldstein said. Kessler is BHUSD’s longest serving employee, a math teacher who became an administrator within the district. Although Kessler was the only candidate for BHUSD superintendent, he must formally be approved by a vote from the school board. According to Goldberg, the Board should address this issue at their next meeting.
For the first time in 15 years, varsity cheer placed fourth out of 12 teams in their division at Cheer Nationals USA. According to McIntyre, feelings of excitement and nervousness are associated with any competition. However, cheer competitions constitute a whole new level of excitement. “Being in an arena with hundreds of girls and guys who are passionate about the same thing as you is a feeling I can’t begin to explain,” McIntyre said. McIntyre shares the experiences she has had with competitive cheer and the feeling after achieving such a huge success in all her four years of cheer. “I’ve been a competitive cheerleader for 10 years, and there’s nothing like being on the competition floor. The rush of adrenaline and the excitement in the air affects everyone,” McIntyre said. Junior Danni Jo Martincak, a first year cheerleader but lifelong gymnast, kept a few things in as she took the stage at Nationals. “The key is to be clean and perform, have lots of facial expressions and have fun on the mat,” Martincak said. McIntyre states that the key to winning this year was the team’s ability to come together and compete effectively. “This year was different than the past. The team was more unified and bonded than before. Everyone wanted to come back
from last year’s defeat and win. For half of the team this will be their last year cheerleading. Knowing that this would be the final time the 16 of us would ever perform drove everyone to give it their all,” McIntyre said. Cheer training is uniquely different from any other sport and requires dedication, drilling and a “level of perfection.” “Cheerleading is unlike anything else. You train for months, drilling the same routine over and over again, until it reaches a level of perfection. All the time, energy and effort comes down to two minutes of intense mental and physical activity,” senior and captain Montana McIntyre said. After the recent successes the next step for the team is to continue practicing and improving their stunt performances. “We will continue to keep building on our stunt difficulty and performance and practice new stunts,” Martincak said. McIntyre credits all the team’s recent triumphs to their coach, Eric Bensing. “Eric Bensing has built this team from the bottom up and we owe our victory and successes to him. He dedicates his life to making us look good. His passion is what gets us through every practice. In my ten years of cheer, I have never had a coach motivate me more or make me believe I was so capable of achieving,” McIntyre said. Cheer will continue to practice and competitions begin this fall.
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
Students compete in Color Wars.
Where to eat now in Los Angeles.
FEATURE: Senior Lorien Opelli.
Lieu to speak as keynote
Photo by: US CONGRESS Lucas Harward, staff writer Newly-elected congressman Ted Lieu will be the keynote speaker for this year’s Career Day on April 1, according to ROP/ CTE director Cindy Dubin. In the most recent midterm elections to elect the 114th Congress, Lieu, a democrat, defeated republican Elan Carr to become the congressional representative for the 33rd district of California, which includes Beverly Hills. “We are so pleased that Congressman Lieu will be this year’s
BHHS Career Day keynote speaker, and know his remarks will inspire our students to dedicate themselves to excellence as they pursue their own passions during high school, college and beyond,” Dubin said. Career Day begins with Lieu’s keyonote speech and is then followed by three breakout sessions that specalize in different industry sectors. “I am greatly looking forward to visiting Beverly Hills High School and seeing its innovative academic programs in actions. The 33rd District is home to leaders in industry and the arts alike. I’m excited to spend some time with BHHS students, a group of future leaders in our community,” Lieu said. “Career Day is part of Beverly High’s Career and Technology Education Department, which provides dynamic project-based pathways that blend academics and real-world experience in
INSIDE
The varsity cheer squad after their Nationals’ win on Saturday. Photo by: ERIC BENSING
areas such as entreprenuership, culinary arts, TV, film production, robotics, sports marketing, sports medicine, audio production, law and more,” Dubin said. Senior Josh Schenk is enthusiastic about having a speaker like Lieu at Career Day. “We’re excited to have our Congressman come to speak to a core group of his constituents and supporters. I’ve always been a supporter of Lieu’s--in fact I was at his swearing-in ceremony-and it’s great to see his interest in Beverly Hills,” Schenk said. Senior Aaron Boudaie is not only thrilled to have Lieu speak at Career Day, but is also looking forward to Lieu’s endeavours as our representative. “There is no one I could imagine that could be more qualified,” Boudaie said. Students were invited to submit questions to the Carrer Day Planning Comittee, which chose eight entrants to ask their questions duringthe keynote speech.
Juliette Deutsch, co-editor-in-chief
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HIGHLIGHTS NEWS March 27, 2015
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Seniors hear back, react to decisions Karen Shilyan business manager Seniors at Beverly felt a wave of relief rush over them after sending their college applications; however, the feeling was short lived, as March arrived and students now face the stress of making “the right” decisions. Norman applicants fall into three different categories on campus. There are those who have heard back and thus have difficult decisions to make about committing; there are those who have received rejections or were deferred, and must now consider other options; and then there are those individuals who already committed by applying through early action admissions. The college application process, as well as the admissions process, is all about making difficult but necessary decisions. It’s about determining which will be the “right” fit, in addition to meeting a perspective student’s financial needs. Students who have yet to commit anxiously push themselves to find the per-
fect balance between these factors. Those Who Haven’t Decided Senior Danny Newman has yet to commit to a university. After hearing from a couple universities, he still awaits more decisions. “The waiting processes is a blur of mixed emotions. I mostly feel nervous and anxious as I eagerly await the decision notifications,” he said. “At the same time, I must stay optimistic and hope for the best. I feel as though the excitement comes afterwards, when you finally see the ‘Congratulations!’” Senior Sofia Orelo has held off on making any decisions and committing to universities that she’s been accepted to. She plans to visit her top choices during spring break in order to make her final decisions about which one will fit her best. “There’s a lot of pressure [to make the right [decisions], but at the same time it’s exciting to know I’ve gotten in somewhere and will be attending a good school no matter what,” she said. “[Getting my acceptance letters]
was really exciting and relieving.” Those Who Are Committed Senior Yassi Noubahar has committed to Pace University’s School of Performing Arts program, Bachelor of Fine Arts, “a competitive and comprehensive pre-professional program combining fundamental and cutting-edge actor training,” according to the university’s website. Noubahar shared that she was selected, with around 30 other students to the BFA musical theatre program, out of about 1500 applicants. After committing, she reflected that she “tried to push [the thought of her admission] back so [she] wouldn’t be upset if [she] didn’t hear good news, but it was always on [her] mind.” Noubahar decided to apply to Pace University’s program with thought to her musical career in New York, as well as reviewing their curriculum which is based on small class sizes and individual attention. “I did a lot of research on the internet and I knew I wanted to be
A Thousand Words: Blue Fever
on the East Coast. The people I contacted from Pace were so helpful and I felt a great connection to the program and it’s focus,” Noubahar said. “Pace has great opportunities because it is in New York City right in Manhattan. I can start my career before I even graduate.” Lucas Harward, senior, is included in the group that opted for early decision over the regular admission deadlines. He has been committed to Vanderbilt University, his top choice school. “Well, I had to commit because I applied early decision, which is binding, but obviously I knew that before I applied. When I visited Vanderbilt I loved the campus and nearby Nashville, as well as the great reputation it has for its academics and social life,” Harward said. “I was relieved to get into my first choice school right away and not have to deal with the rest of the admissions process.” Those Who Were Deferred Jonah Malkin, senior, had applied to several schools under early action and received a deferred response. He remained hopeful and looked forward to hearing under the regular decision deadlines. Later on, he would receive acceptances to the University of Wisconsin, Maryland, as well as Tulane. “I looked at it as a positive. It told me that it was hard for the school to make a decision on me and that they were still highly considering admitting me,” he said.
Highlights Juliette Deutsch and Jackson Prince editors-in-chief
Marty Schnapp news editor
Guy Ginsberg sports editor
Eleanor Bogart-Stuart culture editor
Sadie Hersh photo editor
Ben Shofet
graphics editor
Karen Shilyan
business manager
Veronica Pahomova cartoonist
Eleanor Bogart -Stuart, Lucas Harward, Veronica Pahovoma and Celine Rezvani, Sadie Hersh, Ben Shofet, Karen Shilyan, Veronica Pohomova staff writers
Gaby Herbst
adviser — The mission of Highlights is to deliver community-relevant news in a timely manner while adhering to professional ethics. Highlights is a forum for student free expression that is produced by the Advanced Journalism class of Beverly Hills High School, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Letters to the editor may be sent to beverlyhighlights@gmail.com.
Scott Senior: a rennaisance man Veronica Pahomova cartoonist Eleanor Bogart-Stuart staff writer
With the largest student turnout and the loudest chants, the Seniors raised the energy level at Color Wars. From left to right: Devon Hernandez, Chance Comanche and Soheil Yashar. Photo by: KAREN SHILYAN
Did you hear that low baritone voice at the Madrigals concert last week? Have you been paying attention to the leading roles in the musicals recently? Or seeing a tall, charming man at your temple after school? Follow the clues and you’ll find yourself at the feet of the recognizable, Scott Senior. A young renaissance man in the making, junior Scott Senior has one of the most recognizable faces, and the busiest schedules, of the student body. One might spot him in Symphonic Band, Madrigals, Jazz Band or even Theater Arts Workshop. Take a survey and ask a handful of people in the halls if they know his name. You’re bound to be shocked. However, Senior isn’t only participating in school-related activities; he’s also well known outside of school. As well as being a teacher’s assistant at his temple, he participates in their choir, and plays a big role in their community theater at the Morgan-Wixson Theater. “I’m in all these extracurriculars because I feel like if you’re not taking all of the opportunities life brings you, you’re missing out. I also love doing every activity I’m a part of, so although it can get stressful, it’s completely worth it,” Senior said. Unsurprisingly, Senior’s abun-
dance of activities do take up quite a lot of time. Although admitting to staying up late and not taking a lot of “hard” classes, Senior knows that time management is key to keeping up with his hectic schedule. “The way that I can keep it all up is by compartmentalizing each activity by basically focusing on the task at hand, because then it’s like you’re mentally handling it a little bit at a time as opposed to all at once,” Senior said. Senior is thought of to have already accomplished a great deal as a high schooler, let alone as a 16-year-old junior. His most recent claim to fame was one of his leading role in the school musical “Guys and Dolls” as infamous bettaker Sky Masterson. Senior clearly has a precise plan. All of his activities correlate to what he hopes to do in the future: performing on Broadway. And if along side the goal is the one to be a professional musician or conductor. Not only do his hobbies and talents shape who Senior is, they shape who he’s going to be. “Just the sheer amount of extracurriculars has taught me to persevere and to manage my time,” Senior said ”I definitely think that each activity had made me a better person as well. Each has provided me with lessons and skills that I will use for the rest of my life.”
HIGHLIGHTS OPINION MARCH 27, 2015
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Cost of SAT/ACT prep hinders opportunities Juliette Deutsch co-editor-in-chief Guy Ginsberg sports editor
is basically one number that classifies students according to their intelligence, and offers colleges a quick look into what kind of a student the applicant is. In fact, these
For many high school juniors and seniors, the next step after graduation is going to college, and for those who are interested in pursuing higher education, finances play a big role. There are multiple requirements in the college application process that students need to fulfill in order to increase their chances of admission to the college or university or their choice. We take prep classes for the ACT and/ or SAT, we apply to school after school and, hopefully, we are admitted to a school we choose and spend our next years pursuing a valuable education that will benefit us forever. Finances play a huge role in this process and can ulti- Cartoon by VERONICA PAHOMOVA. mately decide a student’s fate. We tests are highly strategy-based, pay to take SAT/ACT prep, we pay and focus more on a student’s abilfor college applications and we pay ity to find ways to find the correct for tuition to college. All in all, the answer rather than their intellicollege route is a very expensive gence. These strategies are taught one and, frankly, one that many almost exclusively in SAT and ACT people can’t afford. What does all prep courses, such as those offered this mean? Basically, those who by Kaplan Test Prep, Princeton can afford all these things reap the Review and Compass Test Prep. However, many well known colrewards, and those who can’t are leges and universities such as Euleft out to dry. The SAT and ACT are pivotal for gene Lang College, Bard College, college applications. The test score Pitzer College and Wake Forest
University have an optional ACT or SAT policy and do not require it as a part of their schools application. On Pitzer’s website they state
grounds. While these courses are incredibly helpful for getting a good score on test day, they come at a price. Kaplan’s SAT Classroom Practice
that “there was no direct correlation between academic success at and standardized testing.” To add, since Pitzer stopped requiring the SAT or ACT for admission in 2003, the campus has seen a 58 percent increase in diversity, an 8 percent increase in GPA and a 39 percent increase in applicants with a 10 percent increase in retention. Pitzer has also doubled the number of students from low income, first generation back-
costs $699 and Princeton Review’s costs $899. Now let’s look at a scenario: there are two students with roughly the same GPA and extracurriculars who look very similar on paper, but one of them comes from a home that can afford standardized test prep, and one doesn’t. The one who can afford it gets a better SAT score and, in turn, gets into a better college. Is that fair? Should the future of a student be decided based
on whether or not they have $699 to spend on test prep? The answer is absolutely not. Finances should not hinder ones ability to be admitted or enrolled in a students university of their choice. The fact of the matter is, finances play too large of a role in the college application process. However, the other fact is test services are businesses. Kaplan is a business, Princeton Review is a business. And because they are businesses, it is incredibly unlikely that they will lower their prices, so the solution to this problem needs to come from the college admissions offices. Admissions officers need to remember that we are more than a number and that four years of high school is worth more than a three hour test. When colleges build an undergraduate class they need to be more focused on individuals with unique abilities, high GPAs, recommendation letters, essays and extracurriculars, and place less emphasis on a exam that does not represent an applicant’s actual academic abilities. Students are more than a number and represent more than a cost of a prep class.
Where to eat now: rankings of the best in LA Juliette Deutsch co-editor-in-chief 1. Scopa Italian Roots 2905 W. Washington Blvd Venice, CA Spacious, brick-walled and leather-lined booths filled with satisfied customers is Scopa Italian Roots. Trained at Spago, chef Antonia Lofaso (who just so happens to be the older sister of Beverly alumnus Anthony Lofaso) understands high standards of Italian cooking, which Los Angeles has lost. Lofaso’s take on Italian-American fusion is innovative, classic and worth Scopa’s long waiting list. Dishes are served in cast-iron skil-
lets and in non-traditional Italian presentations. Lofaso’s twist on the classic squash blossoms mixes ricotta and mozzarella into the filling for more stringiness. In the eggplant and caper caponata, she adds the perfect amount of crunch with roasted almonds. The Vibe: Relaxed, but upscale atmosphere. Must Have: The Hazelnut-Zabaione dessert. Getting a Table: Reservations are only made by phone Thursdays-Saturdays. 2. Zinque 8648 Melrose Ave West Hollywood, CA
If you have been an LA foodie for a long time, you know that this tucked away spot on Melrose used to be Nishimura Sushi. Long before Sugarfish or Sasabune, Nishimura was one of the best Omakase sushi bars in the city. Today, the spot is occupied by Zinque, a European-style cafe founded by Ahi Tuna and Comte salad and the Salmon Emmanuel Dossetti. The Tartine paired with La Colombe iced coffee. eatery serves traditional European cafe items such Photo by JULIETTE DEUTSCH.
as tartines, oysters and cheeses to go along with La Colombe Coffee. Besides Zinque, La Colombe Coffee can only be found in New York on Lafayette Street, so it’s definitely worth the try. Zinque also has a variety of vegan and vegetarian options. The ambiance is open, airy and perfect for a group. The Vibe: Upscale European coffee shop atmosphere. Must Have: Avocado, Comte, Tomato and Ahi Tuna salad. Goes perfectly paired with a La Colombe Iced Latte. Getting a Table: First come first serve basis, reservations are available for dinner guests. 3. Sushi Tsujita 2006 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, especially Sawtelle Boulevard, is known for its array of Japanese cuisine amongst foodies in LA. However, if you’re looking for Omakase style sushi, it is not easy to find. The standard of excellent omakase sushi can be found at sushi bars such as Neta or Sushi of Gari. These sushi bars have a no substitutions menu and resemble the true Omakase experience. Sushi Tsujita, however, got it, and it’s
right here in our backyard. At Tsujita, the must-have dishes are the albacore belly topped with uni, and the toro sushi special. However, since all items are served Omakase, these come with every Omakase meal. The Vibe: Traditional sushi restaurant with an LA foodie scene. Must Have: The Toro sushi with caviar. Getting a Table: Operates on a first come first serve basis.
can sticky buns, fresh croissants, beignets and lattes to accompany. The pastries encompass a more rustic style and give the just baked impression. The Republique lunch scene is equally as tasty. Manzke serves a agnolotti, a type of pasta stuffed with sweet butternut squash and mushrooms topped with freshly shaved pecorino.
4. Republique 624 S. La Brea Ave Los Angeles, CA Republique, built in a key LA location, lives up to expectations. Started by Walter Manzke and Bill Chait (also behind Short Order Republique’s freshly baked butter croisand Bestia) opened Repub- sant and vanilla beingets. Photo by: lique in November 2013. JULIETTE DEUTSCH The location on La Brea Boulevard was originally owned by Charlie Chaplin, when the cenThe Vibe: Casual and inviting. tral room of Republique was a Must Have: Vanilla bean beigcourtyard. The space is lined with nets. communal tables, bar stools and Getting a Table: First-come, high ceilings. Morning customers first-serve basis. at Republique can be found traipsing past an array of delicious pe-
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HIGHLIGHTS SPOTLIGHT MARCH 27, 2015
PROMCHELLA News analysis
Seniors posed with prom, ‘Chella’ choice Sadie Hersh photo editor Eleanor Bogart-Stuart culture editor Lucas Harward staff writer THE SENIOR REACTION A situation causing buzz in the Beverly hallways this year is the fact that prom and weekend two of Coachella overlap. Although the school expected students to react negatively, the administration did not anticipate the kind of response that they’ve received. The concerned students chose to forego the resentment and instead started to take action in ways that teachers were shocked to see. “When I heard about its conflict with Coachella, I knew it was going to be a problem,” ASB director Mark Mead said. “And we [Mead and adminsitration] started to be concerned about it as early as June. And we were looking for ways to fix it, but in the end there were a ton of reasons why the date couldn’t be moved. So it wasn’t as if myself or the other administrators were unaware of this issue, it was just a logistically impossible thing to change.” The current generation of students have been written off as lazy and apathetic about school events, like the recent lack of participation in Color Wars. But the uproar from the class of 2015 about prom being planned the same weekend as Coachella brought
the senior class together to advocate for a date change. One member of the 2015 class created an online petition in the hope that the signatures would help change the date of prom so it would not conflict with the Coachella. Even though the petition was not acknowledged by members of administration and its goal to change the date was unsuccessful, the students all stood together for their cause. Unlike the efforts the senior class undertook in hopes of changing the prom date, they have been passive about other issues this year which involved senior activities. Problems like senior probation, which will affect senior attendance to grad night, are the kinds of situations in which the class of 2015 complain, but take no action. However, if you push the right buttons, these students will stand together to get the results or change that they want. For example, the students rallied together when administration placed regulations on visiting their cars. Faculty and staff placed flyers on cars in the parking lot which told students they would not be allowed to go to their cars during school hours. This upset much of the student body. In retaliation, some Normans ripped up the flyer and wrote the letters “FU” with the torn up paper on the floor. Based off of past events, it is clear
that although they may seem uninterested or unenthused about some topics, if they want change, these seniors will at least try to attain it. Even if they ultimately do not get the results they are hoping for, the effort to make change shows that the senior class is not one to back down. THE EVOLUTION OF PROM CULTURE
Once upon a time, prom use to be every senior’s dream. Special traditions for girls are the dress, hair, makeup and the extravagant promposal. Even boys enjoy getting dressed up in a tuxedo and asking a girl to be their date. This year’s senior class seems uninspired to attend their prom, with initially about a quarter of the senior class unsure if they would attend it, according to Mead. In movies from past decades, prom is depicted as one of the biggest events in a high schooler’s life. Iconic scenes from these films include the girl’s emotional walk down a flight of stairs in an elegant gown, or the final slow-dance at the end of the night when the boy’s hands are placed on his date’s waist. Movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “Napoleon Dynamite”, “Pretty in Pink” romanticized prom as a vital moment for all high school students. “I think there’s a peculiar culture here in terms of the very limited amount of
time spent at Prom. I was astonished when I saw last year that a large number of kids stayed for less than an hour, because there seemed to be a lot of good reasons to stick around,” Mead said. “When I was in high school, we did do something after, but it wasn’t anything to hurry to. You might as well stick around at Prom and enjoy it with all your friends, because the event after is less of an event than the Prom itself. Even the Prom planner I’ve spoken to also thinks it’s a bit peculiar, and she does lots of Proms.” Eager seniors, like Reese Brucker have set the prom expectations high since freshman year. “I have never been to prom,” she said. “It has been in my mind since ninth grade. I’m going with my best friend since kindergarden and couldn’t have a better date. I feel like it’s a once in a lifetime event and a special memory I’m going to have for the rest of my life.” Brucker is disappointed that students would choose Coachella over prom as she goes on to say, “Go to Coachella next year, of the first weekend. I haven’t gone through hell with my senior class to miss getting dressed up for them and showing off my handsome date and how far we have come.” Prom is an experience that many seniors only get to experience once in their life. Coachella will still be put on for years to come, but the 2015 graduating class only has one prom together.
Photo by: SCOUT SKLAREW
What do “ Normans think?
When I first found out that prom would be on the same night as Coachella, I definately thought that the school administrators purposely did that to keep kids from going to Coachella.
“
”
I always planned on going weekend one so it never really bothered me, but senior prom only happens once.
“
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I was worried because I already bought my weekend two ticket and thought I wouldn’t be able to go to prom. But I’m going to prom now!
”
All of these seniors wished to remain anonymous
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HIGHLIGHTS MARCH 27, 2015
LIBERAL EDITION
“Possible #1 Best Seller” “Almost as good as really loud rap music!” “This ebook will make you happy that you can read.” Now Available on Amazon.com Barnes & Noble Apple iBooks Kobo
“Better than video games!” “Youngsters all across the country are going crazy over this ebook!”
Practically written for ipads
Politixworks.com
HIGHLIGHTS MARCH 27, 2015
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HIGHLIGHTS MARCH 27, 2015
LIBERAL EDITION
“Possible #1 Best Seller” “Almost as good as really loud rap music!” “This ebook will make you happy that you can read.” Now Available on Amazon.com Barnes & Noble Apple iBooks Kobo
“Better than video games!” “Youngsters all across the country are going crazy over this ebook!”
Practically written for ipads
Politixworks.com
HIGHLIGHTS MARCH 27, 2015 7
HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS MARCH 27, 2015
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BHAAA patrons school athletics
Ben Shofet graphics editor Since 2006, the Beverly Hills Athletics Alumni Association (BHAAA) has been a provider for many of Beverly’s athletic expenses. According to their website, the BHAAA has donated over 550,000 dollars to the athletic programs at Beverly. From football pads to baseball uniforms, the BHAAA have covered a large sum of Beverly athletic costs. “They go out and make it possible for the athletic department to not only compete with other
schools, but provide us with the necessary equipment that we need for the athletic department,” former athletic director Vonzie Paysinger said. The BHAAA have been raising funds each year for each sport that submits a request for what they need for that specific year. “Over the years they just cut back in athletics, and I’m sure as well in other departments, and it turns out that we are the sole provider. We buy all of the uniforms and equipment for every single sport needed. ,” assistant treasurer of the BHAAA Julie Steinberg said.
Lorien Orpelli, 12
Adriano Saitta, 11
Each year the BHAAA holds one major fundraiser, the Alumni Hall of Fame Dinner, in which they obtain a large percentage of their donations for that year, according to Steinberg. “Money is donated to the BHAAA and then they donate that money to the designated athletics programs at BHHS,” Steinberg said. This year alone the BHAAA, with the help of parents and the PTSA, was able to raise enough money for a brand new $22,000 track and field electronic timing machine. The BHAAA also raised enough money for a $6,000 pitching ma-
chine. The list goes on and on for what the BHAAA provides for the Beverly Hills athletic community, ranging from baseballs and volleyball netting to scoreboards and lane dividers. Although the BHAAA is a major supporter of Beverly athletics, some Beverly student-athletes might not be aware of where the money is coming from. “I never really knew that the BHAAA gave us all of that equipment, I kind of always thought the district gave it to us,” sophomore wrestler David Parvizi said. The BHAAA will continue to
support the high school’s athletics throughout the year, as they are seen by many members of Beverly athletics as a primary source of funding. “[BHAAA] go out and make it possible for the athletic department to not only compete with other schools but provide us with the necessary equipment that we need for the athletic department. They are our only source of income, we don’t get much from anyone else. Those guys are the backbone of our athletic department, they are very
Celine Rezvani staff writer
(backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, and butterfly). At the age of 11, she continued on to swim for the Alpha Aquatics Club where she still swims. When Orpelli began swimming for Beverly, she was the only freshman swimmer at the varsity level. “At first, swimming at Beverly was very intimidating,” Orpelli said. “As the only freshman on the varsity team, I was the new girl and I needed to prove myself.” she said. Now a senior, Orpelli is the team captain and shares a bond with her teammates. “I’ve built a relationship with the
entire team where I feel like they can rely on me,” Orpelli said. “The whole concept of swim team this year is to have a strong support system for everyone.” Orpelli believes that every swimmer should have someone supporting them. “It’s not only about swimming, it’s about supporting each other,” Orpelli said. “I want everyone to feel like they have someone on their side supporting them.” Orpelli plans to continue her swimming career in college and is currently deciding between several schools that have recruited her.
of the only sports that could be played indoors. I played soccer in the spring as well, but I had a natural talent for tennis and loved the sport,” Saitta said. This past year, Saitta reached a Southern California High School ranking of 93, and a national ranking of 487, as well as winning a Level Four tournament over the summer. Saitta’s success also transmitted well to the Beverly varsity tennis team, where he has been a starter since his freshman year. Saitta currently plays number one singles for the team, and has only good
memories of high school tennis. “BHHS tennis has been an amazing experience so far. Our team is so close and we always have successful seasons, I really love the team aspect,” Saitta said. As far as his passion for tennis goes, Saitta found his love for the game through its creativity. “I love the creativity of [tennis]. You can always work on your game and come up with new shots nobody has ever seen. It’s just a really unique and awesome sport,” Saitta said. Saitta and his D1 squad will be a
personal record is 60.07 seconds, which her teammates see as a feat. “Ryan’s debut in the track world proved to be as successful as Kobe on the Lakers. Even though she’s only participated in a few meets, she’s really blossomed into a great runner,” sophomore track runner Ben Shofet said. Although she loves track, Kenneally’s true passion is soccer. She’s been playing the sport since she was only eight years old. “I think I like soccer more than track, only because I have been playing it for so long and track is
something new to me that I am gradually getting more comfortable with,” Kenneally said. Sophomore Samantha Kurtz, a player on the frosh/soph team, appreciates Kenneally’s play on the field. “She’s one of the best offensive players on the girls varsity team. She’s very quick, she can beat a lot of players with her speed,” she said. Kenneally will run on March 28 at the Adidas Meet of Champions Distance Classic at Azusa Pacific University.
An active swimmer since the age of four, senior Lorien Orpelli swims competitively for club teams and Beverly’s swim team. Her father was the person who initially got her into the competitive sport of swimming, but she was hesitant at first to compete. “My dad pushed me to do it,” Orpelli said. “He had a competitive side to him, and he wanted that in me.” Orpelli began swimming at Novus City Swimming, where she placed first in all four strokes Guy Ginsberg sports editor While most four-year-old athletes dream of hitting home runs or catching touchdowns, junior Adriano Saitta’s real passion was for the ball and racket. Saitta, better known as Dro, was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and moved to Beverly Hills in 2011. Sports has always been a large part of Saitta’s life, as he has been playing soccer and tennis from the ripe age of four. “At the time [when I began playing tennis] I was living in Philadelphia, and in the winter it was one Eleanor Bogart-Stuart culture editor
Ryan Kenneally, 9
Freshman Ryan Kenneally has only just joined Beverly, but is already an active member of soccer and track, hitting the ground running in her first year on campus. “I decided to join track because I felt that it would be a good way to increase my speed in soccer,” Kenneally said. “My biggest motivation in track is getting a better time and running faster, in hopes for college opportunities.” Kenneally has placed in every race she’s run. Her 400 meter
needed,” Paysinger said.
team to watch this spring.