the wildcat
789 Wildcat Way, Brea, CA 92821
est. 1930
Brea Olinda High School May 4, 2012
Volume 81 Issue 7
Every 15 minutes, death is reality
Dangers of drunk driving ‘devastate’ in annual program NOELLE GRACIA
JOY KIM
Their own mortality is not on the minds of most teenagers, especially with AP tests looming and prom on the horizon. But during the Every Fifteen Minutes program on April 18 and 19, death surrounded all of us. Juniors and seniors were pulled out of classes by the Grim Reaper himself, only to return a few minutes later with faces painted a ghostly white, a coroner’s tag, and the inability to speak to their peers for the duration of the day. Obituaries were taped to classroom doors and headstones appeared in the quad, displaying the names of the “living dead” who had died due to a drunk-driving related incident. These images were another reminder of the significance of Every Fifteen Minutes Tommie Valentine, senior, and one of the “living dead”, said, “It was kind of hard the first day, people didn’t really take it seriously at first, they were just trying to see if they could get me to laugh and talk. I think after that though, when everyone realized the reality of what was going on, they understood the importance of what we were doing.” Every Fifteen Minutes is a program that was designed to instill in teens the dangers and reallife consequences of drinking and driving. It challenges students to think twice before making a decision that has the power to irrevocably change multiple lives forever. Dan Moon, police officer, said that BOHS chose to conduct the program in April because statistics show that the highest rate for teenage deaths due to an alcohol-related collision is during prom and graduation season, with over one-third of teenage drunk driving accidents occurring between April and June, according to Nationwide.com “While the end of the school year is an exciting time for any student and we as adults want them to enjoy it and have fun, we also want our students to be aware of the dangers that come along with this time,” said Moon. On the first day of the two-day program, juniors and seniors attended a mock car crash in the stadium. Matt Brodeur, senior, played the part of a victim of a drunk driver, complete with
After participating in a district-level caucus last Sunday, Dana Lynch, assistant principal, was elected as one of the delgates that will choose Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for the November elections. The caucus occurred at the United Food and Commercial Workers in Buena Park, where Lynch received the most votes of 12 men vying to be a delegate. Two other male and three female delegates will join Lynch in Charlotte, N.C., this September at the Democratic National Conventions. Lynch’s attendance at the convention will not be his first foray into politics. During college, he was active with the Republican party and considered political activism a priority. “Political involvement transcends having a party affiliation. The word ‘politics’ derives from the Greek word for citizenship. Being a citizen involves active engagement with the community, whether local, state, federal, or Assistant international,” said Lynch. Principal Although Lynch is currently a Democrat, he was inspired by his favorite teacher and registered as a Republican when he was 18. While attending the University of Pennsylvania, Lynch was chairman of College Republicans for two years while double-majoring in political science and U.S. history. “My oldest memory is sitting in front of the television and watching President [Richard] Nixon resign. Strangely enough, Nixon and the modern American Presidency became my focal point of my college studies,” said Lynch. Lynch also represented his local voting district as the precinct captain, attended numerous College Republican conventions, and supported G.O.P. candidates. After focusing his activities on Republican campaigns and conventions, Lynch began working for Democratic politicians. As an intern, he became the first Republican hired by Pennsylvania Representative Bill DeWeese. Later,
Staff writer
BRANDON KIM / Wildcat
Ride
to death: Under the watch of the Grim Reaper, Matthew Brodeur, junior, is carried into a hearse as a victim of drunk driving in the car accident simulation during Every 15 Minutes. To the right, Josh Castillo, senior and one of the “iiving dead”, watches his peer join the students representing the victims of DUI-related accidents. Through simulating the death of these students, the program revealed how tragic and often fatal drinking and driving is.
Lynch elected as delegate; will attend Democratic National Conventions
See NEWS, page 3
Managing editor
Dana Lynch
See NEWS, page 4
Teachers dedicate lives to passions of running, biking, surfing A Wildcat interview with three teachers about their sporting lives outside of the class room MATT SCHADE
Co-Editor-in-chief Jonathan Quiming, English teacher While not in the classroom, Jonathan Quiming, English teacher, enjoys a completely different atmosphere out in the ocean as he has been surfing for about 19 years. He caught his first official wave at Huntington
City Beach a few towers south of the Huntington Beach Pier when he was 13-years old. “I will always remember that amazing moment, the magical smooth glide standing on top of the cold and frigid water,” said Quiming. “I grew up in a neighborhood with four friends and we all aspired to surf when not riding our skateboards and bikes.” Two of Quiming’s childhood friends’ fathers surfed and took turns driving Quiming and his friends to the beaches throughout Southern California with occasional beach camping during the summer at South Carlsbad State Beach. From the childhood beach trips, Quiming
continued to develop his passion for surfing and he still manages to make time to get out in the water even during the busy school year. “During my vacation time, I try to surf as much as I can, especially if the surf is good. During the school year with my busy teaching schedule and depending on the weather and conditions, I try to surf one to four times a month,” said Quiming. Quiming’s go-to surf spots range anywhere from 9th Street up north to Goldenwest Street and the Cliffs in Huntington Beach, Trestles down south in San Clemente, and sometimes the Newport River Jetties and Bolsa Chica State Beach.
“Since I went to college at UCSD, I was blessed with the opportunity to surf a lot of premiere San Diego breaks: Black’s, Sunset Cliffs, Del Mar, and La Jolla Shores,” said Quiming. “I’ve also surfed Honolii and Pohoiki on the Big Island of Hawaii, Waikiki on Oahu, Majors Bay in Kauai, and some of the northern beaches on Australia’s New South Wales Coast like Curl Curl and Freshwater.” Quiming stated that the aspect of surfing that he finds most enjoyable is the beauty of being out in Mother Nature’s “mysterious yet powerful ocean.”
See SPORTS, page 23
NEWS
SPORTS
INSIDE
Kara Kasser, senior, walks down the red carpet as prom princess during Prom Expo. To reveal the senior court and promote the theme, “Night in New Orleans”, ASB held the expo on April 20 in the quad.
Four students share their surfing journeys and how the sport has not only provided an ‘escape’, but left a lasting impression on their lives.
News 2-6 Opinion 7-10 Feature 11, 14-15 Centerspread 12-11 Arts & Entertainment 16-18 Sports 19-24
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page 2 May 4, 2012
Disney recognizes students’ work
N ews Briefly
SELINA CHE Feature editor Briana Perlson, senior, and juniors Katherine Gwaltney and Jennifer Janneck, earned an all-expense paid trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., in mid-April for an international youth conservation summit. After spreading environmental awareness on campus and throughout their community, the three were nominated and then selected to attend the summit by their mentor. “[Disney] recognized five different environmental organizations that they work closely with and each organization was able to bring four youths. I was selected to represent the Children and Nature Network, and Katherine and Jennifer were selected to represent Disneyland Resort,” said Perlson. “Out of the four youths representing each organization, they each picked an ambassador to speak at the conference, so I was able to speak, which was really exciting.” Accompanied by over 100 other youths from all over the world, the three had the opportunity to learn about and witness Disney’s conservation programs during their three-day trip, which ran from April 12 to 14. The visit also featured a variety of workshops and lectures from guest speakers to promote and inspire long-term conservation. “Our schedule was jam-packed from morning to night everyday,” said Janneck. In addition, the trio received the chance to walk the “Green Carpet” and attend the world premiere of the new Disneynature film, Chimpanzee, on April 13. During the youth summit, the three met individually with several Disney Channel stars, Disney employees, and environmentalists to discuss methods of conservation and ways to protect the earth. “On the trip I had the chance to meet and network with Don Hahn, the producer of many Disney films such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, The Emperor’s New Groove, and Disneynature movies,” said Gwaltney. “It was amazing to be in the presence of such accomplished people who define the environmental industry, such as Jane Goodall and Juan Martinez.” Now, the three plan on taking action and spreading environmental awareness through Disney Friends for Change Club by implementing a recycling program on campus. “I am very excited [for the recycling program] because when I came here my freshman year, I was
Taste of Brea
Photos courtesy of LORI KIESSER
RACHEL PARK
Youth
summit: (top) Briana Perlson, senior, along with the four other youth ambassadors and the leaders of the five nonprofit environmental organizations, are recognized for their conservation work on stage after an awards ceremony where they gave their speeches about what inspired them to be passionate about the environment and what they’ve done to help protect it. (bottom) Jennifer Janneck, junior, participates in a fliming for Disney Channel, at the Disney youth summit. Perlson, Janneck and Katharine Gwaltney, junior, were nominated and selected to attend an international youth conservation summit from April 12 to 14 at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
Key Club packages food
“Out of the four youths representing each organization, they each picked an ambassador to speak at the conference, so I was able to speak, which was really exciting.”
Briana Perlson, senior disappointed to see no recycle bins on campus,” said Perlson, president of Disney Friends for Change Club. “After trying to talk to administrators and teachers, many people said that [getting a recycling program started] just could not be done because people have tried in the past to start one, and the main reason why there has never been a recycling program is that there is no money and no people to pick it up.” However, with grant money the club received from the Inside the Outdoors program, Friends for
Change has teamed up with Best Buddies Club and purchased recycling bins for every classroom on campus, plus larger bins for sports fields. Money raised from the recyclables will go towards Best Buddies club activities. With newly found inspiration from Disney’s youth summit, Perlson, Gwaltney, and Janneck will continue their conservation work and ultimately improve not only their school and community, but also the environment.
Students participate in annual Color Run Nathan yoo Staff writer While traditional 5K runs have checkpoints for water breaks, the Color Run, a charity 5K race that travels across the country, bombards runners with clouds of colored powder for every kilometer they run. Students travelled to Irvine on April 22 to participate and were coated with vibrant splats of color as they ran in what is called “The Happiest 5K on Earth”. “[The Color Run] was awesome! There was no way for you not to have fun doing it. The colored powder literally got everywhere, but that’s what made it so exciting,” said Michael Rodriguez, junior. The Color Run raises funds for the Big Brothers Big Sisters foundation and provides an entertaining way for friends and families to get active. After paying the $40 fee, each runner receives a white t-shirt and a packet of colored powder and begins the run. As participants pass each one-kilometer checkpoint, volunteers and staff throw handfuls of safe and natural powder at runners, with an exclusive color for every checkpoint. By the time runners reach the finish line, they are covered in shades of yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink, but one more burst of color still awaits them. “The best part of the Color Run was when we reached the end. Everyone got their pack of color,
Taste of Brea is an annual event where anyone can attend and relish the “best of Brea.” With the purchase of $20 wristband, unlimited tastes are available from 5 to 9 p.m. on May 17 at Brea Downtown. According to the breachamber. com, there will be 19 different local eateries, breweries, and wineries participating in this event. The event offers marketing and public relations opportunities for businesses. Students look forward to this event as most refer it to as a “onetime event where we can just eat everything we want,” said Todd Park, junior. Along with the feast, there will be live entertainment from The Chris Anderson Group, shops in the vendor zone, and the mobile gaming theater, provided by GameTruck.
Photo courtesy of JASMINE CHOW / Wildcat
Burst
of color: Jean Chow, senior, gets a pack of color powder thrown at her while running the 5K race. The Color Run, a traditional charity race, took place on April 22.
counted down, and threw all their powder into the air at the same time,” said Rachel Pennington, junior. “It created a huge rainbow-y mess and everyone was coughing because of the dust, but it definitely one of
the most exciting things I did this year.” Most of the students who attended went with a sibling, close friend, or significant other and shared that although the Color Run was tiring, it was surprisingly relaxing and a great chance to bond with each other. “The run was not as tiring as I thought it would be because most people weren’t as focused on winning the race as having fun with the colors. It helped me to really just enjoy running in itself,” said Jasmine Chow, senior. “Both athletes and non-athletes can definitely benefit from this because it is a good work out but you can have fun with your friends at the same time.” “The Color Run offered a kind of vibe that you don’t get at a traditional 5K run, and I felt connected to everyone there in a way,” said Pennington. “I think that’s what makes it ‘The Happiest 5K on Earth’.” Though the Color Run has already passed, it will return on Nov. 3 in San Diego, and a similar event will be held in the local area as a fundraiser for the American Heart Association in October. Prospective runners are advised to register online early, as spots fill up quickly. “I would definitely recommend the Color Run to everyone because it is one of those things that you just have to experience at least once to know what it feels like,” said Rodriguez. “I’d run it again right now if I could!”
In a partnership with Stop Hunger Now, an international hunger relief organization, Key Club members spent their morning in Santa Ana packaging food supplies on April 21. One package of food provides a meal that feeds six families. Key Club members packaged 38,000 meals in two hours, surpassing their goal of packaging 35,000 meals. These meals will be sent to underprivileged families in Southeast Asia. “Events like these are very eyeopening. It helps us as a club and as a community to learn more about global problems and how to solve these problems,” said Sabah Baloch, junior and Key Club vice president. “It helps spread awareness.” Key Club hopes to make this a monthly event.
JEAN CHOW
Blood drive The second annual blood drive is scheduled to be held on May 22 in the auxiliary gym. Students can still sign up to participate in this event if they are over the age of 16 and meet the specific height and weight requirements. “I think this is a great way for students to contribute to those in need. They may not realize, but every pint of blood has the potential to save up to three lives,” said Rebecca Yang, senior and president of the Brea Red Cross Club. Once all the blood is collected and tested, the majority of the contribution is donated to the St. Jude Medical Center to be used in life-saving blood transfusions.
ALEX KIM
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
NEWS EVERY 15 MINUTES
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Students take part in DUI crash simulation 2
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Photos by BRANDON KIM and ALANNA ARNO / Wildcat
Mock
accident: 1. Felix Alvarez, senior, poses as a drunk teenager who drove under the influence and is arrested by Brea police. 2. Natalie Granillo, senior, performs as a critically injured victim of an alcohol-related accident. 3. The mock accident from the juniors’ and seniors’ point of view from the stands. 4. A firefighter uncoils a hose. 5. Matt Brodeur, senior, lies “dead” on the field as a victim of the accident. 6. Two Brea motorcycle police arrive on the scene of the crash. 7. Firefighters break the windows of the vehicle that traps Granillo. The mock accident was organized by event coordinator, Dan Moon, police officer, to display the realities of a fatal car accident due to a drunk driver as part of the Every 15 Minutes program which took place April 18 to 19.
blood smeared on his body and a blown out knee. Brodeur ended up “dying” as a result of his “injuries” and was zipped up in body bag by coroners and taken away in a hearse. “Looking back I realized just how eerie it all was, to have the blood all over and to hear people crying in the crowd, you realize how much more significant this whole thing was,” said Brodeur. After school the “living dead” went together as a group to the Orange County courthouse where they experienced the booking process and were “tried” as though they were really convicted of drunk driving and even spent a few minutes locked in a jail cell.
The mothers’ stories
Students were then driven back to Embassy Suites Brea to listen to guest speakers Jennifer Graves and Joan Brewer. Valentine and Brodeur deemed these women “amazing.” Graves, along with her husband, was a victim of a drunk driving accident. A drunk driver hit the side
of her car which caught fire and ended up burning over 70 percent of her body. In a separate accident, her husband was also hit by a drunk driver, causing paralysis from the neck down. Brewer, an active participant for both Every Fifteen Minutes and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), had her own experience with drunk driving when she received a phone call in 2006, telling her that her 25-year-old son, Randy, a former member of the Army National Guard had died after hitting a road island when driving drunk in the middle of the night. His blood alcohol level was 0.15. (The legal limit in Florida where the accident occurred is 0.8 according to dmvflorida.org). “[Brewer’s] story was really hard to hear, a mom talking about her son that she lost over about six years because of this issue, but yet she still could not control her emotions, the pain was still so fresh. It just hits you that this whole program is more about than just drunk driving, it’s about everything that you could be giving up all because of a stupid decision,” said Valentine.
Brewer, though she still mourns the loss of her son, hopes that by spreading his story and the consequences of his actions that she can help to prevent another teenager from making the same mistake that Randy did. “My goal is to have Randy’s life save a life. My goal is to have my son’s life make a difference. I am a mom on a mission and I will do everything I can so this does not happen to someone else. I do not want someone to lose the best part of their life because of drunk driving,” said Brewer.
A profound effect
On the second day of the emotional program, juniors and seniors attended an assembly in the gym where they had the opportunity to hear letters from the living dead and their parents, of what they wished they would have been able to say to each other had they gotten the chance to say goodbye. They also watched a video of the previous day’s events, which included watching their classmates being pulled out of class by the Grim Reaper.
“The video was intense to watch, to see all my classmates being pulled out, it really made me think about how devastating it would be if all the people who were chosen as the living dead really were gone from my life,” said Kyle Hentschel, senior. Chris Lechuga, senior, agreed with Hentschel. As an observer of the program, Lechuga did not anticipate the profound effect that the experience would have on him. “Going into it, I did not really expect how much this whole experience would get to me, especially as a senior. I mean, with other speakers and assemblies we’ve had, it’s never really done anything to me before but man, when I saw Josh Castillo [senior] dead and his family so emotional, it hurt. He’s been like a brother to me for the past eighteen years and to even think of him gone, wow, it just hits you right there,” said Lechuga, hand on his chest. By the end of the two days, the program evolved from simply informing students about the consequences of drinking and driving to revealing all that could be lost due to one split second decision.
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May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
NEWS
Prom court, theme unveiled MELINDA CHHOUR
Staff writer
An arch of blue and white balloons along with a red carpet and posters revealing the 2012 Prom Court were displayed in the quad at lunch on April 20 during the annual Prom Expo. While court nominees were presented, junior class officers Kristen Park and Jennifer Janneck announced the theme of this year’s dance: “A Night in New Orleans.” Prom will be held at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney on May 19 from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. During the Prom Expo, which took place at lunch, prom king and queen nominees were announced. Winners will be announced during the night of the dance. The 2012 prom court includes seniors Shawn Johnson, Mark McMillan, Daniel Santosa, Matt Schade, Andres Smith, Brylin D’Antonio, Molly Kang, Kara Kasser, Amanda Mendoza, and Aubree Munro. “I wasn’t expecting anything but I’m excited to be a part of this year’s prom court and I’ll be happy for whoever wins,” said Kang. Aside from the revealing of the prom court, five seniors, along with their escorts, sported dresses and tuxedos from vendors such as Bonny’s Bridal and Friar Tux. Other vendors who participated in the Prom Expo, which included The Melting Pot and Lascari’s, advertised their respective locations and menus as well. In order to attract potential buyers, they gave out food samples and exclusive promotions for the upcoming prom night. For example, they encouraged students to like their Facebook page for a chance to win a free dinner for two. Park said, “Decorations for this year’s prom will be classy and will be associated with dark-toned colors that will give you the feel of a night in New Orleans.” Tickets went on sale starting on May 1 and are $135 per couple with an ASB sticker, and $150 without. The last day for purchasing tickets will be May 17 at 3:00 p.m.; no tickets will be sold at the dance. As a way to promote prom to juniors and seniors at the spring rally on March 16, ASB created a video that showed a couple preparing for and making their way to the House of Blues for an unforgettable prom night. South Coast Photographic will be taking couple pictures in the auxiliary gym on the day of prom from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. They will also be taking “My Free Shots” at
the entrance to the dance venue building. Students can pose for professional photos on a red carpet and view them later online if they would like to purchase them. Refreshments will be provided during the dance along with a free photo booth. “I’m hoping for prom 2012 to be a ‘magical’ night since it will be held at Downtown Disney. I really hope that it will be a night for this year’s juniors and seniors to remember forever,” said Park.
Fast Facts
Location: House of Blues Date: May 19 Price: $135 w/ ASB, $150 w/o Time: 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Theme: A Night in New Orleans
Feature Snapshot
LYNCH
from page 1
Lynch was again the first Republican hired. Through Lynch’s experiences working with both political parties, he realized his views better fit the Democrats and changed his party. “In many ways, my experience in College Republicans helped me understand that I was not a conservative but rather a progressive. I switched parties in 2000 because by that time I was voting almost exclusively for Democrats,” said Lynch. Now, after 15 years of teaching and administrating, Lynch continues his political activism as he represents California in the Democratic National Conventions. Among many of Obama’s policies that Lynch supports are his reforms in immigration, education, and environmental protection. He also supports ending the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, improving infrastructure, and universal health insurance. In performing civic duties and advocating the Democratic cause, Lynch has gained support from teachers and students like Andrea Ramos, science teacher, and Sunny Kim, senior. One-third of Lynch’s votes derived from members of the school district. “I voted for him and it is really exciting knowing someone who [is] a delegate,” said Ramos. “This election helps bring about a more Democratic influence within our school and I hope Mr. Lynch can exemplify a positive, strong Democratic leader within the Brea community,” said Kim. As an educator, Lynch hopes to inspire political involvement among students, coworkers, friends, and family. “Students need to know that the answers to our greatest challenges are not black or white. The answers are always in the shades of gray. If students leave BOHS with the ability to question, research, and think through complex issues, then we have done a good job,” said Lynch.
Grad night expected to be ‘glowing’ AKSHAY VERMA
Opinion editor
BRANDON KIM / Wildcat
Fashion show: Katrina Henrickson and Max McBride, seniors, strut down the runway, sporting outfits from vendors such as Bonny’s Bridal and Friar Tux during Prom Expo at lunch on April 20. “A Night in New Orleans” will be held at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney on May 19.
Staff members earn distinctions DAVID KANG
Staff writer
Jeff Weber, special education teacher, and Jeannie Parel, paraprofessional and special education assistant, have recently been named the Brea Olinda Unified School District Teacher of the Year and Site Employee of the Year, respectively. Qualifications for the honors included having dedication as well as the ability to work well with the students and maintain an amiable relationship with them. “I think we have a great support staff, a great instructional system, and a large group of awesome TA’s. I think together, we all make such a great team. The way I look at it, this award is recognizing not what I did alone, but something that we all did as a group with our students,” said Weber. Having been part of the staff at the school for ten years, Weber described the feeling of being named Teacher of the Year as “very neat”. “[Mr. Weber] is like a hard-headed teacher, but he pushes the kids to do the best they can because he knows they are capable,” said Trisha Martinez, senior and teacher aide for Weber. “He does not take ‘no’ for an answer, and he genuinely cares about the students’ futures a lot. He also takes their special
lynch elected as democratic delegate
Jeff Weber Special education teacher
Jeannie Parel
Paraprofessional and special education assistant
JULIA EBERHARDT / Wildcat needs into consideration, but he also knows that if he does not push them, then they are not going to learn anything.” In addition to receiving the Teacher of the Year award, Weber has also been nominated for the Orange County Teacher of the Year award. “Receiving the honor is exciting,” continued Weber. “It’s nice to be recognized for doing a good job at school. To me, being recognized means that what I’m doing is working, so I should keep doing what I’m doing.” Parel, like Weber, also expressed surprise and feelings of greater motivation in response to the award. “I was totally surprised because I did not think that I was going to win the award,” said Parel. “This
“I think we have a great support staff, a great instructional system, and a large group of awesome TA’s. I think together, we all make such a great team. The way I look at it, this award is recognizing not what I did alone, but something that we all did as a group with our students.” Jeff Weber, special education teacher award motivated me to continue being a role model for the students and give them as much support as I can.” Both the Teacher of the Year and Site Employee of the Year awards will be presented on May 21 during a ceremony at the Board Meeting. Each teacher also shared their perspectives in response to receiving each of the awards. Weber said, “I’m always trying to get better,” “I was pushed to excel even more in helping the students,” said Parel. Despite earning these invdividual distinctions, both teachers expressed a continuing desire to push themselves even further in aiding their students towards success.
Seniors will get to celebrate in a night of games, food, and decorations on June 14 from 9:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. during the annual Grad Night. The theme, to be unveiled on the day of the event, is going to be “glowing,” as Paula Allen, chairperson of the planning committee, hinted. “This event is a tradition and also a safe place for kids to spend the night. We hire a company who brings everything to the campus. There will be a casino, a DJ, great food, and tons of games,” said Allen. Tickets are $120 and can be purchased at the Activities office or online at www.bohsgradnite.com. “Graduation is the best day of our lives, and it will followed by the best night of our lives. I am looking forward to having one last happy moment with all of the seniors,” said Taylor Williams, senior. Parents of the graduating class have been planning the event since September, meeting the third Tuesday of each month in order to plan a successful night. “I hope that the seniors have a memorable night with the friends they have made throughout their years at school. It’s a time for them to have one last big party with their senior class,” said Nancy Bakunas, one of the parents in the Grad Night committee. In order to ensure a successful night, the planning committee has held fundraisers, including a silent auction at Open House, a golf tournament, and a bake sale at the BEST track meet. The final fundraising event, Bingo Bash, will be held on May 6 in the cafeteria at 7 p.m. The cost to play is $20, and half of the money earned will go to help pay for the grad night. Commenting on Grad Night, Allen said, “Seniors will remember spending time with friends, laughing and reminiscing about their high school days. Our greatest reward is seeing how much fun the kids have. They never expect it to be as awesome as it really is.”
NEWS
GITA students awarded Honorable Mention NOELLE GRACIA
Staff writer
Television network, C-SPAN parked its Campaign 2012 Bus in front of the main office on April 17, to pay tribute to John Evan Lee, Jeffrey Madsen, and Patrick Garrido’s, juniors, who entered C-SPAN’s nationwide video contest, StudentCam2012, on the U.S. Constitution and what it means to us. “So I can join like-minded communities”, “be able to participate in a group of people that I can debate with”, and “to protest in a group,”, were the opening lines of the student’s winning video and the answer to the question: “Why is the right to peaceably assemble important to you?” Lee, Madsen, and Garrido won honorable mention and $250 in prize money for their video, which focused on the right to free speech and how it relates to the Occupy L.A. movement. Utilizing Flash software and the editing skills they learned in GITA, the trio created an eight-and-a-half minute video comprised of clips from the C-SPAN network, interviews, news pieces, and animation, demonstrating how they think the right to free speech is crucial to upholding democracy. Along with the prize money, the boys, along with fellow Global Information Technology Academy (GITA) students, had the opportunity to board and explore the bus with and array of the latest interactive
technology, which included iPads, flat-screen TVs, and computer kiosks. They also heard a presentation by Seth Engel, a producer with the C-SPAN network. Todd Salesky, GITA teacher, said, “What made their piece stand out, and what I think caused them to receive this honor, was that they actually went indepth and conducted their own interviews, instead of taking just the clips from past C-SPAN shows.” All three boys agreed that working on this project together gave them insight into an issue that’s been huge in the headlines over the last few months. “It was so cool, actually going down there and seeing firsthand about what this Occupy movement has been about for all these months. It’s a totally new view seeing it from the front lines rather than just the stuff that you see from the news or in magazines,” said Lee, director and producer of the video. But for all their hard work put into creating the video, the boys were still surprised that it got recognition out of the 1,200 that entered. Madsen said, “It was an honor. We didn’t really expect to win anything but to see all our effort paid off and for it to come through and get some scholarship money for GITA out of it was pretty awesome.” “The money and getting to see the bus was nice,” interjected Garrido, “but to see this issue up close and getting to experience it, you can easily see why people are so riled up about it. In the end, you definitely take more out of it than just the money.”
C-SPAN’s Honorable Mention winners
John Evan Lee Junior
Jeffrey Madsen Junior
Patrick Garrido Junior
JESSICA YIM and JULIA EBERHARDT / Wildcat
More on Studentcam.org Check out Lee, Madsen and Garridos’ C-SPAN Nationwide Video Contest entry at studentcam.org
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
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May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
NEWS
Campus clubs host Green Week activities
LAUREN NAVAL and SANDYA SRIRAM
Staff writers
In celebration of Earth Day 2012, Disney’s Friends for Change and Best Buddies hosted Green Week from April 23 to 27. Earth Day took place on April 22 but clubs on campus created activities to raise environmental awareness that lasted throughout the week. “Green Week is an annual event during the week following Earth Day that we put on to spread environmental awareness and try to get students to see how awesome and easy it is to ‘go green’,” said Briana Perlson, senior, and Disney’s Friends for Change President. This was the third year that Disney’s Friends for Change put on a Green Week; however, this year was the largest, because they got to team up with Best Buddies. “We publicized with a Facebook event, posters by Disney’s Friends for Change and Best Buddies, and we made a huge sign with all the weeks activities on it out of 50 Trader Joe’s grocery bags,” said Katherine Gwaltney, junior, and Disney’s Friends for Change Vice President. The Facebook group helped invite over 300 students to participate in the events and inform them of what activity was going on each day. Monday began with members of Disney’s Friends for Change and Best Buddies distributing blue recycling bins to each classroom, and explaining the events that Green Week consisted of. On Tuesday, students were encouraged to sign their names on handprints that were cut out of brown paper bags. Students received an eco-friendly tattoo for signing their name. The events continued the next day at lunch, when
Photos by BRANDON KIM and KRISTINE SEA / Wildcat
Going
green:
(left) Students sign their names on paper handprints as they pledge to go green and receive an eco-friendly tattoo afterwards. (right) Kristen Park and Katherine Gwaltney, juniors, joke around as Gwaltney pours juice into Park’s reusable bottle. Disney’s Friends for Change and Best Buddies hosted various activities during Green Week from April 23 to 27 to raise environmental awareness and encourage their peers to take care of their planet.
students brought their reusable bottles to get them filled with lemonade. The festivities concluded Friday with a hippie dress up day where students received licorice for wearing hippie-like costumes. The proceeds earned from the newly implemented recycling program will go to Best Buddies. They will use the money to go on Community Based Instruction (CBI) trips, where students with disabilities receive job training at businesses and stores they could
potentially work for in the future. “This money is going to be really helpful, because the goal for next year is to go on more CBI trips so they students can get more real life experiences,” said Trisha Martinez, senior, and Best Buddies Vice President. Disney’s Friends for Change plans to put on a fourth Green Week next year, to continue the celebration of Earth Day.
Students to compete in Miss Brea Pageant MELINDA CHHOUR
Staff writer
Seniors Brynn Burciaga and Megan Mashal, and junior Nicole McEntee, will be competing against six other contestants in the annual Miss Brea Pageant, which will take place on May 7 at the Brea Improv at 7:00 p.m. Miss Brea is split into two programs, the Miss Brea Scholarship Pageant and the Miss Brea Princess Program. Burciaga, Mashal, and McEntee will be competing in the Miss Brea Scholarship Pageant program. “I wanted to try something new and something that was a little out of my comfort zone. I thought it would be a fun experience and if I were to win, I think I would be a good candidate to represent Brea,” said Burciaga. In order to qualify for the Miss Brea Scholarship Pageant, contestants must be a U.S citizen that lives, works, or goes to school in Brea. They must also be a female between the ages of 17 and 24 that has never been married or had children. Meanwhile, the Miss Brea Princess Program is for contestants between the ages of 5 to 16. The same qualifications for the Miss Brea Scholarship Pageant apply to either the contestants or parents participating in the program.
“We are planning to have more outdoor events next year in honor of Green Week, such as a camp out. Our goal is to keep our student body and even the staff informed of their impact on the environment, and the ways that they can appreciate nature,” said Gwaltney. The new recycling program will be a permanent, year-round fundraiser to help Best Buddies raise money and better the environment.
Feature Snapshot
If chosen as the title holder of Miss Brea, the contestant must maintain the basis for eligibility throughout the 12 month reign as Miss Brea. A panel of five to seven judges will be critiquing the contestants in five different categories: private interview, talent, lifestyle and fitness, on-stage question, and evening wear. Each category is worth 20 percent of the total score. Mashal said, “I will be playing ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon on the piano for my talent. I’m just going to be myself, and if the judges don’t like that then its okay because I don’t want to win being someone that I am not.” This year, the Miss Brea Pageant received over 30 sponsors from local businesses in Brea and from various family members. Sponsors from the city of Brea help in supporting the educational goals of local women who live, work, or go to school in Brea by offering donations to fund the Miss Brea Pageant Scholarship. “If I were to win the scholarship, I would use the money to benefit my education and help pay for my tuition at the college that I will be attending this fall, California Baptist University,” said Burciaga. After careful review and deliberation from the judges, Miss Brea 2011, Miranda Garcia, will be present to pass down her position and crown the winner of Miss Brea 2012.
BOHS’ Miss Brea 2012 contestants
MICHELLE SUH / Wildcat
Brynn Burciaga
Megan Mashal
Nicole McEntee
Senior
Senior
Junior
Photos by JESSICA YIM and JULIA EBERHARDT / Wildcat
Tech
day:
Christine Fang, junior, assists a middle schooler in creating motion tweens in the coding program Adobe Flash CS3. GITA members ran workshops to assist middle school students in computer programming during the “Junior High on the Hill Tech Day” on April 28.
OPinion
page 7
May 4, 2012
‘Together, we can change the world’
Staffer shares inspirations, urges readers to make a difference BRIANA PERLSON
Staff writer
Change starts with you and it starts now. Together, “we can change the world.” This was an anthem at the Disney Kids and Nature Celebration at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fla. that Katherine, Jenifer and I attended on April 12 to 14. The celebration involved 100 youths from around the world who are taking action to protect our environment. I met Dr. Jane Goodall, the woman who opened up the world’s eyes 52 years ago to the plight of the endangered chimpanzee. She created the Jane Goodall Institute, along with her initiative Roots and Shoots, to promote doing our part to make our world a better place for all. Our environment is what connects every human being on this planet and there is a Jane Goodall in every one of us. The environmental wave does not stop with simply those who attended the celebration;
Going green
does not have to be daunting. Follow these simple steps to help the environment.
they were only a representation of youths around the globe who are environmental leaders. Our generation is turning the tide towards caring about and saving our environment. Going green is not only in our future, it is in our now. We are not the leaders of tomorrow; we are the leaders of today. Through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, the company “supports important works of both local and global nonprofit organizations to positively impact wildlife, ecosystems and the communities linked to their survival,” according to Disney.com. At the youth summit, Katherine and I had the opportunity to listen to producer Don Hahn, who has produced many Walt Disney Animated films and most recently, the Disney Nature movie Chimpanzee. From listening to him speak and then talking to him afterwards, we learned valuable lessons: failure is perfectly all right, and we should fail fast and fail often because failure leads to breakthroughs and successes, and never give up. Climate change seems like a problem that is
yourself, magic will happen. You can make a change. You can make a difference.
our everyday actions can have big impact TAKE SHORTER SHOWERS Every two minutes you save on your shower can save ten gallons of water.
GO VEGETARIAN ONCE A WEEK One less meat-based meal a week helps the planet and your diet.
NATHAN YOO
Staff writer
Illustrations by JESSICA YIM Source: 50waystohelp.com
so enormous, that what we do has no impact on it. Yet, this way of thinking is the cause of the problem. Every single one of us makes an impact and depending on the way one is living one’s life, that impact can be positive or negative. It is the smaller change, the baby steps, which add up to the bigger change. These baby steps start right now, on the local level and in your individual life. These little changes may not seem like much, such as placing a bottle in the blue recycle bins that are now in every class on campus, but it does matter and it does make a difference. It may take a long time before we see major change and major results. It will not be easy and it will be a lot of work. There will be failures, but remember that failure is perfectly all right. Once you believe in
Students are perpetually searching for ways to save money but often fail to realize that they can help their wallets and the environment by simply turning off their engines when not in use. Idling is just one example of the inadequacy of student contribution to preserving the environment. Students need to take direct action today with the innumerable opportunities we have to benefit their budgets and the environment simultaneously Idling occurs when drivers stop at a drive-thru or are waiting for someone and leave their engine running needlessly. Every driver should turn off their engine if they will be idle for more than ten seconds because an idling car gets the worst gas mileage possible:zero. “For every two minutes a car is idling, it uses about the same amount of fuel it takes to go one mile,” stated consumerenergycenter.org. If students who live within three miles of school prevent fifteen minutes of idling, they will have saved enough gas to provide for an extra round trip to and from school. Although idling may be one of the more unfamiliar ways to reduce our impact on the earth, there are countless other eco-friendly actions students should take that only require a nominal amount of effort. “Some simple steps we can take [to help the environment] are making sure to plant things that do not require excessive amounts of water, conserving water by installing low-flow toilets or turning off the fossit when brushing y o u r teeth, and using a reusable water bottle
UNPLUG YOUR CELL PHONE CHARGER Chargers utilize a lot of unnecessary energy while not in use.
or drinking from the tap or fridge,” said Andrea Ramos, AP Environmental Science teacher. “I practice all of these things. It is not necessarily harder and it definitely has an impact.” Our campus is relatively eco-friendly, as evidenced by the recent implementation of recycling bins on campus through the efforts of Disney Channel Friends for Change and Best Buddies, but there is still much more that can be done. “[Our campus] is pretty green, but it could always be more so,” said Trent Preston, sophomore, and Disney Channel Friends for Change club member. “There are other ways to help the environment that we have the ability to do, like using less paper.” Students can learn more ways to help by viewing websites such as 50waystohelp.com, but the problem is not the student body’s lack of awareness; it is their lack of action. A common myth is that if students become a little greener, they will not make much of a difference because they are merely one person. However, one less car wash still means twenty gallons of water saved, and that individual will have saved the money it costs to pay for that water. “You can only control what you do,” said Ramos. “If we start becoming greener as individuals, we can affect other individuals, and that can translate to a big enough group using conservation techniques that there will make a visible impact.” Students have been learning how to help the environment since elementary school, but they need to actually apply it to their lives if they want to preserve the world for their children. However, environmentalists are not asking students to become extremists; it is possible
ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT Adjust your thermostat one degree higher or cooler. Each degree less will save 10 percent of energy use!
to consume resources but be environmentally friendly by reducing waste. “I believe in preserving the environment, but I do think that we should be able to use the earth’s resources. For example, I prefer driving to a national park instead of walking there,” said Preston. “However, there are still a lot of little things we can do. I believe that everyone needs to experience nature and I want it to be there for the future generation.” If students care about preserving the earth, they should start taking action by following the simple steps that are available to them every day. Everyone should take advantage of the recycling opportunities around them, such as the on-campus water bottle and paper recycling, as these programs ultimately not only benefit the environment, but the community as well. According to the school website, we have collected 7417 pounds of paper through the paper recycling program, and students should increase that number by throwing away less paper in the trash can and more in the recycling bins. The aquatics program has raised funds through the simple action of throwing paper away in a designated receptacle, and students should make sure they are doing their best to dispose of waste in the appropriate containers, be it paper or plastic. Although it may seem silly sometimes to do these ecofriendly activities, every little action adds up to create a significant impact to benefit the environment in the long run. Students need to stop wasting water, paper, and gas today, because every little action counts. In doing so, they will not only preserve funds that can be used on other necessities, but they will preserve the earth as well.
8
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
OPINION
How to stay healthy in a fast food driven world OLIVIA CHAPMAN
STAFF WRITER
A total of 43. That is how many fast food restaurants there are in Brea alone. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, the consumption of fast foods is a major contributing source to obesity, especially among those who consume fast foods regularly. Additionally, according to www.cdc.gov, it is estimated that 52.7 percent of Americans are obese. So what is it that is causing these restaurant chains to be so popular and one of the fastest growing industries in the world? Television and social networking are taking the place of physical activity. Teenagers spend hours each day on their computers and phones; they can hang out with their friends without them even being there, and without ever leaving the room. “Social networking is actually bad for our future. To a certain extent, it’s needed and useful but when kindergartners start whipping out their iPhones and play Angry Birds instead of running around the playground, it causes kids to
JESSICA YIM / Wildcat
be less active and they cannot build muscle, which might in the long run will cause obesity,” said Nicole Yim, senior. In today’ s age, people are struggling with the economy, and with so much to worry about, they have little time to cook. So people turn to fast food. “My parents are busy due to having to stay late at work and the most convenient thing to eat is McDonalds or other fast food places. Also when we’re tired and too lazy to cook, there’s always a fast food place around the corner,” said Louie Jota, sophomore. It is cheap, convenient, and most people crave a cheeseburger and fries over vegetables or a salad. But eating too much fast food can kill you. The risks of heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, strokes, and obesity-related health problems can all be reduced if people change their lifestyles. What people do not realize is that being healthy is not as difficult as it seems. In fact, with a positive attitude and a little bit of will power, the road to being healthy can be much less bumpy and a lot more fun. The first step is setting achievable goals. Promising oneself to lose 20 pounds in two months is not realistic. Instead, start with something small and doable, like eating almonds instead of potato chips or making a fruit smoothie for breakfast instead of a caramel frappucino with whipped cream. Here are some basic rules to live by that can help you stay healthy.
Rule #1- Diets do not work. “You can initially lose five to ten percent of your weight on any number of diets, but then the weight comes back,” said Traci Mann, UCLA associate professor of psychology. Diet organizations come up with catchy phrases and jingles all to make you believe that their diet is the best and really works, when it does not. Rule #2- Do not overeat. People often eat because they are bored or are with friends who are eating, but overeating will contribute to weight gain. Starving oneself is not the solution either. Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are just as unhealthy as being obese. Rule #3- Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. W have heard it a million times because it is true. It sets a person’s metabolism for the day and gives one the energy he or she needs to think clearly and actively. Rule #3- Exercise. Exercising is one of the most important factors of being healthy and staying in shape. Of course, exercise is tiring, hard work, and sometimes painful, so this does not quite offer one overflowing with motivation to do it. However, there are more options than ever, including running, dancing, power walking, ice skating, swimming, Zumba; it is just a matter of finding out what works. One does not have to be an athlete to exercise. “I think it really helps when you are working out with other people around you. It makes you want to work harder,” said Alyssa Jenson, senior. Also, exercise causes your body to release endorphins which can make you feel happy, and being happy can make you feel better in general. Ultimately, even with exercise and some cutbacks, what has to happen is people need to start cooking. Frozen and canned foods are full of preservatives, MSG, and artificial flavors. One should not read the ingredients on a label and find a million different things that he or she cannot even pronounce or understand. The further away from the natural ingredients a food becomes, the worse it is for you. As cardiac surgeon and talk show host Dr. Oz says, “Remember, there are no marshmallow trees.”
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Healthy alternatives for fast food Instead of getting a Big Mac and fries on-the-go, try some of these healthier snacking choices:
Whole wheat bread with peanut butter Sliced bananas, apples, grapes, carrots, and pears Crackers and hummus Scrambled eggs on whole-wheat pita bread Quesadillas with low-fat cheese and fat-free refried beans For more health tips, see FEATURE, page 11 Compiled by AKSHAY VERMA
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
OPINION
SMALL TALK
Is prom worth the money?
w ill re gret it “Yeah, it is. Pe op le no if th ey do t go.” -Payt on St ar ke , jun
ior-
The Wildcat asks: Is prom worth the money? We will never have an opportunity to dress up and have an evening of excitement as high school students again.
KELLIE GALENTINE
STAFF WRITER
Despite the fact that the costs of prom can reach thousands of dollars, it is the one night of high school where everyone can make memories, either positive or negative, that will last a lifetime. The experience of prom definitely reaches astronomical expenses, which according to huffingtonpost.com, averages about $1,078 per student. Prom is the one night that seniors and juniors can all come together and celebrate the years spent together before everyone leaves for college. With graduation quickly approaching, we will never have an opportunity to dress up and have an evening of excitement as high school students again. This is the reason why everyone, especially seniors, should go all out to make sure prom night is amazing. The sentiment behind the tradition of prom is worth much more than any sum of money. “At first I didn’t think [prom is worth the costs] but as the years go on, I have seen that prom is so worth it because it is the last chance to go to any dance in high school,” said Katelyn Gates, senior. Even if a person does not typically enjoy dances or if they have not attended
“No. I thi nk prom is fun but it is jus t too much mo ney for jus t one night.” -Bo Sto ne, sen ior-
9
one, prom is the ideal opportunity to fully embrace what it means to attend a “formal.” Girls have the opportunity to get dolled up from head to toe, and boys have the chance to experience a fun night out with a special girl while looking fresh. Self-confidence flourishes on prom night because of the fact that everyone feels great about what they are wearing. While looking great, people have the opportunity to have a dance at an exciting venue such as the House of Blues in Anaheim. Haters may say it is more practical to cut the cost of tickets and have prom at school, but this is unrealistic because it makes more sense to look amazing at a fantastic venue like the House of Blues, than to get dressed up to go to a dance at our own school when we have informal dances such as Morp and Sadies on campus. “Either way you put it, anyone will complain. If it is less money at a cheap place, people will complain about the place or if it is more money at a nice place
people will complain about the cost,” said Shawn Johnson, senior Prom Prince. While figuring out the total prom costs, it is important to remember not to get too caught up in the hoopla. Even though there are possibilities for negative emotions tied to cost, everyone must be willing to make compromises and remember that all that matters is spending time with the people you care about while you still can. “When the D.J. announced the last song, I looked around and tried to capture everything in my memory forever. [It] sounds dramatic, but this may be the last time you see some of the people in your class, in this kind of setting, with the music, lights, adrenaline, and sense of belonging,” reminisced Jacqueline Cortés (‘11). I will be attending prom this year because even if I have to pick up a few extra shifts at work to cover the costs, I have a lifetime to earn the money back, but only one day to attend my senior prom. Despite climbing costs it is more important that people remember the experience of enjoying each other’s company for one of the last times before graduation, even though the price tag can easily reach the thousands.
Prom is another opportunity for students to waste their money as they get primped up for a couple of hours of dancing in a crowded location.
LAUREN LEE
STAFF WRITER
COUNTER POINT
Dress: $80. Tickets: $130. Limo: $70. Dinner $60. Pictures: $50. Corsage/Boutonniere: $40. Prom: Overpriced. Whenever I used to hear the word “Prom,” my stomach filled with butterflies as I imagined getting the perfect prom dress, getting picked up in a limo, and having a perfect date. When I think about prom now, I get a headache thinking about how to pay for the perfect dress, that limo, and finding the perfect date. This led me to making the decision that prom is just not worth the money. During this time of year students are paying for AP tests, MORP tickets, Grad Night tickets and Prom. One AP test alone is $87, and adding prom to that is just going to leave a bigger dent in a person’s wallet. Spencer Woo, senior agrees, saying, “Prom is just not worth the time and money to me. My friends and I can go out and do activities way more money saving and fun than prom. I just don’t want to have to deal with that stress.”
“Yes . You get to have fun wit h your frie nds for a nigh t. “ -Paige Ham ilton, junio r-
“Definitely. How often do you get to go to a formal dance and dress up and be with all your friends?” -Kyle Hentsche l, senior-
Jill Maytuch, psychology teacher, did a calculation with her class on how much Prom costs and they came up with a grand total of $900. With that kind of money, students could buy speakers, snacks, and clothes and have their own prom with leftover money. A lot of people say that prom is worth the money because of all the great memories they make, but prom only lasts so long, and all the money spent is not easy to get back. I would rather go out with my friends to a nice, inexpensive restaurant, or go ice skating or laser tagging for a couple of hours, and create fun new memories that let me save money. Prom is another opportunity for students to waste their money as they get primped up for a couple of hours of dancing in a crowded location and taking pictures that eventually will just be thrown into a box and looked at every ten years or so. The flowers will die, the dress will be thrown in the back of the closet, and the shoes will be put back into their boxes and collect to dust. “Prom to me is just another excuse for girls to get an expensive dress that they
POINT
only will wear once in their life, take way too many pictures that will be forgotten, and eat an overpriced dinner they won’t even finish. To me that’s horrible that a guy has to pay so much,” said Joe Maglione, junior. Prom may be the one formal dance that every girl looks forward to, but someone can easily dress up for Prom and go dancing with their friends for a third of the price of prom. For example the “All High School’s Summer’s Almost Here Wild Animal Dance” is a dance for any high school student at Saddleback College from 9 to12 p.m. It’s only $20 to get in and students can bring friends as long as they have an ID. Even if it is a casual dance it is still fun because students are with their friends and they are not spending a lot of money to get ready for this dance. It is a lot more work for the guys because it is tradition and courtesy for the guy to pay for tickets, dinner, limo, and the corsage/boutonniere. That is $700 down the drain. If people knew the total price of prom before they decided to go then it would make them think twice and realize that prom is not worth the money. “I can have an equally good time having a dance party of my own with my friends and I won’t have to worry how I’m going to pay for other things that I want,” said Marissa Kuriki, junior. Prom may be worth the memories that friends make, but it definitely is not worth all the money people lose for a couple hours of enjoyment.
How much does prom cost? nds for “No, it is not. Prom jus t sta ric ed erp Ov ly ‘Pu rch asi ng Reg ret tab ” s. rie mo Me -Isa ac Kim, jun ior-
Tickets $150
Pictures
$50
Corsage/ Bouttainaire
$40
Dress/ Tux $80
Limo $70
Dinner $60
Other (hair, makeup) $100
Compiled by AKSHAY VERMA Source: access-prom.com
Grand total $550
10
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
OPINION
Why did the Kony ‘Cover the Night’ movement fail? PAUL LEE
COPY EDITOR What was intended to be the Kony 2012 movement’s crowning moment instead can only be described as a massive fluke, as evidenced by the disappointing turnout for the April 20 Cover the Night event. Cover the Night was meant to be the pinnacle of the years of effort that Invisible Children put into campaigning against Kony, the Ugandan warlord. And considering the overwhelming response in support of the cause, it was almost expected that it would be a complete success. With over 88 million views, Invisible Children’s Kony 2012 video held the world captive during the initial days following its release. The emotionally charged 29-minute plea for a united movement against Kony was especially effective in grabbing the attentions of teenagers, who formed the largest viewing base for the video. However, the cause ultimately failed to maintain its audiences’ attention. Rather than waking up on the morning of April 20 to find city walls plastered by posters to make Kony famous, the world rose to find little, if any, sign that Cover the Night had even taken place. For instance, according to an article on guardian.co.uk, just three activists in Los
Angeles attended the painting of a mural for Cover the Night and reported that they were the only ones there for the entire day. Ronnel Lising, senior, said, “I hardly saw any signs for [the event] around Brea or any other nearby city after April 20. I think the craze just died down a few weeks after the release of the video.” There are many reasons why Cover the Night failed to live up to the success it was anticipated to be. One factor can be attributed to the public breakdown of Jason Russel, an Invisible Children founder and creator of the Kony 2012 video. “I was planning on attending Cover the Night, but then I heard the news about Jason Russel [going crazy] and also heard some people say that the funds don’t even go toward capturing Kony,” said Stacy Kim, senior. Russel was allegedly discovered “running through the streets in his underwear, screaming and pounding his fists on the sidewalk” in San Diego, according to washingtonpost.com. As unfortunate as it was for Invisible Children that Russel engaged in such antics, this occurrence alone cannot be held responsible for the lack of support displayed at Cover the Night. Though some might have been turned away solely because of it, the problem lies deeper for most, teenagers in particular. According to a document on anchoryouthcentre. com, one writer states that “little staying power and lack of commitment is symptomatic of a
generation that rely on instant gratification as the basis for decision making.” Because they are developing adolescents, teenagers are too readily impacted by much of what they hear, often without ever attempting to delve deeper into the issues they are exposed to. And when there are no instantaneous, tangible results, they are quick to fall away. It comes as no surprise, then, that they can easily be momentarily swayed by emotional appeals, which the Kony movement undoubtedly was. They tend to make online displays of support without considering any sort of longterm commitment. “There was not much support for the movement, it seems like it was based mostly on a lot of hype,” said Shakeel Ahmad, junior. “Even though [people] might have seemed very supportive on facebook, most probably didn’t want to commit too much time to it.” During the time when the Kony video was still a popular topic, it was nearly impossible to scroll through my Facebook page without noticing multiple signs of its quick, widespread influence. Judging by such responses, there is no doubt that Invisible Children succeeded in their goal of making Kony famous. Unfortunately, the organization was unable to ensure that these individuals would take further action to help the cause on the day of Cover the Night.
moviespad.com
Staff writer shares experiences as ‘the living dead’ KELLIE GALENTINE
STAFF WRITER
“Kellie Galentine was tragically killed in a tragic traffic collision involving a D.U.I. driver.” I hear the words I have been waiting to hear for a month, but this time my chest tightens and a lump forms in my throat. I see the faces of my friends who are filled with grief at the thought of my death. I am caught off guard as death sinks in and terrified as
last words I did not have time to say run through my head. It is too late now, I am silenced. The nerves begin to ease as the Every 15 Minutes program begins. My face is painted a ghostly white by a police investigator and I am put in a room amongst peers enduring the same process as myself. These are the only people I will be allowed to talk to for the next 24 hours. We do not know each other, yet every single one of us has friends who drink. Now, imagine just how much drunk
‘THE LIVING DEAD’: Kellie Galentine, senior, was selected to represent a ‘dead’ student for the entire day.
driving actually occurs. A party that is meant to just be a “goodtime” where drinking is “no big deal,” is the setting. People begin leaving, and within seconds after turning the keys in the ignition they can be dead. The problems begin with people feeling as though they are invincible getting behind the wheel after drinking or abusing substances. While I sat silently in class, some students displayed actual grief at imagining my “absence” while others tried to get me to talk. Those who did not realize that I could actually be dead due to a drunken driving accident are the ones I am worried about. As I walked into different class periods, people would direct attention to my “death” and to the Every 15 Minutes program, but after that they continued on with their day as usual, only I was no longer a part of their lives. I could not participate in conversations, and ultimately was forgotten as I sat stoically staring at the ground all day because a drunk driver had ended my life. Imagining my life was over was the hardest thing I have ever done, yet it was so rewarding because it was such an extreme reality check. I am 18-years-old and I am headed to college. I have friends and loved ones. I am an average teenager and I am susceptible to death at any moment. Even though society dictates that at my age and my peers
WILDCAT
staff
editorial
The face of a child glued to a television screen for hours on end has now become the face of a teenager whose hands are eternally stuck to a game controller or a smart phone. As the technology of our generation has improved and become more prevalent, children have become reliant purely on convenience, as reflected in teenagers’ preference for picking up McDonald’s for a quick meal or text messaging their friends in lieu of talking to them face-toface. From entertainments provided by a cell phone screens to food coming from a drive-up window, several “shortcuts” have led to an unfortunate series of outcomes in American culture. Children are no longer required to make friends with whom they can play with outside. Rather, they have friends with whom they can talk to via headset on XBOX Live or via text messaging, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, or “tweets” using their latest smart phones. Video games and television are not a replacement for actual exercise and interaction, especially with obesity on the rise. Convenience has led to the increased consumption of fast foods and a shift away from healthy, homemade meals. This unfortunate reliance upon fast foods is featured on page 11 of this issue, and healthy alternatives to a Carl’s Jr. burger or a taco
should be behaving in risky ways, I have learned that life is far too precious to take the chance of dying in such a selfish way. According to centurycouncil.org 22.4 percent of teens have consumed alcohol by age 16 and 56.7 percent of young adults have consumed alcohol by age 20. With so many teenagers drinking, it is no surprise that centurycouncil.org also reports 13 percent of drunken driving fatalities are people under the age of 21. For this reason, I have made the decision never to drink and drive or get in a car with someone who has been drinking. Death losing loved ones, a funeral; these are all things no one ever wants to confront because everyone thinks it will not happen to them. The reality is that it can happen to anyone at anytime and no one is invincible. These two days have impacted me in an astronomical way. I feel privileged and absolutely honored to have been able to be a part of such an eye opening experience as the Every 15 Minutes program. As a message to all: Save yourself, your loved ones, and the lives of others by choosing not to drink or use substances and then get behind the wheel. Think about to impact you can make on others by spreading this message. Don’t end up in a body bag or behind bars: the choice is yours.
wrapped in a Doritos shell is covered on page 8. Apart from poor eating habits, an obsession with convenience in everyday things has led teenagers to lack interpersonal skills because they are not participating in enough social activities. All of this has resulted in a generation of people afraid to take risks because they can easily hide behind the comforts of technology rather than actually try and connect with other human beings. The sad truth is that the reasoning behind the Convenience Culture is that parents are also the ones who have begun to rely upon the easy route during difficult economic times. Rather than spending money to feed their children a quality meal, trips to fastfood restaurants have become a quick and affordable way to fill stomachs. By raising children on fast food for nourishment and video games for entertainment, a generation of unhealthy people afraid to take risks has emerged. We need to to stop our constant use of the “easy button” and actually take the time to create quality relationships and indulge in healthier food options. By relying technology for communication and substituting healthy meals with items from the dollar menu, we will not only be mentally healthier, but also more physically fit.
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Matt Schade & Anar Bata...........Co-Editors-in-chief Joy Kim.............................................Managing Editor Paul Lee.....................................................Copy Editor Lois Ahn....................................................News Editor Selina Che.............................................Feature Editor Akshay Verma......................................Opinion Editor Hailey Lee....................................Centerspread Editor Anish Patel................................................A&E Editor Sherman Uyeno......................................Sports Editor Michelle Suh & Amorette Valero.........Photo Editors Grace Chung & Amy Kim............Business Managers Alex Koers........................................................Adviser Staff writers: Erik Benavides, Olivia Chapman, Melinda Chhour, Sharon Cho, Jean Chow, Kellie Galentine, Noelle Gracia, David Kang, Alex Kim, Kevin Kim, Lauren Lee, Steven Lee, Vivian Lee, Tim Lim, Lauren Naval, Rachel Park, Briana Perlson, Sandya Sriram, Joseph Yim, Nathan Yoo Photographers: Alanna Arno, Rainee Castillo, Irisa Charles, Julia Eberhardt, Brandon Kim, Kristine Sea, Jessica Yim
Like us on Facebook The BOHS Wildcat Newspaper
Feature
page 11 May 4, 2012
Eat ing Right?
Popular foods among students lead to health risks later in life Sharon cho Staff writer The sound of a bag of chips opening and the crinkle of the wrapper of a candy bar; for many, these are familiar, harmless noises. However, consuming the contents inside of these bags and wrappers can lead to health risks in the future. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 12.5 million children are obese in the U.S., and about 215,000 people 20 years or younger were diagnosed with diabetes in 2012. “Health diseases come from unhealthy eating like chips, cookies, and sodas. Parents need to watch out what they feed their children,” said Jessica Dombrowski, health teacher. One of the more popular snack choices among students includes Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. However, the harmful ingredients inside this common snack include monosodium glutamate (MSG), food coloring, and corn products. According to livestrong.com, MSG, a flavor enhancer found in various chips and fast foods, can have side effects s u c h
“Although it might be hard because of all the delicious, but unhealthy foods, it’s all about limiting sugars and processed foods in order to fuel your body. Little things like eating a good breakfast and getting exercise can go a long way.” Jessica Dombrowski, health teacher as headaches, dizziness, and chest pains to people sensitive to this chemical. Consuming excessive amounts of MSG can also lead to depression and mood swings. Another additive deemed harmful by livestrong. com is food coloring, which is found in numerous foods such as chips, candies, and other baked snacks. According to cbsnews.com, some dyes found in food coloring can derive from toxic chemicals, which can cause allergic reactions, hyperactivity, and on a more serious note, even
Nutrition Facts
The Wildcat discovers what is really in popular fast foods
A Chipotle burrito can have up to of 3990 mg sodium
There are
19.8 grams of fat
in an In-N-Out Cheeseburger
Farrell’s ‘the ZOO’contains
5815 calories
Information from livestrong.com
Compiled by Selina che
Photos by Michelle suh Illustrations by Jessica yim / Wildcat
cancer. Food Inc., a documentary by Robert Kenner, describes the many dangers of the American food industry that food manufacturers want to keep hidden from American citizens. One of the main concerns proposed in the documentary was the usage of corn in food products. Corn is a common ingredient found in many products such as chips, ketchup, Coke, juice, batteries, and diapers. Corn is also fed to livestock in order to add more unhealthy fat to the meat, allowing the animals to weigh more. Due to the increased amount of fat corn adds to food, consuming too much corn can ultimately lead to harmful weight gain. “I never thought that corn could be such a harmful ingredient in the food I eat. Especially since I love to cook, I realized I need to be aware of what kind of ingredients I use too,” Angie Yim, junior. Another favorite snack among Americans is chocolate. The infinite number of ways to use chocolate and its sweet taste make it a popular ingredient in the food industry. However, ingredients added into the cacao beans, the main ingredient of chocolate, can bring many health risks. “I crave chocolate all the time, but I never realized how bad it can be for your health. I knew it was bad, but I didn’t think that it could be serious,” said Erin Ongkiko, sophomore. Sugar, one of the main ingredients found in chocolate, is dangerous, especially for diabetic patients. Although sugar is an essential need to the body, excessive intake of sugar can be dangerous. Consuming too much sugar can lead to tooth decay, obesity, and diabetes. Although most know that caffeine is found in coffee and energy drinks, it can actually be found in certain chocolates as well. Chocolate naturally contains caffeine, which can cause young children to become hyperactive. However, though the caffeine content is more harmful to children, this does not mean that it cannot affect adults as well. Chocolate can elevate the caffeine level, which can lead to insomnia, nervousness, and muscle tremors. With the constant growth of obesity and foodrelated illnesses, schools and food companies are making an effort to promote healthier foods such as baking chips, organic snacks, and all natural drinks with real sugars. Frito-Lay, a snack company which sell chips such as Fritos and Doritios, produced a new line of “allnatural” chips in order to promote healthier snacking. “Although it might be hard because of all the delicious, but unhealthy foods, it’s all about limiting sugars and processed foods in order to fuel your body. Little things like eating a good breakfast and getting exercise can go a long way,” said Dombrowski.
Lessons in
Health with Jonathan Quiming
Lesson 1: Excercise
Move: Box, block, or bench jumps using a single-leg, both legs, and pushups. Effect: Improves leg strength and quick explosion, balance, and cardio.
Move: Planks with alternating arms & legs, elevated on bench/ block, Swiss-ball. Effect: Improves and strengthens chest, shoulders, arms and core muscles.
Move: T-pushups with or without dumbbells, mountain climbers, and knee drives. Effect: Strengthens core muscles. Michelle suh / Wildcat
12
Teacher Since teachers are viewed essentially as figures of authority, students often forget that the ones leading their classes were once teenagers too. Though13it be difficult to imagine, our teachers have also experienced high school experiences similar to our own, along with all the hardships and joys that come with it. Edition might In order to provide a brief glimpse into the past, the 'Wildcat’ investigates the high school histories of a few of our teachers annd their memories of adolescence.
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
MAY 4, 2012 The Wildcat
CENTERSPREAD
THROWBACK
What are your most memorable memories from high school? “When we beat Sunny Hills at playoffs.”
“I gave a speech at my graduation.” NICOLE BAUGHMAN Math teacher
“I performed in front of my classmates for Spanish class.” OMAR BARCENAS Spanish teacher
MIKE BAKER Health teacher
“All the stuff you worry about right now in high school won’t matter in three years. Don’t stress.”
“Boys are stupid, girls are mean.” MICHELLE JOHNSON Math teacher
NICOLE BAUGHMAN, Math teacher
“Find something you really enjoy doing and give it your best effort.” NANCY MICHAL Science teacher
Would you go back to high school if you could?
“Get to know your counselors very well and participate in every school activity that you can.”
BECKY MARCHANT Counselor
“Enjoy high school. It goes by fast.”
“You need to start developing leadership in high school because those people who are leaders in high school are leaders in the future.”
Yes 72%
TODD SALESKY GITA teacher
MS. SOUKUP English teacher
Are you where you thought you would be in life?
No 28%
No
Yes
24%
76%
35 teachers and staff polled
What high school was like ‘back in the day’ High School: Lahainaluna High (Maui,Hawaii) and Artesia High School (Lakewood, Calif.) GPA: 2.75 cumulative
Greg Higashi
High School: “Beautiful Santa Fe High School”
Verronica Clements
High School: Wheatland High School, Class of 1991
GPA: “Probably about 3.6 or 3.8”
Alex Koers
PAUL LEE Copy editor
NADIA FOX French teacher
JONATHAN GUNTHER History teacher
Tips from teachers
Gratitude for teachers
“When I wouldn’t kiss my husband after my junior prom.”
“Getting the heck out of there as soon as it was over.”
GPA: “No comment.”
Richard Corp
Being a high school teacher is not an easy job. From experiencing pay cuts to an often already modest salary and spending hours outside of the classroom for their students, teachers undergo demanding routines that are not always offer justly rewarded. Since most are unaware of just how much time they devote to their work beyond the classroom setting, teachers are left largely unappreciated in comparison to the level of dedication they exhibit toward their job. As educators, teachers also have to deal with roomfuls of teenagers who, on many occasions, fail to treat them with the proper respect and attention that they deserve. Because they are adolescents, students are highly preoccupied with matters revolving around themselves, causing them to neglect the feelings of those around them, especially teachers’. Students tend to forget that their teachers have lives outside of school just like anyone else. Teachers have their own sets of personal problems they deal with on a daily basis, and their moods are subject to change from day to day as well. It is therefore illogical to expect them to follow a strict standard of perfection that too many students tend to picture in their heads when judging their actions. Rather than viewing their teachers as someone they can relate to, students too readily see them as mere authoritative figures that are out to discipline misbehaving individuals. What they need to realize is that this is not the case at all; our teachers know exactly what it is like to be high school students, and they should receive the appreciation they are due for doing their jobs.
High School: Esperanza High School
High School attended: Brea Olinda High School, Class of 2003
GPA: “3.5 or higher but it was a 4.0 my junior and senior year.”
GPA: “I graduated with a 4.4. Straight A’s all four years.”
Favorite high school experience: “High School was a lot of fun and I have many favorite experiences but the one that is fairly unique is that while in Hawaii, I worked for my room and board. So,being on my own at age 13 and being relatively self-sufficient was pretty amazing for my age.”
Describe yourself as a high school student: “First I was a nerd, then popular, and lastly, what I would call an ‘intellectual rebel’. The principal had to call me into her office along with my parents for inciting riots with my opinion articles published in the school paper. Yes, I am serious. The same articles later caused Whittier College to offer me a full tuition scholarship.”
Dating Scene: “‘Back in the day’ we’d spend hours -- sometimes all-nighters -- on the home phone (you know, the kind that are attached to the wall), occasionally answering another call with the fancy new ‘call waiting’ feature. Notes to friends and girlfriends were passed across rows, always careful not to get caught by teachers who would often read the contents aloud. AWKWARD.”
Describe your high school self: “‘I was a music nerd, I wore local band shirts, had blue hair, and was in bands.”
Higashi’s favorites in high school: Surfing, Led
Clements’ favorites in high school: Social Distortion
Koers’ favorites in high school: Starter jackets, basketball, Sega Genesis (a fourth-generation video game console by Sega), Yo! MTV Raps (the first hip hop music show), Bulls vs. Lakers (a 1991 video game for the Sega Genesis), MC Hammer (rapper and actor), Vanilla Ice (a rapper and “extreme” athlete), The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (a comedy TV show ran from 1990 to 1996), Taco Bell
Corp’s favorites: Snowboarding, Lego, Java Joes (a popular cafe before Starbucks arrived), the trumpet, American Pie (a comedy movie released in 1999), Denny’s, Titanic (a movie released in 1997), The Matrix (a sci-fi movie released in 1999), Rx Bandits (a ska four-piece band formed in 1995), The Specials (a ska English band formed in 1977)
Zeppelin (an English rock band that was popular in the late ‘80s and throughout the ‘70s), Levi’s jeans, Tommy’s (burger joint), navy pea coats, The Eagles (an American rock band in the ‘70s), chukka boots, ‘56 Chevy (older model cars were a trend), The Ed Sullivan Show (a variety show that ran from 1948 to 1971)
(an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, Calif.), The Smiths (an English alternative rock band, formed in 1982), Back to the Future (a sci-fi movie released in 1985), Mel Gibson, Shakey’s, pump heels, The Cure (an English rock band formed in 1976), the Sex Pistols (an English punk rock band), hair spray
Biggest regret: “I regret not playing any sports, especially not running cross country. I always ran twice the laps the other kids in PE in junior high and no one ever suggested I try cross country.”
Pictures from google.com l Photos by JULIA EBERHARDT and MICHELLE SUH / Wildcat l Compiled by HAILEY LEE and SHARON CHO
Jessica Dombrowski
Clubs/sports/activities you were involved in: Dance Production and Cheer Something you miss and don’t miss about high school: “High school was always so care free, no real responsibility, but [I] don’t miss the drama.”
Dombrowski’s favorites: Low rise jeans, Britney Spears
(a recording artist and entertainer), Rocket Dog platform sandals, American Idol (a reality television singing competition started in 2002), Justin Timberlake (a singer and actor), Christina Aguilera (a singer and actress), Old School (a comedy movie released in 2003), Friends (a comedy sitcom ran from 1994 to 2004)
Teachers witness change in high school trends ANAR BATA Co-editor in chief
Crack open the 1964 Gusher yearbook and you’ll find boys with moustaches and girls with bell bottomed jeans to be the norm. As the decades have progressed, trends and styles have continuously changed and what was once hip and popular in our teachers’ day is no longer considered to be “in.” “People change with the times. It’s not necessarily good or bad, it’s just how it is,” said Matthew Finnerty, mathematics teacher. Popular topics of interest when our teachers were in high school have ranged from the Vietnam War to the current war in Afghanistan. “The Draft was the biggest social concern due to the Vietnam War still going on. My senior year was when the Selective Service program was done away with,” said Greg Higashi, history teacher. For Richard Corp, mathematics teacher, the biggest movement of the time was dealing with “ethics in the Presidency,” as the affair between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky had just been uncovered. Although teachers were concerned with the social issues of their teeage years, they also found ways to have fun. “Playing soccer and winning CIF games were always fun to go to. I also liked to go surfing with my friends, and dancing too,” said Carlos Camey, Spanish teacher. Like Camey, Finnerty also played soccer in high school. “I was really into sports. Soccer, though, was my thing. I’m English, it’s in my blood,” said Finnerty. Sports seem to be a timeless aspect of high school as students today are still heavily invested in team sports. Music was another component that influenced teachers’ high schools experiences. “Rock and roll formed the premiumgroups that were popular, like Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, the Temptations, and War, were all coming of age,” said Higashi. For Corp, however, “ska and rap metal” was the trending music at the time. Music is not the only thing that has changed through out the years, though, as a variations of jeans have graced the fashion scene. Levis, low-rise, and acid wash jeans have all been worn by our teachers in past years. Throughout their careers, teachers have witnessed how trends have changed. “Piercings and tattoos are really popular now and back then it wasn’t like that. I think reality TV has really influenced the kids of today and how they try to create themselves,” said Finnerty. Reality television shows were not nearly as popular back as then as they are today. With the rise of shows as Keeping Up With the Kardashians and Jersey Shore, teenagers are greatly influenced by what they see these socalled celebrities. Although fads come and go, teenagers often return back to traditional norms. “The trends all come back. It’ just like one big cycle,” stated Camey.
14
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
FEATURE
Chapluk to retire after 18 years of service
Photos by Michelle suh and JUdy lee / Wildcat
Remembering chapluk: (right) Chapluk adds insight as her students participate in a class discussion in Literature and Composition 2. (right) Chapluk performs at the 2010-2011 Homecoming Rally alonside Margie Sepulveda, English teacher, who retired last year. After teaching as a substitute, Chapluk was called brings to her classroom makes her an extremely “Mrs. Chapluk is one of Sharon cho in for an interview and was hired full-time at BOHS unique as a teacher, both of which will be dearly Staff writer those teachers that you hire in 1994. missed,” said Monica Sharda, sophomore. and cannot truly replace. Chapluk’s experience in interacting with students However, her favorite memory was being able She has done an incredible Students who have taken sophomore literature and working in special education classes allowed to see her children, Geoffrey (’90), Genevieve (’97), job with the sophomore with Janet Chapluk probably remember her distinct teaching to come naturally once she took on the job. Jason (’00), and Jacquey (’03) graduate as Wildcats. curriculum over many years. “witch cackle” during Halloween and her rapping “I had an advantage because I substituted and “It was nice to be able to observe their high school of the poem “The Kitty-Cat Bird.” However, with knew the curriculum with my experience in the development right here on campus,” said Chapluk. She has supported students Chapluk’s announcement of retirement after teaching special education program. It was an easy transition, After the school year ends and she retires, Chapluk in an out of the classroom.” at BOHS for 18 years, this will be the last year she but there was a tremendous load of work to do. The plans on tracing her ancestry in Italy, traveling around performs these annual antics. the United States, and spending time playing with her Jerry Halpin, principal weekends were no longer mine,” said Chapluk. “Mrs. Chapluk is one of those teachers that During her time at BOHS, Chapluk enjoyed grandchildren. She also wishes to be able to attend her you hire and cannot truly replace. She has done an teacher my senior year, who made a difference in my spending time and developing close relationships grandchildren’s sports games and activities. incredible job with the sophomore curriculum over own high school learning experience. He seemed with staff members. She also enjoyed being able to “I consider myself fortunate to have had the many years. She has been a teacher that has supported truly interested in what students had to contribute in perform at the annual Homecoming rallies with other opportunity to work with incredible people in all students in and out of the classroom,” said Jerry the classroom,” said Chapluk. teachers. aspects of this learning community. Thanks for the Halpin, principal. After getting married to Gregory Chapluk in 1972 “The charisma and enthusiasm Mrs.. Chapluk memories,” said Chapluk. Chapluk’s desire to teach literature derived from and having her first child, her teaching dreams were Memories her childhood obsession with reading and inspiration postponed. from her father, who was also a teacher. However, once her children were in elementary from “My dad was also a teacher and he would always school, teaching opportunities opened up while Chapluk’s stop by the library after work to select books. That’s she was a parent volunteer at Fanning Elementary class “Her class “She wasn’t “Mrs. “I liked Mrs. why I had a broad exposure to literature,” said School. is always boring. She Chapluk is Chapluk’s Students share Chapluk. Tim Harvey, Fanning principal at the time, exciting-- an had a way enthusiastic positivity. what they escape from of making and makes It is what I Although the majority of Chapluk’s desire to informed Chapluk that the district was in need of remember the real the class the class remember pursue a career as a teacher came from her father, substitute teachers. most about world.” interesting.” really fun.” the most.” their literature Chapluk was also inspired by one of her high school She accepted the offer and substituted at the Rafael Soriano, Luis Delgado, Winny Im, Elizabeth Davis, teacher junior sophomore junior sophomore teacher’s efforts and the impact he had on her school. Brea Olinda Unified School District and the Anaheim Photos by BRANDON KIM Compiled by Tim lim / Wildcat “I was inspired by Loris Buccola, my philosophy Union District for nine years.
Parel receives Site Employee of the Year award Nathan yoo Staff writer Jeannie Parel, teacher aide for Weber, was awarded the School Site Employee of the Year award on April 20 for her outstanding contribution to the special needs program. While many students know about how Jeff Weber, Life Skills teacher, and Best Buddies, helps special needs students, the teacher aides who work behind-the-scenes often go unrecognized. However, Parel has shown that she provides invaluable support to the Life Skills and Best Buddies program as a part-time aide. “I was honored to be presented with the award for the work I do with the special needs students,” said Parel. “It was definitely a pleasant surprise.” Parel, who has been working at the district for thirteen years, was a part-time aide for five years before working exclusively with Weber and special needs students. “The best part of my job is really just working with the kids and being able to assist them, especially during our Community Based Instruction (CBI) trips,” said Parel. “During the CBI trips, we help the students learn about the community. For example, we take them on the OCTA so that they will learn how to transport themselves to their future jobs. I also find the CBI’s important because they increase the community’s awareness of
“I nominated Parel for being an amazing instructional assistant who works with our students on all of their academic tasks- reading, writing, math, science, you name it.” Jeff Weber, life skills teacher the presence of special needs students in our community.” In addition to chaperoning during the CBI trips, Parel helps the students with daily tasks such as real-life transactions, baking treats for Best Buddies Club, and anything else that needs to be done in the life skills classroom. Weber said, “I nominated Parel for being an amazing instructional assistant who works Jeannie Parel with our students on all of their academic tasks teacher aide -- reading, writing, math, science, you name it. She is instrumental in providing guidance when our students work on assignments designed to develop their independent living and vocational skills.” Although Parel was the one receiving the reward, she expressed that she was grateful to the kids for the invaluable lessons they have taught
her.
“When I come to work, I leave behind any personal issues. I have learned a lot of things that I can take into my personal life from the students, especially on how to be observant and patient,” said Parel. “In my experience, [the students] are some of the best people I have worked with.” Parel hopes to become a speech pathologist in the future, but for now she will continue working with the special needs students and helping with their interpersonal communication.
Fast Facts What award did Parel receive? Parel was awarded Site Employee of the Year Award due to her dedication and ability to work well with students.
When was she awarded?
Parel and Weber were awarded Teacher of the Year and Site Employee of the Year on April 20. (See related story on page 4.
What are Parel’s future plans?
Parel plans on continuing her work with the students and hopes to become a speech pathologist in the future.
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
Feature
How to Survive the
AP Exam Study Habits 101
a
Joy kim Managing editor
Among the numerous quizzes and tests students take throughout the school year, one of the most important is the AP Exam, a test students take nationwide to assess their knowledge in order to gain college credit and impress admissions officers. Teachers hold review sessions before and after school and teach new curricula up to the day before the exam, and especially for students taking multiple exams every second counts in reviewing while still completing regular assignments. Using efficient study methods and eating the right foods is essential in excelling on this crucial exam.
Snack Break?
Study comprehensively, but focus on material from the middle of the year. People tend to remember the beginning and end the best, but the middle often blurs in our minds.
a
b
If you know that your friends distract you from studying, then study alone. But sometimes a productive group of people can help you with difficult material, keep you from your distracting computer at home, or lift your spirits while studying.
b
c
Even though studying at late hours seems productive, this will just burn your brain.
d
Push yourself to your potential, but expecting too much out of yourself can worsen your performance on the exam. Anxiety and stress wastes energy that could be invested toward studying, so be confident if you are trying your best.
Eating breakfast before testing or studying gives fuel for your brain to work on overdrive. The studying will not be worth it unless you have enough brainpower to retain the information. Opt for fruits instead of coffee when you are tired. While coffee’s caffeine boost leads to a crash, fruits’ natural sugars are converted to quick energy that will keep you focused longer.
c
Munch on trail mix over salty and fatty potato chips. Nuts and fruits in trail mix are filled with iron, essential in carrying oxygen to the brain and maintain attention spans.
d
Whole-wheat crackers or bagels have healthier carbs that will last longer than quick sugars from baked goods or doughnuts.
Harvard student and BOHS grad Yeh (‘10) shares expert advice on taking AP exams
Week 1: May 9 - Calculus AB/BC May 10 - Literature and Composition May 11 - U.S. History, European History
Week 2 May 14 - Biology May 16 - English Language and Composition
Illustrations by SelINA CHE / Wildcat
Hundreds of thousands of high school students will be taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams across the nation next Monday, hoping that their scores will impress colleges and perhaps help them gain admission to their dream college. However, the benefits of AP classes in college admissions often overshadow reasons that are ultimately more important. For instance, many students in regular, and sometimes honors, classes can study the night before an exam and do well on it, despite dozing off during lessons. Many students who have the potential to excel in AP exams do not take them, deterred by their workload.
AP experience
Take AP classes with caution
The experience of taking AP courses gives high school students the opportunity to develop good study habits for college and valuable life skills such as perseverance, time management, and resourcefulness. It is nearly impossible to ace a college course by cramming the night before unless the student has already learned the material in another class or understood a majority of the lectures and weekly assignments. In the latter case, if the student has mastered the material, skipping lectures and studying the night before is a recipe for disaster. Truly learning the material requires daily practice, just as athletes must train daily. The difficulty of AP classes forces students to reconsider and, if necessary, adjust their work ethic, ultimately building the self-discipline that will lead to a better college and working life.
Study advice
Paying attention in class is crucial to learning the material. If one immediately understands new concepts, applying them to homework assignments becomes relatively easy and significantly less timeconsuming. It is especially helpful to preview the day’s lessons so that class becomes a review. After studying for the exam, the student will have already seen or learned the material at least three times and be prepared for the exam. Taking three-hour practice tests can build the mental strength necessary to maintain focus throughout the exam. Repetition is key to learning and demonstrating knowledge of the material. Taking practice exams can be key to building the mental strength necessary to maintain concentration throughout the grueling three-hour exam, but establishing a balance between problem-solving and reading up on concepts can be difficult. A solid foundation is necessary to maximize the value of taking a practice exam. However, do not feel that you need to know everything before beginning. One good rule of thumb is checking over wrong answers. If you feel that you cannot understand why you were wrong after seeing the correct answer, it may be time to open the textbook.
College benefits
Michelle suh / Wildcat
Dates to Remember
a student at a really small school or a large urban school. We understand the AP curriculum experience is standard and that students are really excelling and pushing themselves in a particular discipline.” Students with AP credits not only start in advanced courses their freshmen year—freeing up introductory courses for students who were not able take AP courses in high school—but also graduate earlier, explained Joanne E. Berg, Vice Provost of Enrollment Management. John Moore, Chemistry Professor at UW-M, elaborated, “I teach an accelerated first year course that covers the first year of chemistry in one semester and the majority of my students have AP credits and that’s what really prepares them to handle this one semester course. When they finish up with this course, they are ready to go into advanced courses in inorganic, organic, and analytical chemistry.”
Chelsea yeh (‘10) Guest contributor
‘I survived!’
15
According to Bobbie Jean St.. Arnauld, Freshmen Admissions Manager at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-M), 75 percent of applicants report AP scores, which are indicators of students’ success and willingness to challenge themselves. “One of the main advantage of APs [is that it] gives us insight to young people in all parts of the country who are pushing themselves,” said Adele Brumfield, Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment at UW-M. “It really equalizes the experience, whether it’s
AP students have a “seal of approval” that says that they are motivated and hardworking enough to succeed in a difficult class, so naturally colleges look on them with approval. However, choosing the right number of AP classes to take can quickly turn into a competition of who can take the most APs. Katherine Thompson, a Harvard sophomore who took six AP classes, said, “My high school recommended taking only a maximum of three APs per year because they didn’t want students to bite off more than they could chew. They wanted students to learn rather than compete over who can take the most AP classes.” When asked about his thoughts on APs, Harry R. Lewis, former Dean of Harvard College, said, “APs are good because they inspire students to take more advanced courses, and the effort to offer those courses can raise the quality of education in less advantaged schools.” He added, “They are bad because people seem to think that if they take 15 they will have a better chance of getting into Harvard than if they take ten. At some point you just want to see people doing really excellent work and not simply lots of work.” This goes along with most college admissions committees’ policy of evaluating each student’s application holistically. Besides the usual transcript, SAT scores, and AP scores, admissions committees take into account unusual circumstances and carefully examine an applicant’s extracurricular activities and personal statement. They especially value letters of recommendations and interviews because references and interviews verify the applicant’s credentials and let the admissions committee know what truly motivates the applicant. “Of course at Harvard four scores of fives qualify you to graduate in three years, but almost nobody actually does that, so it’s not clear why people think that is so important!” Lewis exclaimed. According to Jennifer Hu, a Harvard sophomore who took seven AP classes, “focusing on the [seal of approval] detracts from the real value [of taking AP exams] – the score’s kind of an outward sign of an inner achievement, and it’s the personal growth that matters most.”
Chelsea Yeh (‘10), currently a sophomore at Harvard University, took a total of 10 AP exams. While at BOHS, Yeh was Editor-in-Chief of the Wildcat website and was named valedictorian. Illustration by KATHY SIMONETTA (‘10)
A &E
page 16 May 4, 2012
R CHOI RES NTU ADVE ICAGO H IN C
Masquerade places seventh in Chicago 1
2
os Phot by r Fulle m o T
ld by o t s A choir
Showtime in Chicago Terry Dopson Guest contributor April 19, 2012 So the day has finally arrived. After long hours of rehearsals and fundraising we are finally beginning the trip of a lifetime: competing at the FAME Show Choir National Championships in Chicago. For many of us it’s the first time in “The Windy City” and it is a gem to behold. April 20, 2012 Today was the first part of the competition. The “dress rehearsal”. It was the opportunity to test out the stage and receive commentary from the judges about our show. They talked about our signature energy, professionalism, and pizzazz that Brea always has down like the back of its hand. April 21, 2012 We knew we were fighting in a hot battlefield. The best of the best in show choir are here to win the cup. We were all connected and giving it our all. Though, Spellbound got second and Masquerade didn’t even place. I didn’t care. I had such an amazing show and no one can take that away from me. We held our heads up high.
Arriving in Chicago 3
Rebecca Harpster Guest contributor April 19, 2012 Well, it’s the night before tech rehearsal and we just got to our hotel room and ordered pizza. Chicago is beautiful. The towers and architecture are spectacular. We are all super nervous for this competition. It’s all about those 20 minutes on stage…we have to try our best. April 20, 2012 We just got home from Tech and Jersey Boys! We got comments from the judges where they talked about our shows and what can make us perform better. We got great reviews! We got to see other groups as well and I feel confident we have a great shot at placing. April 21, 2012 We had the competition today. It didn’t go as well as planned, but I couldn’t have asked for a better performance for our group. As president of Spellbound, I am so proud of what the girls have done so far and what we have accomplished. I’m proud to say we got second and had the show of our lives. I love what choir brought me, and I will never forget the drive and dedication I learned from this experience.
4
4
5
Finally it’s showtime
Seventh in the nation
Rachel Gallegos Guest contributor
Samuel Cho Guest contributor
April 19, 2012 Today, I have been traveling non-stop and I am so glad to be staying in Chicago. This city is so nice and beautiful, very clean to say the least. Tomorrow is our run-through of our competition. Then after we get to see the Jersey Boys! I’m so excited! I need to get a good night rest.
April 19, 2012 I’m in Chicago! I can’t even put in words how excited I am to be out of the Brea Bubble and breathe this surprisingly clean air. Tomorrow’s our big tech rehearsal, which in a sense could be way more important than the actual competition since first impressions are everything! Guess I better get some beauty sleep then. I know I’ll need it!
April 20, 2012 Today was amazing. Masquerade and Spellbound nailed our tech run. The judges gave us feedback and they seemed impressed! I can’t wait until the actual competition.
Competing
in the windy city: (1) Izzy Perez, junior, raps during the “Alice in Wonderland” performance. (2) Justice Bolden, senior, sings “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” with accompaniment by Marysa Leite, junior and Maddie Ellingson, senior. (3) Tatiana Alvarez, freshman, dances to “Livin La Vida Loca”. (4) Spellbound girls’ choir performs “Hero.” (5) Bolden and Uche Ewenike, sophomore, perform “Respect”.
backSTAGE Look
Choir Nationals (16)
April 21, 2012 Today was very interesting. It is the day of the competition, and both Masquerade and Spellbound gave everything we had and left it all on the stage. Our performances represented our nearly perfect sets, and I’m really glad that we got the chance to prove to ourselves how great we truly are. We have improved and exceeded so many expectations since the beginning of this year, and I would not change it for the world. Spellbound became second and Masquerade became seventh in the nation. I’m so glad to say I was a part of these groups.
One Direction (17)
One Direction was created on July 23, 2010, on American Idol judge Simon Cowell’s X Factor. The boys auditioned individually but could not make it to the next round by themselves. Cowell suggested they form a group to advance to the next level and they ultimately earned third place. Since their creation, they have received much popularity, especially from their female audience, as the next teen hearthrobs. The group is set to start their sold out tour in Australia this summer.
nowmagazine.co.uk
April 20, 2012 The competition was pretty fun except for blinding white lights, setting up camp on my face, slippery floors tripping me up every two seconds, and sweat dripping out of every pore possible while smiling for a bunch of judges for a good 10 minutes! Wish me luck for tomorrow! April 21, 2012 I guess right off the bat I should say we got seventh place, but it doesn’t even matter because I had an eye-opening experience in Chicago and seventh in the nation isn’t so bad! I know our show was amazing and that’s all I can ask for. That was our best show of the entire season and I’m going to collapse onto my bed happy.
The Avengers Preview (18)
iTunes Apps (18)
Headlines
Patel’s Dressing Room
• The Avengers, opening today, is based on the comic books from 1963.
After watching all of the Marvel movies that led up to The Avengers film, I am anxiously awaiting the midnight premier. All the individual movies have created so much suspense for this ‘team to assemble.’
• Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Chris Hemsworth helm the super team. • Special 3-D glasses will be for sale in theaters based on individual hero colors. • The Avengers is the climax of a four-year plan of ultimate team crime-fighting.
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
One Direction follows boy band trend Vivian Lee Staff writer For British boy band, One Direction, screaming fans and live interviews have become a regular part of its increasing fame. Yet Simon Cowell’s quintet of teens, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson, are following the downward spiral that other popular bands like The Jonas Brothers have endured. One Direction’s album, Up All Night, won the number one spot on the Billboard 200, breaking the record for the highest-selling new album by a British musical group. As rising stars, One Direction has already sold out its 2013 concert tour in Australia, and has secured another year of popularity. However, current fans worry over whether or not the boy band will follow the trend of dying male music groups. “When I watch One Direction perform, I see potential and rising stardom as equal to the next American Idol winner. Though, I’m nervous since bands like One Direction usually die out suddenly after one hit wonders like The Jonas Brothers did,”
“The boy bands before them have proved to be one hit wonders, and One Direction could follow them in their footsteps. Only time can tell whether or not they will become successfully permanently...”
Haylee Hardin, sophomore
said Annie Kim, junior. Bands like The Backstreet Boys, ‘N SYNC, and New Kids on the Block have proven to the music industry their star potential. When these boy bands publicly debut, they receive a large female following. However, some believe their fan-base will diminish as pressure increases on the group. “One Direction will die out sooner or later, just like every other boy band. It’s basically a ‘Justin Bieber effect’ where a bunch of good-looking guys who can moderately sing, come out of the blue and flood the media because their fan base is probably 90 percent of the female population in Europe and America,” said Jon Densing, junior. Another reappearing trend with boy bands seems to be disagreement and disfunction amongst
different group members. A member may break off from the group and become a solo artist, leaving the group incomplete. Justin Timberlake and Nick Jonas support this claim, as ‘N SYNC and The Jonas Brothers separated after each member suspended their role in the group. “Harry Styles is rumored to leave One Direction and start a career as a solo artist like Justin Timberlake. When Timberlake debuted, many of his fans rushed to his side, leaving the fan base of ‘N SYNC empty and leading to the disappearance of the group. This didn’t only happen to ‘N SYNC, but the Jonas Brothers when Nick wanted to pursue his own personal solo career. One Direction would probably crumble to pieces if one member leaves and debuts alone,” explained Densing. One Direction’s fame has been escalating since its debut. The band has sold 468,000 albums and appeared on shows like Saturday Night Live since their X Factor auditions. “But the boy bands before them have proved to be one hit wonders, and One Direction could follow them in their footsteps. Only time can tell whether or not they will become successfull permanently,” said Haylee Hardin, sophomore.
Evolution of Boy Bands The Jackson 5 is an R&B/ pop group from Gary, Ind. Their popularity during the 1970s was lead by Michael and Jermaine Jackson. New Kids on the Block is a five-man group from Boston, Mass. They enjoyed success in the 1980s and early 1990s and won two American Music Awards.
N’ Sync, from Orlando, Fla., released No Strings Attached which sold over one million copies on the first day it was released.
The Backstreet Boys is a pop group from Orlando, Fla., that enjoyed their biggest success in the late 1990s. They have sold over 130 million records worldwide.
The Jonas Brothers was created by three brothers’ passion for pop music. They gained fame through the Disney Channel.
17
#that awkward moment when Erik_Benavides Junior
“People misread your name at the Lettered Scholars’ Dessert.”
#getitright
Paul_Lee
Sophomore
“[Mr.] Finnerty sings ‘Stronger’ by Kelly Clarkson.” #britishidol
Rahia_Zaidi
Senior
“You are asked to marry a 30-year old man who works at El Pollo Loco.”
#muycaliente
Devin_Salgado Junior
“Your teacher showers you with hand sanitizer.” #makeitrain
Uche_Ewenike Sophomore
“Mr. Rotblum wears your Pikachu beanie and says he feels ‘itchy’.” #ichooseyou
One Direction is a British boy band created in 2010, with a hit single “What Makes You Beautiful.”
Rahat_Motiwalla Junior
“You’re running and get hit in the butt twice with a soccer ball.” #poppop
Compiled by JOSEPH YIM
18
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Comic book fanatics await arrival of ‘the avengers’
JOSEPH YIM Staff writer Fans of superhero movies need not look any further: The Avengers brings the ultimate collaboration of crime-fighting and world-saving heroes to theaters this weekend. Based on the popular Marvel comic book series, The Avengers is a team of costumed heroes who work to save Earth from a collection of colorful super villains. Director Joss Whedon helms the adaptation of the series created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963. Whedon, in an interview with The New York Times, said, “My whole thing was, make sure that none of this feels like a checkmark. But more than once, we watched the trailer for some (hero) movie and went, ‘panic, panic, panic.’ At the end of the day, the superhero team movie is going to have a certain structure, but no cars turn into anything else except piles of rubber. Cars magically transform into burning cars. That part I’m happy about.” The film’s conflict is with Loki, the Norse god of evil, who seeks revenge against his brother, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Earth, for the throne of Asgard. This peril leads Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to create the super team S.H.I.E.L.D. in order to combat the impending supernatural danger. But the story of The Avengers goes back much further than the release of Iron Man films in 2008 and Captain America in 2011. In 1963, Lee and Kirby created the first comic series of a superhero team fighting crime in the first issue of The Avengers. The theme of the series, “To fight the foes no single superhero can withstand,” influenced an influx of Marvel superhero movies like The Incredible Hulk (2008) and Thor (2011), leading up to today’s release of The Avengers. “How Marvel built up to The Avengers in the past four years is incredible. It is so unique how Nick Fury shows up in the last few seconds of each separate superhero movie, making people wonder what’s next. What could be better than that? I hope The Avengers brings more superhero fans and excitement to people, instead of hating on a seemingly never-ending super movies,” said Christopher Lopez, junior. With returning actors Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, and Mark Ruffalo as Hulk, the imagination illustrated within
history of the Avengers
Deemed “Earth’s mightiest heroes,” the original Avengers team created in 1963 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, consisted of more than Nick Fury and Captain America. Loki, god of evil, seeks revenge against god of thunder, Thor, for the Eye of the artist: 1.The movies and actors are are theThis modern incarnation of orwell’s comic The throne of They Asgard. conflict leads to the1963 creation ofAvengers The Avengers team, where hero Ant-Man suggests the five original heroes unite against supernatural perils one hero cannot face alone. These original members include Ant-Man, Wasp, Thor, Hulk, and Iron Man, who swear allegiance to defeat the supernatural threat. After the defeat of Loki, Captain America and Hawkeye join the forces of good against super villains Doctor Doom and Power Man. This constant threat of villainy convinces the group of heroes to unite and fight for Earth and all of mankind. JOSEPH YIM the comic books decades ago will be captured onscreen as America’s past-time heroes take the stage once more with their famous battle cry: “Avengers assemble!” “Since there are many exceptional actors in the movie, I’m looking forward to the film. I just wonder if the plot will be decent, because with more actors the plot tends to lose focus,” said Wade Cormier,
chemistry teacher. Co-creator Lee was also questioned for his opinion of the film, whether he was satisfied with how the movie exemplified his “Marvel Universe” to the fullest. “What the movies have been able to do now is finally get the effects right. When you’re a little kid, you love fairy tales, stories of giants and ogres and
witches and elves. Then you get a little older, and you’re not going to read fairy tales anymore. But superhero stories are like fairy tales for grown-ups, and The Avengers will fit that role,” said Lee in an interview with nj.com. Students looking for the next action-packed superhero movie will rejoice over today’s opening of The Avengers.
Apple applications consume student life ANISH PATEL A&E editor With Apple’s dominance of modern technology, all concerns regarding social networking, business, and entertainment can be answered by one phrase: “There’s
apple.com iCrazy:
Apple applications are taking over students’ priorities.
an app for that.” Boasting a range of over 500,000 applications available to iPhone, iPad, and iPod users worldwide through the iTunes App Store, virtually any kind of information a person needs and more can be accessed by the touch of a finger. “If there isn’t an app for it, it isn’t important,” said Maddy Helms, senior and iPhone user. In today’s technology driven age, students are able to use multiple applications to not only keep in touch with their friends, but also to stay up-todate with current affairs. N e t w o r k i n g applications like Facebook and Twitter have revolutionized communication, allowing students to access and update their social lives quickly and easily with a systematic notification system that updates within seconds. “The ‘Facebook’ and ‘Twitter’ apps go beyond what is possible on a computer. With my iPhone, I can update my exact location and all my friends can see it. These apps make technology so current
“The best thing about Instagram and other photography apps is that they’re free. It sort of creates a forum where people can appreciate their friends’ photography and makes everyone feel a bit hipster with all the camera effects...”
Aishvina Arasu, senior and take social networking to a new level,” said Helms. On the other hand, news, stocks, and business apps keep students like Esther Yoo, senior, knowledgeable about what is going on in the world. “I always use ‘The Huffington Post’ app on my iPhone to keep up-to-date with the latest news. The application is really user-friendly and allows me to easily access interesting and funny stories with a layout that is organized by section,” said Yoo. Photography has also been revolutionized through applications like Instagram and Viddy. Instagram allows users to transform regular iPhone or Android camera pictures into photos with vivid colors through editing software and an array of numerous vintage effects.
“The best thing about Instagram and other photography apps is that they’re free. It sort of creates a forum where people can appreciate their friends’ photography and makes everyone feel a bit hipster with all the camera effects,” said Aishvina Arasu, senior. For busy teenagers and students, onthe-go music and food programs seem to be some of the most recent must have apps. Programs like Pandora and iHeartRadio are the top ranked music applications because of their unique software, which plays songs determined by each listener’s unique music preference. Yelp and Foodspotting take users’ current location and find the best rated restaurants in that area based on specific styles and types of food chosen. “I’ve been hooked on the Foodspotting app, which allows me to pick where to eat based on previous customers’ reviews and pictures. It’s great for a nearby meal, and I hope the app’s popularity continues to grow,” said Diego Guzman, senior. Guzman believes that competition in the new market creates a great incentive for people to make quality applications that the public will share and discuss. “Time can only tell what the next ‘big app’ will be,” added Guzman.
BOHS Top Rated Apps Games
See All >
iPhone
iPad
Poll of 300 students 1. Instagram Photography 2. Temple Run Games 3. Draw Something Games 4. Snapchat Entertainment 5. Emoji Entertainment 6. Fruit Ninja Games 7. Jetpack Joyride Games 8. Angry Birds Space Games 9. Scramble with Friends Games 10. Pinterest Photography
Sports Brea Olinda High Winter Sports Baseball
4/20
• Brea Olinda El Modena
3 2
Baseball
page 19 May 4, 2012
the Tape
4/27
• Brea Olinda El Dorado
1 0
Softball
4/27
• Canyon Brea Olinda
4 0
Softball
• Esperanza Brea Olinda
5/1
B. Volleyball
12 2
• El Modena Brea Olinda
4/24
3 1
B. Volleyball
5/1
• Foothill Brea Olinda
3 0
B. Golf
4/23
• El Dorado 195 Brea Olinda 199
Surfers live ‘endless summer’ “You don’t think about anything in the water except what is going to be the next wave you catch.”
MATT SCHADE Co-editor-in-chief
A few dedicated BOHS athletes wake up before the sun rises throughout the school year. However, it is not to hit the gym or the practice field. Rather, these students head to the ocean as they indulge in their passion for the sport of surfing. For some students at BOHS the summer never ends, and the Wildcat shares their surfing journeys.
Kristen Rivas, senior
“The spray of the sea and the sound of an unending stretch of life below my feet is enough to keep me waking up at 4 a.m. I cannot explain the feeling I get when I have caught a wave the size of me and been at the mercy of something humans know practically nothing about,” said Rivas. Rivas began her surfing career as a “grom,” or younger surfer, in Dana Point. After talking a lot about the sport with her father, Rivas gathered the courage to start surfing with the “old guys.” She was only six-years-old, and has stayed with the sport ever since. “My dad’s passion for the ocean definitely keeps a passion to continue surfing in myself,” said Rivas. It was not long until Rivas’ dedication to the sport led her to growing from “a kid playing in the white wash waves,” to trying to replicate what she saw being done by better surfers at more difficult
Dante jamarillo, senior
locations. Despite the challenge of waking up early in the winter months and heading to the freezing ocean waters, Rivas’ drive is what keeps her in the water. “I want compete and be the best chick out there in the water,” said Rivas. “I have had a hard time with short snaps at the top of waves and admire every surfer better than me that knows how to throw the tail.” As Rivas continues on her surfing journey, she reflects upon what it is that keeps her passion so strong for the sport. “Surfing is so rewarding. It is a great way to meet fun and outgoing people who enjoy a little friendly competition. Surfing is also a spiritual experience for me when I go alone in the early morning,” said Rivas. “Surfing has brought me to many places and has given me a lot of friends, but it has mostly brought me to respect to world around me. A lot of people do not realize how much we affect the ocean and environment.” The journey will not end for Rivas
Surf spots in Socal
NEWPORT BEACH
TRESTLES
RINCON
Location Newport
Location San Onofre State Beach
Location Santa Barbara County
Board Rentels $15 per hour
Board Rentels $25 for full day
Board Rentels $20 per hour
Average Wave Size 4 Feet
Average Wave Size 3 Feet
Average Wave Size 5 Feet
HUNTINGTON BEACH
EL CAPITAN BEACH
BLACKS
Location Huntington
Location Santa Barbara County
Board Rentels $20 per hour
Board Rentels N/A Average Wave Size 4 Feet
Average Wave Size 4 Feet
Compiled by SHERMAN UYENO
preGAME Look
Track (20)
Location La Jolla Board Rentels $20 per hour Average Wave Size 4 Feet
Photo courtesy of KYLE BASAKER
Shredding the wave: Kyle Basaker, junior, maintains his balance as he cuts on a wave while surfing. Basaker, along with Ryan Riley, Dante Jamarillo, and Kristen Rivas, seniors, share their surfing journeys with the Wildcat.
any time soon as she looks to keep surfing as a lifelong passion and one day use her artistic skills to decorate surfboards.
Ryan Riley, senior
One does not have to look far to notice Riley’s passion for the sport of surfing. Currently owning five boards, Riley’s dedication to the sport is evident. His current board of choice: a 5’10” T Patterson. Riley’s surfing journey began when his father took him out to ride for the first time, and he continues to head to the ocean to this day. “I stood up on my first wave and after getting the feeling of that first ride it just clicked,” said Riley. “After my first competition it changed the way I thought about surfing. It became more of a sport to me, more competitive.” Riley debuted his talents in his first surfing competition during his freshman year for the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA). Recently, Riley has been riding the waves for recreation and staying in shape. “The most difficult part of surfing is that it takes a long time to get started and the learning curve is steep,” said Riley. However, he added that once comfortable with the sport it is an “amazing” experience to ride the waves. “Everyday is different, the conditions change,” said Riley as he reflected upon what keeps him passionate about surfing. “There is never a same day or a same wave. Surfing never gets boring because
B. Volleyball (20)
Baseball (21)
Surfing lingo Grom - A name used for younger surfers Snaps - To stand up quickly on a surfboard Throw the tail - When a surfer “cuts” on a wave and has a large spray Tube - The hollow part of the wave. Also called “barrel” Barrel - When a waves comes over and covers a surfer’s head Hang ten - When the surfer walks to the front of the board and hangs all ten toes over the nose of the board
there is a new adventure.” Riley plans on surfing his whole life and one day passing on his passion by teaching the sport to his children. As for the near future, Riley might try surfing again for NSSA or in college where he is looking to attend Cal Poly SLO or UC Santa Barbara, two of the top surfing schools on the West Coast. “When you are in the ride and getting that perfect situation everything around you, like problems in life, just disappear for that moment. You lose touch with reality and are just in that moment, totally focused,” said Riley.
will go out in the morning just as the sun comes up and you can ride a wave like any other, but when you are getting barreled you lose focus. It is the best feeling,” said Basaker on getting the tube ride that all surfers seek. This passion Basaker holds for riding the waves began when he was 11 and it has led him to build upon his ability in becoming a talented surfer. “My dad has always been really big into surfing and wanted to pass it on to me since he loved it so much. From that I have developed a passion for it myself,” said Basaker. Basaker does a lot of free surfing but whenever he is presented with the opportunity he will enter competitions in Newport trying to earn sponsors and compete on the national level. One competition that Basaker competes in annually is the Newport Factor 54 contest. “Competing is a lot different than free surfing. You cannot worry about what the other guy is doing. You have to get in the zone, because it is more strategic than most people think,” said Basaker. “It is all about doing certain moves to outperform the other competitors.” The Factor 54 competition consists of 15 minute heats and different levels. Though it depends on the contest, surfers are usually paired with three other competitors and the judges count the best
Kyle Basaker, junior
“It is unreal the feelings you have. I
Cram-Torres (21)
See SPORTS, page 22
Swim (22)
Teachers (23)
Roster (Volleyball):
Volleyball Headlines
Uyeno’s Locker Room
C. Sykes
A. Patel
T. Smith
D. Truesdale
• The Wildcats finished the season with a 4-9 record, improving on last year’s 1-9 record
W. Parke
C. Lee
• Garrett Anderson and Jacob Meda, juniors, are first year players from soccer
G. Anderson
K. Jeong
• Will Parke, junior, competes on 949 club team and Youth National volleyball team
J. Meda
A. McGinnis
It’s NBA Playoff time! My pick is going to the LA Clippers. After the magnificent comeback in Game 1 of the series they have shown they have the talent and the heart to win it all. Move over Lakers, there is a new champ.
M. Muehlhoff
Set ALANNA ARNO / Wildcat
for the spike: (left) Kevin Jeong, junior, sets the ball for (right) Daniel Truesdale, sophomore, in a league game. Boys’ volleyball finished the season with a 4-9 record.
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May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
SPORTS
Track and field heads to League Finals NOELLE GRACIA Staff writer
Boys’ Track and Field
Currently sitting in third place, boys’ varsity track is going into this afternoon’s Century League Finals with the hopes of attaining a second place spot and qualifying for CIF. The team is looking to take down Canyon High School from its current first place ranking and spoil its perfect season. “Canyon went undefeated in dual meets and they are looking very strong for League Finals,” said Jeremy Mattern, boys’ varsity track coach. The Wildcats will be led by Cody Nguyen and Max McBride, seniors, as both look to take points in the distance events. McBride is the two-time defending Century League champion in the 800 meter event. After running a 1:57.81 in the Preliminaries last Saturday, McBride heads in to finals ranked first in the event. However, McBride will have to hold off Nguyen and Brody Palmer [Esperanza] if he is looking for three-peat. Nguyen, holds the school record in the 800 after running a 1:54 this season. In Century League prelims, Nguyen took off on his first lap in the 800 clocking in at 54.0. However, he was unable to hold this gap during the final 100 meters of the race, and finished second overall with a time of 1:58.43. “All eyes were on [Nguyen]. Everyone was stunned when he came around for the first lap at that pace,” said Steven Lee, senior. “He was able to hold the field off for 700 meters, but when he finished the race the rest of the field was right behind him.” The Wildcats owe their success in Century League to the copious amount of hard and dedication they put into being the best athletes they can be. “You really have to give props to the distance runners, I mean we all give our hardest and try our best during practice,
but the distance runners really put in the extra time and effort. They’ll be running more after practice, on the weekends, even during spring break they were up here at the high school training and really going that extra mile,” said Brandon Poore, senior. Poore ran a personal record in the 400 meter event at league prelims as his 52.91 qualified him second overall. Along with the 400 meter, Poore will also be competing in today’s league finals for the 4X400 meter relay team. “Aside from a few unfortunate injuries, everything is going as anticipated as we head into league finals, with varsity in third place, we have a great shot of performing well and earning second place overall,” said Mattern.
Girls’ Track & Field
Extra practices outside of school, enforcing a healthy diet, ensuring they get a sufficient amount of sleep every night; these are just some of the measures that girl’s varsity track has taken to guarantee victory at this afternoon’s Century League Finals. “During season, I revolve my entire life around track. I try to commit everything in my life during season to track so I can reach my full ability,” said Jennifer Janneck, senior. This dedication showed through on both Janneck’s and the whole team’s part, when six sprinters, three hurdlers, and three of their jumpers advanced to finals this past Saturday at the Century League Preliminaries. Janneck heads in to today’s finals ranked first in the 100 meter with a 12.78 and first in the 200 meter with a 25.37. Despite a few setbacks on Saturday, such as a couple key athletes missing from the roster, April Harris, girls’ varsity track coach, was pleased with her team’s performance and anticipates meeting the expectations set for them this year. “We have a very good and solid group of girls with us; they’re doing well and scoring a lot of points for us. They’ve really worked hard to get here. And last
AMORETTE VALERO / Wildcat
Perfect
form:
(right) Kaylin Petersen, junior, leads her heat in the 100 meter hurdles last Saturday at Century League Preliminaries; Peterson finished with a 16.07. (left) Emily Carmen, freshman, also qualified for League Finals. year our girls did great and they pulled it all together, they were well rested, they were on point and hitting their times so I don’t see why this year’s girls can’t do the same,” said Harris. Not only are the athletes using their own personal drive to push them through finals, they are also using their current ranking as encouragement. The Wildcats are currently second in league, behind Canyon High School. Kaitlin Gishwiller, junior, said, “I really want to beat [Canyon’s] 4x4 team. Last time they won, but only by a close second. We did well last time, but now I just want to dominate their team.” Along with running for the 4X400 team today, Gishwiller will also race in the 4X100, 200 meter, and 400 meter events. Both Harris and Janneck expect Canyon to be their toughest competition
“Our team is planning on either winning or coming close to it in Century League Finals.” Kaylin Petersen, junior
this afternoon. Canyon was Century League champions last year and are currently first in the rankings for varsity. “They have a super strong team, with a lot of talented kids so that will definitely be the number one school we’re going to be after,” said Harris.
Some key players to watch for this afternoon are Janneck and Emily Nolen, sophomore, in the 100 and 200 meter heat, Gishwiller in the 200 meter as well, and Jean Chow, senior, in the 400 meter. For hurdles there’s Patricia Martinez, senior, Kaylin Petersen, junior, and Emily Carmen, freshman; both qualified in the top four for 100 and 300 meter hurdle events overall on Saturday’s meet and are expected to be some of the top contenders this afternoon. At preliminaries, Peterson finished first in the 100 hurdles with a 16.07, while finishing second in the 300 hurdles with a 48.18. “We’ve all worked so hard this season, and we all really want this. I think that as a team, we can do this, we just have to keep our eyes on our goal: to make it to CIF,” said Janneck.
New players bring different backgrounds to volleyball team NOELLE GRACIA Staff writer Traditionally, the boys’ volleyball team is composed of players from only a volleyball background. However, the 2012 boys’ varsity team is made up of players coming from a multitude of varsity athletics. Jacob Meda and Garrett Anderson, juniors, play soccer, Michael Muehlhoff, senior plays basketball, and a few other members of the team decided that this was Garrett Anderson the year to add to their sport Junior resumes and try their hand at Center/Opposite volleyball. “I was thinking about it sophomore year and I haven’t done it before so I thought it’d be a fun thing to check out,” said Anderson, who plays center/ opposite for the team. Most of the returning players play only volleyball as their primary sport, and a few were hesitant about the change and what the new arrivals were going to bring to team. “I didn’t know if I would like it at first but in the end, I didn’t have to worry, they adjusted really well, picked up the game quickly and became good players in a short amount of time,” said Daniel Truesdale, sophomore. Though the players were excited to try out
this new sport, not all of them were expecting the challenges to come with it and were surprised by some of the difficulties that came with playing. “I didn’t really have any expectations for the game so I didn’t know what to expect. The hardest transition though was the rotations because it gets confusing but once you get those down it gets okay,” said Anderson. Chad Sykes, senior captain and a four-year player, is thankful for the new athletes that was brought to the team and embraces the opportunity to teach them the ways of the Chad Sykes sport. Senior “The new players were a Outside/Opposite huge impact, because volleyball doesn’t necessarily need ‘volleyball players’, we just need athletes. It’s all about a matter of athleticism. They were a big help because they brought what they know from their sports, to our team and I think that really benefited us,” said Sykes. The Wildcats ended their season with a 4-9 record, an improvement from their 1-9 of each of the past two years. “This year has been all about just having fun, and messing around. Though we may not have had the best record in league, I still think it was an awesome experience all around, we all bonded as a team and further advanced our skills as players. That’s all you can really ask for, “ said Sykes.
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
SPORTS
21
Baseball’s CIF hopes depend on last four games With only four games remaining, the Wildcats are looking to steal a spot in the playoffs SHERMAN UYENO Sports editor After holding a 3-3 record at the first round of Century League play, the Wildcats rank fourth in league with a 6-7 record, including wins over two of the top three teams in league. In their second meeting of the season, the Wildcats took on the third place El Modena Vanguards, April 20. The Wildcats took the lead batting in two runs at the top of the first inning and scored another in the fourth. Nick Kern, senior, pitched six shutout innings, only allowing two hits from the Vanguards. At the bottom of the seventh, the Vanguards batted in two runs, but Jared Love, junior, closed out the
game to save the 3-2 win. Kyle Kasser, sophomore, said, “We went to El Modena with a chip on our shoulder after losing to them at our place 12-2. We came out early and scored first then Kern shut them down from there. Love did a good job finishing off in the seventh and it was a good win.” The Wildcats competed against the Villa Park Spartans, April 23. In their last meeting, the Wildcats defeated the Spartans, 3-1. The team took the early lead with three runs by the end of the first inning. From there, the Wildcat pitching held the Spartans to two runs and the game ended with a 4-2 win. The Foothill Knights hosted the Wildcats in their second meeting of the season, April 25. In the first game, the Wildcats defeated the Knights 8-6. However, the Knights outscored the Wildcats 8-6 in the rematch. M a t t Sorensen, head coach, said, “This time, t h e y turned the tables on us. We had good offense,
Nick Kern PLAYERS’ TALK
Kern, senior, pitches and plays shortstop for the Wildcats.
“There is no
AMORETTE VALERO / Wildcat
limit for our team when all 19 guys have the same goal.” Varsity Feature Snapshot
but they got some key hits. They wanted it more than we did and deserve all the credit for their win.” On April 27, the boys faced the El Dorado Golden Hawks for the third time, losing both times in their previous encounters. With USC recruit and top major league draft pick Kyle Twomey, senior, pitching for El Dorado, and UCLA-bound Kern on the mound for the Wildcats, both teams were scoreless for the first six innings. “With two outs in the top of the 7th inning, Jordan Vandergriff [junior] singled up the middle,” said Kern. “Love entered the game as a pinch hitter. During a long at-bat in which Jared battled, fighting off Twomey’s arsenal of pitches, Vandergriff stole second and put himself in scoring position. Then, Love destroyed a fastball on the outer-half of the plate for a line drive over the second basemen. Vandergriff scored and that was all we needed.” Kern pitched the last three outs for a complete game, shutting out the Golden Hawks, 1-0. With an overall record of 13-9-1 and four games left in the season, the Wildcats are in position to move on to CIF. “Right now we are in a position where we control our destiny. The Century League is considered one of the toughest leagues because we have good teams from top to bottom. Our league is a parity league because a lot of the teams, who got off to a slow start are now beating the teams they lost to earlier in the season,” said Sorensen. In order for the Wildcats to qualify for CIF, they will have to defeat the teams they lost to previously in the season, which will allow them to maintain their winning record. The Wildcats will continue league play against Esperanza today.
AMORETTE VALERO / Wildcat
Back to the bag: Jordan Vandergriff, junior, slides back to the base in a game against the El Dorado Golden Hawks, April 27. The Wildcats will continue league play in an away game against Esperanza High School today.
Top Batting Averages
Top Runs Batted In
N. Kern - .373
G. Volmer - 12
K. Cawdrey - .358
N. Kern - 9
J. Vandergriff - .333
J. McFarland - 6
K. Kasser - .275
J. Vandergriff - 5
L. Lee - .257
L. Lee - 5
Top Total Hits
B. Ruano - 5
N. Kern - 22
Top Batting Averages
K. Cawdrey - 19
N. Kern - 1.42
L. Lee - 18
E. Potts - 2.05
G. Volmer - 16
Nick Kern - .373
K. Kasser - 14
Nick Kern - .373
JV baseball on brink of league title ASHLEY SALAZAR Guest contributor
Kim Cram-Torres
BRANDON KIM / Wildcat
All-CIF Coach of the Year Cram-torres
era:
In Cram-Torres’ first season with the Ladycats, she led the team to a Century League title with an 11-1 league record. The Ladycats finished the season ranked ninth in the state and 25th in the nation by compiling a 26-7 overall record. Cram-Torres coached three AllCIF players this season. (See portraits on page 24.)
Father–son coaching duo, Chris and Paul Moreno, have led the Wildcats’ junior varsity baseball team to an overall record of 11–6, playing to their strengths in their last game against El Dorado High School and winning 5-0. Currently at second place in Century League with a league record of 9-4, the Wildcats have shown that with a flawless defense and solid offense they can achieve anything. Continuing Century league play, the Wildcats have won four games in a row. This win streak included defeats against Villa Park High School 7-4, Foothill High School 5-1, El Modena High School 9-2, and most recently El Dorado High School 5-0. “All we do is play our game, and most importantly have fun,” said Devin Salgado, junior and captain. “Although, our chances at a league title are not as high as we want it.” The Wildcats are facing the top team in the Century League, Esperanza High School, who are on a 10 game winning streak and serve as the Wildcats’ main obstacle to at least splitting the league title. “Esperanza needs to drop two games, and then we need to beat them…with only five more games left in league it’s going to be tough”, said Coach Chris Moreno. The Wildcats are ready to fight for the league title, especially with their approximate “80 percent hit and run success rate, also with [the teams’] bunting and stealing being led by Richie Main and
JULIA EBERHARDT / Wildcat
Batter up: Devin Salgado, junior, steps into a pitch against El Dorado High School. The Wildcats play first place Esperanza High School today. Cameron Bishop [sophomores],” added Moreno. “We have a good core, chemistry on the field, and our main goal is to have fun and stay positive” said Moreno. Paul Moreno adds that they “preach the
defense…if they can’t score on us, they can’t beat us.” The Wildcats play Esperanza High School today at 3:15 p.m. at Brea with hopes of stealing the Century League title away from first place Aztecs.
22
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
SPORTS
Swim advances to Century League Finals ERIK BENAVIDES Staff writer Boys’ Swim A three week break from the pool did not slow boys’ varsity swim’s momentum, and with only two meets left before League Finals, the Wildcats picked up the pace to keep their undefeated record intact in April. On April 17, the Wildcats traveled to Esperanza, where they recorded a 118-52 win. Despite the blowout, the Wildcats knew that their biggest challenge awaited them in the form of the Villa Park Spartans. “Villa Park is definitely a tough team. Besides winning Century League last year they have an All-American swimmer in B.J. [Churnside],” said Lucas Keller, junior. In preparation for their April 24 meet against reigning Villa Park High School, the Wildcats opted to shave and rest. The strategy worked, resulting in sweeps in the 200 yard individual medley, 100 yard backstroke, and 500 yard freestyle. Clay Simons, junior, placed first in the 100 yard freestyle by swimming a CIF Division-II qualifying time of 48.42 seconds and guaranteeing the Wildcats a 108-62 win. “It was really great that Clay [Simons] won the 100 freestyle, it was the first time he had ever beaten B.J. [Churnside] in any competition,” said Cory Birenbaum, junior. The Wildcats will enter league finals with an undefeated record of 6-0 for the second straight season May 6. This week, Nolan Rogers, senior, was named the Athlete of the Week of the Orange County Register as he captured the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:46.73 and the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:00.22. Last season the Wildcats were upset by both Villa Park and host Foothill, placing a disappointing third. However, the team views last season’s loss as a
learning lesson and are determined to win a second title in three years. “The key is having a growth mindset and be willing to improve our skills and techniques. We still have better swims in us,” said Gil Rotblum, head coach. Currently the Wildcats are ranked ninth in Orange County. Girls’ Swim The month of April held many important individual performances for Girl’s varsity swim but unfortunately continued their struggles in the Century League pool. At Esperanza on April 17, the Wildcats suffered a crushing 127-43 defeat. Second place finishes from Brooklynn Jervis, junior, in the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke with times of 55.59 and 1:05.21 respectively were the only bright spots in a meet dominated by Aztec swimmers. “Esperanza is our main competition in league they have a lot of good club swimmers,” said Alexis Hopps, junior. Following the blowout, the Wildcats readjusted their focus and improved their times at Villa Park; resulting in Hopps pacing the 50, 200, and 500-yard freestyles, featuring a CIF Division-II qualifying time of 5:14.63 in the 500. Jervis cut her times as well and took first place 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:03.32. To cap off their performances the Wildcats team effort earned them a win in the 200-yard freestyle relay at 1:46.38. Despite the efforts of Jervis and Hopps, the Wildcats would lose to the Spartans by a final score of 87-82. Century League Final Preliminaries began on Wednesday and continue today with Finals beginning May 6 at Foothill. Heading into League Finals, the Wildcats hold a 1-5 record and are out of contention for a league title, but can still play a decisive part in shaping the final standings with both Hopps and Jervis seeking to place.
BRANDON KIM / Wildcat
Diving deeper: Ryan Lank, senior, competes in the butterfly in a league meet for boys’ varsity swim. Boys’ swim will carry a perfect 6-0 record into the Century League Finals today at Foothiil High School.
Surfing gives riders an ‘escape’ SURFING from page 19 two waves. “Surfing is a different feeling than
anything else I have done. Once you are out there you forget everything that is going on at school or at home. You get a different feel, an adrenaline that you cannot get from any other sport,” said Basaker. Basaker’s dedication has led him to landing a sponsor from Spyglasses. However, it was not always competitive. “It started when I began posting pictures and videos online and people were interested saying ‘you’re pretty good’ and asking if I was interested in sponsors. I began to think it could be something I could do and start competing at,” said Basaker.w It is not the sponsors and competitions that are the most enjoyable part of the sport however. Basaker’s dedication comes from spending time with the person who introduced him to the hobby that would transform into a journey. “Surfing has definitely given me the opportunity to spend time with my dad that I would not get doing other sports. I am able to sit out there and talk to him when the waves are not coming. Surfing is our thing to do,” said Basaker on why surfing is so important to him.
Dante Jamarillo, senior From hearing about his father’s surfing adventures in Puerto Rico, Jamarillo wanted to experience his own surfing journey—this one, however, California style. “I caught my first wave with my dad at Seal Beach Pier, about seven years ago. I learned that my father was an avid surfer in Puerto Rico, and I wanted the same experience so much,” said Jamarillo. “I still surf today because it is my escape. It is where stress and problems go away for the time being because the only thoughts in the water are about the waves and whoever is having fun out there with me.” The turning point for Jamarillo came when he could handle himself in the water. From that point, Jamarillo began pushing himself for bigger surf, along with adding style to his surfing. “I am very fortunate to be able to get down to [the ocean] every weekend, but I would not mind being down there every minute of the week,” said Jamarillo. The most challenging aspect of surfing Jamarillo faces is when there is no surf. “Waiting for the swell, or not surfing for a while always hurts. It adds more stress. This also goes for the days where you paddle out and don’t catch one wave. Getting up early is always a drag for me too,” said Jaramillo. He added, “You do
not think about anything in the water except what is going to be the next wave you catch. All that you do outside of the water is left outside of the water. The best surfers are the ones having the most fun I think. I look for this feeling every time I surf.” Along with enjoying the waves, Jamarillo has also found a way to experience the surfing culture outside of the water. Jamarillo has created his own business, Waverider Surfboard Repair, where he works out of his home repairing damages to any type of fiberglass surfboards. “For times when there is no surf, working on boards is one of the next closest activities that gets my mind in the water state,” said Jamarillo. “I started this when I took a board in a shop, and thought I got ripped off. I assumed that it couldn’t be that tough to do yourself. So I read books, and went through plenty of trial and error, until I could get the knowledge down and start helping other surfers out.” “All I look for is to be able to stay near the coast, and surf more and more. I am not a real competitive guy, but just looking for more good times with surfers in and out of the water. Surfing is a huge part of my life, it’s the reason I do what I do. I am always very thankful for what I am able to do,” said Jamarillo.
Join the AquaDEN at League Finals Today @ Foothill High School
Photo courtesy of MOLLY KANG
May 4, 2012 The Wildcat
SPORTS TEACHERS from page 1
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Teachers share stories on sporting lives Because of his passion for the sport, Quiming is hoping to stay healthy and fit enough to surf throughout his entire life. “Surfing is something that has always been a part of my life, even after I moved on from my participation and involvement with other sports like baseball and basketball,” said Quiming. “It’s kind of interesting when I think about it, surfing is the one activity I’ve done the longest than any other sport or activity. ”For Quiming,
in the Long Beach marathon in October where is goal pace is to run under 6:30 mile pace for the 26.2 mile distance. Mattern’s passion for running has stemmed from his early running career and he looks to continue to pursue the sport for years to come. However, Mattern is planning to cut back on the rigor of his training by leaving out some time consuming runs— such as the 5 a.m. morning runs before teaching. Allowing
“Running takes a lot of time and energy if you want to be good...I want to be a good runner, but not as much as I want to be a great father. In the next few years I will devote most of my energy into being a solid father, husband, teacher, and coach. My personal running goals will adjust accordingly.”
surfing is unlike any other sport because it allows one to escape from reality. “I don’t think or worry about anything else when I paddle out to surf, the sole focus is catching and riding the waves that are given to me and truly embracing the moment of the present,” said Quiming. Jeremy Mattern, English teacher One would not be surprised to know that Jeremy Matter, English teacher and head track coach, competes in distance racing. Not only can one find Mattern beating his BOHS athletes on the track, but he also partakes in many races outside of school. “When I started, I was like most Americans, and I thought running any distance over a mile was too long. I remember the first time my neighbor took me on a seven mile run. I was practically crying,” said Mattern. “With time, I grew to appreciate the amount of effort that goes into becoming a competitive runner.” Mattern has been competitively racing since 1990, and today competes in distance events ranging from the mile to the half marathon. However, out of those distances Mattern prefers running three to six mile races because he feels that he has enough speed and strength to still be competitive in most of the races he enters. “If you want to be a good runner, you cannot treat it as a hobby. You have to live the lifestyle. Despite not competing for a team, I still consider myself a runner,” said Mattern. To train for his distance races, over the summer Mattern put in 60 to 80 miles a week with two to four days of doubledays. This included a lot of hill runs and tempo runs into the training schedule. And on ten to twelve mile runs Mattern will close the last few miles well under six minute pace. The amount of discipline to train at such a high level is tremendous and Mattern credits his passion for the sport due to his competitive nature. “I love competing. It’s not just an opportunity to go up against someone else. It’s an opportunity to compete with other people so that you challenge yourself beyond self-imposed limitations,” said Mattern. “I also love the opportunity to explore new places, plus the chance to revisit memories on familiar trails.” Along with competing in the Brea 8K this year, Mattern ran in the Carlsbad half-marathon where he placed 17th our of over 7000 runners as he averaged 5:36 per mile. Mattern is planning to compete
what type of ride she is doing. This dedication to the sport of cycling has landed Leaming a spot on Southern California Velo (SC Velo) cycling team and captain of the Women’s Category 3/4. “I really like the entire lifestyle associated with cycling be it mountain biking or road cycling. The people that are part of the cycling community are some of the most intelligent, interesting, and caring people that I know,” said Leaming.
“It makes me happy to know that as I get older I do not have to give up cycling, which I love dearly.”
that simply turning over the pedals,” said Leaming. “Cycling is about strategy and conserving energy to be able to be with the leaders at the end of the race. Most people do not understand that road cycling is 100% a team sport and it is the strategy of the team and working together that provides results.” Recently, Leaming competed at San Luis Rey, a 44-mile race with about 1500 ft of elevation grain. Leaming placed 13th
“I will always remember that... magical smooth glide standing on top of the cold and fridged water.”
Jeremy mattern
Leslie leaming
Jonathan quiming
English teacher
History teacher
English teacher
“We are all the same and completely addicted to the sport. Most of us live, eat, and breathe cycling.” Leaming has been cycling for about 10 years and started her career on the mountain bike. After racing one mountain bike race four years ago in her first ever race, Leaming has since discovered that she was better suited to be a road cyclist, racing competitively for the last three years. “What initially got me into cycling, was the fact that my husband loved cycling and we decided to take our old beater mountain bikes from the 1980’s out on the local trails,” said Leaming. “I hated it and almost cried. It was so bumpy and the old shifters wouldn’t work. I had no idea what the heck I was doing but I continued and kept going back out there to conquer that trail. We ended going to a huge cycling event near Monterey, California called the Sea Otter Classic that same year. After that event, we both bought road bikes and have been pedaling ever since, attending the Sea Otter Classic every year for the past six years or so and racing it for the past three years.” As Leaming began to build a passion for cycling, she began to develop a competitive edge toward it also. And it is this drive to compete that makes cycling enjoyable for Leaming. “In terms of the competitive aspect of cycling, racing challenges me like nothing else. There is so much more to the sport
out of 32 competitors. Last month, Leaming also participated in the Sea Otter Classic Road Race in the Women’s Cat 4 group. The race is 40miles with 3800 ft elevation gain and many of the best racers show up to win the prestigious Sea Otter race. “I made it up over the first tough climb with the leaders, which maxes out at about 15% grade but got dropped
him to dedicate more time to his family as he and his wife are expecting their second child in October. “Running is very important in my life. I told my wife that this is the last year I am going to do crazy training,” said Mattern. “Running takes a lot of time and energy if you want to be good. You have to be a little bit selfish in terms of your time in order to be competitive. I want to be a good runner, but not as much as I want to be a great father. In the next few years I will devote most of my energy into being a solid father, husband, teacher, and coach. My personal running goals will adjust accordingly.” Leslie Leaming, History teacher For Leslie Leaming, US History teacher, cycling is more than just a sport. It has grown into such a passion that when she is not in the classroom teaching it seems that Leaming is on the road, riding. “Usually during school my training is very focused and I am riding interval sets, accelerations, hill repeats and am only out there for an hour to an hour and a half on weekdays. Weekends tend to be longer rides climbing up into the local mountains,” said Leaming. Leaming’s training schedule consists of cycling about four to five days a week on average during the training season, racing season, and summer vacation (JanuarySeptember). She rides anywhere from an hour to four hours per ride depending on
from the leaders at almost the same spot I was dropped last year,” said Leaming. “Thankfully, I picked up four other riders and formed a group, which I was able to work with for the rest of the race. Knowing that the end of the race is a three mile climb that averages 6.1% for the last 1.5 miles I did the best I could to conserve energy.” On the last 10% kicker one of the girls attacked and was able to pull a small gap. Leaming chased and dropped the other girls in her group but was still trailing the girl who went out ahead of her. “Once I got to the last climb I put on the gas and went. I eventually passed the girl in my group that attacked earlier and two other girls,” said Leaming. Leaming was able to finish the race 18th out of 39 competitors and in her age group she took 4th out of 15. Because of her love for the sport, Leaming hopes to continue cycling well into her future even if it is not at such a competitive level. “Just over Spring Break, I was walking my dog at a local county park and saw a bunch of older cyclists riding through the park. Many of them had to be in their70’s and they had nice road bikes and were all decked out in their cycling kits,” said Leaming. “This really made me smile because it makes me happy to know that as I get older I do not have to give up cycling, which I love dearly.”
JEREMY MATTERN
English Teacher
Sport
Running
Years Twenty Two
22
Photos courtesy of JEREMY MATTERN
JONATHAN QUIMING
English Teacher
LESLIE LEAMING
Sport
Sport
Surfing
Cycling
History Teacher
Years
Years
10
19
Photos courtesy of JONATHAN QUIMING
Photos courtesy of LESLIE LEAMING
24
inFocus
Photography by AMORETTE VALERO / Wildcat
Taylor Spears, senior 1st team All-CIF
Spears transferred to the Ladycats from rival Mater Dei High School after her sophomore season. She will head to Cal Poly SLO next fall where she will continue playing basketball for the Mustangs. RYAN CORBETT (‘11)
Anna Kim, junior
Keitra Wallace, senior
Kim earns All-CIF recognition as a junior and will be one of the top returning players in the Southern Section next season. Kim is known for her three-point range and ability to create plays.
In addition to All-CIF honors, Wallace was also named Max Preps All-State Honorable Mention.Wallace is taking her talents to Pepperdine University next fall.
2nd team All-CIF
AMORETTE VALERO / Wildcat
1st team All-CIF
RYAN CORBETT (‘11}