4
News
The Borah Senator May, 22 2011
Students recognized for achievement
Art, Senator’s Choice, JROTC produce outstanding end-of-year award winners By Grace Gibney
With the school year coming to a close, many Lions stick out from the herd, both academically and skillfully. Numerous students were recognized with awards from various areas of Borah’s campus. The Senator’s Choice Assembly on April 23 recognized students for their leadership abilities and academic excellence. Counselors and staff nominated students for the award. Junior Kristian Gomez is one of 30 recipients of the Senator’s Choice Award. “It was kind of nice to be nominated. I got my nomination on the last day they were handing them out, so I went home and showed mom and dad,” said Gomez.” Then the day of the assembly I saw my uncle and cousin walking around on the floor. Everyone knew I had won and I was in the dark. It was a bit of a surprise.” Borah’s staff acknowledges students who strive both inside and outside of school. Gomez is a Link Leader for the upcoming school year, plays on Borah’s ultimate frisbee team, and works at McDonald’s. Although his future plans are still up in the air, he enjoys his health class with teacher Luke Gordon. Along with academics, many stu-
dents succeed within Borah’s clubs. After only 10 months of practice with rifle throwing, junior Austin Reid received a first place award in Special Exhibition at the Taylorsville All Army Drill Meet in Salt Lake City. Reid was the single representative from the Treasure Valley. “It was alright. The kids from the other schools were helpful and stuff. They were crazy,” he said. Reid taught himself all his rifle drill moves. After watching numerous YouTube videos, Reid practiced with his rifle, a nine-pound replica made of steel and plastic, and pieced together a three-minute drill set. He received the first place award after competing against 10 other performers. “I wasn’t nervous. JROTC teaches me discipline and hard work. It showed that I could teach myself stuff. It was a confidence booster.” Additionally, Reid is involved in Borah’s JROTC program. “In JROTC, we pretty much cover everything. We march, drill, teach leadership, and first aid. We even write essays.” On May 1, junior art students Joplin Morgan, Yeva Valter, Brittany Johnson, and Anna Kennedy teamed up and competed in the ChalkHeart
Photo by Korey Combs
Borah students recognized for their skills and excellence are Art award winner Joplin Morgan (left), Senator’s Choice award winner Kristian Gomez (center) and rifle throwing champion Austin Reid (right).
Competition. Of 20 high school teams, they received second place. The team picked a selection of poetry and interpreted it into a chalk picture. “It was comfortable,” said Morgan. “Nobody was going to tell us that our art was bad. It happened so quick, but we did the best we could with the time we were given. But it was a lot of fun to spice up a selection of poetry. It’s really cool to think about how el-
ementary sidewalk chalk is and then create a piece out of it that has a medium.” Morgan plans to include art in his future and has some definitte ideas. “I would like to have a bachelor’s in Art Education. It would be cool to study art overseas in Europe.” To watch a video of Reid’s Special Exhibition drill, visit borahsenator. com
National school report ranks Borah in top tier By Daxton Williams
Borah ranks in the top 10 percent of high schools in the nation, according to a Washington Post survey. Principal Bonita Hammer commented on the award, “I’m very proud of all our students.” Jay Mathews, a Washington Post writer, started the ranking in 1998 of Washington area high schools, until the Post and Mathews expanded it to a larger spectrum. Every high school in the nation is now being ranked on this list.
The list uses an equation to find the rankings: Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests divided by graduating seniors equals the challenge index or the ranking of the school. In 2008, Borah was in the top 1,500 schools in the United States. There are 98,817 public high schools across the nation. “The diverse population really sets us apart,” said Hammer. “I think the student body is accepting and helping
with all of their fellow students.” AP History teacher Jayne Davis agreed about the diverse student body and added, “Being a social studies teacher, I know that Borah has the most AP social studies courses.” According to Idaho.gov Borah has had 90 percent or higher of its seniors graduate since 2006. Fifty-Two percent of the 2009 graduating class enrolled in a post secondary education. Counselor Luanne Briggs said, “I talk to them about looking at their future and to challenge themselves, but
at the same time, try to keep it balanced with their extracurricular activities.” Davis said she believes students need to have self-reliance and independent learning so they can teach themselves when no teachers are around to help them. “I believe we can win this award again by continuing to challenge ourselves academically and enrolling in a lot of AP classes,” said Hammer. The plaque Borah received will be showed off in the office after graduation.