NCHS Inkspot - February 19 Edition

Page 3 - News Every Wednesday and Friday, two tables are set up in the atrium, stocked with candy and fresh brewed coffee, staffed

by NCHS students. This concession stand is more than just a place for a quick pickme-up, it helps foster real world learning.

Page 6 - Features The meaning of a tattoo can be more than just skin deep, going beyond just the literal image inked into skin. Some use their tattoos as a way to remember major life experiences - and even to grow closer to their own families and cultures.

Language of life 3900 E. Raab Road, Normal, Illinois, 61761

February 2019

The journey of a teacher from foreign borders to retirement

Evie Snoeyink Editor-in-Chief s she strolled through the streets of Paris, she could feel her time there growing shorter, coming to an end. The months changing to weeks, weeks changing to days.

The sounds of a foreign language, its soft syllables, filled her ears.

The view of the Eiffel Tower captivated her eyes.

Now, the halls of Normal Community High School replace the city sidewalks.

The slang of America’s Mrs. Cheryl Koth of the Foreign Language Photographer: Evie Snoeyink youth replace the sounds department teaches a French class the grammatical rules of the language. Koth’s of a foreign language. time in front of the classroom is winding down as she is set to retire from a 22 year The seemingly endless teaching career at the end of the semester. fields of corn replace “I came home from France,” Koth said, “and the majestic Notre Dame Cathedral. Her months wanted to use my French.” So Koth went to work once again are changing to weeks. The weeks once for the Board of Trade and downtown Chicago again changing to days. became her new adventure.

With the birth of her second child, Koth and After 22 years of teaching French, Mrs. Cheryl her family made the move to Bloomington. Not Koth’s days of standing in front of a class - teaching wanting to raise kids in a big city. Koth stayed about French art, the different King Louises, the home with her kids for a while until she felt herself dialects of the language... are coming to an end. “going a little bit stir crazy.”

An end, woven together with an equally unique Koth, unable to stay put, ventured out to Illinois beginning.

State University obtaining a degree in education A beginning that lead Koth to travel the world - and preparing herself to be a teacher and a guide. and to travel the district, before finally landing at “I knew day one of student teaching,” Koth said, NCHS. “that that’s what I was meant to do.”

The beginning of Koth’s new career took off with As a student studying French at Northern Illinois her teaching classes at junior colleges. Koth then University, Koth decided to transport herself and accepted a part-time teaching position at Chiddix her studies overseas and experience the language Junior High School. first hand - as she began to study abroad in France.

In her years with Unit 5, Koth taught French at Banking, shopping, even using the phones were Chiddix, Kingsley, and West before she landed as a all moments of turbulence Koth had to overcome. full-time French teacher at NCHS. Her path to a new culture wasn’t always smooth “I never not loved a day in my classroom,” Koth and clear. said. “I love sharing my passion, the language, and “I had a headache for months,” Koth said, “trying the culture of French speakers with students.” to figure out what people were saying to me and Not only was Koth sharing a passion and a how to respond to them.” language in her classes, but she was also forming But even with those barriers, something about relationships. “I knew I could trust her,” Karla the place continued to keep her there: a love for Ontiveros, a former French IV student of Mrs. Koth the country and a love for the language, once it all said, “with personal stuff, but also ask her for help started to come more fluently. with homework and anything I didn’t understand.

While most students went home after a I had that trust with her.” semester, Koth ended up staying for two years.

Koth didn’t just keep these relationships bound It was a time when she traveled over Europe and to the borders of the United States. where “all of the art and history came to life.”

Koth, unable to stay away from the country “she There was no more flipping through the stagnant fell in love with”, lead twelve trips with students pages of history books, no more critiquing works to France. of art from behind a textbook because the history was there, the art was all around her.

But eventually, it was time to board the plane Story Continued on Page 2 and come back home.

A

Negative x negative =

Volume 71, Issue I

POSITIVE

Despite personal setbacks, retiring math teacher known for positive attitude

James Broach & Evie Snoeyink Sports Editor Editor-in-Chief he teacher stands in front of the class. The students in their desks. The teacher explains a proof on the similarities of triangles. It’s a typical Monday morning. The walls of the classroom are decorated with student tessellation projects and PI day tissue boxes. Most math classes at NCHS are the same. The same formulas. The same rules.

The same patterns. But one thing about this class is different. One thing about this class could not be found anywhere another than NCHS. The students, some half asleep, others rushing to scribble down the writing on the board, all suddenly jump in their seats. The teacher yells one of her many catchphrases: “PERPENDICULAR LINES-- DING.” What makes this class so unique is the person leading it - Mrs. Cathe Carter.

In May, after 30 years of teaching math and filling her classroom with positivity and laughter, Carter will be retiring.

T

Photographer: James Broach Mrs. Cathe Carter reviews a problem on the SmartBoard in her 3rd hour Honors Geometry class during her last semester teaching at NCHS.

Carter spent those years on working to make a subject that high school students often may think of as boring and difficult more bearable.

“It’s all about the way [a student’s] mind is set walking into the room,” Carter said. “Are they happy to come into the classroom or are they dreading it? I never want anyone to dread my class.”

“Math is hard for some kids,” Carter acknowledged, “so I use funny things to trigger in their mind what to do.”

Carter would start a chant by saying “area of a circle” and her students would chant back “pi r squared.” Carter would also exclaim “square root, square root” in order to remind her student to take the square Story Continued on Page 2

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NEWS

Issue Sponsor: Iron Pride PTO

The printing of this edition of the Inkspot has been made possible by the generosity of the Normal Community High School Parent Teacher Organization - Iron Pride.

Iron Pride seeks to create a culture of success and to optimize the classroom and school environment through parental involvement.

In addition to providing funding to support the school, the organization offers the Iron Pride Senior Pride Award - a scholarship awarded to a graduating senior who has displayed exceptional school spirit.

Iron Pride is only able to offer their financial support to NCHS through the considerate donations of the community. To learn more about Iron Pride check out their webpage or like them on Facebook. Webpage - bit.ly/2GbEXHB Facebook - bit.ly/2GcHDEE Carter - Continued from P. 1 root of both sides of an equation.

“You can tell she really cares about her students and their learning,” Ellie Thompson, a former student of Carter said. Thompson saw Carter as someone who was always enthusiastic and kind in the classroom.

But Carter’s experiences in life haven’t always been as cheery as her personality.

In 2007, Carter took a leave of absence when her middle school daughter, Haley, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. A diagnosis that Carter’s son, Austin, had received as well.

After a four year leave, Carter returned to NCHS in 2011, with Austin joining her the following year as a freshman, and Haley, attending NCHS beginning in 2013.

Carter credits St. Jude with helping her children obtain cancer free diagnoses. Her appreciation of the organization is evident - Carter sponsors the St. Jude club at NCHS which works to source donations and support for the children’s research hospital.

In 2012, Carter was at NCHS when the shooting incident occurred at the school. She had just walked into the Math department office when she heard screams.

At first, Carter didn’t think much of the screams assuming that it was just coming from the lunch room until she heard “code red” being blared over the intercom.

Through the Math department window, Carter “saw kids running from the school and the police all coming… with guns.”

Not only was Carter experiencing an event a vast majority of other teachers will hopefully never experience, she was experiencing it as a mother with a child in the building. While no one was physically injured in the event, but this is still a vivid memory of Carter’s teaching career.

Yet, despite the trials in Carter’s life, she has remained, in her student’s eyes, a positive person.

Carter’s positivity is what always stood out to Abigail Lemons, a former student of the math teacher.

But NCHS almost missed out on having Carter as a beacon of positivity in the school, if it wasn’t for a professor at Western Illinois University, the college Carter attended.

Entering college, Carter was planning to become an accountant. But she soon realized that the business side of the job wasn’t for her. She loved the numbers but that world didn’t suit her.

One day after class, Carter’s professor pulled her aside and told her she should be a math teacher. Carter’s original reaction was, “really you want me to teach math?” But 30 years later and Carter hasn’t regretted her decision.

“This has been such a great job and been very rewarding. I love running into kids at Walmart or them coming back” and hearing them “saying ‘thank you for helping me,’” Carter said.

Carter entered into teaching because she wanted to make a difference. A difference in how students view and learn math.

She knew the stereotypes, math was boring and hard, and she came to break the mold.

Carter wanted her students to be able to say, “‘Oh, I am going to Mrs. Carter’s class, rather than ‘Ugh, I’m going to math.’”

For 30 years, Carter’s life has revolved around students and numbers. But the thing about numbers is that they are endless, and the thing about students is they never forget the ones that leave an impact. Carter may be retiring, but it isn’t an end for her because opportunities are infinite. And It isn’t a goodbye either because her impact will continue to live on through the lives of her students.

Editor’s note: Tattoo laws

In the state of Illinois, individuals must be 18 years old to be tattooed.

Stick-and-poke tattoos (self done tattoos) come with serious health risks including: allergic reactions, infection and blood-borne diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B and C. It is a Class A misdemeanor for anyone other than a person properly licensed to tattoo or offer to tattoo a person under age 18.

Koth - Continued from P. 1 The group sizes have ranged from 13 to 52 students, Koth being the only chaperone.

The year of 52 students “was a bit scary,” Koth said. “I was praying every night before I went to bed and every morning before the day got started that nobody got hurt.”

And even though Koth may never take a group of high schoolers as large as that to a foreign country again, it was all worth it.

“It’s so exciting,” said Koth “to share a culture that I love with the people that choose to travel with me.”

Yet, Koth didn’t need to go far to share another culture with students.

In the past years, the doors of NCHS have been a gateway for an increased amount of Congolese students, who, to Koth’s enjoyment, speak French.

Koth has been working with these students on anything from learning how to go through the lunch line, to learning how to open a lock to even translating for Ms. Joan Fee in the Guidance office.

“I have spent just about every free period first semester… translating for the Congolese in this school,” Koth said.

“She loves the French language,” Mrs. Mary Esther Baldwin, a colleague in the foreign language department said. “She loves being a part of teenagers lives and helping them.”

And it is what Koth will continue to do, even through retirement. It will not be the end of her journey. Koth’s tour of the district is not over just yet.

There has been discussion in Unit 5 about a new position where someone would travel the district helping translate for French-speaking students and their families. A position Koth would gladly take if it still allows her to keep traveling the world, spend time with her grandkids and follow her son’s college golf team.

“Then I wouldn’t be so sad [about retirement],” Koth said, “if I know I can still see students.”

It is only natural that a person who has done as much traveling as herself finds a new niche with a group of students who have also shared the same experience of stepping foot on to foreign ground. It is only natural that a person who tells her classes, “If you don’t learn anything else, learn how to say thank you and how much and where’s the bathroom in several languages,” puts off retirement to share those phrases with students who feel as if they are voyaging through uncharted territory.

There was a time when Koth was in a foreign country, not knowing the language, not knowing the customs, herself having to been taught all these things, now, Koth is that person for someone else.

For some, retirement would have been an end, a time for goodbyes. For Koth, it is time for a new beginning. A time to travel and experience new countries; brave a cruise from Hong Kong to Cambodia to Thailand to Singapore. A time to spend with family members, both new and old. A time to spend with Congolese students, sharing culture and language. For a total of 22 years Koth has been teaching the French language, but now she will embark on a new journey experiencing the language of life.

NCHS sweatshirt logo blanket Support the Inkspot, help fund print publications like this one, and stay warm all for $30.

This limitededition, extra soft, sweatshirt-style 4.5 ft x 7 ft blanket is available at: NCHSinkspot.com/blanket

Students launch non-profit to sell donated spirit wear at low prices

NEWS

3

How buying coffee helps students learn Grounded in Iron proceeds help students practice hands-on life skills

The founders of the Respirit Photographer: Anagha Arla non-profit pose with some of the donated spirit wear they collected to pass on to other Unit 5 students. Mr. Trevor Chapman provided the students with space in the Normal Community building to store the clothing the group had collected.

Anagha Arla Staff Reporter Respirit, a non-profit created by four Unit 5 high school seniors, is working to provide spirit wear to the district’s students at affordable prices.

Respirit functions by accepting donations of gently used, clean spirit wear and re-selling the donated clothing at prices much lower than when purchased new.

The organization is the brainchild of NCHS students Claire Meyer and Jess Bynum and West students Braden Cook and Olivia Teplitz-Crawford who collaborated on the project in their Innovative Entrepreneurship course.

“I had been thinking about the idea for Respirit for a while,” Meyer said.

During her sophomore year, Meyer remembers buying her sophomore class board shirt and purchasing from the volleyball team’s online spirit order and “noticed that not everyone was able to afford those things.”

When Meyer was cleaning out her closet one day, Meyer realized how many old volleyball tournament shirts and the number of old Benjamin Bears shirts she had in her closet that she would never wear again. It was then she said that she questioned: “What am I going to do with this stuff?”

The answer: Respirit.

The four students planned, with the help of Community and West principals, to hold spirit wear donation drives and collect the items Meyer assumed might be taking up space in other students’ closets.

When Community’s drive took place on November 2, the organization received over 260 donations.

The group has set up booths at school events to resell the donations at significantly lower prices than when new - making spirit wear more affordable to all Unit 5 students.

At Community during Freshman Orientation Night, the group sold elementary, middle and high school spirit wear.

“We sold over half of our inventory and made over 200 dollars for the non-profit,” Cook said.

With this money the organization plans “to help other students in the school district” by donating it back to the school district - giving it to various organizations and clubs, Meyer said.

So far, Respirit has been met with a positive response.

“We had so many clothes, we ran out of bins to put them in,” Meyer said. “Our bins were overflowing.”

The non-profit plans to hold at least one more drive this school year but is also focusing on how to continue Respirit after their upcoming graduation.

“Through all of the hard work and time that we put into our non-profit, the overall result of it is worth all of the other work we had to do,” Meyer said. These are results that the four want to see carried on and are looking for underclassmen interested in getting involved in continuing their goal of making school spirit affordable for all Unit 5 families.

Beyond just continuing in Unit 5, the group would “like to see all the schools around Mclean Country: Tri-Valley and Olympia” start similar programs to Respirit, Cook said.

Mrs. Sherrie McAndrews helps Josiah Townsend, Matthew Krumbhaar and Photographer: Jessica Dougall Josh Smoak set up Grounded in Iron before opening for students. Grounded in Iron is open every Wednesday and Friday during lunch hours.

Jessica Dougall Photo Editor Before heading into the cafeteria for lunch, NCHS students may find themselves waiting in line to purchase their favorite candy or a coffee to help get through the rest of the day. Looking for some Sour Skittles or an iced coffee for some energy?

No matter what you’re in the mood for, Grounded in Iron has students covered.

Grounded in Iron began brewing three years ago after Learning Resource teachers were approached by the school’s vocational coordinators and were offered a grant to start a minibusiness to help students practice hands-on life skills to be applied at school and in the community.

Students create a budget and shop for supplies, they practice communicating with customers and making change.

All of the students working for Grounded in Iron enjoy doing different tasks “that they enjoy more and ask to do or areas that they are really good in and take pride in doing,” said Learning Resource teacher Mrs. Erin Sanders who helps oversee the coffee shop.

The coffee shop sells both Keurig brewed K-cup coffee and a homemade iced coffee blend for two-dollars, along with an assortment of candy for a dollar.

For Josh Smoak, “stocking the candy” is the sophomore’s The group collects spirit wear at anytime, contact a favorite part about helping member if you are interesting in making a donation or run the Grounded in Iron concession table. Some of getting involved in continuing Respirit.

the sellers are “usually the Sour Skittles and Sour Patch candy,” Smoak said.

Each week, students earn a paycheck from Grounded In Iron which they use during their community outings.

Sam’s Club, Five-Below, The Original Pancake House, and Einstein Bros. Bagels are just some places the students visited during first semester this year. These community outings help students practice using public transportation, budgeting, and making purchases in the community - a skill they will need after high school.

If it wasn’t for the coffee shop, these students wouldn’t have the opportunity to practice important life skills by going on outings.

Before Grounded in Iron began, “It was very rare that we had the money for the students to be actually able to go and purchase something,” Learning Resource teacher Mrs. Angie Cardiff said.

An important life skill is being able to use money

and through the coffee shop, these students have the opportunity to practice those skills. Students are able to interact with a cashier and make the purchases.

“We were not able to do that very often,” Cardiff said, “because we didn’t have the money. Now they’re able to do that much more often and get so much more practice with it.”

“We appreciate everyone’s business,” Sanders said, “that money goes right back to the kids, where they can have a much better curriculum than they ever had before.”

Students are able to use skills learned from running the coffee shop and in class and apply them when on outings.

Grounded in Iron is open every Wednesday and Friday during all lunch hours outside of the cafeteria. They are a cash only business selling coffee and candy.

Photographer: Jessica Dougall Students Josh Smoak and Kyle Enchelmayer make change for a customer during Grounded in Iron’s lunch hours. The two will use their share of the profits to attend community outings.

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By the NTommy umbers Olsson Staff Reporter

Chapman

ENTERTAINMENT

&

PEARL JAM

Mr. Matt Chapman and his son attend Pearl Jam's August 18 Wrigley Field performance.

By the NTommy umbers Olsson Staff Reporter

Keogh

& SPRINGSTEEN

Mr. Kelly Keogh shakes hands with rock legend Bruce Springsteen at a signing for Springsteen's autobiography Born to Run in 2016.

Photo Courtesy of: Mr. Matt Chapman

You might know that Mr. Matt Chapman is the head Photo Courtesy varsity coach of both the boys and girls soccer teams. of: Or that he is a Learning Resource teacher who spends Mr. Kelly Keogh most of his day teaching social studies with Mr. Matt Mr. Kelly Keogh has been teaching at NCHS for almost 30 Schweinberg. years.

Students may know him from their freshman year But what you might not know about Chapman is his love Regional World Studies class, they might know that he of rock music, specifically, what he calls “his band” - the teaches at Brown University during the summer, or they influential alternative rocker group - Pearl Jam. just know him as the guy who always has his coffee mug Pearl Jam's debuted in 1991 with the album Ten in hand. But what people might not know about Keogh (Epic Records) which introduced Chapman to the is his love for Bruce Springsteen and his “influential and band. Chapman described himself as being the relatable” music.

Mr. Keogh “right age at the right time”, “the target audience” for the Even though he first saw album. is busy teaching Springsteen Something about the band “just clicked” with Chapman at Community the first time he heard the album - which Rolling Stone and the Ivy League's perform live in 1978 in ranks as the 209th great album of all time.

Brown University during Nashville, Tennessee as a Chapman first saw Pearl Jam perform the summer Keogh has sophomore in high school.

Keogh described Nashville live in East Troy, a small town in Wisconsin. still found time to make it as “coming off the heels of Frontman Eddie Vedder and the group to 33 Springsteen concerts performed a set of 10 songs on the main stage at this stop which is almost one a the Civil Rights Movement", year since his first show a time when there was still a on the Lollapalooza tour.

At the time, Lollapalooza was only in its second year and in 1978. He has gone to lot of racial tension in the city.

With both Springsteen's was a traveling music festival. It was not until 2005 that several concerts with his Lollapalooza would find a permanent home in Chicago's daughters including a show drummer and saxophone player being minorities, in Chicago.

Grant Park where Pearl Jam headlined in 2007.

Keogh thought that the Ke o g h ’s After Being a parent, diversity of the band and the daughters his first along with coaching message of their music was went with concert and teaching, made “very progressive for that experience, Chapman did it difficult to attend live him to one of his favorite time period.” not get the opportunity to shows over the years. But shows in Chicago in 2016.

Springsteen, Keogh and his daughters see another performance Chapman's son is now 14 and who has been until 2009 when Pearl Jam has been to two concerts purchased front row tickets extremely played the United Center with his dad and has really to Springsteen's River Tour progressive throughout his in Chicago. Since then, enjoyed them. Chapman at the United Center, he career, was awarded the Chapman has seen them thinks kids today would described the show as “one Presidential Medal of on “about every tour” and really enjoy Pearl Jam “Even of the coolest experiences Freedom in 2016 for the plans to continue to do so. if you’re not a fan initially of I’ve had.” stories he told through his After performing one of Pearl Jam if you go to one of lyrics and helping people Chapman has seen his songs, Springsteen gave their shows you’ll probably realize the American dream. the band live now a his harmonica to Keogh's “Springsteen was always total of seven times, be like ‘oh these guys, I like eldest daughter. able to grow with his music recently attending concerts these guys,’” Chapman said.

Keogh has had the and relate it to what was at Wrigley Field in Chicago “You may not be as big a fan as I am, but you are going to opportunity to meet going on in the world,” Keogh and in St. Louis. have a good time and you Springsteen three said.

Chapman's coolest are going to understand why “He writes music that I have times through the years, experience at a Pearl people like me are such huge really been able to relate to most recently in 2016.

Jam concert occurred fans.”

The furthest throughout my life.” when he sat in the 5th row Check out Mr. distance that at one of the band's shows Check out Mr. Matt Chapman's Keogh has in St. Louis.

Kelly Keogh's top 15 Pearl traveled to see "the Boss" “It was pretty incredible,” top eight Bruce Chapman said, “one of the Jam songs on the NCHS perform is 892 miles.

Springsteen songs on the Keogh most recently saw InkSpotify channel. loudest experiences of my Inkspot Spotify channel InkSpotify.

Springsteen live in New life but it was really fun.”

York in January of 2018.

1. Open your phone's camera app The concert was part of 2. Hold your phone up to the QR a year long residency on code and wait a few seconds Broadway for the singer3. Proceed to rock out songwriter at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

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Conversation Starters Inkspot Staff

Ben Gibbard, frontman of the alternative rock band Death Cab for Cutie, took to social media recently saying: "Here’s an old cliché, but people say it because it’s true: You have your whole life to write your first record; six months to write the second record, which is mainly songs from the first record that didn't make it and some new stuff you wrote, and then the difficult third.

It’s difficult because you have no songs and even less time to write them."

What "difficult third" albums do you rank as an artist's career high-water mark or amongst their best?

Notable Third Albums in Popular Music History • Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run • The Clash's London Calling • Nirvana's In Utero • Green Day's Dookie • Metallica's Master of Puppets • Radiohead's OK Computer • Blink 182's Enema of the State • Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP • Kanye West's Graduation • Arcade Fire's The Suburbs Share your responses with us on Instagram @NCHSinkspot

WANT TO WIN A CHIPOTLE GIFTCARD? IT'S EASY AS 1.2.3.

1. EAT AT THE CHIPOTLE ON COLLEGE AVE. ON MARCH 5 FROM 4-8 2. TELL THE CASHIER YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE INKSPOT 3. SHARE A PICTURE OF YOUR MEAL ON INSTAGRAM AND TAG @NCHSINKSPOT

ENTERTAINMENT

Music Road Trip Mayhem

Abby Kimball Chicago, Indianapolis & St. Louis will host a variety of artists within Staff Reporter a few hours of the BloNo area; NCHS students comment on the tours Hamilton Now Playing CIBC Theatre - Chicago, IL Tickets start at $72 “The whole show was really engaging and fascinating. (It’s) a great way to learn some early American history for people that aren’t interested in history.” - Derek Runyon (10) “You walk in and you’re hit by the realization that you’re surrounded by people who also love what you love... it’s living, breathing art.” - Mac Jensen (11) Panic! At The Disco: Pray for the Wicked Tour

February 4 Allstate Arena - Rosemont, IL Tickets start at $50 “I felt very at home. It was very audience inclusive and energetic throughout the entirety of the show.” - Finn Schiebel (10) Justin Timberlake: The Man Of The Woods Tour March 28 Enterprise Center - St. Louis, MO Tickets Start at $90 “He dances and sings non-stop for over two hours without an intermission. He sounds as good live as he does on the radio. He’s a true entertainer. At one point, the front part of his stage came off, raised up, and went from the front to the very back. He made sure every crowd goer had great views of him and his dancers.” - Mrs. Jane Runyon Dan + Shay The Tour March 30 Rosemont Theatre - Rosemont, IL Tickets start at $123 “After seeing them in concert, I could tell how much they love singing and performing. They were very engaged with the audience when they were on stage and very energetic!”

- Josi Grove (12) “They sounded great live! (I) also got to meet them afterwards and they were super nice.”

- Georgia Merkle (12) Ariana Grande: Sweetener World Tour April 7 & 8 United Center - Chicago, IL Tickets starting at $49 “Iconic.” - Savannah Shelton (12) Why Don’t We

April 12 Rosemont Theatre - Rosemont, IL Tickets starting at $80 “When they are live, it’s like a movie. They really pour their heart and soul into what they do and you can see it when they perform. They love connecting with fans, making eye contact, (and) holding hands.” - Emmalea Brown (12) The 1975

May 8 United Center - Chicago, IL Tickets start at $29 “Seeing the 1975 in concert is different because it doesn’t feel like the artist is feeding the crowd about how great they are… It isn’t just something to make money, it’s a connection through art that he understands and enjoys.”- Emily Wade (12) “I didn’t even know half the songs, but the lights and the stage (were) so pretty. They sometimes just play instrumentals.” - Anabelle Chinski (12) Luke Bryan at Country Lakeshake Festival June 21 & 23 Huntington Bank Pavilion - Chicago, IL Tickets start at $56 “It was a fun, energetic crowd and everyone knew all the words to the songs. Even though it was freezing, it was a good time.” - Carsyn Barber (12) Shawn Mendes: The Tour June 27 Allstate Arena - Rosemont, IL Tickets start at $49 “He’s really energetic, and he is amazing live. Some concerts feel as if they just played their album on stage, but he truly entertains the crowd.” - Laina Runyon (12) Twenty One Pilots: The Bandito Tour

June 28 Bankers Life Fieldhouse - Indianapolis, IN Tickets start at $59 “I was sitting in the nosebleeds, but I still felt really close to them. They put on a really nice and interactive show. I appreciated all the songs they played and it was definitely in my top three concerts I’ve ever been to.” - Breanna Hughes (11) “There’s a part where Tyler goes up in the crowd on fairly local, and just in that moment I felt this weird thing - like a connection - which I’ve only felt at their shows. I realized it takes a special kind of group/person to pull that kind of thing off.” - Rachel Barelka (11) Lollapalooza August 1-4 Grant Park - Chicago, IL Tickets not yet available “Part of the experience is being suffocated by half naked girls/boys trying your best to even see the artist performing. That being said, everyone is there to have a good time and seems to genuinely enjoy the music. The crowds are crazy and people are crazier, but there is nothing more fun than involuntarily bonding with strangers over music!” - Ellie Walker (12) “Lollapalooza was an incredible experience. I had the opportunity to see a lot of cultures and creativity within the crowds, so that was very different from Bloomington… the atmosphere was so lively and unique. It seemed as though everyone fit in, yet appeared so different. No one was being judged or hating on others, everyone was just there to have a good time and listen to quality music.” - Arden Hayek (12) “Some advice I would give to anyone thinking about going is make sure to thoroughly read all the festival rules online and on the app and make sure to have a group of friends to go with because it’s no fun alone!” - Camron Hinman (12)

Also on Tour

Travis Scott: Wish You Were Here Tour 2 February 21 & 22 United Center - Chicago, IL Tickets start at $80 Queen + Adam Lambert: The Rhapsody Tour August 9 United Center - Chicago, IL Tickets start at $529 Carrie Underwood October 29 United Center - Chicago, IL Tickets start at $49

5

On the

SPOT

Abby Kimball Staff Reporter Students answer: “What is your favorite concert”?

“It’s a tie between Taylor Swift and Harry Styles. Taylor’s production is insane; she has fireworks [and] huge set designs. It was really fun to dance and sing [at Harry’s concert].” - Kameela Douiyssi (12)

“Taylor Swift.... She hit a high note so well, I don’t think another artist can do that live. It was so interactive (because) the two B-Stages bring her closer to the people in the back.

She gets through the whole stadium.” - Zachary Mikel (12) “Drake. I was crying, (and I was in) the fourth row. When he came out, everything went dark. Then the lights came on and he was there; his music came on, it was so different.

What I really liked was he got on this elevator-thing and went over the crowd.” - Kash Tate (12)

“Travis Scott. It was amazing; there were a lot of lights flashing (and) every time the beat dropped, a bunch of smoke would rise. Everybody around you was going crazy. It was easy to get in a good mood.” - Yash Pandey (10)

Photo Courtesy of: Emily Wade

Photo Courtesy of: Rachel Barelka

Photographer: Natalie Hoeferle

The 1975 released their latest album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, in late November of 2018. The group is set to release a follow-up album in May 2019.

Twenty One Pilots released their fifth studio album, Trench, in October of 2018.

Post Malone performed at one of Lollapalooza’s main stages during the festival’s 2018 run in Grant Park.

Don’t Miss a Concert with Songkick The free smart phone Songkick app prevents you from ever missing a show.

Songkick will scan your music library and create a custom calendar of upcoming concerts near you for all of your artists and send you email updates.

6

FEATURES

as an art form: Students, teachers Tattoos used to express grief, portray personal style, show off their ink & memorialize events Kim Halm Staff Reporter

NCHS senior takes on Germany

The dull drone of the buzzing machine greets the those who enter the shop. The walls are filled with neatly framed images of fierce tigers, flaming hearts, script adorned anchors, gentle butterflies.... Threering binders litter the counter, stuffed with thousands of laminated images for customers to choose from.

As the stigma of tattoos has begun to shift, patrons of tattoo shops are moving away from these traditional, sometimes cliché, images and toward images that hold more personal meanings.

Here is a look at some of the meanings behind the tattoos seen around NCHS. Mr. Tyler McWhorter decided to get a tattoo of a safety pin after the 2016 election. The day after the election, a student gave McWhorter a safety pin to wear, symbolizing a safe space in a turbulent political climate. McWhorter loved the idea so much, he Madison poses in front of a train with Photo Courtesy of: decided to get a safety pin tattooed on his wrist.

Madison Beneke her luggage and the host family she is Mrs. Barbara Koski has a tattoo of a Fleur-de-lis and living with while in Germany. a triskelion. The Fleur-de-lis symbolizes French Royalty Kim Halm and represents Koski’s love of France. The triskelion Staff Reporter is a Celtic symbol which represents both the Holy Madison Beneke glows in the dark and sweaty Trinity and female empowerment. For Koski, it also atmosphere of her junior prom in 2018. She stands represents her Irish heritage. swaying to the pounding music with a group of other Tyler Altshue (12) has three tattoos on his wrist: a juniors. In her long sparkling dress and blonde curlsribbon in honor of his uncle who passed away from she seems to take on the image of a princess. lung cancer; a rose in memory of his grandmother This is a bittersweet moment for her-- this is both who loved roses and gardening; and a piece of artwork her first and last prom. from one of his favorite artists on Instagram.

This year, Röbel, Germany’s population of 5,300 On her arm, Ms. Kaitlyn Baez has a Samoan bone increased by one when Madison joined the town as a tattoo, a tattoo created by hammering differently foreign exchange student. shaped bones into the skin creating different textures Sparked by her love for Frau Mirjam Schnabel’s and shapes on the skin. The shapes in Baez’s tattoo German class, Madison began seeking out represent different aspects of the Samoan islands opportunities to study in Germany. Madison’s search such as waves, mountains and birds. lead her to the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Jessica Fuentez (12) has a tattoo on her upper arm program and she began the rigorous application written in Arabic meaning “I love you too the moon process. and back.”

The application form itself took a month and a half to Zoee Simpkins (12) has a tattoo of two geese on her complete- composed of a large variety of information, ankle in honor of her grandfather who passed away. from passport details to faculty signatures to proof of Zoee’s grandfather was a goose hunter, so Zoee got German language skills. a larger goose representing her grandfather and a Beyond the application, a professional headshot smaller goose to represent herself. was required. But Madison and her family were Ms. Latisha Baker has a tattoo of angel wings with determined to get a good enough picture without a the initials “FLB” in the middle in joint memory of her professional. Over the course of two days, they set brother and father who shared the same initials and up a makeshift studio in their living room, complete passed away. with a sheet serving as a backdrop and moving every Mr. Stefen Robinson’s forearm features the image available light in the house to the living room to of a tree with its leaves blowing around it and a bird create the perfect lighting. Once they finally set the trying to land on the tree. The falling leaves represent scene they grabbed their best camera and snapped the impermanence of life while the bird trying to land Madison’s “professional” head shot. on the tree represents discomfort with instability.

After the application was submitted, Madison Ms. Kevin Vernon has a tattoo of a cat on her completed two interviews, one for the exchange forearm. Vernon, a self-proclaimed “crazy cat lady,” program itself and one for host family placement. always knew she wanted to get a tattoo of her first cat, Another obstacle Madison had to navigate before but she also decided to add a semicolon to its tail. The she could be accepted to the program was high school semicolon represents coping with depression and the graduation. Her guidance counselor, Mrs. Addie Ince, idea of moving past depression or a suicide attempt helped Madison to determine the credit transfer and onward to a more recovery centered phase of process, to contact the Illinois Board of Education, life. Vernon felt it was important to be open about her Story Continued on Page 7 experiences with mental illness to make sure students know it gets better.

On her forearm, Ms. Lauren Chessare has a tattoo of three birds in honor of her late father.

An anonymous sophomore student has the words “stay alive” tattooed on their knees. They gave to them self the tattoos on the anniversary of their suicide attempt to commemorate the progress they have made after such an experience.

Mollie Bothers (12) has a tattoo of a mountain on her ankle. Mollie and her sister received tattoos of matching images to represent an important place for their family in Colorado.

Tattoos Pictured: Left to Right; Top to Bottom: Mr. McWhorter’s safety pin; Mrs. Koski’s Fleur-de-lis and triskelion; Altshue’s three wrist tattoos; Ms. Baez’s Samoan tattoo; Fuentez’s Arabic phrase; Simpkins’ geese tattoo; Ms. Baker’s angel wing tattoo; Mr. Robinson’s tree piece; Ms. Vernon’s semicolon cat; Ms. Chessare’s three bird tattoo; a sophomore’s knee tattoos; Brother’s ankle mountain tattoo.

Photographer: Kim Halm

FEATURES

7

of music to conclude for twins What College Means For NEWFOUNDLOVE Years as they head to college in the fall Abby Kimball Staff Reporter

Photo Courtesy of: Mr. Jeff Christopherson

After being a band for over a decade, senior twins Andrew and Tyler Cummings - otherwise known as NEWFOUNDLOVE - are heading their separate ways to college and have no definite plan on continuing their music together.

Andrew and Tyler have been playing together since they were very young. They were influenced by their family who took them to concerts, gave them toy instruments, and had “Sweet Child O Mine” by Guns and Roses as their lullaby.

“Our grandmother told us,” said Andrew. “That one time, she gave us a couple wooden spoons and we just played them like they were instruments.”

Tyler began with playing guitar after having a toy guitar as a kid. He later picked up bass after needing a bassist for a talent show freshman year. Andrew, on the other hand, became fascinated with drums after listening to bucket drummers outside of a baseball game when he was younger.

It wasn’t until four years ago that the brothers began taking their music seriously.

Now, the twins’ professionally produced music can be found on Apple Music, iTunes, and Spotify.

Their debut single, “February Stars”, was released in October of 2018.

Tyler wrote the track back in 2017, reflecting on a personal experience

Beneke - Continued from P. 6

and to check all requirements for potential colleges and make sure those requirements would be met in Germany.

After five hectic months, Madison was accepted into the foreign exchange program and awarded a $16,000 scholarship to cover the cost of the trip.

Madison is spending her senior year as a tenth grade student at Schulcampus Röbel/Müritz, a German with 600 students. She spends the day with the same group of twenty students (a similar structure to Unit 5 elementary schools). Despite the large contrast in school structure, Madison doesn’t prefer one over the other. While Madison loved how the large population of NCHS allowed her to constantly meet new people, she values how the smaller school helps to foster a sense of community.

“Since there are only 20 of us, we really build each other up,” said Madison, “it’s important to us that we build each other up.”

At Normal Community, Madison was the flute section leader in the marching band, but her school in Germany doesn’t have a band class, let alone a marching band. While, there is a small community band, it is composed of mostly adult brass players.

Madison, driven by her love of music, decided to join choir to fill the place of band.

“I really miss music as a class and as an extracurricular,” Madison said, “but it’s just one of those things I have to sacrifice during my year here.”

Being a foreign exchange student extends beyond the school day., Madison has been exploring German culture and traditions. One new tradition was the Christmas Market, a popular German tradition In Germany, almost every town larger than 400 people puts together a Christmas market.

The focal point of each market is a large Christmas tree decorated with lights and ornaments and topped with a star towers over the rustic, cabinlike booths. Christmas music plays throughout the market among the joyful screams of children

he had earlier that year: “Back in sophomore year in February, it got really warm and I went stargazing with somebody,” said Tyler. “I was captivated by the perspective that they had introduced; stars are so massive that in comparison to us, (we’re) so insignificant.”

Tyler is the leader of the duo, writing the songs and composing the melodies, taking melodic and tone inspiration from indie bands like Hippo Campus and COIN. “I wanna express my feelings through an artistic hobby,” said Tyler.

“I’m a very creative person. Writing songs serves as outlet.”

Andrew drums along with what Tyler comes up with, occasionally suggesting riffs and rhythms.

“It’s just Tyler and whatever sort of melody he throws at me,” said Andrew. “I adapt to it.”

Despite all of the work, time, and dedication the twins have put into music, neither plan on making a career out of the art.

“Music was never going to be a career,” siad Tyler. “(It’s risky). I would like to have some sort of retirement plan.”

Andrew plans on attending Illinois State to get his degree in Law, which was influenced by his family and extra-curricular clubs.

“Three of my uncles were lawyers;

and conversations among neighbors. The market is filled with the smell of fresh made food from the lit up booths selling German bread, bratwurst, mulled wine (Madison’s new favorite drink) and homemade crafts. The homemade goods are an important part of German tradition; these crafts are bought and given as valued gifts because they are made with love and care, and connect to the community. One family at Madison’s local Christmas market was selling candles made from beeswax and honey from the beehive they tend in their backyard.

“There have been so many unforgettable moments, but one of the best has been going to Christmas Markets,” Madison said, “... it’s all just so magical!”

Madison is living with a host family during her time in Germany. A host family takes in a foreign exchange student, gives them a place to live and helps introduce them to a foreign culture.

Madison’s host family is made up of her host mother, Ulrike and father, Sven, and her two host siblings, Sarah, 15 years old, and Jonas, 10 years old. Madison loves her host family, but it took some adjusting for her to get used to having a little brother.

“At first I didn’t understand why he was so energetic,” said Madison, “but I understand him much better now. He’s just a typical 10 year old boy, and he loves tractors.”

Madison has formed the closest relationship with her host mother. Her host mother , Ulrike works in management at a historical site and bakes the best bread. Whenever Madison needs advice she can go to Ulrike. “[Ulrike] is always right,” said Madison, “she always know the right thing to say. I really admire her.”

Madison has grown closer to her host mother through discussing Ulrike’s experiences growing up in occupied Germany. Ulrike grew up in East Berlin, the Soviet side of the Berlin Wall. Madison had never heard of the Berlin Wall before arriving

I always wanted to do what they did because it interested me,” said Andrew. “I took business law and I loved it, (then I joined) Mock Trial and also loved that. I want to go into law because of how much I enjoy it and how much it interests me.”

Tyler intends on majoring in software engineering at Iowa State.

“I love to code, and I love to create,” said Tyler. “Software engineering combines the two.”

This puts the duo four hours apart, getting in the way of their ability to collaborate. Because of this, the brothers have no plan on releasing more music while they are in college.

Although they won’t be able to work together, Tyler still plans on writing songs and playing guitar. This differs from Andrew’s music plan in college: “Maybe I’ll pick up the sticks and play every once in a while, but I don’t want to be in another band,” said Andrew. “I’m committed to the music we have written, so I really only want to play that.”

As the brothers go their separate ways this fall, their music will stay with them.

“Andrew and I have been making music with each other (for) even longer than my first memory,” said Tyler. “We’ve always been a band.”

in Germany and was shocked to learn about the impact it had on Germany and more specifically Ulrike. Ulrike was in high school when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and it changed the course of her life; she was able to travel to other countries and pursue a new career path. Once she had learned about the Berlin Wall, Madison was determined to learn as much as she could; she visited the Berlin Wall memorial and began asking the members of her new community about their experiences surrounding the Berlin Wall.

“Everyone knows where they were when it happened,” said Madison, “They all remember seeing it on TV and knowing that moment was going to change the rest of their lives.”

Madison’s time in Germany has allowed her to explore the in and outs of German culture, from Christmas traditions to new school routines. She’s found a new family (who she is definitely inviting to her wedding), a school community, and a love for German bread.

“I’m convinced that doing this was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.”

8

FEATURES Teachers take a look at what has changed through the years

Back in the day...

Evie Snoeyink Editor-in-Chief

The architectural drawing for the addition to the old NCHS building - now Kingsley and an aerial view of the “new” Normal - now in use for 15 years.

15 minutes across town, the building that once housed Normal Community High School sits. Through the dragging slowness of stoplights and over a set of train tracks. The building that once belonged to the students of NCHS now is home to the Kingsley Cavaliers.

NCHS’s new building has provided students with wider hallways, taller ceilings and a pool. While the school has been evolving and shifting over the years, it has become a symbol for the changes occurring within its walls.

Just as 15 years ago NCHS moved into a larger building when it outgrew the cramped, too small old building to fit its larger student body, the student body was growing and shifting to fit the changing times. Girls would no longer bestow a flower to football players at the homecoming assembly.

Students would no longer paste and paint to create floats, no longer parade with school pride after a half day of school.

In a place where the students stay only four years, change is a constant.

Yet, one factor has remained consistent. While the students may depart after four years, bringing with them and leaving behind old and new traditions, many of the teachers will remain the same-- there to bear witness on the changes occurring within the school.

The Culture of Inclusion In his 29th year as a social studies teacher at NCHS, Mr. Kelly Keogh has witnessed first hand the changes occurring within the school. One that stands out to him is the change in how students treat each other.

Keogh has noticed “more of a tradition of inclusiveness than ever before.”

Throughout Keogh’s years, he has seen the “hazing” of freshmen decrease and an increase in the welcoming attitude of upperclassmen.

Keogh has even seen a more accepting mindset among his students.

According to Keogh, “students don’t even think twice” about certain topics they once would have.

There were homosexual staff members when Keogh was first hired, but it was all “hush hush, don’t say a word.” It was “unheard of for someone who had a physical disability to be in a mainstream class.”

But today, the majority of students today don’t seem to even recognize those circumstances.

Ms. Amy Scott, a former student of NCHS and 25-year teacher, has even seen more students start to come together.

“When I was a student,” Scott said, “and even in my first couple years of teaching, I didn’t see a lot of people from different racial groups that were in peer groups together, but now, I see a lot more integrated peer groups.”

There has also been a growing representation of a variety of unique interests at the school, Scott noticed.

“There was no girls soccer team when I went here,” Scott said. Now, there are two full teams-- a jv team and a varsity team.

Scott has also seen a transition on how we as a school “don’t just value the boys football and basketball team, but allow the arts to get a lot more credit than they used to.”

While the Friday Crushing announcements will always have information on the “big game”, along with it comes updates on the marching band and information on the upcoming plays and musicals.

Overbooking While NCHS more broadly recognizes the different activities in the building, students have become more numerous in their extracurriculars.

“Over-scheduling has become a very large problem,” Mrs. Cathy Barnes, a 16th-year NCHS teacher in the science department, said.

Barnes sees honors students not doing as well as they would like, not because of their capabilities, but because they are simply too busy.

Scott also noticing the increased amount of stress students deal with, believing it has a lot to do with the heavy load of AP classes many students are trying to take in addition to all of the extracurricular students are involving themselves in.

“There just aren’t enough hours in the day for [students] to do everything they want to do and do well,” Scott said. “And so then you see kids getting into situations where they are cutting corners, and not putting in the time that they need to and then being stressed out because their grades are suffering.”

Barnes, in these types of situations, will tell her students “pick things that you are passionate about and not things that you can fill up your college application with. Good students are still good students, whether you have 18

activities or five.”

Photos Courtesy of: Inkspot Archives/ Mr. Brad Bovenkerk

Plugged In With the increase of technology in society, the cell-service is reaching students within the brick walls of NCHS. “You can no longer walk down the hallways in our school anymore without practically running into people that have their phone in front of them that are not watching where they are going,” Barnes said.

It has even extended through classroom doors.

“The most detrimental change that I have seen in my 30-plus years of teaching,” Barnes said, “is allowing the cellphone to come to into the classroom.”

“I can be teaching and while a student is not overtly misbehaving or rude, they’re drawn to social media, they are drawn to those messages from friends, the Snapchat, the Instagram, and it’s hard to compete, and it’s hard to control because students are rather sneaky about it.”

“Some of these kids,” Keogh said, “are literally addicted to their phones.”

This addiction has then lead to a generation of students who aren’t able to focus as well as the prior generations, Keogh and Scott both believe.

“And part of that,” Scott said, “is just the constant gratification we get when our phones light up.” An issue that in some ways may affect everyone, but particularly makes it difficult to assign students reading for even half an hour because students don’t have the attention span.

System of Schooling And while teachers note a decrease in students’ ability to focus, the school has also been shifting its own focus from teacher-centered learning, where the emphasis is on a teacher leading the class, to student-centered learning, where the emphasis is on student discovery- an approach some teachers find faulty.

Barnes, still believing students need direct teacher instruction explains, “I do not want a Cardiac Surgeon who learned through inquiry. I want one that was specifically told here is the heart, here’s the valve that needs replacing, here’s exactly how it works.”

Keogh agreeing with Barnes, thinking that student-centered learning sounds good in theory, but unlikely in execution said, “If students don’t know anything, and have no background, little content knowledge, how are they supposed to teach themselves… You hear the thing, well you need to go away from teacher lead sage on the stage and all that, well sometimes the sage actually know what they are talking about.”

Scott, however, sees the switch to student-centered learning as a benefit.

“The curriculum is much more project-based where students are able to be more independent and pursue perhaps different interests.”

But with that, Scott also understands that there still must be a balance: “Students can’t just rely on their own thinking or their peers thinking and smalls groups, but there needs to be teacher direction and modeling as well.”

Not all Different Even though NCHS has been constantly changing throughout the years, some things never seem to change.

“We always have great kids,” said Scott.

And the relationship with those kids will always be the core of education.

School: “it’s about do you connect with your students. Do you have that interpersonal relationship? And that hasn’t changed, nor will it ever,” said Keogh.

Students will always be flowing in and out of NCHS on a four-year pattern, but what remains consistent is their “need to be loved and to be treated as important parts of the classroom, and I don’t think that will ever change,” Barnes said.

Despite the constant changes in mindset, technology, and inclusivity - not all will change. Traditions may have come and gone; the flowers and floats may just be remnants in the memories of some, but the teachers, they will always be there to care and observe. And the students, even though they continue to breeze through the school doors on a four-year cycle, some to never look back on the place they spent so much time and created so many memories, they don’t really change either.

Journalism: Shae Simmons Associate Editor

TK

a career of ups, downs

9 Shae Simmons takes a look at three Inkspot alumni who have been a part of bringing print editions to life in the past, uncovering the impact high school journalism has had on their adult lives.

From a Twitter verified journalist, to a designated assistant editor, to an associate producer, these three Inkspot alumni have all pursued their journalistic passions as careers. Each started on similar paths in high school, all ended up in different places.

some pretty exciting stuff.

Labor of Love “We all have self doubt,” he says. Leaving This is the story of David Lee Matthews, a 2005 graduate who knew what he wanted to pursue in Law360, Matthews wouldn’t allow others to make him doubt himself, his ability. life: his love of writing.

Looking back, Matthews would tell high schoolers to keep the long term view in their heads and be able to adapt. The path might not always be as straight as you think, but there is a path.

The same band nerd you and I hang out with at Steak ‘n Shake and Friday night football games David Lee might just have no regrets.

Mathews’ 2005 senior class Because he followed his dream. portrait.

Photo Courtesy of: NCHS Reverie

The selfproclaimed high school band nerd. The boy that loved late night hangouts at Steak ‘n Shake, that froze every Friday night under the lights followed his teen dreams from central Illinois, followed his childhood passion - becoming a blue check Twitter verified, professional journalist in one of the largest media markets, Chicago.

Matthews, class of 2005, remembers the pleasant things about school. He lived for writing Inkspot stories with his friends and writing for his other English classes. It was this high school passion that Matthews pursued in college.

Matthews attended Miami University in Ohio double majoring in journalism and English. After graduation, he was hired as a part-time sports writer for the Pantagraph, working twenty hours a week. While the pay and hours weren’t great, Matthews said that had lots of fun covering sporting events around central Illinois, something he, today, misses.

Matthews’ next stop was a full-time job reporting in the western suburb of Elmhurst.

“That was hard, I’m not going to lie,” Matthews said, frequently worked 15-hour days for a $26,000 salary. “Journalism is not the most secure industry.”

But still, he loved it.

Two years later, Matthews was offered a job writing for Crain’s Chicago business. It was a six month contract where he would cover real estate - it was a full-time position without any benefits.

“I learned a lot. They made me a way better writer,” Matthews said. However, after a year at Crain’s, Matthews was let go.

Connected by some friends Matthews got hired at DNAInfo, an online newspaper for Chicago and NYC, as a downtown reporter where he was able to cover the building of every skyscraper in downtown Chicago. He covered popular festivals like Lollapalooza and the NFL Draft.

However DNAInfo shut down in 2017 after New York writers attempted to unionize and Matthews was devastated.

“Journalism will break your heart sometimes,” Matthews said.

But he moved on... Matthews moved to TV and wrote scripts for the Chicago Fox News morning show. Matthews absolutely adored hearing his own words on TV right on air, “that’s a really cool feeling,” he said.

But Matthews eventually left Fox for what he thought would be a more stable position at Law360, a business that covers court filings.

His aspiration was beaten down through his editors continual rejection of all of Matthew’s story idea pitches, pushing Matthews to quit something he loved.

Another tough break.

Journalism is a labor of love.

Matthews argues that his 20s were filled with

Experimentation: Finding Her Path This is the story of Kellan Marvin, a 2013 graduate with a love for nonfiction media.

Kellan Marvin’s 2013 senior class portrait.

Photo Courtesy of: NCHS Reverie

For her sixteenth birthday, Kellan Marvin’s parents gave her a subscription to Spin Magazine, an alternative music publication. At the time, “my dream job was writing for Spin,” Marvin said, “reviewing and photographing live concerts.” She knew what she wanted to do.

Marvin’s senior year of high school took an unexpected turn. “That was around the time I was figuring out what I wanted to do,” Marvin said. However September 7, 2012 marked the day of Normal Community’s school shooting, encouraging Mr. Dave Feeney, Marvin’s favorite teacher to inspire her with a new point of view.

“That was an event that changed how I thought about journalism and reporting. [Feeney] opened my mind to all the ways you can express a point while also expressing yourself,” Marvin said.

Feeney gave Kellan the confidence to write about factual topics while still expressing herself.

“That was really life changing.”

It couldn’t have come at better time, Marvin only received two issues of Spin before the company stopped production of the magazine.

In the fall of 2013, Marvin attended Missouri University, double majoring in sociology and journalism with an emphasis on radio television and multimedia, one of the top journalism school’s in the nation.

During her freshman year, she worked for the campus TV station while interning and reporting at KLMU, a radio station nearby. Soon Marvin found herself gravitating towards Mizzou’s documentary program - non-fiction storytelling.

It was during her junior year of college that Marvin had the opportunity to co-direct a short documentary about protests that erupted at the school after Mizzou’s administration turned a blind eye to racist incidents on campus. The film premiered at the True/False festival, the second largest film festival in the world, and Spike Lee who was working on a “30 for 30” on Mizzou’s football team at the time was in the audience.

Her senior year, Marvin worked on the documentary Bisbee ‘17 , a film about a town’s deportation of 1,200 immigrant miners in 1917, with her professor, Robert Greene.

Now she calls Greene her boss, working for him

as an assistant editor on film featuring Elizabeth Moss.

Looking back on her high school years, Kellan said, “I wish I knew it was okay to invent your own thing.” Marvin took a step back in college and found her true interest. She adores the film community, “They are my people.”

“I can’t imagine what I would be doing if I weren’t doing this.”

Looking: Discovering Passion Just Across the Hallway This is the story of TJ Bogar, a 2010 graduate who knew his passion to create.

TJ Bogar’s 2009 junior class portrait.

Photo Courtesy of: NCHS Reverie

Bogar remembers a lot about high school: playing on the baseball team, marching band with Mr. Lance Meadows, the time all the journalism seniors spent 24 hours inside Walmart just to write a story about their experience….

Now the 26-year-old’s scenes of high school run together because his friends were so involved in everything he was. It is hard to remember who exactly was where, what happened when....

Bogar initially thought he would go into engineering when he graduated high school, until the day he looked into the classroom across the hall from his and saw a boy shooting and cutting footage. That was his first introduction to digital media.

Bogar enrolled in Digital Media his senior year of high school. He was an engineer in a different form, this time cutting and building stories and film.

He attended Eastern Illinois University majoring in communications, with a focus in electronic media production, graduating in 2014.

From there Bogar’s took an entry level job with Major League Baseball Network, however all he did was enter information into a computer. But after a year of paying his dues, Bogar became an editor - creating different players’ highlight reel videos.

The passion he discovered in high school has now lead Bogar to the position of associate producer for Sharp Entertainment, a reality television company in New York City. The main production Bogar works on is the TLC show Before the 90 Days, a spin off of 90 Day Fiancé where he works particularly with transcripts. He ultimately cuts and creates the product we see on TV by transcribing out the cut and edits from the hours of raw footage.

“There’s a hundred different ways you can tell a story,” Bogar said. “Shaping things the way you want it.”

Bogar always thought of himself as creative, like an engineer. He tells stories. Bogar started at the Inkspot, and now he’s editing for a career.

But Bogar remembers the day he looked across the hall. The boy he saw. Doing what Bogar would soon admire for the rest of his life.

“You never know what you’re going to love,” Bogar said. “You learn a lot about yourself when you look.”

2018 RETROSPECTIVE 2018: Year in Review Looking back at the positive, popular events Jessica Dougall that took place throughout the year of 2018 10

Photo Editor 2018 was one rollercoaster of a year.

The world faced a whirlwind of challenges as an increase of gun violence continued to rise, two government shutdowns, and wildfires and hurricanes left many with nothing.

Despite the challenges faced throughout the year, many uplifting moments arose that we can look back at: uniting together at the winter Olympics, helping those in need after a tragedy, making change by voting, and enjoying new music and memes.

So what exactly happened through the year?

Going for Gold Athletes came together at the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games in South Korea from February 9 to February 25. 2,952 athletes from 92 countries competed in 102 events such as alpine skiing, bobsled, ice skating, ice hockey and more while demonstrating the games slogan “Passion. Connected”.

This was illustrated when the athletes of North and South Korea joined together and became one delegation, competing in the games as Korea.

The United States performed well through the competition - winning a total of 23 medals.

17-year-old Red Gerad won the United States’ first gold medal of the games and the U.S. Women’s hockey team won a gold medal over Canada after 20 years of defeat.

Going Viral One artist who is set to go on tour in 2019, with two new albums, is Ariana Grande.

In November, Grande released “Thank U, Next” which broke the YouTube record for the most views in 24 hours.

The lyrics: “One taught me love, one taught me patience, and one taught me pain” soon were adopted as a meme, with each line being paired humorously with an image.

Throughout 2018, numerous memes were plastered throughout the internet and social media. From Tide Pods, tired Spongebob, to surgery on a grape and the dancing hot dog from Snapchat.

A few memorable sayings gained popularity in everyday conversation like “Weird flex, but OK”, “let’s get this bread”, “this ain’t it chief” and could commonly be heard during the year.

In March, a video of Mason Ramsey yodeling in a Walmart soon went viral and Ramsey became known as “Yodeling kid”.

Russell Horning became known as “Backpack kid”, as he was seen performing “the floss” while wearing a backpack, a popular dance move in 2018 which Horning claims to have invented.

Both went on to perform at larger events in the year, with Ramsey performing at Coachella and Horning performing on Saturday Night Live with Katy Perry in May.

Illustration: Ben Guo

Going to March As the Olympic games were a show of unity in South Korea, back in the United Illustration: Ben Guo States people from across the country came together to provide support after tragedy struck Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

After a former student opened fire at the school on February 14, leaving 17 dead, the movement March for Our Lives was created to focus on promoting the need for stronger gun laws and a push to end gun violence. March for Our Lives worked to educate people on the cause and to help register people to Here is looking forward to the vote across the country throughout the summer. new year of 2019.

Grace Spader (11) and Rachel Barelka dress up for meme Photo Courtesy of: Grace Spader day during spirit week. Spader dressed up as the dancing hot dog from Snapchat while Barelka dressed up using a mannequin head.

On the

SPOT

Jessica Dougall Staff Reporter Seniors answer the question: “What is your New Year’s resolution”?

“

To speak English more smoothly.

- Chiyu Kato

Kavya Sudhir (12), Annika Hiredesai (12), Isha Nair (12),Photographer: Inkspot Archives Safa Ikramuddin, Muskan Shah and Christi Wang (12) participate in the National School Walkout in during the 2017-2018 school year.

Going to the Polls With the midterm election looming, many seniors at NCHS had the opportunity to vote for the first time on November 6. More than 800,000 people across the United States registered to vote during 2018.

Leading up to the midterm elections, musical artists Janelle Monáe, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift were among numerous other artist that encouraged people to vote.

Going to the Studio Throughout the year, many artist went to the studio and were busy releasing new music. Janelle Monáe, along with Cardi B, released new albums in April.

Over the summer, Beyoncé and Jay-Z released a surprise album together titled EVERYTHING IS LOVE. Soon after in August, Travis Scott released Astroworld and Ariana Grande released Sweetener.

A few months later in November, Imagine Dragons released Origins. Taylor Swift’s album Reputation was ranked number one for Billboard’s top 200 albums of the year.

Going on Tour Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium World Tour made stops in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. The tour became the highest grossing of all time in U.S. history, grossing over $266 million in just 38 dates.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Twenty One Pilots, Florence + The Machine, Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco also toured during the year.

“

”

To work harder for college - so set goals. I want to be able to go home and focus on studying rather than procrastinate.

- Joan Daniel

“

” ”

To be more body positive and appreciate life more.

- Abbie Gray

“

I didn’t see a point in making one.

They usually go down quickly. You should always be working towards improving yourself no matter what time of year it is.

- Molly Cargill

”

On the

SPOT

2018 RETROSPECTIVE

Caitlin Wonsowski Staff Reporter Students share what trends from 2018 need to come to an end this year:

The Bird Box challenge - Mary Shaini (12)

Flashback:

11

With 2018 over and done with it is hard to believe all of these events were packed into one year.

Here is a quick look back at some events from across the world from that might make you think “that happened then?”

Jessica Dougall Photo Editor 2004: Friends Comes to an End After ten years on the air, the TV-show Friends aired its finale on May 6, finally resolving the “will they, won’t they” relationship drama of Ross and Rachel.

2005: Hurricane Katrina On August 23, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast as a category three hurricane. Hurricane Katrina caused massive damage in Louisiana and Mississippi.

2006: Twitter Twitter came to life in March after Jack Dorsey launched the app to be used as a short message service based platform. Twitter now has over 67 million users.

PopSockets - Mason Pauley (12)

2007: iPhone Release On June 29, the first iPhone was released. In January of that year, Steve Jobs unveiled the phone at Apple’s MacWorld convention claiming that Apple had reinvented the phone. 12 years later, Apple has released twenty-one iPhones and has sold over one billion phones.

School Shootings - Jobie Henry (11)

2008: Beijing Olympics The 29th summer Olympic games were held in Beijing China. Michael Phelps became the second person to win eight gold medals in a single Olympic game making history.

2009: 44th Presidential inauguration On January 20, President Barack Obama became the first African American president in United States history. An official estimate of 1.8 million people were in attendance of his inauguration, surpassing the previous record held of 1.2 million Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965.

2010: Haiti Earthquake A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, leaving over 1.5 million people displaced.

The “In My Feelings” challenge

- Sydney Gratkins (11)

Dabbing - Tony Sereno (10)

2012: School shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary On December 14, 27 students and staff members were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary after a gunman opened fire. The shooting brought awareness to the rise of gun violence happening across the country.

2013: Boston Marathon Two bombs exploded towards the finish line at a 26.2 mile race in Massachusetts on April 15. As a result of the terror attack, three people were killed and more than 260 others were injured.

Reflecting on 2018: The fashion and media of the past year Caitlin Wonsowski Staff Reporter

Fashion Trends Each year comes with notable changes in fashion. 2018 was no different, seeing such fashion trends as the revival of ’70s and ’80s styles as well as the rise of new trends. Here is a quick glance at some of the fashion of ‘18.

Windbreakers were huge, continuing to return to popularity in 2018 and are making their way into 2019. Windbreakers often play off of another fad multi-color clothing pieces. These louder contrasting color schemes would have been considered tacky just a few years ago but are totally acceptable today.

Mary Shaini (12) noticed the continuing rise of the mom or boyfriend jean’s prevalence in female fashion in 2018. A more comfortable shift away from the skinny jeans that were very “in” the past years. Seeing these less jeans that aren’t skin tight is a big difference. The denim washes are also a throwback - as significantly lighter washes are returning to popularity Another trend in denim were overalls Lydia Bane (12) noticed. Overalls, are not just for Scout Finch anymore, and returned to the closet last year - styled in shorts, skirts, or pants.

Ayana Garcia (12) pointed out the large number of students continuing to wearing scrunchies whether in their hair, or on their wrist, scrunchies are everywhere once again. The Inkspot wrote about in last year’s print edition; however, it is not uncommon to see some male students at Normal with scrunchies on their wrists these days.

Jobie Henry (11) noted a large number of people wearing the color yellow, which in the past has not been looked on as a cute or flattering color. However, it seems that the color is helping high schoolers standout and is on the rise.

The Champion brand, once seen as a cheaper sportswear option (they sell a Target exclusive line), is now being adopted as a high-end, fashionable lifestyle brand with pricing similar to Nike. Adidas is another brand seeing a resurgence, rising in popularity with both its shoe and clothing lines. While Adidas has cycled in and out of popularity over the years, 2018 saw the rise of Filas. Filas, once seen as more of a generic brand, is now hyped up higher than ever before.

Collin Schroeder (11), while wearing this item, showed the rise of the fluffy Sherpa jacket and pullover in the teen community. In the halls, it is easy to see many students walking around the halls in these fuzzy warm jackets - keeping warm while looking stylish.

Media Trends There was an outburst of new video games that were raved about in 2018.

Fortnite, released in July of 2017, was huge during its peak in popularity with high schoolers in 2018. Everyone’s Snapchat stories were filled with images of screen captures of their playing screen saying “ #1 Victory Royale” when they won first place. The game was played by students who were not traditional “gamers” because of its mass appeal. The game, available on app and console, blew up because of its social aspect and the company’s brilliance in making playing on-the-go so easy. Beyond just the game play, the dance moves from Fortnite were seen all over the internet in the “Fortnite Dance Challenge”.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 was released in October and incredibly popular. The game brought back maps from previous Black Ops games such as the Zombies map “Blood of the Dead” - an expansion on the map “Mob of the Dead” from Black Ops 2 zombies.

Red Dead Redemption 2 was another popular game released in October. This was a much anticipated game release because the original Red Dead Redemption had been released in May of 2010. The over eight year follow up for the sequel is not typical in the gaming industry.

On the Switch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was released featuring 11 new playable characters. A look around NCHS at lunch time or during Thursday’s Strategy club sessions will quickly show how popular the game is among high schoolers. The Switch’s portability as a hand-held device, its versatility connecting to a screen through an HDMI cable, its ability to connect with other consoles over Wifi for multiplayer has made it an incredibly popular device to see around the building.

Conversation Starters

Clash of Clans has been around since 2012, but you can still see kids playing - how long have you been clashing?

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has 74, playable characters - who is your go to character to battle with?

Wii Fit Trainer is the wrong answer

What is the best overall Call of Duty game? For multiplayer? Campaign?

Zombies? Wait, does anyone even play campaign mode?

12

Pre-college preparations

Information needed to help prepare for college

Evie Snoeyink James Broach Wyatt Dorothy Editor-in-Chief Sports Editor Staff Reporter Test preparation, college applications and scholarship anxiety - these are all part of an upperclassman’s college preparation experience. It is a time when students must begin thinking about their future: how they are going to get there and how they are going to afford it.

HOW TO

Try a D.I.Y!

How to making a memory box & fold heart-shaped origami

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, Staff Reporter Sydney Franklin offers up a heartfelt way of showing someone you care for under $20.

This do-it-yourself how-to walks you through the making of a great gift for almost every occasion: Valentine’s day, a birthday, a friend’s going away, or graduation - giving your friends or significant other a way to always able to reminisce on the good times you two shared.

Sydney Franklin Staff Reporter

College Level Course Offerings

The Box

NCHS offers two class options for junior and senior students which could potentially help cut down on college cost: AP and Dual Credit classes. Both options provide high school students opportunity to earn college credit.

AP classes require students to take a standardized test at the end of the course to earn the credit, while with a grade of a “C” or higher in a dual credit course, a student gains the credit.

By taking either of these courses, students have the potential to graduate from college in three-and-half years or even sooner depending on how many courses they take, ultimately helping them save on tuition.

These college-level courses are more difficult than the traditional high school classes, but also provide students with a more collegiate experience.

Step 1: Find a Container I used this plain wooden treasure chest, purchased at Michael’s for $6.79.

Financial Aid If students are looking for ways additional ways to potentially save money they can complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

The FAFSA is filled out by students online to determine their eligibility for financial aid. Financial aid helps students pay for college through grants, scholarships, work study placements or loans.

Financial Aid is a very important step in the college application process. “Start applying early from September to November” of senior year, Mrs. Karrin Hawkins, Post High School Counselor, said on completing the FAFSA. Hawkins recommends that students begin writing the essays and personal statements required to receive some financial aid options (such as scholarships) over the summer while students aren’t busy with other school work.

In order to qualify for financial aid often students are required to submit either an ACT or SAT score.

Standardized Tests The SAT is a state-mandated test offered for free through the school. However, if students would like to take the test outside of school they may do so for a fee.

The cost of the test is $47.50 without the optional essay section of the test. The SAT with the writing portion runs $64.50.

The SAT is 3 hours, consisting of reading, writing, language, math with a calculator, and math without a calculator sections.

The ACT is the other standardized testing option for students. The ACT is offered seven times throughout the year at NCHS, but these must be paid for by the student.

The cost is $50.50 without the writing section and $67.00 with the essay. With the ACT, the order of the tests is English, math, reading, and science.

The main differences between the two tests are that the SAT doesn’t have a science portion while the ACT does, and while the SAT has two math sections the ACT only has one. The SAT also allows register for content area sections individually without having to retake the entire test.

When deciding which test to take, students should take into consideration the requirements of the colleges the student is interested in applying to, as well as what financial aid requires. Most colleges accept either test, however, some schools prefer one over the other.

The days of an upperclassman may seem daunting and full of college preparation stress. But the more students know about the process and the earlier they begin preparing the more in control of the process they will be. The times may seem nerve wracking and tense, but instead of letting the uncertainty of life after high school be a cause for panic, let the endless possibilities be motivation to prepare for what is to come.

Step 2: Decorate the Container After purchasing a container, begin decorating it. I painted the treasure chest’s wood a nice vibrant blue color; using two coats to completely cover the wood.

Step 3: Personalize the Container After painting the container, add a comment on top to let the recipient know what it is. “Treasure our memories,” “Memory Chest” or even a simple “I love you” would be perfect.

Then decorate the box in whatever style you want - paint on memories, song lyrics or even hot glue or Mod Podge on movie ticket stubs or photos. Decorate however best fits your style and purpose.

Step 4: Fill the Container Toss in your heart origami or rolled up memories.

Heart-shaped Origami Step 1: Find the Right Paper I used a block of six different colored Post-it Notes that cost $7.55 and can be found at almost any store. The square size of sticky notes makes it easier to fold the hearts.

The multi-color paper allows you to color coordinated the hearts.

You can use a certain color for a specific month or to represent a specific type of memory. It allows you to be a little more creative and heartfelt.

Step 2: Fold the Paper Quick Tip: View the 1st Image of the folded paper with the app HP Reveal to launch a step-by-step video on how to fold the origami hearts Fold the Post-it Note both ways to create four equal squares. Then bring up one side of the Post-it to the center line. Flip it over and bring the left side up to the middle again, but this time in an up and to the right motion. Do this for the other side as well so it looks like an upside down house.

Flip it over again and bring the sides to the middle line for both sides. Fold down both of the top parts to make a triangle touch the triangle below it.

Pull the top of the Post-it down into the pocket that has been made, trying to get the tip to fold into the absolute bottom of the pocket. Then gently tear the sides of the top to then fold into the back part of the heart.

Step 3: Write the Paper Now that the Post-it Note looks like a heart, you can write the memory on the front side, and then write the date on the back of the heart.

If you like to do things all at once like me, you can keep track of the memories you have with a person in the notes section on your phone along with the date they occurred, so you can later make the hearts when you have time.

Another option is to write the memories on the inside of the hearts themselves before folding them. However, to read them the hearts would need to be unfolded.

Interested in more D.I.Y projects?

Head over to NCHSinkspot.com to see some other of Sydney’s recommended D.I.Ys.

You can use the augmented reality app HP Reveal to view extra content and videos from some of our stories.

Here is how: 1. Download the free HP Reveal app by searching the App Store or Google Play Store.

2. In the HP Reveal app, use the camera view and hold your device over images bordered with the dotted lines.

3. Watch the videos come to life.

How to: Talk Bo Elder Staff Reporter

HOW TO Tips for improving everyday social interactions

Class project, two kids: strangers. Not by choice, the atmosphere is a burden.

Hundreds of students at NCHS experience this situation every day forced to work with, to talk to someone they do not know.

Personally, I experience it almost every day. But that’s because I actively seek out those situations, willingly putting myself in them. As a result, despite it being my first year at NCHS, my first year not home schooled, I have been able to meet over a hundred new people in the past year. People that I am still in almost daily contact with.

A good communicator can relate to anyone. It is the inability to communicate is what prevents someone from creating and building relationships. Not very good at conversing?

Well, you can always improve, and here are some tips to help you to make your next conversation go smoothly: Remembering the name of who you are talking to can be one of the most important aspects of a conversation. After meeting someone for the first time, consider writing down their name, something to associate their name with (i.e. hair type, facial features, nervous habits) and something you talked with them about (i.e. music, food, movies). Then, the next time you see that person you can call their name and then bring up something that they mentioned the last time you saw each other. If you ever forget their name don’t be afraid to ask them again, it is possible that they forgot your name too. Names are the most essential part of a person’s identity, using it is a quick way to make that personal connection.

Coming up with questions/topics to talk about beforehand (so you don’t have to figure out something in the moment) will relieve a lot of pressure from you. To have a meaningful conversation, you should ask questions that are directed towards who you are speaking to.

Common questions formats are: “What’s your favorite (blank)?”; “what are your hobbies?”; “how many siblings do you have?”. While these may seem superficial, the answers should come easy and shouldn’t put the other person in an uncomfortable situation. These are good questions to start off with to get to know someone but as soon as you understand their personality you should ask more original questions that are directed more specifically towards them.

Investing in your friendship outside of your usual interactions with someone will make each of your interaction a lot better. Just getting their phone number and texting them occasionally keeps you connected. Being interested in what they are saying will help them to be interested in what you are saying. Did they mention a game they had after school?

Send them a text and ask them how it went. When you find something interesting about a story that they are telling, don’t be afraid to interrupt them to ask a genuine follow-up question. It is both good for your own understanding of them and for their own sense of being valued.

The ability to communicate is essential in every interaction. Though small talk isn’t quite at the level of conversation, it is a start to a more meaningful dialogue. And while these tips can help with your conversations, the most important piece in relationships is the effort you put in and your willingness to improve for your next interaction.

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How to: Vacation in Cancun Natalie Hoeferle With an airport in town and three other major airports in a three hour Staff Reporter radius, with temperatures hitting -40, with round-trip flights for under $250 Cancun, Mexico is a popular vacation destination for residents of central Illinois.

Cancun is filled with culture and beauty. And warmth.

And sun. And sand. The city stands at the southern tip of Mexico, overlooking the deep sparkling Caribbean sea Having vacationed in Cancun 17 times over the years, each time falling more in love with the culture, the people, and the adventures, here are some of my favorite places in Cancun in several different categories.

Check out NCHSinkspot.com to see the complete recommendation guide.

Food Carlos N’ Charlie’s This family friendly restaurant offers a very enjoyable view of Cancun. The waiters are always entertaining: making each table balloon hats for the customer, by dancing, and just generally making sure people are having the most enjoyable time. While the entertainment is outstanding, the food is just as splendid. Carlos N’ Charlie’s has the best guacamole, fresh and handmade right at your table. They also offer more traditional Mexican food that will leave you completely satisfied.

Tourist Hot Spots The Cancun Sign (Playa Delfines) Located in Playa Delfines, a large Cancun sign overlooks the sandy beach and deep blue ocean. Many tourists love to stop by the sign for a quick photo to post on social media.

It is incredibly Insta-worthy. This way you can show family and friends where you went and the alluring views it had to offer.

Check out NCHSinkspot.com to see the complete recommendation guide with photos, more food and tourist destinations, a quick shopping guide and some adventures to take on.

SPORTS

14

NCHS alum retires from pro baseball Hinshaw, a three year varsity starter, All-Big 12 Conference & All-State outfielder, graduates

Hinshaw starts all of ISU’s 54 games in centerfield, stealing 31 bases third on the team’s single-season steals list

Hinshaw bats .299 as a true freshman at Illinois State

Will Dowell Multimedia Editor Chad Hinshaw, NCHS alum, has decided to retire from his professional baseball career after six seasons of playing all three outfield positions at every level of Minor League affiliated baseball.

As for his future in sports, Hinshaw, who graduated in 2009, said his playing days now will only consist of “slow pitch softball.”

Hinshaw returned to Illinois State University, where he played collegiately, to graduate after his last run in independent baseball with the Lincoln Saltdogs. Now, he plans on taking on the real world as he did on the baseball field.

“As I see it, I have plenty of open doors and one of these days, I will choose one and run with it,” Hinshaw said.

As Illinois State’s single-season and career leader in stolen bases - when Hinshaw chooses to run, he is likely to find success.

Before landing at ISU, Hinshaw started three years of varsity baseball at Normal, though he says his senior year was his favorite. “Obviously it helps having the success I did, but I also realized I needed to cherish that last year because they were my final playing days.”

Varsity head coach, Mr. Ryan Short commented, “Chad Hinshaw is the most talented athlete to play on our baseball teams since I have been at Normal Community.” That talent and that success was the result of dedication and attitude.

“Chad always wanted coaches’ input on how he could improve. He never acted like he was better than his teammates or above correction,” Short said.

Describing his senior season as successful would be a bit of an understatement, as Hinshaw hit .573 with seven home runs, 25 runs batted in, and 46 runs scored, which earned him All-Big 12 Conference and All-State honors as an outfielder.

Hinshaw stole 34 bags in 36 tries that season, but this speed wasn’t only used on the basepaths, but on the football field where he was also a threeyear starter and earned Big 12 All-Conference honors as kicker, wide receiver and safety at NCHS. “He was the kind of athlete who would have been successful in any sport--from soccer to wrestling to track,” said Short. “It would have been easy for him to parade around our school knowing how good he was and it would have been easy for him to ignore coaches because of his natural ability.

But what set Chad apart from student-athletes, both then and now, was his humility.”

After his playing days at NCHS, Hinshaw continued his academic and baseball career at

Hinshaw is drafted in the 15th round by the Anaheim Angels; bats .258 in the Rookie League

Hinshaw is named All-MVC honorable mention, All-MVC defensive team, and Male StudentAthlete of the year

Hinshaw plays his first full season in Double-A, batting .291

Hinshaw plays his first full season in A ball; stealing 41 bases in 124 games

Illinois State University where he had an immediate impact as a freshman in 2010 - batting .299 with a .424 on base percentage while playing in 55 of the Redbird’s 56 games. He continued this level of success all throughout his collegiate career at ISU, as he finished with a .274 career batting average and only committed 7 total errors in his four years at ISU. While many high schoolers and collegiate athletes dream of going pro, Chad’s pursuit of attaining this dream of playing professional baseball suddenly became very attainable.

“It didn’t really hit me until senior year of college that I had such a good chance of being drafted,” Hinshaw said. That “likely chance” became a reality when Hinshaw was taken in the 15th round out of 40 in the 2013 MLB draft by the Los Angeles Angels.

“Obviously it was a goal for many years, but actually achieving such an accomplishment that many don’t get to experience was awesome,” Hinshaw remembers of draft day.

After playing 26 games in Utah for rookie ball, Chad moved on to low A ball, then high A where he showed the Angel’s organization his true tools on the field: a great glove, gap to gap power and blazing speed.

Hinshaw hit .270 over a 124 game season, a .365 on base percentage, 27 doubles, 11 triples, 16 home runs, and 70 RBIs with only six fielding errors as starting center fielder.

His speed was a strong suit in the outfield heloing him track down balls and cover both the left and right field gaps. He would finish the year with 41 stolen bases on 56 tries.

A year later, Hinshaw received the call up to the AA organization in Arkansas, where he continued his development and success; he hit .289 with a .391 on base percentage, which was well above average considering the MLB’s average last season was .318.

In the 2016 campaign, Hinshaw faced a common problem amongst many professional baseball players and athletes in general. Injuries. After all of this momentum in climbing his way toward the Majors, the physical toll of 120 plus game seasons began to set in.

There was “no point to not to keep going. I saw it as an easy choice to keep grinding for the ultimate goal,” said Hinshaw, who had already made it farther than most professional baseball players ever do.

But those injuries hindered his success in 2016, while he stepped up to the plate at less than 100 percent. He hit a dismal .190 over 205 at bats. The Los Angeles Angel’s organization then decided to

Hinshaw is signed

by Miami Marlins organization playing for their Triple-A affiliate

Hinshaw is hampered by injuries during the Double-A season; cut by the Angels

After 34 games in independent ball, Chad Hinshaw opts to retire from baseball

cut ties with Hinshaw, making him a free agent.

Refusing to quit, Hinshaw signed with Southern Maryland of the Independent Atlantic League, which is not affiliated with any Major League organization.

After a short time with Southern Maryland, the Marlins’ AAA affiliate in New Orleans suffered an injury in their outfield; before he knew it, Hinshaw was heading back down south to play a level higher than he ever had, just one call away from professional baseball’s biggest stage.

After a hot start and talk of being brought up to the Marlins as a fresh set of legs in the outfield, it seemed that talk was just that - talk. Chad ultimately wasn’t called up to the majors during the 2017 season.

Unfortunately for Chad and players with his skill set, the game of baseball has evolved drastically in the last few years. Power and home runs are now what are valued in a hitter. Launch angle has become a focal point when it comes to analyzing a player’s swing, as players try to get elevation and backspin on the ball for high soaring home runs. As long as fans want to see home runs, and as long as fans pay for tickets, the fate of defensively sound, speed freaks like Chad, who have gap to gap power to utilize their legs on the base paths may not lead them to the majors. The MLB organizations want outfielders to have the most powerful bats as possible at the cost of other tools.

“Could I have tried being the awesome story people love and grind it through Indy ball to get the second chance in pro ball? I could have, but I promised myself once the progression stopped I wasn’t going to force what was most likely inevitable,” Hinshaw said.

Today’s game of baseball is based off of business decisions and the roster moves teams make are often based off of what will sell tickets and make money. Baseball has evolved into a business of which statistics, advanced analytics and sabermetrics drive almost every choice. It has become an easier decision for MLB executives to keep power hitting outfielders on their Major League rosters because it is what the fans want to see when they go watch a game, and if it sells more tickets then it is making more money for the organization.

Baseball is a business and unfortunately for speedy outfielders like Chad, who don’t hit for power on a game to game basis, the lifelong dream of playing in the MLB becomes even harder than it already is.

SPORTS

15

Photo Gallery: Co-ed cheer State performance Photographer: Jessica Dougall

The varsity co-ed competitive cheer team competed during the preliminary round of this year’s IHSA State competition on Friday, February 1 - finishing 24th in the state.

See the complete photo gallery online at

NCHSinkspot.com or scan the QR code:

Upcoming Livestream Schedule: Lady Iron Varsity Basketball -

February 7 - Senior Night v. Peoria Notre Dame @ 7:15

Ironmen Varsity Baseball - weather permitting April 19 - v. Normal U-High @ 4:10 May 2 - v. Normal West @ 4:10 May 4 - Double Header v. Bloomington @ 9:45

Follow the Inkspot on social media @NCHSinkspot

Opening day overviews: a look at spring sports seasons James Broach Sports Editor

Spring Sport Baseball

Girls Soccer

Softball

Boys Tennis

Boys Track

Girls Track

With preseason workouts already underway for the majority of spring sports, the teams’ season openers are drawing near. The Inkspot interviewed varsity head coaches, reviewed schedules and analyzed last year’s season statistics to offer a glimpse at each sport’s upcoming season.

Key Game @ West 4:30 - Tuesday, April 30 vs. Normal West 4:30 - Thursday, May 2 vs. Moline Saturday, March 16 vs. Washington Tuesday, March 19 vs. Chatham Glenwood Thursday, March 21 vs. Granite City Saturday, March 23 vs. Normal West Monday, May 6 vs. Normal West 4:30 - Tuesday, April 30

Graduated Players

Expected Contributers

Starting outfielder Brady Fletcher, starting outfielder & pitcher Tyler Thierry and pitcher J.D. Theile.

Senior Nick Gilhaus is a two-year starter on the varsity team and has signed a National Letter of Intent to play collegiate ball at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

30-goal scorer Caelyn Steffens and several All-Conference players in goalkeeper Emma Spader, defenders Sabrina Kosharek and Carmen Cornejo, and midfielder Megan Seger. The team also graduated playmaker Shelby Herrera.

Shortstop Ashley Klinzing, who is now playing at Parkland C.C, outfielder Reece Johnson and @ West pitcher Mackenzie Leonard 4:30 - Tuesday, April 23 (Illinois State).

2-time State qualifier Nachi vs. Normal West Rotte & All-State honorable 4:00 - Thursday, April 11 mention last year and 3-time state qualifier Shanku Nair. @ Bloomington High Varsity player Manish Pathuri 4:00 - April 17 who is playing at Illinois Wesleyan. Contributing Hill Invitational players Lucas Li, Nishant @ U-High 2:30 - May 3 Bussannagari, Nithin & 8:00 - May 4 Sebastian and Rahul Menta.

200m dash school recorder holder Frankie West, Landry Muvungo and Jalen Coleman, Normal Community both of whom were reliable Co-Ed Invitational point scorers in multiple sprint @ NCHS events and long jump.

4:30 - Friday, April 19

Normal Community Co-Ed Invitational @ NCHS 4:30 - Friday, April 19

State qualifier in shot put and discus Hannah Johnson, high jump school record hold Grace Cleveland, multiple event runner Jamie Vasilou and distance captain Larynn Harr.

What To Watch For

Since last year’s team featured few seniors, this year’s varsity roster should display a high baseball IQ having a season played varsity baseball experience under their belts.

Seniors Maggie Peters and Katy Quinn Lia Ward was an impact varsity have started on defense the Lady Iron player last year as a freshman.

Coach Matt Chapman believes that for the past three seasons. “quite a few juniors and sophomores Seniors Grace Blair, are varsity candidates this season, Savannah Henson so it will be interesting to see who and Shannon steps forward and is prepared to Tomlinson are make an impact at the varsity level.” multi-year starters for the team.

Kaci Shickel, Jenna White and sisters Sophomores Logan Morstatter, Josi and Jessi Grove are multi- Ella Fletcher and Addi Boundy all year varsity team members. played substantial varsity innings as freshman.

Team captain Parker Honegger (12), a 2-time State qualifier & an All-State honorable mention last year, James Broach (12), a state qualifier last year, and Adarsh Kumerbial (12) who only lost one varsity match last year.

How the team will respond with losing two players on their top two doubles team. Some of last year’s junior varsity players will have to step up to replace them.

Coach Thomas believes multiple Juniors Sam Gustafson and Beau athletes have the ability to qualify for Bittner in the field events and this year’s State competition: Dishon hurdles.

Hall (12) in the triple jump, Reed Wilson (12) in the pole vault, and Aiden Oliver (11) in the high jump.

Seniors Aji Muppuru and Jacob Myers will lead the team’s distance runners.

2-time State qualifier in pole vault Courtnie Ridgway (11) and 400 meter dash State qualifier Kailah Carter (11).

Distance runner Lauren Feldner (12) is returning from injuries during last year’s track season and coming off solid cross country season.

The young distance runners: Olivia Hartke (9), Reagan Spaid (10) and Justine Parks (10). The cross country runners are looking to continue to set personal bests every time they race.

SPORTS

16

Dance team performs at IHSA State competition A look into the team’s achievement, song choice

The Lady Iron dance team leaps near the finale of their 3A State performance. Pictured Left to Right: Natalie Starkey (11), Morgan Kline (10), Ellie Walker (12), Paige Lenz, Haleigh Hafner (12) and Kendall McPherson (11).

The NCHS Lady Iron dance team competed in IHSA 3A State for the first time Friday, January 25 - moving up from the 2A class.

3A is the division of State dance for the largest schools and traditionally is more difficult to qualify for.

“It’s a whole new level of competition,” Coach Mindy Ewalt said, “so we never made a goal of let’s make it to finals. It was let’s make it to State, and we accomplished that goal.”

The team placed 30th in the competition held at the Grossinger Motors Arena in downtown Bloomington, but regardless Ewalt was “so proud of them.”

The team performed a lyrical dance to “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” by Danny Gokey. This song carried a special meaning for Ewalt, who connects it to the death of her mother, who passed on Christmas three years ago. The song wasn’t the

Coach’s first choice, but “the three captains convinced [her] that they could do it proud.”

“The song is about hope,” Ewalt said, “and about when you feel crushed, and you can’t even breath; sometimes it is about seeing the other side and saying, ‘No, I can do this, I can get out of bed today.’”

The dance team performers related to the song as well, “It doesn’t just take losing someone,” Natalie Starkey, a third-year team member said, “everyone goes through their own struggles that they have to learn to live through.”

The song inspires people to “be able to stand up after a hardship in life,” Emma Meyers, a secondyear team member said.

The choreography took the three senior team captains, Arden Hayek, Haleigh Hafner, and Ellie Walker, “several hours and several weeks” to create, Hayek said.

Feit knocks out 1,000 point milestone Reid Watkins Staff Reporter

Inevitable. Unavoidable. Bound to happen.

Without undermining a great achievement, it was only a matter of time until Lady Iron senior Abby Feit surpassed the 1,000 points scored mark in her high school career.

As a four-year varsity team member who has so many weapons in her arsenal, it makes sense she was able to reach the mark. On December 28, during the Consolation Championship of the State Farm Holiday Classic against Geneseo, Feit was able to top the milestone.

A three-year starter, she became only the second 1,000 point scorer

in Mr. Marcus Mann’s seven-year tenure as head coach. The only other player to reach the mark has been Summer Stoewer. The varsity team will be graduating 1,000 scorers in back-to-back years.

A great deal of Feit’s high scoring totals can be attributed to her versatility. Feit is able to score from just about anywhere on the court.

The team’s leading scorer in the paint also knocks down just under 33% of her shots from beyond the arc. At 6’1”, she is able to back down and score on opponents using her size advantage. This unique combination of size and shooting range allows for individual scoring totals that are impressive, to say the least.

Feit’s scoring ability, as well as her

Evie Snoeyink Editor-in-Chief

Photographer: Jessica Dougall

The captains would meet after practices and occasional on Saturdays to create the routine.

“Sometimes we would have six to eight-hour choreography jam sessions,” Hayek said, “and then just push through until we were done.”

“The dance kind of just came to us,” Hayek said, “how we could emote it the best and really express it for [Ewalt]. It kind of just came from the heart.”

Although 3A State is over, the Lady Iron dance team will continue competing.

The team competed Saturday, February 2 in the Tuscola Invite working toward the International Dance Teachers Association State competition on February 9.

See the complete photo gallery of the State performance:

coachability, has proven to be a tool for Coach Mann.

“She’s always willing to be that liaison between the coaching staff and her peers… she makes winning games easy,” Mann said.

Being able to shoot from beyond the arc forces teams playing man defense to get one of their biggest players out of the paint. Shooters are crucial to stretching out opposing zones, allowing for looks in the post.

In addition to scoring, Feit has been a leading rebounder for the Lady Iron. Her contributions have not gone unnoticed: “We know how valuable it is to have her be that rebounder for us and the strength that she brings to the team by doing so,” Mann said.

Anyone who has attended to a Lady Iron game this year is sure to have noticed a group of fans wearing shirts with Abby’s number 42 on the back, right below the phrase “Feit Club”. The Feit Club is made up of

Feit’s family who comes to her games, with usually around eight members or more at any given game. “They’re a big part of why I’m successful,” Feit said. “They cheer me on during my games, and they’re always there.”

After her senior season, Feit will go on to compete at the Division I level at the University of Evansville, where her dynamic playing-style could come in handy. As for what position she’ll be playing, the decision isn’t completely hers to make, “I think I’ll play a post/guard combo, depending on where they’ll need me,” Feit said.

Although she has the skill set to create a bright future for herself, Feit still has her sights set on the remainder of her senior season. Feit was held out of the Lady Iron’s single playoff game last year, due to illness.

Now in her final season, the sights are set high. Feit has confidence in her team to perform this postseason saying, “We can go far in the postseason, or we should, we just have to fix our little mistakes that we’re working on, and fix what has cost us games in the past.”