The Bright Ideas Beacon February 2020
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Equipping for College (7-8) An Unforgettable Experience (15-16) Alumni Adventures (17-18)
The Bright Ideas Beacon
The 2019-2020 Beacon Staff
Reporters: Christian Zeliadt Elisabeth Guilliams Gabriella Hunter Garrett Hopkins Haddi Iverson Krysten Meyer Editor-in-Chief: Colin Sink Design Editor: Ingrid Dornbirer Copy Editor: Jaedon Wilkinson Faculty Advisor: Jamie Anderson Please email any questions, comments, or suggestions to Colin at colin.edchief@gmail.com
1 - February 2020
Contents
The Bright Ideas Beacon
February 2020 | Volume 3 | Number 4
3-4 - Mission Statement 5-6 - Student Spotlight: Isaiah Mitchem by Christian Zeliadt 7-8 - Equipping for College by Elisabeth Guilliams 9-10 - Student Spotlight: Wyatt Miller by Gabriella Hunter 11-12 - The Truth About Impeachment by Garrett Hopkins 13-14 - Readership Survey 15-16 - An Unforgettable Experience by Krysten Myer 17-18 - Alumni Adventures by Jaedon Wilkinson 19-20 - Jester's Corner 21-22 - Staffers Decade Photo Challenge
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February 2020 - 2
The Bright Ideas Beacon
"My command is this: LOVE EACH OTHER as I have loved you." John 15:12
3 - February 2020
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Beacon Mission Statement
The Bright Ideas Beacon is a student-run newspaper which helps highschool homeschool students develop journalism skills as they research, write, edit, and publish a monthly newspaper, distributed to homeschool students and families. The Beacon staffers learn to uphold the highest professional and ethical standards, while working under deadline pressure in a collaborative environment to produce a newspaper that is both glorifying to God and of benefit and interest to its readers. The newspaper content is mainly news and feature articles about faculty and students taking classes at The Academy at Bright Ideas, and the curriculum produced by Bright Ideas Press. Above all, its purpose is to uphold Godly standards as students learn the art and craft of journalism.
February 2020 - 4
Student Spotlight: Isaiah Mitchem
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Christian Zeliadt
Christian Zeliadt is a 16-year-old highschool junior from Nashville, TN. He plays piano and drums and is a member of the Nashville Youth Choir. He enjoys world history, military history, biology, drawing, listening to music, playing strategy board games, running, and hiking the Appalachian Trail with his family.
Isaiah Mitchem is only in his second semester at The Academy at Bright Ideas
teach high school level history. Isaiah’s favorite teacher is Mrs. Custer, not
Press, but he is already deep in Chemistry with
just because she teaches history but also
Mr. Leingang and in History I with Mrs. Custer.
because he likes her methods of getting
He has already completed English
students involved in class. She interacts with
Composition with Mrs. Anderson and is taking
them, asks them to come on the mic, and
her Writing the Research Paper class.
requires them to create PowerPoint
Isaiah has been homeschooled all his life.
presentations and present them in class.
Since middle school, history has been his
Isaiah also enjoys how Mrs. Custer employs
favorite subject, so it is no surprise that History
fun and interactive games to aid the students in
I is his favorite class. Isaiah enjoys studying
memorization and recall, such as Kahoot and
revolutions, and his favorite time period is 420-
Quizlet.
20 B.C., the time when the Roman Empire was
The History I class at The Academy uses
rising and the Greek and Roman philosophers
the first two volumes of The Mystery of History,
debated on various topics. He plans to attend
which covers from God’s creation of the world
the University of Idaho, where he hopes to
to the turmoil of the Middle Ages through a
earn a Master’s Degree in History and then
Christian perspective.
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The Bright Ideas Beacon For new students at The Academy, Isaiah
of homework from each class every day,
offers this advice: Do not fall behind on
instead of waiting until it is almost too late and
homework. Students should not wait or
cramming all the homework into one day.
procrastinate, but rather complete a bit
February 2020 - 6
Equipping for College
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Elisabeth guilliams Sara Kroneck is a homeschool
where my friends were,” she said;
graduate who is enjoying—and
however, as high school arrived she
succeeding at—the adventure of
was enrolled in a private online
college, after climbing what many
academy. She said, “It was pretty
homeschoolers see as the gigantic
great and once I was in high school,
mountain of highschool. She
the online school really helped me
recently spoke with The Beacon
stay in charge of my responsibilities,
about advice for homeschoolers on
make friends and do more activities
how to succeed in and survive
because of my flexibility.” She put
college.
more time into her music and
Sara, a Wisconsin native,
lessons. After she graduated from
Elisabeth (Lizzy) Guilliams is a sophomore in high school. She is the fifth child of six and loves to read, write, play Ultimate Frisbee, and spend time with her family. She also loves to listen to music. She has participated in many plays with her homeschool friends and loves the thrill of stepping into a different role of acting each time!
graduated high school in 2016 and
high school, she entered a new
started her new life at college. Her
chapter of her life: college. College
biggest advice for succeeding in
was an adjustment for her, but since
college is to stay involved in high
she had been involved in an online
school. She said, “Being involved
school, she was used to the format.
in your church, helping out,
She said, “in college, they don’t
volunteering for things.” Sara
chase after you to do your homework. The first day of college
served as copy editor of the
was much more comfortable and relaxed than high school”. She
Scholar’s Script (which is the
was quickly involved in her college, becoming the ambassador
previous version of The Beacon at
for students and joining the school government.
The Academy at Bright Ideas
Sara went on to major in human biology and minor in
Press) for two years and says that it
chemistry. She is pursuing an advanced degree next year at
was a wonderful experience for her.
the University of Utah School of Dentistry to fulfill the dream she
Being able to multitask is also an
has had since she was a Junior in high school. Dentist school is
important asset for college students
not an easy place to be accepted; there is a six percent
because at times a student will be
acceptance rate for dental schools. Sara was also accepted into
dumped on with homework, a job
two other dental schools. Although she has succeeded thus far
and other responsibilities.
in college, she still wished she had done things differently in
Sara had been homeschooled
high school. First, she wishes she had taken dual credits. This
her whole life and while in grade
is where a course gives high schoolers opportunities to receive
school her only wish was to go to a
high school and college credits simultaneously. She also wished
public school. “I wanted to be
she had taken AP (advanced placement) classes. “I used
7 - February 2020
The Bright Ideas Beacon CollegePlus to prepare for classes and took a
students can earn college credit in high school
couple of CLEP tests (college level examination
through AP courses and CLEP tests. Sara
program).� She discovered later that the school
found that AP courses were more widely
she was going to did not take the credits and
accepted; however, the key factor for any
had to repeat them in college. Sara advises
student is doing some research as early in their
homeschool students to research what kind of
high school as possible, check out the colleges
credits the colleges they are considering will
they want to go to and know what their
accept. Not including dual credit class,
requirements are.
February 2020 - 8
Student Spotlight: Wyatt Miller
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Gabriella Hunter Wyatt Miller, a student at The Academy at Bright Ideas Press,
enjoys a special hobby. Aside from
Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minnesota, which is on a ski hill. In 2019, Wyatt finished first
his studies at The Academy, Wyatt
place. Spirit Mountain is Wyatt’s
competes in mountain bike racing.
favorite because “It was very muddy
A fifteen-year-old sophomore in
with about 2000 feet of total
high school, Wyatt first started
climbing,” he said. He has always
racing when his father’s friend
excelled at climbing, so he enjoys
introduced him to it three years ago.
courses with large amounts of
Generally, Wyatt’s races are twelve
elevation gain.Since he lives in a
miles long on a single track hiking
state where there are not many
path. They vary in time depending
mountains, often Wyatt has to travel
on what track it is, but a full race
almost five hours to mountain bike.
usually takes 55 minutes.
However, even though it is called
Wyatt’s personal best is 42 minutes for twelve miles. He competes throughout the school year; in the spring he races in a local nine-race series, and in the fall he races with a high school team. In the spring Wyatt trains on his own by biking on the road. When he trains with the high school team in the fall, he works on strength training, hill repeats and technical skills. On average, he bikes 50 miles a week in the winter and 75-100 miles a week in the summer. Wyatt said, “I do not follow a special diet, although I probably should.” During his races, he drinks water. Wyatt’s favorite race is called 9 - February 2020
“mountain biking”, it does not always
Gabriella Hunter is a twelve-year-old seventh grader. She lives in the middle of a cornfield in central Illinois with her mom, dad, younger sister, two dogs, and a cat. She enjoys art and spends her spare time painting, crocheting, and decorating cakes. She often has her nose stuck in a book.
have to be on an elevated surface. Wyatt’s favorite part about mountain bike racing is being out in the woods and enjoying the company of the other bikers. Wyatt advised for beginner riders to “buy a bike you can afford, do not spend a load of money on a bike that will be updated severely in following years, plus if it turns out you do not like the sport then you will not be quite as financially invested. Also, always wear a helmet, gloves, and have fun!”
The Bright Ideas Beacon
February 2020 - 10
The Truth About Impeachment
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Garrett Hopkins
Garrett Hopkins is a fifteen-year-old sophomore and proud military kid. Garrett was born in Mobile, Alabama, currently calls Chesapeake, Virginia his home. Garrett is likes to study God’s creation as it pertains to science, with astronomy being his favorite. In his downtime, Garrett enjoys playing electric guitar and learning to play songs from his favorite artists. His life verse is Psalms 1:1-2.
Impeachment is on everyone’s minds. The
of “treason, bribery, or other high crimes or
House of Representatives recently impeached
misdemeanors” as stated in Section 4, Article
President Trump, and now the Senate is
II of the United States Consitution. Next, the
debating over the Articles of Impeachment.
House Judiciary Committee carries out a
Having the ability to remove a leader from
formal inquiry into the issue of impeachment.
office is one of the most important guarantees
They draft “articles of impeachment” stating
of freedom in this nation. Mrs. Michelle
that impeachment is warranted which are then
Glandon, the Government teacher at The
sent to the House floor, opening up debates
Academy at Bright Ideas Press, believes it is
prior to the House voting.
vital for Americans to understand how impeachment works. The process of impeachment is very
There can be as few as two (as with President Trump) or as many as eleven (as with President Johnson). For example, the
important and is laid out in the Constitution,
House may draft eleven articles, but may only
but unfortunately, many people do not truly
pass five. For an article to go to the Senate, it
understand how it is carried out. Initially,
needs an approved vote of at least 218 out of
charges are brought forth for an alleged crime 11 - February 2020
The Bright Ideas Beacon 435 representatives. If none receives enough
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court serves
votes, the President is not impeached and
as the prosecutor; there are 100 Senators who
further proceedings are closed. In this case,
act as jurors,” Mrs. Glandon explained. The
two articles were passed and sent to the
President is also represented by lawyers “some
Senate, which means that President Trump
of whom actually work for the White House,"
was impeached.
Mrs. Glandon told me. Next, the Senate meets
“This is the part America doesn’t get,” said
in private sessions to debate a verdict. When
Mrs. Glandon. After being impeached, the
the meetings are finished, the Senate votes.
President is still in office and has just as much
There must be a majority of two-thirds or 67
power as he did when he was first inaugurated.
votes for the removal of the President, in which
He has been impeached, but not removed from
case the Vice President would take over. The
office. To have the President removed, the
Senate can also determine that the President
articles must go to the Senate for voting.
cannot run for a public office again. If the
Once the articles of impeachment reach the Senate, the Senate formulates rules and
articles are not passed by a two-thirds majority, the President remains in office.
procedures for holding a trial. “During the trial,
February 2020 - 12
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we still need you
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February 2020 - 14
An Unforgettable Experience
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Krysten Myer
Krysten Meyer is a Junior in high school from Colorado. She has several younger brothers and is the only girl. She is a proud history nerd and studies history whenever she gets the chance. She also enjoys reading, serving on her church worship team as a vocalist, and entertaining children with stories whenever she gets the chance. More than anything she is a child of God and wants to grow closer to Him. View source here.
While a literary discussions can be looked on as wearisome, for the Hughey family it is a way to grow closer as a family. Amelia and
uses his situation to free others from spiritual bondage. In her essay, Amelia states that “George
Ruby Hughey, sisters in Mrs. Anderson’s
Harris believes that all men have the right to
English III class at The Academy at Bright
freedom, and even if he must wrestle it from
Ideas Press were assigned to take different
God on high, George intends to gain freedom
viewpoints regarding a book they had been
for himself by trying to escape.” She chose to
reading for class.
represent George’s view on man’s right to
The book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet
freedom, and was able to make a convincing
Beecher Stowe, is a thought provoking novel
case, as well as show the character’s
set in pre-Civil War America. It also provides
reasoning for his actions. “George views
two very contrasting views on man’s right to be
God’s permissive will as part of his problem,
free. One character is willing to give
and another justification for escape. He feels
everything to escape slavery, while the other
he cannot wait on God, he will escape in his
15 - February 2020
The Bright Ideas Beacon own strength. Risking both body and soul,
makes a case for seeing past the physical act
George hopes to gain ownership of his own
of slavery, and deals with the spiritual aspect.
body and soul.”
Ruby and her family had many discussions,
Amelia also showed George’s motive to
which allowed her to think more deeply about
make such an escape, and what the outcome
the topic and the nature of Tom. She said
was. “George made that brave decision. He
“When Amelia said that Tom didn’t support his
did this because he loved his family and
family because he allowed himself to be sold
wished to provide for them, and God was able
rather than run away, I had to stop and think.
to bless George through his wise decision.”
Was that a good point? He chose to be sold
Using resources available to her, such as her
because of a deeper virtue. It wasn’t in his
mom, Amelia fleshed out her case for George’s
character to rebel.”
views. She said, “Talking to my mom was
These contrasting views both have their
particularly useful, because she firmly sided
merits, and although they are quite different,
with Tom, and I was able to use her refutations
they still came from the same house. It was
to know what arguments not to make.” She
more than just a literary assignment, but an
explained “Through George’s story, the reader
educational experience that affected the whole
is able to see the importance of being
family.
proactive.” While Amelia took a proactive stance on the
“The story of Uncle Tom’s Cabin was lifechanging for all of us. We listened to the
issue of freedom, Ruby chose to follow the
audible version of it, and it was the highlight of
approach of Uncle Tom. She wrote “Although
our week,” said Mrs. Anne Hughey, Amelia’s
both views are understandable, Tom’s view is
and Ruby’s mother. “Tom’s character
more admirable because, as a believer in
challenged us to think differently about
Christ, he understands slavery on a spiritual
freedom and fairness.” When asked about
level, while George, being spiritually blind,
how it affected the family, Mrs. Hughey said,
understands the struggle as purely physical.”
“We had many rich discussions. Combing
She went on to state that “Uncle Tom believes
through the passages while listening to the
that every human is in bondage and has the
read alouds and sussing out each man’s views
right to escape it, but in order to do so, he must
on a slave’s right to escape provided for a
have a personal relationship with Christ.
good conversation every time.” The Hugheys
Because of this, he considers it his role to
were able to get a deeper understanding of the
witness and help win souls held in bondage (by
characters and their struggles through
Satan and by slave owners) to freedom.”
discussing the issue as a family. “Overall, it
Ruby portrayed the value in the way that Tom lived, and eventually died. “Tom’s love
was an unforgettable experience,” said Mrs. Hughey.
and commitment to Christ gives him the eyes to see those around him, both free and slave, who struggle, and Tom is always there with ‘a word fitly spoken’ (Prov. 25:11, KJV).” She
February 2020 - 16
Alumni Adventures
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Jaedon Wilkinson
Jaedon Wilkinson is a 17-year-old senior and lives in Lynchburg, VA. Jaedon is the youngest of 5 children and lives with his brother while going to school and getting his pilot’s license. He is a member of the Civil Air Patrol. In his free time, Jaedon enjoys reading, acting, gaming, and writing. He hopes to become a corporate pilot, but continue to pursue acting in some capacity.
The Beacon has a very transient group of
University. She is heavily involved in The
staffers. Our students come and go as their
Collegian, having just finished a series on
time in high school comes to an end.
places in downtown Greenville, South Carolina,
However, that does not mean they disappear
where the school is located. In that process,
out of our lives entirely. Joanna Scoggins, the
Joanna interviewed the city’s mayor, an
first-ever Beacon Editor-in-Chief, has moved
experience she described as both “fun” and
on from The Beacon, but not from journalism.
“terrifying”.
Currently, at Bob Jones University, Joanna is
She enjoys newspaper work because “it’s a
studying journalism and is a writer on The
lot of hands-on experience” and she is forced
Collegian, the campus newspaper. In addition,
to learn new things and explore places she
she is starting a new project for the school: a
would not otherwise interact with. She also
literary journal.
enjoys how her time on The Collegian ties into
Joanna is pursuing a double major in journalism and English at Bob Jones 17 - February 2020
her journalism studies. “Being required to write journalistically... definitely honing my writing…
The Bright Ideas Beacon [and] it’s giving me confidence.” Joanna
Joanna approached her English teacher about
strongly encourages students to be part of their
her idea. She said ‘You know, I’ve been
college newspaper. “Absolutely do it…it is
thinking about this...if we do it, we want it to be
never going to harm you to be a better writer;
student-led. You want to do it?’” Of course,
no matter what field you go into, you’re going
Joanna quickly accepted and began putting
to most likely be required to write… it’s such a
together a student staff over Christmas break,
marketable skill.”
using what she learned on The Beacon and its
Another big journalism project of Joanna’s
predecessors. She now has a team of
is the literary journal, Inkwell Literary
students, including a web editor, a graphic
Magazine, which Bob Jones University is
designer, a co-editor-in-chief, and eleven
starting up this month. It was her “brainchild,”
writers. Her hope is that they will soon begin
so she is super passionate about it. The idea
publishing short stories, creative non-fiction,
behind the project is pretty simple but pretty
and poetry, eventually opening up the
smart. “A lot of colleges… will have some form
submissions from students on campus. The
of publication for creative writing.” However,
plan is for the first issue to come out at the end
BJU has no such publication.
of February on the journal’s website
HERE.
February 2020 - 18
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Jester's Corner
Three cavemen are sitting around a fire in front of a cave. Suddenly, they hear the sound of something large approaching from the nearby forest. The cavemen leap up to run away, but in their haste they trip over one another and fall. A dinosaur leaps from the treeline, roaring, “Your ineptness is disadvantageous! I propound that you all vamoose with great celerity!” “Oh, great!” cried the cavemen. “It’s a thesaurus!”
~ Colin, Beacon Editor-in-Chief Who can jump higher than a mountain? Everyone, because mountains can't jump. ~ Eli, a Beacon reader What do you call someone who takes care of chickens? A chicken tender. ~ Sarah, a Beacon reader What do you call a sheep covered in chocolate? A candy baa. ~ Gabriella, Beacon Reporter My New Years resolution was to read more, so I turned on the subtitles on my TV. ~ Audrey, a Beacon reader 19 - February 2020
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Winner of the Month “If you step on a purple mushroom, you’ll be forced to marry the ugliest person in the world,” warned the old gnome, so the man continued carefully through the woods. He didn’t step on any purple mushrooms. Suddenly, a beautiful woman walked up and said: “We have to marry.” “Why?” asked the man, smiling. “I just stepped on one of those pesky purple mushrooms!” she replied.
~ Mimi, a Beacon reader
What do you call security guards working outside a Samsung shop? Guardians of the Galaxy. ~ Donna, a Beacon reader Doctor: Sir, I'm afraid your DNA is backwards. Patient: And? ~ Sarah, a Beacon reader Why did the math book look so sad? Because it had so many problems. ~ Rayna, a Beacon reader
February 2020 - 20
STAFFERS DECADE Christian, 2010
Garrett, 2010
Jaedon, 2010
Colin, 2010
Gabby, 2010
Haddi, 2010
Krysten, 2010
Ingrid, 2010
Lizzy, 2010
PHOTO CHALLENGE Christian, 2020
Colin, 2020
Gabby, 2020
Garrett, 2020
Haddi, 2020
Ingrid, 2020
Jaedon, 2020
Krysten, 2020
Lizzy, 2020
Before you go, here's your "Thoughtfully Thought" of the month:
Dream without fear. Love without limits. ~ Dilip Bathija
Readership Survey HERE
This student-run newspaper is sponsored by The Academy at Bright Ideas Press.
Published on Feb 3, 2020
This student-run newspaper is sponsored by The Academy at Bright Ideas Press.