NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL
211 PYLESVILLE ROAD, PYLESVILLE MD 21132
410-638-3650
April 30, 2021
Boy Scouts of America become co-ed; NHHS female freshman leads troop ZOE MIKLES Features editor
Be prepared. Since 1910 the Boy Scouts of America have lived by this slogan. The institution has remained boy-only for almost 100 years, only recently has it become legally co-ed. NHHS freshman Korynn Sims challenged these long-standing standards and became a leader of her boy scout troop. On February 1, 2019, BSA officially became co-ed and Sims’ troop officially formed. Sims’ troop number is 1920 to honor, “the year women gained voting rights” and “it is an anagram for 2019, the year [the] troop was formed.” Sims first began scouting in 2011. She was a girl scout at first but dropped it “due to the lack of adventure.” Sims then began tagging along with her brother’s troop and gained a love for the BSA environment. Since the troop formed, 1920 has participated in many things. Sims loves that she gets to, “go rock climbing, caving, and camping,” things she was not able to previously do with girl scouts. Her troop has also gone to summer camp. There, they built a cardboard boat and used it in a race. Sims and her peer were in the boat when they raced it and
they placed second overall over several other boy scout troops. Sims now holds a leadership position in her troop. She is a senior patrol leader, the head scout that runs the troop. Sims is in charge of “making sure [her] troop’s council runs smoothly, planning weekly troop meetings, and guiding the rest of her troops through activities.”
Sims has big plans for the future of troop 1920. The main goal is to continue growing the number of members. She wants to “have enough members and experience so that the troop can run efficiently without any adult help.” Sims also plans to help her fellow troops achieve their personal goals of reaching eagle rank, the highest rank of boy scouts.
Boy scout troop 1920 at summer camp. Photo credit: Korryn Sims
Sims has achieved a lot and appreciates the help she has had along the way. Her scoutmaster, “an adult leader that helps guide the troop and the senior patrol leader,” has been a positive influence on sims. She was the person who, “encouraged [her] to join the troop and take on a leadership position.” Her scoutmaster was the adult who formed the group.
Sims states that her scoutmaster, “encouraged [her] to grow leadership skills and to push [herself] to accomplish [her] goals. According to Sims, scouts have had a huge impact on her life. “Following our scout oath and law has taught [her] to not only love and respect others but also love and respect [herself]. Scouts taught Sims many life lessons like how to act with honor and how to lead but above all Sims says it taught her that, “[she] is not alone.” Sims used to believe that she was different and weird simply because she was “not as girly as [her] other friends.” Scouts have shown her that there are many girls out there that are just like her and given her “strong friendships with people that [she] still has today.” Sims advocated that BSA has The troop competed in many events and competitions. “made [her] a stronger woman.”
Achievements from past NH academic scholars impact KENSINGTON BOYANICH News editor Graduating high school is a massive achievement, but some students take this even further having them graduate either valedictorian or salutatorian of their classes. Students in every class are given the ranks in which they sit. Graduating valedictorian means being at the top of your class with the highest academic achievements. While the salutatorian is the person who ranks second in their class. These people are rewarded for their placement and can perform a speech at graduation. Graduate of the class of 2016, valedictorian, Mikaela Boyanich talks about her journey to becoming valedictorian and where it has led her to now. “The hardest class I took in high school was AP physics because I’m not a visual person, so I struggled to figure
out how to change the problems The hardest classes I took in high into pictures. I went to Temple school were anything that relatUniversity after high school and ed to history/social studies. I am got a degree in chemistry. I then very science and math-oriented, transferred to Virginia Tech to so I always had to put more effort do a Ph.D. program in chemistry. into studying for those classes. Becoming valedictorian Right now, I currently really doesn’t matam a freshman at ter once you’re “For students who are theofUniversity out of high Georgia, looking to become valeschool, you and I am shouldn’t dictorian now, I want you to m a j o r w o r k ing in know that your grades are not Animal yourself too hard.” Health, the only things that describe Salutaon a your worth.” torian of pre-vet - Sara Fernandez, the class of track.” 2020, Isabella Messick alumni Messick states states, “One about her academthing that my ic journey. “One thing parents constantly that I have learned is what study reminded me was that one bad methods are successful and if I grade wouldn’t kill me. It may don’t succeed, I have learned to have hurt my grade at the time change and adapt accordingly. but, if I worked hard and contin-
ued to learn, I can always make up for it. I also tried to balance my academics with my social life which I think is super important, especially as you move on to college.” Sara Fernandez, valedictorian of the class of 2018 says, “for students who are looking to become valedictorian now, I want you to know that your grades are not the only things that describe your worth. You can still get into all the colleges you want without having to be the very best!” Fernandez also says, “Valedictorian affected my future academic journey in that it helped me to not worry about college applications and college acceptance letters because I knew I had the capability to get into all the schools I wanted. Colleges also liked seeing that I was first in my class, so all the ones that I applied to offered me money to attend their school. Currently,
I’m able to attend college without paying for my tuition or books.” Fernandez states, “After I graduated high school, I worked at Dairy Queen over the summer and then that fall I attended the University of Maryland, College Park as a math major. Now, I’m in my junior year at UMD. I changed my major to public health science and I’m also minoring in Spanish. I have 2 semesters left once this academic year is over and I’m excited to graduate and get a paying job within the public health field, ideally one where I get to work with children. Currently, I have an internship at The Arc of Prince George’s County where I’ve been delivering programs to high school students with disabilities in order to help them find a job, teach them what it is like to go to college and teach them about other post-secondary education options.”