Dragon's Tale - October 2021 Issue

[Inter] National Champions Golf team brought home the national title in May

VacciNATION HutchCC provides means and incentives to be proactive against the COVID-19 pandemic

Stream, Binge, Repeat How students navigate the ever-growing world of streaming services

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Rachel Wilson

Publication Co-Editor

Hutchinson

Visual Media Design/

Graphic Design

Mason Poepperling Hutchinson

Major:

Journalism

DRAGON’S TALE

STAFF

The Dragon’s Tale is published four times a year by the Magazine Production class of Hutchinson Community College, 1300 North Plum, Hutchinson, KS, 67501. When compiled, the four issues serve as an overview of the activities and the people of HutchCC during the school year.

Cassidy Smith Haven

Associate of Arts/

General Studies Publication Co-Editor

Kaitlyn Seiwert Kingman

Ag Communications/

Journalism

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Photo | HutchCC Sports Information Ben Partridge, London, England, became HutchCC’s first-ever individual national champion. He surpassed teammate Harry Crockett, Oxted, England, to claim the title at the 2021 NJCAA Division I National Championships in Lubbock, Texas.

ON THE

COVER

Places in PSU

12

VacciNATION 14

Stream, Binge, Repeat

18

Keeping a Promise

20

Psychology of Happiness

2

Respiratory Therapy

4

Social Media on Campus

6

Intructor Profile: Rong Li

10

TABLE OF

CONTENTS Fighting the Freshman 15 22

Student Discounts

24

Kansas State Fair Returns 28

Golf Championship Football Championship

32

Cross Country

34

30

Soccer 36

Volleyball 38

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DON’T WORRY B Photos & Story | Cassidy Smith

The Psychology of Happiness course focuses on mindfulness.

Mindfulness helps us focus, tune out distractions, improves memory, and decisionmaking.

greatergood.berkeley. edu/topic/mindfulness/ definition#why-practice-

For some students who are involved in clubs, athletics, and scholar programs, as well as balancing jobs and adulthood, the first year of college can be overwhelming.

Based on a 2009 survey conducted by the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA II), “Thirtynine percent of college students will feel hopeless during the school year, 25 percent will feel so depressed they’ll find it hard to function, 47 percent will experience overwhelming anxiety, and 84 percent will feel overwhelmed by all they have to do.”

Practicing mindfulness and meditation at the start of the day is proven to help students feel less stressed. So, if it feels like schoolwork is taking over, or balancing work, school, and life seems to have become too much, one course in particular might be a class to consider.

Psychology of Happiness is a newer class to the Hutchinson Community College campus. In 2015, a HutchCC student decided for their honors project they would start a happiness project for grade school-aged kids where they would practice happiness. After creating the course material, it became clear that the information would be far too complicated for a younger audience to comprehend. Dr. Ryan Diehl, English Professor, then suggested that the class could be an official college class.

Christopher Lau, Coordinator of Advising, Career Development, and

Counseling at HutchCC, worked closely with the student and the project. He decided to teach the class as a two-hour credit for college students. Just recently, Lau passed this course on to Melody Wagler, Social Worker, who is teaching this fall semester class.

“The first half of the class is divided into what is happiness, how different cultures and religions think about happiness, and define happiness,” Lau said. “For years, we’ve known everything we can know about depression and anxiety and there’s negative emotional experiences, but where and when did the science of human thriving come about?”

Lau teaches his students about mindfulness, which is a key component of being happy. The definition of mindfulness is, “a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.”

This is exactly what Lau allows his students to learn and practice in the class. He uses meditation techniques to help students become more aware of their surroundings.

“It’s honestly very relaxing,” Liz Graber, Pretty Prairie, said. “We usually meditate in the beginning of class. It honestly gets my brain to focus on the now instead of on the past or the future. I enjoy it but it is also difficult most times. Definitely something to practice.”

Practicing meditation techniques before class allows his students to

mindfulness

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Y BE HAPPY Photo | Cassidy Smith During a class discussion, a HutchCC students engages with the class. The student then explained her repsonse to a question.

relax and get focused. College students tend to have a lot on their mind and can be stressed with other classes, work, personal life, or the future.

Giving students a break at the beginning of class for a chance to unwind and breathe sets the attitude for the day. A lot of times students

Photo | Cassidy Smith HutchCC students discuss who they think the happiest person in their life is and why. Melody Wagler, Social Worker, then explained her answer for the discussion.

Continued on page 40

Mindfulness is good for our minds, it increases positive emotions & helps fight depression.

Photo | Cassidy Smith Alec McCuan, Hutchinson, practices mindfulness by meditating.

McCuan was also a part of the HutchCC football team.

Photo | Cassidy Smith A HutchCC student breathing techniques demonstrated during class to practice mindfulness.

g r e a t e r g o o d . b e r k e l e y. edu/topic/mindfulness/ definition#why-practicemindfulness

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&

Respiratory Therapists Represent

Responsibility

Research

Even through the challenges, program on campus prepares students for the workforce.

Photos & Story | Sarah Newberry Page Design | Rachel Wilson

It can also be stressful, but usually time management is key to succeeding. Between clinicals, lectures, labs, studying, and tests, respiratory therapist students have a lot on their plate.

The program has been around since 2013 and keeps growing and bringing in lots of applications each year.

“Busy, you usually hit the ground running, especially today with COVID,” said Teresa Pauls, Respiratory Therapist Program Director.

There’s typically a busy, 12-hour day for therapists out in the field.

They are constantly running around doing different things, adjusting to the needs of the hospital or wherever they are needed.

“They basically put out fires, basically helping people to breathe, managing oxygen, managing their ventilation, helping that patient give breathing therapy,” Pauls said.

What respiratory therapists do is very important and they aspire to help

people. It takes a lot of work to get there, but in the end it’s worth it. The first step is getting into the program.

“Get your Gen Eds. There are courses you have to take before you can get into the program. Also reach out to Jerry or Teresa, they’re both very easy to get ahold of, they’re very communicative, they’re willing to set something up,” said Matison Moyer, hometown.

Before joining the program, it’s a good idea to know if that’s the career path that student should pursue.

“I knew I wanted to be in the medical field, but I just didn’t know how,” Moyer said.

Moyer previously worked in a hospital, she was trying to figure out what to do in the healthcare field.

Seeing respiratory therapists working piqued her interest, so she started to ask questions.

“So whenever I could, I would just go around and ask nurses, respiratory therapists, ‘Hey do you like your job’ or whatever you know,” Moyer said.

“It’s something I wanted to be able to love my job for the rest of my life or until I retire. Every single respiratory therapist I talked to said ‘I love

A journey is not always about the destination, it’s how one gets there and the experiences they encounter on the way.

Respiratory therapists experience a lot of twists and turns in their career.

They have a lot thrown at them at every step of the way. Between working in the field and getting the certification they need, there is a lot to accomplish. According to many students and faculty in the Respiratory Therapy Program at Hutchinson Community College, it can be a fun and rewarding career. The students often make many friends and support each other throughout their studies and exams.

Photo | Sarah Newberry Respiratory Therapy Program Director Teresa Pauls poses outside her office.

She was in respiratory therapy for 25 years before moving to education.

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my job, I love everything about it.”

Loving something is a key to being passionate about a career choice.

There are other factors as well, like hard work and along with that comes stress.

“Crunch time is the hardest thing, also you are taking a test all the time,” Brandy Cabezos, hometown, said. ”Time management is the hardest thing for me, [you] go from clinicals to class, lectures, to tests. You just gotta be prepared for all of it.”

Even though it can all be grueling at times, there is someone to support students in the program. Whether it’s classmates or instructors, they’re there for each other no matter what.

“I’ve met some pretty amazing people and all my classmates are awesome,” Cabezos said.

Overall, a good support system is good. A good support system is one key to success, especially during the COVID pandemic and how things can quickly change. Respiratory therapy students learn a lot in the field and have had to adapt to COVID. “Everything can look really good at 8 am and then 10 o’clock rolls around and suddenly your COVID patient is not doing so hot. So just be prepared for things to constantly be changing,” Cabezos said.

Overall, respiratory therapy is a much needed field and can be a rewarding one as well. It’s like a never ending web of ropes to make a safety net of hope, support, and a bright future for many.

Photo | Sarah Newberry Second-year students Matison Moyer and Brandy Cavazos take a break between classes. Moyer previously worked at Wesley before returning to school for respiratory therapy.

Photo | Sarah Newberry Students in the simulation lab reviewed patient vitals and talked through respiratory treatments.

Photo | Sarah Newberry Jerry Houchin, Respiratory Therapy Clinical Coordinator, supervises two students in the respiratory therapy simulation lab as they charted a pretend patient.

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Here for the

Social media on campus is not as easy as it appears... the newspaper and HutchCC’s marketing department tell all.

Photos & Story | Kaitlyn Seiwert

Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, oh my! Not only does Hutchinson Community College have a campus wide social media presence, but so does many clubs and student activities. These accounts are affiliated with HutchCC but many times are managed by students.

“Ninety percent of web traffic comes from social media,” said Journalism Instructor and Newspaper Adviser Brad Hallier. “Social media helps generate views on our website.”

The student newspaper’s website, hutchcollegian.com, gains most of its readership from social media. While social media connects students across campus, it can also connect the students with the college.

“Social media is a great way to get involved, be a part of our community, participate in giveaways and upcoming events,” said Janae DeWeese, the Assistant Director of Marketing & Public Relations.

Janae DeWeese is one of HutchCC’s account keepers.

While managing HutchCC’s social media presence, she enjoys overseeing HutchCC organizations and activities that use social media to interact with students.

“The sports department does a good job of keeping people updated. It’s also important for people to work together,” said DeWeese.

DeWeese stresses the importance of accounts across campus working together, and activity account social media contributors working together. The newspaper staff exerts a team effort to all platforms organized by The Collegian.

“We try to all come together for YouTube and podcasts,” said Hallier.

The newspaper’s YouTube channel and podcast series is another way the newspaper staff keeps students informed

on what’s happening around campus. The newspaper has proven methods to increase social media views.

“We tag people we write about and the writers,” Hallier said. “Retweets from tags help too.”

Engaging with readers is very important to increase the number of followers. The newspaper staff enjoys watching readers engage with each other and the staff.

If an on-campus activity wants a social media presence, the club sponsor must be the one to advocate for the account to marketing.

“The process is to talk with the employee that sponsors the club and they work with marketing to set up the account and set perimeters,” DeWeese said.

Once the account is created and the password is handed over to the activity sponsor, the student leadership for that activity does have certain restrictions.

“We set rules for frequency and professionalism. Repost or promote clubs’ posts. We just encourage them to think about it,” said DeWeese.

How do students get their campus news?

19%

6%

edia

Social m

8%

Student Publications ss

cla During

60%

Dragon

Zone

7%

Frien

ds

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What can I find on

HutchCC Social Media?

1.

The Collegian, HutchCC’s on-campus newspaper, posted the fire science’s memorial in remembrance of 9/11 in 2020 to their Instagram. The newspaper regularly updates all social media to keep students informed.

2.

On HutchCC’s Instagram account, followers can find numerous highlight reels with trivia, dates to remember, campus scenery and various account take-overs. They post multiple times a week.

3.

Photo | Staff Janae DeWeese, Assistant Director of Marketing and Public Information, hides a t-shirt image in Lockman Hall and snaps a photo for an Instagram story. The marketing department encouraged students to go to the Kansas State Fair by hiding tokens for concert and gate admissions tickets.

Photo | Kaitlyn Seiwert Gianna Leland, Pretty Prairie, checks her phone while taking a study break in the library. Leland’s favorite social media app is Instagram.

In a recent post, the college highlighted Chemistry Professor Erin Beavers. The college’s Instagram account has many posts about instructors, allowing students another option to get to know the person by the white board.

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m

ge

For each social media platform, the posting minimums newspaper’s biggest tip to those just starting social media vary. DeWeese explained how the marketing department accounts on campus is spreading the word. does not like seeing inactive accounts, or how followers “Letting students know you have accounts. Interacting, look for postings from certain accounts. tagging in posts, and a presence everywhere is necessary,” “Early on, I do [social media updates],” Hallier said. said Hallier.

“As the year starts, we pick someone. I do most of the The marketing department also encourages others Facebook stuff.” across campus to let them know about an event ahead Hallier gives students freedom to post to The Collegian’s of time so they can help promote the activity. Any social social media platforms. media account affiliated with the college is overseen by “We run through trial and error, of course, keeping a the marketing department. professional environment,” Hallier said. “Not to say you “We have a list of all social media accounts and how can’t have fun with it.” often they get used. We set a certain amount of n o Insta us ow gra l l By working across campus with on-camtime to update accounts in order to keep them Fo pus social media managers, the marketing up-to-date,” said DeWeese. department tries to increase account views For activity sponsors, social media can be a big HutchCCDragonsTale with reposts. responsibility. While many “influencers” dream of “We keep an internal calendar of events a certain number of followers, the newspaper’s and try to promote those. Our biggest probadviser has a different goal. lem is not knowing about events. We do “Someone every semester or year saying ‘I’m a lot for perspective students and friends of the college. taking this Brad’ and providing consistency,” said Hallier.

Social media takeovers are a favorite,” said DeWeese.

For DeWeese, social media is a big part of her life.

The newspaper uses social media as a marketing tech“I have a degree in advertising and graphic design. nique when trying to increase readership.

Social media has evolved in the 12.5 years I’ve worked “All stories go on Twitter. Instagram has highlights from here. I was hired to be a graphic designer and photograprint editions,” said Hallier. pher for the college,” said DeWeese. “I am an Instagram When starting a new social media account, DeWeese junkie by a long shot. I’m a visual person so I love the and Hallier have a few tips for new social media account optics of Instagram.” managers.

From Instagram to Twitter, Facebook to Snapchat, “Having a plan is the easiest way to get started. It is HutchCC’s social media presence helps connect people much better to have a plan than to have to come up with everywhere. While the marketing department oversees content on the fly,” said DeWeese. all accounts affiliated with HutchCC, student social media A plan could be as simple as a spreadsheet shared managers of on-campus activities are the main driving with account managers that lists information about posts forces behind the content. including content, captions, and date to be posted. The

Who to Follow on Campus Blue Dragon Sports

Hutchinson Community College

Spirit Squad

The Collegian

BlueDragonSports

HutchCC

HutchCCSpirit

HutchisonCollegian

BlueDragonSports

HutchCCnews

HutchCCSpirit

HCC_Collegian

-----

HutchCC

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The Hutchinson Collegian

HutchCCSpirit

the_hutchinson_collegian

-----

hutchinsoncommunitycollege

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TEACHER PROFILE:

Rong Li

Photos & Story | Rachel Wilson

Hutchinson Community College welcomed a new teacher to Shears Technology Center in August.

“I like (it) here, the campus is not so big, but the people here are so nice,” Rong Li, Computer Science Instructor, said.

Although she is new to HutchCC, she is not new to Kansas.

“I have been in (the) US for almost 15 years,” Li said. “To study the first time, then I met my husband, actually he was my classmate at that time, and then we decided to stay here and start to build our own family here.”

Li is originally from Beijing, China, but currently lives in Wichita and commutes daily.

“Everyday I spend two hours on the road, but It’s ok, I like my job,” Li said.

Li is passionate about her education.

“I have two masters degrees, (the) first in marketing and management, I got from (the) UK. (The) second is in Computer Science and Networking from Wichita State University,” Li said.

She currently teaches courses

including Computer Engineering, Data Structure and Algorithm, and Website Coding on the HutchCC campus, as well as Microcomputer Applications online and in-person.

Her classes take place in Shears Technology Center.

“Since I graduated, actually I was pregnant before I graduated. And I continued my Ph.D. program for one year after I graduated then I decided to stop for awhile. During these days, I didn’t do any full-time work, but some only part-time work, until I found this job. I was a full-time mom, and that’s pretty hard work, I guess I did it very well. And now, my kids are all grow(n) up, it is the time for me to build my own career,” Li said.

Li is a devoted wife and mother and her children and family are very important to her.

“I have three kids, my ten year old girl, Liv, my five year old girl, Emma, and my little son, Shannon,” said Li. “When I am free, I would like to spend time with my kids and family.”

Li highlights things she enjoys doing with her family in her spare time.

“I like cooking, and shar(ing) delicious food with my family and friends,” she said.

Her other interests include reading, traveling, and playing tennis and golf. On campus, Li plans to extend her knowledge of computer science to the students of HutchCC. “I am passion(ate) about learning new things, I never stop(ped) learning,” said Li.

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Photo | Rachel Wilson Rong Li, Computer Science Instructor, studies her notes at her desk while giving her Computer Engineering class a 10-minute break.

ngier E ay on t s l u i p l W Com nt to re hel i Rac strate o | P r o t u owe Pho d to ill ed P s ar o u b so hite e al he w pts. Sh ents. t s d e se onc r stu Li u ng c n to he i r e ne tio rma info

Photo | Rachel Wilson Li discusses the properties of sum of products and product of sums in her Computer Engineering class, challenging her students to use what they’ve learned.

Photo | Rachel Wilson Li studies in her office, preparing notes and a lesson plan for her classes. Li is thorough and well-versed when it comes to teaching computer sciences.

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Photos & Story | Cassidy Smith

Places in PSU

Cafeteria

Salad bar Pop machine Booth and table seatings Buffet style meals

Meal plans for the cafeteria can be purchased at the front desk in the cafeteria or in the business office located in the student union building. A 10 meal punch card costs $60 for HutchCC Students.

I LOVE HUTCH LET‛S GO DRAGONS!

Dragon Wellness Center

All HutchCC students and facility use is permitted.

Open during PSU hours Located in the back of Recreation center, past the pool tables.

Recreation Center

Located in the lower level of student union Pool tables Lounge areas Televisions Vending machines

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Coffee Shop

The HutchCC coffee shop is located in PSU to the right of the cafeteria. Students who purchase the dragon discount card can receive 50% off drinks.

The HutchCC coffee shop sells hot or cold coffee drinks, real fruit smoothies, as well as snacks for students to grab on the go. There is seating for students to sit and eat or study.

The Parker Student Union offers more than just important offices on campus. Check out the cafeteria, rec room, coffee shop and more.

Wall Graphics | Janae DeWeese

ness

Book Store

HutchCC Apparel Books for classes Blue dragon blankets HutchCC cups and mugs Car stickers Backpacks

ents

hours ck of , past

HutchCC apparel can be purchased in the book store located in the lower level of the student union.

The store sells men’s, women’s and youth clothing.

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Vacci

NATION HutchCC provides means and incentive to be proactive against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photos & Story | Rachel Wilson

Walking through the glass doors adorned with Duke the Dragon, a room of friendly faces patiently waits as conversation about the vaccine swirls in the Blue Dragon Room at the HutchCC Vaccination Clinic on Sept. 17.

“Today the FDA is meeting to decide whether the Moderna and Pfizer will need the booster,” Aubrey Heckathorn, Reno County Health Department, said.

The Food and Drug Administration is considering the need for an annual COVID-19 booster for the upcoming winter season and possibly the foreseeable future.

“Like you get a flu shot every year, it’s the same kind of thing,” Lynette Kornelson, Reno County Health Department, said. “If you talk to most medical people, I think they kind of all have the opinion we’ll probably in the future, will get a flu shot in one arm and your covid in the second.”

At the vaccination clinic, a student sits alone, socialdistancing while she waits. Students receiving the vaccine have to wait fifteen minutes after the shot is administered to leave the clinic.

“I’m honestly just here because my job back home, I live an hour and a half away. I work at a nursing home as a CNA and they’re requiring me to get the vaccine to keep my job there,” Stephanie Esparza, Lewis, said.

More students walk into the on-campus clinic and begin to fill out forms to receive their vaccination, each with their own views and reasons for getting vaccinated.

“Mainly to just stop the spread, better to be vacced than not,” Joseph Stone, Pensacola, Fla., said as he was there to receive his second shot in order to be fully vaccinated.

“This is my second shot, I had to get it so I could con-

tinue to get to the next level of football,” Marquez ParteeCrump, Atlanta, Ga., said.

Many athletes are getting vaccinated so they can continue to participate and compete in sports.

“It went okay, didn’t have symptoms or nothing,” Partee-Crump said about his experience with the first dose of the vaccine.

COVID-19 has had an impact on students and many of their friends and loved ones. For some, it has been devastating and even deadly.

“I had a bunch of people that I knew that had COVID,” Stone said. “I had some, like, family members, like, die from it. Better to be safe than sorry.”

While Stone is confident in his decision, many students are apprehensive about the vaccine, the possible side effects and symptoms, as well as deciding which vaccine to receive.

“I got the Johnson & Johnson,” Jaedyn Douglas, Hutchinson, said.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a one-time shot.

“I’m here for emotional support,” said Douglas, who came to the vaccination clinic with her boyfriend as he is also required to receive the vaccine.

“And I get $300 for coming here, right,” said Jacob Ash, Andover.

Students are offered an incentive of $150 per vaccine or $300 for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. They must upload a photo of their proof of vaccination to DragonZone and then the student will receive credit to their store account.

“We’re both second-year nursing students here at Hutch,” Douglas said. “It is required actually.”

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Photo | Rachel Wilson Jaedyn Douglas, Hutchinson, watches on as Jacob Ash, Andover, fills out the required form to receive his one-dose vaccination. A grant covered the cost of the vaccine and insurance was not required.

Should the Vaccine be Mandatory?

197 people surveyed said:

yes

36%

Photo | Rachel Wilson Douglas laughs as Ash recieves his Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Lynette Kornelson, Reno County Health Department, administers the shot.

no

64%

Photo | Rachel Wilson Aubrey Heckathorn, Reno County Health Department, insists the Chicken Dance is a great way to relieve soreness from the shot. Heckathorn, Douglas and Ash laughed as they humored the idea.

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“

It’s too bad it went political

”

Kim Johnson | Business Professor

Photo | Rachel Wilson Lyset Ibarra, Macksville, remains calm as she recieves her second shot from Kornelson.

Ash and Douglas both spoke about the reasons and requirements for getting the vaccine.

“It’s required for clinicals, not required by the college itself, but the clinical sites that we have to go to,” said Ash. “I think Hutchinson Regional [Medical Center] it is required and Via Christi is.”

Some students don’t have a choice when it comes to being vaccinated. In some cases, if they want to further their education and careers, they have to comply.

“I did not want it at all, and I emailed my teacher three times to try and get out of it, but they would not go for it, so here I am,” said Ash. “So far it’s not what I expected because I’m not dying yet, but other than that, it’s okay.”

Many students on campus may be fear driven whether to get the vaccine or not get the vaccine. While some aren’t afraid of the vaccine itself, but the way it’s administered.

“One of my friends actually came over here too to take the first one with me, but she is deathly afraid of needles and she cannot, and I was like, I don’t care, so it didn’t really bother me,” Lyset Ibarra, Macksville, said as she received her second shot.

The average 10 to 14 days of quarantine plays a major role in many students’ decision to vaccinate.

“Just so I wouldn’t quarantine if I was around a positive, at this point, like if you’re around a positive, you don’t have to quarantine if you’re fully vaccinated,” Ibarra said. “I’d miss a whole paycheck really if I were to get quarantined.”

Besides the concern for her income, she is also keeping her family in mind.

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Photo | Rachel Wilson Kornelson helps finalize forms prior to Ibarra receiving her vaccination. In the background, Heckathorn discusses the shot with Douglas and Ash.

“My mom has kind of been pushing me to get it,” Ibarra said. “At first I was against it, but then now I’m kind of just like, whatever.”

Other students are getting the vaccine to be proactive in the fight against COVID-19, for the well being of themselves and others.

“Just to help out, prevent the spread and stuff like that, and I figured that, me being a basketball player, I felt that it was better for me to get that so that I wouldn’t have to sit out for a really long time if I ever do end up getting COVID or something,” Jacquez Yow, Newport News, Va., said.

Yow received his second shot of the Pfizer vaccine, having had no bad reactions or side effects to the first. For Yow, basketball is a driving factor, but other students have highlighted their classes as a main reason for vaccinating.

“Honestly, because the whole quarantine thing, like I wouldn’t have to quarantine. My classes are important and I need to be there, and it’s safer for others too,” Emma Laughary, Maize, said.

Students and faculty alike have concerns about their classrooms when it comes to the pandemic. While masks, social distancing and vaccines are being used in hopes of preventing the spread, there is also concern of difference of opinions and politics surrounding COVID-19.

“I feel that it’s gotten to be a political topic and I try very hard to keep politics out of my classroom,” Kim Johnson, Business Professor, said.

Politics are a well-known taboo subject of discussion and could potentially divide a classroom. To avoid conflict and disruption in the learning environment, administration may choose to respectfully avoid the highly controversial topic. While incentives, the possible side effects, the freedom to choose, quarantining, politics, concern for others, as well as income and the probability of catching COVID-19, continue to swirl, one thing remains - to be vaccinated or not to be vaccinated, that is the question.

What is your Vaccination Status?

5% 1% Received the first vaccine shot/ won’t recieve the second

Received the first vaccine shot/ plans to get the second

6% Not vaccinated/ plans to get vaccinated

Fully vaccinated

53%

Not vaccinated/ doesn’t plan to

35%

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Stream, Binge, Repeat

How viewers navigate the ever-growing world of Movie & TV streaming

Photos & Story | Mason Poepperling

Believe it or not, not long ago, the world once existed without movies and television streaming services.

Before the era of streaming wars, DVD’s were introduced in the late 1990’s, effectively replacing VHS tapes as the leader of home video entertainment. This would be shortlived, however, when a DVD-by-mail service called Netflix would launch the first online video-on-demand streaming service in Feb. 2007.

This style of movie and television consumption would prove to be incredibly successful, with Netflix’s video-on-demand service gaining 7.48 million subscribers in its first year and spawning similar competition in the forms of Hulu and Vudu.

This friendly competition would

eventually lead to a massive streaming service boom, resulting in billions of viewers relying on streaming services as their main source of shows and movies and even more competition for Netflix, like Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and more.

But how does this affect the common viewer? With streaming contracts changing and movies and TV shows moving from service to service, how does a user figure out which services are best? For many, it can be as simple as finding the service with the preferred content on it. This is one of the reasons Netflix has remained as popular as it has.

Despite many popular shows leaving the platform recently to go to their owners’ respected streaming service, Netflix still offers a rich amount of quality content to keep its brand

loyalty alive.

When referred to his preference of Netflix over the alternatives, Kayden Polk, Hutchinson, said, “I would say the amount of shows and the quality of those shows because I’ve gone through HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+ and Netflix and I’ve found that the quality of all those shows have seemed to be a little bit better on Netflix.”

Even with the immense amount of content being offered on newer services, Netflix has proven that there really is no substitute for experience.

In today’s streaming climate, Netflix is far from the only choice. One of its biggest rivals is Amazon Prime Video. Launched in Sept. 2008, many have turned to Prime Video for shows that Netflix doesn’t have. Of all the services available today, Prime Video

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Photo | Mason Poepperling After a long night of studying, Ryker Douglas, Hutchinson, looks for a new, unique show to watch on Prime Video.

Having previously finished the first season of “Invincible”, Douglas has been looking for a show with a similar type of dark humor.

Students Streaming By The Numbers Streaming services compete as 197 students surveyed selected their top choice.

Other

49% 14% 13% 8% 8%

has had the roughest time getting to the point of popularity it’s at currently.

With Netflix obtaining more desirable shows, Prime Video’s content output was less than stellar. However, as the years have gone by, Prime has built its own diverse library of content that is difficult to find anywhere else. “(Prime Video) always has those weird, niche shows I’m looking for,” Ryker Douglas, Hutchinson, said.

“Also, considering it’s a bonus on Amazon Prime, it’s really convenient.”

Both of these platforms have had awhile to build up their audiences, with both platforms being around for almost 15 years. When it comes to the sheer speed of audience growth, no current streaming service can compete with Disney+. Disney+ was launched in Nov. 2019 and

6%

announced as the premier streaming site for Disney films and shows, as well as Disney-owned content like Marvel, Star Wars, and 20th Century Fox. Disney+ became the fastest

4%

Photo | Mason Poepperling Killing time before his next class, Kayden Polk, Hutchinson, checks out the hottest new trending shows on Netflix. Polk had already gone through many of his favorite shows on Netflix, but never seemed to run out of new ones.

Continued on page 41

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Keeping a Promise

A closer look into the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act

Photos & Story | Mason Poepperling

One of the harshest realities of college is that education costs money. For some at Hutchinson Community College who want to enter the technical field, even with all available aid, the cost of tuition, books and fees can be too great for them to handle. This is where the newly implemented Kansas Promise Scholarship Act comes into play.

The Promise Act, put in place by the Kansas Board of Regents, provides scholarships to any student who qualifies so they can attend a post-secondary institution for a two-year associate degree program, career and technical certificate, or stand alone program as recognized by the board. To further explain what this all means, Carolyn Parson, HutchCC’s Kansas Promise Act Coordinator, dives

into what type of student qualifies and how this scholarship helps on their education journey.

“Primarily, this program is designed to help students gain specific information in specific areas because one of the things with businesses we’re noticing is that it’s difficult to find a skilled labor force. So the purpose of the program is to have a skilled labor force,” Parson said.

Currently, the Kansas Promise Act is only available to students who are Kansas residents aged 21 or older.

However, in Jan. 2022, KBOR will meet again to discuss possible changes to the act, including reducing the age limit to make it more accessible to those who have recently graduated from high school.

“Right now there’s a gap from high school to 21, so what we think the legislatures will look at is how can we

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close that gap,” Parson said.

On the HutchCC campus, the Promise Act applies to five different programs: Advanced Manufacturing and Building Trades, Early Childhood Education and Development, Healthcare, Information Technology and Security, and Fire Science.

“If (a student) is interested in gaining job skills to help them secure a job then this would be the program for them,” Parson said. “What we’re hoping for is that (Promise Act students) will remain in Kansas and that they will find that community that will support them should they decide to have a family and will be a great place for them to raise children, and to be able to support themselves.”

Recent current events have taken a toll on community jobs everywhere, including Kansas. The purpose of the Promise Act is to help aid students in providing the important pillars of a community that would struggle to stand on its own without them.

“We have to build communities, and the way we build communities is you get new people into the community and then they start their families and maybe they’ll bring someone in that they know and then they’ll start building their communities from there,” Parson said.

With the intention to continue building the Hutchinson community, Parson and the Promise Act at HutchCC will be able to provide aid to those who want to begin their education journey. In the end, it’s important for students looking to make a difference in their community that the Promise Act is there for them whenever they apply.

19

The Kansas Promise Scholarship act is currently available at different community colleges across the state.

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This flyer also contains information about the Kansas Promise Scholarship, provided by HutchCC marketing.

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Fighting the

15

FRESHMAN

Students combat weight gain by being active and eating healthy.

Photos & Story | Sarah Newberry

Harley Goetz, Kingman

Page Design | Rachel Wilson

Freshman 15 - impending doom or something students can combat?

The dreaded Freshman 15, a lot of stigma follows that phrase. It’s been heard in movies, TV shows, from friends and family, and many other sources. Why is the Freshman 15 feared so much? How come some people have never heard of it? The Freshman 15 is defined by weight gain when attending college. It comes with the freedom students have to eat whatever they want. Some parents try to get their kids to eat healthy, but when students go off to college it’s a different story. Also, according to some, college cafeteria food is way better than high school food.

“When I think of the Freshman 15, I think of weight gain,” said Kayleigh Smalley, Wellington.

It’s a widely used expression by many, although some don’t know what it is.

“The Freshman 15 is the expression

people use that refers to the average amount of weight college students could possibly gain during the first year of college,” Smalley said.

Weight gain is something many students dread.

“I’m afraid I’m going to gain 15 pounds,” said Harley Goetz, Kingman.

Why is the Freshman 15 so common? Is it really that easy to gain weight? There are many things that the Freshman 15 boils down to.

“The unlimited cafeteria food, eating late at night, easy access to vending machines, and being too tired to go workout,” said Smalley.

When students are tired and worn out from a long day of classes, it can be hard to find motivation to do things.

Students often focus their time and efforts on homework, and not much else. Most times when students stay up late at night studying, they get hungry at odd times and sometimes

might crave sweets or junk food.

What’s available to eat at those times comes down to convenience. Whether it’s from the vending machines, fast food establishments, or just easy to make, it’s all about how quick it is.

Sometimes, eating unhealthy foods comes down to how much a student can afford.

“You don’t have enough money so you buy things like ramen noodles,” said Goetz.

Being a broke college student can be rough and making or buying healthy foods can be hard. Limited resources to cook healthy foods can contribute as well. With the exception of airfryers, the dorms doesn’t allow cooking devices like microwaves. This may be another obstable for student when trying to eat healthy and be cost effective. Even though eating healthy can be difficult, there are some healthy foods students enjoy.

“My favorite healthy foods are

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Photo | Sarah Newberry Kayleigh Smalley, Wellington, works out at Planet Fitness. She liked to work out with her friends and tried to get to the gym two to three times each week.

Photo | Sarah Newberry Harley Goetz, Kingman, works out two to three times a week. She prefers to use the elliptical and works out in her fire science class as well.

strawberries, bananas, watermelon, apples with peanut butter, trail mix and popcorn,” Smalley said.

“I love steamed broccoli or cauliflower, salads, most fruits or vegetables really,” said Goetz.

Keeping a balanced and healthy lifestyle is another way to combat the Freshman 1, working out helps to prevent gaining weight. Another way is to avoid eating out, especially greasy fast foods.

“To prevent the freshman 15 I try to stay active. For example, I walk as much as possible if I have to go somewhere on campus. I choose not to eat a lot of fast food,” said Smalley.

“My favorite ways to stay active and keep it fun are working out with my friends and jamming to some music,” said Smalley.

Continued on page 40

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Offices on campus offer ways for students to save money.

Photos & Story | Kaitlyn Seiwert

also hair salons, other community businesses, Hutch News, [and the] HutchCC campus bookstore.”

Businesses such as Bogey’s, Midway Motors, Chick-fil-a, INeeda Cleaners, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, and Absolutely Flowers are a few of the businesses who offer discounts year-round for cardholders. “[The] card is not limited to one use per vendor. It can be used multiple times throughout the course of a year,” said Keast.

Over the years, the discount card has been a big hit to all ages, not just students.

“We average selling 1000 to 1200 cards to alumni, friends, students, and businesses. Anybody can purchase this card,” said Keast.

Keast encouraged students, alumni, staff and friends of the college to purchase the card yearly to take advantage of all the discounts it has to offer.

“It is good from August 1 to July 31 of the following year,” said Keast.

The card’s constant year-round savings has been a benefit to cardholders for at least 35 years according

to Keast.

The college’s Alumni and Friends organization, located in the endowment office, provides multiple resources and activities for HutchCC students. The purchase of a Blue Dragon discount card does a lot more than getting it’s cardholders a good deal on fries at Bogey’s.

“The support it provides the Hutchinson Community College students is an excellent reason to purchase one,” said Keast.

At just $15, the card can be purchased in the Endowment office, campus bookstore, any First National Bank in town or Brown Shoe Fit. “There are many outstanding places to eat on our card,” Keast said.

“Offers made by businesses are up to them.”

Some places offer free fries, drink or even a free cookie. Cardholders remembering to use the discount card is the biggest obstacle the Endowment foundation faces.

“Don’t leave them in your wallets.

Take them out and use them. They really will produce a huge amount of savings,” Keast said.

Students living on a budget are constantly looking for ways to save money. However, many students do not know of the savings offered by campus offices. Cindy Keast, Endowment Director, heads the endowment’s attempts at saving students money.

“The Blue Dragon discount card is a collection of businesses and vendors in Hutchinson (and surrounding areas). We have approximately 77 vendors. In past years we have had up to 90,” said Keast. “It’s not just restaurants on the card. There are

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Keast has tried to add up her savings over the course of a year, and found she uses the card to many times to even calculate her savings. The Endowment office works as a team to put the discount card together.

“Tammy Barron, [Endowment Administrative Assistant] she is very important to the success of this,” Keast said. “She gathers all the information, makes sure it’s all right, get the cards out to whoever needs to, takes care of all the mailings of those coming.

She does a great job promoting the Blue Dragon discount card for us. She oversees the Blue Dragon discount card for us.”

“Proceeds from the Blue Dragon card support childcare scholarships, part-time student scholarships, and student activities,” Keast said.“Those scholarships help students receive a quality education at an affordable cost.”

While anyone has access to the discount cards, students in housing receive an extra benefit.

“Students who live in residence halls or have meal plans receive $150 in dragon bucks each semester,” said

Student Pizza Preference

79%

Papa John’s Pizza

21%

Blue Dragon Pizza Students can buy Papa Murphy’s pizza using Dragon Bucks or the discount card.

197 students surveyed

Dana Hinshaw, Residence Life and Student Activities Director.

Flyers posted on students’ dorm rooms informs students of the bonus.

The extra stipend gives students about ten dollars per week to spend at a few selected establishments.

“You can use that money at ‘Grab and Go’ in the Student Union and Papa John’s,” Hinshaw said.

Student Coffee Preference

15%

hot coffee

40% cold brew coffee

44% smoothies

Dragon Bucks and the discount card are accepted at the Grab & Go in the Parker Student Union.

197 students surveyed

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Students in the housing are experiencing a new effort created by Hinshaw and Great Western Dining.

“Great Western is the one that does this [Dragon Bucks] at our request.

When we remodeled the cafeteria, it was something the staff at the residence hall thought would be important for the students,” said Hinshaw.

“We pitched it to Great Western and they said ‘You bet! How do you want to do that?’ Our IT department and them have done a bulk of the work.”

Great Western Dining serves dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Several students might find this a little early to eat dinner, or they might be busy with sports practice or homework during this time. “[It] gives kids a little more flexibility for meals. It’s great for the kids to have that option. Maybe they aren’t hungry during dinner and they order a pizza at night,” said Hinshaw.

While Great Western Dining offers a wide variety of meals, cuisine and healthy alternatives, students may just not be hungry for what is being served that day. Dragon Bucks provides students with an alternative for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even snacks.

“I think they [Papa John’s] even do wings at night,” Hinshaw said.

Some students have expressed they would like more options, but Hinshaw’s office describes the issues they face with going too far off campus.

“We’ve looked at other restaurants in town,” said Hinshaw, “but with the shortage of workers in town it’s [the system and influx of students and business] too overwhelming.”

Unlike the Discount Card, students don’t need to carry anything extra to utilize Dragon Bucks. Hinshaw describes how simple Dragon Bucks are for students to use.

“Use it [Dragon Bucks] just like cash with [your] student id,” said Hinshaw.

Because it is still a new idea and system, there have been a couple of learning and communication opportunities for students and staff.

“It’s a bit of a learning curve for all of us,” Hinshaw said. “One of the issues we have found with Papa John’s is they [students] can’t use coupons.”

One issue Papa John’s found was they were constantly making trips to the dorms or Dragon’s Landing.

In order to create a more organized delivery experience, they imple-

mented some additional measures.

“I think Papa John’s has a system where they do drop off times,” Hinshaw said.

Another issue Hinshaw witnessed among students is rapid spending at the beginning of the semester.

Hinshaw gives a warning to all housing students and said, “sometimes when we have a pot of money it’s easy to spend it all quickly. We encourage them to think about it.”

Hinshaw also found students trying to zero out their balance at the end of the fall semester. Students do not need to worry about spending $150 each semester, however.

“Money left over from fall semester will roll over to second semester, but not through years,” said Hinshaw.

HutchCC campus offers multiple opportunities for students to save money on and off campus. Students in housing have the option to use Dragon Bucks and purchase the discount card. Students off campus, community members, faculty and alumni can easily get a discount card to use around town. Dragon Bucks and the discount cards demonstrate just another way that HutchCC cares about their students.

The 2021-22 Blue Dragon Discount Card features over 70 vendors on a simple foldable card. Purchasers can use the card numerous times throughout the year.

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Mom Cave Designs Brown’s Shoe Fit

The Toy Depot INeeda Cleaners

over SEVENTY vendors!

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Kansas State Fair RETURNS HutchCC groups welcome back the annual event.

Photos & Design | Rachel Wilson

Photo | Rachel Wilson Courtney Cauble, Welding Instructor, shares a laugh with a fairgoer in the Welding and Agriculture exhibit. A large cross-sectioned motor, a robotic arm used for welding, and two tower gardens were among the many items displayed at the exhibit.

Photo | Rachel Wilson Amanda Starkel, McPherson, checks a patron’s blood pressure at the Kansas State Fair. The HutchCC Nursing Program assisted the Lions Sight Foundation during the fair.

Photo | Rachel Wilson Keli Paradise, Newton, reads a blood pressure cuff at the Lions Sight Foundation booth located in the Sunflower North Building.

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Photo | Rachel Wilson Janae DeWeese, Assistant Director of Marketing and Public Information, enjoyed a conversation with a local veteran who stopped by the HutchCC booth, located in the Meadowlark Building.

Photo | Rachel Wilson HutchCC Media Production, located on Plum St., offered paid parking to raise scholarship funds. The fundraiser was held during the weekends at the Kansas State Fair.

Photo | Samantha Bell Jordyn Spillane, Newton; Kaitlyn Godsey, Smith Center; Matty Schrag, Haven; and Quincey Baker, Hutchinson, pose for a photo in the Cottonwood Court. The HutchCC Spirit Squad cleaned tables as a fundraiser.

Kansas State Fair Returns | 29 028-029 Kansas State Fair.indd 29

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Harry Crockett Oxted, England

Ben Partridge London, England Charlie Crockett Oxted, England

Trey McCrae Plainville

Hutchinson Community College Head Golf Coach Chris Young led the 2020-21 Blue Dragon’s Men Golf to a national championship in May 2021. Out of the seven students on the team, a total of five were from outside of the United States. The team played a fall and spring schedule where they won six tournaments in a row. Not only did the team set a new HutchCC record, they were also recognized as setting new national records.

Current sophomore golfer Ben Partridge, London, England, said, “I know I’m speaking on behalf of the team, we all felt pride when we had that Hutch shirt on knowing we were doing something historical for the program.”

Among numerous honors and awards following the national win, three players were named All-American, Partridge was named Nicklaus Player of the Year, and Coach Young was named National Coach of the Year.

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{Inter} National

Addison Alonzo Topeka

Champions Page Design | Kaitlyn Seiwert Photos | HutchCC Sports Info

Golf team made up of many international students conquered a tough season to win a national title.

Head Coach Chris Young & Ben Partridge London, England

Ben Partridge London, England

Chris Young Head Golf Coach

Golf Championship | 31 030-031 Golf.indd 31

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we the

Page Design | Kaitlyn Seiwert 82 Jaquavious Gillespy 2 Cam Henderson

5 CJ Ogbonna

7 Roterius Torrence

2 Cam Henderson, 7 Roterius Torrence, 27 Marquise Gilbert, 9 Caleb Coleman, 21 Gereme Spraggins

Photos | Hannah Brummer Tye Edwards, Palatka, Fla., escapes a tackle from a Snow College player. Edwards was named MVP of the game.

Pictured with Running Back Coach Greg Cross.

[

]

“Talent doesn’t get you there, it takes guys buying in and doing everything right, not just half of the things right. It was just another football game...we were down and we had to figure out a way to come back and go win the game.”

-DREW DALLAS, HEAD COACH

32 | Dragon’s Tale | October 2021 032-033 Football.indd 32

10/6/21 8:23 AM

P

e kings Photos | Hannah Brummer

73 Kingsley Ugwu

56 Dennis Wilburn

33 Justin Powell

Photo | Hannah Brummer No. 80 Brandon Andrews, No. 13 Emmanuel Mann, and Trevor Whiteman cheer from the sidelines as the Blue Dragons run the ball for a touchdown. The Blue Dragons won the game 29-27.

The 2020-21 Blue Dragon football team brought home HutchCC’s first football national championship in Little Rock, Ark., on June 5. The team completed an undefeated season where they held their No. 1 ranking the entire season.

Football Cahmpionship | 33 032-033 Football.indd 33

10/6/21 8:33 AM

SUNSET STRIDE

HutchCC Cross Country participated in the annual Terry Masterson Twilight Classic, which began earlier in the evening this year.

34 | Dragon’s Tale | October 2021 034-035 Cross Country.indd 34

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E

ssic, year.

Noel Hidalgo | Hooker, Okla.

Anastasia Meyer | Andale

Camilo Leos-Tarun | Winfield Aaron Geissinger | Abilene Andrew Holt | Lago Vista, Texas

Louise Cocking | Derbyshire, United Kingdom

Carsyn Turpin | Shawnee

Page Design | Rachel Wilson Photos | HutchCC Sports Information

Collin Oswalt | Hutchinson

2021 Cross Country Results Sept. 3 Terry Masterson Twilight Classic Women Team - 8th Place 4th Place - Louise Cocking Men 4th Place - Collin Oswalt Sept. 18 Missouri Southern Stampede Women Team - 6th Place 4th Place - Louise Cocking Men Team - 3rd Place 4th Place - Collin Oswalt Oct. 2 Region VI Preview Women Team - 3rd Place 5th Place - Louise Cocking Men Team - 4th Place 10th Place - Collin Oswalt Oct. 9 Fort Hays State Tiger Open Oct. 30 Regional VI Cross Country Championship Nov. 13 NJCAA Cross Country Championship Results as of Oct. 5, 2021

034-035 Cross Country.indd 35

Sunset Stride | 35 10/5/21 2:57 PM

FOOTloose HutchCC Women’s Soccer perseveres through the season.

Sammy Lane HEAD COACH

Julia Dias De Souza, Novo Hamburgo, MIDFIELD

Brazil

Hadlie Lowe, Wichita FORWARD

Lani Dickinson, Swindon, FORWARD

England

36 | Dragon’s Tale | October 2021 036-037 Soccer.indd 36

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Hadlie Lowe, Wichita FORWARD Aspen Apfel, Hutchinson GOALKEEPER

Zara Lawless, Dublin, DEFENDER

Ireland

Photos | Andrew Carpenter Page Design | Rachel Wilson

2021 SOCCER SEASON

Scoreboard

Date

Opponent

Result Score

Aug. 20

at Western Wyoming Community College

W

1-0

Sept. 1

at Barton CC

L

2-1

Sept. 4

Johnson County CC

L

1-0

Sept. 8

at Garden City CC

W

2-0

Sept. 11

at Butler CC

L

5-0

Sept. 15

Cowley College

L

4-2

Sept. 18

at Coffeyville CC

W

2-1

Sept. 22

at Dodge City CC

W

4-2

Oct. 2

at Neosho County CC

POSTPONED

Oct. 6

Barton CC

Oct. 9

Kansas City Kansas CC

Oct. 13

Garden City CC

Oct. 16

at Cowley College

Oct. 20

Dodge City CC Results as of Oct. 5, 2021

Footloose | 37 036-037 Soccer.indd 37

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Welcome to the

Photo | Cassidy Smith Morgan Harvey, Hoyt, sets the ball to keep the rally. Harvey has 105 digs so far this season.

Photo | Cassidy Smith Aubreigh Haxton, Argonia; McKinley Johnson, Lindsborg; and Cameron Letcher, Kansas City, all celebrate after the team scores a point. All three were freshman on the Blue Dragon team.

Photo | Cassidy Smith Kristina Head, Lyons, and Sophie Connor, Derby, go up for a block. Head had 57 block assists so far this season.

Block

Party

Second-year coach continues building her team.

Photos & Story | Cassidy Smith

Hutchinson Community College volleyball has had a booming season so far. The energy and support goes from the sideline, to the court, to the crowds. Teammates on the bench are always hyping up fellow players and setting the mood for the games. On the court, players are always positive no matter how the game is playing out. In the stands, Blue Dragon fans are loud and proud.

Last year, the team was forced to play their season in the spring, due to COVID. This year, things are back to normal and their fall season is in full action. The season is rolling and the girls are getting back into the swing of things. Second-year Head Coach, Delice Downing is finally getting to start the Blue Dragons year like it should be.

“This is the norm,” Downing said.”Everyone doesn’t get a full semester to prepare; they have to jump in and play with what they got.”

HutchCC is hosting volleyball

38 | Dragon’s Tale | October 2021 038-039 Volleyball.indd 38

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2021 Volleyball Season Scoreboard nationals and the Blue Dragons are working very hard to be able to play on their home court.

Downing has been coaching for 18 years. She graduated from Coffeyville Community College then furthered her education at University of West Alabama and was a dual-collegiate sport athlete. During her second year as the head coach she is still getting to know the girls and getting into the routine.

“Learning about Hutchinson itself is a big challenge I’m trying to face,” Downing said.

This team not only has 168 aces on the court so far this season, they also ace their classes. Balancing school work, practice, games, and still being able to have a social life, they have to put in hard work on and off the court.

Getting behind is not an option if they want to play the game they love. Just like any other college student, these girls are busy, they manage to pass the ball and their classwork.

“My advice is to talk to your professors in the beginning and let them know when you need help,” Aubreigh Haxton, Argonia, said.

Even though the team has big blocks, some teammates grew up on a much smaller one.

Aubreigh Haxton, Argonia, said, “Hutch is so much bigger than my hometown, so that was quite an adjustment. I like that there is a bigger variety of students here at Hutch.”

While Letcher is from a bigger city she said, “I love how close everyone is to each other, but I do miss the big city.”

Even though the players may not come from the same background they all get along as a team.

With a long season still

038-039 Volleyball.indd 39

ahead, Haxton is not only a great addition to the court, she is a member of the Blue Dragon family.

“We all love each other so much and get along better than any team I’ve ever been on,” Haxton said . “We are a team who wants to win and we put in the work to get there, pushing each other everyday at practice.”

Downing said that the girls are each other’s keepers, referring to the movie, “My Sister’s Keeper.”

“They are literally like my sisters,” Cameron Letcher, a middle hitter from Kansas City, said, ”We are so close to each other.”

These girls take care of each other, on the court they are a team, off the court they are a family. Being back to a normal season, the energetic coaching staff will set the team up for a great rest of the season. Come out, be loud and proud, Blue Dragon volleyball is on its way up.

Date Opponent Aug. 23 Ottawa University JV Sept. 1 Cloud County CC Sept. 3 Otero Junior College

North Platte CC Sept. 4 McCook CC

Iowa Western CC Sept. 6 Butler CC Sept. 8 Garden City CC Sept. 10 Neosho County CC

Rose State College Sept. 11 Trinity Valley CC Sept. 13 Colby CC Sept. 15 Dodge City CC Sept. 17 Trinity Valley CC

Jefferson College Sept. 18 Missouri State Univ. - West Plains

Laramie County CC Sep. 20 Garden City CC Sept. 22 Pratt CC Sept. 24 Barton CC Sept. 28 Seward County CC Oct. 2 Highland CC &

Cloud County CC Oct. 6 Seward County CC Oct. 7 NE Okla. A&M College Oct. 8 TBA & Tyler Junior College Oct. 9 TBA & Missouri State Univ.

West Plains Oct. 13 Colby CC Oct. 15 TBA, Mineral Area College &

Vincennes Univ.

Oct. 16 TBA Oct. 18 Dodge City CC Oct. 20 Butler CC Oct. 23 Pratt CC Oct. 27 Barton CC

Result W 3-1 W 3-2 W 3-0 W 3-2 L 3-1 L 3-0 L 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-2 W 3-0 L 3-1 L 3-1 L 3-1 W 3-0 W 3-1 L 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 L 3-1 L 3-0 W 3-1 W 3-2

Results as of Oct. 5, 2021

Photo |Cassidy Smith Blondie Penaflor, Las Vegas, Nev., celebrates after a kill. Penaflor had 182 kills so far this season.

Photo | Cassidy Smith Rachel Easom, Houston, Texas, digs the ball at the last minute for a save. Easom played as one of the libero on the team.

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Stream, Binge, Repeat - Continued from page 19

growing streaming platform of all time, securing 10 million subscribers in one day and 26 million subscribers by the end of 2019.

“I really like the wide variety of content available on Disney+ with old and new movies, shows, and especially most of their Disney+ original series. The Mandalorian and Star Wars Visions stand out to me because of the sheer value and effort put into them. Not to mention I just like Star Wars,” Breadon Martin, Hutchinson, said.

This boost in subscriber numbers for Disney+ may be what inspired the massive amount of streaming services that have been launched recently. Services like HBO Max, Peacock, Apple TV+, and more have been released to varying amounts of success, with older streaming services like Hulu and Showtime lagging behind in content and user numbers.

April Gulder, Hutchinson, who uses Hulu as her main service, said “(Hulu) should add newer movies because they have a lot of older movies so I wish that they’d add more current

stuff.” atres is bleak,” Martin said. “With the For some, this volume of available onset of online streaming and simulcontent can make the current streamtaneous releases, movie theatres will ing climate difficult to navigate. need something unique to keep them Deciding which service has the right going, and their overpriced nature shows while also keeping up with what’s coming to and leaving each service, which services can be bundled together, and “Movie theaters will how much each subscription certainly die out if they costs is hard to keep up with. cannot innovate.”

“I would say so because -Breadon Martin there’s a lot of streaming services, so it’s hard to figure out things like which show is where and if it’s on multiple services plus public setting is not helping or just one, so I would say it’s pretty them. Movie theaters will certainly difficult,” Gulder said. die out if they cannot innovate.”

So what does the future of streamMovie theaters won’t truly disaping look like? With streaming services pear because of streaming however. adding features like original content Even with the rising popularity of and premiere access to theatrical movie and TV streaming, theater releases, streaming has been poised to ticket sales are beginning to see a new overtake traditional brick and mortar rise as more begin to open up again. movie theaters, and with the recent In the end, one thing is certain, as drop off in ticket sales due to a global long as movies and TV shows exist, pandemic, many believe that theaters there will always be a new, efficient may soon die altogether. way of viewing them.

“I think the future of movie the-

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Don’t Worry Be Happy - Continued from page 3

can blame being unhappy on bad methods of achieving mental relaxmeditate effectively. Lau suggested a events and not understand that the ation would be helpful in stressful free application called Headspace or root of happiness is in the choices situations,” Serena Chantra, Fairfield, watching YouTube videos. they make and how they perceive said.

Graber said, “I’ve attempted practhings. This class is an “exploration Meditation takes practice and ticing meditation and mindfulness, of happiness” according to Lau, it is dedication. Being able to put aside all which is a huge part of this course, a way for students to learn new ways the chaos from the day and focus on and it has proved to be useful from to de-stress and focus. having a positive mind is hard to do, time to time.”

“A lot of students will try out these especially for college students. Taking College is difficult. It may appear different activities and go, you know, 10-15 minutes before starting the day overwhelming and time-consuming, I didn’t realize how but it all boils down to good it feels to walk attitude and perspecoutside without my tive. For busy students, phone and just pay balancing all of the “I think meditation and other attention to the way pressures and stresses the air feels and the sun of adulthood can be methods of achieving mental on my skin,” Lau said. tough. Fortunately, our relaxation would be helpful in Being present in campus offers a course stressful situations.” conversations or to help students learn -Serena Chantra classes is hard for some that they have control students. When pracover how they handle ticing mindfulness, it stress. If a student finds allows the body to be they are struggling, take focused on relieving that stress. to relax and start off on a positive note a break. Block out 10 minutes of the “Honestly I don’t think back to that can help understand mindfulness and day and meditate, think positive and class often, but if I were to keep it in how it truly helps. For some, it may from the wise words of Bob Marley, mind, I think meditation and other be helpful to receive tips on how to “don’t worry, be happy.”

Fighting the Freshman 15 - Continued from page 23

Other students stay active by different means of exercise. Some never see the effects of the dreaded weight gain, while some may say it’s not a true statement for all college freshmen.

“No it’s not an accurate statement, because I’ve lost weight,” said Goetz who is in a fitness class for fire science.

According to studies, the Freshman 15 is not actually 15 pounds.

The Washington Post stated, “weight gain is common during fresh-

man year, 15 pounds is more than the average. The actual weight gain of freshmen varies greatly among different studies, with an overall average of seven and a half pounds.”

“I try to combat the Freshman 15 by watching my portions.”

-Harley Goetz

Portion control can be one way to help fight weight gain.

“I try to combat the Freshman 15 by watching my portions,” Goetz said.

Overall, balance is key, eat healthy foods including fruits and vegetables.

Staying active by incorporating fun workouts like walking with a friend or dance parties can be beneficial.

The Freshman 15 isn’t something to be feared, it’s something students can overcome and can take the fear out of it one step at a time.

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