News
April 2022
Academic Challenge brings trivia to the extreme By NICK VITALE ‘22 Staff Reporter
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on’t let the name scare you; there are very little academics involved. Run by Mr. Lindenhofen, Academic Challenge is our school’s premiere club for anyone with a nose for trivia. “It is a quiz bowl, trivial style competition,” Mr. Lindenhofen says about the club. “It’s like “team Jeopardy.” As far as the team itself, the club’s equivalent to a star quarterback would come in the form of senior Valora Wong, who was a key player in the team’s success this season. “We actually didn’t have a season last year due to COVID. We continued to meet over Zoom and did trivia questions with each other, but did not compete with other schools. However, we were undefeated this year and conference champions,” Wong said about this season. “I believe two years ago we had 2 or 3 losses, so I was really proud.” Finishing with an undefeated record, it’s safe to say that the team is back and better
than ever. Although the team may not get varsity jackets or posters on the wall, their camaraderie and passion makes it worthwhile for each member. However, one problem the team faces heading into next season is the amount of seniors on the roster, as the team is losing eight. While there is some uncertainty surrounding next year, it surely isn’t enough to warrant any real distress. The bottom line is that if you’re interested in joining, don’t hesitate. The club could use you, and it truly is a blast to be a part of. While I don’t know that from experience, take it from Valora. “Academic Challenge is actually a lot of fun, especially if you like Jeopardy and trivia. It’s relatively laid back too. There’s no studying or preparation needed, nor is it based around a specific topic.” says Wong. “I’m really going to miss it though. It’s been so much more fun and enjoyable than I could have expected or hoped.” So there you have it. Academic Challenge is a club at our school that is not only a ton of fun, but one that could use you. Feel free to swing by Room 205 to see Mr. Lindenhofen with any questions.
Finishing with an undefeated record, it’s safe to say that the team is back and better than ever.
Water bottle chandeliers: Ms. Hughes’ brilliant idea to save the environment
Dale Chihuly’s chandeliers. Hughes collected water bottles from Eastern students and staff for about three s you enter Ms. Hughes’ classweeks in order to have enough materiroom, you may notice a very als to use for the project. Chicken wire, unique piece of artwork above string, and paint are used along with the her desk. It appears to be some water bottles in order to make these spisort of chandelier, made of spirals in alrals of plastic into beautiful chandeliers. most every shade of blue you can think of. “I like that we’re using what would be But how was this masterpiece made, and considered trash to make art,” said senior what is it made of? Chloe Spence. Ms. Hughes is one of Eastern’s wonderBoth teams have taken unique approachful art teachers. She has been teaching at es to decorate their chandeliers, using difEastern for five years, and teaches Art 1, ferent colors and techniques in order to 2 and 3, AP Studio Art, Pottery, and Art create their artistic vision. of Crafts. “We are using a sunset gradient, with Ms. Hughes’ Expression 6 class, Art a mixture of yellows, oranges and reds,” of Crafts, has been said Sharp learning how to “The project was When asked about communicate and their thoughts on the inspired by a goal work as a team project, this is how to recycle materials through their envithe class responded. ronmentally friend“This project has used in art projects ly upcycling projseriously been a blast. from the class. A lot I’ve had a lot of fun ect. For this project, the class is split of waste is typically and I hope everyone into two teams, and made from different gets a chance to take tasked with creating this art class and do projects throughout this project,” said a colorful chandelier made of water sophomore Braxton the year.” bottles. Brown. “I think the proj“I really like this ect is a really interesting as a concept, and project! It’s a good way to upcycle somea great way to reuse materials. You just thing that’s otherwise really hard to reneed a good group of committed people use,” said senior Annette Kroes. to make it beautiful,” said senior John “It’s calming, it’s fun, it’s confusing, Sharp. but all in all it’s pretty great. The difficult “It is extremely important for everyone part is attempting to paint the inside of the in our group to contribute. A huge factor bottle and it doesn’t want to spread,” said of this project is collaborating and team sophomore Alvaro Rea-Morales. work,” said sophomore Selin Cagatay. Overall, Ms. Hughes’ upcycling project “The project was inspired by a goal to has taught her Arts And Crafts class how recycle materials used in art projects from to work as a team and collaborate to crethe class,” said Hughes. “A lot of waste ate a gorgeous, environmentally friendly is typically made from different projects product. The photos speak for themselves, throughout the year.” She was also inand I, for one, cannot wait to see what spired by the designs of Seattle glass artist these young artists create next. By KAITLIN SWIFT ‘24 Staff Reporter
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News Briefs
EASTERN
Scholar of the Month: Leah Snyderman A scholar is a student striving for intellectual activities and pursues academic achievement. As a sincere student of Eastern Regional, there was no doubt when Leah Snyderman received Scholar of The Month for April. Something with such responsibility takes an immense amount of balance between personal life and education. When she is taking breaks from her studying, Leah dances, hangs out with family, and volunteers as a teaching assistant in the Jewish community. As an active student, Leah is committed to The Voyager, Student Council, Model UN, National Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society, and many more activities. The tedious workload can cause stress onto any student. To relieve any tension, Leah enjoys “family dinner…almost every night…just knowing at the end of day that I get to sit with them.” Having her family as her biggest supporters leads Leah step by step into success. Striving to become a journalist, Leah will continue being a wonder in the making for our high school, even after she graduates in June and leaves for UCLA in the fall. Eastern congratulates you, Leah! - Alana McLeod ‘25
REGIONAL NYC’s Eric Adams’s Protection of Mask Mandate The Big Apple is implementing big mandates. The city’s mayor, Eric Adams, placed a mandate that toddlers ages two, three, and four wear their masks while in public. He defended the health of New York City’s vulnerable youth, but the city’s attorney, Daniela Jampel, could not have disagreed more. She took to Twitter to claim that Adams “broke [his] promise to unmask our toddlers.” Jampel’s degradation of Adams certainly was not taken with a grain of salt. It wasn’t long after Adams found the tweet among the populated crowd of Euphoria retweets and Grammys claims when he took action to fire her from her position. The 38-year-old woman is no longer a 38-year-old attorney. So, to answer Jampel’ concern, the toddlers will not be unmasked, while her job most certainly will be. - Molly Smith ‘25
GLOBAL Energy Crisis in UK and Asia The energy crisis has taken the world by storm due to COVID and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The International Energy Agency has warned that the energy crunch would last for about two years. Energy prices have risen, and they will continue to rise because of this ongoing crisis. Countries like Germany, who have been suffering, are expanding the amount of energy it sources from Russia. Russia has 40 percent of the energy that Europe uses. Gas prices rising have also been an effect of this energy crisis. In Asia, Kazakhstan had a 100 percent gas increase. In Uzbekistan, there have been ongoing severe power black outs. Climate change has also been a factor in the energy crisis. The government’s failure to enact proper policies to diminish the severe environmental effects of global warming has caused the natural gas prices to rise. Before the war, prices in Europe increased throughout the winter. This goes to show that COVID, war, and climate change are the reason the energy crises have occurred in Europe and Asia. - Areeba Mehmood ‘22
This project taught students that having fun and being creative may just be one bottle away. Photo supplied by Ms. Hughes
