12.05 Acumen Issue

the difference makers issue

n o i it e d e Lit 2 l ia Hi sue c pe the - Is 3 s a of 11 5.1 l. 2 . o 1 V

JIVA CAPULONG / COVER GRAPHIC

Difference makers

[noun]

People who make a significant impact on someone or contribute to their community

LET TER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear readers, With such a large student body, it’s sometimes hard for individuals to be recognized for what they have accomplished. In this issue, my co-editor Jason and I attempt to give a voice to students and faculty who have made a significant difference at this school.

Purpose

Readers should also try to make a difference. Start a club, volunteer or do something nice for someone every day. Please enjoy the issue!

Your Acumen Editor in Chief, Julie Xu

Staff

Acumen is an issue-based publication serving to supplement the HiLite. Acumen is distributed to the students, faculty and staff of Carmel High School. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily representative of those held by CHS, the Carmel Clay system faculty, staff or administration.

Acumen Editor in Chief Acumen Associate Editor Reporters

Contact information Mailing Address: 520 E. Main St., Carmel, IN 46032 Phone: (317) 846-7721, Ext. 7143 Website: www.hilite.org E-mail: Staff members of the HiLite may be contacted via email by using their first initial and their last name appending @hilite.org. For example, Julie Xu will receive an email sent to jxu@hilite.org.

Graphic Artists

Julie Xu Jason Klein Michelle Dai Nida Khan Maham Nadeem Laxmi Palde Sreeti Ravi Aaron Shi Grant Smith Annika Wolff Lianne Yu Stephanie Zhang Jiva Capulong Anthony Ko

Crystal Chen Kyle Crawford Mikaela George Jaymee Stout Karthik Thadasina

Photographers

HiLite Editor in Chief

Claudia Huang

HiLite Managing Editors

Taylor Acton Eric He Hafsa Razi Andrew Wang Mr. John Williams Dr. Nicholas Wahl

Principal Superintendent

SPEAK UP: Who is an influential person in your life at school? Compiled by Stephanie Zhang and photos by Jaymee Stout “I’ll choose my brother, Eric Stockholm. He influences me because he’s a really good role model, and he also helps me make good decisions.”

Freshman Adam Stockholm

“Sasha Scott, one of my bible study leaders, is really influential and really nice even though she’s an upperclassman, and I’m just a freshman.

She teaches me a lot.”

Freshman Johanne Vincent

02

ACUMEN

“Mrs. Baines opened my eyes to a lot of literature and the importance of the English language. She always says to keep doing what you’re doing and don’t give up on your dreams.”

“Matt Wehner, a student of mine last year, is personable and generous and introspective and curious and a socially mature senior.”

Senior Eric Stockholm

English teacher Enid Baines

“I am nominating Eric Langowski because he’s a super chill dude, and his calm personality rubs off on me.”

“I’ll say Sherry Yang.

I’m in orchestra, and she’s the (treasurer) for orchestra council, and her work ethic inspires me.”

Senior Sasha Scott

Senior Eric Langowski

Influential Alumni CHS

Ted Allen

Todd Witsken Todd Witsken was an all-state and all-American tennis player for CHS before he graduated in 1982.

After graduation, Witsken went on to play professionally in tennis and reached the fourth round in the 1986 U.S. Open. In his career, Witsken won a total of 12 doubles titles.

Deborah Pearlstein A CHS graduate of 1989, Deborah Pearlstein attended Cornell University and Harvard Law School. At Harvard, Pearlstein was an articles editor for the Harvard Law Review and began her career in law. Following the 2000 election, Pearlstein became the co-winner of the American Civil Liberties Union's Voting Rights Award. She later worked as a clerk to Justice John Paul Stevens and as senior editor and speech writer for President Bill Clinton in the White House.

HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE What its purpose is

To publicize the Carmel High School Alumni Hall of Fame, to select one or two alumni from the nominated candidates to receive the award and to make the award arrangements for the ceremony

How students are chosen

Counselors ask three freshmen if they would be interested in serving on the committee.

How the alumni are selected for the Hall of Fame Hall of Fame candidates are evaluated based on their applications.

Where and when the alumni selections are announced

At the annual CHS Scholastic Banquet in May

Where they meet

Inside Mr. Sever’s conference room

After graduating in 1983, he attended Purdue University and New York University. In 1997, Allen became contributing editor to Esquire Magazine and later published in Bon Appetite, Epicurious and the Food Network. He went on to be nominated for two national magazine awards and became a fixture on PBS, Bravo and the Food Network. In 2004, Allen along with other cast members and producers of "Queer Eye for a Straight Guy" won an Emmy award for "Outstanding Reality Program.”

Steve Inskeep Steve Inskeep graduated from CHS in 1986 and is now a congressional correspondent and reporter for National Public Radio (NPR). In 1999, Inskeep was awarded the Pew Fellowship in International Journalism. He has been the host of NPR's "Weekend All Things Considered" and is now the host of NPR's "Morning Edition.” Inskeep also published his book, Instant City: Life and Death in Karachi, which focuses on the changes in Karachi, Pakistan.

Jennifer Burman Jennifer Burman, MD, graduated from CHS in 1988 and served as co-valedictorian. Burman has received the Meritorious Service Medal from the U.S. Army. She has also been a recipient of the James J. Leonard Award for Excellence in Teaching Internal Medicine at Northwestern University.

Who is in the Hall of Fame Committee

Freshmen: Jordan Arland, Elizabeth Chattin and Renee Miller Sophomores: Ryan Cole, Logan Lindsay and Wes Middleton Juniors: James Holland, Anna Lasbury and Matt Klineman Seniors: Kellee Griffin, Yushi Homma and Jack Langston (President) Sponsor: Mr. Sever LIANNE YU / GRAPHIC INFORMATION CHS ADMINISTRATION / SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Dec. 5, 2013

03

sports Samantha Eastes

1

Compiled by Grant Smith and photos by Kyle Crawford

The members of this school’s football team are some of the strongest, most athletic guys in the whole schoolexcept for one player. Sophomore Samantha Eastes is the only girl on the football team and the first girl at Carmel to ever kick an extra point during a varsity football game. According to Eastes, she hopes she can make a difference by showing people that they can do whatever they want despite who they are.

Who influences you the most in regards to football? In your life? At the school?

Definitely my parents. They always support me and encourage me to do what I want do to. A lot of the coaches influence me as well. They help make me feel like a real part of the team.

What were your first feelings when you started playing football on the team?

When I started playing in eighth grade, I first thought, “What did I get myself into?” I was wondering how much the guys would accept me, and I wanted to prove I was meant to be there.

Who or what inspired you to pursue football?

I am mostly a soccer player, and I wanted to broaden my sports background. It seemed like a good sport to play, along with soccer.

How does being the only girl on the team impact you? What challenges do you face?

What are some of your achievements on the football team?

The locker situation is the main thing. I have to wait for all the guys to get in the locker room before I can get my area. I can’t be in there while any guys are.

I was the first girl for Carmel to kick for an extra point during a football game. It was against North Central, and I made it.

What are the reactions of people when you tell them that you play football?

Do you think that you have influenced anyone on or off the field?

I think they are kind of surprised, but also supportive.

They think it’s cool that I play football.

I would like to think that I have, but I don’t really know. I would like it if people saw me and thought that they could do anything.

Who has been like a teacher for you in football or life?

If you have influenced people, how?

I would hope that people would see me and would do whatever they want to do, despite what others think of them.

Do you feel like you have a lot of supporters?

I do. I know that the coaches support me, and my parents do as well. The whole team supports me, and we look out for each other.

My eighth grade football coach, Coach (Josh) Cole.

He was always someone to look up to. I knew I could go to him for anything.

What are your future plans with football?

I would like to continue mostly with soccer, through all four years of high school at least. I would like to do both soccer and football, but probably mostly soccer.

2

Preparing for the run-up, Samantha Eastes sets herself up to start her field goal kick. “I just try to focus on everything I have to do,” she said.

As Eastes approaches the ball running, she keeps her head down to maximize her speed.

“I’m continuing to focus on the same things I was when I first set up,” she said.

3

About to kick the ball, Eastes tries to bring her leg back the correct amount and opens up her arm. “It is important to open up my arm so I can give myself some balance.”

4

Eastes makes contact. She is trying to hit the “sweet spot” of the ball in order to get the best kick she can.

“It doesn’t hurt,” she said, “but you have to hit it pretty hard.”

5

Eastes follows through with her leg as she watches the ball fly through the air. “I keep position, partly because I want to make sure the ball goes in,” she said.

Nicky Jasin and Conner mcGeehan Two senior co-presidents of Big Game help spread school spirit

F

or the past seven years, Big Game has been behind many of the themed sporting events, planning tailgates and other school spirit ideas. While in the past, Big Game has focused on covering “The Big Three”: football, basketball and baseball. This year, however, the club has expanded into covering volleyball and cross-country.

Co-president and senior Conner McGeehan said, “I’ve been leading and hosting a lot of tailgates and creating the themes for

04

ACUMEN

games and just encouraging people to just go to the games and not just only the main sports like basketball and football, but also soccer, tennis and cross-country.”

Big Game aims to increase overall student participation at sporting events, and according to co-president and senior Nicky Jasin, it has been successful in achieving its goals.

“I think it has gotten Carmel students excited about sporting events, and it really has increased attendance

Story, photos by Christine Yang

and school spirit throughout Carmel High School,” he said.

Before taking his leadership role in Big Game, Jasin was heavily involved in Carmel sports, going out to numerous games.

Jasin said, “I just am really interested in attending all the sporting events, and I thought it would be interesting to help come up with themes and tailgate ideas.”

McGeehan similarly went to many sporting games throughout his high school years.

“For the past three years, freshman year through junior year, I pretty much went to every sporting event I could. So I figured, why not just go out and become the leader of Big Game?”

McGeehan said.

According to McGeehan, some possible future events include partnering with the school’s student government for a suit-and-tie theme for a basketball game, as well as a Gatsby -theme dance later this year.

CUTTING NO CORNERS: Senior David Liang demonstrates a math problem on the board. Just over a year ago, Liang helped create the DPY math contest, which has spread into over 10 schools.

ACADEMICS David Liang

This senior helped start a math competition that has grown exponentially By Nida Khan

D

uring the spring of 2012, David Liang, math club president and senior, created a math competition that is now used by over 10 schools in Massachusetts and Indiana.

“It is a competition for middle schoolers, designed to help them get exposed to the concepts that are present in competition math,” Liang said. He got the inspiration to start the DPY math contest after volunteering for MathCounts at Sycamore Middle School. DPY is named after the people who started the competition, including David Liang, Patrick Tan and Yushi Homma. The goal for the competition is to motivate middle school students to take their math career to the next level.

“We were volunteering at Sycamore and we had to

NIVEDHA MEYYAPPAN / PHOTO

write a test. I found that writing problems was actually pretty fun and so we decided to do our own competition and then went from there,” Liang said. Liang participated in a number of math competitions himself, including the American Math Competition, the American Invitational Math Examination and the USA Math Olympiad. The DPY contest is modeled off of this type of competition math in order to train middle school students for high school classes and competitions.

“Hopefully DPY makes (middle school students) better, improves their skills and also inspires other people who

Go to dpycontest. webs.com or scan this QR Code to visit the DPY website

may not be as good at math to try out for competitions,” Liang said. The DPY contest is run online. The tests are distributed online and participants submit their answers to the DPY website.

“We write solutions for the contest that walks the kids through the steps of the thought process and the motivation behind doing the step. We try to show them the solution didn’t come out of thin air, that there are reasons and clues that the problem gives you to take a certain approach to a problem,” Liang said.

The board in action

jACOB SWIEZY

Shown below are some of the various ways that junior Jacob Swiezy’s sign board has been used this year

This junior fixed a sign board that had not worked for over 10 years Compiled by Jason Klein So, what exactly is it?

(TechHOUNDS adviser George) Giltner had a sign board that had somewhere around 2500 LEDs, an array of 2500 LEDs on it. Basically, I gutted the control board for it and made my own. Now, if you walk by Mr. Giltner’s room in senior hallway, you can see (it).

How did you come up with the idea?

I’m in Giltner’s independent study class, so basically what I do in there is come up with electrical projects for me to pursue. Earlier in the year I asked him about a project I wanted to do and he told me (that) before he would let me do that project, “I got this huge sign board on top of one of my cabinets,” and I said, “What are you talking about?” and he said, “I’ve given it to just about every person on TechHOUNDS before you for the last 10 years, but if you can get that working, I’ll let you do this project. So I took it down and I’m like, “Yeah, yeah, I’ll look at it,” so I took it apart and within about two weeks I had something working.

Who has it helped?

First of all, we cleaned something off Mr. Giltner’s cabinet, which is a huge accomplishment. Second of all, (it’s) something that has spread the word about (many events).

JAYMEE STOUT / PHOTO

FIXING IT UP: Junior Jacob Swiezy poses in front of the sign board.

Swiezy said that TechHOUNDS adviser George Giltner had been giving the board to students for around a decade, but no one could make it work before Swiezy.

Announced meetings

What was the process that went into it?

When I started, Giltner gave it to me and the first part was taking it apart and reverse-engineering it, figuring out how it worked. So it was made it the 1980s, so by my standards it’s quite old, so a lot of the electronics are outdated, so once I got a general sense of how it worked, I put together my own (plan) and told Mr. Giltner the parts I needed. We ordered them, (fixed) up the board, and then from there it was just some programming and a few days of debugging and it was ready.

Asked out a student

Assisted TechHOUNDS practices Have you noticed it making an impact on others?

“I thought I was the only one that actually looked at it, but one day I tried to make a change. I tried to make it say something, and it came out as a bunch of gibberish. I had about five people come up to me that day and say, “Hey, your board’s wrong, I don’t know what it’s saying,” so people do go by it and see what’s going on, so that’s pretty cool.

Used as a scoreboard for the Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council Fall Fest JASON KLEIN / GRAPHIC

Dec. 5, 2013

05

sports Samantha Eastes

1

Compiled by Grant Smith and photos by Kyle Crawford

The members of this school’s football team are some of the strongest, most athletic guys in the whole schoolexcept for one player. Sophomore Samantha Eastes is the only girl on the football team and the first girl at Carmel to ever kick an extra point during a varsity football game. According to Eastes, she hopes she can make a difference by showing people that they can do whatever they want despite who they are.

Who influences you the most in regards to football? In your life? At the school?

Definitely my parents. They always support me and encourage me to do what I want do to. A lot of the coaches influence me as well. They help make me feel like a real part of the team.

What were your first feelings when you started playing football on the team?

When I started playing in eighth grade, I first thought, “What did I get myself into?” I was wondering how much the guys would accept me, and I wanted to prove I was meant to be there.

Who or what inspired you to pursue football?

I am mostly a soccer player, and I wanted to broaden my sports background. It seemed like a good sport to play, along with soccer.

How does being the only girl on the team impact you? What challenges do you face?

What are some of your achievements on the football team?

The locker situation is the main thing. I have to wait for all the guys to get in the locker room before I can get my area. I can’t be in there while any guys are.

I was the first girl for Carmel to kick for an extra point during a football game. It was against North Central, and I made it.

What are the reactions of people when you tell them that you play football?

Do you think that you have influenced anyone on or off the field?

I think they are kind of surprised, but also supportive.

They think it’s cool that I play football.

I would like to think that I have, but I don’t really know. I would like it if people saw me and thought that they could do anything.

Who has been like a teacher for you in football or life?

If you have influenced people, how?

I would hope that people would see me and would do whatever they want to do, despite what others think of them.

Do you feel like you have a lot of supporters?

I do. I know that the coaches support me, and my parents do as well. The whole team supports me, and we look out for each other.

My eighth grade football coach, Coach (Josh) Cole.

He was always someone to look up to. I knew I could go to him for anything.

What are your future plans with football?

I would like to continue mostly with soccer, through all four years of high school at least. I would like to do both soccer and football, but probably mostly soccer.

2

Preparing for the run-up, Samantha Eastes sets herself up to start her field goal kick. “I just try to focus on everything I have to do,” she said.

As Eastes approaches the ball running, she keeps her head down to maximize her speed.

“I’m continuing to focus on the same things I was when I first set up,” she said.

3

About to kick the ball, Eastes tries to bring her leg back the correct amount and opens up her arm. “It is important to open up my arm so I can give myself some balance.”

4

Eastes makes contact. She is trying to hit the “sweet spot” of the ball in order to get the best kick she can.

“It doesn’t hurt,” she said, “but you have to hit it pretty hard.”

5

Eastes follows through with her leg as she watches the ball fly through the air. “I keep position, partly because I want to make sure the ball goes in,” she said.

Nicky Jasin and Conner mcGeehan Two senior co-presidents of Big Game help spread school spirit

F

or the past seven years, Big Game has been behind many of the themed sporting events, planning tailgates and other school spirit ideas. While in the past, Big Game has focused on covering “The Big Three”: football, basketball and baseball. This year, however, the club has expanded into covering volleyball and cross-country.

Co-president and senior Conner McGeehan said, “I’ve been leading and hosting a lot of tailgates and creating the themes for

04

ACUMEN

games and just encouraging people to just go to the games and not just only the main sports like basketball and football, but also soccer, tennis and cross-country.”

Big Game aims to increase overall student participation at sporting events, and according to co-president and senior Nicky Jasin, it has been successful in achieving its goals.

“I think it has gotten Carmel students excited about sporting events, and it really has increased attendance

Story, photos by Christine Yang

and school spirit throughout Carmel High School,” he said.

Before taking his leadership role in Big Game, Jasin was heavily involved in Carmel sports, going out to numerous games.

Jasin said, “I just am really interested in attending all the sporting events, and I thought it would be interesting to help come up with themes and tailgate ideas.”

McGeehan similarly went to many sporting games throughout his high school years.

“For the past three years, freshman year through junior year, I pretty much went to every sporting event I could. So I figured, why not just go out and become the leader of Big Game?”

McGeehan said.

According to McGeehan, some possible future events include partnering with the school’s student government for a suit-and-tie theme for a basketball game, as well as a Gatsby -theme dance later this year.

CUTTING NO CORNERS: Senior David Liang demonstrates a math problem on the board. Just over a year ago, Liang helped create the DPY math contest, which has spread into over 10 schools.

ACADEMICS David Liang

This senior helped start a math competition that has grown exponentially By Nida Khan

D

uring the spring of 2012, David Liang, math club president and senior, created a math competition that is now used by over 10 schools in Massachusetts and Indiana.

“It is a competition for middle schoolers, designed to help them get exposed to the concepts that are present in competition math,” Liang said. He got the inspiration to start the DPY math contest after volunteering for MathCounts at Sycamore Middle School. DPY is named after the people who started the competition, including David Liang, Patrick Tan and Yushi Homma. The goal for the competition is to motivate middle school students to take their math career to the next level.

“We were volunteering at Sycamore and we had to

NIVEDHA MEYYAPPAN / PHOTO

write a test. I found that writing problems was actually pretty fun and so we decided to do our own competition and then went from there,” Liang said. Liang participated in a number of math competitions himself, including the American Math Competition, the American Invitational Math Examination and the USA Math Olympiad. The DPY contest is modeled off of this type of competition math in order to train middle school students for high school classes and competitions.

“Hopefully DPY makes (middle school students) better, improves their skills and also inspires other people who

Go to dpycontest. webs.com or scan this QR Code to visit the DPY website

may not be as good at math to try out for competitions,” Liang said. The DPY contest is run online. The tests are distributed online and participants submit their answers to the DPY website.

“We write solutions for the contest that walks the kids through the steps of the thought process and the motivation behind doing the step. We try to show them the solution didn’t come out of thin air, that there are reasons and clues that the problem gives you to take a certain approach to a problem,” Liang said.

The board in action

jACOB SWIEZY

Shown below are some of the various ways that junior Jacob Swiezy’s sign board has been used this year

This junior fixed a sign board that had not worked for over 10 years Compiled by Jason Klein So, what exactly is it?

(TechHOUNDS adviser George) Giltner had a sign board that had somewhere around 2500 LEDs, an array of 2500 LEDs on it. Basically, I gutted the control board for it and made my own. Now, if you walk by Mr. Giltner’s room in senior hallway, you can see (it).

How did you come up with the idea?

I’m in Giltner’s independent study class, so basically what I do in there is come up with electrical projects for me to pursue. Earlier in the year I asked him about a project I wanted to do and he told me (that) before he would let me do that project, “I got this huge sign board on top of one of my cabinets,” and I said, “What are you talking about?” and he said, “I’ve given it to just about every person on TechHOUNDS before you for the last 10 years, but if you can get that working, I’ll let you do this project. So I took it down and I’m like, “Yeah, yeah, I’ll look at it,” so I took it apart and within about two weeks I had something working.

Who has it helped?

First of all, we cleaned something off Mr. Giltner’s cabinet, which is a huge accomplishment. Second of all, (it’s) something that has spread the word about (many events).

JAYMEE STOUT / PHOTO

FIXING IT UP: Junior Jacob Swiezy poses in front of the sign board.

Swiezy said that TechHOUNDS adviser George Giltner had been giving the board to students for around a decade, but no one could make it work before Swiezy.

Announced meetings

What was the process that went into it?

When I started, Giltner gave it to me and the first part was taking it apart and reverse-engineering it, figuring out how it worked. So it was made it the 1980s, so by my standards it’s quite old, so a lot of the electronics are outdated, so once I got a general sense of how it worked, I put together my own (plan) and told Mr. Giltner the parts I needed. We ordered them, (fixed) up the board, and then from there it was just some programming and a few days of debugging and it was ready.

Asked out a student

Assisted TechHOUNDS practices Have you noticed it making an impact on others?

“I thought I was the only one that actually looked at it, but one day I tried to make a change. I tried to make it say something, and it came out as a bunch of gibberish. I had about five people come up to me that day and say, “Hey, your board’s wrong, I don’t know what it’s saying,” so people do go by it and see what’s going on, so that’s pretty cool.

Used as a scoreboard for the Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council Fall Fest JASON KLEIN / GRAPHIC

Dec. 5, 2013

05

Leadership Principal's advisory committee Compiled by Maham Nadeem Student Body President and senior George Gemelas

KARTHIK THADASINA / PHOTO Joe Philleo Sophomore Class President

Michael Zhao Junior senator

Q: What’s the purpose of the Principal’s Advisory Committee?

A: Basically, it’s a way for Mr. Williams to find out what changes could be made or are going to be made and if they are going to resound well with the students.

Q: How do you guys decide what topics to discuss?

A: They are basically just ideas that people on the board have heard in the hallways or talked to their friends about.

We’ve talked about a lot of different things, everything from bullying to the grading policy to the speed bumps on the side of the school.

Pinnacle Editor in Chief and senior Manda Wang

Bailey Padgett Senior senator

Jack Langston Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council President

Sam Philleo Freshman senator

Carlton Anker Senior Class President

Mary Caltrider Sophomore senator

Leo Biette Speaker of the House

Bobby Greaser Junior Class President

Ryan Greaser Freshman Class President George Gemelas Student Body President

Jessica Chiang Senior senator

Hyesoo Chae Performing Arts Representative

Manda Wang Pinnacle Editor in Chief

Claudia Huang HiLite Editor in Chief

Kim Qian At-large member

Q: What topics have you guys been discussing recently?

A: We started talking about the lunch schedules and how we can make all the cafeterias less crowded.

Q: How does the committee help the school?

A: We give student feedback to the principal, so the administration knows what to change and what is working.

Michael Pote Pote makes significant reforms as the new Director of Bands

By Laxmi Palde

D

uring an effective rehearsal, Wind Symphony I students play an excerpt from a new piece in preparation for their next concert while Michael Pote, the Director of Bands, conducts them. Unlike in

06

ACUMEN

a typical high school band setting, however, one focus for the band department is to Symphony Orchestra and an oboe professor Pote encourages students to give their bring in guest musicians to work with the from Butler, according to Han. own feedback of the improvements they band students.

“Exposing students to professionals like need to make, fostering a collaborative “Students will learn a lot from Mr. Pote that is an incredible thing to do for the environment in the room and increasing and the other band directors, but it’s also students,” Han said. student interaction with the music. great to be exposed to other professionals, According to Pote, another goal of the Pote, who has worked at CHS since 1993, so students get a different perspective band department this year is to encourage has taught many of these students since the on playing their instruments and making students to play their instruments outside beginning of their time at CHS. One such music,” Han said. of the school setting. student is Jwala Rejimon, flute player for Recently, band students had the “We are trying to create more Wind Symphony I and Symphony Orchestra opportunity to work with the principal opportunities for students to perform and sophomore.

French horn player from the Indiana outside of the big ensembles that they Rejimon said, “Mr. Pote really have everyday as part of influences me and motivates all the curriculum. We want JULIE XU / PHOTOS the students. He is a fun teacher, them to have experiences and he motivates us to do well. where they can go The directors guide us in how to and play solos, in small shape our music together.” ensembles, maybe jazz Pote recently stepped up to trios here and there,” Pote the position of Director of Bands said. at CHS, taking the place of Han said, “Pote is an Richard Saucedo, former incredible musician, an Director of Bands. incredible teacher, an According to Pote, his main incredible composer and responsibilities in this position a fantastic colleague to will be to oversee concert bands have in our department. and jazz ensembles, as well as to Our students are very work with the marching band. fortunate to have him Soo Han, performing arts as a teacher and I look department chair, said that forward to working with although there have not been him for many more years MUSIC MAGIC: Director of Bands Michael Pote conducts his Wind major changes in the performing to come.”

Symphony I class. Pote has been a part of the CHS band program since arts department since the 1993 and just recently stepped up to the position of Director of Bands. beginning of Pote’s leadership,

The Arts

Here are some of Mikev’s works:

Alex Mikev

By Crystal Chen

Through his work as president of Art Club, senior Alex Mikev spreads his passion for art around this school. His current project with the Art Club is a small mural for the Arts Garden, which club members built last year. In addition, members will create window paintings for Indiana Design Center shops.

Expanding to the community, CRYSTAL CHEN / PHOTO Mikev recently created a high school CREATION OF A MASTERPIECE: Senior Alex Mikev makes sketches division of the Carmel Arts Council. for his next work. Mikev said he wants to study art in college and wants to Working with senior student leaders George Gemelas, Leo Biette, Shelby make an impact on this school through his passion for art.

Hiter, Carlton Anker and Ian Bossung, this council’s purpose is to showcase awarded overall winner of the art supply company Sargent and utilize student artwork in a way that will benefit Arts’ statewide competition in March, has won regional the community. Its first event is a student art show awards in Scholastic Art and Writing Competitions, at the Civic Center on Dec. 14 during the beginning, received the Young Artist Award and earned awards in the intermission and end of a play. spring art show at CHS. Mikev has been widely recognized for his ability. He was

Musical Groups:

Electric Ensemble: Although there are different types of music, Chae said a common goal of expressing one’s feelings always exists. For students to have the opportunity to express

Share the Music: According to Chae, “music has the power to not only give another dimension to our emotions but also to heal others.” As the president of Share the Music, Chae, along with other members, has touched many patients and senior citizens with music. Additionally, Chae leads Music on Main Street, an opportunity not only for students to experience playing in the streets of downtown Carmel, but also for the community to listen to the talents of student musicians.

"Everything He Is" Medium: Colored pencil This is a visual representation of rapper Kanye West's song, "Everything I Am." Senior Alex Mikev said he listened to the song for three hours straight and chose three main elements: Kanye's voice, the piano and a central, pivotal beat that lay the foundation for the entire song.

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Pandora Quartet: Chae’s enthusiasm for learning about different types of music and working with other people led her to join Pandora Quartet, with seniors Jessica Chiang and George Gemelas and junior William Chen. “Performing with others also helped me mature as a musician and to interpret music in a variety of ways,” she said. Pandora Quartet performs at business events and weddings.

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Music has been a huge role in senior Hyesoo Chae’s life ever since she was young from playing violin and piano. Chae said her move to America inspired her to do music since music is like a universal language.

Chae’s passion is reflected in the various musical programs that she participates in.

Chae is an active member of orchestra council, is the first chair violin in Camerata, the top orchestra at CHS, Electric Ensemble president, Share the Music Club president and the first violin of the Pandora Quartet.

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By Aaron Shi

themselves through electric instruments, Chae started Carmel Electric Ensemble.

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Hyesoo chae

“Competitive Objects” Medium: Graphite This was inspired by Peter Paul Rubens’ “Massacre of the Innocents” during his exploration of anatomical drawings.

Camerata: As the top orchestra of CHS, Camerata is a group that consists of leaders who lead both musically and spiritually, according to Chae. As a three-year member of Camerata, Chae offers musical assistance and promotes events to her peers. She said being a section leader for the symphony orchestra and president of Orchestra Council refines her roles as a Camerata member.

“Self-portrait of the Artist” Medium: Graphite This piece represents how senior Alex Mikev is creating himself as an artist. The anatomical arm shows how this process is not yet complete and that he still has room to grow.

Dec. 5, 2013

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community service

PLAYING HIS PART:

Senior Taylor Farmer writes an agenda for an FCCLA meeting. As vice president of the club, Farmer has spread its influence across the community.

Taylor Farmer

Senior shows students they can be leaders By Sreeti Ravi

to the forefront of the family and consumer science department and has been instrumental in recruiting new members.

“Without him, I don’t think it would be where it is right now,” Spencer said.

Farmer said as soon as he took the role of vice KARTHIK THADASINA / PHOTOS president, he helped spread awareness about the mission of FCCLA. When he informed them about the aylor Farmer, vice president of Family, Career & club’s goal of developing necessary life skills, they joined and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and senior, allowed the club to do more activities. Farmer has helped has used the clubs he participates in as platforms organize fundraising events such as bake sales to raise money for making a difference. He is a member of Gay-Straight for Share our Strength, Autism Speaks and March of Dimes.

Alliance (GSA) and has been the vice president of FCCLA He said that through this club he has raised students’ selffor two years. confidence so they can be better leaders for the future and FCCLA adviser Nancy Spencer said before Farmer spread awareness about the organizations they support. became vice president, the club was small and in need of Spencer said she believes a large portion of Farmer’s new leadership. Spencer said Farmer has brought FCCLA effectiveness in making a difference is that he always has

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a smile on his face and has fun with what he does. Farmer said his enthusiasm and comical personality help him make others want to make a difference.

“It’s hard to describe (him). He just likes people. He’s not afraid to be himself. He is who he is, and he’s Taylor Farmer whether you like it or not,” Spencer said.

Farmer’s goal is to show people they can make a difference. He said anybody can be a leader, even if he or she is introverted or lacks confidence.

“That’s what my motivation is,” Farmer said. “I want to show people, especially teenagers that think that the world is so big and that they’re so small, that when they band together and work hard and work together, as teenagers at Carmel High School, you can actually make a difference in the community. Just put your mind to it, and there’s nothing that can hold you back. You will be a strong, confident person by becoming a strong, confident leader.”

Cole Stark and matthew hicks

The two junior co-founders of Real Help Club talk about how they serve Compiled by Annika Wolff Photos by Scott Liu What was your original motivation to start Real Help Club?

Matthew Hicks: “It was my friend and I’s idea. We just realized that we have such a good community in Carmel and not too far from us are people that need help.”

Cole Stark: “Last year I came to the realization that I was just so lucky, and I was appreciating everything I had, so I just wanted to get more involved with the community. I went to homeless shelters; I felt like it was the right thing to do. Once I was more involved, I had this feeling of internal fulfillment.

I thought, ‘Why can only I feel this way?’ Then next year I got Matt involved, and I told him my idea and just ran with it. I had really great feedback.

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What type of projects do you want to work on?

CS: “We’ve done things with retirement homes, we worked with special need at Special Olympics, wrote letters to Veterans. Stuff like that.”

MH: “In the future we hope to get involved with Riley Hospital and Dance Marathon.

We’ve been looking into that for a while; that’s a future event we’re trying to focus on.”

What are your hopes for the club this year?

MH: “To be more involved; reaching out to more people. In the past, (for) the people we helped, the group has been small. We hope to better impact more people’s lives.”

What have you learned from your experience in creating this club?

MH: “Something I’ve learned is it’s really rewarding when you give back, when you help out these people.”

CS: “It takes a lot of effort, but it does pay off in the end. Kids want to help; some need to be directed on where to help, they need someone to push them. I learned that so many people and kids are much more willing than I thought.”

Austin Evans

Evans holds the door open for fellow students every day

By Michelle Dai Sophomore Austin Evans has held the door between Freshman Cafeteria and Greyhound Station after school ever since the middle of his freshman year. He said he started doing it because he thought it was a nice thing to do.

“A lot of people thank me, so I know that they appreciate it,” Evans said. “I just want (freshmen) to feel comfortable that they can go in and out without having to stop and open the door.”

What are you doing to make a difference?

MH: “I try playing my part by helping schedule events, contact(ing) people, contact(ing) organizations.”

CS: “Starting the club, I’m trying to make a difference, trying to encourage others to want to help, encourage others to experience such an amazing feeling and trying to make leaders.”

MILES DAI / PHOTO