SKEWED VIEW OF STARDOM
IN THIS ISSUE...
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OUR ARTISTS
SKEWED VIEW OF STARDOM
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STAFF MEMBERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lucas Bisesi
STAFF MEMBERS Elizabeth Moodispaugh Lauren Riina Isabella Romaine Vivianna Esqueda Tristan Fluhr Bailey Lincoln Delaney Crace Joshua Matasovsky Cassidy Hayes Hannah Elkins Madeline Nelsen
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ADVISERS
Jordyn Guenin Jordan Klobusnik David Young
HEAD TO HEAD: ATHLETICS
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HISTORY OF OUR FUTURE
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STAFF SHOUTOUT BROADCAST
Noah Ashcraft Eric Bedrosian Alexander Brammer William Cantwell Andrew Carlin Garrett Dodridge Xavier Dokes Mackenzie Dreher David Hosei Nolan Houseman Jonathan Ouellette Jackson Snyder Keegan Stein
MADELINE NELSEN Through Madeline’s first few months on staff, she has been able to achieve a great amount of skill and aptitude for writing and interviewing. Madeline is always willing to develop her journalistic skills, regardless of how difficult it may be. Additionally, she brings a professional and helpful attitude, especially when it comes to deadlines.
FACE IN THE CROWD:
KYLE BRAGG
SENIOR DISCUSSES WIN IN VIRTUAL DECA TEAM CONFERENCE Despite the adversities 2021 has presented for everyone, students like senior Kyle Bragg are still bringing their A game to the competition and winning. From February 28 to March 2, Indiana held it’s State Career Development Conference virtually, having students present and debate through Zoom for judges to watch and score. Kyle Bragg and his team took first place for the Team Entrepreneurship Event after months of preparation and training. “I couldn’t have done it without my team,” Bragg said. “We all put in a lot of work, and it paid off for us.” However, on top of putting together a detailed and lengthy presentation, Bragg and his team had to worry about technical difficulties, poor connections and trouble screen sharing that provided hosts of issues that had to be fixed on the fly. “It definitely added another layer of pressure to the event for everyone competing,” Bragg said. “We also had to make sure our body language and gestures came clearly across camera, because it could make or break that category.” Bragg and his team were fortunate enough to present together, all in one room, albeit with masks and socially distancing. This made timing and ingroup conversation easier, without the threat of lag or audio cutting out if all group
Photo contributed by Kyle Bragg (Left)
members had to join Zoom separately. However, masks presented a whole new issue when it came to discernability, for both teammates and judges. “There were moments where the masks impeded speech clarity,” Bragg said. “We worried about it especially regarding the judges and if they could understand us or not.” Thankfully, it seemed to not be an issue, especially during the oral defense section of the event. Bragg and his team answered each question the judges posed smoothly, earning them first place out of all the team in Indiana competing. “By the end of it, we were all just glad it was over,” Bragg said. “When the judges announced we won first place, we were beyond excited.” Having won State, Bragg and his team are now making the big leap for internationals, which will comprise of students all over America and three other countries. The conference will take place in late April and virtually once again. Competition and adversities will only increase as the stage gets bigger, but Bragg continues to hope for the best and work hard. “I’m nervous, but I have faith in my team and what we’ve done so far.” Bragg said. “We can’t wait to compete again.” Story by Isabella Romaine. HSENEWS
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OUR ARTISTS ART STUDENTS DISCUSS NEWEST PIECES, ARTISTIC PROCESS Walking through the hallways at HSE, there’s a lot to look at. The students rushing to their classrooms, students who clearly are not rushing to their classrooms, posters stapled to the walls detailing new clubs, but perhaps the most captivating is the art that lines the performing arts hallways. The art program at HSE is a valuable form of student expression that gives students a creative outlet. A unique element of art is that an art student’s work gets put on display for their peers. There is a true element of pride when their work adds color, emotion, and passion to the halls of the school. This year, students from all art classes have put their expertise on display. Not to just fill the shelves that sit dormant when there is no art to put there, but to show that the work that they do is excellent and worthy to be celebrated.
SOPHIE HAVEN
JUNIOR, PAINTING II & DRAWING IV Junior Sophie Haven is only in her second year of painting, but she has been drawing since junior high school. Before high school, Haven was more interested in music and had little interest in fine arts, but after taking Drawing I as a freshman, she has discovered a passion for art. What is your artistic process? “It usually starts with an issue or idea that I either relate to or care a lot about, then I sketch a few things that come to mind. This morphs and grows into a composition, which I translate to the media of choice. Drawing and painting are two very different processes for me personally.” What is the meaning of the piece? “With this self-portrait I wanted to capture my growth as an artist, conceptually. I really tried to push the idea of a painting and worked off the edges of the canvas. I wanted to stylistically show my growth as an artist and I really enjoy how it turned out.”
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What do you like most about art? “I love a lot of things about art, but the thing I love the most would be to have the ability to make myself and other people feel things. Sometimes people forget that art is a method of communication and I think that is one of the most beautiful parts of art.”
How do you think you have improved as an arist in recent years? “Over recent years my composition I think has improved the most. I think I’ve improved a lot with that, as well as pushing myself conceptually and growing from my previous style I used in drawing when I was in junior high.”
MAXIM KOVALSKY
SENIOR, AP DRAWING
Senior Maxim Kovalsky has been drawing for the entirety of his high school career. Kovalsky utilizes his fascination with history in his artwork, as he specializes in pieces based off historical events. He also strives to create art that presents not only a historical meaning, but a metaphorical one as well. What’s this piece based on? “In AP art we get to choose whatever topic we want to do our investigation throughout the year on. I chose the story of an Alligator named Saturn, he died in 2020 and was the final Russian ‘German prisoner’ of WW2. He has one of the most incredible life stories I have ever seen, like it’s straight out of a movie. In 1942 the Berlin zoo was bombed by the allies, and out of the 16,000 animals there, less than 100 survived. The most incredible part is that Saturn survived in the ruins of Berlin under constant bombardment for 3 whole years before being found. While he had an eventful life after this event, I wanted to focus on this shard of his life in this piece. What did you want it to say? Of course when viewing this piece you’d never pick up the story, it’s weird and outlandish. I don’t want everyone who views my work to come away with the same story, I want it to feel personalized to the viewer, give them a guide and let their mind run free.”
What was your process of creating this piece? And coming up with the idea? “First I research the history, I practically have Saturn’s story memorized by now, but recently I have been reaching out into the world surrounding him rather than him alone. After that I purposely bore myself, essentially create shower thoughts outside the shower. People underestimate the creative power in pure unfiltered boredom. Boredom is the forefather of creativity. Then I get the idea and get to work in photoshop. I use both photos I took and ones I search for online and then throw them together. For this one I took the photo of the alligator
head myself, it was one of those tacky ones you get from Florida. When I have a general vision of the composition, the key is to keep the direction of the lighting consistent. Then I draw directly from the photoshop reference I created, though every once in a while I’ll make minor adjustments on the fly.” Q & A by Tristan Fluhr and Lucas Bisesi.
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IS PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL SPORTS WORTH IT? Students discuss advantages of school sports and non-school sports
Recreational Leagues, also known as rec leagues, and Club Teams are good alternatives for those who want to continue their passion of sports as they get into highschool. These clubs and leagues give students the opportunities to play their sport year-round and compete against others from different schools. Out of school leagues are great ways to form friendships with those from other schools, and even form friendships with peers that would have never thought they had something in common. Out of school sports also have its share of cons. Much like in school sports, it is a commitment and can be time consuming. Some club teams may be travel teams, so a fraction of time may be spent traveling to tournaments, as well as the expenses for playing on a travel team. In a survey, a student mentioned that when playing a sport outside of the school it can be more difficult to get scholarships, since it’s less likely for a college representative to come out to games unless it’s a big league.
Playing an Out-of-School Sport
PROS:
CONS:
“Build relationships with people from other schools.”
“Time consuming and lots of traveling.”
Jessie Lyons, 9 Hockey
Drew Berry, 11 Volleyball
Playing an In-School Sport
PROS:
CONS:
“Having a team, the bonds you create and pushing everyone to be their best.”
“Stress of improving if your peers watch you play/compete, and time.”
Paige Cope, 11
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Claire Hamilton, 10 Cross Country Diving
Many people in our school community represent the school by participating in a sport. Participation in a school sport is linked to many benefits. One benefit in participation in a sport through the school is pride in your school community. Representing your school can grow an excitement in competing for your school’s name and reputation in the area. Playing a school sport is also linked to doing better in school. In a study done by the National Federation of State High School Associates, it was shown that the students who play a school sport are linked to have a higher GPA. Having a common interest with others in your school can help with making friends and can increase confidence in connection with new people. With these benefits also come some disadvantages such as commitment and time. Practices before or after school and during the weekends can leave little time for homework or jobs.
Head to Head by Hannah Elkins and Delaney Crace.
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Rumor to Reality
SKEWED VIEW OF STARDOM
Rumor
Avril Britney Spears
Celebrity
The term “celebrity” has expanded throughout recent years. From social media influencers like Charli D’amelo to timeless actors like Fred Aistaire and Audrey Hepburn, celebrities connect people to the world, and the past. People see these icons on the screen day after day, and, as a result, deep connections are made. As people look into the lives of celebrities, it is like making a new friend. The public becomes invested into personal information like love lives, daily routines, and diet habits of their favorite icons. However, when a celebrity chooses to keep specific details about their lives secret, people sometimes fill in the blanks on their own. Sometimes, the public’s ideas become popular, and somewhat irrational ideas turn them into conspiracy theories, transforming rumors into realtiy. Conspiracies
Manager
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aylor Swift
impact all sorts of celebrities like pop star Avril Levigne or rock and roll legend Paul McCartney, going as far to say certain icons faked their deaths to live a life away from the spotlight. But conspiracy theories are no the only news surrounding the music and television industries. In recent years, many truths have been revealed about certain managers or agents controlling and taking advantage of their artists. Artists like Taylor Swift and Britney Spears have spoken out about the controlling nature of managers, forcing them to give up rights to their content or being percieved as “crazy.” In this issue of the Orb, the staff dives deeper in Icons and what truly happens behind the camera.
Conspiracy
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Taylor Swift Manager Celebrity Britney Spears
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Celebrity
Avril
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Avril
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Britney Spears
Rumor Celebrity Manager
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Britney Spears Celebrity Conspiracy Rumor to Reality Taylor Swift Conspiracy Rumor to Reality
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Story continues on Page 9...
Celebrities are often placed on a pedestal above society, but as they are held above society, the media will attempt to drag them back down. Some argue on behalf of celebrities that their lives should not be invaded by paparazzi and social media users. These onlookers tend to create false assumptions about celebrities, impacting their lives and the public view. “Celebrities are people who have had every aspect of their of lives thrown in the lime light. There aren’t many secrets for a celebrities life, for their doesn’t have much privacy,” junior Lucy DeWolf said. “But when celebrities aren’t being photographed, I wonder if they live another life. I think that it is not uncommon for a celebrity to want a life besides the media, but what is the sad truth of that is usually the life outside media doesn’t line up with their views on media. This sends mixed messages to the fans.” Despite the work the media does to capture the lives of celebrities, managers and agents also take part in sculpting the image of celebrities. In recent years managers have been revealed to drastically impact artists stage personas and taking advantage of their clients. Some of the evidence can be traced back to Taylor Swft and her recent releases of old songs. Swift recently lost usage rights her old songs after her former manager, Scooter Braun, sold the rights to her first six albums in 2020. “Taylor’s story is a story for little girls to look up to. Her strength that got her through manipulation is an inspiration,” DeWolf said. “The story of Taylor’s albums are sad but Taylor never let her manager win. When Taylor took back ‘Love Story’, she didn’t just take back the song, but she took back the ability for men to control her. All women can now see how you can’t let men walk all over you. I think her story reflects a sad forgotten truth of the industry. The industry seems all glitz and glimmer, but Taylor’s story is one of many examples that opens the flood gates.” Another major incidence with managers taking advatage of their artists was in 1989 with Billy Joel. A family affair between rockstar Billy Joel and his brother-in-law/ manager Frank Weber ended in a lawsuit. The artist sued Weber for spending more than $30 million dollars on investments left in Joel’s name, leaving him liable for potential losses. It was from these secret investments that Weber was making $20 million extra in commission from Joel. “I think that the entertainment industry is managed by these puppet masters that are often just there for the
money,” Freshman Fay Montalvo said. “It’s a business but I don’t believe it’s valid for artists, musicians, or actors to be coerced into acts that can stray away from their identities just for the sake of money. These professions are art, and they are often treated as easy deposits of cash. this can cause pressure under artists which leads to mental illnesses, drug use, and other harmful things.”money,” Freshman Fay Montalvo said. “It’s a business but I don’t believe it’s valid for artists, musicians, or actors to be coerced into acts that can stray away from their identities just for the sake of money. These professions are art, and they are often treated as easy deposits of cash. this can cause pressure under artists which leads to mental illnesses, drug use, and other harmful things.” A question that come out of this issue: when does a celebrities life become more about the pubic than about themselves? Some argue that a celebrity has put themself out in the public eye to be judged, but others see celebrities as people first and artists second. However, when a manager oversteps and becomes controlling in a celebrity’s life, human rights can become an afterthought. “When a manager oversteps into the life of a celebrity, not only is it unprofessional and unwanted, but can tarnish the image of a person or allow the media to depict them in a certain inaccurate way,” Montalvo said. “The motives behind some managers into manipulating their clients into what they think will be beneficial, while hiding the realities, is wrong and should be widely recognized as a harsh push for power in the industry.” One of the most timeless stories of what truly happens behind the scenes is the life of Britney Spears. Spears went from a role model and pop sensation, to a disgrace, to a survivor. From the trauma set on her by her agents and the pressure placed on her from the world, the Britney Spears empire has been built up and torn down dozens of times. “I think Britney Spears is quite a role model for a lot of the younger generation because of growing up around massive stages of her music career,” senior Jackson Bisesi said. “ I know she has struggled a lot with anxiety and spoke out about her bipolar disorder which she has struggled with on a constant basis throughout her career. She had a lot of anxiety about pleasing people around her so she was severely overworked and I know that took a serious toll on her mental and physical health. With all of that in addition to substance abuse, she was bound to break down at some point. I know that after her mental breakdown
her father took the rights to her songs and Brittany is now being taken advantage of by him also.” Though the world knows Britney’s story, considering the multiple documentaries made the artist’s life, she has not been the only celebrity that suffered from the harsh reality of fame. Celebrities like Paris Hilton, who was forced to appear ditzy on camera, have also received forms of pressure to fit into a certain persona in order to sell a franchise and entertain the public. “The music industry puts copious amounts of pressure on the artists, especially the record labels who want the perception of the artist be concise red perfect,” Bisesi said. That made her have a persona based off perfectionism that becomes unhealthy for the artists.” But not all managers and agents are disrespectful. In many cases, a manager is helpful in the life of a celebrity when done in a respectful and contemporary manner. “Managers should be supportive and seek out the best opportunities for artists, rather than those that offer the greatest amount of money,” Montalvo said. “Good managers should check in on the wellbeing of people they are representing.” On certain occasions, it is not the agents changing the way artists are perceived, but the public themselves. Once ideas are spread about celebrities, and conspiracy theories are formed, public opinion sparks from rumors, and soon appear as fact. Story continues on Page 10.
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People can become drawn to conspiracy theories to explain major or sudden events that we believe cannot be explained by the explanations given by investigators or news sources. They generally align with major events that affect a large population of people politically, emotionally, or a figure that is seen as inspiring to a large group of people. Celebrity conspiracy theories are especially popular, as they pertain to a person that has an exaggerated presence in media, politics or art. “People can become consumed by this information…they can go to particular sources, disregard other sources that contradict their views,” Professor of Social Psychology Karen Douglas stated about conspiracy theories. “Their attitudes about these particular alleged conspiracies rather sorry, can become even more polarized.” Looking at two major events, we can see how and what events may spawn certain ideas or conspiracies. The assassination of John F. Kennedy and the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan had two very different outcomes, with Ronald Reagan surviving and being able to give his own account of the situation. Because that major event did not have as major of an outcome, the explanations given suffice for those that hear or read the story. However, an attempt such as the one on JFK caused numerous theories due to the significance. Events or ideas that cause major changes in society or media draw more attention, and thus more theories. “[The assasination attempt] was a smaller event in terms of its outcome,” Psychologist Rob Brotherton states. “And therefore, we are satisfied with smaller explanations.”
Name: _______________________ Time:__________ 10
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Many of these events happened very suddenly, as well. The tragic death of Princess Diana for example drew a great amount of media attention, as she was known to be very caring and kind thanks to her support in tackling AIDS and drew light controversy to herself due to her divorce. Because of her status and the circumstances surrounding the crash, numerous theories have been spawned about her sudden death, the top two being that the crash was prearranged, or that she had faked her death to get away from the royal family. In actuality, the coroner that examined her driver’s body discovered that the driver drank three times as much alcohol than was legally allowed to drive in France, leading to the crash that killed her. As for the idea it was prearranged, it is directly contradicted by the words publicly spoken by the queen after Diana’s death. “She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh,” Queen Elizabeth II stated about her daughter. “Nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness.” Another more modern theory is about Grammy award nominee Avril Lavigne, who certain fans believe passed away between 2002 and 2004, being replaced by a stand-in named Melissa. Part of the reason this theory came into place was the sudden change in style she seemed to have gone through at the time. Another suspiscion was lyrics in her song “Nobody’s Home,” which portrayed somewhat of a conversation or message regarding another person’s mental health, made fans believe it was a hint towards this conspiracy given by “Melissa.” Alas, the theory did not actually begin in 2004, but rather a Brazilian fan blog made the claim in 2011,
Date:_________________ Take:______
“Yes, I believe in conspiracy theories because what else would explain all the crazy things in life?” Payton Fox, 10
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What do these all have in common? Each theory involves some sort of sudden death or change of a celebrity figure, Skeptics will then investigate, thinking that there is some other explanation for the change or death. Events with seemingly major outcomes will always lead to people looking for equally proportional answers, when the answer could be as simple as a drunk driver, style change, or poor health. By the end of the day, conspiracy theories of major figures often stem from the disbelief of the answers given by those with the answers, or from the grief coming from the fans of the celebrities in question. Story by Lauren Riina and Joshua Matrovosky. Information from Independent in the UK and American Psychological Association.
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with only those pieces of evidence to go off. Avril Lavigne has even commented on this theory in an interview with Australian radio-station KIIS 1065. “It’s so dumb. And I look the exact same.” Avril Lavigne states about the conspiracy. “On one hand, everyone is like, ‘Oh my god, you look the same,’ and on the other hand people are like ‘Oh my god, she died’.” One final theory is that of music legend Elvis Presley, who died at forty-two years of age due to a sudden heart attack. Die-hard fans believe that Elvis was consumed by his fame, and instead of dying of a heart attack, faked his own death as a way of escaping. He will have turned eighty-six years old this year, and some fans believe that he even was a background actor in one of the airports for the movie “Home Alone,” because of the resemblance presented. Reality is often disappointing from these theories about his life however, as Elvis Presley’s health was far from well. He had become obese since his time onstage, with his famous last meal even being four scoops of ice cream and 6 chocolate cookies. Poor health along with a drug problem all lead to his untimely and sudden death, triggering many of these theories. While some of his fans are unwilling to accept that, the rest of his fans continued to mourn him and remember the music he created. “His following was immense,” President Jimmy Carter said about Elvis. “And he was a symbol to people the world over of the vitality, rebelliousness and good humor of this country.”
“I honestly think it depends on the conspiracy. Some seem way too unrealistic while others actually sound true.” Jenna Roach, 12 HSENEWS HSENEWS
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HISTORY OF OUR FUTURE DECADES OF SPACE EXPLORATION, CREATION OF SATELLITES Space is endless and with endless possibility comes endless curiosity. Since as early as 1800 B.C., humans have been invested in finding out more about space. The Babylonians were one of the first civilizations to chart the movements of the sun and moon. Many other early communities saw the sky and stars as guidance. Space was seen as a way to guide stories, a map, and early philosophers to create their own theories and reasons for the anomalies of space. Science teacher Megan Ewing believes the “unknown” is what pulled humans to space exploration. “[The answer as to why humans wanted to explore space] is different for everyone, but I think that it is the ‘unknown’ and curiosity that makes humans explore space,” Ewing said. “For the United States, the Russian space program was impetus for the U.S. program pushing harder and faster to get man into space.” The first time space was ventured into was on October 4, 1957 by the Soviets when they launched Sputnik. Sputnik was the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth. It weighed 184 pounds, which was much heavier than any satellite the United States made and was followed by the launch of two other satellites, one that contained a dog, Laika. It lasted in orbit for 96 minutes until falling back to Earth where it burned in Earth’s atmosphere. The success of Sputnik’s launch threw many Americans and even leaders of other countries into hysteria, as they had believed that the U.S. was farther advanced then the Soviets. “I say without hesitation and without excuse that this is a turning point in history,” British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1957 speaking to the House
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of Commons. “Never has the threat of Soviet Communism been so great, or the need for countries to organize themselves against it.” Prior to Sputnik being launched, the Space Race was going strong between the Soviet’s and the United States. Both countries wanted to be first in launching something into space to boast they had be the first to do so, ensuring their accomplishments in history books. The United States had made two failed attempts to launch a satellite into space after the launch of Sputnik, but unfortunately were not able to get anything successfully out into space until 1958 with the launch of the Explorer, a rocket that carried a satellite. Ewing explains that the distrust between the U.S. and the Soviets as well as the positivity that came with being an astronaut flamed the fire of the Space Race and the Cold War. “During this time period, there was a strained political climate between Russia and the U.S. The space programs served to show who dominated in technology and ability. There was also an element of ‘spying’ and distrust between the two countries,” Ewing said. “[Space exploration] gave Americans hope and excitement. There was a tremendous amount of pride for the initial astronauts. The first astronauts were treated as super stars and superheroes. Politically, having a very positive climate during a period of heightened tension can only help the matter.” Despite the fact that many have continued to explore space and make enhancements, there are many clear reasons to why it’s not the safest place to explore and fears of
space that many have. According to nasa. org, the four largest hazards of human spaceflight is radiation, isolation, lack of gravity, and hostile environments. There is also the potential of aliens, asteroids, and getting lost in space. “Space is a very inhospitable place. Too much radiation, extreme temperatures, little to no oxygen,” Ewing said. “Space is not a ‘fun’ place to me in most cases. Even the seemingly fun ‘weightlessness’ of space is not good for long periods of time and can damage muscles/your heart.” While these fears are valid, space exploration has come very far since the launch of Sputnik in 1957. Space probes have gotten as far as Saturn and the satellite Voyager 1 is the only satellite to have traveled that distance and is still going farther into space. As of 2013, the Voyager has entered interstellar space, the region beyond the heliosphere. Humans have gotten very far into space and NASA is only planning on going farther. According to nasa.gov, they plan to put astronauts on the moon again in 2024, sending the Europa Clipper to explore Jupiter’s moon, with multiple projects and launches lined up within the next decades. Space loving junior Ryan Haag believes the moon will be in the close future. “I think we will be able to slowly but surely let everyday people close or to the moon,” Haag said. Though space can be a dangerous place, space exploration is a way to expand our future and learn new things. Story by Elizabeth Moodispaugh
HSETV & BROADCAST HSETV is dedicated to informing the student population on daily occurences in the school, city and the world. During the week, the staff releases three newscasts, which dive into a variety of topics. These topics include breaking news, student athlete features, personality profiles, daily reminders and much more. These newscasts can be located on HSENews’ official website, HSENews.com, as well as the accompanying YouTube channel.
Right: Juniors Garret Dodridge and Mackenzie Dreher report school news during the HSETV newscast.
LOOKING FOR SOME ENTERTAINMENT? Check out the HSETV On The Road series, exclusively on HSENews.com. Twice per month, HSETV staffers Eric Bedrosian, Will Cantwell, Zach Vance and Gabby Haynes venture throughout the Fishers area, reviewing limited-time foods, desserts, and much more. The HSETV On The Road series is a IHSPA Harvey Awardwinning series that began in the spring of 2020. The staff ’s goal is to provide an outreach for local businesses, as well as discovering new products and restaraunts in the area.
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A LEADER ON AND OFF THE COURT
CHRIS HUPPENTHAL ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT FROM COACHING Chris Huppenthal has developed his leadership qualities while coaching basketball and teaching in the classroom. Huppenthal shows encouragement to others while being a leader as a coach and teacher. Recently, Huppenthal announced his retirement from coaching, though he will continue his support for the program and for the lifelong relationships he has gained throughout his years as part of the team. “Family was a big part of my retirement decision. I have been coaching for 31 years and a head coach for 25 years. In that time, you are going to miss something on the family side,” Huppenthal said. “My daughter lives in Denver and my son is going to be a senior at Indiana University next year. I want to have the flexibility to go see them more.” Huppenthal has been coaching basketball for a total of 31 years. He has spent 16 of those years as the head coach of the HSE girls basketball team. Huppenthal has won a total of 282 games at HSE, 2 sectional titles, and a regional title. In 2019, Huppenthal lead the Lady Royals to win the Class 4A state championship. All while coaching, Huppenthal teaches math at HSE. Stepping back from the head coach position for the girls’ basketball team will allow Huppenthal to have a slower pace to life. As a coach, Huppenthal is given the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of individuals, including students, athletes, coaching staff, and parents in the community. “Hupp’s leadership skills positively affected our team because he would take his own skills and pass them on to us,” sophomore Olivia Brown said. “He would especially make sure to emphasize things that are important in the game of basketball but even more important in everyday life.” The leadership of Huppenthal
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comes through how supportive and encouraging he is to his players. Coach Hupp takes the extra step to go beyond basketball instruction and touch on personal topics players can take outside the court. This connection is what influences his relationships with students and players, which leads him to stay involved in their lives beyond school. Through coaching, Huppenthal emphasizes the importance of leadership. “Communication is my best advice for becoming a great leader. In coaching, we have to make decisions all the time that are not popular. But if kids are involved,” Huppenthal said, “they have the right to hear those decisions from the coach. Athletes are trying to please their coaches in every way they can. While as coaches, we expect communication, athletes also should expect the same communication from coaches.” Coach Huppenthal juggles communication between 14 high school girls each and every practice. The team knows what to do and how to work
together by listening to what Huppenthal had to say. As the team works together, they will become a stronger unit and can work better together. A strong leader relies on their communication to form specific instructions to relay to their audience. Huppenthal strives to illustrate strong communication to lead his team and students to success. “I know most would think my greatest accomplishment is winning the State Championship,” Huppenthal said. “That would be secondary to going to my former players weddings and getting the opportunity to see them raise a family.” As the HSE girls basketball coach, he shared many positive experiences and the decision to retire was a hard decision for Huppenthal. He has achieved outstanding accomplishments from coaching all while creating lifelong relationships. Without a doubt, winning the State Championship was a great accomplishment, but Huppenthal loves to see his former players continue to grow in their own lives. Through his time as a coach, one of his main focuses was to form relationships with his players. “I make this statement to our players often,” Huppenthal said. “You don’t get to tell people who you are. They get to see who you are and make their decision about who they think you are.” Huppenthal goal is to inspire and push his players to be the best versions of themselves. His retirement will free up most of his time, but he will continue to support the Royals from the bleachers. Huppenthal cannot let go of something he did for 16 years that easily. Huppenthal created a positive environment for the girls basketball team with his communication and leadership skills. As a teacher, Huppenthal continues to be a leader in the classroom. Madeline Nelsen, Photo by Peyton McVeigh.
LIVING OFF ATHLETICISM
THE LIFESTYLE BEHIND PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES With the demand of sports entertainment in the world, professional athletes have been progressively prevalent in media and more commonly becoming household names. Being a professional athlete can drain a person to the extent of extreme exhaustion between juggling training and conditioning while managing the aspect of media interviews and good public image. Professional athletes are under the constant stress of doing something they enjoy while constantly being in the public eye, potentially compromising their privacy. Most professional athletes would say they significantly adore being able to play the sport they enjoy as a career because of the amount of joy it brings them on an everyday basis. Although, with every job, there are pros and cons. In this case, the idea of being in the public eye and having huge rivalries can take a toll on an individual. In a personal interview with Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, he says, “Some games like rivals can have you on your toes but never too much to handle because you dreamed about this your entire life.” To be a professional athlete, the stress can’t get to any player to make sure they
stay focused on the game. Being in the public eye at all times is one of the most nerve-wracking parts of being a professional athlete. Every mistake an athlete makes has the potential to be publicized and become everyone’s business. “When running out the tunnel your heart gets to beating and beating but once the opening kickoff is over, it seems as if nobody is in the stadium during gameplay,” Rodgers said. “If I have family there, I tend to only think they are in the stadium rather than everybody else.” The publicized aspect of professional sports is the most obvious downfall of playing sports for a professional league, but the lessons learned of how to cope with publicity can follow a person throughout their whole life. The everyday life of a professional may not be too different from a high school player’s schedule. Generally, professional athletes revolve their lives around their craft while still having time for breaks. To help with that aspect, Rodgers says, “Finding something new every day to explore and do, working out, and having fun with my dog while making TikToks.” Story by Bailey Lincoln, Interview provided by Hannah Elkins.
Photo Contributed by David Richards
ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE TRAIT: DETERMINATION Senior Keegan Streett has been swimming for 12 years with HSE, his favorite event being the 200 freestyle. While on the boys varsity swim team, Streett recorded a win at the sectional finals in the 200 freestyle with a final time of 1:39.36. Street plans to continue his swimming carrer at the University of Georgia. Streett is known for his determination, especially while training to qualify for the US Olympic Trials, which occurr in the summer of 2021. “I think swimming challenges me in and out of the pool. The early mornings and late evenings are what make the difference.” Keegan Streett, 12
HSENEWS
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