Bear Facts Student Media May 2018

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E Z VOL. 30 ISSUE 5 H C UR ICH HIGH S

MOVING FORWARD

Students reflect on their time in high school and their future.

Page 10: Cultural identities Page 12: Photo talent Page 14: Passion for creation Page 16: Art scholarships

BEAR FACTS STAFF MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

megan monoson

WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

meggie furlong

SECRETARY/ BUSINESS MANAGER

rachel brauer

Editor’s Note

CO-SPOTLIGHT EDITORS

Dear Readers,

We are pleased to present you with our fifth and final issue of Bear Facts for the 2017-

2018 school year. This issue will still contain our News, LZ Life, Spotlight, and Sports

chloe faris ria talukder

SPORTS EDITOR

sections of the magazine, however, our Spotlight section is mainly dedicated to the gradu-

adam cupples

ating class of 2018. This issue’s Sports section may also look different because it is back to

STAFF WRITERS

displaying all in-season sport photos known as Sports Coverage. As always, there is more coverage of spring sports on our twitter, @LZBearFacts, and our website, lzbearfacts.com.

With our May issue of the magazine wrapping up the end of the year, our theme for

Spotlight is “Who we are, who we will be.” This theme is presented both through the cover and the Spotlight section. Within this section we include senior features, many of which Journalism 2 students wrote. These features, along with others within Spotlight, discuss career goals, dreams for the future, college decisions, lifestyle changes, and, overall, how LZHS has prepared the students in the graduating class of 2018 for their futures.

Thank you for continually supporting our quarterly magazine as we strive to report

interesting and relatable material.. This year the Bear Facts Magazine was awarded ninth place Best In Show at the National scholastic Press Association’s on-site competition, so please enjoy this year’s last issue of our

CONTRIBUTORS

max feldman sreelikhi vangavolu marissa drake claire li medeleine lawler rose alam alex ketcham ruby lueras ADVISER

carolyn wagner BEAR FACTS STUDENT MEDIA

Lake Zurich High School 300 Church Street Lake Zurich, IL 60047 (847) 540-4642

Sincerely,

AMERICAN LITHO PRINTING

Megan Monoson

530 North 22nd St. Milwaukee, WI 53233

Magazine Editor-in-Chief Cover design by Carolyn Wagner Cover edits by Chloe Faris About Us All decisions are made by the Bear Facts staff. The advisor is responsible for making recommendations based on school rules, applicable laws, ethical journalism, and other concerns. However, final authority rests with the staff. The Bear Facts staff strives to inform, entertain, and showcase high quality work to our readers. We always seek to uphold standards of journalistic integrity, acceptable ethics, and truth.

parul pari emma brumage-kilcourse

Our Website Bear Facts is also published online at http://www. lzbearfacts.com. Online materials report daily news occasionally related to our print publication.

Advertising To advertise in Bear Facts, please contact our editorial board at bear_facts@lz95.org. Prices vary on size and placement of the advertisement.

For a complete editorial policy, please see our website.

Clarifications: Jennifer Ventrelle’s last name should be Ventrelle on page 10.

Danny Soto’s begining freshman year mile time was 9:58, and his best mile time freshman year should have been 5:53 while senior year was 4:51 on page 23.

BEAR FACTS STUDENT MEDIA LAKE ZURICH HIGH SCHOOL

300 CHURCH ST. LAKE ZURICH, IL

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10.

27.

21.

SPOTLIGHT

LZ LIFE

22.

SPORTS

6

Seeking security

10

The new immigrant experience

20

Twins

26

A reason to play

8

Top dog

12

Self -taught photography

21

Chasing space

27

Summer training

14

Art inspirations

22

College careers

28

Sports Coverage

18

Officer in training

23

Follwing Christ

19

Military

24

Life in LZ

News in Brief

photo from wbur.org

written by

Meggie Furlong Web Editor-in-Chief

Graduation, Prom bring in new ideas

NEWS

Seniors divided over gown change Seniors will graduate next Sunday, May 27, but instead of blue gowns for boys and white gowns for girls all students will wear blue graduation gowns. “[We have a] newer version of the cap and gown. The older material wasn’t good, so we decided to make a change,” Ryan Rubenstein, assistant principal of facilities and activities, said. “We also wanted everyone in the same color, which is different than previous years.”

The color change has led to conversation amongst seniors because it goes against tradition, according to Adele Fredrickson, senior.

“I like the white because then girls could all [match] white under their dresses,” Fredrickson said. “I just want to choose which one I want. I feel like our school doesn’t really judge on if you identify as a boy or as a girl. You could

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NEWS may 2018

Students from the class of 2013 sit in their white and blue gowns during their graduation ceremony. However, the class of 2018 will all wear blue gowns, regardless of gender. Photo by Meggie Furlong

just get the [color you want].”

However, some students, like Tess Melvin, senior, point out that one color eliminates gender division, which does not force students to choose a gender. “[Not having to choose the boy or girl color] acknowledges that there are more than two genders and prevents people from having to choose a gender that does not apply to them,” Melvin said. “I’m not really sure how effective changing the colors of the gowns is, and the more that I’ve thought about it, the more superficial it seemed. Then again, there’s only so much that you can [do].”

Staff Spirit Squad shirts

debuts Prom t-

In honor of Prom tomorrow, the Staff Spirit Squad wants to display their hope for all to have a fun and safe prom.

The Staff Spirit Squad is a group of

teachers who work together to show their bear pride alongside students. In previous years, the group has posted photos of teachers’ prom nights for students to guess which teacher is which, and written messages to students on a poster to display before the dance.

However, this year, Leah Link, Staff Spirit Squad founder, decided to add to their pre-prom festivities.

“We wanted to do something that was just by the staff, that had nothing to do with student council or anything like that,” Link said. “[The] t-shirts could send a powerful message [to students].”

The t-shirts display a safety message for all students to hear, and will stay relevant in the future, according to Link. “[The staff] can wear it for years to come. It’s a powerful message and can be interpreted many different ways,’ Link said. “It’s just to show that we care.”

around the AREA

Photo used with permission of www.eglin.af.mil

Photo by Megan Monoson

LAKE ZURICH TRIATHLON

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Join the community on July 8 for the the area’s premier USAT sanctioned Olympic distance triathlon as it continues it’s tradition in Lake Zurich with the ET Lake Zurich Sprint and Olympic Distance Triathlon. Whether you are volunteering, participating, or supporting the athletes, the event is going to be huge! This triathlon is considered to be one of the area’s top Olympic distance events, and there will be over 1000 participants this year! The first event is the swim, departing from Paulus Park Beach and followed by the bike. The last event is a run around Lake Zurich, and the finishline is in Paulus Park. Come hang out or participate in this growing community-wide event this summer!

360 Sky Yoga CHICAGO

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Practice the art of yoga 1,000 feet above the ground on the 94th floor of the Willis tower at 360 Chicago’s Sky yoga class on Saturday, May 26 from 9-10am. All skill levels are welcome to attend this class led by 360 CHICAGO’s professional instructors. The registration fee for the class is $15 and includes a General Admission ticket to the observation deck. Join the fun, meditate, and enjoy the view

Photo used with permission of www.maxpixel.net

Farmer’s Market LAKE ZURICH

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With over 35 vendors selling produce, baked good, spices, vegetables, fresh meat, and more, you do not want to miss this annual, local Farmers market. Held at Paulus Park from 3pm to 7pm every Friday starting June 1 until September 7. This local market features many different kinds of goods for everyone’s liking. The market is free of entry, so check it out one Friday this summer!

Founders Day

Alpine Fest LAKE ZURICH

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Celebrate the 76th year of Alpine Fest this July! The Lions Club’s annual event will begin July 20. Over the years, the carnival grew, and this year the event is bigger than ever!

The event includes the Fire Fighters Water Fights, three days of carnival rides, food, and more. On the final day of what is the biggest single event of the year in Lake Zurich fest will be the parade that starts at 11:30am.

ALGONQUIN

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After 57 years, the Algonquin Founders Day celebration continues to be a tradition. With the funds and help of volunteers, people come together to celebrate the community with four days of fun events. These days begin July 26 and include a Bicycle Decorating Contest, a BBQ Cook-Off, one of the longest standing parades in the state, a Firework Spectacular, and more! Come out and enjoy!

NEWS may 2018

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Photo by Parul Pari

LZ LIFE

On Target: Students, staff say district Parul Pari staff writer

addressing changing needs of school security well

In the wake of recent school shootings, most notably Marjory Stoneman Douglas this February, schools around the nation are reevaluating their security procedures. Lake Zurich is no exception. Students and staff, however, generally seem satisfied with the steps the school is taking to keep LZHS secure.

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LZ LIFE may 2018

21 years of changes The newly implemented security measure of scanning student IDs seems like a reasonable step in security for Josh Thompson, band director who has worked at the school for 21 years and is the father of LZHS sophomore.

“I’m a big fan of doing things that seem reasonable to do. We live in a world where, if we have to live in fear all the time, there is no way we can stop every bad thing from happening.I could go down the street and get blown up,” Thompson said. “There’s no guarantee anymore in life, and, I think, that it makes sense to check IDs when people come in.”

Security measures have increased since Thompson first started teaching at the high school, he said. “[When I first started in this school] we didn’t even think about it. I’m sure the doors were locked. Honestly, it wasn’t until 9/11 that everybody woke up [saying] we can’t keep going along the same ways,” Thompson said, adding that the concept of what school officials are dealing with has changed greatly since he started teaching. “When I first started here, 21 years ago, I spent my time just trying to catch people that were smoking. That was one of my great joys in life.”

Joking aside, Thompson believes that the best way to increase security measures would be to educate students.He believes that education can lead students to the right frame of thought in the way they deal with personal problems “We have to continue to educate and learn how to treat people right,” Thompson said. “Most of what happens is because of our bias and prejudice [and how it] results in the way that we treat people and when these things happen, it is not necessarily because security failed.”

Securing Schools Nationwide, sales of security equipment have reached $2.7 billion this year, according to the IHS Marktit. By comparision, LZHS uses the following security methods: Photo illustartion by Parul Pari

70.9%

Of LZHS students feel safe when they are at school.

41.9%

Of LZHS students think our school security is good and there is no need for change

18.8%

Of LZHS students believe therre is a perfect number of secuirty guards present at the school.

Planning with LZPD With years of experience in security, Mark Frey, LZHS resource officer, is in charge of keeping the school as secure as possible. “[The security of a school] depends on the area and then the makeup of the kids. We don’t have a whole lot of violence in our community, hence we don’t have a whole lot of violence inside the school,” officer Frey said LZ’s security primarily consists of students scanning their IDs, and training for faculty members to protect themselves and their students, according to Frey.

“I think [the most important aspect [of security] is identifying what your problems are and then finding out a productive way [to address them]. I’ve heard talks of getting metal detectors here, and I feel that would be a broad leap for what we are dealing with in this school in particular,” Frey said. “I think finding out what the concerns are and then addressing those [issues] little by little [is best]. If we have to keep uping the [secuirty], because one security measure isn’t working, we can justify getting to those levels.”

By addressing the school’s threats in a proactive way, there are ways to build

on the effectiveness of how a concern is handled, according to Frey, and there is always space to improve.

“I don’t think the school’s security is perfect, and there’s always room for improvement. We, through the district-wide Safety Security Team, meet multiple times a year to go over what happens in the case of a tornado drill, or an active shooter, or fire alarms,” Frey said.

“I think, as long as those procedures are updated and reviewed constantly, which they are, it will help trickle down to what each [department should be] sharing with their staff at each school.”

Another security measure, the See Something Say Something program, takes measures to protect students through cybersecurity according to Frey.

“We get a lot of our tips from either social media, or the See Something Say Something anonymous tip line that we incorporated this year. If someone sees something in the hallways, or sees something on social media, or hears something on the bus or in class, instead of coming down to the dean’s office, which can be intimidating, they can just send something to that See Something Say Something email, and we can address that message

accordingly,” Frey said. “I think that has made us a lot more proactive and, if we are seeing a consistent trend of issues, we can do something to address it.”

A student with an opinion Changes in security greatly affect Katie Kramer, sophomore.

“Lately, multiple people, possibly mentally unstable, have gotten their hands on guns [nationwide] because of easy accessibility,” Kramer said.

Kramer believes that worldwide school should be a place where kids feel safe to get an education, and because of that, she is willing to increase security, if needed according to Kramer.

“It is so important to go to school feeling safe, knowing that you can focus on your education instead of fearing for your life. Although we do have a security system, I don’t know if it would be enough [to] prevent an actually attack if one were to happen at our school,” Kramer said. “This is a tough topic to talk about, considering it’s so prevalent in the news lately, but it’s also such an important topic to talk about. People need to realize that these things will keep happening if we don’t maintain safety.”

LZ LIFE may 2018

7

Who’s the top dog?

Seniors quarrel over canines

Megan Monoson magazine editor-in-chief After almost two years of friendship, these seniors consider themselves enemies when talking about whose dog is better in any way.

“My dog, unlike Katie’s, is much more well-behaved, and, I would say, much more likeable. I think most people would agree with me if you know Cody, [Katie’s dog], versus Marco, [my dog],” Ryan Kutsor, senior Tzuchan owner, said. “It’s actually a pretty big debate around the school.”

On the contrary, Katie Pardun, senior Goldendoodle owner, says Kutsor does not understand that their dogs are also different.

“I think [that] Kutsor doesn’t understand that my dog is a lot younger than his dog,” Pardun said. “His dog is obviously going to be more chill because he’s older. Cody is still in his little puppy phase so he’s not going to be as snuggly as Marco is going to be.”

While Pardun claims her dog is still considered a puppy, Kutsor disagrees.

“Once again, [Katie’s dog Cody] is two years old, so he’s not a puppy anymore.” Kutsor said.

Whether Cody is still considered to be a puppy or not, Pardun believes her dog’s energy makes him the superior dog compared to Kutsor’s.

“My dog is crazy, so we always go outside and I always throw the frisbee

with him. Even just around the house, he likes to play fetch with literally everything,” Pardun said. “My dog has more energy than Kutsor’s does, and he’s more of a friendly dog.”

Even discussing who spends more time with their dog turns into a competition for who is the better dog owner between the two. In response to Kutsor saying he “probably spend[s] at least two hours a day with [his] dog,” Pardun claims she spends more time with her dog.

“I spend like every second of the day with my dog,” Pardun said.

Though both owners claim their dogs are “really snuggly and cute,” Kutsor says even Pardun claims his dog is better in some ways.

“Well, for one, my dog is a cuter dog than Katie’s is. I actually have evidence of this. She has admitted it before. Besides just the cuteness factor, for one, Katie’s dog has a tendency to bite Katie,” Kutsor said. “My dog is just a little more relaxed and just goes with the flow. He’s very friendly with people, and he doesn’t try to jump all over people. He’ll just lay there and let you pet him.”

Cody’s “bites” are just “playful,” according to Pardun, but the two seniors may never agree whose dog is better nor who is the better owner; however, they do plan to stay friends.

(Top) Ryan Kutsor, senior, and his seven year old Tzuchan (Buchan & Shih tzu) Marco spend time together relaxing. (Bottom) Katie Pardun, senior, and her two year old Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever & Poodle) Cody spend time together playing fetch.

FURRY FRIEND FACTS Source: Bear Facts Student Media survey of 329 students

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LZ LIFE may 2018

36.2%

of LZ students got their pet from a breeder.

Photos used with permission of Ryan Kutsor

Photos used with permission of Katie Pardun

87.8% 3.2 million of LZ students have pets.

of shelter animals are adopted each year

WHO WE ARE, WHO WE WILL BE

SPOTLIGHT

As another year ends and seniors prepare to walk at graduation, Bear Facts explores what makes us LZHS Bears and where the paths will lead our seniors of 2018 in this month’s Spotlight.

SPOTLIGHT may 2018

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Photo by Kamil Becdach

Photo by Rachel Lee

Photo by Ashley Tran

Stepping into a country

First generation Americans face unique experiences in assimilating to new culture Parul Pari staff writer

80 million children under the age of 17 in the United States identify with the colors of two different countries. The children of immigrants face the the rush and the fears of immigration first hand, which come with mixing two different lifestyles and ideals: the ideals from the parents who have spent their lives in another country, and the ideals the students are have grown up with in an American culture.

Photo by Carolyn Wagner

10 SPOTLIGHT may 2018

First generation American “[My parents have taught me] that taking risks can pay off and that if you work hard, even when you are surrounded [with] something unfamiliar and scarily new, it will work out in the end,” said Tiffany Yen, junior, whose parents immigrated from China. “Some [of the obstacles] were the language and the overall culture of a whole new country, but my mom and dad adapted.”

But adapting did not mean leaving behind their culture, said Yen, whose family “speaks a mixture of Chinese and English [at home], we cook a lot of Chinese food, and we celebrate [different] Chinese holidays.”

Embracing one’s culture, though, can sometimes be hard when living in a community that is not very ethnically diverse. Rachel Lee, sophomore, knows this first hand in her experience as a Korean American.

“I remember once in kindergarten I came dressed in my traditional Korean dress and there were a lot of questions and not exactly teasing, but ignorance to a point. As a child, I didn’t understand why they didn’t [get it], and now I sympathize that not everyone knows the culture of a country half the way across the world. But it was a mind blowing experience as a child,” said Lee, a Korean-American whose parents immigrated to America.

Lee has learned to chanel her difficulties with other people into positive thoughts, which has proven to be a defining characteristic of who she is today and who she has been in the past, she says.

“When I do encounter challenges from the possible ignorance of other people, it doesn’t stop me from being who I am and often it helps me define who I am as a Korean-American,” Lee said. “I often get annoyed at the racial stereotypes like ‘all Asians are always smart,’,” Lee said.

“If I were to earn a good grade on a project or test, I’ve heard so many times slightly offensive things like, ‘oh it’s because you’re Asian’ or ‘I wish I was Asian so I could get good grades,’ and it’s very frustrating because I know I’ve earned this grade, but

people think it’s my race that affected it, not my hard work.”

Multiple immigrant experiences According to cis.org, 21% of the US population speaks a language other than English at home. Kamil Becdach, a sophomore who moved to the United States from Ecuador during his middle school years, is part of that group. Becdach moved here in sixth grade and faced hardships making friends in his new country.

“It was hard for me to communicate with people, even though I have spoken English since I was born because my parents lived here when they were kids and they learned and experienced what it is like to live here,” Becdach said. “School was especially hard to adjust to, since it is a totally different system than in Ecuador. I needed help in a couple classes like literature at the start, but after a couple of months I got used to it by learning how to deal with it and I ended up being okay.”

Being far away from his family also gave Becadach a feeling of isolation, due to the lack of proximity with the people he had grown up with for 12 years of his life.

“The biggest difference in Ecuador was probably family. All my family is in Ecuador and I grew up being used to being around then a lot, almost every day, if not every weekend,” Becdach said. “It was tough at the beginning since I had that sense of separation from them, but after a couple of months, friends ‘took their place’ and I have some friends that I can now call family.”

However, while Becdach has overcome the feeling of isolation, leaving family and his his home, something that

Photo by Rachel Lee

drastic cannot beeasily forgetten, especially for those forced to flee their native countries.

One LZ student’s father has his own story to share of his experiences fleeing from the once war torn country, Vietnam.

“I was 13 when I came [to the United States of America]. [We were] fleeing from the oppressed communist government [in Vietnam],” said freshman, Ashley Tran’s father, Khan Tran, about his immigration. “We had no one to help us, we were lost at sea, taken in by a foreign country into refugee camps, and finally we came to America with no real knowledge of the society we were coming into.”

Along with this feeling alienated, starting a new life in a new country was not easy, according to Tran.

Although Tran immigrated in 1980, in 2016, 13,000 refugees came to the US from East Asia to escape war torn countries, according to rescue.com. Tran says the experience was hard, but has been worth it for his family.

“We had to struggle through the basic necessities to make it in America, from simple materialistic things we take for granted, to social things in a sense that people would discriminate against us,” Tran said. “However there would be some people along the way to help. Overall it’s a good experience that makes me a better person.”

Rachel Lee, sophomore, immigrated to the US when she was three. She says she embraces both of her cultures, although she identifies more as an American than as a SOuth Korean immigrant. On opposing page: Kamil Becdach, sophomore, moved to the states when he was in sixth grade from Ecuador (far left). When Lee traveled back to Korea, she learned how to make traditional Korean dishes (middle). Ashley Tran’s father Khan Tran and his father traveled to the US from Vietnam in order to run from an opressed communist governemnt (top right)

SPOTLIGHT may 2018

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Photo by Carolyn Wagner

Paving His Own Way

Self taught student finds a love for photography A click, a shutter, and a snap. After waiting hours on end for the perfect moment, things somehow magically fall into place and the world around him seems to come together to create a picturesque scene. He takes photo after photo for the next few hours; for one student, this is his favorite way to capture the world around them.

Ria Talukder co-spotlight editor

Having a Natural Eye

“The best thing about when I go out for a shoot is the mindset that I get in,” Nick Lemperis, junior and photographer, said. “Sometimes when I go out alone, I lose all track of time.

I’ll drive around Lake Zurich looking for random moments to photograph and when I find them, I can be out there for hours.

This sounds cliche, but it’s those moments where I’m by myself when I can actually learn a lot about myself too.”

Lemperis’ adventures around Lake Zurich, however, do not only teach him about himself. His photos, from various adventures around town and other outings, have garnered him praise from classmates, family, and multiple awards, according to Kristen LaJeunesse, art teacher and mentor.

“Those awards are more than just awards,” LaJeunesse said. “They represent the kind of kid and photographer that Nick is. He’s a really hard worker with just a natural eye to notice the beauty of the world around him. He goes out there and enters these art competitions and tries to take photos that tell stories- no one makes him. So when he wins, it’s not just symbolic of his artistic ability but also his hard work ethic too.”

A Self Taught Talent

Photo by Ria Talukder

12 SPOTLIGHT may 2018

Lemperis was not always winning awards when he first started taking photos, he said. His interest in photography first stemmed from taking photos on his iPod in middle school, and many of the photos were what he considered failures. Practice, according to Lemperis, is what helped him eventually improve in confidence and skill in taking photos.

“I’m lucky to have a really nice Canon now but I started taking photos on an iPod and edited them using a really tacky App Store thing,” Lemperis said. “But I think I had to go through that phase to get to where I am now because photography has been a growth process for me. I had to go through the bad phase to push myself to become better.”

Lemperis describes spending his free time on YouTube, researching tutorials.

Through the guidance of well-informed photographers, Lemperis learned how to work with shutter speed, different apertures, and other settings. Lemperis, unlike others, has the ability to describe himself as mostly self-taught.

“Sometimes I see his photos and I feel a lot of respect for him because I see things I didn’t teach him being used in his work. It’s all stuff he went out of his want to learn,” LaJeunesse said. “He goes a step above and beyond his peers to take truly awesome photos by teaching himself how to get better and learning skills outside of class. It’s awesome and it produces great work.”

Committed to his Craft

Lemperis believes the improvement in the quality of his work should be attributed to the new camera his parents gifted to him just this past year to support him.

“I had to save up my own money to get a really small digital camera and it was okay but not great,” Lemperis said.

“My parents, especially my mom, really supports me in this though and saw how much I cared about this. They let me shoot at my siblings games and on family vacations and they understood, so they bought me a new camera and its great.”

Lemperis and LaJeunesse, however, both agree the best camera only works with a creative mind, something LaJeunesse believes Nick definitely has. Kim Lemperis, Lemperis’ mother, has noticed Nick’s artistic eye herself.

“Photography and the things he captures just comes really naturally to him,” Lemperis’ mother said. “What he’s looking at and what you’re looking at and the way he takes pictures of these things is in a way that other people justy [don’t].”

Lemperis’ mother mentioned that her son comes from a creative background and believes having him grow up around art inspired him to follow the same path.

“We have a lot of creativity in our family and I think it’s [inspired] Nick,” Lemperis’ mother said. “We have an aunt who is an art teacher and another who’s the creative director for an ad agency, and we have a grandpa who is also into art. So Nick has seen creativity in the people he looks up to and I’m glad he possesses some of his own too.”

The support for his work, from faculty and family alike, is what continually motivates Lemperis to pursue art. Although him and his mother both agree he still has some time before deciding on his career, they know photography will always stay with him and he wishes to have it in his life to some degree for a long time.

“I can see Nick doing something in the arts because his creative is such a natural thing for him. He has a gift and love for art and it’s something a lot of people don’t have,” Lemperis’ mother said. “People take it for granted but for him it’s just who he is- an artist.”

Lemperiu says his objective has always been to capture normal, everyday moments, in a way no one would expect it. Photos by Nick Lemperis.

SPOTLIGHT may 2018

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Student walks through life fascinated by art Chloe Faris co-spotlight editor

He sits in class, hunched over his drawings, pushing his thick framed glasses up from time to time, as his red Beats Headphones rest around his neck.

Having an interest in art since he was three years old, Joe Strojny, junior, is inspired by life around him and tries to work on his art whenever possible.

Photo by Chloe Faris

14 SPOTLIGHT may 2018

“There’s not one minute out of the day where I don’t have a pen or a pencil in my hand drawing or just sketching. It’s just like a twitch almost, it’s just a natural thing I have to do,” Strojny said.

Always coloring, cutting things up, and playing with tape, even as a toddler, Strojny dedicated his time to art, Lynn Strojny, Joe’s mother, said.

“Joe is extremely curious. He takes an interest in the world around him,” Lynn said. “He definitely has an artist’s eye and appreciates what the world has to offer and incorporates it all into his art.”

By staying in tune with his surroundings, Strojny says he is inspired by the life around him and the love he has for other people.

“I’ve always been a thoughtful person towards others. I really care about people and I love them. I love you for who you are even if I don’t know you, and art kind of helps me get into that basis of that love that I have for people,” Strojny said.

“Whatever kind of art piece I’m doing, I try to base it off of people and how much I care about and love them just for who they are.”

While he uses the people he loves as inspiration for his art, Strojny also credits his connection with the ocean as a source of ideas ever since he and his family dropped the ashes of his grandfather, who was previouly in the navy, into the water.

“I have this really weird love and passion for the ocean. I love all the sea creatures inside of it, I care for it, and I hate it when people throw trash it in,” Strojny said. “To me it is one of the most beautiful things the entire

world has ever created. It is a very ancient thing. That’s where I get a lot of my inspiration from.”

Through this inspiration from the ocean and people around him, Strojny makes connections between himself and the things he loves through art.

“I realized and connected the dots a little. I call my heart a trinity.

At the very top, it’s all the people I love and care about in the world, my family, my friends, my loved ones, anyone who is in this life with me right now. [The trinity] connects to myself personally and also with that combining the triangle, it makes the ocean in the other corner,” Strojny said. “In these lines, it makes me feel connected to everyone and everything. I like to help people as much as I can, I let people listen to me and I let myself listen to them even more.

There’s a whole bunch of things that goes into my process of life.”

This process Strojny describes is what developed the strong love and care that he has for others through his art, he said.

“I get to wake up everyday, and I get to go to school and see the faces that I care about. I get to talk to everyone and hear their stories. It is a big comfort for me,” Strojny said. “A lot of my work may seem sciencey and weird, but it does come from deep inside of the love I have for everyone. To me, love is an art.”

While he describes his work as weird, Karen Sako, Strojny’s art teacher at Mainstreet Art Studio, describes his work as creative and says he thinks outside of the box.

“Joe is a very conceptual artist.

He can make and draw anything from memory. He can draw you spe

cific cities and places and take you to a different place,” Sako said. “He has a gift that I could never have taught: he visualized it and just draws it. I am in awe of his talent because that just comes from somewhere else, that’s not something that can be taught.”

As a conceptual artist, the piece Strojny is most proud of is a painting that has a bigger meaning through the story it tells.

“There is a oil painting that I did and it is of my very first beta fish that I ever had. Yeah I know, it is a tiny fish, it is insignificant. It is supposed to be under the ocean in a submarine and you have my fishy in a little glass fishbowl and there is a porthole in the side of the fish bowl. My fishy is looking at the open

ocean, looking at this master city built below the waves and it is supposed to be like my fish has found his rightful place in the sea where he has found his happy place where he can be himself, explore, and be bigger than what others may perceive himself as. That coincides back with me,” Strojny said. “I know a lot of people feel small, I feel small, but when I was doing that painting I wanted to take something small and simple that people don’t really look at as a big source of inspiration and I took it to the next level.

I wanted to create something that would make me look further into the life I have and the things that I can do with it when

Photo by Carolyn Wagner

I grow up.”

By creating these pieces of art, Strojny is able to understand and have hope for the future. Strojny says he finds the beauty of art through the uniqueness which allows things to be special.

“The thing I like about art is that you try to make things as detailed and perfect as you saw in your head, but nothing will ever turn out that way because nothing is ever perfect. You’re not a perfect person, nobody is a perfect person, I’m not a perfect person. No one is, but see, that’s the beauty of it,” Strojny said. “If we were all perfect, what would be special in any of us? That’s why I like having the creative side of it. In every piece of life there’s a little bit of creative jazz in everyone.”

SPOTLIGHT may 2018

15

Students receive millions

Art scholarships provide greater opportunities (From top left) Seniors Bailey Recktenwald, Grace Bejnarowicz, Chloe Fletcher, Shayna Soloway, Gillian Teichman, and Lara Zuk stand with their awards from the Annual senior Art Show. Together, the senior girls were awarded almost one million dollars in scholarship money for different art schools around the nation.

Chloe Faris co-spotlight editor While most art shows are used to showcase the work of art students, this annual senior art show is dedicated to those students who qualified for the Senior Scholarship Expedition and together received almost one million dollars in scholarship money.

Each year, through the Illinois High School Art Expedition (IHSAE), art students from over 100 high schools in Illinois who submit a portfolio of 20 pieces or less are eligible to receive scholarship money, and this money could potentially help continue their passions into college. The scholarship recipients, funded by donations and the National Endowment of Art (NEA), are then put

16 SPOTLIGHT may 2018

in the art show at school, according to Kristen LaJeunesse, art teacher.

This year’s awards ranged from $1000 to $2000 and even full rides, some renewable each year. From LZHS, seven students received scholarships and, in total, were offered $816,000.

“The seven students who submitted portfolios were not doubtful that they wanted to go into the arts. They were quite sure,” LaJeunesse said. “This opportunity [...] expanded their [choice of different] schools and universities.”

One of the seven scholarship recipients, Lara Zuk, senior, received $13,000 renewable each year at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Although Zuk ultimately decided to attend Coastal Carolina Uni-

versity, she says she will continue her passion for photography.

“A lot of people do take the scholarships, and it helps so much financially,” Zuk said. “I definitely think it’s worth submitting your work to.”

Another scholarship recipient, Chloe Fletcher, senior who plans to attend Savannah College of Art and Design, agrees with Zuk about how helpful the scholarship is, although she too will not be using it.

“I love [drawing and illustrations] because I can put the ideas I see in my head down and communicate the things I think and feel with imagery,” Fletcher said. “The scholarship money helps pay so [students can] follow [their] dreams.”

SURVEY SAYS:

38.3%

of LZ seniors plan to attend an Illinois school post graduation.

Source: Bear Facts Student Media survey of 105 seniors

TOP TEN STATES

TOP FIVE CHANGES

This list contains the top ten states the seniors in the graduating class of 2018 will be attending, according to a Bear Facts Student Media survey.

This list contains the top five changes the seniors in the graduating class of 2018 believe were made to the school within the past four years, according to a Bear Facts Student Media survey.

38.3% — Illinois 7.8% — Michigan 6.9% — Missouri 5.9% — Indiana 5.9% — Iowa 4.9% — Wisconsin 3.9% — Kentucky 2.9% — Arizona 2.9% — Kansas 2.9% — Ohio

88.2% — 80-20 grading scale 88.2% — Small Auditorium became Studio C 76.5% — addition of Jazzman’s 69.6% — new/renovated main entrance 62.7% — new/renovated football field and stands

SPOTLIGHT may 2018

17

My path:

Kindhearted ‘take down’

5’ 1” senior aspires to use friendly attitude as future police officer Max Feldman contributor

Photo a g n er olyn W

by Car

It’s 1am on a chilly night in 2007, most everyone is asleep. All except for one little girl, who quickly grabs a handful of popcorn with her tiny hand, never breaking eye contact with the TV. She’s watching Law and Order SVU and she cannot look away.

“It’s always the wife,” she says as a suspect is taken into custody.

What started as an obsession with crime TV a decade ago has turned into a dream of working to outwit criminals, just like the hardworking people in the special victims unit.

“Ever since I was little I would end up watching Criminal Minds or Law and Order,” Crystal Sanchez, senior, said. “It was part of everyday life.”

It’s not just the television shows that make her want to become a detective, it’s the prospect of accomplishing something real and fulfilling a dream that began with her sibling.

“My brother tried to become a police officer but he couldn’t, so I’m trying to actually accomplish something for my family,” Sanchez said.

“I’m looking to become the first Sanchez to be done with college and do something unexpected and rewarding in life. Being the first one in my family to get a Photo by Carolyn Wagner

18 SPOTLIGHT may 2018

college degree really encourages me to pursue that major and will hopefully drive me to more success.”

Her family is supporting her decision to go to college and become a detective, Sanchez said. However, the prospect of Sanchez having to arrest someone particularly worries some friends and family members.

Sanchez, afterall, is barely 5 feet tall.

“Some of my friends started laughing at the idea of me taking down tall, muscular, and intimidating criminals. They were saying that I couldn’t do it, but I said, ‘you know what, maybe right now I can’t, but someday I will,” Sanchez said with a smile.

“I’ll definitely have to master taking people down, but I believe that I can do it. It’s all about practice, so maybe later on, after I [become] prepared, I’ll take someone down.

The thing is […] some people aren’t really compliant with you.”

But Sanchez has a a plan for that, too: her attitude.

Sanchez’s innate ability to be kind to others is one of her best assetts, says Annette Shaffer, English teacher who has known Sanchez since the aspiring officer was an elementary school student.

“No matter who you are, she will treat you the same. She’s nice to everyone, absolutely everyone, no matter what,” Shaffer said. “She’s good to people and isn’t someone who judges others.”

Sanchez takes the compliment in stride, reflecting on the fact she’s had to face her own fair share of judgment.

“I’m the definition of weird, but throughout the years I’ve learned to kind of embrace that and just be myself,” Sanchez said. “As a friend, I try to make people laugh when they’re sad or depressed, and as a detective, I’ll try to give everyone a fair chance.”

My path:

Joining National Guard via Tampa U.

Claire Li contributor

Danielle Vezensky, senior, had a secret. She was considering changing her whole career path and began meeting with a recruiter from the National Guard.

“I like to live my life really go-with-the-flow.

This is probably the best example of it — me being dead-set on a college in California to one day starting to get really interested with the National Guard within a week,” Venzensky said, adding that her decision “came as a huge shock” to her friends and family, especially since she had never come from a military background.

Although she originally did not show interest for joining the military, Vezensky said that she was always interested in criminology, robotics, anything STEM related, and just helping people out in general. She will be majoring in forensic sciences at Tampa University, contrary to her others’ longing for her to pursue engineering.

“Dani is very passionate when it comes to STEM. Despite not going into an engineering field, she was a critical member of the Robot-

ics Club over the past several years, both as our President and as a Mechanical Captain,” John Keyzer, Robotics Club sponsor, said.

According to Vezensky, she sees herself in ten years with a forensic sciences degree working at either a government agency specializing in crime scene investigation or as a forensic technician, as well as an alignment with the National Guard specializing in mortuary affairs.

“I’m really happy with all the decisions that I’m making,” Vezensky said. “As hectic as it can be and as stressful as it is to try to figure out all the situations, I wouldn’t change anything because it’s led me to the right place where I’m supposed to be right now.”

And right now, Vezensky is gearing up for her summer. She’ll be leaving in the summer for boot camp and basic training. She will be joining the National Guard’s ROTC program during college, but as soon as she is finished, she has a mandatory eight year commitment Photo by Carolyn Wagner to serve.

My path:

Moving on to Marines, military police Marissa Drake contributor

For senior Peter Tobin, his dream almost ended before he could start.

“I was scared of getting disqualified because of my knee surgery,” Tobin said about trying to enroll in the Marines after overcoming a football injury.

“I saw a lot of guys getting disqualified, some of it for just stupid stuff. I had to get approval from their superiors to go up to the processing center, which I did, but it took awhile. I had to get them all the records and paperwork about everything. When I got there, I wasn’t allowed to take the oath because [even though] I made it through the physical [portion], they needed to let their superiors know that I passed the physical test, and then I could take the oath. If I didn’t pass the physical test, they’d probably disqualify me and say I can’t join anymore.”

But Tobin did pass and he’s already training for his new career.

“I just do everything that’s going to be on the military fitness testing. It’s kinda like when I was in football: constantly bench pressing, squats,

deadlift. You work on exercises that will increase [those skills],” Tobin said about his physical preparation, but he also notes its harder to prepare mentally for his new role. “There’s not a lot to train you for what you’re about to go through; you’re going across the country, can’t talk to your parents, you have to write. You have to learn the respect and structure, it’s not your average job.”

Tobin, however, is ready for the challenge and already has predictions for where he’ll be a year from now.

“I’ll probably be on my first assignment if I do go through military police. A year from now, I probably [will have] just started a new assignment, could be at a base, could be overseas. In military police school, it’s where they think you should go and how you test for [the many jobs offered in the military].” Tobin said. “It’s kinda up to me I guess.”

Photo by Carolyn Wagner

SPOTLIGHT may 2018

19

Our path:

Ninja twins

Earning respect with jokes, gymnastics

Ruby Lueras contributor

There are over 7 billion people in the world, and no two people are the same. But, seniors Spiro and Evan Natsis, twins, seem to come pretty close.

“They’re both considerate [and] they both appear to be pretty laid back. They both have a good sarcastic personality,” said Susan Drake, who works with the twins at Libertyville Gymnastics Academy where the twins have worked for two years. “They are similar, but Evan is a little bit quieter than Spiro. Spiro is probably just a little bit more in your face than Evan is.”

Drake teasingly describes the twins as “troublemakers,” which the twins reluctantly admit to.

“I mean, probably yes, [we cause trouble],” says Evan about his coworker’s comment, but Spiro is quick to point out that “it’s just like friendly stuff between all the coaches where we just poke around and be mean to each other, so that’s what I think [Drake’s] trying to get at.”

Their sarcastic and teasing behavior may be one reason behind their tight bond but their work at Libertyville Gymnastics Academy is what brings them joy,

“You get to watch the kids grow,” Spiro said, “so I feel like that’s the coolest part, seeing how your work and your teachings reflect on those kids, and how you’re used as a role model.”

The duo teach “basically everything,” Evan said, but specialize in “ninja classes.”

“It’s parkour, basically, but it also acts like a discipline class where we teach kids respecting other people and knowing what’s right and what’s wrong,” Spiro said.

Come this fall, the brothers will head to Harper College together before transferring elsewhere, but say the decision to stick together wasn’t that hard.

“It’s just been that way our whole lives,” Spiro said, “being a twin is part of our lives.”

Photo by Carolyn Wagner

My path:

Reaching for the stars Spacebound senior ready to rocket to career as astronaut

Madeleine Lawler contributor

The stars are the limit for this senior whose career goals are literally out of this world.

“I’ve wanted to be an astronaut ever since kindergarten actually. Performing experiments and going to these places that people have never been before is just incredible,” Lauren Stern, senior, said. “If I was the first person to walk on Mars? It’s just so strange to me that a place so far away, you could get to go there and walk around.”

Stern has attended Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama numerous times since she was ten years old, in addition to doing “every project she [could] on astronauts.” She says she even wrote her college essays on the topic.

Stern’s love for space also shines in her personality, according to senior Alexis Alvey, Stern’s friend since elementary school.

“Lauren is determined, hardworking, [and] definitely passionate. She’s wanted to be an astronaut for as long as I can remember. The moment I met her, I knew,” Alvey said.

At Penn State this fall, Stern plans to major in geology, a major she hopes will give her a head start on pursuing a career in space, because most astronauts are either scientists or go through the military. However, becoming an astronaut is tough.

The field is very competitive. For example, only 14 out of 18,300 NASA applicants made

it in 2017, and it’s difficult to make the cut, according to Stern.

“Being an astronaut is super hard to do because so many people apply and not a lot of people get in, and the people that do, they keep narrowing it down to like seven or eight people per astronaut class,” Stern said. “So you can apply or go to college to major in something that you think will help you become an astronaut, but realistically, you’re probably not going to become one.”

Despite a difficult career path, Stern is excited to step into the next phase of her life and work towards a job in space.

“I’m excited. Being an astronaut is something most people don’t want to do because there are lots of risks to it. A lot people think that, ‘oh, you want to be an astronaut, you’re not actually going to do that,’ but I’m excited,” Stern said. “You should follow your dreams, and don’t let anyone take that from you.”

Photo by Carolyn Wagner

SPOTLIGHT may 2018

21

My path:

Writing her own future

Photo by Carolyn Wagner

Rose Alam contributor

Amy Cooper, senior, balances AP classes, a job, swimming, music, and working to reach a French and biology major at Grinnell College, but what she is most passionate about is what she does at home: writing.

“I think I’ve picked it up pretty seriously since seventh grade and worked myself up to writing true novels. I’ve never published anything; I don’t even know if I’m going to do that, I might when I’m older and a little better at writing,” Cooper said.

Cooper writes, on average, more than 1000 words a week, she said, amounting to over 22 stories since seventh grade. She releases her stories to Wattpad, an online community where non-published authors can release various stories for the world

to see. She’s currently working on a new novel based on a supervillain called “Villains for Hire.”

But she’s not sure where the story is headed.

“I don’t know where exactly my ideas come from,” she said. “‘Villians for Hire’ does take some cues from other superhero stories (both books and movies) but at the same time, it’s very much it’s own thing.”

Part of the problem with creating writing that’s it’s “own” is figuring out how to develop that story. It’s something Cooper is still trying to unravel.

“I’ve had pacing issues [in my writing] a lot. I struggle to find out the right balance of action and resting and letting the whole [plot] simmer out,” said Cooper with a confident smile on her face, owning up to her flaws.

Cooper will not give up writing, though, she says, but will try to improve further. In the near future, however, Cooper is focused on words of another sort. She intends to pursue a career as an English-French translator after studying abroad.

My path:

Nursing a love of science, art Alex Ketcham contributor

Science and art seem totally different on paper.

One relies on logic and reasoning, the other on creativity and inspiration. One student, however, finds ways to tie the two together.

“Each piece represents a different environmental issue so the goal is kind of to bring awareness to the magnitude of the issues that humans have created to the environment,” said McKenna Toussaint, senior, who combines the content from her AP Biology class and Photoshop to create abstract photographs. Some of the pieces that she has created address environmental ideas such as extinction, nuclear warfare, and the use of pesticides.

The pieces Toussaint creates are unlike any art teacher Kristen LaJeunesse has seen before.

“Her attention to detail is outstanding. I don’t know if I’ve seen that in many students in the past,” LaJeunesse said. “Also, the thought and research that she puts into each piece is almost unsurpassed, to be honest.”

Despite such accolades, Toussaint says she does not plan on studying art in college, but will instead

22 SPOTLIGHT may 2018

be pursuing a major in nursing and a minor in Spanish at Saint Louis University. She intends to study in Madrid and even do some of her nursing clinicals there, a career option that other students might not even consider.

“Art, in general, has taught me to embrace creativity and to think outside the box,” she said of what skills art may apply to her future studies. She added that hopefully art will continue to be a part of her life in her free time .

“It’s been really rewarding,” Toussaint said. “I’m glad that I branched out to art because I never saw myself coming into high school as an art student, so I’m really glad I decided to try that photography course.”

Photo by Alex Ketcham

My path:

A Christian college

Senior credits church trip with leading her to new life mission Bible classes. We have to take Bible, religion, psychology, and evangelism classes. There is also a curfew on campus where you have to be in your dorms by 12am on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday, 10pm on Wednesday and Friday, and 12:30am on Saturday,” Selof said.

But while other college students might see Liberty’s rules as restrictive, Selof sees it as a chance to stay focused on what matters to her: accomplishing her goals.

“Going to a Christian college where I am surrounded by Christ followers and am able to be biblically taught on how to succeed in life was something that really appealed to me,” Saffire said. “I knew that going to Liberty would help me in my goal of going into missions and glorifying the Lord with not only my work, but my speech, conduct, faith, love, and purity.”

One person who has faith in Selof ’s ability to achieve those goals is her little sister.

“The thing that I will miss most [about Saffire

is] I won’t be living life with my best friend anymore.

Instead, she will be 12 hours away, living life with new friends, making memories that I won’t be a part of. I’m going to miss the constant communication that we have, the car rides where we jam out, and Friday night movies nights spent as a family,” Lexy

Selof, Saffire’s sister, said. “I pray that at Liberty she will grow in her walk with the Lord and that she will make some great friends and have an amazing time experiencing life on her own. I love her so much and I will miss her even more, but [at the same time,] I’m so happy for her amd I will always be there for her through it all.”

by Alex Ketcham Photo

Sreelikhi Vangavolu contributor “Liberty has required

While some seniors are praying for the school year to end, one senior has already had her prayers answered.

Saffire Selof, senior, is attending Liberty University, the largest Christian college in the United States.

She hopes to major in ministry and serve the Lord.

“I didn’t always want to go to a Christian college.

A year ago I was looking at Marquette and St. Louis because they had really good programs there, but it wasn’t until I went on a mission trip last year that I wanted to go into ministry.

I totally changed my mind,” Selof said. “We drove up to a town in Haiti on one of the mountains, and the pastor of a Harvest church was telling us his story of how he came to where he was in life. During the experience, I felt the Lord calling me, and needed to fully trust Him and glorify Him through all I do. I don’t know how to describe the experience, but at that moment I knew Liberty was where the Lord wanted me to go.”

When it comes to attending a Christian school, however, Selof will be faced with different experiences.

Opportunities in Lake Zurich

OUR VIEW

The communities that surround us can influence students’ high school experiences in many ways. The opportunities provided in LZ can enrich all aspect of a students’ life in both social and acedemic ways.

The Bear Facts Staff believes...

“At the end of the summer my friends and I drove around to all of the places we liked in Lake Zurich,” MacKenzie Weider, 2017 graduate, said. “We went to the place we went to after graduation and reflected on our high school experiences. We went to My Flavor It! Place and Paulus Park and relived everything and we did these past four years before we went to college to kind of wrap up all of those memories.”

Many students grew up in the LZ community. The place they call home has provided them with nearly everything a community needs: parks, safe neighborhoods, dance companies, sports teams, a variety of cultured restaurants, and other impactful people to make memories. The unique places spread across LZ allow teens to create lasting memories.

“It is cool to have places like My Flavor It Place that are unique to this town as somewhere we can go after school or with friends,” Tristin Sorrells, senior, said. “Places like that definitely shape this community to be what is has become and give us unique memories to look back on in the future.”

24 SPOTLIGHT may 2018

“How has LZ molded you into the person you are today?”

The town also provides an environment that makes growing up easier, Sorrells said.

“I feel very grateful for being able to grow up in the LZ community,” Sorrells said. “I absolutely love and adore this town and I really feel like we have amazing teachers and supporters [who] are always rooting for us. I think being around the great people here helps me become a better person.”

The experiences the LZ community provides are important for young children to begin participating in activities that they love and might carry with them to high school. With unique opportunities, like job shadowing, students are given the resources to make educated decisions that will impact what they decide to do later in life. Sorrells was given the chance to partake in job shadowing for Physical Therapy. “[Job shadowing] provides people with the chance to see a job really up close and personal to see if it really is a good fit for them and see if it is something that they want to pursue one day,” Sorrells said. “It was nice to see the job I hope to have one day in ac-

MAX MEYER, freshman

BROOKE BANDEL, sophomore

“Lake Zurich has shown me how to be a great person and how to act on and off the field. The coaches have been very nice and [have] helped teach me how to play the game.”

“I feel like whoever you lean more towards in your friend circle are the people who mold you into the person you become.

You pick up traits from those people as well.”

hat

in ove ave ays ple

are ng em ob ke de to

nce reng “It ac-

THE IMPACT OF LZ

72% of LZ students believe that LZ molded them into the people they are today.

tion. I was with Doctor Colosi and I followed him and observed how he handled his patients and the skills he required to do so effectively. ” Extracurricular activities creates the confidence for students to be leaders and help them speak in front of a crowd while demanding respect. LZ provides many opportunities for students to get involved in the school with the wide variety of clubs and sports offered.

“Learning leadership skills has most definitely helped to boost my confidence a lot,” Sorrells said. “It feels good to know that you’re able to lead a group of people and can use that in the future. When you’re confident in your leadership, people respect and listen to you more and it makes being productive as a team easier and potentially more fun in the long run.”

Being a part of extracuricular activities outside of school, as a leader or a participant, allows students to create a variety of friend groups that may be entirely different from each other

giving different perspectives, values, and ideals that these friends possess as well.

LZ’s wide variety of classes and extracurricular activities also helps to give students the opportunity to figure out what careers they want to pursue. Almost every single core class has an advanced placement (AP) class option for the students who feel they can handle an intense and rigorous environment that allows them to experience what a college course may be. These help courses make their future transition smoother and more manageable, Weider said.

High school can be a difficult time for teenagers with the homework and balance of outside activities while also trying to maintain a social life. Obtaining this balance along with the skills students learned at LZ molds them into the wellrounded and successful people many of become later in life. The opportunities in high school make students better and stronger people as they grow up in the LZ communities.

70% of LZ students at least somewhat believe that high school has prepared them for college.

80% of LZ students believe that their high school experience has helped them form lifelong skills.

98% of LZ students in the class of 2017 graduated, according to illinoisschoolreportcard.com.

80%

JACOB POREWIZ, junior “I think that the people that have been surrounding me have really influenced who Ive become and influnced my interests like the music and activities I listen to.”

CHLOE FLETHCER, senior

“I think that especially in the art department I have made a lot of friends and it has really encouraged me to take more strides and to try new things and challenge myself more.”

TERRY GEOGHEGAN,

government teacher

“The classes I have taught, the colleagues I’ve worked, along with my boss, have stretched me. Lake Zurich has given me a lot of teaching opportunities.”

of students at LZ scored a 21 or higher on the ACT in 2017, according to illinoisschoolreportcard.com

Source: Bear Facts Student Media survey of 329 students

SPOTLIGHT may 2018

25

Passionate for competition

Senior athletes share ultra-competitive spirit Adam Cupples sports editor

SPORTS

Though these seniors have been playing their sports for different lengths of time, one a beginner and another a 13 year athlete, both share a love for competing in games and at practices.

In his first year playing high school lacrosse, Rajen Modi, senior junior varsity lacrosse player, says that he uses his competitiveness to focus on self-improvement.

“When it comes to lacrosse, since I’m new at it. I’m competing more against myself because I haven’t developed the skills to make a huge difference in each game,” Modi said. “Therefore, generally, I try each game to be better than I was in the last and my teammates understand that and give me opportunities to prove myself.”

A break after a tough day of school is what Peter Dicerbo, senior varsity basketball player, strives for when he plays basketball competitively.

“I find that playing sports competitively has been a great release from the stresses of school,” Dicerbo said.

“Practices and competitions can be a time to go take my mind off everything and focus on the competition of my teammates or opponents playing the game.”

Unlike Dicerbo, Modi is a relatively new lacrosse player and says his skills may not be as extensive as other players on the team, but his willingness to compete means he is ready to assist in any way he can.

“I’ve always been competitive,” Modi said. “It’s in my nature. I’m never the most skilled player on the team, but I will do whatever needed in order to help my team win, whether that’s cheering my team on from the bench

If you are in a sport, do you participate in sport(s) for the high school or through another organization?

Source: Bear Facts Student Media survey of 329 students

26 SPORTS may 2018

or getting in the game.”

In order for a team to have success, the athletes need to gel well with one another. The social aspect of basketball is a positive to playing sports competitively, Dicerbo says, as it leads to stronger bonds with his teammates.

“Since I enjoy some good competition, playing sports and competing is a lot of fun for me,” Dicerbo said. “Competitive sports are also an area where I have made a great deal of my friends and a good way that I can stay in touch with many people.”

The benefits of playing a sport competitively greatly outweigh the negatives, Modi says, but you should not expect improvement if you do not put in your full effort.

“I would absolutely recommend it, but you have to really commit to it,” Modi said. “You can’t expect every day or moment of the sport to be fun. I would also recommend finding someone or something to compete against on a daily basis because it can make participating in that sport so much more fun.”

Although sports require time management and other sacrifices, according to Dicerbo, he agrees that people should consider playing sports competitively, especially given the positive effects it has on the body and mind.

“The benefits of making friends, being able to release energy, and staying healthy and in shape far outweigh the days when you have scheduling conflicts,” Dicerbo said. “Teammates can also help alleviate the fatigue of a long season by supporting one other. No question, I would absolutely recommend playing a sport.”

If you are in a sport, what is your favorite aspect of athletics/ sports?

SUMMERS OF OPPORTUNITY

athletes strive to sharpen over the summer

Emma Brumage-Kilcourse staff writer Most of us have fond memories of summer camp: from singing songs around the campfire to spending our first nights away from home, it’s a fixture of childhood for many people. But beyond s’mores and campfires, some studentathletes are redefining the purpose of summer camp from a break from their responsibilities to another opportunity to get ahead athletically.

The benefits of sport camps can vary wildly, from guest instructors to opportunities for team bonding. According to Racheal Fischer, head cheerleading coach, camps provide athletes with an opportunity to work with instructors that can provide them with different skills and talents. At Speed Camp, run by the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) for LZHS cheerleaders, Fischer says that she especially likes the college cheerleaders they work with from the University of Kentucky.

“The [University of Kentucky] kids {the cheerleaders] work with are awesome because they’re closer to our athletes’ ages. So they listen to [those instructors] a little bit more because they are currently using the same skills. The {girls} are able to learn a little bit more from them.”

Camp can be an opportunity to show off how a team’s skills have developed over their time at camp.

“At [Speed Camp], there are a lot of other teams that we compete against that go there, so it’s almost like a competition camp because you want to show what you’ve been working on. [At] the end of the camp you get to show off what you’ve learned.”

One of the more controversial aspects of athletic camps can be the financial cost students have to pay to attend.

In a Bear Facts Survey, 78.5% of athletes had attended a camp for their sport at some point in their high school careers. According to Fischer, to attend both camps (Speed Camp and Camp Jeff) a cheerleader can expect to spend almost $600 and would pay more if it were not for their spirit booster club. This, however, is an unusual setup-- only a quarter of camp attendees recieved assistance from the school or fundraisers like this to help cover the costs.

While camps can sometimes be expensive and inconvenient, Fischer still believes that the benefits of summer camp make it all worth it for her cheerleading team. “I know it sounds crazy, but over those three short days, the amount of growth you see is tremendous.”

Source: Bear Facts Student Media survey of 329 students

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Sports Coverage

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(1) Emma Daleske, senior, battles for position against a Libertville defender in a late-season matchup. (2) Sydney Mark, junior, prepares to hand off the baton during an April dual meet against Lake Forest and Stevenson. (3) Julia Zaucha, junior, gets ready to field the ball during an early May matchup against Warren. (4) Ben Cornelius, senior, winds up to pitch against Lake Forest during an April matchup. (5) Joe Heffernan, senior, transitions into his final kick as he concludes his 100 meter run during an April dual against Waukegan and Zion-Benton. (6) Jason Morrison, sophomore, prepares to smash the ball during a May matchup against Carmel. (Soccer photos taken by Emma Brumage-Kilcourse. Girls Track photos taken by Chloe Faris.

Softball photos taken by Emma Brumage-Kilcourse. Baseball photos used with permission by @LZHS_Baseball. Boys Track photos used with permission by Patrick Hart. Tennis photos taken by Emma Brumage-Kilcourse.)

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(7) Bartosz Wielgos, junior, prepares to set the ball during an April matchup against Glenbrook North. (8) Cade Frank, sophomore, receives the ball in his stick during a mid-May matchup against Stevenson. (9) Mckenna Walsh, sophomore, fights for the ball against a Lake Forest defender during a regular-season matchup. (Volleyball photos used with permission by Evan Bajerski. Boys Lacrosse photos taken by Rachel Brauer. Girls Lacrosse photos taken by Megan Monoson.)

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