Volume 101 Edition 25

Page 1

M

ENTOR

The

Manhattan High School Volume 101 Issue 25 May. 6, 2013

page 3

page 5

page 4

Forensics team takes first at State Madeline Marshall Staff Writer

The Manhattan High Forensics Team took first at the State Forensics competition in Olathe this past weekend, continuing a long tradition of high-placement (third last year and first the previous

year). The team had high expectations for themselves all year and fulfilling said expectations made their victory even sweeter. “They were very happy about winning but they were also somewhat relieved because when you’re living up to your own expectations it

can be quite nerve-wracking,” Forensics coach Shawn Rafferty said. “So while they were happy that they won, they were also a tad relieved that they were able to accomplish something that one, they thought they could, and two, had been trying accomplish all year. It’s hard to say

we’re going to win all year and then the closer you get to that the harder it is not to buckle under the pressure of the expectation they’d set on themselves.” The team had many individuals who ranked very highly including two students, senior Robert Kobza

and junior Peter Sang, who took first in their events and will move on to the national competition. “It’s a chance to prove how hard we’ve worked all year,” Sang said in reference to their victory. Sang took first in the Foreign Extemporaneous

FFA celebrates Agriculture Day Retta Lazaris Staff Writer Last Wednesday, the Manhattan High FFA chapter celebrated Ag Day by pairing up with various agriculture organizations and FFA chapters from Blue Valley and Riley. Michaela Braun, a senior at MHS, has been in FFA for two years and was one of the FFA members who helped out with Ag Day. “It’s a lot of fun because you get to be with all of the kids,” Braun said. “And show them all about agriculture.” Lou Irwin, part of the Master Gardeners Organization, ran one of the educational stands with her co-workers that talked about anything a third grader would want to hear, pizza. “We are teaching the kids that pizza can be a very healthy meal,” Irwin said. “I think that it’s amazing that children know these ingredients already. They seem to be -- for third graders -- some what knowledgeable about what’s on their pizza.” “Without food, fuel and fiber none of us would be here,” Melissa

Wahl, County Coordinator for the Riley County Farm Bureau, said. “This is our 12th annual Kids Ag Day, that is sponsored by the Riley County Farm Bureau,” Wahl said. “And then we have several other groups that are contributors that help out with the event, as well as the local farmers and vocational ag teachers from the three different area high schools.” According to Wahl, the Riley County Farm Bureau contacted approximately 30 classes, including the local public, Christian and home schools. Third graders from all over Riley County attended Ag Day, including Northview, Riley County, Flint Hills and Olsburg in the morning session, and Flint Hills Christian, Manhattan Catholic, Amanda Arnold, Frank Bergman, Roosevelt, Bluemont and Lee in the afternoon. “We need to educate our students; we need to educate everyone,” Wahl said. “More and more families are removed from the working farm as our society progresses. And it used to be that only one or two generations were See FFA page 5

Speech event. They have been preparing for the competition all year. “You spend the entire week going on every news site and taking all of the articles for your research are from that week and then we See Forensics page 5

Students ready for Girls, Boys State camps Maddie Ross News Editor

Sophmore Kyndall Norris and Senior Michaela Braun hold pigs at their Ag Day festivies and celebration. Rhetta Lazaris, Photographer

Girls and Boys State is designed to give young men and women a distinct responsibility and understanding about their government and community. Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, the program has given its students first-hand experience on how both state and local governments work since 1935. Every year the Manhattan area strives to send around 15 girls and 15 boys to their respected events. The program is for students who have just completed their junior year. Participants learn how to run a functioning government as they create their own. “Being from Spain, I think this will be a great opportunity for me to learn about and experience America’s system of government,” junior Ana Dominguez said. Girls State is held on the WashSee Boyes, Girls state page 5

Eco-Team takes 10 at Clubs hold elections in preparation for next year State competition Tracy Le Graphics Editor A State placing and medaling in one of the categories were a good start for Manhattan High’s students in the Kansas Envirothon competition. Leaving Manhattan High early last Wednesday, five sophomores made their way to Salina for the competition. “This is the first time in a long time, if at all, that we [MHS] have been involved in the Envirothon,” sponsor Noah Bush said. “It’s a fun group. We had a fun time. We took 10th at State and we medaled in the current issue and so I’m really proud of the kids.” Sophomores Madeline Marshall, Rachel Chang,

Krista Burton, Alan Brown and Aidan Rosenow were asked to join the team at the beginning of the year and though they admit they weren’t very prepared, they were quite happy with how they performed. “We didn’t do very well. It was our first year so we didn’t know what to expect. But we had fun and that’s what really matters,” Burton said. Chang agreed. “It was really fun. It was our first year so obviously we didn’t do the very best but we learned a lot this year and we have a lot more experience now than at the beginning of the year,” Chang said. Though the team did not do as well as they wanted to, the State competition greatly

Student journalists place at Kansas Scholastic Press Association State competiton Joseph Sell Staff Writer Two Manhattan High students, sophomore Halsey Camera and junior Jennie Jordan, managed to place at the Kansas Scholastic Press Association State journalism competition. Camera placed fifth in editorial cartooning and Jordan took fourth in photo illustration. KSPA annually hosts Regional and State competitions for journalism in which students compete to see who are the best writers in different categories. This year MHS qualified eight students for the State competition, which kicked off Saturday morning at the University of Kansas. “I feel like I’ve definitely achieved something. I actually surprised myself, didn’t think I’d make it,” Camera said. “It looked like there were I don’t know about 20 kids competing and to get up in fifth place is pretty good for me.” Camera draws the “Ivan the Ignorant” cartoon each week for The Mentor. This was her first year competing at the KSPA competitions. “[Placing fourth] felt awesome,” Jordan said. “I was having a lot of doubts on m photo and when they posted the results I was surprised but really overjoyed.” This year was also the first year Jordan competed at the KSPA competition, having just joined the Blue M yearbook staff this year. She will be editor-in-chief of the yearbook next year. Journalism teacher Kristy Nyp was proud of her students’ accomplishments. “It’s always a good thing to have students place at that level because as a 6A school, we’re competing against some of the best journalism schools in the country,” Nyp said. “Several of See KSPA page 5

benefited them. “I was proud of how we did considering the lack of effort of the team overall. We hadn’t prepared for it anywhere near as much as we probably needed to so there was a lot of last minute cramming involved,” Marshall said. “Now that we have a handle on what the competition is and what we’re supposed to be studying, it’ll be a lot easier in the future to know what we need to focus on so that we can do better overall. I feel like we actually have a good chance of placing really well in the next year or two.” The Envirothon is an outdoor high school competition that tests students on different topics. At the State comSee Eco-Team page 5

Tracy Le Graphic Editor The time of year has come for club elections, and many students are campaigning or preparing for new leadership positions. One of the many clubs at Manhattan High, Students Against Destructive Decisions, held their elections right after school on Wednesday, April 30. “We had a lot of people running for officer positions...we had a full ballot, it was exciting,” sponsor Kari Quiton-Humes said. “I feel great that so many people wanted to run and I feel great with the outcome.” Junior Alyssa Frey was chosen as president, junior Katie Dixon as vice president, sophomore Andrea

Miller as treasurer, junior Krystyn Winiecki as secretary and sophomore Hannah Craig and junior Trevor Hayden as the club’s representatives. ”I’m really excited,” Frey said. “I was actually kind of nervous because I was running against Hannah and Katie and I know that they’re both really good and they would have been really good in this position. So I was kind of nervous but at the same time I was like, well, if I don’t get it I’ll still be involved but I’m really excited and happy that I did get it… I think that it’s [SADD] really important because a lot of people have experienced loss and things to some of the things that we try to prevent like alcohol abuse, drinking and driving, texting and driving, and that

kind of thing. So I think that the club is really important and I hope that others see its importance, too.” Frey joined SADD her freshman year, was elected vice president her sophomore year, and is also this year’s president. “Alyssa has done a great job as president so it’ll be fun to have her in that role again her senior year,” QuitonHumes said. “We had a great Spring Fling this year, a great Red Ribbon Week and I think this year there was a lot of involvement from kids. At the beginning of the school year our meetings were packed and I’m hoping next year we can repeat that again… I’m excited. I think it’ll be a great year.” See Clubs page 5

NHS inducts new members er Pat Lamb gave a talk. "I haven't really learned about NHS until I was inducted. I heard about With a year unstuff like the point der their belt, the system, which I nevnewly-sponsored er really understood National Honor but other than that I Society pushes haven't really been into to the future, apart of NHS yet, so picking up 101 I don't know what to new members, expect. I very excited as well as new ofthough," sophomore ficers. Invitations Anna Hegarty said. were sent to 250 Last year was qualifying indiSmith's first year beviduals, and more ing the sponsor for than one-third NHS, and of course of the applicants any first time doing were inducted last something, there is Monday night. always a learning "This is my first curve. time doing [induc"Next year, with a tions]," NHS sponyear's experience unsor Robin Smith der my belt, I hope to said. "So, that be a more effective number was a litleader, and achieve tle bit overwhelmmore goals," Smith. ing. There were a "I want the students lot of things I had to do to get the Juniors Katie Bussmann, Sachin Deyoung, Maddy Fox, Dheepthi Perumal, Caroline Ballard to be more connected and more eager to letters out, and reparticipate in service viewed. We end- and Abby Githens are inducted into National Honors Society as next year’s officers. Gage Benne, Photographer projects." ed up inducting 54 The Society also sophomores and 27 juniors to NaSee NHS page 5 tional Honor Society, for a the induction, and all of the Hoyt and special guest speakGage Benne Business Manager

total of 101 new members." Current NHS members were encouraged to be at

existing NHS officers were present. The inductees were welcomed by principal Greg


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Volume 101 Edition 25 by The Mentor | Manhattan High School - Issuu