Reeds spring high school • Volume 04 • Issue 9
what’s in your closet? page 12
cinco de mayo
2014-2015 Wolfpack recap
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PULSEIn This Issue may 2015
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how to say no 6 STRESS 8 CINCO DE MAYO 9 2014-2015 WOLFPACK RECAP 10 WHAT’S IN YOUR CLOSET? 12 CAUSES OF BALDING 13 CROSSWORD 15
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BEHIND THE SCENES
Letter From the Editors: If you’re not busy, you’re boring.
I feel this is what our society has come to. If you aren’t involved in 20 different things and not busy every day of the week, you’re “lame”. In order to have a “fulfilling” high school career, you have to be involved in sports, clubs, extra-curriculars, and more. “It will look good on college applications,” you keep telling yourself. If you’re not busy, you’re ordinary, and ordinary won’t get you anywhere in this extraordinary world we live in. The truth is, you can’t do all that and keep your sanity. When you have so much going on, you don’t have time for yourself. You don’t have time to relax, recuperate, or rest. You spend your time instead planning out every second of your day. You find yourself double-booked more and more. You find your quality of work slipping. You find that you are frazzled, anxious, and fatigued. Hypomania, the measurement of anxiety and unrealistic optimism, has increased almost 30% in high school students since the 1940’s. This means one out of every three high school students suffers from some sort of anxiety. Having time for yourself is important in developing into an adult. Needing to be everywhere and the pressure to do everything (and be great at it) is causing students to be stretched thin. Anxiety can contribute to actual illness, fatigue, headaches, the inability to concentrate. More seriously, it can lead to shortterm memory loss, digestive disorders, and negative influences on the immune system. Take time for yourself. Make sure that you are giving yourself enough time to do what you need to, and to do a good job at it. Make sure that you aren’t putting more on yourself than you can handle. It is important that you be honest with yourself— for the sake of your sanity and your health. “Men for the sake of getting a living forget to live.” -Margaret Fuller
-Megan & Ann 5
Lead Editor: Ann Temple
Graphic Editor: Megan Strayer
Writers:
Courtney Bullis Taylor Chambers Wyatt Cooper Aisha Eby Matt Gilderson Alley Grant Misti Higginbotham Madee Kelley Hannah Phalen Paige Pritchard Aaron Sampson Ann Temple Lauren Weathers Cindy Wenk Danielle Whitworth Abby Williams Stone Woodward
Sponsors:
Mr. Matt Locke
SPORTS - LIFESTYLE - NEWS - STUDENT LIFE - FASHION - MISC
how to say “no” courtney bullis
It’s very common to end up in the situation where someone may like you that you don’t like in return, and there are varying reasons why this may be. When it comes to dealing with a turn down, it might be tougher than you thought to find the right words to say. Based on your situation, believe it or not, there are actually good ways to turn someone down. Some of the most common icky situations and solutions are here for your benefit. Number 1: An age difference.
of relationship may be a little too weird for you. Kindly saying no and giving reason as to why and who it would affect should leave them with understanding, since they too are in the same situation. And although they might not see the relationship triangle as a problem at first, addressing it may help them understand that maybe it is not a good idea.
the first time making a connection, can be a sketchy situation. You may feel as though it isn’t a good idea, and that is perfectly okay! Be honest and try addressing a friendship, or getting to know them first. You may even try inviting them to a group activity if you think you may actually be interested in the future.
Number 3: Friend-zoning
Number 5: Red flags.
There are some awkward situations where it turns out your best friend likes you, when you don’t feel the same in return. We can’t deny, though, that sometimes confrontation from a friend may actually cause some kind of spark. But the thought of changing from a friendship to relationship can be scary. There is so much that could be jeopardized in the transition, and we often think, “Is it really worth taking the chance and risking losing them completely?” It can be heartbreaking to deal with a turn down from a close friend whom feelings have piled up for, but think about it; having them as a friend may be better than not having them at all. To deal with the situation positively, address what is already good in the relationship. Make sure they know where you stand as far as your feelings, but that it isn’t worth it to know that you could possibly lose them all together in the end.
So maybe you have heard some not-so-good things about this person, or maybe he/she doesn’t have the best rep. Maybe he/she doesn’t hang around the type of people you could see yourself being around; whatever the case, go with your instincts. If you are simply uninterested because of specific aspects, a simple “that’s sweet, but no thank you” works perfectly.
As we grow up, become adults and graduate from high school, age becomes less of a deal breaker. But as high school students, age may mean a little more to some. Freshman-senior or high school-college student relationships aren’t unheard of, but at the same time are not the most common situations. Depending on your personal preference, age may not matter; at the same time, it may matter more than you would think to someone else. If you get asked out by someone way out of your comfortable age range, find your comfort zone. Address the age difference, and to nicely let them down you could say something like, “Maybe if you were a few years younger or if I was a few years older I’d be interested, but I don’t think a relationship between us would work out right now.” Also, be sure that before you make any hasty decisions, you aren’t getting yourself into a situation that could cause trouble with anyone’s parents Number 4: You don’t even know them. and/or the laws! Sometimes being recognized by Number 2: Awkward prior situations. someone you haven’t noticed before can be flattering. After all, they noticed you! The big Maybe you’re already too close picture, though, is that you don’t know them. to this person, but in another perspective. Going out with someone you have never Whether they’re a friend’s ex or a sibling’s met before, with a single confrontation as best friend, making that big of a change
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Number 6: You’re already taken. Believe it or not, some people who are taken don’t say so when being asked out by someone else. They will actually still look at the reasons why they don’t want to accept the offer and struggle to think of an easy turn-down, even though this is the easiest situation to be in! Let them know that you appreciate the kind gesture, but that you are off the market and are happily taken. Saying anything else, even if it is rejection, may lead them to keep trying, and they need to know that it simply isn’t going to happen because it isn’t an option.
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SPORTS - LIFESTYLE - NEWS - STUDENT LIFE - FASHION - MISC
stress abby williams
These days, it seems almost impossible to find a teenager in high school that doesn’t have an extremely high stress level. Some have more than others, but just about all of us are stressed out beyond belief. Often times, adults tell us things like “If you think you are stressed out now, just wait until you are an adult.” It’s like they are telling us that just because we are teenagers, our problems are minimal and it’s unlikely for us to be as stressed out as adults. Adults usually stress over things like their kids, paying bills, providing for their families, and even work. Teens, on the other hand, are usually stressed out about school, school, and school. Yes there are sometimes other factors, but for the most part it all comes back to things that connect with high school. With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, we are all completely ready to be done with all the school work and jump right into enjoying our summer. Sadly, before we can head out on vacation, we have way too many end-of-the-year exams, finals, and grades that we have to wrap up with first. We’ve been in school for about ten months now; it’s probably to the point where you feel like you just can’t go any longer, but it’s important to push through the last few weeks and continue to work hard. All the upcoming exams and finals are probably going to create a ton of extra stress, so I have created a short list of ways to avoid some stress and make it easier for you to finish out this school year with a bang.
Stay Organized For some people, this is going to be pretty easy; for others, not so much. Staying organized can be one of the best stress relievers. Wouldn’t it be nice to find your homework assignment right away, instead of looking for it for half an hour? Not only should you keep your school work organized, but you should try to stay organized at home. You shouldn’t have to stress over trying to find your favorite shirt in the morning when you are already running 15 minutes late. Sleep Not getting enough sleep is a major issue for high school students. We have to wake up early in order to get to school on time, and we have to stay up late in order to get all of our homework assignments completed. Too often we find ourselves only getting a few hours of sleep throughout the week nights. Student who work week nights are even more likely to be falling asleep long after midnight. It’s important to try to get enough sleep. Sometimes staying up late is unavoidable, but when you can, try to go to sleep early. Your body and mind will be incredibly thankful the following day. Listen To Music It might be helpful for you to make a playlist of some calming and relaxing songs that you like. Listening to music is a huge stress reliever. If you need to study for an exam, you might want to listen to a study station on Pandora. When studying, try to avoid listening to distracting music. If you
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lose focus fairly easily, you might want to stick to music with no lyrics. Don’t Worry About Your Appearance Trying to look your best every single day is something you should avoid doing. I’m not suggesting you stop showering and go to school every day looking like a homeless person, but you should worry less about looking your best. Trust me, it’s just high school and no one is going to care or even remember if you came to school wearing sweatpants and your hair up. Use some of the time you take to get ready to sleep in a few minutes longer. Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in. Focus more on studying and homework than getting the perfect winged eye liner. Set Reminders One of the worst things in the world is getting to class and realizing you forgot that your research paper is due and you are only halfway finished with it. Set reminders on your phone so you are wellaware of upcoming due dates and school events. It will give you time to prepare and will relieve some stress. The end of the school year is one of the toughest parts, but it’s important to remember that it will all be over sooner than you know it. You’ll blink and find that you are sleeping in till noon every day, and hanging out at the lake multiple times a week. Don’t skip to your summer vacation too early and let your grades suffer. Finish out for the last few weeks of school, it’ll be worth it.
SPORTS - LIFESTYLE - NEWS - STUDENT LIFE - FASHION - MISC
cinco de mayo alley grant
Have you ever wondered what Cinco de Mayo stood for? It’s Spanish for the fifth of May. Do you ever wonder why it was so important to most of the people of the world? Well, this holiday came about because the Mexican militia won in a battle over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862. What most people don’t know is that “history reminds us that this was a short-lived victory. Later, on May the 8th, the attack resumed under the French command of General Francois Achille Bazaine and his French Foreign Legion. Puebla was captured and the way to Mexico City was now open.” Some people believe that this holiday is Mexico’s Independence Day, but that’s a usual misconception. Mexico celebrates its Independence Day on September 16th. Cinco de Mayo might be a great holiday, but do you ever question why Mexican-Americans celebrate it more than people in Mexico? On one website that I researched, it had said that ”One theory for why it is more popular in the USA is that at one time, it was celebrated in all of Mexico, and by Mexicans living in former Mexican territories such as Texas and California. It was ignored in Mexico after a while, but is still celebrated north of the border, which never got out of the habit of remembering the famous battle.” Cinco de Mayo is celebrated differently within the countries that celebrate it. In Puebla, Mexico there are parades, dancing, and festivals. The site that this information is from says, “Traditional Mexican food
is often served or sold. Mariachi bands fill town squares, and a lot of Dos Equis and Corona beers are served. It’s a fun holiday, really more about celebrating the Mexican way of life than about remembering a battle which happened 150 years ago.” This holiday is also referred to as “Mexican St. Patrick’s Day.” The way that America usually celebrates it is, they usually learn about it in school and some schools even allow the students to practice on their cooking skills to make some Mexican foods. All around the world, Mexican restaurants bring in Mariachi bands and offer specials for their customers. This is one day that many Mexican restaurants are packed. The fun part about Cinco de Mayo is that most people also celebrate it within their home. Many people may have parties, and some may even have family traditions. The parties usually involve Mexican foods and Margaritas. There are different types of Mexican foods that are pretty easy to cook. Margaritas could be alcohol free or they could contain alcohol. If you’ve got kids that want to drink them, you can find great tasting, alcohol free recipes. There are many different facts about Cinco de Mayo, some good and some bad! Some of these facts are:
• The world’s largest Cinco celebration takes place in Los Angeles.
• Americans consume up to 81 million avocados on Cinco de Mayo.
• Cinco de Mayo is a popular name for a song.
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• Cinco de Mayo is about more than an
excuse to gorge oneself on guacamole.
Now, here’s some information that I read on a site about Mexico. “Being an independent nation was not easy. Over the years, Mexico received economic support from several nations, France and England among them. Later on, even Spain supported the new country. Thus, Mexico became indebted. Due to ongoing political unrest caused by many groups struggling for power, Mexico was not able to pay back the loans. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume.” After this, Europeans got in on the action too. Lastly, the holiday Cinco de Mayo is obviously a Mexican/Spanish holiday. The point behind this story is so people understand that not only does Mexico celebrate it, but America does too. Actually, a lot of states in America celebrate it. The only American’s that usually celebrate it are Mexican-Americans. As many people can tell, there’s quite a history behind this holiday and many others for that matter. Also, Mexico has a pretty interesting history and it’s also quite important. So, before you celebrate this holiday, (if you choose to) get to know the interesting facts behind it. I’m not saying that you have to do a ton of research, but after reading all of this, it’s completely worth it.
SPORTS - LIFESTYLE - NEWS - STUDENT LIFE - FASHION - MISC
2014-2015 wolfpack recap Madee Kelley
What a year 2015 has been for us Wolves. It was definitely a year full of tears, cheers, and new relationships. There has been success and failure but nothing stopped us from powering throw any trials thrown our direction. All the bumps in the roads have just brought us closer together as a pack. Look at our year in detail. First off, all year long Speech and Debate, DECA, and Skills USA have been supporting us as they go near and far, carrying our name on their backs. We’re so proud of you guys. All of it started in fall with cross country when we had senior, Tony Miceli, qualify for state, what an honor! Choir went to District Auditions and many members received ones such as Katie DeBerry, Raychel Dooley, and Taylor Bullis. Volleyball had a rough start, but they chugged through and finished their season with no regrets, playing hard until the last ball. Ladies tennis also played strong
during their season; they were dedicated and did their best. Nobody can deny that we are all ecstatic about our phenomenal football season. Our Wolves worked together to create the schools new record of 13-1. It almost seems unbelievable for an underdog team like ours to rise above our greatest challenges. We can’t forget about Homecoming! Congratulations to Blake De Jager and Taylor Chambers, our homecoming queen and king for this year. Not only did we win in the game against Hollister but we also crushed it at our 2015 homecoming school dance that same night.
with Missouri Valley at the end of her season. In other news, let’s think back to the School Play. Shout out to our drama kids and their teacher, Mrs. Harrell, for rocking the stage with their show case called, “Cobweb Dreams.” We can’t forget about out talent show! Congratulations to the first place winner, Mica Bolling, with the special talent of playing the violin. Our last big winter event was Court Warming. Our Wolves played so hard with much determination that we couldn’t be more proud of. That night, Kaileigh and Hunter Verheyen won court warming King and Queen!
Next we moved on into winter. Basketball also had a great season, boys and girls. Cole Bradfield, senior, says that his favorite memory was, “Getting to play with my [freshman] brother, Austin [Bradfield].” Our Lady Wolves continuously played hard this season too. Joey Ash, who lives and breathes basketball, signed
Spring was full memories; where do I even begin? Baseball is going great. Langdon Simkins, varsity pitcher has signed to Drury for baseball; a pat on the back to him! Boy’s tennis is also in run with their unfinished season. Let’s wish them luck as they finish off strong! Track is still in season, but it looks like we’re
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SPORTS - LIFESTYLE - NEWS - STUDENT LIFE - FASHION - MISC
going to have a successful one. The boys track team has gotten first at several meets, including first at the Republic Relays. The Wolves’ choir went to a Spring Contest and received a one! For all those whom are not in choir, that the best rating you can get. What an honor to receive as an entire choir. One of my favorite assemblies of the year was the Mock Car Accident. Our actors, Maddie Porter (senior), Courtney Bullis (senior), Baylee Madison (senior), Kassi Bayliff (senior), JP Gardener (sophomore), Jalen Krier(senior), Ethan Greiner (junior), Rachel Dooley (Junior), Michelle Rutherford (Junior), Tyler Gamblin (Junior), and we can’t forget the dramatic Stone Woodward (senior). Thanks to all the fire fighters, like our own Ann Marie Temple, Highway State Patrols, and Mercy for helping us pull this off to get the message out to everyone. What about Mr. Wolfpack, you ask? I didn’t forget. Congratulations to Josh Williams for not only wooing his girlfriend but also wooing the crowd to achieve “Crowd Favorite” and Mr. Wolfpack 2k15. Next we fast forward to Prom. Although I wasn’t there to experience it (#freshmanprobs) Prom King and Queen this year went to Jordan Blevins and Blake Ball. I saw all the pictures everyone bombed us
with on social media, such as Snapchat and Instagram. Ann Marie Temple (senior) says, “Prom was so much fun. Everyone was having a good time; the DJ was good, the photo booth was awesome and everyone looked great!” If that doesn’t convince you that prom was the ultimate party of the year, I don’t know what does.
“Once a wolf, always a wolf.”
As much as we’ll miss our seniors, I have one thing to say: Once a wolf, always a wolf. Brian Tracy says, “Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” Bob Brown says, “Behind every successful man, there’s a lot of unsuccessful years.” High school is about learning and growing into the person you want to be. It’s about working together as a team to achieve greatness. If you don’t think we’ve achieve greatness as Wolves then I’d have to tell you that you didn’t attend Reeds Spring. For some people, high school is just another chapter in their book, but for others it’s the best years of their life; enjoy every minute of it while it lasts.
*Photos courtesy of Ozarks Sports Zone
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SPORTS - LIFESTYLE - NEWS - STUDENT LIFE - FASHION - MISC
what’s in your closet? cindy wenk
No matter what size, your closet is one of the most important spaces in your room to keep organized. Whether you have just a single rod holding your clothes or an entire walk in closet, make it a place that will work for you and your clothes. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your closet organized to your liking; all it takes is a little imagination and creativity. Simple things like adding structure can make all the difference to your closet organization. These are a few tips to help with keeping a clean, orderly closet.
As you’re organizing your closet, try cleaning it out by getting rid of the things you really don’t need or wear anymore. This task can be near impossible. When you look at your clothes most of the time you think “I can’t get rid of that it has sentimental value” or “I swear I’ll wear that eventually I just don’t have shoes to match” sometimes you will even keep a certain item just because you’re aware of how much you spent on it, when really it’s just taking up closet space. Buying the right hangers is a very All you have to do is be committed and be important factor in keeping a clean and or- honest with yourself. As you’re getting rid of ganized closet, because it helps keep your the unneeded clothes you can make a list of Try keeping all your clothes and clothes off the floor. A lot of the time when things you need that can replace the ones shoes in that same area so you’re not run- you’re in a hurry and you go to grab one top, you’re putting in the donate pile. Because ning from one place to another trying to fig- the shirt next to it just slips off the hanger what’s better than a shopping spree? And ure out what shoes will match your outfit that and onto the floor, and next thing you know it is unbelievably that time of year again to day. You’ll save a lot of time by doing this, half of your wardrobe is lying on your floor. have a spring cleaning and replenishing your and all it takes is a little floor space for your The type of hanger you buy depends on closet with summer essentials; don’t feel too shoes. You could even buy a simple shoe what you want to hang, so make sure when guilty every time you swipe your credit card rack from target to place your shoes on if you’re purchasing your hangers you take after you donate that pile of clothes. you prefer to keep them off the floor. Anoth- into consideration the type of clothes you er thing you can do to organize your shoes will be hanging. is keeping them in order. Out-of-season or Organize your clothes. If aesthetshoes you don’t wear very often can be kept in a drawer or other out-of-the-way plac- ics are important to you, color coding your es like a shelf or even under the bed. The clothes is an easy thing to do. If mix-andshoes you wear most can be kept on the match is more your style, try organizing your floor of your closet, or you can place them shirts by sleeve length, also keep things such as your skirts and dresses together. on the top of your dresser. Organizing your drawers is another way to keep your closet neat. Throwing your clothes in random drawers is a bad habit everyone has, and it will only be a problem when you’re looking for that one certain shirt but you can’t seem to find it because it’s shoved in the back of a random drawer. To make things easier you can make labels for each drawer; this should keep you from mixing your clothes together.
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SPORTS - LIFESTYLE - NEWS - STUDENT LIFE - FASHION - MISC
causes of balding paige pritchard
much blood is needed and the blood flow to the scalp decreases. Therefore, a decreased blood flow to the scalp is not the cause of hair loss, but a result of it. “Wearing a hat makes you go bald.” People believe this because they think that wearing a hat prevents the scalp from breathing, when actually, your hair follicles get oxygen from the blood stream, rather than from the air. “Hair loss is caused by clogged pores.” Clogged pores are actually a cause of acne, not of baldness. If this was true, then severe shampooing would be all that was needed to maintain a full head of hair. This is obviously not the case. “Frequent shampooing causes hair to fall out.” Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common form of baldness in men. At some point in their lives, at least 50% of men will suffer from some sort of androgenetic alopecia. Male pattern baldness can be genetic, meaning it gets passed down from your parents, or grandparents. This is usually harmless. However, it can sometimes have a more serious cause, such as certain cancers, medications, thyroid conditions, and anabolic steroids. Seeing a doctor is suggested if hair loss occurs after taking new medications, or when it is accompanied by other health complaints. It can also be caused through regulations of the male sex hormones called androgens. Androgens have many functions, one of which is to regulate hair growth. Hair grows out of little holes in your skin called follicles. A normal strand of hair grows for two to six years, goes through a resting stage for a few months, falls out, and then it is replaced by a new hair strand. With androgenetic alopecia, the hair follicle becomes smaller. The hair grows finer, in shorter strands, and eventually stops growing hair altogether.
Blood tests or a skin biopsy can be used to When people start to see their hair begin to diagnose disorders. thin, they sometimes think that shampooing Androgenetic alopecia is the cause; they notice hair in the tub. They occasionally begins in the teenage years, begin to shampoo less often to prevent this. but it more commonly occurs in adult men. Then, the hair that would come out with regThere is a typical pattern to this hair loss, ular shampooing will build up on the scalp. normally beginning at the temples or the The next time they shampoo, even more crown of the head. Some men get a single hair ends up in the tub, making the person bald spot, while for others their hairline will believe that their suspicions are true. recede to form a “M” shape. Some hairlines on men will continue to recede until almost “Only men suffer from genetic hair loss.” all, or all of the hair is gone.There are many myths about balding that aren’t entirely true. Balding is often thought of as a man’s problem, but over 40% of women suffer from “Genes for hair loss come only from the significant thinning throughout their lifetime. mother’s side of the family.” “Hair loss medications only work in the Although the inheritance from the mother’s crown.” side is slightly stronger, baldness can be inThe main benefit of Rogaine and Propecia herited by either side of the family. is to slow down or stop hair loss all together, “A sign of genetic baldness is seeing large rather than to re-grow hair. Although initial studies showing the effectiveness of both amounts of hair fall out.” were done on the crown, it doesn’t mean Going against popular belief, going bald is that the medications won’t work on the rest not due to massive amounts of hair falling of the scalp as well. out, but rather by hair of normal thickness gradually thinning in a process called min- “Hair loss stops when you get older.” iaturization. If large patches of hair fall out suddenly, it’s time to see your doctor. Once hair loss begins, it tends to progress over a person’s lifetime and never really “Hair loss is caused by decreased blood stops, though the rate that the hair falls out flow to the scalp.” is hard to guess.
A medical history and exam can be performed to rule out health conditions of the scalp, or nutritional disorders that may be responsible for hair loss. If you have a rash, redness, pain, peeling, patchy hair loss, hair breakage, or an unusual pattern When your hair is growing, it does not reof hair loss, health conditions are possible. quire a significant amount of blood flow. Though, once you lose your hair, not as
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SPORTS - LIFESTYLE - NEWS - STUDENT LIFE - FASHION - MISC
crossword
across:
Down:
1) The winner of the FCA Talent Show 2014 4) Prom King of 2015 6) Something you may not get enough of that is contributing to stress 7) Senior who signed with Missouri Valley to play basketball 11) Homecoming King of 2014 12) Another name for male pattern baldness 13) Prom Queen of 2015
2) The battle that the Mexican milita won and is now celebrated by Cinco de Mayo 3) The play put on by Reeds Spring High School drama students 5) Where the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration takes place 8) Some people believe wearing this garment causes balding 9) Winner of the “Crowd Favorite� Mr. Wolfpack 2015 10) Homecoming Queen of 2014 15