The Royal News March 2020

MARCH 2020

THE R O YA L NEWS FOR STUDENTS, BY STUDENTS

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 18

ABBIE BEERS

SERENA MRAZ

EMMA KOLICK

LOLA MROCZKA

DEVYN LUCAS

JUSTIN PATEL

S TA F F

Writer Writer Writer

EDITOR’S COMMENTS STEM WING TO OPEN BIO & MATH EXCITED THE BIG MOVE SOFTBALL AFTER HIGH SCHOOL PLAY BALL THE ROYAL NEWS TOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONSUMES SPRING MUSICAL SOFTBALL ON THE ROAD THE GIVING SPIRIT

Writer Writer Writer

DEAN MONTGOMERY MARY TITTERINGTON Writer

Writer

PHOTO BY JOSH KLEIN

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NOTE FROM THE EDI TOR

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hese are uncharted days. Here at The Royal News, we’ve been excited and planning the launch of our new format after the coding for our online edition was corrupted, forcing us to explore new avenues.

We thought the magazine-style format would be a more unified look, hopefully offering a great sense of community for the North Royalton student body. What we never anticipated was how important that need would become the moment the world was hit with Covid-19.

With the closing of schools, some of these articles are painfully no longer relevant: the spring musical or the sports seasons that never were. We considered pulling the stories and not publishing them. But we decided against it. There is still some inherent worth in the potential. In the “could have beens.” All of these students are still great actors and athletes, and deserve the space on these pages.

Many of us are at a loss on how to navigate this new space, but we want to offer you hope as the North Royalton High School community rallies. In these first few days we’ve witnessed students rise above adversity, trying to find ways to produce the morning announcements from remote locations and sending messages to their teachers on how much they miss their classes. And teachers have been spending all waking hours converting their lessons into online formats to continue offering a quality education to the students.

We’d also like to thank the local businesses that have always supported us with advertising over the past seventeen

years that I’ve been running the paper.

When your doors open again, we will be first in line, ready to support you.

And if there is anything to learn from these troubling times, it has to be the importance of that community, of seeing each other in the halls and engaging in conversations in class. So for the time being, we will piece together a sense of community from these students’ stories and pictures, with the hope that we will all see one another again soon, face to face, as one North Royalton Community.

We got this!

MRS. LEATHERMAN, ADVISOR

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PHOTO BY MARY TIT TERINGTON

NEW STEM WING O P E N S FA L L 2 0 2 0

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By Mary Titterington, Lola Mroczka, & Serena Mraz

orth Royalton High School’s new wing will be completed in fall 2020 by Hammond Construction to benefit students and the entire North Royalton community. Construction began in 2018 and is being conducted in six phases, with improvements extending to all areas of the building. New classrooms, collaborative spaces, a new cafeteria, media center, and gym are all highlights of the new building. Significant improvements will be made to the older sections of the school.

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The new wing will also house STEM, special education, and industrial arts classrooms and facilities.

Throughout the building, “flex” spaces, which can be used for multiple purposes, whether small-group work or presentations, will be incorporated.

Ryan Guillod, the Hammond project manager, explained that “Today, schools are being designed like a campus, which means there’s more open spaces and more opportunities for collaborative learning.”

“We have really great students, and we want to provide them with the best resources possible,” said principal Mr. Osborne. “The “cool factor” of the collegiate space is a wonderful feature, too.”

Che buil

Some aspects of the building posed more intricate and tough challenges, however. The old media center needed to bridge new and old infrastructure together. They also needed to transform the existing media center to a large cafeteria complete with a brick-oven for pizzas. Traffic flow between current cafeteria 1 and the new media center is also a focus. This was also one of the tougher parts because they had to make temporary traffic patterns to accommodate the current students during construction.

Despite inevitable challenges, like replacing the media center skylight during a snowfall, the work continues. Guillod explained that “products used to build can’t freeze, so btu heaters were installed to keep our materials safe.” The design schedule had to be arranged so that faculty could teach efficiently and minimize the negative impact of classroom transitions.

And sometimes the construction staff had to get creative. Industrial arts needed a plasma cutter, a large and powerful machine that cuts through different kinds of metal. It was so massive that it “had to be brought in first, and then we built walls around it months ahead of the original plan. It wouldn’t fit through the doors, and it’s an incredibly heavy piece of equipment,” explained Guillod.

Yet the building, with its light-filled spaces and spacious classrooms, plus new gathering spaces for students to eat and mingle, will provide a positive and engaging learning environment.

“Construction is looked at as a negative because it’s intrusive for a time, but to see the completion of the overall project and its positive impact on the students, staff, and community is the reward,” said Guillod. “The best part is seeing the immediate impact and progress.”

Senior journalism student Lola Mroczka noted, “This will help students want to be more involved, and enjoy coming to school, which was a big part of why the team designed the school strategically the way they did.”

She continued, “It is no secret that this new building is going to be something special. It is more than ‘just a new school.’ It is not just another school. To our district, and the team coming together to bring a vision to life, it is more than a blueprint or a sketch. It is the future of North Royalton.”

eck out NRHS TV News’s video of the new lding: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2CFNps4eIQ

THE NEW GYM UNDER C O N S T RU C T I O N

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BIOLOGY AND MATH TEACHERS LOOK FORWARD TO STEM WING

BY ABBIE BEERS 8

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orth Royalton High School’s new STEM wing will open next fall. Many STEM teachers will be moving from current rooms they’ve occupied for a decade or more. They have to move boxes, take down decorations, and adjust to a new space. But the perks of the new wing are a modern, collegiate-style building, air conditioning, and many improvements, including a new parking lot.

Mr. Drvenkar, biology teacher, said that he is “excited about being closer to the entire science department.” Currently, teachers are not grouped by department, which makes communication more challenging at times. Neighboring classrooms will help PHOTO teachers access each other and collaborate more easily.

Another, more basic upgrade will be appreciated, too. Math teacher Mrs. Klein said, “I am excited about the new space as let’s face it, the air conditioning alone is going to be a welcome change!” When the project is finished, the entire building will be air conditioned.

But with significant change in a building comes some challenges. Mrs. Klein explained that she does “have some personal trepidation as I have been in my current classroom for 19 years, and it is the only classroom I have ever taught in. I started my teaching career in that room in 201 so there is some nostalgia and general fear of the unknown - BUT at the same time I feel very lucky that I’m going to get to teach in a brand new space and be a part of this new phase at North Royalton High School.”

New architecture and building plans also call for a change in learning techniques and teaching styles, since the school is trying out a new method of flex learning. This will include more opportunities and spaces for collaborative teaching and learning. Mrs. Klein said, “This will change the way I am used to teaching because we will have access to enhanced technology and a different space to teach in, which should allow for more space and movement.”

In terms of a better teaching environment, Mr. Drvenkar said that the wing was “definitely an improvement. Currently, the science and math departments are dispersed all over the building. The consolidation of this group will provide more time for immediate coordination and collaboration of STEM activities.”

Mrs.Klein had a similar perspective. She said, “I definitely think it will be an improvement! I think there will be some general nuisances that are to be expected with transitioning to a new space, but overall it is going to be a significant improvement from our current structure.”

Both teachers believe the building’s impact will be positive for students. Klein explained that the new building “will allow for a better learning environment and just having correctly climate-controlled rooms will make the learning experience better for all. I think there will be some growing pains along the way with all the room shuffling that is going to happen in the next couple years but in the long run, it will pay off for teachers and students alike.”

Mr. Drvenkar said “For me, I can only see the move as a positive. For the students, this is a great opportunity to become inspired to pursue a career in science, thus becoming STEM ambassadors.”

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O BY MARY TIT TERINGTON

By Dean Montgomery

TEM teachers are busy packing up their materials and preparing to move to the new building next year. Mrs. Kathy Schultz, a science teacher, and Mrs. Chris Shepherd, a math teacher, will enjoy new classrooms and a modern building beginning August 8, 2020.

Some benefits of the addition to the new school would be better classrooms and flex spaces, wider hallways, and a collegiate-style cafeteria.

Both Mrs. Schultz and Mrs. Shepherd are looking forward to the new building. After taking a tour of the building earlier in the process, Mrs. Schultz says, “The new building has a nice flow to it. There are a lot of really cool places for students to hang out in when not in class. I am excited that there will be connectedness with the science teachers that we haven’t had since I have been here (17 years).”

The teachers explain how this new building will affect their teaching careers. Mrs. Schultz said, “I know I will be in close proximity to all of the teachers in my department, whereas now we are across the building from each other. We can hopefully communicate a lot easier this way. We will be able to better share materials. Hopefully, it will enhance our collaboration as well.” Mrs. Shepherd added, “After 26 years of teaching it will be a fresh start with new technology to incorporate different teaching strategies.”

Mrs. Schultz is also in a unique situation; she able to speak as both teacher and citizen. She said, “Having gone through North Royalton High School as a student, hearing we were getting a new building brought up two different types of reactions: I was excited for a new building; knowing I was getting a new room in the new building was exciting. Finding out I was going to get windows was exciting as well! I will have water faucets that do not leak or could be fixed because the parts will still be manufactured. That is why my one faucet leaks. We cannot fix it because the parts are no longer made. Hearing they were going to tear down the current 300 and 400’s was weird. I sat through classes there. The science department is going to be in one spot!”

Mrs. Shepherd says, “It’s exciting to know we’ll all be in a new building that will fit our student body in new ways of teaching.”

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F I NA L S E A S O N B Y S E R E NA M R A Z

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s the North Royalton Lady Bears prepare for their upcoming softball season, there are a handful of players that plan on continuing their softball journey after their high school season. Many of these players have not only been playing ever since they could remember, but many of them have also played together for a countless number of years. These girls have also not only played together for many years, but they go to school with one another, which makes their bond even stronger. As conditioning came to an end, tryouts began and sooner than they knew, they were on the team and practices were already starting. As these events take place, many of the seniors begin to realize that this will be many of their last times ever trying out, or even possibly their last time that they will step foot onto a softball field. As you may know, when it is your senior year, all of the seniors on your team receive a senior night. Senior night is not only a remembrance and celebration of all of your hard work and dedication over the years, but it is an emotional night, not only for your family and yourself, but your coaches and teammates as well.

Many of these girls have known that they wanted to play ever since they stepped foot on a softball field and since they could imagine playing. Softball has been something that they grew up playing and loving. Softball will always hold a special place in their heart. Many of them understand what hard work and dedication is all about.

Softball has given these girls many memories that they can hold onto for the rest of their lives. Softball has opened many new doors for these girls. Throughout all the years of hard work and dedication, many of these girls will be stepping onto the field for their last time. The game of softball will forever be embedded into the girls hearts, and will always have a special place on that field.

Support, prevention and intervention.

The path begins here. www.OhioGuidestone.org | 440.260.8300

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T H E S E A S O N T HAT C O U L D HAV E B E E N B Y D E V Y N LU C A S

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ith winter coming to a close, baseball season is coming fast with the first game at home on March 30 against Lakewood.

Coaches and players alike have many goals for the season ahead. In fact, Coach Bielak believes that the team can make a run at districts this year.

Last season they made a run at districts but were unable to win against St. Ignatius, falling just short by a final of 3-2. Gavin Jones, a sophomore starting varsity pitcher, said losing is something that stresses him out as well as some other guys on the team. With all the hard work they put in it really hurts for them to lose. With that being said, Coach Bielak believes this team does have a real shot to make another run for districts. Jones said, “We had a good year, but with all the talent we had we underperformed, but as for this year I don’t believe we will underperform. We should be able to play to our full potential, which seems to be very high.” Jones added, “The biggest obstacle from a season ago was slumps and cold stretches,” but if they can eliminate those he thinks they can be in a good spot. Jones also explained a thing the team collectively needs to work on is not losing conference games because those deeply affect their conference standings.

Coach Bielak is excited about key players coming back such as senior Tommy Layhew, who set the school record for ERA last year. It’s also exciting to see players like Tim Baird and Brady Maciak coming back for one final run before they head off to college. Both players have committed to a college. Baird will be pitching at Akron next year while Maciak will be playing at Walsh University next year. Senior Ethan Butler will be a returning starter and he is coming off one of his best seasons. Bielak also said that “the team has a lot of returning pitchers who are all very skilled and talented.” Bielak noted, too, how great the seniors are and how they have plenty of experience, and he will be looking for their strong leadership throughout the season.

February 24 was the day tryouts began, but the players have been working really hard way before then. Coach Bielak explained they have been putting work in twice a week since September all the way up until tryouts. Jones said, “Since the fall we have been lifting, practicing, and conditioning.” Coach Bielak said, “After February 24, they will be going every day the rest of the way.” This team is more than ready for the challenge ahead. They have to take it one game at a time and not let any of the obstacles stand in their way.

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BY DEAN MONTGOMERY, DEVYN LUCAS, JUSTIN PATEL & ABBIE BEERS

J O U R NA L I S M S T U D E N T S TOUR NEW BUILDING

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everal journalism students toured the new building, getting a behindthe-scenes look at the rapid progress being made behind blocked windows and hallways, where machinery whirs and construction workers are busy hammering, welding, and creating a contemporary, learnerfriendly environment for high school students and staff.

The building’s layout is collegiate in style, with more collaborative, or flex, spaces, and with that style comes a new environment in the hallways. Students will have more room in the wider hallways and traffic within the halls should flow more smoothly. The floors of the new STEM wing will be connected, so now there will not be that hassle of disconnected wings from the old building. According to principal Mr. Osborne: “The upper floors of the building will now connect, so traffic patterns will flow much more efficiently.” Even though students most of the time do make it to class on time, the new addition should make it even easier with more room and faster flow of traffic.

Senior Lola Mroczka said that she’s looking forward to the building and how “homey and comfortable” it seems. Sophomore Abbie Beers said she’s looking forward to “hanging out” in the hubs and in the cafeteria, and freshman Mary Titterington said she “can’t wait to actually be able to walk in the hallways without running into other people.”

In addition, oversized, bleacher-style “learning stairs” will offer a place to study and hang out.The “learning stairs” will also be used for big presentations. Furniture within classrooms will also be much different then what students are typically used to. The furniture is designed to assure comfortability and complement the new space. “We are investing in all new furniture, which is modern, comfortable, movable and compatible with the new flex spaces in the building,” Mr. Osborne said. Most chairs will have wheels to better suit collaborative learning.

With the design’s focus on collaborative

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learning comes much more “flex space.”

There will be department hubs where classes can combine. This new sense of openness is refreshing and will make a place that doesn’t seem crowded and tightly packed together.

The student hubs are not just limited to departments for learning. Right outside the revamped cafeteria there will be one of these spacious student hubs. This will serve as a middle ground between the cafeteria and the study hall.

The new cafeteria will feature a brand new kitchen complete with a brick oven for pizzas.

The new cafeteria space has a very collegiate style to it. Students will also have options where they want to eat during lunch. For example, if a student wants a quieter place to go during lunch they can go to the media center.

For the student who wants a louder environment during lunch they can dine in the main cafeteria.

The science floor is very open, so teachers can bring students out into the hub and do flex learning.This is also where some presentations will be held. It has tall windows, as some of the classrooms in the science area also have. All of the rooms are soundproof, also. Students in the second-floor math area can watch activity downstairs at other hub spaces. Floating tables and stools provide yet another area to study or do work. Meanwhile, downstairs, journalism students will enjoy a new broadcasting studio and classroom.

Seniors in the journalism class were able to witness the future of their alma mater, even though they won’t be in the building next year. Devyn Lucas said that he’s “looking forward to future students being able to enjoy the advantages of this new school.”

And Justin Patel is happy “that younger classes will be utilizing this new collaborative environment.”

S O C IA L M E D IA D O M I NAT E S T E E NA G E T I M E

BY LOLA MROCZKA

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he effect social media has on people varies depending on age, gender, and even the individual themselves. According to a study done by ABC in 2019, teens spend, on average, 7 hours and 22 minutes on their phones a day. This amount of time doesn’t include using it for school, work, or listening to music. This amount of time refers to the time spent on social media.

Adding other factors to the total, the average amount of time a teenager spends on their phones jumps to 9 hours and 45 minutes. To put it in perspective, humans

are awake about 16 hours a day. Nearly half of that time is what a teenager spends on his or her phone when using social media.

In 2020, social media is one of the most talked-about topics of discussion.

Senior Nick Mark said that while he uses his device “for around 5 to 6 hours” each day, he uses social media for “about 2 to 3 hours” each day. His favorite social media sites are Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Mark also stated that “social media positively impacts my life,” and without it, his life would be “changed in a negative way because it would be much harder to communicate with friends or family.”

Yet not everyone agrees. Sophomore Elise Papini said she “couldn’t tell you something that makes me genuinely happy about using social media.” She continued: “A negative about using it would be the comparison I make between myself and the other people I see.” And if social media use declined? Papini said, “It would be positive. I wouldn’t be on my phone as much, and I would definitely live in the moment more, and not have the urge to pick up my phone every time I get a notification.”

But teenagers aren’t the only ones who use social media.The author’s mother, Susan Forman, views the impact of social media as positive. Susan said she uses her phone “probably around two hours each day,” the least amount of time out of those interviewed. Unlike the other two subjects, Susan’s answer when asked about what makes her happy with social media, she simply said, “I get to see what my kids are up to, along with my extended family.”

No matter the age, gender, or background, it is true that social media has affected many lives, both positively and negatively.

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SPRING MUSICAL

By Justin Patel

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n Wednesday, March 25, “James and The Giant Peach” should have graced the stage with its first in-school performances, then evening performances Thursday through Sunday for the public.

The musical is a story of an orphaned boy finding family and friendship, according to musical director Ms. Dolar. But there’s a twist: his friends just happen to take insect or garden-creature form, such as a grasshopper, centipede, spider, earthworm, ladybug, and glowworm. Also included in the storyline are two cruel aunts and a carnivorous cloud rhinoceros who threaten James and his newfound friends as they try to fulfill the boy’s dream of visiting New York City. Ms. Dolar said, “This show is one for the masses; everyone from five to fifty can enjoy it.”

Dolar explained that initially “James” didn’t stand out to her. However, when giving it a second look she noticed that the people that wrote the music also wrote the music for crowd favorites, such as “La La land” and “The Greatest Showman,” which inevitably led to the ultimate decision to do “James and The Giant Peach.” With the show dealing with insects, one might wonder what the costumes might be like. The audience can expect to see a balance where these characters aren’t hyper-realistic insects, but rather have more

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anthropomorphic qualities. With different challenges for each production, Dolar says that the most rewarding part of being a director for her is that every year the rules change and the growth that occurs from beginning to end.

The show has had some early road bumps, including sickness that swept through the school and to the actors as well, which made singing and acting a struggle. Luckily the hardworking cast and crew were resilient and are making up for the lost time. When dealing with a larger scale show there are bound to be rewarding aspects, too. Senior Kate Brierley said she found it rewarding to “see it all come together and watch the amazing talent in the show.” The cast and crew are working hard to make this story come to life and it has been paying off. In a show like this, it seems as if everyone has a personal goal.

For Brierley, it is that she is able to tell this story not as herself but as her character. When getting some action shots of the performance I got a sneak peek of one of the numbers with Brierley and senior Zoe Douglas, who play Spiker and Sponge. The theatre was very cold and as soon as the number began the energy that the actors brought to the stage made the temperature seem idle as their collective energy filled the auditorium so quickly.

The story’s theme of friendship goes beyond the musical itself, and Ms. Dolar hopes audience members will remember “People you surround yourself with should build you up.”

A RT I C L E T I T L E

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SOFTBALL TEAM: F R OM SM A L L T OW N C OM P E T I T IO N T O THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE B Y M A RY T I T T E R I N G T O N

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he North Royalton High School Varsity Softball team would have traveled to Grand Strand, South Carolina for a softball tournament on spring break from April 14 - April 17, 2020.

They have not been on this trip for three years, and this will be the first time going for many of them. One senior, Casey Felton, was on this trip the last time they went.

This trip was not just about softball; it was a way to team bond and become closer with each other, she explained. “We had A LOT of cliques at the beginning of the trip and we did not mesh as a whole team,” Felton said. “We had to have a very serious and emotional conversation after one of our games about it.” She said it is important to be one group before you can win tournaments, because you cannot win playing solo. “We learned from that experience and figured out that it does not matter what grade you are in, because we are a team,” said Felton.

This trip also includes a tight schedule that must be followed, but also allows for other leisure time and team bonding. “The tournament was really fun,” said Felton. “We did more than just softball, like Go Ape, the beach, and we went to the boardwalk.”

She did say that softball was the main focus, though, and that the team unification that came with it was such an important part of the entire experience.

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Casey Felton mid swing during a tournament game.

The varsity softball team is now going to be attending this trip again this spring, with new coaches and a new set of players. The current Varsity Head Coach, Anna Koncius, is excited to have this opportunity with the team. She explained this tournament is a way to branch out and give an experience of what it is like to play softball in college. “I hope to give the girls a larger frame of reference what softball looks like outside of our state,” said Coach Koncius, “As a college softball athlete, no matter the division, travel and competition are part of the experience.” This out of state tournament is a way to prepare, practice and strengthen the already well built

bond between the players.

This tournament is not for everyone, though. It is something that must be worked for and not just received. “I’d love to have everyone attend the trip, but I also think it should be something that athletes strive to obtain. I’ve always been taught to whom much is given, much is expected,” said Coach Koncius, “We are giving our team a huge opportunity and I hope that they see the value in earning the privilege to travel outside of the state.”

Though it is a lot of work and very time consuming, it all pays off in the end and is enjoyable for all. “I enjoy the fact that we can offer this opportunity for the girls. I’m proud of the work they have put in to raise funds and how we had a community event (Daddy Daughter Dance) to do so,” said Coach Koncius, “Moreover, I hope that the girls understand that we are representing our school and community on a much larger scale.”

The Softball Team relaxing at a restaurant and having a lot of fun.

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NRHS KEY CLUBBERS CREATE FUNDRAISER; HELP CHARITY

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By: Emma Kolick

mpoverished communities are widespread across Northeast Ohio, with citizens unable to obtain fundamental necessities, resulting in detrimental effects on the community as a whole. However, numerous charitable organizations, such as the Friendship Room located in downtown Steubenville, Ohio, have been created in an attempt to alleviate the hardships many are forced to endure. Their fervent passion for aiding the homeless and disenfranchised families across the city, coupled with the remarkable support the nonprofit organization receives from philanthropists and humanitarians alike, has proven to be a powerful combination. Consequently, its prominence has surged. The Friendship Room’s newfound prevalence has resulted in increased volunteerism, especially from Key Clubbers at North Royalton High School. Though its objectives have inspired countless people, the work of the Friendship Room holds a special place in the heart of NRHS counselor, Ms. Boduszek’s. In fact, the organization can be found within her childhood home.

“It’s just for anyone who’s struggling, for any reason. They’ll feed you and they’ll give you a place to stay, and it’s really a place that helps the poor, no questions asked,” said Ms. Boduszek. “It’s a bright light in a place that doesn’t have a lot of good things going on down there,” she continued. Shortly before the recent passing of Ms. Boduszek’s mother, she desired to ascertain what had become of her previous home. Upon further investigation, she discovered it had been transformed into a distinguished charity that provided assistance to destitute members of the

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The h Steub mem

community.

In an attempt to publicize this charitable outreach, Ms. Boduszek provided the Key Club officers with details regarding the charity while influencing two administrators, Nick Taylor and Savannah Skorepa, to altruistically help the organization. Together, they admirably volunteered for the nonprofit and created a Facebook fundraiser on Taylor’s birthday that quickly collected over $600. Both Taylor and Skorepa were inspired by the realization that countless others in surrounding communities live under disadvantaged conditions.

“There are so many people struggling, and I do not think that too many young adults and children understand how truly blessed and fortunate they are to live where they do,” said junior Nick Taylor.

In addition to creating the fundraiser that followed his discovery of the Friendship Room, which works to ensure that shelter and nourishment are obtainable for all members of the downtown Steubenville community, Taylor also serves as one of the leaders of the hunger and poverty subdivision of North Royalton Key Club’s chapter. Their primary focus is to improve hunger and poverty matters in North Royalton through service projects and other voluntary activities. His commitment to this cause was further evidenced by his choice to contribute to the Friendship Room by declining gifts on his birthday and instead requesting donations for his fundraiser. He says that his ultimate inspiration is Ms. Boduszek’s ceaseless charitability and his desire to help in commemorating the passing of her late mother.

Key Club raised ov nonprofit

(P

humanitarian operation bearing the name of the Friendship Room, located in benville, Ohio, works to relentlessly assist impoverished and disenfranchised mbers of the community (photo courtesy of Nick Taylor)

bbers Savannah Skorepa and Nick Taylor ver $600 for the Friendship Room, the t organization that continues to mean a great deal to Ms. Boduszek.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Sabo)

Junior Savannah Skorepa, who aided Taylor in setting up the fundraiser, shares this perspective, and she also believes their involvement with Key Club has helped to galvanize support for charities such as the Friendship Room across North Royalton.

“We’re both really enthusiastic about Key Club and helping others, and it was a really good opportunity to take in order to make an impact,” said Skorepa, who leads the hunger and poverty subdivision of Key Club alongside Taylor. Moreover, Skorepa informed Ms. Boduszek of the $600 they raised throughout the duration of Taylor’s Facebook fundraiser, and she was deeply touched when she learned of the funds that were quickly raised.

“She almost cried multiple times when we told her,” Skorepa said. “She got very emotional, and she gave us big hugs and told us how much it meant to her.” As a result of her astonishment, coupled with her role as the Key Club advisor, Boduszek says North Royalton High School is brimming with decent and compassionate students eager to help various establishments.

“We have around 300 Key Club

members and even more students that volunteer on their own time who aren’t directly involved with Key Club, so the spirit of charity has already hit North Royalton,” Boduszek said with tears in her eyes. She went on to say how much the fundraiser has helped her cope with her immense grief and she also believes her mom would have cherished the fundraiser and those who helped to contribute and volunteer at the Friendship Room.

The generosity and magnanimity displayed by Savannah Skorepa and Nick Taylor in order to lift Ms. Boduszek up and help the community of Steubenville as a whole helps showcase the altruism that is evident throughout North Royalton High School. They continue to strongly advocate for the advancement of charitable organizations across Northeast Ohio.

“I would like to encourage anyone that can to either donate or send something to the Friendship Room through this website,” Taylor said with a smile. “You can do either without even leaving your house and you would not only make others feel better, but you will, too.”

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T E M P L AT E B Y I S SU U

PHOTO BY JOSH KLEIN