Winter 2021 Nighthawk News Magazine by Steve Hanf

ON THE COVER

hey work endless hours, paint detailed displays, put together creative costumes, light up the stage and pull open the curtain to showcase all their hard work come opening night. It’s the performing arts – the directors, actors, sound crew and backstage crew who missed out on so many memorable moments these past two years because of COVID-19. After their spring 2020 musical “Chicago” was canceled just a week before the set date for opening night, this crew worked non-stop over the course of fall to put on the perfect comeback show. We wanted to dedicate this edition of Nighthawk News to the wonderful people of the performing arts here at First Flight because of their hard work, dedication and true passion for what they do, especially during such difﬁcult, unprecedented times. They deﬁed the odds and were able to put on a wonderful production of “All Together Now,” promoting unity and collaboration among all students, teachers and staff at First Flight despite the many differences that may come between us. While much of their work may fall in the shadows between athletics and academics, the students and teachers in the performing arts programs con-

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

First Flight theater students throw jazz hands during their latest performance, the musical ‘All Together Now.’ The show marked their ﬁrst performance in almost two years after COVID-19 cut ‘Chicago’ short in March of 2020.

tinue to put in just as much effort and dedication to their passions. Our cover photo, taken by Nighthawk News Photo Editor Taylor Newton, strives to encompass the amazing show and how much everyone is enjoying having these kinds of performances back after such a long break. Performing artists (from left) Zoe Kane, Mary Williams and Skylar Cardwell are pictured opening the show with “Beauty and the Beast.” In addition to the cover, we have

included a musical spread to showcase some more of our favorite photos that were taken during “All Together Now.” Theater students are not alone in this signiﬁcant comeback after the pandemic. The excitement for performances by the chorus, orchestra, band and jazz band has grown with the return of winter concerts the week before winter break and other special community events. We encourage everyone to see these talented students at work.

While this edition is dedicated to the musical, we also cover a variety of other subjects, including new and old local businesses, another Topics of our Time spread that covers mental health and eating disorders, and the world of athletics here at FFHS. As always, on behalf of Nighthawk News, we’d like to thank our readers and advertisers for the support and hope you enjoy this ﬁnal print edition of 2021! – Editors-in-Chief Kayla Hallac, Maren Ingram and Maggie McNinch

www.southernbank.com 2

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS 4 Local favorite Barrier Island Bagels revived Kayla Hallac spreads the news of the new location of the renowned Barrier Island Bagels. Mackenzie Edwards discusses the housing crisis on the OBX. N’Nia Brickhouse sheds light on the controversial Critical Race Theory that’s become a widely discussed topic country-wide.

FEATURES 10 Superstar substitutes come to the rescue Foster Guns introduces some superstar substitute teachers who have stepped up and saved the day for many teachers during the pandemic. Emmy Benton highlights fun Christmas activities the First Flight chorus will be performing for in the coming weeks. Arden Carlyle shares the generosity local organizations have for those in need during the holidays.

OPINIONS 26 Famous pop artists put out Christmas music Joey Krieg reviews some of the most popular Christmas music that many famous pop artists have put out over the years.

Kayla Loveless shares her view on some of the more disturbing stories behind our favorite Christmas songs and movies. Maren Ingram discusses her view on the year turning to 2022 and how surreal it is for those who will be graduating in just six months.

SPORTS 30 Pep band debuts at basketball games Colin Byard highlights the pep band’s long-awaited debut at basketball games this season.

Kira Walters introduces the dynamic father-child coaching duos that are hitting the pool this swim season. Eight athletes sound off in our fun Sports Card Q-and-A session.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / on the cover

T pics of

Fighting the silent villain: eating disorders

By Kayla Hallac Editor-in-Chief

ditor’s note: The three people quoted in this story as Sarah, Mary and Jane preferred to remain anonymous. They are FFHS students who have or are currently struggling with eating disorders. “I was declared anorexic,” Sarah said. “I stopped eating,” Mary added. “I didn’t like when I looked at myself in the mirror,” Jane explained. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 0.6% of Americans are impacted by anorexia and 0.3% suffer from bulimia. The prevalence of eating disorders among U.S. adolescents from 13 to 18 years is 2.7%. That may seem like a small number, but take a place like FFHS with about a thousand students and you’re suddenly talking about 27 people – enough to ﬁll a classroom. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by restriction of food intake leading to low body weight, typically accompanied by intense fear of gaining weight and disturbed perception of body weight and image. Bulimia nervosa involves eating large quantities of food and then reacting to binge episodes in unhealthy ways, including forced vomiting. Recovering from an eating disorder such as anorexia is not a clearly designed path. It can be messy. Stressful. Uncomfortable. But the good news is that recovery IS possible.

BITING INTO A BAGEL AFTER FIVE MONTHS

It was the beginning of the COVID-19 quarantine. Everyone was home and social media activity skyrocketed. This was the first trigger for Sarah’s eating disorder. “A big starter for me was social activities and social media – just comparing myself to other girls my age,” Sarah said. “I was pretty much alone and I didn’t have many people to talk to and every time that I went on my phone, I’d see a bunch of workout videos.” The social media influence at first motivated Sarah to improve her nutrition. She started increasing physical activity and researching adequate calories and nutrients she should consume each day. The healthy routine slowly spiraled out of control. “You’d still see people out there who weigh less than you and it just goes back to the whole comparison,” Sarah said. “So I would push myself on those runs. I would maybe go an extra mile than I planned or I would just not have a snack in between lunch and dinner. It slowly became to where I would track the calories of every little thing that I ate.” Sarah got to the point where she consumed the amount of calories a toddler should have each day. She continued this for months before she and others noticed an issue. The first signs Sarah experienced were getting cold in the middle of the summer, not having any motivation to go out or talk to anyone, feeling sluggish and bruising easily. “I wasn’t getting the nutrients that would help my muscles and my bones repair themselves after working out,” Sarah said. “I became very frail and extremely thin to the point where my friends would

Illustration by Cait Celaj/Special to Nighthawk News

The battles some people ﬁght with eating disorders can ruin lives, but resources can be found to help with recovery.

tell me that I looked like a skeleton.” One of the most challenging components of Sarah’s journey was the stigma around eating disorders. “My boyfriend at the time said, ‘Just don’t tell too many people. It’ll just make it seem like you’re doing it for attention.’ If I would tell someone, it was my way of crying for help. I didn’t know what to do,” Sarah said. Making the turn to recovery happened at a crucial point in Sarah’s journey. If she continued her habits for just a few more weeks, she would have had to enter intensive treatment unavailable in the local area. “It was still very hard to not restrict. At that point, I already knew the calorie counts in a hamburger bun and how much would be in the hamburger and in the cheese and that’s all I could think about,” Sarah said. “It took me ﬁve months to eat a normal bagel without freaking out.” With the motivation of family, friends and nutritional therapy, she healthily gained back her weight. “It’s the push and the motivation from not leaving my friends and family behind and also the fact that I’ll be able to do everyday activities again without being exhausted,” Sarah said. “And it’s that I wouldn’t look sick anymore and I would look healthy and normal. All of that pushed me through the process.” Throughout her recovery, Sarah has learned many lessons. She’s learned to stop comparing herself to others, and instead focus on body positivity. She’s learned how much it means to be validated by others in troubling times. Most of all, she’s learned to boycott diet culture. “Completely get it set in your mind that the whole diet culture is just a whole facade and it’s just there to make money, not to make you feel better about yourself,” Sarah said.

THE DOWNFALL OF DEBBIE’S DONUTS

After contracting mononucleosis in the eighth grade, Mary lost a lot of weight. “I started gaining it back when I got better. I didn’t like that. I wanted to be skinny again, so I stopped eating,” Mary said. After that initial decision, little moments along Mary’s journey acted as fuel for her eating disorder. “One day when I came home, I started eating a bunch of Little Debbie stuff. My brother came over

and he got so mad at me because they were all gone,” Mary said. “I haven’t eaten one since because he called me fat.” This instance proved to Mary that food had become a central point of her life. “I think about food a lot,” Mary said. “I’m always looking at the calories on everything and I always think ‘that’s like way too many’ or ‘the carbs in it are too much.’ Just looking at pasta, I don’t even know.” Foods like pasta and fast food have become fear foods for Mary, but with the help of her therapist and best friend she’s made a lot of progress. “She’s always there for me when I need to talk. She told me to get help,” Mary said. “Now I talk to someone every week about what scared me that week or what I ate that was big.” Despite the challenges Mary has faced, she recognizes her progress and the nature of eating disorders. “They’re deﬁnitely a weird thing in general; you never think it’s gonna happen to you. It does, and you don’t realize how common they are,” Mary said.

PRESSURE WHILE PUBLICLY EATING

Jane was in seventh grade, a time “when people start caring more about what they look like and what other people see them as,” she said. Creating a thinner image of herself was caused by triggers both on social media and in social situations. “It was mainly lunches, definitely eating in public I struggled with for some reason,” Jane said. “I didn’t eat lunch at school for a long time. This year and last year was the first I had in a while.” The middle school setting made it difficult for Jane to overcome her eating disorder. She didn’t know how to feel about her 12- and 13-year-old friends noticing something was wrong. “I was scared and uncomfortable,” Jane said. “I wanted to be normal. People don’t think that’s normal. I wasn’t sure if it was bad that people knew because I didn’t know how it was going to affect my life. I was nervous that they would over-exaggerate it and tell my parents, and I was like, ‘No, guys, I’m fine.’ ” Jane was not fine. The physical and mental struggle of feeling guilty after eating carried on for about three years. “Even if I was losing weight, I didn’t like when I looked at myself in the mirror. I wasn’t seeing anything different. I didn’t think that what I saw in the mirror was different from how other people saw me,” Jane said. “I definitely did lose weight, but I did not see it. I’d be like, ‘Oh no, the scale’s broken.’ ” Around the end of last year, Jane made a turn to use social media to motivate her instead of letting it bring her down. “I’d follow people on social media who’d dealt with similar things or put up positive energy on their platforms and it would motivate me to do better,” Jane said. “I did feel alone a lot during this time. I wish I knew what could’ve been done to help earlier.” You are not alone. If you or a loved one may have an eating disorder, visit https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline for additional resources. Senior Kayla Hallac can be reached at 22hallacka85@daretolearn.org. NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

ur Time

Teens face hurdles dealing with mental health

By Samuel Smith Opinions Editor

ccording to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five U.S. adults have received a mental illness diagnosis. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, roughly one in six individuals ages 6-17 have experienced some form of mental health disorder. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide and other forms of self harm, which are known expressions of mental illness, were the 10th leading cause of death for 2018 and 2019. Mental health, defined as an individual’s psychological or emotional well-being, has been an ever-present factor in the lives of people, especially the lives of students, around the world. Recently, however, public outcry about Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) techniques and the allotment of “wellness days” or “mental health days” to school calendars has raised the question: Are schools, or even the world as a whole, doing enough for the mental well-being of those in need? “There were times when (mental health) was in the forefront and then took a backseat because maybe there were some other crises,” guidance counselor Lisa Wheless said. “I think that COVID, for all of its negativity, has brought to the forefront the fact that all of the mental health issues have always been there, but were exacerbated by COVID.” The CDC found that from August 2020 to February 2021, the percentage of adults with anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms increased from 36.4% to 41.5%, seemingly due to the prolonged time spent in global quarantine. The ramifications of that spike could be seen in the recent events at UNC-Chapel Hill, where several students lost their battle with mental illness. The suicides at one of the state’s most prominent colleges made national headlines and impacted countless lives across the campus. “In September, there was a suicide at the amphitheater in the forest right on campus. About a month later, at the beginning of October, one of my suitemates came into my room and told me somebody had committed suicide at the dorm right next to mine,” said Aliza Snow, a 2021 FFHS graduate and current freshman in Chapel Hill. “I don’t know what they were going through personally, but if you don’t have close friends and a good support system, especially in a new environ-

Photos by Aliza Snow/ Special to Nighthawk News

During a mental health awareness day at UNC-Chapel Hill earlier this fall, uplifting messages were posted at a tribute in The Pit on campus. The empty chairs were meant to memorialize students who had taken their own lives this year.

ment, it’s just really hard sometimes.” Following the suicides, Chapel Hill students came together in mourning over their lost peers and petitioned campus administrators to declare a “Wellness Day” without classes in October to address the harsh realities of what mental health problems can result in if left untreated. A student at First Flight who wished to remain anonymous to speak candidly has struggled with mental health-related issues from a young age, so she understands and appreciates that “those left behind” in tragedies such as what took place in Chapel Hill can come together, but feels that there needs to be a more proactive approach

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / topics of our times

rather than a reactive one. “I have struggled with depression and anxiety since I was very young, probably around 10,” she said. “Mental health crises are everywhere and just because there are certain situations that were noticed and addressed does not change or help the situations of thousands of others that few have noticed… I just wish it didn’t have to get to the point that it did before schools started paying attention.” In a hopeful sign that change may be here, a call for overcoming the stigma of talking about mental health issues has rung out in modern culture. Social media posts discussing individual hardships, the observation of Mental

Health Awareness Month during May and representations of those with mental illnesses in a more positive light in the mainstream media can help let people know they are not alone and how to get help. In the face of tragedies near and far and the spike in mental illness cases nationwide, a culture of understanding is required to assist those in need, both for their own needs as well as for those of the worldwide community. “Many teens don’t have anyone to talk to at home, don’t have many friends at school or don’t have a mental health professional who cares about what they’re going through,” the FFHS student said. “It is really hard to ﬁnd someone trustworthy to talk to and it’s even harder to start talking about (mental health), but everyone needs to start paying attention.” If you or a loved one are suffering from a mental health crisis, you are not alone. You can reach out to: SAMHSA National Helpline 1-800662-HELP National Suicide Prevention Line 800-273-8255 Junior Samuel Smith can be reached at 23SMITHSA22@daretolearn.org.

Critical Race Theory: The debate … over what isn’t in the curriculum By N’Nia Brickhouse Staff Writer

Although no aspects of CRT are being taught in K-12, the institution of Common Core allows for students to create their own opinions on critical theories. rkansas, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, “When they instituted Common Core curriculum, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and one of the bases for Common Core was teaching stuTexas. These are all states that have banned dents, especially high school students, argumentative teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT), and 16 skills and debate and how to conduct research,” Prinmore are considering it. cipal Chuck Lansing said. “Interestingly enough, CritCRT was developed in the mid-1970s as the idea ical Race Theory tends to be so broad and involves so that racism is institutionalized – that people themmany different aspects and so many different points selves might not be blatantly racist, but rather the of view, that technically Common Core in itself is system itself has racism embedded into it. aligned to allow students to research this topic, and debate it on its merit from your This year, there’s been a rise in the talk about CRT and whether it own viewpoint.” Argumentative debate is cershould be taught in K-12 schools. It’s not something But in North Carolina, it has never tainly a phrase that can currently be used to describe CRT, with been a part of the curriculum. that students are politicians and parents constantDare County Schools Superintendent Dr. John Farrelly declined ly bickering online about whethtaught. er or not it should be taught. But comment for this reason. – Dr. Jen Mangrum Dr. Jen Mangrum, a professor why is it suddenly such a popular at UNC-Greensboro and a canditopic, even at Board of Education meetings in Dare County? date for North Carolina SuperMangrum explained that the biggest issue with intendent of Public Instruction in 2020, explained the CRT debate is the misinformation being spread that CRT is discussed at the graduate level, mainly in throughout the country. law schools to study whether systemic racism affects “It’s misinformation that it’s a problem in legislation. She said the theory that was created by schools, because it’s not – it doesn’t exist,” Manlawyers was based on their research, not something grum said. “I think it’s misinformation that teachthat can be taught. ers want to use what they call CRT to indoctrinate “It’s really a post-secondary research phrase that students, which is how it’s being labeled. I don’t we use in higher ed, not all the time, but it is somethink teachers want to indoctrinate students, nor do thing we use,” Mangrum said. “And also if you’re I think they use any kind of speciﬁc tools or theories working on your PhD, you are taught about different to do that.” theories and how they might impact the research that you’re doing in K-12 schools. It’s not something Many people have falsely stated that CRT tells that students are taught.” people to feel bad for being white and that they

“

should feel guilty for the oppression that people of color have faced for centuries. It doesn’t. As Mangrum explained, it’s simply a legal theory on the effects of systemic racism. If CRT were ever instituted in public schools, Lansing said it would drastically change how educators teach. “It would be a huge logistical change because research shows that we have 20 years of curriculum now that we try to teach in 12 years, so it would take a huge shift in how we do things and what exactly we’re teaching,” Lansing said. “But, at its core, Critical Race Theory isn’t based on speciﬁc events or things that we’re going to teach. It’s about an understanding of the interconnectedness of laws, reactions and events and how things can all be related.” So worry not, CRT most likely will not make its way into K-12 schools. But one idea shared among critical theories has already been circulating for quite some time. Critical theories are often complex concepts that challenge the framework of power and critique society to potentially spark change. Lansing expressed that to create change, there must be empathy. “I think it’s important that we’re talking about (CRT) in opening everyone’s eyes to more of the world,” Lansing said. “And I think it really presents us with an opportunity to focus on a different CRT, and that’s ‘culturally relevant teaching.’ Because I think that the biggest proponent of change is empathy, and we arrive at empathy by teaching one another and sharing our cultures and sharing relevant examples and creating a better blend of people that are more understanding and empathetic.” Sophomore N’Nia Brickhouse can be reached at 24brickhousenn92@daretolearn.org.

“

Jeanine C. Evans Laura F. Meads Family Law & Divorce • Adoption Civil Litigation • Real Estate Transactions Traffic Offenses • Estate Planning & Administration

evans@obxlawgroup.com meads@obxlawgroup.com

OBXLawGroup.com NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

Builders ﬁlling lots in affordable housing ﬁght

By Mackenzie Edwards Sports Editor

n recent months, a project has caught people’s attention while dropping off kids at school: the new houses by First Flight Elementary. Where did they come from? Who is building them? What are they for? How many trucks can crowd that small stretch of road? Two of the houses you’ve driven by are being built by Coastal Construction for Food Lion for its J-1 workers. These college-aged students are brought in from other countries on a work permit for the summer and early fall, often working alongside local students all summer long. For many local businesses that employ J-1 workers, housing them can be a challenge, especially with the Outer Banks’ current housing market. To help tackle ﬁnding affordable housing for students, Food Lion bought two of those lots near the school. “People are leaving the area or not coming to the area because they can’t afford to,” Carpentry teacher Brian DePedro said. In late November, DePedro took his students over to the nearby construction site. The class toured the two Food Lion houses and studied the construction workers’ activities, observing them in a natural state. DePedro guided students as they explored the house while dodging the framework and taught over the buzzing sound of power tools in the background. While touring the job site, DePedro explained the purpose of these houses and the affordable housing crisis to his students. Several students interjected with comments in agreement and anecdotes of their own. Food Lion’s houses have been under construction with Coastal Construction since September and are looking at a couple more months until they are ready for use. Despite these two new houses and several others that have been built just beyond school property, the affordable housing crisis is still a prominent issue

Photo by Mackenzie Edwards/Nighthawk News

First Flight Carpentry teacher Brian DePedro takes a ﬁeld trip with one of his classes to the construction site where several new homes are being built less than half a mile south of First Flight High School.

for many other workers. “Our pay doesn’t equal our cost of living for most jobs, even in construction, but especially for restaurants and other things,” DePedro said. Since 2019, Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant owner Whitney Wilson has had a house for her employees to live in for the summer. “In 2019 the house was full for the summer. It is a three-bedroom home and it housed six J-1 students that year,” Wilson said. “Unfortunately with COVID and travel restrictions, only two people have lived in the house for both 2020 and 2021.” Anyone coming to or leaving the Outer Banks has been affected by this crisis. Houses are being sold much faster at a much higher price than in recent years. When comparing the lot/ land sales in the Outer Banks of 2019 and 2021, the sales have increased 107%. Total sales have increased tremendously as well. The housing economy is currently in a seller’s market, meaning the market is favorable for homeowners to sell their homes for a proﬁtable price. This

seller’s market is a major factor in driving the prices and rent of homes up. Real estate agent Ellery Sigler observes that many people are leaving urban areas and migrating to rural areas like the OBX. These people are typically looking for an investment property or a new residential home, which is also a factor in driving up prices. “The competitive home prices are pushing a large part of the population from the ability to finance or purchase a home,” Sigler said. “With the addition of the added long-term rental issue, a lot of people are avoiding moving here, living over the bridge or having to leave.” Wilson has seen the crisis directly affect her employees. Many of her employees’ rental homes are being sold and turned into Airbnbs by landlords. Trying to find a rental home for the same value or at an affordable price for residential renters is becoming increasingly difficult. “I do believe there is a huge affordable housing issue here on the Outer Banks,” Wilson said. “It has affected my business in that employees, espe-

cially those with families, are unable to live nearby.” No matter how many new homes get built across the Outer Banks, it doesn’t seem like there will ever be enough of them to go around. The affordable housing crisis is a problem that affects millions of people across the nation. “Inventory is definitely cooling off,” Sigler said. “But competitive pricing seems here to stay for the foreseeable future.” Perhaps some day in the not-sodistant future, First Flight students could make an impact on the housing market. Former carpentry students could end up building houses in the community with the new knowledge gained from trips like this one. “Whether or not they go into the trade or not,” DePedro said, “I want to influence them in the sense of having confidence that they can do certain things with tools, with their hands, and that they are not limited.” Junior Mackenzie Edwards can be reached at 23edwardsma78@daretolearn.org.

It’s Never Too Late for a

New Beginning

Christie McEwan

MS, M.Ed, LCAS, ICCDP, ICAADC, CCTP

Counseling Services OuterBanksCounselor.com • 252-564-2804 NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

Breaking through the bagel h le: Barrier Island Bagels is back! By Kayla Hallac Editor-in-Chief

aple Bacon. The Hangover Cure. The Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast. All unique bagels that tourists and locals characterize in one word: delectable. These bites of sweet or salty perfection are back! Barrier Island Bagels, a local business, closed over the summer as a result of a planned renovation to The Marketplace shopping center in Southern Shores. After obtaining the funding necessary and the perfect new site, the shop has relocated just down the bypass to 4716 N. Croatan Highway in Kitty Hawk, in the former Argyle’s restaurant building. When the former owners of Barrier Island Bagels made the difficult decision to close this summer, a couple fresh to the Outer Banks knew something had to be done. “We were really loyal customers, actually, and were devastated because we had just purchased a home in Southern Shores and were really excited to live that close to the bagel shop,” said Kallie Largent, who is the new owner of Barrier Island Bagels along with her husband, Robert. “We had only lived here officially for seven days when it all went down. We went up to get a bagel, (found out) they were closed and my husband basically cried.” The heavy heart that Largent and family felt from knowing their favorite bagel shop would close inspired a new path in their lives – one surprising for a trained nurse. “We went to sleep and woke up the next morning and (I) said: ‘Do you want to buy a bagel shop?’ and he said, ‘I guess?’ ” Kallie said with a laugh. That decision proved to be a great one both for the family and the community. Following the announced renovation plans for The Marketplace, many locals were disappointed that the needed improvements included losing some tenants. “I believe the owner (Ashton Properties) has stated that they recognize the need to make some improvements to their shopping center in order to generate growth,” said Cliff Ogburn, Town Manager of Southern Shores. “This was a fairly vibrant and active shopping center at one time, but it has been in decline in recent years with several empty stores.” The renovation includes demolition of a portion of the center and construction of a 24,000-square foot building leased by Marshalls. While Ogburn knows it’s important to generate growth and greater visibility in the Southern Shores center, he understands the pain local businesses may go through. “I think the ‘mom and pops’ are part of what makes the OBX so cool

Photos by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Barrier Islands Bagels workers take care of the register (above) as customers come in for breakfast goodies. Owners Kallie and Robert Largent (below) converse with one of their coworkers. Barrier Island Bagels opened at its new location in Kitty Hawk on Nov. 3.

and I hate to see them go when it happens,” Ogburn said. “But usually it’s a business decision that we don’t have a part in. The hope would be that the corporate business is an anchor store that brings enough foot traffic to the shopping center to help a local business thrive.” Junior Taylor Newton worked at Barrier Island Bagels for about a year and a half before it closed. Newton was sad to see it go, especially because of the atmosphere – one the Largents have been set on keeping. “I definitely wasn’t happy about it. I really miss the place,” Newton said. “It

had a really friendly, surfer vibe, and the majority of customers were really nice. People would come from all over the country to go there, which was really surprising.” Newton is ready to work at the new location and hopes the ambiance of the store and the menu stay mostly the same. The new location – which Kallie said they are “pumped” about – opened in November with cars crowding the parking lot morning after morning. This new site will feature a more efficient takeout system, a sit-down breakfast and a liquor license. The

Largents are hoping to have even larger quantities of bagels by March 1. Their main strategy will continue through everything that comes their way: keeping the traditions Barrier Island Bagels has always valued. “I’m super excited that big business can’t push us out. Barrier Island, I mean, let’s be real, best bagel ever,” Kallie said. “I’m hoping to keep Allie and Josh’s (the previous owners) vibe of a beachy town, having kids running in and out, and just filling people’s bellies with happy food.” Senior Kayla Hallac can be reached at 22hallacka85@daretolearn.org.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

New Starbucks creates old complaints: Shop local or chain?

By Callie Honeycutt Social Media Editor

can promise the powers that be that I will never spend a penny there.” “No more chains! Shop local!” “WE NEED HOUSING NOT STARBUCKS!” These were just a few of the comments ﬂooding the OBX Locals Facebook page after it was announced August 9, 2021 that Starbucks planned to open a new shop where OBX Scooters Vapors & Glass, La Playa International Foods and Outer Banks Florist & Formals stores were located at 1208 S. Croatan Highway in Kill Devil Hills. All of these businesses have moved to different locations, but a lot of locals weren’t excited to see a chain store take over the local plaza. After initial demolition work, the site where the new drive-thru Starbucks will be built remains fenced off, with giant chunks of concrete still waiting to be cleared. Because of COVID-19, shopping locally became a popular topic around small towns and communities. The hashtag #shoplocal informs consumers of local stores that sell the same thing that chain stores do, but locally. “Shopping locally is important because money spent at locally owned businesses stays in our communities,”

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Located in Kitty Hawk, this Starbucks is now getting a new partner in Kill Devil Hills to share the customers. Starbucks lovers will now have four options for coffee on the beach: two stand-alone stores and two in Harris Teeter grocery stores in Corolla and Kill Devil Hills.

Front Porch Cafe owner Laura Wayland said. “Locally owned businesses contribute to local charities, other local businesses, and they advertise in our community.” Most businesses either took a big hit when the pandemic spread and it affected them tremendously, or it was perfect timing for their locally owned store and they are better than ever.

“We are still dealing with challenges even post-COVID. Everything from stafﬁng and challenges when people get sick to dealing with customers,” Wayland said. “The beach has been busier than ever and that has put a stress on existing staff. I say, it’s not that we are short staffed, there are just more customers than there are employees to help you!”

While shopping locally helps the community, chain restaurants have also provided reliable employment for countless students while accommodating busy school schedules. FFHS alumna Kristina Carter has worked at Starbucks for over six years as a barista. “I hope that the second corporate location takes some of the summer strain off Kitty Hawk,” Carter said. “I wish this new location would have been moved further south to better accommodate the southern side of the island.” Moving to the Outer Banks at 15, Carter knows what it’s like to be a local trying to support your community. “I really enjoyed visiting local shops, but I mainly frequented places like Mom’s Sweet Shop, Ashley’s Espresso and Surﬁn Spoon, so there were a lot of opportunities to shop locally that I missed,” Carter said. “In general, I have been trying to shop locally, especially now with the ongoing pandemic, but the convenience of a chain store does still win at times.” In other words, shopping locally is vital in helping your community, but when you really want a late-night cup of coffee, Starbucks is the way to go. Senior Callie Honeycutt can be reached at 22honeycuttca54@daretolearn.org.

Go NightHawks! Get your afterschool pick-me-up at Front Porch Café

Study. Sip. Repeat. Outer Banks, NC

We Proudly Support First Flight Schools

NC General Contractor’s License #62035

252-449-2600 | www.SoundSidePools.com NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / news

Kill Devil Hills • Nags Head • Manteo 9

Memorial sign recreated for student gone too soon By Emma Braithwaite Features Editor

ov. 23, 2015. It’s been six years since Bri Blumenthal was struck by a car and killed in a tragic accident that took place on Colington Road. Now, the year that Bri would have been celebrating her senior year, the sign placed in her memory at the intersection where the accident occurred has been recreated. Art teacher Alice Baldwin and gym teacher Chris Mascio collaborated to start this project with their classes. They believed this year would be the best time to update the sign because Bri was part of the Class of 2022. “Every afternoon I do the crossing guard duty out at the corner of Colington intersection, so I get to see the Bri sign every single day,” Baldwin said. “(Redoing Bri’s sign) was always something that was on the radar, but we never knew when it would be the perfect time to do it. This being her senior year, it just seemed perfect.” The idea to update the sign stemmed from a discussion between Mascio and his students. They had noticed that the sign was starting to show its age and were wondering if there was something they could do. “I started the process of asking around and ﬁguring out how we could ﬁx the sign,” Mascio said. “I talked to Ms. Baldwin and we decided we could make it a safety initiative for the school.” The classes that collaborated on this project contain mostly seniors. Mascio had one class involved in the project and Baldwin had two – her Art III and IV classes. Senior Aubrey Holland is in Mascio’s class and is one of the students who worked to make this new sign become a reality. “We were put into groups and worked on different parts of the sign,” Holland said. “Some people are working on the design, some people are doing more of the hands-on stuff, but I think it’s mostly the people that were in Bri’s grade that are doing the painting and the decorating.” This project has brought up a lot of emotions for the seniors involved. Working on the sign has made some of them feel like it was just yesterday when the accident occurred. Bri was riding her bike home from Parks and Rec and crossing from Veterans Drive toward the bike path on the opposite side of Colington when a driver failed to stop for the red light and struck Bri. She succumbed to her injuries three days later, on Thanksgiving. “We haven’t really addressed her in a long time, I feel like, until the sign,” Holland said. “So now it’s almost like we are back in the sixth grade when all that happened because that’s when the sign and everything was made for her.” Bri’s father, Scotty Blumenthal, was touched when he heard that students

Photos by Michael Pearson/Nighthawk News

Art teacher Alice Baldwin (from left) and senior Kendrick Pierce watch as PE teacher Chris Mascio helps install an updated memorial sign for Bri Blumenthal at the Colington Road and Veterans Drive intersection. Bri’s father, Scotty Blumenthal, poses (below) with the new sign that was created in his daughter’s memory.

in Bri’s grade wanted to recreate the sign. “It led into just how much she was loved and how much everybody appreciated her for who she was,” Blumenthal said. “The whole thing has been about bringing the community together, and she would’ve loved that.” The new sign is designed to look very similar to the original with only a few minor changes. “We wanted to do an ode to the old

sign, so we took a trip out to look at where it is right now and just take in what it says on it and also the colors and imagery. So it has the heart, it has the ﬂowers and it says ‘We Love You Bri,’ ” Baldwin said. “The one thing we are switching up is the shape, so it’s more of a square this time instead of a rectangle.” The back of the new sign also has a quote written on it. This quote was given to Mascio by Bri’s father.

“I’m friends with Scotty, so I called him and he gave me some quotes for the back of it,” Mascio said. “The quotes that we put on the back explain that even after death, she will not be forgotten.” The new sign was placed at the Colington Road and Veterans Drive intersection Nov. 23, which was the day the accident occurred six years ago. Students working on the project worked hard to have the sign done by that date. “The incident happened right before we left for Thanksgiving break and then she passed right at Thanksgiving, so we were hoping for it to be put up right at that timing,” Baldwin said. Scotty, who put up the new sign with the students who helped make it, hopes the memorial will remind the community of who Bri truly was. “She was such a spirit of the Outer Banks,” Blumenthal said. “She moved here when she was 4 and just absolutely fell in love with the place. She felt at home.” Now, the new sign placed in Bri’s memory will allow people to honor and remember her spirit for years to come. “The sign is a great way to remember her,” senior Kaylan Davis said. “Even when our class leaves, the other classes will be able to see it and remember her.” Junior Emma Braithwaite can be reached at 23braithwaiteem06@daretolearn.org.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

Pﬁzer vaccine is now accessible to youth ages 5-11 By Versailles Dalessio Online Editor-in-Chief

ince the first coronavirus vaccine was administered on Dec. 14, 2020, people have debated the value of getting the vaccine vs. the potential threats of contracting the COVID-19 virus. Starting Nov. 3, 2021, the debate extended to youth ages 5-11. That’s when the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) authorized the Pfizer vaccine for use in youths. Health officials even partnered with Surf Pediatrics and Medicine for its first clinic on Nov. 13, which seemed to be quite a success, according to Dare County Health and Human Services Director Sheila Davies. “It was very successful: 173 youth ages 5-11 received their first dose of the vaccine without issues,” Davies said. “The clinic ran very smoothly.” However, there is still some opposition from those who feel that there is limited knowledge on the COVID-19 vaccine and wouldn’t strongly recommend it to others. “It hasn’t been tested long enough to really know its full potential, so it could be OK now, but then what can you expect a year from now?” said a local nurse who wished to remain anonymous to discuss her views about the vaccine candidly. “We don’t know, because the data that we have

and the minimal testing they have is just now hitting a year, so there’s a lot of uncertainty with it.” The nurse added that there haven’t been enough younger kids who had to be hospitalized because of COVID-19 to make the vaccine necessary. According to the CDC, scientists have conducted clinical trials with nearly 3,000 youth suggesting that Pﬁzer has met the safety and efﬁcacy standards in young children, while the FDA continues to monitor the safety of these vaccines. Meanwhile, with parents being directly affected by the decision to vaccinate or not, some say that the vaccine is no threat, but a positive step forward in today’s circumstances. “Because the whole COVID-19 crisis is so important to me, I am really shocked at all the negativity surrounding it,” local resident Cindy Benton said. “I wonder where people get their information from, and act like it’s such a terrible thing, because I prefer to let the facts and the science decide whether or not it’s good for my family to be vaccinated.” Benton took the opportunity to get her 10-year-old son, Wade, vaccinated back in November, because her family believed it was the safest measure in preventing the spread of the virus. Prior to this, the other four members of the Benton family received the vaccine once it was made available to the public.

Five-year-old Harper McLemore (far left) shows off her vaccine card after receiving her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine a few weeks ago. Ten-yearold Wade Benton receives his second dose of the Pfizer Covid vaccine after it was made available to children ages 5-11. Submitted Photos

In addition to health and safety concerns, Benton described the importance of childhood as one of the underlying reasons for choosing this for her son. “I just hope that more and more kids will be able to participate and get their vaccine, because activities that they have not been able to do for so long, I want there to be normalcy in,” Benton said. “I don’t want them to be scared or feel like they can’t do some of the fun things that they used to just because they’re worried about getting Covid. I want them to be able to be kids again.” On the other hand, people are inevitably going to share mixed feelings about the effectiveness and practicality of it, but the question of

getting it is a personal one for families. “You can show people the pros and cons, but they must effectively weigh those pros and cons in order to really make their own decisions,” the nurse said. “I don’t know if you’re going to be able to push people one way or another, because I think their minds are set. Either you feel you need it to protect your family, which is ﬁne, but anybody who doesn’t shouldn’t have to be convinced to get it.” Regardless, the role of the DHHS is to provide data and guidance from the CDC so that healthcare professionals, community leaders, and advocacy groups can make informed decisions pertaining to the delivery of health-and-human-related services.

“The Covid vaccine is very effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalizations. The vast majority of new cases, serious illness and hospitalizations are in unvaccinated individuals,” Davies said. “This pandemic has been plagued by misinformation. There is also a lack of government trust by some individuals. If people have concerns or questions about the vaccine, they are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider.” Those with general questions about COVID-19 or the COVID-19 vaccine who seek answers on a variety of health topics, can visit the CDC website or call 1-800-232-4636. Senior Versailles Dalessio can be reached at 22dalessiove31@daretolearn.org.

Mag·a·zine: Zines promote creativity in the Art I class By Noah Kinnisten Sports Editor

s a young and rising artist in high school, one thing you may want is to show off the pieces you’ve worked oh-so-hard on to your peers. However, with Art I being a class more for growing your skills and knowledge of art, most of the work done is not for show. This changed with the addition of “zines” to the media center, as these students now have a multitude of copies of their artwork to share with the whole school. They are similar to little handheld magazines (hence the name zine) with drawings all throughout, focused on one topic in particular. “A zine is a small DIY publication about a topic an artist is passionate about,” Art teacher Alice Baldwin explained. “A zine can be cute, funny, NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

serious, not serious, political, etc.” Baldwin leaves her budding artists loose instructions, such as no stick figures, using thoughtful lettering and giving each page variety, and then lets her students take the reins and let their creativity do the rest of the work. “I thought that it was a lot of fun to do,” freshman Olivia Lilliston said. “It was a really creative idea to be able to incorporate all of these ideas into one little flipbook.” These flipbooks are done on a wide array of topics from flowers to the solar system to a full-blown comic book. “I did mine on the movie ‘Hocus Pocus,’ ” Lilliston said. “I was just thinking about a cool movie I could do, and there were a lot of different ideas I had when I thought of it.” Zines are a device to assist growing artists in learning how to really

think out of the box and use new tools, compositions, mediums and ideas to create and advance their abilities. However, the ﬁnished products happen to come out as little masterpieces to be shared with everyone through First Flight’s media center. “The zines display has always been one of my favorite additions to the library from the art department,” media center coordinator Susan Sawin said. “They stimulate creativity for all students who interact with them.” Sawin also explained that students do enjoy going up to the display to look through the art, read them and then discuss them with each other. “Zines allow artists to easily share their work with others,” Baldwin said. “Print has power!” Senior Noah Kinnisten can be reached at 22kinnistenno93@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

A display of zines, small DIY publications, is set up in the FFHS library for students to browse through. These zines were made by Art teacher Alice Baldwin’s Art I class as part of a project on topics they’re passionate about.

Concerts, caroling and chorus, oh my!

By Emmy Benton News Editor

ou’re standing in line waiting to go into the Elizabethan Gardens for WinterLights. As soon as you enter, beautiful light displays surround you and you make your way over to the tent to hear the chorus perform. As their delightful sound fills the tent, you know you’re officially in the holiday spirit. The holidays are a busy time of year for everyone, but especially for the FFHS chorus and director John Buford. They have many activities planned to bring holiday cheer to the Outer Banks one song at a time. The chorus is back to doing more of their normal activities after COVID-19 put a pause on many of their performances last year. Buford is excited for the students to get back on stage and sing throughout the community. “I think sharing the holidays with everybody is what makes it for me,” Buford said. First on their busy agenda was caroling at the shops in Duck, which is an event that wasn’t able to happen last year. Buford was excited to be able to participate in this again. “It’s always the first Saturday in December and we go around to the shops in Duck and we carol to them,” Buford said. “It’s been going on since before I came here, so it’s a really fun tradition.” Senior Hannah Montgomery is a former chorus student who has enjoyed caroling in Duck for three years. She has loved seeing people’s reactions to their singing. “My favorite part was getting to see people’s faces when this random group of teenagers and a really tall guy were going around dressed up and singing,” Montgomery said. More people in the community got to hear the chorus when they performed at WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens. The chorus sang in Manteo on Dec. 11 for a night filled with music and light displays. Junior Rylee Young has participated in this event every year since sixth grade aside from last year. She has fond memories of the performances and getting to see the displays. “I absolutely adore Christmas, so seeing all of the lights and holiday happiness and joy is amazing,” Young said. “Singing Christmas music in front of all of the people is amazing because you see the joy on their faces and it just makes Christmas better.” Next up was the annual holiday concert held at FFHS, on Tuesday, Dec. 14. It’s a combination of chorus and strings students from the middle and high school who come together for a night of holiday tunes to get people in the Christmas spirit. “We do some songs together and some songs separately, but everyone

Submitted Photo

First Flight Chorus students make a ﬁnal stop at the Duck Yuletide festival after caroling around the Town of Duck shops. The students dressed in festive attire while spreading holiday cheer to shoppers, just one of the many holiday festivities they enjoy each December.

takes their time and gets to play their set, then we join together for some ﬁnales,” Buford said. Junior Charlotte Ernst enjoys the concerts because of the atmosphere it creates. “I like our concerts at school because we get a good turnout and it’s a fun holiday scene, and Mr. Buford wears his holiday suit,” Ernst said. Buford likes that the concerts highlight the students and the work they’ve done. “I just like sharing what we do in class with the community,” Buford said. “I like giving concerts because it’s a chance for the students to shine.” The students got to shine once again on Dec. 15 in what Buford calls “a new twist on an old tradition.” The chorus will carol its way around to Spring Arbor, an assisted living facility near the high school, as well as the halls of FFMS and FFES. Ernst has missed being able to carol around the community and see the residents at Spring Arbor and students at FFES. “We get to go see the little kids and they love us, and so do the nursing home people. It makes their day,” Ernst

said. “It’s really fun to do stuff like that.” The chorus had also planned to sing to the staff in the Kill Devil Hills Town Hall, to round out their caroling adventure. “If there’s time we’re going to also see if we can’t hop over to the Town Center and sing to them, too,” Buford said. “Basically, we’re doing a huge loop caroling the neighborhood.”

Young enjoyed singing for people throughout the community during the holiday season, and hopes that it brought them joy. “Singing makes people happy – especially Christmas music,” Young said. “I love seeing all the people’s faces and watching them get in the Christmas spirit.” Junior Emmy Benton can be reached at 23bentonem58@daretolearn.org.

Women’s Self-Defense Class Outer Banks Mixed Martial Arts is putting together a six-month program starting in February for women only. Join special female guest instructors in weekly classes that will help women of all ages make safety a part of their lives. For more information or to receive updates on the upcoming program, email

obxmartialartsnc1@gmail.com.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

‘Tis the season … of spreading cheer

By Arden Carlyle Staff Writer

ou wake up early Christmas morning with excitement and anticipation as you prepare to unwrap the presents under the tree. This might seem like a typical Christmas to you – but is not a reality for everyone. Unless some special helpers step in. Local charity organizations are able to provide for many families in need during the holiday season thanks to dedicated employees and generous volunteers. Toni Sawyer, the Salvation Army Community Development and Relations Manager in Elizabeth City, has been with the Salvation Army for four years but has seen the organization’s impact her entire life. “My parents were pastors in the Salvation Army,” Sawyer said. “I grew up being involved in one way or another, from a child not knowing anything else to a teenager pretending I had better things to do.” Until adulthood, Sawyer didn’t fully understand the importance and mission of the Salvation Army – and the lasting impact that donations at Christmas can have. “It was Christmas Eve 1995: The Christmas rush was over, bell ringing was done, Angel Tree toys were distributed. It was time for us as a family to enjoy Christmas,” Sawyer recalled. “My mom received word about a family with no gifts for the kids to open Christmas morning. She jumped back in the car and off she went.” Sawyer was 15 at the time, a typical teenager eager to get HER Christmas started. Of course, once her mom got back, the Sawyer family did enjoy a special Christmas. So did another family. “Twenty years later, my mom and I were visiting a friend’s house when a woman came in who remembered my mom. She was the mother of the family she had delivered toys to on Christmas Eve in 1995,” Sawyer continued. “She spoke about how scared she was to have her kids wake up Christmas morning with nothing when my mom pulled up with an answer to her prayers.” The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. The organization assists people who are going through difficult times or experiencing emer-

Members of the Duck United Methodist Church youth group give gifts to children as part of a Christmas program that has been going on for more than 10 years. Whether through individual efforts or organizations such as the Outer Banks Woman’s Club Angel Tree and Marine Toys for Tots, there are lots of ways to help in the community throughout the holidays.

Submitted Photo

gency situations. While the mission of the Salvation Army is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, it also strives to meet human needs without discrimination. Every December, Salvation Army red kettles with volunteer bellringers can be found in front of stores for people to make donations. “We serve eight counties in the Albemarle Region and local community support makes it possible, from churches, businesses and individuals,” Sawyer said. “We are grateful for our community’s confidence in our ability to be good stewards.” Duck United Methodist Church gives back to the community in similar ways. For over 10 years, the church has been able to give gifts to children during the holiday season. Despite the global pandemic, these local organizations have proven that the compassion to give has not been affected. In fact, Amy Denson, youth leader at Duck United Methodist, feels that church members are more generous than ever. “They were thankful for a way to help families who were really struggling with the financial repercussions of COVID,” Denson said. Similarly, Sawyer has witnessed an increase in need since the beginning of the pandemic, but the Salvation Army has adjusted to meet the demand.

“We deliver meals and groceries to individuals at high risk along with out-of-school children who are dependent on school lunch to eat,” Sawyer said. “We have seen families lose their homes and we have been blessed with the ability to provide them with a safe place to sleep until they find a new home. We are afforded so many opportunities to come alongside families and individuals to witness victories in their lives.” It is evident that local organizations continue to change people’s lives during the holidays. “I have experienced hardship, as we all have in different ways. Someone reached out to me when I was in need and it changed my life,” Sawyer said. “There are countless people we come in contact with every day that are struggling and I pray to be used to encourage, help support or just be a friend.” Even during such a difficult time for many, the power and significance in sharing, caring and giving back to the ones in need withstands. “Our favorite part is watching the children open their presents,” Denson said. “Their sense of wonder, joy and gratitude remind us that Christmas is more about giving than receiving.” Senior Arden Carlyle can be reached at 22carlylear66@daretolearn.org.

Submitted Photos

(Left) Senior Callie Honeycutt (right) and her mom ring the bell to raise money for the Salvation Army. This is a tradition that they participate in and enjoy doing every year. At right, senior Reagan Minnich poses for a picture after giving a toy to a child during Duck United Methodist’s toy drive a few years ago. Minnich enjoys being part of this group and giving back each year.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

612 days later, StageKraft returns with ‘All Together Now’ Photos by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Clockwise, from top left: freshman Maggie Brauer expresses her joy to the crowd. Swinging from the rafters, freshman Alexander Tine shows the emotion of his character. Senior Loxley Wayland (left) and senior Jayden Payne raise their hands into the air during the performance of ‘Mary Poppins.’ Math teacher Jennifer Kinnisten gives her all on the stage during the final act. Senior Samantha Pugh shows off her musical talent, playing her guitar during ‘Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)’. Freshman Mary Williams (right) performs a song as Mary Poppins alongside senior Georgia Fuentes. Singing during the final act, freshman Kallie Gregg enjoys her first year of performing with StageKraft. Junior Skylar Cardwell (left) and senior Bridget Cowan stare out into the crowd. Waving her textbook around, sophomore Zoe Tomlin expresses her emotions on school work. Arm in arm, juniors Zoe Kane (left) and Charlotte Ernst dance along the stage.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

Local stations – and students – keep radio alive By Kayla Hallac and Tatum Love Editor-in-Chief/Staff Writer

typical drive today includes getting into your car, fastening your seatbelt and connecting your aux cord to your phone to play your favorite Spotify playlist or catch the latest podcast. This wasn’t the norm as recently as 15 years ago, when most adults and students would argue about which local radio station to tune in to. Local radio stations and students are keeping the tradition alive. 99.1 The Sound DJ personality Lisa Brickhouse has been in the radio business since 1989, when she was 19 years old, and has helped 99.1 The Sound become an Outer Banks staple. “One hundred percent without a doubt I consider 99.1 The Sound as an important member and service to our local community,” Brickhouse said. “Not just because of the great music that the station provides to our listeners, but also to be able to have the ability to share important information and get the word out to listeners about breaking news, bad weather conditions, traffic updates, accidents, lost pets, public service announcements and other community events.” 99.1 The Sound/WVOD has been on the airwaves in Dare County since 1986. Radio began to be used commercially around 1900, but it wasn’t until the late 1920s and early 1930s that its popularity grew rapidly. By 1934, 60% of the nation’s households had radio. Over the years, people enjoyed listening to the radio in their homes, waking up with their alarm clock to a favorite morning host, and especially finding that perfect song while driving. The rise of smartphones has changed all that, though, with music stored on

people’s devices or easily streamed from a variety of sites. Brickhouse said it’s important to keep radio alive in the community. “The responsibility of a radio station and its broadcasters (is) getting pertinent factual info out to people in a timely manner when they need it the most; also, having the ability to entertain and offer companionship to listeners is a very special thing,” Brickhouse said. This special companionship inspired senior Aaron Jurkowitz. He has worked on the local morning sports talk show on 98.1 TheScore at East Carolina Radio for two years. Every morning before school, Jurkowitz discusses his favorite NFL players, games, football opinions and more to spark discussion about national sports. Getting into the radio business this early has taught him lessons about this form of journalism and offered an interesting viewpoint for listeners across the Outer Banks. “The important things to keep in

Submitted Photos

Senior Tatum Love (above) records a segment with DJ personality Lisa Brickhouse at 99.1 The Sound radio station. At left, senior Aaron Jurkowitz records his daily sports segment at 98.1 TheScore at East Carolina Radio.

mind on the radio is to speak crisply and coherently, to have good chemistry with the other people on air, have a positive listening atmosphere instead of one that is tense and argumentative, and to have clear and interesting points to make that really add to the discussion,” Jurkowitz said. The love Jurkowitz has gained throughout the years for radio makes him another OBX local looking to preserve the tradition of radio. “Using the human voice to tell a story is a much more interesting and effective way of telling a story instead of just reading something,” Jurkowitz said. Junior Mackenzie Edwards agreed. She said it’s important to know who’s behind the music being played and the facts being shared. Radio does just this for her.

“It makes more sense to hear real people,” Edwards said. “When I was little, I would have a radio in my room and I would listen to it every night before I went to sleep.” Edwards has no plans to turn off the radio anytime soon, and she’s not alone. Radio is something many in Generation Z have grown up with and developed a sense of nostalgia for that won’t soon be forgotten. “Radio is the one broadcast medium that has stood the test of time, having been around for over 100 years, and still continues to offer the power of radio to its listeners for many years to come,” Brickhouse said. “Support your local radio stations!” Senior Kayla Hallac can be reached at 22hallacka85@daretolearn.org. Senior Tatum Love can be reached at 22loveta53@daretolearn.org.

Super subs save the day

I Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Substitute teacher Le Hook watches over a class of students while filling in for a teacher that was out for the day. Hook is a familiar face to students at FFHS.

By Foster Guns Staff Writer

magine coming home from an amazing trip and getting called into work right away. After going in to cover one class, you get word that you’re needed down the hall for the next period, then upstairs for the next. Oh, and by the way, they need you again in another classroom the next day. This is the story of a substitute teacher’s life in the past year. With school back in full swing, teachers have continued to be exposed to COVID-19, forcing them into long-term absences, or they’ve had to miss days for “regular” reasons: sick kids, other illnesses, important doctor’s appointments. With teachers being spread thinner than ever, this is where the many amazing substitutes at FFHS come in – coming forward to cover teachers during this time when it’s needed most.

Substitute teacher Susan Blackwell had just gotten home from a trip to Colorado when the school called. Despite a quick turn-around, she took that job – and many others. She maintains a positive attitude and tries to be around to help as much as possible. “When I taught (full-time) there was a wasted day when we had a sub,” Blackwell said. “I try to make sure I execute the lesson plans and keep the kids on task.” Claire Strickler, who has been substituting for 14 years, echoes similar thoughts: “Make sure the kids behave and they’re on task, and make sure they don’t abuse the sub.” Since the pandemic began, substitute teachers have had to step up to the plate because of more teachers being out and some subs choosing not to work any longer. Many substitute teachers did not come back after COVID-19 due to the potential of quarantining or catching the virus. However, Kevin Cox didn’t think twice about it.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

The battle of the Outer Banks boutiques

By Audrey Lovell Staff Writer

pair of the comfiest-coziest lounge pants, an embellished criss-crossed crop top, a flattering silky v-neck long sleeve blouse, and the most delicate floral puffy-sleeved dress. These boutique clothing items may seem too good to be true, but the numerous Outer Banks boutiques give locals and tourists alike opportunities to purchase any one of these items – and so much more. Five of the main boutiques on the Outer Banks are Honey and Hive boutique, Amity Boutique, Foxy Flamingo boutique, Starr Boutique, and Islands the shop. You can learn more about these fun boutiques through an in store experience anywhere from Duck to Nags Head or visiting their Instagram accounts.

“It (the original location) was a standalone building and it was an old building, which took a lot of maintenance,” owner Betsy Buchanan said. Now located in the milepost 10.5 shopping center, Foxy Flamingo sells “unique, contemporary style clothing,” manager Sydney Clontz said. And as business began to expand, so did the storefront. “(The neighboring store) was moving and I guess they offered her (their) side,” Clontz said. “So Betsy had contractors come in and they busted down the doorways and she reopened it.” After working in multiple corporate stores, Clontz discovered her love for the small business side of the fashion industry. “I came here and I got to become the buyer for the store, which is my favorite thing in the entire world,” Clontz said. “Honestly, my favorite thing about working here is getting to know everybody. You gain such a relationship with customers.”

Outer Banks community. Owner Mikaila Ossman started off her business after moving back home to the beach from Bradenton, Florida. “I would buy really nice stuff for like $4 and resell it for $100,” Ossman said. “I found a passion for doing that.” After making profit reselling thrifted clothes, Ossman moved on to buying packs of new items. She started off just selling the new clothes to friends, but that soon turned into selling clothes to the whole community. “When it sold out I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I could do this. People will buy stuff from me,’ ” Ossman said. Not only did her personal passions inspire Ossman to start the business, but local boutique owners also supported her in the process. “I love her (at Amity) and she’s kind of been my mentor through a lot,” Ossman said, referring to another local boutique owner. “If I ever have questions, I ask her.” Starr carries mostly casual or boho wear, similar to Foxy Flamingo. “We both have the same prices and similar brand style,” Ossman said. “I think Foxy would be my biggest competitor.”

ISLANDS THE SHOP @islandstheshop

FOXY FLAMINGO

STARR BOUTIQUE

Originally in Kill Devil Hills, Foxy Flamingo boutique is located in Nags Head after making the move to a busier building a few years ago.

After opening the shop in Kitty Hawk in April 2019, Starr Boutique has become a popular fashion source for mostly the younger age group of the

@shopstarrbtq

@foxyflamingoboutique

“We are all about leaving a lighter footprint within the fashion world,” owner of Islands Boutique, Ara Tillett said. Since opening in April of 2019, Islands has done just that – from buying brands made of recycled fabric to using biodegradable packaging. Tillett was inspired to open Islands boutique in Duck after traveling all around the world and seeing what other countries had to offer fashion-wise.

“Shopping at some of my favorite stores really made me want to bring something like that back to home,” Tillett said. Islands’ style consists of “a little bit of everything,” Tillett said. “A mix of bohemian and modern, fun, yet refined.” While every boutique carries different styles, the support for one another remains constant. “We all have unique, different things to offer,” Tillett said. “I feel like we all try to support each other.” There are plenty of options for shopping boutiques on the beach. To learn more about Honey and Hive boutique and Amity boutique, visit their Instagram pages @shophoneyandhive and @amityboutique_duck. Because of the unique environment of each of the local boutiques and the trendy, popular clothing that is sold, there is no doubt that all these specialty shops are on the rise as some of the most popular stores on the Outer Banks. Junior Audrey Lovell can be reached at 23lovellau71@daretolearn.org.

for sick staff members “It’s interesting,” Cox said. “People asked me if I was still wanting to sub with COVID going on, (with me) being older and concerned about health issues. I immediately got my vaccination and so I felt much better about it.” While most teachers only specialize in one or two subjects, substitute teachers have to know it all. “I’ve done Math, I’ve done Special Ed and I’ve done English,” said Blackwell, a former FFHS Teacher of the Year for her work in the math department. In some cases, though, a sub’s day is about more than just the subject. The most difficult part for some substitute teachers is keeping kids on task, which is why Strickler prefers harder classes. “I like the upperclassmen honors kids, because they kind of know where they’re going and what they’re doing,” Strickler said. Some teachers have more detailed lesson plans, while others are more relaxed, which NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

can change how a substitute teacher manages a classroom. Substitute Justin Keeley, who just started covering classes at FFHS this fall, works hard to create the best learning environment he can. “I’m just trying to make sure all the students accomplish what their regular teacher wants them to accomplish and also have as much fun as they can,” Keeley said. While substitutes have come to the rescue for many different teachers during such difficult times, it’s really the students who are the driving force for why they keep coming back day after day. “These students are here because they want to be here,” Cox said. “They want to be successful and move on. I just love teaching, so I’m here to make sure they get caught up with their work and assignments so they can be successful.” Sophomore Foster Guns can be reached at 24gunsfo54@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Substitute teacher Mary Murphy reads over the art class lesson plans she received. Subs have been harder than ever to find this year because of the pandemic.

Girls embrace their cultural roots in a real-life princess celebration

By Daisy Morales Social Media Editor

he big day is here. An astonishing scene of flowers, cakes, a crown and a glamorous gown can be seen. Everything is beautifully decorated, and as you look around it almost looks like a scene out of a fairytale, but for the birthday girl it’s more like a dream come true. One of the most iconic traditions in Hispanic culture is that of a quinceañera. These celebrations take place when a girl turns 15. They are a rite of passage celebration symbolizing the transition between childhood and adulthood. “When a girl is turning 15, they’re becoming a young woman,” freshman Brittany Arreola-Estrada said. Arreola-Estrada turns 15 in December and is currently planning her big day. Celebrations like these take immense amounts of preparation, with deciding on a venue, booking musicians, getting decorations and shopping for clothes. While quinceañeras happening this year have the luxury of a somewhatback-to-normal party, last year many girls had to either postpone or delay their lavish celebration with COVID-19 affecting large events. Freshman Dulce Alfaro-Gonzalez just turned 15 and was able to celebrate her quinceañera on Nov. 20 alongside friends and family. “I was really excited and then I was kind of stressed out and nervous,” Alfaro-Gonzalez said. “But it was really fun.” Before the big day, Alfaro-Gonzalez had to pick a theme and dress. “My favorite color is yellow, so I wanted to have a yellow dress, and I wanted it to be a Disney princess, so I picked ‘Beauty and the Beast’ because

Submitted Photo

Freshman Dulce Alfaro-Gonzalez dazzles in her ‘Beauty and the Beast’-inspired dress as her dad picks her up during their father-daughter dance.

of how it symbolizes that beauty is found on the inside,” Alfaro-Gonzalez said. Alfaro-Gonzalez’s favorite thing was her princess gown, as it was bright and made her stand out. Throughout the night, she recalls dazzling in her dress. When people think of a quinceañera, they usually only think of girls with extravagant parties and big dresses, but there’s much more to a quinceañera. A ceremony is typically held before the actual party, where young girls receive gifts from their family. Alfaro-Gonzalez was no exception to this Hispanic tradition, as a jubilant ceremony was held before her party.

Many special moments took place. Alfaro-Gonzalez was gifted with a watch, a pillow, a ring and a doll to symbolize her transition from childhood to womanhood and her devotion to God. “The doll was the last doll I would have gotten, so it symbolizes me growing up, and the watch (symbolizes) my lifespan,” Alfaro-Gonzalez said. At the quince party, it is also common for the quinceañera to do special dances called waltzes. She usually performs these with the help of her court. The court consists of maids of honor (damas de honor) and chamberlains (chambelanes). The quinceañera often chooses friends and family to be in her court.

One of Alfaro-Gonzalez’s dances stood out from the rest: a dance just with her chambelanes where they all lifted her up. “I was actually nervous because I thought they were going to drop me because my dress was very puffy, but I was really happy that they did it,” Alfaro-Gonzalez said. Alfaro-Gonzalez enjoyed being able to honor her family’s traditions and the event made her proud of being Hispanic. While these parties are a wonderful tradition, they can be stressful. Alfaro-Gonzalez experienced this firsthand, as the week before her celebration she was still struggling to have everything ready. “Everything has to be right and there has to be a schedule,” Alfaro-Gonzalez said. Despite her worries, things turned out fine for Alfaro-Gonzalez and she suggests that future quinceañeras not worry so much. “Everything turned out good, probably better than I thought it would be,” Alfaro-Gonzalez said. Arreola-Estrada will be celebrating her quinceañera this month, and along with Alfaro-Gonzalez, she acknowledged that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I’m thankful for living 15 years and for my parents that have seen me grow up,” Arreola-Estrada said. These traditional celebrations explore the complex nature of maturing and the eventual transition into adulthood, but far beyond they leave a meaningful impact in the lives of young girls who celebrate it each year. “In the end it is all worth it because it’s special and you’ll have some memories,” Alfaro-Gonzalez said. Junior Daisy Morales can be reached at 23moralesda04@daretolearn.org.

Submitted Photos Dulce Alfaro-Gonzalez smiles next to her sister, Emily, and her newly gifted doll. Alfaro-Gonzalez described this day as magical and memorable. (Right) Alfaro-Gonzalez poses next to her chambelanes at Bodie Island Lighthouse. After her quinceañera, she and her court hung out and talked about how the party went.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

Submitted Photos

Senior David Meggs and his fellow Boy Scouts work together to put up a communications board at Kitty Hawk Elementary School, where Meggs poses (right) with the final product of his Eagle Scout project. The communications boards will help students for years to come.

Meggs’ Eagle Scout project helps elementary students take flight

By Maggie McNinch Editor-in-Chief

ut of the 2.7 million youths who participate in the Boy Scouts of America, fewer than 4 percent earn the coveted and prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. This accomplishment was made even more special for senior David Meggs because of other challenges he had to overcome. Meggs has been in Boy Scouts for nearly 10 years. Scouts wanting to reach Eagle must demonstrate proficiency in leadership, service and outdoor skills, as well as partake in a community project. “It’s been fun and it’s also been kind of exhausting,” he said. With the immense amount of hard work and dedication an aspiring Eagle Scout must put forth, this comes as no surprise. But for those who know Meggs best, there was never a doubt he could do it. “I kind of always knew it would happen,” said senior Michael Pearson, a fellow Eagle Scout and troop member. “He and I joined pretty much right around the same time and even with his disabilities, he’s always been an active person in Scouts and has always been the kind of Scout that would reach Eagle. So it wasn’t a surprise at all and I was very proud of him and very glad he made it to that because he definitely deserved it.” David’s mom, Sally, echoed similar thoughts: “David doesn’t talk a lot, but he takes it all in and he’s super smart, so when he makes up his mind to do something, he’ll do it. He’s persevered since the time he was little and has always done everything just like everybody else. I’m really proud of him for that because he so could use the autism card if he wanted to, but he doesn’t.” While Meggs had the support of his fellow Scouts and friends, he also had the motivation of following in the footsteps of his family. “My granddad was an Eagle Scout and my dad was an Eagle Scout, so I will be a third-generation Eagle Scout,” Meggs said. David’s father, Phillip, is the Scoutmaster of David’s troop. After going through the journey of earning Eagle himself, he is knowledgeable of the process and able to help others do the same. “The whole thing about Scouting is that it’s not NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

always the coolest kid or the star athletes, they’re just the kid that’s smart, engaged, adventurous and wanting to do things,” Phillip said. “David had the challenge of having to deal with communication issues, so that’s why this project was so important to him.” David’s idea for his project was inspired by UNC-Chapel Hill, where the college is implementing sign boards to teach students with complex communication needs to communicate symbolically with a variety of people. “I’m autistic and my mom had said that Kitty Hawk Elementary School had done so much for me, so I decided to give back by making them communication boards for kids who also have disabilities like autism and Down syndrome,” David said.

Common Eagle Scout projects include clearing trails, building birdhouses or running a book drive. These can take a little bit of planning and a weekend of work. “David’s project took a year of planning and months of research,” Phillip said. “He had to get in touch with Chapel Hill and meet with the school and all the EC teachers. As a Scoutmaster, I talk about how important it is to make your Eagle project something you can be proud of, and he put in the work.” While Kitty Hawk has had communications boards in the classrooms for several years now, they have never been put outside. The teachers realized that the students were doing great in the classroom, but that there was a dropoff in communication when they went to the playground. David worked with a graphics store to produce multiple stainless steel vinyl wrap signs that will stay at the elementary school for many generations of students. “David’s outside boards are making it flow much better and the other kids recognize and point and share, so that’s a really cool thing,” Phillip said. While David is helping younger students learn to communicate better, he continues to develop his own skills further. OCS Program teacher James Ainslie works with David at First Flight and is able to see first-hand the effect this project has had on him. “He still struggles with his communication, so I think this has been something that he’s been able to establish for himself, and it’s something that he can talk about with others and kind of connect with people on that level,” Ainslie said. Through hard work and perseverance, David has been able to help others with their own difficulties and establish something that will impact future generations of students, all while working toward his own goal of becoming an Eagle Scout. “It is such a joyous occasion when I see one of my Scouts get Eagle,” Phillip said. “Once you get Eagle Scout, you’re an Eagle Scout for the rest of your life. It’s the greatest thing I think I can give to kids to help them out and that’s why I’ve been passionate about it for years. But when it’s your own kid that gets Eagle Scout, the biggest man can’t hold back the tears on that.” Senior Maggie McNinch can be reached at 22mcninchma07@daretolearn.org.

World traveler settles into OBX life

By Stella Bryson News Editor

t’s fair to say that sophomore Anna Tynch is not your typical high school student. Sure, she plays volleyball for FFHS and is a fan of the Tar Heels, like many of her classmates. But she’s also lived in four different countries on three different continents from the time she was 5. Tynch was born in San Diego and lived in Japan for many years. She also lived in Italy for a short time before moving to Singapore, where she remained for three years. Thanks to her many experiences with different cultures, Tynch has a unique perspective on how other countries view American sports and athletes. “America takes sports far more seriously than any other country I’ve lived in, and we’re known for it all across the world,” Tynch said. “Here, and in most parts of the United States, teams practice at least five days a week. But the varsity teams in Singapore practiced only two times a week. It was a huge culture shock. This pride of sports is one of my favorite parts of (the American) culture, and was one of the hardest things for me to leave behind.” Instead of practicing for their athletics, Singapore culture expects students to spend more time on their studies each night. “In Singapore, they valued academics significantly more than sports,” Tynch said. Club sports are a major part of American culture. If you play a sport in high school, you’re almost expected to play on a travel team in the offseason. Some students drive an hour or longer to attend their club’s practices. This is the complete opposite of the standard in Singapore. “There are club sports in Singapore, but again, I think it’s safe to say they take sports much less seriously,” Tynch said. The continuous moves she made were because her dad was an officer in the Navy. He recently retired after 33 years of service. In both Japan and Italy, Tynch and her family lived on a military base. Similar to a small town, there isn’t much to do on a military base. Tynch and her friends would venture off base to nearby playgrounds and shopping malls on the weekend. “On military bases, pretty much everything was a walking distance away, so from the age of first grade when I first moved to Japan, I was walking myself to school every day,” Tynch said. Around the time she started middle school, Tynch’s family was relocated to another military base in Italy, near the city of Naples. She only lived there for a few years. Most recently, Tynch and her family moved to Singapore, where she lived for three years. Tynch’s early teenage years in Singapore were different from

what a kid raised on the Outer Banks might experience. “The ethnic background of a lot of Singaporeans is mostly Indian, Chinese and Korean,” Tynch said. “There were very few people who looked like me (in Singapore), and here that is definitely not the case.” As a student in an international school, Tynch was constantly surrounded by people who were vastly different from her. “My favorite thing about Singapore is the diversity. That is something that is kind of hard to find (here),” Tynch said. “As a military kid, I’m glad I had all those years of a lot of diversity.” Unlike her life in Japan and Italy, Tynch did not live on a military base in Singapore. Because of this, she had more freedom and was able to explore parts of the city that she might not have been able to see while living on a base. “Singapore is a tiny and super safe country, so curfews were late and you could go anywhere on the island for the night,” Tynch said. “On weekends, my friends and I would usually take the public underground train, called the MRT, to Marina Square, or East Coast Park to hang out.” After living in so many places for so many years, Tynch and her family finally decided to settle down and relocated to Kill Devil Hills. Tynch moved to the Outer Banks in August 2021, right before she started her sophomore year of high school. Tynch is planning on staying on the beach until she graduates high school. Even though she has lived halfway across the globe, Tynch wasn’t a stranger to the Outer Banks. She used to visit every year and her dad came to the Outer Banks to surf when he was growing up. With travel and interesting experiences being constants in Tynch’s life so far, another more traditional American childhood experience has always been with her as well: sports. Tynch was on the JV volleyball team this fall and plans to play again next year. Even though it was her first year at a new school, Tynch had no problem making friends for a team that ended up enjoying an exciting season, earning second place in the Northeastern Coastal Conference. “I think (her upbringing) helped her learn how to get along with other people,” said Hailey Stanley, one of Tynch’s teammates. “It was really easy welcoming her to the team.” Although Tynch is grateful for all of the experiences she has had and all the memories she has made, she is excited to be on the beach. “My favorite thing about the Outer Banks is that it feels like it’s one big community,” Tynch said. “There’s such a bond between locals. I feel like everyone who lives here has an instant connection.” Junior Stella Bryson can be reached at 23brysonst69@daretolearn.org.

Submitted Photo

Sophomore Anna Tynch sits at the Marina Barrage in Singapore and eats sushi while painting the scenery. Tynch lived in Singapore for three years.

Submitted Photo

Anna Tynch (middle) poses with teammates Foster Guns (left) and Sadie Wilkinson before a JV volleyball game earlier this fall.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

Eriksen exchanges old life for new adventure

By Emmy Benton News Editor

our thousand, one hundred eighteen miles. That’s a 10-hour flight. Or a drive from Corolla to Ocracoke – 35 times in a row. The wide distance is the amount of miles Frederik Eriksen traveled in August to come to America. Eriksen is a foreign exchange student this year from Sealand, Denmark, which is home to Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital. He’s living with Maura Trivette, a junior at FFHS, along with her parents, Donna and Robert Trivette. Eriksen decided to become a foreign exchange student after choosing to take a year off from regular school to play basketball. He could either go to Efterskole, which is a boarding school in Denmark where you can play sports, or come to America as a foreign exchange student. “My mom came up with the idea that I could go to the U.S. and I was thinking, ‘Why not? That sounds like a great idea,’ ” Eriksen said. “Then, my mom’s colleague in Denmark, Dee, who is Robert’s niece, suggested (the Trivettes) and now I’m here.” The process, while very rewarding, was time consuming for Eriksen and family. “There’s a lot that goes into it and it’s a long process that you start a year to a year and a half beforehand,” guidance counselor Beth Garrett said. “It’s not simple because you also have to get special visas and travel papers.” Once all the documents are approved by the agencies and Central Office, Garrett video chats with the student and their family in the foreign country, as well as the host family, to coordinate things such as travel plans and classes that the student will take. Donna Trivette said that the whole process was a fairly easy one. “We already knew Frederik and his family and they found an agency to organize the trip and necessary documents,” Donna said. As for Maura, she was excited to get the opportunity to live with a foreign exchange student and be able to experience something like this. “It’s a story I’m going to tell for a while about how I lived with somebody from Denmark for a year,” Maura said. “It’s an experience that’s very unique.” And so far, Donna says Eriksen is adjusting well. “It’s been great! Frederik is not a picky eater and goes along with whatever our crazy family plans are,” Donna said. Maura agreed and was surprised at how independent Eriksen is, seeing that he’s living in a brand new country. “I was really shocked at how fast he settled in here,” Maura said. “He adjusted really fast and I was impressed by that.” His ability to adjust quickly will help him on the court, when he NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

Submitted Photo

Frederik Eriksen (right) and Maura Trivette meet at the airport after his long trip from Denmark. Eriksen is spending the year at FFHS as a foreign exchange student.

Submitted Photo

Frederik Eriksen enjoys a trip to Surfin’ Spoon, one of the many new experiences he has enjoyed while living on the Outer Banks. At right, Eriksen and his mother, Jannie, take a picture at the beach while she was visiting for Thanksgiving.

begins to do what he’s most excited about – playing basketball for the Nighthawks. “In Denmark, we have clubs. We don’t do sports through school,” Eriksen said. “And it’s not really a big thing. There’s not a lot of people watching you play in Denmark, it’s more family that goes just to support.” He’s on the JV team this year and is especially looking forward to having students, parents and people from the community coming to watch the games.

“It’s definitely going to be something different to play with a big crowd,” Eriksen said. “It’s going to be nerve-wracking and new, but I think it will be nice.” Eriksen has had a good time so far, making friends, playing basketball and getting used to living on the Outer Banks. “So far it’s been great. I love the beach, I love the household I’m in, I like playing basketball and there’s been plenty of opportunities for doing that here,” Eriksen said.

Garrett hopes that all foreign exchange students have a good experience while they’re here, and that they make memories that last a lifetime. “I think that all of our schools are excellent schools,” Garrett said, “and that any student coming here is going to get a really good teacher, they’re going to make really good friendships, and they’re going to have a community immediately embrace them because we do that.” Junior Emmy Benton can be reached at 23bentonem58@daretolearn.org.

Lewis ‘brings a light’ to more than one stage

Submitted Photo

Jasmine Lewis smiles for a photo with the king and queen of England after a performance of ‘The Lost Colony.’ Lewis decided to join the cast last summer because of her love for acting.

By Allie Nigro Features Editor

ctress. Singer. Musician. Dancer. Many can call themselves one of these things, but how about all four? Freshman Jasmine Lewis can, and although she has been singing and dancing for as long as she can remember, her career in the arts is just getting started. Lewis has been in multiple performances, including “The Lost Colony,” “Elf JR.” and most recently “All Together Now,” where she played Elsa and was the lead in the song “Let it Go” from “Frozen.” Lewis absolutely loves being around the whole StageKraft family. “The cast and crew are so nice,” Lewis said. “They are all so fun to be around, and StageKraft is just a really fun thing to do.” Lewis also helped choreograph multiple numbers in the show and immediately ﬁt right in. “She just meshed with alum and rookies alike instantly within the StageKraft family,” teacher and StageKraft director Monica Penn said. During her experience in “The Lost Colony,” Lewis was part of the child ensemble and performed three times a week last June and July. The audition was different from what she was used

to, and she described the process as a little nerve-wracking. “You’d go into this big room with three tables that had six people and a piano player, and you’d sing part of a song for them,” Lewis said. “When we ﬁnished with that, we learned a dance combination and we performed that on the stage with a small group of people.” Lewis’ love for the arts doesn’t just stop at theater. She plays violin, some guitar and has been dancing for 10 years. “I started dancing at a really young age, and going into chorus made me love singing and music,” Lewis said. “Now I play all these instruments and make music.” Being only 15 years old and having been involved in so much has taught Lewis a lot. She has learned important skills and life lessons that she will always remember. “Patience is good to have,” Lewis said. “Rejection is also good to have and be comfortable with, same with criticism.” Lewis brings so much to every stage she performs on and is highly regarded by her fellow castmates and teachers. “Jasmine brings a light,” Penn said. “She is a ray of sunshine, and those are hard to come by.” Junior Allie Nigro can be reached at 23nigroal20@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News (left) and submitted (right)

Jasmine Lewis sings as Elsa in the school musical ‘All Together Now’ (left) and performs on stage at a dance competition. The freshman dances at Island School of Dance.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

Stew-ART creates unique masterpieces

By Olivia Sugg Online Editor-in-Chief

t’s 2014, you are 10 years old and at a surf competition near your house in Florida. Instead of watching the waves, you look over and see a random artist you have never heard of painting on a surfboard. This small moment might seem pretty insigniﬁcant to most, but for senior Micah Stewart, it was just the opposite. Stewart has been creating art for as long as he can remember. However, he became really interested after seeing professional artist Drew Brophy painting on that surfboard. “Drew Brophy is an artist that grew up in Florida, just like me,” Stewart said. “He paints a lot on surfboards and his art style with waves and sunsets that are kind of cartoony really inspired me.” Like Brophy, Stewart mainly uses Posca paint-marker pens, and in March of 2021 the brand even reposted a photo from his art instagram: @micah_stew.art. The photo was an image of a ﬁsh that he painted on the half-pipe in his backyard, entirely in Posca pens. His half-pipe is not the only unordinary canvas Stewart has drawn on. In fact, most of his canvases would be considered atypical. “I have painted outdoor shower doors, skate ramps, skate boards, phone cases, my calculator and even a little free library for an Airbnb in Kitty Hawk,” Stewart said. Jennifer Stewart is Micah’s mom and also happens to teach art at First Flight Middle School. Jennifer loves the fact that her son is so disciplined with his art, and she is always impressed with his creativity. “He creates all types of art and paints on everything,” Jennifer said. “But I really love a few small murals he has completed around our house. They mean so much to me and my husband.” The art genes in the family are not limited to Micah and his mom, but extend over several generations. “Micah’s grandparents have a pottery studio and are in shows, displaying their work with the Albemarle Arts Council, Perquimans Arts League Gallery and Chowan Arts Council,” Jennifer said. “His uncle also does pottery NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

Submitted Photos

Senior Micah Stewart shows off the outdoor shower door he painted. Stewart has taken advantage of his artistic skills to decorate many unusual items around his house, including his surfboard (right).

in his free time and I am an art teacher, so I guess you could say it runs in the family.” Micah hopes to pursue a career in the Coast Guard after graduation while still keeping art in his life and following in his family’s footsteps. “My mom and I have been talking about trying to sell some small canvases in local craft shows like the one at the Outer Banks Seafood Festival or other community events,” Micah said. While his career ambitions are leading toward the water, Micah’s love of painting and passion for art will continue to accompany him wherever he goes. “I really enjoy seeing what Micah comes up with next,” Jennifer said. “And I’m sure art will always be a part of his life no matter what he chooses to do in the future.” Junior Olivia Sugg can be reached at 23suggol52@daretolearn.org.

Submitted Photo

Micah Stewart skates on the custom half-pipe in his backyard. The picture of the ﬁsh on his half-pipe was reposted by his favorite marker brand on Instagram.

Nighthawks celebrate traditions with Grammy and Gramps

“My grandparents and my grandfather’s entire family do a big party. Everybody comes down from wherever they’re living, so we just all have a big party in his backyard. We have a cookout and we do white elephant.” – junior Morgan Deane

“I go up to Pennsylvania for Christmas because my family lives there and we make sand tarts every year, which are German cookies that are really hard to make. My grandma always makes them and cuts them up into a bunch of different shapes and we get to decorate them with sprinkles.” – freshman Caroline York

“Usually me and my granddad go hunting and then we come back with a nice fresh deer. We clean and cook the deer and then after that we help my nana with making some pies along with my twin sister. After that, we go to our granny’s house, which is my great-grandma, and we give that all to her. She sits it out on a table – turkey, ham – and then the whole family has a big feast.” – freshman Macallister Sawyer

“We all go to my grandparents’ house and play white elephant and a bunch of Christmas games and then we all just sit in the living room and wear matching Christmas pajamas.” – senior Abby Hines

– Reporting by Olivia Sugg

WINTER MAY BE COMING, BUT THESE SONGS ARE FIRE As temperatures drop, the nights grow longer and tourist season finally slows to a crawl, it’s time to get your winter solstice up and running. So layer up, gather round the fire and crank up the holiday cheer with some of the Nighthawks’ favorite tunes! Scan the Spotify code above to start listening! – By Tatum Love, Staff Writer

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

Santa’s List

Emmy Benton - PacSun jeans Emma Braithwaite - Apple Watch V7 N’Nia Brickhouse - Corduroy pants Stella Bryson - High Top Converse Colin Byard - Nike Blazers Arden Carlyle - Teddy Bear puppy Versailles Dalessio - galaxy room projector Mackenzie Edwards - Hydro Flask cup Fiona Finchem - espresso machine Foster Guns - crystals Kayla Hallac - a ski trip Kate Hamilton - The Comfy (blanket) Steve Hanf - WeatherTech cargo liner Callie Honeycutt- a disco ball for her rear view mirror Maren Ingram - Apple Macbook Air Noah Kinnisten - solve world hunger *also an Apple Macbook* Joey Krieg - blue Ugg slippers Tatum Love - new jewelry and shoes Audrey Lovell - a kitten Maggie McNinch - Apple Macbook Pro Taylor Newton - Eddie Bauer hiking boots Michael Pearson - Benchmade pocket knife Samuel Smith - a girlfriend (23smithsa22@daretolearn.org) Olivia Sugg - Blundstone boots

Nighthawk News

Graphic by Kate Hamilton and Michael Pearson, Online Editor-in-Chief and Multimedia Editor

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / features

Our View: Spreading Christmas cheer all year on the Outer Banks Nighthawk News Editors-in-Chief: Kayla Hallac, Maren Ingram, Maggie McNinch Online Editors-in-Chief: Versailles Dalessio, Kate Hamilton, Olivia Sugg Features Editors: Emma Braithwaite, Allie Nigro Opinions Editors: Fiona Finchem, Samuel Smith Sports Editors: Mackenzie Edwards, Noah Kinnisten Photo Editor: Taylor Newton News Editors: Emmy Benton, Stella Bryson Multimedia Editor: Michael Pearson Social Media Editors: Daisy Morales-Bravo, Callie Honeycutt Business Manager: Joey Krieg Staff Writers: N’Nia Brickhouse, Colin Byard, Arden Carlyle, Foster Guns, Abigail Haber, Tatum Love, Kayla Loveless, Audrey Lovell, Kira Walters Adviser: Steve Hanf

ighthawk News Magazine is published four times a year by the journalism classes at First Flight High School. The publication is distributed free to the FFHS student body, faculty and staff and to First Flight Middle School. Approximately 3,000 copies are distributed in various retail outlets throughout the Outer Banks. The Nighthawk News staff strives to provide informative and accurate coverage of individuals and events within the school and the Dare County community. The opinion pages serve as a forum for the publications staff and community. Views expressed in Nighthawk News do not represent the opinions of the faculty or administration, the Dare County School Board or its administration. Editorials represent the views of the staff; bylined columns are the opinion of the authors. Readers are encouraged to write letters to the editor on matters of concern. Letters may be mailed to FFHS or delivered to Room B-214. They must be signed. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, grammatical errors or libelous content. Reach us by mail at 100 Veterans Drive, Kill Devil Hills, N.C. 27948, by phone at (252) 449-7000 or by e-mail at hanfst@daretolearn.org. Advertising inquiries can be made by phone or email. Nighthawk News is a member of the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association and the National Scholastic and Southern Interscholastic press associations. Our stories also are published online at NighthawkNews.com. Follow us on Twitter @FFNighthawkNews, Facebook.com/NighthawkNews, Instagram @FFHSNighthawkNews and Snapchat at Nighthawk.News. Sun Coast Press of Venice, Florida, prints our paper.

sexual violence in the Outer Banks. s Buddy the Elf said, “The The Festival of Trees brings together best way to spread Christmas individuals, families, businesses and cheer is singing loud for all organizations to celebrate the holiday to hear,” and the Outer Banks community sure does know how to sing season with twinkling lights, festive musical performances, punch and loud. For years, our community has homemade cookies and shopping for come together for the season of giving, one-of-a-kind gifts.” and just like we know how to sing, we When we think about all the amazalso know how to give. ing things people have Many local businesses done for others during the and organizations have holidays, it makes us think come up with ways to help more about the off-season our community. Whether and how we can help oththat be a food drive or the ers year-round. There will Festival of Trees, the Outer always be opportunities to Banks always comes toSTAFF give to charity and even gether when sunlight hours EDITORIAL create your own. shorten and each day grows Whether Christmas colder. is right around the corner or it’s the Just this November, Outer Banks middle of summer, the season of giving ﬁrst responders and volunteers seems to never end on the Outer Banks collected donations at Walmart for and even takes place right here in our the Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive, school. which fundraises and collects toys for In past years, First Flight has done children during the holiday season. fundraisers such as canned food drives The goal is to make sure no child is left and pet food drives. This year, you can out of a merry Christmas, and the local become involved too when the Nationgoal was met as over 500 children have al Honor Society holds its winter coat signed up to receive toys, with even drive, where you can donate old winter more to come. The Beach Food Pantry also collect- clothes to those in need. Getting into the habit of giving ed Thanksgiving Meal Bags that were now can lead the “season of giving” to distributed to clients the week before become a year-round and even lifelong Thanksgiving. Recipients were given thing for students. a traditional holiday meal, allowing The Nighthawk News staff wishes them to enjoy Thanksgiving to the all happy holidays and asks the comfullest. munity to remember that just because Our community has already begun Christmas may come and go, the seahelping others before December even kicked off, but what’s next? son of giving knows no end. Hotline will host their annual These are just some of the many Outer Banks Hotline Festival of Trees, fundraising events on the Outer Banks. “a unique community fundraiser that Visit obxguides.com for more fundraissupports programming, services, ing opportunities. shelter, training, information and This staff editorial reﬂects the opinion resources to address domestic and of the Nighthawk News editorial board.

IN OUR OPINION

What is your 2022 New Year’s resolution?

“My New Year’s resolution is to place ﬁrst in high jump at the state meet this year.” – junior Lydia Sillies

“My New Year’s resolution is to ﬁnally be able to do the splits for dance.” – freshman Nora Downing

“My New Year’s resolution is to get nasty at golf because I want to beat my brother.” – senior Greer Farr

“My New Year’s resolution is to study more and take my contacts out when I go to bed.” – sophomore Gracie Parks

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

New year means graduating year

he magical year that us seniors have been preparing for since before we could write full sentences is nearly here. Now, with only a few weeks left of 2021, our graduating year is right around the corner, and watching the calendar ﬂip to 2022 is something that many of us, including myself, have been unable to mentally grasp. I remember sitting in the computer lab in early elementary school and learning my email address and lunch number, which would end up being our logins to everything for the next 12 years. At the beginning of our emails were the numbers ‘2 2’. I remember my kindergarten teacher saying, “That means 2022, the year you’re going to graduate. It may seem far away now, but it’s closer than you think.” To this day, I don’t think I’ve ever heard truer words. I’ve always thought about that June day when we’ll line up alphabetically, hear the valedictorian and salutatorian speeches and walk across the stage to receive our diplomas as an event so far in the future that it’s com-

pletely unseeable. But when I walk through the store and see the New Year’s decorations decked out with the year 2022, reality hits like a train. While it’s exciting to think about heading off to see what this giant world has to offer, and the fact that my “senioritis” kicks in more and more every day, I know that this chapter coming to a close is going to be painful. From field days in elementary school to seventh-grade chorus concerts, from the first day of high school to the day we throw our caps in the air in celebration, this class has been through it all, together. We experienced grief with the tragic loss of a classmate in sixth grade and were forced to navigate almost the entirety of high school in a pandemic world. While it hasn’t been the easiest ride, I know that many of us seniors are incredibly thankful we get to have a somewhat normal senior year, including football games, Homecoming traditions and prom. It’s a privilege that the Class of 2020 and 2021 weren’t so lucky to have, so even being back in the school building for our final

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Members of the graduating class of 2021 throw their caps up in celebration after last year’s graduation ceremony. Now, the Class of 2022 is beginning to prepare to graduate in just six months.

year of high school is something to be grateful for. Quite often, I think about watching the senior class walk through my elementary school before graduation day, or even starting high school as a timid freshman and looking at the seniors as if they were celebrities. Prior to this year, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be a senior, much less imagine what it would be like to walk out of First Flight High School for the last time.

But, in just six short months, I’ll be doing just that; walking out of this school for the very last time, at least as a student. It’s bittersweet when I think about all the wonderful memories I’ve made here, whether it be producing a newspaper with some of the most talented people First Flight has to offer, cheering on the football team with my friends, or simply bonding with teachers and classmates on a daily basis. At the same

time, I’m so thankful for all the opportunities I’ve been given at First Flight that have made these memories possible in the ﬁrst place. While it’s going to be painful to walk away from the people we’ve essentially grown up with, it’s also incredible to watch us leave First Flight as these amazing individuals who have so much to offer to the world. Senior Maren Ingram can be reached at 22ingramma01@ daretolearn.org.

The tradition of creating New Year’s resolutions is believed to have begun with the ancient Babylonians about 4,000 years ago, while more modern resolutions started around the 19th century. According to studies, fewer than 8% of people stick to their resolutions out of the 60% of Americans who create one. It’s estimated that most people keep their New Year’s resolutions for only 36 days, meaning that 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail, but it never hurts to try!

“My New Year’s resolution is to be the better version of myself.” – freshman Christian Sheetz

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / opinions

“My New Year’s resolution is to land a Cork Shuriken cutter ﬂip, which is a backﬂip off one leg with a 450-degree twist and two synchronized kicks.” – junior Fenton McKown

“My New Year’s resolution is that I want to start reading more, and I want to eat healthier.” – sophomore Azrael Simpson

“ My New Year’s resolution is to become closer with my family.” – senior Kayla Brown

The top picks this season: Pop Christmas classics

f you’re reading this, I’m going to assume that you love Christmas as much as I do and therefore you love the sound of jingle bells, and most importantly, Mariah Carey. Some of the most famous pop artists love making Christmas music when the holiday season comes around. Here are the most popular, a few of which happen to be my favorites as well.

If Christmas songs had a video game, Mariah Carey and her millions of sales off her Christmas songs alone would be the ﬁnal boss. But in this video game you don’t ﬁnish the game, you get to Mariah and lose. My go-to all season long is her Christmas album, “Merry Christmas.” In 2019, eight years after the release, Carey’s song with Justin Bieber, “All I Want For Christmas” landed No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Loving “The Grinch” (2018) soundtrack is biased for me because it’s connected to one of my favorite Christmas movies. Tyler The Creator producing the music for this movie was the cherry on top, and he made

sure it was a maraschino. The instruments picked out for the movie were well thought out and ﬁt with the animated theme perfectly. Whoever decided to pick him for production deserves a raise. (And while it’s off topic and might cause an argument, the new Grinch movie is better.) Tyler also has an extended version from his production on “The Grinch” that includes six songs inspired by the movie which are fantastic. “Big Bag” and “Lights On” are two of my favorite songs from the album and are worth checking out this holiday season.

Unfortunately, there is a certain group of individuals whose go-to during the holidays is “Under The Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber. Whenever I think of this Christmas album, two big triangles pop into my head, and they are both facing right. (Hint: It’s the skip button.) Not everyone feels the same way, though, as Bieber’s take on Christmas songs debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2011. If you’re a fan of his regular hits, this is the Christmas album for you. If you’re not a Belieber, however, don’t stop under this mistletoe.

I hope Snoop Dogg knows this puts him on the naughty list until further notice, not because it will offend your grandparents, but because of how difﬁcult it is to listen to. I need the instrumental version, though, because the beats are very complex. I just wish the lyrics and

ﬂow were of a similar caliber. On a better note, Snoop Dogg wrote and produced one of my favorite Christmas songs, “Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto,” which represents Snoop Dogg’s talent much better and features Nate Dogg as well.

If Ariana Grande’s favorite holiday isn’t Christmas, then I’ll be shocked. She seems to love making Christmas music, as she has so much of it. She started her holiday season off early, already releasing a song with Kelly Clarkson, “Santa, Can’t You Hear Me?” which is cleverly paired with a drawing of Santa wearing headphones. Grande and Clarkson released the song on Oct. 14. Grande also worked with Mariah Carey and Jennifer Hudson to make their hit “Oh Santa!” This collaboration is like having LeBron James, Steph Curry and Michael Jordan in his prime all on one team. Grande makes fantastic Christmas music thanks to her angelic voice and strong holiday spirit.

“Duck The Halls” provides a Christmas album that shows more red than green during the holidays. In this Christmas mashup, jingle bells were replaced with duck calls and the only present Santa brings to town is deer jerky. In 2013, Duck Dynasty had the second-best selling Christmas album of the year and has sold over 800,000 copies in the U.S.

My favorite Christmas song is “Christmas in Harlem” by Kanye West. This track features Teyana Taylor, Cyhi the Prince and was written in part by Marvin Gaye. Taylor provides the chorus, which slows down the track and produces a beautiful sounding anthem feel to an upbeat Christmas tune. Kanye comes in after the chorus and gives a raspy, humor-ﬁlled verse about him and his love’s holiday season. I found this song last Christmas and never turned it off. If only Mariah Carey had a feature.

Run D.M.C. has a song that is deﬁnitely worth listening to on “The Grinch” (2018) soundtrack called, “Christmas Is” originally released in 1992, but it doesn’t come close to their ﬁrst Christmas hit, “Christmas in Hollis.” With the help of the music video, Run D.M.C. shows what happens when Santa Claus comes to the boroughs of New York. The song was released in 1987 and used a sample from Clarence Carter’s “Back Door Santa” from 1968.

Whether you’re on the naughty or nice list, everyone hears Christmas songs every year. And while the debate for best holiday still stands, the argument about best holiday songs has been laying on the ground for some time. Christmas has a completely different atmosphere that other holidays just don’t have. It’s also a little easier to sing about Santa rather than dead turkeys and pilgrims. Senior Joey Krieg can be reached at 22krieg52@daretolearn.org.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

Christmas in November: How early is too early to decorate?

t’s Nov. 1, the day after Halloween. You’re sorting through your abundant amount of candy from last night when your mom starts to play Christmas songs. Do you yell in frustration or jump up and start singing? The eternal debate of when is the “right” time to transition to the Christmas holiday is controversial for many. My family has always set up for Christmas after Thanksgiving, so I am a firm believer in holiday order. If we decorate before Thanksgiving, it is subtle decor, such as a wooden nativity scene on our counter or white icicle lights on our roof. It’s not like Thanksgiving is a holiday to decorate for, anyway. I personally believe that you should wait until Thanksgiving to decorate, especially if you have decor such as a live Christmas tree or live wreath,

because they could go bad or shed all of their pine needles. Just like setting up Christmas decorations, Christmas music comes back onto the charts around the same time each year – right on time for some and way too early for others. On Nov. 15, 2021, Mariah Carey’s renowned “All I Want for Christmas” hit was No. 69 on the Billboard Top 200. According to social media users at the time, Carey was “defrosting” for the Christmas season. Christmas music sales always skyrocket during the holiday season, which is justifiable, but what about department store sales? I always find it crazy when walking into Lowe’s or Dollar Tree in early November and they are selling everything Christmas, and by the first of December, they’re nearly out of everything. Depart-

ment stores are notorious for decorating their stores early, but this could be useful to those who decorate early in the season. Although Christmas is the “happiest time of the year,” it does come to an end. I take down my decorations about the second or third week of January. I have some friends and family that leave their decorations up well into January and some even into February. I could see the perspective of being excited for Christmas and setting up early, but taking it down late is just drawing out the holiday for an unnecessarily long time. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas, but I would rather save the holiday joy for the actual holiday, rather than spend two months with holiday decorations up. But if it makes you happy to have Christmas decorations in September, by all means, go for it. Sophomore Foster Guns can be reached at 24gunsfo54@daretolearn.org.

Creepy Christmas ‘classics’ deserve a lump of coal

f you ask someone to name their favorite Christmas songs, you’ll likely hear the classics, like “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” or “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” But have you ever really listened to the backstories behind these familiar favorites? Truly listening to these strange songs is enough to blow your mind. Almost everyone has heard the theory of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” having some predatory undertones, with lyrics like “you’re very pushy” or “say, what’s in this drink?” Singer John Legend and his co-star on “The Voice,” Kelly Clarkson, reworked the lyrics to this song in response to the #MeToo movement. Lyric changes include: “I can call you a ride” and “text me when you get home.” But even with these changes, there are more and more classic Christmas favorites whose disturbed narratives are coming to light. An unfamiliar tale to some is the

story of “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town’,” the prequel to “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.” This movie aired in 1970, six years after the first “Rudolph’’ movie aired. In this story, the mayor of Sombertown, Burgermeister Meisterburger, is an oppressive leader. He detests toys and will arrest anyone who is in possession of any. Later years lead to the story of the glowing red-nosed reindeer named Rudolph, who is bullied relentlessly by his peers who leave him out of their “reindeer games.” But one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa needs Rudolph’s

help with guiding his sleigh, and all of the other reindeer change their opinions on Rudolph. Everyone knows about this prime story, and it is among many people’s favorites. A lesser-known story involves the popular holiday song “Winter Wonderland,” which is one of my favorites. This story has a more depressing tone to it. It was written by Richard B. Smith in 1934 while he was in the hospital suffering from tuberculosis. The song is about dreams of him walking through a winter fantasy with his wife, Jean, whom he married one year before he fell prey to his life-ending illness. The next story is more creepy than depressing. Everyone knows the hair-raising lyrics of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” The well-known song is played to young children informing them that Santa Claus is always watching, even when they’re sleeping, encouraging the children not to pout or cry.

Why are we so indifferent to telling children that a strange man that they don’t know is watching them while they’re asleep? Speaking of Santa Claus, imagine seeing your own mom kissing the man who brings you presents each year? “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” is that classic Christmas tale of a young boy catching his mother in the act of sharing a loving kiss with her husband – who just happens to be dressed as Santa Claus. To a young child, this could be slightly traumatizing to think back on. I never really saw the unnaturalness in some Christmas stories until someone pointed out the uncomfortable themes in “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Some of these songs seem better for the Halloween season rather than the most wonderful time of the year. Sophomore Kayla Loveless can be reached at 24lovelesska73@daretolearn. org.

Christmas trees: Wanted ... dead or alive?

“I don’t like real Christmas trees because I really hate the smell of pine.” – senior Skylar Shifflet – Reporting by Foster Guns and Kayla Loveless

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / opinions

“I think fake Christmas trees are stupid because they don’t smell like anything and they’re usually pretty small.” – sophomore Luke Rubino

“I like real Christmas trees because when I was younger, I used to lick the pine needles that fell on the floor because I like the taste of pine.” – junior Kaiden Lane

“We don’t use real Christmas trees because my uncle is very paranoid of real trees catching on fire, and he made my family paranoid, too. I prefer real trees because I love the way they smell.” – freshman Annie Coyle

Photos by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

The newly formed FFHS pep band plays a song at a recent basketball game to encourage the team and increase school spirit. The band plans to play at nearly every home game this season.

Pep band gets the gym rockin’ again

By Colin Byard Staff Writer

he halls rumble with popular music from over the years and practice rooms are filled with students preparing. Returning to the stands, the pep band is playing at basketball games again. With the competitive sense of basketball, having the band’s exciting music in the background is the perfect way to hype up the players. The band playing at basketball games allows for the student body to get more involved and be more engaged in athletics at First Flight. Athletic Director and men’s basketball coach Chad Williams likes the idea, as he thinks it will help bring students together. “I think having the pep band there is fantastic. I have not only coached with the pep band here and at other schools, but also when I played in high school, our pep band played every night,” Williams said. Having this sort of music playing during the season benefits not only the athletes, but also the musicians, as this helps them gain experience and have a good time. While it is normal to have bands play at different college sports games, there hasn’t been a band at FFHS basketball games in a long time. Prior to this year, football has been the only sport for which the band has played, during its marching season. Senior varsity basketball player Ian Crumpler likes the idea of playing basketball with the pep band, as it will affect the atmosphere within the gym. “I feel like it would be a good idea because the gym won’t have that awkward silence it sometimes has and

it helps get in the other team’s head,” Crumpler said. In two early-season home games, the band set up in the stands near the gym entrance and filled the rafters with a variety of toe-tapping tunes. Adults and students alike could be seen dancing along to the upbeat music. After the first game, Williams even had a special request for the pep band – he asked if the men’s basketball team could run out to “Eye of the Tiger” to open each home game. Along with affecting the other team, the music can also help give the players motivation in close games. “I think we are going to do really well this year, way better than last year,” Crumpler said. Band Director Robert Lamberg offered the idea to play at games, and Williams immediately agreed as he knew it was a great idea for his players. “We’re looking forward to more opportunities to play,” Lamberg said. “It’s part of adding to the atmosphere.” Along with creating entertainment at the games, it also brings enthusiasm to the audience and the players because of the certain songs played. Whether it be “We Will Rock You” or “Seven Nation Army,” a lot of wellknown songs could possibly be used to bring the crowd together. Senior Ethan Duck, a member of the pep band, is looking forward to being able to play at these basketball games. “I’m excited,” Duck said. “I think it’s gonna be more of a chance for me to be able to actually play in the band and not have to conduct, which is gonna be fun. I think the crowds are going to be a lot more student based.” The band’s energy is something that can help elevate the basketball team to have great home games. In

fact, the music is so loud that fans in the student section at the far end of the gym can feel the rumble in their chests and have to scream at each other to be heard.

Williams summed it up best: “The energy that comes from them is amazing.” Senior Colin Byard can be reached at 22byardco55@daretolearn.org.

NEW FACES, SAME CARE Come see us for your Orthodontic needs. We can improve your smile and straighten your teeth. Call now for a free consultation with Dr. Jack Dunlevy, DMD, MS.

New Patients Welcome! 252-441-6683 • OuterBanksOrthodontics.com Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8 to 4:30 2224 S Croatan Highway, Nags Head, 27959 NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

Dynamic father-child duos dive into the swim season

By Kira Walters Staff Writer

t’s your first swim meet of the year. You walk up to the block and take your mark bracing yourself for the loud buzz to start swimming. After speeding across the pool for meters on end, you get to the wall. Gasping for air, you look up to see your coach – and dad – cheering in excitement. While being a student-athlete is not uncommon, having the opportunity to be coached by a parent is. Both FFHS swim coaches, Robert Trivette and Dave Tonnesen, coach their kids on the team. Senior Ben Tonnesen and junior Maura Trivette are both accomplished swimmers, making it all the way to the state championships during the 2020-2021 school year and hoping to attend again this season. Their dads are on the pool deck for every early morning practice and evening meet. “I think it’s great that my dad coaches me,” Ben said. “He encourages me to keep doing what I love even when I’m not in the pool. It is a really easy way to keep that momentum.” Robert and Dave have both been coaching long before they had kids. Dave has been coaching since he was eighteen years old, one of his swimmers being his younger sister before his three children started the sport. Robert has been coaching other teams off and on since he was only fifteen. When his oldest daughter was a sophomore, he began coaching the FFHS swim team. “Coaching your child is different. It has its benefits and it has its downsides,” Robert said. “It’s a little harder because you’re a coach and a dad so you feel the excitement of something good happening a little more and the disappointment of something bad happening a little more with your child than the other swimmers.” Many outsiders to the team may assume that Dave and Robert would have more intense feelings while watching their child

swim versus others, but this is something that has rarely occurred over the years, including when Ben and Maura’s older siblings were on the team. “I’ve never noticed myself treating Ben differently, except I might have a higher level of expectation for him,” Dave said. “If one of my kids were to ever call me ‘dad’ at practice, I wouldn’t respond because when we’re on deck, I’m ‘Coach Dave.’ ” Their children also have no problem responding to their “coach” like every other swimmer. “I respect my dad,” Maura said. “I treat him like my dad out of practice, but I treat him like my coach in practice, so I take what he says and use it to make myself better.” The fact that the family members enjoy a normal coach/athlete dynamic in the water helps other members of the team see that there isn’t any favoritism involved. “The coaches take our opinions into consideration, but I think they do their best not to parent their kids while they’re coaching,” junior Laney Dexter said. “They do really well with it.” The atmosphere of the FFHS swim team is admirable. The coaches welcome all of the swimmers into their homes on nights before meets to have dinner together and get to know each other. Every athlete treats each other with respect, regardless of who it is or what the situation may be. Junior Logan Thiessen agreed: “They treat all the swimmers as equals and nobody is ever left out.” After all, one thing swimmers always say they love about their sport is that the entire swim team is like one big family. “To me, it’s not about coaching my child because I think of all the swimmers as my kids,” Dave said. “When I’m doing meet entries I would do it as if it was for a favorite niece or nephew, so I think of all of them as if they were my own child.” Sophomore Kira Walters can be reached 24walterski77@daretolearn.org.

Photo by Taylor Newton/Nighthawk News

Swim coach Robert Trivette (above) records the split times for his swimmers at a recent meet at the Outer Banks Family YMCA. Below, fellow swim coach Dave Tonnesen discusses heats with his athletes at the meet.

Lacrosse launches Clagett to Lynn Liz Clagett - Lynn University - Lacrosse

Why Lynn? Because I really liked the women’s lacrosse program and I really liked the school. What are some of your freshman year hopes? To make new friends and just fit in and do well in school, I guess. What is your intended major? I used to be really into teaching because I got the summers off but I don’t really know anymore because I’m not really into that now. What is your favorite Nighthawk memory? I’d say the pep rally before

Covid started when, I think it was sophomore year, all of us were on the float because I feel like our grade was really close at that time. We were on the float just jumping, having a time. That was really fun. What are you most excited about playing your sport at the collegiate level? Just getting better. I’m really excited to have a routine, I’m really excited to be working out constantly, and just staying fit throughout the years. – Reporting by Mackenzie Edwards

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

Submitted Photo

Senior Liz Clagett makes her commitment to Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. She will be attending Lynn next fall to continue her lacrosse career.

#Goals: Kicking around with track and soccer couple By Kate Hamilton Online Editor-in-Chief

he world has seen some famous “power couples,” such as actors Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, singers Beyonce and Jay-Z, and royals like Prince William and Kate Middleton. These couples have been together for a long time and are well-known in their various industries. The same could be said for First Flight’s latest “power couple,” seniors Dominic Marino and Maggie McNinch, who are known for their shared love of both track and soccer. Marino and McNinch have been together for two years. They met in eighth grade after Marino moved to the Outer Banks. They had seen each other in the halls but it wasn’t until they found themselves on the same soccer team that sparks began to fly. “I had the biggest crush on him in eighth grade,” McNinch said. “We played soccer together and I thought he was just the coolest person ever, and him being from France made him even cooler.” They later became good friends and began seeing each other more. In the summer before their sophomore year, they officially started dating. “We went to his house, walked his dogs around the neighborhood and went to the beach. We both knew we liked each other so we just kind of made it official,” McNinch said. “The way it happened seems so funny looking back on it now but it’s definitely a good memory.” Over the span of two years, the couple has spent a lot of time together and has been able to acquire a lot of memories. From the small stuff like watching a movie together to bigger adventures, all of it has been special and meaningful. “It’s hard to choose a specific favorite memory but I would probably say when we went to New Mexico together over the summer,” McNinch said. “We had so much fun riding horses and climbing the mesas, but really just being around him makes me happy.” Both Marino and McNinch share a passion for soccer. Marino plays for the school during the fall, while McNinch plays during the spring. As the years have passed, they both have been there cheering each other on.

Submitted Photo

Seniors Dominic Marino (left) and Maggie McNinch stand together after the NCHSAA Indoor Track State Championship two years ago. Both athletes participate in track and soccer and spend time together through their sports. Below, the couple takes a break for a selﬁe during a sunrise hike up one of the mesas at Marino’s family ranch in New Mexico. The two enjoyed riding horses, hiking and spending time together there.

“Maggie and I play the same sports, so it’s a great way to connect because whether it be during track season where we are traveling to meets and practicing together or me going to watch one of her soccer games, we get to spend time with each other and are able to give each other good advice,” Marino said. Since school soccer only lasts for a season, both Marino and McNinch are able to con-

tinue to participate in other sports and leagues throughout the year. They both play on travel soccer teams and participate in school track. “At the (track) meets, it’s fun because we cheer each other on and are there to support each other,” McNinch said. “He always calms me down before I go to the starting line and afterwards he’s there to celebrate with me, and I do the same for him.”

While they spend a lot of time together on the ﬁeld and the track, they also enjoy spending quality one-on-one time with just each other. “We like to go out to eat and our favorite place is probably Josephine’s,” Marino said. “We also like to just chill at our houses and I’ve gotten her into anime, so we’ll watch anime together, too.” Marino and McNinch are both leaders on their soccer

and track teams. They have many peers who look up to them and know they can count on them to lift their spirits. “I love how happy Maggie and Dom both are and how they are both encouraging and uplifting towards themselves and others around them,” senior Mya Salch said. Close friend and teammate, senior Colin Byard, has known this couple since the beginning and has watched their relationship grow. “They are just always with each other and supporting each other,” Byard said. “They both increasingly got better at soccer and over time they hung out more and left less time for me and Dom,” he added with a laugh. Senior year is often the highlight of students’ careers, but it’s even more enjoyable when you have someone special to share it with. As Marino and McNinch ﬁnish out their senior year, they will be there for each other and look forward to supporting each other in the future. “I will deﬁnitely be there to support him and plan on going to his games if he decides to play in college,” McNinch said. “I just love watching him play and I’m excited to see what awesome things he can accomplish.” Marino echoes similar thoughts: “Maggie’s pretty amazing and I’m looking forward to seeing where our relationship goes.” Senior Kate Hamilton can be reached at 22Hamiltonka86@ daretolearn.org.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

Student-athletes leave ‘The Nest’ to play travel sports

By Fiona Finchem Opinions Editor

he excitement that comes along with a Nighthawk game-winning 3-pointer with only five seconds remaining, or a touchdown, is something not to be missed. But what happens when the season ends? While some athletes move on to the next school sport, others decide to play the same sport for the entire school year and some even through the summer. First Flight students travel near and far to play their favorite sports. Freshman Colin Rhodes plays soccer for First Flight in the fall and, for the remainder of the year, Virginia Beach Rush. “I have been playing soccer since I was five years old because my brother played, and I kind of always wanted to be just like him,” Rhodes said. “I decided to join and see if I liked it, and I have been playing ever since.” Rhodes plays soccer during the off-season in Hampton Roads four days a week. He’s traveled as far as West Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Maryland and even Florida for tournaments. “Some of the best places I’ve gone to were Florida, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.,” Rhodes said. “Travel has given me some of the closest friends I will have in my life and has made me work and persevere harder than I have ever had to do before.”

Students not only play sports out of state, but many play for local club teams created right here on the Outer Banks, such as Coastal Surge Travel Softball Team, OBX Storm Soccer Club and OBX Wave Volleyball Club (OBXW). OBXW was founded by parents in 2017, as several girls from the First Flight Middle School volleyball team wanted to continue playing together after their school season. Ever since, OBXW has offered multiple teams. This year they have five teams: 12U, 13U, 14U, 16U and 17U, allowing girls of all ages to improve their skills. Sophomore Mackenzie Pappas just began her second season for OBXW. “I joined OBX Wave last year because it is the closest travel team, and I can’t drive yet,” Pappas said. “It also represents where we are from. When we go to tournaments, people will say, ‘Oh my gosh, are you from the Outer Banks?’ and I think that’s really cool.” Travel sports give student-athletes another opportunity to develop their skills, try new positions and learn the game’s strategies. Alongside that, athletes who maybe did not make the school team still have an opportunity to play the sport they love. “If you love a sport, you should definitely go for it and join a travel team,” Rhodes said. “It’s a big commitment, but it’s a great opportunity to be out with your friends and do what you love.” Senior Fiona Finchem can be reached @22finchemfi99@daretolearn.org.

Submitted Photo

Freshman goalie Colin Rhodes jumps to catch the ball while sophomores Kai Reece (left, in blue) and Phoenix Wooten help defend the corner kick. These three athletes spend their time in the off-season playing for Virginia Beach Rush Soccer Club.

Braddy brings the heat to D-I level

Porter Braddy - University of Maryland Eastern Shore - Baseball

Why Maryland Eastern Shore? I chose Maryland Eastern Shore because I went there and it made me feel very comfortable. The team talked to me a lot and they seemed really chill so it felt like it was the right fit for me to get along there. What are some of your freshman year hopes? I think that (the coach) expects me to produce pretty early so I’m hoping to get in a lot of innings and do really well. What is your intended major? I’m studying to be a physical therapist. What is your favorite Nighthawk memory? I’d have to say last year’s baseball season because we did really well and we had a lot of fun together while doing it. Plus the first game against Currituck was really hype and then we ended up beating them again to have an undefeated season, so that was just really fun. What are you most excited about playing your sport at the collegiate level? I think it’s just going to be a whole other level of competition that I have to deal with. I’ve played high school ball in the playoffs and I’ve played travel ball against all different competition, but when I get to college, it’ll be like playing with a bunch of people that are at least on the same skill level with me and even better, Submitted Photo so it will be really fun playing that competition.

Senior Porter Braddy sits at the First Flight signing table surrounded by his fellow baseball teammates. He committed to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and looks forward to playing for the Shore Hawks.

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

– Reporting by Noah Kinnisten, Sports Editor

First Flight Sports Spotlight: Q&A with

Susie Hala

Jackson Hannon

Josie Voight

Gage Tomlin

Senior

Junior

Sophomore

Senior

How long have you been cheering? I started competitive cheer when I was 9 and school cheer in seventh grade. What is your favorite thing to do before a game? Team dinners. It’s nice to bond with the rest of the team and we get to hang out and talk before. What’s your favorite memory from cheerleading? My freshman year when we won the Marlin Bowl for the sixth time in a row. My brother was a senior and we got to storm the ﬁeld together. What is your dream job and why? I don’t really have one right now but I’m planning on doing something in the fashion industry. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be, and why? Adam Sandler (that guy is funny), Rihanna and Fiona (Finchem). What is your favorite holiday? Why? Fourth of July because you sit on the beach all day and you’re not obligated to go to any family dinners or buy gifts. What is your biggest pet peeve? When people chew really loud. What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? “School of Rock” because I love Jack Black. What’s your favorite beach access? Why do you like it? It used to be Carlow when I was younger because that’s where my family went but now that I’m older I don’t really have one. We kind of just go wherever. Go-to karaoke song? “Gucci Flip Flops.”

How long have you been running? Since sixth grade. What is your favorite thing to do before a meet? Sit down and discuss what were gonna do for the race. What is your favorite part about your sport? Just the team aspect. Also, it’s a new challenge every day and you’ve gotta ﬁgure out how you’re gonna win. Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a meet? Viva. What’s your favorite memory running cross country and track? Probably knowing we are going to go to regionals. If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? Probably save, give some of it to my family then invest and try to double it back. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be? Elon Musk, Usain Bolt and my dad because they all have a lot of knowledge to give. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas because I get to see all my family. What is your biggest pet peeve? Really messy things.

How long have you been playing basketball ? I’ve been playing since I was 5 or 6.

How long have you been wrestling? Since seventh grade, so it’s my sixth year.

What’s your favorite part about playing? Just having fun at games and the thrill of playing.

What are you going to miss the most? Wrestling with my friends and going to tournaments.

Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a game? Probably PokeBox.

What’s your favorite part about wrestling? Winning: Wrestling isn’t fun unless you win.

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Emma Richards. She’s a senior and she’s always been really good. And I feel like I look up to her and she plays really fast.

Where is your favorite place to eat after a meet? Smithﬁeld’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q.

What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? Probably my dad. He always coached me and just hanging out with him, I guess. If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? I probably would buy a lot of clothes. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be, and why? Harry Styles, my dead grandpa and RBG. What is a lifelong dream of yours? Probably to travel a lot and to go somewhere other than here.

What is your dream job and why? I want to be a pilot because I’m super interested in aviation. If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? Create a time machine. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be, and why? My dad when he was a teenager because I’d love to see how he was, Robin Williams because he’s a funny guy and Chewbacca because I want to see if I can eat more than him. What’s a fun fact about yourself? I can ride a unicycle.

What’s a fun fact about yourself? I like to surf.

What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? “Thor Ragnarok” because it’s my favorite Marvel movie.

Best teacher ever? My favorite teacher ever is probably Mrs. Lowe from sixth grade. She was really nice.

Best teacher ever? Why? Ms. Deal because she’s the nicest teacher I’ve ever met.

What’s your favorite TV show? “Blacklist.”

What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? The best movie I’ve ever seen is “Dead Poet’s Society.”

If you could be any animal, what would it be? A monkey.

Go-to karaoke song? “Party in the U.S.A.” for sure.

What’s your favorite beach access? Why do you like it? The Sea Ranch hotel, because it’s where I ﬁrst learned how to surf.

What’s a fun fact about yourself? I like to be outside. What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? “Avatar.”

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021

Nighthawk winter student-athletes

Laney Dexter

Cooper Hawk

Claire Meads

Logan Thiessen

Junior

Senior

Freshman

Junior

How long have you been swimming? Three years including this one. What’s your favorite part about swimming? My favorite part about the team is deﬁnitely how close everybody becomes towards the end of the season.

What is your favorite thing to do before a game? Listen to music and just get ready and focused. What’s your favorite memory playing your sport? Probably the ﬁrst AAU tournament we won in fourth or ﬁfth grade.

Where is your favorite place to eat before/after a meet? My favorite place to eat after a meet is Viva because most of the team goes and I love their burritos and quesadillas.

What is your dream job and why? I want to be a chiropractor just because I like helping injured people. If they just have a messed up back, help them out.

What’s your favorite memory in your sport? My favorite memory was doing the 200 IM for the ﬁrst time and getting my braces on the same day, then I almost passed out.

If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be, and why? Probably my grandpa that died before I was born, Albert Einstein and George Washington.

What is your dream job and why? My dream job would be nursing because I want to help people as much as possible. If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would it be, and why? The three people would be Robin Williams, President Obama and Selena Gomez. What’s a fun fact about yourself? I am left handed in everything I do except for cooking. Best teacher ever? Why? The best teacher I’ve ever had is Profe Leo because he’s just always in such a good mood. Go-to karaoke song? Anything by Taylor Swift or Adele.

What is your favorite holiday? Why? Christmas, because that’s just when I get to see all the family that I usually don’t see. What is your biggest pet peeve? When people talk about things they don’t know anything about. What’s a fun fact about yourself? I’m 6-foot-7. Best teacher ever? Why? When I was taking Spanish, I really liked Mrs. Gale. She was just happy every day. I just liked her energy. If you could be any animal, what would it be? Probably some kind of bird just so I could ﬂy over everything and just see cool landscapes.

How long have you been running indoor track? A couple of weeks.

How long have you been swimming? Five years.

What’s your favorite part about running so far? Getting to run with my buddies.

What’s your favorite part about swimming? How welcoming the team is and how everyone has the potential to be your friend.

What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? I look up to Tatum (Dermatas) because she is faster than me and she’s like my mom. What’s your favorite memory from running? Deﬁnitely the Friday Night Lights Invitational meet. If you became a millionaire by age 20, what would you do with it? Probably what normal millionaires do: make more money, get a big house, eat good food, be rich, have my own gym, that kind of stuff. What is your favorite holiday? Why? Christmas, because it’s the best. Christmas trees? Christmas songs? Presents? Amazing.

What is your favorite thing to do before a meet? I like to practice the day of because we focus on the ﬁnite details of our strokes and the little improvements we can make. What player (teammate, college or pro) do you look up to the most and why? Tucker Crook, because he always trains hard at practice. What is your dream job and why? To be a Coast Guard rescue swimmer like my dad. What is your biggest pet peeve? When people are in a bad mood. What is a lifelong dream of yours? To win millions in Vegas.

What is a lifelong dream of yours? To be ﬁnancially stable.

What’s a fun fact about yourself? I was born in Alaska.

Best teacher ever? Why? Mrs. Hutton because she brought her birds into class and we had dance parties on Fridays. She also got me organized.

What’s your favorite beach access? Why do you like it? Clark Street, because when I was lifeguarding I could order Ten O Six.

If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? A seagull, because they can ﬂy wherever they want and they just eat a bunch of food.

If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why? A penguin, because I want to be able to slide on my stomach instead of walking.

Go-to karaoke song? “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift.

Go-to karaoke song? “Oh Santa!” by Mariah Carey.

Photography by Maggie McNinch and Taylor Newton Reporting by Mackenzie Edwards, Fiona Finchem, Foster Guns, Kate Hamilton, Maren Ingram, Maggie McNinch, Noah Kinnisten and Kira Walters NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / sports

YOU BELI EV E Education is an investment in our future.

WE AGREE

Member FDIC

TowneBank.com

OBX

Education_First_Flight_HS_WINTER_Newspaper_4.5x6_4c.indd 1

10/20/21 2:03 PM

NIGHTHAWK News Magazine / / winter / / 2021