ODYSSEY Volume 21, Issue 3

ATCHLEY

The new CCHS recycling bins are a good first step toward a more sustainable school environment, but there’s still more to do.

BY PETER ATCHLEY

CCHS students and staff, as well as many members of the Athens-Clarke County community, are dedicated to celebrating Black History Month during February. BY

ANNA SHAIKUN

THE SHACK IS BACK

The Glad Shack has returned to CCHS and offers students an opportunity to learn about running a business.

BY ADAH HAMMAN

27 - 38

AS DIVA DOES

DIVAS Who Win peer mentor Undrea Gooden has overcome various challenges throughout her life and works to help Athenian women in similar situations.

BY MAGGIE MONK

How did CCHS varsity winter sports perform in the 2023-24 season? The ODYSSEY took a closer look.

BY WYATT MEYER

Featured: LET THEM COOK: Athens Community Career Academy students prepare food in the ACCA kitchen on March 5. The kitchen was refurbished, along with the creation of the student-run Yellow Jacket Bistro, as part of a Clarke County School District project.

“To be at the helm of that is a super privilege for me because I can then really focus on the industry of it all. I need my students to leave the classroom ready to join the (workforce),” ACCA Culinary Instructor Amee Williams said. Photo by Aza Khan

HISTORY THROUGH ART: Dancers from the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority perform at the Clarke Central

School Black History Month Program on Feb.

The program featured a vocal performance from CCHS Career, Technical and Agricultural Education department teacher Jaclyn Brown in addition to performances from various others. “(The) majority of our students represent African Americans. As of right now, the only class we have at Clarke Central that relates back to their heritage is Ethnic Studies,” Brown said. “(The Black History Month Program) gives them an opportunity to learn more about their history.” Photo by Aza Khan

Featured: HONORING HISTORY: Geneva Johnson Eberhart, Athens community member and mother to Clarke Central High School Class of 1992 alumnus and former varsity basketball player Percy Eberhart, poses with a portrait of her son’s likeness displayed in the CCHS boys varsity basketball locker room. When CCHS assistant boys varsity basketball coach and Class of 1991 alumnus Jason Johnson took a coaching role on the team, he made sure to emphasize Percy’s legacy. “That picture means a lot. It kind of keeps his memory alive,” Johnson said. “Whenever you walk in, you’re gonna always look at that picture. That’s important because (Percy) was a key part of our basketball history here.” Photo by Aza Khan

Cover photo by Aza Khan

design by Molly Harwell

Featured:

High

28.

BY THE NUMBERS: CCHS VS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VARSITY SOCCER

The CCHS boys varsity soccer teams faced off against Jefferson High School on March 23 at 5:30 p.m. at JHS.

BYANDRÉAS DILLIES

BIRACIAL, BUT BY WHOSE STANDARDS?

Sports Editor Cadence Schapker discusses her struggles with understanding her identity as a biracial American and the steps she took to grow her confidence.

BY CADENCE SCHAPKER

SOMETHING TO SAY IN SODA CITY

ODYSSEY Media Group students participated in the 2024 Southern Interscholastic Press Association conference in Columbia, South Carolina from March 1-3.

BY LEA D’ANGELO AND LYDIA ROWELL

LANGUAGE ACROSS THE WORLD

Study-abroad opportunities are offered to CCHS students to further the study of foreign languages.

BY PETER ATCHLEY AND COOPER JONES

Odyssey

The ODYSSEY is a studentproduced news publication, published with the intent to inform, entertain and give voice to the Clarke Central High School community, as well as to educate student journalists.

Established in 2003, the ODYSSEY is published four times a year, and each issue is an open public forum for student expression under the guidance of a faculty adviser.

Student journalists are provided with opportunities to investigate, inform, interpret and to evaluate: all traditionally accepted functions of the press in America. Published opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone other than the staff.

The ODYSSEY staff is committed to reflect the mission statement set forth by Clarke Central High School. The goals of the staff are to provide fair, accurate news and commentaries, as well as to serve the interests of the school and Athens’ community.

Advertising must conform to the guidelines set forth for editorials. Publication of advertisements does not indicate an endorsement by CCHS or the ODYSSEY staff.

Students pictured in advertisements are not given monetary compensation. All advertising rates are available upon request from any ODYSSEY staff member.

The ODYSSEY is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Georgia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll Honor Society and Southern Interscholastic Press Association.

Corrections of errors and omissions will appear in the next issue.

Editor-in-Chief: Molly Harwell

Digital Editor-in-Chief: Anna Shaikun

Managing Editor: Maya Clement

Lead Copy Editor: Wyatt Meyer

Viewpoints Editor: Peter Atchley

News Editor: Isabella Westrich

Variety Editor: Janie Ripps

Sports Editor: Cadence Schapker

Photography Editor: Aza Khan

Beat Editor: Cooper Jones

Business Manager: Audrey St. Onge

Social Media Coordinator: Isabelle Duncan

Webmaster: Luke Shannon

Staff Members: Violet Cantarella

Daniel Cruz

Jesse Dantzler

Samaya Ellis

Adah Hamman

Sam Harwell

Merren Hines

Abigail Holloway Amya Hopkins

Angel Jara

Maggie Monk

Liya Taylor

Angel Tejada

Ma’Kiyah Thrasher

Adviser: David A. Ragsdale, CJE

ODYSSEY Newsmagazine

Clarke Central High School 350 S. Milledge Avenue Athens, Georgia 30605 (706)-357-5200 EXT. 17370

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

HELPING HAND

**Note from the Editor:

As Editor-in-Chief, the amount of errors in this past issue concern me. I, as EIC, and we, as a program, vow to do better moving forward.

-- Molly Harwell, Editor-in-Chief

Corrections/Omissions Dec. 2023/Jan. 2024

Page 5, in Letters to the Editor, under News, the comma after “Moving Up” should be omitted

Page 8, in Fresh Voice, all references of “Gonzalez Albarran” should be “Gonzalez-Albarran”

Page 8, in Question of the Month, “Isabelle” should be “Isabella”

Page 10, in Actually Atchley, in the first column, “Clarke County Mentorship Program” should be replaced with “Clarke County Mentor Program”

Page 10, in Actually Atchley, in the caption, “aid youth” should be replaced with “aided youth”

Page 11, in Lending a helping hand, in the second column “give and helping” should be “give a helping”

Page 11, in Lending a helping hand, in the caption, “said” should be “wrote”

Page 17, in Helping hand, in the second caption, “a students” should be “a student”

Page 17, in Helping hand, in the second caption, “Miles Thomas’s” should be “Miles Thomas’”

Page 17, in Helping hand, in the third caption, on second reference, “Clarke Central High School” should be “CCHS” Page 19, in Hidden heroes, under Dana Scheffen, “asked” should be replaced with “(ask)”

Page 19, in Hidden heroes, under Tonia Jones, in the third quote, “who’s” should be replaced with “whose”

Page 22, in Hits or misses, under “Holiday Heritage”, “resolution” should be “resolutions”

Page 21, in Bops or flops, under “Mistletoe”, in the first sentence, “On” should be omitted”

Page 21, in Bops or flops, under “Mistletoe”, in the third paragraph, “would” should be “will”

Page 26-27, in ESP for you and me, in the captions, “2023” should be inserted after “Nov. 9”

Page 26-29, in ESP for you and me, all references of “ESP, Inc.” should be “ESP”

Page 26, in ESP for you and me, in the deck, “Inc” should be “Inc.”

Page 26, in ESP for you and me, in the first column, “Inc..” should be “Inc.”

Page 26, in ESP for you and me, in the caption, the “have” before “string” should be omitted

Page 29, in ESP for you and me, in the third caption, “after school” should be hyphenated

Page 30, in Cultural buzz, under the first review, “encapsulated” should be “encapsulates”

Page 31, in Cultural buzz, under the first review, “itself” should be “themselves”

Page 34, in Time for adaptation, the illustration should have a caption

Page 37, in Catch it with Cadence, in the caption, “stands” should be “standing”

Page 37, in Catch it with Cadence, in the caption, “2023” should be inserted after “Sept. 22”

Page 40, in Beyond the mat, in the second sentence of the second caption, the second “drills” should be omitted

Our Dec. 2023/Jan. 2024 issue featured a profile about CCHS 2023-24 Teacher of the Year Brad Williford and the numerous ways he contributes to the CCHS community.

I”’m always delighted to see hardworking teachers get the recognition they deserve. This article was a great way for the CCHS community to get to know one of our excellent educators in a more authentic way. I would have loved to hear more about what brought him into education and what inspires him to stay.

-- Meg Gauley, CCHS English department teacher on “Helping Hand” by Isabella Westrich

Contact ODYSSEY Newsmagazine

>> VARIETY

RETHINKING HAIR // Abigail Holloway

The name of this story was what drew me to it, as hair is a large part of my own self-expression, especially as a Black girl. How I feel about my hair is what honestly dictates my mood and how I feel about myself as a whole. This story, to me, best summarized my thoughts on hair, as I feel like it’s very looked over in the conversation of self expression. Whether it’s a haircut or a wild hairstyle, I feel my best when I like my hair.

--

Havona Jean-Phillippe, CCHS junior

>> VIEWPOINTS

SPLIT HOLIDAYS // Samaya Ellis

This article really stood out to me because a lot of people don’t get to experience what it’s like living in a split household for one, as well as having to commute or wait for days and months to be able to spend time with your other parent. Despite the common misconceptions on how “fun” it is living in a split household, it makes me happy that there are people like Samaya Ellis who have gone through similar experiences and are able to write about (their) experience and shed a light that others are blind to.

-- Michael Obi-Okoye, CCHS senior

>> NEWS

HIDDEN HEROES // Merren Hines and Wyatt Meyer

This article does an excellent job on highlighting and giving spotlights to our schools’ hidden heroes, the people I would say don’t get as much recognition as I think they deserve. I think that students constantly forget about important staff members, such as the graduation coach or the front desk secretary or even the nurse, who is arguably the most important person in the school. I think one of the many things that Wyatt Meyer and Merren Hines did well is to bring out how important each of the roles of these hidden heroes are and show how, without them, students and teachers wouldn’t have a clean place to work.

-- Duc “Steve” Tran, CCHS senior

Letters: Email us at editors@odysseynewsmagazine.net, or drop off in the Main Office, in care of the ODYSSEY. We ask that all letters be under 250 words and signed. We reserve the right to omit or edit any letters received. Insulting, unsigned or libelous statements will not be considered for publication. All letters may be edited for clarity and space.

Advertising: For ad rates email us at business@odysseynewsmagazine.net.

Online: Message us on Instagram at @odysseynewsmag.

2024

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Editor-in-Chief Molly Harwell writes a letter to her 14-year-old brother Sam and her 10-yearold brother Nate about the many ways they have impacted her life.

BY MOLLY HARWELL Editor-in-Chief

Dear Sam and Nate, I don’t think you realize how much you have impacted my life.

You guys are my built-in best friends, my partners in crime, my therapists and my favorite people on this Earth.

I tell you this all the time, but three is my favorite number because every good thing comes in threes: reduce, reuse, recycle, the three little pigs, Harry, Ron and Hermione. No matter what, it’s always been the three of us: Molly, Sam and Nate.

No one understands me quite like you two, not even Mom and Dad. You can tell instantly when I feel sad, when I need a hug and when I’m annoyed.

You always know exactly what to say to get me out of a mood and you know exactly what I need before I even say it.

However, sometimes, you guys are the ones who protect me. I can’t count the number of times that you have taken the blame for me or comforted me after a hard conversation.

Whether you are bringing me a snack or helping me through a stressful day at school, I know that I can lean on you.

Sam, you are the funniest, kindest, most sincere person I know. Thank you for putting up with my shenanigans for 14 years and holding me accountable as a sister and as a friend. You have stuck by my side through thick and thin, and for that, I am so, so grateful.

No matter what, it’s always been the three of us: Molly, Sam and Nate.

As your older sister, it’s my responsibility to keep you in line. Ever since we were young, I have fussed over you: constantly correcting you, cleaning up after you, watching you and protecting you.

Nate, you mean the absolute world to me. I have never met someone so expressive, loving and wise. From the minute you came into my life, I knew that I would always have your back and you would always have mine. I can’t thank you enough for all the ways you have shaped me.

Sam and Nate, being your older sister is one of my favorite things in the world. Though you get on my nerves (a lot), I know that you will always be there to support me.

I guess what they say is true — three really is a magic number.

Above: FAMILY BOND: An illustration depicts Editor-in-Chief Molly Harwell (middle) with her two younger brothers Sam (left) and Nate (right). Over the years, Molly formed a tight bond with her brothers, imbuing the sentiment that all good things come in threes. “Sam and Nate, being your older sister is one of my favorite things in the world. Though you get on my nerves (a lot), I know that you will always be there to support me,” Molly wrote.

Illustration by Sam Harwell

BOILING POINT

Managing Editor Maya Clement shares her experience going skydiving after waiting for 10 years.

BY MAYA CLEMENT Managing Editor

What’s a better way to celebrate becoming an adult than jumping out of a plane?

For the last 10 years, I have promised myself, my friends and my family that I was going to go skydiving on my 18th birthday.

Last year, I finally made that dream come true. I have always loved heights and any adrenalinerush activity, from ziplining through the rainforest to scaling the side of a mountain after a five-mile-long hike. Even with my extracurricular activities, horseback riding and aerial dance, I love the freedom the feeling of flight gave me.

Off the ground has been, and always will be, where I feel the safest and most comfortable.

While I don’t exactly remember how I came about the idea of skydiving, I know that each birthday, I counted down the years until I could finally take the leap. I didn’t care how many times people warned me or called me crazy, nothing was going to stop me.

On Oct. 22, 2023, my 18th birthday, I finally got to live my dream out.

After a two-hour car ride to Cedartown, Georgia and an hour of preparation for the dive, I boarded the small plane with my tandem guide. During the 14,500-foot climb, I could not stop smiling as I saw the buildings, cars, trees, fields and lakes get smaller and smaller.

When the plane reached the jumping height, I had absolutely no fear or doubts in my mind as I walked to the door and took the biggest leap of my life.

Off the ground has been, and always will be, where I feel the safest and most comfortable.

I was finally getting to live the dream I had held onto for so long. Nothing will compare to the feeling of the wind rushing past my ears, blowing my hair in every direction possible. Or the feeling of gravity pulling my body down as I flew through the air. Or the feeling of confidence and freedom that skydiving gave me.

With my feet nowhere near the ground, I was happier than ever before, never wanting the experience to end.

While the actual skydiving experience was amazing, it meant so much more to me than just a jump. I proved to myself that when I have a goal and a dream, if I continue to chase it, I can achieve it.

I had 10 years to give up on my desire to go skydiving on my 18th birthday, but I didn’t. The feeling I had when I went skydiving was worth the wait, and so many other things will be, too. Throughout my life, there will be many things that I want to accomplish but will have to wait for. This experience taught me that as long as I keep the end goal in mind, nothing else will matter.

So, what’s next?

As a new adult, I have the world at my fingertips, as long as I walk, run, skip, crawl, dance, hop or fly towards it.

Above: SKYDIVE: Managing Editor Maya Clement skydives on Oct. 22, 2023, her 18th birthday, after waiting 10 years for the opportunity. Throughout the jumping experience, Clement never stopped smiling. “When the plane reached the jumping height, walked to the door and took the biggest leap of my life,” Clement wrote. “I was finally getting to live the dream I had held onto for so long.” Photo courtesy of Skydive Georgia

Mzée Pavlić VOICE FRESH

Journalism I student Mzée Pavlić writes about understanding his racial identity.

When I was 11 years old, I filled out the U.S. Census for the first time and I asked myself: “What race am I?” I have a Croatian-American father and a Black mother, so I just answered that I was Black.

But the label Black doesn’t fully describe me. I’m just as Black as I am Croatian, so why didn’t I choose Croatian or white?

When I was 13, my friends invited me to play hide-and-seek in some store. When I told my mother, she asked if I was crazy. My white friends didn’t have to worry about security being called, but I would. For the first time, I really realized that I was different from my friends because I wasn’t white.

I don’t look white, people don’t see me as white, so I never thought of myself as white. I could seem like different races to different people. One of my best friends thought I was Mexican.

People would ask me what I was and it always made me uncomfortable. I never knew what to say. If I said Black, what would they think if I said white? So I just said I was mixed.

Often, biracial people are referred to as mixed. Even the United States Census Bureau uses the term, “two or more races or mixed.” My mother never liked the word mixed. In her words, “You mix paint, not people.”

I agree. To me, the word mixed just feels distasteful when referring to people because mixed is used to describe something inanimate. Using mixed to describe someone feels, even if it’s unintentional, like calling them less than. I used to think I had to be one or the other, Black or white. But, being biracial doesn’t mean I have to choose to be one thing, because I am both.

Question of the month

What is your opinion on the new recycling bins at CCHS?

“We need to help the planet, and they’re helping us help the planet. Students need to learn what you can recycle and what you can’t recycle.”

-- LUCY BRADSHAW, CCHS freshman

“There wasn’t much of any effort before. You could throw trash in any place that you wanted to. It may seem like a small effort, but on a grand scale, small stuff like that can help a lot.”

-- HAVONA JEAN-PHILLIPPE, CCHS junior

“I think it’s great. I have a recycling container in my classroom and I’ve always recycled. So far, it looks like a lot of students participate, so that’s good, too.”

-- CAMMI NEWBY, CCHS fine arts department teacher

“I’ll be honest, I feel like most people won’t use them, but at the same time, they are really useful for people.”

-- DAHSTON DANIEL, CCHS sophomore

“I feel like the new recycling bins are a good idea. It’s a way to promote earth-friendly, economic bonuses and it just teaches people responsibility (in) separating trash and recycling”

-- ADDISYN HUFF, CCHS senior

Above: FINDING IDENTITY: Journalism I student Mzée Pavlić stands in between the Croatian and American flags on each side of a yin-yang symbol. Pavlić’s parents are Croatian-American and Black and his biracial identity has impacted the way he interacts with the world. “People would ask me what I was and it always made me uncomfortable,” Pavlić wrote. “I never knew what to say. If I said Black, what would they think if I said white? So I just said I was mixed.” Illustration by Sam Harwell

THUMBS

The ODYSSEY staff’s opinions on this month’s issues.

DIVA DOES IT JUST LIKE THAT

Undrea Gooden, a peer mentor at DIVAS Who Win, an organization that aims to support women through periods of struggle, has provided a strong support system to help others with a similar story to her own.

IN HIS HONOR

Boys varsity basketball point guard La’neric Gill lost his father in August of 2022, but since then, has played better than ever in memory of his dad.

GLAD TO BE BACK

The Glad Shack, CCHS’ school store, has made its grand return to CCHS, bringing with it many opportunities for student empowerment.

COBB ON THE JOB

District safety is a top priority for many stakeholders. CCSD Director of Behavioral Support and Discipline

Jabari Cobb aims to keep students safe while still promoting their growth.

NO PADS? BIG PROBLEMS

The lack of accessibility to menstrual products around CCHS presents a potentially harmful situation to student menstruators and needs to be solved, period.

FEELING THE JITTERS

Many students crave artificial energy drinks and other harmful caffeinated beverages to get the spark they need to carry out their day, but what happens when they finally crash?

NAME, IMAGELIKE THIS?

While name, image, likeness deals can financially benefit student athletes, many conversations about NIL neglect to consider the well-being of the athletes, themselves.

REFUSING TO REUSE

While the new recycling bins that have been planted around the CCHS campus are helpful, more awareness and effort are needed at CCHS to make them effective.

Ma’Kiyah Thrasher

THE FUTURE PAST SHAPING

Viewpoints Staffer Ma’Kiyah Thrasher shares her beliefs about Black History Month and why it is so impactful to her.

Growing up, I never knew the importance of celebrating Black History Month or those who were highlighted during the shortest month of the year.

I realized there were things I did throughout my life that Black people helped make possible, and I started understanding how they impacted my life.

Without the Black people who chose to stand up for equality and who chose to make things that could be helpful for people of color, Black people like me would be living differently today.

Madam C.J. Walker was the first female self-made millionaire because of her cosmetics that were made specifically for Black women. Walker developed her hair care products because of a scalp condition that caused her to lose hair.

As a hairstylist taking a cosmetology class at the Athens Community Career Academy, Madam C.J. Walker’s effort to create hair products for me to be able to do hair has been inspirational. Without the products she pioneered, I would not be able to do anyone’s hair.

Additionally, Civil Rights Movement leaders like John Lewis, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks paved the way for there to be equality.

John Lewis led the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and he held countless marches that fought for the rights of Black people. Alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who led the fight against segregation with his powerful “I Have a Dream” speech, Lewis organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott after Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to move on the bus.

Without these important civil rights leaders, I would’ve never gotten the opportunity to establish friendships with people of diverse racial backgrounds.

Alongside just learning about these figures, I have met impactful people who took the time to fight for the rights of Black people.

During my freshman year of high school, I met Fred Smith, the Executive Director of East Athens Development Corporation, who actively supports Black communities by providing housing and jobs to those in need. This encounter highlighted dedicated individuals working to make a positive impact.

Now, Black History Month is not just a month of recognition. For me, it is a time when I can thank every Black person for making a difference.

Above: REFLECTING HISTORY: Viewpoints Staffer Ma’Kiyah Thrasher stands alongside impactful Black people who made a change to better Black people’s future. Through the years, Thrasher’s understanding of Black History Month changed as she learned more. “Now, Black History Month is not just a month of recognition. For me, it

a time when I can thank every Black person for making a difference,” Thrasher wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell

ACTUALLY ACTCHLEY

The new CCHS recycling bins are a good first step toward a more sustainable school environment, but there’s still more to do.

BY PETER ATCHLEY Viewpoints Editor

Before the Clarke Central High School Student School Climate Committee, a student leadership team that addresses school issues, introduced new recycling bins into CCHS, waste was thrown into a bin labeled as separate receptacles for trash and recycling, but it all led to the same trash bag.

Starting in January, CCHS Family Engagement Specialist Christian Barner, encouraged by feedback from the SSCC, implemented 10 new recycling stations around CCHS. Now, the CCHS Ecology Club and special education department teacher Dr. David Sells’ Adaptive Curriculum class dispose of the recyclable waste on Wednesdays and Fridays.

“When we collect (recycling) with the Ecology Club, we can look at this huge amount of waste and know it will avoid the landfill,” Barner said. “We want to listen to student voices and if it’s something students want, let the adults in the building know that they should be listening.”

While this initiative is a great first step towards a more sustainable school, the new recycling bins need more access and attention to truly make CCHS greener.

To build on the current system, CCHS needs to augment the bins’ locations around the school. Currently, the 10 recycling bins are sparsely located around

The new recycling bins need more access and attention to truly make CCHS greener.

the 340,402 square feet of CCHS, which limits effectiveness. Illustrating this issue, the entirety of the third floor only has one bin, which is CCHS science department teacher Enya Grandados’ in Room 307.

For the recycling bins to work, CCHS students must use them whenever possible. The right receptacles should be placed in every hallway and in the Miller B. Jordan Food Court for plastic spoons, old printouts and whatever else students and faculty might have to recycle.

“I don’t think many students can use the current recycle bins because they are a little bit out of the way. But if we can have these in place and they become a normal part of your day-to-day life, you look at whatever you have to throw away and say, ‘Can it go here?’” CCHS Ecology Club President Adeline Baugh, a senior, said.

With recycling bins as accessible as any trash can, CCHS students will begin to implement recycling into a daily habit.

Above: RECYCLING IN THE HALLS: Clarke Central High School students and teachers are shown using the recycling bins that were introduced in the 2023-24 school year. Beginning in January, CCHS Family Engagement Specialist Christian Barner and the CCHS Ecology Club installed much-needed recycling bins in 10 spaces around the building. “The right receptacles should be placed in every hallway and in the cafeteria for plastic spoons, old printouts and whatever else students and faculty might have to recycle,” Viewpoints Editor Peter Atchley wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell

ABSENT PERIOD PRODUCTS

CCHS students need to advocate for more accessible period products around the school, as these products are mandatory for menstruators.

BY AMYA HOPKINS Viewpoints Staffer

Every day, Clarke Central High School menstruators are forced to walk all around the school to find the period products they need, but it shouldn’t be this way: period products should be way more accessible.

So far, the CCHS student population has access to at least one period station, where menstruators can find period supplies, on each floor. These stations are found in locations ranging from teachers’ classrooms to the school library, but in terms of convenient accessibility, this still isn’t enough.

No student should have to risk the embarrassment that comes with stained clothes to grab inconveniently placed toiletries.

To solve this problem, the first step CCHS administration should take is to expand the number of period product stations throughout the school.

administrators and custodians alike are concerned that students wouldn’t use the resources properly.

“(Students) don’t take care of the stuff they already have in there. We put bags (for the period products) in there for them, and they still throw them and tissue on the floor. They demolished the whole first-floor bathroom,” CCHS custodian Pamela Harris said.

Period products are a need, like the clothing on people’s backs and the food in their bellies, not a want. The lack of this necessity can be the difference between a student coming to school or not, as many menstuators don’t want to risk the chance of bleeding through their clothes.

According to a survey conducted by period product producing companies Thinx and PERIOD, 84% of menstruators have reportedly missed a class or know someone who missed it because they don’t have access to menstrual products.

No student should have to risk the embarrasement that comes with stained clothes to grab inconveniently placed toiletries.

Furthermore, additional stations should be self-serving so students can grab what they need with minimum interaction to enhance the accessibility to every menstruating student.

However, while period stations in the bathrooms would be ideal,

The same survey found that 66% of menstuators stated they don’t want to be in school during their period because of the lack of accessibility to period products.

The only question left is how CCHS can take a step forward in providing period products while also supporting students and staff.

The answer to that question is through increased advocacy from students in regards to widening the reach of the menstruation stations.

“There needs to be some students in the school population that are going to take the charge because the district will listen to them. As much as the adults can help facilitate the donations and everything, getting the word out is going to (have to) be a student-led effort,” English department teacher Molly Dorkey, period station sponsor, said.

Student menstruators need to advocate for their need for period products now more than ever.

At the end of the day, the Clarke County School District is here to serve and provide for its students, so menstruators should take advantage of CCSD’s open ear and truly get their needs met.

Left: LONG GONE TAMPONS: Missing signs of period products float around, marking their last known location. Clarke Central High School students have had minimal access to menstrual products and are forced to walk long distances to find the few menstrual stations in the building. “Period products are a need, like the clothing on peoples backs and the food in their bellies, not a want. The lack of this necessity can be the difference between a student coming to school or not, as many menstuators don’t want to risk the chance of bleeding through their clothes,” Viewpoints Staffer Amya Hopkins wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell

OUR TAKE

Whether they realize it or not, CCHS students walk in the footsteps of their predecessors on the long road that is Athens history.

Nowadays, in a Clarke Central High School student’s four years of high school, certain patterns emerge.

A student will take their seat in their classes several times a day.

A student will chat with their friends on the way to the Miller B. Jordan Food Court. A student will likely, at least once, walk the glossy floor of the Competition Gym.

Though students don’t notice, their “commonplace” routine has been shaped by the legacy of generations of students, teachers and community members who came before them.

Take CCHS itself. In 1970, Clarke County schools were desegregated, and between the all-Black Burney-Harris High School and traditionally-white Athens High School, CCHS was born.

They care about people getting along (and) doing things together.”

Though Allen was a singular figure, his efforts were monumental in shaping students’ education now – a legacy forgotten.

Athletics? Same story.

Students today might marvel at the feats of CCHS boys varsity basketball player Marcus Gillespie, a junior, who recently scored his 1000th point and was named to the AAAAA All-State team.

Though students don’t notice, their “commonplace” routine has been shaped by the legacy of generations of students, teachers and community members who came before them.

But CCHS would certainly be worse off without former CCHS educator and Athens High School Assistant Principal Walter Allen Sr., who oversaw the integration process and laid the groundwork for equitable education in the Clarke County School District.

“(Educating) helps to cultivate and shape the lives of young people who are coming along undisturbed,” Allen Sr. said. “Kids don’t care about segregation or integration or whatever you want to call it. They don’t care about who you are.

But, Gillespie’s accomplishments – and stature – are but a hill when compared to the mountain that was former CCHS boys varsity basketball player and Class of 1992 alumnus Percy Eberhart, the 6 foot 9-inch “Parade Third Team All-American” that all players – including Gillespie –measure themselves against.

“Whatever I do around here, I really don’t get too cocky because I was like, I’m not on (Eberhart’s) level,” Gillespie said. “I’m proud of myself for being in the same conversation.”

Even within the ODYSSEY itself, current leaders stand on the shoulders of former program giants.

Editor-in-Chief Molly Harwell was recently named the 2024 Georgia Scholastic Press Association’s Champion Journalist. But, since the ODYSSEY’s 2003 founding, nine other ODYSSEY alumni have won the same award, dating back to Isabel Bryan Barks’ inaugural win in 2009.

But the school of Allen Sr., of Eberhart, of Barks, isn’t the same school that current students experience.

In Allen Sr.’s time, students would stream through what’s now the Ceremonial Entrance en route to their studies. Eberhart’s old battleground, the James A. Crawford Memorial Arena, is nothing more than a practice space for teams in need. Since Barks graduated, the school underwent a campus-wide renovation to house the influx of students.

Twenty-five years from now, CCHS will surely be further altered. Twentyfive more, and who knows whether students now will recognize their former stomping grounds.

But all past, present and future changes were, are, and will be woven into the school’s very essence. As such, it’s time that students take a step back and recognize something: memories, history and legacy far greater than themselves pave the path they constantly walk.

Students – tread reverently.

Above: THEN AND NOW: An illustration depicts the current Clarke Central High School building (left) alongside Athens High School (right). No matter the changes CCHS went through in the past, it’s crucial that students continue to honor the legacy of those that came before them. “As such, it’s time that students take a step back and recognize something: memories, history and legacy far greater than themselves pave the path they constantly walk.”

Illustration by Sam Harwell

Featured: SHARING HIS STORY: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Hua Hsu participates in a moderated Q&A with iliad LiteraryArt Magazine Managing Editor Cate DeMaria and Social Media Coordinator Victoria Garland in the Clarke Central High School Media Center on March 21. Nearly 90 CCHS students attended the event, including senior Duc “Steve” Tran. “I was very surprised by how (Hsu and I) have the same working process: we both stay up super late to kind of really put in an effort to do the work,” Tran said. “I also loved when he talked about his parents and how his life would seem kind of harder since he has a lot more options and decisions to make compared to them.”

by Aza Khan

IN FOCUS

Check out the ODYSSEY Media Group’s coverage of Dr. Hua Hsu’s visit to CCHS on March 21!

Photo

Black History Month:

Celebrating Excellence

CCHS students and staff, as well as many members of the Athens-Clarke County community, are dedicated to celebrating Black History Month during February.

STORY BY ANNA SHAIKUN Digital Editor-in-Chief

DSCENES BY JOURNALISM I STUDENTS LAYOUT BY MAYA CLEMENT Managing Editor

uring February, people across the United States celebrate Black History Month, and the Athens-Clarke County community is no exception.

While Athens Magistrate Judge Donarell Green IV believes that Black History should be celebrated throughout the year, he appreciates BHM’s events and opportunities that showcase that history.

“You have to know your history to know where you’re going. If you do not know your history, you’re doomed to repeat mistakes,” Green said. “I came from a family rich in history. My grandfather was a physician for years here in Athens. His father was a physician in Atlanta, and it emphasized Black History (for me). Identity is important, knowing the people who came before you, what they sacrificed, the accomplishments that they made. To see that commonality that you have with those individuals, it’s very important.”

by politician and CCHS class of 1971 alumnus Michael Thurmond, with CCHS Principal’s Secretary LaToya Hill acting as master of ceremonies.

“I know that this has been a challenging year, but we are still here. This is the second year we have brought the Black History Month program back to Clarke Central,” Hill said. “We want you to learn something and we want you to be inspired. This is all about the legacy and the heritage of Black History Month. It is important to not only our history as African Americans, but Clarke Central history, as well.”

"This is all about the legacy and the heritage of Black History Month. It is important to not only our history as African Americans, but Clarke Central history as well.”

-- latoya hill, CCHS Principal's Secretary

Clarke Central High School’s 2024 BHM program included performances from historically Black fraternities and sororities and a motivational speech

According to U.S. News as of March, 43.6% of CCHS students identify as Black, and CCHS BHM Program Coordinator Jaclyn Brown believes that all students should see themselves represented in the curriculum.

“We should learn all history, not just different pieces of it. We can’t pick and choose, like we’re just gonna learn addition, we’re not going to have subtraction,” Brown said. “We need to learn about everybody because we’re all-inclusive and America is inclusive of everybody from everywhere.”

Dr. Kena Worthy: CCSD Executive Director of Leadership Development

Left: PROUD TO BE CCSD: Clarke County School District Executive Director of Leadership Development Dr. Kena Worthy stands in Clarke Central High School’s Miller B. Jordan Food Court on Feb. 8. Worthy has held several leadership positions in the CCSD including Timothy Road Elementary School principal, and feels very connected to her identity as a resident of AthensClarke County. “I graduated from (Clarke) Central, so I’m a product of (the) Clarke County School District. It’s really, really exciting to be in this position. When I talk to parents and when I talk to leaders, I’m able to say, ‘I know your community, this is my community,’” Worthy said. “I have a 7-year-old son that’s at Timothy now. It’s great when I can say to a parent, ‘I know exactly what you’re feeling, I’m a mom, too,’ or, ‘I went to that school.’ It’s great to have those conversations and to be a part of the community.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Anna Shaikun and Carolyn Griffeth

Dr. Marsha Thomas:

Retired educator and former Coile Middle School Principal

Jan.

According to Thomas, one step on the path to Black Excellence is providing students with enrichment opportunities. “They need somebody (to) imitate, they need somebody that's willing to expose them to what success looks like,” Thomas said. “I'm exposing you to college life. I'm exposing you to a UGA game to see students interacting. I'm exposing you to a civil organization where young people thrive, whether it's Upward Bound or UGA summer programs I would send my kids to. Yeah, going to the ballgame is nice, but what about going to a museum? What about going to a historical landmark to make you more knowledgeable and grateful about what you had?”

Photo by Izzy Duncan, story by Jovi Grantham

Walter Allen Sr:

Retired educator and former Athens High School Assistant Principal

WITNESSING HISTORY: Former Clarke Central High School educator and former Athens High School Assistant Principal Walter Allen Sr sits in E.B. Mell Lobby on Feb. 8. Allen served as Assistant Principal two years before AHS and Burney-Harris High School integrated to form CCHS in 1970, overseeing the transition and the backlash that followed. “The system didn't do a good job of getting people ready for integration. I have never seen the kids not get along. It was the adults who started all the crap all the time. The ole die-hards, (who said), ‘We’re not having any integration during our time,’" Allen said. “It could have been a beautiful transition, but it was an ugly transition, because people told themselves, ‘We don't want that, we’re not ready for that.’” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Liza Larson

Clarence Alfonza Pope: UGA

alumnus and member of The Five

Left: CHANGING THE GAME: University of Georgia Class of 1974 alumnus Clarence Alfonza Pope stands in front of “The First Five: Georgia Honoring Football Trailblazers” plaque outside UGA’s Stanford Stadium on Feb. 10. Pope was a member of The Five, the first Black football players to integrate the UGA football team in 1971, where he learned the importance of being level-headed when dealing with hardships. “My hope is that (Black youth) individually and collectively begin to understand that there is a future so that they can prepare for it. It's so important that when you're young (that) you're able to enjoy yourself and have fun, but always know that there's a purpose for your life,” Pope said. “If you're not preparing for (adverse) situations that will come, how are you going to deal with it? I think some of the (issues) that are happening now are (because) people are moving and reacting emotionally instead of having a foundational base of solving problems.” Photo by Izzy Duncan, story by Jovi Grantham

Above:

Above: PURSUING EXCELLENCE: Longtime educator and former Coile Middle School Principal Dr. Marsha P. Thomas sits in the Clarke Central High School Courtyard on

31.

William Hardy: Dawg Gone Good BBQ owner and chef

Right: Dawg Gone Good BBQ owner and chef William Hardy sits in his restaurant, located at 224 W Hancock Ave. on Feb 12. Hardy owned a salon for 15 years before he reinvented the location as a restaurant in 2009. “If you’re going to be successful, you’re going to have to minus your distractions. You’re gonna have to know what your distractions are, and (knowing) you can’t have everything you want. You’re gonna have to sacrifice, (and) pay the price to be the boss,” Hardy said. “If you’re pursuing it for money, (you’re) already behind the eight ball. It better be a love and a passion in it.” Photo by Izzy Duncan, story by Iliana Tejada

Kisha Bailey: Timothy Road Elementary School Early

Intervention Teacher and Family Engagement Specialist

Left: NEW POSSIBILITIES: Timothy Road Elementary School Early Intervention Teacher and Family Engagement Specialist Kisha Bailey stands by the TRES sign on Feb. 8. Throughout her 24 years as an educator, Bailey introduced the several extracurricular and co-curricular programs to TRES, such as yearbook and the Black History Month Program. “Having taught for so long, I have seen hundreds of students matriculate through school and have successful careers. Having been a part of their path is very rewarding,” Bailey said. “Being able to bring enrichment (opportunities to the school) led me to being the Family Engagement Specialist, which I love doing because it brings community resources to the school and opens up all kinds of possibilities.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Isabella Gresham

Fannie Smith: Retired CCSD educator

Left: INTEGRATING ATHENS: Former Clarke County School District educator

Fannie Smith sits in the Clarke Central High School Media Center on Feb. 2. As a teenager in Athens during the Civil Rights Movement, Smith felt that she had a duty to attend Athens High School during the early stages of integration in 1965-68. “It was an interesting time in 1960, right after the death of (President John F.) Kennedy and going into the ‘60s, (because of) the war and all the civil rights struggle. It was your current events, it wasn't something historical,” Smith said. “I spent my time (attending) all the NAACP meetings. I felt going to the meeting was part of what I do. When I was told I was going (to AHS), that's (why) I went. But it was scary, not because of fear of my life, but being in an environment that you didn't feel comfortable in.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Emlyn McKinney

Donarell R. Green: Athens-Clarke County Magistrate Judge

Right: SERVICE-ORIENTED: Athens-Clarke County Magistrate Judge Donarell R. Green, a Clarke Central High School Class of 1989 alumnus, sits outside the CCHS Ceremonial Entrance on Jan. 30. Green was a lawyer for roughly 22 years before he became a magistrate judge on Sep. 8, 2020 and believed that serving others is one of the most important aspects of his role. “There's nothing that you can do with this life you are given (that is) more significant than helping someone when they are in a time of great need,” Green said. “(With) the things that you can do as a judge, and there’s a lot that you can do, (it) just feels good to be of service.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Mzée Pavlic’

Dr. Zoe Johnson:

UGA Director of Curriculum Innovation and social worker

Left: VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS: University of Georgia Director of Curriculum Innovation Dr. Zoe Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker, sits in the Clarke Central High School Media Center Courtyard on Feb. 7. As a licensed social worker, Johnson has worked to amplify overlooked voices by offering a safe place for them to share their stories. “It’s important for me to support folks that are in marginalized communities (when) there's not a lot of space for their stories or their experiences,” Johnson said. “It's really great for me to be able to do that work specifically with, for, and on (the) behalf of Black and brown folks. I'm very clear on making sure folks feel seen, heard, and (have) their experiences affirmed.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Carolyn Griffeth

Dr. Jaime Johnson-Huff:

Piedmont University Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and nurse practioner

Left: NURSING ACHIEVEMENTS: Piedmont University Dean and nurse practitioner Dr. Jaime Johnson-Huff sits in the Clarke Central High School Media Center Courtyard on Feb. 8. Johnson-Huff became the first African American Dean of Piedmont University in 2023 after more than 15 years in the healthcare field. “This job is very important to me because it helps us to develop nurses. We have a national shortage of nurses, and definitely (a shortage) in the Athens community,” Johnson-Huff said. “I take it personally because one thing about health care (is) everyone will have some type of experience in the hospital one day. I want to develop nurses that have passion, nurses that know what they're doing, so that they can one day take care of me and my family.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Sylvia Robinson

Kids are the now

CCSD Director of Behavioral Support and Discipline Jabari Cobb has served in his role since Nov. 22, 2023 and discusses his vision to make CCSD the safest school district in the state.

STORY BY VIOLET CANTARELLA News Staffer

News Staffer Violet Cantarella: What made you choose this job?

Clarke County School District Director of Behavioral Support and Discipline Jabari Cobb: I chose it because I’m not like most kids that I see in my office. I grew up with two parents. My parents are college-educated. We’d go on vacations. Once I got an education, I began to work with kids that looked like me, but didn’t have my experiences. I want kids to have what I had. Let’s have an environment for you guys to enjoy your school-age years. I don’t want you to let some incident take that joy and safety from you.

VC: What specifically are you doing to promote student

growth?

JC: One of the things we try to do to monitor the growth is to have meetings with kids. That’s where we track the data. We want to see what the kids are doing. We try to identify the A-B-C: the Antecedent, the Behavior (and) the Consequence. What are kids doing? What’s the behavior? What’s the consequence we’re gonna give that? What caused it? To answer your question: to track the data and to get the progress, we try to see where the kid is and how we can turn the kid forward.

LAYOUT BY ISABELLA WESTRICH News Editor

Above: A HEALTHY BALANCE: Clarke County School District Director of Behavioral Support and Discipline Jabari Cobb stands in front of the CCSD District Office on Feb 9. Cobb has focused on making school an enjoyable and safe experience for all CCSD students. “Once I got an education, I began to work with kids that looked like me, but didn’t have my experiences. I want kids to have what I had. Let’s have an environment for (students) to enjoy (their) school-age years,” Cobb said. Photo by Aza Khan

VC: Do you think there’s been any noticeable improvement in the district overall since you’ve held this position?

JC: Overall, I would say no. We took the data from August to December (2023) and we dive through that almost every day at every departmental meeting to see what (the kids) think. It’s a new plan. My ultimate vision is for CCSD to be the safest school district in the state of Georgia.

VC: What can be done on a family level to support the students that you see?

JC: One thing I’ve started to do myself is bring parents in. We also have a couple of organizations that we’re trying to partner with to have some conversations with parents before (the kids) get to the high-level behaviors. We’re not only supporting the child, we want to give the parents some reinforcers at home. If we’re working on following instructions for a student in elementary (school) and we’re trying to set some parameters for kids, we want to work with parents. Let’s practice at home.

VC: The Code of Student Conduct says that the vision is to “build a culture of high expectations and equity where all students grow academically and socially to improve our community and our world.” What are you doing to get students involved with that idea?

JC: I do want to have student input. I do want kids to be involved in their education. I have to be creative and I have to learn things like TikTok, outlets that (kids) use to communicate with you about you. People keep saying that kids are the future. No, kids are the now. You guys can influence your district right now. If there’s some things you want to pivot toward, we can make it happen. I want to bring in new adults that understand you a bit better than I do and then create some bridges for you guys to talk. There’s always a why behind everything. I want to hear your why, as well.

Below: STUDENT INPUT: Clarke County School District Director of Behavioral Support and Discipline Jabari Cobb works on his computer at his desk in the CCSD District Office on

has advocated for seeking student input. “I do want to have kid input, student input. I do want to talk to you guys a lot more, not from this office, but in your school buildings, about

Photo by Aza Khan

and

BELIEVING STUDENT VOICE

to

The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council invites CCSD students to give their voice to the CCSD administration to help influence district policy.

STORY BY WYATT MEYER Lead Copy Editor

STORY BY MERREN HINES News Staffer

LAYOUT BY MOLLY HARWELL Editor-in-Chief

The Clarke County School District

Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council attempts to give CCSD students a voice in district decision making while also enhancing the students’ leadership skills.

Hosting five meetings distributed throughout the school year, the SAC offers opportunities to junior and senior students from high schools across the district to offer comments on district-led initiatives.

According to CCSD Superintendent Dr. Robbie P. Hooker, the idea is that these conversations will inform the district’s approach in its high schools – one example being the implementation of a cell phone policy in CCSD middle and high schools at the start of the 2023-24 school year.

we have to listen to their voice,” Hooker said.

Simultaneously, the district website states that a secondary aim of the SAC is to develop students’ own leadership – an approach that resonates with council member Temprince Battle, a CCHS senior.

“They're offering us a student voice, so (if that’s) being promised to me, then I'd like my voice to be heard,” Battle said. “I want to be able to fight for my voice, like I'm being in the council (right now) and having my voice be heard, (but) I want to have my voice be heard in other rooms where I go.”

“They’re offering us a student voice, so (if that’s) being promised to me, then I’d like my voice to be heard.”

-- Temprince battle, CCHS senior

“I've always believed in student voice, so it was important that I see our students as the customers for our school district and if we're gonna get better,

However, some SAC members like CCHS senior Amya Hopkins* feel the council fails to deliver the tangible changes students have provided feedback on, such as the accessibility of period products and snack vending machines.

“I've been saying the same things since last year, so I personally don't feel that we're extremely listened to,” Hopkins said. “On (a form council members filled out), it said, 'What is an idea that you'd like to see implemented?' Each person there gave an idea, and I don't think any of our ideas have been implemented.”

Above: HEARD BUT NOT SEEN: Clarke County School District Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council members Adaline McCullick (left) and Chloe Wallace (right), Clarke Central High School seniors, brainstorm at the Jan. 23 SAC meeting. According to McCullick, the SAC has discussed a variety of issues throughout the year – including clear bags and discipline – but felt the dialogue hasn’t always translated into observable changes. “I feel like a lot of it goes kind of behind the scenes (because) there’s not that many meetings. We’ll talk about something at one meeting, and then at the next meeting, (district officials will) be like, ‘We’ve done this, this

this

help combat that issue,’” McCullick said. Photo by Aza Khan

In response, Hooker pointed out barriers to implementation outside of the district’s purview, such as nutrition guidelines that regulate snacks schools can offer, while championing the council’s feedback on topics such as a potential clear bag policy.

“They said specifically, ‘I understand the athletic events (having a clear bag policy), but it's going to be difficult for us to get clear bags that we can place our computer in, and then some female student said, ‘I have personal items in there. I don't want everyone to see my personal items that I have in my bookbag.’ We took that into consideration and pulled it off the table,” Hooker said. “We can’t get everything that everyone wants.”

“At this point, everything is still in the talking stage with what should and shouldn’t happen, but I believe things are moving in the right direction and that (my) and many council members’ concerns are being addressed.”

-- mia mcdonald,

Cedar Shoals High School senior

SAC member Mia McDonald, a Cedar Shoals High School senior, believes that the lack of tangible changes taking place doesn’t reflect the dialogue between council members.

“At this point, everything is still in the talking stage with what should and shouldn’t happen, but I believe things are moving in the right direction and that (my) and many council members' concerns are being addressed,” McDonald said.

As Hooker advocates for his own Student Advisory Council, he is pushing for similar committees to be created at middle and high schools across the district as a means of connecting to the leaders in their school buildings.

“The message I'm hoping that students walk away with is (to) see a different aspect of not only district leadership, but the entire school district and understand that they do have a voice in helping us to get better as a district,” Hooker said.

*Amya Hopkins is now a Viewpoints Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group, but at the time of this interview, Hopkins was unaffiliated with the program.

Top right: GIVING VOICE: Clarke County School District Superintendent Dr. Robbie P. Hooker speaks at a Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council meeting on Jan. 23. Since Hooker took the role of CCSD Superintendent in October 2022, he has advocated for the implementation of advisory councils at middle and high schools around the district. “I’ve always said in my role as principal, as assistant principal and an assistant to my role, even as superintendent, we have to do what’s right for students,” Hooker said. Photo by Aza Khan

Bottom right: A NEW PERSPECTIVE: A Clarke County School District Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council member watches a presentation at the council meeting on Jan. 23. Cedar Shoals High School senior Mia McDonald, a council member, signed up after having been recommended by a teacher and thus far has had a positive experience. “I love going to the meetings and being able to converse with kids from Clarke Central and the (Athens Community) Career Academy about our experiences within the district and how they differ from one another,” McDonald said. “It gives me a different perspective on how each individual views their school and specific challenges.” Photo by Aza Khan

STIRRING IT UP: Athens Community Career Academy Culinary students prepare food on March 5 in the refurbished ACCA kitchen. The kitchen was revamped as part of a Clarke County School District project that finished in the fall of 2023, along with the creation of the Yellow Jacket Bistro, which opened on Jan. 19. “We will have a few events (at the bistro) this semester that are pop-up events. They may be a brunch, they may be a lunch that will be opened up to the community. You’ll just book your table, you’ll book your reservation and you’ll come in (and) eat like any diner would,” ACCA Culinary Instructor Amee Williams said.

Aza Khan

Cooking up a storm

The Athens Community Career Academy’s

newly-

opened

Yellow

Jacket Bistro and refurbished kitchen allows culinary students to take their hands-on learing to new heights.

Right: STUDENT CHEFS: Athens Community Career Academy Culinary students mix and measure ingredients in the ACCA kitchen on March 5. According to ACCA Culinary Instructor Amee Williams, the kitchen and the accompanying Yellow Jacket Bistro, which opened Jan. 19, were built with the intent to better prepare ACCA culinary students for the workforce. “(After) having a restaurant, I can tell you, ‘This is how you do it,’ all day long. But if you don’t experience what it feels like to be in a restaurant, am I really able to teach you well?” Williams said. Photo by Aza Khan

Bottom right: PEPPERS: An Athens Community Career Academy culinary student cuts red bell peppers on March 5. The kitchen was finished in the fall of 2023, but the accompanying Yellow Jacket Bistro didn’t officially open until Jan. 19, an event which ACCA culinary student and Cedar Shoals High School sophomore Lexi Holliday helped to prepare for. “We made the individual parts (of the opening night meal) and then we pieced them together on the closer days, like made the displays (and) put everything out,” Holliday said. “I’m excited to be able to work in (the bistro) and just do more than opening, even though that was a good experience.” Photo by Aza Khan

Aribbon cutting on Jan. 19 officially marked the opening of the Yellow Jacket Bistro, the student-operated restaurant housed at and run by the Athens Community Career Academy.

The restaurant, along with a refurbished kitchen, were part of a $2 million renovation project funded by the Clarke County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Education and donations from local businesses that began during summer 2023 and was finished in early fall. The new facilities serve to bring resources and opportunities to the ACCA’s culinary students.

The students use the kitchen regularly in class, and operate the bistro for designated events.

“(The culinary students) are catering, they’re doing live events. The instructor, Chef Amee, is giving them hands-on experience. They’re making meals, serving those meals to customers. So it teaches them how a restaurant runs and how the food is safely prepared, and all the different things that go into serving customers in a restaurant,” ACCA Director Reginald Thomas said.

The experience students gain in the new facilities can enable them to enter the workforce at a higher entry level, thus increasing their potential opportunities and income after graduation.

“I’ve worked in many different aspects of (the culinary) industry and you would be hard pressed in some five-star restaurants, high-end restaurants, to find all the equipment we have here,” ACCA Culinary Instructor Amee Williams said. “That speaks volumes to how prepared our district wants our students to leave (the program).”

ACCA culinary student Lexi Holliday, a sophomore at Cedar Shoals High School, got to work in a variety of roles on the Yellow Jacket Bistro’s opening night. She hopes to use the new facilities to explore different facets of the culinary industry.

“(Before opening night), we made the individual parts (of the meal) and then we pieced them together on the closer days, like we made the displays and put everything out. It was mainly fun (but) there were a couple points that

STORY BY ISABELLA WESTRICH News Editor

LAYOUT BY MAYA CLEMENT Managing Editor

Featured:

Photo by

were a little stressful,” Holliday said. “(I’m looking forward to) being able to experiment and be creative and make our own ideas (in the future).”

ACCA culinary student Nadiyah Collins, a senior at Clarke Central High School, joined the class this year and believes that the improved kitchen and restaurant have allowed her to gain soft skills beyond preparing food.

“(It helps) not just with cooking, but also (with) communication skills because you’ll have two groups working on one thing and another group working on another, and you have to communicate throughout that,” Collins said. “Communication works a lot in the kitchen and outside of the kitchen because (we get experience with) customer service, talking to whoever you’re serving, talking to the other people in the kitchen, coworkers, friends, students.”

actually have the yellow jacket that was their mascot,” Thomas said. “And inside the restaurant (there’s a wall) dedicated to them with several pictures that were taken back in the ‘50s and ‘60s when they were in that building. That’s a special part of the bistro, that history that’s tied to it.”

The ACCA culinary students plan to host multiple events using the bistro and updated kitchen throughout the next semester, such as community pop-ups, on or off-site catering, and staff and student lunches on Fridays.

“I've worked in many different aspects of (the culinary) industry and you would be hard pressed in some five star restaurants, high end restaurants, to find all the equipment we have here.”

-- Amee Williams, ACCA Culinary Instructor

“We will have a few events this semester that are pop up events. They may be a brunch, they may be a lunch that will be opened up to the community. You’ll just book your table, you’ll book your reservation, and you’ll come in you’ll eat like any diner would,” Williams said.

There is added significance to the bistro, as it pays homage to the all-Black Burney-Harris High School that used to occupy the current ACCA building before it was integrated with Athens High School to form CCHS in 1970.

“(BHHS’s) mascot was a yellow jacket. So once we began to decide that the bistro was going to be ready to open, some of the (BHHS) alumni who are still with us gave their input on it and they allowed us to use their mascot, so we

“We can (also) do on or off-site catering, meaning we can provide what you need for your event. And then also, one of the things we hope to do is be able to at least serve our teachers here on Friday, and then some of our students in the cafe.”

As Williams looks to the future of the

bistro, she hopes to instill passion in her students.

“I’m not just here to teach you how to use your stove at home. Will you learn that? Yes. Is that great? Yes. Are you learning life skills? Yes. If that’s why you take my course, fantastic,” Williams said. “But going a step further and in getting that empowerment, that creativity. Those are the things that I want you to leave my class with.” O

the shack is back

After a nearly 10-year hiatus, the Glad Shack has returned to CCHS and offers students an opportunity to learn about running a business.

STORY BY ADAH HAMMAN News Staffer

LAYOUT BY MOLLY HARWELL Editor-in-Chief

When students entered the Clarke Central High School cafeteria in 2010, they were greeted with the smiling faces of cashiers, the bustling sounds of shoppers and vibrant displays boasting an array of snacks and drinks.

Nestled in between what is now the Administrative Suite and the Miller B. Jordan Food Court entrance, the Glad Shack, CCHS’ school store, prospered, according to CCHS Athletic Director and former Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education department chair Dr. Jon Ward.

“(The Glad Shack) was a true storefront that faced the cafeteria, that was open before school and during school, that had counter space and (sold) school supplies, snacks and spirit attire,” Ward said. “It thrived, and it was (in) a perfect location. Both before school and especially during lunch, students were coming and going, constantly in and out.”

The store was run by marketing students and, according to Ward, served as

an opportunity for them to gain work experience and learn about what it’s like to run a business.

“I believe in opportunities for real-life experience during the school day. The primary reason for me (re-opening the store) is (because students receive) a real-life opportunity to (learn) how to do things. There’s so many opportunities that used to exist in a high school setting that don’t (anymore),” Ward said. “(The Glad Shack offered) such a great opportunity for students to get hands-on experience with everything that goes into running a business.”

However, in 2014, CCHS began renovation and the Glad Shack closed to allow for the addition of the administrative suite. On top of that, several CTAE classes were removed from the school due to the introduction of the Athens Community Career Academy, including the marketing class.

In the near decade without the Glad Shack, CCHS merchandise wasn’t as easily accessible, contributing to a lack of school spirit, according to CCHS Family Engagement Specialist Christian Barner.

Above: STEPPING UP: Future Business Leaders of America officer and Glad Shack cashier Kimberly Cortez-Benavides, a senior, sits in the window of the Glad Shack, the school store at Clarke Central High School, located in the E.B. Mell Auditorium, on March 22. FBLA sponsor Jaclyn Brown has facilitated staffing at the Glad Shack. “My FBLA officers and students, I offered them the opportunity to see who wanted to actually work in the school store,” Brown said. “So, Kimberly Cortez-Benavides and Jimena Santamaria Marin said, ‘Hey, we’ll work,’ so they’ve been working every Tuesday and Thursday.” Photo by Aza Khan

“We get a lot of students, as well as people within the community, like parents, who want Clarke Central stuff. In the past, it’s like, ‘Well, you can go to Target. They have some there,’ but that’s not the best way to tell people how to get stuff,” Barner said.

In 2019, Ward began talking to Barner and CCHS CTAE department teacher Jaclyn Brown about restarting the Glad Shack. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the idea was set aside.

“(The Glad Shack offered) such a great opportunity for students to get hands-on experience with everything that goes into running a business.”

-- Dr. jon ward, CCHS Athletic Director and former CTAE department chair

In the fall of 2023, Barner brought the idea of bringing back the Glad Shack to the CCHS Student School Climate Committee, where students meet monthly during Advisement to discuss things happening around the school.

“Initially, what the students (in the SSCC) said was that they wanted vending machines. But we looked into that and we couldn’t do it. The next best option was (to open) a school store, which we had already talked about,” Barner said.

“I started talking about this with Ms. Brown, about how her students could get involved. It (could) be a work-based learning opportunity for them. (The idea) just kind of started moving from there.”

Today, the Glad Shack, which reopened its doors officially on Jan. 16, is located outside the E.B. Mell Auditorium and provides students with snacks that sustain them throughout the school day.

“Students are hungry and they’re picky. Sometimes they may not like (the) breakfast (that is served) or that breakfast may not fill them up. So, sometimes, they can come back (from breakfast) and get a drink or a snack for later on,” Brown said. “We have that accessible to them, and that’s the only way they can purchase it because they’re not allowed to use the vending machines for snacks here at the school.”

CCHS Business Technology student and Glad Shack cashier Kimberly Cortez-Benavides, a senior, volunteers at the store on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and looks forward to what the future holds for the store.

“I hope that we get to get more stuff (in the future). There’s other schools that have slushie machines and we want to start to have that. We want to have a more official look,” Cortez-Benavides said. “We also want to have (the store open) during lunch.”

Brown hopes that, in the future, she, Barner, Ward and students will be able to restore the store to its former glory.

“We’re trying to build (the store) back up, which is gonna take a lot of effort. We’re starting from Ground Zero, so we’re just trying to get (back to where we were),” Brown said.

Top right: GETTING THE WORD OUT: Two hands exchange a bottle of Sprite at the Glad Shack, Clarke Central High School’s school store, in the E.B. Mell Auditorium lobby on March 22. While the reopening of the Glad Shack in December brought many new opportunities for students, CCHS Family Engagement Specialist Christian Barner worried there are disadvantages of the store being in the E.B. Mell Auditorium lobby. “One of the things that we’ve got to (work) on is getting people used to being (at the store). Since it’s all the way over here, the people who see it are the students coming in from the buses and the car riders,” Barner said. “The fact that we’re so far away from the student parking lot makes it a little difficult (to sell). So, we do want to get more word out about it, so we’ll get more students to come down and take advantage of it.” Photo by Aza Khan

Bottom left: LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: A storage shelf in the Glad Shack, Clarke Central High School’s school store, located in the E.B. Mell Auditorium, features an assortment of candy and beverages on March 22. CCHS Family Engagement Specialist Christian Barner hoped that, by selling CCHS merchandise in the store, students would feel more pride in their school. “(The store’s) hopefully (going to) be able to promote, within the community, with families, opportunities to buy spirit wear and Clarke Central stuff,” Barner said. “A lot of (the store) is us trying to brand the school and selling the school (merchandise) in the community. So, when you’re out and about, you see more Clarke Central stuff, and there’s an opportunity for people to be able to express pride in their school by having those things.” Photo by Aza Khan

Judge Janie

High school students often turns to excessive amounts of caffeine and energy drinks to stay alert, but this dependence is dangerous when there are more effective ways to face the day.

BY JANIE RIPPS Variety Editor

When a student walks into Clarke Central High School at 8:45 a.m., they’ll be greeted by a sea of students with drinks in-hand.

Whether it’s a cup of coffee or a canned energy drink, caffeine is a lifeline for most students to get through their day.

For over 10,000 years, humans have relied on the stimulant known as caffeine. It increases activity in drinkers’ brains and nervous systems, which, in the right doses, can help one feel refreshed and focused.

Outside stressors such as extracurricular activities and long school days may cause high school students to turn to caffeine to have enough energy, but ways to get caffeine have evolved from the original coffee bean discovered thousands of years ago.

12-ounce cup contains 143 milligrams. In comparison, Celsius Original contains 200 milligrams of synthetic caffeine per 12 ounces.

The same measurements apply to other popular drinks, like Alani Nu Energy.

“(Caffeine is) gonna speed up your heart. If it’s having to pump super fast, you can wear your heart out,” CCHS Nurse Jackie Coyle said. “When (your leg muscles) pump for a long time, your muscle gets bigger. Your heart can do that and it’s not a good thing for your heart muscle to get big.”

In addition to this large concentration of caffeine, synthetic caffeine is used in energy drinks instead of natural caffeine harvested from plants that appears in drinks like coffee or tea.

Student’s dependence on this exessive amount of caffeine is unhealthy.

“I drink (a Celsius energy drink) every day and (it) started about a year ago,” CCHS junior Bella Yelton said. “They help me be energized throughout the day as an athlete going to practice after school.”

Flavored energy drinks are just one form of an alternative caffeine that has become popular in younger generations, but students’ dependence on this excessive amount of caffeine is unhealthy.

According to the United States Drug Association, the typical eight-ounce cup of coffee contains 95 milligrams of naturally occurring caffeine and a typical

According to “Natural vs. Synthetic Caffeine,” published on April 24, 2023 by Guru Energy, an energy drink company, common side effects of synthetic caffeine include increased heart rate and blood pressure, as well as anxiety.

Although a long-term reliance on caffeine can be dangerous regardless of the drink, there are more sustainable alternatives to achieve this extra boost.

Consumers should consider other energy options, like simply brewed coffee or caffeinated teas such as black tea and matcha.

These natural sources of caffeine are healthier than the typical energy drink, but still provide that jolt that students may need for the day.

As outside stressors continue to steal rest, finding a healthier balance with caffeine intake as well as limiting consumption of these popular energy drinks is necessary for high school students, before it’s too late.

Above: CAFFEINE CRAZE: Various forms of caffeine are illustrated above. From coffee to energy drinks, new options to get an extra boost have evolved into unhealthy and unsustainable forms. “Outside stressors such as extracurricular activities and long school days may cause high school students to turn to caffeine to have enough energy, but ways to get caffeine have evolved from the original coffee bean discovered thousands of years ago,” Variety

Editor Janie Ripps wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell

Quest for Athens' Best:

After trying late-night treats from around Athens, ODYSSEY staffers conclude that Andy’s Frozen Custard and Little Italy offer the best late-night options.

FROZEN CUSTARD: The sign for Andy’s Frozen Custard, located on 2180 W. Broad St., is shown above. With a wide variety of flavors and large portion sizes, Andy’s provided a satisfactory dessert despite of its price. “Andy’s pricing varies depending on the order, but it is generally on the pricier side,” Variety Staffer Maggie Monk wrote. “A small concrete custard starts at $5.59 for 12 ounces and adding toppings costs extra. Regardless, Andy’s Frozen Custard is a

place to

a late-night

BY MAGGIE MONK Variety Staffer

Located at 2180 W. Broad St., Andy’s Frozen Custard is a great option to grab a late-night sweet treat before 11 p.m.

Entering through the large glass garage doors next to the counter, there is a vibrant energy with customers sitting on multiple benches talking and enjoying their frozen custard. Workers are welcoming, giving recommendations of what to order on the huge menu. The speedy service also boosts the positive mood.

The wide variety of flavors and toppings served at Andy’s provides a perfect mix of sweet and rich flavors, paired with the custard that is the perfect balance of thick and creamy.

Although there is a large menu, Andy’s does not have a lot of dietary inclusivity. There is only one non-dairy option offered on the entire menu, Zarlengo’s Italian Ice Tube.

Andy’s pricing varies depending on the order, but is generally on the pricier side. A small concrete custard starts at $5.59 for 12 ounces and adding toppings costs extra.

Regardless, Andy’s Frozen Custard is a tasty place to grab a late-night snack, whether customers are looking for a quick grab-and-go through the drive-thru or a place to chit-chat with family and friends.

8 7.5 8.5 9 10 O

Above:

tasty

grab

snack.” Photo by Aza Khan

Above: CUSTARD GALORE: Andy’s Frozen Custard’s 12-ounce “Texas-2-Step,” made with blended vanilla custard with strawberries and filled with hot fudge, is shown. The diverse menu at Andy’s gave customers an opportunity to mix and match each dessert. “The wide variety of flavors and toppings served at Andy’s provides a perfect mix of sweet and rich flavors, paired with the custard that is the perfect balance of thick and creamy,” Variety Staffer Maggie Monk wrote. Photo by Aza Khan

LAYOUT BY JANIE RIPPS Variety Editor GRAPHICS BY SAM HARWELL Illustrator

Late night Snack-down

BY ABIGAIL HOLLOWAY Variety Staffer

Larger than the paper plate it was served on and topped with lots of cheese, a simple slice of pizza from Little Italy, located at 125 N. Lumpkin St., is perfect for those looking for a hefty portion without breaking the bank.

When walking into the restaurant, one will immediately notice the lighting. The inside of the restaurant is very dark, with the majority of the lighting coming from red and green lights that line the tops of the walls. This lighting complements the outside darkness well. Additionally, the location is accessible for those who live in or near Downtown Athens.

Another major draw to Little Italy is the price of its food. A slice of thin-crust pizza is $3.85 and every additional topping is 65 cents. Considering the slices of pizza are large, the prices are affordable.

The pizza itself is very cheesy, but could be considered too greasy for some. The crust is also crunchier than many other pizzas, which is not something to be wary of, as the crunch complements the rest of the pizza.

Little Italy offers 21 different toppings options, which allows the consumer to customize the slices to their liking.

Overall, Little Italy offers affordable pizza for those looking for a nice snack, but the grease and texture might not be something all will enjoy.

10 9.5 8 7 10 Check out the QFAB: Late Night Snack-Down video by Daniel Cruz!

8

Celebrating Black History

CCHS students and staff joined together in E.B. Mell Auditorium on Feb. 28 to celebrate Black History at CCHS through a 90-minute program.The program, which was held for the second consecutive year, featured performances from dancers and the orchestra, as well as an impassioned speech from Michael Thurmond, CCHS Class of 1971 alumnus and Chief Executive Officer of Dekalb County Schools.

PHOTO ESSAY COMPILED BY WYATT MEYER Lead Copy Editor

PHOTO ESSAY COMPILED BY ANGEL JARA News Staffer

PHOTOS BY AZA KHAN Photography Editor

PHOTOS BY ISABELLE DUNCAN Social Media Coordinator

“I hope that the students took away about the unity that we can all come

“(The Black History Month program) shows representation of Black people, (so) especially during Black History Month, it’s very important. As a half-Black person myself, it’s very important to see and hear the music in history.”

-- Morraea Brandenburg, CCHS junior

“It was very touching for me to have my former teacher playing the piano as I was singing about our youth. Today’s Black youth (are) in such danger that (they) don’t even realize the impact their decisions of today will have on their future. The song was so powerful and even 30 years later, the song has a deeper meaning.

-- Jaclyn Brown, CCHS Career, Technical, Agricultural Education department teacher and performer

“Obviously, (the Black History Program is) very special. We’re very privileged to have something like this and it’s great that we get to express it in various ways, such as music.

-- JordY Sierra Luna, Violinist and CCHS sophomore

CULTURAL BUZZ

“A Tempest of Tea,” the first novel in a young adult fantasy duology by author Hafsah Faizal, was released to readers on Feb. 20.

The book tells the story of Arthie Casmir, a mastermind criminal, her brother Jin and master forger Flick as they go on a heist to save Arthie’s tearoom. The three of them, along with some misfits they pick up along the way, attempt to save one of the only things Arthie cares about.

“A Tempest of Tea” is a tale of family, adventure and vampires. This combination makes for a story that will pull the readers in. Arthie, Jin and Flick will take the reader on a ride like no other, wrecking emotions along the way.

However, while the characters drive most of the story, they overshadow the plot in a way that leaves room for confusion. Despite its descriptive language, the story has more showing than telling, leaving the characters a little flat.

However, this book is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s “Six of Crows,” weaving flawed, yet lovable characters and leaving readers on a cliffhanger that will make them want to scream.

-- Lea D'Angelo, Journalism I student

Ariana Grande’s newest album “eternal sunshine,” released to all streaming platforms on March 8, is Grande’s refreshing return to the music industry since her last album “Positions” (2020). With 13 songs totaling 35 minutes, “eternal sunshine” takes listeners on a journey through the various emotions that come with a breakup. Tracks such as “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” and “i wish i hated you” focus more on the gloomy side of heartbreak. On the other hand, “bye” and “true story” are loud and confident.

Although the inclusion of these various kinds of emotions show a different side of Grande, the flow of the album is hindered by the jump from more upbeat songs such as the transition from “yes, and?”, which features strong pop beats, to “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”, which is slower and is more of a spotlight of Grande’s vocals.

Regardless, “eternal sunshine” marks Grande’s monumental return to music production and reveals a more vulnerable side to longtime fans.

-- Janie Ripps, Variety Editor

Kung Fu Panda 4

BY MAGGIE MONK Variety Staffer

“Kung Fu Panda 4,” the fourth movie in the “Kung Fu Panda” movie franchise, was released to theaters on March 8. With comedian Jack Black returning as the voice of the main character Po the panda, this film will make audiences of all ages laugh.

Rated PG, directed by Mike Mitchell and animated by DreamWorks Animation, “Kung Fu Panda 4” begins as Po, a lovable panda trained in martial arts, is told that he has not been fulfilling his duties as the Dragon Warrior. He is asked to move on from his role and become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, but in order to try and prevent this change from happening, Po embarks on a journey to defeat the evil shape-shifting chameleon (Viola Davis) that is on the hunt to gain all the kung fu abilities from every villian.

This film definitely adds onto the franchise’s legacy, but it does not top the original three. This is partly because “Kung Fu Panda 4” does not include some of the original characters like the Furious Five: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Mantis (Seth Rogan).

The first season of the live-action remake and series “Avatar: The Last Airbender” was released to Netflix on Feb. 22. The series, consisting of eight hour-long episodes, follows the journey of Avatar Aang (Gordon Cormier) and his friends, Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley), as they race to master all four elements to end their world’s war.

Through a diverse cast and gorgeous costumes, the series shows viewers an Asian-inspired fantasy world in full detail and does a good job of honoring the original animated series, which aired from 2005 to 2008.

For a show that relies on special effects for crucial parts of worldbuilding, like element bending, it’s impressive that most effects are of high quality. However, the show does have problems with tone and pacing, where some lighthearted and even climatic moments don’t land. While rated TV-PG, the darker violence and mild language may be suboptimal for young audiences.

While fans of the original series may be cautious, they can enjoy Easter eggs from the classic while still enjoying new content regarding their favorite characters and newcomers can enjoy their introduction to the Avatar’s world.

These characters were missed in the new film, but their absence allowed a shifted focus to new friendships such as Po and the fox Zhen (Awkwafina). The introduction of new characters may be refreshing for longtime fans, but not one that comes without some disappointment.

In regards to the animation, “Kung Fu Panda 4” keeps the same 3D style as the previous three films. The use of color and small details for the variety of animals in the film, combined with the consistent pacing of the plot, was extremely engaging.

Overall, this animated comedy is a great extension of the “Kung Fu Panda” franchise. This film is hilarious and a great watch, although it may let down some viewers who grew up with the first three films.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JANIE RIPPS Variety Editor

-- Emlyn McKinney, Journalism I student

AS does Diva

DIVAS Who Win Peer Mentor Undrea Gooden has overcome various challenges throughout her life and works to help Athenian women in similar situations.

Every day, Undrea Gooden stands in a garden of her own making. But instead of watering lush greens or fresh vegetables, Gooden uses her personal challenges to grow something else -- the women at DIVAS Who Win Freedom Center.

After many years of chemical and substance abuse, Gooden decided to change her trajectory by seeking help from several rehabilitation facilities in Georgia. She was determined to become the best version of herself.

“I chose no longer to just exist. I want to live,” Gooden said.

Along her journey, Gooden met Chanda Santana, her counselor at New Beginnings Ministry, an organization in Martin, Georgia, that helps overcome difficult circumstances, who constantly empowered and uplifted her.

Here, Gooden provides women with essentials like warm meals, a place to shower and clean clothes, but DIVAS goes much further.

There is also a place for women to relax, express themselves through art, prepare for interviews, work on job applications and access formal clothes for important events.

“We’re going to empower. We’re going to always love them. We’re intentional about treating our peers with love, kindness and compassion,” Gooden said. “When they come in, they’re going to feel the love. They’re going to feel the warmth.”

“I chose no longer to just exist. I want to live.”

-- Undrea Gooden, DIVAS Who Win peer mentor

After watching Gooden grow, Chanda offered her a job to mentor other women at DIVAS, an organization located on 645 Hawthorne Ave., in Athens that offers resources to women recovering from sex trafficking, prostitution and addiction.

While she offers these resources, she also provides something just as valuable to the women who enter: her story.

Day after day, Gooden continues to water her garden, continuously choosing to pay forward the encouragement she was shown by sharing her own similar experiences.

“I might not reach all of them, (but) just as long as I plant that one seed and I’m able to see that seed bloom, I’ve done what I’ve been called to do,” Gooden said.

STORY BY MAGGIE MONK Variety Staffer

LAYOUT BY JANIE RIPPS Variety Editor

Above: PLANTING A SEED: DIVAS Who Win peer mentor Undrea Gooden (middle) stands with her colleagues Program Director Mary Evans (left) and Facilities Manager Leah Acree (right) outside DIVAS Who Win Freedom Center at 645 Hawthorne Ave. on Jan. 19. After experiencing personal battles with chemical abuse, Gooden has spent the last six years working with women to overcome addiction and abuse at DIVAS Who Win Freedom Center. “I might not reach all of them, but just as I plant that

Photo by Aza Khan

TELL ME, WY

Debate about name, image and likeness (NIL) often unfairly passes by the student-athletes that benefit from it.

BY WYATT MEYER Lead Copy Editor

In the world of sports nowadays, it’s hard to find a topic more controversial than name, image and likeness (NIL).

Since its 1905 inception, the NCAA has restricted deals in which athletes use their name, image and likeness to make profit. However, in June 2021, the NCAA introduced interim rules that stated, “NCAA college athletes will have the opportunity to benefit from their name, image and likeness,” provided state law allowed the deals.

In the days and weeks following the NCAA’s decision, collegiate athletes from all over the country began to cash in.

At the University of Georgia, tight end Brock Bowers signed NIL deals, leading to companies across Athens plastering Bowers’s face on their billboards.

Even closer to home, former UGA track and field sprinter Matthew Boling filmed his promotion of an anti-vaping Food and Drug Administration campaign at Clarke Central High School.

ambassadors for brands or to do other small-scale things (that) can help them out some,” Dr. David Welch Suggs, UGA Associate Professor of Journalism at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications, said.

But, immediately following the NCAA’s decision, a long-silenced debate sprung up regarding NIL’s affect on sporting integrity. Some championed athletes for exploiting their newfound freedom while others warned of a commercialization of youth athletics.

The debate hasn’t remained a collegiate issue. In October 2023, the Georgia High School Association decided to allow high school athletes to pursue NIL deals, to the consternation of many, including CCHS head varsity basketball coach Dr. Stefan Smith.

If institutions, both high school and collegiate, care about setting athletes up for success, that means doing what’s best for the athlete, not the sport.

“In the short term, the positive thing is (that) you could see athletes who are able to build their presence on social media, create opportunities to become

“I don’t mind people making money, (but) it can become a recruiting tool if this (high) school allows you to do this but this school doesn’t. I don’t think that should be in high school at all,” Smith said.

But, amongst every screaming ESPN host and every sporting legend’s take on the issue – of which there are many – few are speaking about the athletes themselves.

For many of the athletes making these deals, sports are the future. Whereas most people choose to excel at other subjects, these athletes have chosen an arguably more difficult career path – one awkward landing, one bad performance, and their dream can end in an instant.

If institutions, both high school and collegiate, care about setting athletes up for success, that means doing what’s best for the athlete, not the sport. That might mean powerhouse schools near-on paying athletes to play under the top-tier coaches against weakened teams, but if that’s what’s best for the athlete, the public shouldn’t criticize their decision.

Additionally, the money athletes acquire from these deals could go home to these athletes’ families or even into a savings account. A sports career is so volatile that a little insurance is just what athletes need. Ultimately, the main goal of high school and college athletics isn’t just to win: it’s to set athletes up for success in the next stage of their lives.

If the analysts, icons and armchair experts can’t see that, then they have a problem much larger than three letters.

Left: NO PERFECT PATH: A high school athlete looks at a road paved with money that leads to a professional stadium. Though the monetary effects of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals may impact the competitiveness of amateur athletics, the public ought not to criticize athletes for benefitting off their performance. “Whereas most people choose to excel at other subjects, these athletes have chosen an arguably more difficult career path – one awkward landing, one bad performance, and their dream can end in an instant,” Lead Copy Editor Wyatt Meyer wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell

Winter Sports Recap

Wrestling

Recap: Beginning unofficial practices all the way back in September 2023, the wrestling team had one of the longest seasons of any winter sport. The team attended meets beginning in November and extending to the region wrestling event on Feb. 2, at which the whole team participated and where multiple Gladiators placed and moved on to Sectionals.

O

“(Clarke Central High School’s) team is always the underdog at every meet and tournament because we lack in size and funding, (but) I felt it was a lot more competitive this year and a lot shorter. (In) my second season, I wrestled stronger and more skilled people.”

-- Lila Sloan, CCHS sophomore wrestler

Photo by Aza Khan

How did CCHS varsity winter sports perform in the 2023-24 season? The ODYSSEY took a closer look.

BY WYATT MEYER

Swimming and Diving

Recap: Several swimmers qualified for the state event at the Georgia Institute of Technology Aquatic Center via their performance in several meets throughout the season. At the state meet on Feb. 7, both individual swimmers and relay teams placed highly, with CCHS junior Charlotte Foggin’s fifth place finish in the 200-meter freestyle the highest of any Gladiator.

O

“There were things that I personally could have done better with my swimming, but the team performed well, brought home some two places on the girls side and I think even a win. It was fun to see that play out and be a part of it as well.”

-- Charlotte Foggin, CCHS junior swimmer

Photo by Aza Khan

Recap: Despite finishing second in the Region 8-AAAAA regular season, the CCHS boys varsity basketball team captured their third region championship in four years by defeating WinderBarrow High School on Feb. 16. However, the Gladiators lost 77-60 in the first round of the Georgia High School Association playoffs against Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School, ending their playoff journey at the first hurdle. O

“(Winning the Region Tournament) felt relieving and exciting because it proved that all the trials we went through this season were worth it. I’m proud of our team. We’ve been through a lot this season and people counted us out, but we never let it get to us.”

-- A.J. Lonon, CCHS

sophomore boys basketball player

Boys basketball Basketball Cheerleading

Recap: The varsity basketball cheerleading team traveled with the boys and girls varsity basketball teams during the season, championing the Gladiators throughout. Outside of the games, the varsity and junior varsity squads faced off in a brief perfomance at the Winter Sports Pep Rally on Jan. 19.

“The highlight of the year was definitely (the boys varsity basketball team) becoming region champs, especially coming back from the season we had last year (when we didn’t) even make the playoffs. Although we fell short this season, I feel like we had a great time as a cheer team cheering on both our teams.”

-- Semaj Jordan, CCHS senior basketball cheerleader

Photo by Aza Khan

Girls Basketball

Recap: The girls varsity basketball team finished fourth in Region 8-AAAAA regular season play, their highest region standing since the 201920 season, while the team’s nine wins were their most since the 2018-19 season. However, the Gladiators lost 47-41 to Flowery Branch High School in the first round of the region tournament on Feb. 12, not qualifying for the subsequent GHSA playoffs.O

“We could have (gone) farther in the Region Tournament and we had some tough losses against teams we had beaten the first time. Most importantly, I feel like we improved. Next season, with most players returning, we will be more familiar playing with our teammates.”

-- Alex Ozuna, CCHS sophomore girls basketball player

by

Photos

Aza Khan

PLAYING FOR POPS

CCHS boys varsity basketball point guard La’neric Gill, a senior, has stepped up his dedication for his final high school basketball season in memory of his father.

STORY BY LIYA TAYLOR Sports Staffer

LAYOUT BY MAYA CLEMENT Managing Editor

When La’neric Gill walked into his grandmother's home in middle school, he met his father for the first time.

Little did Gill know that he was meeting an Athens basketball legend.

Gill, now a senior, started as a point guard for the Region 8-AAAAA Champion Gladiators throughout the 2023-24 basketball season and was named to the AllRegion team in the process.

“I had to change the way I am because of him. I was trying to meet his goals in high school.He was the best player that came out of Cedar Shoals (with) 2000+ points, I got the plaque at home.”

-- La'neric Gill, CCHS boys varsity basketball player

Gill has played basketball since he was five years old and the sport has always been something he loved, but only this year did he cement his status as one of the team’s strongest players. Gill’s father, Marvin Nash, was the driving force behind his newfound stardom.

“I had to change the way I am because of him. I was trying to meet his goals in high school,” Gill said. “He

Featured: FOR HIS FATHER: CCHS boys varsity basketball point guard

La’neric Gill, a senior, sits in the Clarke Central High School Competition Gym bleachers on Jan. 24 with a basketball in one hand and a picture of his father, Marvin Nash, in the other. Gill has played basketball for as long as he can remember, but when his father passed away in 2022, his reason for playing changed dramatically. “Lately, I think he’s been trying to play for (his dad). At first, he was a little upset and you could kind of see that in (his) play,” boys varsity basketball head coach Stefan Smith said. “As time’s (gone) on, he’s understanding, ‘I got to do this for my pops,’ and he says that sometimes.”

Photo by Aza Khan

was the best player that came out of Cedar Shoals (with) 2000+ points. I got the plaque at home.”

Nash wasn't just any player who came from CSHS. Nash, a Class of 1989 alumnus, to this day, is still CSHS's top-scoring player with 2,457 points. CSHS English department chair and Class of 1990 alumnus Bryan Moore viewed Nash as a legend in high school.

“(Nash) was like (the) Michael Jordan or LeBron James of Athens at the time,” Moore said. “He just had a natural ability and a high basketball IQ that (you) just hadn't seen in many other players.”

CCHS boys varsity basketball head coach and Class of 1991 alumnus Dr. Stefan Smith also knew Nash from high school, but this time as an opponent. Although they didn't play together, Smith got to know Nash’s playing style and sees similarities in Gill.

“La'neric has the same type of showmanship that (Nash) had, he was a showman, too,” Smith said. “If they told Marvin, ‘We want a slam,’ he gonna go get you a slam. They say, Marvin, ‘We want a three,’ Marvin gonna go get you a three. La'neric has that showman in him.”

Upon meeting his dad, Gill was unaware of Nash’s significance in basketball. Learning more about his father’s legend was important to Gill in how he has approached the game.

“(Nash) was like (the) Michael Jordan or LeBron James of Athens at the time. He just had a natural ability and a high basketball IQ that (you) just hadn't seen in many other players.”

-- Bryan

Moore,

CSHS English department chair and Class of 1990 alumnus

“He showed me how to shoot (and) get my jump shot better,” Gill said. “(It) was a great feeling seeing how good (my dad) was and (seeing) my genes. Knowing that I had a dad that plays the same sport as me, that was legit, that was fye.”

But, just shortly after first meeting his father, the source of Gill’s inspiration was suddenly cut short.

On Aug. 22, 2022, Nash died in a car crash.

Just four months after his father's passing, the 2022-23 basketball season arrived, and it was Gill’s first year on the varsity team. He didn’t expect his father’s death to impact his play as much as it did.

“(That season) was hard, very hard. I played very well here and there but I got mad easily,” Gill said. “(I was) a quiet guy (and) I wasn't saying nothing.”

Gill wasn’t the only one to see the struggle he was facing. Although the 2022-23 season was Smith’s first season directly coaching Gill, he had known Gill for five years prior and viewed that season as his weakest point.

“He didn’t lift weights and he didn’t like (to) do the extra work that you need to do. Everything always came easy to him. He was always one of the best kids playing (and) he always was smart on the basketball floor, more than a lot of people,” Smith said. “When he got (to varsity) last year, it was a shock to him.”

However, Gill decided to not let his father’s memory die with him. Gill would revive that memory through his own play.

Although their time knowing each other was short, the impact Nash left on Gill was lasting. In the following season, Smith saw an

Above: TOP SCORER: Cedar Shoals High School Class of 1989 alumnus, Marvin Nash, attempts to score during a basketball game in the 1989 CSHS yearbook. During Nash’s time on the court, he earned the title of CSHS top scoring player with 2,457 points. “If you go to the gym, they have the all time scores up on the wall and he’s still there almost 40 years later, which says it all. Cedar has always had a pretty significant basketball legacy and he’s still the number one scorer,” CSHS English department chair and Class of 1990 alumnus Bryan Moore said. Photo courtesy of Cedar Shoals High School

Below: TEAM PLAYER: Clarke Central High School boys varsity basketball point guard La’neric Gill, a senior, talks with his teammate Collin McIntosh, a freshman, during the game against Seckinger High School on Nov. 28, 2023. During the 2023-24 season, Gill not only focused on improving himself but also helping his teammates. “I like to pass the ball, get it to everybody and have them feel (the ball) during the game. (That way) they can feel confident and have confidence in their game,” Gill said. “(If) I keep my confidence up and keep my teammate’s confidence up, then we’re going to be together (and) win.” Photo by Aza Khan

increase in effort from Gill and watched him start to dedicate his time on the court to his father.

“He’s practicing harder. He’s doing the things that you need to do in order to be successful. (He’s) getting to practice on time, working harder in the drills, he’s participating more and being more cooperative,” Smith said. “He’s averaging more points, more assists, looking for assists (and) making plans. He’s being a true point guard.”

Gill had changed his ways, and everyone could see it, even himself. His new approach turned him into one of the team’s top scorers in most games, including a team-leading 28 points in the Region 8-AAAAA tournament semifinal against Heritage High School on Feb. 14.

“I score way more points and I'm being a leader on the team. (My dad) was a leader on his team."

-- La'neric Gill, CCHS boys varsity basketball player

“I score way more points and I’m being a leader on the team. (My dad) was a leader on his team. He used to play every position,” Gill said. “A leader on the court keeps everybody together when it comes down to the last-second shot — that’s what I do.”

His teammates see this change, too. CCHS varsity basketball shooting guard Marcus Gillespie, a junior, was not only teammates with Gill for CCHS but also played alongside him on several travel ball teams.

“He’s stepped up to where we don’t have to say, ‘We need you to do this and that.’ That’s just what he does now. He just has natural instincts (to) know when it’s his turn (and) when it’s time for him to do what he needs to do. He always rises up to expectations,” Gillespie said.

But rather than just playing for his father Gill has now, at the end of his high school career, done what he has longed to do ever since Aug. 22, 2022: play like his father.

“When he was in high school, they used to be like, ‘We want a three, we want a dunk, Marvin Nash,’” Gill said. “So, if they are like, ‘Nuke, we want a three,’ I’m getting (it) the same way he did.”

a

where like,

and

Above: KEEP PLAYING: CCHS boys varsity basketball point guard La’neric Gill, a senior, sits in the Clarke Central High School Competition Gym bleachers on Jan. 24. Gill started playing basketball when he was five years old and learned from his neighbor, CCHS Class of 2019 alumnus Edward Summerour. “I continued to play basketball after (learning) because I just love the game,” Gill said. “(Basketball) is just something I fell in love with. I really fell in love with hooping (and) it’s just like a lifetime thing.” Photo by Aza Khan

Left: WINNING: CCHS boys varsity basketball point guard La’nierc Gill, a senior, sits with his teammate Marcus Gillespie, a junior, at the Winter Sports Pep Rally in the Competition Gym on Jan. 19. As opposed to Gill’s junior year on varsity, he began taking initiative on and off the court during the 2023-24 season. “I’ve seen him take every day more seriously. I’ve seen

switch flip in his mindset to

he actually wants to win

he knows what he has to do to win,” Gillespie said. Photo by Aza Khan

“Everything always came easy to (Gill). He was always one of the best kids playing (and) he always was smart on the basketball floor, more than a lot of people.”

-- Dr. Stefan Smith, CCHS varsity boys basketball head coach

Above: SUPPORT: Former Cedar Shoals High School boys varsity basketball player and Class of 1989 alumnus Marvin Nash is featured in the 1989 CSHS yearbook. Nash played basketball during his time at CSHS and even after he graduated, remained an avid fan. “He was a supporter of the basketball program, he would always sit on the bleachers (in) the very front row for almost every game,” CSHS English department chair and Class of 1990 alumnus Bryan Moore said.

Photo courtesy of Bryan Moore

Top left: LEADING THE TEAM: Clarke Central High School boys varsity basketball point guard La’neric Gill, a senior, soars to the basket during the Gladiators’ first round playoff loss to Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School on Feb. 21. Gill joined the varsity basketball team for the 2022-23 season and has since improved greatly. “He’s starting to play both sides of the ball, he’s becoming more of a complete player and more of a leader. He’s helping everybody throughout practice and games. He just brings a real good energy to the team,” CCHS boys varsity basketball shooting guard Marcus Gillespie, a junior, said. Photo by Aza Khan

Bottom left: MOTIVATION: Clarke Central High School boys varsity basketball point guard La’neric Gill, a senior, meets his dad for the first time during his freshman year. Gill’s father, Marvin Nash, a former Cedar Shoals High School boys varsity basketball player and Class of 1989 alumnus, died in August of 2022 and was a star during his time on the court. “I want to be just like (my dad), he scored 2,457 points in high school,” Gill said. “He was the best player that came out of Cedar Shoals — he kept me going.” Photo courtesy of La’neric Gill

AT THE STARTING LINE

Sports Staffer Angel Tejada speaks with CCHS head track and field coach Alexis HunterLonon about her hiring.

STORY BY ANGEL TEJADA Sports Staffer

LAYOUT BY MOLLY

HARWELL Editor-in-Chief

SPORTS Staffer Angel tejada: What made you want to pursue track as a player and a coach?

Clarke Central High School head track and field coach Alexis Hunter-Lonon: I’ve run track since I was in seventh grade and it was just something that I identified with. My coaches were just easy to mesh with. They’re still people that I talked to pretty often every time I go home. I ran track for William James Middle School (in Bulloch County) and then (at) Statesboro High School, which is a five-day school in (Statesboro, Georgia). My coaches just really influenced me, so it made me continue track. It was also something I was good at, so I kept going.

Above: FAMILY MATTER: Clarke Central High School head track and field coach Alexis Hunter-Lonon leans on a hurdle in the Billy Henderson Stadium on March 14. One of reasons Hunter-Lonon came to Athens was to get closer to family. “I have family who lives here. My siblings go to school here. I have one that’s in 10th grade, my sister just graduated, I have a sister in seventh grade (and) my parents live here,” Hunter-Lonon said. “So it was just kind of the well-roundedness of it. I really got to be around family.” Photo by Aza Khan

AT:

While an assistant coach at Dillard University, what achievements did you earn?

AHL: I managed to get Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year for cross country and then the year before that, so two assistant Track and Field Coaches of the Year and one Cross Country Assistant Coach of the Year. (Those were from my time at) Dillard University, and then also at Dillard University, we won seven championships.

AT: what made you want to come to CCHS?

AHL: I got a lot of experience (at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana) and had a lot of fun there. But as a young coach in the sports world, being an African American and also a girl were a hot commodity, as they say. The opportunities that I’m (able to get) now are ones that I shouldn’t pass up. The skills that I (could) learn for being a teacher will also help me with skills as far as athletes. They pair off of each other.

At: WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE HERE AT CCHS?

AHL: Relationship-building is one big thing. At any level of job that you have, you have to be able to build relationships. I hope to stay in the sports world. I hope to (stay working) on the professional level, so just understanding the different age groups of relationships is a really big thing that I would like to do. I was hoping for a championship or two while I’m here, at least so that the track and field program can grow to be able to host meets and be a little more well-known.

AT: Did coaching a team come naturally to you or was there some personal growth needed to become comfortable with coaching?

AHL: No, it’s definitely a growth process and (a) process that I’m still learning a lot from. I went to Kennesaw State (University), so I ran track there and (I was) a coaching minor. So many of the skills I learned there got me started. I’ve always been in a position to have role models that I can just kind of bounce off of. That’s the greatest strength that I have (in) the track and field world around me. I can ask them even on (the) team (I’m on) now. Even though I’m pretty sure I’m the youngest (on the coaching staff), there’s no secret to say that these coaches have been coaching longer than me and I don’t mind asking them questions about what they think of this event, or how they think this should go, because I’m also new to the high school world. Always being willing to ask questions is the greatest attribute you can have.

Above: EYE ON THE PRIZE: Clarke Central High School head track and field coach Alexis Hunter-Lonon leans on a hurdle in Billy Henderson Stadium on March 14. Hunter-Lonon focused on improving the team with intentions of bringing sucess to CCHS. “Right now, want to focus on where we’re at in the region so that we can get some numbers on there, possibly a region championship soon. Our boys cross country team did really well in state this year, so I’m hoping that we are able to bring the team together so that we can do it,” Hunter-Lonon said. Photo by Aza Khan

The Impossible Dream

It has been 30 years since CCHS basketball legend Percy Eberhart’s death, yet coaches and community members in Athens are keeping his legacy alive.

BY WYATT MEYER Lead Copy Editor

Nestled in the front corner of the Clarke Central High School boys varsity basketball locker room is a painting.

In fine brushstrokes, this painting shows a larger-than-life CCHS basketball player rising above awed Cedar Shoals High School defenders to dunk in the University of Georgia’s Stegeman Coliseum.

Though this painting hangs proudly next to the whiteboard the team plans around at every home game, few passers-by know what the image of the Gladiators’ legend – who died over 30 years ago – truly means.

This painting represents a legacy.

This painting represents a dream,

lost.

This painting represents

Percy Eberhart.

Above: A LIVING LEGEND: Geneva Johnson Eberhart, Athens community member and mother to Clarke Central High School Class of 1992 alumnus and former varsity basketball player Percy Eberhart, points at a painting of her son’s likeness displayed in the CCHS boys varsity basketball locker room. According to Geneva, Percy had starry-eyed dreams that became intertwined with the history of the CCHS basketball program. “(Percy) wanted to play against Shaquille O’Neal. He said, ‘Mom, I want to play against him.’ I said, ‘That big ole’ boy? Are you crazy?’ He said, ‘No, I just want to play against him, and I think I can,’” Geneva said. “Right before he died, he was scheduled to go to Texas and try out with (Charles) Barkeley, Shaquille (O’Neal), Scottie Pippen, but he never did make it there.” Photo by Aza Khan

STORY AND LAYOUT

According to Percy’s mother, Geneva Johnson Eberhart, Percy grew up like any other Athens youngster. He attended Alps Road Elementary School and Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School, playing pickup basketball games with his friends behind the now-closed West Broad School minutes from his house on Paris Street.

Playing in backyards and playgrounds, Geneva remembers Percy’s hoop dreams starting before he was anything to his city.

“He said to me, ‘Mom, when I make it famous, I’m taking all the guys from Rocksprings and Broadacres right here in the neighborhood with me. All of us are gonna be together,’” Geneva said.

Standing well over 6 feet tall in his freshman year – though he would eventually make it to a startling 6 feet 9 inches – Percy played varsity basketball for CCHS throughout his high school career, improving all the time. Geneva swears that in the very same matchup against CSHS shown in the locker room painting, Percy put up 51 points.

On another occasion, Percy’s former teammate Jason Johnson, a CCHS Class of 1991 alumnus and current CCHS assistant boys varsity basketball coach, recalls Percy ending a game against Hancock Central High School in the first quarter by shattering the backboard.

“He’s one of the best players to come through Clarke Central from the time it was conceived up until now, without a shadow of a doubt.”

-- Billy Wade, Former CCHS head boys varsity basketball coach

“I just heard everybody stand up and (start cheering) and I turned around, and when I turned around, he caught the ball, took two long steps and slammed it home. When he got through, he had the rim in his hand. He had shattered the backboard,” Johnson said. “He walked over to the bench with the rim in his hand and (was) like, ‘What are we gonna do now?’”

Former CCHS boys varsity basketball coach Billy Wade, who coached at CCHS for 24 years between 1986 and 2010, including all of Percy’s high school career, marveled at Percy’s capabilities.

“He’s one of the best players to come through Clarke Central from the time it was conceived up until now, without a shadow of a doubt,” Wade said. “You compare him to Kevin Durant, one of the best players in the (NBA). That skillset that (Percy) had, it was ahead of his time.”

With Percy’s growing fame, those outside of Athens began to take notice.

“When (television host) Dick Vitale mentioned (Percy’s) name live on ESPN, he put Clarke Central on the map,” former teammate Dr.

Right: A POINT OF PRIDE: Former Clarke Central High School boys varsity basketball player and Class of 1992 alumnus Percy Eberhart dunks on a defender during the 1991 season. Billy Wade, who coached hundreds of high school basketball players during his 24-year tenure as CCHS head boys varsity basketball coach, believes Percy is one of the best players to come through the school. “People came out to watch him play, people came out to watch Clarke Central,” Wade said. “If you look at attendance while (Percy played for CCHS), we didn’t have any problems.” Photo courtesy of the Gladius Yearbook

Stefan Smith, CCHS Class of 1991 alumnus and current CCHS head boys varsity basketball coach, said. “When he said that on ESPN, we went crazy. (Percy) was that type of guy.”

After being named a “Parade Third-Team AllAmerican” for high school basketball in 1991 and then again in 1992, Percy looked destined for greatness, attending Anderson Junior College in 1992 after graduating from summer school.

This decision didn’t come without some controversy, as a nationally-reported recruiting violation with the University of South Carolina denied Percy a move to the Gamecocks. However, that didn’t stop Percy from “burning up the nets at Anderson College” – as a 1992 Spartanburg Herald-Journal article put it – leading the Trojans to an 11-1 record while averaging 22 points, seven rebounds, and four assists per game.

“We didn’t communicate a lot after he went off, (but) when he came home, we connected and we talked. He was excited that he was about to transfer (to a Division I school),” Johnson said.

Percy would never get the chance.

On March 22, 1993, during a pickup basketball game in Anderson, Percy collapsed on the court and was rushed to the hospital. 20 minutes later, the baby boy of the Eberhart family, the CCHS basketball hero, the big man with bigger dreams, was pronounced dead at 20 years old.

“(At the hospital), they opened this room that was filled with reporters and people, too many people,” Geneva said. “I said, ‘I don’t want to come to this room, I want to see Percy. Where is he?’ (Anderson Junior College Coach Steve Lytton) looked at me and dropped his head. I said, ‘Where’s my baby? Don’t tell me my baby’s dead.’ I got on my knees and started praying. I didn’t know nothing else to do.”

For those who knew him, Percy’s death

“You gotta have somebody for each school that you can revere forever, and he’s just one of those guys. He’s always gonna be in the lore at Clarke Central as long as I’m here.”

-- dr. stefan smith, Head

boys varsity basketball coach and CCHS Class of 1991 alumnus

was a “where were you when” moment. Geneva recalls “feeling something leaving her” as she drove across the border between Georgia and South Carolina on her way to the hospital. Johnson remembers being interrupted from a pick-up game of his own to receive the news. Smith says he refused to believe it until he saw Percy’s body at the funeral.

“He was the first person that I saw in a casket and I was just like, ‘Man, get up,’” Smith said. “He was always going and always fun and joking. He was always a jovial guy and I’d never really (seen him differently).”

Percy’s funeral could have been the end of his story – the tragic end of a young man who had the world at his fingertips and a lifetime on the court ahead of him, whose dream of bringing Athens up with him would forever go unrealized.

Above: A LIVING LEGACY: Clarke Central High School assistant boys varsity basketball coach Jason Johnson coaches one of his players during the Gladiators’ game against Seckinger High School on Nov. 29, 2023. When Johnson joined the coaching staff in 2022, he made sure to emphasize the legacy of former CCHS boys varsity basketball player Percy Eberhart. “That picture means a lot. It kind of keeps his memory alive,” Johnson said. “Whenever you walk in, you’re gonna always look at that picture. That’s important because (Percy) was a key part of our basketball history here.” Photo by Aza Khan

Left: A WINNING TRADITION: Clarke Central High School head boys varsity basketball coach Dr. Stefan Smith coaches during the Gladiators’ game against Seckinger High School on Nov. 29, 2023. Smith’s former teammate, Class of 1992 alumnus Percy Eberhart, died in 1993, leaving Smith to retell Percy’s exploits. “(His numbers) give other people stuff to shoot for (and) goals to have,” Smith said. “I like (the team now) to take pride in who they’re playing for and the school and the (CCHS) tradition.”

Photo by Aza Khan

Top right: SIGN OF THE TIMES: A sign in the Clarke Central High School boys varsity basketball locker room states, “We Honor Our Past”. Jason Johnson, CCHS assistant boys varsity basketball coach and Class of 1991 alumnus, has kept former teammate Percy Eberhart’s legacy alive with the current team. “His legacy is just that he was before his time,” Johnson said. “It’s hard to fill those shoes. I don’t care who you are, the stuff that he did as a high school player, I think it’s kind of unmatched.”

Photo by Aza Khan

Not quite.

Johnson and Smith are keeping Percy’s memory alive today on the same campus Percy walked over 30 years ago. Though basketball games have been moved from the James A. Crawford Memorial Arena Percy graced to the newer Competition Gym, Smith made sure to hang Percy’s painting in the team’s locker room.

“You gotta have somebody for each school that you can revere forever, ad he’s just one of those guys,” Smith said. “He’s always gonna be in the lore at Clarke Central as long as I’m here.”

Privately, they have no doubts about the greatest player of the bunch.

“To me, he’s the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). He’s the Clarke Central GOAT,” Smith said. “Marcus will talk that stuff sometimes and I’m like, ‘Nah, Marcus.’ If we weren’t here, Marcus could get away with it, but we know better.”

For Wade, Percy’s place in Athens history extends far beyond the paint – it stretched into the person he was off the court.

“He was a young athlete who came through

“He was a young athlete who came through Clarke Central and never tried to be any more than he was. To y’all, it’s a legacy because he was a great player, but I knew his mom, dad, sisters and brothers. I knew him in the community.”

-- Billy Wade, Former CCHS head boys varsity basketball coach

According to CCHS boys varsity basketball player

Marcus Gillespie – who recently reached 1000 high school points and has been touted as the next big thing in CCHS hoops – Percy is the measuring stick to which all players are compared.

“I want to get on his level. I want to accomplish what he did in high school to even be in the (same) conversation with him,” Gillespie said. “I’m not on his level yet, so I have nothing to be proud (of).”

Smith and Johnson often joke with their team about who would win a game: Percy’s team of the early 1990s or the current team of Gladiators.

Clarke Central and never tried to be any more than he was,” Wade said. “To y’all, it’s a legacy because he was a great player, but I knew his mom, dad, sisters and brothers. I knew him in the community.”

The effort to recognize Percy hasn’t ended at CCHS. In May 2023, Geneva attended the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony, where Percy was posthumously inducted.

“He just was a young man that had dreams, wanted to take care of his mother, his father, sisters and brothers,” Geneva said. “His biggest inspiration was this: he didn’t put himself above anybody.”

Maybe Percy Eberhart never got to realize his dream. But, if Percy’s locker room likeness is any indication, his legacy and his dream live on every day underneath the white CCHS jersey in the hearts of those who walk in his footsteps.

Above: THE HEIR APPARENT: Clarke Central High School boys varsity basketball player Marcus Gillespie, a junior, dribbles down the court during the Gladiators’ game against Seckinger High School on Nov. 29, 2023. Gillespie, who recently scored his 1000th high school point and is attracting interest from universities across the country, still believes he has to do more to be considered among the Gladiators’ all-time greats. “Whatever I do around here, really don’t get too cocky because I was like, I’m not on (former CCHS boys varsity basketball player Percy Eberhart’s) level,” Gillespie said. “I’m proud of myself for being in the same conversation. That makes me feel like I’m doing something right.”

Photo by Aza Khan

Star Players

Star Players

GRADY WHITE

Grade: 9

GPA: 4.0

Years of experience: 10

Game day ritual: (I listen to) music. I try and get focused. I usually watch something to get my mind focused on the game.

Favorite memory: It was the first game (of the junior varsity season) and (there) was a penalty. That was the first real game I played and I saved it, which is a great feeling.

Role model: I like the goalkeeper who plays for Tottenham Hotspur (Football Club). His name is (Guglielmo) Vicario. He’s just really good at shot-stopping and being able to play from the back and (is) just a really great player.

What coaches say: “He is consistently punting a ball and kicking a ball against the wall to work on his reaction time as the ball rebounds off the wall. He is always willing to take on any challenge or role the coaches assign him at training sessions.”

-- Chris Aiken, CCHS head boys varsity soccer coach

ODYSSEY Star Players are selected based on their academic standing and commitment to teammates, their sports program and Clarke Central High School. Star Players are written for each issue by the Sports Staff based on interviews with players and coaches.

AZARYAH CORNISH

Grade: 12

GPA: 3.9

Years of experience: 14

Game day ritual: When I get to the pool, I stretch and do a quick warm-up of a 3-2-1, which is a 300-(meter) swim, 200-(meter) kick and then (a) 100-(meter) swim.

Favorite memory: We had Senior Night (on Jan. 20). That’s one of my top memories in my head. I PR-ed (and) got a new time (in the 100-meter freestyle), so I dropped four seconds. That’s one of my favorite memories.

Role model: God. I pray about my sport (and) I ask God to help me through my sport. That’s who I look up to. (Also), my parents because they (are) the ones who put me in swim and my uncle was a swimmer, (so) he gives me pointers.

What coaches say: “She always puts in a huge amount of effort, she’s very hardworking, she never complains (and) she is proud to be on the team. She’s got a very positive attitude about everything, she gets along with everybody on the team and always wants to improve to just be the best version of herself.”

-- Emily Hulse, CCHS head varsity swim and dive coach

Photo byWyatt Meyer

ODYSSEY Star Players VARSITY SWIM AND DIVE

Photo byAza Khan

ODYSSEY Star Players JV SOCCER

Featured: DISC GOLF: Clarke Central High School disc golf player Skylar Magnarella, a junior, throws a frisbee on the track in Billy Henderson Stadium on Jan. 29. Magnarella hopes that the Disc Golf Club can still live on even after he graduates. “(We want to) cycle down to newer students. All of us are juniors right now, but (when) more people start getting into it, that interest will be passed down and (hopefully) foster that legacy in school,” Magnarella said. Photo by Aza Khan

5things to know about disc golf

By Skylar Magnarella, as told to Angel Tejada

1. accessible sport

In a lot of sporting goods stores, you can get a set of discs for $20 or so. There are (disc golf) courses around Athens that are free. You can play (there) and it’s not a super hard sport to do either. There’s a lot of information online and people at the course even help you. (It’s) just taking a spin off of another sport and making it a lot easier. Most people can’t drive a golf ball 200 feet or have a good round of golf.

2. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

The more times you go, the better you’ll get. But starting out, it’s not too hard to throw a frisbee. It’s easy to have goals that you can do, aspire to get every time you play and aspire to accomplish. It’s not a hard sport to learn, it’s pretty straightforward. We’ve had people who’ve never played before join the (CCHS Disc Golf Club) and even over just a few meetings, they’ve visibly progressed and gotten better.

3. kindness everywhere

People who do play are really nice. I (don’t) see a lot of judgment and it’s easy to join a league and make friends and learn from people. When I’m out there, I never really see anyone having a bad time. On tournament (days), people are welcoming. I was at one last week and there’s people that are selling discs and they’re helpful, providing me the information I needed to know.

4. easy to master

You don’t need to dedicate time to practicing or you don’t need a whole ton of strength. You just go out and play, and even if you’re just playing an hour or two a month, you’re going to get better. Obviously, there’s going to be a degree of skill that you can only get with time and practice, but it’s easy to see results. You’re really playing against yourself, you’re trying to do better than you were before.

5. Not over ‘til it’s over

(Playing disc golf) helps with perseverance and dedication. (That’s) not incredibly unique to disc golf, but it’s something that each round you have to stick with, even if you’re having a bad hole or you’re throwing bad at that one point in the game. There’s always time to persevere and bounce back and (appreciate) that even if you’re at a loss, you can still come back and enjoy the round.