Pirates' Log volume 35 issue 6 by PHS News Publications

P PIPER HIGH SCHOOL

THE PIRATES’ LOG

MARIA ACCARDI • ALECSIS ACOSTA • RILEY APPERSON • ALEX APPL • TYLER ASH • RYAN BACH • ANASAZI BARNES • DAYTON BELKNAP • EMMA BERTRAND • RACHEL BERTRAND • ELLE BLAKE • MCKENZIE BLEVINS • MALLORY BRAJKOVIC • JOSH BROWN • MICHAEL BROWN • STEVON’TE BROWN • CARA BRUCE • LILI BUTLER • CHRIS CAPPS • KELSI CARMACK • IAN CHRISTOPHER • JERALINA CLARK • SELENA CONTRERAS • IVAN CORTES-DOMINGUEZ • MALLORI COURTNEY • DAVIANCE COVINGTON • GABE DANDAR • VANILLA DAVIS • SASCHA DEAN • CAROLINE DONIS-ARANA • MADI DROPPELMANN • KEVIN DUPERON-REYES • CHARDAE EASLEY • JASMINE ESCALANTE • KARA EVANS • ALEXANDER FALK • ISLEY FORD • JOEY FRAZIER • JIKIRA FREEMAN • SOPHIA FRICK • SARAH FUENTEZ • JOSH GALINDO • IAN GAMBRILL • MICHAEL GENTRY • EMMA GOLDEN • TALEN GOOCH • ANGELINA GRANADOS • KEEGAN GREENLEE • TAYLOR GREEN • MARCELLA GUTIERREZ • MASON HAGGE • CHARLEY HARGRAVE • SHAWN HAVERFIELD JR. • GRACE HAWORTH • HANNAH HAWORTH • BRIAN HEDLUND • SHANON HEMINGWAY • OZZIE HERRIAGE • BRIDGETT HOBBS • HAILEY HOFFMAN • ALAINA HOLMES •

WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN MALLORY HOLT • AUSTIN HOUK • JESSICA HUTCHINGS • LIZETTE IBARRA • JADA JACOBS • BRAYDEN JOHNSON • CUELER JOHNSON • DAIJAH JONES • KEISHA JONES • MAHALYE JONES • JEFFREY JUHASZ • DEREK KARIUKI • OLIVIA KARLESKINT • REILEY KIRWAN • AUBREE KNETTER • SCOTT LADISH • PRESTON LEFTWICH • DE’AVION LYNCH • ERION MANSAW • ALFREDO MARQUEZ • DEION MARRON • CHRIS MARSHALL • DRAKE MARTIN • DALIA MEJIA • ISAIAH MITCHELL • EMMA MORGAN • NICK MORRIS • HEATHER NGUYEN • SKYLER NOAH • OLIVIA ORTIZ • COLLIN OWENS • DEMETRIOUS PALMER • JOHN PRIDE III • RYAN QUACH • ANTHONY QUIJAS • JACOB REHM • ALENA RILEY • NOAH ROBINSON • GABI RODRIGUEZ • MARY ROGERS • SOPHIE ROPER • LAZARO ROSALES • ALEXIS RYMER • VAN SAN • MARIA SANDOVAL • ANNE SCHNEIDER • DAKOTA SCHREIBER • LOGAN SCHWARZ • SYDNEY SHELDON • JORDAN SHELTON • DIANA SIFUENTEZ • JESUS SILVA • ERIK SIMMONS • KAMRYN SPARKS • BAILEY SPENCER • MAKAYLA STACK • EMMA STECKLEIN • MAKAYLA STELL • SAVANNAH STIMAC • JOSH STUBLER • GABBY TAYLOR • ANTANIQUE THOMAS • PATRICIA THOMAS • HUNTER TURLEY • GRACE VOGEL • OLLIE WALKER • MARCUS WALLACE • DELANEY WALTERS • ALLEIAH WARNER • ISAIAH WASHINGTON • YAZMIN WATSON • DESTINIE WEAVER • ISAIA WILCOXEN • DEVIN WILLIAMS • MAKEYA WILLIAMSON • EMILY WILSON • JORDAN WISEMAN • MADISON WRIGHT • BRYCE YODER • ZOEY ZAGER MAY 8, 2018 ISSUE 04. VOLUME 35

PIPER HIGH SCHOOL 4400 N 107 ST, KANSAS CITY, KS 66109

KCPIPERNEWS.COM

2 NEWS

NEWS BRIEFS s e t a sD

a Fin

Senior finals will be May 9 and 10. The finals for remaining students will start May 14 with P2 and P4. Tuesday will continue with W2 and W4. P1 and P3 will be Wednesday and W1 and W3 will be Thursday.

The senior walk is 8 a.m. May 16, where graduating seniors will walk through the elementary schools. The barbecue will start around 10 a.m. in the practice field on the west side of the high school. Students may bring their own breakfast and cook lunch.

s t n ve

E r io

Sen

Senior presentations are at 7:45 a.m. May 11. Other classes have the school day off. Presentations will be 25 to 30 minutes in length and will end at 12:30 p.m. where lunch will be catered for seniors. Graduation tickets will be passed out following lunch.

ct e j ro ions P or ntat i n Se ese pr Senior breakfast is 7:15-8:45 a.m. May 17

STAFF editor-in-chief Isaia Wilcoxen web editors-in-chief Lauren Textor Hannah Haworth managing editor Scout Molder design editor/cartoonist Grace Haworth photo editor Hannah Pappert video editor Heather Nguyen business managers Drew Englis Colton Lloyd copy editor Megan Neal sports editor Trey Trumbo staff members Kaleb Brown Charlie Connor Isley Ford Taylor Green Morgan Haworth Taylor McEachron photojournalists Dalia Mejia Bailey Spencer Savannah Stimac Chase Bundy Mallori Courtney Bella Gravatt Esrom Griffin Jessica Hutchings Macey Nigh Emma Martin Lauren Pappert Taylor Zimmerman contact us Piper High School 4400 N. 107th St Kansas City, KS 66109 Phone (913) 721-2100 Yearly subscriptions to “The Log” are $5. Printed by Valley Offset Printing, Valley Center, Kan.

for graduates and parents only in the gymnasium at the high school. The breakfast will include viewing the senior video, which must be ordered by May 11, and announcing winners of local Piper scholarships.

editorial policy Editorial opinions expressed throughout this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire staff or administration. Letters to the editor are welcome, but we reserve the right to print and edit all submissions.

or ast i n Se eakf Br

slacks and dress shoes with socks.

n o i t y a u n d o a gr erem c Rehearsal for graduation is 9:00 a.m., May 17 immediately following the senior breakfast. Students not at n o i t al the practice will not participate in a u s the commencement ceremony. Dress d r a a for the ceremony. Girls should Gr ehe wearappropriately dresses or pant suits and dress shoes and boys R should wear light-colored dress shirts, ties, dark

THE PIRATES’ LOG

Seniors should arrive at the high school at 6:00 p.m. in their cap and gown May 17. The cap and gown should be graffiti-free with no markings or items attached to the gown. A lack of compliance with expectations will result in removal from the ceremony.

censorship policy Kansas Senate Bill 62 guarantees the same rights for student journalists as are given to professional journalists. These rights include, but are not limited to, all First Amendment rights including the rights to freedom of expression, insofar as published items may not contain libel or obscene statements, invade the privacy of individuals, cause a substantial disruption to school activity or incite others to violate school policies or rules. All material shall be reported truthfully.

On the cover:

As graduation gets closer, seniors share their feelings about moving on from high school and beginning their adult lives. “It’s really bittersweet, because it’s sad to say goodbye to people I’ve known forever and know that I might not every see them again,” senior Mallory Brajkovic said. “But I’m excited to see what the next chapter of my life holds.”

MAY 8, 2018 ISSUE 04. VOLUME 35

For more information, visit kcpipernews.com

PIPER HIGH SCHOOL 4400 N 107 ST, KANSAS CITY, KS 66109

KCPIPERNEWS.COM

graphic by grace haworth, design editor

8 May 2018 kcpipernews.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS New leadership Page 5

are ap classes worth it? page 8

students discuss work experience at schlitterbahn the end of kvl page 12 page 14

alumni travel across the world Senior staff members say farewell page 18 page 18

Kara evans accepted into harvard page 21

College Up Ahead senior superlatives page 22

since the beginning page 24

how to prepare for college page 27

long time friendships page 30-31

NEWS

AP Test Dates

Week 2

Week 1

Mark your calender for these important AP exam test dates. Test Dates

Morning Exams (8 a.m.)

Afternoon Exams (Noon)

May 8, 2018

Spanish Language and Culture

Physics 1: Algebra-Based

May 9, 2018

English Literature and Composition

Physics 2: Algebra-Based

May 10, 2018

United States Government and Politics

None

May 11, 2018

United States History

None

Test Dates

Morning Exams (8 a.m.)

Afternoon Exams (Noon)

May 8, 2018

Spanish Language and Culture

Physics 1: Algebra-Based

May 9, 2018

English Literature and Composition

Physics 2: Algebra-Based

May 10, 2018

United States Government and Politics

None

May 11, 2018

United States History

None

What to bring:

2 calculators

(for AP Physics, AP Chemistry or AP Calc)

A No. 2 pencil

A noiseless watch

A black or blue pen

A ruler or straight edge (for AP Physics)

8 May 2018 kcpipernews.com

new leaders to look up to

KALEB BROWN staff writer

While many students are interested in leadership opportunities, only a few take action to take advantage of those opportunities. Emma Johnson, LaKya Leslie, Andrew Telthorst, Marisa Sanchez and Drew Novak have all been selected to be senior class representatives for the 2018-2019 school year. These students all plan to impact the school in a positive way and aim to make a difference in their community. Juniors Emma Johnson and LaKya Leslie have previously been class representatives. Johnson and Leslie have had a successful year with helping the school and contributing to making changes

within the school. Throughout the course of their senior year, they plan to go even bigger and leave a lasting impact. “I feel excited and honored about being re-elected, and I’m so excited to continue the work we’ve started,” Leslie said. In addition to the return of a few class representatives, there are new students, such as juniors Marisa Sanchez and Andrew Telthorst. “I’m super excited to be able to be a part of the representation of our school.” Telthorst said. The senior class representatives for the 2018-2019 school year have a lot of work to do to reach their desired goals. “I feel as if I can add diversity, bring a positive element to the representation of

student council executives What goals do you have for next year? Colton Lloyd President

“ “ “ “

Brianna Andrade Vice president

Jamike Unoke Secretary

Riley Porter Treasurer

I want to try to unite the student body and promote school spirit.”

the future senior class and listen to those whose voices aren’t heard,” Sanchez said. Although being a class representative is meant to be fun, there are also many responsibilities that come with the position. “Being a class representative includes being involved with the school activities, being a role model to other students in the school and to be helpful and spread kindness,” Sanchez said. These senior class representatives for the 2018-2019 school year have a lot to accomplish in such a short amount of time. This group wants to be able to contribute to helping the school in the best ways possible. It will take hard work and determination, but the new class representatives are optimistic.

Senior class representatives

Marissa Sanchez

Andrew Telthorst

LaKya Leslie

Drew Novak

Emma Johnson

Dylan Church

Miles Lockridge

Junior class representatives

For the school and community to recognize social events.”

My goals is to create a better image of PHS in the media.”

To get more people involved in community events and focus on making the school a safer environment.”

Caroline Zimmerman

Natalie Frick

Wyatt Stella

Stuco plans for the summer

“

Some of us will be going to the state workshop at Emporia for a week to focus on our leadership skills and get ideas. We usually meet up in August to plan freshmen orientation and new student orientation.” - Tiffany Scheffler Student Council Adviser

Senior class president and sophomore class representatives were revealed after The Pirates' Log was sent to press. Check kcpipernews.com for updates.

THANK YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS

8 May2018 kcpipernews.com

Forensics Team to compete at state, nationals

14 members will be attending nationals in Washington D.C., six will be attending in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and 16 will compete at the state tournament MEGAN NEAL copy writer This year, the forensics team has had a larger amount of students qualify for the CFL tournament in Washington D.C. at the end of May and the NSDA tournament in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in June than ever before. Junior Ally Viera is one of the 14 students that will be attending the CFL National Tournament. This will be Viera’s first time going to a national tournament and she doesn’t know what to expect. “I think it’s going to be a lot harder because people from all around the US are going to be there, so [there will be] lots of different people and better competition, but we’ll see how it goes,” Viera said. Sophomore Martha Wolf, who qualified for state at the beginning of her season, said forensics coach Tori Deneault selects who goes to these events based off of their performances throughout the season. “Deneault usually chooses the entries that are constantly breaking and should place high at state,” Wolf said. Viera attended the national qualifier and placed high enough to qualify for the tournament.

Competitors

“There’s a tournament that you go to and in CFL you break to a semi-final round and then based on that they place you and it’s like the top six qualify and then you get to go,” Viera said. Viera said preparing for CFL Nationals consists of making sure every aspect of the piece is perfected. “The process of preparing is a very long process,” Viera said. “So you have to memorize your lines, and, especially in duo, you have to block it so the blocking is on point every time.” Wolf agrees that preparing is a tedious process that differs for each event. “For the acting events you could be working on voices, blocking [the movement] or a number of different things,” Wolf said. “If you’re in a debate event, you could be typing speeches for a while. It really depends on what you do.” Although Viera believes this trip will be a fun experience, she doesn’t expect to win the whole thing. “I think it’s going to be a really fun trip, but I don’t think I’ll even break past prelims, but it’ll be a fun experience,” Viera said. Wolf agrees, and has decided to keep an open mind about the competition. “I don’t really have any expectations for state because a lot of the time I psych myself out too much if I do,” Wolf said. “I’m really excited to see what our team can do though!”

Kansas City

Washington D.C.

State Kara Evans, Jessica Hutchings, Daijah Jones, Scott Ladish, Olivia Ortiz, Alena Riley, Marcus Wallace, Isaia Wilcoxen, Dylan Hendrix, Scout Molder, Andrew Novak, Ally Viera, Aylea Cole, Andrew Flory, Jamike Unoke, Martha Wolf

CFL (Washington D.C.) Kara Evans, Scott Ladish, De’Avion Lynch, Alena Riley, Isaia Wilcoxen, Chris Baumli, Jamison Foglesong, Dylan Hendrix, Taran Kerst, Scout Molder, Andrew Novak, Ally Viera, Andrew Flory, Amaya Starks

NSDA (Fort Lauderdale) Cara Bruce, Kara Evans, Alena Riley, Chris Baumli, Taran Kerst, Andrew Novak

Ft. Lauderdale

OPINION

AP classes prepare students for higher level education and a more in-depth understanding

HANNAH HAWORTH co-web editor The smell of coffee drifts from your mug, distracting you from your APUSH notes. There’s only so much one can write about the Civil War. You glance at your hand smudged with pen ink, and then at your phone; It is already 2 a.m., and two more chapters of notes beckons. This is the life of an AP student.

PHS Students’ Opinion AP CLASSES ARE WORTH IT.

AP CLASSES ARE NOT WORTH 70 STUDENTS WERE SURVEYED

AP: A question o

While the lifestyle of an advanced student is stressful, I wouldn’t trade any of my late nights or breakdowns for anything. I truly enjoy taking AP classes. I find satisfaction having discussions with students who want to be in that class, and having teachers challenge me daily with the coursework and curriculum. I understand that AP is not for everyone, but if you are determined to receive college credit and are willing to put in the extra hours outside of school, AP classes are a dream come true. As of right now, I have nine credit hours finished for my freshman year. That is three classes that I have already passed because of my scores on the AP exam. I listened to hours of AP U.S. History notes and my hand cramped from writing so many essays in AP Language and Composition, but I dedicated myself day and night to prepare for the dreaded AP exam, and I regret nothing. I saved $427 by taking APUSH and AP Lang and I highly recommend these classes to anyone willing to work hard, but the college credit is not the only advantage.

Even for students who do not need an English credit or would rather complete the course in college, AP Lang has been one of the most beneficial classes I have taken at Piper. Tiffany Scheffler is a wonderful teacher, and as much as I despised writing essays every class, the practice helped me get to a place where I can write complete essays in 30 minutes. I can examine novels and articles with the eye of an advanced student, and Scheffler taught me how to successfully do that. Also, writing essays quickly and concisely transfers into nearly every class outside of English, as well. I transferred the skill to my APUSH exam, Spanish, completing scholarships and writing for the newspaper. I am confident that this will bid well in college. Whether AP classes are worth the exhaustion depends on the student and their plans after school, but I firmly believe anybody willing to put in the time can see positive benefits from taking these advanced classes. They prepare you for college, help develop your studying skills and may end up saving you money.

AP Classes 47.1%

$95

per exam +

maybe college credit

52.9%

n of necessity ISAIA WILCOXEN editor-in-chief There’s a big push to incorporate more rigorous, college level classes in high schools across the nation that are supposedly strengthening students skills and academic performance. In the last five years, Advanced Placement classes have been added to the high school to give students the opportunity to experience the rigor of a collegial level course. However, a problem that quite a number of students face, including myself, is the huge expectation to do well in these courses. Students enroll in AP classes with the mindset that they will gain the adequate knowledge for the exam at the end of the year. They go in with the hope that they will get a good enough score that will trans-

AP consists of high levels of stress and work for a credit that isn’t guaranteed

fer when they go to college. Unfortunately, not all universities are the same, and not all will transfer those credits if the scores aren’t good enough. Taking AP classes means doing extra work, potentially struggling to earn high grades and facing the anxiousness of whether or not you’ll get a high enough score on the AP exam. Most colleges will hardly accept anything below a three, which is the most common score on any AP exam according to the AP College Board. Taking a whole year of a stressful class filled with bucket loads of work only to get an unaccepted score on a test you studied for almost seven months seems like a loss. If a transferable credit was guaranteed when taking these college level classes, then maybe it would be worth it. However, the fact is that you can spend a whole year trying to learn and understand higher level thinking just to get a low score on one exam that determines your success. However, AP works for some students because they learn more quickly or think differently than others. Taking AP classes challenges their thinking and they are able to retain the information well, but for an average student such as myself AP classes

College Classes

8 May 2018 kcpipernews.com

just add more stress that is stacked upon all the other loads of stress high school entails. If test-taking is a strong suit and working under stress doesn’t make you cringe, then AP is for you. It’s not that taking these difficult courses is a negative thing. However, it can become negative if the student is not prepared for it or can’t handle the work that comes with it. For students that want to take college courses but can’t quite grab ahold of the AP lifestyle, taking college classes may be more beneficial. Classes taken through a local community college or college courses offered at the high school will have a better chance of transferring those credits to universities. They also provide a collegelevel experience that readies students for the more rigorous studies that come after high school. There’s not a black and white answer of what is best. It depends on the individual and how quickly they learn, how much stress they can handle and the purpose for taking these classes. Knowing what’s best for yourself will determine the decision for each individual. However, one thing is clear: AP isn’t for everyone.

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10 FEATURES

WHAT’S BETTER: DISNEY CHANNEL ISELY FORD staff writer The Disney Channel debuted April 18, 1983. The first program to air was a show called “Good Morning, Mickey.” It showcased classic animated short films from Disney. At first Disney Channel only aired for 16 hours a day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Since then it has grown in many ways. It is now a 24 hour program with shows such as “Stuck in the Middle” and “Raven’s Home.” Disney is a friendly station that many kids across the world have grown up watching. Senior Savannah Stimac has grown up watching Disney as

SURVEY RESUL T S: 70 STUDENTS WERE SURVEYED

well. “I grew up with that being the only station on, and my parents hid the remote because they didn’t want me to watch ‘inappropriate’ shows,” Stimac said. Disney has shaped the childhood of so many children. Stimac’s favorite shows from Disney were “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” “Lilo & Stitch” and “Brandy & Mr. Whiskers.” “I like Disney better, because there’s more stuff to watch,” senior Sascha Dean said. Aside from TV shows, Disney is known for its iconic movies such as Snow White, Mulan and Aladdin. Senior Hunter Turley said that while he didn’t really watch Disney channel shows, his favorite movies were Moana and the Lion King. Disney is not for everyone; some people prefer Nickelodeon over Disney. ”Disney has better movies, but I think Nickelodeon overall is better,” junior Chris Baumli said.

CHASE LEE FRESHMAN “I like Nick better, because it has ‘Spongebob.’ Disney doesn’t.”

Junior Zane Howell said that Disney just seems “too childish” and that he enjoyed Nickelodeon more. Senior Mallory Holt had harsher words to say about Disney. “The actors are fake and annoying and the humor is for people with .2 brain cells,” Holt said. “The ideas are not even close to being original or even remotely relatable.” Senior Kamyrn Sparks said that she used to prefer Disney, but her opinions have changed. “I think I used to prefer Disney, but the shows just keep getting worse, so I changed my opinion,” said Sparks. “Nick still sometimes plays shows from when I was a child like iCarly, but Disney just plays dumb shows all the time. Despite the criticism, many students have fond memories of watching and interacting with Disney, from its online games to its merchandise, and they continue to appreciate its TV shows and movies.

MORGAN SLAUGHTER SOPHOMORE “Disney, because it has better shows and it has a lot more relatable stuff.”

Nickelodeon made its debut on December 1, 1979, and it was the first cable channel made for children. Nick released its very first original animated shows in 1991 with “Doug,” “Rugrats,” and “The Ren & Stimpy Show.” Nickelodeon started its channel with airing for 13 hours on the weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. On the weekends it aired for 14 hours from 8 a.m. to midnight. In 1988 Nick Jr. was released to help young kids learn while watching television. Now Nickelodeon is a 24-hour network that has had shows such as “Spongebob Squarepants,” “Drake and Josh” and “iCarly.” As well as TV shows, Nick has also released movies such as “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “Barnyard” and “Charlotte’s Web.” Nickelodeon has many diverse shows. Senior Jordan Wiseman said that he likes Nickelodeon because they have anime. “I grew up watching Nick,” junior Zane Howell said. “It has interesting shows.” His favorite show to watch was

“Legends of the Hidden Temple,” but he enjoyed all of the action and adventure shows. Holt also grew up watching Nickelodeon shows. Her favorite show to watch was “Drake and Josh.” “Dan Schneider is a god,” Holt said. “Nothing will ever compare to the humor of Teen Nick as whole.” Dan Schneider is a television and film writer who created shows such as “Drake and Josh,” “iCarly” and “Zoey 101.” Senior Olivia Ortiz agreed. “Nickelodeon has way better shows than Disney, but my favorite TV show was ‘That’s So Raven,’” Ortiz said. Nick is not everyone’s favorite network. Senior Hunter Turley prefers Disney over Nickelodeon. “Barnyard killed Nick for me,” Turley said. “You don’t go to Nickelodeon on Netflix, you go to Disney.” Senior Savannah

BRADY JOHNSON JUNIOR

REILEY KIRWAN SENIOR

“Disney, because of ‘Suite Life of Zach and Cody.’”

“I like Disney better, because it is what I grew up on.”

STUDENTS EXPLAIN WHY THEY LOVE THESE CLASSIC KIDS CHANNELS Stimac also prefers Disney over Nickelodeon. “I just never watched it, so I didn’t get into it that much,” Stimac said. Senior Emma Stecklein also agrees that Disney is a better channel. “Disney is better because although ‘Spongebob’ and stuff like that is good, you can’t beat shows like ‘Wizards of Waverly Place,’”said Stecklein. Nickelodeon may be less popular with young audiences currently, but in the minds of Generation Z it still holds its place.

OR NICKELODEON?

8 May 2018 kcpipernews.com

12 FEATURE

Employees return to schlitterbahn after charges dropped TAYLOR MCEACHRON staff writer As summertime is slowly approaching, it’s time for students to start searching for a job. Many students will be returning to jobs from the previous summer and quite a few students will find themselves back at Schlitterbahn. Schlitterbahn made its way into the Kansas City area in 2010 and since then it has been pulling the interests of students. Junior Brianna Andrade started working at Schlitterbahn during the summer of 2017 after being recommended by a friend. She will be returning this summer as a lead lifeguard. “I feel like I’m responsible for what the lifeguards in my section do,” Andrade said. “I’m willing to take the challenge to make sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to do.” Since a 2016 incident involving Verrückt, the park has been experiencing a drop in business. It did not take very long to get the word around about the incident, as it was covered extensively on numerous news stations. “I was really shocked and at first I didn’t want to go back,” Andrade said.

Andrade said that it affected her because she knew people were going to judge her based on where she worked. Junior Ben Rehm will also be spending his second summer working for Schlitterbahn as a life guard. He said he pays close attention every time Schlitterbahn is being discussed. “Whenever Schlitterbahn is on the news, I like to pay attention to see what people say [about the incident] because you can usually tell if they’re lying or not,” Rehm said. Senior Marcus Wallace started working at Schlitterbahn during the summer at the same time as Andrade and Rehm. Wallace said that he enjoyed the job and the people there as well. “The job itself was actually a lot of fun for me,” Wallace said. Wallace said that out of all the jobs he has had Schlitterbahn has had the best scheduling for him, but he said the one thing he did not enjoy about working there was the audits. Due to Wallace going into the air force next year, he said he will not be returning to work at Schlitterbahn this summer. According to the Kansas City Star on April 25, all charges have been dropped against Schlitterbahn and the case has been dismissed.

“I’m willing to take the challenge to make sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to do.” -Brianna Andrade, jUNIOR

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8 May 2018 kcpipernews.com

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14 sports

Kaw Valley: end of an era Piper leaves longtime league for frontier league with bonner and tonganoxie CHARLES CONNOR staff writer After 36 years, Piper will be leaving the Kaw Valley League along with all other membering schools. Piper, Tonganoxie, Turner, Basehor-Linwood, Bonner Springs, Bishop Ward and Lansing have mutually agreed to disband and go their separate ways. With the league coming to an end, rivalries follow along with it. Basehor-Linwood, arguably students’ greatest rival, will no longer be in the same league, as they will be joining a newly established league along with Lansing, Leavenworth and others. Piper will be joining the Frontier League along with Bonner Springs and Tonganoxie. The move has been coming for a while now with the school searching for greater competitiveness. “I’ve been pushing for the move for a while, and I think now is the appropriate time for the school to do so,” former football and current track coach Chris Brindle said. “It’s important for the kids to face tough competition as freshmen so they’re prepared when they reach the varsity level.”

Along with the league change, the football team will also have to adapt to a new coaching style with first-year head coach Rick Pollard commanding the sidelines for the Pirates. In addition to Bonner and Tonganoxie, Piper’s league opponents will be Baldwin, Eudora, Louisburg, Ottawa, Paola and Spring Hill. Brindle also said he believes that the transition will be made slightly easier due to the fact that Piper plays a lot of these schools in many sports already. “I think it’ll be difficult for football because there are nine teams, but only eight weeks,” he added, which means the team will be playing a league game every week. Players agree that the new league will take time to grow into. “I think it will be different not playing the usual teams like Bonner and Basehor, but at the same time exciting because games will be more competitive,” junior soccer player Josie Barbosa said. Many thrilling memories and past successes will be left behind with the demise of the KVL, but students and coaches look to create new ones along with new rivalries in the Frontier League starting in the fall of 2018.

frontier league Paola High School

louisburg High School

spring hill High School

piper High School

ottawa High School

Tonganoxie High School

eudora High School

baldwin High School

bonner springs High School

8 May 2018 kcpipernews.com

Spring Sports Update Girls’ Soccer

Baseball

Girls’ soccer has three games remaining until postseason starts. Their losses have been to Desoto, Spring Hill and Topeka Hayden. The Lady Pirates are led by seniors Emma Morgan, Gabi Rodriguez and Emily Wilson.

Baseball is almost through the season and has played 15 games. They began the season with a 2-8 record, but have won 5 in a row. “We didn’t start the season the way we wanted, but we’ve been working hard and getting better,” junior Kimball Backus said.

Softball has had an outstanding season so far. They’ve suffered two losses all season, with one loss to Ottawa and one loss to Tonganoxie. They will be looking to reach the state tournament for the fifth consecutive year.

Record: 14-2 jessica hutchings

jessica hutchings

Record: 7-8 dalia mejia

Record: 10-3

Softball

Boys’ golf has had a total of seven meets. They’ve medaled in a few of them. The meets are at different golf courses around Kansas. “This season has for sure been a learning experience, we have many new faces,” junior Zane Howell said.

The track team has participated in a total of seven meets. They’ve won a total of five meets. “This year, we’re really good. We should really show out at state,” freshmen Kinley Brown said.

The girls’ swim team had had a total of nine meets. The swim team has been improving throughout this season. “We don’t really look at us winning as a team, we look at the good times together,” senior Sascha Dean said. mallori courtney

Girls’ Swim

bella gravatt

Track & Field

chase bundy

Boys’ Golf

16 feature

The world is a classroom for 2016 graduates

photo submitted

Studying abroad includes seeing new places, eating new foods and enjoying the experience of a lifetime. Not many college students have the opportunity to take advantage of study abroad programs. However, 2016 graduates Keegan Sparks and Janice Levina were fortunate enough to take a trip to Asia for a year. “Kansas University has a really strong study abroad program with several locations,” Sparks said. “I applied to attend the University of Hong Kong for a semester and was accepted into the program.” Sparks is double majoring in Economics and Chinese Language and Literature at KU. “It fits nicely with my

Keegan Sparks and Janice Levina smile for a picture in Chinatown in Singapore. “Day one of Singapore was a blast,” Sparks said. “Albiet an incredibly wet and rainy one.”

major, because the University of Hong Kong is an Englishmedium education university, so I am able to take courses in business and economics in addition to studying both Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese,” Sparks said. Likewise, Levina traveled overseas to further her education. “I am a nursing major back at KU, but I am taking psychology courses in Singapore to finish a psychology minor,” Levina said. “So far I have travelled to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Jakarta, Indonesia. I also plan to travel around more for the summer.” Sparks was also given the opportunity to travel Asia. “I’ve seen a lot of Hong Kong,” Spark said. “Because of Hong Kong’s location, I’ve also been able to see Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and South Korea.” Traveling so much has allowed Sparks to see the differences in cultures from Asia and the U.S. “Hong Kong is really amazing,” Sparks said. “I’m so shocked at how convenient and efficient everything is. Hong Kong has a highly developed subway system that is immaculately clean and fast, and takes you almost anywhere you need to go in Hong Kong. I’ve done so much here that it’s hard to put it into a small amount.” For Levina, she noticed that Asian culture tends to be more

courteous than American culture. “They’re very respectful of other people,” Levina said. “This can include having polite manners, keeping their space, or being friendly toward the elderly. Even the younger kids know to be mindful.” Sparks said one major difference he noticed was the

division of regions in China. “I feel like I should specify that the relationship between Hong Kong and China is quite tense, and referring to Hong Kong simply as ‘China’ is considered offensive here,” Sparks said. “Hong Kong is technically a part of China, but as a special administrative region. So, basically, it’s a separate

photo submitted

ISAIA WILCOXEN editor-in-chief

2016 graduates Keegan Sparks and Janice Levina enjoy the light show at the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. “It was an amazing day and I couldn’t have had more fun,” Sparks said.

8 May 2018 kcpipernews.com

goodbye

was an experience like no other and that it was extremely beneficial. “I think studying abroad should be mandatory,” Sparks said. “The things I’ve learned and the perspectives I have gained are things I would have never be able to gain in America.”

Keegan Sparks tries deep fried Siu Mai and squid with a friend on his trip to Peng Chau Island in Hong Kong. “It was so delicious,” Sparks said. “I also hiked up Finger Hill and saw a beautiful view. Peng Chau Island also has a lot of local art and graffiti. It’s very lively and it was a lot of fun.”

Secretary Marcea Brown is the smiling face that greets everyone in the building daily. There’s not a student who has walked through Piper High School’s halls in the last five years that hasn’t interacted with her in some way, so the news that this would be her last year shocked many students and staff members alike. Brown decided April 19 that she would be leaving to work for the Archdiocese Office of Kansas City, Kansas after being a part of the Piper School District for twelve years. While she will be doing the same type of work, the job appeals to Brown for a variety of factors. “It’ll be more quiet,” Brown said. “I guess now my kids are all pretty much grown and so I can start focusing on my needs more. I’ll be an empty nester.” Brown has been closely affiliated with the Catholic Church for years, and it’s not unusual for attendees of St. Patrick’s to spot her in the crowd for Sunday mass. Brown is most excited to further explore her faith in this new position. “I love doing the Lord’s work and feel like I’m helping Him and I kind of feel like he’s calling me there,” Brown said. “He’s like, ‘OK, your time at Piper is done. You’ve done your part, you’ve left your

mark, so now it’s time to make a bigger mark and make more of a difference for His cause.” Although students and staff members are happy for Brown, many agree that the atmosphere of the building will change. “Not having someone to tell all of my problems to [is going to be hard],” junior Ally Henry said. “Marcea is always a good listener and helps me out with all my decisions.” Brown said that she will definitely miss all of the people that she gets to interact with, but hopes that the high school will move on to bigger and better things as well. Brown started work at the archdiocese May 7. photo submitted

Keegan Sparks takes a picture with a friend at the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea. “We dressed in traditional Korean Hanbok,” Sparks said.

Marcea Brown says LAUREN TEXTOR co-web editor

photo submitted

place that China has some control over.” Sparks said Hong Kong even has their own passports and separate identity cards from Chinese people. “I’ve learned so much from being abroad,” Sparks said. “Going abroad teaches you so much about what is important, what you need and how to be independent. I’ve also learned a lot culturally, especially in Cambodia. I was completely shocked. People there, despite many of them having next to nothing, were always so kind and gracious.” Sparks said seeing a friend was the best part of his trip. “That was a real highlight of my time abroad,” Sparks said. “To be able to unite with a friend from high school on a different continent was an incredible experience, and Janice was a great guide for Singapore.” Sparks and Levina both agreed that studying abroad

photo submitted

Secretary Marcea Brown poses for a picture with junior Emma Johnson on Dude. Be Famous spirit day. “Mrs. Brown is the face I look forward to seeing when I walk into school,” Johnson said. “I can talk to her about anything and she never judges me. I love her so much.”

Thank you for your advertisement

STONESTREET SAYS: 1990 graduate Eric Stonetreet, one of the stars of “Modern Family,” stopped by the high school at lunch May 3 and offered advice to seniors.

“Follow your interests, don’t worry about financial gain, think about what the most interesting thing to you is and go down that path without worrying about money. Pick good friends and eliminate people from your life that don’t have your best interests in mind. Choose people that are on your team and not your opposition.”

913-724-4141 WE DELIVER TO PIPER! 15302 Briar Road Basehor, KS

Store Hours Sunday & Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday - Wednesday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Our Final Goodbye

8 May 2018 kcpipernews.com

a few words from our senior staff members

Isai a Wi l coxen editor in chief

Hannah Haworth co web editor

Grace Haworth design editor

It’s been an honor being a part of The Pirates’ Log newspaper staff for 3 years. I’ve gained so much knowledge and friendships and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. We are a family and will forever be one.

Dr. Horchem is an angel and newspaper staff has been amazing. Thank you for two years of free food during stay late nights and unnecessary stressing on send day. Good luck next year. You guys will be great.

Being a part of newspaper has taught me the importance of student journalism, and the importance of friendship. Thanks to Dr. Horchem and this amazing staff, these last two years have been wonderful.

Isely Ford staff writer

Taylor Green staff writer

Even though I was only on the newspaper staff for one year I liked every second of it. I enjoyed everyone on the staff, and it is really a nice staff to be a part of, because everyone is so great. I will miss all of them.

I’ve loved being on staff these past two years. It’s been fun writing stories, designing pages and most of all making new friends.

Heather Nguyen video editor

Being the first ever video editor this past semester has been really fun, and I wish I would have done it sooner. I hope there’s someone to take my spot next year.

paint brush graphics from Vecteezy.com

senior issue

EAST COAST TO WEST COAST

where will the class of 2018 go? kamryn sparks

isley ford

green indicates in which states the class of 2018 will attend college

Makeya Williamson

5 70 8 2

chardae easley

KANSAS CITY KANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE Most of the 2018 class will be attending Kansas City Kansas Community College for two years. These students include Dakota Schreiber, Cueler Johnson, Charley Hargrave, Bailey Spencer, Makayla Stack, Gabby Taylor, Hailey Hoffman, Deion Marron, Olivia Karleskint, Riley Apperson, Jikira Freeman, Logan Schwarz, Keegan Greenlee, Shawn Haverfield, Madison Wright, Collin Owens, Marcella Gutierrez, Mason Hagge, Savannah Stimac, Alexis Rymer, Alena Riley, John Pride, Jordan Shelton, Delaney Walters, Sascha Dean, Anne Schnieder and Anasazi Barnes.

WASHBURN UNIVERSITY Makayla Stell, Gabi Rodriguez, Taylor Green, Sophia Frick and Deâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Avion Lynch.

PARK UNIVERSITY Lili Butler and Sophie Roper.

UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY

Emily Wilson, Chris Capps, Noah Robinson and Nick Morris.

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

Maria Accardi, Mckenzie Blevins, Alexander Falk, Mallory Holt, Heather Nguyen, Sydney Sheldon, Grace Vogel, Jordan Wiseman, Zoey Zager, Michael Gentry, Mallori Courtney and Kevin Duperon-Reyes.

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Jeralina clark

kara evans

ON THEIR OWN

These students will be the only Pirates attending their college picks: Alecsis Acosta at Iowa State University, Emma Bertrand at Drake University, Hannah Haworth at Missouri State University, Emma Stecklein at Lindenwood University, Patricia Thomas at Graceland University, Bryce Yoder at Simpson College, Isaia Wilcoxen at College of the Ozarks, Isley Ford at American Musical and Dramatic Academy LA, Rachel Bertrand at Des Moines Area Community College, Brayden Johnson at Coffeyville Community College, Kamryn Sparks at Wayne State College, Chardae Easley at Prairie View A&M University, Reiley Kirwan at Baker University, Jeralina Clark at Fashion Institute of Technology NYC, Makeya Williamson at Northwestern University and Kara Evans at Harvard College.

PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

Tyler Ash, Ryan Bach, Vanilla Davis, Madi Scott Ladish, Mallory Brajkovic, Mary Droppelmann, Jessie Hutchings, Gabe Rogers and Grace Haworth. Dandar, Josh Brown, Cara Bruce, Daijah Jones and Joshua Stubler. WICHITA STATE

UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS Preston Leftwich, Ian Christopher and Aubree Knetter and Elle Blake.

Emma Morgan.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Keisha Jones, Destiny Weaver and Lizette Ibarra.

Alex Appl, Dalia Mejia and Austin Houk. Information provided by seniors.

kcpipernews.com

HARVARD: HOW SHE GOT THERE

ISAIA WILCOXEN editor-in-chief One of the biggest decisions in a students life is where they will attend college. Some students go to their dream college that they have always wanted to attend since they were in diapers, and others settle for community college for a cheaper, quicker route. However, for senior Kara Evans, making her college decision was harder than expected, until she received an unexpected email from a college she never thought would accept her. Evans received her letter of acceptance into Harvard March 24. “I was at a forensics tournament,” Evans said. “I didn’t know the certain date I would receive my admission decision, so when I received the email saying my decision could be viewed, I didn’t want to look.” According to Evans, she wasn’t too eager when first receiving the email. “The days leading up to Wednesday, I was on a streak of receiving rejection letters from many of the other prestigious colleges I applied to and was not in the most optimistic mood,” Evans said. “I actually didn’t look at the decision until a couple of hours later. I opened the letter, and when I saw the first word of ‘Congratulations!’ I actually just assumed it was a congratulations for merely applying. I read on, and when I didn’t see ‘we regret to inform you’ anywhere in the letter, I was utterly confused. It wasn’t until I read the letter multiple times that I realized what it was saying.” Evans was so much in shock she had to ask others to read the letter for assurance. “I looked up at my friends around me and I said with utter shock, ‘Guys, I think I just got into Harvard,’” Evans said. “ I had to have Ms. [Tori] Deneault

read the letter to make sure it had my name and said what I thought it did.” According to Evans, her essay she wrote for her application was what she thinks got her in. “I thought of what uniquely defines me as a person, and my love for Disney kept coming to mind,” Evans said. “I wrote the essay knowing how ridiculous I was for taking the risk with such a decisive part of my application, yet I still willingly wrote it. I tried to not make it cliche. That proved very difficult, but somehow found a way to write an essay that was genuine and personal.” Once she spread the news, Evans said she has received nothing but love and support from her family and friends. “After announcing the good news on social media, I was getting comments from everyone: peers, parents, distant relatives, past and present teachers,” Evans said. “These are all of the people that shaped me into the person I have become, and seeing all of their support has really allowed me to reflect on how important those closest to us are in our

8 May 2018

lives.” Evans said she especially found interest in Harvard because of how students choose what they will study. Instead of choosing a major like most universities, students enter their freshman year without a specific area of study and then later choose a concentration. “I have realized how little I knew about the college in the past few days of research,” Evans said. “ I do not know what my concentration will be yet, and I probably will not decide until late next year.” With its prestigious reputation and higher level education, Evans said she is excited to experience the rigorous college experience, as well as the diverse culture of students. “I look forward to meeting all of my classmates and making connections that will help me succeed beyond college,” Evans said. “There is currently a GroupMe filled with 700 of my fellow classmates from all parts of the world and all backgrounds. I have so much to learn from them and I can’t wait to do so.” Evans said the people routing for her are the ones that have helped her with her success.. “My family has constantly encouraged me to excel in whatever I have done,” Evans said. “They have never once doubted my capabilities and I could never thank them enough for all they have done for me. My friends are my number one fans. They surround me with love and are always one call away whenever I need help.” Evans said her acceptance into Harvard relates to her essay she submitted about Disney because of how her dreams are coming true. “I think the authenticity of my analysis of how Disney has influenced my life showed the admissions officers just what I wanted them to see: my desire to dream sparked by Disney movies,” Evans said. “But more importantly, my relentless perseverance in making my dreams a reality.”

senior issue

SENIOR SUPERLATIVES Most likely to become president

Cara Bruce Alexander Falk

Most likely to be late to graduation

Gabi Rodriguez Gabe Dandar

Most likely to be vine famous

Maria Accardi Drake Martin

Most likely to play fortnite at 40

Angelina Granados Nick Morris

Class activist

Emma Bertrand Scott Ladish

Most likely to drop a mix tape

Alena Riley Derek Kariuki

Most likely to win the Hunger Games

Olivia Ortiz Michael Brown

Most likely to star in reality TV

Destinie Weaver Joshua Galindo

Most iconic best friends

Hannah Haworth & Isley Ford

Best dressed

Jada Jacobs Isaia Wilcoxen

Most likely to become famous

Elle Blake Jesus Silva

Most likely to be a professional athlete

Patricia Thomas Daviance Covington

Most likely to go viral

Chardae Easley Joshua Stubler

Biggest â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;glo-upâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Grace Haworth EJ Mansaw

Class clowns

Kamryn Sparks Marcus Wallace

You know you’re a

“ “ “ “

kcpipernews.com

SENIORWhen...

8 May 2018

You have hardly any motivation and you are caught between excitement about graduating and anxiety Sophia Roper for the future. You have no motivation to do anything school related. Each day you question if getting out of bed to go to school is actually worth it. Emma Golden

You’re too lazy to even copy down the answers that you have. Jessica Hutchings I realized it’s the last football game I’m attending, the last pep rally, the last dance and the last week of school.

It’s a senior thing. MAY

56% MAY

43%

Count down the days until graduation because they are ready to leave Refuse to countdown the days because they dread the thought of leaving

92% 8% procrastinated worked harder their senior than previous year years

Dalia Mejia

42 seniors surveyed

77% 43%

dressed down dressed up

MORE SENIOR YEAR

HOW LONG DO YOU never 1 hour

NAP?

1-3 hours

21% 30% 34%

4+ hours

14%

LTE

9:35

Instagram

Do you post #SeniorSunday post?

YES NO 54%

45% +

senior issue

Since the beginning

these 60 students from the 2018 graduating class have been Pirates since kindergarten

Ryan Bach

Kelsi Carmack

Madi Droppelmann

Chardae Easley

Kara Evans

Sophia Frick

Ian Gambrill

Ozzie Herriage

Mallory Holt

Erion Mansaw

Nick Morris

Alex Rehm

Emma Stecklein

Gabby Taylor

Patricia Thomas

Zoey Zager

Mrs. Gordon

Alex Appl

Elle Blake

Alexander Falk

Sarah Fuentez

Emma Golden

Aubree Knetter

Scott Ladish

Deion Marron

Charley Hargrave

Drake Martin

“Being able to make life-long friends and welcome new people into our family as new kids moved in was truly a wonderful feeling.” Sydney Sheldon

Isaiah Washington

Emily Wilson

Bryce Yoder

Mrs. Pembleton

Tyler Ash

Mallory Brajkovic

Dayton Belknap

Josh Brown

- Scott Ladish

Isley Ford

Josh Galindo

Hailey Hoffman

Derek Kariuki

Skylar Noah

“It’s cool to be graduating with the same people I have known since day one of school, especially since Piper is such a small school.” Sophie Roper

Mrs. Missell

Alexis Rymer

Marcus Wallace

Madison Wright

Mckenzie Blevins

Michael Gentry

Taylor Green

- Sophie Roper

Marcella Gutierrez

Hannah Haworth

Keisha Jones

Heather Nguyen

Collin Owens

Ryan Quach

“It means a lot to grow up with the same people ever since kindergarten. I am going to miss everyone, and I wish them the best in wherever life takes them.” Noah Robinson

Anne Schneider

Diana Sifuentez

Makayla Stack

Makayla Stell

Hunter Turley

- Mckenzie Blevins

Mrs. Pembleton’s class Mrs. Mizzell’s class

Mary Rogers

Mrs. Gordon’s class

Riley Apperson

Mrs. Anaya’s class

Mrs. Anaya

8 May 2018

kcpipernews.com

Messages from our Mentors Staff members give graduating students valuable advice on life “Don’t limit yourself based on what other people tell you, believe in yourself.”

“There is no right time to do the wrong thing, and there is no wrong time to do the right thing.”

Mr. David Lungren

7th grade social studies teacher

“Don’t be afraid to try new things even if they fail, because you learn something whether things go right or things go wrong.”

Mr. Kevin Kohls

elementary school teacher “Always be nice to people, because you may end up working for them someday. Be careful what you post on social media. Your future employer will look at it.”

Mr. Ryan McCarty 8th grade social studies teacher “1. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes 2. Don’t be afraid to take chances 3. Don’t be afraid to have fun”

Coach Bryan Shelley

middle school gym teacher “Always hold yourself to a higher standard and don’t let anyone or anything take away your confidence. Surround yourself by people that will love and challenge you. The world is lacking kindness these days, so see how you can make a change.”

Mrs. Brandi Apperson 7th grade math teacher

“My favorite quote is: ‘A ship in a harbor is safe but that is not what ships are built for,’ by John A. Shedd. Always follow your dreams, always do your best and always find something that makes you happy. I will miss you!”

Ms. Amy Crouse high school librarian

“‘Know thyself.’ Don’t sign up for that 8:00 a.m. class if you are always riding the struggle bus in the mornings. Find people who are nerds about the same things you are and don’t apologize for being excited about the stuff you like. Don’t skip any class meetings until after the first exam. Eat at least one vegetable a day, drink at least one bottle of water a day, and remember to wash your hands. Don’t bring so much stuff! You won’t need it or use it, and your parents will still have a house where they will let you keep all your crap.”

Mrs. Tiffany Scheffler high school english teacher

“To the class of 2018: This is such a huge step in your lives. Make the most of becoming independent and trying new things that you have never have tried before. Always think of your parents and your family...they definitely will miss you, but you are going to miss them! And lastly, live your life to its fullest and never stop dreaming of the impossible!”

Mrs. Julie Friesen

Middle school tech teacher

Mr. Stephen Mercer Middle school principal “Times are much different than when I graduated from high school. We live in a culture that is increasingly obsessed with self-image. Whether it’s getting just the right angle for the perfect selfie, checking how many likes you got for your latest post or how many follows you currently have, it can be easy to base your sense of worth on what others think of you. The problem is this can lead to manufacturing a false self, an image that you want others to believe is really you when it actually isn’t. My advice for you is this: spend less time worrying about the image you want others to see and spend more time cultivating the person you really want to be. If you place your energy in what others think of you, life quickly becomes an endless stage performance in which you are seeking others’ applause. This gives others the power to determine your worth, which is power that you should never give to anyone. Wherever life takes you after you graduate from Piper High School, I hope you make it a goal to build your identity on things like character, integrity, and purpose. You’re far more likely to find peace and satisfaction through developing your inner self than by living your life constantly trying to get people to watch and clap.”

Mr. John Nguyen

middle school english teacher and high school principal

senior issue

Microwave Food Ideas Ingredients:

2 eggs 2 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese

Total: $9.03

Directions:

Put all the ingredients into a cup and beat the eggs thoroughly. Then, put the cup into microwave and cook it on high for one and a half minutes.

Scrambled Eggs Ingredients: 1 potato 1 tablespoon of butter 3 tablespoons of shredded cheese Salt and pepper 3 teaspoons of sour cream

Baked Potato

Total: $14.27

Ingredients: 9 cups of Chex cereal 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips ½ cup of peanut butter ¼ cup of butter or margarine 1 teaspoon of vanilla 1 ½ cup of powdered sugar

Muddy Buddies

Total: $16

Directions: Wash and scrub the potato and prick with a fork multiple times. Put the potato on a plate and put in the microwave on high for five minutes, then flip it over for another five minutes. Take it out of the microwave and cut down the potato lengthwise. Mash up the potato with a fork and season to your liking. Decorate the potato with sour cream and cheese.

Directions: Put the cereal in a large bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, put the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter in and microwave on high for one minute. If not all melted, put it back in for 30 seconds. Then stir until smooth and pour vanilla in. Pour the mixture over the cereal until evenly coated. Put covered cereal into bag and add the powdered sugar. Seal the bag and shake well. Let it cool in the refrigerator.

information from allrecipes.com and thepennyhoarder.com

8 May 2018

kcpipernews.com

4 Ways to Prepare for College Learn TIME MANAGEMENT You must learn time management before college begins, so you are not stressed managing your free time and class work.

VISIT your campus

It is a good idea to visit your campus, to be sure that it is the place for you and to become familiar with your new schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environment.

60% of college students wish they were more prepared

information from wndu.com

get dorm SUPPLIES

Be sure to get all the dorm supplies for college. It will go a lot smoother having all the supplies you need while moving in.

READ books

Read books over the summer to ensure that your brain does not have too long of a break from studying and that you will be prepared to start college classes in the fall.

53%

of college students struggle with time management

information from blog.cengage.com

senior issue

Valedictorian: valuable or vain? Top-ranked seniors call into question the significance of having the highest GPA SCOUT MOLDER managing editor The distinguished title of valedictorian is often considered one of the highest honors a high school student can achieve. While obtaining the highest GPA in your class can certainly be considered honorable, some of the class of 2018’s top ranked students have cast doubt on the title’s true importance. “To me, valedictorian is a celebration of a student’s accomplishments academically, but it’s not the end all be all of high school,” senior Kara Evans said. Evans is currently ranked first in the class. “Class rank is really relative,” she said. “My class rank could be one here, but it could be 13 at another school. I really don’t think it’s as big of a deal as people make it out to be, unless you’re wanting that personal achievement.” Senior Sophie Roper, who is also ranked highly in the class, agreed that a high class

rank is less about the notoriety and more about the personal challenge. “Initially being valedictorian was very important to me, but in the past couple

“

To me, valedictorian is a celebration of a student’s accomplishments academically, but it’s not the end all be all of high school.” – Kara Evans senior

of years I have realized that it is not all that significant,” Roper said. “Ultimately, being in the running for valedictorian has been less about receiving that title than it

has about pushing myself and challenging myself academically.” Additionally, some of the class’s top ranked students agreed that a high class rank isn’t the most important aspect of a successful high school career. “I definitely think valedictorian is not as important as everyone makes it seem, because most scholarships ask you about your leadership roles in school,” senior Alaina Holmes, who is ranked second in the class, said. “There’s a spot for your GPA and your class rank, but that’s just fill in the blank, whereas they’re asking you to write full page essays about what you’ve done to give back to your community.” Senior Lilli Butler also has one of the highest GPAs in the class. Like Holmes, though, she said it’s not all about the numbers. “Being valedictorian isn’t really that important to me because all of my efforts have been to learn as much as I can rather

What seniors wanted to be when they grew up Emily Wilson

Makayla Stack

“Mermaid because I was obsessed with the ocean and beach as well as the movie The Little Mermaid.”

“I wanted to be a zoologist so I could hang with the elephants.”

Preston Leftwich “I wanted to be a doctor, because my mother began studying to be one when I was three and after hearing how many people she helped every day I aspired to be like that.”

De’Avion Lynch

“I wanted to be a meteorologist because I thought it was my only way of becoming famous and being on television.”

Keisha Jones “A yellow Power Ranger. I thought superheroes and Power Rangers were super cool back then. I wanted to grow up and save the world.”

than get the best grades,” Butler said. “Whenever things get tough, I remember that life isn’t about good grades and I take a break from thinking about school for awhile. That helps me regain my motivation to learn.” Roper said that for her senior year, she decided to prioritize free time over having the highest GPA. “I have dropped down in the valedictorian race a little this year because I took three AP classes, while a few others took more,” she said. “For me though, taking more classes that are time consuming wasn’t worth it. I wanted to be able to have fun and enjoy my senior year also.” Evans agreed that taking time to enjoy life as a high schooler is important. “It’s [valedictorian] something to be proud of and everything, but it shouldn’t consume you, because if it consumes you then you forget to enjoy high school,” she said. “I just don’t think there’s really a reward in that.” The class of 2018 is full of highly intelligent students, which has made the running for valedictorian a tight race. “I think Piper in general is a pretty competitive academic environment,” Roper said. “The fact that I took three AP classes and it still wasn’t enough speaks volumes.” While having a higher GPA than the rest of your classmates can definitely be considered a competition, the top ranked students all

agreed that it’s more about pushing themselves than competing with others. “We’re all doing well in some tough classes, but I don’t think our motivation for taking these classes has been competing with each other,” Butler said. “I think we’re all focused on doing our best rather than on how we can beat each others’ bests.” “Valedictorian is nice to have. It’s a nice tangible goal to set, but that’s not the goal that should be chased,” Evans said. “I think the goal that should be chased is just feeling accomplished with yourself. And that’s not a medal you can hold, but it’s more having that pride in that you did challenge yourself and that you did the best you could.” Holmes said her advice to underclassmen worrying about the title of valedictorian is to focus on what you can do to better yourself rather than what others are doing. “Think about what you’re capable of doing and prove to yourself that you can,” she said. “Don’t prove that you’re capable of doing what somebody else can do, prove that you’re capable of doing what you think you can do.” Butler said that most of all, it’s important not to stress too much. “Don’t sweat it, and don’t make your meaning be based on becoming valedictorian,” she said. “Just work hard, be nice, and have fun, and know that is all that matters.”

8 May 2018

kcpipernews.com

The next step:

College

Match the senior to the college they will be attending.

Elle Blake

Makayla Stell

Mallory Courtney

Reiley Kirwan ytisrevinU doownedniL - nawriK yelieR ,ytisrevinU sasnaK - yentruoC yrollaM ,ytisrevinU nrubhsaW - lletS alyakaM ,sasnakrA fo ytisrevinU - ekalB ellE :srewsna

photo essay

Kemma Forever! senior relationships made to last.

Hannah Pappert

Whether it’s on the field or in the classroom, seniors Emma Golden and Kamryn Sparks always seem to joined at the hip. The two girls have been friends for eight years. However, their friendship started out shakily when the two did not first get along in the 5th grade. “When I moved to Piper, she though I was annoying and didn’t let me sit with her on the bus,” Sparks said, “but look at us now!” Although the two got to know each other through the school, their friendship truly began when they got together in their favorite game.

“Kam and I met when we started playing competitive softball for KC Crunch,” Golden said. The two plan on going to seperate colleges after graduation, Golden to Kansas State University and Sparks to Wayne State College. “I’m going to miss Kam so much. She’s the one friend that I do everything with... at school and outside of it. The most loyal girl I know. I love you Kammy, Kemma forever!” Even though they’ll be far apart, the girls do feel that they will always be connected. “Of course she’s my bestsie, and out of all the friends I’ve had throughout middle school and high school, she’s the one that has always stayed solid,” Sparks said. “Except for 5th grade.”

Jess Hutchings

HANNAH PAPPERT photo editor

8 May 2018

kcpipernews.com

photo submitted

Hannah Pappert

Kemma

facts

Code Name: Kemma Years of Friendship: 8 years Their favorite momories: water gun fights when they were little, traveling together for softball and all of wtheir adventures. What Kamryn does when Emma is upset: “I go over to her house and spend time with her and just make her feel better.” What Emma does when Kamryn is upset: “The key is to give her a little space. The next step is Taco Bell. Taco Bell is always the answer.”

Senior advice

To be yourself no matter what. — Mallory Brajkovic

Do not take challenging courses senior year. Colleges only look at your first six semesters of high school. — Alaina Holmes

When all you can think about is giving up, know your worth. — Marcella Gutierrez

Grades don’t define you ... it’s literally just a number. Join yearbook. — Rachel Bertrand

Don’t procrastinate and don’t be annoying. — Sydney Sheldon It isn’t that deep. — Savannah Stimac

Become a tech student. It is nice. – Mason Hagge Get involved and enjoy the time you are given, because high school will be over before you know it. – Aubree Knetter Don’t worry about stuff that’ll soon be irrelevant in the next four years. – Vanilla Davis