THE
SCEPTER
ISSUE 6 VOLUME 54
MAY 2017 A
P U B L I C A T I O N
O F
P A P I L L I O N
WWW.PLPULSE.COM L A V I S T A
HIGH SCHOOL
TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES
FOCUS
Checking In With von Nagy
The Divide
4&5 6&7 8&9 10&11 12
Cardinal Status Addiction Sprinting Down a New Lane First Class
NEWS
13 14&15 16&17 18&19 20&21
Taking Care
22-28
ENTERTAINMENT
29-31 32&33 34&35 36&37
Monarch Conflict Summer Successes Stella’s Stellar Burgers/Coffee Craze False Advertising
SPORTS
38&39 40&41 42&43 44&45 46&47
Stepping Into STEM
Passing the Torch
DECA Nationals
Vaulting to Victory
Early Dismissal
Let’s Get Reel
Planning Ahead Students cheer on the basketball team during the first game of the state tournament, played against Millard South. The Monarchs trounced the Patriots 70-50. COVER PHOTO: TREVOR LEWIS COVER DESIGN: CAMRYN BOWERS
Long-Term Goals
Tribute
The Scepter is a school-sponsored publication of Papillion La-Vista High School, 402 E. Centennial Rd. Papillion, NE 68046. The Scepter’s office is located in room 307. The Scepter is printed by aPrintis. The Scepter is a member of the Nebraska High School Press Association. The Scepter is a school-sponsored publication and therefore recognizes its responsibility to stay within the boundaries that the school administration sets. The Scepter will therefore inform its readers using a high standard of morals and ethics. The Scepter encourages readers to respond in the form of letters to the editor, which can be sent to room 307. The Scepter’s editorial staff reserves the right to edit the letters for grammatical errors and to remove any profanity. The editors also reserve the right to exclude letters that are false in their statements or accusations. The Scepter will not accept advertisements that promote activities illegal to minors. Advertising rates are available upon request.
2016-17 PLHS JOURNALISM STAFF
EDITORS
SCEPTER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NICOLE LUDDEN
PLPULSE.COM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CJ CURRY
FEATURES CLAIRE NEIL & KAYLEE PENRY
NEWS&OPINION HANNAH IM ELLIOTT WOLBACH & FAITH WORKMAN
SPORTS
NATE GENDLER & DYLAN NICHOLSON
ENTERTAINMENT KASSIDY BROWN & MEGAN KRABBENHOFT
COPY
RAINA DODGE
COVERAGE
BRITTANY KELLNER
DESIGN
CAMRYN BOWERS PEYTON COSE JULIA HARKER
PHOTOGRAPHY TREVOR LEWIS BRENA GROEPER
EMMA HIGBY LAUREN LAFOND EMILY LINGELBACH HANNA OLSON DELANI WATKINS ALEXA BUSBY ALYSSA FORAL MEGAN FRIEL IZZY HAAVE MOLLEE SWIFT JOANNA WALTON KAYLEN MALTAIS BRENDON BOATWRIGHT HANNAH CAHILL HUNTER POMBRIO JOSEY RYAN DEVIN VETTER
LAUREN DOMINELLO CHLOE GRIMM TREVOR KALAL KENNEDY SAUTTER CAITLYN THOMAS
EDITORIAL The Chance to Create
There is something so incredible about the ability to bring an idea into existence. Whether that thing is a story, an idea, invention, emotion or even a revolution; we as a society have found a way to create something beautiful out of everything we do. We share it with the rest of the world so that they can experience it with us. Ever since the stone age, mankind has told stories through drawings on the walls of caves, providing entertainment and enlightenment. This skill has been passed on from era to era. Why is this?
History has shown that actors, artists and writers have been celebrated for their ability to create a message and evoke emotion. But what compels us to share so much with others and on such a deeply personal level? We are all creators sharing our message with the world. The connection we find through creating surpasses all cultural, economic or societal differences. It gives us a chance to relate and grow closer as human beings as we learn more about each other, which is exactly what we aimed achieve in this issue. As a publication, we have
been given the opportunity to write, design, and provide stories about the people that walk the same halls as you every day. So in this issue, as each one before, we are using our chance to create as a way to give a voice to those who go unheard, and to shed light on the truths of our school through stories and photos. Creating is of the utmost importance, and someday we will be able to create a better world together. But sometimes, it all starts with a story.
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There have been a lot of positive changes in the school’s library during Mrs. von Nagy’s first year at Papillion-La Vista High School. BY CLAIRE NEIL
PAGE DESIGN BY PEYTON COSE
A library is typically thought of as a quiet place where people look for books and do homework. Students that talk get in trouble and they must be working the whole time. Food and drinks are frowned upon in this serious atmosphere. This is the stereotype of a regular library, but this year at PLHS, the typical library has drastically changed with the arrival of the new librarian, Mrs. Elizabeth von Nagy. “The biggest change this year is a cultural change,” von Nagy said. “My personal philosophy is to have an open environment; a place where students can gather, explore, and not only research and do homework, but a place where they want to be.” This open door policy means that students can come in during study hall, any free time in the school day and before or after school. Mrs. Jeanie Shank has been working at the school for nine years and in the library as a paraprofessional for four years. “This year, the library is much more userfriendly,” Shank said. “There is more computer operation and there is an appreciation for creativity!” Along with the cultural change, there are also material changes including replacing furniture and some of the literature. “This last October, I wrote a grant to get our Maker Space area,” von Nagy said. “It is called the Monarch Marvel Lab and this area helps make the library a broader place that can help more kids. It uses stuff that kids want and need to use.” Von Nagy’s degree is in secondary education, and she was the librarian at Anderson Grove and Golden Hills before this year. She has always been a book worm, and as a kid she always felt at peace around books. “I really enjoy young adult literature, so when the opportunity came to work at the high school, I seized it,” von Nagy said. Surprisingly for von Nagy, the high school
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CHECKING
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Nagy ENTERTAINMENT
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PHOTO: NATE GENDLER
wasn’t a very big change from her previous elementary schools. “Working with elementary school kids taught me that learning can be loud and messy at times, and here I can implement those tools that I learned to help make the library a more progressive place,” von Nagy said. There is no such thing as a typical day in the library. “Every day is different,” von Nagy said. “Some days I am teaching in the classroom or library, and other days I am assisting students with
computer or book questions and delivering computer carts.” Along with von Nagy’s alwaysshifting schedule, Shank also has a unique schedule. “I check books in and out, help students find books, make sure teacher supplies are available in the work area and teacher lounge, and I order paper for the building,” Shank said. “I basically do customer service.” Since the library is a place that students should want to be, the ladies decided to get a pet fish as another
thing to interact with in the library. “His name is Royal Blue FINnegan; he is our baby and I have a framed photo of him in my office,” von Nagy said. “We got the fish at the request of one of our library aides, and the students voted to help us pick his name.” There have been many positive changes to help make the library a more user friendly place this year. Royal Blue FINnegan and the ladies of the library would love for students to stop by and visit soon!
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Cardinal
tatus Gabby Delos Reyes plans to attend Stanford University, her dream school, in the fall, making the transition from a Monarch to a Cardinal. BY LAUREN LAFOND
PAGE DESIGN BY ALEXA BUSBY
Applying for college is stressful and nerve-wracking for anyone, but just imagine applying for a college like Stanford or Harvard. The wait is long and full of anticipation as you wait for that acceptance or rejection letter. Senior Gabby Delos Reyes’ wait was anxiety-filled, as she got mixed answers from her colleges. Delos Reyes is valedictorian, Student Council president, a varsity softball player, in Key Club, Superintendent Student Advisory Club, PL Club, Freshman Survival, Student Ambassadors, and is a National Honor Society officer. Her involvement in athletics, academics and the community make her a great addition into Stanford’s upcoming class. However, it was not an easy journey, nor was it the school that she ever thought she would attend. “When I was waitlisted [for Stanford] in December, I just thought I’d never get off the list,” Delos Reyes said. “Then on March 31, when my mom told me the list was updated, I looked real quick but I didn’t expect anything. When I saw that I got off the wait list and got accepted, I was jumping around the house screaming.” Delos Reyes dreamed big when she applied to both Harvard and Stanford, but she also kept her options open and thought locally. She also applied to Drake University, the University of Nebraska Lincoln,
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the University of Nebraska Omaha, Creighton and the University of Chicago, and was accepted into all of the schools she applied to, except for Harvard. Once she found out she was accepted to Stanford, Delos Reyes knew right away that she would attend school there in the fall. “I’m excited for the diversity there,” Delos Reyes said. “It’s a good mix of people from all around the world. They have a lot of traditions there too that I can’t wait to participate in.” This year, Stanford University was named the most selective University in the U.S., and Delos Reyes is the third student to be accepted there from PLHS since 2000. “We are all very excited about it,” college counselor Mrs. Ann Herbener said. Herbener also said that schools like Stanford and Harvard are tricky with admissions, that “we never know what those colleges are looking for… each year it just depends.” Delos Reyes worked hard on her application and Herbener agreed that she put a lot of time into her essay to get in. “When you’re applying for college, it’s the depth of the resume that matters,” Herbener said. “Not the length. She has a list of clubs that she was actively involved in and was well
rounded in academics and athletics. Gabby has depth.” While everyone at Monarch high is excited and proud of Delos Reyes, she claims she is very nervous to attend. “I’m anxious for everything,” Delos Reyes said. “I’m scared to compete with everyone and I’m scared I won’t fit in. It’s a whole new state too.” While California is quite the distance to move and comes with many new challenges, overall Delos Reyes is just happy to have such an amazing opportunity. She does not quite know what she will major in next fall, but she has a few ideas for school next year. “I am probably going to major in something math related,” Delos Reyes said. “Something more general so I can narrow it down later. But I am going in undecided.” And while she “still doesn’t believe it,” perhaps it seemed more real when she visited the campus for the first time since Christmas break on April 27. “I originally applied for fun,” Delos Reyes said. “I just didn’t think I’d get in… but here I am.” Applying on a whim paid off for Delos Reyes and now she will attend the prestigious Stanford University next fall to start a new chapter of her life in California.
FEATURES NEWS
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ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
MONARCHS IN
AMERICA
Amy Ueberrhein Costal Carolina South Carolina
Hannah Manoj Washington University Missouri
Tylor Obermeyer Central College Iowa THE SCEPTER
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AT ou Sw gh P all ill t ow o
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PLHS students share their experiences with addiction and how it has affected them throughout their lives.
Addicted to alcohol & drugs
Understanding addiction is nearly impossible if you have not experienced it firsthand. What is happening in a person’s mind is difficult to explain when they are confused by it themselves. “Addiction is any time you’re using a substance, whether it be illegal or prescription, and you’re constantly thinking about the next time you’ll use,” school social worker Mrs. Molly Schnabel said. “But having a substance abuse problem doesn’t always mean you have an addiction.” Addiction means different things to different people. But no matter what the definition is, it does not change the fact that addiction follows the person everywhere they go. “People use the high they get from their addiction to cope with what they deal with in life,” Schnabel said. Often times, an addiction will start as a coping mechanism. Once the
ADD MILLION
6.8
Addicted and have mental illness
50%
High schoolers have used drugs of some kind
MILLION
20
MILLION
Americans over the age of 12 addicted
OF
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BY LAUREN DOMINELLO
PAGE DESIGN BY DELANI WATKINS
Again. It’s a simple word, really. It has a pretty simple meaning, too. But at some point the meaning changes. A person is not always doing something again and again because she wants to do it. Someone might do something because she needs to do it, because her body makes her do it. This is when the meaning of that simple word changes. This is when doing something again becomes an addiction.
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person starts using it to feel better, it is hard to feel good without it. “Other people think that we always have 100% control of it, but that’s not true,” junior Karissa Segan said. “You can’t always control yourself when your brain is trying to feed into the addiction.” There seems to be a stigma around addiction. It is hard to know how to act and treat someone with a misunderstood disease. “I feel like they all just think that everyone with any addiction is the same and that none of us care about getting better, but that’s rarely how it is,” junior Kathryn Dritt said. Because of this stigma, some people who have addictions themselves are not aware that is what they are going through, or are scared to talk about it and get labeled. “The hardest part was trying to get over it by myself,” Dritt said. There is a lack of openness around this subject that makes some feel as though they need to hide their feelings. Addiction is treated as a dirty word in society, which only makes it
more difficult for addicts to reach out for help. “One of the hardest things is knowing that other people look at you and treat you differently,” Segan said. But this is not something that is good from any view. People who have never experienced addiction give uncertain looks to those who have. But the thing is, even those who don’t want to keep doing it have to. “You know it’s not good and you’re constantly disappointing people, but you can’t seem to stop,” Segan said. Addiction does not have a clear cause, but experiencing a trauma or mental illness can be a huge factor. “Behind every story is an addiction, and if we got to know the story instead of dismissing the addiction we could help so much more,” Schnabel said. Addiction does not have to last forever, no matter how it may seem to those on the inside and outside of these situations. “I think it will go away,” Dritt said. “I mean, it’s not easy, but it will.” The difficulty of getting over an addiction begs much more attention and patience than one might expect.
“The only way to try to understand addiction is if, for example, you could not have any sugar or pop anymore and your body would start craving it,” Schnabel said. “It is way more complex than a choice.” The nature of addiction truly is poisonous. It can end up taking over in the end, even though others might have no idea of the struggle a friend is facing every minute. “It’s hard, because most people don’t even know someone has an addiction because these students are generally filled with shame and will never come to school bragging about it,” Schnabel said. “They really will try everything to hide it.” But there is help. There are resources out there for those who need it. “The number one thing I want students to know is that I am here for them to offer forgiveness and help, not to punish them, so they have a safe place,” Schnabel said. There is always hope and there is always strength in the moments one feels life is too much. “I believe it will go away when I have more control and can let myself not overthink,” Segan said. “I believe it will go away when I am truly happy.”
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Freshman Emily Keating is defying odds with her track experience. by Delani Watkins
Sprinting Through
OBSTACLES
PHOTO: DELANI WATKINS
Freshman Emily Keating runs sprints with teammate sophomore Erika Kelley during practice.
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OPINION
ENTERTAINMENT
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Vision is something that humans rely on to complete everyday tasks. We use it to navigate the world around us, from the moment we wake until the moment we decide to close our eyes at night. Life without it can be drastically different; what most see as an object, a person or a place, the visually impaired may only see as a blur of color or shapes. Limited vision isn’t limiting freshman Emily Keating. A decision to try track this year has been something new for Keating. “I decided to do track because I thought that it would be an interesting experience to see what it would be like,” Keating said. Now a 100 meter sprinter, a lack of vision has not stopped Keating from competing with her teammates. She runs with a teammate alongside her. Her hard work has paid off, as she has made strides in her event and in making new friends. “My favorite part about track is the meets,” Keating said, “I get to do my race and hang out with my friends.” Keating’s involvement in track
8.5% read in Braille
9.2%
has not only affected her own life, but the lives of her teammates and coaches. Working together has made an impact on everyone involved. Track, which is a largely individual sport, has become much more of a team sport this season. “At first a lot of us were hesitant, but now everyone is very open and willing to help,” junior Kierra Plunkett said. “We adjust to each other’s pace.” Adjustment comes in all shapes and sizes, but in Keating’s case, change has been a positive situation for the whole team. “I met Emily during runoffs and we really got to know each other,” sophomore Tabitha Dendinger said, “She brings so much positivity to the team.” Assistant girls track coach and science teacher, Mr. Andrew Walsh, coaches Keating with a new outlook. Visual impairments affect not only Keating’s experience, but the way that practice and meets happen. “Coaching Emily has made me more alert to what is going on around me,” Walsh said, “Watching for runners in her lane or divots in
FAST FACTS 60,393
listen to auditory sources
the infield are things I may not have previously thought about as a coach.” Keating has been a reminder to all that anything is possible, no matter the circumstance. She has been an inspiration to her coaches, teammates and spectators alike. “Her courageous attitude and determination in practice and the meets are certainly an inspiration as to how to overcome any challenge,” Walsh said. Seeing Keating defy odds has challenged her teammates to step up to the plate as well. “She pushes herself, which pushes the rest of us,” sophomore Erika Kelley said. Motivation and determination are the qualities behind Keating’s efforts. “She is a reminder that life isn’t so much about the circumstances, as it is about how we choose to handle those circumstances,” Walsh said. Vision, an essential tool for athletes, has not been a concern for Keating. Being a teammate and achieving her goals is at the top of the list, and every day, she amazes and encourages those around her.
American students are blind
received less than a high school diploma
29.9%
665,200
read in print
Americans are blind or have significant vision loss
31.9%
30.4% have some
have a high school diploma
level of college education
https://www.blindinc.org/about-blindness/facts-about-blindness/ https://nfb.org/blindness-statistics
MAY 2017
24%
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First On March 15, Clay Madson got the life-changing news that he was accepted into the extremely competitive United States Air Force Academy. BY EMILY LINGELBACH
PAGE DESIGN BY PEYTON COSE
The odds are slim; the competition tough. Only a mere 17% of all applicants are actually accepted into the elite school of The United States Air Force Academy. Despite the low chance of acceptance and the high academic requirements, senior Clay Madson was ecstatic on March 15 when he received the letter that he had beaten the odds. Although this academy will be unlike anything Madson has done before, he has still actively tried to prepare himself as much as he can to be in this position. “Throughout high school, I have played sports, been involved in activities, worked hard in school and
Class
taken up leadership roles,” Madson said. Madson’s efforts to work hard in the classroom as well as on the field did not go unnoticed. “Clay’s determination was very evident when he played football. He wanted to be the best he could be,” coach Dana Janssen said. “He is always looking to learn and grow in several different areas.” Madson’s hard work ethic and leadership skills were key to getting accepted into the academy, but even he was surprised when he found out he got in. “I started applying May of 2016 and doing interviews with Congress,” Madson said. “I received the good news in March and was super happy.” Madson’s report date, June 29, is approaching quickly, so once school is out he will begin to prepare himself both physically and mentally.
“For the little time that I am home, I will be working out and running track,” Madson said. “Yet also relaxing and enjoying my summer break while it lasts.” Madson tries to keep his confidence high as he goes into such a rigorous program. He knows the academy will be stressful, but he is not afraid of the pressure. “Many people say the first year is tough, and for that I am nervous yet excited,” Madson said. “I know it will be challenging, but I like a challenge.” A future goal for Madson is to graduate as a Second Lieutenant, and he plans to get there by being a leader, one who leads by example. “I know Clay will excel in the Air Force Academy because he is a leader and will do the right thing,” Janssen said. “I wish him the best of luck and can’t wait to hear stories from the academy.”
Clay Madson poses in front of the Air Force Academy on his recent visit. PHOTO: CLAY MADSON
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FEATURES NEWS
OPINION
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
TAKINGCare
National Honors Society makes care packages for cancer patients at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. BY RAINA DODGE
When someone is in a tough spot, anything can help. A simple word or a gesture of kindness can mean the world to someone who needs it. Recently, a group of students spread the kindness with care packages for cancer patients. On April 9, a group of National Honors Society students worked to assemble care packages for patients at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Senior Matt Stafford, one of the group’s officers, helped come up with the project idea. He also worked with NHS members answering questions, coordinating projects, and helping to alleviate
Above: NHS members create cards and pack care packages for patients at the Medical Center. In total, the group made 72 packages. Below: A care package for patients includes everything from water and hand sanitizer to coloring books. Some were made to specifically cater to young boys, girls or adults, but others were universal.
the burden on Mrs. Lori Boudreau and Ms. Jennifer Palomaki, the group’s sponsors. The officers’ reasoning for choosing this project, instead of their usual blanket project, involved cost as well as other reasons. “It was a really good cause and we wanted to try something new,” Stafford said. Senior Maddie Krajewski, a volunteer and group member, has worked on other projects, such as handing out T-shirts at games and working at book fairs. She was one of roughly a dozen students who helped to assemble these care packages. “It was really
fulfilling,” Krajewski said. “It felt like I was making a difference.” The care packages included essentials like bottled water and hand sanitizer as well as more fun things like coloring books and gum. Many group members who didn’t come to assemble the packages instead donated money to help purchase supplies. “It was really fun,” Stafford said. “It was a new thing we haven’t done before, and I really enjoyed it.” The students working assembled 72 care packages in total. Though the project might only have taken an hour, many hope that it will have a longlasting impact on patients at UNMC. “Even something little can make a big difference for someone else,” Krajewski said. PHOTOS: RAINA DODGE
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STEPPING INTO STEM
As a step in the right direction, PLHS is holding a summer camp to get younger girls interested in STEM. By Elliott Wolbach
Science Technology Engineering Mathematics Junior Hannah Wymer has taken STEM classes since 7th grade and has been in the STEM academy for the majority of her high school career. She will teach the younger girls who attend STEM Girls Explore summer camp the important lessons that she has learned so far.
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80 40 0
%50 %50 %29 A
Computer engineers, architects, civil engineers, statisticians, medical scientists, teachers and geographers are just some of the STEM related careers that are out there. With each passing year, these careers are growing and there is a demand for workers. There is a disparity between the numbers of males to females in these STEM related jobs. PLHS is doing something to bridge this gap by creating the STEM Girls Explore Summer Camp. The camp is set to take place on May 30, 2017. This summer camp is geared toward 5th and 6th grade girls from the surrounding area. “I wrote a grant to the district to increase the participation of girls in STEM classes in high school,” Mr. Scott Kneifl said. In all the STEM-related classes available here, only 30 percent of the students are girls. Kneifl is trying to increase the number of girls taking
%75
%71
Graph A represents the percent of males to females that are college educated. In graph B, the amount of males and females in the Science and Engineering work force are represented. Graph C represents the total amount of males to females in the STEM related work force.
%15 B
THE STATISTICS
C
STEM classes. “I believe that girls think that STEM classes are meant for boys and a girl’s place is somewhere else,” junior Hannah Wymer said. “Also when girls are in STEM classes, they can be singled out and feel awkward.” The fifth and sixth grade girls who participate in the summer camp will be working with girls in STEM classes at the high school, female college engineering students, and women that have STEM-related jobs. Wymer is one of the high school volunteers that will help at the camp. “I volunteered because it is important for younger girls to see what they can become and all the different branches of STEM to pursue,” Wymer said. Wymer, along with the other volunteers, will introduce the campers to what STEM is with various activities throughout the half-day camp. Notable activities will
SOURCE: PLCS.
involve kitchen design to introduce architecture. The girls will also design bridges to learn some basic principles about engineering, and will learn about electronics by working with robots. “The current high school students will gain leadership skills and see the importance of it by mentoring the younger students,” Kneifl said. According to Kneifl, if there is enough interest in the summer camp and enrollment increases, there is a possibility of more camps. This camp will be hosted annually at PLHS and PLSHS. “I want the girls to see that even if you do not wish to go into a STEM career, you can still enjoy taking STEM classes in junior high and high school,” Wymer said. The main goal of the STEM Girls Explore summer camp is to introduce young girls to a new subject and show them that they can make it a predominantly male field.
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DECA Nationals
Huntington Beach. Downtown Disney. Universal Studios. Anaheim Angels game. California Adventure Park. This sounds like a list made in heaven, but for five DECA students, this trip also included a tough competition and memorable academies that took hard work and dedication to be able to attend.
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Senior Morgan Eby solidified her path to Anaheim, Calif., by placing first in Automotive Service Marketing at the State Career Development Conference (SCDC) in Lincoln on March 16 and 17. “I had to do a 100 question multiple choice exam and two role plays based on the category I was in,” Eby said.
A trip to Anaheim, Calif., may sound like paradise, but DECA students had to work hard to make it a reality. BY MOLLEE SWIFT
With the help of DECA sponsor, Mrs. Mary Janssen, Eby took all the steps she could to prepare. “I took a lot of practice exams,” Eby said. “I also looked at role plays from the past years.” It was not just preparation that allowed Eby to excel at state. “Morgan is competitive and good at competitions,” Janssen said. “She
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Above: Hannah Bailey stands with the other officers after awards. She became the secretary on this team earlier that night. PHOTO: HANNAH BAILEY Left: Morgan Eby poses with former Monarch Kyle Emerick who was there at SCDC supporting the Monarchs. Eby placed first in Automotive Service Marketing. PHOTO: MORGAN EBY
MAY 2017
experience in this extensive business conference. “The best thing about Nationals, for the students, is getting to travel and see different cities,” Janssen said. “This is a once in a lifetime experience and it is amazing to see the similarities and differences of each city that we go to.”
Schedule April 25-30 Travel to Anaheim, California, explore Downtown Disney, and go to an Anaheim Angels baseball game.
29 28 27 26 25
friendly face.” With how much Bailey has done for DECA over the years as a member, it is not surprising that Janssen thinks highly of her. “She is a very passionate and involved young lady,” Janssen said. For both Eby and Bailey, success in the state competition translated over to the International Career Development Conference on April 26-29. They were joined by seniors Tylor Obermeyer and Hayley Piatkowski, and junior Lauren Lafond, who participated in the Leadership Academy. Eby went up against a few of the over 18,000 students from across the country and Canada, while as an officer, Bailey attended the State Officer Academy. “The hardest part about Nationals is competing,” Eby said. “Since DECA is taught internationally, there are actually people from Canada that compete and they are ridiculously intense, staying for three weeks to study, compete and then a fun week if they place.” Anaheim, Calif., was full of opportunities to gain leadership skills, find new friends and learn from
Go to DECA Finals, trip to Huntington Beach, and back for the Grand Awards.
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is also capable of getting the younger kids involved with her leadership skills.” For junior Hannah Bailey, DECA presents a different opportunity. Instead of going through competitions with the goal of winning, there is also the option of becoming an officer who is on the managing side of things. “I have wanted to become [an officer] since freshman year, and graduate Makenzi Zikas encouraged me to do it,” Bailey said. The application process was followed with a speech and a session of questions for the candidates, finally leading to the announcement of the members at SCDC. “I sat through what felt like an eternity—two hours—of awards,” Bailey said, mentioning that officer spots were announced very last. Bailey joins a list of five other students from around Omaha, Millard, Bellevue and Papillion to serve as officers representing Nebraska DECA. She holds the position of secretary on the team. “We are the ones you see running the conferences and competitions,” Bailey said. “We are to be very involved, travel to chapters, and be a
Packed and ready to travel back to Omaha, flying for the whole day!
Go to Disneyland and California Adventure Park and attend the opening session. Attend the Leadership Academy and participate in testing day, later Universal Studios. Continue in the Leadership Academy and roleplays, later night at Downtown Disney.
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E A R L Y
Through support and guidance, a group of juniors will graduate with the senior class. BY HUNTER POMBRIO
PAGE DESIGN BY MOLLEE SWIFT
D I SM I S SAL After four years of high school, seniors are finally able to graduate and close the yearbook. However, some juniors, who feel they are ready, will graduate after only three years. Juniors Riley Olsen, Bea Potter and Marissa Newman believe they are making the right decision by starting life after high school a year early. “I plan on attending the College
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of St. Mary’s to play tennis and study nursing,” Newman said. Proper guidance is needed for an individual when a life changing decision has to be made. In addition to teachers and counselors, family and friends will turn into role models for the teenager in their time of distress. “My father gives me a lot of support and pushes me to be the best
I can be,” Potter said. “I know he’ll always help me.” Graduating early is a relatively new concept to most, and few take the opportunity to do so. “My sister did so when she was in high school with the help of Mrs. Herbener,” Olsen said. “I started working towards graduating early since my sophomore year.” The unknown of the future can be frightening, as the number of responsibilities increase with each passing day. “I’m excited for what the future brings and all the responsibilities adulthood comes with,” Olsen said. Potter deems that she is making the correct decision due to it being entirely her own choice. “If you want to do what I’m doing you have to be dedicated and put your whole effort into it,” Potter said. Ending high school early gives some students the chance to take on life a year early. For juniors graduating in the class of 2017, they will get a head start on unlocking their full potential for a successful life after high school.
NEWS FEATURES
OPINION
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
S
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year Above: Marissa Newman Left: Bea Potter Down: Riley Olsen PHOTOS: HUNTER POMBRIO
Junior Year
STOP
Time for new opportunities
THE SCEPTER MAY 2017
19
AHEAD
Planning Papillion La Vista Community Schools has released their ideas for district-wide expansion. BY ALYSSA FORAL
Our school has switched to bagged milk, from Pepsi to Coke, and implemented stricter security. The changes being made around the school are a topic of student body buzz, and there are even bigger changes coming to all schools in the district. In 2014, Papillion La Vista Community Schools pulled together a vision board made up of over 50 community members including parents, teachers, local business owners and administrators. They set up a list of goals to help push forward the ideas for the Papillion La Vista School district. Over the past year and a half, a team of over 80 stakeholders have had a direct focus on high school planning, specifically for the elements of higher learning that students at the high school level should be offered. The team formulated a 10-year plan
that will provide the most effective education for all high school students. The preparation for all routes students could take after high school will be integrated into the high school. The inclusion of trade skills and hands-on experience will be added into curriculum options. The new changes will allow students to intern in areas of interest and get their experience in the real world. “I think it will be super beneficial getting outside experiences in different things I’m interested in,” freshman Nate Brown said. Brown and other students with an interest in business will be able to get both on-campus and off-campus learning. However, the outside interests will not just be for business. Students with an interest in trade skills, health and science and
computers and technology will be able to get real world hands-on experience. With growing curriculum options and growing enrollments, the building must grow too. The school district has decided that they will add facility space on to the two existing high schools. “There is room to expand along the northern edge of the Monarchs campus, where there is parking and tennis courts,” Superintendent Dr. Andy Rikli said during one of the forums hosted about the plans, according to the “Omaha World Herald.” With the growth of the Papillion and La Vista communities, the schools must grow too. The changes the district is bringing will allow for students to get the best education possible.
PLC Schools
Goals 20
NEWS FEATURES
OPINION
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
1
By 2020 Papillion La Vista Community Schools will develop and implement a variety of flexible and innovative individualized learning plans for students in grades 7-12.
2
All 3 and 4 year olds in Papillion La Vista Community Schools will have access to a quality early childhood program. By 2020, 25% of eligible students will be enrolled in a district program.
3
By 2025 all Papillion La Vista Community Schools students will have access to comprehensive world language instruction offerings in grades K-12.
The vision board, formed in 2014, came up with a list of goals for the Papillion La Vista Community Schools. plcschools.org
THE SCEPTER MAY 2017
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THE
DIVIDE
Senior Cynthia Gallegos-Perez shares her experience growing up through economic uncertainties.
See pages 26-27
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FEATURES
NEWS
OPINION
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
Economic status is one of the
greatest divisors of human life. While many of us live in comfort, every student has their own means of survival. When it comes to the socioeconomic status of our high school students, how great is
the divide?
more than a 436. In a school of almost 2,000 students, nearly twenty percent receive financial aid such as free and reduced lunch through the district. This should not come as a surprise, yet their presence is often overlooked. They look the same, take the same tests and stand in the same pasta bar line as you do. They finish essays five minutes before class, and they complain about gym just like you. Low income students are no different than someone with no fear towards the future financially, other than
NUMBER
the economic status of their household. Financial aid in the PLCS district is largely based on free and reduced lunch. It is exactly what it sounds like: students who need financial assistance are provided with a discount on meals. Once it is obtained, a door is opened that allows for other benefits to enhance the academic success of a student. “We do have some student fees that are permissible by law, and we provide those fees to be waived for students who meet certain criteria including
Free and reduced lunch provides many students at PLHS with financial aid. BY MEGAN FRIEL PAGE DESIGN BY NICOLE LUDDEN
socioeconomic or free and reduced lunch status,” Assistant Superintendent Doug Lewis said. Students who need assistance can find help through counselors, teachers, or social workers. However, a student’s direct action is not always needed to acquire aid – the school may already know about their financial status. “Usually, students can also qualify if they already qualify for other programs such as SNAP, formerly called Food Stamps, TANF, Temporary Assistance to
continued on page 24... THE SCEPTER
MAY 2017
23
436 PLHS students ...
continued from page 23
qualify for free & reduced lunch
that’s 25.4% of the student population
11% of
261 FAFSA
students’ applications parents were did not submitted by complete PLHS students high school in 2017
44 percent of children under age 18 lived in low-income households in 2016
ONE in FIVE students live in poverty
Needy Families, or if they are a foster child,” Director of Food Service Sue Sucha said. The district aims to ensure that the quality of education is equal to everyone. When students are affected by forces outside of school that impact their access to this education, it is possible for the district to step in to help families using a budget set by a poverty plan submitted yearly to the state. “The district has pots of money for social workers to use for emergencies and help pay for bills or whatever is needed,” school social worker Molly Schnabel said. This assistance provides students not only money, but a path towards academic success as well. “Allocations from the state have been decreasing over the last five years, and I anticipate that will continue based on the method they use to calculate it,” Lewis said. When students are not granted the same opportunities as their peers, they fall behind in school. Whether it is induced by stress, or they are needed to help provide for their family, the relationship between income and academic
achievements is a real issue students must face. “It is a trend we see nationwide; students affected by poverty don’t have access to experiences or computers and books,” Schnabel said. Many people outside of school believe it is not a school’s place to get involved, yet Schnabel believes “if [she] doesn’t help, no one else will,” which is a high priority belief shared by many employees of the district. “I believe we need to do all we can to eliminate barriers to student success. Poverty is one of those limiting barriers; therefore, we need to provide a means to help students in those situations so they can achieve success,” Lewis said. Enrollment at PLHS sits at 1,713, but the number of students who receive aid stays the same. This means 25.4% of the student population receives some form of free and reduced lunch. However, these people are much more than an income; they sit next to you in class and at lunch. Students with a low socioeconomic status are much more than a statistic – they are your peers, and they are Monarchs just like you.
Source: National Center for Children in Poverty
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FEATURES
NEWS
OPINION
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
Students are getting the opportunity to reach their goals despite financial setbacks through a program known as College Possible. BY KAYLEE PENRY
PAGE DESIGN BY NICOLE LUDDEN
MAKING IT
POSSIBLE
During junior year, College every week to work on their No matter how hard you try, Possible provides help with preparing individual tasks that need to time keeps moving. Days come to a for the ACT, taking practice tests and be completed for what they are close and months go by without any providing a free test. During senior planning for the future. Having warning or predictability. Before year in the program, students receive these set times can provide a you know it, the future is now, and assistance with college applications, routine for students to get work there is nothing that can be done to scholarships, and preparation for their done with their busy schedules. change it. For some students, future “If I hadn’t after high school joined College involves Possible, I college, and don’t think I while exciting, would have preparing for had many other college is a opportunities stressful feat because I requiring some would have guidance. procrastinated College and wished I Possible is had other help,” a nonprofit senior Matt organization Williamson that assists said. low-income At PLHS, high school students students have a lot of with getting knowledge accepted and about college becoming Seniors Lexie French, Estephania Montoya and Chelsea Melendez Sanchez attend the and other options successful in College Possible “Launch!” celebration. “Launch!” is held every spring to celebrate the for life after high college. This is hard work of students in the program. PHOTO BY KAYLEE PENRY school, and if they achieved through freshman year of college. There are want to pursue that they have the extensive coaching and support of many steps to potentially miss when ability to. Although money can be college-readiness professionals. preparing for furthering education, but a barrier, there are ways to become Students in financial need have a the help of others can ease the tension. successful without constantly difficult time paying for necessities “I think that having another having to worry about paying the throughout high school; the addition person there to remind you about heavy expenses throughout college. of college expenses can become deadlines and what needs to be done is Thanks to programs like College almost unbearable. really important and can help a student Possible, more students than “There are a lot of barriers out a lot,” Dagle said. ever are succeeding and reaching with getting to college that I think Students that are in College greatness. are unnecessary and tricky,” senior Possible at PLHS go to two sessions coach Elizabeth Dagle said.
THE SCEPTER MAY 2017
25
G N I T N I PA your own Senior Cynthia GallegosPerez has created a promising future for herself despite coming from a low-income family. BY NICOLE LUDDEN As the pressure of paying for college begins to weigh on high
school students, many look to the path already paved for them by older siblings, the expectations of parents, or even common knowledge. Some, however, are thrown a shovel and expected to find their own way through the chaos. Senior Cynthia GallegosPerez entered high school as a lowincome and first-generation student. With a vigorous combination of determination and guidance, she is emerging with the story of success she carved herself. As the first in her family not only to pursue a college education, but also to attend high school, Gallegos-Perez had to blindly navigate the world of education. “My parents grew up in Mexico and stopped schooling at middle school, so we were all trying to figure it out together,” Gallegos-Perez said. In order to ensure a financially
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FEATURES
PATH
sound future for their family, Gallegos-Perez’s parents came to America. This rigorous transition was anything but easy. “My dad picked oranges for less than minimum wage, and we lived in a trailer home when I was younger,” Gallegos-Perez said. The foundation her parents set granted Gallegos-Perez access to higher education. This unprecedented transition in her family proved more difficult than expected. “At times, I felt like I was just expected to know how things worked, when I didn’t even know how to format a word document,” GallegosPerez said. Despite her initial hardship, Gallegos-Perez fell in love with art as “an outlet” upon entering high school. In pursuit of a higher education in art, Gallegos-Perez found guidance when she joined the College Possible program her junior year. “The ACT & SAT practice was
NEWS
OPINION
really helpful,” Gallegos-Perez said. “If I were to have done it by myself, I would have no idea where to start.” With a world of opportunity now in front of her, Gallegos-Perez was able to delve into a system many students would have known about earlier. “I had no idea about the cost of college, or the different locations and sizes,” Gallegos-Perez said. “The fact that the school gave me unbiased information was really great.” The stability she found has allowed Gallegos-Perez to flourish as an artist. ”Her self confidence shows in her work. She takes more risks with what she does and pushes herself harder because she knows more about what she is capable of,” art teacher Mrs. Valerie Mouttet said. While the cost of college lurks in the future, the cost of dayto-day expenses also weighs on each high school student. Gallegos-
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
PHOTO: MEGAN KRABBENHOFT
Perez provides for herself through a part time job and by selling art commissions. Coming from a lowincome family, she must save every penny in order to support her own interests. “Sometimes I purposely avoid social events so I can save money for art supplies,” Gallegos-Perez said. While earning a high school level art education has helped guide her, the cost of attending art school has deterred Gallegos-Perez from attending her dream school of The Art Institution of Chicago. Nevertheless, she will pursue an art degree at UNO in the fall. “Everyone has a dream school; I did,” Mouttet said. “But my parents couldn’t afford it, and this is all part of the college decision. Metro and UNO offer some outstanding course
Cynthia Galllegos-Perez works on one of her many paintings.
work.” With the guidance she has received from her art teacher, Gallegos-Perez will pursue a career in art education regardless of financial circumstances. “[Mouttet] has really taken me under her wing and has always encouraged me to pursue art as a career,” Gallegos-Perez said. Without the information or funds needed to navigate a path to a college career, Gallegos-Perez carved her way to the future she wants. “I’m not going to lie and say financial need isn’t a big part of my life, because it is,” Gallegos-Perez said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let it stop me.”
THE SCEPTER MAY 2017
27
Personal finance should be required to prepare students to make good financial choices. OPINION BY BRITTANY KELLNER PAGE DESIGN BY MOLLEE SWIFT
FINANCIAL There is one subject that no matter what students do, they will need after high school. It is not calculus, chemistry or physics; it’s about understanding how to manage one’s personal finance. Managing bills, taxes, income and expenses is part of every adult’s life, so why is it so underplayed in school? Some may argue that school is preparing students for higher education, but not all high schoolers decide to move on to college. Even those who do apply still have to manage student loans and expenses. No matter what some people say, not understanding how to finance personal needs affects everyone. In large scale amounts it can impact even the economy. Overspending and poor budgeting have been connected to several economic disasters of our time, from the Great Depression to the 2008 Recession. So how can we fix this? Well, for starters maybe adding it to the core curriculum would help. Before
28
AID
everyone starts groaning, keep in mind that this is truly the one thing that we will need every day in our lives. Even taking the fifteen minute advisements we have and turning them into open discussion classrooms would help solve the problem. This would allow students to ask questions that they need the answers to, such as how to calculate interest or what a 401(k) account does. Currently, there is a personal finance elective, but it is structured to fit the testing information of CSAs, which focus on very basic concepts. Also, when given the option, many students probably will choose not to take the elective anyway, passing it up for something more fun. As a senior, I can honestly say that throughout my twelve years of education, I don’t think that what I have been provided regarding personal finance through school education is going to help me, and that’s scary because for some people, this is all they get.
OPINION
FEATURES
NEWS
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
IN A WORLD.. full of actual
debates that affect millions of lives, The Scepter staff has taken it upon themselves to throw hands over some “Very important issues” that won’t impact you in any way shape or form. Let’s fight about the stuff that DOES NOT matter.
THE SCEPTER MAY 2017
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CRUST,
DO
YOU
Romeo and Juliet, Mickey and Minnie, bread and crust. Maybe I’m a romantic, but I passionately believe that there are some couples that shouldn’t be separated no matter the prejudice they may face. Bread and its crust are a dynamic duo that have endured the trials and tribulations of the ever-changing culinary world and don’t deserve to be cast aside because of the ignorance of our generation. If we can’t appreciate the dependable and protective outer shell of our beloved fluffy bread, maybe we don’t deserve bread at all, and a world without bread is not a world I would wish upon my worst enemies. -Kaylen
KNEAD IT
YOUR LIFE? I
N
Crust. Why does everyone insist that crust is so good for you? It’s just the outside part of the bread that gets cooked more in the oven. There’s nothing magic in an oven that makes overdone bread skin good for you! There are few things in the universe with a worse texture. Cut the crust off your bread. Live your life the way you want to. Don’t let superstitious parents keep you from living the no-crust dream. -Raina
The White Crayon: Good? Or Evil?
Featuring: Caitlyn Thomas and Delani Watkins
Give a kid a crayon box and they will color for hours. But while the infamous white crayon is widely ignored by most, give a child black construction paper, and the importance of having a white crayon is revealed. Sure it might not show up on white paper, but that does not mean that it is not needed. For advanced coloring, white crayons are needed not only for shading, but also for the seamless blending of two colors. White is the presence of all color and therefore has earned its rightful place in the crayon box of all children. When using colored construction paper, our choice will always lie within the white crayon to rise above the rest. -Caitlyn
30
White crayons. The pointless waste of space in the box. As a frequent picture drawer, I didn’t think that the white crayon was essential. It was always the crayon that got stuck at the bottom when I didn’t use it; the crayon that was ruining my organization. In my pictures, I didn’t feel the need to color my clouds or snowmen white; the paper already was. Even if I tried to color them, as many felt I needed to, it always turned out with streaks of other colors – my white crayon wasn’t even white! It was always stuck in the box unused, being marked up by my other, useful colors. The white crayon is solely a waste of space. It doesn’t look good on colored paper either! -Delani
ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
BOOK
OR
FEATURING: Trevor Kalal and Trevor Lewis
Movies are great. The visual effects and stuff like that really create an experience for the viewer. While movies really put the “show” in the age-old principle of “show, don’t tell,” they leave nothing to the imagination. While movies are exciting, they present a tangible visualization of beloved characters and plotlines and do not let the viewer imagine anything, whether it be the characters or the setting. With all of the detail in books, it is hard not to bring them to life in your imagination. While all of that is well and good, without the book, there would be nothing to make the film adaptation. Let us not forget some of the worst adaptations from book to movie. One of the most prominent for me was 2010’s "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief." There were several essential parts that were left out and so many of the other details were wrong. While some movies faithfully represent the book, others are better left in the bound pages of the book and our imaginations. -Trevor Kalal
MOVIE
?
Now, I am not one to just skip the book. I think that books are great and they activate your imagination and cause you to learn something while enjoying yourself. However, I think most people can agree, movies are awesome! One of the prime examples of this is “The Great Gatsby.” Considering I just finished both reading the book and watching the movie, I believe that watching the movie is an amazing experience that gives the viewer an experience that they cannot get from reading the book. Put an amazing director behind the camera (Baz Luhrmann) and a great actor in front (Leonardo DiCaprio), you then have an amazing combination that exceeds the standards of your imagination. It is an amazing movie that holds true to the book, and as long as a movie is able to represent it faithfully, then it is just as good as, if not better than, the book. -Trevor Lewis
Now I know the numbers do not lie; the whole MCU is a polished, established universe, but what about the other fan favorite heroes who have been excluded? Spider-Man had his first movie in 2002, and he was not inducted into the MCU until 2016. While on the subject, Marvel has not had a solid Spider-Man for more than three movies either. What about the X-men franchise as a whole? That timeline is more confusing than a calculus test. DC has not been afraid to attempt darker storylines like in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” and that was a masterpiece. Though it may not seem like it, DC knows what they are doing. They have been around since We already know that Marvel is a far superior franchise than DC. They 1934, five years before Marvel have continually shown that they can bust the box office wide open with was founded. With a plethora of “The Avengers” grossing at $623 million meanwhile with DC’s top movie different characters in various (“The Dark Knight”) grossing at a mere $533 million. I mean, it makes forms of media, both franchises sense when your greatest enemy is a clown with a laughing issue. Not have outstanding characters and to mention, with the MCU or Marvel Cinematic Universe, the timelines stories. It just depends on what become more solid and give fans a good expectation of what is going to you prefer. - Trevor Kalal come in the future. DC, however, continues to reboot different series with different actors that create different timelines and different universes. I mean, what the heck? Can we not just get a solid Batman for once, and just stick with him for more than three movies. Marvel has had the same person playing Iron Man for six full movies, even though they may change Spider-Man like political candidates change opinions. Marvel has continuously shown the cinematic culture that they know what they are doing. Even when unexpected movies break boundaries, like “Deadpool” being one of their first R rated movies and grossing $363 million, and “Logan” following its footsteps and grossing $221 million. Even though you may not agree with the heroes, you cannot deny, the numbers do not lie. - Trevor Lewis
MARVEL THE SCEPTER
MAY 2017
31
Summer
Successes
Students at PLHS share their summer jobs and the most memorable times there. BY MEGAN KRABBENHOFT
PAGE DESIGN BY alexa busby
STUDENT: SEAN KELLY JOB: GALLOP SURVEYOR “WE’RE A PUBLIC OPINION POLL THAT COLLECTS DATA FOR STATISTICS. I CALL PEOPLE AND TRY TO CONVINCE THEM TO TAKE A POLL.”
STUDENT: JAKE SYKORA JOB: PARK ATTENDANT AT PAPIO BAY
“THE WORK ENVIRONMENT IS FANTASTIC AND I GET TO WATCH NETFLIX WHILE WORKING.”
“MY FAVORITE PART IS GETTING TO WORK WITH ALL MY FRIENDS THAT ALSO WORK THERE.”
STUDENT: JACE PIERCE JOB: MASCOT FOR THE OMAHA STORM CHASERS “I JUST HAVE TO BE REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT EVERYTHING IN A HOT HOT SUIT.” “MY FAVORITE PART IS JUST MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH.”
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ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
STUDENT: MAYCEE PENRY JOB: CLEANS OFFICES “MY UNCLE IS THE BOSS AND HE THINKS HE CAN RAP, SO EVERY TIME I SEE HIM HE HAS A TERRIBLE RAP FOR ME TO HEAR.”
STUDENT: ANDREW DEVLIN JOB: KIDS CLUB “I WATCH THE KIDS AND HANG OUT WITH THEM. I MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A FUN TIME WHILE THEIR PARENTS ARE WORKING.”
Summer Side Gigs
SCIENCE TEACHER MR. DOUG SHOWELL JOB: SHOOT FOR THE STARS SUMMER CAMP “I GET ALL THE FUN SCIENCE STUFF BUT NEVER HAVE TO GRADE ANY PAPERS.”
STUDENT: TYLER PINEGAR JOB: GENERAL LAWN CARE “I’VE MOWED YARDS SINCE I WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE AND THEN ALONG THE WAY I LEARNED TO DO SIDE WORK TOO.”
HISTORY TEACHER MR. SEAN MCLAUGHLIN JOB: LYFT
“I’VE MOWED IN THE WRONG PLACE BEFORE, BUT THEY WERE PRETTY COOL ABOUT IT.”
“ONE TIME AT TWO IN THE MORNING THIS COUPLE DECIDED TO BUY ME LINA’S.” THE SCEPTER
MAY 2017
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Where should you go out to eat? Here’s a restaurant that will surely knock your socks off. BY KENNEDY SAUTtER
Sometimes it is hard to find that one place to eat that treats you like family, has good food, and has a really down to earth atmosphere. But Stella’s is a cut above the rest. Stella’s, a burger joint founded in 1936 in Bellevue, has stayed a humble and classy restaurant that has some of the biggest and tastiest burgers around. With a friendly staff and a wonderful environment, this bar and grill shows to be one of the best in the Omaha area. Stella’s atmosphere features a sporty flair: football, baseball, and everything in between plays live on the TVs all the time. The servers wear sporty outfits that closely resemble business casual, to an extent. The servers are very friendly, often treating the diners with respect and talking to guests as if they were distant relatives. Now the meat of Stella’s (no pun intended) is its fantastic food. The burgers are 100% beef patty, which is hand flattened and fried in the open kitchen behind the bar. They serve massive burgers piled with all the great toppings you could imagine, even peanut butter. With some specially cooked Idahoan fries and a winning smile, the dining process is fun for the whole family. The food is greasy and messy,
34
but that goes with the Stella’s motto “Good food doesn’t need to be fancy.” And, finally, we come to one of the biggest parts of the Stella’s restaurant: the Stellanator Food Challenge! If you are a major food junkie or just overall hate yourself, Stella’s has the challenge for you. A piled high burger with six burger patties, six fried eggs, six slices of cheese, 12 pieces of bacon, lettuce, tomato, fried onion, pickles, jalapenos, peanut butter, and an order of fries will be your undoing. The Stellanator challenge has claimed a lot of victims and the prize of winning is a free T-shirt and a free meal. Those who lose have to pay 35 dollars and pay the price of being put on the wall of shame; those who win are immortalized on the wall of fame. All in all, Stella’s is a great place to get some fantastically messy burgers with wonderful service and a great atmosphere. With all this food you have to worry about the price - well, not to worry. Stella’s boasts some pretty low prices for its great food and its service. With its homely feel and humble attitude, Stella’s earns a 9/10 for its fantastic food, and great atmosphere. Now all you’ve got to do is worry about the tip.
ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
The
Coffee
CRAZE
Between Scooters, the Beanery and Starbucks, students have more than enough choices to get their caffeine fix.
Scooters Coffee is good for both coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers. With a variety of drinks for both, there is always a drink to have. Coffees vary from a straight black coffee to a carmelicious or a candy bar latte. For non-coffee drinkers, the options are endless: blenders, tea or a wide variety of smoothies. Not only are there fruit-andice smoothies, but they also have fruit-and-cream and vertigo smoothies, varying from green tea to strawberry banana. Not only are there drinks, but Scooters also has options for food. They have burritos, sandwiches, muffins and other pastry options. Whether you’re looking for a coffee, smoothie or food, Scooters is the place to go. BY JOSey RYAN
Try: Peanut Butter Cup Espresso Blender
The Beanery is a fairly new coffee shop in downtown Papillion. They offer a variety of coffees, teas and smoothies. The coffee can be served hot, blended or iced. If someone does not want to get a beverage from this coffee house, then they can get something to eat as well. They serve different kinds of treats, such as bagels, cookies, breakfast sandwiches, muffins, biscotti and oatmeal. The Beanery also has an outside seating area with gardening surrounding it so customers can either take it to go, or, when the weather is nice, sit down and relax in the fresh air. BY HANNA OLSON Try: Beanery Mocha
Whether it’s a sunny summer day, chilly fall afternoon or a freezing winter morning, Starbucks has drinks to accommodate all seasons and occasions. Arguably, some say Starbucks’ annual drinks play a major role in a season’s festivities, particularly fall’s beloved pumpkin spice latte. While Starbucks’ seasonal drinks have some saving the date for their arrival, Starbucks also offers a secret menu. The secret menu includes all sorts of secret drinks like frappuccinos, teas, lattes, refreshers and macchiatos that no one else knows about. With this in mind, Starbucks has drinks for everyone, not just coffee drinkers. Along with the special features Starbucks has to offer, they also have Teavana drinks on the menu which no other coffee shop sells. All in all, Starbucks is the go-to place for people who aren’t afraid to try new things and enjoy having the option to choose from an all-inclusive and diverse menu. BY IZZY HAAVE THE SCEPTER Try: Caramel Macchiato
MAY 2017
35
FALSE ADVERTISING BREAKFAST CLUB
It’s the 80s teen movie everyone knows. Whether you were a jock, a princess or a criminal, you knew “The Breakfast Club.” Given to us by genius director John Hughes in 1985, its legacy has lived on. However, it is not the most reliable when it comes to high school life. In the movie, the characters are given detention all day on a Saturday morning. In high school, detention is given after school and only for an hour to two hours. It is also always supervised, unlike the film. Since there is a lack of adult supervision in “The Breakfast Club,” it causes an impromptu dance break halfway through the movie. In real life, if you started dancing on tables and climbing on statues, that would most likely result in a suspension. Last but not least, the most famous and most iconic ending to a movie ever: Judd Nelson putting his fist in the air because he almost got the girl. This could happen in real life, though no guy is ever that dramatic about getting a girl - no matter how much the girl wished he was.
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HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
It is probably the best Disney Channel Original Movie that involves spontaneous singing. Every kid looked forward to high school thinking it was exactly like the movie, except the movie was wrong. If anyone thought that students start singing about the status quo during lunchtime, they were sadly mistaken. The opening song is also only a situation every girl dreams about. A regular girl is not going to be paired with the super cute star basketball player for karaoke. The only time that would actually happen is in the mind of that regular girl.
MEAN GIRLS Most everyone has seen this movie and can quote pretty much the entire thing, whether we want to admit it or not. This movie depicts high school as a place where the mean girls rule. The popular group, known as “the plastics,” pretty much rule the school. There may be cliques in high school that have a fair share of mean girls, but they do not rule the school. Director and writer Tina Fey did get a lot of the high school aspects correct, they were just amplified by a thousand. The cafeteria, for example, is categorized by cliques, but not as much as they are in the movie. They are not necessarily labeled. At the winter formal, the queen would not break her crown in half. If the queen broke her crown and threw it to people in the crowd, everyone would think she was crazy, even if it is for the greatness of sisterhood.
ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
Popular high school movies falsely depict high school in real life.
BY KASSIDY BROWN
PAGE DESIGN BY CAMRYN BOWERS
SIXTEEN
10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU It is one of the many movies based off of a Shakespeare play, and one of the few that did a good job. Roughly based off of “Taming of the Shrew,” in the movie, Julia Stiles’ character has to go on a date in order for her younger sister to be able to as well. No matter how strict parents may be, they probably will let you date in high school regardless of if your sibling does. Heath Ledger plays the mysterious, yet good-looking bad boy, who is being paid to date Julia Stiles. One of his many attempts to get her attention is to perform a live song at her soccer practice. Now, there is no way any guy or girl would do something that extravagant to get someone’s attention. Also, the fact that the entire marching band is in on it, is only something you would see in a movie. That kind of thing tends not to happen in real life.
CANDLES Another amazing John Hughes film that helped mold a generation. The main character, Sam, who happens to be a sophomore in high school, is in love with the popular senior guy, Jake Ryan, which is a crush most high school girls experience. Except said crush will not show up at your sister’s wedding to take you away and celebrate your sixteenth birthday, since your entire family forgot about it. We may not know much about the 1980s, but in any generation, it seems very unlikely that a girl’s senior crush was in love with her the whole time.
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PASSING THE TORCH With senior leaders graduating, sports teams are left to select a new leader to put in charge.
consistently been a second family for many athletes. Now that the time has come for seniors to say their goodbyes, sports teams are left to choose a new leader to fill the shoes of the departing seniors for the upcoming seasons. “It’s going to be difficult leaving because I’ve been in the volleyball program for years,” senior
BY HANNAH CAHILL
After four years of living the crazy high school life and making friends as close as family, leaving can be tough. Throughout the years, sports teams have
volleyball player Steph Gaston said. Leaving is always hard, but having to leave behind friends and teammates is harder. “We’ve been through blood, sweat and tears together, and you can’t break a bond like that,” senior softball player Gabby Delos Reyes said. Though the transition
Courtney Wallace
is tough, knowing their respective teams will be left in good hands is soothing. “We will leave the team in great hands,” senior baseball player David Richardson said. “We have a very talented young group of guys that I think will be great leaders.” Three young leaders in particular will be leading the charge into the next
Caiden Hill
Courtney Wallace PHOTO: MEGAN HICKS
#12
#12 JUNIOR
JUNIOR
ON BASE PERCENTAGE: .750 BATTING AVERAGE: .510
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PHOTO: HANNAH MCQUISTIAN
ON BASE PERCENTAGE: .424 BATTING AVERAGE: .329
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volleyball, softball and baseball seasons without the assistance of the current senior leaders. “Courtney Wallace knows how to lead a team,” Delos Reyes said. “She is very good at motivating people both in good and bad situations and she keeps a cool head in times of adversity. Richardson had similar thoughts about junior Caiden Hill and mentioned that he “has baseball in his blood,” and that he is a “quality baseball player every game.” For volleyball, the successful team is left in the hands of six strong juniors led by Sydney Fitzgibbons. “Sydney works hard and invests a lot of emotion into the game,” Gaston said. “If we have a bad game, she does her best to fix it.” Though Fitzgibbons, Hill and Wallace all have great leading skills, the real test will come when their respective seasons roll
around. “The added pressure won’t affect Courtney because she was voted a captain this year, so she already knows the weight of the responsibility,” Delos Reyes said. Through all the pressure and adversity, the most important part of being a leader is making sure the team reaches their goals together. “Caiden keeps his mind right and never quits,” Richardson said. “His communication on the field is great and when the team is down, he is always there to pick them up.” With the help of new leadership and a strong team, volleyball, baseball and softball are looking forward to successful upcoming seasons. “They will go very far,” Gaston said. “I know they will be able to set higher goals and reach them as long as they continue to work hard and have fun.”
PHOTO: HANNAH MCQUISTIAN
Sydney Fitzgibbons #9
JUNIOR HITTING AVERAGE: .350 KILLS IN 2016: 109
(TOP LEFT) PHOTO: EMILY BORER Wallace congratulates her teammates after a successful play. The team handily beat Millard West to win their senior night game 8-0. (TOP RIGHT) PHOTO: SCHYLER CRUSE Hill gives senior Michael Ripa a high five. Hill helped his team to a 4-3 win against Millard West. (BOTTOM) PHOTO: AIDAN CHO Fitzgibbons and Gaston celebrate a win against Millard West. The volleyball team finished their season off 33-4.
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o t g n i t l u Va y r o t c i V N
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to look s r e t ul s le va ights thi n all o p s o e l Gir ew h y reflect them. n h reac n as the one for d o seas ent has v e the
E PAG
Eyeing the target, you begin to take your steps. Slowly you begin working up to a full sprint while carrying a twelve-foot pole and trying to stick it to the ground and launch yourself into the air, twisting and turning in hopes of getting every inch possible and clearing the height. This is not a small task, but pole vaulters take these steps head on in hopes of getting a new personal record and flying higher than they ever have. Senior Kaylin Murcek started vaulting before her freshman year, and she has come a long way since then. “The coaches were looking for people who wanted to try it,” Murcek said. “And I thought it looked fun.” Last year, Murcek was one of the best vaulters in Nebraska, placing second at state and advancing as high as 11 feet 3 inches. This year though, she looks to improve even more from her runner-up position. “I want to continue to PR [set
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a personal record], and possibly win state,” Murcek said. Murcek is well on her way to her goal of state as she has already matched her personal best from last year. Papio not only has one of the best vaulters in the state on their girls team in Murcek, they have two of the best in the state. Last year sophomore Jill Mathison cleared as high as 9 feet 10 inches, and placed ninth at state as a freshman, and this year she looks to go even higher. Aside from all the accolades, just like every other high school sport, it is really all about making friendships that will last a lifetime. “It has been really fun meeting new friends that I’ve gotten really close with,” Mathison said. “But I love getting to hang out with some of my favorite people every day and PRing with my friends around me.”
For Murcek, going into her senior year she is trying to make every memory count as they are slowly coming to end. “I am excited to spend the little time that I have left with my teammates and friends,” Murcek said. Hardships are also a big part of vaulting. There are so many things that come into play while flying through the air. “It is so easy to get frustrated because it is all mental and everyone has on and off days, and it is always one or the other,” Mathison said. “So it is hard to keep pushing yourself when you are having an off day.” The season will come with high points and low points, successes and failures, but these two girls look to fly high into the sky and hope to fall down on to the pad with hardware in their hands at the state tournament this year.
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How to Sophomore Tabitha Dendinger approaches the bar at the Dennis Smith Invite on April 21. PHOTO BY TARYN MOORE
1 The Run Up
get over
Sophomore Jill Mathison plants the pole and attempts to clear the bar at the Dennis Smith Invite on April 21. PHOTO BY TARYN MOORE
2
the bar
The Plant Senior Kaylin Murcek clears the bar at the Titan Classic on April 13. PHOTO BY HANNAH CAHILL
3 MAY 2017
The Swing
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Let’s get
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From tournament fishing to plain old fun, the PLHS fishing team gears up for yet another year of tight lines and bent rods. By Nate Gendler
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The Monarch Fishing Club had one of its first tournaments of 2017 at Lake Wanahoo. Sadly, the weather never let up and it proved to be a tough day of fishing. (Left) Freshman Joey Cordova withstands the rain and the wind to continue fishing throughout the tournament. (Right) Freshman Cole Klein looks to find a finesse bite during the rainy, cold weather.
Maybe it’s the peace and serenity of the water. Maybe it’s the thrill of setting the hook into a new personal best. Whatever it is, there is something about fishing. The Monarch Fishing Club, now in its second year, continues to epitomize the act of angling. Started last spring, the club has seen exponential growth in membership and tournament attendance. The students involved in the club have the unique opportunity to bond over a common activity and create teamwork that could someday be a force to be reckoned with in the Nebraska High School State Bass Tournament. The club looks to continue growing and eventually be able to compete in state-wide and even regional fishing events and tournaments. “As we keep going, more and more people keep joining,” junior
Nolan Anderson said. “Each new member is making the club better.” As new additions to the club continue to pour in, tactics and goals are brought in by each individual. “I consider largemouth bass to be my favorite species to fish,” Anderson said. “My goal is to catch a sixpounder this year.” For many students, largemouth bass are the prized possession. In the state of Nebraska, the record is 10 pounds and 11 ounces. Anywhere near that is a monster fish. “Along with largemouth, I love to fish for smallmouth bass,” freshman Cole Klein said. “My ultimate goal this year is to catch my personal best bass.” As the species of bass continues to excite, many of the Monarchs in the club are wondering if and how they can get to the Nebraska High School State Bass Tournament in July. “Absolutely,” Klein said. “I plan for our club to represent the Monarchs and attend the state tournament.”
As it seems reaching the pinnacle of Nebraska high school angling tournaments and reaching one’s personal best are frequent goals amongst the Monarch anglers, the only thing left to do is pick up a rod and fish, fish, fish. “I would love to fish in the state tournament,” freshman Joey Cordova said. “My vision for the club is that we will compete in actual state and district level tournaments.” With many goals set out for the Monarchs, one goal seems to be a common trend: the Monarch Fishing Club wants to not only be heard, but they want to make noise at the highest levels of competition. This spring, the club will continue to pursue their many goals through inter school style tournaments and individual tournaments within the club itself. With the schedule set and lines ready to be cast, all that is left to do is to get to it and get reel. PHOTOS: NATE GENDLER
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LONG-TERM
goals
Varsity girls soccer players are making commitments to colleges that could change the rest of their lives. BY BRENDON BOATWRIGHT
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PHOTO: MADYSON MATHISON Sophomore Sophia Bosiljevac chases a Millard North player, trying to win the ball back. She plays forward and is one of the leading goal scorers on the team.
Pouring heart and soul into what they do, athletes love competition. They enjoy being able to test their skills against others in order to better themselves so they can be the best. After high school, most athletes try to play at the highest level of competition they can. Division I is that highest level of competition, just short of professional athletics. On the girls varsity soccer team there are two Division I commits who plan to further their athletic careers in college. Sophomore Sam Marek and junior Lexi Kajdasz have decided to continue to compete after high school and play collegiately. “I’ve committed to play college soccer at the University of Missouri Kansas City,” Marek said. “I want to play college soccer because I enjoy
PHOTO: CORTNEY JOHNSON Sophomore Sam Marek challenges a Millard North player for a header. She is a returning varsity player and is a key player for the team.
the sport so much and I’ve invested a lot of time into it.” UMKC is located roughly three hours away, and Marek looks forward to competing in their Division I program. Kajdasz is also going to play in an elite soccer program by staying in Omaha, going to a college that is less than half an hour away from home. “I am committed to play soccer at UNO,” Kajdasz said. “I am so happy to be playing Division I soccer at UNO; it has always been a dream.” Although sophomore Sophia Bosiljevac has not yet committed to a school, she wishes to continue her soccer career by getting the opportunity to compete at the college level. There are many aspects of the game that drive her want to continue
on with the sport. “My favorite things about soccer would be scoring goals, seeing hard work pay off and making friends,” Bosiljevac said. “Playing at the highest level I can with my teammates through National League, [a club affiliated league that teams from all over the country compete in], has influenced my decision in wanting to play collegiately.” Each of these three girls may have their own reasons for continuing to play, but one thing is certain: they all have a passion and drive to compete while playing soccer. “My favorite thing about soccer would have to be that it is so competitive,” Kajdasz said. “You are constantly moving and never standing around.”
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T H A N K
Y THE SENIORS OF THE 2017 SCEPTER STAFF WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR STORIES.
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