Watch Fall 2015

Cover Page

Porter-Gaud School

Volume VI Issue I

Fall 2015

Matthew Key

Judah Ellison

Monica Nyland Austin Varner

Malone Vingi

Emily Symonds

Tillson Galloway

Alex Dodenhoff

William Chapman John Frye

Will Limehouse

Cinnie Saunders

Mr. Moore

Andre Hebra

Mr. Smith

Benjamin Joye

The watch magazine would like to give special thanks to those who helped out with this issue: Ms. Jane Settle, Ms. Caitlin Adelson, Ms. Jeannie Gleaton, Mr. Walker Bruce, Mr. Larry Salley, Ms. Anne Frazier, Ms. Tina Fox, Ms. Colleen Jones, Ms. Laura Foerster, Ms. Emmanuelle Greenwell, Ms. Joanna Reinhold, Ms. Samantha Fisk, Mr. Christopher Greenwell, Coleman Smith, Leslie Wade, Jessica Weitz, David Silliman, Beaumont Dixon, and Bailey Allen.

Table Of Contents 6

Charleston Unmasked: The Unveiling of our Holy City

8

Empty Refrigerator Paradox: Why More High Schoolers Need to Cook

11

Teacher Features: Featuring our New Teachers

14

Lost in Translation: International P-G Students Discuss Their Challengers

16

The Benchwarmer: The Unsung Heroes of Porter-Gaud Sports

18

The 99: Have Human Truckers Reached Their Final Destination?

20

Berned or Trumped: The State of the Union 2016

24

Spoonfed: How Much of your Opinion is Really your Opinion?

26

Privileged? Senior Privileges Under Construction

30

Drawing Conclusions: Student Art At P-G

35

A Tribute to Student Athletes David Silliman and Jessica Weitz

Judah Ellison John Frye Matthey Key, Monica Nyland, Will Limehouse, Judah Ellison, Malone Vingi, Austin Varner Austin Verner Malone Vingi Cinnie Saunders Alex Dodenhoff Emily Symonds Matthey Key & Monica Nyland Will Limehouse Monica Nyland

CHARLESTON UNMASKED

By Judah Ellison

The Unveiling of our Holy City to the World

The sun sets over the Charleston skyline, illuminating the church steeples and the Ashley River in a blend of breathtaking colors. The last barges exit the port, and we Charlestonians return to our homes, marking the end to an exhausting day. Meanwhile, tourists line the Battery to snap a picture of Fort Sumter as it slowly disappears into the brilliant golden array of clouds. Restaurants throughout Charleston open for prime-time dinner, and King Street swarms with bustling tourists swiveling their heads in search of where to begin. As native Charlestonians go to bed, commercial Charleston wakes up to accommodate the fastmoving, thick-accented newcomers. And despite all of the attention these tourists give our city, the majority of New Yorkers and Los Angelinos continue on their merry way in their super-cities, unaware of the gold mine nestled in the South.

Speaking to people who don’t live in the South, I am constantly baffled by their preconceptions of Charleston (assuming they’ve actually heard of it). Over the years, I have gone on numerous programs with people originating from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and many other large cities, and every year I am surprised to see the incredulous looks on their faces when they notice my lack of a straw hat or slow-asmolasses accent. From talking to these “city slickers,” I have discovered that many of them picture a Civil

War-era Charleston when they think of my home city. To add insult to injury, they also associate South Carolina with either an empty landscape or Myrtle Beach. The vibrant “Palmetto State” is most commonly compared to the likes of North Dakota and Montana—the backwaters of America. However, in five years or so, city-slickers from around the country might picture a very different Charleston.

The period I like to refer as “The Charleston Enlightenment” is already underway. As the traffic throughout Charleston demonstrates, people around the nation are beginning to open their eyes and see the light of this beautiful city.

Already, Charleston has been honored throughout the tourism industry. Travel + Leisure named Charleston as the 2015 Best City in the United States and Canada. In 2014, the readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted Charleston as the #1 City in the U.S. for the fourth consecutive year. Why the sudden illumination?

As the American population increases and increases, cities become larger and larger. New York skyscrapers grow taller, constructions projects replace city parks, and smog thickens over Los Angeles. With smartphones and tablets facilitating everyday activities, urban life accelerates at an unprecedented scale.

While new technology tends to lead people to adopt lazier habits, city dwellers certainly have drastically improved their speed walk in the never-ending rush to reach a destination. New Yorkers, Los Angelinos, and Chicagoans certainly don’t need to leave their home cities to find compelling attractions or distractions.

Instead, these city dwellers seek places away from the big city bustle to take a vacation. The commotion of big cities often emotionally drains its inhabitants. However, going from the center of the world to the middle of nowhere is too drastic a change for these city dwellers. Enter Charleston—a relaxed city with beautiful beaches, Southern charm, and amazing food. Charleston, to most big city residents, is, literally, a breath of fresh air. We may not have the best beaches, best museums, or best sports teams, but we do have a bit of everything.

It seems that only in Charleston can a family of history aficionados, food connoisseurs, and weekendwarriors get along perfectly fine. A visitor can spend the beginning of his day touring historical downtown and then spend the afternoon lounging at Folly Beach. And most importantly, visitors are greeted with Southern hospitality characteristic of one of Charleston’s greatest assets: Charlestonians themselves. Their friendly smiles and waves to strangers epitomize this laidback environment that is perfect for a vacation getaway.

To us Charlestonians, it may seem like a mystery that we should be voted as number one city in the U.S. over much bigger, better-known metropoli, but to the rest of the nation, Charleston is a refreshing destination that offers not only a coastal retreat, but also a landmark of historical significance.

It’s only a matter of time before the word spreads. Charleston can only win so many awards before it attracts attention. I’ll give it to the rest of the nation for holding back from this sinfully good city for so long (Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 U.S. city four years running, and still, we’re “the middle of nowhere!”).

Charleston is preparing for a major renovation: people are flocking to the “Holy City,” the traffic is already nearly unbearable, a new mayor, John Tecklenburg, is about to make his debut, businesses are building headquarters in the Charleston area, and the awards still continue to pile in. Once a major U.S. city, Charleston has nearly completed its comeback. Get ready nation! Charleston shall rise again!

Artwork by John Frye

The Empty Refrigerator Paradox Why More High schoolers Need to Cook

By John Frye

You crawl like a dog across the kitchen floor; the battle between you and a slightly famished first-world stomach takes its toll on your morale. “I just wanted to sleep, man!” you cry.

“But nay! Nay, I cannot. I’m…too…hungry…” In your final gasps for life, you reach for the refrigerator. But there’s nothing inside.

Or is there?

I’m sure we’ve all encountered the aforementioned situation. A quick glance into a refrigerator wrought with vegetables and various nutriments seems as annoying as hunger. Finding anything but microwaveable concoctions means, at least to an average high-schooler, that there’s “nothing in the fridge.”

Aside from offending the 17.5 million American families struggling to find food, the empty refrigerator paradox illuminates an unsettling trend among high school students: by the end of senior year, nearly 60 percent of us can’t cook even simple dishes. Yes, folks, that implies that the majority of high-schoolers in the country lack the health benefits, sustainability, independence, and sheer awesomeness of knowing how to cook.

Now, let’s assume that 60 percent club sacrifices the joys of cooking for convenience; they might choose to eat a nice guar-gum, sorbic acid, and grease burger. Oh yummy, gastric-irritating chemicals! Inarguably, choosing the fast food burger was, well, fast, but you could grill your own burgers that have 99 percent fewer chemicals and infinity-thousand percent more flavor.

Conversely, you could cook something less likely to give you a heart attack in general, à la a fajitas with lime and bell peppers. Statistically speaking, you can lift weights all you want, but a daily diet of meat-disks clad in bread will invariably strangle your arteries. But hey, to each his own; cooking anything yourself almost guarantees you’ll be eating meals easy on your digestive system and your conscience. The important thing is that having the ability to cook means having the ability to decide what goes into your food, which is almost impossible when eating anything pre-made.

Choices, like whether or not you would actually want to add a little dash of Cysteine-L to your burger, define the art of cooking for yourself. Deciding what you put in your tummy not only affects your bodily health, but also the well-being of the entire planet. That bargain bathtub-container of peas that you invariably bought at the supermarket? Guess what? It saves the environment! Forget logging companies; 80% of deforestation in the Amazon stems from raising cattle, which, when sprinkled with a pinch of magical Propylene Glycol, goes into the dreaded fast-food burger I spoke of! The fate of [insert picture of adorable tree sloth] rests in your hands!

All you have to do is cook things with responsible ingredients—responsible ingredients that you have no control over when buying fast food.

I’ll stress it again: in the world of cooking, it’s all about choices and control. Not only can you control the fate of your body and the world, but also how much control the world exerts over you. Case and point: the tire on your car blows. Do you let a ruptured piece of rubber hold you back from the freedom of the open road? Nay! You fix it, and you drive on. The same logic can be applied to food; do you want to be dependent on parents or a soulless restaurant chain? Although we might have 3D food-printers in the future, for the time being, our mortal hands—no, your mortal hands—must shape into existence what we consume.

And what do we consume? Now that is the question; or, more importantly, what can you consume once you possess the power of cooking? Perhaps something simple, something healthy, or something so eco-friendly that it makes sea turtles blush. My friends—my friends who now don an apron of independence and power as raw as kombucha—the possibilities are endless.

Do you want to bake a cake…Oh, sorry; I meant to say, A CAKE THAT CATCHES ON FIRE?! Is Grandma in the mood to force-feed you mundane baked goods? Say, “move over, Grams; we’re making lavender short bread cookies!” That’s right; lavender’s not for scented lotion—IT’S FOR COOKIES! Normal lay-person bread for a PB&J? PHILLISTINES! YOU CAN MAKE IT WITH FRENCH TOAST! And can you contextualize a banana in your head? CAN YOU?! Because that’s all you need to—Ba-Boom!—MAKE ICE CREAM! YOU CAN BAKE ANYTHING—ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING IN YOUR HEART’S DESIRE! CAN YOU FEEL THE POWER RUSHING THROUGH YOU?! YES! EVERYTHING IS EXCITING BECAUSE I’M USING ALL CAPS! So I hope my humble argument speaks for itself. Cooking isn’t just a way to fill your stomach; with its knowledge, you can cross-fit your way across the country, or save the planet, or just concoct a cake that you assure your family is perfectly safe to put a lighter to. Anyone can cook; if you have fifteen minutes and a recipe you can find online, you have a great place to start. Your mind and your palette will certainly thank you for breaking free of the chains of the dooméd 60 percent club.

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies with Extra LOVE! 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 2. Mash up half a banana with a spoon and, once nice and mushy, place in a mixing bowl. And then eat the other

half; there ain’t no ORT in this kitchen! Or you could just use the whole banana. What do I care? It’ll

probably make your cookies softer, or something like that 3. Put about a third cup of peanut butter in the bowl 4. Add a cup and a half of oats 5. A pinch of salt, baking soda, and baking powder for authenticity’s sake 6. Get about a teaspoon of vanilla in there 7. Add however much maple syrup or honey as your heart desires (I use about two spoonfuls) 8. Put some raisins in there in a half-hearted attempt at being healthy 9. The page just indented here and I can’t fix it 10.

Roll them cookies on a greased baking sheet 11.

Bake for twelve-ish minutes. Check them regularly, as they’re unrealistically easy to burn 12.

Eat! 13.

It was easy, wasn’t it?!

NeW Teacher Feature

The watch staff sought out each of the new teachers in the Upper School to discover who they are outside the classroom.

Mr. Christopher Greenwell History Teacher WATCHING: I watch very little TV. A Most Wanted Man, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last film, was bittersweet both for subject matter and for the last gesture of an extraordinary actor; I was pleasantly surprised by Interstellar, which I also thought was more than competent.

I am re-watching the new Cosmos series with Neil Degrasse Tyson—another reason to be thankful to Seth Macfarlane (of all people, he produced it).

READING: I read little during the school year—I have plenty to digest with my students’ essays. I recently worked through all of Kafka, which impressed me less than it should have. Favorite books— impossible to say. I have always loved: Brothers Karamazov (Dostoevsky), Mother Night (Vonnegut), Black Snow (Bulgakov), Bridge of San Luis Ray (Wilder), but to name them is to betray other dear favorites. I am a devoted consumer of poetry, to say nothing of the great religious texts and their commentaries.

FOOD: I put myself through graduate school here and in France as a sommelier/wine clerk. I taught myself to cook essentially to better understand wine. I do all of the cooking at home, mostly Southern American and French. However, I love to try to reproduce Indian dishes and I adore raw seafood (sashimi, tartare, ceviche).

What would you being on a deserted island?

The totality of Brahms string trios played by the Beaux Arts Trio (simple perfection, painfully so, for auditory consummation), my former beloved Ramirez guitar (far from perfection in my hands, painfully so, for aural humility), one of my Spyderco knives, the meditations of Marcus Aurelius (it contains most everything you will need which can be found in a book), Te Tao Ching of LaoTzu. I can always write in the sand and have it erased every high tide.

Ms. Samantha Fisk History Teacher WATCHING: I recently watched Interstellar and was intrigued by the manner in which the future and past were linked through the history of the Dust Bowl.

READING: I really enjoy reading historical fiction novels such as The Book Thief. I found it interesting how the narrator of this story saw everything in different colors, which got me interested in the history of color; particularly, what do different colors symbolize throughout history and why.

LISTENING: Currently my favorite podcasts are “Stuff You Missed In History Class” and “Radiolab.” These have such interesting insights and anecdotes on happenings throughout history.

TRAVELLING: I love to travel and explore the great outdoors! I enjoy hiking and taking road trips throughout the United States to visit different historical sites such as Mount Rushmore and Independence Hall. Some of the places I have travelled internationally are Tonga, Fiji, the French Marquesas, Tahiti, New Zealand, Austrailia, and Europe. Most recently, I traveled to Japan to visit Tokyo and Kyoto. It was absolutely breathtaking being surrounded by centuries of history in Kyoto.

One day, I would like to visit Machu Picchu. I would start my adventure by taking the Belmond Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu then hike back to Cusco.

Ms. Emmanuelle Greenwell Language Teacher WATCHING: I like TV and I love movies! I am a big fan of The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family. I truly enjoy the humor of these two shows. My husband and I also have a fairly big collection of DVDs. Meryl Streep is my favorite actress. I often watch TV5monde, the French channel available around the world. I do miss my country sometimes and like to keep in touch with what is happening.

FOLLOWING: I love tennis. I grew up watching Richard Gasquet (a professional tennis player who made it to the semifinals of the Mens’ Singles 2015 Wimbledon Championships) placed play against my brother and my friends. Therefore, I like to watch play on tv.

I also love rugby. My husband and I watch as many rugby games as we can. We do not always support the same team which makes it interesting!

I do not like the typical American sports like football, basketball and baseball. Honestly, I found them quite boring.

TRAVELLING: Growing up in France, I was lucky to visit a lot of countries. I used to spend a lot of time in Vigo, Spain, Florence, Italy and Kriens, Switzerland. I have also been to Germany, the Ivory Coast, Mauritius and Nepal. This past summer, my family and I visited the D-Day Memorial and walked on Omaha Beach.

We also had our two children baptized in the church where my all family has been baptized and married for the past 300 years.

HOBBIES: I spend a lot of time with my two children (Camille, 9, and Colin, 4) and my husband. We love to visit museums, take walks, go to the beach...

If not a teacher, what would I be? If I were not a teacher, I would probably be a Presbyterian minister.

I went to Seminary and truly enjoyed my four years there.

Ms. Colleen Jones Math Teacher WATCHING: Right now, my husband and I are addicted to Bloodline, but we’re only on Episode 8, so don’t spoil it for me. I can’t get enough of Project Runway, and now that I’ve finished grad school, I feel completely inspired to take sewing lessons. (Lesson 1: how to properly sew on a button.) But, back to TV, I also shamelessly watch some empty-minded reality TV like Ladies of London, and Southern Charm is the show I love to hate. That’s about it though besides DVR’ed episodes of The Tonight Show and The Late Show. Since I’m seven months pregnant, I have a hard time keeping my eyes open past 8:30pm, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for TV by the time I get my wild threeyear-old to sleep.

READING: I love to read. For a while, I was a self-proclaimed historical fiction junkie, but after reading Girl on a Train, Goodreads introduced me to Liane Moriarity. I read all her books this summer and needed more, so I perused Wesley Moore’s top-10-books-to-read-in-a-lifetime and am in the middle of the beginning of Infinite Jest. Due to the typical 9pm bedtime crash, it’ll take me a while to tackle this 1000-plus pager. I’d say the chance is strong to quite strong that I will still be reading it in May. FOLLOWING: Actually, I’m a pretty lazy social media user. Who has the time? I check CNN and weather.com in the morning, but that’s pretty much it. During football season, I do have to hear (against my will, mind you) about whatever Dabo is saying on TigerNet about Clemson football whenever I’m within earshot of my diehard, 4th generation Tiger husband. Does that count? Probably not. I went to Vanderbilt and could not care less. Ha!

Ms. Joanna Reinhold French Teacher

Ms. Laura Foerster Head of School Assistant

WATCHING: I don't have real TV, so I can't keep up with current shows like I would like to (such as New Girl and Big Bang Theory), but I have been watching Doctor Who on Netflix, which is amazing.

Brilliant writing that allows you to travel through time and space with the quirkiest of hosts. I have also been watching Columbo, which is a 70's TV show (though they are really mini movies) about a homicide detective for LAPD who investigates elaborate celebrity murders. It is a really interesting and well written show.

WATCHING: I am not a huge TV watcher but I adore Downton Abbey. I am always so sad when an episode ends and have often started the series over and watched each episode just to fill the huge void left when a season ends..... English country side, beautiful costumes, intelligent writing and just enough scandal to keep you on the edge of your seat!

I pretty much like to "binge watch" when I do watch TV and have recently started The West Wing from the very beginning. Fabulous! Of course I always watch Auburn football!

READING: I recently finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for the second time. That may be my favorite book, since that is when the series starts to get dark and twisted, but it also starts involving deeper and more adult themes while still following the lives of young adult witches and wizards. Order of the Phoenix is also the longest of the HP series, so there is more material packed into one book! I was reading two other books while I was reading Order of the Phoenix, which were The Unbearable Lightness of Being (for a serious read) and Let's Pretend this Never Happened (as a light, funny read). My puppy ate the endings to both books before I could finish, though, so I will be in the process of reading those for a while.

READING: I just finished A Spool Of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler. She is my absolute favorite author. Each of her novels is so funny yet poignant and touching. She creates the quirkiest characters that always remind me of someone I know well and love. I wonder about these characters long after I have read the last page. Next, I will read A Short Guide To The Happy Life by Anna Quindlen. She's another favorite author of mine.

FOLLOWING: The only thing I really follow on social media is Auburn football. I love to read the predictions each week and try to learn as much as I can about the players and the other team on Facebook. I check Twitter several times during every TRAVELLING: game to see what other fans think about awesome plays I have not been able to travel long distance for a while, but and, of course, really crummy plays bring the most tweets.

I definitely enjoy short trips to North Carolina. My favorite It is fun to read tweets from people that are actually in destination, however, would be Edinburgh, Scotland. I Jordan-Hare stadium (Auburn’s home field) since I can’t spent a semester abroad in London as well as plenty of be there. And I must be honest: while I know a gracious vacation time in the UK, but Edinburgh was my favorite plenty about football and understand most of it, I do check spot. I got to sit in the chair where J.K. Rowling started twitter from time to time if I don’t get some plays or calls! writing the Harry Potter series! Besides amazing HP finds, Edinburgh is a beautiful and small but lively city that I What would you bring on a deserted island? would love to go back and visit.

A beach chair. I'd love to be stranded on a deserted island!

Lost in Translation

International P-G students discuss their challenges and experiences with the English language.

By Austin Varner

“What’s up?”

It is a question that you probably asked or addressed even earlier today. Typically not meant in a literal way, the phrase probably seems like a fairly normal question to the many Americans who use it daily to jumpstart their correspondence.

To an international student, however, this question can be quite confusing.

As Ornella Ravo, a P-G senior and native French speaker from Belgium, shared recently, “Someone texted me, ‘What’s up,’ and I responded, ‘I’m fine, how are you?’” This is a classic example of how slang in the English language is often perplexing to others from abroad. Overall, English is a very easy language, international students tend to note, insisting that English is much easier than French or Arabic respectively.

Learning English, though, may be different than using it. Ravo told me that speaking was the most difficult part of English as speakers tend to enunciate each syllable more than the French do.

This linguistic element was quite foreign to her, the spoken nuances in each language triggering the exact meaning of each word; if words are not spoken with the stress on the correct syllables, they will be difficult to understand.

Cris Español

Cris Espanol, a visiting sophomore and international student from Oviedo, Spain, agrees, adding, “in English the words are much more specific.” Nour Bizri, a senior originally from Kuwait, shares this same opinion and even wishes that her native Arabic had more adjectives so that she and all other Arabic speakers could express themselves in more detail. Bizri describes reading as the hardest part of English for her because she often encounters challenging words, slowing down her reading. Overall, she prefers English to Arabic because English is more useful on a global scale, and she does not find it difficult to speak.

Furthermore, Bizri notes that idioms, metaphors, and similes are at times confusing because in Arabic there are no figures of speech; most sentences are literal, meaning exactly what they say.

For example, “It’s raining cats and dogs” may cause an Arabic speaker to imagine poodles and Calico cats falling from the sky. An interesting difference that Nour identifies is the ability to change nouns into verbs by adding an “–er” or an “–ing.” For example swimmer can be changed into swimming by dropping the “–er” ending and adding “–ing.” She explained that in Arabic a noun is always a noun, which goes for all other parts of speech. She also told me that there aren’t any endings for words (such as “–ed” or “–ing”) and that each individual word only has one form.

Penelope Matigot

Penelope Matigot, a junior from Lyon, and another French speaker, agreed that the syllables in English made some words difficult to say correctly, but she said that writing in English is the most difficult part of the language for her. This difficulty occurs because she has trouble forming grammatically correct sentences and finds that speaking grammatically is much easier than writing grammatically. Both Ravo and Matigot say that on average it takes them four or five days to write a paper in English, much longer than the two or three days it may take the rest of us. When asked whether they prefer speaking English or French, both native French speakers affirmed that they preferred the English language to French; in particular, they liked English’s massive number of modifiers; (in French, there are few descriptors). As a result, they also comment that English allows people to fully express themselves. For example, in French one could say “I’m having a good day,” but in English she would be able to describe her regard more accurately by degree, saying, “I’m having a terrific day.” Such a difference suggests that English allows for a greater freedom of expression than French, which may be viewed as a restricting language due to its lack of descriptive adjectives.

I found it most interesting that three of the four international students prefer English to their native language, and that they consider it not difficult to understand or express. As for slang and other colloquialisms, though, they may need more time and, frankly, patience. For certain, if you really want to know “What’s up?” in a language, nothing can substitute total immersion.

The Benchwarmer

The Unsung Heroes of Porter-Gaud Sports

By Malone Vingi Everybody knows the value that a superstar holds for a sports team. But what about the unsung heroes?

What about those players who never see the field, but without them, the team would crumble to pieces? What about the benchwarmers?

Benchwarmers are invaluable to any sports team, but this truism especially holds true here at Porter -Gaud due to the immeasurable contributions that our second-string players make through their uplifting attitudes and hard work ethic. They play an extremely important role as motivating, inspiring team leaders, despite the common misconception that they hold little pragmatic value to their team. In fact, the benchwarmer status instills a sense of belonging, and from its humble ranks arises some of our superstar Cyclone athletes.

Esteemed football players like Kicker Coleman Smith began their high school football careers as second-string players, but the moment their team needed them, they rose to the occasion and showed the world what they were truly capable of. Star second baseman Jack Ihrke came from similarly humble beginnings to make a great name for himself on the baseball diamond. These elite athletes have nothing but praise for our second-string competitors’ work ethics, determination, and competitive spirit. “They make us work harder, and they make our team better,” says Smith, who understands the importance benchwarmers hold on any team. Though fans may not realize it, benchwarmers play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the game. “Benchwarmers set the tone of the game. The mood of the dugout means so much to the team”, says Ihrke. “Once, when everyone was screaming and cheering in the dugout, we put up ten runs on a Clemson-bound pitcher, but then we have had games where nobody is really interested and the team plays really flat.” Clearly, even our most talented athletes recognize just how important benchwarmers are to their teams, whether they are encouraging starters with their hard work ethic, or changing a game’s environment with their enthusiasm. The reserve players on the baseball team are always on the rail of the dugout cheering and screaming, and this provides an extremely important component to our teams’ successes. When the players on the field find themselves in tense situations, the attitude of the dugout calms their nerves and allows them to make the necessary plays.

Even key contributors to the baseball team, such as John Jordan, understand how valuable a spirited bench can be. “It’s the little things in baseball that make a difference. Whenever I’m in the dugout, I do everything I can to pump up and support my teammates. I work as hard as I can and hope that my work on the field speaks for itself,” Jordan says. Lucius Harvin, a benchwarmer for the tennis team, exemplifies the motivational spirit inherent in all who contribute from the bench. “I have to be ready whenever Coach calls my name”, says Harvin, who is constantly praised by teammates and coaches for his team spirit and motivating work ethic. “I won the Coach’s Cup award last year when we won the state championship and have cheered on my team in every single match that they’ve played.” As a backup for the tennis team, Harvin also has to play the role of a coach. With six players playing on six different courts during a match, the head coach can only advise one player at a time, leaving Lucius to aid the rest of the team by providing key insights that they are unable to notice while on the court. Be it in tennis, baseball, or football, the second-stringers of Porter-Gaud define the spirit and motivation of our beloved teams.

At Porter-Gaud, we have reached new heights in many of our athletic programs, and it’s easy to relate our success to stars, but we can’t forget how monumental these benchwarmers’ efforts are. Porter-Gaud would never have attained its outstanding athletic reputation if it weren’t for our benchwarmers—our benchwarmers who constantly push starters to be their best selves, cheer on all of our teams, and sometimes make the leap from second-stringer to star player. It is time for us all to understand the importance of reserve players to the team and realize that without those benchwarmers, our Cyclone sports teams would never have achieved the elite status that we so proudly hold.

The 99

Have Human Truckers Reached Their Final Destination?

Illustration By Wesley Moore

By Cinnie Saunders If there was anything more satisfying as a kid than an obnoxious goose egg of a jawbreaker, it was having the inside scoop on the truck driver’s secret signal. I vividly remember the first time I was exposed to the phenomenon; my dad gave a clear demonstration of the L-shaped pull, with a timely response of a deep horn that I could’ve mistaken for the voice of God. Trucks, being 18-wheeled cargo ships that somehow manage to navigate themselves alongside the ants of the road, became an instant highlight of any car trip and scored major kudos from any squirts such as myself with a love for the open road.

I’ve always pondered the life of truck drivers and the faculty it would take to call your cubicle your home. For many, the job provides the means to pay bills, but for others, such as the couple Art Johnson and Amanda Jones, it provides the glue that bonds their relationship. The two had been seeing each other for a year when their low-paying jobs and living expenses became too big of a burden to

bear. Their struggle-- as is often the case -- led them to discover a new solution, an improvement to their previous situation. Art would drive the trucks, Amanda would accompany him, and the two would become the most brilliantly resourceful and adorable couple to ever hit the highway. 10 years later, the duo still continues their drive.

But for people who call truck driving their profession-- the profession with the greatest number of employees in America--a futuristic obstacle may apply the brakes. Last May, automotive manufacturer Daimler announced its creation of what is to be the first U.S. cleared, self-driving truck. The autonomous truck, by the name “Inspiration,” is completely sufficient in driving and programmed to essentially interact with the road. With the adjustment of speed, communication between other trucks, and efficiency in the conservation of fuel (i.e. more eco-friendly), the “Inspiration” seems to have a one up on the average human driver (whose error causes 90% of all car accidents, according to Stanford Law).

Though there are apparent pluses of the futuristic takeoff, unfavorable conditions confront certain civilians. As for the average citizen, the “Inspiration” will pose virtually zero threats to safety--that is unless we learn how to manipulate the technology. Steven Shladover of the University of California at Berkeley states, “There is a risk that drivers will become overly dependent on the system, or that drivers may try to cheat a little bit and try to use the system in situations in which it was not intended to be used.” It has been predicted that drivers will become accustomed to the automotive driving and begin to recognize patterns; essentially, the trucks have potential to be manipulated in their speed due to their major point in operation: recognition of the speed around them. It could become an ambiguous liability issue, one which even a robotic lawyer couldn’t defend.

The real concern, though, is for people such as Art and Amanda, who rely on machinery’s dependence to make ends meet. This job is quirky--it is either avoided or embraced. Those who drive the trucks may not have had it in their first grade career plan, but nonetheless, it is a profession that becomes almost sacrosanct to whomever decides to accept it. We will have to ask ourselves the question: Is it fair to eliminate America’s most popular profession over our desire for efficiency and evolution? Has our fascination with advancement overridden empathy? Do the savings that corporations reap by replacing drivers with automatons justify eliminating the nation’s number one means of employment? Do they best suit humanity? Have we become accustomed of passing the blame, and in turn, passing morality for technological process? Are the truck drivers of today the milkmen of tomorrow?

Berned or

The State of the

By Alex Dodenhoff

A look at future America u

Donald Trump: It is Inauguration Day, and Donald Trump takes his oath.

The American people are divided-some bewildered that a buffoon is ending our country, others glued to the TV as the Chief Justice inducts their hero into the highest position of their homeland. Meanwhile, the American Latino population dreads his voice; “A wall,” they whisper fearfully. They wonder what will happen to their cousins, their friends, and all those they know who live and work illegally in the United States. They know too well, however, the Texans and Arizonans who have long loathed the effects of an unprotected border that invites illegal immigrants, the criminal ranks of whom commit nearly (reported by US News) 9% of all documented murders and 30% of kidnappings in the U.S. The veterans smile from cheek to cheek as they await the sweeping changes Trump promises to deliver on improving their lives, such as improved hospitals. Business owners cast a sigh of relief, having* just dodged a fifteen dollar minimum wage proposal by Bernie Sanders. The rich share a similar sense of relief, as 90% of their income, which they figured would be absorbed by the Federal government under the Sanders administration, is theirs to keep. And the country feels comforted that the looming debt of our nation will for once be taken head on by one of the most powerful business leaders that the United States has ever produced. Let me make it perfectly clear—if Trump has not already—this country needs a strong leader to restore the American spirit of ingenuity, entrepreneurship, and individual rights—attributes Bernie will work hard to suppress. You must understand that Trump won’t necessarily make every American happy, but he will positively give each one a better life... Making America great again is not his

r Trumped

he Union 2016

a under these two possible presidents slogan because it’s catchy, but because he’s observant. Trump knows what America used to have: pride in its people—a pride which we now vilify.

Obama has created a class warfare by antagonizing the producers of our economy. Trump, on the other hand, is here to say that real change—the type of change Obama’s plan could never bring, like better lives for the lower and middle class—is really coming. Not every American may like him, but almost every American believes that the country where they live and work can and should be great again.

Bernie Sanders: It is Inauguration Day, and Bernie Sanders takes his oath.

The American people are divided—some bewildered that a buffoon is ending our country, others glued to the TV as the Chief Justice inducts their hero into the highest position of their homeland. Meanwhile, the American working class and business owners alike dread his voice; “90% tax” they whisper fearfully. They wonder what will happen to their coworkers, their employees, and all those they know who live and work in the United States. You get the picture. Our country under Bernie Sanders could scarcely be called America. Perhaps we could deem it a “bloated Denmark.” Whatever you may call the country under Sanders, you couldn’t claim that life remains the same. Bernie Sanders would spend his entire four—or, God forbid, eight—years in office trying to unravel the capitalistic framework that this country was built upon. What hasn’t already been destroyed by massive over-regulation and taxation straight from hell would only be accelerated into the infested depths of a socialist cesspool scattered with remnants of our once

great country. Bernie Sanders--and my stomach drops when I say this-has remarked time and time again that he wants to “take down the Billionaire Class.” Bernie, BACK UP! [Addressing Bernie here]: Are you aware that America has the single highest number of billionaires in the entire world with a total of 536? That number of people could fit on the Porter-Gaud Green! You are running a campaign on the pursuit of “taking down” the most productive people that this country has ever created! Other countries, such as China, have plenty of citizens, and so few of them are billionaires (not even half as many as us) because those countries do everything they can to stop people from succeeding. If China were to have the economic prosperity that the US holds, they would have 2,204 billionaires! But no, China takes away the prosperity of its citizens in much the same way Bernie would like to do here in America. So if Bernie wants to rid our country of poverty, why would he follow the examples set by countries like China where poverty is rampant because of socialist policies? Here’s a news flash, Mr. Sanders: when one person succeeds, other people succeed. We have a middle class in this country because the millionaires employ them, and we have millionaires in this country because billionaires make it possible.

• 1-5-10-15% income tax brackets • 0% Corporate Tax • legalize drugs, use revenue for education

Trump won’t necessarily make every American happy, but he will positively give each one a better life.

Bernie, oh Bernie, have you had the pleasure of shaking Bill Gates’ hand? Would you tell a man who has donated 30.2 billion dollars to help humans in need that he shouldn’t have had that money in the first place? Bernie, quick, grab your microphone and start bashing this man—he's a billionaire! And Mark Zuckerberg, who has given 991 million dollars to help education, while also establishing communication throughout the world like never before—bash him too! Let me make it perfectly clear, Bernie: Denmark won’t be producing a Mark Zuckerberg any time soon, because Denmark strips the power of the people, just like you would like to. Let Bernie govern Vermont, by all means, and let him ruin the lives of every citizen there (after all, they elected him), but do not let that man lead this country. After a day with Bernie at the head, your freedom would be jeopardized; after a full year, compromised; after a full term, vaporized.

So I offer a clear message to Bernie supporters: you are rooting for a man who doesn’t serve your best interests, but rather one who thinks your livelihood is at the will and mercy of the government. We are able to prosper in this country because of the great leaders who came before who let the people fulfill their capitalistic tendencies, and Bernie is threatening that destiny with every word he utters.

• 90% tax on income on highest earners • $15 Federal Minimum Wage • “Take down the billionaire class” After a day with Bernie at the head, your freedom would be jeopardized; after a full year, compromised; after a full term, vaporized.

How much of your opinion is really your opinion?

By Emily Symonds

Artwork by Leslie Wade

The television flickers and the sudden flashes of color throw shadows across the dimly lit room, which is empty apart from a single chair situated in the middle, the chair that you sit in now. The knowing tone of the news anchor’s voice echoes through the house as he informs the public of the latest poll results. A little voice in the back of your head warns you that what you are hearing is more than just the story, but you find yourself almost unconsciously agreeing with everything being said without even thinking about it for yourself.

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines news as “a report of recent events; material that is reported in a newspaper or news periodical or on a newscast.” This definition, while accurate, fails to capture one of the most significant aspects of news: bias. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines bias as “a tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others that usually results in treating some people unfairly.” Despite that most people prefer to think of themselves as unbiased, the reality is that bias is a part of human nature, especially when it comes to politics. Being opinionated is one of the greatest aspects of being human, but in order to be opinionated, you need to form those opinions for yourself—they can’t be handed to you. The media informs you of current events occurring in the world; however, the media also tells you how to interpret the facts given (if they can be considered facts—some are just opinions)—the news forces their opinions on you, not only the stories.

Bias is in every corner of the news. We most often see it in segments relating to politics because, let’s face it, nothing sparks a heated debate more than Hillary Clinton’s email. But the media can also influence us through things as simple as the title of an article. The article itself may be comprised purely of facts, but the title, the way the article is introduced, has an underlying tone that, while we may not fully realize it, impacts the way we digest the facts we are given. And then there are news segments driven primarily by opinion. Even though we are aware of the discoloration of facts, many of us gravitate towards segments that verify our own personal beliefs.

It is the media’s responsibility to serve as the intermediary between the source of information and us, the audience. But the reality is that when the information we receive has passed through a filter of bias, the opinions we form are merely extensions of a pre-existing belief. So how much of your opinion is actually yours? Have you ignored that little voice in the back of your head warning you to be somewhat skeptical? Have you based your opinion on biased information? Have you been spoon-fed?

By Monica Nyland & Matthew Key

Privileged?

Senior Privileges at P-G under construction

Two weeks after enduring our own Senior College night, a week after enjoying the experience of Senior Day of Caring, and two long years of managing a satisfactory GPA, it finally came down to just paperwork: chicken-scratch in the car-make and model section and my sorry-excusefor-a-signature scribbled on a thin black line on the bottom of the page, and I had completed the legality portion of one of the most anticipated events at Porter-Gaud. “This is it,” I said, as I swiveled my car keys on a finger and a ray of sunshine burst through the clouds--“I have senior privileges.”

Being granted senior privileges is perhaps the most legendary and anticipatory rite of passage for PorterGaud students. The thought of sleeping late, getting out early, and dining in the most cherished fast-food joints in town loom in the thoughts of every single high schooler’s head. The educational enrichment of the school is a priority, but there is something oddly alluring about the idea of guaranteed freedom.

As a freshman, a Porter-Gaud student gazes across the lawn at upperclassmen: intimidating, beautiful, almost flawless beings who float down the breezeway and up the S&T steps. They carry their styrofoam cups around, sunglasses atop their heads, enjoying an abridged version of a school day that is the height of luxury.

The excitement and caché of privileges, a near equality shown to adults, create a thirst that permeates the entire upper school experience.

I can see from an administrator’s point of view that the pros and cons are arguable. The idea of self autonomy has benefits and drawbacks -- allowing an outlet of much-needed responsibility, but at the cost of obvious safety risks in addition to a lack of senior leadership. On one hand, this allows for a chance to stretch our sheltered legs into understanding the limits of time and money. The “burden” (as many describe it) of rushing back to school with food in hand is a valuable experience that each and every student will have to master by the time she goes to college, so why not get a little practice in the meantime? Additionally, the ability to come and go as you please is a privilege, not a right; these privileges are earned and standards must be maintained for their practices to continue. Also, these privileges aren’t quite the wild epicurean adventures of legend, but rather they

are controlled and monitored heavily to ensure they are not abused. On the other hand, the downside of free periods and an open campus is costly.

In a world where safety -- especially in an educational environment -- is waning, it makes little sense to allow students to walk freely in and out as they please. Similarly, because the seniors set the emotional tone for the underclassmen, their frequent absences are noted and possibly leave a bitter impression on other students that the seniors are no longer part of the student body.

Yet, senior privileges survive.

I can vividly remember sensing the senior presence on campus of my freshman year. Seeing a senior around was like seeing a deer; oddly exciting, despite her constant moving presence on campus, shifting through free periods and cycling through the day. A group of ninth graders would huddle together walking past one, whispering about her red-carpet-ready makeup, or, perhaps, his perfectly quaffed hair. Obviously, these images shattered as soon as I became the senior. It looks different from the outside, but this year marked a shift in the experiences of not only our seniors, but every upper school student at Porter-Gaud. If I had not gotten to see those seniors in my earlier years, I would have felt even more disconnected from the concept of the upperclassmen.

The danger of disjointedness in our upper school community poses a social threat. Without older leaders, underclassmen lose the opportunity to forge meaningful relationships with older versions of themselves to aspire to and admire. Seniors must balance the desire for freedom, the responsibility for setting the right example for their younger counterparts, as well as the inherent stress and excitement of their final year in high school.

Most juniors this year are very focused on this development as well. The enigma of privileges this year, a bit touch-and-go first semester with the prospect of more or less autonomy second semester, applies to them as they stare longingly at the finish line labeled “senior year” looming ahead (a total misconception, I might add -- senior year, for some, is just as much work and arguably more stressful). I think the best advice for underclassmen is to reconfigure the impossible-to-fulfill hopes for senior privileges. They are, at all times, earned; something is better than nothing. The reality of our generation is a state of waning safety. Schools have far more to worry about than just our “rightful” privileges to go out to lunch. Insurance, legality, and far more responsibility than students can comprehend complicate the situation. The issue is inexorably convoluted, much to the disappointment of omniscient teens who have built up a surprise for four years.

How do you think seniors are doing?

I think y’all are doing fabulously, students are on time -- I am proud of you. You guys have done a great job from my perspective. We trust you; I trust you. I think Ms. Anne Frazier, what teachers find so frustrating is senior attendance, because you guys add so much to class and campus.

Dean of Students We don’t want there to be a drop off when students get into college because there’s so much here, even up until the day you walk across that stage. There tends to be a lack of focus towards the end, understandably, because you’re developmentally and mentally ready for the next stage. Naturally, you’re supposed to crave more freedom.

How do you think privileges will change in the future?

I don’t know. I personally think seniors do need ways to begin to practice more independence, more freedom, and more responsibility for next year. This class has done a good job managing that level of responsibility. It’s tough. I can’t speak for the faculty, but I know they like when seniors are on campus. The Senior Leadership Council was pivotal in making privileges happen. The rollout was different, more gradual, and I know that was more controversial. The school wants to see how seniors will handle this new, sudden freedom.

What about the safety side of this issue?

Some people definitely push the safety issue. When we let seniors go, if something happens, we can’t account for them. We trust they’re at Chick-fil-A -- please let them be at Chick-fil-A like they said they were! Parents trust us with your lives for eight hours a day. It’s a lot of trust… but you guys deserve it. The liability issues are hard to see from the other side, but they’re real.

Beaumont Dixon, Senior How do you feel about senior privileges?

I think senior privileges were not given out fairly as the administration judged our class based on last year’s seniors’ behavior. I wish we were allowed to leave whenever we had a free period.

Were you excited to get privileges?

I was really excited for senior privileges, and I love going home early and sleeping in. I hope we get to dress down after spring break, too.

How do you think the class is doing with privileges?

I think everyone is treating them correctly and only leaving at appropriate times. One thing I do wish they could do is let seniors wear college sweatshirts for the schools we are accepted to.

What is your favorite aspect of senior privileges?

Definitely, late-ins and early-outs. There’s something special about that extra 45 minutes of sleep in the morning...

Where are your go-to spots for lunch with privileges?

“Chick-fil-A” is one of my personal favorites. I mean, who can go wrong there? But besides that, I’m open to eating anywhere else my friends want to go. I’m just glad we get to go out for lunch every once in a while.

What did you imagine senior privileges would be throughout your time in high school, and did this year’s privileges meet your expectations?

Coming into senior year, I thought privileges would be the same as they always were. Even as a freshmen, I always dreamed of the day that I could come and go as I pleased. While they don’t exactly work like that, I am still glad with how they have operated this year.

Bailey Allen, Senior

How have senior privileges gone so far? And how will they go in the future?

So far, they have gone well, I think. They will continue to go the same in the future.

How do you respond to some people’s doubts about privileges (safety, lack of seniors on campus, etc.)?

I do agree that this is an issue that certainly should be considered. In fact, it was a major topic of discussion in our Senior Leadership Council meeting when we were deciding on how to administer privileges earlier this year.

However, we are seniors -- we should be responsible enough to handle the safety aspect of it. The lack of seniors on the campus is an issue that cannot be solved by taking away privileges, nor do I think a few seniors missing here or there will affect the aura of the student body.

What is your favorite thing about privileges thus far? And what is your go-to lunch spot?

“Five Guys.” Hands down. But honestly, I love to go to “Barberitos,” and especially “Bojangles.” “Bojangles” might even top “Five Guys.”

Ms. Tina Fox, Math Teacher

How do you feel about senior privileges?

I like that seniors are allowed to experience a bit more freedom in their senior year. Over the past few years, I thought the privileges had become a bit excessive, and I missed seeing the seniors on campus. I think the privileges we have this year are a good compromise. The seniors are still on campus most days, but they can plan ahead and take some time off campus to meet their friends for lunch on others.

How do you feel this class has done with them?

I only have two sections of seniors, but from what I have seen, they have fulfilled their responsibilities. I haven’t had the same issues with seniors coming late either to class after a free period or to class after lunch that I had in the past. I’m proud of the grace that this class has displayed regarding the modifications to senior privileges.

In the end, the issue is more complex than most students realize. With security and liability issues afoot, administrators must be wary of privileges and all they entail. Undeniably, the cache of seniority will never die -- it will simply be addressed realistically through the push and pull of desires and responsibilities shared by both faculty and pupils.

DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

By Will Limehouse

You may see a poster they’ve created, or painting that catches your eye in the hallway. There are plenty of artists of Porter-Gaud, but their work is mostly under the radar. Unlike the stars of the stage or the field, the brightest spotlight that shines for the painters and artists is the fluorescent glow of the S&T Hallway or natural lighting of the Gwynette Lobby. Yet, when you stop to truly appreciate their work, you realize how much time and effort goes into it from the artist. I decided to sit down with only a few of our bright artistic minds to discuss their process, inspiration, influences, and aspirations.

Featured Artist: Brian Garcia

Medium: Spray Paint Inspiration: Nature is the biggest thing that inspires me. I usually go outside when I spray paint and just sitting down for a couple minutes makes my brain start working.

General Mood of your art: Cheerful, everything has vibrant colors to it. I don’t like to do anything dull. It just brings down the artwork.

How would you describe the general artistic feeling of Porter-Gaud?

It’s an artistic place in general. It’s a good place for people to not only learn, but also expand their artistic abilities.

Why do you make art?

I have a very creative personality. I enjoy the little things in life. I know this is a technological age, but since I wasn’t exposed to it as much as others I’ve learned to experience nature. I wasn’t born in the US, and so my family isn’t very accustomed to technology. I had been begging for an iPhone, now that I have one I’ve been stuck to it. I want to share my creativity with other people. It makes me happy to see other people happy.

When did you realize you wanted to be an artist?

At first it was slow, at first I would get really frustrated. Once I started seeing the change and improvement, I really like it. It felt good to put my emotions on a piece of paper.

Any plans for future?

I don’t have any plans. I don’t know if I’ll be famous one day. But as I said before, I simply want to get better, just so I can prove to myself that I’m a really good artist.

Maggie Berlin Other sources of inspiration: I love the simplicity of the Native American life style, so I tried to capture that in most of my pieces.

Style: I try to be as realistic as I can but also try to make sure that the medium has its own specific characteristics.

Favorite Subjects to portray: Native Americans and wildlife.

General Mood of your Art: Passionate Predictions for art as a whole: It’s the best form of self-expression out there.

If your art was a genre of music, which genre would it be?

Alternative due to the fact that the art has its roots in something very realistic and moving like rock music and is twisted into something even better.

How would you describe the current zeitgeist of PG? A collective effort to change the status quo of the average high school student.

Why do you make art?

Art is a great getaway from the monotonous school routine, going from class to class. It’s a place to take a break from the books, let loose and have fun. And, of course, Mrs. Gleaton’s endless hilarious stories… priceless.

What’s your end goal for your art?

I hope to eventually apply art in my career and continue to get better and learn.

When did you realize you wanted to be an artist?

Around 1st grade, when I no longer wanted to hang out with the smelly boys at recess, and had a lot more fun drawing and reading about famous artists.

Artwork by: Maggie Berlin

Cinnie Saunders Medium: Color pencil, acrylic, anything else that looks fun and cool.

Artistic Influences: Richard Coleman, Salvador Dali, New Orleans Guy, Shepard Fairey Other sources of inspiration: When I start a piece, I always take inspiration from something that I found recently and like. That could be anywhere from a song style to a color palate, but it will pull me in a ton of different directions and that’s when I tend to come up with stuff. It has to be something cool and interesting or else I’ll get bored.

Style: Either super detailed or really interpretive. I’m better with certain mediums and more expressive in others, so there won’t really ever be a true consistency. Ultimately, I feel like it always somehow pulls back to early hip-hop, social commentary stuff.

Favorite Subjects to portray: I love people. The shadows within the face, next to highlights are my favorite thing to capture, and it looks really elaborate through all mediums. The same goes for portraying glass.

General Mood of your art: Something that makes you want to chew bubblegum and tie your shoe laces loose.

Predictions for art as a whole: I want to continue to do it forever because I love it so much and it’s so much fun. Art is always interesting, always different, and always expressive of something whether it’s social trends, nostalgia, or even expression of talent. I don’t ever want to stop doing art, drawing, listening to music, writing, or watching movies. I really want art to lead whatever I do and however I do it.

If your art was a movie/tv show, which would it be?

Definitely any 90’s typical sitcom be it Fresh Prince, Everybody Hates Chris, or maybe even like Rick and Morty.

If your art was a genre of music, which genre would it be?: Without a doubt old school hip-hop meets 60s-70’s rock at a basement party with mixtapes and bowls of cheetos.

How would you describe the current zeitgeist of PG?: I don’t know but I tend to see a lot of jungle animals, ballerinas, and architecture.

When did you realize you wanted to be an artist? When the crayons were breaking too quickly at the dinner table.

A Tribute to Student Athletes David Silliman and Jessica Weitz

Jessica Weitz Jessica graduates as the most decorated female swimmer in PG history. She holds five school records, including legs on all three relays and also individual records in the 100 free and 100 back.

She has been back-to-back SCISA state champ in both of her individual events, and this year at state, she set state records in both, as well as a new state record in the 200 medley relay.

Congratulations to Jessica for signing to Tulane University!

David Silliman In terms of actual sports highlights, David plays defense, so he has accumulated fewer stats than if he was a guy scoring touchdowns. He led our football team in sacks this year, and he had two fumble recoveries in our playoff game vs. Laurence Manning.

Congratulations to David for signing to Hampden-Sydney College!

CONGRATULATIONS FROM PG

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