PROSPECTIVE Bryant High School
801 N Reynolds Rd. Bryant, Ark. 72022
Vol. 26, Issue 6
May 4, 2018
DROWNING
in
DEBT
The cost of a college education leaves many wondering how they can pay for it and if it’s even worth taking on the debt. From finding the right college or career to figuring out how to move on from high school, students are under a lot of stress. page 3
WOMEN OF ATHENA Athena empowers girls in Engineering M MONICA MARTINEZ | COLUMNIST
embers of the all-female A t h e n a r o b o t i c s team are participating in the VEX Robotics “#girlpower” initiative to encourage female students to participate in the engineering field by building their own robots and collaborating as a single entity. “Being on an all-girls team is a life-changing experience,” freshman Faith Wolf said. “It’s also difficult because we have to [deal with] the
way we’re perceived and how to communicate.” Sophomore Kayla Vaughan realizes that in order for the Athena team to succeed, members have to surpass the competition between other HEAT teams and the club members’ own doubts about the team’s ability to succeed. “Most of our male team members don’t see us being able to compete on the level that they can,” Vaughan said. “We’re made fun of, but that doesn’t stop us. The most important part
of being on an all-girls team is being able to stand up for ourselves.” Freshman Haley Maxwell sees the Athena team as an opportunity to be respected for her success. “I sometimes get looked down on for being a female freshman in HEAT,” Maxwell said. “But when people know I’m on the Athena team, it brings [my reputation back] up.” Vaughan acknowledges that the opportunities and recognition that come with being a part of a successful female robotics team also comes
with getting used to being a minority. “I’m the only female officer for the program and the head of the girls’ robotics team,” Vaughan said. “It gives me a lot of pressure and expectations to do great.” Despite the doubt they receive and the pressure they are constantly under, Wolf knows the team is capable of achieving the level of success of the other robotics teams. “We may be an all-girls team, but we make it happen,” Wolf said.
Sophomore Kayla Vaughan is the only female officer for HEAT and leads the Athena team. “Most of our male team members don’t see us being able to compete on the level that they can,” Vaughan said.
PROM ROYALTY Seniors crowned king and queen April 28 COLE CAMPBELL | STAFF WRITER
DAWSON OAKLEY
“When we walked in, I got a call, and they told me to stay until king and queen was announced, so I kind of had an idea that we may have been winning it. I was just excited for
INSIDE
FLORA NOBLE
[Flora] because I know she thought it wasn’t a big deal, but she is really deserving and I was just thankful things worked out so we could both be on the stage together.”
News Special Coverage Arts & Entertainment Feature Opinion Photo Essay Sports
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“I didn’t think we’d get [king and queen] at all, because there were so many people on the ballot. I really just didn’t want to be in front of all those people, so when we were supposed to dance, we just got off stage, and they made us dance to the side,
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES GO FOR GOLD page 2
“AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR” HITS THEATERS page 4
CLAY FAMILY REVEALS THEIR LOVE FOR THEATER page 5
but we didn’t even dance to the whole song. Dawson even got a call [earlier in the night] telling us to stick around, and I really wanted to leave because I didn’t want to have to go on stage, but then he made me do it anyway, and I’m glad I did.”
SOFTBALL TEAM REMAINS AT TOP OF THEIR CONFERENCE page 8
PROSPECTIVE News May 04, 2018
2 Taking a photo with sophomore McClinton Bush during the Special Olympics Fri. April 27, sophomore Libby Majors smiles. Majors helped Bauxite athletes during the events. “We were chilling with the Bauxite group, and I look over and see [Bush] breaking it down,” Majors said. “I walked over and I had to get a picture with him, because McClinton [is] the coolest person ever.” Photo | Savannah Ray
ROSEMARY GREGG | STAFF WRITER
FORMING SPECIAL BONDS
Area 10 Special Olympics held at Hornet Stadium
A
rea 10 student athletes spent months preparing for the Track and Field events at Special Olympics Apr. 27. Partner’s Club and Best Buddies members volunteered to help sponsor Carolyn Hays, who is the main Community-Based Instruction teacher at Bryant High School. Partner’s Club and Best Buddies member junior Jenna Vos began helping out with Special Olympics in 9th grade “Partner’s Club and Best Buddies have enabled me to create friendships that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to,” Vos said. “I want to turn inclusion into acceptance not only at our school, but also around the world.” Through her involvement in clubs, Vos met sophomore Jailyn Strickland. “[Jailyn] is always super excited about practicing for track and field,” Vos said.. “She’s always there to help and motivate me and keep a smile on my face.” According to Vos, it’s been rewarding to be a part of something with such a vital purpose.
“I just want to encourage everyone to get as involved as they can, because [Partners Club and Best Buddies] will change your life,” Vos said. This year, Bryant is a National Banner School, meaning that they have been very involved with Special Olympics by spending quality time with the athletes. Vice President of Partner’s Club junior Bailey Cunningham has been helping out with Special Olympics since her sophomore year. “Through Special Olympics, you make bonds with people even though you only see them three times a year,” Cunningham said. “You build these lifelong bonds, and it feels like you’ve been hanging out with them the whole time.” Over the summer, Cunningham became friends with Special Olympics athlete Josh Turner because she was coaching his team on powerlifting, swimming, softball, basketball and track and field. “We have a great bond where I get to see him and hug him, and he shows me all of these cool tattoos, and [we] can catch up,” Cunningham said.
Partner’s Club president senior Taylor Wilson works closely with Special Olympics Arkansas (SOAR) sponsors. “Preparation for Special Olympics, [involves] a lot of finding volunteers,” Wilson said. “Our big [focus] this year was giving people opportunities to volunteer.” In order for volunteers of Partner’s Club to be able to participate in Special Olympics, they must attend at least three meetings and an event. “[I think people need to understand] how much joy it brings the athletes to be able to participate and feel encouraged and loved by others,” Wilson said. “It’s an accomplishment for them whenever they’re able to cross the finish line with everyone cheering them on.” Sophomore McClinton Bush has been competing in Special Olympics since 2014. He competes in different sports throughout the year other than just Area 10 track and field. “Every time we do Special Olympics, our school is on [the news] about it, and they post things on the internet about
Area 10 Special Olympics,” Bush said. “That’s what I really like.” This year, Bush competed in the relay race, long jump and the 100-meter dash. “I’m real excited for the long jump, because I can run really fast and jump really far,” Bush said. “I did the shot put last year, and I got a gold medal for that one, so this year I thought I might change it up a bit.” Bush’s favorite part about Special Olympics is having his fans cheer him on from the stands. “[Special Olympics] is the time when my grandparents come out and support me,” Bush said. “I get to introduce my friends to my grandparents.” First through fifth place winners for each event are rewarded with medals. “Last year, I got nine medals, so this year I’m gonna get 12,” Bush said. “When I’m running down that line on the track, I get an adrenaline rush. I just feel like running and running without stopping.” Sophomore Special Olympics athlete Jordan Hall competed in the relay race, long jump
HAVING A BALL MADISON WALTZ | STAFF WRITER
and the 100-meter, as track and field is his favorite sport. “I’m honestly the kind of kid that likes running,” Hall said. “When I go to lunch, I usually run. At home, I’d rather run on my feet than on my scooter.” Hall trained at home for Special Olympics. He’s been doing Area 10 Special Olympics ever since his eighth grade year. “I usually work out my leg muscles and arm muscles,that way I can be quicker when I run,” Hall said. “My mom comes and cheers me on the whole time. I like everyone cheering for us.” Special Olympics senior athlete Tara Ricardo competes in the 15-meter run each year. “It’s really fun,” Ricardo said. “It makes me really happy when my [parents] come and watch me.” While Ricardo only participates in Area 10 Special Olympics, she “loves meeting new people.” “I’m really sad that it is my last year,” Ricardo said. “It’s not about winning, it’s all about having fun with the people that you are with. I’m very thankful and happy to be a part of Special Olympics and I’m happy to be a Bryant athlete.”
JROTC Military Ball attendees pass on traditions
T
he annual Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC) military ball was held in the Bryant Middle School gym April 14, and has been something on all of the cadets’ minds for the past six years. With dancing, national awards and even a makeshift grog bowl, the ball is held dearly to students in the program. Planning the ball was put into the willing hands of sophomores Bailey Casteel and Caitlyn Guthrie. The two volunteered to be chairmen with no idea of the challenges they would face. “Military Ball was one true challenge,” Casteel said. “Me and Caitlyn had about six weeks to plan the whole thing. We started later than we intended, but it all came together eventually.”
The ball went off without a hitch, but getting there was difficult. Casteel said that the school would not provide the program with the tables they wanted, so they had to rely on First United Methodist Church of Bryant across the street. There was also an issue of readjusting--previous balls were not held in the BMS gym, so the pair of planners had to work around that. “One main hardship was drama,” Guthrie said. “People didn’t like how Bailey and I were running things and that we were even in charge. A smaller hardship would probably be trying to find everything we needed in such a short amount of time.” According to sophomore Deedra Rua, the ball was an “emotional rollercoaster” because of the departure of senior leadership.
“There was a lot of crying after our commander stepped down,” Rua said. “After we took pictures and calmed down, we all danced together and the sad wave left.” The Change of Command ceremony is a tradition that has been upheld for the past six years, since the start of the military ball. Though a student-run program, ROTC has a ranking system like a normal military branch. Every year, the Cadet Core Commander and Deputy Core Commander, the two highest ranking cadets, formally step down for the next commanders to take their place. Though the ceremony is emotional, there are other traditions that are not as serious. “Another tradition we have is a grog bowl,” Rua said. “It’s when
you make this really gross punch, and we create rules, when a rule is broken you must take a drink from it. Originally, it’s a punch bowl mixed with a bunch of different alcohols, but we are underage, so we mix a lot of different things into it to make it disgusting.” The process of planning such a big event took a lot longer than Casteel and Guthrie expected and has taught them how much work goes into planning such a special event for the ROTC program. “I learned that there is a lot more work behind the scenes than what there seems to be, and to appreciate these events more,” Guthrie said. “I would definitely do [the planning] all over again next year if I could.” Guthrie said that her partnership with Casteel worked
surprisingly well. The two spent time together planning and getting to know each other. “We listened to music while going through our checklist and getting our things done,” Guthrie said. “We went shopping together and had some fun times. She came over to my house the night before and we got all of our projects finished. We went shopping the day of [the ball] for last-minute items and then went to my house and got our stress out with some ‘Rock Band.’” Guthrie said that she loves making new friends and that “it’s always great to have people around you that you can trust.” “Before military ball, we couldn’t even have one conversation without arguing, and now we’re best friends,” Guthrie said. “It was a huge bonding experience.”
CURRENT CANDIDATES
CHRIS MORGAN | STAFF WRITER Voters from around the state will head to their barrier to overcome for those designated polling sites May 22 and decide hunting for a political office. who will be added to the official November Here are the candidates: ballot. The primary elections are the first big
Arkansas Governor REPUBLICAN Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Jan Morgan DEMOCRATIC Jared Henderson and Leticia Sanders
Attorney General REPUBLICAN Attorney General Leslie Rutledge DEMOCRATIC Mike Lee
Public Land Commissioner REPUBLICAN Tommy Land DEMOCRATIC Larry Williams
State Auditor REPUBLICAN State Auditor Andre Lee is running unopposed.
State Lieutenant Governor REPUBLICAN Lt. Gov Tim Griffin DEMOCRATIC Anthony Bland
Secretary of State REPUBLICAN State Representative Trevor Drown and Commissioner of State Lands John Thurston
Treasurer REPUBLICAN Treasurer Dennis Milligan is running unopposed. DEMOCRATIC Susan Inman
U.S. House of Representatives REPUBLICAN Rep. French Hill DEMOCRATIC Gwen Combs, Jonathan Dunkley, Paul Spencer and Clarke Tucker
For the Arkansas State Senate, the areas of Bryant School District are represented by Senate districts 30, 31 and 33.
In the State House of Representatives, those living within the Bryant School District are represented by districts 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31.
District 30
District 27
DEMOCRATIC Current Representative Linda Chesterfield and James Pendleton
District 31 DEMOCRAT Current representative Joyce Elliot
District 33 REPUBLICAN Melissa Fults and Kim Hammer
REPUBLICAN Julie Mayberry is running unopposed
District 28 REPUBLICAN Jasen Kelly and Kerry Murphy DEMOCRATIC Dustin Parson
District 29 DEMOCRAT Current represenative Frederic Love
District 30 DEMOCRATIC Current representative Fred Allen INDEPENDENT Mitchell Fenton
District 31 REPUBLICAN Current representative Andy Davis DEMOCRAT Randy Haun
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PRINT EDITORS | SARAH GRAHAM AND LAUREN WILSON
Students have heard about the importance of college in getting a job since elementary school. It’s often advertised as an immediate next step after graduation. But it really is not until junior or senior year that the cost of college becomes more tangible and then more intimidating. According to Pew
Research, Americans owed more than 1.3 trillion dollars in student loans in June 2017, an average of $37,000, more than two and a half times what they owed a decade earlier. In 1980, the average cost of tuition, room and board and fees at a four-year college was $9,438, according to the Department of
Education. That number has since climbed to $23,872, which is a 213 percent increase when adjusted for inflation. The Washington Post believes that this is caused in part by students taking on most of the costs instead of state governments. College enrollment in 1980 was measured at 53% of graduating
seniors, while in 2012 it was estimated to be at around 94%. The growth of college enrollment also contributes to the hike in prices. The One Wisconsin Institute found that while most graduating college seniors are put on a 10-year track to pay off their debts, it usually takes more toward 20 to fully become debt-free.
WHAT YOU NEEDTO
KNOW
ABOUT
LOANS
1. Payments are the same each month. go toward interest before 2. Payments they start paying off the initial loan. loan interest is compounded daily which means that the interest rate is divided 3. Student by the number of days in the year and you
This figure does not account for students who drop out, who must pay off their loans without the higher-paying jobs that often come with a college degree. Students who wish to pursue higher education should not be burdened with debt. College should be a time to explore likes and dislikes, to better yourself
through learning and developing educated opinions.. It’s a stepping stone after high school to become more independent and learn. But the U.S. must find a way to balance the price of higher education to match its tremendous value to its citizens and the country as a whole.
“
We need to make college affordable in price, and also have lower-cost student loans and more available grants for students.
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow
are charged each day on the remaining debt balance.
you pay off your loans, your balance and the will drop. With lower interest charges, 4.Asinterest more of your money is applied to the original amount borrowed. Over time, the interest paid will decline and speeds up the time needed to pay the original loan.
JAKE FORST | 12
“I plan to apply for scholarships in order to cut down on the amount of debt i may end up with. I decided Lousiana Technical University was the school for me because of their architecture program. Also, becauseI would graduate with a masters degree in the same amount of time as a bachelors degree in other schools. I’m excited to experience life and whatever the future holds.”
AMBER BROADHURST | 12
“I decided to go to the University of Memphis. They had a lot more opportunities in biomedical research than the schools in Arkansas. They were also a lot cheaper. I don’t think I’ll leave college with as much debt than if I had gone to [the University of Arkansas]. I was going to have to pay $20,000 if I went to Fayetteville and $8,000 if I go to Memphis. It’s [due to] both the scholarships and price that made it cheaper.”
CAREERS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A DEGREE:
JULIA KOVAROVIC | 12 “[I’m going to Baylor University and] it’s $65,000 a year to go there, and I’ve got it down to $27,000 a year in scholarships. The first two years, my biological father [Mike’s] GI bill is covering it, and during that, my mom and Mike are taking my child support and putting it in an account for years three and four. I should walk out debt-free. I decided on Baylor for multiple reasons. Definitely because of the Christian education--that is really important to me. Also, because the ties they have to the foreign service.”
Source: USNews.com
NUCLEAR MEDICINE TECHNOLOGIST MEDIAN SALARY:$75,350 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 2.1% EXPECTED NEW JOB OPENINGS BY 2026: 2,000
PARALEGAL
HEARING AID SPECIALIST
MEDIAN SALARY:$49,500 MEDIAN SALARY:$50,250 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 1.9% EXPECTED NEW JOB OPENINGS BY 2026: 41,800
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 2% EXPECTED NEW JOB OPENINGS BY 2026: 1,300
OPTICIAN MEDIAN SALARY:$35,530 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 1.8% EXPECTED NEW JOB OPENINGS BY 2026: 11,600
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT REPAIRER MEDIAN SALARY:$48,070 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 1% EXPECTED NEW JOB OPENINGS BY 2026: 2,000
PROSPECTIVE Special Coverage May 04, 2018
THE COST OF COLLEGE
PROSPECTIVE A&E May 04, 2018
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ABBY HAGNER | COLUMN EDITOR
CREATING FAIRYTALES T
he lights dim, the soundtrack plays and the spotlight is turned on. The Stage Management class performed “Cinderella” for their spring play at local elementary and middle schools the week of April 23-24. The play was directed by seniors Michael Fuhrman and Carlee Hutchins and demonstrated their hard work, dedication and true love for the arts. I attended the night show at Bryant Middle School for students and family members. The show opened with junior Ryan McKenzie, “The Herald,” who showed much enthusiasm to be on stage performing in front of his peers and family. The overall cast members were hilarious-from throwing pumpkins to facial expressions, they
Student-directed play leaves elementary audiences in awe
looked like they were having an amazing time. The main character, Cinderella, was played by Mallory Sullivan, who has a beautiful singing and great acting ability. She wore a special dress that converted her ragged attire into a beautiful blue ball gown. This shocked the audience whenever she started twirling and the dress appeared--I give major credit to whoever made it. The comedy in the play made it a brilliant take on the classic “Cinderella” story. Senior Madison Treat and junior Kaitlyn Savage played Cinderella’s step sisters and blew the audience away with their snarky and exaggerated attitudes. The child sitting behind me couldn’t stop laughing, and I couldn’t either. The craftsmanship of this traveling show came through even without a formal theater setting and made it enjoyable for everyone around me.
PHOTO | SYDNEY BOSWELL RYAN MCKENZIE | STAFF WRITER
MARVEL MADNESS Highly-anticipated ‘Infinity War’ film creates risky turn of events after series of movie crossovers
I
ron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet-the evil Thanos. On a mission to collect all six infinity stones, Thanos plans to use the artifacts to inflict his twisted will
on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment. “Avengers: Infinity War” is not a movie. It is an experience. From start to finish, a wild ride of emo-
tions ensue. The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy characters are weaved together expertly. The culmination of 10 years and 18 movies has resulted in a breathtaking cinematic journey that leaves you with an emotional punch in the gut. Thanos is the true main
WHAT’S the
buzz?
A view of students’ lives in 140 characters or less
@
Lilly Roach
lillyroachh
12
BRYANT NEEDS MORE HEALTHY PLACES TO EAT
AubrieKate Moseley
@aubriekate_m
@heyitsgryphone
12
DON’T PARK IN A SPOT IF YOU DID NOT PAY FOR IT
presented by the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy. This experience receives a legendary 11 out of 10 infinity stones.
MORE THAN A TREND
Students share their favorite features from Fortnite
C
oming off as a blend of Minecraft and shooting games, “Fortnite” has taken phones and laptops hostage, leaving friend groups asking “Where we landing?” It was launched in July 2017 by Epic Games and People Can Fly as a PC and console game, but has added more playing platforms, the most popular being “Battle Royale.”
“It’s kind of like the ‘Hunger Games’ [made] into a game, and you get to team up with your friends, and you get to play against other teams.”
Hannah Jetton 10
@hannahjetton
Mood for today: being so late to practice that I took my makeup off on the field
Katherine Chambless
11
ur wcw takes stupid pictures of herself so she can go back and laugh at herself later. It’s me, I’m ur wcw
Camari Dodds, 12
“I play ‘Fortnite’ because it helped me release a lot of pent-up stress, even though I die every time I play. It helps me on my sneaky skills, you know, and my survival tips.”
Alivia Allen, 10
“I really like all of the dances and how fun it is to run away from people and avoid death.”
Kat Richey, 11
@theoldrazzledaz
one of them that has not been evident until now within the hero group. Overall, “Avengers: Infinity War” brings our heroes face to face with the most menacing threat in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Much needed depth and surprised were
MAXTON PREUNINGER | STAFF WRITER
Hayden Chipman, 10
@_katheriaynee_
pack a surprise every minute, whether through their interactions or what new elements they bring to the Marvel Cinematic Universe table. The Guardians of the Galaxy brought in comedic relief to the experience that was needed, and there was a depth to each and every
10
judgement is upon those who leave a Marvel movie w/o staying for the after credit scene
Griffin Hopkins
character of this experience. He is handled with so much depth, intrigue, and heart that there is no doubt that this is Thanos’ movie. He is definitely the most menacing character in Marvel history. Although dispersed across the universe, the Avengers
Erin James 11
Another day has come and gone. The sun has risen; the sun has set. Time marches ever forward. And I still haven’t done my laundry.
“My first time playing was really, really rough. I was playing online with either Cameron Engstrom or Grayson Smith, and they were trying to teach me, but I couldn’t figure it out. I refused to play with other people until I could actually play without looking too stupid.”
DESIGN | TONY YERENA
5
Senior Rachel Heard adopted from China
A
fter riding on a train for eight hours with two nannies and five other children, Rachel Li Heard was delivered to two loving parents, Babs and Joe Heard, in the lobby of a Chinese hotel. Heard was just 12 months old when she began her life as the youngest child of five in her American, suburban home. The nannies were set to stay during the adoption process in case parents needed assistance in the baby’s transition to meeting them. “We never used [the nannies’] help,” Heard’s mother Babs Heard said. “Rachel came to us and never looked back. She never wanted them again. They never held her again. She was ours from the moment go.” The international adoption process took a year and a half, but that did not discourage Heard’s parents from going through the steps. “We didn’t mind the wait,” Babs Heard said. “It takes 9 months to have [a baby] anyway, and we just felt so strongly that this is what God wanted us to do. There was never any doubt [about adopting Rachel].” China’s individual adoption policies stood out to Heard’s
parents, because unlike instate adoptions where the child is met with before the adoption, the Chinese government chooses a child for the potential parents within the age range they select. “Within a week of accepting [Rachel], we were on a plane [to China], knowing she could arrive at any moment,” Babs Heard said. “It’s kind of like being pregnant, because you just don’t know when the baby is coming.” Heard’s adoption day holds a special place within the family’s household. “We call it ‘Gotcha Day,’” Joe Heard said. “She has her birthday in April, and then her adoption day in May, which we don’t celebrate as much as we did when she was younger.” Heard’s transition into her American life was smooth and filled with the support of loved ones. “There was never any questioning,” Babs Heard said. “Our friends and family supported us, and her siblings absolutely adored her.” As for her story before the adoption, Heard was too young to remember the transition, but has heard stories about how she arrived at an orphanage. “I’ve been told that I was left
alone on a doorstep when I was [an infant], but all I can remember is my life now,” Heard said. Though she does not remember the event of her arrival home, Heard acknowledges the milestone. “It was really memorable for a lot of people,” Heard said. “People still come up to me and talk about remembering the day that I got here.” Despite her Chinese ancestry, Heard’s integration into the family and her every day life has demonstrated that she is American. “Half of the time, I don’t even think about not being exactly like my parents,” Heard said. “I’m not culturally Asian, [but that] feels normal.” Because of her academic success, Heard plans to attend Arkansas State University in the fall to follow in the footsteps of her oldest sister to become a nurse practitioner. “[Adopting Rachel] was probably the best situation to bring another child into the family, because she is not his, she is not mine, she is not ours, she is everybody’s,” Babs Heard said. “That’s just special.”
Rachel Heard was less than 12 months old when this photo was shown to her parents, and they were asked whether they would like to accept her as their adopted child. Photo|Special to Prospective
MADISON TREAT|STAFF WRITER
CREATIVE CLAY Drama teacher Jeremy Clay provides theatrical experiences
F
rom dancing silverware in “Beauty and the Beast” to the rebellious Bomont students in “Footloose,” it all leads back to one face, one leader, one director. For the past five years, Jeremy Clay has been the director of the drama department. From juggling three shows each year, to teaching the Stage Management class, the Theatre Dance class and multiple Drama and Oral Communication classes, Clay leads with a passion for the arts. Coming from a musical family, Clay began his journey in fifth grade. His choir director gave him a lead role that sparked an interest in musical theatre that would follow him for the rest of his life. At just fifteen years old, Clay’s passion was solidified. “I went to a professional showing of ‘Les Miserables,’ Clay said. “It hadn’t been on Broadway maybe a year, and I was sitting eighth row center and was just transfixed.I could see so much of the emotion that was in the music, and the sets were fantastic, the acting was spot on. That’s when I decided that this is what I was going to do for the rest of my life.” From the closing curtain that night when he was just a teenager
to the current day, Clay has performed in over 60 shows, sharing his love for theater with his audiences, students and his family. “I didn’t plan on being a teacher,” Clay said. “I wanted to be an actor.” After attending the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville to pursue acting, Clay decided to pursue a degree in teaching. “I decided [teaching] will be my fallback,” Clay said. After earning his degree, Clay used his passion for theater to impact the lives around him through educating students. “Honestly, I fell in love with the kids,” Clay said. “The idea of being able to impart something to another person that is going to affect them for the rest of their life, it is a memory they will have and cherish for their entire existence. To be a part of that, that is everything.” Directing three shows each year, Clay enjoys watching his students’ hours of dedication reflect on the stage. “I think my favorite part is getting to hear the parents praise their kids,” Clay said, “I get to sit back and soak it up. There’s nothing better.” With a wife and three kids, Clay’s family life consists of continuous auditions, rehearsals and show after show. Two of his
three children, freshmen Jack Clay and junior Nathan Clay, share the same passion for theater. “They’re always thinking about what their next show is, when their next audition is,” Clay said. “It’s just the mentality our family has.” With such a musical family with a love for theater, the Clays often perform together. “ We’ve done a lot of different shows together,” Clay said. “This summer, I’ll be doing a show with my brother, my niece, and two of my children.” Not only does Clay spend his time performing with his children, but writing musicals as well. “Jack has been writing the music,” Clay said. “He’s written eight songs for the show already. We’re probably going to workshop it at the Royal sometime next fall. We’ve almost finished Act 1. It’s got a great message. Going into his sixth year teaching at Bryant, Clay’s family is moving into their new home in town next week. “I’m finally moving here after living in Sheridan,” Clay said. “Won’t be quite so late when I get home from rehearsals anymore.” Driving from Sheridan to Bryant every morning for the past six years, Clay has enjoyed his time here. “Not only have I enjoyed the
students, but the intellectual freedom that we have to create here,” Clay said. “I’ve been able to have a much more diverse cast then I have in previous jobs. I think that’s one of the strongest things that we have here at Bryant, that not everyone’s the same. I think that’s a strength.” Contributing to a show is an experience that Clay believes teaches people important lessons that they will carry them throughout their lives. “If you ever do one, you gain so much knowledge,” Clay said. “Not only about the show, but how to work with other people from then on.” From the classroom to the stage, Clay uses his talents to influence the lives of his students and live out his passion. “The experience is paralleled,” Clay said. “You literally work for three months for four nights. For those four nights, you get to perform for a live audience, and it is so fulfilling.You see how much hard work goes into a production, and you realize that deadlines are something we all have to live with, and also understand that working with other people and being a nice person is a crucial aspect of living. And I find that is a very important thing.”
ALEXIS BURCH | ONLINE EDITOR
MORNING MILE
Senior Johnnie Smith finds creative ways to get to school every morning
H
e woke up later than usual. He looked at the clock; the bus was gone. His mom had already left for work. If he missed first period, his mom would receive a phone call. So Johnnie Smith, halfway into his junior year, began to walk to school. A year later, Smith walks down Woodland Park or Boswell Road to make it to class on time every day. “My mom always taught me to value education,” Smith said. “Unless you have a certain ailment [stopping] you, there’s no real excuse to miss school. When it comes to the mornings, I typically don’t have any excuse to miss the bus other than I didn’t feel like getting on, so I would walk to school. That’s what I do.” When he started out on his 45-minute long walk for the very first time, he was not “acquainted with the roads,” making him nervous. However, halfway through his journey, the morning fog changed his mind. “It was a warm morning, and the sun was just rising from the peak of the trees, and I just took a second to look at it,” Smith said. “The whole area was pretty foggy, but the light was bright, and it was the definition of a beautiful nature scene. I was like, ‘This is fine, this is all right.’” He said if he did not get tired
easily, then he would always prefer walking. Some mornings last year, though, he would get to class with his heavy backpack, sweat soaking through his polo shirt and jeans “If I didn’t get tired easily, then yeah, I would prefer walking,” Smith said. “Walking is not as bad as I thought, and it’s not as bad as people make it out to be when I tell them.” Still, rainy days and freezing mornings exist. When the weather is no longer suitable to walk in, Smith is grateful for the bus drivers, students, teachers and even parents who stop and offer him a ride. One freezing morning, senior Vance Hill stopped to pick up Smith where Woodland Park meets Boswell Road. Hill knows Smith from their three years together in Quiz Bowl. “It was about 25 degrees outside and 7:52 a.m.,” Hill said. Hill knows where Smith lives, and said it would be a long walk. He has picked Smith up about half a dozen times. “He definitely would have been late to first period,” Hill said. “I didn’t want him to have to walk all the way to school.” At the beginning of this school year, Biology teacher Jennifer James saw Smith on Boswell, a narrow road with heavy traffic and no shoulders. It was not until a couple of weeks later that she realized her close friend and fellow teacher, Suzanne
Johnson, had Smith in class. “Boswell is a scary road to drive on, let alone be walking on it as others are driving around you,” James said. Though apprehensive at first, James began to stop to pick up Smith whenever she saw him in a location that was safe to make a stop. “I didn’t know what his story was,” James said. “I was told he did have a bus route, but sometimes it’s not our business [as teachers] to know everything. So that’s how I approached it. I didn’t have to know what his situation was, I just saw him, in my estimation, ‘in need’ and I wanted to help him.” James estimates that she has picked up Smith around two dozen times. While some may not approve of a teacher picking up a student, she believes she is doing it for the right reasons. “It may be something that is frowned upon by others, but that’s just where my heart is,” James said. “At the end of the day, there’s more than just my subject.” The drive they share is only a few minutes long, but Smith has always remained grateful. “He is such a sweet spirit,” James said. “He was always gracious from the beginning, and very appreciative. I’ve been impressed by how genuine he is. I think people respond to that and they don’t mind helping.”
Smiling, senior Johnnie Smith walks on campus. For a year and a half, he has made the 45-minute walk to school every morning, despite having a bus route. Often, students, bus drivers or teachers stop to pick him up. “I wouldn’t recommend picking up random people that you’re not sure about on the road,” Smith said. Photo| Alina Peret
Feature May 04, 2018
NEW BEGINNING
PROSPECTIVE
MONICA MARTINEZ|COLUMNIST
May 4, 2018 OP-ED PROSPECTIVE
6
lost in loans A
PROSPECTIVE
STAFF|EDITORIAL
s children, we are often sculpted to believe that we should aim for perfection. Many of us feel pressured to fill our report cards with As and Bs to keep our parents smiling and our guidance counselors at peace. Many of us have sacrificed our morals and sleep to receive a good grade. Whether it is a high percentage grade in a class or certain ACT score, students are often compelled to strive for concrete, numerical goals, but success is not a universal measurement, nor do these magical numbers always mean tangible prosperity. Despite America’s glorification of the higher education system, a college diploma is not necessarily a ticket to financial stability. While there are benefits
(U.S. News states the median annual earnings for full-time working college graduates are $17,500 higher than those with strictly a high school diploma), only 27 percent of college graduates have a job closely related to their degree, while a whopping 71 percent are paying off loan debt, according to the Washington Post. According to the Huffington Post, starting in the 1970s, American colleges and universities began an aggressive campaign to make students feel that higher education was the only viable option. Universities paid high schools to hang clever advertisements of a plump lower-class worker next to a robust man in fashionable business attire on campuses across America, giving students the impression
Students sacrifice years of their lives educating themselves in hopes of finding rewarding careers that will allow the country to prosper, but they are punished with absurd tuition and fees that often leave them with a mountain of debt. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, college drop rates are reaching 50%, with millions of Americans buried in thousands of dollars of debt with no degree to show for it. According to Investopedia, students attending universities in many other countries pay little or nothing for higher education since costs are included in their national budgets. Our astonishingly high tuition and fees leave college students contemplating whether an American education
that were failures if they did not wish to pursue a higher education. People began to swarm colleges and universities with high hopes and open wallets, causing the universities to flourish and the economy to boom. As the masses continued to crowd university halls, tuition and fees began to rise and have not stopped, resulting in the overwhelming student debt crisis Americans continue to battle. The numbers are startling. According to a 2017 report from the College Board, “students at public fouryear institutions paid an average of $3,190 in tuition for the 1987-1988 school year, with prices adjusted to reflect 2017 dollars. Thirty years later, that average has risen to $9,970 for the 20172018 school year.” That is an increase of 213 percent.
is worth the cost, and some are even leaving to pursue a cheaper education at universities abroad. Many of our parents and guidance counselors want us to live a “better life” and think college is the only path, but they turn their heads at the massive receipt. Our society must find ways to make college more affordable, but we also must help students realize that a college education alone does not define our value. There are countless careers that require only persistence and dedication without the need for an expensive diploma. A letter grade does not define us. Test scores do not define us. A degree does not define us. We determine our own success.
awaiting change C
ABBY HAGNER |COLUMN EDITOR
h a n g e . For me, it’s harder to move past something and accept changes than to simply let it pass me by. A new change is beginning--the end of high school. The last assignment is turned in. The last flight up the school stairs finished. The last “Hello” and “Have a great weekend.” My last days with my friends are passing by as clouds do on windy days. “Cherish these last few moments in high school, because after these you’ll be in the real world,” and “High School was the best years of my life,” are phrases people like to say after they’ve been out of high school for some years. Trying to cherish being in a school
for four years is easier said than done. High school is just a blip on the map we call life. The part of school that people don’t really seem to realize is that you’ve continued to grow these last four years, and it’s nearly impossible to retain the same friends. You learn lessons in these years that help shape your future as a young adult. For me, it’s the confidence in myself that lead me to my decision making. I trust myself more than I could ever imagine. It’s when you listen to your inner self that you make the most accurate decisions. Who you are today isn’t who you’ll be in a month from now. We have the privilege to live in a society where we are encouraged to think outside
the box and to challenge ourselves. High school has a problem with labeling people. If you’re not the jock or cheerleader then you are considered the outcast. It’s these words that cut into people’s inner beings and physically chain them back from excelling in life. High school does have an impact on young adults and how they perceive life—for good or bad. It’s in their hands whether they give relevance to the social expectations or if they throw those out the window and start living for themselves. When the last diploma is given out— your real life begins.
making amends J
MONICA MARTINEZ | COLUMNIST
ust send it. An email draft that is too long for its purpose has been sitting on the screen for fifteen minutes as my eyes scan it disapprovingly. It’s just a question to a teacher about a homework assignment, and yet it doesn’t seem formal enough. Or is it too formal? Throughout high school, I have worried about the smallest tasks--the body language I subconsciously use, the responses I give in casual conversation. As a freshman, I remember being nervous about asking a question to a teacher or a favor from a friend. I pushed loved ones away by acting like I didn’t need them as much as I knew I did. I did it because I was scared of not being worthy of their support and companionship. I had a nagging fear of embarrassing myself in front of those I cared about. I lacked a sense of confidence in myself that has taken me four years to achieve. It was
that lack of confidence that caused me to come off as selfish and cold-hearted. I soon realized my mistakes. I sat back and took in the isolation I had put myself in. Halfway through high school, I noticed that being too independent is lonely, and that the most I had was a chain of acquaintances. I finally acknowledged that I needed to change. Junior year, I signed up for organizations like Model UN and the newspaper staff, where I set aside my fears. I branched out and made friends with people I would have never thought of talking to before. I felt myself growing both socially and intellectually. I started to feel proud of myself for surpassing my previous worries and finally giving myself the opportunity to talk and act freely. The past four years have been a series of new faces, changing interests and self-growth. From one grade to the other, new friends were made while some were lost. Wisdom was gained. Mistakes were taken into
consideration when making future decisions. High school is a reality check. There are classes I wish I had taken and people I wish I still talked to. But better things are coming. So, now is the time to address my past mistakes. The high school era of my life is coming to a close, and it’s time for me to acknowledge my errors, my growth and make amends. I want to apologize to anyone I ever hurt or ignored. I want to openly offer to talk things out with anyone I left an open conflict with. Before I graduate, I want to ensure that I did everything in my power to end on a good note with my peers. This is it. The time has come to forgive and never forget the incredible people who have walked the halls of this school and contributed to the memories I created. Here’s to making amends.
HUMANS RACHEL STAFFORD OF
BHS
A closer look at Bryant’s hidden gems
Guidance Counselor
at a glance -Began teaching at Bryant five years ago. -Taught high school Geometry for two years outside Memphis. -Has been married for six years. -Met her husband at a tacky Christmas party. “Not many people know this, but I’m pregnant. I’ve been wanting children for a long time, about four years. I’m halfway there right now, so the baby will be here in August. This is also kind of big news, but I won’t be returning next year. I’ll be staying at home with the baby for a couple of years. [My husband and I] had a lot of medical issues getting to this point, so that’s my main reason for staying at home, at least for a little while.”
BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL 801 N. REYNOLDS RD BRYANT, AR 72022 501.653.5328
PRINT EDITORS SARAH GRAHAM, LAUREN WILSON ONLINE EDITORS DAHLIA BRAY, ALEXIS BURCH PHOTO EDITOR ALINA PERET PAGE DESIGNERS DAHLIA BRAY, ALEXIS BURCH, SARAH GRAHAM, ABBY HAGNER, MONICA MARTINEZ, MADISON WALTZ, LAUREN WILSON, TONY YERENA VIDEOGRAPHERS MADISON GREEN, JACK SUAREZ ARTIST JOSLYN GRAVES COLUMN EDITOR ABBY HAGNER COLUMNISTS MONICA MARTINEZ PHOTOGRAPHERS SYDNEY BOSWELL, CLAY CAMPBELL, JADEN PURIFOY, MARY-CATHERINE SELIG STAFF WRITERS CATHERINE ANDERSON, DAHLIA BRAY, ALEXIS BURCH, COLE CAMPBELL, SARAH GRAHAM, ROSEMARY GREGG, ABBY HAGNER, EMILY HALL, MONICA MARTINEZ, RYAN MCKENZIE, CHRIS MORGAN, MAX PREUNINGER, MADISON TREAT, MADISON WALTZ, LAUREN WILSON ADVISER LISA STINE
PROSPECTIVE IS A MONTHLY PUBLICATION PRODUCED, EDITED AND MAINTAINED BY NEWSPAPER JOURNALISM II, III AND IV STUDENTS AT BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL. PROSPECTIVE IS A MEMBER OF THE ARKANSAS SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION, QUILL AND SCROLL, COLUMBIA SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION AND NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION. AD SPACE MAY BE PURCHASED. PROSPECTIVE DOES NOT ACCEPT ADVERTISING THAT IS ILLEGAL FOR MINORS. THE EDITORIAL BOARD ACCEPTS LETTERS; HOWEVER, LETTERS MUST BE ADDRESSED TO STUDENT INTERESTS AND MAY NOT VIOLATE THE STUDENT PUBLICATION POLICY. LETTERS CAN BE SUBMITTED BY DELIVERY TO 10-319.
7 PROSPECTIVE Photo Essay May 04, 2018
GOING FOR THE GOLD Students compete in 2018 Area 10 Special Olympics At the Special Olympics, senior Taylor Thompson makes up a handshake with a competitor from Lakeside. Thompson’s partner was already done with his events, but she wanted to help him more. “I went to where my sister was working with Lakeside, and he came up to me and we just started getting along,” Thompson said. “I promised him we would make a handshake if he won.” photo | Tehya Hinkson Getting high fives from his friends, sophomore Walter Beasley cheers after winning an event at the Special Olympics. Beasley competed in the 100-meter dash, relay race and shotput, placing first, second and third. “My favorite part of Special Olympics is basketball, but my favorite sport is volleyball,” Beasley said. “Everything is fun.” photo | Sydney Boswell
After winning a medal at the Special Olympics, sophomore Jailyn Strickland wraps her arms around senior Lindsey Reece in a tight hug. Strickland competed in the softball throw. “I love her,” Strickland said. “She’s my best buddy and my best friend.” photo | Savannah Ray
Racing in the Special Olympics, sophomore Michael Westbrook raises his baton as he runs toward the finish line with freshman Hunter Leslie. Westbrook is in Melissa Henry’s class. “I had fun that day,” Westbrook said. photo | Tehya Hinkson
Walking into Special Olympics, sophomore Elaine Qualls holds hands with senior Jasmine Baker and junior Malcolm Boddie. Qualls was volunteering with Partner’s Club. “[My favorite part was] getting to see the excitement and smiles on each kid’s face as they got ready for the event they were competing in,” Qualls said. photo | Savannah Ray
Competing in the 50-meter run, senior Tara Ricardo smiles with junior Angela Warner. Ricardo won first place in the 50-meter run and third place in the softball throw. “It was really fun,” Ricardo said. “I loved hanging out with all my friends and I’m going to miss it next year.” photo | Tehya Hinkson Smiling with sophomore Truli Bates, sophomore McClinton Bush celebrates winning the 100-meter dash at the Special Olympics. In his fifth year competing, Bush won a gold medal in the 100-meter dash and relay race and won a silver medal in the running long jump. “Track and field is my favorite event, because you get to see all your friends, and your friends come out and support you,” Bush said. “Plus, you get to take pictures.” photo | Savannah Ray
May 4, 2018
Sports PROSPECTIVE
8 DAHLIA BRAY | ONLINE EDITOR
ACE OF BASE
Softball team at top of conference
W
ith dirt flying, hours of lost sleep and late night practice, the Lady Hornet softball team competes to continue their status as number one in their conference for the second year in a row. Throughout the season, players have experienced concussions, bone breaks, blood, sweat, sleepless nights and tears as they give their hearts to the game. Senior Regan Ryan loves seeing the team’s daily practices yield results at games. “It’s really great that we can see all of our hard work in practice pay off,” Ryan said. “Because its my last year, it’s really important to me that we keep playing how we are now and reach our goals.” Being the top of the conference is not just a title, it’s a role to play that can lead the team to the state finals. Senior Regan Keesee is hopeful to reach the state finals this year. “This is my last chance to win a state championship,” Keesee said. “We were conference champions last year too, and winning state my senior
year would tie up my entire experience on the team.” An important part of the team’s success is the mentorship and leadership the older players and coaches provide. Freshman Bella Herring benefits from this support.. “It’s going to be really sad when [the seniors] leave,” Herring said. “Losing seven leaders will definitely be an adjustment. [Senior] Sarah Evans and my coaches are always willing to motivate me and help me when I’m struggling, even outside of softball.” For Keesee, being a positive influence is a priority to keep conference leadership. “Since I’m a senior and captain on the team, I have to make sure that I’m always setting a good example,” Keesee said. “The seniors have to be a leader on the team and make sure everyone is playing to their full potential.” Senior Maddie Stephens also mentors the younger players and encourages them to be their best. “A lot of trust and hard work comes with being on the team,” Stephens said. “I believe in the younger girls so much. I
love them all so very much and I pray that they do their best when [the seniors] leave.”
Running an outfield drill, senior Sarah Evans runs to throw the ball in at softball practice. The team lost to Cabot a day before. “It was a really intense practice,” Evans said. “We were hauling butt.” Photo | Sydney Boswell
CHRIS MORGAN | STAFF WRITER
SEASON’S GREETINGS Major League Baseball season underway W
DESIGN | JOSLYN GRAVES
hether it’s the smell of ball park hot dogs or the thrill of watching a walk-off home run, the new Major League Baseball season has fans all over the world excited about what’s to come in 2018. “My favorite part of the new season is that everyone starts off with zero wins and zero losses,” junior Chandler White said. “Watching teams progress to where they end up by the end of the season is [also] my favorite part.” Often people’s biggest draw to the sport of baseball is that the game has not had many rule changes since it was first founded. “I love baseball for what it is,”
White said. “I love it in its purest form without all the rule changes. I respect the authenticity.” For fans like White, there is a deeper emotional tie to the game itself. “It was the first sport I ever played,” White said. “It is the first sport I ever fell in love with.” Some baseball fans find it tradition to watch as many of the 162 games in a season as they can, just like junior Brendon Morton. “I love watching [the] Cardinals play,” Morton said. “I hardly ever miss a game.” Morton’s favorite part of the new season is the changes the teams make during the offseason. “It’s all the hype of the trades, and who is going to come out hot
to start the season,” Morton said. “Just like [how] Shohei Otani [Los Angeles Angels pitcher and designated hitter] has come out this year out of the Japanese league. It’s fun to watch a pitcher hit home runs one inning and then pitch the next.” Morton tries to find something new in every game that he watches. “Every game is different,” Morton said. “There are different players from year to year and it is always a thrill to watch for me.” But for some baseball fans, the real thrill comes late in the season. “There are always different teams coming into the playoffs,” Morton said. “That is what I think keeps people interested.”
MAXTON PREUNINGER |STAFF WRITER
TEAR-FUL RECOVERY
Senior Jad’n Nichols works through knee injury
T
he clock was ticking away towards the end of the first half, and the game was moving slowly. Senior Jad’n Nichols was in a one versus one against Fort Smith South Side, when she planted her foot. Within a second she heard a crack, and pain shot up her leg. She tried standing up to continue playing, but she knew something was wrong. She stared at her dad with wide eyes at the mention of a career-ending injury. Currently a co-captain of the soccer team, Nichols has played soccer since she was five years old. Now committed to playing soccer for Harding, Nichols’ decision to play soccer paid off. “My dad really wanted me to play basketball,” Nichols said. “All of my siblings play it, but I didn’t want him to be as hard on me.” In order to play by August, Nichols will have to pass her fourmonth test, testing the mobility after recovery. If she fails, she will have to take a six-month test two months later. Nichols hopes to pass the tests and is looking forward to the faster speed of playing in college soccer. “I should be fine to play,” Nichols said. “I’m praying that I will be fine.” Girls soccer coach Nicole Inman says it has been hard to see Nichols hurt, because she knows Nichols “never gets hurt.” Inman has had to put her feelings aside in order to encourage Nichols. “I felt really bad for her, because I know it’s her
senior year, and no one wants to have their senior year go that way,” Inman said. “I was sad for her because she had just signed with Harding, and I know that would be going through her head, how her coach there was going to respond.” After Nichols’ injury, Inman went online to find members of the Women’s National Team that had similar injuries and showed Nichols their stories. Inman says she has been pushing Nichols to continue to focus on recovery in order for her to be back as soon as possible. “Jad’n is a positive person, and one of her biggest personality traits I find endearing is just her smile and her laughter,” Inman said. “Even in this and through this, she has remained positive and focused on the team. She’s stepped in and hasn’t backed away, and she’s going to learn from this. I feel like she’s going to come out of this a stronger player.” When Nichols was eight years old, her parents, Cory and Nikki Nichols, told her that she needed to find an extracurricular activity to participate in, which started with a short-lived Tae Kwon Do career. Afterward, Jad’n Nichols received a Bryant Soccer Club pamphlet at school, and that’s how Nichols got started in soccer. “We’re blessed and thankful to be on this journey with her,” Nikki Nichols said. “She did all the work. We’re her support system, making sure she [has] all the tools
needed to be successful.” Seeing their daughter in pain left them devastated. Once the news about the injury was official, the Nichols described it as “a hard pill to swallow”. “To see your child in pain physically and mentally hurts tremendously,” Nikki Nichols said. “But we make sure she is nurtured and surrounded with love.” After Nichols felt the pop after she planted her foot wrong, she initially tried to get up and continue playing. She thought that it was just a sprain at first, but when an athletic trainer checked her, she knew something was wrong. “I cried,” Jad’n Nichols said. “Me and my dad looked at each other and my eyes got big. He was like, ‘It’s not official yet, he doesn’t know for sure,’ but he had seen it before and I knew something was wrong.” Nichols then knew that she would not be able to finish the game or play another game for a while. She was nervous about surgery, but says her teammates make coming back to soccer worth it. “I play for them, and I play because I love it,” Nichols said.”Some of them walk with me to the training room, they sit and bring me food while I’m doing my treatment, so they’re so supportive.”
Playing against Little Rock Central, senior soccer captain Jad’n Nichols goes in to attack the ball March 27. The Lady Hornets soccer team won. “We played good,” Nichols said. “Sometimes, we play down to our level and start off slow, but we played fine that game. Photo | Tehya Hinkson