P U B L I S H O U R V O I C E S
Aspirations Advocacy
Of
Illary Soto, a senior at Van Horn High School, has been an Independence School District (ISD) ambassador for the last three years, and a Real World Learning ambassador for one Since the beginning of their high school career, they have had a passion for finding opportunities for students to discover their interests, and helping them see the value in secondary education.
“Essentially, I think it's important for people to have those RWL opportunities because when you're a student who is just trying to get by and not really getting involved at all, you start to lose motivation and passion for your education, which is sad but it's true,” said Soto.
In high schools across the country, countless students come to school every day with fixed mindsets, convinced that they are not learning anything important or anything that will help them in their future
“They don't wanna be there They're just dreading it, and they’re waiting for the day to be over It's really sad because I notice that a lot of them aren't really involved in school,” said Soto.
Soto thinks the reason a lot of students don't put effort into school is because they feel like there's no effort being put into them. They don’t know that educators are providing options for them to grow their skills and find their passions.
“It's really important to make [them] aware of all the opportunities they have,” said Soto.
Van Horn High School is one of three high schools in the ISD that strives to do just that. The other two are Truman and William Chrisman These schools are designed to provide real-world, hands-on experiences for students through their “academy” pathway systems Upon entering high school, students follow a course plan that corresponds to their chosen career pathway.
As an ambassador for the ISD, Soto is always on the lookout for new opportunities for students and passes the information about the events on to them. They also represent the school and meet with potential business partners that can support the ISD.
“[Being an ISD ambassador] is an amazing opportunity that students are able to get I love advocating for that a lot Now, being a RWL ambassador, I’m learning about more opportunities,” said Soto
Throughout their time as an ambassador, Soto has informed numerous students of the programs and internships provided by Real World Learning. In one instance, a student who wanted to be a lawyer was able to get real-world experience through a law internship because of Soto’s advocacy. This student went on to study at Harvard over the summer and be a part of a Harvard internship for law.
“[These opportunities] help make them care about their education. No matter how much you ask people to care, if they don't want to put anything in, they're not going to. That's why you just have to tell them as much as you can, so hopefully they find something they like doing,” said Soto.
Soto’s role has given them a reservoir of knowledge that they try to convey to their peers as much as possible
“I feel like the best advice to students when it comes to RWL and being involved in their education is simply to put in effort You might think it's dumb; you might think it's stupid when you're first doing it, but when you actually put in the time and the effort to get past all the stuff you don't like, you get opportunities to do things you always waited for ”
IInspiring nspiring
Beginning with the class of 2025, Kearney High School administration established a graduation requirement where students must acquire Market Value Assets throughout their four years of high school, allowing students at Kearney to partake in Real World Learning experiences in addition to their everyday classes
Real World Learning prepares students for the future by providing internship opportunities, ClientConnected Projects, Industry Recognized Credentials, Capstone Experiences, entrepreneurial experience, and college credit classes.
Throughout her four years at Kearney, senior Cadence Moden has participated in several Real World Learning experiences. She obtained her first MVA by working as a bank teller in a year-long internship
“I really enjoyed it because I am going into finance for college next year, so it really got a foot in the door for me,” Moden said
Additionally, Moden has achieved MVAs by working at a local boutique and completing a ClientConnected Project with a local plumbing company
“Real World Learning has taught me to be punctual and responsible,” Moden said. “Especially with the bank, I have learned to be very business-professional. Now, I really understand how to talk to people in power and understand what they are trying to say.”
Senior Kevin Brock has enriched his high school experience through his mowing business, which he started his freshman year, earning his Eagle Scouts, and creating a house design for his engineering class.
Brock says that these Real-World Learning experiences have provided him with valuable skills that he would not be able to obtain inside a classroom
“I have been taught many life skills, such as survival and camping communication Mowing has taught me the value of hard work, how it pays off, and how you can make a brand and an image for yourself based on work ethic. Engineering has taught me the design and layout of everything about a house and commercial property,” Brock said.
Students Students
Senior Brook Llewellyn dedicates her school days to the Education Internship program that is given through Kearney
Llewellyn says that as a senior who wanted a light schedule, an internship opportunity is the perfect option because he can focus on his future career while not having an intense day at school
Llewellyn has always dreamed of becoming a teacher, specifically an eighth to ninth-grade PE teacher, so the Education Internship opportunity opened his eyes to a world of possibilities.
“I have known for years that I wanted to be a teacher, and with this internship, I got the opportunity to really challenge myself and see if this was the profession for me,” Llewellyn said.
Kearney High Schools Annual Career Fair that allows students to gather information on future career, colleges Seniors Anna Williams & Samantha Hambers and Junior Malia Fairchild host the NCC PANEL.
“I have had many impactful teachers in my life, so my main goal is to be able to create that environment for the kids of the future. I want to be the teacher that they can come to with problems, or just to be the safe space they may need inside of school.”
Due to the newly established requirement of obtaining MVAs before graduation, there is a possibility that Kearney students are stressed or overwhelmed by their added workload However, with a plethora of Real-World Learning opportunities that cater to each individual student within Kearney High School, students can partake in an experience outside of their comfort zone that doesn't feel like a requirement, but rather a priceless opportunity
Career Readiness Coordinator Stacy Holtzclaw helps students meet their MVA requirements and organize their schedules through a Google Classroom page and by sending out email notifications of new opportunities, events, and deadlines.
“It is accessible to everyone, but it’s just unfortunate that some students don’t pay attention to all that is offered to them while in high school. The opportunities for MVAs are accessible to all students, they just have to show up to events where they can learn more,” Jury said.
According to Llewellyn, high schoolers having the opportunity to be in a workplace or take college classes can give them a clearer path for their future
“I can speak on behalf of all seniors that thinking about the future is scary, especially when it’s just r said
“Taking an MVA class or working on furthering your education is the most beneficial way to lift that weight off your shoulders and be confident going into the next stage of your life ”
Strutting into Success
The Inspiring Story of Thomas Lewis Jr.
In December 2023, a fashion show took place at Southeast High School in the KCPS school district which ultimately evolved into a school spectacle
Thomas Lewis Jr , a current senior at Southeast High School, organized the highly-successful fashion show, which served as a fundraiser for the Kwanzaa festivities that were being held by the AC Prep (African Centered Preparatory) Program that winter. A meeting was held in the fall where AC Prep students and teachers gathered to discuss how they could raise money for the festivities. As a council member, Lewis suggested running a fashion show, even offering to organize and curate the entire thing.
“Much to my delight, our AC Prep coordinator, Yaminah Muhammad, obliged to my offer. From there, I made flyers for model auditions and auditioned the models myself with the help of Ms Muhammad,” Lewis said
After hashing out the details of the fashion show with Ms Muhammad and the other members of AC Prep, Lewis got to work building the set and curating the model’s outfits
Lewis Jr and Southeast High School’s AC Prep Coordinator, Yaminah Muhammed, closing off the fashion show side by side (Courtesy Photo)
“I designed the runway myself. We made a LED runway, we bought and built letters for the words “slay” and “werk” to put on the sides of the runway, and we also made signs for the audience that said “they ate” and gave it to them upon entrance,” Lewis said
The models who were partaking in the fashion show were given the option to wear their own outfits, which allowed them to display their creative and unique styles in front of a larger audience For the models who did not have an outfit, curated outfits were purchased with previous AC Prep fundraiser money. In addition to the models, many other members of the Southeast student body were involved in the making of the fashion show.
“A lot of students actually gained a great amount of community service for helping set up the runway and selling concessions,” Lewis said.
According to Lewis, the fashion show connected students through their shared passion for creative expression and created a sense of community in their school, which was one of the many benefits provided by the fashion show
“After our first fashion show, there was a huge crowd of people asking if there was going to be another one I even made a poll to see if people actually wanted another fashion show, and 100% said “yes.” It’s definitely a spectacle that everyone is looking forward to,” Lewis said.
Lewis was inspired to create the fashion show at his school due to his love for fashion and admiration for Rihanna and everything that she has done for the fashion world, such as her show Pose on FX, as well as her Savage X Fenty shows. Furthermore, Lewis aspires to go into the fashion industry in the future.
“I want to be a model or a creative director, and experiencing the process of making and participating in the fashion show set the foundation for what I’ll most likely be doing in the future,” Lewis said
Although creating and organizing the fashion show was a crucial part of Lewis’ life-changing experience, ultimately, his favorite part was modeling on the runway
“I loved the feeling it gave me. It made me feel empowered and in control of myself. I also enjoyed the love and support I received while on the runway. I was told that the crowd was so loud that you could hear them on the second floor, and it was only half of the school [in there]. Till this day, I imagine what it would have sounded like if the entire school was in the gym,” Lewis said.
Additionally, Lewis enjoyed seeing his fellow models receive support from the audience during the fashion show
“Witnessing them receive their much-deserved respect and admiration from the crowd was really a ‘prophecy fulfilled’ moment for me,” Lewis said However, the fashion show was not without its obstacles Lewis was faced with a plethora of challenges while making the fashion show “There were a few people talking bad about our models, causing some of them to quit, there were people sabotaging our decorations, and there were people trying to steal our outfits and concessions,” Lewis said.
“You never know what your ideas can contrib if you just speak your mind. Never be afraid give your ideas to the world.”
Although these challenges caused adversity for Lewis and the other models, Lewis remained solution oriented and came out of the challenging experience familiar with several life skills.
“Communication, problem solving, and networking were definitely the main skills I was taught running the fashion show,” Lewis said
However, the primary reward that the fashion show bestowed upon Lewis was a new-found confidence in himself and his ideas
“If there is anything that you want to bring to the table, good or bad, big or small, bring it. You never know what your ideas can contribute if you just speak your mind. Never be afraid to give your ideas to the world,” Lewis said.
Members of Southeast Prep setting up for the Fashion Show. (Courtesy Photo)
CREATIVITY CREATIVITY
HOW
THE RISE OF AI HAS IMPACTED LEARNING
KILLER KILLER
Artificial Intelligence can be a collaborative tool, sparking conversations between students, not only about the content outputted by the AI, but also regarding the morality of using AI
The rise of artificial intelligence in recent years has lead to significant changes in peoples daily lives. From AI chatbots found on websites to virtual assistants in our homes equipped with voice recognition software, this technological innovation has and will continue to reshape the way we communicate, collaborate, and go about our daily lives
While in it’s early stages, AI was relatively easy to identify, with advancements and updates, it’s becoming harder to differentiate between factual from fraud. This is especially relevant in education, with many students being well versed in the use and misuse of artificial intelligence
Anabel Carney, a junior at Lee’s Summit West said while AI can be an unreliable tool, there are some positive aspects “It can help brainstorm ideas,”Carney said. “But if you take advantage of it it's taking away that creativity aspect of something on a personal level.”
Another important aspect of artificial intelligence is the morality of sharing AI created content Social media makes it easy for people to share whatever they like with minimal guidelines regarding the share and spread of AI content
“As long as you cite that it was created by AI,” Mea Carradine, a junior at Lee’s Summit West said. “Otherwise it can be harmful to share online ”
While some students use AI tools to facilitate brainstorming, Carradine said many people use it to blatantly cheat
“The majority of people use it to cheat. If they completely copy and paste assignments from it, then it is not used responsibly,”Carradine said.
Although AI is often used irresponsibly, students believe schools could do a better job of educating students in regards to how to use AI to facilitate their learning
“Schools do a lot more of the negative focus of AI. They don't really talk about how can also be helpful,” Drew Gustafson, a junior at Kearney Highschool said
“They should talk about how we can use it just for ideas, and how we can brainstorm off of it,”said Gustafson
Given how fast artificial intelligence has developed since it’s meager beginnings, Carney described how it’s not going away anytime soon.
“While people can use it negatively I feel it's always going to be around We need to learn how to use it in a positive manner ” said Carney
Gustafson also described how it stifles the creativity liberty of students and teachers alike.
“I feel a lot of teachers use it now, they use it to make prompts,” Gustafson said “It kills creativity because if you go on Google, it cuts up words from different websites and uses AI to formulate and answer ”
Photo taken by: Avery Davenport
NURTURING NURTURING
Parental Impact on Real World Learning MINDS MINDS
The Real World Learning (RWL) program can offer unique opportunities for students to help prepare them for the future As such, it is a hands-on program that takes effort and time So naturally, parents must be quite involved, right?
Sophomore Cadence Byrd from Oak Park High School does not have that involvement.
“I notice that parents do not check in with their children when it comes to noticing this big thing that’s happening with the kids,” Byrd said.
One of the main things Real World Learning students find is that their parents are not as informed or as involved as the students would like them to be, and that can be quite frustrating
Byrd said that her line of communication with parents isn’t as open as she would like it to be
“I think they need to communicate with their kids better and speak to the people running this whole thing to stay in the loop with what’s happening,” Byrd said
Junior Kody Walrod from Ruskin High School finds that while her parents do ask about RWL, they don’t go further than the basic questions which is important for understanding the program.
“I think parents need to ask more questions,” Walrod said. “Personally I’ve noticed [that] my parents will ask questions, but they never really deeply dive into it and ask questions below surface level.”
She wishes that parents would reach out more, to those like administrators and get more information.
“If parents would like to get involved, I think they should be in touch with their student’s teachers and even maybe administrators and program leaders basically anyone who could answer the questions their child may not know the answer to,” Walrod said
With that, Byrd also noticed that even teachers aren’t very aware of the RWL program and that it should be fixed
“They [parents] can help by helping with getting that information out with teachers and just in classrooms, or even in the office because I also realized most of my teachers don’t know what it is,” said Byrd.
She also thinks that more encouragement is needed from parents, to help keep morale up when overwhelmed.
“They [parents] can help by just giving that support and motivation to keep going,” Byrd said.
Walrod also believes that constant support is key.
“I think the best way for parents to help their children is to offer a steady line of support,” Walrod said “And also to have a good understanding of the programs their child is in ”
Walrod thinks a good way for parents to help the school is with events to help raise some money or something similar
“They [parents] could help the school by not only the school fundraisers—a little bit goes a long way but just showing support to the school and all of its students,” Byrd said.
While RWL is seen as a beneficial program, it is clear that more time needs to go into educating parents and helping them understand truly what the program is about. Parents need to know the time commitment and the resources that are needed, as well as being more involved with schools and talking to their RWL coordinator
Real World Real World
Learning Learning
Real world learning provides students with the opportunity to real world scenarios into education. The biggest issue with graduation is students feeling unprepared after high school, whether that is choosing a career or paving a way to create a successful future
Students are the heart of education and schools should implement more career-based events and activities. Many schools located in Northland, Kansas City offer internships, client projects, and programs that provide the right resources for students and their futures.
However, some find it difficult to find out about what is offered in their school. If schools aren’t providing announcements or newsletters, the message of real world learning becomes buried.
These opportunities create connection-based learning and students can feel like they are a part of something Student preparedness is the foundation for successful futures Schools should create a welcoming environment for students curious about how to be more prepared and inspire change! A critical piece to inspiring is the motivation behind it.
What drives your students? What are they most interested in? How can incorporating real world learning accommodate their needs?. It’s important to take education seriously, and most importantly take what you learn and apply it to a career. High school students are always looking for opportunities to dive into the real world..
A student should never feel excluded solely based on their race, age, gender or origin because we are all the future, and we all must be open-minded about the world and all the differences that we have the privilege to share within it.. Laying out all your options and picking apart colleges creates that overwhelming feeling but looking into careers while being a part of the Real World Learning process can lead to a great opportunity
Connecting with your community plays a big role in real world learning You learn the most from people within the community and learning about their experience and being empathetic to any troubles that may have occurred for them can prepare you for many conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and managers.
Senior athlete and student Kylee Smith attends Kearney High School and she stated
“Although the opportunities are implemented into schools, it feels like a project rather than an experience to learn more about you and what career fits you ” Kylee has put her focus into soccer and will pursue her future in psychology
It is important to consider feedback from students when implementing career based learning.
In many schools, teachers work to try and best implement their curriculum into the RWL activities and this disregards the barrier that allows students to develop a sense of achievement because it feels like an assignment. Especially for students who are taking in specific knowledge to help incorporate career and future based knowledge.
Dot Dot The Spot
In this generation, where they look, some women believe something needs to be changed One of those people is Audrey Jennings, a junior at Shawnee Mission West Jennings has started a project at West called ‘The Dot Spot ’ The Dot Spot is a period pantry around the school in lockers near all bathrooms These lockers have pads and tampons of all sizes and the most popular brands According to Jennings, the reason she had started this project was not entirely for it to be an actual change She said it was an English project where they had to come up with a pitch to their teacher and convince them to help with the project
The result of that assignment was an impactful project She learned she could make it real by applying for a grant So, she put the work into creating a more professional pitch to apply for a grant to make The Dot Spot a real thing However, that has not been the most challenging part for her as she is not just focusing on The Dot Spot She has other activities like school and work, so she has had to learn to balance The Dot Spot with her other activities
However, that does not stop Jennings from enjoying the challenge
“It’s like this one big puzzle,” Jennings said
She also said that she loved seeing its impact on the school in its short operation time Jennings hopes to expand The Dot Spot to other Shawnee Mission Schools
On top of that, she also wants to spread the word about periods
“People should recognize that periods are normal and not disgusting They shouldn’t be looked down upon; if someone struggles to access products, they should help. Donations are greatly appreciated,” Jennings said.
A West program called Women in Leadership has also helped Jennings. This program created a committee dedicated to publicizing and setting up the Dot Spot.
“My favorite part is that they are all over the school, so it's easier to find the products I need no matter where I'm in the building,” said Junior LaNaya Hernandez, a member or the committee.
Jennings’ hope of a lasting impact is that the negative connotation that comes with periods changes. If someone notices that someone does not have access to period products, they will help that person get the products they need.
Jennings also hopes that people care enough to help people access these products that they will donate to her cause. Her cause is defined as a woman making change. Someone who stumbles across a problem and decides to take charge and make the change that needs to happen. Instead of leaving it up to chance or never to get fixed, she takes it into her own hands and solves the problem. That is a woman making a change.
CREDIBILITY CREDIBILITY CRISIS CRISIS
Student views false information on the internet With false information becoming more prevalent online, it is harder to differentiate between real and fake.
SOCIAL MEDIA'S IMPACT ON LEARNING, CREDIBILITY, AND FACT-CHECKING
Credibility in media is an increasingly relevant issue, especially in today's digital age Chase Dernier, a senior at Raytown High School, agrees, describing his belief that social media should not be trusted
“I think that credibility of media is a big issue,” Dernier said “That's why I think fact-checking and censorship need to be improved so false information isn't being spread ”
Disinformation can be spread in various ways, ranging from bent truths to completely unbiased claims with little to no evidence to back them up Although the reliability of much of the content on social media is questionable, it can be a great way to share information with the 2 million users on Instagram alone
“It gives you multiple points of view,” Dernier said “You aren't just seeing one source, you can look up as many sources as you want, get a bunch of different opinions to form your own opinions ”
The lack of guidelines that allow people to express themselves online also leads to misinformation becoming rampant on social media After Meta removed fact-checking from Facebook and Instagram on Jan 7, Dernier expressed his disapproval of this decision
“I think it's ridiculous,” Dernier said “It's just another way for people to spread out false for people to spread false information and push out media that's just completely false or not correct ”
As more and more false information is spread online, it’s becoming harder to differentiate between factual and fraudulent information Zion Porter, a sophomore at Raytown High School said he views misinformation frequently
“I view false stuff all the time, and I don't even realize until I see a Tik-Tok and it will say something,” Porter said “I'll look it up, and I'll go down a whole rabbit hole, and it turns out it is completely fake ”
While no one person is spreading false information, everyone can do their part to prevent rampant misinformation and protect themselves from being exposed to false information
“People are always going to try and push out fake information,” Dernier said “I think it is a factor of yourself being diligent, the company's promoting different fact-checking sources, and then also the creators, not posting false information ”
BREAKINGBARRIERS
HOW EDUCATORS HELP STUDENTS GET INVOLVED IN RWL
Real World Learning (RWL) programs offers many unique opportunities that help students to learn and grow, becoming more and more prepared for the future They learn problem solving and management skills in both the business and real world
However, these programs are not well known and many students are unaware of the opportunities that RWL offers
Junior Brennen Judkins at Kearney High School was unaware that she could be involved with RWL, as it wasn’t something that was now well advertised
“I didn't know that it was something that you could join,” said Judkins, “The only way that I had heard about it was through the posts on our schoolwide Google Classroom ”
Her Google Classroom is run by her teacher, Mrs Holtzclaw, who posts new opportunities, like some RWL programs, and also scholarships
“I think it [the Google Classroom] is very helpful because it allows us students to find opportunities that closely relate to what we want to do after high school and lets us try different things,” Judkins said
She finds that many other students are probably in the same situation as she is
“Most students, like me, probably have not heard of RWL and most likely don't know what the program is or its benefits,” Judkins said
Despite not being a part of RWL, Judkins finds herself very involved
“[I’m a part of] Scholar Bowl, golf, trap shooting, marching band, ASL club, HOSA, book club,” Judkins said
While all of these activities provide important skills, RWL gives the skills that students need to thrive in the real world As someone very involved in school, from a book club to HOSA, Judkins would be very interested in being a part of RWL
“I am usually interested in any of the healthcare programs that are offered,” she said, “especially if they are tailored to pediatric medicine ”
To combat the lack of knowledge about RWL, Judkins urges programs to make more of an effort to reach more people
“Try emailing students or posting on social media to reach more people,” said Judkins.
With RWL, students have gained new experiences and have been able to prepare for the real world, with problem solving and business management that high schoolers not in RWL wouldn’t get.
RWL’s influence must exceed it’s prior success. That way more students can take advantage of the opportunities RWL has in order to prepare students for a brighter future. For more information you can go to the RWL Website.
OUT OUT OF OF THIS THIS
WORLD WORLD
HOW A NASA INTERNSHIP
HELPED GABRIELLA MORRIS PREPARE FOR HER FUTURE
Real World Learning is a program to help students go beyond the classroom, and for senior Gabriella Morris, Real World Learning took her out of this world. Working with Lincoln NASA-USDA over the summer, Morris gained valuable experience for her future.
“This experience built up my problemsolving and communication skills. So I think this experience will help me when working in group settings and when advocating for my team,” said Morris.
While most students spend their time confined to traditional lessons, Morris was able to learn about problems that are impactful to student’s futures.
“I learned about digital agriculture, and the need for more young people interested in pursuing a career in STEM. We focused on using satellite images, and AI to detect diseases in crops before they could spread,” said Morris.
Being what Morris considers a “huge nerd,” she was eager to take on an internship with NASA. The adults in her life helped provide her with a large support system when taking on such a huge opportunity.
Unlike traditional classes, Real World Learning objectives like Morris’s NASA internship thrive to give students more agency over their learning, while still providing them with the assistance they need.
“We had guidance, but much of the tasks and ‘problems’ that needed to be solved were all student driven,” said Morris.
“My teachers at school and my mentors at the internship were definitely a part of my biggest support. They ingrained in me that I’m qualified to be here and that I know what I’m doing- even if I didn’t feel like it,” said Morris.
While it can be scary to challenge traditional ideas of learning, internships are meant to prepare students for their future. Morris tells students that internships are a learning opportunity, and that they should use these opportunities to push themselves.
“This is a learning opportunity, and everyone who is working with you- or who you are working for is aware of that and expects mistakes. It’s okay to be nervous, but push your own boundaries,” said Morris.
Morris (furthest left) attending a day trip to the Aerospace Museum in St. Louis
Shawnee Shawnee SHAWNEE MISSION SOUTH
Match Match Mission Mission Charity Charity vs. vs. SHAWNEE MISSION WEST
The DECA programs at Shawnee Mission West and South have a tradition of raising money for charity when they play each other in a regular-season basketball game.
This year, Shawnee Mission South’s DECA students Jase McDonnell, Remy Witt, and Rowen Carson, and Shawnee Mission West’s DECA students Laila Coleman and Karena Richardson organized the game
“The support was inspirational, the donations were generous, and the staff game was entertaining,” said Witt
They raised money for the Special Olympics To raise money they created shirts and sold raffle tickets You were then entered into an item raffle for two dollars, which included baskets, beats headphones, Stanley cups, and a Yeti bundle. For one dollar, you were entered in a gift card raffle for businesses like Chick-fil-A or The Rub.
“We raised almost $1,000 through t-shirt sales, donations, raffle ticket sales, and sponsors,” said Carson.
The game included a student halftime contest in which kids who bought a shirt could participate After the game, they announced the raffle ticket winners and had a teacher game But it also came with challenges
“The snow days made selling t-shirts and communicating with staff basketball game players much more difficult,” said McDonnell
So, during their few days at school, they had to rely on promoting their shirts through social media and announcements
“We had 4 snow days the week of the game including the day of the game so we had to sell 300 shirts the day before when we had school in at the entrance of the game,” said Coleman
But that just gave them something to learn from for next time
“I definitely would change how we did the raffle I would make it more smooth. I also would do a presale like South did to minimize the risk of no sales because of things like snow days,” said Richardson.
The important thing was that they were raising money for a great cause and continuing a tradition.
“The game succeeded in bringing the community together to support a common cause. While rivalry and competition remained present in the basketball games that night, everyone understood that we were all coming together to support something bigger than our schools,” said Witt
These students learned from each other, and trial and error created many new connections They also discovered and gained motivation and hardworking skills to put together and run this amazing game for another fantastic cause.
BUILD IT: BUILD IT: BOARDS AND BAGS BOARDS AND BAGS
WRITTEN BY PARKER MENDEL AND DESIGNED BY JACK JIMENEZ
Cooper Byers and Tucker Phillips are both juniors at Kearney High School and recently worked together to build, design, finish and sell a set of cornhole boards for a local teacher. They did this project as an optional add-on to the curriculum of their Agriculture-Construction class, taught by Mrs. Lewis. Building Cornhole boards was a unique opportunity for students to apply the things they learned just a few daysor weeks prior to a real-world scenario, but there were roadblocks A few issues arose during the building process, including not ordering enough wood and dealing with uneven board legs. Students were to make cut lists, a list of all the parts that needed to be ordered to make the cornhole boards, and some groups ordered more than others. Mrs. Lewis said, “One challenge we faced was not having all the materials. The students were in charge of making a cut list of supplies and I only purchased what they sent me This caused an issue of not having enough materials for the boards and having to reorder extra supplies.” Lewis’s students were able to get a second order of wood in time for their Cornhole boards to be sent to their clients, but it taught them a valuable lesson in responsibility. “Whatever you’re doing, get it done early. Don't wait around to work on it because then you get behind and it just piles up fast” Byers said. Along with woodworking skills, Cooper and Tucker also had to learn how to communicate with their clients professionally “I didn’t know how to write a professional email at first. Miss Lewis taught me how to do that,” – Phillips said.
This is the first year that Lewis has taught at Kearney High School, and her first time leading a class through a CCP “The idea stemmed from a student asking about making a set of cornhole boards for a business in class I talked with Mrs Holtzclaw [Kearneys’ Career Readiness Coordinator and we discussed how we can set this project up to fit our agriculture-construction class”. Lewis said, despite these setbacks, both students agreed that the project taught them valuable skills. In addition to communicating with clients, Lewis’s students practiced marketing skills by creating promotional materials for their products. Cooper explained that, before having a client for his group’s cornhole boards, he designed a flyer on Canva that had different customization options such as logos and painted patterns, and it eventually reached his client Mr. Minta. Tucker's satisfaction with seeing the finished project made his hard work worthwhile. He states, “My favorite part of building the cornhole boards was sanding, especially with how smooth it gets. It's rewarding to go from that rough piece of wood to how smooth it is, especially after you finish it.”
For students like Tucker and Cooper, This Client Connected Project was more than just a woodworking project. It was a chance to deal with responsibility, learn practical skills, and gain insight as to what a job in the woodworking industry would look like
S E I Z E the OPPORTUNITY
Have you ever had a big opportunity you wanted to jump on? From work to school to anything real-world related, there are so many possibilities you can achieve. So let’s take a deep dive into the lives of two of the many dedicated students in our area who have seized their opportunities. What advice do they have for the upcoming students and their endeavors?
Advances and Advice
So who’s the first candidate? Chit May is a senior at Turner High School. May was training to be a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). She said that nursing is all about interaction. May had an internship at Saint Luke’s Health System over the summer and said that it helped her be more sociable.
“During the internship, I had gained many skills like drawing blood, injections, and care that I would not been able to get without this opportunity,” May said. Her advice is to always take opportunities “After my summer nurse internship, I
decided I wanted to be a nurse one hundred percent,” May said., “Being able to be in the hospital and getting to shadow was one of the coolest things I did in high school. Once I had the shadowing experience, I could see my future as a nurse.” May knew for certain she wanted to be a nurse. The next person we will look at is Izzy Rothen. Rothen is a Junior in the 21st Century Academies at Olathe Northwest for e-communications. She used to be interested in Graphic Design but soon took interest in broadcasting and sports journalism through the e-communications program at her high school What skills has Rothen taken from this program? She said that she’s learned mainly communication skills. She was once a shy person but broke out of her shell and became a bit more social due to the e-communications program.
“I reached my educational goals through real-world learning experiences. They have given me the opportunities to get ahead in the field of journalism and start to pursue my passion before even starting college allowing me to get into a highly ranked journalism institution like University of Missouri,” Rothen said.
What have these students taken away from their real-world experiences? They’ve both learned so many helpful skills and gained confidence What should you take away from this story? Real world experiences are good for resume building and create a new light for those who choose to participate. So now that you’ve seen how Chit May and Izzy Rothen have seized their opportunities, will you do the same?
Izzy Rothen
Meet the Team Meet the Team
AngelinaCrosby Co-EditorinChief
LucyBoyle
AnnalynCarver
AneesahJameel
JadynneBrady
EmmaBisby
Where to
BEHIND THE PUBLISH
