A BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OPEN FORUM SINCE 1924
Issue
The
Red‘n’Green
in This
VOLUME 45, ISSUE 3
-Diabetes Series, pg. 4-5 -Musical Review, pg. 7
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014
-Stock Car Racing, pg. 8
Nujerry sponsored by national companies by
Sierra Klawitter
Since he was younger, junior Nujerry Vang has sat behind a TV practicing his gaming skills, which has become most useful in the past year. “Halfway through my sophomore year, my team members and I were sponsored by Monster Gaming to play ‘Call of Duty’ on a professional level,” Vang said. Just this past month, two other companies have also signed on as sponsors for Vang, Scuf Gaming and Gamma Labs. “For the sponsorship process, we get to choose who we’d like to sponsor us and it’s just a matter of them deciding if they want to,” Vang said. Last year, Vang competed in Dallas, Texas with his team and placed second on a national level. “So far, I’ve only competed in one event, but my team members and I are looking into doing more in the near future,” Vang said. All gaming events that Vang and his teammates attend will be paid for, in full, by their sponsors. “It’s really helpful that they help pay for my trip,” Vang said. “My mom doesn’t like that I play video games because she doesn’t believe in it. She believes that you should be paid for hard work and dedication, not playing games.” Although opinions may vary about his job, there is no denying that it will pay off for his future. “Since I began playing profes-
sionally, I’ve made $20,000,” Vang said. “I’m hoping to take a year or two off of gaming after high school so I can go to college.” Guidance counselor Matthew Willett is helping him in his decision-making process for the future. “Nujerry is a great kid with a lot of options,” Willett said. “I think it’s amazing that he can save up for the future while doing what he loves.” Besides competing at championships, Vang also enjoys playing for fun with his friends. “There are a lot of times where my friends and I will get together and compete against each other,” Vang said. “Depending on what game we play, I only lose once in a while.” Going to national venues does come at a cost. Vang practices his gaming skills often. “On school days, I usually practice from when I get home to when I go to bed, so it’s about five hours a day,” Vang said. “On the weekends, depending on what I have to do, I play from shortly after I get up in the morning until midnight. It’s an all-day kind of thing.” Despite having to be dedicated 24/7, Vang still would not trade his job. “Most people think gaming is all fun and games,” Vang said. “But it’s really not. To me, gaming takes a lot of hard work, dedication and especially team chemistry.”
Photo: www.majorleaguegaming.com Above: At a national event held annually in Dallas, Texas, junior Nujerry Vang and his team members placed second out of 15-20 teams. Below: Vang has been playing video games since he was a child and is now using his skills to make it into a career. Since the middle of 2013, Vang has made roughly $20,000 and competed in one national event.
Gamer Profile: Nujerry Vang • Mainly plays “Call of Duty: Ghosts” •Gaming professionally for Monster, Scuf and Gamma Labs. • Won second place at national event in Dallas, Texas in 2013
Markel on leave, Student Services responsibilities divided by
Lindsey Vang
Now with Student Services secretary Sarah Markel on leave with her newborn baby, main office secretaries and guidance counselors take up the needed responsibilities. “I help with keeping scholarships up to date on the website and in the office. I also do attendance and health aid,” Markel said. Secretary Laura Sobieski has no worries covering for Markel. “With health issues that will be different, but attendance will not be too big of an issue and we can update the scholarships pretty easily,” Sobieski said To do this Sobieski and secretary Missy Gravunder will have a schedule where they will both switch hours in the main office and Student Services office. “One person will go from 7:30
a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and then switch from 8:30 a.m to 9:30 a.m. etc.,” Sobieski said. “When we are not there, a sign will be put up to have them come to the main office.” The counselors will take over when the main office secretaries are not able to go back and forth from both offices. “It’s going to be busy, way bus-
ier than usual,” guidance counselor Ann Ragus said. Just now (during the interview) six students were waiting for her. Markel believes there will only be one difference while being gone. “There is just a matter of getting used to not seeing me, but everyone knows the front office secretaries,” Markel said.
Photo: S. Klawitter
Newsbriefs Senior sees new perspective at Veteran’s program The whole school gathered together in the gym for the annual Veteran’s Day program on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The ceremony included the traditional presentation of the colors, the playing of a medley of the military’s songs and the 21-gun salute followed by taps. For senior Adam Hopp, this was a special program because he enlisted in the Army in July, 2014. “All my life I wanted to join the military,” Hopp said. “I wanted to travel, get a good education and have a better future. I was really honored knowing that I am now a part of the military.”
Student council attends WASC fall summit
Photo: L. Vang Secretary Laura Sobieski replaces Sarah Markel momentarily and helps senior Josh Mack get an excused slip.
Members of the student council attended the Wisconsin Association of Student Councils, or WASC, Nov. 17. At the conference they learned new leadership techniques. Junior Connor Heinz was one of these attendees. “We went to workshops and exchanged ideas with other student councils to improve our school and its functions,” Heinz said. Some of the other schools had ideas that might be used, but not necessarily by the student council. “There was a school who did a compliment wall,” Heinz said. “It was a wall where students could place sticky notes with compliments on them or take them as they need them. I think the KIND Committee might do something with that.”