May 2012 by The Rock

“The lessons that Rock Canyon has Class of 2012 Edition taught me will go beyond the books in college.” igh H f o rs too fast a e y 4 “The l have gone is already Schoo t believe it “These are the memories we will ’ n a c I never forget. Class of 2012 ” . r e v o is the best.” r e v e n l l i “I’ll always be a jaguar.” w “I e h t t e g r “Th fo ade m i I s s d seco scho frien n.” o y n a nd h ol is C k at Roc like ome for my me.:”

Inside: Senior profiles and map of where everyone’s headed to. p. 16

[05/10/12]

thenews

Above and Beyond Painting Every year, seniors set out for new horizons, attempting to create an impact in universities and later the world. However, for select art students, the transition means leaving behind a legacy that leaves future artists looking up. Seniors who have shown a commitment to the arts have the opportunity to paint a ceiling tile for the ceramics room, a tradition that started for Gonzalez when he first began teaching high school in 2008. “I hope to see my whole ceiling full one of these years,” Ceramics teacher Daniel Gonzalez said. “I like to encourage students’ creativity.” he said. “I think students have fun with the idea that they can leave something behind after they graduate.” One of these students, Natalie Tate ‘12, had always wanted to leave her mark on the ceiling of past artists, and create a place for herself

amongst them. “Mr. Gonzalez is one of my favorite teachers, and when you look around, you see all of this inspirational stuff.” she said. “I wanted to show what inspires me.” Tate had been taking art classes with Gonzalez for years, but also had grown close by frequent visits to the ceramics room with her friends. Many of such friends also plan on painting a tile. “He’s the kind of teacher who I’ll come back to visit,” Tate said. “It’s going to be nice to leave him something to remember me by.” For Gonzalez, the experience is a way of showcasing students who have been influenced for the better, and now he remains hopeful for his collection. “It would be nice to know that that many students were enjoying my class enough to want to leave something behind,” he said. [zachanderson]

A Year of Hard Work Pays Off Thursday, May 3 the Mock Trial gang loaded onto the bus for a 7 hour drive to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the Mock Trial Nationals. Being one of 46 states to attend the competition, was just 3 points away from top 10, taking 19th place. “We’re proud of our win, but it’s always disappointing to be so close and not make it,” Andrew Charap ‘12, an attorney in Mock Trial, said. In addition to competing, the group took part in several out of court room activities such as a pin exchange, and exploring the city. “There was a pin exchange, where states give each other pins that symbolize the state they’re from. Ours was our state flag,” Charap said. “It’s a good way to get to know the competitors.” The next few days consisted of both competition, scrimmages and

Holding the Ell’s Cup, the State Mock Trial trophy, Andrew Charap ‘13 stands with Coach Chris Page and Hon. Alex Martinez at the Boulder District Court House March 9 for the State Competition. finally a dance and awards ceremony. “The team definitely had fun at the dance, it was another time for us to celebrate our accomplishments and meet people from around the county who have the same interests we do,” Charap said. [kaylaneil]

What We Missed 1. Some members of the drama club are trying their hardest not to fall on the Skate City club field trip. “It was an amazing way to get to know the thespians at RCHS and start freshman year,” Lauren Yehle ’15 said. 2. Jordan Clark, Kelcey Beckman, Rebecca Kaze and Trevor Cree, a group of freshmen in cupcake club bake and decorate four dozen tropical cupcakes for Homecoming week. “I really enjoyed decorating the cupcakes and getting to spend time with my friends, all for a great cause for the Children’s Hospital.”Trevor Cree ’15 said.

Here are some of our favorite, memorable and unseen moments this school year. 3.

3. Six Key Club members got up early Sunday morning October 2, 2011 for the Susan G. Komen walk for the cure in downtown Denver. “I really enjoyed spending the morning walking downtown knowing that I was helping researchers work on finding a cure for breast cancer.”Rachel Cuny ’14 said. 4. Rock Canyon track participants are stretching and warm up for the Freshman and Sophomore Championships. “My favorite memory of track this year was meeting new people and pushing myself to getting a new ‘PR’and trying new events like high

jump. I think we all ran good and pushed ourselves at the Freshman and Sophomore Championships and focused which was good because going into next year we need to keep up the same worth ethic,”Daniel Gibbons ’14 said. 5. Rock Canyon choir, band and orchestra performed in a concert consisting of music from Aladdin, Adele, and Gotye in the gym April 24. “This concert was definitely entertaining to learn and it was really fun to sing. I can’t believe that was the last concert. I am going to miss it,”Juli Jones’14 said.

thenews

KONY 2012 Releases Second Film and Covers the Night

[05/10/12]

Popularity of the movement is waning, and its legitimacy is questioned

n early March, the KONY 2012 name. Around the world people documentary took the world by put up posters, this was done to storm and became a viral video remind people that the LRA vioovernight. Many people were seri- lence is still continuing and has ous about the efforts being made not ended. Even at Rock Canyon to end Kony’s reign, while others people got involved with Cover the noticed its rapid decline of popu- Night. But around the world not larity. As of this point Kony still all people had the right intentions. hasn’t been captured, and the LRA “We are really disappointed to hear violence has not ended, but the about the property damage that video doesn’t expire until the end occurred on April 20th,” Invisible of 2012. The employees at Invis- Children said on a facebook post. ible Children think it’s important As Invisible Children and their to not forget what the KONY 2012 videos gained popularity so quickly, video stands for, so they have put controversy followed. One of the forth many things to ensure that filmmakers, that became famous doesn’t happen. in the KONY 2012 video, Jason April 5th, Invisible Children re- Russell, was taken into custody on leased a new video, KONY 2012: March 16, after running around Part II- Beyond in the streets, Famous. While vandalizing cars, The first video had milthe first video his lions of views overnight, pounding gained millions fists, and shoutbut Part Two didn’t reach ing. Police later of views overthat milestone. night, the sectook him to a ond part didn’t mental health have that much of a response. In facility for observation. comparison after a month of being Some students felt encouraged out it only has around 2 million to get involved. views. This video served as an up“When I first heard about Kony I date on the status of Kony and the posted the video on my facebook,” LRA, but also a reminder to con- Wei Ye ‘14 said. tinue to send letters to represenOthers at Rock Canyon feel like tatives and other ways to stay in- it was more of a trend. volved. Invisible Children doesn’t “I think that the video was a litwant the popularity to die down, tle bit of a trend at first but i think so they are trying to get people to if the time passes and no one does remember what attached them to anything about it they will just forthe Kony 2012 at the beginning. get about it entirely, sort of like the April 20th, Cover the Night Rachel’s Challenge assembly at the took place. On this day people beginning of the year,” Christian were told to get the word out about Rodriguez 14’ said. Kony and make him a household [linneamelbye] [ashleyboatman]

Choir members Missy Davies, Aubrey Eggett, and Maddi Long, and teachers Julia Dale and Alyssa McCollum drove bumper boats with water guns at Banana’s Fun Zone in Grand Junction during downtime between performances. “Ms. Dale was completely soaked afterwards,” Emilia Bartelheim ‘14 said.

Choir Sings at Grand Junction

Women’s, Women’s Select, Chorus, and Jazz Choirs Competed at the Grand Junction Choir Festival Last Month

he Rock Canyon choral program finished out the year with a bang by going to Grand Junction April 19-April 21 to participate in a competition and enjoy several outdoor activities. April 19, students in Women’s, Women’s Select, Chorus, and Jazz Choirs loaded onto the bus for a five hour bus ride to Grand Junction, CO, stopping only to eat at Beau Jo’s Pizza. The following day, the students woke up with a full schedule ahead of them. They spent the majority of the day participating in a choral com-

petition. Jazz choir scored straight ones, the highest possible ranking. Women’s choir received various scores in the high range. Immediately after the competition, students changed and went straight to the Colorado National Monument. They spent about an hour in the sun on a hike, had the opportunity to snap photos with friends, and even found the time to sing one of the songs they prepared. From Colorado National Monument, the students moved on to Bananas Fun Park. At the Fun Park, students let loose. They soaked each other and their teachers on the bum-

per boats, raced each other on the go carts, shot their friends in lazer tag, and played each other in miniature golf. “I love that we did so well in the competition and that I got to bond with my friends from choir,” Emilia Bartelheim ’14 said. With excellent competition ratings, and enough fun to make lasting memories, the choir trip can be considered a success.

[alliecole]

Senior Thespians Finish the Year Strong

The Little Foxes, directed and perfomed by Seniors in Advanced Drama, tells the story of a family’s struggle for wealth and power in Reconstruction-Era United States

he advanced drama class performed The Little Foxes written by Lillian Hellman on April 18th & 19th. Well rehearsed, the cast--which was directed by Morgan Hayes’12 and assistant director Ellen Hefner ‘12-- put on a spectacular show. “I was very honored to direct and act in the Little Foxes,” Hayes said. “I put a lot of effort into the selection of the play, and wanted to direct it in a way that would be honorable to the source material, as I have always been fond of Hellman’s (the playwright) works, and

consider this classic tale of family avarice to be her masterpiece.” The play itself tells the story of a family’s struggle for wealth and power following the conclusion of the civil war. The main character, Regina Giddens (played by Syd Charvat ‘13) is a power-hungry woman who is desperate to gain access to the money that her husband Horace, (played by Matthew Hopkins ‘12) has put away. However, throughout the play, her efforts run into conflict with the interests of her cunning brother Ben Hubbard (played by Morgan Hayes ‘12) and

his gullible business partner and brother, Oscar (played by Maxwell Pederson ‘14). There was a lot of subtle action throughout the play, as well as several humorous moments. However, when the plot became exceedingly complex, those who were paying attention kept up with all the twists and turns. The dialogue was heavy at times, but the actors did a wonderful job remembering their lines. Overall the setting, characters, and tech (the set, light and costume design) were all exceedingly impressive for a class play that was

produced in a short period of time. “I am extremely proud of the cast and the superlative effort they put into it--with many of them giving the best performances I’ve ever seen out of them--and I felt that they made perhaps the hardest play we’ve ever done at Rock Canyon entirely worthwhile,” Hayes said. This was a very unique play performed by the advanced drama department and was undoubtedly enjoyable for all those who saw it. [sydcharvat]

additional reporting by [maerohrbach]

[05/10/12]

thenews

FACEBOOK ACQUIRES INSTAGRAM FOR $1 BILLION

Zuckerberg assures users that Instagram will continue to be run fairly and independently

T the

TECH beat

hrough a Facebook status with 161,000 likes posted April 9, CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would be acquiring Instagram and its team. Instagram is a photo sharing app for iPhone and Android that allows users to snap photos, apply a digital filter to change the mood of the photo, and share it with their friends. It was named App of the Year for 2011 by Apple. Facebook’s acquisions in the past have resulted in the acquired product being shut down, leading some analysts to conclude that the acquisitions were made primarily to acquire talent rather than technology behind the

product. To quell fears of Instagram being shut down by Facebook, Zuckerberg assured users that they would continue to operate Instagram as a separate product. “Millions of people around the world love the Instagram app and the brand associated with it, and our goal is to help spread this app and brand to even more people,” Zuckerberg said. Facebook disclosed that they’re paying $1 billion in cash and stock for the acquisition, making it their largest to date.

AT A GLANCE As of May 1, Instagram has 50 million active users Instagram raised $57.5 million in funding Instagram has only 12 employees Facebook paid $1 billion to acquire Instagram Sources: Facebook, Instagram, TechCrunch.com

[charliemelbye]

RARE VIRUS TAILORED TO MAC COMPUTERS IS UNLEASHED AT A GLANCE About 9% of computers run Mac OS X The next version of OS X will be released this summer, and will include new security features There are over one million known computer viruses.

Sources: Apple

April 6, Mac Computer owners everywhere shuddered. A new virus for Mac OS threatens the security of Mac users everywhere.

n the past month more than six hundred thousand Mac computers were infected with the malware software, known as Flashback Trojan. Flashback Trojan was a virus originally disguised as Adobe Flash Reader created by the infamous man now known as Dr. Web April 4. Fifty percent of the virus’ attacks occur in the United States and 20 percent of the attacks occur in Canada. Flashback was created in September, 2011 and is easily capable of pushing through firewalls. Due to this, the virus is the most dangerous viruses in recent memory and is similar to the virus that attacked Microsoft computers in

2009 known as Conficker. “Having my computer infected with the Conficker virus was awful,” Liam Kelly ‘14 said. “It took me over three days to get it off my computer.” Once this virus hits the computer, it enters Safari, irefox, or any other browser and steals important passwords for your e-mail, banking, and other important online codes. Computer experts such as Patrick Fitzgerald have advocated that the best way to avoid the Mac OS virus is by staying away from all Java ready sites on your computer or by installing extra firewalls for Mac OS. [michaelshapiro]

SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS EFFECTS ON SOCIETY

s you walk through the halls, you can hear phrases like “Add me!” or “Message me!” coming from the popular social media website of Facebook. But what many people don’t know, is that social media websites such as Facebook and twitter are mostly negatively affecting them. With over 250 million users and growing, Facebook opens doors for many people to talk. But how safe is this supposedly easy way to talk to friends? With more than one in five children having been affected by online preda-

tors, chatting and comments just waiting for rude comments, and a distraction for students trying to study, Facebook could be doing more harm than good. “I make sure only to add my good friends on Facebook” Juli Jones ‘14 said. “I have heard of some crazy Facebook stories of people getting bullied or worse.” Research from psychologists around the nation have discovered that Facebook can also have effects on its users such as depression, narcissism, and social anxiety. As of now Scholz is with Counselor Susan Young in the counseling office,

getting tips on what it takes to be a school counselor. “Facebook can be a form of bullying” Scholz said. “I think it is detrimental to self esteem in several cases. I equate this social interaction like road rage. Typing on the screen, people have a buffer and they can say anything.”

[meganboyles]

thenews

05 [05/10/12]

PROM 2012

[miawright]

Setting Sail to Mile High

[miawright]

In the Midst of Mayhem and Moonlight 1. Nick Merrill ‘12 escorts his date Taylor Broderick to the dance floor at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. “Prom this year was a lot better then last year. The venue was a lot better; I loved Mile High,”Merrill said. 2. Mady Zierke ‘12 chats with Amanda Seid ‘12 while taking a break from dancing during Prom April 14. “I had a lot of fun at Prom,”Seid said. “I loved how you could look out the windows and see all the city lights. It made the experience more memorable.” 3. Zach Anderson ‘12 poses before leaving for Prom with his date Madelyn Falk’12. “It was one of the greatest nights of my life,” Falk said. “It went by too fast though; I blinked and it was over.”

[dillonsavich]

4. Hayden Neff ‘12 throws the dice during a game of craps at After Prom. “It was my first time playing craps and it completely absorbed me,”Neff said. “My friend and I broke the bank in our last five minutes of playing.” 5. Rachel Branson ‘12 slides down the stairs, which were turned into a slide, in the commons at After Prom with her date Mitch Werden ‘12. “I thought After Prom had a lot to offer this year and all the parents seemed to have so much fun with it!”Branson said. 6. Ben Daley ‘13 races down the blow up obstacle course set up in the gym for After Prom.

[miawright]

[demriscott]

[nichelletesone]

[miawright]

[05/11/12]

Leading to state:

5A Soccer playoffs -bound

his is it. He sets his blocks. T Head down, eyes focused on the track. Junior Brian Goldberg

Hot off an eight game win streak, and second in Continental League, the Jaguars are ready for a title “We’re now known as competition for everyone, even the defending state champs.” This year, the Jaguars were able to utilize a defensive coach, Bri Young, who is the older sister of varsity starter Kaycie Young. Young is an experienced player who played in college at Texas A&M as an outside defensive back. She is back in Colorado doing an internship with Real Colorado Soccer and is volunteering with the Varsity girls. “She built up our back line to be really strong,” Branson said. “And our scoring is really spread out; everyone [kaylaneil] contributes.” “I think we will do better this year Julia Seifert ‘15 passes the ball through to Katianna Glover ‘15 during the game against Mountain Vista May 1. then we did last year,” starting keeper Julia Henning ‘14 said. “I think we he Lady Jags are ready to compete in the will have a higher seed and we have a 5A playoffs next week. The Varsity team better team. We have a great group of finished the season with a record of 10-3-2 players with a ton of chemistry and we overall and a continental league record of are a family.” 8-2-1. Until their final league match against The first playoff game was WednesVista, the lady jags were on an eight game day May 9, versus Lakewood High winning streak. School. “This is definitely our best season yet,” [jeremypurchase] Defense man Rachel Branson ‘12 said.

Runners begin the 4.2 mile run in Washington Park Saturday April 21. “Tillman went on to play for ASU for 4 years and is considered one of the most famous players in ASU history,” Riley said.

at Tillman is the definition of a man of honor. P The story starts early on in Tillman’s football career. In college, Tillman was an inspiration to many on and off of the field. “He was not only a star athlete, but he was a student first,” Hunter Riley, the director of program at the Pat Tillman Foundation said. Tillman majored in marketing and graduated in three and a half years with honors (summa cum laude) and was the starting linebacker on ASU’s football team that led them to the Rose Bowl with Jake Plummer ( a fan favorite duo). He started all four years of his college career. After the 9/11 bombings in 2001, Tillman traded a multimillion dollar contract in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals for a spot in the military. A few years later, reports surfaced that the football player turned military man was shot and killed in friendly fire in Afghanistan. Along with 28,000 runners in Tempe, Arizona, the Colorado branch of the Pat Tillman Foundation supported a 4.2 mile run (to honor his number, 42) in Wash park on Saturday, April 21. Proceeds from the run go towards investments in educational scholarships for military spouses and soldiers. [demriscott]

Junior Brian Goldberg has led the team through his hard work and dedication, and qualifying for state this season.

[kelceybeckman] Brian Goldberg begins his 100 meter sprint off the blocks during practice Wednesday May 2. “It’s such a short race that you need a great start,” Brian Goldberg ‘13 said. “The slightest mistake can cost you.” obtain those goals. He is the type team. Goldberg is the type of guy of athlete who can be put in any who is fun to be around, cracking event and do well in it,” Kelly King jokes and making everyone laugh, ‘12 said. but when it is time to work, he Goldberg leads the sprinters buckles down, gets serious and each day at practice from warmgets the work done. ups to repeat 200s and lad“Goldberg pushes himself by setting goals for himself and working really hard in practice to [kelceybeckman]

Favorite soda? First movie you Favorite show Favorite Comedian? on TLC? cried to?

Dream vacation destination be?

Favorite pre- If you could be a competition lightsaber, what color would you meal? be?

Fresca

Harry Potter

Dance Moms

Brian Regan

Greece

A sandwich

Dr. Pepper

Radio

What Not to Wear

Gabriel Iglesias

Madagascar

Pasta

Red

Pearl Harbor

What’s TLC?

Daniel Tosh

Carribean

Fettuccini Alfredo

Purple

Marley and Me

Strange Addicitions

Dane Cook

Spaghetti

Green

I don’t eat before track

Green

Blue

Rachel Branson

Andrew Nicolanovich

Dr. Pepper Brian Goldberg

The Jockular:

[demriscott]

Answers to quirky questions from some of this season’s athletes.

Run for Honor

In remembrance for his service in the military and his payment of the ultimate price, a run is hosted for Pat Tillman.

has to qualify for one of the top 18 spots in the100 meter dash to make it to state. The starter calls set, Goldberg has one more second to think and the gun goes off. He jets out of the blocks, focusing on his form, finding the strength in his legs and the passion in his heart to push to the finish line. Despite tripping out of the blocks at last weekend’s meet, Goldberg has one more chance at the meet May 12 to improve his time again to bolster his ranking in the top 18. Goldberg is currently qualified for State with the 100 meter dash time of 11.27 seconds. Speed, hard work and enthusiastic are three words to describe Goldberg. He is one of the captains of the track team along with his friends Trent Riddle and Josh Cole. He is one of the fastest guys in the state, currently ranked 17. “Brian is the perfect example of an athlete who allows how he acts on the track to speak for him off the track,” Coach Chris Page said. Brian shows up every day to practice ready to work and he challenges himself to be a better athlete each day. Goldberg is a natural leader who sets a good example for every athlete on the

thesports

Pepsi

New Zealand

Tyler Wagstaff

Ashley Burns

Say Yes to the Dress

Dr. Pepper Titanic

Gabriel Iglesias

Bahamas

thesports

The Heads of The Team: The Captains

07 [05/10/12]

Through the trials and tribulations of a season, the consistent leader and heart of a team is the captain. We salute spring captains.

Ace in the Hole: Lauren Wetzel

Lauren Wetzel practices her serve on the tennis courts at Rock Canyon on May 6

auren Wetzel ‘12 stands in the front parkL ing lot on an unassuming, typically cloudy Wednesday afternoon. She gets her tennis racquet and shoes out of her car and is surrounded by her teammates. They jovially laugh and act as though they don’t have a care in the world. The time hits three thirty and it is time for practice. As Wetzel takes the trek up the massive hill and onto the tennis courts her expression begins to change. It’s time to practice, time to compete, and most importantly for Wetzel, time to win. This is the epitome of Lauren Wetzel. A fun, energetic, person off the court, a fierce, driven, competitor on it. “Lauren is a great competitor,” teammate Brooke Gallagher ‘13 said. “Most people don’t think of her like that because she is always smiling, but when you watch her on the court it is easy to tell how hard she competes in every practice and every match.” This type of competitive fire mixed with her status as a Senior makes Lauren a perfect leader. “I believe that me being a Senior is the root cause for people viewing me as a leader,” Wetzel said. “Since I have been on the team for four years I can show the younger players how to be successful.” For most, it is very easy to be a leader when things are going well and the team is winning. However, what separates the good leaders from the great leaders is how they handle adversity. Overall, the Lady Jags ended their season with a three and ten record going into Regionals. Despite this, Wetzel asserted her leadership and kept a positive attitude, thus keeping herself and her team focused for Regionals and possibly even state. “While our record has not been great this year, myself and the team are very excited for Regionals,” Wetzel said. “I know if we keep our concentration and focus throughout the rest of the season, many of our players can ultimately make it to State.” Lauren Wetzel has left her indelable mark on Rock Canyon and the tennis program throughout the last four years. Whether it is encouraging her teammates, leading vocally and by example, or being an amazingly fierce competitor, Lauren Wetzel has proved to be an athlete and teammate that we all should aspire to be.

[michaelshapiro]

I Am Second: Jeff Prior

Born to Run: Trent Riddle

nderstand to achieve anything requires faith and “U belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible

printers are set in the blocks, heads down, S hearts pounding, then the gun goes off. Trent Riddle’s ‘13 first stride sets him on the

right pace for the 400 meter run. Riddle keeps a fast, steady speed for the first 300 but when he comes around that final curve entering the 100 meters in the race, he pushes himself, one foot in front of the other and sprints it out to the finish line. “Once you go track you never go back,” Riddle said. Rising up to becoming one of the head track captains was a long process for Riddle, that began his freshman year. Over the past three years, Riddle has put in continuous hard work and dedication into his running and under the wing of Dalton Spanbauer, Riddle was able to step up this year as one of the captains for the sprinters, along with Brian Goldberg ‘13, Josh Cole ‘13, Ashley Burns ‘12 and Kelley King ‘12. Riddle never gave up, even after recovering from ACL and meniscus surgery, and he has pushed himself so far this year which has got him to where he is today, having his best season so far. Riddle is a natural born leader who works hard each and every day in order to perform well at varsity meets. Whether it is at practice or a meet, Riddle is always cheering on and supporting his teammates no matter what event they participate in, and Riddle works hard to keep a relaxed atmosphere for everyone both on and off of the track. Riddle competes in multiple events each week; Riddle sprints the 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash, 800 meter dash

Trent Riddle poses on the track with a baton before pratice. and he also participates in the 4x400 meter relay which him and his team are currently ranked 17th for state, and the 4x800 meter relay which him and his team are currently ranked 9th for state. As the 2012 track season comes to a close, Riddle along with the rest of the team have had a great season and everyone has come so far since the beginning. “I am extremely proud of every individual on the team, this track season has been better than ever.” Riddle 13’ said. Riddle has also had the support of the entire team behind him this whole season but he is really close with a few of the guys. “I would like to mention one of my fellow captains who have pushed me to become a better runner and leader while still being the fastest kid in Douglas County, Brian Goldberg.” Riddle said. Riddle always shows up ready to run and takes advantage of each day, wherever he goes he life, in will find always find success. [kelceybeckman]

The Ultimate Defender: Taylor Staab

Taylor Staab ‘12 dribbles past two Mullen defenders on March 3

y teammates respect me as I respect “M them. When I assert my leadership, they listen to what I have to say, just as I

would do for them.” This is a firm belief held by varsity soccer player, Taylor Staab ‘12. Over the past four years, Staab has matured into a starter and leader of the varsity team. Not only has she adapted to a role as a team leader, she has also developed a close affiliation with the coaches. “I feel pretty open with asking questions and sharing my opinion with the coaches because they respect my opinion as I respect theirs., Staab said. , Staab helped lead the Jaguars to a playoff berth, and a 10-3-2 overall record. The team would not have achieved this impressive record had it not been for the positive influence of Staab and a few other driven seniors. Staab recalls a point in the season when the girls

were simply not playing to their full potential. “There was a time when we were unprepared and didn’t come out to play,” Staab said. “It was as if we were going through the motions and we didn’t show a drive and focus to win games.” Staab and other seniors came together and had a talk., Staab and these seniors then took the talk directly to the team. After, the girls’ effort and ambition improved dramatically. They went on to win every game throughout the entire month of April and tie Mountain Vista for the coveted first place in Continental League. Staab believes that she assists in leading the team not only through her vocal messages to teammates, but also with her actions. Although Staab may encourage teammates with constructive criticism, see also enjoys leading by example, as she sees herself as a hard-worker who brings an intense and enthusiastic style of play to the team. “All of us are teammates and we all respect one another.”- Staab said. “ I am not the only leader on the team, every one of us has exemplified leadership in one way or another. Even though some players are older than others, we are in it together and we are only as strong as our weakest link.”

for those who believe.” It’s Tuesday morning. The alarm clock sends a chorus of annoying beeps into the dark bedroom; it’s bright display reads “5:30am”. 30 minutes later, Prior in the gym, rep after rep, before the sun comes up. He’s back home by 7:30, finishing up the last bit of homework before his first two AP classes of the day. Senior Jeff Prior is no baseball prodigy. He is not a national talent, nor a D1 prospect. He’s simply just following his love, and giving 100% to it, every single day. The countless distractions that present themselves in the common high school environment have proven impervious in their quest to tarnish the will of a dedicated athlete. The trivial enjoyments of senseless partying, the frivolous escapes presented in forms of drugs and defiance, the all too commonly traveled “easy path” of accepting mediocrity - all fail to deter Prior from his love of God, and baseball. “I think what keeps me motivated is the past rejection. All throughout my life I have been told I am too small, I have been told I am not strong enough, I have even been told that I am straight-up not good enough to play this game.” As do all successful people, Prior does not use people’s ill informed criticism to build a case for unavoidable failure, but rather views them as a foundation upon which to build his work ethic. “I know there are other people out there working, so the only way I can ever pass them up is to simply work harder.” The school day is now over, but the hard work has only begun. Jeff takes his spot at 2nd base for the Jaguars Varsity team. 30 minutes of warming up, 1 hour of defensive drills, 1 hour of hitting, 20 more minutes of lifting. The rest of the team leaves the field - Prior stays. 30 minutes of extra hitting, extra time polishing his craft. The remainder of the night is dedicated to the unfinished homework. The foundation “I Am Second” is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others. This phrase is sported on Jeff’s twitter profile, it’s on his bracelet, but most importantly it’s in his heart - it is no real surprise he wears #2 on his back, but that could just be due to his adoration of Colorado Rockies Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. What is true dedication? Is it an hour a day of honing your skill? 2 hours? Or is it a decision? A decision to give up the small enjoyments of life that lead us astray from our true potential, an unquantifiable mindset that no matter what happens, accepting that nothing less than total success is going to be the ultimate outcome. Postscript: Prioe will be continuing to play baseball next year at Augustana College in Illinois. [chrissafran]

[jakebattock]

Senior Second Baseman Jeff Prior warms up before a game at Rock Canyon in his last season as a Jaguar

[5/10/12]

theimage

09 [5/10/12] Change your coffee Change your Life

Congratulations to the Rock Seniors! Thank you for all your hard work! Lauren Schierman, Charlie Melbye, Danielle Burrage, Alex Pedrinan, Chris Safran, Andrew Charap, Allie Cole, Zach Anderson, Sean McGavin, Karly Hanson, and Sydney Boyle

[05/10/12]

thesports

Sports and the Brain

Former Chicago Bears Safety Dave Duerson committed suicide at his home. When his body was found, the police found a note left behind in which Duerson asked that his brain be donated to science. Two weeks later, doctors at Boston University found that he had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a brain disease caused by suffering numerous concussions

Austin Sutton ‘12, Wide Reciever for the Varsity football team, is treated by medical staff at the conclusion of the first half of the 2012 Homecoming game versus Falcon High School. Sutton took a midair collision before landing on his chest while trying to catch a pass.

very athlete dreams of being the one to score the goal in overtime, the one to hit the final shot, or the one to hit the game-winning homer. They dream of having their one-shining moment. While it only takes a split second to score that goal or hit that homer, it takes just as long to have those dreams ripped away. Injuries happen all the time in sports; some are accidental and some are intentional. Whatever the cause, there is one injury whose effects last a lifetime. It’s an injury that is often overlooked by the public: the concussion. Concussions are nothing new to sports. They have been around since the beginning. What makes them so infamous today is that the majority of the research we have conducted on the dangers of concussions has only been over the last decade. What we know now has changed the way coaches, parents, trainers, and players look at head injuries. A concussion is one of the many injuries in sports that carries misconceptions. Concussions do not require a blow to the head directly. A violent shake of the upper body is all it takes. The initial cause of a concussion is actually the rapid brain movement in the head. The brain’s collision with the skull causes swelling, and in some cases, bleeding. The anatomy of what makes up a concussion is virtually the same for everyone who experiences one. The differences lie in the symptoms. A variety of symptoms can be caused by concussions. Some are expected such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Others can be very frightening. A loss of consciousness, loss of sleep, and abnormal behavior. Symptoms all too familiar in Nick Merrill’s 12’ mind.

A Dose of Reality It was early in the lacrosse season this year when the RCHS boys played Columbine in a non-conference game, that Merrill suffered a nasty season-ending concussion. It was an ordinary game until the tension between the two teams began to rise. Out of nowhere,

Merrill was repeatedly struck in the head by a Columbine player. The player continued to strike Merrill in the head until he was pulled off and thrown out of the game. At that point it was too late. Merrill had suffered his fourth concussion. “I don’t remember anything leading up to or during the incident,” Merrill said, “but I do remember that I began to act very angry and being so emotionally right of what I actually was. That’s when we went to the hospital. There they gave me an MRI and a CT scan because my body was beginning to feel numb.” Merrill was released from the hospital at 3a.m after internal bleeding in his head was ruled out. He also left with a massive lump on the back of his head, which continued to increase in size for the next few days following the incident. “I stayed home every day leading up to spring break, and then stayed at home all of spring break too,” Merrill said. “But I had tremendous support from my friends who visited me at home, and they really helped me get through it.” When it comes to concussions, the road to recovery is different for everybody. Some athletes are back on the field in a week, some in a month, and some never again. For any high school athlete that is diagnosed with a concussion, they will agree that one of the biggest dampers on recovery time is school. Concussions cause normal brain functions to slow down, and these functions are only able to speed up again once the brain has been rested enough without stimulation. Again, this time is different for everybody. Upon return to school, a sense of fatigue is common. Serious concussions can cause memory loss, trouble with speed and comprehension, and difficulties retaining information. In high school though, these symptoms become problematic. In order for a concussion to heal, the brain needs to rest. At school, it is doing just the opposite. “My first day back was tough,” Merrill said. “I walked into my AP Psych class and learned that we had a test. It was a test on the chapter that I hadn’t even looked at. It was really stressful to come back and not only find out everything you missed, but find out everything

By the #s 85 59 1 41 4

The percent of concussions that go undiagnosed every year. The number of games NHL star Sydney Crosby missed in 2012 due to a concussion. The number of concussions averaged in every American football game. The percent of athletes who return to sports while still experiencing symptoms. The number of times more likely to sustain a second concussion after the first.

Source: www.mayoclinic.com

that you just weren’t physically able to do. But my teachers were very understanding about the whole thing and helped me through it.” That was Merrill’s fourth concussion. Typically, a sports physician allows anywhere between four or five to continue playing contact sports. A doctor’s concerns about numerous concussions are for two reasons: SecondImpact Syndrome (SIS), and the possibility of a newly discovered disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

“I got in the car and was yelling ‘I hate this place’ and ‘I hate eveverything.’ I was so emotionally right of what I really am”

The severity of second impact syndrome varies. CTE on the other hand, does not. This newly discovered disease has the ability to affect psychological behavior forever. It acts like a demon inside a helpless sole. It has the makeup of dementia and Alzheimer’s, but it is only caused by suffering numerous concussions. Protein can develop in the brain, and after more and more impacts, it can begin to clump in certain areas. These clumps cause major changes mentally and physically. Muscle functions begin to slow down, and poor judgment and depression begin to set in. At this stage, the brain has gone from the central part of the body, to a ticking time bomb. In professional sports, the only confirmed diagnoses have been made in ice hockey, football, and wrestling. Most notably was the tragic death of former Cincinnati Bengals safety Chris Henry, who died from severe injuries following a car accident. An autopsy later confirmed that he in fact had CTE, after only playing five years in the NFL.

A New Threat

No Second Chances

These two diseases have different characteristics, but similar consequences. If the diseases are severe enough, they can result in death. Second-impact syndrome is the result of a second blow to the head during the recovery process of a concussion. Although the probability of getting another concussion while recovering is low, it doesn’t take nearly as much force to cause SIS. Just a minor shift in upper-body movement, or a minor hit anywhere on the head is enough. A minor blow after a concussion can be the difference between a healthy recovery, and permanent disabilities. Once the second impact has occurred, the brain swells up even more and becomes unable to regulate how much blood it can hold. At this point, any treatment is irrelevant. For some victims, their lives were forever changed when they found out they were paralyzed or partially brain dead. Those are the lucky ones. Some deaths of second-impact syndrome have been reported to be three to five minutes from the second impact. It only takes a split second.

There are obviously serious consequences in the long term that are caused by concussions. But at the same time, only in rare cases do concussions cause permanent or life-threatening damage. In most cases it takes repeated blows to the head to cause any long-term effects, but once a concussion is diagnosed, the chances of getting another one do increase. The brain is like a car. Keep abusing it and hitting it and it will get better if you take it to a repair shop. But if you leave it be, because you don’t want to give up the extra money to fix it, it will eventually shut down. Concussions are the abuse and hits the car takes. However cars are replaceable, brains are not. You only have one. [andrewbohren]

indepth Color Blocking with The Rock:

[5/10/12]

Say Goodbye to Sweaters and Boots

It’s finally time to get rid of the dull winter blues and make room for bright pastels, flowy tops and bold, trendy patterns for the upcoming summer season

1. Backpack- Pink by Victoria’s Secret

2. Scarf-Nordstrom 3. Shoes-Nordstrom

4. Shoes-Nordstrom

Sunglasses-Walgreens

6. EarringsClaire’s

photos by: kelceybeckman

As the final days of school are dwindling as well as getting hotter and hotter, fashion has been moving in new directions for the upcoming summer season. This season, expect to see more pastel colors making a stride throughout the fashion world. Whether in the form of shorts, blazers or even simple dresses, pastels have been hitting the runway and are starting to appear in stores around the world. Flowing clothes are also making a comeback this summer. With tight fitting bottoms, “bat-wing” tops are one of the biggest trends that started to pop up during the winter. If it is a cool, summer day, then pair shorts with a long sleeve “bat wing” shirt to get a fun, but sophisticated look. Another trend hitting the racks this season is the use of bright, bold prints to accentuate any summer focused look. Vera Bradley is one of the biggest names in the handbag industry, and since their arrival at the Park Meadows mall, their cute prints have been making an appearance all over Colorado. Pairing a Vera Bradley bag with white shorts and a colorful top makes their signature purses a must-have for this season.

The Summer Update: What They’re Wearing Boho Chic

Nikki Newman ‘15 wearing: Floral blouse and sweater from Nordstrom with brown flower belt from Aeropostale with bright turquoise skinny jeans from Nordstrom Rack. Newman is also wearing a pair of gray and white striped Toms from Nordstrom.

Pop of Color

Ashley Zerby ‘15 wearing: A bright Pink shirt from Pink by Victoria Secret with white denim shorts from Hollister. Zerby is also wearing a pair of cute white sandals from DSW and carrying an All-in-One-Wristlet (Mocha Rogue Pattern) from Vera Bradley.

Urban Update Carrie Monroe ‘14 poses for the camera wearing a vibrant coral skirt from Love Culture, with a cute black shirt from Love Culture along with a necklace to tie the whole outfit together from Forever 21.

“Our biggest sellers for teens include lanyards, ID’s and All-in-Ones. They always seem to be in style for high schoolers,” says Karen, an employee at Vera Bradley. In addition to a few clothing changes, before hitting the pool this summer, don’t be surprised when you see brand new styles in makeup in addition to a few vintage classics. “This season we are seeing more natural and glowing makeup, with an emphasis on corals and cat-like eyes; it’s a shift towards 70’s makeup in the 21st century,” Jessika Serafin, the assistant manager at M.A.C. Cosmetics, said. The makeup used this year has a direct relationship with the biggest fashion trend of the season -- color blocking. “[For the eyes] color blocking and solid lines are huge this year. But this season it is all about the skin. Glowing skin can be achieved with tinted bronzer,” Serafin added. From days at the beach to nights on the town, whether you are wearing the newest Vera Bradley bag or your old purse from sixth grade, the ways to spice up your outfit are endless to match the bright and fun trends of the summer season.

[demriscott]

Keeping it Simple Maddie Landis ‘13 poses for the camera wearing her sister’s white lace dress from H&M with a pair of adorable boots from Steve Madden.

photos by: kelceybeckman

“I really like this outfit because it is different from anything else I usually wear, and it’s super bright and fun.” Nikki Newman ‘15

“I love the colors of my outfit because I feel it really fits the season and is in spirit for Summer.” Ashley Zerby ‘15

“I love my outfit because it is a fun outfit to wear for spring and is super cute on a warm day.” Carrie Monroe ‘15

“I had to dress up for soccer so I chose to wear this white dress with a cute pair of boots.” Maddie Landis ‘13 [kelceybeckman demriscott]

indepth 12 Kick off Summer 2012 with The Rock’s Bucket List

[05/10/12]

We have two months left. Sixty days before we start the next year of high school, and 1,440 hours until we go off on our own to start our lives in college. Although it may not seem like a lot of time, it’s just enough to make 2012 a summer to remember. Here are a few of the Rock’s top summer picks if you want to go out, or stay in, and make this summer memorable.

Are You Up for a Challenge?

Play tag in the rain “One of the things we want to do is steal a bunch of street signs and cones and put them in random places.” -Rachel Branson ‘12

Have a picnic in the park Tackle a food-related challenge Go backyard camping Fill your entire cul-de -sac with chalk

Go on an adventure without spending a lot of money

The Cinnamon Challenge: Try eating one full spoonful of Cinnamon...with no water to wash it down.

“We found this experiment to make glow in the dark Mountain Dew so we’re planning to do that!” -Maddie Jackson ‘13

Sleep under the stars

The Bread Challenge: Eat one slice of bread in under 45 seconds without any water. It may sound easy, but you’ll see just how hard it is .

The Paula Deen Challenge: Try chowing down one stick of butter as fast as you possibly can.

The Peep Challenge: Take all of your leftover Peeps from Easter and attempt to do the impossible...at 24 Peeps in 5 minutes .

The Saltine Challenge: Polly wanna cracker? Try to eat at least 7 saltine crackers as fast as you can without any water.

[sydcharvat]

Grow a mustache (men only)

Dress up fancy and go to McDonalds

Grab your friends and go on an unplanned road trip

Take a photo-a-day challenge and take pictures every day

Try a new and exotic food [cambelwinkler] [sydcharvat] [virginiavaughn] [charliemelbye]

Keeping Summer Under a Dollar

Colorado Hotspots

• Karaoke Night: Gather your friends and have a

huge karaoke night. Sing your hearts out over summer! It is free and tons of fun! • A Way to Cool Down: We are all aware of the frozen

yogurt craze. It is healthy, cheap and delicious! There are so many shops in town that are easy to get to.

Arts and recreation: “ My brothers are coming back from college over the summer so I am really excited to see them! I also plan on riding my bike a lot too, now that the weather is finally getting nice.” -Austin Ryburn 13’

• Twister With a Twist: We are all familiar with

the game of Twister but let’s be honest, it needs a change. Grab a sheet and make your own twister using paint. Fill the dots with paint and play the game! It is a fun and silly way to hang out with friends. • Have a Movie Night: Invite some friends over and

gather up all of your favorite movies and have a marathon. A scary movie marathon or an eye-candy marathon is great with all of your friends with you! • Garden of the Gods: To keep things interesting,

drive up with some friends to The Garden of The Gods. It’s free and a cool way to get out for the day!

“ I am going back down to Texas to see some old friends for about a week, and then go to Disney World at some point!” -Shelbi Odette ‘13

“I love the aquarium because you get to look at sharks, walk through underwater tunnels, and pet stingrays.” (Price of admission $17.99) -Christine Mcgillick ‘14

Restaurants:

Museum of Outdoor Arts Buckhorn Exchange Resin Englewood taurant (oldest restaurant (FREE) in Colorado) 1000 Osage St., Denver, CO 80204 Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe Cliff House at Pikes Peak 306 Canon Ave., Manitou Bent’s Old fort National Springs, CO 80829 Historic Site ($3) Places to stay: Colorado Shakespeare Festival ($18-57) Capitol Hill Mansion Bed and Breakfast Inn 1207 Grand Olde West Days Pennsylvania Street, (FREE- $25) Denver, CO 80203 Tony Andenucio Memorial Aspen Meadows Resort Baseball 845 Meadows Rd., Aspen, Tournament (FREE) Co 81611

[bricooke]

[ryleeportman] [catieyanchak]

Make your own Slip n’ Slide

seniorsalute

Trading in a Permit for a Diploma

[05/10/12]

Some students surrender when the “going gets tough” but others choose to stick it out and reaping the Valedictorian reward in the end. universities in hopes of finding a science that she wasn’t even legally old enough to program that suited her and would help to drive when she received the nomination. foster her passion. Finally, at the beginning “When I was little--back in elementary of March, she found out that she had been school--I skipped first grade, then when accepted to Cornell University in New I entered middle school, I skipped sixth York and hopes to attend there in the fall grade,” Qu said. “As a little kid, I knew with a major in biomedical/biochemical that I didn’t really like my classes because engineering. I had already learned some of the material “When I get there, I’m going to see if by myself, so my parents suggested that I I can somehow worm my way into a lab just skip a grade so that I could take harder classes. That was part of the motivation both and get a fellowship, but in terms of a scholarship, I couldn’t really get any in terms times, but it was also because I think they wanted to challenge me and push my limits.” of merit-based or financial aid.” But, even though As time her grades and progressed, Qu academic achievement began to notice I was happy to see that all have brought her a the age difference of my work paid off in my great deal of success between her and her peers less and classes...almost like i did some in the classroom and on her high school less. However, now, sort of physical number or transcript, she remains even at the age of steadfast in her belief sixteen, she notes something that the ‘age card’ Kevia Qu, ‘12 that students shouldn’t pursue “education for seems to crop up in the sake of education” conversation. and that they should set themselves up to be “I think that I’m more or less fine with challenged academically, but also to succeed. it now; I think that it’s just that when the “I think that it’s a really good idea to take concept of driving comes up people always say things like ‘oh do you have your license?’ advanced classes, and I know that people get scared by the idea of taking a college class, or ‘oh you only have your permit that’s so but you should really take them, because lame’,” Qu said. you will get things from those classes that But regardless of her age, throughout you cannot get in a regular class. You’ll be her high school career Qu has constantly challenged and, through AP classes, maybe pushed herself in academics. By the end even figure out what you want to do in of her senior year, she will have completed college.” 12 AP credits and finish with a cumulative Because, according to Qu, in the end, GPA of 4.3. And although she acknowledges although grades play an important role in that four years of college level courses didn’t paving the way for your future, what you get come without a great deal of stress and out of the class is far more important than difficulty, she also notes that, had she not taken them, she might not have known what what you see on a progress report. “It’s just numbers, but ultimately, I think career path to choose. that taking the classes have much more “I always really liked science, its just worth than the realization of ‘oh hey I got an been a matter of narrowing down what I A in the class’.” do within science itself,” Qu said. “But as I took more classes that focused on science, like chemistry and biology, I realized how interested I was in the subject.” After finding her passion in science, Qu applied to a variety of colleges and [sydcharvat]

“ ”

As the class of 2012’s Valedictorian, Kevia Qu claims age is just a number. “My parents suggested that I just skip a grade so that I could take harder classes. That was part of the motivation,” Qu said. Throughout high school, students spend hours pouring over their textbooks to find the answer to a discussion question, scavenging across search engines for Sparknotes and flipping through the pages of their chicken scratch notebooks, all in hopes of seeing a hard earned letter A on their report card. However, some students, like Kevia Qu ‘12, don’t stop there. Rather than surrendering at the end of each quarter, she works as hard as she possibly can all the way to the finish line, in hopes of seeing her name printed on the honor roll list, or the

graduation program. “Finding out isn’t something that comes about in a day--it’s sort of like that you know where you are for the past couple of years and you just ‘stay there’,” Qu said. “So, when I ‘stayed there’ my junior year I was happy to see that all of my work paid off in my classes...almost like I did some sort of physical number or something.” Qu has been selected as the valedictorian for the class of 2012, but although she possesses many of the qualities one would expect of a valedictorian; driven, intelligent and conscientious, many people do not know

Like a Champ: Lau’d and Proud

After four years of competitive golf, the lessons and skills Kennedy Lau, ‘12 has learned from the green have served to help her throughout her in life.

Kennedy Lau squints her eyes under the beating Colorado sun, and she assesses her target: a bright red flag. Between Lau and her target is 200 feet of lush greenery that is the Highlands Ranch Golf Course. It’s her favorite golf course, and she’s been here before, but the rush and precise nature of golfing has always kept her coming back for more. “I like a lot about golfing: the atmosphere and the game especially,” Lau said. There’s something really nice about going out on a sunny day and playing - it lets me relax and take in all the nice things about living in

“ ”

such a sunny and sporty state”. The entire time, Lau is focused and calm. Lau prepares to take her first swing. She But beneath her cool composure, lies an lines up the club adventurous and easyend of her threegoing individual. wood and winds I’m excited for what the future “With the hard work up. And then that goes into golf, I also holds for me...I’m ready. she swings. With really try to maintain fun precision and Kennedy Lau, ‘12 in my life. Every summer force, she brings I’ll go the Vans Warped the club to the Tour and as many concerts ball like a pendulum. The ball launches off as I can over summer. Golf and music is a the tee and into the sky, where it sails for good life to me.” some time before landing somewhere in the And indeed, after this upcoming summer greenery. of putting and partying, Lau will head off the

University of North Colorado to pursue a major in Psychology. For Lau, It’s the skills we learn in our adolescence that help us in unfolding all the little corners of our universe. Sports, music, even school are tiny molecules that manifest themselves as the key to unlocking our potentials. “I’m excited for what the future holds for me. I want to take that next big leap in my life and I really owe it to the skills I learned that prepared me. I’m ready.”

[sachinmathur]

[05/10/12]

seniorsalute

Lessons Learned From the Field

Since her freshmen year, Ashlynn Yeagle ’12 has been behind the scenes of football. She is what makes the team work on a much more detailed level. Who fixes the helmets, gets the players water, and helps them calm down when they are frustrated? Well, Ashlynn does. “I started managing for the football team because I honestly just wanted to play football. But being a female makes that difficult and being a manager brought me as close as I was going to get,” Yeagle said. But there is more to football than just helmets and touchdowns for Yeagle. Over the past four years, Yeagle has become

a part of a “football family”, as she would describe. “My favorite part about being a manager is just the sense of family that you get from the athletes and the coaches. Coach Lynch is like my second dad. They make you feel like you are actually a part of the team. They hurt, I hurt,” Yeagle said. Throughout the years, Yeagle has created many memories with the players after having shared excited and silent bus rides, wins and losses, and jokes to be carried on and never forgotten. Before being solely a manager for football, Yeagle participated in athletics here at Rock Canyon. She then moved on to be a student athletic trainer. She would clean up the player’s blood, wrap their wounds, and wear her fanny pack med-kit with pride. But now she prefers managing the sport. “Sports management involves more equipment and you don’t really deal with the medical part of it. You deal with the coaches and athletes on a business level and it is a huge responsibility,” Yeagle said. Next year Yeagle will attend the University of Wyoming where she will study Marketing and Management with an emphasis on Sports

Management. She will also be the Football manager of the Division 1 football team at the University of Wyoming. She is excited to work at a higher level of football where it is a much more intense environment. She hopes that one day she will be able to manage Sports Authority Field or the Denver Metro Football Stadium District. “I love all of these stadiums. The football field is like my second home,” Yeagle said. “Many of my life lessons have come from football. [For example], when two of our players were in a car accident, it made me realize just how important high school relationships are and how important the team is to me and even my new life philosophy has come from football,” said Yeagle. Ashlynn Yeagle would like to thank Head Football Coach Tom Lynch for everything he has done and taught her over the past four years.

[ceciliacastro]

Around The World The crystal clear, bath warm water washes up on the shore. The sun causes the sand to burn and the blue water to sparkle. As she looks out onto the vast ocean she reminisces about the past and is eager for what the future may hold. Since she can remember Alexis Hutchings has always been attracted to tropical places like these. Venezuela, Barbuda, Antigua, Bahamas, and Hawaii are just a handful of the places she has traveled to. It is places like these that people can only imagine going to, but Hutchings is fortunate of her experiences and will always hold onto the memories. Her favorite place so far was Antigua. “Getting to sail around the Carib-

bean Islands on a boat was an unforgettable trip,” Hutchings said. Being able to travel to all of these places seems good enough, but being able to do it with friends makes it even better. Hutchings has been able to share memories with her some of her closest friends. The experiences they had together are ones they will never forget. Traveling the world and seeing new things will always be a big part of her life. “Being fortunate enough to get to see amazing places will be something long term that I will always enjoy doing.”

[lineamelbye]

Road to Recovery Sean McGavin was looking forward to a relaxing end of his senior year; finishing up all his school work along with a varsity lacrosse season. When he stepped on the field during a game against Chapparal, he wasn’t worried about these plans changing. But when he walked off the field, his thoughts may have been a little different. “The other team was really mad we were beating them by so much,” said McGavin, “They were being super aggressive.” Towards the end of the game, McGavin was going for a ground ball when he was cross checked by an opponent. The Chapparal player continued to check him even though he didn’t have the ball. No penalty was called. “At first, I didn’t think it was that bad. It just felt like I got the wind knocked out of me.” McGavin came off the field and the trainer decided that he wasn’t seriously hurt. “I started walking to the car with my dad,” said McGavin, “And I had to stop literally every few seconds because I couldn’t breathe. That’s when I started freaking out.” The trainer recommended that he should

go to the ER to get everything checked. After painfully waiting for an hour, an x-ray came back with some results that no one expected. McGavin had punctured a lung. “I spent three long days in the hospital,” said McGavin, “And the surgery was the worst part by far. I was ‘mildly sedated’ while they stuck a straw-like tube in my side, so it was pretty painful.” The excruciating surgery wasn’t the end to this ordeal. He cannot finish out the season in lacrosse, let alone play for the rest of the summer. For the next two weeks, he isn’t allowed to go to high altitudes or go underwater. “So my job, lifeguarding, is out of the question.” said McGavin. Despite the unexpected turn of events, McGavin is still in good spirits. “This definitely isn’t going to ruin the end of my senior year,” he said, “I’ve been looking forward to this for so long and this is just a little bump along the road. I’ll get through it.”

[virginiavaughan]

The Power of Music Senior Lane Fisch unlocked a new part of himself through music You have probably seen him around before flashing his bright white smile at everyone he sees, at the gym pumping iron, or even pounding the drums in the RCHS band. A social butterfly that always puts people in a good mood. If you truly know Lane Fisch, you know that his major passion and love in life isn’t drumming or even lifting weights even though Fisch is avid in both; you know that above everything, Fisch has a love for the techno band Deadmau5. The sound of the bass blasts through his car stereo and headphones 24/7. Fisch lives and breathes their music. The band is like Fisch’s life soundtrack. It is not just music to him; it inspires him and helps him through whatever he encounters in life. “His music gives me something to always come to when I am down, or even up because there is a Deadmau5 song for every mood.” Fisch ’12 said. Deadmau5 is a band that was created and still consists of one man, Joel Zimmerman. The band was established in Toronto by Zimmerman and became widely known in 2008. “I started listening to him towards the end of my sophomore year. He had a few good songs so I decided to go to his concert which ended up changing my life.” Everyone knows how music can change your mood in a matter of that three minute time period; Girls know this first hand with every Taylor Swift song produced. But for Lane, Deadmau5’s music has done more than just temporarily changed his mood. “He’s given me something to look forward to everyday, as I really never get tired of his stuff. He has made me a more optimistic person in general ever since July 17, 2010 when I saw him perform at Global.” A song is more powerful than people think. Everyone has that one song that when they listen to it, their life is complete. For that three minutes, you are enveloped in a sea of emotion that can end up impacting your life more than you know. “There is a Deadmau5 song for every mood; but to me, the song that has the ability to induce several different emotions is “Strobe”. If I could ask him one thing, I would ask him if he realizes how meaningful some of his sadder and deeper songs are. I have a hunch that he himself doesn’t even know how songs like “Strobe” can affect people like me.” From the short time that I have gotten to know Lane personally, I know he is a passionate, caring and friendly person who is just like any senior who just wants to get out of here. Wherever his life takes him whether that be a drummer for a famous band or becoming a body builder from all that lifting, I know that he will make a positive and lasting impact on everyone he meets.

[ryleeportman]

seniorsalute

15 [05/10/12]

Musically motivated Understanding the power of music

In the picture, Lauren Hahn, poses with a tiger at the Cheyenne Mountain zoo. ‘12, even a junior zookeeper can do some of the most dangerous jobs. “They actually had a rifle pointed at him,”Hahn said. “If he woke up, we would have all been in big trouble.”

Lions, tigers, and bears : a day in the life of Lauren Hahn

[zachanderson]

Lauren Hahn, ‘12, works at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo during her summers. With a job so unique, working with animals such as tigers, giraffes, and snow leopards , she never knows what to expect When Lauren Hahn, ’12, answers the phone, she’s waiting with a smile. It’s easy to tell; you can hear it in her voice. Perhaps it’s the fact that graduation is mere weeks away, or that she is nearing the final round of her high school battle with senioritis--either way, from the way the words roll off her tongue, she’s glowing. But she seems to be this way with most things. Hahn is a lucky girl, or rather, a hard working one. She is a get-in-there-and-try-it kind of person, whether she’s working with six hundred pound tigers at her summer internship at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo or regaining her volleyball prowess after a season-ending sprain, her smile never faltering. Some may call it a good attitude; others call it pure drive. “I’m the most competitive person,” she says. “Even when I’m on the highway, it’s a chance to prove myself.” Such ambition is the reason why Hahn not only excelled in her volleyball career--starting from the freshman team and working her way up to an slot on the highly competitive Allstate club team as well as the varsity high school team--but also her dream career she will be pursuing next year at Colorado College. “I kinda always knew that I wanted to be a vet,” she says. “But after working in a zoo I realized that I didn’t want to work with little house animals. I wanted to work with big exotic, crazy animals.

“ ” I wasn’t too scared until I walked into the tiger’s alley in the back. Their eyes are so piercing... Lauren Hahn, ‘12

A zoo-vet. It’s a fitting job for someone who talks about the big cats and giraffes she works with, through a junior zookeeping program at the zoo, as if they are like her house pets. “My favorite cat is the male snow leopard, his name is Putan,” she says, grinning. “He was human-raised so he thinks he’s a human, and whenever the trainers come in, he gets really excited. And when big cats get really excited, they lose all the control in their body. He starts jumping around and flailing. The first few times, me and a couple of trainers would nearly pee ourselves laughing because its so funny.” Zookeeping wasn’t always this effortless though; Hahn explains that on her first day of the job, she was shocked at the amount of bravery it requires to work with exotic animals. “I wasn’t too scared until I walked in to the tigers alley in the back,” she says. “Their eyes are so piercing and the intensity in which they look at you scared me a little bit. But after that first

For the hundreds of different genres of music, there seem to be different personalities to match the listeners. To James Mcpherson ‘12, the sounds of Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, and Glenn Miller seem to play in harmony with the unique individual that always admired them. “My favorite genre is Jazz,” Mcpherson said. “I love the variety, the wide range of different styles and tempos of Billie Holiday and John Coltrane.” Since the beginning of middle school, Mcpherson has participated in jazz band as a baritone saxophone player. This is his eighth year of playing. “Peggy Vax, my teacher, was the wife of a professional jazz big band leader, so naturally, I began to become a fan of that style,” he said. “I quickly began to branch out into loving small group and bebop style, though.” Despite moving from California in 2009, Mcpherson has maintained a respect for jazz that remains unfazed. “It isn’t necessarily more complex than most genres, however, it requires a lot of creativity and musical knowledge. I’ve met some good friends that recognize this as well.” he said. Next year Mcpherson will attend (Metro), and plans to major in business with a minor in music. He looks forward to playing in the future with even more people that share that passion. “I guess music can apply to everything you do and all aspects of life.” he said. “I like how it can tie people together and bring them closer.”

day, I wasn’t that scared of them anymore.” But, as lovable as a family dog or cat, Hahn has developed a unique relationship with the animals she encounters on her job. “It’s a different perspective. When you visit a zoo you don’t get to see their personalities. But working behind the scenes and working with the animals you actually get to see their separate characters. Working in a zoo, you see what is so great about these animals and why they need protection in the wild.” Her love of animals plus her seemingly endless ambition and joy predict she will be doing great things for the creatures that she’s learned so much about over the past year. Before she’s done telling her story, she sends a picture via text with the caption: “This is George.” George happens to be a 800lb grown tiger who is peacefully sleeping on top of an examination table. What we don’t see in the picture, is that George is actually being held at gunpoint, in case he wakes up from the drugs he’s currently under. Hahn then explains that she was responsible for giving George his anesthesia -- the most crucial job in the entire room. It’s breath-taking, it’s daring, and this summer she’s doing it all over again. That same smile radiates over the phone line as she says, “I’m so excited.”

[danielleburrage]

Quickquotes

RCHS seniors share their favorites, their focuses, and their final goodbyes

Britney Wunderlich, ‘12, said she had met her colleglate match once she’d arrived at CU “Once I visited the college, I fell in love with it. I love what it has to offer, I love the programs, and I love how it is oriented towards the outdoors,” Wunderlich said. Rachel Branson‘12, hopes to do something fun and daring with her friends before she heads off to school “One of the things we want to do is steal a bunch of street signs and cones and put them in random places,” said Branson. Nichelle Tesone, ‘12, recalls her favorite senior year experiences. “I was able to dedicate a lot of my time into yearbook and litmag that ended up being really successful. I made a lot of good friends, and I hope that what I learned will help me in my future. “ When it finally hit Lexy Kadey, ‘12, that this was her last week of high school, she said the feeling was “bitter sweet.” “I’ve always been excited to leave school,” Kady said. “But this morning I was starting to get sad because it doesn’t hit you until the last week. I’m so excited festivities because its really the last time to be together as a class.”

[05/10/12]

Mapped Out

indepth

Find out where your friends and peers are going next year... Dillon Abernathy- University of Northern Colorado, Undecided Julia Adam- CSU, Mass Communications Victoria Agster- CU Colorado Springs, Biochemistry Frank Anderson- Army Reid Anderson - CU Boulder, Engineering Zachary Anderson- Belmont University , Commercial Music Jake Armijo- Florida State, Criminal Justice/Police Science Laura Armstrong -CU Boulder, Psychology Katherine Austin- CSU, Biology Taylor Bacon- Metro State, Business Mitchell Bakke-CU Denver, Biology Hannah Banks- CSU, Undecided Kyle Barbachano- ACC, Graphic Design Steven Barns-Metro State, Business Abigail Baroffio-University of Kansas, Anthropology Ashley Barrow-CSU, Undecided David Baysinger- University of Northern Colorado, Undecided John Becker- CU Boulder, Molecular Biology Scott Belden- Metro ,Meteorology Taylor Benson-CU Boulder, Chemical & Biological Engineering Ryan Blanchard- Colorado Film School, Writing/Directing Devon Block- CU Boulder,Undecided Sara Bodman- University of Oklahoma, Musical Theatre Reade Bostwick- Traveling Bailey Bowman- CSU, Art Grant Boyle-CU Denver, Undecided Sydney Boyle- CSU, Undecided Victoria Bradley- Pima Community College, Business Kyle Bradshaw- CSU,Business Rachel Branson- University of South Carolina -Columbia, Communications Journalism Courtney Bratina- CU, Biochemistry Camille Brauch-NYU,Undecided Matthew Brawand-ACC, Physiology Taylor Broderick-CSU, Undecided Brandon Broulette-CSU,Marketing/Business Robert Broulette-Hawaii Pacific, Undecided Kristen Brown-ACC, Nursing Brandon Bulmer-UCCS, Biology Lauren Burke-Northwestern University ,Chemical and Biological Engineering Taylor Burley- CSU, Business Ashley Burns-CSU, Undecided Danielle Burrage- University of Missouri , Journalism Jennifer Burton-Metro State , Early Childhood Development Rachael Burton-Could not be reached Noah Cagle-Could not be reached Weston Cangilla- CSU, Business Madeleine Cantayre- Metro State , Undecided Hunter Carrell-Ohio Center of Broadcasting, Mass Communications Parker Carrell-ACC, Undecided Samuel Carrell- University of Northern Colorado, Journalism Taylor Carter-Metro State , Aviation Andrew Charap- Davidson College ,Biology/Pre-Med Lauren Chmelik- CU Boulder, Undecided Aidan Cocetti-CU Boulder, Film Studies Jacob Cohn-CU Boulder, Business Alison Cole -CU Boulder Communications Adriana Collings- CSU, Microbiology Casey Collinsworth-CU Boulder, Undecided Holly Conger-CSU, Biomed/Biochemical Engineering Zachary Conley-Air Force Enlisting Bryan Connelly-CU Boulder,ComputerScience/Engineering Katie Cook-Utah State University, Undecided Stephen Cosgrove-CU Boulder, Undecided Austin Cox-Could not be reached

Kenneth Cranstone-CSU, Business Ryan Cullen- Colorado Mountain College , Fire Science Technology Ryan Curry- Undecided, Undecided Chandler Curtis-Westwood, Undecided Kendall Curtis-Ohio State University, Human Exercise Science Emily Davies- University of Wyoming, Nutrition Jacob Davis-Could not be reached Madison Davis-University of Nations, Kona Hawaii,Journalism Benjamin Dean-Tattoing Trevor Dean- CSU, Chemical Engineering Jessica Dillon-CSU, Biomedical Engineering Christopher Dixon- University of Northern Colorado, Business Jonathan Dumont- Metro State, Chemistry Sierra Dunbar- CSU,Undecided Roy Duncan-Could not be reached Jonah Duvall- Ringling College of Art and Design , Graphic design Jacob Dysart- CU Boulder, Engineering Katherine Easter- Metro State,Undecided Rachel Edelman- Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Graphic Design Dylan Edmiston- CSU, Undecided Aubrey Eggett-CU Boulder, Integrative Physiology John Emanuel- Undecided, Undecided Alex Enders-CU Denver, Business Brittney Evanson-Taylor Andrews School of Cosmetology, Cosmetology Andrew Ewald- Louisan State University, Business Madelyn Falk- CU Boulder,English Matthew Farnsworth- BYU, Undecided Victoria Felderman- Suffick, Creative Writing Emily Fenton-Could not be reached Daniel Fettin-CSU, Automotive Valeriya Fil- Metro State, Biochemistry Lawrence Finnerty- CU Boulder, Computer Science Lane Fisch-CU, Boulder, Math Sarah Fischer-Could not be reached Lauren Fleecs- University of Rochester, Psych/ Pre-Med Dillon Fondrick- ACC, Undecided Sandra Frazier- Hastings College, Accounting and Nursing Paige Fry- Liberty University, Nursing Eli Fuchsman-CU Boulder, Mechanical Engineering Abigail Fuselier-Concordia University , Nursing Sean Garcia-United States Marine Corps Marcus Gardner-Could not be reached Adam Gerken-Colorado College, Economics Christopher Gibbens-CSU, Undecided Bailee Givens-Purdue University, Biology/Pre-Med Sarah Gowing-Westmont College, Business and Economics Rochelle Green-CSU, Apperal and Merchandising Erika Guilbault- Lindenwood University, Pyschology Lauren Hahn-Colorado College, Biology/Pre-Vet Dana Hall-CU Denver, Pre-Med Madeline Ham-CSU, Special Education Cache Hamilton-Oklahoma State University, Electrical Engineering Brian Hanshaft- University of Arizona, Political Science Karly Hanson-SMU, Business and Spanish Samuel Harlan-Montana State University, Undecided Jonathan Harmeyer-CSU, Undecided Douglas Harris-Metro State, Criminal Justice or Navy Seal program Owen Hart-CU Boulder, Undecided Ashley Harvie-Could not be reached Ryan Hata-Fort Lewis, Athletic training John Hayek-Pratt Institute, Art Morgan Hayes-University of Northern Colorado, Theatre Arts Taylor Heckmaster-Could not be reached Ellen Hefner-Baylor University , Nursing

Robert Heller-Montana State University, Business Hannah Henry-CSU, Undecided Mark Hernandez-University of San Diego, Undecided Connor Hesen-CU Boulder, Undecided Amber Hiatt-Metro, Forensic Science Stephanie Higgins-CSU, Engineering Aaron Hinds-CU Boulder, Biochemistry George Hoelz VI-Colorado Mountain College, Fire Science David Hobby-CSU, Engineering Matthew Hopkins-Metro State , Undecided Jessica Houser-Could not be reached Shannon Howard-TCU, Undecided Tyler Howard-Fort Lewis College, Psychology Cameron Hume-Metro, Mechanical Engineering Nancy Hunt-CU Boulder, Marketing Kelsey Huntley-Metro State, Nursing Taylor Huppert- Colorado Mesa University, Nursing Alexis Hutchings-CU Boulder, Biology Benjamin Ingui-CU Denver, Business Christopher Johnson-Metro State, Marketing Ethan Johnson-Montana State University, Bioengineering Samuel Johnson-United States Marine Corps Allie Johnston-Could not be reached Conner Johnston-UC San Diego, Undecided Tyler Jonas-Colorado College, Undecided Madeline Jones-CU Boulder, Intergrative Physiology Alexis Kadey-Santa Barbara City College, Undecided Alex Kaneshiro-Metro, Undecided Kelsey Karst-CU Boulder Megan Kelley-Undecided, Massage Therapy Evan Kellogg- Kansas State University, Undecided Jennifer Kennedy-Westminster College, Undecided Michelle Kim-CU Denver, Medical Kelley King-University of Oregon, Undecided Sydney King-CSU, History or Mathmatics Education Remington Kissack-University of Nebraska at Omaha, Undecided

Andrew Kline-Could not be reached Michael Knoch-Could not be reached Issey Koelemeijer-Hogere Hotel School Maastricht in Holand, Hositality Management Kira Kopchik-Montana State University, Agriculture Science Jordan Koslosky-CSU, Business JohnCarlo Kristofich-CU Boulder, Undecided Drew Lahaie-CSU, Business Elli Lammela-Undecided Kennedy Lau-University of Northern Colorado, Psychology Robyn Lawrence-Working as a DJ Dillon Lehl-CSU, Marketing Andrew Lehrman-University of Michigan , Aerospace Engineering Katelyn Lillard-University of Oregon, Undecided Stephanie Locke-CU Denver, Nursing Carly Lombard-CU Boulder, Business James Lord-University of Illinois, Undecided Rachel Luckner-University of Northern Colorado, Nursing Allie Lundberg-Iowa State University, Jessica Lynn-CU Denver, Undecided Hope Lytle-University of Missouri , Pre-Nursing Rema Maaliki-CU Denver, Undecided Louise Macdonald-CU Boulder. Undecided Daniel Manion-Could not be reached Russell Maranto- University of Wyoming Yassin Marrakchi-CU Denver, Pre-Med Orlando Martinez-Colorado School of Mines, Biochemistry Jack Martinuzzi-CU Denver, Chemical Engineering

indepth

Hailey Mathieson-CU Boulder, Psychology James McCarthy-Could not be reached Torin McCue-CU, Engineering Ryan McGavin-University of Northern Colorado, Performance Sean McGavin-UCCS,Undecided Shane McKeon-Could not be reached Robert McKnight- Colorado School of Mines Griffin McLaughlin-Undecided Dale McMillan-CSU, Business Paul McNally-DU, Finance Thomas McNeily-San Diego State University, Business James McPherson-Metro State, Business Ross McPherson-Denver Community College, Undecided Charles Melbye-Cal Poly, Computer Science Kathryn Melkjorsen- CU Denver, Taylor Menning-University of Northern Colorado, Nursing VanDross Meno-University of Hawaii, Undecided Nickolas Merrill-Tulane University, Undecided Dustin Metelko-Red Rocks Community College, Fire Science Stori Michael-Working Amy Michelson-Undecided Meredith Micho-Duquene, Undecided Rahea Miersch-CU Boulder, Undecided Hallie Miller-Utah State University, Undecided Kurt Miller-CU Boulder, Engineering

Terra Miller-Could not be reached Jack Moller-CSU, Business Kaylyn Mondschein Snook-CSU, Undecided Joshua Mooney-CSU, Undecided Remy Mooney-Could not be reached Andrew Moore-Work Austin Moore-San Diego State University, Business Nicholas Morris-CU Boulder, Marketing Amy Morrison-University of Kansas, Sciences and Disorders Eric Murphy-Northern Virginia, Computer Science Daniel Myers-UCCS, Business Matthew Nelson-US Navy Yalita Nemecek- CSU, Undecided Ashley Nguyen-Santa Clara University, Undecided Samuel Nielsen-Could not be reached Madeline Nilsson-Brigham Young University, Undecided Austin Noyes-University of Arizona, Business Kelly Nunez Quinn- CU Denver, Pre-Med April Oberkirsch-Mizzou, Biology Haley Olcott-Brigham Young University- Hawaii, Exercise Science Jacob Oreskovich-UNC, Business Marley Orlady- Berry College, Undecided

Bryan Owen-Hockey SRS James Owsley-CU Boulder, Business Kevin Padavic-Could not be reached Andrew Parker-University of Iowa, Business/Pre-Law Alexandra Pedrinan-CU Boulder, Business Sergio Perez-Metro State, Undecided Austin Perez Mesa-CU Boulder Taylor Phelps-Montana State University, Pre-Physical Therapy Kayley Pitman-CU Boulder, Undecided Alexandra Pocock-CSU, Biochemistry Ashley Poindexter-CU Boulder, English/Creative Writing Nomi Pojhan-CSU, Finance Jasmine Prasetyo-CU Boulder, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology Jeffrey Prior-Augustana College, Engineering Physics Camille Prusse-BYU- Idaho, Vocal Performance Aubrey Purdy-University of Northern Colorado, Music Education Kaitlyn Purdy-CSU, Health/Exercise Science Robert Purdy-Baylor University, International Business Samantha Pusar-University of Oklahoma, Accounting and Energy Management Kevia Qu-Cornell Morgan Quan-CU Denver, Undecided Eric Rabe-University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Undecided Laura Ramirez-Could not be reached Abigail Reagan-CU Boulder, Psychology Joseph Reed- University of Kansas, Pre-Law Emily Reeder-CSU, Biological Science Kaitlin Reisig-Creighton University Andrew Rich-University of Northern Colorado, Business Administration Dillon Ricks-Metro, Undecided Cassidy Richardson- Metro State, Undecided Audra Rinerson-CSU, Undecided Dylan Rinker- Cal Poly, Mechanical Engineering Adrian Rivera- Marines Megan Rivera-Could not be reached Elliott Roberts-Could not be reached Shawn Rodriguez-Could not be reached Kiera Rusk-Flagler College, Deaf education & Psychology Christopher Safran-Arizona State University, Broadcast Journalism Christopher Sauer-Augustana College Taylor Sawyer- MSU, Undecided Grant Schaedig- CSU, Mechanical Engineering Brittany Schein- Florida Gulf Coast University, Education Jennifer Schein-Florida Gulf Coast University, Special Education Lauren Scheirman-University of Northern Colorado, Elementary Ed. Courtney Schellenger-CU Boulder, Undecided Taylor Schlaff- Metro State, Special Education Cody Schlegel-CU Denver, Recording Engineering Alexander Schmoker-Colorado Film School, Cinematography Amy Schneider- Biola University, Communication Disorders Amanda Seid- University of Northern Colorado, Psychology/ Graphic Design/Teaching Cole Shepherd- Undecided Erica Shirey- University of Missouri , Pharmacy Roland Shockcor-Fort Lewis, Undecided Austin Shoemake- Metro State , Music Amy Skoba- University of Dayton, Marketing

[05/10/12]

Dillon Smart-University of Arizona, Undecided Amber Smith-Could not be reached Ashley Smith-Metro State, Undecided Lucas Sophinos-San Diego State University, Business Administration Paul Sorbo-Colorado Mesa University, Pre-Med Megan Spalding-CSU, Microbiology and Spanish Brandon Speer- Undecided, Business Taylor Staab- CSU, Microbiology Michael Stamper-Metro State , Criminal Justice Carolyn Starbuck- CU Boulder, International Language-Japanese Taylor Stoller- CU Boulder, Undecided William Stopps- Montana State University, Business Christian Storch- CU, Architectral Engineering Virginia Stouse-DU, French Ellyn Strampel- Pepperdine University, Chemistry Connor Strickland- CU Boulder , Business James Strosahl-Could not be reached Abigail Stroz- CSU, Undecided Lily Sumners- CU, Boulder Jane Sun- Taking a year off Madison Suter-Colorado Mesa University, Biology Kaitlyn Sutherland- CU Boulder, Computer Science Austin Sutton- Metro State ,Business Management Sean Swierczewski- CU Boulder, International Business Abby Szlachta- Davidson College Natalie Tate- Metro State , Undecided Jacob Taylor- CSU, Spanish Mark Teeter- CU Boulder, Physical Engineering Nichelle Tesone-CU Denver, Media and Arts Cassandra Thelen- Baylor University , Biology Steven Theodore-University of Virginia, Business Brandon Thompson-Could not be reached Chloe Thorderson- Utah State, Elementary Ed. Samuel Tobey- CU Boulder, Engineering/Biochemistry Linh Tran-Metro State, Dentistry Nicolle Turnock- Arizona State University, Marketing Jenna Valenziano-Metro State , Undecided Zachary VanDenBosch- Metro State, Mechanical Engineering Alexa Vareldzis -CSU, Undecided Gabrielle VeZain-Eckerd College, Sports Training Eric Viau-CU Denver, Civil Engineering Tyler Wagstaff-University of Kansas, Business Jessica Walters-CSU, Undecided Michael Walters- Undecided Cale Waress- Undecided, Undecided Mitchell Werden- CSU, Chemical Engineering Jacob Wesson- CU Boulderm, Undecided Marissa West- University of Richmond, Business Lauren Wetzel-Purdue University Danielle Williams-CU Boulder, Undecided Lauren Williams- CU Boulder, Undecided Samantha Wilmer-Could not be reached Maxwell Wolthuis-BYU Idaho, Medicare Administration Lauren Wood-CU Boulder Taylor Woods-CU Boulder, Undecided Brittany Wunderlich- CU Boulder, Integrated Physiology Connie Xu-University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Business Ashlynn Yeagle- University of Whyoming, Mangement & Marketing Alan Yeung- Colorado College, Economics Zachary Zahorik-University of New Mexico, FDM Megan Zamani- Metro State Madalyn Zierke- CSU, Pre- Pharmacy , English Zachary Zimberoff- Lincoln Tech, Mechanics Nicholas Zoellner- Could not be reached [alexpedrinan] [laurenscheirman] [chrissafran] [charliemelbye]

[05/10/12]

seniorsalute

Taking lessons from the track into the future

Track all star Kelly King, ‘12, is on the fast track to success, never allowing setbacks, injuries, or changes of plans to get her down It is a beautiful spring day for a Rock Canyon varsity track meet. King steps onto the blistering black track and waits for the gun to go off. She tries to remain calm and stay focused. The gun goes off, her teammate starts sprinting the first leg of the 4x2 relay. King waits for her teammate to hit her first piece of tape, indicating when she has to start running. King turns, sprints five steps and sticks her arm out to receive the bright gold baton, making it a perfect handoff. About seven years ago, track athlete Kelly King, who has always been involved in sports, began running for the Rocky Heights Middle School track team. Not even King knew that one season in track would bring her to where she is today. “I have always been fast and once I spent a season in track during middle school I loved it and wanted to pursue it in high school,” King ’12 said. Kelly King is graduating this year from Rock Canyon and will be attending The University of Oregon for college this upcoming school year. “I really like the campus at The University of Organ, all of the people are really nice and welcoming and I really feel like I am going to fit in,” King said.

Playing through it all

Brittney Evanson, ‘12 remembers her successes throughout her high school career sports I loved and spent countless on, were

Both on and off the field, Senior, Brittney Evanson has made incredible high school memories that will last her a lifetime. Throughout her high school career Evanson has participated in three sports. Including basketball, softball, and soccer. Soccer is Evanson’s favorite sport in which she has played as the Varsity goalie since her sophomore year. Although soccer has always been a bright-spot in Evanson’s high school life, the sport involved injuries and challenges that made her road to success a tough one. The chain of injuries for Evanson actually began during her freshman year when she was not able to play and tryout for girls soccer due to a broken foot caused by three stress fractures, which would sideline her from soccer and basketball for two months. “It was a really difficult time for me. The

literally taken away from me. To be honest, I was just really bored and depressed for those two months,” Evanson said. Sophomore year, Evanson made an amazing recovery and became the starting Keeper for the girls Varsity soccer team. “It was a great season for me; learned a lot and all the hard work I had done to come back from my injury paid off,” said Evanson. Junior year, Evanson suffered a major concussion that removed her from contact sports for 8 ½ months. “It was a really tough time, I was excited to get another season in and the injury took that away from me.” Even this season, Evanson has not been without injury. Although keeping a clean sheet in all of her starts (no goals allowed), Evanson recently injured her meniscus that took her off the field for a little more than a week. “This has been my best season yet! The highlight of the year was a 3-0 shutout victory over Castle View,” Evanson said. Evanson likes to think of herself as a “friendly, funny, outgoing, and lovable person”. She has made countless friends throughout high school, and hopes to keep old friends and make new ones in the near future. Evanson plans to attend cosmetology school in Utah in the fall, and soon begin her future career.

[jakebattock]

King was involved in many different things over the past four years at Rock Canyon, one being, one of captains of the track team. “I like to have a lot of fun at track but I also know when it is time to work,” King said. King also plays the role of being a mentor for many other athletes and friends on the team, King will always put her teammates first before she will do anything for herself. “Brain Goldberg is my best friend both on and off the track; we always have each other’s back no matter what one of us is going through,” King said. King truly tries every day to be a good example for other and to stay calm so there is not a lot of stress out on the track. King’s main events that she ran were the 100, 200 and relays such as the 4x2. King has overcome multiple injuries over the past few years and has had to modify her goals but she will not let anything come in her way of success. “Track is definitely a mental thing that I can go to when times are rough in my personal life because there is no drama in track,” King said.

fast facts

With varsity track allstar Kelly King

King applied to two schools Oregon and CU Boulder King will miss the Colorado mountainsand sunsets the most when she moves to Oregon The item King will not forget next year is her rain gear She doesn’t Skype but, sometimes she facetimes on her iPhone Her favorite pizza is Pepperonni King has lived in Colorado for her entire life

[kelceybeckman]

Success From Every Angle

From RCHS to Costa Rica, Nick Merrill always shares a smile. blank. However, Merrill says his biggest It is hard to look back on Nick accomplishment in high school wasn’t Merrill’s, ‘12, high school career and ask what he didn’t do. Whether it was lacrosse, sports, or clubs, or service. “I would say my biggest accomplish in key club, link crew, or RCTV, Merrill truly high school was just being true to who made the most of his high school career. I am. I think that is hard to do in high This past March, the Key Club at RCHS school sometimes but looking back, I traveled down to Costa Rica, in a trip to feel like I did it, and that to me is a big assist their adopted school, Escuela Verde. accomplishment.” This was the second year in the school’s There will definitely history that the be a gap in the Key Club made I’m really going to miss the student body next the trip. while Nick “My favorite teachers the most when I leave. year takes his education moment or moments here at They do so much more than to New Orleans. Unfortunately, he RCHS was the teach. won’t be playing Escuela Verde Nick Merrill, ‘12 lacrosse, but trip to Costa Rica nonetheless, he is for Key Club,” ready to take the next step and write the Merrill said. “I was fortunate enough to go next chapter of his life. With one chapter on the trip my junior and senior year, and beginning, another will be left in his it was an incredible experience.” memory forever. On top of key club, Merrill also played “I’m really going to miss the teachers the lacrosse all four years of his time here, most when I leave.” Nick said. “They do until an injury during his senior caused so much more than teach. They really are an abrupt end to his season. A serious great people.” concussion was the roadblock to his This fall, Tulane University will welcome lacrosse season, but not the roadblock to one of its many new members to its class his morale in the long term. of 2016; Nick Merrill. Even if you don’t know who Nick Merrill is personally, you have seen him before. He was a member of RCTV, and incoming freshmen may also have seen him their first day, as a member of Link Crew. The list of his accomplishments is far from [andrewbohren]

“ ”

seniorsalute

19 [05/10/12]

Creative Collaborations

Abbey Reagan, ‘12, says that singing is an crucial piece of her identity here at RCHS, despite the fact she just started singing at the school this year. “Stage fright held me back basically until this year,”she said.

Although singing has always been a part of her life, Abbey Reagan, ‘12 finds her musical muse in her fellow RCHS students Few of us are gifted with a natural musical talent, like singing or playing an instrument. Of the people who are, even fewer have the courage to stand up and perform those talents in front of a crowd. Abbey Reagan ‘12 has both of these things, and recently, she’s decided to start singing in a band formed with other students at school. Reagan has been singing for what, to her, seems like forever. Accordingly, singing has become so important in her life that it’s now an integral part of her identity. In fact, she finds that she doesn’t feel complete when she’s unable to sing for large stretches of time. “I’ve always been a singer. Since I was tiny, it’s just been something that I do almost subconsciously,” Reagan said. “When I am sick or on vocal rest and can’t sing, I feel like there’s something missing.” Reagan is a confident and capable singer. However, her journey has not been without obstacles. The refreshing confidence in her

abilities that she possesses only came after years performed with several other students during of feeling unsure of herself. For her, the biggest lunch as part of this year’s Wish Week events. challenge wasn’t external. Rather, it was all inside “Stage fright held me back basically until this her head. year, when Ben [Dean ‘12] told me that he and “With singing in general, the biggest obstacle the guys were going to play for Wish Week for was myself,” Reagan said. “I always doubted fun,” Reagan said. myself and never thought I was Going into it, good enough.” none of them In the end, Reagan got by “I’ve always been a singer. thought they with a little help from her When I can’t sing, I feel like were going to friends. She finds that she’s there’s something missing start a band. surrounded by friends and “It was Abbey Reagan, ‘12 family that provide support for an amazing her endeavors. experience, and “With the support of my friends and family, I afterwards we realized we wanted to write music have become more confident and willing to sing,” together,” Reagan said. Reagan said. “I couldn’t have done it without So, they came together and formed a band them.” consisting of Reagan and five other seniors. With singing being so deeply ingrained into They’ve already started rehearsing, writing, and her persona, it seems only natural that she would recording their own music. Reagan is excited apply her singing with a group. Recently, Reagan about the group, but the experience hasn’t been

“ ”

Finding deeper meaning in the people we meet

Madelyn Falk, ‘12 has learned how to adapt to every facet of the high school scene, and make friends with anyone and everyone along the way Being a varsity cheer captain at Rock Canyon, some may just see Madelyn Falk ‘12, as the girl who cheers and smiles while throwing back tucks at football games on a Friday night. Her optimism and warm smile can always bring motivation to the athletes and excitement to the crowd, however this is only one of her many talents. Falk has a passion for writing, and is going to CU Boulder to major in English. “When I write I don’t have to filter myself, or worry that people will judge me for the unexplainable thoughts in my head. My friends have had little effect on the whirlwind inside my mind, because it’s where I go to escape everybody, my own whimsical world that they can catch glimpses of through my writing. That’s a huge part of the appeal of writing, it allows me to share a sliver of the truest, best version of myself with the rest of the world. “ Falk ‘12 said. And although, from the public eye, she may just be seen as one of the varsity cheer captains, there is much more to her than that. Being the kind and social girl she is and juggling between cheerleading, literary magazine, and other activities, she easily has more than one passion and group of friends.

“I learned to get along with a wide variety of people, and people I wouldn’t have befriended otherwise.” Falk ‘12 said. “ I think most teenagers go through a phase where it feels like no one understands all of the hurt, confusion, and built up emotions raging inside. But if I’ve learned anything these past few years it’s that all of these feelings are completely normal. Everyone experiences them on varying levels. My other friends, the late night tea drinkers, have shown me that it’s okay to be upset. It’s okay not to smile all the time. In fact, it’s acceptable to have a bad day. Because the rest of the world understands. I think since I’ve met them, I’ve really learned to take into account the harsh validity of emotions, and become much more empathetic toward others, because of the understanding my friends have shown me in my own tough times.” Throughout high school, Falk has learned about what really matters, people in general, and herself. She has friends she met and bonded through cheerleading, and others from just high school classes and everyday life. “Having close friends that are polar opposites has taught me that if one can get past the skin deep, petty details like

what kind of music someone listens to, or who they surround themselves with, we’re really not all as different from each other as people think. There is a certain degree of sameness that we all possess, a sort of like mindedness that we can connect with. We are all just people after all.” Falk ‘12 said. She handles classes, friends, clubs, and cheerleading with grace that can be admired. Contrasting social groups and perspectives has helped her become inspired and grow to her full potential in different ways. “The friends and people that I have met through the cheer team constantly challenge me to step out of my comfort zone, and learn new things about myself. Life is very fast paced in their presence, and you have to speak up to be heard.” Falk said, “ In contrast, when I’m with my other friends, words hold a lot more weight. We are constantly talking about ideas and what ifs, always concentrating on the unknown. My friends inspire me to explore new regions of my imagination, and to embrace all of the quirks that make me who I am, rather than bury them.”

[catieyanchak]

without obstacles. “All of us are so diverse musically and stylistically, so it can be hard for our ideas to blend,” Reagan said. Another issue that many students can relate to is the issue of free time. Reagan and her fellow band members are finding it difficult to schedule time for rehearsal and recording with everyone being busy with music, sports, and finals. Despite that, Reagan feels excited about the group and has nothing but praise for the students that she performs with. “Everyone in the band is amazingly talented and creative, which makes it so easy to sing to what they come up with,” Reagan said.

[charliemelbye]

Although Madelyn Falk, ‘12, uses her bubbly spirit to inspire others, she finds her muse in writing. “When I write I don’t have to filter myself,’”she said. “That’s a huge part of the appeal of writing. It allows me to share a sliver of the truest best part of myself with the world. “

[05/10/12]

Seniors

Teching through the years...

Nemeckek ‘12 hanging backstage with tech crew member Ellen Hefner ‘12 before the play “Once Upon a Mattress”.

For weeks Yalita Nemecek ’12 had been balancing an understudy part and being part of sound crew for A Midsummer’s Night Dream during her freshman year. Learning quickly the quirks of the sound board, she found her passion and the respect of the upperclassman teching the show.. “I was trusted with the responsibility of all the music, my first show freshman year. “ Nemeckek said. Watching the auditorium go dark, the lights start to dim and the audience goes mute. Rustling papers and people shifting in chairs is all that is heard when wthe play is about to start. Nemeckek in her understudy costume feels constricted. Deep breaths in and out, her fingers in position, eyes glued on the stage, ready to start. Three, two, one, she knows instantly where the small button she must press is, one of the hundreds of colored small square buttons on the large sound board is, cuing the music of the play; holding her breath the entire time. The music starts up just like in rehearsal, things are riwght on target, but Nemeckek is still not relaxed. She has an entire play to help cue. “Sound is one of those parts of

Dedication: Giving 100% For most, your high school experience can be defined as where you find your own personal niche. This niche often leaves your personal fingerprint on Rock Canyon High School by the time of your senior year. For Taylor Phelps ‘12 that fingerprint was pressed upon the pool, lacrosse field, and her teammates’ and coaches’ hearts. “The sports I participated in here at Rock Canyon have provided a built-in family for me, it’s the camaraderie that brings us all together.” Phelps said. Phelps has participating in swimming and lacrosse all four years during her time at Rock Canyon. These four years were filled with exceptional accomplishments for Phelps, including being a captain for lacrosse her junior and senior year, and a captain for swimming this past year. Phelps is no stranger to the competitiveness that these sports bring. Her freshman year, the Thunderidge co-op team made it to the playoffs for the first time in their history, and Phelps, a part of the varsity team got the chance to experience it. “Each year we go further and further in the playoffs, I’m excited to see what we can accomplish by the end of this season.” Phelps said. Over the years Phelps has established herself as a crucial team member as a captain and a hard worker. “She’s a really good leader, and she’s

the play that if you make a mistake everyone knows, so I was on top of the ball from the start of the play to the end, I have never paid attention to the script so well in my entire life” Nemeckek said. Fast forward an hour or so… the crowd clapping ecstatically for the actors and actresses turn towards the booth although unable to see them, they give the same clap and even head nods congratulating the techies for a job well done. Nemeckek breathes deeply out, looking at the other sound members as each relaxes in their seat. Head phones and communication devises get taken off and the noise all around rises from dull chatter to loud congratulations. “It’s a lot of work and you get put through many challenges but there is something about when the curtain opens and you know that every single hour and sweat, and problem you encounter is all for that time. And you get to see a fantastic show,” Nemeckek said. Although each new play/musical brings a new crew, Nemecek has stayed consisted and dedicated to expertise to each play. Heading to

Colorado State University in the fall, she plans to continue teching Although Nemecek doesn’t plan to do this for the rest of her life, she has learned a ton while at RC.

[maerohrbach]

Nemecek ’12 working the sound booth this past year during the weeks before “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” opens.

From swimming to lacrosse, Phelps has impacted the people around her.

always understanding if you mess up. At and Nicole Vanderpoel on the side of the practice she always works hard and tries her pool feverishly slapping their clipboards at best.” Lacrosse teammate Virginia Vaughan Phelps with as she slams into the wall, a new ‘13 said. strong edition to the state team. It’s these coaches that have been with That kind of positive energy that Phelps Phelps every step of the way through her creates is contagious, making her a true journey at Rock Canyon, seeing her grow leader and an integral part of the team. and reach success. Quincy Schurr ‘13 deAlthough, Phelps’ scribes her experience with accomplishments Phelps, which exemplifies transcend the laher leadership qualities and crosse field, into the kindness. pool. “Being on the swim “My favorite team with Taylor was great. memory from swimShe is a great teammate ming was when I and an amazing athlete. made the state team As a senior, she was comy sophomore year captain and did a great job at our A Leagues of getting to know the girls meet. I made qualifyand cheering everyone on. ing times in the 100 I swam with Taylor during butterfly Nemecek ’12 workingthe sound booth this past year during the my freshman and junior weeks before the play opens. and the year and she was so sweet. 100 backShe would cheer me on and stroke.” Phelps said. always offered to count for me during my As Phelps sits before me in the manila 500.” Schurr said. colored library the image of the Heritage However, Phelps’ journey in the water High School pool roaring with excitement began far earlier than with her fellow jags. comes to life, the team’s swimmers’ wet feet Phelps describes to me of the Rock Canyon banging on the bleachers jumping up and head swim coach Nicole Vanderpoel, and down, screams piercing the humid air, and how she started coaching her at age six, with the Rock Canyon coaches, Ruthie Milberg the summer swim team, the Wildcat Ridge

Tigersharks, “I’ve known Nicole since I was six years old, she’s like a second mom to me, and I would go to her for anything, I have loved having her in my life growing up.” Phelps said. Nicole Vanderpoel’s take on Phelps is a true testament to what a special person Phelps has been her entire life, and is continuing to be, “Taylor Phelps has been smiling since I met her when she was just six years old. She is as tough as nails and yet as sweet as pie. She is one of the best friends and teammates in the world and she will never let you down. Taylor will always be successful and always remain humble,” Said Vanderpoel. It’s this kind of character that Phelps has brought to Rock Canyon these past four years, leaving her mark not only on the field, and in the pool, but in the hearts of those around her. As I sat with Phelps in the library hearing her talk with such enthusiasm about her time spent at Rock Canyon as her bright blue eyes shined with excitement, there is no doubt that she will bring the same energy and positivity to Montana State University in the fall.

[nicolecassou]

seniorsalute

Busy Bee

[05/10/12]

From Student Council to Varsity Basketball, Chloe Thorderson has made her mark on Rock Canyon Running down the basketball a record winning season this past court to make a final 2 points year. during a game; coordinating Among many things, Rock restaurants as chair-person for Canyon is known for Wish Wish Week 2012; helping the Week. As the reigning national school every day as the junior record-setters for money raised, class vice-president and student the work behind the week-long body vice-president. Chloe event is tremendous. Thorderson “We preI’m going to miss it. I’ll ‘12 is anything pared for (Wish but a nameless Week) months defiantly come back to face at Rock in advance- it’s watch everybody. Canyon. crazy! It was “I’m going so worth it to miss it. I’ll definitely come though,” said Throrderson. back and watch everybody,” said As adulthood gets closer and Thorderson. closer for Thorderson, the future Reflecting on the past four is looking bright and exciting. years, anyone can see that She will be attending the Utah Thorderson was a very active State University in the fall. part of Rock Canyon High “I have to get a job; I’m goSchool. Through Student ing to try to work at The Bundt Coucil, she shaped the school’s Shoppe. I know a lot of people activities and fundraisers. As a who work there! I’m going to member of the varsity basketball Utah State though, in the fall. team for all four years, she led I want to go into Elementary the group to countless wins, and Education, but we’ll see. I don’t

Putting it in Perspective

Allie Johnston made up her lack of time in the hallways on the putting greens, giving up the average lifestyle for one on the range For Allie Johnston ‘12, the best part of high school has been not being there. More specifically, getting out of school or spending time after school at the golf course with her friends on the golf team. Johnston has been playing club golf since she was two years old and she has been participating in various tournaments for eleven years. She has also been an active member on the RC golf team. They won state Johnston’s freshman year, took second her sophomore year, and took third her junior year. This year, Johnston and the rest of the team competed in nationals May. 7. According to the Denver Post, Johnston was favorited to win. “Anything can happen in golf, people go out there and they shoot super low scores and you can’t do anything about it,” Johnston said. However, as much as Johnston likes participating in and winning tournaments, it’s the simple things in golf that have truly made Johnston’s high school experience. “I love how it’s changed from me getting rides from friends in golf, to me being able to drive my friends to golf,” Johnston said. Johnston was offered over 51 official college golf scholarships. As daunting as it seemed, Johnston had less trouble choosing

the college she will be attending than most people would expect. In the fall of 2012, Johnston will be attending the University of Texas at San Antonio. The offer came as a surprise, some would even say it was fate. At the last minute, Johnston got into a golf tournament in Minnesota in June 2011 that she originally wasn’t going to be at. That’s when she met UTSA’s coach Carrie Parnaby. She hadn’t even sent anything into UTSA, but Parnaby was set on making Johnston a part of her team. Parnaby followed Johnston around while she played the tournament the entire day, which is highly unconventional for any coach. “I felt horrible because she had UTSA on her hat, and I had absolutely no idea what it stood for,” Johnston said. Johnston went to visit the school and immediately fell in love with it. Parnaby offered Johnston a full ride scholarship that day. “My mom told me that I couldn’t accept it until I went and visited Northwestern the next week. After the visit, I told [Parnaby] that I was accepting the scholarship.” “Golf is like my second home, it’s what I love to do.” [alliecole]

want to set a major right away, so I’ll probably go in undecided,” said Thorderson. Rock Canyon will still have the Thorderson legacy, though. Her father, Eric Throrderson, and the sister, Lexy Thorderson ‘15, will continue to lead RC’s basketball team throughout the next two years. “It was really fun to be on the court with [Chloe], because you have a relationship at home but you’re also close on the court and its fun to play together,” said Lexy. “I’m really going to miss her; I’m not looking forward to being an only child.”

[maddiwhitten]

Hanging On

Roland Shockcor ‘12, has spent his senior year defying gravity on the rock climbing wall

Roland Shockcor ‘12, stands in front of a reddish-brown wall dotted with plastic hand holds. At first, his eyes simply follow the numbered handholds to the top of the twelve foot wall, analyzing different paths and thinking about his movements. Next, in what to an outsider would appear to be a mime show, he starts contorting his body and hands before ever touching the wall. His right hand curls unnaturally to the left, his left grabbing onto an invisible rock. His left leg stands planted and his right leg it cocked at the hip. “The climb is only a few handhold positions, but what makes them tough is how they are spaced. These things can crucify you against the wall if you make the wrong moves and get caught up,” Shockcor says, Finally he takes his steps toward

the wall and slides his hands into place on a round handhold and poises his feet between the ground and the wall. He bends his neck one final time to look towards his destination, and then he starts. The climb is slow, and Shockcor takes each maneuver earnestly, sliding his hands into place once or twice before he pulls himself upward to the next position. “Hand first, foot second,” he grunts under his breath as he swings sideways to a trickier position. His foot follows behind and his toes jam up against his previous handhold through his thin climbing shoes. The climb continues much like this, as novice climbers start to shake around him while maintaining their grips, his hands, arms and feet remain in stasis, a testament to his security with the wall. After about a minute, he reaches the top and slaps his hand down. “Got it!” he exclaims while jumping off the wall, landing with bent knees and rolling out of it like a gymnast. Afterwards he applies a fresh coat of chalk to his calloused hands and turns to a wall opposite of the first one. “Rock climbing has been a major part of my life for the past year,” he comments.

[andrewcharap]

22 Satyrically Yours The summers of the past gave us new shows to watch like I Survived a Japanese Game Show, Love in the Wild, and Rob! To aid our anticipation for the return of beloved shows such as NCIS and Modern Family. This summer is no different. Here’s a look at Summer 2012’s TV line-up: • Jay Len.0: This summer, a TV first: a comedian will be airing a new show in which internet clips are shown and ruthlessly made fun of. Jay Len.0 will be moving to TBS at 9 starting in June. Sorry Conan (again).

• America’s Next Top Amish Model: This

summer, all the glitz and glamour of Top Model is back, this time with clogged shoes and ankle-covering dresses. It has raised some speculation though because the cast’s family and friends will not be able to watch it. Nevertheless, be sure to tune in this summer. It’s gonna be electric.

• Compton Shore: Jersey Shore didn’t go

anywhere folks, it just moved to the west coast. A new cast of four guys and four girls is sure to keep you entertained this summer. Starting in July, ‘GTL’ will take on a whole new meaning, turning “Gym,Tan, Laundry,” into “Gun, Theft, Laundromat.”

•

Tebow: The First Completion: What is VH1 without a celebrity dating show? After the widespread success of Chad Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch, Tim Tebow takes center stage looking for his ultimate chance at finding love. Fifteen single, Christian women will be competing for Tebow’s love, and you can sure as heck believe there will be a high amount of abstinence and a lack of drama.

• Real World/Road Rules Challenge:

The Hunger Games Edition: MTV will be airing its final season of the series of shows featuring past contestants of the Real World and Road Rules. MTV has promised this will be the final addition to the series, because after all, there can only be one winner. May the odds be ever in your favor... [andrewbohren michaelshapiro]

El Satyr El Satyr realizes that it is the product of misinformation and exaggeration. If you were insulted, hurt, or shocked while reading this page, El Satyr does not apologize. Also it’s not spelled wrong. Google it. therock is not an affiliate of El Satyr.

elsatyr

[05/10/12]

When There’s a Bedrock in the Casbah

The recent uproar caused by Kony 2012 was only the beginning, now there’s another warlord in the picture, and from the leopard print tunic to the cartoon face, you better believe that he’s not a character to be trifled with BEDROCK, UGANDA - Within the last year or so, the Internet has been a notorious agent in the unfolding of social liberation; tyrannical regimes in the Middle East and North Africa were toppled by young revolutionaries who used social media to their advantage. In the United States, activists used these networks, such as Facebook, to organize compelling demonstrations to express their social and economic aggravation. And through Twitter and Craigslist (the unsung heroes of Internet justice), more than one American politician was caught red-handed trying to dangle more than rhetoric and false promises. Indeed, the Internet has been nothing short of an essential weapon in the battle for justice. But now a new threat has finally come to light, one that has existed in the heart of Africa for years without public attention: Admiral Fred Flintstone and his navy of impoverished child sailors, all of whom have been manipulated into service by Flintstone’s promises of booty and plunder. Luckily, a young organization of cyber vigilantes have stepped up and spoken out against Flintstone’s armada. Hidden Toddlers, a humanitarian cause based out of Irvine, California, has recently upped the ante with their new film, FLINTSTONE 2012, that has exposed the untold story of the man, and as well bears a call to action, as an excerpt from the film demonstrates: “Flintstone’s activity in Africa has gone unnoticed for far too long. Hundreds of poor, starving children have been kidnapped into this fleet, away from their homes and family...he must face justice for his crimes. Write letters to your Senator and Congressman, and raise awareness - share this film and other resources with your friends, and together, we can make Flintstone famous. Please don’t ignore the letter part, and only share the video with people..No seriously, please don’t just share the video. Write to your Senator, or Hillary Clinton, or somebody in government. Please write the letter too. Seriously, we mean it guys.” Since the FLINTSTONE 2012 campaign hit the web, its attention has skyrocketed. Media outlets everywhere have been discussing its purpose, and it is one of the top videos on YouTube as well as one of the most shared videos on Facebook and Twitter. “Ever since the campaign took off,” said Hidden Toddlers’ chairman Wilson Stone in a conference with the Associated Press, “the whole energy of the campaign has changed. It’s a huge reversal of the previous yabbadabba-do-not attitude that was around for so long”. And with this newfound energy, the effort to track down Flintstone has increased in stride. Recently, a crack team of the Internet’s best Google Mappers tracked Flintstone’s headquarters to the town of Bedrock, Uganda, off the coast of Lake Victoria in

art by: zachanderson

Above: A piece of anti-Flintstone propaganda recovered from the streets. South--central Africa. “The dude’s a pirate caveman, for cripe’s sake”, says Google Maps expert Fernando Chung. “Finding a giant rock-ship-thing filled with toddlers floating somewhere in the middle of Africa isn’t as hard as it sounds.” And as we get closer and closer to Admiral Flintstone, we begin to learn more about his own personality, including information from one of his agents, an anonymous, highranking member of the Flintstone camp that chose to only go by as ‘the Rubbler’. “Well gee, I mean, Fred’s always been kinda an old-fashioned guy, y’know?” the Rubbler conceded through an anonymous phone interview last week. “He’s always kinda been into real old school stuff, like geology, brontosaurus meat, screaming at his wife.. Real classic stuff. Yup, one day, we was just sitting by the fire, and he says ‘Hey (NAME OMITTED), how’s about we abduct a legion of child pirates to gain control over the waters of Africa?’” “I figured it was just one of ‘em usual getrich-quick Fred schemes, y’know? I was just like ‘huh huh huh...whatever you say, Fred!’ I wasn’t expecting it all to turn out like this.

No backing out now, I s’pose, Fred’s got a temper.” A temper, and a mind of diabolical genius that has created a storm of fury - for the tech-savvy, ADHD teenagers of the world, this means war. Jason Stone puts it sagely: “The generation before us fought in Vietnam, and the generation before that fought World War II. Our generation will fight Fred Flintstone - through the Internet!” As it seems, if the pen is sharper than the sword, then the Internet must be pretty darn pointy. Perhaps this is the true destiny of the Internet - not a void consisting of cat photos, ‘professional’ advice, and your aunt’s blog about horses, but a truly liberating medium in which we change the lives of people on another face of the Earth. “Honestly, I’m a genius for coming up with this thing,” Stone says, “I was googling photos of Zooey Deschanel with Charlie Sheen when the idea came to me.” Or perhaps not.

[sachinmathur]

Other Recent International Charity Scandals: • The Scarlet Cross: This organization

claims to be working to provide relief to victims of natural disasters, when in reality, it’s a ponsey scheme engineered by a nonphilanthropic Nathaniel Hawthorne fan. • The “Other” Friends League: Instead of finding homes for household pets, this group tries to pawn off endangered, exotic animals...most of which are poisonous.

• If You’re Not First You’re Last: This movement was started by an angry drill instructor who wanted to reform childhood education into a system driven by “learning out of fear.” • March of Pennies: Although this group claims to work to provide aid to young mothers and adopted children, in the end, the employees spend so much time at the coinstar machine cashing in pennies, that little gets done.

elsatyr

23 [05/10/12]

What Exactly Happens if You Don’t Click“Like”? Facebook users have recently become subject to a drastic increase in the number of images posted in hopes of raising awareness for chronic, and oftentimes socially awkward diseases. But what exactly happens if we don’t click “like” ?

photo by :sydcharvat Douglas County Hospitals have recently declared a state of emergency after noticing a disturbing trend affecting their daily responsibilities. The reason? A sharp decline in the amount of Facebook chain-messages regarding their patients that are ‘liked’ and re-posted across the internet social network. “This could potentially be catastrophic if we do not address this problem now and swiftly,” Dr. Korevkyne said. Dr. Sardra Korevkyne, the Chief of Surgery at Saint Isidore’s Medical Center, has seen the swells and depressions in the trends of chain-posting and decided to take advantage of them. The hospital started sending out the chain-posts in late 2010 with hopes that they would improve the conditions at the hospital. But with more and more patients being admitted and their subsequent Facebook posts, Facebook users have started ignoring the posts. “It’s been so hard to see watch the disinterest grow. Right now, unless we say

something like ‘If you don’t like and re-post this by midnight, The Grudge will come and take your family’ they rarely get any attention. We just don’t know how to get to these people anymore.” Korevkyne explains that the ‘like and repost’ system was chosen for its efficiency and organization. “As it stands right now, forty ‘likes’ will mean they get the surgery,” he comments. “Thirty means we’ll flip a coin and then decide. Twenty is some drugs that may or may not help the patient. Lower than ten is, uhhh, like, free applesauce? Honestly at that point, who cares?” But the system has deteriorated as annoyance has grown towards the chain-posts. “See that girl over there?” Korevkyne says while pointing to a squeamish looking patient in a hospital gown, “Her name is Sandra and she has Stage-IV halitosis. Her Facebook chain post only had eight likes and two re-posts. We’re just about to tell her family that they have to leave. It’s really sad

to see her go, but that’s just the way it is.” Later that day, a young boy named Joey was admitted suffering from a severe hacking cough. The staff at Saint Isidore’s rapidly determined it to be life-threatening if not treated and rushed to start treating the sickly child. “WAIT, STOP!” Korevkyne yells from across the room as the doctors descend upon the child. “Before you lay a single finger on him, we have to make the Facebook status. Now let me just see here...” The doctors freeze as if in stasis, and their healing fingers hover just above the child. “Okay, that’s three ‘likes’..let’s give him a blanket.” The conversation continues like this for the next few moments. The doctors slowly and surely start treating using various methods as the ‘like’-count grows. “Okay Dr. Korevkyne, we need to get him into an OR, now,” one of the other doctors says. “I know, I know. We just need four more likes. OH! Three now!” he quips. “Now just two more.....one more. COME ON BABY, ONE MORE LIKE.” The emergency room freezes in a state of suspense. “BINGO KID. You’re going to surgery! You just got the final like.” The child is immediately rushed by, and his expression is a mixture of frustration and confusion. “The sad part is, many patients won’t be as lucky as he is. We were incredibly fortunate to have a baby picture of him as a child with a cat wearing a hat, and that’s Facebook-liking GOLD,” Korevkyne said. “We can only hope that next time a sickly child comes in here, the Facebook users will realize how important it is that they like those chain-posts. The entire medical infrastructure stands on the brink, and only your mouse clicks can save it.”

PRESS RELEASE: MTV’s New Reality Epic Sixteen and Amish

What the Heck is Going on in this Advertisement? The Rock takes a quick look at what advertisers were really thinking when they set up their latest campaigns:

If you are lonely and sad about living the single life, there is no need to worry! Kate Walsh has created the spray-on boyfriend. Instantly, this spray captivates your senses and gets rid of that lonely feeling. Why go through the hassle of dating when you only have to spend $50 for your companion?

Let’s be honest here, not many people care about politics so let’s make voting easier for you simple-minded people. Vote for the candidate that smells the best. You know you will be in good hands when your president, senator and whatever the other ones are, smell delicious!

[andrewcharap]

Since the release of their controversial hit show, Sixteen and Pregnant, MTV has worked tirelessly to expand their empire throughout the pop culture sphere -- even stretching all the way to the humble town of Deliverance, Ohio This summer, MTV will be airing a brand new reality series, Sixteen and Amish. The show is styled similarly to that of MTV’s other claim to fame, Sixteen and Pregnant, and chronicles the lives of three Amish teens: Samuel, Martha and Ishmael as they grow up in the small town of Deliverance, Ohio. Throughout the show, each of the teens attempts to combat the issues in their lives in hopes of finding a sense of identity within the harsh confines of their conservative community. For instance, Samuel (age 16) is a strong, able-bodied young man who dreams of someday being a dancer on Broadway, but his father condemns theatre and dancing as the “work of the devil” and forces him

to work in the “fields” of shame for several weeks in order to restore his honor. Similarly, Martha and Ishmael are twins who someday hope to break free of the Amish life and go on to become professional hand models. However once their mother finds out after finding a collection of Jewelry Monthly magazines under Ishmael’s hay mattress, she forces them to wear wool gloves for a month as punishment. Although the show has already sparked controversy within the Amish community and its advocates, MTV assures its viewers that, unlike every other show on its network, the show will not feature any drinking, orange people, pregnant teens, domestic conflict, explicit content or swearing.

The show is set to air on April 1, and is sure to make its way to the top of the charts, bonnets and carriages in all.

If you love the smell of litter boxes and cat fur, then Katy Perry’s new perfume, Purrs, is the perfect sent for you. For only $50 you can get a bottle of perfume that looks like a cat and makes you smell like a litter box, perfect for the single woman. Plus, you get the skin tight cat suit that makes you look like an idiot…what more could you ask for?

[sydcharvat]

[kelceybeckman ryleeportman]

photo by :sydcharvat

Above: A group of Amish teens play volleyball

24 [5/10/12]

theimage

[5/10/12]

Jaguar Statues

Great for Trophies, Gifts and Grads!

$80

$90

Bronze Jaguar Statues with choice of Walnut ($80) or Stone ($90) base are great for Awards, Achievements and Graduating Seniors. Available in the school store. Plaques available in the Print Shop.

Contact Drew Walter at drew.walter@dcsdk12.org

theimage

26 [5/10/12] SUMMER CLASSES

DO MORE

for your future!

BEGIN SOON Summer (10 week)

Summer (8 week)

Fall Visit us at

arapahoe.edu or 303.797.4222

Castle Rock | Littleton | Parker

Make sure to check out theROCK this summer on: www.rockmediaonline.org

www.arapahoe.edu/cj

Rock Canyon High School 2012 Finals Schedule Friday, May 18, 2012

7:45-11:40 Teachers Available 11:40-1:10 Period 4 Exam 1:10- 2:45 Period 2 Exam

Monday. May 21, 2012

No school, Graduation at Shea Stadium, 8:00 am

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

8:00-9:30 Period 7 Exam 9:40-11:10 Period 6 Exam 11:35-1:05 Period 5 Exam 1:15 Buses depart 1:10-2:45 Exam make up time (by appointment ONLY!)

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

7:45-8:00Teachers Available 8:00-9:30 Period 3 Exam 9:40-11:10 Period 1 Exam 11:20 Buses depart 11:30-2:45 Exam make up time (by appointment ONLY!)

[05/10/12]

Lessons In The Art Room [zachanderson]

In the ceramics room there is a work done by Mr. Gonzalez, a large painting that rests next to various sculptures and clay. The painting depicts skeletons enveloped in crisp desert evening, the primary source of light being the campfire and glowing hearts that resonate within them. They play guitar, as spirits from inside the ventricles swirl and sweep across the painted night sky. Mostly everything I have learned in high school has been in an art room. Yes, I have taken numerous classes in math and literature, science and culture, and even Spanish; however, the truth is that everything I seem to be is because of one room in which every single piece came out right. For the past two years, I have chosen to practice guitar in the ceramics room, preferring the casual serenity as opposed to the chaotic hysteria of a high school cafeteria. It’s not that I’m anti-social or ill adapted, however, I’ve found that this option has better prepared me for whatever life seems to throw, and for that, I can never be too grateful. Here are some things I’ve learned: 1. Hard work opens far more opportunities than not—yes, the cliché that captivates all genres of college essays, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Every day I’ve practiced guitar in that room, and by doing so have grown

once you go zach...

[zachanderson]

theopinions exponentially as a player and a performer. Without the time provided, it is common for rehearsal to become lost in a flood of academics, though in an art room, creativity is the only water source. I’m sincerely a better musician because of that. 2. The line between friend and teacher is not always written in pen—I’ve grown closer to an instructor than I would’ve ever thought possible throughout high school. Mr. Gonzalez has not only exhibited excellence as an artist and teacher, but also as an exceptional human being who takes care of students the same way he paints, with unabashed passion and craft. There has not been one day that I’ve felt unappreciated or without support from a man who’s embraced every aspect of the ideal teacher and friend. And that’s how I know that line is there, it’s just often erasable. 3. There’s more to people than face value-let me to be blunt here. Many of the students that I’ve befriended in the ceramics room are people that I previously had dismissed as “not my type of people”, students who lived in alternate situations, lifestyles, and interests, which I felt exceeded my comfort level. These are good people that are now familiar faces in the hall and above all, friends. In this sense, the ceramics room represents not only a place to spend fifty minutes, but also a kind of campfire

A Sea of Unknown Faces

Going into Senior year with no idea what to expect of your school is something that most don’t have to experience. Despite that, I discovered that Senior year is not just a year of ruling the school, but a year of transition from the restrictions of high school to the freedom of college, and the beginnings of a clean slate. A sea of unknown faces. Brand new teachers. No one familiar to socialize with. There are typically things associated with the first day of elementary school or middle school - certainly not the first day of one’s senior year. After moving to Colorado for my senior year last summer, I experienced all of these things at some point. I’m not complaining, though. I won’t lie, it’s certainly a peculiar feeling to not know 99% of the people that pack the hallways. I still find myself confused when people rant about teachers I’m completely unfamiliar with that they had freshman year. Despite this, I’ve decided that moving to this school, starting with a blank slate, and meeting incredible new people is one of the best things that I could’ve experienced

might as melbye charlie

my senior year. Most of us consider senior year to be a year where they enjoy free reign over the school and are officially allowed to terrorize freshman. In my mind, senior year is a year of transition. It’s a transition from the authoritative and mind-numbing rules of high school to the freedom of college, a transition from being dependent on our parents to becoming responsible for ourselves, and a transition to completely new social circles and friends. We all seem to be acutely aware of these transitions, but the reality of them has just begun to sink in for me, and I think other seniors can attest to that as well. Whether or not we feel that we’re ready for it, these transitions are taking place before our very eyes. I’ve experienced this as well de-

be difficult, that I would find it spite the unique circumstances. difficult to integrate into a group I was lucky enough to quickly of friends that had gone through find an amazing group of friends school together, and that if I could at the school, and unfortunately just fly under the radar and make I’ll only attend school for them for it through this year, I could make one year. They’ve all been instruit to college. mental in supporting me through I’m very happy to report that my transition to college, and I’ve my experience starkly contrasted helped them as well. with those predictions. This fall, we’ll be dispersed After coming here with a blank throughout the country, as most slate, I made it through this transifriends groups at the school will tion year with have the help of to deal “It’s certainly a peculiar amazingly with. Howfeeling not to know 99% of supportive friends, ever, as a the people that pack the teachers, and result of parents. coming hallways.” Whether together you’re a freshman with three years to support each other through this left of this school, a senior that’s year and next school year, I’m cerlived in the district for 18 years, or tain that these relationships will someone who’s just moved here, last much longer than one year. you’ve got huge changes ahead of This phenomenon seems counyou - finishing high school is only terintuitive. I was told by countthe beginning. less adults that this move would

that welcomes all kinds people, regardless of their interiors or exteriors. And for a high school, such a principle is revolutionary. 4. I myself go beyond my exterior—The art room contains windows that have always drawn dramatic lighting, as if in a painting itself. These windows also seem to put the comforting serenity of the room on display to the crowds of students bustling outside; all of who cast a disdainful look through. But I don’t mind. I am unfazed by whatever impressions might be cast from outside the window, and I know that it will never affect me. Beneath that exterior is the whisking soul that comes alive with the art room’s support, music, and camaraderie, and I know that in the future it will be a valuable asset to myself and others. So when I say that most of what I’ve learned through high school has been from that room, I mean it with every fiber of my being. I feel that my experiences, my personality, and my craft have been kneaded and smoothed in that room to the point in which in an odd way, my future has become a work of art in process, my life, the gradually more defining sculpture and my opportunities, nurtured by the central warmth of that art room kiln.

You So Rock -Outdoor classes End of the year banquets -Being the only one in class once the seniors leave -Making eye contact in the hallways -The start of the coutdown to summer -Starbucks happy hour -A new season of summer reality TV shows and movies The yearbook. The worst review it’s gotten is: “It smells” -Being on the top scoring High School list.

You So Don’t Rock -The stench of freearm Fridays -Having to park in Canada and walk to graduation. -Schoology -Making eyecontact in the bathrooms -Teachers being able to see when you did your homework on -AP exams being on the senior’s last day -See-through summer tank tops -Teachers who keep your grade a secret until finals day -So much trash in the parking lot to make an albatross feel at home

[05/10/12]

28 [zachanderson]

you must be pedrinan

Old Habits Die Hard

In 336 BC, Aristotle spoke the words, “We students entrapped in this self-proclaimed are what we repeatedly do.” “bubble” of Highlands Ranch, CO. Fast forward 2,000 years, Edmund Burke, Perhaps there will be a realization that all a British philosopher said, “Those our little problems are not unique who don’t know history are desin the slightest. Think you have tined to repeat it.” a question that hasn’t been asked Almost 200 years after, the before? Go to Google. Think you infamous Albert Einstein defined have an original thought? Go “insanity” as “doing the same thing to Twitter. Our generation is up over and over again expecting difagainst the challenge of a lifetime ferent results.” - and it’s hard to be fully optimistic and think If you are noticing a pattern in these, or that we are up for the battle. We are following sensing the slight irony in them as well, then the generation that put a man on the moon, you are on the right track. You see, many and I hear stories of kids soaking tampons in people, including these brilliant men, would vodka and shoving them in places only the argue that we - as a species - have advanced TSA can go simply to get drunk faster. beyond our wildest dreams over time. We search our whole life for answers, for My question is, why do these quotes exist guidance, for understanding, we will troll in the first place? If we have truly tried to right countless internet pages of inspirational quotes the misguided ship of so-called human progres- and stories simply to try to clear up whatever sion, if we have learned from the mistakes of is clouding our minds that particular day our past - why do we idolize those who simply When in reality, understanding is simply a brief find a new way to teach us the same message? absence of the constant confusion we face; it’s What if I told you that the main reason that a slight overlap in the expanding of the human rappers and poets and philosophers alike sucmind and the adaptation of the world around ceed in today’s world it. And when the world is simply because catches up, when that “Why do we idolize those of our stubborn lag is clouded over by ignorance that keeps who simply find a new way to a wave of common us from accepting the confusion - our minds teach us the same message?” regress. profound truths that have been expressed We’d rather just to us countless times? scream YOLO and then look up into the The most successful philosophers of our night sky staring beyond infinite amounts of time are simply those who have taken the stars and space and ask questions like “why lessons that we refuse to learn, and reiterated us?” and “why now?” Expecting some type of those lessons into words that are relevant to answer, when we might just be truly destined the time, knowing that people will still fall to our own lack of understanding. There are short of our true potential. Are we truly using answers that we know and that we don’t know these profound realizations or just posting them (yet), but as long as we remain ignorant to the as our Facebook statuses for the day and going answers that history has provided for us, that on to repeat the same mistakes of our past. brilliant men and women have dictated for us, Perhaps I am too hard on my generation. we truly are doomed to repeat it, again and We are all still young - still learning. Perhaps again. there is a glimmer of hope to come out of the

safrican american

Hello, Goodbye After this year, my outlook on life has completely changed. I have faced challenges beyond the normal eighteenyear old senior at Rock Canyon. Whether it was the fire my family faced, the daily five and a half hours of cheer practice I had went through, or the challenges I faced with personal relationships, all I can say is that is has been thrilling. As crazy as the year has been, I must say I need college. I don’t want college. I need college. I have found myself rare, because as the countdown turns from five to four days, people are starting to break down, and the water works have already begun. For me, yes I might cry a tear or two, but after this stressful year, I feel that I am more thrilled to leave verses upset. Maybe it just hasn’t hit me yet, or I am just in need of a reminder of the security blanket I will be leaving, but as of now I truly believe college is my chance to start over. Beyond the obvious fantasy of becoming whoever you want to be, I have found myself ready for other parts of college. I am ready to become a part of a new cheer team, and define myself as a Buff cheerleader. I am ready to find those people who I can say are

theopinions

true friends, and understand me the complex mind that I am. I am ready to hopefully be accepted into a sorority, and I am finally ready to grow up and start my career. Being a crazy teenager is one the most thrilling times in a persons’ life, but I am ready to find myself growing up a little bit within my community, and find myself less of a typical teenager. The world is so big, and I feel that my outlook of it has been so limited. I understand ten years from now I might look back, and say high school was the best four years of my life, but I am choosing to live in the now, where my heart and mind are telling me it’s time to move on. To move on from the pointless drama I stressed about day in, day out. Move on from the wasteful busy work I have had to encounter daily in class. High school is starting to become that needy ex-boyfriend who I need to get rid of. So I guess this is my hypothetical good bye to high school. It was the four years I needed to shape me into who I am, but the next four years will be needed to help me become accepting of who I am. Farewell high school. Hello college.

Outside of the Classroom As I walk down the halls of Rock Canyon every day and see freshmen who to me look so young, I think back on almost four years ago when I was in that same situation; new place, few friends, and an uncertainty of what lay ahead in the months to come. I then go home, and help my seventh grade brothers with their math or English homework, and think about five years ago, when I was in that same situation, and how much my intellect and views on certain things had evolved from then until ninth grade, and how

sean of the red

they’ve changed from then until now. This made me realize that not only is school a place to learn math equations and how to write analytical essays, but a place where a person finds who they are and figures out what they are truly passionate about. This all doesn’t happen within the confines of the school building, but classes with people you don’t know and unfamiliar experiences serve as starting points to finding this information and can lead to doing things like this in other places during and after high school. However, sometimes this jour-

ney can come to a roadblock when you encounter certain problems in life. Most are fairly insignificant, like fighting with a friend, taking a difficult class, or the effects of peer pressure, all of which are mostly easy to deal with, and can be learned from. But others are more serious problems, like loss of loved ones, severe illness, and disaster. Though they may take a very long time to deal with, they can lead someone to these realizations in life sooner. Through acknowledging that these things happened and finding ways to deal with them, I learned that mostly everything does happen for a reason, but the reason is

rarely obvious. When I think about my childhood, I remember being completely carefree and impassioned, all I focused on was what was going on in the present. This did in fact work for me then, but what I’ve now realized is that that mindset would get me nowhere today. This process of maturing taught me more than just how to get by in this life, it taught me how to make friends (and keep them), how to deal with complicated situations, and most importantly, how to be happy, which doesn’t mean everything is perfect, just that I am able to look past the imperfections.

theopinions

The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers Coming from a school that is diligently working on amping up the school spirit, this may be a bit counterproductive to say. But, to be honest, I am not a jag. Deep breath, everyone. Let’s take it all in stride. But there’s method behind the madness: I found some fun facts online to explain my reasoning. A jaguar, according to National Geographic, has a spotted coat in order to blend in with its environment in a pattern of rosettes that replicate the way that light filters through the tropical foliage in the jungle. I don’t blend in with my environment. I have never have, and as I am slowly learning, I probably never will. I come from a mixedrace family -- my mom is white and my dad is black, and my siblings and I are somewhere in between. We’ve always been a unique case for the area - ever since we moved here 14 years ago - and never have we ever blended in. That is why, I have adopted a different big cat into my life (sorry Mr. Jaguar!): Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. If you grew up watching Disney, you probably know (and have memorized) Tigger’s song, “The wonderful thing about Tiggers, is I’m the only one!” Never have words been so applicable to my situation in my entire life. There are, according to the Douglas County website, about 1759 students who attend Rock Canyon High school, my graduating class makes up about 300 of these students. Out of all 300 of my peers, since the time I was in the seventh grade, I was the only mixed-black female in the entire class. For a while, I could

verbal burrage

Opinion in a Poem Blood of rain Birds of a different feather Animals we’re all animalsYou see the future in the span of numbers Not the span of space Existence. So disgusting now This dawning sky, lusting familiarity I don’t comprehend the waves like you doI wouldn’t like toI think I’ll stay on dry land Beating heart preventing me from death Yet it still claims that I’m dead. Who’s forgotten now? Misty mornings-mists of red A straight path through precipitation Evaporation condensing in the blood I spill I shout my messages to the sky And messages do come back in reply I hear them all-those willing to speak. Carter Cashion ‘13

never find the voice to shout my own Tigger me wishing that somehow God would morph anthem--in fact, for the past seventeen years, my markings into the beautiful little splotches I’ve been struggling to write proper lyrics. of black against gold canvas that everyone else It’s not like I have the odds against me, in seemingly had. theory. We, as an American culture, take pride But, little did I remember from my childin individuality, diversity, and “finding oneself”- hood cache of fairy tales and happy endings, -of course, if one’s individuality matches the that Walt Disney and friends had someone like pre-planned High School Musical me in mind; that is until one night, two weeks character slots where we’ve been ago, when I came across Winnie the Pooh, training to fall into our entire buried in an abyss of Netflix titles while searchlives. But some of us land on the ing for John Tucker Must Die. Tigger sang his iconic song and slowly my outskirts, those who aren’t the Zac memory was jogged, and eventually, I too was Efrons or the Ashley Tisdales; for every school the characters are dif- singing along with him. “The wonderful thing ferent, for every culture the standards change. I about Tiggers, is I’m the only one!” That’s just happened to end up in the wrong film, one when I realized that our stories shared the same words, but we were singing the lyrics in two where there the mixed-black female role had different tones. been forgotten to be written. Now, for the very first time, I am able stand I was born with cheeks that stand high on tall and shout that I am wonderful because I my face, my skin deeply tanned, born a daughter of the sun. When I was a girl, my hair was am the only one. thick and bunched, so curly that elastic bands I know this isn’t the best closing statement for promoting school would strangle themselves in the ringlets “I am able to stand tall and spirit, but I hope my journey can guide and would have to be shout that I am wonderful others like myself to removed with forceful hands that ripped and because I am the only one.” understanding and accepting themselves. tore away the mess. So, for anyone, who is currently a student at As I moved into my preteen years--as penRCHS, planning to come, or reading this just ance for coveting straight hair--my hair frizzed because, for anyone who is fighting their own and took to wild waves. I was never safe from battle against their unique spots, just think of the comments, middle school boys who found that song -- maybe sing it if you’re feeling up solace in taunting shy girls. What bothered to it -- and write your own lyrics that fit your me more was my skin; in a world of sun oil slathered pool goers who chit-chatted about the situation. Although jags are beautiful creatures, there’s something about the lessons learned horrors of pale skin, I secretly craved the milky while being a Tigger that makes the struggle of luster they were slowly burning away. being different oh so very wonderful. As a Tigger in Highlands Ranch, my stripes have shocked many, offended some, and had

29 [05/10/12] [zachanderson]

Painting Your Own Picture I have always been the kind of person who believes that you should stay true to your morals and beliefs no matter what environment is around you. At the end of the day, you have to live with the decisions that you made. My Freshman year I came into school, wanting to be a “good girl”. Sophomore year I was still the “good girl” when my guy friends thought it would be ironic to call me ‘slu*terman’ instead of Scheirman. I thought it was funny because it was the farthest thing from the truth and I valued the slight attempt at irony that high schoolers tried to make. But, the name didn’t stop with just those guy friends. Soon enough, I would be hanging out at a friend’s

the laurax

house and have someone I had never even met say “Is your name sl**?”, “Do people call you sl**?” During high school, everyone has had some sort of reputation: the jock, the prude, the teacher’s pet. But, are they ever accurate? I have been labeled all of the above by people I have never talked to or even met in high school. “You are a prude sl**.” That’s what I’ve heard from my peers. I didn’t know that was even possible… Apparently I am promiscuous and prude. Who knew? Apparently I am also a jock, a teacher’s pet, and an overachiever. Who knows what else? Throughout my high school career, I worried about what other people thought of me, but in the end I realized that no matter who I am, people who don’t even know me will label me inaccurately. I based most of my decisions on

how others would think of me after. Doing this, I spent most of my time trying to make others happy and not myself. All I wanted was approval from everybody else. But, the last two months of senior year it has hit me. You must live for yourself and not for others. The only people who really know you are the people closest to you. The outsiders looking in have no idea who you are. All you can do is smile and laugh about people’s misinterpretations of you. If I could go back and do high school all over again I would have taken more chances and just lived. No one’s going to paint an accurate picture of you, so paint one of yourself that you’re happy and proud of.

By The #’s

-the number of sisters Lauren has, both editors of The Rock, both RCHS graduates.

3 22 3

-the number of years Lauren has spent on The Rock staff. -the number of issues of The Rock Lauren has contributed to.

4 2

-the number of hours Lauren spends working on publications per day. thousand. -the number of pictures Lauren took for Wish Week -the number of RCHS publications Lauren is on.

[05/10/12]

theopinions

My Big Blue Coat I have this coat. It hangs at the back of my closet, collecting dust behind a “CANYON” shirt that is now far too small. It’s always been too big, a little too blue and, to be honest, was never very good at being a coat. But that coat represents a part of my past both horrible and great. It was originally a hand-me-down from a distant cousin who had outgrown it. It sat at the bottom of the package, under a polo shirt and some khaki slacks. Among all the clothes that they sent me, it was the only one I scoffed at. “Oh, come on Mom, do you REALLY expect me to wear that?” I said after first seeing it, “I’d rather go cold.” She told me I never had to wear it, and that if I hated it so much, she would give it to Goodwill. I remember agreeing with her that someone else could make better use of it, and thought that was the last I would see of its cloth. How wrong I was. One day in the middle of October I woke up to a surprise blizzard. After

andrew’s clues

calling the school hotline and hearing the dreaded words “All Douglas County Schools are operating on a normal schedule” from the faceless delegator of snow days, I reluctantly slipped out of bed and proceeded with my normal routine. But just as I was ready to leave, and searching through my closet for fitting overwear, I found that all my coats had already been handed down to my younger cousins. Even more daunting was a sole blue sleeve of my banished coat sticking out of a trash bag beneath my slacks. Oh please no. Not that coat, I thought, wondering if it was feasible to just go without one. I ultimately ended up sliding my arms into the sleeves and hoisting it over my shoulders with a frown. The day was uneventful, I think it hung in my locker for most of the time as I walked from class to class. As the day ended, I returned to my locker to retrieve the coat and then headed home. But as I walked to the bus stop and sat down, the snow started falling harder. Soon, I was sitting in the middle of a blizzard,

with only my coat and backpack to protect me from the snow. I can never remember being so cold in my life, squinting through the white-out to find any bus headlight that would take me to the Light Rail. And as the snow piled up, I receded into the depths of my coat. Unfortunately, I stayed there for the next four months, both literally and metaphorically. The coat became a front for myself; a wall that protected me from my Freshman peers. I would sit in my Human Geography class with my coat on, sleeves empty as I kept my arms hugged to my chest. Over the next four months I barely reached out to anybody, I would rather sit silent at the back of the class. I walked home every day to that same bus stop and couldn’t wait to go home, throw my coat on my bed and shut down. But soon came summer, and the time for snow coats was over, so it once again returned to its rightful spot behind my t-shirts. I have since bought new coats, made new friends, joined new clubs and become a new person entirely.

[zachanderson]

But it’s stayed there for the past three years. It’s been there as my club t-shirts piled up next to it: Speech and Debate, Mock Trial, Newspaper... Every now and again my mom asks whether or not I want to get rid of it, and every time I say no and she never knows why.

Four Pencils and 27 Love Letters I always love how at the beginning of the school year I get to start on the first day with fresh new school supplies all neat and organized. I’m a little dorky that way. This year I started with one of those sliding pencil boxes in which I meticulously placed 25 multicolored mechanical pencils. Recently, I opened up that pencil box and realized that my stock of 25 pencils has diminished down to a meager four and have been replaced by 27 love notes. After we published this year’s first edition of the newspaper, we wrote out thank you notes to other people on the staff. Touched and moved by the notes I received, I decided that rather than throwing them away, I would stuff them at the bottom of my pencil box in hopes that I would run across them some other day and I could enjoy them again. Then, Rachel’s Challenge hit and I again was shocked and humbled the incredible friends I have who took the time to brighten up my day and show how much they care. Again, I found a home for my notes at the bottom of my pencil box, underneath my brightly colored mechanical pencils, erasers running low,

right up your allie

a little beaten up from when they started. cleaned them up as best I could, learned Inspired by Rachel’s Challenge, we a lot, and exhausted myself until I nearly decided to start a Secret Sisters broke. But in the end, what truly stands project in choir. Everyone drew out, are the people I met, the friends I a name and left notes and small made, and the random acts of kindness gifts for the Secret Sister whose that got me through this year. name they drew. About once a I sat down, pulled everything out of week, I would find an anonythe box, and read every note I had. I mous note expressing kindness, remembered things from this year that I and expecting nothing in return. hadn’t thought about in what seemed like I collected notes from newspaper, forever, I thought about friends I should choir, my birthday, and anything else in have never lost touch with, and friends between, and stuffed them at the bottom that stuck by me through everything. of my pencil box. This habit went on and These notes represented the wonderful on throughout my entire senior year. people I had the privilege of knowing About two weeks before the end of who truly made high school for me. my high school career, I reached into The past 13 years of school have premy pencil box, barely hanging on, and pared me well enough to be able to leave, only found four to be ready to leave. pencils, erasers “It’s the people that made And as much as I’m gone, none still looking forward to everything so wonderful usable, probably going off to college not even the my own, having that I’m going to remember.” on same ones I new experiences, started with. and making new And underneath, were 27 of my love friends it’s saying goodbye to all the old notes. friends that is that’s going to make leavThis somewhat silly and trivial lack ing so hard. of pencils, to me, ended up epitomizing When I look back on high school, this last year of high school. I changed a it’s the people that made everything lot, ending up completely different from so wonderful that I know I’m going to when I started; I made a ton of mistakes, remember.

Admittedly, I don’t fully understand my reluctance either. I suppose my only explanation for keeping it is to serve as a reminder for what I once was versus what I’ve become, a symbol for the four-year-long evolution from blue to black and gold.

In Going Out AP Exams

SAT’s/ ACT’s

Spelling

“Are you excited for college?”

“Where are you thinking about going to college?”

“How are you?”

Men In Black 3

Breaking Dawn Pt. 2

Originality

Schoology

YOLO

iPhone Reminders

SchoolDistributed Planners

Making Good Reincarnation Decisions

theopinions

A Year in Review, a Year in Remembrance Staff Editorial:

The 2011-2012 school year presented many challenges and opportunities to Rock Canyon. Starting August 11 and ending May 10 or 23, here’s a look at an unforgettable year. With this final issue, The Rock would like to say goodbye with a remembrance of the year. A year that shaped many lives, for better or worse. For some it exceeded expectations and for others it dipped into disappointment. It was a year to be remembered, and now will be through text.

Autumn

Our year started with a new set of Freshmen and a fresh administration. August was certainly a transition month for Rock Canyon, and many struggled to become acclimated to high school life after a drowsy summer. We remember cheering at football games and swaying at the Back to School Dance. These couple of months constituted a time where students were rarely subjected to the stresses of a school in full-swing. Instead of study guides and snow days, we had syllabi and seating assignments. Student Council rolled out the red carpet for a Grammy-themed night for Homecoming, and, as it was rolled back up, we moved into our second quarter.

disappointment of having yet another bond fail to pass. The thoughts of having fewer teachers and more students next year was haunting for all except seniors. We said goodbye to second semester and 2011 with a wave from our gloved hands and started Winter Break. Coming back to a new year and a new semester was and is never easy for anyone. For those involved in Advanced Placement classes, they were now buried in piles of homework in preparation for the tests we have just started taking. Rock Canyon also started Wish Week, and as a school we raised over $44,000 for five-year-old Natalie suffering from leukemia. We were once again united as a complete Jaguar and sent her to Disneyland along with her brothers and parents, breaking a national record in stride. Our seniors remember opening their mailboxes to find envelopes from colleges waiting, their decisions a peek in their future after high school. Where we would be attending college the next year became an omnipresent topic and an endless source of decision-making agony and happiness, continuing the trend of mixing the good with the bad. Also during February we celebrated Valentine’s Day. Our school lit up with red hearts, and the first students began being asked to

Prom. Pockets of singing telegrams showed up in classes and students either appreciated or mocked the love that was in the air. The quarter ended with Spring Break, a much needed respite from the increasing school loads. Nevertheless, some students were sent off on vacations with backpacks filled with homework and review books.

Spring

Freshman were now in full swing with high school life and ready to shed the feeling of being at the bottom of the barrel. Blue registration sheets were spread among the students, and we dictated our social life, free time and sleep schedule with simple checkmarks. But with final grades teetering on the brink and seniors struggling with the omnipresent Senioritis, a shift occurred transferring the focus away from academics and toward social life. Enter stage left: Prom. Prom, as always, split Rock Canyon into two groups. Those who hate it, and those who love it. For those who hated it, they either skipped the night completely or reluctantly found dates or attended stag. Mile High Stadium gave us a view over the nightlife of the Mile High City. Some romances were explored and furthered, others broken in the gust of drama that accompanies this particular rite of passage. Those who loved it found solace in the night’s

[alliecole]

Winter

glamour and wild After Prom. After the events were done and the only thing students had to look forward to were academics and finals, the focus shifted back. But this year it overcorrected and the academics became volatile. Within the last two weeks, Rock Canyon was shocked by a major cheating scandal. What can normally be attributed to stress, was now attributable to the intensity that finals pose to students. Cheating rings were exposed within many classes, and any student involved would tell you it was because of the incredible amount of work they needed to complete before they left for the summer.

Summer

And now to shift from past to future. We can only anticipate what this summer’s drowsy nights hold. What lessons will be learned, what friendships will be made and lost as our senior students pack their bags for college. And, as freshmen become sophomores, sophomores become upperclassmen and juniors take their deserved spot as seniors, we stand together as Jaguars to wave goodbye to our peers--for now, for summer, or forever.

The Rock Staff

Editorial

Our second quarter began with Rachel’s Challenge. A speaker came to our school and reminded us of the benefits of simply being kind. We heard about her story, and how she only wished to find a light in a world of darkness. With things in perspective, our school felt a unity like it had never felt before. Kind words were exchanged frequently, but, as the seasons changed from warm to chilly, so did our emotions. Although her quotations hang in every hallway, her message became mostly forgotten and swept up in the finals of first semester. Seniors now started to send out their applications to colleges, waiting with crossed fingers for the reply. Underclassmen, on the other hand, began realizing the importance of their final grades for their future applications. At the same time, we suffered through the

Life in Ink

31 [05/10/12]

Editor in Chief: Lauren Scheirman News Editors: Kayla Neil, Charlie Melbye In-Depth Editors: Danielle Burrage, Syd Charvat Sports Editors: Alex Pedrinan, Chris Safran Opinions Editors: Andrew Charap, Allie Cole Business Editor: Cecilia Castro Art Editor: Zach Anderson Non-Voting Adviser: Kristi Rathbun

Reporting

Jacob Battock Kelcey Beckman Ashley Boatman Andrew Bohren Sydney Boyle Megan Boyles Nicole Cassou Brianna Cooke Karly Hanson Natalie Holthaus Sachin Mathur Linnea Melbye

Sean McGavin Bryan Metze Rylee Portman Jeremy Purchase Mae Rohrbach Demri Scott Michael Shapiro Virginia Vaughan Maddie Whitten Cambel Winkler Caitlin Yanchak

The goals of The Rock, the student newspaper of Rock Canyon High School, are to inform, educate, and entertain the readers as well as to provide an educational opportunity for the students who produce it. The first three copies of The Rock are free, additional copies are available for 50 cents each.

The Rock invites your comments. Letters to the editor and commentary submissions are encouraged. You are also encouraged to submit coverage ideas, cartoons, photos or anything else you wish to see in the Rock. Opinions of the staff are presented as editorials. All editorials are at least the majority view of the editorial board. We also feature a number of columnists and commentary writers. Their opinions are their own. Rock Canyon High School 5810 McArthur Ranch Road Highlands Ranch, CO 80124 Phone 303-387-3000/Fax 303-387-3001

seniorsalute

32 1

1. Nov.14 During the Rachel’s Challenge assembly, seniors bow their heads and listen to the speaker 2. Kate Reisig ‘12, the only senior on the varsity poms team, warms up before the upcoming season 3. Taylor Phelps ‘12 and Taylor Menning ‘12 pose as Lil Wayne for Homecoming Spirit Week 4. Lily Sumner, Nancy Hunt, and Taylor Woods hold our ‘wish kid’ Natalie after the check was presented to Make-a-Wish 5. Jimmy Owsley ‘12 puts on his helmet while walking onto the football field 6. During the Back to School Assembly, Conner Hessen ’12 pumps up his fellow seniors for the year to come 7. The boys on the basketball team take one final picture on senior night.