HALF HOLLOW HILLS HIGH SCHOOL EAST 50 Vanderbilt Pkwy, Dix Hills, NY 11746 thunderbirdhse@gmail.com
Volume 58 - No. 3 June 2018 thunderbirdhse.com
Reflections from our Editors-In-Chief 13,000 Hours Later Emily Disman
Co-Editor-In-Chief
In third grade, my teacher, Mrs. Donders, wrote my mom a note one day telling her that I was going to grow up and have a passion for writing. Who would have ever thought that she would be right? Recently, I bumped into this same teacher at a restaurant. During our brief conversation, we spoke about how long it has been since we had seen or spoken to one another. Within the time of the encounter, she did not fail to ask me about my writing, whether or not it took off. In that moment, I began to reflect. I allowed myself to look at how far I have come and at how much everything has changed. Now, as the end of my senior year approaches, I realize how much of an impact the Half Hollow Hills community has had on my life. Throughout all my years at school, I have been able to work with a wide variety of students and teachers that have shaped me into the person who I am today. I have been able to develop my own thoughts and opinions based upon others’ perspectives and challenge myself both academically and
socially. I have learned how to build School. I remember every year that I self confidence and be proud of what was a student at that school; I would I have to offer in a group setting. But, hope for the Giraffe Awards that were most of all, I have given out to selearned to take lect students. risks. School is I remember a place where participateach and eving in Color ery student has War, dressthe ability to ing up and express themgetting spirselves and be ited, while whoever they participating want to be. in games to It is a place earn points where people for my desare free to try ignated team. new things I remember and make misplaying on takes without the blacktop the fear of beduring recess, Emily Disman will be attending the ing judged. It which I now University of Texas in Austin is a place where realize is the people can learn place where I to be independent, rather than follow created everlasting friendships. That the crowd. It is a place where people was when we had our whole lives can discover what they love and what ahead of us. Now, I can only reflect makes them who they are. on the things that we have experiIt really is true when people say that enced and accomplished. Looking time flies. It feels like just yesterday I back now, Chestnut Hill was the start was a fifth grader sitting in Mr. DiRus- of it all. The start of my journey to so’s class at Chestnut Hill Elementary become the person who I am today.
Now, being in high school, I can truly see how much I have matured and grown as a person. I have expanded upon these ideas that I learned when I was young, realizing what is really important in life. I have learned to give back to my community through a variety of community service organizations and fundraisers. I have learned what it means to work hard and put my mind to everything that I want to accomplish in life. I have learned the importance of family and have realized that no matter what family will always have your back and be there to pick you up when you are down. I have learned the definition of a true friend, and fortunately, I have been able to identify many of my own. High school has been a place where I was able to learn the important lessons that life has to offer. Throughout my four years in high school, I have also been able to discover my love for writing through my participation in the school newspaper, the Thunderbird. Serving as a staff writer as a freshman, the entertainment and lifestyles editor as a sophomore and a junior, and now being the co-Editor-inChief as a senior, I have been able to truly refine my passion and grow as a (Continued on page 2)
Farewell Hills East: Thanks for the Memories Bradley Shanker
Co-Editor-In-Chief
As senior year comes to a close, I feel as though it is the right time to take a step back and reflect on my experiences with the Thunderbird. I would like to keep this “short and sweet” because I feel as though a lot of the things that I learned from working on the Thunderbird are intrinsic and wouldn’t affect a general audience, but I will share a few pieces of knowledge. So, I joined the Thunderbird in ninth grade because my older sister, Emily, was a contributing member at the time. She convinced me to come to a few meetings, and from then on, my passion for writing took off. In that first year as a staff writer, I wrote about five or so articles, and I would say that three of them didn’t even make it to print. But, I had an eagerness to improve my writing, so I didn’t let these shortcomings discourage me. Instead, I worked hard to improve my language usage and layout structure and the work that I put in definitely showed. In tenth grade, I was still a staff writer; however, I took on a larger role within the paper. I edited more articles and even attempted to learn
IN SIDE THIS ISSUE
a bit about layout from Lauren Peller, things for which I am thankful. First, who at that time was the Editor-in-Chief. I learned that working with and managing your This enthusipeers will asm helped never be an boost me to easy task. the role of Not everyJunior Manone will aging Edialways like tor where I you, and was able to you need to oversee the be content production with that. of the paper, If people a side which are not putmost people ting in the don’t know amount of much about. effort they As a rising should be, senior, I was don’t be chosen to be afraid to the co-Editake a stand tor-in-Chief and let alongside Bradley Shanker is off to the University of Georgia. them know; Emily Disman. however, do I felt honored to take on this role and couldn’t wait it in a respectful manner. Second, I to help the Thunderbird soar to new learned that you must not take all the credit. As cliche as it sounds, “there is heights. After serving this past year as co- no I in TEAM,” and the Thunderbird Editor-in-Chief I have learned a few is exactly that: a team of like-minded,
Senior Reflections Page 2
Class of 2018
passionate individuals who enjoy providing quality content. Taking all the credit for a team effort is selfish and only moves you back two steps instead of moving forward one. Lastly, I learned that you should always be eccentric and let your freak flag fly because the things that make us weird are the things that make us remarkable. During meetings, I liked to keep the vibe relaxed and fun. Whether we were discussing article ideas or shouting out current “hot topics,” everyone was able to be themselves in those after school meetings. I hope that current members and all future members know that they can come to meetings and have their voices heard and not be judged. Serving as co-Editor-in-Chief has been an amazing experience, but all of the amazing work produced wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of the editorial board and staff writers. So to them, I say thank you. To our advisors, Mrs. Dalton and Mrs. Davis, thank you for helping to keep us on task and for providing guidance at a moments notice. Thank you both for (Continued on page 2)
HSE Sports Wrap-up
Post Grad Plans Pages 4 & 5
Page 8
[2] Thunderbird School Features
Reflections... continued
Emily...
writer. I can’t even express enough how this club has impacted my high school career. The Thunderbird allowed me to step off the beaten path and pursue a hobby that wasn’t quite common. For the past four years, I have had the amazing opportunity to work with Mrs. Dalton and Mrs. Davis, and I cannot thank them enough for all of the guidance and advice that they have given me. I am so honored to have had the opportunity to hold the positions that I have had on the paper, especially this year as coEditor-in-Chief with Bradley Shanker. To Dylan Kaufman, I know that we are leaving the paper in great hands. With your impeccable writing skills, timeliness, and creativeness, I know that you are going to take the Thunderbird to new levels next year. To the rest of the editorial staff and staff writers, thank
you to those who have been dedicated to making this paper the best it can be. Bradley and I could not have done it without you. 13,000 hours. That is approximately how much time I have spent learning, forming friendships, and making memories at school. 13,000 hours that I will forever hold close to my heart. With a lifetime full of firsts, it is hard to think that this time in my life is full of lasts. On that note, to all of the younger students, cherish every moment and every memory because soon it will be your turn to reflect of your time as a Half Hollow Hills student. Although the end and saying goodbye is bittersweet, I cannot wait to say hello to a new beginning 1,542 miles away from home at the University of Texas at Austin.
Bradley... being warm and calming presences in times of stress. To you both, I say thank you. To Dr. Woodberry and Dr. Strong, thank you for being approachable at all times and for providing the paper with positive feedback. I am grateful that the Thunderbird will be in efficient hands next year. I am looking forward to passing the torch over to next year’s Editor-in-Chief, Dylan Kaufman, whose direction, poise, leadership, and flawless writing will help build upon what we have already created here as a group. To the rest of the editorial board and staff writers, I wish you the best of luck next year, whether you are moving on to college or finishing out your last few years of high school. May you remain dedicated and always give your full effort to the task at hand. If there is one piece of advice I could give you all it would be that “the truth is more important now than ever” (New York Times). I would also like to give a large thank you to all of the teachers and administrators who have encouraged me. Without your daily positive reinforcement, none of this would be possible. Per-
sonally, I would like to recognize one teacher who had a large impact on my high school career. Mr. Zarzicki. Mr. Zarzicki, thank you for bringing an unmatched enthusiasm to the classroom everyday. Your obsession with the English language has rubbed off on me, and I now stylistically analyze every piece of literature that passes through my hands. You taught me that language can have great power when used the correct way. Thank you for creating a curriculum that is based around your students, which helps keep them engaged. Thank you for teaching me to think critically and to always persevere no matter what may be bringing me down. The past two years in your classroom have truly been incredible. So, to you I say thank you. It is crazy just how fast these last four years have flown by. I guess the saying is true: “time flies when you’re having fun!” As high school comes to an end, it is bittersweet, but I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me. As this door is closing, another one is just starting to open, and I must now begin my confident march into the unknown.
Saying Bye to High School and “Lehigh” to College Alexa Grill
School News Editor
I remember crying the night before at my previous self as these halls have the first day of freshbecome second naman year with a highture over the course of lighted map of the these past four years. school in my hands Little did I know back just wondering how I then that my experiwould be able to find ences in these halls all of my classes in would be so influential this new building. Alin my life today. though I doubted that Some of the biggest I would ever be able lessons that I have to navigate my way learned throughout through the halls of my high school caHills East, I was finalreer all sound cliche, ly able to conquer the but all have definitely unthinkable after just proven to be true and a few short weeks. worthwhile. Here are For freshman year just a few of the lesme, this was a huge sons I’ve learned: victory. Now, senior Alexa Grill will be attending Lehigh University in the fall year me is laughing •
Always try your hardest in everything you do. High school is a long journey and can get stressful, but at the end of the day, you determine your own fate! As a senior reflecting on her years as a high school student, I feel a sense of pride knowing that all of my hard work and dedication over the last four years has gotten me to where I am today.
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Challenge yourself in and out of school. Without pushing your boundaries, you will never know your fullest potential.
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Get enough sleep. This is so important. Take it from someone who came down with pneumonia freshman year from sleep deprivation... getting that extra hour of sleep is way more beneficial than staying up super late to study or finish homework.
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Don’t stress the small things. There are much bigger problems in the world, and remember that everything happens for a reason.
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Make memories with your friends. Right now, high school is a reality, but in a few years, all you will have left of it is the memories.
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Stay true to yourself.
As I continue on to the next phase of my life, I am positive that I will bring these valuable lessons with me. I can only hope that I will continue to learn meaningful life lessons at Lehigh University in the midst of the same obstacle that struck me four years ago… finding my classes.
Later Gator: Transitioning from an HSE Thunderbird to a Florida Gator Jolie Freedman
Print Manager
Four years ago, I looked around nervously with a pit in my stomach, and all I wanted to do was turn around and go back home. As I took my first step into High School East as an incoming freshman, my heart beat rapidly, and I didn’t know what to expect. Now, here I am today, four years later, and a completely different person than the nervous little freshman girl I was. This transition is a direct result of my years spent at HSE. My first year at Chestnut Hill Elementary School feels like a lifetime ago, but I can still remember all of the wonderful memories I made my very first year. I didn’t know what the purpose of school was at the time, but I would soon come to learn that it would be a safe haven where I could pave a path for myself and gain one of a kind social and academic experiences. I remember my eagerness taking over as I tried my best to memorize every vocabulary word in kindergarten, and my drive to beat all of the minute math levels in second grade. I didn’t know it at the time, but the motivation inside of
me was just starting to grow. My passion for writing began in third grade. My third grade teacher introduced me to poetry and stories. Although at the time writing just seemed like a jumble of words, it became an outlet for me that transformed my ideas into the first real thing that finally made sense to me. I was infatuated at such a young age that the ideas I formulated in my head could come to life on a piece of paper. As I entered West Hollow Middle school, a symbol for the next chapter of my life, I was anxious to see what challenges would be thrown at me next. I learned at middle school that some subjects and activities would intrigue me and pique my curiosity, whereas others would be a challenge. I learned that this was true for all the students around me, and that we all held some similar and different passions. I learned that writing and reading were something I really enjoyed as I excelled in English and Social Studies classes. Moreover, I discovered that art was a passion of mine as I was provided with the chance to take Studio in Art in 8th Grade. I also realized that Earth Science, the first advanced class that I took along
with Algebra 1, was difficult for me to understand. I truly had to learn how to push myself and use my motivation in order to get through a class that did not come naturally to me. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my learning experiences were expanding even more, and I was on the road to becoming who I am today. My three years spent at middle school equipped me for the four most strenuous, but exciting years of my life: high school. Almost any senior can admit that the end of their high school journey is bittersweet and filled with nostalgia. During a long and stressful day, a 40 minute period could feel like a century. However, the past 13 years have flashed right before my eyes; all of a sudden my time at HSE is over. It was not until this year that I fathomed how substantial the past 13 years of school have been on my life. High school truly built my caliber and taught me who I am as a person. Throughout high school, I have learned three main lessons that I plan to carry with me throughout life. First, I have learned the concept of motivation and hard work. I always have to push myself to be a good student with
excelling grades, as well as push myself to be the best possible version of myself. Without hard work and dedication, all of my accomplishments would be valueless and futile. I spent four years of high school committed to the Thunderbird, and with hard work, I went from a basic writer to an equipped Print Manager. As I continued to write and edit more articles, I was extremely proud of myself as I watched my writing skills enhance. Another important lesson I took away from high school is the importance of finding your passions. Throughout my four years, I discovered that writing was a path I wanted to keep exploring. I took multiple english related electives and joined several clubs in the field. I also participated in a Seventeen Magazine Fashion program this summer at UCLA, combining my passion for writing and fashion together. All of these experiences catalyze my decision to major in communications/journalism in college. I also learned that, outside of future career paths, I have a passion for helping others. Since 9th grade, I have been (Continued on next page)
[3]
School and Community News
Later Gator... continued an active member of the Friendship grown to appreciate the multitude of Circle, which is a program that brings experiences with which I have been together kids with special needs and provided and will always be invaluable to me throughout my teenage volunteers. future endeavors. My dedication to the I am glad to have Friendship Circle led had four breathtakme to my summer job ing years filled with at Sunrise Day Camp, learning lessons in a non-profit camp for and out of the classkids with cancer and room, growing a their siblings. Workvast base of knowling at Sunrise aledge, exploring my lowed me to feel happassions, forming pier than I ever have one-of-a kind relafelt in my life. My tionships with both past four years have my friends and taught me to always teachers, and befollow my passions coming involved in and do what makes the HSE community. me the happiest. The This upcoming third lesson I have year, I will be attaken away from high tending University school is the imporJolie Freedman will be of Florida and am a tance of relationships attending University of Florida part of the College of with others. I couldn’t Journalism and Comhave gone through high school without my family, friends, and munications. I’m glad to be embarking teachers by my side. I am beyond grate- on a new journey in my life, and I feel ful for the teachers that provided me proud to be ending my final chapter of with not just the information I needed high school on such a positive note. I to do well in their classes, but also with am lucky to have had the pleasure of guidance that I can use throughout col- getting to grow with my fellow classlege and beyond. I am also extremely mates, and I see the same drive and grateful for my one of a kind friends passion instilled in their bodies that I and family who have been my shoul- feel in mine. The experiences I have ders to lean on throughout every mo- had at High School East were beyond imperative, and I will continue to keep ment of high school. Whether I was sitting in a classroom my four momentous years spent at learning new algebra equations, or High School East close to heart as a cheering in the bleachers during our Florida Gator. school’s annual Comp Night, I have
Adopt a Survivor Part 3 Sloane Levine & Brooke Gronich Staff Writers
illustrates that survival in the camp was Think of your 15th birthday: where largely due to luck and maybe a little bit will you celebrate or how did you who one knew. His advantage was vital celebrate if it already passed? Irving to his survival because an assignment in Roth unfortunately celebrated his 15th a less strenuous and dangerous job probirthday at Auschwitz, a concentration vided Irving with outlets to obtain adcamp, and he was just happy to be alive ditional food over and above the rations and make it to that camp memSeptember 2nd, bers received. 1944. Auschwitz Irving’s next job was a slave labor at the camp was camp where milworking in the lions of Jews were stables with horsheld. Irving, just a es. Irving was child at the time, more fortunate had many jobs than others to be while imprisoned given this job beat the camp. When cause the labor he arrived at the wasn’t as intense, camp, his first Holocaust survivor Irving Roth shares his and it gave him job was to move story (Photo courtesy of helenair.com) the opportunity gravel in little to supplement his carts up the hill, food with sugar tedious, backbreaking work. One day, beets, the nourishment he shared with while working at the gravel pit, Irving the horses! He was also able to get exand his brother were singled out and tra food on Sunday afternoons when he told to see the commander of the camp. would pick up pig dung and move it for When Irving heard this, he thought he fertilizer. The pigs were fed Nazi leftwas going to be killed, because “When overs, so Irving would fill up his bucket you’re singled out, you know you’re with mashed potatoes and bring it back in trouble.” When they got to the com- to share it with the others living in his mander’s office, they found their cousin stable. One way that survivors were able there as well. The commander turned to manage was through what Irving calls to Irving’s cousin who works with “organizing.” The language in Aushorses and asked if he likes his work. chwitz was different, taking from the Irving’s cousin replied that his work Nazi’s was not known as “stealing,” but was great, so the commander assigned was called “organizing.” This is exactly Irving and his brother to work with him what Irving had to do when he would at the stables. Irving learned that the take tomatoes from the garden and trade job reassignment was thanks to his fe- them for a loaf of bread. male cousin, who worked as the comOccasionally, after work, as people mander’s secretary and requested that were going to take a shower, a German her relatives were given good jobs. This (Continued on page 6)
HSE Juniors Make Memories at the Hamlet Alexa Foodim
Entertainment Editor
After a long week of rain, the skies from our special night. The dancing took a short break when cleared up and the Class of 2019 was the food was ready. ready for our longEveryone sat at big awaited junior outround tables as we ing. Everyone got anxiously waited dressed to the nines for the announcein their beautiful ment that the dedresses and handlicious food was some suits. The ready to be served. beautiful flower arThere was a large rangements in corbuffet station filled sages and boutonwith favorites, nieres were perfect such as chicken for the crisp spring parmesan, macanight. The perLovely ladies at the Junior Outing roni and cheese, fectly planned (Photo courtesy of Alexa Foodim) chicken fingers, night began at french fries, and the school at 5 pasta. Our PM where attention to we got on the food was our assigned short-lived buses, orgaas we were nized by our all anxious chaperones, to get right and headed back on the to the Hamdance floor. let CounLater in the try Club in night, the Commack. dessert staThe venue tion was was perready, and fect and ofwho doesn’t fered tons Juniors ready to dance the night away (Photo courtesy of Lifetouch) love an ice of space to cream bar dance the with tons of night away. The dancing started right as we en- toppings including cookie dough, sprintered the room. A lively DJ and an ener- kles, oreos, and M and Ms? Ice cream getic MC united the grade on the dance sundaes were the perfect way to top off floor as we danced and sang to some of a great night. Around 8:45 PM we got back on our our favorite songs, including new hits and old classics. It was really fun to buses to head back to the school. Spewatch the entire grade together outside cial thanks to Student Government, Mr. of the school day in a more social set- Nolan, and the chaperones for organizting. There was also a photo booth with ing our first formal outing as a class. fun props and a photographer. There The junior outing lived up to all of our was a huge line as everyone wanted expectations; it definitely was a night to get their photo taken for a souvenir the entire grade will never forget.
Thunderbird Staff Editors-In-Chief:
Print Manager: Assistant Print Manager: Photography Editors:
Bradley Shanker & Emily Disman Jolie Freedman Mackenzie Gosset Rachel Schier & Emily Metaxas
Section Editors:
Kasim Waqar (World News & Op/Ed) Alexa Grill (School News) Aditi Patil (STEM) Austin Krach, Rachel Penzer & Alexa Foodim (Entertainment/Lifestyles) Jimmy Rouse, Dylan Kaufman and Evan Gottlieb (Professional Sports) Samantha Moody (School Sports)
Staff Writers: Noah Epstein, Hayden Fishbein, Morgan Fishbein, Brooke Gronich, Alexa Jones, Sloane Levine, and Emily Sobel Photographers: Emily Disman, Alexa Foodim, Jolie Freedman, Alexa Grill, Lifetouch, Phillip Orlando, Chip Parker, and Bradley Shanker Advisors: Website: www.thunderbirdhse.com Email: Thunderbirdhse@gmail.com
Mrs. Dalton Mrs. Davis
Disclaimer: The Thunderbird hereby states that the opinions within this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the staff, administration or school community.
[4] Thunderbird Graduation Special
Congratulations to t
Compiled by: Emily Disman A
Maxwell Abramson: U Mass Amherst Zain Ahmed: Boston College Duardo Akerele: New York University Keyanee Alexandre: New York Univ.
Emma Boudin: Univ. of So. California Jake Boxenhorn: Skidmore College Carina Boyce: Loyola Univ. - Maryland Danielle Boyle: The Ohio State Univ. Angela Bracco: SUNY Farmingdale Alexi Braun: Duke University
Diana Dinowitz: SUNY Binghamton Jackson DiPietro: Suffolk Comm College Andrew Dircks: Cornell University Emily Disman: Univ. of Texas at Austin Shelby Donald: Wash Univ in St Louis Katelyn Donoghue: Univ. of Delaware Ryan Doran: St. Joseph’s University, PA Christopher Dunn: Stony Brook Univ. Matthew Dunston: Univ. of Delaware
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Favorite HSE Memory... Friends I met at HSE Stephanie Bigman
Anthony Amorello: Stony Brook Univ. Marc Amorello: Pennsylvania State Univ. Bethany Anson: University of Pittsburgh Seva Apotsos: Nassau Comm. College Caroline Asare: Quinnipiac University Yaas Azmoudeh: The City College of NY
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Jessica Baltrusitis : U Mass Amherst Favorite HSE Memory... Playing in the Varsity Soccer match against Hills West Zach Berlin Nicholas Banai: University of Maryland Matthew Barbery: Binghamton Univ. Lucas Barkin: SUNY Oneonta Katrina Barry: Binghamton Univ. Kristen Basil: University of Florida Justin Becker: Pennsylvania State Univ. Amanda Behrens: Tulane University Sophia Benson: Stony Brook University Blair Berlin: Hofstra University Zachary Berlin: U Mass Amherst Christian Bertolino: SUNY Farmingdale Brandon Bessen: Binghamton University Stephanie Bigman: Univ of Texas -Austin Jeremy Blatt: Binghamton University Jolie Blecker: The Ohio State University Favorite HSE Memory... All of the pep rallies and athletic games Carina Boyce
John Bloom: London College of Fashion Brandon Blum: The Ohio State Univ. Sara Bocian: Binghamton University Madalina Borkan: University of Tampa Sam Botwinick: Indiana University
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Conor Caiazza: Ithaca College Haley Califano: Westminster Choir Coll Maya Califano: Binghamton University Kayla Calos: Iona College Dylan Campbell: SUNY Farmingdale Emanie Campbell: SUNY Albany Carissa Casagrande: Northeastern Univ. Emma Celt: SUNY Geneseo Ray Chang: Cornell University Alina Chen: LIU Post Cher Chen: New York University Elizabeth Chen: University of Chicago Gary Chen: Hofstra University Ofree Chen: Israeli Defense Force Michelle Cheng: SUNY Purchase Gabriel Chisholm: Morrisville State Coll Madison Ciuffetelli: SUNY Cortland Taylor Cohen: U Mass - Amherst Emily Collura: NY Institute of Beauty Marissa Connor: Manhattan College Collin Cook: SUNY Potsdam Connor Cook: SUNY Potsdam Vincent Cook: Suffolk Comm College Favorite HSE Memory... Creating the best group of friends that will last forever Carly Hausner Jason Coppedge: St. John’s University Zachary Cosentino: Catholic University Angelina Craig: University of Delaware Jake Cresciullo: University of Tampa
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Brandon Dalia: NY Inst. of Technology Julia Davi: Hofstra University John-Brandon DeCicco: Binghamton U. Lyndsey DeLouya: Vanderbilt University Mikaylie DePalma: Stony Brook Univ. Ethan Der Aris: Bentley University Alyssa Desimone-Boller: Univ. at Buffalo Elizabeth Diamond: Tulane University Kelly Diaz: Suffolk Community College Eric Dice: SUNY Geneseo
Favorite HSE Memory... Taking art classes and being in NAHS Julianna Moreland
Megan Feder: University of Miami Joshua Feig: University of Pennsylvania Rebecca Feldman : Univ. of Delaware Benjamin Ferbin: University of Miami
Nicole Jackson: SUNY Brockport Marley Jacobson: Princeton University Caroline Johnson: Cornell University Hannah Joseph: Hunter College
All my time spent in the music wing Sal Lupo
Jacob Brigati: Chesapeake College Haley Brust: Towson University Sari Brust: University of Pittsburgh Deanna James Bunce: Susquehanna Univ Jordan Busch: University of Miami
Joshua Ibrahim: Univ. of Pennsylvania
Jonah Im: Univ. of NC at Chapel Hill Dylan Irwin: University at Buffalo
Favorite HSE Memory...
Shadancy Alfrena : SUNY Buffalo State Jordan Alicea: University at Buffalo
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Nicholas Elmo: High Point University Ethan Ertel: Stony Brook University Olivia Ethe’: Binghamton University
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Senior Class Officers: Aidan Mallon, Ariana Malik, advisor Mrs. Merejo, Lauren Fogel, and Juliette Milber. Missing from photo is assistant advisor Mrs. Kramer and delegate Carina Boyce. (Photo courtesy of Lifetouch)
Emma Howell: Drexel University Adnan Hussain: Syracuse University
Nicholas Ferranti: Binghamton Univ. Morgan Fishbein: University of Maryland Jed Fishlow: University of Delaware Andrew Florentin : Coastal Carolina Univ Lauren Fogel: Binghamton University Jack Fox : University of Arizona Allison Francis: University of Delaware Semira Francis: St. John’s University Isabelle Frank: Wentworth Inst of Tech. Jolie Freedman: University of Florida Nicole Frieder: Florida Southern College Melissa Friedman: Molloy College Valerie Friedman: Molloy College Madeline Fryer: Emory University
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Juliette Kaplan: University of Michigan Bahar Kapoor: St. John’s University Kevin Karott: Stony Brook University Madison Katz: Indiana University Jared Katzelnick: Wash. U in Saint Louis Ryan Keilitz: University of Florida Maxwell Kershner: Binghamton Univ. Tate Kershner: Binghamton University Zenat Khwaja: Stony Brook University Britney Kim: Hofstra University
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Mark Gandolfo:Washington U. in St Louis Evan Gardner: University of Tampa Tyrese Gardner: Alfred University Jonathan Garriques: University at Buffalo Nicoletta Gasparis: Stony Brook Univ. Nicole Geraci: University of Maryland Anna Goldberg: University of Maryland Benjamin Goldberg: George Washington U Casey Goldstein: Univ of So. California Michael Gomez: Johns Hopkins Univ. Gabrielle Gonzalez: Univ. of Michigan Casey Goodman: Univ. of Miami Taylor Gordon: University of Michigan Mackenzie Gosset: Lehigh University Evan Gottlieb: Univ. of Michigan Jeremy Grafstein: Syracuse University Noah Grayson: Gettysburg College Rachel Greco: Syracuse University Isabella Griffith: St. John’s University Alexa Grill: Lehigh University Robert Gruberger: James Madison Univ. Abena Gyasi: Cornell University
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Favorite HSE Memory... The brotherhood on sports teams Drew Martin Samantha Hall: SUNY Oneonta Andrew Halpern: University at Buffalo Anthony Halpin: Utica College Gregory Han: St. John’s University Carly Hausner: Pennsylvania State Univ. Mark Heilbrunn: Suffolk Comm. College Alexander Heinkele: Binghamton Univ. Isabella Hernandez: SUNY Albany Lauren Hochheiser: Univ. of Maryland Zachary Hoffman : Univ. of Wisconsin Matthew Hogan: Vanderbilt University Ethan Homler: Binghamton University
The members of the Thunderbird staff wish the Cl (Photo courtesy
Chelsea Kleinbaum: The Ohio State Univ Megan Koenig: University of Tampa Lauren Kornfeld: Univ of NC Chapel Hill Austin Krach: Univ. of Central Florida Sophie Kreit: SUNY Purchase Akshay Kumbar: University of Miami
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Favorite HSE Memory... Meeting my amazing friends Aditi Patil
Jack LaBarbera: Belmont Abbey College Sammi Lam: University of Delaware Samantha Lao: Wesleyan University Eric Lee: New York University Jordan Leff: University of Michigan Hannah Leibowitz: Cornell University Stephanie Leibowitz: Barnard College Molly Lennon: University of Scranton Samantha Levin: The Ohio State Univ Chloe Levine: Binghamton Univ. Spencer Levine: Tulane University Favorite HSE Memory... Winning the SuffolkCounty League 3 Championships with my Thunderbird teammates Joe Litchhult
[5]
Graduation Special
the Class of 2018! Sydney Levine: Syracuse University Dani Levy: Pennsylvania State University Favorite HSE Memory...
Jordan Miller: Stony Brook University Ryan Miller: Binghamton University Yashiya Minor: Coastal Carolina Univ. Shivani Mishra: Stony Brook University
Participating in theater with all of my friends Emma Petruzzelli Luke Levy: Ohio University Rachel Levy: Florida State University Savion Lewis: Quinnipiac University Ryan Li: Univ of California, Berkeley Jake Lipskin: Indiana University Joseph Litchhult: SUNY Cortland Mulan Liu: New York University Vinci Liu: Syracuse University Toni-Ann Lodico: Suffolk Comm College Samantha Longo: University of Maryland Matthew LoPresti: SUNY Oneonta Megan Lulley: University of Notre Dame Danielle Luntz: Cornell University Salvatore Lupo: Stony Brook University
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Jai Madisetty: Carnegie Mellon Univ. Aman Malhotra: Univ. of Connecticut Ariana Malik: Lehigh University Aidan Mallon: Boston College Jeremy Manchenko: The Ohio State Univ.
Favorite HSE Memory... Being a part of the Debate Team and meeting students from all over the country Benjamin Targett
George Misthos: University of Michigan Ernesto Mitchell: Morrisville St. College Timothy Moley: SUNY Farmingdale Michael Monitto: Lehigh University Samantha Moody: University of Florida Favorite HSE Memory... Attending the Varsity Football games as the manager of the team Sam Rosken Isaac Morales: Johns Hopkins University Julianna Moreland: Fashion Inst. of Tech Elijah Morrison: Syracuse University Vincent Muraco: Pennsylvania St. Univ. Mark Muratore: Loyola Univ. Maryland
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Halle Nahoum: The Ohio State Univ. Rishi Nangia: University of Maryland Katie Nass: University of Arizona Marianna Natale: Boston University Sonia Nelson: Binghamton University Kendall Nero-Clark: Stony Brook Univ. Julia Nicolosi: Univ. of South Carolina Ariel Nolan: Northeastern University Marc Novak: Franklin & Marshall Coll. Brianna Novitz: James Madison Univ. Danielle Nussbaum: Lehigh University
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lass of 2018 all the best in their future endeavors. y of Lifetouch)
Aaron Mantell: University of Rochester Madeline Marcus: Pennsylvania St. Univ Myrthe Maring: LIU Brooklyn Andreano Marra: SUNY Farmingdale Drew Martin: US Air Force Academy Isabella Marx: SUNY Oneonta Alexis Mastrelli: SUNY Cortland David Matos: SUNY Potsdam Bryan Matusow: Univ. of Rhode Island Jessie Maurer: SUNY New Paltz Rhea Mayall: Indiana University Nia Mays: American University Lori McClellan: Suffolk Comm. College Jessica McCoy: Univ of Colorado Boulder Jessica McLaughlin: Univ. of RI Brooke Megale: Saint Joseph’s College Christina Mehr: SUNY Fredonia John Mercurio: SUNY Buffalo Favorite HSE Memory... Participating in Comp Night and Homecoming Julia Silverman
Zachary Mersand: University of Hartford Emily Metaxas: University of Michigan Jenna Meyers: U of Wisconsin, Madison Daniel Miele: University of Hartford Juliette Milber: Syracuse University
Devin O’Brien: SUNY Albany Muskaan Ochani: Nova Southeastern U. Joseph Ordonez: Quinnipiac University Daniel O’Shea: Binghamton Univ. Danielle Ottomanelli: Univ. of Tampa
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Hannah Padagus: SUNY Oneonta Andrea Park: Colgate University Nikita Parl: University of Tampa Victoria Pastor: Binghamton University Aditi Patil: Columbia University Ericka Patterson: Stony Brook University Patricia Paul: Towson University Guadalupe Pedraza: SUNY Farmingdale Brendali Pena-Jimenez: SUNY Albany Rachel Penzer: Binghamton University Samantha Pernice: Binghamton Univ. Michael Perticone: SUNY Farmingdale Emma Petruzzelli: Loyola U, Maryland Tawnya Phipps: LIU Brooklyn Elle Polani: NY Institute of Technology Jacqueline Porter Bell: Howard Univ. Richard Portnoy: Binghamton University Jade Powell: Hampton University Parvin Purawal: Stony Brook University
Haley Resnick: University at Buffalo Sari Resnick: SUNY Oneonta Callie Riback: University of Georgia Nicole Rocco: SUNY Oneonta Sarah Rodriguez: Molloy College Jason Rosati: University at Buffalo Joseph Rosato: University of Tampa Alix Rosenberg: Duke University Ilyssa Rosken: Florida Atlantic Univ. Sam Rosken: Suffolk Cty Comm. College Benjamin Rothman: Penn. State Univ. James Rouse: Northeastern University Kevin Rouse: Villanova University Nicole Russo: Hofstra University
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Logan Samuel: Univ. of So. California Favorite HSE Memory... My friends and favorite teachers who made the learning experience fun Aman Umer
Jake Santangelo: Hofstra University Rachel Saranier: University of Alabama Isabella Savvides: University at Buffalo Emily Schabel: Northeastern University Jeremy Schier: Binghamton University Rachel Schier: Binghamton University Bailey Schleimer: U of Wisconsin, Madison Emma Schleimer: Union College Dillon Schliwka: Binghamton University Alyssa Schmidt: University of Michigan Jason Schnapp: University of Alabama Jessie Schuster: Pennsylvania State Univ. Melissa Schwab: George Washington U. Alexa Schwartz: Binghamton University Nikita Shah: Hofstra University Nuha Shaikh: SUNY Stony Brook Bradley Shanker: University of Georgia Nicole Shanker: Indiana University Sigal Sharoni: University of Miami Matthew Shumer: Syracuse University Jamie Siegmann: University of Georgia Allison Silibovsky: Temple University Alec Silverman: Indiana University Julia Silverman: University of Michigan Emily Silvino: SUNY New Paltz Alyse Simmons: Rasmussen College Noelle Singer: University of Tampa Chloe Sisselman: Colgate University Anna Skrepek: University at Buffalo Alana Smith: Fashion Inst. of Technology Maniya Smith: St. John’s University
Emily Sokobin: Indiana University Esther Son: Syracuse University Megan SooHoo: Virginia Tech Rori Spielman: Emory University Jason Spinelli: Stetson University Abhinav Srivastava: Baruch College Deborah Stallings: Pennsylvania St. Univ Amanda Stark: Northeastern University Abigail Stern: Binghamton University Tris Stremmel: U of Wisconsin-Whitewater Benjamin Strong: Univ. of Connecticut Anthony Sulger: Adelphi University Ishan Suri: University of Maryland Emma Sutkin: SUNY Oneonta
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Benjamin Targett: Emory University Gabrielle Tayne: University of Delaware Andrew Tedesco: Elmira College Madison Tepper: University of Florida Griffin Tiriolo: Syracuse University Eric Tow: SUNY Oneonta Brian Truong: Binghamton University
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Aman Umer: Hofstra Univ. Michael Valdes: American Musical and Dramatic Academy Attilio Valla: SUNY Farmingdale Marissa Vazquez: SUNY Purchase Shannon Vienne: SUNY Farmingdale Joseph Viglucci: SUNY Albany Hania Waheed: NY Inst. of Technology Alexa Wallace: Monmouth University Jason Wang: Stony Brook University Kasim Waqar: Columbia University Carly Weinstein: Pennsylvania State Univ Jared Weiss: University of Vermont Ethan Werz: University of Arizona Michael Wolf-Sonkin: SUNY Stony Brook Jessica Womble: SUNY Cortland Christopher Wulforst: Fla. Gulf Coast U.
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Matheo Xenakis: Univ. of So. California Andrew Yanover: Cornell University Dylan Young: Cornell University Sarah Young: LIU Post Maya Zakarin: Northwestern University Talha Zia: SUNY Farmingdale Favorite HSE Memory... Spicy Chicken Wednesday Class of 2018
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Ahsan Qazi: Stony Brook University Faith Quashie: Western Michigan Univ. Fizzah Qureshi: Nova Southeastern Univ.
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Isabella Radecki: SUNY Farmingdale Richard Rappaport: Univ. of Michigan Julia Raziel: Vanderbilt University Alexa Reiffman: University of Michigan Brett Rejwan: University of Florida Mia Remmert: Univ. of Rhode Island Carly Resnick: SUNY Oneonta
Senior girls on Decision Day (Photo courtesy of Emily Disman)
[6] Thunderbird Community News/Entertainment
Adopt a Survivor...continued from page 3 The Best Shows to Binge Watch on Netflix doctor would examine the Jews and determine if you were worthy enough to live. This process was known as “selection.” They were placed in the hands of educated doctors, who swore by Hippocratic Oath to do no harm; however, their job during the Holocaust was to select which Jews to kill. Irving went on to discuss another incredibly challenging experience during his time in Auschwitz. On January 18th, 1945, a freezing, snowy morning in Poland, Irving and other Jews in Auschwitz were forced on a death march, lasting three days and three nights. Irving recalls telling his brother how cold, hungry, and tired he felt, yet his brother’s advice was not to focus on the physical stuff, and instead, they should concentrate on prayer and spiritual thoughts as this mentality helped many people to endure the unimaginable situations they faced. After the cold and treacherous march, where thousands of people were shot along the way, and most who escaped perished as well, the Jews were then put in trains and taken to a camp called Buchenwald. Buchenwald was a camp built for 5,000 Jewish prisoners, but was holding 50,000 people by 1945. Although the camp was very overpopulated, resulting in a shortage of food supply, Irving found a way to get around this problem by standing in a certain spot on line for soup. “If you stood in the front, you got mostly water, so by standing at the end you could get cabbage from the bottom, but sometimes, they ran out of soup.” Irving recalls that every morning and night you stood in line to be counted, and if someone was missing, you could be standing for hours. “Every so often, they would take people away, you didn’t know why,” and “One day my brother was taken away.” Irving’s barrack in Buchenwald held mainly younger children, and he was fortunate that the Czech man who was in charge there liked kids and tried to protect them. This officer arranged for the Jewish children to have a geometry lesson and a violin “concert” by Czech friends, which triggered some mental awareness and moments of sanity for the prisoners. Irving speaks of this man, claiming “most of us survived because of him.” Since the Americans were nearing Buchenwald toward the
end of the war, death marches occurred every day. To avoid the death march on April 10th, Irving hid in a crawl space under the building, but unfortunately, one of the guards came with a dog and found him. Irving said that at this point, weighing 75-80 pounds and fearing for his life, he needed “a quick miracle.” Almost immediately, a siren went off and there was an air raid carried out by the Americans planes overhead. This halted the next death march, and guards informed Irving and the Jews to wait. It was 11 am on the next morning when Irving woke up to complete silence, and all of the Nazi soldiers had disappeared. By the afternoon, two American soldiers, whom he compares to the “Messiah,” entered their barracks and liberated the camp. The American soldiers broke down at the sight of the hundreds of starving children, mostly teens, and immediately thought to feed them. The Jews were overjoyed to see the abundant quantity of food that the American soldiers brought for them to eat. They actually ended up getting sick from eating too much of the split peas and pork. Irving, along with the other surviving children, were moved to a building where the Nazi soldiers previously lived. Each child was assigned to a room with three other children. In the room, there were four individual beds, linens, and even chocolate bars. Irving took precautions with everything he was given at the time. His immediate thoughts during the first few days after being liberated were, “I can go anyplace I want, no one wants to kill me.” However, he quickly learned that many people all over Europe were surprised and thought that “all Jews were taken care of,” causing life after the war to continue as a struggle. The war was officially over by May 8th, and many of the survivors went their separate ways in search of family or friends. To this day, many Holocaust survivors are well-known and acknowledged for their incredible stories. Irving pokes humor into his story when telling how the famous author Elie Weisel lived in his barrack. He thinks back on “some famous people in my barracks and Irving Roth not so famous, sometimes I think I’m infamous but that’s another story.”
A Different Kind of Romance: Love, Simon
Hayden Fishbein & Alexa Jones Staff Writers
In the year twenty eighteen, society identity. He faces a number of diffihas become more accepting and un- cult obstacles on his journey, but he is derstanding of all of its members than able to overcome them with help from ever before. his family and This is evifriends, who denced by the support him hit film Love, throughout this Simon which journey. The chronicles the ending scene difficulties takes place at an faced when a amusement park young man lets at night with all (Photo courtesy of foxmovies.com) the world see him of his classmates for who he really is and finds not only in attendance. By this point, Simon’s acceptance, but love. Love, Simon secret is out, he is finally united, face is an inspiring and beautifully writ- to face, with his love, whom he calls ten movie. The protagonist, Simon, is Blue. This film was beautifully written played by the amazing Nick Robinson. and even more beautifully performed; Simon is a gay teenage boy who has the creators of the movie could not have yet to share his truth with the world. offered moviegoers a better ending. As That is until he sees a post on his high our society becomes more unique and school’s website about another anony- more diverse, it is more important now mous gay boy. Simon falls in love with than ever that we realize that we are all him through a screen, yet he has no equal, and should be treated that way, clue who he is. Throughout the rest of no matter who we love. Love, Simon the movie, Simon is exploring himself expresses these thoughts and shows and trying to discover his love’s true viewers that love is love.
Emily Sobel & Brooke Gronich
Staff Writers
It’s a rainy Sunday, you’ve finished all your homework, and all you want to do is spend the night in bed binge watching a new Netflix series.
Chandler Bing, Phoebe Buffay, and Rachel Green. Friends gives you an inside look into the lives of this New York clique, and all of the romance,
Current and past cast members from Grey’s Anatomy. (Photo courtesy of studybreaks.com)
Unfortunately, you’ve been searching and you just can’t seem to find anything that suits you. Lucky for you, we know of all the best shows around- ranging from the edge-ofyour-seat mystery to the juiciest romantic comedy. We assure you that with our advice, your binge watching sessions will be endless! If you’re looking for a show filled with drama, surgery, and romance, then Grey’s Anatomy is the perfect series for you. This medical drama
fights, chaos, family awkwardness, tears, and surprises that they go through together. Throughout all of the group’s misadventures, including Phoebe’s comical struggle to be a successful musician, Ross and Rachel’s intense on and off love, Monica’s emergence from her high school rock bottom, and Joey and Chandler’s kid-like ways, one idea is always enhanced: what it means to be a friend. These ten seasons of the perfect family friendly rom-com
(Photo courtesy of tvguide.com)
series is about a group of surgeons working at a hospital in Seattle. The main character, Meredith Grey, and a few others start as interns at the hospital. We can assure you that by the end of the first episode, you will feel as if you know the characters, and you will be intrigued with their lives. Grey’s Anatomy takes you on each character’s personal and occupational journey throughout the show. Each episode focuses in on a typical day at the hospital, which is much crazier than you would imagine. If you have a fear of blood, then this definitely isn’t the show for you; however if not, we promise that you will never regret watching it. The show aired in 2005 and is currently still filming. Grey’s Anatomy is the 10th longest running series in the US. There are currently 14 seasons, and Netflix offers 13 of them. The show offers an intense, funny, and interesting escape. You will probably feel like you’re qualified to be a surgeon after watching the show and may even decide that you want to be a surgeon for a living! For all of you comedy fanatics always looking for a good laugh, Friends is the perfect Netflix series for you. This show is centered around of group of close friends in their twenties, including Ross and Monica Geller, Joey Tribbiani,
are bound to fill you with nothing less than endless entertainment and laughter. Perhaps you like something a little scarier. If so, this thrilling Netflix original will keep you on the edge of your seat from the moment you start watching it. Stranger Things is an American Sci-Fi/horror series, that will capture the attention of anyone with the guts to watch it. The show takes off with the vanishing of a young boy, which leads to the small and quiet town uncovering a series of supernatural events. When the boy’s best friends begin their own search, with the help of a girl with psychokinetic abilities, they are exposed to a plethora of peculiar science experiments being conducted at Hawkins Lab. Netflix has two seasons released as of right now; however, a third is already in the making. These are only a few of the endless shows that Netflix has to offer. Netflix is constantly releasing new series, so make sure to keep a look out for them. Not only does Netflix offer TV shows, but it also has an extensive range of movies to keep you entertained all year long! We hope our guidance will keep your next few Sunday’s extra busy and extra entertaining.
[7]
Entertainment/Professional Sports
Hot Days and Loud Nights: Your Local Summer Concert Guide
Why More Teams Should Trust The Process
Austin Krach
Noah Epstein
Entertainment Editor
Now that school is almost out, it’s time to think about what you’ll be doing with all of your newly found free time. Need a suggestion? How about a concert! Growing up on Long
ing the bar extremely high for all future tours. Swift comes to town on July 20-22 when she’ll be at Metlife Stadium. This isn’t a show you want to miss,
Staff Writer
In the world of sports, tanking is defined as the act of losing intentionally or not competing. Recently, tanking has worked for many teams in several cases, and I have reason to believe it will continue to work in the foreseeable future. The way I see it is that if a professional sports team doesn’t have the talent or will that they are able to compete for a championship, they should tank. Now, when I say tank, I don’t necessarily mean lose on purpose to get a higher draft pick, even though that’s one option that teams have taken recently. In fact, Dallas Mav-
of, was even worse. From 20112013, the same years I mentioned for the Cubs, the Astros were 50, 52, and 60 games under .500!!!! After drafting players such as George Springer (WS MVP), Carlos Correa (.315 BA), and Alex Bregman (2 home runs in the World Series), the Astros won their first world championship in franchise history. If you ask the fans in Chicago and Houston if all the losing was worth it, they will say yes 100% of the time. Another team that people think about when talking about rebuilding is the Philadelphia 76ers. From
(Photo courtesy of wbli.com)
Island, my favorite concert season is, without a doubt, the summer. There’s nothing quite like an outdoor concert on a warm summer’s night! To get you ready for the summer concert season, I’ve gathered five of the most anticipated tours coming to a venue near you this summer. 1. BLI Summer Jam: I’ve been going to BLI Summer Jam since the annual summer concert came back in 2014. It always promises to be a truly great show! This year, the concert has been hyped as the biggest concert of the summer. With stars such as Shawn Mendes, Meghan Trainor, The Backstreet Boys, and one of my personal favorites, Bebe Rexha, this definitely is not a concert you want to miss. BLI Summer Jam is at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on June 15. It’s the perfect way to start your summer! 2. Pray for the Wicked Tour: Don’t panic! Panic! At The Disco is releasing a new album entitled Pray for the Wicked and is embarking on a tour that includes nearby stops. Panic! At The Disco is a band that has been making waves in the alternative music scene for quite a while now. Their hits such as I Write Sins Not Tragedies, Death of a Bachelor, and current single Say Amen (Saturday Night) are known worldwide. Led by frontman Brendon Urie, fresh off a stint on Broadway starring in Kinky Boots, the band is going on the road this summer and is stopping at Nassau Coliseum on July 20th and Madison Square Garden on July 24. Be sure to get tickets while they’re still available! 3. Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour: This tour just started, and it is already breaking records. The first night of the tour broke the attendance record as Taylor Swift had a sold out crowd of 59,157 people! This is being called Swift’s best tour yet. This show is a very elaborate production from the snake-filled stage to the awesome setlist. The openers for this tour are Charli XCX and Camila Cabello. This groundbreaking show is rais-
so get some tickets! 4. Vans Warped Tour: The Vans Warped tour has been around since 1995 and has been a summer concert staple on Long Island. However, something about the tour this year makes it stand out from the rest: it’s the final Vans Warped Tour. This cross-country summer tour allows for punk bands to travel and let their music be heard by the fans. It is known for serving as a launching pad for many different artists. It brought bands such as Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and even singers such as Katy Perry and Bebe Rexha into the limelight. This year, the bands on the tour include All Time Low, Simple Plan, and Echosmith. The Vans Warped Tour makes a stop at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on July 28, 2018 one last time. 5. The Adventures of Macklemore and Kesha: This is possibly my most anticipated concert of the summer. This is a co-headlining tour by Macklemore and Kesha supporting their most recent albums Gemini and Rainbow, respectively. Gemini was Macklemore’s second solo album without producer Ryan Lewis. It includes hits such as Glorious featuring Skylar Grey and Good Old Days featuring none other than Kesha! I’m sure Good Old Days will be included on the setlist. Rainbow was Kesha’s comeback album after her four year hiatus due to her ongoing legal battle with ex-producer Dr. Luke. It received both commercial and critical acclaim. It includes anthems such as Learn To Let Go, Woman, and the Grammy-nominated Praying. Kesha and Macklemore make their way to Long Island on July 30 at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater. This will surely be a night to remember! While there are many other incredible tours coming up this summer, those are just five of the amazing options this summer. I hope you all have a great summer filled with lots of live music. I know I will!
The result of the Chicago Cubs’ rebuild was a World Series championship (Photo courtesy of Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
ericks owner Mark Cuban even got fined $600,000 for saying “losing is our best option” because “we weren’t competing for the playoffs.” Thus, the option I believe is the most efficient is to be “sellers,” or to trade away a player of high value for young prospects with potential and/or cash. That way, you could rebuild a team from an aging, losing team into a younger, more talented team over time. Having said that, the only way to ensure that the rebuilding process works is to have good management, meaning a General Manager and/or an Owner who are very good at their jobs and have made excellent decisions in the past, such as successful draft picks or successful trades. Although the fans might have to suffer through some pretty rough years, it is all worth it when your team actually wins it all. Some great examples of teams who went through a rebuilding period such as this are the Cubs and the Astros, winners of the 2016 and 2017 World Series, respectively. The Cubs won the World Series in 2016. However, from 2010-2014, they finished last in the NL Central division and finished well below .500 each year as well. From 2011-2013, they finished, respectively, 20, 40, and 30 games under .500!! That must’ve made the fans miserable!! Well, the Cubs drafted Javier Baez, Albert Almora Jr., and Kris Bryant in the 1st round 3 years in a row because of their abysmal records year after year, and those players contributed greatly to their championship run in 2016. In the same five year span for the Astros, their success, or should I say lack
the 2013-2014 season through the 2015-2016 season, the 76ers didn’t reach 20 wins in any year. They’re another team that has a roster full of high draft picks. Some of those draft picks include Joel Embiid in 2014, Ben Simmons in 2016, and Markelle Fultz in 2017. A huge thing that the fans in Philly have been excited about the last couple of years is the idea of trusting the process. In the Wells Fargo Center, the fans have chanted “Trust the Process” over and over recently because they understand that their team is going through rebuilding, and they must trust that the Sixers are going in the right direction. They were definitely right to trust the process. They didn’t win the championship, but the Sixers were the 3 seed in the Eastern Conference this season and reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since the 2011-2012 season. Before that, the last time they reached the 2nd round was in the 2002-2003 season. These teams are evidence that trusting the rebuilding process will work if that team goes about it the right way. Of course, it would be better if a team had great players and a great farm system or draft pick. However, that is very rare, and for the majority of the teams who aren’t in that scenario, tanking, or rebuilding, is the way to go.
[8] Thunderbird
Unified Basketball Comes to Hills East Dylan Kaufman
divisions. Division 1 is composed of Hills West, Northport High School, William Floyd High School, and Amityville Memorial High School. Division 2 is
Sports Editor
no real importance placed on winning or losing. The only thing people care about in this league is that everyone enjoys themselves and has fun. “The atmosphere here is so different than an ordinary game,” said Jess Womble, senior point guard for the Hills East varsity women’s basketball team and Cortlandcommit. “We don’t cheer for a winner in the stands; we cheer for everyone, even the players on the other team.” The fun doesn’t just happen during the game, though. During timeouts, breaks, and half-times, players and spectators have dance parties and sing-alongs. “There was a dance break during halftime”, said Sophia Tawil, another member of the Hills East varsity women’s basketball team. “Everyone was cheering, dancing, and laughing. It was a great thing to see and be a part of.” Hopefully, Project Unify can continue on for years to come and grow to become an even bigger part of high school sports. Despite the fact that Hills East won the Division 2 championship on Tuesday, May 29th, 2018, the kids on the team don’t play to win. They play to be a part of something bigger; something that can change the lives of a few exceptional kids.
Photo Courtesy Chip Parker
Sports can be an exciting and fun way to get people to work together in order to win. For most kids, organized athletics are pretty easy to join. There are intramural, travel, and high school leagues for the most popular sports amongst teenagers. However, for some kids, especially for those with disabilities, being involved in organized athletics can be difficult. In an effort to allow kids with special needs to have a chance at being part of a team and work with others their own age, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), in collaboration with the Special Olympics, launched Project Unify. Project Unify has three main goals: to give each and every player an equal opportunity to compete and contribute to their team’s success, to provide kids with special needs with the chance to take on leadership roles in their communities, and to provide all students (regardless of disabilities) to participate in school-wide activities and campaigns. Recently, Hills East, along with other Suffolk County schools, joined in on Project Unify and created the Unified Basketball League.The Suffolk County league consists of seven teams and two
to stimulate team collaboration. Perhaps the biggest difference in this league, however, is the overall atmosphere of the gym. In a more traditional
HSE and HSW Unified Basketball Players and Coaches.
composed of Hills East, Southampton High School, and Walt Whitman High School. The rules for the games are basically the same as they are for any basketball game. However, out of the five players on the court per team, two of them have disabilities. Not only this, but no player is told which players have disabilities. The purpose of this is to encourage participation by all players and
high school basketball game, the importance of winning is extreme. Coaches often utilize only part of their rosters in order to keep the best players in rotation. The crowds are also involved, whether it be cheering for the home team, heckling against the away team, or yelling at the refs about a missed call. The Unified Sports League is not like this, which makes this league very unique. There is
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Team Photos Courtesy of Lifetouch