KHQ Volume 36, Issue 4

kHQ TODAY

FOR THE POO FROM THE POO KHQTODAY.COM @KHSMAG FACEBOOK.COM/KHQONLINE VOLUME 46 | ISSUE 4

From the Editors

A

kHQ Today Staff

Brooke Effland

s this chapter of my life comes to a close, I can’t help but reflect on al that has happened in the last four years. I’ve met some of my best friends. I’ve learned more about chemistry than I know what to do with (thanks Coaches Johnson and Wilbur). I’ve grown as a leader, a learner and a listener. I’ve travelled to Honduras and Ghana on misions trips. I’ve gone on more trips than I can count with my youth group. I’ve learned what it means to be joyful and intentional. I’ve learned the power that comes from speaking truth and giving a voice to the voiceless. At the end of it all, I’m eternally grateful for this time in my life. While this chapter isn’t the end of my story, it is the end of my time here. So I thought, what better way to end this chapter than to share some acknowledgements.

To Riley- thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for laughing during the most stressful moments and for reminding me that it’s all going to be okay. Thank for the countless hours that you put into the magazine. kHQ Today wouldnt’ have happened if it wasn’t for you.

To Orman- thank you for your constant support and reassurance. Thank you for giving your all to this magazine and our staff. Thank you or sending me tweets when I needed them the most. Thank you for igniting in me a passion for good storytelling and quality journalism.

To Heather- I’m forever grateful to call you my best friend. Thanks for the endless laughter and support. Thanks for being the first person to turn your spreads in on time and for doing all the dirty work. I love you more than all the food we’ve reviewed together.

To my family- thank you for putting up with my stressed out, too busy for family dinners self this year. Thanks for believing in me and for celebrating all the little things.

To Ricky- thanks for your constant encouragement. Thanks for teaching me the importance of intentional relationships and the value of a good game. Thanks for forcing me out of my comfort zone and for playing such a vital role in my life.

To Jesus- thank you for your grace upon grace. Thank you for giving me the breath in my lungs and the fire in my heart. All glory goes to you alone.

Editors in Chief Brooke Effland & Riley McCullough News Editor Heather West Feature Editor Madeline Guccione Opinion Editor Meredith Murphree Sports Editors Evan Ellis & Tyler Frey Beats Coordinator Skylr Houzenga Business Manager Mickayla Reasoner Reporters Paul Rich, Tony Madden, Tyra Bradshaw, Isabel Halweg, Rebecca Danley, Kelli Volonte, Mario Hackney, Garrett Peck, Magdelaine Mueller, Tate Hutter, Kody Kershner, Will Anoai Adviser Leslie Orman

About kHQ Today

kHQ Today | Volume 46 | Issue 4 khqtoday.com | @khsmag Kickapoo High School 3710 S. Jefferson Ave, Springfield, MO 65807 Contact 417-523-8500 Email: khqtoday@gmail.com Fonts Bangla MN Bold, Bangla Sangam MN, Constantia, Baskerville Publishing The Missourian Commercial Print Division, via PDF submission, printed on 60# glossy paper xoxo, Tech All pages are created using Adobe CS6 Brooke Effland InDesign on the Mac platform Copies 900 copies were printed and distributed for free to Kickapoo students and surrounding community

T

Riley McCullough

he time has come and I’m writing my very last letter. The year has flown by and school is about to become a thing of my past. The past four years have been great but its time to move on to bigger things.

Thank you to Ms. Orman for giving me this opportunity and teaching me countless lessons that can’t come out of a book. The two trips I was able to go on with you were so much fun, thank you.

Thank you to Mr. Declue. You have taught me everything I know about photography. Before I took your class I didn’t even know how to work a camera.

Thank you for all your help and advice.

Thank you to Brooke. This magazine would not have happened without you. You made it amazing and together we produced a dang good magazine. Thanks for all the laughs and fun times when everything was so stressful.

Thank you to all the other staff members that made my days great. Kickapoo is a great school because of everyone that works here.

Last thank you to my family for being there for me and always being so supportive of everything I do. I love you guys so much.

This summer I begin a new adventure with the real world. Thank you to all my fellow classmates for these last four years I wish you all the best.

This is it for me; Tate and Tony are going to produce an amazing magazine next year.

Thank you for all the memories I have from being a chief. I can truly say I am proud to be a Kickapoo Chief.

2 kHQ Today

RM

Editorial Policy kHQ Today exists as a quarterly student publication produced by the Kickapoo High School journalism department. It operates as an open forum, with the intention of accurately and fairly reporting and responding to the needs of readers. Staff members take responsibility for reporting honestly and without bias, for running the news-magazine as a business and for printing material that is not legally considered obscene, libelous or invasive. Advertisements that appear in kHQ Today do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of Kickapoo administration or Springfield Public Schools. kHQ Today does not support any one political campaign or candidate.

Cover Photo by Riley McCullough Photo Assistants: Jarod Ozee, Heidi Facklam, Katelyn Brown and Brian Declue

Table of Contents 10 14 20 22 36 40 42 49 52 55

Teachers Say Farewell GSTA Participates in Day of Silence New Cabinet Members Ready to Lead

Best of Class Humans of Kickapoo A Letter to the Editor HBCCC: Heather and Brooke’s Culinary Critques and Compliments

Sports Year in Review Bros vs. Joes Paul Talks Ball kHQ Today | 3

Letters from the Section Editors Heather West

M

y time in room 201 is coming to an end. I have been a part of this publication for three years and it will always hold a special place in my heart. From the time I lost all my spreads the week they were due to writing an extra story the day we sent the magazine to print, I will remember my time on kHQ Today staff.

At this time, I would like to thank some specific people, in no particular order.

To Orman: Thanks for convincing me to take magazine even though I thought I wanted to take yearbook. The switch is one of my greatest decisions.

Your wisdom and guidance about the journalistic process are things I’ll never forget.

To my fellow staff members: Thanks for taking all my crap. I dish out a lot on you all and (most of the time) you take my corrections and continue to amaze me. You all have inspired me in some way or another. I know I don’t show it (a majority of the time) but I promise I appreciate you more than you know.

To my parents: I so appreciate all of your support. I love how you both always help me be better at what I do. Your continued support will always be something I will always be grateful for. I love you and I’m so glad you’re my biggest supporters.

To Brooke: I am so glad you and I decided to make the switch sophomore year because that switch gave me the best friend I could ask for. You have seen me at my best and helped me at my worst. Thank you for showing me the ropes and helping me thrive as a journalist. I appreciate all that you do for me.

My time on this publication has led me to two new states, shown me how much I hate the oxford comma and given me some of the greatest friendships.

I am forever proud to have been your editor. Thank you.

A

E

Meredith Murphree

ditor of opinions seems like it would be an oxymoron. However, I am no moron and that is in part because of the lessons I learned in journalism.

Journalism taught me invaluable lessons in self expression. I can formulate a position and defend it well. I learned how to laugh at myself and everything around me—something that not everyone can do.

I would have to say, though, that the most important lesson I learned during my tenure on staff here at kHQ Today is just how powerful words can be. This lesson was learned quickly and to properly explain it, we must first take a walk down memory lane. The year was 2015. It was fall and the student section was absolutely, to borrow a word from the recent presidential race, deplorable. I’m naturally a fairly gripey person, so getting red energy drink thrown all over me didn’t exactly excite me. I decided to write about it.

Oh boy, did that turn out well.

My column not only made people realize that it’s not ok to throw random liquids in random public places, but the flack I received for my views started a conversation about free speech at Kickapoo. My simple little gripe got people to engage in (mostly) civil discourse about the first amendment rights and freedom of expression and figurative language (not everyone gets trashy wordplay)! I got hate tweets for the first time! I loved it! (@ me next time though because I want to read it. @MeryMurphtweet) In how many classes does your homework get published for the masses to read and scrutinize? I’ll answer that question for you: very few. Journalism is so unique because it forces a vulnerability that is unmatched by any course offered in high school.

To end this victory lap of mine, I’ll close on a few thank yous. Thank you to journalism for giving me these opportunities. Thank you to Orman and Brooke for letting me know when my stuff is not good. Finally, thank you to the haters for keeping me going. I feed off of your frustrations.

Madeline Guccione

Evan Ellis

s we send off our final issue of kHQ Today, I can’t help but remember enior year. The last year of some of the best times of your life or some all of the memories I have made in room 201. I can’t say I’ve done a lot of the worst. Senior year is that time where you leave everything behind for the magazine but I feel like my daily naps on the tables, and occasional and you begin your real life and start to put in the extra hours to benefit breadstick runs have made a lasting impression on the staff. yourself and the people around you. I have learned in high school that a lot The staff I have had along side me the past two years have become more of people can support you and can push you to new heights while others will than just my friends, but my family. After the many shared ideas, laughs, do whatever it takes to keep themselves in the light. and donuts, we have formed friendships that will last for years. Every staff Whatever it is that you enjoy, keep doing that. Don’t follow the crowd to member has made this magazine exactly what it is: amazing. I could not be be in the light. High school is only four short years, don’t alter yourself just to more proud and humbled to be this year’s Feature Editor and to work with have a “good” high school experience when you can stay true to yourself and this group of individuals. I will miss seeing their faces every day but most have a happy rest of your life. importantly, the smiles.

To next year’s staff: I wish you all the very best of luck and I believe you will continue to make this magazine great. Remember to just keep swimming! remember the very day both myself and Evan Ellis were asked to provide the magazine staff with co-sports editors. Not only was I overjoyed, I found a new passion that later became my very own goal to strive towards through life. This year was such a wonderful experience filled with many memories that I will cherish forever. I will always remember how I got my start in the journalism world and my many journeys through my new passion in just one year. I made tons of new friends and relationships whitin the magazine staff and every student that I talked to within the course of this school year. My thanks go to the magazine staff and most of all to Ms. Orman who guided me throughout my journey and pushed me to excel at my work for the magazine.

S

I

Tyler Frey

4 | kHQ Today

Meet the kHQ Today Staff

All kHQ Today Staff from left to right: Row one: Riley McCullough, Tyler Frey, Evan Ellis, Madeline Guccione, Heather West, Meredith Murphree, Brooke Effland Row two: Tony Madden, Skylr Houzenga, Isabel Halweg, Magdelaine Mueller, Mario Hackney, Rebecca Danley, Tyra Bradshaw Row three: Paul Rich, Mickayla Reasoner, Kody Kershner, Garrett Peck, Tate Hutter, Leslie Orman Not Pictured: Kelli Volonte, Will Anoai Row one: Feature Editor Madeline Guccione and Sports Editor Evan Ellis Row two: News Editor Heather West, Opinion Editor Meredith Murphree and Sports Editor Tyler Frey

Editor in Chief Riley McCullough and Editor in Chief Brooke Effland

Reporters row one: Paul Rich, Isabel Halweg, Magdelaine Mueller, Tyra Bradshaw, Rebecca Danley Row two: Tony Madden, Mario Hackney, Kody Kershner, Garrett Peck, Tate Hutter Not Pictured: Kelli Volonte, Will Anoai

Business Manager Mickayla Reasoner, Beats Coordinator Skylr Houzenga

kHQ Today | 5

6 | kHQ Today

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N E W S

Teachers Say Farewell

By Kody Kershner

Richard Snyder Science Teacher Science Olympiad Lunar Team, Mars Team Pitt State Science Team

R

Teacher Richard Snyder taught science for 16 years.

Fellow teachers say that they will miss his severe weather updates and committment to rigor.

ichard Snyder has decided that after teaching at Kickapoo for 16 years that this will be his final year as a Chief. He has taught earth science, astronomy, forensics, meteorology and physics.

He has spent 16 years teaching these classes and has enjoyed every second of it.

“The thing I’m going to miss most is the interaction with the students and my colleagues. I’ll miss knowing what I’d get with every class,” Snyder said.

His goal was to make high school a better experience for every student.

“The thing I’m gonna miss the most about him is how when I would go in his class, my day would get better,” senior Emma Smith said.

He will continue his teaching career and plans to be a college professor at a university in Orlando, Florida.

Coach KurtThompson Varsity Football Coach Weight Lifting Coach

K

urt Thompson has decided that after teaching for 29 years and coaching 27 of those, that he will be retiring from teaching and coaching. He has spent a total of 10 years at Kickapoo over two different stints.

He didn’t think it would come this quickly, but is at peace with his descion.

“I can’t give a perfect answer as to why I retired, I just knew it was time,” Thompson said.

He has influenced many students over the years and will be missed.

“It’s tough to have your coach leave your senior year.

He was a great leader and we all loved him,” junior Cole Mccarville said.

He plans on spending life after teaching with his wife and two kids but says he will be around every so often to come say “hi” and help out.

10 | News

Coach Kurt Thompson has coached football and taught weight lifting for 10 years at Kickapoo.

Senior Looks to New Beginnings A

By Heather West

fter high school, some students only have their sights set on college. Others are determined to work straight out of high school. For senior Sarah Kelley, a foreign exchange program has been on her mind since sophomore year.

After graduation, Kelley will be traveling to South America for a gap year and live in Chile. She will be taking high school classes, furthering her language skills and meeting new people. Kelley got this opportunity through the Rotary club.

According to their website, the Rotary club is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who come together to make positive, lasting change in communities at home and abroad.

“Last October, I put in my application and interviewed in Springfield with the Rotary club members,” Kelley said.

“They unanimously passed me onto the next round.”

Kelly then went through a series of interviews with multiple Rotary members through the month of November.

“After that, they rank you and assign you to a country based on the preferences you give them. I got a call a couple days later telling me I was going to Chile,” Kelley said.

Kelley has been talking to/following in the footsteps of 2016 Kickapoo grad Ireland Strong. Strong traveled to Brazil for the current school year through the same program. “[Ireland] has been helping me through the process of interviewing and orientations,” Kelley said. “I’ve also been asking her how she handles some of the hard situations like living with a host family and making new friends.”

Kelley will be living with 3-4 host families over the year.

She will be living in their homes and experiencing a new culture throughout the year. She is excited to relax for a year and not worry about school but understands that learning Chilean Spanish will be very difficult.

Since Strong has been in Brazil, her life has changed and she has experienced all kinds of emotions but wants Kelley to know that the expectations don’t compare to how the experience will be.

“I believe no matter how much you study about a place or a culture or language, there is really no way to fully prepare and understand what you will encounter,” Strong said.

Strong challenges Kelley to let go of her expectations and embrace the special experiences * this is a cut out the country Chile

she is going to encounter.

“You learn the most in times of adversity,” Strong said.

Strong encourages Kelley to thrive on the differences she is going to experience. Family is something Strong has struggled with over the past year and encourages Kelley to cherish the time she has left at home.

“Love them hard before you go,” Strong told her.

Kelley will be taking Strong’s advice because she is struggling with leaving her family.

“My grandparents are getting old and they don’t have any super significant health problems but I feel like I’m leaving and giving up the limited time I have left with them,” Kelley said.

Kelley has been taking Spanish class with Profa Wyrick since Spanish III. Wyrick has played an important role in her journey with language and encouragement for this next step.

“I recommend that Sarah take lots of risks and enjoy feeling uncomfortable in new situations,” Spanish teacher Krista Wyrick said.

“I am incredibly excited to leave Missouri. I’ve always wanted to live somewhere else and the opportunity to move out of the country is even better,” senior Sarah Kelley said.

News | 11

MISSING: THE SPRINGFIELD THREE

Remembering Missing Women 25 Years After Infamous Disappearance

By Tony Madden and Magdelaine Mueller

J

Stacy McCall

Suzie Streeter

Sherrill Levitt

12 | News

une 7, 1992 is a date that still sends TV was on. Their clothes were still chills down the spines of Kickapoo there. Their purses and personal items alumni, as well as those of citizens all untouched,” the report said. over the Springfield area. Just one day According to Kirby, she and the girls after the commencement ceremony had planned a trip to Branson for the for the class of 1992, new graduates day after graduation. These plans, Stacy McCall and Suzie Streeter, however, were not carried out. with Streeter’s mother, Sherrill Levitt, “They said they were going to the disappeared without a trace from Levitt other girl’s [Streeter’s] house and and Streeter’s home they were going to be “I fully on east Delmar spending the night there Street in Springfield. they’d call me in the expected them and McCall and Streeter morning so we could go to walk in at to White Water,” Kirby were last seen at approximately 2:00 said in the report. any minute,” A.M. on June 7 at Kirby went on to the Battlefield home explain how when the she said. of their classmate girls wouldn’t answer and friend Janelle Kirby. They were her phone calls, she went over to the seen leaving in separate cars, and Delmar house to see what was going were on their way to Streeter’s home on. to stay the night, according to a 1992 “I called and I called and I called and report from The Springfield News-Leader. I got no answer. So I went over there The same report says that Levitt was and they weren’t there,” she said. last seen at approximately 4:00 PM Only one odd thing stood out to at the graduation ceremony on June Kirby when she went over to the house.

6. A statement from the Springfield Kirby, with only flip-flops covering her Police Department’s (S.P.D.) website feet, was puzzled to find the mess of reports that Levitt was last heard from shattered glass on the front porch. at approximately 11:15 PM on the “…the first thing we noticed was evening of June 6, when she spoke with the porch light was broken...I figured a friend on the phone.

Sherrill would have cleaned it up if she Soon after the women were reported had known that the glass was broken,” missing, a KY3 report described how Kirby said in a recent interview. She the house on Delmar Street appeared also mentioned that all three women’s to be completely untouched after the cars were at the house. disappearance, other than a broken Kirby went on to explain how, at porch light. the time, she assumed that McCall, “There was no sign of struggle. In Streeter and Levitt had gone out to eat, fact, the front door was unlocked. The so she left the house and came back

:

later in the day. The women were still nowhere to be found.

Janis McCall, Stacy McCall’s mother, explained how while Stacy wasn’t answering her phone calls at Streeter and Levitt’s home, it did not make her nervous about her daughter’s whereabouts.

“I didn’t worry too much because I thought they might have gone out for

breakfast or lunch or something,” Janis said.

It wasn’t until the evening of June 7 that a “frantic” Janis went over to Streeter and Levitt’s home on Delmar to look for her daughter.

According to Janis, one of McCall’s friend’s mothers told her that the women were nowhere to be found. She also added that all of their belongings were still at the house.

Janis explained how upon arrival, she saw the women’s cars, purses, clothes and other belongings. She also noted that the television was still on, and that Levitt and Streeter, both known to be regular smokers, left their cigarettes behind.

After Janis went into the house and yelled for Stacy with no answer, Kirby, Kirby’s boyfriend and “a few others” showed up at the Delmar home. “…there were approximately 15 people in that house,” Janis said. She went on to explain that because so many people were in the house that evening, certain parts of the crime scene could have been compromised.

Janis also added how, while she didn’t attend, Janis wanted McCall to go to Project Graduation on the night of the ceremony.

“I really talked to her about going to Project Graduation,” Janis said. She went on to add how

McCall changed her mind at the last minute about going, as she realized that she would never see some of her classmates again. To McCall’s disappointment, it was too late to purchase a ticket. “…you had to buy the tickets three weeks ahead of time,” Janis recalled.

After making some phone calls to ensure that no unidentified women had been admitted to the hospital, Janis had to make a grave decision.

“I finally called the police,” Janis said. She described how her heart went “plop,” when the police showed up and they began to fill out a missing person’s report for McCall, Streeter and Levitt.

“That was weird,” Kirby said regarding having to call the police. “…I’d never had to call the police for anything.”

Janis went on to add how she really knew that something was wrong when the police officer said, “We’ve decided to file this as a missing person case- foul play suspected.”

Janis also described her frustration with a certain S.P.D. sergeant when he told her that he figured McCall, Streeter and Levitt had “gone off on a lark.” She explained how they couldn’t have just run away, as all of the women had left behind their belongings- including their clothes and purses. “…my daughter only had on her tee shirt and her underpants. Everything else is there [at the Delmar house]including her bra, including her shoes, including her makeup, including her swimsuit,” Janis said, remembering what she said in reply to the sergeant.

She also explained how Levitt had over $900.00 in her purse when it was

It was from here, the former Streeter home on Delmar Street, that Stacy McCall, Suzie Streeter and Sherrill Levitt disappeared on June 7, 1992: just one day after McCall and Streeter’s graduation from Kickapoo. All of the women’s belongings, including their clothes, purses, makeup and cars were found at the house.

News News | Page|#13

Stacy McCall (middle) and Suzie Streeter (right) pose for a photo with classmate and friend Janelle Kirby (left) at their graduation from Kickapoo on June 6, 1992. Streeter’s mother, Sherrill Levitt, was last seen here. Just hours later, McCall and Streeter would be seen for the last time leaving Kirby’s home in Battlefield, Missouri at around 2:00 A.M.. Photo courtesy of Janelle Kirby.

found at her house, which she wouldn’t have left behind. “…I didn’t know what a missing person was 25 years ago,” The missing women were all that anyone could talk about for Kirby said. “…I fully expected them to walk in any minute.”

Janis remembers her daughter as someone who was always weeks following June 7, 1992. The case dominated news cycles in the Ozarks for the entire summer, often with headlines like there to lend a helping hand. She remembers one story in “No trace,” “Where are they?” and particular, in which Stacy befriended a freshman in one of her senior art “Three women vanish.” The case has also been featured on national “...and then, in the blink classes. news outlets, as well as popular “…the freshman felt really good. of an eye, they were television programs like Disappeared, She wrote a letter to me and…we’ve gone,” Kirby said.

48 Hours and America’s Most Wanted, become friends,” Janis said. “…Stacy according to a September 1992 issue was doing something that she needed of Kickapoo’s Prairie News. to do. She needed to help somebody else and she was always Kirby recalls how she felt in those weeks following the out there to do that.” disappearance of her closest friends with shock, sadness and According to Janis, McCall was known for being a bubbly and silly person. Janis recalls a story from the night before utter confusion.

14 | News

McCall disappeared, when their family went out for a meal at a steakhouse when McCall went to get dessert. “…she got a little ice cream bowl. She put it in there and filled it up, not with ice cream- gummy bears,” Janis said.

It was moments like this, Janis says, that gave McCall her nickname, “Spacey Stacy.”

Kirby remembers McCall and Streeter fondly as well. She refers to them as “great friends.”

“Stacy was bubbly, funny, sweet, loving. Suzie was more outgoing- loving, caring,” Kirby said. She added that Levitt was not only a good mother to Streeter, but also an all around great person.

“She made everyone welcome who came to her house,” Kirby remembers.

In memory of Streeter and Levitt, Streeter’s brother, Bart

Streeter, set up Streeter Family Blogg. The webpage includes photos, blog posts, videos, persons of interest and more involving the disappearance. “…this site has been a way for us to reflect on these years of mourning,” the blog says on its FAQ page.

Both Kirby and Janis also shared what they would want McCall, Streeter and Levitt to know after all of these years without them.

“We love her and miss her and want her back,” Janis said of her daughter. “If she can get back, it doesn’t matter what’s happened. It doesn’t matter where she’s been, who she’s been with. Anything…” Janis also explained that if her daughter has died, she looks forward to seeing her in heaven.

“We’ll be there with her,” Janis said.

Kirby emphasized that she wants the women to know that even though 25 years have passed since she last saw them, she’s never stopped missing them. “…I’ve never given up hope that we would find them…I’ve missed them every single day that they’ve been gone,” she said. Kirby also wants McCall and Streeter to know that she wishes this had never happened, and that they had gone off to college and eventually had children and grown old together.

Kirby also shared what she would like the Kickapoo community to know about the disappearance of McCall, Streeter and Levitt.

“I never want anyone to forget what happened. I want it to be on everybody’s minds,” Kirby said. She also emphasized how important it is for students to always cherish their friendships. “…I’m proof that in one day, they’re all gone…those were my two best friends. We planned to go to college together. We planned a whole summer together,” Kirby said. “And then in the blink of an eye, they were gone.”

According to the S.P.D. website, the investigation has still not produced any concrete leads, even after 25 years since that puzzling day after graduation in 1992.

“With the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and numerous other law enforcement agencies, an extensive investigation into the lives of the missing women has been conducted with no positive leads concerning the reason for their disappearance or their location,” the website says.

In an S.P.D. news release from October 25, 2012, they announced that the case of The Springfield Three is still an “open and active investigation.”

S.P.D. still urges anyone with information regarding the missing women case to contact them at 864-1810 or 869TIPS. “Since the time of the disappearance, a number of different case theories, names of possible suspects, and vehicle descriptions have been made public,” S.P.D. said in a statement from June 2012. “The police department remains open to all possibilities, and it stresses that it does not want any previously-released information to keep someone from contacting authorities.”

News | 15

Mr. KHS: The Bachelorette

By Jack Patrick

The Mr. KHS participants start the show with a bang by performing a group dance. Mr. KHS is an annual fundraiser that helps out a cause close to KHS. This year proceeds went to assist the Autumn Pilarski family.

J Kim (12) shows off his dance skills in the talent portion of the show.

16 | News

Andrew Paxson (11) shows some skin in the formal wear portion of the show.

Dallin Forsyth (11) shows off his beach body in the swimsuit portion of the show. He blew his whistle and yelled “no running!�

e

2017 Talent Show

By Jack Patrick

Alyssa Kirch (12) performs Electric Love by Børns.

Corey Dye (12) raps his original song Lost Thoughts.

Nicole Hoffpauir (10) sings Titanium by David Guetta. She did two other songs, one of which she produced herself called Pretty Lies.

Kyler Kelso (12) performs Perfect

by Ed Sheeran

News | 17

Gay Straight Alliance officer Diana Dudenhoeffer stands proudly with a gay pride flag. Dudenhoeffer hopes to bring more tolerance and support of LGBTQ+ issues by participating in the GLSEN Day of Silence.

GSTA Participates in Day of Silence

F

By Tony Madden

or some high schoolers, not being accepted -or even the idea of not being accepted- can be mortifying. For LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning) students, this fear can be much more real.

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), an organization dedicated to making schools “safe and affirming” regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, claims that almost 9 out of 10 LGBTQ+ students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school. This even often leads to students staying home out of fear. “…More than 30% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. Moreover, two of the top three reasons students said their peers were most often bullied were actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression,” GLSEN’s website says.

In an effort to stop the general rejection and “silenced” voices of LGBTQ+ students, the network has come up with a plan: GLSEN Day of Silence on April 21, 2017.

“Students from middle school to college take a vow of silence in an effort to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior by illustrating the silencing effect of bullying and harassment on LGBT students,” GLSEN says.

In this Day of Silence, participants are asked to remain silent for the entire day to emphasize the “silencing effect” of LGBTQ

18 | News

discrimination.

According to Gay Straight Trans Alliance (GSTA) officer Diana Dudenhoeffer, before taking the vow of silence, participants are advised to inform teachers and administrators before participating to avoid any issues in class due to lack of communication.

Dudenhoeffer also says that GSTA participated in the Day of Silence, and invited anyone else who was interested to participate as well.

“It’s not just queer people,” Dudenhoeffer said. “It’s anybody who wants to bring awareness to students who have been silenced.”

Dudenhoeffer explains how students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression should participate in activities like this.

“If some people’s rights are being taken away, it’s our duty to make sure that they get those rights,” she said.

Dudenhoeffer says that out of participating in GLSEN’s Day of Silence, she hopes to see more awareness and tolerance for the LGBTQ+ community at school.

“We’re hoping to achieve more awareness about LGBT issues.

We’re hoping to get more support at Kickapoo,” Dudenhoeffer said. “We’re hoping to let people know that there is safe place for them, and for other people to be aware that there are people who are silenced.”

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Where the rows of desktop computers used to stand now sits couches and tables for student work and collaboration.

Library Rearranges Student Work Spaces By Mario Hackney As students came back from spring break they were surprised to see how different the library had become.

“My friends and I went to work on a paper at the library and we were caught off guard,” junior Ryann Dalton said.

The library has gotten rid of most of the desktops except for eight in the two center consoles.

“I prefer the bigger desktops since I can type so much faster on the desktop keyboards rather than the Chromebooks. Now I either have to wait to use one of them or not at all,” junior Jayson Newman said.

The rows of desktops have been replaced by three Chromebook carts each containing 30 Chromebooks and two other laptop carts each carrying around 30 laptops.

The library space has been rearranged to move away from being a large storehouse of computers and books, to a more useful area that fosters small and large group collaboration. According to Mrs. Melody

Netzer, the librarians are hopeful that the students and staff will find new and creative ways to use the space.

“We have started working out the problems now and so far it hasn’t been too bad. The biggest issue we’re facing is students not knowing how to print,” librarian Shannon McDonald said.

Some are still concerned about the changes and focus on laptops.

“It’s kind of stupid how [Kickapoo] is depending on mobile devices instead of desktops. The Chromebooks are too easy to break and there’s too many unknowns that go along with them,” Senior Mckenna Davis said.

Next year the library is expecting to revamped with more group work areas and presentation space.

“We’re planning on using the two conference rooms as presentation and group rooms next year.

The students can connect to the TVs in the rooms to present powerpoints to small groups,” McDonald said.

News | 19

New Cabinet Members Ready To Lead Tate Hutter

Chandler Nighswonger, Vice Bryce Cole, President- “My Andrew Paxson, Assemblies Harper Auman, Service President- For Chandler, the most freshman year was horrifying Commissioner- When Andrew Commissioner- Harper

exciting part about being on Cabinet is knowing that he will play a part in making the school a greater place.

He believes that his position as Vice President is important because he can help all of the other Cabinet members and provide a leadership role.

“I feel like it is important to have a group of people who people can look up to and know that we are there for them,” Chandler said.

Cole McCarville, Campus Commissioner- When Cole

found out that he had been selected for Cabinet, he was excited for the upcoming year and he hopes to connect the student body through various events. Cole also thinks that as many students as possible should become involved in Cabinet.

“Be a positive impact within your school. Get involved in as many activities and clubs as possible. Be a leader,” Cole said.

and without the cabinet that year, I wouldn’t have the necessary confidence to be a leader I have today,” Bryce said.

This was the main reason Bryce Cole decided to apply for Cabinet; he knew firsthand how Cabinet members can affect other students. He believes that the they are critical to the development of the school and are the voice for the student body.

applied for Cabinet it was because of his interest in the well-being of the student body. Andrew hopes to open direct lines of communication between the student body and those chosen to represent them, as well as revive some methods of building a unified Kickapoo.

“I love my school, and it’s given me many chances to grow as an individual,” Andrew explained.

Back (left to right): Bryce Cole, Garrett Weaver, Cole McCarville, Tate Hutter, Brandon Taylor, Andrew Paxson, Tony Madden.

Front (left to right): Chandler Nighswonger, Sophia Ford, Kelsie Mitchell, Harper Auman, Jameson Ellerbee, Hanah Carr

Garrett Weaver, Media Commissioner- Garrett applied

for Cabinet because he wanted to give back and create opportunities for others. He hopes to make sure that next year is a key year in students’ lives.

“I am most excited about getting to be a leader and having the opportunity to give back to the one place that gave me so much,” Garrett said.

20 | News

Brandon Taylor, Financial Commissioner- As a member of

Cabinet, Brandon hopes to make next year as fun as possible.

“I think that Cabinet is important to the student body not just because we plan many of the school events, but because Cabinet is a group of people that underclassman can look up to,” Brandon explained.

Kelsie Mitchell, Secretary-

Hanah Carr, Art Commissioner- Hanah applied

for Cabinet so that she could play an important role in the school community. She believes that Cabinet encourages student leadership and involvement.

“As art commissioner, I think my position will benefit KHS because I will be able inform students through my artwork, while also giving them reasons to be excited for upcoming events like dances and spirit days,” Hanah said.

applied for Cabinet because she has always been a part of student government and enjoys being behind the scenes.

“I was surprised that I was selected for Cabinet because I made a really bad joke during my interview and I don’t remember anyone laughing,” Harper admitted.

Sophia Ford, Chaplain- Sophia believes that Cabinet positively influences

Kelsie wanted to make a real difference and also wanted to be involved her senior year.

Along with this, she believes that Cabinet is important to the school community because they work behind the scenes to make so many great events happen.

“I hope that next year I can help my fellow Cabinet members to make the school year really great for all of the students at Kickapoo,” Kelsie said.

the school as a whole by promoting school spirit and encouraging all of the sports, clubs, and organizations to represent Kickapoo to the best of their ability. She knows that every student has something valuable and important to offer and is excited to find out what those things may be.

“The most exciting part for me is that I will get the opportunity to make sure that everyone who walks the halls of Kickapoo feels appreciated,” Sophia said.

Jameson Ellerbee, Social Commissioner- Jameson Tony Madden, Spirit Commissioner- Tony believes that Cabinet is important to the student body applied for Cabinet because he wants to help because ideally it is supposed to represent all. Cabinet is create good memories and a generally positive meant to serve the student body, so it is really important high school experience for all students. “Past to everyone that their opinion and input is heard and Cabinets made me feel welcomed and cared for considered. when I moved here from Rogersville right before “Cabinet will also teach us lessons that we don’t learn from my freshman year, and being able to do that for traditional classes,” Jameson said. someone else would be the highlight of my senior Tate Hutter, Communications Commissioner- When year,” Tony said.

I transferred here I quickly became interested in applying for Tony understands that high school isn’t always Cabinet. I saw it as a way to be a leader and role model for the best years of your life, but they are some of the the student body. Despite transferring from another school, most important and he hopes to have an impact I feel that I have a number of valuable ideas to make next on at least one student’s life. year an engaging, fun, and memorable year.

F E A T U R E

Best of Class By Magdelaine Mueller

Best Twitter Connor Rothschild

Most Changed Travis Vokelek and Haley Glenn

Meme Lord Magdelaine Mueller and Mason Gilliam

Fender Bender Grant Martin and Madi Stokes 22| Feature

Biggest Procrastinator

Most Hipster Alyssa Kirch and Corey Dye

Most Savage Meredith Murphree and Tim Cobb

Paul Rich and Noel Cox

Best Shoe Game

Best Laugh

David Peterson and Madeline Guccione

Connor Lambeth and Taya Hall Feature | 23

Tyler Frey driving the scenic route of Springfield, and enjoying the unique sights.

Flippin’ Roadtrippin’ Entertainment While on the Road

By Evan Ellis

S

ummer is right around the corner and there are many destinations that are major hits for teenagers, but what are some ways to stay entertained before you arrive at your destination?

1. Listen to music- This is a given and go to for many teens around the nation. It is easy to do and does not take much to be entertained by some of your favorite songs. Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus is a great hit.

2. Verbal games- Games like “I spy” and “never have I ever” can make the time fly or slowly drag along depending on the group you are with. Playing Truth or Dare with your Grandma is recommended.

3. Card games- Card games like go fish or solitaire can be fun with the right people but could drag the road trip even longer if not with the right group of friends. Always pay attention to the road while playing.

4. Download movies off of Netflix- Netflix now has the option to download movies to your device and watch movies or shows while on the go. This can prove helpful for extra long trips.

5. Sleeping- Sleeping is always the easiest and the best way to lose track of time and get to your destination faster. Be sure to pay attention to road signs while sleeping.

6. Read a book or magazine- There is not a better way to get lost into a good read then reading your favorite local magazine, kHQ Today.

24| Feature

Graduation Party DIYs

By Rebecca Danley

Spicy Pinwheels Ingredients • 4 oz diced jalapeños • 8 oz cream cheese • 1/3 cup bacon bits • 1 can crescent rolls

Pinwheels are a great snack food to eat while busting a move on the dance floor at your graduation party.

Steps 1. Pre heat oven to 350° 2. Make sure the cream cheese is softened. Mix in bacon bits and can of jalapeños. Start with half of can and choose how spicy you want your pinwheel.

3. Roll out your crescent dough.

4. Spread cream cheese spread onto the crescent roll.

5. Roll up the dough inwards 6. Cut dough about 2 inches thick and set on cookie sheet 7. Bake for 20 minutes

School Spirit Puppy Chow Ingredients • 9 cups crispy rice cereal squares • 1/2 cup peanut butter • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips • 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar • m&ms or sixlets in your school colors Steps 1. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate; add peanut butter and mix until smooth.

2. Remove from heat, add cereal and stir until coated.

3. Pour powdered sugar into large plastic bag, add coated cereal and shake until well coated.

Add in the m&m’s or sixlets

Puppy Chow with your school colors is a great addition to the center of your tables so your guests have something to munch on.

Feature | 25

11 10Things To Do Before the End of High School By Meredith Murphree

2

1

Say the Pledge of Alliegance

High five your favorite teacher

3

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Visit your favorite illegal parking spot.

5

Have a chill-hang in the pothole

Clean out the locker you haven’t used since freshman year

26| Feature

1

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Go hunting in the Ozark mountains

Have a picnic in the Back 40

9 Have a fun lake weekend at the picturesque Lake Springfield with all of your friends

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Throw some energy drinks in the student section. What fun!

11 Photo Not Found

Hold your breath, it’ll all be over soon.

Don’t procrastinate

Feature| 27

Seniors’ Next Steps

Where the Senior Class is going to School and What They’re Studying

Missouri State University Madison Albert- Cell and Molecular Biology Trey Alexander- Pharmacy Jackson Auer- Business Harry Barnett- Finance Caleb Barron- Undecided Madison Burton- Undecided Allie Carder- Cell and Molecular Biology Claire Conway- Nursing Brynn Cowherd- Elementary Education Noel Cox- Nursing Charlie Crittenden- Undecided Madison DarrahElementary Education Kolton Day- Business Bailey Dorey- Geology Linsey Drake- Psychology Denis Dumitrash- Business Matt Dunn- Computer Science Gary Egessah- Mass Media Taylor Eggert- Early Childhood Education Evan Ellis- Entrepreneurship Chloe Elmquist- Psychology Camron Emling- Undecided Heidi Facklam- Occupational Therapy Benjamin Fetzer- Music Education Tyler Frey- Journalism Laura Frost- Theatre and Speech Education Yahaira Garcia- Pre-law Ashley Goddard- Elementary Education Alyssa Griffin- Health Science Kaylee Grose- Vocal Music Education Madeline Guccione- English Charles H’Doubler- Computer Science Renny Haag- Nursing Claire Hanes- Chemistry Taya Hall- Physical Therapy Mason Hatch- Biology Rylee Hendricks- Undecided Amanda Heslin- Business Grayson Hodges- Construction Management Cameron Hole- Civil Engineering Rebecca Howes- Psychology Mackenize Huffman- Undecided

28 | Feature

By kHQ Today Editorial Staff

Kyra Jensen- Entertainment Management James Johnson- Business Mason Justice- Pharmacy Andrew Kauffman- Kinesiology Gene Keiber- History Education Anna Keiser- Business Charity Keniley- Graphic Design Faith Kennedy- General Business J Kim- Marketing Edyn King- Elementary Education Alyssa Kirch- Music Education Devin Kruse- Sports Medicine Ross Kukes- Marketing Advertising and Promotions Marissa Langguth- Child Life Chris Lawson- Cell and Molecular Biology Sarah Lewis- Undecided Matthew Little- Undecided Franklin Lopez- Criminal Justice Colton Maggard- Environmental Science Grant Martin- Biology Diavion Mayhew- Fashion Erin McClelland- Animal Sciences Robbie Merced- Construction Management Mikalah Murrell- Chemistry Alec Musick- Biology Jordan Myers- Anthropology Zach Needham- Undecided William Nunn- Finance Jacob Odom- Business Alex Peters- Computer Science Autumn Pilarski- Biomedical Genetic Engineering Alison Pool- Elementary Education Dustin Post- Undecided Camille Price- Psychology Kennedy Randles- Sciences Mickayla Reasoner- Marketing Ashlen Reinhold- Occupational Therapy Kamryn Richardson- Business Marketing Taylor Richardson- Nursing Megan Rogers- Elementary Education

Karli Rowett- Psychology Cameron Rubidoux- Music Education Kory Samford- Business Information Technology Joe Scheihing- Finance Tahlia Simmons- Physical Therapy Thomas Sisney- Business Amber Smith- Elementary Education Nathan Smith- Math Skyler Smith- Undecided Samantha Steury- Accounting and Business Administration Madi Stokes- Undecided Andrew Tebo- Undecided Emily Trent- Theatre Ethan Tull- Undecided Katheryn Twente- Theatre and Speech Education Alexis Waddington- Undecided Caleb Walker- Finance Adam Waltman- Undecided Lexi Weston- Undecided Sidney Williams- Education Michael Winton- Music Sydney Worthy- Undecided Candace Wu- Business Management and Administration Marian Young- Art History

Ozark Technical Community College

Alexander Ash- Elementary Education Aliya Askew- Undecided Tyler Biri- Conservation Kahleigha Brooks- Harris- Criminology Ceth Burrows- Counseling Audrey Cahill- Culinary Arts Dylan Casteel- Computer Information Sciences Katelyn Christian- Criminal Justice Brittney Christy- Ochoa- Psychology Echo Clairday- Art Sarah Clemons-Pray- Fine Arts Olivia Collier- Psychology Samuel Cook- Marketing

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Riley Crismas- Elementary Education Alexandra Cristy- Psychology Mckenna Davis- Undecided Eden Dedmon- Biology Kyler Faxon- Fire Scene Paramedics Owen Ferguson- Undecided Hallie Gerald- Child Development Mason Gilliam- Undecided Jordan Glenn- Dental Hygiene Joshua Glenn- Undecided Hayden Goller- Diesel Tech Sarah Graham- Early Childhood Education Taylor Green- Criminology Drake Grimm- Nutrition Janel Haloupek- Hospitality Isabel Halweg- Physical Therapy Riley Harper- Game Development Sean Hull- Engineering Devin Huston- Physics Kyla Jackson- Biology Ciera Jones- Dental Hygiene Austin Joy- Graphic Design Caroline Katzfey- Undecided Kyler Kelso- Acting Lydia Lane- Applied Sciences Payton Leer- Undecided William Lloyd- Undecided Anthony Lumley- Marine Biology Winter Mahana- Graphic Design Summer Malone- Undecided Cole Mathis- Undecided Ryan Mayard- Architecture Riley McCullough- Missions Kalen McHenry- Culinary Arts Zachary McKee- Undecided Shawn Means- Physical Therapy Brenan Melton- Dietetics Michael Myers- Undecided Evan Morgan- Education Jordan Mortimer- Business Bailey Muller- Education Kali Murrell- Special Education Christina Nadulishnyak- Undecided Victoria Newcomb- Undecided John Nquyen- Pharmaceutical and Nursing Caden Noel- Undecided Weston Overturf- Undecided Sabrina Pavlova- Business Amber Perez- Undecided David Peterson- Aerospace Engineering Cindy Phan- Fashion Design Linda Phan- Pediatric Nursing Jaiden Planck- Pilot Martin Prado- Culinary Arts

James River Leadership College

Patrick Reed- Jaretics Bailey Richards- Undecided Daniela Rico- Dental Assistant Samuel Rowe- Undecided Katelynn Sandford- Dental Hygiene Isaac Shook- Education Shanna Spier- Undecided Caleb Straub- Undecided Garrett Taylor- Criminal Justice Sarah Tindell- Aviation Hayden Tolbert- Automotive Mechanic Noah Treat- Computer Science Austin Turner- Business Nathan Upp- Undecided Hope Villines- Nursing Kyleigh Voyles- Undecided PJ Walker- Undecided Georgia Warthen- Nursing Heather West- Recreational Therapy Jean-Luc Wilkins- Computer Science Lily Wiloughby- Undecided Skylee Wilson- Business Marketing Makayla Winfield- Criminology Zoee Yanka- Undecided

Lindsey Brown- Psychology Erika Weaver- English and Worship Ministry

Evangel

Drury University

Kiana Boyce- Undecided Sarah Holman- Elementary Education Mallory Larsen- Early Childhood Education Alyson Reinhold- Occupational Therapy

Missouri Southern State University Jarod Ozee- Undecided Hope Woods- Pre-Med

William Woods University

Hunter Farrell- Architecture Timothy Goetz- Law Enforcement Ericah Haney- Education Sydney Heydt- Chemistry Stephanie Kerr- Elementary Education Brittney Anoai- Undecided Taylor Marshall- Pre-law Alex Bossing- Computer Science Bernard Parrish- Biochemistry Tyler Bossing- Computer Science Zach PetersEmma Smith- Pediatric. Nursing Tanner Stoops- Architecture Drake Weber- Organic Chemistry Kevin West- Chemistry and Biology

Southwest Baptist University of Missouri- University Columbia Ryli Baldner- Speech Pathology Nick Farquhar- International Business Jocelyn Galardo- Nursing Kennedy Heeren- Business Bailey Lofaro- Nursing Arianna Paynter- Undecided Andy Self- Undecided Amy Snow- Spanish and Biology

Skylr Houzenga- Physical Therapy Garrett Howard- Marketing Mariah Nelson- Nursing Jessica Weedin- Nursing

University of Central Missouri

Jacob McDaniel- History Chloe O’Neil- Digital Media Production

William Jewel University Paul Mitchell Annalee Arbeitman- English

Rebecca Danley- Cosmetology Feature| 29

College of the Ozarks Webster University Ryleigh Clark- Dietetics and Nutrition Alex Garoutte- Conservation and Widlife Management Erin Hall- Education Ally Keeley- Undecided

Aaliyah Burton- Make Up and Wig Construction

Maryville University

Kansas City Art Institute

Cole Johnson- Biomedical Engineering

Harding University

Aiden Birmingham- Psychology

Kansas

University of Kansas

Ari Acuff- Chemical Engineering Nathan Griesemer- Atmospheric Sciences Madison Holt- Undecided Jordyn Rynearson- Biology Gavin Thirion- Chemical Engineering

Missouri State Missouri University of University- West P lains Pittsburg State Science and Technology Washington University, University St. Louis Robert Calloway- Undecided Samantha Prater- Painting

Kamryn Artale- Elementary Education

Trey Burnett- Engineering Ian Hansen- Aerospace Engineering Samuel Losey- Mechanical Engineering Braden McLain- Mechanical Mason Simmons- Molecular Biology Engineering and Biochemistry Jordan Niewinski- Astrophysics Chance Schisler- Metallurgical Engineering Pavel Smolin- Engineering

Arkansas

University of MissouriKansas City

Hendricks College

Allison Long- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Kaitlyn Hill- Oncology Pharmaceutical

Truman State University

Tim Cobb- Mathematics and History Meredith Murphree- Theatre and English

Jefferson College Adam Link- Business

Missouri Valley College Bryce Yarnell- Political Science

30 | Feature

Blake Chambers- Automotive Technology Cobie Haynes- Business Rodney May- Mechanical Engineering and Design

Wichita State University

Evan Singer- Aerospace Engineering

Northwest Arkansas Fort Scott Community Community College College Paul Rich- Criminal Justice

U

Michael Barnes- Biology

University of Arkansas Kansas State University

Karlee Adler- History Madison Carey- Marketing Kaelyn Faria- Marketing and Business Grace Earnhardt- Computer Management Engineering Haley Glenn- Undecided Abbie Hustead- English and Political Science Katie Beth Nichols- Advertising and Public Relations Ashley Tokarz- Spanish Mariah Harvey- International Relations

Oklahoma

Oral Roberts University

O U

s

University of North Lake Community Iowa Iowa State University College Tulsa University of Oklahoma Minnesota Arizona College of St. Benedict University of Arizona Northeastern Oklahoma Alabama A&M College University of Alabama Oklahoma State Rutgers University Ohio University Xavier University Makayla Petty- Biochemistry

Jamie Sampson- Software Engineering

Laney Troop- Undecided

Chandler Jones- Architecture

Noelle Fursa- Chemistry

Claire Loethen- Structural Engineering

Bailey Cantu- Science

Lexi Howard- Nursing

Travis Vokolek- Undecided

Tyler Jordan- Mechanical Engineering Logan Kunkel- Mechanical Engineering Jared Ridder- Sports Management Hayden Lippleman- Zoology

Tennessee

Johnson University

Georgia

Morehouse College

University of Indianapolis

Krystal Caylor- Secondary Education

Louisiana

Illinois

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Britney Strong- Photography

Pennsylvania University of Louisiana Art Institute Monroe Kira Zimmerman

Cam Cothern- Accounting

Texas

Notre Dame University Baylor University Connor Lambeth- Business

Rochester Institution of Technology

Shamari Jones- Mechanical Engineering

Brooke Effland- Cross-Cultural Media Communications

Indiana

New York

David Delzell- Geology Connor Rothschild- Political Science

Texas Christian University

Sam Becker- Astronomy Peyton Moore- Biology

Florida

University of South Florida Thomas Johnston- Finance

Florida Gulf Coast University of Tampa Sam Sawchak- Undecided

Paige Patterson- Psychology

Henry Choe- Undecided

Feature| 31

Colorado

Idaho

University of Denver Brigham Young Colorado University- Idaho Connor Heslin- Undecided

Community College of Aurora University of ColoradoBoulder Morgan McClure- Undecided

Bella Jones- Chemistry

Colorado State University

Kennis Walenczyk- Undecided

Rollins College Brigham Young University

Nicolas Lapauq

Working

Magdelaine Mueller- Entertainment Business

Other

Trevor Halmagyi Bryce Mahy Paige Monnig Rhett Noonan

University of Southern California Other University of California, Irvine Gabi Freking- Communication

Jordan Sanders- Criminal Justice

Maryland

Adryanna Bridgers Sarah Clark Kristen Cox- Gap Year Maverick McGee- Missionary Korah McGhee Caitriona Newhart Madison Temple Matthew Roher

United States Naval Undecided School Academy Cameron Davis- Nuclear Engineering

Navy

Hanna Bowman- Undecided Chloe Breckenridge- Biochemistry M’Kenna Breckenridge- Undecided Denisha Mortimore Andrew Clarkson- Undecided Starla Simons Knighten Cooper- Undecided Macey Laney- Engineering Jaden Lorenc- Electrical Engineering Timo Wittbold Carter Shanklin- Computer Science Luci Wallace- Theatre and English Education

Germany Lueduig Erhard Schule Nevwied Christina Feldmann- Medicine

32 | Feature

La Criox Blanche

California

The Los Angeles Film School

Chile

France

Katelyn Brown- Photography

Whitney Elliott- Social Entrepreneurship

Utah

Sarah Kelley

Isaac Blakeslee Tyra Bradshaw Matthew Breckenridge Mitch Closser Sean Cole Corey Dye Meagan Good Eric Grimm Chad Hackler Nathan Heaton Luke Lindsey Cyrus Pobst Luis Santiago Bailey Smith Lauren Wilson

No response Hannah Alkier Olivia Apperson Jayson Aronis Masaki Asbury Emilee Beasley Aiden Birmingham Caleb Bowling Brevin Breyfogle Chloe Bridges Linda Brown Nicole Byers Amie Carey Ansley Cate Jang Chung Jack Clark Noah Coleman Eli Combs Jonathan Cook Hailey Counts Kaleb Davenport Hannah Davis Jeremy Davis Ryan Dawson Jared Dela Cruz Sophi Dulan-Jones Anna Dumitrash Brandi Elliot Evan Morgan Keirsten Evans Kelsie Fairbanks Grant Fear Segey Feisk John Fielder Candice Freeman Tiffany Garcia Sam Gleason Jason Hair Chance Haskew Mickaela Herman Larrisa Hood Matthew Hull Nicole Hunter- Cockrum Anastasiya Istomin Hayden Jacobs Trevon Johnson- Brown William Klotz Colton Kraft Paul Larose Greyson Lee Joshua Lippelman Katelyn Maples Corey Mauldin

Bailey McCullah Joe Melvin Weston Miekley Kate Miller Kwentin Myers- Skillens Brandon Newton Brayden Ovitt Nathaniel Page Julianna Pomanto Keirsten Prestein Canyon Price Kaylynn Robb Deja Roberson Clement Roggen Madeline Rudolf Vada Russell Daniel Rutschke Alec Saddler Audrey Schwindt William Sechler Keaton Sharpe Abbie Shelton Brianna Shoemake Tyler Shrum Jared Simmons Gabrielle Singleton Andie Smith Daniel Smith Devin Smith Shaley Smith Trevor Smith Emily So Colton Spellman Brenda Standfill Jonothan Stevens Abbey Stewart Jaden Stowell Sofia Taglietti Libby Tedrow Megan Tiede Colby Tindle Chandler Toates Connor Toates Emma Tyson Zachary Vassilaros Cody Voss Jace Waring Ralph Watson Brian White Mariah White Tyrese White Devon Wilharm Chasidy Williams Fletcher Wilson Tanner Zeolia

Feature| 33

10 Years From Now

By Skylr Houzenga

“I see myself just hanging out with my mom making some cookies,” senior Ari Acuff said.

“I see myself raising a family of puppies with the love of my life,” freshman Ellie Miller said.

“I see myself with a career in chemistry,” freshman Anthony Porter said.

“In ten years, I see myself driving a G-Wagon with my seven cats riding alongside me,” freshman McKenzie Salyers said.

“I see myself working for BuzzFeed writing fake news,” senior Madeline Guccione said.

34 | Feature

“In ten years, I hope to be earning a steady income. I also see myself married and starting a family,” junior Ally Maska said.

“I want to be a trophy husband,” senior Jackson Auer said.

“I see myself with five cats, one of those cats will be a munchkin cat. I want to have a family and a house in Florida,” senior Edyn King said.

“I want to be Jackson’s wife,” senior Ian Hansen said.

“I see myself married with two kids and working as a family physician,” senior Chris Lawson said.

“I see myself working somewhere in the journalism field whether it is print or broadcast. Journalists are vital to any society and I really feel like that is something I need to do,” junior Tony Madden said.

Feature | 35

HumansByOf Kickapoo Riley McCullough

Ms. Melissa Mr. Cooper Charlie Hemmerling Ms. Melissa: “I’ve been here for eighteen years and the thing that keeps me here is the kids. My favorite part is seeing them everyday for four years and watching them grow up. The bittersweet part is watching them leave.”

Mr. Cooper: “The kids and the staff. I have been here for a such a long time.

I enjoy making the school look presentable so when the parents come to the school they are impressed, man that’s a cool feeling to me. I have been here for eleven years and it feels good when old students come through here and they still remember me.”

Charlie Hemmerling: “I work here for the kids first and foremost but it’s nice that I get good vacations. I enjoy telling the kids that they can have as all the fruits and vegetables they want. Seriously though the kids are my favorite part, without them I’d have to look for a different job.”

36 | Feature

Freshman Jalyn Mclean

“My goal in soccer is to keep playing and scoring goals. I love the girls on my team, they are all so loving and supportive. I’m glad I’ve had a opportunity to play with the seniors and wishing them the best in college.”

Sophomore Aaron Sawchak

“I’m trying to help my teamates as much as I can. I’ve been grinding and working hard trying to earn an All-State recognition as a bullpen catcher.”

Feature| 37

The Greatest Crossword You Will Ever Complete 4.0

1

2

3

4 5

6 7

8

ACROSS

DOWN

4 season that comes after spring 5 Song number 8 on Ed Sheeran's album "Divide" 7 People believe that if you eat this, you will get salmonella; makes cookies 8 Whose snap username is @TheRealSwagggyP?

1 Famous music artist who died April 21, 2016; performed Purple Rain 2 color of iPhone; similar to pink 3 Name of popular car service 6 Number of presidents who have been assassinated Bring your completed crossword to room

38 | Feature

201, during fourth block, to receive a prize!

O P I N I O N

A Letter to the Editor D

Ryleigh Clark

ear Editor,

Hopelessness and worthlessness are two all too familiar feelings. There was a day when I woke up and I was just empty. I felt like I had nothing to contribute, nothing to bring to the table, nothing to offer. I felt as if I was lost, wandering around looking for myself in a place that I didn’t exist and a place that I knew I would not find what I was wanting. I searched and looked and dug and found myself in a place that I no longer wanted to be. A place of self-pity, hatred, sorrow, and confusion. I knew that I did not belong in this place and was willing to give anything to get out.

For all of you who have ever felt hopeless, lost, or worthless, let me be the one to tell you that you are worth far more than you can ever imagine. You are uniquely beautiful in each and every way. You have a purpose and even if you don’t know what it is, you will find it. I know that it is hard. It is so unbelievably hard to fight for something that you are not even sure exists. But believe me, it is far beyond worth it.

Other people will ridicule you, push you down, tell you to give up, promise you that you are worth nothing but they are dead wrong. You are strong and have been pushing through. You’ve fought to be where you are at and are climbing the mountain. The biggest enemy you must face now is yourself. You must be able to tell your mind that all the things you hear around you are not the truth.

The negativity and doubt that flows through your head is nothing but lies. Before you can trust, love, believe in, encourage, or anything else, before you can do any of those for or give those to someone else, you have to do it for yourself first.

You cannot love someone until you love yourself.

You cannot trust someone until you trust yourself.

You will run in circles and exhaust yourself trying to be more for someone else than you are for yourself. You have to be your number one fan, your biggest supporter, your truest believer. You have to put you first and be the best you. Sometimes you find those for yourself through the guidance of someone else. They can love you, trust you, believe

40 | Opinion

in you and that teaches you what it feels like so you can gradually feel those things for yourself.

It’s a long, complicated, poorly lit path that requires patience, trial and error, and mistakes. You have to be willing to stumble and fall in order to get back up and try again. There will be tears, sleepless nights, desperate calls, and deep breaths but you will continue fighting. You will find yourself if it takes everything that you are.

Our greatest accomplishment varies from person to person but there is unmatched satisfaction that comes from the moment when you find yourself after years of looking. Find someone, something that inspires you. Let it be your motivation to not give in, not give up, and not back down. When you discover your purpose, when you find who you are meant to be, or what you are meant to do, you will look back at every obstacle as a lesson. You will be stronger, smarter, and more determined that you have ever been. When you finally block out the voices in your head that tell you that you are not good enough and that you should give up, you will find that you are capable of more than you have ever given yourself credit for.

I want each and every one of you to know that when you don’t believe in yourself, when you want to give up, when you can’t look at yourself in the mirror, I want you to know that someone out there needs you. Someone believes in you and wants to see you shine. Let that person inspire you. Let them help you find who you are.

You are setting the tone and expectation for the rest of your life and the impact you will make. Make it count. Show the world that you are enough and that nothing other than what you are will define you. Your words, but mostly your actions, will define who you are. Be the best you that there can be. Do not waste your time on being someone that you are not.

There is only one you in the world and we need you. You have to keep showing you, be dedicated, keep pushing yourself, and continue to strive for greatness. Do not let anyone, especially yourself, hold you back. Climb your mountain, run your race, accept the challenge. Be unstoppably and

T

The Only Movie Reviews You’ll Ever Need

Tate and Paul Review “Get Out” and “The Belko Experiment”

Tate Hutter and Paul Rich The opening months of 2017 have provided us with a variety of movies that have been good, decent, and downright terrible. Included in these movies were the psychological thriller Get Out and the action horror film The Belko Experiment.

Both of these movies had been extremely hyped up through social media as well as TV commercials. With this Paul and I decided that it would be worth our time to see both movies and share our thoughts and comments with you.

Paul/Get Out- This suspenseful/horror movie was one of the best movies I’ve ever watched in my life. The main character Chris Washington is a young African man that is a photographer. Chris has been dating a girl named Rose Armitage for a few months and he has yet to meet her parents or even talk to them. Chris finally gets his chance to meet Rose’s parents in the movie. Then begins the movie Get Out. This movie is filled with everything you can ask for in a movie, a love story, comedy, horror, suspense, and twists. I give this movie a 9/10.

Tate/Get Out- I had seen previews for this movie all over social media and was very excited to see it, and from the moment it started, it did not disappoint. The beginning of the movie is relatively uneventful as the main characters Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose Armitage (Allison Williams) prepare for a weekend at the Armitage estate.

As the couple arrives at the estate, there is some awkward conversation between Chris and Rose’s parents, but other than that they seem like any normal family. However, that night Chris goes outside and has a frightening encounter with one the family’s hired hands. This caused me to sit up in my seat because it was an incredibly odd scene and things soon go from weird to weirder when Chris has another encounter with Rose’s mother, Missy. At this point I am on the edge of my seat because I am completely confused as to what is happening. As the movie continues, things continue to get weirder and weirder until the movie reaches its climax. At this point, the Armitage family has become violent and I have realized that they are not at all who they say they are. My eyes were glued to the screen as the movie concluded and the Armitages’ motives were revealed. With the conclusion of this movie, I was left in astonishment. This was an incredibly well made movie that was filled with twists and turns and featured premier acting and an excellent script. I applaud Jordan Peele for, who is most commonly know for his comedic roles, for creating a movie unlike anything I’d seen before. I give Get Out a 9/10 and highly recommend it.

Paul/The Belko Experiment-This movie is nothing but crazy. 80 people from the U.S. are offered a job at a place they named “Belko”. One day the office building suddenly shuts down and all the doors and windows are blocked by steel walls. No one can escape and suddenly a voice comes over the intercom and proposes a deal. The deal proposes that the employees kill 10 of each other or the unknown assailants will kill 20. 30 minutes pass and everyone is still alive. Out of nowhere 20 people die. From there it’s just homicide after homicide. This movie is nothing but death and they show all 79 deaths. I highly recommend this movie to the crazy people who love to see people kill other people. If not, then don’t watch. I give this movie a 6/10.

Tate/The Belko Experiment- Just like Get Out I was very excited to see this movie because of its presence on social media. As this movie began it wasted no time in getting to the action. It was around the 25 minute mark when the audience saw it’s first death on screen and from that point on, things went downhill. The employees at Belko have been trapped within their office building and are being told by unseen perpetrators that if they do not kill one another, then they will all be killed. That’s about as in depth as the plot gets. The rest of the movie features the employees killing each other in increasingly violent ways. This continues until one employee remains and he is released from the building. There is a small twist at the end but it does not deepen the plot that much and is never explained. For me, this was just another gory action movie. I give this movie a 5/10 because it did attempt to do something different, but lacked any real depth.

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HBCCC F

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Chocoholic

Gold Rush

Mocha

or our eighth and final issue of HBCCC, we decided to head downtown and celebrate our final column with The Urban Cup’s cupcakes.

We decided to buy one dozen cupcakes for $35.

They only had eleven flavors so we decided to get two of the Gold Rush cupcake.

Mocha: Heather: As someone who is new to the coffee world, I wasn’t expecting as much mocha. The flavor was great just a bit overwhelming. I probably wouldn’t pick it out of a line up.

Brooke: The first bite was overwhelming taste of coffee. The frosting was a nice touch but the cupcake overall needed to be more subtle.

Overall: 4/10 Gold Rush: Heather: Basic is better. The frosting to cake ratio could’ve been stronger but it was delicious. The rich frosting complimented the dry cake as well as it could. The chocolate egg on top was my favorite.

Brooke: I thought that this original flavor would be better than it was. The frosting was too rich and the cake was dry, neither of which I enjoyed.

Overall: 7/10 Chocoholic: Heather: I liked it at first and then realized just how rich it was.

Brooke: There was too much chocolate for my liking. I wouldn’t be able to eat even half of it. The flower was cute but tasted disgusting.

Overall: 6/10 Peanut Butter Cup: Heather: The frosting is very peanut buttery and I am all about that. Frosting doesn’t cover all of the cake but the flavor of the icing makes up for it. This was my favorite cupcake.

Brooke: The cake is dry but the peanut butter makes up for it. The frosting doesn’t cover the entire cake and I don’t like that at all.

Overall: This was our favorite 10/10 would recommend Tuxedo: Heather: I thoroughly enjoyed the way the sprinkles complimented the frosting and cake.

The springy colors made the cupcake look more appealing and tastier.

Brooke: The icing to cupcake ratio was much better. The cake is actually chocolate which was appreciated. The sprinkles were really good too.

Overall: 8/10 Strawberries ‘n Cream: Heather: I would buy this cupcake for my mom which means a lot. The strawberry flavor was satisfying. The frosting complimented the cake well.

Brooke: That was one of my top three. The frosting was overwhelming but was delightful.

Overall: 9/10 Confetti: Heather: As a white on white enthusiast, I am slightly disappointed. The cupcake would have been better if the frosting had been refrigerated prior to serving. The frosting didn’t cover the cake completely which is disappointing. As my go to order, I am slightly disappointed.

Brooke: The frosting was melty and super buttery. The cake was divine.

Overall: 6/10 Lemon Drop: Heather: The cake is better than the frosting.

The frosting is where the lemon flavor comes from.

Brooke: I was expecting more lemon but it was

Peanut Butter Cup

By Heather West and Brooke Effland

Heather and Brooke’s Culinary Critiques and Compliments

Overall: 4/10

Cuppa Coffee Cake

Overall: The Urban Cup was not all that we expected it to be. We given them an overall score of 6/10

Confetti

Strawberries ‘n Cream

Red Velvet: Heather: Not a fan of cream cheese frosting going into it. I tried the cake by itself first and it wasn’t red velvet at all, just chocolate cake.

I tried a dab of icing but agree with B that it was too much cream cheese and not enough icing. Hardly red velvet and not at all a fan Brooke: The frosting was way too cream cheesey. The cake had too much cocoa powder in it and tasted more like chocolate.

Overall: 2/10

Lemon Drop

Carrot Top

Red Velvet Tuxedo

kind of bland. The frosting was surprisingly not sour but could have had more lemon.

Overall: 7/10 Cuppa Coffee Cake: Heather: This was more like a muffin than cupcake. The top is just cinnamon and sugar and nothing too exciting. I enjoyed it but would’ve liked it more with more drizzle and less sugar.

Brooke: It’s dry and definitely a muffin-but it was good. It needed more drizzle on top.

Overall: 6/10 Carrot Top: Heather: Cream cheese strikes again. No bueno. The cake was over-mixed but okay.

The texture was really bad and the frosting took away instead of adding to it.

Brooke: The cake was over-mixed but was okay. The texture was really bad and the frosting took away instead of adding to it.

Opinion | 43

Senioritis is Real Why I Can’t Do This Anymore

I

have nothing.

The irony here is that I have spewed my opinions about everything from fire drills to the student section, state laws to relatives at the holidays. But, this time, I have nothing.

There can only be one reason for this writer’s block of mine: senioritis.

Now, I used to think this was a fake problem, made up by students to get out of doing school work.

By Meredith Murphree However, I was sorely mistaken. It is very, very real.

Senioritis has literally taken over my life. I have always loved going to school and now I am scraping the bottom of my motivation barrel, finding solace only in the promise of the graduation ceremony that is always an eternity away.

Is this a bit dramatic? Yes, but it gets me to my main point: too much is asked of graduating seniors.

I’m trying to escape the forms I’ve procrastinated filling out. (E-MER-Gency Preparedness, Photo by Mickayla Reasoner)

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Here we have a group of 1718 year old students who have a lot on their plates. The stress of trying to pass classes, keeping a social life, keep getting 5’s on every AP exam, applying for college, applying for every scholarship under the sun, sending out graduation announcements, having plans for prom and a graduation party-- this can be overwhelming. And don’t even get me started on the forms. Forms for final transcripts; graduation;

How I feel about having to actually keep going to high school. (I Believe That We Are Gross, Photo by Brooke Effland)

For real though, I give up.

(Missouri and the Benign Tumor of Worthless Laws, Photo by Tony Madden)

Using music to take my mind off of all of the work I’m putting off. (Bros vs. Joes, Photo by Tony Madden)

,

a

t

;

Looking forward to a bright tomorrow, not realizing that I’ll just have to do it all over again when I graduate college. (Pride and American Prejudice, Photo by Brooke Effland) Drowning in all of the things that need to be done before I graduate.

(Year in Preview, Photo by Tony Madden)

college housing, medical and orientation; seals of excellence; taxes; prom guests. You name it and there is a form a senior will have to fill out, and all of them will have different deadlines that will have to be remembered like major U.S. holidays.

So these students are dealing with all of this right before their lives change in a major way.

Moving away from home, being independent for the first time, all of this is new and terrifying and stressful.

These holiday lights are strangling me, much like the way the weight of my responsibilities is. (Relatively Awkward, Photo by Brooke Effland) Me, lamenting the fact that my plight is understood by all, respected by some.

(Kicka-I-Can’t-See-the-Parking-SpotsPoo, Photo by Skylr Houzenga)

Senior year is over-hyped to be a fun year with little responsibility.

I am calling fake news on that load of bologna. In fact, it is just the opposite. Senior year is stressful, awful, busy and emotional as heck.

I mean, I can barely remember to pack my lunch in the mornings, how am I supposed to live on my own come August?

I know this is the plight of every person who has graduated high school, and that is who I’m pleading to: former high school seniors. You’ve been there and it’s

tough.

Here’s what I propose to all former seniors: quit it with the forms already. You’re killing forests and also they are annoying.

Also, if someone you know and/ or love is a senior right now, cut them some slack. Give them a minute to breathe. You remember what this was like. Just remember that you were there once and it’s scarier than a really scary haunted house on Halloween. Really scary.

I guess it’s a good thing that I like a good scare.

Opinion | 45

While many people attend colleges such as University of Missouri-Columbia, very few people actually utilize their highly expensive degrees.

College is Redundant for Some H

By Garrett Peck

igher education is touted as the end goal for all high school students. Many students have been told over and over that they will be unsuccessful without a college degree.

There are many career paths that can lead to success without a degree. Many of the heavy industries in America such as oil, steel, and shipping offer high paying jobs with only a high school diploma required. For example, the average power plant operator makes 72,000 dollars a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Higher education is a lofty goal, but one not suited to everyone’s unique talents and abilities.

Intelligence is defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary as “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.” Applying knowledge is the key words in that definition, it’s not enough to simply acquire knowledge, you have to do something with it.

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The man who can strip and rebuild an engine in a couple of hours is intelligent even if he never got a graduate degree. The woman who writes insightful stories but never went to college because she couldn’t afford it is brilliant.

I believe that many successful people do not have higher education degrees. They simply had an idea and then brought that idea to life, and that is the highest form of intelligence--to take known principles and make them into something new.

Innovation is the basis of success, not a degree.

College is a rigorous process designed to make sure that those who truly want to get a college degree are there and those that do not have that desire leave. It is unrealistic to think that every person needs to go to college. College is something meant for those who really want it. I believe that college is not for everyone, it is something people should want to do, not feel like they have to do.

Best of Class: Entertainment for Your Ears A

By Kelli Volonte

s graduation approaches and looming fate of high school careers come to an end, the time has arrived for Best of Entertainment to be chosen.

Over the summer, one might find themselves in a slum of the same, over-appraised Netflix series and over-played playlists. The following list and critiques are here to help.

They will open a whole new world of entertainment and page turning, next episode-clicking, must-listen excitement.

Best of Class: Spoken Word Poetry Spoken-word poetry is in a completely different realm than the poetry English teachers have students trying to decipher. The speaker’s voice fills with all the emotion they are trying to convey and brings the poem and its point into a completely new light.

“What Teachers Make” - Taylor Mali “The Way to a Woman’s Heart” - Jenesis Fonseca “Almosts” - Bianca Phipps “To the Boys Who May One Day Date My Daughter” - Jesse Parent “Ten Responses to the Phrase ‘Man Up” - Guante “We’re Golden” - Michael Lee “Dear 8-Year-Old Me” - Scout “Emergency Room” - Dia Davina All of poems listed can be found on YouTube.

Best of Class: Podcasts Version Listen to podcasts while laying under the sun, perfecting the summer tan, or on long car rides to exciting adventures. While they’re similar to audio books, it feels like the narrator is having a conversation with the listener instead of reading a novel into a microphone.

“Serial” has become very popular within the past year or two. It follows a different true story each season and is for those who enjoy surprising twists and turns through discovering the dirt within the tale.

“In the Dark” follows the kidnapping and murder of a young boy that soon developed into one of the most notorious child abductions in the country in which has not been solved. The narrator also explores the mistakes made within the investigation that has lasted over 27 years, as well as the outcomes from this particular case.

Best of Class: Speeches on Youtube As the year comes to an end, the impending graduation speeches may be at a loss for words.

While listening to random speeches may not be a first option to spring to mind as a way to spend free time, they can come in handy when a reminder is needed.

Decisions about college and other aspect that could

potentially affect the rest of one’s life are stressful. They can make it feel as though everything has to be figured out right now and must go according to plan or it will all fail.

Steve Jobs’ speech at Stanford’s 2005 graduation serves as a reminder that everything will work out in the end.

He starts out by explaining what his speech is about.

“I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation.

Today I want to tell you three stories from my life.

That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories,” he explained.

When I first listened to this speech, I was dumbfounded.

How could Steve Jobs, one of the most prominent inventors and entrepreneurs of this century, never graduated college? As he continues to speak, all the worries and stress about the future and what will happen slowly ease. His speech puts things into perspective and shares his personal experience about how the world felt like it was ending, yet it all worked out in the end.

Other noteworthy speeches on YouTube include Oprah Winfrey 2013 Harvard graduation and J.K. Rowling at Harvard as well.

As this article concludes, like the school year, hopefully the summer will be filled with new experiences and new passions from this peak inside another’s world.

The first season of “Serial” follows the murder of a high school student named Hai Min Lee, pictured below in a collage of photos on display at her memorial service on March 11, 1999. Photo Courtesy of MCT Direct.

Opinion | 47

S P O R T S

Sports Divider

Sports Year in Review

By Riley McCullough and Tyler Frey

Homecoming Kickoff at Glendale against the Falcons in September. This was the first loss in the Chiefs schedule and the only loss during the regular season.

Senior Alyson Reinold dribbles past two Harrison defenders to lead Kickapoo to a 8-1 victory.

Photo Courtesy of Claire Conway.

Senior Alison Pool leading the swim team in a local swim meet.

Photo Courtesy of Britney Strong.

Senior Skyler Smith serving to opposition at a practice.

Photo Courtesy of Jocelyn Galardo.

her

B

Senior Isaac Blakeslee driving past a Republic defender at the Tournament of Champions at JQH Arena in January.

oys tennis, track and field, girls soccer and baseball are all in the process of wrapping up their seasons. The ultimate and final stage for each team is the state championships since they are the last event the state has to offer. Both football and basketball were just one win away from competing in the championship game, but other sports still have a chance to make it to that game. Track and Field along with the Swim team has had many individual state qualifiers the past couple of seasons. Regardless, all sports will go all out to make their school proud.

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L a P

The NFL draft will be held in Philidelphia for the first time.

Photo courtesey of MCT Direct

NFL Offseason Begins

By Kody Kershner

The offseason for the NFL is here and that means that free agency and the draft is upon us. There has already been some major changes made across the league. Multiple star players became free agents and have decided to take their talents elsewhere and begin their journey with a new team.

Veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall left the New York Jets and joined the cross town rival New York Giants.

“I just want to win a championship, I want to be in a championship environment,” Marshall said.

The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots did not spend the off season celebrating, as they were out signing key free agents Stephon Gilmore and Dont’a Hightower. They also traded for talented wide receiver Brandin Cooks. The Eagles perhaps made the biggest move out of everybody by signing star wide receiver Alshon Jeffery to a one year contract. He adds a lot more firepower to an up and coming Eagles roster.

50 | Sports

That showed potential during last year. These teams made some big moves that will not only affect the way they draft, but also the way their season goes.

The NFL draft is scheduled for April 27, and this draft has been documented as one of the best in the past decade. College stars such as defensive end Myles Garrett, quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Leonard Fournette round out the the top prospects and will look to be the next star. The Cleveland Browns have earned the right to have the first pick in the upcoming draft by having the worst record in the league and will look to turn that around this upcoming season.season. They have been discussing going with a quarterback with the number one pick, so it is between a quarterback or Myles Garrett.

The offseason started off exciting and should end the same way with the draft and free agency recapping.

The NFL season will be a good one if the offseason is any indication.

R

Liam Lynch competes in hurdles during a track meet at Parkview.

Photo Courtesy of Jack Patrick

Running With The Wind

By Will Anoai

H

earing the gun shot go off, the adrenaline pumps through his veins, the crowd cheers him on, and off he goes.

“Starting track in the seventh grade, I’ve always known that I was fast, so coming in I was really excited to show off my skill,” junior William Lynch said.

In middle school he competed on the relay team at Cherokee and ran hurdles. He also made it to all-city in hurdles.

Throughout his middle school career he always loved track because of all the memories and friends he made.

“Running just makes me feel free and I feel like I’m running with the wind, like nothing can hold me back when I run,” Lynch said.

Lynch hopes to one day represent Kickapoo

at state.

“You have to enjoy the time you spend with your team because sooner or later, the season is over,” Lynch said.

Lynch says he is always working hard to improve not only his athletic ability but also his classroom skills.

“Grades are very important to me, because I want to go to a good college,”he said.

Lynch is setting the bar high for himself to make him a true student athlete.

“There’s a reason why it’s called student athlete, you are a student before an athlete,” Lynch said.

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Bros vs. Joes

Putting Kickapoo’s best against Kickapoo’s just OK

I

By Meredith Murphree

t wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to see that Kickapoo students are some pretty involved people.

They are also pretty darn talented. But just how talented are they, really? We decided to test some of the best against magazine staffers. Here are the results:

S

enior Bella Jones has been in band for seven years and plans to continue playing her saxophone for the rest of her life.

“It would be cool in a few years to for someone to be like ‘Do you have any talents?’ and I whip out my saxophone and be like ‘Oh boy do I,’” Jones said.

Here, Bella toots out some toe-tapping tunes on her bari-sax.

How easy would it be for a beginner to pick up band (on a scale of 1-10)?

“Probably like an 8 because if they’re not willing to work hard and try, then they are probably going to find it to be extremely difficult and are probably going to get called out a lot,” Jones said. kHQ Today Opinion Editor Meredith Murphree was up for the challenge. She knows what music is and would be considered by some to be “acceptable” in her instrumental skills.

Here, she is seen proudly keeping time like a broken grandfather clock.

“Can I join jazz band now?” Murphree said. The answer is no.

S

ophomore Daniel Nace has been playing in band for five years.

“My dad was a musician and I’ve always wanted to be like him,” Nace said.

Nace rates band at a 5 for beginners.

“It’s not too hard or too easy to pick up, but you really have to practice if you want to be good,” Nace said. kHQ Today reporter Tony Madden has been playing the triangle for about ten minutes.

“I believe that it was Theodore Roosevelt that said something about something about playing the triangle probably, yadda, yadda, yadda, and that’s my musical philosophy,” Madden said.

Here he is seen trying to get into proper playing position.

“What do I do?” Madden said.

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Our Bros

Our Joes

Bella Jones

Daniel Nace

Skylr Houzenga

Heather West

Maverick McGee

Tim Cobb

Tony Madden

Meredith Murphree

S

enior Maverick McGee has been running hurdles since he was in the eighth grade.

“What drew me to [hurdles] is because I like a challenge and doing 100 meters with no obstacles is boring,” McGee said.

He rates hurdles at an 8 out of 10. kHQ Today News Editor Heather West has never jumped over a hurdle before.

“The hurdle is almost as tall as I am, I don’t know how I’m going to get over it,” West said.

She made it over the hurdle with all of the flair of a dancer, none of the form of a runner, and the help of a nearby chair.

“What do I do?”

Tony Madden asked.

S

enior Tim Cobb has been involved with track for 2 years, running in the 1/2 mile, mile, and 2 mile events. He was drawn to track because, “I have a passion for my body always being tired,” Cobb said.

His favorite thing about track is “Coach Goddard and his immense wit,” he said.

How easy would it be for a beginner to pick up?

“Depends on how much pain they are willing to put their body through,” Cobb said. kHQ Today Beats Coordinator Skylr Houzenga is not necessarily a runner.

Here she is seen pulling ahead in a nonexistent race against an unassuming P.E. class. She came in first place.

Sports | 53

A New Face from a New Place

By Tyler Frey

Former Marshfield coach Nate Thomas conducting a practice before an upcoming football game for the Blue Jays.

Photo Courtesy of Nate Thomas.

N

ate Thomas will become a more familiar face as he was just hired to be the new coach of the football team. Thomas previously coached at Marshfield and was chosen to work with the Chiefs.

1. What is your favorite sport outside of football? “My favorite sport outside of football would have to be golf. I grew up playing it and I enjoy the peace and quiet on the golf course in the morning.”

2. What’s your favorite meal on “game day”? “Gameday is definitely a routine for me. I wake up early and get a workout in and then try to eat a big breakfast. Eggs, hashbrowns, and the most important part, biscuits and gravy!”

3. What sports did you grow up playing? “I played everything growing up. Soccer, baseball, golf, basketball.

Oddly enough I didn’t play football until I was in eighth grade. My folks were scared I would hurt myself.”

4. Where did you go to college? “I attended the University of Central Missouri for my undergraduate where I played football and ran track for the Mules. Hurts me to say it, but I got my graduate degree from Northwest Missouri State.”

5. Did you always want to be a coach? “Not always… my first year of college I began working towards being in law enforcement. After my freshman year and being around my college coaches, I switched my major and knew at that point I wanted to coach football.”

6. If you weren’t a coach, where could you see yourself ? “If I wasn’t a coach I’d probably own my own restaurant. Probably a BBQ joint. Being in Kansas City for 11 years… you gotta know how to make ribs and pulled pork.”

7. What is your favorite school subject? “My favorite school subject outside of weight class, I would have to say was History. I enjoyed learning about the past, especially anything to do with the military.”

Paul Talks Ball By: Paul Rich

L

onzo Ball, Malik Monk, and Justin Jackson are some of the names off of the long list of young men declaring for the NBA Draft this year. There is no doubt that Jackson, Monk, and Ball have the talent to dominate the league but here are other players out there that not many know about. Starting with Dennis Smith Jr. -- This 6’3” guard from NC State averaged 18.1 points and 6.2 assists per game. Smith Jr. has many similarities to NBA superstar John Wall. From athleticism to jump shot, these two players are almost identical. I believe that if Smith Jr gets drafted to the Knicks or the Pistons he will impact the team tremendously and give them what they need to make the playoffs.

The second player is the kid out of Flower Mound, Texas, Terrance Ferguson. Listed at 6’7”, Ferguson has the something that separates him from everyone else.

His 35 inch vertical causes him to be the best dunker that the league has seen in the past 10 years. Another skill that separates him from other guards is his pullup jumper. He has similarities to NBA player Ben Mclemore and if he gets drafted to the right team I believe that he will be a good role player that a team needs to be successful.

Lastly the NCAA Player of the Year-- Frank Mason III. Or should I say Isaiah Thomas Jr? Mason III is 5’11” (maybe even shorter) and averaged 20.9 points per game and led the Kansas Jayhawks to the elite eight.

Mason III played all four years at Kansas and it truly did help him develop his game. He is projected to go in the second round of the draft but I believe he can crawl his way into the first round if someone opens their eyes and realizes how good he is. If the Celtics or even the Clippers draft him, he can learn from great point guards and eventually become a star player.

The Prairie Panel

The PANEL Tony

Magdelaine Paul

Kody

What are your Journalism plans for the conference summer?

Travel to New Orleans

NBA Finals Champion?

Red Sox

Not the Rockets

Leslie Orman

Jalyn McClean Quin Reasoner

in DC

Lakers

Nancy BrightSpring Sports MVP? Kaufman

Work at Hy-vee Market Grille

Ball at SEAS

LeBron James

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