union grove high school mcdonough ga

P
The rowler
Inside
News
Sophomore Storms Science Fair
Chorus Sends off Seniors
Senior Columns
Staffers Say Goodbye
Culture
Summer Concerts
Sound & Color Review
Photo Essay
Prom 2015
Issue XI
May 2015
CONTENTS//
May 2015
Cover photo by Devyn Mode
3.....Editors’ Desk
4.....The Scoop
5.....News
6-7.....Features
8-9.....Prom
10-11.....Senior Columns
12.....Val & Sal
13-15.....Sports Features
16.....Sports
17-19.....Entertainment
20.....Man on the Street
The Prowler Staff Policy
Ms. Sandra Hurtte
Katie Atkinson
Katherine Hancock
Mitchell Mobley
Ethan Gibson
Jordan Pridgeon
Devyn Mode
Eli Roberts
Adviser
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
News Editor
Web Editor
Sports Editor
Culture Editor
Advertising Manager
Staff Writers:
Hannah Matthews
Lauren Young
Mary Katherine Laverty
Maya Lavinier
Sarah Johnson
Brittany Brown
Sydney Steele
The Prowler is a publication of the students
of Union Grove. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect those of the editorial staff, Union
Grove High School, or its faculty, staff, or administration.
The Prowler will accept any constructive
criticism or comments on our paper. The staff will
accept signed letters to the editor with the right to
edit them. Names may be withheld upon request.
Letters may be given or emailed to any staff member
or dropped by room 212.
The Prowler
120 East Lake Road
McDonough, GA 30252
The Prowler is printed by Crown Printing in Stockbridge, GA.
From the Editors’ Desk
1,440 hours.
86,400 minutes.
5,184,000 seconds.
This is the amount of
time senior staffers who
have completed four
years of journalism
will have spent poring
over The Prowler by
the time of graduation.
1,440 hours of laboring tirelessly over every
single article. 1,440
hours of tediously editing and re-editing each story. 1,440 hours of representing,
informing, photographing, and interviewing our readership. 1,440 hours of joy. 1,440 hours of stress. 1,440 hours
of contributing to this publication—to this family.
It is a difficult thing to sum up the experiences that
occur in this place. At times, there are very difficult days.
On the contrary—time spent at this publication can be
very rewarding as well. Sometimes your pieces can summon compliments from the readership or bring awareness
to social issues; at these times, it is easy to feel like your
writing is meaningful and powerful. Sometimes, however,
your pieces can raise question of your ethics or warrant an
unfavorable response. At these times, it is easy to fall into
a cycle of discouragement and questioning. This is what it
means to be a writer. This is what it means to be a member
of The Prowler.
To our senior staffers, thank you for your diligence
and your unwavering dedication to this publication. We
appreciate your bright ideas, your perseverance, and your
loyalty. Your bold personalities and brazen statements
will be missed. The legacies you have left for this staff will
be difficult to live up to. The roles you have played during
your time here will not be forgotten.
To our readership, thank you for your support of
this publication. After all, it is each one of you who adds
validity to our presence as a publication. We do this for
you. Through each of those 1,440 hours, 86,400 minutes,
and 5,184,000 seconds, we have had you in mind. Thank
you. For the years you have spent poring over our stories
and communicating with staffers. For the years you have
spent cooperating and interacting and laughing and sharing
and involving yourselves. It’s been a fun ride. It’s been a
wild ride. It’s hard saying goodbye.
A heartfelt and profound THANK YOU to the
generous donors who made this publication of
The Prowler possible.
David and Lisa Troy
Janice J. Wilmot, D.M.D., M.S., P.C.
Mr. and Mrs. Doug Laverty
Stephanie Radik
Scott and Mary Beth Young
Mr. and Mrs. David A. Laverty
Mr. and Mrs. Olif T. Matthews
Mr. David A. Troy
James S. and Melissa K. Hunt
ServoPro of Henry & Spalding Counties
Vanessa Dyon
Amy D. Clemens
Judy Cower
Chuck Hancock, D.M.D.
Doug Coker Properties
Ben and Shannon Matthews
John Kozisek
William H. Dellinger, Jr., D.D.S., P.C.
Cathy S. Thomas
Brian Womble, D.M.D., P.C.
The Paw Pad
Peggy M. Joiner
S-2 International
Power & Jaugstetter, P.C.
Beverly J. Hester
Angela Gibson
Natalie C. Gehret
Randy R. Radik
Betty and Gary Lynn Glass
Med South Primary Care, P.C.
Creative Wholesale Distributors, Inc.
Walter F. Robertson
Alfred C. and Melinda L. Ogletree
G. R. and Ellen Foster, IV
Signing off for the last time,
If you would like to make a donation to The
Prowler, please contact Sandra Hurtte, Staff
Adviser. [email protected]
3
The Scoop
PROWLER
Orchestra Wraps Up This Year Sophomore represents School at
The Union Grove High School Chamber Orchestra
ISEF
received superior scores at this year’s Large Group Performance
Evaluation that took place in March at First Baptist Church of
Jonesboro.
“On stage, everything we worked on went really well,”
said Mr. Scruggs, orchestra director.
Orchestra prepared for their end of the year spring concert, and the theme was pop and movies. The concert was held at
the school May 13.
Jessica Moore, sophomore, represented Union Grove at
the International Science and Engineering Fair May 10-15 in Pittsburgh. ISEF is an international competition where participants
from over 70 countries are given the
opportunity to receive judgement
and feedback from accomplished
scientists and are rewarded for making it so far.
“It was probably the best
experience of my life,” said Moore.
This is her second time at ISEF.
Working on her current
project for over a year, Moore
cultivated cells to produce proteins Jessica Moore, sophobeneficiary to hemophillic patients. more, traveled to
participate in ISEF this
Hemophilia affects the blood, significantly reducing its ability to clot. May. Photo by Maya
Lavinier.
She aims to help people with this
HOSA Hosts Blood Drive,
Collects Money
HOSA hosted their spring blood drive April 24. Seventynine students and teachers participated and over 80 pints of
blood were collected.
“It is a great community service to save lives,” said
Angela Keiser, HOSA sponsor and healthcare teacher. “It allows
students to use knowledge and skills from class in a real world
environment.”
Also, HOSA raised money
for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.
Their goal was $500; however, their
disease.
“This project works to treat patients and bring awareness
to lesser known diseases, namely hemophilia,” said Moore.
final total was $1327.12.
Honor Cord Standard Goes
Beyond Color
FFA Closes Year with Awards,
Banquet
FFA closes their 2014-2015 year with close to $3000 in
sales from their spring plant sale. Further, they attended the State
Convention in Macon. Fayth Boyer and Sierra Cannon, senior and
sophomore, respectively, took the Georgia Green Industry Association Certification Test April 25.
They also competed in the FFA Agriscience Fair April 24,
placing fifth. The club celebrated their accomplishments at their
May 21 banquet where new officers and awards were presented.
The banquet was funded by their plant sale profit.
“We strongly believe that students and parents who are
members of FFA shouldn’t have to pay to celebrate their achievements,” said Ms. Sherri Crown, advisor.
Fayth Boyer,
left, and Sierra
Cannon, right,
place fifth at the
annual Agriscience Fair.
Photo by Maya
Lavinier.
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In response to the opinion column published in last
month’s issue of The Prowler, Mr. Smith would like to make a
clarification regarding the specific standards set for honor cords
worn at the graduation ceremony. Although the cords that are allowed to be worn happen to be “neutral colors,” the rationale goes
beyond color and more has to do with the students’ accessibility to
the clubs that are represented by the cords.
Beta Club and National Honor Society cords are the only
cords allowed to be worn at the graduation ceremony because
all students in the school are considered for these organizations
whether they seek the opportunity or not.
“The Beta and National Honor Society cords are accepted
because they represent high academic achievement and every student in the school has an opportunity to earn their way into these
academic organizations,” said Mr. Smith. “The other societies are
limited to only those students who are interested in those specific
areas, and they are not based on a student’s academic achievements school-wide.”
Mr. Smith would like to remind students that they can
wear other cords for the senior picture and the baccalaureate service.
Pulsera Project Exceeds Goal
Spanish Honors Society has concluded their Pulsera
(bracelet) Project. This project supported social and educational
programs in Nicaragua. They raised a total of $2,025 by selling
bracelets and purses.
“We far exceeded last year’s project by selling almost 400
bracelets and several purses,” said Claire Cornell, president.
News
PROWLER
Chorus Raises Voices, Money for Local
Charity in Benefit Show
By Katie Atkinson
[email protected]
Although the curtains are closing for many members of the senior
class, the chorus department took to
the stage once more this year for their
annual Spring Show held May 2 at the
Henry County Performing Arts Center.
The individual chorus classes gathered
together in order to present their last
concert of the year and, for many,
the last concert of their high school
careers.
The show’s theme, “life in high
school,” allowed chorus members to
touch on many issues ranging from
depression and anxiety to first loves
and even loss. Songs like “Titanium,”
performed by the concert choir, and
“Beautiful,” performed by the intermediate treble group, set up a conversation on bullying while performances
like the advanced treble’s “SOS” were
set in place to drum up images of
stress, homework, and final exams.
Toward the end of the show,
Photo by Katie Atkinson.
the chorus department gathered to
perform Beyonce’s “Heaven” as a tribute to the students Union Grove has
lost throughout the years.
“I think that, on this journey
you are on, everyone you encounter
Jalen Thomas
Passes Away,
Students Grieve
By Ethan Gibson
[email protected]
Jalen Thomas, a former student at Union Grove
High School, passed away March 30. A service was held
April 2 by Divine Faith Ministries. Thomas enjoyed playing
basketball, spending time with friends, and playing video
games.
Despite the pain of losing a loved one, Jordan
Thomas, Jalen's sister, is dealing with her grief, but misses
her brother.
“I’m going to miss having [Jalen] around all the
time,” said Jordan Thomas, junior. “Losing Jalen has been
hard, but I’m getting better.”
The sudden death of Jalen Thomas was a tragedy,
and he will be missed by his family, friends, and peers.
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along the way somehow contributes to
who you are,” said Mr. Chris McMichen, choral director. “The people who
are now lost to you are kind of like
holes in your journey. We thought
it would be nice to try to keep their
memories alive for a little while longer.”
The spring show benefited
children of “A Friend’s House”—an
organization that houses the abused,
neglected, and abandoned children of
Henry County. In their fifteen years
of support, the chorus department has
raised over $25,000 for this organization.
“I personally am a strong
believer in God. I believe that He has
truly blessed us with talented students
and it’s our responsibility to use those
talents to pay it forward,” said Mr. McMichen. “That is why we are a service
oriented group.”
Feature
PROWLER
The Media and the Misrepresentation
of Trends
By Mitchell Mobley
[email protected]
“School shootings are more
popular than ever.” “What’s the
deal with so many planes crashing
recently?” “The world is more dangerous than when I was a kid.” All
of these are statements one might
hear when speaking to an average
American. All of these statements
are also fueled by the omnipresent
mainstream media and a misrepresentation of trends.
The five o’clock news does
not report on murders that do
not happen. Nor does it report on
schools that are not under fire,
or on planes that make it safely
to their destinations. There is
a systematic confirmation bias
built into news coverage that has,
especially in the last few decades,
led to a misrepresentation of the
US becoming a more dangerous
place to live. News stations report
on events that get them viewers and good ratings, which--due
to a natural morbid curiosity in
humans--trends toward stories of
violence and heartbreak. However,
the world, or at least the U.S., is
safer now than ever to live in.
Dr. Steven Pinker, esteemed psychologist and professor
at Harvard, argues that the world
as a whole is becoming statistically less dangerous. In The Better Angels of Our Nature, Pinker
cites examples ranging from the
shift from hunter-gatherers to an
agrarian society to the Enlightenment and civil rights movements
in an effort to prove that the world
has become less violent. However,
comparing the peace in world
today in the 70 years that have
passed since World War II to the
barbarism of the distant past is not
exciting to people today, much less
is it newsworthy to the mainstream
media. This is the real issue: the
media and the American public’s
fascination with reporting the most
violent of stories above all others.
The world is certainly not
sunshine and butterflies; it is naive
and dangerous to think that the
world is ultimately safe. However,
the media should use its inherent
bias to provide a better, more optimistic vision of the world so that
the public might feel less burdened
by the sadness and destruction of
others, and more attuned to making the world a better place than it
already is. And if the media won’t
do that, at the very least, it should
serve to inform viewers about more
than how many people were shot
the night before. It should use the
far-reaching voice of television and
the Internet to shed light on the
happenings in our own government, or on the importance of science and education. Confirmation
bias and misrepresenting a world
trending toward violence can be
just as dangerous as a world actually trending toward violence.
NJROTC Honors Cadet Commendations
By Ethan Gibson
[email protected]
April 30, Union Grove’s
NJROTC celebrated the achievements of the battalion as well
as NJROTC’s annual change of
command. The current Commanding Officer, Landon Harper, gave
a moving farewell address to his
cadets and passed off his position
to the 2015-2016 Commanding
Officer, Madison Mitchell. Austin
Bush was also chosen as the executive officer for the next school year.
Landon Harper,
senior, passes down
the position of Commanding Officer to his
predecessor Madison
Mitchell, junior.
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Feature
PROWLER
Five Staff Members and Teachers to Leave Union Grove
By Maya Lavinier & Eli Roberts
[email protected]
[email protected]
Ms. Yvonne Powell
Ms. Gail Meaders
Normally nestled behind
the busy attendance window,
Ms. Yvonne Powell will soon
from her perch as Attendance
Secretary. Powell has been
secretary for 15 years, working
10 years in the same position
at another school. She plans
to relax and spend time with
her grandchildren. Powell will
miss her colleagues and Union
Grove students most.
“Stand by your school,” said Powell to students. “It’s
a good one.”
The office staff must
say a tearful goodbye to Ms.
Gail Meaders, school bookkeeper for 13 years. Once retired, Meaders intends to travel
and most importantly, relax.
She will miss her friends and
colleagues at the school the
most as they mean a lot to her.
“Every day you wake
up and take a breath, know that
you have been given another day to make a difference in
someone’s life,” said Meaders.
Ms. Deborah Brown
Ms. Dina Alley
The Special Education Department is also sad to lose
Ms. Deborah Brown to retirement. Brown teaches students
with disabilities and retires
from Union Grove after ten
years of teaching at the school
and 32 years of teaching in total. Brown is responsible for
starting the Special Olympics
in Henry County and has been
the coordinator ever since.
“Teaching is a God-given privilege, and special
needs students need a little extra,” said Ms. Brown.
The Special Education and English Departments
mourn the retirement of Ms.
Dina Alley, who leaves Union
Grove after 15 years of teaching at the school. She has
taught at multiple schools in
Mississippi and Florida and
also taught at at Morrow High
and Stockbridge High. Alley
plans to move to Newnan to be
closer to her children after retirement.
“I’ll miss my friends, as they are my family at the
school,” said Ms. Alley.
Mr. Tom Smith
After being at Union Grove for eight years, longer than he has been an administrator at any
other school, Mr. Tom Smith, principal, is leaving his position.
Under his leadership, Union Grove has become one of the best schools in the state and
even in the nation, and test scores and graduation rates have increased dramatically during his
time here.
After this year, he will be moving to Gainesville High School as their new principal. He will
miss Union Grove, but he looks forward to growing in his career, having new experiences and
successes, and learning new lessons. Though this departure is bittersweet, Mr. Smith looks
forward to what the future holds.
“The memory I will miss most will be graduation ceremonies,” said Mr. Smith. “Each and
every one of them. Each one is such a great experience, and they are all great memories.”
For a full list of teachers that are leaving or retiring, visit ugprowler.com.
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PROWLER Feature
Prom 2015 a Big Success
By Ethan Gibson & Brittany Brown
[email protected]
[email protected]
Union Grove held its annual prom April 18 at
the Carlos Center in Atlanta. A special thanks to Ms.
Sue Merlino and all of the volunteers on the prom
committee for their hard work.
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Feature
PROWLER
9
PROWLER
The Scoop
A Fiery Farewell: Student Advocates Change
By Devyn Mode
[email protected]
I have written three senior
columns. The first, a mediocre attempt at
phrasing the very strange feeling of leaving my home, my family, my childhood,
and Union Grove. The second, an equally
dissatisfactory attempt to appear sincerely saddened by my graduation. And this,
my friends, is the third: a very passionate,
totally honest, opinion piece.
Few of you are probably aware
of a meeting that will occur the summer
of 2015. Students, teachers, and faculty
of Union Grove will discuss the existing
dress code rules and determine whether
or not they will be edited or dismissed.
Nose rings are a topic of concern. Whether
or not this group decides to ban the nose
ring rule is of some significance. But what
is monumental about this meeting is that
change has been considered. And why is it
being considered? Because a rule has been
challenged, not only by me, but by the efforts
of many driven individuals. Congratulations
and thank you to all of those people who
fought beside me along the way. We might
just win.
Classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018, do
not be afraid. Do not be afraid, but do not be
stupid; do not waste your class time and your
valuable energy on acting out unless it serves
a cause. This nation was founded on the idea
that if leadership is corrupt, it must be challenged. Be rebellious, but be strategic.
Class of 2015, I’ve watched us
grow up for 13 years. I know that some of
you will fade out of my life. I know I’ll miss
you. Thanks for accepting my craziness and
thanks for the memories (even though they
weren’t so great).
I’m sad it took me until senior year
to find a group of friends who love me unconditionally and compliment my every ounce
of weirdness. I couldn’t be more thankful
for your friendships--for the laughs and the
phone calls and the fun--you mean the world
to me. Thanks for supporting me through
the Band-Aid and standing up for me at
every opportunity.
Many of the adults in this school
have inspired me to grow into a strong,
passionate female, and for that I am
endlessly grateful for my time here. Mr.
K, Ms. Mann, Ms. Morris, Ms. Ferguson,
Ms. Martin, and Ms. Hurtte, thank you
for supplying me with some knowledge on
literature and history. But mostly, thank
you for teaching me to question what
others tell me and that following the patterns of your environment rarely leads to
greatness. I wish there were more adults
like you in the lives of my peers.
I once planned a future that
didn’t involve becoming a writer. When I
told my aunt, she quoted this Pink Floyd
lyric: “Did you exchange a walk-on part in
the war for a lead role in a cage?” Join the
war, my friends. Do not sit idle in a cage,
avoiding trouble to save yourself. Think
about the war and how you can advance
it.
Goodbye Wolverine Nation, a
place that sparked my interest in journalism and my passion for fighting social
injustice. Go Mercer Bears!
High School: Good Enough to Miss
By Katie Atkinson
[email protected]
I’d like to believe that our lives are
mainly composed of the intertwining of
memories—the thread of each glittering moment we have experienced, each
silent hope we have prayed on behalf of
ourselves at night, and each dream that
we clutch tightly to our chests. “Forever
is composed of nows.” Emily Dickinson said this. These “nows” to me are
instances where we feel hyper-alive,
untouchable, eternal—even if only in passing,
even if not ever again…the instances where
we feel young careless and yet transformed
by the shadow of peace that envelops us. I
have experienced so many of these ‘nows’
with all of you.
It is impossible to sum up the entirety
of my experience here. What does it look
like? What are four years of my life? How
do you say that? High school is everything
when it’s all you have ever experienced. It’s
everything and nothing at the same time. It’s
riding home from football games with the
windows down, shouting lyrics to your favorite songs with people you love. It’s countless
Goodwill trips and late night conversations
and Saturday morning Awful Waffle trips.
It’s trivia night at Mellow Mushroom and
every secret ever shared and god knows how
many times re-watching Bride Wars with
your best friend. It’s finding a family, finding
your people, finding yourself. It’s dancing at
your very last prom and studying everyone’s
faces and knowing that in a few weeks you
will be separated from most of them forever. It’s making mistakes and realizing them
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sometimes too. It’s fostering friendships
and then, occasionally, it’s outgrowing
them. It’s having relationships with boys
you thought you loved. It’s picking yourself up and telling yourself you deserve
better. It’s learning how to be at ease. It’s
every conversation every shared, every
piece of advice ever given, and every
struggle you’ve managed to overcome.
It’s the first years of your young adult life.
It’s difficult at times, but still good enough
to miss. It’s this. It’s us. It’s you. It’s me.
So as the sun is setting on my
own high school career, it’s difficult to
discredit the immense amount of life I
have experienced while walking through
these hallways. It’s hard to sum up the
lessons I’ve learned that never stemmed
from a textbook or lesson plan. I look
back on high school, and I’m joyful when
I think about all the beginnings that took
place here. All the friends I found. All the
memories I made. And now we’re here.
We’ve made it. It’s been fun falling in
love with the process.
PROWLER
Opinion
Senior Discovers New Sincerity
By Mitchell Mobley
[email protected]
Flow, in psychology, is the mental
state of being fully focused and involved in
what you are doing. Being in a state of flow
is one of the most enjoyable aspects of being
human. Think back to the last time you lost
track of time and everything except what was
in front of you. In the moment, you probably
felt challenged, skillful, and uncaring of what
others thought. I’ll be honest; for me, this
moment was last Friday when I was playing
Magic: The Gathering with my friends at the
card shop. I didn’t care how nerdy it was, or
the embarrassing amount of money I’d spent
to be there. I was experiencing flow, and the
cultural movement of the New Sincerity.
It’s cool to be a hipster: to be
detached from the crowd, to be critical of
popular culture and to live ironically. But it’s
even cooler to live sincerely: to do what you
love without being self-critical. What fun is
scoffing at the mainstream when the likes of
Taylor Swift are killing it? How fulfilling is a
constant cynicism and skepticism of others?
In my opinion, along with proponents of the
New Sincerity, being genuine and involved,
un-ironic and caring is really the coolest
thing to do.
If high school has taught me anything, it’s that you must play the system to
go anywhere in life. Get good grades, earn a
marketable degree, and work for your happiness: this is the lie of the American dream
we know all too well. It’s easy to understand
where this pervasive cynicism comes from:
there’s no time to be genuine, no time to
enjoy life while you’re working your way up
the ladder. As a culture we’ve decided that
the only joke left is--ironically--ourselves.
I choose to reject the idea that I’ll only be
happy once I’ve “made it” at some ambiguous
point in the future; instead, I embrace the
hedonism of the New Sincerity: I will throw
caution to the wind, strive to be more awesome, and have maximum fun.
I’m not alone either. Take the
success of the ultra-sincere band Vampire
Weekend, the nostalgic films of director Wes
Anderson, or the feel-good TV series Modern
Family. Our culture is ready for the New Sincerity, and already embraces it unknowingly.
The irony and cynicism of postmodernism
is slowly dying. While there will always be a
strong counterculture in our country, especially among teenagers, I hope you’ll realise
with me that it’s more fun to have real fun--to
do what you love with whom you love--than it
is to feel slighted by the world and be a cynic.
Embrace the New Sincerity, and become a
more fulfilled, more awesome, you.
Senior Says Success is in the Journey
By Katherine Hancock
[email protected]
To everyone who is graduating and
to the people who plan on doing it someday,
I have some news for you. Somewhere along
the road of your educational career, with a
little help from the consumerist society, you
probably got it in your malleable mind that
one day, after you have checked a million
prerequisites off your list, you’ll make it
“there.”
Do well in middle school, then complete high school perfectly, which will land
you at a reputable college that is known for
marketable degrees. Then find the right internship or job so you can get your foot in the
door of whatever field you’ve chosen. Work
your way up in the ranks, get the highest
promotion, and make the most money possible to live the happiest life. That’s it. That’s
all you have to do to get “there.”
But I can tell you now that “there”
doesn’t exist. Not in the way it is advertised
in every facet of daily life, not in the way they
make it seem when they ask you what you
want to be when you grow up. “There” is an
urban legend telling us that if we work hard
and keep wanting the next thing, we will end
up living the lives we were meant to live. But
humans are insatiable by nature, and there is
always a better award or class rank or grade.
There is always a better college or a bigger
office space or a higher salary. When “there”
is a destination, the goal is able to be met and
augmented, thus never fully reached. When
“there” is what you live for, you die uncomfortably with your arms strained out in front
of yourself.
The ninth grade “me” thought that
“there” was a college I didn’t even end up
applying to, then landing a job in a field that
I am no longer interested in at all. The ninth
grade me would be disappointed with the me
writing to you now. I’m going to a tiny liberal
arts college in a city that wasn’t even on the
ninth grade Katherine’s radar, and I’m going
to study a subject to possibly get a job in a
field that the ninth grade me swore she would
hate to pursue. My grades are a little lower
11
than I expected. I can’t commit to a hairstyle
other than a ponytail. When I was in ninth
grade, I pictured myself arriving “there” with
a perfect track record and a really good hairstyle. But I’m not upset. What matters is that
I’ve realized that “there” is not a real place.
Because this is the thing--in life, you’re
guaranteed one thing and one thing only: a
chance to be alive for a while. There is no living heaven or moksha that is reached one day
after all the to-do lists have been crossed off,
and you’ve gotten everything you’ve gone out
for. You reach a goal, it’s great, but life does
not turn permanently shiny and error-free.
Every person continues to screw up, whether they’re a graduate or a jobholder or Kate
Middleton. Every constantly-striving person
continues to wonder--disappointed and unfulfilled--what the answer to life is.
After four years of achieving things that
essentially don’t mean anything (yes, that is
high school), here’s my answer: if you think
success is a solitary peak, you’re in for a
whole lot of uphill and downhill. If you think
of “there” as a culmination of life-giving
moments--the blue sky, a happy puppy, a
proud teacher, a good book, or the sound of
someone laughing after they’ve been crying-you’re in for a really satisfying hike with a lot
of good views along the way.
PROWLER Feature
Class of 2015 Announces Valedictorian and
Salutatorian
By Katherine Hancock
[email protected]
Honors Night was a big
night for the Class of 2015. Seniors
accepted various awards ranging
from Honor Graduate to Presidential
Awards. Perhaps one of the most
special recognitions, however, went
to the top two seniors of the graduating class. Hannah Middlebrook was
awarded Salutatorian and Jonathan
Spencer was awarded Valedictorian,
meaning that they have the secondhighest and highest grade point
averages in the entire Class of 2015,
respectively.
Most seniors have trouble
fighting “senioritis” to even complete
the amount of required credits, but
for Middlebrook and Spencer the
motivation came easily when they
remembered the goals they were
working toward.
“I always try to succeed
in whatever I do, and I genuinely
enjoyed most of my classes in high
school, so it wasn't exceptionally
difficult to focus and learn the material,” said Middlebrook. “I naturally
love learning new things, so the work
that went with my classes wasn't too
burdensome.”
Spencer is honored to have
achieved the status of valedictorian,
although it came at a high price.
“It was a lot of hard work
and sacrifice to get to this point, so it
feels really great to be recognized for
it. It also hasn’t quite settled in yet
that I am actually the valedictorian,
said Spencer. “It’s an accomplishment that I’ve been working toward
for four years.”
Union Grove awards AP and
Honors students with extra points
for each higher-level class, which
often helps raise GPA. Middlebrook
took seven honors and 12 AP courses, while Spencer took 12 honors and
eight AP courses.
When a student
has the goal of being in
the top of the class, it can
sometimes be a challenge
to make room for required
courses, courses that will
gain the most points, and
courses that are just plain
enjoyable to the student.
Both Middlebrook and
Spencer managed the balHannah MiddleJonathan Spencer
brook will graduwill graduate first in
ancing act that this tricky
ate second in
his class with plans
scheduling can take.
her class with
to attend Georgia
“I wanted to take
tentative plans
higher level classes in high Southern Univerto attend Emory
sity, where he was
school because I think the
University. Photo
awarded the Founatmosphere suits me. I
by Katherine Handation Scholarship
haven't ever taken a class
cock.
and
invited
to
the
because it was an ‘easy A,’”
honors program.
said Middlebrook. “Even
Photo by Mitchell
the classes I didn't think I
Mobley.
would enjoy at the beginUniversity in Statesboro,
ning of the year have turned
Georgia, where he was
out to be really great. I love being
awarded the Foundation Scholarship
challenged, and AP and honors
and was invited to join the honors
classes do that for me, so I didn't
program. He plans to study computtake them just for the extra points.”
er science.
Spencer found easy to fit the
While anxiously awaiting
classes of his choice with things he is their future endeavors, these gradutruly interested in.
ates will miss UGHS.
“I got to take what I wanted
“What made my high school
to take for the most part because
career absolutely wonderful is the
we only have so much flexibility in
support I've received from my teachour choices. For example, I was able
ers and fellow classmates,” said
to take AP Environmental Science
Middlebrook. “Every kind word I've
instead of AP Chemistry, and I was
gotten, every award I've received,
more interested in environmental
every helping hand, they've all been
science,” said Spencer. “I will leave
essential in my success and have
high school not regretting the course made the last four years wonderfully
choices I made.”
enjoyable and fun.”
Both students are look
“The biggest thing I will
ing forward to success in college.
miss about UGHS is my peers,” said
Middlebrook is expects to attend
Spencer. “Over time I have really
Emory University in Atlanta, Georgotten to know most of them and
gia. Her course of study is undecided truly enjoy being around them every
at the moment because she has “so
day, and because I have had so many
many academic interests.” Spencer
memories with them, it is going to be
will be attending Georgia Southern
hard to leave this group of people.”
12
PROWLER
Kaitlin Jones Makes Her
Mark in Lacrosse
Feature
Runner Topples High
Hurdles
By Mary Katherine Laverty
[email protected]
By Hannah Matthews
[email protected]
As a seventh grader, Kaitlin Jones, junior, was
forced by her mother to participate in a lacrosse clinic.
What she didn’t know was that she would fall in love
with the sport after that clinic and continue to play for
five years and counting.
“I want to play in college
after high school,” said Jones.
“I’m not sure where yet, but I
do want to play.”
The commitment Jones
has for lacrosse is inspiring,
and her hard work pays off.
“I play tournament ball
in the summer and fall,” said
Jones. “And practice is an
hour away and lasts for two
hours.”
Lacrosse is a newer sport
Photo by Mary
in
the
south and at Union
Katherine Laverty.
Grove, and Jones makes an
effort to keep it alive.
“I feel like it’s really important to keep little kids
interested,” said Jones. “We need to keep [lacrosse]
growing in the county, not shrinking.”
Varsity track sprinter Ebele Okoye has jumped
a hurdle that many runners never have to face, yet she
has still managed to earn countless medals.
“I have two rods in my back from scoliosis
surgery freshman year,” said
Okoye, junior. “They sometimes bother me or prevent
me from doing certain exercises, but I work around that.”
Despite this surgery,
Okoye managed to break multiple records including the
400 meter, the 4x400 meter
relay, the 1-1-2-4 sprint relay,
and the 2-2-4-8 sprint medley
relay. She is currently number
one in Georgia and number
nine in the nation.
Photo by Hannah
“My track family al- Matthews.
ways motivates me to do better,” said Okoye, “I have grown
a lot mentally and have gotten physically stronger.”
Gasaway’s Golf Game Well Above Par
By Katherine Hancock
[email protected]
When Hannah Gasaway,
junior, was a little girl, she expected her future to be filled with
cheerleading uniforms, not golf
clubs. Participating in cheerleading
was a big part of her younger years,
but in eighth grade, she decided to
take a swing at a sport that could
offer her more opportunity in the
future: golf.
“My dad has always been
involved in the golf industry, so
around the house it was always an
interest of mine, but in my eighth
grade year it hit me that golf would
take me much further in my life
than cheerleading,” said Gasaway.
Gasaway has certainly gone
far in the sport; she has worked
with many renowned golfers,
performed well in both school and
Junior Golf tournaments, and even
been named the Henry County
Golf Athlete of the Year, Girls Golf
Athlete of the Year. She has also set
the high school record with a score
of 34.
“I have accomplished more
that I could dream of for the short
period of time I have been playing.
At our school, golf is not noticed
13
as much as it should be due to our
outstanding players,” said Gasaway.
As for future plans, Gasaway is hoping to play on the collegiate level
and possibly make
a career in
the field.
Photo by
Katherine
Hancock.
PROWLER
Feature
Signing Athletes Make Collegiate Goals
By Devyn Mode
[email protected]
The following are Union Grove athletes who signed to continue their
involvement in atheletics next year. Photos from schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us
and special photos.
Josh Peters
Baseball
Young Harris College
“I am looking forward to starting a
new chapter of my life and playing
baseball in college, which has been
my dream my whole life,” said
Peters.
Robby Fouch
Football
Reinhardt University
“I’m most looking forward to putting on my pads, strapping up, and
putting in plenty of work to be a
successful college wide receiver,”
said Fouch.
Chris Blackwood
Baseball
Andrew College
“I’m most looking forward to
getting the uniforms,” said Blackwood.
Haleigh Vernon
Softball
University of West Georgia
“I’m looking forward to being able
to experience the college life and
meet new people along with getting to play the sport I love,” said
Vernon.
Casey Selfe
Baseball
Young Harris College
“I’m most looking forward to just
being around a new group of guys
and a different environment,” said
Selfe.
Connor Barnell
Football
LaGrange College
“I’m excited to get back on the field
because I miss Friday nights,” said
Barnell.
Cameron Williams
Baseball
Young Harris College
“I look forward to just being able
to follow my dream to the next
level,” said Williams.
Jake McFarland
Baseball
Andrew College
“I look forward to being able to go
to the next level,” said McFarland.
Wes Atkins
Cross-Country
Georgia College and State University
“I’m excited for the chance to run
at the collegiate level,” said Atkins.
Ronald Blain
Basketball
San Diego Christian College
“I’m most looking forward to being on the west coast and playing
against other Division 1 teams,”
said Blain.
Patrick Rhew
Football
Valdosta State University
“I’m ready to represent my team
and fight for a starting spot with
hopes to win a National Championship,” said Rhew.
AJ Spencer
Baseball
Middle Tennessee State University
“I’m looking forward to being a
part of a growing program,” said
Spencer.
Chris Curran
Soccer
Dalton State College
“I’m most looking forward to living
with my best friend and my brother,” said Curran.
David Craft
Baseball
Piedmount College
“I look forward to starting the next
chapter of my life and new experiences with new people,” said Craft.
Shane Tucker
Baseball
University of Georgia
“I am looking forward to being at a
SEC college like UGA and starting
the next chapter of my life as a college athlete,” said Tucker.
Madison Moore
Softball
Lander University
“I’m looking forward to growing
up, being able to live on my own,
and travelling for softball,” said
Moore.
Taylor Fugagli
Lacrosse
LaGragnge College
“I look forward to continuing my
success in lacrosse, staying in
shape, and making new friendships that last,” said Fugagli.
14
PROWLER
Feature
UGHS Sports Highlights
2014-2015 Athletics
THE RIGHT DOCTOR
IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS
A GOOD HELMET.
If your child has a head injury and your pediatrician isn’t available, come to Children’s. Our team specializes
in diagnosing and treating pediatric concussions. Learn about head injuries at choa.org/concussion.
15
PROWLER
Sports
Golf Team is Making a Difference on the Green
By Sydney Steele
[email protected]
Both boys’ and girls’ golf teams
have been taking charge on the green this
year by remaining undefeated, with only one
tie for the girls.
According to Coach Stansell, with
all of their hard work, the girls’ team won
the Wolfpack Invitational earning first place
out of six teams.
“For the girl’s team, we have high
expectations, and they should win region
and go to state,” said Coach Stansell.
In a recent match against Luella,
Jake Maples, junior, shot his lowest round
of 35, and Hannah Gasaway, junior, shot
her lowest round of 34. The girls’ team shot
their lowest with a 137, and the boys’ team
shot a 150, according to Coach Stansell.
“Together we strive to become better individuals by encouraging each other
to keep getting better,” Peyton Brannon,
sophomore.
According to Coach Stansell, the
team has put in a lot of work to get to where
they are, and many players have stepped up
this year. Jake Maples and Hannah Gasaway are two players who have really been
strong leaders this year.
“We all practice and encourage
each other to do our best,” said Hannah
Gasaway, junior.
The girls' golf team won first place at
regions. Special photo.
Track Team Shoots for State
By Sydney Steele
[email protected]
The Union Grove Track team has
been blowing the rest of the county out of
the water this year. The boys have won
region, county, and are now trying to win the
state title. The team has performed exceptionally well at the Golden Eagle Invitational, County Championships, Roswell Relays,
and the ELCA Chik-Fil-A Invitational.
“We have very good team chemistry,” said Coach Daugherty. “The team
supports each other, and they realize that we
are all working toward a common goal.”
In the Region Championship, the
boys came in first place, and the girls came
in fourth place.
“We’ve done great through our
whole season, and are always improving
from our last meet,” said Matt Seitz, sopho-
more.
In the Henry County Varsity Championship, the boys won first place, and the
girls won second place.
“The season went better than
expected with winning county championship
and region,” said Caleb Roberts, senior. “Going into state I think that we can pull it off
and win.”
Union Grove Varsity Tennis Team Slams Their
Way to State
By Jordan Pridgeon
[email protected]
With a 17-3 overall regular season
record the Union Grove Varsity Boys Tennis
team went all the way to the state. Sadly,
they fell short of continuing to finals.
"My opinion is that we're the second best team in the 5A division," said Head
Coach Leslie Butler.
The team started off their last round with
singles until Michael Ouy, senior, started
having full body cramps and couldn't play
his set.
"I think the season went well, but
we had an unfortunate spot in the bracket,"
said Nathan Connelly, junior.
Some players who stood out this season
were Michael Copeland and Raymond Watson, seniors.
Sadly, Coach Butler will not be coaching the boys next season but hopes that they
continue to play and do well.
Also making it to the state playoffs, the Union Grove Girls Varsity team
came out to play for the 13th year in a row.
Their regular season record was 9-10.
"The girls gained valuable experience
this year with their wins and losses," said
Head Coach Trish McDonald.
This year the team won their match
against long time rivals, The Ola Mustangs.
"All of the new varsity players really
showed out this year considering this was
our first year playing together," said Jacqueline Curran, sophomore.
Another important victory was the
team's win against Drew which helped them The Union Grove Girls Varsity Tennis
advance to state play-offs. A key player in
team after their regions tournament.
this match was Devin Butler, junior, who
Special photo.
secured the team a very important win.
Other key players for the season include Lexi stepped up as a leader this season and
McClellan and Cara Coursey, freshman.
helped encourage the team.
"I think it went really well considering
"I think we all worked very well together
we were a young team," said Coursey.
as a team," said Neese.
Also Madison Neese, sophomore,
16
PROWLER
Culture
Summer Concerts in Atlanta
By Devyn Mode
[email protected]
Third Eye Blind &
Dashboard Confessional
June 4
Chastain Park Amphitheater
The Rolling Stones
June 9
Bobby Dodd Stadium
Kenny Chesney
June 13
Georgia Dome
AWOLNATION
June 13
The Tabernacle
This summer, Atlanta will be home to dozens of performers, willing
to face the heat of a July in Georgia at venues all around the city. Be sure to
mark your calendars for the following show times to catch everything from
the latest hits to unforgettable classics before school starts back. Photos
from wikipedia.com, shinedown.com, and falloutboys.com.
Imagine Dragons
July 14
Philips Arena
Lana Del Rey
June 14
Aaron’s Amphitheater at
Lakewood
Boys of Zummer Tour
July 17
Aaron’s Amphitheater at
Lakewood
Juicy J
June 25
The Tabernacle
Def Leppard
June 28
Aaron’s Amphitheater at
Lakewood
Lady Antebellum
July 18
Aaron’s Amphitheater at
Lakewood
Vans Warped Tour
July 2
Aaron’s Amphitheater at
Lakewood
Kid Rock
July 19
Aaron’s Amphitheater at
Lakewood
17
Toby Keith
July 30
Aaron’s Amphitheater at
Lakewood
Phish
July 31 & August 1
Aaron’s Amphitheater at
Lakewood
Shinedown
July 31
The Tabernacle
Nicki Minaj
August 2
Aaron’s Amphitheater at
Lakewood
PROWLER
Culture
Shake It to Sound & Color
By Mitchell Mobley
[email protected]
Roots-rock band Alabama
Shakes returns to the music scene after
three years with their newest record
Sound & Color. The album lives up
to its name; each song and transition
between songs is a flurry of full-bodied
imagery and vibrant sound. Whether
frontwoman Brittany Howard is belting out soulful lyrics or guitarist Heath
Fogg is strumming rich background
licks, Sound & Color provides nourishment for every sense.
Alabama Shakes exemplifies
the genre of Americana on Sound &
Color: the record combines blues,
soul, and garage-rock in a low-fi, folky
blend of down-home goodness that is
just plain fun to listen to. Howard’s
powerful, sonorous voice provides the
backbone of the album as with most
of Alabama Shakes’s releases. Expect
goosebumps to form on your arms the
first time you hear her titular pleading
on “Gimme All Your Love” and to find
yourself rooting for the garage-band
sound of “The Greatest.” Sound & Color hops from genre to genre without
a hitch, and Howards’s voice adapts
beautifully every time.
Sound & Color is weird in the
best way. It is a sophomoric follow-up
to the Shakes’s first release, Boys &
Girls, that seeks to probe and explore
the band’s capabilities as musicians.
Despite its ambition and seemingly-disjointed premise, Sound & Color
manages to be a cohesive and enjoyable record throughout. Every song is
different, which keeps the album exciting to the last, but every song is also
familiar, leading to an overall comfortable and enjoyable playthrough.
It’s hard to find fault in
Howards’s sultry voice that is beyond
her years, or with the accompanying
instrumentals provided by Fogg and
Zac Cockrell. Perhaps my only criti-
cism is that Howards’s lyrics are vague
and general in their nature, but this
certainly doesn’t detract from the artistry and sonic pleasure Sound & Color
provides. In the heat of “Don’t Wanna
Fight” or the warmth of “Shoegaze,” I
couldn’t care less to whom she’s referring, I just want to jam.
Sound & Color was met with
much acclaim and deserved it all. This
record has certainly earned its way
into my “new favorites” rotation, and
I doubt I’ll soon be tired of Howards’s
compelling “Gimme All Your Love,”
among others.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Better Than: Melophobia, Dream
Your Life Away
Not as Good As: Boys & Girls,
Turn Blue
You Might Also Enjoy: Lazaretto,
Fear Fun
Laurel Deserving of More Fame
By Eli Roberts
[email protected]
Laurel, a 20-year-old English
musician, has made a powerful entrance to the music industry over the
first few years of her career.
The talented young musician
has released two EPs and two singles
so far, all of which are unique and
worth a listen.
Her first EP, To the Hills was
released in March of 2014, and it definitely showed off her unique, cinematic sound and beautiful voice. The title
song, “To the Hills,” includes strong
vocals and an orchestral intro, as well
as lyrics that read like a poem.
The second song, “Nicotine
Dreams,” is similar in sound to the
first, but “Shells,” the third song, features light vocals and more simplistic
piano instrumentals.
The other tracks on the EP are
two remixes of “To the Hills.”
Laurel’s second EP, Holy Water, was released in December 2014.
Though the songs on this EP sound
somewhat simpler, her distinct style
carries through. The tracklist includes
the ambient-sounding “I Forget,” as
well as “Come Together,” featuring
British indie-pop singer-songwriter
Sivu, and other songs like “Memorial”
and “Holy Water.”
“Fire Breather” is her most recent single, and it certainly stands out.
With a hypnotic beat and sultry vocals,
it portrays the message of a destructive
relationship she just can’t seem to pull
away from.
Laurel’s style has led her to be
compared to artists like Lana Del Rey,
and she has already been signed to the
same company as Rita Ora and Ellie
Goulding this early in her career.
While her name is just beginning to get out, it is clear with her
talent, Laurel’s future in the music
18
industry will be a successful one.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Better Than: Sheezus, Run into
the Light
Not as Good as: Ultraviolence,
Lungs
You Might Also Enjoy: Paradise,
1000 Forms of Fear
At only 20-years-old, Laurel has
already paved her way to success
in the music industry. Photo
from thetimes.co.uk.
PROWLER
Culture
Boyband Due To Break Up?
By Brittany Brown
[email protected]
Thousands of self-harm cases.
Millions of hearts broken. This is the
aftermath of Zayn Malik leaving One
Direction.
Malik announced he was leaving the popular boy band March 25.
According to One Direction’s Facebook
page Malik is leaving because he wants
to be a normal 22-year-old.
Facebook also noted that the
other members of the band, Louis
Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan,
and Harry Styles, will continue as
a four member group and look forward to their upcoming concerts and
recording their fifth album, due to
be released later this year. Fans wait
anxiously to hear what the album will
sound like without Malik’s angelic
voice.
According to Twitter, following Malik’s departure, music producer
Naughty Boy leaked solo work by
Malik. He released the demo “I Won’t
Mind,” which showcases the former
One Direction star’s efforts causing
uproar among fans.
Being a die-hard fan of One
Direction myself (yes, I said it), I
felt heart-broken when I heard the
announcement that Malik had left the
band. Millions of other fans and I will
miss him singing his high notes that
were prominent in every album.
“I personally think that his
decision was selfish because he knew
the impact it would have on little
girls around the world and he did it
anyways,” said Cara Kenney, senior.
But what really inspired the
band member to get up and leave?
According to a Twitter post,
prior to Malik’s announcement, rumors were spread that he had cheated on his fiancée, a member of Little
Mix, Perrie Edwards. Hate messages
were sent to them both, and fans say
that Malik’s cheating was the reason
he left the band. Other fans say Edwards talked Malik into leaving the
band, and yet another group of fans
chooses to believe Malik’s statement
that he wants to be a normal 22-yearold. No one knows the truth; however,
stress factors into all of those categories.
“I think Zayn left One Direction because he just wanted to live a
normal, chaos-free life,” said Sadie
Bertschin, freshman.
Malik leaving the band was a
shock to almost everyone who knew
about One Direction. Most fans of
One Direction hadn’t thought of the
possibility until it actually happened.
Malik was the first one to say goodbye-- who’s next?
“Harry will leave the band
next because he can survive a solo
career. He is the most talented, and he
has the looks that the other four don’t
have,” said Taylor Grimes, junior.
Avengers Sequel Lives Up to the Hype
By Lauren Young
[email protected]
Marvel fans have been gearing
up for the highly-anticipated sequel
to The Avengers, Avengers: Age of
Ultron, which premiered May 1. Two
hours of action-packed Marvel bliss
is sure to quench the thirst of hardcore fans, although it does not stray
far from the cookie-cutter superhero
movie mold.
The movie begins with the
Avengers coming together once again
to fight off a common evil, Ultron, an
artificially intelligent robot made, accidentally, by Tony Stark. Along with
some familiar faces, new characters
are introduced throughout the movie
including The Scarlett Witch, QuickSilver, and The Vision. Even with these
new additions, the story line is not far
from the “Oh no, the world is coming
to an end,” archetype. With that being
said, saying this movie doesn’t throw
the viewer for a loop would be a flat
out lie.
Trying to beat the standard
that was set with the first movie
seemed a daunting task, but it was
handled with grace. Various comedic
breaks and the star-studded cast ensure that this movie will be a summer
box-office staple. Avengers: Age of
Ultron is a must see for anyone with a
fondness for action movies.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Better Than: Man of Steel, Thor:
The Dark World
Not as Good as: The Avengers,The Dark Knight Rises
You Might Also Enjoy: Guardians of the Galaxy, Iron Man 3
19
Avengers: Age of Ultron, which
premiered at the beginning of
May, is an amazing addition to
the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Photo courtesy of imdb.com.
PROWLER
“Try. If all else fails, cheat
better,” said Shenelle
Bridge.
Man on the Street
Seniors: if
you could
have a senior
quote, what
would it be?
“Disregard females. Acquire currency,” said James
Jones.
“You need honey to attract
flies, but you need to be fly
to attract the honeys,” said
Jason Lin.
“I’m too rosy for this,” said
Ally Adams.
“I miss Mrs. Hurtte, my English mom,” said Jim Vu.
“Do whatever. Be whatever.
It’s whatever,” said Adrianna Fluker.
“Like wildflowers, you must
allow yourself to grow in all
the places people thought
you never would,” said Jordan Gilbert.
“If your only goal in life is to
be rich, then it won’t happen,” said Austin
Williams.
20