The Tyrian
Transcription
The Tyrian
The tyrian Vol. 1 • No. 2 Mifflin County High School Friday, March 30, 2012 [email protected] Behind the Scenes New fall sports Huskies around the world Girls’ tennis, Cheerleading Page 5 Page 2 MCHS Drama Production Page 7 Students stand ready in case of emergency By TYRIAN STAFF LEWISTOWN – A fire or rescue vehicle streaking by, lights flashing, sirens blaring. Or those personal vehicles, a pulsing blue light on the dash— the ones you instinctively pull over to the side of the road for to let pass because someone, somewhere needs help. Ever wonder who might be in one of those vehicles? Ever think he or she might be someone your age, someone you might pass every day in the halls? Or, have you ever considered the possibility that one of your classmates might one day answer an emergency call made on your behalf or on behalf of someone you love? Ten MCHS students recently discussed their involvement as volunteers with emergency firefighting and medical service units. Some come from families with long histories of volunteer service. Others do not. Some want to pursue related careers. Others do not. Different from one Tyrian photo by FINNIAN SAYLOR another in many ways, they are L-R: Seth Snook, Hunter Snook, Megan Leeper, Kyle Kenepp, Matt Chester. Absent when photo was taken: Adaire Pomeroy, Bruce Mann, Jonathon Chester, Jared Lynch. alike in ways that matter— all have a desire to help others, to had noticed that it had entered our response smashed into a small sedan carrying a fam- listen to anyone in the ambulance but me. give back to the community, and area. About five minutes after we had ily to dinner. I was the only one that could find out what to continue their service throughout their started listening, a report came over the “At that time, we had six patients, was wrong with her. adult lives. two of whom were deceased, and two of “I will never forget the look on Below they shared their insights, scanner that the person being chased had crashed head on into another car at a high whom were in need of immediate transport. that little girl’s face as we took her to the their experiences and a little about themrate of speed. “We took a small girl, who had helipad. selves. “We immediately responded to the been in the back seat of the car and had ●●● “My parents and I had been listen- scene of the crash and found that the person received a concussion. What makes this so being chased was driving a truck and had memorable is that the little girl wouldn’t See Student firefighters / Page 5 ing to a police chase on the scanner and Friends in need: MCESF donates to high school media classes By BEN FOWLER Tyrian staff writer LEWISTOWN - The Mifflin County Education and Scholarship Foundation (MCESF) recently provided a $23,000 grant to purchase 65 new televisions for the Mifflin County High School. Formerly called MC2000, the foundation funded the original media studios at Indian Valley and Lewistown Area high schools. The recent grant demonstrates its continued commitment to that area of the curriculum. The mission of MCESF is twofold: to promote academic achievement and career readiness and to provide educational grants to schools and teachers in Mifflin County. “Our purpose is to provide assistance to grow and promote further education of Mifflin County students,” says Jeff Gum, president and CEO of MCESF, who also sits on the board of directors. MCESF relies on funding from individuals and businesses in the com- Hot off the press The first issue of The Tyrian runs off The Sentinel presses in early February. MCESF awarded a $2,000 grant to the MCHS journalism class to launch this year’s student paper. It will also cover the cost of producing four issues of The Tyrian’s mini pages. The mini pages target grades 3-5 and focus on local history. Jeff Gum (right) of MCESF presents a $23,000 grant to Supt. James Estep (far left) and Principal Mark Crosson (center). munity. All positions at the foundation are voluntary. The new televisions are a major asset to the MCHS media program. Principal Mark Crosson says, “You can’t have a state-of-the-art TV studio without having TVs to broadcast to the students.” Additionally, other departments will be able to watch news channels and educational programming. For example, the TVs will allow social studies classes to watch election coverage. Television is an important tool for communication in the visual age in which we live. Under the direction of Roger Herto, MCHS media teacher, and Matt Moore of One Stop Communications, installation of the sets is currently in progress. Soon all classrooms will have them. Installation is a slow process because only four rooms in the high school were wired properly for televisions, says Herto. Herto and Moore must run new cable lines and AC MCHS Variety Showcase: Tyrian photos by KATIE SPECHT power lines in the ceilings. Depending on the configuration of the room, installing a television may take 20 minutes to an hour. The $23,000 grant paid for all of the televisions. Purchased from Best Buy, they are 1080 dpi 32-inch flat screens. The school district is covering the cost of extension cords and labor. The year MCESF also helped to fund the Robotics Club, which is part of the STEM program. Furthermore, they have annual scholarship programs for students. The TV grant, Crosson says, is “an excellent example of the community and the school working together.” more details on Page 3 Tyrian photos by FINNIAN SAYLOR People 2-Lewistown, PA Friday, March 30, 2012 Beyond our borders King still helping Zambia By BEN FOWLER Tyrian staff writer Nathan King’s involvement with the teachers’ college in Serenje, Zambia, during his service in the Peace Corps from 1998 to 2000 prompted his interest in teaching. This May, the MCHS biology teacher is helping to organize the Greenwood Challenge, a half-marathon that benefits Self-Empowerment through Education (SEED). King was one of three Peace Corps volunteers who established the non-profit after returning from Zambia. The volunteer-operated program provides four scholarships every two-year cycle to students who attend the Malcolm Moffat College of Education. SEED sponsors Zambian students, particularly women, who show exceptional potential but lack the financial resources to attend college. SEED not only empowers the students who attend college, but it also allows them to become teachers and to educate other Zambians. King says this approach is more beneficial and sustainable than simply sending money because corrupt leaders often squander the funds, and the people who need aid do not receive it. “You can’t take someone’s education,” King explains. Regarding education, King says, “There’s a thirst for knowledge in Africa. They want to learn from us so badly… They think we have the answers to everything.” Peace Corps Years Of his service in the Peace Corps, King says volunteers pick a region to serve, but their specific location is assigned. “I picked Africa because it’d be the wildest, most different place to go.” Adapting to Zambian culture was difficult. King spent three months in a training camp to learn the language and culture. The language, called Bemba, is “incredibly difficult to learn.” King said learning Spanish in high school was helpful because both languages require conjugating. Culturally, the rural Zambians are relaxed; there are 50 ways to say hello, for example, and people often stop during the Nathan King during his Peace Corps days in Zambia day and chat; punctuality is not as important there as it is in America. Furthermore, it took a while for King to become accustomed to the food—fish heads are a delicacy there, and the low-protein, high-carb diet resulted in all of the male Corps workers losing weight and their female counterparts gaining. King conformed to Zambian ways for the most part, but he broke a cultural taboo by working with women in the fields. Zambian men do not work with women. King’s primary project was Rural Aquaculture Promotion, a program that established aquaculture to provide fish to the landlocked, proteindeficient country of Zambia. Submitted photo hicles on treacherous roads constitute a high risk for accidents. King described his experience as “life changing”. He hopes one day to return to Zambia for a year with his wife and children and to teach at the teachers’ college. Describing the Zambians, King says, “They have so little, but they’re happier than most Americans.” To read more about Seed of Knowledge or the Greenwood Furnace Challenge, consult the following links: He taught local, rural farmers how to raise fish. The program addressed the need for food as well as the poaching issues re- http://www.seedofknowledge. sulting from a lack of protein. org/Default.htm King was able to witness http://www.greenwoodfurnacthe effects of the program. “I went etrailchallenge.com/ back for a 10-year Greenwood Furnace Trail Challenge anniversary to see all the farmers, and Benefits: SEED (Self-Empowerment through they’re not wealthy, Education); Big Brothers Big Sisters of ‘but they have a back- Centre County; Mifflin County Huskies’ High up source of protein.” School Wrestling Team. A l t h o u g h When: May 6, 2012 King was bluff- Registration: Ends April 6, 2012, register charged by an ele- online at http://www.greenwoodfurnacphant, he said that rid- etrailchallenge.com/ or by mail ing in a vehicle was Where: Greenwood Furnace State Park the most dangerous What: Approx. 13 miles of rock gardens, experience. The rick- mud and some nasty scrambling. ety, fast-moving ve- Senior on mission trip to India By PATRICK TRAXLER Tyrian contributing writer Editor’s note: Senior Patrick Traxler spent Jan. 23 to Feb. 2 in India as a medical missionary. His team’s primary role was to set up medical checkup camps in impoverished areas. Following is a first-person account of his trip. Submitted photos Above: Patrick Traxler is pictured with some of the children he helped in India. Right: a couple of the village children. INDIA – The experiences I encountered during my stay for our medical camps were so life changing. The effect the trip had on me really just made me appreciate the United States a lot more. The slums we went into were nothing like any living conditions I have seen here in the United States. They covered an area of about three or four football fields with little tents made of sticks, cloths, tarps and anything else that the people could find in the garbage dumps. These people had nothing, so if you think you kids have it bad here, try going there once. Girls were being sold as sex slaves. Living the way they do, it was hard to see. I really took a liking to the kids in one particular village. They were so happy, and nothing could change that. There was this kid playing in the streets with an old bike tire, and he had the biggest smile on his face. I just couldn’t understand it. I pondered on that the whole time I was in this village, and finally I felt God say to me, “They know true happiness through Me.” I mostly just did work in the pharmacy, but I prayed for people as they left. These two little boys came into the pharmacy where I had worked pretty much the whole time, and the younger of the two was the happiest kid I have ever seen. Honestly, I just wanted to bring him back to the United States with me and have him live here, but I was reminded of something by a pastor friend of mine living in a foreign land as a full-time missionary: if you brought home every kid that you wanted to bring home, they would lose the mindset of their true happiness. Their true happiness would then be measured in the kind of house they live in, the car they ride in, the number of video games they have or the type of clothes they wear. That is not the way true happiness is measured over in India! It again goes back to God saying to me that they have true happiness from Him.” Study abroad: A changed Moore returns from school year in the Netherlands By SURUCHI SHETH Tyrian staff writer Imagine leaving your school after your sophomore year, not realizing that it won’t be there when you get back. Not only that, but that several major aspects of the life you knew would be drastically altered. Senior Patric Moore experienced just this as he traveled to the Netherlands as an exchange student for the duration of his junior year. When he arrived in the Netherlands, he was a stranger in a strange land. Returning to the states, he was a virtual stranger in his home town. Moore had left as an Indian Valley Warrior and had come back as a Mifflin County Husky. That, however, was not the only change. “Most of my friends got jobs and cars, and I actually came back to living in a different house because my family moved while I was gone,” he says. He’s adjusted to the changes and says he would do it again. “There isn’t a day that goes by where I haven’t thought about being back in the Netherlands.” His time there was exciting. He learned to ski in the Alps in Austria (which was his favorite experience), sailed on the North Sea, attended many great soccer (known there as football) matches, and started kickboxing as a hobby. In visiting 12 countries, he toured some major cities, among them Berlin, Barcelona, Paris, and Rome. “It was cool to actually see some of the things that we see in pictures or read about, like the Eiffel Tower, Berlin Wall, and the Coliseum.” What he misses most is hard for him to limit: “There isn’t any one thing that I can say that I really miss. I miss everything—the food, people, friends, families, being able to travel, and definitely the parties.” How different was his life in Europe? His school schedule differed considerably from what we are used to at MCHS. For example, he did not always have class during all eight periods. On Wednesdays, for instance, his first class wasn’t until 4th period English. Other days he was done after 6th period. He was even able to leave the school early to go into town after his last class; he didn’t have to remain at school till after eighth period. “At first I liked the schedule that we have here, but the more I thought about it and lived through it, the schedule I had in the Netherlands was a lot better, and there are studies that show that Dutch students actually perform better and have better test scores than Americans.” Unfortunately, not all of his credits as an exchange student were transferrable to MCHS. Moore has had to take a few junior-level classes this year in order to graduate. His home life abroad, however, was similar to family life here. Moore lived with three different families during the course of his exchange, which he says had its advantages and disadvantages. “It was nice because I was able to see how different families live and act. The one family went skiing, and another one was part of a yacht club. Each family was also different because of their children. However, it was always difficult switching families, though, because by the time I started to become close to them, I had to switch and start all over again.” Although Dutch teens have pastimes similar to American teens’, the regulations on them differ. See MOORE / Page 3 Patric Moore was able to learn how to ski in the Alps in Austria. Submitted photo School 3-Lewistown, PA Friday, March 30, 2012 Getting to know Student teachers in profile By TYRIAN STAFF LEWISTOWN - Four Penn State students are spending the spring semester at MCHS. They are putting to practical use in their high school classrooms what they learned in their college classes. Aspiring educators, they are serving as student teachers with the following teachers: English, Martin Byrne with Randy Fluke and Luke Skerpon with Gary Ishler; Spanish, Andrew Davidson with Sharon Wilson and Andrea Appel with Pat Yoder. To get to know them a little better as people, not just in their role as student teachers, the Journalism class sought their responses to the following questions. Tyrian photo by FINNIAN SAYLOR L to R: Andrea Appel, Andrew Davidson, Martin Byrne, Luke Skerpon How has the actual teaching experience differed, if at all, from your expectations? Byrne: In high school, I never appreciated how hard it is to be a great teacher. One difficulty that I never understood was the amount Hometown and high school from of planning and foresight that goes which you graduated into teaching. Skerpon: Sayre, PA - Sayre Area Davidson: I didn’t think that I High School would laugh so much during my Appel: Scenery Hill, PA - Bishop classes. My students are hilariCanevin High School ous; they crack me up and make Byrne: Broomall, PA - Marple me excited to get up and teach Newtown Senior High School every day. Davidson: Bellefonte, PA - Grace Prep High School What is one possession you would have the most difficulty What do you feel are the parting with? Why? strengths you bring to the pro- Skerpon: Without a doubt, I fession? would have the most difficulty Byrne: Youth and good looks. parting with my iPhone. With my Davidson: My sparkling personal- involvement in and out of school, ity, vivacious demeanor and my I am constantly on the go. My sense of humor. iPhone allows me to have every- Davidson: The beginning of time, to me, and I would still be scared. with Adam and Eve. To both, Now, I’m afraid of clowns. Hands “Was the apple really that good?” down; they’re so terrifying. Byrne: I have an irrational fear You’re 75 and writing your about being asked about my irmemoirs -what’s the title? rational fear. Skerpon: Oh the Places I’ve Been (named after Dr. Suess’ Oh the Places You’ll Go) What’s the most useful bit of Appel: An Appel a Day… advice you’ve ever received? Given the opportunity to meet Byrne: What Happened to the Skerpon: Dream big! If you put one person from any era in Last 53 Years of My Life? your mind to anything no matter history and to ask that person Davidson: The Curse: 75 Years’ how large a goal it may be—and just one question, whom would Worth of Awkward Moments and you have a true desire to achieve you choose, and what question the Adventures They Inspired. it—no one or anything can stop would you ask? you! Give everything you want Appel: Again, there are two that What is your most irrational your all! I would love to meet: Lady Gaga fear? Appel: “Life moves pretty fast. If or John Lennon (totally opposites, Appel: When I was younger, I you don’t stop and look around I know). I would ask Lady Gaga was deathly afraid of men with once in a while, you could miss – why on Earth would you wear ponytails (which was a problem it.” –Ferris Bueller. a meat dress? I would ask John because my uncle used to have Byrne: Happiness is a choice. Lennon – what was your percep- one), and I was so afraid of people Davidson: “Speak softly and tion of the world that made you singing Happy Birthday. They carry a big stick.”— Theodore write the music the way you did? didn’t even have to be singing it Roosevelt thing I need with me at all times. Apps for email, internet, social media, books/reading, a notepad, music, video and audio conferencing, weather, and more – wherever I go, I have my iPhone with me at all times in order to be connected and available (except during school hours, of course). Moore encourages others to go abroad MCHS Talent Showcase continued from Page 2 Dutch teens, for instance, cannot drive till 18, but this does not affect them as it would teens here. They do not need cars to get to where they’re going. Because the landscape is flat, it’s easy for them to travel around the country on bikes. And while the driving age is higher there than in America, the drinking age is lower, 16. Moore says Dutch teens enjoy the party atmosphere. Dutch opinion of Americans in general isn’t flattering. Moore explains, “The Dutch have very liberal viewpoints and opinions, but typical things they would say are that Americans are fat, lazy and only care about themselves. They don’t like how we get involved in so many conflicts around the world either. However, many people love to visit America because the people here are very nice and helpful.” Moore isn’t only in a completely different environment after his year as an exchange student, he is also a completely different person. “I find it easier to talk to people, and I always look at things differently. I don’t judge people as much either.” Studying abroad is not common among students in our district. April 28, 1995 A variety show 7 p.m. Saturday, April 28 MCHS Auditorium Tickets: Students, $5 (advance tickets $3.50) Adults, $7.50 Benefit: MCHS Class of 2014 Submitted photo Moore encourages anyone, whether in high school or college, to try it. “There is so much more besides Mifflin County. Before I went to the Netherlands, I thought that a year would feel like forever, but before I knew it, I was back on an airplane coming home.” He added that if anyone is interested in looking into becoming an exchange student, he will talk to them about how to get the process started and what to expect along the way. Dylan A. Follmer Attention: Students, faculty, staff! Do you sing? Dance? Juggle? Play an instrument? Have a band? Do standup? Act? We want to showcase your talent. Feb. 23, 2012 Those were the days friend We had it all And these are the times I got so much more Always remember me --Lyrics from “Always Remember Me” Remembering Dylan A tribute to Junior Dylan Follmer, the graphic at left is a custom design representing items and activities his friends immediately associate with him. Several have it tattooed on their skin. Those below opted to have it printed on T-shirts, a means of memorializing Dylan that many others around school have adopted as well. L to R: Brooke Riden, Katey Cramer, Eric Brought, Madison Bratton, Morgan Harpster, James Wilburn Sign up in Room B301 Sports 4-Lewistown, PA Friday, March 30, 2012 Searer a bronze medalist at states Tyson Searer, the first Husky to medal at the PIAA State Tournament in Hershey, finished 3rd in the 220-pound weight class. The senior placed 1st in the District 6 Tournament and the Northwest Regional Tournament. Earlier in the season, he took 1st place at the King of the Mountain Tournament. After the season, Searer won the Rod Tate Award. Lucas Besch placed 3rd at the Northwest Regional Tournament to qualify for the PIAA state tournament at the 126-pound weight class. He also placed 3rd at the the District 6 Tournament. Additionally, Brandon Michael, Harry Lowber and Joe Knarr qualified for regionals. Overall, the team finished with an impressive record of 18-5. Coach Kirby Martin says, “This year’s group of kids did an outstanding job of building team unity, working hard and setting the tone for future Husky teams.” Sentinel photos Above: Tyson Searer wrestles with Exeter’s Jeo Giorgio in their 220-pound first-round match at the PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Championships. Right: Lucas Besch battles with Garrett Brown of DuBois in a 145-pound match at the Northwest Regional Class AAA wrestling championships. Girls’ basketball earns district playoff berth Boys advance to district title, state tourney After an excellent first year, the girls’ basketball season ended for the Huskies with a 60-53 loss to State College in the District 6 Class AAAA semifinals. They finished 18-5, which is especially commendable considering that this was their first season as a team. Logan Snyder, who was second on the team in scoring, won the Jenna Feathers Award for the second time in her career. The boys’ basketball team finished its inaugural season 17-8 overall. After beating DuBois 48-42 in the first district playoff game, they lost to State College 59-30 in the district championship. The Huskies still qualified for the state tournament. Their season ended there with a loss to Seneca Valley 53-33. Seth Wagner won the 2012 Harry Rothrock/Dick Webber Award. Sentinel photo Sentinel photo Chris Wilson (12) drives against DuBois’ defender Mark Felix during the District 6 Class AAAA semifinals. Whitney Corbin (11) jumps for a shot against Bellefonte. Winter track stars medal at states Zach Moon and Marissa Long, each competing in the 800, medaled at the PTFCA Indoor track and field state championships at Penn State University in February. They are the first track medalists in MCHS history. Moon placed 7rd with a time of 1:56.35. He qualified for the New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York City. Unfortunately, Moon was too ill to compete at nationals on March 9. Long’s impressive time of 2:15.86 earned her a 5th-place finish overall. Sentinel photo Megan Becker competes in the girls 200 Medley Relay at the District 6/9 championships at the McCoy Natatorium at University Park. Swimmers finish 3rd at district meet At districts, the girls' 400 freestyle relay team of Mikala Britt, Megan Becker, Jenna Kile and Sarah Bonson finished 3rd with a time of 4:08.64. The girls’ swim team finished with a record of 7-3 at the swim meets, and the boys went 4-6. Coach Connie Welsch says, “I believe everyone had a great season filled with learning and fine-tuning the strokes, competing in all of the events, qualifying for Districts, and establishing new friendships.” Zach Moon (left) and Jon Colwell (right) run in the mile at Penn State University. Sentinel photo Spring athletes practicing Tyrian photos by FINNIAN SAYLOR Sports 5-Lewistown, PA Friday, March 30, 2012 New This Fall Tennis: Hendricks wins one for the girls Girls to have own team By FINNIAN SAYLOR Tyrian staff writer Tennis player Samantha Hendricks lost a tough individual match last fall. Her opponent was not another player but PIAA rules. Always a competitor, she bounced back quickly and won a big one for the team— a team that did not yet exist. Thanks to Hendricks’ tenacity, the Mifflin County School District will be fielding its first-ever girls’ tennis team in the fall. Background Introduced to the sport by her father, Hendricks has been playing tennis since seventh grade. Because the district did not offer girls’ tennis, Hendricks has been playing on the boys’ team and has been an asset to that team. At the boys’ regional competition last season, she placed eighth in her singles match, and she and her doubles partner David Boozel placed sixth in doubles. Named to the Mountain League second team all stars in boys’ tennis last year, she also earned the LAHS School Panther Athlete award for tennis. Boys’ tennis is a spring sport, girls’ tennis a fall sport. Last fall, wanting to see how well she could perform against other females in a more equally matched contest, Hendricks asked Mifflin County School District Athletic Director Matt Shoemaker whether he could enter her in the girls’ tennis district playoffs in October. In the process, they discovered that if she were to play in the girls’districts, it would be considered under PIAA rules as the equivalent of playing an Tyrian photos by FINNIAN SAYLOR Samantha Hendricks (above) during a recent practice session for the boys’ tennis team. Below: Olivia Runk, Olivia Carter and Kaylee Knouse practice at the net. The girls look forward to having a team of their own next fall. entire season of the sport. She would then be ineligible to play on the boys’ team this spring—the only tennis team Mifflin County High School offered at the time. This is because PIAA rules do not permit an athlete to play two seasons of the same sport in the same school year. Informed of this, and still wanting the same opportunity that the boys have to play against their own gender in a district tournament, she took action. Taking action Hendricks wrote to Dean Rossi, chairman of the Dis trict Six Tennis Advisory Board, requesting a waiver that would allow her to compete in the girls’ tennis districts and still play on lowing day. She was unable to attend that meeting due to a conflicting volleyball game. Because Hendricks did not appear at the state meeting to request a waiver, she was unable to compete in the girls’ tourney on Oct. 7. the boys’ team this spring. This waiver would not have granted her the right to participate the boys’ districts as well as the girls’. She presented her case to the District Six board on Wednesday, Oct. 5, two days before the girls’ tournament. The board expressed its support but indicated it did not have authority to grant waivers and advised Hendricks to take her case to the state level by attending the next PIAA state meeting scheduled for the fol- A team of their own There was always next year. With Shoemaker’s help, Hendricks set out to establish girls’ tennis as a sport in the Mifflin County School District. This would afford female players a better chance at gaining a spot on a team that would allow them to compete against other girls. Shoemaker took the proposal to the board in January. When he left, the girls had a team of their own. Competition squad cheering new status By FINNIAN SAYLOR Tyrian staff writer LEWISTOWN - The MCHS competition cheerleading squad has something to cheer about. Competition cheerleading will be an official MCHS sport beginning with the 2012-2013 winter sports season. The sport will be recognized at the high school level only. The PIAA had been contemplating whether to classify cheerleading as a sport since 2011, and with its official stamp of approval, the sport is now being implemented in high schools across Pennsylvania. Coach Rachel Corson welcomes the change in status, saying cheerleading deserves the sports classification, “It’s extremely physically demanding.” In its inaugural season at MCHS this year, competition cheerleading was classified as an activity. Corson says the new status as a sport will result in some major changes. As an activity, the squad had to turn to its treasury to pay the cost of tournament registration and travel to those tournaments. The district will now pay those costs. As do other sports, though, cheerleading will be required to pay the mandatory athletic dues. Members of the squad will also have to complete the necessary medical form to the meet requirements set by both the Mifflin County School District and the PIAA, something they did not have to do as an activity. This has the added advantage of the same level of access to the school trainer that other sports enjoy—as an activity they did not have the same rights to medical attention as sports have. Another major change will be in the nature of the competition. This year, they competed against other teams representing their respective schools as well as against independent squads. Moving from activity to sport, they will now face only those squads classified as sports. Also, there is the potential for the Mifflin County High School to be the venue for a competition that its squad would host. This would bring in necessary revenue and assist in covering expenses such as registration for competitions and transportation. One of the most significant changes that could come about is one Corson says will be an especially welcome change for the squad: the conditions under which they practice. The open area stretching from the gym to the auditorium was the squad’s practice space this year. Corson says the team was always working on new moves and routines, and because their practice spot was in a high-traffic area, they felt at times as though they were on display and had to execute perfectly every time. There are a few facets of next year’s season that are still undecided. For example, the squad participated in nine competitions last year, a schedule they determined. Next year’s schedule will be determined by Matt Shoemaker, athletic director, and has not yet been set. Nor has a coach been appointed. Also competition cheerleading is a judged sport. The PIAA has not determined who will arbitrate these competitions. Still to be decided is whether the judges will be like referees and have to be certified. Corson expresses pride in the squad and the backgrounds and skills the cheerleaders bring to the sport. Some, she says, have extensive tumbling experience, while others have cheered much of their lives. Assessing the team, she says they are especially strong in the areas of dancing and stunting/pyramids and in the harmony of their movements. Tyrian photo by FINNIAN SAYLOR Opinion 6-Lewistown, PA Friday, March 30, 2012 A formal free-for-all My very own Cinderella story By ERICA GUTHRIDGE Tyrian staff writer Tyrian photo by ERICA GUTHRIDGE Cinderella’s Closet: no charge to look like a million By ERICA GUTHRIDGE Tyrian staff writer REEDSVILLE - Imagine, just before prom time, walking into a room full of scores of beautiful gowns and having the option to choose one. Free. Take it a step further: accessories are free, too. Welcome to Cinderella’s Closet. Cinderella’s Closet is a non-profit “shop” for high school girls and women in need of special-occasion dresses. Open since 2009 and located at the Church Hill United Methodist Church in Reedsville, the closet is run by Kathy Macchiaverna and Timi Narehood. Between 2009 and 2011, the closet had given away 591 dresses; that number was nearing 700 by early March this year. The closet had humble beginnings. Started by Macchiaverna, it opened with just 35 dresses. Macchiaverna has three daughters who had gone through several-special occasion dresses each; it was these dresses that were the start of the “closet”. Macchiaverna was driving on Route 80 through Williamsport when she heard a radio advertisement for a “Cinderella’s Closet”. She thought to herself what a good idea it was. She did not act on it then. About a year later, when she found herself back in Williamsport again, she heard that same advertisement. Again, she did nothing about it. It wasn’t until a pastor at Church Hill Manor Methodist Church was preaching a sermon on how one should live your life helping people. The pastor said that God sends you subtle hints to do things. She decided this was her sign to do something about the ads she had heard. She asked the pastor about starting a Cinderella’s Closet at their church. From there it was a go. Each year, dresses are donated to the “closet”, and Macchiaverna and Narehood clean them up and perform any repairs that need to be done. All of the dresses provided at Cinderella’s Closet are free, and there is a wide variety styles, sizes and colors. Although typically associated with prom, Cinderella’s Closet is not limited just to promstyle gowns. (Note: My sister just recently found two gorgeous matching dresses for her bridesmaids to wear in her upcoming wedding. Macchiaverna also The Let Down List They’re the little things. They come at those moments when we’re all gas and giggles about something that’s about to happen, only it doesn’t. Life’s little ironies. The letdowns. Sigh… By DYLAN CROSSON Tyrian contributor • The realization that you have been pulling on a door that is labeled push for five minutes. • Your parents buy peanut butter pre-mixed with jelly. • Home Alone 3. • You wake up Thursday morning thinking it’s Friday. • When people post their schedule for the day on Facebook. The Tyrian Established 2011 The Tyrian is a student newspaper published four times a year by The Sentinel, 352 Sixth St., Lewistown, PA 17044. The offices of The Tyrian are located at Mifflin County High School, 501 Sixth St. Lewistown, PA 17044. Mark A. Crosson ……………….……..... Publisher Natalie Love ………………………...…...... Adviser Ben Fowler……………………... Managing Editor Selina Roman-White …………..…… News Editor Suruchi Sheth.…....Creative and Technical Editor Office Location Mifflin County High School 501Sixth St., Lewistown, PA 17044 Office is open 8 a.m.-4p.m. Monday-Friday Phone (717) 242-0240 Fax (717) 447-2600 [email protected] spoke of how she had provided a mother and daughters with dresses for one of the daughter’s quienceañera.) In addition to the array of gowns, there is a selection of shoes, accessories and formalwear purses. Visitors to the closet come not just from the Lewistown region but also from other local areas including Bellefonte, Midd-West, Huntingdon and Mount Union. LEWISTOWN - Prom season is a stressful time of the school year, especially for us girls. We have to find a date, locate a cool ride and pin-point our perfect dress . For most of us, the search starts early. I started looking for dresses during my sophomore year because I was so anxious to go to prom. After about a year of searching, junior year came around, and I found myself stuck in a rut. As a high school student with a minimum-wage job, who had just bought a car and had a hefty phone bill to pay each month, I was struggling for money. Buying that dream dress didn’t seem to be in my cards. When I had lost all hope, my aunt introduced me to Cinderella’s Closet. I had heard of it before but never thought too much about it. I had just assumed that PROM 2012 When: May 19 at MCHS Where: Mifflin County High School Cost: $30/ person, $50/couple (Tickets must be purchased in advance; no night-of prom sales) Protocols • Non-school guests must be registered at time of ticket purchase must present ID badge at the door on prom night or -will be denied access to the school may not be over the age of 20 on day of prom must have earned high school diploma, not GED must be at least a junior if still in high school • The night of prom, all school rules must be observed. • No re-entry is permitted. NOTE: Parking for prom and promenade will be addressed closer to May. Address any prom-related questions to advisers Heather Palm or Sunderland or consult your fellow students in Prom Committee. Erica Guthridge and Clayton Peachey they were tacky gowns that my mother would have worn to prom (circa 1970). But I caved in and gave Cinderella’s Closet a chance. Arriving at Cinderella’s Closet, I saw an overwhelming amount of dresses. With some patience and help from the women who run the closet, I began trying on dresses. I tried at least 20 gowns in order to find my perfect match, something I was very determined to do. As cliché as it is, the very last dress I tried on was the one that stole my heart. My aunt had been pointing me toward pretty pastels, and long flowing dresses. As a “joke”, I tried on a short, hot pink, sequin-covered dress. I danced my way out of the dressing room in this seemingly ridiculous dress (compared to the previous ones I had tried on). My aunt just stood there in awe. This, she assured me, was my perfect dress. Prom is hard on your wallet, no doubt. But I found a way around spending hundreds of dollars on just one night of my life. It’s not a terrible thing to spend money if you can, or if you really want to. But how much you pay for that one night doesn’t determine how much fun you’re going to have. I paid less than 20 dollars for everything that encompassed my prom night. I had the time of my life. Our Opinion Former tanner sheds light on UV radiation dangers By ERICA GUTHRIDGE Tyrian staff writer LEWISTOWN - Tanned skin is in. We feel the need to tan for prom, weddings, the poolside/beach or other “special events”. Studies suggest that bronze skin is more attractive to the eye than pale. A former “tanner”, I understand the reasons people want to tan. Tanning is relaxing, and it’s nice to be tan because you do feel a lot “prettier”. But tanning is a habit, and one that’s hard to break. I started tanning at age 11 and continued going to a tanning bed at least once a week until I was 16. I was very unaware of what I was doing to myself, and it’s scary when you find out the truth. Tanning businesses convince you that they’re just as safe as the sun. What they’re really saying is they’re just as harmful. It’s important to take precautions when in the sun: wear sunblock, hats and protective clothing. This is especially important if you have pale skin, light hair, freckles/moles, or you are prone to sunburn. What are you sacrificing when you tan your skin, whether by natural sunlight or in a tanning booth? According to aad.org,, on an average day in the United States, more than 1 million people are tanning in salons. Tanning beds usually use more UVA rays than UVB rays. Although UVA rays aren’t as harsh as UVB rays, the wavelengths are longer; therefore, they penetrate deeper through the skin’s layers than UVB (livestrong.com). Tanning beds and sun lamps generally emit 93% to 99% UVA radiation, increasing the benefits of a tan, which is three times the UVA radiation given off by the sun (Vanderbilt.edu). The American Academy of Dermatology has determined that there is no safe UV ray, and the American Cancer Society has concluded that tanning beds are equally dangerous when compared to natural sunlight. While tanning does enhance the skin’s ability to produce Vitamin D, that is not sufficient argument that tanning is healthy. There are better ways of providing yourself with adequate Vitamin D (i.e. eating healthy and supplements), so “getting your vitamins” shouldn’t be your excuse to tan. This is one of those situations when you may think you’re helping yourself when, in reality, you’re harming yourself. Tanning may make you more attractive right now (or at least feel more attractive), but the long-term effects are frightening. The World Health Organization (WHO) has released studies indicating exposure to UV radiation during indoor tanning causes damage to the DNA in the skin cells. Indoor tanning can also lead to premature wrinkles or age spots. Bigger risks include: suppression of a properly functioning immune system and eye damage such as cataracts and ocular melanoma. The biggest risk associated with tanning, though, is skin cancer. The deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma is increasing faster in females 15 to 29 years old than in males of the same age; this has been linked to tanning. The more you tan, the higher the risk of developing melanoma— the use of sunbeds before the age of 35 is associated with a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma (WHO). Break the habit. You’ll thank yourself later in life when you have nice, smooth young skin and are free of skin discoloration, skin cancer and eye problems. Arts & Entertainment 7-Lewistown, PA Friday, March 30, 2012 February 2012 Drama Club Production: The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens Behind the scenes Submitted photo by PAUL SEAY Seay sets stage for Drama Club murder mystery By BEN FOWLER Tyrian staff writer Some people are gifted book learners. Others are handson craftsmen who can skillfully create objects and art with their hands. Bill Seay is talented enough to do both when he creates a set for the Drama Club; he can simultaneously read a play and visualize the setting and later build the set. Seay has been woodworking since seventh-grade wood shop, which was his favorite class. When his wife, Maggie Tyrian photo by KATIE SPECHT Set designer Bill Seay stains staircase. Seay, became a teacher, Bill was able to transition to woodworking full time. (Mrs. Seay currently teaches English and drama at Mifflin County High School and is adviser to the Drama Club which produces the annual school play.) When his wife took on the Indian Valley High School drama position in the ‘90s, he began building props and parts of the set with Dan Wilson, wood technology instructor, who was in charge of building sets at the time. By the third year, Bill had assumed the role. Bill has developed a system for building the sets. First, he reads the selected play and collaborates with his wife to get an idea of the setting, actor movements and necessary props. Then, he makes scale drawings of the various sets. Next, he builds the sets. They spend an evening taping out the locations of the pieces on the stage. Finally, they work out the bugs. Every play is unique, and some sets are more difficult to build than others. “The more locations you have to portray, the more difficult the set is to create,” he says. For example, Les Miserable was one of the most challenging sets because of its complicated parts, such as the barricades. The Boyfriend required creative designs as well, including movable flats and a lifeguard chair on wheels. Bill is particularly proud of his work with A Tale of Two Baker back to assist LEWISTOWN – When then-senior Amanda Rhodes was entering her last year as a student at Indian Valley, Maggie Seay was beginning her first as a teacher at the high school: “I was in her first drama class (the good part of it, not the part that she thinks of immediately!) She was so passionate about what she was doing; I really respected and admired that.” That was their “dramatic” beginning; it didn’t end there. Amanda (Rhodes) Baker returned to Indian Valley years later as an English teacher, and once again there was drama between them. “When I began teaching at IV, I gravitated toward Mrs. Seay as sort of an unofficial mentor. I volunteered to help with auditions and anything else she needed. Then when Mrs. (Mary) Ford retired, they asked me to step in, and I’ve been trying to fill her very large shoes ever since.” For the past three years, Baker has been serving as Seay’s assistant director. In that capacity, she is heavily involved with the planning and producing of each season. Additionally, she assists with fund raising “and anything else I can do to make Mrs. Seay’s job easier.” Her first production as assistant was Agatha Christy’s Witness for the Prosecution. Cities, another set with multiple locations. A working guillotine and the Bastille doors were two complicated props he designed and built for that show. He also created sets to portray the Deferge Tavern, the Town Square, Manette’s cell and the ship crossing the English Channel. His favorite element of set building is “the staircases. I love making stairs.” On average, Bill devotes about 110 hours to a set project with up to 40 hours of additional help. Bill has recruited help in the past from locals Bob Ford and Andy White and, this year, retired IVHS teacher Greg Evans. Behind the Scenes She describes that expe They work in the shadrience as “baptism by fire! Lookows to ensure everything is ing back I wish I could teach my just right for those in the spotold self all the things I know now light. They design and build that would have made my life and sets, run lines, gather and place Mrs. Seay’s life easier. But it’s all props, adjust the lights to set a learning process. the mood, create the look that “In five years, I will transforms actor into charprobably look back on The Plot acter. The techies, the crew. Like Gravy Thickens and think of Meet the people on all the things I wish I would have whom the spotlight doesn’t shine. done with the props!” Moving to MCHS last fall presented its own exciting challenges, due to what Baker describes as the “sheer size and possibility of the new stage,” a state-of-the-art facility which Seay helped to design. The most challenging Submitted photo by PAUL SEAY year to date, though, was the Assistant director Amanda Baker and Director Maggie Seay 2010-2011 school year, her second season as assistant. The year no move. The board’s decision when we let the curtain fall.” held both logistical and emotional to consolidate put that concern to It had been a great run. challenges. rest. The curtain would rise Submitted photos by PAUL SEAY When the school year The far bigger challenge again—on a new season, a new Kelsee Russler and Kim Dutcher have their makeup done by Erica Guthridge. began, the configuration of the was the bittersweet that accompa- and modern stage, a new era. school district was still uncertain. nies the end of an era. She recalls, And as she was in her That left open for a time “At the end of the season, we had high school days when Seay was the possibility that IVHS would to say goodbye to our seniors, our in her first year at the old school, be relocating to the new building stage, and I had to say good Baker was here when Seay began in mid December. bye to the memories I had created her first year at the new one: run “We thought we were in the space since my own high ning lines for auditions, hanging going to have to move mid seaschool days.” curtains, raising money, anything son, and we didn’t know how we Those are treasured to make Seay’s job a bit easier. were going to do that with a full memories. “It was wonderful production.” to be with Mrs. Seay when she Becca Casner and Randa Garret help to That meant crafting a started her journey on the stage so --HANNAH KLINE contributed transform Courtney Bickel and Rachel Jost into character. plan that would work, move or many years before and to be there to this article Cast and Crew Yoder sets the mood Submitted photo by PAUL SEAY Front L-R: Mackenzie Brownsberger, Allison Rhodes, Jenn Kline, Hannah Kline, Janie Shaffer, Becca Casner, Erica Guthridge, Randa Garrett, Selina Roman-White, Katie Forshey, Megan Donahey, Katie Buffington, Miranda Shoop. Middle L-R: Rodney Patterson, Blake Yoder, Paige Spicher, Allison Eldredge, Greg McDorman, Finnian Saylor, Olivia Tunall, Nate Foster, Adaire Pomeroy, Colton Fleming. Back L-R: Dakota Macknair, Courtney Bickel, Kayla Buffington, Mike Kavala, Ashley Victoriana, Bri Varner, Ben Hain, Rachel Jost, Shana Wagner, Shannon Hoefel, Kelsee Russler, Kim Dutcher, Dylan Freemire, Tyler Shimp. Tyrian photos by KATIE SPECHT Blake Yoder is the lighting and sound technician. The audience never sees her at her post in the sound booth, but her role is important. She controls every light and sound during the performance, creating the overall mood of the show. Headsets allow her to receive light and sound cues from the stage manager. Spicher runs show As stage manager, Paige Spicher assists the director and the assistant director in running rehearsals. Duties include recording blocking, cuing the script, keeping track of rehearsal attendance, and staying on call to convey announcements from director to cast and crew. On play night, she relays sound and light cues via headset to the light/sound crew and stays on script throughout the night to assist with prompting. arts & entertainment 8-Lewistown, PA Friday, March 30, 2012 Flights of Spring Fancy Tyrian photos by FINNIAN SAYLOR Mrs. Erin Welsh’s Survey of 3-D Design students used wire to create insects. Despite the hard medium, Ashley Shawver (left) and Jenn Lake (top), both seniors, were able to transform the wire into representations of their delicate real-life counterparts-- a butterfly and dragonfly, respectively. Student firefighters and EMTs ready to respond continued from Page 1 “That image will forever be burned into my brain.” --MCHS Junior Jared Lynch, junior EMT ●●● “It was April 15, 2010. We were dispatched around 01:00 (1a.m.). We could see the glow in the sky as we drove down Main Street. I still remember our Assistant Chief looking back at our crew in the engine and saying, ‘Guys, it’s gonna be a long night!’ It certainly was. “My role was to get off the truck, hook the supply hose to the hydrant on Route 655 & Barrville Road. From there, I assisted with pulling hundreds of feet of hose to supply other companies. “As the engine pulled into the parking lot, we could tell that there was no saving the building; a failed interior attack by members of Belleville and Reedsville proved this. “Late in the morning as the fire consumed what was left of the building, I was told to pull a line and start hitting the remaining fire in the restaurant. “Fire companies from five counties responded and remained on the scene all night and most of the day, mopping up any remaining hot spots. Without a doubt, it was the largest fire I have ever—and probably will ever—respond to.” --MCHS Senior Matt Chester of the Belleville Fire Co. ●●● Adaire Pomeroy: senior An EMT, Pomeroy has volunteered with Milroy Fire & EMS for about two years, averaging about 30 hours per week at the station. Planning to be an LPN, she credits her father’s stories with her decision to become involved with the company. “My dad runs with Milroy, too, and he ran on Sunday nights. When got back from a call, he would tell us about it, but not enough to violate HIPPA.” Knowing she helped someone in the community, she says, is her reward for her service. Her other activities include Medical Careers Club, Extreme Club, Girls’Softball and Drama Club. Hunter Snook: junior In his four years as a junior member of the Yeagertown Fire Co., Snook says his most memorable experience has been working the A.J. Peachey commercial fire. “It was a long operation and a total loss. The good thing was that no one was hurt.” Putting in about 15-30 hours per week with the company, he spends his time “hanging out and doing chores around the firehouse.” Snook joined the company because he wanted to give back to the community and is considering firefighting as a possible career. In addition to many hours of training in Mods A, B and C of Essential Skills, he logs five in-house training hours in one-on-one training and book review. His other outside activities include working with MJCTC Residential Construction. Jonathon Chester: sophomore A junior member of the Belleville Fire Co. for the past six months, Chester says “the desire to help protect the community from the unexpected dangers that have touched so many” is the reason he signed up. His other activities are Boy Burnham), church youth group, hunting and fishing and spending time with friends. Patrick Traxler: senior Traxler is secretary and chaplain of McVeytown EMS at Granville and a member of City Hook and Ladder in McVeytown. He has been a junior firefighter for four years and started EMS training this year. “I always was interested in fire trucks since I was a little kid. I just always wanted to be a firefighter.” An incident he says was a reward for his service happened New Year’s Day. “I was so scared. Then realizing I could help encouraged me to continue, and I forgot how scared I was that day. I realized I want to help any way I could.” -Megan Leeper Scouts, TSA, band and youth group. Matt Chester: senior “It’s in my blood,” Chester, who since his 18th birthday is a senior member of Belleville Fire Co., says of why he volunteers. “My father has been involved in emergency services most of his life. He worked as a paramedic when I was young and continues to be a volunteer firefighter. He now works as a police officer in Mifflin County. Growing up, I would watch, and continue to watch, re-runs of the 1970s TV series, Emergency! This show and my father have inspired me to become a firefighter.” In addition to the rewards of helping other people, Chester says what he has learned through working in emergency services applies to everyday life. “Training teaches trust, teamwork, dedication, and time management. Surprisingly, some of the subjects covered in “Essentials” apply to biology, chemistry and physics classes. “Before joining the fire company and starting college plans, I never knew that some companies open their stations to college students to live for free in return for staffing a piece of apparatus.” In fact, Chester, who is heading to Shippensburg University in the fall, will be living at West End Fire Rescue Co. When he graduates, he plans to go to the University of Maryland to pursue a degree in Fire Protection Engineering and live at College Park Fire Dept. He plans to work either as a fire marshal/fire investigator or as an engineer designing fire suppression and other protecting systems in new buildings. “Wherever my career takes me, I plan to remain active in the fire service by at least volunteering.” Extracurricular activities include Boy Scouts (Eagle Scout for Troop 6 in After hours - under a full moon “I got to help save a lady in cardiac arrest. I later found out she was brought back, and I was the one who initiated CPR.” Not all his rescue memories are pleasant. About a year after he joined, he responded to a rescue in Decatur Twp. “We arrived on scene and found a car wrapped around a tree with five young occupants still in it. It was pouring rain, and we had to work to cut them all out of the car. The screams were unreal. To this day, I can still picture it.” Other activities include Outdoor Adventure Club, missions through his church and an after-school job. Bruce Mann: senior For four years Mann has been a junior firefighter with East Derry (FAME EMS). Other members of his family are members, too. His most memorable moment happened in his early days with FAME EMS. He responded to a motor vehicle accident and “all three patients were killed. This was the most memorable because it was the first fatal accident I ran.” Kyle Kenepp, sophomore Kenepp joined Belleville Fire Co. six months ago as a way to serve the community. Because he is so new to the company, his experience on rescues is still limited. Like many of his fellow firefighters, he joined to serve the community. “Knowing that someone’s home has been spared” is one of the best rewards of serving he says. Seth Snook: junior Junior firefighter Snook has been with Yeagertown for about a year and a half. Snook says he spends about 15-30 hours per week working with the company. In the time since he joined, his most memorable moment was responding to a fatality near Vira. Jared Lynch: junior Lynch has been with the McVeytown EMS since he received his worker’s permit at the age of 14. He is classified as a junior EMT. He and his parents work a 12hour shift at the station every other Friday, but regardless when a call comes in over their pagers, they respond to the opportunity to serve the community. “I grew up with my parents serving in the EMS field, and I felt called to follow in their footsteps.” Being an EMT, Lynch says, can be an emotionally and physically draining job. “It takes a special person to be able to handle the things that I often see on my job, such as broken bones, vomit, etc. “It is my hope that more kids my age will one day join the Emergency Services field. I find it a very rewarding job, and I would like to educate more people about what it is I do so that they may find an interest in doing it as well.” Megan Leeper: junior A member of the New Lancaster Valley Vol. Fire Co., Leeper has been a firefighter for three years. She spends as much of her free time as she can at the station, about 16 hours a week unless there is training or a call. Then it’s more. Her father and older sister are also with the company. She says she never imagined the rewards. “Knowing I am helping someone when they need it the most is the biggest reward. I never imagined how it would reward me emotionally, knowing I made a difference. I have also become stronger.” She remembers the fear she had on her first call. “I was so scared. Then realizing I could help encouraged me to continue, and I forgot how scared I was that day. I realized I want to help any way I could.” Leeper is considering going to college for fire science or fire engineering. Regardless whether she decides to make firefighting a career, she says she will always continue to volunteer her time in any way she can. Other activities include Science Club, Envirothon, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Saxophone Ensemble, Indoor Percussion Ensemble. “Firefighting changed my outlook on life. Now being involved in the medical side is changing my life even more. I encourage anyone to get involved in some way. “Support your volunteer fire companies; they always need more help.” Tyrian photos by FINNIAN SAYLOR