the Seaman
Seminar headphone rule causes controversy across school
4850 N.W. Rochester Rd. Topeka, KS 66617 seamannews.com It’s a GREAT day to be a Viking!
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Volume 87
playing into the holidays: Sophomores Eric Patterson and Aleks Westjord, along with senior Nick Brady and sophomore Ian Filby play a variety of winter jazz selections at this year’s Festival of Trees. Jazz I and II were the closing ensembles for the festival. (Photo by Alexis Desch)
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Dec. 15, 2017
Winter Sports Preview Page 14 Nathan Bertrand goes against Bryce Cowan at the boys scrimmage.
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Seminar travel time unfairly restricted by Kyser Dougan co-editor
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very school has issues worth addressing. Most would think the issues addressing our school are greater than when students can travel during seminar. Throughout the school year students have seen a reoccurring decrease in the amount of freedom they are given during seminar. Travel time used to begin at 9:50 a.m. Now it has moved to 10:15 a.m., leading to many of us students remaining in our seminar home room for 25 minutes before work can start. This is a big waste of time and productivity.
The only reason students can leave before the designated time is if they receive a red pass or appointment pass from a teacher. These passes are only used when students are desperately needing help or have recently missed school. This system does not help the students who are here every day and need to meet classmates to work together on assignments. Seminar is used by students to collaborate with classmates and to seek help from teachers. Because this is what the time is intended for, students should not be required to obtain a special pass. The change in time drastically lowers the amount of work that students can get done.
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After leaving at 10:15, students still only have roughly 40 minutes before they have to return at 11:05. Most students need more than this amount of time to get the help they need, especially when a teacher is busy with many students. The majority of students are productive and use the designated seminar time to their advantage. The few students who do not use this time wisely should not be the reason that the majority of responsible students are held back during what is supposed to be their own time. When there are no seminar lessons students should be allowed to travel at 9:50 in order to make full use of their time.
Editors Kyser Dougan, Lauren West Ad managers Garrett Polter, Jackson Cobb Staff Avery Bocquin, Evan Cluff, Alexis Desch, Alyssa Flower, Lauren Hren, Eli Laird, Annika Lloyd, Mason Loy, Riley Polter, Mercedes Scarbrough, Jacob Wildeman. Adviser Kelly Neiman To submit a letter to the editor, the letter must be 300 words or less in length. All correspondence must be signed. The goal of the staff is to report school and community news and suggest ideas for improvement. We welcome your opinions and will do our best to publish what you have to say. Views in this newsmagazine do not always represent those of the faculty or school board of USD 345. The Clipper reserves the right to edit or refuse publication of material that is libelous, obscene, invading privacy, infringing on copyright or disruptive to the educational process of Seaman High School.
Seminar rules cut cord on headphones during study time by Mason Loy staff writer
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or most of us, our seminar time is spent with headphones in, music playing in the background as we work on homework or study for tests. These specific background playlists tend to help students (myself included) do their work, and do it efficiently. There is a rule, however, that bans the use of headphones in seminar. This rule needs to be reconsidered. There have been many studies conducted over the effects of music on a student’s academic career. According to study.com, “Background music may improve focus on a task by providing motivation and improving mood. During long study sessions, music can aid endurance.” Music can greatly improve a student’s ability to focus on the work at hand. Of course, studies have also shown that the student’s work ethic depends on the type of music that they are listening to, but this differs from person to
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person. If students are quietly completing their homework during seminar, a period dedicated to just that, why should it matter if they are listening to music as well? Some students use the music simply to block out other distractions around them. Music is a very important tool for anyone, not just in school, but in their everyday life. It can be used to soothe anxiety, lift moods, and strengthen motivation. The positives of listening to music in school far outweigh the negatives. Besides, if a student decides that they would rather listen to music or visit with friends than do their homework, that is their loss. As someone who suffers from severe anxiety, I can say that music definitely helps me do my schoolwork. It is much easier for me to focus and complete my work than if I was not listening to music. This is the case for most people, so they should be allowed to listen to music during the designated study time.
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Fine arts students fight for spotlight, struggle to receive recognition
Mr. Brad LeDuc
Ms. Mariah Barnett
Taylor Ashley
by Avery Bocquin staff writer
(Top) And a Child Shall Lead (Left) Orchestra Students at Brownstone (Right) Advanced Studio students pose with portrait
Did you know that the theatre department is sending students to state for the first time in 20 years? Or that the art department has students exhibiting their artwork in at least five shows this year, in addition to seven competitions with scholarship awards? Maybe you didn’t hear about Show Choir travelling to Nebraska to perform at the Peru Choir Festival, or about the four orchestra students who were asked to perform a prestigious gig at the Brownstone in early November. Some students are good at basketball or soccer or volleyball, and display their skills through sports and other activities. But there are also all-stars in acting, singing, making art, or playing an instrument. Many people do not hear about students who excel in the fine arts program as there are many other sports and activities going on in the Seaman community. However, those students are just as committed and deserve just as much recognition and support for their accomplishments.
Students practice their talents in different ways; however, many people do not realize that those of the creative departments put forth equally as much effort as athletes to improve their creative gifts. For example, theater students spend 10 hours a week for over two months straight preparing to perform for their annual play and musical. Orchestra students have classes daily and many attend lessons outside of school. Art students work on their pieces for weeks at a time in and out of school to perfect their techniques and prepare for competitions. Choir students practice weekly and are loaded with performances year round, especially around the holidays. They dedicate their time in and out of school to prepare for performances, shows, exhibitions, and concerts, just as athletes do. So why do we not bring attention to those talented students? They deserve to be acknowledged for their hard work and lifted up for their accomplishments. Because even if art, music, and acting are not everyone’s cup of tea, that does not mean those students deserve less appreciation and attention than other involved students.
X-mas or Christmas #SeamanStrong aggravates students Name controversy unnecessary Overuse loses deeper meaning by Mason Loy staff writer
by Alexis Desch staff writer
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and bringing with it twinkling lights, gift-shopping season, and...controversy? It has become more and more common for people and different organizations to replace the word “Christmas” with “X-mas”, and this small substitution is infuriating many. So why exactly is X-mas used? More often than not, X-mas is simply a quicker, easier way for people to write Christmas. I mean, four letters compared to nine? No question there. However, there is a brief history behind the use of the word. Along with being a convenient replacement, the “X” in X-mas is actually the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word that means “Christ”. Symbolic, isn’t it? Many people see otherwise. We all know of the true meaning of Christmas, and many believe that replacing “Christ” with the letter “X” is disrespectful and a way to “take the Christ out of Christmas.” This is not the case. Sure, people are certainly justified in feeling irked at the removal of the word “Christ.” I mean, Christians aren’t the only ones who celebrate Christmas any more, so the true meaning is often overshadowed. Nonetheless, there is a specific reason behind replacing the full word that dates back to the ancient Greeks, and it is validated. It was never meant to disrespect the holiday or its origin.
The majority of the student body believes that #SeamanStrong is used as a way to unite the school and come together during tough times. However, recent use of the hashtag has upset some students, as well as faculty. Most students can agree that the original intent of the hashtag was to bring everyone together during tough times, including harsher tragedies. Sophomore Nyah Brown agreed with this statement, saying that she felt this phrase symbolized the school uniting and everyone being in this together. The overuse of #SeamanStrong makes it seem as if there is a less meaningful significance behind the hashtag. An example of this phrase being overused can be seen by taking a look at updates and reminders, especially through Schoology. Specifically, messages such as “Don’t forget, spirit day shirt order forms are due tomorrow” are sometimes followed by #SeamanStrong. Instead of using this hashtag, which represents unity, the phrase “Don’t forget, it’s always a great day to be a Viking!” could be used in place instead. A constant reminder of the overuse of #SeamanStrong is through the behavior matrix shown frequently on SVTV. Commercials portraying positive attitudes and respect around the school are a great reminder; however, this is not an appropriate place for #Seaman-
Strong. Again, phrases such as “It’s a great day to be a Viking!” are more appropriate in this case. By overusing the hashtag, it degrades its value. In the past, #SeamanStrong was a great reminder that we’re all in this together, and that we have one another’s backs, especially during hard times. But the more and more the hashtag is used, the less of a deeper meaning it has. It may be hard to think about, but imagine one day the school district is going through a rough time, maybe even experiencing a loss. During this time, everyone comes together sharing strength and supporting one another while using #SeamanStrong. Then, the next day, you go to school and are watching SVTV. A commercial comes on about showing respect in the bathroom and making sure to always wash your hands, followed by a screen that says “#SeamanStrong.” This instantly can make someone who felt supported, be unsure of what they really should be feeling. The day before everyone was tweeting them and tagging them saying #SeamanStrong and the next, the same exact phrase is used in a message telling students to wash their hands. Between SVTV, Schoology updates, and general announcements, the phrase is being thrown at us almost every day, which is making it lose its deep meaning and become more of a common saying. Think about its true meaning and give #SeamanStrong the respect it deserves.
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‘Genius Hour’ concept introduced by Freshman Language Arts teachers by Mercedes Scarbrough staffwriter When working for Google, 20 percent of the work time is dedicated to a project of the employee’s choice. This method, known as the Genius Hour Project, has proven to increase productivity throughout the day. Since workers are incorporating their passions to their projects, they become more engaged with learning. Mrs. Maret Schrader has found this to be true. She says, “I think that any time you give kids ownership of what they want to learn about, their engagement goes up.” Freshman English teachers have put a new spin on Google’s approach to the work day. Teachers have applied a unique, but beneficial technique into their classrooms through the Genius Hour Project. Teachers created an application process that required students to think of a topic, generate three essential questions, and contact an expert for a real perspective. To start the project, students are first required to choose a topic. These topics range anywhere from mental illnesses to race cars depending on their interests. Students and teachers can agree on the matter that learning can become very repetitive. This can result in students becoming less interested in learning new subjects. The Genius Hour Projects give the students an opportunity to research a subject to boost their engagement. Students then think of three essential questions to ask themselves throughout the process of creating their projects. Freshman Jaidyn Browning researched the development of mental health and mental illnesses for her Genius Hour Project. As she went through the steps of the project, her three essential questions gave listeners a bigger understanding on how mental illnesses are developed, what illnesses affect the brain the most, and the methods of treatment for mental illnesses. Jaidyn enjoyed this portion of the project saying, “I feel as if mental illnesses are not recognized enough. Most people don’t understand the importance of knowing how mental illnesses affect someone’s everyday life.” Teachers also encouraged students to contact an expert on their particular subject to see inside the life of an expert. Ms. Andrea Marshbank, Freshman English teacher, said,“In this part of the project, it’s really tricky, but fantastic for the sake of real life projects.” Mrs. Schrader hoes to continue this project saying,“It’s been really hard to keep track of 93 different projects happening, but the students have really enjoyed it, so yes, I believe that the freshman teachers and hopefully upperclassman will get the chance to do this project.”
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WITH A PURPOSE: Freshman Mollie Olson explains aspects of pancreatic cancer to Mr. Luke Wiens during Genius Project presentations. This topic was of special importance to her family because it was a disease suffered by her grandpa. (Photo by Callyn Anderson)
PREP REQUIRED: Gillian Typer throws herself into her research about Walt Disney World. This project took many class periods of preparation. FOLLOWING HIS PASSION: Riley Senne shares his love of music and music writing with spectators as part of his presentation. (Photo by Alyssa Flower)
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Teachers transitioning to project-based testing by Avery Bocquin staff writer
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ith a sufficient amount of caffeine, students come to their least favorite class ready to plug in test answers before they leak out of their tender memories. But is this learning? Some freshmen teachers are taking a new approach to learning in the way they ask student to prove what they know. Instead of a familiar multiple choice or true/false format, students are being asked to create projects that prove what they know. Mrs. Jessica Popescu claims,“There is a place and time for tests… However, when giving a test the teacher may walk the line of testing them on the subject matter or testing how well they can memorize information.” In addition, some students combat test anxiety, despite the amount of time they spend studying, and their test scores are not an accurate reflection of their intelligence level.
Mr. Elliott, another teacher that favors projects over tests, says, “I think tests are great for some kids, but others really struggle to show their understanding with just a regular multiple-choice test… I like doing different kinds of projects because it allows the students to use their own strengths to show understanding of the content.” While tests are conventional, teachers are looking for new ways to evaluate their students’ understanding of the information they are teaching. In doing so, creativity and personality are introduced into a classroom setting, giving students a variety of ways to express themselves. Mr. O’Brien also prefers projects over tests.“I think projects allow for students to use their own individual strengths on projects to show learning. I am also able to see the creativity of my students come out during projects.” The teachers that have been transitioning to projects rather than tests have seen positive results. Mrs. Popescu sees other benefits as well. “With my science classes, I felt as though I was spending a lot of time teaching my students how
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world of biology: Students present their cell projects to teachers and students around school. (left to right) Danae Young, Gabi Brown, Isaiah Boutz, and Elizabeth Cain.
to take tests, versus how to understand science. By doing project-based assessments I am able to obtain a summative assessment and teach my kids the actual practice of science simultaneously.”
Students express creativity through joining the Writing Club by Mercedes Scarbrough staff writer
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veryone can benefit from developing writing skills, even if it’s just the simple idea of carrying a journal around or writing about topics an individual feels passionate about. People have a tendency to get overwhelmed that sometimes they just need a little place to clear their minds. Clear writing is a sign of clear thinking. At the beginning of last year, sponsors, Ms.Andrea Marshbank and Mr. Timothy Collins, teamed together to create a new club known as the Writing Club. The Writing Club allows for students to express their creative writing to others also interested in improving their writing skills. Ms.Marshbank, Freshman English teacher, was persuaded by four of her students, Sophia Billings, Mckenzie Szopinski, Hailey Ledford and Kale Michael, to create a place where students could share their pieces amongst others. Ms.Marshbank admits she was not fond of the idea of creating a writing club, but her four students had a clear vision of what would make the
school a more sharing environment. With the creation of the Writing Club, students feel a sense of happiness, comfort, and prosperity. The Writing Club offers a variety of different perspectives on how to improve and also inspire individuals to widen their interests. Sophia Billings, president of the Writing Club, comments on the overall experience of becoming part of the club saying, “I like how it provides that environment for people because I know there are a lot of kids who feel like they can’t express themselves, but they get to come to the club and say everything they want to say and not feel judged.” So far the Writing Club members have attended one event outside of the school’s classroom. Members visited the poetry slams in Lawrence Free State coffee shop where a variety of different clubs came together to experience the feeling of both taking and giving constructive criticism. Members of the club hope to become more involved with public spaces such as poetry slams and competitions to continually promote their work as young writers. When talking to members, many say there are many benefits such as giving and also taking criti-
inspiring poets: Writing Club members attend the Lawrence Freestate Coffeehouse to present poetry to others. (bottom to top, right to left) Bobbie Morison, Mary Morrison, Reagan Props, Kale Michael, Olivia Romig, Katie Lemon, McKenzie Szopinski, and Sophie Billings. (Photo by Ms.Marshbank)
cism. “Another amazing aspect this club offers,” says Vice President Hailey Ledford, “is it isn’t just a place where you can go and you have to speak poetry; you can just go in and listen and be inspired by other people.” Sponsors and members are welcoming more potential members to their group. Stop by Ms.Marshbank’s room to receive more information and visit the Schoology page using the code: 8BXXK-GHWB6. Become involved and unleash your creativity by joining the Writing Club.
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Learning environments change, develop over time by Alyssa Flower staff writer Over the years, teachers have developed new styles of teaching, seating students, and running their classrooms. Some have chosen to stay close to the traditional atmosphere while others are stepping out of the norm and are changing the ways of education. Learning environments are one aspect of education that can make or break a student’s learning. From kindergarten to graduating college, there are so many types of learning and developing that influence the character of humans. For many people, having a more traditional learning environment with rowed seating, only talking with a raised hand, and paper note taking causes students to zone out and not truly pay attention to the importance of their
education. When they are in more of an updated classroom with group seating and conversations and the use of technology, students feel more comfortable as they have grown up with the changes. “In some classrooms you have the teachers that don’t allow you to talk and just give speeches. I feel better in a more relaxed classroom because I can’t pay attention when the teacher just gives a speech. I like being involved and having fun in the classroom when learning,” said freshman Callee Dempewolf. The more transformed and away from tradition classrooms seem to make students feel more comfortable with the teacher and the learning process of the class. “For me when the teacher is more laid back, I can learn better because the learning part is more fun and not stressful,” Dempewolf said.
For many strict learning and rigorous work doesn’t help in their path toward success. In a world of changes and advances in learning, being up to date in the education can make a student feel more comfortable and in tune with the topics. Structure is still needed and appreciated by students. By having a mixture of the traditional classrooms and changed classrooms, it can make the student feel confident in their learning as well as enjoy education. Learning environments will never be perfect for every student. By incorporating traditional elements and new elements in education, students are becoming familiarized with what works for them and the ways in which they learn best.
Students learn ways to stay focused as the semester ends by Jackson Cobb staff writer As we get closer to the end of first semester, there’s a problem that seems to come up every year. Students tend to get excited about the holidays and start losing focus on their school work. Because of this, kids end up stressing themselves out during finals because they let their grades slip and need to do well on the final to keep those grades. Staying focused during lectures is very important. There are many different ways
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to help with this. Senior Sage Hernandez does several things to help her out. “I always make sure to get rid of distractions like my phone and make as much eye contact as possible with my teacher to make sure I’m engaged,” Hernandez says. Texting or being on a cell phone during class is probably the biggest distraction that students tend to find themselves doing. According to a study done by the Huffington Post, on average nine out of 10 students are on their phones during class time. The easy way to fix this is just
to keep that phone in the backpack unless it is being used for a good purpose. Focusing during work time is also a problem for students. Usually while working on homework or getting assignments done during class, students will get distracted or just not want to do their work. The solution to just not wanting to do it is thinking about how not doing work will affect that grade and working to get it done. The problem of just getting distracted by surrounding things is something that is a little harder to fix.
Based on a recent survey taken at Seaman High School, most students turn to listening to music while working to keep them on task. This is a good solution as long as a student is not jamming out and start dancing all over the place. According to an article by USA Today, students need a medium level of arousal to successfully study, and music is an effective tool to get students to that level. Whether it’s listening to the teacher talk or working to get work done, it is vital to stay focused to stay successful with your school work.
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Struggle over school finance continues by Kyser Dougan co-editor When the state legislature convenes again in January, many students are curious about whether or not they will head back to school on time again next year. Last year the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the school finance plan that the legislature approved of was unconstitutional. Senator Laura Kelly said, “We’ve always operated under a school finance formula. The last one we operated was in the 90s, and we’ve been operating under that for 25 years with modifications. Then the legislature imposed a two-year block grant where you got the same amount of money for two years, it didn’t matter if the amount of students in your district was raised.” The legislature did nothing to fix school formula until after the 2016 election, when many anti-education politicians were defeated. Kelly says “Kansas is largely pro public schools, however many private schools and homeschooled students want money as well.” When asked about the 2017 funding formula State Representative and USD 345 School Board President Fred Patton says, “I like the formula we put in place; the main question is the base amount.” There are two parts to the constitutionality of school finance- equity and adequacy. Equity means that regardless of if students live in the city, or a small rural town, they have an equal opportunity for a quality education. Adequacy is ensuring that all the money in the ‘pot’ is being equally divided. Patton says about adequacy, “This is what takes a while- how much money [do we need] and where do we get it.” He also adds that, “The court says to do your homework, and the House committee did and the Senate did not. It was like if one partner worked for months and the other did it the night before. You come together for the project and get a bad grade.” Patton says, “At Seaman we haven’t seen the budget affect our schools. We timed our facility upgrades right, and combining schools has freed up a lot of money.”
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The court says do your homework, and the House committee DID and the Senate DID NOT.
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SEAMAN saw the WRITING ON THE WALL and kept money in CONTINGENCY FUNDS to be able to maintain services.
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For students going to college next year, here are interesting classes Kansas schools offer. 8 Weird College Classes
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- Senator Laura Kelly
Kelly also says, “Seaman saw the writing on the wall and kept money in contingency funds to be able to maintain services.” However, Patton does add that if the formula does not change, students will start to see differences in the district; however, USD 345 will be one of the last districts to see changes because of efficient spending. Salaries have been held down for teachers, which is happening across the country. Small districts have already started to see changes such as large class sizes, transportation issues, and difficulty in recruiting teachers. They have also had to eliminate out-of-the-classroom positions, such as nurses and counselors. As well as having to fund education, the state also needs to improve transportation and early childhood education. The costs for medicare always rise as well. The state has lost a lot of revenue due to cutting the tax rate for the top bracket in Kansas. LLC’s, Limited Liability Companies, will now pay taxes again too. Kelly says, “Reinstating these are not enough. Hopefully we meet court demand, but it won’t be enough to restore other parts of government.” She also adds, “Anti education’s will says its education versus everything else and say ‘education is taking all the money.’” Both Patton and Kelly stressed the need to put more money into roads. Kelly added, “Our roads have always been the top in the nation. We have underfunded them the past few years and it’s showing.” Patton says, “It is hard to put more money into education until we turn things around.” The 2018 Legislature has until April 30 to send briefs to the Kansas Supreme Court. If it is ruled unconstitutional again, it will be put into the court’s hands and they could shut the schools down. The legislature would have to go into a special session to create a new plan.
- Representative Fred Patton
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Students offer creative ideas for vacant Rochester building by Kyser Dougan co-editor
Rochester Elementary
Rochester Elementary school stands empty in the center of the district at 35th and Rochester. Many members of the community wonder what the district will do with the area and have ideas of their own. Board of Education President Fred Patton says the board is, “Open to anything. If someone comes up with a good idea, and neighbors are okay with it, the board would be open to it.” The building currently has a newer wing and the gym is in decent condition. The building is for sale and has had a few people look at it, but there are multiple reasons why many potential buyers are not interested. Rochester currently is not on sewer and has to be pumped out every day. It also has many floors which would make it difficult to use for a senior center. Junior Lily Gallardo thinks they should make the building, “A place for students to go after school if they have nowhere else, or make it the U.S.D. 345 museum.” Other students have come up with ideas such as a paintball site, a big gym, a shopping center, or a community garden. A community
“There aren’t many paintball places nearby besides Kansas City, so I feel a paintball site would have lots of business.” - Bryce Cowan, 12
garden is public land that people can utilize either individually or as a big group to produce fruits and vegetables. Rochester is currently listed for $600,000 and the district has $150,000 in funds for demolition if the building does not sell. In addition to Rochester being vacant, Indian Creek is as well. Indian Creek was used previously used by the Boys and Girls Club, but that program is now held at each individual elementary school. Currently, Indian Creek is only used for district storage. Fred Patton adds about the school, “It would be nice to keep some ground in case the district keeps growing, but I’d hate to maintain something that isn’t being used.”
“I think they should make Rochester a park so the kids in the community have a nice park to play on.” -Makayla Akin, 12
“A place for students to go after school if they have nowhere else, or make it the USD 345 museum.” -Lily Gallardo, 11
“The Ag classes could make it into a greenspace, keeping the classroom and adding a greenhouse. Could also be made into a community garden.” - Mr. Louis DiLeonardo
President Trump begins prototype construction for promised wall by Jacob Wildeman staff writer “A fence that is impenetrable, it’s unscalable.” Roy Villareal, acting chief patrol agent of the San Diego border sector, uses these words to describe President Trump’s vision for the a new border-wall between the United States and Mexico. According to the Washington Post, the present wall is roughly 10 feet tall made out of metal sheets left over from old helicopter landing pads from the Vietnam War. A second layer of more modern steel stands behind it about 14 to 18 feet high. The wall to many is in dire need of an upgrade. According to officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, the two ply system in San Diego was “compromised” some 550 times in the past fiscal year, cut open by axes, motorized
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saws, and blowtorches. President Trump currently has eight different prototypes for a new wall un-
der construction. The plan is to choose one or possibly incorporate a few characteristics of each into one new wall. Cur-
rently the Department of Homeland Security is paying for the prototypes which cost up to $500,000 each. The estimated cost for the new border wall in whole, has ranged up to $38 billion. Each company has been given a 65-by-65-foot portion of ground to build their prototypes. The different walls are 30 feet high made of concrete and steel. Some with reinforced bases and others topped with metal spikes. These walls may look ominous; however, some feel that it won’t prevent people from illegally crossing. “People are still going to cross no matter what is there” said Kevin Avila Rodriguez, who lives near the spot where the new prototypes are being built. No matter these views, many view the wall as a good effort towards cutting down on illegal immigration. Villareal hopes the wall can cut down on the 70 to 100 illegal immigrants apprehended in his sector each day.
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Tipping at restaurants more important than what people think by Lauren West co-editor Going up to the table after the group leaves, Ashlyn Schuetz grabs the tip to see how much they left. The restaurant was busy tonight, but she knew that a waitresses only way to earn some money is off of tips. After counting up the money, she sighs to herself...$1.34 tip. After working hard to make the group happy, she can’t help but be frustrated. Tipping at restaurants has always been disputed. But for most waitresses, tips are their only source of income. “I only make about $2.15 an hour without tips. But at the end of the day that all usually goes towards taxes. There’s rarely a time when I get my paycheck and it’s not $0.00” said Ashlyn Schuetz, a waitress at Perkins. Emily Swanson, a waitress at Cracker Barrel, said “Tips are important because it’s basically our only source of income, and we work our butts off to get those tips.” Since tipping is a waiter/waitresses main source of income, it becomes very important to them. According to CNN Money, the appropriate amount to tip is 20 percent of the bill for good service, 15 percent for adequate service, and not less than 10 percent for poor service. With every job, there are pet peeves that come along
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Tips are IMPORTANT because it’s basically our only source of income and we WORK our butts off to get those tips. - Emily Swanson
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with it; waiting on tables is no different. “It can be frustrating when they either don’t tip at all or don’t leave an adequate tip. And it’s not because they’re rude or anything. Half the time it’s just because they don’t understand how important the tip is to us,” explained Schuetz. Both girls could agree on one thing that annoys them. “Coins are very annoying,” said both Swanson and Schuetz. New trends in tipping are coming. Restaurants across the country are banning tipping. According to time.com/money, these establishments most commonly either pay their workers a living wage, or they include a service charge on the bill automatically. infographic by Lauren West
Students find friendship, make connections with orphans in Bangladesh by Avery Bocquin staff writer When students enrolled in Advanced Studio class, they probably imagined lots of individual work and portfolio development for the future. No one imagined that a tiny class of six people in Topeka, Kansas would be making a difference in the faraway land of Bangladesh. Mr. Brad LeDuc’s Advanced Studio class has been partnered with less fortunate teens around the globe living in an orphanage called Home of Hope, located in Bangladesh. Over the past few weeks, students have used their passion for art as a platform to get to know the orphans and learn the differences between cultures. Elaine Pardee, a former Topekan educator, travels back and forth between the United States and Bangladesh. Mr. LeDuc has been working with Elaine on this program over the past several years and decided he wanted to bring the project with him to Seaman this year. The students set up a shared google doc that has allowed them to converse and form friendships. Over time, the students have learned much about each oth-
making a difference: Elaine Pardee shares stories about Bangladesh with Advanced Studio students to get them excited about the project.
er’s countries as well as their pen pals. “It’s incredible to be able to have this experience, and it’s so unique to learn about someone my age, that lives halfway across the world,” said advanced studio student Kaylee Berroth. Additionally, Elaine was able to come and personally present to the students and share her experiences
with her teens in Bangladesh. Mr. LeDuc shared, “She was able to talk to them about each of their students on a personal level and the differences between the two countries. I feel it really helped us appreciate the little things we are blessed with here and often take for granted.” After getting to know their pen pals, students began designing custom t-shirts based on their partner’s interest and hobbies. They later printed the t-shirts, one for themselves and one for their partners, with Mr. LeDuc’s screen printer and sent them back to Bangladesh with Elaine. Accompanying the t-shirts were hand-written notes that reached out to the students and connected them on an emotional level. “In my letter, I wanted to include something about how his life and the way he lives inspires me, and how I believe that he can do anything he sets his mind to,” Berroth explained. Mr. LeDuc hopes this will become an annual project and is happy with how things turned out. “I sure have been impressed with the layers of thoughtfulness and love they have invested already in their designs… It makes me excited to think of students on opposite sides of the planet wearing the same t-shirts that connects them through the arts.”
Features
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3D Printing drastically changing the accessibility of prosthetic limbs by Garrett Polter ad manager A little girl named Hailey Dawson caught the world spotlight at the World Series as she threw out the first pitch to start Game 4. What made this pitch extraordinary is that her tiny hand was fitted with a prosthetic generated by a 3D printer. Hailey was born seven years ago with Poland Syndrome, a birth defect that has caused her to be born without three fingers on her right hand. With the help of a 3D printed prosthetic hand, she dreams to be able to throw out the traditional first pitch of a game at every single Major League Baseball stadium. These new 3D printed prosthetics are a very low cost of just $50. Yes, just $50. This seems as if it is way too good to be true, right? It isn’t. Due to the low cost, yet highly durable material that the new prosthetics are made of, they are able to significantly bring down the prices. Compare that to old prosthetics which range in price from $5,000 to $50,000 for a product that will only last a few years. With these low prices, 3D printed prosthetics are the way to go, especially for children. If a child is born without a limb, the child will most likely outgrow the prosthetic very rapidly. These being cheap in price
makes them ideal for the constant growing changes kids go through. It is also an option to get them customized in what color or pattern you may like. In addition to cost benefits is the comfort of the 3D prosthetic. The newer prosthetics have been favored among those who have been able to test them. One minimal drawback of a 3D prosthetic is that even though strong, it can and will break like most things if mistreated. The upside to that is because of low cost and quick replacement, it is quick to remake. New research is being done to make a prosthetic that will grow with the patient. Doctors are now also able to use 3D printing in the form of implants. They have successfully used the printing methods to implant blood vessels, kidneys, bones, skin, ears, and even part of a human skull. While these 3D prosthetics are still in the works, they help those who are missing whole or parts of limbs continue to remain hopeful that they can better their lives with the new forms of medicine of today’s world, or maybe even help one little girl to live out her dream of throwing out the first pitch at every Major League baseball stadium. New research is being done to make a prosthetic that will grow with the patient. Doctors are now also able to use 3D printing in the form of implants. They
have successfully used the printing methods to implant blood vessels, kidneys, bones, skin, ears, and even part of a human skull. While these 3D prosthetics are still in the works, they help those who are missing whole or parts of limbs continue to remain hopeful that they can better their lives with the new forms of medicine of today’s world, or maybe even help one little girl to live out her dream of throwing out the first pitch at every Major League baseball stadium.
Mrs. Brading to retire after first semester by Jackson Cobb ad manager As this fall semester comes to a close, one employee’s work career is ending as well. Mrs. Shirley Brading has been working in the Seaman district for a number of years. ““I have been in the district for about seven to eight years and the high school for about five,” Brading said. Since working for our district, she has had several positions. While at the middle school, she worked as a para and a
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special education teacher. But once she moved to the high school, she changed her position to being the ISS supervisor. Along with this, she also made copies for teachers. Her effectiveness at both of these positions will be missed dearly. Figuring out when to retire is something that is different for everyone. But Mrs. Brading had a unique reasoning to her decision. “[Age]62 was a magic number so I figured that it was a good age for me to retire,” Brading said . After her retirement, Brading plans
on being there for ones who need it and giving back to her community. She plans on being able to spend more time with her friends and family along with being available for them whenever they need help. Mrs. Brading feels that keeping herself busy will be important once she retires. She plans on putting in more time volunteering at her church to help her fill in the empty time. She will miss Seaman, but she claims that the people here is what she will miss the most.
“Just like
anyone, I will miss the interactions with all of the people here. - Mrs. Shirley Brading
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Parental pressures influencing teens decisions by Evan Cluff staff writer A girl in AP English class is resting her head on her desk. She appears to be fine but really she’s stressed and wishes she were in a different class; however, it’s not up to her but her mother who wants her in this class. “Pressure comes from a couple of different places,” said, counselor, Dawna Ross, “I think sometimes parents can do that just as likely as students are to do that to themselves. And sometimes students perceive that pressure coming from parents and more likely than not it really is more self-imposed. When it comes to choosing a job, parents have a lot more influence on their kids than they think. As kids move into young adulthood their parents begin to encourage them to either explore a wide variety of jobs or pick a job they think their parents will approve. Longitudinal Study of American Youth found that of parents who didn’t push their children to attend college only four percent of those teens decided to continue on to higher education. On the other hand, parents who encouraged their children to attend college, 41 percent of teens chose to go. Ross said, “there are from time to time par-
ents who try to live vicariously through their kids meaning they want to relive their high school decisions where they chose maybe to take the easy schedule and wish they hadn’t, and so they make suggestions about whether it be classes or experiences their students have. I see those as red flags, not that they’re inappropiate but they oughta come from the student.” According to career counselor Briana Keller, for the National Career Development Center, “When parents show interest in particular activities chosen by their teen, it encourages to further his involvement in that area...a teen views parental involvement as love and acceptance, so he will be drawn to careers that he feels will draw love and acceptance from his parents.” When a student prefers a career that differs from what parents prefer, the student normally chooses according to their parents’ preference; as a result they simply become a programmed robot, doing what is expected of them. As a result the student will have serious problems with concentration, dedication, and how they functioned during their education will begin to take effect in the workplace. For students dealing with stress Mrs. Ross says, “You have
to have some balance, you have to have time in your life besides school, you have to find time in your life for joy. The second thing that keeps you from being stressed out is they system of organization, something that allows you to know what you have to do, when you have to have it done... and you don’t take on more than you can do in the allotted amount of time time. Don’t overload yourself, and be willing to say ‘I’m sorry I don’t have time to do that too.’...you’re better off doing one thing well than trying to do a lot of things and just not do well at all and make a lot of people miserable, mostly you.” Everyone is stressed and at some point feels pressure, but parents need to remember that the most important thing is to trust teenagers when they’re doing the right thing and not expect perfection.
“
Sometimes students perceive that pressure coming from parents and more likely than not it really is more self-imposed. - Counselor Dawna Ross
”
Popular tattoo trend requires much consideration before permanent decision by Lauren West co-editor Walking up to the mirror to see the new addition to her body, Taylor Snider knew that the feeling of her ribs rattling under the needle would all be worth it. Even with the little freak out of knowing that her body is permanently altered, she couldn’t be more excited to see her tattoo. According to the 2015 Harris Research Poll, 47 percent of people aged 18-29 (Millennials) have at least one tattoo. This is a large increase from the Baby
Boomer generation (ages 53-71 today), where only 13 percent have a tattoo. With the increased interest in tattooing, there are bound to be more medical issues. Even though there are safety regulations in place in most states, it is important for people to do their research before choosing a tattoo artist. Infection is rare, but it is possible to contract hepatitis and skin problems, like staph. While making this permanent life decision, some people end up regretting their decision later on in life. Ac-
cording to the same Harris Research Poll, 23 percent of people regret getting their tattoo. The most common reason for these people not liking their tattoo anymore is that they were too young when they got it. With the pressure of choosing the perfect permanent tattoo, there are ways to “test out” a design before the actual inking process. Websites like straytats. com let customers design their own temporary tattoos. By doing this, a teenager can try out different designs before making the big decision. This safeguard
can keep the percentage of regret over a tattoo down. If someone under the age of 18 wants to get a tattoo, there might be some hoops they have to jump through first. Each state has a different tattoo law for minors, but in majority of the states, a minor either has to have written consent from their parent or guardian (some states require it to be notarized) or the parent/guardian has to be present when the minor is getting tattooed. But even with these restrictions, teenagers are still getting inked.
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12 seamannews.com 12.15.17 Scouting Series Part Two
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Highest honors take planning, community outreach to achieve by Paige Gilbert staff writer There are two programs in this world that thousands of boys and girls join every year; Boys and Girl Scouts. Both programs provide unimaginable opportunities for kids as well as knowledge needed for the real world. Many recognize these organizations from the popcorn and cookies they sell. What outsiders do not realize is how much hard work is put into achieving their highest honors -- Eagle Scout or the Gold Award. In Girl Scouts, there are six ranks that have to be achieved before the Gold Award, the highest rank awarded. The Gold Award is only awarded to high school girls as it is the most prestigious and difficult to earn. In order to achieve the Gold Award, each individual girl constructs a project that challenges her to change the world. The project selected must last longer than a year, and another individual must be able to carry the project into the future. The process takes pre-planning and organization. Junior Kristen Collom is currently working on achieving her Girl Scout Gold Award. The project she chose is associated with her plans for the future. “Well I knew I wanted to go into the field of psychology, so I chose to help out Valeo behavioral health center. I met with a social worker at the site and told her about this project, and she instantly had a handful of ideas. She showed me bus route maps that are handed out to patients, and they were hard for me to read. Keeping that in mind, I decided to remake a bus route map and mark where local help programs are located.” Selecting a project is just one step of the puzzle. Before girls are able to start their projects it has to be approved by the Girl Scout Council. Projects such as these are time consuming and demand loads of plan-
EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS: Zach Patton leads his crew as they replace archery targets. David Deuser, Andrew Patton, Connor High, Corbin
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ning. Collom’s project has been approved and she hopes to complete it before her senior year. “...So now I’m working on actually making the map and everything. I’m making a timeline for when I’d like things to be completed, and I’m hoping to have the project completely done by the end of this next summer!” Science teacher and Gold award winner Elizabeth Halpin remembers her experiences. “...I developed a math curriculum for the geometry classes at my high school that involved kite flying. (I am a professional kite flier) I also put together activities for each subject area to incorporate: the history of kite flying, math behind it, literature involving it, and science principles.” She continued, “The idea was to give kids real life situations where geometry (and other stujects) were relevant. (Funny part is, at the time I wanted to be an engineer, not a teacher. Doing this project made me realize how much I enoyed teaching) The project had to have at least 80 hours of work, be something that was benefiting part of the community (not Girl Scouts), and be long lasting. So the project had to have an end results that would continue to benefit others.” In Boy Scouts, there are six ranks that have to be achieved before Eagle Scout, the highest rank that can be awarded. In order to become an Eagle Scout one has to earn 21 merit badges throughout a scout’s career. The scout personally chooses 10 of these badges and the remaining 11 are mandatory. Aside from earning merit badges, boy scouts are required to create a project that will benefit the community. Senior Logan Stuke, a current boy scout, explains the process towards becoming an Eagle Scout. “The Eagle Scout award requires you to come up
with a project that will benefit the community and then present that to your counsel representative and have them sign off giving you the okay. You then have to come up with a plan to carry it out, gather materials and then complete the project. Following completion you then must compile a book with your proposal, plan, and report of the project. Submit it to nationals and then complete a board of review whom you may assemble. They then decide if you receive the rank.” Senior Zach Patton just completed his project and is awaiting word from nationals to see if he was approved. His project involved refurbishing the archery targets at Camp Bowser. For Logan Stuke’s project he refurbished two full size soccer goals by hand for North Fairview Elementary School. He also revamped the flower beds at North Fairview Elementary. He achieved this by removing the old bricks to create a new base. He then relaid and leveled the bricks. Lastly, he took out the old plants to add new topsoil, mulch and plants. Overall Stuke’s Eagle Scout project took roughly 130 hours to accomplish. In order to complete and achieve these ranks there is plenty of hard work and dedication that is put into the planning let alone the actual project. To each individual scout these projects are everything. While both awards are important to the community and the scout, the Eagle Scout Award and Gold Award are not recognized equally. “The Eagle rank is much more widely recognized and respected. The Girl Scout Gold Award is equal in what a girl must do to earn it, but I don’t think it has the respect and recognition that Eagle Scout has,” said Kim Patton, who has been both a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader. (Research assistance provided by Andrew Patton)
Mott, Tyler Beavers, Zach Patton, Maren Proplesh, Logan Stuke, and Cooper Garman worked on the project and are awaiting approval from Nationals. (Photo provided by Zach Patton) Logan Stuke and his dad
work on his project of refurbishing goals at North Fairview Elementary. (Photo provided by Logan Stuke)
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news from Spring Royal Wedding Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle on Nov. 27, 2017. The engagement ring was designed by Harry with diamonds from the jewelry of Princess Di, Harry’s mom. Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, killed 26 people at First Baptist Church on Nov. 5. Devin killed himself after being shot by police.
Argentinian Submarine Missing!
13
monthly update
Texas Church Shooting
Picture from https://www.flickr.com/photos/
12.15.17
The 95th National Christmas Tree lighting was on Nov. 29 in Washington, D.C. beginning the nation’s holiday season.
Net neutrality challenged The new chairman and president of the FCC, Ajit Pai, wants to repeal the Net Neutrality rules set in place by former President Obama back in 2015. This month expect a vote to repeal Net Neutrality. This could mean that Internet and telephone providers like Cox, AT&T, and Verizon would be able to block websites, throttle the Internet and make consumers pay to go to certain sites.
Mount Agung
Eruption
3,000 Rohingya people may
have been killed during the genocide
got got evacuation evacuation call call
60 other men
have been accused of sexual misconduct since all of Harvey’s allegations.
50 women
More than have come forward concerning Weinstein and sexual assault. of women find nothing changes after reporting it
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/11/28/crew-in-missing-argentina-submarine-reported-fire-leak-in-final-message.html
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100,000
find the situation gets worse after reporting it
http://time.com/5015204/harvey-weinstein-scandal/ http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41580010 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/facts-sexual-harassment-workplace-harvey-weinstein
women report sexual assault.
Sex scandals continue
An Argentinian submarine with 44 crew members went missing on Nov. 15. There were messages from the captain saying water got to one of their battery connections causing a short circuit which started a fire.
40,000
have have responded responded to to call call
Level 4
volcano volcano warning warning
PAGE DESIGNERS: Cody Kyser ( Net Neutrality), Samantha Boyles (Royal Wedding), Paige Gilbert (Sex Scandals), Isabella Galvan (Mount Agung), Parker Gower (Submarine), Reese Lister ( Texas Church Shooter), Lily Gallardo (Christmas).
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Winter sports hope to continue success, build on previous seasons
Boys Bowling
How do you expect this season to go? “I think the season is going to go pretty well. We have a lot of potential and some good senior bowlers.The new bowling coach should also help us.” - Kyle Dindios, 12
Boys Swimming Who are your team leaders?
2017 5A State Champions
“I think our leaders are our entire senior class. Most of them have put in a lot of extra work and are waiting for a big payoff.” -Zeke Metz, 12
Who are your team leaders?
How do you expect this season to go?
“I think Noah Belt is going to be a leader and Clayton Mumford because they have some of the highest averages and have seniority because they have been on the team every year and know what they are doing.” - Michael Bacon, 12
Girls Basketball
Photo by Ashlee Kleiner
Wrestling
What are some of your individual/ team goals?
What are some of your individual/ team goals?
“Our goal as a team is to make it to State. We have the potential and commitment this year, and I think we will go pretty far.” - Megan Skoch, 11
“My personal team goal would be that we get everyone qualified for State.” - Tanner Murphy, 12
“We will be looking for leadership from our upperclassmen to set the bar high for younger players.” - Makayla Akin, 12
How do you expect this season to go?
Photo by Lexie Shaw
Photo by Megan Carter
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Photo by Traci Podlena
Photo by Megan Carter
Who are your team leaders?
Photo by Torey Moten
“I think the season is going to go well. Our schedule is a lot different from last year, so we will get exposed to some better teams.” - Kolton Meditz, 12
“We have a lot of optimism about this season. We have some pretty high expectations, but it all starts with doing our best.” - Josh Graves, 12
Girls Bowling How do you expect this season to go? “This upcoming season should go well for us, due to our success last year and the fact that we only lost two seniors on the girls team and still have a majority of the team returning.” - Kishno Bell, 12
Photo by Regan Bond
Boys Basketball Who are your team leaders? “I think our team has a lot of leaders, and I hope my fellow seniors and I can provide strong leadership.” - Kaden Henley, 12 Photo by Torey Moten
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Opinion
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NCAA putting too many regulations on athletes by Eli Laird staff writer
The controversy over whether college athletes should be paid is an ongoing debate. However, I think there is a reasonable solution that could solve many of the NCAA’s problems. I believe student athletes on scholarship should not be paid directly by the university as most are already receiving a free education, room and board, and access to quality facilities and trainers. That being said, the NCAA should allow student athletes to receive endorsement deals. This not only benefits the student athlete, but the school as well.
More high school athletes will choose college if they know they can possibly make extra money through deals with companies. There also might be an uptake in less college athletes leaving after only a year or two to pursue professional sports. One could argue this would take the student out of student athlete. I think the endorsements could actually help with classroom focus and work ethic as these players would not have to worry about the lack of money for food or the possible poverty their family could be living in. Shabazz Napier, a star on the 2014 UCONN men’s basketball team, said during his time in college, “There are
hungry nights that I go to bed and I’m starving.” There have also been instances where college athletes want to pursue careers outside of their sport. The NCAA has made it very difficult as oftentimes it forces people to make a decision to pick the sport or the career. For example, there are two former UNLV women’s basketball players that wanted to pursue a profession in music while at UNLV. However, due to NCAA restrictions, the two had to choose between continuing their basketball at UNLV or making music. This is extremely unfair, and the NCAA should not be able to give that type of ultimatum.
These athletes make universities a ridiculous amount of money, so it seems odd to me that they themselves cannot benefit from their success, financially, in college. If this continues, there could be a steady increase in high school athletes, especially basketball players, opting to skip college altogether. Hopefully the NCAA evolves to the new modern age, and realizes it needs to change certain restrictions and rules on student athletes. The national exposure these players are receiving are at an all-time high, and the NCAA would be remiss to not create more reasonable regulations.
Opinion
College bowl games becoming less special every year by Garett Polter AD MANAGER
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I don’t think that those teams that FINISH .500 should be REWARDED with being average.
The College football regular season has come to a close, and the postseason is getting ready to take off. The Bowl Selection Committee has finally decided which teams will go where. If you tuned in to the lengthy process of selection, the question might have been raised about how many bowl games there actually are. Too many. This year there will be 39 bowl games played, meaning 78 teams will compete, of the 130 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Usually making a bowl game is a show of what you have accomplished throughout the season,
in the form of wins. An accomplished season being defined as being a betterthan-average team. During the regular season college teams play 12 games, unless they finish with good enough record, to play in their conference championship game. Playing in the championship game would result in a total 13 games on the season, before a bowl game, which would be game 14.
Week 15 of the NFL season has just begun. For many fantasy football players their season has fallen into the abyss that is the loser’s bracket. For a select few, however, there is still hope of winning their league. This edition of Gameday Guru I will provide a few points of advice on your quest to a fantasy championship.
If you have made it this far in your league, you are doing something right. There is no reason to stray away from what got you in your position. There are plenty of fantasy experts out there, but ultimately they can not predict the future. Use them as a reference, but do not base final decisions on them. Go with your gut!
- Senior, Bryce Cowan
Go With Your Gut
”
Having 12 games played, an average team would have a record of six wins and six losses. Several teams having a record of .500 and going to a bowl game, means that the committee is okay with sending just average teams to a bowl. Sending these teams takes away from the magnitude and spotlight that bowl games are to bring teams that have had good seasons and finished with good records.
Have Some Pride
The loser’s bracket in fantasy is often a place where owners give up and teams die. Even if there is no possible way for you to receive any type of reward at all, keep playing. Finishing the season on a strong note is just as important as a solid start. Fantasy can be cruel and quitting does not help, so have some pride!
“I don’t think that those teams that finish .500 should be rewarded with being average,” says senior Bryce Cowan, “I feel like bowl games should be played among those who succeed in their conference with 7-5 or higher records.” The committee should look into taking away the bowl that send teams who are only 6-6 to games. However, something that might keep it from doing so is the one final ruler in everything. Money. These bowl games bring in millions of dollars from ticket sales to showings on television. By making so much money from the games, the committee will probably not take any games away, they could possibly end up adding more.
Think About Next Season
It is never too early to begin thinking about next season. That being said, if you are still in the race for a fantasy championship focus on that. For those less fortunate players, I advise you to start planning things to improve and change within your league. Coordinate with other players and strive to have a league that everyone enjoys.
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(Clockwise from top left) Loads of laughs: Juniors Tristan Hahn and Hayden Wells test out their catapults in physics. The class focuses on projects and labs that deal with gravity. (Photo by Mya Kramer) pulling ahead: Senior swimmer Janson Garman works to maintain his lead during a race. The viking swimmers won the league championship the past two years. (Photo by Ken Metz) Honest Bach: Mr. Ryan Bach poses for the camera as he is dressed as Abe Lincoln. Bach did this so students could understand the importance of Lincoln’s presidency. (Photo by Torey Moten) Sing out show choir: Freshman Abby Musick and sophmore Eva Noble sing their performance at Barnes and Noble. The performance was a fundraiser for the SHARP. (Photo by Summer Fangman) Act it out: Freshman Hailey Morton, junior Rae Conaway, sophomore Gabby Van Sickle, and junior Abby Noyes perform a scene of the fall play, “And a Child Shall Lead.” The play ran from Nov. 9-11. (Photo by Taylor Ashley) Save a life: Freshman Patrick Biggs performs CPR on a mannequin to become certified. Physical Dimension classes take the course each semester. (Photo Alyssa Flower) exploring the capitol: Seniors Haley Holthaus, Jordan Frickey, Delaney Kramer, Makayla Akin, Madison Dean, Shelby Willmer, and Jenna Wilson pose in front of the U.S. Capitol. The Close Up trip was taken this November. (Photo by Randy Crome)
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