Prince George H.S. - 7801 Laurel Spring Rd. Prince George, VA 23875 - www.trnwired.org - April 24 , 2015
Volume XIII ISSUE 7 Free
Single Copy Only
trn The Royal News
PLAYERS PRESENT THE HOBBIT p. 15 p. 7 TANNING INCREASES IN POPULARITY p. 10-11 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CONVEY THE MESSAGE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
p. 20 TEAM BONDING STRENGTHENS PERFORMANCE
The PG Players stare in amazement at the ring of power, the center point of this year’s production. The Hobbit will be performed April 30, May 1, and May 2. Photo by Devan Fishburne. Visit trnwired.org to see the latest photo galleries and watch live broadcast events.
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OP/ED
Democratic Women Are Key Party Front-Runners
theRoyalNews
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ur mission as the school newspaper for Prince George High School is to provide a form of media that represents all aspects of student life. The goal is to present factual accounts of newsworthy events in a timely manner. Our publication will be informative, entertaining and reflective of the student body’s opinions. It is the desire of the staff to reach every student and tell as many of their stories as possible. We invite your commentary: The Royal News Opinion page is a forum for public discussion and shall be open to all students. The Royal News will print as many letters as space will allow. The Royal News reserves the right not to print a letter. The Royal News publishes a wide variety of opinions. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Royal News, PGHS, 7801 Laurel Spring Road, Prince George, Virginia 23875, or bring them to room A2, or e-mail them to trnwired@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, legality, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. 500 word maximum. Thank you for the support this year. Please continue to communicate on trnwired.org. Publication theft. A person commits the offense of publication theft when he or she willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over more than three copies of an edition of a publication distributed on campus or in the surrounding community [with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading that edition of the publication]. A “publication” includes any periodical that is distributed on a complimentary or compensatory basis. In addition to the imposition of other campus disciplinary penalties, a person who violates this provision is responsible for compensating the publication for all reasonable costs incurred, including, where appropriate, the refund of advertising fees.
Section Editors Front page: Devan Fishburne-Op/Ed: Reeve Ashcraft-News: Hydeia Nutt-Features: Ebony Gilchrist and Angelica MartinezDoubletruck: Qadirah Monroe-A&E : April Buckles-Sports: Ryan Albright and Madison Strang-Photo Editor/Distribution and Events: Debra Thomas- Social Media Editor: Ronnie Dayvault - Business & Ad Editor: Daniel Puryear-Online Editor-in-Chief: Travis Temple-Special Edition Editor-In-Chief Sarah Daniel
Writers Alesondra Adams-Paul Dennis-Tyneshia Griffin-Brooke Guerrero-Rosemarie Hopkins-Cassie Kolbo-Corey LeeMatteo Reed-Chance Thweatt-Tyrah Washington-Tiana Whaley
Editor-in-Chief Lindsay Pugh
Managing Editor Devan Fishburne
Business Manager Daniel Puryear
Adviser
Chris Waugaman
Professional affiliations & awards Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Gold Medalist 2008-2013 CSPA Gold Crown Winner 2010 & 2013 Virginia High School Association Trophy Class 2006-2013 Col. Charles Savedge Award for Sustained Excellence 2010 NSPA Online Pacemaker Winner 2011 & 2014 NSPA Online Pacemaker Finalist 2014 SIPA All Southern 2008-2014
The Royal News, PGHS trnwired.org & trnsports.org
7801 Laurel Spring Road Prince George, Virginia 23875 804-733-2720 The Royal News is printed at The Progress-Index in Petersburg, Virginia
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Ok guys! Today we are making Earth Day t-shirts!
Illustration by Qadirah Monroe.
Struggle For Environmental Protection Spans Generations In the 1970s, President Richard Nixon took enormous steps forward for the environment: the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the establishment of April 22 as Earth Day, which is still celebrated over 45 years later. There has been enormous progress in that span of time in both land and species conservation as well as everyday efforts to sustain the environment. In 2012, Americans threw away 251 million tons of trash and recycled 87 million tons, about 34.5% of that amount, as compared to 15 million tons in 1980. However, the environment is still and will always be incredibly vulnerable without proper safeguards to protect it. A primary concern for environmentalists is the rapid use of fossil fuels. 86% of power produced per year in the U.S. derives from non-renewable fossil fuel use. Only 8% of energy is produced from renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric and solar power. Fossil fuel usage, outside of being unsustainable, poses serious health and atmospheric concerns that cannot be ignored.
Burning fossil fuels releases significant quantities of chemicals into the atmosphere, creating acid rain that damages water quality and lowers crop yields. Furthermore, the chemical by-products of burning fossil fuels have been proven to negatively impact lung health in humans, especially in children. Fossil fuel usage also contributes to global warming, which 97% of climate scientists confirm has been occurring proportionately to increased levels of carbon emission. Human infringement on forest and water habitats in search of fuel poses a real danger for native species, which in turn disrupts the natural order of those ecosystems. An attitude of nonchalance about the environment was backwards 45 years ago. Now it is unacceptable to shrug off the damage the environment incurs everyday as a problem for future generations. Every citizen has a responsibility to their nation, peers, and world to make a concerted effort to “reduce, reuse, and recycle,” seek active solutions to the various environmental concerns facing America today, and consider the impact their actions will have for years to come.
n Sunday, April 12th, Hillary Clinton announced via Twitter that she would be running for President of the United REEVE ASHCRAFT States. Clinton, a former Secretary of State under the Obama Administration, Senator from New York, and First Lady, has been considered the frontrunner for the Democratic Nomination even before her announcement. Along with her political experience, Clinton has been a strong leader of America’s feminist movement and an outspoken advocate for equality for all. Although considered the front-runner, Clinton may have another challenger lingering in the wings of the Democratic Party. Elizabeth Warren, a Senator from Massachusetts, is well liked by base politicians as well as progressive leaders and is being pushed towards joining the race. Though both are women from the Democratic Party, each person has very distinct differences regarding their positions on things such as handling the war in the Middle East and free trade. Warren is definitely the more liberal of the two and has been opposed to free trade agreements dating all the way back to the passing of NAFTA under Bill Clinton’s administration. She also opposed the Bankruptcy Law of 2001 and engaging in conflicts in the Middle East, especially Iraq, both things that Clinton voted in favor of. If Warren does choose to run, this could come down to who can gain the most party support. If party support ends up being split, Clinton’s undeniably poor past could be an easy way for Warren to try and get an upper-edge towards getting the nomination. With Republicans scrapping to figure out whether a moderate or conservative is better to nominate to challenge the strong female candidates, Democrats are easily going into the 2016 election with the mindset that it is their election to lose despite Obama’s poor second term in office.
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OP/ED
Is Dual-Enrollment Key Alternative To AP?
With the introduction of Dual-Enrollment English coming in the 2015-2016 school year, many students are wondering where it stands with regards to Advanced Placement. Does the new class provide a better opportunity for college preparation, or is Advanced Placement still the stronger choice?
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ith class scheduling for the next school year around the corner, upcoming seniors are considering the choices of taking dual enrollment English instead of honors or regular English. For a high school student who most likely would like to attend college in the near future, taking any course in dual enrollment is beneficial. Guidance Counselor at PGHS Philip Jones encourages students to take advantage of dual enrollment English. “English is a subject that in most college programs you have to have. Therefore getting dual enrollment college credit in high school helps fulfill that requirement” Jones said. In high school, participating in dual enrollment courses, especially English, has many benefits that help will students not only prepare for college but also help ease the transition from high school to college life for students. According to collegexpress.com “The per credit cost of dual enrollment program is often far less than what students have to pay once they are in college, potentially saving students thousands of dollars in tuition.” Another benefit from this program is that it gives students the chance to show colleges they are applying to that they can handle challenging courses. Some students are worried to take dual enrollment courses due to the risk that the school they want to apply to may not accept some or all the college credits that they earn in the program. Even though it is some risk of taking courses in the program, overall taking this program will benefit students by helping them prepare for college and improve their knowledge.
PRO CON ALEXIS STEWART
MATTEO REED
“Certain colleges often question why students would take a dual enrollment course...” “In high school, participating in dual courses, especially English, has many benefits that will help students.” “Scheduling is also a major conflict when it comes to dual enrollment...”
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ual enrollment English is a program that is meant to help students prepare and get a head start on the college English curriculum. Students have ample resources supplied to them, which can be used to prepare for college such as the Advanced Placement program, which allows students to take the highest-level class your school offers. Certain colleges often question why students would take a dual enrollment course when your school offers an AP course that is equally, if not more, beneficial to your education. The program may have many benefits, but it also has downsides. The class goes on your permanent record that the colleges see which means if you fail the class because you weren’t well prepared enough or succumb to the pressures of taking a college course in high school it could hurt your future chances of getting into college or getting financial aid in college. Some universities will not accept dual enrollment credits or they will accept them but it may not count towards your chosen major at the college or university, which only means you wasted your time on something when you could’ve been doing something that colleges actually pay attention to when they view your application. Scheduling is also a major conflict when it comes to dual enrollment. By participating in the program you’re giving up the option to take elective classes, which can count towards an advanced diploma which colleges look at when you apply along with the clubs and groups you are a member of. Students across America decide whether they should take a dual enrollment course or a advanced placement course. Although they both have benefits, dual enrollment is more beneficial.
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THUNDER COAL
9418 Holdsworth Road Disputanta, VA 23842 804- 975-2012
THE FUTURE LEADER IN COAL PRODUCTION www.thundercoalcompany.com
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BRIEFLY The 2015 PGHS Prom will be held on Sat., Apr., 25th, at the Fort Lee Regimental Club. It will begin @ 8PM. After prom will be held in the PGHS auditorium starting @ 11PM-5AM. A clean-up crew for after prom will be needed.
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The P.G. Players of PGHS are proud to present the J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic, The Hobbit, Thurs., Apr., 30, Fri., May 1st and Sat., May 2nd. Performances will be held in the PGHS auditorium @ 7:30 PM. with a 2PM matinee on May 2nd. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and children. Children 5 or younger will be admitted for free.
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Com e out to support Gotta Dance team. They will be having a recital Fri., May 8th and Sat., May 9th. The Gotta Dance recital will begin @ 7PM.
c Gotta Dance
Mon., Apr., 27th (1 of 3) mandatory senior/ parent graduation meetings. In order for seniors to participate in graduation on Jun., 6th, they must attend one of the three meetings.
m Class of 2016 T-shirts are on sale in the commons. The price is $10 for a T-shirt and $15 for a long sleeved T-shirt. Order forms can be picked up from Mrs. Roberts in A4, and T-shirts must be paid for at the time of ordering. If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Roberts in A4.
c Seniors keep in mind of the date to purchase parking passes for graduation. Sales will be Tues., May 12th @ 7:30 AM to 6PM and Wed., May 13th @ 7:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
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FEATURES Volunteers Increase Awareness Cassie Kolbo trn writer
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bbey Gill gazes at the poor, sickly dog that is looking back with pitiful, sad eyes. She can only hope the dog will be adopted. Otherwise, he would have to be put down. In the year she has been volunteering at the Disputanta Animal Hospital, this is the saddest thing she has witnessed. “Animals are innocent creatures and should be treated fairly. They don’t have a voice of their own so it is important to speak for them,” Gill said. During the month of April, organizations like the ASPCA work to raise awareness against animal cruelty. Some examples of animal cruelty include puppy mills, dog fighting, and animal hoarding. “People can fight against animal abuse by coming together as a community and looking out for any abusive behavior towards animals,” Gill said. Not only are animals freed from cruel situations, but they also are given a new chance at life when they are adopted. Without these people to stand up for them, animals would be stuck in their dismal situations for the rest of their lives. “As an animal control officer, you are put into a position where you have to speak up for the animals,” Dana Newmeyer, Animal Control Officer for Prince George Animal Services and Adoption Center said. Abuse against pets often leaves them frail, helpless, and sick, so the Animal Control Officers work to help rehabilitate the animals and get them adopted out. “Seeing animals that come in that you’ve rescued with severe injuries, just waiting upon death’s door, and then taking the time to nurse them back to health [makes the job worth it,]” Newmeyer said. Without support from local community and shelters many animals that suffer from abuse would be left to die. Shelters also take in stray animals that are often just left to run rampant, frequently reproducing and perpetuating the problem of overpopulation. “Animals have a place in a person’s heart that nothing else could ever reach,” Gill said.
April Marks Animal Cruelty Prevention Month. Volunteer Abbey Gill pets Randal (Left). Randal the hound (Below) was found lose in the woods. The dogs pictured are currently at the Disputanta Animal Hospital. There is a beagle (Bottom Left) and a pitbull mix (Bottom Right) . Gill cares for these dogs at Disputanta Animal Hospital. Photos by Cassie Kolbo.
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FEATURES Tanning Offers Advantages, Disadvantages Students Weigh The Pros And Cons Of Tanning. Tiana Whaley trn writer
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enior Alyssa Jordan rubs in her tanning lotion, puts on her protective eyewear, and lies down in the tanning bed. After a couple of minutes, she gets out of the bed and puts on her moisturizer and admires her slightly darker skin. As the weather begins to warm up and summer nears, more people begin to start tanning. Although there are some known risks in tanning, that has not stopped Jordan. In fact, Jordan tans three to five times a week. “[I tan] because I do not like to be pale and pasty, and it is relaxing,” Jordan said. Jordan is not the only person to tan because it makes them feel more attractive. Juniors Kayla Cobb and Tiffany Tawes also tan because they prefer the way it makes them look. Both students not only tan, but also work at tanning salons. Jordan works at Sun Tan City, and Tawes at Tan N’ Time. Their jobs consequently influence them to tan. “I work at a tanning salon, so it is preferred to be tan so that clients can see the results [of tanning] over time,” Tawes said. Such easy access to tanning actually can increase the likelihood of tanning. “[I do think my job encourages me to tan more] because everyone I work with tans every day, and they pressure you to tan more. Also, I tan for free, so it’s more convenient,” Jordan said. There are many different methods of tanning, giving adolescents many options when deciding to tan. “At Tanning ‘n Time we have five levels of tanning, so I tan in all of the beds, and I use different lotions when I go into the beds. I [also] use hydrators when I get out of the bed. I [then] use lotion when I tan out
Local Tan N’ Time employee sanitizes one of the tanning beds. Photo by Sarah Diaz.
This tannin g bed is located at UV Tan. Tanning beds can increase the users temperature to over 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Photo by Debra Thomas. in the sun,” Tawes said. Many negative side effects are associated with tanning. However, most people are aware of the consequences that could happen if they tan.
“[I do not worry about the side effects of tanning] because I only tan two to three months out of the year,” Cobb said. According to a study conducted by JAMA Dermatology, people who tan in-
doors four times a year have increased their risk of developing melanoma, a less common but dangerous form of skin cancer, by 11%. There are some benefits that come with tanning, such as improved mood and energy, increased production of Vitamin D, and protection against sunburns. The Indoor Tanning Association claims that tanning provides a base tan that offers a sun protection force of three to four, which blocks 65% of erythema produced by ultraviolet rays. However, in spite of the potential benefits, the potential risks greatly outweigh the benefits, and it begs the question of why people tan. “[Society plays a role in why people tan] because celebrities are tan and people want to be like celebrities. If one person tans, everyone else wants to be tan,” Cobb said. Like with many other trends, people also decide to tan out of peer pressure. “There are more people that are tan, so others tan to fit in [with everyone else], and not look like person out being lighter than everyone else,” Jordan said. Due to the harmful side effects of tanning, and the increase of tanning among adolescents, many states have begun to pass laws concerning tanning. In Virginia, there is only one law for tanning, which is if an adolescent is under 15 and not emancipated, they need written parental consent to allow them the chance to tan. There have also been bills proposed, such as a ban on tanning for minors under the age of eighteen without parental consent. “I greatly oppose [a law prohibiting tanning by minors under eighteen without parental consent] because you already have to have a consent form signed by a legal guardian, so if it is okay with your parents you should be allowed to. Plus it would lead to people just buying tanning beds to have in their house for younger people which would promote excessive tanning, which is even worse for your health,” Jordan said.
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IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!!! Grass Season is upon us once again! We will start cutting grass in the next week or two. Residential customers please give us a call to make sure you are on our weekly grass cutting schedule.
We offer a variety of services to meet Our customers’ needs. Here is a list of Services we offer: • Leaf Removal • Pruning of • Gutter Cleaning Shrubs, Trees • Planting of and Ground covShrubs and ers Flowers • Complete Lawn • Mulching Maintenance/
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Landscaping Hard Scaping Rock for Driveways
8800 Community Lane Suite #102 Petersburg, VA 23805
Contact Us:
FEATURES Soundcloud Off ers Outlet Student Artists Express Musical Talents Through Soundcloud. Brooke Guerrero trn writer
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here are many differences and boundaries in our world today, but one thing that ties people of all nations together is music. In August 2007, a social media network and music service called Soundcloud was created. It was created to help upcoming artists showcase their artistic talents, allowing people anywhere to listen to their music. Soundcloud also has features such as commenting and sharing with friends. “I chose Soundcloud because it is a widely popular app. It’s easy-access because anybody can hit the link. It also shows your
Seniors Sterling Mclymont and Jared Fallin write lyrics for their new song. They both have been using Soundcloud for 2 years. Photo by Brooke Guerrero. views and tracks my progress. Soundcloud is an overall good service,” senior Sterling Mclymont said. According to USA Today,more than 200 million people use Soundcloud, including
For more information, contact Tara R. Peyton-Burgess, Owner, Artistic Director, Instructor Radford University, B.S. Recreation; Dance Minor. Certification in Elementary Education. Member, Dance Educators of America, Inc.
6317 Courthouse Road, Prince George VA 23875 gottadance23875.com
804-861-3623
those who do not have an account but use it simply to listen to upcoming artists. “I started listening to rap music when I was in the fifth grade. It was Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” I wanted to be like him. It was just something I started as fun, then it became an addiction,” Mclymont said. Soundcloud, though a big part of how some artists get themselves out there, is just a miniscule portion of the tremendous amount of work that goes into creating unique music. “There are so many different things you can do with music. It’s always changing with time, especially with today’s technology that offers may different resources. Music can manipulate the feelings of the crowd,” sophomore Aiden England said. Senior Jared Fallin is a musician that also uses Soundcloud to promote his music. “I love music because its implants unique emotions that others things can’t,” Fallin said
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The app has steadily climbed up the charts for being the most popular music service app in the world, beating apps like Spotify and Pandora. “I draw ideas from trials and tribulations and convert those into inspiration for my music, then groove out,” Fallin said. All artists have their own routines that they use when brainstorming and looking for musical inspiration. “I go months without writing, It comes and goes with time. Sometimes ideas come into my mind. I usually write when I have a bad day because I use my emotions to write,” Mclymont said. After the whole process of writing and recording, artists upload their work to Soundcloud to share their music with the world. The feedback they receive from listeners on Soundcloud helps them improve their music, and grow as musicians.
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BY THE THE BY NUMBERS NUMBERS
26.1%
In the United States, teenagers have a volunteer rate of 26.1%.
8.8
People with higher levels of education engage in higher rates of volunteer activities. 39.4% of college graduates volunteer only 8.8 percent of people with less than a high school diploma participate in volunteer activities.
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Students and Teachers Convey Importance of Community Service Students and Teachers Execute Acts of Kindness to Help Better the Community in Honor of National Community Service Month. Qadirah Monroe trn writer
The most popular volunteer service activities are fundraising, collecting, or distributing food, engaging in general labor, and tutoring.
$25 In Virginia, the estimated value of volunteer was roughly $25 per hour in 2014. The rate is steadily increasing.
62.6 M 62.2 million Americans volunteered nearly 7.7 billion hours last year. Sources: bls.gov, eleventygroup.com, & independent sector.com
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er finger glides across the pages of a children’s book. As she assists an elementary student in practicing for his AR test, a smile forms on her face. He recites words back to her. She knows that she’s made a difference. Senior National Honor Society member Blair Johnson regularly participates in community service projects as a part of her membership in National Honor Society. “I did Book Buddies, I crocheted squares for the hospital for the sick ward, and I did a birthday present project through National Honor Society,” Johnson said. “I also did this thing called a Store House where we package food for people that don’t really have it and it gets delivered to them.” A major duty for Honor Society members is participating in community service projects throughout the year. All members are required to fulfill this duty to remain in the group. “I’ve been in National Honor Society for two years, so I had a minimum number of 30 hours for NHS and 10 hours of service doing Book Buddies,” Johnson said.
Johnson views the requirement as a positive experience that helps shape character and makes members more informed about issues within the community. “I think that we’re required to do service so that we understand more about helping others and getting involved in the community,” Johnson said. “It helps us mature a little bit. [Service] takes time out of our own schedule to give to people who are less fortunate.” Johnson’s experience has made her more grateful and has inspired her lend a helping hand to people in need throughout her life. “I felt relieved after turning my hours in, but also thankful for what I have,” Johnson said. “I think I’ll definitely continue doing service as I get older.” Though some students like Johnson participate in service projects as a requirement, others choose to participate spruce up college and job applications. “I started helping out at the library because it was a good way to get in volunteer hours and the hours look really good on my resume,” senior Nicole Judge said. “I usually help people with computer issues if anyone needs help finding books.” “I think [volunteering] teaches you good values,” Judge said. “It’s always great to help others.”
Senior Nicole the Prince Geo Judge volunte Photo by Qadi
Key Club Dedicates Their Work To Service While some students are out doing their service independently, others chose to make a difference working with a club or organization. Key Club dedicates all of their work to making the community a better place. “Key Club is a serviced based organization,” Key Club sponsor Megan Cashing said. “It is especially for high school students and really all that we do is do service projects and community service.” This year Key Club has had an active hand in the community and has adopted part of a highway to clean up the surrounding area. The club has reached out beyond helping people and had decided to help better the environment in which they live. “We have adopted a part of the road on Route 156, between Circle D and N.B. Clements and have cleaned that up twice,” Cashing said. “That helps us become more aware of our surroundings and be mindful of the environment.” In addition to doing service for the community, Key Club works with its partner organization to raise funds supporting youth in the community. “We work with Kiwanis, which is the adult level of the Key Club structure by helped them with some fundraising that they did with a 5K race,” Cashing said. “All of those proceeds helped out different schools in the
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Judge shelves books at orge County Library. eers weekly at the library. irah Monroe.
area. The Hopewell Schools and the Prince George schools both benefited from that.”
Teacher Supports Welfare of Animals Though many students and teachers do service through school organizations, many take on projects in a separate sector. Outside of school, history teacher Jez Beasley works closely to support the health and welfare of animals all around the community. “I am the director of Petersburg Animal Welfare Society,” Beasley said. “We run a monthly low cost spay-neuter clinic in Petersburg on Crater Road.” Petersburg Animal Welfare Society is a nonprofit organization that runs only off of the help of people in the community. The organization does all that it can to keep prices at a minimum so that any cat or dog can receive the proper care that it needs. “We basically make appointments, alternating from cats one month and dogs the next,” Beasley said. “Our prices are pretty similar to most of the low cost clinics in Richmond and its all volunteer run.” Though community organization is based in Petersburg, they do not limit their service to solely Petersburg. Their impact is dispersed throughout the entire community.
“We do some outreach in Petersburg and the TriCities,” Beasley said. “We’ve help collect food and bedding for Colonial Heights animal shelter. We’ve donated food to Hopewell Humane society and we do outreach in the community also.” Beasley believes strongly in helping out her community and sees community service as an eye-opening experience. “[Community service] helps you connect to people in the community and it helps you see outside of what you have going on,” Beasley said. “We tend to live in our own little worlds, our own school, our own home, our own job, and not really even try to reach out and see what else is out there. There is so much that we can do to help.”
SADD Club Raises Awareness While some groups chose to make a difference by cleaning up the environment or by helping local pets, Students Against Destructive Decisions combines community service and raising awareness against harmful activities. “Within the school, we have red ribbon week and we promote abstinence from drug use, underage drinking, and any illegal activities among teens,” SADD Club Sponsor Tanisha Ogunyemi said. Doing service for the good of others is never limited to the local area. Students Against Destructive Decisions lends a helping hand to
people out of the immediate region by working alongside the international United Nations Children’s Fund Program, or UNICEF. SADD lends a helping hand to people out of the immediate region by working alongside the international United Nations Children’s Fund Program, or UNICEF. “SADD Club participates in is UNICEF’s Trick or Treat program, collecting any kind of donations that can go towards supporting all of UNICEF’s missions,” Ogunyemi said. “UNICEF wants to see a zero count of children going hungry or without proper immunizations.” Being helpful doesn’t always have to take hours out of a busy schedule. Cashing believes that people can help, even by doing everyday activities. “There are food banks that always need help, so if you can get rid of random canned goods that no one’s eating you could donate to a food bank,” Cashing said. “That’s something that helps out mom, people that are hungry, and could be part of our everyday lives that could help someone.”
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Wilkinson, Jr. President
Office: 434.246.2666 Fax: 434.246.2103 Cell: 804.720.0225 20250 South crater Road P.O. Box 31 Carson, Virginia 23830
Time is running out!
Robert Major
Time is running out!
The last day to order a Yearbook is April 30th!!!
Time is running out!
A&E Gamer's Corner Indie Title Reestablishes Genre Dominance
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he term “indie” is a polarizing word in gaming culture. The debate regarding the validity of indie titles as “true” games is ongoing and frankly a moot point because the definition of the genre is so ambiguous, but it is undeniable that they have made a significant impact on the way the entertaiment medium of video games is consumed. The lower price point and shorter completion time of typical indies draw a different kind of crowd and appeal to an audience that simply does not have time for large, time-consuming experiences. Hotline Miami was the epitome of this point in practice at its release, making its sequel a widely anticipated downloadable title, and Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number does not disappoint. The Hotline Miami series is in a league all its own with its style of gameplay; it is wholly and genuinely unique. Its combination of deep strategy and twitch
reflexes is a treat that requires a dexterous hand but is more rewarding than most other available experiences. The player is tasked with entering large rooms filled with sub-rooms and defeating all the patrolling guards present, which initially sounds like a description typical of nearly any video game on the market. However, the Hotline Miami games find their hook in the fact that one hit or blow leads to instant success or failure. Both the player and his adversaries move swiftly, and the sudden death nature of the altercations leads to some extremely tense gameplay experiences that will satisfy, frustrate, and compel, possibly all at once. Hotline Miami 2 adjusts virtually none of the framework set by its predecessor, but it would have been a travesty to mess with such a perfect system. What Hotline Miami 2 does build on is its aesthetic and thematic elements. The pixel-built, retro graphics steal the show with their deliberate minutia, as the mini-
Travis Temple
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malist styling is so excellently crafted that it can tell an elaborate story with very few design elements. Seeing an ‘80s-actionmovie-inspired theme come to life in only a handful of colorful squares is actually quite remarkable, as is its soundtrack. Hotline Miami as a series is known for having impeccable soundtracks, so much so that the musical score for the entire second game was released as a vinyl record the same day the game came out on downloadable purchasing platforms. Rounding out the inimitable presentational package is a storyline that is as unique as the rest of the game. In typical Hotline Miami fashion, it starts out as a dark, twisted romp through a psychedelic ‘80s setting that does not quite make sense and quickly becomes darker and more twisted as the plot begins to become more comprehensible. It is a
Photo provided by http://hotlinemiami.wikia.com/ champion of storytelling, but sadly underrated in this aspect. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is an indie darling that will not set the world on fire anytime soon, but it does cement the indie genre as a mainstay of gaming culture. It is everything that makes the “typical” indie game great, but it does those things with more poise than its peers. Its brevity, monetary cheapness, and thought provoking nature are all exemplary of genre mainstays that it improves on, and for that it must be celebrated.
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SUPER GOLD Varsity Volleyball Team Supporters of #Ashcraft2032 Jeffrey Darby Leann & Roy Binger Kim Bailey William Havard Cathie Hamlin Stephanie Bishop Deborah Monroe Varsity Boys Basketball The Fishburne Family Mrs. Andersen Damaris Hardy The Thweatt Family Mrs. Ford The Hopkins Family The Hill Family Joyce Hopkins Rachel Woods Charity Hopkins
GREEN Cathy Cleveland S.B. Jones W. D. Winterson Art Club SADD Club Louise Thornton Ed Kaufman Mike Nelson Jacqueline Diggs
Patrons Cynthia Hasley Donald Newbold Dennis Carr Rose Scott Star-Lord S. Labossiere David Pollard Nelson Britt Naomi Brown Terry Walker W. D. Winterson Kendall Warren Forrest Steed M. Williams Mike Hanzlik Lewis Newbill
14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.24.15
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FRIDAY 4.24.15 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 15
A&E
Players Present The Hobbit The PG Players Use Various Set Pieces And Unique Costumes To Put On Production Of The Hobbit.
BY THE
NUMBERS
1937 Year The Hobbit was first published Sophomore Troy West and Senior Terrell Grant prsctice scene one of The Hobbit. West plays Bilbo Baggins and this is his first year with the PG Players. Grant Plays Gandalf the Grey. Photo by Devan Fishburne.
Devan Fishburne managing editor
T
his Spring the PG Players are bringing a family favorite to the PGHS stage. The Hobbit started as a 1937 novel by J. R.R. Tolkien and through the decades has grown into a staple of 21st-century American culture with the release of the critically acclaimed film series. “The basic story involves Gandalf the Grey, who is a high level wizard in the hierarchy of the spirit world, a place called Middle Earth,” PGHS theater teacher and director of the play Daryl Phillips said. “He is trying to get a hold of the ring of power, which has the potential to control the whole world, and he wants to put in a safe place of hiding.” From there on Gandalf employs the help of a group of quick-witted dwarfs and a hobbit by the name of Bilbo Baggins, played by sophomore Troy West, to hide the ring from anyone that might abuse its power. This play is not different from other plays performed at PGHS and requires the
same amount of behind the scenes work as any other performance. “We’ve got a lot of costumes to build and Mrs. Houlihan and the seamstresses are busy at that,” Phillips said. “We’ve got painters and Mr. Hanzik’s classes working on carpentry for different pieces of the scenery,” Pre-production preparation not only includes the creation of various set pieces but also the actor’s internal transition from self to their given character, while managing the notable differences between one’s own personality and the personality that must be presented in the role. “It’s more fun to act as something completely different,” senior Christina Howe, who plays Gollum, said. “It’s easier to not be me because [when] portraying another person I don’t feel like I’m being judged,” Each actor can also use their own feelings and emotions to drive themselves to achieving their vision of the character. “Well, I don’t find myself very interesting, so I’m very good at acting like other people because I have a lot of different personalities inside of me that I can draw upon,” West said. To assist with their interpretations, the performers do outside research, which they
cite as a vital part to perfecting the realization of their characters. “I look up videos of different impressions of the character and I don’t try to copy it but take things from it. I try to be as close to the original book description in my interpretation,” Howe said. Phillips provides the actors with necessary suggestions during this process. In the nearly decade long amount of time that he has been directing high school plays, Phillips has been able to put his own professional acting experience into use. Having worked with top directors and having served as an actor himself, Phillips is able to put him into all of the working roles that are necessary when creating a play. “From working with a lot of great directors, I learned a lot of tricks about how to get things done quickly and how to get things done efficiently with large groups of people,” Phillips said. “[I learned] how to organize the rehearsal time so that you aren’t wasting people’s time. Another thing that I learned from the directors that I have worked with is that you need to be able to allow the actors to create as much of the character as they are willing and interested in doing; have ideas to give them, but don’t force ideas on them if they have a good creative energy.”
100 million + Number of copies sold since 1937
13
Number of dwarves
3 Number of films in the series
$939,862,965 International Box Office Gross Total Income from The Hobbit movie
16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.24.15
A&E
Snapchat Tops Charts Popular App Evolves Ways Of Communication. Chance Thweatt trn writer
A
s social media has taken over society, currently holding at the #7 most popular free app in the Apple App Store, Snapchat has captured the attention of many individuals at the high school. Many students are actively using Snapchat as a way to showcase their various adventures and life experiences. On the other hand, Snapchat is also a app used to keep users informed of popular and upcoming events around the country. For example, magazine companies have also started contributing to Snapchat by making users aware of new or different styles that are now trending. Communicating with friends, family, or even the whole country is just one snap away. Khalayia Harris has been on Snapchat for at least one year now. Khalayia Harris has also stated that Instagram and Snapchat are both equal to one another. For example, users are able to take quick photos and share with friends and family using either Instagram or Snapchat. Although Khalayia Harris uses Snapchat more often, she still considers Instagram the same as Snapchat. “In my opinion, Snapchat is a fun app where you take pictures and it goes away after a certain amount of time. I love Snapchat to the point that I use it everyday. My favorite feature on Snapchat is the news feature. The news feature informs me of many new styles and fashions that are now trending,” sophomore Khalayia Harris said.
Students enjoy the use of Snapchat for multiple reasons. “I love using Snapchat for many reasons. Firstly, I am able to share my adventurous life with many of my friends and family. Secondly, Snapchat is more calm and down-to-earth than any other photooriented app. In addition, I like that the user has the privilege of decorating their picture with the design tools,” sophomore Samantha Sudol said. Samantha Sudol joined Snapchat when the app first came out. Sudol also expressed that her favorite feature on Snapchat is the easy access to friendship. For instance, once the user has registered and signed in to Snapchat, the app will urge users to add friends,in order to see other users’ pictures on Snapchat. Sudol also believes that Snapchat is a more efficient way to send silly pictures to a few friends. “Snapchat is my favorite app on my phone. In some ways, I feel as If I can just can be myself on Snapchat, without being self-conscious. I feel more comfortable on Snapchat than any other social media website or app. Snapchat also gives me a more productive way to use my spare time,” sophomore Esther Hong said. Snapchat may serve as a more comfortable and laid back app for some students at the high school. Students may feel less worried about their personal appearance, which leads to a healthier selfesteem. Snapchat may also seem more comfortable, because of the fact that stories posted on Snapchat are temporary, whereas on other social media sites or apps the user has to delete the post in order for it to be removed. Because Snapchat has a huge impact on these certain students at PGHS, it is vi-
tal that students use the app aptly. For example, it is important to send appropriate pictures and messages on Snapchat. “[Snapchat] has a huge impact on me, because you can see people from around the world, and you are also able to take really cool photos,” sophomore Melissa Harris said.
Junior Erica Harris sends a photo to her friend on Snapchat. Photo taken by April Buckles.
Did You Know? 75%
of students have Snapchat on their smart phone.
25%
of students do not have the app on their phone.
52%
of students who have Snapchat on their phone use it often.
48%
of students who have snapchat on their phone do not use it. Information obtained from 100 surveys from PGHS students.
FRIDAY 4.24.15| THE ROYAL NEWS | 17
SPORTS
Athletes Reveal Superstitions Athletes Rely on Certain Pre-Game Rituals Before a Game to Give Them an Edge. Tyneshia Griffin trn writer
A
s the familiar melody of the national anthem rings through the air across the Royals athletic field, junior Willow Hart practices a pre-game ritual that is one of her essential elements of encouragement. Passion, strength, and tenacity are not the only components of a victorious Royal athlete. Superstition, ranging from meditation to wearing the same articles of clothing, can also accompany the list of athlete attributes. As trusted catalysts for athletic achievement, superstitions lead to pregame rituals throughout Royal sports. “I pray before every game during the Star Spangled Banner,” Hart said. “I think [the pre-game ritual] benefits me if I get into a groove.” Hart expects each game to have an auspicious outcome because her buoyancy within the game reflects the energy expressed between her and a fellow teammate’s handshake. “Chaelin Magruder has always been there for me. She has been like my big sister,” Hart said. “I have a handshake with Chaelin before we take the field. My freshmen year we started the shake and have not stopped since.” Errors are common within any game. However, without becoming spiritually connected and performing her sacred handshake before taking the field, Hart undeniably becomes aware of the steps missed in her pre-game routine. “When I play a difficult team and I do not have Chaelin, I do not perform well,” Hart said. “I will always feel like something is missing.” The comprehensive record of ranking and athletic achievements available at outdoor track races is a benefit that senior outdoor track runner Leshawn Nash never takes advantage of to avoid comparing himself to other competitors. “[I do not] look at heat sheets,” Nash said. “They are sheets that have a time and
[the] names on every runner.” Similar to Hart, Nash looks for religious inspiration to promise him success as he sprints across the finish line. “Before every race I pray so that my teammates do not get any injuries and I do my best,” Nash said. “I pray to be calm, prepared, and not be stressed. If you think too much you will not perform well.” Another major mistake that an outdoor track runner could make that is believed to sway the outcome of a race is dropping the baton for a relay. “I never drop the stick. I think it is bad luck.” senior outdoor track runner Diamond Mayes said. “It’s a common superstition.” Practicing pre-game rituals is not only a personal initiative. For senior baseball player Montae Bradshaw, he endeavors permeate prosperity for the whole team. “I throw with the same person, I wear the same socks, same shirt, same flavor of gum before the game, same everything,” Bradshaw said. “Overall, I do it because it
Senior center fielder Montae Bradshaw swings at a pitch against L.C. Bird. Montae is superstitious about his socks, shirt, and the gum he chews before and during his games. Photo by Cassie Kolbo. helps the team and me.” Mickey Roberts, coach of the Royals varsity baseball team, recognizes superstitions, but does not consider them to have a true influence on the performance of athletes. “Some guys wear the same socks. They will continue to do the same thing if they have had good outings,” Robert said. “It is not really anything you can do special to change outcome. The best performing team will usually come out on top.” Though Nash absorbs the benefits of his superstitions, he does not fully depend on them to sway the outcome of the races. “Superstitions or not, regardless, I am still going to run,” Nash said. “At the end of day you will still perform.”
Steph Curry for Most Valuable Player
T
here are many players who make a case for MVP this season. Those players are Stephen Curry of the Warriors, Russell Westbrook of the Thunder, Anthony Davis of the Pelicans, James Harden of the Rockets, LeBron James of Ryan Albright the Cavaliers, and Chris Paul of the Clippers. All of these players have had noteworthy seasons, but one player certainly stands out above the rest. Steph Curry was simply the best player on the best team in the league this year. He played in 80 out of 82 games, scored 32.7 points per game, shooting 49% from the field and 43% from three point range, and shot 92% from the free throw line. He led the Warriors to a NBA league leading 67-15 record and the number one overall seed in the Western Division, 11 games ahead of the number 2 seed. Arguably the best threepoint shooter in the league, he has proven to be more than that this season, and that has really put him ahead of the rest of the pack, whereas last season he did not do much inside the three-point arc. The only person who should really have any chance of competing with Curry for the award this year is Russell Westbrook, who was probably the most electrifying player to watch this year. His most important stats are that he almost led the depleted Thunder into the playoffs without former MVP Kevin Durant, and led the league in triple doubles with 11, seven more than the person with the second most, even while Westbrook missed 15 games throughout the season. Westbrook gets overlooked for MVP because his team was less successful, and unfortunately the MVP has recently gone more in the trend of having to be on a good team to win the award. If his team had made the playoffs or had been more successful, he would probably be holding up the MVP trophy when they announce the winner. Other players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, James Harden, and Chris Paul do not really stand a chance at winning the MVP this year. It is a clear decision to me that Steph Curry will win it.
18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.24.15
PH TOGALLERY
Track Hosts 1st Home Meet Boys, Girls Track Team Hosts First Home Meet That Involved Many Central District Schools. TOP LEFT: Senior Tyler Spence runs his leg of the 4x8 with the baton. His team won the race. Photo By Ronnie Dayvault. BOTTOM LEFT: Sophomore Joseph Kemp attempts to clear the high jump bar. Kemp along with his teammate Sam Burch were unsuccessful in winning the competition. Photo by Ronnie Dayvault.
For more photos visit www.trnwired. smugmug.com
ABOVE: Senior Diamond Mays completes the 100 meter dash. Mays came in 3rd place in the event. Photo by Ronnie Dayvault. BOTTOM RIGHT: Junior Kendallyn Johnson attempts to make a great jump. Johnson was one of few Royals to participate in the long jump. Photo by Ronnie Dayvault.
FRIDAY 4.24.15 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 19
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Varsity boys softball Varsity boys Varsity girls Spring >> Varsity >> game vs. Colonial >> tennis match vs. >> soccer game soccer game vs. Manchester on Heights on Tues., vs. Hopewell on Manchester on Sports Wed., Apr. 29th at Apr. 28th at 6:00 PM. Thurs., Apr. 30th Mon., May. 4th
UPCOMING EVENTS
4:00 PM.
at 7:00 PM.
at 7:00 PM.
Team Bonding Strengthens Performance Corey Lee trn writer
J
unior Sam Burch and the rest of the Royals track team are riding the bus to the next big meet with anticipation and are sharing techniques and learning from each other. For the track team, the bus rides are a breeding place for the bonding that carries the team through the season. Spending the season together as a team and as a family creates a strong bond between the student athletes. The bond created between a team helps to educate, encourage, and build up the self-confidence of the players. The teams have to go through the ups and downs of games and continue to encourage each other to keep pushing forward. As a discus thrower on the track and field throwing team, Burch spends long hours with his teammates. “We all do our warm ups together and while we are throwing we help each other and we develop our skills together,” Burch said. Having a strong bond between teammates can help the players become better in their skills through peer criticism and motivation. “[A bond] helps tremendously, whether you are in the circle throwing or on the line sprinting, We all want the same thing, to see each other prosper,” Burch said. “It means that I have someone to turn to when I need them and I have the responsibility to do the same for them.” As the team continues through the season and becomes more familiar with one another, the bond continues to grow. “Last year we went to Luca’s together and practiced over spring break. This year is just starting so we don’t [hang out] as much,” Burch said. “I feel that we are about to start hanging out more.” Junior McKenzie Barlow, a varsity
softball player, feels that a team bond is created by the support and encouragement of teammates. “We create a bond by supporting each other and rooting for each other,” Barlow said. “It helps us get along.” The companionship that has been created on the softball team carries on past team practices and will continue on after school is over this year. “[We] go out to eat before games and we have team sleepovers,” Barlow said. “[During the summer] some of us play travel ball with each other and against each other.” Senior Jessie Chiasson is a starting varsity tennis player and has been on the team for four years. As an experienced member she has seen the process of inducting new members on to the team. “We try and integrate them in practice and make them involved. We always stress them to become better,” Chiasson said. “After our own matches we go and watch their exhibition matches.” Social media has helped to bring teams closer off the field and has helped them stay in touch. Being able to communicate with one another more easily has increased the team companionship. “We have a large group talk and are always talking and joking around with each other. It really helps us stay together,” Chiasson said. Being a part of a team means having to go through losses and hardships together. “The losses bring us closer together and the rivalries that we all have definitely brought us closer together,” Chiasson said. The sports that make up PGHS athletics all share a common bond that brings them closer through the shared victories, losses, and support from one another. “Everyone is playing a sport,” Burch said. “From sport to sport this brings us closer. We don’t have any judgment, we are all friends.”
Junior Sam Burch mentally prepares before his jump during the track meet. Burch and his teammates help prepare each other for the meets. Photo by Ronnie Dayvault. For more upcoming track pictures go to trnwired.org.