The South Lakes Sentinel South Lakes High School • 11400 South Lakes Drive • Reston, Virginia • 20190 Friday, June 8, 2012 • 703.715.4617 • Volume 27 • Issue 6 CHECK IT OUT College, college, college Members of the Class of 2012 have bright futures ahead of them. Flip to the centerspread to see what schools they are heading to. - pages 6-7 12 things to know for your first year of college Alumni give their advice for the graduating seniors on what to expect in college. - page 12 Studying abroad While some seniors are packing their bags to go off to college a few states away, others are packing to spend their time in a whole different country. - page 9 News 2 • Focus 3 • OpEd 4-5 • Centerspread 6-7 • Student Life 8-9 • Seahawk Stories 10 • Sports 11 • Trends 12 Movin’ on Butler’s last senior class ready to take on the world PHOTO BY MICHAEL BRUCE 2012
Transcript
The South Lakes
SentinelSouth Lakes High School • 11400 South Lakes Drive • Reston, Virginia • 20190
CHECK IT OUT College, college, collegeMembers of the Class of 2012 have bright futures ahead of them. Flip to the centerspread to see what schools they are heading to.
- pages 6-7
12 things to know for your first year of collegeAlumni give their advice for the graduating seniors on what to expect in college.
- page 12
Studying abroadWhile some seniors are packing their bags to go off to college a few states away, others are packing to spend their time in a whole different country.
Butler’s last senior class ready to take on the world
PHOTO BY MICHAEL BRUCE
2012
News2 The South Lakes Sentinel
Friday, June 8, 2012
News Briefs
SEAHAWK CALENDAR
Seniors to enlist in armed forces after graduation
Scholarships awarded to graduates
SLHS ranked among top U.S. high schools
South Lakes is one of 23 Fairfax County high schools featured in Washington Post’s list of the most demanding public schools in the country. The selected schools represent the top nine percent of high schools nationwide. Schools were ranked based on a formula devised by Washington Post education reporter Jay Mathews. The number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Cambridge tests given by a school to all its students were divided by the number of seniors who graduated in May or June. Of the 1,800 U.S. high schools listed, South Lakes is ranked number 305.
Senior class graduation events scheduleBaccalaureate Ceremony at St. John Neumann Church
Monday, June 11, 7 p.m.
Senior BBQ on the trackTuesday, June 12, 5:30 p.m.
Senior Talent ShowTuesday, June 12, 7 p.m.
Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal Wednesday, June 13, 9:15 a.m.
GraduationThursday, June 14, 3 p.m.
All Night Grad PartyThursday, June 14-Friday, June 15, 10:30 p.m.-5 a.m.
Sports physicals scheduled
Athletes wishing to take care of their physicals for the 2012-13 school year may do so June 12 from 5-7 p.m. Cost is $50 for pre-registration and $60 at the door. Physicals are provided at no cost for reduced/free lunch participants. Go to www.fcps.edu/sports to schedule appointments online.
Football fundraiser set for June 9
Buffalo Wing Factory at Hunter Woods Shopping Center will donate 10 percent of its total sales for the day to the Seahawk football program, Saturday, June 9.
Butler community celebration in the planning stages, set for June 28
The South Lakes PTSA will honor Principal Butler with an evening of remembrance and appreciation at the Hunters Woods Reston Community Center June 28. The celebration will include a presentation of moments in his life as an educator, with an emphasis on his time at South Lakes. Additionally, there will be a video tribute to Butler. PTSA requests that photos, memories, and comments be sent to [email protected] by June 15. Donations for a special tribute may also be given at www.southlakesptsa.org/bbdonate.html.
Dance department presents student choreography showcase June 8
The South Lakes Dance Program will present its final spring performance, “Broadway Bound”, in the Little Theater during period 8, June 8. The showcase will feature the Essence Dance Company, Latina Danza, and dance classes. The student dancers will re-create Broadway dance productions.
Annual Senior Music Recital held May 29
Musicians from the Class of 2012 performed for the last time at South Lakes during the music department’s Annual Senior Recital May 29. The event highlighted the musical talents of the senior class and served as a final sendoff to graduating chorus, guitar, band, and orchestra students. A reception honoring the senior musicians was held in the orchestra room after the concert.
Students recognized at Senior Award Ceremony
The Class of 2012 was honored for its many accomplishments during the Senior Awards Ceremony, held June 7 in the theater. The event included thepresentation of department awards, recognition of achievements, acknowledgement of IB Diploma candidates and seniors with a 3.5+ GPA, as well as scholarship winners.
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$6,379,895
by Grace Erardnews editor
Senior Will Cochrane and English teacher Ron Smith will represent the Class of 2012 as graduation speakers. Following tradition, the seniors elected their student and faculty speakers. According to Smith, the fact that the designation came from the students made it even more meaningful. “I was quite honored,” said Smith. “It’s always nice to be picked by students to do something special.” Cochrane was also ecstatic when he was selected by his peers. “It’s the biggest honor I’ve ever received, especially since I love South Lakes so much,” said Cochrane. “This school means the world to me and I can’t imagine any place I’d rather have gone to high school.”
by Grace Erardnews editor
Five seniors will enter the military following graduation. Saleh Saeed has enlisted in the Army, Cullen Guimond and Armani Williams will join the Marine Corps, Naimah Coleman will serve in the Air Force, and Lee Maring will work with the Army’s intelligence gathering team as a cryptologic linguist. Two of the enlistees, Guimond and Williams, went through the South Lakes Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (JROTC) program. Senior Army Instructor Major Joseph Schuler is pleased that they have chosen a military path. “It is a great opportunity for them to get life experience and serve the country,” said Schuler. Schuler is also confident that participation in JROTC will give Guimond and Williams an advantage in the armed forces. “In JROTC, we teach students
leadership and other skills that they will need in the military,” said Schuler. “They will also be able to go in at a higher pay rate since they were both members of JROTC for at least three years.” Although Guimond’s experience with JROTC influenced him, his nationalistic feelings were the main
driving force behind his decision to join the Marine Corps. “When you join the Marine Corps you are joining the most patriotic people in America,” said Guimond. “I am motivated to go into the Marine Corps not just for the jobs and pay, but to bring honor and justice to our society.”
Saeed also chose to serve the country out of love and gratitude for the United States “My family came from Somalia and they were in the government until it was overthrown by terrorists,” said Saeed. “I received citizenship from the United States and I want to serve it for its
generosity.” All of the military recruits are looking forward to the training that they will receive. Saeed will transform from a civilian into a soldier during a 10-week combat training course, Coleman will begin basic training in Texas, Maring will receive
linguistics instruction, and Guimond will attend boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina this October. “I’m both nervous and excited,” said Guimond. “I don’t really know what I’m going to experience, but I am willing to work to become a Marine.” Maring also has high aspirations regarding his training and future career. “I will learn a language at the Defense Language Institute in California after I finish basic training in July,” said Maring. “I hope to develop translation skills and switch to Special Forces when I turn 21.” According to Schuler, manymembers of JROTC are planning to follow in the five enlistees’ footsteps after they graduate next year. “Twelve students are already starting their applications for ROTC scholarships and some kids have begun training for military academies,” said Schuler.
“When you join the Marine Corps you are joining the most patriotic people in America. I am motivated to go into the Marine Corps not just for the jobs and pay, but to bring honor and justice to our society.”
- Cullen Guimond, senior
by Grace Erard news editor
The Class of 2012 earned a total of $6,379,895 in scholarship money this year. This figure represents the largest amount of scholarship money given to any one graduating class in South Lakes history. Many of the awards were community-based, such as the Reston Hospital Center Medical Staff scholarships presented to Syreya Kamineni and Sonya Wali. However, Ian Crutcher and Austin Chustz had their accomplishments recognized on a national level. They received $2,500 National Achievement Scholarships supported by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The Achievement Scholarships awarded to African-American high school seniors are to be used for undergraduate study at any regionally accredited United States college or university. Crutcher and Chustz will use the funds to pursue careers in engineering and medicine, respectively. “I was really excited to be named a National Achievement Scholar because Stanford is expensive and the money I received will help pay for my tuition,” said Chustz.
Scholarshipsgiven:
Total moneyawarded:
According to Cochrane, the best part of South Lakes is its intimate atmosphere. “We really are a big family,” said Cochrane. “I will definitely miss the community aspect of South Lakes, but I know that everybody will stay connected because we care about each other.” Cochrane’s speech will incorporate his sentiments about South Lakes and his classmates as well as topics that are relevant to
his peers. “I’m trying to keep my speech a surprise for now, but I will say that every senior will be able to directly relate to it,” said Cochrane. While Cochrane’s
speech will reflect on the seniors’ collective high school experience, Smith’s speech will focus on the future. “I will talk about challenges that the seniors will face after they leave high school,” said Smith.
Cochrane, Smith to speak at graduation
“We really are a big family. I will definitely miss the community aspect of South Lakes, but I know that everybody will stay connected because we care about each other.”
- Will Cochrane, senior
Focus 3Volume 27 Issue 6
Student Loans become A Second Tuition
College expenses are rising and student loans might not be the solution anymore
by Sachi Jainstudent life editor
The payment process for colleges and universities has been under a critical eye over the past years.
Each year the tuition price of college increases, while the numbers of jobs in the nation decrease. Many critics suggest that the price of college outweighs the benefits, and that the undergraduate diploma is earned through money and not by academics. “Paying for college is a burden,” said senior Ali Hashi, who will attend University of Mary Washington next year. “I have to pay for it all and it is ridiculous how much it really costs. I never realized how much it was before. So now I have to look for scholarships and jobs.” Congress believes there should be a change in the financial system of universities. Nevertheless, these changes are nowhere near what Americans envisioned. According to FCPS Financial Aid champion Linda Derian Boyke, there is a bill going through the House and Senate about raising the current Free Application for Federal Student Aid interest rate from the existing 3.4% to 6.8%. “The rate expires on July 1 and Congress sees this as an optimum opportunity to double the nation’s federal student interest aid,” said Boyke. A majority of both Democrats and Republicans want the interest rate to stay at 3.4%. However, the method to offset the money lost by not raising the interest rate is split along party lines. If the interest rate does not increase, approximately six billion dollars will be lost. The Democratic Party wants to pay for this six billion dollar price tag by closing tax loopholes on shareholders of S-corporations, corporations that elect to pass corporate income, losses, deductions and credit through to their shareholders for federal tax purposes. The Republican Party has a different tactic in mind and would prefer to cut money from entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Due to the current deadlock, a 6.8% interest rate may happen in the future. “Kids should contact their congressman and tell them to knock it off and take action about this rising interest rate,” said Boyke. Rises in financial aid interest rates are not the only factor making the college financial situation unmanageable. Overall, prices of college tuition are rising at an unnatural inflation rate. According to USA Today, public four-year universities began charging their residents an average of $8,244 per year in 2012, which as an almost 8.3% increase from last year. Public two-year universities began charging an average of $2,963 per year, which is an 8.7% increase.
These increases are almost double the inflation rates of last year. “This is how I got through school,” said Boyke. “I couldn’t without the financial aid program. It took me eight years to pay off all my loans when I graduated in 1971. I don’t know if I could do it today because the educational price has raised ten-fold and income hasn’t raised as much.” The rise of financial aid and tuition prices along with the decrease of family earnings across all income levels has left many American citizens struggling to pay for a higher education. As a result of these increased tuition rates, many
Americans choose in-state universities over private and out-of-state universities because of the discount in
tuition cost. This increase in applications for in-state schools also effects the competition in multiple areas, sometimes forcing students to settle for a university below their performance level. “I am going to NOVA for a year,and then switching to a state school for financial reasons,” said senior Robert Wallace. “The colleges that I got into were too expensive.” With the changing conditions of the college process and economy, Boyke is worried how families will handle the finances. “I see many families, smart families, college educated people, who are blindsided by how much college is worth,” said Boyke. “And the worst part is, they only start to try and get financial aid senior year. That is the problem many families face.”
“Paying for college is a burden.” - Ali Hashi, senior
Charts show that even though the amount of loans available to students is rising, cost is a major factor forcing many to opt for their second- or third-choice school. Chicago Tribune 2009.
Layla Sharaf, Viviana Del Toro,Niki May, Lily Shtuhl,
Clint Bouttavong, Gargie Nagarkar
AdviserPhil Dignan
The South Lakes Sentinel is an open forum publication serving the South Lakes High School community. The Sentinel solicits letters to the editor online. Letters must be signed. The editorial board reserves the right to edit such letters for grammar, usage, clarity, punctuation, and length. The Sentinel will publish no material, including advertising, that is libelous, obscene, or has a clear potential for disruption of the school routine, as has generally been determined by law. The Sentinel staff will make every effort to avoid conflicts of interest, to be fair and balanced in reporting, and to reflect the diverse population of South Lakes High School. The content of The Sentinel is determined by the editorial board. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the faculty advisor, administration of South Lakes High School, or Fairfax County Public Schools.
The Sentinel is a member of the following scholastic
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The South Lakes
Sentinel
SEAHAWK TALKWhat are you most looking forward to in college?
“I’m really excited to meet new people.”
- Christy HoffmanPenn State
“Meeting new people and moving on in life.”
- Kevin GrayOhio State
“Living in a dorm and meeting new people.”
- Richard UhrigWilliam & Mary
Op/Ed4 The South Lakes Sentinel Friday, June 8, 2012
GUEST COMMENTARY
Logan KriederHype Squad leader
FROM THE BOARD
”Sleeping in and being independent.”
- Kyle NorfleetMarymount Manhattan
“Home of the Seahawks and darn proud of it”
It is not without tears that I can begin to think about or remember the incredible moments at this great school. My first week was filled with terror of not knowing anyone and thinking only of how to somehow fit in this huge place. Now, I cannot imagine life without every single person in this school. My best memories were formed in the heart of our school. Going to the homecoming game and seeing only a sea of black camouflaged against the dark of the night- knowing that no matter the outcome of that game, we were victorious in our hearts. The South Lakes vs. Herndon basketball game my sophomore year, where there was not an inch of space that was not filled in our newly renovated gymnasium and not a decibel of sound being produced that was not cheering on either one of the teams. Then to go to this year’s game at Herndon, using every single joule of energy in my body to scream and yell to generate hype in that gym that had never been seen before by either side. The crystal jewel of all memories created at this school has to be the moment when fellow 2012 graduate, Alexander Graves, said unto his fellow classmates, “fasten your seatbelts, keep your arms and legs inside at all times and enjoy the ride!” It was at this particular millisecond that this thought was produced, “It is with all of my heart that I absolutely love this school, this class, this family.” To every member of this school: embrace the family that is South Lakes, “home of the Seahawks and darn proud of it!” Following that advice will result in the most rewarding times of your life. South Lakes has changed my life and I will always be a Seahawk.
If the institution of school is anything, it is simple. Students attend school for four quarters, receive a grade based on their performances, and at the end of the year, the four quarters are averaged into a final grade which will then be placed on a transcript for potential colleges to look at. Except this is not how the system works, because there is a fifth quarter that is added to your final grade, a quarter known as the end of the year final. This final is acumulative test on everything covered during the year and can account for up to 20 percent of a student’s final grade. This means that bad test-takers or students who cannot remember the precise details of the first unit of the year may experience a major drop in their final grade for the year. And no, we will not remember the five laws of logarithms when we are still trying to comprehend shifts, holes, and asymptotes. Not only that, but the finals for all seven classes are scheduled for the same week. This means that students are never able to focus on one topic at a time. This may be okay for a student who has their art and math final on the same day, but woeful for the student who must face a night of cramming for history and physics at the same time.
Worst of all, this important test is a one time, no retake test. We realize that retakes might not be feasible due to time constraints, but we feel that final exams would be much more fair if students were allowed to make corrections and get points back. What if you are sick or miss the day of the scheduled final? Students who miss the final, for whatever reason, are given only two options. They can either take a zero on the test, which would
inevitably harm their overall grade, or they can return to school during their all important summer break. This is an act few students would wish to partake in. The very least the school could do is spread out the finals over a time period
longer than four days. Last time we checked students have seven classes, so we should at least have seven days for finals. An even better idea is to schedule a longer break between finals. One thing worse than facing the final exam for your worst class is knowing you have to face it after three straight days of studying for six other subjects. This simply seems counter-productive. So, please, can us kids have some slack during a time when we are the least motivated to achieve anything? Either lower the stakes or give us a break. After working hard for four quarters, we deserve it.
“So, please, can us kids have some slack during a time when we are the least motivated to achieve anything?”
The “fifth quarter” final exams fail to reflect class competency
Op/Ed 5Volume 27 Issue 6
CALL OUTby Kaitlin Welkerco-managing editor
on the edgeby Edgeri Hudlinopinion editor
COMMENTARY
It’s the end of the world as we know it
Have a really awesome summer break Seahawks
I have never been one to run around screaming that the sky is falling. I do not believe in aliens and I do not think anything suspicious went down in area 51. I do not believe in the Loch Ness monster, Big Foot or even Edward Cullen. But as a result of recent events, there is one specific supernatural theory that has me questioning my skeptical attitude. Now, before you laugh or judge me, just hear me out. Maybe I should not have been so quick to judge those who actu-ally believe there will be a zombie apocalypse. I mean, these ideas do not just come from nowhere. It is like one of those old movies with the crazy prophecies no one believes. But anyone who has seen these movies knows that the crazy ones are always right. Except this is not Indiana Jones. This is real life. I am sure most of you have heard about the infamous May 26 attack in Miami where Rudy Eugene actually chewed the face off 65-year-old Ronald Poppo.
Now, this is no laughing matter. It is a very sick thing that a man ate another man’s face. But the real sick part is that this is not the only case. As I was researching the theory of the zombie apocalypse, I searched “cannibalism” in Google news. Way too many search results came up. Dozens of stories on people on trial for cannibalism appeared on my screen. We all know that December 21, 2012 is coming up, and thousands actually believe that zombies will take over the world. I am just saying, is this really a coincidence? I mean, it would not hurt to be prepared. So, I set out on a mission to learn how to defend myself in case of such catastrophe. And I found some pretty interesting stuff… You can actually order a survival kit or a manual on zombie combat. Needless to say guys, this whole end of the world thing may not be a joke after all, and I am going to be prepared. Are you?
The next individual who says “didn’t you already wear that” to me, will answer to my angry eyebrows. At this point in the year I am incapable of even remembering the names of my beloved teachers much less remembering what I wore last week on Friday. Anyway, I have more pressing issues to discuss. I was strongly advised by many in the building to put an end to my faculty crusades. Apparently I crossed the “line” with my student appreciation article. Im a pacafist so I will humor these suggestions and “lay off the staff.” Hence, this being the end of the school year, I have decided to call this the debut of my official Summer break manual. Let us begin. The first rule of having a fabulous summer is boycotting those abominable summer assignments. Summer time is our time, and we must aggressively embrace this. All students must complete their summer assignments on the first day of school at 12:01 AM. Now repeat after me: “I refuse to be shackled by the institution of education on my time, so if the Seahawk comes chirpin’ between June 14 and September 4, I will grab my sling shot and have bird for dinner.”
The second rule to having the greatest summer ever is getting to know the world beyond the boundaries of your house. Learn to Take advantage of your sprawling recess by playing sports and taking walks in the great outdoors. Bask in the glory of Mother Nature and consider introducing yourself to the neighbors. I promise you they grimace each time you pass their home without saying anything. Start with the simple phrase, “Yo Mr. Gatsby, have you been working out because the guns seem to be loaded.” It is cheesy but it will certainly either bring a bellow of laughter or an aggressive order to vacate the premise. The final rule for enjoying a simply extravagant break is sleeping until you feel it is time to wake up. Follow the ever ticking clock of your heart and open your eyes when you please. Hold a formal ceremony in which you violently unplug your alarm clock and condemn it to the dark confines of the region under your mattress. View it as your happiness heist. Silence that horrid machine, my friends, and start living. It is time for the student body to sit down and take a break.
by Edgeri Hudlinopinion editor
June 15 marks the end of the FCPS school year and the beginning of a sprawling summer recess. In past years, students were assigned summer reading and other projects for upcoming courses. This year, however, some changes have been made specifically in the English department. “We believe that we will have the majority of students just read it,” said English teacher Tabitha Morrison, whose students will be reading “The Hunger Games” for their summer reading assignments. Morrison and other English 9 Honors teachers selected novels that students have shown enthusiasm over during the process of creating this summer’s assignment. “We wanted to pick something that had high student interest, and many teachers observed the student fervor over ‘The Hunger Games’ movie,” said Morrison. This reasoning is shared by the Scholastic Association, which recommends students analyze works that they express an interest in or choose themselves because it allows for students to use prior knowledge when completing the assignment. For honors and regular courses, there is more room for book choice. However, IB English courses have little flexibility in the choice of summer reading. “Once you are in IB you are limited to certain books, but the teachers are trying to not overload
students over the summer,” said IB English teacher Valerie Padgett. “They want to encourage reading as more of a pleasure instead of drudgery.” Indeed one of the encouragements posed for all assigned reading over the summer is to make it fun and engaging for students rather than chore-like and enraging. Nevertheless, there is still a large cross section of the student population that feels that assigning homework impedes on an individual’s right to a “break.” “I think that the school already possesses a strangle hold on ten months of our year,” said junior Dara Kharabi. “To ask for more is to allow our schools to descend to socialism. As Americans we cannot allow this.” Other students hold the same opinion, simply to a lower extent. “Summer break is our time for personal reflection and relaxation,” said junior Benjamin Williams. “It is the only time for us to relax and have time for ourselves.” Others disagree and feel that summer assignments are needed to keep student brains churning and prevent the late start of curriculum. This presents the underlying question of, “Are summer assignments necessary for high school students?” To IB students, summer assignments are necessary to reduce the workload for the following school year. “[For IB] it definitely makes sense to have summer assignments,” said senior Jordan Schmuckler. “IB requires that you
get some of the class work out of the way before the year starts because there is so much to cover.” It is very true to say that summer assignments make sense for IB classes, but the same applies for other course levels for a different reason. Education is similar to exercise. In order to maintain a certain weight and physic, one must participate in some form of physical activity. If an athlete stops exercising, he or she will experience a decline in physical performance. The same absolutely applies to academics. If students spend the entire summer recess watching TV and playing video games, their scholarly skills would surely diminish with time and absence from studies. This would put students at a disadvantage at the start of the school year. This “summer slide,” as Secretary of Education Anne Duncan calls it, statistically exists. Sixty-six percent of the fresh-man reading achievement gap can be attributed to unequal amounts of required summer assignments, according to the New York State Education Department. This is not to say that courses should require elaborate assignments that require absurd amounts of time to complete. Summer break is still a “break” in which students should be given time for themselves. These assignments are simply a necessary evil for the success of scholars.
Summer assignments should not interfere with relaxation over break
Correction-In the May 9 issue of The South Lakes Sentinel story “Student compares seven yeasr living in United States with Dubai,” the following was printed. “In Dubai women are not allowed to drive which required his mother to hire her own personal driver.” In Dubai, women are allowed to drive, while women are restricted from driving in Saudi Arabia. Also, it should be clarified that Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates, not Saudi Arabia. The staff apologies for any confusion created by this error.
Paul Gonzales illustration of beach with words "SUMMER BOOKS" written in the sand. Los Angeles Times/MCT 2011
Student Life8 The South Lakes Sentinel Friday, June 8, 2012
Seniors reveal their favorite memories
by Alexa Amstercopy editor
The high school years are widely regarded as some of the best years in one’s life. This fact rings true for many seniors who shared their most memorable moments from their fulfilling years in high school. Some seniors said their favorite moments occurred during their first year here at South Lakes. “Spirit week freshman year is unforgettable,” said senior Ellie Huber. “It was our first time at a new school and of course nobody likes the freshmen. There was just so much competition between the classes and we actually won second place.” “I remember being at a basketball game freshman year versus Langley,” said senior Mercia Spicer. “The coach wanted to put a senior in and he just refused. Then, the coach threatened to kick him out but he just walked out of the gym. It was so funny to watch in the bleachers.” Other graduating seniors remember being a part of their favorite extracurricular activities for their high school years. “Being a part of the musical every year was definitely my favorite memory,” said senior Jenny Rubin. “Theatre is my life and I got to spend time with my friends every
day, doing what I love.” Seniors Taylor Murphy and Sara Dalsheim will forever recall the vast spirit displayed school-wide, especially by the Class of 2012, during Homecoming Week last fall. “Homecoming Week last year was amazing,” said Murphy. “For Class Color Day, we came to school so early to decorate and this kid was rapping a song he wrote for our class.” “The roller coaster cheer from the Hype Squad and our class during the pep rally rocked,” said Dalsheim. “We really came together and created a great cheer.”
PHOTO BY HALEY VAUGHNSenior Alex Graves leads the Class of 2012 in its senior cheer at the 2011 Homecoming Pep Rally. Many seniors agreed that the performance of this “roller-coaster” chant ranks highly as a favorite high school memory.
Moments range from freshman experiences to Herndon rivalry
Another memorable pep rally moment came in January during the winter pep rally when the varsity dance and basketball teams joined forces and danced. “Dancing at the winter pep rally with the dance team and the basketball players was great,” said senior Ella Fertitta. “Our class has started a great tradition.” Clashes with Herndon on the gridiron, volleyball court, and soccer field will remain lasting memories for senior spectators and players. “All of the games we played at Herndon were so hyped,” said
senior Taylor Gebauer. “It was always a great, spirited atmosphere.” Senior Christian Gaston said that defeating Herndon in the Baron Cameron Bowl after an eight-year losing streak was a cherished moment. “Beating Herndon in the Baron Cameron Bowl was definitely a highlight,” said Gaston. “We finally did it after many years.” Being a part of the swim team for four years created lasting memories for senior Tiger Barbee. “Swimming for South Lakes was the highlight of my high school
years,” said Barbee. “Being one of the captains on the team senior year was great as well.” Senior Kevin Shahzad believes that the family-like dynamic that South Lakes exuded over the course of his high school years is unrivaled. “Everyone was popular at South Lakes,” said Shahzad. “We have a wonderful community here and I’ll forever miss the great Seahawk pride.” Seniors who wish to share more everlasting memories may do so by commenting on this story at www.southlakessentinel.com.
What is your favorite high school memory?
“The Herndon basketball game my freshman year was memorable. I was on the JV team and we came within one after being 14 points down. We lost, but it was so intense.”
- Sanica Bendre, senior
“Every single spirit week we had in high school was so much fun. I loved not having to worry about what clothes I wore. My favorite spirit day was last year’s Super Hero Day when I dressed as Mermaid Man.”
- Kat Turk, senior
“Sophomore year, varsity baseball beat Langley by one run in the first round of districts. We were such a young team but it was just the best feeling since we were the seventh seed and had never made it past the first round in 10 years. Langley was devestated.”
- Nathan Vellayan, senior
“The Herndon football game junior year was by far the greatest memory. I got a sack during that game and everyone cheered for me. After that, everyone called me ‘D Clark.’”
- Dylan Clark, senior
“Beating the seniors in powder puff football when we were juniors was exciting. It was a huge upset because no one ever expected us to win. All of us played well together.”
- Kelly Regan, senior
by Rachel RogersSeahawk Stories editor
Seniors eagerly anticipate the future college years, made possible through hard work and hours of studying. However, it is questionable whether or not these same students will perform well at the collegiate level. According to the U.S. News & World Report, South Lakes has a college readiness index of 67. This index contrasts schools known for academic proficiency such as Thomas Jefferson, which earned an index of 100. Senior Lindy Westenhoff, recently accepted to the honors program at James Madison University, worries that some of her classmates may underestimate the load of collegiate
work. “It will be a big shock for some kids,” said Westenhoff. “My friend expected to cruise along like she did in high school, but she nearly failed her first semester of classes. She’s doing better now, but it was a big change.” One reason for difficulty adjusting to college life is that seniors are not prepared to handle the extensive and more challenging workload. However, some believe that IB courses provide graduating seniors with advantages entering their freshman year of college. “Most are ready because IB classes help to prepare students for college work,” said senior Lauren Smith. “South Lakes is a great school, but I think non-IB students may not be as prepared for the work load.”
Career specialist Karen Burke has a different view of the preparedness of the students. “My personal feeling is that the students who are going off to college are ready,” said Burke. For many students, attending college will force them to live away from family and leave them without the accessible support they have been accustomed to for 18 years. “Some students have a more realistic fear about college than others,” said school psychologist Rebecca Caldwell. “Some people may not be ready for being on their own or managing their own time. Some have never been away from home before.” Typically, a high school student is excited to leave home. However, many students readily express their personal concerns about other
seniors heading to college. “It’s not that there are seniors that don’t want to leave home and aren’t ready, but there are students who want to leave and aren’t ready,” said senior Nicky Osbon. “They’ve had everything handed to them all their lives and are used to a certain kind of lifestyle.” Some students lack non-academic skills, such as cooking, doing laundry, and time management. These are necessary skills that will be in great demand when student leave to live on there own. “You’re responsible for your own food, laundry, and personal health,” said Westenhoff. “If your only exercise is walking to your class, that isn’t good enough for you.” Despite apprehensions, Caldwell thinks many students will flourish
when they start college. “College is good with helping students live away from home,” said Caldwell. “They help the transition by getting freshmen to live on campus where they can learn from others. If someone doesn’t know how to do laundry, then they’ll be part of the group of people learning from the one person that does. A lot of maturity also happens over the summer after senior year.” While some students confess concerns, the majority have confidence in their abilities to succeed in the “real world.” “People are always more resilient then we give them credit for and that applies to students,” said Caldwell. “When we throw students into college, most will learn how to swim.”
College transition to present challenges
Student Life 9Volume 27 Issue 6
Studying abroadStudents voyage outside of the United States for higher education
by Charlotte Smithfocus editor
College planning may seem baffling and extensive to some. However, seniors who have recently experienced the process have their own insight on what happens. Planning for college may start with deciding which schools spark interest, often much prior to senior year. The advantages of knowing which schools to apply for can help limit the extra unwanted pressure from the of choosing a school and applying to it. Looking into schools with appealing curriculums can help to narrow down the many possibili-ties. “I looked at the programs available,” said senior Alex Li. “What I want to do is limited to a few places, so I was constricted to applying to a few colleges.” Other factors to consider include the cost and location of the school. Out of 100 seniors surveyed, 42% based their college decision on cost, 33% based it off location, and 25% based it off the programs offered. However, the college selection process is not always attempted senior year. Some students choose the option
to attend Northern Virginia Community College and then transfer to another school to complete their extended education there. “I procrastinated and didn’t figure it where I wanted to go,” said senior Romin Zandi. “I am going to go to NOVA next year and then deciding where to go.” Because it can change your whole future, the college admission process is full of decision-making moments. Many recommend researching colleges and potential majors in
advance in order to be fully prepared to make these choices. “I did not know what to base my decision off of when applying to schools,” said senior Amanda Batts. “I wish I went into it knowing what to expect and got more guidance and help from someone who had graduated last year. My advice is to do a bunch of research. It will pay off.” Once you have decided where you want to apply, the application completion and submission process begins.
“The application process is awfully tedious,” said senior Lara Duffy. “You have to write a lot of essays about yourself.” The application procedure varies per school. However, all applications require communication between counselor and student. The relationship between the two can be considered the most essential.The counselor writes letters of recommendation on behalf of the students and submits their transcripts. “The application process is really long and stressful,” said senior
Grace Ma. “But it is worth it to get the admissions letter.” Once the applica-tions are submitted to schools, the wait begins.
Unless applying for early decision or early acceptance, most schools will announce their decisions April 1. “If you know what school you want to go to, apply sooner rather than later,” said senior Brenna Castro. “Lots of stuff goes into the application. It’s not necessarily difficult stuff, it’s just time consuming. There are a lot of time constraints, so you want to make sure you start early.”
“I did not know what to base my decision off of when applying to schools. I wish I went into it knowing what to expect and got more guidance and help from someone who had graduated last year. My advice is to do a bunch of research. It will pay off.”
- Amanda Batts, senior
Seniors share college planning,application process experiences
Event schedule for summer 2012 Every summer, places such as Wolf Trap, Reston Town Center,
Kings Dominion, The National Mall, and Jiffy Lube Live hosts several events and concerts which attract guests from all over.
JUNE15 - Taste of Reston, Reston Town Center16 - Distance Training Program begins at Potomac River Running, Reston Town Center16 - Bow Tie Cinemas presents CINE CLASSIC and will play “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Reston Town Center22 - Swell Daze community concert, Reston Town Center23 - Bow Tie Cinemas presents CINE CLASSIC and will play “Mr.Smith goes to Washington,” Reston Town Center23 - Greater Reston Art Exhibit23 - Fabulettes perform in pavilion, Reston Town Center24 - Demi Loato and Hot Chelle Rae concert, Wolf Trap24 - Reston Grand Pix Bicycle Races, Reston Town Center27 - Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson concert, Wolf Trap27 - Smithsonian Folklife Festival begins at National Mall30 - Bow Tie Cinemas presents CINE CLASSIC and will play “The Sound of Music,” Reston Town Center30 - Cooking class at Il Forniao, Reston Town Center
JULY1 - Every monday from now through August the National Mall with host “Screen the Green” and will play a movie on an open screen set up3 - Global Waming Tour ft. Aerosmith and Cheap Trick concert, Jiffy Lube Live7 - Bow Tie Cinemas presents CINE CLASSIC and will play “Jaws,” Reston Town Center7 - Upper East Side Big Band performs, Reston Town Center7 - Kings Dominion pays a tribute to the Armed Forces all day today14 - Joy Fest at Kings Dominion begins15 - Bow Tie Cinemas presents CINE CLASSIC and will play “Jurassic Park”, Reston Town Center21 - Bow Tie Cinemas presents CINE CLASSIC and will play “Back to the Future,” Reston Town Center21 - C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band perform, Reston Town Center22 - Sugarland concert, Jiffy Lube Live24 - Rufus Wainwright and Ingrid Michaelson, Wolf Trap28 - Bow Tie Cinemas presents CINE CLASSIC and will play “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Reston Town Center28 - Sardegna cooking class at Il Fornaio, Reston Town Center
AUGUST4 - Bow Tie Cinemas presents CINE CLASSIC and will play “The Maltese Falcon”, Reston Town Center4 - Airmen of Note performs, Reston Town Center11 - Honda Civic Tour: Linkin Park and MUTEMATH concert, Jiffy Lube Live11- Bow Tie Cinemas presents CINE CLASSIC and will play “Vertigo,” Reston Town Center11 - EC3 & Friends performs, Reston Town Center17 - Swell Face Community Concert, Reston Town Center18 - Bow Tie Cinemas presents CINE CLASSIC and will play “E.T- The Extra-Terrestrial,” Reston Town Center19 - Big Time Rush and Cody Simpson concert, Jiffy Lube Live23 - Kelly Clarkson and The Fray concert, Jiffy Lube Live25 - Brad Paisley with the Band Perry concert, Jiffy Lube Live 25 - Bow Tie Cinemas presents CINE CLASSIC and will play “Auntie Mame,” Reston Town Center26-30 - Annual Century Bike Tour, Reston Town Center
SEPTEMBER1 - Porsche Club Car Show, Reston Town Center
by Haley VaughnWeekly Wall editor
Instead of packing bags in anticipation of their freshman year of college within the United States, some students will venture to college with passports in hand. For senior Jacob Grundahl, his studies are taking him back to his home country. “I will be studying in Denmark at the University of Copenhagen,” said Grundahl. “I chose to study there because the school has a great technical program.” In Denmark, studies are free for students from the European Economic Area and for students participating in an exchange program. “Tuition will be covered for me because I am a citizen of Denmark
and it is free for all citizens,” said Grundahl. “All I had to do to apply was fill out a couple of forms and send in my transcript.” Grundahl is looking forward to reuniting with old friends. Senior Betina Van Meter is also planning to study abroad for college. “I will be studying in the Netherlands at the University of Twente,” said Van Meter. “I chose this school because it offers a masters degree in industrial design in just five years.” Van Meter’s unique major choice made choosing colleges complicated. “I will be studying industrial design which is an up and coming study,” said Van Meter. “Industrial design involves similar thinking to architecture. It works with product
design. I looked at UVA, Virginia Tech, and JMU, but Virginia Tech was the only one with my major.” Van Meter is already familiar with the location of her university and the country’s native language. “My mom is Dutch so my family visits the country every summer,” said Van Meter. “I also liked the idea of studying in the Netherlands. I will be studying in Dutch while I attend.” One of the deciding factors for Van Meter in choosing a college was deciding on room and board. “Something that solidified my decision in picking Twente was the process of finding housing,” said Van Meter. “Twente doesn’t provide dorms so students are required to interview for a place to stay. I found a room after two days.” Van Meter has future aspirations that match her area of college study. “I feel like industrial design is a perfect study for me. After graduating I would love to design furniture for a large furniture store like IKEA.” Class of 2010 graduate Emily Vaughn traveled abroad after her graduation as well, however decided to work for year instead of go to school. She spent this “educational gap year” in San Jose, Costa Rica for nine months. “I found out about my gap year when I was in the Dominican Republic on a mission trip. I talked to SCORE International, a full service mission organization that was helping my church during the trip, and I fell in love with it.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF ELLEN VAUGHNAlumnus Emily Vaughn volunteers in Costa Rica after graduating from high school.
Seahawk Stories10 The South Lakes Sentinel Friday, June 8, 2012
Senior collects momentos from years at high school
by Sara Bolanosstaff writer
Senior Yosselyn Martinez has collected everything she can from her years at South Lakes, including bib numbers from track meets, ticket stubs, pictures, letters, and tee shirts. “I had a hard time in eighth grade,” said Martinez. “So when freshman year started it was like a fresh start and I wanted to remember all of it.” Some of Martinez’s most prized possessions are her track bib numbers. The numbers serve as a person’s identification during a track meet and are displayed on the person’s front and back throughout the race. Martinez’s collection of school newspapers also holds a great importance to her. The copies of the South Lakes Sentinel are a particular achievement for her because she has collected nearly every issue that was published during her years at South Lakes. “Unfortunately I was not able to collect issues from freshman year, because I never got any,” said Martinez. While Martinez is proud of her collection, some people are skeptical. “People think I am crazy
collecting all the newspapers,” said Martinez. “They think it is just going to be trash. They kind of think the bib numbers are cool but they really like the scrapbook.” Martinez owns a scrapbook where she keeps the majority of her collection. The book started as a diary that Martinez has kept since 2003. Over time, it evolved into a scrapbook. Her reason for collecting these items is to have something to show her kids when she is older what she accomplished during her high school years.
PHOTO BY SARA BOLANOSSenior Yosselyn Martinez sits with her collection of The South Lakes Sentinel newspapers. She has collected every issue from her sophomore, junior, and senior years as memories of high school.
“I know a lot of people say that they keep their memories in their minds, but as you get older memories start to fade,” said Martinez. Martinez hopes to continue collecting. “I think that throughout my years I’ll collect stuff from everyday and big events,” said Martinez. “When people make fun of me and how I collect everything, I remind them of how I’ll be remembering everything and they won’t remember half of the stuff they’ve done.”
by Amalia Hartestaff writer
Senior IB Diploma candidates had the option to participate in an internship from May 21-June 1. Even though I am only a certificate candidate, I was also able to take advantage of this awesome opportunity. I decided to contact the National Wildlife Federation whose national headquarters are right here in Reston. I interned for volunteer coordinator Luisa Grant in order to help modernize the way NWF volunteers around the country stay in contact through Facebook and Twitter. I think that for most of us, Facebook and Twitter is just a way to stay up to date with friends, but from a business perspective it has lot of functions. When operating a page in Facebook, an administrator is able to see the exact percentages relating to data: whether there is an upward trend, what percentages of people who have seen a given post actually respond to it, and whether or not external people are viewing the page. It was my responsibility to try and up the amount of likes and
interactions actual volunteers were having with the page. By the time I left, these individuals were actually posting pictures of projects they were
First person: participating in National Wildlife Federation internship
working on within their communities, which was a nice development. I was also assigned my own project. NWF has a program that
allows schoolyards to become certified. This means there is food, water, and cover for wildlife and a place for wildlife to raise their young. This brand new project will
determine what number of schools within a given school district are actually certified. This way entire districts can be recognized. This was my first time really using Excel, and I learned so much. I was able to create my own color coded organization system and managed to check the schools in nine key districts, making much headway towards getting the project running. I really felt like I got to dig my hands into the work and mold it, which was cool since I was only an intern. My favorite experience, however, was getting to go help out in DC at a NWF-hosted Global Warmingforum. It was very professional. I had to dress in business attire and got to help greet the attendees, many of which were top individuals in their field, some serving as university faculty. I was also able to tour the NWF DC office and meet other long-term interns. This internship was a great experience. I had a chance to be part of a real work environment, develop new skills, and try out a potential career. I highly recommend this opportunity to any rising senior.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LUISA GRANTSenior Amalia Harte sits at her desk during her internship with the National Wildlife Association. She gained experiance both with her knowledge of the local wilderness and the use of Microsoft Excel.
Last of the firstMath teacher Mil Matey retires after thirty three years at South Lakes
PHOTO BY RACHEL ROGERS
Mil Matey stands with his fifth period math class. With his upcoming retirement, this will be one of the last classes Matey will teach.
Smith retires after twelve years of teachingby Rachel Rogers
Seahawk Stories editor
Teachers have many different reasons for entering into the academic field. Some wish to mold young minds or want to help teach the future generation of students. Ron Smith just wanted to watch his son play baseball. “When my son entered high school, he played baseball, so he had practice at 2:30 in the afternoon,” said Smith. “I couldn’t convince the judges that I needed time off to see baseball games so I changed my career. I wasn’t having much fun anymore anyway.”
Smith spent fifteen years practic-ing law before his son went to high school. Due to the conflict created between his work hours and his son’s baseball, Smith decided to quit his job in law and become a teacher so that he and his son could have the same schedule. Since changing careers, Smith has since spent his years as an English teacher. He taught for five years in Springfield, Massachusetts. However, the majority of his teaching has taken place in the last six years here at South Lakes. Now after a dozen years of teaching, Smith is preparing for
another large big change in his life. Retirement. “I’ll turn 64 in the fall so I thought that was a good time to retire,” said Smith. Smith plans to retire to Florida and has already bought a house in the Sunshine State. He is looking forward to relaxation and a stereotypical Florida retirement. “We’re going for a normal Florida retirement,” said Smith. “On blue days I’ll fish in the morning and play golf in the afternoons and on green days I’ll play golf in the morning and fish in the afternoon.”
by Rachel RogersSeahawk Stories editor
South Lakes boasts a wide range of teachers of all ages and experience, from first-year interns to veterans, but few hold the seniority of Mil Matey, a teacher who has taught at South Lakes since its beginning. Matey has taught at South Lakes since 1979. Now, after a total 35 years of teaching, Matey is ready to retire. “I’m getting to the point where I don’t want to teach the grandchildren of former students,” said Matey. His concern is not an exaggeration either, as many of his students have been children of previous graduates from his class, many of whom remember him.Despite this, Matey expressed his joy for teaching at South Lakes. “Contrary to popular belief, I have a few good memories,” said Matey. “The best are the fond memories of seeing students succeed when they didn’t think they could.” Matey considers himself one of the last teachers from the first year of the school’s opening, giving him seniority over iconic staff members such as Principal Bruce Butler and receptionist Elizabeth
Knapp. This has given him a unique perspective so he can reflect on how the school has changed over the years. In addition to the physical changes that have occurred within the school, such as the renova-tion, Matey has noticed variations between the different generations of students. “Kids haven’t changed that much,” said Matey. “In the past few years, though, they seem to be more focused on getting into a good college and forgetting that they are kids.” After retiring, Matey plans to visit his family in Slovakia for the first time in his life. Matey has never been to Slovakia, but both his parents were born there, making him a first generation American. He also looks forward to spending more time with his family and taking trips with his wife. Despite the joys of retirement, Matey has a connection with the school that he will always remember: a connection as old as the school itself. “I’ve enjoyed my years here. Like any job there were its high points and its low points, but I really enjoyed growing with the school.”
Sports 11Volume 27 Issue 6
Abby Reed Ahmed Gibreel
Alex GravesAlex Tucker
Allison Skowronski Alvaro Calle
Anne-Marie Loyd Anthony Barbee
Aren Durana Armando Drain Austin Gibbons
Austin Schweppe Bethany Kehne
Betina Van Meter Billy McLaughlin
Brenna CastroBrent Park Brian Brinn
Brian BrinsonBrian Kraus
Brody Bolanos Christian Gaston
Christy Hoffman Claire Sands
Clayton DobryConnor McMillan Connor Metcalf Corey Gilmore D.J. Christian Dan StromeckiDane Pilcher
Daniel Thompson Dennis Gonzalez Devon Johnson
Dylan ClarkElise Cross Elora Huber
Emily Lopynski Emily Sennett Eric Raymond
Eric WongErica Loftin Evan Cahoon
Freddy Lehner
Fredrick Kyle Grace Ma
Hannah Carrai Harrison Drier
Ian Angara Ilia Korol
Isabel Oliver J.D. Wallace
Jacob Grundahl Jasmin Colon Jeff ChurchJessie Sells
Jesus Maradiaga John Oaks
Jonathan Springfield Jordan Francis Katie Horlacher Kayla Funaki Kaylee MullerKelly Regan
Kelsie Zipperich Kevin Cronin
Kevin GrayKyle Sather Lara Duffy
Lindsey MostLucian Fox
Margo Moyer Maris Ravenstahl
Maura Burke Michael Cronk
Michael FrancisMistre Zewdie
Mitch Dempster Naimah Coleman
Najee Lewis Nathan Vellayan
Nick BeaulacNick TuckerNoel RosalesNolan BoyleOwen WolfePhillip Duffy Priscilla Thai
Richard Uhrig Ryan ForrestSam Becker
Sam CampbellSamantha Chamberlin
Samuel Coggin Sarah Delaney Sawyer Ballard
Scott Mayo Sierra Scoggin Stanley LindsaySulema AlvaresSumiya Yates Tim Rawlins
Tony DickersonValdir DeSouza
Virginia McGiboney Will Cochrane
Yosselyn Martinez
senior varsity letter recipients
PHOTO BY CHERMARA WHITE
PHOTO BY KAITLIN WELKER
PHOTO BY GREG MAYO
PHOTO BY DAVID FREEMAN
PHOTO BY MARCI THRAILKILL
PHOTO BY OLIVIA HILL
PHOTO BY HALEY VAUGHN
PHOTO BY HALEY VAUGHN
PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE SMITH
PHOTO BY KALEY DUNCAN
PHOTO BY KALEY DUNCAN
“My favoirte memory is when we beat Herndon in regionals. The game went into four overtimes and then we finally got the win in penalties.”
- Mitch Dempster,soccer
“Once at practice our coach told us to do something different. We created a cheer that went something, something, different. They laughed till they cried.”
- Naimah Coleman,cheerleading
“When we go on our lake runs, we just really mess around. This one time we found this trampoline and it was just really fun to have the whole team just hanging out.”
- Kaylee Mueller,field hockey
“My favorite memory was in the Herndon game. I was on a fast break and I just had this amazing dunk. The crowd went wild. It was just such a great feeling.”
- Jordan Francis,basketball
“My favorite memory is from 2010 when I was a junior. It was a really hard year and I was one of the only two kids who weren’t seniors.”
- Fred Kyle,track and field
“My favorite memory was from the Spring Break trip. We had a lot of fun just chasing girls and relaxing.”
- Ryan Forrest,baseball
“I’ll always remember my senior field hokey season as being one of the best because our coaches encouraged us to get better at our stick skills and encouraged us to work as a unit.”
- Katie Horlacher,field hockey
“My favorite memory is from senior night. The other girls were just so great about it.”
- Abby Reed,lacrosse
“My favorite golf memory comes from this year, when we won our first two wins ever. It was just such a great feeling.”
- Lucian Fox,golf
“My favorite memory was this year when we played Madison and Herndon. My pick: six against Madison and when we beat Herndon, both of them just felt great to accomplish.”
- Dylan Clark,football
“My favorite memory is from districts. I PR’d and there was no better time that it could have happened.”
- Nick Tucker,cross country
“Definitely our team lock-in. All three teams just really bonded and it was a really good experience.”
- Sarah Delaney,volleyball
Graduating varsity athletes reflect on their favorite memories during their high school seasons
PHOTO BY DAVID FREEMAN
For the love of the game
Trends12 The South Lakes Sentinel Friday, June 8, 2012
“The best advice I could give is probably to get involved early and find clubs and groups that you love in order to find friends with similar interests to you. It’ll make it so you can make a huge school feel just a little bit smaller.”
- Julie Thomas, Class of 2011 James Madison University
“I think the best advice would be to get to know everyone on your floor and use the resources available to you like counselors, study sessions, and tutors. Do well in all your classes because it’s important to start out with a strong GPA since it goes on your résumé.”
- Alyssa Siquieros, Class of 2011Arizona State University
“First thing that you should do is try to pick good professors. You are going to have options sometimes and there is a big difference between a graduate student teaching a class and a long tenured professor. Second thing is stay up with your readings and homework. You won’t have as many strict deadlines as there is less required homework and no one too many distractions.”
- David Odlen, Class of 2011 University of Virginia
“The one thing I wish I did as a freshman was get more involved with different clubs and organizations. When you get to school, it’s really easy to get comfortable in your dorm room and eat all day, everyday. I was on a intramural innertube water polo team. How neat is that? At college, there are literally clubs and teams for just aboutanything, so, seriously, just go out and explore.”
- Will Johnson, Class of 2009 Virginia Tech
“My advice is to always be friendly and open to meeting new people. Also, don’t fall behind in classes because it’ll stress you out.”
- Gabi Taweel, Class of 2011 University of Mary Washington
12 things to know about your first year in collegeSouth Lakes alumni provide their best advice on how graduating seniors can prepare for their first year of their college experience.
1. Two 3.
4.Five
6.
Seven 8.
Nine
Ten
11.Twelve
“I would say to join an organization on campus as soon as you can so you can meet people. Rush a fraternity or a sorority. If that is not your thing, there are tons of clubs and intramural sports teams that anyone can join. They’re at every school. Keep a lookout for some kind of campus club fair where all the information will be right there for you.”
- Stefanie Brown, Class of 2010University of South Carolina
“You should definitely take studying seriously especially since there is a lot more free time than in high school. Watch out for the rules. Depending where you go, the rules can be really strict in the dorms. And most important: make friends. Introduce yourself to your roommate. Be outgoing and make an effort to meet new people. They are also new, and they definitely won’t bite.”
- Bryan Alvarez, Class of 2011West Virginia University
“I would say be willing to go out of your comfort zone because what better place to do that than college? Go to the crazy events offered on campus and attend as many sports games as you can because those are the times when you feel school spirit the most. Make sure your professors within your major know who you are because it’s important to build a relationship with them. They’re the key to a successful career.”
- Anndi Liggett, Class of 2011Florida State University
“It’s cliché but try new things and get involved. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find something right away, it might take time. Things get a lot easier once you find your niche. In terms of school itself, go to class. It’s so easy to skip but it’s better to push yourself to go so you’re not scrambling when midterms and finals arrive. Figure out your study habits, explore the libraries for a place that works for you, don’t procrastinate too much, and learn to like coffee or some other source of caffeine.”
- Emma Volpe, Class of 2011University of Virginia
“Time management is the biggest thing I’d say. College has so many distractions and skipping is super tempting, but stay focused during the week, get your stuff done and relax on the weekends.”
- Hasibul Chowdhury, Class of 2010Virginia Tech
“I think it’s important to do things that make you happy. Sometimes what I wanted was to be involved in lots of activities and sometimes I wanted to have time to relax. College is really a time where you can just do the things for you and it’s great to take advantage of that.”
- Bethany Lowe, Class of 2011LaSalle University
“Forget about what the word ‘privacy’ means and naps are more important than regular sleep. Also, don’t get fat.”
- Will Sickenberger, Class of 2011University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill
College of William and MaryWilliamsburg, Virginia
Gregory Fisher, Matthew Heffernan, Asaad Lewis, Emily Lopynski,
Allison McCluskey, Jon Querolo, Jessi Sells, Rachel Smith, Justin Strait,
Kat Turk, Richard Uhrig, and Owen Wolfe
Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler received a
college education from W&M.
University of VirginiaCharlottesville
Maha Ahmed, Anthony Batres, Morgan Baumgartner, Ashley Brake,
Evan Cahoon, Daniel Calem, Will Cochrane, Michael Cronk, Aren Dura-na, Christian Garnier, Amalia Harte,
Shanna Jiang, Sreya Kamineni, Bethany Kehne, Ngan Li, Ji Won Lee,
Margaret Lineberger, Anne-Marie Lloyd, Erica Loftin, Benjamin Moody,
Tam Nguyen, Michelle Park, Emily Sennett, Priscilla Thai, Sonya Wali, Michaela Wolfe, and Kelsie ZipprichAlthough UVA has many famous
political graduates, including Woodrow Wilson. Other famous alumni include Tina Fey, Edgar
Allen Poe, and Katie Couric.
George Mason UniversityFairfax, Virginia
Ahmed Ahmed, Yocelyn Garcia, Scott Mayo, Bashier Mazid, Brian
McDonald, Dylan Metzger, Taylor Murphy, Kristen O’Keefe, Cody Racek, Maisara Rahmatullah,
Noushin Sahraei, Hoang Vu, and Robert Wallace
George Mason University has a wetland laboratory that provides
resources for important watershed research.
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond
Sanica Bendre, William Benton, Ajit Chellappa, Kouryn Collins, Balsam
El-Bayya, Audri Emerson, Aliya Ford, Corey Gilmore, Richard Hortelano, Sonali Kanitkar, llia Korol, Jimmy Navas-Santos, Dorothy O’Boyle,
Robert Prenn, Lilly Rezaee, Daniel Thompson, Alexander Tucker, Richard Ubario, Harrison Wiese, and
Lucy YenVCU’s men’s basketball team made
the NCAA Final Four in 2011.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
BlacksburgDavis Amey, Ian Angara, Anthony
Barbee, Amanda Batts, Samuel Becker, Julia Binger, Alvaro Calle
Laguana, Ethan Cantwell, Samantha Chamberlin, Ian Crutcher,
Sara Dalsheim, Elliot Doley, Armando Drain, Malee Garcia, Dylan Hale, Kevin Hyer, Kevin Koehncke,
Brian Kraus, Logan Kreider, Conner Metcalf, Tahagod Mohamed, Lindsey
Most, Eduardo Nakamura, Brent Park, Pallavi Pilaka, Alexander Rosenman, Rebecca Rosenman,
Aftab Shahzad, Jonathan Springfield, and Ryan Tiller
A group of VT students partnered with the National Federation of
the Blind to create a vehicle that a blind person can independently
operate.
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VirginiaJordan Francis, Anthony Nelson,
Mercia Spicer, and Jithmi Wickramatillake
The Peace Corps named UMW to its annual list of top producing colleges
and universities with fewer than 5,000 undergraduates. UMW
currently has 30 alumni serving in the Peace Corps.
James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, Virginia
Casey Anderson, Sawyer Ballard, Samuel Campbell, Emily Chafetz, Bradley Cohen, Sarah Delaney,
Lara Duffy, Elyssa Fogleman, Ryan Forrest, Sarah Hartman, Kathryn Horlacher, Reed Kordella, Daniel Kvavilashvili, Molly Mason, Brian
McMillan, Margo Moyer, Isabel Oliver, Kelly Regan, Nicholas Tucker,
and Lindy WestenoffJames Madison University has a nationally-ranked debate team.
Forty-two percent of Averett University students are
athletes.
Columbia CollegeFairfax, Virginia
Brionna WhiteColumbia is a private
vocational college established in 1999 to meet the need to maintain expanding industry and business.
Paul Mitchell Beauty SchoolMcLean, Virginia
India JohnsonPaul Mitchell schools participate in fundraising that have accumu-lated more than $6 million to help Habitat for Humanity, the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, and
feed African orphans.
American UniversityWashington, D.C.Ariana Kruszewski
Of the first 28 students to attend this college, five were women prior
to women’s right to vote.
University of MarylandCollege Park, Maryland
Anna KoozminSouth Lakes alumni and Maryland sophomore Brad Dillon competes
in the backstroke and freestyle for the Maryland swim team.
Clemson UniversityClemson, South Carolina
Lucian FoxBioengineering students work with
cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeons, in the same labs, in fields
such as tissue regeneration and joint replacement.
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown
Naya Beach, Olivia Hill, and Frederick Kyle
The West Virginia-Pitt rivalry began in 1921 when the football game between the two schools in
was broadcasted on radio.
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles
Anuradha Passan and Allison Skowronski
When University of Southern Cali-fornia first opened in 1880, there
were 10 teachers and 53 students. Los Angeles didn’t have electric
lights, paved streets or telephones.
Stevens Institute of TechonologyHoboken, New Jersey
Dane PilcherSIT’s WebCampus ranked second
in the nation for its online engineering programs by U.S.
News and World.
Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, South Carolina
Nicholas BeaulacCCU is a Sea-grant institute and
owns part of Waties Island, a 1,105-acre barrier island which
serves as a natural laboratory.
The University of MississippiOxford
McKenzie KuhnMichael Oher, the Baltimore
Raven’s left tackle and subject of the book and movie “The Blind Side” is a graduate of Ole Miss.
Long Island UniversityBrookville, New York
Jennifer RubinThe LIU Post Pioneers have a
dominating women’s lacrosse team, winning the 2012 IWLCA national
championship.
Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park
Maura Burke, Christina Hoffman, and Sierra Scoggin
Twelve heads of state have attended Penn including former U.S. President William Henry
Harrison and the first president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah.
University of OklahomaNorman
Brittany NewmanThe Sooners football team has the highest NCAA Division I winning
percentage since 1936.
Texas Tech UniversityLubbock
Victoria HowardRetired NFL player Garry Don
“Donny” Anderson who played for the Green Bay Packers graduated
from Texas Tech University.
Brigham Young UniversityLauren Smith (Provo, Utah) and
Neejay Worway (Rexberg, Iadaho)BYU is owned and operated by The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is the largest
religious university and third-largest private university.
Alfred UniversityAlfred, New YorkSydney Hamilton
Alfred University is recognized for its strong astronomy program
partially attributed to the campus’s Stull Observatory, one of New
York’s largest.
Dickinson College Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Kathryn MuellerDickinson was the first college
chartered in the newly recognized United States in 1783.
New Mexico Military InstituteRoswell
Samuel CookHall of fame quarterback Roger
Staubach played at NMMI for one year before transferring to the United States Naval Academy.
Wesleyan University Middletown, Connecticut
Abigail ReedWesleyan University began in 1831
with 48 students, the president, three professors, and one tutor.
Tuition was $36 per year.
Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green, Ohio
Justin NiebelsNotable alumni include baseball great Orel Hershiser, Olympic figure skater Scott Hamilton,
actors Tim Conway and Eva Marie Saint, and ESPN sportscaster Jay
Crawford.
Stratford UniversityDanville, Virginia
Joy WashingtonStratford opened a learning center
in New Delhi, India in 2009.
St. John’s UniversityQueens, New York
Christopher SheppardIn a 2010 survey of recruiters by the Wall Street Journal, St. Johns
was ranked in the top 100 colleges and was listed as most
likely to help students land a job in key careers and professions.
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Najee LewisThe University has a large network
of more than 1,600 corporate, governmental, and non-profit
partners. Employers consists of top ranked multinational law firms,
banks, corporations, and many Fortune 500 companies.
University of KentuckyLexington
Christian SwartzWashington Wizards guard John Wall played one season for the
Wildcats.
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, New York
Aaron SkyRIT is internationally recognized leader in preparing deaf and hard of hearing students for successful
careers in professional and technical fields.
King’s College LondonLondon, England
Zainab KhanKing’s College is the third-oldest university in England, founded in 1829 by King George IV and the
Duke of Wellington.
Morgan State UniversityBaltimore, Maryland
Breyana EdwardsMany NFL Football Hall of Famers such as, Willie Lanier, Roosevelt
Brown, Leroy Kelly, and Lenf Ford attended Morgan State University.
Georgetown UniversityManavi Bhagwat
Georgetown is home to the oldest student theater group and largest
student-run business.
Cornell UniversityIthaca, New York
Karen CronkCornell operates on a block sched-ule that requires students to take only one course at a time for three and a half weeks. This system is believed to be better for students.
Union CollegeSchenectady, New York
Ella FertittaAfter 175 years as a traditional
all-male institution, Union College began enrolling women in 1970.
University of South CarolinaColumbia
Colleen Burkhart and Mitchell Dempster
University of South Carolina won the 2010 and 2011 College
Baseball World Series.
Kilgore CollegeKilgore, Texas
Alexandira HumphriesThe Flare at Kilgore College was named non-daily university/col-
lege newspaper of the year by the Texas Associated Press Managing
Editors.
University of PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Michael Savage-BenoistThe Panther football team boasts many all-time NFL coaches and players, including Mike Ditka, Darelle Revis, Dan Marino, and
Larry Fitzgerald.
College of CharlestonCharleston, South Carolina
Molly LumnitzerThe College of Charleston is the
oldest institution of higher education in South Carolina, and
the 13th oldest in the US.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Sarah Jane MendozaThe Givens Performing Arts Center hosts the “Distinguished Speaker
Series,” which has brought in notables such as Nancy Grace, Pat
Buchanan, and Nikki Giovanni.
The Ohio State UniversityColumbus
Kevin Gray and Elise WeilandOlympic gold medalist Jesse Owens ran track for the university in the 1930’s. His appropriate nickname
was “The Buckeye Bullet.”
Kent State UniversityKent, Ohio
Brandy HarrisonKent State has a plethora of alumni
in pro football, including current Steelers linebackerJames Harrison,
Chargers wide receiver Antonio Gates, and Browns running back
Joshua Cribbs.
Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, Pennsylvania
Elise CrossBosey Reiter, Lehigh’s first athletic director, is credited with popular-
izing the overhead spiral pass.
The Art Institute of WashingtonArlington, Virginia
Savon Bell and K’Shauwn BrownCulinaire Restaurant is student-run
and open to the public.
The Culinary Institute of AmericaHyde Park, New York
Julie LinovitzThe Culinary Institute of America was started in 1946 to train World
War II veterans in the culinary arts. Anthony Bourdain is a
graduate.
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Taylor GebauerStudents avoid walking beneath the clock tower. It is said that
those who walk under the clock will not graduate on time.
Eugene Lang College: The New School for Liberal ArtsNew York, New York
Hailey KempEugene Lang College is located in New York’s famed Greenwich
Village.
Mount Holyoke CollegeSouth Hadley, Massachusetts
Morgan BrumfeldAt Mount Holyoke College, a robot
was built in a computer science class that responds to commands
via Skype.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey at Brunswick
Kayla CedillosNotable alumni include Smith
best-selling novelist Janet Evanov-ich, actor James Gandolfini, and NBA commissioner David Stern.
The South Lakes Class of 2012 College List
Southwestern Michigan CollegeDowagiac
Robin-Maria HegendorferThe school dropped its athletics
program in 1998. The teams were nicknamed the “Roadrunners.”
Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Adrienne GosnellDalhousie was ranked first among
universities outside the United States as a place for academic
research by The Scientist magazine in 2007.
Fashion Institute of TechonologyNew York, New YorkFiona Hagengimana
Calvin Klein is a graduate of FIT.
Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg, Maryland
Nolan BoyleFSU holds an annual Spring
Festival of Children’s Literature, a meeting of authors and
illustrators with teachers who appreciate children’s literature.
Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlanta
Holly ParrishWhen Georgia Tech was founded in 1885, the only major available was
trade.
Marymount Manhattan CollegeManhattan, New York
Kyle NorfleetMarymount Manhattan’s famous alumnus, Geraldine Ferraro, was the first female to be nominated senator and United States vice-
presidential candidate.
Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelaware
John OakesThere is an award named after George Gauthier, or the “Little
Giant” award, given to people who “make a difference in the lives of
student athletics.”
University of MichiganAnn Arbor
Nathan VellayanThe three astronauts of Apollo 15 were all University of Michigan
graduates. They left a copy of the charter of the U-M Alumni Club of
the Moon on the moon.
University of North TexasDenton
Dylan ClarkUNT is nicknamed the Mean Green,
referring to 1969 graduate Joe Greene’s nickname “Mean Joe
Greene,” leader of the iconic Steel Curtain defense of the Pittsburgh
Steelers in the 70’s.
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaSarah Burns
The first president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, is a graduate of The University of Pennslyvania.
West Virginia Wesleyan CollegeBuckhannon
Tyler Dos SantosWest Virginia Wesleyan College has the largest NCAA Division II
athletic program in the state.
Wheeling Jesuit UniversityFranck Simo
Wheeling, West VirginiaWheeling Jesuit University has an
adventure society committed to rock climbing, white-water rafting,
skiing, and hiking.
Indiana University of PennsylvaniaPunxsutawney
Kathryn DanaherThe IUP-Punxsutawney is the larg-est university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis
IndianapolisSonja Willnat
George Hill of the Indiana Pacers went to Indiana University Perdue
University Indianapolis.
Stanford UniversityStanford, California
Austin Chustz2012 NFL #1 draft pick Andrew Luck is an alumnus of Stanford
University.
The University of the ArtsPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Anna ChiaravalleThe UA originated from the Phila-delphia College of Art, which was created by the Philadelphia Mu-
seum of Arts, and the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts.
Seniors listed provided permission to be named. School facts provided by college and university websites.
