Forensics team competes at Blue Valley Northwest

The Forensics team took third place at the Blue Valley Northwest competition on Saturday, Feb. 16. The following students placed in different categories including:

Impromptu: sophomore Henry Hansen, 5^th place

Original Oration: senior Lexi Riddle, 5^th place

Informative Speaking: Riddle, 6^th place

Poetry: freshman Karla Kim, 5^th place

Prose: junior Madison Plouvier, 1^st place

Serious Solo Acting: Plouvier, 3^rd place

Humorous Solo Acting: senior Stephen McEnery, 3^rd place

Duet Acting: junior Victoria Kilkenny and senior Alex Maupin, 2^nd place

McEnery enjoyed the competition because he got to perform his Humorous Solo Acting piece called Kulula Airlines.

“I like how [the piece] is mostly memorization but I make up parts as I go,” McEnery said. “I’m a terrible actor but it’s fun to just go up and be funny.”

According to McEnery, the competition was busy, but well worth it.

“I was entered into four separate events so it was crazy but kind of different,” McEnery said. “[Forensics] is different than anything I’ve done in high school and it’s really fun.”

 

Drama class performs play written by senior

For their first semester finals, students in drama teacher Jon Copeland’s advanced drama classes will perform four different plays, one of which was written by a student in the class.

Although this is the first year for the advanced drama class, Copeland got the idea for the final project from his previous experience teaching drama at De Soto High School.

“My classes [at De Soto] were a lot smaller … its’ even more challenging [here] because there are four different plays. So I’m trying to let students either direct their own plays or help another group because I can’t be everywhere at once.”

Having students perform plays as their finals allowed one student to see a play he wrote acted out on stage. Senior Alex Maupin wrote “The Waiting Room” and submitted it to a publishing company that published the play over the summer. The play is about the parents of a group of teenagers waiting to hear news about their children who got into a car wreck.

“I actually wrote the play over the summer,” Maupin said. “I wanted something to do, so I wrote it … The only people who have done the show was a troupe in Ohio and I haven’t been able to see it, and I kind of wanted to see it. So I asked Mr. Copeland if I could just direct the final for advanced drama.”

Senior Betsy Wendorff is excited for the chance given to her by this final project.

“I’m really excited [for this play] because I wasn’t in the musical so I didn’t get to act at all then,” Wendorff said. “I really like acting and stuff so I’m actually excited to get to do it.”

Maupin will be directing the play instead of acting.

“For this play … I’m kind of head honcho,” Maupin said. “I’m in charge of everything. I’m going to do lighting … acting styles … and teach them how to act. [I get to decide] how I want it to be presented [since I wrote the play] and casted the show.”

Check out this link for more on Copeland’s school productions: http://www.mvnews.org/news/2012/11/08/fall-musical-provides-entertainment-for-anyone/

Gay-Straight Alliance looking for new members

Starting promptly at 3 p.m., senior president and co-founder Misty Adkins of the Gay-Straight Alliance hushed the members as she began their weekly Tuesday meetings in club sponsor Jeff Wieland’s classroom.
“For this meeting, we talked about future events,” Adkins said. “There is a lipdub coming up and GSA movie night. It’s also anti-bullying week so I was trying to see if there’s anything we can do to get involved.”
Bullying was one of the main reasons Adkins decided to start the club a few years ago.
“I started the club my sophomore year because I had friends who were being bullied severely for being gay so Kayla, the other founder, came to me with the idea,” Adkins said.
Senior Alex Maupin, who has been attending GSA since its very first meeting his sophomore year, believes that GSA allows students to talk about certain things without being judged.
“GSA gives students outlets for thoughts that just can’t be shared with everybody at school,” Maupin said.
The club was created in hopes of providing a safe environment where students of all sexual orientations can give one another support.
Since then, Adkins says that some people have judged her for being in GSA.
“I’ve had lots of people say ‘oh, you’re so gay’ or ‘the idea of GSA is gay,’” Adkins said. “Some people have been really standoffish to me but now most people leave me alone.”
This year, fewer students have attended GSA meetings.
“Attendance has been a little low. We have around 20 members that come to meetings but last year we had around 30.”
GSA meets every Tuesday on full school weeks in room A-211.

Forensics competes in state

The Forensics team traveled to Kansas City Kansas Community College on Saturday, May 5 to compete in state.

Forensics teacher Jeanette Hardesty thinks the team did exceptionally well.

“[The team] finished very strong after their spring season. Congratulations to the seniors who have remained consistent and dedicated for the last three to four years. These students are; Josh Duden, Brayton Young, Hanna Brinker, Malaya Reece, Matt Eber, and Tyler Owsley,” Hardesty said. “It has been a privilege and joy coaching these seniors, along with the rest of the team.”

The results are as follows:

I ratings:

Junior Megan Marquardt, poetry

Sophomore Madison Plouvier, Serious Solo Acting

Sophomore Victoria Kilkenny, prose

Senior Malayia Reece, informative

Junior Lexi Riddle, informative

Junior Alex Maupin and Plouvier, duet

Senior Brayton Young, prose

Senior Hannah Brinker, Serious Solo Acting

Senior Tyler Owsley, Original Oration

Junior Alex Reeves, Extemporaneous Speaking

Marquardt, prose

Senior Josh Duden and junior Hailee Windsor, duet

II ratings:

Sophomore Meghan Fuller and Windsor, Improvised Duet Acting

Riddle, Extemporaneous Speaking

Duden, Extemporaneous Speaking

Owsley, Extemporaneous Speaking

Young, Humorous Solo Acting

Senior Matt Eber and Reece, duet

Choir members head to state

Choir members performed at the state solo/small ensemble festival at Emporia high school on Saturday, April 28. Overall, six singers plus the mixed ensemble got a division one rating, four got a division two rating, and one singer got a division three rating. The singers are as listed:

I rating:

Sophomore Anna Frontaura

Senior Brendan Kendall

Sophomore Olivia Phillips

Senior Malayia Reece

Junior Chloe Stewart

Senior Brayton Young

Mixed Ensemble:

Seniors Alyssa Young, Jake Waters, Jason Tharp, Paige Hillebert, Young, Reece, Kendall and juniors Alec Santaularia, Keenan Ford, Stewart and sophomores Jordan Townsend, Clare Young, Jacob Tharp, and Phillips.

II rating:

Freshman Caitlin Alley

Hillebert

Freshman Allison Eigsti

Freshman Eli Stewart

III rating:

Junior Alex Maupin

Choir Director Sheree Stoppel says that state gives students more of a satisfaction.

“Solo and small ensemble state is the most gratifying due to the fact that there’s a lot of pressure on the student performers,” Stoppel said. “We did very well.”

Kendall thinks that the mixed ensemble did well.

“I felt that the mixed ensemble was extremely prepared, focused and determined to give their best,” Kendall said. “It was truly one of our best performances.”

Choir’s next concert, which is themed That 70’s Thing, is Friday, May 11 in the auxiliary gym from 6-9 p.m.

Forensics team places first at Basehor-Linwood

The Forensics team took first place at the Basehor-Linwood meet on Saturday, March 3.

The medals are as follows:

Sophomore Madison Plouvier and junior Alex Maupin, first in duet

Senior Matt Eber and senior Malayia Reece, sixth in duet

Junior Lexi Riddle, second in informative speech

Reece, fourth in informative speech

Senior Tyler Owsley, third in Original Oration

Plouvier, third in Serious Solo Acting

Junior Stephanie Ciston, fourth in Serious Solo Acting

Senior Hannah Brinker, fifth in Serious Solo Acting

Junior Megan Marquardt, sixth in Serious Solo Acting

Senior Paige Hillebert, sixth in Humorous Solo Acting

Junior Hailee Windsor, fourth in poetry

Forensics team places 12th in meet at St. Thomas Aquinas

The Forensics team placed 12th at St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Forensics teacher Jeanette Hardesty was satisfied with the team.

“I was very pleased with the team’s performance,” Hardesty said. “The meet at St. Thomas Aquinas was large with some rounds having 40 students, and only six students can advance to the finals.”

Sophomore Tori Kilkenny hopes to improve.

“I’m surprised that I did so well for the first forensics meet but I hope I can continue to get better,” Kilkenny said.

The medals are as follows:

Junior Alex Reeves, fifth in Original Oration

Junior Lexi Riddle, fourth in Informative

Senior Josh Duden, third in Impromptu

Senior Tyler Owsley, fifth in Impromptu

Sophomore Clare Young, second in prose

Junior Megan Marquardt, sixth in prose

Clare Young, fourth in poetry

Senior Brayton Young and junior Hailee Windsor, fifth in duo

Junior Alex Maupin and Kilkenny, sixth in duo

Duden and Windsor, third in duet

Senior Hannah Brinker and Kilkenny, fourth in duet

Sophomore Daniel Ward and sophomore Kara Lewis, fifth in duet

Students showcase talents at Open Mic Night

Approximately 30 people gathered in the commons for the annual StuCo-sponsored Open Mic Night on Wednesday, Jan. 25.

Open Mic Night is an opportunity for students to showcase their various talents.

“I thought it was pretty cool, it was interesting to see a lot of people’s talents,” junior Jayce Knowles said. “Definitely better than last year’s.”

Junior Alex Maupin performed his Forensics piece, “Coffee Craze Confusion.”

“While sitting under the strobe light, I had a great time performing,” Maupin said. “I wanted to practice for the first Forensics meet.”

Junior Kelsey Winscott also performed a monologue, “Promises,” and enjoyed the experience.

“I think there is some real talent at MV,” Winscott said. “It’s interesting to see how people are different inside and outside of school.”

Also performing were: junior Alex Kain, piano solo, senior Connor Bickle, original song and sophomore Joe Vincent, junior Andrew Eigsti and senior Leo Santos, two original songs by the band “Project Manhattan.”

Students take interest in knitting projects

Opening his drawstring University of Florida Gators backpack, junior Alex Maupin pulls out his most recent crocheting project; a turtle pillow. Although he has just recently learned how to crochet, he has picked it up quickly.

“I taught myself to crochet in the beginning of September,” Maupin said. “Since I already knew how to knit, I started crocheting as well.”

Maupin’s most recent project was a pair of burgundy arm warmers, which required cabling.

“I made the arm warmers. It took me about two hours per glove. Those required using front post double crochets, which has three single crochets on top of each other,” Maupin said. “It ended up looking like a cable-knit sweater.”

Sophomore Anna Frontaura also knits. One of Frontaura’s friends taught her how to knit when she was in middle school.

“It’s kind of like riding a bike. Even though I learned how to knit in middle school, I didn’t pick it up again until recently,” Frontaura said.

Frontaura admits that she does not know how to start a new project.

“I always have to ask my mom [to start it for me],” Frontaura said. “I’m left-handed so it’s a little bit more difficult for me. Some people think I knit backwards, but I don’t. I was just taught differently.”

Though they enjoy it, Frontaura and Maupin both agree that losing their spot is one of the biggest hassles of knitting.

“You set [your project] down for 10 minutes and you come back and think ‘what was I doing again?’” Maupin said.

Frontaura says that getting clarification is also one of the difficulties of knitting.

“It’s so frustrating when I’m trying to get help from my mom and she doesn’t understand what I’m saying because I’m not using the correct terms,” Frontaura said.

Frontaura said that knitting is fun, but sometimes it can be difficult to keep her focus.

“I usually watch TV or listen to music to keep myself sane. If I watch TV, it’s typically That ‘70s Show,” Frontaura said.

Maupin’s hobby started off simple, but he hopes to progress his talent.

“Scarves are difficult [to crochet], Maupin said. “But sweaters are more difficult. Crocheting a sweater is my biggest goal. It would be awesome.”

Gay-Straight Alliance created to unify students

Recently formed Gay-Straight Alliance began meeting at the beginning of November in hopes of raising awareness and to serve as a safe forum where students of all sexual orientations can offer each other support.

Sophomore Misty Adkins, vice president, says she decided to start the club alongside senior Kayla Vognsen, president, when they realized how people of different sexual orientations were treated.

“We heard kids calling friends of ours names that we knew were inappropriate and rude,” Adkins said. “We just felt like everyone needed a place to come together and talk about issues surrounding sexuality and stuff like that.”

Vognsen hopes the club can positively unite students of all sexual orientations.

“I just hope we can educate people about the stereotyping and spread tolerance and awareness so people don’t have biased opinions anymore,” Vognsen said.

The club has had a maximum of 30 members attend meetings. According to Adkins this number was higher than expected, but GSA still has hopes of expanding their members.

“We hope to really grow and include a lot more people in the school and we would really love for it to be a school-wide thing,” Adkins said.

Despite a positive turnout and positive goals, negative setbacks have gotten in the way. Within two school days, 30 posters advertising the club had been slashed with keys and pencils, ripped off the walls, and thrown in trashcans.

Sophomore Alex Maupin, secretary, was mad about what might be a display of homophobia.

“It most likely might be fear. Homophobia, it’s a big thing,” Maupin said. “But most likely it’s just students being stupid.”

Both Adkins and Maupin agree that not a lot of effort was put into the posters. Therefore, Maupin feels the club did not do their part in preventing them from being destructed.

But before working to spread word of the club through posters and word-of-mouth, GSA had trouble with something else: getting the club approved. Vognsen claims that the administration was a bit hesitant to approve the club because it could be considered a “social taboo.”

“It took a long time to get approved by the administration. They were a little bit not very nice about it. We got the application and it took about a month [for the club to be approved],” Vognsen said.

Principal Tobie Waldeck clarified that he has no problem with this club in particular.

“People are people. It doesn’t matter race, gender, whatever. I want people to be able to work together in a calm, decent atmosphere and improve the community,” Waldeck said. “And as long as a club or organization, or even just an individual person, [is] working toward that goal, that’s a good thing.”

Complications occurred when Waldeck found out that no application process was in place for the school, despite a board policy stating one was needed along with a constitution. Most of that time, Waldeck was working on creating and developing an application form and process and a constitution.

After realizing no other clubs have had to go through this new application process, Waldeck decided to go ahead and approve the club. This new process will be put into place next year, where each club will go through board approval.

The club is now concerned with different things. Each meeting, GSA focuses on a specific topic and occasionally will devote time to answering anonymous questions entered into a basket by its members. Such topics GSA has touched on or plans to include opposition, Gay History Month, and dealing with coming out. The club plans on participating in events such as Day of Silence in April and possibly Trunk or Treat.

“What I hope to accomplish is to turn everybody’s mind on in the GSA to be safe and comfortable in their own skin,” Maupin said. “And not be afraid to be out of the closet, gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, whatever.”

So far, the club has been successful at working together towards a common goal. Club sponsor Jeff Wieland agrees.

“The kids are all very supportive of one another,” Wieland said. “I’m actually amazed at how well everybody gets along and what a positive atmosphere it is when we have our club meetings.”

Meetings are Fridays at 3:05 p.m. in Wieland’s room. All students, regardless of sexual orientation, are encouraged to join.