From Beale to Bourbon and Back Again

T he
Vanguard
Voice
Wisconsin Heights
High School Newspaper
GRADUATION 2015
From Beale to Bourbon and Back Again
VOL. 6, NO. 2
NEWS
Kirchman............pg 4
Police...................pg 4
FEATURES
Wisconsin Heights students eagerly wait to board the Queen Creole dinner and jazz
cruise paddle boat, which is powered by a 24 foot diameter paddlewheel.
By Emily Wolf
Waking up at four o’ clock in the morning is not a thing that most high school students would look forward
to; however, on the morning of March 29th, thirty six Wisconsin Heights band, choir, and drama students eagerly
made their way out of bed and embark on an unforgettable adventure to a pair of cities that changed the landscape
of American music forever.
After a twelve hour bus ride, we arrived in Memphis earlier than expected, so we spent the extra time
freshening up in the hotel before the first scheduled stop, B.B. King’s Restaurant & Blues Club on Beale Street.
Somewhat similar to Madison’s State Street, Beale Street is nearly two miles long and lined with neon-infused
restaurants, blues clubs, bars, and tourist shops. Our early arrival also allowed time for pictures and exploration of
the nearby shops. A group of young street performers called the “The Beale Street Tumblers” performed stunts
right down the middle of the blocked off street.
“Beale Street was the best!” said sophomore Dylan Helmenstine. “You were just able to experience your
surroundings. The tours were good, don’t get me wrong, but when we could go and just see Memphis or New
Orleans and not have someone telling us facts, those were the times when I enjoyed the trip the most.”
Dinner at BB King’s was, to say the least, absolutely delicious. It consisted of fried chicken or BBQ pork,
salad, green beans, buttered noodles and a corn muffin with a chocolate brownie for dessert. While enjoying our
meal, we were serenaded by a live blues band. After eating, we explored the rest of Beale Street. We walked the
length of the street singing Marc Cohn’s Walking in Memphis, and checked out a few shops along the way.
Beneath of the bright, neon glow of the street signs it was hard to tell when the sun went down and the moon
came out. A constant crowd of people swarmed the street filled with the endless noise of laughter, honking cars,
and delightful blues music. This was just the beginning of what would be a fantastic trip.
Our second day in Memphis can only be described as Elvis overload. Graceland Mansion, the King of
Rock ‘n Roll’s castle which he purchased for his mother when he rose to national stardom, is located across the
Ranger Shadow..pg 5
Nurse Shadow....pg 6
Q106...................pg 7
Morality.............pg 8
Perspective........pg 13
Senior Profiles..pg 14
Cost of School...pg 16
A&E
Chick-fil-a.........pg 10
Comedies...........pg 10
Summer Films...pg 11
Foot Golf...........pg 12
Have a Great Summer
Vanguards!
Please see NEW ORLEANS. Page 3
Keeping Heights Clean Behind the Scenes
By Kayleigh Pauley
The afternoon school bell rings at 3:16. For the students it signifies
the end of a school day, but for custodians Bret Schultz and Mark Ziegler,
it means the work day has only just begun.
Eighteen years ago Schultz made the switch from a being a supervisor at a factory that crafted school furniture to his job as a custodian at
Wisconsin Heights Middle School. “The first time I ever actually entered
this school was when my team and I installed the middle school library
furniture. It’s actually pretty handy because if something breaks, I know
how to fix it,” Schultz said
After working at WHMS for roughly a week, his partner didn’t
come in one night. He was wet mopping in the 6th grade hall late that
night when he heard the back door open and froze. He stood silently and
listened to the noises of somebody entering. It turned out to be a teacher
showing a friend their classroom, but the brief moment of terror before he
realized he wasn’t being preyed on by Dementors was memorable. “We
have a saying that goes, ‘Even if you think you’re alone, you’re probably
not,’” Schultz said.
Heights custodians have become experts at cleaning around concerts, sports, and other special activities. “Sometimes there are seven
events going on both inside and outside the building,” said Schultz.
Please see CUSTODIANS, Page 2
PAGE 2
VANGUARD VOICE
GRADUATION 2015
CUSTODIANS continued from Page 1...
hay bale blocking the door. The boys were
SCHOOL PUB. STAFF
pretty bummed that the custodians thwarted
their plans, but Bret still gets a laugh out of
GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT EDITORS
it to this day.
Nelson is on call 24 hours a day,
Kayleigh Pauley
seven days a week – including holidays –
Emily Wolf
and is known for her ability to resolve
water leaks, blown circuits, false alarms,
STAFF WRITERS
and any lock issues. Principal Asta Sepetys
Darren Esser
said, “Irene is an unbelievable multi-tasker,
and she is the best head custodian I have
Kayla Fisher
ever had.”
Josie McKenzie
Sometimes working three jobs at
Kayleigh Pauley
one time, Nelson’s work ethic and toughMckenzie Radl
ness are legendary. “Irene is a real trooper. According to special education
She has shown up to work after a rotator teacher Andrea Visauer, Irene
Jessica Strang
cuff injury where she could only use one Nelson is the source of the best
Recently back from a fishing trip to
Emily Wolf
passing conversations to be had
arm. She works hard and does not make
the Florida Keys with his grandsons,
any excuses. She is as generous a person as in the halls between classes.
Bret Schultz makes Melissa Hill’s day
on a regular basis by referring to her
you will find,” said guidance counselor Kurt Wong.
Publications Advisor:
as “younglady.”
When fire drills occur, Nelson is responsible for making sure staff
Michael Dahlman
Keeping the building locked up to
and students get out of the building safely. Although Schultz doesn’t work
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
prevent mischief from being manwhen fire drills happen, he’s had his own run in with them in the middle
aged
can
become
difficult
when
of the night. “It goes a lot like…run to the room, reset the alarm, silence
Brenda Carlson and Erin
hundreds of kids and their parents
the alarm, and reset the system. By this time the fire department has been
Vander Weele, News
are in the building attending multi- notified and usually is here, and I have to meet with them outside and
Publishing
ple events at once.
allow them to come in and make sure everything is alright,” Schultz said.
Rita Krause, News
Ziegler, Schultz, and head
Because his two daughters both graduated from WHHS and attendcustodian Irene Nelson have choed UW-Platteville, Schultz has a unique perspective that is shared perhaps
Publishing
sen their jobs for similar reasons.
only by the administrators: he sees how much Vanguards change from
One of the primary reasons is the
sixth grade through graduation. He makes time to speak to each student
POLICY
short commute to work. “I chose to
who wishes to interact with him, and many students stay after school just
The Vanguard Voice is a public newspawork
here
because
it
is
close
to
to catch a quick chat with him.
per written and produced by the students
home,
and
my
children
and
now
my
Seventh grader Quinn Moyer stays after school to talk to Schultz
of Wisconsin Heights High School.
grandchildren will be attending
The Vanguard Voice exists to present
on a regular basis. “We talk about the things that happened during the
information in as unbiased a manner as here,” Nelson said.
school day or what’s coming up,” Moyer said.
possible and strives to spark thought and
Schultz is the Dumbledore of
Schultz cleans a total of 27 toilets in the middle school per night.
debate. The opinion of an individual
fly fishing; he’s also made several
On
occasion
he has found strange items like smelly underwear hanging on
author does not necessarily represent that
trips to the Florida Keys to enjoy his the back of a stall in the middle school boys’ bathroom. In the middle
of the publications staff, its adviser, or
girls’ bathroom he often has to wash graffiti off all of the stalls. These
WHHS staff or administration. The staff favorite pastime. His hours during
the
school
year
and
the
summer
problems and others, such as deliberate clogging of the boys’ urinals, have
of The Vanguard Voice alone is responsiallow him to pluck unsuspecting
ble for the paper’s content; WHHS
recently led to the closure 7th grade hallway bathrooms.
students, staff, faculty, and readers within trout from the Black Earth Creek and
The custodians may not receive thanks on a regular basis, but their
the community are
other streams in southwest Wisconsin hard work is immensely appreciated. Math teacher Dave Purdy said,
welcome to submit feedback to The
during peak seasons.
“These folks, along with Bill, Cathy and Rose, are the unsung heroes of
Vanguard Voice. Complaints, suggestions,
Every
summer
parts
of
the
the school. They go about their business and tasks, with little fanfare, a
requests, or letters pertaining to the conschool
are
repainted,
taking
usually
reasonable amount of sweat, complete diligence, without being noticed a
tent of this publication may be mailed to
Wisconsin Heights School District, 10173 between 80 to 120 gallons of paint.
whole lot, and we just assume that they are there. If it weren’t for them,
U.S. Highway 14 Mazomanie, WI 53560 Several students have joined band
we couldn’t do our jobs. They are the lug nuts that keep the wheels on,
or e-mailed to
and choir director Aniela Haas in
they are the crew that hoists and tends the sails, the engineer’s helper that
mdahlman@wisheights.k12.wi.us.
coming back to help finish the job.
keep coal supplied to the boiler on the
“Mrs. Haas is actually really skilled locomotive.”
when it comes to painting,” Schultz
Whether their job involves cleansaid.
ing up vomit at a band concert, fixing the
Haas has fond memories of working with Schultz during the sumlights before a football game or a mystemers. When she first began working on the custodial crew, she was paired rious 911 call goes out from an unknown
up with several people who refused to do anything but chat. Nelson recog- location on campus, all the custodians go
nized how unhappy Haas was with her crew and switched her to one with
above and beyond what their job duties
Schultz.
require. Administrative assistant Cathy
“The only reason I came back the following two summers was so
Yasick said, “I asked Bret one time to
that I could work with Bret. He is so fun and smart and nice to talk to. The bring me something to dust my work
days that I worked with him always flew by because he would tell jokes or space. The next day I came in and it was
we would talk about students or people that we both knew,” Haas said.
spotless!”
Students may not know that both Schultz and his nephew have a secret
Ziegler also bends over backlove for the song “Girlfriend.” One summer, Haas tired of listening to
WHHS teachers and staff know they
wards to help others, and he is wellSchultz’s Willie Nelson and Bob Marley albums, so they picked an Avril
can always depend on soft-spoken
known for his ability to fix just about
Lavigne CD from her collection. “After that, we had to listen to that CD
custodian Mark Ziegler when
anything. While working on the summer
almost every day for the rest of that summer, and they would sing along
repairs are needed in the high
crew with the custodians, Haas found out
with it. It was great,” Haas said.
school.
that Ziegler is also really funny. “You
Wiping down the mirrors in the 7th grade girls’ bathroom, Schultz
have to wait for the right time for it to
chuckles to himself over one of the more memorable nights. A few years
come out because he is so quiet. But, sometimes at lunch over the years I
ago on the weekend before graduation, the custodians were working split- worked on the summer custodial crew, it would be a smaller group of us
shifts throughout the night to prevent shenanigans. While meeting with
and he would really get on a roll and we would all be laughing,” Haas
Ziegler in the band room at about midnight, they noticed several headsaid.
lights pull into the parking lot and something being quickly hustled in
“They are all incredibly dedicated and willing to help out whenevfront of the main high school doors.
er an issue arises,” said science teacher Dan Jergens. During breaks and
Both Ziegler and Schultz took off running to see what it was and
summer vacation, Ziegler takes the extra time to make sure that the plants
noticed it was a giant hay bale. They decided to hide in the bushes to see
in Jergens’ room are watered and healthy.
if anyone came back. Minutes later a car with the headlights turned off
Spanish teacher Mike Hruby said, “Bret, Irene and Mark are three people
pulled into the parking lot, and several senior boys got out with spray
who don’t seem to use the word ‘no’ almost ever. True models of genpaint. They were apparently going to spray paint their class number on the erosity and kindness.”
GRADUATION 2015
VANGUARD VOICE
NEW ORLEANS Continued from Page 1...
street from the rest of the exhibits. We boarded the tour shuttle bus, the
only means to access the site, and passed through the iconic gates bearing
musical notes and wrought iron outlines of Elvis’s image holding a guitar.
Standing at the front steps we eyed the massive white stone complex with
a Greek style
entry way,
and the guide
handed us all
iPads and
headphones
which provided an
audio-visual
tour of the
mansion.
Once
inside, we
were directed
to the bright,
Waiting eagerly for their reservation at BB Kings Blues Club, the
joyful family
seniors of the trip enjoy the chaotic scenery of Beale Street.
room which
had Elvis’ renowned fifteen-foot couch. We were then escorted around the
house to view the dining room, kitchen, TV room with a mirrored celling
and three television sets, and the pool room. The infamously tacky jungle
room has green shag carpeting, a small indoor waterfall, and a brown
bark-like wall coating to resemble being in the Hawaiian jungle. In 1976,
the Jungle Room was converted into a recording studio, where Presley
recorded most of his final two albums, From Elvis Presley Boulevard;
Memphis, Tennessee; and Moody Blue; these were his final known recordings in a studio setting.
“His house was the coolest! It had so many different rooms, all in a
different style and theme. It was fantastic!” junior Eva Gemrich said.
Graceland’s backyard reveals Presley’s personal gym, office, horse
stables, a handball court, and trophy building, which was originally
housed a slot car track and was used to store awards and items sent by
devoted fans. The tour of Graceland ends with the grave sites of Elvis’s
grandmother, father, his beloved mother, and the King himself. Elvis was
originally buried in a mausoleum in Forest Hills Cemetery in Memphis,
but fans frequently tampered with his grave, so Presley and his mother
Gladys were moved to their current and final resting place.
After shoveling down a quick lunch, we started our next tour at
Sun Studios. Widely known for recording big names such as Elvis Presley
and Johnny Cash, Sun Studios is not much but a small brick building with
less than an acre of square feet. Once our class squeezed inside the lobby
doubling as a gift shop, we were split into two groups for a brief twenty
minute tour of the building. We were taken up to the second level which
had been transformed from an office and work space of Sam Philips, the
founder of Sun Studio, into a small exhibit displaying the history of the
studio. Along with Elvis Presley’s high school diploma, the musical artifacts plastering the walls of the second level commemorated the first
records ever recorded at the studio.
The actual recording studio is a small, square room, with roughly a
dozen guitars of all different kinds lining the right wall. A piano, keyboard and drum set sat against the left wall, and right in the center of the
room sat an old-style vintage microphone. The microphone is the original
one that has been there since the opening of the studio, and it has been
used by many recording artists including the King himself. Advised not to
kiss the microphone, some of us couldn’t resist touching our lips to the
same microphone that Elvis Presley
used to sing and record his first radio
hit “That’s all Right.”
“I liked the Sun Studios tour, it was
really cool to see where a lot of great
artists recorded,” said junior Alexis
Kellner.
Our first adventure in New Orleans,
Jean Lafitte’s Swamp Tour, was like
living an episode of Swamp People.
Swamp boats lined the nearby shore
where a scanty rope running between
a series of short waterlogged posts
stood between groups of mesmerized
teenagers and alligator-infested
waters. Within five minutes of scanning the bayou, we caught sight of a
real, live alligator emerging from the
water ten feet in front of our eyes.
Moze West said that holding the alliga- The experience viewing the five-foot
tor was, “weird but cool!”
reptile was a first for those of us who
had only seen them in movies such as
the trumpeting alligator, Louis, from The Princess and the Frog, which we
PAGE 3
watched on the six hour bus ride from Memphis to “the Big Easy”.
Boarding the swamp boat, I realized the creaky, old, dirty
tub was not the first vessel I would have chosen to ride in cruising alligator-infested waters, but the captain assured us that everything was perfectly safe. The swamp boat could match speeds of a car driving down a
highway. The ride was often bumpy, and we were told to keep all electronics and valuables secured. If anyone dropped their phone in the water,
the tour guide said, “Raise your hand, and I’ll raise my hand, and then
we’ll both wave good bye to your phone because it’s a gonner!” The
guide pointed out native Louisiana plants such as the state tree,
Taxodiumdistichum, and the ecosystem’s diverse wildlife. We spotted
many female alligators preparing their nests for mating season.
After learning the difference between a bayou, canal, marsh, and
swamp, the bravest and most courageous students were given the opportunity to hold a baby alligator with their bare hands. Sophomore Moze West
said, “I loved the swamp tour! Our tour guide was the best.”
Then we made the trip back into the city to get a taste of New
Orleans’ most prominent festival, Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras season had
ended only end a few weeks earlier. Lavish parades take place throughout
the city every Carnival season until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday
and the observance of Lent - hence the name “Fat Tuesday”. The floats in
Mardi Gras parades are like no other, and they often take an entire year to
create. We got a glimpse of some of the floats from the previous carnival
season at Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World. Kern thrives in the float making industry, constructing more than three-quarters of the floats used by
the various social organizations called “krewes” each year. New floats are
designed year round, and we saw drafts of small design sketches and
artists creating and painting enormous sculptures for next year’s parade.
“I would play hide and seek there any day,” senior Ella Cashman
said.
“I thought Mardi Gras World was really cool. It was amazing to
see all the different designs that they can come up with, and to see how
the end product that started with a simple idea on sheet of paper,” senior
Julia Wolf said.
A documentary on the history of Mardi Gras followed the tour, and
we tasted a popular dessert during Mardi Gras season called king cake.
Each king cake has a small plastic baby inside to symbolize the coming of
Christ. The “lucky” person who gets the piece of cake with the baby in it
is supposed to organize the next king cake party. Unfortunately, no one
from our group found the gold baby in their piece of cake.
We returned
to the city and
dressed up in our
formal attire to visit
the Canal Street
Wharf and boarded
an old-fashioned,
sternwheeler paddleboat for a jazz
dinner. We filled a
long table running
the length of the
dining hall.
Sparkling jazz
music filled the air
Jackson Square was named after President Andrew
as we filled our
Jackson, a hero of the War of 1812’s battle of New Orleans,
stomachs with
and is represented by a large statue of President Jackson
authentic New
riding on the back of a stallion.
Orleans style cuisine
including, gumbo and jambalaya with chicken and sausage, Cajun-braised
beef brisket, and bread pudding with bourbon whiskey sauce. As The
Creole Queen steamed down the Mississippi river, students drifted to the
upper level of the boat to enjoy the magnificent view of the New Orleans
skyline.
Gemrich said, “It was lovely out on the water and boat rides are
super fun, but the best part was having time to be outside and simply talk
with people. I ended up standing with a random group of people, a few of
whom I hadn’t talked with a lot before, and we talked about really interesting things...the plausibility of Atlantis and the chances of Riley being
eaten by a Megladon if he spontaneously fell overboard. As we talked,
more people joined in until there were seven or eight of us questioning the
entirety of human existence. It was nice to be in a setting that wasn’t as
pressurized as a classroom, but still be able to think and discuss serious
topics with classmates that you wouldn’t always talk with.” Apparently
there’s a reason New Orleans is called the city that Care forgot.
The cool breeze of the swiftly moving paddleboat comfortably
contrasted the warm air. The cruise was just shy of two pleasurable hours.
Senior Brittany Zander said, “The jazz cruise was really fun, the food was
amazing, music was good, and it was cool just to be able to relax while
See NEW ORLEANS, Page 4
PAGE 4
VANGUARD VOICE
GRADUATION 2015
Stuffed with authentic southern food, it was time to dance. The
dancing began with a few of bravest students stepping onto the dance floor
enjoying the night sky and bright lights of the city as we cruised by.”
trying their best to imitate the practiced and natural looking motions of the
Our final day in the Crescent
regular, elderly couples busting their
City, named for its curved shape
moves. Skeptical about participating,
along the Mississippi River, culminatGemrich said, “At first I was not looking
ed with a walk through the historic
forward to it as I’m not a huge fan of
French Quarter, the experience everydancing. Then a bunch of people went up
one was looking forward to most.
there and the older couples - who actually
The French Quarter is the oldest
knew what they were doing and looked
neighborhood in New Orleans, and it
good doing it - were so kind and helped
is designated as a National Historic
teach us some dances, or let us follow
Landmark. It is also the most expenthem around trying to copy what they
sive area to live in the city. Named
were doing, and it turned out to be a
after President Andrew Jackson, the
splendid time!”
hero of the War of 1812’s battle of
At one point in the evening, while
New Orleans, Jackson Square is a
dancing
to the jazz-style folk band Lee
lush, gated park located on the out“The best part was the dancing at Mulate’s, because we were all really happy
Benoit, everyone coalesced into the
skirts of the Quarter. The St. Louis
to be there and made a good time out of it,” said junior Alexis Kellner. As the
Cathedral sits on the opposite side of dancing progressed, Wisconsin Heights students, along with some other elderly longest dance line in the history of
Mulate’s. Every band, choir, and drama
the square from the Mississippi River.
couples, formed the longest dance train in the history of Mulate’s.
student on the trip joined a handful of
One of the nation’s oldest Catholic
chaperones and the elderly dancers to form a train of roughly 50 people.
churches, it looks like a Disney castle towering above the middle of the
Senior Brittany Zander said, “Everyone was super nice and inviting, and it
city.
was just a really great way to end the trip!” As 8 o’clock rolled around,
We walked along the cobblestone streets, learning the facts and
history of the area. French settlers built the foundations of the city on that our last moments in the beautiful city were winding down.
According to travel writer Tim Cahill, a journey is best measured
particular curve of the Mississippi because the Native Americans told
in friends, rather than miles. The students of Wisconsin Heights encounthem that the bend of the river would protect them from sea storms. In
tered all of these different cultural experiences together, and as sophomore
2005 Hurricane Katrina dispelled that myth and flooded the city, which is
constructed below sea level and surrounded by levies, causing $108 billion Moze West said, “The best part was when we were all together as one big
happy family and having fun.”
in damage.
NEW ORLEANS, Continued from Page 3...
Eventually we arrived at the front door of Brad Pitt and Angelina
Jolie. Our guide explained that many politicians and celebrities reside in
the French Quarter because of its beauty and culture. After spending at
least ten minutes standing outside of the famous couple’s home waiting in
vain for them to appear, we were given a few hours to explore the French
quarter on our own.
Most students began at the New Orleans equivalent of China
Town, the French market. Here you can shop and find souvenirs ranging
from sunglasses to voodoo dolls, from t-shirts to hand made Native
American drums.
Our last stop in New Orleans was dinner at Mulate’s Cajun
Restaurant, known as the original Cajun restaurant. Outside the restaurant
doesn’t look like much with its lone green door shaded by a single
awning; we were beginning to wonder whether this place was a restaurant
or nightclub, because it surely didn’t look large enough to be both.
Stepping into the pink building we soon realized that Mulate’s had more
than enough room for our whole group plus a few more.
The restaurant’s floor plan makes a long L shape, with two long
corridors branching to the left and right, covering almost a whole block.
A stage sits on the far back wall at the top of the L, and right in front of
the stage a dance floor is surrounded by single tables. We took our seats
at the two long tables down the center of the left corridor and had a menu
of five different items to choose from, including a catfish, crabmeat au
gratin, grilled ribeye, BBQ baby back ribs, or a seafood platter complete
with fried stuffed crab, crawfish tails, butterflied shrimp, catfish, calamari,
and fried oysters. Those who were adventurous enough ordered the
seafood platter and vowed to try everything set in front of them. “The
restaurant was so yummy. The food was amazing and huge! I got the ribs
and they were the best ribs I’ve ever eaten,” Julia Wolf said. The main
dishes were followed by - you guessed it - bread pudding.
Kirchman Joins National Guard
Ben Kirchman, a graduating senior at Wisconsin Heights High
School and an Eagle Scout in Troop 58, has recently become a member
of the Wisconsin Army National Guard as an infantryman. Ben plans to
attend the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to study communications in the spring semester after completing his initial training for the
Army National Guard. He also plans to join the Reserve Officer Training
Corps (ROTC) on campus, which will further his military education and
career while covering 100% of his tuition. Students interested in following Kirchman’s path into the Wisconsin Army National Guard can contact
SSG Annie Kobza for more information at (608) 345-4474.
Just ifiable Use of F orc e?
Deputy Sheriff Explains Police Protocol
by Darren Esser
At the start of each shift, Richard Bennett clears his mind, mentally
prepares for the job ahead, and wonders what the day will entail. His
duties could include anything from a general patrol to tracking down suspects and making high risk arrests. Anything could happen, and that’s just
another day as a Dane County Sheriff’s Deputy.
On any given day Bennett’s duties may include performing human
service work, investigating open cases, patrolling streets and highways,
speaking to student groups about public safety, addressing elder abuse,
transferring patients with psychiatric problems to different living quarters,
responding to car accidents, resolving traffic issues, and providing emergency medical assistance. Deputies in Dane County spend a majority of
time mediating non-violent conflicts between families and community
members, but encountering hostility is an inescapable reality all law
enforcement officers must be prepared to face.
Last August in Ferguson, Missouri, Officer Darren Wilson confronted Michael Brown and a friend for walking down the center of the
street and obstructing traffic. A brief altercation ensued and resulted in
Brown’s death from six gunshot wounds. Brown was unarmed, and
although witnesses provided conflicting accounts of the incident, Wilson
maintained that he acted in self-defense. Following an investigation by
the U.S. Justice Department, no charges of civil rights violations were
filed against Officer Wilson, and a St. Louis grand jury chose not to indict
him with a crime. Shortly after the case came to a close, Wilson resigned.
On March 6, 2015, Tony Robinson was running in and out of traffic and behaving violently in Madison. Called to respond to the scene with
caution, Officer Matt Kenny located Robinson in an apartment building
and heard what he believed was a fight breaking out. Kenny entered the
apartment and confronted Robinson who was unarmed and intoxicated.
During the confrontation that followed, Kenny fired his service weapon
seven times. Robinson died from the resulting gunshot wounds, and
Kenny was suspended pending an investigation. Last month Dane County
District Attorney Ishmael Ozanne declined to file charges against Kenny
GRADUATION 2015
VANGUARD VOICE
and declared the shooting “a lawful use of deadly police force.”
In response to these high-profile cases, critics of law enforcement
question the use of deadly force and ask why a Taser is not used more frequently. Bennett explains that when a Taser fires, two charged barbs shoot
from the device, and they must both stick into a body to conduct a current.
Baggy clothing or even a moving target can cause one or both barbs to fail
to stick, making the Taser useless. In addition, a Taser’s maximum distance is only around twenty-one feet. The likelihood of hitting a target at
that distance is remote. After pulling the trigger, a Taser can fire no additional rounds, so if there is more than one target or the suspect does not go
down, officers must resort to other means. Ten to twelve feet is the ideal
range for a Taser apprehension, but most shots do not happen within this
radius. Bennett adds that many stations are also unable to provide Tasers
for all staff members; as a result, many officers have no alternative or they
carry only their service weapon by choice.
In training, officers are taught to always use the proportionate level
of necessary force to enable them to apprehend a suspect, which is why
perpetrators with knives or other weapons are often shot. Hand to hand
combat presents too great a risk of injury to officers or a suspect escaping,
so police are instructed to use the next level up, a gun.
Unlike depictions in movies, actual gunfights typically occur within the span of just a few seconds. According to Bennett, responders often
do not have the luxury of assessing the situation as fully as they would
prefer. Police officers are expected to win all conflicts, because if officers
are killed or injured at the scene, the public can be in even greater danger.
When deployment of an officer’s service weapon is necessary,
many wonder why police officers don’t shoot to wound perpetrators in the
leg or arm. Bennett explains the answer is training. Officers are specifically trained not to take shots at arms and legs for several reasons. Targets
are often moving, and when engaged in a potentially lethal altercation, the
average officer’s accuracy is about 20%-30%. Officers are also trained to
shoot until the threat stops, which explains why many suspects are shot
several times.
Another case involving the death of an African-American suspect
occurred on April 12, 2015, when Freddie Gray was apprehended by sev-
FEATURES
PAGE 5
eral officers in Baltimore before he voluntarily submitted to arrest and was
dragged and placed inside a police van for transportation to the booking
center. When they arrived and the van was opened, Gray was unable to
talk and could not breathe. He was later found to have a severe spinal cord
injury which resulted in his death a week later. The officer driving the
vehicle has been charged with second-degree murder; five other officers
received a list of charges including voluntary manslaughter.
Deputy Bennett acknowledges that cops make mistakes. “No cop is
perfect and a few bad eggs can destroy the reputation of others. There is
racism in the job, as you can find almost no job that has none, but police
have no more than any other profession,” Bennett said.
One of the proposed solutions to increase accountability for police
officers is the use of body cameras, which provide an objective record of
any confrontation. Bennett is not opposed to the use of body cameras
because they could help clarify discrepancies in many cases, but he
believes now is not the time for them. After videos have been recorded,
they need to be reviewed before they are released to the public which has
the right to see the recordings. To accomplish this goal, in most cases a
full-time employee would need to be designated for this job. Plus, the
cost for just one reliable camera can be as high as $900. Bennett points
out that struggling departments with already depleted budgets have difficulty affording basic supplies for daily use, which makes purchasing these
cameras a significant challenge. Bennett believes there needs to be separate funding for the purchase of cameras before any legislation is passed
concerning their use.
Deputy Bennett stresses that he tries to be as proactive as possible
by participating in positive community relations and teaching citizens
about preventing and avoiding crimes before they happen. When cases of
police-related shootings do occur, he encourages the public to be mindful
of the reason the job had to be done in the first place and remember that
such actions are always done to protect citizens from potentially lethal
threats.
The Devil’s Horseman
Profile of the Protector of Devil’s Lake
by Josie McKenzie
the massive summer crowds. Camping at the
Any citizen of the Badger State
park is also permitted year-round.
knows you are not a true Wisconsinite
Ranger Jonah Moline has been a park ranger
unless you have been to Devil’s Lake State
at Devil’s Lake for eight years. A graduate of
Park. Nearly 1.8 million people – approxiUW-Stevens Point, Moline majored in natural
mately the same number of tourists who visresources with a minor in law enforcement.
ited Montana’s Glacier National Park in
Before working at DLSP, Ranger Moline
2009 – vacation there annually and the numworked at Door County State Park. “The difbers continue to grow each year. Ranger
ference is amazing,” Ranger Moline said.
Jonah Moline and his fellow park rangers at
“Door County has nothing on Devil’s Lake
Devil’s Lake are in charge of keeping all
when it comes to its number of visitors.”
10,000 acres of the park healthy and its
The Wisconsin State Park rangers’
sightseers safe.
jobs are a stimulating mixture of the responsiDevil’s Lake SP has been a statebilities of a Department of Natural Resources
owned park for 100 years. The rangers who
officer and traditional law enforcement rolled
oversee the Devil’s Lake area also monitor
Comparable
to
many
of
the
nation’s
famous
National
Parks,
1.8
into one job. Typically, a ranger’s job at DLSP
smaller parks like Badger Sauk Prairie
Recreational, Natural Bridge, Pewit’s Nest, million visitors annually explore southern Wisconsin’s picturesque includes things like giving tickets for not havDevil’s Lake State Park.
ing the sticker on your vehicle stating you paid
Parfrey’s Glen, and Steinke Basin. Private
to enter the park; listening to visitors’ complaints and doing something
properties with houses and hunting grounds are dispersed between these
about them; and arresting people for drugs, alcohol or reckless driving.
parks and on the surrounding roads to and from them.
They respond to life-threatening situations like a policeman or EMT
There are many activities to do at Devil’s Lake year round. From
would do. Ranger Moline is also a part of the rescue team commonly
the first signs of spring until the cool autumn breezes arrive, guests enjoy
known as “Rope Rescue” which saves people who fall down the steep
swimming, fishing, picnicking, canoeing, and hiking. There is always at
least one school field trip group per day at Devil’s Lake. During the open- slopes of the cliffs in the park. It doesn’t happen often, but every now and
then, a hiker will get too close to the edge of a high trail and fall off.
ing weekend of this year’s fishing season, anglers had to park their vehiThere are the other regular duties Ranger Moline and his fellow
cles on open, grassy areas because the parking lots were filled. When there
park rangers perform, such as responding to raccoon problems and sick
was no more possible room for any more cars, rangers had to temporarily
animals, inspecting the trails, warning campers about storms over the
restrict access and close the park.
loudspeaker in his truck, and enforcing hunting protocols, like a warden
Temporary closures of the park like this are not unheard of. When
for the DNR does. Opportunistic raccoons are a persistent problem at
horrible floods struck south central Wisconsin in 2008, Devil’s Lake was
Devil’s Lake. They tend to sneak right up to picnic tables with food on
closed for two entire weeks just so the rangers could drain the excess
water out. Unexpected shut downs also occur occasionally during the sum- them, and even if people are sitting at the table, the furry bandits will
jump up and grab a snack right under their noses.
mer, especially when the weather is at its best and the park’s capacity is
Some of the odd jobs Ranger Moline and the other rangers do in
reached.
Fun winter activities allow guests to avoid the throng of people and the off-season include fixing sign posts, cutting down trees, painting buildenjoy the park’s scenery as well. Snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and
See RANGERS, Page 6
ice fishing are excellent ways to enjoy the beauty of Sauk County without
PAGE 6
VANGUARD VOICE
RANGERS continued from Page 5...
ings, fixing picnic tables, mowing the lawns, cleaning, pipe fixing, remodeling, and plowing snow both in the
parking lots and on the trails. “It’s
nice to tune out and not have to think
about law enforcement stuff,” Ranger
Moline said. Park rangers also have
to document everything that happens
in their day, and for every hour
they’re out in the field, there are two
hours of paperwork waiting for them
back at headquarters.
To become a park ranger, canRanger Moline’s cruiser allows him to didates must go through four years of
quickly traverse the park and ensure college and earn 60 credits. They
that it is kept in pristine condition and must also take a semester at a police
visitors are safe.
academy where aspiring park rangers
and police officers go through the same exact training. Graduates are
required to complete a background check and take a “What Would You Do
If…” exam along with a psychological test before being eligible for
employment.
“When you’re dealing with people who complain about the craziest
things, no matter what, you have to be polite and bite your tongue,”
Moline said. Every day, he issues a handful of underage drinking tickets
and parking violations to vehicles without parking stickers. He issued six
parking violations within the two hours I was with him; on a busy summer
day, he could issue up to 50. Underage drinking is very common at state
parks. “I don’t know why teenagers just think that they won’t get caught
here, but they do.”
A darker side to being a park ranger is the tragedies that sometimes
GRADUATION 2015
occur on their turf. A father and his two children, a little boy and girl, happened to be camping during a particularly terrible storm. “They were all
lying in their tent late at night when a tree toppled over the tent and
squished the poor girl,” Moline said. The father and son came away with a
few bumps and bruises, but the girl did not survive. Also a volunteer firefighter with the Baraboo Fire Department, Moline responded first to the
scene at 4:00 A.M. Rescuers had to saw away the tree in order to get the
girl’s remains out from underneath the tree. After completing the job,
Moline returned home, put on his park ranger uniform, and headed back to
the scene to take care of the law enforcement work.
Suicides sometimes occur in the park as well. “I don’t claim to
know the mind of a suicidal person, but I think they come here to clear
their minds and let go of their frustrations, be one with nature, and then
they just decide to jump,” Moline said.
Careless drivers exceed posted speed limits down the infamous
South Lake Road which has nine 90 degree curves within the two minutes
you drive them. The road is more commonly referred to by rangers as
“Snake Hill.” Once, a drunk driver ran into about four cars on Snake Hill
before going off the road and thankfully slamming into a tree instead of
falling down the steep slope that drops down one side of the deadly road.
Another driver overdosed on medication and drove around the park crazily
until one of the rangers finally pulled her over before she could get to
Snake Hill.
Currently, Ranger Moline works with three other full-time rangers
at Devil’s Lake. Unfortunately, one of the rangers will be leaving soon and
the large park is already understaffed. There are seasonal positions – or as
the rangers say “Limited Term” or “LT” for short – but the fact still
remains that the rangers have their hands full.
Whether it’s fixing a sign post or responding to hikers in trouble up
on the rocky trails, Ranger Moline loves his job. “I really like that no two
days are the same; the job keeps you on your toes.”
Generations of Heartbeats
A Day in the Life of a Fertility Nurse
by Kayla Fisher
A nervous twenty-eight year old female jitters
female comes in for the procedure. The doctor carefully
on an examination table while her husband sits next to
injects the female with her partner’s sperm. Although the
her with his legs bouncing and mind racing. This is
doctor is the one performing the action, the nurse is there
their third try, and they’ve been in this position before.
handing the doctor tools while simultaneously calming
This hopeful couple has been coming to Generations
the patient. The nurse also cleans the room and tools
Fertility Care in Middleton for what feels like countless
beforehand and cleans up after the procedure is done.
appointments, all for an ultrasound that will determine
The process of using an OI combined with an IUI is
the destiny of their family. Their most heartfelt wish is
common and is preferred among nurses and patients. If
to have a child, and they are moments away from findthis process fails, a couple can choose to undergo an In
ing out if their dream has come true.
Vitro Fertilization. The IVF process is long, expensive,
Starting a family isn’t always easy. As freshmen
and sometimes risky. The IVF begins with egg stimulawho have recently completed health class can recall, it
tion or an OI. Then, the female must come in to have her
all begins with conception. Typically, a female releases
eggs retrieved. The eggs are then inseminated and fertilone oocyte (egg) per cycle. That egg must be fertilized
ized with sperm. The final outcome of the embryo transwithin hours of ovulation to become a baby. This is
fer is pregnancy, which isn’t always guaranteed. Each
often done naturally, but the process of natural concepstep of an IVF involves setting up specific appointment
tion can be difficult, sometimes impossible, for couples.
dates to coincide with the female’s menstruation cycle.
Common causes of infertility in women include ovulaThis is all orchestrated by the nurses at Generations.
tion disorders, fallopian tube damage, endometriosis,
They strategically plan the entire process to increase the
and cervical abnormalities. In men, low sperm count,
chances of pregnancy. Without the nurse’s expertise,
erectile dysfunction, varicocele, and ejaculatory dysachieving a heartbeat would be impossible.
function are common causes of infertility. When natural Fertility Nurse Leah Cheever works with
Today an ultrasound begins and a twenty-eight year
conception fails, couples can turn to a fertility clinic,
old
female
is holding her husband’s sweaty hand praying
a variety of couples every day to help
like Generations Fertility Care, for help.
that
they
receive
good news. Their at home pregnancy
them start their own families. She greets
The clinic comes alive at 7:00 A.M. as several
test
came
out
positive
seven weeks ago, but that doesn’t
everyone with a warm and welcoming
restless couples that appear to be in their late 20’s and
guarantee
a
heartbeat
will
be seen today. The nurse is
smile, making the couples feel comfortearly 30’s arrive for their appointments. Nurses race
moving
the
probe
around
searching
for the embryo. She
able and confident with whatever situafrom room to room assisting with different procedures
has
been
there
for
the
couple
since
their
first appointment
tion they face.
all with the same goal, to create life.
and has been through the trial and error process with
There is a wide variety of nurses at Generations. Nurse Leah
them multiple times. She wants nothing more than to spot a heartbeat and
Cheever graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in nursing. She began send the couple off to begin their family.
her nursing journey working in an emergency room and has now been
All of a sudden, on the electronic screen of what appears to be
working at Generations for almost a year. She took some time off recently nothingness, a tiny peanut appears. The peanut is pulsing. The nurse
to have a child of her own and is back at Generations continuing to help
shows the couple and announces the thrilling news. Their peanut is lookcouples become pregnant.
ing good, and they can finally stop scheduling appointments at
The process of helping a woman conceive is often a long, trial and Generations to begin their life as a pregnant couple and later as a family.
error process. Female patients start with trying to have an ovulation induc- The nurse gives the family a tiny onesie and the couple is nothing but
tion, or an OI along with an intrauterine insemination, or IUI. Nurses typi- smiles. All of their hard work has finally paid off.
cally instruct women to try taking an OI medication first. This increases
Nurses like Cheever love this part of the job. “I enjoy seeing the
the number of eggs released in a cycle to about two or three, increasing
families come together. Once you see the same couple continuously comthe chance for pregnancy. Patients are directed to take the medication at a
ing in for appointments you begin to cheer them on,” Cheever said.
certain time, based on her menstruation cycle, so they can conduct the IUI
Helping women conceive is only a fraction of the work done by
at a statistically favorable time. If an oral medication fails, the patient then the staff at Generations. A thirty- year-old male paralyzed from the waist
tries an injectable medication. It is the nurse’s job to teach the patient how, down came to Generations for help. Surgical staff operate to find viable
when, and where to inject herself. Again, this injection must be done at a
sperm and store it properly. A female with cancer can have her eggs frozen
carefully designated time so the IUI can be performed when the chance of at Generations before her chemotherapy to ensure that her dream of startpregnancy is high.
ing a family can be possible one day, even if the cancer affects her ability
Similar to the backstage crew of a performance, the nurse doesn’t
to conceive naturally. Staff at Generations also assist with donor egg pronecessarily shine onstage, but rather does more than others can fathom off- grams. This is when a couple decides to have another female carry their
stage. While some nurses are explaining the first step to their patients,
child. Whether they are a gay couple looking to start a family or a patient
other nurses are in rooms assisting with the second step, the IUI. After a
with any other medical reason, donor egg programs are available to help
woman takes her medication or gives herself the injection, the IUI takes
anybody begin a family.
place. It begins with the male partner producing a sperm sample. Then, the
People come from hours away to Generations Fertility Care in
GRADUATION 2015
VANGUARD VOICE
PAGE 7
Middleton all for the same purpose, to start a family. Every appointment is a different story, and the nurses at Generations have seen it all. Impossible
isn’t a word the nurses use, because they do everything they can to make a couple’s dream come true.
Waking Up with Q106
by McKenzie Radl
Beep, Beep, Beep… the chiming of your alarm clock at 5:30 A.M. means it’s time to
wake up. By 6:00 most people are still stumbling out of bed or groggily showering, but
Jackson Jones and Ashley Kix arrive before the sun rises for their morning show radio on
Q106.
One of Madison’s most popular radio stations, Q106 is located in the Mid-West Family
Broadcasting building on Madison’s southwest side along with, 93.1 Jamz, Magic 98, WJJO
94.1 and several other stations. From wall to wall there are guitars galore in the lobby and all
throughout the building’s walls, and each is signed by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Green Day,
and Brooks & Dunn.
Benjamin Franklin believed the early bird gets the worm. If he’s right, Jones and Kix
have mouths full of worms because they begin organizing content for the upcoming day’s
broadcast at 4:30 A.M. “We come in and make sure that we have our commercials done for the
day. Then make sure we have all the stories we need to go along with the ‘filler stories’ to go
along with our big topics, so coming in the morning is just getting everything prepared to do
the show every day,” Jones said.
Guitars and records signed by famous musicians adorn the
They use several sources of inspiration to determine different segments to use on the
entry of the Mid-West Family Broadcasting station.
show. A prep service website tracks all the stories trending online so they don’t have to search
the web themselves to find interesting topics. Kix said, “We have prep services…and then it’s
basically our daily lives and anything that comes across to us or we think people will find interesting. We try to make fun topics that are usually lighthearted, nothing too depressing or graphic. Some radio stations can be more perverse, where we are on the PG side of things.”
Like many other computer programs used to smoothly run the show, a color-coded screen displays which songs and ads will be playing next.
Between the songs and ads, there is 15 to 45 seconds of talking time on air. Kix’s favorite segment of the show is their “Better Beat Jackson Game.”
Played every day at 6:45 A.M., the game has two players: Jackson and the chosen caller who sounds the most excited. Kix then picks a series of five
questions based on current pop culture topics. First attempt to answer goes to the caller. While the caller answers the questions, Jones frantically paces
outside the studio, itching for his turn to play. In the case of a tie, the win goes to the caller.
Kix originally planned to work in front of a TV camera when she was attending college at UW-Madison, but she found the daily grind of covering depressing news stories a turn off. Her mother suggested she try another form of broadcasting. Kix said,
“Radio was more upbeat and fun, and I liked it more, and I could wear baseball hats every day.”
Jones and Kix usually work uncommon hours five days a week, which doesn’t include the extra time spent
on extra activities outside the studio assisting Toys for Tots, American Family Children’s Hospital Radiothon
and other worthy local causes. Jones said, “It’s hard to balance. We do get up early, and that means we get
off work early. I go home and nap some days, but I don’t
want to waste my day away. But also if I don’t nap, at seven
o’clock I’m really exhausted, and it’s not fair to my girlfriend
who gets home at six for me to be going to bed right away.”
One of many major perks of being on a radio talk show is
getting to meet famous country stars at concerts or through
interviews at the studio. One of Jones’s favorites is The Band
Perry. “They were so talented, they were so nice, and
Kimberly Perry didn’t smack me when I accidently grabbed
her butt,” Jones said.
Ashley Kix, Jackson Jones, and I goofing
Being a morning talk show host comes with both advanaround during a break off air.
tages and drawbacks. Jones said, “I don’t have a problem
waking up early. I like the hours, and I am a morning person.
My least favorite is when you make a mistake; you have several lines for people to let you know how
“There’s a lot of behind the scene stuff that makes
much you suck. Even though most of the feedback we get is 99% positive, that 1% hurts. Nobody wants the show run on all three of the eight cylinders it’s
to hear what they did wrong or that someone doesn’t like them, and we hear that occasionally, and that’s
supposed to run on,” Jackson Jones said.
probably the worst because you want to please everyone and you can’t.”
“When I come in in the morning and see Ashley’s face on the other
side of this desk and I know that we’re going to have a great show. Literally
when I wake up, I get to do my dream job,” Jones said. There are a lot of
grateful Q106 listeners who hope Jackson and his partner Ashley never wake
up from that dream.
MISSING:
SIMON THE STEGOSAURUS
SENIORS
RETURN ALL LOCKS TO THE
OFFICE BEFORE GRADUATION
FOR A $5 DEPOSIT RETURN
EVERYONE ELSE KEEP LOCKS ON
YOUR LOCKERS
BEWARE: IF SPOTTED PROCEED WITH CAUTION
CONTACT TODD STELZEL FOR REINFORCEMENTS, DAVE PURDY
FOR QUADRATIC EQUATIONS AND MIKE DAHLMAN TO TAKE
PICTURES
PAGE 8
WHHS MORALITY SURVEY
VANGUARD VOICE
GRADUATION 2015
by Kayleigh Pauley
William Hazlitt, an eighteenth century British writer, said, “Every man, in his own opinion, forms an exception to the ordinary rules of mortality.” For others, when confronted by controversial moral decisions, they go with more modern advice from Nike, “Just do it.” A recent Vanguard Voice
survey uncovers how Vanguards would respond to difficult ethical situations.
You are an athlete attending the
birthday party of a friend. His
older sister agreed to buy a keg of
beer for the party. While drinking
around a bonfire, the police show
up and write underage drinking
tickets for the people at the party.
You didn’t get a ticket because you
didn’t have anything to drink, but
you’re worried about violating the
athletic code. You would...
If one of your teachers left a test
answer key out and you had the
opportunity to take a photo of it,
what would you do?
Do you do community service?
If one of your friends was cheating
on a test next to you in class, what
would you do?
GRADUATION 2015
VANGUARD VOICE
How often do you lie to your parents?
You’re working in the library with
only two other people. Out of the
corner of your eye, you notice
someone not in your class entering the library to get a paper from
the printer. Before leaving he
crosses the room and inconspicuously takes a wallet out of the
backpack of one of the other people working. Your would...
Your plans for prom are set. Your
group has been chosen and restaurant reservations have been made.
One of the members of your group
has invited another couple without
consulting the rest of the group.
Now your reservations and transportation no longer work for
everyone and people are creating
drama. You would...
One of your friends has been in a
long term relationship for over a
year. They’re even talking about
plans after high school. While
hanging out on State Street, you
spot your friend’s other kissing a
stranger. You would...
PAGE 9
PAGE 10
VANGUARD VOICE
GRADUATION 2015
Arts & Entertainment
The Best Place in Madison to Chicken Out
By McKenzie Radl
Typical spots like Taco Bell, Arby’s and Burger King are being
challenged by a new wave of “fast-casual” restaurants like Panera and
Chipotle that do not offer full table service, but promise a higher quality of
food with better ingredients. Chick-fil-A, the newly opened fast-casual
restaurant on Madison’s West Side, proves that quality food can be fast,
satisfying and affordable.
Located in the West Towne Mall parking lot facing Gammon Road,
there are two drive-thru lanes outside. Like typical fast food spots, inside
there is a huge billboard menu in the front of the restaurant where you
place your order. The dining area is filled with booths, tables and chairs,
along with a play area for kids. The difference is that the atmosphere at
Chick-fil-A is far more warm and welcoming with a classier design concept. Don’t be surprised if the seating area is packed with people from
one side of the room to the other, which makes it feel a little like eating in
the food court at the mall.
the preparation that makes Chick-fil-A’s sandwiches stand out. The
breasts are hand-breaded and pressure cooked to perfection, which eliminates any greasy aftertaste, but it’s still a significant 500 calories per serving.
Nugget lovers will go crazy for the breaded nuggets. These are
definitely a delicious departure from the standard, rubbery fast food version. Also hand-breaded, these bite-sized bits of all-breast white meat are
pressure cooked in peanut oil. Available in eight and twelve-count portions, you can also choose from a variety of seven different dipping
sauces.
For people looking for a healthier alternative, Chick-fil-A also
offers grilled nuggets. They are bite-size chunks of boneless chicken
breast, marinated with a unique blend of seasoning. Tender and juicy, they
are as good as – or better than – chicken you’d make yourself on a backyard grill, and the 8-count portion is just 140 calories.
Chick-fil-A’s variety of main sides includes side salads, soup,
chicken salad, cole slaw and an assorted fruit cup. If calories aren’t a concern, the waffle fries – can you say, “Freakin’ amazing?” – are crispy on
the outside and tender inside. The real potato taste rivals Culver’s for the
best fries you can get.
Chick-fil-A provides many options for dessert, which includes
milkshakes in a variety of popular flavors that are hand spun, “like the old
times, every time.” The milkshakes use Chick-fil-A’s delicious
“Icedream,” which is topped with whipped cream and a cherry. They also
have Frosted lemonade, which is a concoction of freshly squeezed lemonade mixed with their famous vanilla Icedream. It’s a delicious, twisted,
unexpected blend of lemonade and a milkshake. If you care about nutrition, either ignore the calorie count or just avoid the dessert menu altogether because heathy this isn’t.
The carefully prepared chicken sandwiches and other entrees at Chick-fil-A offer a
“fast casual” alternative to boring fast food offerings.
Chick-fil-A’s chicken deluxe sandwich will make your taste buds
water. Made from boneless chicken and seasoned to perfection, it’s served
on a butter toasted bun with a dill pickle chip, fresh leaf lettuce, a slice of
tomato and American cheese. It is also available on a multigrain bun. It’s
White Chicks (2004)
The service at Chick-fil-A stood out from other comparable restaurants in a good way. It was nice being greeted by the manager, and the
friendly employees had big smiles on their faces. Overall, Chick-fil-A
blows KFC right out of the water. The food was fast and delicious without producing the post-meal grogginess that comes with greasy burgers
and fries. If you enjoy reasonably priced, quality food served with a smile,
Chick-fil-A won’t disappoint.
A Compendium of Classic Comedies
Rated PG-13 (109 mins.)
by Jessica Strang
Cast: Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Jaime King Frankie Faison, Lochlyn Munro, John Heard Busy, Philipps Terry Crews,
Brittany Daniel, Eddie Velez, Jessica Cauffiel
Marcus (Marlon Wayans) and Kevin (Shawn Wayans) are a pair of FBI agents who specialize in using costumes to break open
cases. They disguise themselves as a pair of white women in an effort to protect the wealthy Wilson Sisters from a kidnapping
plot. It is hilarious to watch two African-American men struggle to transform themselves into a pair of spoiled, wealthy
princesses. The Wayans make use of a lot of common blonde stereotypes like the squeaky, “Oh my, God!” and their obsessive
shopping. Primarily created to generate laughs, it also inspires thought about persistent American stereotypes relating to race
and gender.
21, 22 Jump Street (2012, 2014)
Rated R (109 mins.)
Cast: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Amber Stevens, Ellie Kemper, Jillian Bell, Ice Cube, The Lucas Brothers, Nick Offerman,
Jimmy Tatro, Caroline Aaron, Craig Robert, Marc Evan Jackson, Joe Chres, Rob Riggle, Dave Franco
In high school, Jenko (Channing Tatum) was a popular jock, and Schmitt (Jonah Hill) was a nerdy dork. After school, they helped
each other join the police force and became friends. Now in their 30’s, they are channeled back to a local high school (and college
in the sequel) for a police case. They must blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring, but they find out that high school has
changed a lot since they graduated. They both get unfocused about what is at stake and start questioning their partnership. Jenko
was bully who made fun of the less fortunate in 21 Jump Street, but after taking a human sexuality class
in college, he speaks up when faced with injustice. Need another reason to watch? The ever-so-hunky
Channing Tatum is in it, enough said.
17 Again (2009)
Rated PG-13 (102 mins.)
Cast: Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Michelle Trachtenberg, Matthew Perry, Sterling Knight
A soon to be divorced businessman whose life didn’t quite turn out how he wanted wishes he could go back and change it.
After seeing an older man preparing to jump off a bridge during a bad rain storm, he tries to save the older man but fails and
falls in himself. He magically turns seventeen again and gets the chance to rewrite his life. Younger Mike O’Donnell (Zac
GRADUATION 2015
VANGUARD VOICE
PAGE 11
Efron) is a witty guy with charm that no lady can resist. He lives with his best friend from high school and goes back to the classroom to get it right the
second time. Mike befriends with his son and gets them both a spot on the basketball team. Mike’s own daughter starts to have feelings for him and
during a party gets him alone in an awkwardly hilarious sequence. In the end, Mike O’ Donnell finds out that his family is the most precious thing in
his life.
Pitch Perfect (2012)
Rated PG-13 (112 mins.)
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth
Banks
Beca (Anna Kendrick), a freshman at Barden University, joined The Bellas, an a Capella group at her college. Beca’s amusing
and sassy attitude makes you laugh through the whole movie, and Rebel Wilson’s awkward humor is hilarious in any role she
plays. No one will ever forget the time she gets hit with Mexican food while pumping the bus with gasoline. This movie is why
just about every girl knows the lyrics to Kendrick’s “Cups” song “When I’m Gone.”
Grown Ups 1,2 (2010,2013)
Rated PG-13 (102 mins.)
Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Maya Rudolph
Adam Sandler’s expertise in the comedy world makes all of his movies sidesplitting to watch. Thirty years have passed since
the big championship game that Sandler and his high school teammates won, so they reunite at a cabin to celebrate the passing
of their former coach. These “adult” men are far from being average husbands and fathers. Fans will never forget Kevin James
(Eric) peeing in the pool, which turns the water bright blue causing everyone to run away in horror. Despite other outrageous
mishaps and reminders they aren’t kids anymore, it becomes their best vacation ever.
Despicable Me 1 and 2 (2010,2014)
Rated- PG (95 minutes)
Cast: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Jemaine Clement,
Jack McBrayer, Julie Andrews, Elsie Fisher, Dana Gaier, Russell Brand
spinoff of their own.
Criminal mastermind Gru maintains his villainous lair on a quiet, residential street lined with white fences, flowering gardens and
happy neighbors. When three orphan girls become an unexpected obstacle in his evil scheme to steal the moon, he finds their love
is changing him for the better. In the second installment, Gru (Steve Carell) ditches a life of crime to raise Margo (Miranda
Cosgrove), Agnes (Elsie Fisher) and Edith (Dana Gaier). Trying to figure out how to provide for his new family, he struggles with
his responsibilities as a father and watching his daughters go through the awkward phases every young girl experiences. The stupidity of Carell’s Gru is both ridiculously funny and warmhearted at the same time, and his delightful Minions have earned a
Step Brothers (2008)
Rated R (98 mins)
Cast: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Richard Jenkins, Mary Steenburgen, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn
Two worthless, middle-aged men still living at home with one of their divorced parents discover each other’s parents are getting
married, and they are forced against their will to become roommates. Will Ferrell (Brennan), the star of Anchorman: The Legend
of Ron Burgundy and Elf, brings out everyone’s inner child with sass and hysterical immaturity. Brotherly love is the main
theme of this movie, and it reinforces how family is the most important thing in the world.
Mean Girls (2004)
Rated PG-13 (97 mins.)
Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tim Meadows, Ana Gasteyer, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey
Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) just moved from Africa to the America. After she starts fitting in with a group of high school
friends, she gets invited to join an A-list girl clique at her new high school called The Plastics who “wear pink on Wednesdays.”
Later she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George (Rachel McAdams).
This movie shows the stereotypes for girls and cliques in high school in a hilarious over the top way. Filled with memorable
quotes (“I hate seeing teachers outside of school. It’s like seeing a dog walk on its hind legs.”), this is a generational classic. With
straightforward advice from Ms. Norbury (Tina Fey), Lohan’s character changes the school for the good, but no matter how much
she tries to change the school, she finds she can’t always change all the people in it.
Summer is the time for chilling with
friends at the pool, barbecuing hot dogs on the
grill, and prowling the streets in cool muscle
cars. It’s also when the best movies are
released. No sappy love stories or boring dramas about how horrible life’s problems are.
These seasonal blockbusters are all about action,
intensity, and stuff blowing up.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Release Date: May 1st
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson,
Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans,
Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Tom
Hiddleston
Avengers Age of Ultron is the second
installment in the Avengers series of Marvel
films. S.H.I.E.L.D. is destroyed and the
Avengers need a break from stopping threats to
humankind. Tony Stark tries to revamp a dormant peacekeeping program named Ultron, a
Summer Movie Preview
By Darren Esser
self-learning A.I. system. Things don’t go
according to plan when the Ultron system targets
humans as the primary enemy and tries to eradicate them from earth. The Avengers scramble to
shut down the A.I. while running into a few new
faces along the way, and the story will keep
viewers on the edge of their seats bracing for the
unexpected. Compelling plots and the ability to
add and subtract heroes seamlessly have enabled
the makers of the Avengers series to provide
some of the best summer blockbusters for several consecutive years. Marvel’s broad spectrum
of superheroes has competitors like DC begging
for mercy, and the studio plans to release at least
two more Avengers films, making a total of four
since the series launched in 2012.
Official Website: marvel.com/avengers
Furious 7
Release Date: Flag Drops April 2
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle
Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham,
Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Lucas Black,
Ludacris, Kurt Russell
After the death
of his brother Owen
Shaw, underground
criminal mastermind
Dickard Shaw is on the
war path against
Dominic Toretto and
his crew. After tearing
up London and Spain in
F&F 6, Toretto and his
crew have returned to
their criminal ways in the U.S. only to be disrupted by Deckard. The race is on as Toretto and
his crew seek their own retaliation against
Deckard for the death of long-time running pal
Han. During the latter half of filming, Furious
star Paul Walker was killed in a tragic car accident. Walker’s brothers were used as stand-ins
along with digitally enhanced images in order to
PAGE 12
finish the film. Contrary to popular belief, this
will not be the last movie in the franchise. Plans
for more movies reach far into the future, and
there is no foreseeable end as long as people
continue to love watching renegade gangsters
and gorgeous female leads stealing awesome
rides and evading the cops.
Official Website: www.fastandfurious7.com.au/
J urassic World
Release Date: Park
Opens June 12
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Chris Pratt,
Bryce Howard,
Nick Robinson,
Jake Johnson,
Vincent D’onofrio,
Brian Tee
Twenty-two
years after the
events of the first
Jurassic Park, a
company named Masrani Global Corporation
resurrects John Hammond’s dream of operating
a futuristic theme park on Isla Nublar. After 10
years of operation, the park’s attendance is starting to decline due to lack of new attractions. The
company board’s demands to boost ticket sales
lead to ill-conceived genetic experimentation,
and the park’s geneticists develop a new genetically modified hybrid dinosaur called Indominus
Rex. Visitors and staff disappear when the deadly Indominus Rex predictably breaks loose and
wreaks havoc throughout the park. Pratt is
forced to use extreme measures to stop the monster, and releasing his raptors – the ravenous terrors of the previous JP films – may be the only
means to ensure survival and prevent grisly
mayhem.
Official Website: www.jurassicworld.com/
T he Man fr om U. N. C.L. E.
Release Date: August 14
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Hugh
Grant, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki
Based on a TV series that ran form 19641968, UNCLE features C.I.A. agent Napoleon
Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin who
participate in a joint mission against an unknown
criminal organization. Shrouded in mystery, the
organization is working to rapidly produce
nuclear weapons. The only lead Solo and
Kuryakin have is a daughter of a vanished
VANGUARD VOICE
German scientist, who is the key to bringing
down the criminal organization. The two agents
must race against time to put the pieces together
to solve the puzzle. No Austin Powers or Dr.
Evil here. This super preppy retro thriller is a
throwback to the classic, old-school James Bond
spy thrillers with awesome gadgets, mind-blowing stunts and eye candy from start to finish.
Official Website: manfromuncle.com/
Term i nat or Genisys
Release Date: July 1st
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Matt Smith,
Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Douglas Smith,
Jason Clarke
Created to revamp the series and introduce new faces, Genisys is the latest edition in
the previously dormant Terminator franchise.
Due to the time travel throughout the film, the
plot takes place both before the first film and
after the previous film. In the year 2029, John
Connor, the leader of the resistance, continues
his war against machines. After Connor learns of
a plan to destroy him on two fronts, both past
and present, he sends Kyle Reese, his best friend
and lieutenant, back in time to protect his mother
from deadly cyborgs and insure his existence in
the future. No longer the “governator” of
California, Arnold Schwarzenegger returns in
the role that made him famous in 1984. Together
the trio must fight Skynet’s brand new T-1000
sent to destroy them and stop Judgement Day
from happening.
Official Website: www.terminatormovie.com/
Pitch Perfect 2
Release Date: We’re Back Pitches May 15
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Skylar Astin,
Elizabeth Banks, Anna
Kendrick, Rebel
Wilson, Alexis Knapp,
Adam Devine
The a cappella
group that calls themselves Barden Bellas
are back following an
embarrassing performance in front of
President Obama. To reestablish their credibility, they enter an international competition no
American group has ever won. Beca, Fat Amy,
and the rest of the ensemble still dominate the
story, but Snoop Dogg, and a half dozen Green
GRADUATION 2015
Bay Packers – including star linebacker Clay
Matthews – also make cameo appearances.
Opening to mixed reviews, this installment provides more of the sisterhood and musical laughs
that made the first film a surprise hit at the box
office.
Official Website: http://www.pitchperfectmovie.com/
Minions
Release Date: July 10th
Rating: PG
Cast: Pierre Coffin, Sandra Bullock, Michael
Keaton, Jon Hamm, Allison Janney, Steve
Coogan
In this prequel, Despicable Me fans will
discover that Minions have existed since the
beginning of time. They are single-celled organisms that serve a single purpose: to serve history’s most despicable rulers. After accidentally
destroying all previous masters including T-rex,
Genghis Khan, Napoleon and Dracula, they
decide to isolate themselves in Antarctica.
Driven insane with boredom after living many
years without a leader, they seek a new master.
They attend an evil convention and compete to
become Scarlet Overkill’s henchmen. Along the
way they must stop a threat to the existence of
all minions.
Official Website: www.minionsmovie.com/
Mad Max: Fury Road
Release Date: May 15
Rating: R
Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas
Hoult, Rose Huntington-Whiteley, Zoe Kravitz,
Josh Helman.
The apocalypse has come and turned the
surrounding landscape into a barren desert.
Humanity has fallen into chaos, leading people
to fight for water, fuel and other bare necessities
of life. Two heroes may have what it takes to
restore order to this world, Mad Max and
Furiosa. Max is a “shoot first ask questions
later” hero seeking peace after his wife and son
were slain in the aftermath of the apocalypse.
Furiosa jumps into action and believes survival
may be achieved if she can make it across the
desert to her childhood birthplace. Receiving a
whopping 98% “fresh” rating from Rotten
Tomatoes, this reprise of the Mad Max series has
eye-popping special effects, spectacular stunts,
and a plot that delivers non-stop action.
Official Website: www.madmaxmovie.com/
A New Way to Get Your Kicks on the Golf Course
by Jessica Strang
On a dark, humid and stormy Sunday with rain pouring down, my
friends and I could not see anything on Aberg Avenue until we spotted the
bright white and blue sign for Bridges Golf Course in Madison near the
MATC Truax Campus. Arriving at the course caused a feeling of happiness for the four of us because we were about to undergo our first footgolf
experience.
This game has almost the exact same rules as golf, but with a bit of
a kick. Footgolf is played with a soccer ball, and the distance from the tee
to the enlarged hole is shorter. The origin of the game is uncertain, but it
was played in several different countries as early as 2006; in 2008 a few
professional footballers in the Netherlands played in the first nine-hole
tournament. Since then its popularity has slowly but steadily grown; last
April there were ten thousand players in the United Kingdom alone.
Fellow seniors Quinn Lynch, Holly Wilkinson, Connor Hosking
and I began our outing by signing in, only to find out we had to wait an
hour for the grass to dry up a bit more. Bridges only offers footgolf on
Saturdays and Sundays after 3:00 and requires a reserved tee time in
advance. Like most area courses, we had the option of renting a ball for
$3 or using our own. Tennis shoes and golf shoes are mandatory; soccer
cleats are a no-no on the course.
Before reaching the first tee, the employee at the front desk said
that the first hole is pretty sketchy because of the water hazards. “Some
people, usually at least one person in each group, end up getting a ball in
the hazards, but that should be your only water
issue,” he said. From the building it seemed
pretty ridiculous that anyone can do that
because the water seemed so far away.
After Quinn launched his first shot
down the fairway, Connor and I shanked our
balls into the water to the left of the tee. We
had to make the walk of shame back to the
building to get two more balls and accept a
one shot penalty after taking two steps from
the closest spot where our ball went in the
pond. Fortunately, we managed to avoid the
water for the rest of our round, sometimes
thanks to tall grass.
To be honest, the end of the first hole
brought a feeling of relief. The hole itself is
Footgolf holes are is large
part of the regular golf course and is placed in enough to catch a several socthe middle of the fairway. The hole was a par cer balls and sometimes a few
two and, with the hazard penalty, I scored a 4
unfortunate frogs.
after knocking in my final shot two feet away
from the cup. It was hard for all of us at first,
and the best score in our group for this hole was a 3.
Anyone who tries footgolf should go with people that will keep up
GRADUATION 2015
VANGUARD VOICE
PAGE 13
the energy because finishing eighteen holes took our foursome over two hours and walking the
course wears you down. If we lost a ball in the rough, Quinn found branch and hacked through the
grass to find it. Rescuing three frogs that were caught in the holes was an added bonus.
When we got to our eleventh hole, we were stuck behind a group of golfers. The courteous
thing to do is to wait until they are out of the way. Because there were seven golfers playing, we
basically had to wait for five minutes to approach the next tee.
The visit to Bridges Golf Course for a round of footgolf was pleasurable. The people in my
group were just so much fun to be with. The score didn’t matter much to us, but we had a great
time. Footgolf is a great activity to enjoy with friends, and it gets you out of the house for exercise.
My friends and I braved the stormy weather on a
Spending a lazy afternoon kicking a ball around is a delightful way to spend any day in the
Sunday afternoon to visit Bridges Gold Course in
summer with family or friends. Holly Wilkinson said, “You have to do it, because I feel that the
Madison and put our best foot forward in a round of
experience is different for everyone.”
footgolf.
FEATURES
Thank You, Seniors
What I learned at Green Lake
by Kayla Fisher
At the crack of dawn Friday morning, 38 of my fellow seniors
wearing sunglasses and flip-flops hopped on the coach bus to depart to
Green Lake. I learned a lot that day, and it began when we grabbed a
donut from Mama Fish and all agreed to watch Benchwarmers on the
drive there. I didn’t expect a group of young adults with very vocal opinions to agree so quickly to watch a cheesy comedy that came out when we
were in middle school. But we did, and every time Jon Heder spoke, the
bus erupted with laughter.
When we arrived at the lake, the group that fearlessly signed up for
the high ropes course went off into the woods with Mr. Marx and Mr.
Haas. I witnessed a lot of different things while we were harnessed for
hours with hard hats on our heads. I saw Devan Brekke and Josie
Mckenzie continuously volunteer to
hold the ropes for the people rock
climbing. Not only that, but they
also helped every person on the
wall by guiding them with their
voices. Teamwork at its finest. I
saw Lindsey Rettenmund be the
first person to make it up the difficult rock wall, which honestly didn’t surprise me at all because she
can do anything she puts her mind
to. I saw Cole Rickey and Colt
Friske work together to come up
with a strategic way to climb a
seemingly impossible 4-foot-rung
wood ladder. I saw Caitlyn Steen
defy the odds of gravity and manage to make it up that same ladder
by herself, which proves that with a
little motivation, she can accomplish whatever life throws at her.
Overall, that morning was an eye
opener. We all worked together.
There were no little groups. It was
one big group for once. It was our
class.
the sandy court playing volleyball without even keeping score.
While the volleyball continued, small groups of people were out on
the lake in kayaks and canoes, enjoying the sunshine and water. Myles
Polacek and I paddled (actually he paddled while I supervised) out to our
classmates to take a pictures and converse. Every person we encountered
on the lake had a smile on their face and they were all having a great time.
And that’s when it hit me. We were just a group of young adults
enjoying the world. A group of young adults who have been by each
other’s side since kindergarten. We grew up together, and now we are days
away from growing apart. And even though I choke up thinking about
that, I’m oddly also okay with it. We are ready. The world awaits us.
Now I’m going to
squeeze in a little something
I couldn’t say during the
toast I gave that night at dinner. I want to thank you all
one last time. Thank you,
McKenzie Radl for always
beating me in tetherball in
elementary school. Thank
you, Nathan Haugen, for
jumping over our Lego
buildings like a frog and
never knocking them over.
Thank you, Mazo kids, for
so graciously welcoming us
Black Earthians into your
humble abode in fifth grade.
Thank you, Luke Jensen, for
puking next to me in sixth
grade. Thank you, Isaiah
Hasman, for walking in
between the desks like a runway in Ms. Wedig’s class in
seventh grade. Thank you,
Ben Kirchman,for teaching
me that the mitochondria is
Class of 2015, our time together is coming to an end, but I wouldn’t have wanted to go on this
When we came out of the
the powerhouse of the cell.
journey with anyone else besides you all.
woods looking like warriors, the
Thank you, Lukas Sailing,
first thing I saw was a huge group
for always making everyone,
of my classmates in a pig pen-like
even the teachers, laugh.
arena playing a game that looked like a combination of soccer and dodge- Thank you, Emily Wolf, for being the nicest person I’ve ever encountered.
ball. Whatever it was, it looked really dangerous, but I’m not surprised
Thank you, Alex Danz and Cristian Ayala, for teaching me not to text and
considering Nathan Haugen and Jacob Geisler were in the pen showing
drive. Those are just a tiny bit of the memories, and that’s what I want to
their true athleticism and brutality.
thank you all for. Thank you for the memories. The laughs and the tears,
the good days and the bad, we’ve been there for each other since the
After lunch, Mr. Marx coordi- beginning.
nated volleyball tournaments.
At first, the teams were set
But I’m not going to end my last words to you with that. Why end
and the tournament was taken on a sad note? We have a huge future ahead of us. Classmates, you are all
seriously. Garret Evert and
so special for so many different and unique reasons. You each have a pasBrittany Zander were on one
sion burning inside you. Whatever that may be, don’t ever shy away from
side, ready to lead their team
it. Chase your dreams. I want to see each of you do what you love,
to victory. On the other side,
because why live life doing something you don’t love? Your time is limitConnor Hosking surprised
ed, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of otheveryone with his volleyball
ers’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have
skills and proved why our
the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
class always dominated in
boys volleyball during homeThank you, class. The next time I see you, we’ll be wearing a cap
coming. As the day went on,
and gown. After that, well, I guess I’ll see you in the real world.
the intense tournament turned
into a huge group of friends
just having fun together on
The True Class of 2015
PAGE 14
VANGUARD VOICE
GRADUATION 2015
Senior Profiles
by Josie McKenzie
Dillon Aeschlimann
Undecided
Favorite Personality Trait: Spicy
Favorite Book: Calvin & Hobbes
If I Could be Anyone for a Day: someone without problems
“Thank you to my mom; she kept pushing me to do better,
and my friends, even though they are a pain. And this
school for letting me think I have a chance in life.”
Emily Annen
UW- Baraboo, UW- Whitewater
Two Things on My Bucket List:
1. kiss the Stanley Cup
2. meet Luke Bryan
Favorite Personality Trait: Laugh
If I Could be Anyone for a Day: Spiderman
“You can’t always have what you want.”
Dayja Anthony
UW- Milwaukee
Two Things on My Bucket List:
1. Meet Beyonce
2. Diving with trained sharks
If I Could be Anyone for a Day: Nicki Minaj
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: Barack
Obama, Trey Songz, Tupac
“You should always try your hardest because it will all
affect your future.”
Cristian Ayala-Carpintero
UW- Baraboo/UW- Madison
Favorite Clothing: necklace from Italy
Movie I Know Every Line to: The Benchwarmers
Favorite Restaurant: Stir Fry 99
“Shout out to the sidewalks for keeping me off the
streets.”
Rachel Beuthin
Air Force
Person I Most Admire: my mom
Movie I Know Every Line to: The Lion King
Favorite Restaurant: Texas Roadhouse
“Never say you can’t do something. There is a reason why
your teacher/coach/driving instructor or who ever said to
do it. Do it and don’t complain, you will feel so much better and you will be so much farther ahead of someone who
didn’t.”
Saw yer Brandt
Employment
Spirit Animal: Donkey
Favorite Movie: Joe Dirt
If I Could be Anyone for a Day: Curtis Johnson
“Your GPA really matters.”
Devan Brekke
MATC
Spirit Animal: Sunstreaker
Movie I Know Every Line to: Hellboy
If I Could be Anyone for a Day: Batman
“Terrified. I’m terrified, and anxious, and excited all at
once. I want to leave, but I’m frightened of failure. And, to
be honest, I’m glad I feel that way; now I know what I can
do to remedy this and secure myself.”
Ella Cashman
UW- La Crosse
Favorite Book: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Graduation Gift I Want: a pack of fruit snacks that are
all orange
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: The Beatles,
Louis Zamperini, Amy Poehler
“Remember High School Musical? Yeah. That stuff is
legit. Get practicing. Every day at lunch we go hard. Don’t
be dumb.”
Alex Danz
Undecided
Song I Have to Sing in the Car: “Through the Fire and
the Flames” by Dragonforce
If I was Stuck on a Deserted Island, I’d Take:
1. The Holy Grail
2. a teleporter
3. a top hat
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: youngerself, older-self, and ghost-self.
“I’m finally leveling to tier 3.”
Darren Esserr
UW- Platteville
Song I Have to Sing in the Car: “Uptown Funk” by
Mark Robson Ft. Bruno Mars
If I Could be Anyone for a Day: Harrison Ford
Graduation Gift I Want: 1968 Dodge Charger
“Just chill and enjoy what life throws at you.”
G arr et Ev er t
UW- Milwaukee
Two Things on my Bucket List:
1. go to the college volleyball national championship
2. meet Lauren Carlini
My Perfect Day: going to the beach, hanging out with
friends, playing volleyball
10 Minute Shopping Spree, Everything is Free: Dick’s
Sporting Goods
“Do your best even when you’re an underclassman
because if you just try senior year it’s too late. Every
grade matters!”
Ka yl a Fi sh er
UW- Madison
My Perfect Day: morning run in Times Square, hiking the
Grand Canyon, watching the sunset in Hawaii
My Dream Job: Pathologist
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: Jesus, Lana
Del Ray, Ellen DeGeneres
“I think I have grown to realize that the world is really
big, and I want to spend my life experiencing the great
things out there.”
Olivia Forseth
MATC
Song I Have to Sing in the Car: High School Musical
Celebrity Crush: Zac Efron
Favorite Restaurant: Abuelos
“I wish I would’ve tried harder in my freshman and sophomore year.”
Colt Friske
UW- Whitewater
If I was Stuck on a Deserted Island, I’d Take:
1. a knife
2. Bear Grylls
3. a cell phone
Graduation Gift I Want: that new Mercedes I’ve been
bugging my parents about
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: Abe
Lincoln, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and The Terminator
“A car isn’t super-fast just because its rims are painted
black.”
Jacob Geisler
UW- Platteville
Song I Have to Sing in the Car: “The Lion Sleeps
Tonight”
Death Row Meal: peanut butter
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: George
Washington, Albert Einstein, future sports fan to make
bets with
“It feels good to finish high school, but then you realize
you have to grow up and you may not see some friends or
classmates as much anymore.”
Isaiah Hasman
MATC
Two Things on my Bucket List:
1. play in a pen of baby pandas
2. save someone’s life
Movie I Know Every Line to: Pineapple Express
10 Minute Shopping Spree, Everything is Free: Zumiez
“I have learned a lot but nothing from my teachers.
Everything valuable I have learned is from myself and my
parents; and it’s made me a better person in general.”
Nathan H augen
UW- Platteville
Spirit Animal: baby seal
Movie that Describes My Life: Silence of the Lambs
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: Adolf
Hitler, Genghis Kahn, The Supreme Leader of the world in
7,131 years
“I would like to thank my parents and all the pterodactyls
left in the world.”
Connor Hosking
UW- Richland Center
Celebrity I Want to Meet: Toby Keith
If I was Stuck on a Deserted Island, I’d Take:
1. duct tape
2. WD 40
3. Tom Hanks
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: Theodore
Roosevelt, Johnny Cash, Leonardo De Vinci
“Don’t do anything that you would regret later. Mistakes
are like broken bones, you may not see them but they can
hurt. Also, you’re going to think the freshmen from your
senior year are stupid too.”
OLIVIA HUEB NE R
St. Norbert College
Two Things on My Bucket List:
1. sneezing with my eyes open
2. go to Australia, then locate 42 Wallaby Way,
Sydney
My Dream Job: ice cream taste-tester for Ben and Jerry’s
Graduation Gift I Want: a puppy
“It’s bitter sweet. I like the fact that I get to start a new
chapter of my life and further my dreams of becoming a
teacher, but I am also going to miss everyone here at
Heights.”
Luke Jensen
Undecided
Spirit Animal: Peacock
Movie I Know Every Line to: Shrek
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: Robin
Williams, Abraham Lincoln, Chris Farley
“Everybody has a crazy side to them.”
Curtis Johnson
MATC
Death Row Meal: steak and fries
Movie I Know Every Line to: Supertroopers
Favorite Personality Trait: sarcasm
“Been waiting for graduation since first grade.”
Bailey Keule r
UW- Madison
My Dream Job: owning my own software company
What Would I Change about Myself: how often I overanalyze things
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: Mark
Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, John F. Kennedy
“I think that I have matured a great deal since I was a
freshman, and I’ve realized the importance of hard work. I
have also become more motivated towards achieving my
goals.”
Ben Kirchman
UW- Stevens Point/National Guard
Two Things on My Bucket List:
GRADUATION 2015
1. get a bucket
2. make list
Movie that Describes My Life: Saving Private Ryan
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: Jesus,
Kanye West, Bill Nye the Science Guy
“4 8 15 16 23 42.”
Courtney Kirchner
Southwest Tech
My Perfect Day: mud, friends, fourwheelers
What Would I Change about Myself: my curly hair
Best Friend: Tiffany McKegney
“I would like to say thank you to Ms. Houser. You are a
huge part of my life and I couldn’t have done this without
you. Thanks for everything! Love you mom!”
Aubrey Krawczyk
MATC
Movie I Know Every Line to: Burlesque
What Would I Change about Myself: I would grow a little
10 Minute Shopping Spree, Everything is Free: PINK
by Victoria Secret
“Thank you so much to my parents. You have supported
me and have always been there for me! I couldn’t have
done it without you! Thank you!”
Waverly Lamb
MATC
Celebrity I Want to Meet: Robert Downey Jr.
Death Row Meal: a double cheeseburger and cheese
curds with a chocolate milkshake
Favorite Book: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
“Don’t let others push you around. Be your own person
and stand up for yourself. I know that sounds cliché, but
it’s true. The older you get, the more you realize just how
important it is.”
Quinn Lynch
UW- Platteville/UW- Madison
My Perfect Day: no responsibilities, sunshine, and the
Packers winning the Super Bowl
What Would I Change about Myself: I’d be more outgoing and not awkward
10 Minute Shopping Spree, Everything is Free: Dick’s
Sporting Goods
“Don’t be jerks. Everybody deserves to go through a day
without being disrespected or treated as inferior.”
Josie McKenzie
VANGUARD VOICE
Celebrity Crush: Scarlett Johansen
“I’ll miss walking out the door at the end of the day.”
Ke nt N o r s lie n
Marines
Spirit Animal: rhino
Death Row Meal: chili dog with onions and cheese with
mashed potatoes and fresh donuts
Favorite Restaurant: wherever there’s food
“Don’t be a wussy. High school goes by fast.”
Bennie Olsen
UW- Eau Claire/National Guard
Person I Admire: Sean Michael Murphy
Movie I Know Every Line to: Forest Gump
Favorite Book: A Desert Called Peace by Tom Kratman
“I have become more talkative and more willing to be
involved in different social conventions.”
TYLER ORCUTT
UW- Madison
Person I Admire: Jack Frost
What Would I Change about Myself: my inability to fly
Three People I Want to Have Dinner With: Tom Sims,
Abraham Lincoln, Craig Kelly
“I realize now that life is too short to be anything but
happy for long periods of time. I also realize that life is
too short to hurry through it. Slow down and enjoy it
whenever possible.”
Kayleigh Pauley
UW- La Crosse
Person I Admire: Brave Sir Robin
Hobby: searching for the Holy Grail
My Dream Job: Knight of the Round Table
“My greatest accomplishment was surviving the time I
was locked in my locker for an entire gym class. Thank
you eighth grade.”
M yl es P ol ace k
MATC
Nickname: S’Myles
If I was Stuck on a Deserted Island, I’d Take:
1. a tent
2. a cow
3. a chainsaw
10 Minute Shopping Spree, Everything is Free: Jared
“I realize now that you are the most important person in
your own life, and it’s very important to realize that as
soon as possible.”
UW- Barron County
If I Could Travel Anywhere: Scotland (the Highlands)
My Dream Job: head of an Equestrian Center
If I Could be Anyone for a Day: myself, but happier
“Don’t try to control your life so much. Nothing likes
being controlled, so don’t force it. Let what happens, happen. If you let the powers that be take control, you may be
pleasantly surprised by what life gives back to you.”
McKenzie Radl
MATC
Favorite Clothing: sweatpants yoga pants sweatpants
Movie I Know Every Line to: Bridesmaids
Celebrity Crush: Bradley Cooper
“What I would miss most about Heights would probably
be the teachers.”
Sawyer Mickelson
Lindsey Rettenmund
MATC/Employment
Two Things on My Bucket List:
1. purchase a super computer
2. get a really good job in a video game company
Favorite Book: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
My Dream Job: video game designer
“Thanks to Mrs. Zeigler for letting me stare at the wall for
45 minutes every day.”
Haley Myers
MATC
Spirit Animal: Sideswipe
Nickname: Hei-Chan
Pet Peeve: people shuffling their feet when they walk
“As cliché as it is, study. Life will be so much simpler if
you put yourself out there. But don’t forget to have fun
while you’re at it too!”
T on y No n n
Employment
Nickname: Nailz
Pet Peeve: teachers telling me to take off my hat
UW- Madison
Song I Have to Sing in the Car: “Let’s Hear it for the
Boy” by Denice Williams
Movie that Describes My Life: The Brady Bunch
If I Could be Anyone for a Day: a homeless person
“I have gained a lot more knowledge of how to respect
others, be appreciative, date, learn from mistakes, comfort
others, and have confidence in myself. I know I have
changed a lot since I was a freshman.”
Cole Rickey
MATC
Celebrity I’d Like to Meet: Dwayne Johnson aka The
Rock
Pet Peeve: disrespecting elders
Favorite Book: American Sniper by Chris Kyle
“It’s a bittersweet feeling [to be graduating]. It’ll be nice
to start something new, but I know I will miss high
school.”
Lukas Sailing
MATC
PAGE 15
Nickname: Skrokey
Favorite Personality Trait: sense of humor
Hobby: shooting trap
“I can’t wait to be out of here and start on with the rest of
my life.”
Josh Schoenmann
UW- Platteville
Nickname: Pengy
If I Could be Anyone for a Day: Bruce Wayne
Favorite Restaurant: Chick-Fil-A
“No matter how hard things get, keep pushing through.”
Caitlyn Steen
MATC
If I Could Travel Anywhere: Bora Bora
My Dream Job: stay-at-home mom
10 Minute Shopping Spree, Everything is Free:
Charlotte Russe
“I will miss the hands on experience and knowing everyone in my graduating class. It’s amazing how close we all
are and we’re always there to support each other.”
Jess ica Strang
MATC
Spirit Animal: butterfly
Favorite Book: Jessica by Kevin Hankes
Best Friend: Jesus
“Graduating, it’s hard to think that I am not going to be
here, but in my heart I will always be a Vanguard. I am
excited, especially to meet new people and grow.”
Holly Wilkinson
MATC
Celebrity I Want to Meet: Scotty McCreery
My Dream Job: dog rescuer
What Would I Change about Myself: I would make
myself a millionaire
“Life passes you by fast, so not taking anything for granted is a big deal.”
Emily Wolf
Carthage College
Pet Peeve: when DVD’s aren’t in their correct cases
If I was Stuck on a Deserted Island I’d Take:
1. a camera
2. 5-Star Hotel
3. yacht
If I Could be Anyone for a Day: Queen Elizabeth
“Crissa, if I don’t come home tonight.. Go in my room, in
my ceiling, third panel from the right, next to the window,
is a black box. The key is taped to the bottom of my bed.
Destroy the contents.”
Julia Wolf
UW- River Falls
Song I Have to Sing to in the Car: “Let It Go” by Idina
Mendez
Spirit Animal: yellow minion
Favorite Personality Trait: my laugh
“It doesn’t matter what others think of you. If you love
yourself, you already have the win. It’s better to be yourself than to try to be like someone else.”
K ou r t n e y W ol f e
MATC
Favorite Movie: The Last Song
Movie that Describes My Life: A Series of Unfortunate
Events
My Dream Job: anesthesiologist
“It’s okay to lose friends and be yourself. You don’t have
to change yourself to fit in.”
Brittany Zander
UW- Stevens Point
My Perfect Day: sunny, 90 degree weather, ice cream,
and sand volleyball
Favorite Book: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Celebrity Crush: Spongebob Squarepants
“I am beyond excited to graduate. It might be a little scary
to be leaving everything I’ve ever known, but I am definitely ready to start a new chapter of my life.”
PAGE 16
VANGUARD VOICE
GRADUATION 2015
Frequent Fees Vanguards Face
By Emily Wolf
Although public school is still vastly less expensive than attending private high schools like Madison’s Edgewood High School where tuition
and fees exceed $10,000, results from a recent Vanguard Voice survey reveal that many WHHS students incur a number of various expenses before
graduation.
63% students taking or planning to take at least one AP test
($90 per test)
26% students bought four or
more school activity-related tshirts this year alone
90% of students have gone or
plan on going in the future on the
field ecology trip to California
53 %
students purchase school lunch every day
66% licensed student drivers at
WHHS who have
paid for a mandatory parking pass
67%
Wisconsin Heights students play at least one varsity
sport ($75 per sport)
6% students
who spent
between $400
and $500 for
a class ring