March - Limestone Community High School
Transcription
March - Limestone Community High School
Limelight Limestone Community High School Bartonville, Illinois 61607 Visit us on the web* http://limestone.k12.il.us/limelight Up Coming & April 2006 April 2 Spring Musical- Auditorium (2:00 p.m.) April 3 Those Who Make A Difference- Cafeteria (7:00 p.m.) April 5 One Act Play AuditionsAuditorium (3:00-4:00 p.m.) Art Club Meeting-Room 66 (2:50 p.m.) April 6 Wedding SimulationLibrary (1st - 4th hours) April 7 Key Club District Convention-Decatur,IL Senior Cap/Gown Delivery- Auditorium Foyer Pizza Hut Restaurant Day April 8 Key Club District Convention-Decatur,IL April 9 Key Club District Convention-Decatur,IL April 10-17 No School-Spring Break April 19 All That Jazz Ticket SalesAuditorium Foyer (3:004:00 p.m.) April 20 Mid-Nine Weeks April 21 Mid-Illini Welding- ICC Key Club Bad Movie NightSnack Bar(5:00-9:00 p.m.) April 22 Art Club Celebration (TBA) April 23 National Honor Society Induction-Auditorium (2:00 p.m.) Cheerleading TryoutsMain Gym (5:00 p.m.) April 25 Student Council President/Vice-President Elections (all lunch hours) Mid-Illini Technological Expo-Dunlap (9:30 a.m.) April 26 ACT April 27 Early Dismissal with lunch (1:45 p.m.) PSAE Key Club BanquetSnackbar (5:00 -9:00 p.m.) Dance-A-Thon- Auditorium (3:00 -8:00 p.m.) April 29 Prom- Wildlife Prairie Park (7:00 -10:00 p.m.) Volume 52, Issue 7 E-mail us @ limelight@limestone.k12.il.us Easter Seals campaign fundraises $30,000 March 31, 2006 PSAE/ACT Information April 26 & 27 Incentives for meeting expectations: State Goal 47.5% passing 47.5% Door prizes awarded for Meets/Exceeds scores on PSAE For the first time in four years, the boys won the ever-popular Battle of the Sexes, bringing in $507 more than the girls. In the annual tug-of-war, the senior boys’ tug-of-war team beat the junior boys, while the junior girls defeated the seniors in a very competitive tug. In attendance at the closing assembly were many Easter Seals affiliated people and also special guests of Bradley University, Brandyn Heemskerk and Tony Bennett and their coach Chuck Buescher. The success of this year’s campaign was phenomenal. The Limelight staff would like to congratulate everyone who helped in this event! Annual Amulet 3-on-3 tournament raises money for senior scholarship By Caroline Miller and Megan Wendland On Saturday March 4 in the auxiliary gym, yearbook advisor Kris Tinnon and the Amulet staff hosted the annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament. In the past few years, the tournament’s proceeds have always gone to benefit Easter Seals. This Serving Limestone: Students volunteer time and energy to benefit others Page 7 year, the face of the tournament changed a bit. In May 2001, the yearbook staff lost a great asset to both the program and Limestone. Junior Schuyler Lopez suffered from a heart malfunction while attending a basketball practice. Lopez had just received a medical release from his doctor to play the sport he loved. In honor of Lopez, Tinnon and her staff decided to name their one-year-old tournament, which she was originally introduced to by him, the Sky’s the Limit 3-on3 Basketball Tournament. Continued as Amulet tournament on News page 4 57.8% Senior Fun Day 62.5% Movie Day outside of school (ie. Landmark) 70% Six Flags Trip Those students receiving ALL Meets and Exceeds earn two off campus lunch cards (one per semester, providing a parental permission letter is received by the school). Those students receiving ALL Exceeds earn a Free Parking Pass. Inside this Issue Page 10 Senior Jake Barton heads to Dallas for professional game tournament Prom 2006: One Enchanted Evening Page 6 Page 11 Cheerleaders place first at ICCA competition 22 March 31, 2006 From the editor’s desk... School’s almost over, but not quite yet By Megan Wendland Nearing the end of my senior year, I am becoming frustrated with people who think it is time to slack off or wonder why I am still working so hard at school. I don’t believe anyone really knows the stresses my classmates and I face on a daily basis. Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t trade my high school years for those of any other person. They have taught me the value of hard work and also the fact that truly good work cannot be slapped together in a matter of minutes. I guess my frustration first lies in the hands of students. I am friends with students from other schools. I still spend hours every night working diligently on homework, and I am laughed at for this. I work until I cannot work anymore on projects to keep my grades up while they go home every night without a bit of homework. It would be different if they were average students, but they are all students found in the top ten in their classes. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ “I still spend hours every night working diligently on homework, and I am laughed at for this.” ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Something else that has aggravated me for quite some time is the fact that no one besides my friends I have class with all day and maybe my mom see the work I put into school and the stress I fight week after week. Those who fail to see my hard work still expect to see perfect grades, a smiling face, and someone who wants to spend bundles of time with them. With an out-of-school job, I rarely have a social life. I’ve got friends who get to do whatever they want whenever they want, and I am chastised for not pulling off an A on a Calculus test or not being happy enough. The truth is, I try to make time to go out and have fun, but I have a lot more on my mind than what the next movie I see will be or when I’ll get to attend the next Limestone sporting event. I barely get time to attend family birthday celebrations—heck, I barely get time to remember I have a family. What am I asking by all of this? Well, not really much. I just want others to take into consideration when someone is having a bad day, that maybe, just maybe, that person has a lot going on. The best news I can present is that the Class of 2006 has just over a month until graduation!! Don’t give up just yet; a whole new life is just around the corner, and believe me, I’m just as ready as anyone else to become a part of it. Opinion Say What? By Elysia Cox Do you ever look in the mirror and wish you could be someone else? Do you wish for a different hair color or to be taller or skinnier? Don’t be afraid to admit that. I think it is normal for people to feel that way from time to time. What I don’t think is normal is when it becomes constant and the person forget who he/she really is. When people spend tons of money each month to redo their hair do and to update their “last months’ wardrobe,” then something is wrong. No matter how many times you change your hair, it will always grow back to its original color. Maybe that is Mother Nature’s way of telling us we should be proud of who we are and what we look like. Here is something many of us forget: We can change everything about our appearance, but we will still be us. How we feel about ourselves on the inside is usually how people see us on the outside. No matter how many times we dye our hair or change our style of dress, we will always be us. Someone can be the most beautiful person you know on the outside but be rotten and ugly on the inside. I see tons of people each day who are hurt by someone who looked so sweet and innocent with their good looks and beautiful eyes but then turn out to be mean and selfish. It is not always this way, of course, but it is those who really see themselves and accept who they are that turn out to be really beautiful. That kind of beauty never fades no matter the age. The beauty that shines from the inside cannot be ruined by scars. It’s this type of beauty that makes the world seem brighter and friendship easier. As soon as you learn to accept yourself for who you are underneath all the make-up and clothes and hairstyles, other people will accept you too. And then, maybe, you will become open minded enough to accept those around you. My thoughts exactly... by Kyle Hovey Hey kids, I’m back again. I’m not sure why you’re still reading this rubbish, but I’ll try to make it worth your while. In this issue I’m going to be more of a “blogger” than an editor. That means rambling thoughts, questionable grammar, and a total lack of responsibility for any opinion that may offend (of which I have many). Here goes nothing. It seems lately I can’t turn on the TV without seeing a new report on these internet communities and the stuff that goes on in them. As an active member on myspace, I can tell you that sexual predators are only a threat to those who post their whole lives on there. Tangent thought: If you post your whole life on Limelight myspace, then you probably don’t have much of a life to post. Back to whatever point I was making. The “parental concern” over this is kind of sickening. Strangers know only what you put on the site, i.e. if you don’t put what your third hour class is on myspace, Sexual Offender won’t know what it is. The stupidity of teenagers isn’t what bugs me though (I’ve grown use to that). It is the stupid uproar that occurs when ignorant people watch biased news reports that really gets me mad. It’s become an expected trend, much like that one indemand item at Christmas. Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” is the parental outrage equivalent of Tickle Me Elmo. Six months from now, nobody will care about who is on myspace because they will all be too worried about Desperate Housewives tarnishing the way girls see their mothers. Leaving technology and going into the world of local events… SOPHOMORES STOP PARKING IN THE JUNIOR/SENIOR LOT. As sophomores, my friends and I had to park down by the tennis courts. We walked the long sidewalk in snow and winds. It stinks, but it’s a rite of passage, just like enduring the “Go home, freshmen” chant, which every class except this year’s freshmen managed to survive. I only say this because those of us with late arrival must make up our own parking spaces due to the lack of room. Not only that, but we paid for parking passes...you didn’t. Now on to the general hypocrisy that is March Madness. It’s such a bad thing for people to get together and play poker, but I see March Madness brackets everywhere. Office and student pools are springing up like Starbucks. It just bugs me that something illegal is so well tolerated while other things are condemned. I really don’t have anything against March Madness, but I hate double standards. While I’m talking about gambling, I want to say that being able to buy a lottery ticket at eighteen but having to wait until twenty-one to visit a casino is garbage. Then again, so is being able to be drafted but not being able to have a drink. While I’m on drafts (no pun intended), I’d like to point out that women have all the same rights as men at eighteen, but they don’t have to worry about being drafted. Don’t you just love equality? That idea was probably thought up by the same people that created affirmative action, the little idea that says because I’m a caucasian, Anglo-Saxon, protestant male I shouldn’t get the same opportunity as others. It makes total sense that the shortcomings of my forefathers should affect my future. And with that, I’m out of space for my story. Sorry this stuff jumped around so much; that’s just how I think. The Limelight is the student newspaper of Limestone Community High School. It is published monthly by journalism and media methods students. The Limelight is a member of the Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association, and Illinois High School Scholastic Press Association. Students are responsible for the content of the Limelight. Views represented do not necessarily represent, in part or in whole, those of the Limestone Community High School administration or faculty. Editorial policy is determined by the Editorial Board of the Limelight, and views expressed in editorials are those of the majority of the editorial board. Columns that carry bylines are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily represent that of the Limelight. The paper is distributed free to students and staff. Subscriptions are available by mail anywhere in the US for $5 per school year. Address: Limestone Community High School, S. Airport Rd., Bartonville, IL 61607. Telephone: (309) 697-6271. Reach us on the Internet at: http://limestone. k12.il.us. Email: limelight@limestone.k12.il.us. Printed by P & P Press, Peoria, IL. Editor-in-Chief: Megan Wendland; Editorial Board: Mallory Fawcett, Ian Henderson, Danielle Richmond, Jake Stewart; Reporters: Elysia Cox, Jessica Demoss, Kyle Hovey, Leah McElhiney, Caroline Miller, Stephanie Motsinger, Tiffany Newtson, Samantha Hubbard, and Zach Towery; Student Business Advisor: Leah McElhiney Advisor: Roni Oleson Opinion March 31, 2006 Simple Inspirations TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS By Danielle Richmond Have you ever heard of the Serenities Prayer? It is one of my favorite quotes. Growing up, many a lecture my dad implied upon me included that saying, and/or, the topic it supported: taking responsibility for your actions. I suppose I may as well admit that I was not a saintly child. I have an adventurous streak a mile wide, and along with that a tendency to make crazy, not completely thought out, spur of the moment decisions. True, this leads for a life full of fun and adrenaline, but it also has a tendency to land me and whoever I talked into going along with me in assorted amounts of trouble. My parents, God bless them, were as patient and tolerant with this wild side of mine as they could be. I wasn’t very old before I figured out that when my parents got mad at me, it wasn’t just for the stupidity of my actions. No, what infuriated them more was my childish infatuation with not taking responsibility for my actions. Once I had that figured out, I usually did my best to own up to my problems and to try to figure out how I might avoid them in the future. One thing that I have heard many times in my life that I strongly agree with is that before you can ever achieve any goal or make any positive change in your life, you need to stop and take responsibility for your actions. You cannot put both feet forward if one is still stuck in the mud, as the saying goes. You cannot move on and achieve better if you still have past mistakes holding you back. You need to sit down, list what you did wrong that caused you to fall short of your goal, and then review how you can do it differently next time. Yes, you should take into account influences others may have inflicted on your failure and then figure out how to handle them differently, but the majority of the focus should be on you and you only. You can only truly change yourself. Many almost-solved problems have wheeled out of control again and again, simply because people started pointing fingers, forgetting that they still had four fingers pointing right back at themselves. Responsibility for your actions is not always just a one-person job, though. Wherever you go in life, whether you’re at work with co-workers, at school with friends, or at home with family, the fragility of the relationships you build there are based on each person’s combined abilities and willingness to take responsibility for his/her own actions. Have you ever noticed how some relationships don’t seem to last quite as long as others do? Many times, this is because one or both of the people in the relationship were unable or unwilling to take responsibility for their actions. If you don’t take responsibility, you cannot change whatever it is that is hurting the other person. As a result, the relationship ends in extreme unhappiness. I recently went through a similarly related friendship crisis. Both me and the other person were having a hard time communicating with each other. Both of us ended up pointing fingers at each other. How each of us responded to the feedback we gave each other, however, was different. Listening to feedback is a large part in taking responsibility for your actions. It is from feedback that you learn how you can do things differently in the future and hopefully solve the problem in the responsible way. A lot of people have trouble with this. My friend was one of them. He was more than willing to point out what I needed to change. I listened, didn’t much like what he had to say, but nevertheless, I tried to do what needed to be done to fix these problems of mine. When I tried to give him feed back, he either got defensive or didn’t listen. Sometimes he would listen a little, and everything would be fixed for a day or two. But then back we would go to the old way of things, me bewilderingly trying to fix a problem I didn’t understand, and him ignoring me; hence, the problem. In the end, I listened to advice of those closest to me and walked away from the friendship. It was hard, and it hurt something awful. I really care about him. But when you try to have a successful friendship with someone who cannot take responsibility for his own problems, and in turn treat you in a way that will just make your problems worse, you will just be digging into a hole that is anything but healthy for your mind and emotions. For a relationship to succeed, there needs to be responsibility; not just spoken but also in actions from both sides. So when you come to that crosspoint in life when you have a chance to change things for the better, clear your mind, and try to be responsible. Your choices in life may only be able to change you… but they affect people around you too. Opinion Poll What are your plans for Spring Break? “Annoying my mom.” -Freshman Samantha Smith “Sleeping.” -Sophomore Leo Pagulayan “Playing games.” -Freshman Danielle Ewing 3 Guest Editorials Put your words into action! By Ross Swanson Lately, I’ve noticed the president getting criticized a lot. People complain about too many casualties in the War in Iraq or complain about how civil liberties are being violated. Some people complain about a “war for oil,” and turn around and complain about gas prices being too high. Whenever I hear these people complaining, it makes me angry. It’s not that I think the president is necessarily right. I just can’t stand people complaining if they don’t plan on doing something to stop whatever it is that is bothering them. Think about it. Is complaining really going to end a war? Will complaining produce lower gas prices? No. Change can only come through action. If you see a problem, do something about it. If you think gas prices are too high, don’t just whine about it. Stop driving your V8 Ford Explorer. Like the Chinese philosopher Confucius said, “It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness. Learn to live with stress By Brittney Potier Stress. It’s never ending, similar to a black hole. It’s what most high school students go through on a regular basis. We have to get up and go to school. We have to go to all of our classes. Don’t forget about after school activities, such as sports, clubs, and/or work. This is not to mention all of the homework we have at the end of the day. It all happens at once, and there seems to be no way to stop it! Most must be asking, “Can we please get a break?” Every high school student has different things in life they cannot stop stressing about. There are grades, work, friends, home life, girlfriends/ boyfriends, and these are just to name a few. Stress is in everyone, and we can’t look for sympathy through someone else because they are going through the ups and downs of it also. The best thing to do is to take hold of all the mess and straighten it out. No one wants a bunch of teenagers to start going crazy. Get organized, and take a little time each day for yourself. You could even exercise to reduce some of the stress. It’s okay, it’s normal, and everyone goes through it. Don’t shut down. Keep it up, and you will eventually begin to blow some of that stress away. Can criticism destroy? By Shayanna Jacobs “That sucks.” “That’s stupid.” “This is so lame.” In our society, putdowns are widely used to express criticism. But, what good can come out of telling someone that something sucks? While constructive criticism is beneficial, criticism with hurtful intent is destructive and should not be condoned. There might not seem to be a great deal of difference between constructive and destructive criticism, but the distinction is all too apparent to those of us on the receiving end of the comments. Destructive criticism makes people feel hurt and attacked. Constructive criticism can be difficult, but please try. Put what you want to say in the clearest words posible. You do not need to praise someone for something that was truly terrible, but at least give the person a little respect for putting his neck out there. Please, constructively criticize; do not tear other people down. Offer solutions and be respectful of the work of others. Hold yourself back from giving deliberate, hurtful put-downs. I mean, seriously, can’t you think of anything more intelligent to say than, “That sucks?” 24 March 31, 2006 LCHS grad talks with IT Transportation class By Zach Towery Have you ever considered automotives as a career goal? If so, you are not alone. There are a rising number of high school graduates going to college to earn a two year, and in some cases even a four year, degree in this field. This increase in numbers could be related to the many options that are available. One option now available through Ford and other major car dealers is a program that offers full auto courses where applicants can intern at a dealership while also attending classes. The equipment provided through the program is the same as the Ford mechanics. Another benefit through this program is the help of a mentor that is available at each dealership for any extra guidance. The class curriculums cover all necessary information within that field. Students of the month recognized Tech-Prep Student of the Month Senior James Kestel has been selected as the TechPrep Student of the Month for March. The Business Department nominated Kestel based on his outstanding performances in his various business classes. Kestel plans to continue his education in the computer science field in college. For his outstanding achievements, Kestel will be awarded a savings bond, and his picture will appear in the Limestone Independant News. Academic Student of the Month Senior Sarah Mason has been named March’s Academic student of the month based on her academic achievements. For her outstanding achievements in the classroom, Mason will be awarded a savings bond,and her picture will be featured in the Limestone Independant News. LCHS Athletic Boosters sponsors McDonalds night The Limestone Athletic Boosters invites anyone who wishes to participate to come to the McDonalds at 5600 SW Washinton Street LCHS alum Kris Baker, Class of 2005, is currently enrolled in the Ford automotive classes at Parkland Community College. He spoke to Industrial Technology teacher Bob Privratsky’s senior Transportation class on Friday, March 3 about what the courses are and how they can affect a future in automotives. Baker talked to the class about his 24 year old mentor Chris Heart, who is only four years out of college. Heart took all the same courses as Baker is taking right now, and currently is making a “flat rate,” which means he is paid for the amount of work he does. Automotive technicians are in high demand currently. According to Privratsky, “The field is in need of 80,000 trained technicians across the country.” Not only would it be easy to find a job, the pay is decent also. The starting salary for a young technician would be approximately $25,000. Also, if the technician decided he/she no longer wanted to work in the automotive area anymore, he would still have the normal college courses to fall back on, allowing him to be able to get a decent job with nothing to do with automotives. Future opportunities are also endless for automotive technicians. Technicians who choose to further their education by going to another university will one day have the chance to work their way up to land a white collar job at the Detroit Ford office. This job promotion can bring in up to $100,000, which is quite a difference from the money someone would be making with no college courses to help them. in Bartonville on Tuesday, April 4 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. McDonalds will contribute 20% of all sales to the LCHS Boosters. Come enjoy a great meal and support your school at the same time! Camp available for engineering students News Notes “City of Angels” makes its way to LCHS’s auditorium Do you like old fashioned mystery or romance? How about suspense? If you do, come and see this year’s spring musical. “City of Angels” will take place Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 2 at 2 p.m. This musical promises to be an outstanding performance, so get your tickets today! You can purchase them for just $5 at lunches or from any cast member! Sign up for Pizza Hut restaurant day Pizza Hut will be serving lunch on Friday, April 7 during all lunch hours. Students who receive free or reduced lunch can still purchase items from the salad line. Don’t forget to bring your yellow slips with you to lunch so that you can pick up your food. If you didn’t get a chance to sign up, stop by the Dean’s Office to fill out a slip. Are you a student completing your freshman, sophomore, or junior year who is interested in pursuing a degree in architecture, engineering, or a related field? Are you physically fit and do you have high moral character? If you can answer yes to all of these questions, you may be interested in the Society of American Military Engineers/Seabees Engineering and Construction camp this summer. Forty students from around the world will reside for one week in a camp at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, California. The students will engage in hands-on engineering and construction activities under the mentorship of SAME professionals and Navy Seabees. The program includes classes and evening panels with mentor representatives of architecture/ engineering firms, construction companies, and military leaders. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please stop in the Guidance Office for an informational brochure and application. Applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2006. News Annual Amulet 3-on-3 tournament raises money for senior scholarship continued from front page When Tinnon is asked about Lopez, she has nothing but good things to say. She always talks about how he was the most laidback, easy-going person you would have ever met. He was one of those people that seemed to be the glue that held everything together. After running the basketball tournament for the past five years, Tinnon thought it was necessary to do more to commemorate Lopez’s life at Limestone. She decided to create a scholarship for a senior yearbook athlete who had been in the class for at least two years. The scholarship would be a permanent way to keep Lopez’s legacy alive. The turnout for the tournament this year was outstanding. There was a total of twenty teams that came out to support the cause. After all of the hard work in planning the tournament, including its three-point shootout and Robinson wins trip to D.C. this summer Congratulations to social science teacher Mr. Greg Robinson. Robinson was selected to participate in the Federal Department of Education Teaching American History grant. As a result, Robinson will join other area history teachers for an all-expensespaid, one week trip to Washington, D.C. French Club: See Mrs. Erickson-Betz for more info The French Club is a once a month meeting that is held in French teacher Mrs. Erickson-Betz’sRoom 208. The French Club is open to any student who is interested in learning more about the culture of France. The meetings last for about an hour and consist of many fun activities, such as games, movies, puzzles, and treats. Any student interested in joining the French Club or is interested in attending a meeting to find out more about the club should contact Erickson-Betz some time before school or in between classes for the next meeting date and time. Hope to see you there! slam dunk contest, the yearbook staff was very proud. The winners in the 2006 tournament included Kyle Graham in the three-point shootout and Derick Boyd in the slam dunk contest. The winning tournament champions were from the “No Schwindy” team. That team consisted of Boyd, Drew Luster, Danny Otten, and Brandon Wikoff. The good sportsmen of the day were Trent Thomason and Kevin Scheffler. The yearbook staff and all of the participants should be commended for their work to preserve such an outstanding athlete and student at Limestone Community High School. With any hope, the name Schuyler Lopez will be remembered for years to come. More information about the scholarship will be released at a later date. 2006 PSAE Timeline April 18-20 PSAE review in junior classrooms April 24 Grid test first hour April 25 PSAE junior assembly at 10:30 a.m. April 26 ACT 7:45-11:30 a.m. (NOTE: juniors dismissed; all other grades on regular bell schedule) April 27 PSAE 7:45-10:50 a.m. (NOTE: 1:45 p.m. Early dismissal with lunch for all other grades) A few reminders... * A complimentary breakfast will be served beginning at 7:00 a.m. for all juniors. Simply show your ID card to the cafeteria personnel. * Get plenty of rest the nights before the ACT and the PSAE. * Do your best! * If you or your parents have any questions, please contact Dr. Bill Beach, Dr. Suzanne Minor, or Mrs. Betty Gibson for help. The Limelight would like to wish the Class of 2007 the best of luck on the PSAE! Feature March 31, 2006 Volunteer Students for March Jerrod Rasbury Year: Junior Favorite Project: Bowl-athon Favorite Non-Key Club Activity: Hanging out with friends Jaimie Joosten 5 Students participate in annual Rocket Reader Rewards event Year: Sophomore Favorite Project: Trick-orTreat for UNICEF Favorite Non-Key Club Activity: Softball Limestone Welcomes... Mr. and Mrs. Matthew & April Zawlocki The second annual Rocket Readers Reward program, which was created to promote leisure reading, was held during the month of February. The winners of the Rocket Reader Rewards 2006 are as follows: Corrie Alexander, Chris Andrews, Brittany Bacon, Dana Blase, Alex Brooks, Stephanie Bouchez, Jerrid Damron, Mark Daugherty, Kaylee Dieckow, Patrick Ding, Ryan Feagin, Nic Fiers, Matthew Glick, Emily Grafelman, Kari Guppy, Katie Guppy, Meredith Hartl, Patrick Havron, Kassandra Hyde-Anderson, Jaimie Joosten, Holly Kettle, Marcus Leistikow, Scott Magnuson, Sarah Mason, Nathaniel May, Nick Mehn, Chris Meier, Arianna Morgan, Erika Neal, Anthony O’Brien, Matt Otto, Taliphia Porter, Ashley Price, Cody Shoesmith, Melissa Sholl, Andrew Smith, Ryan Smith, Aaron Toland, Blaine Towery, Brianna Turner, Brandon Wikoff, and Danielle Wood. LaGondola, McDonalds, Subway, and Tyroni’s donated coupons for free food as prizes. Senior Chris Andrews was the grand prize winner. He received a savings bond courtesy of Bartonville Bank. Congratulations to all Rocket Readers! Mr. and Mrs. Zawlocki participated in the annual Battle of the Sexes for Easter Seals 2006. Birth date: September 1 College attended: ISU Hobbies: Scrapbooking, reading, shopping, sudoku Teaching: Freshman English/Team Why you want to be a teacher: To help shape leaders of tomorrow Your dream vacation: Anywhere warm and near the beach Favorite high school memory: My brother being born during sophomore year Adjective that best describes you: Gullible What friends say about you: Good things, I hope! Favorite food: Mashed potatoes Birth date: June 27 College attended: ISU Hobbies: Fishing and Camping Teaching: Woodshop manufacturing for all grades Why you want to be a teacher: It’s all about the Benjamin’s. Your dream vacation: I’d like to backpack through Europe. Favorite high school memory: Graduating Adjective that best describes you: Awesome What friends say about you: They say I’m really awesome. Favorite food: Anything from La Fiesta in Morton 4700 North University (in the Metro Centre) Phone: 692-6050 Get 1/2 off your tux & a free pizza! Tuxedo prices start at just $49.97! 26 March 31, 2006 Feature What’s in your prom? One Enchanted Evening Where: Wildlife Prairie State Park When: April 29 Time: 7:00 p.m. Tickets: On sale for $25.00 Find your perfect dress: Style 3079 Style F11943 Shades of citrus are some of the hottest colors this prom season. Mix it up with this mock two-piece gown featuring a combination of glitter satin and elegant organza. The tiered skirt features crisscrossed layers that create a soft petal accent, perfectly paired with a 3-D flower. It all comes together for an elegant, sophisticated prom look. Sizes 2-16: $84.50 Sizes 2-24: $165.00 Style 2965 Style 9418750 The halter neckline features a glittering diamond shaped accent for a look that virtually guarantees you’ll sparkle the night away. Limited availability. This vintage look is created with a splitfront overlay of soft, flowing silk chiffon atop charmeuse. A jeweled medallion adds sparkle and highlights the beautiful neckline. Limited availability. Sizes 1-21: $139.00 Sizes 2-22: $149.00 *All dresses are available at David’s Bridal. Visit www.davidsprom.com to check out more styles. Convenient Phone Numbers of Area Businesses: DeJure Formalwear 685-0313 Seno Formalwear 692-0031 Gingiss Formalwear 688-1411 Ducky’s Formalwear 692.6050 Country Bride 691-5151 After Hours Formalwear 682-6921 Photography By Jill 697-9015 David’s Bridal 693-3772 Marilyn’s BowK 697-4646 Simmon’s Floral 673-2340 Sundance Tanning 633-1244 Tangles 633-0000 Lasting Impressions 697-1870 Don’t forget your survival kit! There are certain items that will be sorely missed if they’re not in your handbag. Camera Gum/Mints Nail file Band-aids (for blisters) Mirror Phone Clear nail polish (for runs in your pantyhose) Bobby pins Safety pins Keys Tickets Teen Perspective What are you most excited about for prom? “I’m most excited about getting all dressed up and going out before the dance.” -Allison Sandborg, junior “I can’t wait to find my dress!” -Bethany Price, junior “Finding a date is what I’m most excited about.” -Sausha Payne, senior “I’m pretty excited about the experience as a whole.” -AJ Blunier, junior “I can’t wait to put on my dress and go out for one last high school dance with my best friends.” -Mallory Sanders, senior Feature March 31, 2006 Serving Limestone: 7 An in-depth look at our largest service organizations By Megan Wendland Service Poll What has been your favorite activity of the year? “Our scrapbook!” -Sausha Payne, senior “Planning ViceVersa.” -Breanna Closen, senior “The Christmas Project.” -Melissa Sholl, senior “The auction for Easter Seals!” -Kaylee Dieckow, senior “The fashion show!” -Jennifer Ding, sophomore At Limestone, the two main service organizations often go unrecognized in all of the work they do. In an attempt to expose the workings of these clubs, the Limelight spoke with the sponsors of both Key Club and Student Council. Special education teacher Amy George sponsors the LCHS Key Club. Limestone’s Kiwanis advisor is special education teacher Kathleen Burke. Aside from the two advisors, the school’s group also has a student board that makes most of the decisions. The faculty members are there strictly to oversee, make important phone calls and arrangements, and be the “adult” in a situation when one is needed. Key Club puts together several projects throughout the year that the school is a witness to. Their largest task is the Christmas Project. They collect food and toys to give to local families. Other activities they are involved with are cleaning up Airport Road, babysitting for parent/ teacher organizations, and a support group for parents with Autistic children. This year, the Key Club also took over the annual fashion show, which was held to benefit Easter Seals. George said, “We do whatever the students put their minds to. It is a very student-led organization.” Some of the things Key Club does are done behind the scenes. These things include doing paperwork for international awards and putting together a scrapbook with which they compete against other schools. The International Key Club’s motto is “Caring—Our Way of Life.” This organization is all about focusing on other people. After helping those less Every morning before school, several Key Club members gather to spend time with each other. fortunate, George believes helping others is no longer about what you do; it becomes a part of who you are as a person. “I like helping people. I also like seeing teens find out that helping people is something they like to do. I want them to try new things and stretch their abilities,” said George. Key Club sometimes runs into problems with getting enough people to help with projects. Sometimes, they are forced to turn down volunteer opportunities because there just are not enough people to participate. The Limestone Student Council is another group renowned for its generosity to the community. Math teacher Leanne Bonifas and fine arts teacher Briana Nannen advise this year’s student council. A president and vice president, who are elected directly before the student body elections occur in the spring, lead the Student Council. After the president and vice president are chosen, six members from the sophomore, junior, and senior classes are elected to the council. The actual number of representatives depends on which class or classes the officers came from. The freshman elections take place in December of their “Seeing all of the kids at the Opening Assembly!” -Kalie Robison, senior Student Council members discuss what activity they plan to do for the spring recognition assembly. freshman year in order to give kids a chance to get to know each other. Some of the projects that Student Council are involved with include the Opening Assemblies on Fee and Photo Day, the fall, winter, and spring recognition assemblies, several Homecoming activities, a fall and spring blood drive, Thanksgiving food baskets, Easter Seals Week, and the Senior Tea on graduation day. They stay busy all year with their numerous activities. Behind the scenes, they do things such as updating the information boards found throughout the school, student body elections, and other services. These services can range from delivering paper to schools to helping out with the annual Senior Citizen Christmas party. It is rare for Student Council to go two weeks without having some project tossed into its lap. Whatever the case may be, they do their job willingly. Student Council is more than just about its time spent servicing the community. It has two main goals it hopes to get across. It wants to stress the importance of the election process. They are elected for these representative positions. The other goal is to try to best incorporate all of the student populations and allow them to get involved. A cross-curriculum of people is very important. Bonifas hopes the student council can make the school “our” school. All too often, the blame of credit for a situation is put in the hands of “them” or “you.” She hopes to create an atmosphere where kids can say, “We did that.” Overall, both of the service organizations work toward the betterment of the school and our community. Their work both in and out of LCHS should be praised. 28 March 31, 2006 College Bound Eastern Illinois University Location: Charleston, IL Founded in: 1895 Institutional mission statement: Eastern Illinois University offers superior yet accessible undergraduate and graduate education. Students learn the methods and outcomes of free inquiry in the arts, sciences, humanities and professions guided by a faculty known for its commitment to teaching, research/creative activity, and service. The University community strives to create an educational and cultural environment in which students refine their abilities to reason and to communicate clearly so as to become responsible citizens in a diverse world. Function of the university: Eastern Illinois University is a comprehensive higher education institution. Enrollment: 11,651 Tuition: $4,133 Room & Board: $7,150 Preferred composite ACT score: 22 Cumulative GPA: 2.78 Visit Dates: Saturday, April 22 or Friday, July 7. Overnight host programs are also available by calling (217) 581-6435 For more information: visit www.eiu.edu **Scholarship information is available in the guidance office. Feature Career Corner with Sarah Fisher By Tiffany Newtson “This is the best career I ever accidentally fell into,” said Alpha Park Library Youth Services Librarian Sarah Fisher. She has been a librarian for almost two years and is currently working on a master’s degree in library science. As the Youth Services Librarian, Fisher works with children from ages one to eighteen, which is an offshoot of wanting to be a teacher. “Being a children’s librarian encompasses the best parts of teaching,” explained Fisher. Fisher directs the APL Teen Board to plan and host events for teens. In addition, she holds story time and crafts for babies, toddlers, and grade school students. Any librarian should enjoy reading. A librarian spends a lot of time reading reviews in order to choose books, videos, and CDs for the library. Also, librarians often have to assist with research. The only downside of being a librarian that Fisher mentioned is soliciting. Libraries get most money from the local government, but librarians occasionally have to ask for community support. Because libraries are nonprofit organizations, pay is based on the size of the city. A librarian can make anywhere from $25,000 to $70,000 per year. At Alpha Park, Fisher works 40 hour weeks but only occasionally from 9 to 5. She has to be available to assist at night if there are any events planned. “If you want a job where you can learn things forever, it’s a librarian,” said Fisher. March 1956 He Haw! Donkey BB Here! On March 5, LCHS held a donkey basketball game at 7:30 p.m. Tickets were sold by Monroe and Pleasant Hill Grade School children. The participants in the game were various local people, and yes they were actually riding real life donkeys. Norman Ricca Advances To State Speech Tourney Limestone senior Norman Ricca took second place in the sectional speech contest at East Peoria High School. This qualified Norman to compete in the state speech contest in Bloomington. Other accomplishments were second place in the district contest held at Central High School, as well as another second in a local contest at the American Legion. Band Plans Trip To St. Louis; Concert Slated Sunday Approximately 63 students and 7 adults were planning a trip to St. Louis. The trip was being planned in early March but wasn’t scheduled to actually take place on April 29 to May 1. Leading the band was Mr. William Morse. To raise money for the trip, the band held a National Baton Twirlers Association contest, as well as two bake sales. A third bake sale was scheduled to take place on March 5 in addition to a band concert on March 6. Mr. Marry’s Class Invests In Stocks Mr. James Marry set to teach his two American Problems classes, the equivalence to our Consumer Education, about the stock market. His seventh hour class was able to collectively buy four shares of Universal Control, as his third hour managed to buy three shares of the same company. Universal Control dealt with parts to stock cars. Mr. Marry said that “…I think it has put a much more personal interest into studying the stock market and the free enterprise system on an individual basis.” Any profit made by the stocks will be turned in and split among the students. Limestone Holds Science Fair LCHS held its science fair on March 8. 150 students from area grade schools participated in the event. A wind tunnel was displayed by Mike Roe and Allen Schriner, both of which were freshmen at Limestone. There were exhibits on animals such as turtles, chickens, mice, and pigeons. All exhibits were on display for parents as well as the public. Limestone’s science faculty acted as the judges for the science fair. Up Close & Personal With... Lace Lutes If you were a crayola crayon, what color would you be? Pink. It’s my favorite color. What are your future plans? To go to school to be a physical therapist What is your favorite flavor of Kool-Aid? Pink Lemonade What would you do for a Klondike bar? Just ask. I’d get it! What has been your favorite high school event? The variety shows What is your favorite high school memory? Easter Seals. I enjoy helping others. What is your favorite school lunch? Chicken sandwich and mashed potatoes Which of Snow White’s seven dwarfs are you most like? I would have to say happy because I’m always cheerful. If you could go back in time, what would you do differently, and why? I would make better decisions on things because some of my decisions weren’t very good when I was younger. If your life were a movie, which one would it be? Soul Food. My grandma was the one who kept our family together. Now that she is gone, we barely talk to each other anymore. What is your most prized possession? A pink sweater that belonged to my grandmother Who is your hero? My mother. She has taught me to have a positive outlook on life even through hard times. What adjective best describes you? Very Outgoing Entertainment 9 March 31, 2006 Music to my ears: Jake’s essential albums Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive -Released 1976 -This live album was one of the most “must-have” albums in the seventies. Even though you cannot experience it on vinyl, you can at least get it on CD. Frampton plays great rock music with an edge of voice distorters and various other effects that are out of this world. Stevie Ray Vaughn Texas Flood -Released 1983 -This blues/rock guitarist is the reason why we have guitar solos and bar bands. He may be dead, but his soul was caught in this album. Blink 182 Dude Ranch The Doors (Self titled) -Released 1967 -One of the most popular bands now as well in the sixties and seventies, and there is a reason for that! With rhythm and poetry to bind everything together, the Doors have a defining sound and attitude that can be heard in this album. With hits like “Light My Fire” and “Break On through (To the Other Side),” you will really dig this. U2 Joshua Tree Smashing Pumkins Mellon Collie and the infinite sadness -Released 1987 -U2 may not be your cup of tea now, but when they were good, they released this album that could be thought of the greatest album in the eighties. This album includes the smash hit “With or with out you.” I guarantee it; this album will put you on the right track towards musical bliss. -Released 1995 -This defining album has changed art rock and modern rock with its songs like “Tonight, Tonight” and “1979.” With Billy Corrigan’s weird voice and different use of istruments in every song they wrote, it is too bad they broke up to try and lead solo careers. Pearl Jam Ten -Released 1991 -This album is what got us out of the eighties with its hair bands and put us on the right track. Pearl Jam can be desribed as a band of the people. Their music is magic. You will love the lyrical poetry of their music. -Released 1997 -With the raw vocals of two singers battling for respect, the sound of background guitars and bass, and the amazing drum technique, this is what good rock should be. This album has no one good song: it’s all good. -Journey -Journey: Greatest Hits -Released 1988 -Two words: Steve Perry. Plus the album features songs like “Any Way You Want It,” “Wheel in the Sky,” and “Don’t Stop Believing.” Dave Matthews Under The Table and Dreaming -Released 1994 -Written as a tribute to Dave’s late sister Anna, this album is vibrant, broadly accessible adult rock that features soar away, acoustic-based melodies, intriguing fusion overtones (check the sax/violin interplay on “Dancing Nancies” and “Warehouse”), and a vocalist as cool and poised as Sting. 1 20 March 31, 2006 Senior heads to Dallas for professional game tourney By Ian Henderson For all the kids that have parents telling them to put down the controller, turn off the game console, and get a job… now you can. No, I’m serious. You can get paid for playing videogames. It is called (drum roll please) being a PROFESSIONAL GAMER (add corny echo). Who knew, right? Well, senior Jacob Barton did, and now he is living every kid’s (that ever touched an X-box or a PS2) dream. So how does one go about becoming a Professional Gamer? Barton was lucky. He was given an invitation from another professional gamer while playing a game on X-Box live. What makes Barton’s career choice even more outrageous and unbelievable is that he really never even thought about becoming a pro gamer until earlier this month. At the time of my interview with him, he said, “Honestly… probably like three weeks ago.” ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ “If you’re really good at something and you love to do it, why not make money off it?” ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ So if Barton only realized his talent a month or so ago, then how does he know pro gaming is the job for him? Barton says that he does not know of any scholarships available for pro gamers yet and that he is planning on going to college. When I asked him about pro gaming and his future, he said, “I would like to continue this as a career, but I’m going to have a back up if it doesn’t work out.” Still Barton is not going to let worrying about his future get in the way of his goals now. Barton has been playing videogames since he was little and has always had the belief that, “If you’re really good at something and you love to do it, why not make money off it?” And when Barton says money he means money. There are three preseason tournaments where a player is possible of walking away with three grand in winnings, or there are the playoffs where a person is capable of winning eighty thousand dollars. The big money comes from the championships, however, as the winner will be able to leave with one hundred and eighty thousand bucks. Barton explained that so much money can be put up for the tournaments because they are all sponsored by big businesses that are willing to “hand over prize money,” such as Intell, Microsoft, Nvidia, Logiteck, and Mad Catz. Halo 2 alone is sponsored by six different companies. There are some games, though, that the big name companies won’t sponsor for one reason or another, like Medal of Honor Break Through. So what are Barton’s plans for getting his hands on some of that prize money? “A Buddha and my broken-in controller,” joked Barton. Even with his lucky Buddha, though, Barton has still had some rough times. He explained to me, “I was at a regional tournament on XBox. We (Barton’s team) were winning 49 – 47 (first to 50 won). I missed a head shot with a sniper rifle on a guy that was sitting absolutely still, and then I was assassinated.” ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ “I would like to continue this as a career, but I’m going to have a back up if it doesn’t work out.” ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Barton said the only real way to succeed is “to practice, practice, and practice.” He did give me one other good tip, though. He said, “Don’t trash talk. You’re not as respected.” Apparently most trash talkers, it turns out, won’t even talk about the game, but instead they are just trying to get you to start a fight with them so you will get kicked out. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ “Don’t trash talk. You’re not as respected.” ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Barton is scheduled to go to a tournament in Dallas, Texas, some time in April. He said he would like to take a team with him, but he needs two more people. The team members must be registered with the MLG or otherwise known as the Major League Gamers. If you would like to go with Barton and want more information you can reach him at (309)- 697- 6229 or email him at stealthparkbench@yahoo.com. Freshman loves to dance, hopes to open dance studio and club By Elysia Cox Every once in a while there is a person who takes his or her skill to the ultimate level. Val Artis does this with his love for dancing. If you had gone to the Talent Show, then you would have seen him perform his first place performance. Artis, although only a freshman, is already making a big impact. During the day anyone can catch him doing his original moves in gym class or sometimes even in the hallways. At the Vice Versa dance, he was there ripping up the dance floor. Artis started dancing at a young age. He said, “I started dancing when I was about eleven years old.” ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ “I want to start a dance studio/club. I think that would be really cool.” -Freshman Val Artis ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ After watching the movie You Got Served, Artis says he was inspired to begin making up his own moves and own dance sequences ever since. Artis has never had any formal training. With five brothers and eight sisters, family support is a big thing. “My family is my major support in everything.” He says that he will dance to anything cool but that clean rap, especially Omarion, are his favorite. Artis even has plans for the future. He plans on taking his dancing into business. Eventually, “I want to start a dance studio/club. I think that would be really cool.” ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ “My family is my major support in everything.” ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Entertainment Scene it? UltraViolet Starring: Milla Jovovich, Cameron Bright, William Fichtner, Nick Chinlund, Sebastien Andrieu, Ida Martin Rated: PG-13 Length: 97 minutes Plot Overview Set in the late 21st century, a subculture of humans has emerged with a genetic mutation causing enhanced speed, incredible stamina, and acute intelligence. The government sets out to destroy them, but one woman is determined that that doesn’t happen: ultra-beautiful, ultra-lethal Violet. With eye-popping martial arts skills and chameleon-like abilities, Violet becomes a rogue warrior bent on protecting her new race — and seeking revenge on those who created it. Viewer’s Commentary by Mallory Fawcett This action film is about a sarcastic, heartbroken widow that goes on a murderous rampage against humans in order to defend a threatened experiment, a boy by the name of Six, in the future of a disease-filled world. Violet,like Six, is also part of an experimental race, but hers is different; they are known as Hemophages. Others like Vi are designed to be fast and strong soldiers, but they have become a threat to the government; therefore, they are being hunted down. They also resemble something along the lines of vampires. Hate to break it to you, but she’s a vampire. Unlike the normal vampire movies, it involves no actual blood-thirsty vampires leaving bite marks on victims or who are being burned to death by sunshine. Wait? What? No blood-sucking vamps? All-righty-then, I have just one question: How can you watch a vampire movie with no bloodsucking? Even though the storyline has a couple of flaws, its special effects are pretty attention-grabbing, considering it has a lot of Matrix-like qualities during the fight scenes. Jovovich portrays her character with attitude and selfestablished support. Vi overcomes the death of her husband and infant, but like other action heroes, she has an ego, but not a bad ego. Her sarcastic comments throughout the movie show her true humorous side, but it also reveals Vi’s sense of compassion and maternal instincts. Fashion Show Review By Leah McElhiney This year’s Fashion Show Jungle Fever, hosted by the LCHS Key Club, provided students with some incredible clothing and great entertainment. The models for the evening included Lauren Cagle, Crystal Fox, Ellen Heien, Lynsi Hermann, Whitney Maher, Erika Neal, Shannon Rainey, Karen Reaktenwalt, Laini Scofield, Megan Wendland, Matt Bazhnow, Derick Boyd, Jake Caudill, Joshua Cooper, Jimmy Dutlinger, Chad Hohenbery, Josh Kyle, Aaron Lucas, Nick Moreland, Luke Stevens, Shawn Songer, and Matt Williams. Several faculty offered to model also. They were Ms. Bontz, Ms. Clark, Mr. Brown, Mr. Butenhoff, and Mr. Turner. In between sets while the models changed into their next sets of clothes, freshman Val Artis and junior Brandon Chandler, winners of the 2006 Talent Show, entertained. Since so many people worked hard on putting together a great show, everyone seemed to enjoy the night. The evening’s emcees, Dana Blase and Sausha Payne, had a warm welcome that started the show off. Next, the models showed off their hunting gear ‘in the jungle’. The models also showed off some amazing clothes that were donated to them by Harley Davison in ‘Born to be Wild’. Students also modeled athletic, casual, and formal wear throughtout the night. The clothing that evening was amazing, and it was fun to watch the juniors and seniors model them. The background of the stage was a remarkable painting of the jungle created by Mrs. Bentley’s Commercial Art classes. The Fashion Show 2006 was a great hit, and all of the proceeds benefited Easter Seals. Sports 11 March 31, 2006 Basketball cheerleaders win State By Leah McElhiney Don’t think cheerleading is a sport? Try telling that to the Limestone high school cheerleaders, the 2006 ICCA State champions. Hard work, enthusiasm, and school spirit have finally paid off. So many people in the Limestone community saw their potential. Potential would mean nothing without the other aspects needed to be a good cheerleader. Being a State champion means so much to the cheerleaders, now that they have their title, they can look back and realize what it took to get them this far. “Teamwork is important because if we didn’t work together, then we never would’ve been able to accomplish such great things this year,” said Chelsea Floyd. Teamwork takes a good team and makes it great. To be a great cheerleader, you must be very trusting of your teammates, otherwise stunting would be too dangerous to attempt. Teamwork is a major part in everything a Limestone cheerleader does. Without enthusiasm, a squad is nothing. Without the willingness to fight for what you want, a squad is nothing. Cheerleading is about making your team excited about winning. Hard work is what separates winners from the losers. Hard workers The basketball cheerleading squad holds up the “number one” after its victory at their ICCA State competition in Springfield, IL. Their teamwork allowed them to be recognized as some of the best athletes at Limestone. understand what they need to do to reach their goal, and they are willing to do it. A dream is not something you can reach without hard work. Hard work takes a dream and makes it reality. “School spirit is important because sports teams wouldn’t be so pumped about winning,” said Rachel Burns. A cheerleader would be nothing without something to cheer for. School spirit makes a squad stick out from all the rest. In order to have school spirit, the cheerleaders are proud: proud of their school, proud of their fellow students, and proud to be Rockets. “Confidence is important in a team because you have to believe in yourself and know what you’re capable of to accomplish your goals as a squad,” said Jordan Barnes. Confidence is about believing that you can do something. You are your toughest critic. The cheerleaders had a dream, a dream to win State; they made this dream a reality through hard work and their confidence. Teamwork, enthusiasm, hard work, school spirit, and confidence are what make our Limestone Cheerleaders such amazing people. Their potential and their dreams have taken them far, and they have earned every title they have won this year, including State champions. As the competition weekend came, the squad was very excited. Sunday March 12 was they biggest day for the girls. The basketball games and all the other preparations had already made so many people proud of them. They knew that every step they had taken would help them bring the trophy home. They hoped they were ready when the weekend of the competition came along. They were ready to compete, and they hoped that the pressure that had been placed on their shoulders would only push them harder to a win. Competition, also known as a major stresser, is very nerve racking. During cheerleading competitions, a variety of feelings come rushing to the cheerleaders all at once, such as nervousness, excitement, and even a little bit of stress. The cheerleaders have said their stress through competitions can be bad at times, and at others it is almost nonexistent. They watched the other schools’ cheerleaders perform, and they hoped that they could come out of their State competition with a big win, which added all the more pressure. When they came off the floor after their final dance of the 2005-2006 season, they were excited, but some didn’t know if it was going to be enough to win. When their squad was announced as the winner, everyone on the squad was so excited that they had achieved their dream. Winning may not be everything, but when you work as hard as they did, winning is something they deserved greatly. Competitive cheerleading: Popularity grows for an unrecognized sport By Leah McElhiney Dedication, hard work, enthusiasm, excitement, good spirit, and so much more make competitive cheerleading such a great sport to watch and be a part of. When the normal competition lasts about six to nine hours, dedication is a must in this sport. Liz Williams knows cheerleading from top to bottom. Crystal Fox, Jenna Evatt, Kristine Johnson, Gabby Nacorato, and Maggi Hemp dance and cheer along with Williams at these competitions. Williams started when she was in 5th grade, and she is now a junior in high school. Being captain of a winning team must be a great experience for such an athlete. It is wonderful to see that someone at the age of 10 could take a dream to the highest level. Her squad placed 1st in their 3rd competition. The exhilaration was liberating to all 14 girls on the squad. “I love it, its fun having friends outside of school that I see on a regular basis,” said Williams. Athletes would be nothing without the coaches and role models that have helped them achieve their goals. That is why coach Kathy Thomason is Williams’ role model. According to Williams, Thomason always has a positive attitude. “She helps me out a lot and is a great coach,” Williams said. Traveling is not as hard for this squad because most of their competitions are at the Civic Center, but they do have some in Chicago. Given that Williams is a junior in high school and most programs stop after a student graduates from high school, she is excited that there is a collegiate team where people can still compete after graduation. Williams also hopes to coach younger squads then. There is so much to love about this exhilarating sport, but Williams loves the stunting most of all. It is amazing to see that her dreams were all started because her grade school cheerleading coach was starting an all-star program and wanted her to join. It takes real courage to take a dream and make it a reality. The squads practice almost all year round considering their season is not. Now that the season has just ended, the squads will now begin preparing for next season. The squads will also perform at the Chiefs games in the upcoming baseball season. These cheerleaders are amazing role models and athletes. WHAT IS LCHS BOOSTERS? The Limestone Athletic Booster Club members are Rocket Fans! We are organized to support the athletes and athletic organizations. The money that is raised with special fundraisers and concessions support our young adults’ athletic activities. The school’s budget no longer covers everything our athletes need. The Limestone Athletic Booster Club makes a direct impact on the quality of our sports programs. Volunteerism is the key to the success of our programs. We ask parents and guardians of student athletes to donate time by helping out at the concessions and selling our Rocket apparel. Parent representatives who volunteer to chair the concession for each sport would contact you to volunteer to work at our home games. Keep in mind, we won’t ask you to work while your athlete is participating. We also have a special need for volunteers to be chairpersons for various committees. The chairperson would be in charge of scheduling parents to help out with activities and come up with new ideas for booster income. Concessions are our main source of income but we need new ideas for additional fund raisers to do even more for our athletes and athletic organization. We need your ideas and help please!!!!!!!!! If you are interested in volunteering or being a chairperson, please call or email Diana Delicath 309-678-5047 ddelicath@insightbb.com. Sports March 31, 2006 Limestone’s Superstar Athletes Nick Ricca Kristin Wikoff Brandon Pence Sport: Tennis Height: 5’9” Uniform Number: 1 Grade: Senior Position: The one who hits the ball. Plan on playing in college: Possibly, depending on how bad the school is. Favorite Color: Navy Blue Favorite Music: Classic Rock Birthday: December 22 Role Model: Mr. Sanders Fears: Carnies Favorite Class: Calculus- I live for math. Pre-Game Warm-ups: Meditate, stretch, practice serving Off-season Activities to Stay in Shape: Playing pingpong and eating Favorite thing to do to celebrate: Going to Disneyland. Sport: Track Position: Varsity; 800, 4x800, 4x400, 3200 Plan on playing in college: Maybe Height: 5’6” Grade: Freshman Favorite Color: Blue Role Model: Parents because they set a good example and push me to do my best. Favorite music: Almost anything Birthday: November 2 Favorite Class: Spanish because it’s fun. Pre-Game Warm-ups: Run for 10 min. and stretch out Off-season Activities to Stay in Shape: Running over the summer with the cross country team Major Fears: Letting the team down Sport: Track and Weight Lifting Plan on playing in college: Yes Height: 6’ 3” Uniform Number: 36 Grade: Junior Favorite Color: Blue Role Model: Couch Allred because he has taught me everything I know about weight lifting, and he has helped me out a lot in other sports. Favorite Music: Hard Rock/Rock but not Disturbed, System of a Down Birthday: October 24 Favorite Class: Athletic P.E. because I enjoy lifting. Pre-Game Warm-ups: Stretch Off-season Activities to Stay in Shape: Run Major Fears: Forgetting the play during the game. 12 Sports Shorts All-Conference Selections Announced Senior Brandon Wikoff was chosen as a first-team all-conference athlete for his abilities on the basketball team this year. Senior Derick Boyd and freshman Kelsie Weynand were placed in the secondteam all-conference bracket. Weynand also qualified for the three-point shootout this year. Congratulations goes out to these outstanding representatives of Limestone Athletics. Rocket Soccer gets off to a winning start The Limestone girls’ soccer team, coached by Mr. Rob Fitch, had its first game at home on Monday, March 20. They faced Central and defeated them 1-0. The Lady Rockets’ next home game is against IVC on Saturday, April 15. Come out and cheer the soccer team to another victory!
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