The AviATorFebruary 2010 FREE

Hutchison High School3750 Geist Road

Fairbanks, AK 99709

In Brief:

2009 was a year with unfortunate encounters with moose and some substantial winnings for Hutchison High School. With new technical additions for the school and politics getting big changes, the year changed Hutch and Alaska.Moose vs. Bike: One highlight of last year was

Hutchison High School librarian Timothy Short’s unique accident with a commonly accident prone animal. While riding his bike to work last year, Short rounded a corner down Spinach Creek Hill. Going about 40 miles per hour, Short was surprised to see a moose standing around the corner. “I either ran into the moose or

the moose kicked me because I was flying in the air.” A man in a pickup truck gave Short a ride. Short said he didn’t even remember that it was a moose he had hit until he got home. Short came out of the accident with some pretty nasty scrapes that healed up fairly quickly. He said the worst part was that he hurt his back and

couldn’t lift weights for about two months. Hutch’s nurse Martin Becker made posters with pictures of moose and jokes on them. Jokes were made by students and teachers about the accident, primarily about the fact that his glasses disappeared. Teacher Kevin Coughlin joked that the

People’s choice: depressing holiday

’09: Memorable, forgettableBy BROOKLYN PHILLIPS

Photo by MRS. TIEMESSEN’S CLASSROOMStudents open and dissect a moose heart on Valentine’s Day during Mrs. Tiemessen’s Anatomy and Physiology class.

The symbolism of Cupid’s, XOXO’s, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate originated hundreds of years ago and all serves a purpose. Valentine’s Day has a vast amount of hidden meaning to the gifts given to our sweethearts. From the messages and pictures in a greeting card to the type of flower, everything has a romantic tie-down. February 14 is a day that people either dread or embrace. People become stressed with decisions: Candy or chocolate? Jewelry or stuffed animals? However, as couples gleam with love, singles find themselves being excluded from the romantic vibes as the day comes nearer. Couples have been looking forward to the day of love ever since it began back in A.D. 496. According to History.com, Valentine’s Day began when a priest, Saint Valentine, was to be beheaded for defying the decree made by Emperor Claudius, which outlawed marriage for young men. Claudius made the decree due to his own observation that single men were better soldiers

By VERONICA SWAIM

NewsPages 2-3

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eNTerTAiNmeNTPages 4-5

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opiNioNPage 11

FeATUrePage 6-7

See Page 10 HEARTS

than ones with wives and families. Before Valentine’s death, he left a note behind signed “From Your Valentine,” for his lover, now a famous line used in greeting cards. Common stanzas such as XOXO on a Valentine’s Day card originates back from medieval times. Most people were not literate and therefore could not write, so to compensate, according to Sheknows.com, men would make an X on the card and kiss it to show sincerity. Many find that when thinking of the perfect gift they have a rather difficult time choosing between flowers, candy, or jewelry. Jameel Johnson, sophomore, said, “I am only ever excited about Valentine’s Day when I have a girlfriend, then I can give her chocolate. Everyone loves chocolate.” Back in the early 1800’s, physicians would advise their patients to eat chocolate to help “calm the pining of lost love”, according to Sheknows.com. Therefore, the uprising of exchanging chocolates became prominent.

Tom Lemelin, a freshman at Hutchison, said, “I would want something I could cherish for a long time like a shirt, card, CD, or maybe a stuffed animal.” “I usually get her jewelry, or something expensive to make up for my mistakes,” said Eli Keep-Barnes, a senior at Hutchison High School. Flowers can often be a hassle

when deciding which ones to get. Some do not even realize that certain types or even colors send a different meaning to the recipient. “Flowers have meanings?” Keep-Barnes said. Roses, violets, tulips, lilacs, and even lemon leaves, all

See Page 10 LOOKING BACK

• Student Spotlight on Rachel Schacher

• Arts A/V instructor Ben Johnson profile

• Music review: Ke$ha’s new album “Animal”

• Movie review: “To Save a Life”

• Recipe: “Fantasy Fudge”, “Mini Pigs in a Blanket”

• Horoscopes for February

• Arts A/V cluster expose

• Follow-up on PC’s

• 3-D television showcase

• Huchison hockey returning to state tourney

• Boys basketball team still aiming for repeat of title

• Hutch girls basketball has a promising future

• The death of teenagers communication?

• Skyler Evans explores new art computer programs at Hutch

The AviatorPage Two February 2010

News

Whether she is running important school functions, doing gymnastics, working on being a future nurse, or just trying to keep her grades up, Hutchison High School senior Rachel Schacher keeps busy around the school. According to health teacher Andrea Gelvin, Schacher is Gelvin’s highest achieving senior who has been in Health Occupations since freshman year. Gelvin said Schacher is well prepared, catches up when needed, and does very well in her testing. Additionally, Schacher has taken all possible courses for the health occupations cluster at Hutch. Schacher tries to stay involved in the school. Throughout her years at Hutch, she has been a cheerleader, a teacher’s assistant in the counseling office, and she’s been on the gymnastics team. For her senior project, Schacher organized the fall blood drive for Hutchison. Gelvin said the drive was highly successful and Schacher’s organization was credited for it. “She has high standards, and

Schacher shines as Health seniorBy BROOKLYN PHILLIPS

Photo By AVA GOEPFERT

is very organized,” said Gelvin about Schacher’s leadership for the event. Schacher said that she knew she wanted to go into the world of health care, but Hutch

helped her decide to become a nurse. At Hutch Schacher takes her normal classes and an Emergency Medical Technician class (EMT), but she also goes to University Park to take her

Certified Nursing Assistant classes (CNA). “She wants to get everything out of Hutch that she can so she can leave high school prepared,” said Gelvin.

Gelvin said that by taking all of her classes and also doing an internship Schacher will get a realistic introduction to the foundation of nursing. Working with experienced nurses will give her a larger perspective on their role in the health world. Schacher has excelled in her career cluster, and uses opportunities from Hutch to plan out her future. She has been accepted to the University of Alaska Anchorage to get her Bachelor of Nursing and Science. With everything she does here Schacher still manages to keep her grades up. She tries to not get overwhelmed with school work on top of everything else. She tries to do her work on time and as assignments are given to her so she doesn’t fall behind in her classes. Gelvin describes Schacher with words like “outstanding,” “heartwarming,” and “inspiring.” She said Schacher is eager to learn and is enthusiastic about her studies. “She knows what she wants out of life and knows how to get there,” said Gelvin.

Photo provided by LARS HANSEN

Science/Math teacher Lars Hansen practic-es ice sculpting in preparation for the World Ice Art com-petiton. Hansen also designed the ice sculp-tures seen on the tables at Senior Ball. See him compete in March.

Rachel Schacher prepares to study for her Emergency Medical Technician class in Andrea Gelvin’s room during school.

Ice Ice Hansen

NewsFebruary 2010 Page ThreeThe Aviator

Photo By BEN JOHNSON

Partial royalty group dancing together at Senior Ball. Shown here: King of Senior Ball Zach Cuchna, Queen Veronica Swaim, Prince Ryan Loud, and Princess Miranda Jenkins. Not shown are Duke TJ Valentine, and Dutchess Rayna Reynolds.

Visitors walking into an Arts Audio and Visual Communications class will find students out with their Macbook laptops following along with instructor Ben Johnson. If they were to stay a little longer, they would find the learning environment very relaxed, with occasional jokes coming from Johnson.

‘Media man’ Johnson brings a productive career cluster to the schoolBy NATTIE DIXON Arts A/V students have

described Johnson as a fun, crazy kind of teacher. Amber Bass, a longtime student of Johnson, describes his teaching style as “unique, but he makes learning for all of his students as fun as possible.” Johnson will be leaving Hutchison High School at the end of this school year. He and his wife, Jeannette, will be going back to Germany to continue

their careers of teaching and nursing respectively, as well as doing some more traveling. Johnson has taught at Hutch for the past four years, beginning in 2006 with this year’s senior class. “Being able to have started here with the class of 2010, and being able to watch them graduate will make graduation a special event,” said Johnson. Johnson was born in Spokane,

Washington, but spent most of his life in Flagstaff, in the northern part of Arizona. He began his teaching career by teaching online college classes, as well as visiting various other high schools while working towards becoming a teacher. Part of Johnson’s teaching motivations came from the fact that members of his family were teachers, but also that teaching brings a freshness of facing each new day and each new week. “I can never see teaching as ever getting boring like a normal nine-to-five desk job,” Johnson said. According to Business Applications teacher Sandy Cummings, Johnson has come a long way as a teacher from when he first started teaching at Hutch. “He steals my office equipment, I don’t know what he will do without me in Germany,” Cummings said. Johnson enjoys anything that is competitive. This includes sports, especially football. Johnson coached for the West Valley football team for the past two seasons. He is also known for his April Fool’s jokes and pranks. He played one on fellow teacher Haley Krumblis by placing a hidden music box in her desk that would go off every time the desk was opened. “He plans for the day a year in advance,” Krumblis said. Another reason Johnson wanted to teach was he could never decide on what he wanted to do whether it was photography, video, or graphic design and teaching had a little bit of it all. Those who have been in Johnson’s classes know that his classes are all very hands-on. This includes his photography and video production classes. “I will miss the fun assignments that get students out of their comfort zones,” Bass said. Johnson’s teaching style may

be “unique,” but he teaches his students in a way where they will be able to learn and also want to learn. “Mr. Johnson does not lecture his students, he gives them the basics and lets them experiment and apply what he has presented to them,” Hayden said. Other students, such as Brooke Burnett, along with Bass, have commented on how his classes are all very hands-on. “He teaches you and guides you when you need help, which has helped me improve my video skills,” Burnett said. Johnson has been the main media person at Hutch as well as the Arts A/V teacher. He runs the daily news show, the Hawks H.I.T News, maintains the new Hutchison website, as well as administering the production of the school yearbook. “We have been very fortunate to have Mr. Johnson as the instructor of yearbook. Hutchison’s yearbook is well planned and very unique,” Cummings said. Johnson said that he would miss the students in the way that they act and how they want to learn the subject. “I will remember the chaotic excitement of putting together the daily news show, and what a fun event it is,” Johnson said. Cummings and Krumblis have said how much they will miss his teaching discussions and his contribution to the school. “Mr. Johnson has done so much for us and we will miss him,” Hayden said. Johnson’s future includes continuing to teach as well as doing more traveling in Europe, before settling down. Johnson is also interested in teaching an online high school. “One of the things about teaching that I like is being able to create a designing, learning, environment which online teaching could provide,” Johnson said.

Senior Ball provides winter fun

The AviatorPage Four February 2010

eNTerTAiNmeNTKe$ha stuck in head, BillboardsBy SKYLER EVANS

It’s hard to turn on the radio for more than an hour without hearing Ke$ha’s hit “Tik Tok.” The song, released around four months ago, quickly jumped to the Number 1 spot on the charts, and set the record for “most downloads in one week” by a female artist. Ke$ha has held this spot since she got it, and her new album, “Animal”, seems set to continue her wave of fame.Ke$ha’s songs follow the classic pop paradox of be-

ing extremely catchy, even annoyingly so. The tunes will root themselves in your mind and stick with you for days. This is a large part of what’s led to her viral success, and her massive popularity. It’s flat out hard to stop listening to her.Her voice has an interesting quality to it. While Ke$ha

has a good voice, and often hits some odd notes that catch the ear (just listen to the chorus of “Tik Tok” and you’ll hear it), she also runs a synthesizer on her voice through a lot of the album. Sometimes the electronic style works, but it makes her occasionally come off

sounding like a female T-Pain.The lyrics match her attitude and “whatever” im-

age, and often toe the line between stupidly hilarious and hilariously stupid. Fans are going to think she’s extremely funny, and while she definitely has her mo-ments, sometimes the words come off as too silly to actually have any value. This doesn’t affect her appeal too much, though, as she’s obviously not trying for any deep meaning.Ke$ha is all about having fun and shoving it in the

face of anyone who doesn’t agree. It’s not hard to see why she’s become so popular among teens, especially girls. One interesting note is her apparent rebuttal against the “male-controlled industry” of music, espe-cially in songs like “Blah Blah Blah.” She sees herself as being empowering for young women, and throwing men’s sexism back at them.The problem is that her general image gives a mixed

message. While she tries to set a positive example of women having as much say as men, her constant refer-

ences to getting drunk and partying tend to cancel out the good parts. Still, the apparent contradiction is part of her charm, since she really doesn’t care about this ei-ther way. She’s just going to keep doing what she does, regardless of the opinions of others.“Animal” is a short album, only around 45 minutes,

but it’s definitely an enjoyable listen. If you’re a fan of what you’ve heard, grab the CD. You’ll like almost everything you find on it. On the other hand, if you don’t like “Tik Tok,” then stay away. Her album doesn’t stray far from her hit single, and you’ll find more of the same. This will be a blessing for some and a curse for others, but it’s her formula for success.Ke$ha’s gained massive popularity from “Tik Tok”,

and even though “Animal” only released around a month ago, it’s selling very well. If you’ve caught the Ke$ha fever, the album will cure it, but expect to have the songs stuck in your head for a couple weeks after you listen to it.

eNTerTAiNmeNTFebruary 2010 Page FiveThe Aviator

PIGS IN A BLANKETOne package “Little

Smokie Sausages”Two to three cans

refrigerated biscuits or crescent rollsThis is a great recipe

to use with kids, and kids will love this hot dog type food. Start by purchasing a pack-age of 2 inch “Little Smokie Sausages”, and a couple cans of refrigerated biscuits or crescent rolls. The crescent rolls work and taste best, but if you are going to be mass producing these then get the refrigerated biscuits. Heat the oven to 450 degrees

Fahrenheit, and cut the biscuits in half. Roll the little smokie sausage with half a biscuit having both ends of the sau-sage sticking out, making sure to pinch the edges. Place the wrapped hot dogs on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. If you choose to use crescent

rolls, unroll the dough and cut each crescent triangle in half lengthwise. Place the sausage on the larger end of the triangle

and roll.FANTASY FUDGE

3 cups sugar¾ cup butter2/3 cup (5 1/3 oz. can) evapo-

rated milk1 12 oz. package semisweet

chocolate chips1 7 oz. JET-PUFFED Marsh-

mallow Crème1 cup chopped nuts (optional)1 teaspoon vanilla Line a 9-inch pan with foil,

making sure that the foil extends over the sides. Then combine the sugar, butter, and milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until rolling boil

appears. Continue boiling for 4 minutes or until candy ther-mometer reaches temperature of 234 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring constantly to prevent scorch-ing. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate pieces until melted, and add marshmallow crème, vanilla, and nuts (if desired) mixing well. Pour the chocolate mixture in

a smooth layer over the pre-pared pan. Let stand at room temperature for 4 hours or until completely cooled and then try this amazing fudge for yourself.

By EMILY AHERN

Fantasy fudgePhoto by EMILY AHERN

‘To Save a Life’ is to saveeveryone’s life, self realize worth By RACHELLE PIKE

High school is tough. The cruelty that others can have is unbearable to those who must suffer it. The movie “To Save a Life” portrays the drama between high school students and why some of them take their own life. “To Save a Life” is about

a high school senior named Jake Taylor, played by Randy Wayne. Taylor has it all: a spot on the basketball team, a girlfriend, and is the most popular guy around. In order to be popular, Taylor ditched his childhood friend Rodger Dawson, played by Robert Bailey Junior. One day, Dawson is pushed too far and brings a gun to school and takes his own life. Taylor then goes through trials deciding where he really wants his life to go. On his discovery in life, Taylor meets some people who turn his world upside down. One of those people was pastor Chris Vaughn, played by Joshua Weigel. One of the most powerful

scenes in the movie is when Taylor goes to a church service and realizes what Vaughn has been saying to him. This scene is so powerful because once he reaches realization he jumps up and starts preaching to all the “fakers” in the room right before he storms out. Wayne’s character is

remarkable and he plays him well. Not all credit can be given to Wayne though. He is supported by a great cast including Deja Kreutzberg (Amy Briggs), Kim Hidalgo (Andrea), Sean Michael Afable ( Jonny) and many more. The story line is well written

and the message is deep, but the saddest part is that the message is true. Teen suicide is the third leading cause of deaths in ages ranging from 15 through 24.Though suicide is not common with children, it is rising everyday. The main cause of teen suicide is the cruelty of other teens who are bullying, teasing, and making the person feel like nothing. What is worse is that there are many people who can stop it but don’t.In the movie, there is a scene

where Dawson is walking down the street and some guys run into him and start making fun of the slight limp he received when he was a kid. Taylor rides by and sees this but he doesn’t stop the bullying, he just lets it happen.The hatred others can have

on a single person puts a lot of pressure on that one person. They try to fit the standard that high school students have set. Those standards are so high that no one fits it anymore and that is the cold hard truth. For more information on the movie or teen suicide, go to www.tosavealifemovie.com.

If you need snacks or sweets, try these easy, tasty recipe treats

Aries - Mar 21 - Apr 19: Open up to someone special. They just might surprise you. Taurus - Apr 20 - May 20: Work hard and long but do not stray away from your friends and family. Gemini - May 21 - June 20:Do all your work with an open mind. You might be praised for it. Cancer - June 21 - July 22: Don’t spend all your money at once you cancers, invest and wait to see.Leo - July 23 - Aug 22: Under the light and guidence of the full moon you will find your strength.Virgo - Aug 23 - Sept 22: Let go of your past and learn to move on for something great may happen.Libra - Sept 23 - Oct 22:Don’t be afraid to go to the extreme and use your talents for the greater good.Scorpio - Oct 23 - Nov 21: Live life in the open and see what this month has in store for you.Sagittarius - Nov 22 - Dec 21: This year will be a great year for you. Expect change to come full blast. Capricorn - Dec 22 - Jan 19: Adjust your way of life not only the people around you, but also for you.Aquarius - Jan 20 - Feb 18: Don’t be afraid anymore about finances, it will all work out in the end.Pisces - Feb 19 - March 20:A new way of seeing things is coming your way. Embrace it fondly.

Horoscopes

Tech NationThe AviATor

Page Six February 2010

Anchors nervously adjust shirts and microphones while the camera people smile and assure them they will do fine. The director scrambles in the uncomfortably hot studio, handing out shot sheets and chewing on fingernails, wondering if they will get everything done in one take. One take of the news is all the Hawks H.I.T News crew needs. Just one. While the news show isn’t the

only product of the Arts Audio and Visual Communications career cluster at Hutchison High School, it is the one of the most public. Every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, a small class of Arts A/V students film or do live broadcasts of the show that most third period

classrooms watch. “[Students] have to be thrown

in the pool to learn how to swim. I just stay close enough so I can grab them if they start to drown,” said Ben Johnson, the Arts A/V teacher at Hutch, about the news show, and the other projects of the cluster.Along with the Hawks H.I.T.

News, the cluster produces the yearbook. To be in yearbook, most students have to take digital photography and graphic design and publishing through Johnson. According to Johnson, these are two of his most popular classes.Students like Carolyn Deskins,

a sophomore who took the classes last year and is currently in yearbook, have always had a passion for photography.

“I like the idea of capturing the moment,” Deskins said.In addition to yearbook, Deskins

is also taking video production. She enjoys the hands-on work, and being able to see her projects come together after shooting and editing. Johnson said that finishing a

product is an important aspect of learning in the Arts A/V career cluster. According to him and principal Jeanette Hayden, project planning is a key skill students learn in the cluster. What’s more important, according to Hayden, is students enjoy doing these kinds of projects.“The students are developing

employability skills that will benefit them throughout their lives, and they’re having fun

doing it,” Hayden said. Hayden also says

that all students could benefit from taking classes in the Arts A/V cluster. And, since many of the clusters like Business Applications and Information Technology have a lot in common with Arts A/V, it would be no problem to “integrate” the clusters together. The career cluster is

becoming even more important because of the internet, Johnson said. “Right now because

of the wealth of information on the internet, having something look good

and sound good is what matters,” Johnson said.Michelle Kowallis, a junior

in Arts A/V, acknowledges the challenges of the field, and the creativity it entails. She knows that every project she does for her video class, broadcast journalism, is her very own, and therefore something new. “It takes a lot more brains to

do something of your own then to read out of a textbook,” said Kowallis. New is what the career cluster is

all about, and it continues to grow with the changing times. Johnson said that in the past years he has been at Hutch, he has seen 25 new Macbook laptops purchased and a new broadcast computer,

with mobile live streaming capabilities. The new computer, which enables the Hawks H.I.T. News to be broadcast, can also be

By AVA GOEPFERT

Art, Technology unite in Arts A/V cluster

Ben Johnson, the Arts Audio and Visual Communications teacher, in-structs a class of Graphic Design students on Adobe Photoshop tech-niques and using them in their upcoming logo project.

Photo by AVA GOEPFERT

“Right now because of the wealth of informa-tion on the internet, having something look good and sound good is what matters.”

-Ben Johnson

Tech NationThe AviATor

February 2010 Page Seven

taken to other locations and used to stream live video feed over the internet. According to Johnson, this will hopefully be a full scale

production with various cameras and a full news crew.“It’s not just that lame webcam

stuff though,” Johnson said. The Arts A/V career cluster

will continue to grow, with Johnson and Hayden hoping it will produce more yearbooks, public service announcements, and news shows. Deskins, who has had video footage featured on Channel 13 News, reflects on the importance of the career clusters to her peers, and herself.“We aren’t just behind

computers doing nothing. It’s a lot of work, and a lot of effort. Your product shows how much you care about what you’re doing,” Deskins said.

New PCs up, runningBy SKYLER EVANS

As students have been noticing since before Christmas Break, Hutchison has been on the receiving end of the largest computer overhaul in the history of the school. The PC upgrade announced earlier in the year has happened, and the new computers are a giant step forward.While the hardware runs at great speeds, especially

compared to the old ThinClient setup, one of the biggest surprises came on the software side. Included on every new PC is a full copy of the Adobe Design Premium Creative Suite 4, including Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver, and Flash. All these programs are the newest versions, and are freely available for use by every student. The computers also come loaded with the entire Microsoft Office 2007 Suite.Principal Jeanette Hayden said that since such a

strong importance is placed on technology within Hutch, it’s important to give students access to the best, “top of the line” tools to do their work. And while the program suites weren’t free, the overall cost was less than one would expect.

“It was cheaper to buy a site license [for the whole building] than to just buy it for each computer that needed it,” said Hayden.While most of the installation has been finished,

there are still some tasks in progress, especially in the Library. According to librarian Timothy Short, many of the library tables are still being replaced with proper computer tables. A large part of this has to do with wire management, and keeping cables hidden behind the tables.One of the largest tasks involves the computers

which don’t currently have an available Ethernet connection. These computers line the sides of the library, with screens covered by “X’d” papers. Short is working to get wireless internet cards to place in the computers so they can be brought online as well.For the most part, though, the computers are in

place and working, with the complete installation on the way. This new technology is a noticeable upgrade, and Hutch will benefit from the change for years to come.

3-D television all the craze, but will it outlast the next generation?By RACHELLE PIKE

The newest craze in the television and film industry has been the 3-D movie “Avatar.” People have been lining up at box office doors for a movie going experience which is starting to become more prominent. 3-D is multiple layers of images

that are offset to create depth and the feel of three dimensions. However in order to see the 3-D effect one must wear a pair of 3-D glasses. Not only has 3-D TV emerged,

but now the variety of what people can watch has changed. Favorite TV shows will be available to be viewed in 3-D as well. However, there are some like

Ben Johnson, the Arts Audio and Visual Communications teacher at

Hutchison High School, who think that 3-D TV will just come and go. “3-D TV will be around for a

couple of years,” said Johnson. “[3-D] comes and goes very fast.” Not everyone thinks that 3-D

will be a waste of time. Some are actually looking forward to what 3-D TV has to offer. “It can pop out and scare me,”

said Amber Bass, a student at Hutchison. Companies like Sony and

Mitsubishi already have the technology to get 3-D TVs on the market for around $1300 dollars. Some can go for around $2,000 to $3,000 dollars for the next generation 3-D. America has taken a step with the release of the next generation 3-D

TV. “I have a feeling that it’s

probably going to keep changing at a faster rate,” said Jeff Hamlin, the Information Technology teacher. Technology will continue

to grow and it will not stop. Technology will always be a big part of life and is growing in a good way. The teachers at Hutchison High School like Johnson and Hamlin are trying their hardest to get students out and about and experience what technology has to offer them. “My goal is to train students to

be skilled in computer repair and in computer networking so they can go out and start a career,” Hamlin said.

“Right now because of the wealth of informa-tion on the internet, having something look good and sound good is what matters.”

-Ben Johnson

The AviatorPage Eight February 2010

sporTsHot Hutchison hockey melting ice

By VERONICA SWAIM

Steffan Katechis gets a shot-on-goal against Delta during their senior night game. The Hawks pulled a shut out victory of 7-0 against the Huskies.

Photo by VERONICA SWAIM

Photo by VERONICA SWAIM

Hawks returning to state tournament The undefeated Hawks ended their regular season against Delta, on their senior night, 7-0. With this final conference win, the Hawks now have a seat in the state championship down in Wasilla. Last year the Hawks’ hockey season ended in a devastating overtime loss against Glennallen, placing them as runner-up in the state championship. This season, however, Glennallen is without a team, making the run for

the championship within Hutchison’s grasp. Ryan Loud, senior forward, said, “Our main threat is Tri-Valley. We play better hockey, but they have some good goal scorers that can spoil us if we let off in a game.” “Tri-Valley was the only team that beat us twice last year. Two of the wins, in the last two seasons, were won in overtime. They play a different kind of hockey, which makes for an exciting game,” said Coach

Dave Teets. The Hawks experienced a challenging game against Tri-Valley in January where Tri-Valley lead 2-1 after the first period. “We needed to stay out of the penalty box and bury pucks. We ended up pulling Hayden Nilson for a sixth player to tie up late in the third,” said Loud of the Tri-Valley game. The result of pulling the goalie, the Hawks defeated Tri-Valley 3-2 in overtime.

With five seniors, Drew Baggen, Matt Daniels, Steffan Katechis, Ryan Loud, and Wyatt Stutzke, the Hawks plan on finishing strong with a State championship. Finishing up the conference season 12-0 and an overall season of 15-1-2 with the only ties and losses to 4A schools, the season makes for a very memorable senior year for the Hawks’ five seniors. Senior center, Drew Baggen said, “It feels good to be the first Hutch team to go undefeated, that’s got to be the season highlight.” The majority of the teams’ goals have been reached, with only a few left to finish off. Coach Teets wanted the team to take first in their regular season to confirm their place at state, as well as keeping all 18 players on. Baggen thinks that the season achievement was making it to state, as well as winning a 4A tournament in Homer earlier on. Baggen attributes the main weakness of the team to be the low goals for shots ratio, which the team is working on. Teets also believes that, in order to be a success at state, the team will need to find their scoring touch

and see more pucks in the net. Loud believes that the team has a shot at State if they could improve their powerplays, penalty kills, break-outs, forechecking, and burying the puck. The team has a total of two weeks to prepare for state, giving them time to polish plays. The main motivation to push for a championship, and the drive to come out undefeated, was the loss over a controversial goal in the championship game last year. Coach Teets said that losing in overtime was heartbreaking, to say the least, and that they worked hard but sometimes it isn’t meant to be, and now the team knows what it takes to get there and won’t take anything for granted. “Losing sucks, and we all know how it feels to lose the biggest game of our high school hockey career, and we don’t want that to happen again,” said Loud. Loud said, “It feels good to be undefeated for my last year. But we have to stay hungry and not get too confident or else that will make things dangerous.” The last games are in Wasilla, at the state championship, February 11-13.

Markus Daniels practices his slap-shot during a pre-game warm-up before playing Monroe Catholic High School.

sporTsFebruary 2010 Page Nine The Aviator

After a three-loss start, the defending state champion Hutchison boys basketball team is regaining its stride and is aiming for a repeat.The Hawks started out the

season with a two losses at Barrow, which coach Jonathan Andrews described as “rough.”“Barrow was a polished team,

and we got caught off guard,” Andrews said. With the tough losses behind

them, Andrews and co-captain Kevin Rima said they began to focus on defense, and how a well constructed defense can help win games.“Defense is going to be the key

to our success,” said Andrews. “In the games we’ve won, we’ ve played good defense.”This season, the Hawks

have also been focusing on continuity, after losing six important seniors. However, although they have lost seniors,

By AVA GOEPFERT

Photo by SAMANTHA POESCHEL

The boys varsity basketball shows their teamwork and unity while in a huddle during a Monroe Catholic game.

Boys team still seeks state

For the Hutchison High School girls basketball team, the team has steadily progressed compared to last season. “We’ve developed to a point

where we really do have a program,” said varsity coach Jenny Benson.Benson coached last year

during a season she described as “hit and miss.” Sometimes, only four or five players would show up to a practice compared to up to sixteen for this year’s team. “There’s a complete change

they have gained juniors who are beginning to feel more comfortable at the varsity level.“Our team has more unity, and

the team stays more together,” said Keenen Mays, co-captain and shooting guard. Andrews believes in a positive

philosophy when coaching his players, and realizes his newer players are adapting to the varsity level. “When we make errors, we

recognize what we are doing wrong,” said Andrews. Their adaptation showed

during their win in Sitka, which became a positive turning point during a tough start for the Hawks. “We felt really good after the

game; everything was positive for us,” said Andrews Another defining moment

for the basketball team was an Aurora Conference win against the Eielson Ravens. “It was a real big motivator,”

said Rima.

Andrews attributes the wins to a big team effort and a well-played defense. According to Mays, even with

a losing record currently, going to state and winning is still the goal. “We can turn the season

around,” said Mays.Rima anticipates the team’s

turnaround point to be in Glennallen and Valdez. At press time, the team was preparing to play the two Aurora Conference foes over one weekend. Andrews believes this could be a new start for the Hawks, and can establish them in the conference, in addition to establishing their defense.“Going to Glennallen and

Valdez will be a real test if we can play good defense on the road,” said Andrews. According to Andrews, as long

as the team progresses and the continuity continues to develop, the Hawks can begin to start

Girls squadshows youth, talent early in season

playing their best basketball at the end of the season.“It doesn’t matter how you

play in December; what matters is how you play in March,” Andrews said.

By AVA GOEPFERT

in the culture of the girls,” said Benson. Miranda Jenkins, a senior

shooting guard, believes that the team plays more as a team and tries to learn their roles as players.“Everyone was selfish and

lazy last year,” said Jenkins. Benson also attributes the

growth of the team to a new addition of players who have basketball experience despite their youth. According to Benson, in years past they have had players who had little or

no experience. Now, she said, for the most part players are walking on to the court with more basketball knowledge prior to attending Hutch.“There’s a definite increase in

talent,” said Benson. An addition of a “true point

guard”, Echo Winfrey, also helped the Lady Hawks increase their talent. Benson also acknowledges hard work from players like Janessa Newman and Tricia Manning, who trained all summer to develop their skills. Benson believes that the

games the team has lost so far this season could have swung to the Hawks. This might happen, Benson said, when the team learns how to win close games. “We are scoring a lot more,

and are able to hang in there with teams,” said Jenkins. Junior shooting guard Chelsey

Wilson believes a turning point

for the basketball team was at the Lathrop Tournament, when they won against Point Hope.“We played good and above

their level,” Wilson said. Benson and Jenkins note that

while they are increasing their level of play, and players are becoming more committed, everyone is excited about the season.“It’s a different feel when you

walk in for practice, and it’s a different feel around school,” said Benson. At press time, before big

games against Glennallen and Valdez, the Lady Hawks were at 4-6. The weekend games against Glennallen and Valdez will be a true test for the girls, and how far they have come.“If we win against them, we

know we can do well against other conference teams,” Jenkins said. “We just have to beat them.”

Varsity coach Jenny Benson and other varsity players watch their girls team play Monroe Catholic.

Photo by SAMANTHA POESCHEL

The AviatorPage Ten February 2010

mean “love” according to Everythingvalentinesday.com. The red rose originated, from Greek mythology, as Venus the goddess of love’s favorite flower. Cupid, his real name happens to be Eros, the son of Venus, was known to carry a bow and arrow to shoot people through the heart making the couple

fall hopelessly in love. The heart then became a symbol, along with Cupid, of Valentine’s Day, according to Sheknows.com. Aside from flowers, keeping up with the long-time tradition of exchanging cards, Hutchison teacher Sandy Cummings continues to enjoy the celebration of love with her husband. “My family always gave each other cards and candy,” said Cummings. “I always look forward to the alone time with my husband. But I always tell him

‘no flowers’; they die quickly and are so expensive.” Cummings believes Valentine’s Day is exclusive for couples and therefore leaves singles feeling rejected. “The school should think about including everyone. Maybe instead of candy grams have ice cream bars with hearts on them, or the PTSA could have sundaes,” said Cummings. “The candy grams are a good idea for money but only couples and a few friends really buy them,” said Cece

Rojas, a senior of Hutchison. Rojas also believes Valentine’s Day only becomes a big deal when people are in a relationship. “My ideal valentine would be spending time alone with him, maybe a movie and flowers,” said Rojas. Desiree Englund, senior, said, “I think Valentine’s Day gives couples a chance to go above and beyond for each other.” Despite the varying thoughts of Valentine’s Day, the “lover’s day” still comes every year on February 14.

HEARTS:Continued from Page 1

moose was walking around “hind sighted.” “The teachers were quite prolific in the number of jokes they had about my moose accident.” Short came out of the accident with bruises and a banged up helmet. He said he gave the helmet to health teacher Andrea Gelvin as a memento. “My bike helmet got broken right up from the top to the bottom. My head must’ve hit pretty good.”

Hutch’s Big Wins: Last year, Hutchison’s boys basketball team had a chain of victories that lead to the title of state champions. Their season total amounted to 25 wins and 3 losses. This was the first championship Hutch has won,

and they are working to defend the title. Hutch’s hockey team had its own success when they came in second at the State finals last year. They’re hoping to not only match but surpass the victory by taking home the gold this season. Hutch’s Academic Decathlon team placed second in the Medium Schools Division at the State competition. Their score was just behind rival school Monroe’s, whom the team hopes to overthrow. Monroe has always been ahead, but coach Amy Brown promises to dye her hair blue (in support of Hutch) if the Acadeca team is able to best Monroe.

National: America’s first African American president was sworn

in early 2009. After a long campaign and many speeches, Barack Obama won the November 2008 election. The new president threw a big party to celebrate. The cost of his Inauguration Ball totaled over $170 million, with performances from Bruce Springsteen, Usher, Bono, Stevie Wonder, Jack Johnson, and many more. Along with that, Sarah Palin surprised many people in 2009. After running for vice president in 2008, she went back to Alaska to continue as governor. Palin surprised many Alaskans in the summer of ’09 at Alaska Land’s Governor’s Picnic. In front of over a thousand Alaskans, Palin resigned and gave the title to current Governor Sean Parnell. Palin has a spot on Fox News now, and is well known for being a Tina Fey look-a-like.

Entertainment: With Lady Gaga storming the charts, people picking team vampire or team werewolf, and a record breaking phenomenon taking over theaters, 2009 was a big year for entertainment. Lady Gaga seemed to take America by storm. With her wild antics and out-there outfits, she has been keeping people on their toes since she took the charts. She has many singles, such as “Just Dance” featuring Akon, “Poker Face,” “Bad Romance” and the list goes on. While people have mixed opinions about her, many just want to see what she’ll do next. The movie “Avatar” topped off in entertainment when it beat out the records of “Titanic.” After 10 years in the making, the movie came out to massive success. The Golden Globe winning film has been viewed in approximately 3,452 theatres

in America and has a gross income of $73,000,000. Twilight came out in 2008 and took over the box office. In 2009, the sequel “New Moon” came out and the hype seemed to double. The movie stars were showing up in magazines, and “Team Edward,” or “Team Jacob” merchandise was popping up in stores around the U.S. Some teens reject the obsession, and some are outright in love. Either way, America is not going to stop hearing about every time star Taylor Lautner takes his shirt off, or if Robert and Kristin are “on again or off again.” 2009 was a year of up and coming stars, monster love stories, and an accident that one staff member can’t forget soon enough. Whether it was a good year, or an awful one, 2009 will not soon be forgotten.

LOOKING BACK:Continued from Page 1

opiNioNFebruary 2010 Page ElevenThe Aviator

Christmas Day started out like any other Christmas for me. My father doled out presents, my little brother retreated to his room to play his new video games, and I got a call from a friend. This particular friend and I were very close, having been friends for almost six years, talking regularly over the phone, or more recently via texting. But this conversation proved to be awkward and stilted. The usual “How are you?” and “How’s work?” were answered with “fine” and a long silence. Why, after six years, can I not have a decent conversation with him on the phone? I discovered my answer was texting. When I received unlimited texting on my

phone, I was elated. It seemed as if the world had opened up all possibilities. I could finally send a quick text to a friend instead of having to leave a message in a mailbox they rarely checked. I could “talk” to multiple people at one time, while wrapped up in my fuzzy

blanket on my bed. But now after “talking” to friends for hours

and days, and even years through texting, I’ve realized that even a simple “Merry Christmas” over the phone is unnecessary. In the end, I hang up and think, why didn’t they just text me? This is a problem.For centuries, communication has been the

key to human development and connection. Whether it was a long distance letter that would take a year to travel half-way around the world, or a quick phone call to let a friend know you’re coming over, communication is a key link to others. It enables bonding, which leads to friendship, which is an important part of a human existence. No one can survive without basic human

contact, which in these modern times is reduced to text messaging. People, generally teenagers, feel more inclined to text a friend, rather than get up and travel five minutes

down the hallway to say “Hi”. No longer can teens wait to see their friend for five minutes; instead they have to whip out their cell phones in the classroom to text their friend “im bord.” While I can’t ignore the convenience of

texting, and its predominant role in the evolution of technology, it has taken away a basic human function and the delight it can bring. My friend calling me for Christmas might have been out of the ordinary in this age, but it was a pleasant surprise despite our dying phone skills. It shows that our friendship means something, beyond the lazy route of texting. The next time you feel the need to text a

friend to tell them a funny story, or wish them a “Happy Birthday”, make an effort to call them. Or, better yet, save that funny story for the next time you see them, so that your time together can be not only delightful, but worthwhile.

Texting kills teen communicationBy AVA GOEPFERT

School of technology provides art expression Expression is one of the best ways to deal with emotions, especially when they build up too much. Let’s face it, we all have issues we need to deal with. Everybody needs a form of expression, whether it’s words, sports, or art. Sadly, many people aren’t given a chance to try art. Even though not everyone has a canvas and brush, everyone does have access to a computer these days, especially at Hutch. Thanks to the computer upgrade throughout the building, everyone has access to the newest art tools available. The entire Adobe CS4 line is installed on every new computer in the building, including the classrooms. This gives everyone an opportunity to try out their artistic side and truly let it out.

By SKYLER EVANS If you’re a photography fan, mess around with Photoshop. Some great effects can be made just by touching up pictures you’ve taken, or even making entire pieces of art from scratch. Photoshop is much more powerful than Paint, the image editor which comes on every Windows computer, or even the photo editor on MySpace. Even just by exploring and trying random options, you can come up with amazing end results. For all the kids who play online flash games (even though they won’t admit to doing it during school), try using the Flash program. You can make

animations and cartoons just like the ones online. If you’ve got the determination, you can even create flash games from scratch. Every game on the internet started from people sitting down and learning the exact same program. Some

flash games made by Hutch kids would be great to see online. Social networking sites, like MySpace and Facebook, are used by practically everyone in school. These sites all support custom Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), which is the language all websites are coded in. Even themes and styles you download to put on your site are all

made in HTML by someone else. Try Dreamweaver out. It’s a program made for building and publishing websites, and you can use the designs and sites you make in it to publish straight to your Facebook.

You’ll end up with a page unlike what anyone else has, and you’ll have pride in making it entirely on your own. If you only like drawing, try out the features in Illustrator. Or use InDesign if you need to whip up a brochure or poster, rather than just using the pre-built templates in Word. The entire program package has tons of applications, and everyone should try using it, even just for fun. If you have some spare time after doing an assignment, or nothing to do during lunch, boot up Photoshop or Flash and go crazy. Every student has an opportunity to take advantage of these programs and find new ways to express themselves, and I encourage everyone to give it a shot and maybe discover a new talent or hobby.

An Adobe Photoshopped piece of artwork, using brushes and other tools found in the program.

Photo by SKYLER EVANS

The AviatorPage Twelve February 2010