Check Out Our Full Color Newspaper in the Link Below!
Advertisements
The Challenges of College Applications
Amanda Russel
In-Depth Co-Editor
With college application deadlines coming and going for the next few months, seniors are currently in the midst of the lengthy, stressful, and tedious process of applying to college.
At the beginning of the school year, seniors were instantly thrust into the chaotic college application process. Senior Luz Serna said “I wish it wasn’t so quick. We just got back from summer and it feels like there is no thinking time.”
With the earliest college application deadlines being due on October 15th, and the FAFSA Application opening up on October 1st, it is no wonder that seniors felt overloaded at the start of the school year. ”
Taking The SAT and ACT Out of College Applications
Aubryanna Lee
Co-A&E Editor
Have you taken the SAT? Have you taken the ACT? Have you ever been worried about not getting into college because of your SAT or ACT scores? Well, if you are a student in the Class of 2023 or any of the following classes, you may not have to worry about submitting any standardized test scores to any colleges.
There are over 850 schools that no longer require applicants to submit their SAT scores (The New York Times). Colleges say that removing the SAT scores helps them attract strong applicants that may not have previously applied. This includes minority students, those from low income families, and those whose academic abilities are not showcased by standardized tests. Data shows that tests like the SAT are biased against students from low-income households. Students coming from low-socioeconomic backgrounds tend to have a lower performance on standardized tests.
Throwback Movie Review: The Thing
Carlos O’Ryan
Online Editor
It has been 36 years since “The Thing” was released in theatres in June of 1982. Director John Carpenter’s science-fiction/horror movie, which revolves arounds the bloody events that unfold when a shape-shifting alien finds itself at a research base in Antarctica, was heavily criticized at release for being an absolute gore-fest, where characters only existed to be grotesquely dismembered in a splash of blood and guts.
However, in the years following its release, it was eventually accepted for what it was, which was never an uninspired mess of body horror, but as a genuine classic full of thrills and absolutely wonderful practical effects, but at its initial release, it was heavily criticized for having characters that only existed to be chopped up, burned, and torn apart in gross ways.
Wrestling Wrestles Its Way to States
Bin Lin and Steven Pangburn
Staff Writers
With winter season sports soon coming to a close, the Wrestling Team at Hammond High School has once again outdone themselves. All of the new and veteran players have made improvements and sufficient progress in this most recent season.
Senior Jordan Davis, one of three captains on the Wrestling Team, shared that to him wrestling is a lifestyle. Something that furthers his own personal skills. “It’s mostly about becoming a better person and developing good life skills and good habits.”
Davis believes that gaining experience is very valuable and he admires the process. “You could lose to a guy, in the beginning of the year, but when you meet him again in regionals you could destroy the kid because you remember how he wrestled you, how he wrestles, and how you could counter his mistakes.”
Davis also commented that Coach Yeo has been the MVP of the team because Coach Yeo has been encouraging wrestlers to work hard and teaching them how to overcome their obstacles. “Coach Yeo is the one person in the school, that I know, that really cares for his athletes. He has taken them out of bad situations and turned them around into some of the most respectful and hard working people that I met in my entire life. He has taken some people who had little to no experience in sports into the most dedicated people and I am confident to say that. ”
Girls Basketball Gets Nothing but Net
Tori Vander Putten
Back Page Editor
The Hammond Girls Varsity Basketball team ended their regular season with a record of 12-10, the best record in the past 17 years. Led by new coach, Ryan Hudy, the team not only defeated their rival, Oakland Mills, 70-62 but Senior Captain Imani Reid completed her goal of scoring 1,000 points over her high school career following in the footsteps of her mother and former coach, Raymona Reid. Imani noted that “it was weird adjusting to a new coach but when we actually got to know who he was and his methods of coaching that made everything easier.” Though the season started with a tough loss, the program had worked hard to end the season strong, ready to take on any challenge that playoffs may throw at them. Coach Hudy commented that “the most challenging part of the season has been getting the girls to realize their talent and how good of a team we can be.”
The team has done a phenomenal job of working together to come back after rough first halves and continuing to play their game after debatable calls. In their game against Marriotts Ridge February 25, the girls were down 3-14 after the first quarter yet never gave up and ended up winning the game 61-54, allowing them to achieve their winning record.
Senior Captain Taylor Liguori mentioned that, “the last time Hammond girls basketball had a winning record was 2002, so being able to come in senior year and have that winning record and have that winning mentality was a big part of why this season was great.” Coach Hudy worked day after day to push the team to be the best they could be and as the results show; this team is the best that Hammond has seen in a while.
Hammond Provides Opportunities for Students With Special Needs
Claire O’Rourke
Features Editor
Hammond has long been providing opportunities for its students with special needs, but for the 2018-2019 school year, educators and students have worked together to expand the opportunities that are offered.
This school year has seen the return of the well-loved Best Buddies program, along with additions of brand new opportunities for students with special needs like the Book Buddies program and the ALS Coffee Delivery Service.
Best Buddies, a club where students in special education programs can meet with fellow Hammond students and participate in fun thematic activities, started a new chapter this year that proved to be the club’s revival. After a few years of the club’s absence, Senior Katie Rees saw a chance for the club to come back, and quickly sprung into action.
“I saw a huge need for it. There are a ton of incredible students with special needs at Hammond, and a ton of people I know are very interested in being friends, so I think what we needed was a space where we could all be together and just have fun and make friendships, so I wanted to be a part of that—to initiate that,” Rees shared.
Indoor Track Speeds Its Way to States
Brian Paul and Chris Parris
Co-Sports Editor and Staff Writer
Hammond High’s Indoor Track team had a spectacular season that will surely be remembered for a long time. With the team placing high across multiple events and competitions, the sky’s the limit for the achievements that the Indoor Track team will earn in the years to come.
Senior Caleb Evans took great pride in the overall success of the team this past season. “During the season we did a lot of good things. We were ranked in the region. In almost all of the events that we went to [we] ranked in the Top 10 or Top 20. A lot of us made it to States. Overall, we were really successful.” Caleb, along with his brother Collin, have both been running for Hammond’s Indoor Track team since freshman year, making a big impact on the team and having a good time along the way.
One aspect of the team that was not overlooked was the collective bond that was formed over the course of the season, which resulted in overwhelming success for the unit as a whole. Caleb was also very appreciative of the chemistry built by the team. “I love the environment. I mean, everybody gets along. They’re kind of like a second family to me. We try to do team activities, like having a game night or texting each other in our group chat. We’re always bonding.”
