TheJacket buzzstarkville high school 603 Yellowjacket Dr. Starkville, MS, 39759 www.shsjacketbuzz.com

TheB o xBuzz

May

B-1 and B-2

exams, A-1

and A-2 re-

view.17

Graduation.15

B-3 and B-4 ex-

ams, A-3 and

A-4 review.19A-3 and A-4

exams.20Last day of

school for

students.23

A-1 and A-2

exams, B-3

and B-4 re-

view.18

By Cullom McCormick

Clubs Editor

The Starkville School District school board has approved Starkville High School’s change to the 4-by-4 block schedule, along with allowing the SHS release time to be 3:10 p.m. and allowing students to wear black jeans and yellow collared shirts.

On the 4-by-4, a student will

take four full-year classes in one semester and take a new set of classes for the second semes-ter. Half-semester classes will go for one nine week term. If a student fails a first-semester

class on the 4-by-4, then they may take the class again in the spring semester. Credits earned for each class will remain the same, unless the class takes up two semesters.

Principal Keith Fennell re-

ported that neither state test scores nor numbers of passing students played any role in the schedule adjustment.

“The success or lack thereof of the A/B schedule is still undetermined,” Fennell said. “Block instruction provides the best opportunity for in-depth instruction. 4-by-4 is some-thing that, as recently as the 07-08 school year, the school has been familiar with. The admin-

istration saw the advantages of 4-by-4 and decided that it was the best course of action.”

State tested classes will be “no problem on 4-by-4,” Fen-nell said. These classes will be given two testing dates, one for each semester.

Since the schedule is still developing, possible modifica-tions are unconfirmed.

By Taylor Bowden

News Editor

On Apr. 20, the school board directed supt. Judy Couey to take an “indefinite

administrative leave.” On Apr. 27, Couey released a letter of resignation, which the board approved.

In the letter, Couey stated that she was resigning in or-der to focus on her health.

President of the school board, Pickett Wilson, stated that as the situation was an ongoing personnel matter, she could not release the reasons behind the motion.

Beth Sewell, who was asst. supt. for curriculum and in-struction, is now acting supt. until the end of Couey’s term, after which she will be interim supt. while the board searches for the next supt.

Sewell will be receiving a 15% supplement to her paycheck in compensation for her new duties as act-ing supt. As a result, Walter Gonsoulin, asst. supt. of op-erations, will receive a %10 pay increase for taking on additional duties.

Couey is receiving $80,000 in an out-of-court finan-cial settlement she and the

school board agreed to.In a recent city council

meeting, aldermen Roy Per-kins and Jeremiah Dumas made statements disapprov-ing of Wilson’s silence on Couey’s administrative leave.

“It was not good govern-ment for the chairman to cite approval of the min-utes as the reason not to an-nounce the actions taken at the meeting,” Perkins said. “Speculation and conjecture are what you are left with when operating from igno-rance and misinformation.”

Soon after, Wilson posted a letter on the district web-

site stating that all actions taken by the board were le-gal.

“A board, such as a school board, may take official ac-tion in executive session,” Wilson said in the letter. “Further, a board has no le-gal obligation under the law to report actions taken in executive session other than through its minutes.”

When asked about the matter, Couey said all ques-tions should be directed to Wilson.

“Its all part of being a supt.,” Couey said. “And any supt. will tell you that.”

By Zach Mitchell

Editor-in-Chief

Over the course of this year, the Mississippi Board of Education has held inter-est meetings with multiple school districts across Miss. to select a pilot school for the new state board exami-nation system that may allow certain students to graduate after 10th grade.

Starkville School District is a candidate. Acting supt. Beth Sewell attended a meet-ings in Feb.

“It’s still in the planning stages,” Sewell said. “We’d have to fund it ourselves.”

Under this system, stu-dents exiting grade 10 would take a standardized test. If the student does well, they will have a choice: take two years of Advanced Place-ment courses, begin attend-ing Mississippi State Univer-sity or enter an accredited job training program. If the stu-dent does not do well, they can take remedial classes or enter the work force.

“We can’t meet the indi-vidual needs of students,” Sewell said. “Some need a job, some need college and some need intensive class-es.”

Sewell also said that the state won’t provide fund-ing unless the District gets a grant. However, Sewell hopes the program will be implemented.

District potential pilot for new test

4x4 schedule, other changes planned for next school year

SEE “4x4”, PAGE 2.

SHS students have unique plans for after graduation... Feature on pages 8-9.

Couey resigns

www.shsjacketbuzz.com News

By Andrew LaFrance

News Writer

This May, Starkville High School will be saying farewell to a crop of seniors. How-ever, the students are not the only people who will be leav-ing SHS. Several teachers will also be “graduating” from Starkville High, retiring after decades of educating.

Each of the teachers has fond memories of teaching.

“One of the best moments I can have,” Algebra teacher Vera Myles said, “is when the students seem to enjoy learn-ing and really seem to under-stand math. I love it when they come back later and tell me how successful they are in the higher math courses.”

Math teacher Rick Cham-bers has talked to former stu-dents after their graduations.

“It’s great,” Chambers said. “It seems like everywhere I go in town, people I’ve taught come up and talk about tak-

ing my classes way back when they were in high school.”

English teacher Dianne Freeze is happy to have been a teacher at SHS.

“It’s a lot like a family,” Freeze said. “I think all of us, especially the English De-partment, are really strong at working well together. And I think the best part of the job is watching the kids grow, see-ing how they change while going from freshmen to se-niors. I have loved working here, and just the other day, as I reached to put my key in the classroom door, I realized that this is what I’ve done all my life, and it’s almost over.”

Not all of their thoughts

are turned towards the past, though. Calculus teacher Deb-by Bland has plenty of plans for after this year is over.

“I’m looking forward to do-ing a lot of things I couldn’t before,” Bland said. “Like traveling, reading, going to ball games and working in my garden. I am pretty excited for my retirement.”

Chambers plans to live and volunteer at a Boy Scout camp in Meridian.

“I have to be down there two days after the teachers’ year ends,” Chambers said. “I will be the Ranged Safety Of-ficer, teaching the Scouts how

to use shotguns, rifles, pistols

and bows. After that, I’m plan-

ning to do some traveling with my nephew and go to Rush-more and Yellowstone. That’s one area of the country that I’ve never gotten a chance to go to, so that will be nice.”

Freeze will be staying closer to Starkville, but she has plans for retirement, too.

“I am most likely going to get a part-time job,” Freeze said. “I wouldn’t do well with all of that time, being home all day. I also want to get into vol-unteer work, something active though, where I can actually help, not just donate money. I’d like to work with a group like Habitats for Humanity.”

Although they are ready to experience new things, none of the teachers will forget their time at SHS.

“I am excited about what I’m going to be doing soon,” Chambers said. “But after 20 years, I am going to miss my family here. These teachers I’ve spent years with really are like my family.”

Blocks may be halved be-tween classes for arts and other electives.

If not, then courses such as choir and band would be taught both semesters, taking up two blocks on the sched-ule in order to conform to their contest seasons. The band used two blocks on the A/B, one per day, to keep sharp.

“DeSoto Central High School has one of the most successful band programs in the state,” band director Shawn Sullivan said. “They’re on 4-by-4, so we’re research-ing them. The split block system never worked. By the time we got instruments, we had 15 minutes. It wasn’t functional. I love the way A/B worked, but I hated that kids had to choose between band, drama and choir.”

Also, Advanced Placement classes might be in the spring semester in order to prepare students for national exams

in May. When SHS was on 4-by-4 in previous years, this was how AP classes were scheduled.

“4-by-4 is better because it’s concentrated,” AP U.S. history teacher Dr. Craig Piper said. “It’s faster, but it’s intense, and you’re ready for the test. A/B breaks it up too much. I don’t want students to come in first semester and

go to the exam having for-gotten everything.”

The school board and ad-ministrators are researching schools on the 4-by-4 in or-der to model the schedule ef-fectively, though former supt. Judy Couey stated that the schedule isn’t too important.

“We look at things like this, and all we have to go on is data,” Couey said. “We’ve polled schools, and it comes down to is this: The schedule doesn’t matter for achieve-ment. What matters is the student-teacher relation-ship.”

4x4, cont’d from pg 1 School says farewell to retiring teachers

Thank You Retirees!

The SHS Administration

would like to commend

our retiring teachers for

their years of service

and dedication to

our success here at

Starkville High School.

Debby Bland25 years, 10 years at SHS

Rick Chambers21 years, 20 years at SHS

Vera Myles

34 years, 5 years at SHS

Dianne Freeze30 years, 7 years at SHS

Mary Sue Nicovich 38 years, 12 years at SHS

You will truly

be missed

and you will

ALWAYS be

Yellow Jackets!

“...just the other day, as I reached to

put my key in the classroom door, I

realized that this is what I’ve done

all my life, and it’s almost over.” -Retiring English teacher Dianne Freeze

www.shsjacketbuzz.com News

By Sabrina Moore

Contributing Writer

On April 16, while the rest of Starkville High School was stuck at school on a Saturday, the SHS band was off at Walt Disney World having fun and winning big.

The band, competing at the Disney competition for the first time, won first place

in the marching category and third place overall out of 33 bands from across the nation.

Along with sweeping away the competition, the band also had quite a bit of fun.

“I think the trip went won-derfully,” sophomore trom-bone player Akane Little said. “My favorite part was getting to hang out and ride all the rides with band members and convincing Mr. Sullivan to ride the Rock n’ Roller Coaster.”

Student director junior Ka-shayla McGee agrees.

“We had a lot of fun and it was a really good learning ex-

perience,” McGee said.For McGee the best part

was marching in the competi-tion.

The group had been pre-paring for over a month and band director Shawn Sullivan thinks it paid off.

“I am very proud,” Sullivan said. “They did a heck of a job, and they’re great kids.”

In order to go on the trip, many students participated in fundraisers.

“We sold cups and cou-pons,” Little said.

The band thinks the trip was worth all the hard work.

“It definitely

helped us bond as a band,” Little said. “Plus, everyone had an incredible amount of fun.”

Pell grants may see cutsBy Dominic Henn

News Writer

Senior Silas Knox is go-ing to college, just like so many other seniors. Knox, however, is also receiving a Pell Grant in addition to other scholarships. A Pell Grant is money given by the government to college students to help pay for school.

Eligibility of a Pell Grant depends on family income, the number of family mem-bers, and academic achieve-ment.

Pell Grants range from a $659 grant to a $5,550 grant every year. Knox is eligible for a Pell Grant, but with Congress eager to cut the budget, Pell Grants may be slashed.

“It’s devastating for the students, and with rising tu-ition, it’s becoming hard to go to college without large savings or student loans,” senior counselor Juawice

McCormick said. President Obama is

against the cuts to educa-tion, but the Republican-controlled Congress is in favor of the cuts.

“I’m generally not in fa-vor of education cuts,” Knox said. “I can’t expect the money as much, but I am kind of depending on it.”

McCormick warns that if Pell Grants are cut, then college enrollment will

drop harshly. “Its part of the Ameri-

can dream for our children to be educated better than their parents,” McCormick said.

McCormick further warned that if college en-rollment drops, then the colleges would have to raise costs, thus preventing further enrollment. Thus, without a college-educated populace, the economy would crash.

38% 36%

26%

I don’t qualify for Pell Grants.

I couldn’t afford college.

College would be more expensive, but I could still go.

171 students were polled. Polls were conducted during 3rd block A day classes.

Band returns from DisneyHow would cutting Pell Grants

affect SHS students?

www.shsjacketbuzz.com Last Will and Testament

Jakarta Agnew

I, Jakarta Agnew, leave Preston Baker my football skills and a jaw brace.

I, Jakarta Agnew, leave Devin Pulliam my common sense and intelligence.

Danielle Anderton

I, Danielle Anderton, leave Ethan Musser dancing skills and my talent at rapping accurately and on rhythm to our favorite Lecrae songs.

I, Danielle Anderton, bequeath to Ethan Musser and Peyton Jack-son more fun times of having a miniature band in Mrs. Week’s closet, if you ever get locked in again.

To Hannah Fischer, there is nothing to leave you because you are lovely in every way. But if I had to leave something, I would give more jokes for you to tell. Make people laugh. Love you guys!

Jocelynn Ashford I, Jocelynn Ashford, leave my

happy-go-lucky attitude and abil-ity to make others smile to Evan, Thiam, Roderica, and Cory.

I, Jocelynn Ashford, leave my pure awesomeness to my “little brother” Jalan Catlege.

Jarrod Atterberry

I, Jarrod Atterberry, leave my supernatural 440 bench press strength to Eric Rogers, because you need every bit of it.

I, Jarrod Atterberry, leave my

brilliance to Jimmy (Leathers) Saulsbury, so one day you’ll know the plays.

Garret Batson

I, Garrett Batson, leave my enthusiasm for Spanish and ap-preciation for Coach Woomer to Devin Mitchell.

I, Garrett Batson, will my sin-cerest apology to those who will soon embark on their senior proj-ect.

I, Garrett Batson, leave my ri-diculous athleticism and strength to Price Day and Max Bartlett. I hope it treats you as well as it did me.

Taylor Bowden

I, Taylor Bowden, leave Em-ily Damm my veil of cynicism and distrust.

I, Taylor Bowden, Bestow unto my brother, Robert, the glory of the funk.

Keena Bowens

I, Keena Bowens, leave Res-heada Doss fun times!

I, Keena Bowens, will Mrs. Max-well my wittiness and great teach-ing imitations.

I, Keena Bowens leave Wyleisa McCurdy my chemistry book! I hope you have fun with that!

Courtney Brooks

I, Courtney Brooks, leave to Darby Kolle all the fun times we had in Spanish II.

I, Courtney Brooks, leave to Avonte Amos my locker, my wis-

dom, and all my CRAZY ways.I, Courtney Brooks, leave to

Dalvin, a.k.a Maui, I leave my SE-NIOR SWAG!!! Have fun with it.

Brianna Brown

I, Brianna Brown, leave Stacie Young and Keva Robertson words of wisdom, confidence, and faith

to accomplish their goal.I, Brianna Brown, leave Tanau-

gia Lucious my beautiful locker.I, Brianna Brown, leave Hayden

Higginbotham my ability to be the teacher’s pet and get and A+’s.

Shareda Brown

I, Sharda Brown, leave Brittany Brown my confidence, love and

determination to keep fighting to

the end, and to never give up!

Jonissa Buchanan

I, Jonissa Buchanan, leave my wisdom and brain to Jacqueline Fair.

I, Jonissa Buchanan, leave all the fun times in basketball and the will to put all your talent on the court.

I, Jonissa Buchanan, leave my sense of humor to Brittney Brown.

Rochelle Bush

I, Rochelle Bush, leave Kandace Erwin all my laughter, fun times and jokes we had at breakfast also I leave her my bacon that she loves so much! I love you little cousin!!

I, Rochelle Bush, leave Earnest Glass all my love and trust and also my smartness to him for his

senior year!!! I love you!!

DeKendrick Campbell

I, DeKendrick Campbel, leave the Sigma Beta club to the new generation of leaders they are, ac-cepting the challenge of becom-ing great people.

I, DeKendrick Campbell, leave the superior rating that the band has been getting since my fresh-man year in marching and concert season.

Shanice R. Campbell

I, Shanice R. Campbell, l leave Treasure Ward and Aisha Smith her love, her “smarts” and her charm, to fulfill their many dreams

of success.I, Shanice R. Campbell, leave

Sara Powell, Jadee Sexton, Sasha Shurden, Cnee Jackson, Sherell Johnson, D’Kyia Robinson, and the rest of the lady Jacket soft-ball girls the determination to win State!

I, Shanice R. Campbell, leave Jalen Campbell my good decision making skills so he may be suc-cessful in life.

Toria Carter

I, Toria Carter, leave to Hannah Fischer, Cat Everett, Verlyncia Le-nord, Hailey Tomlinson, Leah Gib-son, Jamiyah Covington, and Jai-lyn Montgomery my never-ending school spirit.

I, Toria Carter, will to Trever Robinson my overstuffed locker and the ability to close it.

I, Toria Carter, leave Savannah

Hobart my cheerleading bloomers.

Jamaal Clay

I, Jamaal Clay, leave Chris Madi-son, A. K. A. West Point, my President position in the Sigma Beta club and leave the club in hands of RaRa Gee and Mitchell Young.

I, Jamaal Clay, leave Jamie Cole-man the fun times we had but will never forget them.

I, Jamaal Clay, leave my little sis-ter Flavia my locker.

Chris Crosby

I, Chris Crosby, leave the busi-ness that I have run well for the past 3 years to anyone who is up to the challenge.

I, Chris Crosby, will my high school GPA to Mike Brand. Try hard, but you will never get to where I am!

I, Chris Crosby, leave the school to the underclassmen and my lil’ sis Jamiyah Covington. Have fun and come back to this building in August SN! Get to know all of your cousins and make a lot of friends.

T’Keyia Davis

I, T’Keyia Davis, leave my ex-quisite senior locker in the perfect location to D’Kyra Robinson, so you will never have to struggle again.

I, T’Keyia Davis, will my fan-tastic softball skills and great run-ning ability to Courtney Hollis, D’Kyra Robinson, Cnee Jackson, and Shanele Johnson.

The Last Will and Testaments of the

Graduating Class of 2011

www.shsjacketbuzz.com Last Will and TestamentI, T’Keyia Davis, last but not

least, leave my good grades, book sense, and lovable personality to Devin Mitchell for the fastest way to get ahead is being the teacher and principal’s pet! I love you and will miss you all!

Ti Davis

I, Ti Davis, leave all my girls to Lil’ Russell Davis, a.k.a Peanut, and my locker to Damion Sim-mons.

I, Ti Davis, will all the good times in the cafeteria to all the lunch ladies that I will miss so much, especially Mrs. Sellars, Ms. Mary, and Cousin Janice.

I, Ti Davis, leave my 3 point shooting ability to Terrance Jose Bond, my Asian pinky lock to Darby Kolle, and my crazy ways to Dalvin Tate, a.k.a. Mauiiiiii!!!!

Billy Edmonds

I, Billy Edmonds, leave my lock-er, # 132, to Aliyah “Lee Lee” Collins. I also leave my empty Sprite can to Krystal Ashontee Jordan.

I, Billy Edmonds, leave my Nike 6.0 backpack to Mitch Young.

Marc Effenberger

I, Marc Effenberger, leave my accent, sarcasm, and the fun times in Spanish II to Ethan Follet.

Ayanna Evans

I, Ayanna Evans, leave Shaw-na Johnson all the fun times we had in Mrs. Dawkins Chemistry class…all the laughter and eating in her class.

I, Ayanna Evans, leave Jacque-line Fair all the laughter, eating and joking in Mrs. Davis’ class. I encourage you to bring you’re A- game on the court next year, it’s going to be your year.

I, Ayanna Evans, leave Brittany Brown all my jokes from basket-ball season. Hahaha!!

Meg Giesemann

I, Meg Giesemann, leave Katie Wood my secret ninja powers and my love for the youth group.

I, Meg Giesemann, leave my powers to persuade with Chris Brice Phillips.

Latrecia Halbert

I, Latrecia Halbert, leave my in-telligence to the new comers.

I, Latrecia Halbert, will leave my great memories of my 10th grade

year to Mr. Sullivan!I, Latrecia Halbert, leave all my

love to the upcoming Whoop-whoop click! Love ya!

Billy Hamilton

I, Billy Hamilton, leave the SHS drum line and SHS band my suc-cess as a musician.

Chelsey Johnson-Weaver

I, Chelsey Paige Johnson-Weav-er, leave Brittany Brown my abil-ity to make everyone smile.

I, Chelsey Paige Johnson-Weav-er, leave my LJ’s and Coach K all the memories of laughter and experiences we’ve shared! I love ya’ll!!!

Gabriel Jordan

I, Gabriel Jordan, leave Krystal my last name, fun times, and my HEART.

I, Gabriel Jordan, leave X-Men and the Sigma Beta club in Mitch-ell Young’s hands.

Davis Josey

I, Davis Josey, leave my irresist-ible charm and legendary skills with the ladies to Duncan Wat-son.

I, Davis Josey, will leave it up to Murphy Buckner to keep the in-coming freshmen in line.

I, Davis Josey, leave Chris Curtis the duty of becoming President of lunch.

Andrew LaFrance

I, Andrew LaFrance, leave my lazer to Rob Montgomery so that he can fire it.

I, Andrew LaFrance, will to Daniel Montgomery a voice, that he may say more than five words.

I, Andrew LaFrance, leave to Garison Arinder the bag that’s none of his business, so he may see what’s inside.

Julian Lewis

I, Julian Lewis, leave my Captain spot on SHS track team to Gabe Myles and Charles Hughes, and my dedication of the sport to be spread throughout the team.

I, Julian Lewis, will some of my swag to the class of 2012.

I, Julian Lewis, leave my locker to Grant Woomer (track/field).

LaMarion Lindsey

I, LaMarion Lindsey, leave Kiana Stinson fun times on the journalism trip to Ole Miss.

Chellsey Lowery

I, Chellsey Lowery, leave Janna Gandy and Aisha Smith my skills and dedication to track.

I, Chellsey Lowery, will to La’Chelsie Skinner my locker.

I, Chellsey Lowery, leave to Jas-mine Johnson-Weaver my love to learn and be a successful student.

Alana Martin

I, Alana Martin, leave the SHS band good luck at band competi-tions.

I, Alana Martin, leave my rights to say that the flutes are the best

section EVER! YAY band!!

Lammi Micha

I, Lammi Micha, leave Zundui Badral the honor of being an Ethiopian, the ability to wear a ring on his index finger and the

right to always be #winning like Charlie Sheen.

I, Lammi Micha, will Austin Wileman, Rob Montgomery, An-drew Rogers, and Jacob Leggitt the good times we had in Span-ish.

I, Lammi Micha leave Justin Gordon my white boy swag-ger that I inherited from Chad Thompson last year, and my twin my student ID.

Zach Mitchell

I, Zach Mitchell, leave Cullom McCormick my newspaper/lead-ership skills; we all know you’re going to need them.

I, Zach Mitchell, will Bailey Brocato my snarkiness and my hipness.

Andrew Moorhead

I, Andrew Moorhead, being of positive mind and healthy body do hereby bequeath to my sister Megan all the fun I had. And to Nathan Gaudin the craziness of FFA.

I, Andrew Moorhead, will my place on the tennis team to any-one who is worthy in mind and body to take the challenge. I also leave four broken rackets and 17 broken strings, this which was willed to me two years ago.

I, Andrew Moorhead, hear by give, devise, and bequeath all my desks, books, and property, real and personal, of whatsoever na-ture and where so ever situated to our beloved juniors.

Christopher Prater

I, Christopher Prater, leave words of wisdom to the freshman class- Start now! Don’t wait until later in your high school career to be the outstanding student you are capable of being. High school isn’t life; it’s only the first step. Take advantage

of the time you have now to pre-pare yourself for what’s ahead.

I, Christopher Prater, will my cool and level-headedness to the Yellow Jacket Football team. Ha, some of you guys are going to need it to go along with your talent. Never stop giving EFFORT!

I, Christopher Prater, leave help-ful advice- Be respectful, to class-mates, teachers, and administrators. And smile! Everyone has their downs, but everything is not bad; don’t forget to enjoy yourself.

Hannah Reynolds

I, Hannah Reynolds, leave Hannah Fischer my sick rapping skills to continue the “White Girl Dream,” and to my magical mad-rigals, I love you all!!

Davis Richardson

I, Davis Richardson, leave my legacy as a gay rights activist to everyone who was born this way.

Jimmy Sherrod

I, Jimmy Sherrod, leave Aaliyah Sherrod my custom made Louis Vuitton graphing calculator. To Najeea Waters my cracked up sense of humor. To Carolina Ber-ryhilll, my smarts.

I, Jimmy Sherrod, will my ability to break dress code (without get-ting caught) to Hailey Tomlinson.

Chantel Solis

I, Chantel Solis, leave Janna Gandy, my love, respect for oth-ers, and pride to help her mind fo-cus on the important things. And to take over my group S.N.

I, Chantel Solis, will Deunna Roger and Lync Out my love and all my work and notebooks. I also want to leave my good looks.

I, Chantel Solis, leave my girls Janna G., Krystal J., jKaenla O., Leah G., Akeena E., and Aallyna F. the power to take over SHS and continue our legacy.

I, Chantel Solis, leave Janna Gandy, Deunna Rogers, and Lyric Outlaw my goofy ways, my cheat notes, and my secrets on how to get on the teachers’ good side.

I, Chantel Solis, will the future

power lifters my strength and en-couragement.

I, Chantel Solis, leave the track team, JROTC, Skills USA, and powerlifting team my team spirit and hope that everyone enjoys themselves as years go by.

Cynequa “Lady” Steele

I, Cynequa “Lady” Steele, leave Arolyn Williams my track abili-ties and my high school uniform swag.

I, Cynequa “Lady” Steele, leave Verlyncia Leonard my sense of fashion.

I, Cynequa “Lady” Steele, Kristan Bishop my willingness to never give up and strive for the best.

Chasity Swoopes

I, Chasity Swoopes, leave all up-coming seniors my willingness and desire to lead and succeed. Keep God first in life and all things will

be possible.

Shiniqua Tabb

I, Shiniqua Tabb, leave Darby Kolle our good times in Spanish II, our jokes, and my wisdom.

I, Shiniqua Tabb, leave Deangelo Johnson my locker, my love, and our good times in the hallway.

I, Shiniqua Tabb, leave Dennis Hagen my love, my paperwork, my great knowledge, and my schedules.

Jondia Weatherspoon

I, Jondia Weatherspoon, leave my smile, intelligence, bubbly per-sonality, and cheer skills to Leah Gibson.

I, Jondia Weatherspoon, leave my jokes and laughter to VerLyn-cia Leonard, Jamiyan Covington, Jailyn Montgomery, and Hailey Tomlinson.

I, Jondia Weatherspoon, leave sophistication and classiness to Anita Grayer, Hannah Fischer, Catherine Everett, and Savannah Hobart.

Hudson Woomer

I, Hudson Woomer, leave Mur-phy Buchner with the Seducer to get him around when nothing else will.

I, Hudson Woomer, will Grant Woomer my incredible Calculus skills.

I, Hudson Woomer, leave Stuart Woomer my ability to sweet talk Ms. Morgan.

Project PASS/Family Centered Programs Starkville School District 

 Funded by the U.S. Department of Education 

Project PASS/Family Centered Programs Starkville School District 

 Funded by the U.S. Department of Education 

www.shsjacketbuzz.com News

By Kiana Stinson

News Writer

Andrew LaFrance has been awarded STAR student and chose R.J. Morgan as his STAR teacher.

The STAR student is awarded to the senior with the highest ACT score, and the STAR teacher is chosen for having the most influ-ence on the student.

LaFrance’s ACT score was 35, making the teachers and administrators of Starkville High School proud.

“[I] kind of expected it, but wasn’t sure,” LaFrance said.

Morgan has already prov-en himself as an outstanding teacher, winning Starkville Teacher of the Year, Broad-cast Adviser of the Year and Best High School Teacher in

the Starkville Daily News. The news was still surpris-ing.

“I was speechless,” Mr. Morgan said. “I had no idea I had an impact on him. I felt truly honored.”

They [LaFrance and Mor-gan] attended the awards cer-emony in Jackson, Miss. on May 13, where they received their certificate and met with

other district winners.

LaFrance, Morgan STAR student/teacher

STAR student Andrew LaFrance and STAR teacher R.J. Morgan have a witty conversation. Photo by Ruth Brown.

What’s it been like growing up during the war on terror?“My cousin got sent

over there. He hates it

because his neices and

nephews are growing

up without him. And, of

course, I’m terrified of him dying.”

Senior Ellen Tribble

“People who don’t know

my religion called me a

terrorist related to Bin

Laden. You grow up with

it. You get used to threats,

people lighting your scarf on fire.”

Senior Kauthar Gaber

“You see all these sol-

diers come and go, you

hear about death so

much, and eventually,

the media desensitizes you

to it. And it’s just awful.”

Senior Matthew

Dunaway

Featured Story Featured Story www.shsjacketbuzz.com

By Taylor Bowden

News Editor

5:37 p.m.: former Starkville High School student Jamie Kilg-ore walks into Southern Billiards after finishing his shift at

Sonic.He had stopped going to his classes at SHS some weeks prior

in order to take more hours at work. “I’m not really a ‘school person’”, Kilgore said, still in his

work clothes, staring down the shaft of his pool cue from un-derneath his Sonic visor.

He has plans to become a manager-in-training at Sonic sometime in Jan. and soon after become an acting manager at Sonic.

For him, this isn’t a bleak fall-back; it’s simply what he wants to do.

“I’ll be working on salary,” Kilgore explained after sinking a bank’d shot. “And after a few years I’ll start looking into get-ting my own store as general manager. If not, I’ll move onto something else with all the experience under my belt.”

Kilgore plans to get his General Education Degree over the summer, but currently does not plan on attending college

His life plan may seem against the common assumption that highs chool exists to prepare students for college, with col-lege preparing students for life. However, that is not always the case.

“They want us to have a college-going culture,” counselor Juawice McCormick said. “And a four-year college education is usually the best plan for a kid, but it is not always the case.”

While Kilgore decided that he did not need a diploma or degree in order to pursue what he wants, not every one looking into vocational careers thinks the same.

In fact, there are several non-standard (standard being a four-year degree) options for education after high school for numer-ous jobs that focus entirely on vocational training that, unless the student wishes, can be taken without any academics.

Katrina Carlisle works at the Millsap’s Career and Technol-ogy Center located on SHS campus. Part of her job involves helping students who are entering vocational careers find what

they need in several vocational programs at East Mississippi Community College.

“EMCC has a department called workforce that offers vari-ous classes in subjects such as computer skills,” Carlisle said. “They also have direct skills classes in specific things. So, if

someone wanted to weld cars, they could go and be trained to specifically weld cars as opposed to spending a much longer

time learning the entire field of welding.”

Withen Millsaps, there are several programs that students can take in high school to prepare them for the training at EMCC, which range from automotive repair to health care. Each year, a number of graduating seniors from SHS attend vocational training classes at EMCC. One such student graduating this year is Ashley Holbrook.

Holbrook decided to attend EMCC’s Emergency Medical Technician training program in order to get a profession in first-response healthcare.

“When my brother got sick,” Holbrook said, “they (para-medics) came and they helped him. Since then I’ve decided that I wanted to do that.”

For Kilgore, who decided to enter his vocation without more schooling, Holbrook, who wishes to go to EMCC and train to be a paramedic, or the numerous other high school graduates who plan to enter a four-year collage, the question emerges – which way is right?

“Every kid is different,” McCormick said. “Some kids have to work, others don’t. It’s up to the student to decide. The world is your oyster, and success isn’t necessarily measured in dollars.”

By Andrew LaFrance

News Writer

As Starkville High School se-niors wonder what to do after graduation, many of them be-gin to perpetually ponder and petulantly plead for a vacation: anything to get away and relax before the new adventures of the coming year.

One student’s plan for after graduation is much more than a simple vactation – senior Da-vis Richardson will be spend-ing the entire 2011-2012 school year in Italy.

Richardson received help from the Rotary Club in mak-ing his travel plans come true.

“My family has hosted kids through Rotary Youth Ex-change Program since I was in middle school,” Richardson said. “I’ve always had an inter-est in the program, but I never saw a good time to take a year off. This will be the last year where I’m still eligible, so it’s now or never.”

Richardson says that having already graduated from high school makes the entire experi-ence much simpler.

“Since I’ll have graduated already, I won’t have to worry about transferring credits back to SHS,” Richardson said. “I will be able to enjoy my year more without worrying about getting enough credits to graduate. All of [the colleges I’m looking at] have said they will defer admission for me. In fact, I think taking a gap year to study abroad is applauded by most of my schools.”

Having received approval in mid-December, Richardson has planning for this vacation for quite awhile.

“I decided to go to Italy be-cause I’ve always been attracted to it,” Richardson said. “And Anna Follett, who went to Italy last year, has been slowly but surely teaching me Italian. I still don’t know exactly where I will be living, though.”

Richardson does know that this a great chance for him, and he plans to make the most of it.

“I’ve always been fascinated by culture, language arts and history, so this is an incredible opportunity for me,” Richard-son said.

There’s more to

LIFE than just COLLEGE

Kilgore moves up in fast food industry

Richardson heads abroad to Italy

Senior Jamie Kilgore washes his hands in preparation

for his shift at Sonic. Photo by Bailey Brocato.Senior Jamie Kilgore car-hops with the “smile tray”.

Photo by Bailey Brocato.

The Richardson family gathers around their son, senior Davis Richardson, who will be

studying in Italy thanks to the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Photo by Victoria Hearn.

Senior Davis Richardson shows his exchange papers.

Photo by Victoria Hearn.

Featured Story Featured Story www.shsjacketbuzz.com

By Taylor Bowden

News Editor

5:37 p.m.: former Starkville High School student Jamie Kilg-ore walks into Southern Billiards after finishing his shift at

Sonic.He had stopped going to his classes at SHS some weeks prior

in order to take more hours at work. “I’m not really a ‘school person’”, Kilgore said, still in his

work clothes, staring down the shaft of his pool cue from un-derneath his Sonic visor.

He has plans to become a manager-in-training at Sonic sometime in Jan. and soon after become an acting manager at Sonic.

For him, this isn’t a bleak fall-back; it’s simply what he wants to do.

“I’ll be working on salary,” Kilgore explained after sinking a bank’d shot. “And after a few years I’ll start looking into get-ting my own store as general manager. If not, I’ll move onto something else with all the experience under my belt.”

Kilgore plans to get his General Education Degree over the summer, but currently does not plan on attending college

His life plan may seem against the common assumption that highs chool exists to prepare students for college, with col-lege preparing students for life. However, that is not always the case.

“They want us to have a college-going culture,” counselor Juawice McCormick said. “And a four-year college education is usually the best plan for a kid, but it is not always the case.”

While Kilgore decided that he did not need a diploma or degree in order to pursue what he wants, not every one looking into vocational careers thinks the same.

In fact, there are several non-standard (standard being a four-year degree) options for education after high school for numer-ous jobs that focus entirely on vocational training that, unless the student wishes, can be taken without any academics.

Katrina Carlisle works at the Millsap’s Career and Technol-ogy Center located on SHS campus. Part of her job involves helping students who are entering vocational careers find what

they need in several vocational programs at East Mississippi Community College.

“EMCC has a department called workforce that offers vari-ous classes in subjects such as computer skills,” Carlisle said. “They also have direct skills classes in specific things. So, if

someone wanted to weld cars, they could go and be trained to specifically weld cars as opposed to spending a much longer

time learning the entire field of welding.”

Withen Millsaps, there are several programs that students can take in high school to prepare them for the training at EMCC, which range from automotive repair to health care. Each year, a number of graduating seniors from SHS attend vocational training classes at EMCC. One such student graduating this year is Ashley Holbrook.

Holbrook decided to attend EMCC’s Emergency Medical Technician training program in order to get a profession in first-response healthcare.

“When my brother got sick,” Holbrook said, “they (para-medics) came and they helped him. Since then I’ve decided that I wanted to do that.”

For Kilgore, who decided to enter his vocation without more schooling, Holbrook, who wishes to go to EMCC and train to be a paramedic, or the numerous other high school graduates who plan to enter a four-year collage, the question emerges – which way is right?

“Every kid is different,” McCormick said. “Some kids have to work, others don’t. It’s up to the student to decide. The world is your oyster, and success isn’t necessarily measured in dollars.”

By Andrew LaFrance

News Writer

As Starkville High School se-niors wonder what to do after graduation, many of them be-gin to perpetually ponder and petulantly plead for a vacation: anything to get away and relax before the new adventures of the coming year.

One student’s plan for after graduation is much more than a simple vactation – senior Da-vis Richardson will be spend-ing the entire 2011-2012 school year in Italy.

Richardson received help from the Rotary Club in mak-ing his travel plans come true.

“My family has hosted kids through Rotary Youth Ex-change Program since I was in middle school,” Richardson said. “I’ve always had an inter-est in the program, but I never saw a good time to take a year off. This will be the last year where I’m still eligible, so it’s now or never.”

Richardson says that having already graduated from high school makes the entire experi-ence much simpler.

“Since I’ll have graduated already, I won’t have to worry about transferring credits back to SHS,” Richardson said. “I will be able to enjoy my year more without worrying about getting enough credits to graduate. All of [the colleges I’m looking at] have said they will defer admission for me. In fact, I think taking a gap year to study abroad is applauded by most of my schools.”

Having received approval in mid-December, Richardson has planning for this vacation for quite awhile.

“I decided to go to Italy be-cause I’ve always been attracted to it,” Richardson said. “And Anna Follett, who went to Italy last year, has been slowly but surely teaching me Italian. I still don’t know exactly where I will be living, though.”

Richardson does know that this a great chance for him, and he plans to make the most of it.

“I’ve always been fascinated by culture, language arts and history, so this is an incredible opportunity for me,” Richard-son said.

There’s more to

LIFE than just COLLEGE

Kilgore moves up in fast food industry

Richardson heads abroad to Italy

Senior Jamie Kilgore washes his hands in preparation

for his shift at Sonic. Photo by Bailey Brocato.Senior Jamie Kilgore car-hops with the “smile tray”.

Photo by Bailey Brocato.

The Richardson family gathers around their son, senior Davis Richardson, who will be

studying in Italy thanks to the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Photo by Victoria Hearn.

Senior Davis Richardson shows his exchange papers.

Photo by Victoria Hearn.

Located in the Old Main District of downtown Starkville 103 South Washington St. 662-323-7665

Bring this Ad and Play

Free pool after School 3pm to 5pm Monday thru Thursday

(Starkville High School Students with School ID; Expires 5/15/2011)

www.shsjacketbuzz.com Thank You!

The Jacket Buzz

The Jacket Buzz is published three times each semester by the Journalism Depart-

ment at Starkville High School.

The Jacket Buzz is a student-run publication committed to providing the students of

Starkville High School with objective and informative coverage of events involving or

affecting the student body.

The Jacket Buzz serves SHS as a forum for student expression and thought. Content

decisions are made by student editors, and factual errors will be corrected by a retrac-

tion in the next issue.

Opinions expressed are those of students and do not necessarily reflect the views of

the adviser, administration, Starkville High School faculty, or the Starkville School

Distict. Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Jacket Buzz staff.

Letters to the Editor are accepted and published, excluding those that are deemed

libelous, malicious, hurtful or disruptive. Unsigned letters will not be published,

and all letters are subject to editing. Please email all letters, or other comments, to

shsjacketbuzz@gmail.com.

Zach MitchellEditor-in-Chief

Volume 18, Issue 7 May 13, 2011

R.J. MorganAdviser

Staff Members Dominic Henn, Christine Mazzola, Kiana Stinson, Andrew LaFrance,

Hal Sullivan, Merve Karan, Tierra Tillman, Brandon Gardner, Mariel Marcum, Bailey Brocato, Jennifer Hunt, Ahsia Temple, and Yingying Zhang.

Statement of Policy

Taylor BowdenNews Editor

Tess LongOpinions Editor

Cullom McCormickClubs Editor

Lammi Micha Sports Editor

Ruth BrownPhoto Editor

Ty RingoYearbook Editor

LaMarion LindseyMarketing Director

Ok. So. Goodness, where to start? Four years have come

and gone. Four long, long years that manage to form a sort of oxymoron by zooming past and leaving me, today, at the tail end of my time in high school.

While I write this I become aware of all the chang-es that I have witnessed and experienced.

Sitting on my bed with my laptop, dog, ipod, and cell phone (turned off, which in itself is a huge change; even one year ago I wouldn’t have been able to cope without it), I am fascinated by the fact that a person can undergo such reconstruction, yet come out with a truer sense of oneself.

I guess it’s kind of like cleaning your room. You get rid of a lot of your stuff so you can finally catch

a glimpse of what your room actually looks like. Since freshman year, every year after coming back

from summer vacation I would have at least 15 peo-ple ask me if I was a new student.

While some might see this lack of recognition as offensive, it always amazed me. Had I really changed that much?

I guess my point in all this is that high school is one of the most amazing times in your life simply because this is the time when you begin to take con-trol of your life and determine what kind of person you want to be.

Try new things. Sometimes lots and lots of new things, of course not everything will spark your in-terest, but when is there a more perfect opportunity to discover yourself?

The horrors of middle school are over, and the responsibilities of college have yet to hit you. Even though my times at Starkville High School have certainly not all been fun or interesting - I slept through every day of geometry and trig due to im-mense boredom and confusion - they have all been important in helping me explore my interests and possibilities.

And I think that is the most important thing I could say: Never, ever be afraid to try new things. Of course once high school is finished, you will most

likely continue to discover new things you enjoy and new ways to change, but don’t underestimate the changes you have made during high school.

This is my last headline

Senior Staff Speaks www.shsjacketbuzz.com Over the next three pages are the final columns of all senior Jacket Buzz staffers.Their retrospective accounts of their time at Starkville High School do not reflect the opinions of the Jacket Buzz, the school, or the staff as a whole.

By Tess Long

Opinion Editor

If someone told freshman me that I’d be currently sitting at a computer, that I’ve started drinking coffee and I’m writing a farewell column for the newspaper that I’m an editor-in-chief of, I’d be both shocked and really excited.

High school is weird. It’s truly the first

step into becoming an adult. You start get-ting responsibilities and you might even have to actually do some studying or maybe

even think once or twice.Say what you want about Starkville High

School, but this is a place that truly fosters learning and really encourages one to try new things.

It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and say “this school sucks and nothing ever happens here because we suck,” but to truly understand what I’m talking about you have to get plugged in to the school. It takes effort. I signed up to take

intro to journalism and I can really say it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve had so many awesome experiences, won awards, and made friends with some of the most amazing people at this school.

It’s not an experience you can get by sign-ing up for the bare minimum and not checking out different clubs. What makes this school so great is the opportunities that are presented to you. All you have to do is take them.

Students should take advantage of activities

By Zach Mitchell

Editor-in-Chief

www.shsjacketbuzz.com Opinions

When I received my final report

card from Armstrong saying I would be attending Starkville High School the next school year, I was so excited.

My freshman year was so hectic and fun all at once.

Preparing for my first two state

tests and being with the 2008 senior class … Good times!

I`ll never forget when we had a

bomb threat while a tornado was going through Starkville. The entire school had to evacuate the building and go to the football stadium. I would like to say thanks for the cold I had afterwards.

Let’s bypass sophomore and junior year and get to the year that matters most: Senior year!

The beginning of my senior year was also the beginning of a year in prison. Black, white, gray, or khaki jumpsuits is what I’ll remember about my senior year.

I will not miss being at Starkville High School, although I will miss my high school days.

Like my classmate stated: Bye-bye prison and hello world.

One thing that makes senior year bet-ter is lunch with Mrs. Mary, Mrs. Janice and Mrs. Sellars.

They have got to be the best lunch-serving team in America. Without them, school and life as a whole would be a massive drag for Starkville High stu-dents.

These three ladies have been amazing, and I’m going to miss them.

But, I feel like our lunch ladies don’t get enough credit for being as amazing as they truly are.

Mrs. Mary: she is hilarious. Having her give me food everyday for the past four years has been a privilege and more than an honor.

Mrs. Janice: possibly the sweetest woman you will meet in your life. Soft spoken, but sweeter than a pecan pie.

Mrs. Sellars: has adopted me as her third son. She has taken care of me as if I were her child as well. I think I love her most.

In conclusion, I think that every stu-dent at SHS should begin showing their appreciation for the lunch ladies when-ever they go through the lines. They take care of us everyday, but never ask for a thing in return.

Appreciate your lunch ladies

Good times, but goodbye

By Lammi Micha

Sports Editor

By LaMarion

Lindsey

Marketing Director

The students of the 2011 SHS se-nior class are about to become beauti-ful butterflies. For the past four years

we have been held tight in a cocoon of learning and growing. Now, it is time to burst forth with the colors that we have grown.

The most important lessons I have learned in high school did not consist of math or science. They consisted of friendship and hard work. A lesson learned well can never be lost. I am

glad to have had these chances.High school has been fun. It has

also been very funny. Sitting in class-rooms and listening to teachers talk is all very well, but what you learn is what you learn. Whether or not it will help us when we get to college and the broader world is something no one can determine.

So yes, high school is a fun and fun-ny growing experience, and probably nothing more. You should laugh at everything you see because there will be too many opportunities to cry.

I have not necessarily “found my-self ” in these four years, but I do know who I am, and that is all any-one can ask for. In any situation, we should know our ground and what we stand for.

I’m Ruth Brown?

Time to leave SHS cocoon

Fruition: in the last days of senior year, that word has new meaning. An uncanny feeling that everything you’ve done for the past four years is coming to an end.

The class of 2011 counts down the days until graduation and the life they will have afterward. Keeping up with grades, juggling

sports teams, memorizing lines for plays - the seniors have all become pros at task manage-ment. For the seniors, every thing they have done has contributed to who they are and who they will be.

However, for some, specifically myself, it

has been a particularly stressful time in life. See, I am a procrastinator. For me, the last

days of my senior year are less a time of patiently waiting, and more a time of hur-ried, stress-filled scrambles to complete the

mountain of things I have to do in order to graduate.

That is not to say that I have any more

work to do than anyone else. Rather, it is to say that as a procrastinator I really suck at working.

I used to see it as something I could not help, I used to think I could not, no matter what, get myself to do my work unless it was the morning of the deadline.

But, as I have discovered over the past few weeks, procrastination is something you do, not something you are.

It’s a habit. And as with all habits it is very difficult to

break, but it can be done. If there is any knowledge I have gained in

my four years that I could impart on to those who have yet to reach their final year, it is

not academic, it is not a basketball shot or an acting method - it is this: You are the master of you.

Now, I understand that you (procrastina-tors) have probably had people tell you thou-sands of times that you shouldn’t procrasti-nate, and I know that what I am saying will probably go unheeded for just that reason, but I am going to say it regardless, in hopes that it clicks.

Because you want to be looking forward to your graduation day, not dreading it.

By Taylor Bowden

News Editor

By Ruth Brown

Photo Editor

Procrastination makes problems

By Hal Sullivan

Opinion Writer

When I first came to Starkville High in the 10th grade, I

was overwhelmed.An “Academite” whose first encounter with the rhythm,

the flow of SHS was a very long walk down Malfunction

Junction. I remember asking the terrifying, bearded Coach Adair how to get to Ms. Kinney’s room.

It was weird switching schools; I was leaving everything that I had known for the past eleven years and diving into a proverbial swimming pool, uncertain of the depth. But there were hands extended to me those first days that have

consistently been outstretched ever since. For those hands that may now be holding this paper, I thank you.

One pair of hands belonged to a very large boulder of a person. He cornered me at my locker, menacing, and yelled, “Hey kid!” I responded with a meek, “Yeah?” He looked at me as if he smelled my fear and said, “Where’d you get that cardigan sweater? I like that cardigan sweat-er.”

That was the fall of 2008.And now, here I am – the spring of 2011, about to turn

around for the last time, look down Malfunction Junction and give a bittersweet smile to the hallway that loomed, threatened, and seemed to go on forever.

After I leave, people will still push their way down that Hallway To End All Hallways, Coach Adair will remain bearded and threatening and someone will always be there to extend a hand to a scared Academite.

And all that I hope, as many seniors do, is that I helped change the flow of things - if just for a moment - for the

better.

From former‘Academite’ to SHS: Thanks

I never realized how hard it would be to sum up my high school experi-ence until people started asking me to do it.

High school, although only four years of your lifetime, really shapes who you will be as a person for the rest of your life.

Yes, you learn book smarts: how to write a research paper; how to get from A to B, but most importantly

you realize who you are and who you want to be.

The most important thing I’ve learned in high school is to not grow up too fast, have some fun, but be mature when the time calls. Don’t wish your life away. I know gradua-tion is tempting, but slow down and enjoy every minute.

Despite not listening to my own advice a lot of the time I can hon-estly say I have enjoyed my years here. There are jokes I’ve made that I will still laugh at when I’m 80, friendships that will last a lifetime, and moments that I’ll continue to look back on.

I will never forget Starkville High School and the people I’ve met here. They’ve made me into who I am and I will always carry them in my heart.

www.shsjacketbuzz.com Opinions

Remember to have fun

By Andrew LaFramce

News Writer

Dear underclassmen, it is really hard to write advice for your benefit, seeing as those of you who have either dropped out,

or are planning to, probably won’t read this. (Note: if you are planning to drop out, don’t do it. This has been a Public Ser-vice Announcement. You’re welcome.)

Although you may be fooled into complacency and thoughts that your senior year will be exactly the same as those before it, it’s not: it is easily ten times as hectic, chaotic, and otherwise stressful as all of your prior, formative years.

And it all begins with something simple, college applications. First, you have to begin the process of choosing which of the bajillion colleges you will apply to. Unless you have a $1.2 mil-lion college fund, you wouldn’t be able to afford college after paying the application fees to all of them.

Next you have the hard part: applying. Assuming you have every award you have ever won, every

club you have ever participated in, and every sport/instrument you have ever played documented, you still have to write all of the college essays, fill out questionnaires, and get your counsel-ors and all applicable teachers to send out reference letters and such on time. Any screw-ups or delays could result in the loss of scholarship dollars, and might even result in you being rel-egated to an out-of-the-way religious institution in Arkansas.

Congratulations! You have successfully submitted your ap-plications to college. Now you just have to stress over the re-sults for weeks on end.

But your troubles aren’t over, not by a long shot. You still have to order a cap, gown and invitations, decide whether to attend prom or not (which carries a whole other set of prob-lems), turn in service hours, turn in all your class work, com-plete senior research projects, present senior research projects and, finally, attend graduation.

And remember, it isn’t actually about you, it’s all for your parents’ benefit.

What can I say? When I entered Starkville High

School for the first time, I had

mixed emotions about my first day

here because of the rumors I had heard.

But once I got here, my whole freshman year was easy and people were nice.

Sophomore year was more excit-ing than my freshman year because I started getting involved with a lot more activities.

I remember how excited I felt just

being part of the girls basketball team.

I enjoyed being a part of the team and looking at how much my skills had improved throughout the sea-son.

Then I had to adjust to a new schedule, which was confusing be-cause there was more homework to worry about.

The fact that I was doing sports while also dealing with a lot of home-work became overwhelming to me.

My sophomore year was the first

year I really experienced stress. There are definitely things that I

regret, and would do differently if I could.

Make sure you do all you can while you are in school. You never know how it will help you later on in life.

Oh, and don’t catch senioritis.

High school flies by

High school could be compared to a harsh military boot camp.

I have finally reached the end of basic

training and am ready to move on to col-lege.

Throughout my years of high school, I’ve

had ups and downs, but an overall awe-in-spiring experience.

I have had generally excellent teachers and I must take my hat off to them. They en-dure more work than we do everyday, and they are underpaid. Just show up, turn your work in on time and they will love you. A great teacher is one of the best things high school offers to us.

But if high school is boot camp, then col-lege is the advanced training that we must

all undergo to nab those great jobs. Have no illusions, college will be brutal and un-forgiving. It’s not one big party, just one big steel mill, where you will be broken up and melted down.

My rhetoric is harsh, but I don’t want to sugarcoat anything; college will be a bear, and the real world a demon.

High school is not only here to get you prepared, but to give you the last taste of civility before the living hell envelops you.

But as one of my greatest teachers said: “The strongest steel is forged from the hot-test fire.”

That’s why high school might seem so tough, because the real deal is around the bend.

For my fellow seniors, my brothers and sisters in arms, we must hold together. The end is here. We made it.

Say your goodbyes and pack your bags; we are about to take the next step.

Seniors: Prepare for battleBy Dominic Henn

News Writer

Start college planning now

By Mariel

Marcum

Photographer

By Tierra

Tillman

Sports Writer

In August of 2007, I knew once I stepped on SHS grounds, I wouldn’t be the same. And I was right. In my fresh-man year alone, I made new friends, worked harder than I ever had, and had more fun than I thought imagin-able. The pep rallies and every football, basketball and baseball game made freshman year great.

Sophomore year was even better. A bomb threat and a tornado… on the same day? Priceless!

As softball and fastpitch filled my

afternoons and homework and cram-ming filled my nights, I started feeling

the true pressures of high school for the first time.

My first year of being an upperclass-man was a big change: a new principal, a new schedule, and new renovations started off the year. My junior research project was crazy but well worth it.

Junior year was terrific, but senior

year was worth the wait.Though it was slightly flawed with

uniforms, I still wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Surrounded by friends I’ve known since grade school, this year has been truly memorable. Even though I will be leaving SHS this week, SHS will never leave me, and I will always be proud to be a Yellow Jacket.

SHS holds valuable memories

By Ty Ringo

Yearbook Editor

Family Centered ProgramsStarkville School District

615‐0033

Partnering with the community to create 

a safe school environment  

Social Services Mentoring !""#$%"&'()*+

Enhanced SecurityMental Health Services

,-+&"&$./0$1"2(#34"+35$*6$7&-8()*+9$:"(;3<$=$:-4(+$>"#?'8"5$(+&$@-5)8"

www.shsjacketbuzz.com Sports

Pichardo ready for next levelBy Lammi Micha

Sports Editor

Senior soccer super-star Alvaro Pichardo has re-cently been awarded the Commercial Dispatch All-Area Player Of The Year, North East Daily Journal All-Area Top 10 Players of The State and Second Team All-State Clarian Ledger awards.

“I’m honored,” Pichardo said. “There are a lot of great players in the state. To be considered one of the best players in this state is humbling.”

Pichardo signed to The University of Mobile in Ala. on April 4 , because he wanted to train under head coach Pete Fuller.

Unfortunatly, according to Pichardo, Fuller signed

a coaching contract with the Major League Soccer team the New England Revolution after Pichardo signed with UMoblile.

“I could get released [from the contract] and go to another college,” Pichardo said. “But, I will stay there so that I have an MLS connection.”

Starkville High School head soccer coach Brian Bennett says that he has watched Pichardo grow as a player in the past six years.

“He’s grown to realize it takes more than just him,” Bennett said. “He’s picked up so much and become a better teammate.”

Bennett is not only proud of Pichardo for his accomplishments, but be-lieves that his opportuni-ties will be endless if he

applies himself. “He’s done so much, and

he’s very driven,” Bennett said. “If he continues with the passion he has now, the sky’s the limit.”

Pichardo is confident in

his ability to perform at the next level because of his certainty in his work ethic.

“You have to work harder than everybody else,” Pichardo said. “Get to practice early and leave late.”

Although he says he will miss Pichardo, Bennett is assured that Pichardo will perform at the best of his ability and to the maxi-mum of his potential in his future endeavors.

“He’s just so self-driv-en,” Bennett said. “He’s going to do well, soccer or otherwise.”

Senior Comercial Dispatch All Star Player of the

Year, Alvaro Pichardo, steals the ball in a game

against SHS arch rival. Photo by Bailey Brocato.

www.shsjacketbuzz.com Sports

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Buchanan advances to offensive position

SHS Thespians

would like to say

“Break a Leg” to all of our seniors!

You will be missed!!

Remember to “Act well your

part. There all the honor lies.”

-Alexander Pope

By Mark Anne Hobart

Contributing Writer

Senior Jonissa Buchan-an’s years as an Starkville High School softball asset are coming to an end, but according to Buchanan the fun has just begun.

Buchanan has experience on the field from earlier

years. Taking part on many

recreational ball teams at a young age and later suc-cessfully making the SHS softball team, Buchanan has become comfortable with her past position on the field as a strong defen-sive player.

Recently, Buchanan has developed the main focus of becoming a strong of-fensive player.

“Playing on the softball team has been fun,” Buch-anan said. “It was hard try-ing to become offensive.”

As the 2010-2011 school year comes to an end, the fun Buchanan claims to have just begun has reached a new level of apprecia-tion.

“We had fun during our season,” Buchanan said. “Although our season is over, it doesn’t stop myself or the other girls from hav-ing fun.”

Buchanan and the rest of the softball players that complete the senior line-up are wrapping up the school year and are anxious as to what their futures hold for them.

The underclassmen of Starkville High look for-ward to the years coming they will be privliaged of-getting to spend together as a team, but mocking the bond that Starkville High’s graduating senior class displays, is a task hard of meeting. Senior Jonissa Buchana steps up to the plate to hit of the beginning of her new future for her and her senior teammates. Photo by Ruth Brown.

Sports buzzThe

www.shsjacketbuzz.com

SHS runners advance to state meet

Newman tees off for last time

By Mark Anne Hobart

Contributing Writer

The hard work and team ef-fort being put into action for both the Jacket and Lady Jack-et track teams are all about to pay off.

As a team, the SHS runners have been attending practices since the end of Feb. Accord-ing to boys’ head coach Chris Barnett, every moment spent together as a team is spent preparing for their State meet in Pearl, Miss. on May 14.

Sophomore Mary Eliza-beth Stringer has devoted her

weekends, and after school life to running with her trainer and team.

“I practice really hard,” Stringer said. “Not only for myself, but my team as well.”

Stringer is not the only de-voted SHS runner.

Junior Kamau Bostic, the fastest 6A 800m. runner, freshman Joseph MacGowen, top five in the 3200m and se-nior Julian Lewis, holding the 3rd fastest 100m time in the state, have all made names for themselves on the SHS track.

The SHS track coaches and team members have re-

cently discovered talent at Starkville’s own Armstrong Middle School. Eighth grad-ers Walker Mattox and Abi-gail Arrinder will be running the 3200m and the 1600m at the state competition.

After enduring the sweat and heat from May 7 at the North Half meet at Mississippi State University, SHS runners will represent Starkville High at the Pearl High School Invita-tional for their State Champi-onships to end the successful season for the Jackets.

Sophomore 4x2 relay run-ner Gabe Myles expects his

4x2 relay team to destroy the competition at both state and the Pearl High School Invita-tional.

“I expect us to win it,” Myles said. “I expect us to give it all we’ve got. I expect us to win state.”

Next Meet

Pearl High School

Pearl, Miss.

May 14, 2011 @ 10am

Last Meet

MSU Track

May 7, 2011 @ 10:30am

Senior Julian Lewis, followed by sophomore Devin Mitchell, lead a Pearl High School runner to the finish line in the 100m dash. Courtesy photo.

Senior Ben Newman tees off on hole one at the Columbus Country

Club match. Photo by Mark Anne Hobart.

By Mark Anne Hobart

Contributing Writer

Some argue the fact that the Starkville High School golf team is one of the many sports that doesn’t receive the amount of recognition and attention that other sports programs receive, such as football and basketball.

Just like all other athletes that are dedicated and in-volved in their deemed sport, senior Ben Newman enjoys the high of accomplishing

something favorable in his or her sport (that is to make a good play or even a hole-in-one, according to Newman).

Newman has taken the po-sition as one of the top three golfers on the SHS golf team for the past three years.

“It is an excitement and sat-isfaction,” Newman said. “It takes a lot of practice if you want to be good at it.”

Proving himself worthy of his place on the team, New-man scored a score of 81 at the MHSAA golf state

championships at the Tupelo Country Club on May 10.

The effort Newman showed inspired the whole team, with successful results.

Newman has said that trav-eling is one of his favorite parts of playing for the golf program at SHS, as well as all of the different things he experiences from getting the chance to play against other competitors across the state.

“It is fun to always play against different opponents and experience all the cours-

es,” Newman said. Although playing for the

Jackets has been a great ex-perience for Newman, his senior year has finally come

to a close. Newman will move on but

will continue to have some-thing left worthwhile from Starkville High School to look back on forever.

“I will miss my baby Ben,” asst. coach Angela Hobart said. “I hope he progresses in golf and becomes a very suscessful young man.”

By Lammi Micha

Sports Editor

On Tues., May 10, the qualifying members of the Starkville High School tennis team com-peted in the state tourna-ment and lasted until the quarterfinals. Freshman

Emily Turner continued on to the semifinals in

the girls’ singles, but lost to Clinton High School’s Arthi Reddy, who later went on to win the state title.

“She beat DeSoto Cen-tral first round pretty

easily,” head coach Anna Albritton said. “But she

lost to Clinton in the semi’s.”

Even though she is a freshman, Turner is an accomplished ten-nis player. According to Albritton, Turner has definitely made a name

for herself on the tennis court.

“She’s a great player,” Albritton said. “She’s tournament tough.”

Turner attributes this season’s accomplish-ments to SHS and the Yellow Jackets.

“I wanted to do well,” Turner said. “I was rep-resenting Starkville High School.”

Turner makes semifinals

Upcoming freshman

Hannah Laird serves

the ball in a match

of mixed doubles

with junior Clark

Pittman. Photo by Mariel Marcum.