Freshmen has high hopes for American Education

Hudson Hohman | Guest Writer

Freshman Temi Adeyemo came from Africa for a better chance at college. Adeyemo has very high hopes for his future and he is already on track to reach his goals.

“I really wanted to go to school in America” Adeyemo said.

Adeyemo already has big plans for his future. He says he wants to become a successful journalist and coming to america will help him get there. According to Adeyemo, getting into american colleges coming from a Nigerian high school is not easy.

“We get overlooked,” he said.

                         Temi Adeyemo during Math Class         photo by Cade Johnson

Adeyemo won’t let this get in the way of him doing what he wants though. He believes attending Mount Michael will give him the boost he needs to get into college, not unlike the majority of students who attend the school here.

“He cares alot about his work. Everybody here thinks he’s going to be super successful,” freshmen Jaret Kline said.

Adeyemo says his biggest achievement was his 30 on the ACT in eighth grade. Compare that the the 28 ACT average at Mount Michael (the highest high school ACT average in Nebraska).

“He is way too smart to be a frosh” freshman Taylor Davis said.

Adeyemo not only has the respect of his classmates but also his teachers “He cares a lot about his work and is always a good contributor in class,” Mr. Swanson said.

“I have already made tons of good friends and really enjoy the bond that comes with being a freshman here,” Adeyemo said. He has acclimated well to the boarding lifestyle and is doing very well in his classes. He is shaping up to be the all in one package, extremely smart and very well liked by his peers.

“I really like living there it was very fun but really crowded,” said Adeyemo about his home country of Nigeria. His parents are already very successful people, his father owns a pharmacy in Nigeria and his mother works at the University of Florida where she is a research scientist. Coming from Nigeria, Adeyemo has seen a very different side of the world. “There is definitely a very distinct poverty gap in Nigeria, there’s no middle class. You’re either very poor or not,” Adeyemo said.

Some may think of Adeyemo coming from Nigeria as a handicap; but he doesn’t mind it, he embraces it. He is following in the footsteps of every single one of our ancestors and Adeyemo is continuing in the long tradition of pursuing the American dream.

DJ Sokol Class of 1999 : The Life of an Extraordinary Mount Michael Student

Matthew Lee Dugick | In-Depth Editor for THE MOUNT  

DJ Sokol, better known as David Junior to his family, is a name seen on several buildings around town including: the DJ Sokol Arena, which is a student recreational center for the students of Creighton University. But who is DJ Sokol?

DJ Sokol '99

DJ is a Mount Michael alum, who graduated in the class of 1999 and soon his name will be on another building, The DJ Sokol Learning for Life Building on the campus. However it is a good bet most students don’t know much more than the name.

According to his father, David Sokol, DJ had a mind of his own coming out of grade school. He was invited out to Mount Michael to look at the school and he really liked it, prompting him in April 1995 to attend Mount Michael.

After being out at Mount Michael for a couple weeks his father remembers DJ coming home, and saying “Oh my gosh, this is a disaster I should have not made this decision.”

But his parents believed that since he chose Mount Michael he should have to stick it out. Come Thanksgiving break, Da­vid Sokol asked his son if he still wanted to be at Mount Michael. He remembers clearly his son’s response. DJ looked at his dad, “He gave me this unbelievable look which was ‘what are you talking about, this is the best school ever, these guys are my brothers, and my friends I would never leave this school...After four weeks, he was 100% sure this was the place for him.” David Sokol said.

DJ would be a typical high school student, until he began his battle with Hodgkin’s disease. For almost 18 months he would keep this silent from his classmates and teachers.

David Sokol described DJ as caring person who invested himself in everyone else, including less popular kids. He knew they would become more accepted amongst his friends if he hung out with them.

“DJ had two unique things about his personality. First, he was very easy to get to know; he had an open personality and was always more interested in you, than he was himself. He immediately was engaging himself in the other person. Sec­ondly, DJ had the kindest spirit out of anyone I have ever met.” David Sokol said.

There were “numerous” times that the Sokol basement would be filed with five to ten students from Mount Michael that didn’t have family in Nebraska. After many basketball games, DJ would invite the whole team, fans and family of Mount Michael out to his parents’ house to enjoy each other’s company.

He was also a typical student; he had some favorite teachers such as Abbot Michael, Fr. Louis, and Brother Mel. His first two years at Mount Michael he became a better student and was molded to care more about his grades and his study habits. He played football and basketball and admired Coach Kane.

During his last two years he could not play sports so he helped with the football and basketball programs. Especially his junior and senior year his classmates became his broth­ers.

An example of DJ’s love for Mount Michael and his brothers could be seen through his unselfish acts. Because of the chemo, he was weak and could not attend school the day after a treatment session. DJ would ask his mom to help make cookies for all the boarders, coming out to school with a mouth mask to deliver the cookies.

DJ did reach his goal and graduate from Mount Michael, unfortunately about two weeks after graduation he lost his battle with cancer, June 11, 1999.

True to his passion for the school, when DJ went into his last treatment he asked his dad that if he was to pass away, he wanted to be buried at Mount Michael.

DJ was an amazing example of what Mount Michael is about. He was always looking out for others and the betterment of those around him. He may be gone but his legacy lives on. Once A Knight Always A Knight.

Knight Writers Find Fun & Success at National Conference in Orlando

Daniel Jewell, Michael Ecker, Ben Murray, Joe Budd, Patrick Halpin

Ten journalism students from the publications team traveled to Orlando Florida to attend the NSPA/JEA National Convention along with 6000+ journalism students from all over the country this past weekend.  They spent two days attending workshops and keynotes, as well as competing in a write off contest where 2300 out of the 6000+ attendees competed for three levels of distinction in several categories.  Only 721 out of these 2300 were awarded distinctions.  

Joe Budd, Daniel Jewell, Michael Ecker,  and Ben Murray got honorable mentions in the follow categories:

Joe Budd-Commentary

Daniel Jewell-Feature Writing

Michael Ecker-News Writing

Ben Murray- Editorial Writing

And Patrick Halpin took a Superior in Sports Writing which is the highest category.  This is a first for Mount Michael in a national journalism competition.

Alumnus Jimmy Steier’s Semester in Africa

Ben Murray | Assistant Editor Freelance

Q: What are you doing in Africa right now, and how long have you been there?

A: Right now I am studying abroad for one semester at The University of Ghana at Legon in Accra, Ghana, West Africa. I am primarily taking graduate classes in Public Health. I’ve been in Ghana for almost three months now. My term only lasts four months though, so I will be heading back to the U.S. fairly soon.

Steier catches some rays on a typical fishing boat in the estuary
where Lake Volta meets the ocean. He was a with a group that
was headed to check out how traditional fishermen cast their nets

Q: What inspired you to apply for and go on this trip?

A: Often times I believe we, as Americans, view the United States as the extent of the world when, in fact, it is only a microcosm of the much larger fabric of humanity. I felt that studying in Africa would allow me to achieve a more robust worldview, and consequently kick start my desire to live abroad later in life.There is value in experiencing a foreign culture that is, in many ways, in stark contrast to your own. It gives you a critical eye to your own culture, and it helps you to be more tolerant of differences.
I also have a younger brother, Bereket, adopted from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His roots were a catalyst for my decision to come to Africa.

A view of the Lake Volta near the Akosombo Dam.
Lake Volta is the largest man-made lake in the world.

Q: Where are you currently and where have you been in Africa since the trip began?

A: I have actually only been in Ghana and in the small neighbouring country of Togo since coming to Africa; however, I have travelled extensively domestically, and later this month I will be travelling to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa and, briefly, Nairobi, Kenya.

Q: What is your favorite thing that you have done so far?

A: Ghana is a coastal country so I’ve spent a good amount of time at various beaches. But, my favorite experience was traveling to the north of Ghana and hiking to the largest waterfall in West Africa called Wli Falls. I think it was the most remote and beautiful place I had been in my life.

Q: What is something that has surprised you in your time there?

A: I really had no conception of what Ghana would be like prior to coming, so everything was a surprise in a way. The way school works here is certainly surprising: the University follows the British System (Ghana was a British colony) so almost the entirety of your grade is contingent on one final exam. As a result, there is virtually no work required throughout the semester, which is the direct inverse of the workload at American colleges. This is very conducive to travel, but also gives me a creeping feeling of idleness.

Steier, along with the rest of the students in his exchange program,
most of who are American attended a traditional twinning ceremony

Q: How has this changed your life?

A: I think it is a difficult proposition to put an ongoing life experience into perspective, but if I could give one answer, it is that this trip has spurred my aspiration to travel the world.

Q: What influence has your education at Mount Michael made on your experience?

A: I believe Mount Michael gave me a foundational look into many subjects, which helped to locate my areas of interest. Mount Michael also whetted my interest in other cultures via its international students.

Q What are the people like there?

A: I don’t want to typecast an entire population of people, but generally Ghanaians are friendly and very outgoing—always introducing themselves and trying to be your friend. The words “brother” and “sister” are used to describe any acquaintances; I am called “Oburoni”, a word used to describe a foreigner or ‘white person’ in the native language of Twi.
In many ways, the culture is antiquated, though. Ghanaians are often intolerant of too much deviation in dress or action, and conformity is seen as virtuous. Productivity is also not always at the forefront, as time is not seen as a commodity. I often become frustrated with these differences, but viewing the culture through the lens of Western principles isn’t always reasonable.

Q: What is one funny or touching story that you have witnessed or been a part of?

A: I began playing soccer, or “football” they call it in Ghana, for a semi-pro team. The team volunteers with groups of young boys from low-income families. The boys all want new cleats because they have second or third-use rubber boots. My mom is visiting in two weeks, bringing with her many pairs of cleats and new soccer balls for the boys. I will be very happy to give them the new equipment.

The YouTube Sensation

Brian Schneider | Staff Writer

It is amazing what students can come up with when they live at school, from warball games, to pillow fights, to making videos of popular songs with unexpected dancers. Juniors Broden Kaps and Eric Zhang did just that.

Zhang, who transferred to Mount Michael in the second semester of the 2013-2014 school year, is a studious, kind individual who works hard and tries to do his best at all times. However, a different side came out of him in this video which may have been inspired by his roommate. Zhang is rooming with Broden Kaps this year, and their fun is just beginning.

“Broden is a really good friend. He is helpful and funny and he comes up with fantastic ideas,” Zhang said.

One of Kap’s greatest ideas was to have Zhang dance. Ever since the song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” by Silento came out, it has been a hit, taking the pop culture genre by storm. However, the dance moves are what made each of these songs so popular.

The Whip is a dance move where the movement consists of nearly making contact between opposite knee and elbow, dropping the knee, and pushing the arm forward like driving a car one handed. The Nae Nae is waving back and forth while walking backwards, which is a continuation of the Whip.
Kaps and Zhang worked hard for two weeks shooting the video.

“We were shooting everyday after study hall for around twenty minutes,” video editor and fellow junior Homer Xu said. According to Kaps, Zhang held off on calling his parents every night to work on the video, something that is normally important to Zhang.

“Sometimes it was hard to not call my parents when we filmed but the video was a good way to relax and get my mind off of studying,” Zhang said.

While the three worked on the video, the hype kept building. “I was excited to see what Kaps would come up with,” junior Joe Coldiron said.

They had to be creative to make the best possible video, using different places inside the school, primarily Zhang and Kaps’ dorm and the gym, Shots of Zhang wearing sunglasses and headphones while dribbling basketballs or hanging his arms around his friends also added a creative aspect to this extremely cheap production, according to Xu.

However, the result is a fairly high quality video. Some of the lighting was just a flashlight being waved around. Xu had the idea to use the flashlight to add a dance floor vibe to the music video, simulating the flashing lights of a dance floor.

Editing also helped improve the visual appeal. Using Windows Movie Maker, Xu made the final edit of the music video in around five to six hours.

Zhang was disappointed when Kaps was not in the video with him, after Kaps told him they would be dancing together. However, once Zhang got into the video and started to dance, he had a good time making it.

Watch Zhang Whip was an instant hit the night it came out, soaring above 300 views in the first week.

Zhang is considering doing another video, but for now he is focusing on more typical evening activities like studying.

 Kaps enjoyed the film making as well, making sure he made time for the video every night after study hall.

When Kaps began to film, he knew right away that the film would not be a serious video. Kaps was inspired to do this video when he asked himself, “What would happen if we made a video of Eric dancing to this song?” The end result made many people laugh, deans included.

“Eric’s whip form is on point,” sophomore Luke Van Haute said. Junior Keylan Beller agreed “The video was very creative and very funny,” junior Keylan Bellar said.

Kaps is thinking about doing another video. However, he wants to keep all of his ideas for new videos a surprise. Perhaps one of these surprise videos will come in the second quarter.

Meet the Frosh: JP Jensen

Cade Johnson | Staff Writer for THE MOUNT

J.P Jensen / Photo by Cade Johnson

As the 2015 school year rolls around, the class of 2019 begins their journey of high school. However, Mount Michael isn’t just a school, it’s a brotherhood. This brotherhood is built upon the relationships you make freshman year and getting to know your classmates on a deeper level. This deeper level is what makes the Mount different. Every class has their characters and personalities. The class of 2019 brings J.P. Jensen for example.

Jensen graduated from Saint Margaret Mary in 2014, and has a wide range of interests. He enjoys computers, cars, and game shows to name a few of his enthusiasms. His favorite computers are Apple computers.

“I think personally they’re better than PC’s,” Jensen said. One of his favorite shows is a 1970’s show called Match Game which is a revival of an earlier show called The Match Game from the late 1960’s.

Jensen participates in cross country on the junior varsity team. He chose cross country because, as he jokingly pointed out, he “wouldn’t last too long in football.” Jensen is not a fan of tennis either, although he has played tennis before for fun. According to Jensen tennis “would be a lot more fun when you can hit the ball.”

He plans on trying out for bowling in the winter, a sport he has lots of experience in. Jensen used to go bowling with his mom when he was younger. He would tag along on weekday mornings. In the spring, Jensen will try out for the golf team. His reasoning is straightforward: “I’m not a fan of baseball, soccer, or track.” He has high hopes for the golf season this year.

The transition from grade school to high school can be tough for some people. Especially if your new home is Mount Michael. Judging by the first couple of weeks, Jensen has transitioned well. One of his favorite teachers, similar to the majority of his classmates, is English teacher John Gathje.

“He’s very funny, and makes class fun!” Jensen said enthusiastically. This is not a surprise as Gathje makes the sudden and somewhat intimidating shift into high school a fun experience.

Jensen enjoys being a day student but is thinking about trying out boarding. He especially likes the brotherhood that his classmates and him are building in their first year and hopes it will only grow as his time at the Mount continues.

What to do without Zohner?

Patrick Halpin | Features Editor for THE MOUNT

As students turn the corner heading east into the Science wing they will more than likely hear the enthusiastic voice of Mrs. Zohner (more commonly known as Ms. Z), speaking on and on about the wonders of chemistry. Whether it’s memorizing the periodic table or discussing the outcome of chemical reactions her voice can be heard loud and clear throughout the hall.

Chemistry Teacher Leah Zohner on Maternity Leave
photo by Homer Xu

However, to many students dismay, sometime around September 25 that loud voice and those long drives in from Lincoln will be temporarily absent from our halls. Zohner is pregnant. She is due September 25 and says, “I plan on working until the baby has other plans.”

But the big question people are asking is, “What are we going to do without Zohner?”

Junior Joe Coldiron, is currently in AP Chemistry with Zohner. He says the class is fun but it definitely takes a lot of hard work. “She cares enough to stay late after school and make sure her students fully understand the subject and because she drives in from Lincoln everyday, it’s even more of a commitment.”

A chemistry class without Zohner is somewhat of a foreign idea to Mount Michael. Since 2012 she has been the person to talk to when it comes to her science. However, she says there is no need to worry. Dr. Peck, a friend of Zohner’s, will be subbing in for her during her maternity leave. She has studied general chemistry, forensic chemistry, and inorganic chemistry and Zohner says she is more than qualified to take her place.

In addition to being in charge of all things Chemistry, Zohner has also been the throwing coach for track and field since 2012. But, she has decided to step down from her position this year. She says that she has decided to spend more time with her family considering she has a baby on the way. However, Zohner says she still plans on coming out to track meets to watch her old players compete.

“I really enjoy how many kids get excited about science, which is sometimes hard to find. It makes my job really easy because people actually want to learn,” Zohner said.

Although Zohner says she will not be gone for long, “it will still definitely be a change” Coldiron said. Whether it has been throwing in the spring or learning the basics of chemistry, all students have been impacted by Ms. Z by the end of their sophomore year. Thankfully, she will not be gone for long.

Sophomores Travel to South Korea

Michael Ecker | Staff Writer for THE MOUNT

Throughout the dorms one can hear different languages, smell different foods, and see different clothes. The seven-day boarders add a way to experience cultures that can’t be found anywhere else in Nebraska. Students from South Korea, China, Vietnam, Spain and Belgium, help expand the student bodies’ understanding of other cultures, languages and activities. Sophomores Jack Avilla, Riley Kruse, and Joey Recker got a rare chance to fully immerse in a different culture.

Joey Recker, Jack Avilla, and Riley Kruse

On May 22, the three freshmen, now sophomores, left Omaha to begin a two week long adventure. The flight took off early in the morning to Dallas/Fort Worth International. and their final flight arrivied at Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea on May 23.

“It took over 24 hours of traveling,” Recker said, “the time differences gave me horrible headaches.”

The money for the trip didn’t come out of nowhere. The three negotiated with their parents to get the opportunity for this trip. The plane tickets cost around $1,000 one way. After that the sophomores were lucky enough to stay with sophomore Kyeongmin Kim and his family.

The three traveled around South Korea with Kim. One of the places they went to was the border between South and North Korea. there, they visited a Joint Security Area, also known as a Korean Demilitarized Zone, and saw first hand the tension between North and South Korea.

“Going to the Joint Security Area showed me a lot about there being a constant feeling of the possibility of war,” Avilla said.

Even with the tension, the sopho­mores agreed there is a side to the relationship between South Korea and North Korea that most Ameri­cans never hear about. They noticed that there is a lot of respect between the people of the two nations. Many people have family members or know people in the other country.

On May 25 the three experienced one of the most unique Korean cultural events, the celebration of Buddha’s birthday at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul. The temple is the center of Zen Buddhism in South Korea. During the celebration the people celebrate with songs, dances, and traditional clothing.

“I thought it was the most exotic, ancient, and beautiful of all the places we visited,” Recker said, “it was amazing to see the tradition and history at the temple.”

The group also experienced a wedding and a mass at Kim’s parish. Both were in Korean but the three enjoyed the uniqueness compared to the American counterparts.

Joey Recker, Riley Kruse & Jack Avilla Dressed as Korean Warriors

The three experienced another unique cultural activity. They dressed up in traditional South Korean clothes, those of warriors in Ancient Korea. They wore the clothes at one of the many palaces in South Korea.

Although they experienced a great deal of traditional culture, the boys also saw the modern side of South Korea. The country has developed a reputation of a culture centered around Korean pop, or “K-Pop”. “K-Pop” is known for its flashing lights, interesting fashion, and crazy music. But outside of the big cities there is a lack of “K-Pop” culture. 

“It seemed like only older people are still practicing traditional Korean,” Kruse said, “they are the only people not enveloped by ‘K-Pop’.”

One of the main things the three noticed was the work ethic. They got the chance to visit Kim’s father’s workplace, where they noticed how hard people worked and the quality of the work done. Workers sometimes also stay at officetel, which is a residential area in a workplace. This lets workers have the chance to work late and get up early to work without the transportation required to go home and back.

“People there aren’t lazy,” Recker explained, “everyone from the adults to the students have incredible work ethic and motivation.”

Another difference they noticed was a lot more respect to elders. This stems from an importance of family. Meals are also more important with more formal meals and less fast food.

Of course the sophomores, like most students know a favorite purchase on weekly outings to Walmart is Ra­men noodles, In South Korea the three students tried different foods. One of these foods was a liquid mix of herbs and medicine. The mixture was supposed to give you strength, but Recker just thought it was “funky”. Another dish is called tteokbokki, a dish with meat, rice cakes, and vegetables in a red sauce, which all three enjoyed.

“I was willing to try most foods,” Kruse said, “but there were some really spicy foods that I wouldn’t go anywhere near.”

Riley Kruse, Kyeongmin Kim, Joey Recker, & Jack Avilla 

There was one part of Korean culture that was familiar to the sophomores: gaming. Some international students spend hours and hours on their computers playing games. In Korea the gaming culture is even stronger. People spend so much time in PC Cafes that there is a law forbidding students to be in a PC Cafe after 10 pm on school nights.

“We as Americans are pretty bad with our overuse of computers,” Recker said, “but in Korea it’s scary how much people spend on their computers. We would walk by PC Cafes and it would be packed with gamers.”

The boys also enjoyed the public transportation system which allowed them to get around easily at just 60 cents a ride.

“The public transportation was great. Both the subways and buses were clean,” Avilla said, “we got everywhere we needed to on public transportation.”

The trip will be a lifelong memory for the three sophomores. . “Traveling is important,” Kruse said, “these experiences can be really cool and you can learn a ton.” No matter if you’re traveling to Iowa or South Korea traveling is fun and brings people together.

More than Meets the Eye: Nick Snyder

Joey Recker | Guest Writer for THE MOUNT

In tight knit communities, such as Mount Michael, people have the chance to really get to know each other, especially if the community is small. People who see each other every day also start to form what they think is a relatively accurate idea of who the others surrounding them are, but in reality, they can be wrong.

Take Nick Snyder for example. He is the ideal student. In fact, one of his goals this year is to make a 4.0 grade point average. He is focused, organized, and extremely relaxed. A calm and collected guy.

“He listens,” said Spanish I teacher Carolina Westling. “There is nothing bad about him.”

Mrs. Wessling also praised him for being very studious when he was in her class as a freshman

“He is a great representative of the Mount Michael community.” she said. Fellow classmate Jacob Idra said something along the same lines.

“Nick is a cool dude, he will listen to anything.” While another classmate, Tommy Weekly, noted that Nick is very tolerant and patient.

“He let’s me steal his Pepsi,” Weekly said. The two clearly get along very well.

But there is so much more to Nick’s character than these things. Idra met Snyder on the tennis courts freshmen year. He made friends with Nick easily, and the two enjoyed the season together.

“We always had a good time, he made it a better experience.” Idra said.

In fact, the two became close enough that Nick persuaded Jacob to join choir sophomore year, an activity that Idra never would have seen himself doing if it was not for Snyder.

Classmate and friend Tommy Weekly appreciates Snyder’s sense of humor, specifically because they find the same things funny. But what is most important to Weekly is that Snyder “is a good friend to keep around.” Tommy remembers sharing shows and books with Nick, and of course, he always listened.

Snyder is also a ‘car guy’ according to his close friends. One of his favorite hobbies is to work on his car on the weekends, a ‘92 Pontiac Firebird.

“It needs some work,” Nick commented. “It has panels coming off, no stereo or air conditioning.” But this does not phase Nick. He is passionate about putting in work on his car, and really enjoys driving on the weekends. One of his idols is Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla Car Company. In Snyder’s eyes, Musk is a visionary and someone to model himself after.

In fact, one of his dreams is to become the CEO of a big company when he gets older, but this is only one of his dreams. He said that he could see himself becoming a doctor or an engineer. Whatever it is that he chooses his ambition and great communication skills will get him there. And he will probably listen to the people around him.

Journalism Launches News Blog

Journalism Blog

www.mmfreelance.org

The Mount Michael Journalism Team has started a journalism blog titled "Free-Lance" it is the online companion to the student produced print publications "The Mount"  It includes news, sports, features, entertainment and opinion pieces.  Updates will be posted 3 times a week.

You can also follow Mount Michael Journalism on Twitter @MM_Journalism

Journalism Students Earn UNO Awards

Homer Xu, Harrison Hohman, Mick Steier, Adam Terasinski

The journalism team competed in the U.N.O High School Media contest in the small school division. Four students placed.

Harrison Hohman-Best Sports Story 1st, Best News Story 3rd, Best Column 3rd
Adam Terasinski-Best Column 3rd
Mick Steier- Best Double page Layout 1st
Homer Xu-Best Photograph, News/Feature 1st

The awards ceremony took place at the Scott Conference center.

AdvancED Impressed by Students’ Work Ethic

Adam Terasinski | Copy Editor

The school’s five year improvement project in writing has seen significant success according to the external review and the steering committee.

Five years ago the school decided to work on improving students’ writing in all classes.. Since 2011, teachers have included more writing in their assignments.. In addition to this, a writing assessment was given during the second semester to the student body to track improvement.

“Our main goal, the writing goal, has shown that writing has improved in a variety of different classes,” Sister Carol Jean VanDenHemel, O.S.B. said. VanDenHemel was part of the steering committee, which spearheaded the writing project. Her duties were to score the assessments and write the written report about the projects goals with English teacher, Eileen Sullivan.

The AdvancED group spent hours writing up their observastions in the conference room.
photo by Adam Terasinski

The written reports were accompanied by a series of graphs and charts. Looking at the statistical data alone, I could tell that our writing scores have improved,” said Curriculum Director Jason Mackeprang, who converted the reports into data.

The statistical data and written reports are considered “hard artifacts” that show the school’s progress. These artifacts were one piece of a comprehensive report given to a group from AdvancEd, a national accrediting organization comprised of state and local officials.

“Two of the representatives are from the state itself and the others are nominated by Mount Michael,” said VanDenHemel. The school sought to nominate people who had a background working with Catholic Schools in the area.

While writing was the main goal, it was not the only area that AdvancED evaluated. Group members observed classrooms and also interviewed many students to grasp an idea of what it is like being a student at Mount Michael.

“They were impressed most by our students and spoke very highly of the work our students do,” VanDenHemel said, “they got the impression that our students know why they are here and that made us [the faculty] very happy.”

In terms of improvement, the committee did note that technology is an area of weakness for the school.

“It’s more than computers though,” Mackeprang said, “it’s the staff’s development with technology and incorporating all of that into the classroom effectively.

Head of School David Peters has been working to hire a full time head of technology in an effort to remedy some of the technological issues. The final decision will be announced in the coming months.

 

In addition to technology, the next area of focus will likely to come from surveys that students fill out. While the five year period focusing on improved writing has ended, writing will still be incorporated across the school’s curriculum and measured with the assessment currently in place.

Jewell thrives in new position at Creighton

Dan Jewell | Staff Writer "The Mount"

Mount Michael alumni are known for doing great things after high school, but one alumnus is doing something a bit different this year. As a freshman in college, Kevin Jewell (‘14) is already making the most of his opportunities. Jewell is a team manager for the Creighton Blue Jay basketball program.

Jewell played basketball while at Mount Michael, but decided to become a manager in college based on the advantages he saw from it. “It’s a great experience. I want to be involved in sports in some aspect later in life, so this will be helpful,” Jewell said. As manager, Jewell has a variety of responsibilities. Mainly, he helps out at practice by running the clock and setting everything up (i.e. jerseys, towels, and chairs). He also cleans all rooms and facilities associated with the basketball team, as well as occasionally getting food for the players. His job includes, as he puts it, “everything except coaching.”

Kevin Jewell '14 (Holding Ball) Photo by Emily Jewell

“You learn to take care of your responsibilities and make sure it all gets done,” Jewell said. While many students find that college is a lot of hard work and have little time for extracurricular activities, Jewell has learned to balance school and managing, though he admits he sometimes struggles with it.

“It is extremely hard. It’s partly because I love managing and basketball, so I spend a lot of time at the practice facility. But my grades are good and I love what I’m doing,” he said.

Jewell believes he is a good manager which the Blue Jays’ starting center, Zach Hanson confirmed, saying, “Kevin’s awesome. He always shows up ready to work. He puts in maximum effort and you can tell he cares about Creighton basketball. His jumper needs a little work though.”

Jewell credits his ability to balance managing and academics to Mount Michael’s education system. He is never worried about finishing an assignment on time because he knows how to use time effectively. This skill is essential for Jewell to keep up with all his academics while also excelling as a manager for the Jays.

JEA winter regional contest

Mount Michael journalism students did quite well recently in the JEA (Journalism Educators Association) Competition.

Congratulations Knight Writers

First Place

Harrison Hohman-Sports Newswriting

Second Place

Joe Budd-Column Writing

Jackson Thompson-Review Writing

Indepth on Money – Lead Jack Morrissey, Team Young Joon Park, Harrison Hohman, Joe Budd

Indepth on Deans – Lead Jack Morrissey, Team Joe Budd

Third Place

Harrison Hohman- Newswriting

Joe Budd-Editorial Writing

Leo McGrath – Review Writing

Mick Steier – sports feature writing

Sam Van Haute – sports feature writing

Quiet Student’s Talent Shines on the Lanes

Thomas D’Aquila | Staff Writer

Aaron Meyer’s unassuming nature may lead people to overlook him, but the bowling team knows this gentle giant to be a bowling wizard.

“I had bowling birthday parties at the old Elkhorn Lanes,” Meyer, a junior, said of his early years of the sport. “My dad always took me bowling and it was fun. I liked bowl­ing, so he eventually bought me my first bowling ball and I just sort of went from there.”

Junior Aaron Meyer preparing to throw a strike.
( Photo courtesy of Meyer family)

Meyer’s passion for the game grew as he began to view bowling in a more competitive light. “I started practicing the summer after eighth grade,” Meyer said.

He does feel that sometimes this sport is overlooked by his peers. “[Some people] don’t think it’s hard to do, or they see it as useless. But they don’t realize how much skill and dedication it takes,” Meyer said. “It’s not a basic sport, it kind of a unique thing.”

Meyer is not the only one in the family with the bowl­ing bug. Most of his family on his dad’s side have been on a competitive team at some point, reaching back to his great-grandfather’s love of the game.

More notably, Meyer’s father is a part of the coaching staff for Mount Michael’s team.

“He brings a lot of knowledge to the team, so I mostly look at him as a coach,” Meyer said. “[The team] respects him as a coach as well, but they also see him as my dad.”

Working so closely together Meyer and his father have developed a shorthand way of communicating during a match.

“We have a connection. Some­times my dad will give me a look that says ‘What are you doing?’ But I will give him another look that says ‘I got this,’” Meyer said.

For Meyer, being on the bowling team is not too different from the casual bowling of his childhood.

“I guess it’s just kind of the atti­tude, which is more focused on scor­ing,” Meyer said. “It’s more about trying to get a better score and focus, not just goofing around. I clear my head and think about the importance of the match I’m heading into,”

With a first place in the individual series at district and a second place individually at state, Meyer seems to be doing just that.

Marching for a Cause

Young Joon Park | Co-Editor-In-Chief "The Mount"

Since its inception in 1974, the March for Life has been growing slowly and attracting many people from all over the nation. This year, 13 of Mount Michael’s own, including ten seniors, two juniors and teacher Amy Masek, joined three hundred other Nebraskans in traveling to march in the nation’s capitol.

Omaha Archbishop George Lukas
With Young Marchers
photo by Oliver Jarosik '16

The March itself, an open protest against abortion, occurred Thursday, Jan. 22, with over half a million people reportedly participating. “It’s a great thing to see so many people come out for such a good cause,” senior Alex Hotovy said. The March gained national television exposure and is a large enough event that it would be hard not to hear about it. Hotovy was also interviewed on the day of the March itself, and said about the interview, “I’m just glad to be able to help people see what we think and let people know why we’re here.”

The Pro-Life movement seems to have had some effect. Abortion numbers in the United States are declining steadily; however, Pro-Lifers still believe that there is work to be done. “I believe that, with time and work, people will gradually come to see our side and that abortion will be stopped, but for now, this is the best way to show them,” senior Andrew Whitaker said.

People do not, however, only participate because of abortion. “I go because I want to stop abortion, yes, but I also love the atmosphere and the people there,” Whitaker said. In addition to the day spent out on the March, participants from Nebraska visited the National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton, the Gettysburg Museum and Battlefield and the National Holocaust Museum.

The bus rides there and back encompass about forty-four hours in total, but participants say that should not discourage people from going. “The bus rides are long, but there is so much joy and excitement that it’s hard not to have fun, both on the buses and the March itself,” senior Jonathan Collins said. “Honestly, the bus rides might have been my favorite part.”

While the March for Life is not for everyone, it has received overwhelming support, especially in recent years, from all different groups and denominations. For some people, the March for Life would not be right. But from the Mount Michael participants, the response was overwhelmingly in favor.

Dash going one step ahead with College Classes

Leo McGrath | Staff Writer for "The Mount"

Everyone has that one person who excels at the thing you are terrible at. The person who is a natural at math when you can barely figure out what the word “cosine” even means. Or someone can write a five page paper in the time you write a para­graph. Well, freshman Dash Wedergren is that guy. He loves what many students struggle with - coding

While many students hate the prospect of having to learn visual basic, this kid just can’t get enough of it.

photo by Randal Esquivel

Dash’s study habits and work ethic not only show in coding 

but in his schoolwork as well.

“I first got into coding in seventh grade,” Wedergren said. “I started out using websites and books to teach it to myself.” The whole concept comes easily to him, and he is passionate about it. He has his own webpage you can visit at blog.mrjimbuckles.me. He even started taking college level classes online, specifically focused on security, last year.

He started with a cryptology course through Stanford’s free online course site, Coursera. Cryptology is the process of making a website or software secure, so it is harder to hack. Currently, he is working on a surveillance law class through the same site. “But I’m going to start another cryptology course soon.”

He has even started coding outside of this. “I actually code on [Github], helping companies commit code,” Wedergren said.

Essentially, he helps companies make their websites secure on a “web based hosting service” called github.com. Github allows new coming companies develop their websites, and Wedergren helps them out.

Wedergren codes in Node Javascript, or Node JS for short. Node JS is a program like Mount Michael’s Visual Basic, but more detailed and higher quality.

In addition, Wedergren said that “Visual Basic only works for Window’s Architec­ture Machines, while Node JS only works in Javascript.” Try to think of it as a different language, so the different types of code wouldn’t make any sense in the other’s program.

Wedergren attends an user group that gathers once a month at Blue Cross Blue Shield to explore pro­gramming in JavaScript. In these meet­ings he discusses topics ranging anywhere from new developments in the program to new libraries (which are collections of pre-written code or lessons that help the programmers in coding).

“It’s really cool,” said freshman Kane Koubsky. “I’d like to learn how to do it, but it’s really hard. Jokes about him hacking into the government have spread through our class.” Many other freshmen who have given programming a shot have also come to respect Wedergren. And just like Koubsky, they look forward to Computer Applications class next year to see just how talented Dash Wedergren really is.

Pumping Iron: new team lifts off

Sam Van Haute | Staff Writer for "The Mount"

Grit your teeth, be a Knight! Mount Michael athletics have a tradition of hard work and pushing yourself to the limit. “We lift with the goal of increasing our one rep max for three lifts: bench, squat and deadlift,” said senior John Gutsmiedl. A passion to get stronger has fueled the creation of a Mount Michael Powerlifting team.

Photo by Sam Van Haute

Senior John Gutsmiedl practices for what he hopes 

to be a start of a new sport at Mount Michael.

“Mr. Struckman thought about starting the powerlifting team after seeing so many people with the desire to lift,” said junior Michael Fischer. Fischer is one of seven members who have started practicing for the first competition.

Powerlifting is a sport where participants are split into different weight classes and perform three different lifts: bench, squat and deadlift. It was the willingness of Freshman Dean Tim Struckman and the interest of students that empowered the idea to compete in powerlifting competitions for the first time. In each lift, the participants attempt to lift the maximum amount of weight in one repetition. At the competitions there are three judges who make sure the lift is done with proper form, leveling the playing field.

Powerlifting is often confused with Olympic lifting. Gutsmiedl said, “Powerlifting is different from Olympic lifting because the lifts are different.” Olympic lifting consists of lifts such as: clean and jerk, front squat, and snatch.

Although official practices will start at the beginning of January, the members of the team have already begun to prepare. Since fall sports came to an end, the team has turned their focus on lifting. Gutsmiedl said, “Now that football is over, we have been able to start lifting heavier and really have been able to focus in on just lifting.”

There has been no official sign up for the team, but the list of team members is looking strong. The current team will be led by John Gutsmiedl, Jake Mumby, Andy Ernst, Elliot Fay and Chase Goddard. The team hopes to attract lower classman in coming years. The only non-senior lifter is junior Michael Fischer. The team will compete in their first competition at Roncalli on March 7.

Freshman Tournament has Knights in Checkmate

Thomas D’Aquila | Staff Writer for "The Mount"

The freshman dorm is filled with intense feelings. Anticipation and rivalry charge the air as students gather together. The reason?  A chess tournament involving the freshmen class. The room grows quiet to only a dull murmur as the students make their move. It moves slowly, as the freshmen make decisions “Chess is a game that is not for the impatience,” said Jimmy Severa, a freshman.

“It’s intense,” said Armel Migondje, a freshman, said of the tournament’s atmosphere. “After the game, the loser is sad, but it’s still cheerful, playful and good sportsmanship.”

Photo by Jacob Tucker

 Jack Avilla ( middle) spectates as James Nowdesha (left) 

competes against Emmett Kenney (right) in a chess match.

For Tim Struckman, freshman dean, the idea to have unplugged activities is sup­posed to be a build community. “At the beginning of every freshman year, I try to limit the electronics,” Struckman said. “I want the boys to interact and get to know each other and board games are a good way to pass the time.”

Thirty freshmen, both day students and boarders, are competing along with Struckman and Jack Pritchard, the as­sistant freshman dean. The first prize: bragging rights and the privilege of going to lunch first for the rest of the semester. “

The tournament works as a two bracket system. Stu­dents play after school, before study hall or after study hall. Trying to fit day students into the picture provides a challenge. But that’s not the only reason not all of the first match­es are made. “Many people are stalling on their matches,” Struckman said.

The tournament started in an organic way. The boys wanted to see “which out of them is the best” as Struckman put it. This is the second year for the chess com­petition, and it is also Struckman’s  second year as freshman dean.

“I’m proud of the participation,” Struck­man said. Many freshmen who have never played chess have been enthusi­astic, but the better players also have been conducting good sports­manship, according to Struckman. “More experienced players have been coach­ing the less skilled players,” said Struckman. “I was impressed with the ‘no-fear attitude of some students who have never played.”

For students that are helping others, there is a certain sense of accomplish­ment. “I feel like I am helping someone,” Freshman Matthew Thiel said.

“[During the matches]I can start conver­sations with people and we can be inter­ested in chess,” said Severa of the casual nature of the tournament. “You can’t talk at [state] competitions, you’ll get kicked out.” Severa has gone to chess competi­tions with in a club at his grade school, of which he has been a part of since the third grade. Although he has not been going with the same frequency due to school, the opportunity of playing now is a treat. “We have fun competing against each other,” said Severa.

Adjusting to high school is a difficult enough task for any freshman. Living at school presents itself with its own set of challenges. Luckily, students have their own way of bonding together which can soften the blow of homesickness.

The Thunder from Down Under

Adam Terasinski | Copy Editor for "The Mount"

At 5:45 a.m. while everyone is still asleep, he makes his way to the basketball court to practice the sport that he loves. Sophomore Scott Ching brings not only a sense of excellent work ethic, but also has a background story worth telling.

Ching was born in Singapore, a sovereign city-state, located in Southeast Asia. At the age of three he moved to Sydney, Australia.

Ching attended secondary school at Oakhill College in Sydney which has approximately 1,600 students. It is the counterpart to what Americans would view as a high school.

He decided to transfer to Mount Michael to hone his skills in basketball and to focus on academics as well.

He plans on going out to play for the Knights this winter, “In Australia I played the position of guard due to my height. However, here I will probably play the position of either a point guard or shooting guard,” said Ching.

photo courtesy of Ausa Hoops

Sophomore Scott Ching looks up court at the Australian Hoops Camp 

earlier this year.

He is an avid fan of the National Basketball League, the Australian counterpart to the American National Basketball Association. His favorite team is the Sydney Kings.

Moving to a new school is often a frightening prospect itself, but moving to a new school in a new country can be a huge change. “One of the first things I noticed when I arrived in Nebraska, other than the corn of course, was really, the lack of transport,” he said.

Ching is also adapting to a new workload. “Probably the biggest difference between Australian schools and this school is the amount of homework. I get more here than I ever really did back in Australia.”

Of his new classes, chemistry was the most interesting to him. “Scott’s positive energy is contagious,” chemistry teacher Leah Zohner said.

His roommate,  Broden Kaps, commented on his tremendous dedication to both his school work and basketball. “If there is something that Scott does not understand, he will work until he masters it. He really seems to have adapted to life at Mount Michael.”