The Shining Light Shines On

OCHS freshman nominated for prestigious KSHSAA award

Article by Aundrea Koger

Recently, the name, “Justin Davis,” has become synonymous with prestigious awards.  The OCHS freshman has now been honored as a nominee for the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) “Heart of the Arts” award, in addition to receiving the “Spirit of the Alamo” award a couple of months ago.  Like the award he was honored with while in San Antonio, this statewide accolade is given to an individual who demonstrates exceptional leadership, enthusiasm, and excellence in the arts and does so while overcoming adversity.  The honoree is selected by the twelve-member KSHSAA Student Advisory team, and announced at a state-sanctioned event later this March.  In receiving the award, the honoree will also be in the running for national recognition by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

If Davis is selected, that would make him the first recipient of the “Heart of the Arts” award from Osage City High School.  That’s an impressive feat to accomplish but not unfamiliar territory for this hardworking freshman.  His definition of a normal day would be considered an impressive feat for anyone else.  Even with his sight impairment, Davis is a vital component of the OCHS band.  He has played the trumpet since 5th grade, and learns every music piece by ear.  Davis even marched in the OCHS marching band this year.  It seems as if nothing can stop him.  With his impressive work ethic and positive attitude, he is the epitome of what KSHSAA would be looking for in a nominee of the “Heart of the Arts” award.

When Mr. Tony Heward, the OCHS principal, was asked about what made this inspiring freshman stand out as a prime candidate for this nomination, he said, “Gosh, everything about him, from his smile all the time, to never giving up.”  He then went on to talk about how Davis’s awareness of space must be phenomenal, being that he was able to march with little to no idea where he was on the field.  It’s quite astounding what he does every day.  Most people couldn’t even begin to fathom accomplishing the things Davis does.  And he doesn’t just accomplish them.  He accomplishes them to the best of his abilities, with a positive attitude that’s infectious enough to lift anyone’s spirits.

It’s apparent that Davis is more than qualified to be the recipient of the “Heart of the Arts” award; however, the decision is at the jurisdiction of the KSHSAA Student Advisory team.  If this phenomenal freshman is selected as the honoree, it will be an amazing accolade that is well deserved.  But even if he’s not, Davis is still a shining light at OCHS, where he continues to brighten the hallways one smile at a time.

Photo courtesy of http://www.ihigh.com

Coins for Cancer

USD 420 raises money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Article by Sarah Thompson

Students of OCHS, OCMS, and OCES compete against each other every year to raise money, in the form of coins, for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  This annual fundraiser, put on by the OCHS National Honor Society, is called Pennies for Patients.

USD 420 had a combined goal to raise at least $600 this year to donate to the organization, and they easily surpassed that, earning $634.60 for the 2015 fundraiser. Each branch of Osage City Schools competes against one another to raise the most money, in a friendly competition of course. The rules are different in each school though. For OCMS and OCES, dollar bills are acceptable donations, but for OCHS that isn’t the case. Dollar bills will deduct points from class totals, which makes the competition harder and more exciting, and you can put dollar bills in other classes’ boxes to bring their points down.

According to the high school secretary, Mrs. Patty Brenner, last year’s combined earning between the schools was a staggering $675.69. Second grade won, but this year 4th grade took the lead with $198.69. The juniors were victorious in the high school, raking in $82.38 to combat cancer.

Senior Sarah Peterson, the National Honor Society president, stated that the fundraiser only lasted three weeks. Even though it’s short, Pennies for Patients brings out a competitive spirit in students, and promotes donating to charity and helping others.

A New Teaching Experience

Emporia State University student-teacher spends her time at OCHS

Article by Hannah Mondragon

This year at OCHS there is a new student-teacher in the midst. Mr. J.T. Crawford, the World History and American History teacher in the high school, and Mr. Matt Marple, the Economics, World Geography, and U.S. Government teacher, are getting some time off from teaching those classes because Miss Kaylynn Anderson has accepted the challenge of student-teaching at OCHS.

Though Miss Anderson has other obligations outside of student-teaching, such as a job in Emporia at the Quick Shop, teaching is her passion. “I decided I was going to be a teacher since sixth grade, but I wasn’t sure what kind of teacher I wanted to be until I reached high school. Then I fell in love with history,” expressed Anderson. She is teaching three freshman geography classes, two sophomore classes in World History, and one senior government class here at OCHS.

The soon-to-be ESU graduate attended high school at Washburn Rural in Topeka. Now, after her long four-year journey, she has chosen little Osage for student-teaching, but why? Anderson replied, “I chose to come here because I went to a 6A school and I wanted to get the experience of teaching in a smaller school to see how it differs.” So far the experience has been worthwhile, she said.  “Teaching is great here. I love it a lot because it’s a big learning experience and such a huge interest to see what it’s like teaching here at a small school.”

Anderson will be student-teaching until May.  Once she finishes her student-teaching credit she will return to ESU to wrap up schooling and graduate.  Hopefully she will find the passion, drive, and experience she’s looking for here at OCHS.

You Know You’re From Osage If…

1. The hallway smells like Krispy Kreme donuts because of the baseball fundraiser.

2.  Paint flakes off the wall in the junior high gym when a ball hits it because the gym has been there since the dawn of time.

3. There are twitter fights with random guys from Britain.