Photo by Ed Gloor

According to Literature Teacher Susan Stokley, high school is a person’s last chance to push her boundaries with a safety net underneath. It can be seen as a time when a student gains his identity, learns to understand worth as an individual, and develop voice. For six years, Stokley has been helping students find their voice, and has recently decided to take her love of teaching to Metropolitan State College of Denver (Metro).

During her years at TJ, Stokley has always shown immense dedication toward the teaching of literature, while still finding time to become involved in numerous TJ causes, as well as furthering her education. “I’ve been a National Springboard trainer and Department Chair; I’ve sponsored clubs and been involved in extracurricular activities,” said Stokley. “During the course of that time, I also finished my Masters Degree at CU Denver in English Education, which is really the thing that has enabled me to go on to do what I’m doing in college.”

With activities, clubs, and her own education on her plate, Stokley eventually loosened her schedule in order to put more time into her teaching of an AP class. “I did Student Council for the first three years I was here, and then it just got to be a little bit too much, especially with AP and all of the other writing focuses we had shifted to in the English department,” said Stokley. “We also lost a lot of teachers along the way, so with that added workload I really felt that it’d be better for me to spend my time actually giving students feedback on their writing in a timely manner, rather than sponsoring a club.”

Now ready to embark on a new journey to a new level of education, Stokley feels that TJ has prepared her to take the next step. “I feel like I’m a better teacher now,” said Stokley. “I’ve actually developed through my many opportunities here to learn a lot of different things, and put those things into practice. TJ has taught me tolerance and patience. This is very important because you’re dealing with human elements. Humans are funky creatures, and as a teacher, you need to be tolerant of that.”

Always interested in the funky element that is humanity, Stokley describes literature as an archive of this very aspect. “’Why do I like literature is an easy question, why does anyone like literature?” said Stokley. “Literature is a record of human experience, from the dawn of time; from the very first written word to now. It records our thoughts, our feelings, what’s going on historically, politically, economically, socially, in all different ways. And they’re shown in these really fun stories to read. Sorry [Government Teacher Jon Poole], but the Bill of Rights is not so fun to read. Tale of Two Cities? Way funner. And yes, I did say ‘funner’ as an English teacher.”

Much of the fun that Stokley enjoys in literature can be found through some of her favorite books, including The Great Notion by Ken Kesey. “This is a story of a logging family during a strike in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s definitely in my top five,” said Stokley. “There’s also, of course, Hamlet, which is probably the greatest piece of writing ever. If I were stuck on a desert island, and I was limited to the number of books I could bring, I would probably end up taking the complete works of Chaucer, the complete works of Shakespeare, and some of the works of Robertson Davies, who is also quite prolific.”

Not only has Stokley found enjoyment through reading, but she says she has also grown, flourished as an individual, and even developed her method of teaching through her love of literature. “Literature has made me more articulate, more worldly, more sophisticated, and it’s made me realize that humanity is probably one of the most ridiculous species in the animal kingdom,” said Stokley. “This is because we run around flailing ourselves in one direction or another, trying to constantly improve and be better than we really basically are. In literature, it’s been proven; basic human nature always wins out. This is shown by the fact that kids are kids. We forget that sometimes as teachers. They aren’t little robots who come quietly into your room, have a seat, and manufacture beautiful pieces of writing for you, astounding differential equations, or beautiful lab write-ups. They’re students. Because we are human, because we are all fallible, and because they are learning how to be human adults.  We need to respect that and give them the space that they both desire and crave.”

Indeed Stokley has developed great respect for the students at TJ, describing the student body as one of her favorite aspects of the school. “We have a completely diverse range of students; not just in race, ethnicity, or culture, but also in socioeconomics. We have some very wealthy students who go here, and we have some very non-wealthy students who go here,” said Stokley. “I really think that class distinctions are not even existent here at TJ; I don’t think there are rich kids walking around flaunting the fact that they can drive a BMW to school like some of the other schools down this way.”

Stokley believes not only that the student community excels at TJ, but also that TJ has advantages over other schools due to its location and good intentions. “I really like TJ because it is kind of the school at the back of beyond, if you will. We’re lost down here in the midst of the south-quadrant of the district, so we’ve done a lot of really good work here on our own, I think, because of our own intentions,” said Stokley. “We haven’t been told to do good work, and we haven’t been targeted by some other schools in the district as regards to their work. Because of this, I really feel like, as a teacher, we’ve really been able to focus on what’s best for our kids and not what serves the interest of the district at large.”

Soon to leave the district to teach at Metro, Stokley anticipates her upcoming career. “I am going to be teaching three classes at Metro. Two of these classes will be Freshman Literature, the other will be Intro to Composition,” said Stokley. “I want to accomplish the same thing there as I do at TJ; to impart a love of literature and writing, and to get my students ready for college level work. Writing analytically is also very important. I want my literature students to be well grounded in the aspect of human nature; people and characters.”

While looking forward to her upcoming career, Stokley doesn’t forget to look back at the school that got her to where she is today. “I will miss my colleagues here. I will miss the students,” said Stokley. “Sandra Just has given me a lot of opportunities to really hone my skills, and do my own thing in the classroom. However, I’m not going to miss having to wake up at five o’clock every morning.”

Photo courtesy of the Kutz family.

When I heard that TJ’s intended spring musical, The Phantom of the Opera, was being canceled, only to be replaced by a series of eight student-directed plays, I was skeptical. Don’t get me wrong, TJ’s drama team has certainly proved itself to be a group of highly skilled, devoted, and creative young actors and techs, so I certainly didn’t expect the last-minute replacement to be bad. But I was just as far from expecting it to be on the same level of Rent: School Edition or Noises Off.

I was wrong.

In my Noises Off review, I stated that, “…the TJ Drama Department has consistently set the bar high for stellar acting, comedy, and stage production,” and that Noises Off continued this tradition. Well, once again, Theater Director Michael Palmieri and his gang of gifted young actors have raised the bar, creating easily the most unique high school theater experience I have ever witnessed.

The series of short plays presented certainly covered a wide range of styles and themes, making the play always eventful and never dull. Over the course of the night, I sometimes forgot I was on the TJ stage, feeling as though I was merely a spectator of a strange world that lay before me. Each of the plays brought something new to the stage, and I was on the edge of my seat from the very first act of the first play to the last-minute of the final performance.

The stage lit up, displaying a small flower stand labeled “Jessica’s flowers.” Behind the counter, slouched over and sighing, stood the jaded owner Jessica (Senior Anna Romero). In walks the gangly Jason (Junior Keith Hussey), who is automatically stunned by Jessica’s beauty. Stuttering, he tries to make small talk, failing miserably with every syllable. This awkward and sometimes failing first-encounter on a lonely valentines day is – often regrettably – hilarious. Not only is the situation highly relatable to most people who have ever had an awkward encounter, it is also highly entertaining to witness the inner-monologue of both characters. Throughout the play, Jason and Jessica would occasionally turn to the audience, stating their thoughts as if narrators were following them through their social failures. Directed by Romero, this inside look into the inner psyche of a severely awkward encounter left the audience howling with laughter.

Void by Don Tongue

The gag of allowing a character in a play/film to access the script is nothing new in the world of entertainment, made most famous by many of Mel Brook’s infamous parodies. However, truly tackling this idea as more than simply a gag, and turning into a complex power-play between character and story was a concept I had never before seen on stage. This play is not only thought-provoking, but also hysterical at times. Probably most impressive in this performance were the actresses: Freshman Sophie Mercer and Sophomore Tori Wallace (both playing nameless characters). Neither actress had been previously involved with the TJ drama department, and yet they were both given very challenging roles. Nonetheless, both girls released their inner thespians, each giving a stunning performance and deadpan delivery. Senior Michael Kutz and Sophomore Jordan Antonio directed this innovative short play.

Security Guard by Phil Olson

I sometimes forget how funny dramatic irony can be. Sure, it’s used often, and it’s nothing new to theater; but when it’s done well, I’m left rolling in the aisles. And, I must admit, when I saw two grisly security guards discussing law, order, and Vietnam, oblivious to the enormous truck labeled “Hussey’s Thieves Incorporated” hauling stacks of stolen goods behind them, I couldn’t stop laughing. Starring Hussey and Freshman Gerri Kutz as the hapless security guards, this act – directed by Hussey and Junior Connor Hickman – reminded me of why classic, old school humor can still make me cackle.

The Call Girl of Vassar by Matt Thompson

In my life, I have never seen a play as blatantly intellectual as this one. The fact that it starred actors who have yet to graduate high school made this play even more outstanding. The basic plot of the act, while convoluted, was essentially a private-eye (Michael Kutz) investigating a company of call-girls who specialized in satisfying men’s intellectual needs by discussing literature and science with them. What truly propelled this act to success was the lead actor: Michael Kutz. It is sometimes forgotten that there is more to comedy than merely making a funny face and knee-slapping. A real comedian masters an aspect of acting that is often one of the most difficult to achieve: timing. Without doubt, Kutz had the best comedic timing I have ever seen in a high school production. Directed again by Antonio and Kutz, this act left my sides – and my brain – hurting.

Song of Forgetting by Anna Romero

The fact that this act was not only directed, but written and conceived by a TJ student still astounds me. This act was so professionally written, performed, and directed, I sometimes forgot I only paid five dollars to enter the theater. The story revolves around Steve (Senior Zach Salas) and his mental struggles as he comes to the realization that his loved one, Donna (Romero) is dead. This is the first non-comedic act in the play, but it didn’t stop there; this was an intense, confusing, and sometimes even scary production. Salas, a newcomer to both the TJ drama department and acting in general, blew me away with his dramatic talent, sometimes shocking the audience with sudden outbursts of fear, confusion, and hatred. The sudden change in tone from comedic to intense that was brought by Song of the Forgetting made the act an experience the audience will certainly not soon forget.

Parasol Universes by Jim Bain

What was especially impressive about this act was the sheer coordination involved in pulling it off and making it fully believable. The play involved two families, each with identical appearances, as they mimicked one another to create the illusion of a “parallel universe” that lay behind the mirror in the family’s sitting-room. Eventually, the family discovers the world within its mirror, and they begin to experiment by jumping through, creating a somewhat confusing – but entirely hilarious – feel to the act. The performance was directed by Junior Whitney Hackbarth, whose talent with coordinating and directing not only one family – but two – still amazes me.

Return to Sender by Matt Thompson

This was my personal favorite act of the Fourth Wall. The story revolved around a worn-out, stubborn, and highly eccentric employee of the postal office named Wilbur (Michael Kutz) and he deals with a needy customer, Zoe (Freshman Cora Gains.) The way Kutz delivered his lines, never grinning as the audience belted with laughter, set him out as the star of the show. Kutz’s performance in Return to Sender was on a professional level. His twisted smirk, his smug walk, and his complete mental breakdown toward the end of the play, left me gasping for air as I roared with laughter. Directed by Hussey and Hickman, this play gave me important insight into the life of a United States Postal worker.

I Can’t Think of It Right Now by Nick Zagone

This act was especially enjoyable, mainly due to its flawless pacing. The performance began in a relatively normal situation; a couple attempting to remember the name of a movie. It was charming, and certainly enjoyable, but not hysterical as it opened. As the play progressed, the hysteria slowly increased as the couple attempted to remember more and more things that seemed to be at the tip of their tongues, ranging from actors to their own son’s name. This progression from normality to madness was absolutely hilarious, concluding with one of the funniest endings to a play I’ve seen in a long time. Hackbarth, who also directed Parasol Universes, once again displayed her talent as a director through her creation a charming, funny, and a very relatable environment during this act.

Photo by Ed Gloor

On Wednesday, April 13, Boys’ Swimming took their skills to George Washington High School, ultimately losing the match. “We did the best we could, but they’re just a really great team,” said Junior Griffin Black. “One of their swimmers is even possibly going to the Olympics. We did great, but we couldn’t pull of the win.”

Nonetheless, the boys upped their game the next week on April 20, winning against Montbello. “We did pretty well on our relays, and our guys are trying to improve their times,” said Black.

The team’s winning trend continued on April 27, when the team went up against Abraham Lincoln High School, defeating them in almost every event. “We did really well on our last meet against Lincoln,” said Black. “We won in every event except 100 back-stroke. They didn’t have a very big team; maybe four guys at most, and we have about 20. But, regardless, we did very well.”

Currently, many of the Varsity swimmers are on the road to state. Present qualifiers include Senior Tim Mahoney, Junior Mitch Moore, and Sophomores Michael Mahoney and Marcus Allen. “Because a lot of our guys are going to state in Grand Junction, we’re trying to qualify for state in as many areas as possible so they can keep their position,” said Black. “We have a pretty decently sized group going to state at the moment. Our goal is to do as well as we can, and get more people to qualify for state, because we’re presently qualifying for just two events. We want more.”

Boys’ Swimming will have their next game against Englewood High School at TJ on Tuesday, May 3. “I’m really hoping we win,” said Black. “It’s a Senior Day, so we’re also hoping a lot of people will come. I think we can pull it off.”

Clockwise from top left: Marelle Davey, Nicole Brown, Luke DeGregori, Mitch Mankoff, and Sean Gonzalez. Photo by Hanna Kazlouskaya.

As I sat in a dimly-lit classroom after school, surrounded by my school’s top five senior class academic  students, wielding a whittled-down pencil and a static-engulfed tape-recorder, I didn’t expect the conversation to end in laughter. After all, these were the top five seniors; school is a serious subject. Nonetheless, there we were, chuckling at confessions and laughing hysterically at the most absurd of stories. After over half an hour of deep conversation, I began to understand what brought the students I was sitting with to the positions they are in.

Marelle Davey – Freshman year, I didn’t really know even what a valedictorian was; I really didn’t understand class rank or even think about it. But I just did all the work in my classes and I ended up getting straight As. I then learned I was number one in the class, which meant I was valedictorian. I just didn’t really want to let it go from there. So I did whatever it took to get straight As or just do as well as I could in all of my classes so I wouldn’t drop in that position.

Sean Gonzalez – I think it has to do with a lot of reading, because I know last year for Poole’s government class you had to keep up by reading the textbook. Same with any other class; I make sure to read the textbook and do more outside of class than just inside of class.

Mitch Mankoff – I’d definitely agree with that.

Nicole Brown – I’d have to say you have to be dedicated. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices. For instance, if your friends wanted to go do something on the weekend and you had homework to do you had to choose whether you wanted to go do that or get a good grade. So it takes a lot of balance.

Luke DeGregori – I agree with Nicole. Sometimes, it’s hard to miss out on something you really want to do because you have a test the next day, or a large packet due. But, in the end, I really think it pays off. If you get your work done early, then you can really have fun later in the week without an overdue homework assignment hanging over your head like an H-bomb.

How do you feel being in such a high position in our class now that you’re seniors?

Marelle – Basically, when I think of valedictorian, I just picture myself making a speech at graduation. This doesn’t really sound good to me, because I’m not a great public speaker or anything. But I like the idea of being remembered for something.

Sean – I just like the competition, especially with me and Mitch over here. We battled it out for the third spot with Rachael Newman and Nicole Brown. We were all really close. And we’d always go up and down based on certain semesters, so I thought the competition was great.

Mitch – Yeah, the competition factor. I know me and Nicole have been going for it for the last 12 years, we’ve known each other that long. You’ve got that whole “Super Citizen” thing, do you remember that Nicole?

Nicole – In 5th grade? Yeah.

Mitch – I was pretty envious of that. (Nicole laughs) I’m number… what number am I, 4? (Turns to Nicole) Ha, you’re number 5.

Nicole – (Laughs) Yeah, whatever. Marelle and me were tied for first for a while, and then she decided to over achieve. It makes me sad that I dropped, but also, I know you guys have worked hard for it and I know I applaud you on taking so many AP classes.

Luke – Well, while I’m very humbled to be where I am, I’m mainly feeling just nervous about making a graduation speech! It’s certainly very intimidating.

What would you say is your favorite aspect of TJ? Why do you like going here every day?

Marelle – I would definitely say the people and the atmosphere, along with the teachers. We have a lot of great teachers. We have Mr. Vore, who’s an awesome teacher. Although there are fights, drama, feuds, and just the classic high school stuff, TJ just feels closer. If I don’t know a person in my class, I know of them, or I know who they are. It’s just a little feel-good community because of the small student body.

Sean – Besides just talking to these crazy people you meet everyday, or have met in your life, I just personally enjoy school. I enjoy the rigorous class work that you get. And the teachers really do care about your grades, and they make sure you’re doing well and you’re understanding, and that’s always helpful.

Mitch – Going along with Sean, teacher-wise, the whole TJ community cares about how you do in school and they want to see you succeed.

Nicole – TJ’s a small school, and so, in that sense, we get more in-depth, one-on-one tutoring and stuff. We’re all a family, and we all help each other out, and it’s not going to school one day and seeing a new person. Everybody knows everybody, so it’s nice to have that family atmosphere.

Luke – I’d have to follow-up everyone else. The atmosphere here is incredible. Not only are the teachers some of the best I’ve ever had, but I really feel as though TJ is a very family-like community. I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else; I just wouldn’t be the same. It’s really outstanding how accepting everyone here is.

Do you think the school’s tight-knit community comes from its size, or is there something else to it?

Marelle – I do think the size is definitely a big factor. I think because of the size, everyone gets to know each other much more easily, and everyone gets bigger groups of friends. You just know the people in the halls, and that makes everything more comfortable. I feel like there’s less pressure here too, and I would compare it to East. I feel like East is pressured to party and stuff, and TJ just isn’t the same.

Sean – I think a lot of it comes from many of us going to the same middle school together. Or knowing each other from just before high school…

Nicole – We’re all from Hamilton aren’t we?

Sean – Yeah, this group of five is all from Hamilton, so we’ve all known each other for a while.

Mitch – We’ve all grown up with each other.

Luke – True. I’m really glad I’ve known so many people here for so long. I think that makes the school just a really comfortable place to be yourself. And, again, I think the people here are incredible, not only as a community, but as individuals.

Nicole – It’s definitely a community. It helps that we all live near here too, so if we need to have a study group, we can all go and help out each other. And going along with that, I love how our community is in a nice neighborhood.

Have there been any specific students or teachers that have really stood out in your years in high school and helping you get to where you are?

Sean – Mr. Poole. Because last year, the first thing he said was, “There’s no way you’re getting an A in my class,” and so I was like, “You know what, now I will.” And I ended up doing that, so I think that was a huge motivator.

Marelle – Mr. Vore for sure. I didn’t really even know what physics was before him. Sophomore year I was in Chemistry and I really enjoyed chemistry, and I was really good at it, and I was planning on doing AP Chemistry Senior year. But I had to take Physics, that was the track they put me on. So I went into physics, not really knowing what it was. And Mr. Vore just got me super excited about physics. He always talked so much about engineering too, and I just liked physics so much I didn’t want to leave it. So I stayed in AP Physics. And, well, Mr. Vore is a phenomenal teacher, but I’d say the teacher who’s inspired me the most is Mr. Poole. I didn’t really become close with him until last year, when I had AP Government with him and played soccer for him. But he just has a way of setting unknown or subtle expectations. He doesn’t flat out say, “I expect this from you,” he just sets precedents that you should impress him or make him proud. He’s been a big mentor for me during my junior and senior year.

Mitch – For me it’s Coach Nicolo. He’s really gotten me where I am today, as far as being president of DECA and the whole marketing scheme.

Nicole – As much as I would hate to say it, Poole has helped me a lot throughout my high school career. He’s given me pep talks, and he wants to see you succeed. And he doesn’t come out and tell you, “You need to do this,” he makes you have to work for it, which makes you work harder, because he wants you to respect him. I’d also like to thank Ms. Rocha, because this year she’s helped a lot with college stuff. I wouldn’t be accepted to all my universities without her.

Luke – For me, it’d have to be Mr. Vore and Mr. Spampinato, both for very different reasons. Mr. Vore is simply a flawless teacher. He has so much passion for what he does, and he’s one of the few teachers I’ve had who can get me as excited about schoolwork as he is. That’s what really got me into astrophysics; a remarkable teacher. With Mr. Spampinato, I think it’s really his experience that makes him stand out as an incredible teacher. Not only is he an amazing motivator, editor, and speaker, but he’s also very easy to talk to one-on-one. He’s the type of guy that you could go to for anything, about anything, and he’d never look down at you afterward. He’s kind of like the school’s resident wise-man; it’s kind of creepy how much he knows. He’s been a huge factor in my high school career, and there’s no way I would be as successful or as confident as I am now without him. The past two years have been a breeze with Vore and Spamp helping out.

What would you guys say is your favorite activity or class at school?

Sean – What do I do? I think I really enjoy – and this is just an overall category – the social studies department at our school. Whether it’s psychology, world history, or government, just whatever I’ve taken that has to do with history, TJ does a pretty good job at teaching and making it – at least for me – enjoyable.

Marelle – AP Physics. I feel like AP Calculus too, because I really like Ms. Witulski, but Physics just has that wow factor. Everything in it is so cool. I’m also in yearbook, so I do a lot of yearbook-related things when I have the time to. And I really do like that kind of stuff; InDesign, Photoshop, and all of those other design things. I’m also involved in web design with Mr. Esparza. So I really like messing around with all those graphic-type programs.

Mitch – I think the CTE department is definitely the best, no offense to the history [department] (Sean laughs). Technology has obviously taken over our future, and what it does is what we are being groomed to do.

Nicole – I agree with Mitch, I love our computer magnet program. Last year, I was in the broadcasting class, and I got to experience it and be an anchor, and I realized that that’s what I want to do. So that’s shaped where I want to be in four years.

Luke – I’m also really big on the Computer Magnet and journalism program. If I had to choose my absolute favorite activities here, it’d be playing in the orchestra, writing for newspaper, and geeking out about physics. It’s just what keeps me happy.

What sorts of leadership roles have you guys taken at TJ? What do these leadership positions do for you?

Sean – I’m an officer in NHS. It makes me want to be a better person within TJ, and not just be the guy putting people down. I try to talk to anyone I can, just to show that we are a good school. Even outside the community, if I’m wearing something that’s TJ related, I want to make the school look good. We are a great school.

Mitch – I’ve got two years as far as being a DECA officer, and I’m president this year. I’ve also been a captain on the baseball team for the past two years. The leadership quality I want to have has really stepped up to those things.

Marelle – I’m the Editor-in-Chief of Yearbook. I think it sets me up with projects for any classes that I do. I can make them look good. And I have some background in video-editing for video projects and things like that. In whatever profession, it’s nice to know technology because our entire world is moving into more and more technology. So knowing how technology works, and how computers work, and how programs work, will help a lot in the future.

Nicole – I have the great honor of being all-school vice president. It’s cool because I want to be involved in TJ. You don’t want to go through your high school years just going through it. You want to know all the administration, you want to be there and get involved, so I think I’ve done that, and helped better TJ as a community, I’d like to think.

Luke – I’m the Editor-in-Chief of the Newspaper. To be honest, when I first got the position, I was terrified. I had never really been in that sort of leadership position before, and I was positive I wouldn’t be assertive or confident enough for the job. I usually just enjoy being the behind-the-scenes kind of worker, and that’s what I was my junior year in the newspaper, just a contributing writer and editor, not really the head of anything. But the job has definitely boosted my confidence beyond belief, and I’ve loved every minute of it. I’ve had a lot of fun this year in the position, and I’ll be really sad to leave it.

What sorts of obstacles have you guys overcome throughout high school and your teenage years?

Marelle – Stress, I would say, is the biggest obstacle, especially this year. There’s a lot on my plate, especially this semester because the yearbook was due before Spring Break. So we had to get everything put together and finalized. And being the head of that, I kind of have to do everything. So that can be stressful. Basically all my stress comes from time. You have all your classes and then homework for the classes, and then there’s yearbook on top of that, and trying to play soccer to the best of my ability, but I don’t always have time for that. So I’d say time management and stress are huge obstacles.

Sean – I’m not sure if this is really an obstacle, but I found out about a month ago that I suffer from an anxiety disorder. I guess not really knowing that for the past three years and still seeing what I’ve done is pretty cool.

Nicole – My biggest obstacle has probably been myself. I push myself so hard, and I hold myself up to the highest standards, so sometimes it stresses me out to the point of tears. I always want to be the best and get out there, so sometimes I don’t realize that it’s okay not to be perfect.

Luke – I think this is a common factor between all of us; for me it’s also stress. Up through junior year I had a lot of problems with anxiety. I was constantly worrying about my grades, how I was doing, college, and everything in between. But I’d have to say my number one worry was that everyone in the school hated me. I always had this fear that I was an outcast who no one liked, and it really made me avoid a lot of social opportunities that I wish I had taken throughout most of high school. I didn’t talk to a lot of people I wish I had talked to, and I was never just happy with who I was. It took a while for me to get through that.

What do you guys do to unwind when you get stressed or feel overworked?

Sean – I love playing guitar, whether I’m just noodling around or trying to learn some ridiculously hard song, it’s always been an outlet throughout my life. Another cool thing is going to the basketball games, football games, and all the sports activities in TJ.

Marelle – I think friends, definitely, have been a huge factor. Venting about anything helps me so much. If I freak out about something, once I just talk about it and lay it out in front of me, I can see a way to work through it, or see that it’s not that big of a problem. It just puts everything in perspective. And friends make you happy. Especially comic friends that help you laugh. That’s a big thing; humor.

Mitch – Just playing sports, for me, gets my mind off school. Hanging out with friends and being outdoorsy is also big.

Nicole – I think what helps me relieve stress is being around my friends because I know we’ll always be laughing, and just the other day, my friends Anna Becker, Marelle, and I didn’t have anything to do, so we just turned on music and just danced. It was probably one of the best times I’ve had; we just had fun.

Luke – Man, there are a lot of things. Definitely playing my violin helps me unwind. I also love writing, listening to music, reading comic-books; anything like that. I’d say the biggest thing has been my friends, though. They’ve been huge in helping me get past the obstacles I’ve faced. I don’t think I would have ever gotten through my anxiety at any other school besides TJ. The entire community helped me so much throughout it.

Where do you guys want to take yourself, into college and beyond?

Sean – What I want to do in college is be able to have enough money, from scholarships and grants, to pay for most of college and get out with as little loans as possible. And maybe before I start working, travel or do something with music for two years until I run out of money and then go to work (laughs). I do plan on becoming a history teacher, probably more world related, because I love history, and specializing in the Italian renaissance. I’m planning on going to college in Iowa.

Mitch – I’m going to CU Boulder for business, and obviously business-wise you have to be successful, so that’s really what I want to get out of life.

Nicole – I plan on hopefully someday being an anchor on some kind of news show. As far as college goes, I’m not sure where I want to go at the moment. It’ll probably either be Washington State University or somewhere in state. But I know I want to travel and I want to do study abroad, and then from there just lead a happy and successful life.

Marelle – I’ve been accepted to CU Boulder and Colorado School of Mines. I think between the two, I’m more inclined toward Mines. I like Boulder’s campus a lot more, but Mines I think is a better school in general, and they have a lot of really cool activities. But I’m still waiting to hear back from University of Washington, Seattle, and Berkley. I keep picturing myself in Washington, but I don’t know where that’ll end up.

Luke – CU Boulder! I want to go into astrophysics. I’m not entirely sure where I want to go from there, but I know as long as I get to crank out equations and make insane hypothesizes, I’ll be content.

If you guys would say you’ve learned one lesson from high school that you would take with you to college, what would it be?

Marelle – My senior quote is ,“Regrets are only mistakes not learned from.” So I guess just learning from your mistakes is a huge lesson. Also, looking at things in perspective, and not freaking out over the small things. Another thing that I’ve noticed is things are what you make of them. If you go into something with a positive attitude, there will probably be a positive outcome. I don’t think I really knew that coming into TJ. I think I just grew a lot as a person, and that’s one of the things that I notice.

Sean – I think communication. Communication skills are quite the necessity just to live overall, and I think one thing I didn’t especially think of when I first entered high school was that I’m going to be stuck around with these kids for four years. It took me a while to realize that and just talk to everyone and try to be more out there. I think that’s something I’ll take anywhere I go.

Mitch – Wow, that was a heck of a good answer. I have no idea what I want to say for that question (everyone laughs). Nicole, do you have anything?

Nicole – My biggest lesson is probably to try to make myself happy. I think for a lot of my high school career I’ve tried to excel, and do all these things, and conform to what everyone else wanted me to do, so for the rest of my life I want to not care what others thing about me and just focus on what makes me happy.

Mitch – For me I think it’d be time management, and how to get things done when you need to get it done. Obviously people are going to procrastinate, but being able to set up a time schedule to succeed in life is big.

Luke – It’s kind of a cliché lesson, but just “be yourself.” I think especially once you get older, it’s very important. It’s not always easy to do, and I certainly don’t always pull it off, but it’s something I’m going to try to remember come college.

Do you guys have a favorite moment or craziest memory at TJ?

Marelle – (laughs) I have no idea! I’d have to think way back for that one.

Mitch – Freshman year, when the football team beat Grandview.

Nicole – I don’t remember that.

Mitch – You don’t remember that? It was insane, everyone rushed the field. That was sweet.

Nicole – (laughs) one thing from my whole high school career! I think it’d probably be sophomore year when a group of us got to go to Italy, because that was the biggest experience ever. It was the first time I was ever out-of-state, out of the country, by myself, and we got a lot closer as a class, for those who went. That was a memorable.

Sean – I would love to say what she said, but just in the world of closeness I would say Challenge Day was pretty cool. Especially at the time we did it, our class was kind of disunited. And we came out more understanding of everyone else.

Luke – Going along with Sean, I also thought Challenge Day was awesome. And just in general, all the crazy things I’ve done with my friends during lunch and in the parking lot have been great.

Career-wise, where do you guys want to be in ten years?

Sean – In ten years – I’ve specifically thought this through, many times (everyone laughs) – if I’m going to be a teacher, during the summer I want to be out in the wilderness, hiking and doing the things teachers can’t do every day. As a teacher I just want to be a good teacher.

Mitch – Probably be managing a business somewhere. I don’t know exactly what type. Just keeping my options open.

Nicole – Ten years I’ll be 27, oh man, probably just being an anchor and being myself on TV, or just being part of that.

Sean – You can be my weather reporter (Nicole laughs).

Luke – I have no idea! I really don’t think that far ahead. I really just want to get into physics, and wing it from there. I’ve been considering going into teaching for a while though.

Marelle – I want to save the world! I want to go into engineering. I don’t know exactly what path I want to take, but I want to end up somewhere where I’m doing something to better the environment in some way. I want the world to have a future, and all the animals, and trees, and everything hippie related. I really am passionate about that.

How would you guys say you’ve changed the most in high school?

Marelle – I think the biggest change – I’ve actually been thinking about this recently – is that I’ve become a lot more outgoing. Freshman year I was super shy and nervous around everyone. And the people I knew who I went to middle school with I was comfortable around, but the upperclassmen and sophomores – or just anyone I didn’t know – I was afraid they’d judge me. But I’ve moved past that, and TJ itself has helped me with that a lot.

Luke – I’ve changed a ton. Like everyone else, I’ve gained a huge amount of confidence. I don’t think it really kicked in until a little bit into Senior year, but I am unbelievably more confident now than I was when I first came in here.

Sean – Well I’ve definitely become more loud and obnoxious over the years (everyone laughs). I think that’s one of the ways I’ve changed. I think also trying to be more open to everyone’s opinions. In the beginning of high school, I just wanted to argue for the sake of arguing, and I think overall I’ve gotten better at having my own opinions while not trying to change everyone else’s mind.

Mitch – You come in as a freshman, and you’re probably shy, especially around all the seniors who are bigger than you. And, so I guess just opening myself up to everyone in terms of communication. That’s how I’ve changed the most, just being friendly to everyone. What’s the saying? “Treat others how you want to be treated.”

Nicole – I guess I came into high school how Mitch said; small, timid, I only knew about two good friends (Sean points angrily at himself, everyone laughs). Well I mean people I talked to a lot! You were my friend.

Mitch – You’re so mean.

Nicole – Shut up! And so you just learn how to get confidence.

Where do you think that confidence has taken you now that you’re a senior?

Nicole – Well, you’re a senior so you obviously feel that authority. You can just walk through the halls without caring, because you’re just like, “Whatever, you’re smaller,” (everyone laughs). But at the same time you have to make sure your confidence doesn’t come off as arrogance, and you still have to be compassionate to every other person around you.

Sean – I think I’m more confident in the abilities I have, instead of trying to be the all time hit leader in baseball, I’m just going to try to be good at what I’m good at. That’s about it, just focusing on the core abilities that I have is where my confidence has taken me.

Mitch – I feel the same way as Nicole, confidence is really important when you’re a senior.

Luke – Well, I’m kind of in the process of building an army of freshmen. So that’s probably the biggest feat that’s come from my confidence. But we’ll see how that goes.

What is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you during your high school career?

Sean – Freshman year for sure. We had Mr. Jackson, and just the way he would pick on Ian and Austin – he put Kyle in the trash can! – are things we still laugh about to this day. It was our first year, and it was just a teacher putting us in our place. I think those are some funny memories. Also, in chemistry, people would try to copy me all the time, but my handwriting isn’t very legible, so people would just copy down scribbles and lines (laughs). They wouldn’t even write actual numbers. It was really comical to see what they came up with. “Is that a six or a squiggle? We’ll go with a squiggle?” It was great.

Marelle – Study sessions with friends are always really funny. We don’t usually study, but just being able to goof off with friends is hilarious. I’ve had some awesome memories.

Luke – There’s a lot of moments! If I had to choose one, though, I’d have to say the time when I started dancing to Journey at my job, and my boss walked in on me mid-dance. It was embarrassing, sure, but I still got paid!

Nicole – It wasn’t funny at the time for me, but looking back it’s pretty funny, but there’s this group of senior boys and they’re always goofing around and all, and it happened with them. I was driving back from lunch, and of course it had been snowing. It was still sunny, though, so I had my windows down. A bunch of guys started pelting my car with snowballs. I was so mad! So I started rolling up my window, and Ian Melnicoe throws a snowball in the window, and it hits me right in the head. Sand, ice, and mud was all over my car, and I was so mad at them! But they just laughed at me. Okay, I guess I was a little impressed that Ian aimed that well, but at the time I was furious.

When you first entered high school, what were your expectations, and how have they changed now that you’ve been here for four years?

Marelle – I can’t even remember… I don’t even know if I had expectations. It was just doing the transition from middle school to high school. I remember being happy to see people who I knew on the first day of school. I kind of just made my way through everything. I remember liking all my classes, especially computer magnet a lot, with Mr. Laman and Ms. Adair. I didn’t really have any expectations, I just threw myself into it and ended up succeeding I guess. Now it seems to be the norm. I feel comfortable at TJ, I like all the people here, and I’m going to be sad to leave it.

Nicole – It’s awesome that we all can talk about this stuff openly, and that seven years ago, we wouldn’t have known we’d be sitting here right now and sharing these stories. It’s really amazing.

What propels these students to where they are today isn’t an ACT score. Nor is it a stunning math grade. It isn’t even an outstanding GPA. It’s the moments that moved them, the friends that inspired them, and the stories that defined them. And that, without doubt, is worth remembering.

TJ Robotics Club, from left to right: David Dehmlow, (Teacher) Nick Tussing, Logan Dodd, Steve Barta, and Michael Hein.

From April 8th to the 10th, Seniors David Dehmlow, Steve Barta, Michael Hein, and Logan Dodd made TJ history by receiving second place at the First Robotics Competition at the University of Denver’s Ritchie Center. Not only is this the first year TJ has ever had a robotics club – or even attended a robotics tournament – but the TJ team was also the smallest group out of 45 teams. “We went in with just four people and a mentor,” said Dehmlow. “The biggest team was about 60 people, and all of the other teams had attended the competition many times before. We were definitely at a disadvantage.”

The inception of the Robotic’s Club can be dated back to the beginning of last semester, when Assistant Principal Scott Lessard pitched the idea to Math Teacher Nick Tussing, who decided to become involved immediately. “[Lessard] gave me a great opportunity, and I thought it would be a pretty cool experience,” said Tussing. “So I jumped on it.”

Taking the title of Club Sponsor, Tussing soon began traveling to math, science, and computer related classes in order to recruit a team for the upcoming competition. “Tussing eventually went into our software engineering class with a sign-up sheet for robotics, and we thought it sounded like a good time, so we signed up,” said Dehmlow.

Barta, another avidly recruited student, admits to having little to no robotics knowledge upon signing up for the club. “The learning process was a really big part of our time in the club,” said Barta. “How to program it, how to get the computer set up to talk to it, how to put all the wiring together, how to deal with converting and voltage, all that stuff. Also, we had to go through the 140 page rulebook to find out what we could do and what we couldn’t do. That took a while. We also relied a lot on a reference site they gave us to help players out.”

This learning process included numerous hours of web-surfing, reading, and taking time to gain pointers from a previous robotics team from Regis Jesuit High School. “I don’t have a lot of engineering background, so we actually reached out for help from some other local teams, including even an engineering mentor,” said Tussing. “I really was simply a go-between for them to get help where they needed it.”

Dehmlow, who also acknowledged the team’s lack of robotic knowledge prior to the tournament, also appreciated the helping hand gained from Regis. “Tussing found another team that helped us out a little bit with getting us on the right path, because at first we had no idea what we were doing,” said Dehmlow. “It was really helpful getting tips from the already-successful pros.”

Not only did Tussing present the team with resources intellectually, but he also applied for and received a $1000 grant to be used for materials needed for building the robot. “This was still a pretty low budget,” said Dehmlow. “A lot of the money just came out of our pockets, from us working jobs and all. Everyone tried to pitch in. But knowing what we were doing was the main obstacle, along with money. We didn’t have any of the parts, and we didn’t get the grant until three months after it was supposed to be here, so it all added up to a potential disaster.”

Building the robot, soon to be dubbed “Sparticus,” involved both money and hours of hard work, as the robotics club spent almost every day after school, including sometimes on weekends, challenging their minds and hands in TJ’s room 4. “We didn’t really get started until after Christmas break. We’d known about it in November, but we didn’t make any headway until then,” said Dehmlow. “There were tons of materials we had to get before we could really get going. We used aluminum c-channel for the frame. We used plastic wheels with rubber tread. We also needed a power distribution board, electronics…a bunch of stuff that I had no idea about until we made the robot. We really didn’t think we had any hope of getting the robot done on time.”

Nonetheless, the dedicated team traveled to the Richie Center at DU last week to put their robot to the test, powering through their fears and nervous reactions to the overwhelming environment around them. “It was quite nerve-racking,” said Dehmlow. “You get shaky, your heart starts beating really fast. There were about 2000 people there over the course of three days; that was freaky.”

The team spent the rest of the weekend mostly at DU, taking almost 12 hours every day working on and testing the robot before rounds. However, not all rounds went without setbacks. “We for sure had some technically difficulties,” said Dehmlow. “At one point a gear box fell apart in the middle of a match, so we scrambled to fix that. Then we had some problems with the robotic code, where the motors weren’t working right, and stuff like that. But, somehow, we pulled through and got stuff done.”

The basic setup of the robotic tournament, including both the preliminaries and the finals, was based on placing robots on teams in which they would either play defensively or offensively. In order to accumulate as many points as possible, a team could score during a 15 second autonomous period where the team’s robot would attempt to hang up an “ubber tube.” The following two-minute period allowed teams to manually control their robot, as their robot attempted to put up as many tubes as possible onto two racks – each rack with three rows of pikes – ultimately trying to form the logo of the First Company that hosted the robotics tournament. Any team that gets the logo up doubles its points. Afterward, each team gets ten seconds to deploy their mini-bot up a poll, attempting to reach the top, which is a maximum of 30 points.

Sparticus’s role in this scoring process, throughout the entire tournament, was that of a defender. This meant the team’s robot had to prevent other teams from both scoring and deploying their mini-bot. This also meant TJ’s robot would team up with an offensive robot in order to receive points. “Our robot mainly just pushed other robots around and kept them from scoring,” said Barta. “We actually kept the #1 team from scoring any points in one round.”

The part of the competition that involved manually driving the robot was not simple, considering the need to wirelessly connect the robot to some sort of controller. “Basically, the only way we could manage the robot was wirelessly with their system. When you’re on the field playing the game for the finals, you just plug-in a cable and their system has it set up,” said Barta. “Luckily, they have it programmed so that it can be controlled wirelessly. Otherwise, you just plug the router directly into the computer.”

According to Barta, teamwork was a huge factor in the team’s success during the tournament. “Once we got there on the first day, we had no breaks; we had to get everything together fast. We had no time to say ‘okay guys, we need to do this.’ We had to be organized, and we had to get stuff done fast. We had to all trust each other, so it helped that we all know each other very well. We could talk to one another in the way we needed to; we didn’t need to sugar-coat it. There wasn’t time for ‘pleases’ during the tournament. “

After various rounds between teams – sometimes tripling the size of TJ’s – Sparticus made its way to the finals. “We knew we were getting second or first place once we got into the final match; it was really surprising. We were a first-year team, so we weren’t expecting to get far at all,” said Dehmlow. “We ended up getting picked by the third seed team as their defender, and we were able to bump them up to the finals. I was the driver, and the only team that ever scored on us – at all – was the last team we lost to. But even with them, we cut the points that they usually got in half. Plus, we had some difficulties with another robot on our team.”

Regardless of loosing in the final round, TJ’s robotics team was flabbergasted by the results of the tournament. “It was overwhelming. My voice is hoarse now from all the screaming I did. I was so excited to see how good we were doing,” croaked Barta. “And we didn’t have the best looking robot out there.”

Dehmlow, one of the only team members with his voice still intact following the games, felt similarly about the team’s performance. “We ended up finishing it and having a really good time at the tournament,” said Dehmlow. “We just rose up through the ranks, slow and steady, and somehow took second place, it was amazing.”

In Tussing’s eyes, TJ’s winning of second place was no case of begginer’s luck. “We went in with a good strategy, and executed it pretty well, and overall the results were better than we would have hoped,” stated Tussing.

After an incredibly successful year, TJ’s robotics team hopes to continue the legacy of Sparticus in upcoming years, which will include lots of effort put into recruiting underclassmen. “Sadly the whole team is seniors, but we’re going to try to get an announcement together to recruit some new people,” said Dehmlow. “We’ve got to pass down the torch.”

Following months of rigorous preparation, struggles, and immense technical difficulties, TJ’s first year robotics team followed through and ended up succeeding beyond its wildest hopes. “We went in without a clue, and we went out with a trophy,” said Dehmlow. “I would really call this a Cinderella story.”

Photo by Ed Gloor

On March 19, the Spartan swimmers attended the Angel Invite at East High School, qualifying for state in the 400-meter free relay. “We were really glad to have a state-worthy performance,” said Senior Swimmer Tim Mahoney. “Now, we’re just trying to qualify in all of these relays and get as many people to state as possible.”

The next Wednesday, March 23, TJ was invaded by the Angels for yet another meet versus East High School. This time, TJ was only a second off during the 200-yard free relay from qualifying for state. “Even though we didn’t quite make it, it was a big improvement over our last few meets,” said Mahoney. “This next meet, we’re hoping to qualify in the 200. And I know the 200-meter medley relay was really close too in this past meet.”

With state-qualifying performances in recent events, Mahoney hopes for improved performances for boys’ swimming during the rest of the year. “We need to, in our relays, work on people’s individual lengths; try to get them closer, and to the fastest they can go,” said Mahoney. “The starts are important, the turns are important; but as far as strokes, everyone who swims in these relays nailed their stroke, so really there’s no improvement there. But in terms of endurance, we could go farther.”

Boy’s swimming will go up against George Washington High School on April 13, with a strong expectation for a tough game. “George is usually hard, because they’re a 5A team; they have really good swimmers, and just a lot of people who make state and all,” said Mahoney. “It depends though, because some of their swimmers don’t swim in meets because they have their own invites to go to, so it really just depends on who’s there and who we’re up against. I know we beat them at the relay meet last year, but they didn’t bring all their people. I think we’ll try our hardest and hopefully come out on top.”

Photo by Kevin Flemming

On Saturday, March 19, Boy’s Swimming went to the East Angel invite to prove themselves as state-worthy participants, winning 7th place out of 12 schools. “It was the first time one of our teams qualified for state; the 200 free team,” said Head Coach Cindy Allen. “Everybody did a really good job, I was very impressed.”

The next Wednesday, TJ went up against East once more for a second round, winning first place in the 50 free and 400 free events, while still loosing the overall meet. “Our relay team did a much better time for this meet,” said Allen. “So they’ll have boosted confidence for our next meet.”

While Boys’ Swimming has had its ups and downs, Allen feels as though the team has made some great headway over the past few weeks. “We’ve been working really hard as a team,” said Allen. “But we do have our standouts. Senior Tim Mahoney and Sophomore Mike Mahoney are always in the top performers. Junior Mitch Moore’s also really stepped it up recently, and Junior Griffin Black also always does a good job. We also have several kids in development who are really stepping up to the challenge and making some growth. But overall, as a team, we’re working great together.”

Allen also feels as though the team could improve on multiple aspects in the pool, including stroke competitions. “It’s the toughest strokes where we lose the most points,” said Allen. “We have quite a few kids swimming them, and they don’t complain, they just get the job done. I always appreciate that, and they work really hard.”

Boy’s Swimming will go up next against George Washington High School on April 6th. “It’s going to be a tough meet,” said Allen. “We’re going to have to go at it really hard in every event, and every lane, to get the win.”

Artwork by Mia Nogueira

For the 2011-2012 school year, TJ will be making significant budget cuts in multiple departments, including administration and social studies. “The budget cuts will include many areas, and everyone will be affected,” said Principal Sandra Just.

Losses TJ will experience next year will mostly be seen in teacher reductions. At the moment, the planned cuts will be made as follows: Half of a librarian’s job, half of an administrative assistant’s job, half of a mild/moderate special education teacher’s job, half of a Spanish teacher’s job, one disability activist teacher, one social studies teacher, one pass room para professional, and one counseling office support secretary.

According to Just, these cuts are expected to have a severe impact on the TJ community. “We’ll have to have teachers perform extra duties during the day,” said Just. “This will include teachers as supervision hours in the library. Any time you lose people, there will be a burden on others to make up for the lost time.”

This burden will be not only on teachers, but also on TJ students. “In terms of having supervision, we need student assistance to make sure services are done well,” said Just. “Depending on the task, student involvement will certainly help with the budget-related losses TJ will experience next semester.”

Despite the present plans to make severe cuts, Just and the TJ administration are making attempts to gain extra funding to prevent some of the losses. “We’ve tried to request financial assistance from the district to gain back some spots that we’re going to lose,” said Just. “If our enrollment is more than projected, we will have access to more money. Also, if legislation changes, we may get certain positions returned. But everyone needs to remember not to expect that. Some districts may be continuing to cut throughout the spring.”

The primary reason for the numerous budget cuts being made to DPS can be traced back to state legislation and national funding. “And it goes up beyond DPS; it’s all a result of how much money the state government is giving to education,” stated Just. “Really, the only money we have is the money the government gives us to spend. That’s where we get the bulk of our funding. All anyone needs to do is look in the newspaper. Hickenlooper is proposing cuts of 34 million from the budget in all grades K-12.”

Although higher enrollment may lead to a bigger budget, larger classes are expected for next year. “There will be some possible class-size shifts,” said Just.

While Just recognizes that the budget cuts will have a significant impact on TJ, she continues to expect the same quality of education from the school community next semester. “As a community, we have to understand that these budget cuts are a very big deal,” said Just. “We still need to provide the best services to our school and to our community. This will take not only teamwork, but also us thinking about things differently.”

Photo by Hanna Kazlovskaya

During the week of April 10-16, DPS will be celebrating Teen Tech Week, which is a district-wide recognition of technologies offered in school libraries. This week will be part of National Library Month during April. “The focus for teen tech week is on everything in the library besides books,” said TJ Librarian Sudi Stodola. “That includes downloadables, electronic books, databases, audio/visual resources, and a lot more.”

In recognition of Teen Tech Week, Stodola will be holding a contest at TJ for the creation of posters or multi-media presentations advertising the library’s resources. “We’re looking for anything promoting the library and everything that’s in it,” said Stodola. “Me and three other judges will pick the winners, but we’re not sure how many places there will be yet.”

According to Stodola, the main focus of the posters and videos submitted should be the multimedia and non-book related materials offered in the library. “This contest is important – especially for parents – for people to know that the library is for more than just checking out books,” said Stodola. “The whole week will help a ton with marketing. I believe, even if we won’t admit it, all librarians are inherent nerds at heart, so we have no idea about marketing. It’s always nice to get students to do that part for us.”

One of the non-book related resources in the library is a plethora of ebooks online, an aspect of the library that Stodola believes is highly under-appreciated. “Most people in TJ, even the seniors, have no idea I even have ebooks,” said Stodola. “I really want to encourage people to come here and look things up. I don’t just have books, I have research opportunities, and tons of things for college.”

Upon receiving posters and videos, Stodola plans on using them as advertising materials around the school. “I want to laminate the winning poster, and use it in future years. I should have all of the posters in the contest displayed around the school through April,” said Stodola. “With the videos, I want to have them featured on the Spartan Edition. I’ll also upload them to the library website, and maybe create a Youtube channel for the contest. The whole project is centered around communication skills.”

Prizes for submitted posters and videos will include signed copies of numerous books donated by the Tattered Cover, including titles such as, Across the Universe, The Eternal Ones, and Night Shade. “Authors of multiple new books I have will be in town pretty soon,” said Stodola enthusiastically. “I’m going to get the books autographed, and put them up as prizes.”

According to Stodola, the Tattered Cover’s donation of books to TJ – which occurred at the beginning of this semester – was the inspiration for the contest. “I had the idea after the store’s generous donation,” said Stodola. “I was going to get most of them signed anyway, so I figured it’d be a good idea to make a contest out of it and use them as prizes.”

While the number of signed books being offered as prizes are limited, Stodola hopes to give all submissions some sort of prize. “Everyone who submits a poster or video will get something,” said Stodola. “The way I see it, if people put in the effort, they deserve something back. But it has to be a worthwhile effort.”

The deadline for the submission of posters or videos will be March 21st. The winning products will be judged and presented in time for April’s Teen Tech Week. All submissions should be turned in to Ms. Stodola in the library.