Hilltopper “The Voice of Morris Hills” June 2013 Vol. 59 No. 3 MH Class of 2013 Names Top Students by Gordon Chu and Meheresh Yeditha “I am extremely honored to have earned my spot as the Morris Hills The news that she was the Morris Class of 2013 salutatorian,” Biro said. Hills valedictorian felt like “validation Colette says that she worked for four long years of hard work and very hard to gain her position as little sleep” for Brittany Mashel, the salutatorian. Between all of her who, surprisingly, had not considered extracurricular activities and her job, class ranking until the end of her she said that it was difficult to find second year of high school. When time to devote to school, but that the numbers came out her sophomore because she was able to make room year, it came as a pleasant surprise for everything, she was able to get that she had the second highest GPA to where she is now. While Colette in her entire grade. It was at that knew that there was a ranking system, moment that Brittany decided to set she never particularly thought about her sights on the number one spot, Valedictorian Salutatorian being at the top of the class, but she which brought her to where she is Brittany Mashel Colette Biro says that like Brittany, once she found today. activities, work, and social life. double major in another field. Her out she was up there, she wanted to Brittany attributes her academic Brittany herself is the Art Director lengthy list of accomplishments and stay there. Colette also has some triumph to her dedication. Everything of the theater department at Morris credentials certainly suggest that she advice on how to achieve academic she worked on throughout her time Hills, responsible for designing and will do well in anything she decides success. “I would say that my biggest at Morris Hills, whether it was a painting sets, costumes, props, hair, to study. piece of advice is to always challenge simple homework assignment or a makeup, show logos, playbills, and Colette Biro is the salutatorian yourself. I took on five AP classes my complex final project in an Advanced shirts. She is president of the Interact of the Class of 2013. Colette is the senior year, and I’m not going to say Placement class, had 100% of her club, a member of six honor societies, captain of the Color Guard, historian of it was easy,” she said. “The challenge effort in it, even if she “didn’t like what a SEED literary magazine student the National Honor Society, president I provided myself with pushed me to she had to do.” She is a self-professed editor, and a private tutor in math of the National Art Society, vice strive to have the academic success “perfectionist” and “doesn’t like to and science. With such a wide array president of the Math Honor Society, that I was able to attain.” Colette plans put out anything but her best.” of things to do and only 24 hours in and a member of the Business Honor on attending Northeastern University Although she set her expectations a day, Brittany admits that “sleep Society, Social Studies Honor Society, in Boston to major in International amazingly high for herself, Brittany usually got sacrificed but everything French Honor Society, and Science Business and Economics. Given her also stressed the importance of else was balanced so I got the most Honor Society. She is also a member work ethic and her willingness to balance. She advises against focusing out of everything.” It looks like her of the Girl Scouts and volunteers for challenge herself, there is no doubt solely on academics and advocates effort was worth it, as she plans to Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership as she will do well in all her future a harmony between extracurricular attend The College of New Jersey as a staff member; she has also been an endeavors. a marketing major, and eventually employee at dELiA*s for two years. What’s Inside... Features.................... 2 Op-Ed......................4-5 Sports...............................8 News........................ 3 Senior Scrapbook.... 6-7 Features ......................9-12 Page 2 Features June 2013 by Kaitlyn Alegria Explore the Great Outdoors The trees sway back and forth a walk into the woods; it’s known to with you, have the map of the trail, Take a chance and explore a new while birds sing endlessly. There are no be a huge stress reliever. Need to work wear proper clothes and boots, always hobby! Some great places to hike noises from the usual population that out? Hiking challenges the body. Philip check the local weather forecasts, and locally at are Hedden Park, Mahlon surrounds a suburban resident. There Zurek, a senior at Morris Hills and carry a compass.” Dickerson Reservation, and Pyramid are no beeping cars, no huge crowds, experienced hiker, says “What appeals Adopting a trail is a great Mountain. Philp Zurek enjoys hiking to me about hiking? It rocks! I love the opportunity for individuals who already at Delaware Water Gap National sense of independence and freedom enjoy the outdoors. Volunteering to Recreation Area, the Catskills, and the I get from the hills.” The silence of adopt trails will expand a person’s the woods can teach an individual to passion for hiking and it will always enjoy nature and develop skills needed look good on a résumé! Mr. Young throughout life. says that “When a person agrees to Before hiking becomes a hobby Adopt-A-Trail, he/she agrees to patrol there are some tips everyone needs to an assigned trail at least once a month know. Going hiking out in the woods in and report findings to the County.” a group is a huge safety precaution. If an In other words, while walking on the incident happens, immediate help will trail an individual should look around be right beside the hiker’s side. “It is for fallen trees or dangerous situations always important to hike with buddies, for hikers. The adopter should bring a especially if you are a beginner,” Zurek journal and a map to mark where the says. Hiking with more experienced intrusion is so they can later report the people will teach a beginner how to problem or take care of it themselves. handle the surroundings and can deepen Tools like a hand saw, an axe, and a relationships. Carrying water and a medium size buck saw should be used few snacks is also important. Drink to remove any problems. To adopt continuously to keep hydrated and a trail, reach out to National Parks snack to keep the body’s reserves up. Services. Adopting a trail is a lot of Alegria and friend adopt a trail. Zurek enjoys the Adirondacks When out in the woods, follow Leave- responsibility; my best advice is to Adirondacks. Finding places to hike and no loud obnoxious music. In other No-Trace ethics. Making sure no one have a group of people help you out is as easy as searching on a computer words, hiking in the woods introduces a can tell that a hiker walked that path with the trail. “I have never adopted a to find a map. Hiking is a great blissful silence. Hiking is a hobby that minutes before is important. Respect trail because it would be quite difficult stress reliever, calorie burner, and an people should try. Connecting to nature nature and don’t litter in the woods. to upkeep it as a high school student. awesome way to just get away from and taking part in nature is an important Edward Young, a Regional Supervisor I plan on adopting a trail in the future reality. Challenging the mind and body quality that our generations seem to be for the Morris County Adopt-A-Trail when I will be able to take care of it,” by exploring the outdoors will make forgetting. Feeling stressed out? Take volunteer program, says “Bring water Zurek says. you feel better about yourself and the world around you. Allergies in a Bottle Be Safe This Summer! many visits to the nurse due to fragrance spraying in class, locker rooms, or anywhere else around the school. “One student had a severe allergy to perfume by Gina N. Fico and required medication for it,” she said. “Most kids feel it in their lungs, Summer is almost here! It’s a but there are certain students who will time that most students whether require medication for their reaction to they are in elementary, middle or the fragrance that has been sprayed by high school, look forward to. But them,” Zibit explained. During spring summer is also a time to think there have been frequent visits to the about safety. While accidents nurse because of just regular allergies from activities like bike riding or allergies caused by spraying increase in the summer, so do crime perfume or an Axe body spray. events. Because so many people At the moment there is not a policy love spending time outdoors in the in place for spraying fragrances. When asked about the issue, Mr. Toriello, summer and more people are out on assistant principal, said, “If someone the streets at night, the crime rate wants to spray perfume as of right now, becomes an issue. by Kyra Moretta they are allowed to,” he said. “At this Morris County police stage the problems with allergies and officer, School Resource Officer It’s springtime and that means it’s High School were angry about the perfumes or Axe body sprays have not Lommatzsch was interviewed allergy time.