The Badger Pause Volume 10, Issue 7 14510 N. Cheshire Street, Burton, Ohio May 2015 Val & Sal 2015: A Neck and Neck Battle by Zak Martinjako, BP Staff Writer As the school year enters its final few weeks, it is valedictorian or salutatorian as of yet. This is due Yes, in a class that is known to many students and again time to make preparations to say farewell to to a few factors, one of which being that, with the staff as a battle ground of academic prowess (okay, this year’s senior class. Graduation day looms on the aforementioned new Shadow Project, the Senior maybe I’m being a bit over-dramatic here), the race horizon, and many seniors are preparing to leave the Edition of our newspaper is being released earlier for the top has been brutal, and whoever ends at that school a few weeks early in order to participate in this year. What seems to be the biggest factor, how- number one spot has fought hard to get there. There the new Senior Shadow Project. The Badger Pause ever, is that the competition is just too close to call. is, currently, no definitive answer or even solid basis is saying its own goodbye with this Senior for prediction. The best that we can Edition paper, and as per tradition we are give you is the top two prospects. including an article about the valedictorian So, without further commentary, let and salutatorian of the graduating class. me introduce you to the two main com- That task is not as simple as it seems. As petitors for the top of the class and the some may have noticed, there has been no titles of valedictorian and salutatorian: official announcement about this year’s Megan Arnold and Zakari Martinjako. Zakari Martinjako Megan Arnold The student placed second in the class, ketball and volleyball throughout high again at the time of writing, is Zakari school, and served as a varsity captain Martinjako, otherwise known as me. on both teams. Oh, and she’s also a peer Which means I’m about to sound hor- tutor and a volunteer at Burton Congre- rendously conceited, so I’d like to apol- Pictured to the right is Zak Martinjako (currently ranked second in the class) gational Church. Did I mention she’s ogize in advance. and to the left is Megan Arnold (currently ranked first). held a couple jobs? Admittedly, I’m quite well known school for me has been homework, Megan Arnold is, at the time of writ- (If your head is spinning from the for my grades, and from seeing other especially projects, due to the sheer ing, the student currently ranked first in sheer amount that she’s done and been people’s reactions there really isn’t amount of time they consume. I like to the class. To those that know her, this involved with, it’s okay, mine is too.) much surprise that I’m a contender for get work done as fast as possible so that probably doesn’t come as a surprise. According to Arnold, the hardest as- valedictorian/salutatorian. I’ve taken it’s out of the way, but I also want it Arnold has consistently challenged pect of high school for her was time some considerably challenging courses to be done exceedingly well. Add that herself throughout high school, taking management. It’s pretty easy to see throughout high school, including Hon- to my propensity to procrastinate, and it upper level classes such as Calculus, why. On the topic of difficult classes, ors/AP English, Calculus, Honors Alge- doesn’t end well. Physics, Honors/AP English, and AP she said the two that stood out to her bra II, and AP Biology. I generally took Looking back, I believe the two most Chemistry. Yet despite the challenge the most were Honors English III, due the highest level courses the school of- difficult classes I took were Honors of her course load, she has maintained to the leap in workload from previous fers for required classes. Electives, on English III and Honors Algebra II. an incredible standard for her grades. years, and Calculus, because of its chal- the other hand, I chose more for my My reasoning is much like Megan’s, On top of her challenging coursework, lenging subject matter. On the flip side, interest in them. Outside of class, I’m English III was just a huge spike in Arnold also has an impressive reper- Organic Chemistry was her favorite involved in CARE Team and have been workload, and Algebra II had difficult toire of extracurricular involvement. class “because it’s not a HUGE work- inducted into National Honor Society subject material. My favorite class was Throughout high school she has been load and I can just learn chemistry and and Spanish Honor Society (in which definitely Creative Writing. It was nice a member of student council as well as enjoy it. Going at a slower pace in an in- I serve as the treasurer). As for sports, to get to write artistically (not much the class president. She’s been inducted teresting class makes it more enjoyable. well, I haven’t really been one for ath- room for that normally, and no, essays into both the National Honor Society Plus the labs were intriguing.” letics since elementary school. do not count), plus I loved reading other and the Spanish Honor Society. Addi- Arnold will be attending Allegheny (I’m not quite as impressive as Megan, people’s work. tionally, she’s a member of both CARE College to study Chemistry and Pre- I’m afraid.) I will be attending Hiram College to Team and Actively Caring for People. Medicine. The most stressful aspect of high study Computer Science. On top of all of that, she played bas- Once again, it’s important to remember that this information is not finalized. It will all come down to the grades in these final few weeks. As one of the competi- tors, I would like to say good luck to Megan Arnold, and may the best man, or woman, win. The Senior Editors’ Last Will and Testament Check out these articles! Curiouis about The seniors bid Senior you all a fond Superlatives? farewell on See them on the page 4! back page! Oh the places Saying you will go! goodbye to our Our three editors (Carolyn Mayer, Christin Dornback, and Anna Carlson) have See the benefits super-librarian, some last requests before they leave. of travel on Mrs. Arnold, on Read it on page 9! page 5! page 6! 2 Sports May 2015 Berkshire’s collegiate athletes by Emily Shantery, BP Staff Writer Of the many talented athletes graduating from Berkshire this spring, few are going on to play college athletics. Playing at the next level in sports can be nerve-racking yet also very exciting. It takes a special kind of person not only to make it onto a college sports team, but also to love a sport enough to com- mit to it on an even higher level. In light of this, The Badger Pause would like to recognize some of the best athletes from the Class of 2015. Suzanne Koziol Christin Dornback Katelyn Luther Suzanne Koziol has Katelyn Luther is a Christin Dornback will committed to Youngstown Berkshire runner who be attending Arkan- State University where she will continue to run sas State University in will run track and cross throughout her college the fall, and she will country. During track she career. Katelyn, known major in Marketing will focus on the 3k stee- as Cluck by her closest with a minor in Com- plechase. Although she friends and fellow run- munication. Dornback has been running since ners, will run cross coun- will continue to run the seventh grade, Suz, try and track at Walsh track and cross coun- as she is affectionately University where she try there, and her track called, hasn’t always wanted to run in college. will be majoring in pre- events will most likely It wasn’t until she realized the opportunities it physical therapy. For track, Katelyn will be fo- be the 800 and the held for her financially and with traveling that cusing on long distance events such as the 1500, 1500. Dornback stat- she decided to run at this level. Suzanne plans to 3k, 5k, 6k, and possibly 10k. Katelyn has been ed that her favorite athletes are Craig Rupe, Eric major in dietetics and is most excited for meet- running track since the seventh grade, and cross Rupe, and Julie Cole. While she hasn’t always ing new people and experiencing new things. country since the eighth grade. She says that she planned on running in college Dornback said that She also stated that she doesn’t have a favorite has always wanted to continue running in college. she decided to because “it’s definitely advanta- athlete, but that “runners around the world are Cluck is mostly excited for having more freedom geous financially, but at the same time running is a all super cool and inspirational, and the running and independence as she prepares for her fresh- big part of my life, so I don’t think I could give it community is a huge inspiration.” man year as a Cavalier. Her favorite athletes are up and be happy with myself.” Alexi Pappas and Jordan Hasay. David Pelletier David Pelletier is yet another Berkshire Ben Blechschmid runner who will continue his track and Ben Blechschmid will be at- cross country career at the college level.