OHS Holds Ag Day

By JT Schneider

A tradition here at Olympia is Ag Day, Olympia High School students prepare for this day all year. This is one day where students get to teach kids more about Ag. They teach them what AG is about and teach them some of the dangers of working on a farm. Students bring farm equipment to demonstrate for the kids.

Some of the activities FFA students prepare for the students is PTO safety. This is where they take a tractor and farm equipment that uses a PTO. Students make a dummy scare crow stuffed with straw and tie a string to the dummy and they tie it to the PTO shaft. This demonstrates to the kids what will happen if you are not care full around farm equipment. It takes the dummy and rips it up like it would if you got caught up in the PTO shaft.

FFA students also bring their animals out for the kids to pet the animals and teach them the chores you have to do when owning animals. They tell them how much time you have to spend with the animals and how much work it is to keep your animals healthy.

FFA members also teach the kids about plants, and show them the green house and what the students do in FFA. They teach them how to grow plants, and what they have to do to keep the plants growing properly. They help the kids plant their own plants and let the kids take them home with them.

They also prepare the kids with a little snack, they sometimes teach them how to make ice cream and give the kids the opportunity to make it themselves. They also make dirt cups and let the kids make it themselves.

Senior Bryson Gottschalk said, “This is a great opportunity for the kids to understand what FFA is about and teaches them the responsibility it takes to work on a farm or own animals.”

This day is a great opportunity for kids to think about signing up for FFA when they get into high school. It also teaches them what FFA is about so they have a little understanding what it is, before they sign up.

OHS Speech Team Holds Awards Banquet

 

 

By Tyler DeVault, OHS Torch Reporter

 

            The OHS Speech Team held an end of the season awards banquet on Wednesday, May 13th; those who were in individual events, Contest Play, and Group Interpretation were invited to attend.

            “Being a part of speech was a great experience. It helped me boost my confidence and everyone on the team was so supportive and willing to help you,” said Sophomore Everlynn Roberts.

The Marjorie Risser Award goes to a first-year contestant in speech. This show that the person who received this award took risks in a new activity. The award went to Freshman Dylan Marris.

The Betty Tambling Award goes to a junior or senior who has stayed with the activity faithfully. This award goes to someone who doesn't necessarily win championships, but shows dedication to the team. The award went to Senior Tyler DeVault.

The Mark Schwartz Award goes to a senior, or junior, who typically has the most success as a competitor. It can also go to a team member who speaks the truth well. This award was presented to Senior Jessie Birckelbaw and Junior Collin Schopp.

The Julie Anne Crum Award goes to a junior or senior who participated in Contest Play or Group Interpretation and loved the group aspect of the activity. This person also helped keep the group together and produced positive results. This award went to Senior Allison Schuette  

The Technical Theater Award goes to a junior or senior who contributed to the production of one or both Contest sets. This award went to Senior Tim VanDyke.

“The crew for the contest play had some challenges to overcome, such as losing a great deal of the crew to spring break vacations during the contest. But in the end we all put forth the effort to get the set constructed and ran the show on the road with good effect,” said VanDyke

The OHS Speech Team wrapped up a successful season in March with the conclusion of Group Interpretation Edward Scissorhands and Contest Play Steel Magnolias. The Contest Play placed fifth and the Group Interpretation placed sixth. The individual event season ended in late February, sending nine events to sectionals.

 

POT Class Wraps Up Their Final Project

By Joshua Eschbach

                After a long semester of learning and building, Olympia High School’s Principles of Technology class have started their final project of the year.

                Throughout the school year, the class has done multiple projects. The first project of the year was to make a car from a rat trap, and then the class made boats from cardboard, and then assembled model windmills to generate power.

                For the ending project, the students had to create something using the engineering design process. The student’s projects have to solve an issue that they deal with every day.

                For the project, the students have to record the criteria and constraints for the project, construct a prototype, and after engineering the final project, create a PowerPoint describing how they constructed their product.

                Seniors  Joshua Melick and Andy Moss are building a motor that will charge your phone while riding a bicycle. Joshua said, “Our project takes quite a bit of work, we have a motor that spins against the rim when the rim is spinning which then send power to a system that charges the phone.”

                During this semester, the POT classes have spent a lot of time out in the school green house cleaning and fixing irrigation and hydroponic systems.          Seniors Alex Ewalt and Christ Geurts are building a vertical hydroponic system made from downspout gutters. Alex stated, “There are only a few hydroponic systems in the green house that are in operating order, so we are in need of a new system.”

 

Operation Cool Makes an Impact

By JT Schneider & Grant Ross

On Wednesday May 5^th, over 10,000 students from 18 schools in Dewitt, McLean, and Livingston counties attended the Operation Cool Grand Finale held at Normal Community West High School.  Forty of those students were from Olympia.  Operation Cool students are asked to sign contracts that state they will: wear seat belts, not drive under the influence, and not text or use cell phones while driving.

Since Tri-County Operation Cool began in 1997, there have been more than 100 confirmed traffic crashes where serious injury was avoided because of seat belt use by a teenage driver. The program year ends with the grand finale where one student wins a new Mitsubishi vehicle.  Additional prizes are also given out with items like cash, laptops, TV’s, and gift cards.

This year’s Operation Cool finale was hosted by 101.5 WBNQ’s Susan Saunders. It also had some key speakers with compelling stories that heavily impacted the student crowd.

Not only did Olympia students compete for prizes, one of the lucky students was selected to have a chance to win a car. Junior Emily Humphrey from OHS was chosen to go up on stage and received a 1 in 19 chance at winning a brand new Mitsubishi.

There were also lots of other prizes given out to students such as Grant Ross who won a $20 Casey’s gift card and JT Schneider who received $15 gift card to McDonalds.  Senior Wyatt Crump said, “I am happy to take home what I won from Operation Cool, and I now know more about safety.”  Crump won a Bluetooth speaker.

Emily Humphrey received $100 on top of her chance to get a new car. Emily Humphrey said, “Although I didn’t win the car I’m happy,  I was selected for the opportunity to go.”

Students at the assembly had many emotions though out the night, staying quiet to hear the guest speakers and also cheering loud for their schoolmates. Although not everyone walked away with a prize, everyone did get to hear what the speakers had to say.

Memorial Garden Honors Fallen USMC Pilot

 

By Austin Bruner, OHS Torch Reporter

Recently, Olympia High School has planted a memorial garden in the front of the high school for fallen USMC pilot Reid Nannen , an Olympia graduate from Hopedale, Illinois.

On March 1, 2014, Major Reid Nannen died in an F/A-18C Hornet training accident while flying over Nevada.  Nannen was a member of Olympia High School graduating class of 2000. He was a member of the elite eight baseball teams in 1999 and 2000.  Nannen was also captain of the Olympia swim team, drum line section leader, editor of the school newspaper and an Illinois State Scholar.  He graduated from the University of Illinois in 2004, then attended Naval Aviation training and received his Wings of Gold in 2007.  He served in Afghanistan twice from 2010-2012.  At the time of the accident, Major Nannen was training at TOPGUN Naval Air Station in Fallon, Nev.  He was married to Sarah Simpson Nannen and was the father of four children. His parents were Dale P. and Mary Ann Hays Nannen.

A memorial fund established in Nannen’s name funded  the garden. The garden includes many colorful blooming flowers and a memorial rock engraved with a Spartan head and the words, “Major Reid Nannen Memorial Garden.”   The garden and stone will stand as a reminder to OHS students of a brave man who actively and determinedly  pursued and achieved his dream career while leading an exemplary life.

 

 

 

OHS Algebra Classes Build Bridges

By Haley Staub, OHS Torch reporter

When one thinks of math class, they usually picture sitting in a classroom staring at a whiteboard and solving algebraic problems, but not many would think of building a bridge.

Using only thin strips of basswood and wood glue, the Algebra II classes at Olympia High School are building small bridges. The objects must hold a minimum of 10 pounds on them, which they will be testing Monday.

The assignment started with learning how to build bridges. The students researched what bridges normally look like and how to build a prototype.

Then they went to the drawing board and made blueprints of what their bridges would look like. Next, in small groups, the students built their bridges. Finally, the classes tested their bridges.

There was a challenge to this assignment though. The students had to add a right triangle in their bridges, so they had to use the Pythagorean Theorem, a math concept the class studied in depth.

It's a different take on an algebra project, and the students enjoyed it a lot. "I like this kind of thing," said Freshman Janelle Birky.

"It’s better because we're not just sitting in class.  We're being interactive," said Freshman Kristen Shuette.

OHS math teachers Mrs. Bowers and Mrs. Deal had their classes create these magnificent objects. “I think it’s good for students to learn hands-on activities,” said Deal. “The collaboration and just getting out of the classroom and down to the shop is a really good experience for them.”

There are a lot of Olympia students that are very creative and like to design, both mentally and physically. This project is a good opportunity for young students to learn more about math and how it impacts careers and everyday life.

CO2 cars come bursting through Olympia

by Logan Hawker, OHS Torch Reporter

            OHS Energy and Transportation class built small wooden CO2 cars which raced each other for the crown in a two day tournament on Friday, May 8^th and Sunday May 11^th.

            Olympia’s Energy and Trans. class, taught by Mrs. Justus, built model wooden CO2 cars to compete in a tournament. The cars were all very different and had to meet certain specifications.

            Some of the specifications included body length, axel distance, car height and distance from the bottom of the car to the bottom of the wheels. Only one car did not meet the specifications, but it was allowed to race anyway.

            The students were allowed to paint the cars however they wanted as long as they were school appropriate. The students painted their cars in a variety of different shapes and colors. “I painted my car like the Joker. It was purple and green with red letters that said HAHAHA and Why So Serious?,” said senior Rayvin Kassabaum.

            On race day, the track was set up in the gym. The start and finish lines were 35 feet apart from each other. Padding was placed at the end of the finish line to make sure none of the cars got damaged. A sting ran along the track that the two racing cars would be hooked onto to make sure they went straight.

            The tournament started out with a lot of the underclassmen pitting their cars against each other while four seniors had a bye to the second round. Some races where close while others were at a big disadvantage.

            After many races the semi-finals consisted of Seniors Tyler Bruner, Nick Wilson and Bryson Gottschalk, and Junior Andrew Renfrow. Bruner and Renfrow had a pretty close race with Bruner taking the win. Nick’s car did well but was no match for Bryson’s.

            The finals were a very close race and in the end Byson’s car took the victory and was crowned champion. “I’m very proud of my car and I knew it was going to win because it was the lightest. “

Breakfast of Champions Honors Students for Positive Actions

 

By Austin Beachy, OHS Torch Reporter

 
On Monday, May 4th, Olympia High School held its annual Breakfast of Champions to honor those students who have stuck out from the pack this year. The Breakfast of Champions is a time when “Students are honored for doing something positive for Olympia High School,” said OHS Dean Mr. Hurley.

 The awards can be for a variety of things--for excelling in athletics, for showing improvement in the classroom, for helping out others or for just being polite in the hallways. Most awards are not for classroom excellence, but they can be. Mr. Hurley emphasized that behavior and politeness are key to receiving these awards.

 The cafeteria staff kindly put on a breakfast at 7:00 and the awards started at 7:30. Each teacher shared their nominated champion and why that person was nominated.

 
This is Mr. Hurley’s 9th year at Olympia High School and he has participated in the event every year. He plans on keeping it alive in the future as well.  OHS secretary Mrs. Schmidgall said, “The Breakfast of Champions is a great way to recognize students in all areas. The student I nominated had tears in her eyes when she received the award.  It was very touching.”

Teachers presenting awards were: Mrs. Lynch, Mrs. Meisner, Mr. Hurley, Principal Jodlowski, Mrs. Schroeder, Mr. Brigham, Mrs. Stephan, Mr. Haak, Mrs. Steve, Ms. Lies, Mr. Hieronymus, Mr. Cleary, Mrs. Schmidgall, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Gaither, Mr. Hewitt, Mr. Stine, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Castleman, Mrs. Braskich, and Mrs. Justuce.

 Students receiving awards were: Xian Graden, Dylan Huffington, Logan Schuerman, Kevin DeBord, Brad King, Delia Kerr-Dennhardt, Chris Hancock, Cheyanne Park, Lexi Danner, Hunter Rigg, Destiny Ballenger, Grace Curtis, Ellie Schmidgall, Bryce Rinkenberger, Emma Wendland, Will McGhee, Lucas Salvator, Zaily Graber, Rayvin Kassabaum, Josh Behm, Reid Brown, Zach Toft, Blake Enos, Laura Rankin, William Pratt, and Brittany Ice.

 OHS business teacher Mrs. Schroeder said, “The Breakfast of Champions in beneficial and it’s good to give others recognition.”  Congratulations to all the award recipients!

Strike Out Cancer Awareness Plans for Future Games

 By OHS Torch Reporters, Hannah Smith & Blade Mathews

On Wednesday, May 13^th, the OHS softball team had their final home game against Normal Community, featuring their highlighter pink colored shirts to support breast cancer awareness.

In previous years, the Lady Spartans had this game with Dee-Mack high school. Last year, both teams played on Dee-Mack’s home field and supported one of their fans who had been affected by breast cancer, a woman named Tammy.

Originally, the “Strike out Cancer” game was created by Laughing Dog Graphics owner, Kenny Williams. With Dee-Mack taking over recently, we had different names for the t-shirts. Such as, “Swinging for a Cure”, and “We love Tammy” the past 2 years.

This year, the Dee-Mack tradition stopped due to t-shirt conflicts. Instead, the softball team played them for their senior day/Oly Fire recognition day. The OHS softball team worked with Laughing Dog this year to squeeze in the tradition of having a pink-out game.

OHS Varsity Softball coach, Al Canopy, said he plans to organize better next year. He wishes to get more involvement for Laughing Dog, due to the successful new uniforms the company created for the Lady Spartans this year along with warm ups for the team and sweatshirts/t-shirts available for purchase for the fans/parents of the girls.

Coach Canopy said he wishes to involve a couple teams for a round robin tournament next year, featuring “Strike out Cancer” t-shirts. Another goal would be to get the baseball team involved, by having them wear the shirts and support the cause as well.

The baseball team hasn’t ever had a breast cancer awareness game. It would be a great addition, considering more money would be raised through the purchase of the t-shirts (which, money is donated toward the cause).

A goal for the future would be to get all of Olympia sporting events to have a “pink” represented game on the same day. Spring sports include baseball, softball, track, and girls’ soccer. If each could work to organize a home game on the same day/work out the t-shirts with fans and players, OHS could be painted pink for the cure.