Student Council 2009

As the end of the year approaches, WCHS students vote in the annual Student Council Elections. Each grade has representatives running for class president and other positions; then, the class votes on who will become its officers. The students will also vote on who will become the student body officers.

As the 2009-2010 year approaches, the upcoming 10th grade officers are as follows: Michael Stomps will take on the role of Class President; Gabi Benalcazar will be Vice President; Reid Smith will be Treasurer; and Brett Muschott will act as Secretary.

Starting their junior year, Austin Morgan will act as 11th grade Class President; Tanner Singleton will be Vice President; Annie Barlow will act as Treasurer; and Shelby Hamrick will be Secretary.

For the class of 2010, this year’s election was the most dramatic. Dave Muschott, WCHS guidance counselor and head of student leadership, comments on the event, saying: “I have never seen this in 9 years.” Mr. Muschott is referring to the “political race” between Marsalis Brown and Braden Peters versus Madison Mikhail and Beryl Dulo.

The results for the two teams came to a tie and a “run-off” was issued for Friday May 22, during the various 11th grade Worldviews classes. Later that day, the student body found out the much-anticipated results of the election: the role of President went to Marsalis Brown, and Braden Peters will act as his V.P.

For the senior class, the role of Treasurer will go to Gina Bourcouras, and Carrie Chodzin will act as class Secretary.

Even though each class has its own individual class officers, WCHS does have one main Student Council. For the upcoming year, Tim Webb will be Student Body President, with Jared Watson acting as Vice President. Andrew Parrish will be Student Body Secretary, and for the first time ever, rising 11th grader Matt Rickly will act as Treasurer. “We’ve had it where an underclassman and a senior go head to head, but generally the Student Body Council is made up of seniors,” notes Mr. Muschott.

Although there were some that did not win the student vote, they will still be able to be on student council: “Students that don’t win will be class representatives” comments Mr. Muschott.

With a new year approaching, the new Student Council is ready to breathe new life into our school. New opinions and ideas will be brought to the table and an exciting new year is bound to unfold. To get the ball rolling, “There will be a Student Council lunch next Thursday, during exam lunch, catered by Chipotle. Any past Student Council members are welcome to join” exclaims Mr. Muschott.

2009 Middle School Trips

Every year, students at the Middle School look forward to the month of May for two reasons. One, it’s only 31 days till summer; and two, the infamous middle school trips take place. Each grade gets its own special trip where, for 3 days, education and fun mix together. 6th grade travels down to Huntsville, Alabama, home of Space Camp; 7th grade goes to Lake Erie where they visit Put-in-Bay, Great Wolf Lodge, the Great Lakes Science Museum in Cleveland, and the Mather Ship Museum. Finally, 8th grade travels to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

The trip to Space Camp is one of the most anticipated trips of the year. There, students get a first-hand look at what it’s like to go into space and learn its techniques. Also, students got time to do what becomes a highlight of the trip: swimming! Instead of using the pool at the hotel where the students stay, coordinator and WCMS social studies and science teacher Ruth Beschta explains that “this year we rented an Olympic-size swimming pool.”

One of the most memorable parts of the trip is the Space Shot, a ride that lifts you 140 ft up in the air in 2.5 seconds; and for 2-3 seconds students are able to experience what it feels like to be weightless. “By the end of the trip, everyone went on the ride” notes Mrs. Beschta.

Though Space Camp is filled with many wonderful and valuable memories, Mrs. Beschta mentions what she believes is the most valuable part: “All the kids bonding on the trip. They spend a lot of time on the bus and it’s a good experience for them.”
Both the 7th and 8th grade trips are fairly new to the agenda: both trips started only 5 years ago. 7th grade travels to Lake Erie where they learn about water life. They also get to travel to Cleveland where they visit The Great Lakes Science Museum and Mather Ship Museum.

WCMS principle Dick Dray, who has gone on the trip every year, comments on his experience on the trip: “Seeing kids who have never gone on the waterfront or have never experienced Cleveland get to do those things was great. At the Science Museum, they did an extra demonstration for us; it was on electricity and some of the teachers participated in it.”

The final trip middle school students get to attend is the journey to Washington, D.C. There, students get a taste of the sights and experiences of the Capital. WCMS history teacher Mike O’Neil comments on his experience: “It’s a highlight trip, but we’ve been able to add extra sites to our list like the Holocaust Museum.”

The trip to Washington this year was full of memorable moments. “This year, on the steps of the Capital Building, we met Pat Tiberi and got to pray with him,” notes Mr. O’Neil; “I was also able to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider in honor of my father.”
When asked about the lasting impression that the trip has had on his students, Mr. O’Neil says “I hope they get to see how fortunate they are to get to go to the capital and allowed to see all the historical sights. Some countries don’t allow that and sometimes we can take things like this for granted.”

WCHS Spring Choir/Band Concert 2009

On May 19, 2009, in the high school auditorium, WCHS’s much anticipated choir/band concert began at 8:00 pm. There, attendees were serenaded by the choir and band’s best musical numbers.

The choir and band perform two major concerts a year: one in the winter that contains a majority of holiday songs; and one in the spring that has more up-beat and lively songs.

This year, the choir sang songs from State Contest and from the class the choir took with Dr. Raymond Wise. Mrs. Rugg-Klapheke, choir director, commented on the experience: “He taught us two new songs and we will be singing those pieces at our concert.”

Soloists included seniors Morgan Meyers, Gwen Dreyer, Ashley Merino and Andrew Protopapas; along with sophomores Rachel Safer and Ali Butterworth.

The Spring Choir/Band concert can be described as “a dedication to the seniors and a fun, up-beat performance that everyone will enjoy,” notes Sara Katula, current junior. Sara has performed with the choir since freshman year and notes that “the spring concert is my favorite performance we do the whole year!”

The Band also performed and has definitely grown since previous years. “We are 25 members strong,” says band director Karen Leigh, who joined the WCHS staff in 2007; at that time, only 3 students had signed up for band. As she prepared for the concert, Miss Leigh noted that “the audience will hear us perform challenging fanfares, Celtic ballads, and well-loved songs from The Phantom of the Opera.”

Much like the choir, the band also has a new addition to the music department: the Jazz Band, which includes freshman Chris Bradley; sophomores Michael Brammer and David Feusse; juniors Zach Hartzell, R.J. Murray, Chris Rivers, Tim Webb, and A.J. Whitt. The Jazz Band also had help from WCHS librarian Mr. Stoll who played the drums. “This is the debut performance of our outstanding Jazz Band,” noted Miss Leigh: “The band will be performing ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ and will bring a new level of talent to our show.”

Junior Tim Webb commented on what he looked forward to at the concert, saying: “I’m looking forward to showing how hard the band has been working and how good we’ve gotten.”
Mr. Stoll commented on his experience, saying “It was a pleasure and honor playing with these guys; they’re really talented!”

Show choir also performed: this was their first Spring Concert. We first experienced the Show Choir at this year’s Winter Concert; and they just recently preformed at this year’s Educating for Eternity Silent Auction.

Chorale, Varsity Ensemble, Scarlet Ensemble, and Gold Ensemble also performed.

The choir closed the show with a “reunion,” so to speak, when they invited past choir alumni up to the stage to participate in the final song, ‘The Lord Bless You and Keep You,’ which they sing every year.

“The Lord Bless You and Keep You” is also the song that the seniors will sing at their graduation: “[Their graduation performance] will be their last performance here at WCHS” notes Mrs. Rugg-Klapheke.

The Spring Choir/Band concert is always a memorable way to end the school year, so Miss Leigh certainly lived up to her prediction: “Come and enjoy a great evening of music and entertainment!”

Educating for Eternity Silent Auction: April 2009

On Saturday, April 18, 2009, WCS’s annual Educating for Eternity silent auction took place at the Family Center on Worthington Galena Rd. At the auction, an adults-only event, parents bid on various items to help fund financial aid for students and continuing education for teachers; and to assist with the administrative costs of running the school.

Tailgating was this year’s theme for the auction, and participants were asked to wear their favorite collegiate wear. The WCHS band performed outside while bidders entered the auction.

OSU alum and former football player Archie Griffin made a special appearance at the event, mingling with bidders, signing autographs, and taking photos.

The gym was decorated with Buckeye decorations and game-themed signs designed by Laura Stepp. Decorations were also provided by Exhibit Pro and Alphagraphics. Many of the auction areas had football themes like “End Zone” and “Take Down.” The area was also filled with “pump up” music such as “Hang on Sloopy” and “We are the Champions.”

This is the fourth year for the auction, and the goal for this year was to reach $140,000. The general attendance for the auction was around 400-500 people.

Though no one under 18 is allowed to participate in the auction, teenagers did help out. Students volunteered to serve food and drinks from Schmidt's, in addition to beverages from Crimson Cup Coffee. WCHS senior Tyler Mitchell acted as student emcee alongside WCHS theater teacher Dave O’Roark; they walked around informing bidders of items on display and announcing when auction areas were closing. Seniors Emily Bookheimer and Gabe Botkin played the parts of homecoming king and queen, with Emily wearing jewelry available for bidding.

There were many items on display--everything from baked goods to paintings and even a “money tree” worth $300! The goal was that all the items up for the silent auction would be sold, but unfortunately some were not; “all the items that did not sell will go on Ebay,” comments Juile Nathan, WCS Director of Development.

The final events for the auction started with the Show Choir performing, followed by the Chorale. The live auction then began, with Dave O’Roark taking on the role as emcee. Julie Nathan noted that “The live auction was the best we’ve ever had. Some of the items up for sale went for more than their worth.”

The biggest selling item was this year’s USC football tickets that were worth $138 and were sold for $ 3,000! “The one item that was really surprising was the homemade WCS quilt,” commented Julie Nathan: “it was just really cool to see that item bring in that amount of money.” The quilt was valued at $500 and sold for $1,500.

The night ended with a closing song by the Chorale in which Morgan Meyers sang the solo.

The Educating for Eternity Silent Auction was an eventful evening with many creative items from which to choose. “I didn’t get the Buckeye Cheesecake,” WCHS parent and bidder Becky Chodzin commented on her experience: “but it was a fabulous evening and I won the one thing I’ve wanted for the last 3 years!”

Overall, the auction brought in $110,000. “Everything went very smoothly during the auction and I have very high hopes for next year,” Mrs. Nathan noted.

(Photographs courtesy of Brian Shindle, Creative Moments Photography and Ginger Gibson)

Senior Trip 2009

The trip that so many students at WCHS have anticipated finally arrived, on March 17, 2009, when WCHS seniors left on a week-long trip to the Dominican Republic. While there, seniors ministered to sugarcane villages; helped out at medical clinics; and, of course, visited beaches, Catalina Island, and did shopping in Santo Domingo. Seniors returned on Thursday March 26, 2009, just in time for spring break.

This year, out of the 82 seniors, 56 participated in the trip. Those who did not attend were required to do a community service project.

Seniors were placed into various groups for the flights down, with flight connections in Miami, FL and Chicago. Once in the Dominican, seniors traveled to the SCORE complex, their “home” for the week; had dinner; and relaxed by the beach.

This year, the group held three medical clinics (one at an orphanage, two in villages) -- which helped 400 people.

Joining the seniors were two doctors and two nurses. Over $100,000 in medical supplies and equipment was donated to the effort!

Seniors also went into four villages and were able to feed 295 families. All together, over $6,000 was donated from various students and families to “Feed the Village.” Also established was a benevolence fund for local church deacons to use for their village in case of food emergencies.

Seniors did ministry in two different orphanages. 12th grader Emily Garber commented on her experience, exclaiming “The Dominican was amazing! The little kids were great!”

One of the ways our seniors ministered at the orphanage was by putting on a puppet show for the kids. Additionally, over 100 kids were seen in the medical clinic that took place at the orphanage.

Lindsey Petrel, senior, gave this reporter an enthusiastic comment on her experience: “Senior trip was amazing! You have to go next year!” Evidently, the trip down to the Dominican Republic is what students look forward to most in their senior year, next to graduating.

WCHS Bible teacher Dr. Buzz Inboden, who’s gone to the Dominican with previous senior classes, commented on his experience: “This trip was more serious. This class was more focused and better prepared. Senior trip was about missions, not ‘It’s our senior trip; let’s have fun and do some missions.’”

11th grader Sara Katula commented on what she looks forward to when she attends next year: “I’m really excited: and I hope to get a rewarding experience, and that it will open my eyes to new things.”

When asked about what about what he thinks next year’s trip with the class of 2010 will be like, Dr. Buzz smiles and says “There’s no doubt that the class of ’10 will be just as focused as this class.”

2009 Annual Leadership/Worthington Spelling BEE

On Tuesday, March 17, at 7:00 p.m., WCHS participated in the 15th annual Leadership/Worthington Spelling BEE, which took place in the Worthington Kilbourne High School auditorium. Participants included Renee Vagnier, Gwen Dreyer, Alexa Garrison, Marisa Smith, and Van Anh Nguyen.

The BEE started in 1993 teams generally made up of three participants and an alternate member. Teams were told to be in the auditorium for food, refreshments, team pictures.
The BEE invites not only students from various schools to participate, but also adults and teachers. This year, there were 23 teams made up mostly of adults from local businesses. Out of those 23 teams, five represented various high schools.

Participants were given a study guide of the words before the event, and once at the Bee, the judges placed the words in sentences.
This year was WC’s first year participating. Troy McIntosh, Assistant Superintendent of WCS, was our team’s coach and commented on their experience: “A lot of the words were extremely difficult. If you have ever watched the National Spelling Bee on ESPN, you'd have a good idea about the difficulty of the words. Probably half of the words I'd never even heard before, let alone spelled.”

Out of the 23 teams, WCHS came in at 14; and out of the 5 high school teams, we placed 3rd!: “It was surprisingly fun,” said bee participant and current senior Gwen Dreyer: “It was cool to see the adults participating in the BEE along with the students.”

The word that our team misspelled was “persnickety.”
Due to the positive experience that resulted in participating in the BEE, plans for attending next year are in full swing. 12th grade English teacher Peggie Bell said: “For our first time participating, we did really well. We’re planning on going again next year and possibly taking a middle school team with us as well.”

For senior Van Anh Nguyen, the BEE was a learning experience: “This was the first time I’ve ever seen a spelling bee in person. The first round was easy, but the second round was hard and we went home too early.” Then, laughing, she said, “But we got free t-shirts from Mr. Anglea!”

Meet the Writers: Shane Fultz's Thoughts on Soccer and WCHS

When you think of Worthington Christian High School, generally athletics come to mind. But in recent years, one sport has taken precedent in our minds: soccer. Forward varsity player Shane Fultz shares some inside knowledge on the world of soccer and what his future is.

Fultz has played the sport since he was three, and credits his father as the one who guided him into the sport. “He forced me to play”- and in return, soccer soon became Shane’s favorite sport.

Fultz, who is now seventeen, plays forward on WCHS’s varsity team and is seeking a scholarship to college -his dream college would be Ohio Dominican- in order to play there. Fultz is looking to pursue a career in education. When asked about a prospective career in professional soccer, Fultz says “soccer is fun and exciting, but the chances of playing it professionally are hard. I want to help people, and my family is full of educators.”

Shane has played soccer at WCHS since he was a freshman; with all that time behind him, he certainly has a lot of memorable experiences. One such experience occurred this year when our Warriors went to state semi-finals: “everyone was tired, but we took the team into overtime: Eric Stevenson scored the goal-it was sudden death!”

Remembering the unfortunate events of the previous year, Fultz tells about the struggles of adjusting to the team’s new coach, Mr. Roads. “It’s hard playing under a system for three years, and then trying to play under a new coach. But we had to accept it: losing Coach Smith was a definite adjustment for us. Players had to step up, and we seniors had to step up.”

Fultz shares his view points on Mr. Roads’ first year: “This experience, this year, will help him become a better coach; now he knows the players’ strengths and weaknesses.” With our soccer program growing stronger each year, Shane Fultz has contributed a great deal and will be missed as he graduates this year; but we have no doubt that he will continue to amaze soccer fans as he continues to play in college.

The Jade Image: WCHS's Student Band

On February 13, The Jade Image, a student band at WCHS, played its first concert at Grace Brethren Powell. Here, the group preformed original songs written by the band members, and various worship songs.

The Jade Image consists of seniors, including Josh Howard (lead vocals and piano), Nathan Wicker (drums), Jordan Doherty (bass), Gabe Botkin (vocals) and Jared Larson (lead electric guitar).

There was an air of nervous excitement as everyone gathered by the stage to watch the band perform for the first time. There were complementary drinks and various band merchandise including the band’s first EP ( a taste of the bands songs and sound) Crimson Rain.

The show started out with a video of what the band was doing before the show with a count down leading up to their walking out onto the stage and performing their first song.
During the show, the band interacted with the audience (made up of high school and middle school students) by bringing a random audience member onto the stage for a singing competition between Gabe and whoever the lucky person was.

The band, which started out as part of WCHS’s worship band, morphed into The Jade Image, and, due to Howard’s internship, received studio time.
When asked what one of the best things about their first performance was, Howard said “Being on stage and looking out into the crowd and seeing everyone there to support us. Over 200 people came out.”

Throughout the night, the band had an air of professionalism and organization; and they seemed to know their way around the stage. Junior Andrew Kistler said “The band sounded good and it was really cool to see kids from school performing original songs.”
This reporter attended the concert and enjoyed it; but a word of advice: start on time, not a half hour later. The video was cute, but was it absolutely necessary? Remember: the band is in its beginning stages; save the “rock star diva” vibe for future shows.


The Jade Image definitely has stage presence and catchy songs. Students of WCHS should keep their ears open for upcoming shows, of which Howard assures us that there will be more.

A Night to Remember: Winter Event 2009

On February 7, 2009, WCHS students flocked to the Powell Grace Brethren church to attend the “Game Show Extravaganza”- this year’s theme for Winter Event. At the church, they ate various Italian food catered by Olive Garden, and coffee and hot chocolate by Caribou Coffee. Students participated in various games such as Family Feud, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, and Deal or No Deal.

At the event, students were dressed in semi-formal wear and the room was buzzing with conversation, along with spontaneous flashes from various digital cameras.

Professional pictures were also taken by Mrs. Gibson. As the event started, certain students had been previously selected to play the game, as was the case with Family Feud. Certain students were randomly selected to play a game throughout the night, which was the case for Don’t Forget the Lyrics.

Teams for Family Feud were broken down by grade, and the winning team received an out of uniform day for its grade. With Don’t Forget the Lyrics, the winners received a gift card if they could remember the lyrics.

Finally, those who volunteered for Deal or No Deal were competing for “Clash of the Classes” points, which functions as a competition to see which class truly has the most spirit.
Junior Luke Condon commented on his experience in attending and playing Deal or No Deal by saying that “It was fun being on Deal or No Deal, but it could’ve been better…..a lot better.”

So far, that’s the response most students gave. Junior and Student Council member Abby Camp said “Overall, I didn’t find it that fun, but there were parts that were funny. Watching people play Deal or No Deal was funny, but that was it.” Throughout the night, there was an air of disorganization and students were bored. Unless you or your friends were playing one of the games, there wasn’t much to do.

On a good note, unlike last year, the event didn’t run out of food (last year they ran out of Chipotle and had to do a “quick run” to save the night). However, even the food didn’t help this year’s Winter Event. It was clear; throughout the night, that many students opted to leave early.
Though Student Council does its best with planning such events, but this attempt of trying to be cute and light failed, from some students’ perspectives. Student Council gets points for creativity, but many hope the members do better in the future.

Remember: the freshman and sophomores only have Homecoming and Winter Event to attend (unless they’re asked by an upper classman to Gala): so please make these events memorable for them…in a good way.