THE
BARON
BULLETIN
WILSON HALL
SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
VOLUME 31 / NUMBER 3
MARCH 2017
Hilferty Appointed
to West Point
Senior Sam Hilferty received an appointment to the United
States Military Academy at West Point. Valued in excess of
$250,000, the appointment covers the cost of tuition, fees,
room and board and medical and dental care, and it
includes an annual salary for living expenses, uniforms, books
and a computer. This fully-funded, four-year federal government program builds a solid leadership foundation that is essential for the graduates who serve their country as a U.S.
Army officer following graduation. To receive an appointment,
students must earn high grades in the most challenging of
courses available, such as Advanced Placement courses, excel
in athletics, and have a record of demonstrated leadership on
campus and in the community.
DEBATE TEAM STATE CHAMPIONS
Sam Hilferty poses with his official acceptance to West Point.
The team of eighth grade students Hannah
Alsaadi and Emily Gray won first place in
the middle school division of the S.C. Independent School Association State Debate
Competition held in Florence. Emily also won
the trophy for earning the highest number of
points. Freshman Ainsley Morton won the
high point trophy for the novice division. All
six of Wilson Hall’s teams placed in the competition, winning eight of the 15 awards. Placing second in the middle school division were
seventh grade students Mary Jones and
Annie Lauzon.
In the novice competition, sophomore Sean
Alderson and Ainsley placed second and the
team of freshmen Mary Catherine Matthews
and Waverly McIver finished fourth. In the
high school division the team of junior Joshua
Easler and sophomore Luke Kinney placed
third, and placing fourth was the team of juniors Chandler Curtis and Meredith Johnson.
The topic of the debate was “A society has
an obligation to ensure adequate health care
for its citizens.” The debate teams are advised by Mrs. Stacey Reaves and Mrs. Dianne Sprott.
Debate winners Hannah Alsaadi, Emily Gray and Ainsley Morton pose with their trophies.
BARONS IN THE NEWS
PAGE FOUR
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3
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5
8
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9
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
PAGE
11
PAGE
Junior Jake Meyers leaps
over a human jump rope
during his class’s routine
in the Male Cheerleading
Competition.
14
Campbell Mims
STAFF
Emily Barnes
Corbin Bruce
Caroline Campbell
Catherine Clark
Courtney Clark
Charlton Commander
Layton Creech
Daulton Dabbs
Hayley DuBose
Hailey Ford
Hunter Hendrix
Drake Ives
Ragin Lee
Jackson LeMay
Sarah McCreight
Betsy Noyes
Megan Piasecki
Holly Poag
Daniel Reynolds
Kathryn Sistare
Sallie Spencer
Grace Tristan
Abby Zilch
ADVISORS
Mr. Sean Hoskins
Mrs. Elizabeth Hyatt
DANCE
MARATHON
RAISES
$10,000
Wilson Hall raised $10,110, far exceeding the
goal of $7,000, for the Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital. It was the school’s first
marathon and Wilson Hall raised more
money than any high school who hosted a
first-year event in the state.
In partnership with the University of South
Carolina Dance Marathon which raises over
half a million dollars every year through the
Miracle Network, the money raised will go
to support bettering the lives of children at
the hospital.
Held in the Nash Student Center from 5:0010:00 PM on February 11, the event featured
music, games, activities and food for students of all ages. In addition to raising money
through admission to the event, the committee raised money through a movie night, bake
Danielle deHoll, a member of the executive committee, announces the next event at the Dance Mini-Marathon
held in the Nash Student Center.
sales, tee shirt sales, and the solicitation of donations through the Miracle Network’s website.
The student-led event was organized by the following members of the Executive Committee: seniors
Natalie Ardis, Danielle deHoll, Lauren Elizabeth Elmore, Lane Herlong, Sam Hilferty and Campbell
Mims, and junior Steph Areford. Ms. Liz Affronti served as the faculty advisor for the committee.
Mr. McCord Named
Teacher of the Year
By Emily Barnes
Respected by students, parents and faculty, Mr. Chuck McCord
is a teacher few students forget. For the last 35 years, he has
made an impact on the students he has taught in classes like
Chemistry I, Advanced Placement Chemistry and philosophy,
and the students he has coached on the basketball, football,
or tennis teams.
For the 2016-2017 school year, Mr. McCord was elected
Teacher of the Year by his colleagues. “You have to feel honored when you are selected by other teachers who had other
outstanding choices,” he said.
After Wilson Hall submitted Mr. McCord’s name to the S.C. Independent School Association for the state competition, he
was named one of three finalists in the state after a panel
chose him based on his resume, essay and recommendations.
He and the other finalists were interviewed by three SCISA
heads of school in Orangeburg on March 7. The State Teacher
of the Year will be announced during a banquet held in April.
Not expecting the award, it was a surprise to him regardless
of having already been named Wilson Hall Upper School
Teacher of the Year twice before.
Junior Betsy Noyes, a member of the chorus,
offers a scripture reading during the winter concert.
Like every teacher, Mr. McCord has one thing that he strives
to accomplish in his teaching. “My primary goal in teaching is
to encourage students to slow down and think deeply.”
PAGE 3
COULTER IN STATE GEOGRAPHY BEE
Eighth-grade student William Coulter qualified to compete in the state level competition of the National Geographic Bee on March 31 in West Columbia. Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the
bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness
about geography. Eligible state bee competitors must be in grades four through eight, and must have participated
in and won the competition at the school level that involved at least six students. Mrs. Veronica Robertson is the
world geography teacher.
BARONS IN THE NEWS
Li Wins Region Spelling Bee
Seventh grader Lucy Li won the S.C. Independent School Assoc.
Regional Spelling Bee for her grade and advanced to the state
bee. One hundred students in grades three though eight, representing nine SCISA schools, participated in the regional bee.
The bee, hosted by Wilson Hall, was coordinated by Mrs.
Becky Haley and moderated by Mr. Scott Warren.
State Literary Meet
Wilson Hall’s literary team placed second in the S.C. Independent School Association State Literary Meet which had over 500
participants representing schools from throughout the state.
Wilson Hall’s delegation, consisting of 20 students in grades
two through 12, participated in the competition held in Summerville. The following upper school students won trophies in
their respective divisions: eighth-grader Emily Gray - 2nd in
essay, eight-grader Bella Land - 2nd in extemporaneous speaking, eighth-grader Madison DesChamps - 3rd in oral interpretation, senior Hannah Pauley - 3rd in extemporaneous speaking,
senior Drew Reynolds - 3rd in essay, eighth-grader Graham VanPatten - 3rd in essay, and eighth-grader Logan Kennedy - 4th in
extemporaneous speaking. The team is advised by Mrs. Kristall
Hanson, Mrs. Molly McDuffie, Mrs. Stacey Reaves, Mrs. Tara
Schumacher and Mr. Christian Smith.
STATE
MEET
The high school math team, advised by Mrs. Mary Anne Erter,
placed tenth out of 39 teams in the S.C. Independent School
Assoc. State Math Meet held at the Sumter County Civic Center
in January. The following students are members of the team: seniors Sam Hilferty and Lane Herlong, and juniors Paul Choe, Josh
Easler, Kirsten Fisher and Tod Yang.
Robotics Club
AdvAnces to StAte
Ashton Bartlett, Mikey Fisher and Tyler Mahr, members of the Robotics Team, perform a demonstration for faculty members.
The Robotics Club placed in the top four teams participating in the Palmetto FIRST
(For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) Lego League regional
qualifying competition held in Easley in December. The team advanced to the S.C.
FIRST Lego League East State Competition in January in Pawleys Island.
Each year FIRST Lego League releases a challenge based on a real-world scientific
topic which has three parts: robot game, project, and core values. Teams participate in the challenge by programming an autonomous robot, using Lego Mindstorms technology, to score points on a themed playing field and developing a
solution to a problem they have identified, all guided by the FIRST Lego League
core values.
The theme for this year’s challenge is Animal Allies and Wilson Hall’s team, The
Baron Bots, selected the sea turtle as the subject of the project. The students gave
an oral and visual presentation after conducting research on the life of the sea turtle and how to improve its environment.
The following students are members of the competition team: eighth grader Aiden
Hilditch and Mikey Fisher, seventh graders Ashton Bartlett, Caroline Chelen, Tyler
Mahr and Derek Smith, sixth grader Jackson Mahr, and fifth grader Dillon Bartlett.
Advisors for the club are Mr. and Mrs. Jason Bartlett, Mrs. Jeanna Mahr and Mr. Jim
Wallace.
PAGE 4
An End for the Iconic Circus
By Holly Poag
After 146 years of entertaining audiences of all
ages, The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Circus announced in January that they will be
closing their notable show.
The chief executive of the circus, Kenneth Feld,
announced on the company’s website that the
“Greatest Show on Earth” will hold its final performance in May. After the company ended their
elephant show in May 2016, ticket sales
dropped dramatically. Mr. Feld credited the declining ticket sales and legal battles against an-
imal rights groups to the end of the circus.
The closing of the circus is not a surprise to
many people, including the company’s management team. “The competitor in many ways is
time,” Mr. Feld said. “It’s a different model that
we can’t see how it works in today’s world to justify and maintain an affordable ticket price. So,
we’ve got all these things working against it.”
Over 400 circus employees will be affected by
this abrupt retirement. Executives said that the
performers and stage crews will be moved to
their other popular shows, such as Disney on Ice
and Marvel Live! The company will aid its employees if they choose to move on from the Feld
Entertainment franchise.
The company’s performing animals will be
moved to their conservation area in Florida.
The company will hold one more tour before
May and will visit cities such as Boston,
Chicago and Orlando. Their last show will be
held in Uniondale, New York, a small city located near New York City.
Junior Class Retreat
As part of the curriculum, the 73 members of the junior class attended the tenth annual junior class retreat at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, N.C., February 26 - 28.
Coordinated by Mrs. Laura Barr and Mr. Glen Rector, the retreat provided rising seniors with a “beyond the classroom
walls” experience with a focus on loyalty, leadership and
legacy.
The retreat included group activities, structured discussions,
and opportunities for enjoying the facilities of the conference
center located in the mountains of North Carolina. Activities included an obstacle course operated by the Mountain Trail Outdoor School, team-building exercises, and cooperation games.
Dr. Milt Lowder, a licensed counseling psychologist in
Greenville who graduated from Wilson Hall in 1990, delivered
the keynote speech with the topic of “Defining Success.” There
were also presentations given by Mr. Fred Moulton, headmaster, as well as from some of the 14 faculty members who attended the retreat.
Every member of the Class of 2018 had the opportunity to
enjoy the significant benefits of a time set apart for community
building and individual character development in a way that
will not only benefit each student individually, but continue Wilson Hall’s strong tradition of effective preparation for college
and beyond.
Caroline Barkley, Becka Noyes and Megan Piasecki participate
in the Got Your Back activity during the Junior Class retreat.
PAGE 5
New Building on Campus
By Campbell Mims
Since the beginning of the school year, students have seen and heard the construction coming from beside
the Nash Student Center. This construction has been on a building that will benefit not only the three-yearold preschool program, but also older students as well.
The Randle Learning Center is the first two-story building on campus. A gift by local benefactors, Mr. and
Mrs. Perry Randle, who have two daughters who graduated from Wilson Hall, the new facility is designed
to give the three-year-old preschool program more classrooms and the after school care program a new
home on campus.
The idea for the Randle Learning Center came to fruition after the school administration issued a 2010 parent survey. The results of this survey came back with overwhelming feedback that Wilson Hall parents wanted
a permanent location for their children who attended the afterschool daycare program.
The following year, the afterschool program launched with 40 students but quickly grew to over 100 students.
The boom of students in the new program was outstanding, but challenges arose without a permanent meeting place for the program, which is directed by Mrs. Melanie Hancock.
“One day, during the winter, it was not only very cold but also extremely rainy. The Nash Student Center was
booked, the multipurpose room was booked, the upper school library was booked and both computer labs
were booked," Mr. Fred Moulton, Headmaster, recalled. “The directors of our afterschool program came to
me and asked where they should go. I had no answer for them.”
It was at this time that Mr. Moulton and the administration realized that not only did the afterschool program
need a permanent location, but the three-year-old preschool could also be expanded with a new facility on
campus.
Continued on page 9
Wife of Orlando
Shooter Arrested
By Catherine Clark
Noor Salman, the wife of Omar Mateen,
who was responsible for a terrorist attack on a nightclub in Orlando, Florida,
was arrested on January 16. Police allege that she constructed the mass
shooting for her husband to execute, and
she was charged with this planning.
Mateen killed 49 people in a popular
gay nightclub on June 12, 2016. The officials said he was charged for multiple
offenses but was actually arrested for
the shooting.
Salman was arrested in her home in San
Francisco, where her young son had
been living with her. F.B.I agents have
been plotting these charges for months
after Mateen’s massacre at the nightclub. During her interview with investigators after her husband’s incident, the
officials believed she was not being
truthful about her knowledge of his role
in the mass shooting.
She appeared in court on January 17 in
Oakland, California. The officials believe that once Salman is prosecuted, the
mystery of this whole ordeal with her involvement will be solved. Her lawyer
said that Salman had no knowledge of
what Omar was planning and that it is
wrong to punish an innocent woman
who was also abused by her husband.
Salman claims she was unaware of her
husband’s plans, but she admits that she
went with her husband and son on a trip
to Florida. Her husband went to check
out the club but she was not aware of the
purpose of that action.
Her husband said he was visiting his
friend, Nemo, who is now known to live
outside of Florida. According to officials, Mateen purchased a significant
amount of ammunition but Salman said
she was not suspicious about his purchases because this happened regularly
since he worked as a security guard.
Seniors Drew Reynolds and Paige Anderson are crowned the King & Queen of Hearts during a pep rally.
PAGE 6
Mateen’s parents believe that Salman
had no involvement in his actions and
that she should not be punished for her
husband’s mistakes. The officials are still
attempting to gather more evidence to
bring Salman to trial but, as of right now,
there is nothing but the evidence she has
talked about or what her husband’s parents have said.
THE LEGACY OF
MRS. VICKEY SHAW
Governor Haley
Moves to World Stage
By Sallie Spencer
By Hunter Hendrix
Mrs. Victoria Livingston Shaw, beloved wife of Mr. Bo Shaw, passed away in February
of 2014. She left a memorable legacy of childhood literacy at Wilson Hall.
Former Governor Nikki Haley has become an iconic political figure in South Carolina government over the last 13
years, but she is now progressing to a national role in our
government as the United States Ambassador to United
Nations.
The Shaws had four children: Bart Shaw, Marianne Shaw Minnehan, Martha Shaw Tate
and Charlie Shaw. The couple was also blessed with nine grandchildren.
Mrs. Shaw was not only respected by her family and members of her church, First Presbyterian of Sumter, she was also a valuable part of the Wilson Hall family. Mrs. Shaw was
a member of the faculty when Wilson Hall first opened, and she also served as a member of the Wilson Hall Board of Trustees and as the PTO President.
Upon Mrs. Shaw’s death, the family gave a monetary gift to create the Shaw Family
Scholarship to be awarded to families with children in the lower school. The Shaw family also made a sizeable gift to be used to purchase books to advance the affection of
reading in young children.
Mr. Fred Moulton, Headmaster, said, “Mrs. Shaw had a heart for children. Her life touched
every aspect of Wilson Hall as a teacher, parent and trustee. She spent her time helping
to instill a love of reading in children. In her honor, the family donated many books our
kindergarten and pre-school classes. In addition, they also presented books to every
faculty member. Those gifts embody the spirit of what she tried to do with her life.”
Haley was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, to immigrants
from India on January 20, 1972. She attended Clemson University and graduated with a bachelor of science in accounting. After graduating she worked for her mother’s
clothing company, Exotic International, and turned it into a
multi-million dollar company.
Haley’s political career began at age 32 when she ran for
the South Carolina House of Representative in 2004, defeating the incumbent Larry Coon. She was re-elected in
2006 and 2008, but in 2010 she ran for Governor and defeated Democrat Vincent Sheen, making her the first IndianAmerican and first female governor in South Carolina
history. She won re-election for governor in 2014, but she
resigned from the office on January 22 and was sworn into
her office as Ambassador on the same day.
Haley’s tenure as governor was historic, especially when
she took a stand to remove the Confederate Flag over the
state house after the Charleston church murders. This was
an extremely controversial decision, but she felt in our current state of panic after the atrocity which Dillon Roof
committed, it was a necessary decision to keep the peace
within our state.
Haley has watched our state grow economically with the
influx of manufacturing in part due to her anti-tax and fiscally conservative views. During her tenure companies like
Boeing and Continental have come into our state, and
South Carolina has also become the chief manufacturing
place for BMW in Greer. These new industries have
brought more jobs and prosperity for local businesses
within the state.
Because of her role as Governor of South Carolina, Haley
has become a major leader within the Republican Party.
This national party recognition was evident when she
turned down an offer by presidential candidate Mitt Romney to run on his ticket as vice president in 2012. In an Associated Press interview in April 2012, she said, "The
people of South Carolina gave me a chance. I have a job to
do, and I'm not going to leave my job for anything.”
Haley also gave the State of the Union response for President Obama’s last State of the Union where she inspired
not only Republicans to take action, but also Democrats in
order to create a “Better Union” within our country.
She was considered for President Trump’s Vice President.
Although the position was given to Mike Pence, the Republican Party’s high respect for her remained. This respect led
the nomination for the position of Ambassador to the
United Nations. She was confirmed by the Senate almost
unanimously on January 22
Senior Greyson Young and junior Hailey Ford shag at the
Winter Chill Semiformal held at The O’Donnell House.
PAGE 7
Editor-in-Chief Campbell Mims
IN MY OPINION
DEATH PENALTY A MORAL SOLUTION
The death penalty, which has been around since the 18th century B.C., is a
very controversial topic among Americans today. Its scope, which includes
all of the cases that have been ruled upon having to do with the death
penalty, and the argument of whether or not it is morally correct to put
someone to death, has long been the main arguing points for this topic.
For many conservative Americans, the death penalty is considered constitutional with some asserting it should be used more than it already is. For
example, in Texas the death penalty has been used more times than in any
other state in the union.
On the other hand, there have been many movements to try to end the
death penalty. These movements, which have taken place all over the U.S.,
have become so prevalent that many death penalty supporters are now
worried that the issue will reach the Supreme Court of the United States yet
again.
A different ruling could overturn Wilkerson v. Utah, which was ruled upon
in 1879 and was the first such case to be ruled upon by the Supreme Court.
The ruling states that execution as prescribed by territorial (or state)
statute does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
As controversial as this topic is, and as many people that disagree with
taking someone’s life, the death penalty is constitutional and should be
used as much or even more than it is being used currently.
Criminals that have committed such serious crimes, such as murder, have no
moral code and should receive a punishment which matches their morals.
Although the death penalty is still legal to be carried out in the U.S., it can
take years to carry out and is not always used to its full potential.
Many other laws and regulations have been enacted by appeals courts
and other law deciding bodies that make it very difficult for the death
penalty to be implemented. Those laws were early additions to the elaborate legal superstructure that has been erected around capital punishment.
Since then, the courts have gradually "discovered" additional capital punishment-related constitutional requirements. These include exhaustive prescriptions for trials involving capital cases, performance standards for
defense attorneys representing those facing the death penalty, and limits
on who may face execution (rapists, minors, and those with low IQs are exempt).
I am not saying that the law should be completely thrown out when it
comes to the death penalty; the law is the law. I am all for the law and the
Supreme Court’s rulings being set in stone as the final say when it comes
to this controversial issue. But, I think the argument of a moral code should
be prevalent in a jury’s mind when they are contemplating whether or not
a person is guilty of a crime that could deserve the death penalty.
This opinion of a moral code says that if these criminals have committed
an unspeakable crime such as a gruesome murder, one that would receive
the death penalty during sentencing, then they deserve to be put to death.
The argument that those who are against the death penalty make is that the
resulting due process is miscarried and the criminal has been put to death
unlawfully, without proper defense and representation. And that, say those
pushing to end the death penalty, actually renders it unconstitutional. Because it is so rarely carried out, they argue, its application is inevitably incompatible with the requirements of due process.
It is an absurd theory to say that, because many of those eligible for and
deserving of the death penalty are not executed, those who are actually
put to death have been subjected to unlawful punishment or denied due
process.
First there is a trial, with a separate penalty phase after conviction. Then
there are appeals in state courts, and perhaps a request that the Supreme
Court look at the case. Then state post-conviction proceedings, followed
by appeals, followed by habeas review in a federal court, appeals, and
then another request to the Supreme Court.
In all, the average case is likely to be reviewed by various courts ten times,
and that is not counting the inevitable last-minute habeas filings that keep
the judge writing opinions and signing documents. This refutes the opposition’s defense that these criminals do not get the proper defense and representation that they deserve.
Controversially, there may be some instances in which the trial may become a mistrial, creating a hung jury, which is where a jury must be selected again and the entire case has to be re-tried.
There is a multitude of evidence within the Constitution that supports the death penalty .
Every single one is now the subject of endless deliberation that never
seems to end, never allowing the death penalty to be enacted. As stated
before, the death penalty is still widely used in states like Texas, but the result of these laws has been to narrow the death penalty's availability while
enormously extending the burden of imposing the sentence.
Appeals and post-conviction reviews regularly take a decade or more and
can cost millions in legal expenses. States seek the death penalty more
rarely than in the past, and the number of executions is also in decline.
PAGE 8
Continued on page 11
SENIOR
PARKING
SOLUTION
By Drake Ives
The bell rings promptly at 8:00 AM. Every student rushes to homeroom as Mr. Moulton reminds us we have “30 seconds, people.”
The problem in the morning that students face
is a shortage of parking spaces. Seniors have
their own spots that are “reserved” but this is
rarely enforced. Freshmen are supposed to be
parking at the church, but often they choose to
park in the lot reserved for sophomores and juniors. That leaves the whole high school in constant frustration on the mornings they arrive to
school, only to find there are no places to park.
I think that an effective way to solve this problem is to assign parking spots. It would save
time in the morning from having to drive through
and look for a place to park and, if there are
none, walking from the church. Assigning spots
would cut the number of tardies and it would
stop the underclassmen from upsetting the seniors by taking their spaces.
Continued on page 13
NEW…Continued from page 6
At about the same time Mr. and Mrs. Randle came to Mr. Moulton and the Board
of Trustees and insisted on doing something for the school. It was brought to the
attention of the Randles that the school was in need of a new facility. The Randle Center was then designed as a two-story structure, the first of its kind on
our campus.
This ambition to build a two-story structure launched the Growing up Campaign,
a fundraising campaign initiated by the Development Office to raise money for
the new center.
The Randle Learning Center measures approximately 3,800 square feet. The
downstairs portion of the building houses three classrooms specifically designed to house the expanding three-year old preschool, and upstairs is the
Baron After School Instruction and Care (BASIC) room.
The first floor has appropriate restroom facilities and multiple access points by
utilizing front and rear stairwells to access the second floor. The second floor
showcases a large, carpeted multipurpose space. This large room has a full
audio-visual set up and a separate space with a game and lounge area for student use. The second-floor multipurpose space is able to accommodate 24 students, of any age, comfortably.
Junior Abby Zilch performs a scene from
the theater production of Almost,
Maine on the multipurpose room stage.
The cost of the new learning center has not been disclosed, but it has been labeled as a major campaign for the school by the school administration. The goal
is to double the size of the three-year old preschool and after school care programs and to also help to meet the needs of the older student at Wilson Hall.
The Randle family chose to not have a grand opening of the facility that was
put into use on March 1.
PAGE 9
ETC.
Everybody Has a Story: Mr. Warren
By Betsy Noyes
When asked how she would describe Mr. Scott Warren, a French and
music teacher, junior Megan Piasecki immediately responded, “Extremely intelligent and insightful!”
Most every student has positive remarks regarding Mr. Warren, yet
none question who he is apart from teaching. However, he has a story
outside of his years of dedication to Wilson Hall students.
Mr. Warren grew up in North Carolina and attended a small public
high school. Though he originally wanted to be a mortician, he
changed his mind in high school, deciding he would be best as an interpreter because of his studies of French, German and Italian. He
jokingly said, “This was also toward the end of the Cold War, and I
thought a clever mistranslation could lead to something delightfully
catastrophic.”
After graduating from high school, Mr. Warren attended Appalachian State University where he originally majored in music theory and composition with viola as his primary instrument “since
violinists are ubiquitous” he said. Later, he added a major in French
Language and Literature and a minor in English.
“but with different languages instead of magic,” she said.
Being extremely well traveled, Mr. Warren has studied and lived in
France numerous times, has taught English in Estonia, and has visited
many countries in Europe including Belgium, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Spain and Sweden.
Most recently, Wilson Hall provided him with the chance to visit Serbia during the summer of 2016. There, he intensively studied Serbian
and enjoyed the breathtaking Balkan country.
Alumnus Neyle Noyes, who was influenced greatly by his experience studying under Mr. Warren, said, “There’s a lot I would say. He’s
a great teacher, but also a mentor. He’s brilliant both personally and
professionally. His patience is extraordinary, as is his understanding
and compassion for others. He’s genuine, totally comfortable being
himself.”
Many students at Wilson Hall have wondered, just how many languages does Mr. Warren know? When asked, he always answers,
“None,” because he recognizes that he will always be able to learn
more about every language, even English.
He continued at Appalachian State for graduate school, studying
French with a minor in andragogy, which is the study of teaching
adults. He had not even considered teaching until he taught his own
class as a graduate teaching assistant. “I felt more drawn to engaging with learners than with being a means to convey someone else's
words into another language for yet another person's benefit.”
He said, “I am a teacher and love teaching, but I love learning just as
much. I constantly strive to learn, whether it's a new language, a new
musical instrument, or a new skill of some sort.” (Hint: One can gain
a sense of how many languages he knows by asking how many he
can say “Hello” in.)
Rather than pursuing a Ph.D. in French Literature, Mr. Warren chose a
different option: another master's degree, this time in linguistics. His
studies in linguistics brought him to the University of South Carolina.
He then commuted daily from Columbia to teach English classes at
USC-Sumter.
Mr. Warren loves what he does and daily looks forward to engaging with each of his classes. While he does recognize the necessity
of vacations and breaks, he is never disappointed to return to school.
He would say that the same is true for his fellow teachers. “I have no
idea how old most of them are because we all seem to act as young
as the students we teach.”
He saw an advertisement in The State regarding a vacant position
teaching French at Wilson Hall. “The ad contained just an address
and a telephone number. I called the number, met with Mr. Moulton,
and have been at Wilson Hall since 1998.”
Students are in awe of Mr. Warren’s knowledge. Freshman Taylor
Ward compared him to the fictional character Albus Dumbledore,
who is the headmaster of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter book series,
Even his colleagues savor working with and learning more from
being around him. Ms. Danielle Sekel, an English teacher, said, “I’d
say that he has a fascinating amount of knowledge to share with
everyone around him. Teachers are supposed to be lifelong learners,
and he truly embodies that concept.” When she interviewed for her
position at Wilson Hall, Mr. Warren greeted her in Bulgarian. “I just
knew he was going to be fun to work alongside at Wilson Hall.”
Juniors Perrin Marie Cromer
and Liza Lowder participate in
the Simon Says pep rally.
PAGE 10
Spotlight
on Spencer
By Sarah McCreight
AMBASSADOR CAMP
By Hayley DuBose
Senior Sallie Spencer, who has been attending Wilson Hall for
14 years, has advice for underclassmen. “Enjoy high school
while you can, you only do it once. Take time to spend with your
family, you never know what a day will bring. Manage your
time wisely and don’t settle for less than what you deserve.”
Ambassadors Camp is a non-profit Christian camp where students can come together
to worship and surround themselves with positive influences. It began as a witnessing
tool for boys and girls and has grown into a much larger camp than what was originally
imagined. Ambassador Camp was founded by Sara E. Sledge in 1957 on Lake Waccamaw in North Carolina.
She heeds her own words about time management. At Wilson
Hall she serves as the editor-in-chief of the yearbook and the
co-chair of the Baron Ambassadors, and she was the captain
of the varsity tennis team. She is also a member of the National
Art Honor Society, Key Club, Art Club, and Senior Beta Club.
Juniors Emily Barnes and Grace Towery were counselors for the camp this past summer.
While attending the camp, counselors and campers both get to enjoy the beautiful
scenery and heartfelt worship services.
Sallie, who will attend Clemson University to major in agribusiness, is considering Greek life and participating in YoungLife.
Emily said, “Everyone there has a servant’s heart. It's great being able to spend time
with people who love Jesus so much.”
There are two separate camps; junior week, which usually has about 150 students, and
teen week, which usually has about 200 students.
Artistic, Sallie takes Advanced Placement 3D Design and enjoys painting and making projects with clay. She sells some of
her works to the community and loves experimenting with projects.
Grace said, “Ambassador Camp is my favorite place in the world. It’s where I met Jesus,
and I feel His love more strongly there than anywhere else. To share that love with all
of the children who come to camp brings me indescribable joy.”
Another hobby of Sallie’s is babysitting. She displays amazing leadership skills and responsibility while taking care of children, which are important characteristics to embody.
Ambassador Camp allows students to learn more about God while surrounded by His
handiwork. Campers enjoy tubing on the lake and sitting waterfront in between the
morning and night services.
When reflecting upon her high school experience, Sallie said,
“I’ll miss the smallness and family-like aspect Wilson Hall offers. I’ll miss walking down the halls and recognizing every face
I see. But at the same time, I am excited for the change, meeting
new people, and whatever else God has planned for me.”
Camps are available for six weeks out of the summer. Emily worked five weeks last
year and plans to work all six weeks this summer. Possible job options include dining
hall staff, camp counselor, lifeguard, music, or arts and crafts.
Overall, both juniors clearly stated that Ambassador Camp brings them closer to God
each year they attend.
DEATH…Continued from page 8
In fact, the Constitution plainly allows capital punishment in several instances. The Eighth Amendment is the most famous, with
its injunction against inflicting cruel and unusual punishments.
The Fifth Amendment also provides support for lethal punishment.
No person, it reads, shall be "deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law." That means the government may in
fact deprive you of your life, but only after you have been properly charged, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death, and then
only after you have exhausted your legal appeals.
Upon ratification in 1868, the 14th Amendment's Due Process
Clause applied safeguard against the states. To be sure, judges
are duty-bound to scrutinize the application of capital punishment in each and every case that comes before the bench. The
only way to end the death penalty in its entirety, without going
through the Constitution, is through the political process.
The death penalty is one of the most controversial topics in our
world today and is one that will be hotly contested for generations to come. The law is the law, but the morality of the people
accused and the people trying the crimes should come into question to support the laws that say the death penalty is constitutional.
Senior Lane Herlong and sophomore Wes Corbett participate in a game of
Hungry, Hungry Hippos at the Dance Mini-Marathon.
PAGE 11
Trailblazing Women
By Grace Tristan
Throughout history, many women have broken down the barriers that many
would not dare to attempt. These women refused to settle and chased after
their own hopes and aspirations. The concepts, inventions and knowledge
that have been contributed by these women (and those not mentioned) will
have a lasting impression on society as a whole. These four women are
from every walk of life and have earned their spot in history.
Malala Yousafzai is known as a children’s and women's rights activist and
has been since she was in grade school. Throughout her life, she has fought
for not only her right to an education, but also for young girls around the
world.
Rosalind took it in stride and did not complain. Instead, she gained the title
of “The Dark Lady of DNA” that stuck with her throughout her career. She
continued to work in the field of science while she underwent chemotherapy.
Anne Frank was just 15 years old at the time of her death, one of more than
one million Jewish children who died in the Holocaust. The Diary of Anne
Frank, read by millions, was not discovered until after the end of World
War II and was later published to share the story of fear, loss, and even
hope that she felt during hiding.
By doing so, she was targeted by the Taliban and was issued a death threat.
She was shot in the head while traveling home from school, but luckily suffered no brain damage.
The diary was started on Anne's 13th birthday after she received the red
checkered diary as a gift from her parents, shortly after the war had
started. She wrote her first entry, addressed to an imaginary friend named
Kitty, simply asking for a safe place as her family was in hiding.
Malala continued to globally advocate for girls being denied a formal secondary education. Through her tireless effort, she has been awarded many
prestigious titles such as the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2011
and the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013, making her the youngest person to receive the prize.
For two years Anne wrote extensive daily entries in her diary. She wrote of
the fear she felt, and of the joy she wished to one day have. Although Anne
underwent circumstances many could never dream of, the maturity in which
she handled them is inspiring and astonishing to many. Her wish for a more
peaceful, forgiving world serves as a reminder for many that read her diary.
For her 18th birthday on July 12, 2015, also called Malala Day, the young activist continued to take action on global education by opening a school
for Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon. Through the Malala Fund and with her
own voice, Malala Yousafzai remains an advocate for the power of education for girls worldwide.
These strong women, among many more, have played a vital role in shaping society. They continue to break through boundaries and break down
walls. Maybe a woman sitting among us will be next.
Wilma Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals in
track and field at a single Olympics. The road to victory was not easy due
to the fact she was constantly ill as a child and had developed problems
with her legs after overcoming polio. Although the doctors said she would
never walk again, she always remained hopeful. Eventually, she regained
her ability to walk and decided to take up sports.
Her first attempt at the Olympics was during the 1956 games where she
was the youngest member of the American 4x100 relay team. There, she
claimed a bronze medal. At the next Olympic games, in 1960, she not only
gained her three gold medals but also beat world records.
Wilma was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame after retiring as
an athlete. Her legacy continues through her foundation she established
called the Wilma Rudolph Foundation that promotes amateur athletics.
Rosalind Franklin was an English chemist who is known as a pioneer molecular biologist. An outstanding student, Rosalind knew at a young age that
one day she would become a scientist.
Although she did not have the support of her father in terms of her career
choice due to the fact it was a predominantly male field, she still continued
on with her education and earned her position in the laboratory at King’s
College. There, she focused on DNA projects that had been abandoned
by other scientists.
She discovered critical evidence in identifying the structure of DNA that
she later named Photograph 51. The photo was acquired through approximately 100 hours of X-ray exposure from a machine Rosalind herself had
made. She did not get the glory of her discovery, however, because her
findings were taken and published without her knowledge.
Scientists Crick and Watson, largely credited for her discoveries, acknowledged the fact that they had been “stimulated by general knowledge”
when much of their work was rooted from Rosalind's photo and findings.
PAGE 12
Junior Corbin Bruce plays a game of pool during
some free time at the Junior Class Retreat.
Students Attend Passion
By Noah Harvin
A group of Sumter students travelled to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, to unite with 60,000 others in spiritual fellowship at Passion on January 2nd - 4th. Passion is an annual youth conference where young adults gather to worship Jesus,
listen to professional Christian speakers, and experience glorifying fellowship.
Passion Conferences were founded by speaker and Pastor Louie Giglio. Christine Caine, Francis Chan, Levi Lusko, Beth
Moore and John Piper were among the other speakers during the course of the week. Each speaker had a message to share
that challenged each person spiritually.
Junior Moriah Grace Yoder said, “Going to Passion was an incredible experience for me and my walk with the Lord. Hearing speakers I’ve only seen books written by and watched videos on was such a surreal time. It’s so great to see how much
those people really love the Lord and have struggles and battles just like you and I.”
The worship at Passion was an experience like no other. The worship was led by the Passion band along with special appearances by well-known musical artists such as Carrie Underwood and Hillsong United.
Students left that week with a firing desire to worship Jesus. Junior Emily Barnes said, “The worship at Passion was incredible. It was different than anything I’ve ever been to and I loved getting to see and hear famous Christian bands and singers
that we would sing their songs at church or youth. It was also amazing to see 60,000 people worshipping Jesus together
and get to be a part of it.”
As students from all over the world left to embark for home, many left with a changed heart. Some had huge spiritual takeaways that they are now applying to their lives. At the end of the week, students in the dome realized it’s all about God and
nothing else.
Senior Sallie Spencer said, “My biggest takeaway was being reminded that God is working in mighty ways in my life. Sometimes I feel like life is throwing boulders at me, but they are really balls of opportunity. God is worthy of all praise, honor,
and glory no matter the circumstance.”
People also left with special images and memories. Senior Evans Boyle said, “The overall experience was incredible. I really enjoyed the fellowship with friends and the great experience to hear famous speakers talking about the Gospel. It was
a life-changing event and I would definitely go again next year.”
SENIOR…
Continued from page 9
If they were assigned at the beginning of the year on a
first come, first
served basis, then
students would become more hesitant
about parking where
they should not. It
would also reduce
the number of parking violations
handed to the students that parked
without a pass or
where they should
not have.
Wilson Hall should
strongly consider reserving spots because it could
potentially prevent
students from being
tardy to school as
well as eliminate disagreements between students over
parking.
Juniors Paul Choe and Madison Tash and freshman Ainsley Morton perform with the instrumental ensemble during the winter concert.
PAGE 13
SPORTS
Clemson National
Championship
By Daulton Dabbs & Hailey Ford
The Clemson University Tigers secured revenge while beating the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in the College
Football National Championship in January. After losing to
the Crimson Tide in 2016, Clemson returned to the National
Championship and came out on top 35-31, scoring a winning touchdown with one second left in regulation time.
Held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida, the
game was a tale of extravagant numbers, revenge and momentum. A look at the box score summarizes the last point
best, as Deshaun Watson and the Tigers turned it on in the
final quarter of the game.
In the first quarter Alabama scored their first touchdown
putting them in the lead 7-0. While Clemson did score in the
first half, both teams entered the locker room with Alabama
up 14-7.
During the third quarter, Alabama and Clemson went back
and forth scoring with field goals and touchdowns. The
score at the end of the third quarter was 24-21 Alabama.
The excitement and anxiety was growing within the crowd.
Clemson fans knew there was still a chance they could come
back and defeat Alabama.
While the Tigers were down 24-14 at the beginning of the
fourth quarter, Watson completed two touchdown passes
and Wayne Gallman, a running back, rushed for one touchdown.
Alabama only converted a 30-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts was a huge part of the
big plays Alabama had, besides the 30-yard rushing touchdown by Hurts in the fourth, he threw a 68-yard bomb to
their tight end O.J. Howard.
Bo Scarbrough, a running back played well, too, rushing 16
times for 93 yards and two touchdowns, the scoring runs
coming in at those 25 and 37 yard runs.
Alabama was more impressive on the defensive end and
had better stats. Offensively, the game belonged to the
Tigers, and that shows in the final score. “I had heard enough
talk about how great Alabama’s defense had been all season long, but I knew Clemson would be victorious,” junior
Layton Creech said.
Clemson fans around the country rejoiced as the Tigers
brought home their second national championship after
winning in 1981. Junior Becka Noyes, who attended this monumental game, said, “This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance,
and I am so excited I got to be a part of it.”
Talley's 1000th Point
Drew Talley receives the game ball from his coach and father, Mr. Eddie Talley, after scoring
his 1,000th career point.
By Layton Creech
Ever since senior Drew Talley was young, basketball has always been a huge part
of his life. Before he was old enough to play church league basketball at the YMCA,
he always had a basketball in his hands learning how to dribble. The years of dedication paid off when he scored his 1,000th career point on January 13 in the Nash
Student Center.
His father and head coach, Mr. Eddie Talley, said, “It is a tribute to him for all the
time and effort that he has spent in the gym over the last six years.”
For many years Drew has spent countless hours in the gymnasium practicing his dribbling, shooting and passing. He transitioned from playing on the B-team level in
eighth grade to the varsity level in ninth grade. As a freshman playing on the varsity
team, Drew set a goal of scoring 1000 points. This winter, he reached his personal
goal as a senior captain.
Within the first few minutes of action against Thomas Sumter Academy, Drew knocked
down a three point basket. All of a sudden, Mr. Fred Moulton, Headmaster, announced
to the fans that Drew had reached 1000 points and gave him the basketball.
Drew said, “Scoring 1000 points was just a moment that showed that all of the hard
work I have put in for all these years actually paid off.”
Growing up with his father coaching him and his three older brothers in basketball,
scoring 1,000 points on the court was a dream come true. Drew said, “Wilson Hall
basketball had been such a huge part of my life for all 18 years, so being able to
score 1000 points was a perfect ending as I graduate this year.”
PAGE 14
Special Athletic Boulware Defensive MVP Tom Brady
Recognition
By Daniel Reynolds
Dominance
Several basketball players received special recognition at the conclusion of the
winter athletic season. Junior Courtney
Clark and senior Drew Talley were
named the S.C. Independent School
Assoc. Region II-AAA Players of the
Year. Selected for the girls All-Region
Team with Clark were seniors Diamond
Crawford and Mary Daniel Stokes and
sophomore Liza Segars. Named to the
boys All-Region Team with Drew was
junior Greyson Sonntag. Drew was chosen for the SCISA/Georgia Independent
School Assoc. All-Star Team and
Greyson and senior Easton Ward were
selected for the SCISA North/South AllStar Team. Chosen for the girls’ All-Star
team were Courtney, Diamond , Liza,
Mary Daniel Stokes and sophomore
Cameron Duffy. Mr. Glen Rector, the
girls’ basketball team head coach, was
named the Co-Region Coach of the Year.
Ben Boulware, who played a key role in Clemson University's road to
the NCAA National Football Championship, was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player for his efforts. Boulware, the starting linebacker for the Tigers standing at 6’0, 235 lbs, was involved in 116
tackles throughout the season although he was injured for one game.
A little over a week after clinching the national title, Boulware decided
to respond to some who criticized him during the season. Specifically,
he called out ESPN’s Desmond Howard who was quoted in November
as calling Clemson’s linebacker corps the team’s Achilles heel before
their game against Florida State.
Boulware took this criticism into consideration and decided to prove
everyone wrong. He proved himself with six tackles in very tight situations. After he was named MVP, he got a tattoo of the National
Championship trophy on his Achilles tendon.
The Tigers' emotional leader helped Clemson's defense hold Alabama's Jalen Hurts to a 13-of-31 passing performance and a 2-of-15
performance on third downs. “I’m so happy for our family, it’s not just for
us,” Boulware said on ESPN after the game. “It’s for the Tajh Boyds, the
Stephone Anthonys, the Grady Jarretts, the DeAndre Hopkinse, and
Sammy Watkins. Ya’ll built this. Ya’ll started this foundation."
By Corbin Bruce
At 39, Tom Brady is the oldest
non-kicker/punter in the NFL.
He has been in the league
since 2000 and is a full 10
years older than all but eight
of his 52 New England Patriots
teammates. He has proven himself to be one of the greatest,
if not the greatest, quarterbacks of all time.
The beginning of the season
was an auspicious one as he
was suspended for the first
four weeks of this season as a
punishment for his involvement
in "Deflategate." The cheating
scandal revolved around the
Patriots using footballs not
filled to regulation pressure in
order to make them easier for
Brady to throw.
Brady returned, however, with
a revenge type attitude and
never relented, tossing 28
touchdown passes with just
two picks over New England’s
final 12 games and ranking
second among all quarterbacks in both passer rating
and yards per attempt.
Freshman Alex Blum rolls a strike
in a bowling match at Gamecock
Lanes. The co-ed team placed
second in the state tournament.
Going into the Super Bowl,
many had ruled the Patriots
out. Early in the game the Atlanta Falcons dominated, but in
the second half, it turned into a
whole different story. Brady
held the Patriots on his back
and took the team all the way
to an incredible comeback.
In fact, no team has ever come
back from the deficit that
Brady was able to mount.
Brady not only took the Pats
all the way back, but he also
threw the game winning touch
down.
After minutes of crazy celebration, the team took to the
stage to claim their title.
As Roger Goodell, the NFL
commissioner, handed the
MVP of the game trophy to
Brady, it was no surprise that
Tom Brady was humble.
PAGE 15
GO Barons!
Top Left: Eighth-grader Nathan Harris blocks a shot in a JV game. The team earned a season
record of 14-7.
Top Right: Senior Diamond Crawford moves down the court in a varsity basketball game. The team
won the Region Co-Championship and finished with a record of 19-7.
Bottom Right: Eighth-grader Becca Cromer dribbles toward the basket in a JV game. The team
(14-5) won the Region Tournament Championship.