THE
BARON
BULLETIN
WILSON HALL
SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
VOLUME 31 / NUMBER 1
NOVEMBER 2016
PALMET TO
BOYS &
GIRLS STATE
By Hunter Hendrix
Six boys and three girls from the Senior Class attended the Palmetto Boys and Girls State Conventions in June. These students were chosen in
an interview process by the American Legion
and American Legion Auxiliary.
Banks Burns, Hunter Hendrix, Patrick Muldrow,
Drew Reynolds, Brad Russell and Drew Talley
were chosen by the American Legion, while
Danielle deHoll, Lane Herlong and Sallie
Spencer were chosen by the American Legion
Auxiliary.
Palmetto Boys & Girls Sta
te Convention delegates
: (clockwise from top left)
seniors Patrick Muldrow,
Hunter Hendrix, Drew Tal
ley, Banks Burns, Drew
Reynolds, Danielle deHoll
, Lane Herlong and Sallie
Spencer.
Boys State was held at Anderson University in Anderson while Girls State
was held at Presbyterian College in Clinton. Sallie said, “Presbyterian College was a beautiful, small campus and it gave me an opportunity to see
what college lifestyle is like.”
brotherhood and sisterhood.
Both programs have the main objective of instilling leadership, confidence
and patriotism in those who attend as well as exposing students to how
our government works. In addition, the programs allow the youth of South
Carolina from all different backgrounds to intermingle in order to create a
During the conventions students are divided into counties, then further into
cities, for the week. The cities are made up of complete strangers and force
delegates to form new friendships.
Continued on page 9
Drew Reynolds said, “Boys State was a great experience because it allowed me to learn more about our state government while also making
some lifelong friendships with great guys from all across the state.”
Sixth Grade
Visits Kanuga
Sixth-graders raft down the French Broad River during the class
trip to Kanuga: Landon Miller, Will Singleton, Campbell Bauman,
Mrs. Stacey Reaves, Caitlyn Schumacher and Rebekha Patel.
Through activities such as white water rafting on the French
Broad River, the 52 students in the sixth grade experienced an educational and enjoyable trip to Camp Kanuga in Hendersonville,
N.C., from September 6-9. The annual trip organized by Mrs.
Stacey Reaves, Middle School Principal, gave the students the
opportunity to participate in four classes taught by the Mountain
Trail Outdoor School: a cooperation and low ropes course, a
hands-on course in rappelling, an orienteering and wilderness
survival course, and a course in forest ecology. Students also enjoyed activities to promote bonding and team building with their
classmates, as well as time for a daily devotion.
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3
BARONS IN
THE NEWS
page
12
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13
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page
eight
P AG E
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
15
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
Seniors and Baron Ambassadors Hunter Hendrix and Emily DuRant hand out information
to new families at the annual Baron Family Tailgate Party.
Mr. Sean Hoskins
Mrs. Elizabeth Hyatt
Muldrow Takes on DC
By Sallie Spencer
Senior Patrick Muldrow, sponsored by Black River Electric
Co-Op, was selected to attend the National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.,
during June 11-16.
Patrick, after submitting an application and completing the
interview process, was one of three people from the region
chosen as a delegate for the program. The purpose of the
program is to teach young students about the U.S., help participants strengthen their leadership skills, and facilitate
long-lasting friendships.
The group toured the Washington area, specifically the museums. Patrick met his congressmen from South Carolina, U.S.
Representative Mick Mulvaney and U.S. Senators Lindsey
Graham and Tim Scott.
He also heard a message from guest speaker Mike Schlappi,
who is a motivational speaker, author, and gold-medal winning athlete. He was shot at the age of 14, leaving him unable
to walk. His dreams of becoming an outstanding athlete were
crushed until he made the most out of the situation. Schlappi
focuses on what he can do instead of what he cannot do. Patrick said, “Mr. Schlappi talked about dealing with adversity and making the best out of any situation. It was very motivational for me to look at situations in my own life from a
different point of view.”
Patrick, who spent much of his time building friendships with
other participants from around the country, said, “I met a lot
of people on this trip. They were all unique and very kind. I
even met a guy from Alabama who was missing his front
teeth, just like me!”
Patrick said, “This trip has left me with so many friends and
connections that will follow me throughout my life, and the
experience of this trip makes me appreciate the opportunity
to take trips like this one, and makes me want to act on any
opportunity like it in the future.”
THE
SECOND
FRONT
Spencer Attends Agriculture Prograam
By Campbell Mims
Senior Sallie Spencer and 35 other juniors
and seniors from around the country attended
the South Carolina Commissioner’s School for
Agriculture at Clemson University from July
16-22. This summer academic program is designed to expose students to careers and educational opportunities in agriculture, life
sciences, and natural resources. The program
took place at Clemson’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences.
The application process for this program was
similar to that of a college application. Clemson recommended that she apply for this program, and once Sallie decided to apply, she
was required to include an academic transcript, an application for the program, and a
topical paper on an agricultural subject of her
choice. Sallie also included a video for her
application.
The purpose of the program is to educate and
expose high school students to all of the careers that are involved in agriculture and life
sciences. It also involves networking as the
students have the opportunity to meet people
that are interested in the same topics.
“The school appeals to students who want to
make an impact and tackle global problems,
such as increasing our food supply, creating a
sustainable environment and improving
human and non-human health through the biomedical sciences,” program director Katie
Black said.
Sallie said that the program included many
highlights that included Clemson’s research
farm and dinner, the landscape and design
plan, and hearing from various farmers from
around the state. She also commented on the
various subjects she and her classmates were
exposed to, which included the science of turf
grass on Frank Howard Field at Clemson Memorial Stadium.
Sallie and her classmates were exposed to
different jobs within the industry, and
PAGE 3
also were given tours of different departments within the College of Agriculture,
Forestry and Life Sciences, such as the horticulture department. She enjoyed speaking
with the South Carolina Commissioner of
Agriculture, Mr. Hugh Weathers and his wife,
Mrs. Blanche Weathers.
She said that her favorite part of the program
was meeting new people. “I went to the program knowing only one person and came
back with so many new friends. The relationships I formed are some that will last a lifetime.”
Sallie gained valuable knowledge on careers
in agriculture, which is one of the goals of the
program. “I went to learn more about the careers available in agriculture. Agriculture and
farming have always been a big part of my
life. In the past year I have become more interested in pursuing a career in agribusiness,
and I wanted to see where I could go from
there. This program really opened my eyes to
what was out there for girls interested in agriculture.”
Hilferty Attends West Point Program
By Hailey Ford
Senior Sam Hilferty was selected to attend the Summer Leaders Experience (SLE) at the United States Military Academy at West Point. An extremely competitive program, it allows high school juniors to experience and understand what the life of a cadet is like. This kind of information and activity can be useful
when making a college decision and in deciding a field of study. The week-long SLE includes academic
classes, military training, and physical fitness. This program receives about 6,000 applications each year, but only 1,000 students are accepted. To be
accepted a student must be a current high school junior that is 17 years old or older. Also, applicants must
have a valid standardized test score such as the PSAT, SAT or ACT. Sam said, “I was selected from my standardized testing scores along with my athletic abilities.” The purpose of this program is to help guide students in possible career choices and assist them in figuring out if the U.S. military is a good fit for them. Sam said, “Being able to experience cadet life and all the
different types of training really helped me to understand what kind of hard work goes on at West Point.” While the SLE offered many great programs and activities, Sam said, “The highlight of the program was
most definitely meeting the cadets and talking to them about their tasks.”
BARONS
TRAVEL TO
EUROPE
Jekel and Matthews
Attend Governor’s School
By Ragin Lee
Led by Mrs. Cheryl Landstrom, an English and history teacher, a group of students and parents traveled to London,
England, and Paris, France, for a nine
day trip in June.
Junior Megan Piasecki said, “The art
and monuments we saw in both European countries were like no other.”
After landing in Paris, the group visited
many of the popular attractions such as
the Latin Quarter, the Louvre, and Notre
Dame Cathedral. They also walked the
Champs-Elysees and climbed to the top
of Arc de Triomphe.
Junior Cora Murphy enjoyed the trip
but said, “The climb up to The Eiffel
Tower was hard.”
After two days in Paris, the group traveled to England via the Chunnel to
board a bus for London. While in London they visited the following points of
interest: British Maritime Museum, The
British Museum, Buckingham Palace,
Covent Garden, St. Paul’s Cathedral,
Tower of London, and Westminster
Abbey. The group also traveled to Oxford University and Stratford-on-Avon,
the birthplace of Shakespeare.
By Holly Poag
Freshmen Sarah Jekel and Mary Catherine
Matthews attended the S.C. Governor’s School for
the Arts and Humanities, located in Greenville,
summer camps in June.
Mary Catherine was accepted in the dance program camp after three early decision auditions
and a few standard auditions. The summer dance
faculty includes instructors from their residential
high school program, all extremely well-qualified,
knowledgeable directors.
The program included technique drills focused
on the basics of the dance world, and offered classes in ballet, modern, African,
pantomime, pointe, and character
styles of dance.
The program was not easy as
Mary Catherine and her fellow
dancers toiled over vigorous
dance routines and strict instructors. With the active curriculum and engaging
schedule she experienced,
Freshman Mary Catherine Matthews
dances in one of her final performances
at the S.C. Governor’s School for the
Arts and Humanities.
Mrs. Landstrom’s favorite part of the trip
was watching the students’ confidence
build. “By the end of the trip, everyone
was confident with walking around and
being with each other,” she said.
PAGE 4
her favorite memory from the curriculum was the
ending performance. “We had worked for five long
weeks and finally it had paid off,” she said.
During the month away from home, she found she
missed home terribly, but enjoyed seeing Sarah
around campus when their camps overlapped. “It
was sweet to have Sarah be there for the first few
weeks, and I loved making new friends!”
Sarah attended the music program camp for the
harp. Campers benefited from the daily dedication
given by the faculty, as well as the performance
seminars and faculty performances.
She said, “Well, I was the only harpist
so I didn’t have a harp ensemble, but I was also selected
for piano. I did the piano ensemble instead and played
the primo part in my duet.”
Music theory and music history classes
filled her days, as well as private harp
lessons and practice times for both her instruments.
Similar to Mary Catherine, Sarah’s high point during the program was the ending recital night. “I
enjoy performing and the recital hall was absolutely stunning. I just really connected with my
harp that night and it was amazing.”
Zika Virus
in America
By Hayley DuBose
The Zika virus has gained international attention with a number of cases reported in the
U.S. As of the first of September, 3,358 cases have
been reported in America. The diagnosis requires
medical attention through lab tests or imaging.
Zika is transmitted through animals or insects. The primary mosquito that carries the virus is Aedes aegypti, which is only found in small numbers in the
urban areas of southern Florida, and in cities along Louisiana and the Gulf Coast of Texas.
The Aedes albopictus is another possible carrier that is more common in tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates, but can live in a broader temperature range and at cooler
temperatures than Aedes aegypti.
Symptoms for Zika virus include fever, vomiting, fatigue, rashes, joint pain, and red eyes, but
they typically resolve within a few weeks. However, in most cases, there are no symptoms
at all.
In a few cases, it can trigger Guillain-Barre Syndrome, causing paralysis. One of the
biggest dangers of Zika is its known link to significant birth defects. This poses a major risk
to pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant because fetal demise in the
third trimester of pregnancy has been reported.
The most common birth defect is microcephaly, is a birth defect where a baby’s head is
smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with
microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.
Currently, there is no knowledge as to how likely it is that the Zika infection will affect a
pregnancy, or if a baby will have birth defects if one is infected while pregnant.
At this time there are no vaccines or specific treatments available. Instead, medical officials are focusing on relieving symptoms through rest, rehydration, and acetaminophen
for fever and pain. Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such
as ibuprofen, should be avoided.
As of September 30, there were 49 cases of Zika in South Carolina. All of these infections
are travel-based, meaning the person became infected while traveling in another country
and was diagnosed when she returned home.
While there have been no mosquitoes yet found carrying the virus in our state, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control encourages everyone to protect themselves
from mosquito bites. Possible prevention methods include using insect repellent, wearing
long sleeves and pants, and staying indoors, or only opening windows with screens.
Turmoil within
Republican Party
By Campbell Mims
When Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president of the United States in June 2015, controversy surrounding his legitimacy began to develop following his
press conference at Trump Tower. Not only is Trump, the
nominee for the Republican Party, viewed as a controversial candidate, he has proven divisive not only within
the general public, but also within the Republican Party.
The GOP is a party built on conservative values and traditional American beliefs. It is a party that idolizes figures like former President Ronald Reagan and is
dominant in the South. But this once strong and unified
party is on the threshold of collapse because many in
the GOP are not ready to back Trump.
Conservatives are most concerned with the way members of the party are distancing themselves from Trump.
From Republican Senators and Representatives, to even
former presidents, Trump struggles to gain meaningful
support.
A growing number of Republicans at all levels are distancing themselves from Trump due to his unpredictability and lack of experience. He has been unable to unify
the Grand Old Party (GOP) and prominent conservatives have even supported Trump’s Democratic challenger, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
When asked to comment on Trump’s statement that President Obama was responsible for the terrorist massacre
in Orlando, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
said, “I am not going to be commenting on the presidential candidate today.”
When McConnell was questioned about Trump’s running
mate decision, McConnell responded with, “He needs
someone highly experienced and very knowledgeable
because it’s pretty obvious he doesn’t know a lot about
the issues.”
Freshman
Isabelle
Weston
competes
in an
equestrian
event.
PAGE 5
Even Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who waited many
weeks to endorse Trump, is still not 100% behind the
GOP candidate. In a recent interview with NBC News,
Ryan was asked whether or not the Republicans should
follow their conscience. Ryan stated: “The last thing I
would do is tell anybody to do something that’s contrary
to their conscience. I get that this is a very strange situation. He is a very unique nominee. But I feel as a responsibility institutionally as the Speaker of the House that I
should not be leading some chasm in the middle of our
party. Because you know what I know that’ll do? That’ll
Continued on page 14
BARONS IN
THE NEWS
Mr. & Miss Wilson Hall
Each fall the upper school faculty nominates students for the honor of Mr. and Miss Wilson Hall
and the Mr. and Miss for grades nine-11. When nominating a student the faculty considered the
following factors: above average academics, participation in athletics and/or extracurricular
activities, outstanding citizenship and excellent character.
From the list of faculty nominated candidates, students in grades nine-11voted for their own class,
and all students in nine-12 voted for Mr. and Miss Wilson Hall. While voting, students considered
the same criteria the faculty considered when choosing the most well rounded representatives
of their class and of Wilson Hall. The following students received this honor:
Mr. and Miss Wilson Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Drew Talley and Maggie Segars
Mr. and Miss Junior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greyson Sonntag and Carly Cooper
Mr. and Miss Sophomore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nathan Drakeford and Lindy Watford
Mr. and Miss Freshman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bynum Kelley and Haley McCaffrey
Senior Catherine Clark drums up
support for the Barons in the end zone
of Spencer Field during Prep Night.
Mr. & Miss Wilson
Hall: Drew Talley
and Maggie Segars.
LAND WINS BEST IN SHOW
Junior Breland Land won Best in Show at the Sumter County Fair Art Show for
the chair she made in sculpture class. Senior Anna Katherine Graves received a
$100 art scholarship award for her work.
Winning first place in their respective categories were the following upper school
students: sophomore Angelica Agno - pottery, seventh-grader Chanson Bullard open media, sixth-grader Madison Crawshaw - drawing, and sixth-grader Caitlyn Schumacher - painting.
The following upper school students received second place ribbons for their
work: junior Kelly Brady - open media, eighth-grader Emily Gray - 2D open
media, sixth-grader Cody Peyton - drawing, and senior Maggie Segars - pottery. Earning third place ribbons were the following students: eighth-grader Sarah
Alexander - 2D open media, sixth-grader Rebekha Patel - drawing, senior Elizabeth Piasecki - drawing, and sixth-grader Sarah Sonntag - drawing.
Junior Breland Land poses with her chair that won Best in Show in the Sumter County Fair Art Show.
PAGE 6
AP SCHOLARS
Seniors Sam Hilferty and Hannah Pauley received the AP
Scholar with Honor Award for earning an average grade of
at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more exams. Seniors
Banks Burns, Emily DuRant and Hunter Hendrix received the AP Scholar Award for earning a 3 or
higher on at least three exams.
AP Exams, which students take after completing challenging college-level courses taught at
their high school, are graded on a five-point scale (5 being the highest). Most of the nation’s
colleges and universities award credit, advanced placement, or both for grades of 3 or higher.
To qualify to teach an AP course, teachers must attend an intensive AP workshop held during
the summer. Wilson Hall offers 18 AP courses.
Herlong &
Hilferty Named
Commended
Students
Seniors Lane Herlong and Sam Hilferty
have been named Commended Students
in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship
Program. About 34,000 Commended
Students throughout the nation are
being recognized for their exceptional
academic promise. These students
placed among the top five percent of
more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the
2015 Preliminary SAT.
Most Likely to Succeed: Drew Reynolds ’17
& Paige Anderson ’17.
SENIOR
SUPERLATIVES
National Merit Commended Students:
Lane Herlong and Sam Hilferty.
The following seniors were elected by their
classmates for the Senior Superlatives:
Most Likely to Succeed
Paige Anderson & Drew Reynolds
Most Athletic
Danielle deHoll & McLendon Sears
Most Dependable
Diamond Crawford & Brad Russell
Most Intelligent
Lane Herlong & Sam Hilferty
Friendliest
Emily DuRant & Patrick Muldrow
Most School Spirit
Cate McCreight & Drew Talley
Most Talented
Anna Katherine Graves & Banks Burns
Wittiest
Junior Layton Creech, senior Mary Daniel Stokes and Mrs. Karen Jones pray with fellow students
during the annual See You at the Pole event sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Madeleine Maury Shuler & Campbell Mims.
PAGE 7
Editor-in-Chief Campbell Mims
IN MY OPINION
The 2016
Presidential Election:
A Joke
For months, Americans have not been able to turn
on a news channel without hearing something on
the 2016 presidential election. From the surprising
announcement of businessman and billionaire Donald Trump’s campaign as the Republican Party nominee, to the e-mail allegations that Democratic
candidate Hillary Clinton has been facing for the
past few months, the election is inescapable.
By Campbell Mims
problems and issues created or ignored by the next
administration. I am concerned for the state of our
country at the hands of either of these candidates.
Before I get into the election itself, let me set the
foundation. Barack Obama has been in office
since 2008 and the United States has experienced
instability and tragedy throughout his (nearly complete) two terms in office.
And let us not forget all of the events in between.
From Hillary being blamed by a fallen soldier’s
mother at the Republican National Convention for
her son’s death during the Benghazi attack to Donald Trump making derogatory comments toward
disabled people, this campaign is a complete joke.
I do not think I even have to mention the financial
distress he has put this country through, such as
The Great Recession of 2009. During that event,
his plan to help this nation recover proved weak
as both the GDP and job growth proved to be
erratic and uneven.
My generation will shoulder the weight of the
Not to mention the United States has, without a
doubt, experienced the worst chain of terrorist attacks since the September 11, 2001, attacks in New
York City and Washington, D.C. It does not take a
political analyst on Fox News or CNN to tell you
that this president has done a poor job of handling
this country’s issues, whether foreign or domestic.
Even someone like me, a high school senior, can tell
that the country faces serious problems and I have
no confidence that either candidate can solve our
current problems.
I am a conservative, and I would gladly vote for
Trump over Hillary any day of the week. But before
I bash Clinton and the Democrats any more than I
already have, let me say that even though I would
vote for Trump, that does not mean that I think he is
A JOKE…Continued from page 8
PAGE 8
Palmetto…Continued From page 1
A JOKE…Continued from page 8
a “good” candidate.
Trump’s biggest problem, and the one that concerns me the most, is the fact that he cannot unify the Republican Party. Heck, even House Speaker Paul Ryan does not 100% endorse Trump. Whenever Ryan is asked to comment on Trump, he always declines to
comment.
Trump has also not gained enough support with Republicans in the Senate and the House;
in fact, it seems that he has driven more of them away than gained their support. For example, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell bashed Trump for not knowing the rules
and saying that he needs to find someone that does know the rules, when asked about
Trump’s running mate.
This is bad. If Trump cannot unite his own party behind him, how does he expect to get the
majority of the American people behind him?
Trump has scared many Americans into not voting for him because of his dangerous foreign policy proposals. You are going to nuke ISIS, Mr. Trump? How does he expect that to
go over? Does he want World War III to start in the Middle East?
Trump says he also expects Mexico to finance the construction of a wall across the United
States-Mexican border. The only issue with this proposal, if you can even call it that, is how
does he expect Mexico to pay for this? This is another one of Trump’s “all talk and no reason” ideas. The idea is a start, but Trump still has not provided a concrete explanation as
to how he expects to accomplish this plan, as he tends to do with most of his ideas.
Don’t get me wrong. I want Trump in office, but even I can see how much turmoil there is
within the GOP and I can see why many Americans do not want him in office. God speed,
Donald.
In these cities, there are elections for city positions such as
mayor, city council and sheriff. From there, delegates have
county elections and state elections. Much of the time at boys
and girls state is occupied with listening to peers give
speeches.
In both programs this mock government allows the people attending to receive further exposure to how politics and the
government work. Sallie served as mayor of her city, while
Danielle, Hunter and Lane served on the city council in their respective cities.
Hunter and Lane also served in the House of Representatives
and were able to sit in the House Chambers in the State House
and hold a mock session. Lane said, “It was a great opportunity to learn about my state from a different point of view.”
Throughout the week various speakers came to visit both conventions. Many of these speakers were respected mayors of
cities such as Charleston, Columbia and Greenville. To cap
off the week, delegates of both conventions traveled to Columbia to convene on the State House steps followed by a parade.
Banks said, “Overall, I enjoyed Boys State. It allowed me to
meet new people and learn more about our State government.”
Finally, the candidate everyone has been waiting to hear about. Oh, Hillary Clinton, how
you are so despised by conservatives everywhere. I could hit a lot of points when it comes
to Clinton (mainly, because she has lied about so much), but the biggest thing that kills me
about Clinton is the constant lying to the American people and having no remorse for it
whatsoever.
How can some of these voters support a candidate that goes before Congress, lies under
oath about her e-mail scandal, and then walks away acting like nothing happened? That
just makes me sick as an American, putting party aside.
It is one thing to lie and nothing ever come out of it, but the Director of the FBI, James
Comey, sat in front of a panel on national television and told the American people watching that not only did Clinton use a private e-mail server instead of her State Department
issued e-mail, but that there was also classified information on that private e-mail server,
which she blatantly disregarded.
Citizens should be terrified, because if she gets into the White House with this corrupt nature, who is to say that she will not hide information from the American people then?
I need not even mention the deaths in Benghazi in 2012 under her supposed leadership at
the State Department. Clinton blamed the attack on a YouTube video when she, as Secretary of State, knew very well what was happening during that attack.
At the U.S. House Oversight Committee hearing on May 8, 2013, Clinton said, “With all
due respect, the fact is that we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or
was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided that they’d go kill some
Americans? What difference at this point does it make?”
Well, Secretary Clinton, it makes a lot of difference. It makes a difference not only to the
families of those victims, but also to the American people. Your image, if it was not already ruined after you stayed with Bill after the Monica Lewinsky scandal, has been
trashed after the constant lies and disregard for those lies. You should be behind bars,
Hillary.
I only hope that we as competent, American voters can make the best decision given the
circumstances. Our candidates make our country’s politics the subject of international
mockery. Is this the best we can do? The United States is in crisis and, this country needs
a hero. And sadly, neither Clinton nor Trump qualifies.
PAGE 9
Senior Ali Hilferty competes in the football hop relay
as classmate Paige Anderson cheers during The Baron
Games pep rally organized by the Student Council.
Taft Joins Faculty
By Courtney Clark ETC.
Mrs. Sarah Taft, a new Spanish teacher, has been teaching Spanish for over three years.
“I am a teacher because I love to share my language and culture with others, specifically with young people.”
She enjoys teaching Spanish and her culture because she thinks everyone should learn
to speak more than one language. “I think that everyone should know more about other
cultures because, to me, that is real knowledge, and knowing more about others helps
us to open our minds and enjoy our journey in this world.
Junior Greyson Sonntag said, “I’m very excited to have a teacher that is so enthusiastic about the success of her students in the classroom.” Students have noticed her dedication toward teaching and how she wants her students to do well in her class.
Junior Madison Reaves said, “Mrs. Taft is very passionate about Spanish and her students. You can tell she has high expectations for all of her students and will push them
hard, so she is successful with teaching us everything in the curriculum. I know it is going
to be a great year with her.”
Mrs. Taft explained that one of the most difficult things with teaching is helping people feel comfortable with Spanish and showing them it is not impossible to learn.
“Teaching a foreign language is not easy but it is fun, especially when the students feel
comfortable with the language and get out of their comfort zone and speak it. It is one
of the most exciting moments for a teacher that teaches a foreign language.”
She loves knowing that students are willing to try to speak the language. “It means
they are getting out of their comfort zone and their brains are ready to get more knowledge. I love that experience. That is why I love to teach.”
Because students and faculty members have been friendly and wonderful to her, Mrs.
Taft feels very happy and welcomed in the school. “I am grateful to be a part of the Wilson Hall family and hope to be teaching and learning from everyone for many years.” Mrs. Taft, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Pontifical Bolivarian University, is originally from Colombia. She has lived in the United States for over four years and is married to Mr. Brandon Taft who works for GDIT, an information technology company
contracted with the U.S. Army at Shaw Air Force Base.
Sophomore Holly Poag distributes cards to patients at
Palmetto Health Tuomey.
Poag Gives Back
Sophomore Holly Poag devoted part of her summer vacation
to write cards of inspiration, encouragement and hope to patients at Palmetto Health Tuomey. She even wrote cards of celebration for the parents of newborn babies. Each card is
hand-written, and in addition to thoughtful expressions, each
has a p.s. line that reads “You’ve Got This!” To make the cards even more impactful to the recipient, Holly
used an organization system to mark each card according to
theme. This targeted infusion of kindness is certain to brighten
the day of a patient struggling with uncertainty and fear. On September 9, Mr. James Washington, Sr. was the first patient to receive one of Holly’s cards which she delivered it herself. The card brightened Mr. Washington’s day, and his
daughter Catherine remarked about what a kind and thoughtful gesture this was for patients and she applauded Holly for
thinking of those who were in the hospital. Sophomore and varsity cheerleader Hailey Ford autographs a photo
for third-grade Bowen Zitzke during Baron Media Day.
PAGE 10
Tristan Volunteers
for Operation Purple
By Emily Barnes
Junior Grace Tristan volunteered during the summer at Operation Purple Camp, a camp started by the National Military Family Association for military children to spend
their summers. Located at Camp Bob at Kanuga near
Hendersonville, North Carolina, there were many activities for campers to do such as tie-dying, swimming, canoeing, archery, and ropes courses.
Having spent time at Operation Purple Camp as a camper,
Grace knew it had a special place in her heart and that it
would be great to go back and work at the camp she loved as a child.
She was reunited with staff from her time as a camper and also met new
ones while working as a counselor. “My same counselors that were there
when I was a kid were working as support staff, so it was interesting to
get to know them on a more personal level,” she said.
Seniors Evans Boyle and Cate McCreight relax after a day of work at Crooked
Creek Ranch in Colorado.
Boyle & McCreight
Work for YoungLife
By Sarah McCreight
Seniors Evans Boyle and Cate McCreight flew to Frasier, Colorado, on
May 27 to embark on an adventure of a lifetime. The pair dedicated a
month of their summer to work at Crooked Creek Ranch, a YoungLife
camp. YoungLife is a Christian organization designed to lead the youth
of today to Christ.
Her two weeks consisted of devotionals every night, chants and cheers
during meals, and watching over and spending time with her campers.
Grace said, “Taking care of children is rewarding but also very stressful.”
Working at camp definitely has its highlights and challenges, with one of
those challenges being starting work as a counselor on the campers’ first
day, so Grace had to learn the ropes as she went.
A summer at Operation Purple Camp was definitely a memorable one
for Grace, one that she would love to have again next summer. “I want to
go back again, especially to see some of my first campers again.”
An experience like no other, Grace’s time at Operation Purple Camp is
something she will never forget. She said, “It was a really cool experience to know I had an impact on a child’s life no matter how big or small.”
Their jobs varied from scrubbing toilets and sinks to working outside
cutting grass and making the campgrounds appear beautiful. “My job at
camp was being a server, where I served campers and bussed tables
three times a day,” Evans said. His job consisted of setting tables, delivering food to the campers, and cleaning up after meals.
EVERYBODY HAS A STORY:
MEGAN PIASECKI
By Betsy Noyes
Cate had a different job experience and worked as a laundry girl, folding a multitude of linens, clothes, pillow cases, towels and more. She
takes pride in her newfound talent, “If you need a lesson on how to fold
a fitted sheet, hit me up,” she said.
The two have been involved in YoungLife since the beginning of ninth
grade and appreciate its outstanding results and the way it drives
teenagers into a unique ministry. Not only did they practice these basic
life skills, they discovered new levels of friendship. “Living in a community of believers with people who are so raw and real was a very special thing to me and different than anything I’ve ever experienced living
in Sumter,” Cate said.
The world is made up of around 7 billion humans, so how can one person
be of significance? How can there be such a thing as individuality? Everyone has a story that has not yet been told. This is Megan’s.
Junior Megan Piasecki was born in El Paso, Texas, and lived at Fort Bliss
until she was three years old. From there she moved to Spokane, Washington, and then to Fort Jackson in Columbia. After her father’s retirement
from the U.S. Army, her family moved to Camden.
Megan and her sisters, senior Elizabeth and freshman Grace, attended
Heathwood Hall in Columbia before transferring to Wilson Hall several
years ago. Megan is now 16 years old. Still living in Camden, she commutes to Wilson Hall every day, driving her two sisters as well.
Not only did the workers make friends among themselves, campers had
an impact on their experiences. “One of my favorite memories was
doing work crew night where we talked to campers and shared our testimonies and answered any questions they had about doing work crew,”
Evans said.
She has big plans for herself, hoping to go to Georgetown University,
Stanford University or the University of California Los Angeles to study
political science, with plans to go to law school, and French. One day she
hopes to live in San Francisco or Washington, D.C.
The idea of spending 42 hours a week of laborious work appealed to
Cate because she had a wonderful experience as a camper. She wanted
to play a small part of giving a high school student the same experience
she had. “I have always been a huge homebody that made it difficulty
being away from my family, but overall, I loved being away.”
Megan reads, volunteers at animal shelters, and enjoys watching Parks
and Recreation on Netflix. “I like to help others and I plan to do that my entire life. I try to constantly work for the greater good,” she said. “That is
why I want to be a child’s advocacy lawyer, helping kids to find where
they belong in the world.”
PAGE 11
Clinton Email
Scandal
By Megan Piasecki
With the presidential election on the horizon, both parties will do anything to sling
some mud at the other candidate. A longstanding issue with the Democratic candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, relates to her usage of a private
email server to handle classified information. She used her own server to receive
and send classified emails through a personal account instead of the official protected email accounts that are monitored
on federal servers.
This is important to the public because it
suggests a lack of responsibility since a
phone or personal email account is highly
susceptible to hacking and confidential
emails could easily be leaked. Many of
Clinton’s supporters, though, view the
media focus on her email server as a desperate attempt to turn voters toward her
opponent, the Republican candidate Donald Trump.
According to CNN, Clinton repeatedly
told the FBI during their investigation that
she could not recall key details and events
related to classified information procedures. The FBI tracked the emails to her personal server and saw that this could lead
to a major security breach. The investigation was launched in March 2016 and was
brought to the attention of the public
shortly after.
Junior Kathryn Sistare is surrounded by her new friends during a mission trip to Haiti.
Students Serve in Haiti
By Catherine Clark
Seniors Brad Russell and Mary Daniel Stokes and junior Kathryn Sisatre traveled to Haiti on a trip with
First Baptist Church during spring break. The eight-day trip involved mission work, some time for
leisure, and the opportunity to form friendships.
Mary Daniel said, “The trip was really great. Since it was my second time going I thought I knew what
to expect, but it was just as life changing as the first time.”
Everyone arrived on Good Friday and stayed until the following Saturday while staying at the Wall’s
Guesthouse in Port au Prince. On their first full day, everyone took a tour and saw all the different aspects of Haiti. On Easter Sunday everyone went to church together.
From Monday to Thursday the group painted about 200 pews in two different churches as well as a
variety of windows and gates. On their last full day, the students went to the beach.
Kathryn said, “It’s one of those experiences that is almost indescribable. It’s truly crazy how different
the lifestyles of those people are.”
The students had the chance to visit a young girl’s home and spend time in a special needs orphanage.
Mary Daniel said, “This was definitely one of the most humbling things that I have ever done.”
Brad, Kathryn and Mary Daniel went on this same mission trip in 2015 and were able to reunite with
friends they had made the previous year. Their translator from the previous year, a man named Benson, came back to see everyone for a couple of days.
Mary Daniel said, “It is always hard coming back home to everything that I have and take for granted,
while knowing that they have nothing but still are beyond thankful for everything.”
Juniors Grace
Tristan, Zack
Zobrist and
Kate Smith
support the
Barons on the
sidelines of
Spencer Field.
This shows that either Clinton is completely
unaware of the abilities of some hackers,
or that she was not briefed with the fact
she cannot have classified information on
an unsecure server. Hundreds of emails
were not turned over to the FBI, which
raises the question, “What does Clinton
have to hide?”
PAGE 12
Usain Bolt
By Daniel Reynolds
Usain Bolt is arguably the fastest man in the world, winning three
gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and
becoming the first man in Olympic history to win both the 100meter and 200-meter races in record times. Bolt also won three
gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. He ran the men’s 100-meter race in 9.63 seconds, a new
Olympic record, making him the first man in history to set three
world records in the Olympics.
He made history again at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, when he won gold in the 100-meter and 200-meter
races and 4x100-meter relay. He earned a “triple-triple,” earning three gold medals at three consecutive Olympics for a total of
9 gold medals over the course of his Olympic career for his home
country of Jamaica. Bolt ran in his last Olympic race in Rio.
SPORTS
At the age of 15, Bolt took his first shot at success on the world stage at the 2002 World Junior
Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, where he won the 200-meter dash, making him the youngest
world-junior gold medalist ever. Bolt’s accomplishments impressed the athletic world, and he received
the International Association of Athletics Foundation’s Rising Star Award that year and soon was
given the nickname “Lightning Bolt.”
Phelps Wins 28 Medals
By Drake Ives
Michael Phelps, 31, is the most decorated
Olympian in history. He decided to end his career this year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a
sum of 28 Olympic medals. Throughout his career he earned a total of 23 gold, three silver,
and two bronze medals.
In 2000, at age 15, Phelps made his Olympic
debut in Sydney, Australia. Although he did
not win a medal in Sydney, Phelps had a fifthplace finish in the 200-meter butterfly final.
As he practiced harder and poured his heart
into swimming, he returned to Athens, Greece,
in 2004 and this is where his hard work began
to payoff. He earned eight medals and began
to be noticed by the world.
Four years later in 2008, Phelps returned to
the Olympics in Beijing, China, and claimed
eight more medals. Still Phelps did not stop; he
continued to compete and claimed another
six medals at 2012 games in London, England.
At his last Olympics held in Rio this summer,
Phelps won his final six medals.
With Phelps having achieved his lifelong goal
and more, there is still doubt to whether he is
really putting to rest his Olympic career. He
claims that he is retiring to settle down and
begin a new life with his fiancée, Nicole, and
son, Boomer. Phelps is considered a modern
day legend and inspiration for young swimmers today.
Simone Manuel
By Abby Zilch
Simone Manuel became the first African-American woman to win an individual swimming
medal in the Olympics when she competed in
the Rio 2016 games. Along with the honor of
being the first African-American woman to do
so, she also set an Olympic record.
Manuel is originally from Sugar Land, Texas, and
after graduating from Fort Bend Austin High
School in 2014, she attended Stanford University. In her freshman year, she broke the American and NCAA records in her signature event,
the 100-yard freestyle.
She also became the first junior swimmer to
break the 25-second barrier in the 50-meter
freestyle. Manuel was on the 2013 World Championship Team and also competed against European All-Stars in Duel in the Pool that same year.
During her first season with the Stanford Cardinals, she competed in her first NCAA Championships and ended up snagging second overall.
Audiences knew she would be something special when she competed alongside Olympian
Missy Franklin and managed to keep up. Overall, her first year was successful to say the least.
However, during the 2016 Olympic Trials,
Manuel stepped up her already impressive
game, landing her a post on the U.S. roster for
an individual event and on the 4 x 100-meter
freestyle relay. Later in the trials, she finished
second in the 50-meter freestyle earning herself
another race in the 2016 Games.
Simone Manuel’s most impressive feat thus far
was receiving a gold medal in Rio in the 100meter, earning the title of the first African-American woman to do so. She followed up by
earning a silver medal in the 50-meter relay.
PAGE 13
Tebow Pursues
Baseball Career
TURMOIL…Continued From page 5
definitely knock us out of the White House.”
By Charlton Commander
Tim Tebow has decided to pursue a professional career in baseball. This former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner worked out in front of many professional scouts at the
University of Southern California on August 30. Tebow has voiced that this sudden desire to
play baseball is not for attention, but is a chance to fulfill a life-long wish.
Tebow trained in Scottsdale, Arizona, for months preparing for his workout in front of scouts.
He laced up the spikes for the first time in almost a decade when he hit for a .494 batting average at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Florida, as a junior.
Before Tebow relinquished his baseball career to play football at the University of Florida,
he had a true opportunity of being drafted by Major League Baseball right out of high
school.
Tebow began his tryout at USC in front of all 30 major league scouts. The first aspect to his
game that he showed was his speed, which he displayed with a 60-yard dash time between
6.6 and 6.8 seconds. This time automatically makes him an above average runner.
Tebow then moved on to the outfield where he showed below average skills and seemed to
struggle with his throws out of right field.
What caught the eyes of numerous scouts, however, was Tebow’s hitting ability. He faced
veterans Chad Smith and David Aardsma on the mound. The former quarterback ended the
day by going eight for19 with two doubles and three strikeouts against these pitchers.
The scouts certainly made marks in their notepads when Tebow stepped up to the plate for
batting practice and showed an impressive amount of power by hitting several “no doubt”
homeruns.
Aside from the advanced power and running game, his skills were slightly undeveloped. This
is all expected due to his extended break from baseball after turning his focus strictly to
football.
Tebow’s talents were noticed which gave him the option to sign with the New York Mets. He
signed the contract and made this professional baseball deal a little over a week later on
September 8. Tebow will begin his baseball career in the Mets Instructional League.
Fundraising has also become a problem for the GOP.
Many major corporations that sponsored the 2012 Republican National Convention announced they would not
sponsor the 2016 RNC, and those corporations held true
to their word. By May, Trump had raised just $3.2 million
compared to Clinton’s more than $26 million raised that
same month. This puts Trump and the GOP at a significant
financial disadvantage heading into the general election.
Adding to the financial disadvantage, the down-ballots
are now threatened because Trump’s behavior is undermining Senate and House candidates across the country,
according to multiple sources. The issue has become so
severe that Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus
has turned to former President George W. Bush, who
faced unpopularity himself, to help persuade these valuable Senate and House candidates to continue to pledge
their support to the GOP, according to the Huffington
Post.
Trump is also battling to gain the support of conservative
voters. Many staunch GOP voters have flooded the Republican Party’s office with calls, along with contacting
major newspapers and every news channel with their disapproving opinions on Trump. The topics of his continued
demeaning comments of women, minority groups, and
his bashing of government officials has proven to turn his
own voters against him.
Republican officials hope that the naming of Mike Pence
as Trump’s running-mate will provide a considerable foil
to Trump’s caustic personality. Republican Party officials
and conservative voters alike can only hope that Trump
will pull the party together before November to beat
Hillary Clinton.
Juniors Corbin Bruce
and Charlton Commander and sophomore Brown Osteen
row their boat in the
Ships & Sailors Pep
Rally coordinated by
the varsity cheerleaders.
PAGE 14
Refugee Olympic
Team Takes on Rio
By Grace Tristan.
“These refugees have no home, no team, no
flag, no national anthem,” International
Olympic Committee (IOC) president
Thomas Bach said in a press release. “We
will offer them a home in the Olympic Village together with all the athletes of the
word.” The Refugee Olympic Team (ROT)
consisted of 10 athletes who have been
driven out of their home countries by violence.
The IOC wanted the athletes to bring
worldwide attention to the refugee crisis
and serve as a “symbol of hope” for the 65
million refugees who have been forcibly removed from their homes.
The team that was chosen by the IOC included athletes from Democratic Republic
of Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Syria.
At the Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
in August, the 10 athletes competed in three
sports: judo, swimming, and track and field.
Every competitor at the Games traveled a
personal journey to reach Rio. For some
athletes, notably a number of refugees, the
journey changed their lives in ways few
could imagine.
The Olympic Games gave these athletes a
platform to showcase their talents as well
as their perseverance. These athletes include, but are not limited to, runner James
Nyang Chiengjiek and swimmer Yusra
Mardini. Chiengjiek was just 13 when he
fled South Sudan from fear of being kidnapped, according to a profile on the Rio
2016 website. He traveled thousands of
miles before he reached Kakuma Camp, a
camp known for its long distance runners.
Chiengjiek did not allow his talent to go to
waste, despite having to train without the
proper footwear. His hard work paid off in
2013 when he was selected to begin training with former Olympian Tegla Loroupe.
Mardini and her sister are responsible for
helping save the lives of 20 people, including their own, after jumping off their sinking boat and pushing it to land. They swam
for three hours to ensure the safety of
everybody on the boat. “I thought it would
be a real shame if I drowned in the sea, because I am a swimmer,” she summed up her
experience to reporters earlier this year.
Since then she has relocated to Germany
with her sister where they both continue to
train.
The Refugee Olympic Team competed in
Brazil alongside athletes from all over the
world. Although they did receive any
medals, their participation was successful
in honoring the courage and perseverance
of all refugees.
Junior Liza Lowder leaps during a varsity
volleyball match in the Nash Student Center.
Throughout the 2016 summer Olympic Games held in Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5-21, more spectators became familiar with the cupping technique used by many
Olympic athletes. This ancient technique of recovery has
been practiced before in some cultures, and is now making
a comeback.
CU PP ING
A T T HE
OL YMP ICS
Two types of athletes who use this technique are swimmers
and gymnasts. Swimmers like American Michael Phelps are
associated with the dry cupping technique which involves
a suction effect. The skin is drawn in, causing the blood to
swell, leaving purple, circular bruises clearly noticeable on
the skin and body.
By Layton Creech
The U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Team is another group associated with “cupping.” Alexander Naddour has discovered
that cupping provides relief from his soreness in the body.
The cupping technique used by Olympic athletes is necessary for easing muscle pain. Many Olympic athletes are
convinced that this technique is successful which shows that
cupping is truly for a justifiable reason, despite the odd appearance of circles on their bodies.
PAGE 15
BARONS
Top Left:
Junior Moriah Grace Yoder
performs with the varsity
cheerleading squad during half
time of the football game.
Top Right:
Junior Grace Towery
celebrates a personal best
during the Wilson Hall
Invitational swim meet.
Left Center:
Senior Hayes Goodson runs for a
first down on Spencer Field.
Right Center:
Senior Michael Lowery speaks to
the crowd about the
upcoming game at a pep rally.
Bottom:
As the 12th Player for the
game, senior Danielle deHoll
carries the school flag to lead
the varsity football
team onto Spencer Field.
PAGE 16