A cool, breezy spring morning, and you’re driving your daily commute to school, just as always. There’s a ding on your phone, and it’s from somebody you enjoy talking to. In that same moment you take your eyes off the road to check that message, an out-of-control vehicle slams into the side of your car.
The Create Real Impact Contest asked young people, ages 14-22, to show how they would talk about the number one killer of teens in America, distracted driving. Junior Chase Britton and Senior Allyson Colbert, students in the Graphic Arts 3 course, were the winners of this contest, sponsored by Impact Teen Drivers in collaboration with State Farm Insurance of York County.
“Phones are a problem for teens and young adults,” said Colbert. “And that was the main idea.”
The contest allowed for a wide variety of media that could be entered to win; including graphic design, music, video, and creative writing creations. Colbert and Britton created a design for a billboard, which features a representation of a text message next to the words, “They need you alive. The text can wait.”
The billboard is up and can be seen from I-83 northbound near the Emigsville exit.
Red Lion Area Senior High School Junior Chase Britton and Senior Allyson Colbert won the Create Real Impact contest with this design, which was presented in a hand-held version to them. The life-sized billboard can been seen from I-83 northbound near exit 24, Emigsville.Photo by Tyler Wernick
Marlin Bollinger from State Farm of York County and Melissa Sweitzer from the Center For York Traffic Safety presented a one-hundred-dollar check to each student from Red Lion, a unique award modeled after their billboard design submission, as well as a one-thousand-dollar educational grant to the Red Lion Graphic Arts Program.
Mr. Paul Thom, a Graphic Arts, Technology and Engineering Education teacher guided students through the design process and then evaluated the final design product.
“Students prepared for the event by enrolling in the level 3 Graphic Arts course,” said Mr. Thom, “which provides industry-standard, real-world, skills for students to successfully create graphic designs and products.”
He and the rest of the Graphic Arts program team at the Senior High, plan to use the educational grant on a future graphics-related project that will also promote safe driving for the students at Red Lion.
By Tyler Wernick
Multimedia Journalist
From left to right, State Farm Agent Marlin Bollinger, Assistant Principal Dana Schmidt, Senior award winner Allyson Colbert, Junior award winner Chase Britton, Traffic Safety Specialist Melissa Sweitzer, and graphic arts teacher Paul Thom display the $1,000 grant to the RLASHS Graphics Arts Program. The students hold their awards, miniature versions of the billboard they designed. The full-sized version can be seen from interstate 83 northbound near the exit 24, Emigsville. Photo by Tyler Wernick
Mrs. Morris leaves a legacy of career exploration programs at the senior high
By Shana Carey
Editor-in-Chief
Many students do not know what they are going to do after graduation. Red Lion encourages students to dabble in different career opportunities that can allow them to find their passions. Originally a business teacher, Mrs. Kim Morris built the Career Center from the ground up and is ready to retire after 33 ½ years in public education.
“Red Lion has made a strong mark in York County,” Mrs. Morris said. “That makes me proud.”
Mrs. Morris is passionate about helping students find a career that excites and supports them. She says that the key to finding this is to experiment in different activities while in high school.
“Get your foot in and dabble a little. If it works, that’s awesome,” Mrs. Morris said. “If it doesn’t, dabble in another pool.”
The career center was not always as prevalent as it is today. When Mrs. Morris got started at Red Lion 30 years ago, there were two programs that she oversaw while teaching a full day of business classes. Now, Mrs. Morris focuses on the Career Center and its 42 career exploration and apprenticeship programs.
“The more opportunities you (the students) have,” Mrs. Morris said, “the more that we’ve done our job.”
Mrs. Morris passes the torch after this year to Mrs. Scott to run the career center. Mrs. Scott was originally a business teacher before becoming a counselor and has helped students find their career paths ever since starting at Red Lion.
“She and I have been co-workers and friends for a very long time,” Mrs. Morris said.
Mrs. Morris sits at her desk in the Career Center with cards from students and community members hanging behind her. Mrs. Morris has met with past students that achieved their various career goals because of the career program.
Mrs. Morris looks forward to seeing how the Career Center changes with new leadership.
“Throughout the years we continue to think of ideas,” Mrs. Morris said, “so I’m anxious to see new directions, but there has to always be continued growth.”
Moving into retirement, Mrs. Morris will watch the Career Center develop but will also have more time to herself. Mrs. Morris told The Leonid that she is very much looking forward to “no bells.”
She also is excited to travel with her husband and spend time with her four grandchildren. She is looking forward to “just having more time to stop and play.”
Mrs. Morris works in her Career Center office with a bulletin board filled with pictures and thank you cards from past students. Over her years in Red Lion, she has kept in touch with many students. Mrs. Morris reminisced about meeting with one of her first students for lunch and hearing about his travels as a marine in the past 15 years.
“He remembered things from the class that I taught,” Mrs. Morris said. “It was lovely.”
Moving into retirement, Mrs. Morris is optimistic and said, “You never know where one little possibility might take you.”
Golden State Warriors hope to claw their way to the top once again
George Keene, Sports Editor for The Leonid.com
The NBA Playoffs have started , and Giannis and the Bucks will look to repeat as NBA champions while the Phoenix Suns look to get back to the promise land for another shot at an NBA title. Will the Golden State Warriors reclaim the throne? Who’s got the easiest path to the NBA finals and what does round one of the playoffs look like for the field? The Leonid writers sat down and picked their winners for round one of the NBA playoffs.
Easter Conference Playoffs:
Miami Heat vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks
The NBA’s supervillain, Trae Young looks to lead the Hawks back to the Eastern Conference Finals against Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. Miami finished with the best record in a very competitive Eastern Conference but will have their hands full with the Hawks’ offense. Young has been phenomenal this season, leading the NBA in total points and assists, which is a rarity. The Heat do have the defensive pieces to cope with Trae Young, though. PJ Tucker, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo are all All NBA defenders and can slow down Trae Young. If any team should be on upset alert, it is the Miami Heat.
My Prediction: Miami Heat 4 Atlanta Hawks 1
Boston Celtics vs. (7) Brooklyn Nets
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving look to send Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s Celtics back home in the first round for the second straight season. Brooklyn beat Cleveland in the play-in game on Tuesday night, but this Celtics team is much better. The Celtics have been on an absolute tear, going 19-6 in their last 25 games of the season. Jayson Tatum has put himself in the Most Valuable Player Award conversation and has catapulted this defensive-minded juggernaut to the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn, on the other hand, has had a turbulent season. They have been dominant with Kevin Durant on the floor, but have looked sub par when he has been injured or on the bench. Kevin Durant will need to be the Kevin Durant we are used to seeing in order for Brooklyn to pull off this upset. Boston’s Marcus Smart, the defensive player of the year, will have his hands full with New York’s finest point guard in Kyrie Irving, so Kevin Durant will likely do the majority of the scoring. I am expecting a long and tough series between these two title hopeful basketball clubs.
My prediction: Brooklyn Nets 4 Boston Celtics 2
Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Chicago Bulls
The NBA Champions will start their title defense against the struggling Chicago Bulls. Giannis Antetokounmpo, a perennial MVP candidate, has led the Bucks to having the third best record in the Eastern Conference, despite a haul of injuries that this team has had to deal with. Luckily for Milwaukee, they are finally at full strength and their big 3, which includes Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday, has been nearly unstoppable while on the floor together. On the other side of things, the Bulls lost four of their last five games to close out the regular season. Despite an MVP caliber season from NBA All Star Demar Derozan, the Bulls have fallen apart. They had been the top seed in the Eastern Conference for weeks at a time this season, but haven’t been able to put it all together. The Bulls will need a huge series from their two all stars, Demar Derozan and Zach Lavine, if they want to pull off this near impossible upset.
My prediction: Milwaukee Bucks 4 Chicago Bulls 0
Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
The city of brotherly love will have their hands full with the team from up north. The Philadelphia 76ers, led by MVP hopeful Joel Embiid, will look to quickly dispatch this hungry and scrappy Toronto Raptors squad. The Sixers made a blockbuster trade at the trade deadline, sending Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two draft picks to Brooklyn, for former MVP James Harden and Paul Millsap. However, after a hot start where things were looking good for Philly, James Harden’s underwhelming play as of late causes concern. Philadelphia’s chances for an NBA title lie in the hands of James Harden, who is shooting beneath 40% from the floor in his last five games. Not only is James Harden’s play a cause for concern for Philly fans, but so is the Toronto Raptors’ play. The Raptors won the season series 3-1 and have looked in control as of late. Nick Nurse is a defensive guru and will have a plan to limit the production of the Cameroonian superstar, Joel Embiid. Additionally, Toronto had five players average more than 15 points per game and their ability to get out on the fast break, plays right into Philadelphia’s weakness, their transition defense. Philadelphia’s defensive star Matisse Thybulle is ineligible to play in Toronto because of his vaccination status, so Philadelphia will have to have a next man up mentality on the road.
My Prediction: Philadelphia 76ers 4 Toronto Raptors 2
Western Conference Playoffs:
Phoenix Suns vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans
Devin Booker and Chris Paul have not disappointed once again, leading the Suns to the best record in the NBA. On the other end of the court, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum have been leading a young Pelicans team, who nobody thought would be in the playoffs. The Suns are heavy favorites in this series, as they should be, because their depth, offense, and defense are all phenomenal. Phoenix looks to return to the NBA finals, where they lost to Milwaukee last season. New Orleans has already exceeded expectations, especially considering that they have a new head coach in Willie Green and Zion Williamson has been hurt all season. Do I think the Pelicans can pull off the upset? Not a chance. Phoenix is simply too good and dominant, and they are in it for the long run.
My Prediction: Phoenix Suns 4 New Orleans Pelicans 0
Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Minnesota Timberwolves
This is a matchup between two teams with bright futures ahead of them. The Memphis Grizzlies, led by NBA sensation Ja Morant, take on the rising Wolves team led by Karl-Anthony Towns. Young stars lead both teams, and this series should be filled with highlights. The Grizzlies have been unstoppable, with and without star point guard Ja Morant, which is a huge advantage, as they will be able to give him a proper amount of rest, because their bench unit is so deep. With Desmond Bane’s sharp shooting, Jaren Jackson Jr’s elite defense, and Ja Morant’s freakish athleticism, the Grizzlies are going to be a tough out. While they are set for a deep playoff run, they have to beat the Timberwolves first. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns have been absolutely phenomenal this season. KAT is averaging a near double double this season on 52.9% shooting, but he will need to be even better in this series. In order for the Wolves to have a shot at winning this series, not only does KAT have to score, but he has to be a menace on the defensive end on the floor. Memphis attacks the paint as much as any team in the NBA, and so he will need to stand tall and make life difficult for the young Grizzlies.
My Prediction: Memphis Grizzlies 4 Minnesota Timberwolves 2
Golden State Warriors vs. (6) Denver Nuggets
The Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors tip off the NBA Finals in 2019. Both teams will look to make a run back to the top this postseason, three seasons later. Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are back! After two years of disappointment, the Warriors hope to restart their dynasty. However, Steph Curry and the Warriors will have their hands full with the reigning MVP, center Nikola Jokic. With Jokic set to win his second MVP in just as many seasons, he will need to be remarkable this postseason for the Nuggets to have a chance to win. With Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. out for the remainder of the season, Denver’s role players such as Bones Hyland, Aaron Gordon, and Will Barton will all need to step up and assist their MVP. The question is, can Denver slow down 3 point snipers Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole. The Warriors have been title favorites all season, and now is their chance to put it all together. It all depends on Steph Curry’s health. If he is healthy, the Warriors are winning this series, no questions asked.
My Prediction: Golden State Warriors 4 Denver Nuggets 0
Dallas Mavericks vs. (5) Utah Jazz
The Mavericks will be short handed in games one and two, with Slovenian super star Luka Doncic out with a strained calf. This is a prime opportunity for Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz to take a commanding lead and get off to a good start this series. The Jazz have no business losing to the Mavericks without Luka Doncic. The Jazz have been absolutely abysmal in the playoffs in the past 5 seasons, and they need to make a Western Conference Finals appearance in order to retain the Mitchell-Gobert Tandem next year. The Mavericks will need a huge series from guard Jalen Brunson, who has had a great season averaging just over 16 points and just under five assists. With Doncic’s health in question, I am expecting the Jazz to take advantage of the opportunity and win this series.
My Prediction: Utah Jazz 4 Dallas Mavericks 2
All statistics received from ESPN.com retrieved April 15, 2022
Juniors play giant Jenga to learn about interviewing. Each Jenga piece has a question about interviewing written on the side. Students received one on one instruction from volunteers during budgeting practice. Each student received an occupation and budgeted accordingly. Students flip through their budgeting books to choose a car dependent on their salaries. A parent volunteer lectures a small ground of students.Evan Mader explains the game #adulting to a group of juniors.
Junior Achievement and parent volunteers led eleventh-grade students in resume building, interview practice, and budgeting for the revival of Real Life Days.
“It’s all hands on learning about something that’s real life,” Business Teacher and Real Life Coordinator Mrs. Sherry Cleary said. “That’s the whole name of the game, literally.”
Throughout the day, juniors rotated stations led by student and parent volunteers.
“We did really cool activities where we got to learn about personal finance and business going into the future,” Junior Kendi Smith said about the day.
Each junior spent two hours in a group of eight or less students led by a community member guiding their budgeting process.
“They have debt. They have a salary, and they have to work through creating a budget,” JA Real Life Director Kristin Coolsen said. “They work on making decisions that they actually have to do when they are adults.”
Kristin Coolsen originally joined JA as a volunteer because she felt passionately about the hands-on learning experiences at JA Biztown and STEM Summit.
“I loved volunteering with my kids when they had it in their schools,” Coolsen said. “And when the opportunity came, I took it. I was doing one day staff, and now I am the director.”
As the director of Real Life, Kristin Coolsen oversees the hands-on activities throughout the day. Real Life is a tactile learning opportunity that expands on the mandatory curriculum from personal finance.
“We do a whole budgeting unit in personal finance,” Mrs. Cleary said. “This is an extension of that.”
While in a small group, a parent volunteer assigned each junior an occupation and led them to budget accordingly.
“We bring in volunteers, so they get engaged with the students and give them their personal experiences,” Kristin Coolsen said.
Smith enjoyed the time she spent with her community volunteer.
“He shared what he did as his job, and his personal experiences in his life,” Smith said. “We had to find out our monthly income and our salaries, so it really helps determine what you want to do.”
Regardless of their initial occupation, community volunteers teach students how vital budgeting is to leading a financially stable life.
“Sometimes the doctors actually do worse financially than what the fast food worker does because of the choices they made,” Mrs. Cleary said. “In order to be financially successful, you need to know how to budget your money.”
Student volunteers led the game stations where juniors learned about budgeting, self-actualization, and interviewing. While playing the JA version of Life called #adulting, students learned more about the budgeting process in a competitive environment.
“It’s a pretty good experience,” #adulting student volunteer and aspiring business owner Tyree Spence said. “I’m learning myself how to guide people.”
Within the first two hours of Real Life, Spence witnessed a college student making over $100,000 and retirees falling deeply into debt. “It’s ups and downs,” Spence said. “But overall, even with debt, I feel like they’re still enjoying it. They still have a fun learning experience.”
Through the budgeting exercises, resume writing aid, and educational games, students generally respond positively to Real Life Day.
“Even students that may not necessarily be engaged in a typical classroom have a tendency to come out of their shell a little bit,” Mrs. Cleary said. “I get emails from parents telling me that their kid never talks about school, but they told me about this day.”
“I think it was cool. It’s good for everybody to have that experience,” Smith said. “I like that the school brought this out.”
While having fun, students learned lifelong valuable lessons.
“For anyone to be financially successful, you need to know how to budget your money,” Mrs. Cleary said. “This is something I truly believe in.”
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