Fox 50 Lip Dub voting begins online

Alexandria Sands
Arts & Entertainment Editor

The voting for this year’s Fox50 Lip Dub began March 30. The winning school will receive $10,000. Crabtree Valley Mall is sponsoring a $1000 prize to be rewarded to the most creative video. There is also a $500 prize for the video that demonstrates the most school spirit and teamwork.

Adventure course opened in Wake County

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

The Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course, a new obstacle course in Wake County, opened on March 6 at Blue Jay Point County Park in North Raleigh.  The attraction features five different stations with several ladders, swinging ropes, trails, bridges, and zip lines that take you far up into a forest canopy.  Wake County, in cooperation with the British company Go Ape, took over four years to plan and construct the course.  The course is open to children and adults alike, although children under 16 require adult supervision.  The Treetop Adventure Course admission is $35 for those between the ages of 10 and 15, and $55 for anyone over the age of 16 years.  The course can take up to three hours, and is designed to be a fun way to spend the day with family and friends.

Duke, Carolina, and State all make Sweet 16

Matt Sholtis
Sports Editor

For the first time in 10 years, N.C. State, UNC, and Duke have all advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Not only has this area dominated the tournament this season, but the ACC as a whole has proven that it is the most talented conference in the country. The ACC has tied the record for most teams from one conference in the Sweet 16 with five (NCSU, UNC, Duke, Louisville, Notre Dame). Here is how State, Carolina, and Duke all made it to the Sweet 16.

Upcoming concerts: Earl Sweatshirt, Curren$y amongst artists

Alex Sands and Sarah Kebea
Arts and Entertainment Editor & Editor-in-Chief

Before summer concerts start flowing in, get started with some concerts happening before the end of the school year. 

Friday, March 27- Rapper Curren$y at the Ritz with Corner Boy P. 

Sunday, April 26- Rappers Earl Sweatshirt, Vince Staples, and Remy Banks at the Ritz.

Saturday, May 2- Rappers Tyler, the Creator and Taco at the Ritz.  Old Crow Medicine Show and Sturgill Simpson will be performing the same night at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre. 

Make the most of spring break this year

Nicholas Chupka & Zane Muzzillo
News Editor and Staff Writer

Unfortunately, at the expense of many Wake County students and teachers, spring break has technically been cut down to two days. Despite that, there is still plenty of opportunity for fun to take place by taking some pointers from a few of these brilliant ideas.

Spend Time Outside

If you are looking for something to do that will spur conversation, allow you to enjoy nature and get some sunshine, go on a walk at a local park. You may find an opportunity to watch the daily endeavors of local aquatic birds. At the end of a busy spring day in Apex, it’s always a treat to pay a visit to Lake Pine at sunset and enjoy the view.

McCrory focuses on education in new budget plan

Sarah Kebea
Editor-in-Chief

As North Carolina’s population increases, so do the concerns about the state’s school systems.  The population boom now makes North Carolina the tenth most populous state in the country, with almost 9,800,000 occupying the state.  Quality teachers are needed to fill teacher positions and to further the state’s education goals.  For the 2014-2015 school year North Carolina has struggled with the shortages of math teachers in grades 9-12, science teachers in grades 6-12 and special education teachers in grades K-12.  North Carolina has had these specific teacher shortages since the 2011-2012 school year.  “To help our schools hire the teachers they need now, we are moving to expedite teacher certification, recognizing an individual’s experience and subject expertise,” says Governor Pat McCrory during his State of the State address.  “We want, and should be encouraging, accomplished people who want to join the teaching profession. The bureaucracy should never, never, stand between their talents and our children.” 

The country is surrounded by the same teacher shortage problem.  Other states have a wider variety of teacher shortages; for example, in North Dakota, teachers are currently needed in areas such as art, science, math, and more specialized areas such as special education programming, information technology, and career clusters.  So, what’s the cause of the shortage? 

Need volunteer hours? Look no further

Jessica Stiehm
Staff Writer

Students needing volunteer hours for National Honor Society or other various classes/clubs need look no further. Below are some exciting volunteer opportunities that will fill up your sheets in no time.

Brown Bag Ministry

Have extra time on Saturday? Donate two or more hours to bag lunches for the homeless. Anyone is welcome to show up without notice. No worries for not knowing what to do. Instructions are given out at the beginning of each session. If you can spare more than two hours, you can help hand out the lunches near Moore Square in Raleigh. To volunteer, check our their website or go to St. Andrews Catholic Church in Apex at 9:30 any Saturday morning.

Local Library

There are many volunteer opportunities at the library. Depending on your library's program, there will be different options in the Teen Leadership Corps.  The program is for middle schoolers and high schoolers who want to put in some time at their local library. If you are in grades 6-10, fill out this application. If you are in grades 11 and up, fill out this application. Turn applications into your local library for consideration. (Eva Perry Library in Apex will host a sign up meeting on Thursday, April 2 from 7-7:45 p.m.)

U.S. moves towards marijuana legalization

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

Nevada lawmakers decided last Friday to officially vote on marijuana legalization during the 2016 election, making it the first state to do so. Nevada voters will now be able to decide whether or not they want to legalize and regulate weed. Colorado, Alaska, Washington, and Oregon are the four states that have already legalized marijuana, and multiple other states are seriously considering making the drug legal.

California was the first state to introduce medical marijuana, and several groups, including the Marijuana Policy Project and the Drug Policy Alliance, are trying to completely legalize the drug.  While the state has shown strong support for the regulation and legalization of weed, there are still conservative groups that have tried to prevent legalization initiatives in the past.  Despite this, many experts are predicting that California will be among the next states to legalize.  Massachusetts is another state moving towards legalization.  It passed a law allowing medical marijuana in 2012, and several districts have shown support for the legitimization of weed. 

Student Showcase: Nikolas Mihaliak

Maya Horton
Staff Writer

Nikolas Mihaliak

Sophomore

Art Class:

“I’m in Art 1, visual arts.”

Favorite color:

“Red, or green.  Well I guess, when I was little Mario and Luigi [the Super Mario brothers] was a big deal.”

Prom committee announces theme

Alexandria Sands
Arts & Entertainment Editor

The Apex High Prom Twitter account announced that the 2015 prom theme will be “Polynesian Paradise.” Prom will be held May 2 at the Embassy Suites in Cary, from 8 p.m. to midnight.

“The reason we chose Polynesian Paradise is because it is a super fun theme with a bunch of really awesome decorations,” said senior prom committee member, Jennifer Friedler. “I feel like it pleases most people because who doesn't want to go to like a luau?”

The committee has announced there will be free, unlimited snowballs provided by Pelican’s Snoballs. Students will also be able to send their music requests to the DJ via text message.

Scholar Athlete: Anthony Gavazzi

Natalia Ghan
Staff Writer

Anthony Gavazzi

Sport: Cross Country and Track

GPA: 4.98

Best athletic moment: “I was an alternate for the state cross country team, and watching my teammates place third two years in a row at the NCHSAA Cross Country Championship was the best part of my cross country career. Breaking five minutes in the mile for the first time was my most memorable moment in track.”

Favorite athlete: “Erik Salgado. He embodies all the values of sportsmanship while excelling in athletics and academics. He is an excellent runner and has other priorities at the same time.”

Staff picks for March Madness

Michael Lyday, Adam Mancini, Zane Muzzillo, and Matt Sholtis
Features Editor, Staff Writers, and Sports Editor

March Madness is finally upon us. Here are our picks for who will dance on and who will go home empty-handed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. The tournament tips off tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. EST with Northeastern taking on Notre Dame. The game will be broadcasted on CBS.

Zane Muzzillo

Matt Sholtis

Adam Mancini

Michael Lyday

2015 Forbes Billionaires List published

Aaron Koch
Staff Writer

Forbes has recently released their 2015 billionaire list and there are some familiar names. Bill Gates has returned to the top, taking first place on the list with $79 billion. Former first place holder, Carlos Slim Helu, takes second with $77 billion. Despite dropping oil prices and the weakened value of the Euro, the upper class seems unscathed. The billionaire list has reached a record of 1,826 participants with 290 newcomers, a quarter of which hailed from China, taking the lead with the most newbie billionaires. America came in second with 51, then Germany with 23.

North Carolina debates treatment of mentally ill in prisons

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

The death of Michael Anthony Kerr, an inmate who passed away last year due to dehydration at Central Prison in Raleigh, sparked a debate about mental health and inmate treatment.  Kerr, who was serving prison time for assault and larceny, started showing signs of schizoaffective disorder sometime after the death of two of his sons.  However, he was not being treated for his mental illness and was placed in a prison instead of a mental institution.  Kerr was being given medication that was improving his mental state, but he stopped taking his medication months before his death. Records show that staff at the prison felt that Kerr was “faking” his symptoms or acting out.   He entered solitary confinement on Feb. 5, 2014. Since he had flooded his cell twice, the water was cut off to his room.  He died on March 12, after 35 days of solitary confinement.

Upcoming 2015 movies

Johunna Gatlin
Staff Writer

Insurgent- Science fiction action film. Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James are now on the run from Jeanine (Kate Winslet) and the rest of the power-hungry Erudites. They are in search for allies and answers in the ruins of Chicago. Side by side, Tris and Four face one seemingly insurmountable challenge after another. Sequel to the 2014 Divergent film. Releases March 20 2015.

Get Hard- American comedy film. Businessman James King (Will Ferrell) is convicted of tax evasion so he hires his black friend Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart), who he incorrectly thinks has served time in jail, to teach him how to survive his upcoming 10-years of prison. Releases March 27 2015.

Petition to "bring back spring break" fails to convince WCPSS

Alexandria Sands
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Residents of Wake County Public School System are petitioning to “bring back spring break,” after frustration broke out when the school system changed their plan for make up days.

The WCPSS Twitter published a tweet reading, “Spring Break is safe! Make-up days for all will include Good Friday, a Sat in April + a Sat in May. Sat dates will be announced soon” on March 3. Following this tweet, families and teachers across Wake County finalized their spring break plans, many of which were non-refundable.

WCPSS did a 180 on March 7 when they announced the makeup days would instead be March 23, 24, and 25, now cutting into spring break. Parents across Wake County are having to choose between losing their deposits or sending their children to school.  The school system has been called “disrespectful” by multiple residents, after an ongoing season of last minute cancellations and the make-up day’s short notice.

Student Showcase: Sebastian Stasiuk and Jack Dahnke

Maya Horton 
Staff Writer

Sebastian Stasiuk

Senior

Favorite color:

“Blue, it’s a very calm color.  Surreal in a sense, I mean the sky is blue and whatnot and you can relate to blue in a lot of things… It’s not very exciting but it’s very grounding, like, ‘I guess this is blue.’”

Why Art History:

“In Art History, I want to see how music and art delve into each other and he [Mr. Sands] said he was going to talk [about music and art ] in art history, so I signed up for that and here I am.”

Essential shoes for spring

Katie Mazanec
Staff Writer

The weather is finally warming up and it is time for us to bring out our spring shoes.

Senior Claudia Mesa is flaunting her classic black and white flats that can be paired with any solid colored dress or a pair of khaki shorts with a nice blouse.

These vibrant blue jelly Jack Rodgers worn by senior Aneri Shah are a perfect color for the spring season. These sandals look great with jean shorts and a cute top.

Freshmen Marley Hickie and Kiley McNeill are wearing cute striped and plaid shoes. Colorful Sperry’s are popular in both men and women styles and can be topped off with any classic preppy outfit.

Apex Science Olympiad team places first at regionals

Natalia Ghan
Staff Writer

Captains Meera Nagaraj, Tanya Qureshi, and Adam Zeid led the Apex High School varsity and junior varsity Science Olympiad teams to place at the top of the regional competition at Campbell University on Saturday February 7. With their regional win the varsity members will advance to the state competition at N.C. State on April 25. This is the third year in a row that Apex has placed first at regionals. The team met twice a month to work on the computer and collaborate with partners. Carol Bost, the team sponsor, describes the dynamics as “a highly supportive team with very independent captains.” Captain Nagaraj affirms that, “These last two years I have learned how to be a leader. We all worked together to make sure everyone was on top of things.”

Poll: What color is the dress?

Kenison Garratt & Jo Gatlin
Staff Writers

The results are in for a recently conducted optical illusion poll on Apex High School students and staff.

What color is this dress?

Some argue the dress is black and blue, others white and gold, and some see an entirely different combination of colors. The dress has been popping up on different sorts of social media, and this controversial image has people taking sides. While some pick a color team, others argue that there are two images, and some find themselves constantly switching between the two combinations.

NFL free agency update

Cameron Goz
Staff Writer

Free agency began just a few days ago and it took no time for the circus that free agency is to commence. There was no shortage of blockbuster trades, as well as dozens of the NFL’s premium talent changing colors. Here is a rundown of some of the biggest names on the move in these few days:

Uber to introduce driverless cabs

Adam Mancini
Staff Writer

Revolutionary taxi-hailing app Uber has announced that it will begin to develop driverless cabs to pick up customers. The majority of Uber’s costs of operation comes from driver salary, so eliminating this end of the industry would provide a major boost to the company’s profits and reduce the cost to consumers. Uber will partner with Carnegie Mellon University on a research lab in Pittsburgh to research the development of its new cars.

The announcement means Uber will now be a part of the driverless car development race led by major automakers, and comes on the heels of Google’s report that it will begin working on a cab hailing app of its own that could also feature driverless cars. However, experts still say that the futuristic cars are a long way off because of the high costs of production and lack of regulation.

Laptop options for college

Dylan Tastet
Staff Writer

The laptop is the modern college student’s most important tool, and for this reason it has become a large part of every student’s college expense. A college-suitable laptop can cost upwards of $1,000, so it is important to buy a laptop that is dependable, long-lasting, and powerful enough to perform any necessary task.

Nobody knows your college computing needs better than the college you will be attending. Many colleges such as Appalachian State University, UNCC, UNCW, and North Carolina State University have online stores where students can buy laptops, speakers, tablets and more at a discounted price. The stores also offer a range of protection plans to safeguard your investments. UNC Chapel Hill even offers on campus repairs and loaner laptops for students purchasing a computer through the university.

Lip dub to meet after school

Sarah Kebea
Editor-in-Chief

There will be a meeting today for Lip Dub in room 515 after school.  This year's theme will be Ghostbusters.  In order to pull Lip Dub off, they need as many people to participate as possible, so come with friends!

Health specialists and FDA speculate on cause of superbug

Kenison Garratt
Staff Writer

Two superbug related deaths were reported last month in North Carolina and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now believe that an unapproved scope model released on the market in 2010 may have been involved. The superbug is contracted upon coming in contact with carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE). Symptoms of CRE include severe pneumonia, high fever and sepsis (Blood poisoning). In North Carolina, 18 people have become infected with the superbug this year, 15 had it upon admission to the hospital in Charlotte and three contracted it in the hospital. It is unclear how they became infected because it is difficult to track the spread of the bacteria. In Los Angeles, seven patients contracted CRE after routine endoscopic procedures, and hospital officials say the outbreak was caused by two medical scopes still carrying the bacteria even after disinfection guidelines were followed.

Peak Players' production of Les Mis dazzles

Michael Lyday
Features Editor

Les Miserables is a very difficult play to put on. The need for a strong ensemble cast where every member must be proficient to a high extent and detailed sets and costumes make creating the play a daunting task for any theatre. Tag on missing nearly two full school weeks creating a lack of rehearsal time, and the degree of difficulty becomes even higher. Not to mention the high expectations set by the audience seeing a beloved classic.

Despite circumstance getting in the way of an already difficult production, Les Miserables was the greatest performance I have ever seen from the Apex Theatre Department. The production value was very high, with excellent costumes and set pieces giving the play plenty of believability. The cast gave a dynamic performance which featured many members of the ensemble playing four or five roles each. Every character, no matter if they were a minor role or a main character, was played with conviction and featured excellent singing. Highlights in the main roles included seniors Will Stapleton as Valjean and Josh Menzies as Javert, whose tension-filled rivalry propels the play to its climax. Other notable performances included senior David Flowers as Marius, the student revolutionary who falls in love with Valjean’s daughter, and freshman Daisy Bingham as Eponine, the tragic character whose love for Marius goes unrequited until it is too late.

The play was very cohesive and was performed flawlessly, making the thrilling story even more exciting. Les Mis is definitely not a play you want to miss.

President Obama to increase job training in the high-tech sector

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

President Barack Obama is planning to start an initiative entitled TechHire that will train students for high-tech careers.  This initiative will involve cooperation with tech-based employers and local government officials in 20 major cities, including New York and San Francisco.  It will boost training for non-college jobs, focusing on giving graduates practical skills while preparing them for technology-based jobs.  This approach aims to eventually put at least 50,000 students into high-paying jobs.  TechHire will utilize various high-tech learning academies designed to train students in as little as three months.  

TechHire will be helpful to students who have an interest in technology and hope to find work in the computer and software industry immediately upon graduation.  Currently, there are over 500,000 jobs open in network administration, cybersecurity, and software development.  If this new initiative is successful, many of these jobs will be filled and there will be more students with the skills necessary to fill them.  The Obama administration has been putting a heavy focus on education recently, proposing two years of free community college and attempting to make it easier for people to go to college through financial aid for students. 

Swiss, solar powered plane to circumnavigate the globe

Jessica Stiehm
Staff Writer

A Swiss plane, the Solar Impulse 2, has begun its around-the-world flight on March 9, 2015 using only solar power. Taking off in Abu Dhabi, the two piloted plane will land briefly in Muscat, Oman to rest and spread a campaigning message about the importance of clean energy.

The plane will stop at several spots as it hops oceans and continents, educating people along the way. After stopping in India and China, Solar Impulse 2 will cross the Pacific Ocean and land in the United States. Leaving Phoenix, Arizona it will land once more in New York before crossing another ocean. Following crossing the Atlantic, the plane will stop in either Northern Africa or Southern Europe. The exact location is still being decided. Then, it’s a straight shot back to Abu Dhabi.

The flight is expected to arrive in late July or early August, ending their five month journey. Follow the current live stream at http://www.solarimpulse.com/sitv.

2015 ACC Tournament

Matt Sholtis
Sports Editor


The 2015 ACC Tournament tips-off in Greensboro this week starting Tuesday afternoon and ending with the championship game Saturday night. This is the first time since 1981 that the tournament will end on a Saturday. The traditional format before expanding the conference was Thursday to Sunday.

UNC and Duke renew their rivalry

Adam Mancini 
Staff Writer

The Duke Blue Devils and UNC Tar Heels will write the next chapter in their storied history Saturday at 9 p.m at the Dean Smith Center. Duke is ranked third in the nation and second in the ACC, while UNC stands at nineteenth in the nation and fifth in the ACC. The two teams already squared off once this season, on February 18 on Duke’s home court. The Blue Devils defeated the Tar Heels 92-90 in overtime in an incredibly hard fought battle.

Facebook to implement new suicide prevention feature

Jessica Stiehm
Staff Writer

Facebook is planning to add a suicide prevention feature to its website in order to reach out and provide help to its users. Although the site has consulted with mental health organizations in the past, they are partnering with several new organizations in order to handle their new helpline efficiently. Those struggling with depression, self-harm, and other related issues often discuss their troubles online. In the event that they submit a questionable post to Facebook, their friends can now seek help for them through the social networking service.

Student and Teacher Art Show to open March 20

Maya Horton
Staff Writer

The Apex High School Student and Teacher Show will be opening at the Halle Cultural Arts Center on March 20.  Students from Art 4 and AP art classes will each display up to four pieces of their work.  There will be a spotlight gallery on the teachers.  The artists will be there from 6-8pm opening night.  Punch and appetizers will also be served.

The show will run from March 20 through April 30.

$4 million worth of gold stolen near Wilson County

Humorous depiction of heist

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

A truck containing over $4 million worth of gold was robbed on highway I-95 this past Sunday.  Two guards, employed by the security guard and armored car service TransValue Inc., were transporting the gold from Miami to Massachusetts.   They told authorities that they had to pull their vehicle over near Wilson County due to mechanical problems when three armed men held them at gunpoint and stole three barrels of gold.   The robbers reportedly forced the guards onto the ground and tied their hands behind their backs before ordering them into the surrounding woods. 

While no arrests have been made, authorities are currently investigating the crime and TransValue Inc. is offering a $50,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently deciding whether or not the robbery classifies as a federal crime.  

Wake County Schools add a new sport

Jo Gatlin
Staff Writer


Stunt is a new and growing sport that is very similar to cheerleading. Both cheerleading and stunt have the same athletic skills.  Its competition format and scoring systems are what makes stunt different from cheerleading. Although cheerleading is both a male and female sport, stunt only allows females to participate. Every year the USA Cheer Stunt Competition Committee develops routines and publishes them. Teams compete side by side and participants are awarded points by a panel of judges. The teams are judged on mastery of a set routine, not creativity. Stunt is being considered for NCAA Emerging Sport status and has been designed to meet Title IX's requirements for intercollegiate sports.

Student Showcase: Alex Betancourt and Sophia Walsh

Maya Horton
Staff Writer

The visual arts classes showcase student artists throughout the school year.  The Legacy asked the teachers of these classes to select some promising talents.  Here are a few artists worth a look.

Alex Betancourt

Freshman

Favorite color:

“Purple.  Well, is it bad I like the color purple because it reminds me of certain YouTubers and the ender room in Minecraft?”

Artistic style:

“I do anything I’m feeling up to, just anime and sometimes animals.  Everything influences my art style; how other people draw, anime, things in life.”

NASCAR season revs its engine

Michael Lyday
Features Editor

The NASCAR season kicked off recently with the Budweiser Duel and the Daytona 500 taking place last month. Joey Logano currently holds the lead in points in the Sprint Cup series after winning the Daytona 500 and finishing in the top five in Sunday’s QuikTrip 500. Logano is followed closely by Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., each trailing by less than five points.

Points in NASCAR are awarded by finishing position in each race, with first place receiving 47 points and second place receiving 42, and each position lower than second receiving one less point. One extra point is given to the driver who leads the most laps in a race.

The next race on NASCAR’s schedule is the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway starting at 3:30 on FOX.

What are the most popular Netflix shows at Apex?

Kenison Garratt & Jo Gatlin
Staff Writers

With 57.4 million users and the average subscriber watching 93 minutes of content a day, Netflix is a common way for people to pass the time. Netflix is used internationally, in 50 different countries. Yet, the majority of Netflix subscribers, 39 million, are Americans. From comedies to sci-fi, Netflix has a wide selection of entertainment for its viewers. Out of each category, there are the most popular television shows and most watched movies. From a recently conducted poll of Apex High School students and staff, the most popular television shows from each genre were found.

Bus accident heading to Baucom

Alexandria Sands
Arts & Entertainment Editor

A bus carrying 16 students crashed Monday morning on Holt Road and Jenks Carpenter Road on its way to Baucom Elementary School.

The bus driver and students were not injured. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to WakeMed. It is still unknown if the driver faced any injuries.

IHOP restaurants across America prepare for National Pancake Day

Katie Mazanec
Staff Writer

National Pancake Day has been celebrated since 2006. Tomorrow many participating IHOP restaurants are giving away three Original Buttermilk Pancakes to each customer dining in. IHOP is also asking for donations, using this day to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network and many local charities.  The goal of IHOP is to raise around $3.5 million for charities nationwide.