DECA rave a hit

Matt Wotus
Editor-in-Chief

(L to R) Bailey, Silk, and Valdini display the banner people could sign
to pledge they would not use the "r-word." Photo by Webb Chawla.

Four months of planning, gathering sponsors, advertising, making brochures, and hiring a DJ came down to one night for DECA seniors Matt Bailey, Michael Silk, and Jeff Valdini. This past Saturday was the trios Event of a Lifetime Rave, their DECA project for the year. “We felt that [a rave] would get the most high-schoolers out to have fun,” Bailey said. From 9 p.m. until midnight, attendees of the rave were treated with food, drinks, a light show, and music. “I thought it was a success in terms of people having fun,” Bailey said. He added that he wished more people would’ve come, but was relatively happy with the outcome.

From ticket sales alone, the rave generated about $1,600. Altogether, Bailey estimated they raised around $2,000. All proceeds will go to the HopeSpring Village, a proposed community for adults with disabilities. Those at the rave also had a chance to pledge that they would not use the derogatory “r-word.”

Looking back on the project, Bailey said he was definitely glad that he, Silk, and Valdini spearheaded the project. The next Apex DECA event is the Beyond the Ribbon Ball, a charity ball hosted by seniors Dipali Aphale and Karen Cheng. Details on that event can be found here. 

NFC east set for a photo finish

Greg Calarco
Staff Writer

Only two weeks remain in the NFL season and one of the biggest mysteries yet to be unraveled is the log jam atop the NFC East. The New York Giants, Washington Redskins, and Dallas Cowboys are all currently tied for first place in the division, each possessing a record of 8-6. All three squads have made headlines this season as the race for the division crown is as heated as ever. 

New York could be the first Super Bowl champ to miss out on the playoffs since the Pittsburgh Steelers did so in 2006 and 2009. The Giants are a rare team who, when having a good day, can defeat any other team in the league. Yet, they seem to invariably provide head-scratching performances, losing quite often to lesser opposition. It’s as though they have a secret switch in their locker room making them borderline invincible but they only choose to press it before the big games. New York travels to Baltimore in Week 16 and then hosts the Philadelphia Eagles in their season finale. 

Washington has been riding the momentum behind their rookie phenom Robert Griffin III for most of the season. Now winners of five straight games, the Redskins control their own destiny in the division and have put the bleak 3-6 days behind them. They hope to have the currently injured RGIII back for their final two games, but for now, backup quarterback Kirk Cousins has done a fine job filling in. ‘Skins fans haven’t had too much to cheer for in recent years, but the future is surely bright with Griffin III at the helm. Washington plays Philadelphia next and ends with a key clash against Dallas. 

Could this season finally be the one for Dallas? It seems that the Cowboys have made failure and underachievement an art form in the Tony-Romo era. For now though, America’s team is moving in the right direction and are coming off a crucial win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have multiple weapons on offense, like Dez Bryant, and several playmakers on defense as well, like Demarcus Ware. Dallas finishes their 2012 campaign by hosting the New Orleans Saints this week and traveling to the nation’s capital for a Week 17 duel with the Redskins.

The division title is certainly up for grabs for any of the three teams; however, Washington has the best chance of claiming it. They have been the most consistent as of late and have been nearly unstoppable since the implementation of the seldom-seen pistol offense. Whatever the results, the next two weeks will be a hectic time for the contenders of the NFC East.

HOSA answers anonymous medical questions

Matt Wotus
Editor-in-Chief

The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Club at Apex is answering anonymous medical questions from the name of Grandma Chase. Below is the first question and answer.

Dear Grandma Chase,

I am a student at Apex High School and I have been feeling sick the past couple of days and I have cold-like symptoms, but how can I tell that it’s the flu? What are the symptoms of it? If I go to the doctor and test positive for the flu, what kind of treatment can I expect to receive? How long will I be out of school? Would you recommend that my siblings get the flu shot so they do not become sick?

Sincerely,

Sick and Tired

Dear Sick and Tired,

The flu is very similar to the common cold, but there are several ways to tell the difference. If you have the flu, your symptoms such as weakness, muscle aches, and general fatigue are more severe. Also, you will have a fever, a symptom not associated with the common cold. If you were to test positive for the flu, you could expect antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu or Relenza. Depending on your symptoms, you may be out of school for 1-5 days. I would recommend that you drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and if your doctor says it’s okay, you can take an over the counter pain reliever such as Tylenol per the package directions for the muscle aches and any fevers. Your doctor may also recommend that your siblings get vaccinated if they do not have chronic conditions (like asthma) and are over the age of 2. Feel better!

Yours truly,

Grandma Chase

Top 10 Christmas gifts for guys

Matt Krombach
Staff Writer

10. iTunes Giftcard- Possibly one of the most basic gifts to give. Since most people have some sort of Apple device, a gift card is a safe bet.


9. Cologne- A guy never wants to smell bad. If he’s a special someone, pick out a manly fragrance that both you and he can enjoy. Lacoste, Polo, and Calvin Klein are a few name brands that come to mind.

8. Good Kid M.A. A. D. City –Kendrick Lamar- This is one of the best selling rap albums from up-and-coming rap artist Kendrick Lamar.

7. Sportswear- Buy a man his favorite team’s sweatshirt, t-shirt, or jersey.

6. Phone case- A dude never wants a broken phone. Get him an elegant shielding case that will protect his phone from all things evil.

5. Sports Illustrated Subscription- Nothing says “I love you” or “Merry Christmas” more than a Sports Illustrated subscription.

4. Polo, Vineyard Vines Shirt- Polo and Vineyard Vines have really topped the male fashion charts. Polo is one of the most common menswear companies of all time. For the more preppy male, a Vineyard Vines shirt might also be a good selection.

3. Foot Locker Gift Card- Shoes are one of a man’s top priorities, with popular brands ranging around $100 or more.

2. Top Movies- Dark Night Rises, Moneyball, Saving Private Ryan. Batman, baseball, and warfare, all three are among top guy stereotypical movies.

1. One of the newest popular video games- The following PS3 or Xbox video games are some of the hottest releases this year and are top buys for the holidays.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2- One of the best Call of Duties to date according to IGN.com and many gamers alike.

NBA 2K13- Smoother gameplay than 2K12

FIFA 13- A fun game for everyone

Apex athletes sign with colleges

Matt Wotus, Courtney McCullers, and Matt Krombach
Editor-in-Chief, Sports Editor, and Staff Writer

Megan Hooks (Volleyball) – Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida

“I am really excited to have the opportunity to go and play at the collegiate level,” Hooks said. She added that she was drawn to Flagler by the town the college is in, as well as her future teammates. 

Katy Williams (Swimming) – Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina

“I’m really excited. Davidson was always in my top two,” Williams said.

Sarah Henry (Swimming) – University of Maryland at Baltimore County in Baltimore, Maryland

“It’s a gut feeling. You know it all fits, all the aspects – swimming, coach, academics, dorm life,” Henry said. She added that the academic rigor was important, and also that the president of UMBC was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People.

Victoria Tschoke (Swimming) – Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia

“It was really stressful…once I committed, it was a big weight lifted off my shoulders. I’m super excited,” Tschoke said.

Derek Sweet (Lacrosse) – Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pennsylvania

“I’m very excited to play college lacrosse, but I’m more excited that my lacrosse career hasn’t ended,” Sweet said.  “I chose Robert Morris because all of my family lives in Pittsburgh,” he added.

Luke Sieber (Lacrosse) – Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia

“I am very excited to play with and against increasing talent,” Sieber said. He added, “I chose Lynchburg because they’re ranked seventh in the country; I liked the coaches, players, and the location.  It was 10 times better than anywhere else I considered.”

Camby Abell (Baseball) – University of North Carolina at Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina

“Mainly I’m just really relieved that I did sign,” Abell said.