Senior Spotlight: Maggie Jordan
Academics
Maggie is a smart girl who is taking a vigorous course load this year. Her schedule consists of Anatomy, Psychology, Contemporary World, AP English, Pre-Calculus, AP Spanish, Sculpture, and Ceramics. She is most excited about Sculpture and Ceramics because she has “taken the class in the past and has always loved getting to design, make, and color my own art pieces.
Athletics
She is not just intelligent and hardworking, but athletic too! Maggie excels in volleyball. Freshman year she was an all-around player and dressed varsity! For sophomore and junior years she was a defensive specialist. And now, as a senior, she is the varsity libero. She says that Shawnee is a great team, and talked about how last year they won WBLS for the first time in school history. Maggie says “We plan on winning it again this year!”
College
Maggie has committed to play college volleyball at ONU. She plans to major in pharmacy and to become a pharmacist.
Influential Teachers
Maggie says “Mrs. Berger significantly impacted me as she made me realize my love for chemistry and that I want to pursue a career in it.” Mrs. Berger is our advanced and AP chemistry teacher. Mrs Berger also “helped me develop healthier study habits, which I will carry with me into college.”
Favorites
Maggie’s favorite high school memory is winning the WBL with the volleyball team. It was “so awesome to see all of our hard work and effort pay off and earn the first-ever WBL title for volleyball in school history.” When asked about her favorite part of being a Shawnee student, she said it was the amount of support the teachers give. Maggie says that, “I am the type to ask a lot of questions, so having understanding and very helpful teachers helps me become a better student.” She also said that our teachers make her feel supported.
Advice
Maggie has always been a great student and friend, and she was kind enough to give a few of her favorite study tips. Maggie says don’t overload your schedule. Get your work done on time or early so that you have more time to do what you enjoy. She says to “find ways to make time for yourself and try not to stress too much.” Maggie says that you can get through any obstacle thrown at you. Another helpful coping skill is to try not to think about everything all at once. She says, “when I’m able to focus on one situation, it becomes easier to not only get what needs to be done, done, but it also makes it more enjoyable.” Maggie also prioritizes self-care.
About Maggie
Maggie has four siblings, Seth, Zach, Sam, and Ty. She is the only girl out of her siblings. She has two pets, a golden retriever named Cooper and a cat named Kitty. She also gives a shout-out to her mom and dad who she loves very much. In her free time, Maggie likes to draw, watch Netflix, and of course, play volleyball!
Alexandria Karapondo
Football Season
The Indians are coming off a 0-10 season, but with the hiring of new head coach Shane Wireman, the Indians are looking for improvement. The Indians started the year 2-0 with wins against LCC and Elida. In those games, the Indians scored 54 points combined while only allowing 33 points. In the game against LCC, J.J. Spyker had an 88-yard rushing touchdown and Cole Sunderland had a pick-six. The win against LCC was the Indians' first win in 671 days. In the next two contests, the Indians didn’t fare so well. They lost the games by a combined score of 72-26, where they lost to Bath and Celina. The Indians hope to bounce back in their upcoming games, 9/20 vs Defiance, 9/27 @ Wapak, 10/4 vs St. Marys, 10/11 @ Van Wert, 10/18 vs O-G, and 10/25 vs Kenton. Next month we will keep you updated on the team's standings! Good luck boys!
Pauly Caris
Fall Sports Photography by Ethan Misson
The Band
The band will be performing at the Anthony Wayne Festival on September 28th. They will be part of a united song piece with 6 other bands, and it's a show that many people will recognize. Your support by attending the event will help the band, as some of the proceeds will go back to them. Good luck!
Mason Mcpheron
Staff Interviews
Interview with Mrs. Ammon
Mrs. Ammon is the newest art teacher at Shawnee High School. This is her first year teaching high school, and she is very excited about it. She teaches non advanced classes Drawing and Painting and Photography, and advanced course A.P Art History.
When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, Otto. She has three pets, two dogs and a cat, and graduated from Elida High School.
The Chief decided it was important to interview the newest member of our art staff, so without further ado, here it is:
Q1. Where and what did you teach before Shawnee High School?
A1. Before teaching at Shawnee High School I taught art at Independence Elementary in Lima, Ohio. While there I taught students in grades kindergarten through fourth grade.
Q2. Did you do any other type of work before becoming a teacher? If so, what was it?
A2. Before becoming a teacher I practiced architecture design and worked for various firms around the country. I have worked for firms located in Atlanta, Seattle, Columbus, and Fort Wayne. My projects have exposed me to work all over the United States as well as internationally like Ireland.
Q3. What made you want to become an art teacher?
A3. Becoming an art teacher was something I have always wanted to do. Even back in high school I would find myself in the art room as much as possible. I would help clean and organize the room and make practice projects for the teacher. I enjoy being more interactive and not so tied down to creating construction documents on the computer.
Q4. Aside from art, what are your favorite subjects?
A4. I really enjoy geometry, physics, and history!
Q5. Which class are you most excited to teach this year?
A5. I’m really enjoying all of my classes! They are all new to me especially at the high school level. There is so much to learn in Photography and AP Art History and I’m enjoying educating myself as well as my students.
Q6. Do you have any advice for a student who may be hesitant to take a more demanding or advanced class?
A6. I have always believed in challenging oneself. Life is full of challenges and learning how to set goals and overcome those obstacles, even by taking a class, can set you up for success down the road. A semester or two semester course may feel like an eternity but I can assure you… it is not! That feeling of succeeding when it’s all done is so worth it! Don’t give up on yourself and always take risks!
Benjamin Rutter
Interview with Miss Flick
Q: Advice for students when selecting a particular career field.
A: I think that this is a really hard question to answer because there isn't one "magic answer" that will work for everyone. I think that at any given moment, if you are pursuing a career path or a life that make you feel fulfilled (mentally, emotionally, monetarily, etc) then that is the most important thing. Your career is a big decision, but what you choose to do outside of it, how you build connections with people, and who you show up as on a daily basis is the most important thing to keep in mind. Additionally, I think there is a lot of pressure put on young people to have everything figured out -- the real truth of adulthood is that you are constantly learning to make things up as you go, preparing whenever possible, and learning to make the most of every moment. There is nothing wrong with knowing exactly where you want to be and what you want to do, but there's also nothing wrong with having no idea what the future holds. As long as you show up, work hard, and have integrity, you will be successful in this life. Trust in yourself, you've got this!
Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: This is my 3rd year teaching. My first two years I spent at Apollo Career Center and this year I get to be at Shawnee!
Q: Where did you go to college?
A: I went to Bowling Green State University.
Q: What got you into teaching?
A: I think I knew I wanted to be a teacher for most of my life. When I think back on my childhood, I have vivid memories of making my younger siblings & their friends play "school" during summer vacation. I genuinely put my heart and soul into creating "lesson plans" for my "students". These plans included handwriting alphabet skills, simple math (like addition and subtraction), as well as even scheduling time for recess and "gym" (recess was outside and gym just meant we threw balls around in the basement).
Even though teaching has always seemed like the "right choice," for the longest time I thought I would be a history teacher. The biggest reason for this is that I felt like my history teachers were more impactful to me than my English teachers were (which I feel is not typical for most people). When I went to orientation for BGSU, the man who was scheduling my classes told me that this year "a lot of people want to be history teachers, are you sure it's what you want?" I told him it wasn't and then made the immediate switch to English. I'm not quite sure why I made the change, but honestly, there's not one second that goes by when I regret it. I get to share my passion for reading with my students and help them work on their verbal and written communication skills -- what could be better than this?
Q: Interests/Hobbies
A: I feel like the obvious answer for this is reading -- but I like doing a lot of different things as long as I'm in good company. My family and friends are the most important people to me, so as long as I get to spend time with them I am happy. Other hobbies or ways I spend my time are playing games on my Nintendo Switch, cooking for my family, and volunteering with JustWrite (a nonprofit organization geared towards increasing student literacy through creative writing).
Pauly Caris
Interview with Mrs. Craft
Mrs. Craft is joining the Shawnee High School team this year. She has been a teacher for 11 years. During those 11 years, she has taught: Physics, Adv. Physics, AP Physics, biology, physical science, animal biology, earth systems, basic engineering, and aerospace engineering. Safe to say she is very qualified in a lot of different fields. Shawnee High School is Mrs. Craft’s 5th high school. She taught at Hamilton, Mason, and Graham. She even taught in Charles County, Maryland. She decided to come to Shawnee because when she did an observation here, we were very polite and focused on success. Mrs. Craft decided to become a teacher because she loved to explain things and being a teacher allowed her to have an outlet to create new ways of teaching styles.
Mrs. Craft has 4 rats (Butters, Krrk, Queek, Bak-bak), 2 cats (Fuzzbucket and Lady), and 1 dog (Bruno). The main question we have all been asking: Why does she have rats? Well, Craft graciously answered that for us. She and her husband play Dungeons and Dragons together and her husband has a rat character named Hans. Mrs. Craft would always joke about getting rats until one day they did. We are glad to welcome our new physics teacher into Shawnee High School. Go stop in and say hi to her rats!
Angelina Karapondo
Interview with Mrs. Berger
Mrs. Berger started teaching in the Fall of 2000. In college, she majored in biology, with a minor in chemistry. She employs a rather unique grading system in her class, which is built on the idea that a grade is a reflection of understanding, not work completed. Her favorite unit to teach is chemical reactions for advanced chemistry and acids and bases for AP chemistry. She noted that she enjoys acids and bases purely for the reason that it is hard to teach. She also runs our Science Olympiad team. Her least favorite subject in school was English, but she ironically struggled with her chemistry class as well.
Ezra George
Interview with Mr. Morris
I recently had the privilege of giving our principal, Mr. Morris, an interview to get to know more about him. Mr. Morris was a teacher for 11 years, 2 at Wapak High School and 9 at Lima Senior High School before he decided to become vice principal. Mr. Morris loves challenges and he wanted to grow as an educator. While administering is challenging, he enjoys working with other people for a common purpose. Mr. Morris made a difficult switch from middle school to high school in 2023, however, he claims it wasn’t as difficult as it seems because he knew the students, parents, and staff already.
He has made many contributions to Shawnee. His primary contributions are his diligence effort and professional demeanor toward others. Mr. Morris’ main goal for this school year is “to establish a safe productive learning environment where each student feels valued, challenged, and inspired to reach their goals”. No one knows what life entails for them. People may be between two or three different career paths. Just like Mr. Morris did, follow your heart. He was deciding between going into education or law enforcement. He is very happy with his decision to go into education and be here with all of us at Shawnee High School.
Angelina Karapondo
Kicking It Through Fall
As summer comes to an end it’s time to fall into soccer season. So far both soccer teams are on a path to success, with the girls’ varsity maintaining an undefeated streak with a record of 6-0-2 and 2-1-3 for JV, and the boys’ soccer program having a 7-1-1 for varsity and 5-4 for JV record. The teams have been putting in supreme effort during and leading up to the season. They are led by girls’ and boys’ head coaches: Caroline O’Brien and Jason Hoehn, with the aid of their assistant coaches as well.
If you were wondering how the season is going through the eyes of the players; don’t worry, we asked! Boys’ varsity senior Noah Scheid said, “I would say our soccer season is going pretty successful right now. Last year did not go how we wanted it to go, so we made sure this year would be great. We have had some ups and downs, but we can get through them as a team. Our fans are great and we always have a big crowd so that helps. We are hoping to win the WBL and even make it back to state this year.” We also asked girls’ varsity senior, Megan Carder, on her thoughts about the season, “The season is going pretty good. Right now we are undefeated. We have a lot of talented players and a lot of potential going into tournament time. We had some setbacks at the beginning of the year which made us have to change some things around, but I think we’ve adapted pretty well which made us all super connected.” Reflecting on the words of these two seniors, it's clear how ambitious and dedicated our players are to the game of soccer.
Additionally, the senior class of 2025 players have set an example, demonstrating leadership to the underclassman, for instance, previous to the ongoing season the senior girls read The Hard Hat by Jon Gordon and now discuss, and implement, the 21 ways on how to be a great teammate throughout the season. The ideas of this book demonstrate grit, communication, and the overall strength that comes with being a valuable asset to your team.
Speaking of… every team has ways to acknowledge and encourage their players, right? Well, something that the girls’ team does to recognize their players is granting two players, after every game, the Hulk Hands; an award given to the players who were the most competitive and tenacious. As for pregame traditions for the boys’ team, they boost their energy with music and uplifting during their warmups.
Overall, there is a bright future for the Shawnee soccer program and the players who are a part of it. Their teamwork and drive for success make their ability to play soccer apparent as they take on the field. Most of all, Shawnee soccer fans’ cheers and encouragement help create a spark in the players that motivates them to keep their determination for victory every game. Therefore, with that being said; come out and support our girls’ and boys' soccer teams this season!
Alyssa Washam and Bella Etzkorn
20 Tips For Studying
1. Do not procrastinate
2. Keep your study area tidy and free from distractions.
3. Ensure good lighting and a comfortable chair.
4. Have all necessary supplies (books, notebooks, pens) within reach.
5. Summarize information in your own words.
6. Teach concepts to a friend or family member.
7. Create flashcards for important terms and concepts.
8. Use the Cornell note-taking system or outline format.
9. Highlight key points and make notes in your own words.
10. Regularly review and revise your notes.
11. Use tools like planners or apps to keep track of assignments and exams.
12. Break larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks.
13. Avoid cramming by spreading out study sessions over time.
14. Get enough sleep and maintain a healthy diet.
15. Exercise regularly to boost concentration and reduce stress.
16. Take breaks to relax and recharge your mind.
17.Set short-term and long-term academic goals.
18. Reward yourself for achieving milestones or completing tasks.
19. Stay positive and remind yourself of your achievements and progress.
20. Have fun and take deep breaths
An Upperclassman
Shawnee Golf
The Boys' golf team is coming off a season of winning the WBL tournament. This year has been a good year for the boys’ team, where they are 7-2 in the WBL and currently third overall. The team has had some impressive showings this year. One of the showings was against Celina, winning by a score of 168-203. The top Medalists for Shawnee were Sullivan Hasting, 36, and Ashton Wright, 42. The Girl's team is coming off a season where they placed third in the WBL. This year the Lady Indians Golf team finished 5th in the WBL torment and finished the WBL season with a record of 4-3. The ladies had a score of 458 in the WBL tournament. The girls had a great season, they still have a few games left. The Boys still have the tournament and a few more games but they have already had a good season.
Pauly Caris
Girl's Volleyball
The Indians are coming off a season where they went 20-2 with a loss in the Regionals to Lexington and finished 9-0 in the WBL winning their first-ever WBL title since rejoining the WBL in 1981. The Indians started the year out with a record of 4-2. Over the next seven games, the Lady Indians won 6 out of the 7. The Lady Indians are currently tied for first place in the WBL with the O-G Titans -- both are 4-0 in the league. The Lady Indians placed second at an Invitational at Parkway on August 24. In the invitational, they lost to Parkway but beat Elida and Ottoville. The Indians are hoping to win the WBL again this year. I asked Senior Maggie Jordan about why she likes to play volleyball, and this is what she said, “Volleyball has given me many opportunities to grow myself mentally and physically, and I wouldn’t have met some of my best friends if I hadn’t played, so I’m glad we all work as hard as we do together!” I would like to thank Maggie for giving me this quote.
Pauly Caris
Remembering 9/11
On September 11, 2001, the United States fell under a terrorist attack in New York City on the World Trade Center by the terrorist organization Al Qaeda led by Osama Bin Laden. Prior to this, the United States had little to no information or concern about this organization, but after the attacks, they became enemy number one. At 8:46 AM (EST), the hijacked Flight 11 caused a Boeing 767 to strike the North Tower at roughly 440 miles per hour, immediately wiping out the 93 to 99 floors, leaving everyone above without hope of escape, and the people below in a panic. 17 minutes later at 9:03 AM, Flight 175 struck floors 77 to 85 in the South Tower, causing the same amount of panic, and making it an even worse sight for bystanders. 34 minutes later at 9:37 AM, the Pentagon in Washington D.C. was hit by Flight 77, thankfully in a recently renovated sector, so the damage was not as severe as in New York. At 10:03 AM, 26 minutes after the attack on the Pentagon, a plane crashed into an empty field in Pennsylvania, which was to arrive instead at the US Capitol Building. However, due to the heroism of some American citizens, they fought the hijackers back and were able to regain control of the plane, but sadly ended in a high-speed crash at roughly 563 miles per hour. Due to the bravery of the people on Flight 93, the flight was unable to reach its destination, and they saved hundreds or thousands of lives at the expense of their own. In total, almost 3,000 people died during these events, 19 of which were the hijackers, 265 were other plane passengers, 343 first responders in New York, while the rest were civilians. This event had not only an impact on the United States, but the entire world, and helped bring the US together during such devastating times. Every year on the 11th of September, we remember the tragedy that occurred and changed the course of history forever, along with those who lost their lives, and those who faced danger and whose bravery should not be forgotten.
Cade Hefner
Credits
Senior Editor
Cade Hefner
Staff
Pauly Caris
Alyssa Washam
Bella Etzkorn
Ethan Misson
Angelina Karapondo
Alexandria Karapondo
Benjamin Rutter
Ezra George
Mason Mcpheron