Author: Camille Churchwell, editor in chief, 2013-14
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Exceptional art students learn Eastern culture
On Thursday March 27, Alice Zhou, artist in residence, held a workshop for some of Leesville’s art students. She taught the students, including myself, the techniques and differences in brush painting and calligraphy from…
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Camel couture: a fashion show
“OMG do you guys wanna go to a Trina Turk fashion show tomorrow night?????” was the text that changed my life on Saturday March 8. Not only is Trina Turk one of my favorite…
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An open letter to boys about promposals
Much to your dismay, prom season is right around the corner… April 26 is coming faster than you know. So, as your pea-sized brain begins to ponder options of dates, stop and think about…
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Mardi Gras experience for Churchwell
Having New Orleanian parents, I have attended Mardi Gras throughout my childhood. However, this year, my mom surprised with the opportunity to ride in a Mardi Gras parade. My mom’s best friend from high…
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A hero’s homecoming
Upon hearing I was covering a veteran’s home donation, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was Nathan Rimpf was a 2006 Leesville grad and lost his legs while fighting in…
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Another year, more vandalism
Leesville students gawked at the familiar sight of vandalism while driving into school on Nov. 15. Vandals wrote “MHS,” “Whose house?” and other messages on the Senior Wall on the day of the first…
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Humble hero receives home
“Who wouldn’t give an ugly pair of feet to serve these amazing people?” said First Lieutenant Nathan Rimpf as he received the keys to his new home on November 7. These words show the…
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Seniors apply early for college
October 15 is a fated day for many high school seniors; it is the day that most early decision and early action college applications are due. However, due to issues with the Common Application,…
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Jamming out helps you work out?
Walk into the gym…@^$^%#!!!! I left my headphones in the car. How will I work out without my favorite gym playlist? Ugh, do I really have to go back to the car? Yes. I…
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Class of 2014 revamps Grill Team
After years of decline, Leesville’s Grill Team is undergoing numerous changes by the class of 2014. Under the new name “Pride Tailgate,” students will no longer meet at Springdale Area Recreation Club but in…
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Infinidye scarves wrap up Leesville
After a 6 year hiatus, the Apparel 2 class is back in business. After taking over the class, Ms. Blackwelder, CTE teacher, was proud to announce the success of her class’s business. The Infinidye…
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Raleigh joins “No Shoes Nation”
After a year’s hiatus, Kenny Chesney returned to Raleigh on Thursday, May 23, for his “No Shoes Nation” tour. Having never seen him live before, my expectations were low, but were quickly blown away…
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Fashion icon Lilly Pulitzer brightens up the skies
At age 81, Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau, fashion icon, died on Sunday, April 8 in her Florida home. Pulitzer was more than a designer; she was an entrepreneur and creator. Her clothing line started while…
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Leesville band seeks 18th national title
For most high school bands, preparing music for a national competition may be stressful and hectic, but this is not the case for Leesville’s band. After winning every national band competition they attended for…
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A modest proposal
We’ve all heard the tales of the high speed drives to and fro the beloved, yet so far away eating establishment named Cookout. Near death experiences and close-calls with the cops are frequently included…
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Leesville French students conquer the contest
Leesville’s French students were given the opportunity to prove their skills in French by taking the National French Exam on March 6. The multiple choice test is administered nationwide and students rank in the…
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Minimum wage hike hurts working teens
In 1938, Franklin Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act which set a minimum pay for all workers. At the time, the new minimum wage was 25 cents (equivalent to $4.10 now), which was…
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Reluctant to try Travinia twice
Upon walking through the rustic threshold of Travinia, the warm atmosphere was unmistakable. Combined accents of leather, wood and stone produced the feeling of a Northern Californian vineyard. The ambiance was incredible, thanks to…
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Gravy garners great review
Triangle Restaurant Week is an annual event among eateries throughout the Raleigh area. This year, January 21-27 marked the time when Triangle restaurants offer fixed-price menus to showcase their establishment’s prized dishes. After…
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26 acts of kindness in memory of Newtown shooting
On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza shot and killed 26 students and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School. To honor those that lost their lives, Ann Curry, NBC news correspondent, suggested performing 26 random…
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Frazier starts new traditions
The basketball team is playing the Friday before exams; however, the stadium is quiet. The score is 9 to 3 while one of Taylor University’s players shoots a free throw. The ball hits the…
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French club visits Matisse exhibit
Leesville’s French Club took their first outing of the school year by visiting Duke’s Nasher Museum of Art on Thursday Dec. 6. Nineteen French Club members and non-members viewed the Cone Sisters’ collection of…
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Matt Jenkins– falconer in training
For Matt Jenkins, his need of volunteer hours has transformed into a lifelong hobby. It started when Matt was in seventh grade when he saw staff members training owls and hawks at the North…
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Concussions present greater threat to athletes
Because knowledge of concussions has changed, there is but one single definition. It is very simple: if concussive symptoms are evident, then it is classified as a concussion. Cooked pasta noodles in a glass…
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Jason Aldean chugs along with “Night Train”
I had been counting down the days. My favorite country singer was finally releasing a new album. his last album captured my heart, so I could not wait for some new songs. October 16…
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Bowling team strikes Leesville
Leesville’s new Bowling Club held their first meeting on October 2 at AMF Bowling Center. The club quickly evolved into a team that plans to compete against other schools’ bowling teams. Rebecca Hawthorne, senior…
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Helicopter parents hover over kids’ lives
It’s 2:20, the bell just rang and so did my phone. It’s my mom– surprise. She called to ask if I was hungry and whether or not she should cook something before she left…
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Sola Coffee creates community
As I sat down with my Iced Chai and looked around, I noticed Sola Coffee had a certain vibe to it. Maybe it was the bustling conversation or the whirring of various coffee machines…
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Disc golf sweeps Leesville
Hobbies of high school students usually include, dance, soccer, or maybe even fishing. However, a new (and somewhat obscure) hobby is capturing the free time of Leesville students– disc golf. The entire country is…
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Labor Day: Surrender your white pants
For some, the three day weekend over Labor Day marks the beginning of fall and the end of summer. But for the fashion-conscious, does Labor Day still mean the end of white clothing? This…
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Brad Paisley charms Churchwell
Being a regular attendee of country music concerts at Walnut Creek, I was thrilled when Brad Paisley returned to Raleigh. I expected a similar lineup of songs to last year’s because no new singles…
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Golden goes beyond discipline
When you hear the word “administrator” or “assistant principal,” thoughts of suspensions and detentions might come to mind. This was true for me until one day that I saw my friend crying in the…
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Rushing 101
Greek life is either a huge part of your college experience or not. Rushing, which is the process of joining sororities and fraternities, is usually considered an extremely stressful and chaotic process, because college…
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Toes in the water, hands in the air
Being a regular concert attendee at Walnut Creek, I know what to expect when going to a country concert. However, Friday, May 11, was different; Zac Brown was in town. These differences began before…
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“That actual awkward moment when…”
For those who love to say “That awkward moment when…”, have I a story for you. Most people follow that phrase with something that is completely irrelevant and ‘unawkward.’ However something that truly is…
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Ingrid Chen for the win!
Ingrid Chen, junior and current vice president of the student body, was elected to become executive council president for the upcoming school year. Although Chen ran unopposed, she is extremely qualified for her position…
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Leesville participates in French Festival
Schools from all around Wake County gathered at Moore Square Middle School on Wednesday, March 21, for the annual French festival. Schools come together to display their skills and creativity in French. Competitions range…
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Bieber’s new song features uncomfortable rap
If Justin Bieber was my boyfriend, he’d never let me go. He told me this in his new song called “Boyfriend.” The much awaited song was released on March 26, reached number one on…
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Leesville’s sad effort to “Stop Kony”
The minute I saw “Stop Kony” was trending on Twitter, I became a skeptic. My skepticism was because of the overnight uproar a YouTube video caused. My opinions are based off of the ignorance…
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The mysterious Mac lab
It is a room that many Leesville kids are unaware of. A room tucked so deep in the school, only a small group of students have seen it. A room full of iMacs lies…
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Prezi not exactly “eye candy”
My peers’ presentations blew my mind while in French class. It zoomed to various photos and headers, it was interactive and like no other presentation I had witnessed. My frumpy, boring PowerPoint would never…
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Wrestling for success
Pride wrestling finished a successful regular season, by placing second in the Cap 8 championships on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The team then moved ahead to the regional championship on Feb. 17 and 18. “We…
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Record-breaking Drew Brees sets a new standard; inspires a native
While on my annual trip New Orleans for Christmas, I did the usual; visit with family and eat my favorite dishes that the city has to offer. However, on this specific trip, our beloved…
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New voters at Leesville
With turning eighteen comes many opportunities: lottery tickets, cigarettes and porn. However, eighteen year olds are also granted the right to vote, a far more productive option. During Constitution week, September 12-16, 282 Leesville…
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Broughton outlasts Lady Pride
On December 13, Leesville Road’s women’s varsity basketball team hosted Broughton, only to fall short, 55-33. Although not reflected in their 0-5 record, players claim this year’s team has much potential. This year’s team…
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Younglife Christmas celebration
Leesville’s Younglife brought in the Christmas season with a colorful celebration Thursday, December 8. Each year the Christmas meeting is the last Younglife club of the semester. The group met at Jami Bennett’s house,…
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Environmental Club meets and plans for the future
The Environmental Club held its first outing of the year at Umstead Park, Tuesday, November 8. To display the effect of man made obstacles on habitats, they hiked the airport overlook trail. The club…
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Leesville’s French club partakes in the French Revolution
The French Club had an out of the ordinary meeting on Tuesday, November 15. The meeting was centered specifically on the French Revolution. The meeting commenced with an in-depth speech by Mr. Dinkenor about…
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The rising cost of a priceless lunch
Due to a blazing inferno across the South this summer, there was a hideous peanut harvest this year. The powerful rays of the sun withered beloved crops. Because of such a disaster, many peanut…
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Lady Antebellum’s third album reviewed
Lady Antebellum, contemporary country trio, released their third album on September 13. In the past, their close-to-home lyrics and incredible harmonies touched people of all ages. “Need You Now,” was a hard hitting single…