Seniors of the week
Matthew James Walters
By Chase Cutarelli
Matthew James Walters, son of Todd and Nancy Walters, is a member of the graduating class of 2018.
Through his time at Marysville High School (MHS), he participated in the MHS Book Club, led the 2017 Pit and played varsity soccer for four years while serving as captain for two years. His hobbies include joining his church youth group in activities and playing Ohio Premier club soccer. His favorite high school memories included scoring a winning goal to beat Olentangy Liberty and completing 105 push-ups on the push-up board when Marysville beat Delaware Hayes.
In the future, he plans to attend Bowling Green State University, where he will play soccer and major in allied health to become a physical therapist.
Parker Jude Kuzma
By Chase Cutarelli
Parker Jude Kuzma, son of Karen Kuzma, Parker, is an involved student at Marysville High School (MHS).
He participated in more than half a dozen extracurricular activities, including show choir, a cappella, the 2016 and 2017 musical productions of “Footloose” and “The Music Man,” Nellie’s Champions for Kids, National Honor Society, Pro Terra Nova, student council and played baseball with the Marysville Junior Baseball and Softball Association. In his free time, he listens to podcasts, works as a crew trainer at McDonald’s and hangs out with friends.
The greatest memory he recalls from his time in high school is that of the show choir winning grand champion at a national competition in Atlanta this past spring.
“We were ecstatic, even more so than we would’ve been because it was the first MHS show choir to win at a national level,” he said. “It boosted my confidence and was a really great moment for me and all of the other members.”
After graduation, he said he’ll miss being able to see his friends every day at school. He plans to attend a four-year university with a major in astrophysics, and later pursue a doctorate in the same field.
Natalie Hiltscher
By Faith Engle
Natalie Hiltscher, daughter of Nichole and Brent Hiltscher, is a featured senior.
She is involved in cross country, track and field and National Honors Society and participates in Indoor track and field club during the winter. She enjoys a little bit of everything, like listening to music and playing on the piano whenever she can. She also enjoys Marvel superheroes, as well as movies like “The Hobbit,” “Star Trek” and “Star Wars.” She is also interested in other outdoor activities, such as hiking and traveling to new places. But mostly, she enjoys hanging out with her family and friends.
Like most seniors, she has a few things she will miss when she leaves high school, such as her friends, faculty members and teachers who had taught her a lot in the classroom and outside of it as well.
Her favorite memory of Marysville High School was from her past track season, when the 4×400 relay team had made it to regional finals, and at the meet, they had broken the school record.
“All of us had the same goal and worked so hard to get to where we were,” she said. “And after we broke it, it felt great to be rewarded finally.”
After high school, she plans on attending a four-year college out west and is hoping to get accepted to Brigham Young University. She plans on attending for a year before going to serve on a LOS mission for 18 months, then returning to finish her last three years of college. Although she doesn’t have a particular major figured out, she believes it may be something related to biology or cinematography.
Hope Powers
By Faith Engle
Hope Powers, daughter of Jamie Powers and Steve Powers, has participated in a lot throughout her high school career.
She has been a captain on the high school soccer team, is the secretary of Leo Club and participated in the FC42 soccer club, National Honors Society, the leadership and mentoring programs offered at the school and the Rock Youth group. On top of all of these commitments, she is also a Loving Care Hospice volunteer, with more than 100 hours of community service.
Her favorite memory throughout the years was going on a rafting trip with the soccer team for bonding in her junior year.
After high school, she plans on attending a four-year college and playing soccer there. She stated what she will miss the most is seeing and being greeted by her friends every morning.
NC4K impacts MHS
By Rylee Cavins
The message Nellie’s Champions for Kids (NC4K) spreads is, “September is for the kids.”
September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and that NC4K is out there helping children through their cancer treatments.
The organization was started by Nellie, a 16-year-old with a small, at-home fashion show. Now, the show has grown to fit venues like the Ohio State University Student Union and the Columbus Convention Center. The organization has grown beyond its yearly show and now includes branches like the one in Marysville. Each branch individually helps out families within their community going through cancer.
The Marysville branch of NC4K has clubs at the high school and at Creekview. These clubs hold events throughout the school year to help raise awareness and money for the families in the community.
Rho Kappa National Honor Society: We put the social in social studies
By Dayo Adeoye
New to the ever-changing halls of Marysville High School (MHS) is the Rho Kappa Social Studies National Honors Society.
Rho Kappa is a national organization with chapters in high schools all around the country, similar to organizations such as National Honors Society and Leo Club. The purpose of Rho Kappa is to celebrate excellence in the realm of social studies education and direct that excellence to a unified cause.
In its inaugural year, Rho Kappa has inducted more than 30 members who had to meet a myriad of criteria to apply, including having a 3.5 GPA in a social studies classes, being on track to receiving four credits in social studies, including courses in AP government, AP United States history, honors economics and etc.
Being a new program, members have a lot of hope for where their time will take them, and how they will incorporate their talents into a service project. Some ideas include creating a Marysville museum within MHS or creating a city flag.
Band kicks off season
By Cameron Sutter
The Marysville High School marching band had a great kick-off to the 2017-2018 school year by earning a superior rating at Northwestern, qualifying them for state finals.
The next competition will be held in Zanesville on Saturday. Other competitions in the season’s schedule include Oct. 14 at The Ohio State University, Oct. 21 at Tecumseh, Oct. 28 and 29 for the Ohio Music Education Association state finals and Nov. 4 and 5 for band state finals.
Swingers Unlimited
By Cameron Sutter
Marysville Swingers Unlimited is a group of 45 students from Marysville High School, and its members sing and dance at the same time.
The group travels across the country to compete against some of the best in the nation. Last year, Swingers Unlimited went to Atlanta and were named grand champions. They practice two days a week, Monday and Thursday, usually from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Its season starts in July and ends in April, 2018. For those looking to see them in action, they may attend the Marysville Invitation on Jan. 19 through 20.
As an example of where students in the group can go beyond school, Marysville Swingers alumni Ashley Morgan is currently performing in numerous Broadway musicals, including “Beautiful.” Show choir includes hard work, focus and tenacity to compete at a national level, so come support Swingers Unlimited for all its member’s hard work.
Student Union forms at MHS
By Chase Cutarelli
A group at Marysville High School formed the Student Union to tackle the discrepancy between what school teaches students and what students need to know.
The club started in 2010, when the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) formed at MHS. The group is advised by Spanish teacher Jonathan Cinovec.
“The purpose of the club is to start where high school left off,” Adeoye said.
Student Union has broadened its message to appeal to anyone, and everyone can participate.
“While we are in support of the LGBT, it’s not the focus,” Adeoye said.
Aside from talking every Wednesday afternoon, the club incorporates activities to show how a certain idea can be incorporated into one’s life. Adeoye said the best part of leading the club is allowing people to share their stories, receive support and feel comfortable.
Spanish foreign exchange
By Maya Badhwar
On Sept. 14, Marysville High School (MHS) welcomed 35 students and three teachers from a school in Segovia, Spain, who all arrived with their host families in Marysville.
The students are all from the same school in Spain and are literate in English. They are exploring America’s culture by attending field trips every day they are here. Their school has been doing this exchange program with MHS since 2001.
Continuing the tradition, every other year, MHS students visit Spain to learn more about its culture. When students go on the trip, they typically spend one day attending the school their host family attends. Then, they take a trip to the city or province to see what life is like there. The students stay for two weeks.
It’s encouraged to talk to an exchange student and seize the opportunity to learn more about other people’s cultures.