Senior of the Month
The October senior of the month is Linsey Eddy. Linsey is the daughter of Pam Seckel and John Odenthal of Marysville and Jeff Eddy of Westerville. Throughout high school, Linsey has been a member of student council, FCCLA, Interact Club, Science Club, Mock Trial, and Panther Pause. She currently serves as the Fairbanks FFA Chapter president, as well as National Honor Society secretary. She is also a four-year letterman in cross country and a track & field captain. Outside of school, she is a 10 year 4-H member and enjoys showing sheep and teaching livestock showmanship through Champion’s Choice Camps. She is employed at Integrity Athletics where she coaches recreational and competitive gymnastics. After graduation, Linsey plans to attend a four-year university to major in actuarial science and minor in agricultural economics. When asked for a word of advice to underclassmen, she responded, “Get involved and try everything!!! You never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll find a passion for, so take every opportunity; if we’ve learned anything this year, it’s that nothing is promised!” (Photo submitted)
FHS celebrates unique Homecoming Week
By: Callie Kitchen
Every year Fairbanks High School celebrates homecoming week with activities for students including a pep rally and a homecoming parade. This year, due to Covid-19 the events taking place had to be readjusted to fit safety measures and regulations. Fairbanks staff and student council members came up with creative ways to ensure the safety of the community and students with the main goal to still have the events regularly participated in.
During the week of September 28th to October 2nd, students dressed up according to the theme listed for spirit days. Monday and Tuesday’s themes were repeated for the students attending on Thursday and Friday. The annual lobby decorating done by the student council was also separated between the Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday student council members. A trivia contest was created on Kahoot where students could participate to win prize points. The food drive was also an event in which students earned points toward the Spirit Trophy contest.
The homecoming ceremony on October 2nd was also adjusted according to safety precautions. Court members had to be 6 feet apart during the event, and the flowers and plaques normally handed out to the court members were given out before the ceremony. In the prior years, the homecoming king and queen were crowned by the previous year’s king and queen, but this year, the 2020 king and queen crowned each other.
The pep rally was presented by a video rather than in person. The homecoming court members were introduced via video, and with a collaborative team of staff and students, another video was made of the team captains of each fall sports team announcing how their current season was going. The homecoming parade, this year a “Reverse Parade”, was turned into a drive-thru parade. Fall student athletes assembled spaced out in the front of the high school on September 30th. Sponsored by the cheerleaders, parents, students, and community members were given a bag of candy, then drove slowly through the parking lot as the athletes waved at them.
Even with regulations and safety measures integrated, Fairbanks staff and students approached this conflict with creative ideas and ways to make the homecoming week and ceremony as fun and normal as it was the previous year.
Panthers named Le Herron Rising Leaders
By: Linsey Eddy
As a World War II veteran, CEO of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, and dedicated mentor to today’s youth, Le Herron has exhibited premier leadership throughout his life. Mr. Herron’s leadership philosophy centers on the idea that “he who will be first, will be last”- a lesson on togetherness and community that he learned as a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers and continued to uphold through his professional career.
The Le Herron Rising Leader Award seeks to recognize high school students in Union County who embody these qualities of authentic leadership. Through the program, recipients are paired with a mentor, with whom they share a common interest, passion, or career plan. The mentors involved with the Le Herron program are all dedicated leaders in Union County who aim to strengthen philanthropic and career-driven qualities in their mentees while also providing advice and networking guidance. Ten of the seventeen students awarded this year attend Fairbanks High School: Kaleb Boyd, Amelia Cameron, Mason Cushman, Linsey Eddy, Wyatte Miller, Elizabeth Nicol, Molly Olson, Brynne Stanley, Elizabeth White, and Cade Ziegler.
NHS members continue to serve
By: Hunter Jackson
The Fairbanks National Honor Society has, despite complications due to Coronavirus, continued to seek to serve the community. Due to the close proximity of people and the split learning plan, meetings have been conducted online, which allows members to interact from the safety of their home. Members have been able to help clean up the campus with the Adopt-a-Highway program, as well as tutoring younger students in order to gain their service hours. The Fairbanks NHS and its officers will continue to provide as many opportunities for service hours to its members as possible throughout the remainder of the year.
Fairbanks welcomes new math teacher
By: Madeline Conroy
Fairbanks High School was happy to welcome a new teacher this year, Ms. Julie Court.
After graduating from Bluffton University, she went on to teach at Clyde High school, and now she is teaching at Fairbanks. She is the new calculus, FST (Function, Statistics, and Trigonometry), and geometry teacher. She was moving to the Columbus area and stumbled upon the job. After looking more into the school she really liked it and applied. Ms. Court was excited that she was accepted and was able to join the Fairbanks community.
She really likes the people here and said that everyone is super nice. Even though it is a little hard to meet everyone with the pandemic, she is trying her best to get to know everyone.
Ms. Court was also the freshman volleyball coach this year. She said she had so much fun and was glad to be given the opportunity to do it, but sad that the freshman season is already over. However, she is already excited for next year!
Ms. Court hopes to have everyone leave her class knowing at least some math and hopes they enjoy it!
Welcome to the Fairbanks family!
FCCLA off to strong start
By: Aubrey Tillman
This year, Fairbanks FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) is off to a great start! They have already held two meetings and will continue to meet monthly throughout the year. They have 50 dedicated members including their officer team of Aubrey Tillman, Isabella Roush, Elizabeth White, Lilli Doll, and Emma Feaster. The officer team feels that it is important to meet in person so the first two meetings have both had identical meetings on Tuesdays and Fridays so that all members could safely attend. They look forward to being able to meet with the entire group together as the district transitions into level one.
While they have not been able to do some of their normal activities the members and officers have come up with exciting new activities that work with the new precautions needed to keep everyone safe. In past years, the officers would attend an overnight leadership camp at Heartland Retreat Center. This year, they had the privilege of working with the amazing 6th graders and their teachers while assisting with outdoor ed at Fairbanks. They will also be making cards for Bluebird Assisted Living as their October activity. Many of their beloved traditional activities are being rescheduled for a later time so it can be as safe as possible for everyone involved. The officer team is not sure yet what the next few months will look like but they are excited to face these new challenges together!
Pandemic drives student innovation
Sophomore starts tutoring service during remote learning
By: Ally Gerty
Some of the most admirable qualities of Fairbanks students is their creativity and ambition. Emma Kelly, a Fairbanks High School sophomore, began her own tutoring services as a way to serve her community. The idea came to her in an unusual way. During the Remote Learning period last spring, she took to helping her younger brother with his schoolwork. She came to the realization that helping others came easy to her as well as bringing her joy. She was eager to do so, and that provoked her to form her own tutoring business. Her time at Fairbanks has given her extra education, and a specialization, in K-7th grade English and Science. The next great student innovation could be well underway, so keep an eye on your local Fairbanks Students!
FFA members embrace virtual events
By: Montana Burns
2020 FFA has a different look. Most things are made virtual due to COVID-19. Although the unpredictable circumstances have created a set back on FFA activities, the Fairbanks chapter, the State, and the National FFA are working hard to ensure that as much as possible can be done for the members.
CDE’s are virtual, National Convention is virtual, and more. The chapter has been holding chapter meetings and officer meetings virtually up until this point, but the hope is to change to in-person meetings soon. The FFA did not get to hold their banquet at the end of last year so they will be combining that with this year’s banquet to be sure to recognize last year’s members and accomplishments.
All in all, the FFA will be doing as much as possible to ensure that the members are able to participate as much as possible considering the circumstances this year.