42Fifty

In common news coverage, more focus is placed on the Presidential elections every four years than any representation of local elections and the candidates running for local office, much less primaries. However, voting in a local election actually ends up having more local impact than a national election. “This will be my first time voting, so I am excited,” said OH senior Hassan Lawal. “It is important now for young people to vote because we are the future, [and] it’s important to vote in local elections because those are elections that impact you most.” Local elections, and primaries, which determine which people end up on each party’s ballot in November, are just as important as the bigger national and presidential elections, but they are often less well-advertised, and as a result have lower voter turnout.

This February, the OH Wall of Honor had become an empty wall, and students began to see the active construction of a new, modern take on their Star-Spangled Wall of Honor.  “It was time to look to something a little bit more modern with digital imaging,” said OH assistant principal and football head coach Brian Cooney. The Wall of Honor is a memorial next to the Main Office and door 36 to honor past OH alumni who took the path of military service after high school.

As graduation season approaches, OH seniors receive an invitation to serve as the keynote speaker at graduation, with applications closing on Mar. 13.  “Anyone can be a keynote speaker as long as they’re representing themselves or their school in the right way,” said OH Assistant Principal Brian Cooney. “So it all opens up an opportunity for a kid who’s got a different experience to be able to stand in front of the graduating class and speak.”  According to the invitation sent to seniors by the OH administration, each speech must be submitted in a video format between two and three minutes. In that time frame, videos will be judged on the ability to communicate the overall theme, accuracy of facts, articulation, and delivery.