By MEG HOSSLER
    

    After many years of research and testing, the University of Georgia Cancer Center has developed a  cancer vaccine. They announced their findings in early December and are currently working to find medical patients to participate in trials.
     The cancer vaccine is  aimed primarily toward breast and pancreatic cancer, and researchers plan to begin human testing by the year 2013. University of Georgia professor Geert-Jan Boons announced that the vaccine is to be ready for human use in as little as three years after assuring test results.  
     “The reports of this year from the American Cancer Society contain some welcoming information, namely that cancer death rates have declined in men and women over the past ten years,” said Deputy Chief Medical Officer for American Cancer Society Leonard Lichtenfeld. “These findings have proven there have been many enhancements in the cancer field, but this vaccine is one of the greatest findings yet.” 
     Results from labs showed that the vaccine worked successfully on breast and pancreatic cancer,  two of the deadliest forms of cancer. University of Georgia researchers reported that the vaccine worked on 90 percent of breast cancer cases in rats. The American Cancer Society estimated more than one million cancer deaths have been avoided since the year 1992, and this vaccine will ensure the continuation of this survival rate. 
     “The discovery of a cancer vaccine would change my life and the lives of those I love extensively,” said cancer victim Joy Layton. “I would be able to live a positive life without my depression. I believe the world would be a happier place.”
     This discovery has allowed doctors to examine other factors in the fight against cancer that have not been acknowledged, such as the idea of mass producing a vaccine rather than making specific vaccines for each person. This vaccine will benefit the pharmaceutical field by offering more effective medication to cancer patients. 
      “A vaccine activates the body’s immune system to be able to recognize and destroy cancer cells,” said biology teacher Barbara Clark. “I know that other successful cancer vaccines have benefitted our species.  The idea that one can eliminate the fear or suffering of cancer by receiving a vaccine is invaluable.” 
     This new vaccine trains the immune system to identify cancer cells based on their sugar structures and then destroys the cell. It first breaks down the outer layering of the cancer cell. Then it reduces the size of the cancerous cell until it is completely destroyed. 
      “I am hopeful that a successful cancer treatment will someday be developed,” said Fox News Medical Contributor Dr. Manny Alvarez. “My hopes are high that this will be an applicable treatment for all those cancer patients out there who currently face painfully limited choices.” 
     Researchers have stated that there are important factors that must be observed. These incluede potential side effects of the vaccine and long-term survival rates. 
     “I would imagine a cancer vaccine would not come right away, but after time and study, I think someday we will find the answer,” said freshman Melinda Efta. “We have so many brilliant people in this world that a cure will be found.”

By MACKENZIE MILLER
    
    The book industry is undergoing extensive technology changes as printed paper and ink transition into digital mediums through the form of eBooks.
     In the last decade, the rising popularity of eBooks has led to the increased demand of alternate reading platforms, including iPads, Kindles, Nooks, and other digital readers. 
     “While the Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet find their own successful markets, it’s easy to see why tablets attract so much attention and excitement,” said Senior Analyst at Forrester Technology Research Company Sarah Rotman Epps. “But computing evolution doesn’t end here-- tablets, while still growing rapidly, are not the final form factor.”
     Amazon’s original Kindle was launched in 2007, marking the beginning of today’s digital reading era. As the digital book industry expanded, so did the associated products. The eReader has evolved into the general term pertaining to electronic devices with the main function of digital reading. As it developed into an entirely separate industry, the eReader is now widely used for email, internet browsing, and Apps. 
     “My eReader is lightweight and the pages aren’t taxing on my eyes,” said English teacher Nichele Harris. “It holds a charge forever, always has a light when I need it, and I can download a new book at any time no matter where I am.”
     Five years after the release of their first successful eReader, Amazon now has a “Kindle Family” consisting of five eReaders. Their basic eReader sells for 79 dollars. Other models also offer different features like a 3G wireless connection, Google’s Android operating system, and extended battery life.
     Apple is promoting the iPad in the classroom by releasing publication software for iMac computers that will encourage iPad-friendly textbooks. The App, called iBook Author, allows authors to create digital textbooks to be purchased in Apple’s iBookstore. Apple also improved the iBook 2 software by enhancing student studying with interactive reading. This application uses tools such as highlighting, flashcards, and looking up words.
      “eTextbooks sound convenient for college,” said sophomore Daniela Zajac. “I will definitely consider them because it seems nice to be able to carry around thousands of pages of heavy textbooks on a screen that can fit in you pocket.”
     Barnes & Noble, one of the nation’s leading book retailers, operates bookstores at more than 600 educational institutes, is giving students the opportunity to buy new, used, or digital copies of their school textbooks. As digital reading platforms increase in availability, digital copies of textbooks are becoming attractive alternatives to a college student’s standard textbooks. 
     “For the library system, e-Books are good because they don’t take up any space on our shelves and they can’t get damaged or lost,”  said Kathi Elfand of Seminole County’s Public Library System. “They cost as much as a regular print book though, so they don’t save the library any money.” 
      On October 3, 2011, Seminole County’s Public Library System launched its electronic lending library into cyberspace. Each book has a separate purchasing license, which means that books are still put on hold and checked out one at a time, similar to the traditional library lending system. According to Regional Branch Manager Barbara McCullough, the library’s eBook selection is chosen based on popular, new, and bestselling books. As the electronic book industry rises with the new age of technology, eBooks become more common in everyday use as society today continues to evolve. 
     “The big advantage of electronic copies is the ability to have multiple books take up very little space,” said Harris. “eReaders fit in backpacks or other bags when we go to school, on road trips, in airplanes, or just about anywhere.”

By SARAH CHRISIEN    
 
 Amid the many vocational programs offered for students, there is one that offers both job experience in the legal field and the opportunity for self-improvement: the Florida Teen Court Program.
    Teen Court is a program that encourages the involvment students in the processes of juvenile law. Teens aged 10 to 17 volunteer as jurors, attorneys, bailiffs, and clerks, participating in trials in which juvenile offenders have already admitted guilt. The Florida Teen Court website describes the program as one that challenges both the offenders and the volunteer teens to perform at their highest level of ability, while promoting self-esteem, self-improvement, and a healthy attitude towards authority.
    “An attorney’s responsibility is to explain to the jury that the defendant made an out-of-character mistake,” said junior and Teen Court Defense Attorney Megan Tiralosi. “They show the positive qualities of the defendant and try and ensure that they will not become repeat offenders.”
    Because the juvenile offenders being represented have already admitted guilt, Teen Court trials work to determine a fair sentence for the defendant.
    “Instead of deciding guilty or not guilty, the main outcome is their sanctions,” said Tiralosi. “This can include community service, jury duty, or classes.”
    Those who are represented by Teen Court are participating specifically through the Pay Program, which is a program for teens who commit minor offenses such as petty theft and trespassing, and then admit guilt. Throughout the duration of the trial, all attorneys and jurors are teenagers who volunteer are in the Pay Program and sanctioned to jury duty.
    “When you first start out, you have to do jury duty,” said Tiralosi. “Then you can shadow an attorney, and then become an attorney.”
     Typical duties of a Teen Court Defense Attorney include reading through police reports, interviewing the defendants and their parents, and constructing questions to ask during trial. Court takes place every Tuesday night at 5 PM at the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.
     “Signing up for Teen Court is really simple,” said Tiralosi. “All you have to do is show up at the courthouse and fill out a form.”
      Florida Teen Court offers both salaries and scholarships to those who participate and meet requirements consistent of involved, active volunteers. Three hours of community service can also be earned per each evening of service.
     “Teen Court is really not that much different from other school activities,” said Orange County Teen Court Coordinator David Medvec. “However, the program is different in that it goes year-round.”
     In addition to community service hours, requirements for clubs can also be met by volunteering at Teen Court. National organizations such as National Honor Society (NHS) and Beta Club recognize Teen Court service as a means of earning points or hours.
     “Teen Court is a great way for National Honor Society members to earn points,” said NHS Historian Hannah Zeffren. “It ties in important aspects of the club such as service, leadership, and character.”
     Experience in the legal field is an additional incentive for Teen Court volunteers. Teens experience what it is like to be an attorney, learn about law and court proceedings, and socialize with other teens who share the same professional goals.
      “I love being able to practice public speaking, and it is interesting to see what happens during cases,” said Tiralosi. “I have made friends with fthe other attorneys, and we engage in friendly competition to make things entertaining.”
     Florida Teen Court benefits both the volunteers and offenders. Volunteers experience the workings of the court system, earn community service hours,  and socialize,  and offenders are given a second chance while learning from their mistakes, avoiding severe persecution at a higher judicial level.
     “Teen Court is a great place to improve public speaking skills and the ability to think quickly on your feet,” said Medvec. “It also helps establish connections within the professional legal field.”

By HANNAH WADE
    
    Annunciation Catholic Church’s newest program, the St. Vincent de Paul Food Outreach, has  adopted Lake Brantley through the Families in Transition program to help students and families in need. The program began its preliminary work in February 2011 and has continued to grow since then.
     The Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Outreach Program, Cynthia Laur, works with her husband and co-director Robert Laur to run the food bank. The couple collaborates with Father Stephen Parks, who granted St. Vincent de Paul space on the Annunciation Catholic Church campus specifically  for the food pantry. 
     “I saw the 60 Minutes episode on homelessness in Seminole County, which was a life-changing moment for me. One of the families featured in the episode was a family known to me through Annunciation Catholic Church,” said Cynthia Laur. I was once a religious education teacher of one of the children, and I had no idea that they were, at that time, homeless and in need. It broke my heart, and I knew from that moment that we need to take care of students here in Seminole County.”
    Cynthia Laur met with St. Vincent de Paul and presented her idea to the board at Annunciation, who unanimously voted in favor of the drive. The group had worked with the Families in Transition program for multiple years, and decided to focus the project’s attention specifically on Lake Brantley and Forest City Elementary. 
     “I have worked with other organizations that provide food assistance to people in need,” said Laur. "However, these organizations were not providing assistance to our local community, and I was determined to find a way to help provide assistance to people in this area.”
      Annunciation is not alone in their efforts to aid students. Legacy Christian Church and Sweetwater Baptist Church also donate food to the Families in Transition program at Brantley. Students interested in contributing can drop off items at the media center or at the St. Vincent  de Paul Food Pantry at Annunciation. In addition, up to 25 volunteer hours towards Bright Futures, can be accumulated by students through the school. 
     “A group of my friends and I volunteer  through the church, and the people who run the pantry asked for our help,” said sophomore Cory Marcous. “I know I'm helping people who need it. We sort food to be distributed to other organizations, and some of the food is kept for the pantry.”
     According to Principal Mary Williams, one out of every three students currently qualify for free or reduced lunch. About 40 families are currently identified and benefiting from the Families in Transition program at Lake Brantley. 
     “Annunciation's food bank already has made a huge impact on the program,” said Williams. "There are a number of churches in the area including Annunciation that provide our students with food. Often they already put the bags together and have volunteers who come to the school and help distribute it. They fuel our program.”

By VIVIENNE WESTERVELD
 

   In November, the Leadership Class began an anti-bullying campaign aimed towards promoting kindness. The campaign, known as To Be Kind (TBK) approaches bullying in a new way; rather than attempting to call attention to physical violence, the campaign encourages kindness and camaraderie between students.
    After discussing schoolwide issues that they felt needed to be addressed, Leadership students discovered bullying was at the top of everyone’s list. Together, they initiated the TBK movement and began filming videos to raise public awareness. 
    “As a class, we decided that the issue of bullying needed to be addressed on an ongoing basis,” said Leadership teacher Adam Sherman. “If people are kind to one another, it may stop somebody from treating another poorly and pay it forward and make another person’s day that much brighter.”
    With the advancement of social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, and Formspring, anyone can become a potential bullying victim. The TBK campaign’s slogan, “Bullying isn’t as black and white as you think,” focuses on opening people’s minds to help them realize that bullying exists in many forms.
    “One of the biggest misconceptions of bullying is that it needs to be physical, but that is simply not the case,” said Sherman. “Students are not being stuffed into lockers or beat up for their lunch money. Bullying today is texts, Facebook posts, or anything that makes someone else feel as though they are not as good as anyone else.”    
    To promote TBK, the Leadership class created a Facebook page to shed light on the importance of being kind not only face-to-face, but also on the Internet. The Leadership class also began TBK posts on Facebook. As students posted “TBK” as their Facebook status, others would “like” the status and put it as their own. Those who “liked” the status would receive a message from the original poster, beginning with TBK and ending with a personal message of kindness.
    “TBK originally started for schools, however, we realized that bullying does not just exist there, it exists everywhere, and so being kind must be addressed in every part of life,” said Sherman. “TBK on Facebook has allowed us to take the simplistic idea of simply being kind, to a much broader audience.”
    Originally the, TBK campaign was called Brantley Be Kind, but the Leadership class modified the name in order to reach out to more than just the school community. They want the movement to be spread globally, and the TBK Facebook page has allowed them to do that. TBK’s fans have developed all over the world, including people from Argentina, Greece and parts of Europe.
    “We have now partnered with GAPP [German-American Partnership Program] here at the high school,” said Sherman. “We are going to be working with the German school to incorporate the program there and to see how bullying is viewed and addressed in different cultures.”
    Principal Mary Williams believes eradicating bullying from society completely is unlikely, but believes TBK’s efforts will help lessen the impact. Selfless acts of compassion establish the foundation of TBK’s goal.
    “Anything that is all or nothing almost does not have chance of happening,” said Williams. “Do I think [bullying] can improve, get better, and make people more knowledgeable? Yes. Do I think we can get the word out to the kids that are being bullied that it is okay to speak up? Yes.”
     Every day on the morning announcements, a member of the leadership class will come on and describe an act of kindness that can be completed during the school day. The TBK Twitter and Facebook pages post daily kindness challenges as well, but they are ones that anyone can complete, not just Brantley students. 
    “TBK is not a program or an organization: it is a movement,” said Leadership student Julia Fae Barrett. “It is spreading kindness  and bullying awareness. TBK is going to make its mark on the whole Seminole County school system.”

By MEG HOSSLER

    On October 15, 2011, the largest Legoland park in the world opened in Winter Haven. Over 1,000 tourists flooded into the 150-acre park. With over 50 rides, shows, and attractions, visitors are able to spend hours at the park experiencing hands-on activities, such as Lego building. Legoland’s location in the Orlando area is also helping to improve the Central Florida economy by bringing more tourists to the area. 
    “With the current state of the economy, we should be pleased with any new business opening,” said Orlando Sentinel writer Dewayne Bevil. “Anything new that might draw more visitors to Central Florida, or even get folks to stay one extra day, is a benefit to the area.”        
   The opening of this new park created over 1,000 jobs in Polk County and revenue from visitors provided hundreds of millions of dollars to the economy. Nearby businesses have benefited from the opening of the park as well. Tourists book hotels, stop to eat, fill up for gas, and buy souvenirs at local shops.
   “Theme park tickets are expensive throughout Central Florida, especially if you buy a one-day ticket,” said Bevil. “I was actually pleased that Legoland tickets are about ten dollars cheaper than Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld for a one-day pass.” 
    The park is divided into ten different sections, each with a different theme. Pirate Island and Cypress Gardens are just a few of the attractions that the park has to offer. Lego exhibits and building zones can be found in each section, and four roller coasters are located in the park.    A special pass for cutting lines called the ‘Hero Access Pass’ is also now available. The park is open Thursday through Monday, 10AM to 5PM, and there is a possibility the park will be extended to a full week schedule in the summer season.                   
   “Legoland Florida looks awesome,” said sophomore Joey Heffer. “I probably would still want to go even though they target younger children, since Legos were a big part of my childhood.”               
    Legoland offers a  variety of different attractions including a water-ski show, dramatic plays, and action shows. The park also has places like Imagination Zone where visitors can play and create their own Lego structures.   Legoland Florida General Manager Adrian Jones stated during a press conference that he focuses on appealing to the younger generation and wants have the best park within that category.                                         
  “After a visit to Legoland Florida, you will leave with the realization that anything is possible with imagination,” said theme park review Trotter. “The park creates an experience that is truly unique and a lot of fun. You cannot find other theme parks like it in Florida.” 

By MACKENZIE MILLER

   The movie Avatar is leaving the cinema world and entering the tourism industry. On September 20, 2011, Walt Disney World announced plans to add an Avatar-themed attraction to the Animal Kingdom. 
      Avatar opened in theaters  worldwide in 2009, grossing more than 2.8 billion dollars. Director James Cameron has teamed up with Disney to build a theme park land based on Avatar’s sci-fi planet, Pandora. The theme park attraction, called “Avatar Land,” will include Avatar-themed shops, rides, and entertainment. Construction on the project will begin in 2013.
  “Avatar created a world  which audiences can discover again and again,” said Cameron at the  Imagineering press conference hosted by Disney. “Now, through this incredible partnership with Disney, we will be able to bring Pandora to life like never before.”
    Disney has purchased the rights to use elements from the 2009 film to create the planet Pandora in Disney’s own image. The production of this expansion in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the beginning of a broader licensing deal made between Disney and Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox Filmed Entertainment.
    “Animal Kingdom is very much in the real world,” said Disney employee Mark Bartschi. “Guests are coming to Disney to escape reality, and Avatar will provide guests with that futuristic element.”
     Even though Avatar is not originally affiliated with Disney, non-Disney movies have been brought into the parks before. Hollywood Studios is home to Star Tours, which reopened after renovations in June 2011. This space simulator based on Star Wars is one of seven deals Disney made with film production company Lucasfilm. The companies have also merged together to create park attractions based on Indiana Jones.
   “Getting the chance to roll up my sleeves and explore Disney’s Animal Kingdom was a phenomenal experience,” said Cameron after touring Animal Kingdom. “As I walked through the park, I kept imagining Pandora coming to life all around me.”    Like the central theme of Avatar, Animal Kingdom focuses on the aspect of  living in harmony with the natural world. Animal Kingdom was chosen as the future home of Avatar Land because both the movie and theme park have philosophies pertaining to nature. Cameron stated in a press conference that Animal Kingdom’s  atmosphere seemed compatible for the fictional landscape and creatures of Pandora. 
  “When Animal Kingdom was first built, there was an idea of merging prehistoric animals and modern animals with mythology, but the mythology aspect of the park never developed,” said Bartschi. “Avatar Land is the fantasy component that has been missing from Animal Kingdom.”
  Movie sequels to Avatar are scheduled to premiere in 2014 and 2015, coinciding with the Avatar Land completion planned for 2016. These movies will have plot lines that will create characters and locations in the Avatar world for audiences to explore. Animal Kingdom’s Avatar Land will give everyone an opportunity to experience Cameron’s vision for his sci-fi world.
   “I am looking forward to seeing Disney’s interpretation of Avatar Land,” said sophomore Miguel Silva. “It is a completely different world that is nothing like our own.”

By GABRIELLA NICHOLAS

    To help promote environmental awareness among students and faculty, the Environmental Club paired up with the autism classes and the National Honor Society to adopt a new school-wide recycling program. These students aim to unite the student body under a common goal: collect items that are normally thrown away, recycle them, and gain revenue.
   The recycling project is called the Pepsi Dream Machine Recycling Rally, which places company-provided recycling bins around school to encourage students to recycle their bottles and cans. PepsiCo also provided the Environmental Club with a computer and scanning device to process the recyclables and record their collection. In addition, containers devoted strictly to paper collecting are now placed in every work room, office, and classroom. 
    “The Dream Machine Recycle Rally is a fantastic program that can benefit our school and our environment,” said Environmental Club President Alex Mickler. “We realized that with the large amount of plastic thrown away every day, it was imperative that Brantley had a recycling program.”
   According to the Dream Machine website, only one third of the plastic beverage containers in the United States are recycled. If every household in the United States were to recycle three more bottles a month, it would prevent 23 million pounds of plastic from entering landfills. The goal of this nationwide rally is to help increase the U.S. beverage container recycling rate to 50 percent by 2018.
  “We should be recycling paper [and other resources] religiously,” said Environmental Science teacher and Environmental Club Advisor Brenda Brubaker. “We need to make this a 100 percent teacher, staff, and student effort. We are enlisting the help of NHS to empty the Dream Machines, bring the bottles and cans to my room to be weighed, scanned, and then take the bags to the appropriate dumpster.”
     Along with the members of the Environmental Club, the students in the autism program help by collecting and sorting the recycled materials. Participating in these tasks teaches the students colors, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, sequencing, cooperation and functional math skills. 
  “To my knowledge, no other school has provided an opportunity for regular education students, including environmental service clubs, to partner with their school’s students with disabilities toward the common goal of school recycling,” said Autism teacher Christine Duff. “Recycling will provide a socially inclusive opportunity for our students to work alongside other Lake Brantley students.”
   In September, teachers were  sent an email and a survey informing them about the paper recycling project. Teachers were encouraged to collect office paper, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, shredded paper and envelopes to deposit in bins located in teacher workrooms and classrooms.  They were also urged to have their student assistants empty the containers into the “Paper Only” dumpster located in the teacher parking lot. 
  “Through the paper recycling program, we can make approximately fifty dollars when the paper recycling can is emptied,” said Brubaker. “My goal is to have it emptied once a month at bare minimum. My ultimate goal is once a week.”
   The rally is a partnership between PepsiCo, Waste Management, Keep America Beautiful, and greenopolis.com. Through this program, students who attend participating schools are given the opportunity to win rewards such as sporting goods, electronics, gift cards, educational events, music, books, videos and even a grand prize of fifty thousand dollars. 
   “The Dream Machine Rally is important because it can teach students in all schools the impact one person can make,” said junior Blake Weinard. “When you are done with a bottle, find a blue recycling bin and toss it in. If everyone recycles one bottle, we can make an impact on the amount of waste Lake Brantley puts in landfills.”
   The Dream Machine Recycle Rally allows students and faculty to play a major role in reducing pollution and conserving natural resources. Every month, the top 50 percent of schools with the highest average number of recycled plastic bottles and aluminum cans per student will be entered into a monthly sweepstakes for a chance to win one of two $5,000 Green Leader prizes. 
    “This program has the potential to make a huge impact on our school-both environmentally and monetarily,” said Mickler. “When everyone works together, we can make a substantial difference.”

By BRIANNA GARCIA     

     Refugees all over North Korea fight everyday to live. Inspired by their struggle, students in the Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) club are working to raise money to help rescue and resettle these refugees. 
      LiNK is a worldwide organization, and stands for “Liberty in North Korea.” LiNK’s goal is to provide help to North Korea, a country where citizens have no freedom of speech, freedom of religion, or freedom to leave the country, among other restrictions. Information from LiNK Headquarters states that every day North Koreans are sentenced to death camps for crimes they did not commit. 
   “LiNK’s mission is redefining the North Korea crisis through creative storytelling, as well as providing emergency relief to North Korean refugees,” said Regional Manager of LiNK Brenda Abel. “The purpose is to pursue an end to the human rights crisis.”
     Through fundraising that LiNK sponsors during Awareness Tours, people can sign up for a chapter to raise money. An example of funding during awareness tours is the Reliance tour, where LiNK’s headquarters sends five teams of nomads throughout the United States and Canada to spread the word about the refugees, giving people the opportunity to actively participate. Rescuing one refugee takes about 2,500 dollars.
   “This club will raise awareness of the incredibly ridiculous human rights violation that is taking place in North Korea,” said junior and president of LiNK Sigfried Bueno. “We have started our 1 dollar = 1 Life campaign, in which we believe that if everyone in our school donated just 1 dollar, we would raise enough money to provide asylum for one North Korean refugee.”
        Refugees in North Korea may be in hiding for years before being rescued. Those that are hiding in China are found and brought to Southeast Asia and kept in safe shelters that are provided by LiNK. Later, they make the choice of whether to relocate to South Korea or the United States. 
  “While they are waiting to be resettled, we use that time as a way for them to learn English and begin to learn how to acculturate to the new country that they will be living in,” said Abel. “We have staffers who live at our shelter with them 24/7 called Protection Officers. Their job is to protect them, teach them, and be available for the refugees for whatever they need.”
    On November 28, clips from “Hiding,” a documentary about North Korean refugees rescued by LiNK, were shown in the community room with the help of AP Human Geography teacher Carrie Foster. The video helped students see the conditions refugees live in, the control the government has over the people, and their struggles to break free of oppression. By giving students the opportunity to watch this video, LiNK hopes people will be inspired to support and raise money for the refugees.
  “LiNK was started in schools by groups of students feeling passionately towards ending the North Korean crisis,” said Foster. “Our hope is that students will become more aware of the conditions of a typical North Korean life.”
  Students can get involved in the LiNK organization by participating in the club meetings that occur once a month. The club holds bake sales one Thursday and Friday every other month. Purchases contribute to the LiNK foundation. 
   “It is amazing when you consider North Korea to be the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, and we are the only ones doing something about it,” said Abel. “With that, we are truly humbled. We know that there is a responsibility on our end to not give up, to continue doing these tours and raising these funds so that we can eventually see liberty in North Korea.”

By BRIANNA GARCIA
    Inspired by her students, one teacher created the Sunshine Club, an organization providing students with moral support, camaraderie, and guidance.
   Math teacher and club sponsor Mimi Sams founded the club under the premise of helping those students who do not otherwise receive support outside of school. 
   “The purpose of the club is to support teens with self-esteem growth, encourage individual purpose, provide guidance for personal academic development, and create a safe place for fostering a sense of belonging,” said Sams. 
  The administration accepted the club based on its initial proposal to support students who face personal challenges in their lives.
  “Both Mrs. Williams and I agreed with the mission of the club,” said activities director Mrs. Garnes. “Therefore, they began their organization this school year.
  Administration hopes for students to build close relationships with others as a result of the club. The club aims to promote a place for students to feel a sense of belonging. 
 “Adolescence can be a difficult time filled with emotional challenges and difficult decisions,” said Garnes. “Hopefully, the club will offer students a place to be themselves, support one another as they transition into adulthood, and continue developing into the wonderful, productive adults we absolutely believe they will become.”
     Rasing money is a key factor to the Sunshine club. The Foundation for Foster Children, the New Beginnings Equine Rescue Facility, and the Coalition for the Homeless are organizations they plan to raise money through fundraising.
  “Ms. Sams realized that a lot of students were going through hardships in their lives, so she decided to try and get every group to graduate,” said alumni Brianna Thole. “She wants to open up kids’ eyes to realize that they are not the only ones going through hard times; others struggle too.”