Memorial day is of course May 31, and people should know that it’s more than just a day off from school (although, I’ll admit, I like having the day off). It’s a day to remember those who have served for our country. I decided to do some research on the day… There are a lot of claims for the start of Memorial Day, but the most common one is that lots of towns took time to honor dead soldiers back in the 1860’s, and all of these gatherings led to General John Logan’s official proclamation of the day back on May 5, 1868.

The first Memorial Day was observed May 30, when flowers were laid at the graves of Union and Confederate Soldiers at Arlington Cemetery of that same year. The first state to officially recognize the day was New York in 1873. By the 1890’s, all of the Northern states had officially recognized Memorial Day, but the Southern States refused to do so. They recognized their dead on separate days until after World War 1 (then everyone started not just honoring soldiers who died in the Civil War, to soldiers who died in any war) it became a National holiday (celebrated by all states on the last Monday in May) with the National Holiday Act of 1971.

“I like to remember my dad,” Sophomore Derrick Johnson said, on who he likes to remember on Memorial Day. “He served in the military but didn’t get in the war, he just stayed in South Korea.”

“My great grandfather fought in World War II,” Freshman Karidia Shelby said.

My dad loves to tell me about my grandfather. He served during World War II, and also fought in Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. So I feel very proud of him and something to hold on to.

So is it really that important?

“It gives us time to celebrate people in the military (serving our country),” Johnson said. “I feel that it is important because so much has changed (over the years), in good ways and if it wasn’t for those people who knows what it could be like so taking a day out to remember them is the least we can do.”

I agree. Soldiers have and still are giving their lives for this country. Without them, I guarantee you there is no U.S. There is probably no place for immigrants to go to get away from their hostile countries (if they come from hostile countries, anyway). We as citizens would not be protected, and not have as good a life as we have now.

So please take at least some of Memorial Day to honor those that have given their lives for our country, and are still serving our country.

Mr. Greg Johnson, who is our Associate Principal, is leaving to take the new principal
position at Centennial High School. Johnson has been working at Urbana High School since 1997.

Johnson was an English teacher for nine years at Urbana and also coached the girls and boys cross-country team during that time, excluding the first year he taught. He quit coaching after he got the assistant principal job.

Johnson is going to replace Justin Moore, who was Centennial’s former principal and resigned in December. He will start his job as principal on July 1. “It‘s a huge challenge to go over there and take a new job, but I look foreword tackling the challenge,” said Greg Johnson

Ms. Danielle Cook will move into Johnson’s old office. Mr. Travis Courson is going to take over as assistant principal. Ms. Angelica Franklin is going to be that new dean of students with last names of A through G.

Johnson is a University of Illinois alum. Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in educational administration. Currently Mr. Johnson is working on his Ph.D. in educational administration from the U of I.

“I am going to miss the people of course, I have had made some really great friends, and the kids I am going to miss seeing their faces in the halls,” said Johnson.

Christine Cox may not have always wanted to be a teacher, but that has no influence over the number of students she has educated in the 32 years she has worked at Urbana High School. Cox will retire this year, making the class of 2013 the last to have the speech and English teacher.

Cox studied to become a nurse before becoming a teacher. “I thought I’d like to be a nurse,” she says. “I started nursing school and I just  didn’t have the stomach for it.”
So career-wise, it was back to the drawing board for Cox. She considered what she might like to do and a speech teacher she had in high school came to mind. “I thought ‘I would love to do that.’”

She began her work by student teaching ninth grade at Jefferson Middle School. Cox then was a substitute teacher at UHS, where she was offered a job.
Thirty-two years after that job offer, Cox continues to teach speech and composition 9 at Urbana. “I love teaching AP prep freshman and I love teaching speech,” she says.
Speech is the subject Cox originally thought about when she decided to become a teacher and is still one she enjoys. “Speech brings together a large group of students from different backgrounds to discuss issue and listen to each other,” says Cox.

Over the years fashions, politics and music may have changed, but Cox says that her students are similar to the way they were in past years. “They’re still teenagers,” she says. “I think everybody wants to pin all of the world’s troubles on them, but that’s not the truth.”

For many high school students out there, there are numerous ways to spend the summer months. While the obvious choice would be to go on a splendid vacation, taking summer school will probably be a wiser choice in terms of your future. Summer typically marks the beginning of a welcome break from high school. Instead of using that break to work on your video game skills and get a killer tan, why not use the summertime to beef up your school grades in time for college?

“The purpose of summer school is basically to either give students a head start, or an opportunity to catch up – whichever applies,” says Assistant Principal Danielle Cook.

Summer school is definitely a productive way to spend your summer. Regardless of whether you want to catch up, stay on track or get ahead, your summer break is a prime time to dedicate toward setting yourself apart from the rest of the college applicant pool. Summer school is not only for people who need to catch up on credits, it provides students the opportunity to take prep courses or prerequisite courses that prepare them for the next school year.

“First, it keeps students in the educational frame of mind,  it also gives incoming freshmen a taste of what the high school is like,” says Cook.  “It allows students who are behind on credits the opportunity to earn back one.”

One of the functions of summer school is to earn a second chance to improve a grade in a class that may not be their desired grade.

“I think the purpose of summer school is to get you ahead in credits so that you have space for other classes during the school year,” says Sophomore Samantha Mwenda. “It also helps the people who need to catch up on credits.” Unfortunately, not all courses are available on the summer school programs.

However, sometimes summer school creates second thoughts to different high school students. Why in the world would anyone take summer classes when they could be relaxing at home, spending time with friends, or earning some cash? Here are some of the reasons why going to summer school is worth the use of your time.

Not only will students expand their knowledge and exhibit initiative, but they also get to work on their academic learning and get ahead if they want to. This provides reassurance to a college admissions office that a student is serious about focusing on their school goals. And, of course, summer school provides an opportunity to retake an important class (like math or English) to fix a poor grade. An improved grade could increase a student’s GPA and give them that extra edge to get noticed by college admissions.

Graduating early is one of the benefits of summer school also. If a student dedicates a month or two of their summer break to classes, the course loads will be easier compared to a school year’s work loads.

“You have something to do in the summer that would help you in the school year. Summer School work is also less stressful than if you were to take the class in the school year,” says Mwenda.

More room in a student’s schedule would also be open to take other electives. A student could even graduate ahead of time if they take enough classes during summer break to put them ahead of schedule.

Zero responsibilities during the summer; how lovely. But the first week back is always rough. Getting back in the swing of things, including waking up early, turning in things on time, and cramming for exams are a few of the downsides. If a student doesn’t ever let themselves slip out of the habits required to succeed in school, they won’t have to go through the pain of readjusting.

Summer school enhances knowledge. Let’s admit it, high school students forget things when you aren’t studying them for an entire summer. Taking a class over the summer will keep them in the practice and help them remember things they have already learned.

“You get quick help from the teacher if needed because there aren’t that many students in the class,” says Mwenda. “The classes aren’t like regular noisy classrooms, so its easier to get work done.”

With summer school, multiple courses can be taken. Students can truly apply themselves , dive into a subject, and maybe even discover an interest they never knew they had. Hop right into action this summer, and reap the benefits of summer school!

For anyone who is interested on taking summer school this year, please visit the UHS website: http://www.usd116.org/uhs/.

AP Art students will have their work showcased it the Link Gallery at Krannert Art Museum from May 28 to June 1. A reception for the show will be held on May 28 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Sixteen Urbana students artwork will be shown. They are all enrolled in Susan Gleason’s AP Art Class.

“The show would be a worthwhile experience to see artwork that fellow students have created,” says Sophomore Zelda Galewsky, who has artwork in the show.

The 16 artists that will be showcased are:

Rachel Beck

Luke Bial

Gretchen Booth

Zelda Galewsky

Davon Goodlove

Angela Headley

Patricia Liu

Magdalena Nilges

Esraa Odeh

Alanna Pomes

Kristin Rose

Fumi Takezawa

Rachel Warren

Allegra Wentworth

Charlotte Westcott

Dana Williams

The Link Gallery is located at 500 E. Peabody Drive in Champaign, IL.

If you talk to any senior right now they will probably mention graduation, which makes sense. The high schools commencement ceremony is quickly approaching. The seniors graduate May 30 at 3 p.m. at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall.

“It’s going to be sad graduating, I’ve had a lot of great memories here with my friends and I am really going to miss them” said Senior Crystal Howard. “But I am ready to be out on my own and go to college.”

The Seniors honor night is Monday, May 17.  Honors night recognizes seniors for there academic accomplishments. Honors night is also a time where scholarships are given out. “It’s one of my favorite nights because the kids don’t really know if they are getting an award and it’s cool to see there reaction when they win” said Dr. Laura Taylor.

Before they can graduate the senior have their final exams just like everyone else, only a few weeks earlier. The senior finals are May 24 and the 25, and the seniors’ last day in the 25. So for about two weeks the school will be home to only freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

The Graduation ceremony is already lined up from the guest speaker to the entertainment. Nancy Thies-Marshall a graduate of Urbana High School will be this years commencement speaker. Thies-Marshall at the age of 15 was the youngest gymnast to represent the Women US team in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

Senior Class President Kendall Johnson will also be speaking at the ceremony. The UHS choir will be performing “We Are the World” and the UHS orchestra and band will perform the processional. A lot goes on to plan graduation. “I could truly not do this with out Justin Lopez,” said Taylor.

This senior class is really special to Dr. Taylor because it her first class that she has had since they were freshmen. “I truly love when I get to stand in line after the kids get their diplomas and when a kids hugs me or thanks me. It makes me feel appreciative of what Urbana High School has done for them,” said Taylor.

On May 16, 2010, the 59th edition of the Miss USA pageant took place at the Theatre for the Performing Acts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Rima Fakih, a 24-year-old former New Yorker who was raised in Dearborn, Mich., beat out 50 other contestants, including runner-up Miss Oklahoma, for the grand prize. She will be representing USA in the Miss Universe 2010 competition.

“I love her, I think she was a great choice to represent America,” says UHS Sophomore, Trista Pelmore.

Fakih is believed to be the first Muslim-American Miss USA. She is also the second Arab-American to be crowned Miss USA since it began way back in 1952.

One of her remarkable quotes was when she said, “Ask me after I’ve had a pizza,” when she was asked on stage how she felt about the big win. Fakih accepted her crown from Kristen Dalton, the outgoing Miss USA.

“I wanted her to win because she answered all the questions intelligently and amazingly strutted her stuff with her walk,” says Pelmore.

She is a graduate the University of Michigan-Dearborn with degrees in economics and business management. She plans to begin law school after her year-long reign. 

In addition to winning scholarships and a wardrobe fit for a queen, Fakih will be given a luxury New York City apartment to live in while she’s Miss USA. She is an advocate for breast and ovarian cancer awareness.

Fakih told reporters she sold her car after graduating college in Michigan to help pay for her run in the Miss Michigan USA pageant.

“Probably, unlike anyone else, she had to work her way there and she won the whole pageant which I’m sure was all worth it,” says Pelmore. “I’m glad Miss Michigan won Miss USA.

The pageant aired live to East Coast viewers on NBC. The network owns the pageant in a joint venture with Donald Trump. The entertainment circles and the common people are certain about her victory in the forthcoming contest of Miss Universe.

Source(s):

http://www.myfoxny.com/dpps/entertainment/rima-fakih-crowned-miss-usa-dpgoh-20100517-fc_7577379

http://www.buzztab.com/breaking-news/rima-fakih-crowned-miss-usa-2010/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/17/AR2010051700431.html

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is back and better than ever in “Iron Man 2.” With his boyish looks and quick wit, it’s hard not to love him despite his massive ego and generally lacking judgment. With a power-keg cast, outstanding special effects, and a fun, though predictable storyline, this sequel is certainly worth a trip to the theater.

In the second installment of the “Iron Man” franchise, Stark realizes he is dying due to an increasing level of blood toxicity caused by excessive use of the suit. If that’s not enough to keep this Marvel hero busy, there’s a new villain in town to shake things up: Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke). Vanko struts around wearing a suit powered by the same time of energy generator as Iron Man, but his outfit is enhanced by super-charged electric whips, hence his comic book name: “Whiplash.”

Another addition to the “Iron Man” cast is Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. the “Black Widow”). Johansson is the epitome of a super heroine; her fair complexion and spy stunts will be sure to have plenty of fanboys drooling. The other main female character of the film, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), reprises her role as Stark’s better half and is promoted to CEO of Stark Industries.

Despite some critics’ accusations that Tony doesn’t spend much time in the Iron Man suit, he actually gives us plenty of superhero action onscreen. Don Cheadle, who replaced Terrence Howard as Lt. Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes in this installment, even gets a chance to try out the famed “War Machine” in a crazy CGI-enhanced final battle. While “Iron Man 2” does delve deeper into the mind of Tony Stark, it still delivers on the visual/action spectrum.

All in all, “Iron Man 2” is a decent comic book/action production. While it’s not better than the first film, it actually keeps up and doesn’t fall into the disappointing sequel category like the “Transformer” or “Spider-Man” series.

Reviewer’s Note: Make sure to stay in your seat until the credits finish for a sneak peek at the next “Iron Man;” it looks like another one of Marvel’s superheroes has left a mark and is ready for some screen time with Tony Stark.

The following time-logs are documentation by Co-Editor in Chief Mandy Facer about her experience at the 2010 IHSA Sectional Competition for The Echo. For more information about Sectionals or the upcoming State competition, please visit http://www.ihsa.org/activity/jrn/index.htm.

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9:00 am: The Urbana High School Journalism team arrives at Gregory Hall for the 2010 IHSA Journalism Sectional Competition. Team members today include:

*Sophomore Meredith Headtke, our Advertisement and Political Cartooning entrant
*Sophomore Alyanna Balanay, our Sports Writer and Headline entrant
*Sophomore Gwen Childers, our Copy Editor and Yearbook Copy Writer
*Sophomore LaShaya Jackson, our Feature Photographer
*Junior Lily Smith, our Review Writer and Editorial Writer
*Junior Mandy Facer, our News Writer and Feature Writer

9:10: Echo Advisor Sydney Azzi registers the team. We all accept our press passes, maps, and schedules then head into the Auditorium to await a briefing from the University of Illinois’ Journalism Department Head Brian Johnson.

10:00: Mr. Johnson gives a brief outline of the day’s events and wishes all of us good luck in our blocks.

10:15: After a few words of wisdom and encouragement from Mrs. Azzi, we each take off for our individual blocks. Most of us are located in the basement of Gregory Hall where the Journalism labs are, though LaShaya will be all over campus to take her photos. Walking to my lab at the end of the hallway brings nervous butterflies, but also a desire to start. Our staff has worked so hard this year, and I’m excited to see how we’ll do.

10:30: Proctors in each room hand out the prompts and we begin. Live blocks (categories with a live person to interview for quotes) begin the ten-minute interview process, while the regular blocks start writing/taking pictures/drawing right away.

10:45: I’m in News Writing right now, and the roar of keyboards tapping away is a bit unnerving. All the competitors around me sigh, yawn, and click their mouses to the beat of competition.

12:00: The first block of competition is over. All entries are sealed in an envelope and given to the site director for the judges to read.

12:15: The second block of competition begins. I hope everybody on the team is doing well and not having any problems…. I talked to Meredith in the fifteen-minute break, and she’s made a friend from Homewood during her Advertisement session, which is reassuring.

12:40: Somebody in my Feature Writing block just got up and turned their article in and has exited the room…it looked like two pages, and I’ve only just finished my lead which is alarming.

12:55: My stomach growls loudly and the person next to is yawning so much I’m worried she’s going to fall asleep…

1:45: The second and final block of the competition is over: time for lunch on campus!

1:50: All of our team assembles to talk about how we think it went, and nerves begin to brew as we wonder about the results. Swarms of students are strolling about on campus: there’s one group of suited men that keep milling about, in addition to a large set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shirt-clad college students.

2:00: We enter Empire, a delicious Chinese restaurant on campus, and settle in at a circle table. We talk about our favorite moments of the year, Mrs. Azzi’s adorable new puppy, and how far we’ve come as Journalism staff in the past year while dining on rice, tofu and sesame seed chicken.

2:45: It’s time to return to Gregory Hall for the awards ceremony, and Mrs. Azzi tells us fun facts about the U of I campus as we walk through the Quad.

3:10: Mr. Johnson addresses us again, but this time it’s for the presentation for awards. Our team fared really well, and I’m proud of all of our contestants. Echo staff members who will move on to the State Competition on April 30 are:

*Lily Smith who earned first place in Editorial Writing
*Mandy Facer who earned first place in News Writing
*Gwen Childers who earned second place in Yearbook Copy Writing and third place in Copy Editing.
*Meredith Headtke who earned third place in Advertising.

As a Journalism team, we have everything to be proud of. Each member of our staff has significantly improved their writing ability, whether they have an award to recognize it or not. I am deeply grateful to be a part of The Echo, and to have the chance to work alongside so many talented and wonderful people. Here’s to a great year full of learning, new experiences, and camaraderie!

On April 22, 2010, marks the international celebration of Earth Day. This is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. It is a day made to recognize and inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Earth Day is celebrated once in a year since April 22, 1970 when U.S Senator Gaylord Nelson founded it as an environmental teach-in. Since that time, Earth Day has been officially observed in April.

At present, Earth Day is observed in 175 countries. The passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act are considered to be products associated with the 1970 Earth Day.

“We have Earth Day so that each of us can raise awareness about all the problems that are going on in our surroundings that some people might not even have any idea of,” says UHS teacher Richard Geiger.

To formally honor the day celebrated for our Mother Earth, there is an official Earth Day 2010 Campaign. The campaign is basically made to give opportunities for individuals, corporations and governments to join together and create a global green economy.

“It’s really a good idea to educate people about the Earth and let them know what’s up with the place we live in, some people aren’t really aware of it,” says Geiger.

Many people are taking actions to improving our surroundings. Some of these include commuting without polluting, reusing and recycling, and using less electricity and water.

“To maintain our Earth’s cleanliness, everybody needs to reduce using fossil fuels, electricity, and most especially water,” says Geiger.

Take your time and find your moment outside today. Above all, Earth Day is a celebration. Worldwide personal appreciation is an incredible way to begin. Today is the perfect chance to give thanks for all that we have.