“I think our team has what it takes because of the chemistry we have with one another,” junior Grant Tore said.  “We play our best when we’re able to talk to each other on and off the court, which is something we’ve gotten really good at this past year.  There’s an amazing amount of talent and versatility on our team; everyone can and has played multiple positions this year, which is really helpful, especially when players are hurt.”

The team plans to carry on with routine practices until Friday, May 24, when they will make the long journey to Cuyahoga Falls, a suburb of Cleveland.  Once there, they plan to take a break from practicing, instead spending the evening relaxing and bonding with teammates.  The semi-final match is set to take place Saturday night at 5 p.m. at Walsh-Jesuit High School.  If they win, they will move onto the state finals, which will take place on Sunday.  “I know this team is capable of beating anyone in this tournament,” Coach Julie Mulvey said. “The skill is there; we just need to play our game, and we’ll walk out this weekend as Champs.”

For the five seniors on the team, Saturday’s events may be their last as Rockets.  Kevin Fagin, Stefan Games, Robbie Kump, Evan McPhillips, and Christian Ray have spent their last three years as varsity players for McNicholas Volleyball.

“Every one of our seniors has been crucial to the lineup,” Mulvey said.  “They each bring their own assets to the team, in both skill and attitude.  Together, they’ve been able to lead us down a very fun road.”

“The seniors bring so much to the team, especially leadership,” Tore said.  “They keep the team focused and working, and they’re able to pick us up when we get down about a bad play. They have so much energy.”

This isn’t the first time the state tournament has seen the men of McNicholas Volleyball.  In 2008, the team competed in the state finals, only to go home with second place.  This year, they hope to make school history as the first men’s team to go home with the state trophy.

“When I look back on this year’s season, I hope to remember one thing in particular;” said junior Jeremy Tiettmeyer.  “The day we won the state competition!”

On Wednesday, May 15, eleven seniors showcased their work from AP Drawing, AP Architecture, or AP Photography as a part of the McNicholas Art Show.

The students were Lauren Scott, Francine Wright, Danielle Schaefer, and Savannah Hisch from AP Drawing; Pat Disalvio, Tony Losekamp, Anna Crooker, Rebecca Evans, Rita Beckman, and Katie Weiler from AP Photography; and Ben Schmidt from AP Architecture. Each of the 11 students had his or her own table or panel in the art show to showcase pieces from class or AP portfolios.

“I was incredibly impressed with the overall quality of the work from all the students,” Photography teacher Ellyn Whiteash said. “I’m really proud of the seniors for working so hard.”

The seniors were all really excited about participating in the show because it was a way for them to showcase their talents and hard work to the rest of the McNicholas community. Art teacher Willy Corbett said that the pieces also received a lot of praise from those who attended on the night of the Rocket into Summer event the following evening. These students worked all year to develop a collection of pieces, and Corbett was really impressed to see the show come together. “I was really pleased with the accumulation of all the work,” he said. “Our students are great at putting in the time and the effort, and I think it showed.”

While all these seniors use different mediums and have their own styles, they all have a common passion for the pieces they create. “Asking me what I like about art is like asking me what like about living,” Scott said. “It’s a way I can express myself.”

For all these students, their classes at McNick have been extremely influential in their artistic careers. This is especially true for many students who didn’t discover their passion for art until they took the classes at McNick. Many students, like Weiler, took art classes with the sole purpose to fill their fine arts credit or because it sounded interesting, and they ended up loving it. “I just took the class and thought it was a lot of fun,” Weiler said.

Many of these students will be pursuing their art in college. “I’m going to Montserrat College of Art in Boston,” Wright said. “I’ll be studying Disciplinary Design.”

Even for those who will not be majoring in art in college, they confirmed it will not be the end of their artistic days. They plan to keep creating because it’s something they are passionate about. “Photo is my way of doing art, and it’s a lot of fun,” Disalvio said.  “It’s definitely something I’m going to keep doing.” 

 “Mrs. Bambach has brought so much laughter and so much joy to the Religion Department,” Religion teacher Mrs. Paula Yerke said.  “Her openness to change, especially through the institution of the Kairos retreat, has been an absolute gift.”

Bambach, who grew up in the Western Hills community of Cincinnati, attended Mother of Mercy High School and went on to study at Edgecliff College, where she majored in biology.  After years of working in biological research, she made the decision to quit her job in the science industry so she could stay home with her five children.

“My children are such an important part of my life,” Bambach said.  “At the time I felt like I wasn’t able to spend enough time with them, so I decided to work from home as a seamstress.”

As her children grew older, Bambach wanted to begin yet another career; this time as an educator.  She attended classes at the Athenaeum of Ohio, and obtained a Master of Arts degree in theology before arriving at McNicholas High School in 1991.  Bambach said that she was particularly drawn to the school’s co-ed curriculum.

“Before I found McNick, I had interviewed at Elder High School on the west side of the city, where I live.” she said.  “I admit, it would have been a much shorter drive to work, but I couldn’t get past the fact that I wouldn’t have the chance to teach girls.  When I found McNick, I knew it was where I wanted to spend my teaching career.”

Three years into her time at McNicholas, Bambach brought forth what has become a staple of the school’s religious experience: the Kairos retreat.  Many aspects of this deeply spiritual and student-led retreat remain a mystery to underclassmen, who according to Bambach, have to experience it for themselves.

“Kairos has definitely become one of the most distinguishing aspects of the McNick experience,” Bambach said.  “The fact that it’s a student-led retreat is really something special, and I’ve always been completely taken aback by how much they learn about themselves and their classmates while they’re away.  We’ve been absolutely blessed to have so many great students and faculty members who are willing to help make the week of Kairos what it is.”

Though she is choosing to say goodbye to her teaching career, Bambach said that she is not ready to retire completely.

“I want another career.  I’ve got three under my belt already, so why not try something new?” Bambach said.  “I still don’t quite know what my new job’s going to be, but I trust that God’s going to guide me in the right direction, just like He guided me to McNick 22 years ago.”

Looking back on two decades at McNicholas, Bambach smiles as she talks about her teaching philosophy.

“I always strive to teach the kids the way I would want my own children to be taught,” she said.  “If I’ve learned one thing from 22 years of teaching, it’s love.  I’ve learned how to give love unconditionally, and it’s a beautiful thing to know that the same love has been shown to me in return.”

On Friday, May 10, over 150 McNicholas students participated in the Relay for Life at Anderson High School. The entire group went in support of two members of the Rocket community: Sarah Hickman is a McNicholas junior who was diagnosed with leukemia in January of 2012, and Tom Rohling, husband Geometry teacher Christine Rohling, was diagnosed with a very rare liver cancer called cholangiocarcinoma in April of 2013.

The Relay for Life is an annual event founded by the American Cancer Society that gathers communities across the nation together to support cancer survivors and honor those who have died from cancer. The event also raises money for cancer research, which goes directly to the American Cancer Society.

Junior Katie Cornell said she enjoyed the event and liked contributing to the cause. “The Relay is a really cool event to be a part of because it raises a lot of money for cancer,” said Cornell. “It was really special this year since were doing it in honor of Sarah and Mr. Rohling.”

To raise money for the event, the McNicholas students raffled off gift cards, sold t-shirts, and had a jeans day for any student who paid $1. The student participants were also expected to raise money on their own by getting family members, friends, or neighbors to sponsor them.  “Overall we made about $6,100,” said junior Riley Whitehouse, who organized the event for McNicholas.

Freshman Emma Kapp said the luminary ceremony was one of her favorite parts of the evening. “It’s really moving, especially seeing names that I recognized,” said Kapp. “It makes you realize how many people are affected by cancer.”

Whitehouse agreed that it is a great event, and McNick will continue to be involved in it. “The Relay for Life is a really special event because it brings us together as a community and unites us for a good cause.”

Reds High School Media Day is an afternoon focused on exposing high school journalists to the behind-the-scenes role of the media in Major League Baseball. The students spent the afternoon at on-field pre-game batting practice, meeting with Assistant Director of Media Relations Larry Herms, touring the Reds press boxes, and watching a complementary Reds game.  Coldiron, a long time Reds fan, said getting an inside look at the Great American Ballpark was an exciting and informative experience.

“It was amazing to see everything up close and also really surprising to see all of the work that goes into running and promoting a baseball game,” Coldiron said. “One of the definite perks of working for the Reds is getting to work with fascinating people. Todd Frazier came over during the batting practice and talked to us, which I really appreciated. He was a really genuine guy and it was awesome to have this opportunity to meet him.”

Coldiron also enjoyed talking with Herms, who gave the students insight and advice on working in sports journalism. Herms began his career as an intern, and Coldiron took note of how Herms stressed the importance of taking those opportunities.

“[Herms] really taught us how important internships are, and also how important it is to be tech-savvy and keep up-to-date with social media,” Coldiron said. “Another piece of advice that I thought was interesting was that being bilingual gives you a big advantage since many of the Reds’ players speak Spanish. It definitely made me reconsider how I might be able to incorporate a lot of my different classes into a job in media.”

Junior Savannah Baurichter participates in horseback riding. Her mom got her started with her first horse when she was four years old. She competes in shows year round, but shows become more frequent in the summer, with more than one a month. In the shows, she starts with flatwork, which includes walking, trotting, and cantering. The second half of the show tests the participant’s groundwork skills in a course. There are cross rails and hurdles set up and the rider must choreograph a routine that leads the horse over each of the rails at least once. The highest jump Baurichter has ever gotten a horse to do is the three foot jump. “The hardest part is putting all of the time into it,” Baurichter said. “It takes a long time to choreograph and then to get the horse to cooperate and complete the choreography.”

Baurichter’s scariest moment was in sixth grade when a horse named Bloomer reared up and fell over backwards on her. “They brought out a stretcher because they thought I was dead,” Baurichter said. “I didn’t break anything, but I had to lay there for a little bit while my body was in shock.” Baurichter misses playing traditional team sports, but wouldn’t give up her one on one bond with her horses for anything.

Junior Jonathan Grant-Elam has been snowboarding for eight years. Snowboarding is a family tradition, and his family travels to Colorado or West Virginia for a snowboarding trip every year. He has perfected his 180s and does multiple rail stunts. The hardest trick he has ever done is a ride-switch, which required him to switch his leading foot on the snowboard while going down a hill. “It’s really important to have balance for snowboarding,” Elam said. “A snowboarder has to be confident and can’t be worried about getting hurt trying out new tricks and stunts. That’s the only way you learn.”

While Elam does not currently compete in snowboarding competitions, he hopes to one day compete. Until then, he is content snowboarding and working on his tricks at Perfect North and various slopes across the nation.

Senior Matt Dreyer has been participating in Martial Arts competitions for thirteen years. Competitions are in the spring and winter, but he takes classes at Maududo Federation year round. At competitions, martial arts students show off their skills and techniques against an opponent in hopes of the judges placing them first, second, or third. Some skills frequently judged are blocks, footwork and stances, and defensive throws. Dreyer took mixed martial arts classes once, but he had to take many safety precautions like wearing full body pads since it involves physical contact and is very dangerous. Now, he focuses on martial arts. “The hardest part is sticking with it,” Dreyer said. “I’m currently a 4th degree black belt. It took a lot of dedication, but I really want to work up to be a 9th degree black belt.”

Junior Conner Nelson enjoys water skiing. The main goal of this sport is to increase speed while still maneuvering around six buoys successfully. As the speed increases, the rope gets that the skier holds onto gets shorter, making it harder to hold on. The fastest Nelson has ever gone is 36 mph. “You have to be patient,” Nelson said. “It’s really easy to get frustrated when you fall off, but you have to get back up.” Nelson does not participate in competitions now but wants to in the future. Even without competitions, he is looking forward to getting back out on the water this summer to practice his maneuvering.

Junior Ann Rack enjoys quadding, or riding four wheelers. “My family has 72 acres of land and three quads,” Rack said. “I’ve been riding them at different campsites and all around our property since I was seven.” Rack’s favorite quadding memory was when her sister made a huge sand mound at their house and they rode over it as quickly as they could. The fastest Rack has ever gone is 43 mph. While Rack has had time to perfect her steering skills, she admits to having trouble on big hills. “If I hit a fallen tree branch while I’m going up a hill, I have to fight for control of the quad or I’ll tumble down the hill,” Rack said. Rack is passionate about quadding and can’t wait to ride her quads across different terrains over the summer.

Photography
Photography teacher Ellyn Whiteash’s Photography II class participated in the Artists Reaching Classrooms Program, in which they visited the Taft Museum in search of inspiration. Their goal was to choose a piece of photography to recreate. Their tour guides reviewed the replicas and chose six McNicholas students’ photos to enlarge, professionally mat, and frame. These photos were then displayed at an art exhibit at the Public Library of Cincinnati.

“I enjoyed learning about the relationship between art and society and practicing new techniques as I tried to recreate the photo I chose,” senior Kathryn Scheidler said. “I like learning out of the classroom because I get more experience and I can see how my classes apply to my life down the road.”

Government
AP US Government teacher Michelle Semancik’s classes had a chance to participate in the Close Up Program. Based on essays they wrote, six of her students were chosen to travel to Washington, D.C. for a week in March. Throughout the week, the students learned about the opinions of other students across the nation through daily debates, how the government works by holding a mock Congress session, and the roles that government leaders play by having discussions with Ohio Senator Rob Portman and Representative Brad Wenstrup.

“I liked how instead of just reading the information, we were actually seeing it,” junior Kristen Rehl said. “We weren’t just reading about the Senate; we saw it and experienced it.”

Journalism
Each year, two journalism students are invited to participate in the Reds’ High School Media Day. The event, which usually takes place in late April or early May, gives students the opportunity to tour the Reds’ press department. Senior Maddie Scott and junior Hayley Coldiron, attended this event on May 6, along with Journalism teacher and Director of Communications Angie Noble. They learned about the importance of internships and tips for advancing in the media field through a student-led interview with Reds’ Assistant Director of Media Relations Larry Herms in the official Reds’ press room. Herms advised the students to stay up to date with social media sites like Twitter and Facebook and to remember what they learned in foreign language classes because being media savvy and bilingual will give them an edge in the interviewing process. The students were also taken on a tour of the Great American Ball Park press box and scoreboard control room, where they learned about the behind-the-scenes work that takes place during each game.

“Going to the Reds’ High School Media Day was really fun, but I also feel like I learned a lot too,” Scott said. “As a Reds fan, it was exciting to see part of the batting practice and meet one of the actual players [Todd Frazier], and as a journalism student, it was interesting to talk to professionals and see the press box. I now have a much better understanding of everything that actually goes on in a media-based job.”

Genetics
Regina Goines’s AP Biology classes attended an annual Genetic Update Conference. The speaker, Sam Rhine, discussed the future of genetics and recent discoveries. One topic Rhine covered was the discovery that 99% of each DNA sequence, which geneticists previously believed had no significant function, has had a purpose in organisms this whole time. Students also learned about various biotechnology techniques and theories that geneticists are currently studying.

Junior Andrew Pearson found the presentation to be very enlightening. “It was interesting to see a more in-depth look at how genetics is applied in modern medicine and treatments,” Pearson said.

Surgical Procedures
Five students attended a live surgery viewing at The Christ Hospital in October. They watched the stomach surgery on a projector, listened to the surgeon explain his techniques and how they affected the patient, and asked him a series of questions afterwards. Senior Nicole Moser, who aspires to be a nurse in the operating room, enjoyed the event. “It was cool to actually see a live surgery. I liked seeing the different techniques the surgeon used so I’ll be familiar with them when I learn them in college” Moser said. “It helped me to know what to look forward to and what I’ll be doing in the future.”

The Academy of World Languages is a magnet school in Evanston that educates students from many diverse backgrounds. They come from 84 different countries and speak over 60 languages. At least 40% of the students are learning English as their second language. Havlis goes once a week and works with the second grade class. He said found out about the Academy through his aunt, Sue Doll, who is an Intervention Specialist at the school.

Havlis says he has a really good experience working with the students, acting as a mentor and a tutor. “I tutor the kids in whatever subjects they need. A lot of time I’m helping them with math or going over flashcards” he said. “It’s nice to help the kids, because a lot of them don’t really have a role model to look up to.”

Doll said Havlis has made a difference in a lot of student’s lives through his work there. “Max is dedicated volunteer who shares his time and talents, and the students look forward to him visiting every week. Max has a spirit that reflects a positive attitude, not just a smile on his face but in the amount of effort and energy he has put forth.”

Havlis says he goes back every week not only because he enjoys his work as a tutor, but also because he feels he should be there for the students as a friend. “I know some of [the students] are too used to people leaving them. I stick around, because I want them to know that people care about them.”

“I’ve always loved fashion and being able to pick clothes for other people,” St. Charles said.  “And I’m beginning to realize how much I’d like to make a career out of it.  Hopefully, being a member of the Fashion Board at Nordstrom will give me the opportunity to learn more about how the industry works.”

The Nordstrom BP Fashion Board brings together high school students from around the country, serving as an introduction into the world of design for young entrepreneurs who hope to someday enter the fashion business.  The group meets every month, providing members with time to discuss the latest trends and meet with fashion insiders from the Nordstrom chain.  They are taught the ins and outs of techniques like trend forecasting and retail marketing, and are given the chance to learn about the history of fashion in a group setting that brings together teenagers of all ages and backgrounds.

St. Charles applied for the position earlier this spring, and was granted an exclusive interview opportunity with the head of the Nordstrom BP Fashion Board.  To be considered for the Board, she was asked to put together a project that incorporated her love of fashion in a creative way that convinced board directors she has what it takes to be a member.

“Before the interview, I put together a sort of scrapbook that was reflective of my favorite styles,” St. Charles said.  “I included everything from some of my celebrity inspirations like Kate Spade and Marc Jacobs, to the outfits worn by my friends.  I’ve got a fashion sense that doesn’t gravitate towards any style in particular, so it was a bit difficult to settle on my favorites!”

St. Charles has been involved in McNick’s art program since the beginning of her freshman year, when she opted to take Foundation Art as an elective.  She will be finishing up her sophomore year by completing Ceramics I.  Having taken a keen interest in the art of fashion design, Katie hopes to turn her passion for art into a career.

“I’m really looking forward to the board meetings because I’ll be learning more about how to accomplish what I want to do with my life, and getting some more direction that I hope will guide me towards the right college and career,” St. Charles said.  “I’m also excited about having the opportunity to help make decisions for my favorite store and meet more people my age who are interested in fashion.  I can already tell it’s going to be a one-of-a-kind experience!”

“This is my last chance to leave my mark on the school,” said junior Will Mehring. “I’m excited for college, but I don’t want to move on yet.

Now that the juniors are preparing for their final year, they have to start thinking about college and their future. Many have already begun taking their ACTs and SATs. Over the summer they’ll be visiting colleges and working on their resumes. Once school starts, many students are taking AP classes to get ahead. Their thoughts are consumed by majors they could study and what to do with the rest of their lives. College applications can be due as early as November. Students will be filling out forms, writing essays, requesting letters of recommendation, and applying for scholarships. Once their acceptance letters arrive, they have to make the final decision of what college is best for them.

Many McNick students are worried about the busy year that is ahead of them. Out  of everything, the overwhelming majority of students said they were most worried about their college decision.

“I’m nervous about applying for colleges because I’m not sure where I want to go, or where I’ll be accepted. It’s a big decision,” said Kennedy.

Corrie Sheshull said the college search can be a little overwhelming. “I’m very nervous for the whole college process,” Sheshull said. “There are just so many to choose from.”

Guidance Counselor Nancy Aniskovich said that choosing a college is an important decision that most students get stressed over. She said the best way to know a college is “the one” is to visit the campus. “The way a campus feels is very important. It’s all about the right fit. You don’t know if it’s the right fit until you’re physically there.”

Senior Ben Schmidt encouraged the juniors to apply to lots of different colleges, even to schools that seem out of budget. “Apply everywhere that sounds interesting to you. Try not to let money decide where you apply. The more expensive schools usually give really big scholarships, even if you’re not at the top of your class,” Schmidt said. He said the college he is attending, St. John’s University in New York, costs about $50,000 a year, but he got over $30,000 in scholarships and financial aid. “Also, get your work in early. The sooner you turn [your scholarship and financial aid forms] in, the more money you get.”

Getting into college and choosing the right one isn’t as daunting a task as it can seem. It’s all about working hard and taking advantage of the opportunities available, so that colleges can see how great each student is. Once each student finds the right school, they’ll know. As Aniskovich said, “There are over 4,000 colleges in the U.S. There is a right school for everybody.”