OUR LADY OF LOURDES ACADEMY MIAMI, FLORIDA VOLUME 51/ISSUE 5 APRIL 2014

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TRUTH

BEHIND

COLLEGE

COSTS!

HOW ARE YOU GOING

TO PAY FOR SCHOOL?

STOP, PLEASE STOP Miley Cyrus has clearly dropped her Hannah Montana persona for good. But have her fans made the transition?

103 5

TO ROOM OR NOT Creepy roomates? Clingy friends? How do you decide whom you are going to live with for the next four years?

SOS VENEZUELA Guest writer senior Andreina Rojas recaps the events currently devasting Venezuela’s youth.

2 news | the grotto |december 2012

word in the halls

“I would head to Vizcaya after breakfast at South Beach and then head south to Deering Estate and possibly kayak there.”

“I am going with my friends to the zoo to feed the giraffes and maybe even go on a camel ride.”

“I’m going to Sky zone because it’s a fun way get exercise in with my friends while jumping on trampolines.”

FRESHMAN VICTORIA ALFONZO

“I’ll probably be going to Wynwood to watch a drive-in movie and then snapping some pictures with the artwork in the area.”

SOPHOMORE MARLENE GONZALEZ

JUNIOR STEPHANIE CHARUR

SENIOR ANNA ORGANVIDEZ

GOVERNMENT TEACHER MRS. HEFFERNAN

“I will probably go to Knaus Berry Farm and either go to archery or paint balling with my dad.”

Eastern Europe boils over; Russians invade, annex Crimean PeninsulaVIVIAN GISLE

HOW ARE YOUSPENDING YOUR SPRING STAYCATION?

april 2014

During Venezuela’s National Youth Day on Feb. 12, students in major cities across the country held anti-government protests throughout the nation.

The students protested in a calm and unthreatening manner, however they received an extremely violent response to their cries of change. The national guard met the protesters with extreme violence such as beatings and other forms of physical aggression.

Since this day, several cities throughout Venezuela have been riled up and peaceful protesters are being approached by aggressive offense.

“It’s strange to see how different protesting is dealt with outside of the United States. No communication, just violence,” senior Stephanie Velasco said.

Venezuelans are on a mission to stop the country’s corruption and are motivated by political, economic, and anti-crime concerns.

The government leader, Nicolás Maduro, has been in control since 2013 and has received criticism for his lack of experience and inefficiency in helping the country.

His presidency has been deemed to be corrupt and many protesters are hoping for Maduro to resign. Government funding is completely out of balance causing shortages of basic necessities such as coffee, rice, and toilet paper.

The government has taken action against media sources that are providing any information that seems anti-government by no longer funding them. The government continues to fund newspapers that sugarcoat

and support the corrupt government regulations. Also, the news channels that have broadcasted the protests have been taken off the air.

The high crime rates through out the country have also caused a stir among the people. According to the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, in 2013 over 25,000 homicides occurred. Venzuela’s total population is less than 30 million.

Of these homicides, more than 90 percent go unpunished due to the faulty and biased judicial system. The protesters hope that security in the nation will be reformed for the better to prevent further tragedies and injustices.

Since the protests have begun, dozens of people have gone missing, hundreds have been injured, and an unknown, but rapidly increasing, amount of people have been killed.

During the protests there have been several opposition leaders guiding protests against the government.

One of the most prominent of these leaders is Leopoldo Lopez, one of the original candidates for the presidency against Maduro. He has been viewed as the central face of the Venezuelan protesters, therefore, he is also considered a dominant threat to the current government.

After countless efforts, Lopez surrendered to the government and was indicted and jailed in late February. He encourages the protesters to stand strong against the injustices as difficulty ensues.

As of now, Venezuela is ranked in the top 50 of the

most corrupt governments in the world. Through Twitter, Venezuelans have

used hashtags like #SOSVENEZUELA, #PRAYFORVENEZUELA, and #RESISTENCIAVZLA to spread awareness internationally, since many people were unaware of the current corruption of the nation.

“I think that on twitter, using hashtags allows people to spread the message as well bring attention to the issue,” junior Erika Infiesta said.

These hashtags have continued trending in various other countries.

Now that Maduro has begun to block some social media sites, it is up to the citizens of other countries to spread the word so that everyone can become aware of the tyranny and oppression that is present.

SOS VenezuelaDiANA MARTINEZ

Tensions in Eastern Europe have increased during the past few weeks. Mass protests and riots have plagued Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. The initial spark for the rioting can be tied back to mass unhappiness with President Viktor Yanukovych, who in Nov. 2013 voted to release their ties with the European Union and strengthen an allegiance with Russia.

This decision had a strong backlash because Ukraine was a former Soviet state, and many Ukrainians believe that Yanukovych was working as a puppet for Russian president Vladimir Putin, rather than for the people.

Many took to the streets to show their disapproval for the president’s decision. Rioting continued to escalate until Feb.20th when over 30 protesters were killed by military and police forces. The next day Yanukovych fled Ukraine and an independent government was instilled so that a new election could take place. Many protesters saw this as victory, and as the overall end to the unsettlement.

Putin sent military forces into the Crimean Peninsula, a Ukrainian province to “protect Russian interests.” On the world platform, this move was seen as aggressive and unwarranted act on Russia’s part, since Ukraine has not been under Russian control since winning its independence in

1991. Since the invasion, separatists have overthrown the Crimean government and voted to join Russia, which the Western world viewed as an illegal vote since the government had been forcefully overthrown by the separatists.

“We all have a right to protest according to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. We also have the right to a government that protects our rights instead of ignoring them,” Social Justice teacher Carolina Ramirez said.

The questions has also been raised as to whether America will get involved in the conflict. President had Barack Obama had strong words toward Putin, and also p;aced sanctions against Russia.

“For the interest of Americans, I don’t think we should get involved. At least, not for now,” said junior Nicole Schmidt

According to Reuters, the EU plans on imposing sanctions on Russia, which are the first since the end of the Cold War, for the uncalled for annexation that would restrict travel and freeze assets for top Russian officials.

As of Sunday, March 16, the Crimean Peninsula has voted to separate from the Ukraine and join Russia. On April 1st, NATO suspended all cooperation with Russia due to the presence of Russian troops at the Ukrainian border.

Anti-government protests spark violence

issue 5 | the grotto | news 3

fromthenewsdesk3, 2, 1 Lift off: local student’s voyage to Mars

Congratulations to the school’s new executive board. Diana Mendoza as president, Erica Silva as vice president, Lauren Adams as secretary, and Carolina Rossell as treasurer. The candidates for the executive board held their symposium in the cafetorium during school on March 13. Each candidate had a speech that the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors heard.

The winning candidates were announced on March 16 at the end of the day.

“This election was completely different. It was more serious because I had to win the vote of people from every grade,” Diana Mendoza said.

The presidental slot was between Lili Villa, and Diana Mendoza.

The candidate for vice president was Erica Silva and the candidate for treasurer Caro Rossell. Both candidates ran unopposed.

The secretary position was between Lauren Adams, and Katie Ferrer. All the candidates made posters that reflected their campaign’s theme and placed them throughout the school

Newly elected executive board ecstatic and readyOLIVIA BAEZ

NATANIA QUIROSMiami has its own Star Walk for the stars

OLIVIA BAEZ

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Although there is a lot of competition and effort put into each election, Diana and Lili as well as Katie and Lauren have remained supportive of one another.

It seems that these six girls understood the importance of an election, but also the importance of friendship. They did not get sidetracked by the competition.

While the students running for executive board were surely aware of the responsibilities they will be expected to carry out, it is also important that they understand the extent of such responsibilities.

“I’ve been in student council for four years now and I love dedicating my time to leadership in the school,” Mendoza said.

It is a requirement that students running for executive board have taken part in student council for at least two years prior to their running. This

ensures that the students are aware and are accustomed to the manner in which student council works.

The current executive board is sad that their term is coming to and end, but excited for the new changes coming their way. They wish the best of luck and have great confidence in the executive board of 2014-2015.

On Mar. 21 the cast of Rio 2 was honored with the first star in Miami’s Official Walk of Fame. The Walk of Fame is located in Downtown Miami in the Bayside Marketplace.

The stars that attended the event included Jamie Foxx, Andy Garcia, Anne Hathaway, Kristin Chenoweth, George Lopez, and Rodrigo Santoro.

“I think it’s really cool that Miami has made a place to recognize stars. It was awesome to see and take pictures of the celebrities,” senior Beatriz Correa said.

The ceremony began with Mayor Tomas Regalado discussing the diversity of our city and the importance of such diversity. Mayor Regalado’s first order of business was to grant a key of Miami to one of Hollywood’s most recognizable celebrities, Jamie Foxx.

Having starred in Miami Vice, “Foxx helped put Miami on the map,” Regalado said. Foxx began his acceptance speech with a creative beat-box rendition of Will Smith’s

“Welcome to Miami.” Foxx then proceeds to mention how he will be using his key to the city for recreational purposes only: to get into clubs and restaurants. He shared with us that he spends every New Year here with his family.

Mayor Regalado’s second honoree was Miami native, actor Andy Garcia. Regalado men-tions that Andy has reflected his heritage in almost everything he has done as an actor.

“He has shown the world the Cuba he knew as a child,” Regalado said. When accepting his star recognition, Garcia spoke of his time as a Cuban immigrated to

Miami. Garcia pointed out the Freedom Tower and mentioned how he and his family used to get food from there.

“Spam, spam and more spam,” Garcia said, commenting on the food selection in the Freedom Tower.

Following Garcia’s speech, Mayor Regalado surprised the audience by dubbing Mar. 21 as Rio 2 Day in Miami.

The ceremony continued with a speech from Rio 2 director, Carlos Saldanha, in which he talked about how important his Brazilian heritage is to him. He also mentioned how welcoming Miami is to all heritages.

It ended with the Greater Miami Host Committee and the cast on their knees by the star in the ground.

The Mars One program has raised much speculation as to whether it is a legitimate effort or a hoax. Founded by Dutch entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp, Mars One plans to establish a colony on planet Mars beginning in 2024. The initial intention is to send out crews of four every two years to start populating the planet and building the settlement.

After careful consideration, the program opened up applications to allow the general public to become the actual astronauts. The plans were first announced on April 22, 2013, and drew the attention of nearly a quarter of a million people.

Exactly 1058 were selected to proceed to round two, which included medical evaluations and an interview. Results for round three are to be announced and those chosen will compete in regional challenges with others skilled in similar subjects. The final round will then consist of the same principles as in round three, but on an international level.

Amongst the 205,000 submissions, one Miami local, FIU physics major Patrick Ford, has reached round two of the program, and will be notified of the final decision mid-year in 2015.

“I can say that I’ve been fascinated with science and astronomy since i was maybe four or five years old,” Patrick Ford said. “I had no idea my life would turn out like this and I probably toyed around with the idea of being an astronaut for a while but forgot about it. My greatest aspiration would be to get accepted and inspire young kids to become the explorers of the next generation.”

If selected in round four, Ford will move on to the required eight years of training occurring in the Netherlands. Here the astronauts will learn to live in total isolation with the other three members of their crew in a small stimulation facility. The crews will also be instructed to master new skills related to engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, and medicine.

After several months of traveling, the first crew of four astronauts will begin to connect inflated structures including bathrooms, living rooms, and even greenhouses brought from Earth to Mars. They will even be able to take off their suit inside the settlement and function as if they were still living on Earth if all goes well.

“I believe that space exploration is essential not just to the survival of our speciies, but for the pursuit of knowledge,” Ford said. “I hope that we’ll realize all the ways in which we are alike, and then turn to solving real problems that face our civilization and concentrate on becoming citizens of our Solar System instead of just citizens of Earth.”

The winning candiatates right after they were announced the executive board members of the 2014-2015 school year. From left to right: Diana Mendoza, Erica Silca, Lauren Adams, and Carolina Rossell.

After 17 years, the gym is finally almost complete. The school will be able to hold home basketball and volleyball games. Snacks will even be sold at the built-in concession stand. The gym will provide a larger, more open area for the fitness classes as well.

Although a long process, the scoreboards and basketball hoops have already been installed, and the next step will consist of the sound barriers. Flooring is also being laid out and will feature the new logo with Lola in the center of the court. Once the floor is completed, bright blue bleachers will be installed along both sides of the court.

The gym is expected to be completed by mid-May and gain a temporary permit to hold the 50th Anniversary Alumnae Mass on June 1. It will commemorate the hard work of all Lourdes grads “with Mary in all things.”

NATANIA QUIROS

4 april 2014 | the grotto | editorial

Real college decision comes down to money college financial situation. Many of these almost-adults have no idea how taxes, loans, debt, and payments work. As far as scholarships and aid goes, Florida Bright Futures is marginally helpful for those who meet the requirements. College’s merit-based scholarships go to the top students admitted, so when applying to expensive schools, you cannot rely on those. Even though almost everyone needs college fi-nancial aid, families with kids in private schools usually fall in the unfortunate grouping called “Sorry, you aren’t quite financially dependent enough.”

So what is a senior to do? The staff believes that the most impor-

tant thing to do is to have an open and re-alistic discussion with parents about what they are willing to pay for school. It is like-ly that a loan will have to be used, but stay away from large loans. They take years to pay off and as a young adult with a low-paying job, a huge loan on your shoulders is the last thing you need. The average stu-

dent loan for the class of 2012 is $29,400. This is why state schools are so appeal-ing. On average, two years at a public in-state university cost the same amount as one year at private university or an out-of-state public university.

Another factor is if you are planning to pursue a graduate degree. If you are, it is better to go to a less expensive un-dergraduate college so you can afford the high-tuition price of a graduate degree. For graduate or medical school, you should go to the best program you are ac-cepted into for graduate school because it is more important than your undergradu-ate.

As the quote says, if your values are clear, then deciding becomes easier. De-termine what you value in a school: class size, number of majors and programs, lo-cation, ease of travel, campus aura, and to some extent, the ranking. Once you prioritize these, you can determine what place will be most beneficial for you.

Reflections on Venezulean past, present, and future

AndreinaRojas

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Roy E. Disney said, “When your val-ues are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.” This quote is applicable for all of us, but particularly the seniors. Currently, seniors are deciding where they will be living, learning, and thriving for the next four years. Many are plagued by the unproven, but undoubtedly be-lieved, notion that the college you attend will affect the rest of your life: graduate school, medical school, law school, fu-ture jobs, salaries, et cetera.

February and March were the months of awaiting college acceptances or rejec-tions. The month of April is characterized as decision month since financial aid is given (or not) and the decision deadline is May 1st.

For many, affordability is the biggest factor in making the decision. Regardless of whether parents will pay all, some, or none, finances are thoroughly considered. Unfortunately, many parents have not discussed with their almost-adults their

Editors-in-ChiefCatherine Buckler

Sofia McGraw

Art & Design EditorAlexandra Cabrera

Features EditorMichelle Zogby

Pre-Press ManagerOlivia Baez

Business ManagerNatania Quiros

Copy EditorSarah Marini

Photo EditorsKathryn Mellinger

Diana Martinez

ReportersCamila Carrillo

Elizabeth DelgadoAmanda Fuentes

Vivian GisleSophia Oliva

Carolina PerezKaterin Rodriguez

AdviserMrs. Elizabeth Perez

Editorial PolicyAs the official student newspaper

of Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, The Grotto strives to inform and entertain its readers in a precise and fair manner.

The Grotto is a forum for ideas and opinions of the newspaper staff, student body and faculty.

All information is gathered and reported with the highest regard for journalistic integrity. All content, however, is subject to prior review by the school principal.

Each column reflects the opinions of the bylined writer. Unsigned editorials represent the opinions of the entire staff.

Students and faculty are encouraged to send Letters to the Editor to ollagrotto@gmail.com. Unsigned letters will not be published.

The Grotto reserves the right to edit any letter for grammar, clarity and space requirements.

Advertising PolicyAll advertising requests should

be sent via e-mail to nquiros14@bobcats.olla.org.

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The country has faced decades of con-trolling government leaders with extremist political ideologies. In 1998, Colonel Hugo Chavez, under the pretense of change, be-came president; or as I see it, two years af-ter I was born.

Every Sunday morning when I lived in Caracas, my extended family would con-gregate at my house to enjoy a blissful breakfast of arepas with perico and choco-late milk. Growing up in Venezuela was like living in a ruleless paradise. As kids, experience was our primary teacher — it is what told us a tree was too high to climb, or a jump was just out of reach. The world was our playground.

As I grew up, however, I sensed the light-hearted ambiance shift to one of di-visive tension; politics became the primary

social discussion among both adults and my peers, who would parrot their parents in an attempt to sound “cool” and “with the times.” The first time I realized the extent of the political turmoil was on April 11, 2002. On that day, there was an attempt at a coup d’etat initiated by a political march headed by the opposition party, which my family attended. I was too young to par-ticipate in the events, but I remember them vividly.

President Hugo Chavez was ousted for two days; he stayed for 11 more. He cre-ated Chavismo, the political ideology that focuses on nationalism, a centralized econ-omy, and a strong military.

In the name of the poor, Chavez de-stroyed the economy and the crime rate soared. In the name of Chavismo, he de-

stroyed my country, and passed the baton to President Nicolas Maduro.

The protests began mid-February of this year where thousands gathered and marched in the name of liberty and de-mocracy. The government has retaliated against its own people. Many young stu-dents, women, and men are dead and many others injured.

The fight has continued, and will con-tinue.

Through these times of turmoil, Ven-ezuelans taught me to hope, to be strong, and to retain a joy for life and its experi-ences. Despite my inevitable Americaniza-tion, I continue to embrace my roots as an essential part of me. Venezuela instilled in me the traits of my personality I am the most proud.

issue 5 | the grotto | viewpoints 5

counterpoint

Stranger DangerAs inevitably linked as cookies and

milk, college and housing, seem to stir similar sentiments and evoke the same nervous tendencies within future freshmen all around the globe. Along with the carefully constructed financial planning comes the horribly impeding doom of housing contracts. With hardly any guarantee, students are expected to reserve dormitory spots in colleges they may not even attend, placing down payment after down payment on rooms that may not even be inhabited by them. Adding to this premature predicament, students are expected to choose a roommate, a process that never fails to recall the stereotypical horror movie plot where a woman is assigned a roommate who happens to be a complete psycho.

The only way to prevent premature wrinkles and insane stalkers, is naturally, to room with a friend. Although many people argue that rooming with a friend is a bad idea because it prevents a person from meeting new people and “branching out,” it is probably the greatest source of stability incoming freshman will have as they try to orient themselves in an environment unbeknownst and completely new to them.

Not only does rooming with a friend offer a person a little bit of homely comfort, but it also allows a person to foresee possible rooming dilemmas previous to college. How comfortable can a person really be with a total stranger, and even then, can she really know what she is getting into unless she’s known a person for years? Obviously, not!

Although many students have resorted to finding their perfect roommates on room swap, Facebook, and other social media sites, I’ve been keen to stay away. Yes, these sites are great for making friends, but can a person really determine the perfect roommate through Instagram and a couple Facebook posts?

After talking to multiple sources, I have concluded that sometimes, these media matches are marvelous, bringing together future best friends, but that is just sometimes. From many sources, I have heard horror stories ranging from roommates with voodoo dolls who vandalize property to kleptomaniacs who steal muffins and hair accessories.

A room is supposed to offer comfort and solace from a difficult and long day. Feeling comfortable with a psycho in the bunk right above, seems like a bit of a long shot, don’t you think?

If you are still skeptical, consider the further benefits of rooming with a friend. A benefit is surely being able to plan out your room ahead of time, determining the interior and who should buy which accessories and appliances.

Because friends usually have a similar sense of style, it will be easier to decorate your room. It is more likely that you will agree with a lifelong friend on a comforter than with a total stranger.

A further plus includes being able to share clothes. It is an amazing benefit to be able to share your closet with your gal pal, it basically extends your wardrobe by double.

Aside from the more superficial perks of rooming with someone you already know, a major benefit would include being able to gage whether or not you will have a difficult time rooming with each other.

If during High school, you are constantly fighting and bickering with your friend, it might be clear that rooming

w i t h y o u r BFF

m i g h t p r o v e to be problematic in the future.

C l e a r l y , rooming with a friend has many positive a t t r i b u t e s , e s p e c i a l l y cons ider ing the amount of crazy people in the world. Not only will it allow you to survive the whirlwind that is freshman year of college, but it will also grant peaceof mind knowing that you have a friend from back home to face all of the struggles of college life.

The college application process may be over but, for seniors the decisions have only just begun. The stress has been over for months, but now as we start receiving our acceptance letters, we must start deciding, not only what college we wish to attend, but also what classes we wish to take, where we wish to live, and most of all with whom we wish to live with.

The decision of choosing roomates is a decision that plagues so many seniors. Should we choose comfort and familiarity? Or rather, should we choose to challenge ourselves to be bold and face both new experiences and new people?

It cannot be denied that it is nice and comforting to have friends

as roommates. Friends provide a little piece of familiarity and home in a place that is otherwise so foreign and strange.

College, however, is a new chapter in our lives, filled with new people and new

experiences. In order to honor this new

chapter in our lives, we should aim to challege ourselves.

We must not be afraid to make ourselves a little uncomfortable. Because a little bit of discomfort is what ultimately what helps us to grow.

A l t h o u g h our first priority at the college level may be our s c h o o l w o r k , many of us have our own individual goals that we wish to acheive.

These goals may involve independence, n e w

experiences, and meeting new people.No matter if we are planning on staying

close to home or we are planning on leaving far from home, becoming independent is central to these next four years of our lives. It is part of this growth in our path of self-discovery.

And although this sense of independence may be a bit uncomfortable at first, this sort of dissonance is central to growing up, to becoming independent.

In this path towards independence, meeting new and different people is central. New and different people spark our spirits as we learn from each new and different type of individual.

Each and every person’s distinct and unique personalities highlight the different aspects of our own character, allowing us to discover previously unrecognized qualities within ourselves.

Therefore, meeting new people not only helps to broaden our circle of friends and acquaintances; it also helps us to discover our own character, in our path of self-discovery.

Although, it is perfectly easy to meet new and different people when you

are living with a friend, living with a stranger does present a unique perspective to the college experience.

Living with a stranger provides a unique opportunity that living with a friend inhibits. We have all heard the stories of a person who rooms with a complete stranger to in the end realize that he or she has found a lifelong friend and soulmate.

Also even though it may be nice to room with a lifelong friend due to comfort, the experience in college is all about getting out of our comfort zones.

By living with a stranger, it becomes easier to meet and experience different people. Because a stranger is not our lifelong friend, we do not feel as obligated to spend all of our time with them. We do not feel guilty because we made a new friend.

Therefore, it is clear that in this new chapter in our lives, many of us are ready for a change,for a new beginning where we can become independent, in a path to self-discovery.

During this change, we may be tempted to live with someone that we are familiar with, however, this feeling of dissonance that occurs because of this change is healthy and we must embrace it. We must not be afraid to meet new people. It is what college is all about.

New People, New RoomateDo You Want to Live with Me?

SarahMarini

Kathryn Mellinger

HAVE THE COSTS OF COLLEGE

BEGUN TO OUTWEIGH THE

BENeFITS?

Senioritis, prom, and college applica-tions are some of the defining character-istics of a modern high school senior’s final year of grade school. While college applications were not always a wide-ly shared experience, it seems that for most students today it is not a question of if they will go to college, but where.

At the center of this decision is the debate on whether a private university is worth the high price tag or if a much more affordable public university education is just as good (if not better). Students, parents, and educators seem to be di-vided on this issue and what is best in the long term.

“People don’t only look at price but do take it into ac-count,” senior Janet Araque said. “They also look at how they can benefit from the univer-sity and whether or not they can flourish there.”

It is a fact that private universities usually offer smaller classes and well-established alumni networks to help stu-dents find a job after college. In addi-tion, private liberal arts colleges allow students to partake in tightly knit com-munities and give them access to profes-sors who are focused on teaching rather than research.

Many who advocate for a private ed-ucation argue that attending a private university gives graduates an advantage in the search for a job since private uni-versities sound prestigious, thus making their graduates stand out.

“I think the program [the graduate] comes from, whether they are from a state university or a private university, can be more attractive to potential em-ployers than just the name of the school,” guidance counselor Virginia Castellanos said. “However, there are certain schools

that look more prestigious and carry more impact when you see them on an application.”

Even with these advantages of attend-ing a private university, some believe that public universities offer a compara-ble education and benefits at a more af-fordable price. Many public universities have honors programs or colleges that

g i v e students access to smaller classes

and in-creased contact with p r o f e s -sors, mimicking some of the qualities that make private universities so attrac-tive. Public universities may be the vic-tims of “the myth of subpar education” even though some rival private universi-ties in prestige.

“I don’t think public universities should have a bad reputation,” Castellanos said. “They are a great option for students if they understand that they will need to be assertive in a student population of over 40,000 students. It’s a different world and could be a nice change for students coming from a smaller setting.”

The idea that private school students fare better post graduation was chal-lenged by the Klipinger Best Value Re-port which examined how many public vs

private university graduates received Na-tional Science Foundation (NSF) Gradu-ate Fellowship Program grants and Ful-bright Student Fellowship grants. The numbers were comparable, with public university graduates earning more NSF grants (778 to 723) and private univer-sity students earning more Fulbright grants (489 to 418). This shows that the gap in educational quality may not be as large as some believe it to be.

Regardless of the debate over public vs. private universities, it is important for students to weigh their cost of edu-

cation against their future aspi-rations and expected earning power. College graduates from both private and public univer-

sities are earning less money than in the past, making it difficult to pay off high stu-dent loans.

“Looking at your payback is a realistic thing to consider but

it really depends on what you are go-ing to study,” Castellanos said. “If your goals include a career that isn’t as re-warding financially but is rewarding in other ways, you may consider paying $18,000 a year versus $60,000 if you feel the level of education will be the same.”

Some people maintain that the most important determining factor in the qual-ity of a student’s education and oppor-tunities is the student and how much he or she puts into the education, at both private and public universities.

“There are certain schools that will give you more opportunities to engage but if you don’t take advantage of them you won’t benefit,” Castellanos said. “You have to engage and take advantage of the opportunities available to you at any university because that’s where you learn about life and experiences.”

Michelle zogbyprivate vs Public Universities: Weighing the benefits of both

The Grotto staff conducted all surveys on SurveyMonkey.com, where 100 faculty members and students answered several questions regarding college, financial aid, and scholarships.

Amanda Fuentes

Better Funding for Florida Lawmakers Lower florida prepaid costs in an attempt to make college more affordable

Camila Carrillo

Mythbusters: scholarship editionUncovering the truth behind obtaining scholarships in today’s competitive world

How does receiving scholarship mon-ey for being tall sound? How about for being a member of the United States Bowling Congress? These are only two of the many bizarre and untradition-al scholarships students in the United States can attain. Now, this grant is a great oppor-tunity for a 5’10 teenage girl under 21 years old, but what about for the girls that aren’t? Over the past years, certain myths have risen about the avail-ability and pay of scholar-ships. Many think that schol-arships have been becoming more specific and harder to qualify for and difficult to find. Most people also believe that schol-arships have been slowly downgrad-ing the amount of pay they give win-ning students. Though these myths are not true, there are certain reasons that cause high school students and parents to believe they are.

The uprising of social media through time has not only effected how students accomplish their studies and gain infor-mation, but colleges and universities as well. Any professional and well known

university has a website or even a social media account via Twitter, Facebook, In-stagram, etc. The accessibility of infor-mation can be obtained by anyone now-

adays through a p h o n e

o r

c o m -puter. With this easy access to a wide variety of scholarships has made the ac-tual obtaining of the scholarship more difficult for students. Because there is such a high demand in scholarships, col-leges must ensure that the absolute best candidate for the money receives it. This means that students must work harder

and be more well-rounded in order to be the most suitable for the scholarship.

“The competitiveness of getting schol-arships has become harder, but that is because more students wish to apply,” College Advisor Mrs. Carballo said.

As everyone well knows, the economy in the United States has recently under-gone difficult times. Throughout this

time periods, foundations, cor-porations, businesses, and colleges have had to cut the amount of money granted

in their scholarships. They used up any extra money to help aid the branches of their businesses that were

hit by the recession. Sad-ly, this not only effected the

money- makers of America, but its students too. Less income means

less money invested into student schol-arships across the country.

So for all seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen, it may be a little harder to obtain money for college, but it is not impossible. Staying on top of grades and extra curricular activities may help or-ganize all the necessities one will need when applying for these “hard to reach” scholarships.

In the years to come, the Florida Pre-Paid College Program will hopefully be experiencing some changes. In an at-tempt to make Florida state colleges more affordable, state lawmakers have taken a plan into action to lower costs of the Florida PrePaid College Program win a new bill (SB 732). In addition, $50 mil-lion worth of refunds will be distrib-uted to families already enrolled.

The changes made to what was formally known as the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Pro-gram will ultimately reverse the changes made in 2009 which basi-cally raised up the price. For exam-ple, a newborn being enrolled for the 2012-2013 year in a four year universi-ty plan under the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program is paying $332 a month. But if these new changes go into effect, the price will drop to about $255 a month. Only a $77 difference but when it all adds up, every dollar counts. In addition to the lowered price, it was also stated that about 26,000 families, who purchased the prepaid plan in the years after prices increased, would be entitled to $50 million in refunds.

Another change that was made in 2009 that altered was the percent a university can raise its tuition a year. Previously 15 percent, if SB 732 goes into effect, that number will lower from 15 percent to six percent. “This decrease is probably a

change made

since it is an election year but if the c o l l e g e s are cutting down the costs, how will Flo-ridian colleges compete with other state schools that have more money for bet-ter teachers or better athletics?” Social Studies Department Chairsperson, Mrs. Rosalie Herrfernan, said.

A common question that may arise

is if these money saving measures are being taken, will that result in a lower quality education in these schools? News of reduced tuition are revealed as news reports, such as the one from the LeRoy Collins Institute, suggest that it may be necessary that tuition increases in order to keep a top-quality education at these institutions.

Florida is also last in the nation in per-student university funding mostly because the state univer-sities rely more on state fund-

ing rather than tuition money. “Personally I believe there is no such thing as a ‘free lunch’ and if Florida wants to compete

with the colleges in the upper states, we have to put in the money,”

Herrfernan, said. Although there are many different

opinions as to how this change in pro-gram and tuition price will affect the uni-versities, if all goes well in the Senate, the bill will be signed by Governor Rick Scott and go into effect on July 1, 2014. And whether good or bad, high school students of this generation will be sub-ject to its consequences.

Designed by: Michelle Zogby

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entertainment | the grotto | april 201410

Bangerz tour: Can’t stop, please stopLIZZIE DELGADO

CAMILA CARRILLO & VIVIAN GISLELet it stop

obcat

eat

may 17- Cherapril 18- Steve Aoki

may 4- Lady Gagaapril 26- Rob Thomas

All of me- john legend

dark horse- Katy perry

Talk dirty- Jason Derulo ft. 2 chainz

let it go- idina menzel

upcoming concerts

Miley Cyrus emerged as a Disney Channel pop star, but soon converted her image into something that has caused endless social controversy. Miley’s newly promiscuous and “out there” image, as seen in her recent concert tour, is something that a lot of people are renewed with but at the same time worried about. Some say this conversion is just Miley trying to rid herself of is childish Disney Channel image that has haunted her ever since she stepped into the limelight. On one hand, we see a Miley that is accessible to a more mature audience while expressing her beautiful vocal ca-pabilities, but her voice is only as good as the words that come out of it. Her new album, “Bangerz”, has portrayed a more explicit ver-sion of Cyrus that the world has ever seen before.

“I think the new Miley is fun and entertaining, which is what the music industry is about,” senior Carolina Ro-driguez said. “Personally, I know the difference between right and wrong, so her actions don’t affect the way I act.”

This makes us question: what are her intentions? Re-cently, Cyrus made a documentary on MTV simply clear-ing her name up a bit by explaining to the public why she

Vanessa Spatz has been an active and successful in the entertainment industry since her beginnings in Guatemala as a child star in the TV show “Chicos Monitor.” Shortly after her time there, Spatz was signed to the Discos de Centroamerica record label, under whom she toured Latin America. Now, Miami based manager and mother, Spatz helps local, career driven talent to quit their day jobs and pursue their dream jobs under her management company Rock Religion.

“Miami has lost every single label. Of course all the labels with a Latin division are here, but they don’t even entertain the idea of looking for talent to sign in Miami or even South Florida. Bands are forced to get even the last penny under their couch’s cushion to travel and knock at doors of labels, that are often shut down in their faces.Miami has become a Mecca of Latin, Urban and edm and rock has been forcefully choked. Not because there’s no bands, but there’s no attention or motivation for fans to really speak out,” Spatz said.

Rock Religion gives bands opporunties and exposure. Rock Religion has a series of shows, their “#FrontRow-Series,” at Will Call Miami downtown. Select bands have been featured on BalconyTV.com, a global online mu-sic show that features musicians performing from various balconies, on the balcony at Bayside’s Hard Rock Cafe. One of Spatz’s signed bands, Sunghosts, actually made it to the websites number one spot for most voted, beating

is doing what she’s doing. She said she simply wants to grow up. One of the frustrating things about this con-troversy is that many kids have been exposed to this side of Miley and parents are afraid this might influ-ences their children’s behaviors and decisions in a negative manner. Consciously and unconsciously this

image affects us all one way or another. Social media’s appraisal of these behaviors, doing drugs and being promiscuous, is not only affecting out ac-tions but how people will perceive our generation and culture as Americans.

“I think Miley is doing all of these scandalous things for publicity,” junior Sofia Rodri-guez said. “She’s a great artist, but I think she wants money and attention more than any-

thing.” Cyrus recently brought her

Bangerz tour to the American Airlines Arena on mar. 22. The concert was everything but conventional. You name it, Miley Cyrus had it. From cartoons to confetti, this concert was a huge party so much so that critics say it was “the concert of the year.” Regardless of all these controversies about Miley Cryus, it’s safe to say that she’s enjoying the limelight and there are big things to come from her.

#RockReligion supports Miami musiciansCATHERINE BUCKLER

mainstrem Mumford and Sons and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Guitarist Mario Fontes of indie folk rock band Scary Iowa says that Rock Religion is important “because it opens bands up to opportunities and connections that would have taken them years to find without Rock Reli-gion. Musicians tend to be extremely introverted and don’t go out of their way to form connections with the people they meet while playing. Right off the bat, Rock Religion establishes a sense of family among all the bands. Part of what [Spatz] asks of bands in RR is to support the other bands.”

Happy- pharrell williams

Miley Cyrus performing one of her original songs during her Bangerz Tour. Photo taken from J14- Getty Images.

Scary Iowa performing at Sunset Place for #RockReligion on Feb. 15. Photo courtesy of #RockReligion.

Ever since Nov. 27, Disney’s “Frozen” has been the talk of the town. The hit animation film came out in theaters and soon returned after its running time as a karaoke version. When the karaoke version of “Frozen” stopped being played in theaters, the DVD version of movie came out soon after. You can say this has been a very cold year, pun intended. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard the hit song “Let It Go” about a mil-lion times. This is no surprise due to the fact that the soundtrack from “Frozen” has won many awards. This song is everywhere. From being blasted from car stereos to girls singing it in the hallways.

The once cheery tune has become so overly played that it now sounds less than pleasant. Hearing it over and over and over again has made the song synony-mous with headaches and distaste. Hearing it in the hallways is a one way ticket to dispair for the rest of the day as the tune wraps itself around your brain and refuses to release.

Though this particular song does get very annoy-ing, the rest of the soundtrack is worthy of winning many awards.

issue 1 | the grotto | entertainment11Issue 5

SENIOR COLUMN

Within a 48 hour span last month, I was in attendance, nay pouncing distance, to see Michelle Obama speak in Liberty City. Then, the next day, I was front row[ish] to see Hillary Clinton speak at the University of Miami.

Michelle Obama was speaking on behalf of her campaign, “Let’s Move,” that was celecrating its fourth anniversary. Obama spoke on the importance of a healthy lifestyle that includes improvements in diet and a more active lifestyle. Amy Poehler, or should I say Leslie Knope (her character on Parks and Recreation,) came to join her efforts at the parks and recreation center. (Get it?)

The next day, Hillary graced me (or so it felt it was just me) with her presence at the University of Miami. Clinton spoke on how important the future is, because it really is in the hands of us—America’s new young generation. As voters, as concerned citizens, and as overall human beings. She spoke on the current news in Venezuela and how we

have to help them and support “poistive change. Peaceful change.”

One comment she made really stuck with me, “It’s a democracy. No one would argue that it isn’t, but a democracy doesn’t just mean an election. A democracy means a free press. Protecting the rights of the opponents. Protecting the economy.” This summarizes the importance of government. How it is to protect, expand, and enforce the rights and freedoms of its citizens. It should only regulate to protect. But in Venezuela, the government overcontrols and does not protect.

Two things struck me in retrospect about both Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton: they are strong, engaging, competent women. And boy, do a lot of people hate strong, engaging, women. The obvious common denominator between the two is that they are both Democrats, but the vitriol was more focused on their gender than their politics.

The previous Bush First ladies were a high school graduate and a library science graduate and they tended to play the role of props to their husband’s careers. People liked that—and that’s great—but Hillary (Yale Law) and Michelle (Harvard Law) seem to irk a lot of people because they are women who might actually have some impact paired with their knowledge, interest, and passion. They are the people who take on tasks that do not have a precedent yet set before them. They do not choose to inspire. Rather, they inevitably inspire.

They do what they find to be for the greater good, the bigger picture. And success has a snowball effect—once they get the ball rolling, there is no stopping them. These women, along with countless of others like Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook), Arianna Huffington (Huffington Post), and Virginia Rometty (IBM), just to name a few more, inspire me to keeping going forward. Because there lies greatness.

Who inspires you?

CATHERINE BUCKLER

FOR THE WYN(WOOD)Three years ago, Miami opened

its now famous tourist attraction and art district: Wynwood. If you are well aquianted with Instagram, then you know that it is a popular destination for taking pictures. The Wynwood murals are known for intrecate designs and meaningful messages. Every corner is home to unique, large- scaled paintings that easily capture anyone’s attention. People enjoy the Wynwood area due to the long list of galleries to visit and murals to see.

This art district is separated into five different areas consisting of restaurants, galleries, and mural collections. Joey’s is a well known pizza place among frequent Wynwood visitors. The atmosphere inside the cafe screams elegant yet rough. The Wynwood Walls are a collection of

multiple murals, all of which change seasonally in order to stay relevant.

On the grounds of the Wynwood Walls, lies the Wynwood Kitchen & Bar. This restaurant is chic, and serves gourmet cuisine inspired by the art surrounding the restaurant.

The Wynwood House supplies poeple with a commercial area on the first floor, and living quarters and office spaces on the second and third floors.

The Wynwood Building is home to the well known black and white- striped murals on each side of the building. Inside, are multiple office spaces along with individual art pieces set up along the corridors.

Wynwood is the perfect place to go to on a Sunday morning with family and friends. Money is not an issue when visiting because it does not cost much to visit the galleries or exhibits. In fact, most of them are free.

CAMILA CARRILLO & VIVIAN GISLE

Activities to do in Miami’s premiere art district

Upcoming Events:Art Walk: Second Saturday of every month

SOS Venezuela exhibit: April 11, 2014

Blue Stage Concert Series: April 19, 2014

12 activities | the grotto | april 2014

up in their chants to compete with the freshmen and seniors. The seniors also helped the freshmen in building their first Spirit Day wall and cheered the freshmen on during Think-a-Thon.

The talent show allowed the student body to show their talents, even the unexpected ones such as jump roping.

“The nicest thing I heard of this year that I have not

heard in previous years was random acts of kindness that different classes were doing to help each other out that,” senior moderator Mrs. Giganti said.

To recap Spirit Week and all the events that composed it was truly a successful week. Every student was able to participate by dressing up, chanting, making a poster, and so much more.

The madness of Spirit Week began Monday, March 3. The seniors won spirit week by winning Scavenger Hunt, Think-a-Thon, Talent Show, Locks of Love, and more. They showed class spirit, dedication, and determination throughout spirit week and the whole year. Along with some new activities, spirit week was filled with competition, costumes, and perhaps most importantly, unity.

Due to construction, Catch-Her-Fast was cancelled, so, instead, the seniors and juniors participated in a competitive scavenger hunt. They had to complete a variety of tasks. Some of the tasks were to take selfies with administration, march around the cafeteria, freestyle rap during lunch, et cetera. The seniors won by completing the scavenger hunt first.

“Everyone was really into the scavenger hunt and it was fun to have something new to participate in,” senior Andrea de Armas said.

On Travel Tuesday, which took place March 4th, the students showed class spirit by dressing up as tourists and representing countries from around the world. On Friday, March 7th, during Spirit Day, the school came together to dress up in red, blue, and yellow to represent Venezuela because of the crisis occurring.

Hall Wars, the most anticipated event of the year, really begins at the start of the preparation, months before Friday morning. This year first place was given to the juniors, seniors and sophomores tied for second place, and freshmen received third place.

“It felt pretty awesome to beat the seniors and we worked really hard on our fabulous wall,” junior Monica Pacheco said.

Despite the heavy competition, the students still managed to show unity. There was unity in the students’ competitiveness when the juniors and sophomores teamed

Spirit Week traditions continue to prevail CAROLINA PEREZ

DAY OF UNITY: The above panel of the senior hall wars wall showed the underlying theme of unity between classes that is exemplified throughout Spirit Day. “I love that the seniors incorporated the number 50 while representing every member of their class. It showed class spirit and great unity, “Dean of Students Annie Sanchez said.

A look into the play “Anything Goes”HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

For the final show of the season, the theater crew decided to put on a rendition of the musical “Anything Goes.”

The play hit its mark with crowd attendance for not only the opening night, but the nights to follow as well. Opening night was March 21 and ran until the 23rd. All of the money raised from the three nights went towards funding the school’s music department.Mrs. Garcia-Bode was in charge of the muscial.

The show contained a motley crew of characters, who in one way or another, make it onto a cruise ship together.

With love triangles, mistaken identities, and plenty of musical

numbers, there was an abundance of fun action during the show.

“I wanted to pick a fast paced, comedic musical to end the year. I also wanted to have a musical that would encompass a large group of people,” Mrs. Garcia-Bode said. “We have a lot of different talent and I wanted to showcase it.”

Senior Lauren Lopez played the leading lady Reno Sweeney and her male counterpart, Billy, was played by Varella junior Jean Franco.

The show was more ensemble based than past musicals, with large tap and group numbers.

T h e

musical allowed more people to show their talents and skill sets. The main numbers contained complex tap sequences, which meant extra hours of practice for the actors and actresses.

“Practices were everyday after school and on the weekends. They were long and intense days of learning choreography and running through staging and practicing lines,” junior Chiara Pavon said.

The crew had a total of 18 practices to get ready for the show.

Costumes were also a major part of the production. Instead of remaking costumes, they were borrowed and reused from past productions. The main

characters as well as the ensemble cast had their

VIVIAN GISLEown costumes. Various scenes required speedy costume changes.

Along with all of the glitz and glam of costumes and sets, the musical itself featured humor that was quite scandalous. There were quite a few references to alcohol and lewd activities onboard the S.S. American.

The audience enjoyed all of the jokes, reacting with muffled chuckles to loud laughs.

The laughs were bittersweet for the seniors, however, as it was their last musical before graduation.

“It’s sad to see them go, but at the same time this last musical was a great way to send them off,” Pavon said.

issue 5 | the grotto | sports 1713

SERVING UP A GREAT SEASON: Having a record of 7-2, the tennis team is seeking a momentous victory at districts. Above, the tennis team poses for a team photo after one of their many practices. “It has been a fun first year coaching this team. The girls have really stepped up this year,” said tennis coach Stephen Hernandez. The team added eight new members this year, along with the eight players from the previous season they hope to dominate this season.

Young tennis team has strong start; enjoys successful season

With eight fresh faces, the tennis team has never been stronger. The tennis opened this year’s season with a decisive win against Miami Beach.

Practices started in February, and the girls have committed time and energy into becoming a better team. With practice everyday after school, the 16 girls are gearing up for districts and hopefully what ever comes next.

“This year we have a great team. We had a huge turnout with the freshmen, and there was a lot of talent to chose from. I wish I had another year to develop with these talented girls,” team captain senior Sydney Galindez said.

The most surprising occurence of the season so far has been the freshmen’s enthusiasm towards the sport.

“Out of our top five singles players, four of them are freshmen, including the top seat. We’re excited to have them for four years, and to have such a strong team in general,” tennis coach Stephen Hernandez said.

So far the team has won seven games and have lost only two. One of them was against Coral Reef, their biggest competitor at the moment. The team hopes to face them at districts and avenge their loss.

VIVIAN GISLE

“I think we can bring home the trophy this year from districts, and I can’t wait to get another chance to beat Coral Reef,” junior Michelle Galindez said. “If we don’t win this year, I’m sure that with the team we have now there is a bright future for us and the OLLA tennis team.”

With a team made up of mostly freshmen, the team will continue to improve over their next four years, and hopefully make it one of the best teams that the school has seen yet.

Along with a larger number of girls, the team has also changed its practice structure this year.

The team added concentration to conditioning during practices. . Hernandez has also focused on mentally prepapring the girls for matches this year.

“The girls all have their personal trainers, and I’m not here to change their technique. I’m here to mentally prepare them for the games and get them ready to face their opponents,” Hernandez said.

The team this year cast a spotlight on the sport in general, making it one of the school’s talked about sports, along with the likes of softball and soccer.

Hernandez and the team hope to make tennis a staple sport here at the school, one that girls can aspire to be a part of.

The school has always had a great athletic tradition. After years of a strong athletic program, it is appropri-ate that along with a new gym, past athletes and coaches will be recognized with induction into the Lourdes Sports Hall of Fame.

Beginning in the fall of 2014, an induction dinner and ceremony will be held every other year to honor the in-ductees and their amazing achievements at the school.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for a while and with the 50th year and the addition of the gym that can showcase the plaques, it seemed like the perfect time,” athletic di-rector, Maura Herrholz said.

Athletes will be nominated and then selected by the Sports Hall of Fame Committee made up of past athletes and administrators.

Towards the beginning of this school year, Mrs. Her-rholz reached out to former athletes, coaches, parents and administrators to form this committee.

The committe, with approximately 30 people, will not only handle the selection process but also everything else that pertains to the event. Some responsibilities include organizing the event itself, arranging trophies, and final-izing the guest list.

The part of the committee that selects the inductees, made of 10 members, will come together and choose five

of the many nominees to be inducted per ceremony year. These inductees may be athletes, coaches, or even full teams.

The school wants to recognize and document the out-standing athletes and athletic achievements for display and to inspire current and future students.

The inductees did not have to continue their athletics outside of their high school career but, they become eligi-ble for induction 10 years after graduation. If the inductee is a coach, he or she must be retired.

“The addition of a Hall of Fame will really give ath-letes something to aspire to. I know it is something I would love and be honored to be apart of,” soccer athlete junior Valerie Izquierdo said.

After the induction, the new members of the Hall of Fame will be permanently recognized in the school. The finished gym will have a Hall of Fame Trophy Case. This trophy case will contain plaques of all the members of this elite group of athletes. The trophy case will be lo-cated towards the enternce where members of the com-munity will be able to see who is in this group of talented bobcats.

“I think the Hall of Fame is an amazing idea to rec-gonize Lourdes alum. As an athlete myself continuing soccer in college, I hope to one day be recognized where it all started,” soccer athlete senior Jenny Herold said.

AMANDA FUENTES

Bobcat Hall of

Fame

School initiates new tradition; recognizes past athletes, coaches

14 sports | the grotto | april 2014

Almost any athlete can consider their team a second family. Spending hours together, working their bodies into the ground, and dealing with the wins and los-es can be a sure fire way to bring a group of people together.

Teammates rely on each other for sup-port and motivation. Some teams are closer together than others. It is the difference be-tween a group of friends and a family.

This year, the softball team is closer than ever. They consider themselves a fam-ily.

“This is the most supportive and united team I have played on. We are basically inseparable,” freshman Samantha Kulbeth said.

Being a freshman on a varsity team can be intimidating, but Kulbeth said she has never felt left out. She said the team is so welcoming and friendly that she fit right in.

Each member is treated as an equal be-cause each of them has something to con-tribute.

“I can honestly say that I don’t feel like a freshman with my team,” Kulbeth said.

It seems to be that this year the team-mates feel even closer than other years. One contributing factor is that the team no longer has a home field in our backyard.

The team has to commute to play all

of their games. This has brought the team together and has allowed for more team bonding since many of them carpool with one another.

The true catalyst however? The coach-ing.

“Our coach has a great deal to do with our attitudes toward each other. With love, she has taught us how to care for each other on and off the field,” senior Victoria Vega said.

Because the team spends so much time together, it is natural for there to be dis-agreements or arguments.

The love that their coach is trying to in-still in them, however, allows the members to be understanding and accepting of each other.

This understanding allows the team to work as a cohesive unit towards their goal: districts.

This is the goal for many teams in the area, but these players have a unique hope that their tight bonds will make all the dif-ference.

“This year we have grown so much as a team and become better players. Ultimate-ly we hope to continue growing and make it to districts,” senior Amanda Senra said.

The team has grown so close that for many of the team members it will be a year

The school’s dance teams have something special to dance about. On Feb. 28th, the varsity and junior dance teams traveled to Orlando to compete at the annual Con-test of Champions held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports arena.

The teams started preparing in October with practices twice a week. But as the final date was approaching, they kicked into high gear and were practicing in the studio up to four times a week.

Once competition day had arrived, our dancers we’re ready to win it.

“We came so far and practiced so hard for this com-petition,” junior varsity dancer Gaby Lopez said. “This competition is extremely competitive so we knew we had to dance extra hard to bring home the trophy and check.”

After a long weekend and a lot of hard work, the varsity dance team placed fourth in their jazz, contemporary, and open categories. Senior varsity captains Allison del Cas-tillo and Carolina Arvesu triumphed in the victory.

“The process of practicing and getting everything com-petition ready was a long one to say the least,” varsity cap-tain Allison del Castillo said. “Both teams worked harder than ever to put together dances that would lead us to vic-tory.”

It was not all fun and games for the dancers in the weeks leading up to the competition. They faced last min-ute changes prior to competition.

“Although we recently lost two dancers, we regrouped and came out stronger than ever,” junior varsity dancer

Lauren Lopez said. “It was a struggle to rearrange every-thing with such short notice, but we came together.”

The JV dance team placed first in their lyrical, jazz, and open categories. The victory was a huge accomplishment for captains Kailyn Valido and Amanda Fuentes.

“After all our hard work, it’s a relief to see that it was all worth it,” JV dancer Gaby Jimenez said. “Being a fresh-man, winning this competition was a great way to start off and we will work for it next year.”

The team had been practicing all year with this compet-tion in mind. Their eyes were on the prize, the $1000 prize that is. The Contest of Champions rewards both the win-ning varsity and junior varsity school team and also the top school team. The dancers were excited about the rpospect of winning because no other team has ever one a cash prize in the school’s history.

In addition to the cash prize, and the obvious sense of accomplisment, the girls were also rewarded witj an invite to dance in the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade.

With such a succesful season, the seniors on the team had some bittersweet feelings dancing at their last high school competition.

“I’m so proud of our team and our hard work. This competition is really competitive so we were all really nervous,” senior junior varsity dancer Lauren Lopez said.

They did not, however, let the nerves get to them.“In the end we danced our hearts out and we did what

we loved. This competition was extra special and memo-rable for the seniors who danced their last offical com-petiton. We finally made history and left a dance legacy at Lourdes for year and dancers to come.”

to rememeber. For the younger players, it will be a year to emulate in the upcoming seasons.

For the seniors, it will be a year of great

memories that include a close knit family. Some seniors love and enjoy the sport so much that they will continue to play in col-lege.

New coaches bring softball team together and instill optimism in players

Dance team dominates Contest of ChampionsSOPHIA OLIVA

KATERIN RODRIGUEZ

UP TOSpeed

LINE DRIVE TO DISTRICS: Above, junior Alexis Gimbel prepares to hit a fast pitch in a game agaisnt G. Holmes Braddock Senior High School. The team feels that their renewed bonds will help them in their journey to districts this year. Thus far, the team seems to be having a rewarding season.

Sports Banquet May 13 at Jungle Island Tickets sold April 28th-May 5th

Cheerleading Tryouts May 6th, 7th, and 8th

Dance Tryouts May 13th and 14th

Congratulations to our volleyball South Florida All-Americans!

Maegen Cuesta

Maria Teresa Cerijo

Lauren Ordonez

final thoughts

photo essaySpirit, Sisterhood and Support

Spirit Day: The Annual BattleThe battle began monday, Mar. 3rd. Spirit week ended in a complete success. Every student had an opportunty to pariticipate in the madness by dressing up, dancing, completing tasks on the scavenger hunt list, donating some coins for penny wars, and joining in a prayer service for Venezuela. Unlike any other spirit week in the past, a prayer service

was held on spirit day, Mar. 7th. The student body along with faculty and staff joined the cause for Venezuela in solidarity. Some students, shown above, even dressed up in Venezuelan colors, red blue and yellow. After a fierce week of competition, the seniors came in 1st, the juniors in 2nd, the sophomores in 3rd, and the freshmen in 4th.