GMHS Lasso Online

Dear Editor,

Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Paris, France. It was my first time in the city of love, and I was so overwhelmed with what to do that I found myself lost. Luckily for me, I have family in Paris, and not only that but my uncle owns a bike touring company in Paris.

Now I have to be honest, the thought of biking Paris was intimidating, at first. I don't bike often, and in-fact until then it was the first time in at least two years that I had been on a bike. Of course, being that it was my first time in Paris, I told myself I would be trying anything and everything, snails included, but that is another story.

Paul, my uncle, and his partner Christian started “Bike About Tours” to give an original experience to English speaking travelers in Paris. Both Paul and Christian have lived in Paris for years and know the ins and outs of the magnificent city. With their knowledge, they put together a tour of the parts of the city that you most likely would not come across on your first second or even third visit to Paris, as a tourist.

The tour is all about discovering the Paris that isn't advertised in the media. It is all about seeing the part of Paris that the locals cherish and the parts where history really does still live and thrive.

The day I took the tour, the weather was lovely and the atmosphere screamed adventure. The tour began in front of the well known Cathedral of Notre Dame, but soon took a spin for the secrets of Paris.

Christian, along with a group of tourists-- a family of four vacationing from Cuba, two “Kiwi's” (New Zealanders) backpacking through Europe, two Canadian exchange students, and myself-- biked Paris for almost five hours.

Sound exhausting? It was, but the exhilaration from all of the historical sites that I didn't even know existed in Paris was enough to keep me going for three more hours.

Along the tour, we stopped by a wall that had a tiny cannonball lodged in its side from the French Revolution, the square that housed the residence of renowned French author Victor Hugo, and a bridge covered with locks placed there by lovers. When the tour came to an end, there was so much culture and history that I took in, it was hard to even believe.

The tour itself was amazing, but I think what was even more amazing was the view I got of Paris. As a tourist in a foreign country it isn't often that I think about biking around the country. In-fact I am sure that is not on the to-do list of most tourists.

With that being said, I honestly believe that biking Paris honestly was the most memorable part of my entire trip. Not only did I get a grade-A tour, but I also got a view of Paris that many have not by driving a car or getting on a tour bus.  There is no comparison to the closeness you feel on a bike.

First off, Paris is basically made for bikers, with what seems like as many bike lanes as traffic lanes, and over 25,000 bikes placed all over the city for anyone’s (renting) pleasure. Biking Paris is easy, affordable, green, and worth every minute spent. I think that is what makes Bike About Tours so enjoyable, and the experience I had so unique.

The point I am trying to get across is that biking is the new trendy thing to do. If you have stepped foot in D.C. at all in the past few years you will realize that it is also becoming popular in the Metro area.

Like Paris, D.C. has placed bikes for rent all over the city. Exploring a city on a bike is like no other mode of transportation. D.C. is starting to catch up with the Parisian effort to get biking into the daily lives of its citizens.

Paris, is much more ahead, but with time biking through D.C. will become just as popular. Benefits, from biking outweigh any downfall. For one, biking is the new “green” thing to do, and it is also the healthy thing to do. Why not see the city you love from a different angle, while also doing your part to save the environment and increase your health?

When I visit Paris again, I will definitely be taking the tour again, and I might even have the opportunity to intern with them, which could be good or bad--  I'm not sure I'm tour guide material. Looking back I think the experience I had in Paris was definitely something worth sharing. It was the time of my life, and I would love to let anyone be able to experience it as well.

If you are in Paris, be sure to make time for a Bike About Tour's trip, and truly see Paris for what it is. I also plan on making my way to D.C. to see this Capitol see from the “bike eye view.”

As seniors begin to turn 18, a lot of opportunities, privileges, and responsibilities fall on their already loaded shoulders.

This age is the leap from childhood to adulthood and with it comes great responsibility. One of those great responsibilities is the honor and right to be able to play a part in the election of the President. Voting for the leader of our country is one of the great rights we, as Americans, have and should be taken seriously.

Seniors have full plates this year and with all of the essays, college applications, and sports in their lives, finding the time to go to register to vote is challenging. Although most seniors want to find the time, it can be hard to make the trip to City Hall.

Fortunately, this will no longer be a problem for the seniors at Mason.

Senior Haley Smith has taken it upon herself to bring the registration to the halls of Mason.

This month, Smith has set up a registration stand in the lobby of the cafeteria. To register, all students 18 years of age or older must know their social security number. With that, any senior that is 18 can fill out the registration form right then and there.

Smith will then take the registrations to the City Hall where they will then be processed.

Those who have registered can “expect their voting cards in early May” said Smith.

Expect for the stand to be up and running once a month, with dates being announced during Mustang Block Morning Announcements. Smith plans on getting as many seniors as possible to register so that come the next election we can all rock the vote.

It's that time of the year again; time for that dreaded loss of that precious hour of sleep. The time when everyone ends up being late for something. No matter how predictable this occurrence might be, everyone seems to get a little bit confused and behind schedule during this change.

For a lot of folks, this time switch might seem a little pointless and annoying, but Day Light Savings in-fact has a great purpose to our lives.

The idea of Day Light Savings was first proposed by George Vernon Hudson in 1895, and it was not enforced until World War I. Hudson first conjured up the idea of saving daylight while employed as a shift-worker in New Zealand. His leisurely job gave him time to collect insects and he began to deeply value daylight. He presented a paper to the Wellington Philosophical Society, in 1895 that proposed a saving of daylight by a two hour delay of the clocks. This proposal was greatly considered and was later adopted in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Although Hudson was the original, many news publications haphazardly gave the credit to a prominent English man, by the name of William Willet. Willet also conceived the idea of daylight savings in 1905 when he noticed how so many of his fellow Londoners slept through an enormous part of the summer day. His love for golf also played a large part in this idea, because he hated to cut his round short at dusk. Willet's solution was to advance the clock during the summer. This idea was set in a proposal and taken up by a member of Parliament named Robert Pearce.

Pearce first introduced this new Daylight Savings Bill to the House of Commons on February 12, 1908. A small committee was put in charge of examining and passing or rejecting the bill. Unfortunately the bill did not become law, and several other bills failed in following years. Willet lobbied for Day Light Savings to be passed, in the UK, for many, many years until his life came to an end in 1915.

It was not until April 30, 1916 that Day Light Savings was first used. It was during World War I that Germany and its allies wanted to find a way to conserve coal during wartime. Britain, its allies, and many European countries followed suit. Some more strong-willed countries found it useful and followed suit the year after. The United States adopted Day Light Savings in 1918. Ever since then, the world's countries have been enacting, adjusting, and repealing this idea of Saving Daylight.

No matter the history of the act, if you live in the U.S., then today you will be, or already have, set your clocks forward an hour. Some people, like myself, have trouble remembering when to set clocks and whether its forward or backwards.

Thanks to Google and my ingenious search of “Day Light Savings Time” in the search bar, I have found this handy dandy saying that anyone can remember. “Spring Forward, Fall Back”—it easily informs that in the spring time (March, 11 at 2:00 a.m.) you set your clocks forward an hour, and in the fall (November 4 at 2:00 a.m.) you fall back an hour.

See other articles by Dominick>>>

Attention all George Mason seniors, the moment we have all been waiting for is finally here. That's right, the infamous “map” has finally appeared in the lobby of the school. If you are graduating this year, then you are just as excited as I am with this arrival. This annual tradition draws attention from more than just seniors-- underclassmen and faculty can be seen crowded at the map.

“I think the senior map is exciting because I’m able to see where my friends are going off in the world. It's also exciting because it lets me know that soon, that will be me on that map!” said, junior Keiyonta Tyler.

For those of you not at Mason or just unfamiliar with this “map,” let me explain it to you in the best way possible.

This is no ordinary map of the United States. This map holds more than just pictures of seniors and logos of schools. The map in the lobby, labeled “Where in the World will you be next year?” is the symbol of all of the hard work, dedication, and long hours of studying that students have put in their entire high school career to make it to their final senior year and move on to college or university.

As seniors start to hear back from their schools, the question of “where is everyone going next year” is a topic of most people's conversations. This “map” provides the visual answer to this question. Once a senior has decided where they are officially going, they can, proudly, pin their senior picture and the logo of the school to the city where their university is located. This allows other students and faculty to gawk at the seniors’ accomplishments while also allowing seniors, themselves, to proudly boast at what their hard work for the past four years has achieved for them.  The map in itself is a representation of what we all strive for as a high school.

“[The map] represents only the beginning to a possibility of wonders” said, senior Hans Olson.

As of the date of publication of this article, the map is barren, due to most college decisions having not been made yet, but that is to be expected.  Most seniors will not hear back from the colleges they applied to until around early April, and then final decisions are not due until May 1, known as “Decision Day.” Be prepared that once this date has passed, the map will flourish with senior pictures and logos to colleges and universities across the country, and even some out of the country.

For seniors, once you have made a final decision on the college or university you will be attending in the fall, make sure to see Mrs. Judy Bracken, our college and career specialist. There you will be able to receive the necessary materials to pin your face on the map.

Until then, all we can do is anxiously wait for the first, second, third, and then entire senior class to post where in the world they will be next year.

See other articles by Dominick>>>

Chocolate, flowers, hearts, and lots of pink.  What do all of these have in common? Well besides being nouns, today, February 14 of every year brings them out in full flair.

That’s right, hate it or love it, Valentine’s Day has brought its rosy-hewed rump our way.

For those “fortunate” few that have someone to share this holiday, conjured up by Hallmark, Valentine’s Day can be glorious. Boys and girls, men and women, all profess their feelings for their “lovas” in the form of over-priced shrubbery, dull milk chocolate, and cheesy cards. I guess if you do have someone to give these to or receive these from it can be a holiday full of joy. But for those like myself, it is a day that can be rather S.A.D.

Bitter single people around the world have cynically come up for an acronym that accurately describes just what Valentine’s Day is to them; Singles Awareness Day, or S.A.D. Now, let me just say, not every person single on Valentine’s Day is as bitter as some, but for someone lacking a “lova” the day is nothing but a flowered reminder of that, sometimes, unfortunate fact.

This Valentine’s Day I thought it would be interesting to see how the students of Mason were dealing with the holiday’s arrival. I took to the halls in search of random students that I could ask the million dollar question: “Are you excited for Valentine's Day this year, and do you have a Valentine?”

Not to my surprise, the answers were as predictable as the Barracuda web filter shutting down your attempted Facebook access on the school computers.

Click on image to see a larger version.

It’s that time of the year again. Exams are finally over, well at 10:30 a.m. today at least. Students have spent this past week studying and cramming their brain with knowledge from this semester, only to dump it all on a single test. The halls have been filled with students in pajamas carrying exam guides preparing for the dreaded tests. Teachers have spent a great deal of time filling our brains with knowledge and this past week has been the opportunity for students to reflect this hard work on paper.

As dreadful as exams might be, there are a few perks that have come with them. For instance, students are only in school for about four and a half hours, and considering the usual seven hours, four hours is a big relief.

Also, in between exams students get the opportunity to leave campus and go to the local restaurants and grocery store for snacks, to cool their minds. The usual campus lockdown leaves students jittery to finally get off campus and enjoy a nice snack once in a while.

For seniors, exams are like a rite of passage, because they are officially halfway done with their last year in high school and that much closer to graduation.

One thing that we can all agree is equally enjoyable is the fact that no matter how many questions and essays we had to complete, the teachers that made these tests also have to grade them. And that my friend, is enough to make students chuckle and teachers grumble as we head into this wonderful four day weekend.

Make sure to bring extra cash to the girls basketball game tonight. Lasso Online will be holding a raffle  before and during the game with the chances of winning a movie-themed basket worth $75.

Located right outside of the Mary Ellen Henderson gymnasium, the prize basket will be displayed along with two staff members who will be there to assist with raffle ticket purchases. Tickets will be on sale for a generous 2 tickets for $3, and 5 for $5.

Following your purchase of tickets, you will be instructed to write your name on your purchased tickets and then to drop then in the raffle. The basket is full of goods like sodas, DVDs, popcorn, and movie tickets. Valued at $75 dollars, you can't afford not to take the opportunity to purchase a ticket and try your luck.

If the line is too long or you are running late to the game, but still want to enter yourself in the raffle, no worries! Lasso staff will be coming up and down the bleachers with raffle tickets ready to be purchased.

Lasso Online continues to raise money for a spring trip to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association's annual conference in New York City.

2011 certainly has been a year of trends, whether it be on Twitter or in the halls of George Mason High School.  Clothing styles, technology, and television interests have changed. Keeping up with all of the changing trends is hard to do. How can a student expected to keep up with what’s “in” and “out” at such an academically rigorous school like Mason? Luckily all of us here at Lasso have compiled a list of all things in and out for the year. Think of this as an early Christmakwanzakah gift, and know that now you will never have to worry about finding yourself associated with anything “out.”

Happy New Year from Lasso Online!

Students making good decisions is one concept that the George  Mason faculty and student body all keep close to their hearts. The SADD Club (Students Against Destructive Decisions) has taken this concept and made it their duty to instill it in the minds of all the students in the building.

Mason’s views on under-aged consumption of alcohol is very point-blank—it is not accepted.  The SADD club has brought in the infamous Drunk goggles this year to show students just how much alcohol affects the brain and the senses. The goggles have special lenses that simulate the effects alcohol has on eyesight and orientation with one’s surroundings.

During Mustang Block last week, students crowded outside of the cafeteria to see what exactly it felt like to “be drunk.” Students performed a variety of tests, ranging from walking in a straight line, to simply trying to give someone a high five. Students saw that the task was not as easy as first presumed. The feelings of the goggles effectiveness were mixed, but for the most part students clearly understood the message SADD Club was trying to make.

“Drunk goggles make you realize how slow your brain reacts to your surroundings while intoxicated,” said Jesse Litton, senior.

The SADD Club’s efforts to educate students on the downfalls of under-age drinking is one that should be recognized. Their dedication to the promotion of good decisions throughout the student body is one of the factors that makes George Mason the tight community that we are.

If you have been in Dr. Peter Mecca's room lately, you will notice that students are not the only ones that occupy the classroom. For the second year in a row, Mecca has taken on the responsibility of raising a group of fresh water trout. The trout are raised in a large aquarium in the back of the classroom. Since arriving, still in eggs, Mecca has taken on the role of complete caretaker.

For the next few months the trout will live in the class room. When they grow, a “trout cam” will be installed on the side of the tank where a live feed of the trouts’ activity will stream on George Mason's website. During this time, anyone will be able to see just what the little trout are doing throughout their day.

Mecca has not taken on this responsibility for just the fun of it. Although his duties do come with a lot of fun, raising the trout is part of a preservation project with the state and takes a lot of care and attention. He must constantly measure the nitrate levels and temperature of the tanks so that it is sufficient for the needs of the tank. Any discrepancies and it could cost the trout their lives.

By raising the trout and then releasing them into the streams of Virginia, Mecca is helping to regulate the trout population and make sure they are surviving. On a date that has yet to be scheduled, Mecca and his Biology I and II classes will be traveling to Redbud Run to release the trout in the waters. The fish have specific water chemistry needs and the waters of Redbud Run “are the safest for the fish” said Mecca.

Like the past two years, the trout have been interesting members of the George Mason community. The opportunity to watch theses animals grow before your eyes is not one that should be looked past.  Be sure to look for the trout cam on the George Mason website in the near future.

Photo Credits: Dominick Banks, Hadleigh Rhodes, Araba Ankuma

When most students at George Mason think of the people in the school office, the first name to pop into their head is “Mrs. Savage.” Who could blame them?  Savage is the first bright and shinning face you see whenever you step foot in the office. Her bubbly yet spunky personality is definitely one that is hard to forget.

Forget is the opposite of what anyone is going to be doing today, as Savage leaves her position as office secretary. Throughout the years, she has provided students with laughter, compassion, “tardy slips” and most recently, tasty mini Kit-Kat bars. Savage has taken pride in her position and the spot she holds in the heart of George Mason.

Up until early January, Savage will be doing substitute-teacher work at Mason.  Then it will be time for her to open a new chapter in her life and leave the sign-out sheet and classrooms behind for a few philanthropic endeavors.

Towards the end of January, Savage will be leaving the Falls Church area, and United States for that matter, to go abroad in the city of Kolkata, India. Although this may sound like a strange thing to just decide to do, Savage is using her well earned vacation time to take a break.  She will actually be working as a volunteer. More specifically, she will be working with the program “New Light India,” mentoring and teaching the children of prostitutes.

“I’m just gonna go love these kids,” said Savage. Her duties will include being a loving adult for these children who so desperately need one. The program takes in kids whose chances of catching HIV are high, and educating, loving, and sheltering them. One main goal is to “break the chain of infection,” said Savage, as we discussed the goals of “New Light India.” The kids she will be working with need the love and support that she is intending to give them.

Savage's will to set out on this endeavor was anything but “spur of the moment.” In fact, she set out to do something as extraordinary as this after a rough time in her life.

“After my divorce, I told myself I was going to have something to look forward to,” Savage said, tearing up. She knew that she would want to find some way to get away and find herself, while helping others. Later, after watching the movie “Eat. Pray. Love.,” she found the inspiration and final bit of encouragement she needed to go on and find something that she could look forward to. With a little bit of research, she found “New Light India” and made working with the program a goal of hers. When Max and Andrew, her twin sons who graduated with the George Mason class of 2011, left home, she made the final decision to go ahead and “do it” for herself.

Ending her lease and putting everything she owns in storage, Savage is very serious and ready for her adventure. Her trip is not for the faint of heart, and she knows that. “I’m scared to death,” she proclaimed. Nevertheless, what she will be doing in Kolkata is anything if not amazing.

To top things off, Savage will not be leaving her philanthropic work in India. When she returns, she plans on starting a charity called, “I am Hilda.” Hilda, meaning “battle woman,” is a perfect fit for exactly what Savage is. Her goals for the charity are to run a website selling apparel branded with the “I am Hilda.” With the help of her twin boys, Max and Andrew, she is serious about making this charity a reality. Savage graciously added that she will be giving “some of the proceeds earned by 'I am Hilda''' to the charity she will work with in India, and others like it.

As much as the entire George Mason student and staff body supports Savage’s decision to leave us, there is no doubt that she will be missed. Of course the feelings are mutual and Savage said she will miss “all the students and staff.”

Laughing, she said, “I am also going to miss all the fun office stuff, it all has be so precious to me.”

Teary eyed myself, it is hard to believe that Savage will no longer be the first thing I and so many other students see as we walk into the main office. Her smile,  laugh, quirky comments, loving tone, and the, what seems like, omnipresent Starbucks cup filled with green tea will just be a few things that we will all miss when she is gone.

Her presence in the office will linger, but in her chair will sit a new, but familiar face. That face belongs to the, just as kind and wonderful Mrs. Peggy Monahan, who will take over Savage’s duties.

This past Thursday and Friday, George Mason students rocked, spooked, and amazed at the annual Fall JV Show. Held in the Mason auditorium with a start time of 7:30 p.m. and an end time of roughly 10:00 p.m., Mason students showcased their talents to hundreds of eager spectators.

Juniors Sumner Askin and Rand Walter brought their comic charm to the stage as the hosts for this year’s show. Dressed from head to toe in cowboy attire, they spent the entire show introducing each act with their own individual comic flare. Askin and Walter’s job was an act itself as they spent the entire show trying to escape the  holds of a mysterious clown, whose real identity was not revealed until the end of the show. Mr. John Ballou, a Fine Arts teacher at Mason and the man in charge of the technical production of the show, was guilty of being the devilish clown at the end of the show.  Upon his unveiling, he was also appreciated for all of his hard work by the entire audience and performers.

As for the performances, the students who participated in the show were amazing as usual. Many musical selections were performed, and the genres ranged from Hip Hop to 1920’s classical. With this much of variety, there was something performed that catered to each individual palette. Crowds were amazed as “Magic Jack,” senior Jack Webster, performed some magic tricks that were comical, to down right “awe” worthy. One specifically involving an empty Coke can still leaves me wondering, “How did he do that!?”

Senior Leah Kaufman said, “The show was amazing, we have so many talented students in our building, it’s almost scary.”

George Mason High School prides itself on the diversity of the student body. As much as the school encourages the students to associate with everyone no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc..., Mason also understands the importance for students to also maintain their own identities. Maintaining self identity is imperative for a society to grow and keep all citizens content, to some standard.

Every student can recall the government class lesson where the teacher would refer to the United States as a “melting pot” where people from all over the world come and blend in with each other harmoniously. This old cliché has been taught for decades and is considered an accurate metaphor for the United States population, right?

Mr. Chris Pikrallidas, a Government and IB Business and Management SL teacher, has a different way of looking at things. Pikrallidas teaches his Government students to look at the United States’ diversity in a different way. Pikrallidas says that instead of a melting pot, the US is more of a “salad bowl,” where there are many different “ingredients” (types of people) thrown into one large “bowl” (United States) and unlike a melting pot, where everything is blended in and loses its identity, each “ingredient” retains its identity while working together to make one full delicious meal (harmony).

This demonstration is a hit around school, and anyone who has had him sees it as the highlight of the quarter. It is a hands-on activity that allows students to think in a way that they are usually deprived of in Government classes.

“The kids really enjoy it, and it makes it easy for them to understand the concept” says Pikrallidas.

As the second week comes to an end and Mason students are getting fully acclimated to the new Mustang Block system, teachers seem to love every moment of it. There is very noticeable change this year in the amount of students using Mustang Block for work as opposed to last year where it was used as more of a social gathering.

Mustang Block was presented to students, last year, as a time in the day to catch up on school work, and get help from teachers who are actually free to help. It is all too often that students find themselves needing time to go over things such as a new concept that they missed or finish a test, but can never find a time when both student and teacher schedules connect.

Mustang Block was supposed to try and make teachers available for students to come see them and get that extra help. Teachers graciously made Mustang Block free for all to come in, but students saw this time as a social gathering.

Administration and teachers slowly got frustrated with the lack of students actually seeking out help and instead waiting until class which would lead to delays in lessons.

As an effort to try and get students to use the time wisely, the administration set in place a slightly tweaked and a little stricter system to get students, as Assistant Principal Tim Guy so eloquently states, “Where they need to be, when they need to be there.”

As the 2011-2012 school year started, there was an instant feel of productivity as the first Mustang Block took place, and those followed. This change was so noticeable that teachers and administration were overjoyed and excited about the new system.

“I am excited about TA, I like the new system a lot and how it works when it is used properly,” says Principal Ty Byrd.

“I love the new Mustang Block system! The dynamic of the time has changed and I feel that kids are more respectful and efficient with getting work done,” says Ms. Lisa Mykelstad, the school librarian.

“This year my Mustang Block attendance has increased a lot more from last year,” says Mrs. Jennifer Jayson, a math teacher.

Now that Mason has two weeks down of successful Mustang Block’s, teachers can only hope that it continues. The teachers love taking the time to meet with students who are behind and enjoy seeing students take the initiative to come to them when they need aid.

Last Monday had a special "zing"about it. This zing came from the newly established day of commemoration, signed in by New York Governor David Paterson, that designates May 17 as Thurgood Marshall Day.

Standard American Government curriculum educates students on the advances of diversity in the U.S government. One topic in the study is the appointing of Thurgood Marshall, who was named the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice on June, 13 1967 by President Lyndon Johnson. The appointing of Thurgood Marshall was yet another step in the path of civil equality in the United States.

Thurgood Marshall was born July 2, 1908 in Baltimore, Maryland. Marshall attended Lincoln University and when it came time for graduate school he wanted to attend his home university, the University of Maryland. His acceptance was declined due to the segregation policy of the university.

Due to his decline from the University of Maryland, Marshall sought admission at the University of Harvard, School of Law. Later in life as a civil rights litigator, Marshall
successfully sued the school for the unequal treatment and unfair attendance decline, known as the case of Murray v. Pearson.

Marshall's excellence and knowledge of civil rights laws and pursuit to change the way the "game" was played led to President Lyndon Johnson in 1978 following the retirement of the previous Justice Tom C. Clark. In the process, President Johnson made the remark that this was, "the right thing to do, the right time to do it, the right man and the right
place."

Some students share a closer connection to Thurgood Marshall than others, because the great grandson of Marshall attends Mason. Edward (Eddy) Marshall is the grandson of the late Thurgood Marshall. Other students see this commemoration day as yet another step to civil equality.

"I think it's revolutionary that we're honoring such an amazing man with a day to remember him and his achievements. Especially since his grandson is a George Mason student," says sophomore Sarah Rodock.

The day has been recognized as a national day of commemoration for the exceeding deeds civil rights that can be attributed to Thurgood Marshall. May 17 has been named a day of commemoration, not a holiday meaning that the day is a day to remember not celebrate.

As seniors start to be accepted into college the question of what schools the Mason seniors will attend in to the fall comes into play. With so many seniors and so many different cliques, it's hard to find out this information. The College and Career Counselor Mrs. Judy Bracken has come up with a solution to this problem, and the solution is the map right outside the Library.

Titled "Where in the world will you be next year?" the map is an opportunity for seniors to tell the entire student body, staff, parents, and visitors where they will be taking the next step in their lives. Although the map seems to be full, some seniors have yet to map their school with their face and Bracken encourages all seniors to do so.

The process is rather simple. After seniors took their school photo, Bracken received a disk and printed out all the photos on to a large piece of paper which was then laminated. To add their faces to the map, seniors need to go to Bracken's room in the math wing and request their senior photo. There she will give you the sheet and you can snip out your picture.

Once done with the cutting, tell Bracken what school you will be attending and she will show you her large collection of school logos. Although Bracken has a large collection of logos, due to size of some schools she might not have certain logos which will require a student to print out his/her own school logo.

The last step in this process is cutting out the string, where you take all these materials to the map and pin your face and logo to or near the location of the school.

"The process is very simple and easy, which I started in 2001 to let seniors show where they are going in the future," says Bracken.

Bracken would also like to encourage kids that are taking alternative educational advances, whether it be a gap year, the military, or attending a community college, to also show this on the map.

For 16 years, the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, along with help from the Washington Post, has hosted the E.B. Henderson Dear Editor contest. This contest is in tribute to the late Dr. E.B. Henderson who over a period of 50 years sent in over 3,000 letters to the editor discussing and standing up for civil liberties and the importance of ethnic diversity in the U.S.

The Dear Editor competition is an editorial letter writing contest designed to get students to write an editorial focusing on the passion for critical thinking and writing. Winners of the competition are awarded a cash prize of 1,000 dollars for taking first, 500 dollars for second, 300 dollars for third, 50 dollars for the three Distinguished Writers Award, and 25 dollars for each Special Merit Award. The competition is open to all high school and middle school students in Northern Virginia.

To enter the contest, students must complete a 200 word or less letter to the editor that responds to an article, photograph, or other letter published in a Washington metropolitan area newspaper. The news item must relate to either a denial of civil rights to a minority or acceptance of multicultural differences, while showing how it has improved life in the specific community. Individual letters should explain thoughts on the multicultural relations expressed in the news article, while also explaining how the article relates to personal belief, and what can be learned from it.

Junior Demi Williams said "I have heard of the Dear Editor competition and how it really makes students think about topics and ideas that they would not usually think about. I think it's a good opportunity to see the deep thought process of high school students."

To be recognized in the competition, students must submit a letter to Diener & Associates by the last Friday in April. The letter should be mailed to the Dear Editor Contest, 125 Rowell Court St., Falls Church, VA 22046.

All monetary awards will be presented at the Tinner Hill Blues Festival on Saturday, June 13. Attendance is expected to receive each prize.

George Mason's own online newspaper, Lasso Online, has been selected out of many high school publications as a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Crowd Award Finalist.

This prestigious nomination is only given to high school newspapers that stand out above the rest. Lasso Online's dedication to reporting the news in a timely and professional manner is what earned it a place on this list.

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) was first established in 1925 at Columbia University in New York City. The association's goal is to publicly award and congratulate excellence in student media. CSPA holds many different types of contests, including the Crown Awards and the Gold Circle awards. These two contests choose the best of the best in the country to act as finalists. The Crown award signifies excellence while the Gold Circle Award focuses around the excellence of individual writers, photographers, artists, poets, etc.

Out of the thousands of online newspapers scored, Lasso Online is included in the top 27. As a Finalist, Lasso will contend for the prestigious Gold Crown, followed by the Silver Crown. The crowning will take place during the association's annual convention hosted in NYC on March 19.

In receiving such an honor, the Lasso staff would like to thank its readers for their constant support. Stay tuned to Lasso next week when the Gold or Silver Crown is announced.

During Friday's TA, Ms. Smith announced the nominees for the 2010 Mr. and Ms. Mason competition. The guys and girls were nominated by teachers, on the basis of academic excellence and strong personality traits. The nominees for this year are listed below.

Senior Boys:  Sam Atkeson, Yates Jordan, Tom Shapiro, Miles Butler, Caleb Barrett

Senior Girls Courtney Ready, Becca Ward, Kelley Frank, Nicole Mitchell, Hannah Grann

Junior Boy: Dane Warner

Sophomore Boy: Matt Abel

Freshman Boy: Sterling Askin

Eighth grade Boy: Dan Abel

Every year Mason holds this competition in order to show appreciation for those students who stick out and strive for excellence. Teachers hold strong to their duty to pick a student from each grade who deserves the chance to win this title.

"I LOVE this competition. I bet I was the first one to vote," said English teacher Mrs. Wagener.

Mr. Sokolowski ran the ballot casting in the election this year. He took it upon himself to send an email out to teachers asking for votes.

"The voting turn out was pretty normal this year, I got about 25 votes so far," said Sokolowski.

Sokolowski also said, "Teachers are usually pretty good about voting, but it's usually one of those things that you're either really passionate about or you're not."

The show is scheduled for Thursday, February 11 in the Auditorium. We are encouraging everyone to show their support for their fellow students and come see the show. In the end, the competition helps out a good cause, as a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Haiti relief fund. To all the nominees, the Lasso Online staff and the whole school would like to congratulate you on your nomination.