Phillip Phillips dazzle crowd at Eaglepalooza

By: Lucy Pruitt

Staff Reporter

This year, the Student Government Association of the University of Southern Mississippi hosted one of the most talked about Eaglepalooza concerts in its history. The memorable concert started off at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 5, with Churchill, an alternative band that’s sound could be described as a mix of Coldplay and Fleetwood Mac. After I watched Churchill perform its original songs and a cover of “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac, there was no doubt in my mind that this band is one day going to be hugely famous. The opening band warmed up the crowd with beautiful harmonies, incredible talent on the mandolin, and great crowd interaction.

Immediately following a crowd pleasing performance by Churchill, Grammy Nominated singer/songwriter Elle Varner strutted onto the stage alongside her keyboard-playing father and extraordinary beatboxer. During the middle of her set, Varner reached over and grabbed her guitar to play a segment of an unfinished song from her new album that will soon be released. When she sat down with the guitar, she started the riff and had to stop in order to tune her guitar. After asking her band to play an “E” multiple times, she eventually finished tuning and continued with her part of the show. Varner was very well known throughout the crowd and gave a very entertaining performance.

After a long, drawn-out wait for the biggest act of the night, I finally caught sight of a very rugged Phillip Phillips. Clad in a red-plaid shirt that he may or may not have slept in a couple times, loose fitting dark blue jeans, and black TOMS, Phillips drove his fangirls crazy. The screams from the crowd were eardrum-shattering, but Phillips seemed quite comfortable and used to the female crowd reaction. The audience was filled to the brim with crazed fans that, like myself, knew and sang every word of his album with him.

Phillips’ singing was perfect to the point of sounding exactly like his album The World from the Side of the Moon. He played his songs on his multiple Taylor guitars enthusiastically and skillfully. He managed to dance and jump around on the stage while never missing a note or a beat. His set included a handful of songs from his album, a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and a creative mashup-like intro into his debut single “Home.” Phillips was not very interactive with the crowd and mumbled more than he spoke, but the amount of musical talent on the stage made up for it. Phillips’s band was obviously a group of very highly trained musicians and performers that included a phenomenal saxophone player that had a few memorable solos.

After Phillips played his artistic version of “Home” for the finale, he and his band walked off stage, and the crew came on and started taking the set down. The crowd began to disperse and separate when a group of college-aged kids in the back started shouting for an encore. Just a minute passed before Phillips and the band flew back on the stage and began to play the coolest song of the night. The encore was a mashup of acoustic versions of rap songs, old classics, and modern day hits. Overall, Eaglepalooza was a great concert with outstanding lights, music, and entertainers.

Buti completes Distinguished Scholar Project

By: Nan Buti

Staff Reporter

Senior Wisam Buti has proven her accomplishments in the distinguished scholar program. The distinguished scholar program at Oak Grove allows students in grades 9-12 to experience off-campus activities relating to the student’s interest of research. For her project, Buti chose to experiment with testing and modifying fruit flies in a lab. “Basically, I am trying to identify a gene or a subset of genes that are causing mutant fruit flies to have unusual locomotor behaviors,” Buti said. “I have completed approximately 387 hours of working in the lab, working on my paper, and meeting with my mentor.”

Not only has Buti worked on the project during the summer, but she has also taken specific classes in school, such as the research class, in advancement to her project. To enroll in the program, she and other students were obligated to meet certain requirements, such as completing a minimum number of credits and maintaining an A average in core classes. “Some challenges I faced were trying to understand genetic and scientific names and waking up so early every day in the summer,” Buti said.

Due to her dedication to science and her rigorous work in the lab, Buti has been awarded many scholarships. She has received awards such as first place for WISE  (Women in Science and Engineering), first in Medicine & Health category in the Region I science fair, and finalist for ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair).

Ms. Clark, Mrs. Shoemake, Mrs. Fortenberry, Mrs. Sanders, Dr. Leal, Sudeshna Das, and many past Distinguished Scholars have helped in Buti’s success. “I learned a ton about real research and science. I have gained experience in a research lab. That is already giving me a push,” Buti said. “In fact, USM’s Dr. Leal has offered me a position in her lab for the upcoming year, which is very rare especially for a freshman.” Buti’s dedication to the program has grown to a commitment to continue research in Dr. Leal’s lab once she starts attending USM.

Sophomore Ford serves others over Spring Break

By: Katie Williams

Staff Reporter

Over spring break, many find themselves taking vacations; they go to the beach or going skiing, but sophomore Casey Ford

CASEY IN COSTA RICA
Sophomore Casey Ford diligently shares the Gospel with a San Jose child during Vacation Bible School. VBS was a a daily activity during Ford’s recent mission trip to Costa Rica.

defied the norm during this year’s spring break. Ford and two others from Parkway Heights United Methodist Church journeyed to San Jose, Costa Rica, on March 11, for a mission trip through Rice and Beans Ministries.

On Sunday, Ford attended church expecting the worship to be extremely audacious. Despite her preconceived notions, the church service was extremely tame.

Ford’s weekdays consisted of holding vacation bible schools (VBS) at local schools in the mornings on Monday through Thursday and passing out rice, beans, and milk in the San Jose slums during the afternoons. VBS consisted of Bible stories, arts and crafts, and a snack.

The slums of San Jose are very corrupt. “Parents made their livings by selling drugs. The point of VBS was to start with the kids in hopes that they would eventually reach the parents,” Ford said.

Food was distributed in the slums of Alajuela. “Our mission team couldn’t really tell what a house was. Houses consisted of thin tin walls and sheets,” Ford said. Evangelism teams were made up of several teens, adults, staff members, and a translator.

People would take the food, and the teams would ask the recipients of the food if he or she would mind being prayed over. “The best part of Costa Rican prayer was that we all pray out loud at the same time. Prayer was so powerful,” Ford said. “Never underestimate the power of prayer. I recognized what prayer really meant to these people and how much they really appreciate those who listen.” If families had little girls, those girls also received dresses. “These dresses meant so much to those girls,” Ford said.

Costa Ricans have little to no amenities when it comes to learning about Jesus. “We take so much for granted here; we have fancy church buildings and Bible studies to get to where we should be in our Christian walks, yet we don’t have that genuine faith. I heard these stories, and these people had so much faith, even if they had lost family members and didn’t know where their next meal would come from. These people were genuinely happy, and they had so much hope,” Ford said.

Ford went to serve the less fortunate people of San Jose, Costa Rica. However, she feels she was the one who received the biggest reward.

Half Shell Oyster House finds new home in Newpointe

By: Lauren English

Staff Reporter

As I stepped through the doors of Half Shell, I found myself very concerned for this new restaurant.  I have a theory that a building can curse the success of a business establishment. We all know that once a place goes out of business, no other food joint can barely survive two years there.  I never really went to Seasons and didn’t even set foot in Rocket City, but for some reason, I was very optimistic about Half Shell Oyster House which is housed in the very same location.

I was seated very quickly and immediately fell into the jazzy New Orleans vibe the atmosphere gave off.  Being the girl I am, I had to check out the bathrooms before I even looked at the menu. I was a little disappointed in the less than extraordinary decorations, but I was very pleased with the cleanliness of it and gave the restaurant hygiene an A+.

Now to the important part: the food. If the restaurant has a food item in the title, you need to try it, and that is exactly what I did. I got the “sampler,” a tray of four different types of oysters.  The sampler had so many diverse appeals to the taste buds that it was hard to choose my favorite. The most popular oyster, the Rockefeller, is a creamy spinach dip filled oyster for all of you dip-for-appetizer lovers out there. If you find yourself liking a more classic oyster, the chargrilled oysters are the way to go. These are filled with delicious spices and leave a little bit of an after kick. My top two were the Orleans and the Bienville oysters. The Bienville oysters were a creamy seafood concoction that made me want to order a dozen of them. The Orleans oysters were very true to their name with a tangy barbeque taste.  As I contemplated what I wanted to order, I found myself torn between two choices, the pasta half shell and the seafood pot pie. So I ordered both. Being the southern belle I am, I was expecting the seafood pot pie to be a creamy stew of goodness wrapped in a fluffy pie crust. I was a little disappointed when I broke into the bread and a broth like liquid spilled out. The pasta half shell definitely made up for the discouragement caused by the pot pie. I was very pleased with the perfectly cooked noodles and delectable shrimp. Cheese grits for a side were a great compliment to the seasoned pasta.

Although I still believe in the curse of the Newpointe end building, it will not come as a surprise to me if Half Shell Oyster House survives more than two years. It is a great place with awesome food and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Where are they now?

By: Miranda Rester

Editor

Ann Curry. Diane Sawyer. Katie Couric. Lisa Ling. One day we hope to see Allison Slusher among this list of successful female reporters. After a year as a reporter for The Warrior Beat, Slusher has taken the next step in her career as a journalist. When a position in the sports section of The Daily Mississippian at the University of Mississippi in Oxford opened up, Slusher was offered the job of softball reporter. “When I turned in my first story, I knew that it was the next step in my journalism career. It was an incredible feeling,” Slusher said.

Slusher is quickly learning that collegiate reporting is a completely different world compared to her career as a high school journalist. “This is a daily newspaper, so I’m learning to adjust,” she said. “A monthly newspaper doesn’t have this much rush because you have weeks to get your story finished as opposed to hours.”

As the softball reporter, it’s Slusher’s job to attend every home game, no matter the hour, and have each article turned in by the deadline, which can often be the next morning. “Sometimes I go straight from the games to my dorm and type up my article,” Slusher said. “I have to pay really close attention to what I’m writing because it has to be turned in right then.” In addition to making sure the story is written well, she also has to be sure that she uses the correct lingo.

“I don’t play sports, but thankfully, I know baseball lingo,” Slusher said. “The guys in the box are always helping me though. Also, since there’s a specialized sports editor, he can add in lingo and stats if I’ve missed something.”

Many articles endure substantial editorial correction, especially the first article a reporter submits, but Slusher’s writing is usually subjected to minimal changes. “I was really stressed out when I turned in my first article, but when I saw it in the paper the next day, I saw that there really weren’t that many corrections,” she said. “That was a great feeling, but each article is different and corrected accordingly. I put a lot of pressure on myself to stay on top of my writing.” Slusher is double majoring in Journalism and International Studies, so she’s well equipped to handle the stress and pressure of a daily newspaper.

“Allison was only on staff for a year, but I saw her potential as a writer immediately,” Joy Davis, The Warrior Beat adviser, said. “I’m so proud to see her excel at this level.”

This small town Erin Andrews is currently finishing out the year as the softball reporter and hopes to soon start reporting in other areas for The Daily Mississippian.

 

Coming Home

By: Lucy Pruitt

Staff Reporter

TOGETHER AGAIN
Junior Mary Helen Peden is surprised during her 3rd block show choir class by her father Major Chris Peden, whom she had not seen in nearly a year.

After serving his complete deployment in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Major Chris Peden has returned his home of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He is currently assigned to the 1184th Deployment Distribution Support Battalion in Mobile, Alabama. The group’s job is to facilitate the movement of cargo to and from a Seaport of Debarkation (SPOD). The SPOD is generally the point that all logistics from main battle tanks to food items enter the theater of operation to support an ongoing mission.

Major Peden’s training to deploy actually started in March of 2012. His unit went to Fort Dix, New Jersey, for three weeks to train on basic soldiering skills prior to actual mobilization. This training consists of marksmanship, land navigation, and combative skills. The group mobilized at Camp Shelby on April 16, 2012, and they went through the soldier readiness process (SRP). They then completed unit validation, which certified the soldiers to complete the mission at hand. The unit landed in Kuwait on May 9, 2012, where they were attached to the 595th Transportation Battalion. Many of the soldiers were deployed to Afghanistan, as well as the United Arab Emirates. Major Peden served as the Brigade S4 (logistics officer) providing oversight and planning to the 595th Transportation Brigade and all subordinate units. The unit completed its mission and left Kuwait on February 3, 2013.

Upon returning home, the idea to surprise his daughter, Mary Helen Peden, of his arrival was proposed by his wife, Cindy, and the youth minister of Heritage United Methodist Church, J Nelson. Though Peden knew her father was planning to come back home soon, she did not know he was intending to come to the school. Then on February 5 Major Peden arrived at the school during Peden’s third block show choir class. Little did she know she would be interrupted in the middle of her class to see her father for the first time in a year. She knew her dad was coming home but had no clue as to when she would actually see him. Peden’s mother kept the date a secret from her.

The year without her father was a difficult time for Peden. “The hardest part of him being overseas was the separation and not being together as a family,” she said. There were multiple holidays, celebrations, and traditions that were not as family oriented because of his absence, such as her birthday, church events, Oak Grove and MSU football seasons, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

“I was so happy and relieved to know he was home,” she said. “I love my dad, and I was concerned for his safety.”

“We were both very excited about my coming home. As to who was more excited, I believe you could call it a tie,” Major Peden said.

This was Major Peden’s second and final deployment. His last deployment was also to Kuwait with the 1181st DDSB (Deployment Distribution Support Battalion) in 2009. He has plans to retire from the military in June of 2013. “My father had served in the army during WWII, and I felt that it was my patriotic duty to join the military to do my part. The military has provided a good opportunity to give back to my country,” Major Peden said.

Major Peden’s service in the United States Military is much appreciated by all. The Pedens’ story is just one of the many stories of Oak Grove students with family members serving in the military.

You’re Invited to Prom 2013

Prom Theme

Prom is one of the biggest milestones in a high school student’s life and creates some of the best memories that will last forever. In previous years, Tinsel Town and Tuxedos, Vegas, and Paris were prom themes, but for 2013, Oak Grove will hula at “Luau in the Grove.” Finding the right date, asking them, booking a ride, and finding the perfect dress or tux can become stressful with March 23 right around the corner. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect and some last minute tips that will make Prom a night to remember.

Prom Expenses

The average American family spent about $1,078 on prom last year. Prom expenses add up quickly, so it’s important to know where your money should go first.

The majority of your budget should go toward your attire. However, that doesn’t mean you should spend $800 on a dress or tuxedo. Find something that looks good on you but doesn’t break the bank. You can often find the exact same boutique dress for half the price somewhere else. After all, you’re never going to wear it again. If you’re wearing a long dress, never spend a lot on your shoes. No one is going to see them, and you’re going to take them off as soon as you get to prom. If you’re renting a tuxedo, go somewhere that has dress shoes and all the trimmings included in the package.

When it comes to transportation, always, I repeat, always, spend a little extra to get a good party bus or limo. It’s better to spend a little extra than to be stuck on a remodeled school bus on prom night. Keep in mind that there are more restaurants in Hattiesburg than Purple Parrot and Crescent City, so you don’t have to spend $100 on dinner. Also, don’t go to the cheapest florist you can find or else your corsage and boutonnière will both fall apart before you even get on the bus. Trust us.

Prom is all about having fun with your friends, so don’t stress about blowing all of your money on one night. Stick to your budget so you can still enjoy spending time with your friends after prom.

 Prom Styles

We all know that prom is one of the largest events in the grand scheme of the high school experiences. Some scoff and assume that prom is an event to take lightly and to buy whatever style of dress or tuxedo you see in the store. That is most certainly not the case. You’ve got to know what’s trending so you can look your best and not end up a prom tragedy.

This year has some fabulous styles that will make some lucky girl the belle of the ball, or in this case, Prom. For the ladies, it’s all about the flow, flow, flow. A classic sheer black flowing gown is at the top of the charts and will never let you down. We’d all love to take a sweetheart to prom. Show your date that you’re just as sweet with a sweetheart neckline, and don’t forget the dazzling beading across the torso as well. For the gentlemen suitors, prepare to don an all black attire with only a few pops of color here and there, including, but not limited to, the always classic bow tie and pocket square.

Keep these trends and styles in mind when out shopping for the next tuxedo and prom dress. These classic looks will certainly make your night one to remember.

Adviser Davis excels in classroom, community

By: Miranda Rester

Editor

With 35 newspaper and yearbook awards from last year alone to her name, Joy Davis accomplishes a lot in her reign as adviser of both The Warrior Beat newspaper and The Warrior yearbook. As the first teacher to ever advise both the newspaper and

Exceptional adviser Joy Davis poses with her yearbook and Warrior Beat editors,
(from left to right), Elizabeth McCullen, Caroline Pruitt, Mary Ryan Karnes, and Miranda Rester.

yearbook while teaching classes at OGHS and serving as a part-time instructor at the University of Southern Mississippi, Davis’s day is constant chaos.

“We’re on a three-week deadline cycle for a 12-page newspaper with 18 staffers. It’s a lot of editing with a short amount of time to work,” Davis said. Davis has been advising the newspaper six years and has aided The Warrior Beat in winning 74 awards, including her 2011 Adviser of the Year award. “There’s always room for improvement, but at this point, it’s a well-oiled machine. My staffers are dedicated, and there’s great leadership on staff,” Davis said.

Davis also is the site manager for OGHS’s school website, and she is the editor of the district newsletter, Excellence in Education, which is published twice each school year. In addition to her required duties and tasks as a teacher, she stays extremely busy organizing photographs, appointments with Bruckners School Photography, and communicating with the businesses in the community who are advertisers in the publications she manages.

Davis does all of these things, required and volunteered, with a smile on her face and no complaints. Davis suffered a severe injury in 1998 from a car accident that left her partially paralyzed with a loss of sensation and mobility in her legs. However, she doesn’t let this slow her down. “I realize that God is using me in great ways here at OGHS, and I am not about to let a few aches and pains slow me down,” Davis said. Although there are physical challenges she faces on a daily basis, she continues to give her best effort every single day.

Davis graduated from Southern Miss with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Business Technology Education, which is not related to journalism. Therefore, she’s had to learn how to run both staffs on her own through experience. With six years of newspaper experience behind her, Davis’s biggest challenge is overseeing the yearbook, which is still fairly new to her. “Yearbook is a lot of work, but it is so much fun,” Davis said. “I’m still learning, and the most challenging part is trying to teach myself how to do things and then turn around and teach my yearbook staffers how to perform tasks, but these students are very talented and devoted. They make my job easier,” she said. Her staffs, however, have prospered from her learn-as-you-go method. “Since she taught herself how to do everything, she has a very unique style of teaching,” Jordan Farrar, newspaper graphic designer, said. “Mrs. Davis is so patient because she understands what it’s like to be thrown into something and have to figure it out. She’s a great teacher.”

As a dedicated teacher and adviser, Davis stays late after school every day working with students to make sure that their publications are the best they can be.

With supportive staffs and a loving family, Davis is able to juggle all of her responsibilities like a pro and still remain sane. “I love my job and my staffers. Even though it’s stressful, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Davis said

Young Republicans Address Elephants in the Room

By: Lucy Pruitt

Staff Reporter

The Young Republican’s Club, led by Mrs. Diane Hardin, is composed of students who feel that their political views line up best with the Republican Party. However, most of the students believe that the Republican party is very out of touch with the young voters of America. The group members are interested in meeting with like-minded students to discuss the changes they feel should be made.

YRC was started in 2010 by Kent McCarty in his senior year. The club started out like most clubs by meeting once a month, but because the members are so passionate they recently decided to have weekly meetings. The club meets every Thursday. It is not necessary to be an official member of the club to come to the meetings. The club gatherings are open to any like-minded student, whether he or she can can join every week or just once in awhile. There are typically 15-20 members who come to the meetings regularly.

The club’s most recent project has been quite a monumental task. The members chose to take the Republican Platform and revise it to more accurately reflect the views of today’s young Republican. This is no small task as the platform is 86 pages long. Mrs. Hardin has communicated with club leaders from other towns of Mississippi, as well as Texas and Virginia, and none of them are attempting anything so challenging.

The students in the club have already tackled some very controversial topics including the definition of marriage, religious freedom, illegal immigration, and education. The club spent two weeks on the topic of abortion but could not come to a consensus, so the members agreed to table the topic until a later date.

The club plans to finish the platform revision by the middle of second semester, so they can send it to Republicans of Mississippi to see if they could get feedback from the professionals. “The members discuss things with a maturity and level-headedness that is often missing in the ‘real’ political world,” Mrs. Hardin said.

Quinn achieves dream, signs on to play softball for LSU

By: Samantha Papp

Staff Reporter

Constance Quinn, 17, first stepped onto a baseball field at the age of three and transferred to softball at the age of ten.  Quinn has now made the agreement to continue playing softball throughout her college career.

On November 13, Quinn formally signed her commitment to play softball for Louisiana State University.  Quinn is the first softball player from Oak Grove to sign with an SEC school, and this is an accomplishment that Quinn has dreamt of her entire career.  While the idea of playing for a prestigious softball team like LSU may be intimidating to some people, Quinn views the thought as encouraging.  “Knowing that I will be playing on a team that recently went to the World Series is exciting,” Quinn said. “To know that the coaching staff has interest in me and believes that I will be instrumental in the team’s success gives me faith in myself.”

Throughout her softball career, Quinn has been awarded a multitude of honors. Among these honors are four Most Stolen Bases awards, two Most Valuable Offensive Player awards, Most Valuable Player 2011, All-Division player four times, All-State Player 2012, and Gatorade Player of the Year 2012.  Quinn also received the honor of playing in the 2011 Triple Crown Sports All-Star game, which aired on ESPN.

Although Quinn has no difficulty attaining awards, she admitted that attending LSU was not an effortless accomplishment.  Instead of spending her time sitting at home, Quinn took the initiative to practice and work out by herself.  “I’ve had to practice and pray about it every day.  I worked on my techniques and mechanics, and I mentally prepared myself,” Quinn explained.

Quinn has overcome numerous adversities throughout her recruiting journey.  “I’ve been in slumps, and sometimes my focus wasn’t on the correct thing,” Quinn said.  “I knew there was a reason for my being in a certain situation, and that God wouldn’t put me under anything I couldn’t handle. I prayed and asked God for His help.”

While numerous other opportunities were available, Quinn explained that she has never wanted to attend any school aside from LSU.   Quinn has been on numerous unofficial visits to the school, beginning her freshman year.  “One visit, the recruits and I were watching a sports highlight video from one of the games, and butterflies hit me,” Quinn said. “I knew then that LSU was exactly where I needed to be. I have definitely achieved my dream by going to LSU.”