Story by Kyle Sanders

Graduation day is a special moment for many seniors at Jeff High.

While many will take their last steps through Jeff High, two students are honored with an award for their academic achievements. One of those lucky students will earn the title of valedictorian, an award given to the student with the No. 1 rank in their class. That student is awarded by having the opportunity to give the valedictory farewell speech at graduation.

However, soon the Valedictorian, as well as the Salutatorian award for second place, might not be around.

According to the Greater Clark School District, unhealthy competition among students in their battle to receive this award has led administrators to consider getting rid of the Valedictorian and Salutatorian award altogether.

“The way the system is now requires you to be really excellent at strategy, have a lot of foresight, and lots of luck — on top of being really smart and determined. I’ve had to sit down with students and their parents every year to talk about strategy and why another student has a higher GPA,” Jeff principal Julie Straight said. “I’m not against students exploring, but I know that students have given up classes that pertain to their career to take AP classes to get a better rank.”

As the years have gone on, more universities have decreased the importance of class rank in the college admission process, according to the National Association for College Admission and Counseling. Because of this, the Valedictorian and Salutatorian is not seen as a “must have” to get a scholarship into college.

Instead, schools tend to focus more on ACT and SAT scores as well as grades in college prep courses.

“The title of being Valedictorian created motivation for me,” said Cassidy Padgett, the class of 2016 co-Valedictorian. “I wanted it for my own personal pride because although the title itself didn’t get me any extra scholarships or into any extra colleges, it motivated me to get the grades and ACT scores that produced those things. Titles and rewards create competition, which creates motivation.”

In the past, the Valedictorian award honors one student for their academic achievements throughout their four years of school. The new proposed system, however, would honor the top 10-percent (approximately 40 students) of the senior class.

From there, that group would vote on two kids to speak at graduation. Formerly, both the Valedictorian and Salutatorian, along with the class president, would receive this honor.

“We like this idea because we want students to be open to taking classes related to their future, and not so focused on taking a full load of AP classes just to raise their rank,” JHS counselor Whitney Roberts said. “We have multiple students affected by choosing classes based on rank in this senior class who may have chosen differently if we honored students differently.“

GCCS is finding that students are taking classes for the sole purpose of raising their class rank, instead of taking classes that can teach them something valuable for their future, as well as what they want to do in the future.

Despite the buzz around the impending decision, this change in the system would not occur until the Class of 2020, this year’s freshman class. This  is causing some students in the freshman class, including Greta Reel, to be upset. Reel feels like the change would put JHS students behind other students around the state when competing for scholarships.

“I feel that getting rid of the Valedictorian system is going to put Jeff High students at a disadvantage compared to other schools with Valedictorians. When it comes to getting academic scholarships, I feel like Valedictorians from other schools are going to have the advantage in competing for scholarships,” Reel said. “Even if the college understands Jeff’s system of honoring the top five-percent or 10-percent, the word ‘Valedictorian’ automatically sticks in a person’s head.”

story by Carlos Molina and Tristan Jackson

IUPUI, Bowling Green, Western Michigan, and Wright State have all offered junior Jacinta Gibson, a guard/forward on the girls basketball team at Jeffersonville High School, a scholarship to play at their school.

The junior is entering her third year as a member of the Varsity. Gibson played volleyball her freshman year and ran cross country her sophomore year, but decided to focus her skill set on solely basketball this year. Gibson also played in the AAU basketball league for the Indiana Elite.

Gibson finished the 2015-16 season, and averaged 4.4 points, 1.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and started 24 of the 25 games they played. However Gibson’s all-around game is what is attracting so many coaches.

“I am really excited. I just feel as if they are rewards for my hard work in the offseason,” Jacinta said. “I’m focusing on basketball this year. I was a part of the Varsity team for my freshman and sophomore year and this upcoming season, I hope to make the Junior All-star team.”

Girls basketball head coach Michael Warren has high expectations for Gibson, especially now that she has colleges interested in her game.

“It’s awesome for her and awesome for the program. It’s a credit to her hard work and it’s what she’s earned over the summer for her work in the spring,” Warren said. “Her work ethic is unbelievable. She has come a long way since she has come here.”

The girls team ended last season with a 15-9-1 overall record, including 4-3 in conference play.This year, Gibson is expected to play a much larger role.

“People are going to know she has offers now, so she’s going to have to take more of leadership role and step her game up,” Warren said. “It’s great for her to have AAU experience and Division One offers, but as a coach and a team, I need her to come play like that come January and February.”

Sophomore power forward Chelsea Gibson (Jacinta’s sister) also plays for the Indiana Elite and the girls basketball team at Jeff. Gibson plays Varsity basketball, as well, with her sister.

“It’s really awesome and I’m really proud of her,” Chelsea said. “I expect a lot of scoring, more assists and more college offers for her this upcoming year.”

 

Story by Caleb Albert

Growing up in Southern Indiana, JHS students have grown accustomed to construction: the roundabouts on 10th Street, the growth of the River Ridge area and plans for the new bridges have all taken place within the last half-decade.

But renovation is not just held to community members around Jeffersonville — students in the high school are now feeling the squeeze.

Just this past year, JHS students have seen a renovation to Johnson Arena, the addition of the WJHI radio/TV room, and an update to the swimming pool, all of which have taken place on one side of the same hallway. The entire other side of the hallway, though, has remained untouched.

However, all of that is about to change.

On the other side of JHS Main Street is the auditorium, which currently seats 900 people. The limited seating has been a problem for the ever-growing theater, choir, and band programs, which have been honored on a state, national and international level.

During the winter season each year, the combined choir and band “Winter Fantasy” concert series sees sold-out shows, with the groups performing as many as two times each day, for an entire school week. The music department anticipates the tradition to continue this year as well.

A newly renovated auditorium is anticipated to bring in more students that want to be involved in performing arts.

Austin Smith, a freshman in chamber choir, said, “the renovated auditorium will bring new life to all of the performing arts. People like new things, so there will probably be more people getting involved in the performing arts soon.”

The band program, specifically, is hopeful for the renovation, because it will add benefits, without any trade offs.

“They’re not doing anything to the acoustics, and it’ll be more pleasing to people who come in,” senior Josh McCorkle said.

Also, along with the update to the seat capacity, the seats themselves will be updated, a change that pleases senior band member Andrew Gustafson

“We also won’t have all the squeaking when people stand up,” Gustafson said. Currently, any movement in the seats leads to squeaking, which creates a distraction for choir, band, and theater members performing.

Although there are so many people being exposed to the culture and expression of Jeff’s artistry, and creating an appreciation for all of the school’s programs, the limited seating and overall environment of the current auditorium distracts audience members from experiencing the full potential of students.

The renovation is expected to be completed later this school year, before Jeff’s Spring performances.