Titan Talk

In this issue...Pages 2-3: opinion

Pages 4-5: senior connections

Pages 6-7: sports and scholarships

Ridgeland High School May 2012Issue 7 Volume 10

College PlansHolmesMSUOle MissJSUHindsOther

 

11%

31%

25%

4%7%

22%

Favorite Teacher

OtherMrs. RayMr. MacBatsonS. ClarkNettlesWilbanksRivesWilliams

DavidsonLightseyBoltonLacy Turner

33%15%8%

4%9%3%

3%

4%3%

5%5%

5%

4%33%

15%

8% 4%

9%

3%3%

4%3%

5%5%

5%4%

31%

11%22%

4%

7%

25%

This issue is dedicated to our graduating seniors.Throughout the issue we have included our 2012favorite teachers, college plans, scholarships, andhad fun connecting this wonderful group who havecalled Ridgeland home. We look forward to see-ing great things happen for this group.

The TITAN TALK staff enjoyed putting thisissue together and hope you will treasure itthrough the years. As you prepare for your future, know thatthe Titan family is behind you and our hopesand prayers will follow.

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2012

OpinionPage 2

one last positiveone last positiveone last positiveone last positiveone last positivenote...note...note...note...note...

by Kristine Bishop

Finally, my last editorial,well it will be more of afarewell to RHS and the TitanTalk newspaper. I promise, nocontroversy here. I was told to make this aspositive as I can which kind ofoffends me because whether ornot it is positive or negative, Iwill be honest. And myhonesty might surprise somepeople. So now, I am sittinghere thinking about thisbittersweet article and all thememories that will go in it. Everyone rememberswatching televison shows likeLizzie McGuire and seeinghow dramatic and wild highschool was portrayed. Afterfour years of going through it, Ihave to say that maybe thoseportrayals were right. Anythingcould happen. We are growingup and realizing new thingshere. As I walked into the bandhall on the first day of highschool as an eager freshman, Ithought, “I wonder what liesahead.” I really had no clue ofeverything that would actuallyoccur, things such as marchingin thick mud in band, meetingstrange people, and evenrealizing who we are. It is true, we wish highschool would be over. Maybethere aren’t that many things

that will be missed (I do admitthough, I personally will miss acouple of people), but I knowthat we enjoyed someexperiences. Like everyone else in theclass of 2012, I’ve been throughso much in the last four years:confusion, hurt, happiness, andnow nostalgia. And I know that on May 21when we take that meaningfulwalk across that church stage,we will remember all thosemoments that we sharedtogether…and all the memoriesthat we went through together.The painful ones and the joyfulones. Every single one of us hasour own story of high school; astory that is unique in its ownway. I am proud to be in thegraduating class of 2012, and Iam even more privileged to begraduating from RidgelandHigh School. And as for my dear and crazynewspaper staff, I thank you forallowing me to write for TitanTalk for three years now. I amgrateful to have been editor thisyear, and I love you guys todeath. Farewell. Jamie andAudrey…I leave this paper toyou.

Goodness, thinking aboutleaving this place is scary. Idon’t really even know whatI’m going to do when I leavethis place. However, leaving isinevitable so here it goes, hereis my goodbye letter. Usually,goodbyes are really hard for meso instead of goodbye I’m justgoing to start naming thingsI’m going to miss and those forwhich I’m thankful. I’m goingto miss the office ladies andhow sweet and helpful they are.I’m going to miss Mr. Dowdyand his jokes, by the way, thankyou for supporting my writingand where I come from. I amgoing to miss Mr. Coach Elkinsand his “but whhy” catchphrase. And of course I amgoing to miss Coach Frazierand Mr. Rives and their“artistic talents.” Now for everything I’mthankful for which will be anextremely looong list, so braceyourself. Thank you to CoachHowell for listening to mewhen I needed to vent andmaking mean jokes about meso that I could smile. Thankyou to Coach Bolton for givingme great advice and listening tomy whining. Mrs. Dennis,thank you for letting me be partof the Ambassadors and givingme a chance. I am extremelythankful for Mrs. Williams andfor giving me the opportunity tobe on the newspaper staff.

Leaving these kids is so hard.I have come to love everysingle one of my newspaperbuds. They annoy me and attimes make me wonder ifthey’re human, but at the endof the day they accept me andlaugh at my more than“special” jokes. I am thankfulto Audrey Hall for not lettingme drop out of school when thestress of the research paper gotto me. Thank you Jamie Loganand Holli Gill forunderstanding my obsessionwith glitter and unicorns andsupporting me through it all. I am so thankful for myfriends who never gave up onme even when I was mean andlet stress get to me. I amthankful for Jesus Renk and hisability to calm me down andrealize that problems are neveras bad as I make them seem.I am thankful for MatthewJurney for not letting meforget where I come fromand teaching me to be thankfulfor all I have. And last but notleast I am extraordinarilythankful for my amazingfamily. They have loved meand put up with me for 18years and have never given upon me. I love y’all so much andwould be nothing without y‘all.

This is itby Marian Cancio

Page 3

Opinion

TITAN TALK STAFF

Editors

Kristine Bishop and

Jamie Logan

Staff Writers

Audrey Hall,

Devin Lott, Holli Gill, and

Marian Cancio

Ask AlexiDear Advice Lady,My life is over! On the way to school this morning, I got my firstticket! I just got my Intermediate yesterday, and it was my firsttime driving by myself. My parents are going to be so mad, andthey’re going to take my new car away! …Especially when theylearn that I was doing 70 in a 45. What can I do?!

-Desperate

Dear Crazy Driver,Breathe. In. Out. Do it with me now.Okay, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I have to saybravo. Being that ignorant takes talent. You’re pretty much stuckwith the consequences. Next time, just pay attention to whatyou’re doing. You never know, you may even learn something.

-If you don’t know who this is, you’re less intelligentthan you sound.

Dear Alexi,My parents are crazy. They keep suggesting that I “get a job” and“work for things.” I’ve never worked a day in my life and I’m notabout to start now. How can I get them off my back?

-Tired of Nagging Parents

Dear Couch Potato,Get a job? You’d have to get a life first. Stop watching JerseyShore and get off of that couch while you still can. Those arevaluable brain cells you’re killing, and you can’t afford to losemany more.

-Alexi

Libra(September 23~October 22): Don’t look a gift horse in themouth. His breath stinks.Scorpio(October 23~November 21): You might’ve noticed thatyou didn’t have a horoscope last month. Obviously, you’re justtoo awesome for words.Sagittarius(November 22~December 21): Face your fears. Youare defined by what you do when no one’s looking, so do it whereno one can see you run screaming.Capricorn(December 22~January 19): Be on the lookout for ahidden talent, and run with what you get.Aquarius(January 20~February 18): Instead of thinking of theglass as half-full or half-empty, be a realist and just drink thething.Pisces(February 19~March 20): Be especially supportive ofyour friends this month, take pride in them. After all, they’ve putup with you this far.Aries(March 21~April 19): Don’t be so paranoid, if the worldwere really out to get you. Wouldn’t they have done it by now?Taurus(April 20~May 20): Seriously, don’t text and drive. Youcan barely text and walk.Gemini(May 21~June 20): This month’s a bad one forprocrastinating, especially for you. Pick up that work you just setdown to read this lovely newspaper, and get busy.Cancer(June 21~July 22): Make sure you do something nice forsomeone you don’t like this month. Trust me, they’ll spend thewhole day wondering if you’ve brought the apocalypse on early,and hey, that’s one more person obsessed with you!Leo(July 23~August 22): On your “budding” music career, betterfind stages other than your car or shower.Virgo(August 23~September 22): Stop paying people to do yourschoolwork. You need that money.

HoroscopesHoroscopesHoroscopesHoroscopesHoroscopesby Kylee

Tyler James being interviewedOlivia New and Titus

MiscellaneousPage 4

15+1 Senior Excuses15+1 Senior Excuses15+1 Senior Excuses15+1 Senior Excuses15+1 Senior Excusesfor getting out of anything...for getting out of anything...for getting out of anything...for getting out of anything...for getting out of anything...1. I had to take my monthly shower.2. I got lost.3. I was trying to find myself.4. I gave my money to a hobo so I had to walk to school.5. I had to shave my porcupine.6. I was eating croissants with the President.7. My hand got stuck in a French Horn.8. I was stalking my crush.9. I was stocking my bomb shelter.10. I volunteered as tribute for the 2012 Hunger Games.11. I crashed an Italian cruise ship.12. I was trying to grow a beard.13. I was taking a journey to Canterbury.14. I was trying to walk, text, and breathe at the same time.15. My tractor broke down.+1 There were snipers in my neighborhood.

On March 29, the RHS choir took a trip to New York City. On April 1, theysang at Carnegie Hall. They saw the Broadway Show Sister Act. They visitedmany famous sites such as Strawberry Fields in Central Park, Grand CentralStation, the Empire State Building (the 86th floor to be exact), the Statue ofLiberty, Times Square, and the Today Show.

New York Tripby Devin Lott

Prom King Turner Lott andProm Queen Rachel Harris

This is an attempt to connect the seniors of the graduating class of 2012. Forgive usif we made errors, but it is true that we are all connected by being members of this Titanfamily. Congratulations on your hard work and good luck in the future. Don’t forget…weare all connected in some way. Here goes... Jesus Renk plays soccer with Ethan Callahan who is in the anime club with JimmySwenson who takes home Piero Bracamonte who is in French III with Sam Goldenwho parks next to Kori Heying who is best friends with Paige Lightsey who is in Pre-Calculus with Marian Cancio who is dating the only cowboy in school Matthew Jurneywho is in JROTC with Ashleigh Andrews who is in Accelerated English IV with AustinHowell who went to a party with Eric Adcock who tells funny stories to Nathan Culverwho is best friends with Savannah Walker who parks next to Mary Moffat who is inLions’ Band with Erin Tackitt who picks on Turner Lott who studies biomed withJessica Glen who is on the Forensics team with Kristen Dupard who is a Junior Diplomatwith Shelby Barham who cheers with Shelby Huff who is dating Tyler James who is onthe football team with LeJarryan Blake who also plays football with David Nicholaswho plays baseball with Andrew Hulbert who is in trig with LaKrisha Curry who hangsout with Cierra Bracey who is on the yearbook staff with Summer Wigley who is co-

Senior Connections

continued on next page...

Page 5

Entertainmentpresident of the twelve year club with Tyler Harrison who is friendswith Emily Raffield who is in Algebra II with Sam Pope who mentorswith Caylon McCulloch who is friends with Tyler Watts who playedsoccer with Alexis Gaytan who ran cross country with Martin Cobbwho is in study hall with Sam Griffith who is in art with RobertRichardson who is dating Shannon Locke who plays soccer withHaley Britt who is in Accelerated English with Princess Carter whois best friends with Lauren Franklin who cheers with Rebecca Brownwho parks in the radius of Millie Adams who is a diamond girl withAlisha Bell who is in English IV with Maya Arnold who plays fastpitch with Kenya Harris who signed with Meridian CC just likeHaley Hegwood who is in Government with Crystal Southard whois best friends with Mohini Patel who eats lunch outside with AveryLayne who mentors with Cierra Bernard who is best friends withKris Givens who plays football with Stedman Capler who chillswith Mike Holliman who is in Botany with Carolina Aquino whoknows Sachel Obando who eats lunch with Tatyana Dow who rideshome with Michaela Bogue who is in Marine Aquatics with LateshaFleming who is on the soccer team with Rachael Harris who busteda move with Madison Walker who watches Pretty Little Liars withLinh Nguyen who is an ambassador with Mary Webb who is inSGA with Kitty Edwards who shoots hoops with Haley Jacksonwho took US History with Sheldon Williams who knows AlexisJones who is close to Alexis Martin who plays flute with GraceBane who gets frustrated in biomed with Kristine Bishop who wreakshavoc with Allison West who is a cymbal girl with Mary Beth Pearcywho is in color guard with Anna Howard who takes economics withJamal Hester who plays basketball with DaMiya McCollough whois best friends with Zach Gardner who dated Alexis Lee who isfriends with Patricia Peppers who is in web design with DallasBurrell who is in trig with Bashir Martin who is in Governmentwith Brittany Gilmer who rides to school with Elizabeth May whois in band with Davien Watkins whose brother is Darien Watkinswho is in Algebra II with Ebony Green who is friends with RachaelJefferson who is in zoology with Jason Ross who took US Historywith Gildon Robinson who takes economics with Tiree Wilson whois in National Honor Society with Celeste Ballard who is graduatingearly with Chae Hancock who is dating Austin McQuirk who playsbaseball with Tucker Italiano who plays soccer with Wayne Simmonswho plays soccer with Greg Randall who was in environmentalscience with Sam Roberson who is in Government with ConnerSorey who eats outside with Viet Nguyen who played soccer withJohn Bruening who plays baseball with John David Bass who isfriends with Collin Carroll who also plays baseball with MurphyGuillotte who is in Accelerated English with Ramona Abraham whois in chemistry with Ruth Peralta who is in JROTC with Jenna

Lunsford who is also in JROTC with Michael Bochicchio who is intrig. with Jeremy Robinson who plays football with Jeremy Hugheswho is best friends Brice Ashford who is dating LisaAnn Parr whowas in economics with Elise Summers whose sister is Narlise Summerswho plays basketball with Dontilya Williams who also plays basketballwith Tiara Usher who won a “Who’s Who” award like Vincent Sanderswho is in Intro. to Journalism with Jacob Young who has third lunchwith Deon Fields who plays football with Alex Hawkins who associateswith Brennan McArthur who is in advanced world geography withJymal Ellis who is friends with Cedric Willis who played footballwith John Warren who is going to Holmes like Ayla Kraninger whoplays volleyball with Stephanie Lott who is also on the volleyball teamwith Jessica Upton who is going to Holmes like Myeisha Ross who isgraduating early like Mariah Beal who is majoring in biology likeRhaven Perry who is also majoring in biology like Aviana Thomaswho is going to Ole Miss like Alexis Walker who is in botany withJessica Stubbs who was born in July like Jessica Horton who is inband with Mira Patel who eats outside like Jenna Vonkchalee who isgoing to Mississippi State with Nikki Body who has Mr. Wilbanks fortrig. like Kirsty Rouser who is friends with Michaela Thompson whois friends with Chelsea Nash who has the same first name as ChelseaWalls who knows Ashleigh Easter who is going to Tougaloo like AlexisAdams who was born in 1993 like Matt Cheek who is in the animeClub with Darren Ward who is going out of state like Curtis Joneswho was born in 1992 like Essence Slaughter who is in homeroomwith Jonathan Singleton who is friends with Ashley Turner who knowsTavarius Sharp who is in class with English Brooks who is inhomeroom with Nicole Bullen who has the same first and middle nameas Brittany Burt who knows Nissi Campbell who is in English withAndrue Worthy who has homeroom with Bria Wallace who was bornin the same year as JoAnna Wall who was born in the same month asBreanna Showers who is in homeroom with Willie Sherman who isalso in homeroom with Valenzia Shavers who was born in August likeSkyla McElroy who took keyboarding like Bria Taylor who took Intro.to Journalism like Kristen Castilla who takes government like SpencerDunning who likes Mississippi State like Chestavion Stovall who isin homeroom with Sebastian Stokes who was born in February likeDarryl Henderson who is in homeroom with Phillip Hayes who isfriends with Kitti McDonald who hasMc” in her name like AshleyMcCoy who has Mr. Rives like Lexus Murphy who met Aundra Moorewho knows Jason Rouser who was born in 1993 like Brandon Sanderswho was born in the same month as Kaleayah Plummer who iseventually going to meet Elexis Lenson, because they are at the end ofthis list.

SportsPage 6

It has definitely been a great year for the boys’ power lifting team.The team is made completely of raw muscle, and we are proud topresent them as the state champions. The way these boys have repre-sented this school is amazing and we are very proud to say they arethe best in the state. Although everyone on the team did amazing throughout the sea-son, the following athletes went above and beyond to bring home thetrophy: sophomore Fred Carter whose total score was 860 in a 123weight class, junior Gary Adams with a total score of 1090 in a weightclass of 148, and our very own seniors Bashir Martin (940, weightclass 132) and Sam Pope (1500, weight class 198), who set a staterecord in best squat with 640 pounds. Ridgeland’s overall score at the 5A State meet was 55 points, 13points over Pearl and 32 points over Oxford. We are all extremelyproud of how far the power lifting team has come and we hope thatnext year they bring the trophy back home, where it belongs.

State ChampionsState ChampionsState ChampionsState ChampionsState Champions by Marian Cancio

Front row left to right: Jeremy Robinson, Stedman Capler, Michael Holliman, SamPope, and Bashir Martin; Middle row left to right: Jamal House, Kendall Watson,Charleston Littleton, and Brandon Carr; Back row left to right: Gary Adams, QuardariusWinder, James King, and Fred Carter.

“In our efforts to be perfect, we will achieve greatness,” isone of Coach Clint Wilkerson’s inspirational quotes. It is alsoa way of life for these boys. This team is not just a group ofindividuals playing a game; this is a band of brothers united toreach the same goal, to bring home the championship onceagain. But not just for themselves, not for the school, and notfor the prestige but for one teammate, Roger Bishop. Since the day they were born, these kids have been baseballplayers. They love the game and take pride in what they do.As a matter of fact, they love it so much that they are willingto get up at 4:00 in the morning everyday to be at themandatory workout at 5:19. The coaches take no excuses. Ifyou are not there, you suffer consequences. But this isdedication and it is what these guys are all about: dedication,for their team and the sport. These strenuous workouts at thecrack of dawn paid off for the boys as they had some veryimpressive wins over St. Andrews (13-2), Callaway (12-2),Tupelo (12-2), Lanier (15-1) and Pearl (11-2) amongst manyothers. Although the boys worked very hard to get us to the statechampionships again this year, they got defeated by Oxford(8-7). This was a very hard fought game and we are proud tohave them be part of the Ridgeland Titans family. We arethankful that they represented us so well. “I’m glad to have had my final two years here at Ridgeland.It’s something I’ll never forget. I’ll always ‘love and respect’the guys as Coach Wilkerson always told us and I wish themthe best,” said David Nicholas about his team. We want to thank seniors John Bruening, Murphy Guillotte,David Nicholas, Austin McQuirk, Robert Richardson, CollinCarroll, Andrew Hulbert and Tucker Italiano for leaving alltheir effort on the field and giving their all to represent ourschool. They are leaving a legacy.

Leaving a LegacyLeaving a LegacyLeaving a LegacyLeaving a LegacyLeaving a Legacyby Marian Cancio

Andrew Hulbert onthe mound.

FYIPage 7

Ashleigh Andrews: ESF ScholarshipBrice Ashford: Academic ExcellenceCeleste Ballard: Holmes President scholarshipJohn-David Bass: FootballKristine Bishop: Academic ScholarshipPiero Bracamonte: Bievard Engineering Scholarship, Academic

Excellence Housing, Band Scholarship, Academic Excellence National Merit Finalist Scholarship

Haley Britt: Leadership ScholarshipEthan Callahan: (MPEG, MTAG), MSU Band Scholarship,

MSU Freshman Distinguished ScholarshipPrincess Carter: Ameri-Corps ScholarshipKristin J. Castilla: Herrin LeadershipStedman Capler: Holmes Community College (football), JSUMatt Cheek: Ole Miss Band ScholarshipKristen Dupard: Lucky Day USM, Forensics ScholarshipAshleigh Easter: MS Stock Market Game Scholarship, Zeta Phi

Beta Debutante ScholarshipLaTesha Fleming: Soccer Scholarship at the University of

MobileLauren Franklin: JSU Leadership ScholarshipKriston Givens: Football Scholarship to HolmesJessica Glenn: Second Century ScholarshipSam Griffith: An Ole Miss ScholarshipMurphy Guillotte: Freshman Academic Excellence ScholarshipRachel Harris: Associated Colleges of

the South Tuition ScholarshipKenya Harris: Full athletic

scholarship to MeridianCommunity College

Haley Hegwood: Athletic Scholarshipand Eagle scholarship, MTAG

Michael Hollimon: Academic andAthletic

Anna Howard: Mississippi College:Early Decision, Heritage Scholar,and Leadership

Andrew Hulbert: SouthwestCommunity College, PearlCommunity College, Tougaloo,Holmes

Senior Scholarships - Senior Scholarships - Senior Scholarships - Senior Scholarships - Senior Scholarships - submitted by studentssubmitted by studentssubmitted by studentssubmitted by studentssubmitted by studentsPaige Lightsey: Entering Freshmen Academic Excellence to MSUShannon Locke: Scholarships to play soccer for HCCAvery Layne Lyon: University Scholarship at SouthernElizabeth May: JCJC Maroon Typhoon Full Band ScholarshipBrennan McArthur: University of Mississippi Academic ExcellenceCaylon McCulloch: Soccer ScholarshipAshley McCoy: ACT ScholarshipDa’miya McCollough: Academic Honors Scholarship from SCADMary Moffat: BandLinh Nguyen: Central Mississippi Ole Miss Alumni Club and

Chancellor Leadership ScholarshipLisa Ann Parr: Academic Excellence and BledsoeSamuel Pope: Athletic ScholarshipCrystal Southard: Full Music Scholarship for Hinds Community

CollegeChestavion Stovall: Full Scholarship to Mississippi Gulf CoastJames Swenson: Freshman Academic Excellence Scholarship, Key

Club Scholarship, MSU’s Maroon marching and symphonicband scholarship, Boy Scouts of America Eagle ScoutScholarship, MTAG

Erin Tackitt: Academic Excellence, BandMadison Walker: Athletic ScholarshipMary Evelyn Webb: Bledsoe Scholarship, Academic ScholarshipXavier Whisenton: Partial FootballSummer Wigley: Ole Miss Academic ScholarshipTiree Wilson: Academic Excellence, Bledsoe Scholarship Ole Miss

Millie Adams: ESF Scholarship