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EV track team takes first match

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:50:17 +0000

Everett raced against East lansing and Grand Ledge May 8, 2012. Both boys’ relay teams took first in their match.

Check out more photos HERE

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Prom 2012: Las Vegas

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:14:37 +0000

Assistant Principal Carl Word takes a photo of Prom King and Queen Tre Darby and Vasee Xiong.

Prom pictures have been posted! Check them all out here.

PROM 2012: Las Vegas

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Jeff Kocab memorial ceremony pays tribute to fallen alum

admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:19:29 +0000

Jeff Kocab was an officer for the Tampa Bay Police Department, who was shot and killed on June 5, 2010. He was well known and well loved by many people, and made a difference in his community. He also was an Everett grad, class of ‘96. Everett honored him March 15 for his accomplishments and putting his life on the line for the sake of his community.
Board member Rachel Lewis graduated from Everett in 2006, and is the daughter of an officer in active duty. She also an Everett grad. She spoke at the ceremony reciting a poem she found that related to officers. “They put their lives on the line everyday,” she said.
Teacher consultant Erin Bales played “Amazing Grace” on the guitar and sang in honor of Kocab.
Many people took the podium to say goodbye and pay tribute.
“Jeff was all about protecting others and looking out for them,” Dennis Holleran, the owner of the Ponderosa where Kocab worked when he was in high school. He went on to say that Kocab was a joy to be around and said his goodbyes once again: “Goodbye, friend.”
Kocab’s sister-in-law Jamie Root accepted a plaque on behalf of her sister. The plaque will be displayed at Everett. Root said that Kocab will always live on in her sister’s heart.
“My sister has found a new love, which will never replace Jeff, but I believe he was sent to her from Jeff,” said Root.
The dance company made a dance in honor of Kocab titled Yesterday.
Many students come to Everett and have not heard of Jeff Kocab, but the memorial ceremony reminded students of the good people in the world, and that some of them come from beginnings just like theirs.
Click here for video from the ceremony

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Blake Howe: The State Champion

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:02:56 +0000

Some athletes find their happiness when they step onto the field on Friday nights under the bright lights, or when they step onto the court with the basketball in their hand. For senior Blake Howe, happiness comes when he is surrounded by the chlorinated water of an Olympic-sized pool.
March 9, Blake’s happiness reached a new level when he competed at state competition: he is now Everett’s first male state champion, having placed first at States in the backstroke. He has also been named CAAC Swimmer of the Year, and his first-place finish combined with his third-place butterfly performance, puts him in contention for a prestigious spot on the All-American athletes list.
As a captain and leader of the Lansing Legacy Swim Team, Blake now holds school records for the 100-yard butterfly and back stroke, as well as two meet/pool records for the same thing at Haslett High School. Besides his state championship and third place state finishes, Howe has won seven medals: two golds at the Flint relays, two golds at the Haslett invitational, and a gold and a sliver at the Dewitt invitational. Last year, Blake won All-State for the 100 butterfly and backstroke.
After high school, Howe plans on going to Eastern Michigan and hopes to be on the swim team, and possibly be a conference champ.
“The sky is the limit for this kid,” says coach Nate Burchfield, who saw Howe’s name replace his in the Everett record books. “Anything is possible.”
Breaking a school record is a big deal; breaking your coach’s school record is something entirely different.
“At first, I was a little sad that he broke my record, but then I realized I just coached a kid to beat my time and if it was to be beat I wouldn’t want anyone else to hold it,” said Burchfield. “Plus, I still have the best relay time.”
Going into the state meet, Howe said he was hoping to place in the top eight, as he did last year, and hopefully get some gold medals.
“Going into state meet, there is a lot of competition and close races. You come in with your A-Game and hope your training pays off,” said Howe.
Howe’s training certainly paid off. His time in the backstroke was only .03 seconds off the state record.
“He had a good time on Friday [in the preliminaries], but it was nothing like what he brought in the final,” said coach Brent Pohlonski. “I have no idea how he went that fast.”
Fellow classmates and friends support and cheer on Blake and think he is going to go really far someday if he keeps working hard.
“Blake is the next Micheal Phelps,” said Senior Marco Martinez. “Future Olympian, baby!”

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Magic’s Legacy

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:07:20 +0000

On September 23, Earvin “Magic” Johnson caused a media stir when he visited Everett with business partner Best Buy Mobile. Best Buy presented the school with a $5,000 check.

“We had been going around the country and I decided I wanted to go to Lansing,” said Johnson. “They [agreed], and I picked Everett.”

Johnson periodically travels to Lansing to visit family, but an Everett homecoming is a rare event. So rare, that some see it as evidence that he has no affection for his alma mater. This is far from the truth, Johnson said.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson was born in 1959, right here in Lansing. As a basketball player, Magic won championships on every level. He won at the high school level in 1977, the college level in 1979 and then five more times at the pro level.

Johnson had an unbelievable career, but where his career started was a source of controversy.

Magic grew up on the west side of Lansing and many expected him to attend Lansing Sexton, but he was forced to go to Everett.

“About two or three years before Earvin was to enter high school the boundaries changed which made Everett his home school,” said Pearl Johnson, Magic Johnson’s sister. In the mid-1970s, Lansing was working to desegregate its schools, and the boundary change was a result of that effort.

In an interview with ESPN’s Rick Reilly in December 2010, Earvin Johnson talked about his feelings toward being forced to go to Everett.

“I was upset, disappointed, frustrated, I tried everything I could to get out of going to Everett because I wanted to go to Sexton,”

Johnson said.

Since he graduated from Everett in 1977, Magic has only returned a handful of times.

Many people say Magic never liked Everett, so that’s why he never comes back. His sister Pearl said that is not the case.

“At first Earvin didn’t like Everett, but as time passed he made new friends and the basketball season began. His feeling about his new high school and new classmates changed,” said Pearl Johnson. She added that Earvin made a lot of life long friends whom he still hangs out with whenever he is in Lansing.

“I had a great time at Everett, the memories were great,” Johnson said. “I took advantage of everything Everett had to offer and I wouldn’t trade growing up in Lansing and going to Everett for anything in the world.”

He even admitted that being bused to Everett may have helped him, in the long run.

“It prepared me for what real life would look like later on, in terms of dealing with people that weren’t my race,” Johnson said.

Everett was not a very well known school in the early ‘70s, but when this superstar came, so did the national publicity.

“Everett has always been a great school; however, I do believe that as with any athletic program who has a super player, more attention will be given to that school,” said Pearl Johnson. “I believe because of his skills on the basketball team he brought state-wide and nation-wide attention to Everett.”

The rumors that Magic doesn’t like Everett persist, fueled by the idea that he’s never done anything for the school since he left. According to some, though, he has tried.

“Magic has attempted to contribute to Everett, but the school district has denied him doing so,” said math teacher Eric Hartley. “Magic’s donation was to go directly to Everett, but the school district wanted to distribute it amongst the three schools.”

As far as giving to Everett goes, Johnson himself said that he hasn’t ever really been asked.

“No one has approached me to give back to Everett,” he said. “But if Everett needed something I would look forward to helping out.”

Johnson has quite a record of helping out. Since 1991, his Magic Johnson foundation has raised over $20 million for charity, according to pros giveback.com. He said that his work takes him all over, and his giving is spread out, as well.

“I’ve given back around the country, you can’t just focus on one place,” Johnson said. “I live in Los Angeles so it’s hard for me to focus on just Everett because my businesses are everywhere, but I do a lot in the state of Michigan. I love Lansing and I love Everett.”

Since retiring from basketball, Johnson created Magic Johnson Enterprises, which owns movie theaters and restaurants like Starbucks and Burger King, all over the country. Johnson uses his fame and fortune to help out in many ways through business, community and charity.

“I think it’s really been through charity and community. Right now I have 150 students on scholarship through the Magic Johnson Foundation, [through] our Taylor Michael Scholarship fund. We support them not only with a check but also with a printer and laptop. I love being involved in the community,” Johnson said. “Our slogan is, ‘We are the community that we serve.’”

Though nothing official has ever happened, there have been times when Johnson has helped Everett behind-the-scenes.

Head basketball coach Johnny Jones, the first coach to take Everett to a state title since Magic, said that Johnson had helped out his players before.

“Magic has bought the basketball team shoes in the past, but he only did it when he had his own shoe out,” said Jones.

“The Magic Shoe,” from a line called the Converse Weapon, was a shoe produced in the ’80s and early ’90s.

Even though he no longer plays, Johnson still stays close to sports. One recent venture has him working with a group of investors to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers, a Major League Baseball team. He said it’s a long process that is currently underway.

“In the process of buying the Dodgers, we have to place bids. We are now in the second round of bidding and there are eight or nine bidders left,” said Johnson.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson is an undisputed legend on the court. In business, his magic touch has made him a success, as well. His charity work has benefited hundreds of thousands in communities around the country. Yet, Johnson still calls Lansing his home, and Everett his school.

“I’m going to be a Viking forever,” Johnson said.

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Chasing The Dream

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:04:12 +0000

Da’Shawn Bibbs
Reporter

Junior Jaleel Canty says that two years from now he sees himself at a Big Ten school playing football on a scholarship. Canty came one step closer to his dream this November, when Football Recruiting Analyst Tom Lemming came to Everett High School to invite him to the Junior All- American Camp in Phoenix.

The All-American Camp is made up of the top 300 high school football players in the nation.

“When I was recruited I felt honored; [it’s a] once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be invited to such a prestigious event,” said Canty.

His high school coach is excited for him, as well.

“I’m happy Jaleel had the experience with other players in the country,” said head football coach Marcelle Carruthers.

Canty left December 31 to arrive in Phoenix and returned January 4. At the “combine,” which is a place to test your positions in football. Canty ran a 4.47 40, the fastest time out of all the 300 players. “I need to improve my footwork, leadership and overall football instinct,” said Canty.

Jaleel said that playing with others that have the same talent level as him or better was a unique experience.

“It was humbling. It shows where you are as far as how good you are, it’s very competitive,” said Canty. “No one wants to be out-shined; competition brings out the best of you.”

While there, he also did benches, shuttles, verticals, drills, 1 on 1 competition, positions and also attended The Semper Fideles Bowl Game to watch college athletes and was recognized during half time.

“The combine was run by Marine Corps, they preached about improving yourself as a man before football, because football doesn’t last forever. Core values such as honor, commitment, [and] courage,” said Canty.

If Jaleel makes it far, he plans to play for his favorite team the Philadelphia Eagles. Most importantly he learned that overall it was a great experience.

“I’m thankful for the people who helped make this possible for me: Mr. Carruthers, Mr. Keyton and Mr. Word,” said Canty.

4 Questions

for Carruthers & Canty

Jaleel and Mr. Carruthers answer questions about their work together as player and coach.

What is it like for Jaleel on the team?

J: Sometimes it’s hard, [the coaches] expect a lot, not just on the field but setting examples and being a leader for my teammates.

C: [Jaleel is] very competitive.

What kind of player is Jaleel?

J: Best player in the area, aspirations for best in the state. There’s lot I need to work on. Every day I try to become a better person and athlete.

C: Very driven, gifted, intelligent player.

Describe Jaleel’s character.

J: It’s what’s in your heart. It’s what you do when nobody is looking. You can’t really explain character.

C: Good character; works well with others.

Where do you see the Everett football team next year?

J: Undefeated 9-0 and state title. Were going deep, state championship,

C: As far as the players work, they will need to be committed with themselves. If not, they will be very unhappy come October.

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Duru: College Guru

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:12:14 +0000

Anessa Suniga
Photo Editor

Junior year, students begin to think about choosing their future career and what college they might want to attend. Senior year, they apply to colleges, look for scholarships and grants, and make a final decision on what the future holds after high school. Doing so can be very stressful. Any help or guidance can go a long way during this crazy and chaotic time.

“[After being accepted to colleges] it’s hard to decide which one to commit to because there are a lot of factors to think about,” said senior Elizabeth Taylor. “Things like how much tuition is, how far away the commute will be and who has the best programs.” Taylor said she plans to get a Bachelor’s degree in biology, and then go to medical school for six years after that and complete her fellowships to become a neonatologist.

Much guidance and help can be found in Room 7 in the counseling center. There you will find the new College and Career Pathways Advisor, Chisaokwu Duru.

“I help students fix college applications, do research on schools based on interest for their intended majors,” said Duru. “We try to find a fit for each student. I try to make the college application process easier. I also provide information about FASFA. I’m not only here for seniors, I’m here for the whole school. I’m here for everybody and anybody who needs help.”

Duru is at Everett thanks to the Michigan College Advising Corps (MCAC). The MCAC program strives to increase students’ chances of success in postsecondary education by focusing on the best fit and match between the students and their college choices. The advisers serve as a resource for the school as they assist high school students in navigating every aspect of the college-going process.

She has been a very big help to this year’s seniors. Her goal is to get most (or even all) of the seniors to fill out at least one application and apply to a college. She is very driven to help students with their future goals and attributions, but chances are she will not be here next year for the class of 2013. The grant only allows for Duru to be here until the end of this academic school year.

Many students said that Duru has been an asset to Everett high school, helping students make the “high school-to-college” process a lot easier and less stressful. She is very knowledgeable and very helpful. Her main priority is the success of Everett high school’s students.

“I really like Everett a lot. Everett reminds me of a mini- University of Michigan. There is so much diversity and the students are amazing. The staff are very supportive,” said Duru.

For more information, students can follow Duru on twitter at #EV_collegebound for college information, scholarships, and more.

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Helping the community one step at a time

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:14:14 +0000

Victoria Smith
Reporter

The Vikings Give Back recently helped at Volunteers of America. Participating in this community service opportunity were class officers Raven Odom and Amanda Robertson and seniors Pedro Alvarez, AlecXis Glass, Jasmine Jones, Stanley Pates and Robert Warren.

Vikings Give Back is a relatively new club it was started this school year and helping out with it is guidance counselor Ms. West. The club objective is to help in the community as much as possible.

During their trip to Volunteers of America they served food to the less fortunate.

“It humbles you and makes you appreciate everything”, said Amanda Robertson.
“It was an eye opener”, added Raven Odom

Other community service events The Vikings Give back participated in are volunteering at Cavanaugh Elementary helping out in classrooms. They also visited a retirement home.

If you are interested in being apart of this club you still can. Ms. West in the counseling can give you more information.

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Great looks for less, many sales going on now

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:18:09 +0000

Meeshon Rogers
Reporter

Winter is fast approaching, and you have to dress accordingly. But money is hard to come by, and clothes that are trendy can often cost more. However, there are a few places that you can shop that will keep a little bit more money in your wallet.
Closer to the holidays, stores have huge sales going on. Right now Charlotte Russes dresses are 50% off.
“I love Charlotte Russe; they always have cute clothes, and it’s not that expensive,” said sophomore Sadie Davis.
Twice a year, Victoria’s Secret has their semi annual sale. Another store that is having a sale is Forever 21.While supplies last Forever 21 is having a sale on hundreds of new items starting at $2.99 and up. They are located in the Eastwood Towne Center. They have many other great sales throughout the year.
Dots is a great place to get lots of clothes this season for a great price. They will often have more than one sale going on at one time and many of their merchandise tends to cost less than $50. While supplies last Dots is having all of their sleepwear buy one get one 50%off.
“Shopping at Dots is great because they always have a sale going on,” said junior Cheyene Houghton.
The North Face is a very popular, though expensive jacket that can be found at Dicks, usually for $99 or more, but Aeropostale has a very similar jacket for half the price. Hot Topic is now selling Breaking Dawn t-shirts, pillow cases, key chains, and much more. For a limited time all of their music tees are 50% off.
Every day, JC Penney has free online shipping for a purchase of $69 or more. Or they have free shipping to ship things to JC Penney with no minimal purchase needed. JC Penney has many sales on their online website that you won’t find in the store.
“Their online sales are the best,” said Davis.
Foot Locker has free shipping and handling for your purchase of $75 or more. Members at Foot Locker receive $20 off of every purchase. Foot Locker is having a sale on Timberland boots, Nike Air Max 2011 and a Jordan clothing sale.
“I always use Foot Locker’s free shipping and handling,” said sophomore Kendria Hodge.
The Ugg collection is very well known for their boots and handbags but the prices of their products can become very expensive ranging from $100 to sometimes even more. However you can get shoes that look very similar to Uggs that are affordable at Payless, Wet Seal, and Charlotte Russe they cost around $30.
“ Fake Uggs and the real ones look [really] similar,” said Hodge.

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On and off the court, boys basketball players work hard

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:21:16 +0000

Jeff Walker

Reporter

Right after the last bucket dropped on last season, basketball teams have been preparing for the up coming season, and Everett is no different. From shooting 100 shots a day to lifting weights, athletes have been preparing for this year’s competition. With a team made up of mostly seniors, they say there’s no choice but to play hard.

Having the advantage on your opponent is the key to the game. The earlier players get into the habit of working off-season, the better their chances of success in the upcoming season. At the end of October, Everett started their annual “Open Gym” sessions to see what new talent can be added to help out. It is very important for these athletes to attend these work outs to impress coaches. This not only happens at Everett, but our cross town rivals are getting players ready to go head-on in their own quest for talent.

But exactly what do the athletes do to prepare themselves for the three and a half month season?

“Since I wasn’t able to play for most of the season last year, I’m hoping to give the guys some help from the start of the season to the end of the season,” said senior Ernesto James.

With all the teams this year being on their A game, Everett won’t be able to slack off. With a starting five made up of mostly seniors, maturity will play a big role in decision making.

This season is going to be tough, especially with the new champions being Sexton, our cross-town rivals, we can expect them to try to lead the conference this year. Sexton isn’t the only problem but it’s the victory that the Vikings have been looking forward to for the last four years, which is a huge problem for this years seniors.

Senior Deshawn Qawwee knows seniors need to lead by example, but said the whole team works well together every day.

“I’m not the only one trying to lead the team, me and my teammates help each other out on and off the court,” said Qawwee. “This season should prove to be different because our whole attitude is different.”

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